Describe a Polluted Place You Have Seen: IELTS Cue Card with Sample Answer

The polluted place I’d like to talk about is a river that runs through the industrial part of my city. It’s a shame, really, because further upstream, in the countryside, it’s actually quite a clean and pretty river.

The pollution is quite visible. Along the banks there’s a lot of plastic waste, bottles, bags and even old tyres, and on some days there’s a layer of white foam floating on the surface, which apparently comes from chemicals. In summer especially, there’s a strong smell, and a couple of years ago there was a story in the local news about hundreds of dead fish washing up near one of the bridges.

As far as I know, there are several causes. The main one is the factories along that stretch of the river. Some of them have been caught releasing waste water without treating it properly. On top of that, the sewage system in the older neighbourhoods is out of date, so when it rains heavily, untreated sewage overflows into the river. And to be honest, ordinary people are part of the problem too, because some still dump rubbish there instead of paying for collection.

It makes me feel both sad and angry, because my grandfather told me that when he was young, people used to swim and fish in that river. Now nobody would even put their feet in it. The one positive thing is that, since that incident with the fish, there’s been more public pressure. The city has fined a few factories and volunteers organise clean-ups every month. It’s far from perfect, but it shows that things can change if people care enough.

Useful language:further upstreama layer of foamwashing upreleasing waste wateruntreated sewage overflowsdump rubbishpublic pressure

The biggest causes are usually traffic and industry. Car exhaust fumes are a major source of air pollution, especially in cities with lots of old vehicles. Factories and power stations add to that, and so does the way we deal with waste. Construction dust and noise are often overlooked, but they’re also a serious problem in fast-growing cities.

Useful language:exhaust fumesa major sourceoverlooked

I’d say companies and governments carry most of the responsibility, because a single factory can pollute more than thousands of households. Strict laws and serious fines are the most effective way to change their behaviour. Individuals still matter, though; if consumers choose greener products, companies have a reason to change.

Useful language:carry most of the responsibilityserious finesgreener products

In many ways. Air pollution is linked to asthma, lung disease and heart problems, and children and older people are the most vulnerable. Polluted water can spread disease, and noise pollution affects sleep and stress levels. People in poorer areas usually suffer most, because they often live closer to busy roads and factories.

Useful language:linked tothe most vulnerablestress levels

I’m cautiously optimistic. Electric cars, renewable energy and stricter regulations are already improving air quality in some cities. However, in countries that are industrialising quickly, pollution is likely to get worse before it gets better. A lot depends on whether governments are willing to prioritise long-term health over short-term profit.

Useful language:cautiously optimisticindustrialising quicklyshort-term profit