Sending Spacecraft and Astronauts into Space is Very Expensive- IELTS Writing Task 2

Sending spacecraft and astronauts into space is very expensive. It would be better for governments to use the money spent on space exploration to improve the quality of life on Earth. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Outline

Essay Type

Opinion type

Introduction

Sentences 1&2 – The quest to unravel the mysteries of space has enthralled people since time immemorial. However, some people opine that instead of investing financial resources in space exploration, governments should instead allocate it towards bettering living conditions on earth.

Sentence 3 – I agree with this statement and in this essay, I will state my reasons for doing so.

Body Paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – The current pandemic and its impact on the healthcare system along with the problems of climate change are more important for governments to invest money in than space exploration.

Paragraph 2 – Space expeditions hold no obvious concrete benefits for the majority of people and burning problems such as poverty, social injustice, hunger and deterioration of the environment require solutions which would actually benefit people rather than space missions.

Paragraph 3 – Scientific knowledge can be enriched and the innate curiosity of people can be satisfied through space exploration and ceasing it would curtail jobs.

Conclusion

To sum up, it can be said that while space exploration can have certain useful and positive aspects, I think it is quite superfluous in a time where the earth is threatened by crises and requires the financial resources wasted on space missions and hence, the money should be used to address the problems on earth.

Sample Essay

The quest to unravel the mysteries of space has enthralled people since time immemorial. However, some people opine that instead of investing financial resources in space exploration, governments should allocate it towards bettering living conditions on earth. I agree with this statement and in this essay, I will state my reasons for doing so.

To begin with, the present times have been some of the most challenging in recent years. With a global pandemic raging on as well as the devastating impact of climate change, the problems plaguing humanity need to be dealt with adequately rather than designating financial resources for space exploration. It has stretched the limits of the healthcare system, causing a widespread shortage of resources and healthcare workers being overworked. Governments investing funds into rehabilitating the healthcare system and mitigating the impact of climate change would be a more utilitarian solution at this present time.

Furthermore, space exploration offers no concrete benefits to the majority of the population. Acquisition of knowledge becomes a secondary concern when the world is currently rife with burning issues like hunger, poverty, and social injustice, resolving which would actually ameliorate people’s lives. The deterioration of the environment and the repercussions it has had for living organisms also necessitate resolution rather than delving into discovering what lies beyond the earth.

Contrarily, it can be said that space expeditions would furnish us with a wealth of knowledge that would truly enrich the scientific fields and enlighten future generations as well. Scientific knowledge outlives us and its value goes beyond an appraisal of its costs. The desire to explore space is also an extension of the natural curiosity of human beings, which should be nurtured. Lastly, stopping space exploration would abolish the many jobs this industry provides.

To sum up, it can be said that while space exploration can have certain useful and positive aspects, I think it is quite superfluous in a time when the earth is threatened by crises and requires the financial resources spent on space missions and hence, the money should be used to address the problems on earth.

Vocabulary

• Enthrall

Meaning – Fascinate or enchant
Example – She was simply enthralled by the stunning artworks that were displayed in the gallery.

• Allocate

Meaning – Set aside or distribute
Example – Her parents had allocated a considerable amount of money for her education.

• Rehabilitate

Meaning – Restore
Example – The efforts of the environmental organisation are aimed at rehabilitating the wetlands.

• Expedition

Meaning – Voyage or exploration
Example – Columbus went on an expedition to the Americas.

• Utilitarian

Meaning – Useful or pragmatic
Example – Although her student accommodation was not great to look at, it was quite utilitarian.

• Abolish

Meaning – Remove or ban
Example – Smoking in public places has been recently abolished by the government.

• Superfluous

Meaning – Surplus or unnecessary
Example – She donated any clothing she considered to be superfluous in her wardrobe.

• Plaguing

Meaning – Trouble or afflict
Example – I had a severe migraine plaguing me the entire afternoon.

• Rife

Meaning – Widespread
Example – These days, society is rife with numerous problems, from intolerance and prejudice to economic slumps.

• Furnish

Meaning – Provide
Example – The informer furnished the police officer with the information he was after.