Lời giải ĐỀ THI IELTS 11/10/2018

Lời giải Task 1:

The bar charts show the figures for a survey in one European country in 2009 to determine whether people buy new or used cars and how often they change their car.

Overall, it is clear that the highest percentage of cars purchased are second-hand cars.  Over half of respondents change their car after 5 years or more.

While 67% of people report that they buy second-hand cars, a much smaller proportion - only 23% - buy new cars.  Only 8% sometimes purchase new cars and sometimes buy second-hand cars.  The remaining 2% never buy a car.

People then reported how frequently they change their car.  Just over half change their car after 5 years or more, while 37% change after 3-4 years.  In contrast, only 3% change their car annually and just 2% change every 2 years.  The proportion of those who never change their car is 4% and 2% do not have a car.

155 words

Written by NgocBach

Lời giải Task 2:

It is true that governments and big business have a critical role to play in improving the environment. While some argue that individuals are therefore powerless to help combat environmental degradation,  I completely disagree with this view.

On the one hand, both governments and large enterprises can and should take steps to prevent an ecological crisis. From a government perspective, policies must be enacted and enforced internationally.  These must cover a wide range of issues, such as the protection of endangered species, a halt to habitat destruction, and funding research into alternative energy sources, to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. In terms of corporate responsibility, producers should not discharge toxic chemical waste into rivers or the sea and they must cut down on emissions from factories to fight climate change.  They should also aim to achieve sustainable development by not depleting natural resources, for example by deforestation.

On the other hand, there are many actions that individuals can take to care for the environment.  These include changing patterns of consumption. For instance, products which are environmentally friendly, such as green detergent brands, are widely available in the shops, so that it is easy to change buying habits.  Buying local products is another option, reducing food miles. A different type of action is to join one of the organisations in the green movement, like Greepeace. Individuals can help these groups to raise funds to protect plants and animals on the brink of extinction and to strengthen campaigns for government interventions and initiatives.

In conclusion,  while governments and corporations carry a great responsibility for alleviating environmental problems, individuals have a significant role to play.  I therefore totally disagree that individuals are powerless to contribute towards saving the planet.

287 words

Written by NgocBach

Ghi chú

Vocabulary from ‘the environment’:

  • environmental degradation
    Meaning: the process or fact of the environment becoming worse
    Example: Africa is a continent in which environmental degradation is evident in the spread of deserts and the extinction of animal species.
  • ecological crisis
    Meaning: a serious situation which occurs when the environment of a species or a population changes in a way that threatens or endangers its continued survival.
    Example: Environmental degradation caused by human activity is provoking an ecological crisis which threatens our existence.
  • endangered species
    Meaning: plants or animals that only exist in very small numbers, so that in future they may disappear forever.
    Example: One example of an endangered species is the lowland gorilla, which has almost disappeared as a result of the destruction of its forest habitat.
  • habitat destruction
    Meaning:  the process that occurs when a natural habitat, like a forest or wetland, is changed so dramatically by humans that plants and animals which live there die.
    Example:  The elephant population in the world is declining because of habitat destruction caused by human exploitation of the environment.
  • alternative energy sources
    Meaning: refers to any energy source that is an alternative to fossil fuels
    Example: Clean energy which does not pollute the Earth can only come from greater reliance on alternative energy sources, such as wind or solar power.
  • reduce our dependence on fossil fuels
    Meaning: to decrease people’s consumption of fossil fuels, like oil, coal or gas
    Example: Governments must invest heavily in solar and wind energy projects in order to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
  • to discharge toxic chemical waste
    Meaning: to dispose of poisonous waste products from chemical processes by putting them into rivers or oceans
    Example: Nowadays, more and more industrial companies are discharging toxic chemical waste into rivers, causing death to many fish and other aquatic animals.
  • to cut down on emissions
    Meaning: to reduce the amount of gases sent out into the air
    Example: People must be made aware of the need to cut down on emissions from their cars if we are to reduce air pollution.
  • to fight climate change
    Meaning: To try to prevent harmful changes in climate patterns, such as rainfall, temperature and winds.
    Example: Unless we consume less of the Earth’s natural resources, it will be impossible to fight climate change and safeguard our future.
  • to achieve sustainable development
    Meaning: economic development that is achieved without depleting natural resources
    Example: Organic methods must be introduced everywhere in order to achieve sustainable development in agriculture.
  • to deplete natural resources
    Meaning: to reduce the amount of natural resources
    Example: Timber companies must not be allowed to deplete natural resources by cutting down trees without planting new trees to replace them.
  • to be environmentally friendly
    Meaning: this refers to products or behaviour that do not harm the environment
    Example: We can help to protect the environment by using cleaning products and cosmetics that are environmentally friendly.
  • food miles
    Meaning: the distance that food has to travel between where it is grown or made and where it is consumed
    Example: We can all play a part in reducing food miles, by buying as much local produce as possible.
  • the green movement
    Meaning: all the organisations concerned with the protection of the environment
    Example: Individuals should join one of the organisations which form part of the green movement, in order to campaign for changes in official policies on the environment.
  • on the brink of extinction
    Meaning: an animal or plant which has almost disappeared from the planet
    Example: Before the captive breeding program in zoos, the giant panda was on the brink of extinction.
  • to alleviate environmental problems
    Meaning: to make bad environmental problems less severe
    Example: Everyone can assist in the effort to alleviate environmental problems in the local community, through simple actions such as recycling waste or planting a tree in their garden.

Other vocabulary:

  • to enact [verb]:
    Meaning: to put something into practice
    Example: The government has enacted a new policy on recycling plastic.
  • to enforce [verb]:
    Meaning: to make sure that people obey a particular law or rule
    Example: The new law on banning smoking in the street will be difficult to enforce.
  • corporate responsibility [noun]:
    Meaning: the idea that a large company has a duty to treat people fairly and to play a positive part in society
    Example: The company’s focus on corporate responsibility includes a commitment to reduce its impact on the environment.
  • patterns of consumption [expression]:
    Meaning: the process by which individuals identify, buy and consume products to fit all their needs
    Example: Changing patterns of consumption are responsible for the increase in the use of plastics.
  • detergent [noun]:
    Meaning: liquids or powders that remove dirt, from clothes or dishes, for example
    Example: You will need a strong detergent to remove that black mark from your shirt.
  • intervention [noun]:
    Meaning: action that is taken to help or improve a situation
    Example: There has been a campaign to demand government intervention to prevent inflation.
  • initiative [noun]:
    Meaning: a new plan for dealing with a problem or for achieving a particular purpose
    Example: The government has introduced an initiative for reducing unemployment.