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.

  1. Repeat the overall topic for the essay.
  2. 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.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea, if necessary.
  3. Give an example.
  4. Develop the example.
  5. Continue to develop the example.
  6. 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.

  1. Write another topic sentence with another clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea.
  3. Use specific details/animals.
  4. State the specific threats.
  5. Develop why those threats are a human responsibility.
  6. Continue developing why.
  7. 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.

  1. Repeat your opinion.
  2. 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

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