Some people think living in big cities is bad for people’s health. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

本次雅思写作涉及的话题是大城市对人们身体健康的影响，这是2014年3月1日的原题重现。

当然，这个话题本身是很容易构思，也容易写的，因为类似的讨论在我们的日常生活中经常发生。记得很早以前，我们就在讨论到底住在乡下还是城市好，无非就是乡下空气好，人际关系亲近，但医疗条件和文化生活相对就差一些，而大城市则是空气污浊，噪音很大，而且人际关系冷漠，但可以享受较好的医疗教育机会，可以参与更多的文化活动，等等。

而本题重点是放在身体健康方面。稍微想一下，我们就可以提炼一些观点出来。比如，大城市的空气和噪音污染的确不利于我们的身体健康；大城市复杂的人际关系和剧烈的竞争也不利于我们的心理健康；但是大城市良好的医疗条件却有利于我们的身体。

因此，我们的结论就是：大城市的环境的确不利于我们的身体健康，但大城市的医疗条件对我们身体康复却是有利的。

7分范文

While enjoying all the conveniences in big cities such as supermarkets, shopping malls, and public transport, many people complain that living in big cities is harmful for our health. This opinion certainly carries a lot of truth, yet it should also be treated with a grain of salt.

Compared with the rural areas which are usually more peaceful and quiet, big cities are often extremely noisy. The forever crowded streets are full of people rushing back and forth, vehicles hustling along, and stores vying for attention. Besides, with factories producing wastes and vehicles emitting exhaust gas, the air in big cities is often so heavily polluted that many people have to put on a mask when walking outside in the street.

Then, the busy city life is also negative for our mental health. The fierce competition that exists everywhere in big cities is destructive to our relationship with our colleagues, neighbors, and even friends, resulting in our isolation and loneliness. In order to catch up with the Joneses, we often have to make more money by working extra hours which will eventually affect our health.

Yet big cities do offer many things that can benefit our health. Big cities, for instance, have better sports facilities and better equipped gyms and stadiums. They also have more parks and gardens. So we can see many city dwellers enjoying themselves by doing sports in gyms or walking in parks on weekends while in the countryside people can only stay at home. More importantly, in big cities, people enjoy better medical services because the best hospitals and medical professionals are often found in big cities rather than rural countryside.

So it is hard to decide with certainty whether living in big cities is bad or good for our health. Life in big cities does bring about many negative effects on our health (both physical and mental), but it also has much to offer which actually helps us stay healthy. （324 words）

老师笔记

While enjoying all the conveniences in big cities such as supermarkets, shopping malls, and public transport, many people complain that living in big cities is harmful for our health. This opinion certainly carries a lot of truth, yet it should also be treated with a grain of salt. 

在享受大城市所有便利（如超市、购物中心、公共交通等）时，很多人抱怨住在大城市对我们的健康有害。这个观点当然很对，但也需要打个折扣。

 解析 

（1）开头段重述题目观点，同时给出自己的立场。这是比较安全（虽然不会很出彩）的开头方式。

（2）Convenience 方便；便利

（3）A grain of salt 一粒盐；打个折扣

Compared with the rural areas which are usually more peaceful and quiet, big cities are often extremely noisy. The forever crowded streets are full of people rushing back and forth, vehicles hustling along, and stores vying for attention. Besides, with factories producing wastes and vehicles emitting exhaust gas, the air in big cities is often so heavily polluted that many people have to put on a mask when walking outside in the street.

与通常说来更平和安静的乡村地区相比，大城市往往非常吵闹。永远拥挤的大街上充满了匆忙来往的人群、熙熙攘攘的车辆、想方设法吸引注意力的商店。此外，城市里有排放废物的工厂，散发尾气的车辆，因此空气经常污染不堪，许多人出门上街时不得不带上口罩。

 解析 

（1）本段讨论大城市对人们身体健康的第一个层面：大城市的噪音和污染对人身体健康的影响。

（2）Hustle 拥挤

（3）Vie for 为......竞争

（4）Emit 散发

Then, the busy city life is also negative for our mental health. The fierce competition that exists everywhere in big cities is destructive to our relationship with our colleagues, neighbors, and even friends, resulting in our isolation and loneliness. In order to catch up with the Joneses, we often have to make more money by working extra hours which will eventually affect our health.

其次，繁忙的城市生活也不利于我们的心理健康。大城市里无处不在的激烈竞争破坏我们与同事、邻居、乃至朋友的关系，导致我们孤独寂寞。为了与邻居攀比，我们还经常加班加点地挣钱，这最终会影响我们的身体健康。

 解析 

（1）本段论证大城市生活对我们心理健康的影响。

（2）Fierce 激烈的

（3）Result in 导致

（4）Isolation 孤立

（5）Catch up with the Joneses 与邻居攀比

（6）Work extra hours 加班工作

（7）Eventually 最终

Yet big cities do offer many things that can benefit our health. Big cities, for instance, have better sports facilities and better equipped gyms and stadiums. They also have more parks and gardens. So we can see many city dwellers enjoying themselves by doing sports in gyms or walking in parks on weekends while in the countryside people can only stay at home. More importantly, in big cities, people enjoy better medical services because the best hospitals and medical professionals are often found in big cities rather than rural countryside.

然而，大城市的确提供了很多有利于我们健康的东西。比如，大城市有更好的体育设施，更完善的体育场馆。大城市也有更多公园。因此，我们可以看到，很多城市居民周末会去体育馆运动或者去公园散步，而乡村居民则只能待在家里。更重要的是，大城市里人们拥有更好的医疗服务，因为最好的医院和医护人员往往都在大城市而不是在乡村。

 解析 

（1）本段转换角度，论述大城市对人们身体健康带来的好处。

（2）Facilities 设施

（3）Medical professional 医护专业人员

So it is hard to decide with certainty whether living in big cities is bad or good for our health. Life in big cities does bring about many negative effects on our health (both physical and mental), but it also has much to offer which actually helps us stay healthy.

因此，很难绝对说住在大城市对我们的健康是好还是坏。大城市的生活的确给我们的身体健康（无论是生理还是心理）带来很多消极的影响，但也提供了很多东西实际上帮我们保持健康。

 解析 

（1）本段是结论段，再次表达自己的观点。

（2）With certainty 确定地

（3）Stay healthy 保持健康