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Lesson 4 of 5
Sustainable Living
Core 60 min
Pathway
Lesson 3.4 develops the Task 2 problem-and-solution essay on sustainable living.
What you'll be able to do
- Plan a 4-paragraph problem/solution essay
- Use cohesion devices for a Band 7 score
- Justify each solution with a result
Focus
Framework · Problem / solution
4-paragraph plan
01
Intro
Paraphrase + outline (problems + solutions).
02
Body 1
2 problems — each with a brief consequence.
03
Body 2
2 solutions — each with a likely result.
04
Conclusion
Summarise + final thought.
Focus
Example · Sustainable living
Example · Prompt
Many people lead lifestyles that are not sustainable. What are the main problems, and what can governments and individuals do to address them?
Body 2 — solutions
Topic sentence
Two complementary solutions stand out: stronger regulation by governments and small behavioural changes by individuals.
Solution 1
Firstly, governments can phase out single-use plastics through legislation, much as the EU has done since 2021.
Solution 2
Secondly, citizens can reduce demand by choosing public transport over private cars whenever possible.
Result
Together, these measures can cut household emissions significantly within a decade.
Focus
Pathway focus · Academic register
incentivise
encourage through reward
phase out
gradually remove
compliance
following rules
Listening Skills
Listening Skills — Tutorial on Sustainable Design
Before you listen
You will hear a tutorial in which a lecturer, Irish, discusses a student's project on sustainable housing design.
- Predict technical vocabulary related to materials and building design.
- Listen for suggestions the tutor makes and whether the student accepts them.
- Note measurements and costs mentioned.
- Decide whether each statement matches, contradicts, or is not mentioned in the conversation.
Example · Irish English · Lecturer and Student
Listen first — the transcript stays hidden so this works like the real exam.
Listening audio
Tap play to generate and listen.
0:00--:--
Instruction
Write TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.
- The tutor says a full green roof would add weight and increase the building's cost.
- The rammed earth walls are less than thirty centimetres thick.
- The student has built a rammed-earth house before.
- The greywater recycling system reuses water from sinks and showers.
- The student originally planned to install eight solar panels.
- The tutor asks for a draft before the final submission deadline.
Check
Answer key
Exam Strategy
Exam Strategy
- Exam Tip
One problem ↔ one solution mapping is the cleanest structure.
- Exam Tip
Every solution needs a likely result.
Independent Practice
Independent Practice
Full essay
Write the full essay in 40 minutes.
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
Remember
- Problem/solution = clarity, not complexity.
Need more practice?
Extra Practice — practise this exam skill
- Band 7 collocationsFix the wrong word — the collocation errors that cap Lexical Resource at 6.
- Matching headings sprintMatch six headings to six paragraph summaries — fast.
- Band 7 upgrades — Task 1 languageOverview quality, comparison language and precise data description.
Optional — this doesn't affect your lesson or course progress.
When you're done, mark this lesson complete.