Model Answer – IELTS (Task 2)

Television is dangerous because it destroys family life and any sense of community; instead of visiting people or talking with our family we just watch television.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Due to the fact that television is no longer considered a luxury it has become part of our daily life and can be found in almost all households. Despite the many advantages it provides in the form of endless hours of entertainment, a vast variety of programme choices and the educational possibilities it offers, I strongly agree that television is destructive to family and community life.

Television has changed the way people communicate with each other. Before the invention of television, a family would spend more time together discussing the events of the day and attempting to solve any problems that existed. Family meals were also enriched by conversation whereas today, TV encourages a solitary existence. It is a passive use of time and does not encourage individuals to talk to each other as all their attention is focused on the screen. In some cases, if someone is disturbed when they are watching their favourite show, they tend to get irritable leading to an argument.

Television has also had an impact on community life. People no longer visit others as frequently as they used to. In the past individuals spent their time with their friends and relatives playing interactive games and activities such as playing cards, singing and storytelling. Life in front of a box is lonely and discourages any form of community life. People are trapped in their homes and their inner lives, glued to the television.

In conclusion, the danger of television lies in its ability to fool people into believing they are not required to make an effort to socialise. Communicating, interacting and visiting others is part of being social and as human beings are social animals, this aspect of our personality is becoming extinct by watching television.

Question taken from Official IELTS Practice Materials (2009) p.36

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