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BEST Writing IELTS Task 2, 29th January
IELTS WRITING TASK 2 (AC + GT)
IELTS WRITING TASK 2 (AC + GT)
For a long time there has been concern about the quality of the food we eat because of additives and contaminants. Recently, genetically modified food is becoming more common and is causing concern. Is this concern justified or not?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge and experience.
SAMPLE ANSWER
Many people today are concerned about the quality of the food they eat. This concern has lead to an increasing number of organic products appearing on supermarket shelves. Many people refuse to buy products that contain artificial colourings or preservatives, or foods that come from genetically modified crops, fearing that these foods are unhealthy and can cause cancer and other diseases. Some advocates of genetically modified (GM) food consider such attitudes unjustified. I am one of them, and in this essay I will try to justify why I think concerns about GM foods have little merit.
First of all, GM foods have been around for almost 20 years. Contrary to the claims of those opposed to GM foods, there have not been any registered cases of such foods causing cancer or any other diseases. In fact, research into GM foods has been unable to confirm any harmful effects on human health whatsoever.
Secondly, not everyone can afford organic foods. Climate change and rising fuel costs have lead to global increases in the price of food, and as a result, many poor people are spending more money on feeding themselves. Many can barely afford to buy food. GM plants are generally more resistant to droughts, floods and pests, and have higher yields per hectare, which leads to more affordable food prices.
The world population keeps growing and is expected to reach eight billion by 2015. People in fast-developing countries such as India and China are consuming more energy and food. The only practical solution to the ever-increasing demand for food is to grow more GM crops. Unless scientists and governments come up with a better solution, GM foods are here to stay.
To conclude, people are free to eat the food of their choice, be it organic or not. However, I think that many people overlook the major benefits of GM foods, and instead choose to focus on the unproven negative effects of such foods.
Writing IELTS Task 2
