雅思写作真题（14）----
公共设施or购物中心
（2019年1月12日真题）
When new towns are planned, it is important to build more public parks or sports facilities than shopping centers for people to spend their free time. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
参考范文：
（独立撰写，转载请注明出处）
【黑体部分为活学活用的雅思词伙】
When it comes to the planning of new towns, the issue has triggered a widespread discussion about which is more important, to construct more public parks and sports facilities or to develop shopping centers.
From my perspective, I strongly incline to the standpoint that building public parks and sports facilities matters more than constructing shopping centers for citizens.
Admittedly, building shopping malls is certainly not unimportant because they can provide goods and services available conveniently for residents. By contrast, setting up public parks and sports facilities is far more important, so greater priority should be given to it.
First and foremost, public parks are essential urban infrastructures. Public parks generally have trails for walking and biking, so they are beneficial for city dwellers to do outdoor activities during their free hours. Besides, urban public parks often have benches for sitting and many contain picnic tables and barbecue grills, which are great options for individuals to gather and socialize with families and friends on weekends. More importantly, by definition public parks are accessible to all residents, regardless of their income, status, and other personal circumstances.
In addition, providing sports facilities for citizens should definitely be another consideration for urban planners. To begin with, various athletic facilities can attract people of all ages to actively participate in physical exercise. Furthermore, research has revealed that office workers derive fabulous benefits from participation in sport, such as relieving stress, boosting confidence, enhancing work efficiency, and improving mental health and so on. For senior citizens, regular exercises may help to enhance the mobility and flexibility of their joints to lower the risk of injuries and falls. More than anything, sports facilities may offer opportunities for inhabitants from all walks of life to broaden their social circles by taking part in more group exercises.
In conclusion, public parks and sports facilities enrich residents’ lives in their spare time; therefore, building them seems more meaningful and urgent than constructing shopping centers in new towns.
（329 words）
