今回の Topic は、Official Guide to the TOEFL の Independent Essay 第１７問です。

１. Topic           

       Some people prefer to live in a small town.  Others prefer to live in a big city.  Which place would you prefer to live in?   Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.  

２. Struture

a) Thesis Statement (Introduction)                

       In my opinion, I would like to live in a big city, because it has a variety of facilities, well-developed public transportation system, and job opportunities. 

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

第１ Paragraph　図書館、美術館、コンサート・ホール、劇場等の文化施設に関しては、大都市は小さな町と比較して優位にある

第２ Paragraph　大都市は公共交通機関が発達している為、日常生活において車を所有する必要がないが、小さな町では自家用車は必須である

第３ Paragraph　経済的な面においても、人口が都市部に集中することで、雇用の機会も大都市に集中している

 

３. Sample      

     In my opinion, I would like to live in a big city, because it has a variety of facilities, well-developed public transportation system, and job opportunities.               

     To begin with, big cities have several advantages over small towns in terms of cultural facilities, such as libraries, museums, concert halls, and theaters.  Moreover, large cities have also diverse medical facilities, which small towns don’t.  All in all, whereas people in rural areas have to resign themselves to poor availability of choices, people in metropolitan area have benefitted from divers amenities and facilities to make their life more cultivated and healthy.                                  

     In addition, in metropolitan areas, residents don’t need to have cars since they can use broad networks of public transportation systems.  In contrast, for those who live in rural areas, cars are essential just to lead everyday life.  Without cars, they cannot have access to shopping, medical care, education, sand entertainment.  With the whole society rapidly aging, it would become difficult for elder people to keep on driving cars when they turn their seventies.                                                                                                      

     Finally, when it comes to economic aspect of life, big cities are far superior to small towns because job opportunities are concentrated in metropolitan areas.  As is often said, demography has become more and more large cities centric.  Prior to the era of globalization, manufactures in every size have large factories in rural areas.  However, as globalization progresses, they moved most of the factories overseas to take advantage of cheaper workforce, which deprives local people of job opportunities.                         

     It is true that living costs, especially housing cost are much cheaper in small towns than big cities.  However, because of the three reasons I mentioned above, I would like to live in a big city rather than a small town. 

 

To be continued.