Plan this advantages and disadvantages essay about food with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Fast-food chains have opened in many cities around the world, offering the same menu everywhere.
Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Fast-food chains offering the same menu now operate in cities across the world. In my opinion, the disadvantages of this trend slightly outweigh its advantages.
The advantages are practical. Chain restaurants provide quick, inexpensive meals of a predictable standard, which is reassuring for travellers who do not know the local options and for families on a budget. They are open for long hours, which suits shift workers and busy commuters. They also employ large numbers of people, often offering first jobs to teenagers and students, and give them training in customer service and teamwork.
However, there are important drawbacks. Most of the food sold by these companies is high in calories, salt and fat, and regular consumption contributes to obesity and heart problems. Because the menus are standardised, they also tend to spread uniform tastes, so that young people in different countries grow up eating the same burgers and fries and lose interest in regional dishes. In addition, chains have strong brands and large budgets, which makes it hard for family-owned restaurants to compete. When these independent places close, the town loses a part of its identity, and cooks who have worked for years in traditional kitchens lose their living.
Still, the effect should not be exaggerated. Many customers use chains only occasionally and continue to enjoy local restaurants, and some companies have started to add healthier items and local specialities to their menus. Governments could encourage this by requiring calorie information on menus and by supporting small restaurants with lower business taxes.
In conclusion, chain restaurants offer convenience and low prices, but their health risks, effect on local food culture and pressure on family businesses mean that the drawbacks carry more weight.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| franchise | business with a licence to use a brand |
| standardised | made the same everywhere |
| menu | list of food |
| value for money | good return for the cost |
| local eateries | small restaurants in an area |
| artificial additives | chemicals added to food |
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