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IELTS Essay: Cigarettes
Smoking is a major cause of serious illness and death throughout the world today. In the interest of the public health, governments should ban cigarettes and other tobacco products.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many today are calling for a complete ban on tobacco related products due to their health effects. In my opinion, since tobacco offers few tangible benefits, such a prohibition would be justified.
Opponents of such a policy argue that it conflicts with individual and economic freedom. Firstly, individuals should have the right to live their life as they wish as long as they are not harming others. This is the basic tenet that underlies most democratic societies and smoking cigarettes falls firmly within this sphere of an individual’s rights. Secondly, there is an economic factor. Tobacco companies produce billions of cigarettes a year, providing employment and paying significant taxes throughout the process. If these companies were suddenly forced to declare bankruptcy and shut down, it would have catastrophic short-term effects on the economies of both developed and developing nations. The economic downsides alone could, temporarily, do more harm than good.
However, tobacco is an almost entirely harmful product in its effects. In contrast to other narcotics, such as caffeine, alcohol, and cannabis, there is no discernible sensation produced by smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco. Tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive and engenders a chemical dependency, and that is the reason it has become such a common habit. Moreover, there are meaningful health problems that for smokers as well as unintended parties through second-hand smoke. It is common for long-time smokers to suffer from a weakened immune system, conditions like emphysema, and increased risk for lung cancer. These maladies place an added burden on the health system and hospitals.
The limited benefits of cigarettes compared with the massive potential health costs for individuals and society justify the ban. Individuals have always had to sacrifice elements of freedom in order to ensure greater security and this issue is only viewed differently for historical reasons.
Analysis
1. Many today are calling for a complete ban on tobacco related products due to their health effects. 2. In my opinion, since tobacco offers few tangible benefits, such a prohibition would be justified.
1. Opponents of such a policy argue that it conflicts with individual and economic freedom. 2. Firstly, individuals should have the right to live their life as they wish as long as they are not harming others. 3. This is the basic tenet that underlies most democratic societies and smoking cigarettes falls firmly within this sphere of an individual’s rights. 4. Secondly, there is an economic factor. 5. Tobacco companies produce billions of cigarettes a year, providing employment and paying significant taxes throughout the process. 6. If these companies were suddenly forced to declare bankruptcy and shut down, it would have catastrophic short-term effects on the economies of both developed and developing nations. 7. The economic downsides alone could, temporarily, do more harm than good.
1. However, tobacco is an almost entirely harmful product in its effects. 2. In contrast to other narcotics, such as caffeine, alcohol, and cannabis, there is no discernible sensation produced by smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco. 3. Tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive and engenders a chemical dependency, and that is the reason it has become such a common habit. 4. Moreover, there are meaningful health problems that for smokers as well as unintended parties through second-hand smoke. 5. It is common for long-time smokers to suffer from a weakened immune system, conditions like emphysema, and increased risk for lung cancer. 6. These maladies place an added burden on the health system and hospitals.
1. The limited benefits of cigarettes compared with the massive potential health costs for individuals and society justify the ban. 2. Individuals have always had to sacrifice elements of freedom in order to ensure greater security and this issue is only viewed differently for historical reasons.
Vocabulary
Many today are calling for a complete ban on tobacco related products due to their health effects. In my opinion, since tobacco offers few tangible benefits, such a prohibition would be justified.
Opponents of such a policy argue that it conflicts with individual and economic freedom. Firstly, individuals should have the right to live their life as they wish as long as they are not harming others. This is the basic tenet that underlies most democratic societies and smoking cigarettes falls firmly within this sphere of an individual’s rights. Secondly, there is an economic factor. Tobacco companies produce billions of cigarettes a year, providing employment and paying significant taxes throughout the process. If these companies were suddenly forced to declare bankruptcy and shut down, it would have catastrophic short-term effects on the economies of both developed and developing nations. The economic downsides alone could, temporarily, do more harm than good.
However, tobacco is an almost entirely harmful product in its effects. In contrast to other narcotics, such as caffeine, alcohol, and cannabis, there is no discernible sensation produced by smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco. Tobacco contains nicotine, which is highly addictive and engenders a chemical dependency, and that is the reason it has become such a common habit. Moreover, there are meaningful health problems that for smokers as well as unintended parties through second-hand smoke. It is common for long-time smokers to suffer from a weakened immune system, conditions like emphysema, and increased risk for lung cancer. These maladies place an added burden on the health system and hospitals.
The limited benefits of cigarettes compared with the massive potential health costs for individuals and society justify the ban. Individuals have always had to sacrifice elements of freedom in order to ensure greater security and this issue is only viewed differently for historical reasons.
Answers
calling for asking about
complete ban total prohibition against
tobacco related products cigarettes, chewing tobacco, etc.
tobacco what is inside cigarettes
few tangible benefits concrete advantages
prohibition ban
justified good reason for it
opponents people against it
policy reform
conflicts fights
right a basic ability people should have
as long as so far as
harming hurting
basic tenet essential part
underlies is the foundation of
democratic societies countries where you can vote
falls firmly within this sphere is definitely part of
factor element
produce make
employment jobs
paying significant taxes throughout the process giving money to the government all the time
suddenly forced right now must
declare bankruptcy go out of business
shut down close down, go out of business
catastrophic short-term effects huge impact right away
developed and developing nations rich and poor countries
downsides disadvantages
temporarily for a short time
almost entirely nearly completely
in contrast to however
narcotics drugs
caffeine coffee
alcohol beer, wine, etc.
cannabis marijuana
discernible sensation real feeling
chewing tobacco another kind of tobacco product
contains nicotine has an addictive chemical in it
highly addictive makes you want to keep using it
engenders creates
chemical dependency need to have it
common habit pervasive action
meaningful significant
as well as and
unintended parties people not meant to be involved
second-hand smoke people inhaling smoke who are not smoking, passive smokers
common pervasive
suffer from have the condition
weakened immune system get sick easily
conditions diseases
emphysema a lung disease
increased risk more chance of it
lung cancer cancer of your lungs
maladies illnesses
added burden more pressure
health system and hospitals doctors, medical care, etc.
limited benefits fewer advantages
compared with in comparison to
massive potential health costs huge expense in hospitals
sacrifice give up
in order to do that
ensure make sure
greater security increased safety
viewed differently seen in another way
historical reasons causes from the past, traditions
Pronunciation
Vocabulary Practice
Many today are c_______________r a c________________n on t_________________________s due to their health effects. In my opinion, since t__________o offers f_______________________s, such a p______________n would be j___________d.
O_____________s of such a p_______y argue that it c__________s with individual and economic freedom. Firstly, individuals should have the r_______t to live their life as they wish a____________s they are not h_______g others. This is the b_____________t that u___________s most d__________________s and smoking cigarettes f_________________________e of an individual’s rights. Secondly, there is an economic f______r. Tobacco companies p_______e billions of cigarettes a year, providing e______________t and p________________________________________s. If these companies were s_______________d to d_____________________y and s___________n, it would have c________________________s on the economies of both d____________________________________s. The economic d______________s alone could, t_____________y, do more harm than good.
However, tobacco is an a_________________y harmful product in its effects. I________________o other n_____________s, such as c__________e, a_____________l, and c__________s, there is no d________________________n produced by smoking cigarettes or c_________________o. Tobacco c____________________e, which is h___________________e and e_____________s a c______________________y, and that is the reason it has become such a c______________t. Moreover, there are meaningful health problems that for smokers a____________s u__________________s through s__________________e. It is c_________n for long-time smokers to s______________m a w_________________________m, c______________s like e____________a, and i________________k for l_______________r. These m____________s place an a_______________n on the h______________________________s.
The l________________s of cigarettes c________________h the m__________________________s for individuals and society justify the ban. Individuals have always had to s____________e elements of freedom i____________o e_______________________y and this issue is only v_____________________y for h____________________s.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
Speaking Practice
Health
- How can people improve their physical health?
- What about their mental health?
- In what ways can teachers encourage students to do sports?
- What is the role of doctors in raising health awareness?
- Can social media also play a role?
Writing Practice
Some think that governments should tax unhealthy foods to encourage people to eat healthier.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
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