Pooja Ph.D. CELTA, Author at IELTS BAND7

IELTS Speaking cue card: A friend who cleverly solved a problem

June 20, 2022 Pooja Ph.D. CELTA

IELTS Speaking cue card: A friend who cleverly solved a problem

Talk about a friend who cleverly solved a problem
You should say:

Who he/she is?

What the problem was?

What solution he gave?

And explain why you think his solution was clever.

IELTS Cue Card solved a problem

Sample Answer

We come across many problems in our day-to-day life. Some people can find workable solutions while others may seek help for tackling their problems. Today, I’m going to talk about a close friend who gave an effective solution to my problem. His name is Rishabh Agarwal. He is from Haryana. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.

I’m the manager of a primary school in Mumbai. It rains heavily in Mumbai in the rainy season which lasts from mid-June to early October. School kids cannot play any outdoor games during these months because playgrounds become slippery and muddy. The long rainy season affects children’s health and moods as well. It’s also not possible for kids to be in sport halls all the time. I discussed this problem with Rishabh and asked for his advice to handle this situation.

He came up with a clever idea of having pedals installed in school desks so that kids can pedal in classrooms. I loved his creative idea and thought of implementing it in our school. Within a month pedals were installed in five classrooms. It was an experiment to check kids’ response. To our surprise, children started using pedals regularly and the overall outcome was very positive. All students became physically active and their fitness and health levels improved dramatically. In studies too, kids did considerably well.

In my view, Rishabh’s solution was very clever for two main reasons. First of all, it was very practical. Secondly, it was not expensive. If the school had to spend a lot of money on this solution, I think it wouldn’t have been approved by the management committee. Sometimes a complex problem has a simple solution, we have to just strike the right note. I think those who use their knowledge in a practical way are better problem-solvers.

Some more ideas for this cue card

You were getting sleepless nights. Your friend recommended making your own tongue twisters and automatically falling asleep in the process.
Water glasses in your kitchen were full of hard water stains. You asked your friend for advice, who recommended mixing vinegar in your cleaning liquid. Amazing results.
Your child/nephew/cousin dropped their curry on a newly painted wall in a temper tantrum. It was looking ugly. Your friend helped you out by creating a swirly crème and brown design on the wall. It looked professional.

Another Similar Cue Card

Describe when a person solved a problem in a smart way.
You should say:

What was the problem?

Who solved it and how?

And w

hy do you think it a smart way?

SAMPLE ANSWER TWO:

We encounter so many problems in our everyday activities, which need only a spark of an idea to tackle with them. But, often, due to the lack of right reasoning along with the panic in our heads, the problem appears to be a herculean task and we fail to find the right solution. Similarly, I can recount an incident, when the sheer smartness and instantaneous wits of my friend helped tackle the situation in an unnoticed, humorous manner. During my school days, I used to take part in dramatics and had also won a few accolades in it. So, once, during an act in a very lengthy play in an Inter Public School Drama Competition, I met this forgetfulness of my dialogues. As it was a very crucial act, my forgetfulness could have brought embarrassment and eventually the poor scores to our school team.

It was then, when my friend and co actor Aditya came to my recue on the stage. In that act, there were a number of dialogues coupled together, which I had to speak in one go. My friend was acting as a villain in that play. I recited the initial lines glibly but then, suddenly, I lost the memory of my successive dialogue and began fumbling. Generally, it takes a few seconds lapse for the immersed audience to acknowledge the forgetting error in actors in a play; but once it happens, it results into a sarcastic laughter from their side and a total collapse of the successive act. So, before that could happen to us, my friend Aditya, who was there with me in that particular act, sprung up with a boisterous laugh, characteristic of a typical villain. He instantaneously gazed into my eyes, as if giving me the time to recollect the dialogues. Within a flash of time, I was able to remember my part. Once he got the affirmative gesture from me, he discontinued laughing and I resumed with my dialogues.

Well, the spontaneity, with which my friend came up with this additional laughter act, was equivalent to the drop of a hat. He not only disallowed the audience to take cognizance of that error, but, additionally, he also won brownie points for his sudden laughter. I think that was the only best thing to do at that time, which he did. I was highly impressed with his outstanding wits and presence of mind.

STRONG WORDS

Word	Meaning
Glib	smooth, in a flow: Student gave glib excuses to the teacher for his late arrival in the class.
Boisterous	loud and cheerful: Children often exhibit boisterous laughs rather gentle smiles.
Fumble	act/speak clumsily: Writing essays in a fumbled manner doesn’t give clarity in the text.
Prodigious	very big extent: Internet network worldwide is very prodigious.

Follow-up Questions

Q. 1 Why can’t most people act smartly amidst problems?

Sample Answer: I think, when a person is stuck in a problem, they usually ponder over the problem only, which makes it appear prodigious. This leads to the panic in their minds and an overall confusion which results in a further distance from the solution. Their hearts start sinking and minds go blank of knowledge which results in the total surrender to a problem.

Q. 2 How should one handle a problem?

Sample Answer: I think, one should not perceive the problem as a true problem. It should be considered as a little glitch only, in the path of accomplishment. One should treat it lightly and focus on the ideas to find a way out. Earnest efforts put together with a smart approach can make any problem go disappear.

Q. 3 Are problems good or bad to a person?

Sample Answer: By the first look, any problem appears to be the worst adversary to the person. But, actually, they serve as a mean to learn new skills and better coping mechanisms. It was the problem only, that gave birth to new inventions and innovations. For instance, problem of not having light in the night gave birth to Edison’s invention of light bulb. Every wrong path actually leads to a reduction of the total no. of paths and finally we are left with the right solution only.

IELTS Band 7 Dehradun
Near Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun

9634777700

7249900007

IELTS Band 7 Saharanpur
Parsvnath Plaza, Saharanpur

email: info at ieltsband7.com

IELTS online simulator

IELTS Cue card: A plant that you find useful

June 18, 2022 Pooja Ph.D. CELTA

IELTS Cue card: A plant that you find useful

Describe a plant that you find useful.
You should say:

Its name?

Where it is commonly grown?

What it looks like?

And explain why you find it useful.

IELTS Cue card: A plant that you find useful

Sample answer

I’m a nature lover. I have planted many different types of plants in my garden. All of them have their own special features. Today, I will talk about one plant which I think is highly beneficial.

The name of the plant is Aloe Vera. It’s a stem less or very short-stemmed succulent plant. The average height of the plant is around 60-100 cm. It has triangular, fleshy green leaves with serrated edges. These prickly leaves act as a defence against animals and insects.

There are different species of aloe vera and they are commonly found in most parts of the world. Aloe can grow indoors as well as outdoors. A certain amount of sunlight is essential for these plants to thrive.

I’ve read many reports about the health benefits of aloe vera. This plant is not only used in medicine but is also a vital ingredient in cosmetic products. It’s packed with antiviral and antibacterial properties which make it ideal for curing skin problems. My mother always uses aloe vera mixed with coconut oil to moisturize her hair before washing it, and I have to say, she’s nearly fifty years old but there are no signs of white, fragile or dry hair. It really is an incredible plant, and it’s so easy to grow too!

High level words and their meanings:

succulent: a plant in which the leaves and stem are thick and can store a lot of water,

serrated: having a row of sharp points along the edge,

thrive: to grow, develop, or be successful, fragile: easily damaged, broken, or harmed

Another Similar Cue Card

Talk about a plant that you find useful.

What is the common name of the plant, mention scientific name if you know it?

Who informed you about the plant and where did you see it for the first time?

Which climate is suitable for its growth and where is it found?

And what are its uses and when did you use it last time?

SAMPLE ANSWER TWO-

We have several useful plants in our environment. Knowledge of botany enables us to know the species, botanical names and several utilities of the plants. For instance, roses are used for perfumery and decorations, primarily. Well, for this conversation, I would like to discuss the plant that goes by the common name of Neem. Fortunately, I can remember its botanical name too, as it is a common species. Azadirichta Indica is its botanical name and it’s a species of mahogany called Meliaceae.

My grandfather first made me see the plant in our patio. We had a big house with a large courtyard, where my grandfather used to pick a twig of neem to cleanse his mouth in the morning. I still remember him calling the name of tree aloud to me, when I was nearly 7 years old. I never forgot the name since then, although I read the botanical name later, out of my own curiosity.

Tropical climate with average rainfall is most conducive for its growth. It is a deciduous tree that sheds its leaves for a very brief period in autumn. It takes a few years for neem plant to grow into a full tree. Mostly, it is found in Indian subcontinent and few other tropical regions with average rainfall.

Neem tree has several uses because of its herbal and medicinal properties. As told by me earlier, its twigs are used for teeth cleaning and overall mouth cleansing. Its leaves and bark find applications in several herbal medicines for dermatitis and other disorders related to several organs like liver, stomach and heart. It is also used in naphtha balls. I used it last in my fields as fertilizer, as govt has recently come up with neem coated urea for its ecological friendliness.

IELTS Band 7 Dehradun
Near Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun

9634777700

7249900007

IELTS Band 7 Saharanpur
Parsvnath Plaza, Saharanpur

email: info at ieltsband7.com

IELTS online simulator

Cue Card: An interesting person from a foreign country

June 11, 2022 Pooja Ph.D. CELTA

IELTS Speaking Cue Card: An interesting person from a foreign country

Describe an interesting person from a foreign country.
You should say:

Who he/she is?

Where he/she is from?

How long you have known him/her?

and explain why you think he/she is an interesting person.

IELTS Cue Card An interesting person from a foreign country V2

Sample Answer

Today, I’m going to talk about a foreigner who I think is extremely interesting.

I work as a software developer in a multinational company called Capgemini. At present, we’re working on an international project and there are many foreigners in my team. I’ve a healthy relationship with all of them but I particularly like my team leader.

His name is Martin Henze. He is from Germany. Martin has a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the Technical University of Munich. I first met him in April 2015 when I went to Munich for attending a conference. It’s been almost three years since then.

In my view, Martin is a captivating person. He has many personal and professional attributes which make him special. Professionally, his in-depth knowledge of computer programming and problem-solving skills differentiate him from others. He also has effective communication and presentation skills. His excellent rapport with his colleagues and leadership skills can’t go unnoticed.

Personally, Martin has a pleasing personality. He is very kind and generous. He never shows off his seniority and treats everyone equally. All of us can share our views freely with him. If anyone has a suggestion to improve something, he always listens to them. In my view, developing all these skills is not at all easy. One has to work really hard to develop them and be like him. In short, Martin is my professional role model.

IELTS Band 7 Dehradun
Near Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun

9634777700

7249900007

IELTS Band 7 Saharanpur
Parsvnath Plaza, Saharanpur

email: info at ieltsband7.com

IELTS online simulator

Cue card: A language lesson you enjoyed

May 19, 2022 Pooja Ph.D. CELTA

IELTS Cue Card Talk about a language lesson you enjoyed

Talk about a language lesson you enjoyed
You should say:

When it was?

What it was about?

What you did in the lesson?

And explain why you enjoyed this lesson.

A language lesson you enjoyed

Sample Answer

I’ve always had a deep fascination with languages. It certainly stems from the skills of my school teachers who made our lessons memorable. Today, I’m going to talk about a language lesson I loved.

I was in 8^th class. Our school provided classes in many foreign languages like German, French, Japanese and Italian etc. I opted for Japanese because my father recommended it to me. My first Japanese lesson was so much fun that I still remember almost everything about it. When our teacher entered the class, she greeted us in Japanese. She didn’t translate it in English or our local language. Initially, we were puzzled but then she drew the sun and two kids on the blackboard. We understood the meaning and all of us repeated the greeting after her. Then, the teacher opened a big box in which she had kept many things like chocolates, cold drinks, tea and a bottle of milk etc.

She started taking them out of the box one by one. She was saying the name of each item in Japanese and we were listening to her and repeating after her. Later on, the teacher just showed us the objects and we were supposed to recall their names. Everyone was actively participating in the lesson. In the next stage of the lesson, the teacher taught us how to order milk, tea or coffee in a Japanese café. She divided us into two groups. Some of us became customers while others became waiters. We practiced all the words that we learned in the lesson in a very interactive way.

Not only me but all my classmates enjoyed the lesson. I found it very interesting because of the way it was delivered. The teacher created a friendly and stimulating learning environment. Its pace was also perfect for our age group. If we hadn’t been involved in the lesson, it would have been a boring lesson. All in all, I can say that this first-class boosted our confidence immensely and motivated us to learn Japanese.

Another Similar Cue Card

Describe a thing you did to learn another language.

Which language did you learn?

What was that thing, you did to learn the language?

How did it help you and how you felt?

And do you recommend that thing for every language?

SAMPLE ANSWER TWO-

Language is among the greatest inventions of mankind. Just imagining a world without languages seems to bring chaos and haphazardness all around. Social order and stability is ensured by this medium of communication. If we just observe our past, it is wondrous to note that we learnt our mother tongue without any formal medium of instruction. It is an automatic natural process set in motion by environment. Although I never intended to become a philologist, but I had this inertia for different words and meanings. I knew English well and I had this penchant for Spanish. So, in my college days, I decided to learn Spanish.

I joined a language academy, where they take up a language from the very basics. With appropriate syntax, pronunciation and meaning understanding of most common Spanish words in academy, I built my fundamentals strong. Thereafter, a stage of stagnation arrived in my progress and I was not improving my spoken Spanish, in particular. It was then, when I decided to stay in a Spanish colony in our city, for few months. Getting surrounded by Spanish diaspora all the time, listening to the language Spanish only whenever a word is spoken and interacting in Spanish only, were the true game changers.

This idea of living among Spanish people was an instantaneous hit. Within a span of just three months, I was conversing in Spanish without any great efforts. To add to it, I even grasped the uncommon classical Spanish vocabulary. The result of the uniform harmony with the Spanish language in my overall environment, while living in Spanish people, was very fruitful. The shopkeepers and watchman in that colony were Spanish too, which necessitated me to even think in Spanish. I felt extremely happy witnessing my gradual but consistent improvement in Spanish.

I would like to recommend my test and trial approach with the learners of any language. Staying in airs stuffed with a particular language all around you, automatically brings you in sync with that. No doubt, academy is something mandatory, but apart from that, my idea for learning a language is very effective, especially the spoken one.

STRONG WORDS

Word	Meaning
Penchant	special bent/liking: My friend has the penchant for old classic movies.
Haphazard	disorderly: students in college generally keep their room haphazard.
Diaspora	scattered population with origin somewhere else: America is truly cosmopolitan in a sense, to have diaspora from so many nations

Follow-up Questions

Q. 1 Is learning a new language difficult after an age?

Sample answer: I can’t answer this with confirmation without actual evidences. Definitely, after an age learning appetite decreases to some extent. Learning a new language might not sound as exciting and hence motivating to a grown up man as to a young boy. This lack of interest, apart from the work pressures faced by an adult may hinder his learning process.

Q. 2 What factors make a language interesting to learn?

Sample answer: It is the accent, smoothness, tone and pitch primarily, which creates impression for a language. Apart from them, glory and status of the nation, to which a language belongs, also generates fan following. Influence of a language created by its major presence all over the globe is a big influence.

Q. 3 Can deepest emotions be conveyed by a language?

Sample answer: I would say speech itself comes with a limitation. Use of any language can definitely easen the process of emotions’ description, as done in poems, plays and other fiction. But, I still believe that language do not have the absolute adequacy to display all the emotions, in complete.

Q. 4 What are the advantages of learning a new language?

Sample answer: Learning anything new, in itself is a fun process. Language learning comes with the spoken, written, hearing and speaking tasks involved in it, therefore it further broadens our pleasurable experience. It is always an advantage staying in a country, if we are averse with its native language. This brings a sense of assimilation in an earlier differently looking ethnicity. It also enriches our experience of different civilizations and cultures.

IELTS Band 7 Dehradun
Near Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun

9634777700

7249900007

IELTS Band 7 Saharanpur
Parsvnath Plaza, Saharanpur

email: info at ieltsband7.com

IELTS online simulator