This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of traditional and fast food from the real IELTS exam.
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IELTS Essay: Traditional Foods and Fast Food
In many countries, traditional foods are being replaced by fast food. This has a negative impact on families, individuals and society.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The rise of fast food globally is often thought to have an injurious impact on families, individuals, and society at large. In my opinion, fast food is a negative overall despite some tangible benefits.
The advantages of fast food vary according to the segment of society in question. Individuals get enjoyment out of fast food, the clearest evidence of which is its popularity. Fast food is also relatively cheap and, as its name suggests, saves time. For families, the advantages are similar. In many working-class families, parents spend at a lot time and energy at their jobs and do not have the luxury of preparing a nutritious, time-consuming meal for their children. Fast food is therefore a necessary, viable alternative. Finally, society benefits in a general sense because of the employment opportunities. Fast food restaurants employ thousands of, admittedly, lowly paid workers and is a safe transitional job for students and struggling individuals.
Regardless, the negative impact of fast food is greater. Though people enjoy the taste and convenience of fast food, they are doing irreparable harm to both their short and long-term health. Research has shown that the high fat and sugar content in fast food not only affects daily energy levels but also contributes to conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. These same health risks extend to families, with the added caveat that children are forming potentially life-long bad habits. Society also suffers from the growth of the fast food industry as local businesses lose revenue to these international conglomerates that enrich primarily the already wealthy or foreign nationals.
In conclusion, despite the benefits related to convenience and economics that fast food brings, the health drawbacks should serve as strong deterrents for countries looking to encourage these industries.
Analysis
1. The rise of fast food globally is often thought to have an injurious impact on families, individuals, and society at large. 2. In my opinion, fast food is a negative overall despite some tangible benefits.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion and include some hints at your main ideas. Read more about conclusions here.
1. The advantages of fast food vary according to the segment of society in question. 2. Individuals get enjoyment out of fast food, the clearest evidence of which is its popularity. 3. Fast food is also relatively cheap and, as its name suggests, saves time. 4. For families, the advantages are similar. 5. In many working-class families, parents spend at a lot time and energy at their jobs and do not have the luxury of preparing a nutritious, time-consuming meal for their children. 6. Fast food is therefore a necessary, viable alternative. 7. Finally, society benefits in a general sense because of the employment opportunities. 8. Fast food restaurants employ thousands of, admittedly, lowly paid workers and is a safe transitional job for students and struggling individuals.
- Write a clear topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
- Explain you main idea and focus on one category.
- Develop that category.
- Switch to families.
- Develop that idea.
- Finish developing it.
- Focus finally on society.
- Develop it fully. This paragraph is a little too long.
1. Regardless, the negative impact of fast food is greater. 2. Though people enjoy the taste and convenience of fast food, they are doing irreparable harm to both their short and long-term health. 3. Research has shown that the high fat and sugar content in fast food not only affects daily energy levels but also contributes to conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. 4. These same health risks extend to families, with the added caveat that children are forming potentially life-long bad habits. 5. Society also suffers from the growth of the fast food industry as local businesses lose revenue to these international conglomerates that enrich primarily the already wealthy or foreign nationals.
- Write another topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain that main idea.
- Use research to support your ideas.
- Make sure that you cover all areas.
- This paragraph should have stronger reasons since it is the side you agree with.
1. In conclusion, despite the benefits related to convenience and economics that fast food brings, the health drawbacks should serve as strong deterrents for countries looking to encourage these industries.
- Repeat your opinion, summarise your main ideas and add a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
The rise of fast food globally is often thought to have an injurious impact on families, individuals, and society at large. In my opinion, fast food is a negative overall despite some tangible benefits.
The advantages of fast food vary according to the segment of society in question. Individuals get enjoyment out of fast food, the clearest evidence of which is its popularity. Fast food is also relatively cheap and, as its name suggests, saves time. For families, the advantages are similar. In many working-class families, parents spend at a lot time and energy at their jobs and do not have the luxury of preparing a nutritious, time-consuming meal for their children. Fast food is therefore a necessary, viable alternative. Finally, society benefits in a general sense because of the employment opportunities. Fast food restaurants employ thousands of, admittedly, lowly paid workers and is a safe transitional job for students and struggling individuals.
Regardless, the negative impact of fast food is greater. Though people enjoy the taste and convenience of fast food, they are doing irreparable harm to both their short and long-term health. Research has shown that the high fat and sugar content in fast food not only affects daily energy levels but also contributes to conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. These same health risks extend to families, with the added caveat that children are forming potentially life-long bad habits. Society also suffers from the growth of the fast food industry as local businesses lose revenue to these international conglomerates that enrich primarily the already wealthy or foreign nationals.
In conclusion, despite the benefits related to convenience and economics that fast food brings, the health drawbacks should serve as strong deterrents for countries looking to encourage these industries.
Answers
rise increase
globally around the world
injurious impact negative effect
society at large all people
negative overall bad in general
tangible benefits concrete advantages
vary different
segment part
in question being discussed
clearest evidence of which best instance includes
relatively somewhat
as its name suggests can be figured out from the name
saves time doesn’t waste time
working-class families normal, working families
luxury privilege
preparing making
nutritious good for your health
time-consuming takes a lot of time
necessary needed
viable alternative good second option
in a general sense overall
employment opportunities job chances
admittedly it must be said
lowly paid workers don’t make a lot of money
safe transitional job not risky in-between work
struggling individuals people who need help
regardless nonetheless
irreparable harm can’t be fixed injury
short and long-term health in the near and far future
content what’s inside it
affects daily energy levels impacts how much energy you have
contributes to adds to
conditions such as diseases including
diabetes disease from eating too much sugar
health risks extend to health problems include
added caveat extra warning
forming potentially life-long bad habits possibly last forever habits
suffers hurt from
growth of the fast food industry more powerful fast food companies
local businesses lose revenue neighborhood shops lose money
international conglomerates big companies
enrich primarily mostly get money from
foreign nationals people from other countries
related to similar to
should serve as ought to be
deterrents dissuades people
encourage these industries support those companies
Pronunciation
raɪz
ˈgləʊbəli
ɪnˈʤʊərɪəs ˈɪmpækt
səˈsaɪəti æt lɑːʤ
ˈnɛgətɪv ˈəʊvərɔːl
ˈtænʤəbl ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ˈveəri
ˈsɛgmənt
ɪn ˈkwɛsʧən
ˈklɪərɪst ˈɛvɪdəns ɒv wɪʧ
ˈrɛlətɪvli
æz ɪts neɪm səˈʤɛsts
seɪvz taɪm
ˈwɜːkɪŋklɑːs ˈfæmɪliz
ˈlʌkʃəri
prɪˈpeərɪŋ
nju(ː)ˈtrɪʃəs
ˈtaɪmkənˈsjuːmɪŋ
ˈnɛsɪsəri
ˈvaɪəbl ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv
ɪn ə ˈʤɛnərəl sɛns
ɪmˈplɔɪmənt ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪtiz
ədˈmɪtɪdli
ˈləʊli peɪd ˈwɜːkəz
seɪf trænˈsɪʒənl ʤɒb
ˈstrʌglɪŋ ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəlz
rɪˈgɑːdlɪs
ɪˈrɛpərəbl hɑːm
ʃɔːt ænd ˈlɒŋtɜːm hɛlθ
ˈkɒntɛnt
əˈfɛkts ˈdeɪli ˈɛnəʤi ˈlɛvlz
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)ts tuː
kənˈdɪʃənz sʌʧ æz
ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz
hɛlθ rɪsks ɪksˈtɛnd tuː
ˈædɪd ˈkeɪvɪæt
ˈfɔːmɪŋ pəʊˈtɛnʃəli laɪf-lɒŋ bæd ˈhæbɪts
ˈsʌfəz
grəʊθ ɒv ðə fɑːst fuːd ˈɪndəstri
ˈləʊkəl ˈbɪznɪsɪz luːz ˈrɛvɪnjuː
ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl kənˈglɒmərɪts
ɪnˈrɪʧ ˈpraɪmərɪli
ˈfɒrɪn ˈnæʃənlz
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː
ʃʊd sɜːv æz
dɪˈtɛrənts
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ ðiːz ˈɪndəstriz
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
The r____e of fast food g________y is often thought to have an i_____________t on families, individuals, and s______________e. In my opinion, fast food is a n________________l despite some t_________________s.
The advantages of fast food v_____y according to the s__________t of society i_______________n. Individuals get enjoyment out of fast food, the c___________________h is its popularity. Fast food is also r___________y cheap and, a_____________________s, s_________e. For families, the advantages are similar. In many w____________________s, parents spend at a lot time and energy at their jobs and do not have the l________y of p___________g a n____________s, t_______________g meal for their children. Fast food is therefore a n___________y, v__________________e. Finally, society benefits i____________________e because of the e________________________s. Fast food restaurants employ thousands of, a_____________y, l__________________s and is a s____________________b for students and s________________________s.
R______________s, the negative impact of fast food is greater. Though people enjoy the taste and convenience of fast food, they are doing i____________________m to both their s_________________________h. Research has shown that the high fat and sugar c____________t in fast food not only a____________________s but also c__________________________s heart disease and d_____________s. These same h____________________o families, with the a______________________t that children are f_____________________________________s. Society also s________s from the g________________________________y as l________________________________e to these i____________________________s that e_____________________y the already wealthy or f_____________________s.
In conclusion, despite the benefits r______________o convenience and economics that fast food brings, the health drawbacks s__________________s strong d________________s for countries looking to e________________________s.
Listening Practice
Watch the video below to learn more:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic below in The New York Times:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following question from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Food
- Do people in your country often eat together?
- Why are family meals less common today?
- Is this a positive or negative development?
- Are there any holidays in your country centred around food?
- Are international foods a threat to the traditional culture of your country?
Writing Practice
Write about the related topic below then check with my sample answer:
In many countries, fast food is becoming cheaper and more widely available.
Do the disadvantages of this outweigh the advantages?
excellent
Thanks a lot!
It was absolutely helpful and informative for students like me. Im going to take an IELTS test in the 21st, November,2020 though i am extremely nervous. I hope i could get a 6.5 in that examination. *I am stressed and i have to force myself to wake up at 4 a.m to keep writing again and again these essay so that i can get as many vocabulary and ideas as possible( i believe in the accuracy and reliability of your essays 100%)
Thanks for saying that but I’m not 100% sure that cutting down on your sleep will help in the long-term! Send me a message here if you need any advice: Facebook.com/davelanghowtodoielts
“Regardless, the negative impact of fast food is greater. Though people enjoy the taste and convenience of fast food, they are doing irreparable harm to both their short and long-term health.” I dont understand the structure of this sentence thoroughly. Could you please explain the word “regardless” for me ? how it is used ?
Regardless is short for regardless of the…
We use it the same as despite, in spite of.
Extremely great essay
Thanks a lot!
you are not understanding question because question requires task response
I’m not sure what you mean. Can you explain? IELTS essays are marked on task achievement, cohesion and coherence, vocabulary, and grammar.