This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of trees and houses in towns and cities from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Cities vs Trees
Some people say it is more important to plant trees in the open spaces in towns and cities than to build more housing.
To what extant do you agree or disagree?
Many city and town planners believe that trees, instead of residential buildings, are crucial for the development of the modern city. In my agreement, I agree with this contention despite the legitimate benefits to increased housing in cities.
Those who would rather build more residential buildings argue that both town and city populations are surging. Population figures globally are on the rise and it is logical to provide quality housing for all citizens. This is particularly true in rapidly growing nations such as China and India. The migration of individuals from the countryside to cities and outlying towns means that higher residential numbers have led to deteriorating sanitary conditions and increased pressure on the services that sustain cities such as public transportation. More housing would at least partly alleviate the issues that urban planners face and allow for more cogent plans for densely populated environments.
Nonetheless, the importance of trees transcends the purely practical. For the average city and town resident, trees have aesthetic value. Take for example some of the best known cities in the world including Paris and New York City. The parks and gardens stand out and mitigate living apart from the natural world. Moreover, the more underprivileged segments of society are unlikely to be able to afford trips outside their immediate living vicinity. There is therefore a good chance that many younger children, particularly those in inner cities, will rarely experience nature and their lives will be limited to the dreary confines of the city. Over time, this can have a demoralising effect that is evidenced in the defeatist attitude common among less affluent children.
In conclusion, the importance of housing to meeting rising population demands does not overshadow the importance of trees. Towns and cities must naturally balance these concerns to foster better living environments for residents.
Analysis
1. Many city and town planners believe that trees, instead of residential buildings, are crucial for the development of the modern city. 2. In my agreement, I agree with this contention despite the legitimate benefits to increased housing in cities.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who would rather build more residential buildings argue that both town and city populations are surging. 2. Population figures globally are on the rise and it is logical to provide quality housing for all citizens. 3. This is particularly true in rapidly growing nations such as China and India. 4. The migration of individuals from the countryside to cities and outlying towns means that higher residential numbers have led to deteriorating sanitary conditions and increased pressure on the services that sustain cities such as public transportation. 5. More housing would at least partly alleviate the issues that urban planners face and allow for more cogent plans for densely populated environments.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific examples.
- Continue to develop it.
- State the result.
1. Nonetheless, the importance of trees transcends the purely practical. 2. For the average city and town resident, trees have aesthetic value. 3. Take for example some of the best known cities in the world including Paris and New York City. 4. The parks and gardens stand out and mitigate living apart from the natural world. 5. Moreover, the more underprivileged segments of society are unlikely to be able to afford trips outside their immediate living vicinity. 6. There is therefore a good chance that many younger children, particularly those in inner cities, will rarely experience nature and their lives will be limited to the dreary confines of the city. 7. Over time, this can have a demoralising effect that is evidenced in the defeatist attitude common among less affluent children.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- The more specific, the better.
- Continue your development.
- Detail the results if you are struggling to develop your ideas.
- Add on any extra detail that you can that is related for a better task achievement score.
1. In conclusion, the importance of housing to meeting rising population demands does not overshadow the importance of trees. 2. Towns and cities must naturally balance these concerns to foster better living environments for residents.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes and then check below.
Many city and town planners believe that trees, instead of residential buildings, are crucial for the development of the modern city. In my agreement, I agree with this contention despite the legitimate benefits to increased housing in cities.
Those who would rather build more residential buildings argue that both town and city populations are surging. Population figures globally are on the rise and it is logical to provide quality housing for all citizens. This is particularly true in rapidly growing nations such as China and India. The migration of individuals from the countryside to cities and outlying towns means that higher residential numbers have led to deteriorating sanitary conditions and increased pressure on the services that sustain cities such as public transportation. More housing would at least partly alleviate the issues that urban planners face and allow for more cogent plans for densely populated environments.
Nonetheless, the importance of trees transcends the purely practical. For the average city and town resident, trees have aesthetic value. Take for example some of the best known cities in the world including Paris and New York City. The parks and gardens stand out and mitigate living apart from the natural world. Moreover, the more underprivileged segments of society are unlikely to be able to afford trips outside their immediate living vicinity. There is therefore a good chance that many younger children, particularly those in inner cities, will rarely experience nature and their lives will be limited to the dreary confines of the city. Over time, this can have a demoralising effect that is evidenced in the defeatist attitude common among less affluent children.
In conclusion, the importance of housing to meeting rising population demands does not overshadow the importance of trees. Towns and cities must naturally balance these concerns to foster better living environments for residents.
Answers
city and town planners people who map out and plan places
instead of residential buildings in place of housing
crucial key
modern city cities of the 21st century
contention despite opinion regardless of
legitimate benefits real advantages
rather prefer
argue claim
surging increasing a lot
population figures globally number of people around the world
logical rational
provide quality housing give good homes
particularly true especially the case
rapidly growing nations countries growing much faster
migration leaving/moving
outlying towns suburbs
higher residential numbers more people living there
deteriorating sanitary conditions less and less clean
increased pressure more stress
services transport, medicine, police, etc.
sustain keep alive
public transportation buses, metros, etc.
at least partly alleviate at the minimum somewhat contain
urban planners face people who plan cities must deal with
cogent plans logical future plans
densely populated environments cities with lots of people
nonetheless regardless
trees transcends is more important than
purely practical just what is necessary
average normal
aesthetic value beauty
stand out make an impression
mitigate lessen
apart away from
natural world nature
underprivileged segments of society poor people
afford can pay for
outside their immediate living vicinity
far from their home
particularly especially
inner cities deep in cities
rarely not often
limited not expansive
dreary confines sad surroundings
over time over period of time
demoralising effect demotivating
evidenced there is evidence for it
defeatist attitude negative outlook
common among prevalent in
less affluent children poor kids
demands what people need
overshadow be stronger than
naturally balance these concerns of course keep both in
check
foster better living environments encourage a nice place to
live
Pronunciation
ˈsɪti ænd taʊn ˈplænəz
ɪnˈstɛd ɒv ˌrɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl ˈbɪldɪŋz
ˈkruːʃəl
ˈmɒdən ˈsɪti
kənˈtɛnʃən dɪsˈpaɪt
lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ˈrɑːðə
ˈɑːgjuː
ˈsɜːʤɪŋ
ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən ˈfɪgəz ˈgləʊbəli
ˈlɒʤɪkəl
prəˈvaɪd ˈkwɒlɪti ˈhaʊzɪŋ
pəˈtɪkjʊləli truː
ˈræpɪdli ˈgrəʊɪŋ ˈneɪʃənz
maɪˈgreɪʃən
ˈsɪtiz
ˈaʊtˌlaɪɪŋ taʊnz
ˈhaɪə ˌrɛzɪˈdɛnʃəl ˈnʌmbəz
dɪˈtɪərɪəreɪtɪŋ ˈsænɪtəri kənˈdɪʃənz
ɪnˈkriːst ˈprɛʃə
ˈsɜːvɪsɪz
səsˈteɪn
ˈpʌblɪk ˌtrænspɔːˈteɪʃən
æt liːst ˈpɑːtli əˈliːvɪeɪt
ˈɜːbən ˈplænəz feɪs
ˈkəʊʤənt plænz
ˈdɛnsli ˈpɒpjʊleɪtɪd ɪnˈvaɪərənmənts
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
triːz trænˈsɛndz
ˈpjʊəli ˈpræktɪkəl
ˈævərɪʤ
iːsˈθɛtɪk ˈvæljuː
stænd aʊt
ˈmɪtɪgeɪt
əˈpɑːt
ˈnæʧrəl wɜːld
ˌʌndəˈprɪvɪlɪʤd ˈsɛgmənts ɒv səˈsaɪəti
əˈfɔːd
ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ðeər ɪˈmiːdiət ˈlɪvɪŋ vɪˈsɪnɪti
pəˈtɪkjʊləli
ˈɪnə ˈsɪtiz
ˈreəli
ˈlɪmɪtɪd
ˈdrɪəri ˈkɒnfaɪnz
ˈəʊvə taɪm
dɪˈmɒrəlaɪzɪŋ ɪˈfɛkt
ˈɛvɪdənst
dɪˈfiːtɪst ˈætɪtjuːd
ˈkɒmən əˈmʌŋ
lɛs ˈæflʊənt ˈʧɪldrən
dɪˈmɑːndz
ˌəʊvəˈʃædəʊ
ˈnæʧrəli ˈbæləns ðiːz kənˈsɜːnz
ˈfɒstə ˈbɛtə ˈlɪvɪŋ ɪnˈvaɪərənmənts
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
Many c_________________________s believe that trees, i___________________________s, are c__________l for the development of the m______________y. In my agreement, I agree with this c___________________e the l______________________s to increased housing in cities.
Those who would r_________r build more residential buildings a_____e that both town and city populations are s________g. P_________________________y are on the rise and it is l________l to p_______________________g for all citizens. This is p____________________e in r________________________s such as China and India. The m______________n of individuals from the countryside to cities and o_______________s means that h______________________________s have led to d_____________________________s and i_________________e on the s__________s that s_______n cities such as p________________________n. More housing would a___________________________e the issues that u______________________e and allow for more c_______________s for d_________________________________s.
N_____________s, the importance of t__________________s the p_____________l. For the a___________e city and town resident, trees have a_______________e. Take for example some of the best known cities in the world including Paris and New York City. The parks and gardens s__________t and m__________e living a______t from the n_________________d. Moreover, the more u___________________________________y are unlikely to be able to a_______d trips o_______________________________________y. There is therefore a good chance that many younger children, p___________y those in i__________s, will r________y experience nature and their lives will be l________d to the d_____________s of the city. O___________e, this can have a d____________________t that is e___________d in the d____________________________________________________n.
In conclusion, the importance of housing to meeting rising population d___________s does not o___________w the importance of trees. Towns and cities must n__________________________________s to f__________________________________s for residents.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Rubbish/Garbage/Litter
- How do you react when you see litter on the streets?
- Do you recycle?
- How do you help keep the streets tidy?
- What would you do if someone else dropped some litter?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Many people living in cities these days do not get enough physical exercise.
What are the causes of this?
What are some possible solutions?
It is often suggested that plantation is necessary for towns and cities rather than residential construction for the development of the modern city. Personally, I am also in favour of planting trees despite the benefits of building houses in empty spaces.
On the other hand, the benefits of cover the open space with greenery are undeniable. It is obvious that trees purify the air after absorbing excess carbon dioxide from the environment, hence reducing air pollution generated by transportation in the cities. Trees reduce erosion & pollution in the water bodies and they may also reduce the effects of flooding in the towns. They provide food, protection and home to birds & animals.
The contrary part is that keeping in view of the density of the population, the demand for building more houses to sustain the quality of living standard which directly contributed to the economic growth of the nation. For bread and butter many town people migrated towards the cities, this migration also gave rise to the need for residential areas and such migrated workers also maintain the same status in town. So in the current time we may see many areas of the towns converted into residential areas.
Comparing the two, my opinion is that the prevailing situation in India which most of the patients facing is lacking oxygen, trees are the natural source of oxygen and they provide it throughout the day. We have to plant more and more trees as they are extremely important for the survival of human beings. They stabilize the health of humans, save the environment and also contributed in slow down water evaporation.
To conclude, the plantation in the open spaces is more vital than the construction of buildings as trees maintain the balance in the environment.
Good again, Delhi!
Though you might want to stick to a more standard 4 paragraph structure and be careful about some run-on sentences that make your writing less clear.