This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of cars and damaging the environment.
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IELTS Essay: Cars Damaging the Environment
The manufacturing and use of cars damages the environment but their popularity is increasing.
Why is this?
How could this be controlled?
Even though both production and car use increase pollution, the auto industry continues to expand. This is because developing nations now have greater disposable income and governments can limit the resultant environmental damage through regulation.
The main cause underlying an increasing numbers of cars is growth in developing countries. Ownership in developed countries peaked decades ago and many European nations in particular are now adopting greener modes of transport. However, in developing nations, cars are seen as a status symbol that boost self-esteem and serve a practical travel purpose. Coupled with increased per capita GDP, the boom in car ownership is unsurprising. For example, a growing middle class in Vietnam has driven up purchases of foreign automobiles dramatically over the last decade. The demand is so great that last year a Vietnamese company introduced the first domestically produced car. This same trend is replicated around the world in developing countries.
The most impactful response is from the government. Consumers will continue to buy cars but the government has control over a range of possible environmental protective measures. For example, there could be stricter laws related to emission standards. This would cut down on the average amount of pollution from individual cars and collectively make a huge difference. Another measure would be to discourage car ownership by taxing cars heavily and improving the quality of public transportation. A good example of this would also be in Vietnam where there is a 200% tax on cars and the government is building the world’s most expensive subway system in Ho Chi Minh City. Individuals are unlikely to change their behaviour en masse so it falls to policymakers to dissuade citizens through proactive reforms and policies.
In conclusion, more cars can be explained by rising incomes globally and pragmatic solutions come from government regulation. If taken seriously, the heavy environmental toll of cars can be curbed.
Analysis
1. Even though both production and car use increase pollution, the auto industry continues to expand. 2. This is because developing nations now have greater disposable income and governments can limit the resultant environmental damage through regulation.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Answer both questions clearly. Learn more about introductions here and two part question structure here.
1. The main cause underlying an increasing numbers of cars is growth in developing countries. 2. Ownership in developed countries peaked decades ago and many European nations in particular are now adopting greener modes of transport. 3. However, in developing nations, cars are seen as a status symbol that boost self-esteem and serve a practical travel purpose. 4. Coupled with increased per capita GDP, the boom in car ownership is unsurprising. 5. For example, a growing middle class in Vietnam has driven up purchases of foreign automobiles dramatically over the last decade. 6. The demand is so great that last year a Vietnamese company introduced the first domestically produced car. 7. This same trend is replicated around the world in developing countries.
- Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
- Explain or give the background for your idea.
- Add in specific detail and don’t switch to a new idea.
- Include more specific supporting information.
- Give a specific example.
- Develop the example.
- Generalise to other countries.
1. The most impactful response is from the government. 2. Consumers will continue to buy cars but the government has control over a range of possible environmental protective measures. 3. For example, there could be stricter laws related to emission standards. 4. This would cut down on the average amount of pollution from individual cars and collectively make a huge difference. 5. Another measure would be to discourage car ownership by taxing cars heavily and improving the quality of public transportation. 6. A good example of this would also be in Vietnam where there is a 200% tax on cars and the government is building the world’s most expensive subway system in Ho Chi Minh City. 7. Individuals are unlikely to change their behaviour en masse so it falls to policymakers to dissuade citizens through proactive reforms and policies.
- Write another topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Begin a specific example.
- Develop the example.
- Include another solution.
- Develop that solution with a specific example if possible.
- Conclude with a strong general statement.
1. In conclusion, more cars can be explained by rising incomes globally and pragmatic solutions come from government regulation. 2. If taken seriously, the heavy environmental toll of cars can be curbed.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Add a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Even though both production and car use increase pollution, the auto industry continues to expand. This is because developing nations now have greater disposable income and governments can limit the resultant environmental damage through regulation.
The main cause underlying an increasing numbers of cars is growth in developing countries. Ownership in developed countries peaked decades ago and many European nations in particular are now adopting greener modes of transport. However, in developing nations, cars are seen as a status symbol that boost self-esteem and serve a practical travel purpose. Coupled with increased per capita GDP, the boom in car ownership is unsurprising. For example, a growing middle class in Vietnam has driven up purchases of foreign automobiles dramatically over the last decade. The demand is so great that last year a Vietnamese company introduced the first domestically produced car. This same trend is replicated around the world in developing countries.
The most impactful response is from the government. Consumers will continue to buy cars but the government has control over a range of possible environmental protective measures. For example, there could be stricter laws related to emission standards. This would cut down on the average amount of pollution from individual cars and collectively make a huge difference. Another measure would be to discourage car ownership by taxing cars heavily and improving the quality of public transportation. A good example of this would also be in Vietnam where there is a 200% tax on cars and the government is building the world’s most expensive subway system in Ho Chi Minh City. Individuals are unlikely to change their behaviour en masse so it falls to policymakers to dissuade citizens through proactive reforms and policies.
In conclusion, more cars can be explained by rising incomes globally and pragmatic solutions come from government regulation. If taken seriously, the heavy environmental toll of cars can be curbed.
Answers
even though despite
production manufacturing
auto industry making cars
expand grow bigger
greater disposable income more money to spend
limit constrain
resultant environmental damage increasing climate change, polluting the environment
regulation limiting
underlying foundational
ownership have a car
peaked decades ago reach a high point a long time ago
in particular especially
adopting greener modes of transport using more environmentally friendly options
status symbol show-off
boost self-esteem feel better about yourself
serve a practical travel purpose useful
coupled with combine with
per capita GDP average income
boom increase
unsurprising no shock
growing middle class more people with money
driven up increased
dramatically substantially
demand desire
introduced premiered
domestically produced car not a foreign car
trend pattern
replicated repeated
impactful response most effective solution
consumers buyers
control over can regulate
range of possible environmental protective measures many ways to protect the environment
stricter laws better regulations
emission standards how clean a car is
cut down on reduce
average amount how much is used per person
collectively all together
huge difference big impact
measure action
discourage car ownership dissuade people from buying cars
heavily a lot
200% tax pay doble
subway system underground
en masse all together
falls to policymakers responsibility of government
dissuade discourage
proactive reforms take an active role in changing
policies laws
explained shown
globally around the world
pragmatic solutions practical countermeasures
government regulation laws
if taken seriously done well
heavy environmental toll hurts the environment a lot
curbed limited
Pronunciation
ˈiːvən ðəʊ
prəˈdʌkʃən
ˈɔːtəʊ ˈɪndəstri
ɪksˈpænd
ˈgreɪtə dɪsˈpəʊzəbl ˈɪnkʌm
ˈlɪmɪt
rɪˈzʌltənt ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl ˈdæmɪʤ
ˌrɛgjʊˈleɪʃən
ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ
ˈəʊnəʃɪp
piːkt ˈdɛkeɪdz əˈgəʊ
ɪn pəˈtɪkjʊlə
əˈdɒptɪŋ ˈgriːnə məʊdz ɒv ˈtrænspɔːt
ˈsteɪtəs ˈsɪmbəl
buːst sɛlf-ɪsˈtiːm
sɜːv ə ˈpræktɪkəl ˈtrævl ˈpɜːpəs
ˈkʌpld wɪð
pɜː ˈkæpɪtə ʤiː-diː-piː
buːm
ˌʌnsəˈpraɪzɪŋ
ˈgrəʊɪŋ ˈmɪdl klɑːs
ˈdrɪvn ʌp
drəˈmætɪk(ə)li
dɪˈmɑːnd
ˌɪntrəˈdjuːst
dəʊˈmɛstɪk(ə)li prəˈdjuːst kɑː
trɛnd
ˈrɛplɪkeɪtɪd
ˈɪmpæktf(ə)l rɪsˈpɒns
kənˈsjuːməz
kənˈtrəʊl ˈəʊvə
reɪnʤ ɒv ˈpɒsəbl ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl prəˈtɛktɪv ˈmɛʒəz
ˈstrɪktə lɔːz
ɪˈmɪʃən ˈstændədz
kʌt daʊn ɒn
ˈævərɪʤ əˈmaʊnt
kɒˈlɛktɪvli
hjuːʤ ˈdɪfrəns
ˈmɛʒə
dɪsˈkʌrɪʤ kɑːr ˈəʊnəʃɪp
ˈhɛvɪli
tuː ˈhʌndrəd pəˈsɛnt tæks
ˈsʌbweɪ ˈsɪstɪm
ɛn mæs
fɔːlz tuː ˈpɒlɪsi ˈmeɪkəz
dɪˈsweɪd
prəʊˈæktɪv ˌriːˈfɔːmz
ˈpɒlɪsiz
ɪksˈpleɪnd
ˈgləʊbəli
prægˈmætɪk səˈluːʃənz
ˈgʌvnmənt ˌrɛgjʊˈleɪʃən
ɪf ˈteɪkən ˈsɪərɪəsli
ˈhɛvi ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl təʊl
kɜːbd
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
E______________h both p______________n and car use increase pollution, the a______________y continues to e__________d. This is because developing nations now have g___________________________e and governments can l______t the r__________________________________e through r___________n.
The main cause u_____________g an increasing numbers of cars is growth in developing countries. O_____________p in developed countries p_____________________o and many European nations i______________r are now a_______________________________________t. However, in developing nations, cars are seen as a s_______________l that b______________m and s_______________________________________e. C_______________h increased p_______________________P, the b_______m in car ownership is u______________g. For example, a g_______________________s in Vietnam has d_____________p purchases of foreign automobiles d______________y over the last decade. The d___________d is so great that last year a Vietnamese company i_______________d the first d________________________r. This same t________d is r_______________d around the world in developing countries.
The most i_______________________e is from the government. C_____________s will continue to buy cars but the government has c_____________r a r_________________________________________________s. For example, there could be s_____________s related to e______________________s. This would c________________________n the a_____________________t of pollution from individual cars and c_________________y make a h__________________e. Another m_____________e would be to d______________________p by taxing cars h_____________y and improving the quality of public transportation. A good example of this would also be in Vietnam where there is a 2_____________x on cars and the government is building the world’s most expensive s____________________m in Ho Chi Minh City. Individuals are unlikely to change their behaviour e__________e so it f____________________s to d____________e citizens through p_____________________s and p_______________s.
In conclusion, more cars can be e______________d by rising incomes g___________y and p_____________________s come from g__________________________n. I____________________y, the h___________________________l of cars can be c__________d.
Listening Practice
Watch the video below to understand the idea of a carbon footprint:
And a related speaking test here:
Reading Practice
Learn more about the environmental impact of cars below:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/green-guide/buying-guides/car/environmental-impact/
Speaking Practice
Answer the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Walking
- Do you go places on foot a lot now?
- Did you walk more when you were younger?
- Why do some people prefer walking to driving in a car?
- Do people in your country walk a lot these days?
Writing Practice
Write about the following topic and check with my sample answer:
When cars and cyclists use the same roads, there are often problems.
Why is this the case?
What are the solutions?
Good
Thanks!
Love it.
Thank you!
This essay repeated in the exam today 08-Jan-2022
Thanks for letting me know, Muhammed – it happens all the time!
Perfect!
Thanks, Fani!