IELTS Speaking Sample Questions # Corruption

The world is changing very fast and in this changing world there are so many negative things that have come out and effected the world. One of them is the urge among people for power, money. This has led to so many out there trying for every next way to get money, one of them has leaded to a great problem that the world is facing, corruption. Let us today have a look at some of the questions related to corruption.

Is there a lot of corruption in your country?

There is a lot of corruption in my country, in terms of the government scams and the local people’s ups and downs. But, I think India is surely not one of the most corrupt country. The situation in our country has improved a lot in last few  years, bringing down corruption. But, having said that, I think there is a long journey that we as Indians have to take to get rid of corruption.

What businesses have the most corruption in your country?

If I start numbering, I think real estate is the most corrupt business area in our country. For anyone to be able to build a house or company, there is so much of cash inflow that takes place to the wrong hands. Perhaps, it is even said that no construction can be done in India if you are not ready to give bribe. The next would be education. Getting a good job in our country, becomes a tough job when you are going at a higher level. Even for a transfer there is so much of money flowing in the government sector. Apart from these, IT, defense and communication are some of the areas where we can find lot of corruption.

What do you think are the problems with corruption in the political system of your country?

There was a time, when people thought that the entire political system of India is corrupt. There are ministers who are bothered only about their food and the bungalows that they are buying. Often, taking money from the taxes that the people are paying. Like, if the government is sanctioning 4 crores for something, 50% of it goes to the ministers, the left is used for the project.

corruption

Do you think corruption will always be a part of business and politics?

I hope that with changing times and with more youngsters coming up, there will be more transparency in business and politics. I am not very sure of if it is possible but I can always hope that with more educated people and with more awareness, people will less likely to be corrupt.

What recent corruption scandal was in the news?

The most recent corruption scam that our country witness was the “Indian Coal Allocation Scam” of 2012. It took place under Manmohan Singh’s government and led to the possible fall of the government in the next elections. During this scam, it is believed that wrongful allocation of coal was done to the PSUs.

Who is the most corrupt politician or businessperson you know of?

There are so many of them, but then if we think of the most corrupt, I would say  Ramalinga Raju should be the one guy who can be named the most corrupt. He was the chairman of the Satyam Computer Services and admitted to have changed the accounts of the company for a long period to gain profits. The company shut down and lot of employees were in roads after it.

What is the best way to fight corruption in business and politics?

In my opinion, the best way could be transparency. When one finds corruption taking place if a common man can make a video and upload it in the social media, it could be great help. Because people will then start noticing the person taking bribe and with this awareness that people are watching you, I think corruption will definitely reduce.

Is corruption ever justified?

No, I think it is never justified. When you are talking of a country which has fought for independence, with so many freedom fighters dying for that one independence, when you can see so many soldiers leaving their homes for the safety of a country, there is nothing in this world, that can justify corruption.

Can a corrupt organization ever be more efficient than a less corrupt organization if they are about the same size and in the same industry?

Effectiveness of an organization, in my opinion, depends more on the employees. Having said that, I think definitely yes a non corrupt organization will be surely less corrupt than a more corrupt. Because, there will be more transparency, a healthy environment and much more thinking about how to improve than how to earn more.

If you were in a position of power, do you think you would be corrupt?
I think, not. Because, if I look myself into a position of power or even outside of it, my aim is to do something good. Money is important for me, but not the most important thing. So, being corrupt, sitting here, I think no I wouldn’t have been a corrupt person.
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IELTS Part III Speaking Questions # Innovation And Ideas

We have talked about the questions that might be asked in Part I of this topic. Let us have a look at some of the questions that might be asked in discussion part of speaking section.

Why are some people better at thinking of ideas than others?

The main reason, according to me, is they give themselves time. So, you could find them reading things, traveling, meeting people, solving puzzles and doing more of active entertainment and better way of passing time. People who mostly spend their time doing either facebook or whats app or may be indulging in only one particular thing, tend to get less ideas. So, those who are constantly exploring themselves and the world around, are struck by more ideas.

How easy is it for an adult to think of a new idea?

I would say, too an extent it is difficult. Because an average adult, often gets laid back, learning becomes too tiring and there are so may other things going on that thinking of learning and putting in ideas seems quite difficult. But, if someone is constantly learning and working on improving, I would say it is not a big deal to get an idea and start working on it.

innovation and ideas

How can children be taught to become innovative?

Children must be taught to question to make them innovative. Often, we are not able to answer the WHYs of a child and by force ask them to ask better questions. This leads in them not answering any questions at all. So, instead of stopping them asking silly questions, we should answer there questions and make sure they ask more of them.

In which sphere of business is innovation the ultimate necessity?

The world is growing and new inventions are taking place every day or every month. Considering this, I think all areas of business need innovation. An innovation need not be something very huge or something new, it could be very simple, very trivial. A new way of doing the same thing, could even be innovation. And I believe that it is required everywhere by everyone.

What should be people opinion about implementing new ideas?

I believe people should be open about implementing a new idea. And this definitely does not mean that they need to support every new idea. What I mean is that they should share their view point about that idea. It could be something they might like to change or something they appreciate or something they believe could be done other way round. Because, an idea stopped just to ensure it does not implements brings lot of negativity, but when the pros and cons are considered effectively, it gives the idea a new life.

What role should the government play in encouraging innovation?

Government has a very important role in making sure that an innovation takes place. Firstly, they should make some laws favoring it. So, may be the strict laws and implementations could be eased out to make it easier for innovators to do things. Even more, sometimes funding is required in bringing a revolution, I think in those cases government can and should help.

There are people of the opinion that soon innovation will become very important in society. Do you agree or disagree?

I completely agree with it. In my opinion, we are changing every minute and with new technologies and revolutions taking places, any one who resents change or innovation will soon be lost. For example, Nokia. There was time when Nokia was the leader of phones and everyone was buying it. But then came android and it was the resentment of Nokia to take android that lead to its failure. They could not innovate themselves to the new changes.

Is innovation always a good thing?

Definitely not. You can look at atom bomb. The one innovation that changed the world forever, that changed the lives of two cities and millions of its people forever, the generations to come have suffered because of that one innovation. Then there are Cigarettes. There is no one thing good about cigarettes and yet people are addicted to it, affecting their lives and also the one near to them. Also, gun powder. Millions of people are dying because of it. I think yes, innovations have been good but when used badly they have surely affected human lives in the worst way possible.

Most innovations have patents. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of patents?

Looking at the positive side, patents allow the inventor right to stop the manufacturing, copying and selling the product of without his/her content. It also gives the inventor the commercial benefits. So, an inventor can then earn all the money from the product. Even more it provides other benefits, like recognition and hence provide opportunity for bigger discoveries. However, on the negative side, a patent is only for 20 years, after which other individual or companies can use the product freely. Even more, it is a very lengthy and time consuming process.

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Madurai # Improve Vocabulary

Guts and Glory: On a Chettinad Food Pilgrimage in South India

Madurai’s towering temples are feats of the imagination, filled with deities and demons draped in jewellery, armed with weapons, and often, bearing more limbs than usual.

[PARA 1]

There are two reasons people visit Madurai: Meenakshi and mutton. Meenakshi is Madurai’s feared and revered temple deity, the three-breasted consort of Shiva, who presides over the scorching city from the cool, stone sanctum of the Meenakshi Amman kovil. The temple is an arresting sight, its gopuram crowded with candy-coloured angels and demons that seem crafted from fondant. Like a gaudy, tiered confection of mythical proportions. But I am more interested in the mutton. Madurai’s no-nonsense Chettinad messes, I am told, serve every part of the goat—brain, intestine, liver, lung, tongue, hooves, and head—and I intend on sampling each one.

[PARA 2]

My hankering for the peppery flavours of Chettinad food dates back to my schooling in Madras. Thanks to generous neighbours, classmates’ dabbas, and a mother who is both curious and a wonderful cook, I am well acquainted with the powers of traditional Tamil cooking. I know, for instance, that a good rasam delivers not just potency but also clarity of thought. That there is no better way to start the day than with a tumbler of filter coffee, and no better way to end it than with a steel plate of sambhar, rice, and ghee, preferably with pappadums. But my most treasured food memories of Madras are dinners at Chettinad restaurants. Decades later, recollections of that feisty mutton pepper fry flecked with curry leaves and glistening with pure coconut oil, still make me quiver.

[PARA 3]

Geographically, Chettinad is part of the districts of Sivaganga and Pudukkottai in Tamil Nadu, spread over some 1,500-odd kilometres of arid scrubland. Today, the region is known for its cotton saris, heritage hotels, and antique markets. But before India became independent, and even before the British colonised our ports, spices, and princely states, Chettinad was part of the ancient Tamil Pandyan Kingdom. Its capital was Madurai.

[PARA 4]

The one thing that has remained constant from the 13th century is the city’s blistering weather. Our auto weaves past rickety cycle rickshaws, ambassador cars, and ladies on mopeds, hair neatly plaited and gleaming with oil. We’re headed to Amma Mess, one the city’s most popular restaurants, known for its delicious, inexpensive fare. Within minutes of scoring a table, we’re faced with seven shiny steel plates piled with food: rabbit roast, pepper quail, dosa layered with keema and eggs, parotta mashed with mutton, a neat mound of pigeon biryani, fish curry, and an omelette stuffed with bone marrow. As my fiancé and I lock eyes across the table like soldiers before battle, a waiter appears. “Madam” he says, smiling. “Ghee?”

[PARA 5]

Later that day, we meet Praveena and Mukunthan, a chatty couple who conduct food trails, introducing travellers to Madurai’s markets and lesser-known culinary gems. Within minutes, we see the merits of walking with a local. Madurai’s Old Town seems like a warren of rickety lanes, but Praveena tells us it’s actually remarkably well planned. The streets are laid out in concentric squares around the Meenakshi temple. Each has a different focus: jewellery, flowers, spices, saris, kitchenware. The layout instantly becomes easier to grasp.

[PARA 6]

It’s past 9 p.m. but the market buzzes like a Mumbai railway station at peak hour. It’s warm and terribly crowded and yet, I can’t wipe the smile off my face. The scent of jasmine, the snatches of Tamil, the roly-poly script on store-fronts, like a queue of plump ladies waiting for a bus: Like an incantation, these sights and sounds invoke long-forgotten memories. It’s strange, the things our brains choose to save. With every recollection, the dust clears a little more, my confidence is boosted, and soon I tentatively ask for a bottle of water—in Tamil.

[PARA 7]

As we eat our way through the market, we learn about Madurai’s earliest association with food. Madurai is named after maduram, which means nectar in Tamil, and according to Hindu scriptures, the city was birthed when a drop of ambrosia fell to Earth from Shiva’s dreadlocks. This is why “God and food are Madurai’s favourite pastimes,” Praveena says grinning. Egged on by our charming and enthusiastic guides, we devour ungodly amounts of meat: chicken parottas, goat’s trotters, uttappam and mutton keema, idli and fish curry.

[PARA 8]

And yet, it’s the vegetarian flavours that have me scribbling in my food diary. From street carts we have slices of tender coconut tree bark, cottonseed and jaggery payasam, and adirasam, a decadent cross between a doughnut and a puff pastry that’s deep-fried in ghee. The cottonseed payasam, Mukunthan says, helps curb respiratory disorders and was traditionally consumed by workers in Madurai’s cotton mills.

[PARA 9]

Every plate of food we eat is memorable (pigeon incidentally, tastes like gamier chicken) but it’s not authentic Chettinad food, our hosts inform us. Like the many migrant communities that moved to Madurai for work, regional cuisines too adapt to survive, especially when they’re served in restaurants. Recipes are tweaked for local palates—a little more oil, a little less cooking time, maybe a dash of colour—and before long they barely resemble the original. “You’ll have to go to Karaikudi for the real thing,” emphasizes Mukunthan.

[PARA 10]

We round off our night with Tirunelveli halwa, a gooey, melt-in-the-mouth dessert made from wheat, just the right amount of sugar, and far too much ghee. Served warm, on a dried peepul leaf, it is the closest thing to maduram I have tasted.

[PARA 11]

Oddly enough for a community that loves meat, the Chettiars were originally vegetarians from Kanchipuram in northern Tamil Nadu. They lived there for thousands of years before moving to a place called Kaveripoompattinam, a small thriving Chola port town in the marshy Kaveri delta. Here, they began trading in plump Kaveri rice and salt from the Coromandel Coast but before long, they were travelling with fleets to Malacca, Sumatra, and Java. Their zeal for commerce grew, and with it, their appetite for the Southeast Asian food they encountered on their voyages. Seafood entered the Chettiar kitchen, and soon pots of crab rasam were gently simmering in their handsome homes.

WORDMEANINGSYNONYMS
1. ToweringVery high or tallColossal, gigantic, imposing, lofty, magnificent, massive, mighty, monumental, prodigious, soaring, stately, tall, elevated, sublime, surpassing
2. ImaginationThe action or process of forming images or conceptsThought, artistry, awareness, fancy, fantasy, idea, image, imagery, ingenuity, insight, inspiration, intelligence, inventiveness, originality, resourcefulness, thought, vision, wit
3. DeitiesA god or goddessDivinity, idol, immortal, creator, goddess, godhead, celestial, demigoddess, divine being, supreme being
4. DrapedTo cover or hand with cloth or other fabric, especially in graceful foldsCloak, clothe, cover, dangle, don, dress, enclose, envelop, fold, hang, sprawl, swathe, wrap, array, display, droop, drop, enwrap, line, model, roll, spread, spread-eagle, suspend
5.ReveredTo regard with respect tinged with awe; venerateAdmire, adore, apotheosize, appreciate, be in awe of, cherish, defer to, deify, enjoy, esteem, exalt, hold in awe, honor, look up to, love, magnify, pay homage, prize, put on pedestal, regard, respect, think highly of, treasure, value, venerate, worship
6. ScorchingBurning very hotBlistering, fiery, searing, sizzling, sweltering, burning, hot
7. SanctumA sacred place, especially a shrine within a temple or churchAltar, chancel, shrine, temple, holy place, sacrarium, sanctorium
8. FondantA thick paste mad of sugar and water and often flavored or colored, used in making of sweets and the icing and decoration of cakes.
9.MythicalOccurring in or characteristic of myths or folk talesAllegorical, fabled, fanciful, fictitious, imaginary, legendary, mythic, storied, unreal, whimsical, chimerical, created, fabricated, fabulous, fairy-tale, false, fantasy, fictive, folkloric, invented, made-up, mythological, non-existent, pretended, supposititious, traditional, untrue, visionary
10.HankeringA strong desire to do or have somethingCraving, pining, yearning, ache, druthers, hunger, itch, longing, thirst, urge, want, weakness, wish, yen, fire in belly, munchies.
11.GenerousShowing readiness to give more of something, especially money, than is strictly expected or necessary.Acceptable, benevolent, big, charitable, considerate, fair, good, helpful, honest, hospitable, lavish, reasonable, thoughtful, tolerant, unselfish, willing, altruistic, beneficent, bounteous, bountiful, easy, equitable, excellent, free, greathearted, high-minded, honorable, just, kind, kind-hearted. Kindly, liberal, lofty, loose, magnanimous, moderate, munificent, noble, open-handed, philanthropic, profuse, soft-touch, ungrudging, unsparing, unstinting
12.AcquaintedMake someone aware of or familiar withAbreast, conversant, informed, advised, enlightened, familiarized, apprised of, clued in, familiar with, in the know, versed in
13.PotencyThe power of something to affect the mind or bodyCapability, efficacy, efficiency, vigor, authority, birr, capacity, command, control, dominion, energy, force, go, hardihood, influence, juice, kick, might, moxie, muscle, pep, potential, power, puissance, punch, sinew, snap, sock, steam, strength, sway, virtue, zap, zing, zip, what it takes
14.TumblerA drinking glass with straight sides and no handle or stem;Clown, dancer, gymnast, performer, aerialist, artist, athlete, balancer, contortionist, funambulist, stunt person, trapezist
An acrobat especially one who performs somersaults
15.FeistyLively, determined and courageousBubbly, courageous, excitable, fiery, gritty, gutsy, high-strung, lively, scrappy, spunky, active, alive, difficult, enthusiastic, frisky, full of pep, game, gutty, hot-blooded, mettlesome, ornery, peppy quarrelsome, sensitive, thin-skinned, tough, truculent, zestful
16.GlisteningShine with a sparkling lightBright, burnished, glassy, glazed, gleaming, lustrous, polished, shining, shiny, silky, sleek, reflecting, slick, smooth, brilliant, silken
17. QuiverTremble or shake with a slight rapid motionConvulsion, flash, glimmer, glitter, oscillation, palpitation, pulsation, shake, shimmer, shiver, shudder, sparkle, spasm, throb, tic, tremble, tremor, twinkle
18.ScrublandLand consisting of scrub vegetationBackwoods, bramble, briar, brush, chaparral, creeper, forest, hedge, hinterland, jungle, outback, plant, scrub, shrubbery, thicket, vine, wilderness
19.BlisteringIntenseFiery, heated, scalding, scorching, searing, sizzling, sweltering, torrid, baking, boiling, broiling, burning, roasting, blistery, intense, broiling, burning, roasting, blistery, intense, red-hot, severe
20.GleamingShine brightly especially with reflected lightBright, burnished, glassy, glazed, glistening, lustrous, polished, shining, shiny, sleek, reflecting, slick, smooth, brilliant, silken, silky
21.WarrenA network of interconnecting rabbit burrows
22. RicketyPoorly made and likely to collapsebroken, decrepit, derelict, dilapidated, flimsy, ramshackle, shaky, wobbly, feeble, fragile, frail, imperfect, infirm, insecure, jerry-built, precarious, rachitic, rattletrap, rocky, tottering, tottery, tumble-down, unsteady, wavering, weak
23.BuzzesMake a low, continuous humming soundHum, murmur, whisper, drone, fizz, fizzle, hiss, purr, ring, ringing,whir
24.IncantationA series of word said as a magic spell or charmEnchantment, hymn, abracadabra, bewitchment, chant, charm, conjuration, conjuring, formula, hex, hocus-pocus, hoodoo, invocation, necromancy, rune, sorcery, voodoo, witchcraft, wizardry, ala kazam, black magic, mumbo-jumbo, open sesame
25.AmbrosiaThe food of the godsDelicacy, nectar, heavenly food, immortal food
26.ScribblingWrite or draw carelessly or hurriedlyCacography, graffiti, graffito, griffon age, hieroglyphics
27.TweakedTwist or pull sharplyTease, twist, jerk, pinch, pluck, pull
28.TradingThe action or activity of buying and selling goods and servicesCommerce, deal, dealing, exchange, industry, manufacturing, market, sales, selling, trade, traffic, transaction, affairs, bargaining, barter, commercialization, contracts, game, industrialism, merchandising, racket, undertaking, buying and selling, capital and labor, free enterprise, production and distribution
29.ZealGreat energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objectiveArdor, determination, devotion, diligence, eagerness, earnestness, fanaticism, fervor, gusto, inclination, intensity, passion, perseverance, sincerity, spirit, urgency, verve, warmth, zest, alacrity, bustle, dispatch, drive, enterprise, fierceness, fire, hustle, initiative, intentness, keenness, mania, push, readiness, vehemence, yen, stick- to-itiveness, what it takes
30. SimmeringStay just below boiling point while bubbling gentlyBoiling, heated, hot

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IELTS Speaking Sample Answer # Volunteer Work

Volunteer work is the one that you do by your choice. The one which you do for free, out of your own wish. Often times, this is the work where you are paid very less or not at all paid. However, one gets to learn a lot through volunteer work. Let us today, have a look at some of the questions related to volunteer work.

Why do you think people volunteer?

I believe there could be several reasons for people volunteering. Some people volunteer because they feel for the cause and want to do something about it. There are some who volunteer because volunteering teaches you a lot. You learn team work, leadership, patience, organizing things and so much more.

Would you like to work as a volunteer?

Definitely yes. I would love to work as a volunteer for an organization related to education, because I do feel that this is something that every individual has a right to have, but very few are able to get the quality education. Anyone who initiates it in some way, I would volunteer. Or may be in some time, start it off on my own.

Have you ever done any volunteer work?

Yes, I was a volunteer for a group named Soften in our organization. The group organizes lot of activities for the under privileged children and I was part of their three day workshop. During that period, lot of kids from the adoption homes and other sections of society came and it was great to listen to them, their stories, their experiences and so much more.

Is volunteering worth the time it takes?

Yes it is. I believe it is more of two way relation where the more you give, the more you gain. There is so much of experience that comes along with it, so much you get to learn and so much of excitement that it makes up for the effort it takes.

What could you do to help if you had no money?

Helping has nothing to do with money. May be I cannot give someone the money but I can surely give what I have, like my knowledge, my experience, the things that I have learnt. It is great to be able to share your knowledge and for the one who receives it, it is surely a pure joy.

volunteer work

What is volunteer screening?

Volunteer screening is the process in which people are screened or judged so that they can be given work that best fits their personality.

What situations need volunteer workers?

Situations which affect the larger group of people needs volunteer work. Because at that time, you cannot think about money and then one also needs lot of people. Like, when there was a Tsunami, lot of people died, so many were homeless and then there were many who could not find their loved one. It was such a massive destruction, that required help from the entire planet.

Can you think of different types of volunteer work?

Volunteering has its own different shades. There is this volunteering where an individual goes to an organization and works on one of their projects. It could be for a month or a year. And then there is gap year volunteering. This is the volunteering which students tend to do during their gap year.  It provides them with the necessary skills for placements. Also, there is travel volunteering wherein the individual can volunteer for different causes while traveling.

Would you volunteer to help people outside your community?

Definitely yes. Volunteering or for that matter helping has nothing to do with community. If I can help anyone I will be more than happy to do it.

Have you read a book about volunteer work?

There is this book that I read, chicken soup for the soul. It was a great book, almost an eye opener. It talks about 101 inspiring stories that talk about volunteers and their experiences and how they gave back what they got.

What types of volunteer work would be unpleasant for you?

I think volunteering for something like “trying to ban valentines day” or for that matter “the organizations bringing religious law and order”. These are things I would prefer not to go forward for. Because, they go against my opinion about how things should be.

What benefits other than personal satisfaction could you personally get by volunteering?

Volunteering has its own great advantages. It increases your social and relationship skills, it helps you make more friends and in some way be more connected with your society. Even more, it helps counteracts the effects of stress, anger and anxiety. Some believe it also helps in fighting depression. Then there are people who are alone, like the older people, volunteering gives them the sense or purpose for life.

Can a volunteer be treated the same as paid staff?

I think it is quite a tough thing to do. Because, a volunteer is more often selected more easily as compared to a paid staff. There is certain skill set that is required, but with volunteer it is less of risk. It might be possible that a volunteer makes a mistake but with a paid staff the chances should be less.

Should you volunteer if your main reason is to benefit monetarily or materialistically?

I think, at the first place, the main motive for volunteering should always be to benefit others. However, if one thinks of it in a monetarily or materialistically manner and does it, I think they still should do it. Because at the end both sides gain a lot.

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