PROBLEMS / CAUSES and SOLUTIONS

1. Read the model essay below and underline all the words or phrases expressing CAUSES and
SOLUTIONS.

Stress is becoming a major problem in many cities around the world. What are
the reasons for this and how could the problem be solved?

People have become increasingly concerned about rising levels of stress and
negative effects this social phenomenon has on all aspects of life. This essay looks
at some of the causes of stress and will suggest some possible solutions.

Firstly, the greatest causes of stress come as a result of tough competition at work
and financial worries. As educational standards rise around the world, it becomes
more difficult to find a good job and a greater challenge to keep it. Indeed, as
economies fall and companies find themselves in a situation of downsizing, the
ability to prove oneself has become an accepted necessity. The need to earn
enough money to support not only oneself but a family as well is another reason
for stress. Furthermore, the rising cost of living combined with the higher rate of
unemployment creates more pressure to either get promotion in one's existing job
or find a better-paid job.

There are several ways to help combat these causes but none of these ideas offer a
quick solution. Instead, time and a lot of effort would be needed to begin to make
inroads into these problems. First of all, the government needs to take
responsibility by raising the minimum wage, which would help lessen financial
burden on people with low income. Also, lowering unemployment rate and
developing the economy are other ways to help solve the problem. As a result,
people will, over a period of time, begin to realize that their lives are improving
and life is not such a struggle.

In conclusion, stress is an increasingly worrying issue due to reasons such as the

need to distinguish oneself in the workplace and to earn a desired income. By
raising minimum wage and lowering unemployment rate, stress slowly reduces
and people will become more confident and this will be reflected in their quality
of work. My view is that the main responsibility for solving the problem lies with
both the government and its people.

2. Find the following in the model essay.

1. A sentence in the introduction which explains what the essay is going to talk about.
2. A linking phrase which means “ as a consequence”
3. A sentence in the conclusion which summarises the causes of the problem.
4. A sentence in the conclusion which says who would solve the problem.
B2.DEC20
3. Put the sentences in the correct order to form a good paragraph.
a. This would hopefully encourage consumers to buy healthier food and therefore, lose weight.
b. It is common these days for people to eat taken away food or pick up.
c. One of the reasons that so many people are overweight is that they eat junk food instead of
cooking a healthy meal.
d. To address this issue, the government could increase sales tax on food considered to be
unhealthy.
e. For instance, in the UK, sales of pre-prepared meals, which contain high levels of fat, have
increased dramatically in the last few years.
4. Match each of descriptions (1-5) to one of the sentences in exercises 3 (a-e).
1. the solution to the problem
2. the main idea of the paragraph
3. an example
4. a supporting sentence, which explains the main idea
5. the result of the solution (i.e. what would happen if we tried the solution)

5. Read the conclusions and answer the questions.

To sum up, in my view, the shortage of teachers in secondary school is a serious problem,
and unless we can attract more talented young people into this kind of teaching, our
children’s education will start to suffer. Governments must take steps to deal with the
problem as soon as possible.

All in all, there is no doubt that obesity is an increasingly worrying issue, affecting both
children and adults. As I see it, governments, parents and schools all have a role to play in
tackling the problem. Actions must be taken urgently; otherwise, our societies will face even
greater health problems in the future.

Find synonyms for the phrases below:

1. in conclusion
2. in my opinion
3. start to solve the problem
4. it is clear that
5. a problem which is more and more serious
6. Governments, schools and parents should all do something
7. We must act quickly.

B2.DEC20