TOEFL iBT Academic Discussion and Writing Drastic change or contiuance of the movements to protect the ecosystem? - revised -

☆Let’s Think

Do research on the following questions and discuss them with others.

1.        What is Maria’s point? Provide a case in point.

2.        What is James’s point? Provide a case in point.

3.        Who do you agree with? Share your opinion.

 

☆Hints for Points

We need a drastic change.

1.        Global warming has accelerated despite a global grassroots movement of more than 40 years.

2.        Stop greenwashing and slowdown development.

3.        The industry and politicians that attacked “Planet of the Humans” must be replaced with people for Green New Deal.

 

Keep on the movement as it has been.

1.        Most people are now finally realizing the gravity of global warming.

2.        Climate change would have gone worse without grassroots.

3.        Young power like Friday for The Future will make a difference.

 

☆Response for Ideas and Expressions

I totally agree with Maria. Grassroots and renewable energy industry have not been able to stop global warming from going over the point of no return, so we need some drastic policy change involving the government and huge corporations. As the documentary “Planet of the Humans” reports, so-called sustainable energy such as solar energy, wind energy, and biomass are actually not environmentally friendly. They release a large amount of CO2 when they are built. A solar energy facility upsets a large area of nature, and solar panels release toxic substances when they break down. Wind energy facilities get old in ten years. Biomass burn trees and garbage. Also, EV batteries are inefficient. Nuclear energy is obviously dangerous. Interestingly, Japan has done well without nuclear energy since Fukushima meltdown. Also, during the lockdown in 2020, the world was forced to slow down and saw that we can manage to live without such constant development as we have been obsessed with since the Industrial Revolution. Therefore, we need to first cut back on energy use and adapt to the new reduced lifestyle accordingly through cooperation of corporations under government initiative.

                                                                                  (188 words)

 

☆Response plan

Topic Sentence:

Supporting Details:

1)

2)

Conclusion:

Write your response in 10 minutes. Show each other your responses. Write down questions or suggestions to each other’s response.