TOEFL iBT Independent Writing Automobiles have improved the quality of our lives. - revised -

Writing Topic

Consider the following statement. Automobiles have improved the quality of our lives. Do you agree or disagree with this idea? Support your response by including specific reasons and examples.

 

 

☆Let’s think

1         Which of the following two sentences is more appropriate as a thesis of the essay on this writing topic?

(a)   I believe automobiles contribute to improving the quality of our lives.

(b)   I believe automobiles have contributed to improving the quality of our lives.

Note: The writing topic statement says “have improved”, not “improve”. It is asking about the past and present. Sentence (a) applies to any time, while Sentence (b) is about a change. Thus, Sentence (b) is more appropriate for the thesis.

 

2         What was the life like for people living in a world without a car? How long did it take to go to a city from the countryside?

 

3         What is the influence of automobiles on industry, commerce, or the whole economy?

 

4         What is the influence of automobile on leisure activities?

 

5         What drawbacks does the automobile have?

 

6         When you find not only positive aspects but also negative aspects of the change that the automobile brought about, how would you answer the question of this writing topic?

Note: Your thesis sentence might include expressions like “cannot totally agree with…,” “I agree with … except that …,” or “On the one hand, … On the other hand, …”

 

☆Ideas and Expressions

Advantages

1)  Automobiles have increased mobility. They have allowed us to travel to places far away from home.

2)  Economic activities have expanded thanks to cars. Trade between places which were too far away to do it before cars were invented is now possible. Automobiles have helped the economy of scale. Now we can transport a large number of materials and products by dump truck.

3)  Cars have offered us more opportunities. In the old times, for instance, social life was limited within walking distance or within the areas that you can reach on horseback. However, life with automobiles enables one to visit new places and meet new people.

 

Disadvantages

1)  Automobiles have negatively influenced the environment. They burn fossil fuels and this causes air pollution and increased the amount of atmospheric CO2, the main global warming gas.

2)  Cars have caused air pollution. Children started suffering from asthma because of the air pollution. Many species are lost. Even though technologies are now available that reduce the impact, the fact that damage is done will not change. For example, species that have gone extinct will not come back.

3)  There were few traffic accidents before the automobile was invented.

4)  Obesity is another example of automobile negatively affecting our lives.

5)  Cars are indirect causes of wars in the past century. Oil has been the main energy resource in modern society since the invention of cars, and wars related to oil have occurred.

 

 

☆Your Sample Essay Structure

【Introduction = Outline】

 

【Point 1】

 

【Point 2】

 

【Point 3】

 

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】