Music # Speaking Section

Music has become one of the most flourishing industry in recent times. with the coming of smart phones and Internet, mostly people are listening to songs, either while traveling or while taking a break. Considering this, in IELTS, often in first part, question related to music are asked. Today we will look at some of the possible answers. Remember, the answers depend on a individual and can vary.

  1. Do you like music?

Yes, I do love to listen music.

2. What kind of music do you like?

Well, I don’t have a particular taste in that. I usually go for the lyrics. The one I feel connected to, I add it in my play list. It could be either pop or rock or contemprory or any other. Although there are some which have great beats, I do listen to them as well.

3. When do you usually listen to music?

Music to me is like a way of relaxing.  I usually listen while I am going back from work or after doing something tiring.I even sometimes hear it while cooking or doing something trivial.

4. What kind of music did you like when you were younger?

As a young kid, I never followed music, as in I never thought much as to what new album is coming. I usually listened to the ones that came on Television or the ones that were part of a movie.

5. What kind of music is popular in your country?

I think every individual has his/her own tastes in music. The elder generation of my country still prefers the music from their times, however they also tend to like the new Bollywood songs. The younger generation is much more global. They have access to Internet and so they usually look forward to listening the songs by international artist. However, I think the Bollywood songs are loved and enjoyed by everyone in our country.

6. Do you play any musical instrument?

um-mm. I do play guitar sometimes and I know some songs that I usually play. However, I am not a expertise in it, I usually play it when I am stressed out.

7. Which is your favorite musical instrument?

I like guitar a lot. I think it gives me a feel of a rockstar. Even more, the strings of the guitar and the changes we can make just by placing fingers on different parts of the strings really excites me.

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History Of Sugar # Reading Section

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 1-13, which are based on Reading Passage 1 below.

SUGAR

THE HISTORY

[A]It is thought that cane sugar was first used by man in Polynesia from where it spread to India. In 510 BC the Emperor Darius of what was then Persia invaded India where he found “the reed which gives honey without bees”. The secret of cane sugar, as with many other of man’s discoveries, was kept a closely guarded secret whilst the finished product was exported for a rich profit.

[B]It was the major expansion of the Arab peoples in the seventh century AD that led to a breaking of the secret. When they invaded Persia in 642 AD they found sugar cane being grown and learnt how sugar was made. As their expansion continued they established sugar production in other lands that they conquered including North Africa and Spain.

[C]Sugar was only discovered by western Europeans as a result of the Crusades in the 11th Century AD. Crusaders returning home talked of this “new spice” and how pleasant it was. The first sugar was recorded in England in 1099. The subsequent centuries saw a major expansion of western European trade with the East, including the importation of sugar. It is recorded, for instance, that sugar was available in London at “two shillings a pound” in 1319 AD. This equates to about US$100 per kilo at today’s prices so it was very much a luxury.

[D]In the 15th century AD, European sugar was refined in Venice, confirmation that even then when quantities were small, it was difficult to transport sugar as a food grade product. In the same century, Columbus sailed to the Americas, the “New World”. It is recorded that in 1493 he took sugar cane plants to grow in the Caribbean. The climate there was so advantageous for the growth of the cane that an industry was quickly established.

[E]By 1750 there were 120 sugar refineries operating in Britain. Their combined output was only 30,000 tons per annum. At this stage sugar was still a luxury and vast profits were made to the extent that sugar was called “white gold”. Governments recognized the vast profits to be made from sugar and taxed it highly. In Britain for instance, sugar tax in 1781 totaled £326,000, a figure that had grown by 1815 to £3,000,000. This situation was to stay until 1874 when the British government, under Prime Minister Gladstone, abolished the tax and brought sugar prices within the means of the ordinary citizen.

[F]Sugar beet was first identified as a source of sugar in 1747. No doubt the vested interests in the cane sugar plantations made sure that it stayed as no more than a curiosity, a situation that prevailed until the Napoleonic wars at the start of the 19th century when Britain blockaded sugar imports to continental Europe. By 1880 sugar beet had replaced sugar cane as the main source of sugar on continental Europe. Those same vested interests probably delayed the introduction of beet sugar to England until the First World War when Britain’s sugar imports were threatened.

[G]Today’s modern sugar industry is still beset with government interference at many levels and throughout the world. The overall pattern can be seen by investigating the mid 1990s’ position in the interactive map on the Introduction page. Annual consumption is now running at about 120 million tons and is expanding at a rate of about 2 million tons per annum. The European Union, Brazil and India are the top three producers and together account for some 40% of the annual production. However most sugar is consumed within the country of production and only approximately 25% is traded internationally.

[H]One of the most important examples of governmental actions is within the European Union where sugar prices are so heavily subsidised that over 5 million tons of white beet sugar have to be exported annually and yet a million tons of raw cane sugar are imported from former colonies. This latter activity is a form of overseas aid which is also practised by the USA. The EU’s over-production and subsequent dumping has now been subjected to GATT requirements which should see a substantial cut-back in production over the next few years.

How Sugar is Made

[I]There are a bewildering number of sugars and syrups available in the shops while other types are available for the industrial user. Some of the basic differences are discussed below.

White sugar is essentially pure sucrose and there is no difference between that derived from cane and that from beet. Different manufacturers produce crystals of different sizes however and this leads to some apparent differences. Smaller crystals dissolve more readily and might therefore appear to be sweeter because none is left at the bottom of the cup and they seem sweeter on the tongue if eaten alone. Similarly smaller crystals have more surfaces per spoonful and appear whiter than larger crystals. [Having said that, some white sugars are less white than others: it depends on how much processing the manufacturer applies.

[J]There are several speciality white sugars:

  • caster sugar is just a very small crystal size white sugar
  • icing sugar is ground up white sugar, essentially sugar dust
  • sugar cubes are lumps of sugar crystals “glued” together with a sugar syrup
  • preserving sugar is a special large crystal

[K]Brown sugars come in many different styles but are essentially one of two types: sticky browns and free-flowing browns. The sticky browns were originally the sort of mixture that comes out of a cane sugar crystallising pan. The extreme of this, still made in India today, is “juggeri” or “gur” which is essentially such a mixture boiled until dry.

Questions1-5

Do the following statements agree with the information given in reading passage 1?

In boxes 1-8 on your answer sheet, write

TRUE             if the statement agrees with the information.

FALSE           if the statement contradicts with the information.

NOT GIVEN  if there is no information on this.

  1. Indian People were the first one to use sugar.
  2. The entire process of finding and producing sugar was made available to public from the beginning.
  3. Persia was invaded by Arab People in 642 BC.
  4. Sugar in early times was considered a luxury, by the people of London.
  5. The sugar industry in America flourished because of climatic support.
  6. Sugar is often termed as white gold.
  7. Sugar beet replaced sugar cane as the source of producing sugar in continental Europe.
  8. The top producers of sugar in the world are India and Brazil.

Complete the sentences below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

  1. Pure sucrose is also called (9)______________
  2. Smaller crystals of white sugar are more sweet because nothing is left at the (10)____________
  • White sugar comes with its own specialties (11)_____________ is the one often termed as the sugar dust.
  1. The two kinds of brown sugars are (12)__________ and (13)____________.

ANSWERS

  1. False
  2. False
  3. False
  4. True
  5. True
  6. True
  7. False
  8. Not Given
  9. White sugar
  10. Bottom of cup
  11. Icing sugar
  12. Sticky browns
  13. Free-flowing browns

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IELTS Speaking Sample Section # Tourism

The discussion part of the speaking section consist of questions that are a follow up of the questions asked in the cue card.

For today, let us have a look at some of the questions of the discussion part of the speaking section.

  1. What are some of the best places to visit in your country?Every country has some exciting places to visit. These places could be either of historical importance or may be simply for tourist attraction. My country is often termed as the land of temples. So, we have some great temples to visit. Khajuraho temple in Madhya Pradesh, Somnath temple in gujrat, Kashi vishwanath in Varanasi are some of the great places to visit. Apart from temples, we also have Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Elephanta Caves, India Gate. They all have their own importance and attract a large number of tourists
  2. Is there any historical importance associated with them? What is it?

Yes, they surely have. Taj Mahal was built by Shah jahan for his wife and is a epitome of love in our country. Kashi vishwanath is considered to have a very old history and it is all the way more important because it is Kashi, considered the most sacred place in country. India Gate is a memorial of the 80,000 soldiers that were killed in the First World War. I think every place has its own history and it makes it all the way more exciting to visit.

3. Is there any place in your country that is beautiful but not given that much importance?

India is a large country and has rich culture within it. So, it often happens that there are some places that are beautiful but do not get noticed. One such place is DanushKodi. It got vanished because of cyclone and is now called the ghost city. However, this place has one of the best beaches our country has.

Note-: The answers could vary depending on the country you live in.

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Fitness Magazine # Reading Section

Look at the contents page from a magazine on the following page.

Answer questions 1-3 by matching the heading given in the advertisement with the content provided.

Write your answers in the boxes 1-3 on your answer sheet.

 

image

fitness magazine

 

1. This exercise help in strengthening the spine and the lower back.

2. It helps in opening the energy centers of the upper body.

3. This exercise helps in improving the circulation in body.

Question 4-10 Complete the notes below in NO MORE THAN THREE words.

When performing weeping willow, one begins in a standing position, the (4)_____ are kept together, the legs are straight with the (5)________ facing inwards. It has to be made sure that a (6)____________ is maintained throughout. The abdominals are then contracted and one slowly lowers the (7)______ until a stretch in the hamstring is felt. The arms are wrapped around the calves and interlocking of (8)________ is done. The forehead is pressed to the knees and the (9)_____ are contracted again. The torso is raised back and the process is repeated after switching the (10)_________ at the bottom of the move.

 

ANSWERS

  1. cross your heart
  2. wall flower
  3. gliding swan
  4. feet
  5. palm
  6. flat back position
  7. torso
  8. hands
  9. abs
  10. hand grip

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