今回の Topic は、Official Guide to the TOEFL の Independent Essay 第６問です。

１. Topic           

       Have North Americans become too dependent on automobiles for travel?

２. Struture

a) Thesis Statement (Introduction)                

     In my opinion, North Americans have become too dependent on automobiles for travel, due to several reasons unique to the US and Canada.

b) Body の部分を構成する３つの Paragraph の Main Idea は、

第１ Paragraph　航空便と高速道路網の充実により、アメリカ人とカナダ人は飛行機とレンタカーを組み合わせで長距離旅行を行う習慣が身についている

第２ Paragraph　ガソリン価格が他の先進国に比較して低いことで、自動車を使って旅行することはコスト面で有利である

第３ Paragraph　一部の大都市を除いて、北米の都市は公共の交通機関が発達しておらず、短距離の旅行においても自動車に頼らざるを得ない

 

３. Sample

     In my opinion, North Americans have become too dependent on automobiles for travel, due to several reasons unique to the US and Canada.     

     To begin with, people have got used to long distance travel by the combination of airline and rent-a b-car service because the US and Canada have broad network of airlines and interstate highways,   In order for us to travel the North America, it is unpractical to travel either by Amtrak or Greyhound alone, since it takes days to travel across the continent.  Therefore, we need to travel by air to the nearest cites of our destinations and then transfer to rent-a-car.      

    In addition, the price of gasoline is much cheaper in the US and Canada than other developed countries.  As a result, people in the North America have been able to take advantage of the low cost of gasoline to travel around the continent.  Together with the expansion of interstate highways and widespread rent-a- car service network, travel by cars, especially for long distance travel, is the most cost effective way for North Americans.                                                                                              

     Finally, as to the short distance travel, people in the North America have to travel by cars since except certain large cities such as Chicago or New York, public transportation systems in the US and Canada .don’t cover most of metropolitan areas, let alone rural and suburban areas.  As a result, North American people have no choice but to rely on automobiles for their short distance travel.  And the emerging of transportation network companies, such as Uber, makes it easier for us to use and share taxes easier than before.      

     It is true that road infrastructure including bridges in the US has become dilapidated and is in dire need of update.  However, because of the three reasons I mentioned above, people in North America have become too dependent on automobiles for travel.

 

To be continued.