Tag: IELTS Speaking

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.

 

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

Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.

IELTS BAND7

phone icon

8439000086

8439000087

7055710004

IELTS BAND 7 Dehradun, Best Coaching in Dehradun
323 GMS Road, Near Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun

Chat on WhatsApp

email: info at ieltsband7.com

IELTS online simulator

 

The officially registered trademark ‘BAND7’ (Trademark No. 4717489) is allocated to Anuj Kumar.

IELTS Cue Card – Describe a person who thinks a lot about music.

Describe a person who thinks a lot about music.

You should say:

  • Who this person is?
  • How do you know him/her?
  • What music he/she likes?
  • And explain how you feel about him/her
SAMPLE ANSWER

Music has no boundaries and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Today, I’d like to talk about my brother, who is a music enthusiast. His entire life revolves around music.
For my brother, music is not just a mere form of entertainment but a therapy that rejuvenates people and provides inner peace. He is also extremely fascinated by different genres, their history, and the musical instruments used to produce the beautiful tones that captivate our minds. I’ve seen him researching the types of music and how and when they originated, which sometimes makes no sense to me, but then I realise: Is this what is being called crazy about something?
I sometimes talk with him about music, and his answers surprise me. Conversations with him often circle back to music. When he listens to music, he doesn’t hear it; instead, he tries to absorb each detail of the song. He loves listening to all genres, but I feel the ones he is crazy about are classical and rock music.
I don’t know exactly how much the knowledge of music is helpful and how far it would take my brother. However, seeing him, I’ve realised that one needs to be passionate enough to learn something new. With time, patience and practice, we can achieve everything we aim for.

Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.

IELTS BAND7

phone icon

8439000086

8439000087

7055710004

IELTS BAND 7 Dehradun, Best Coaching in Dehradun
323 GMS Road, Near Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun

Chat on WhatsApp

email: info at ieltsband7.com

IELTS online simulator

 

The officially registered trademark ‘BAND7’ (Trademark No. 4717489) is allocated to Anuj Kumar.

IELTS Cue Card- Describe a school you went to in your childhood

Describe a school you went to in your childhood.

You should say:

  • Where it was?
  • What it was like?
  • What did you learn there and explain how you felt  about it?
SAMPLE ANSWER

When we talk about childhood, the first memories that we can recall are of our good times spent in school. I studied in Convent of Jesus & Mary, Dehradun. It is one of the most prestigious and oldest schools in Dehradun. Even though many years have passed since I left school, I vividly remember the impressive layout and architecture of my school.

There was a huge church at the entrance. After the church, there was a beautiful garden on one side and the rows of colourful seasonal flowers gave a warm welcome. All the students walked along this floral path towards the main building. A sense of calm pervaded over me when I stepped into the school every morning and walked down towards the main building.

The junior and senior sections had dedicated buildings. A vast playground separated the two wings. The playground was fully equipped with swings, monkey bars and sea-saws. Swings were my favourite. It was a routine for me to reach early so that I could play on the swings for few minutes before going to my class.

All the teachers in my school were very loving and caring. Throughout my schooling we were taught how to lead a disciplined life. The focus was on all round development and the teachers encouraged the students to participate in a range of extracurricular activities, from dramatics, dancing, singing to sports. The personality of every student was nurtured with utmost responsibility.

I consider myself fortunate to attend this school. Whatever I have achieved today the credit for it goes to the dedication of my school teachers.

STRONG WORDS
WORDS MEANING
Pervaded (past tense) spread through and be perceived in every part of e.g. The fragrance of the flowers pervaded the air.
Dramatics the study or practice of acting in and producing plays

Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.

IELTS BAND7

phone icon

8439000086

8439000087

7055710004

IELTS BAND 7 Dehradun, Best Coaching in Dehradun
323 GMS Road, Near Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun

Chat on WhatsApp

email: info at ieltsband7.com

IELTS online simulator

 

The officially registered trademark ‘BAND7’ (Trademark No. 4717489) is allocated to Anuj Kumar.

IELTS CUE CARD – Describe the time you admired the sky for the first time

Describe the time you admired the sky for the first time

You should say:

  • when and where was it
  • what led you to think about the sky
  • explain what your thoughts were while admiring the sky

SAMPLE ANSWER

Generally, we tend to ignore the bounties bestowed upon us by nature. In the daily hustle bustle of our life we sometimes forget to enjoy the basic joys of living. Looking at the sky and admiring its infinite space is one of them.

If I have to go back and recollect when I first admired the sky, it would probably be in my childhood. I used to live in our ancestral house with my parents, grandparents and uncles. There was a huge garden in front of our house. Power failures were common in our area. I vividly remember, when I was about 6-7 years old, one late evening there was a usual power cut. It was quiet dark and all my family members moved out and sat in the garden as there was no power backup in our house in those times.

I sat on my mother’s lap. Everyone was chatting and my mother started singing. She taught me a song about the moon and the stars. While I was learning the song I looked towards the sky. That is probably my first recollection of admiring the sky. I was intrigued by the endless twinkling stars and the big moon perched on a fluffy cloud. Even though I tried to count the stars, I couldn’t. I wanted to reach out to the sky so that I could have a closer look at the world up above in the sky.

I can never forget that magical view of the sky. Going out and looking at the sky became a part of my childhood and those sweet memories make me happy even today.

STRONG WORDS
WORDS MEANING
Bounties (plural) generous gift
Bestowed (past tense) confer or present (an honour, right or gift)

 

Feel free to call for suggestions and queries.

IELTS BAND7

phone icon

8439000086

8439000087

7055710004

IELTS BAND 7 Dehradun, Best Coaching in Dehradun
323 GMS Road, Near Ballupur Chowk, Dehradun

Chat on WhatsApp

email: info at ieltsband7.com

IELTS online simulator

 

The officially registered trademark ‘BAND7’ (Trademark No. 4717489) is allocated to Anuj Kumar.

1 … 3 4 5 6 7 … 43