IELTS Essay: Fuel Costs
The best way to solve the world’s environmental problems is to increase the cost of fuel for cars and other private vehicles.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
On the one hand, increasing the price of fuel would have a clearly identifiable impact. In both developing and developed countries, private vehicles are becoming more common. More expensive fuel costs would discourage individuals from taking long trips and encourage them to seek alternative modes of transport such as walking, riding a bicycle, sharing transportation, and using public transportation. The average family that struggles to pay their bills every month might then decide to stay home rather than take a short trip on weekends if the cost of travel outweighs the potential enjoyment. Governments would be able to clearly chart the effects produced by these taxes and adjust them accordingly.
On the other hand, a wide variety of measures that do not target less affluent segments of society would have a greater effect. A single remedy is unlikely to produce the desired result as the majority of middle and upper class citizens would not be deterred by minor taxes. Instead, governments should consider all the relevant environment issues ranging from deforestation and single-use plastics to fossil fuel consumption in industry and the methane released in factory farming. To truly and sustainably counter these issues, governments will need to employ a variety of tactics that will likely include not only taxes but also regulations and various educational initiatives. The tackling of a single cause, such as the fuel used in private vehicles, will have marginal impact at best.
In conclusion, despite tangible results that a tax might engender, governments should opt for a more comprehensive environmental policy. This is a pressing issue and requires a nuanced, long-term approach.
Analysis
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. On the one hand, increasing the price of fuel would have a clearly identifiable impact. 2. In both developing and developed countries, private vehicles are becoming more common. 3. More expensive fuel costs would discourage individuals from taking long trips and encourage them to seek alternative modes of transport such as walking, riding a bicycle, sharing transportation, and using public transportation. 4. The average family that struggles to pay their bills every month might then decide to stay home rather than take a short trip on weekends if the cost of travel outweighs the potential enjoyment. 5. Governments would be able to clearly chart the effects produced by these taxes and adjust them accordingly.
- 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.
- Finish strong.
1. On the other hand, a wide variety of measures that do not target less affluent segments of society would have a greater effect. 2. A single remedy is unlikely to produce the desired result as the majority of middle and upper class citizens would not be deterred by minor taxes. 3. Instead, governments should consider all the relevant environment issues ranging from deforestation and single-use plastics to fossil fuel consumption in industry and the methane released in factory farming. 4. To truly and sustainably counter these issues, governments will need to employ a variety of tactics that will likely include not only taxes but also regulations and various educational initiatives. 5. The tackling of a single cause, such as the fuel used in private vehicles, will have marginal impact at best.
- 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.
- Develop the example fully.
1. In conclusion, despite tangible results that a tax might engender, governments should opt for a more comprehensive environmental policy. 2. This is a pressing issue and requires a nuanced, long-term approach.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
On the one hand, increasing the price of fuel would have a clearly identifiable impact. In both developing and developed countries, private vehicles are becoming more common. More expensive fuel costs would discourage individuals from taking long trips and encourage them to seek alternative modes of transport such as walking, riding a bicycle, sharing transportation, and using public transportation. The average family that struggles to pay their bills every month might then decide to stay home rather than take a short trip on weekends if the cost of travel outweighs the potential enjoyment. Governments would be able to clearly chart the effects produced by these taxes and adjust them accordingly.
On the other hand, a wide variety of measures that do not target less affluent segments of society would have a greater effect. A single remedy is unlikely to produce the desired result as the majority of middle and upper class citizens would not be deterred by minor taxes. Instead, governments should consider all the relevant environment issues ranging from deforestation and single-use plastics to fossil fuel consumption in industry and the methane released in factory farming. To truly and sustainably counter these issues, governments will need to employ a variety of tactics that will likely include not only taxes but also regulations and various educational initiatives. The tackling of a single cause, such as the fuel used in private vehicles, will have marginal impact at best.
In conclusion, despite tangible results that a tax might engender, governments should opt for a more comprehensive environmental policy. This is a pressing issue and requires a nuanced, long-term approach.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
clearly identifiable impact definite effect
developing and developed countries poor and rich nations
expensive costs a lot
discourage not make someone want to do it
taking long trips traveling far
encourage make people want to do it
alternative modes different ways
transport ways of getting around
sharing transportation travelling together such as in the same car
public transportation buses, subways, etc.
average family normal family
struggles have difficulty
pay their bills afford the cost of
decide choose
rather than instead of
outweighs stronger than
potential enjoyment possible jobs
clearly chart easily record
produced by created by
taxes money paid to governments
adjust change
accordingly based on what they learn
a wide variety of measures different kinds of actions
target less affluent segments focus on poorer areas
remedy fix
produce the desired result create what is meant to be done
majority most of
middle and upper class citizens medium rich and very rich people
deterred not encouraged to
minor small
instead rather than
consider think about
relevant environment issues problems related to nature and climate change
deforestation cutting down trees
single-use plastics bottles, bags, etc.
fossil fuel consumption burning oil
industry business
methane released gas sent into the air
factory farming giant farms
truly definitely
sustainably counter good long-term solution
employ use
tactics strategies
regulations rules, laws
various educational initiatives different kinds of policies
tackling fighting
single cause main source
marginal impact at best small effect in the best case scenario
despite tangible regardless of the real effect
engender create
opt for choose to
comprehensive total
policy laws, regulations
pressing issue important problem
requires needs
nuanced complex
long-term approach thinking of the future, not short-term
Pronunciation
Vocabulary Practice
On the one hand, increasing the price of fuel would have a c___________________________t. In both d__________________________________s, private vehicles are becoming more common. More e___________e fuel costs would d__________e individuals from t________________s and e_________e them to seek a___________________s of t_____________t such as walking, riding a bicycle, s______________________n, and using p________________________n. The a_________________y that s________________s to p_______________s every month might then d_____e to stay home r___________n take a short trip on weekends if the cost of travel o____________s the p___________________________t. Governments would be able to c_____________t the effects p______________y these t_______s and a_______t them a_____________y.
On the other hand, a_________________________s that do not t_________________________________s of society would have a greater effect. A single r___________y is unlikely to p_________________________t as the m_________y of m______________________________s would not be d___________d by m_____r taxes. I_________d, governments should consider all the r____________________________s ranging from d________________n and s____________________s to f___________________________n in i____________y and the m_________________d in f____________________g. To t_____y and s____________________r these issues, governments will need to e__________y a variety of t__________s that will likely include not only taxes but also r_______________s and v____________________________s. The t___________g of a s______________e, such as the fuel used in private vehicles, will have m__________________________t.
In conclusion, d_________________e results that a tax might e_________r, governments should opt for a more comprehensive environmental p_______y. This is a p___________e and r__________s a n__________d, l________________________h.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
Speaking Practice
Driving
- Do you like driving?
- Where was the last place you drove?
- Where do you like to sit in a car?
- Is driving common in your country?
Writing Practice
The manufacturing and use of cars damages the environment but their popularity is increasing.
Why is this?
How could this be controlled?
hi,i think the main idea is increasing the cost of fuel for cars to just prevent people from consuming the fuel .And you related this to the tax issue ,so maybe it is not a tax issue it is an environmental issue.thank you.
Hi Abdo – the only real way to do this would be through taxes so I more or less equated raising the cost with taxins – that is fine, I think.
The question, and my answer, are mostly focused on the environment.
Yes i have noticed that after searching .Thank you Dave for your attention .And your topics are extremely helpful for me .
You’re welcome!