Lời giải ĐỀ THI IELTS 01/02/2018

Lời giải Task 1:

The table compares the proportion of the population of one town who cycled in 2011, according to five age groups.

Overall, it is clear that in all the age groups, the percentage of female cyclists was higher than male cyclists.  However, for both genders, the proportion of the population who rode bicycles was lowest between the ages of 18 and 59.

Just over half of all females and males rode bicycles in the age group 0-9, and this proportion remained high among 10-17 year old girls, at about 42%.However, among boys aged 10-17, the percentage who cycled declined by over half to less than 25%.

The figures for the 18-39 and 40-59 year olds are much lower.  In the former age group, only about 17% of women cycled, compared with just under 10% of men.  Between the ages of 40 and 59, the figures fell further, to a little over 12% for women and 8 per cent for men.

However, the percentage of those over 60 who rode bicycles then rose significantly, reaching 18.5% for women compared with around 13% for men.

183 words

Written by NgocBach

Lời giải Task 2:

At present, scientific research across the world is carried out and controlled sometimes by governments, sometimes by private companies. While there are some arguments in favour of scientific research by corporations, I agree with the view that this should be funded and supervised by the state.

The private sector argues that it is willing to undertake scientific research, but there are two significant dangers in this.  In terms of the quality and objectivity of the research itself, corporations which carry this out may be tempted to manipulate results in order to maximize profits. There have been numerous scandals as a result of new products being introduced hurriedly after inadequate trials. For example thalidomide, developed by a German drug company, resulted in the birth of thousands of malformed children.  From an ethical perspective, leaving research into areas such as genetic engineering in the hands of corporations may have profound social consequences –such as GM crops, with unproven effects which may destroy whole ecosystems as a result of meddling with nature.

Although governments have to allocate resources to many areas of public spending, it is essential that they be responsible for scientific research. Firstly, the highest standards can be set by providing funding for university departments to carry out high-quality research designed to benefit society, not to break into new markets or to gain a competitive edge  Knowledge thus gained can be shared worldwide throughout the academic community.  Secondly, government-decision making is the best way to prioritize expenditure on specific areas of research, taking into consideration the needs of society, both present and future. One example is the development of renewable energy to meet growing demands. 

In conclusion, I agree strongly with the view that governments should bear sole responsibility for scientific research.

291 words

Written by NgocBach

Ghi chú

Business and money:

  • to maximize profits
    Meaning: to increase profits to the highest possible level
    Example: The company has hired a marketing consultant to recommend how to maximize profits next year.
  • renewable energy
    Meaning: energy is renewable when its source, like the sun or wind, cannot be exhausted or can easily be replaced (like wood, as we can plant trees for energy).
    Example: More money is required from government funds to help companies to develop renewable energy, such as companies which produce solar panels for buildings.
  • to break into new markets
    Meaning: to enter new markets that are difficult to enter
    Example: It is difficult to break into new markets for designer sportswear, because there is too much competition for leading markets like Nike.
  • to gain a competitive edge
    Meaning: to achieve an advantage over another company or organization, often by providing goods or services at a lower price.
    Example: The high quality of VW cars has enabled the company to gain a competitive edge over all its rivals in world markets.

Genetic Engineering:

  • genetic engineering
    Meaning: the science of changing how a living creature or plant develops by changing the information in its genes.
    Example: Scientists have used genetic engineering to protect tomatoes against the effect of freezing temperatures.
  • genetically-modified (GM) crops
    Meaning: plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been changed by using genetic engineering techniques.
    Example: There is a scientific consensus that currently-available food derived from GM crops poses no greater risk to human health than conventional food.
  • unproven effects
    Meaning: effects which have not been tested or shown to be true
    Example: Critics of GM crops argue that the unproven effects of this technology may have disastrous results in the future.
  • to damage ecosystems
    Meaning: to harm the physical environment in which all the plants and animals living in a particular area are able to survive.
    Example: Genetic applications in agriculture have many unknown effects, one of which is that they may damage ecosystems and threaten many species.
  • to meddle with nature
    Meaning: to try to change or to have an influence on the environment, especially by acting in a way that is not scientific.
    Example: Some scientists have said that GM crops mean more plentiful food, but opponents argue that we do not know the consequences of meddling with nature.

Government:

  • to allocate resources to
    Meaning: to make money and materials available to do something.
    Example: If governments allocate more resources to improving public transport, this will reduce the problem of traffic congestion in cities.
  • to provide funding for
    Meaning: to give money to enable something to be done
    Example: Providing funding for health care must be a priority of governments.
  • government decision-making
    Meaning: the process of deciding about something official
    Example: Pressure groups are sometimes able to influence government decision-making.
  • to prioritize expenditure on
    Meaning: to put the need to spend money on certain things first.
    Example: I believe that it is important to prioritize expenditure on medical research in order to save lives.

The Environment:

  • renewable energy
    Meaning: energy is renewable when its source, like the sun or wind, cannot be exhausted or can easily be replaced (like wood, as we can plant trees for energy).
    Example: More money is required from government funds to help companies to develop renewable energy, such as companies which produce solar panels for buildings.