A time when you helped someone with their work or studies.
When was it?
Who did you help?
How did you help them?
(Download CUE Card)
Sample Answer
Helping others and caring for them is a noble gesture and reflects one’s humanity. I have helped many people in my life with various things. I think it to be the best thing that I can do to give back to the world and make it a better place to live.
One such time was when I helped a small child with his studies, specifically his exam preparations. When I was in the tenth standard, our maid brought her son along with her so that she could keep an eye on him while he studied. He was in the fifth standard and was a weak student causing his mother to be worried about him. I called him up to my study table and looked at his books. With her permission, I sat down to guide him through his course material, one subject after the other. After two hours, we both were tired and I asked him to come to me daily from the next day. His mid-term examinations were due in a month and I decided to tutor him for two hours each day till then. I followed a set timetable dedicating time to each subject. I taught him all the important chapters, cleared his doubts, and gave him homework and a lot of questions for his practice.
He slowly and steadily gained confidence and performed well in his exams. All I did was to help him become focused and practice to become adept at learning and answering questions. He thanked me a lot and I was glad that I could help him with his studies.
Technology has changed our lives to a great extent and has become an inseparable part of our routine. I look around today and see myself surrounded by technology in every direction. One such gift of technology is the mobile phone, with the primary function of calling people and sending text messages, it also serves innumerable other functions.
I still remember my first mobile phone as it was a turning point in my life. I had cleared my twelfth standard examinations and was preparing to go abroad for further studies. My father used to live in another city and wanted me to visit him during my summer break before college. He gifted me my first mobile phone then. It was a Sony Ericson smartphone, with internet and camera facility along with many other advanced features. I was extremely happy and started using it as I would need it for my solo travels and time spent away from home. I was immersed in that small piece of technology and fiddled through it to familiarize myself with its features.
It was very beneficial as I could be in constant touch with my family at all times, and made it possible to share everything including my whereabouts with them. It was an exhilarating experience streaming through videos, listening to music, taking pictures, and playing games. I found it very convenient to talk to my friends and show them new things that I came across. The smartphone had indeed changed my life a lot and that too for the better.
Travelling is wonderful to experience and learn new things. I am a person who enjoys travelling and exploring new places. Travelling according to me is a great way to relax and unwind while making new experiences and memories.
Talking about a faraway place, it is an island named Bali in Indonesia. One of the most charming places in the world, it is a bouquet of beauty. It is famous for its volcanic mountains, beaches, sunset scenes, coral reefs, resort towns, temples and many more local landmarks. One can relax here in many ways and there is a lot to do and to explore.
I came to know about the island from a friend who had visited there last year. I looked it up on the internet and was instantly smitten by its natural beauty. The intriguing geographical characteristics of the island make for a host of wonderful places to visit, which is really interesting. My probable visit here would be in January next year and would be relatively easier than any other country like Canada or the United Kingdom. The visa process is very easy and the travel costs are affordable. The Indonesian currency is very cheap in comparison to the Indian rupee making the food and lodging costs highly affordable for the Indian visitors.
I have already visited and explored most of the Indian states and enjoyed the things they have to offer. I now wish to explore other lands to experience new cultures, meet new people, and to have a glimpse of what the other parts of the world look like. These are a few reasons as to why I wish to travel to Bali for a vacation.
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?
(Download CUE Card)
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.
