Do you believe automobiles have produced greater benefits or greater
problems?
☆Let’s Think
1.
Give other examples of
Isabelle’s point, “the unparalleled convenience offered by automobiles”.
2.
Give other examples of Oscar’s
point, “monumental environmental cost”.
3.
What other advantages and
disadvantages do cars have?
☆Hints for Points
1.
Cars increased freedom and
choices like being able to move a long distance alone or with a company of
one’s choice at one’s convenience or making friends with someone living out of
town.
2.
Automobiles accelerated
geographic mobility. Living far from the work place has become possible.
3.
Automobiles have replaced
animals for work. They can carry more things faster than animals.
4.
Cars have activated economic
activities.
5.
Pollution by cars have serious
impact on our lives and the environment.
6.
Traffic congestions is an issue
that didn’t exist before the advent of cars.
7.
Life of drivers is more
sedentary and so less healthy than that of non-drivers.
8.
Cars accelerated destruction of
the environment.
9.
Cars allowed the greedy invade
the vulnerable more easily than before. In other words, cars brought devils and
deaths from the viewpoint of the civilizations taken over the West.
10. Oil became the main energy source and has become the key factor of
the economy and the political landscapes.
11. Cars may have made drivers arrogant due to the power they acquire by
driving a potential weapon and the practice of ignoring “small matters” like
insects and animals they hit or pedestrians they splash water over as
collateral damage. This may have become the typical mentality of our times that
lacks sensitivity, kindness, and thoughtfulness and regard these
characteristics as weakness to take advantage of.
☆Response for Ideas
and Expression
【Thesis】I think benefits of automobiles are greater than their problems.
【Supporting Details】Although life-threatening by-products of cars
like toxic gas emissions that Oscar points out is concerning, the prosperity of
our civilization is impossible without cars. Countless numbers of breakthroughs
are attributed to cars. They have evolved traveling, allowing faster, easier,
and less costly transport. This brought about today’s economy, where numerous
products and population travel long distances quickly. Mass-production of cars
and constructions of highways accelerated the development of industries and
businesses, which facilitated the expansion of civilization and evolution of
cultures, enriching the life in the developed world. New activities are born,
including new kinds of entertainment like driving and car racing.
【Conclusion】Since it is unthinkable for us to go back to the times without cars,
positive social implications outweigh negative ones. Therefore, it is safe to
say that automobiles have produced greater benefits. (144 words)
【Thesis】Admitting Isabelle’s point that the contribution of automobile that
have made our lives easier is huge, I still cannot ignore the problems of cars
incur.
【Supporting
Details】As Oscar points out, the major costs
of cars are air and water pollutions and global warming, whose progress is due
largely to the exhaust gas emissions from cars. Global warming has caused
climate change, which is the cause deaths and extinctions, including our own
species. Also, the crimes against humanity related to oil companies are
unfathomably sinful. Oil companies backed by forces have caused destructions of
the local communities, conflicts, and wars. Countless numbers of lives have
been lost for this sticky substance called black gold which runs the combustion
engine and the power plants. Electric cars are not innocent, either. Lithium
batteries depend on enslaved children in Congo who are forced to dig the
material bear-handed.
【Conclusion】The threat to life and humanity are incomparable cost of our
civilization that depend on cars. (159
words)
