雅思作文：政府应负责国防和基础设施以外的服务吗？

 　　You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

　　Present a written argument or case to an educated non-specialist audience on the following topic.

　　A government’s role is only to provide defense¹ capability² and urban infrastructure³ (roads, water supplies, etc.) All other services (education, health, social security) should be provided by private groups or individuals in the community.

　　You should write at least 250 words.

　　You should you your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

　　Topic words:

　　A government’s role – the job a government should do Defense capability – the ability to defend people against attack Infrastructure – roads, water supply Private groups or individuals – businesses, charities or private people

　　Task words:

　　To what extent do you agree or disagree with…

　　Questions I must ask myself:

　　Do I think the statement is true? Is it true in all cases and countries? Do I disagree entirely⁴ with the statement?

　　The answer must:

　　Explain what you think a government should do. Give reasons for your opinion, with examples to show why your reasons are right. Give reasons and examples to show why other opinions are not right.

　　Sample Essay:

　　Government can only provide a limited range of services for citizens. Certain types of service, however, must be provided by government, whereas both government and private groups or individuals can share the responsibility to provide other services. - Introduction states the writer’s attitude to the opinion in the writing task.

　　A government must provide those services which are essential to a country. These include defense capabilities⁵ and social security. Private enterprise and the profit motive⁶ should not form part of these essential services. On the other had, some services could be provided by either government or private groups or both. Education and health care are examples of such services. A government must provide at least a basic level of education and health care so all citizens can have access to them. Private enterprise, though, could also provide services in these areas for those who wish to pay for them. - 1st argument: what governments must provide, with supporting statement - 2nd argument: providers of other services, with examples

　　Urban infrastructure is another area where government and private groups or individuals can share responsibility. Governments must build and maintain a system of roads, but toll⁷ roads can be built and road maintenance carried out by private contractors⁸. Similarly, other infrastructures⁹, such as water or electricity supply, can be operated by private companies. - More support and examples for 2nd argument

　　To sum up, there are some services such as defence and social security which must be provided by government. Other services, for example water supply or education, could be provided by both government and private enterprise. Consequently, it is not true to say that a government’s role is only to provide some services while others should be provided by the private sector¹⁰. In fact, both government and private groups can share in the provision of most services. - Conclusion re-states main arguments and paraphrases¹¹ opinion in the writing task.

　　Remember: this sample answer is one of several satisfactory ways to answer the question. Other essays which respond to the writing task would also be acceptable.

　　Source: Prepare for IELTS, by Vanessa Todd & Penny Cameron, 1996, UTS, Australia. For non-profit educational use only.

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

5 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

6 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

7 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

8 contractors   

n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We got estimates from three different contractors before accepting the lowest. 我们得到3个承包商的报价后，接受了最低的报价。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Contractors winning construction jobs had to kick back 2 per cent of the contract price to the mafia. 赢得建筑工作的承包商得抽出合同价格的百分之二的回扣给黑手党。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 infrastructures   

n.基础设施( infrastructure的名词复数 )；基础结构；行政机构；秘密机构

参考例句：

• Public transportation termini and depots are important infrastructures for a city. 公交场站设施是城市重要的基础设施。 来自互联网
• The increasingly fast urbanization process requires more and more infrastructures. 我国城市化进程不断加快，对城市基础设施的需求也越来越大。 来自互联网

10 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

11 paraphrases   

n.释义，意译( paraphrase的名词复数 )v.释义，意译( paraphrase的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：