Writing task 2, lesson 6: Opinion Essay

Here's the question and the full essay that you saw in the lesson:

The money spent by governments on space programmes would be better spent on vital public services such as schools and hospitals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Governments in some countries spend large amounts of money on space exploration programmes. I completely agree with the idea that these are a waste of money, and that the funds should be allocated to public services.

There are several reasons why space programmes should be abandoned. Firstly, it is extremely expensive to train scientists and other staff involved with space missions, and facilities and equipment also come at a huge cost to the government. Secondly, these programmes do not benefit normal people in our daily lives; they are simply vanity projects for politicians. Finally, many missions to space fail completely, and the smallest technological error can cost astronauts their lives. The Challenger space shuttle disaster showed us that space travel is extremely dangerous, and in my opinion, it is not worth the risk.

I believe that the money from space programmes should go to vital public services instead. It is much cheaper to train doctors, teachers, police and other public service workers than it is to train astronauts or the scientists and engineers who work on space exploration projects. Furthermore, public servants do jobs that have a positive impact on every member of society. For example, we all use schools, hospitals and roads, and we all need the security that the police provide. If governments reallocated the money spent on space travel and research, many thousands of people could be lifted out of poverty or given a better quality of life.

In conclusion, my view is that governments should spend money on services that benefit all members of society, and it is wrong to waste resources on projects that do not improve our everyday lives.

VOCABULARY

Space programmes, exploration, missions, projects, travel, research___Chương trình không gian, thám hiểm, nhiệm vụ, dự án, du lịch, nghiên cứu

Funds should be allocated___Kinh phí nên được phân bổ

Should be abandoned___Nên bỏ

Facilities and equipment come at a huge cost___Cơ sở vật chất và thiết bị có chi phí rất lớn

Vanity projects for politicians___Dự án Vanity cho các chính trị gia

Can cost astronauts their lives___Có thể chi phí phi hành gia cuộc sống của họ

Space shuttle disaster___Thảm họa tàu con thoi

Public servants___Công chức

A positive impact on every member of society___Tác động tích cực đến mọi thành viên trong xã hội

If governments reallocated___Nếu chính phủ tái phân bổ

Could be lifted out of poverty___Có thể thoát nghèo

Given a better quality of life___Cho chất lượng cuộc sống tốt hơn