This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay related to producing and importing food from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Producing & Importing Food
Some feel that countries should produce most of the food that is eaten in their country and import as little as possible.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Real Past IELTS Exam
Many today are increasingly of the opinion that countries should be self-sufficient in their food production and import as little as possible. Though I grant this is unrealistic in certain countries, the economic implications are convincing.
In most countries, imported foods are simply a luxury but this belies those nations where imports ensure survival. Some of these countries include populous Southeast Asian nations, and numerous Middle Eastern and African countries. The reasons range from poorly developed infrastructure, little arable soil, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters. Many Asian countries in particular, import and stockpile basic foods such as rice for potential catastrophes. As agricultural technology develops and allows for crops that require less water, their desperation will lessen but it would be inhumane today to starve citizens in these countries.
The above-mentioned scenarios are exceptions; the majority of countries would be better served through vibrant food cultivation and production industries. The economic impact is twofold. First, these industries employ thousands of agricultural and meat-packing workers. Secondly, these workers then contribute to the local economy by buying goods and services. Replace them with international food conglomerates and suddenly they are funding the GDP of another country. A good counter-example to this would be in South Korea where the vast majority of products are nationally produced and, in fact, were some of the initial, primary sources of income for technology giants like Samsung and LG.
In conclusion, except in extreme cases, countries should import fewer food products to better serve their citizenry economically. There will always be a place for a limited range of imports but it should not supersede local production.
Analysis
1. Many today are increasingly of the opinion that countries should be self-sufficient in their food production and import as little as possible. 2. Though I grant this is unrealistic in certain countries, the economic implications are convincing.
- Paraphrase the overall topic for the essay.
- Clearly state your opinion.
1. In most countries, imported foods are simply a luxury but this belies those nations where imports ensure survival. 2. Some of these countries include populous Southeast Asian nations, and numerous Middle Eastern and African countries. 3. The reasons range from poorly developed infrastructure, little arable soil, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters. 4. Many Asian countries in particular, import and stockpile basic foods such as rice for potential catastrophes. 5. As agricultural technology develops and allows for crops that require less water, their desperation will lessen but it would be inhumane today to starve citizens in these countries.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Use specific examples for support.
- Give specific details.
- Continue developing your ideas and examples.
- Conclude your paragraph by relating it back to the overall topic.
1. The above-mentioned scenarios are exceptions; the majority of countries would be better served through vibrant food cultivation and production industries. 2. The economic impact is twofold. 3. First, these industries employees thousands of agricultural and meat-packing workers. 4. Secondly, these workers then contribute to the local economy by buying goods and services. 5. Replace them with international food conglomerates and suddenly they are funding the GDP of another country. 6. A good counter-example to this would be in South Korea where the vast majority of products are nationally produced and, in fact, were some of the initial, primary sources of income for technology giants like Samsung and LG.
- Write another topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Vary long and short sentences.
- Develop your main idea specifically.
- Make sure you focus on a single main idea.
- State the full results.
- Include an example or counter-example.
1. In conclusion, except in extreme cases, countries should import fewer food products to better serve their citizenry economically. 2. There will always be a place for a limited range of imports but it should not supersede local production.
- Repeat your opinion and summarise your main ideas.
- Add a final thought/detail.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Many today are increasingly of the opinion that countries should be self-sufficient in their food production and import as little as possible. Though I grant this is unrealistic in certain countries, the economic implications are convincing.
In most countries, imported foods are simply a luxury but this belies those nations where imports ensure survival. Some of these countries include populous Southeast Asian nations, and numerous Middle Eastern and African countries. The reasons range from poorly developed infrastructure, little arable soil, and increased vulnerability to natural disasters. Many Asian countries in particular, import and stockpile basic foods such as rice for potential catastrophes. As agricultural technology develops and allows for crops that require less water, their desperation will lessen but it would be inhumane today to starve citizens in these countries.
The above-mentioned scenarios are exceptions; the majority of countries would be better served through vibrant food cultivation and production industries. The economic impact is twofold. First, these industries employees thousands of agricultural and meat-packing workers. Secondly, these workers then contribute to the local economy by buying goods and services. Replace them with international food conglomerates and suddenly they are funding the GDP of another country. A good counter-example to this would be in South Korea where the vast majority of products are nationally produced and, in fact, were some of the initial, primary sources of income for technology giants like Samsung and LG.
In conclusion, except in extreme cases, countries should import fewer food products to better serve their citizenry economically. There will always be a place for a limited range of imports but it should not supersede local production.
Answers
increasingly of the opinion more and more think
self-sufficient can support themselves
food production growing food (meat and crops)
import as little as possible don’t bring in much food from other countries
grant will allow
unrealistic not really possible
implications results
convincing persuasive
simply a luxury only for enjoyment
belies falsely undermines
ensure survival allow them to live
populous lots of people
range from include
infrastructure buildings, roads, farms, etc.
little arable soil not much usable land for farming
vulnerability weak
natural disasters tsunamis, hurricanes, etc.
stockpile store up
potential catastrophes possible disasters
agricultural technology develops farming methods advance
crops farm food
require need
desperation really need
lessen weaken
inhumane not human, cruel
starve citizens people die from hunger
above-mentioned scenarios just talked about situations
exceptions not generally true
vibrant food cultivation thriving food industry
twofold has two parts
meat-packing collecting meat
contribute give to
local economy national economy
services providing something you do for others
replace take the place of
international food conglomerates big food companies
funding giving money
GDP gross domestic product
counter-example example showing the opposite
vast majority most of
nationally produced made by that country
initial, primary sources first, main origin of
income money earned
technology giants Facebook, Google, Samsung, etc.
except in extreme cases besides the outliers
better serve make more sense for
citizenry economically people financially
a place an area for, should still exist
limited range not everywhere
supersede overtake, supplant
Pronunciation
Listen and repeat:
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ɒv ði əˈpɪnjən
sɛlf-səˈfɪʃənt
fuːd prəˈdʌkʃən
ˈɪmpɔːt æz ˈlɪtl æz ˈpɒsəbl
grɑːnt
ˌʌnrɪəˈlɪstɪk
ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃənz
kənˈvɪnsɪŋ
ˈsɪmpli ə ˈlʌkʃəri
bɪˈlaɪz
ɪnˈʃʊə səˈvaɪvəl
ˈpɒpjʊləs
reɪnʤ frɒm
ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə
ˈlɪtl ˈærəbl sɔɪl
ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪlɪti
ˈnæʧrəl dɪˈzɑːstəz
ˈstɒkpaɪl
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl kəˈtæstrəfiz
ˌægrɪˈkʌlʧərəl tɛkˈnɒləʤi dɪˈvɛləps
krɒps
rɪˈkwaɪə
ˌdɛspəˈreɪʃən
ˈlɛsn
ˌɪnhju(ː)ˈmeɪn
stɑːv ˈsɪtɪznz
əˈbʌvˈmɛnʃ(ə)nd sɪˈnɑːrɪəʊz
ɪkˈsɛpʃənz
ˈvaɪbrənt fuːd ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃən
ˈtuːfəʊld
ˈmiːtˌpækɪŋ
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t
ˈləʊkəl i(ː)ˈkɒnəmi
ˈsɜːvɪsɪz
rɪˈpleɪs
ˌɪntə(ː)ˈnæʃənl fuːd kənˈglɒmərɪts
ˈfʌndɪŋ
ʤiː-diː-piː
ˈkaʊntər-ɪgˈzɑːmpl
vɑːst məˈʤɒrɪti
ˈnæʃnəli prəˈdjuːst
ɪˈnɪʃəl, ˈpraɪməri ˈsɔːsɪz
ˈɪnkʌm
tɛkˈnɒləʤi ˈʤaɪənts
ɪkˈsɛpt ɪn ɪksˈtriːm ˈkeɪsɪz
ˈbɛtə sɜːv
ˈsɪtɪznri ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkəli
ə pleɪs
ˈlɪmɪtɪd reɪnʤ
ˌsjuːpəˈsiːd
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Many today are i_____________________________n that countries should be s_____________________________t in their f_________________________n and i_________________________________e. Though I g________t this is u______________c in certain countries, the economic i_________________s are c____________________g.
In most countries, imported foods are s___________________y but this b________s those nations where imports e______________________l. Some of these countries include p________________s Southeast Asian nations, and numerous Middle Eastern and African countries. The reasons r________________m poorly developed i_____________________e, l___________________________l, and increased v____________________y to n____________________________s. Many Asian countries in particular, import and s________________e basic foods such as rice for p___________________________s. As a________________________________s and allows for c________s that r___________e less water, their d_________________n will l___________n but it would be i________________e today to s________________s in these countries.
The a______________________________s are e________________s; the majority of countries would be better served through v___________________________n and production industries. The economic impact is t_____________d. First, these industries employees thousands of agricultural and m________________g workers. Secondly, these workers then c___________________e to the l______________________y by buying goods and s________________s. R_______________e them with i___________________________________s and suddenly they are f___________g the G____P of another country. A good c____________________________e to this would be in South Korea where the v________________________y of products are n_______________________d and, in fact, were some of the i__________l, p____________________s of i_____________e for t________________________s like Samsung and LG.
In conclusion, e___________________________s, countries should import fewer food products to b_________________e their c__________________________y. There will always be a___________e for a l_________________e of imports but it should not s_______________e local production.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
Learn more about eating locally here (slightly irrelevant to the exact question):
Reading Practice
Read about your country and food imports/exports below:
https://www.businessinsider.com/nomura-food-crisis-2010-9#23-latvia-3
Speaking Practice
Talk about the related topic of cakes below from the real speaking exam:
Cakes
Do you like cakes?
Have you ever baked a cake?
How often do you eat cakes?
Are cakes popular in your country?
Real Past IELTS Exam
Writing Practice
Write about the following related topic then check with my sample answer:
In spite of the advances made in agriculture, many people around the world still go hungry.
Why is this the case?
What can be done about this problem?
Real Past IELTS Exam
Hi Dave!
Please assess this essay with band scores and may u give me suggestion to score more than 7.
Some people suggest that their nation should grow maximum number of food items that they eat and avoid importing unless its is necessary. I agree with this as the advantages of local food items, which include freshness and profit to native workers, outweigh the merits of imported food.
Firstly, unlike imported food, indigenous food is fresh as they are needed to be delivered at small distances and hence, preservative-free, which not only assures the freshness of food, but also eliminates the potential risks caused by the preservatives. Therefore, local food is more healthy and nutrition- rich than imported.
Moreover, native workers earn more profit when local eatables are emphasized to be consumed by people than imported one.This, eventually, help boost the economy of the country. In this phase of pandemic, for example, ‘Be vocal for local’ is Indian’s buzzword, so that more local items are sold and more earnings can be fetched by workers. Thereby, eating local food can render profit to country and its countrymen.
Nevertheless, some food products can not be produced in particular country due to its unsuitable environment; however, they are essential part of its people’s diet. In that case, it becomes vital to import those eatables. Kiwi, for example, is prescribed to cancer patients due to its medicinal effects but it can not be grown in India. Therefore, it becomes important to import these food products to meet up the the needs of people.
In conclusion, even though it is sometimes required to import some eatables, I believe that local eatables need to be eaten more owing to their freshness and economical benefits.