Band 7 Example

Question: Why do most people smile in photographs?

Idea 1

To Look Friendly and Attractive
Model Answer
Most people smile in photos because they want to look friendly and nice. A smile makes you seem more approachable, and people usually want to look good, especially if the photo is going to be shared online or kept in a family album. Smiling also makes the picture look happier and more pleasant, so it’s more enjoyable for others to see.
People tend to smile in photographs mainly because it helps them appear more friendly and attractive. A genuine smile can make someone look much more approachable and pleasant, which is important, especially for photos that will be shared on social media or kept in family albums. Smiling also leaves a positive and memorable impression, making the photo more enjoyable for anyone who looks at it.
Grammar Analysis
1. Infinitive of purpose: "to smile in photographs" shows the reason or purpose for the action. 2. Comparative structure: "more friendly and attractive," "much more approachable and pleasant" use comparatives to emphasize the effect of smiling. 3. Present participle as adjective: "shared on social media" and "kept in family albums" use present and past participles as adjectives to describe the photos. 4. Present simple tense: Used throughout to state general truths and habits, e.g., "People tend to smile," "Smiling also leaves..."
Vocabulary
  • appear more friendly and attractive
  • genuine smile
  • approachable and pleasant
  • shared on social media
  • kept in family albums
  • leaves a positive and memorable impression
  • enjoyable

Idea 2

To Capture Happy Moments
Model Answer
I think people smile in photos because they are usually taken during happy times, like birthdays, holidays, or other celebrations. Smiling shows that they are enjoying the moment and want to remember it as a good time. When people look back at these photos, the smiles help them remember the happiness they felt.
People often smile in photographs because these moments are usually captured during celebrations, holidays, or other special occasions. Smiling reflects the joy and excitement of those moments, and people naturally want to remember the good times. When they look back at these photos, the smiles help them relive the positive emotions associated with those events, making the memories even more meaningful.
Grammar Analysis
1. Present simple tense: Used throughout ("People often smile," "smiling reflects") to state general truths and habits. 2. Relative clauses: "because these moments are usually captured during celebrations, holidays, or other special occasions" and "associated with those events" add detail and complexity. 3. Infinitive of purpose: "to remember the good times" and "to relive the positive emotions" show reasons for actions. 4. Present participle as subject: "Smiling reflects the joy..." uses a gerund as the subject of the sentence.
Vocabulary
  • captured
  • celebrations
  • special occasions
  • reflects
  • joy
  • excitement
  • remember the good times
  • look back
  • relive
  • positive emotions
  • meaningful memories

Idea 3

Social and Cultural Expectations
Model Answer
Another reason is that it’s kind of expected to smile in photos. In many cultures, people are told to say “cheese” and smile when someone takes a picture. Sometimes, people feel like they have to smile because everyone else is doing it, especially in group photos.
There’s also a strong social and cultural expectation to smile in photographs. In many societies, it’s almost automatic for photographers to ask people to say “cheese,” which encourages everyone to smile. People often feel a subtle pressure to smile because it’s become the norm, especially in group pictures. This expectation has made smiling for the camera a widespread habit, regardless of how people actually feel at the moment.
Grammar Analysis
1. Passive voice: "It’s almost automatic for photographers to ask people to say 'cheese,' which encourages everyone to smile." The use of passive voice and relative clauses adds complexity. 2. Noun phrases as subjects: "A strong social and cultural expectation" and "this expectation" are used as subjects, showing advanced sentence structure. 3. Present perfect tense: "has made smiling for the camera a widespread habit" uses the present perfect to show a change over time. 4. Adverbial clauses: "regardless of how people actually feel at the moment" is an adverbial clause providing extra information. ####
Vocabulary
  • social and cultural expectation
  • automatic
  • encourages
  • subtle pressure
  • norm
  • group pictures
  • widespread habit
  • regardless of how people actually feel