Band 7 Example

Question: Would you say people should help maintain public parks and gardens?

Idea 1

Yes
Model Answer
Yes, I think it's a good idea. Many people would probably be interested in joining a project like this. It would help bring the community together because they can work on it as a group. Often, local parks and gardens are not well maintained because of a lack of funds or attention from local authorities. This is where community members can step in. Since everyone enjoys these spaces, it makes sense for everyone to help keep them nice. Simple things like picking up litter can make a big difference and are a great way to start.
Yes, I don't see why not. I imagine that lots of people would like to get involved in such a project, and if they did, it would bring the local community together as they could work together. Sometimes, these spaces get a bit rundown as the local government either does not maintain them or doesn't have the money to spend on them, and this is where the local people could help. As everyone uses parks or gardens, then everyone making sure they are in good condition makes sense. It doesn't have to be labor-intensive either, just picking up litter would be a good start.
Grammar Analysis
Conditional adverbial clause: "if they did, it would bring the local community together" This conditional adverbial clause provides a hypothetical scenario for possible community engagement, making the answer logical and plausible. Reason adverbial clause: "as the local government either does not maintain them or doesn't have the money to spend on them" This reason adverbial clause explains why parks and gardens may be run down, adding depth and background information to the answer. Parallel structure: "picking up litter would be a good start" This parallel structure lists possible actions, making the answer more specific and easy to implement.
Vocabulary
  • why not
  • imagine
  • bring the local community together
  • rundown
  • good condition
  • labor-intensive

Idea 2

No
Model Answer
I don't think people should be expected to maintain public parks and gardens. It's really the government's job to take care of these spaces. They have the resources and expertise. Besides, most people might not know the right way to maintain a park. It could end up doing more harm than good.
Personally, I believe the responsibility of maintaining public parks and gardens shouldn't fall on citizens. This is primarily a governmental duty, as they are equipped with the necessary resources and specialized knowledge for such tasks. Moreover, the average person may lack the understanding and skills required for proper park maintenance. Without this expertise, their well-intentioned efforts might inadvertently lead to negative consequences for these green spaces.
Grammar Analysis
Negation structure: In "shouldn't fall on citizens", a negation structure is used to express the author's viewpoint, emphasizing the position that maintaining the park should not be the responsibility of citizens. Present participle as an attributive: In "equipped with the necessary resources and specialized knowledge", the present participle phrase is used as an attributive to describe the government's resources and knowledge, increasing the descriptiveness and complexity of the sentence. Comparative degree: In "the average person may lack the understanding", the comparative degree is used to compare the difference between the average person and professionals in maintaining the park, enhancing the contrast effect of the sentence. Conditional adverb clause: The conditional adverb clause introduced by "Without this expertise" explains the consequences that may arise if there is no professional knowledge, strengthening the logic and depth of the sentence.
Vocabulary
  • maintain
  • shouldn't fall on citizens
  • primarily a governmental duty
  • be equipped with
  • necessary resources
  • specialized knowledge
  • average person
  • lack the understanding
  • proper park maintenance
  • expertise
  • well-intentioned efforts
  • inadvertently lead
  • negative consequence