IELTS Essay: Housing Shortages
The shortage of housing in big cities can cause severe consequences. Only government action can solve this problem.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some today argue that only governments are capable of countering problems in cities resulting from housing shortages. In my opinion, although governments should be the primary actors, individuals can also offer aid.
On the one hand, only governments have the authority to enact truly large-scale change. Governments by design make decisions for the benefit of the entire citizenry. An example of how this could relate to housing issues would be the urban planning in New York City over the last century. The authorities there had to contend with an unprecedented population surge in a limited urban area. They responded by building skyscrapers that could house many residents, expanding public transport, and constructing various highways to allow commuters to live nearby the city. These solutions could only have been successfully undertaken at the behest of the government.
However, though the role of individuals is less prominent, it still exists. In the previous example, voters in New York City were able to make their voices heard by voting for mayors and governors that best served them. In the event that the government is not addressing housing problems sufficiently, then citizens can write to their representatives, organize protests, or take more drastic action such as relocating to a new city. In the era of social media, it is now more possible than ever before for the average person to openly discuss these issues. Individuals will always find methods to pressure governments, including in areas related to housing.
In conclusion, I disagree with those who contend only government action can improve housing issues in major metropolitan areas as individuals can collectively always engender some degree of reform. Governments will ideally enact laws based on the needs of the general populace.
Analysis
1. Some today argue that only governments are capable of countering problems in cities resulting from housing shortages. 2. In my opinion, although governments should be the primary actors, individuals can also offer aid.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. On the one hand, only governments have the authority to enact truly large-scale change. 2. Governments by design make decisions for the benefit of the entire citizenry. 3. An example of how this could relate to housing issues would be the urban planning in New York City over the last century. 4. The authorities there had to contend with an unprecedented population surge in a limited urban area. 5. They responded by building skyscrapers that could house many residents, expanding public transport, and constructing various highways to allow commuters to live nearby the city. 6. These solutions could only have been successfully undertaken at the behest of the government.
- 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.
- Use short and long sentences.
- Finish the paragraph strong.
1. However, though the role of individuals is less prominent, it still exists. 2. In the previous example, voters in New York City were able to make their voices heard by voting for mayors and governors that best served them. 3. In the event that the government is not addressing housing problems sufficiently, then citizens can write to their representatives, organize protests, or take more drastic action such as relocating to a new city. 4. In the era of social media, it is now more possible than ever before for the average person to openly discuss these issues. 5. Individuals will always find methods to pressure governments, including in areas related to housing.
- 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, I disagree with those who contend only government action can improve housing issues in major metropolitan areas as individuals can collectively always engender some degree of reform. 2. Governments will ideally enact laws based on the needs of the general populace.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Some today argue that only governments are capable of countering problems in cities resulting from housing shortages. In my opinion, although governments should be the primary actors, individuals can also offer aid.
On the one hand, only governments have the authority to enact truly large-scale change. Governments by design make decisions for the benefit of the entire citizenry. An example of how this could relate to housing issues would be the urban planning in New York City over the last century. The authorities there had to contend with an unprecedented population surge in a limited urban area. They responded by building skyscrapers that could house many residents, expanding public transport, and constructing various highways to allow commuters to live nearby the city. These solutions could only have been successfully undertaken at the behest of the government.
However, though the role of individuals is less prominent, it still exists. In the previous example, voters in New York City were able to make their voices heard by voting for mayors and governors that best served them. In the event that the government is not addressing housing problems sufficiently, then citizens can write to their representatives, organize protests, or take more drastic action such as relocating to a new city. In the era of social media, it is now more possible than ever before for the average person to openly discuss these issues. Individuals will always find methods to pressure governments, including in areas related to housing.
In conclusion, I disagree with those who contend only government action can improve housing issues in major metropolitan areas as individuals can collectively always engender some degree of reform. Governments will ideally enact laws based on the needs of the general populace.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
capable of are able to
countering problems fixing issues
resulting from coming from
housing shortages not enough real estate, a shortage of homes for people
primary actors main people in charge
offer aid give help
on the one hand firstly
authority governments, people in charge
enact truly large-scale change make really big alterations
by design deliberately, the way it is supposed to be
decisions choices
benefit advantage
entire citizenry whole country
An example of how this could relate to housing issues would be one instance of this concerning the shortage of houses is
urban planning design of a city
over the last century the last 100 years
contend with deal with
unprecedented population surge a lot more people
limited urban area small space for the city
responded answered
building skyscrapers erecting large buildings
house verb for live in a place
expanding public transport more buses, subways, etc.
constructing various highways building overpasses and expressways
allow commuters permit people going to work/school
nearby next to
successfully undertaken done well
at the behest of requested by
though but
less prominent not as noticeable
exists is there
In the previous example the instance mentioned before
voters citizens in a country
make their voices heard make demands
voting deciding in elections
mayors people in charge of cities
governors people in charge of states
best served them most for their interests
In the event that when it happens that
not addressing not dealing with
sufficiently enough
citizens people of a country
write send letters
representatives people who are for them in government
organize protests put together demonstrations
take more drastic action do more serious steps
such as including
relocating to a new city moving to a new urban area
In the era of social media because of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.
more possible than ever before truer than in the past
average person normal citizen
openly discuss talk about freely
methods ways
pressure stress
including in also in
major metropolitan areas big cities
collectively grouped together
engender some degree of reform create changes
ideally enact laws hopefully create new regulations
the general populace people
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈkeɪpəbl ɒv
ˈkaʊntərɪŋ ˈprɒbləmz
rɪˈzʌltɪŋ frɒm
ˈhaʊzɪŋ ˈʃɔːtɪʤɪz
ˈpraɪməri ˈæktəz
ˈɒfər eɪd
ɒn ðə wʌn hænd
ɔːˈθɒrɪti
ɪˈnækt ˈtruːli lɑːʤ-skeɪl ʧeɪnʤ
baɪ dɪˈzaɪn
dɪˈsɪʒənz
ˈbɛnɪfɪt
ɪnˈtaɪə ˈsɪtɪznri
ən ɪgˈzɑːmpl ɒv haʊ ðɪs kʊd rɪˈleɪt tuː ˈhaʊzɪŋ ˈɪʃuːz wʊd biː
ˈɜːbən ˈplænɪŋ
ˈəʊvə ðə lɑːst ˈsɛnʧʊri
kənˈtɛnd wɪð
ʌnˈprɛsɪdəntɪd ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən sɜːʤ
ˈlɪmɪtɪd ˈɜːbən ˈeərɪə
rɪsˈpɒndɪd
ˈbɪldɪŋ ˈskaɪˌskreɪpəz
haʊs
ɪksˈpændɪŋ ˈpʌblɪk ˈtrænspɔːt
kənˈstrʌktɪŋ ˈveərɪəs ˈhaɪweɪz
əˈlaʊ kəˈmjuːtəz tuː
ˈnɪəbaɪ
səkˈsɛsfʊli ˌʌndəˈteɪkən
æt ðə bɪˈhɛst ɒv
ðəʊ
lɛs ˈprɒmɪnənt
ɪgˈzɪsts
ɪn ðə ˈpriːviəs ɪgˈzɑːmpl
ˈvəʊtəz
meɪk ðeə ˈvɔɪsɪz hɜːd
ˈvəʊtɪŋ
meəz
ˈgʌvənəz
bɛst sɜːvd ðɛm
ɪn ði ɪˈvɛnt ðæt
nɒt əˈdrɛsɪŋ
səˈfɪʃəntli
ˈsɪtɪznz
raɪt
ˌrɛprɪˈzɛntətɪvz
ˈɔːgənaɪz ˈprəʊtɛsts
teɪk mɔː ˈdræstɪk ˈækʃ(ə)n
sʌʧ æz
ˌriːləʊˈkeɪtɪŋ tuː ə njuː ˈsɪti
ɪn ði ˈɪərə ɒv ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə
mɔː ˈpɒsəbl ðæn ˈɛvə bɪˈfɔː
ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsn
ˈəʊpnli dɪsˈkʌs
ˈmɛθədz
ˈprɛʃə
ɪnˈkluːdɪŋ ɪn
ˈmeɪʤə ˌmɛtrəˈpɒlɪtən ˈeərɪəz
kɒˈlɛktɪvli
ɪnˈʤɛndə sʌm dɪˈgriː ɒv ˌriːˈfɔːm
aɪˈdɪəli ɪˈnækt lɔːz
ðə ˈʤɛnərəl ˈpɒpjʊləs
Vocabulary Practice
Some today argue that only governments are c__________f c____________________s in cities r___________________m h______________________s. In my opinion, although governments should be the p_____________s, individuals can also o_________d.
O_________________d, only governments have the a_________y to e______t t____________________e. Governments b__________n make d___________s for the b__________t of the e_____________y. A_____________________________________________________e the u_____________g in New York City o____________________y. The authorities there had to c___________h an u____________________________e in a l___________________a. They r____________d by b_________________s that could h_______e many residents, e__________________________t, and c__________________________s to a_____________________s to live n________y the city. These solutions could only have been s____________y u_____________n a__________________f the government.
However, t___________h the role of individuals is l__________________t, it still e______s. I_______________________e, v_________s in New York City were able to m______________________d by v______g for m_______s and g____________s that b_____________________m. I______________________t the government is n_________________g housing problems s_____________y, then c__________s can w_____e to their r_________________s, o__________________s, or t___________________________n s__________s r_____________________________y. I___________________________a, it is now m_____________________________e for the a_______________n to o________________s these issues. Individuals will always find m___________s to p________e governments, i______________n areas related to housing.
In conclusion, I disagree with those who contend only government action can improve housing issues in m__________________________s as individuals can c_______________y always e_____________r s____________________m. Governments will i_____________________s based on the needs of t____________________e.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
Speaking Practice
Where you Live
- Where is your hometown?
- Would you like to live there in the future?
- What don’t you like about your home?
Writing Practice
Some believe that because everyone needs a place to live, governments should provide houses for those who are too poor to afford their own.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Hello sir, is it correct to write one whole paragraph about role of individuals which is not even being asked in essay topic? It seems additional information and does not address the task. Would this have any impact on task response as there is irrelevant information? It is ok, instead, we write something about growing population in urban areas and how it affects housing requirements in first body paragraph and government measures in 2nd body paragraph?