B

UNIT 14b Providing Solutions 10 Problems

1 Look at the pictures and answer the questions.
a) \Vhich of the followingis shown in each picture?
1) air pollution
2) heavy traffic
3) rubbisb
b) Do any of these problems exist in your town/city?
c) Can you think of any solutions to these problems?

Essaysproviding solutions 10 problems are piecesof wrrting inwhich you discuss

aproblem and its causesaswellas the expected resultsorconsequencesof your
suggestions. An essay providing solutionsto problems should consist of:
a) an introduction inwhich you stale the problem and/orwhat has caused it;
b) a main body which consists of two or more paragraphs presenting
suggestions and their results/consequences. You should start a new
paragraph for each suggestion and its results/consequences ; and
c) a conclusion in whichyou summarise your opinion.
• Essays providingsolutions to problems are normally written in a formal or
semi-tormal style, depending on who is going to read them and where
they are published. They are usually found in newspapers and magazines.
Introduction
•••••••••••••••••
2 Read therubricandunderlinethekeywords, then answer thequestions. Paragraph 1
A local newspaper has asked its readers to write articles entitled state the problemlsl and/
"How can we make our city a betterplace to live?nWrite your article or the ccusetst
suggesting ways to improve your city.
Moln Body
1 Who is going to readyour article? •••••••••••••••••
2 Look at the problems (1-5) and match them to the solutions(a-e). Which Paragraphs 2-4·
of these problems do you think isthe most/least serious? Can you think of
suggestions and
any more problems and solutions? results/consequences
PROBLD1S SOLUTlO:"S
Conclusion
ITIJ air pollution a provide more litterbins •••••••••••••••••
[II] heavy traffic b move factories out of the city Final Paragraph
[]I] nowhere for people to walk c encourage people to usc public
summarise your opinion
[II] nowhere for children to play transport
lID litter d build more parks and playgrounds • The number of main
e build wider pavements body paragraphs depends
on the number of
3 Match the solutions above to each of the results below. Then talk about suggestions you want 10
the solutions and their results, as in the examples. rooke.

RESULTS
e.g. 11people were encouraged touse
[]]] there would be fewer cars on the roads public transport. there would he
c:::::::m the streets would be cleaner fewer cars 011 the roads.
c::rn the air would no longer be dangerous to breathe We should provide more litter
em children would have somewhere safe to play bins. If we did this, the streets
ern people would be able to move around more easily would be cleaner.
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 Unil14b Providing Solutions10Problems

3 a) Read thearticle and label each paragraph with theheadings below.

• second suggestion & resuuskonsequences , state the prohlem
• summariseyour opinion , third suggestion &
• first suggestion & resultsk onseouences resultslconseouences

How can we make

our city
a better place
to live?

Heavy traffic, air pollution and litter are among the

Para 1
most serious problems modern cities face nowadays.
Ours is no exception. What can we do, then, to help
make our citymore pleasing to its residents?
First of all, it would be a good idea to encourage Para 2
peopl e to usc public transport instead of their cars.
especialJy when commuting towork. The result wouldbe
fewer cars on the roads, andtherefore fewer traffic jams.
Secondly, steps should be taken in order to solve the USEFlJL VOCABULARY
Para 3
~ problem of air pollution. The situation could be
o
=> improved if factories we re moved out of the city. If this To make suggestions:
happened, the air would not be so polluted. • A useful suggestion would beto ..
Finally, efforts should be made to make our city a • Another solution ...
Para 4 • ... could be solved by...
cleaner and healthier place to live. A useful suggestion
• Steps/Measures should be taken
would be to put more litter bins in the streets. If this was
in order to solve/deal with ...
done, people would stop dropping their ruhbish on the
• Another way to ... is/would beto ...
ground, and our city would be cleaner. • The situation could beimproved if
There are many ways 10 make our city a better place Para 5 fby ..
to live. Adopting some of these measures would • It would be a good ideaif/to ...
definitely result in better conditions for everyone. • It would help if you/we/etc ..

To present results and

consequences:
b) Read the article again and answer the questions.
• This would ...
What style has the writer used? Why? Give some examples. • Then ...
• Bydoing this, youlwe/etc would...
2 What arc the writer's suggestions and their results?
• If ... ..., the result would be...
3 Which words/phrases has the writer used to introduce each of her • The et tect/consequence'resu't ci
suggestions? ... would be .
~ Which writing technique has the writer used in her introduction? What • In this way, .
other techniquc(s) could he used?
•
 Unil14b Providing Solutions 10Problems

4 Read the sentences and use the words/phrases in brackets to fill in 6 Use topic sentences (A-D) to
the blanks, as in the exa mple. complete the paragraphs(I-4).

1 More people should recycle paper .

.................................................................... would be that fewer trees would
have to be cut down. (As a result, The result of this)
2 According to many people, burglaries have increased recently .
......................................................................................... that more and more
people cannot find a job. (due to the fac t, because)
3 If we used carswhich run on lead-free petrol .
.......................... there would be less pollution. (so that, it is certain that)
-I TV programmes with violent scenes should be shown late at night .
........................................................................... children do not watch them. ~ To begin with, retired people
(so that, in order to) could join a social club.
5 Nuclear power plants should be closed down . ill] The problem of noise pollution
...................................................................... prevent the risk of an accident. could be solved by having cars and
(so that, in order to) motorbikes checked on a regular
basis.
[Q It wou ld be a good idea for
5 a) Read the title below and students to seek the advice of
then match the suggestions career counsellors.
to their corresponding results. llil A useful suggestion would be to
set up more national parks for
endangered species.

"How to
avoid stress 1 .

before exams ~ • In this way, they would gel

professional advice and be less
likely to make a wrong career
Suggestions Results decision. Also, students would
become fully aware of all
I Take regular breaks. A be healthy and able to concentrate
opportunities available in the
2 Study with a frie nd. S work be more organised labour market.
3 Eat properly and get C mind be clear and study time be
enough sleep. more productive
2 .
~ Make a study plan. D candiscussanydifficulties thatcomeup

It would also be a good idea for

them to take up a hobby. By doing
b) Using appropriate linking words/phrases write sentences, as in
this, theywould have theopportunity
the example.
to meet people and also do
1 = C A useful suggestion would be to take regular breaks. As a result, your something productive with their
mindwould beclear andyour study time would bemore productive. lime.
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 Unil14b Providing Solutions 10 Problems

3 . 8 Read the rubric and underline

Another solution would be to introduce high fines for motorists whose the key words, then answer the
vehicl es cause excessive noise. As a result, the number of cars and questions.

.-
motorbikes which disturb the peace would decrease.
4 .
An educational magazine has
asked its readers to submit
articles discussing violence on
-~-.
TV and ways to stop this
Animals living in a protected having negative effects on
environment have a much better young people.
chance ofsurvival. Moreover, national
How many hoursofTY doyou watch
parks could provide programmes to
every day? Do you watch violent
help the animaJs breed. programmes on TV? In what ways
do you think they are harmful?
7 Use the prompts below and appropriate linkingwords/phrases towrite 2 Which of the following suggestions
supportingsentences for the paragraphs that follow, as in theexample. would you make? Tick (/")-
A throw out your TV set D
A • keep I outside of I house I well-lit I at night
B complain to yourlocalTYstation
• install / alarm system about unacceptable programmes
• avoid I making I house I look I glamorous and the hours they are shownD
C rent action-packed videos for
To begin withwe should make sure that our houses are not burglar friendly. your children to watch. D
Forexample a useful suggestion would be tokeep the outside of the house well-lit
D look at the TV guide and choose
at night .
programmes which are suitable
• workingout I three times I week I definitely
fo r children D
/ help/ lose / weight / keep fit E put a TV set in their
• follow I healthy diet / stop / eat / junk food
bedroom D
3 Now match the suggestions (A-E)
Secondly, it would be a good idea to joina to their results below.
gym . ITO your children would watch
only educational and non-
violent programmes
[II] TV stations could be
C • use I environmentally-friendly products I help reduce I water pollution convinced to air certain
• plant more trees I so that I there I be I more oxygen I fewer floods programmes late at night.
4 In which paragraph should you
Finally, steps should be taken to help save our planet. . state what the problem is? What
useful vocabulary could you use to
introduce suggestions? In wh ich
D • put up / signs I inform I public I if I they I paragraph should you summarise
litter I they / be fined your opinion?
• organise / clean-up days / once a week

A useful suggestion to keep our beaches 9 Read the rubric in Ex. 8 again
clean would be to provide plenty of rubbish bins and write your article (120·180
alongthem . words). Use Jour an swers from
Ex. 8 to help you. Use the
article in Ex. 3a as a model.
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