This is the second writing question on the TOEFL iBT Test. Get more samples and a template here. You can also check out our guide to this task.
The test-taker must read the question posted by the
professor and the two student responses. Finally, they should write
their own response which addresses the question and adds to the
conversation.
Your professor is teaching a class on marketing. Write a post responding to the professor’s question. In your response, you should
An effective response will contain at least 100 words. You have ten minutes to write.
Professor: Today we’re going to discuss whether the government should tax unhealthy products, such as sugary drinks and junk food. On one hand, taxing these products could discourage people from consuming them and reduce health problems. On the other hand, some argue that such taxes unfairly target lower-income families who may rely on these products as affordable sources of food. If you had to choose, would you support or oppose taxing unhealthy products? Why?
Jessica: I believe that such taxes are unfair to families that don’t have a lot of money. Wealthy people will not care about the taxes and their habits won’t change. Additionally, when prices go up, people usually try to save money by purchasing lower-quality products that are cheaper to begin with. If people start buying low-quality food they could suffer even more health problems. There are better solutions to this problem than taxes.
Mike: I support the idea of taxing unhealthy products. These products are often high in sugar, salt, and fat, which can lead to serious health problems such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. As you said, by taxing these products, the government can discourage people from consuming them and resolve some of these health issues. Moreover, the revenue generated can be used to fund advertising campaigns that promote healthy eating habits.
This is a complex issue with valid arguments on both sides. Personally, however, I lean towards supporting the tax on unhealthy items. While I acknowledge and understand Tanya's points regarding the potential for the impact to be primarily on lower-income families, I think the ultimate benefit of reduced consumption of unhealthy foods is an important one. My suggestion would be to use revenues from these proposed taxes to subsidize healthier, fresh food options, therefore reducing their cost and making them more affordable and attractive to low-income families. This way, not only do the less healthy options become less appealing, but healthier options become more accessible to everyone.
