IELTs writing example

I'm practicing for an IELTs exam so that I can register as a provisional psychologist. Here is my take on Writing Task #2 on deforestation... 

Question:

Urbanization has resulted in deforestation and the endangerment of numerous animal species. Governments are being urged by environmental organisations to conserve these species. What advantages come from safeguarding animals? What steps can governments take to safeguard animals?

Answer:

It is estimated that 40-50% of the world’s forests have already been lost to deforestation. Often it is driven by the need to satisfy housing needs as people migrate from rural areas to the cities in masses, however, this essay will argue that it has wide-ranging negative impacts on the native habitat.

The best way to protect endangered species is to protect the habitat where they live. Forests provide shelter and a source of food for many animals. Deforestation disrupts the natural habitat of these animals, and forces them to migrate to areas that are still intact. However, such areas have been shrinking in recent years, pushing some species into forests which cannot satisfy their needs, thereby bringing them close to extinction. In fact, there are already several species around the world that are near extinction. If a group of animals ceases to exist it creates a gap in the food chain. It can then endanger the lives of those animals which rely on this food source to begin with.

Governments have a responsibility to safeguard biodiversity. They can do so by introducing stricter laws, for example outlawing deforestation. They can also work with scientists and environmentalists in creating wildlife corridors to ensure animals can continue to have a safe passage between human structures and development. Furthermore, governments can provide education to their citizens about the importance of preserving forests and protecting the native animals which live there.

In conclusion, governments have a significant responsibility in protecting endangered species and biodiversity. This starts with ensuring that forests are protected.  

The biological benefit of sleep (one of)

‘Sleep appears to be involved in the consolidation of memory. Memories for newly learned material are stronger after eight hours of sleep than after eight hours of wakefulness’ (Smith in Burton, 3rd Ed,  Psychology).

Sleep

'Those who lament that life is too short would be horrified to realise that they will sleep away roughly a third of their time on the Earth, about 25 years. A newborn infant typically sleeps about 70 percent of every 24 hours and typically results in 400-750 hours lost sleep for parents in the first year (The National Sleep Research Project, 2000).
We sleep about one to 1.5 hours less than we did 100 years ago (An Intro to Sleep: What is Sleep, 2007). Anything less than five minutes to fall asleep at night means you are sleep deprived (The National Sleep Research Project, 2000). Ideally, you should take between 10 and 15 minutes to fall asleep.'

Lorelle Burton: Psychology, 3rd Ed, p. 195-196

Subliminal Perception

It is defined as the perception of stimuli below the threshold of consciousness (Burton, Psychology, 3rd Ed, p. 191). Although its effects are not considered large, it has been established to influence thought and emotion. 'Research on subliminal priming clearly demonstrates that presenting people with subliminal stimuli that are positive or negative can influence their emotional reactions and behaviours (Glassman & Andersen, 1997; Weinberger, 2004; in Burton, Psychology, 3rd Ed, p. 191).

Are you letting your children watch any media?
Are you watching any yourself?
Are you ok with being influenced?

Absolute Threshold

According to science, this is the lowest level of stimulus that humans will detect at least 50% of the time. What a wonderful body we live in that we are able to detect such small changes.

• hearing: the ticking of a watch 6 metres away in a quiet place
• smell: one drop of perfume in a large house
• taste: one teaspoon of sugar dissolved in 4 litres of water
• touch: the wing of a fly falling on the cheek from a height of one centimetre
• vision: the flame of a candle 50 kilometres away on a dark, clear night.

(Psychology by Lorelle J Burton, p 209, 5th Ed)