IELTS CUE CARD #Describe a book that had a major influence on you

Describe a book that had a major influence on you.

You should say:

  • what the book was
  • how you first heard of the book
  • what is the main story of the book

and why it plays such an important role in your life.

Sample Answer:

Reading has been a very integral part of my life. I try to read books as and when I can find time and my interests vary vividly, from philosophy to fantasy, horror to religions, non-fiction to autobiography. The book that has changed my perspectives and helped me become a better person is Autobiography of a Yogi written by the celebrated philosopher guru Paramahansa Yogananda.

I found that most of the religious societies and philosophers highly recommend it due to the values it helps inculcate in the young minds. Fans have recommended this book all over the internet.‘ Some people even commented that this is the best book ever written in the century. I decided in my head that this  should be on number 1 of my reading list. I ordered the book immediately from amazon and it was delivered to me in  a week. I started reading it the same day.

The book was first published in 1946  in New York, USA and archived in the philosophers library. The book was an international success and reached No. 1 position on the New York Times best-selling book list. Autobiography of a Yogi talks about the life of Paramahansa Yogananda and his numerous encounters with spiritual figures of both the East and West. The book begins with his childhood, to finding his guru, to becoming a rebellious monk and establishing his teachings of Kriya Yoga meditation. The book further talks about 1920 when Yogananda accepts an invitation to speak in a religious congress in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He then travels across America lecturing and establishing his teachings in Los Angeles, California. In 1935 he revisits  India for a year. When he returns to America, he continues to establish his teachings, including writing this book. The book is an enchanting source for understanding  the methods of attaining God-realization .The author also announces that the writing of the book was prophesied long ago by the nineteenth-century master Lahiri Mahasaya.

The story telling of author is magical and brief. With Every passing page the urge to read more increased which further tempted me gather more knowledge about the same man. Not for a single moment, I could have stopped thinking about the events and characters of the books and that had a breath-taking influence on me. The characters have their own charismatic powers and followed their own paths and that was such a huge inspiration.

The story was told like a good story teller should and I thought it was a wonderful read. It surely left a powerful lasting impression on me. (427 words)

 

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IELTS CUE CARD # TALK ABOUT A TV SERIES YOU REMEMBER

IELTS CUE CARD # TALK ABOUT A TV SERIES YOU REMEMBER

Talk about a tv series you remember

  • -what series is it
  • -who are the characters
  • -what do you like/dislike about it

IELTS CUE CARD # TALK ABOUT A TV SERIES YOU REMEMBER

Sample Answer

In this day and age, there are hundreds of TV channels broadcasting news, soap operas, reality shows, sports events etc. There is something for the people of varied interests and choices. Here I would like to talk about an American fantasy drama series called “game of thrones”. I began watching it few years back when one of our family friends recommended it to us. It’s an adaptation of A song of ice and fire, George R. R. Martin’s series of fantasy novels, the first of which is A game of thrones. It has an ensemble cast estimated to be the largest on television. The series premiered on HBO in 2011 and its seventh season ended in 2017. The concluding season 8 would be broadcasted next year. The story revolves around the iron throne of the seven kingdoms and follows a web of alliances and conflicts among the noble families fighting for the throne. Game of thrones has attracted record viewership including active broad international fan base.
The series is filmed in one the most magnificent and breathtakingly beautiful locations in the UK, Canada, Iceland, morocco, Spain and the US. The costumes and sets take the viewers back in time and captivate them throughout the serial. The series exhibit the most extraordinary cinematography skills, animation and graphics including the giants and dragons which seem absolutely real. Even a few video games have come up inspired by the game of thrones. The only thing which I dislike is excessive violence in some of the serials. (255 Words)

FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS
Q1. Do you think most people watch TV for education or for entertainment?
ANS. I personally feel that majority of viewers actually watch TV in their leisure time for entertaining themselves. Most of the channels on TV broadcast soaps, reality shows and sport events rather than education based shows. However, there are some channels exclusively telecasting lectures and tutorials which can be accessed by paying some extra subscription amount.

Q2. Should TV play a role in educating children? How?
ANS. Yes, TV can definitely be used as a medium to educate children. Mass media like television can have a profound impact on the young minds. If I talk about certain channels like Discovery science and National geographic, they have a whole range of knowledgeable shows not only for adults but for children also. When the young minds actually see what they have studied theoretically , they understand and remember the ideas in a much better way. Also, programmes on animals and environment make them sensitive about their conservation which is a must in today’s circumstances.

Q3. Do you think TV viewing habits change as people get older?
ANS. It’s undeniably true that as people age , their day to day routine and interests also change. The same is true as far as choice of contents of programmes and the time when they want to watch TV is concerned. While toddlers watch cartoons , teenagers have a keen interest in music and sports. Then, in adulthood, the focus is towards news and politics. Similarly, the elderlies like watching religion based channels.

 

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7055710004

IELTS Band 7 Dehradun
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IELTS CUE CARD # SPORT YOU HAVE SEEN ON TV AND WOULD LIKE TO TRY

IELTS CUE CARD # SPORT YOU HAVE SEEN ON TV AND WOULD LIKE TO TRY

Describe a sport you have seen on tv and would like to try

  • – What is it
  • – When and where would you do it
  • – What preparations and equipment you would need

IELTS CUE CARD # SPORT YOU HAVE SEEN ON TV AND WOULD LIKE TO TRY, IELTS BAND7 DEHRADUN

Sample Answer

Sports channels these days telecast all kinds of sports events like a cricket tournament, Wimbledon champion ship , FIFA world cup, Olympics etc. While watching Times sports channel, I came across a spectacular equestrian show. It was show jumping , a competitive equestrian event in which horse and rider are required to jump a series of obstacles that have been designed for a particular show. I was really fascinated by this sport as it is spectator friendly and easy to understand. The jumper has to negotiate a series of obstacles, where emphasis is placed on height and width. The time taken to complete the course is also a consideration. Horse’s athleticism, agility along with rider’s precision, accuracy and responsiveness are tested. Most importantly, jumping tests the partnership between the rider and the horse.
I would like to join a riding club in the near future and learn the basics of riding. First of all, walking the horse has to be mastered followed by trotting and then cantering and galloping. After being able to perfect these skills, jumping has to be started with low lying obstacles and then gradually adding height to them. Like all sports, proper equipment, dress code and safety precautions have to be considered. The riding gear includes a pair of riding shoes, helmet, riding stick and trousers called breeches. (220 Words)

FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS

Q1. Why do you think sports are important?
ANS There are many reasons why sports are necessary. For me, playing a sport is about having fun and spending some time with my friends and family. Apart from that, sport helps you to keep fit and healthy , not just physically but mentally as well. Sports can teach children valuable life skills such as team spirit, discipline, concentration, self control and good work ethics.

Q2. Do you think sportspeople are good role models for children?
ANS I personally believe that sportsmen and women have a huge responsibility to be the perfect role models for children as they are looked upon by their young fans. For instance, Mahender Singh Dhoni and Sania Mirza are amongst those sport stars who have inspired millions of young children in my country due to their hard work, determination and untiring perseverance.

Q3. Do you agree that sport stars earn too much money?
ANS I believe that a lot of hard work, discipline, endurance along with time and money goes into making of a sports star. Those who reach the peak in their respective sports have actually proved themselves to be the best. Also, players have a short career span and they bring laurels for their countries. All this justifies the amount of money and fame they earn.

 

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8439000087

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IELTS Band 7 Dehradun
Near Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun

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Open-Air or Street Market Which You Enjoyed Visiting

IELTS Speaking Cue Card # open- air or street market which you enjoyed visiting

Shopping is something which we all indulge in every now and then. We shop for clothes, footwear, gadgets, households and day to day requirements like vegetables, fruits, grocery etc. Although a lot of shopping complexes and malls have come up in India, each and every city has at least one open air or street market which is buzzing with activity. Let us look at this cue card where we have to talk about one such street market where we enjoyed shopping.

Describe an open- air or street market which you enjoyed visiting.

    You should say:

  • Where the market was?
  • What the market sells?
  • How big the market was?
  • And explain why you enjoyed visiting this market.
Sample Answer One

Like most of the women, I too love shopping. This is one such leisure time activity which not only gives me immense happiness but also helps me spend quality time with my friends. I’ll like to share my experience of shopping in one of the most popular flea markets in India. In the heart of New Delhi, there lies Sarojini Nagar market , a destination for every girl who is on the hunt for trendy stuff at killer prices.
I visited this market with my college friend who belongs to Delhi. My friend had briefed me beforehand that I should not purchase any product at the price quoted by the seller as there is room for lots of bargaining.
I didn’t have anything particular to buy, so I decided to look around and get the feel of the place first. There were export-surplus garments available at affordable prices. I was pleasantly surprised to find products of reputed brands at throwaway costs and I just couldn’t resist buying those. There was something for everybody, from stylish clothes to designer bags and shoes to fashionable jewellery, making it impossible for anyone to leave this place in disappointment.
Along with shopping, this market is also a hub for lip smacking street food like momos, sandwiches, fresh juice and corncobs etc. Also, there is adjoining vegetable market which offers the freshest and choicest fruits and vegetables. I was told that the market is so big that if someone intends to explore the whole of it, at least one entire day is required. All this and much more makes this place equally popular amongst locals and tourists. I look forward to visiting this shopper’s paradise again. (281 Words)

Sample Answer Two
Sample Answer

There are various places which are liked by us due to their peculiarities. One such place I like to frequently visit is open market in Cannaught Place. It is located in the heart of Delhi and easily accessible from any corner of the city.
Its unique architecture was designed by Robert Tor Russel. The street market is a confluence of exotic food, variety of dresses and electronic items. Few shops also provide ethnic dress materials which are not available in any part of city. The rates are also not exorbitant and negotiable due to bargaining.

Handicrafts and handlooms also attract me as they are unique to the regions where they are made. There are some very old, renowned shops in Cannaught Place which sell the handloom and handicrafts from across the country. These products are centrally available thereby saving time and energy to search them at different stores.
I feel over whelmed as I visit this market as it freshens up my childhood memories as I used to visit here along with my school time friends.
The evenings are more attractive due to pleasant atmosphere and excellent lighting arrangements. The hustle bustle makes the market and streets more lively and happening. A walk on the walking plaza is so enjoyable, as affordable snacks and delicious food is available on joints along these walking ramps. There are different varieties of dishes which are not available in any other part of Delhi.
Though crowded the market still carries its charm and I never miss a chance to visit it.

 

Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.

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8439000086

8439000087

7055710003

7055710004

IELTS Band 7 Dehradun
Near Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun

email: info at ieltsband7.com

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