Writing Task 2 Model Answers
WRITING
9. Extreme Experiences
Some people enjoy holidays which include many exciting activities, while others prefer a relaxing holiday by the beach.
Which do you think is better?
Essay Plan:
Opinion: Partially agree with both views.
Main Idea 1: Beach holidays are great if you want to relax and unwind, especially with kids.
Sub-idea A: Beaches are very relaxing and a great place to fully unwind.
Sub-idea B: Young kids love beaches, and so beach holidays offer an easy low stress option for families with small kids.
Main Idea 2: Active holidays are more interesting, fun and exciting.
Sub-idea A: You have the chance to visit places like museums, ancient ruins and temples, which are more interesting than beaches.
Sub-idea B: You can participate in exciting activities, and thus have a lot more fun.
Model Answer:
Holidays including a variety of fun and thrilling activities are some people’s top choice, whereas others would rather spend their holiday relaxing at a beach resort. In my opinion, both types can be enjoyable, however, I usually go for a more active holiday.
Blissful holidays by the beach are a fantastic way to relax and unwind. If you have a stressful and exhausting job, a holiday by the beach can be an excellent way to disconnect from the pressures of everyday life, reduce stress, and recover from your work. Many people adore sunbathing on a sunny beach and swimming in a warm sea, and therefore find the seaside the ideal place to indulge in some “me time”. Beach holidays can also be a great option for families, as small children are usually crazy about playing in the sand and water. In fact, many of my most memorable childhood experiences were on the beach with my family. Beach holidays offer a family friendly and easy way to spend quality time together and create memories that all family members will cherish. They don’t involve a lot of organisation or travel and are therefore very low stress. However, personally, I find such inactive holidays become tedious quite quickly.
Many tourists, like myself, prefer to be more active during their holidays as they have more opportunities for fun and excitement. They would rather visit ancient ruins, see museums and temples, or have other fascinating experiences. Such people jump at the chance to discover something new, with holidays spent entirely on a beach appearing comparatively mundane. In addition, active holidays are much more exciting and offer tourists the chance to take part in exhilarating activities. For example, on a recent trip I was lucky enough to snorkel above coral reefs full of tropical fish, and even saw several whales. It was a euphoric experience. For these reasons, although a beach holiday may be much more relaxing, a holiday packed with exciting activities is a lot more fun.
To sum up, holidays by the beach are a fantastic option if you want to really relax and enjoy the sun and sea, and especially if you have young kids. But, I would say that active holidays are preferable as they are more exciting, interesting and enjoyable overall.
*To see definitions and examples of the vocabulary in bold, along with practice exercises, go to Topic Vocabulary & Exercises.