Question: Causes – Problems – Solutions

Sample essay 1

Global warming is one of the biggest threats humans face in the 21st Century and sea levels are
continuing to rise at alarming rates.

What problems are associated with this and what are some possible solutions?

Climate change is among the principal dangers facing people this century and ocean levels are
increasing dramatically. This essay will first suggest that the biggest problem caused by this
phenomenon is the flooding of homes and then submit building flood protection as the most viable
solution, followed by a reasoned conclusion.

The foremost problem caused by sea levels creeping up is the flooding of peoples’ residences.
Millions of people all over the world live in coastal areas and if the sea rises by even a few feet, they
will be inundated with water and lose their property. Shelter is one of the most basic of human
needs and widespread flooding would cause millions of people to become homeless, not to mention
losing all of their possessions. The devastation brought about by this was clear for all to see during
the 2011 Tsunami in Japan, in which millions of people were displaced.

A possible solution to this problem would be to build flood barriers. Flood defenses, such as dikes,
dams and floodgates, could be built along coasts and waterways, thereby stopping the water
reaching populated areas. The Netherlands is one of the most populated areas in the world and also
one of the most vulnerable to flooding and they have successfully employed various flood defense
systems.

To conclude, stemming the rising tides caused by increasing global temperatures is one of the
foremost challenges we face and it will ultimately lead to many of the worlds’ cities being left
underwater, but a possible solution could be to utilise the flood prevention techniques already used
by countries like Holland. It is predicted that more and more countries will be forced to take such
measures to avoid a watery catastrophe.

(298 words)

Sample essay 2

The internet has transformed the way information is shared and consumed, but it has also created
problems that did not exist before. What are the most serious problems associated with the internet
and what solutions can you suggest?
There is no doubt that the internet has revolutionised communication and information-sharing in
the same way that the telegraph and the television did before it. However, societies have had to
cope with unanticipated new problems, including crimes which traditional laws are powerless to
prevent. This essay will address some of the illegal acts enabled by the internet and propose
solutions.

To begin with, the global scale of the internet means that national laws are no longer adequate to
control what happens online. Take restrictions on legal reporting, for example. In some countries,
the media is prohibited from revealing details of a defendant’s past in case this prejudices a fair
trial. However, such restrictions are no longer enforceable now that information may be freely
published in other countries and accessed by all. The only solution here, it seems, is to adopt global
standards.

Since the internet traverses national borders, the flow of information can only be controlled if all
nations agree on what can and cannot be shared. Another problem concerns anonymity, as internet
users can easily conceal their identity and even impersonate others. Many crimes such as identity
theft and child abuse result from the ease with which criminals can operate anonymously online.
Some have proposed a system of online identification, similar to a passport, which would allow all
internet users to be verified and traced. I believe this idea should be explored further, though there
are clearly concerns about the security of those who use the internet to protest against oppressive
regimes.

In conclusion, the only long-term solution to the problem of internet crime is greater international
cooperation. Since the problem is global is scale, the solution must also be global. A new agency of
the United Nations should be created to tackle the problems described here.

(298 words, IELTS 8.5)

Structure

Paragraph 1: Introduction

- Introduce the topic (It is true that … is among the principal dangers facing people.)
- Give your opinion/outline (Although there will undoubtedly be some negative consequences
of this trend, societies can take steps to mitigate these potential problems…/ In this essay, I
examine the reasons for this trend and suggest some practical policies the authorities could
implement to…)

*Based on the requirement of the essay, choose two out of three paragraphs below

“Cause” paragraph “Problem” Paragraph “Solution” Paragraph

- Topic sentence - Topic sentence - Topic sentence
- Explanation - Explanation - Explanation
- Example(s) - Example(s) - Example(s)
Useful languages: Useful languages: Useful languages:
 Perhaps the principal  As …, several related  There are several actions that
cause of this rise in problems can be governments could take to solve
youth crime is… anticipated. the problems described above.
 The predominant  The main issue is that  However, there are various steps
factors resulting in … … that governments could take to
are A and B  The main problem for tackle these problems.
those who… is that…  There are a variety of potential
 Another issue is that… ways of combatting this problem.
 In terms of solutions, I believe the
government should be largely
responsible.
 In order to minimize these
negative impacts, parents need to
take certain steps.
 Firstly, a simple solution would
be…
 A second measure would be for
governments to…
 The most viable solution would be
to …
 One possibility that is sometimes
suggested is…
 A successful example of this is…

Paragraph 4: Conclusion (In conclusion, I believe various measures can be taken to tackle the
problems…/ In conclusion, governments could certainly implement a range of measures to…)

- Summarize your points

- Restate your opinion
Sample essay 3: Fill in the blanks with suitable words

In the developed world, average life expectancy is increasing. What problems will this cause for
individuals and society? Suggest some measures that could be taken to reduce the impact of ageing
populations.

It is true that people in industrialised nations can expect to live longer than ever before. Although
there will …………………………………………………………… of this trend, societies can
………………………………….. these potential problems.

As people live longer and the populations of developed countries grow older, several related
problems can be anticipated. ………………………. is that there will obviously be more people of
retirement age who will be eligible to receive a pension. The proportion of younger, working adults
will be smaller, and governments will therefore receive less money in taxes in relation to the size of
the population. ………………………, an ageing population will mean a greater tax burden for working
adults. Further pressures will include a rise in the demand for healthcare, and the fact young adults
will increasingly have to look after their elderly relatives.

There are ………………………… that governments could take to solve the problems described above.
Firstly, a simple solution would be to increase the retirement age for working adults, perhaps from
65 to 70. Nowadays, people of this age tend to be healthy enough to continue a productive working
life. ………………………… would be for governments to encourage immigration in order to increase the
number of working adults who pay taxes. ……………………, money from national budgets will need to
be taken from other areas and spent on vital healthcare, accommodation and transport facilities for
the rising numbers of older citizens.

In conclusion, various measures can be taken to tackle the problems that are certain to arise as the
populations of countries grow older.

Practice:

1. These days, many children have difficulty paying attention and concentrating in their
classes at school. What are the reasons for this? How can it be dealt with?

2. Many people feel that media coverage has becoming increasingly biased today. Why is this?
What can be done to fix this problem?

3. A rise in the standard of living in a country often only seems to benefit cities rather than
rural areas. What problems can this cause? How might these problems be reduced?