IELTS Cue Card 2024: Describe a book that had a major influence on you

December 31, 2019 IELTS Research

IELTS Speaking Task Cue Card:

Describe a book that had a major influence on you.

What is the name of the book?

How did you first hear of the book?

What is the book about?

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Sample Answer

Books are tomes of knowledge that give every reader perspective. I am an avid reader and quite fond of reading books based on subjects such as religion, fiction, history, science, and motivation. Talking about a title that has influenced me, it would be the book “The Power of Subconscious Mind” which is written by Dr. Joseph Murphy.

My friend recommended the book to me after reading it himself, and I decided to read it. I purchased it from a book retail shop near my home. It was only when I started reading it, that I realized the real meaning of conscious and subconscious mind and how it works. It is categorized as a spiritual self-help book and has had a profound impact on my thoughts and changed my life in a positive manner.

Based on the law of attraction ideology of the writer, it is all about different stages of the human mind. A very interactive read, this book has many short stories based on real-life incidents as examples which portray that with the help of one’s subconscious mind they can get anything they want.

Moreover, it illustrates through stories the immeasurable power of the human will and how to make it work in our favour. This book has influenced me a lot in various ways. I have become more confident and sure of myself. It has taught me in the best way how to tackle tough situations with positivity. I have now decided to live my life with a stronger will by trying to exude the power of my subconscious mind. In my opinion, this book is a miracle and everyone should gain from its idea.

(289 words)

Part 3 Follow-Up Questions

Q.1 Why do you think reading books is important?

I think reading books is the cheapest and simplest way of acquiring knowledge. It is one of the best forms of entertainment and books help build our personality. A lot of research has shown that people who are in the habit of reading books tend to be more successful in life. In my opinion, it is one of those habits which every person should try to inculcate in them.

Q.2 What kinds of books are popular in your country?

People read all kinds of books in my country. Since my country is very religious, spiritual books are most common here. It also depends on the age of the readers. Young people have significantly different tastes when it comes to books compared to older people. Many children of my generation used to read comic books when we were in school. However, I don’t see many children doing it these days. They are busy on their mobile phones chatting with friends. It is sad that students, nowadays, are under a lot of pressure to perform in exams, and never get the time to read for pleasure, thus losing the idea of reading for fun.

Q.3 How is rapidly growing technology affecting our reading habits?

This is another of my pet peeves. People are so immersed in their gadgets and devices that they have forgotten the art of reading. A book, a cup of coffee, a comfortable chair- this used to be the idea of happiness for many people. Good authors were celebrated and felicitated by the readers. But now with the internet and social media, people have lost the pleasure that reading brings, and are more into things which probably are not good for their mental and physical health over the long run. No wonder mental problems are going through the roof in today’s society.

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