IELTS Expert 5 - Unit 6A: Writing Task 2: Buying & Selling

Read the writing task and underline the key

words. Then choose the correct answer in the

question below.

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People should only buy locally-grown food; it is

better for individuals and society.

To what extent do you agree with this statement?

• A describe a problem and present a solution

• B present and explain your opinion

• C discuss two sides of an argument

Read the model answer. Does the student agree

or disagree with the statement?

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Today supermarkets sell all sorts of natural and processed foods from all over the world. However, many people think that we should only eat meals we prepare ourselves from products that are grown locally. I totally agree with this statement.

Firstly, we get many advantages from eating food that is grown in the part of the world where we live. Local foods, for instance, taste better because they are fresher. They also have all the natural vitamins and other nutrients that we need. Eating local food means that we cannot have, for example, strawberries at all times of the year, but I think this is a good thing. If you can only eat them when they are available locally, that makes them more special.

Secondly, buying food that has travelled a long way is not good for society. Flying produce to Europe or the USA from a place such as Australia or South Africa contributes to environmental problems like air pollution, one of the main reasons for climate change. When the food arrives at an airport on the other side of the world, it then usually goes by lorry to supermarkets across the continent.This leads to busy roads, which is bad for the environment and also makes driving more stressful for everyone.

If we just buy food that has come from farms in our local area, our diet may be less varied, but this is not a serious problem. Both we and the planet will benefit.

• DISAGREE

• AGREE

What is the topic sentence in this paragraph?

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Do the other sentences in the paragraph explain the idea in the topic sentence or do they introduce new ideas?

• explain the idea in the topic sentence

• introduce new ideas

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Do any of the other sentences give examples?

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which of the four sentences (1—4): is the topic sentence?

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which of the four sentences (1—4): describes the next stage in a process?

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.3

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.3

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

Which of the four sentences (1—4): gives a reason for the point made in the topic

sentence?

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RI.8.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Which of the four sentences (1—4): presents what happens as a result of the situation the writer described?

Tags

CCSS.RI.11-12.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

CCSS.RI.9-10.5

Number the sentences in the best order (1—4) to

make a paragraph.

• People who only buy food that comes from their

  local area have a very limited diet.

• It also makes it more difficult for them to get all

  the vitamins and nutrients that their body needs.

• This means that meals are much less varied and

  interesting for them.

• In this part of the country, for example, they can

  eat lots of potatoes, carrots and apples but they

  can't have rice, aubergines or bananas.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2