Describe an environmental problem in your area: cue card and sample answer

The environmental problem I'd like to talk about is air pollution in my city, which has become particularly serious over the last few years.

It's worst in the late autumn and winter, when a thick smog settles over the city for weeks at a time. On bad days, you can barely see the end of the street, and the air has a smoky smell. There are several causes. The biggest is probably traffic, since the number of cars and motorbikes has grown enormously. On top of that, there are factories on the edge of the city, and in the surrounding countryside, farmers burn the leftover straw after the harvest, which sends huge amounts of smoke into the air.

It affects people in all sorts of ways. Many people suffer from coughs, sore eyes and breathing problems, and elderly people and children with asthma are especially at risk. Schools are sometimes closed on the worst days, and flights can be delayed because of poor visibility. It also has an economic cost, because people take more days off work when they're ill.

In my view, it could be solved, but only with action on several fronts. The government should invest in better public transport so people rely less on private vehicles, and enforce stricter controls on factory emissions. Farmers need affordable alternatives to burning straw, such as machines that turn it into animal feed. And individuals can help by sharing cars or cycling for short journeys.