170 ielts essay samples

 
137 
YOUR OPINION & HOWNTOWN & COUNTRY
 
 
161. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having a car.
Nowadays, as roads are becoming more and more crowded, people are considering both 
the advantages and disadvantages of having a car before they buy one. 
The main advantage of the car is that it gives the freedom to travel when and where you 
want, without being limited to fixed routes and timetables. What is more, you can carry 
several passengers and as much luggage as you like, at no extra cost. In addition to this, 
you can travel in comfort in a car, with a seat to yourself and the possibility of comforts 
such as a music system and air conditioning. 
On the other hand, owning a car is very expensive. As well as the price of the car, the 
cost of tax, insurance, petrol and repairs must also be considered before buying. 
Moreover, the increase in traffic means that drivers are spending more and more time 
stuck in traffic jams. Perhaps the major disadvantage of cars in general is the huge 
damage that they do to human life and to the environment, and all motorists much accept 
that they are making a small contribution to this. 
To sum up, provided you have access to an efficient public transport system, then buying 
and running your own car could be considered an expensive luxury. 
(213 words) 
 
162. Research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more 
influence on our personality and development than any experiences we may have 
in our life. 
Which do you consider to be the major influence?
Today the way we consider human psychology and mental development is heavily 
influenced by the genetic sciences. We now understand the importance of inherited 
characteristics more than over before. Yet we are still unable to decide whether an 
individual’s personality and development are more influenced by genetic factors (nature) 
or by the environment (nurture). 
Research, relating to identical twins, has highlighted how significant inherited 
characteristics can be for an individual's life. But whether these characteristics are able to 
develop within the personality of an individual surely depends on whether the 
circumstances allow such a development. It seems that the experiences we have in life 
are so unpredictable and so powerful, that they can boost or over-ride other influences, 
and there seems to be plenty of research findings to confirm this. 
My own view is that there is no one major influence in a person's life. Instead, the traits 
we inherit from our parents and the situation and experiences that we encounter in life are 
constantly interacting. It is the interaction of the two that shapes a person's personality 
and dictates how that personality develops. If this were not true, we would be able to 

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