IELTS Essay: Remote Natural Environments

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of remote natural environments from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Internet News

It is now possible for scientists and tourists to travel to remote natural environments, such as the South Pole.

Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

The ability to travel to remote destinations such as the arctic and various islands contains advantages related to travel and research as well as disadvantages regarding environmental preservation. In my opinion, the pros decisively outweigh the cons.

On the one hand, the tradeoffs of being able to travel to remote areas are environmental. Most remote locations are untouched by the rapid industrialization of the last two centuries and despite the best efforts of local governments there is likely to be some contamination from tourism. A good example of this would be various South Pacific islands. The Philippine archipelago in particular is a popular tourist destination and this has resulted in increased litter and development of the natural environment for tourist friendly infrastructure such as hotels and restaurants. Similarly, the cultural environment for locals is at risk. Numerous indigenous cultures struggle to maintain their unique heritage as foreigners and modern products pour into previously isolated regions.

On the other hand, the main positives relate to travel for pleasure and research. Locations that are not currently occupied by traditional societies were effectively without purpose. Many of them, ranging from remote islands to terrain with inhospitable weather such as Mt. Everest, now offer attractive experiences for the intrepid traveller. For researchers, the benefits are even more tangible. The best known example of this was the Galapagos islands where Darwin sailed more than a hundred years ago conducted foundational research for his theory of evolution. Since then, the ability to explore new areas has resulted in thousands of discoveries and advances related to archaeology, medicine, marine life, and the environment.

In conclusion, despite the injurious impacts of tourism, it is my strong belief that the opening up of unexplored regions is a net positive. However, governments must still regulate such travel to mitigate the inherent dangers.

Analysis

1. The ability to travel to remote destinations such as the arctic and various islands contains advantages related to travel and research as well as disadvantages regarding environmental preservation. 2. In my opinion, the pros decisively outweigh the cons.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. On the one hand, the tradeoffs of being able to travel to remote areas are environmental. 2. Most remote locations are untouched by the rapid industrialization of the last two centuries and despite the best efforts of local governments there is likely to be some contamination from tourism. 3. A good example of this would be various South Pacific islands. 4. The Philippine archipelago in particular is a popular tourist destination and this has resulted in increased litter and development of the natural environment for tourist friendly infrastructure such as hotels and restaurants. 5. Similarly, the cultural environment for locals is at risk. 6. Numerous indigenous cultures struggle to maintain their unique heritage as foreigners and modern products pour into previously isolated regions.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific examples.
4. Continue to develop it.
5. Switch to a second disadvantage.
6. Develop it even more fully if possible.

1. On the other hand, the main positives relate to travel for pleasure and research. 2. Locations that are not currently occupied by traditional societies were effectively without purpose. 3. Many of them, ranging from remote islands to terrain with inhospitable weather such as Mt. Everest, now offer attractive experiences for the intrepid traveller. 4. For researchers, the benefits are even more tangible. 5. The best known example of this was the Galapagos islands where Darwin sailed more than a hundred years ago conducted foundational research for his theory of evolution. 6. Since then, the ability to explore new areas has resulted in thousands of discoveries and advances related to archaeology, medicine, marine life, and the environment.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Swtich to the second advantage.
5. Develop this one.
6. Add on any extra detail that you can that is related for a better task achievement score.

1. In conclusion, despite the injurious impacts of tourism, it is my strong belief that the opening up of unexplored regions is a net positive. 2. However, governments must still regulate such travel to mitigate the inherent dangers.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes and then check below.

The ability to travel to remote destinations such as the arctic and various islands contains advantages related to travel and research as well as disadvantages regarding environmental preservation. In my opinion, the pros decisively outweigh the cons.

On the one hand, the tradeoffs of being able to travel to remote areas are environmental. Most remote locations are untouched by the rapid industrialization of the last two centuries and despite the best efforts of local governments there is likely to be some contamination from tourism. A good example of this would be various South Pacific islands. The Philippine archipelago in particular is a popular tourist destination and this has resulted in increased litter and development of the natural environment for tourist friendly infrastructure such as hotels and restaurants. Similarly, the cultural environment for locals is at risk. Numerous indigenous cultures struggle to maintain their unique heritage as foreigners and modern products pour into previously isolated regions.

On the other hand, the main positives relate to travel for pleasure and research. Locations that are not currently occupied by traditional societies were effectively without purpose. Many of them, ranging from remote islands to terrain with inhospitable weather such as Mt. Everest, now offer attractive experiences for the intrepid traveller. For researchers, the benefits are even more tangible. The best known example of this was the Galapagos islands where Darwin sailed more than a hundred years ago conducted foundational research for his theory of evolution. Since then, the ability to explore new areas has resulted in thousands of discoveries and advances related to archaeology, medicine, marine life, and the environment.

In conclusion, despite the injurious impacts of tourism, it is my strong belief that the opening up of unexplored regions is a net positive. However, governments must still regulate such travel to mitigate the inherent dangers.

Answers

remote destinations places far away

arctic near Antarctica

contains has

regarding as it concerns

preservation keeping safe

pros advantages

decisively outweigh definitely stronger than

cons disadvantages

on the one hand on one side

tradeoffs downsides

untouched never developed

rapid industrialization lots of machines, etc.

best efforts trying their hardest

local governments the countries themselves

contamination hurting

various South Pacific islands small islands in the Pacific ocean

Philippine archipelago the islands around the Philippines

popular tourist destination place tourists go

infrastructure buildings, roads, etc.

similarly relatedly

cultural environment the culture, traditions

risk threat

numerous indigenous cultures many native peoples

struggle try hard

maintain their unique heritage preserve traditions

foreigners people from other countries

pour into put a lot into

isolated regions places far away

on the other hand however

positives advantages

research studies

currently occupied right now those living there

traditional societies old cultures

effectively without purpose essentially no reason

ranging from including

terrain land

inhospitable weather bad weather

offer attractive experiences make people want to go there

intrepid traveller adventurous people

researchers scientists

tangible real

Galapagos islands some remote islands

sailed went by boat

conducted foundational research important studies

theory of evolution idea that we evolved from animals

resulted in caused

discoveries found out that

archaeology bones, artifacts

medicine medical science

marine life sea animals

environment nature

injurious hurts

strong belief powerful conviction

opening up allowing people in

unexplored regions places people have not been

net positive overall good

regulate keep in check

mitigate control

inherent dangers risks sure to come up

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

rɪˈməʊt ˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃənz 
ˈɑːktɪk 
kənˈteɪnz 
rɪˈgɑːdɪŋ 
ˌprɛzə(ː)ˈveɪʃən
prəʊz 
dɪˈsaɪsɪvli aʊtˈweɪ 
kɒnz
ɒn ðə wʌn hænd 
treɪd ɒfs 
ʌnˈtʌʧt 
ˈræpɪd ɪnˌdʌstrɪəlaɪˈzeɪʃən 
bɛst ˈɛfəts 
ˈləʊkəl ˈgʌvnmənts 
kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən 
ˈveərɪəs saʊθ pəˈsɪfɪk ˈaɪləndz 
ˈfɪlɪˌpiːn ˌɑːkɪˈpɛləgəʊ 
ˈpɒpjʊlə ˈtʊərɪst ˌdɛstɪˈneɪʃən 
ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə 
ˈsɪmɪləli,
ˈkʌlʧərəl ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt 
rɪsk
ˈnjuːmərəs ɪnˈdɪʤɪnəs ˈkʌlʧəz 
ˈstrʌgl 
meɪnˈteɪn ðeə juːˈniːk ˈhɛrɪtɪʤ 
ˈfɒrɪnəz 
pɔːr ˈɪntuː 
ˈaɪsəleɪtɪd ˈriːʤənz
ɒn ði ˈʌðə hænd 
ˈpɒzətɪvz 
rɪˈsɜːʧ
ˈkʌrəntli ˈɒkjʊpaɪd 
trəˈdɪʃənl səˈsaɪətiz 
ɪˈfɛktɪvli wɪˈðaʊt ˈpɜːpəs
ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm 
təˈreɪn 
ɪnˈhɒspɪtəbl ˈwɛðə 
ˈɒfər əˈtræktɪv ɪksˈpɪərɪənsɪz 
ɪnˈtrɛpɪd ˈtræv(ə)lə 
rɪˈsɜːʧəz
ˈtænʤəbl
gəlæpəgəʊs ˈaɪləndz 
seɪld 
kənˈdʌktɪd faʊnˈdeɪʃən(ə)l rɪˈsɜːʧ 
ˈθɪəri ɒv ˌiːvəˈluːʃən
rɪˈzʌltɪd ɪn 
dɪsˈkʌvəriz 
ˌɑːkɪˈɒləʤi
ˈmɛdsɪn
məˈriːn laɪf
ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt
ɪnˈʤʊərɪəs 
strɒŋ bɪˈliːf 
ˈəʊpnɪŋ ʌp 
ˌʌnɪksˈplɔːd ˈriːʤənz 
nɛt ˈpɒzətɪv
ˈrɛgjʊleɪt 
ˈmɪtɪgeɪt 
ɪnˈhɪərənt ˈdeɪnʤəz

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:

The ability to travel to r____________________s such as the a______c and various islands c________s advantages related to travel and research as well as disadvantages r____________g environmental p_______________n. In my opinion, the p____________________________h the c___s.

O______________________d, the t______________s of being able to travel to remote areas are environmental. Most remote locations are u____________d by the r_______________________n of the last two centuries and despite the b________________s of l__________________s there is likely to be some c_________________n from tourism. A good example of this would be v__________________________s. The P_____________________o in particular is a p______________________n and this has resulted in increased litter and development of the natural environment for tourist friendly i_____________________e such as hotels and restaurants. S____________y, the c__________________________t for locals is at r_____k. N___________________________________s s___________e to m_________________________________e as f_____________s and modern products p_____________o previously i___________________s.

O________________________d, the main p______________s relate to travel for pleasure and r_________________h. Locations that are not c_______________________________d by t______________________________s were e______________________________e. Many of them, r_________________m remote islands to t_________n with i______________________________r such as Mt. Everest, now o_____________________________s for the i______________________r. For r___________________s, the benefits are even more t_____________e. The best known example of this was the G________________s where Darwin s__________d more than a hundred years ago c____________________________________h for his t___________________n. Since then, the ability to explore new areas has r______________n thousands of d____________________s and advances related to a___________________y, m__________e, m____________e, and the e_________________t.

In conclusion, despite the i_______________s impacts of tourism, it is my s________________f that the o__________________p of u_______________________s is a n_____________________e. However, governments must still r____________e such travel to m___________e the i______________________s.

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:

The struggle to combat COVID-19 in one of Colombia’s most remote regions

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Scenery

1. Are there many places in your hometown to see nice scenery?
2. When you travel, do you stay in rooms with good views?
3. Would you like to live in a house with beautiful scenery around it?
4. Why do people like taking pictures of the scenery?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:

Nowadays many people travel to foreign countries for pleasure. Some believe this travel has a negative impact on the countries travelled to.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Essay: Travelling for Pleasure