Month: February 2017

IELTS Writing Sample Questions # Social Status

The question below has been taken from British Council. 

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

A person’s worth nowadays seems to be judged according to social status and material possessions. Old-fashioned values, such as honour, kindness and trust, no longer seem important.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

SAMPLE ANSWER 1

We are living in a world surrounded by people with goals, however, sadly the goals seem to be centrally oriented towards the career. In times, when we judge the potential of the other person on the basis of how well off her or she is ,there are some who believe that no matter what the behaviour does comes first.

A person cannot help another individual until and unless he or she is able to help himself or herself. In a world, where money can buy almost everything, judging a person’s worth based on the social status, surely seems more logical. Even more, with millions of people all over the world fighting for success, a person who gets it must have definitely worked smarter than others. For example, there are millions of those who code, but it was ultimately Mark Zukerberg who could bring out the idea of Facebook.

On the other hand, judging a person only on the basis of the money might not be the right thing to do. A person who cannot share is similar to the person who does not have. For example, although Steve Jobs was more of a genius that Bill Gates, it is ultimately Bill Gates who helped millions of people get education. Even more, there are people like Mother Teresa or Malala who have changed the way we see at others.

Overall, in my opinion, certainly people are judged on the basis of the credit they have, but we have still not forgotten the good deeds that make a person. No matter how successful a person is, he or she is ultimately judged on the basis of his or her behaviour.

SAMPLE ANSWER 2

With the advancement of technology and media the lives of individuals have become much more vulnerable than ever. People know about others more than ever in the last few decades. There are some people who believe in modern times, the worth of an individual depends on the social status that he or she has while many others are of the opinion, that the behaviour of the person still has a very important role to play.

We are in times when the lives of all the successful people is like an open book for us. Although, this has helped people in understanding how to gain success, people have started comparing every successful person with the one  they know about. So, for example, Sandeep Maheshwari might not be considered as successful as Bill Gates, simply because he does not have that much of money. Even more, people with madness rushing in their lives have surely started judging the success on the external factors.

However, no matter how successful an individual is, ultimately he or she is also judged on the basis of the good deed he or she has done. It is the good work that does make an impression on other people lives. For instance, Steve Jobs might be considered a revolutionary figure by many, but it is Bill Gates who is admired by all. Even more, there are people like Mother Teresa and Malala that are loved more than anyone in the world.

Overall, in my opinion, surely people have become litel materialistic with the changing times. However, ultimately it is the kindness and the nature of the individual that impacts the people all around the world.

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IELTS Speaking Sample Questions # Humour On TV

Humour has been and still remains the most important part of our lives. What kind of life is lived without any humour in it. This time however, we are moving around questions that are related to humour on tv. These questions can be asked in the IELTS speaking section.

What type of programmes do you find funny on Television?

I am a true blue romantic when it comes to television. So, when others find jokes on particular things funny, I love it when two people in love fight. I find it really funny. The sweet love fights, I simply enjoy them. I remember, watching television serials like Kitanni Mohobbat Hai, Dill Mill Gaye, the kind of serials that were more like romcom. Apart from this, I love sarcastic comedy. The one in which the literal word said has nothing much to do but the meaning behind is amazing.

What types of programmes are most popular in your country?

Most of the people in my country have seen a shift from television to You tube and that is for sure. People now are much more interested in seeing the new web series by AIB or TVF than probably a new television series. But, for those who do watch television, there are different tastes. So, the young loves watching cricket or any other sport for that matter. Or some reality shows. People who have grown up a little bit, I think prefer drama. But, it happens vice versa as well. But, anything that makes them laugh or cry goes down well with my country men.

Do you like to make people laugh?

Yes, I do love to make people laugh. I think it is one of the most beautiful art to be able to make others laugh. For me, it is not always a planned thought process. May be my blatancy makes people laugh. Sometimes my responses to their problems make them laugh. But is is always good that even if you are not able to solve someone’s problem at least an attempt to make them feel lighter about it.

Do you think it is important for anyone to have a sense of humour?

I think definitely yes. Having a sense of humour, towards everything in life ,including yourself helps take things and life in a very beautiful perspective. It is only a person with a certain sense of humour who can deal with life in a more beautiful manner. Also, I believe, not only it helps in dealing with life it does makes life so much more better to live in than it actually is.

Do you think insult comedy is the right way of making others laugh?

Too an extent it is right. Sometimes people do take insult way too seriously than it should have been and people do insult in manners that really hurt. But, when it comes to small and not so serious insults, I think there is not much issue with it and there should neither be. However, with things getting serious and when people pin point on the same things or make only insultive comedy, I think that is when the problem begins.

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IELTS Reading # iPhone Successor

The below post has been taken from THE TIME. You can read the post at – THE TIME.

Apple doesn’t usually unveil its new iPhones until September, but the rumors are already circulating about what fans should expect from this year’s model. The successor to the iPhone 7, which may be called the iPhone 7s or iPhone 8, could be a more noticeable departure from the current iPhone’s design. This year’s release will also mark 10 years since the original iPhone launched in 2007.

Here’s a look at what’s been reported about Apple’s next iPhone so far.

Better screen technology

Apple may use an OLED (organic light emitting diode) screen for its next iPhone instead of an LCD display, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. These types of screens offer better contrast than LCD displays, and are often brighter. The blacks in OLED screens are also deeper than those of LCD displays, making colors pop more prominently.

Apple already uses OLED display technology for the Apple Watch, while other tech giants, like Samsung, have been using variants of OLED screens in their smartphones for years. It’s unclear whether or not all new iProhone models will feature an OLED screen or if Apple will reserve them for its high-end variant, as a report from Nikkei Asian Review indicates.

Apple made several new product announcements on Thursday, most notably a new MacBook Pro laptop with a touchscreen strip above the keyboard.

A curved screen

Certain iPhone models may feature a screen that’s curved on both sides similar to Samsung’s Galaxy S7 Edge, according to Nikkei Asian Review. This rounded model will likely be more expensive than the standard edition and may be 5.5-inches or larger, says the report. If Apple indeed decides to give its next iPhone a curved screen, it will likely use an OLED display, as those types of screens are more flexible than their LCD counterparts.

Facial recognition

Apple could add facial recognition to its upcoming iPhone, according to Cowen and Company’s Timothy Arcuri. In a recent note, which Apple Insider published, Arcuri predicts Apple may place an infrared sensor next to the front-facing camera to enable the phone to recognize a user’s face. Separately, Digitimes has reported that Apple plans to add an iris scanner to its next iPhone, although it’s worth noting the website hasn’t always been accurate about future Apple products in the past. Samsung introduced a similar feature on its ill-fated Galaxy Note 7, which included an iris scanner that allowed owners to unlock their phone just by looking at it.

A new name

Apple traditionally releases its new iPhones on a tick-tock cycle, either giving them a title that includes just a number or a number paired with an “S.” For its next iPhone, however, the company may break this habit by simply calling it iPhone X, as Loup Venture’s Gene Munster predicts.

“Apple will likely break from its historical naming convention and call this iPhone something other than iPhone 7S or iPhone 8 because it will be the 10th anniversary iPhone,” Munster writes. “Like they did with the 10th version of the Mac OS, it seems logical that they’ll call the next iPhone: iPhone X.”

Three models to choose from

The introduction of a curved iPhone could mean that Apple plans to offer its next smartphone in three variants instead of two. Apple may release 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhones with flat screens and then an additional model with a rounded display, according to Nikkei Asian Review.

A new design with no home button

Apple hasn’t significantly redesigned its iPhone since it unveiled the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in 2014. That could change in 2017. The company reportedly plans to overhaul the next iPhone with a new design that includes an edge-poto-edge glass screen and no home button, according to The Wall Street Journal.

These changes would let Apple get rid of the borders around the iPhone’s display, potentially allowing it to make the phone’s screen larger without having to increase the size of the overall device. Further changes could include a glass back similar to that of the iPhone 4 and 4s rather than the aluminum design of Apple’s more recent iPhones, says a note from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Wireless charging

Future iPhone owners may not have to plug their phones into a power cord to charge it. Apple is said to be testing wireless charging technology that could appear in iPhones as soon as 2017, according to reports from Bloomberg and Nikkei Asian Review. Wireless charging has existed in certain Android smartphones for years, but Apple could be exploring a method that makes it possible to power iPhones from a distance, Bloomberg reports. It’s unclear how close that technology is to a commercial release, however.

WORDMEANING
unveilremove a veil or covering from, in particular uncover (a new monument or work of art) as part of a public ceremony.
rumorsa currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.
circulatingmove continuously or freely through a closed system or area.
successora person or thing that succeeds another.
departurethe action of leaving, especially to start a journey.
reportedgive a spoken or written account of something that one has observed, heard, done, or investigated.
contrastthe state of being strikingly different from something else in juxtaposition or close association.
displaysput (something) in a prominent place in order that it may readily be seen.
prominentlywith an important role; to a large extent.
Hig-enddenoting the most expensive of a range of products.
varianta form or version of something that differs in some respect from other forms of the same thing or from a standard.
announcementsa formal public statement about a fact, occurrence, or intention.
touchscreena display device which allows the user to interact with a computer by touching areas on the screen.
roundedhaving a smooth, curved surface.
expensivecosting a lot of money.
editiona particular form or version of a published text.
flexiblecapable of bending easily without breaking.
counterpartsa person or thing that corresponds to or has the same function as another person or thing in a different place or situation.
facialof or affecting the face.
recognitionthe action or process of recognizing or being recognized, in particular:
significantlyin a sufficiently great or important way as to be worthy of attention.
redesigneddesign (something) again or in a different way.
unveiledremove a veil or covering from, in particular uncover (a new monument or work of art) as part of a public ceremony.
reportedlyaccording to what some say (used to express the speaker's belief that the information given is not necessarily true).
Edge-to-edgeto move edgeways
potentiallywith the capacity to develop or happen in the future.
almuniumthe chemical element of atomic number 13, a light silvery-grey metal.
securitiesthe state of being free from danger or threat.
power cordA power cord, line cord, or mains cable is a cable that temporarily connects an appliance to the mains electricity supply via a wall socket or extension cord.
wireless chargingWireless charging is the process of electrically charging battery-powered devices and equipment without the need for a wired electrical power connection. It enables the wireless transfer of electrical charge from a charging device or node to the recipient device.
technologythe application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.
commercialconcerned with or engaged in commerce.

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IELTS Speaking Sample Questions # Mathematics

Mathematics has been one of the most dreaded subject of all times. There surely have been some people who loved math but then there have been many who have been scared of math more than anything in their lives. This time we are looking at some of the questions that can be asked in the IELTS speaking section.

When did you start learning math?

Math was a compulsory subject in our school and  I have been learning it since the day I joined school. However, it was only during my boards exam that I really fell in love with math.

Do you like math?

I would say, yes I do but then it is surely not the only thing that is in my favorite list. If there is anything I love more than math than it has to be English. So, yes I do love math and its problems but for me, English takes priority between the two.

Who taught you math?

There have been many school teachers all through my life who tried teaching me math but I think the one person who really taught me how to learn and do math was my father. He taught me well in the earlier days of my childhood how to study and solve math problems efficiently.

Who has been your favourite math teacher so far?

Among all the math teachers that I ever had, I think the one whom I can consider as my favourite would be Mrs. Monica. She was my teacher during the graduation days and the way she taught math was amazing. Not only did she made the topic clear but also made sure that we did understand everything well. I still remember going to her for doubts and with that one single doubt she cleared so many others.

Is math difficult for you to learn?

I believe just like so many other amazing things in life, it takes lot of patience to learn math. Not only patience, one must have a keen desire to learn it. Because, initially math does poses people with problems that are hard to solve. There are some problems that may force you to leave the subject, but then once the difficult phase has gone by, I do believe that math can truly guide a person in his or her life.

Do you like to use calculator?

I do use calculator and also prefer using it when there are difficult calculations to be made and it will consume lot of time there. But, for simpler arithmetic problems, calculator is something I don’t require. Definitely, however, I feel that it is great to have a calculator by your side to help you solve the difficult calculations.

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