IELTS Essay: Farm Animals and Vegetables
It has been suggested that primary children should learn how to grow vegetables and keep animals.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Some today have argued that it would be a sensible policy to teach children how to farm and raise animals at school. In my opinion, though this would require enormous resources, it would be beneficial in terms of both physical and intellectual development.
Those arguing against this proposal point out the resources needed. In order to implement such an ambitious program, schools would firstly need land nearby where animals and crops could be raised. This might be possible within a school’s pre-existing grounds, but there would still need to be significant investment in infrastructure. Schools would therefore have to reallocate a significant portion of their budget, potentially reducing the money for crucial facilities, staff, and teaching resources.
However, the advantages for the holistic development of children is overwhelming. Students today spend more time than ever before passively using technological devices. By spending more time outdoors learning about animals and crops, students will better understand their position within the natural food chain. Over time, this may lead them to adopt environmentally friendlier, compassionate lifestyle choices such as becoming vegetarians or shopping locally rather than buying from large chains. Moreover, the work outdoors would necessarily involve physical exercise. Since obesity is a growing concern in most countries, this time outside could help to improve standards of physical fitness and establish healthy lifelong habits.
In conclusion, despite the money this reform would require, schools should adopt it when possible so as to achieve a more complete education for students. Governments should consider the long-term effects when deciding on such policies.
Analysis
1. Some today have argued that it would be a sensible policy to teach children how to farm and raise animals at school. 2. In my opinion, though this would require enormous resources, it would be beneficial in terms of both physical and intellectual development.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those arguing against this proposal point out the resources needed. 2. In order to implement such an ambitious program, schools would firstly need land nearby where animals and crops could be raised. 3. This might be possible within a school’s pre-existing grounds, but there would still need to be significant investment in infrastructure. 4. Schools would therefore have to reallocate a significant portion of their budget, potentially reducing the money for crucial facilities, staff, and teaching resources.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
1. However, the advantages for the holistic development of children is overwhelming. 2. Students today spend more time than ever before passively using technological devices. 3. By spending more time outdoors learning about animals and crops, students will better understand their position within the natural food chain. 4. Over time, this may lead them to adopt environmentally friendlier, compassionate lifestyle choices such as becoming vegetarians or shopping locally rather than buying from large chains. 5. Moreover, the work outdoors would necessarily involve physical exercise. 6. Since obesity is a growing concern in most countries, this time outside could help to improve standards of physical fitness and establish healthy lifelong habits.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Continue your development.
- Finish strong.
1. In conclusion, despite the money this reform would require, schools should adopt it when possible so as to achieve a more complete education for students. 2. Governments should consider the long-term effects when deciding on such policies.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Some today have argued that it would be a sensible policy to teach children how to farm and raise animals at school. In my opinion, though this would require enormous resources, it would be beneficial in terms of both physical and intellectual development.
Those arguing against this proposal point out the resources needed. In order to implement such an ambitious program, schools would firstly need land nearby where animals and crops could be raised. This might be possible within a school’s pre-existing grounds, but there would still need to be significant investment in infrastructure. Schools would therefore have to reallocate a significant portion of their budget, potentially reducing the money for crucial facilities, staff, and teaching resources.
However, the advantages for the holistic development of children is overwhelming. Students today spend more time than ever before passively using technological devices. By spending more time outdoors learning about animals and crops, students will better understand their position within the natural food chain. Over time, this may lead them to adopt environmentally friendlier, compassionate lifestyle choices such as becoming vegetarians or shopping locally rather than buying from large chains. Moreover, the work outdoors would necessarily involve physical exercise. Since obesity is a growing concern in most countries, this time outside could help to improve standards of physical fitness and establish healthy lifelong habits.
In conclusion, despite the money this reform would require, schools should adopt it when possible so as to achieve a more complete education for students. Governments should consider the long-term effects when deciding on such policies.
Answers
argued pointed out
sensible policy logical idea
farm and raise animals take care of livestock
require enormous resources needs a lot of money, time
beneficial in terms of both physical and intellectual development good for both the body and mind
Those arguing against this proposal point out people who are not in favor of this idea argue
In order to implement such an ambitious program to put in place this reform
firstly need land nearby first of all require the space
animals and crops could be raised livestock and vegetables/fruits to be harvested
possible can happen
school’s pre-existing grounds a school’s campus
significant investment in infrastructure lots of money for buildings, rooms, etc.
reallocate a significant portion of their budget redirect money to
potentially reducing possibly cutting down on
crucial facilities important places at a school
staff people who work there
and teaching resources things for teachers to use when teaching
advantages benefits
holistic development good for overall growth
overwhelming very strong
spend more time than ever before passively using technological devices use smartphones more often
By spending more time outdoors more time outside
understand their position within the natural food chain know how you are part of nature
Over time later on
adopt environmentally friendlier start doing better things for nature
compassionate lifestyle choices caring about the world around you
vegetarians people who don’t eat meat
shopping locally rather than buying from large chains buying from nearby farms instead of big supermarkets
necessarily involve physical exercise of course require you to be active
obesity being overweight
growing concern more and more of a worry
improve standards of physical fitness and establish healthy lifelong habits make them healthy in the long-term
despite the money this reform would require regardless of the resources needed
adopt start doing
achieve accomplish
complete education holistic learning
consider thinking about
long-term effects impact later on
deciding on such policies implementing these ideas
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈɑːgjuːd
ˈsɛnsəbl ˈpɒlɪsi
fɑːm ænd reɪz ˈænɪməlz
rɪˈkwaɪər ɪˈnɔːməs rɪˈsɔːsɪz
ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl ɪn tɜːmz ɒv bəʊθ ˈfɪzɪkəl ænd ˌɪntɪˈlɛktjʊəl dɪˈvɛləpmənt
ðəʊz ˈɑːgjuːɪŋ əˈgɛnst ðɪs prəˈpəʊzəl pɔɪnt aʊt
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː ˈɪmplɪmənt sʌʧ ən æmˈbɪʃəs ˈprəʊgræm
ˈfɜːstli niːd lænd ˈnɪəbaɪ
ˈænɪməlz ænd krɒps kʊd biː reɪzd
ˈpɒsəbl
skuːlz priː-ɪgˈzɪstɪŋ graʊndz
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ɪnˈvɛstmənt ɪn ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə
ˌriːˈæləʊkeɪt ə sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ˈpɔːʃən ɒv ðeə ˈbʌʤɪt
pəʊˈtɛnʃəli rɪˈdjuːsɪŋ
ˈkruːʃəl fəˈsɪlɪtiz
stɑːf
ænd ˈtiːʧɪŋ rɪˈsɔːsɪz
ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz
həˈlɪstɪk dɪˈvɛləpmənt
ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋ
spɛnd mɔː taɪm ðæn ˈɛvə bɪˈfɔː ˈpæsɪvli ˈjuːzɪŋ ˌtɛknəˈlɒʤɪk(ə)l dɪˈvaɪsɪz
baɪ ˈspɛndɪŋ mɔː taɪm ˌaʊtˈdɔːz
ˌʌndəˈstænd ðeə pəˈzɪʃən wɪˈðɪn ðə ˈnæʧrəl fuːd ʧeɪn
ˈəʊvə taɪm
əˈdɒpt ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntli ˈfrɛndlɪə
kəmˈpæʃənɪt ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl ˈʧɔɪsɪz
ˌvɛʤɪˈteərɪənz
ˈʃɒpɪŋ ˈləʊkəli ˈrɑːðə ðæn ˈbaɪɪŋ frɒm lɑːʤ ʧeɪnz
ˈnɛsɪsərɪli ɪnˈvɒlv ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈɛksəsaɪz
əʊˈbiːsɪti
ˈgrəʊɪŋ kənˈsɜːn
ɪmˈpruːv ˈstændədz ɒv ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈfɪtnɪs ænd ɪsˈtæblɪʃ ˈhɛlθi ˈlaɪflɒŋ ˈhæbɪts
dɪsˈpaɪt ðə ˈmʌni ðɪs ˌriːˈfɔːm wʊd rɪˈkwaɪə
əˈdɒpt
əˈʧiːv eɪ
kəmˈpliːt ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃən
kənˈsɪdə
ˈlɒŋtɜːm ɪˈfɛkts
dɪˈsaɪdɪŋ ɒn sʌʧ ˈpɒlɪsiz
Vocabulary Practice
Some today have a________d that it would be a s____________y to teach children how to f_______________________s at school. In my opinion, though this would r_____________________________s, it would be b______________________________________________________________t.
T____________________________________t the resources needed. I__________________________________________________m, schools would f__________________________y where a__________________________________d. This might be p_______e within a s____________________________________s, but there would still need to be s_______________________________________e. Schools would therefore have to r__________________________________________t, p______________________g the money for c_________________________s, s_______f, a__________________________________s.
However, the a_____________s for the h_____________________t of children is o________________g. Students today s__________________________________________________________________s. B___________________________s learning about animals and crops, students will better u______________________________________________________n. O______e, this may lead them to a____________________________________r, c_____________________________s such as becoming v____________s or s____________________________________________s. Moreover, the work outdoors would n__________________________________e. Since o________y is a g______________n in most countries, this time outside could help to i_________________________________________________________________s.
In conclusion, d______________________________________e, schools should a________t it when possible so as to a________e a more c___________________n for students. Governments should c___________r the l_________________________s when d__________________________s.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.baltictimes.com/why_agriculture_and_farming_should_be_taught_in_schools/
Speaking Practice
Agriculture
- What kinds of crops are grown in your country?
- Is farming becoming more sustainable in your country?
- Should governments subsidize the agricultural industry?
- How will farms look different in the future?
- Do most people in your country buy local produce?
Writing Practice
It is sometimes suggested that primary schoolchildren should learn how to grow vegetables and keep animals.
Do you think that the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Actually, I don’t understand. You describe the advantages and disadvantages of establishing gardening and raising pets in school instead of the merits and demerits of learning the ways of growing plants and keeping animals.
Please explain………
Hey! In these questions where you are asked do the benefits outweigh the disadvantages, would it be okay if I don’t clearly state my opinion using phrases such as “in my opinion” ï believe” etc? Could I just right in the essay in a formal way saying “The advantages outweigh the disadvantages”?