Author: IELTS Research

Importance of Books # IELTS Speaking

Books are an essential part of life, providing us with knowledge to do things and have a great career. Although books seem inevitable part of our lives, there are many who are never able to afford a book. No matter what, it is books that help us in transforming world and more important improving ourselves. Let us have a look at some of the questions on the importance of books that might be asked in IELTS speaking.

Do you read many books?

Yes, I love reading books, especially Hindi Literature. I love reading Premchand and Harivansh Rai Bachan. I am also interested in reading more about Indian culture.

Did your parents read to you when you were a child?

My parents have never liked my idea of reading books, novels especially, so I don’t remember they reading books to me. But, yes they always you to tell me the stories of various books they had read like the vedas and the other cultural books.

What are some of the advantages of books vs. movies?

I think book teach you more than a movie can do simply because in books things are written in more descriptive manner. Also, reading a book can improve you understanding skills and open up your imagination.

 

How about the disadvantages of books vs. movies?

Books, if not written well can turn out to be quite boring. With movies, with characters moving around and dances going on, it is more easier to stick to it. Also, books require you to read them from start to end to understand the meaning. You barely can skip, which is time consuming. Movies being a shorter version of books can get you straight through the idea in a more easier way.

What was the last book you read about?

The last book that I read was “Out of the dark” by Linda Caine. It was an amazing story of a woman who struggles through her past, to make sure that her present is fine and the future is free from the troubles of her past. It shows how the family and friends of Linda Caine come into her support and how finally Linda survives, with the help of hope and love.

Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction books?

I prefer non-fiction more than fiction because with fiction it is too unreal and too imaginative. I am more interested in reading something that has already happened in some life, because it gives assurance that things like these happen. Also, with non-fiction it is more of heart than brain, which appeals me more.

Do you think people don’t read enough books these days?

I think yes, technology has surely changed the world around us, including the book world. With the coming of internet, people are reading more in their smart phones or computers, rather than a book of paper. However, I think people still read enough. Rather, there has been an increase in the content people read.

If you could only read one more book for your entire life, what would it be?

I think it will definitely be ‘Rig Veda’ because I have heard that our Veda is one of the most powerful books in terms of the knowledge it imparts and I want to decode what is written in the Vedas.

Can a book change the world?

Yes it can. Because every time a person reads a book there is sure a change that comes into that person life and more people reading book means more change and it is when these changed people make move, that the world surely changes.

Who is an author that you like? Why do you like their books?

I love Paulo Cohelo because of the way he writes books. I mean his books are truly one sitter books. You cannot just leave them, you have to read them and understand what he is trying to say. And most of the times, it is good and I can relate with him so well, that it just makes so much sense in life.

What is one example of traditional literature in your country? Did you have to read it in school?

Godan is a fantastic book by Premchand which shows the issues faced by the farmers in our country during the British rule. It very well shows how farmers struggled to make their existence and the internal fights they had to survive.

Do you like reading the traditional literature of your country?

Yes, I love it. Reading the traditional literature brings me more closer to the country that I live in and it brings in me an immense pleasure. Because, when you read the literature of the country you get to know more about the country and it is truly my dream to explore my country and get to know every in and out about it.

IELTS Essay Sample Answer # Space Exploration

You should spend 40 minutes on this task.
Space exploration is very expensive and the money should be spent on other more important things.
Give your opinion in this essay.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Space exploration requires the best of technology, technicians and lot of effort, making it one of the most expensive things that human beings collectively do. Although, some people are of the opinion, that the money spent on space exploration should be saved and spent on other essential things required, I tend to differ.

Technology is the one thing that makes our lives easier and most of technology that we are using in present time is a result of space research. Like, satellite technology on which we depend for broadcasting and weather forecasting. Without satellites, it would not be possible to give warnings of an approaching storm! Even more, space research has also led to the development of lightweight materials that offer us heat protection and enable food preservation.

Environment destruction has begun and it has grasped the attention of the entire human race. No matter how far we have reached, we are dependent on our nature. Some believe that if in near future Earth diminishes or breaks down, we humans should have a place to live.

Overall, it cannot be denied that we are facing enormous issues on our planet, from poverty to wars to health issues, but in my opinion space research is one aspect that allows us to look towards our future. Spending entire money only on space research might make us broke, but completely avoiding it might just lead us no where.

Space Exploration

HOW IS THE MARKING DONE?

When an examiner checks your answer, there are few things that he or she mainly marks you on. They are-

1. Task Response

The introduction should perfectly paraphrase the question and give a clear opinion of the writer. This opinion needs to be supported in the body of the essay. You need to give concrete examples and ensure that the conclusion restate the writer’s opinion.

2. Coherence and Cohesion

The model answer should contain clearly divided paragraphs and their should be a perfect link between the different paragraphs.

3. Lexical Paraphrase

You need to make sure that the key concept is paraphrased several times. So, if the question is on computers, don’t use computers every time, you can find out other words to express the same thing. This is how your vocabulary is checked in the writing section.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy

Make sure that the answer is free from any grammatical errors. It should be a perfect balance of simple and complex sentences. You can use different voices, verbs and other grammatical devices such as conditional modals.

Skinny Models # IELTS Listening Sample Questions

SKINNY MODELS

The audio has been taken from BBC 6 minutes English. The audio talks about skinny models.

You can download the audio from the following link above.

Answer the following NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

  1. What is the synonym of very thin?
  2. What is the long runway that models walk down at fashion shows called?
  3. Which country banned the use of underweight models in 2013?
  4. The speaker talks about the different ways in which information gets communicated. What is it?
  5. Which media company is Jamie Gavin founder of?
  6. The speaker uses a phrase for limiting or an ending. What is it?
  7. The speaker uses a phrase for “won’t be allowed”. What is it?
  8. Give the full form of BMI.
  9. The speaker uses a word for the relationship between two things. What is it?
  10. The speaker uses a to refer to the fact that you need medical treatment for a condition or illness. What is it?
  11. In which illness the person refuses to eat in order to lose weight?
  12. The speaker uses a phrase to refer to the fact that the responsibility lies with someone. What is it?

ANSWER

  1. skinny
  2. cat walk
  3. Israel
  4. media
  5. inPress
  6. cut-off point
  7. banned
  8. Body mass index
  9. ratio
  10. clinically unhealthy
  11. anorexia
  12. buck lies with
IELTS BAND7

IELTS Essay Sample Answer # Shift Work

You should spend 40 minutes on this task.
With increasing competition, companies want to work 24/7 and in order to fulfill that they offer a higher pay for working in shifts.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of working in shifts?
Write at least 250 words.

SAMPLE ANSWER

There has been a considerable increase in the competition and with time becoming a constraint, more and more companies are offering their employees work in shifts. This allows the employees liberty to work when they feel like at higher pays and companies benefit from being able to operate non-stop. Although, shifts do offer great advantages to both the employee and employer their are certain disadvantages associated with them.

On the positive side, shift work gives employee the liberty to work when they want to. So, a person who needs to take care of home can work at night and vice versa. Secondly, it brings in the restriction of hours. So, in regular work, it is more of task completion based, while in shift a person needs to do whatever he or she can do in the given time. Anything left is taken care by the person coming next in the shift. Also, a person can easily avoid the peak hour rush, by choosing a shift when there is less traffic.

Shift Work

However, shift work brings along lot of disadvantages as well.  Firstly, there is no routine for a shift worker. Regular workers become accustomed to a routine while shift people need to juggle between life and work. Often, it so happens that a person has to work in alternate shifts in a gap of few days. Secondly, shift work brings with it lot of health problems. When a person is young it is easier for a person it is easier for him or her to have fluctuations in eating and working habits but later in life, shift work causes diseases like blood pressure, insomnia, indigestion, gastritis and acidity.

Overall,  shift work allows the person independence to chose the timings of work but it can even be very harmful for the health if done at a long stretch.

EXTRA POINTS

This is  a sample answer on the advantages and disadvantages of shift work. Have a look at some points on the essay and try writing it on your own –

Advantages –

  1. It allows employees to choose the shift according to their needs.
  2. The working hours are less in shift works and there is enough time for relaxation.
  3. One gets enough time to spend on training activities. So, one need not to take leaves just to attend a training.
  4. You can avoid travelling in rush hours. Choose a time that allows you to travel when there is less rush and traffic.
  5. You need not to push work for weekends.
  6. You can take leave in any part of the week and then make up for the work somewhere else.

Disadvantages –

  1. Their is no pattern left for shift workers. Night shift workers are not able to achieve much because feel lazy during the entire day.
  2. Sometimes shifts are given based on seniority. So, the seniors get day shift while others get evening or night.
  3. There is lot of imbalance in work, so places like hospitals, there is more work during night as compared to in the day.
  4. In rotational shifts, one gets very less sleep. This reduces the worker’s efficiency and competence to work.
IELTS BAND7
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