GT Writing Task 2 / Essay Sample # 289
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
The people of the twenty-first century have a better quality of life than the people who lived in the previous centuries.
To what extend do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Answer:
The twenty-first century has brought humankind to the realm of unprecedented developments. This is why many argue that living standards in modern days are markedly better than in the past centuries. I completely agree that the standards of living, these days, are far better than those of our ancestors.
Gone are the days when thousands of millions of people lived in conditions of extreme poverty. In 1830 only a few elites could afford higher living standards, while an overwhelming majority of people used to live in conditions of severe poverty. On the contrary, the growing number of world regions today have become industrialized and therefore offer increased productivity. This, in turn, makes it possible to lift more families out of abject poverty. In 1920 two-thirds of the globe were living in grinding poverty; in 1992 it was still 46%. In 2018 the share of the world population in dire poverty has fallen below 8%.
Like eradicating poverty, this century achieves tremendous progress in health care. In this century, medical science has invented many life-saving drugs, thus increasing life expectancy. Take child mortality for example. In 1700 the health conditions were such vulnerable that around 42% of the world’s newborn babies died before their fifth birthday, while child mortality in 2018 was down to 4.2%, ten-fold lower than three centuries ago. In fact, prosperity, public health interventions, and improved social life contribute to this achievement. Besides, the improvements in housing and sanitation enhance our chances in the age-old battle against contagious diseases.
To conclude, in contrast to previous centuries, the twenty-first century has made tremendous progress in industrialization, health, and overall social life and thereby alleviating poverty and health conditions substantially in the world. Therefore, I believe that we indeed live a much better life than our ancestors.