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IELTS Cue Card #Speak about a difficult thing you did

Speak about a difficult thing you did.
You should say:

• What was that activity?
• When and where did you do it?
• How did you do it?

And how do you feel after it.

Sample Answer :

We often come across few difficult tasks in our day to day lives. Tasks which are practiced less often, turn into difficult tasks. When we are performing a task for the first time, at that time, difficulty level is more. As we practice more and become proficient, difficulty level decreases and task is performed better in lesser time. Anyways, we almost always remember the struggle we underwent in those difficult times. I, too, remember my efforts in debugging a software programme, that was infected very severely and damaging our whole server data.

Basically, I am a software engineer and work in an MNC based in Dehradun. We have been offering the software solutions to our clients for the last 20 years, which are spread all over the globe. I am a programmer at core but also deals in security system and protection. I just have an average fair knowledge about malwares and debugging, and from no angle, I am an expert. Few months back, our chief engineer for software security was on a long leave. His team used to handle the security issues well, even in his absence but one day, all the systems suddenly shut down like a blackout except the master computer networked directly to the server.

We acknowledged that it was a virus attack injected intentionally in our cloud space. Our existing programmes were inadequate to counter this superiorly coded malware sent in our network. This could have led to the stealing of private classified data, if handled erroneously. I had dealt with debugging programmes earlier also, but here, I needed to include one extra loop in my programme to run it successfully. I scratched my grey cells for 10 hrs at a stretch to run the new programme. After a series of successive futile efforts, I finally managed to crack the code and debug the software. Our whole team shouted with a hurray and lifted me on their shoulders.

I was a kind of, on the spot hero for my colleagues. I am a serious freak in anything that I do. This was a big leap in my programming skills and I invented that in an exigency. That forged the tons of confidence inside me, being fit to perform under pressure. My boss promoted me the next day and I felt very elated.

STRONG WORDS

Word	Meaning
Erroneously	inaccurately: Present approach taken by world leaders to combat climate change seems to be erroneous as there are no substantial results over so many years
Exigency	emergency: One should remember the exigency numbers provided by state administration

Follow-up Questions

Q. 1 Do you like to take up difficult tasks? Why?

Sample answer: Yes, quite often I volunteer for the difficult tasks. Since my childhood days, I used to believe in doing the tasks, which were not being done earlier or very difficult to perform. I think, this appetite keeps me high and motivated. Tough tasks appear to me as challenges and the accomplishment of those tasks after my strenuous efforts gave an immense sense of joy and satisfaction.

Q. 2 How can we shed the fear of taking up difficult tasks?

Sample answer: I think, we should not take up the utmost difficult task in the very beginning. We should follow the slow and steady approach in mastering a particular task and only later on, we should venture the toughest aspects of it. Even the small and easy achievements in the beginning, can be rich motivators and brain openers preparing us for the next difficult task.

Q. 3 Do you believe in punishment, as a tool for improvement in the performance?

Sample answer: I may not be able to answer this question absolutely. Because on one hand, I believe that even negative reinforcement or punishment can be instrumental in performance improvement if administered properly and without time delays while on the other hand, I cannot claim punishment to be the only effective option for corrections. I think one should resort to it as the last available option. Positive reinforcements and right encouragement can be highly effective in performing difficult tasks.

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8439000086

8439000087

7055710003

7055710004

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 #Describe an activity that you engage in and waste your time

Describe an activity that you engage in and waste your time.
You should say :

• What is that activity and when did you start the indulgence?
• Why did you engage in that activity?
• Why do you think it as a waste of time?

and what else can be done?

Sample Answer :

Although, nowadays it is a popular trend to say that I am very busy. But, if we observe a little closely, we will find that most of us waste our time in such an unconscious manner that we do not even stay aware of it. I also engage in this activity of net and social media browsing, which, I came to realize lately, is a sheer waste of time. Whenever I have a break at work or whenever I am at home, I instantly start browsing on my phone. Reading and watching different posts, messages, blogs and other such useless gossips turned into adrenalin pumpers and eventually, the addiction. These quivers offered by the internet start offering a vicarious entertainment and one gets hooked to them. I started this habit only a year ago, when I bought my new smartphone. Feature phone, I used to have earlier, had no such space for internet windows.

I started with opening an account on Facebook, which is a very common cult among netizens. It was after that, that I started receiving so many comments, posts, videos and what not on my account. Once I started diving in them, I kept on pushing deeper and deeper. Some are funny to watch while others have aphrodisiac nature. Some criticise the PM while others support the government. Some comments make you feel hero while others bring embarrassment. It is this colourful play of different emotions and temperaments which becomes an inducement for any user and similarly for me.

For the first few months, after I bought the smartphone, I could not even realize the long durations at a stretch, just floating in those clouds and networks. It was lately only, when I started feeling severe backache and detected a rise in my lens number. I had literally punished my health, for the sake of the activity of sitting with that stupid device, in any bad posture. Then I realized, that there is nothing creative or productive, which is drawn out of this useless activity which not only consumes time but health as well.

STRONG WORDS

 

Word	Meaning
Quiver	sudden vibrations: Loud music at the party sent the quivers in my body.
Vicarious	not original, derived: One should not believe in vicarious satisfactions.
Atrophy	Judicious policies do not allow atrophy of natural resources.

Follow-up Questions

Q. 1 Why do people engage in activities other than work?

Sample answer: Actually, the urgency in life at all times can drive a person crazy. Therefore, one takes a break in work as well as in thought process. Otherwise, one would become total mechanical with no time for amusing and creative things. Therefore, to spend some time for personal rejuvenation, people engage in activities other than work.

Q. 2 How does an activity become a time wasting activity?

Sample answer: Initially, no activity can be termed as time wasting activity. Even listening to a joke will be called as an amusement and entertainment, necessary for living beings. But when we indulge in an activity for a longer duration, then it becomes a matter of concern to evaluate the productivity and utility of that activity, otherwise it becomes an atrophy. For instance, drinking wine occasionally can be an entertainment but overindulgence in drinking will change its character from amusement to devastation.

Q. 3 What should the parents do, to avoid children getting over engaged in video games?

Sample answer: First of all, children, even till the graduation level should not be handed the mobile phones. They can learn their apt soft skills on desktop or personal computer placed at a common place for everyone. Secondly, even if they use the mobile phones of parents for some time, they should be duly observed and should not be allowed for overtime. Moreover, parents should educate their children about uses and drawbacks of using a mobile phone at an early age. Rather, they should encourage them to participate in outdoor games, instead.

Q. 4 How can people spend their time creatively?

Sample answer: Books are considered to be the beat friends in free time. Reading good books not only provides information on so many streams, but it also paves the way for generation of new ideas after accumulation of knowledge. Apart from this, one can be engaged in outdoor games and adventures. This will help in maintaining good health and enthusiastic spirits.

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Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.

8439000086

8439000087

7055710003

7055710004

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