This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of protecting wild animals or humans.
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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Protecting Wild Animals or Humans
Some people think that resources should be spent on protecting wild animals, while others think those would be better used for the human population.
Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.
Real Past IELTS Exam
There are many who doubt the logic of spending money and time on wild animals when there are so many humans in need. In my opinion, the valid reasons to prioritise humanity do not outweigh the fact that animals more desperately require refuge.
Those who advocate for less aid for animals believe that human life is inherently more valuable. Humans are capable of higher reasoning skills, have more emotionally complex lives, and most importantly, we share a primary obligation to members of our own species. A good example of this would be when humans and animals come into conflict. Recently, a boy fell into a gorilla cage at a zoo and the wild animal was killed to protect the child. There was a large public outcry but only extremists would argue the human should die in such situations. Increased funding for wildlife in effect means reduced resources allocated to charities for the underprivileged and the implicit elevation of animals over humans.
However, the risk to wild animals is pressing and justifies responsible action. Despite the vulnerability of particular humans, nothing imperils humanity as a whole. This is not the case for endangered animals like bald eagles, cheetahs, lions, and polar bears. They face threats ranging from the impact of climate change to deforestation to poaching. Those are all a direct result of human activity. Without our help, there is a very real chance that some species on the brink will go extinct in the coming decades. Once they have gone extinct, there will be no way to bring them back and this is the existential threat that ought to compel continued funding for programs aimed at wildlife conservation.
In conclusion, thought human life is more valuable, the danger looming for at-risk animals is greater and validates compassionate effort. The longer we neglect animals, the greater the chances of extinction.
Analysis
1. There are many who doubt the logic of spending money and time on wild animals when there are so many humans in need. 2. In my opinion, the valid reasons to prioritise humanity do not outweigh the fact that animals more desperately require refuge.
- Repeat the overall topic for the essay.
- Write a clear opinion and choose an overall side.
1. Those who advocate for less aid for animals believe that human life is inherently more valuable. 2. Humans are capable of higher reasoning skills, have more emotionally complex lives, and most importantly, we share a primary obligation to members of our own species. 3. A good example of this would be when humans and animals come into conflict. 4. Recently, a boy fell into a gorilla cage at a zoo and the wild animal was killed to protect the child. 5. There was a large public outcry but only extremists would argue the human should die in such situations. 6. Increased funding for wildlife in effect means reduced resources allocated to charities for the underprivileged and the implicit elevation of animals over humans.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea, if necessary.
- Give an example.
- Develop the example.
- Continue to develop the example.
- Relate the example back to your main idea for the paragraph.
1. However, the risk to wild animals is pressing and justifies responsible action. 2. Despite the vulnerability of particular humans, nothing imperils humanity as a whole. 3. This is not the case for endangered animals like bald eagles, cheetahs, lions, and polar bears. 4. They face threats ranging from the impact of climate change to deforestation to poaching. 5. Those are all a direct result of human activity. 6. Without our help, there is a very real chance that some species on the brink will go extinct in the coming decades. 7. Once they have gone extinct, there will be no way to bring them back and this is the existential threat that ought to compel continued funding for programs aimed at wildlife conservation.
- Write another topic sentence with another clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Use specific details/animals.
- State the specific threats.
- Develop why those threats are a human responsibility.
- Continue developing why.
- Finish with a strong statement.
1. In conclusion, thought human life is more valuable, the danger looming for at-risk animals is greater and validates compassionate effort. 2. The longer we neglect animals, the greater the chances of extinction.
- Repeat your opinion.
- Finish summarising and add a final thought.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
There are many who doubt the logic of spending money and time on wild animals when there are so many humans in need. In my opinion, the valid reasons to prioritise humanity do not outweigh the fact that animals more desperately require refuge.
Those who advocate for less aid for animals believe that human life is inherently more valuable. Humans are capable of higher reasoning skills, have more emotionally complex lives, and most importantly, we share a primary obligation to members of our own species. A good example of this would be when humans and animals come into conflict. Recently, a boy fell into a gorilla cage at a zoo and the wild animal was killed to protect the child. There was a large public outcry but only extremists would argue the human should die in such situations. Increased funding for wildlife in effect means reduced resources allocated to charities for the underprivileged and the implicit elevation of animals over humans.
However, the risk to wild animals is pressing and justifies responsible action. Despite the vulnerability of particular humans, nothing imperils humanity as a whole. This is not the case for endangered animals like bald eagles, cheetahs, lions, and polar bears. They face threats ranging from the impact of climate change to deforestation to poaching. Those are all a direct result of human activity. Without our help, there is a very real chance that some species on the brink will go extinct in the coming decades. Once they have gone extinct, there will be no way to bring them back and this is the existential threat that ought to compel continued funding for programs aimed at wildlife conservation.
In conclusion, thought human life is more valuable, the danger looming for at-risk animals is greater and validates compassionate effort. The longer we neglect animals, the greater the chances of extinction.
Answers
doubt the logic question the reasoning
wild animals animals living outside homes, in nature
in need vulnerable
valid reasons good justifications
prioritise humanity put humans first
outweigh more important than
more desperately require refuge more urgently need protection
advocate support
inherently naturally
higher reasoning skills thinking ability
emotionally complex lives have a range of complicated emotions
most importantly the crucial factor being
share a primary obligation have an important duty
members parts of
come into conflict fight
gorilla cage where they keep gorillas at a zoo
protect keep safe
large public outcry lots of people angry
extremists people with extreme opinions
in effect essentially
reduced resources allocated to less money given to
underprivileged poor people
implicit elevation indirectly raising
pressing important, urgent
justifies responsible action give good reasons to take steps
vulnerability weakness
particular humans individual people
imperils endangers
as a whole altogether
this is not the case it is not true of
endangered animals animals with low population numbers
face threats ranging from are imperiled by
deforestation cutting down forests
poaching hunting animals
direct result caused by
human activity what people do
on the brink nearly
extinct eradicated
the coming decades in next 20 – 30 years
bring them back return
existential threat risk related to their existence
ought to compel should force
aimed at geared towards
conservation keeping safe
looming on the horizon
at-risk animals vulnerable animals
validates compassionate effort justifies caring and helping
neglect not paying attention to
the longer … the greater the more time it takes, the more harm
Pronunciation
Listen and repeat:
daʊt ðə ˈlɒʤɪk
waɪld ˈænɪməlz
ɪn niːd
ˈvælɪd ˈriːznz
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz hju(ː)ˈmænɪti
aʊtˈweɪ
mɔː ˈdɛspərɪtli rɪˈkwaɪə ˈrɛfjuːʤ
ˈædvəkɪt
ɪnˈhɪərəntli
ˈhaɪə ˈriːznɪŋ skɪlz
ɪˈməʊʃənli ˈkɒmplɛks lɪvz
məʊst ɪmˈpɔːtəntli
ʃeər ə ˈpraɪməri ˌɒblɪˈgeɪʃən
ˈmɛmbəz
kʌm ˈɪntuː ˈkɒnflɪkt
gəˈrɪlə keɪʤ
prəˈtɛkt
lɑːʤ ˈpʌblɪk ˈaʊtkraɪ
ɪksˈtriːmɪsts
ɪn ɪˈfɛkt
rɪˈdjuːst rɪˈsɔːsɪz ˈæləʊkeɪtɪd tuː
ˌʌndəˈprɪvɪlɪʤd
ɪmˈplɪsɪt ˌɛlɪˈveɪʃən
ˈprɛsɪŋ
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪz rɪsˈpɒnsəbl ˈækʃ(ə)n
ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪlɪti
pəˈtɪkjʊlə ˈhjuːmənz
ɪmˈpɛrɪlz
æz ə həʊl
ðɪs ɪz nɒt ðə keɪs
ɪnˈdeɪnʤəd ˈænɪməlz
feɪs θrɛts ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm
dɪˌfɒrɪˈsteɪʃ(ə)n
ˈpəʊʧɪŋ
dɪˈrɛkt rɪˈzʌlt
ˈhjuːmən ækˈtɪvɪti
ɒn ðə brɪŋk
ɪksˈtɪŋkt
ðə ˈkʌmɪŋ ˈdɛkeɪdz
brɪŋ ðɛm bæk
ˌɛgzɪˈstɛnʃəl θrɛt
ɔːt tuː kəmˈpɛl
eɪmd æt
ˌkɒnsə(ː)ˈveɪʃən
ˈluːmɪŋ
æt-rɪsk ˈænɪməlz
ˈvælɪdeɪts kəmˈpæʃənɪt ˈɛfət
ðə ˈlɒŋgə … ðə ˈgreɪtə …
nɪˈglɛkt
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
There are many who d___________________c of spending money
and time on w____________________s when there are so many
humans i___________d. In my opinion, the v___________________s
to p______________________y do not o___________h the
fact that animals m_____________________________e.
Those who a____________e for less aid for animals believe
that human life is i__________________y more valuable. Humans
are capable of h_________________________s, have more e_________________________s,
and m____________________________y, we s_______________________n
to m_____________s of our own species. A good example of this
would be when humans and animals c______________________t.
Recently, a boy fell into a g___________________e at a zoo and
the wild animal was killed to p_____________t the child. There
was a l_____________________y but only e__________________s
would argue the human should die in such situations. Increased funding
for wildlife i______________t means r________________________________o
charities for the u_____________________d and the i____________________________n
of animals over humans.
However, the risk to wild animals is p_________________g and
j__________________________n. Despite the v___________________y
of p___________________________s, nothing i________________s
humanity a____________________e. T________________________e
for e______________________s like bald eagles, cheetahs,
lions, and polar bears. They f______________________________m
the impact of climate change to d____________________________n to
p_______________g. Those are all a
d___________________________t of h__________________y.
Without our help, there is a very real chance that some species o________________k
will go e______________t in t_____________________s.
Once they have gone extinct, there will be no way to
b____________________k and this is the e_______________________t
that o_____________________l continued funding for
programs a_______________t wildlife c___________________n.
In conclusion, thought human life is more valuable, the danger l_________________g
for a____________________s is greater and v______________________t.
T______________r we n______________t animals,
t______________________r the chances of extinction.
Reading Practice
Read more about endangered animals on the World Wildlife Foundation website:
https://www.worldwildlife.org/
Speaking Practice
Practice with the real questions from IELTS speaking:
Wildlife
Have you ever seen a wild animal?
What is your favourite wild animal?
How do you feel when you see animals at the zoo?
What is the importance of animals to children?
Real Past IELTS Exam
Writing Practice
Write about the following topic then check with my sample answer:
Some people say that the main environmental problem of our time is the loss of particular species of plants and animals. Others say that there are more important environmental problems.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Real Past IELTS Exam
It was such a great essay but I am afraid I am less likely to come up with such advanced vocabularies and grammar in real exam.
Yes, I think it is above band 9 for many of those areas – I like to put in a lot of high level vocabulary so that students can learn some new words from it!
It is a proven fact that resources should be allocated to the most important concern. Some people claim that the human population is more deserving to receive funds than spending it on wild animal protection. I completely disagree with this statement because wild animals are more in need of people’s help. This essay will discuss both points of view and state my opinion.
On the one hand, humans are indeed more valuable and the most intelligent living things on earth. Human beings are the key to the world’s improvement in terms of modernization and advancement. With this, it is believed by many that the human population is more worthy to earn financial support to continue the development of the society. Moreover, practically, the government also needs more funds to supplement less fortunate people.
On the other hand, people should also prioritize wildlife restoration and conservation because people are morally obligated to help animals. Wild animals are more sensitive to human activities such as deforestation and illegal logging. What is more, because of human abuse to the natural resources, species such as leopard, tiger, and elephant are now endangered and becoming extinct. With this human-made threat, wildlife is now experiencing vulnerability and unprotection.
In conclusion, although the human population plays a major vital in the development of society, wild animals are also part to maintain a healthy ecological balance on earth. People should restore faith in humanity and show a compassionate act to save wildlife.