Khoa học xã hội: Sample IELTS Writing Task 2: Cultural Traditions

Sample IELTS Writing Task 2: Cultural Traditions

Task 2

Đề bài

Some people say cultural traditions are destroyed when they are used as money-making attractions aimed at tourists. Others say this is a good way to save such traditions. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Sample

Opinions differ as to whether tourism fosters or undermines cultures and customs. While to a certain extent, tourism brings traditions to a wider audience, I would argue that it does more harm than good.
Mass tourism, with huge investments diverted into development, advertising and propagation, has made indigenous customs, several of which were formerly alien and unpopular, known to people around the world. Once a small local festival that were formerly restricted to only tribal peoples, the Cong Chieng carnival in the middle part of Vietnam has greatly emerged to become a tourist trap, with influxes of Vietnamese and foreigners flocking to the place every year. Nevertheless, I believe such popularity is just superficial. A custom known by a lot of people does not necessarily mean a well-preserved one.
All too often, tourism brings in its wake cultural assimilation. It is not rare to see tribal people, adults and children alike, get rid of their traditional attires for modern, Westernised ones worn by tourists. Many hotels, resorts and spas have also been erected every year, encroaching on the areas where there once were villages, altars and ritual meetings. Additionally, the disgusting hands of tourism moguls have reached out to even the remotest areas, tempting local people into working for them with promises of higher wage rates and a better life. As a consequence, the number of ethnicpeoples has greatly shrunk in recent years, with many ethnic minorities being declared non-existent.
In conclusion, my firm conviction is that profit-oriented tourism, despite the fact that it may bring customs to more people, is a cultural catastrophe. Tourism can only go in harmony with cultures as long as it is developed in a sustainable manner.

Vocab

• Foster (v): phát huy, củng cố
  
• Undermine (v): làm suy yếu
  
• Indigenous (adj): bản địa
  
• Peoples (n-plural): dân tộc
  
• Tourist trap (n): địa điểm thu hút khách du lịch (nghĩa xấu, ám chỉ những địa điểm quá đông khách du lịch)
  
• Influx (n): dòng lũ lượt
  
• Flock (v): kéo đến
  
• Superficial (adj): bề nổi
  
• Bring in its wake (verb phrase): mang theo bên nó
  
• Assimilation (n): sự đồng hóa
  
• Erect (v): xây dựng
  
• Encroach (v) on: xâm lấn
  
• Mogul (n): ông trùm
  
• Shrink (v): suy yếu, thu hẹp
  
• Non-existent (adj): trở nên không tồn tại
  
• Catastrophe (n): thảm họa
  
• Sustainable (adj): bền vững
  

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