ESSAY INFORMATION:
Written by: Xuân Phi, 27/10/2024
Supported by: Ex-BC Examiner, 28/10/2024
Question: The population of many cities is growing rapidly. What are the effects on people living in these cities? What can be done to maintain the quality of life of people?
(IELTS Academic – 26/10/2024)
ANSWER (8.0+):
A number of cities worldwide are experiencing a population surge. This has, in turn, contributed to rising housing costs and health concerns. However, with effective government actions focused on reducing population density and curbing pollution, these issues can be managed.
To begin with, the rapid increase in urban populations has led to two primary challenges. Chief among them is the rising unaffordability of housing. In cities like Hanoi, for example, housing prices have soared as construction of new homes and apartment buildings lags behind demand, leaving many middle-income families unable to afford their own residences. Additionally, many city dwellers are reportedly suffering from poor air quality due to pollution from the high volume of personal vehicles, resulting not only in the inconvenience of wearing masks but also in respiratory illnesses like rhinitis and lung cancer.
To tackle these problems, city governments should promptly adopt the following strategies. The foremost one is relocating residents to suburban areas to help reduce urban congestion. This can be encouraged by investing in infrastructure projects that improve connectivity between city centers and surrounding areas, making commuting easier and more efficient. If new roads, bridges, and public transport links are well-planned, people will be more likely to move to affordable suburban neighborhoods. Furthermore, governments should implement green initiatives that promote sustainable modes of transport. A notable example is Beijing, which has nearly doubled its use of public transportation and electric vehicles in recent years, leading to a marked improvement in air quality.
In conclusion, rapid urban population growth has led to a shortage of affordable housing and health issues in some cities. Nonetheless, with determined government efforts to relocate citizens to the suburbs and promote eco-friendly lifestyles, these challenges can be significantly mitigated. I predict that with sustained action, these issues could largely be resolved in the coming decades.
(Word count: 303)
WORD LIST
| ENGLISH | TIẾNG VIỆT |
| To reduce population density | Giảm mật độ dân số |
| To curb pollution | Hạn chế ô nhiễm |
| Primary challenges | Những thách thức chính |
| The rising unaffordability of housing | Tình trạng không đủ khả năng chi trả cho nhà ở |
| Respiratory illnesses | Các bệnh về đường hô hấp |
| Rhinitis and lung cancer | Viêm mũi và ung thư phổi |
| To relocate residents | Di dời cư dân |
| To improve connectivity | Cải thiện khả năng kết nối |
| Affordable suburban neighborhoods | Khu dân cư ở ngoại ô với giá cả phải chăng |
| Green initiatives | Sáng kiến “xanh” |
| Sustainable modes of transport | Hình thức phương tiện di chuyển bền vững |
| Marked improvement | Sự cải thiện đáng kể |
| A shortage of affordable housing | Tình trạng thiếu nhà ở giá rẻ |
| Determined government efforts | Những nỗ lực quyết tâm của chính phủ |
