IELTS Writing Task 2 (Exercises): TAX ON FAST FOOD

Topic : TAX ON FAST FOOD

Useful words and phrases:

1. average (adj)
2. average-income working people
3. burden (n)
4. counterproductive (adj)
5. decisive (adj)
6. expenditure (n)
7. for the sake of (idioms)
8. hazards (n)
9. on a regular basis (collocation) = regularly (adv)
10. opt for (phr.v)
11. prevalent (adj)
12. sacrifice (v)
13. scheme (n)
14. senseless (adj)
15. switch (v)
16. the ease of (collocation)

Exercises:

Task 1: Write sentences from given cues. Make changes to the cues when needed.

1. government / annual / expenditure / arms / reduce.
   ___________________________________

2. it / clear / that / consumer / opt for / low price / good.
   ___________________________________
3. many / woman / sacrifice / their / own / ambitions / put / their family / first.
   ___________________________________
4. Sweden / know as / nation / ridden / suicide and alcoholism / but / those problems / no / more prevalent / here / than / most / European country.
   ___________________________________

5. buy / house / often / place / large financial burden / young couples.
   ___________________________________
6. economy / regard / as / decisive factor / which / will / determine / outcome / general election. ___________________________________
7. his / uncontrollable / anger / very / counterproductive / his attempt / save / his marriage.
   ___________________________________
8. average / woman / live / long / than / man.
   ___________________________________

9. the sake / those / who / already / read / the chapter /I/ not / go / it / too much detail.
   ___________________________________
10. after / bank / rob / gang / switch / cars.
    ___________________________________

Task 2: Fill in the blanks with suitable words/phrases

In some countries, an increasing number of people are suffering from health problems as a result of eating too much fast food. It is therefore necessary for governments to impose a higher tax on this kind of food.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Recently, the increasing presence of fast food has caused many policymakers to consider specific taxation 1__________ that may fundamentally reduce the consumption of this type of food. However, I contend taxation may not be an effective solution for the following reasons.

Despite the increased prices because of tax, consumers may still 2__________ fastfood for 3__________it brings. In a world with a busy lifestyle, there could be extremely few customers willing to wait for fifteen minutes in their lunch time to be served with a healthy meal. In other words, food quality can sometimes be 4__________saving time. Convenience, on the other hand, is perhaps the most significant 5__________factor when the majority of the population choose what to eat 6__________.This is an absolute advantage of fast food, due to 7__________value of being ‘fast’, making it the 8__________choice regardless of the health 9__________it brings.

From thefinancial perspective, increased taxon fastfood could even bea 10__________ solution to the problem. This is primarily because fast food is an economical choice for a large number of 11__________. If such a tax policy is introduced, those who are on a limited food budget will be the ones who will suffer. It will not, therefore, mean that they 12__________to healthier food, which still remain relatively more expensive. As a result, a fast food tax alone may only place a financial 13__________on the average tax-payers.

To conclude, it seems 14__________to convey the idea that a higher tax on harmful precooked food is an appropriate measure, as it may lead to heavier routine 15__________.

283 words

Key/Answer

Task 1

1. The government’s annual expenditure on arms has been reduced.

2. It is clear that consumers will opt for low-priced goods.

3. Many women sacrifice their own ambitions to put their family first.

4. Sweden is known as a nation ridden by suicide and alcoholism, but those problems are no more prevalent here than in most European countries.

5. Buying a house often places a large financial burden on young couples.

6. The economy is regarded as the decisive factor which will determine the outcome of the general election.

7. His uncontrollable anger is very counterproductive to his attempt at saving his marriage.

8. On average, women live longer than men. 9. For the sake of those who have already read the chapter, I won’t go into it in too much detail. 10. After the bank robbery, the gang switched cars.

Task 2

(1) schemes

(2) opt for

(3) the ease of life

(4) sacrificed for the sake

(5) decisive

(6) on a regular basis

(7) intrinsic

(8) prevalent

(9) hazards

(10) counterproductive

(11) average-income working people.

(12) switch

(13) burden

(14) senseless

(15) expenditure