مجموعه Cue Cardهای Speaking آیلتس
مجموعه سوالات Cue Card زیر، از آزمونهای IELTS اخیر انتخاب شدهاند. این سوالات به شما کمک میکنند در ارتباط با عناوین جدید مطرح شده، ایده بگیرید. برای رسیدن به پاسخ نمونه از این Cue Cardها، روی لینک پایین هر عنوان کلیک کنید. در صورتیکه اخیرا در آزمون شرکت کردهاید و Cue Card شما جزء این عناوین نیست، لطفا آنرا برای ما کامنت بگذارید، تا با ارائه یک Sample خوب، آنرا برای دوستان دیگر نیز به اشتراک بگذاریم. ما بر این باوریم که Sharing is Caring.
1. Describe a prize you have won.
You should say:
- what it was
- what you had to do to win it
- how many other competitors were there
and explain how you felt after winning it.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Winning a prize is always exciting and the winners are adored as well by different quarters. I also had won a prize in my college’s annual sports competition last week. I won the first prize and became the champion on the table tennis match on the indoor games category.
Tennis is one of the most exciting sports in the world. Besides, the players are admired and respected by the people of the world. When it is about tennis, majority of the people consider it to be lawn tennis but table tennis is the smaller version of the lawn tennis. Table tennis is played on a table and the rules are similar to the larger one. Usually, two types of matches are played on table tennis – single match, team match. In a single match, usually, there is one opponent in each of the sides while the opponents become two in the team match. All of the teams or players try to defeat their opponents.
Winning on a table tennis match is difficult indeed. I had to struggle a lot for winning the matches. Initially, I took part in the qualifying rounds, and then I got promoted to the competing matches. I played the matches solo though one of my friends wanted to team up with me. But I declined as I am not a good team player. Before appearing on the competitions, I had to practice the techniques for hours. Usually making the balls to swing is one of the difficult ways in table tennis and if someone could master it, playing and especially defeating becomes easier. So, I practised the specific way at my home with my sister. Moreover, I used to play table tennis with some of my friends who came to visit me at my home. Besides, dad also likes to play table tennis and often he turned my opponent at my home. So, I had lots of practice with table tennis and thereby, I became victorious.
There were several other competitors against me and I had to defeat every one of them. Before reaching the final match, I had to beat five other competitors. It was a bit difficult for me because the matches took place in a single day. The qualifying matches began early in the morning and continued for around one hour. Then the competing matches took place.
Fortunately, I got some rest as I did not have to play all the matches. I appeared in six matches altogether (including the final match). The matches took place in the college auditorium and three tables for the tennis were placed inside there to hold the matches. Most of the players came here without any practice and I thought that it would be easy to defeat them as I do have regular practice with table tennis. But it was tougher for me to defeat my competitors and they played very well despite having no practice at all.
When I participated in the matches, I, in fact, did not think about the results. Rather, I tried to play my best and I did so. In the end, the results backed me. When I checked my score, I was amazed and could not believe that I did so well in the matches. The least distance of points with the opponents was 10. The other opponents played well and had a good fight with me. My parents were also with me during the matches and they inspired me after every match. When I won the college championship for table tennis, I was overwhelmed with joy and excitement. I shared my emotions with my family members and also with the opponents. They said that they had also enjoyed the matches with me and wished me good luck as well. The chief guest, the college principal and relevant others also inspired me to continue my practice so that I could be a great table tennis player in future.
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2. Talk about something you were disappointed about.
You should say:
- what it was about
- when it happened
- why it disappointed you
and explain how you felt about it.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Everyone expects something good when they buy any electronic goods but I was highly disappointed with a mobile phone bought from a globally renowned manufacturer. I could not use the cell phone for around two months. It got seriously damaged without any reason.
In March of the year 2016, I had bought an iPhone 5 manufactured by apple. This is a globally renowned brand and sells its products around the world. This is also considered as the most pricey product on the planet. Everything is okay. The hardware and software combinations are fine and undoubtedly the products provide the best possible services. Considering all the other issues, I bought the phone set from a local iPhone selling store in Singapore. The selling authority asked me to reach them in case of any trouble with the phone. But there were no chances of such events to contact them again over any defects or problems with the phone. The phone worked well for a couple of weeks and from the second month, a few symptoms appeared. The phone screen got blurred and some noises on the screen appeared as well.
The screen problem appeared exactly from the second month after buying the phone. As I was instructed, I took the phone to the retailer who sold it to me with necessary documents. They received the phone cordially and asked me to meet them a couple of days later. Accordingly, I met them and they handed the phone over to me and assured that the problems were gone. To my surprise, the problem appeared again and now it was happening twice than before. The phone set frequently restarted and the screen was looking awful. It appeared that the screen became the place colour. A wide range of colours were playing on the screen while the display was not working. I tried to install the OS several types but it did not accept the new install. So, I had to go back again to the selling store and this time they asked me to come after a week. They also ensured me to look into the matter deeply. In between, I made a phone call at the store and came to know that the phone set is defective and the display will not be okay any more.
Though the selling store replaced the phone to me, I was disappointed highly with the poor quality of the product. It may happen that the specific phone set that I bought was of below standard but not all the products are the same. By the same time, the selling authority has agreed to replace the handset shortly. Despite all the positive issues, I did not get any comfort of my mind. This was the very first apple product for me and I bought it after saving from my pocket money given by my dad. So, it was a happy moment for me when I bought the phone and my happiness turned upside down when the phone started trouble. The technicians at the apple approved selling store in Singapore could not figure out the problems of the phone initially and later they come to the decision that the display of the phone was defective. So, I was disappointed about the issue that all my efforts resulted in having a defective handset.
I was emotionally imbalanced after the event. I have been using the replaced cell phone but I the days are fearsome. I am afraid of experiencing the situations again and if such happens, the selling authority would not allow me to replace the phone again. A blended form of emotions attacked me when I encountered the problem with the phone set. At first, I was amazed at the color change of the display and then became worried when the colors were frequently changing. I got afraid when the set started restarting frequently in the second time. I heard many rumors about phone bursting and the issue made me concerned lest my phone set does not get burst as if it bursts, I would not be able to replace the set. Fortunately, nothing worst like that happened and still I am using another similar phone which is serving me well. But when I remember about the earlier iPhone 5, I feel sad.
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3. Describe a national day in your country.
You should say:
- what day it is
- how it is celebrated
- what the historical significance of this day is
and explain how you feel about this day.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Vietnam is one of the countries that was under the domination of French colonies and got independent in 1945 from the French rules. Since then, the country observes the day as the National Day.
Vietnam is not so much developed in terms of modernity but the people of the country are too much patriotic. They underwent different struggles around their life before the independence and participated in the revolutions during the Second World War to make the state free from the occupation forces. Vietnam was used by the Japanese as a shelter to get involved in war and hide themselves. But by the same time, the domination of French colonies was prevailing on the land. Since the French dominators were alien in the country, they allowed the Japanese soldiers to stay in the country as long as they need. But the commoners revolted against the entire decision and finally on the day, September 2 in 1945 the country was declared as an independent state.
The day is historically very important for all the citizens of Vietnam. Before the independence, French colonisers used to rule the country as a colony of them. As a result, the local people did not get enough attention from the colonisers in each of the aspects of daily life. In a word, the natives were exploited by the French colonisers. Thereby, a sense of discomfort started gathering among the locals. They wanted freedom. Simultaneously, with the initiation of the Second World War, life turned intolerable for them. Freedom from the occupational Japanese forces and the colonisers appeared like a basic need of the locals. So, they secretly started gathering opinions about their independence and once the opinions were gathered, they declared the independence by Ho Chi Minh. Later, he took care of the state like a father takes care of his son. So, if the declaration of independence was not made, the presence of Vietnam on the world map would not have been possible yet. The country might have been under the rule from the colonisers.
As a Vietnamese, I am proud of this day. This is the day for declaring our independence from France. If the day was not made, there would be no state named – Vietnam. My forefathers had participated in the declaration process and actively helped the president to bring the rule of peace in the country. Everything of Vietnam, before the independence, was in disorder. The declaration of independence brought everything under order. Different historic events took place before the date and the people had to silently tolerate the ill treatments. So, when my country became independent, the people started enjoying the freedom. The new name – The Democratic Republic of Vietnam brought a sense of peace among all. Later, some other events took place inside the country and government which are entirely different issues. So, when the day arrives, I try to participate in every activity organised by national and local level. I feel comfortable when I attend there.
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4. Describe an interesting place in your home town.
You should say:- what it is
- where it is
- what it is famous for
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Pakistan is a place of historical importance in the south Asian subcontinent and contains several World Heritage Sites. The Lahore Fort is one of them and I've been there for numerous times for its attractive features.
The Lahore Fort is a citadel and locally this is known as the Shahi Qila. The fort is the example of rich Mughal architecture. The citadel is located in the Iqbal Park in Pakistan. The history and origin of the park are not known precisely but so far it is revealed that the fort was made during the Mughal Empire. Emperor Akbar had built the Fort in the 15th century. The fort was well maintained by the Mughals until their fall. After the downfall of Mughal Empire, the fort was assigned to the Sikh and subsequently the British rulers ruled on it. The fort has two entrances and one of them is known as Alamgiri gate which was made by Emperor Aurangzeb. The Alamgiri gate is faced to a mosque better known as the Badshahi mosque. The first gate was made by Emperor Akbar and was named as Maseeti. The gate is facing the city of Lahore. Now, the fort is using the Alamgiri gate by closing the Maseeti gate permanently.
The Lahore Fort is located at the Iqbal Park in Pakistan. Iqbal Park is the largest urban park in Pakistan. Both the park and the fort are located in the walled city of Lahore. To be more transparent about the issue, the Lahore Fort is located adjacent to my residence in Lahore. I live with my parents in the walled city of Lahore in Pakistan and the Lahore Fort is visible from our balcony. Geographically, the Shahi Qila is situated in the north-west part of Lahore. The fort is accessible from anywhere in the city and thus a good number of visitors come to visit the historical place. Strategically, the location was important to dominate some of the strongholds in Multan, Kashmir and Kabul and thus the solid brick made fort has been built in this region.
The Lahore Fort is famous for several reasons and the most important cause is its architecture. The fort is dominated by the Persian gardens and the buildings inside are still own the striking look. The entire fort is divided into separate sections, spacious bedrooms, concealed residential parts, entrance etc. Besides, some small gardens are also notable and have increased the beauty of the fort. Diwan –I – Aam is one of the halls, which was made by Emperor Shah Jahan in 1628, to meet with the common people of the locality and the design is similar to that one of Agra Fort. The Sheesh Mahal is made with glasses and the Mahal was built by Mirza Ghiyas Begh. The Mahal contains a large hall and was considered as the harem of the fort. The fort has experienced some modifications during the British period to meet the needs of the British army.
To me, the Lahore Fort is interesting for several reasons. I have visited the fort for several times and each of the times I was amazed at the designs of the Mughal artists who built the fort. Though some of the parts of the fort have been modified for several reasons, the other places are still at their best look. The wonderful 17th century Moti Masjid has increased the beauty of the fort. The Noti Masjid contains five arches and three domes above the roof which have increased the beauty of it. Unfortunately, the masjid was converted into Sikh Mandir (temple) during the reign of Sikh Maharaja. The gates of the fort also have a grandeur look with the semi-circular bastions. I also visited the Naag temple inside the fort which is mostly famous for fresco paintings. Overall, the entire fort is a place to enjoy the past and thus I like it most.
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5. Describe a feature of your personal character that you find important.
You should say:- what it is
- why is it important to you
- What difference it makes in your life
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Human beings are subject to imperfection. They will not be perfect despite numerous attempts. This is natural. But they might be able to own some special qualities which make them great. I am humbly proud of my honesty. This is the only feature that I find important in me.
Honesty is a great virtue and everyone is almost known with the saying that honest is the best policy. Yes, undoubtedly the saying is true for all. If people could remain honest during the lifetime, they will be rewarded in the long run. To be frank, I have been enjoying a pleasure that cannot be expressed in language. The honesty inside me leads me to do everything with due sincerity and perfectly. For being honest, I am adored by everyone and especially by my colleagues. Since my early childhood, I have never got involved in any dishonest act and thus everyone respects me.
Honesty is globally respected. In each of the sectors of life, people need honesty. The number of dishonest people is on the rise and thus it has become a rare virtue in the present days. So, when I found that everything is becoming corrupted, I should walk in the opposite track. I got the learning from my parents, especially my dad, a former police official here in Singapore. He advised me to be honest in every sphere of my life and I would be successful. How right he was! By dint of my honesty, I have overcome all of the troubles of my life so far. I have a good job at a local real estate call centre with some standard benefits. My parents, neighbours, colleagues and friends love me. But if I did not own the virtue, I think I would be treated like the other people. Besides, my honesty makes me feel better. I get encouraged from my inner self to perform the works more efficiently. Besides, I am following the advice from my parents. For all these reasons, I think it is important for me.
After adopting the policy to remain honest in the rest of my life, I have gained much. Firstly, I gained the job currently I am performing in, I gained the love of my surrounding and overall the blessing from my parents. I have experienced that the people with dishonesty are shining in their life and life is a luxury for them. But my shabby life is enough for me and I am satisfied with what I earn in honest ways. My neighbour (I do not want to expose his name) once was poor and now he has built a huge residential complex on his land next to ours. But he is not respected in the society as everyone knows that he gained wealth by dishonest means. Even he does not receive the importance as I get as a junior from the others. Honesty has brought a sense of self-dignity to me. I feel glad when people greet me and adore my virtue. I take humble pride in those greetings. This has changed my thoughts about life and living.
Honesty is a divine gift and it is not placed upon anyone. So, I think I am divinely blessed with the virtue. This is a unique feature of mine that has made me popular among everyone. I have got my job only for my honesty. When they asked me about my academic background, I did not hide anything to them though they called for someone with a shiny academic career. Moreover, I am able to impress people with my speeches as I am a trustworthy person to all in my locality. Almost everyone knows me for my feature of not lying. Besides, when I sit at the store with my father - the retired government official, people make crowds in our grocery store to collect their daily necessaries as we always provide the exact measures. No dishonest means are followed here. Honesty has made everything for me. I have a happy family, better career and hopefully a bright future. Everything has been possible for my honesty. Thereby, honesty is truly important to me.
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6. Describe a rule you did not like in school.
You should say:- what it was
- how others thought about this rule
- have you ever violated this rule
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
The days of school were best in my life but I could not comply with one of the rules and that is attending at the assembly in the early hours of the day. Serangoon Garden Secondary School is highly strict over the issue.
Now I have crossed the boundary of school and studying Diploma in Business at a local college here in Singapore but the days before attending here were awesome to many extents. But there were some unpleasant issues as well. Due to my lifestyle, it was impossible to wake early hours in the morning. My school, the SGS, started its activities from 7.20am. I had to reach my school by 7.10 am and then placing my bag in the classroom, I along with the other students of my class went to attend the flag raising ceremony and assembly. The ceremony began at 7.20am and most of the times I could not stand well for sleep in me. It was too difficult for me to wake up at 6.45am and get ready for the school and then again stand in the playground for the formalities that ended by 7.35am.
The reactions were mixed. Some of the students thought that attending the assembly was a good practice while most of the students were like me. In fact, attending the assembly would have been better if the assembly and the other events started in a bit late. It becomes difficult for most of the students to get up so early in the morning and the discipline was too strict. All of the students had to follow the rules and regulations strictly and if there were any disobedience about following the rules and regulations, strict measures were adopted as punishment for the students. Often, I have seen that many of the students are avoiding the assemblies as they are unable to stand at the playground under the sun. Sometimes they used to hide themselves in the toilets and on the other corners of the school from where they were able to skip the ceremony.
From my early childhood, I was naughty and still I am today. Thereby, my parents got me admitted at the school as its discipline is strict. The students are not allowed to go out of the rules and thus they become disciplined. But I was a bit different from the other students and remained busy in violating the rules. Though sometimes I tried to follow the rules, it was a bit difficult me to comply with all the rules. It was irritating for me to stand in a queue for the morning assembly and the most important reason was the small playground with no shade. All the students had to stand under the bare sun in the morning and some of them turned fade. I used to sweat a lot and when I stood under the sun, my school uniform got wet with my sweats. Besides, it was impossible for me to tolerate the same lectures every day at the assembly. The teachers used to make us take the pledge to do the good things and avoid the bad things. Definitely, their intentions were good but it was intolerable for me to pledge all the memorised verses in every morning. So, for all these reasons, I did not like the rule.
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7. Describe a difficult choice you had to make in your life.
You should say:- what it was
- when you had to make it
- how if affected your life
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Life is filled with complications and the choices amid the complications should be perfect or people are to pay some excessive price for the wrong preferences.
After passing my higher secondary level, I got promoted to the university level and had to pick a suitable subject for. There was a good range of subjects and courses to be studied at the university level and I was told to accept the subjects related to the scientific studies as my background belongs to science. I took science as the major course in my secondary and higher secondary level. But I wanted to study the course of arts, particularly the courses like history, literature etc. On the other side, my parents were on the view that I should get admitted into any medical college so that I could be a doctor and even they were on the view that they should bear all of my expenses for the medical study in a private medical college as they had borne all the expenses of my past studies. In fact, they wanted to see me as a doctor who will treat patients with care. But I wanted something different. I wanted to be a poet or something like that where I could use my intellect.
The issue was too critical and it was impossible for me to go beyond the opinion of my parents. The crucial moment came when I started collecting forms from different universities to study literature and the subjects of Arts faculties. But my parents did not listen to me and they brought some forms of medical colleges located in different parts of India. They were on the view that I should appear the entry test for all of the medical colleges in India and they will do everything for me. If I fail to get admission into any public medical college, they will help me to get admitted at any of the private medical colleges. Thereby, I had to abide by their choice. After passing my higher secondary with distinction, I got admitted into a public medical college.
From my early childhood, I used to compose poems and songs. I wanted to be a poet or a songwriter. But when my parents compelled me to be a doctor, all my dreams were shattered. My heart was filled with grief that all of my dreams were going to be destroyed. Moreover, it was difficult for me to pick the profession as I was a bit afraid of surgeries, blood and operations. It was truly difficult for me to move to a different track than I intended. I thought that I would study different sorts of literature, history, stories, novels, epics and poems but instead, I have to read the books over medicine and practice on dead bodies to sort out the internal organs of humans. Initially, it was difficult for me but now I am okay with all these. With the passing of time, I am becoming habituated with all the necessary experiments that a trainee doctor need to do.
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8. Describe a garden you remember visiting.
You should say:- where it is
- what it looks like
- what people usually do there
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Singapore is the land of beauty and most of its parts are covered with trees and foliage. Singapore Botanic Garden, located at the Cluny Road is one of the best places of the city and the country as well.
The Singapore Botanic Garden ages over one and a half century and is considered as one of the World Heritage Sites. This garden is located adjacent to the Singapore city and the only tropical garden in the country. Moreover, the garden has been awarded as the top attractive park in 2013 and some other prestigious awards for its diversified trees and plants. The history of the gardens dates back to the 18th century when an agri-horticultural society formed it. The garden has helped greatly to expand the business of the locality particularly the rubber industry. Besides, the plants and trees inside the garden are also used for numerous research and analysis. Now it is a centre for orchid study which has brought global recognition for the garden. Moreover, this is a place to gain inner peace amid the natural tranquillity.
The garden is like a small piece of heaven. The natural beauty of the garden is breathtaking. The small lakes reflect the blue sky on them and sitting idly by the lakes under the tree shades is priceless. The garden houses over 3000 species of orchids, both natural and hybrid. The garden was established with the view to evaluate the cultivation crops for economic growth. The garden has some interesting histories and passed some crucial moments during the Japanese invasion in Singapore. But it was protected from the invasion and proper care was taken as there were numerous precious plants and trees. The garden was renamed as Shonan Botanic Gardens and the name was changed again with the help of a university professor. The garden contains different smaller gardens and lakes like National Orchid Garden, VIP Orchid Garden, Symphony Lake, and Ginger Garden etc.
The Singapore Botanical Gardens opens from early in the morning (5am) and remains opened till the midnight (12pm). People of all strata come here with different purposes. There are some health conscious people who come here in the early morning and perform different types of exercises. Many of them walk across the garden and some of them love to jog. Often I go there for jogging in the morning hours. Sometimes, there are people who come with the pet animals. It is a great place for all to pass some moments with nature. Besides, there are some people who come here only to enjoy the natural beauty. They take some breathing exercises in the open air. This is a helpful exercise for the lungs, I think. In the evening hours, people come here to relax. Mostly the tourists come here in the evening to enjoy the natural beauty and views of the garden. Besides, the garden takes an amazing look during the night time. In the evening, the birds living on the trees come and make some noises which are truly enjoyable.
I remember the garden for several reasons. This is the only place which allows me to take breath peacefully. This is the place where there are no hustle and bustle of the city could reach. The garden allows all types of people to enter and enjoy the beauty of nature. The most attractive issue for the garden is that there are no fees are required to enter into the garden and anyone can stay here as long as the garden remains opened. Besides, there are some stores adjacent the gardens which help the visitors to take foods comfortably. The walkways are built with great care while the statues will make you amazed. I usually go to the garden at 5.30 am every day and sometimes I walk and most of the time I jog here for about an hour. After the jogging and walking, I take rest for few minutes and return home. This is a great place indeed for the nature lovers. I try to visit the garden in the evening and take an evening walk if I miss the morning schedule. The spaces inside the garden are large and the light breezes are adorable. For all those reasons, I like the garden most in the city.
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9. Describe a television programme you watched and did not enjoy.
You should say:
- what this TV programme was
- where and when you watched it
- what it was about
and explain why you did not enjoy it.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
India is the land of over one billion population and accordingly there are numerous television channels with different attractive shows. Koffee with Karan is one of the television shows that I did not enjoy.
This was a television show, and to be more specific, this was a talk show in participation with the celebrities of India. The majority of the Bollywood celebrities attend on his show and shared their personal and professional events. The show is alleged to create a sense of controversy as the questions asked here are often inappropriate. Most of the times, Karan Johar used to ask private questions which were not supposed to be asked at all, and even media reports have also been made centring the issues. The show has different seasons and been closed for past two years after airing the season four in April of 2014. There are several reasons behind the closure and the directorial engagement of Karan is the key reason. But there are also chances that the show may commence again, shortly.
I used to watch the show at my home after its initiation in 2014. Initially the show was a great success for the show makers. The show was aired on STAR World India and the other channels of the same network. The show was mostly made to reveal the secrets of the Bollywood celebrities before the audience. The show was aired in the evening and I used to watch the show at my own room. A sense of attraction worked here and knowing about the private events of the celebrities was always attractive to the audiences. The show actually had a witty appeal to us. Often I invited some of my intimate friends to come to my house and enjoy the show and it was great to us to enjoy it together. We used to discuss about the questions and the reactions of the celebrities.
I think, mostly the show – Koffee with Karan was entirely made for increasing the TRPs of that specific television channel in India. The show created a sense of attraction for the audiences and the host was the key performer to raise the television rating point. The host used to ask such questions that often the stars and celebrities felt embarrassed for the nature of the questions. Often Karan tried to reveal some personal issues and focused on the scandals with the Bollywood celebrities. Moreover, the other private issues like familial matters, personal feelings etc. were also revealed on the show. Contemporary issues of the celebrities were asked and they used to reply against the questions. Sometime the celebrities tried to hide their private feelings but Karan tried his best to bring the issues on light.
In the early seasons of the show, I enjoyed them. But when I grew up and got matured, started understanding the value of privacy, the show started to lose its appeal from me. Asking irrelevant questions on a television show, insisting over answering the questions, flirting with the female celebrities, irritating them by asking private issues, raise of controversies over the issue, negative media reports etc. all made me to lose interest on it. Moreover, I have observed that when the celebrities were asked irrelevant or private questions, they used to provide misinformation to the audience and it appeared that they did not want the audience to know about them. Besides, the host had a possessive attitude during the show and it appeared that he was introducing the celebrity for the first time to the nation. It was his kindness that he invited the celebrity and without him, the celebrity was nothing. All these attitudes cast a negative impact on me over the show and I stopped watching it from its third season.
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10. Describe a day when you thought the weather was perfect.
You should say:
- where you were on this day
- hat the weather was like on this day
- what you did during the day
and explain why you thought the weather was perfect on this day.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
It was a hot summer day. I was planning to move inside the city of Paris in France. The weather was perfect for a stroll in the city.
Usually, I do not get out in the noon as the sun is too hot and the heat becomes unbearable. But I tried to do something unusual and started to move in the city of Paris. In fact, I had never taken leisurely walks in the city during the noon. So, this was a great experience to me. I had a sunglass in my eyes and a cap on head. Thereby, the heat had less effect on me. This was a sunny day of mid-June in 2015. As a student of the local university and a part-timer at a coffee shop, I did not get enough holidays but I took a day off on the day so that I could get around the city as the regular works and studies were a bit droning for me.
The day was bright and the sky was clear with a burning sun. Besides, there was some breeze which made the heat bearable to some extent. Initially, the weather was dull in the morning and I thought that it might rain, but my idea was wrong. Within an hour, the weather turned back to its natural form. The clouds were floating in the sky and the sun started shining. It was a perfect weather for taking a swim at any beach, but alas! There were no beaches near me where I could jump off. But I wandered the streets of the city, alone. None agreed to accompany me on the mid noon under the sun. Besides, the low wind was passing on which made the walking comfortable and I saw many of the people were doing the same. But some of them were walking with umbrellas or through the shaded areas.
I had no exact plan about passing the day. So, I thought that I should walk along the streets and if I find something suitable for me, I should take part in. Accordingly, I started for the stroll under the burning sun. Suddenly, after walking for around half an hour, I met with one of my university friends who was going for watching a cinema at the adjacent theatre and proposed me to accompany him. But I humbly declined his proposal as I am unwilling to confine myself in a theatre whereas I am out to explore the city. So, started walking again, and when I felt thirst, I bought an ice-cream from a street vendor. After strolling for about one and half hour, I decided to take a rest. I took a seat at the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. I passed about half an hour there and then started for my place again.
In fact, the summer is too hot in Paris and if you are out of the home without any protective measures, I am sure you are to suffer a lot. The first annoying thing is that you will sweat a lot, and have to carry a large hankie to remove the sweats from your face and body. This is a common issue for many of the people travelling in Paris at noon. Moreover, there are less shaded areas where you could take a shelter. But on the day when I got out, it was perfect as the sun was bright in moderate level. Though the sun heat was almost unbearable, the mild breeze has made it easier for me to take the walk. Usually, the summer days are hot and the temperature does not fall to a tolerable level, but on that day, there were some changes in the temperature. At the afternoon, the temperature fell to a great extent and walking became easier for me.
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11. Describe a writer you would like to meet.
You should say:
- who the writer is
- what you know about this writer already
- what you would like to find out about him/her
and explain why you would like to meet this writer.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, better known as V S Naipaul is my favourite writer and I like to meet him someday in my life. He is a Noble Prize winning writer.
V S Naipaul was born on August 17 in 1932 and most of his writings contain comical elements. He is considered as a genius to provoke thoughts inside the readers. The writings of Naipaul are highly interesting to me. It appears that the events are taking place right before my eyes. Born in a Hindu family, he is well aware of the facts about the cast and creeds of the society and accordingly he has manifested the issues on his writings perfectly. Besides, the comical events of his writings are highly enjoyable and the readers need to have a perfect sense of humour to comprehend the comical events. Moreover, the endings of his writings are adorable indeed.
Naipaul was born in Trinidad and it is known that his ancestors shifted to Trinidad from India in search of living. Most of the got involved into the local business and they did not have a close contact with their relatives living in India for some unknowns reasons. Besides, the generations of Naipaul was brought up in an environment when they had no scopes to meet with the relatives of their native land. He has mostly written novels on autobiography, travel and other relevant issues of life. He married Patricia Ann Hale in 1955. Hey had a very happy conjugal life that lasted till 1996 when Patricia died. She was the most important critique of Naipaul and helped him greatly to work on stories. Sometimes she also added her comments on his pieces to make them improved and Naipaul worked accordingly. Naipaul again married to Nadira Naipaul. He was awarded the Knighthood in 1989. The number of his books is over 30 and they include both the fictions and non-fictions.
I actually want to find about his private life and know about his intellectual fame. He had to remain busy with different tasks for his living and at the same time, he has composed some masterpieces in global literature. His writings are adorable in many senses and most of the times, I have observed, the readers turn his fan after reading only a single piece of his writing. He has some magical sense to make people amazed with the words of his books. Some of the statements of his writings are so interesting that the readers could hardly stop laughing and imagine the situations. He has been writing for over 50 years and this is a kind of miracle to me. If I meet him someday, I would ask him about the inspirations behind his writing career.
There are different reasons to meet this writer. He is one of the greatest starts in the arena of world literature. Most of his writings are genuine and interesting to read. Besides, he is a man of great heart (as I have heard). Presently, a man like him is rare to find at. He is also a man of letters and I think if I could spend few moments with him, it would be a great advantage for me to learn many interesting things. If the writer permits, I also want to have some photos with him and his autograph on the book – A house for Mr Biswas, which is composed in 1961 and brought him a global reputation. Moreover, I also would like to know about his feelings and emotions about writing and how he applied the comical elements even in some serious situations.
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12. Describe a festival that is important in your country.
You should say:
- when the festival is celebrated
- what people do during this festival
- what you like or dislike about it
and explain why this festival is important in your country.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Pakistan is considered as an Islamic State and thus there are some religious festivals which are important in my country.
The people of Pakistan mostly observe two religious festivals, Eid Ul Adha and Eid Ul Fitr and between the festivals, Eid Ul Fitr is the most important one and comes after a month long of fasting. The festival takes place at the end of the Holy month of Ramadan. Usually, the Muslims fast during the month of Ramadan, and this is a divine order and is considered as a pillar of the religion. The fasting hour begins with the rising of the sun and ends at the sunset. The Eid Ul Fitr takes place after the month-long fasting as a reward for them. They stop fasting from the Eid day and resume their regular life. This is really an extraordinary festival for us and I am proud of it. On the day, people in Pakistan pray in open fields in the morning which is known as Eid prayer. After the prayer, they meet and greet the other people and take foods. Wearing new dress is another feature of this festival and people are seen in new dresses.
There are many activities on the Eid day. Usually, people resume their regular lifestyle. During the fasting, eating or drinking after the sunrise and before the sunset is prohibited. Besides, some other specific tasks are also banned during the day times and people in Pakistan come back to the regular activities. Usually, they invite the other people on the day after the prayer and take delicious foods and sweets in the morning. Often rich foods are cooked for lunch or for dinner. This is the most awaited festival for the Muslim citizens of Pakistan. Sometimes they move out for visiting the neighbours and relatives. Exchanging greeting and small gifts is a common scene on the day. Most of the houses are filled with guests and people entertain or get entertained at the houses. Truly this is an event of joy for all of the Muslims living here.
I like to get up early in the morning and get ready for attending the mass prayer on the day. I also like the festival more than anything but slightly dislike the foods especially the sweets. Almost all of the houses make foods and 60 percent of the foods taste sweet. At times, it becomes intolerable to consume too many sweet-flavored food items in a single day. However, I like the greetings most. We greet people and embrace them for three times. Interestingly, on this day, anyone can greet and embrace anyone even if they are not familiar. Moreover, people help the destitute people marking the day and share their joys and sorrows. One thing should be mentioned here that the bonding among the people is outstanding and clearly represents the fellow feelings for each other on this day.
The festival is important in Pakistan for many reasons. The first and the most important issue is that Pakistan is an Islamic country and majority of the citizens are Muslims. So, all the Islamic rules and regulations are followed here. People say their prayers regularly and follow the norms dictated in Islam. Accordingly, they continuously fast for a month. They try to reshape them with the divine instructions and try to apply the learning in their real life. Observance of Eid has been made as the part of following the religion. So, it is a must for each of the Muslims in Pakistan to observe the festival. This is not imposed rather the Muslims observe the day by their own will and participate in different activities which are made legal by the religion.
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13. Describe a time when you forgot something important.
You should say:
- when it was
- what you forgot
- how you managed the situation
and explain how you felt about it.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
It was on the day of my formal interview at a multinational corporation for the post of Market Research Executive (MRE) when I forgot to take my interview invitation card.
I can exactly remember the day, December 23 in 2015. I was invited to appear on the formal written test for the post of MRE. As per the instructions, I applied for the position after collecting the advertisement from a daily newspaper. I applied following all the procedures instructed on the advertisement and accordingly they confirmed my candidature for the post after justifying my detailed curriculum vitae. They had sent me the invitation letter a week before the date. On the day fixed for the formal tests, I went there.
I work for a local corporation and I am also responsible for their entire market research. So, I had to be very busy most of the time and the interview was set on a working day. It was set at 12.00pm sharp and I have to be there (at the headquarters of the corporation) at least 20 minutes before the test begins. So, I hurried there. I was asked to bring all the relevant documents with me including the printed version of the invitation to prove my candidature on the entrance. I took everything except the printed copy of the invitation card. I had printed a copy and kept that on my office desk. With the tension to reach the place in due time, I forgot to take the printed copy with me which caused me a great trouble.
Managing the situations was so difficult for me. The security personnel did not allow me to enter in the building as I could not show them the interview card. I tried to make them realise that it was my mistake and due to the rush I forgot to bring that with me. But they argued a lot and by the same time I was racing against time. It was around 11.50 am and the security officials were arguing with me that why should they allow me to enter ins the building. I was like a security threat to them as I did not have the interview invitation card. It was a great regret for me. I also did not have any contact number then to inform the authority about the delay and the situation. Finally, I showed them the e-mail version of the interview card from my email. When they allowed me to enter the building, it was nearly 12.00 pm.
The feelings were not so good at that time. Can you imagine that you are racing against the moments and someone is blocking your advancement? The feelings are terrible. I am lucky that I use a smartphone with active internet connection. If I did not have the phone or the internet connection, I might not have been able to attend the interview. They took my written test, oral test, and I also had to present some ideas. Overall it was a fine interview but finally, I disagreed to occupy the position as they wanted to negotiate with me over the salary and other admissible benefits.
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14. Describe a person who likes to travel by plane.
You should say:
- who this person is
- how you know this person
- where this person travels to
and explain why this person likes to travel by plane.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Travelling is always pleasant, and if it is on a plane the joys know no bounds. Travelling on air has some special benefits and there are some people who prefer to travel on an aeroplane for some specific reasons.
Mr Nicholas Alberto, a Spanish national and businessman whom I share the apartment in Paris, loves to travel by plane. He is a perfect gentleman and I have never seen him travel by road for his business and other purposes. In fact, he loves to travel y planes for some benefits. The first and most important benefit, according to Mr Alberto, is the comfort. When he travels on a plane, he feels more comfortable than travelling by road or by sea. Besides, he prefers the speed. He believes that air travel is the speediest medium of transport. In fact, there are some truths in his belief. Travelling by air saves more time than travelling by the other possible means. He also adores the safety issues. To him, air travel is almost risk-free.
I am a student of Paris College of Art and live in a rented apartment in Paris. My parents live in Strasbourg. Since my father is a government employee, he cannot leave his station and my mother is a high school teacher. So, I have to live alone in the city and I hired an apartment here to live in. As it was a bit expensive for me, I advertised for a roommate to be with me in the apartment. Accordingly, Mr Alberto arrived and both of us started sharing the apartment. It has been about three and a half years we are living under the same roof. He is a gentleman and most of the time he remains out of the home for his business purposes. But he shares the rent and some other necessary expenses for the apartment with me.
Mr Alberto has different business and he is solely responsible to look after all the things. So, he is always busy. He imports olive oil from Spain and distributes those in the local markets. Sometimes he also imports spices from different countries to be sold to the superstores and markets. As a result, he is always in a hurry. To maintain liaison with the Spanish businessmen and other people he has to travel in different parts of the globe. Sometimes he travels to Spain, his native land, sometimes in Asian countries including India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka to collect spices and other food ingredients. I heard him saying that he also travelled to the South American countries and have travelled almost half of the world.
Mr Alberto has some special theories of his own and he always follows them. I have some travelling experiences with him and found that he is fond of comfort. He never compromises with comfort even if he is to pay some extra bucks. Since the air travel is more comfortable, he travels by plane in every case. But if he is to travel inside France, he never uses the public transports rather hires cars from the car rentals even if it is a half an hour journey. Another important issue is that he is to maintain deadlines. If he is late to reach the destinations, he may have to experience losses. So, he does not want to take risks in this case. Travelling by planes is speedier and takes less time to reach places out of France. Besides, the travelling by plane is economic in many cases. You do not need to wait in a queue for tickets or suffer the solar heat in a clogged road. For all these reasons, Mr Alberto travels by planes in most of the time.
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15. Describe a long walk you ever had.
You should say:
- when this happened
- where you walked
- who you were with
and explain how you felt about this long walk.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
During the last summer, in 2015, I went to Greece with my parents and other family members and had a long walk on the Olympus Mountain range. The walking lasted for about three and a half hours.
We walked through the entire range and enjoyed the natural beauties of the local areas. The mountain is considered as the second highest mountain in the country and also admired by both the local and international travellers for its association with the Greek mythology. Many events have taken place in the mountain and it was the residence of 12 Gods of Greek mythology. But currently, the hiking route and the natural beauty is the key attraction for the travellers. The walking routes contained large croplands, peaks, places for collecting foods and other necessary materials etc.
We started the walking using the international hiking path at the E4 starts and the walking ended at the Enipea springs. The entire walking distance was about 1100 meters. During the walking passage, we experienced some stunning natural scenes. The walking trails were marked clearly and there were many ascents and descents across the entire route which made the walking more enjoyable. When we started the walking, the river was left to us and we crossed some beautiful bridges made with wood. We also visited the Agios Dionysios Monastery, a beautiful place. The views of the Enipea waterfalls are breathtaking. Though there were some troubles to ascent and descent on the trail, the entire walking was enjoyable to me.
I was accompanied by my family at the walk. The family members contained my parents, my elder brother and sister and my pet dog. We reached at the entrance with a car and then started the journey. It was interesting for me to walk such a long distance but all the other members could not enjoy like me. As I regularly participate in my college sports, I am physically more fit than the other members. Consequently, my parents and the elder sister had to experience some troubles. They were lagging behind often and could not keep pace with me and my elder brother. Besides, they just took breaks after every ten minutes with the excuse to drink water. However, it was a nice journey for us all.
It was my long desire to go for a long walk or hiking in the mountain. I have many experiences to walk in flat lands but walking ins a mountain trail was a completely new experience for me. During the walk in meadows, I did not have to undergo any stress but in this mountain walk, in fact, I had to take some stress like the other family members. They stopped frequently, but I controlled myself from the taking regular breaks, Moreover, the ascent and descent of the geographical structure also had some impacts on my body as during the upward slopes, I had to rely on the stick on my hand and sometimes I extended my hand to my mom while my elder helped my sister. When we reached near the waterfalls, everyone seemed to be relaxed as the journey was over.
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16. Describe an unforgettable advertisement (that you saw or heard).
You should say:
- what kind of advertisement it was
- what the content of the advertisement were (or what product or service was advertised)
- where you saw or heard it
and explain why you think this is an unforgettable advertisement.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
It was an attractive advertisement of a US-based soft drink commonly known as 7up. It tastes lemon-lime and non-caffeinated as well. The advertisement is about the soft drink and how it is able to attract even a half-drawn cartoon. It shows that a young lady was sitting in a formal situation and she was busy in drawing a cartoon. When she was served the 7up, she stopped drawing the cartoon. But when the cartoon character sees the 7up, it draws itself and also draws a glass so that the lady could pour him the 7up. The advertisement was partially live and partially animated. The part of the drawing is live. A woman is sitting alone. She has nothing to do, so she starts drawing a piece of cartoon after her will. This is the live part. The animated part in the advertisement begins when the half-done cartoon starts drawing. The advertisement ends with the appreciation of the cartoon as it has got the drink finally.
I saw the advertisement on television. When I was a kid, the advertisement was televised regularly. I cannot recall the exact dates and times but as far I remember, it was the 1990s when the advertisement was aired. It was a popular advertisement and thus it was aired amid different programmes during the peak hours. But interestingly, before watching the advertisement, it heard it from one of my elementary school friends who watched the advertisements. It was he, Smith, who helped to be familiar with this specific advertisement. In fact, after being familiar with the advertisement, I waited eagerly to watch the advertisement. It was one of my favourite advertisements in my childhood and even I miss it today.
The content of the advertisement was the promotion of a soft and non-alcoholic drink, 7up. The origin of 7up goes back to the USA. In 1920, the drink was created and the lemon-lime formula appeared in 1929. Originally it was named as Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda. It was also considered as medicine for stabilising people’s mood. Many of the people with bad moods have used it as medicine to improve their mental stability. The brand has experienced numerous ups and downs. It has been sold several times from a group to another. A good number of variations could be found in the drink but many of the users have opined that 7up Lime is the best.
Usually, the children remember anything they see or do in their early age. In most of the cases, it has been found that they can recall the past incidents more than the adults. When I was a kid of 7 years, I was exposed to this advertisement. At that time, watching the advertisement was a kind of entertainment for me. Sometimes I also tried to draw a cartoon and kept a bottle of 7up near me believing that the cartoon will start drawing itself. But I was wrong and the cartoon never drew itself on the page as it did on television. Being a child, I had no idea then that everything we have seen on television was not real. So, I felt sad and discussed the issue with my friends who laughed at me for my obsession. For all such reasons, the advertisement has set itself in my mind. I have seen a good number of advertisements but did not care for them. As a grown up man, I now believe that everything we see is unreal. There are always some hidden issues. But as I have lots of memories with the specific advertisement, this is unforgettable to me.
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17. Describe an important historical event in your country.
You should say:
- when it happened
- what happened
- who the most important people involved were
and say why it is important to the history of your country.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
India is one of the largest countries in the Southeast Asia and has been dominated by the British Empire for around 200 years. The country has gained independence in 1947 and by the same time got separated from Pakistan.
It was truly difficult to divide the countries based on the religious beliefs and the issue was a potential one during the independence period. At that time, people started killing each other based on their religious views which went beyond control. As a result, the necessity of two sovereign states appeared before the Congress and the creation of India and Pakistan was done. The Hindu people started living in India while the Muslims started living in Pakistan. A great dispute arose inside the continent only over the religious views and the followers of one religion could not tolerate the followers of the other religion. So, the higher authorities got worried over the issue and they started to ponder over the separation. The then British government finally separated the two states and the separation is also better known as the Independence Day for Pakistan and India. Now Pakistan observes the day on August 14 while India celebrates the day on the following day – August 15. Due to the separation, some of the parts have still been disputed and some of the parts of Kashmir have occupied space of both of the countries which also create conflicts between the countries. There are no solutions have been found yet against the problem.
The entire region was ruled by the British Empire before the partition. When the British started exploiting the natives, a sense of deep dissatisfaction emerged among the locals and they started anti-British movements aiming to gain independence. But at the same time, there were some communal riots inside the country which killed a notable number of people following Hinduism and Islam. So, the issue turned into a concerning one for the British government and then it decided to wrap up its rule from the region. But when the decision was made, a demand came for tow independent states to reduce the communal riots. In the communal riots, it is estimated that around two million people were killed of different religions. As a result, the Congress decided to make to sovereign states named India and Pakistan. Later Pakistan was split into two states named Pakistan and Bangladesh while India was named as the Union of India (and later the name was changed to the Republic of India). Due to the partition, Bengal turned into the province of Pakistan and consequently gained independence from a bloody war in 1971. After the partition, many of the Muslims migrated in Pakistan while many members of following the other regions migrated in India.
The then entire Congress was behind the partition and the name of Mahatma Gandhi is a remarkable one with the name of Jawaharlal Nehru, Sarojini Naidu, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, and Maulana Azad among others is notable. Each of them has played important roles to achieve the independence and separation of the country. Though Mahatma Gandhi did not want to split the country based on religious conflicts and unstable situation, later he changed the mind. He agreed to the separation and thought that would be beneficial for all the people following different religious beliefs.
To be frank, the independence and separation of India and Pakistan are of great benefits for the both the Hindus and the Muslims. Due to communal beliefs, they got involved in riots which took away many innocent lives. By the same time, the situations inside the country turned worse for several reasons. The scenarios could have worsened if the necessary declarations would not come to separate the countries. Finally, the declaration of two sovereign states resolved the issue. After the separation, a mass migration took place between the countries and currently they are moving for progress. If the separation was not made at the right time, the communal killings would raise more than imagination. The Hindus were on the view that in the country they are the majority and the Muslims should not get privilege like them. One the other side, the Muslims did not obey the directives and this got locked into disputes which caused the riots. So, for the separation there are no such riots are prevailing and people are living peacefully. Thereby, the independence and partition were important for the country.
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18. Talk about an important day in your life.
You should say:
- when this day was
- where you were and what happened
- if you were alone or with others
and explain why this day was important to you.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Human beings pass lots of memorable days while some of the days become ever reminding in our mind. The birth of my elder son, Johnn, was one of the most important days in my life. It was the evening of 23rd December in 2009 when the boy landed on the planet.
When Georgina became pregnant, we two started counting days for our baby to come on earth. She had to undergo lots of physical and mental stress during the entire pregnancy period. Since she was a school teacher, she had to go for lecturing at the classes and I waited for her before her school to bring her back at home in the evening when the classes were over. I know it was troublesome for her to continue the profession after being pregnant. I also tried hard to prevent her continuing the teaching but she was reluctant to give up then. It was also hard for me to manage time in every evening to be with her. But my office considered the issue and allowed me every day to leave early. And finally, two days before the Christmas, Johnn came to the earth. It was a snowy evening and all of us were greatly tensed about the safety of the mother and the kid during the delivery process as the doctor made a bit late to reach for snow.
In fact, I was in my office that day and Georgina was at home. She had taken a maternity leave of six months from her school commencing around a week before the day. She informed me over the telephone about her sudden abdominal discomfort and I suggested her to go to the nearby hospital with my mother in law who was accompanying her. Accordingly, she went to the Beamunt Hospital, a few blocks away from our residence in Dublin, and the emergency medical officers informed me that she needs a C-section. I agreed and started from my office to the hospital. Being a foul weather, it was snowy and the traffic was unusual than the other days. When I reached the hospital, I found her at the operation theatre and all of them were waiting for the doctor’s arrival. Finally, the C-section was done and we got our baby boy. Really it was a great day for all of us with the arrival of the baby.
At the Beamunt Hospital, I was accompanied by my parents and the other members of my own and in-law’s family. My mother-in-law brought Georgina at the hospital in my absences and did all the necessary things like making phone calls to the other relatives and they reached at the hospital one after another. Around 25 people gathered at the hospital marking the birth of my child. It was a kind of festival for them as this was the first kid in the family after a long time. So, all of the relatives were too excited and happy over the incident. They congratulated me on the event and prayed for the betterment of the boy in the days ahead. I was surprised as well when I saw that some of the relations had brought some gifts for the newborn baby and wanted to hand over the gifts to me. It was also pleasant matter for me and their care for my boy also amazed me indeed.
The day was important to me as it was the day of my fatherhood. I turned father for the first time and the feelings are inexpressible in words. My son, Johnn, has turned six in last year. The little baby is growing up and I have admitted him in the local elementary school. He is like a blessing to me. I always try to meet all of his demands and when he desires for something, he does not calm down until his desire is met. He is likea replica of my childhood said my parents and he never stops his activities unless he is taken before the television set to enjoy cartoons. Still, I remember the day when he was born and took him in my lap. He was covered with a thick white towel and he could not even see then. He was looking like an angel and all of us waited for his arrival. Though he was supposed to be late, he came early and there were no complications with his birth. The C-section was successful and required no extra troubles. So, the day was important to me earlier and still it is today.
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19. Describe an historical place you have been to.
You should say:
- what kind of place it is
- what it looks like
- where it is
and explain how the place is related to history.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
The Taj Mahal, located in Agra, India, is one of the wonders of the world and symbolises love of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to his wife Arjumand Banu Begum, commonly termed as Mumtaz Mahal. This is a unique building in the world that has gained attention from the global travellers and I went there in last year as a team member of German Cultural Affairs.
The Taj Mahal is, in fact, a tomb located on the south bank of Yamuna River in Agra in India. This is a mausoleum and has been made in remembrance of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal to make her memory immortal. The body of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan lies under the large dome. This is the only historical building in India that has been placed on the list of Wonders of the World. The construction date is exactly not known but it is estimated that the construction began around 1600 century. The entire building is made of white marble. Besides, the structure took over 20 years to complete while 20,000 workers were involved with the construction. It is rumoured that the emperor had cut the hands of the workers who made the structure so that they cannot make another such building on the planet. Though the event is highly brutal, it shows the deep love and respect to his wife. One of the important factors about the building is that the colour of the building changes with the change of time in the day time and it looks best on a moonlit night.
The Taj Mahal is also considered as the Crown of Palaces for its huge dome and white marbles. It is a beautiful structure and looks pretty awesome for the construction style and exterior design. The entire complex is situated on around 42 acres of lands and bounded by walls on sides. The traditional Persian designs have been applied here in line with the Mughal architecture. The ideas of the structure have been derived from several Mughal structures and have been customised according to Shah Jahan’s will. Before the construction of the Taj Mahal, the Mughals used red sandstone on their structure while this was the exception from their traditional construction style. The entire building has been made of pure white marble and the tomb has been refined perfectly with precious stones that resemble the choice and preference of the emperor. The top dome is about 35 meters high and cylindrical. The central dome is accompanied with four smaller domes and those are placed at a corner of the roof. The main dome is frequently termed as onion dome for its shape and visually it is great to look at. The minarets are similar to those used in Mosques. So far it is known that the construction of the structure was done by 1643 and it costs over 30 million rupees.
The Taj Mahal is located in Agra, under the northern part of Uttar Pradesh state in India. The building is placed by the side of the Yamuna River. This is around 204 kilometres away from Delhi. This is also a World Heritage Site and has been selected in 1983 after the UNESCO declaration. Agra is an influential city in India and been playing a great role. The place has also been recognised in some of the Hindu scriptures and epics like Mahabharata. Besides, Agra was the capital of Mughal Empire in the medieval age and been ruled by several powerful emperors like Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan. The city is now one of the major tourist spots in India and the Taj Mahal is playing the leading role here. Despite being a crowded city the site for the Taj Mahal has been picked carefully and always calm and quiet. The location was also picked smartly for some strategic reasons and the most important thing was the view of the building from his palace – Agra Fort.
The Taj Mahal has been related to the Indian history immediately after its construction in the 16th century. This is considered as one of the Muslim art of India that has been globally recognised. Besides, during the construction process, a varied number of incidents took place which is also remarkable in terms of historical importance. Besides, the entire complex took 20 years to complete which is a rare incident. The most important historical fact is that the Taj Mahal was made when the Mughals were at the peak of their power and wealth. As a result, Shah Jahan has used precious stones and gems to decorate the tomb. After his death, the Mughal Empire started declining and could not stand back like the former days. To make the structure, artists, masons and other workers were recruited from different nations including India, Iran and Turkey. So, this is a great place of historical importance.
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20. Describe a house or apartment you want to live in.
You should say:
- what it would look like
- where it would be located
- what facilities this would have
and explain why you want to live there.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Humans have always been dreaming of living in a luxurious house and accordingly my dream is also similar with the other human beings. I want to live in a large and luxurious house as I do not want experience any challenge with my living at home.
The house should be a duplex building with spacious rooms and corridors. There should be ample space for movement after placing the furniture. Besides, the rooms need to be well ventilated and south facing is preferable. Generally, the south-faced houses have natural light and air supply. So, one does not need to spend more bucks after electricity or arrangement for artificial air coolers. Besides, the houses should also contain several bedrooms. The living room needs to be spacious as I have to place a wide range of furniture than the regular living rooms in the tiny apartments. Besides, the house should have sufficient numbers of bathrooms with modern fittings and facilities. I would like to have a balcony with my bedroom facing the south side from where I could smell the fragrance from the garden. At the night times, I will place a chair on the balcony to enjoy the night views, especially the moonlit nights.
Though I love rural regions than the urban areas for a tranquil environment, I wish to have the house at the corner of an urban street. I chose to live in a corner of the city for several reasons. First, such corner areas are usually free of the bustle of the cities. Since there are few crowds the noise level remains at a minimum level that is pleasant. Secondly, the cities are blessed with modern facilities which are unavailable in the rural areas. The connections of the internet or large shopping malls or standard groceries are not available. But I need those to lead my life. Generally, the rural areas are quiet and I will create such an environment around my house. But if the house is in the centre or middle of any street, it is impossible to bring the rural flavour inside the house. If I surround the house with foliage and gardens, it will look like a large house in the rural areas. Moreover, I will have access to the necessary places and public transportation facilities which are also rare in the rural areas.
The house should have all the modern amenities and facilities. It should have a telephone connection to connect with the rest of the world in line with my cellular phone. Besides, internet connection with satellite television network is a must. I usually do not watch television but my parents do. For them, I need to satellite television network. The house should also have a fine garage to keep my Porsche 911 (though older, the car is of great use) with me. A small driveway is a plus with the garage. The doors should be made with the finest woods while the windows would be made of Thai glass window without any grills or restrictions. The roof of the house should also be large and I intend to plant some small plants on the rooftop garden. Besides, the entire building should have the opportunity to cover with small plants that go attached to the walls. The other issues like the fittings, tiles and necessary elements in the kitchen and bathrooms should be of the top class.
I generally prefer to live in a large house for its benefits. I have been born and brought up into a large house and being a nuclear family we did not have many family members except the three of us (my parents and me). So, I had ample spaces to move on inside the house and play around the day. So, the habit of living in a large house has been formed since my early childhood. I cannot live in small apartments and those appear like a cage to me. Breathing becomes difficult (literally). Besides, I also need a quiet place to live in. So, I need a large house with all the available facilities of the modern days and at the same time, it should be peaceful. Neither my parents nor I prefer noise and do not make so as well. A silent environment in a large house is the most desired thing for me and my family.
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21. Talk about something you or someone you know collects.
You should say:
- what you or this person collects
- how the collection is stored
- how quickly the collection is growing
and say what kind of person would enjoy collecting that thing, and why?
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Collecting foreign coins is my hobby and many of my relations bring foreign coins for me. I have a huge collection of coins while some of them are aged over centuries.
Coins are different for me. I like to collect coins and I have a rare collection of coins where many of the coins belong to early of the 19th century. Some of my relations are on the view that collecting the coins will bring no benefits for me but I do it from my passion. I am well aware that coin collections are not the sources of income and I am not a reputed collector as well, I collect the metals only to meet my desire to get them. The beautiful descriptions on the coins attract me most and I also could imagine a bit how the situations were in those days when the coins were used for transactions. Sometimes I try to feel the touches of the people gone with the age who have used the coins.
I actually do not follow any standard way to store coins rather I have my own style. I have bought a large size book with plastic pockets inside instead of paper. It is like an album where photos are kept. I place the coins inside the pockets and write names of the country or origins. At times I use scotch tapes to paste the coins with the pages. I, in fact, do not follow any system of procedure as those appear complex to me. I collect coins for my own interest and thereby it is unnecessary for me to follow any specific rules or methods which are done during exhibitions. I was motivated to collect coins from my childhood and nurtured it as my hobby. The coins are stored only for my personal enjoyment and even I do not show the collection to anyone else. This is my own world.
The collection book has been almost filled up with coins and it took about 16 years for me to collect all the coins I have now. I have collected the coins of different states and tried to gather all types of available coins from the countries. Sometimes my relatives who went to travel in different countries brought the coins for me as they knew I am a junior coin collector. Sometimes I have purchased the coins from commercial stores selling foreign coins and currencies. But I had to pay more during the collection from the money exchangers and most of the times they did not want to sell single coins or small amount. Thereby, the coins are my greatest wealth of my life. I had to spend lots of times in collecting the coins and sometimes I had to fight with the other boys of my class who wanted to grab my collection.
Coin collection is not a very easy task and requires a lot of unnecessary hours to gather all the coins together. Moreover, neither the task is not exciting nor it provides any financial or other benefits to the collectors. So, people who want enjoyment with their hobbies cannot be successful coin collectors. Coins are only pieces of metal and sometimes you even cannot use them in your need. So, if you collect coins, it will incur you loses as sometimes you are to buy them at a higher cost than you expect. Besides, this is not the thing to show off. So, a person who is introvert like can collect coins. If you exhibit your coins to your surrounding people, they may not appreciate the collection after your desired level which may make you mentally upset. So, the extrovert people will not be as much delighted like the introvert. Therefore, I think coin collection is a great hobby for the inquisitive people.
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22. Describe something enjoyable you can do on a computer.
You should say:
- what it is
- what equipment or software you need to do that
- why and how often you do it
and explain why you enjoy doing this on a computer.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
The computer is comparatively a latest invention and still is being modified with numerous upgrades. Using Microsoft PowerPoint to create visual presentations is an interesting task for me.
Microsoft PowerPoint is an application on computer operated with windows operating system. This is actually a way to make presentations and present them before audiences. It is a great way to present a large number of things and also helpful to get the issues clearly. Saying goes that a picture is worth thousand words and it is true for the PowerPoint presentations. The program allows the users to place photos or add video clips that could be played during the presentation. I am greatly benefited with the application. When the topics are discussed through the application, the discussions become easier and the listeners could be able to comprehend the discussed issues, not for the presenting style of the presenter rather than the multimedia clips and images make it simple for them.
Initially, a personal computer is enough to make the presentation. You can check the presentation on your computer screen and it is appropriate for small scale. But when I plan for a larger audience, I have to take a couple of tools and stuff including a laptop, a projector machine, a large screen and screen stand. I connect the projector to the laptop and then project the presentation on the screen set a few yards away from the projector. The larger the projector is set, the bigger the images are. Besides, I need amplifiers as well to make sounds that I add with the presentation.
When I entered the high school as a junior lecturer, I had to take classes without any multimedia system. But this was an old technique to take classes and proved failure for the students to comprehend any specific issues on the class. So, I started making presentations over the specific issues to make the thing clear to the students. That was done after lots of struggles and had also taken permission from the school authority. But now I am taking classes regularly with the system and have made lots of presentations over the mathematical issues. Now I use the presentations around five days in a week when I take classes. But I specifically use the presentations to make the complicated issues clearer for the students. There are some other teachers who prefer to put all the things on their presentations to exhibit before the class.
Making power point presentations are good for me and it is interesting as well. Sometimes I have to add pictures of mathematical terms or equations which I collect from different sources from the internet and check properly about the copyright issues. Sometimes, I make videos by myself with my smartphone or insert small movies clips on the presentation related to the discussing issues so that the kids could understand effortlessly. The top most important factor is that the students are performing much better than they before in my course. Thereby, I like to make power point presentations on a computer. Their success inspires me to make more presentations and make their studies easier.
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23. Talk about a musical instrument you would like to be able to play.
You should say:
- what musical instrument it is
- what it looks like
- what it sounds like
and explain why you would like to be able to play it.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
I love music and prefer the heavy metal genre. Thereby, I am accustomed to the electric guitar and would like to be able to play it someday.
There is a wide range of guitars are available and the history of guitar dates back to the 12th century. It was introduced as a musical instrument in Europe, then. Afterwards, guitars underwent lots of modification. An electric guitar is a modern invention and used to play different base tones with amplification. Basically, the electric guitars could be of different size and shape, but the common electric guitars are found with bodies like hollow, semi-hollow or solid. I prefer the solid body for it is a bit heavier than the hollow body guitars. The sound is amplified with a radio transmitter or pitch cable and in some cases, the sounds could also be modified for the electric guitar. When played, the electric guitar is able to create an intolerable sound as well for the modern amplification system.
The electric guitars have a majestic look with different parts of it. The parts include the headstock, nut, tuning pegs, frets, inlays, truss rod, neck joint, strings, saddle, fretboard, body, pickups, pots, bridge, pickguard, sound board, sound hole, sides, back part etc. With the combination of all these components, a guitar usually looks different from the other musical instrument. They usually look slim and sophisticated with the sleek design. But the guitars look different with their solid body design when they are played and the solid body design become famous after the Second World War. Different sorts of strings are used in electric guitars like lighter string or heavier strings etc. With the lighter strings, the guitar looks dissimilar and sometimes appears that there are no strings at all when you look at the guitar from a distance while the heavier strings look good with the trimmed guitar body.
Well, the tones and sounds of electric guitar are different from the other guitars, especially from the acoustic guitars. The sounds may appear harsh in the beginning if it is not followed by any tone. When the electric guitar is in full fledge the tones are highly enjoying and without its presence, it appears that the music is incomplete then. The sounds are sometimes higher and lower and mostly depend on the strokes on the strings by the guitarist. If you tap slightly on the strings, the sound will be lower while if you raise the volume level, the minor tape will be heard like an explosion as well.
I along with four of my friends have planned to form a heavy metal band. We are also planning to compose and sing songs initially on a small scale and then we will try to grow our band. I am assigned with the duties of bass guitarists and thus I have to learn to play the guitar, particularly the electric guitar. Electric guitars help to raise the musical beauty. The heavy tone brings a sense of thrill among the audience and the performers on the stage.
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24. Describe your favourite place to eat out.
You should say:
- where it is
- what kind of food is serves
- what the decor is like
and explain why it is your favourite place to eat out.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Malaysia has become a multicultural country and a wide number of people visit the country every year while the numbers of permanents residents are not so small as well. Consequently, there are a great number of restaurants and eateries have been formed to meet the hunger of the people.
Physically located in 19 Persiaran KLCC, Troika Sky Dining is my favourite place to eat out. This is a large wide space to enjoy the foods and I mostly come to take my dinners here, occasionally. The impressive look is one of the key causes of visiting the restaurant frequently and the upper space also allows me to see the city at the night as it is on the top floor of the building. The restaurant offers a grand view of Kuala Lumpur and the views are breathtaking particularly in night times. The entire city is illuminated with colourful lights, vehicles are moving from here and there on the streets. The other important reason for falling in love with this restaurant is its yummy foods and cordial services. It is a different experience for me to eat inside the dining rooms of the restaurants which is filled with all ages of people.
Though the restaurant is located at a crowded place, it could be differentiated from the other restaurants and for its special and delicious foods. The restaurant, Troika Sky Dining, serves almost all kind of foods to the people. Since the restaurant is located at a prominent place in the city, a large number of visitors come here every day and thus considering the wide number of visitors, it arranges for all types of dishes as per requirements. There are two dining spaces accompanied with a bar to meet the thirst of the visitors. The restaurant is mostly famous for the traditional Malaysian cuisine. The bar is also enriched and offers all types of soft and hard drinks at a reasonable price. Taking foods at a high altitude is a really awesome experience for the visitors and thus they return like me whenever they could manage time. If anyone wants to enjoy the meal here, it is important to take at least a three-course meal to get the real tastes. But it is not only the foods; it is also about the services and other cordial environments that attract the visitors.
The décor inside the restaurant is exquisitely designed with modern architecture and enough to make anyone feel comfortable. The restaurant inside is highly decorated with modern furniture and amenities that is only found in the star rated restaurants. There are two separate dining spaces for the visitors while both of the dining rooms have access to the wine bar. The seats are limited and thus they serve on the ‘first come first served’ basis. Some of the seats at the restaurant are located by the side of the large window to enjoy the skyline of Kuala Lumpur. You can also get some sofas or small chairs and tables placed inside the restaurant for resting after the heavy meals. The wine bar is also furnished with valuable furniture and organised in a professional manner. The tables are made with the finest glass while the chairs and seats are made easily for the comfort of the visitors to sit back in a relaxed mode. One of the distribution desks is attached with a heavy glass while the other one is out of glass.
I like the restaurant most for several reasons. First of all, the location is accessible from any part of the city. The industrial skyline view of the restaurant is wonderful and particularly the night view is best indeed. The staffs are well trained and behaved and they welcome the guests with a cordial heart. I have observed their behaviours and found that there is nothing artificial with their attitudes and behaves with the guests, it is entirely natural. The other important fact is the foods. They serve warm and fresh cooked foods. Considering the charges, I think this is the best place for me to eat out in the entire city.
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25. Talk about something you like doing during the winter.
You should say:
- what you do
- where you do it
- what clothes or equipment you need
And explain why you like doing it during the winter.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Greece is a land of ancient history. A wide range of historical events has taken place in the land. Besides, in the current days, the country takes different looks in different seasons. It looks most beautiful during the winter season. There are a good number of things to do in Greece during the winter. Thus, I do not need to worry much about things to do in this season. I mostly like to participate in special winter film festivals held in Thessaloniki each year and I will go there this year as well. I like to watch movies on the festivals and enjoy walking on the streets illuminated with colourful lights during the festival time. The entire location takes the shape of a festive mood and the night views are breathtaking. Moreover, when if I have more times to spend, I either read novels published from home and abroad or pass the leisure hours with my family and friends by inviting them at my place.
Usually, the festival takes place in Thessaloniki in Greece and the place is occupied with events round the year. I come to visit the place particularly in winter as the climate is adorable and watching movies are great fun to me during this time of the year. Besides, there are some other places as well where I take the walk in the evening hours to remove my day-long boredom. Mostly I visit the sea shore where one can have the breezes, free of all forms of pollutions, is found that will take away all of your tiredness. Sometimes I go to the downtown of Thessaloniki and this is a very populous place. People of almost all countries are found here and mostly they come to visit the historical places.
To continue the visit at the festivals during the winter, I need some heavy clothes to prevent the cold. Since the locality is laid by the sea front, there are too cold comparing the other parts of the city. The movies are screened on the island harbour area and when the shows are on outdoor; the freezing wind is felt severely. So, I take proper precautionary measures. Generally, when I go to the festivals, I wear a heavy jacket, cover my head with a woolen cap, a heavy pant, wear hand gloves and then cover me with a woolen overcoat. In a word, I make myself wind-proof. It is truly enjoyable for me. I learnt to cover myself from a real life experience a couple of years ago. I came to enjoy a movie on the film festival and had caught a severe cold for the surrounding environment. That was a practical lesson for me.
Winter is the best season in Greece. The entire environment remains calm and quiet. The nature turns pale a bit but that brings a different look to them. Besides, the crowds are not seen on the regularly crowded places and thus the streets are free of noises. In such moments, I feel comfort to watch movies or read books alone. In fact, to me, it appears that being alone in winter makes me feel better for several reasons. The most important factor is that I can feel entirely alone. The feelings of enjoying a movie alone cannot be expressed in words and when it is by the side of a sea, the feelings turns very special. Besides, reading the novels at room heated by charcoal is also outstanding. When I feel lonely most, then I invite the friends or the other family members to accompany me. Then I arrange for a small private party.
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26. Talk about a sport or exercise that you do for fitness.
You should say:
- what it is
- how often you do it
- why you do it
and explain how this activity or sport helps your fitness.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Walking is a good form of exercise and requires less physical efforts than any other regular forms of exercise. I walk regularly in the morning to keep my body fit.
I want to talk about one of the most popular forms of exercise - walking. Walking has a wide range of health benefits. It makes the people fit and the most important thing is that the people who walk do not need any external instruments to perform the walk. Moreover, it is convenient to all ages of people. There is no preset speed or distance is set for walking. So, an individual can have the walk after his or necessity. But in some cases when walking is prescribed by a doctor to prevent any specific physical illness or disorder, then you are to follow the prescribed distance to get cured.
Well, I usually take the walk in the early hours of the day and take it every day. I have no physical disorders or any other troubles but I go for the walk to have a grand opening for the day. Usually, on the weekends, I take a break from the walk. You know the weekend nights are too exciting in Singapore streets and thus I cannot get back at home before midnight. If you were me, it would have been tougher for you too to get up at 5.30am for the walk. So, I take the breaks on the weekends. But on the other days, I do not miss the walk and also have formed a team of walkers who accompany me in the early morning. I have two neighbours who are also conscious about their health and thus we three move for the walk in the city street.
Do you know that walking is the best form of free hand exercise? I think you are well informed about it. In fact, walking does not need any specific cause to perform and the benefits are more than your imagination. I get the walk done in the morning so that I can have a healthy beginning of the day. When I go out for the walk, I have the chance to breathe in the fresh air. Besides, the surrounding environment is calm and quiet. There are not traffics on the roads and everything remains silent which is not found in the other times of the day. So, I walk in the morning. Besides, I have to sit all the time in my office (the boring desk job) and lack the required movements to burn calories I intake. Though the calories are not harmful now, they contain the potentials to affect me after few years if I do not care about them from now. This is another important issue for me to walk in the morning.
The morning walk is helping me to a great extent to maintain my fitness level. I have been walking for around three years and as a result, my weight is under control and the heartbeat follows the regular rhythm while many of my colleagues have gained weight only for their desk job whereas I have been fit as I was in the beginning days of my job. Moreover, the morning walk makes my mind fresh and I feel lucky to breathe in the fresh air. Usually, the air is hot and polluted in the busy hours in this Lion city and I also cannot manage enough spaces to walk speedily. So, I have picked the morning to get the walk. Besides, it gives me the energy to deal all the challenges at my office. Moreover, I can think clearly which I believe is the benefit of walking as it keeps my thoughts cool always.
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27. Describe a situation when you were late.
You should say:
- what the event was you were late for
- what the reason was for being late
- how you felt about it
and explain how you managed even after being late.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Time is priceless and once you lose it, you are to pay heavily for the wastage of the moments. I missed a job interview for being late and I feel regret for that late even today.
I was called for a formal interview at Unilever against the post of communications manager. I applied for the post about two months ago and they asked me to attend the written test first. I attended at the test and become one the tenth applicants who have passed the test. Then the authority told us to contact later and accordingly I received the latest email asking me to join at the formal interview. But unfortunately, I could not attend the interview in time and lost the chance to attend on the job.
In Mumbai, traffic congestion is a common scenario. Many of the people have to get stuck in the traffic jam in the early hours of the morning every day and the scenarios are worst the central area where almost all the important offices are located. I started for the interview about one hour before of the mentioned time but could not reach in time there. At first, I stood in a bus queue and when the bus arrived I could not manage to ride as the bus was already packed with office going passengers. So, I failed to board in the bus and waiting for the next metro service will be late for me. Immediately I hired an auto to reach the Unilever office. I think my luck betrayed me on that day so that I could not go for the interview. I got stuck again in the middle of the road.
Initially, I felt that my luck in not favouring me and losing the chance to appear on the interview was frustrating me as well. Thereby, I felt a deep sense of anger. Traffic congestion is a common scenario in India and the common citizens are the worst sufferers. They cannot go to their places at the right time. I did not have the idea how actually they felt when they missed their appointments. The delay on the interview taught me actually how the feelings of those people were. At last, I felt pity for me as I could not go to my current office in time and also made late for the interview at the same time.
Finally, I appeared before the Unilever office building about one and a half hour later of the scheduled time. When I entered the interview room, I found that the interviews were going to be ended and when I informed the interview reception that I am one of the candidates, they allowed me to sit for the interview. But since I was late, they, in fact, did not show much interest and simply asked few questions about myself. With the behaviour and attitudes of the interview board members, I understood that I am discarded from the list.
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28. Describe a person who you believe dresses well.
You should say:
- who this person is
- what kind of dresses he/she wears
- how you know him/her
an explain why you think this person dresses well.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Saying goes that a man is judged by his clothes. In true sense, clothing is a very special thing to make people feel noticed and Mr. Samuel Robertson, my teacher for English languages dresses very well.
Beauty depends on a good dress. Having a good dress is one of the prerequisites to be count. People mostly ignore the individuals with poor or below standard clothing. So, to maintain the society and get valued, one needs to maintain proper dress code or dress well. Mr. Robertson is my English language instructor in the colleges and I have never seen him dress informally. Even when I went to meet him at his home for some instructions over an essay composition, I find him in formal attires too. Once asked about the formal dress, he replied that he never compromises with his dresses and loves to be formal every time except when he is in sleeping mode.
Mr. Robertson usually wears formal suits. He has several suits and they are of different colours. He wears leather shoes with the shoes. Besides, his colour combination is also adorable. He combines his shirts with the suit colours. For instance, when he is in his black suit, he wears a white formal shirt along with a red tie. When he is wearing a blue suit, he wears a black shirt with a dark coloured tie. Besides, his tie knotting styles are different and he never ties the knot in the same way as he did on his last working day. He back brushes his hair with soft hair gel which makes an outstanding look for him.
Last summer I got admitted in British Council in Paris and met Mr. Samuel Robertson. The British council authority assigned Mr. Robertson, a British national, for us to learn pure British English. So, he accordingly instructs us English. I have developed English very well after attending the course. Mr. Robertson teaches the language spontaneously and as we are all professionals here, he also allows meeting him after the class or invites at his home if anyone fails to meet him after the class. He is active in social networking and all of his students are linked with him either on Twitter or via Facebook.
It is solely my own observation and opinion that the British people love to be formal. They are a formal nation and prefer to maintain the formalities and customs everywhere. Regarding their dress code, they also want to continue the formal tradition and literally they do it. I have seen him even in the hot summer day he is in his black suit which would be uncomfortable for me or anyone else of the class. The sense of being formal everywhere might be deeply graved in their minds. So, they are always formal. But it should not be taken as a negative remark. In the current days, a well-dressed body is also required with a wise brain to bloom.
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29. Describe a place that has a special meaning to you.
You should say:
- what kind of place it is
- where it is
- what it looks like
and explain why this place has a special meaning to you.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Jeffreys Bay is a small heaven on earth in South Africa. In fact this was a small fishing town where people now come mostly for water sport on the wave and on the sandy beach, enjoy the sunset, play with dolphins, and other recreational activities.
Commonly it is known as the J-Bay, this is an exotic location near the Port Elizabeth under the Eastern Cape region. This is the place where several hundred surfers come annually to surf on the famous blue sea waves and enjoy the natural beauties of the locality. The small town mostly attracts the international surfers for different reasons. The surfers enjoy the surfing during the morning and evening hours. They also take sunbath, swim in different hours of the day or enjoy the sunrise in line with the sunset. They cannot leave the location easily for its extraordinary beauty.
Geographically, J-Bay is located adjacent to the N2 Highway. It is also 75 kilometers southwest of the Port Elizabeth. The entire town is under the domination of Eastern Cape Province governance. Earlier, it was a tiny town where only fishermen lived and now the area of the town is expanding to accommodate the extensive tourists and guests. As a result, the entire environment of the J-Bay has become relaxed and wonderful. Sea shells and gorgeous white sandy beach are the key attractions for the surfers and tourists. The town has expanded more after the 1960s when it was used as a location for filming the movie ‘Endless Summer’. Since then different advancements are underway.
The entire J-bay looks wonderful. The white sandy beach glitters by the sunlight and appears that stars glittering on the land. The sunrise and sunset scenarios are also breathtaking and mostly attract romantic couples from home and abroad. The waves are interesting and famous around the world. The city does not need to decorate marking any occasion because it is well decorated round the year to welcome the tourists. But the night view of the town is highly charming and sitting by the beach makes a sense of deep relaxation. Thereby, hundreds of visitors are found in the evening and sometimes they sit by the picturesque beach silently.
The J-Bay is very special for me because I have lots of memories here, particularly with the beach. I learnt surfing in my teenage with my father and the memories are still vivid in memory. This is the place where I proposed my fiancé to marry me in presence of our relatives. When I was a kid, I used to come here with my neighboring friends to swim and participate in other forms of water sports etc. When I had mental troubles, I used to (and still I do) come here to relax and think deeply to get the better solution. Considering all the aspects, the J-Bay is a great place for me and I do not need to go anywhere else to pass my leisure. I am in love with the white sandy beach!
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30. Talk about a part of your city that is changing.
You should say:
- where it is
- how it is changing
- why it is changing
and describe how you feel about the change.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Change is the key to development and my city Calamba is also changing gradually. Infrastructural developments are the key changes in the area.
In the Philippines, different changes have taken place after the year 2000. The wind of change has also touched my city, Calamba. The city is often termed as the City of Calamba or Calamba City. Geographically the city is at a striking location and owns an enriched history from the 17th century. Settling began here with the arrival of the Spaniards and colonisation was their key intention. The city has been expanded and developed much comparing the other cities of Laguna in the country and it happened mostly for the hot spring resorts. There are a large number of hot spring resorts available where people from different places of the country and overseas come to pass a happy and healthy time for them.
In the beginning, there were fewer infrastructures in the city and when the tourists started coming in the resorts, the needs for building modern resorts and a well-established communication system emerged. Accordingly, the local government undertook initiatives to modify the city, especially where the hot spring resorts are located. As a result, the natural and surrounding environment changed greatly. The places which were bush or jungles near the mountain tops turned into beautiful places. The resorts are equipped with the latest facilities of luxury and state of the art decorations, and the visitors adore the resorts for providing them a comfortable experience. Besides, different business and service are also growing centering hot spring in the locality.
Although formerly the city was not a tourist spot, it is currently becoming one for the hot springs. With the growing need of the hot spring visitors, the locality has been changing rapidly. When the travellers come to enjoy the hot spring, they need a safer place to stay and enjoy them. Besides, the communication system is also another important factor for them. A well-constructed communication system is also required for the purpose. The natural environment has been degraded to some extent but the resorts are filled with natural beauties. Diversified plants and foliages are found in the resorts. The top of the hill resorts have made smooth roads to reach which has enriched the beauty of the hills as well.
Sometimes changes are unwanted and cause damage to the environment largely. But sometimes they are pleasant too when they are up to the mark and cause less damage than expected. The changes of Calamba are notable and they are positive for the city. Since the hot spring resorts are set on the mountain hills, they attract visitors which help contributing to the city’s economy. Earlier, people had to experience numerous troubles but now for the smooth roads, the communication with the mountain tops and the city dwellers has become easier.
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31. Describe a TV or radio presenter you like.
You should say:
- what program he/she presents
- how often you watch/ listen to him/her
- what s/he does or talk about
and explain why you like this TV or radio presenter.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
With a pleasant personality, the television anchors make a berth among the audience, globally. In India, I prefer programs anchored by beautiful presenter Ayesha Faridi.
Principally she is a news presenter and anchors business news events at CNBC TV18 and had continued with the television station since 2003 to 2010, right before joining at ET Now. She usually anchors several programs for the television channel and those include the flagship morning shows, including Power Breakfast, Your Stocks, Bull’s Eye, Bazaar, India Market Wrap, Midcap Radar, The Market and First Trades, few afternoon shows, Market @ Lunch, Riding The Bull, The F&O Show etc. She presents the news and information over different issues and analyses the issues critically. She is also assigned to analyze sector-based reports, a variety of current business trends, fundamental issues of business organizations, presenting investigative reports on the local business climates, general news on finance, and sometimes she is also responsible to link with the external traders and business corporations to get information for reports and more other tasks.
I am an irregular television viewer and mostly watch news only from different channels. But I frequently watch her shows particularly the morning shows. On the shows, she gravely analyses the business issues and prospects of the day for different business companies and organisation. Her micro and macro level analysis helps to get ideas about the business situations of any specific company. She analyses the facts with proper information and in some cases, she interviews different renowned business people or economists to bring out the hidden facts and analyse them before the audience. She never presents any news or information without any proper reference and keeps the record too for future use.
As a business journalist, market analysing expert and television anchor, she mostly discusses the business issues in her shows. She talks about different aspects, the past present and the future of any specific business corporation. Sometimes the discussions become lively and help investors to decide over taking decisions including raising the investment or improving the products conditions and more other relevant phases. Since the discussions are based on the business and the current context, the business people get ideas to resolve their troubles. Mostly the renowned corporations and multinational companies are the regular audiences of her events. Not only she presents the news, she also takes expert opinions for the betterment of any specific sector which is also a beneficial factor for her audience.
I like Ayesha Faridi than any other news presenters for her superb personality and news presentation style. When she speaks, she speaks very clearly. Her pronunciation both the Hindi and English words are adorable and appear natural, and free of all local tones. Moreover, she always picks the best among the experts to opine in her show so that the audience could have a real scenario of the situation and the expert suggestions to recover. Airing time is another fact behind preferring her shows. All her shows are aired at the perfect time when people need it best. Most of the shows begin in the morning when people (especially the businessmen) prepare to get out of the home. After watching the early morning analysis on the television show, they could take the necessary decisions for the day.
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32. Describe a decision which you have made that you feel was wrong.
You should say:
- what the decision was and why you made that decision
- how long it took to realize that it was a wrong decision
- why you think it was a wrong decision you made
and explain how you would alter that decision if you could.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Learning a language requires some specific set of qualities like patience, willingness, perseverance etc. but my unstable nature lacks the all of those to continue something important for me. I failed to learn the German language.
I have some business relations with Germans and they frequently contact with me over different business issues, and unfortunately it was troublesome to speak English with them. I had to repeat the statements several times during the telephonic conversations or had to make the issues clearer on email correspondence breaking down the statements into very simple sentences. So, I decided to learn the German language. I was in a dream of discoursing with the Germans fluently in their native language and they were amazed by my aptitude in German. But all my dreams shattered when my language instructor asked me to speak something in German after attending for a month. My failure to speak German took me out of the course.
When I ran out of German Words, I could not continue the conversation with the instructor and the situation was embarrassing for me. All the mates laughed at me and I felt a deep sense of shy for my inability to speak German. So, I thought if I cannot speak German with the instructor, how could it be possible for me to speak with the natives? As a result, I gave up attending classes from the next class. The class used to be held thrice in a week and I started missing the classes after passing one and a half month with the course. I thought that I should keep communicating with the clients as I am doing now and that is much better than being ashamed before the class.
After attending the course for the first day, I started communicating with the clients in German and they appreciated me on hearing about my German learning attempt. I used English to German dictionary for communication with them and gave up the dictionary after the course admission. The troubles started to arrive when the Germans asked me numerous issues in their native language and it was difficult for me to decipher. About one month later, after leaving the course, I realised that truly it is tough for me to communicate in an unskilled way. Translating the German into English consumed more time and sometimes I could not get the right meanings too which lead to minor misunderstanding between my client and I.
It was a wrong decision for me. I did not realise the importance of the language. It is natural that when you have something in your hand, you will not feel the weight until you are dropping that. The same event happened with me. The necessities emerged right after the moment I left the course. If I continued learning the language, I could have a better communication with them. I had to count the financial losses as well my emotional state.
If I had the option to go back into the class, I would take the chance. But they only admit students for twice in a year and now I have to wait for the next admission announcement. If I get the chance to get admitted in the course again, I will be attentive than ever and will follow the instructions too. It has become a must for me to learn the language for my professional purpose.
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33. Describe your favourite means of transport.
You should say:
- what is it
- when and how often you use it
- why you use it
And explain why it is your favourite transport.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Based on the importance, transportation is termed as the most important fact and we cannot do without it for a single day. Amid different types of transportation mode, I prefer the bicycle.
A bicycle is a very common and popular transportation mode and is available around the world. It is mostly used for its light and easy carrying system and for its health benefits as well. The wheels are attached to a frame for smooth movement. It was introduced in the beginning of the 19th century and due to its easy operation, it became famous globally. Interestingly, the number of bicycles produced after its invention has surpassed the number of automobiles. Bicycles are the key transport modes in the backwards geographical locations. It also helps the riders to keep fit as they are to drive it using its foot pedals.
Traffic congestion is a frequent event in my locality in India and most of the time I get late for my office. I have bought a bicycle mostly to go to my office and use it not only for reaching office I use it to go other places as well. I can reach my office in due time and also could reach the other necessary places without getting late for the appointments. Besides, I can have access to a bicycle where even a motorbike cannot enter. So, the riding on a bicycle is beneficial for me. If I use public transports, I have to stand in a queue to get on the vehicle. Moreover, the traffic congestion occurs more during the office hours. So, I ride my bicycle to reach the destinations, particularly at the office before it is late.
Riding a bicycle has numerous benefits. Firstly, it makes you fit on each of your ride every day. The bicycle requires physical labour to ride on. You are to pedal the cycle using your legs to move on and that pedalling requires lot of physical energy. It helps to burn the fat, strengthens your leg muscles, ankles and feet and thus makes you fit physically for your daily activities. Moreover, you could reach your destinations quickly and could also move in places where motorbikes cannot enter easily. Riding a bicycle is much better than running in the morning or evening. So, I started using the bicycle in my everyday transportation.
A bicycle is my preferred mode of transportation for different reasons. Firstly, it is economic to ride on a bicycle as the price of fuels and gas is on the rise. So, if you are on your bike, you are saving your bucks. Secondly, riding helps to feel you relaxed physically. As you are riding, you are having physical exercise and that will remove all your stresses away. Besides, it helps to lose the unwanted weights from your body and regular riding will change your shape and also will improve your stamina. Safety is another issue which is rarely found in the other transportation mode. When you are riding, you will pedal after your needs and there is no need to start racing with the other vehicles, thus there are comparatively fewer chances of accidents.
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34. Describe your ideal home or place to live.
You should say:
- where it would be
- how big it would be
- what it would contain
And explain why this kind of accommodation would attract you so much.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
A home provides a safe shelter for all the beings regardless of humans or animals. So, it should be comfy and well decorated for everyone.
I mostly prefer a living place that should be spacious and there should be plenty of foliages around me. Usually, such locations are unavailable in the cities and thus I prefer rural areas. If the there is a lake or pond beside my home, that would be preferable to me. A serene atmosphere is the best place to make one’s own home and I prefer a similar space which will be filled with serenity and the surrounding environment will be quiet. The environment should be natural and every moment living inside the house will be enjoyable. But the best house for me would be near any sea beach where I could enjoy the sunset and sun rising scenes.
I do not need a hugely built furnished house to live in but it should be moderately spacious. Provision for natural light is a must for the house and it should also contain standard size windows for ventilation. Besides, the house should have at least three rooms for my necessities. One should be the master bedroom for my sleeping, and there should be another small bedroom for guests with a medium living room. Besides, there should be wide verandah where I could set a chair to enjoy the surrounding natural beauty. I would appreciate a two storied building built on a small piece of land where the bedrooms will be on the first floor and the living room on the ground. , and if such homes are unavailable a single storied home with the same facilities will do for me.
The house should have three rooms at least with proper ventilation (as I said before) and should have an enriched library or at least a large size bookshelf. I do not need luxurious furniture but those should be durable for use and simple in terms of design and style. Heavy curtains should hang in the window so that I could make the room dark in my needs or during the sleeping hours. It would be appreciated if the house faces south. The living room will be filled with comfortable sofas and small tables, few small plants on the corners, a showcase in a corner and the bookshelf beside the showcase. The wood furniture should be coloured in light black while the walls will be white or any eye soothing colour. The bedroom should be of light blue colour while guest room might be like green or orange, and the kitchen should be white. Everything should be organised in the right way.
I like to live comfortably. Everything should be in the proper manner and order and only those are found only in an organised home. I also prefer living in a quiet environment filled with natural environments. I love gardening but since it is impossible to make a garden of my own, I prefer the house should be surrounded by trees. I want my house to be decorated in a natural and pleasant a way that it should be the best place of attraction for me. I will come here after a tiring day and when I will be on the verandah with a cup of tea, the natural environment will make me feel relaxed.
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35. Describe an item of clothing you purchased that you didn’t like.
You should say:
- what the clothing is
- where and why you bought it
- what color and style it is
and explain why you didn’t like it.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Travelling to overseas is always fun for me and I do not miss the chance of shopping during the trips. Last summer I went to Singapore for an official visit and had bought a faded jeans pant that I did not like.
I went to Singapore from my office to train up the local employees. The training issues were diversified and I was stressed after the day-long training. Thereby, I went at Bugis Street to get some knickknacks and clothing for my family. A Singapore office staff accompanied me. This was a street market and pretty nice. So, I got some essentials for my family according to their list and also bought a faded light white-coloured jeans pant for me. The pants looked gorgeous and the style was different too. Moreover, the price was reasonable too. The seller wanted to sell another piece of the same colour pants but my wallet vetoed there.
When I arrived at Singapore, my colleagues were saying that the street markets are the place to get the good things at a reasonable price. Since it was my first visit to the country, I did not have any clear idea of shopping here and accordingly went to the Bugis Street, one of the largest local street markets selling a good number of things. A local of the city and our office Singapore branch employee guided me through the market and helped me cordially to get the desired things. I bought the pants from the clothing section and I also bought some other attire too for my family members after their demands on the list. The jeans pant was light white and in colour with a fade shade and importantly it was the right fit for me.
Usually, I wear tailor made attires but regarding jeans, I have a specific choice. I prefer the slim fitting pants and if the pants do not get fit with my body shape, I do not get them. The jeans pant was of the classic style and fitted me perfectly. But there were some designs on the hip pockets and few fabrics were twisted on the front side which attracted me. There were some other colours available at the shop like light blue, medium blue, dark blue, faded jeans and more. The light white faded jeans received my attention.
The jeans pant was fine for me until it was taken to have a wash. It was the first time I gave the pant with other clothes to be washed at the hotel I was staying in Singapore. When they delivered the clothing, it was a sad event for me. The faded jeans pant turned more fade. Besides, the designs in front and back lost their beauty for the cleaning and some of the fabrics were torn too. When asked about the worst condition, the cleaners replied that the fabric turned weak after it was washed with soap water. They also pointed that the fabric quality was not up to the mark and thereby it was sold in an extremely cheaper rate. In fact, I should have been careful in buying the jeans pant.
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36. Describe an important decision you have made.
You should say:
- what it was
- why you made it and how important it was
- whether it was a good decision or not
And explain what effect that decision had on you.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Smoking is undoubtedly a bad habit and I have given it up for the healthy living of myself and my family around three years ago.
I was a chain smoker and used to smoke around three packets of cigarettes a day. I started smoking from my teenage (I was 17 or 18 at that time) and smoked numerous cigarettes before I quit it in my 32. It was a hefty task for me to give up the attraction of cigarettes. But I came to know that cigarettes contain numerous toxic elements and those create the addiction for the tobacco. Nicotine is the most prominent element contained in cigarettes and the attraction of nicotine is more dangerous than getting addicted to heroin. So, I tried my best to get rid of the addiction.
During my cigarette smoking tenure, I was having several physical disabilities. There were few troubles in my respiratory process. Sometimes I felt pain in chest and it appeared that the chest has become congested. Besides, I lost appetite and could not sleep well at night. Whenever I used to wake up at night, I lit a cigarette stick and tried to sleep after puffing the entire pieces but in vain. Gradually the symptoms started bothering me and became the issue of concern to my family. When consulted the doctor, it came out that the troubles were the detrimental impacts of tobacco use. But I did not trust his words and continued smoking again. The symptoms were severe and finally I had to give up smoking. It was important for me to give up smoking to live a healthy life.
Certainly, the decision to give up the habit was perfect for me. My health was deteriorating and all my family members were worried about my health. Smoking has numerous negatives impacts and I came to know after studying the bad impacts of smoking on the internet. The passive smokers are more affected than the smokers and I thought that I have damaged the health of my wife and kids when I smoked cigarettes before them inside my home. I felt guilty for that. In line with my illness, they also could have developed some other fatal disease but they are fortunately saved with divine blessings.
I am quite fine now. After giving up smoking, I am feeling fresh, and the respiratory disorders have gone forever. Now I have fresh breathing and I do not need to take any mouth freshener before joining any formal events. Besides, the rooms at my home are free of bizarre smells that produced from the cigarette smoke. Moreover, I am saving money, the remaining money that I used after having three packets of cigarettes daily. My family members, especially my daughters are happy now and my relationship with them has become more intimate. Earlier, I did not come into a close contact with them lest they feel the odours emitted from my body due to smoking, but now I do not have such issues to consider before going to them to have fun with different childish ways.
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37. Describe someone you know who is a good teacher.
You should say:
- who this person is
- how you know him/her
- what kinds of subjects they teach
and explain why this person is good at teaching.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
A teacher is a person who is a guide and fatherly figure for all the students. Mr. Emanuel Robertt is an English literature teacher at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University where I am studying now.
Mr. Emanuel Robertt has long been teaching English literature courses at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University located in Port-Elizabeth. He is famous in the university for his special skills in making the lessons clearer to the students. Moreover, his teaching style is also attractive and he can keep the class under his complete control when delivering the lectures. Most of his lectures are without any books and he explains the stories and dramas by his own which is an effective teaching method and I have never seen it before.
I met him first when I got admitted in the undergraduate course and I had English in my course list. On the day of the class, a moderate-figured man entered into the class and I thought he might by any guardian who is visiting the classes (it happened as I did not meet him before). When he started asking our name after introducing himself, I realised that he is my English teacher. After the introduction session, he discussed the course outline and how he will teach us. He never used books for his lectures and might have prepared before entering the class. Still, I have a very good connection with him and he is a referee in my curriculum vitae as my academic reference.
Mr. Robertt was primarily responsible for teaching the history of English literature. By the same time, he also taught different literary pieces of the English literature. I learnt to read Shakespeare from him. Despite being a rough student, Mr. Robertt inspired me to taste the delicious flavour of English literature. I have also read the poems of different ages and learnt numerous amazing things. I got familiar with the poets’ thoughts and that revealed the ages before me. Moreover, when he taught the history and we, the students of his class, asked him different questions, he took those on a notepad and replied one after another when the lecture was ended.
Mr. Robertt is a natural teacher. He knows very well how to make the students attentive in class and the most important fact is his teaching method. That is different from the other teachers. He never pushed us to study his subjects rather we were the students who used to read more and more so that we could ask him questions to get the texts’ meaning clear. He has a loud and pleasant voice and as an individual, he is polite and considerate. He never forced the students to perform something special which is beyond their capacity. So, he is adored by all of the students and I am also proud to be his student.
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38. Describe a photograph you have taken yourself which you particularly like.
You should say:
- what the picture show
- when you took it
- why you took it
And explain why you particularly like this photograph.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Recently I have got my iPhone 6 as a gift from my father and have taken a picture of my family. Almost all the members living with us were present at the photo.
Capturing photograph is the way to cage the time and remember the past when you have leisure. Photos usually take people to a different world or thoughts and they are in a deep sense enjoyment till they continue watching the photos. Therefore, I took the photo to make the event an ever remembering one marking the moment of celebrating to have the very first iPhone in our family. It was the very first picture clicked from my phone as well. The picture contained my parents, my siblings – a younger brother and a sister, my granny, one of our neighbours who came suddenly, our maid and my pet cat. All of them were sitting on couches and smiled when I clicked the photo.
It was the evening of autumn and the day before my birth date. My father rushed to my room. He came from his office and I thought something serious might have happened as his facial expressions looked so. As his older daughter, I knew each of his movements and expressions but that was unknown to me. He neither was happy nor was angry but his eyes and face looked exciting. I could not realise the fact until he revealed and unboxed the iPhone 6. It was a great surprise for me and I did not expect such a wonderful gift from him although he once said that he would buy me a new cellular phone set. After receiving the iPhone, I took the picture but unfortunately I was missing from the image being the photographer.
Before handing the iPhone over to me, my father asked all the members of the family to be present at the living room. Accordingly, everyone was there and we both came to the downstairs. I showed the phone to everyone. All of them were glad seeing me happy. So, I decided to do something special with the phone and asked them all to be one place so that I could get a picture of them. Being highly joyous about the phone, I clicked the picture and all of them were happy.
I like the picture and it is one of my favourite pictures because of so many reasons. Firstly, the picture is the very first picture taken from the iPhone. I have captured a lot of pictures with the iPhone but still I remember the day when I clicked the picture of my family. I have taken a good number of selfies with the front camera but the rear camera is better and I have printed the picture which is flawless. Moreover, all of my favourite people were present in the picture and even my pet also stares at the picture hanging in my bedroom. Besides, the pose everyone gave for the photo was excellent. The other condition like lighting was perfectly okay. Moreover, it is a document of my success in mobile photography. For all theses reasons, I like the photo very much.
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39. Describe an important technological advancement in your country.
You should say:
- what it is
- how it happened
- how long it took
And explain what effect it has had on people in your country.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Use of computer and internet has become easier and available in Pakistan. Earlier, the country was lagging behind in technological advancement for different reasons.
With the advancement of science and technology, Pakistan has marched ahead in line with the other countries and some special events have been occurring in the country which was impossible to think of a decade ago. The common people have become technocentric and use computers, internet connections in their day to day life. The number of social networking site users has also increased in the country. But all such issues were out of imagination and people used to avoid technology for various mysterious reasons.
The changes did not take place in overnight. It took long years to bring the changes and hard efforts were also invested. Due to religious reasons, most of the people are afraid of using technologies as they were told only about the detrimental impacts of using technology. The benefits were trickily concealed to them and thus they were lagging behind. With the advancement of time, their needs increased and to meet the increasing demands, they started using technology gradually. They received benefits of technology and shared the issues with the fellow people and consequently they got versed with the internet, using of computer applications and numerous technological issues and gradually Pakistan has become one of the IT service providers across the world.
It took a long time to get adopt with the internet. Earlier, the common people used to believe that the internet is the way to kill time by watching stripped images of women or some other similar things. They did not have the idea to use the technology in a creative way. When the neighbouring countries were marching ahead of Pakistan, it started realising the mistakes of ignoring the technology and its wings. Then with different government and nongovernment initiative, the use of internet spread across the country. Besides, the prices of computers were higher in the beginning and after the year of 2005, the prices started to reduce and many of the common people now have their access to the internet with their personal computers.
The effects of using technology are extensive on the lives of the Pakistani citizens. The commoners used to perform manual work for their living and now a notable portion among the common people are working using the internet. Their lives have been changed to a great extent and the living standard has also increased to a satisfactory level. Besides, the country is also earning foreign currency from the IT sector. The elementary schools have also introduced courses on information and technology to make kids familiar with the technologies and advancements. Now Pakistan is much better than ever before for the acceptance of technology in its everyday life.
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40. Describe your favourite way to relax.
You should say:
- what is it
- how effective it is for you
- when and how you relax.
and explain why you like this way of relaxation.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
In this mechanised world, we are stressed out more or less and at a point, we need to relax. I usually meditate when I feel too much stress on the regular days.
When the stress becomes intolerable for me during my work or in any other situations, I usually meditate to remove the stress from my body and mind. It is really helpful for me to rid of the stress within a few minutes. It is also beneficial for the development of mental faculty as I have enough chances to think over different matters in a calm and quiet environment and the solutions I get are amazing. Meditation is not a long term process and thus I perform it different times of the day. Usually, I perform it after waking up and at times I do it in the short breaks at the office.
Meditation is an effective tool for relaxations. All my limbs and body parts become relaxed when I am in a deep level (as I am practising for long, I could reach the deep level within a few seconds) and after waking up from the meditation, I feel a sense of deep freshness around my body and mind. The meditation process is very simple and requires no extra initiatives to perform. I just sit on my chair in the office and place my hands in cross over my chest. Then I take deep breathes for two to three minutes. It helps to make the body fresh and also beneficial for the respiratory organs insides. Next, I imagine of any beautiful place I am wandering on with my favourite personalities. I try to look every inch of the place and most of the time I go to lonely islands (through my imagination). After passing five to ten minutes, I wake up and feel relaxed. It is greatly beneficial to me.
Since I love travelling, in my meditation I travel from place to places and accordingly try to imagine the real life situations and scenarios on the places. Sometimes I reconnect with the past memories of my travels in different distant parts of the country. But I like islands with sea beach most because a sense of tranquility is felt on the places and I felt several times in my real life. So, I try to remember the travels and imagine that I am there with someonI like. Sometimes I pay lonely visits to these places when I am frustrated or stressed out too much.
Meditation has long been being practised to be relaxed. It is the easiest way to be relaxed and for that, you do not need any extra preparations, instruments or any specific locations. You can simply perform meditation by sitting or lying on floor or bed. But meditation on sitting position is mostly comfortable. I like it for some other reasons too. Meditation is beneficial to control your negative emotions like anger, frustrations or resentment. It opens the door of tranquillity where all your negative emotions will be removed smoothly. Regular practising meditation will also make you look younger than your actual age and by the same time will keep you fit.
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41. Describe a relative/ friend/ family member who you think is similar to you.
You should say:
- who is he/ she
- what he /she does
- what others think about him / her
and explain how he/ she is similar to you.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
I live in a joint family with my parents and relatives in Mumbai. I have a paternal cousin living with us and he is similar to me.
My parents are on the view that a joint family is the way of living together within a family and thus they are not giving up the living. Therefore, I am living with many of my relatives and prefer to be with my cousins of my age. Kailas is one of my paternal cousins and is almost similar to me in nature and activities. It appears that we are siblings as we have many similarities. Naturally, both of us are calm and dislike the wicked kids of the family. Often the family members term us as twins since we always pass moments together and also live in the same room with another cousin of us.
Kailas is a student like me and we are in the same college having our 11th grade. He is a brilliant student with a ready wit. His sense of humour is deep and he can also make people laugh too within a few seconds with his extraordinary speaking skills. I am also a good speaker but he is more skilled than me. He likes to read books and we have bought many books together to make a library in the house. Besides, he is also a great chess player and practices his skills with me and please be noted that I am also a good chess player and been playing for a long time.
The family members are on the view that Kailas is a great student with his extraordinary merits and praise for his sincerity with the studies. He loves to pass times with me by performing extracurricular activities which is the most important issue for him. The other boys usually pass their times out of homes and get engaged into different mischievous activities and that is a great concern for the adults, but there are no such issues with Kailas or me. He always gets a better score comparing to me and I am also proud for that. He passes most of his time by reading and the most important fact is his humbleness in talking with everyone irrespective of cast creed or colour.
Kailas is almost similar to me in different aspects. I like to pass times by reading different novels and my textbooks, and it is all the same for him too. I am a bit introvert and do not talk with people unless they start first, Kailas is my replica here. Although the attitudes and behaves I do with everyone is very gentle, Kailas is more humble than me in this case. When we go to attend any invitation, I do not make any hurry and Kailas follows me here. Wickedness is out of my nature and he is also like me in this sense. Our parents never think for us as the other parents do for their kids as they always perform mischievous acts and the local people most of the time comes with different allegations against them etc. In many aspects, I and Kailas are similar.
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42. Describe an app you use in your mobile phone.
You should say:
- what it is
- how you use it
- what benefits do you get
and explain why this mobile app is important to you.
[You will have to talk about the topic for 1 to 2 minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
'Mobile phone' is one of the greatest inventions of the modern science. It appears that without the mobile phone life would not be as easier as it is today. The use of mobile phone is everywhere and it has become an important part of our daily life. We cannot do without it. I have an iPhone and there is a built-in application named compass. But I have also installed another compass which is more functional and attractive than the built-in one of my iPhone. The compass is a great thing for me. It is used to navigate and get directions.
I use the compass for navigational purpose. The compass is my favourite application on the phone. As I like travelling much, I visit different places in the country but it is not possible for me to know about the directions of the areas I am travelling in. Then I unlock the phone and use the compass to navigate and get the best direction towards my destination.
The compass is highly useful for a traveller and hiker like me. It helps me to recognise the directions to my objective and the most important issue is that I do not get lost wherever I go. I could get a direction to get out of the unknown roads and areas using the compass and a map of the area. It is also helpful to navigate at night times when there are no lights. I could also use the compass with the association of stars and get the right direction even in the darkest night when there is no light or directive measures to guide the travellers.
I have some very important gears to travel from place to place. All of those are necessary for my survival when I set out for a travel. But without a compass, they are nothing. If I fail to get the right direction of my destination, I could not be able to use the gears. The hiking and travelling gears will be of no use if I could not get out of my home and if I have a compass working well, I will be able to start the journey. Earlier, I had a physical compass but I broke that on my last trip. Then I decided to install a suitable compass app on my iPhone despite the built-in one as I cannot do my travelling without the virtual tool.
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43. Describe a time that you and your friend had a disagreement.
You should say:
- when this happened
- who you disagreed with
- what you and your friend argued about
and if you two solved the disagreement in the end.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
When I was a teen of 17 years old, I used to make friends more due to my extrovert nature. But unfortunately, I also had the most misunderstanding with them. However, I have not lost any of my friends for the disagreements.
Once I bought few novels to read in my leisure hours during the summer vacation of the college. During the vacation, one evening two of my college friends reached my home. After having some chats, one of them started looking at my library that I have built since my childhood (I love reading books from my early age and has a huge collection of different types of books). He picked one of the books that I just have started reading since the morning that day.
It was Thomas, my bosom friend at the college. I helped him greatly in mathematics and physics on the exam before the college closure on the summer. The disagreement began with him when he wanted to take the novel at his home for reading. The novel named - An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser was his first choice.
I tried to make him realise that I had started reading the novel before they arrive at my home and has already read a substantial portion of the book. But he was determined to take the book. Thus the disagreement continued. Samuel, the other friend of us sat motionlessly and observed us exchanging words with each other.
The argument continued for about 15 minutes, and I tried him to persuade in taking some other books but he was determined. He did not change his mind and said that once he started reading the novel but could not finish the book for some reasons. Now he does not want to miss the chance to complete the book.
I had completed reading the one fourth of the book and as a quick reader, I proposed him to take the book on the very next day. But he was unchanged in his attitude. He blackmailed me emotionally saying that if I do not allow him to take the book, then he should not consider me as his friend.
Finally, I had to give up on his stubbornness and let him take the book on one condition that he should return the book just after he finishes reading and also will not lend someone else (he had lost most of his books by lending others for his extraordinary generosity) as he did earlier with my books.
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44. Describe a photograph you have taken yourself which you particularly like.
You should say:
- what the picture show
- when you took it
- why you took it
And explain why you particularly like this photograph.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Recently I have got my iPhone 6 as a gift from my father and have taken a picture of my family. Almost all the members living with us were present at the photo.
Capturing photograph is the way to cage the time and remember the past when you have leisure. Photos usually take people to a different world or thoughts and they are in a deep sense enjoyment till they continue watching the photos. Therefore, I took the photo to make the event an ever remembering one marking the moment of celebrating to have the very first iPhone in our family. It was the very first picture clicked from my phone as well. The picture contained my parents, my siblings – a younger brother and a sister, my granny, one of our neighbours who came suddenly, our maid and my pet cat. All of them were sitting on couches and smiled when I clicked the photo.
It was the evening of autumn and the day before my birth date. My father rushed to my room. He came from his office and I thought something serious might have happened as his facial expressions looked so. As his older daughter, I knew each of his movements and expressions but that was unknown to me. He neither was happy nor was angry but his eyes and face looked exciting. I could not realise the fact until he revealed and unboxed the iPhone 6. It was a great surprise for me and I did not expect such a wonderful gift from him although he once said that he would buy me a new cellular phone set. After receiving the iPhone, I took the picture but unfortunately I was missing from the image being the photographer.
Before handing the iPhone over to me, my father asked all the members of the family to be present at the living room. Accordingly, everyone was there and we both came to the downstairs. I showed the phone to everyone. All of them were glad seeing me happy. So, I decided to do something special with the phone and asked them all to be one place so that I could get a picture of them. Being highly joyous about the phone, I clicked the picture and all of them were happy.
I like the picture and it is one of my favourite pictures because of so many reasons. Firstly, the picture is the very first picture taken from the iPhone. I have captured a lot of pictures with the iPhone but still I remember the day when I clicked the picture of my family. I have taken a good number of selfies with the front camera but the rear camera is better and I have printed the picture which is flawless. Moreover, all of my favourite people were present in the picture and even my pet also stares at the picture hanging in my bedroom. Besides, the pose everyone gave for the photo was excellent. The other condition like lighting was perfectly okay. Moreover, it is a document of my success in mobile photography. For all theses reasons, I like the photo very much.
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45. Describe a situation when you had to be nice to someone you dislike.
You should say:
- who this person was
- why you do not like him/her
- what happened
and why you still had to be nice to him/her.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Humans cannot live alone. A society or community is a must to live in peace and harmony. It is also essential to avoid different disasters or distresses together. But to move on with the society, one cannot have the right person always. There are some people who want to make troubles even in the delicate situations of the other people but to be courteous, we are to remain calm and show respect to them even when it is proved that they are responsible making the mess.
In my family, I have a relative who is a kind of ill-mannered man and elder in age. So, I cannot tell him about his sick nature and consequently I have to be nice with him always. He is skilled in making troubles among the other family members and most of the time he brings some false allegations against us (I was victimised by the man.) He is an uncle of mine and the relationship between him and my family is intimate. He is the brother of my mother and lives adjacent to our apartment block in the town with his own family.
There are some villainous characters found in movies and when they exist in real life, the life turns into a hell. I cannot like or prefer the uncle for his weird behaviour. He always tries to create confusions among his surrounding people and he finds an invisible delight in doing so. Now, all of the family members of my family have become aware of his attitude and behaves. But in the beginning, when he brought charges against someone, all the other people used to believe and accordingly took measures against the individual. Sometimes the alleged person was punished rigidly too. Rebuking was the lowest of the punishments.
Once he brought a false allegation against me and he reported the issue to my parents. But fortunately, I became able to prove that the allegation was false. The uncle alleged that I had broken a vase at his apartment on a specific event when he invited some of the guests including our family members. But I denied the allegations and proved that I stayed for a few moments at his apartment and I did not enter the room where the flower vase was kept. I had to take a leave from the party due to my academic engagement.
When I turned successful in proving the issue, he changed his tone and said that it was his mistake to blame me. He also apologised for his mistake. It is his habit to seek apology when he is proved wrong and then imposed the blame to someone else. As a result, the innocent relatives of the family turned tired of on him.
Despite all the negative doings, I still have to be nice to him because he is the older than me. My parents have taught me to be nice in behave with everyone regardless of age, gender or class. I never misbehaved with him after the allegation and pay proper respect. The other teen members of our family also pay respect to the man but he believes that we are afraid of him. He takes our modesty as our weakness and consequently plots different mess to involve us imaginarily.
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46. Describe someone you know who is a good teacher.
You should say:
- who this person is
- how you know him/her
- what kinds of subjects they teach
and explain why this person is good at teaching.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
A teacher is a person who is a guide and fatherly figure for all the students. Mr. Emanuel Robertt is an English literature teacher at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University where I am studying now.
Mr. Emanuel Robertt has long been teaching English literature courses at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University located in Port-Elizabeth. He is famous in the university for his special skills in making the lessons clearer to the students. Moreover, his teaching style is also attractive and he can keep the class under his complete control when delivering the lectures. Most of his lectures are without any books and he explains the stories and dramas by his own which is an effective teaching method and I have never seen it before.
I met him first when I got admitted in the undergraduate course and I had English in my course list. On the day of the class, a moderate-figured man entered into the class and I thought he might by any guardian who is visiting the classes (it happened as I did not meet him before). When he started asking our name after introducing himself, I realised that he is my English teacher. After the introduction session, he discussed the course outline and how he will teach us. He never used books for his lectures and might have prepared before entering the class. Still, I have a very good connection with him and he is a referee in my curriculum vitae as my academic reference.
Mr. Robertt was primarily responsible for teaching the history of English literature. By the same time, he also taught different literary pieces of the English literature. I learnt to read Shakespeare from him. Despite being a rough student, Mr. Robertt inspired me to taste the delicious flavour of English literature. I have also read the poems of different ages and learnt numerous amazing things. I got familiar with the poets’ thoughts and that revealed the ages before me. Moreover, when he taught the history and we, the students of his class, asked him different questions, he took those on a notepad and replied one after another when the lecture was ended.
Mr. Robertt is a natural teacher. He knows very well how to make the students attentive in class and the most important fact is his teaching method. That is different from the other teachers. He never pushed us to study his subjects rather we were the students who used to read more and more so that we could ask him questions to get the texts’ meaning clear. He has a loud and pleasant voice and as an individual, he is polite and considerate. He never forced the students to perform something special which is beyond their capacity. So, he is adored by all of the students and I am also proud to be his student.
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47. Describe a time when you got lost.
You should say:
- when and where it happened
- who was there with you
- how you felt when you got lost
and explain how you eventually found your way.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
When I was a student of 9th grade, I went to a summer camp in Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Texas and got lost from my team.
It was in the beginning of a summer when the school authority decided to take us to a summer camp in a remote place of Texas. All of us were thrilled to hear that we are going to learn some extraordinary skills to survive in a desert land. When we were taken at Palo Duro Canyon State Park, we found the place with a different form of natural beauty and the camping sites were perfect for us. Following the teachers’ instruction, we pitched our camps and some of us started collecting woods for fueling the foods preparation for the first night under the open sky. I also went to collect woods (although there were fewer trees), I was lost.
I was accompanied with three of my friends to collect woods to be used as fuel for preparing the foods at night. So, four of started to collect woods in four different directions. As the entire location was almost like a desert land, there were no large trees that could be used as fuel. So, I walked for about 20 minutes in search of such woods and finally decided that I have to uproot the grass-type smaller trees for fuel. I collected many of them and put those into my collection bag. But suddenly I realised that I am alone and I could not see any of my teammates who came with me to collect woods.
I felt scared. I have read many stories earlier over the incidents in deserts. I heard that there were wild animals that kill the lone rangers on the deserts or try to attack them on their way. Moreover, I was afraid that what will happen if I cannot get back at the campsite. I also thought if the teachers and team members will look for me or not. I felt a deep sadness inside. I remembered my family members and friends. I started thinking if I die now, they will be unable to find my body or the body may be eaten by the wild animals. Unfortunately, I left my compass inside the bag in the campsite and if that was with me, I could have started the return journey using the directions. Actually, I was truly scared when I was lost.
After sometimes, I started planning how to get back. I, in fact, did not have any bend on my way rather I followed a straight path and reached the place currently I am standing on. I had some small plants on the bag as fuel. So, I thought that if I start my return journey just in the opposite direction, it will be a smart idea. Thus, I started walking back on the reverse way I came here. After walking for a few minutes, I heard some noises; in fact, it was my mates and the other students and teachers of the camp. They were looking for me and were shouting by my name. I felt a sense of relief that now I am not alone in the desert.
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48. Describe a job you would like to have.
You should say:
- what it is
- why you would like to have this job
- what skills you will need to do this job
and explain why you want to have this job.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer 1:
For a living in the planet, we need a job, but that should be standard and motivating enough to maintain me and my passion and expenditures. I want to be a journalist in my professional life.
Journalism is the way to explore information and it is also considered as a prestigious job across the world. I have a fascination for journalism since my childhood and now I am a few years away to grab the job. After completing my graduation on Journalism and Media Studies, I would like to take it as my profession. Moreover, it has a good number of benefits too. If you become a journalist, you will be able to learn about many issues which were unfamiliar to you. You have to be aware of the happenings of your surroundings and you will also have the chances to travel in different countries and places in order for collecting news and thus you will be wiser than before. This job also has a natural obligation for informing people about the events and insight of everything you write about.
Journalism is a challenging job. No other profession is as challenging as it appears to me. It is challenging in this sense that a journalist has to collect news and information over different issues but sometimes they are in real trouble if they fail to collect the news or if they reveal any confidential information to mass people. In both the ways, they are to experience different troubles like losing the job and sometimes they are to lose their lives too. Whatever the risks are, it is truly a thrilling job. Another important aspect is that journalists are accessible to the places which are too difficult and sometimes beyond imagination for the common people. Besides, they are sent to meet with famous people or celebrities in order to collect their news and views.
I need at least a graduation on Journalism or similar other subjects. A higher study over the issue is highly preferable but the graduation will do. I am planning to pursue a higher study on the field after starting my career as a journalist. Besides, the journalists always need to be careful about each of their issues related to news collection. They need to use cameras, writing abilities, drafting skills, shorthand writing capacity to collect news fast, preparing news for the publication or telecast etc. among the other tasks. Therefore, I have also admitted into a short-term basic photography learning course and bought a book to learn shorthand writing skills. Besides, a sharp sense is the other important factor for journalism.
When I read news on newspapers, I try to imagine that I am one of those who are engaged in collecting the news. They travel here and there and remain busy all the day long. They travel from different vehicles and mostly collect news from awkward situations. Regarding the television channels, a few news is aired live and the journalist present there share the latest situations live with the audience. It is truly an exciting job. Again some of the news reporters turn famous for their outstanding ability to discover something special.
Since my childhood, I have been fostering the dream to be a journalist and therefore, I am planning to be one.
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49. Describe something kind that someone did for you.
You should say:
- who this person was
- where and when it happened
- what s/he did for you
and explain how you felt about it.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Since both of my parents are engaged in two different professions, I have to be alone at home for most of the time and during a sudden illness in the absence of my parents, one of my neighbours helped me greatly.
It was Aunt Sally who came into my help during a sudden physical illness. She is our neighbour and lives just opposite of our apartment. She is the wife of my father’s business partner and very kind in nature. Although she has two kids, she loves me like her own kid too and never makes any hesitation to share her love and affection to me. I also paid proper respect to her for her kindness to me. In the absence of my parents, she took care of me and even I stay at her apartment when my father goes abroad with her husband for business purposes and my mother goes to meet her parent.
I came back from my school early as I was feeling uncomfortable. Father dropped me at the school and said that he would take me back when the school is finished. But suddenly I started feeling uncomfortable. I was affected with a high fever and it was accompanied with a frequent cough. My muscles were filled with pain and I was feeling like that someone is beating me. Then I asked my class teacher for an emergency leave. The teacher allowed me to leave the school and also sent a school staff with me for my safety. The school staff carried me all the way to my home and handed me over to Aunt Sally as I informed that she will take my care until my parents return.
When I returned home, Aunt Sally took my responsibilities on her shoulder and took immediate actions to make me feel comfortable. She informed the issue to my parents over the telephone and asked them to return as soon as possible. She took me to her apartment, wiped my body with wet clothes and gave some painkillers and other necessary medications after consultation with a doctor. Then I slept on a bed in that apartment and when I woke up I saw my parents are sitting beside me. I would have fallen in a real trouble if Aunt Sally was not at home on that day.
I am truly grateful to her for her kindness to me. She has done a lot of things for me. She never missed one of my birthdays and even she does not forget to wish me on my birthday. I am highly lucky that I have a neighbour like her. She is like a motherly figure to me and I find a sense of happiness when I meet or talk with her. When I remember that I was trembling in fever and my muscles were filled with unbearable pain, she was the only woman who came for my assistance. She cared for me like her own son and undertook all the necessary steps for my cure until the arrival of my parents. It is a blessing for me I have such a great neighbour.
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50. Describe a place you went to which was full of colours.
You should say:
- where it was
- why you went there
- what you did there
and explain why you think that place was made so colourful.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
I live near the Skagit Valley and the place remains colourful almost round the year, and the colours change with the seasonal changes. But the colours are more flamboyant and attractive during the Tulip Festival in fall.
The Skagit Valley is a highly charming attraction and located in a prominent place between Seattle and Washington in the USA. Skagit River is the life of the valley and has crossed the locality in a snake-like shape. It is in the north-west corner of Washington, a few kilometres away from my residence. The valley takes different colours in different seasons. To observe the valley perfectly, you are to visit during the winter. Hiking or riding a ferry is the best way to enjoy the colourful valley. Migrant birds of different types and colours visit the valley during the season. During the spring season, the tulips bloom across a long-filed which is another colourful attraction for the tourists. April is the best month to observe the tulips in their brightest colour and I hope to visit the valley in the next fall to observe the tulips only.
Skagit Valley is an eye-catching place and many of the global tourists visit the place only to enjoy its natural beauty. I also went there to enjoy the natural scenes and beauties of the valley. The valley is a unique one and filled with different colours. The environment is highly colourful that attracts the mind and the activities undertaken at the valley are incredible and remarkable as well. Many of my friends have paid their visits at the valley but I could not manage time with them to be there. So, I planned my visit the Skagit Valley with my family members and the trip also aimed to make the other junior members of the family aware of this natural beauty spot in the state.
There are many things to do for the tourists and we made lots of fun. We participated in both the indoor and outdoor activities and particularly the kids were the key participants in all the events. We started hiking in the valley. Then we watched the wildlife of the valley and the kids were truly contented with the animals and birds under the open sky. Moreover, some of my family members rode on beach bikes and the other rode on canoe. I preferred fishing most but could not catch a single fish within the fishing time. One of the kids wanted to have skiing but I did not allow him to do that as he is too young to go with the ski board. We also visited the museum during our return from the valley and truly it was an awesome experience for us all.
The place was too colourful. The environment was charming and the natural colours were eye soothing. The birds were of different colour, the tulips were attractive for their extraordinary shades and the people visiting the valley also worn dresses of different attractive and unusual colours. Everything formed a sense of exceptional and sensual colour around. The trees in the National Park were breathtaking green, the deep blue water on the beach, the flowers, birds and small animals, lighting of different colors at the shopping centers, ripe and green crops at the fields everything is merged with the nature and thus the nature has created a colorful environment at the valley.
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51. Describe an unusual building you have visited.
You should say:
- where it is
- what it is used for
- what it looks like
and explain why you think it is unusual.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
People love unusual or weird things and accordingly try to make their own things bizarre and thus special. When buildings are made unusually, they actually gain fame as the Basket Building in Ohio has turned so.
The Basket Building is, in fact, headquartering for a corporation named Longaberger Company. It is located in Newark of Ohio in the United States. The idea to make such a strange and attractive building came from the founder of the company and replicates a medium size basket produced by the corporation. The building is seven-storied and made with steel structure. It took around seven years to complete the construction of the building and it was opened for activities from 1997. The building has a unique interior and exterior decoration that has made it strange and attractive to the media and global people as well.
The building is used as the headquarter of Longaberger Company and the plan was that the other office buildings of the company will be made on the basket design, but after the death of Dave Longaberger, the company owner, his daughter did not allow to make all the buildings by the same design. Due to the steel structure and decoration, the building resembles the basket made by the company and has been awarded too for its splendid design and unusual decoration.
The Basket Building is the exact replica of a medium market size basket produced by the Longaberger Company. The company manufactures baskets and other lifestyle products in the USA. From a notable distance, people become perplexed at the first sight that a large basket is standing but they realise their mistake when they approach near the building. Due to its strange look, the building has become the issue of media attention and media-men of different countries have paid their visit at the building. Inside of the building is also decorated in an efficient manner to grab attention by the first sight of the visitors. The grand staircase is the most notable thing after the entrance inside and many of the visitors start playing the grand piano kept aside of the staircase.
The building is unusual in a positive sense. It is truly beautiful. The interior and exterior decoration is a wonder of modern days. The glass ceiling inside the building allows the visitors to look at the basket handles and the family paintings on the wall inside are amazing too. The floors are made with marble and the wood works were done from cherry wood farmed in private gardens of the founder family. The seven storied building is also considered as the world’s largest basket in the world. The building looks beautiful most at night for the lighting.
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52. Something you borrowed from your friends or family.
You should say:
- what it was
- when you borrowed it and from whom
- why you borrowed it
and explain why it was important for you to borrow it.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Due to my wicked nature, I was admitted to a boarding school where I lived with my friends of similar nature. I had to borrow a tie from one of my friends to attend a presentation in the class.
It was a blessing for me that the friend did not have the course that I took in the high school grade. So, I was able to borrow a tie for the presentation of my group in the class. The teacher ordered us all to be formal in attires during the presentation day and accordingly all of us planned to put on a black suit with a white tie. But unfortunately my tie was red in colour and I started seeking one. The teacher also said that if he sees someone in informal attires, he would not allow the student to appear in the presentation. It means he is to stay in the same grade for another year.
The presentation was set on 10am and my classroom was just beside the dormitory - it took a 3-minute walk to reach the classroom. So, I used to get up late and get prepared for the classes in the regular days and it turned into a habit for me. So, the events were repeating even on the presentation day. When it was 9.45am, I noticed that I need a tie. So, I asked the other roommates and all of them said that they are going with me for the presentation, and accordingly they cannot offer me their tie. I was upset and the race against time began. Then I moved to the next room of mine and found that Robin, one of my batch mates is sleeping on his bed as he does not have any presentation on that day.
Although there were dress codes in my school, but the presentation day attire was our creation. Some of the intelligent (!) students, I was one of them, set the dress code as black and white. The colour combination was great but I forgot to mention them that I do not have any white tie. The one I have is red in colour and I do not use it frequently except any special occasion. When I found that the colour is red, it was like a bolt from the blue on me. I started seeing a white tie and had to borrow it from Robin to appear in the presentation. The presentation was important to me as it was the year ending presentation over a special assignment that we did for last quarter.
If I failed to appear before the teacher and my classmates with the assignment, my promotion to the next grade would have been halted by the school authority. In line with the written examinations, we are to present some specific topics before the teachers and fellow classmates which are counted like an exam. So, absence in the presentation refers absent in the exam. My promotion will be stopped, and I have to study in the same grade again. I had everything except a white tie. Usually, I do not borrow anything from anyone; I had to do so on that day due to lack of time and my negligence. So, it was highly important for me to borrow the tie from Robin and later I thanked him generously.
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53. Describe an important social change in your country.
You should say:
- what it was
- how it happened
- how long it took
and explain the effect it has had on people in your country.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Pakistan is the country with numerous hopes, potentials and aspirations. But in some cases, the state is lagging behind and improvement on the sectors has already started. The rate of schooling has increased comparing to the previous days.
Earlier, parents did not send their kids to school for different reasons and particularly the female education was one the less important issues. However, in the current days, the scenario has changed greatly, most of the girls are sent to school and they are completing their secondary and in some cases pursuing to the highest degree of the country. But once could not have thought of sending his/ her girl to an educational institution. It was only allowed that the girls will be educated inside of their home with the religious studies and the higher education was a banned for them.
The change has taken after a large number of troubles and revolutionary attempts. Education for women at first was discouraged by the governmental initiatives and then when the government started realising the importance of empowerment of the women to survive and sustain the modern days, it started inspiring the female education. Since education broadens the outlook, changes the attitudes and creates a deep sense of right and wrong, it is a must for the people to go ahead and make the country a developed one. The government has realised the issue lately as different awareness activities have been undertaken by different non-government organisations. As a result, the women of all classes have the access to education at any level; they are completing their academic studies and getting involved in different professions.
It took about decades to improve the situation. Women were not allowed to participate in most of the out of home activities and the males were the key wage earner. They also did not allow their women to go outside. But with the change of time, they started realising the effects of keeping their wives at home. When the world is marching ahead with different development endeavours, Pakistan started to lag behind and fell in different political and socio-economic difficulties. In fact, it is impossible to go ahead by leaving the half of the population is darkness. Gradually, education for women was made easy and their spontaneous participation in education began.
Currently, Pakistan is marching ahead with a great speed as the women of the country are being educated. They are empowered and own the authority to express their opinion in familial and other related issues. Due to their participation is development activities, the productions are on the increase and as a result the national economy is upping. The social and cultural environments are getting changed. Women are out for work and participating in almost all sectors for their livelihood. Consequently, the countrymen have started reaping the benefits.
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54. Describe your favourite flower.
You should say:
- what it is
- where it is grown
- if it is common in your country
and explain why it is your favourite flower.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
It is hard to find a man who does not love flowers. Everyone loves it for different reasons. I also love flowers and prefer sunflower most than the other flowers for some specific grounds. This is the flower that is highly beneficial for the humans and sunflower is my favourite flower.
Flowers have a special attraction to the humans. They are used to serve several other purposes as well. It is a kind of symbol of love, peace and happiness. So, people are attracted to flowers. They love to have flowers on different occasions. I am not an exception in this case but my preference is a bit dissimilar from many others, even my family members. Most of the people are fond of rose which is considered as the queen of flowers. But I like sunflower the most. This is a special flower for me and casts a different charm to the people. This is a photogenic flower and looks beautiful when blooms. The flowers are of different size and shapes and the naming as ‘Sunflower’ might have been done so as they face to the sun when bloomed.
The flower is grown around the world but France produces a large part of the global share. The flower was brought into the country and in the European continent by the Spaniards during the 16th century. They used to sunflower oil for cooking. Initially, the flowers were found in wild state and after a few centuries, the importance of the flower appeared. Then commercial production for the flower began in France. Now sunflower is one of the most important agricultural crops of France. The sunflower seeds are used for a wide number of purposes. Usually, the sunflowers grow over 10 feet in height and summer is the best time for the bloom. So, when the flower is grown commercially, the growers harvest the flowers by July each year. The vast fields look gorgeous with the bloomed sunflowers but the scene lasts for a short time. Such scenarios are now places in view cards. Mostly the village areas are used for massive sunflower production in France.
Sunflower is one of the major products of France and mostly the seeds are used to manufacture cooking oils. The sunflower oils are healthy and free of the other toxic issues that may cause physical disorder after consumption. Moreover, the seeds are also used for beauty products and cosmetic. The flower sticks look stunning when they are installed in or out of any house. Thereby, some people grow sunflower plants on their lawn or small garden beside or before the house. Sunflower oil is widely used here for its easy digestion feature and other health benefits like improving the brain, removing physical disability or preventing cardiovascular diseases. Besides, the sunflower seeds are enriched with vitamin E which is essential for our daily needs. The use has become too common in France that the sunflower and its products are found almost everywhere across the country.
I firmly believe that I am a bit different from the ordinary people and my choices are not similar to the choice of others. Most of the people like to prefer some regular flowers but in this case, my choice is completely different. I love sunflower while many of the people will consider the flower as a commercial product for its random commercial use. The fully grown flowers face to the sun and swings in the air and this is adorable to look at. I also like the flower for its numerous benefits. Most of the other flowers do not have any usefulness except being used for decorations but sunflower is opposite to them. I like to think practically and do all the things which are beneficial for me. So, in preferring my favourite flower, I will pick the one which will be advantageous for me. Sunflower owns all the features I admire and find useful.
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55. Describe a piece of electronic equipment that you find useful.
You should say:
- what it is
- how you learned to use it
- how long you have had it
and explain why you find this piece of electronic equipment useful.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer:
Science has made human life comfortable. With the advancement of age, we have started reaping the benefits of the past inventions and discovered technology, and marching towards an advanced and digitised world. Thereby, we are surrounded by electronic equipment almost everywhere regardless of home or working stations.
I have a desktop computer at my home with the latest configuration. It is the most important and valuable thing for me when I am at home. It helps me in different ways. When I get back home from work, I play songs on the computer. Sometimes I and my wife watch thrilling movies too on the computer. It has become an essential part of my life. I also use the electronic equipment for many other purposes and use the sophisticated applications made for various purposes. Mostly I play different video games on the computer during my holidays and y wife uses it for editing photographs. It is truly useful equipment for me and my family.
But learning to run the applications were not so easy for me as it is today. Now I can perform some extraordinary tasks with the computer. I can edit photos using photo editing software, write anything on the word writing applications like Ms Word, make presentations for my office using PowerPoint, analyse numerous data using data analysis software and more others tasks. I took admission at a training school where I mastered the skills. Now I am also able to edit photos or create images and give them shapes after needs with the editing applications. All I learnt from the training school and took a six-month training there. In the beginning, I made silly mistakes to run the applications but now I am highly skilled in running those and even I do not need to check the keyboard if I am pressing the right key.
I had to buy the computer for my wife in 2014 as she is a wildlife photographer, captures still pictures of the animals and needs to edit those before submitting to different agencies. Although she has a small laptop, she is uncomfortable to work with the equipment and thus I had to buy the computer. The computer owns a higher configuration and allows running almost all the heavy, available and complicated applications. It works at an unimaginable speed. Moreover, after having the computer, I have learnt its use which I was ignorant before. By the span of a year, I have turned into an expert.
The computer is greatly helpful for me and my wife as well. Both of us use the electronic equipment to meet our daily needs. Most of the time of the day, my wife uses the machine to edit her captured wildlife images from different parts of the earth. Besides, I make logical and beautiful presentations to be presented before my office while taking any important decisions. Thereby, I am highly beneficial by the applications. Sometimes I am assigned from the office to design some logos or banners over specific events to be printed, I make them at home which has a great role in my career development. Moreover, this is the age of communication and I browse social networking websites using the computer to reach my other family members or friends. I prefer computer rather than cellular phones to browse the internet. The large screen is really enjoying.
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