This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of extinction being a natural process.
IELTS Essay: Extinction as a Natural Process
It is a natural process that animal species such as dinosaurs become extinct. There is no reason for people to prevent this from happening.
Do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe that animal extinction is a natural process and that humans should not attempt to prevent it. Others argue that people have a responsibility to protect endangered species. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I disagree with the contention that extinction should simply be accepted.
On the one hand, extinction has occurred throughout Earth’s history without human involvement. Dinosaurs, for example, disappeared due to natural catastrophes such as asteroids and extreme climate change. Similarly, many ancient species failed to survive ice ages or volcanic eruptions because they could not adapt quickly enough. From this perspective, extinction can be seen as a normal part of evolution, allowing stronger or more adaptable species to replace weaker ones.
On the other hand, most animal extinctions today are closely linked to human activities rather than natural forces. Species such as elephants and rhinos are endangered mainly because of poaching, while animals like orangutans are losing their habitats due to deforestation for agriculture and housing. For instance, large areas of rainforest are cleared each year to produce palm oil, directly destroying ecosystems that took thousands of years to develop.
In my opinion, because humans are the primary cause of modern extinctions, they also have a moral and practical responsibility to protect biodiversity. Allowing human-driven species loss to continue unchecked would be both irresponsible and dangerous.
Analysis
1. Some people believe that animal extinction is a natural process and that humans should not attempt to prevent it. Others argue that people have a responsibility to protect endangered species. 2. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I disagree with the contention that extinction should simply be accepted.
1. On the one hand, extinction has occurred throughout Earth’s history without human involvement. 2. Dinosaurs, for example, disappeared due to natural catastrophes such as asteroids and extreme climate change. 3. Similarly, many ancient species failed to survive ice ages or volcanic eruptions because they could not adapt quickly enough. 4. From this perspective, extinction can be seen as a normal part of evolution, allowing stronger or more adaptable species to replace weaker ones.
1. On the other hand, most animal extinctions today are closely linked to human activities rather than natural forces. 2. Species such as elephants and rhinos are endangered mainly because of poaching, while animals like orangutans are losing their habitats due to deforestation for agriculture and housing. 3. For instance, large areas of rainforest are cleared each year to produce palm oil, directly destroying ecosystems that took thousands of years to develop.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
1. In my opinion, because humans are the primary cause of modern extinctions, they also have a moral and practical responsibility to protect biodiversity. 2. Allowing human-driven species loss to continue unchecked would be both irresponsible and dangerous.
- 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 on paper to aid memory and then check below.
Some people believe that animal extinction is a natural process and that humans should not attempt to prevent it. Others argue that people have a responsibility to protect endangered species. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I disagree with the contention that extinction should simply be accepted.
On the one hand, extinction has occurred throughout Earth’s history without human involvement. Dinosaurs, for example, disappeared due to natural catastrophes such as asteroids and extreme climate change. Similarly, many ancient species failed to survive ice ages or volcanic eruptions because they could not adapt quickly enough. From this perspective, extinction can be seen as a normal part of evolution, allowing stronger or more adaptable species to replace weaker ones.
On the other hand, most animal extinctions today are closely linked to human activities rather than natural forces. Species such as elephants and rhinos are endangered mainly because of poaching, while animals like orangutans are losing their habitats due to deforestation for agriculture and housing. For instance, large areas of rainforest are cleared each year to produce palm oil, directly destroying ecosystems that took thousands of years to develop.
In my opinion, because humans are the primary cause of modern extinctions, they also have a moral and practical responsibility to protect biodiversity. Allowing human-driven species loss to continue unchecked would be both irresponsible and dangerous.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
animal extinction – the disappearance of animal species
a natural process – an inherent phenomenon
should not attempt to prevent it – ought not to try to stop it
have a responsibility to protect endangered species – bear an obligation to safeguard threatened wildlife
This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I disagree with the contention – This essay will examine both perspectives before outlining why I oppose this argument
accepted – widely acknowledged
occurred throughout Earth’s history without human involvement – taken place across Earth’s past independent of human influence
disappeared due to natural catastrophes – became extinct as a result of natural disasters
asteroids – meteorites
extreme climate change – severe climatic shifts
Similarly – In the same way
ancient species failed to survive ice ages or volcanic eruptions – prehistoric organisms were unable to endure glacial periods or volcanic activity
could not adapt quickly enough – were unable to adjust rapidly
From this perspective – From this standpoint
can be seen as a normal part of evolution – may be regarded as a natural element of evolutionary processes
allowing stronger or more adaptable species to replace weaker ones – enabling more resilient species to supplant less adaptable ones
closely linked to human activities rather than natural forces – strongly associated with human actions instead of environmental factors
mainly because of poaching – primarily due to illegal hunting
losing their habitats due to deforestation for agriculture and housing – being deprived of natural habitats as forests are cleared for farming and urban development
large areas of rainforest are cleared – vast tracts of tropical forest are cut down
produce palm oil – manufacture palm oil
directly destroying ecosystems – causing immediate damage to ecological systems
took thousands of years to develop – required millennia to form
primary cause of modern extinctions – leading factor behind contemporary species loss
a moral and practical responsibility to protect biodiversity – an ethical and pragmatic duty to conserve biological diversity
Allowing human-driven species loss to continue unchecked – Permitting anthropogenic extinctions to persist without restriction
irresponsible – negligent
dangerous – hazardous
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈænɪmᵊl ɪkˈstɪŋkʃᵊn
ə ˈnæʧᵊrᵊl ˈprəʊsɛs
ʃʊd nɒt əˈtɛmpt tuː prɪˈvɛnt ɪt
hæv ə rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪləti tuː prəˈtɛkt ɪnˈdeɪnʤəd ˈspiːʃiːz
ðɪs ˈɛseɪ wɪl dɪˈskʌs bəʊθ vjuːz bɪˈfɔːr ɪkˈspleɪnɪŋ waɪ aɪ ˌdɪsəˈɡriː wɪð ðə kənˈtɛnʃᵊn
əkˈsɛptɪd
əˈkɜːd θruːˈaʊt ɜːθs ˈhɪstᵊri wɪˈðaʊt ˈhjuːmən ɪnˈvɒlvmənt
ˌdɪsəˈpɪəd djuː tuː ˈnæʧᵊrᵊl kəˈtæstrəfiz
ˈæstᵊrɔɪdz
ɪkˈstriːm ˈklaɪmət ʧeɪnʤ
ˈsɪmɪləli
ˈeɪnʃᵊnt ˈspiːʃiːz feɪld tuː səˈvaɪv aɪs ˈeɪʤɪz ɔː vɒlˈkænɪk ɪˈrʌpʃᵊnz
kʊd nɒt əˈdæpt ˈkwɪkli ɪˈnʌf
frɒm ðɪs pəˈspɛktɪv
kæn biː siːn æz ə ˈnɔːmᵊl pɑːt ɒv ˌiːvəˈluːʃᵊn
əˈlaʊɪŋ ˈstrɒŋɡər ɔː mɔːr əˈdæptəbᵊl ˈspiːʃiːz tuː rɪˈpleɪs ˈwiːkə wʌnz
ˈkləʊsli lɪŋkt tuː ˈhjuːmən ækˈtɪvətiz ˈrɑːðə ðæn ˈnæʧᵊrᵊl ˈfɔːsɪz
ˈmeɪnli bɪˈkɒz ɒv ˈpəʊʧɪŋ
ˈluːzɪŋ ðeə ˈhæbɪtæts djuː tuː dɪˌfɒrɪˈsteɪʃᵊn fɔːr ˈæɡrɪkʌlʧər ænd ˈhaʊzɪŋ
lɑːʤ ˈeəriəz ɒv ˈreɪnˌfɒrɪst ɑː klɪəd
ˈprɒdjuːs pɑːm ɔɪl
daɪˈrɛktli dɪˈstrɔɪɪŋ ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəmz
tʊk ˈθaʊzᵊndz ɒv jɪəz tuː dɪˈvɛləp
ˈpraɪmᵊri kɔːz ɒv ˈmɒdᵊn ɪkˈstɪŋkʃᵊnz
ə ˈmɒrᵊl ænd ˈpræktɪkᵊl rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪləti tuː prəˈtɛkt ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti
əˈlaʊɪŋ ˈhjuːmən-ˈdrɪvᵊn ˈspiːʃiːz lɒs tuː kənˈtɪnjuː ʌnˈʧɛkt
ˌɪrɪˈspɒnsəbᵊl
ˈdeɪnʤᵊrəs
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:
Some people believe that animal _____________n is a natural _________s and that humans should ____________________________ it. Others argue that people have ________________________________________________ species. This __________________________________________________________________ contention that extinction should simply be a_________d.
On the one hand, extinction has occurred ________________________________________________ involvement. Dinosaurs, for example, disappeared ________________ catastrophes such as a_________s and extreme ___________change. S__________y, many ancient ___________________________________________________________ eruptions because they could _____________________ enough. From _________ perspective, extinction can ______________________________________ evolution, allowing _____________________________________________________________________ ones.
On the other hand, most animal extinctions today are closely ________________________________________________________ forces. Species such as elephants and rhinos are endangered mainly _____________ poaching, while animals like orangutans are losing ___________________________________________________________________ housing. For instance, large _____________________________ cleared each year to produce __________oil, directly ______________ecosystems that took _____________________ develop.
In my opinion, because humans are the primary _________________ extinctions, they also have a m____________________________________________________________ biodiversity. Allowing ________________________________________unchecked would be both i________________e and d____________s.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://www.ifaw.org/international/journal/18-animals-recently-extinct
Speaking Practice
Wild Animals
Question 1: What’s your favourite wild animal?
Question 2: Are there many wild animals in your country?
Question 3: Have you ever seen wild animals? (Check out a related video here too: https://youtube.com/shorts/R-7vLPqjfis?si=li058QWVhLHUJEfG)
Question 4: Where can you see wild animals in your area?
Writing Practice
It is a natural process for animal species to become extinct (e.g. dinosaurs, dodos, etc.). There is no reason why people should try to prevent this from happening.
Do you agree or disagree?
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