India is a diverse country having four distinct seasons, namely spring, summer, autumn and winter. While the southern and western India experiences moderate summers and winters, the northern regions witness the extremes. As I belong to Chandigarh, a city in the north India, most of the people including me love the winter season. This is because summers are long and sweltering while winters bring the much awaited respite from the blazing sun.
The winters begin by the end of October and last till the end of February. The weather is usually bright and sunny with few foggy days intermittently. I really enjoy basking in the sun with my friends and sipping a cup of hot coffee. During weekends, we plan to go window shopping in the seventeen sector market plaza followed by hot meals at one of our favorite joints. Also, we plan at least one trip to Shimla, a nearby hill station in the month of December , when there are chances of a snowfall. It’s still my idea of a perfect holiday with friends as there is a bit of everything to do like trekking, shopping, sightseeing , sledging and clicking loads of pictures.
Winters also bring in a lot of healthy fruits and green vegetables. This is the perfect time to try out different recipes which are colorful and full of nutrients. We do get some grandma style goodies too like peanut and jaggery sweet bars, which I absolutely love eating every now and then. What’s more, winters offer us to dress ourselves in some stylish overcoats, cardigans, caps and boots. All this and more make winter season, the most awaited season for me.
FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS
Q1. What are the seasons that you have in your country but other countries do not? Ans. That’s a difficult question actually and I need to have a sound knowledge of other countries to answer it. Still, with whatever idea I have, I can say that India is much more diverse as there are 4 distinct seasons here unlike many foreign nations. For instance, while the gulf countries witness extreme Summers, the nations in north America and Europe have long and extreme winters.
Q2. Is there a seasonal festival in your country? Ans. Yes, we do have many festivals to celebrate seasons. Harvest festivals are also seasonal festivals , celebrating both bounty and the change of seasons. Baisakhi is a festival of spring harvest in April celebrated by both Hindus and Sikhs. Then, Basant Panchmi is celebrated to welcome spring in the month of February. People dress in yellow to mark flowering of mustard fields. Also, Pongal is a harvest festival dedicated to the Sun God. It is celebrated in January in the south of India.
IELTS CUE CARD – Describe a favourite toy of yours in childhood
Describe a favourite toy of yours in childhood.
What was the toy?
Who gave it to you?
How often did you play with it?
SAMPLE ANSWER
Toys play an integral role in formative years of all children. They help in the development of the brain and also enhance the motor skills. I loved playing with toys when I was a child. In fact I had a room full of toys where I spent most of my time after returning from school.
One of my favourite toys was a Barbie Doll. It was gifted to me by my parents on my 6th birthday. I vividly remember, it was packed in a beautiful pink box when my parents gave it to me. The box had ‘Birthday Pink Barbie” written on top of it. When I opened the box I saw a very pretty Barbie Doll wearing a pink gown, matching shoes and few additional dresses with a comb and makeup kit. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it.
Since that time the Barbie became my constant companion. I’d play with it every day after returning from school. I loved to change its dress and comb its hair. I treated the doll as my best friend and used to have conversations with it and share my daily school activities with my doll. In fact during holidays I’d pretend to be a teacher and teach the doll as a student for hours together. Imitating the dialogues of my school teacher was full of fun. Taking the doll to bed and narrating bed time stories was a daily routine.
This doll remained my favourite toy for several years. It is still with me as a memorabilia.
STRONG WORDS
WORDS
MEANING
Constant companion (collocation)
a person, animal or thing that has been with someone most of the time
Memorabilia
objects kept or collected because of their associations with memorable people or events
Another Similar Cue Card
Describe a toy you liked in your childhood.
How old were you and when did you get this toy?
Who gave you the toy?
What was the toy exactly and how did you play with it?
And how were you feeling at that time?
(Download CUE Card)
SAMPLE ANSWER TWO-
Gifting toys to children is one of the common mores in society. Toys consist of the most playable items for children. Children just love to upkeep a complete shelf or drawer full of toys of different kinds. They generally receive these toys on special occasions although feature toys are given otherwise also, on a child’s insistence. When I turned 6 on my birthday, I received many gifts on that day from family and friends. Later that day, I silently creeped into my room to calm my curiosity about new gifts. I started unpacking every item, when eyes stood fixed on a toy, half wrapped in the shine.
I, at once, jumped to the living room and with a broad glee on my face, questioned in a loud shout, that who has brought my favourite gift to me. To this, my mother smiled back and informed me that it was my father who knew my likes very well and brought this specially for my day. I looked at my father and recited a hymning thank you.
Well, it was a remote controlled car. It used to be a sensation for children in those times, when imports from china was very timid and remote car was considered as an electronic toys masterpiece. My friend already had one such car at his home, so, whenever I used to visit his place, I had some occasional trips with that high speed and advanced controls. But, I always lingered on my desire to have one of my own and drive whenever, wherever I want. Once, I even asked my father to bring one remote car for me.
That was few months back. I was happy that my father remembered it on my birthday. I was feeling the freedom of fiddling with my own car. Also, since I knew the controls already, I was now experimenting with different terrains and exhibiting some amusing stunts. I was feeling very exalted back then.
STRONG WORDS
Word
Meaning
Exalted
feeling very happy, joyous: After seeing my IELTS score, I felt exalted.
Follow-up Questions
Q. 1 In your childhood, did you receive more gifts from your family or friends?
Sample answer: Well, friends and family both, I suppose used to gift me on my birthdays. But, family used to gift me otherwise also. Sometimes, when I used to be on scooter ride with my father, I used to see several enticements in the market area. It was then, when my father had to buy me a toy on my repeated insistence.
Q. 2 When did you stop receiving toys as gifts?
Sample answer: I suppose, it was my 11th birthday, when for the first time I could see no toys in the wrappers. Rather, I had some stationery items and a few English novels.
Q. 3 How did you feel when you received no toys on your birthday?
Sample answer: By the time I was 10, I could visibly see the cutback in my toys collections and moreover, I started indulging in different activities like outdoor games, bicycle rides and so on, which obviously took me a little away from my toys. Therefore, although I kept on searching for a toy till my last unwrapment on my birthday, but I didn’t really feel disappointed in any sense.
Q. 4 Why do you think children like toys so much?
Sample answer: I think the most primitive and aboriginal instinct in a human being is TO KNOW. Curiosity to explore and create something new has always been the driving force behind our evolution. Therefore, a child who has not yet gained exposure to society and its creations at large, feel captivating interest in the novel features of toys. They feel the toy so animated that they love to play with it.
IELTS Cue Card #Describe a person you only met once and want to know more about him
Describe a person you only met once and want to know more about him.
You should say:
Who was he and when did you meet him?
How and where did you meet him and how you reacted?
Why are you curious to know more about him?
And what will you say if you meet him again?
Sample Answer :
Life is full of coincidences. These are the strange looking moments when things follow their course in an unexpected manner, absolutely out of chance. Sometimes, these moments become a part our memory thread which keeps on revoking beauty and inspiration within us. In the same way, I also had a beautiful incident when I got a chance to meet one of my favourite authors, Salman Rushdie. I met him in the fall of 2005.
As I said, this meeting cropped up purely by chance; when I, out of my scholastic interests, went to Book Fair held at Jaipur. Although I was aware of the sudden uninformed visits of the literary figures in this fair, I did not expect that visit on the same day I visited, and that too of such a literary mammoth. I was standing at a stall gazing through a book when I heard a husky voice behind me, asking to make the way for him. I turned back and it took my mind a few seconds to acknowledge his gracious presence. In an anxious haste, I greeted him with a smile which was reciprocated instantly.
At that very moment, he stood at the same stall and started penetrating the shelves. All of a sudden, my mind started wondering for the right phrase to introduce myself to him. Appropriation and organization of words for speaking, seemed too puzzled and graceless, in front of that words’ wizard. Out of nowhere, I could just raise my right hand for a handshake along with the gentle murmuring of my name. He shook my hand and walked away. It is this brief encounter rather a meeting that left an insatiable craving in me to meet him again and know more about him, to be precise, about the secret of his writings.
If I get another chance to meet him, after making a recall of our brief encounter, I shall be appreciating all of his works and thanking him for such an immense contribution to the literature.
STRONG WORDS
Word
Meaning
Revoke
excite, arise: Watching violent movies revokes the same sense in viewers.
Incessant
never stopping: Priests recite the prayers incessantly.
Follow-up Questions
Q. 1 Why do we feel curious in meeting someone for the first time?
Sample answer: Man, being a social animal, longs to have the company of people. In a meeting or gathering, energy is being exchanged between individuals. This interplay of energy and emotions brings its own colours. The curiosity of the unknown before the first meeting generates anxious vibes inside us. Self-consciousness about the presentation in the meeting makes us curious.
Q. 2 Why do you like to meet someone again?
Sample answer: When I find a person cheerful, bright, logical with a good sense of humour, I feel him interesting. That interest perpetuates the spirit of getting familiar with the person and desire of meeting him again. Common interests can also be a key affinity factor. For instance, I have good interest in reading literature and therefore my adoration for a great writer who I had read earlier was natural to come.
Q. 3 What kind of people you don’t want to meet again?
Sample answer: Well, there are some people who keep on bragging about themselves incessantly. They are very poor listeners and believe in imposing their viewpoints on the other. They seem to be self-contradictory, inconclusive and illogical. People with dull spirits is another class I don’t want to meet.
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Describe a famous person whom you admire.
You should say:
Who this person is?
What makes him/her famous?
Where does he/she live?
and explain why you admire him/her.
(Download CUE Card)
SAMPLE ANSWER-
I think we all look for certain qualities in a person we admire or follow. I have always been a huge admirer of Amitabh Bachchan. He is a Bollywood superstar and globally recognized cinema thespian. Being one of the senior most celebrity of actor, he is 76 years of age but his energetic performance does not reflect the age.
Amitabh Bachchan’s tremendous universal appeal and influencing personality makes him top the list of World’s Most Admired People. His qualities and down to earth nature are the reasons why people regard him as one of the greatest actor any film industry has ever produced. When I read an article on his biography, I came to know about the struggles he has gone through during the early days when he encountered rejection and flopped movies. Even after being a global personality, Mr. Bachchan is well known for his punctuality and giving his 100% in all tasks. Age is just a number for him as with increasing age, he’s getting even better with his performance on screen.
Mumbai is the film capital of our country and Amitabh Bachchan belonging to India lives there. He lives there in a mansion where fans religiously stand outside on weekends just to get a glimpse of the legend.
I admire Mr. Bachchan not only because he’s a great actor, but for his contribution to society as well. He is a social activist. His donations to various non-profit organizations and reliefs funds are also worth a praise. Mr. Bachchan has also been honored with popular Indian awards, which makes me admire and respect him even more.
(267 Words)
Another Similar Cue Card
Describe a famous person you are interested in.
Who is this person and how do you know him?
Did you happen to meet him? If yes, then tell when and where?
What was the person doing before becoming famous how did he turn famous?
And what qualities do you admire in him?
(Download CUE Card)
SAMPLE ANSWER TWO-
Famous persons become personalities or stars for the bourgeois society. They are intentionally broadcasted on media exhibiting their panache and lifestyle, in general. Most of us feel highly immersed in their charisma and get mesmerized by their auras. People even endeavour to impersonalize those famous characters. I, being no exception, am devotedly interested in that genius maestro of cricket and considered God by Indian cricket lovers, Sachin Tendulkar. I used to watch and play cricket since 1980’s but beginning from 90’s and for the next fifteen years, what I witnessed was a phenomenon whenever he used to be on pitch.
No, unfortunately I could never grab that opportunity of meeting the cricket doyen, but I was always in a state surpassing even anxiety and thrill, whenever I Imagined that moment. Still, I have not yet belied my hopes and I am very optimistic of meeting him some day.
Out of my curiosity for this wizard, I read and heard about him a lot. Sachin Sir hails from a middle class Brahmin family near Dadar, Mumbai. His father was a poet and mother was working with Insurance industry. He took up cricket at a very young age of 11, getting admission in India cricket Club. He has represented Bombay domestically and India internationally for nearly 25 years. He made his international test debut against Pakistan’s menacing bowling attack, when he was just 16. Later on, he traversed almost every milestone and earned immense fame and love for setting his own new landmarks in cricket.
Well, his courteous and humble personality, despite being Sachin, has always taken the wide applause everywhere. His focus and elegance in his play of game is apparently superhuman. His adroitness and blitzkrieg reflexes are awesome. His intelligence and temperament sets him apart from rest of the contemporaries.
STRONG WORDS
Word
Meaning
Menacing
fearful: Tsunami view in India was menacing.
Adroitness
skill: You need to be adroit in driving to take the car in hills.
Blitzkrieg
lightning attack: Snow Avalanche(storm) approaches like a blitzkrieg.
Ostentation
pretension: One should shed away ostentation to live an honest life.
Follow-up Questions
Q. 1 How do you think a person becomes famous?
Sample answer: Success journey to fame, wealth and power comes at a great expense. One has to be passionately involved in an action to bear good fruits. Practice, dedication, watchfulness and unwavering hope for the goal makes a person successful and success brings fame as an appendix.
Q. 2 How do you think about those who are famous for notoriety?
Sample answer: Actually, the people who get the news attention because of their misdeeds are not famous, they are rather infamous. This brings a sham for him and all those who are associated with him. Path has prominent importance in reaching to a destination. Even though infamous people earn money but they never get that respect and dignity from society.
Q. 3 Do you want to get famous? If yes, then in which field?
Sample answer: Yes, I also want to get famous. But here I should be judgemental about my talents and passions. Because, until and unless, you have an alloy of both, there are only bleak chances of success and fame. I think writing is my passion and I possess apt talent too. So, I think, with the consistent pursuance of my passion, one day I shall be a famous person.
Q. 4 Do you think there is a change in attitude of people after becoming famous?
Sample answer: We can say that, attitude inversion, is a widespread common characteristic witnessed in celebrities, nowadays. They float hefty airs around them and apparently believe in ostentation. Special attention down poured on them by public imbibes an arrogant artificiality in them. But, I think that, there do exist famous people who still live a humble and courteous life and remain polite in their demeanour and Sachin is one of them.
