The writing task may ask you to discuss a problem, saying what the causes are and suggesting possible solutions. There are basically two ways of organising this kind of composition and in this unit we look at one possible structure. The causes of the problem should be discussed in one paragraph and then possible solutions in another, separate paragraph. In order for this composition structure to work, it is best to have at least one solution for each cause. The solutions should be presented in the same order as the causes. We will look at an alternative structure later.
Our cities are noisier than ever before. Why is this so, and what can be done about it? what the problem is and its effect
It is important to brainstorm for ideas and organise them into paragraphs before you start writing your composition. Here are the notes that a group of students made for the writing task. Put each point under the correct paragraph heading to make a plan for the composition.
Paragraph 1; what the problem is and its effect Paragraph 2; causes of the problem
Paragraph 3; possible solutions to the problem Paragraph 4; possible results of suggested solutions
Sleeplessness stress traffic use better sound
insulation in buildings mental problems e.g. depression noise pollution is a serious problem ban aircraft from
168 better quality of life in cities
Cause—Effect
There is no doubt that we have to live with far more noise than in the past, particularly in cities, and this may be the form of pollution which affects us most directly. For example, it has been found that prolonged exposure to high levels of noise can 1...hearing loss and high blood pressure. It may also 2...stress, insomnia and mental problems, including depression. These problems, in turn, often 3...lower productivity at work 4...employees are too tired and stressed to work efficiently.
In order to find effective solutions to the problem, it is necessary to understand what has 5...this increase in noise. There are three main causes. Firstly, there is traffic noise, 6...the ever-increasing number of vehicles on our roads. The second major source of noise in our cities is low-flying aircraft which have either just taken off, or are just landing at local airports. Finally, there is noise 7...neighbours listening to music or watching television at full volume, or using noisy power tools such as drills or lawn mowers.
Clearly, noise is a serious problem. 8...measures should be taken to reduce the amount of noise in our daily lives. Regarding traffic noise, 9...improved soundproofing for buildings near busy roads. In addition, local authorities 10...imposing strict speed limits in residential areas.
11...aircraft noise could be lessened is by building airports further away from urban areas. Moreover, legislation 12...prohibit aeroplanes from flying over built-up areas. As far as noisy neighbours are concerned, 13...for us all to behave more considerately by, for example, turning down the volume of our music or televisions and limiting our use of noisy power tools.
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In conclusion, there is no simple solution to the problem. However, if the measures i have suggested were introduced, we would all enjoy a better quality of life.
14...living and working in a quieter environment, people would feel more relaxed and they would be less prone to the physiological and psychological problems that are known to 15...exposure to high levels of noise.
1. Lead to/ be caused by/ be due to 2. Be due to/ be caused by/ give rise to 3. Result in/ result from/ stem from 4. Due to/ because/ on account of
5. Resulted from/ brought about/ stemmed from 6. Because/ resulting in/ due to
7. Leading to/ giving rise to/ caused by
8. It is therefore essential that/ the most obvious answer for/ one way in which
9. It is essential that/ the most obvious answer is/ one way in which 10. Must/ should/ ought to consider
11. One way in which/ one solution for/ the most obvious answer for 12. Should/ might/ may
13. One way in which/ it is essential that/ the only effective solution is 14. As a result of/ because/ consequently
15. Lead to/ stem from/ bring about
Now let’s practice more on cause-effect relationships. Complete sentences by choosing the correct words. There is more than one correct answer.
1 Many experts believe that CO2 emissions from industry and vehicles have [caused, stemmed from, brought about, led to, been caused by]
global warning.
2 Sea levels have begun to rise [leading, owing, due, giving rise, thanks]
to global warming.
3 The destruction of forest habitats has [led, resulted in, caused, brought about, given rise to] many animal species to die out.
4 Marine life in the world’s seas is being devastated [due to, as a result of, leading to, giving rise to, because of] overfishing.
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5 In many parts of the world, once fertile land is turning into semi-desert [owing to, leading to, since, resulting in, on account of] intensive farming methods.
6 Accidents at sea involving large oil tankers have often [been due to, been caused by, given rise to, led to, stemmed from] environmental damage on a huge scale.
7 The difficulty meteorologists have in making predictions about climate change [results in, is due to, stems from, results from, brings about] the complexity of global weather systems.
8 Public awareness of environmental issues is far greater than it used to be [on account of, thanks to, as a consequence of, resulting in, because]
energetic campaigning by environmentalists.
9 Zoos can sometimes help prevent certain species from becoming extinct [owing to, because, due to, on account of, since] they can breed the animals in captivity.
10 Poor air quality in urban areas is known to have [stemmed from, given rise to, resulted in, brought about, resulted from] an increase in breathing disorders such as asthma.
Many species of animals and plants are in danger of becoming extinct.
What are the causes of this problem, and what can be done to prevent it from happening?
This exercise will give you some ideas for the writing task. Remember, for every cause you mention in paragraph two, you should suggest at least one corresponding solution in paragraph three. One way to make suggestions is to use modal verbs such as ‘should’, ‘ought to’, but there are also some other useful phrases you can use. Read the writing task and look at the list of possible causes of the problem, then match each solution to the appropriate cause.
Causes
1 Some species are unable to adapt to the changing climate brought about by global warming.
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2 Overfishing upsets the natural balance of marine life.
3 Logging to provide timber for industry destroys forests.
4 Some species under threat of extinction are still hunted due to the demand for traditional medicines, ivory, skins and other animal products.
5 Industry continues to pollute rivers, lakes and coastal areas.
6 Forests are cleared to provide agricultural land.
Possible solutions
A There ought to be an international agency to stop the trade in products made from endangered species.
B Companies that pollute must be heavily fined.
C Woodlands should be harvested for natural resources rather than cleared in order to grow cash crops.
D Governments should impose strict limits on fishing.
E Industry ought to only use timber from renewable forests.
F CO2 emissions from vehicles and industry should be reduced and more use made of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power.
Read the sample answer to the task and complete it with the missing sentences.
Large number of animals and plants are threatened with extinction mainly as a result of human activity. Obviously this constitutes a major environmental disaster in itself since it reduces the biodiversity of our planet. However, it could also give rise to agricultural problems since the disappearance of many insects would affect pollination and pest control.
Furthermore, many of the plants used for making medicines would also disappear forever.
Before suggesting solutions to the problem, we need to examine some of the human activities that are causing the extinction of so many species.
The most important cause is almost certainly the destruction of animal and plant habitats, particularly the destruction of forests where so many species live. 1... . Another significant cause is pollution, which poisons land, rivers and lakes. 2... . A third cause is the hunting of rare species for food, traditional medicines and various animal products which can be sold at high prices to collectors.
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A number of urgent measures need to be taken in order to solve the problem. Firstly, 3... In addition, local populations should be encouraged to make a living by harvesting the natural products which grow in forests, instead of burning them down in order to grow cash crops such as coffee. As regards pollution, 4... This should discourage them from polluting again. Finally, 5...
To sum up, this is a problem which cannot be solved until we humans learn to live in harmony with our natural surroundings and to respect them. By preserving natural habitats such as forests, preventing pollution and stopping illegal hunting an environmental disaster could be averted.
The hunting of rare species must be banned, and an international agency ought to be set up to prevent the trade in products made from rare species.
The only effective way to prevent the contamination of natural habitats is to impose heavy fines on those companies that ignore regulations.
This is partly due to the fact that industry needs the wood and because growing populations need the land for agriculture
this leads to the extinction of the species which live there.
To reduce or stop further deforestation, it is essential that timber for industry should be taken only from renewable forests.
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