IELTS Agree / Disagree Questions
IELTS Task 2 General Training Essay: Recycling
Some people claim that not enough waste from homes is recycled and that the only way to increase recycling is for governments to make it a legal requirement.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many today would claim that the optimal method to encourage individuals to recycle more often is for governments to legally enforce it. In my opinion, there are subtler approaches governments could take though this reform would undoubtedly be effective.
The principle rationale in favor of this argument is that only governments can force the average person to act when there are pressing social concerns. The world is facing an uncertain future because of increasingly severe environmental problems largely related to overpopulation and human activity. Therefore, governments can justifiably compel their citizens to contribute to the solution by recycling. At the moment, only a small proportion of households recycle consistently but a law that required all families to separate and categorize their garbage would undeniably help combat climate change. This is best evidenced in nations where residents do recycle frequently and the environment is not as direly threatened, such as in Japan.
However, the public backlash to this reform could be avoided with more nuanced reforms. Instead of forcing all households to recycle the government could institute a variety of reforms such as offering incentives to companies that recycle, educating young people about the benefits of recycling, and making recycling in schools a point of emphasis. These minor alterations to existing policy would allow the general public to slowly transition to a more sustainable lifestyle and avoid any potential controversy. If, on the other hand, the reforms were strictly mandated, there is a strong chance that in nations like the United States where individuals are protective of their civil liberties, the government might do more harm than good in the short-term.
In conclusion, though compulsory recycling is a well-intentioned aim, it should not be prioritized over less invasive regulations. In this way, governments will be able to achieve long-term success without alienating the public.
Analysis
1. Many today would claim that the optimal method to encourage individuals to recycle more often is for governments to legally enforce it. 2. In my opinion, there are subtler approaches governments could take though this reform would undoubtedly be effective.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. The principle rationale in favor of this argument is that only governments can force the average person to act when there are pressing social concerns. 2. The world is facing an uncertain future because of increasingly severe environmental problems largely related to overpopulation and human activity. 3. Therefore, governments can justifiably compel their citizens to contribute to the solution by recycling. 4. At the moment, only a small proportion of households recycle consistently but a law that required all families to separate and categorize their garbage would undeniably help combat climate change. 5. This is best evidenced in nations where residents do recycle frequently and the environment is not as direly threatened, such as in Japan.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Short sentences can make your writing clearer.
- State the fullest possible result.
1. However, the public backlash to this reform could be avoided with more nuanced reforms. 2. Instead of forcing all households to recycle the government could institute a variety of reforms such as offering incentives to companies that recycle, educating young people about the benefits of recycling, and making recycling in schools a point of emphasis. 3. These minor alterations to existing policy would allow the general public to slowly transition to a more sustainable lifestyle and avoid any potential controversy. 4. If, on the other hand, the reforms were strictly mandated, there is a strong chance that in nations like the United States where individuals are protective of their civil liberties, the government might do more harm than good in the short-term.
- 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.
1. In conclusion, though compulsory recycling is a well-intentioned aim, it should not be prioritized over less invasive regulations. 2. In this way, governments will be able to achieve long-term success without alienating the public.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Many today would claim that the optimal method to encourage individuals to recycle more often is for governments to legally enforce it. In my opinion, there are subtler approaches governments could take though this reform would undoubtedly be effective.
The principle rationale in favor of this argument is that only governments can force the average person to act when there are pressing social concerns. The world is facing an uncertain future because of increasingly severe environmental problems largely related to overpopulation and human activity. Therefore, governments can justifiably compel their citizens to contribute to the solution by recycling. At the moment, only a small proportion of households recycle consistently but a law that required all families to separate and categorize their garbage would undeniably help combat climate change. This is best evidenced in nations where residents do recycle frequently and the environment is not as direly threatened, such as in Japan.
However, the public backlash to this reform could be avoided with more nuanced reforms. Instead of forcing all households to recycle the government could institute a variety of reforms such as offering incentives to companies that recycle, educating young people about the benefits of recycling, and making recycling in schools a point of emphasis. These minor alterations to existing policy would allow the general public to slowly transition to a more sustainable lifestyle and avoid any potential controversy. If, on the other hand, the reforms were strictly mandated, there is a strong chance that in nations like the United States where individuals are protective of their civil liberties, the government might do more harm than good in the short-term.
In conclusion, though compulsory recycling is a well-intentioned aim, it should not be prioritized over less invasive regulations. In this way, governments will be able to achieve long-term success without alienating the public.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
claim argue
optimal method best way
encourage say it is a good idea
recycle turn waste into something new
legally enforce make into a law
subtler approaches not as overt change
though however
reform change
undoubtedly definitely
effective would work
principle rationale main reason
in favor of supporting
argument claim
force make them do this
average person normal resident
pressing social concerns important problems for all of the public
facing confronting
uncertain future not a clear future
increasingly severe getting worse and worse
environmental problems issues related to nature
largely related to mostly concerning
overpopulation more and more people
human activity what people do
justifiably compel with good reason force
contribute add to
solution remedy
At the moment right now
small proportion little percentage
consistently all the time
required need to
separate apart from
categorize put into groups
garbage trash
undeniably definitely
combat climate change fight the worsening environment
evidenced supported by
residents people who live in place, citizens
direly threatened deeply at risk
public backlash people angry about it
avoided get around
nuanced reforms complex new regulations
Instead of rather than
institute put in place
variety different kinds
offering incentives give rewards
benefits good for
a point of emphasis something to focus on
minor alterations small changes
existing policy what is already being done
slowly transition over time move to
sustainable lifestyle environmentally-friendly ways of living
avoid any potential controversy stay away from upsetting people
reforms changes
strictly mandated strong laws
strong chance good chance of
protective care a lot about
civil liberties freedoms
might do more harm than good in the short-term might actually hurt
compulsory required
well-intentioned aim good intentions, mean well
prioritized over considered more important than
invasive have a deep impact
In this way through this method
achieve long-term success sustainable results
alienating upsetting, making angry
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
kleɪm
ˈɒptɪməl ˈmɛθəd
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ
ˌriːˈsaɪkl
ˈliːgəli ɪnˈfɔːs
ˈsʌtlər əˈprəʊʧɪz
ðəʊ
ˌriːˈfɔːm
ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli
ɪˈfɛktɪv
ˈprɪnsəpl ˌræʃəˈnɑːl
ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
ˈɑːgjʊmənt
fɔːs
ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsn
ˈprɛsɪŋ ˈsəʊʃəl kənˈsɜːnz
ˈfeɪsɪŋ
ʌnˈsɜːtn ˈfjuːʧə
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli sɪˈvɪə
ɪnˌvaɪərənˈmɛntl ˈprɒbləmz
ˈlɑːʤli rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː
ˌəʊvəˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən
ˈhjuːmən ækˈtɪvɪti
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪəbli kəmˈpɛl
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t
səˈluːʃən
æt ðə ˈməʊmənt
smɔːl prəˈpɔːʃən
kənˈsɪstəntli
rɪˈkwaɪəd
ˈsɛprɪt
ˈkætɪgəraɪz
ˈgɑːbɪʤ
ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəbli
ˈkɒmbæt ˈklaɪmɪt ʧeɪnʤ
ˈɛvɪdənst
ˈrɛzɪdənts
ˈdaɪəli ˈθrɛtnd
ˈpʌblɪk ˈbæklæʃ
əˈvɔɪdɪd
nju(ː)ˈɑːnst ˌriːˈfɔːmz
ɪnˈstɛd ɒv
ˈɪnstɪtjuːt
vəˈraɪəti
ˈɒfərɪŋ ɪnˈsɛntɪvz
ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ə pɔɪnt ɒv ˈɛmfəsɪs
ˈmaɪnər ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃ(ə)nz
ɪgˈzɪstɪŋ ˈpɒlɪsi
ˈsləʊli trænˈzɪʃ(ə)n
səsˈteɪnəbl ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl
əˈvɔɪd ˈɛni pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈkɒntrəvɜːsi
ˌriːˈfɔːmz
ˈstrɪktli ˈmændeɪtɪd
strɒŋ ʧɑːns
prəˈtɛktɪv
ˈsɪvl ˈlɪbətiz
maɪt duː mɔː hɑːm ðæn gʊd ɪn ðə ʃɔːt-tɜːm
kəmˈpʌlsəri
wɛl-ɪnˈtɛnʃənd eɪm
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪzd ˈəʊvə
ɪnˈveɪsɪv
ɪn ðɪs weɪ
əˈʧiːv ˈlɒŋtɜːm səkˈsɛs
ˈeɪliəneɪtɪŋ
Vocabulary Practice
Many today would c______m that the o_________________d to e______________e individuals to r________e more often is for governments to l________________e it. In my opinion, there are s_____________________s governments could take t________h this r_______m would u_________________y be e__________e.
The p______________________e i_____________f this a____________t is that only governments can f_____e the a_________________n to act when there are p________________________s. The world is f______g an u___________________e because of i________________________e e_____________________s l_______________________o o______________n and h______________y. Therefore, governments can j________________l their citizens to c______________e to the s_________n by recycling. A_______________t, only a s______________n of households recycle c_________________y but a law that r_____________d all families to s___________e and c____________e their g__________e would u___________y help c______________________e. This is best e__________d in nations where r_________s do recycle frequently and the environment is not as d________________d, such as in Japan.
However, the p______________h to this reform could be a_______d with more n________________s. I____________f forcing all households to recycle the government could i___________e a v________y of reforms such as o_______________s to companies that recycle, educating young people about the b__________s of recycling, and making recycling in schools a_____________________s. These m________________s to e________________y would allow the general public to s______________________n to a more s______________________e and a______________________________y. If, on the other hand, the r_________s were s_____________________d, there is a s_______________e that in nations like the United States where individuals are p_______________e of their c________________s, the government m___________________________________________________________m.
In conclusion, though c______________y recycling is a w_____________________________m, it should not be p___________________r less i_____________e regulations. I_______________y, governments will be able to a_____________________________s without a_____________g the public.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220525-what-can-and-cant-be-recycled
Speaking Practice
Environment
- How are environmental problems dealt with in your country?
- What can be done to make people recycle more often?
- What is the most pressing environmental problem?
- Is recycling a common practice in your country?
- Are governments or individuals more responsible?
Writing Practice
Some say that children should be taught at school to recycling and avoid waste. Others say they should learn this at home.
Discuss both views and give your opinion
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