IELTS Essay: Outdoor Spaces
With growing populations in cities, many people are living in small homes that do not do not have adequate outdoor spaces.
Is this a positive or negative development?
As urban populations continue to grow at unprecedented rates, many city dwellers find themselves living in small homes without adequate outdoor spaces. While this development has enabled more people to reside in urban centers, it engenders a host of challenges that make it a negative trend overall.
Critics might argue that small homes and a lack of outdoor spaces are a necessary trade-off for living in active urban centers with abundant job opportunities and cultural amenities. In the vast majority of major cities today, real estate prices are soaring and most individuals can only afford city life by renting or purchasing a smaller home. If there were a law that mandated all homes needed to have outdoor spaces, this would make real estate in cities prohibitively expensive and exacerbate existing social divisions. The result for those such a bill would intend to protect would be that they would have to relocate to areas outside of cities and suffer through long commutes or move to the countryside where standards of living are lower in most nations.
The significant downsides of living in small homes without outdoor spaces concern physical and mental health. When residents lack access to private gardens or balconies, they are less likely to engage in outdoor activities, which are crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For instance, consider families with young children. In the absence of a backyard, children may spend more time indoors on electronic devices rather than playing outside, running, or engaging in physical exercise. Over time, a sedentary lifestyle can lead to an increased risk of obesity and other health problems. Natural environments, such as gardens or even small patios with greenery, have also been shown to reduce stress and improve mental health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many urban residents without outdoor spaces reported feeling trapped and overwhelmed, as they lacked a private area to relax or disconnect from their indoor environment. In contrast, those with access to a small balcony or garden often described these spaces as sanctuaries that provided much-needed relief.
In conclusion, while small homes may seem like a practical solution to urban overcrowding, the long-term consequences render it a largely negative development. To ensure the well-being of urban populations, cities must innovate and invest in creating accessible outdoor spaces for all residents.
Analysis
1. As urban populations continue to grow at unprecedented rates, many city dwellers find themselves living in small homes without adequate outdoor spaces. 2. While this development has enabled more people to reside in urban centers, it engenders a host of challenges that make it a negative trend overall.
1. Critics might argue that small homes and a lack of outdoor spaces are a necessary trade-off for living in active urban centers with abundant job opportunities and cultural amenities. 2. In the vast majority of major cities today, real estate prices are soaring and most individuals can only afford city life by renting or purchasing a smaller home. 3. If there were a law that mandated all homes needed to have outdoor spaces, this would make real estate in cities prohibitively expensive and exacerbate existing social divisions. 4. The result for those such a bill would intend to protect would be that they would have to relocate to areas outside of cities and suffer through long commutes or move to the countryside where standards of living are lower in most nations.
1. The significant downsides of living in small homes without outdoor spaces concern physical and mental health. 2. When residents lack access to private gardens or balconies, they are less likely to engage in outdoor activities, which are crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 3. For instance, consider families with young children. 4. In the absence of a backyard, children may spend more time indoors on electronic devices rather than playing outside, running, or engaging in physical exercise. 5. Over time, a sedentary lifestyle can lead to an increased risk of obesity and other health problems. 6. Natural environments, such as gardens or even small patios with greenery, have also been shown to reduce stress and improve mental health. 7. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many urban residents without outdoor spaces reported feeling trapped and overwhelmed, as they lacked a private area to relax or disconnect from their indoor environment. 8. In contrast, those with access to a small balcony or garden often described these spaces as sanctuaries that provided much-needed relief.
- 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.
- This paragraph can be longer since it is the side I agree with.
- The more development, the better.
- Be sure to be very specific.
- This essay is a bit long – aim for about 275 words.
1. In conclusion, while small homes may seem like a practical solution to urban overcrowding, the long-term consequences render it a largely negative development. 2. To ensure the well-being of urban populations, cities must innovate and invest in creating accessible outdoor spaces for all residents.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
As urban populations continue to grow at unprecedented rates, many city dwellers find themselves living in small homes without adequate outdoor spaces. While this development has enabled more people to reside in urban centers, it engenders a host of challenges that make it a negative trend overall.
Critics might argue that small homes and a lack of outdoor spaces are a necessary trade-off for living in active urban centers with abundant job opportunities and cultural amenities. In the vast majority of major cities today, real estate prices are soaring and most individuals can only afford city life by renting or purchasing a smaller home. If there were a law that mandated all homes needed to have outdoor spaces, this would make real estate in cities prohibitively expensive and exacerbate existing social divisions. The result for those such a bill would intend to protect would be that they would have to relocate to areas outside of cities and suffer through long commutes or move to the countryside where standards of living are lower in most nations.
The significant downsides of living in small homes without outdoor spaces concern physical and mental health. When residents lack access to private gardens or balconies, they are less likely to engage in outdoor activities, which are crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. For instance, consider families with young children. In the absence of a backyard, children may spend more time indoors on electronic devices rather than playing outside, running, or engaging in physical exercise. Over time, a sedentary lifestyle can lead to an increased risk of obesity and other health problems. Natural environments, such as gardens or even small patios with greenery, have also been shown to reduce stress and improve mental health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many urban residents without outdoor spaces reported feeling trapped and overwhelmed, as they lacked a private area to relax or disconnect from their indoor environment. In contrast, those with access to a small balcony or garden often described these spaces as sanctuaries that provided much-needed relief.
In conclusion, while small homes may seem like a practical solution to urban overcrowding, the long-term consequences render it a largely negative development. To ensure the well-being of urban populations, cities must innovate and invest in creating accessible outdoor spaces for all residents.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
Synonymous Phrases
- Urban populations
- City inhabitants
- Grow at unprecedented rates
- Expand at unparalleled speeds
- City dwellers
- Urban residents
- Without adequate outdoor spaces
- Lacking sufficient green areas
- Enabled
- Permitted
- Reside in urban centers
- Live in metropolitan areas
- Engenders a host of challenges
- Brings about numerous issues
- A negative trend overall
- A broadly unfavorable pattern
- Critics might argue that
- Opponents may claim that
- A necessary trade-off for living in active urban centers with abundant job opportunities and cultural amenities
- An inevitable compromise for thriving cities offering employment and cultural attractions
- In the vast majority of major cities today
- Across most large metropolitan areas today
- Real estate prices are soaring
- Property values are skyrocketing
- Afford city life
- Sustain an urban lifestyle
- Mandated
- Compelled
- Prohibitively expensive
- Excessively costly
- Exacerbate existing social divisions
- Deepen current societal inequalities
- The result for
- The outcome for
- Bill
- Invoice
- Relocate
- Move elsewhere
- Suffer through long commutes
- Endure extended travel times
- Move to the countryside
- Relocate to rural areas
- Standards of living
- Quality of life
- Lower in most nations
- Inferior across many countries
- The significant downsides of
- Major drawbacks of
- Concern physical and mental health
- Affect both body and mind
- Lack access to private gardens or balconies
- Are deprived of personal outdoor spaces
- Less likely to engage in outdoor activities
- Unlikely to participate in open-air recreation
- Crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle
- Essential for sustaining overall wellness
- Consider
- Take into account
- In the absence of a backyard
- Without a personal outdoor area
- On electronic devices
- Using digital gadgets
- Engaging in physical exercise
- Participating in fitness activities
- Over time
- Gradually
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Inactive way of living
- Increased risk of obesity
- Greater likelihood of weight-related issues
- Natural environments
- Outdoor settings
- Small patios with greenery
- Compact terraces featuring plants
- Have also been shown to reduce stress and improve mental health
- Are proven to alleviate stress and enhance psychological well-being
- During the COVID-19 pandemic
- Amid the global health crisis
- Reported feeling trapped and overwhelmed
- Expressed experiencing confinement and distress
- Lacked a private area to relax or disconnect from their indoor environment
- Did not have personal space to unwind or escape their interiors
- In contrast
- Conversely
- Described
- Characterized
- Sanctuaries
- Retreats
- Provided much-needed relief
- Offered essential comfort
- Practical solution
- Feasible remedy
- Urban overcrowding
- Metropolitan congestion
- Long-term consequences render
- Prolonged effects make
- Largely negative development
- Predominantly harmful trend
- To ensure the well-being of
- To promote the welfare of
- Innovate
- Develop new approaches
- Invest
- Allocate resources
- Accessible outdoor spaces for all residents
- Inclusive green areas for everyone
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ˈɜːbᵊn ˌpɒpjəˈleɪʃᵊnz
ɡrəʊ æt ʌnˈprɛsɪdɛntɪd reɪts
ˈsɪti ˈdwɛləz
wɪˈðaʊt ˈædəkwət ˈaʊtˌdɔː ˈspeɪsɪz
ɪˈneɪbᵊld
rɪˈzaɪd ɪn ˈɜːbᵊn ˈsɛntəz
ɪnˈʤɛndəz ə həʊst ɒv ˈʧælɪnʤɪz
ə ˈnɛɡətɪv trɛnd ˌəʊvəˈrɔːl
ˈkrɪtɪks maɪt ˈɑːɡjuː ðæt
ə ˈnɛsəsᵊri treɪd-ɒf fɔː ˈlɪvɪŋ ɪn ˈæktɪv ˈɜːbᵊn ˈsɛntəz wɪð əˈbʌndᵊnt ʤɒb ˌɒpəˈʧuːnətiz ænd ˈkʌlʧᵊrᵊl əˈmiːnətiz
ɪn ðə vɑːst məˈʤɒrəti ɒv ˈmeɪʤə ˈsɪtiz təˈdeɪ
rɪəl ɪˈsteɪt ˈpraɪsɪz ɑː ˈsɔːrɪŋ
əˈfɔːd ˈsɪti laɪf
ˈmændeɪtɪd
prəˈhɪbɪtɪvli ɪkˈspɛnsɪv
ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt ɪɡˈzɪstɪŋ ˈsəʊʃᵊl dɪˈvɪʒᵊnz
ðə rɪˈzʌlt fɔː
bɪl
ˌriːləʊˈkeɪt
ˈsʌfə θruː lɒŋ kəˈmjuːts
muːv tuː ðə ˈkʌntrɪsaɪd
ˈstændədz ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ
ˈləʊər ɪn məʊst ˈneɪʃᵊnz
ðə sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊnt ˈdaʊnˌsaɪdz ɒv
kənˈsɜːn ˈfɪzɪkᵊl ænd ˈmɛntᵊl hɛlθ
læk ˈæksɛs tuː ˈpraɪvət ˈɡɑːdᵊnz ɔː ˈbælkəniz
lɛs ˈlaɪkli tuː ɪnˈɡeɪʤ ɪn ˈaʊtˌdɔːr ækˈtɪvətiz
ˈkruːʃᵊl fɔː meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ ə ˈhɛlθi ˈlaɪfstaɪl
kənˈsɪdə
ɪn ði ˈæbsᵊns ɒv ə ˌbækˈjɑːd
ɒn ˌɛlɛkˈtrɒnɪk dɪˈvaɪsɪz
ɪnˈɡeɪʤɪŋ ɪn ˈfɪzɪkᵊl ˈɛksəsaɪz
ˈəʊvə taɪm
ˈsɛdᵊntᵊri ˈlaɪfstaɪl
ɪnˈkriːst rɪsk ɒv əʊˈbiːsəti
ˈnæʧᵊrᵊl ɪnˈvaɪrᵊnmənts
smɔːl ˈpætiəʊz wɪð ˈɡriːnᵊri
hæv ˈɔːlsəʊ biːn ʃəʊn tuː rɪˈdjuːs strɛs ænd ɪmˈpruːv ˈmɛntᵊl hɛlθ
ˈdjʊərɪŋ ðə ˈkəʊvɪd-19 pænˈdɛmɪk
rɪˈpɔːtɪd ˈfiːlɪŋ træpt ænd ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmd
lækt ə ˈpraɪvət ˈeəriə tuː rɪˈlæks ɔː ˌdɪskəˈnɛkt frɒm ðeər ˌɪnˈdɔːr ɪnˈvaɪrᵊnmənt
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
dɪˈskraɪbd
ˈsæŋkʧʊəriz
prəˈvaɪdɪd mʌʧ-ˈniːdɪd rɪˈliːf
ˈpræktɪkᵊl səˈluːʃᵊn
ˈɜːbᵊn ˌəʊvəˈkraʊdɪŋ
ˈlɒŋtɜːm ˈkɒnsɪkwənsɪz ˈrɛndə
ˈlɑːʤli ˈnɛɡətɪv dɪˈvɛləpmənt
tuː ɪnˈʃɔː ðə ˌwɛlˈbiːɪŋ ɒv
ˈɪnəveɪt
ɪnˈvɛst
əkˈsɛsəbᵊl ˈaʊtˌdɔː ˈspeɪsɪz fɔːr ɔːl ˈrɛzɪdᵊnts
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
As u_________________s continue to g_______________________s, many c____________s find themselves living in small homes w_________________________s. While this development has e________d more people to r__________________s, it e_______________________s that make it a____________________l.
C_______________________t small homes and a lack of outdoor spaces are a_______________________________________________________________________________s. I__________________________________y, r________________________________g and most individuals can only a_____________e by renting or purchasing a smaller home. If there were a law that m_________d all homes needed to have outdoor spaces, this would make real estate in cities p____________________e and e_____________________s. T_____________r those such a b___l would intend to protect would be that they would have to r________e to areas outside of cities and s____________________________s or m______________________________e where s_____________________g are l________________s.
T________________________________f living in small homes without outdoor spaces c________________________________h. When residents l______________________________________s, they are l____________________________________s, which are c___________________________________e. For instance, c________r families with young children. I_______________________d, children may spend more time indoors o__________________s rather than playing outside, running, or e_____________________e. O_________e, a s__________________e can lead to an i_______________________y and other health problems. N_______________________s, such as gardens or even s_________________y, h___________________________________________________h. D___________________c, many urban residents without outdoor spaces r_________________________________d, as they l________________________________________________________t. I______________t, those with access to a small balcony or garden often d____________d these spaces as s___________s that p________________________f.
In conclusion, while small homes may seem like a p_______________n to u_______________g, the l____________________________r it a l______________________________t. T_________________f urban populations, cities must i_______e and i______t in creating a___________________________________s.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Where You Live (Full EBook for this topic here on Patreon.)
Do you live in an apartment or house?
What views can you see through the windows?
What kind of apartment or house do you want to have in the future?
Writing Practice
Some feel that cities shold be designed to be beautiful while others feel their functionality is more important.
Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
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