IELTS 무료 자료실

2026.08.10 Writing Task 2 기출문제

Many countries continue to prioritise economic growth over the protection of the environment. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

많은 국가들이 환경 보호보다 경제 성장을 계속해서 우선시하고 있습니다. 이러한 경향의 장점이 단점보다 더 크다고 생각하시나요?

Advantages to prioritising economic growth

1. Economic growth creates jobs and raises living standards. For example, expanding manufacturing and construction industries provides employment for millions of people and lifts many families out of poverty, particularly in developing countries.

2. A strong economy generates the tax revenue that governments need to fund public services. For example, higher national income allows governments to invest more in healthcare, education and infrastructure, which benefits society as a whole.

Disadvantages to this approach

1. Environmental damage is often irreversible and threatens people's long-term wellbeing. For example, deforestation and air pollution caused by rapid industrialisation lead to a loss of biodiversity and serious health problems such as respiratory diseases.

2. The costs of environmental damage may eventually outweigh the short-term economic gains. For example, governments may have to spend enormous sums on disaster recovery and medical care as a result of floods, droughts and polluted water supplies.