This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of national identity from the real exam.
IELTS Essay: National Identity
Some think increasing business and cultural contact between nations is positive. Others think it leads to the disappearance of the national identity.
Discuss both views and state your own opinion.
Many feel that the effects of globalization on economics and culture are a beneficial. In my opinion, although there is an argument for the financial implications, the risks to the uniqueness of a national identity make it a negative overall.
Supporters of such close contact point out the meaningful economic ramifications. This is particularly important for more isolated and undeveloped nations. There are countries where natural resources are extremely lacking or unbalanced and this has slowed their progress historically. For instance, many countries in the Middle East lack the arable land to support large population growth. The discovery of vast reserves of oil in the 20th century allowed them to exploit trade agreements to improve their economic outlook and basic infrastructure. This same fact applies to varying degrees to nearly all nations as trade enriches and a country without necessarily creating any negative byproducts.
Nonetheless, the danger for culture is more lasting and therefore more significant. The national identity of a country is not simply made up of the dominant ethnic group. Every country has minorities and ethnic populations that are most at risk through this process. For instance, in many parts of Asia and Africa there are numerous indigenous groups that struggle to flourish in a modern, global economy. For instance, the Hmong in Vietnam are famed for their craftsmanship and attention to detail in hand-weaving and dyeing sustainable clothing yet many of them must now abandon their traditional roots to live in cities and work anonymous jobs for large corporations. Once such cultures are lost, they will never return and the economic benefits will be little comfort at that point.
In conclusion, despite the economic advantages of globalization, the possibility of a country losing its individual cultural character is too great a risk. Countries must therefore take steps to safeguard their culture.
Analysis
1. Many feel that the effects of globalization on economics and culture are a beneficial. 2. In my opinion, although there is an argument for the financial implications, the risks to the uniqueness of a national identity make it a negative overall.
1. Supporters of such close contact point out the meaningful economic ramifications. 2. This is particularly important for more isolated and undeveloped nations. 3. There are countries where natural resources are extremely lacking or unbalanced and this has slowed their progress historically. 4. For instance, many countries in the Middle East lack the arable land to support large population growth. 5. The discovery of vast reserves of oil in the 20th century allowed them to exploit trade agreements to improve their economic outlook and basic infrastructure. 6. This same fact applies to varying degrees to nearly all nations as trade enriches and a country without necessarily creating any negative byproducts.
1. Nonetheless, the danger for culture is more lasting and therefore more significant. 2. The national identity of a country is not simply made up of the dominant ethnic group. 3. Every country has minorities and ethnic populations that are most at risk through this process. 4. For instance, in many parts of Asia and Africa there are numerous indigenous groups that struggle to flourish in a modern, global economy. 5. For instance, the Hmong in Vietnam are famed for their craftsmanship and attention to detail in hand-weaving and dyeing sustainable clothing yet many of them must now abandon their traditional roots to live in cities and work anonymous jobs for large corporations. 6. Once such cultures are lost, they will never return and the economic benefits will be little comfort at that point.
In conclusion, despite the economic advantages of globalization, the possibility of a country losing its individual cultural character is too great a risk. Countries must therefore take steps to safeguard their culture.
Vocabulary
Many feel that the effects of globalization on economics and culture are a beneficial. In my opinion, although there is an argument for the financial implications, the risks to the uniqueness of a national identity make it a negative overall.
Supporters of such close contact point out the meaningful economic ramifications. This is particularly important for more isolated and undeveloped nations. There are countries where natural resources are extremely lacking or unbalanced and this has slowed their progress historically. For instance, many countries in the Middle East lack the arable land to support large population growth. The discovery of vast reserves of oil in the 20th century allowed them to exploit trade agreements to improve their economic outlook and basic infrastructure. This same fact applies to varying degrees to nearly all nations as trade enriches and a country without necessarily creating any negative byproducts.
Nonetheless, the danger for culture is more lasting and therefore more significant. The national identity of a country is not simply made up of the dominant ethnic group. Every country has minorities and ethnic populations that are most at risk through this process. For instance, in many parts of Asia and Africa there are numerous indigenous groups that struggle to flourish in a modern, global economy. For instance, the Hmong in Vietnam are famed for their craftsmanship and attention to detail in hand-weaving and dyeing sustainable clothing yet many of them must now abandon their traditional roots to live in cities and work anonymous jobs for large corporations. Once such cultures are lost, they will never return and the economic benefits will be little comfort at that point.
In conclusion, despite the economic advantages of globalization, the possibility of a country losing its individual cultural character is too great a risk. Countries must therefore take steps to safeguard their culture.
Answers
globalization countries trading and becoming more similar
economics the finances of a country
culture tradition, art, beliefs, etc.
beneficial advantageous
argument opinion
financial implications effects related to money
risks threats
uniqueness what’s special
national identity the character of a country
supporters people in favor of
close contact communicating closely
point out argue
meaningful economic ramifications important effects for the economy
particularly important especially crucial
isolated all alone
undeveloped nations countries that are not as developed
natural resources oil, timber, water, etc.
extremely lacking not having something
unbalanced not in equal proportions
slowed their progress historically kept them from developing in the past
lack don’t have
arable land land that can be farmed
support large population growth allow for lots of people
discovery finding out about
vast reserves large quantities
exploit trade agreements take advantage of pacts to trade
improve their economic outlook make the economy better
basic infrastructure roads, internet, electricity, schools, etc.
applies to varying degrees true to some extent
enriches makes better
without necessarily doesn’t have to
negative byproducts bad symptoms
nonetheless regardless
danger risk
lasting permanent
therefore thus
made up of constituted
dominant ethnic group main demographic
minorities smaller ethnic groups in a population
ethnic populations groups of people
at risk the threat of
numerous indigenous groups many original peoples
struggle have a tough time
flourish do better
modern contemporary
Hmong an ethnic group from Asia
famed for well-known for
craftsmanship how they make things
attention to detail care
hand-weaving making fabric by hand
dyeing sustainable clothing coloring fabric not using chemicals
yet however
abandon leave
traditional roots customs and history
anonymous lacking identity
large corporations big companies
will be little comfort at that point will no longer feel good
possibility chance
take steps do things
safeguard protect
Pronunciation
ˌgləʊb(ə)laɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks
ˈkʌlʧə
ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃəl
ˈɑːgjʊmənt
faɪˈnænʃəl ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃənz
rɪsks
juːˈniːknəs
ˈnæʃənl aɪˈdɛntɪti
səˈpɔːtəz
kləʊs ˈkɒntækt
pɔɪnt aʊt
ˈmiːnɪŋfʊl ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˌræmɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz.
pəˈtɪkjʊləli ɪmˈpɔːtənt
ˈaɪsəleɪtɪd
ˌʌndɪˈvɛləpt ˈneɪʃənz
ˈnæʧrəl rɪˈsɔːsɪz
ɪksˈtriːmli ˈlækɪŋ
ʌnˈbælənst
sləʊd ðeə ˈprəʊgrəs hɪsˈtɒrɪkəli
læk
ˈærəbl lænd
səˈpɔːt lɑːʤ ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən grəʊθ
dɪsˈkʌvəri
vɑːst rɪˈzɜːvz
ˈɛksplɔɪt treɪd əˈgriːmənts
ɪmˈpruːv ðeər ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈaʊtlʊk
ˈbeɪsɪk ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə
əˈplaɪz tuː ˈveəriɪŋ dɪˈgriːz
ɪnˈrɪʧɪz
wɪˈðaʊt ˈnɛsɪsərɪli
ˈnɛgətɪv ˈbaɪˌprɒdʌkts
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ˈdeɪnʤə
ˈlɑːstɪŋ
ˈðeəfɔː
meɪd ʌp ɒv
ˈdɒmɪnənt ˈɛθnɪk gruːp
maɪˈnɒrɪtiz
ˈɛθnɪk ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃənz
æt rɪsk
ˈnjuːmərəs ɪnˈdɪʤɪnəs gruːps
ˈstrʌgl
ˈflʌrɪʃ
ˈmɒdən
həməŋ
feɪmd fɔː
ˈkrɑːftsmənʃɪp
əˈtɛnʃ(ə)n tuː ˈdiːteɪl
hænd-ˈwiːvɪŋ
ˈdaɪɪŋ səsˈteɪnəbl ˈkləʊðɪŋ
jɛt
əˈbændən
trəˈdɪʃənl ruːts
əˈnɒnɪməs
lɑːʤ ˌkɔːpəˈreɪʃənz
wɪl biː ˈlɪtl ˈkʌmfət æt ðæt pɔɪnt
ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪti
teɪk stɛps
ˈseɪfgɑːd
Vocabulary Practice
Many feel that the effects of g_____________n on e_____________s and c__________e are a b_____________l. In my opinion, although there is an a____________t for the f_______________________s, the r_____s to the u________________s of a n____________________y make it a negative overall.
S______________s of such c__________________t p_________________t the m______________________________s. This is p_______________________t for more i____________d and u______________________s. There are countries where n______________________s are e____________________g or u_______________d and this has s_______________________________y. For instance, many countries in the Middle East l_____k the a_____________d to s_________________________________h. The d___________y of v________________s of oil in the 20th century allowed them to e________________________s to i_____________________________________k and b_________________e. This same fact a_________________________s to nearly all nations as trade e___________s and a country w__________________y creating any n____________________s.
N_________________s, the d_________r for culture is more l__________g and t______________e more significant. The national identity of a country is not simply m_______________f the d_____________________p. Every country has m____________s and e_____________________s that are most a________k through this process. For instance, in many parts of Asia and Africa there are n_______________________s that s__________e to f________h in a m_________n, global economy. For instance, the H________g in Vietnam are f___________r their c________________p and a_____________________l in h_________________g and d_________________________________t many of them must now a_________n their t______________s to live in cities and work a________________s jobs for l______________________s. Once such cultures are lost, they will never return and the economic benefits w_____________________________________t.
In conclusion, despite the economic advantages of globalization, the p____________y of a country losing its individual cultural character is too great a risk. Countries must therefore t___________s to s___________d their culture.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
Speaking Practice
Your Home Nation/Country
- Where are you from?
- What do you like the most about your country?
- Where would you like to live in your country?
- Are people in your country patriotic?
Writing Practice
Globalization is positive for economies but its negative sides should not be ignored.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Which is correct grammatically-
There IS a plethora of OR
There ARE a plethora of
It is singular technically but often used with both: https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/plethora-singular-or-plural#:~:text=Plethora%20is%20usually%20written%20as,a%20plethora%20of%20examples%20is.%22
Thank you!
I want to notify you that this website has copied your essay.
http://ieltsdaljeet.com/ielts-essay-latest-writing-task-2/
Thanks for letting me know, Rosy – I will contact them!
This paragraph is very difficult for me to understand maybe because of my less knowledge about places
Keep practicing and you’ll get there!