Band 7 essay sample: noise pollution in cities.

In many cities, noise from traffic, building sites and entertainment has become part of everyday life. This essay will look at why urban areas have become so loud and how they could be made quieter. In my view, better transport and stricter planning rules would make the biggest difference.

The main cause is the growing number of vehicles. As cities expand, more people drive to work, and the number of cars and motorbikes on the roads have increased dramatically. Heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses are especially loud, and in a heavy traffic many drivers use their horns out of frustration. For example, residents of busy streets in my hometown often keep their windows closed even in summer, because the noise from the main road never stops.

Another reason is the density of modern cities. New buildings appear in city centers every year, and construction always starts early in the morning. In addition, bars, restaurants and concerts attract crowds late at night, so people who live nearby frequently complain for the noise.

Several measures could reduce the problem. First, governments should invest in electric buses and encourage electric cars, which are much more silent than traditional vehicles. Second, local councils could allow construction work only during certain hours and require noisy sites to use barriers. Finally, if more trees were planted along major roads, they would absorb part of the sound and also improve the urban enviroment.

To sum up, the main sources of noise in crowded cities are traffic, building work and nightlife. Although it is impossible to make a city completely quiet, cleaner transport and more green spaces would make urban life much more pleasant.