The Use of Cell Phones Has Increased Rapidly in the Twenty-First Century- IELTS Writing Task 2
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Contents
The use of cell phones (mobile phones) has increased rapidly in the twenty-first century. Additionally, cell phones can now be used for many purposes besides making phone calls. What are the advantages and disadvantages of cell phones?
Outline
Essay Type
Advantages/Disadvantages essay
Introduction
Sentence 1&2 – Paraphrase the question with the help of synonyms. Elucidate how cell phones have become integral in our lives, and how it also distracts people from their work.
Sentence 3 – Mention that the essay will cover various advantages and disadvantages of the topic.
Body paragraphs
Paragraph 1 – Mention the advantages of the cell phone, like how it connects the world, how it makes everything convenient and easy to reach, how it helps us gather information and facilitates communication. Mention examples if possible.
Paragraph 2 – Mention the disadvantages. For instance, talk about how cell phones have connected the world but only socially, that we are slowly growing distant on the whole. Also mention how cell phone radiation is harmful to humans and the environment.
Conclusion
Summarise the advantages and disadvantages in one line and state your observations.
Sample Essay 1
Cell phones are an integral part of our functioning and are no longer just a means to communicate. In fact, it is safe to say that it has become a necessary evil. ‘Necessary’ because most of the people, irrespective of their age group, need a cell phone for their studies or professional work and ‘evil’ because it has now become an addiction rather than a tool for our convenience.
From being able to get in touch with hundreds of friends with one click while on-the-go, to being able to have easy access to vast amounts of content through Google, Youtube, etc. on your hand-held device, the advent of mobile phones has actualized developments that seemed magical a few decades ago. It is almost impossible to cover all the benefits of the cell phone, but we have video-calling, emails, photography, gaming, and entertainment, to name a few. It is impossible to imagine a world without cell phones today, for they have improved our user experience to a great extent.
As with everything in life, there is a downside to this boon as well. In my opinion, the biggest disadvantage of cell phones today is that the very tool which was supposed to bring the world closer has allowed people to dwell in their own private bubble. A cell phone has enabled people to live in a rather confusingly structured world, wherein people are connected to others but disconnected from the reality around them. People prefer chatting over messages or a phone call much more than face-to-face interactions. Even the brand or model of the cell phone one owns is seen as a status symbol, rather than it being considered a utility itself. Additionally, the radiation caused by extensive exposure to cell phones, which, as per studies, has caused endangerment or extinction in various bird species in some places.
Even with all its negatives, the cell phone can be counted among the monumental inventions of human existence, right beside the wheel and fire. However, it totally lies in the hands of humans to strike the right balance and make the best use of it.
Sample Essay 2
Cell phones are an integral part of our functioning and are no longer just a means to communicate. In fact, it is safe to say that it has become a necessary evil. ‘Necessary’ because most of the people, irrespective of their age group, need a cell phone for their studies or professional work and ‘evil’ because it has now become an addiction rather than a tool for our convenience.
From being able to get in touch with hundreds of friends with one click while on-the-go, to being able to have easy access to vast amounts of content through Google, Youtube, etc. on your hand-held device, the advent of mobile phones has actualized developments that seemed magical a few decades ago. It is almost impossible to cover all the benefits of the cell phone, but we have video-calling, emails, photography, gaming, and entertainment, to name a few. It is impossible to imagine a world without cell phones today, for they have improved our user experience to a great extent.
As with everything in life, there is a downside to this boon as well. In my opinion, the biggest disadvantage of cell phones today is that the very tool which was supposed to bring the world closer has allowed people to dwell in their own private bubble. A cell phone has enabled people to live in a rather confusingly structured world, wherein people are connected to others but disconnected from the reality around them. People prefer chatting over messages or a phone call much more than face-to-face interactions. Even the brand or model of the cell phone one owns is seen as a status symbol, rather than it being considered a utility itself. Additionally, the radiation caused by extensive exposure to cell phones, which, as per studies, has caused endangerment or extinction in various bird species in some places.
Even with all its negatives, the cell phone can be counted among the monumental inventions of human existence, right beside the wheel and fire. However, it totally lies in the hands of humans to strike the right balance and make the best use of it.
Sample Essay 3
Since the beginning of this century, the use of cell phones among the people in our societies has escalated dramatically. Though it is primarily used for phone calls, nowadays it is utilised for lots of other purposes such as gaming, ticket booking, and numerous others. Despite its usefulness, it still poses lots of problems to our society.
Firstly, people can easily communicate with their friends and family regardless of being separated physically which used to be an issue in the past. In the past, people had to wait for months to get a letter from their loved ones. Secondly, the network of information piled on the internet are readily available for the user. For instance, we can get a particular thing without having to flip through hundreds of books. Also, one can use it to entertain themselves.
On the contrary, it negatively affected our society. For the foremost, it increased the social media content consumption among the population which led to an increase in the number of depressed people, especially among the children. A recent survey showed that the majority of the people are spending more hours on mobile phones than the suggested amount. Also, people’s personal lives are affected as people are caring more about strangers than their families. The supportive family is becoming a thing of the past.
In conclusion, no matter what it did to influence other people’s lives, the cell phone is a mere electronic device. We can use it to provide the service that we need and get benefits by using it.
Sample Essay 4
The usage of cell phones has risen in the twenty-first century. Moreover, besides calling, these can be utilised for many purposes. This essay shall discuss the positive and negative aspects of cell phones.
To begin with, the fact that mobile phones are a lot beneficial to human beings in many ways cannot be denied. Firstly, these electronic devices are equipped with an operating system that allows users to install applications. These simplify a number of cumbersome tasks and aid in saving time and energy which can be utilised productively in other humongous jobs. For instance, airplane and train tickets can now be booked online, whereas earlier, people had to visit the physical centers which was time consuming. Moreover, inbuilt features like calculator, alarm and so on also compliment the resourcefulness of these devices.
However, these devices are fraught with ramifications that cannot be overlooked. Since these cell phones offer features that are utilitarian, people become highly contingent on them. Thus, this dependency renders them handicapped. For instance, people do not remember contact numbers; they can effortlessly save these on their devices. Besides this, exhilarating games, social media, and other fascinating applications which allow the public to watch movies, series cause addiction. Therefore, focusing on crucial tasks becomes an arduous job owing to the never ending urge to be glued on their phones. Moreover, this also refrains them from any kind of social activity.
In conclusion, while advantages like being equipped with features that help in performing actions efficiently proves the usefulness of these gadgets, the demerits such as reliance, and isolation cannot be overlooked.
Sample Essay 5
Since the last few decades, there has been a considerable rise in the usage of mobile phones. This has made communication much easier by keeping people well connected all the time especially in time of emergencies but on the other hand this has also led to valuable time getting wasted as people are glued to their phones all the time while ignoring other important tasks at hand.
Cell phones have definitely simplified the way people used to connect with each other. Life has become much easier now that we can talk to our family and friends by simply pressing few keys on our mobile phones. Recent reports state that around 90% people in this world use mobile phones for communicating. When I had left for college in another city, mobile phone made reaching out to my folks back home so fast and easy that I rarely missed them even though I was so far away from them.
Alternatively, there are many people who end up wasting their precious time on cell phone as it is addictive. This leads to people postponing other crucial activities which they need to perform only to do some aimless scrolling on their cellphones. Just to give an example of my cousin who had been so obsessed with his phone that he absolutely side lined his studies prior to his college entrance exams which in return ruined his chances of getting admission into a good college.
In conclusion, there is no doubt that the arrival of cell phone has brought considerable improvements to how people used to communicate with each other by making it very quick and smooth however, people have also become addicted to cellphones therefore squandering a lot of their time on them and thus overlooking other critical tasks that might require their attention.
Vocabulary
- Integral
Meaning – necessary to make a whole complete; essential or fundamental.
Example – A good manager is integral for the company’s success.
- Addiction
Meaning – the fact or condition of being addicted to a particular substance or activity.
Example – Unfortunately, his downfall was because of his addiction to alcohol.
- On-the-go
Meaning – Very active or busy.
Example – His job is so demanding that he’s always on-the-go.
- Advent
Meaning – the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.
Example – The advent of Indus Valley civilization was aided by the Indus river’s water.
- Actualize
Meaning – make a reality of.
Example – He actualized his dream of performing at the Prithvi Theatre.
- Boon
Meaning – a thing that is helpful or beneficial.
Example – Good roads are a boon to the economy of any country.
- Dwell
Meaning – live in or at a specified place.
Example – It is said that the first humans dwelled in Africa.
- Utility
Meaning – the state of being useful, profitable, or beneficial.
Example – Smartphones have become such an important utility in today’s times.
- Endangerment
Meaning – the action of putting someone or something at risk or in danger.
Example – The police are actively arresting reckless drivers who cause endangerment to people on the road.
- Monumental
Meaning – great in importance, extent, or size.
Example – The invention of the wheel is seen as a monumental development in human history.
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4 Comments
KRISHNA SONI
Posted on Jan 10, 2022
The adoption of mobile phones is unavoidable growing at an alarming rate in the present century. The usage of these electronic gadgets is expanding in the 21st century. In addition, cellular phones can be used now for various functionalities apart from calling. This essay will explore the benefits and drawbacks of these modern digital phones.
The advancement in the communication field particularly mobile phones has many pros. Firstly, it is a source to connect with our family and friends anywhere in the world. It has various options to stay close to your loved ones by text messages, video calls, or audio. Secondly, mobiles are convenient to carry and they are a complete package of services as their multiuse can allow people to avoid carrying different gadgets with them. For example, if someone is going on a vacation then he does not need to carry a huge camera with them as phones have an inbuilt good quality of the camera.
However, we can not avoid its disadvantages as well. People are so busy on their mobile phones that they hardly spend family time together. Besides calling, there are numerous applications for games and social media that keep us apart from the world. Moreover, it has become an addiction for many kids as they keep themselves busy in games and are getting apart from studies and other valuable learning for their lives. For instance, instead of spending time playing outdoor games kids nowadays prefer to play games on mobiles which is harmful to their health as well.
To conclude, as per my experience mobiles are both a blessing and curse. Therefore, it is up to us how we use it and how much we use it. We are the ones to decide whether we want to make the best use of it or we want to destroy our relationships and health with it.
Reply
Janice Thompson
Posted on Jan 10, 2022
Band score: 5
Concentrate on adverbs and word order
Abhishek Patil
Posted on Jan 10, 2022
Mobile phones are the largest invention of technology, and nowadays are being used all over the world. cell phones have become a priority for everyone as it provides multiple benefits to the user besides communicating. This essay will focus on the merits and demerits of having a cell phone.
On the one hand, Mobile phones are one of the most advanced, convenient and time-saving technology that is being used by almost everyone all over the world. The first and foremost advantage of having a mobile phone is to communicate with other people in the same country as well as internationally. Mobile phones are considered very useful and have proven their importance to call security forces or an ambulance in emergencies like fires, medical issues, or maybe an accident. For example- a student can use a mobile phone to contact their parent in any case of emergencies. Nowadays, everything is being done online, and by using a cell phone, one can effortlessly do almost everything with a single touch. Online banking, online shopping and improved network capabilities are major tasks that can be performed using mobile phones.
On the other hand, As communication becomes easy due to mobile phones, a lot of people get addicted to it and cause a distraction to the person. That gripping feeling to text, make calls, or video calls while working, studying, or driving is a big disadvantage. Reports suggest that close to nine individuals die due to road accidents caused by phone distracted drivers every day. Communicating via cell phone is so easy that people avoid meeting with their friends and colleagues in person which affects their relationships. In addition, The health problems due to the massive use of mobile phones are increasing day by day. Playing mobile phone games and having late night chats on bright screen results in damage to the eyes. According to researches, the network can cause skin cancers. Insomnia, eye cancer, and even infertility are some of the health problems caused by mobile phones’ huge use.
In conclusion, having a cell phone is mandatory for every person as it provides enormous benefits such as communication, internet shopping and banking. However, it also creates a distraction for people while driving, studying and focusing on their job.
Reply
Janice Thompson
Posted on Jan 10, 2022
band score: 5
Concentrate on pronoun usage, and grammatical numbers.
Use “c2” vocabulary