Tag: IELTS Cue Card

IELTS CUE CARD #Describe a book that had a major influence on you

Describe a book that had a major influence on you.

You should say:

  • what the book was
  • how you first heard of the book
  • what is the main story of the book

and why it plays such an important role in your life.

Sample Answer:

Reading has been a very integral part of my life. I try to read books as and when I can find time and my interests vary vividly, from philosophy to fantasy, horror to religions, non-fiction to autobiography. The book that has changed my perspectives and helped me become a better person is Autobiography of a Yogi written by the celebrated philosopher guru Paramahansa Yogananda.

I found that most of the religious societies and philosophers highly recommend it due to the values it helps inculcate in the young minds. Fans have recommended this book all over the internet.‘ Some people even commented that this is the best book ever written in the century. I decided in my head that this  should be on number 1 of my reading list. I ordered the book immediately from amazon and it was delivered to me in  a week. I started reading it the same day.

The book was first published in 1946  in New York, USA and archived in the philosophers library. The book was an international success and reached No. 1 position on the New York Times best-selling book list. Autobiography of a Yogi talks about the life of Paramahansa Yogananda and his numerous encounters with spiritual figures of both the East and West. The book begins with his childhood, to finding his guru, to becoming a rebellious monk and establishing his teachings of Kriya Yoga meditation. The book further talks about 1920 when Yogananda accepts an invitation to speak in a religious congress in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He then travels across America lecturing and establishing his teachings in Los Angeles, California. In 1935 he revisits  India for a year. When he returns to America, he continues to establish his teachings, including writing this book. The book is an enchanting source for understanding  the methods of attaining God-realization .The author also announces that the writing of the book was prophesied long ago by the nineteenth-century master Lahiri Mahasaya.

The story telling of author is magical and brief. With Every passing page the urge to read more increased which further tempted me gather more knowledge about the same man. Not for a single moment, I could have stopped thinking about the events and characters of the books and that had a breath-taking influence on me. The characters have their own charismatic powers and followed their own paths and that was such a huge inspiration.

The story was told like a good story teller should and I thought it was a wonderful read. It surely left a powerful lasting impression on me. (427 words)

 

Part 3 Follow Up Questions.

Q1. 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.
Pet peeve: something that a particular person finds especially annoying.
Felicitate: to congratulate


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IELTS Speaking Cue Card: A visit to a quiet place

IELTS Speaking Cue Card: A visit to a quiet place

Describe a visit to a quiet place.
You should say:

  • Where the place is?
  • How you reached there?
  • What did you feel as you reach there?
  • Explain what you liked about the place?

IELTS SPEAKING CUE CARD: A VISIT TO A QUIET PLACE, IELTSBAND7, DEHRADUN

Sample Answer

As I travel frequently, I was able to avail the opportunity to visit a quiet place in my country. I shall be discussing about this exotic place in detail as I found it to be extremely peaceful, soothing and serene. The place is located in Tawang which is in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Arunachal is also known as the Land of Rising Sun and is situated at the altitude of around 10000 feet.
One has to travel a long distance and it takes three days to reach there from Delhi. Initially I boarded a three hours flight from Delhi to reach Guwahati. Since there is no further flight connectivity, for further journey, I commenced my movement by road to reach midway by evening. Third day before dawn, I started again to reach my destination.
The very next day I decided to trek my way to a monastery as I was keen to witness its beauty. My friends who had visited Arunachal advised me to visit it.
The local name of the monastery is Gumpha and it is located at a Hill Top. There is a treacherous track to reach the place. As I reached there, I was thrilled by the solace which I found in this place. There was no other inhabitation and construction .A stream was flowing next to it which added to the beauty and splendor of that architectural masterpiece. I could hear the chirping birds and noise of breeze .I appreciated the Monastery’s peculiar pagoda kind of construction.
The atmosphere was full of warmth and had a magical affect on my mind. After spending three days I reached back rejuvenated and full of energy. The memories of this quaint place are still fresh in my mind.

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IELTS Cue Card TALK ABOUT A TIME YOU WERE TRAVELLING BUT WERE DELAYED

IELTS Cue Card
Talk about a time you were travelling but were delayed.

You should say:

  • Where were you travelling to?
  • Why were you delayed?
  • How did you overcome the delay?
  • And describe the entire episode in detail.

Sample Answer

My story happened quite a while ago; I believe it was in December 2017. I was going to Sri Lanka for a vacation with my family. We were set to arrive at the airport at 4 pm so we could board our 7 pm international flight on time. A tip for travel I always keep in mind is to be as unhurried as possible, be it driving or train travel. Having extra time is always better as it takes away the unnecessary stress.

We reached the airport on time. As we entered the terminal gates, we were greeted by the classic coffee scent that permeates most airports. So far, the situation was looking good. We managed to get past check-in, baggage, security and customs with no hiccups at all with an hour to spare. Boarding, too, went on smoothly.

Everyone was waiting for the flight to take off. All of a sudden, there was an announcement. That’s when the trouble started. We were asked to deboard as the flight was facing technical issues. So, we boarded the airport bus and were all relocated to a new flight. Our baggage relocation took us another hour. At this point many people were getting very antsy, and for good reason too. This was supposed to be a short 3-hour flight and we already had to endure more than 2 hours of waiting time. It was annoying.

My family and I dealt with it by simply getting out our travel pack Uno game. That’s another great tip for anyone who’s travelling with kids; always bring travel-friendly games along because the kids will get bored. We played the original Uno and a couple of other games my kids came up with. Finally, the announcement of the flight being ready for takeoff came.

We arrived very late in Sri Lanka. It took us some more time to find our waiting cab and reach the hotel. The journey ended up pretty smoothly despite the technical delay we faced. As the saying goes, “all is well that ends well”.

 

Speaking part 3 follow up questions:

Q.1 What are the most common reasons that cause travel delays?

I think severe weather conditions and technical defect are the two biggest causes of travel delays. Traffic congestion, diversion of routes due to accidents or repair work also lead to travel disruptions.

Q.2 Do you think too many people are dependent on cars as a means of transport?

Definitely, yes. The number of people who depend on cars for commuting and travelling has gone up considerably in the past few decades.

Q.3 Why do people prefer to travel by car?

I think there are two main reasons why people prefer to travel by car. Firstly, public transport systems like buses and trains are poorly maintained in many parts of the world. Secondly, cars have become a status symbol. Nobody wants to wait for hours and board an overcrowded bus or train. Those who can afford tend to avoid using public transport facilities and prefer their own mode of transport. It not only saves their time but also gives them comfort and privacy.

antsy very nervous, worried, or unpleasantly excited
annoying making you feel slightly angry

 

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Speaking Cue Card: Describe something you bought recently and you are happy with it

Describe something you bought recently and you are happy with it

You should say:

  • What it was?
  • Why you bought it?
  • How do you use it?

And explain your feelings after the purchase.

 

Sample Answer:

Shopping is a very popular hobby among girls. I personally love shopping too. I visited the mall on the weekend looking for some shoes. I fell in love with a pair of brown leather wedges and decided to buy them instantly. It bought it from Steve Maiden and it was a worthy deal.

I bought it for my birthday. The shoes went great along with the pink dress that I had specially bought for the occasion. The dress had a similar brown leather belt so they looked great together.

The shoes have a basic shade so it is worthy to match with lot of outfits that I have. I use it over my pair of rugged denims, dresses and several jumpsuits. The shoes lift me up and build a confidence in me. I personally love them. They are comfortable and steady. They keep my feet stable irrespective of the high heel and provides support to the aching back. The cloth is amazing and the leather is of a fine source.

I was super excited to show them to my mom. She too liked them and appreciated my choice. She examined the quality and was very satisfied. I further told her that I got the last piece for a very discounted rate. She was pretty amazed hearing the price that I paid for the shoes. I look forward to shopping from the same store again. I’m really happy about my purchase.



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