Increasing the price of petrol is the best way to solve growing traffic and pollution problems.
To what extent do you agree or disagree? What other measures do you think might be effective?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Sample answer
Traffic and pollution problems produced by vehicles have become issues that bother both governments and citizens in many major cities across the world.
Recently, some people propose that the best way to cope with this problem is to increase the oil price. I personally believe that pricing is too simple an approach to ease traffic pressure and air contamination.
Admittedly, raising oil price might be helpful to limit the number of cars to some extent. This is mainly because the higher fuel cost would increase the financial burden on average people and families who have limited disposable income, as well as those who do not have urgent demand for a private car. Under this policy, the general public are very likely to turn to public transport modes which are more affordable, rather than drive on their own for commuting or sightseeing. With less vehicles on the road, the traffic system will run more efficiently and the harmful emissions produced by transport such as CO2 and atmospheric particles will be reduced accordingly.
However, the outcome of the pricing policy could turn in an opposite way. For example， considering the financial pressure on ordinary people, we can expect huge social complaints after the implementation of this policy，which forces them to spend less in shopping and other sectors that closely related to their quality of life. As a matter of fact, compared with raising the price of oil, approaches such as improving the choices of public transport services and developing eco-friendly energy seem more innovative and sustainable. For example, it is feasible for the government to build more underground systems and sky trains in big cities. If sufficient and more affordable public transportation tools are offered to city dwellers, the reliance on private vehicles will drop significantly. Besides, Once clean energy such as solar power and electric cars were put into use on a large scale, the air contamination could be eased to a large extent.
In conclusion, pricing is neither the best nor the sole solution to deal with the problem. More effective methods, ranging from improving transport choices to exploring new energy, are better to be taken by authorities when dealing with traffic and environmental issues.
范文译文：
车辆产生的交通和污染问题已经成为困扰世界各主要城市的政府和公民的问题。最近，有人提出解决这个问题的最佳方法是提高油价。我个人认为定价是缓解交通压力和空气污染的简单方法。
诚然，提高油价可能在一定程度上有助于限制汽车数量，这主要是因为高昂的燃料成本将增加可支配收入有限的普通民众和家庭的财务负担，以及降低对私家车的非迫切性购车需求。在这种情况下，公众很可能会转向使用一些能负担得起的公共交通工具，而不是自己开车上下班或观光。随着道路上车辆的减少，交通系统将更加高效地运行，相应地减少了诸如二氧化碳和大气颗粒物等有害排放。
然而，定价政策的结果可能正好相反。例如，考虑到普通民众的经济压力，我们可以预见到这项政策实施后会有巨大的社会抱怨，这迫使他们减少在购物等与其生活质量密切相关的领域的支出。事实上，与提高石油价格相比，改善公共交通服务选择、开发环保能源等方式似乎更具创新性和可持续性。例如，政府在大城市建设更多的地下系统和空中列车是可行的。如果为城市居民提供足够且更实惠的公共交通工具，对私家车的依赖将大幅下降。此外，一旦太阳能、电动汽车等清洁能源大规模投入使用，空气污染可以得到很大程度的缓解。
总之，定价既不是解决问题的最佳方法，也不是唯一的解决方案。在处理交通和环境问题时，当局最好采取更有效的方法，从改善交通选择到探索新能源等。
话题链接
气候变暖；交通拥堵；能源危机或短缺；空气污染的的原因和解决办法
词汇短语精选：
people propose that：有人提出...
too simple an approach: 方法太过于简单
pricing/ charging：收费，调价政策 (价格调控）
ease traffic pressure：减缓交通压力
air contamination：空气污染
fuel cost：燃料成本
increase financial burden on sb: 增加…的财务负担
average people and families；普通人，普通家庭
disposable income：可支配收入
less urgent demand：需求不紧急
Turn to: 转向… ( search for 寻求帮助或办法）
affordable：可支付的起的，亲民的
Rather than do: 而不是...
commuting or sightseeing: 通勤或观光
atmospheric particles：大气颗粒物
social complaints：社会抱怨
the combination of: 结合…（手段，方式）
eco-friendly energy sources：环保型能源
major cities：大城市
it is imperative that：迫在眉睫的是
sustainable and renewable：adj. 可持续，可再生
pollution- free：adj.无污染的，
put sth into use：将…投入使用
higher fuel cost：更高的燃油费
enhance awareness of：加强…的意识。
low-carbon life：低碳生活
advocate/promote：vt. 倡导
