In some countries, small town centre shops are going out of business because people tend to drive to large out-of-town stores. As a result, people without cars have limited access to out-of-town stores, and it may result in an increase in the use of cars. Do you think the disadvantages of this change outweigh its advantages?

这道题大家要注意this change 应该指代的是an increase in the use of car，这个才是变化，前面的那些应该算是事实。对于利弊分析类的题目，如果大家能够想到两个弊端或者两个优点，可以采取主体段全部写优点或者缺点的方式，这可以避免大家去弱化优点或者缺点来突出利弊,整体操作会更直接清晰。

比如这道题如果大家写的观点是弊大于利，我们可以思考一下有哪些缺点。这边建议写的观点可以有：

1.开车去大城市购物会增加对于坏境的压力；

2.开车去大城市购物会增大城市的交通负担。

As a result of urbanization, cities are now surrounded by suburbs, which often feature large out-of-town shopping centers. Inevitably, these retail outlets are becoming attractive alternatives to small town -center shops, leading to potential widespread car use. In spite of the possible benefits, I think there are more evident disadvantages to consider.

It is true that large shopping malls especially those chain stores offer a wider choice of products and services with a more competitive price due to economies of scale. As more people go shopping there, the multi-faced development of the outskirts of cities, such as economy and tourism etc., will be promoted. This could mitigate migration to cities, thereby reducing urban population density.

However, there are somehighly undesirable effects of this development. For one thing, a growing preference for large stores in the suburbs could run small town shop owners out of business. Most large out-of-town stores are operated by enterprises that aim to maximize profits without giving as much back to the local community as smaller stores. For another, it is imaginable that the desire to shop at suburban stores could prompt the public to be more dependent on private vehicles and result in mass car ownership. This trend, eventually, could exacerbate congestion and, by extension, air pollution. While people are struggling with severe problems caused by increasing traffic and pollution in cities and on highways everywhere, we should not make the situation worse.

To conclude, despite the advantages of establishing large stores on the outskirts of cities, shopping there does harm small businesses and indeed takes a toll on local traffic infrastructure and the environment.

urbanization 城市化

suburbs 郊外

retail outlets 零售店

alternative 替代物

a competitive price

有竞争力的价格

economies of scale

经济规模，规模效益

multi-faced development

多方面的发展

the outskirts of cities 市郊

mitigate 减少

migration to cities 迁徙到城市

thereby reducing urban population density

从而减低城市人口密度

mass car ownership 普及私家车

exacerbate congestion 加剧拥堵

by extension 进而，相关地

take a toll on 造成重大损失