2009年2月21日雅思写作考试

　　题目：Some people think that environmental problems are too big for individuals to deal with. Others, however, think that each individual should take some actions. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

　　考题分析：本题是一道典型的雅思环境类写作考题。在历届雅思写作环境类话题中，出题思路主要有以下三个方面：

　　1.环境保护是谁的责任?考题给出的选项通常会有个人、公司、国家、国际合作等(例如04年5月15日，07年2月3日考题)。

　　2.如何保护环境?考题通常会给出某个方案问其正确与否(如06年6月17日，08年6月14日考题)。

　　3.为什么人们明知环境正在被破坏却无动于衷例?(如08年9月13日A类议论文)

　　如果考前对以上三方面的雅思写作真题都思考过，相信本题一定会变的很简单，实际上只要把一些理由进行组合就可以了。由于考题的提问形式是“Discuss both views and give your own opinion. ”所以，既要讨论到个人能够采取何种行动解决一些环境问题，也要讨论为什么有些环境问题个人无法解决(即只有政府或公司才能解决)。

　　范文：

　　It is true that our tiny individual actions often seem insignificant compared to the scale and complexity of global environmental problems such as pollution, deforestation and depletion of natural resources. But that does not relieve our duty as individuals to do as much as we can to deal with these problems.

　　Individual actions, small as they may be, can prove more effective than we realize. We can avoid driving the car, and take public transit, walk, or bicycle instead. This will reduce the use of fossil fuels and cut pollution. Saving energy at home, like turning on the air conditioner only when we have to, or turning water heater down a few degrees, is also ultimately good for the environment. Individual actions can also turn into united powers when, for example, the whole neighborhood is mobilized to participate in a local campaign to oppose environmentally damaging policies.

　　There are, however, obstacles that stand in the way of individual action towards environmental conservation. The first obstacle is the lack of professional knowledge needed to cope with serious environmental issues like soil erosion and salinity, which require a significant amount of investigation and research. Another obstacle which makes individual action almost impossible is when an environmental emergency or accident happens, e.g. an oil spill near the border line, which would necessitate government intervention or even international coordination.

　　So, in conclusion, when it comes to environmental problems, individual actions are indispensable in the problem solving process. But the most pressing and complicated problems go far beyond an individual’s capability and so require the concerted effort of the government as well as the global community.