This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of the pros and cons of importing foods from the real IELTS exam.
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IELTS Essay: Imported Foods
Some countries import a large amount of food from other parts of the world.
To what extent is this a postive or negative trend?
Nations are increasingly importing food products and relying less on domestic supplies. In my opinion, though this has narrow economic drawbacks, it is a net positive.
The negative aspects of increased imports relate to domestic agriculture. In the United States, for example, there are trade agreements with a variety of countries enabling customers to purchase foreign products that cannot be locally grown, are only available seasonally or are prohibitively expensive. Any local farmers who rely on higher prices for specialised crops or expect a surge in sales when the seasons change, must now account for the global nature of agriculture. If they are not in a position to begin exporting to other countries themselves, there is a strong likelihood they will suffer a serious decline in their living standards and may have to consider the possibility of new employment.
However, the cases above are often mitigated with government subsidies and the benefits of imports for the average shopper are substantial. In the past, customers resigned themselves to a limited range of local produce, restricted by both geography and the seasons. Nowadays, imports make it possible to eat exotic fruits and vegetables that cannot be grown in one’s own country. Aside from the luxuries now available, there are also more utilitarian benefits. Countries with large populations and limited arable land, such as in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, can make deals that leverage their more abundant natural resources. The tangible result is that previously malnourished residents now have greater access to nutritious foods, which in turn raises both life expectancy and quality of life.
In conclusion, the limited economic collateral of a thriving import and export agricultural market do not outweigh the advantages gained for both affluent and underprivileged segments of a population.
Analysis
1. Nations are increasingly importing food products and relying less on domestic supplies. 2. In my opinion, though this has narrow economic drawbacks, it is a net positive.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The negative aspects of increased imports relate to domestic agriculture. 2. In the United States, for example, there are trade agreements with a variety of countries enabling customers to purchase foreign products that cannot be locally grown, are only available seasonally or are prohibitively expensive. 3. Any local farmers who rely on higher prices for specialised crops or expect a surge in sales when the seasons change, must now account for the global nature of agriculture. 4. If they are not in a position to begin exporting to other countries themselves, there is a strong likelihood they will suffer a serious decline in their living standards and may have to consider the possibility of new employment.
- 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 fully.
1. However, the cases above are often mitigated with government subsidies and the benefits of imports for the average shopper are substantial. 2. In the past, customers resigned themselves to a limited range of local produce, restricted by both geography and the seasons. 3. Nowadays, imports make it possible to eat exotic fruits and vegetables that cannot be grown in one’s own country. 4. Aside from the luxuries now available, there are also more utilitarian benefits. 5. Countries with large populations and limited arable land, such as in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, can make deals that leverage their more abundant natural resources. 6. The tangible result is that previously malnourished residents now have greater access to nutritious foods, which in turn raises both life expectancy and quality of life.
- 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.
- Keep adding more specific and examples.
- And develop them fully.
1. In conclusion, the limited economic collateral of a thriving import and export agricultural market do not outweigh the advantages gained for both affluent and underprivileged segments of a population.
- Summarise your main ideas. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Nations are increasingly importing food products and relying less on domestic supplies. In my opinion, though this has narrow economic drawbacks, it is a net positive.
The negative aspects of increased imports relate to domestic agriculture. In the United States, for example, there are trade agreements with a variety of countries enabling customers to purchase foreign products that cannot be locally grown, are only available seasonally or are prohibitively expensive. Any local farmers who rely on higher prices for specialised crops or expect a surge in sales when the seasons change, must now account for the global nature of agriculture. If they are not in a position to begin exporting to other countries themselves, there is a strong likelihood they will suffer a serious decline in their living standards and may have to consider the possibility of new employment.
However, the cases above are often mitigated with government subsidies and the benefits of imports for the average shopper are substantial. In the past, customers resigned themselves to a limited range of local produce, restricted by both geography and the seasons. Nowadays, imports make it possible to eat exotic fruits and vegetables that cannot be grown in one’s own country. Aside from the luxuries now available, there are also more utilitarian benefits. Countries with large populations and limited arable land, such as in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, can make deals that leverage their more abundant natural resources. The tangible result is that previously malnourished residents now have greater access to nutritious foods, which in turn raises both life expectancy and quality of life.
In conclusion, the limited economic collateral of a thriving import and export agricultural market do not outweigh the advantages gained for both affluent and underprivileged segments of a population.
Answers
increasingly importing bring in more products from other countries
relying less not need as much
domestic supplies what is made in your country
narrow economic drawbacks small disadvantages for the economy
net positive overall good
negative aspects disadvantages
relate to concern
domestic agriculture farms in your country
trade agreements deal between countries
a variety of countries many nations
enabling allowing for
purchase buy
locally grown grown in your country
only available seasonally can only be bought sometimes
prohibitively expensive too much
rely on need
specialised crops rare, specific foods
surge increase a lot
now account for consider now
global nature all countries involved
not in a position can’t
strong likelihood good chance
suffer a serious decline decrease a lot
living standards how you are living
consider the possibility think about the chance
mitigated weakened
government subsidies government support/money
average shopper normal consumer
substantial a lot
resigned themselves given up and now happy with
limited range not many types
local produce grown in nearby farms
restricted by limited by
geography land, terrain
eat exotic fruits eat rare fruits
aside from besides
luxuries not necessary
utilitarian benefits real impact
limited arable land not much farming land
Sub-Saharan Africa countries in and below the Sahara desert
make deals sign constracts
leverage exploit
abundant natural resources lots of resources
tangible result real effect
previously malnourished residents starving before
greater access more ability to get
nutritious healthy
in turn then
life expectancy longevity
quality of life standards of living
limited economic collateral just hurts a bit
thriving doing well
outweigh stronger than
affluent rich
underprivileged segments of a population poorer residents
Pronunciation
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ɪmˈpɔːtɪŋ
rɪˈlaɪɪŋ lɛs
dəʊˈmɛstɪk səˈplaɪz
ˈnærəʊ ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈdrɔːbæks
nɛt ˈpɒzətɪv
ˈnɛgətɪv ˈæspɛkts
rɪˈleɪt tuː
dəʊˈmɛstɪk ˈægrɪkʌlʧə
treɪd əˈgriːmənts
ə vəˈraɪəti ɒv ˈkʌntriz
ɪˈneɪblɪŋ
ˈpɜːʧəs
ˈləʊkəli grəʊn
ˈəʊnli əˈveɪləbl ˈsiːzənli
prəˈhɪbɪtɪvli ɪksˈpɛnsɪv
rɪˈlaɪ ɒn
ˈspɛʃ(ə)laɪzd krɒps
sɜːʤ
naʊ əˈkaʊnt fɔː
ˈgləʊbəl ˈneɪʧə
nɒt ɪn ə pəˈzɪʃən
strɒŋ ˈlaɪklɪhʊd
ˈsʌfər ə ˈsɪərɪəs dɪˈklaɪn
ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈstændədz
kənˈsɪdə ðə ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪti
ˈmɪtɪgeɪtɪd
ˈgʌvnmənt ˈsʌbsɪdiz
ˈævərɪʤ ˈʃɒpə
səbˈstænʃəl
rɪˈzaɪnd ðəmˈsɛlvz
ˈlɪmɪtɪd reɪnʤ
ˈləʊkəl ˈprɒdjuːs
rɪsˈtrɪktɪd baɪ
ʤɪˈɒgrəfi
iːt ɪgˈzɒtɪk fruːts
əˈsaɪd frɒm
ˈlʌkʃəriz
ˌjuːtɪlɪˈteərɪən ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ˈlɪmɪtɪd ˈærəbl lænd
sʌb-səˈhɑːrən ˈæfrɪkə
meɪk diːlz
ˈliːvərɪʤ
əˈbʌndənt ˈnæʧrəl rɪˈsɔːsɪz
ˈtænʤəbl rɪˈzʌlt
ˈpriːviəsli məˈnʌrɪʃt ˈrɛzɪdənts
ˈgreɪtər ˈæksɛs
nju(ː)ˈtrɪʃəs
ɪn tɜːn
laɪf ɪksˈpɛktənsi
ˈkwɒlɪti ɒv laɪf
ˈlɪmɪtɪd ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk kɒˈlætərəl
ˈθraɪvɪŋ
aʊtˈweɪ
ˈæflʊənt
ˌʌndəˈprɪvɪlɪʤd ˈsɛgmənts ɒv ə ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Nations are i______________________g food products and r______________s on d_____________________s. In my opinion, though this has n____________________________s, it is a n______________e.
The n____________________s of increased imports r_______________o d______________________e. In the United States, for example, there are t___________________s with a__________________________s e_____________g customers to p_______________e foreign products that cannot be l__________________n, are o______________________________y or are p________________________e. Any local farmers who r_______n higher prices for s__________________________s or expect a s____e in sales when the seasons change, must n___________________r the g____________e of agriculture. If they are n__________________________n to begin exporting to other countries themselves, there is a s___________________d they will s______________________e in their l_______________________s and may have to c_________________________________y of new employment.
However, the cases above are often m______________d with g_______________________s and the benefits of imports for the a____________________r are s____________l. In the past, customers r______________________s to a l_______________e of l___________________e, r__________________y both g______________y and the seasons. Nowadays, imports make it possible to e____________________s and vegetables that cannot be grown in one’s own country. A_________m the l________s now available, there are also more u____________________________s. Countries with large populations and l_________________d, such as in S_______________________a and the Middle East, can m_________s that l__________e their more a_____________________________s. The t_______________t is that p________________________________________s now have g_________________s to n___________s foods, which i_______n raises both l______________________y and q__________________e.
In conclusion, the l________________________________l of a t________g import and export agricultural market do not o________h the advantages gained for both a_________t and u__________________________________________n.
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:
Food
- What kinds of foods do you like to eat?
- How different is food in your country today from when you were younger?
- Which foods do you dislike?
- What foods do people in your country buy at the market?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
Some feel that countries should produce most of the food that is eaten in their country and import as little as possible.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Should I choose the one side of the question or not I’m bit confuse.
It’s usually better to write about both but choose an overall opinion, Varinder.
What is its score? Is this marked 7+or not??? Please tell me
All my essays are band 9.
I don’t think so
I don’t think so
Thanks for offering your opinion. I’m a former IELTS examiner and I’ve been writing an essay daily for years – if mine aren’t band 9, then no one’s are.
Hi Dave, what band will I get for this essay?
There are a few countries depending on heavy imports of food from other constitutes of the world. While some may agree that it can bring negative impact, I believe it is a positive outcome in regards to economic growth.
Proponents may argue that the recipient country can face severe financial loss when primary dependence of food imports are from other countries. For instance, when the receiving country is a developing country with low economic growth and their predominant revenue is from these food imports, their strong intercommunication between other countries has to constantly be uphold with good political reputation. If a political upheaval or natural disasters occurs, these substantial amount of food imports can impact the livelihood of people like local farmers and home-based businesses and result in starvation among the low-income groups. As a result, these low-income groups can incur financial burden if a slight miscommunication or dispute arrives during the food imports.
Having said that, it has immensely benefited the economic gains for both developing and developed countries. Developing countries can financially grow from seasonal food imports that only happen in their counterparts. For example, mangoes which grow in rural areas during summer seasons are sold to higher-income countries for profit. Moreover, developed countries can benefit parallelly as they expand their unique variation of food to boost their cultural element of the country. This can attract more tourists and evidently increase their tourist revenue. As a result, both low- and high-income countries can progressively contribute to economic gains through exchange of food trade.
To encapsulate, though it may seem that heavy dependence on food imports may not be beneficial in certain countries, the benefits of food imports can substantially develop both recipient and donor countries. Government and organisations should also be more considerate and responsible during the trade to prevent any disagreements between countries that can impact the food imports.
”Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, can make deals that leverage their more abundant natural resources.”
what does LEVERAGE means here