CUE CARD – Describe a plant, vegetable or crop that you are familiar with.

March 25, 2023 IELTS Research

Speaking -Part 2 (Cue Card)

Describe a plant, vegetable or crop that you are familiar with.

You should say:

What is it and where does it grow?

How did you become familiar with it?

What do you like or dislike about it?

And explain why this is important for your country.

Sample Answer

India is a tropical country and so it experiences a myriad of weather conditions. As a result, we enjoy a wide variety of vegetation. But today I would like to talk about a plant which is critical to Indians. The plant’s name is Aloevera and contains medicinal properties.

I first came to know about it when I visited my grandmother’s place a few years ago. She is a plantsman and so gardening is her niche. So, on a fine Sunday morning, she woke me up early and took me to the kitchen garden in the back of her house where my attention was quickly grabbed by the shrubby and green in color. When I asked her about it, she told me about the benefits of the plant like how helpful it is in treating skin injuries, like burns and cuts as it has a cooling effect. Moreover, it is anti- inflammatory and deals with digestive problems as well. I can still recall that during my teenage days, I used to be very disappointed because of the acne that I had on my face. It was at that time when I started applying Aloe vera gel on my face and it really worked and within a week I had clear skin. Ever since then it has become an integral part of my daily routine before going to bed.

What I really like about the plant is its ability to cure skin problems, like oil control and itching or allergies that are mostly experienced in scorching heat of summers. But what I do not enjoy about it is the stickiness that it contains as it leaves my hand a bit messy and sticky. The plant is vital to our country because of its gregarious nature and acts as a great home remedy.

STRONG WORDS

Word	Meaning	Sentence
Gregarious	Found everywhere	Locusts are gregarious pests.
Integral	Fundamental	Exercise is an integral part of my daily routine.

Speaking -Part 3 (Follow up questions)
Here are some examples of follow up questions that examiner may ask during your speaking (part 3) related to cue card ‘Describe a plant, vegetable or crop that you are familiar with.’

Q1. Do people in your country like to grow plants at home?
Well, not everyone. But yes, some people really enjoy growing plants at home as part of their hobby or interest like money plants, Basil and many more.

Q2. Do old people grow plants?
Old people cherish planting new seeds and trees probably because of the verdant environment in which they have spent their childhood days.

Q3. What is the main plant of your country?
I am not sure, but probably lotus because it is the national flower of our country. It is pink or white in color and grows in lakes or ponds. It has some antioxidants which are helpful in dealing with the issues related to skin.