Topic 4: Nature, the environment and energy About Topic 4
The
Nature, the environment and energy topic includes fossil fuels and renewable fuels,
climate change, threats to the environment (deforestation, pollution etc) and their effects, the
biosphere, and animal life/human attitudes to animals.
In this topic, remember to show that you can write in an impersonal, academic way, even if
you feel strongly about something. Remember that emotional words such as
terrible, shocking, disgusting or
wonderful, fantastic, brilliant cannot be used in Academic English essays of this type.
You can use Academic English such as
regrettable, worrying, inadvisable or
admirable, helpful, invaluable instead, which are more accepted in these situations.
This topic is often used for Ideas>Cause/effect type Tasks.
Topic 4 example Task
Pollution of rivers, lakes and seas is a major concern for people who seek to protect the environment. What are the possible causes of water pollution, and what effects does this have on animal life and human society? Explanation of the Task
This is an Ideas>Causes/effects type Task. It does not ask for your opinion, but it wants you to
think of some possible ideas on the topic. You should introduce the topic, describe two or three
causes, then two or three effects, and then summarise briefly.
Band 9 model essay
Water
contamination is a serious form of pollution, and one that can be challenging to rectify.
There seem to be two main causes involved, and a variety of damaging effects on people and
the biosphere , which we will discuss here.
Probably the main factor is the issue of
emissions from cars, factories and other human
activities. These emissions contain damaging
