IELTS essay on neighborhood I managed to write this with my laptop within 40 minutes. I still need to work on the efficiency because I will be required to write with a pencil during a real test and my handwriting is slower than typing. Please help me point out the expressions you find wrong, unnatural or awkward. Thanks a lot. == THE TOPIC == There are an increasing number of people who do not know their neighbors. What causes this situation? How to solve? == THE ESSAY == It is not uncommon today that neighbors do not know each other although they may have many chances to run into each other. Personally I believe the busy lifestyle many people live with and the fact that people spend more time at home have contributed to this phenomenon; and this can be solved by creating more opportunities for neighbors to meet each other. In my opinion, there are two reasons for increasing strangeness in the neighborhood. The most important one is largely due to most people’s busy lifestyle today. The technological advances in both communication and transportation have greatly speeded up the rhythm of people’s life. Compared to their parents, many people spend less time with their families because they have to spend more time working. These people are unlikely to have the time to make acquaintance with their neighbors. Another reason is that most people spend more time at home after work today; they may choose to do things like playing video games or watching online TV shows in order to relax. Because they do not go out as much as their parents used to, there are less chances for them to know their neighbors. Neighbors can get more familiar with each other if more opportunities are created for them to meet each other. Many people get to know their neighbors while they take their children out for walking. It is a good idea to organize a kids’ play day in the community so that children can have more playmates and parents can talk. Parents tend to have a lot of topics in common, so having their children play together is a great chance for them to know each other. In my community, we also have events such as barbeques and badminton matches occasionally for neighbors to spend weekends together. Many of my neighbors find it a pleasant way to meet other people. In conclusion, it seems to me that neighbors no longer know each other because of the changing lifestyles; however, events that bring people together can help them to know others in the neighborhood. (346 words)