This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay from the real IELTS exam on the topic of demand for consumer goods and the effect on the environment.
It’s a two-part question so you simply need to answer each question.
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Before reading, listen to the audio file and take notes:
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Demand for Consumer Goods
The increase in the production of consumer goods results in damage to the natural environment.
What are the causes of this?
What can be done to solve this problem?
Real Past IELTS Exam
The increasing desire for consumer goods today has accelerated industrial production and this poses a threat to the environment. This essay will delineate the reasons for this and also propose solutions for these concomitant environmental risks.
Environmental degradation due to the production of consumer goods can be traced back to governmental shortcomings. Competition between countries makes it nearly impossible to agree on a cohesive global policy. There are attempts, like the recent Paris accords, but many powerful countries, chiefly the United States and China, fear losing their competitive advantages and are unwilling to sign over their autonomy. Developing countries also feel that protecting the environment handicaps them and is a lower priority than rising standards of living. This is coupled with the rise of corporate lobbying groups and corruption in governments around the world. Powerful companies can fund studies for bills that support their efforts to ramp up production and downplay the environmental costs.
The environmental implications of a consumer economy can be mitigated through an array of strict governmental regulations. The best examples of these laws come from environmentally conscious nations in Europe. The European Union has signed every global accord put before them and are making great strides in enforcing among its constituent members the agreed upon limits set forth in these charters. These include allowing countries to buy carbon credits, banning plastic bags and controlling the disposal of toxic waste. There are also more proactive solutions that entail encouraging renewable energies such as solar and wind power. The rest of the world can learn from these European reforms how to wean themselves off an unhealthy dependence on the fossil fuels that underpin consumerism.
In conclusion, government is to blame for the impact of a consumer economy on the environment and they also hold the keys to averting future catastrophe. However, it is unlikely governments will opt to act until the situation is already beyond a tipping point.
Analysis
1. The increasing desire for consumer goods today has accelerated industrial production and this poses a threat to the environment. 2. This essay will delineate the reasons for this and also propose solutions for these concomitant environmental risks.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- State a clear overall opinion – don’t sit in the middle!
1. Environmental degradation due to the production of consumer goods can be traced back to governmental shortcomings. 2. Competition between countries makes it nearly impossible to agree on a cohesive global policy. 3. There are attempts, like the recent Paris accords, but many powerful countries, chiefly the United States and China, fear losing their competitive advantages and are unwilling to sign over their autonomy. 4. Developing countries also feel that protecting the environment handicaps them and is a lower priority than rising standards of living. 5. This is coupled with the rise of corporate lobbying groups and corruption in governments around the world. 6. Powerful companies can fund studies for bills that support their efforts to ramp up production and downplay the environmental costs.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Begin to develop or explain your main idea.
- Give a specific example.
- Develop the example.
- This question asks for more than 1 cause so include a second cause.
- Develop that cause as well.
1. The environmental implications of a consumer economy can be mitigated through an array of strict governmental regulations. 2. The best examples of these laws come from environmentally conscious nations in Europe. 3. The European Union has signed every global accord put before them and are making great strides in enforcing among its constituent members the agreed upon limits set forth in these charters. 4. These include allowing countries to buy carbon credits, banning plastic bags and controlling the disposal of toxic waste. 5. There are also more proactive solutions that entail encouraging renewable energies such as solar and wind power. 6. The rest of the world can learn from these European reforms how to wean themselves off an unhealthy dependence on fossil fuels that underpin consumerism.
- Write another topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Begin another specific example.
- Develop the example.
- Continue developing it – don’t switch to another example.
- This one asks for more than 1 solution, so add a second solution.
- Develop that solution as well.
1. In conclusion, government is to blame for the impact of a consumer economy on the environment and they also hold the keys to averting future catastrophe. 2. However, it is unlikely governments will opt to act until the situation is already beyond a tipping point.
- Repeat your opinion.
- Add in a final thought/detail.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
The increasing desire for consumer goods today has accelerated industrial production and this poses a threat to the environment. This essay will delineate the reasons for this and also propose solutions for these concomitant environmental risks.
Environmental degradation due to the production of consumer goods can be traced back to governmental shortcomings. Competition between countries makes it nearly impossible to agree on a cohesive global policy. There are attempts, like the recent Paris accords, but many powerful countries, chiefly the United States and China, fear losing their competitive advantages and are unwilling to sign over their autonomy. Developing countries also feel that protecting the environment handicaps them and is a lower priority than rising standards of living. This is coupled with the rise of corporate lobbying groups and corruption in governments around the world. Powerful companies can fund studies for bills that support their efforts to ramp up production and downplay the environmental costs.
The environmental implications of a consumer economy can be mitigated through an array of strict governmental regulations. The best examples of these laws come from environmentally conscious nations in Europe. The European Union has signed every global accord put before them and are making great strides in enforcing among its constituent members the agreed upon limits set forth in these charters. These include allowing countries to buy carbon credits, banning plastic bags and controlling the disposal of toxic waste. There are also more proactive solutions that entail encouraging renewable energies such as solar and wind power. The rest of the world can learn from these European reforms how to wean themselves off an unhealthy dependence on the fossil fuels that underpin consumerism.
In conclusion, government is to blame for the impact of a consumer economy on the environment and they also hold the keys to averting future catastrophe. However, it is unlikely governments will opt to act until the situation is already beyond a tipping point.
Answers
increasing desire wanting more and more
consumer goods products
accelerated industrial production faster creation of products
poses a threat is a problem
delineate describe
propose solutions suggest fixes
concomitant environmental risks resultant problems for the environment
degradation getting worse
traced back has its source in
governmental shortcomings government failing to
nearly impossible almost can’t be done
cohesive global policy consistent regulations for all countries
attempts tries
recent Paris accords not long ago agreements about the environment from a conference in Paris
chiefly mainly
fear scared of
competitive advantages ahead of other countries
unwilling don’t want to
sign over allow
autonomy control
handicaps holds them back
lower priority not as important
rising standards of living people living better lives
coupled combined with
rise increase
corporate lobbying groups people who work for companies to convince/bribe politicians
fund studies give money for research
bills legislation
ramp up increase
downplay make lesser
implications results
mitigated lessened
array lots of kinds
strict governmental regulations tough laws
environmentally conscious caring about the environment
European Union countries in Europe working together
every global accord put before them all agreements presented to them
making great strides getting better at
enforcing making sure the laws are followed
constituent members countries in the E.U.
agreed upon limits set forth what they have decided to follow, the rules laid out
charters agreements
buy carbon credits purchase the right to pollute
banning plastic bags not allowing single-use plastic bags
controlling the disposal of toxic waste regulating how waste is gotten rid of
proactive solutions active measures
entail encouraging renewable energies include helping clean energy
solar from the sun
wind power wind turbines generating power
reforms changes
wean themselves off stop using
unhealthy dependence have to use, can’t stop
fossil fuels oil, gas
underpin consumerism the foundation for capitalism
is to blame the fault of
hold the keys are in charge of
averting future catastrophe preventing disasters later
unlikely probably not going to happen
beyond a tipping point won’t be able to reverse it
Pronunciation
Listen and repeat:
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ dɪˈzaɪə
kənˈsjuːmə gʊdz
əkˈsɛləreɪtɪd ɪnˈdʌstrɪəl prəˈdʌkʃən
ˈpəʊzɪz ə θrɛt
dɪˈlɪnɪeɪt
prəˈpəʊz səˈluːʃənz
kənˈkɒmɪtənt ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl rɪsks
ˌdɛgrəˈdeɪʃən
treɪst bæk
ˌgʌvənˈmɛntl ʃɔːtˈkʌmɪŋz
ˈnɪəli ɪmˈpɒsəbl
kəʊˈhiːsɪv ˈgləʊbəl ˈpɒlɪsi
əˈtɛmpts
ˈriːsnt ˈpærɪs əˈkɔːdz
ˈʧiːfli
fɪə
kəmˈpɛtɪtɪv ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz
ʌnˈwɪlɪŋ
saɪn ˈəʊvə
ɔːˈtɒnəmi
ˈhændɪkæps
ˈləʊə praɪˈɒrɪti
ˈraɪzɪŋ ˈstændədz ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ
ˈkʌpld
raɪz
ˈkɔːpərɪt ˈlɒbiɪŋ gruːps
fʌnd ˈstʌdiz
bɪlz
ræmp ʌp
daʊn pleɪ
ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃənz
ˈmɪtɪgeɪtɪd
əˈreɪ
strɪkt ˌgʌvənˈmɛntl ˌrɛgjʊˈleɪʃənz
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntli ˈkɒnʃəs
ˌjʊərəˈpi(ː)ən ˈjuːnjən
ˈɛvri ˈgləʊbəl əˈkɔːd pʊt bɪˈfɔː ðɛm
ˈmeɪkɪŋ greɪt straɪdz
ɪnˈfɔːsɪŋ
kənˈstɪtjʊənt ˈmɛmbəz
əˈgriːd əˈpɒn ˈlɪmɪts sɛt fɔːθ
ˈʧɑːtəz
baɪ ˈkɑːbən ˈkrɛdɪts
ˈbænɪŋ ˈplæstɪk bægz
kənˈtrəʊlɪŋ ðə dɪsˈpəʊzəl ɒv ˈtɒksɪk weɪst
prəʊˈæktɪv səˈluːʃənz
ɪnˈteɪl ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪŋ rɪˈnjuːəbl ˈɛnəʤiz
ˈsəʊlə
wɪnd ˈpaʊə
ˌriːˈfɔːmz
wiːn ðəmˈsɛlvz ɒf
ʌnˈhɛlθi dɪˈpɛndəns
ˈfɒsl fjʊəlz
ˌʌndəˈpɪn kənˈsjuːmərɪz(ə)m
ɪz tuː bleɪm
həʊld ðə kiːz
əˈvɜːtɪŋ ˈfjuːʧə kəˈtæstrəfi
ʌnˈlaɪkli
bɪˈjɒnd ə ˈtɪpɪŋ pɔɪnt
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
The i______________________e for c____________________s today has a___________________________________n and this p____________________t to the environment. This essay will d______________e the reasons for this and also p____________________s for these c___________________________________s.
Environmental d___________________n due to the production of consumer goods can be t______________k to g____________________________s. Competition between countries makes it n___________________e to agree on a c______________________y. There are a_______________s, like the r________________________s, but many powerful countries, c__________y the United States and China, f______r losing their c_______________________s and are u_______________g to s______________r their a_______________y. Developing countries also feel that protecting the environment h______________s them and is a l____________________y than r____________________________g. This is c__________d with the r_____e of c_____________________________s and corruption in governments around the world. Powerful companies can f_________________s for b________s that support their efforts to r______________p production and d_________________y the environmental costs.
The environmental i_______________________s of a consumer economy can be m______________d through an a_______y of s________________________________s. The best examples of these laws come from e____________________________s nations in Europe. The E________________________n has signed e___________________________________m and are m____________________s in e________________g among its c________________________s the a_____________________________________h in these c______________s. These include allowing countries to b___________________________s, b__________________________s and c_____________________________________e. There are also more p___________________s that e__________________________________s such as s_____________r and w___________________r. The rest of the world can learn from these European r_____________s how to w____________________________f an u___________________________e on the f_____________s that u__________________m.
In conclusion, government i________________e for the impact of a consumer economy on the environment and they also h________________s to a_______________________________e. However, it is u___________y governments will opt to act until the situation is already b_____________________________t.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Learn more here about the impact of consumer goods on the environment:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NluFskx4mvc
Reading Practice
Read about the topic here to get more ideas and review some vocabulary:
Speaking Practice
Answer the questions below from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Environment
- How are environmental problems dealt with in your country?
- What can be done to make people recycle more often?
- What is the most pressing environmental problem?
- Is recycling a common practice in your country?
- Are governments or individuals more responsible?
Writing Practice
Write about the following topic then check with my sample answer:
Online shopping is becoming more common these days.
What effect could this have on the environment and the types of jobs required?
Real Past IELTS Exam
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