Describe a place you visited where the air was polluted IELTS Cue Card

IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC

Describe a place you visited where the air was polluted

You should say:

Where the place is? 

When you visited ?

Why the air was not good?

Explain how you felt about the place?

NOTE – The examiner gives you one minute to plan your answer, and to help you prepare for the topic, the examiner provides you with a pencil and a notepad. You’ll have to answer the questions given on the subject for one-to-two minutes.

Sample 1

Introduction

In the modern era, pollution has become a pressing problem.

I am a dweller of the countryside. I usually do not experience much pollution. However, during my city visits, I sometimes spend time in a contaminated environment. One such instance is worth mentioning.

Where is the place? And when did you visit it?

Two years ago, my school organized a one-day trip to an industrial city in my hometown to see how different kinds of machinery work in the factories.

Why was the air not good

The atmosphere could have been better over there for many reasons.

Firstly, many heavy vehicles were there, and a sizeable proportion emitted various gases into the atmosphere through their exhaust pipes.

Moreover, most of the industries there had massive chimneys that threw hazardous fumes directly into the air.

Explain how you felt about the place.

Spending time at such a place was a daunting task for me. I did not feel good after visiting there. After breathing the contaminated air, many students fell sick. Even the teacher who accompanied us started coughing.

Additionally, seeing the workers working in such an area left me in bad taste. The environment was inhumane, and only those with excellent immunity could survive there.

It is not that solutions are not there to reduce pollution. Due to the advancement of technology, there are many ways to minimise contamination. However, the administration is following a lacklustre approach.

We can considerably reduce environmental contamination by enacting stringent rules and regulations. We need the unabated support of people from all walks of life to achieve this aim.

Sample 2

Introduction

Although I have visited many polluted areas, one had extreme air contamination. Hence it is worth mentioning.

Where is the place? 

 I visited Ludhiana, also known as the “Manchester of India.”

When you visited?

I had to attend a wedding over there last month. I stayed there for two nights and three days for the celebration.

Why was the air not good?

Massive contamination in the air is due to many factors. Firstly, Ludhiana has numerous factories and industries because it is a hub for manufacturing textiles, hosiery, and machinery. Enterprises in every nook and corner emit harmful gases into the air.

Secondly, the adjoining countryside areas of Ludhiana thrive primarily on agriculture, which has a substantial share in air pollution as the farmers utilize pesticides and other chemicals to enhance fertility. Apart from this, burning crop residue also plays a pivotal role in air pollution. 

Thirdly, the number of vehicles plying on the roads has increased appreciably in the past few years, which plays a vital role in air contamination by releasing pollutants like carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides.

Lastly, there was haphazard waste management, so the open burning contributed significantly to the air contamination. The persistent burning of plastic and other waste materials emitted toxic pollutants.

Explain how you felt about the place.

The local administration was playing with the lives of the inhabitants. The place required stringent rules and regulations to reduce the air pollution inside.

I faced persistent cough problems for two weeks after coming back from there. And I decided never to visit that area again.

Sample 3

Introduction

Although we know that air pollution is a pressing problem, it is still rising. Recently, I visited the most polluted place I have ever seen.

Where is the place? 

The name of this place is Baddi, an industrial area in the Himachal Pradesh state of India.

When you visited?

I visited last month to meet a friend working there as a pharmaceutical company’s quality control manager.

Why was the air not good?

The air quality was terrible for many reasons. Firstly, in the past few years, the number of factories in this area has grown exponentially. The government provides a tax holiday to the industries in this area, which means that the companies that shift their factories here need not pay tax for the next eight years.

The higher authorities provided tax holidays to increase the number of industries in this area, far from the city. This plan generated more unemployment so that unemployed youth could get jobs. However, this plan backfired because it wreaked havoc on the environment.

One can see countless chimneys exhausting fumes at a brisk pace. Another prominent reason for air contamination was the need for a proper waste disposal setup. Many industries burned waste in front of their factories.

Lastly, because it is an industrial area, trucks move constantly due to the consistent burning of diesel.

Explain how you felt about the place.

I had the wrong time over there. There is no harm in having industries, but there should be a limit, and if you do not have sufficient infrastructure for waste disposal, you should not issue new licences.

There is no denying that opening industries give people employment. However, it adversely affects all residents’ health and well-being.

Sample 4

I visited Bangalore, and the air was too polluted. I could not breathe correctly. Many vehicles and factories emit harmful gases, which are detrimental to health.

I think the government there should also take an opinion for that because it would be very nice. It’s a good place if there is no smoke, and there are also some places with no smoke. I also went there, and it was a nice place. I liked that place very much. Other places are also good, but the problem is there is too much air pollution, and if there is no air pollution at all, the place would be too good.

I suggest everyone visit. I have recommended many people visit, and they also said this problem is only in certain areas. Nowadays, air pollution is lower because they have made one decision. Because of that, air pollution is lower, and if they make a strict decision, air pollution won’t be there at all, so the place would be very nice to visit, and everyone would see it.

Sample 5

Travelling new places is my passion, and I occasionally travel to places in North and South India; one such place is the capital of India, Delhi, located near the banks of the Yamuna River. I travelled there with my friends and family during my summer vacations.

I liked visiting various historical buildings like Qutab Minar, Red Fort, India Gate and markets like Connaught Place. Still, we disliked pollution in and around Delhi, as many researchers who came to study the sudden surge of environmental conditions say that Delhi is the most polluted city in the world and has a large population. Many cars are polluting the air in and around Delhi with high CO2 and sulphur dioxide values, thus lowering the air quality index.

Also, plants have a black layer on them due to pollution; this pollution also affects the health of the people, primarily poor people who cannot afford hospitals and are helpless.

The government is helping Delhi to reduce air pollution by encouraging people to travel on public transport and creating no-smoking zones. Also, using a smog machine to add water to the air and taking small steps to reduce air pollution can be a good challenge for substantially reducing Delhi’s pollution.

Follow up Questions

Here are some examples of follow-up questions that the examiner might ask during your speaking part 3 related to the cue card “Describe a place you visited where the air was polluted”.

1. Is there more pollution now than in the past?

The number of industries has increased considerably in this modern era. This is due to the population explosion and rampant urbanisation.

With the increase in the demand for goods due to the burgeoning population, manufacturers are leaving no stone unturned to produce surplus goods. Economic activities on such a large scale are inclining pollution considerably.

2. In what ways can air pollution be reduced effectively?

The bulk of air pollution comes from the burning of fossil fuels. Hence, as the number of passenger cars declines, air pollution will also decline considerably.

 The authorities need to promote electric cars by providing subsidies through various schemes. This practice will reduce pollution.

Moreover, alternative sources of power like wind, solar, and tidal energy should be fully tapped. The vacant and unused areas should have solar panels to tap the energy. As alternative sources do not cause pollution there, usage must be encouraged.

3. Do you think the city is cleaner or dirtier than the countryside? Why?

Most cities worldwide are facing the problem of a burgeoning population. Due to this, problems like traffic congestion and unclear water are prevalent. Hence, most urban areas are dirtier than the countryside.

4. What can factories and power plants do to reduce pollutants?

Factories and power plants can play a substantial role in nosediving pollution. The first initiative they must take is to strictly follow the norms prescribed by the higher authorities. For example, industries with chimneys can help reduce pollution by increasing the height of their chimneys. Also, both old and new sectors should use alternative energy sources to operate. 

5. Do you think many companies have been forced to reduce pollutants?

The higher authorities have taken the initiative of forcing many companies to reduce pollutants. However, to our dismay, these companies are leaving no stone unturned to look for loopholes and alternative ways to escape the penalties, and because of this, the earnest efforts of the higher authorities are going to waste. 

6. Do you think the wind has any effect on pollution? How?

In my opinion, winds play a vital role in helping to spread air pollutants. For this reason, in many cities where the number of automobiles is high, air pollution is still less because of fewer winds.

7. Will the world will be more polluted in the coming decades?

The level of pollution will decline substantially in the coming decades. The prominent reason for this is the disastrous repercussions we have faced for many years due to environmental contamination.

The world has realized that if we do not make informed decisions to curb pollution, the future of the current generation and posterity is in jeopardy.

Hence, numerous developed and developing nations have already started taking stringent measures like introducing electric cars, banning the usage of plastic bags, and promoting eco-tourism.

With such initiatives, pollution will dramatically decline, and the world will become a better place.

Vocabulary

1. Worth mentioning

Meaning: Important enough to require a comment.

Sentence: The role of QR codes in the digital era is worth mentioning. They have brought an exemplary change in the lives of street vendors who do not face the problem of loose change nowadays.

2. Stringent

Meaning: Rigorous

Sentence: Organisations that do not adopt stringent yardsticks to provide seamless customer care usually lag in business.