Интерпретация художественного текста и ее роль в профессиональной подготовке переводчика художественной литературы

makkarIELTS Speaking Guesswork Sep- Dec 2020

First Version

Dr Kiranpreet Kaur Makkar

(MBBS, DGO - Makkar Hospital Phagwara)

makkarIELTS Phagwara Centre 1

Handa Complex Opposite Bus Stand, Phagwara, Punjab

Basement: Vishal Megamart

Contact: 95608-20208, 9888195776

makkarIELTS Phagwara Centre 2

makkar Hospital, Hargobind Nagar Phagwara

M: 9872461083

(near Yes Bank)

makkarIELTS Chandigarh Centre

SCO 69, 3^rd Floor

Sector 17-D

(near Variety Book Store)

M: 79866-07619, 98775-96710

makkarIELTS MOHALI Centre 1

SCO 124, Second Floor Phase 3B2 – 160059

M: 9646044322

(Near Dominos Pizza)

makkarIELTS MOHALI Centre 2

SCF 15, Second Floor

Phase 7 – 160062 M: 9646044322

(Opposite Chawla Hospital)

ALL STUDENTS MUST READ THIS BEFORE PROCEEDING FURTHER

All materials in this pdf book are just for helping students prepare for the IELTS test.

1. This PDF book contains only makkarIELTS Speaking Guesswork (Part 1, 2 and 3) for Sep-Dec 2020 IELTS Speaking Exam

2. This is only our guesswork; you can still be asked different questions in the exam.

3. Please don’t give memorized answers in the exam. This will reduce your band scores and you will be asked more difficult questions by the examiner.

4. This is the First version of Sep-Dec 2020 Speaking PDF.

5. Please keep visiting www.makkarielts.com and subscribe to our facebook page and youtube channel (www.facebook.com/makkarielts

www.youtube.com/makkarielts), for notifications regarding updates on Cue

Cards. (kindly visit our websites once every week for updates and new content)

6. To download the updated file, kindly open your original payment confirmation email and again click on ‘Download file’ button.

7. Please do not delete your payment confirmation emails received from instamojo.

8. Old May-Aug 2020 Cue Cards are still important and could be still asked in the exam.

For any queries please email ravielts@gmail.com or whatsapp at 9646044322 (Mon-Friday 9AM-

6PM). https://g.co/kgs/ZdSaEX

Other useful titles for IELTS Exam

Our books for IELTS Reading, Writing and Speaking are available in Paperback format on our website www.makkarielts.com, Amazon, Flipkart and major book stores across India.

A list of book stores is shared on the next page.

LIST OF BOOKS SHOPS (makkarIELTS books are available at these shops)

Ludhiana	Bhatia Book Centre Books Market Ludhiana 98152-77131 Sahil Book Depot Books Market Ludhiana 84276-47001 Lyall Book Depot Books Market Ludhiana 2745756
Amritsar	Sarpal Book Depot Hall Bazar Amritsar Parkash Book Depot Hall Bazar Amritsar C.D Mehra & Sons Hall Bazar Amritsar Khalsa Book Shop Opp Khalsa College Amritsar Parvinder Book Depot Kairon Market Hall Bazar Amritsar
Jalandhar	V.K Book Depot S.D College Jalandhar 99153-70350 Modern Book Depot S.D College Jalandhar 98153-03956 Harbhajan Book Store Bargo Campp Jalandhar 98884-38020 Dhawan Book Depot Maihirn Gate Jalandhar 0181-2400406 English Book House Mai Hira Gate Jalandhar Subash Book Depot Mai Hira Gate Jalandhar City Book Depot Mai Hira Gate Jalandhar Deepak Book Depot NEAR ADDA TANDA CHOWK Jalandhar City
Patiala	Pepsu Book Depot Chowk Arna Barna Patiala 98140-41623 Markan Book Depot Books Market Patiala 98159-54945 Goyal Book Depot Books Market Patiala 94636-19978
Bhathinda	Bhagwati Books Centre Court Road Bathinda 94631-20564 Aggarwal Book Centre Court Road Bathinda 94178-16439 Singla Book Store Cinema Road Bathinda 93172-89469 Goyal Book Depot Bhathinda
Hoshairpur	Chand Lal Soni &Sons Vakilan Bazar Hoshairpur 01882-225325 Ramesh Book Depot Govt College Chowk Hoshairrpur 01882-231866 Kapoor Book Shop Near Gov.College Chowk Hoshairpur 01882-256370 Handa Book Depot Vakilan Bazar Hoshirpur 94173-90666
Moga	Gupta Book Depot Court Road Moga 98144-34111 Mohindra Book Depot Court Road Moga 98144-00875 Arora Brothers,Book Seller Court Road Moga 01636-501309 Malhotra Book Depot Main Bazar Moga 94639-20521
Pathankot	Dev Di Hatti Shahpur Chowk Pathankot Sharma Book Dpot Books Market Pathankot Laxmi Kitab Ghar Books Market Pathankot
Batala	Kumar Book Corner Cinema Road Batala 98142-19314 Kapoor Book Centre Cinema Road Batala Shanti Book Depot Cinema Road Batala 01871-240759
Abohar	Aggarwal Book Depot Books Market Abohar Charandas Amrit Lal Bazar No.9 Abohar 01634-221136 Pee.Kay.Books & Sty. Mart Dav College Road Abohar 92169-24374
Malerkotla	Mahindra Traders Books Market Malerkotla 94170-53831 Mahindra Stationery Mart Talab Bazar Malerkotla 94173-28260
Khanna	Kapoor Book Shop Books Market Khanna 94178-55520 R.K Book Shop Books Market Khanna 90411-84130 Universal Book Shop Books Market Khanna 01628-220035
Phagwara	Munni Di Hatti Bansan Bazar Phagwara 01824-264593

	Chaman Di Hatti Bansan Bazar Phagwara 01824-267263 Gupta Book Depot Satnam Pura Phagwara 98154-08353 Jagdambay Book Depot Old Post Office Road 90410-07052
Muktsar	Arora Book Center Kotkapura Chowk Muktsar 98146-12678 Sai Book Palaza Near Kotkapura Chowk Muktsar 98554-99766 Mohindra Book Depot Kotkapura Road Muktsar 98035-33410 Jati Ram Lachmandas Gandhi Chowk Muktsar 98151-62590
Barnala	Navchetan Book Dpot Near S.D College Barnala 98728-4726 New Punjab Book Depot Zind Kunji Morcha Sadar Bazar Barnala 9872208019
Firozpur	Gian Chand & Sons Book Seller Main Bazar Ferozpur 01632-226995 Anshu Book Store Main Bazar Ferozpur 98158-68950 Sita Ram Book Depot Neem Wala Chowk Bazar No.7 Ferozpur 98157-85543 Vishal Book Depot Delhi Gate Chowk Main Bazar Ferozpur 98725-48839 Baijnath & Sons Inside Delhi Gate 92179-17053
Kapurthala	Kumar Book Depot Mall Road Kapurthala 98720-34513 Rajesh Book Depot Mall Road Kapurthala 98720-34513 Kiran Book Depot Near Hindu Kanya College Kapurthala 98143-82999
Rajpura	Bhatia Book Centre K S M Road Rajpura 94633-76730 Ravi Book Depot Kasturba Road Rajpura 98780-21662
Kotkapura	R.K Goyle & Sons Book Depot Old Bus Stand Kotkapura 98556-32876 New Goyal Book Depot Kotkapura 94171-05200
Sangrur	Mittal Book Store Near Bus Stand ,Dhuri Gate Sangrur 01672-230391 Jain Trading Co. Dhuri Gate Phirni Road Sangrur 98766-60220
Faridkot	Punjab Book Store College Road Faridkot 98761-34419 Malhotra Book Depot Near Old Post Office Faridkot 98143-73056 S.R Hans Book Depot Front Of Jubllie Cinema College Road Faridkot 9872614504
Mansa	Parkash Book Depot Cinema Road Mansa 98157-10212 Jain Book Depot Main Bazar Mansa 98726-24860
Gobindgarh	Ved Book Depot Goal Market Mandi Gobindgarh 92166-58764
Mohali	Narula Book Shop Booth No.10 Phase -1 Mohali 98888-88337 Classic Book Shop, Phase 3B2 Mohali (near Punjab & Sind Bank) Bansal Book Shop, Phase 3B2 Mohali
Chandigarh	Variety Book Store Sector 17 Chandigarh Universal Book Shop Sector 17 Chandigarh Hussain Book shop, Shop No. 21, Old Book Market, Sector 15-A, 9888039333 Verma Book Agency Shop No. 78 Sector 16-D C
Delhi	General Book Depot 16, Ansari Road, 1st Floor, Daryaganj, New Delhi Om SaiTech Books Shop No. 7, 19, Ansari Road, Near Shri Radha-Madhav Mandir,Daryaganj, New Delhi
Gujarat/Ahmedabad	"Mk Book Distributors. 1, Tulsi, 2 Azad Society, Ambawadi.Ahmedabad M: 9898075322

Table of Contents

LIST OF BOOKS SHOPS (makkarIELTS books are available at these shops)................................. 4.............................................................................................................................................................

1. Describe a line that you remember from a poem or song (makkarIELTS)............................. 10..............................................................................................................................................................

2. Describe a tradition in your country (makkar|IELTS)............................................................. 13..............................................................................................................................................................

3. Describe a person who you think is very open......................................................................... 15..............................................................................................................................................................

4. Describe an old friend you got in contact with again............................................................... 17..............................................................................................................................................................

5. Describe a family which you like and are happy to know........................................................ 19..............................................................................................................................................................

6. Describe an energetic person that you know........................................................................... 21..............................................................................................................................................................

7. Describe a time you saw children behave badly in public....................................................... 23..............................................................................................................................................................

8. Describe a conversation topic you were not interested in...................................................... 25..............................................................................................................................................................

9. Describe an expensive activity that you enjoy doing occasionally.......................................... 27..............................................................................................................................................................

10. Describe an area of science that interests you....................................................................... 29..............................................................................................................................................................

11. Describe a prize that you received.......................................................................................... 32..............................................................................................................................................................

12. Describe a time when you first talked in a foreign language................................................. 34..............................................................................................................................................................

13. Describe a good decision you made recently.......................................................................... 36..............................................................................................................................................................

14. Describe an event you attended in which you didn’t like the music played......................... 38..............................................................................................................................................................

15. Describe an ambition that you have for long time................................................................. 40..............................................................................................................................................................

16. Describe a time when you changed your opinion................................................................... 42..............................................................................................................................................................

17. Describe an intelligent person you know............................................................................... 44..............................................................................................................................................................

18. Describe a photo of yourself that you like (or you have taken)............................................ 46..............................................................................................................................................................

19. Describe a person who helps others in his or her spare time............................................... 48..............................................................................................................................................................

20. Talk about a prize you want to win......................................................................................... 50..............................................................................................................................................................

21. Describe a book you read that you found useful or Describe an exciting book you read 52 ..

22. Describe a time when you received good news...................................................................... 55..............................................................................................................................................................

23. Describe a film/movie that made you laugh........................................................................... 57..............................................................................................................................................................

24. Describe an occasion when you wasted your time................................................................. 59..............................................................................................................................................................

25. Describe something or someone that made a lot of noise..................................................... 61..............................................................................................................................................................

26. Describe a water sport you would like to try in the future or Describe a sport you would like to try for the first time................................................................................................................................ 63..............................................................................................................................................................

27. Describe a time when you were surprised to meet a friend.................................................. 65..............................................................................................................................................................

28. Describe an old person you know and respect....................................................................... 67..............................................................................................................................................................

29. Describe a risk you have taken which had a positive result.................................................. 69..............................................................................................................................................................

30. Describe a mistake you have made......................................................................................... 71..............................................................................................................................................................

31. Describe a volunteering experience you have had................................................................. 73..............................................................................................................................................................

32. Describe a program or app in your computer or phone........................................................ 75..............................................................................................................................................................

33. Describe a long car journey you went on................................................................................ 78..............................................................................................................................................................

34. Describe a place you visited that has been affected by pollution.......................................... 81..............................................................................................................................................................

35. Describe a friend/person who is a good leader...................................................................... 83..............................................................................................................................................................

36. Describe a dinner you really enjoyed...................................................................................... 85..............................................................................................................................................................

37. Describe a large company that you are interested in............................................................. 87..............................................................................................................................................................

38. Describe a person in your family that you admire or a person in your family you are happy to know................................................................................................................................................ 89..............................................................................................................................................................

39. Describe a time when a family member asked for your help................................................ 92..............................................................................................................................................................

40. Describe a time you got lost in a place you didn’t know about.............................................. 94..............................................................................................................................................................

41. Describe a foreign country(culture) you want to know more about?................................... 96..............................................................................................................................................................

42. Describe a place where you are able to relax......................................................................... 98..............................................................................................................................................................

43. Talk about something you enjoyed doing in a group........................................................... 101..............................................................................................................................................................

44. Describe a film you watched or Describe a film that made you think a lot........................ 104..............................................................................................................................................................

45. Talk about a new public building/place, which you would like to visit.............................. 107..............................................................................................................................................................

46. Describe your favorite clothes.............................................................................................. 109..............................................................................................................................................................

47. Describe one of your family members you spend the most time with - m@kkar|ELTS...........

48. Describe an important journey that was delayed................................................................ 113..............................................................................................................................................................

49. Describe an experience you had as a member of a team - m@kkar|ELTS.......................... 115..............................................................................................................................................................

50. Describe a goal that you achieved, which was set by yourself............................................ 118..............................................................................................................................................................

51. Describe a person who has apologized to you...................................................................... 121..............................................................................................................................................................

52. Describe an interesting animal............................................................................................. 123..............................................................................................................................................................

53. Describe an article on health that you read from a magazine or online - m@kkar|ELTS 125

54. Describe a person in the news that you want to meet......................................................... 127..............................................................................................................................................................

55. Describe one time when the weather changed your plan.................................................... 130..............................................................................................................................................................

56. Describe a situation you were not allowed to use your cell phone..................................... 132..............................................................................................................................................................

57. Describe an important piece of news that you received via text message......................... 134..............................................................................................................................................................

58. Describe something you bought that was difficult to use at first........................................ 136..............................................................................................................................................................

59. Describe a successful small business that you know - m@kkar|ELTS................................ 139..............................................................................................................................................................

60. A person who taught you something important................................................................... 141..............................................................................................................................................................

61. Describe a difficult challenge that you completed/met....................................................... 143..............................................................................................................................................................

62. Describe a crowded place you have visited.......................................................................... 145..............................................................................................................................................................

63. Job you would not like to do in the future............................................................................. 147..............................................................................................................................................................

64. Describe a uniform you wear (at your school or company)................................................ 149..............................................................................................................................................................

65. Describe a situation or a time when you helped someone.................................................. 151..............................................................................................................................................................

66. Describe an indoor game that you liked to play when you were a child............................ 154..............................................................................................................................................................

67. A performance you recently watched................................................................................... 157..............................................................................................................................................................

68. Describe a change that can improve your local area........................................................... 159..............................................................................................................................................................

69. Describe a time when you were excited............................................................................... 161..............................................................................................................................................................

70. Describe a time when you travelled by public transportation?.......................................... 163..............................................................................................................................................................

71. Describe a practical skill you learned or a skill you leaned that you think is important.........

72. Describe a new skill you want to learn................................................................................. 166..............................................................................................................................................................

73. Describe your idea of a perfect home or dream house........................................................ 169..............................................................................................................................................................

SPEAKING PART 1.......................................................................................................................... 172.............................................................................................................................................................

INTRO QUESTIONS........................................................................................................................ 172.............................................................................................................................................................

111

165

Online & Classroom Programmes

makkarIELTS Phagwara Centre 1

Handa Complex Opposite Bus Stand, Phagwara, Punjab

Basement: Vishal Megamart

Contact: 95608-20208, 9888195776

makkarIELTS Phagwara Centre 2

makkar Hospital, Shri Guru Hargobind Nagar, Phagwara, Punjab

M: 9872461083

(near Yes Bank)

makkarIELTS Mohali Centre 1

SCO 124, Second Floor

Phase 3B2 – 160059

M: 9646044322, 8360957299 (Near Dominos Pizza)

makkarIELTS Mohali Centre 2

SCF 15, Second Floor

Phase 7 – 160062

M: 9646044322, 8360957299 (Opposite Chawla Hospital)

makkarIELTS Chandigarh Centre

SCO 69, 3^rd Floor

Sector 17-D

(near Variety Book Store)

M: 79866-07619, 98775-96710

1. Describe a line that you remember from a poem or song (makkarIELTS)

You should say

- What it is

- What poem is it from

- How you know about it

- How you feel about it

• Music makes everything better.

• I like to listen to music when I am cooking, cleaning, driving, exercising.

• It relaxes me in ways nothing else can.

• I listen to songs from different genres and one song that brings a smile to my face every time I hear it, is the timeless pop classic “What a wonderful world”.

• It talks about appreciating the beauty of your surroundings and it’s the line from the title “And I think to myself, it’s a wonderful world” that I remember so well.

• It was first recorded by Louis Armstrong in 1968 but there have been many more versions of it since then sung by various artists.

• It was the biggest selling single in UK and reached number 1 spot that year.

• I think the first time I heard it was on YouTube. I was looking for old hits and this song just came up in the suggestions.

• I was so mesmerized by the lyrics and the singer’s soothing voice

• They moved me and just made me realize that I need to find happiness in small things.

• This world may not be perfect but it’s so wonderful.

• Now whenever I am stressed, I take a break and go outside.

• Looking at the beautiful sky, listening to the birds chirping and the nature all around me makes me forget about my worries and brings me so much peace.

• I also feel grateful for all the people in my life - my family and friends who make this world so much more wonderful for me

OR (Alternate answer)

• I listen to songs on my phone whenever I am travelling.

• In fact, my song choices have changed so much over the years.

• But there is one song and one particular line from that song that I can never forget.

• The line goes like this – ‘One day you will leave this world behind, so live a life that others will remember’

• It is from the song ‘The NIGHTS’ by Avcii.

• I love listening to the whole song, just for this one line.

• I don’t really remember how I first came across this song, but it was about two three years ago.

• I think I might have heard it in a café or a music channel in the TV.

• Whenever, I am feeling low or I don’t feel like studying, I listen to the song for motivation.

• The song just energizes me and makes me work even harder.

• But the lyrics also have a darker meaning.

• The singer Avcii committed suicide at a very young age about two years ago.

• I remember the news came as a huge shock to me.

• When I searched online, I came to know, Avcii was going through depression.

• But one day, when I was listening to this song, I realized how Avcii’s death really gave life to the lyrics.

• His body did leave this Earth, but people will never forget him.

• People will always remember him through his songs.

• He has immortalized his memory through his meaningful song lyrics.

• I also really want to do something for my family, my society and my country.

• So that people also remember me after I leave this world.

• Contains more than 400+ Essays from past exams and which are often repeated in the IELTS exams

• Essay structures for different types of essays

• Covers all topics asked in IELTS exam

• Most helpful in Vocabulary and Idea Development

• Available on www.makkarielts.com

• And local bookshops in India

1. Are you good at memorizing things?

I am neither very good nor am I bad at memorizing things. But, I do make a list on my phone for all the important things because I don’t want to risk forgetting them.

2. Do you think children like the rhythm of songs or poems?

Yes, I think rhythms make it fun. I think rhymes reduce inhibition among children and make them more active. That is why teachers use rhymes while teaching.

3. Do you think it is easier for children to learn songs or poems than adults?

I think yes. I remember in my childhood, I used to memorize many poems and I did it very easily. I don’t think I can do the same now. I think it is maybe because in childhood, our brains are more receptive.

4. What can people learn from songs or poems?

I think the two main things we learn from songs and poems is our culture and language. In general, there is a lot of repetition in songs and rhymes stick in the learner’s mind and the words and expressions used are memorized more easily. It also helps in phonetic development. Similarly, some songs and poems also connect us with our culture as their lyrics represent culture expressed in words.

• 20 Complete Practice Tests (1-20)

• Based and designed in accordance with IELTS Exam

pattern.

• Passages often repeated in actual exams

• Tips for different types of reading questions

• Available on www.makkarielts.com

• And local bookshops in India

• 20 Complete Practice Tests (21-40)

• Based and designed in accordance with IELTS Exam

pattern.

• Passages often repeated in actual exams

• Tips for different types of reading questions

• Available on www.makkarielts.com

• And local bookshops in India

2. Describe a tradition in your country (makkar|IELTS)

You should say

- What it is

- Who takes part in it

- What activities there are

- And explain how you feel about it

• There are many traditions in India.

• But today I would like to talk about a tradition which is quite popular especially in North India.

• The tradition is called ‘karvachauth’.

• It is actually a tradition in which women keep a fast from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands.

• It is celebrated on a special day based on the Hindu Lunar Calendar.

• It is mainly a Hindu tradition but some women from Sikh religion also celebrate it.

• Its origin is based on military campaigns of the past.

• The men would go to wars, and women would keep a fast for their safe return.

• In today’s time, it is seen as a symbol of love and affection between a husband and wife.

• In fact, nowadays even men keep a fast along with women to support them.

• Women begin preparing for Karva Chauth a few days in advance, by buying adornments jewelry, and other prayer items.

• On the day of Karva Chauth, women dress up and at night they do a small prayer along with husbands with the moon in the backdrop.

• After this, they break their fast.

• Earlier, I saw this tradition as a symbol of patriarchy in some sense, where only women are meant to keep a fast.

• But now I see it more as a symbol of love and sacrifice

• I think as long as there is no compulsion on women to do this and they do this on their own, there is nothing wrong with it.

• Writing Task 1 - Graph Vocabulary and Structure

• More than 250+ graph from previous exams which are often repeated in IELTS exam

• Practice all types of graph questions asked in the exam

• Available on www.makkarielts.com

• And local bookshops in India

1. What is the importance of traditional festivals?

I think traditional festivals fulfil three functions. They connect us to our roots, our culture and our origins, giving us a sense of identity. Secondly, they bring families and friends together and lastly, they help us forget about our worries and stress.

2. What’s the difference between festivals now and in the past?

I think the main difference between festivals now and in the past is the purpose of celebration. Earlier people celebrated festivals for a purpose, but now people have forgotten the meaning behind the festivals. Festivals are only celebrated for joy and merriment.

3. Do you think western festivals like Christmas are replacing traditional festivals in your country?

Yes, one of the influences of western movies and Hollywood has been the coming of western festivals like Christmas and Halloween. From the past two-three years, even I decorate a tree and ask for gifts from my parents on Christmas. Similarly, in these past few years, I have seen children going for trick or treating on Halloween in my neighborhood.

4. Do you think it is wrong for children not to celebrate traditional festivals?

I wish children today are as passionate about celebrating traditional festivals as they are about celebrating western festivals. But I don’t think it is wrong. I think festivals are about fun and merriment and it does not matter, which festivals they are celebrating as long as they are enjoying themselves.

• Contains more than 300+ Essays & Letters from past exams and which are often repeated in the IELTS exams

• Essay structures for different types of essays

• Covers all topics asked in IELTS exam

• Most helpful in Vocabulary and Idea Development

• Available on www.makkarielts.com

• And local bookshops in India

3. Describe a person who you think is very open

You should say (m@kk@rIELTS)

- Who this person is

- How you know this person

- Why do you think this person is very open

- And explain how you feel about this person

• I think very few people today are open and frank.

• I myself am not very open and I don’t find it easy to express my feelings.

• But I really think that my mother is a very open person.

• I have experienced her straightforward nature many times.

• She doesn’t hide her thoughts and feelings. She openly expresses them.

• For example, I recently made a cake.

• She found it too sweet and when I asked for her opinion, she clearly said she didn’t like it.

• And she isn’t like that with us family members only, but others also.

• She speaks her mind.

• Sometimes people get offended due to this too.

• But as people get to know her, they understand that she is just being straight forward and her intention is to help and not to insult.

• Over the years, I have found that more and more people appreciate her for straightforwardness rather than take offense.

• Her straightforward and direct nature is also a reason, many of our relatives and neighbours come and share their worries with her.

• They know she will speak her mind.

• I think it requires a lot of courage for a person to be open and direct.

• I care too much about other people’s feelings and as a result sometimes I lie or make promises I can’t keep.

• My mother never does that, and I think she is really brave deep-down.

• She is very secure about herself and she is not afraid to show her true self to people.

• I really wish I could be more open like that.

FOR RECENT IELTS Exam questions kindly follow our website www.makkarielts.com and facebook page www.facebook.com/makkarielts .

SOLUTIONS for Recent IELTS exam questions are provided on our Youtube Channel www.youtube.com/makkarielts

Is it difficult for Indian people to express their feelings?

Yes, I think Indian people are very polite and considerate and because of that most people don’t express their feelings easily in public. Also, I think a lot of us care about our image more than our mental peace and so we hide our feelings.

2. Who do you think talk more? Children or grown-ups?

Definitely children, and there are two reasons for it. First, they are curious because of their age and this curiosity only gets satisfied by asking questions. Second, they are not afraid to speak their mind because they don’t care about appearing rude or hurting others by their words. Adults also ignore children’s words because of their age.

3. What do you think is the difference between boys and girls in expressing their feelings? I think girls are generally more open in expressing their feelings. Boys think they might appear weak, if they show their feelings and as a result, they try to hide them. This carries on to adult life too. That is why I think women complain about their husbands not opening up.

4. Do you think people are more open than in the past?

On the contrary, I think people are less open. I think people today are more worried about their image and thus they try to present themselves as a perfect person. But this in turn means they hide their true feelings. Also, I think people today lay more emphasis on politeness and thus they don’t speak up if they feel something is wrong.

5. Why do you think people are less open?

Answered in the last question.

• 20 Complete Practice Tests (21-40)

• Based and designed in accordance with IELTS Exam pattern.

• Tips for different types of reading questions

• Available on www.makkarielts.com

• And local bookshops in India

4. Describe an old friend you got in contact with again

You should say ( m a k k a r I E L T S)

- Who he or she is

- What he or she is like

- How you got in contact

- And explain how you felt about it

• Due to fast-paced life of today, it is very easy to lose contact with friends.

• I have also lost contact with many of school time friends.

• It happened inadvertently.

• Some of my friends got busy with jobs, some shifted to another city and some just got busy with family life.

• However, during this Corona pandemic, life slowed down.

• I was home all the time and this also meant that I spent more time on social media especially Facebook.

• So, two or three months ago, I got a friend request from one of my school-time friends, Navneet.

• He had shifted to Canada when we were in 8th standard.

• For the first two three months, we tried to keep contact but eventually we all got busy with studies.

• So, it was a pleasant surprise to receive his friend request.

• Navneet was one of my best friends in school.

• I don’t use these words for anyone, but he was in real sense ‘a jack of all trades ’.

• He was good in academics and sports as well.

• When we were in school, he was the captain of the football team.

• In studies, he was always among the top four five students.

• Despite all this, he was very modest and still he is very modest.

• He never tried to show that he was superior to others.

• It was so fun talking to him.

• It felt like I had travelled back in time.

• We reminisced about our school days and both of us became a bit nostalgic.

• I think it was a bittersweet feeling getting in touch with him after so long.

• On the one hand, we both felt a bit guilty about losing touch.

• On the other hand, we were also very happy to talk to each other after so long.

What is the influence of social media on friendships?

I think social media has definitely enabled us to maintain friendships better. We all know our friends are just a click away. At the same time it has all reduced face to face contact, and I think that has weakened the bonds of friendships.

2. Why do people lose contact with each other after graduation?

I think the main reason is that we get busy with jobs. Moreover, sometimes people move to another city for a job. We don’t see our friends daily and we come in contact with new people. Building new friendships consumes time and thus inadvertently people lose touch with friends.

3. Do people in your country like to make new friends?

Definitely, I think Indians in essence are very social. We love conversation, meeting new people. Every time, I travel, I come back with new contact in my phone.

4. Do you think old friends are more important to the old generation or the young generation? I think old friends are important to both new and old generation. I think talking with childhood friends takes people back to childhood days in some sense and most people miss that time – a time free of tensions and worries.

5. Describe a family which you like and are happy to know

You should say (MAKKARIELTS)

- Who they are

- Where they live

- How you know them

- And explain why you like them.

• I know many families that live in our neighbourhood.

• But there is one family, that I really enjoy spending time with.

• They are our next-door neighbor’s, Sharmas.

• There are four members in the family, Mr. Sharma, his wife and their two children, Navneet and Priya.

• I think they shifted to Phagwara and our neighbourhood about five years ago.

• Before that they lived in Jalandhar.

• Mr. Sharma works in a bank and he was transferred to Phagwara branch five years ago.

• That’s how they came to live in Phagwara and our neighbourhood.

• I remember immediately after moving to our neighbourhood, they invited everyone for a dinner.

• Their son is the same age as me and he and I have become very close friends.

• There are many things I like about them, but the first is that they don’t do any formalities.

• I don’t get the feeling that I am at somebody else’s house when I am at their home.

• For example, they offer me things to eat when I go there, but they don’t force it.

• They just tell me not to hesitate if I want to eat something.

• It’s another matter that Mrs Sharma is a very good cook and I actually look forward to tasting all the delicacies she makes.

• I also like the relationship between Mr and Mrs Sharma and the children.

• They are strict but friendly and they encourage their children to share whatever problems they are facing.

• I have never seen Mr and Mrs Sharma raise their voice.

• I have noticed that my friend Navneet, shares nearly every detail of his life with his parents.

• If he does something bad, they don’t scold but tell him why it was wrong.

• I think very few people have this special dynamic relation with their parents.

• In all, I get very positive vibes from all the members of the family.

• I feel very comfortable at their home and that’s why I like them a lot.

Who is usually the leader in an Indian family?

India is a patriarchal society, and, in most families, the eldest male member is the leader. If it’s a joint family, its generally the grandfather and in nuclear families it’s the father.

2. How do grandparents take care of their children?

I think today grandparents fill the void left behind by working parents. Both the parents work today and as such are not able to devote enough time to the children. So, grandparents raise children just like parents. They also teach them about moral values. In some ways, they are also responsible for spoiling children as they give in to their demands much more easily than parents do.

3. What’s the most important quality of a good parent?

I think the best quality in a good parent is flexibility. Flexible parents tend to be openminded and easy-going. They resolve disagreements smoothly. Children are naturally defiant and thus inflexible parents increase defiance and rebelliousness in their children and this always escalates conflicts.

4. How can new parents learn about parenting?

I think there are many ways to learn about good parenting. They can read books on parenting. they can join parenting classes, they can watch videos on you-tube about parenting and last but not least they can take guidance from their own parents.

6. Describe an energetic person that you know

You should say

- Who this person is

- How you know this person

- Why you think this person is energetic

- And explain how you feel about this person

• When I started thinking about an energetic person, one person came to mind especially.

• His name is Mr. Vikas Chaudhary and he works as a personal fitness trainer at a gym in my hometown.

• I came to know him, when I joined the gym last year.

• When I joined, I was very clueless about which machines to use, how much weights to use and what exercises to do as a beginner.

• Mr. Vikas was the one who guided me even though I hadn’t paid for personal training services.

• He took special notice that I was a beginner and whenever I did any exercise, he told me about the correct posture and corrected me if I was wrong.

• A few weeks later, I sent him a friend request on Facebook.

• That’s how I came to know that he is a very active and energetic person.

• Firstly, he works a personal trainer 6 days from 8 AM to 8 PM, which involves a lot of physical activity.

• Before that, he goes for 1-hour jogging session daily.

• Every Sunday, he plays football for two three hours with his friends.

• So, he does some form of physical activity every day of the week besides his job, which is also physical.

• Because of all this, he has a very impressive, lean and muscular physique.

• Another thing I like about him is that he doesn’t take any supplements and he doesn’t encourage others to take supplements either.

• He believes in protein-rich diet but without any supplements.

• Recently, there was a fitness competition in Phagwara, and he got second prize in the competition.

• He is a big motivation for me.

• I want to have an active lifestyle and have a physique like him.

• I feel it takes a lot of effort to maintain a physique like him and it shows the hard work that he puts into his body.

What kind of jobs need a lot of physical activity?

I think with the coming of computers and technology, a lot of jobs don’t require as much physical activity as in the past. Still, there are a few jobs which involve manual labour like masonry, plumbing, painting etc. which involve a lot of physical activity.

2. What’s the difference between payment for physical work and payment for mental work? It’s a fact that today as a society we give more importance to mental work as compared to physical work. So, jobs which require mental work entail a much higher salary than jobs with physical work. In India especially, jobs with physical work like farming, plumbing, painting, working in factories are some of the least paid jobs.

3. Can physical workers have higher salaries in the future?

On the contrary, I think physical workers would have even lower salaries in the future relatively. This is because machines are gradually replacing manual work and I think the need for manual labour is coming down tremendously.

4. Do you think machines could replace manual labor in the future?

I don’t think machines will replace manual labor completely but there would definitely be an impact. I think with a coming of new technologies, new types of jobs will be created, which will require different skill sets. This in fact is already visible for example with the coming of driverless cars – there has been a fall in the jobs for drivers.

7. Describe a time you saw children behave badly in public

You should say

- Where it was

- What the children were doing

- How others reacted to it

- And explain how you felt about it

• I go for a walk every day at a park near my home.

• Usually, I also see a few children playing at the park during that time.

• And they are always accompanied by an adult.

• Last week when I went to the park, I saw that the children instead of playing were actually uprooting the flowers and plants.

• I tried to see if there was an adult nearby who knew the children.

• There were a few others who were here for a walk like me, but I didn’t think anyone knew the children.

• Some of them had also stopped and were thinking about what to do.

• However, an old uncle couldn’t watch this any longer.

• He went up to the kids and told them to stop doing that immediately.

• However, instead of scolding, he started telling them that how plants are living beings like us and uprooting them is like killing them.

• He then tried to make the best of situation and asked the children to help him replant the trees.

• Seeing this, some of other people and I also joined in and helped him.

• At first, I was very angry, but I also knew that the children didn’t understand the consequences of their action.

• After listening to the uncle, they stopped and actually helped in replanting the plants.

• Still, some of plants had broken roots and we knew nothing could be done to save them.

• But we didn’t say anything to the children because we didn’t want to make them feel even more guilty. (makkarIELTS)

• When a person came to pick them up, we did explain the situation.

• He apologized on behalf of the children and told us that he was sorry for leaving them unattended.

• I learned one thing from that old man rather than scolding children for their mistakes, it is our responsibility as a society to guide them and enable them to become better human beings.

1. What bad behaviour do children usually have?

Normally, the bad behavior I associate with children is creating noise, breaking things, disrespecting elders, scribbling on the walls and stealing small things like pencils, erasers. I think I am guilty of each one of them when I was young.

2. How should parents stop their children from behaving badly at public?

I think parents should stop their children from doing bad things at home. There should be no double standards. Moreover, I think parents should not just stop children from doing something bad but also tell them why it is bad to do it.

3. Are parents these days stricter than in the past?

On the contrary, I think parents are more lenient these days. I think it is mainly due to two reasons, first being the strict laws against physical punishment and the second reason is the influence of western culture.

4. Whose influence on children is more? Parents or their Friends?

I think in the early years, the parents influence is second to none as children spend majority of their time with the parents. But as children grow older, they spend considerably more time with their friends and I think during these years it is their friends that influence their behavior and thinking the most.

8. Describe a conversation topic you were not interested in

- Who you talked with

- When you had the conversation

- What the topic was

- And explain why you were not interested

• Last week, we went to my Uncle’s house as it was my cousin’s engagement.

• There, some of my other cousins started a conversation about the recent Sushant Singh Rajput suicide case.

• For the past few weeks, the main news coverage has been all about Sushant Singh Rajput.

• And it was a controversial issue from the start.

• There are some people who believe it was suicide, while there are others who believe it was murder.

• However, I was actually tired of the hearing about the issue for the past two- three months.

• I was hoping that at the wedding, we would talk about something else.

• I was actually more interested in talking about the opening of schools, Indo-China border conflict and state of the economy and more than anything else our personal lives.

• I felt that discussing the topic of Sushant Singh Rajput was depressing in some ways.

• I know mental health is an issue which needs more discussion among people, and I felt that the engagement was a joyous occasion and it was not the right place for the discussion.

• During the conversation, each of my cousins, came up with weird theory what actually happened.

• It was like – they were there, they knew Sushant Singh Rajput personally.

• I actually wanted to say if we could discuss something else, as none of us could really know what actually happened and we should just wait for the investigative agencies to conclude their proceedings.

• But, the rest of my cousins were really interested in the discussion.

• So, I didn’t say anything.

• After about fifteen minutes, I just pretended that I received a phone call and went to another room.

• But that was no respite as there my uncles were discussing the same topic.

• For the rest of the time, I just played games on my phone call.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What topics do young people in India talk about?

The youth in India talk about nearly everything from politics to sports to fashion to technological gadgets. Personally, I love to talk about mobile phones and computers with my friends.

2. What is the difference between topics that are popular now and topics that were popular in the past?

I think earlier people didn’t care so much about technology, but it is a major part of the conversation now. I also love talking about that. In addition, I think rest of the topics like sports, fashion and politics were actively discussed in the past too.

3. How do you know if others are not interested in the conversation?

I think I mostly see people’s facial reactions to see if they are interested. If they are laughing at my jokes or their facial reactions are changing as the tone of the conversation changes, they are interested. Otherwise they are not. Sometimes people are direct too. They try to cut me off and steer the conversation towards another topic.

4. What’s the influence of modern technology such as internet, emails on our communication? I think they have increased the overall communication but at the same time they have also decreased face to face communication. Moreover, they have reduced the importance of language and grammar in communication. People care more about being concise rather than being grammatically correct.

9. Describe an expensive activity that you enjoy doing occasionally

You should say

- What it is

- Who do you do it with

- Why is it expensive

- And explain how you feel about it

• My main hobbies include streaming movies, reading novels and listening to music.

• So, most of hobbies are actually quite economical.

• But occasionally I like to go for river-rafting at Rishikesh.

• I generally go there with my friends and cousins.

• Unlike, my other hobbies, it is rather expensive as the trip costs about Rs 30,000.

• First, travelling costs amount to about Rs 5000.

• Then, there is accommodation and food cost, which is about the same.

• The rest of the it is the river rafting charges.

• I started doing river rafting about three years.

• One of my friends experienced it and he couldn’t stop talking about it.

• So, during summer vacations that year, three of my friend and I went for river rafting.

• I love the river rafting experience for several reasons.

• But I think the most important reason is that it is thrilling and exciting.

• It gets my blood pumping and I feel so alive when I do it.

• I don’t know swimming and I think that adds to the feeling of danger.

• Another reason why I love river rafting is not about river rafting but rather that the fact that I get to spend time with friends.

• The whole experience takes us about two days and one night.

• During this time, we talk, play games, pull pranks on each and enjoy delicious meals together.

• We have so much fun that time passes away very quickly.

• That’s why I think we have made it a yearly tradition, which we eagerly wait for.

• If it were cheaper, we would have done it more often, but then it would have reduced its charm as well.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What kind of expensive things do people like to buy?

I think it varies from person to person, but generally expensive things people buy involve clothes, technological gadgets like mobile phones and cars and motorcycles. The most expensive product that I own is an Apple computer.

2. What the difference between men and women in buying things?

I don’t think there is a major difference today. However, men sometimes make extravagant purchases like a costly watch or a mobile phone. Women, I think make purchases after careful consideration.

3. What are advantages and disadvantages of being rich?

I think the biggest advantage of being rich is that you can prioritize your health and fitness over anything else, while poor people sometimes have to sacrifice their health for money. The biggest disadvantage of being rich is that people are always ready to fleece you. People don’t feel guilty about cheating a rich person.

4. Why are some of the sports expensive? Are they for everyone?

Some of the sports especially adventure sports are expensive because they require licenses, trained professionals and expensive safety equipment. No, I don’t think everyone can afford them. Also, they are not for the faint of heart because of the risk involved.

10. Describe an area of science that interests you

You should say

- What it is

- How you learned about it

- Why are you interested in it

• I find nearly all the different streams of science like biology, physics and chemistry very difficult.

• But one area that really interests me is astronomy.

• As with many sky enthusiasts, my interest originated in childhood.

• I don't remember the exact moment, but I do remember being very interested in space in third grade, when I was about seven.

• I remember that there was a presentation in my school on stars.

• I came back home and told my mother that I thought this was great stuff.

• Soon I could recite the names of the planets faster than anyone in the class, which for some reason was very important to me.

• I used to love to sleep outside at night so that I could look at the stars.

• My fascination with space kept growing with age.

• I think my interest stems from my curiosity to learn more about the universe and the solar system.

• Are there aliens? or Are we alone?

• Is there any other planet where we can survive or is Earth the only one?

• Space has endless mysteries and there is so much we can learn from the study of space.

• I am not a big movie buff, but I never miss a movie on space.

• I think I have watched Interstellar ten times now.

• I also love to watch you tube videos on space by famous astronomists.

• I am very interested in buying my own special telescope once I start earning.

• Science is very important in a student’s life.

• It’s through the science subjects that we begin to think logically and find answers to our questions.

• I found all the aspects of science interesting, like physics, biology and chemistry, as these sciences answer everyday questions about why things happen and how we evolved.

• Today I will be talking about a science, which I find the most interesting.

• It is computer science.

• I remember that I started becoming interested in it when we started with the computer science lessons in the 6^th standard.

• We had a wonderful teacher who taught us this subject in a very interesting way.

• Her name was Ms. Meenakshi.

• We used to have both theory and practical lessons for this subject.

• We used to look forward to the lab sessions as we got to work on the computers at that time and try out several things we had learned in class.

• The lab sessions were always enjoyable, but our teacher taught it in a very interesting way and we all enjoyed the theory lessons a lot too.

• There are many interesting things that I have learned from this science.

• The first thing is how we can use computers not just as a source of entertainment, but it’s use is much more vast than that.

• It can be used to organize and plan things at home. It can be used for many other day-to-day activities like, banking, research work, shopping, connecting with friends and relatives and so on.

• Not only that, it helps the artists creates new art and helps designers create clothes, cars, buildings, etc.

• Another reason that I have an interest in this science is because I know that in every field today we need to use computers.

• It will help me with my higher studies and also in my career later.

• In this contemporary world, the computer science has become an important science and it is essential that everyone is computer savvy to be able to do well in their studies or work or even if it is used as a source of entertainment.

1. What’s the best invention in the past hundred years?

I think there are many inventions which have transformed our lives, but I think invention of internet has had the maximum impact. Today, we have endless information available at our fingertips and we can communicate with anyone sitting anywhere.

2. What’s the influence of science on human life?

I think there are two main influences of science. First, science brings logic and reasoning in human life. It reduces the impact of superstition and makes us more open-minded and accepting of others. Second, science and inventions have made our life much more comfortable as compared to the past.

3. What can individuals do for scientific research?

I think most science inventions happen accidentally. Individuals see a need and they come up with an idea to address that need. That is how, new inventions take place. Individuals can also donate money to scientific organisation to fund scientific research.

4. What influence can international cooperation in science bring about?

There main challenges to scientific research in today’s time is the lack of funding and lack of access to information. International cooperation can address both of them. If countries share funds and their knowledge, scientific research would definitely receive a boost.

11. Describe a prize that you received

You should say

- What it was

- When you received it

- What did you do for it

- And explain how you felt about it

• I have always believed in working hard and not worrying about the outcomes.

• But I would be lying if I said that I didn’t actually care about prizes.

• When I was in school, I took part in an inter-school quiz competition.

But, just before the inter-school quiz competition we had our mid-semester exams.

• So, I couldn’t really pay much attention to competition.

• Despite that, I came first in the competition and received a gold medal.

• And this made it all the more special.

• The quiz was on different topics from science to match to general knowledge.

• I went into the competition with no expectation of winning.

• I just didn’t want to embarrass myself.

• But, two things worked in my favor.

• My general knowledge has always been good because I read the newspaper daily.

• I don’t even skip reading the newspaper on exam days.

• It is a part of my daily routine.

• I couldn’t specially prepare for the other topics, but a lot of the topics were similar to my school topics.

• So, when I was preparing for my school exams, I was also in a way preparing for the quiz.

• I still remember the day of the exam.

• I woke up on the day feeling really nervous.

• In the first round of the quiz, I answered one question, then another and then another.

• At that time, I felt I was just lucky.

• But by the third and fourth round, I felt a lot more confident.

• One of other participants was also very good.

• In the last round, it was a like direct competition between both of us.

• However, I came on top by a slight margin.

• Immediately after the competition, I was awarded the gold medal.

• I remember feeling very happy with all my teachers and peers congratulating me.

• It was all so surreal.

• I still get emotional thinking of that day sometimes.

What kind of prizes do students get?

I think the main prize that students receive are for topping the exams. Besides that there are various competitions in schools like sports competitions debate competition, quiz competition, dance and singing competitions, which entail prizes.

2. Should students get the same prize in sports and academics?

I think yes, sports and academics are the same in my eyes. I think they both have their own importance. Therefore, a student who excels in sports should be awarded the same way as students who excel in academics.

3. Why should people be awarded?

I think awards are foremost a recognition of a person’s efforts and hard work. They also build a spirit of competition. In other words, awards make people more motivated and work harder. I think very few of us are self-motivated and awards act as an external source of motivation.

4. Are awards always good for the winners?

No, I don’t think they are always good. They can also create a feeling a superiority among the winners that they are better than others. This in return, can also create a feeling a complacency among the winners and stop them from working with the same level of dedication and commitment as they did before.

12. Describe a time when you first talked in a foreign language

You should say

- Where were you

- Who you were with

- What did you talk about

- And explain how you felt about it

• I think the first time I talked in a foreign language was when I was in 3rd grade.

• It happened at school.

• My English teacher made me speak about myself in English with another classmate.

• I had learned about English alphabets in kindergarten and I could even write simple sentences in English by that time.

• However, I had never spoken a sentence aloud.

• So, I was really nervous.

• My teeth were clattering and my whole body was shivering.

• It took me a lot of time to think what I should talk about.

• Eventually I think I talked about name, my hobbies, my parents name and their profession.

• I think it was a short three sentence introduction.

• My teacher guided me and corrected me whenever I made a mistake.

• The first sentence took me more than thirty seconds but as I spoke more, I got more and more comfortable.

• After each sentence my other classmates clapped and that also boosted my confidence.

• After my turn, my teacher made all the other students do the same.

• She made pairs and made everyone come to front and talk about themselves.

• I could see that everyone went through the same feelings as me.

• My other classmates were also nervous like me, some of them were even sweating.

• But after speaking, we all felt so much better.

• I couldn’t wait to reach home and tell my mother how I spoke in English.

• Gradually, I got more and more comfortable with English.

• But that first time I spoke in English, is something I can never forget.

At what age should children start learning a foreign language?

With regards to learning a foreign language, I think the earlier the better. So, I think primary school is the best stage to start learning foreign language. Young children have less inhibitions and don’t hesitate while speaking. Also, there is a lot of burden of studies in secondary school.

2. Which skill is more important speaking or writing?

I think both are equally important. A few years ago, I would have said that speaking is more important, but with the coming of internet we have started communicating in the form of emails and chats and so writing today is equally important.

3. Does a person still need to learn another language if he is good in English?

I think learning another language is always beneficial. Bilingual children are better at multitasking and thinking out of the box. Learning another language also helps in the mental development of children. I think I have read it at many places that bilingual children outperform monolingual children academically.

4. Do you think minority languages will disappear?

Unfortunately, yes. I think it is already happening. There are many reasons for it, but the primary reason is English is prioritized in most of the countries as it gives a competitive advantage in jobs. Moreover, linguists around the world are also not doing enough to protect the minority languages. There is research into minor aspects of languages like English and French, while minority languages are completely ignored.

13. Describe a good decision you made recently

You should say

- What it was

- When you made it

- What the result was

- And explain how you felt about it

• The Corona Pandemic has slowed down life considerably.

• In fact, during the first few days after the lockdown was announced, everyone took it very seriously.

• Precautions were taken.

• However, lately, people have become a lot more complacent.

• As a family, for the past few months, we avoided going out unless it was absolutely necessary.

• We were also shopping online instead of visiting stores.

• However, last week my father decided that we will visit the wholesale store Fair Price to buy groceries.

• He believed that it would be fine if we took precautions like wearing a mask and using sanitizer after every fifteen-twenty minutes.

• But I was getting a very bad feeling about it.

• I thought the cases were increasing sharply and it was not the right time to step out.

• We could order all those online although for a slightly higher price.

• So, I convinced my dad that it was not the right time.

• I told him that we might save a few Rupees, but it was worth putting our lives at risk.

• My mother also supported me and so my dad relented.

• We made a list of things of all the things we wanted to buy and ordered them online.

• A few days later, we heard that many people had become infected after visiting Fair Price

• It was a being labelled a super-spreader by the news media.

• When we saw the news, we breathed a sigh of relief.

• My father told me that I took a wise decision.

• After the event, we have become even more cautious.

• I do believe that life must go on, but life cannot go on in the same way as before.

• We all need to take some precautions and now more than ever as the cases are increasing.

What decisions do people make every day?

I think we all make plenty of decisions everyday like what do buy, what to eat, what to watch on television and what to say to others. Then, there are decisions people have to take related to work and so on.

2. Why do people make decisions?

People make decisions to feel in control. Decisions give us a feeling that we are the masters of our fate. No one else can control our fate. Decisions also give direction to our life. Every decision has a consequence and it takes our life in certain direction.

3. Can children take decisions on their own?

Yes, I think even children can take decisions on their own, but I also believe their likelihood of making a mistake is higher than others as they are worldly-wise. Thus, parents should take decisions for children when they are young and gradually as they grow up, allow them to take decisions on their own.

4. When do people change their decision?

I think changing a decision is all about our conscience. When we get that feeling inside that we have made a mistake or we are doing the wrong thing, we try and change our decision. And if we don’t change our decision, we always feel guilty about doing the wrong thing.

14. Describe an event you attended in which you didn’t like the music played

You should say

- What the event was

- Where you were

- What the music was like

- And explain why you didn’t like the music.

• I love listening to music.

• In fact, I listen to music while cooking, while cleaning and even while studying/working.

• And I generally enjoy all genres of music from pop to rock to jazz.

• But few years I attended a concert by Sunidhi Chauhan, and I didn’t enjoy it one bit.

• There were mainly two reasons for it.

• First, Sunidhi herself didn’t show up.

• I was and still am a big Sunidhi Chauhan fan and it was a great disappointment.

• The greatest singers of the world could have come to the stage and I would still have been disappointed.

• I was really looking forward to hearing Sunidhi live for the first time.

• So, I was very disheartened.

• The second reason was the backup singers seemed like amateurs.

• They didn’t involve the crowd at all.

• Their performance was very dull and monotonous.

• I didn’t feel like I was attending a live performance at all.

• In fact, after a while, none of us were paying any attention to the songs being played.

• The music was also too loud, and it was hurting the ears.

• I remember many people asked the event managers to lower the volume of the loudspeakers.

• What added insult to injury was that the event managers refused to refund the money.

• Some of the people even fought and got their money back, but I was too tired to fight then.

• I left the concert quite early.

• More than anything else, I never got an opportunity to hear her live again, I don’t know if I will get an opportunity in the future too.

• It might remain a dream.

1. Why do so many young people spend a lot of money on concerts?

I think it is mainly because of the experience. Hearing a singer on the screen can never match the feeling of hearing them live. Also, I think it’s about spending quality time with friends.

2. Do you think older people like the same music as young people?

I feel young people like pop, rock music, basically any music that they can dance to. They don’t care about the lyrics; they care more about the fast beats. Old people are more into soft, slow, music. They actually pay more attention to the lyrics.

3. Do you think music concerts are suitable for old people to attend?

I think it might be physically taxing for the old people to stand for so long at a concert. But otherwise, I think if the old people can manage the physical exertion, the concerts are certainly suitable. Today many concerts also offer chairs, where the older people can sit and enjoy the show rather than having to stand.

4. Why do shopping malls often have background music?

I think the music is there to enhance the experience of shopping. We remember shopping through not only sight but also through music playing in the background.

15. Describe an ambition that you have for long time

You should say

- What it is

- What you did for it

- When can you achieve it

- And explain why you have this ambition

• I have had ambitions in my life.

• Some I have achieved and some I have failed to achieve.

• I have always felt the reason for my failure to achieve a goal has always been associated with my lack of motivation.

• So, today, I want to talk about ambition that I am really motivated to achieve.

• The ambition is to settle in Canada.

• I think it all started about five years ago, when one of my close friends, Ravi moved there.

• Before that, I was completely unaware about the life in Canada.

• His words have built a fairytale image of Canada in my mind

• He told me about the difference in the quality of life between India and Canada.

• The healthcare and the education system in Canada are miles ahead.

• There is no corruption, there is very negligible crime and more than anything else there is value for labour.

• Then, Canada’s weather is also to my liking, as I hate the heat.

• I sweat profusely during the summers in India and it makes not only makes me uncomfortable but also others around me.

• Canada’s summers are also quite cool.

• I also have a habit of googling pictures from Canada and the beautiful landscapes have only strengthened my resolve to settle in Canada even more.

• That is reason I am taking the IELTS exam today.

• You can see that my English is not great, but I have worked really hard to improve my English for the past few months.

• It was not easy.

• I have developed the habit of watching English movies and reading English newspapers for developing my English.

• I also try and talk with all my friends in English and even ask them to do the same.

• I know only practice makes perfect.

• I have also done research on the course and the university I want to apply to.

• Even if I fail today, I will try again- because I am really motivated to fulfil this ambition.

1. What kinds of ambition do people have?

I think ambitions vary with age. In school student’s ambitions is to get into a good college or a university. Some youngsters with a creative mindset also dream about becoming a successful celebrity or a successful singer. As people finish their education, the ambition is to get a high-paid job in reputed firm and then after children, children’s ambitions become the parent’s ambitions too.

2. Why should parents encourage children to have ambitions?

I think ambitions give direction to children. It makes sure they are dedicated and less likely to fall off the track. Moreover, if children are ambitious they are less likely to fall down on failing. They are always willing to try again.

3. Should parents interfere with children’s ambitions?

I think if parents interfere with children’s ambitions, it would create a feeling of resentment among the children for the parents. It would have disastrous long-term consequences for their relationship. I think parents should be supportive of their children’s dreams, but they can encourage them to keep backups and not put all their eggs into one basket.

4. Is there any difference of ambition of grown-ups and that of children?

I think grown-up’s ambitions are much more realistic than children because they know that life is full of problems and hurdles. Children, on the other hand, sometimes have very unrealistic ambitions. Children also don’t get much disheartened on failing to achieve their goals, while adults sometimes even go into depression on failing.

16. Describe a time when you changed your opinion

You should say

- When it was

- What the original opinion was

- Why you changed it

- And explain how you felt about it

• I think changing one’s opinion is really hard for some people.

• But I think it is much better than staying stagnant and being obstinate and stubborn.

• I have changed my opinion about different things.

• But I don’t do it easily.

• I change my opinion only when I am presented with or I come across a logic, which I find factually correct and which contradicts with my previous beliefs.

• An opinion I changed a few years ago was the about relevance of history.

• In my childhood, I strongly believed that studying history was a waste of time.

• It doesn’t teach us anything and it actually takes away time from subjects like science and math, which are really useful.

• But when I entered 10th grade, my history teacher opened my eyes to the wonderful world of history.

• She related each historical event with a situation at present.

• She told us how by reading history or analyzing history, policy makers and administrators could better handle a particular situation.

• We can lead a lot of better lives if pay attention to history.

• She also threw light on our common Indian traditions and their origins in history.

• It made me realize traditions are much more than just superficial customs practiced for pleasing elders.

• Some traditions actually have scientific backing for example water is stored in copper vessels as the copper ions dissolve in water and purify the ions.

• With each class my interest in history and my opinion about history being useless, changed.

• Now rather than opposing history education, I ardently support it.

1. Do children like to change opinion?

I think they do but it is hard for them. I think children are more emotional than adults and this means that they form opinion based on emotions. Emotional decisions in turn are very hard to change because it hurts our ego when we change them.

2. Why do people change opinion?

People change opinion when they find contradicting evidence against their previously held opinion. If they don’t change, they suffer from guilt and thus although they may resist at first, they slowly do change.

3. Who do young people turn to for advice?

I think young people mainly turn to family or figures of authority like teachers and school counsellors for advice. Some youth also turn to their peers for suggestions. Whom they turn to for advice depends upon the matter concerned and the decisions relevance in their lives.

4. Do people like giving opinion about politics?

Indian people are very opinionated when it comes to politics and they are not shy in expressing their beliefs as well. And I think this is good because this means people are politically active and they are thinking about governments decisions and policies. This also means they put a value on their vote.

17. Describe an intelligent person you know

- Who is the person?

- What does he do?

- Why do you think he is smart?

- How do you feel about him?

● I know many intelligent people.

● I find some of my friends, teachers and neighbours very intelligent.

● Here I would like to talk about my friend Sonia, who is very brilliant.

● She is 18 years of age.

● She is not tall, but looks very beautiful.

● She has curly hair and has sparkling black eyes.

● We studied together from 1st to 10th.

● Then she chose the medical stream, whereas I opted for commerce.

● I remember vividly, that she always stood first in class.

● We used to study together at home also because we were neighbours.

● I was weak at mathematics, but she guided me in such a way that I started getting good grades in mathematics also.

● She was in the good books of all teachers.

● She was not only good at studies, but also participated very actively in extra-curricular activities.

● She participated in a state level quiz show organised by the Rotary Club and bagged the trophy for our school.

● She has a great sense of humour and can turn any tense situation into a happy one by cracking jokes.

● She has a lot of ready wit.

● I just love her company.

● She has recently taken the IELTS and has scored 7.5 band overall.

● She has motivated me also to take the IELTS so that we can study together in some good college in Canada.

● So, Sonia is the person whom I find very intelligent.

1. Are most intelligent people happy? Why?

Not necessarily. Intelligent people have high expectations of life. They may feel unhappy if things don’t go according to their expectations. But, at the same time i think it is difficult to generalise. Intelligent people know that happiness is a state of mind, and so they may try their best to stay happy.

2. Do you think intelligent people are selfish?

No, selfishness has nothing to do with intelligence. I think it is personal nature to be selfish. A person who is intelligent may get success in his life and may seem to be selfish, but actually he is not. Even people who are not so intelligent may be selfish. It is basic human nature to look after one’s own interests first. So, it cannot be said that intelligence makes people selfish.

3. Do you think intelligent people are helpful?

Well, a helpful nature also has nothing to do with intelligence. Anybody can be helpful, but intelligent people can help in better ways with their intelligence. People who are not intelligent but have money can help by giving money, but intelligent people can help by educating the poor.

4. Who do you think plays a more important role in children’s education, parents or teachers? Why?

Well, both have a vital role in children’s education. The role of both parents and teachers is different, but equal. So, it is difficult to say, who has a greater role. In social education, parents have a greater role, but in academic education, teachers have a greater role.

5. What qualities do you think a good teacher should have?

A teacher should have good communication skills. Without good communication skills, a teacher cannot teach well. Secondly, he should have depth of knowledge of the subject. Then, he should be impartial. He should have no bias towards the rich or poor students. He should be able to come down to the level of the student to teach well.

6. How do teachers help children in their education?

Teachers help in all possible ways. They work hard to provide good academic knowledge to the students. They have to keep themselves up-to-date with the latest syllabi and teach students according to the requirement of the time. They can also do some career counselling and advise the students any career path according to their aptitude.

7. Why are some children more intelligent than others?

It can be because of genes. Some may be born intelligent. Some children may work hard to achieve that level of intelligence.

18. Describe a photo of yourself that you like (or you have taken)

- When it was taken?

- Where it was taken?

- Who took it? or How you took it?

- Explain how you felt about the photo

• I have an I-phone 5s, which has a dual camera.

• I click many photographs with it whenever I find anything worth capturing.

• However, I am not very fond of clicking selfies of myself alone.

• Here, I would like to talk about a group selfie, which I clicked with my relatives in a family function.

• Last month, there was the ring ceremony of my cousin Rohan.

• All our family members had assembled at our house.

• From there we had to go to Rohan’s fiancée’s house, which is near our house.

• We were all dressed to our best.

• We were standing outside, when my cousin suggested we should click a selfie together and keep it as a memory of that day.

• He had a selfie stick, include many people in that pic.

• There are ten of us in that pic. Including me.

• We all are smiling and looking very happy.

• This photograph has come out so nice that I have displayed it as my desktop background.

• Whenever I open my laptop the memories of that day come alive in my mind.

• All my other relatives, who are in this photograph have a copy of this in their cell phones.

• It has rightly been said that a good photograph keeps a moment from running away.

• Whenever, I am free I open my web albums and old photographs bring back nostalgic memories of the past.

• This photograph, brings a smile on my face every time I see it.

1. Do Indian people like to take photos of themselves?

Yes, Indian people do like to take photos of themselves. Selfies have become very common nowadays. Smart phones have become very economical. So most young people have a smart phone in their hands, and these smart phones have cameras in the front and in the back. So, taking selfies has become a routine with the young people.

2. What kinds of devices to people like to use for taking photos these days? People use cameras and cell phones for taking photos these days.

3. Why do some people like to delete photos?

Sometimes the photographs may not be good, and sometimes the memory card may be full. So people have to delete photographs.

4. Why do some people like to keep photos?

Some people like to keep photos because photographs are mirrors of the past and they want to preserve those memories forever.

5. Has the way people take photos changed?

Yes, the way people take photos has changed a lot. Now digital cameras have become popular. People do not have to worry about wasting precious film. They can take as many photographs as they like. They do not even need to get them printed. They can save those photographs in their web albums. Even a three-year old child can click photographs.

19. Describe a person who helps others in his or her spare time

- Who this person is?

- How often this person helps others?

- How this person helps others?

- Why this person helps others?

- How you feel about this person?

• We live in a world which is full of people with different nature and attitudes.

• Some individuals find joy in achieving success whereas some find bliss in helping others.

• Today, I would like to talk about one such person whose life motto is to help others and fight for human rights.

• His name is Prabloch Singh.

• He is in his early thirties and is tall and handsome.

• He has done his graduation in Computers and works with an IT company.

• But after his work hours, he takes the role of a super hero where his mission is to help as many people as possible.

• He is also the founder of a human rights organisation called Middle Finger Protests.

• His journey for human rights and causes started when he was very young.

• He helped in bringing justice for the family of an air hostess who was murdered in a bar by an influential person.

• Even though he got many threats to his life, he continued his protests to fight for the justice

• His role was also picturized in a movie called No one Killed Jessica.

• Similarly, he has led various other protests to bring justice to other victims.

• He also does a lot of charity and social work for people by organizing free food stalls and distributing clothes to the needy.

• He has been awarded at national and International level for his contribution to humanitarian causes.

• He has also represented India as an ambassador for Human Rights at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

• The best thing about him is that he is not afraid of fighting for the right cause, even if he has to make a lot of sacrifices.

• He is an inspiration for today’s generation.

• When I talk about him, I feel motivated that I should also give back to the society.

Do people nowadays help others more than in the past?

There have been helpful people in every era and they use the means they can to help others in need. I believe that people have more means to help other people anywhere in the world because of technology. That was not possible in the past.

2. Who should teach children to help others? Parents or teachers?

Both parents and teachers share the responsibility to ensure that the children learn to help others. Parents should be role models for their and teachers can have lessons and activities in schools to inculcate/imbibe this value/virtue in children.

3. In what kind of professions do people help others more?

I think in all professions people help other directly or indirectly through their products and services. However, those working in the social/community service fields, like NGOs working to promote child education, women empowerment, and other such social issues, help others more.

4. Why are some people willing to help others?

People who are empathetic, sensitive, and compassionate are more willing to help others. These values are what they have seen and learned from their parents, teachers and other people around them while they are growing up.

20. Talk about a prize you want to win

- What prize it is?

- How do you know about it?

- What will you do to win it?

- Why do you want to win?

• Everyone loves prizes, winning them makes one happy.

• Prizes also motivate us to work hard and prove the fact that hard work is key to success.

• I have not won many prizes in my life but one prize I would like to get would be the first prize in marathon race which is held every year in my city.

• The race is organized by Standard Chartered Bank.

• It is held to spread awareness about diseases like cancer and also to make people aware about the benefits of healthy living.

• All the money collected from this race goes to a charity.

• The winner of the race gets a cheque of Rs 1 Lakh along with a trophy, medal and a certificate.

• The winner also gets a chance to represent the city in other marathon races held across the world.

• Every year almost ten thousand people from our city participate in this race.

• The race is held in the first week of November, normally the first Sunday.

• Last year one of my best friends won the second prize in the race.

• He finished the distance of 42 kms in approx. 3 hours.

• After seeing him get the second prize, I felt motivated to participate in the race.

• I am not a professional runner but since then I have started running.

• Nowadays I can run 30 kilometers in approx. 2.5 hours and I am working on improving my time.

• Hopefully I will be ready by November.

• Preparing for this race has made me healthy and I have also learnt a lot from running.

• If I do not win this year, I will keep trying until I win the prize.

What rewards can children get from school?

Children can get rewards in the form of certificates, medals, words of appreciation in the classroom or assembly or in the form of notes written to parents. Some other prizes that are given in schools are books, stationary, and gift vouchers.

2. Should parents push their children to get prizes?

I would say that the parents should encourage their children to participate in competitions and give it their best efforts. They should make their children understand that if their efforts are sincere, the rewards will follow. Inculcating a sense of competition is important, but making children over-competitive can have some repercussions.

3. Is it good for children to compete for prizes at school?

It is good for children to compete for prizes as it gives them an opportunity to test their abilities and skills. It also teaches them the importance of putting in their best efforts. Prizes can act as a motivation for many students to participate in competitions and that in turn helps them recognize their talent.

4. What kinds of rewards can companies offer to their outstanding employees?

Companies can offer rewards to employees in form of certificates, vouchers, bonuses, and other gift prizes. Some companies also offer gifts like holiday packages, etc.

21. Describe a book you read that you found useful or Describe an exciting book you read

- When you read it

- What type of book is it

- What is it about

- Why did you find it useful

• I have not read many books apart from my text books.

• Here, I would like to talk about a book, which my friend gifted me, and I read it all.

• I found this book very useful and motivating and would like to read it again.

• This book is ‘The Wings of Fire’ by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

• My friend got this book as a prize when she participated in a declamation contest

• It is Dr. Kalam’s autobiography.

• It was first published in 1999.

• This book became popular only after Dr. Kalam became the President of India.

• He was sworn in as the president of India on 25th July 2002.

• Mr Arun Tiwari helped DrKalam in writing the book.

• In this book Dr. Kalam says why he wrote his autobiography.

• This book is very motivating.

• From this book I came to know all about the life and achievements of Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

• Dr. Kalam was born in a very poor family in the southern parts of India at Rameshwaram.

• The reason why I admire him is that his life shows how & ordinary boy from a deprived class (poor family) could reach the highest level of the nation.

• He became not only the best rocket engineer but also the first citizen of the nation.

• It is true that he described his post as the President as a piece of luck, but his achievement as a rocket engineer was because of sheer hard work.

• He is a role model for one and all.

• The success of Dr. Kalam depended on the fact that he was willing to grow daily.

• He learned everything that come to him and was always looking for things to learn.m a k k a

r I E L T S

• The real success of Dr. Kalam is in his application of the discipline, what he learned, in other fields also.

• That is why he could contribute to the making of the artificial limbs of lesser weight.

• In him we find a person with insatiable quest for knowledge & great love for suffering fellow beings.

• Unfortunately, we don’t have Dr. Kalam with us today, but he will live in the hearts of all Indians.

• I would like to read this book again, because it is a very motivating book.

Do people in your country like to read books?

Yes, people of my country like to read books. There are bookshops in most towns and cities, which are all doing good business.

2. What kinds of books are most popular in your country?

All types of books are very popular. India is a diverse country. People have diverse tastes in everything, including reading.

3. Do you think reading is important?

Yes, reading is very important. It develops imagination and also develops language skills.

4. Do you think electronic books will eventually replace paper books? Not completely, but to a large extent yes. E-books have a lot of advantages

Benefits of e-books over traditional books

Easy to carry while traveling Need less storage space -

Less costly

Immediate purchase -

You can do font adjustments.

5. Some people like to collect books. Why do you think they do this?

They do so because they love books. They treat books as collectibles, and are proud of their collection.

6. Is compulsory reading (in school) is a good idea?

Yes, definitely. In order for students to achieve in math, science, English, history, geography, and other subjects, reading skills must be developed to the point that most of them are automatic. Students cannot struggle with word recognition when they should be reading quickly for comprehension of a text. But the ability to read and write develops with careful planning and instruction. Children need regular and active interactions with print.

Reading is a Good Workout

Just like muscles, the brain benefits from a good workout. And reading is more demanding than watching TV or listening to the radio.

Reading Builds Vocabulary

While reading books, especially challenging ones, you will find yourself exposed to many new words you wouldn’t be otherwise.

Reading Helps Self Esteem

Another one of the key reading benefits is that the more you read, the more knowledgeable you become. With more knowledge comes more confidence. More confidence builds selfesteem. So it’s a chain reaction. Reading Improves Creativity

Reading exposes you to new ideas and more information helps to develop the creative side of the brain.

7. What books do children read and what do adults read?

Children read fantasy, fiction and books on supernatural characters like Barbie, Superman and Shaktiman. Adults read biographies, fiction and religious and spiritual books.

8. Why men and women prefer different books? This is because they have different tastes.

9. Why some books become internationally popular?

This is perhaps because these receive a lot of publicity.

10. What type of books children read nowadays? What type of books did children like reading in the past and what do you think they will read in the future?

Nowadays, generally speaking, the reading habit of the children is on the decline. Whatever books they read are based on fantasy, fiction and supernatural characters like Barbie, superman and Shaktiman.

50 years ago – Children read a lot. They read moral and spiritual books. They read animal stories. After 50 years – I do not think they will do any reading. All the time will be spent in front of computers.

11. Do you think children have lost their interest in stories?

No, I don’t think that children have lost their interest in stories. However, the stories they read today are very different from those in the past.

12. Can storybooks be an ideal gift for children?

Yes, definitely! Storybooks can be an ideal gift for children. They can help the child imagine the characters in the mind, which is the first step to creativity. Another important benefit is that we can impart the knowledge of culture, tradition, moral values and religion in the mind of the child. This forms the basis of the child’s personality. Finally, storybooks enhance the curiosity of the child and enhance their mental growth.

22. Describe a time when you received good news

- What was it about

- Who told you the news

- When you knew it

- How you felt about it

- Why do you think it was good

• The Internet has shrunk the whole world.

• People are connected with hundreds of friends and relatives through social networking apps and sites like facebook and Whatsapp.

• Now face to face meetings have become very few and people share their joys and sorrows through status updates on these sites.

• Here, I would like to talk about a good news that I received from my cousin.

• It so happened that my cousin Prabhjeet, my maternal aunt’s son, who is in Chandigarh put up his status that he was flying to Canada for his higher education after Senior secondary.

• I had met him about 6 months ago at a family function

• But he hadn’t shared anything about his plan to go abroad.

• Last month, I read his status that he had got his Visa and was going to Centennial College Canada to do a course in Business Management.

• My joy knew no bounds.

• I called him immediately and congratulated him.

• I told him that I was very happy about his plan, but at the same time I was a bit angry that he hadn’t told me anything about it before.

• He told me that it had all been a sudden plan, and that he had no intention of hiding anything.

• Immediately after his plus 2 result, he joined college for doing graduation in Commerce.

• But there one of his classmates had enrolled himself in an IELTS coaching centre.

• So he motivated him also to join him.

• Till he took the IELTS he had no intention of going abroad.

• But then he and his friend both got 7 band each and then they both consulted an agent, who told them all the details for a study visa.

• Prabhjeet had a tough time convincing his parents to send him abroad, but then they agreed and he applied

• He was very busy in the application process, but luckily he got the visa on the fifth day after submitting his file.

• He has also motivated me to take the IELTS and join him in Canada.

• That is why I am taking the IELTS.

• So, this is the good news I received through the internet.

1. Is it important to read the news?

Yes, it is. News keep us connected with the outside world. We come to know what is happening around us. They tell us what our government is doing for us and also update us with the weather conditions. We also come to know about the lives of the people we follow, such as celebs in the field of entertainment and sports.

We also come to know what is happening in our whole country and even the world.

2. What kind of news do people in your country like to read?

People like to read all sorts of news. They read sports news, political news, weather updates, employment news, and so on.

3. Are young people and old people interested in same kind of news?

Their tastes are different, but then there are individual variations among the people of the same age group too. Generally, youngsters are more into sports news and Bollywood news, whereas the elderly are more into political news.

4. Is it important to keep reading up to date news?

Yes, it is important to be abreast of the latest happenings around us. We can be prepared to face any problems if we are aware of the situation outside.

5. How do people in your country get news?

People get news through various sources, such as TV, the Internet, newspapers and radio.

6. Do you think children should start watching news from a young age?

Yes, the habit of watching news should be inculcated from a very early age. They would be aware of the outside world through the news. Otherwise they will have a very narrow outlook of life.

7. Why do some people like to share news in social media?

Social media such as facebook and Whatsapp and Twitter has become very powerful. Sharing news helps keep more people abreast of the happenings around them, even those who don’t normally watch the news.

23. Describe a film/movie that made you laugh

- What is the name of this movie? - when did you watch it? - Who you watched it with - why it made you laugh?

• I am an ardent admirer of Aamir Khan.

• His movies are loaded with strong social messages, yet they are not devoid of entertainment.

• My favourite movie to date is Rang De Basanti.

• It is a comedy as well as a drama movie and has an excellent storyline.

• It was released in 2006 but I am yet to watch a movie that can match Rang De Basanti.

• I have viewed this several times maybe 6 or 7 but every time I am surprised that I sit through the movie from beginning to the end without feeling bored.

• It was directed by Om Prakash Mehra and it starred Aamir Khan and Soha Ali Khan, Anupam Kher and Kiron Kher besides Sharman Joshi and Kunal Kapoor

• All the actors in this movie have performed to the best of their abilities that means the movie is very well directed and well presented

• The setting is both pre-partition days in India and modern-day India.

• The story revolves around six Indians young students who assist an English Woman to film a documentary on the freedom fighters from their past.

• The events that lead make them to relive the long-forgotten saga of freedom.

• In fact, they realise they love their country and can make supreme sacrifice for it.

• It has very moving songs and has won the award for music director A.R. Rehman.

• Some of the scenes are so hilarious that I start laughing even when I am alone

• It is a movie that shows that today’s younger generation may appear to be aimless and carefree but given the right direction and guidance they can achieve wonders.

1. Do people like comedy?

Yes, people love to watch comedy as it is a great source of entertainment. Also, in today’s world where everyone has to work really hard, comedy acts as a great stress buster. Personally, I love to watch comedy series on Netflix. My favourite comedy series is a US based sitcom called Friends.

2. Why do people of all ages like cartoons?

People of all ages love to watch cartoons because they are really funny and enjoyable. Kids like watching cartoons because they are fun and they can learn many things from them. Cartoons are fantastical, so they could think their dreams are coming true by cartoons. For adults, cartoons take them back to their childhood and provide breaks from their hectic schedule.

3. Why do some people like to make others laugh?

I think there are 2 main reasons why some people like to make others laugh. First, when they make others laugh it makes them look more attractive, especially to the opposite gender. For example, women like men who have a humorous nature. Secondly, it helps them to break the ice or remove the tension in a nervous situation.

4. Should teachers tell jokes in class?

Yes, teachers should definitely crack jokes in a class. It would help them to develop a stronger bond with their students and also it could be used as a tool to explain some difficult concepts to the students. Also, the students will not be scared of their teachers and will respect them more.

24. Describe an occasion when you wasted your time.

You should say

- Where you were

- When it was

- What you did

- And explain why you think it was a waste of time

• No one likes to waste time but still most of us waste time from time to time.

• I think I have also wasted a lot of time but a recent occasion when it happened was during the Corona lockdown days.

• India went into lockdown in the last week of March.

• It was a shock for all of me as I had never faced or even imagined such a situation.

• For the first two three weeks after the lockdown the announced I did nothing.

• I was at home with my family.

• I thought it would be over soon and I will be back in daily routine soon.

• Before the lockdown I was planning to take the IELTS exam.

• But I hadn’t bought any books to prepare.

• During the lockdown no bookstores were open.

• I just kept thinking, I will start preparing once the lockdown is over and things start.

• However, the government kept on extending the lockdown and I just passed my time watching movies, playing mobile games.

• I had a big list of things I wanted to learn – like baking a cake, 3 D origami etc.

• If not study, I could have learnt them.

• And to be honest, I knew that a lot of material for IELTS was available online.

• I could have downloaded it and started studying from the very first day.

• I was at home the whole day and I had no worries.

• It would have been the best time to study.

• I really wish I would have utilized that time more productively.

• Contains more than 400+ Essays from past exams and which are often repeated in the IELTS exams

• Essay structures for different types of essays

• Covers all topics asked in IELTS exam

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1. How can we avoid wasting time?

I think the best way to avoid wasting time is to make a schedule. Also, another thing we can do is to engross our self in work. Only if we are free, we can waste time. We should always keep doing something in our free time. In other words, we should never be free actually.

2. Is time management important?

Yes, time management is really important. I think there is only resource that we can never get back and that is time. And there is no bigger regret in life than wasting time.

3. Should parents help children manage time?

Yes, in the beginning yes. They can make a timetable for them and make sure they follow it. If children develop such a habit at young age, it stays with them for life.

4. Do you think relaxing is a waste of time?

No, I don’t think relaxing is a waste of time. However, relaxing should not be doing nothing. I feel relaxed when I do things I love. Just sitting idle is a waste of time. It is better to do something in our free time than to just sit idle.

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• Based and designed in accordance with IELTS Exam

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• 20 Complete Practice Tests (21-40)

• Based and designed in accordance with IELTS Exam

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• Passages often repeated in actual exams

• Tips for different types of reading questions

• Available on www.makkarielts.com

• And local bookshops in India

25. Describe something or someone that made a lot of noise.

You should say

- Who or what made the noise?

- What was the noise like?

- What did you do when you heard the noise?

- And how you feel about it?

• I think there is lot of noise in India.

• It is in fact hard to find a quiet place.

• So, I am going to talk about an occasion when my nephew made a lot of noise.

• He is just 5 years old.

• But he is very fond of bursting crackers.

• During last Diwali, he went shopping for crackers with my dad and he bought him a lot of crackers.

• After visiting the Temple/ Gurudwara, when we came back home, he went to the terrace and for the next one hour, we could hear nothing but the sound of crackers.

• He burst so many crackers.

• The noise was deafening, and all the family members couldn’t wait for him to stop.

• I can’t imagine how my dad tolerated the noise as he was with him outside on the terrace.

• Rest of us were inside the house and for us the inside the house noise the intolerable.

• I tried to distract myself, but the noise was too much.

• I didn’t want to spoil my nephew’s mood by telling him to stop either.

• So, after waiting for half an hour for him to stop, I decided to put on my noise cancelling headphones and watch a movie

• My sister had gifted them to me a year ago.

• That was the day, I actually tested the noise cancelling part.

• It was amazing, I couldn’t hear anything except the sounds in the movie.

• My other family members were not so lucky, and they had to tolerate the noise.

• My dad also decided that day and there would be no crackers from next Diwali.

• Crackers not only create noise pollution, but they are also harmful for the environment.

1. Where can people hear a lot of noise?

People can hear a lot of noise at public places like bus stations, railway stations, malls and so on. Moreover, in big cities, there is a lot of noise on the roads during traffic because of honking. In India, religious places also use loudspeakers and thus there is a lot of noise there.

2. What may happen when someone listens to very loud music using headphones when they are running or hiking?

I think in the long term, it might cause permanent damage to ears. Moreover, it may also lead to accidents as people while running might not hear car horns due to loud music. So, I would not consider it to safe to put on loud music in public places.

3. What can be done to reduce traffic noise?

I think government can make strict rules about honking and unnecessarily honking should be considered a traffic violation. Also, car engines start making noise after a few years, so people should be encouraged to replaced car engines after a few years.

4. Do you think the world will be noisier in the future?

On the contrary, I think the world would be quieter because people are becoming less social than before. I think noise is mainly made in social situations. More and more people are becoming introverted and thus I think noise would also reduce for this reason. Also governments have also made strict rules about noise and thus noise would reduce in the future.

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26. Describe a water sport you would like to try in the future or Describe a sport you would like to try for the first time

- What is it

- Where you will do it

- Whether it is easy or difficult

- Why would you like to try it (makkar |ELTS)

• The water sport I would like to try in future is River Rafting.

• Although I do not know how to swim but river rafting is done by wearing safety jackets, so one does not drown in the water.

• It is an adventurous water sport.

• There are many other water sports like deep sea diving, jet ski, para sailing etc but I want to try this first.

• I learnt about river rafting from one of my best friends.

• He did River Rafting last year during the summers and he told me it is really exciting.

• In my country people go to Rishikesh for white water rafting.

• It’s a beautiful town located in the state of Uttrakhand.

• People do rafting on Ganges River, which flows between the Himalayan mountains.

• One can do rafting for 12 kilometers or 16 kilometers. (makkar IELTS)

• Rafting is not a difficult sport, it can be done by people of all age groups.

• But, you need to have an expert guide with you because at some places it gets dangerous.

• That is why they provide safety equipment like helmets and life jackets to everyone.

• Rafting is done early in the morning.

• Each raft can carry approximately 6-8 people and a guide sits at the end. • The raft is inflated using air pump and people paddle to drive it forward.

• During the course, there are several rapids in the river which bring a lot of thrill.

• When the raft goes through the rapids it gets very fast and can sometimes go up in the air as well.

• I want to try this sport because I have never tried adventure sports in my life and this water sport sounds really exciting to me.

• I will probably do rafting during the next summers.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. Which is the most popular water sport in your country?

According to me, the most popular water sport in my country is White Water Rafting. One doesn’t need to know swimming to do this sport. One has to wear a life jacket and be seated in the raft. The adventure level in moderate and it also includes calm sailing sections too.

2. Why do people like to do things near water?

Water is a necessity and serves the purpose of adventure and recreation too. People like to camp and have a bonfire near water. They enjoy fishing and having parties near the coast. The scenic views around water during sunrise and sunset are pleasant and soothing.

3. Do you think schools should teach students to swim and why?

Absolutely! Schools should teach students how to swim. It is not just a complete workout, it is a life skill that can help students in moments of need and emergencies.

4. Are there many schools teaching swimming?

Not many, but some of the good schools do teach swimming now. To teach swimming, schools have to invest a lot of funds and space to build a pool and hire a good instructor. It isn’t possible for many of the schools.

5. Why should water transport be developed?

Water transport plays an important role in worldwide trade. There are many goods which are imported and exported through water transport. Also, cruise ships have become an important part of tourism and their popularity has risen in the recent years. It gives people an opportunity to not only travel to new places but also to explore the marine life.

6. Do you think it is necessary for everyone to learn how to swim?

Yes, I think swimming is an important skill that everyone should learn. It helps us stay physically and mentally fit. And for some people, especially those who live near a water body, it is an important life skill.

7. What is the difference between outdoor sports and indoor sports

The main difference between outdoor and indoor spots is the physical activity. There is more physical activity in the sports played outdoors compared to most sports that are played indoors. Another difference is that most indoor games are played alone while most outdoor ones are played in teams or groups. So there is more social exposure and more skills are learnt when playing outdoor sports.

27. Describe a time when you were surprised to meet a friend.

You should say

- Where it was

- Who you met?

- When was it?

- Why were you surprised?

• I have very few friends and we are very close to each other.

• So, it is not often I get surprised.

• However, last year, I got a big surprise when I met one of my friends in Chandigarh at Rose Garden.

• I went to Rose Garden with my family during last summer.

• We were all sitting on mat, which we had laid out on the grass, and were enjoying a picnic lunch.

• Suddenly, I felt someone’s hand on my shoulder.

• I turned around and I was surprised to see one of my closest friends Siddharth.

• I knew he was in also in Chandigarh, but I never expected to see him at Rose Garden.

• He told me that he came to know my whereabouts through the photos which I had uploaded on Instagram.

• He was doing some shopping at a mall very close to Rose Garden.

• So, he decided to surprise me.

• He called my sister to find out, where exactly we were in Rose Garden.

• So, actually everyone else knew he was coming, except me.

• It was a big surprise for me.

• My sister also photographed my reaction when I turned around to see him.

• After the big shock, he also joined us for the picnic.

• Then, I spent some time at the mall with him.

• Not surprisingly, we could only do window shopping.

• He still sometimes brings it up by saying that remember the time I surprised you at Rose Garden.

• I am looking for an opportunity to surprise him, like he surprised me.

• But he is expecting it, so it would be very hard to do so.

1. Why do friends meet up?

I think there are various reasons. The first is to just spend some time together because for most people doing things together is more fun than doing things alone. Secondly, I think it is just to talk, share and get advice on matters and so on.

2. Are there any meetings that people need to plan in advance?

Yes, there are many meetings that people plan in advance like a doctor’s appointment. In case of friends also, it is better to take an appointment because the other person might be busy with work.

3. Are there any jobs related to unexpected things?

I think there are companies that help people plan surprise parties. So that maybe a job related to unexpected things. I can’t think of anything else besides that at the moment. In research also, many findings have been unexpected – gravity for example.

4. Do unexpected things lead to progress on our society?

Yes, for sure. Like I said before, scientific discoveries happen by chance. The biggest discovery I can think of was of the microwave. It was discovered by the scientists while working on something completely unrelated and now we can’t imagine a kitchen without a microwave.

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28. Describe an old person you know and respect

- Who he or she is (makkarIELTS)

- How you know this person

- What he or she is like

- And explain why you respect him or her

Sample answer

• I know many old people and I respect all of them. • Actually, it is in our culture to respect the elderly.

• Here I would like to talk about my grandfather.

• His name is Manmohan Singh

• He is in his early 70s

• He is not tall but looks very handsome

• He generally wears white kurta pyjama

• He wears a white turban

• He has done his Masters in history

• He retired as a school teacher

• He is a very kind hearted person

• Everyone in our family and in a neighbourhood respects him

• Whenever anyone in the neighbourhood comes to him for advice he listens to them very patiently and tries to help them in whatever way he can

• He even donates part of his pension for charity. • I respect him because of many reasons

• First he is my grandfather and he loves me a lot

• Whenever I need anything and my parents are reluctant to listen, my grandfather always takes my side.

• Second he deserves all the respect that he gets

• He speaks very politely to everyone.

• He always says that to get respect, you must first learn to give respect

• He is a very disciplined person

• He never misses his morning and evening walk

• Even at this age he is very lithe and agile

• He does yoga and meditation for half an hour every day

• He is the head of the senior citizens club

• He is a role model for many people who know him

• He has a great sense of humour

• He can turn any tense situation into a happy one by cracking light jokes • So my grandfather is the person I love and respect a lot

1. What qualities does a person need to have to take care of old people?

A person needs to be patient when taking care of the old people, because the elderly are like children in many ways. It is very important to realise that the elderly may sometimes be hard of hearing and so the person should not get impatient or lose temper while taking care of the elderly. A person also needs to be a good listener while taking care of the elderly people because their main problem is social isolation and they need someone to talk to. One should be very polite and respectful towards the elderly.

2. Do you think old people should be taken care of at home?

Ideally yes, but if there is a problem at home and both the younger people are working then professional caretakers should be hired to look after the elderly at home or the elderly should be left in a good nursing home where they can be taken care of well.

3. How can people in the neighbourhood help the elderly during an epidemic?

People in the neighbourhood can help the elderly in many ways during an epidemic. For example, if an elderly couple is living alone then the people in the neighbourhood can help by buying vegetables and groceries for them so that they don’t have to go out during an epidemic. They can cook for them and take care of them and help them get timely medical aid whenever needed.

4. Do you see this kind of help occurring in your neighbourhood?

Yes, there is an elderly couple in our street and their children are living abroad. Now during the Corona lockdown, my parents bought vegetables and groceries for them so that they didn’t have to go out. My father also used to call them daily to ask if they needed anything. My mother also sometimes cooked for them so that they didn’t have to do all the work as even maids were not allowed in those days.

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29. Describe a risk you have taken which had a positive result.

- What it was?

- Why you took it?

- What the result was?

- How you felt about it?

• We all take risks in our life.

• Sometimes we realise we are taking a risk, and sometimes we don’t even realise that we are taking a risk.

• For instance, crossing a busy road is also taking a risk and boarding a train which has started is also taking a risk.

• In these situations we don’t even realise that we are taking risks.

• Here, I would like to talk about a situation when I took a risk and it had a positive result.

• I have a pet dog, Nora, whom I take for a walk in the evening every day.

• It’s a toy breed, shih tzu.

• Our neighbours have a German shepherd, Bruno, which is very aggressive.

• Everyone in our street is afraid of that dog.

• Even I am very afraid of that dog.

• They tell all of us not to be afraid of their dog as it is well trained and would not harm any known person.

• But Bruno’s growl is worse than the Corona pandemic.

• Normally they keep their dog leashed all the time.

• One day, as I was walking in the street with Nora, Bruno escaped and came running towards us.

• Nora ran the other side and her leash slipped from my hand.

• I knew I had to act quickly and save Nora.

• I came between that dog and Nora.

• In that one second, I could imagine myself being bitten at several places and blood oozing out from all of them.

• It was a big risk, but at that moment the safety of my dear Nora was the most important thing for me.

• When I came between Bruno and Nora, I took Bruno’s name in a stern voice and told him to sit.

• Surprisingly, he sat still and started wagging its tail.

• I heaved a sigh of relief.

• In the meantime, my brother had come out and Nora was safe in his arms.

• I felt so happy that I was able to save Nora.

• So, this was the risk I took which had a positive result.

1. Why do some people enjoy extreme sports?

Some people enjoy extreme sports because they’re adventurous by nature. They get the thrill out of doing challenging sports. Some people also do it for money as there is a lot of money involved in such sports.

2. Are action films popular in your country?

Yes, action films are very popular in my country. They are especially popular among children and young people.

3. Do you think it is a good thing if a leader likes to take risk?

Yes, I think it is a good thing if a leader likes to take risk. Somebody has to take the risk at times, and if a leader is taking a risk that means he is excepting the responsibility that if something goes wrong he is to blame for it. People look upon such leaders who have the ability and the courage to take risks and do things differently.

4. Do you think men and women will make a different choice about risk taking?

Nowadays, gender differences are disappearing and so are the choices about risk-taking. It is an individual variation. Irrespective of the gender, if a person is daring he or she will take the risk.

5. What about the young and old?

Generally young people like to take risks, whereas the elderly like to play it safe. It also depends on the type of risk involved. If the risk may land a person into some physical injury, then young people come forward, but if the risk is like investing money then the elderly may have more experience and may step forward to take the risk.

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30. Describe a mistake you have made

- What it is?

- When you made it?

- How you made it?

- How you felt about it?

• We all make mistakes in life

• In fact making mistakes is part of human behaviour

• Here I would like to talk about a mistake which I made recently

• During the Corona pandemic there was a lockdown going on in all the states

• After a few days of the lockdown the government allowed two hours relaxation in the morning to go out and buy vegetables and groceries.

• My mother asked me to buy some vegetables from the vegetable market.

• I put on my mask, took a tote bag and went out on my scooter to buy the vegetables

• When I reached that vegetable market I saw a huge crowd over there

• Actually it was the first day of relaxation and so most of the people had come out of their homes

• I should’ve come back after seeing the crowd but I made the mistake of going in and buying the vegetables

• Social distancing was unavoidable in such a big crowd

• I somehow bought the vegetables and returned home

• When I told my mother about the crowd she was very angry at me and told me that I should’ve come back.

• It was all over the news that because of this relaxation many people had come out and social distancing was not followed.

• All the news channels were advising people to take care of social distancing

• I felt really bad and I realised my mistake

• I felt that the government is doing its duty very well but it is the onus of the people also that they themselves realise what is good for them and avoid making such mistakes

• After that my mother has started buying vegetables from the hawkers that come in the streets

• The authorities have allowed hawkers to go to the streets and sell vegetables so that people don’t crowd in vegetable markets.

• So this is the mistake that I committed recently.

1. What can we learn from our mistakes?

We can learn a lot from our mistakes. Firstly, we learn not to repeat those mistakes. Secondly, we learn how to do things in a better way. We also learn that what we think are small mistakes can prove very dangerous in the long run. For example, if a person goes out without a mask during any infectious disease epidemic, he may suffer from that disease and it may be very risky. So not putting up the mask may seem a small mistake but it can have grave consequences.

2. Do children make mistakes easily?

Yes, children make mistakes very easily. They are very young and making mistakes is part and parcel of learning.

3. What should parents do if their children make mistakes?

Parents should guide their children if they make mistakes. They should teach their children in a very friendly way so that children are not afraid of telling them their mistakes in future.

4. How do children benefit from using dictionaries?

Children benefit a lot by using dictionaries. They can look for the meaning of a word, and even hear the pronunciation through online or digital dictionaries.

• 20 Complete Practice Tests (1-20)

• Based and designed in accordance with IELTS Exam

pattern.

• Passages often repeated in actual exams

• Tips for different types of reading questions

• Available on www.makkarielts.com

• And local bookshops in India (list: end of this pdf)

• 20 Complete Practice Tests (21-40)

• Based and designed in accordance with IELTS Exam

pattern.

• Passages often repeated in actual exams

• Tips for different types of reading questions

• Available on www.makkarielts.com

• And local bookshops in India (list: end of this pdf)

31. Describe a volunteering experience you have had

- What it was

- Where it was

- Why you volunteered

- How you felt about it

• I have not had many volunteering experiences in my life

• But recently I got an opportunity to volunteer and I really liked it

• In March 2020 when the Corona pandemic started in India our prime minister ordered a complete lockdown in the whole of India.

• Many labour class people were jobless all of a sudden.

• These people depend on their daily earning for their living and in one blow their source of earning was gone.

• There is an NGO in my hometown which advertised through the local Cable TV that they needed volunteers to provide food and other things of need to these workers

• My friend and I decided to volunteer for this noble cause

• We called the NGO and asked them where we had to come and what we had to do?

• They told us that either we could help with the cooking or we could help with the delivery of food packets

• We volunteered for cooking, as my parents were a bit sceptical about us going out for delivering food packets

• We went for a whole month and cooked food for these labourers from morning till evening

• Of course we all took proper precautions and we were always masked.

• It was very tiring but it gave us great happiness

• I noticed that many people were donating things for these poor people

• Every day I saw hundreds of packets of grocery and cooking oil there to give to the poor people who had suddenly lost their livelihood.

• For the first time I realised that doing for others gives a lot of mental peace.

• I also realised that we keep cribbing for our problems, which are actually very small if we compare them to what so many around us are suffering from.

• I’ve started developing empathy for others

• I feel very happy about it and it has changed my perspective about life a lot

• I have learnt to value what I have and not crib for what I do not have.

• I remember that whole week when I used to come home my mother made me go straight to the bathroom and take a bath before letting me in any other room

• She also used to wash my clothes and mask immediately

• In a way my family also supported me for doing this volunteer work • So this was the volunteering experience that I had recently

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Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What qualities are required for being a volunteer?

As such no special qualities are needed to become a volunteer. The person should just be willing to provide his services without expecting anything back in return. It also depends upon the type of work. For example, a doctor can volunteer to provide his services free of cost, a teacher can volunteer to teach for children free of cost, people can volunteer to do work like cleaning the parks or helping the poor people.

2. What type of personality does a volunteer has?

A volunteer has a friendly personality. He is easily approachable by people. He always wears a smile on his face. He has good communication skills.

3. How can companies engaging in volunteering help our society?

Companies engaging in volunteering can help the society in many ways. They can help by providing funds to schools, hospitals and in many other ways. They can also do tree plantation which would go a long way in improving the environment.

4. Do you think people nowadays should participate more in volunteering?

Yes I think people should volunteer more nowadays. As it is, people are leading self-centred lives. So, by volunteering they will be in touch with the community and it will give them a purpose in life.

5. How do modern technologies assist volunteers and volunteering experiences?

Modern technologies assist volunteers and volunteering experiences in a big way. First of all, through these technologies young people come to know where they can go out for volunteering. Secondly, they can read about the volunteering activities done by their favourite celebrities and be motivated. Social networking sites can also help to get them recognition for their volunteer work.

32. Describe a program or app in your computer or phone

- What the app/program is

- When, where you found it - How you use it

- and how you feel about it

• Apps have become very common since the dawn of the smartphones.

• These are special programs, which run on mobile devices and make life simpler.

• There are apps for making communication instant and easier, such as Whatsapp, Viber, Facebook app and so on.

• There are apps for online shopping such as Myntra app, Amazon app, flipkart app and so on.

• In this world we can communicate with our friends with messages, call or video chat.

• I have many apps in my phone, but the app I use the most is Whatsapp.

• We can be connected with our friends instantly by this.

• I heard about this app from my friend Harjot when I was in 10th standard

• He had downloaded what'sapp in his android phone.

• After he told me, I also downloaded it.

• It is a very interesting app.

• This app helps us to send messages to our friends and we can also send images and videos to them.

• When new version of what'sapp was launched, a new feature of audio call was also added.

• To use the new feature the other person should also have what's app account.

• It brings the people very near to our heart.

• Mostly I use this app to communicate with my best friend living in Las Vegas.

• About 2 decades ago we had to send the letter to our friend living in abroad and we had to wait for the reply for a long time.

• But with whatsapp our messages are immediately delivered to our friend and we can continue our chat.

• The only drawback of this app is that it is very distracting.

• The users want to constantly keep checking their messages. Studies are affected. Workplace productivity is also affected.

• So, such apps should be used wisely.

FOR RECENT IELTS Exam questions kindly follow our website www.makkarielts.com and facebook page www.facebook.com/makkarielts .

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Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. Which phone app is the most popular in your country?

Many apps are popular in my country. We have the Facebook app, WhatsApp app, zoom app, Amazon app mantra app Google Maps app and so many more.

2. Do you think the parents should limit the time their children spend on the phone? Yes, I think parents should limit the time that children can spend on the phone as there are too many apps on the phone on which children waste away valuable time. So it is the parents’ responsibility to see what their children do with their phones and how much time they spend on their phones

3. Do you think people depend on phone apps too much?

Yes, I think people depend on phone apps a lot nowadays. These apps are also very useful and save time. For example when people go out they don’t need to ask directions as Google maps is there to help them. When people have to pay bills they use the app of their bank and use it to pay their bills.

4. Do you think some apps will help people to study?

Yes definitely, there are many apps which help people to study. For example, nowadays during the lockdown going on due to the Corona pandemic, teachers are teaching through apps such as the Zoom, Google meet and so on. Then there are also apps such as dictionary.com which helps students to search the meaning whenever they need to.

5. What kinds of Apps do you have on your phone?

I have many kinds of apps in my phone, such as Whatsapp, Facebook, Amazon, Flipkart, Viber and so on. I use these apps for staying connected with my friends and relatives and also for doing online shopping.

6. What are the drawbacks of having too many apps on your phone?

There are many disadvantages of having too many apps on the phone. Firstly, these apps occupy space. Secondly, when you use too many apps, the battery of the phone also gets discharged very soon. Furthermore, these apps can misuse your personal information, as most of these apps can access your personal information from your phone. Moreover, these apps can fill our mobile devices with lot of spam. Finally, you need to update these apps from time to time.

7. How much time do you spend on these Apps?

I spend a lot of time on apps. These are very addicting. Even though, sometimes, I resolve in my mind not to use them very often, I cannot resist the temptation, and once I open any app, I end up wasting a lot of time.

8. Do you like to look for new Apps or just keep using the old ones?

I like to look for new apps, but as my phone has limited space, I download and install an app, after seeing and discussing all its features with my friends.

9. Do you use free APPs or the ones that you need to pay for?

I mostly use free apps. There are many free apps of shopping sites and dictionaries etc. which I use regularly.

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33_.Describe a long car journey you went on

- Where you went

- What you did at that place

- Who you went there with

- Explain why you went on that journey by car

• I have not been on many long journeys by car

• Whenever we have to go on a long journey we generally go by bus or train or by air.

• Here I am going to talk about a long journey, which I had by car.

• Last year my cousin came from Canada and he wanted to see Rajasthan.

• My maternal aunt and uncle live in Jaipur

• So we decided to visit Jaipur in Rajasthan.

• It was too late for train reservation, as my cousin had come for two weeks only.

• My uncle has a Toyota Innova, which is a seven-seater car and so my father borrowed it from him for a week.

• We were six members - my father my mother my brother my cousin my uncle and I

• We started at 6 AM

• During our journey we halted at many places

• We first stopped at Murthal, where there is a famous Motel, Jhilmil Dhaba, where we had our lunch

• Then we stopped at Delhi for tea.

• We had minor halts at one or two more places.

• Finally we reached my aunt’s house by 7 PM.

• She had prepared sumptuous dinner for us.

• The next morning we went for sightseeing.

• We saw many places such as the Hawa Mahal, City Palace, Amer fort, Maharani Palace and so on.

• The next day we went to Chokhi Dhani.

• This place has been the mirror of Rajasthani culture since 1989.

• We learned a lot about Rajasthani culture over there.

• Live dances and music performances went on throughout the evening.

• Dinner was included in the entry ticket, and so we had dinner over there only.

• The next day we did some shopping.

• We enjoyed the hospitality of my aunt and uncle.

• We returned home after one week.

• This road trip to Rajasthan will always hold pleasant memories for me.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What will cars be like in the future?

What the future has in store no one can tell, but as far as I can see there will be cars running on alternative sources of energy. Already we have cars which do not use petrol or diesel and run on electricity. However in future we may see cars running on solar power, biodiesel or other alternative sources. We may even see flying cars.

2. What's the difference between men’s and women's preference on cars?

Gender differences are disappearing nowadays, and there is hardly any difference in men’s and women’s preference on cars. It is an individual preference. Some people like bigger cars and some like smaller cars. Some people like sports cars and some like luxury cars. For within the city use, people prefer small cars and for long drives people prefer big cars. Both men and women like all types of cars.

3. What are the differences between bicycles and private cars?

There are a lot of differences between bicycles and private cars. Bicycles are cheaper, in fact much cheaper than private cars. Bicycles do not require any fuel to operate. Bicycles help people to remain healthy as riding a bicycle involves some form of exercise. Riding a bicycle also does not require any license. Cars, on the other hand are helpful when the whole family has to go out together. Cars are especially helpful when there are elderly or disabled people at home. Cars are also useful in adverse weather conditions. Cars are safer than bicycles especially where there are no separate lanes for bicycles.

4. Why do people like to have private cars?

People like to have private cars because they are very comfortable to go from one place to the other. They are very helpful when there are elderly or disabled people at home. They are very helpful when the whole family has to go out together. They are also helpful in adverse weather conditions. Finally having a private car is a status symbol.

5. What are the differences between bicycles and private cars?

Bicycles are eco-friendly vehicles. These are cheaper and also good for our health. But cars are better when we have to travel long distances. Cars are also better when weather conditions are harsh outside, such as rain or storm. Cars are safer than bicycles. Bicycles are safe only if there are separate lanes for bicycles.

6. Is it a good thing that everyone has his/her own cars?

It is definitely not good if everyone has his/her own car. Already there is too much congestion on the roads. If every person will have own car then there will be parking problems and traffic jams and too much pollution.

7. How to buy private cars in India?

It is easy to buy a car in India. You have to go to a showroom and pay the money and buy a car of your choice. Easy monthly instalments are also available. Some people also go for bank loans to buy a car.

8. Do many families own private cars in India?

Yes, many families own private cars in India. Now, the car has become very affordable.

There is a car to suit every pocket. For example, Tata Nano is called the poor man’s car.

34_.Describe a place you visited that has been affected by pollution

- Where is it

- When you visited this place

- What kind of pollution you saw there

- And explain how this place was affected

(Sample answer)

• Well ma’am/sir pollution is a big problem these days.

• There is hardly a place, which is absolutely pollution free.

• Here I am going to talk about a city, ‘Ludhiana’ which is very polluted

• It has all sorts of pollution – air pollution, water pollution and noise pollution

• I went there last week

• In fact I go there quite often as my relatives live there

• Ludhiana is the industrial hub of Punjab

• Industries dump their effluents in the surrounding area and this causes water pollution

• The population of Ludhiana is far more for its size and this has given rise to slum areas in the outskirts

• The people in these slum areas are mainly labourers who have migrated from other states to work in the factories.

• They too litter the place.

• There are many vehicles also which cause air pollution.

• Ludhiana is the richest city of Punjab.

• Most families have more than one car.

• Earlier, when I used to go to visit my relatives, I had no problem in finding a parking space for my car.

• But, now finding a parking place near their home is a big problem.

• Because of air pollution, people also suffer many respiratory problems.

• My uncle is also suffering from chronic cough, which is because of the air pollution.

• A lot of noise also comes from the industries.

• Whenever I come back from Ludhiana, I heave a sigh of relief.

• Phagwara is relatively pollution free

• There is so much air pollution in Ludhiana that my eyes start watering whenever I go there.

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1. What kinds of pollution are there in your country?

All kinds of pollution are there in my country, like air pollution, water, noise and soil pollution. The major causes of air pollution are exhaust from the vehicles and the factories. Factories are also a major cause of water pollution as they release the effluents into water bodies. The vehicles on the roads and also various other reasons cause noise pollution, like from loud speakers used at celebrations.

2. What can individuals do to protect our environment?

Individuals can contribute a lot towards environment protection/ There are a lot of measures, which can be taken at an individual level. People can keep their surroundings clean by not littering and greener by planting more plants and trees. The use of non-renewable sources can be reduced. Practices like reusing and recycling can help immensely towards protecting our environment. For short distances, people should use an eco-friendly mode of transport, like a bicycle or they can walk, rather than using a vehicle. The use of plastic can be reduced greatly at an individual level and we should not buy things which have too much of packaging.

3. Do you think individuals should be responsible for pollution?

Yes, individuals have a responsibility towards the pollution caused. The major pollution caused is due to individuals, through vehicles. So, it is an individual responsibility to cause less pollution, by reducing the use of private vehicles and using the eco-friendly modes of transport or public transport more. Also, to mitigate the effects of pollution individuals should plant more trees and shouldn’t litter their surroundings.

4. Why is there a need to involve government in environmental protection?

The government plays an essential role in environmental protection. To ensure that the individuals and factories/industries do not harm the environment, there have to be rules and laws implemented by the government. For example, recently in Delhi, the state government implemented the odd/even car rule, which every citizen followed and it has helped reduce the pollution in Delhi.

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35. Describe a friend/person who is a good leader

- Who this person is (m@kk@r|ELTS)

- How you know this person

- What he does

- How this person behaves

- Why do you think he is a good leader

• I know many people who can lead well, but here I would like to talk about my best friend Shyam as I believe he is a good leader

• He has all the qualities needed to be a good leader

• He is 20 years old and very handsome.

• We have been friends since school days.

• I met him when I was in the 4^th class in the Govt Primary School where I studied.

• I remember, I used to be very shy and never used to go to the teachers with my problems.

• But he never had any hesitation to speak to the teachers or the principal.

• In fact, he used to represent the whole class, if we had any problem and needed to talk to our school principal.

• He had no glossophobia and every year he used to represent the school for debates and declamation contests, and he won many trophies for the school.

• He always used to be selected as the monitor of the class. In college, now he heads the students’ union.

• Whenever he talks on any subject, he speaks so well that people listen to him. He can bind his audience very well.

• He is himself very disciplined and he always used to encourage other students to be punctual.

• He used to be very good at studies also.

• He was always in the top five students of the class.

• He used to be in the good books of all teachers.

• I really like to spend my time with him.

• I like him because he is an honest and straightforward person.

• He has a very good sense of humour.

• Whenever I was in trouble he used to come and help me.

• He tried to be very understanding and never fought with me.

• In class I was weak at maths and he used to help me.

• I had a very bad handwriting and he helped me to improve my handwriting also.

• He is a very loving, caring and affectionate person.

• So, he became a very intimate friend.

• Now also he lives near my house and we spend our evenings together.

• We go for movies together, do shopping together and even play together.

1. Who is the head of the family in your culture?

In my culture the head of the family is generally the oldest male member of the family. In most parts of India there is a patriarchal society.

2. Are men better at decision making in a family?

There are no gender differences as far as decision-making is concerned. Generally the decisions are made by the oldest male member in the family in patriarchal societies, but as far as the ability to make decisions is concerned I believe there are no gender differences and women are as good as men in making decisions.

3. Do you think that in future there will be more women leaders?

What the future holds in store for us no one can tell and so it is difficult to say whether they’ll be more women leaders in future. However, as women are coming up in all fields shoulder to shoulder with men so maybe in future we will see more women leaders.

4. Should a leader discuss with team members when making decisions?

Yes definitely, a leader should discuss with his team members while making decisions, but the final decision should be at the leaders discretion.

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36. Describe a dinner you really enjoyed

- When it was

- What you ate

- Who you were with (ma kk ar I E L T S)

- And explain why you enjoyed it

• I have had many special dinners in my life, which I enjoyed

• Some dinners I enjoyed because of the quality of food, some I enjoyed because of the occasion and some I enjoyed because of the company.

• Here I would like to talk about a special dinner on which my friend Rania invited me along with our three other friends, Harjinder, Sonia and Prabhdeep.

• Last month it was Rania’s birthday and we all friends asked her for a treat.

• She invited us over for dinner at her home.

• Honestly speaking I thought that a meal at home was not a great idea of a birthday celebration.

• But when I reached her home I realised how wrong I was.

• Her mother had decorated the drawing room with balloons and buntings and also prepared a very elaborate dinner for us.

• She has excellent culinary skills.

• That day she had prepared Chinese dishes because Rania knew we all loved Chinese.

• The table was very well laid.

• First she served us sweet corn soup.

• It was yummy.

• Then we had noodles and cheese chilly and Manchurian.

• Believe me ma’am/sir that was the most delicious Chinese meal I had ever tasted in my life.

• All of us were practically licking our fingers.

• For dessert there was a plum cake which was also baked by her mother.

• Rania told me that her mother bakes many types of cakes.

• I also learnt a few recipes from her.

• Rania’s father has a great sense of humour.

• We enjoyed his jokes throughout the dinner.

• After dinner we played some music and danced and enjoyed a lot.

• So this was the dinner I enjoyed the most.

Why do people like to have special food on special occasions?

People like to have special food on special occasions to make those occasions memorable and to enjoy with friends and family.

2. What is the difference between eating at home and eating out on special occasions?

There’s a lot of difference between eating at home and eating out on special occasions. While eating at home the hosts are busy in the kitchen and serving food but while eating out there is no such pressure on the host and everybody enjoys with each other. However, while eating at home one is sure that the food is fresh and according to taste. Eating at home is also very economical.

3. What national identity can be seen in a nation's cuisine?

Every country is cuisine reflects its culture and traditions. Sometimes the cuisine is very different in different parts of the same country also. For example, north Indian cuisine is very different from south Indian cuisine. So every nation reflects its identity from its cuisine. For example if we eat pizza and pasta we know it belongs to Italian cuisine. If we eat cheese chilli and Manchurian, we know we are eating Chinese food.

4. Why do global leaders like to gather around for dinner?

Global leaders like to get together for dinner on so that they can discuss important matters in an informal way. Sometimes such dinners are meant to enable peace talks and reflect harmonious relations between countries.

37. Describe a large company that you are interested in

- Which company is it (makkarIELTS)

- What it is like (what kind of business it does)

- How you know about it

- How you feel about it

- Why you have interest in this company

• There are many large and successful corporations in the world today like Google, Reliance, Amazon and so on.

• The company I want to work in is Tata Industries.

• Tata Industries is a large Indian origin multinational with many subsidiaries like Tata Consultancy, Tata Motors, Tata Hotels and so on.

• Actually, it even has ventures like Tata salts, Tata water purifiers.

• In India, everyone knows about it, because in every sector, they have some presence.

• Recently, it got global recognition too, after its takeover of the failing Jaguar Motors and converting it into a profitable business within a year.

• Admittedly, it is not as commercially successful as some of other multinationals, but still it is my dream company.

• There are many reasons for it.

• First of all, it is one of the few companies, which doesn’t run after money only.

• It runs my social welfare projects like Tata Hospitals, Tata Children Charity, Tata Welfare Homes and so on.

• During the coronavirus crisis, it donated the largest amount to PM cares fund in India.

• Not only that, it was the first company to announce the donation.

• The second reason is it’s work culture.

• I have an elder cousin who works in Tata Motors.

• He told me that Tata Motors is one of the few companies which doesn’t exploit their employees.

• The employees are encouraged to maintain work life balance.

• In fact, employees are strictly forbidden to work more than 48 hours in a week.

• During the coronavirus lockdown, it was one of the few companies, which paid their employees fully.

• Last but not last, it would be a matter of pride for me to work for a large Indian company.

• Unfortunately, there are very few large Indian origin multinationals.

• Over the years, Tata Industries has not only grown domestically, but also spread its roots in other parts of the world.

• Tata Industries can help me fulfil both my dreams, I can settle abroad and still work for an Indian company.

What are the differences between a big company and a small company?

There are many differences between big and small companies. To begin with, big companies offer bigger pay packages than small companies. Secondly, these companies give many perks and bonuses from time to time. These companies give benefits like health insurance and travel allowance. Another big advantage of big companies is that it is a status symbol to work in these companies. Furthermore, they provide opportunities to travel overseas. Moreover, in a big company hands on training is provided to all new workers. On the other hand, in a small company, everybody knows everybody. You are not part of a big crowd as in a big company. If you do some good work, you are applauded for it.

2. Are there many big companies in your country?

Yes, there are. India is a fast developing country. There are many Indian companies, which are very big such as Tata, Mahindra, Godrej, Reliance, Videocon, Onida and so on. There are also many multinational giants which have opened branches in India, such as Samsung, LG, Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai and so on.

3. What are the good things about working for a big company?

Same as answer 1

4. How can a small company grow big?

Small companies can do so in many ways. They can work hard, employ skilled workers, focus on quality and employ good marketing strategies.

5. Should big companies donate more to charities?

Yes, they should. I believe that anyone who has enough should help the needy on humanitarian grounds. Many big companies help the NGOs and NPOs. This is a win-win situation for both. When they get publicity for their charity work, they are getting advertisement for free.

6. Should big companies be punished more seriously if they break the law?

No, they should not. Law should be the same for all – big as well as small companies. Usually, big companies have big connections. So, they try to get away with their wrong doings. This also should not happen. Punishment should be equally serious for all law offenders.

7. Are there any big companies in your hometown?

Yes, there are three big companies in my hometown. There is the JCT mail which is a textile mill. Then there is a Sugar mill and a starch mill.

8. Is it difficult to get a promotion in a large company?

Yes, it is really difficult to get a promotion in a big company. In a big company you are part of a big crowd and there are many people in the queue to get a promotion. So it’s very difficult to outdo all of them and get a promotion.

38. Describe a person in your family that you admire or a person in your family you are happy to know

- Who he or she is

- What he or she does for a living

- What he or she is like

- And explain why you admire him or her

• In our culture, we tend to admire and respect people for their age.

• But today, I want to talk about someone whom I admire not because he is old, but because of his attitude towards life and his actions

• The person is my uncle.

• His name is Dilmohan Singh.

• He is my mother’s brother.

• He has held many jobs in his life.

• In fact, he started working part-time at the young age of fifteen.

• He used to work as a door to door salesman selling magazines at that age for pocket money.

• In his adult life, he worked as a bank manager.

• Currently, after retiring as a bank manager, he is working as a real estate agent.

• There are many reasons I admire him.

• The first is his selfless nature. (m@kkarIELTS)

• Throughout his life, he has put other’s needs before his.

• He has many times postponed his business meetings just for family.

• We all say that family should be more important than money.

• But he is one of the few people, who actually prioritizes family over wealth.

• Another reason why I admire him is that he stands firm in his beliefs.

• If he believes in something, he will support it, no matter the cost.

• I can see this in how he behaves at home.

• He doesn’t mince his words. He calls a spade a spade.

• For example, if he thinks that people have done wrong, he will say it straight to their face when his opinion is asked.

• He will not try to be polite or lie, just to avoid awkwardness.

• Of course, he is not perfect.

• He has his flaws too.

• For one, he is not very punctual.

• In fact, he is always late.

• But, despite his flaws, I still admire him a lot.

Who is important in your family: the father or the mother?

In my family both are equally important. There is a very harmonious relation between my mother and father. Both have different roles and both are equally important. My mother has more role in running the family where is my father has more role in earning for the family.

2. How should parents look after their children?

Parents should look after the children very nicely. Parenting is a very crucial job and it is a fulltime job, especially nowadays, in my opinion. Today, children have a lot of exposure of the global culture, and they enjoy a lot of freedom. So, parents have to be very alert about the whereabouts of their children and treat them in a friendly way, and yet be strict at times.

3. How should working parents look after their children?

Working parents should look after the children very nicely. Whatever time they get, they should devote to their children. They should know where to draw the line between work and family, otherwise it is very easy for children to go astray and it is very easy for parents to lose hold on the children. Work is important but working parents should realise that their children’s childhood is equally important.

4. Do children get sufficient love and affection from their parents these days?

Yes, children get sufficient love and affection from the parents, but this love and affection is substituted by money and not time. Parents think that giving enough money to the children is showing their love for them, they forget that what children need more is the time.

5. What do you think about relationships between teenagers and their parents nowadays? The relationships between teenagers and parents is very strained these days. Teenagers want to follow the global culture whereas parents want them to follow the traditional culture. Teenagers want to take up subjects of their choice, such as animation, ethical hacking and so on, but parents want them to do the traditional courses like engineering, medicine and commerce.

6. How do children learn to speak?

Children learn to speak from their parents. They observe their parents and speak as their parents teach them to, and slowly they get the hang of the language and learn to speak on their own.

7. Do you think adults speak to children differently than between themselves?

Yes, adults speak to children differently than among themselves. Sometimes they don’t want to show their stress or emotions to their children and so speak differently with them, but when they speak with each other they have no such inhibitions. When adults speak to children they have to consider what to speak, how to speak and how much to speak.

8. Do you think human communication is different from that of animals?

Yes, human communication is quite different from that of animals. Humans have a language to communicate with each other, whereas animals communicate in their own way which is difficult for humans to understand.

9. What do you think are good communication skills?

Good communication skills involve being able to convey what you want to say to the other person without creating any misunderstanding. Good communication involves good command over the language and also good command on body language which involves gestures and expressions.

10. Do you think everyone can learn these skills?

Yes, I believe everyone can learn the skills. Communication Skills is a full fledged subject these days in colleges. However, some people are born with good communication skills and they have a way to communicate their feelings to the other person in a very simple way which does not lead to any misunderstanding.

11. How would you suggest these skills be taught to children?

These skills can be taught to children in many ways. Firstly, parents can be good role models. If parents have good communication skills, children will imbibe communication skills without even being taught formally. Then, this subject can be added in the school curriculum. Nowadays, even in graduate courses like engineering and commerce, communication skills are taught as a subject in the first semester.

12. Do you think adults and children communicate the same way?

No, I don’t think adults and children communicate in the same way. Children are innocent and their communication is plain and simple, which doesn’t involve any twist of words. On the other hand, adults are really careful in what they want to communicate. They are wise enough to know the consequences of the words they use and so their communication is a bit complex.

13. Can you think of any example of work (or, jobs) that require good communication skills? I think every job needs good communication skills. For example doctors need good communication skills to convey things to their patients; engineers need good communication skills to work as a team to accomplish many projects; hawkers need communication skills to sell their products and so on. Sales personnel need good communication skills.

14. What (personal) qualities do you think good communicator should have?

I think a good communicator should have an amicable personality. He should also be willing to listen, because I believe that a person who can listen to others can also communicate well.

39. Describe a time when a family member asked for your help

When it was

Who asked you for help

- How you helped

- How you felt about it

• One of the things I really like about India is that despite modernization, we still haven’t adopted the individualism of the west.

• Nearly everyday family members and neighbors help each other.

• Today, I am going to talk about a situation when my sister asked me for help.

• It’s a little different because she is studying abroad, and thus it is not possible for me to help her often.

• The help was regarding a college assignment.

• In college, she had an assignment to talk about a famous person from their country.

• My sister has always been interested in Indian Independence and she wanted to talk about Bhagat Singh, a famous Indian freedom fighter.

• However, there was very less information on Bhagat Singh available on the internet especially on his personal life.

• So, she called me and asked me if I could procure her the information.

• At first, I was not sure, how I could help.

• But then I remembered, there is a Bhagat Singh Museum about 80kms from my house.

• Certainly, there would be some information available there.

• I went there and inquired. M a k k a r I E L T S

• The staff told me that there were in fact a lot of books and old newspapers on Bhagat’s Singh life available with them.

• But, unfortunately due to lack of resources and time, they had not been able to upload these on the internet.

• I asked for their permission to scan the pages on his personal life.

• They were reluctant at first because the books and newspaper were very old and improper handling might damage them.

• However, on my insistence, they allowed me to do so in their presence.

• It took me nearly five hours, but I finally found the relevant information.

• Then, I scanned it and sent it to my sister.

• The whole incidence was a big learning experience for me too.

• I learnt many things about Bhagat Singh, which I didn’t know before.

• When my sister met me, she told me, she was really surprised, how I found all that information.

• She told me that it was only because of me that she got an A+ in that assignment.

• Her heartfelt gratitude made me really happy.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What can children help their parents with?

Children can help their parents with household chores. They can also help in looking after the elderly in the family. They can also help in buying vegetables and grocery. They can also help in attending to guests.

2. What are the benefits of children helping their parents?

There are many benefits of children helping their parents. First, it develops a bond between parents and children. They feel part of a family. It also makes it easier for parents to run the house.

3. Should parents reward their children when they help others?

Yes definitely. If parents reward their children when they help others then children will develop the habit of helping others and this is a very good habit for children to develop.

4. Do parents help their children because they need their help when they are old?

No, parents never help their children for expecting help when they’re old. Parents love their children unconditionally and help them because they think it is their duty and responsibility and not because they expect anything back in return.

• 20 Complete Practice Tests (1-20)

• Based and designed in accordance with IELTS Exam

pattern.

• Passages often repeated in actual exams

• Tips for different types of reading questions

• Available on www.makkarielts.com

• And local bookshops in India (list: end of this pdf)

40. Describe a time you got lost in a place you didn’t know about

When did it happen

Who was with you

- What did you do

- How you felt about it

• My sister and I have always liked going on road journeys.

• India is a big country and there are so many places one can visit.

• So, my parents used to take us to different places in India by car when we were young.

• One such time, when we were visiting Delhi, we got lost.

• Actually, we were visiting all the famous places in Delhi and eating out at all the renowned places.

• That’s what we used to do on our road trips, especially the famous food shops, we never missed one.

• And there was this famous chhole-bhature shop, which was famous not only in Delhi, but all over India.

• Unfortunately, it opened at 5 AM for only two hours in the morning and it sold out in that time.

• To add to it, this place was about two hours from our hotel.

• So, we started during the night at 3AM, because both my sister and I didn’t want to miss it.

• About two hours later, we were in the middle of nowhere.

• I don’t know what happened, but I think somewhere my Dad took a wrong turn

• These were the times, when google maps weren’t there.

• We couldn’t just put it in google maps and find out where we were.

• The only ways to know about one’s location and the direction was asking people and looking at road signs.

• And it was dark and foggy, so the roads were empty and road signs were not visible.

• At one point, my dad just got off the car and tried to find any landmark to make sense of where we were.

• But there was nothing but trees on either side of the road

• We were lost.

• So, we just sat there, for another hour for the sun to rise and for the visibility to improve.

• When it did, some people came out on the roads for morning walk and finally we were able to find out where we were.

• Fortunately, we weren’t that far from the shop.

• We had just crossed it along the way by mistake.

• We went back and enjoyed the delicious chhole-bhature.

• If I had to describe their taste - I would just say they were worth getting lost.

• Even now, when I plan to visit Delhi, I always visit that place.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. Do you often get lost?

No, I don’t often get lost. Nowadays applications like Google Maps have made it very easy and the people who use such apps seldom get lost.

2. Is map-reading skill important?

Yes, map reading skills are important because it gives you an idea about where you are and you do not get lost. Nowadays, apps such as Google Maps have made things easier and even people who do not have the skill of reading a map do not get lost.

3. Are some people good at map-reading than others?

Yes, some people are better at map reading than others. Everyone has different abilities. What is easy for one person may be difficult for the other.

4. Why some people like travelling to other places?

Some people like to travel to other places because they want to know about those places and the culture of those places. They are adventurous by nature and are curious to know about other people and places.

5. Should they find information about the place before going there?

Yes definitely, they should find information about the place before going there. It is important because, for example, if they know the weather of that place then they can pack the clothes accordingly. They can be well prepared about what to carry with them if they know what all they can do there.

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41. Describe a foreign country(culture) you want to know more about?

Which country it is or what culture Where it is

- How you know about it

- Why you want to know more about it

• I have always wanted to learn about foreign cultures.

• I like meeting people from different places, and learning about how we are similar and how we are different.

• However, there is one culture I have always had a little more fascination with than any other.

• It is the Japanese culture.

• The main reason is that I like watching a lot of Japanese movies.

• Also, in my childhood, I used to read a lot of Japanese manga, which are Japanese graphic novels and anime, which are Japanese cartoons.

• Even now, I sometimes play some anime series on You tube or Netflix.

• I have found that Japan is different from all others in some ways.

• For example, during the 2011 Tsunami, there was no looting, no violence.

• This doesn’t happen even in countries like the US.

• I remember when I read it, I found it very strange.

• Recently, I read that the reason for it is that morals and ethics are major part of their curriculum from primary schools onwards.

• So perhaps that is one reason why.

• Another thing I read in manga was that there are no maids in schools.

• Japanese children clean their schools on rotation.

• There are these small things, which make me curious to learn about them.

• On more thing that comes to mind is that they have different shoes for wearing inside the house and outside to prevent the spread of germs.

• Another incident that really raised my admiration was when they refused to sell to India, their nuclear technology because they themselves are not using it anymore.

• They have certain beliefs and they practice such beliefs; they are not just plain words.

• Lastly, we also certainly share certain things.

• For example, Buddhism, a religion that originated in India is a major religion there.

• I also know that most of my knowledge about Japan is partial, it is from manga, anime and the little bit of news

• So, if I get the opportunity, I would definitely like to learn about Japan and its people.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What do you think is the best way to learn foreign culture?

The best way to learn a foreign culture is to go to the foreign country and stay there for some time. It can also be learned from tourists visiting your country. Foreign culture can also be learnt by working in any multinational company.

2. What do you think is the biggest problem to work in a foreign country?

The biggest problem to work in a foreign country is the language barrier. Competing with the local people of that area is also a big challenge. Learning the work ethics of that place is also important.

3. Some people say that reading is the best way to learn about a culture, Do you agree? Reading is certainly a good way to learn about another culture, but it is not the best. The best way in my opinion is to visit that country and to mingle with the local people and stay there for some time.

42. Describe a place where you are able to relax

- Where it is

- What it is like

- How often you go there

- and how you feel about this place

• Relaxation is important in everyone’s life

• Everyone has different ways of relaxation

• Elderly people go to religious places and parks to relax

• Young people have a lot of pent up energy, so they go to gyms and discos to sweat out that energy, and relax.

• I usually go to a gurdwara to relax.

• I go there once or twice a week

• Whenever, I go there, I do circumambulation of the holy book inside the main hall, and pay obeisance to the almighty.

• There is a well-maintained fish pond in the gurdwara, which has many different species of fish.

• I just sit on the steps of the pond and listen to the holy chants going on all the time there.

• It gives me great relaxation and peace of mind.

• Last Sunday, I took some bread from home and fed the fish.

• There are two catfish among the other many, who seem to be talking to me.

• I know it is all my imagination, but I love it over there.

• I feel that the tempo of life has slowed down a bit.

• It is so relaxing to watch the movements of the fish in the water.

• This activity takes away all the physical and mental tiredness away from my body.

• I feel very light-hearted after that.

• Even though there is always a great rush in this temple, yet one can find peace and quiet over there.

• Sometimes, I offer voluntary services in the community kitchen over there.

• Free food is offered to one and all in the community kitchen and this service is round the clock.

• So, this is the place I go to relax.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. How do students relax themselves?

Students relax by going out with friends or just lazing around at home. Sometimes they even get relaxation by going to the gym. Actually a gym is the place where they release their pentup energy and then feel relaxed.

2. What activities do employers organise to help employees relax?

Employers organise group excursions for their employees to relax. Some employers also provide gym facilities in the workplace so that the employees can sweat out their stress.

3. Do people now have more ways to relax than in the past?

Yes, people have far more ways to relax than in the past. Technology has given many new ways to spend free time and to feel relaxed. People play online games and chat with their friends across the globe to feel relaxed.

4. Do you think natural sceneries are more helpful than indoor activities?

Yes definitely natural scenery is far more relaxing than indoor activities. Nowadays people are suffering from nature deficit disorder, which means that they are spending less time with nature and more time indoors.

5. Do you like to visit movie theatres?

Yes, I like to visit movie theatres. Once in a month or two I watch a movie in the cinema.

6. Where do Indian people like to go on weekends?

Indian people like to go cinemas, shopping malls, and restaurants on weekends. Sometimes they go to their relatives’ homes

7. What do old people do to relax?

Old people go to religious places. They go to parks and sit on the benches and talk with others of their age

8. What is the importance of relaxation?

Relaxation is very important. It recharges one’s batteries. After relaxing people can work better and students can study better.

9. What are the ways people relax themselves?

People relax in different ways. Some go to parks, some go to religious places, some just sit at home and listen to music or watch TV. Young people have a lot of pent up energy, so they go to gyms and discos to sweat out that energy, and relax.

10. What do you do to relax yourself?

Sometimes I go to the gurdwara. Sometimes I listen to music at home. Sometimes I go to park near my home.

11. Do you think we should take a day off from our working?

Yes, we should take a day off from working, because then we can relax and go back to work with more zeal and enthusiasm.

12. Do you think people can actually relax by doing relaxation exercises?

Yes, people can relax by doing relaxing exercises, such as yoga, and other stretching exercises. Exercises also release endorphins, which relieve stress and help to relax.

13. Some people do nothing to relax. Do you think it is a good idea?

Yes, sometimes just closing ones eyes and doing nothing also relaxes a person. It depends on what sort of activities a person does in routine life. If a person does physical work, then just doing nothing can be relaxing. If a person does sedentary work, then other ways of relaxation are better.

14. Do you think relaxation should include some activity or doing nothing is enough? (Same as above)

15. How did people relax earlier and how do they now?

Earlier people went out for relaxation, to parks and for picnics. But today, people go to shopping malls and restaurants for relaxation. Young people sweat out their stress in discos and gyms for relaxation.

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43. Talk about something you enjoyed doing in a group

- What it was

- With whom you did it - When you did it

- How you felt about it

• I have done many group activities when I was in school such as playing games like cricket and volleyball.

• But here I am going to talk about a group activity, which was making a model for participating in an environment fair.

• This fair is held every year in December in my home town

• This model was on the topic of pollution

• We were a team of four students – Mohit, Rohan, Ravi and I.

• It was very difficult to collect ideas for the model, but our teacher, Mrs Promilla helped us.

• We collected all data from different sources like the internet, library, magazines and so on

• We presented all three types of pollution – air, water and noise pollution - on thermocol • In this project we showed the causes, effects and ways to control pollution

• We had to speak turn wise on our model.

• I remember I was very afraid to speak.

• But my other friends gave me the confidence. I felt very good that I was part of that team.

• I spoke very well that time.

• Getting over my glossophobia was an accomplishment for me.

• We won the first prize in this competition.

• The judges specially mentioned that the first prize was mainly because of the verbal explanation of the model.

• This fair was covered by the local cable TV and so many people of the neighbourhood congratulated me the next day.

• Our photograph was also there in the local newspaper Jag Baani. • Our school principal also appreciated us

• I cannot forget that day.

• All four of us were on cloud nine on that day.

( Another idea)

• Man is a social animal.

• Being part of a team, club or group is important for our lives.

• I too have been part of the cricket team of my school.

• I joined this team when I was in 9th class.

• My school was a co-ed school

• The boys and girls had separate cricket teams.

• Every day we used to play for two hours after the school timings.

• I joined this team because I love cricket.

• I have always been fascinated by the Indian cricket team

• I never miss any cricket match played by the Indian cricket team on TV

• We did a lot of activities there.

• I remember, my best friend, Rohan, was the captain.

• He used to make us work-out daily for 15 minutes.

• After that we would play a ten over match daily.

• We used to participate in the inter-school competitions also.

• Mostly, our school team won the trophy.

• Our team members co-operated with each other very well.

• Joining this team had a lot of importance for all of us.

• We learnt many things.

• We learnt discipline.

• Because we had to practice daily, and we also did not want our studies to suffer, we used to get up early and finish our home work.

• Then we learnt co-operation and patience.

• Not all of us got a chance to bat or ball every day, but we did not fight with each other because of that.

• We also learnt sportsman spirit.

• How to win with modesty and lose with grace is a very important thing to learn in this competitive era.

• Sometimes we lost from the girls’ team but we took it gracefully.

• Sometimes my mother used to crib when I was too involved in cricket but as I was doing well in studies she did not say anything to me.

• Playing cricket also kept me lean and fit.

• Now, I have made a cricket team of my neighbourhood children.

• We play on Sundays

• I am the captain of that team.

• I look forward to Sundays now.

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Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What kinds of quality does a leader need?

A leader needs to have good communication skills. He should be able to lead by example. If he wants his team to be punctual he should himself be punctual. He should know how to get work done.

2. What are the reasons for the failure of teamwork?

Teamwork fails if there is no coordination between the team members. Teamwork also fails if the team leader is not very competent.

3. Do children need to know more about teamwork?

Yes, children should know a lot about teamwork, because they have to work in teams at all stages of their life.

4. Is cooperation more important than competition?

Competition and cooperation are equally important. Both competition and cooperation are needed in our day-to-day lives. We need to compete with others in exams, or when we start a new business. We need to cooperate with our colleagues at work, and with other players in the team sports. Children should be taught both - competition and cooperation. They should also be taught where to compete and where to cooperate.

5. Which one do you think is more important: individual development or team goals? I think both are important in their own way. Individual development is important for the person to rise individually in life. Team goals are important because everything cannot be done alone and one has to learn to march ahead with others.

6. Do you think it is a good thing to have disagreements within a team?

Yes definitely. It is good to have disagreements within the team, because otherwise there is no fun working in a team. You have to learn to accept the good points of the other members and you also have to learn to put forth your views in a team.

7. How to become a good member of the team in a workplace?

A good member of the team respects the efforts done by other team members and at the same time does his efforts honestly so that the whole team goes forward.

44. Describe a film you watched or Describe a film that made you think a lot

- When and where you watched it?

- What was the movie about?

- Why you chose to watch it?

- How you felt about it? and explain why it made you think a lot?

• I’ve seen many movies in my life.

• Here, I would like to talk about a movie, which I watched recently and it had a lasting impression on me.

• The movie is ‘Pihu’.

• It is based on a true story.

• I watched this movie on Netflix.

• I was just browsing through Netflix to watch something for about half an hour, when I came across this title.

• I watched it alone.

• I would like to share it with my friends, because I know they would also like it, just as I liked it.

• I couldn't shut down my laptop and watched it to the end.

• It’s about a 2 year old girl, who is left alone with her mother, who has committed suicide.

• She does so after a fight with her husband.

• Pihu thinks that her mother is fast asleep and tries to wake her up many times.

• This little girl doesn't even know what is safe for her.

• I could not blink an eye during the whole movie.

• This movie haunted my thoughts for days after that.

• When I came to know that this movie is based on a true incident, then I felt very sorry and sad for the little girl who must have suffered all that.

• The film explores issues faced by married couples.

• It also highlights how important communication is between young couples.

• It must have been a challenge to shoot the whole film with a 2-year-old child in the main role.

• The film won the award for the Best Film in Morocco.

• It was the opening film at the International Film Festival of India, which was held in Goa in 2017.

• This film has also won many other awards.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What kinds of films are popular in India?

Well, India is a diverse country. All genres of films are popular in India. People love action, drama, comedy, thriller, romance and many other movies.

2. Do different age groups like the same kinds of films?

No, I don’t think so. People from different age groups usually have a different choice in terms of the kinds of films they like. For example, the older generation may prefer movies related to social and political issues and youngsters may prefer action and comedy movies. I think the preference for the type of movies people like, changes with age.

3. What kinds of films do young people particularly like?

Young people like to watch movies based on reality or real-life incidents. Superhero and science fiction movies are also quite popular among youngsters. Other popular genres enjoyed by the young generation are comedy, romance, horror, and action.

4. Do fewer people choose to watch movies in cinemas than people did in the past?

No, I don’t think so. These days more people choose to watch movies in cinemas as compared to the past. People are leading a very busy and hectic life and going to cinemas to watch movies is a popular way that people choose for entertainment and for spending time with family and friends. Also, the ever-increasing multiplexes are evidence that people prefer going to cinemas despite the online streaming options like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, etc.

5. What are other ways to watch movies now?

Some other ways to watch movies are on TV, through the online streaming websites and apps like Netflix, Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, etc. and through DVDs, which, however, is becoming less popular.

6. What's the difference between American movies and movies from your country?

There are some differences between American and Indian movies. The content of the script is one of them. It is more closely related to the respective cultures of these countries. Language is one point of difference. Indian movies are made in Hindi, English, or several other languages, depending on the region they are made in. However, American films are mostly in English. Another point of difference is the technology available and used in films, especially for graphics, like in animation and for special effects. Indian films still need to catch up on that and have not reached the level of finesse in this area as American films have.

7. What do you think of violent films?

I think if the violence shown is not too detailed or graphic, then it is a good form of entertainment, especially for action movies. However, if the violence is graphic and explicit, then it may lead to consequences like more aggressive and violent behaviour, especially among the youth and a feeling of fear or it may traumatize some people.

8. Why do you think movies need computer techniques?

The use of computer techniques are vital for animation movies. However, even in the other movies it has become important, as it can help incorporate an element of action and excitement by showing some stunts that cannot be performed by a person. Thus, also eliminating any danger to the stuntmen’s life or reduces the chances of injuries or accidents.

9. Do you think cinemas will disappear in the future?

No, certainly not. I think the popularity of cinemas will not fade in the future. People will continue to go to cinemas for the experience they offer and for the opportunity to spend quality time with their friends or family. The technology available has also made the cinematic experience better not only in terms of the content and graphics but also in the viewing experience for the audience. For example, the 4D technology has made it possible for viewers to feel that they are a part of the movie. I think more such changes will be witnessed in the future.

10. Do you think (watching) films have (has) educational benefits?

Yes, it certainly does. Films teach us a lot of things, like about culture, language, history, social and moral values and about our responsibilities and obligations to society. There are many documentary films that are based on facts and real-life experiences, which also teach us a lot about various subjects and areas.

11. Do men and women like to watch the same kinds of films?

Yes, I think the choice of films is very personal and not based on gender. Some people may feel that since women are more emotional, they like romantic films more while men prefer watching action-based films. However, it is not true, as we can see an almost equal proportion of males and females in a cinema hall, for any given genre of movies.

12. In what ways are documentary films and films only for entertainment different?

The main point of difference between a documentary and entertainment film is that the former is always based on facts and reality while the latter may or may not be reality-based. Entertainment films are mostly based on a fiction based story or script. Another difference may be that the budget required for a documentary film is lesser than that of an entertaining one. Actors are needed for an entertainment film, while in a documentary, mostly non-actors share their experiences or knowledge. There may not be a need of an entire film crew like a makeup artist, cameraman, lightman, etc. for a documentary film. Many people use video cameras or these days, only their phones to make a documentary.

13. Why do you think documentary films are not so popular?

The main reason why documentaries are not so popular is that they are not usually entertaining. They usually deal with serious topics like social issues, wars, etc. and those based on facts, like about the animal species, remote places, etc.

45. Talk about a new public building/place, which you would like to visit

- Which building/place is it

- Where is it

- When would you like to visit it

- With whom would you like to visit

- Why do you want to visit it

• There are many public buildings or places, which I would like to visit.

• Here, I would like to talk about the Statue of Unity in the Narmada district of Gujarat.

• It is a colossal statue of Sardar Vallabhai Patel, who was the first Home Minister of Independent India.

• His expression, posture and pose show the confidence and the iron-will of this great person.

• I would really like to visit this architectural marvel.

• This statue can withstand winds of 180 km/hour and can resist earthquake of 6.5 on the Richter scale.

• I came to know about it from the news channels on TV.

• It was on all news channels in January 2019.

• This Statue of Unity was first open to public on 3^rd Jan 2019

• It is the world’s tallest statue.

• It was built in just 33 months.

• It is made of bronze and is about 600 feet tall.

• I would like to visit it with my family, as I would like to enjoy this place with them.

• Most probably, we will visit it in December this year.

• I have read a lot about it on the internet.

• Apart from the statue there are several other things here, which are worth seeing.

• The ticket is Rs. 350/- per head.

• It includes the entry to the observation deck, valley of flowers, the Sardar Patel Memorial, museum and audio-visual Gallery, the statue of Unity site and the Narmada River.

• More than 2 million people have visited the statue already.

• It has become a major tourist attraction of India.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What measures should be taken to deal with damage on public facilities?

First of all people should themselves be aware that if they use these facilities nicely only then they will be able to use them for a long time. Otherwise, the facilities may be destroyed. The government should appoint people for the maintenance of these facilities. Another thing that can be done is that a very small fee should be charged for these facilities. That money could be used for the maintenance of these places.

2. What are the differences between old facilities and new facilities?

Old facilities are like parks and libraries. New facilities are gyms and leisure places.

3. What facilities do young people and old people like in your country?

Young people like gyms and leisure centres. Old people like parks, health centres and libraries.

4. What is the difference between facilities in the countryside and the ones in the cities? In the countryside the facilities are related to education and health. In the cities there are many entertainment facilities also.

46. Describe your favorite clothes

- What is it like

- Who gave it to you or where you bought it

- How often you wear it

- Explain how you feel about it or why you enjoy wearing it?

Or Describe an ocassion when you wore your best clothes

• Everyone loves fashion nowadays. Even I also like to try new outfits everyday and especially on the functions or special occasions

• I have got a huge collection of different dresses and suits in my cupboard.

• Here, I would like to talk about a traditional suit, which my maternal aunt gave me as a gift on my birthday.

• It is a bottle green suit with magenta and golden embroidery

• It also has a multi-coloured stole to go with it which had a golden lace on all sides

• It is studded with golden beads

• It has a very traditional ethnic touch to it

• It is a very beautiful suit

• The stole is in crinkled silk

• She gave me matching accessories also

• She gave me a golden beaded purse to go with it.

• Whenever I wear the suit, I wear my traditional Punjabi shoes, which match perfectly with the suit.

• When I wear that suit everyone compliments me • I feel very good when I receive those compliments.

• Actually, my aunt runs her hobby classes of cooking in Chandigarh. I stayed with her during my vacations and helped her.

• She could accommodate more number of students because of my help.

• She offered me money, but I refused because I had not helped her for money.

• So she bought this expensive suit for me on my birthday.

• I really like the suit and have worn it on many occasions.

• Last time, I wore this suit at my college farewell.

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Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What is the difference between the dressing style of young people and that of old people?

Dressing style of young people is mostly western. Girls like long dresses, skirts, jeans, T shirts and also like the blend of Indian and western. Boys like jeans, T shirts, trousers, shirts. Elderly people wear traditional clothes. They feel more comfortable in them.

2. Do the people living in north part of your country wear different clothes as compared to the people living in south?

Yes, there are differences in the clothing of north and south India. Suits are more popular in the north whereas saris are commonly worn by women in the south. Men wear a lungi in the south, which is not so common in the north.

3. What kinds of clothes do people wear after work?

People wear comfortable and casual clothes after work, because usually at work, people have to wear uniforms or formal clothes. Once people come back home, they like to relax and want to be more comfortable.

4. What kind of clothes should people wear at work?

At work people should wear proper and formal clothes. At some workplaces, uniforms are needed, which gives them an identity and develops a sense of discipline. It also depends on the type of work people do. If someone is working as a gym instructor, he or she cannot wear formal clothes to work. They have to wear sports wear.

5. Do you think students need to wear school uniforms?

Yes, I think students need to wear school uniforms, as they act as a social leveler/equalizer. Uniforms give an identity to the students and also inculcate a sense of discipline among students. Uniforms are also good for the school’s security, as if any miscreants enter the school, they can be easily spotted.

6. Where do Indian people buy clothes?

Indian people buy clothes from shops and stores in the local markets and in shopping malls. There are many small-scale stores and boutiques that are run from home, from where people shop for clothes. Also, online shopping is very popular in India. There are many popular shopping websites, like Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal and so on, from where people buy clothes.

7. Does personality affect how people choose what to wear?

Yes people with good personality always like to wear expensive clothes which are made of fine material although they tend not to wear lot of glamorous clothes nowadays but still they prefer to wear expensive clothes made out of the finest material

8. When should people wear formal clothes?

People should wear formal clothes to work and on formal occasions like functions, interviews etc

9. Do people wear formal clothes more often than before?

I think the trend is changing; people nowadays wear less formal clothes because fashion is providing them with abundant options. Even few companies like facebook and google allow people to come to office in casual clothes. People find themselves more comfortable in casual clothes.

47. Describe one of your family members you spend the most time with - m@kkar|ELTS

- Who is he/she?

- What do you usually do together?

- What kind of person he/she is?

- Why you spend most of the time with him/her?

• If I had to talk about myself, I would say I am very reserved person and it takes a lot of time to become familiar with strangers.

• However, I love spending time with my family.

• I am very close to both my parents but as we are all working (as they are working and I am studying), its hard for us to spend time together.

• The person I do spend a lot of time together with is my nephew- my sister’s child.

• He is nearly five years old.

• He is very special to me.

• There are many reasons for that.

• Firstly, everyone says that he looks like me and secondly, we both like spending time with each other.

• I think the reason for that is we feel very comfortable with each other.

• I get to act like a child around him and I miss being a child.

• He is also like me – very shy with strangers and he is very naughty – just like I was in my childhood. Ma kk ar IELTS

• So, spending time with him reminds me of my childhood in some ways.

• In my childhood, I was in a hurry to grow up but now I sometimes wish I could reverse time and bring back my childhood.

• There are so many things we do together.

• But something that we really enjoy doing is to play pranks on Deepa, my sister and his mother.

• I think we can do that all day long.

• We also both love eating chocolates, so whenever we can, we try to buy and eat chocolates secretly.

• However, I do get scolded sometimes as I am the adult.

• I also have a dog and so we both like playing with her.

• We love taking her out on walks and feeding her. M @ k k ar |elts

• In the evening, I take my nephew to the park and just spend time on the swings there.

• Sometimes, I wish he would always remain a child, but I know that’s not going to happen even if I wish for it a million times.

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Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. How many generations usually live together in India?

I think the situation in India is undergoing a change. Earlier joint familes were more common and three or four generations used to live together. On the other hand, nowadays nuclear families are more common with maximum of two generations living together.

2. Is it important to visit family members?

Yes, it is really important to meet family regularly. I think family defines us and family is what supports us and stands with us in bad times. However, I think this selfless bond only stays if we remain in contact with each other.

3. What are the values of family in your country?

The think the main values of family in India are respect for elders and prioritizing the needs of the family over our individual needs. That is why, in India we think in we rather in I, for example we own a house, we own this car. m@kK@rI3LTS

4. Why is family bonding necessary for happiness in life?

Family bonding is necessary for happiness because it gives us secure. I mean it makes us feel that we are not alone, there is someone behind us.

5. Do you think the support from a friend is different from the support from a family member? I think certainly. There is an element of selflessness in family relationships, which I feel is missing when it comes to support from friends. Also, it doesn’t create a burden. What I mean is we do take help from friends but then it also makes us feel that we have to repay it. This feeling doesn’t come in the case of family.

6. Who should be more responsible for educating the children in a family?

I think both the parents should be equally responsible. However, I also believe that both parents necessarily don’t teach the same things. For example, both boys and girls learn gender appropriate behavior from fathers, while they love more about loving, sharing and caring from mother.

7. Do you think there are differences between how men and women care for children? Yes, there is certainly a difference. In India, fathers are generally stricter, and they don’t show their love openly. Mothers are much more open in showing their love and affection. I think it’s hard to define the difference, but I certainly feel there is a difference.

8. Do your parents do household chores equally?

Yes, my parents are very particular about the household chores. For example, my father is responsible for buying the vegetables from the market daily. He also makes the breakfast and tea, while my mother makes the lunch and dinner. I also have the responsibility of taking out the trash in the morning and feeding the dog. We have a maid for cleaning and other things.

48. Describe an important journey that was delayed.

- Why was it important

- What caused the delay

- What happened at the end

- Describe what caused the delay

• India is a beautiful and diverse country and there are so many things I love about it.

• Unfortunately, its public transportation is not one of them, especially trains and buses in India.

• Trains and buses often get delayed because of reasons like traffic, fog and other unforeseen circumstances.

• Today, I am going to talk about one time when I got delayed because of something unexpected.

• My parents and I were travelling to Ahmedabad for my cousin’s wedding, and it was the middle of the monsoon season. (makkarIELTS)

• However, we were travelling through Rajasthan, which is one of the drier parts of India.

• So, we weren’t expecting any rain, but nature had other plans for us.

• It started raining about five hours into the journey and it rained incessantly for hours.

• We still thought it was ok and it’s just rain and it would subside sometime soon.

• But it didn’t.

• In fact, our train stopped at one station because everything ahead was flooded.

• A railway official told us that it was one of the worst floods in the state and the railway tracks were submerged under 2-3 inches of water.

• I vividly remember one scene when we entered a railway office to enquire when the train would leave.

• All the chairs were floating, and the railway officials were sitting on the top of tables.

• When we all think about that journey, it is the first scene that comes to mind.

• Finally, after hours the train moved again. m@kK@rI3LTS

• We missed the wedding, but we did attend the reception which was the next day.

• When I think about it, I don’t remember anything about the return journey.

• The floods did cause inconvenience, but it also made the journey much more memorable.

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Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What mode of travel do you consider the safest?

I think earlier I considered travelling by car to be the safest but because of the increasing traffic and road accidents, I now consider train journey as the safest. So, whenever I have to travel long distance I travel by train. I also consider air journeys to be safe, but the recent airplane disappearances have made me less sure.

2. How do people travel long distance in your country?

I think the most common means of travel for majority of the people is train. However, with increasing incomes, many people have started travelling by air as well.

3. How can travelling be useful to people? What do you think people can learn by travelling to other countries?

Travelling is useful is many ways. First, its one the best ways to meet new people and make friends. Secondly, it enables us to learn about new cultures and traditions. Travelling also in a way breaks the monotony of everyday life. There is something very enjoyable about planning a holiday and visiting other places.

4. Where, in our opinion, should people visit during the vacations? What type of places do you recommend people to visit during vacations?

I have thought about it a lot. I think people should take vacations at a place, which is different from their own native place. For example, I live in the plains, so I love travelling to the hills and mountains. People who live in continental locations can visit the beaches. Ultimately though, it all depends upon people’s choice.

5. In what ways can society benefit from such members?

I believe there are several ways a society can benefit from such members. Firstly, regular travellers can make a society more open-minded by spreading knowledge about other cultures. It also builds curiosity among other members of the society to travel. Finally, sometimes when these travellers like something about other cultures, they might bring it to their native place as well.

6. How do you think commercial flights can improve?

I think the biggest issue with commercial flights today is the lack of leg space, which makes it very tiring to travel. In fact, sometimes after long journeys all I can think about is lying down and sleeping on a bed for hours. Moreover, I think the food prices in aircrafts are really exorbitant and I wish these prices are made more reasonable.

49. Describe an experience you had as a member of a team - m@kkar|ELTS

- What it was?

- Who were the members of the team?

- What role did you play in this team?

- And explain how you achieved your goal?

• I have had both negative and positive experiences while working in teams.

• Today, I am going to talk about the best experience I have had.

• I think it was because I had a good rapport with the team members and also because the role, I undertook was something I enjoyed a lot.

• In 12^th standard as a part of the course of economics, our class was given a team project.

• My teacher made teams of three members and the team members were selected randomly.

• Unfortunately, I did not know any of the other team members in my group.

• I mean I knew their names but nothing more than that.

• So, I was very apprehensive at the beginning, but it all changed with time.

• We were allowed to choose the topic of the project ourselves.

• So, we chose the topic of global economic crisis during 2007-2008.

• All of us were very curious about what happened for such a big crisis and moreover why India was not very affected.

• You can say I was the nerd in the team, so I was given the role of collecting data.

• However, both the other team members also helped.

• I still remember how we spent every afternoon sitting and reading books on the topic in the library.

• We also read some journals on the topic on the internet.

• It was during this part that we three became really good friends.

• I compiled all the information and then all of it into divided different portions and wrote it down.

• The last part of the project was team presentation.

• I was really afraid as I found speaking in front of people really daunting.

• But my team mates really helped me then. I think we practiced giving the presentation three four times and that made me much more confident.

• I think we all did really well in the presentation because only two teams got an A grade in the presentation and we were one of the two.

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Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. Do you like to work alone or work with a partner?

I like working alone because I kind of hate being dependent upon other people. However, it also depends upon the team members. If I have a good rapport with the team members, I find it rather enjoyable.

2. What kind of people are good to work with?

The most important quality I try to look for in team members is sincerity. I mean sincerity with work. I have unfortunately worked with a lot of people who procrastinate endlessly, and I really dislike working with such people.

3. Do you like group work or group learning?

Yes, group learning/work is certainly enjoyable because it involves sharing of ideas and discussions. Working/Studying alone sometimes can be very boring. However, sometimes it is also irritating especially if some of the team members like talking a lot because then I get distracted.

4. What are the advantages of studying alone?

The biggest advantage of studying alone undoubtedly is that we can concentrate better. So, it is more efficient to study alone. Another advantage of studying alone is the flexibility it offers. What I mean is that we can study whenever or wherever we want, and we can study at our pace.

5. What can children learn through teamwork?

The main benefit I feel is children learn how to cooperate and work along with others. This is really beneficial in adult life when people have to work together on projects.

6. What are the disadvantages of working in a team?

I think, firstly, working in a team can be really inefficient because we have to work at common group speed. Secondly, it sometimes leads to feeling of helplessness if the other members are not very sincere about their work and we are dependent upon them to finish their work.

7. Is it good to have differences in a team?

Well both yes and no. Yes, because team differences make sure more time is spent deliberating on issues, which means there are less chances of errors. No, because having differences means that it slows things down.

8. What are key skills and abilities needed to be successful in a team.

I think the main skill required to be successful is the ability to work well with others. People should be accommodating, but also not so accommodating that they lose their voice. What I mean is that they should be open to ideas of others but also express their ideas and reservations about ideas of others.

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• IELTS Academic Essays From The Past Exams

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• IELTS Academic Reading From The Past Exams Vol. 1

• IELTS Academic Reading From The Past Exams Vol. 2

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50. Describe a goal that you achieved, which was set by yourself

Or describe a time when you set a goal and tried your best to achieve it

- What it was

- When did you set it

- How did you achieve it

- Explain how it influenced your life

• I don’t think I have a strong willpower and many times I set have set goals but failed to achieve them.

• But last to last year, I made a new year’s resolution and I made sure I completed it.

• In 2018, I took my board exams and I unfortunately I spent a lot of time sitting at home for two to three months.

• Because of the lack of physical activity, I gained 5 kgs of weight in those months.

• Due to the weight gain, I also lost confidence and stopped talking to my friends.

• Thus, I started staying indoor and I gained even more weight.

• So, at the beginning of 2019 I decided to lose all the weight that I gained and regain my confidence.

• I mainly did three things to achieve it.

• First, I joined a gym and stayed regular with it.

• Every day I used to wake up at 6 AM and go to the gym.

• I spent about 45 mins to 1 hour at the gym.

• The second thing I did was to control and manage my diet.

• I stopped eating sweets and packaged products.

• This was really hard for I love sweets.

• It was especially hard to give up on chocolates.

• The last thing I did was to sleep on time.

• I could only be regular with the gym if I woke up on time and that meant I needed to sleep on time.

• Earlier I had the habit of binge-watching TV shows and so I used to stay up late at night.

• I used to wake up just very late and thus if I did that, I would never have been able to go to the gym.

• I didn’t stop watching TV shows, I just made sure I watched only 1 episode every day.

• My gym trainer also told me that proper eight hours of sleep for muscles to regenerate and heal so sleeping on time was very important.

• After three months of this schedule, I was finally able to lose all that weight.

• Doing this made me really confident and I started going out and meeting my friends again.

If you are a bit healthy now – you can say - Unfortunately I have again gained some weight and I am planning to do this again.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. Do people need to write down goals or simply memorize them?

Well I live to write down my goals. It just provides that extra motivation in that weak moment or when we are having a bad day and we feel like giving up.

2. Do Indian people usually set goals.

Yes, many Indian people do. In fact, I remember on 1^st of January a lot of my friends and I share our new year goals and resolutions.

3. Should parents set goals for children?

I think parents should motivate children to keep goals, but I don’t think parents should themselves keep the goals. Because I think if children don’t keep the goals, they won’t have the same level of motivation to fulfill them.

4. When do young people start setting goals for themselves?

I think there is no fixed age. It all depends upon the persons maturity and level of responsibility. Some people start keeping goals at a very early age like at twelve or thirteen, while others start keeping goals after reaching adulthood. Goal setting is much more about self-fulfillment and making oneself better and this realization to make oneself better sometimes come early and sometimes late.

5. What are the kinds of goals that are unrealistic?

I think goals which are in tune with a person’s personality are realistic. I mean if I decide to do something which would require me to make a drastic change in my personality, I would not be able to achieve it. So that would be unrealistic for me.

6. Do young people and old people have different kinds of goals? What are they?

I think both yes and no. Yes, in the sense that young people goals are more about achieving something in life, while goals for old people are about helping their young achieve their goals in life. No because sometimes goals can be similar too, for example I see both young and old trying to lose weight and look smart in the gyms.

7. What is more fulfilling working towards a goal or achieving it?

I think both are fulfilling in their own sense. Working towards a goal is about meeting and overcoming challenges, it is about failing and getting back up. Finally, achieving a goal brings a feeling and that efforts did make a difference. However, if we didn’t struggle to achieve something, neither the work we put in nor the final goal brings in fulfillment.

8. Do you think it’s important to have realistic goals?

I think being realistic has its own advantages and disadvantages. Its advantageous because if the goals are unrealistic it is very easy to give up and believe that it was not possible in the first place.It’s also harmful in the sense that we never test our limits. We never try to go beyond. So, I generally set goals to just beyond realistic.

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51. Describe a person who has apologized to you

- Who this person is?

- When this happened?

- What this person said for apologizing?

- Explain how you felt about the apology?

• Knowingly or unknowingly we all do some wrong things in life for which we feel sorry within ourselves.

• Sometimes we hurt another person or someone else hurts our feelings.

• Whenever I realize my mistake, I don’t hesitate to feel sorry immediately.

• Here, I would like to talk about my friend, Rohan, who apologized to me for spilling ink on my assignment.

• Rohan is my best friend.

• He is 20 years old and he is not tall, but looks very handsome.

• He has dark curly hair and a dimple on his cheek, which looks very nice when he smiles.

• It so happened, that two days before our pre-board exams of +2, we had to submit our physics assignment.

• We both had prepared our assignments with great effort and were very happy with the end result.

• Rohan had bought a new ink-pen, and was trying to write his name on the cover page of the assignment.

• But, there was some problem with the pen.

• In an effort to start writing with the pen, he shook it hard and the whole ink fell on my assignment, which was also lying there.

• I was on the verge of tears.

• All my hard work was wasted.

• He also felt bad and said sorry to me.

• I could see from his face expressions that he was really sorry.

• But, my heart was sinking.

• I knew it was not his fault, so I forgave him.

• But I also knew that I would have to write my assignment all over again.

• Rohan stayed up with me the whole night and helped me in preparing my assignment all over again.

• It would not have been possible without his help.

• The next day we both submitted our assignments and got very good grades from our teacher.

• Saying sorry cannot undo the harm, but it can definitely make you feel less bad about things.

• My friend tried to cover up for his mistake by first saying sorry and then helping me.

• Even today we are the best of friends.

1. Is it important to say sorry?

Yes, it is important to say sorry, because it makes you feel less guilty and you can tell the other person that you realize your mistake and would not do such a thing in the future.

2. In what situations do people say sorry?

People say sorry when they do something wrong knowingly or unknowingly, and when they realize their mistake. They also say sorry when they want to clear any misunderstanding with their friend or family member.

3. Why do some people hate to say sorry?

Some people hate to say sorry because they have an ego and they think that they would be belittled if they say sorry. Sometimes they don’t realize their mistake. Sometimes they think that the other person is at fault and he should say sorry.

4. In what situations should we apologize immediately?

We should apologize immediately when we realize our mistake, or when we don’t want any misunderstanding to happen, or when we don’t want our friendship to be broken, or when we want our relationship with the other person to be even stronger. For example, in a crowded place, when we unintentionally bang into someone or when I forget to switch off my phone and it rings and disturbs the whole class, I don’t waste any time in saying sorry.

5. When do people say thank you?

People say thank you when someone does something for them or gives them a gift or wishes them on festivals and special occasions. People thank other people for their help or service, for example, a waiter in a restaurant, to the attendants at the fuel pumps, etc.

6. When was the last time you found it hard to accept an apology?

The last time I found it hard to accept an apology was when my 10 year-old cousin, damaged my laptop and I lost all my important documents. I was very dejected, but could not do anything about it. My cousin said sorry to me so many times, but I remember I did not talk to him properly for two weeks and I have never let him touch my things again.

52. Describe an interesting animal

- What it looks like

- When you saw it

- Where you saw it

- Explain why it is interesting

(Sample answer)

• India has a diverse animal life.

• We have wild animals, domestic animals and pet animals.

• Here, I am going to talk about an animal, which I find very interesting. • This animal lives in water but is not a fish

• It is a mammal - it is the dolphin.

• I came to know first time about this animal from the National Geographic channel.

• In fact, this river dolphin is the national aquatic animal of India.

• It gives birth to its young one and suckles to feed it

• It cannot breathe under water so it has to come to the surface to breathe

• Even the little baby has to be pushed to the surface to breathe.

• Dolphins feed on most kinds of fish such as the snapper and the tuna.

• Dolphins are fast swimmers.

• They search their way through the sounds they produce, which is called echo-location.

• The dolphins' sound waves hit an object and the echo bounces back.

• Most dolphins are peaceful and rather shy.

• So far humans have proven to be of greater danger to dolphins than the other way round.

• There are marine dolphins found in oceans and river dolphins found in rivers.

• Just like the tiger is our national animal and the peacock is our national bird, the Gangetic river dolphin is our national aquatic animal.

• The Indian river dolphin is blind.

• It is found in the river Ganges.

• The female is about 9 feet long and the male about 7 feet long.

• Unfortunately our river dolphin is on the verge of extinction.

• But now the government has started taking steps to save it under the ‘Project Dolphin’

• Dolphins are important for maintaining the ecosystem.

• Recently I saw a Hindi movie Ajooba in which Amitabh Bachan is rescued by a dolphin and he considers the dolphin as his mother.

• I came to know from that movie that dolphins are very intelligent and can be trained.

• So this is the aquatic animal, which I find very interesting.

1. Why do people like to keep pets?

Indian people like to keep pets because pets are wonderful companions. Pets, such as dogs give you unconditional love. They also provide security. Some people keep pets in their homes to teach responsibility to their children. People who suffer from depression are advised by their doctors to keep pets.

2. What should we do to protect endangered animals?

We should help the governments and NGOs by contributing some funds, however small they may be. We should not do hunting and poaching of animals. We should aware those who are not aware about the importance of animals and the effects their extinction can have on us.

3. Do you support doing experiments on animals?

I, do not support experimenting on animals, because nowadays, we can do computer simulated experiments to see the effects of drugs. We should realize that animals are not humans and so any effect on them may not be there on humans. Moreover, animals are sentient beings and should not be disturbed for our selfish motives.

4. Why do some people refuse to eat animals?

Some people refuse to eat animals on religious grounds. Some people just don’t like unnecessary killing of animals. They feel that plant sources can also provide them enough nutrients.

5. What would happen when some species disappear on earth?

It would disturb the ecological chain and would affect us directly or indirectly. We would also lose out on the diversity of nature.

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53. Describe an article on health that you read from a magazine or online - m@kkar|ELTS

- What the article was

- When and where you read it

- What you learned from the article

- Explain why you think it is a good or bad article

• I have read many articles in my life.

• Today I will talk about an article about healthy lifestyle that I read last year.

• I read this article from the website fitness.com.

• I was browsing through a website, when I saw the link to this article.

• The name of the article was very eye-catching.

• It was “Look Younger, Live Longer”.

• I clicked on the link and it opened this article.

• Nowadays, we all are living a sedentary lifestyle and facing many health related problems.

• This article opened my eyes that to become healthier, it was all about making small lifestyle changes.

• I came to know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

• We should have a healthy and wholesome breakfast and never skip it.

• This helps boost our immunity and also helps us go through the day with full energy.

• I have never skipped breakfast since I’ve read this article and I can concentrate on my work and studies better.

• I also read that we should have at least one seasonal fruit everyday.

• It also said that walking for an hour a day is as good as one hour of gym.

• Since then, morning walk has become a part of my routine.

• I used to dislike broccoli before I read this article.

• However, after reading that Broccoli is a very good source of proteins and is full of nutrients, I started having it regularly.

• I feel very fit and healthy and have rarely fallen sick since I made these small changes.

• I have bookmarked this article and read it often.

• I have also shared it with many of my friends and relatives.

1. Why do different people like to read different magazine?

Different people like to read different magazines because their interests are different.

Magazines cater to specific fields. Those who love sports read sports magazines, such as Sports Today; those who like fashion, read fashion magazines, such as Vogue; those interested in film celebrities, read magazines like Stardust and Film Fare.

2. What kind of magazines do teenagers like to read?

Teenagers like to read sports and fashion magazines.

3. What’s the difference between news on TV and news in magazines?

The major difference is that news in magazines is the detailed news of the past week or the past fortnight or the past month depending on whether the magazine is weekly or fortnightly or monthly.

4. Do people like to read news from the Internet?

Young people like to read news from the Internet. They are tech savvy. They can read any newspaper from any corner of the world. E-paper is also environmentally friendly.

5. Do people still buy magazines in your country?

Yes, they do. Magazines cater to special fields. Those interested in sports buy sports magazines, those interested in home-making buy magazines like Women’s Era and Sarita.

6. Do you think the people today are healthier than those in the past?

Yes I do think people today are healthier than in the past. It is obvious from the increase in life expectancy. People are living much longer than in the past. Moreover, people have become more conscious about their health.

7. Why do magazines have health related articles?

Magazines mostly contain information about topics related to our lifestyle and health is one of them. Nowadays people are conscious about their health, so they like to read such articles, which in turn increases the sales of the magazines.

8. How do people keep a healthy diet?

People, nowadays are eating home cooked food in order to keep a healthy diet. Food cooked at home is more hygeniec and nutritious. Also, people are using technology like specific mobile apps to track their diet plans

9. What kinds of foods are considered as unhealthy?

Fast food is considered as unhealthy because it contains lot of fat and is mostly deep fried.

10. Do people in India usually exercise?

Generally speaking, it depends on an individual but nowadays staying fit and healthy has become a trend. So, people like going to the gyms or yoga centers near their homes.

54. Describe a person in the news that you want to meet

- Who he or she is?

- What did this person show up on TV for?

- How do you know what this person? - Why you want to meet him?

• In our day to day life we see film stars, sportsmen and politicians in the news.

• Sometimes, we are so impressed by them that we want to meet them personally.

• Here, I would like to talk about a person whom I would like to meet personally and get his autograph.

• He is my favourite Punjabi singer, Gurdas Maan

• Recently, he was in the PTC Punjabi Channel news because he is coming to perform in a neighbouring village for awakening people about the menace of drug addiction

• He is coming next month to raise some money for the rehabilitation of the youth of Punjab villages who have become drug addicts.

• I would like to meet him and get his autograph and thank him for the commendable work he is doing for the people.

• Actually Gurdas Mann is my favourite singer.

• He is a multifaceted personality.

• He is a singer, actor, director and a lyricist as well.

• He writes the lyrics of his songs himself.

• He has also acted in many Punjabi movies.

• All my family members also love his songs.

• When we go out anywhere together we play his songs in the car.

• All his songs have messages.

• He even performs in stage shows.

• He always has his tambourine in his hands when he performs.

• I love all his songs, which he has sung so far.

• It would be a dream come true for me if I get to meet him.

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1. What type of people can be seen on TV? What are the kind of people do the news usually report about?

Many celebrities like actors, singers, sportspersons etc. can be seen on TV. Politicians, subject matter experts, bureaucrats, etc. are also seen on TV.

2. Do you think there is too much news about celebrities? What is your take on the news reports in recent years?

Yes, I think that there is too much news about the celebrities these days. News channels mostly focus on unnecessary news about famous people, to increase their TRP.

3. Do you think negative information in the news can have negative influence?

Yes, definitely. The negative news on news channels and in newspapers has a negative influence, as people start feeling that nothing good is happening around them. It may develop a sense of insecurity and fear among people, leading to chaos and confusion too, sometimes. Also, people are not aware of the news about development, progress and positive events around them, as too little attention is given to such news.

4. Why do people like negative news?

People like negative news because they want to be aware about the wrong happenings around them. They want to be aware of such news, which helps them take precautions for their safety and security. Also, it is common to find people more interested in news about disasters, crime, terrorism, scandals, corruption, rather than in news about positive developments. I think some people like negative news more than positive news because of their pessimistic attitude.

5. What is usually in the news in India?

In India, news is usually about the politicians, celebrities, sports and crime. There are also discussions about social and political issues, where an experts panel debates. There is also news about news developments and discoveries in India and in other countries.

6. Is that information always true?

I would say that the information given on news is mostly true, as sometimes news channels may exaggerate and sensationalize any news piece, for better TRP. People have access to many sources of information these days because of the Internet, so news channels cannot afford to telecast fake and false news.

7. What’s the difference between broadcasting news in the past and in the present?

There are many differences between news broadcast in the past and at present. These differences are mainly because of technological advancements. These days the news is broadcast real-time. In the past, the technology was not that advanced and there used to be a delay before we got news from other parts of the country or the world. There are a number of news channels these days from all over the world. In the past, there used to be fewer news channels, mostly dealing with the domestic news rather than international news.

8. Do you believe everything said in the news?

Yes, I mostly believe everything said in the news. I usually follow more than one news channel, so

the news I hear on one channel can be corroborated on other channels. These days the level of awareness of people has increased, so the news channels cannot afford to telecast fake or false news.

9. What kinds of news are popular in India?

Many kinds of news are popular in India, like political news, news about social issues, news about crime, news about celebrities, sports and other national and international famous people.

10. Could superstars bring positive influence on the public?

Yes, of course. If superstars have a good image, then they can influence positively. Many people are their fans and look upon them as role models. So, if they ask people to do something, people do so. For example, if they ask people to plant trees, people would definitely do so. If they ask people to abide by traffic rules, people would listen.

10. Are the stories about celebrities in the news always true? Is the news on celebrities mostly positive? No, not necessarily. In fact, most news are exaggerations about their personal lives, and are just reported to increase TRP.

11. How do you think the celebs in the news can influence adolescents?

Celebs can influence adolescents in both positive and negative ways. If the celebs have a clean image, then what they say can influence the young people in good ways. However, if the celebs have a negative image in society, then the young people who follow them will follow their bad habits also.

12. Are news reports on TV in India divided into domestic and international ones?

I don’t think News are divided into domestic and international ones. However, there are different channels for domestic and international news. If any international news is very sensational and likely to affect the rest of the world, then it is surely reported along with the national news.

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55. Describe one time when the weather changed your plan

- When this happened

- Where you were

- What kind of weather it was

- Explain why you couldn’t finish the thing

- What you did at the end

• It has not happened very often when the weather changed my plan

• But yes, I remember a time when my friends and I had planned to go to a museum, Pushpa Gujral Science City, near my hometown, where we could not go because of heavy rainfall.

• Last year, in our summer vacation, we planned to visit this museum.

• This museum is at a distance of one hour from my hometown.

• As I live near the bus stand, my friends had to assemble at my house and then we had to go to the bus stand and catch a bus for the museum.

• It was cloudy, and we could anticipate that it would rain, but we never thought it could be that bad.

• Just has we were about to leave it started raining heavily.

• We thought we would wait for sometime for the rain to slow down and then we would go

• But it started raining cats and dogs, and the rain went on for five hours at a stretch.

• We could not go anywhere

• My friends were also stuck at my house

• But we made it a day to remember

• My mother made a nice lunch and many snacks for us and we played carom board

• Although we could not go to the museum, we had a fun time together

• Even after the rain stopped, there was a lot of water logging on the roads and my friends could not go home till late evening.

• So that was a day when the weather changed our plans

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. Where can people get weather reports?

People can get weather reports through Radio, TV, through Internet and nowadays even two apps on their smartphones

2. How do weather reports affect people’s life?

People change their plans according to the weather reports, especially in the temporary climates, where the weather reports tend to be more accurate. In the tropical climates however, the weather reports I’m not so accurate and so people do not give much importance to them.

3. What do people do on rainy days and sunny days?

On rainy days people like to be indoors and enjoy special dishes such as fritters and tea.

4. Has climate change affected your country?

Climate change has affected each and every part of the globe, and my country is no exception. Summers have become very long and winters have shrunk. We also have hotter summers and cooler winters.

5. Does weather affect your mood?

When it is too hot I feel very uncomfortable and when it is too cold, I feel lethargic.

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56. Describe a situation you were not allowed to use your cell phone

- Where was it

- When was it

- Why you were not allowed

- What did you want to do with your cell phone

• Cell phones have become an indispensable part of our lives

• Today, we cannot think of a life without the cell phone.

• There are many places, where the use of a cell phone is very disturbing.

• For example, in religious places like temples, restaurants and hospitals.

• Here, I would like to talk about a situation when I was not allowed to use the cell phone

• Last month, my aunt had come from the UK to spend a few days with us and do some shopping for her daughter’s wedding.

• We decided to go to the Golden Temple Amritsar on the weekend.

• I remember vividly, there was a long queue to enter the main building.

• Our turn came after one hour’s wait.

• Just as we entered the main prayer hall, my phone started ringing.

• Everybody turned to look at me as if I had committed a crime.

• I had forgotten to turn my cell phone off.

• There were notices all around that cell phones had to be turned to the silent mode before entering the hall.

• I cut the call and immediately turned off my cell phone.

• I felt very embarrassed.

• There were so many people there but nobody’s cell phone was ringing.

• After doing the circumambulation of the holy book, we came out.

• Then we went to the community kitchen, where food is served round the clock.

• After another one hour, we came out of the main building of the temple, and then I switched my cell phone back on.

• There were four missed calls from my cousin

• I called her and told her why we didn’t answer her calls

• She understood.

• So this was the situation when I was not allowed to use my cell phone.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What is the impact off the cell phone?

I believe cell phones have both positive and negative impact on our lives.

Due to the cell phones we have instant access to information and also because of them we can connect with our loved one’s; anywhere, anytime. But at the same time if you think about the negative impacts cell phones have also become a great cause of stress in our lives. The need to always stay connected is taking a toll on our personal lives.

2. What is the smartphone used the most for?

I think, nowadays the smartphones are primarily used for accessing social networking applications such as whatsapp, facebook and twitter etc. People also use them for Official and Entertainment purpose like checking office email or watching movies and playing games.

3. What is your opinion about selfies?

I believe, selfies are one of the biggest trends of our era. People are not camera shy anymore and with the advent of front facing cameras on smartphones they are taking selfies for every occasion and at every place they visit.

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57. Describe an important piece of news that you received via text message

- who shared the message with you?

- what the news was about?

- how was it written?

- and explain why the news was important?

• Mobile phones have become an important part of our lives.

• Even though there are many applications that we use on our phones, calling and texting are the two main features that have always been used.

• Today I will talk about a time where I received a piece of good news via a text message.

• It was from a cousin, Preeti who lives in Australia.

• She is five years elder to me but we used to play a lot in our childhood and I always looked up to her.

• She moved to Australia when I was still in school.

• At that time we didn’t have mobile phones.

• We used to stay in touch through calls and letters.

• Later we both got mobile phones and now we chat or video call one another.

• Last year in the month of May, I woke up and checked my phone.

• I had a text message notification on my phone from Preeti.

• It was a short simple message about her getting her dream job in one of the best hospitals in Sydney. But I was able to almost feel her excitement while reading it.

• I was extremely happy to read that message as she had been talking about it for the last six months.

• I knew all the hard work she had put in to first complete her education in that field and then get a suitable job.

• I immediately called her and congratulated her.

• She didn’t want to wake me up, due to the time difference, and had chosen to send me a text message instead.

• Everyone in the family spoke to her and congratulated her.

• It was a very special day and I was happy all day.

• I still remember that text message and that day very clearly.

• And she is happy at her job and is enjoying it everyday.

• I am sure she’ll do great in her career and always wish the best for her.

Follow ups

1. Why do some people dislike sending text messages?

Some people dislike sending text messages because they feel that it is easier and faster to call than typing a text message and then waiting for a reply. Also, sometimes the text maybe misinterpreted and may lead to misunderstandings.

2. What is the information that cannot be communicated via text messages?

Information that is confidential shouldn’t be communicated through text messages. Besides that, in situations that require conveying feelings, emotions or a deeper meaning, only text messages cannot convey that and need face-to-face interaction.

3. How do people in India deliver important information?

Important information in India is usually communicated through letters and these days email communication has also become quite common to send important information.

4. What do you think of traditional paper mails?

I think that the traditional paper mails still hold some value in today’s world of technology. There are people who are not very comfortable with technology and prefer paper communication. There may also be people who still don’t have access to technology, especially in remote areas. Also, for personal communication, handwritten paper letters add a personal touch.

However, technology has made it faster, convenient, and easier to stay in touch with our family and friends, irrespective of distance. It is also the preferred mode for most official communication.

5. Do you think it is still a good way to deliver information using traditional mails?

Yes, in certain cases, traditional mails are still a good way to deliver information. There are many people, for example, some elderly people, who are not comfortable using technology, who prefer that official communication be sent to them in the traditional way.

6. Have our ways to communicate with each other changed in recent years?

Yes, it certainly has. In the past, most of the communication happened through handwritten or typed paper mails. However, now most of the communication is electronic, through emails, chat apps, phone calls, videos calls, etc.

7. What are the differences between Indian media and western media?

I think that in today’s well-connected world, the differences between Indian and western media are not many. The main difference is that Indian media uses different regional languages to get information across to all the regions and the states, which use different languages. The content is also more suited to India’s diverse culture. At the same time, Indian media also connects us to the world and gives us information and exposure to the whole world, and has elements that are quite similar to the western media. For example, the format of many shows like Indian Idol, India’s Got Talent, news shows and discussions, etc.

8. What are the advantages of sending messages via social applications?

The main advantage of sending messages via social media is that people can stay connected with their friends and relatives easily. It’s easy to contact others and share information, news, and feelings. Audios, videos, and photos can also be shared through such apps.

58. Describe something you bought that was difficult to use at first

- What is it?

- When you bought it?

- What does it do?

- Explain how difficult was it to be used?

• Last September it was my grandmother’s birthday.

• So, I decided to gift her a mobile phone.

• I searched on various shops and also searched through the net to make a purchase.

• Finally, I decided to buy a senior citizen cell phone.

• It was described that it had big buttons, big icons and not too many functions.

• I placed an order with Amazon and this phone was delivered within 3 days.

• When I showed it to my grandmother, she was very happy, and I was also very excited that she will start using it immediately.

• My grandmother had never used a cell phone and she was very hesitant to handle it initially.

• Many times, she would press the wrong buttons and then feel frustrated with the gadget.

• I also tried to teach her, but this phone was very different from the one that I was using.

• Even I had a lot of difficulty getting to know its features.

• The senior citizen version just meant bold buttons and slightly big size.

• Nothing else was easy.

• So, I had to go through the user manual to explain the functions to her.

• I realised It came with preloaded with some books and some devotional music

• She immediately liked this function and started using it.

• Another difficulty I overcame was that I adjusted the light and the font the size to her liking.

• Gradually she got accustomed to use it.

• Now she has started using it and now it has become her favourite pastime.

• Now I am fully content with the it, because I’ve learnt how to use it and my grandmother also has got the hang of it.

Option 2

• I am an Avid reader and like to read books on various subjects, like philosophy fiction and science fiction.

• Whenever I travel, I like to carry a book with me and many times it becomes difficult as some books are heavy and thick.

• Last September when I was shopping, I came across Kindle Paperwhite, a gadget by Amazon.

• It comes preloaded with some books and some others one can buy as e-books at a comparatively cheaper cost.

• I bought it immediately without second thoughts as it suited my requirement perfectly.

• When I reached home I realised that I had purchased one without a backlight.

• It needed artificial light to be read easily.

• Also, when I tried to flip the leaves it was difficult.

• Initially, so very often, I would jump a few pages.

• Another difficulty I faced at the initial stages was that it needed some practice to adjust the font the size and other aspects of book reading.

• But there is no denying the fact that it is the most convenient gadget to be carried when you are on the go.

• Gradually I got accustomed to it.

• Now I can read my favourite magazines and newspapers also on Kindle.

• Although I am not fully content with the performance of Kindle reading, specially the particular version that I have purchased, yet I would rate it to be a value-for-money purchase.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What type of products are difficult to use at first?

Goods and products are manufactured for different kinds of people and customers. Some may find it difficult to handle a hi-tech machines while some may find everyday use gadgets in the kitchen difficult to be handled. Generally products with too many functions and buttons are difficult.

2. Do you think it is necessary to follow the fashion and use the latest products?

I would answer yes and no both to this question. Yes! it is good to be up-to-date with the current trends and use the new products. One has to change with the changing times and fashion. No, because the times today are changing very fast and it is very difficult to keep pace with every changing gadget So we should be abreast with the current trends, if not the latest.

3.Do you believe that some products are over publicized?

Yes, it is the an era of advertisement and publicity. Anything that is not advertised, slowly fades away from memory, like they say... out of sight out of mind. When we watch some television programs these days, the intermittent advertisements are repeated again and again and again. So, in terms of competition with each other nothing is too much. Sometimes we get fed up of over publicity but that is the trick a company plays on human mind.

4. Why do you think advertisements are useful in selling products?

There is a whole lot of research and creativity that is behind making an advertisement. If a product is for the children then the advertisements are made in such a manner that a child pesters his parents on buying that particular brand. Hence the target is achieved. in case of women’s beauty products the most impeccably beautiful women are projected and women fall in for that particular product, and again the goal is met. So an advertisement is the most useful method of boosting the sale of any product.

5.Which do you think is better buying things online on buying things in real shops?

Both the methods offer their own advantages and disadvantages. When we buy something online it saves time. It also saves fuel moreover it is also economically beneficial as well as it is an eco-friendly method. There are also so many discount offers when we purchase online because the online stores don't have too many employees and they don't need a shop or a showroom. On the other hand certain things like shoes, need to be bought after trying them properly.

6. How do people pay for things they buy online?

There as many payment methods for online shopping. In many cases there is an option of cash on delivery, when you pay to the person who Delivers the parcel at home. Mobile applications like Google pay and payTM are popular in India. One can also make a payment directly from the bank’s debit or a credit card . So anyone who purchases something online opts for the method that is convenient to him or her.

7. Why are imported products more expensive than locally made products?

Well now the times have changed. It is not necessary that the indigenous products are cheaper than the imported ones. The Chinese goods are cheaper in India then many of the Indian counterparts. Many a times the price of a product depends on its quality and quantity. Imported products are transported overseas through air or containers by the sea route so the cost increases and on many products there is an import duty when they reach the destination country.

8. what do you think of those people who only buy expensive things and look down on other people? We are living in a consumeristic society. The modern generation is very brand conscious. At times the price of a product is not justified because it is too expensive but the price tag comes with the brand name. Many people do not like Street shopping and they demean people who do not purchase branded products. I think these people live in an artificial world.

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59. Describe a successful small business that you know - m@kkar|ELTS

- What is the business is?

- Where it is?

- Who runs the business/how do you know about this business?

- And explain why you think it is successful?

• I belong to Phagwara.

• It is the hub of small-scale industry.

• There are many small businesses running in Phagwara.

• Here I would like to talk about Neil Campbell industries.

• It deals with motor spare parts.

• This company is run by my friend’s father, Mr Sehdev Chauhan.

• They manufacture engine parts and motor parts.

• My friend tells me that her great grandfather started this business from his home.

• He started with just two workers working under him.

• He had only one machine initially.

• Then when her grandfather joined the company they started expanding.

• Today, there are about 200 workers, and the supply spare parts all over the world.

• Me know my friends brother emigrated to Canada for years ago and now he gets orders from Canada also.

• She tells me that her father is very disciplined and reaches his company half an hour before time.

• Perhaps that is why all the workers are also always on time.

• They have a very good relation with their employees.

• She was telling me that it is very difficult to sustain in this modern world because competition is very stiff.

• But in their company they have employed many foreign nearing relatives who are all working hard and earning good bread-and-butter from this company.

• They give their employees bonuses from time to time, and sometimes even take them out for excursions.

• When they get bigger orders, they make their employees do overtime and pay them double for that time.

• That is why all the employees look forward to working overtime.

• They have very good relations with other spare part manufactures in my hometown.

• Freya tells me that her father is mostly out to different states of India and abroad for taking part in exhibitions related to their products.

• So, this is the successful small business that I know of.

1. Do many people know about this company?

Yes, in my hometown many people know about this company. But as my friend tells me that they have business in all parts of India and abroad, so I guess many people know about this company even outside my hometown.

2. What do you think can be considered as emerging industries?

Well I guess, emerging industries are those industries which are based on new products or new ideas which are in the early stages of their development. These industries are also called sunrise industries. These industries are mostly related to information technology, wellness, hospitality and knowledge.

3. Is market research important for export business?

Yes, market research is very important for export business. If a person does not do any research then the whole thing can go waste and the person can end up suffering huge losses.

4. In business, do companies need to be competitive?

Yes, in business companies need to be competitive. If they are not competitive, they will die. If their products do not match up with similar products of other industries, then they will not have any sale and ultimately will not be able to survive.

5. Should companies promote competition and why?

Yes, companies should promote competition, because if they will not do so then they will not match their rival companies and will ultimately not be able to thrive.

6. What should be the government role in how small businesses are run?

The government should promote small businesses, because today many multinational companies are coming up, and if small businesses are not promoted and supported by the governments then they will ultimately disappear.

7. How can businesses benefit the community in which they are located?

Businesses can benefit the community in many ways. Firstly, they can employ people in the local community are. Then they can take steps to save the environment. In this way they can fulfil their social and environmental responsibility.

8. What kind of small businesses are most popular?

All kinds of small businesses are popular, such as related to clothes, toys, the food industry and many more.

60. A person who taught you something important

- Who the person is?

- What he/she is like?

- What he/she taught you?

- How you felt about him/her?

• I have learnt many important things from people around me.

• One such important thing that I learnt is cooking.

• My mother taught me this skill.

• Ever since I made a plan to go abroad for my higher education my mother started involving me in the kitchen.

• My mother is in her 40s.

• Her name is Harsimran.

• she is not very tall but looks very beautiful

• Her hair has started graying but she doesn’t colour or dye her hair.

• She has a gifted hand at cooking.

• Normally she does all the cooking by herself and sometimes my sister helps her, but I hardly ever did anything in the kitchen.

• But now she has taught me how to knead the dough, how to prepare Dal, how to cook rice, how to prepare some vegetables and also how to make chapatis.

• Actually, my cousin went to Canada for her education and there he found a lot of difficulty cooking for himself.

• He is a vegetarian and vegetarian food outlets are very few in Canada.

• Whatever food outlets are there are very expensive.

• So cooking is a very important skill which I think everyone should know

• I am very happy that I can cook for myself now and I can make all the things which I like

• Last week my mother had an attack of viral fever, when suddenly my aunt and uncle came from Amritsar. Makkar|ELTS

• I prepared rice and Dahl for them and both these things turned out really good.

• They were very happy and praised me in front of everyone.

• My mother was very proud of me that day.

• My mother has also taught me some Chinese dishes.

• I really love cheese chilli and Manchurian.

• Now I can make these dishes also and I can add the vegetables and sauces according to my liking.

• I feel that my mother has done a great job by teaching me this important skill of cooking.

• I would never have learnt it without her guidance.

1. What qualities do you think a good teacher should have?

A good teacher should have good communication skills, depth of knowledge of his subject and should be unbiased towards students. He should also be able to come down to the level of student and never lose patience if the student is taking time to grasp something.

2. Who do you think can learn better? Old people or youngsters?

I think learn young people learn faster, whereas old people take some time to learn something new. But as far as better is concerned I think both can learn equally well provided they have the interest to learn.

3. What do you think is the best age for children to go to school?

I think five years is the best age for children to go to school. 3 to 4 would be too early and later than five would be too late. So, ideally the best age would be around five years.

4. Do you prefer to study by yourself or with friends?

I prefer to study with friends because when I study alone I get distracted very soon. Moreover, when I study with my friends we can share ideas and that makes study more interesting.

61. Describe a difficult challenge that you completed/met

- What was the challenge?

- When and where did you complete/met it?

- Why was it difficult?

- How you felt about it?

• I think life would be very boring without challenges.

• Challenges not only make life more exciting but also more meaningful.

• Today I am going to talk about an assignment in school which challenged me.

• The assignment was quite daunting for me, as it involved a group presentation.

• And I am very afraid of public speaking.

• I am very comfortable when talking with my friends but when I have to talk in front of strangers I choke.

• And for that assignment, I had to talk 10 minutes on the environment.

• I was really worried and so I went to my uncle who regularly gives speeches in public for advice. m@kkarIElts

• He told me that the key to a good speech is mastery over the subject matter.

• So, I spent one whole week memorizing the content.

• The next thing he told me to do was to divide the topic in different sections.

• I divided my presentation into five halves of 2 minutes each.

• The first half was for introducing the topic and the last half for concluding the topic.

• The remaining three halves were for the main content.

• After breaking the speech into sections, I felt a lot more confident.

• My friends also knew about my fear of public speaking and so every evening they used to come to my home and help me prepare.

• Slowly, I started feeling that it was doable.

• I was nervous but I wasn’t worried anymore.

• When finally, the day of the presentation arrived, I not only gave the whole presentation but also received an A grade for it.

• My teacher told me that I did a really good job and she actually asked me if I had prior experience of public speaking.

• That is the day I realized that rather than fearing challenges we should welcome them.

1. Do you think parents should give challenges to children?

Yes, I really believe parents should regularly give challenges to their children. I think it makes children confident and better prepared for adult live, which is full of challenges.

2. What is the most challenging thing for kids?

I think there are many things which are challenging for kids and it’s hard to single out one. I would say making friends is challenging for some, public speaking is challenging for some and for some calculations in mathematics are very challenging. It varies from person to person.

3. Can parents reduce the challenges kids have? How?

I think they can, but they shouldn’t. If they try to reduce challenges, their child will not become independent. What parents should do I feel is to make children understand that challenges help us improve and we should not fear but face them head on.

4. What challenges do you think children might have to face up to?

I think the major challenge children today face is the challenge of making friends and fitting in. Besides that, I feel there is challenge of balancing academics with physical activity. There are a very few children who are able to excel at both physical education and academics nowadays.

62. Describe a crowded place you have visited

- Where is it

- When you went there

- With whom you went there

- And explain how you felt about being there?

• India is a densely populated country, so we have lot of places which are often crowded.

• Some of these places are religious shrines, historical sites and nowadays one can even find a lot of people at bus terminals, public gardens etcetera.

• Today, I would like to talk about a shopping mall in Chandigarh, which is always brimming with people.

• It’s called Elante Mall and it is located in the industrial area of Chandigarh.

• The mall has total 5 floors which also include 2 levels for parking.

• It was built approximately 7 years back and one can find stores of all global brands here.

• The mall is mostly crowded over the weekends when people have their weekly offs.

• It is a place where no one gets bored as people can do a lot of activities like playing games, watching movies, eating at their favourite restaurant etcetera.

• The first time I went to this mall was with my cousins who live in Chandigarh.

• It was during the winters and it had been only a month since the opening of the mall.

• We had heard a lot about the mall from others and some even said it is one of the best malls in Asia. makk@rielts

• So, we wanted to explore it ourselves and we were truly amazed.

• It was a weekend and the mall was completely filled with people.

• Everyone looked happy and excited just liked us.

• Also, there were festive sales going and there were huge discounts at most of the stores, so we bought ourselves some new clothes at great prices.

• We spent almost 5 hours at the mall and didn’t even realise how the time went by.

• Now, I am a regular visitor at the mall and I do most of my shopping at Elante mall only.

1. Is there a completely quiet place?

I think that there are not many quiet places in the cities but if one goes to the countryside especially the mountain regions one can find lot of places with no noise. In my opinion the only quiet place in the cities would be a library, where everyone sits quietly and goes about their work or studies.

2. Do you like to go to the places where there are many people?

Well it depends a lot on my mood, when I feel like socialising, I like to visit crowded places like restaurants and malls. At these places when I see lot of people who are smiling and enjoying their time, I get a lot of positive vibes.

3. Do you like the places with large space?

Yes, I like to visit places where there is a lot of space, one can comfortably roam around at such places whereas places which are tight make me feel claustrophobic. At large places, one’s personal space is not intruded.

4. What are the places which attract many people in your country?

The two places which attract the most people in our country are religious shrines and shopping malls. People in my country just love being at these places and you will always find these places crowded.

5. What do you think is the most important thing of a public event?

I think, nowadays, the most important thing of a public event is the security of the people because in huge crowd things can easily go wrong and lead to mishaps.

Another arrangement that organisers should take care of would be public conveniences like drinking water, urinals etcetera. Organisers should also have plans for emergency situations like fire.

6. What are the types of problems that can be better solved by group work?

I think all problems can be solved better by groupwork. When different minds work together on solving a problem, it leads to generation of multiple ideas, which help in solving the problem much faster and in a creative manner.

7. What kind of places do people want to go to when they want to be alone?

When people like to be alone they normally go to their homes and spend time in the comfort of their bedrooms. Sometimes people like to go on a long drive or even travel to a different city. Being alone gives them an opportunity to reflect upon their problems and think about their future or desires.

8. Why is it sometimes important for people to be alone?

In today’s world people often get stressed by too many events happening around them. So, in order to relax their minds people prefer solitude. It is important for them because being alone gives them the time to think about the things that really matter to them and they can focus better in their lives.

63. Job you would not like to do in the future

-What is the job

-Why you don’t want to do it? -How you feel about the job?

• Nowadays, people have a lot of job options and everyone has a preference related to the job they would like to do or not.

• Also, no job is easy nowadays as there is a lot of competition and people have to work really hard in their jobs.

• Some people like to take the challenges that a job brings while some find them difficult. I think it depends on one’s interest.

• Today, I would like to talk about a job, which I think is challenging and I would not like to do it in the future.

• It is the job of a car salesman.

• Although it seems like a simple job but nowadays it is not easy to convince people when they go to buy a car.

• There are a lot of responsibilities as well and pressure is always high.

• It also requires one to be extrovert, which I think I am not.

• One of my friends is working as a salesperson and I often find him stressed about his job.

• He has to spend almost 10-11 hours at the car showroom every day.

• And he does not get off on Sunday, as most customers visit the showroom on this day.

• Also, nowadays most of the people do their research online before buying a car so it becomes very difficult for a salesman to talk to them and sell the car.makkarielts

• My friend is not able to meet his sales targets and always looks worried.

• Moreover, one does not get promotions easily in this job, so it does not seem like a great career option to me.

• In the past, people used to enjoy working as a salesman, but I think it is really difficult.

• I would prefer doing a job related to computers.

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1. What kind of jobs do young people prefer?

The young generation likes to do the jobs which involve creativity and where they can work independently. They also look for jobs that are well paid and require less physical effort. In our country most of the graduates are employed in IT industry. I think they like to work as programmers or IT administrators.

2. Some people will lose their jobs because of technology, how to deal with it?

I think it is the responsibility of the government to skill these people on new technologies so that they can find new jobs. Otherwise there would be large scale unemployment, which would be detrimental for the society.

3. Will you settle down in another country?

Yes, if I get a good job opportunity in a developed country, I would like to settle there. I feel if a person does not settle early than he or she will never achieve success and will always lead a stressful life.

4. How do young people today decide their career?

The present generation has a lot of options when it comes to deciding their career. In the past the young looked upto their family members while deciding their career but nowadays the youth have lot of role models from different fields and they make their own decisions. Some of them also like to explore different jobs before finalising on one. Moreover, they also do a lot of research looking at future prospects of different jobs.

5. Which do young people generally prefer - boring jobs with higher pay or interesting jobs with lower pay?

Nowadays the young are intelligent, and they understand if they are not doing something they like, they will never be happy. So, they choose the jobs they are passionate about and money takes the backseat.

6. Which do you prefer physical work or work involving thinking?

I prefer intellectual work over work that requires a lot of physical effort. I feel work that stimulates your mind is more satisfying as compared to physical work which is monotonous.

7. Do you think today we have less physical labour than we did in the past?

Yes, today we have to do less physical work as compared to the past. Thanks to the advancements in technology, our lives are more comfortable convenient nowadays. The work that required strenuous effort in the past can now be done with the click of a button.

64. Describe a uniform you wear (at your school or company)

- When you wear it?

- Who bought it for you? - What does it look like? - How you feel about it?

• Uniform is very important to maintain discipline in schools or even at workplace.

• It also helps in distinguishing between customer and employees or students of different schools.

• This is why every place has a different uniform.

• I do not wear any uniform now, but I used to wear one in my school.

• In fact, in my school we had different uniforms for weekdays and different for Saturday which was the games day.

• For the weekdays, the students had to wear white shirt with steel grey bottoms along with a tie, belt and black shoes.

• But for the games day, it was coloured T-shirts and white bottoms with the school belt and canvas shoes.

• During the winters, we also had to wear a blue coloured blazer with the school motto woven on its pocket.

• This was my favourite part of the uniform as I looked really handsome after wearing it.

• Also, our school uniform was comparatively better looking as compared to other schools in town, so I felt a little bit proud about it as well.

• But I really hated wearing the games day uniform because the white color gets dirty very easily.

• My parents used to buy the uniforms for me. MAKK@Rielts

• They bought it every alternate year because of my physical growth the old uniforms would get shorter.

• I also remember that I used to take great care of my uniform and kept it neat and tidy. This also got me compliments from my teachers.

• In the end I would like to say that not many students understand the importance of wearing uniform, but it must be taught to them.

Follow Up Questions

1. Why should students wear uniforms?

Uniforms have a lot of advantages. Firstly, it teaches them about discipline and equality which are important qualities to learn in the childhood.

2. On what occasion should people wear uniforms?

I don’t think people should wear uniform for particular occasion because it would be wastage of money. Buying a uniform that one would wear for a single occasion does not make a lot sense to me but if people wear it every day in the school or army it serves a better purpose.

3. Should companies ask employees about the design of their uniforms?

Yes, companies should definitely do that because when employees will participate in the designing process they will have more respect for their uniforms. They will have a sense of ownership and hence they will wear it more proudly.

4. Can people tell someone's personality by his or her clothes?

I think it is very difficult to judge someone’s personality by looking at what they are wearing. Every individual is different, some like fashion and some do not. So a person wearing simple clothes could be a highly intellectual person or could be an average guy. We can only find out once we talk to them.

5. What color would catch people's attention most?

I think the bright colors catch the attention most. Colors like red and yellow normally have a striking effect. Also, these colors are not worn by many people, so, one’s chances of being the odd one out become higher.

65. Describe a situation or a time when you helped someone

- What the situation was?

- Who the person was?

- How you helped them?

- Explain how your felt after helping them?

• Man is a social animal.

• We all have to give and receive help from others many times.

• Here I am going to talk about a situation when I helped an accident victim.

• It so happened that I was going to Ludhiana last month to attend a wedding.

• On the way there is a petrol pump.

• We saw that a lady was lying on the side and there was a lot of blood from her head.

• This accident had just happened 2 minutes before.

• She and her husband were on a scooter and as they were coming out of the petrol pump a speeding car hit them and sped away.

• We parked our car on the side and came out to see if we could help.

• Her husband had minor injuries but she was in a bad shape.

• We immediately called 108 for help.

• It is the number of the free ambulance run by the government.

• Within fifteen minutes the ambulance was there.

• We did not move the lady because it could aggravate her injury.

• She was breathing properly but had a lot of pain.

• There was a first aid team headed by a doctor in the ambulance.

• The ambulance people picked her very carefully on a stretcher and immediately rushed her to Phillaur Civil Hospital. M a k karIELTS

• We took the number of other relatives of the patient from her husband and called them.

• Actually he was also very shocked because of his wife’s condition.

• We took him to the Phillaur hospital in our car.

• Only after they were settled, we moved on.

• We were late for the wedding but we were happy that we could help some needy people.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. Do you like helping others?

Yes, I like helping others. I feel very happy when I can be of any help to anyone. Whenever any person comes to me for help, I do my best to help that person

2. In your view should children be taught to help others?

Yes, children student should be taught to help others. They should be made to realize that if today they will help others, then tomorrow they will get help if they need help.

3. How can we encourage children to help others?

We can encourage children to help others by setting an example. If they see their elders helping others they will automatically learn to help others.

4. Do you think people are less willing to help others these days compared to the past?

Yes, I think so. Today’s life is very fast. People have become workaholics. They have become self centered. They have no time to help others.

5. Do people trust others as much as they used to in the past?

No, I do not think so. My parents and grandparents tell me that life was simpler and slower in the past. People trusted each other. Today, it is very difficult to find people whom you can trust.

6. How do people in your community help one another?

People in my community help each other in whatever way they can. Some people help by giving money and some people help by giving their time.

7. How do students such as high school students help each other?

Students help each other by sharing notes. Some help each other by sharing their conveyance.

8. How can charitable organizations help people?

Charitable organizations help people in many ways. They help by giving money or by teaching people some skills which can help them to earn a livelihood. For example, they open free sewing schools and free computer education centres.

9. What are some examples of such organizations in your country?

Being humane is one organization run by Salman Khan. Then there are the Jaycees, The Lions and the Rotary club.

10. What do you think are the benefits of having unpaid volunteer workers?

There are many benefits of having unpaid volunteer workers. Even with very little amount of funding a lot of people can be helped.

11. How do you think the volunteers themselves benefit?

Volunteers themselves benefit in many ways. If today they help for free, then tomorrow they can get a paid job from the same network. They also will get an opportunity to sharpen their practical skills.

12. Should professionals be hired rather than using volunteer workers?

It depends on the work. For example, if free eye surgeries have to be done then it is better to hire professionals. Otherwise voluntary workers can serve the purpose.

13. Do you think international aid, for example from my national government to another is important? Yes, I think it is very important. It develops good relations between countries. But I think instead of giving direct financial aid, the wealthy countries should aim to provide jobs and other facilities to the poor countries.

14. Can you give examples of international aid?

Pulse Polio is an example of international aid by the Rotary international club to eradicate polio from all over the world.

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66. Describe an indoor game that you liked to play when you were a child.

- What is it

- With whom did you play

- How often you played it

- How did you feel about it

• I've played several games, both indoor and outdoor games, and still try to play whenever I get time.

• Among those games, I enjoyed playing chess more than others.

• Chess is an indoor game where two players participate.

• This game does not involve any major physical movements like other outdoor games but a chess player has to use his/her brain and make game plans to defeat the opponent.

• I mostly play this game with my friends and cousins.

• Sometimes I play it with my father and senior relatives.

• Since playing chess requires only placing the board on a surface and sitting position of the two participating players, it is convenient to play chess almost anywhere.

• I mostly play it at our veranda, garden or bedroom.

• I enjoy this game because I have a fascination about this game from my childhood and I really like the overall theme and brainstorming involved in this game.

• It's a thought-provoking game that gives the participating players to use their brains.

• A player can apply his/her strategy, and then allure the opponent to fall in a trap, which is much like a real battlefield. Mak kar I E L T S

• It's not a game where someone would only use the physical movements rather the game requires perfect game plan, finding weakness of the opponent and a battle strategy.

• This game gives you a feel of being the King of a regime where you decide your countrymen's fate.

• For all these reasons this is a very interesting and enjoyable game to me.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. In general, how is outside play for children different to playing inside?

Outside pay is much different to playing inside. There is a lot of physical activity involved when playing outdoor games. There isn’t much physical exercise involved in indoor games. Indoor games may not include as much social interaction with other players, as in the outdoor games.

2. Do you think the indoor activities and outdoor activities develop children’s abilities the same way? I think the indoor and outdoor games develop children’s abilities in different ways. There is more social interaction when children play outdoor games. There is an opportunity to play in bigger teams when playing outdoors games, which leads to more awareness of other cultures and backgrounds the other children come from. Indoor games may develop better strategic and decision-making skills than outdoor games.

3. What’s the most popular game in India?

I think cricket is the most popular game in India, however, after the last Olympics, badminton, wrestling and gymnastics has gained popularity.

4. How have games changed in the past few decades?

Games have changed a lot over the last few years. The format of many games has changed. For instance, cricket, football, kabaddi and hockey are now played in the premier leagues format. Also, there are many TV channels now that have made many sports popular.

5. How have children’s game changed in past few decades?

Children’s games have changed greatly in the last few decades. There are many more options of indoor games now since the advent of technology. There are many types of video games available now. There is also an option for motion detection in many gaming consoles.

6. How are children’s games different from adult’s games?

Children’s games are different from adult’s games mainly in terms of the physical activity involved in the outdoor games and as for the indoor games it’s the content of the games that differs and the difficulty levels.

7. Why do many adults not play games?

The main reason why many adults don’t play games is due to the lack of time. Everyone these days leads very busy lives and do not get the time to pursue interests like games and sports.

8. Do you think modern lifestyles encourage, or discourage, adults from playing games?

I think the modern lifestyle discourages people from playing games. People are busy with their hectic routines and do not get time to pursue hobbies and other pastime activities like playing games.

9. What benefits do people get from playing games?

There are many benefits of playing games, both indoor and outdoor. It develops sportsmanship spirit, leadership skills, social skills, co-operative attitude, more exposure to other cultures, and many more. Sports can also be pursued as a career and it may bring a person name and fame.

10. What benefits can children get from playing games?

Children benefit a lot from playing games. They remain physically and mentally fit. They learn many skills like leadership qualities, social skills, more exposure to different cultures, sportsmanship spirit, and many more. This may become a career path for some students later.

11. Do you think group activities (including team sports) can help give a child a sense of responsibility? Yes, definitely. Team sports can help a child develop a sense of responsibility. When playing in a team, each payer has the responsibility of leading the team towards a win by giving it their best. They need to co-operate and co-ordinate with others in the team to ensure that their performance adds to the entire team’s performance, and doesn’t hamper it. Similarly, in a group activity, each person has a role to play and a task to complete, which helps the entire project to be successfully and efficiently completed.

Importance of electronic games

1. Video game playing introduces children to computer technology

2. Some games provide practice in problem solving and logic. E.g. Age of Empires

3. Video games have proved to improve visual skills.

4. They also improve motor and spatial skills. Children who play video games have better reflexes.

5. They make learning fun. The cost of failure is lower. This encourages risk-taking and exploration.

6. Some games have therapeutic applications with patients.

7. Games are entertaining and fun.

Negatives of video games

1. Overdependence – social isolation – usually played alone

2. Aggressive behaviour – children practice violent acts.

3. Games can confuse fantasy with reality

4. Addictive

Tips for parents

1. Limit the game playing hours

2. Check the age-game ratings

3. Require that homework and chores be done before game playing 4. Play and enjoy the game with your child

67. A performance you recently watched

- What it was?

- When you watched it?

- Who you were with?

- Why you watched it and how you felt about it?

• From my childhood, I have been a very big fan of Punjabi music.

• And my favourite singer is Diljeet Dosanjh.

• Two months ago, I came to know from my friends, who are also big fans of Diljeet, that he was coming to Jalandhar was a concert.

• So, we were all very excited.

• Nowadays, tickets are only sold online and as Diljeet is very popular in Punjab his concert tickets get sold out within minutes.

• We were worried that we might miss it and so the day the tickets were to become available, we all decided to get together at my house as I have the fastest internet.

• The tickets became available at 12 PM and by 12:05 we had booked them and got the confirmation.

• I think that’s when I first felt that I was really going to attend his concert.

• Till then I kept thinking that something might go wrong- for example my internet would stop working or that we would be too slow to buy the tickets.

• Now I just had to wait for the day of the concert and time couldn’t have passed more slowly.

• But finally, the day arrived.

• The performance started at 7.00 PM.

• However, before Diljeet there were two more Punjabi singers. They were really good, but we all wanted to hear Diljeet Singh.

• Finally, he came out on the stage at around 8:00 PM and we all just went crazy.

• I think for whole four-five minutes the crowd kept chanting Diljeet’s name.

• But as soon as he started singing, everyone kept quiet.

• His voice in person was even better than his videos online.

• Another thing I noticed was that even though it was winter, he was sweating so much.

• It made me appreciate him even more.

• All I could wish at that moment was that the night would never end but like all good things it did.

• But still I was one of the best moments of my life and I cannot wait for his next concert.

1. What is the difference between watching the performance live and watching it on TV?

Watching a performance live is an electrifying experience. One can get to hoot and cheer with the crowd. Some people just sway their bodies with the beat of the performance, which adds to the thrill and joy. However, it is expensive and very time consuming because one has to buy the tickets and go to the specific place. On the other hand, one can watch a TV performance in the comfort of one’s bed and also see the repeat telecast.

2. Which do you prefer traditional performance or a concert?

Both are good in their own way. I enjoy traditional performance especially those of folk singers and dancers.

3. Should government provide financial support to promote traditional performances?

Yes, the government should do so. Traditional performers would not be able to survive if the government doesn’t support them. If they resort to other occupations, we would not be able to see those traditional performances again.

4. Is learning drama or dancing helpful for children?

Yes, dance and drama are performing arts. They bring out the hidden creativity of children. Art in any form is good.

68. Describe a change that can improve your local area

- What it is?

- How it can be done?

- What problem it will solve?

- How you feel about it

• There are many changes that I would like to take place in my community.

• But there is one thing that I feel would make a big difference.

• It would be the construction of park in my society.

• At present, there is no garden or park in our society.

• There are many negative consequences of this.

• Firstly, the children in the society have no place to play outdoors in the evenings and as a result they spend most of their time indoors.

• This I feel has a negative effect on their health.

• Sometimes they play on the street, but I feel that is very risky.

• The parents are always worried.

• Moreover, many of us in the society like to go for morning walk.

• Currently we walk on the street but again we have to very careful because of traffic.

• A new park would give us a place to go for morning walk.

• I think the park would also be a good place to socialize.

• We can all spend some quality time at the park specially during evenings after school and work.

• There is a vacant government land in the society.

• It was not very large, but I think it would be ideal place for a park.

• We have already proposed the idea to the local Member of Parliament, and he promised to support and work for our cause.

• I am really hopeful that the local administration will soon pick up the project and start working on it.

1. Why are people living in community friendly with others?

Like they say, man is a social animal and we like to be in the company of other people. Also when people live together they develop good relations and like to share things with each other.

2. What are popular activities in community?

The most popular activity is spening time in the community park. People get together in the evenings, some of them spend time exercising whereas others sit and gossip.

3. Do people like living in community?

Yes, people enjoy living in communities and it is much better than staying alone. In a community people can help each other during difficult times and also they can share their good times with others.

4. Where do people in community usually have social gatherings?

In our city the government has built community centres in every sector. People organize their parties and other events such as birthday parties or weddings at the community center.

69. Describe a time when you were excited

- Where you were?

- When it was?

- Who you were with?

- explain why were you excited?

• I am person who easily gets excited and disappointed.

• Even small things like watching a new movie in cinema or going out to restaurant gets me excited.

• But here I would like to talk about something that made me really, really excited.

• It was the time when I went to an amusement park with my niece and nephew.

• My niece and nephew live in Canada and they visit India very rarely.

• Two years ago, they had come to India with my sister for the summer vacations.

• They love going to amusement park but because of summer heat I didn’t want to take them.

• It was a really hot summer and the temperatures were touching 40-45 degree Celsius.

• I was feeling very upset that I had to turn down their requests for taking them to the park every day.

• But one night it rained, and the temperatures came down a bit.

• I decided I would get no better opportunity and so I immediately booked the entry tickets to the park online for the next day.

• But I wanted to surprise my niece and nephew and thus I didn’t tell them that we were going to the park.

• On the journey as well I kept them busy talking with me and hence, they never noticed that we were going there.

• I was excited because I knew how thrilled they would be once we reached the park and they were elated.

• They never expected it and it came as a huge surprise.

• For the whole day, we tried different rides.

• My nephew is a bit young and he was afraid, but my nine-year-old niece wanted to try rides even I was bit afraid of.

• In the evening, they both gave a huge hug and thanked me for the surprise.

• I can never express how I felt then.

• I can just say that it was one of most memorable days of my life.

• I am planning for another such surprise when they visit me next time.

1. Which personal events do people usually celebrate?

People celebrate personal events like birthdays, marriage anniversaries and even days of personal achievements like scoring good scores in a test or doing well on a work project. People also celebrate festivals like Christmas, Diwali, Holi and so on.

2. How do people celebrate their personal events?

I don’t know what others do but, in my family, we invite friends and family for dinner and spend quality time with each other. Sometimes we go out to restaurants and sometimes we invite people to our home.

3. How much time people need to prepare for celebrations?

I think people generally are busy nowadays and for events like birthdays, festivals most people do not spend a lot of time preparing. However, for marriages people even spend weeks preparing as it a once in lifetime kind of a celebration.

4. Do you think it is necessary to spend some money on celebrations?

I think celebrations are about sharing our joys and our excitement with each other. They are about spending quality time with each other. So, I don’t think spending money is important. It is about being together and doing fun activities like dancing etc.

70. Describe a time when you travelled by public transportation?

- When you travelled?

- Where you travelled?

- What was the purpose of your travel?

- How you felt about it?

• In our day-to-day life we visit many places for various purposes

• Sometimes we use our own vehicle and sometimes we use public transport

• Normally when I have to go somewhere near then I use car but for distant places I use public transport

• Here I am going to talk about a visit for which I used public transport.

• Actually, last month, I went to Jaipur Rajasthan with my family.

• This time we used bus for going to Jaipur

• There is a tour operator company near my hometown known as Express Travels

• My father booked this tour through them.

• There were 12 other families with us.

• It was vacation time and so children were also there with their parents.

• We boarded the bus at 7 am.

• On the way we enjoyed a lot.

• I made many friends and we played antakshri.

• The bus made three halts on the way to Jaipur.

• We straightened our legs and had refreshments at those stops.

• The bus was an AC coach and was very comfortable.

• There was also an LCD in the bus and we saw the movie Sargi

• We reached Jaipur at 7 pm.

• We stayed at hotel Gangaur which was a very nice hotel.

• We saw the Amer Fort, Hawa Mahal, The City Palace and many other places.

• One whole day we had reserved for shopping.

• My mother bought some Jaipuri quilts and I bought some lakh jewellery.

• As it was a package holiday, we enjoyed with the other families and made many friends.

• I still have good friends from that trip and we are in touch with each other through facebook.

1. On what occasions do people need to stay awake even when they are tired?

People need to stay awake when they have to prepare for exams, or when there is some function at home, or when there is a sick person at home, or when they are travelling.

2. How do they keep awake when they are tired?

They have some tea or coffee, which helps them stay awake. They may also take a few steps and do some stretching to refresh themselves. They may wash their face or even take a bath to avoid sleepiness.

3. Why do people feel tired a lot nowadays?

Most people are sleep deprived. That's why they feel tired. People are glued to their gadgets and don't sleep on time. The second reason is overwork. People have become workaholics. They may also suffer nutritional deficiencies leading to anaemia, which may cause tiredness.

4. What kind of people lack sleep?

All kinds of people lack sleep, but the worst affected are the youngsters. They have many distractions, such as smartphones and tablets. They keep chatting or playing online games and forget about sleep.

71. Describe a practical skill you learned or a skill you leaned that you think is important

- What this skill was

- When you learned it

- How you learned it (makkar |ELTS)

- And explain why you think it was important - How you felt about it?

• I have learnt many practical skills in my childhood from people around me in my life.

• Here I would like to talk about a very useful practical skill of cooking, which I learnt from my mother.

• I have been slowly learning it from my mother since my childhood.

• My mother is in her forties and she is very tall and beautiful.

• She has a gifted hand in cooking.

• She has her unique way of teaching us, I mean me and my sister, how to cook.

• She never made us feel as if she was teaching us.

• She just kept us involved in the kitchen while she cooked.

• We learnt a lot just by observing her.

• I learnt cooking because I too want to be able to cook like her.

• I also learnt cooking because it is a very useful skill in today’s time.

• Moreover, as I plan to go abroad for my higher education, this skill will be very useful.

• I will not face any food problems.

• I am a vegetarian and I have heard that veg. food outlets are very few in foreign countries.

• This skill has proved very useful because many times I have been able to attend to guests when my mother was not at home.

• My mother not only taught me simple routine cooking but also some Chinese dishes.

• She also taught me how to make pizzas in the electric tandoor.

• She also bakes excellent cakes.

• Whenever anybody in our neighbourhood celebrates a birthday, the cake is always baked by my mother.

• She loves experimenting in the kitchen and she has many of her own recipes which are quick and easy and at the same time very delicious.

• She also presents her dishes very well.

• She says that the look of the dish is as important as its taste.

• I am fortunate, I have a talented mother who has taught me this useful skill

72. Describe a new skill you want to learn.

- What it is

- How would you learn it

- Where you can learn it

- and explain why you want to learn it.

(sample answer)

• I want to learn many skills, such as cooking skills, foreign language skills, driving skills and so on

• Here, I would like to talk about cooking skills.

• I know routine cooking; I can make chapati, dal and green vegetables, but I would like to learn Chinese cooking and baking.

• I would also like to learn how to make Italian pasta and pizza

• I would learn it from the Internet, from the YouTube videos.

• I can learn it sitting at my home

• My friend has learnt many dishes from the net

• She has tried many dishes, and they turned out yummy

• I would like to learn these international dishes because I love these dishes, but it is very expensive to eat outside all the time

• Moreover, I am planning to go abroad for my higher education, and there I will have to cook for myself.

• When I make these dishes at home, I can change some ingredients according to my taste.

• For example, when I make Pizza at home I can add a lot of jalapeños, because I just love jalapenos. (pronounced as Halapenos)

• I don’t like olives, so I can omit the olives.

• Moreover, at home you can add salt and pepper to taste.

• Sauces can also be added according to ones liking.

• So this is the new skill, which I want to learn.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. What age will make it difficult for a person to learn a skill?

I believe that age is not a factor. Willingness to learn can make a person of any age learn anything. Recently, I taught my grandpa how to use a computer and made his facebook ID. Now he and his computer are inseparable. He is very active on the facebook.

2. Will the age of 5 or 20 be better?

It depends on the skill. If the skill is stitching clothes, then 20 is better. If the skill is related to technology, the 5 is as good as 20.

3. Who will you learn a skill from, friends, teachers or parents?

I will learn from anyone who is willing to teach me patiently. I can also learn from the Youtube videos on the net.

4. What's the difference between children learning what they like and learning what they have to learn? Children learn very quickly if they like what they are learning. But if they are forced to learn, they do not learn it well, as it is a half-hearted approach.

5. Do you think boys and girls should learn the same skills?

Yes, I think boys and girls should learn the same skills. There are no gender differences nowadays.

Everybody should be free to choose what they want to learn.

6. Why do boys tend to have better critical thinking skills?

I don’t think there is any difference in the critical thinking skills of both genders. There maybe individual variations but definitely not gender variations.

7. Why do girls like shopping?

I think everyone likes shopping nowadays. Today, we belong to a consumerist society and both genders like to go shopping.

8. Do you like to learn new skills constantly?

Yes, I like to learn new skills constantly. I feel very happy when I learn something new. It gives me a sense of fulfillment and inner joy which I cannot explain in words.

9. What's the most difficult thing for learning?

Difficulty is a very subjective thing. What maybe easy for one person may be difficult for the others.

So it is very difficult to say what is the most difficult thing for learning

10. What kinds of skills are practical for university students to learn?

University students should learn communication skills, as all other skills go waste if the person lacks in communication skills. Students should also learn practical skills because only theory can never be enough.

11. Where can we learn practical skills, from?

We can learn practical skills during internship programs while studying in universities

12. What kinds of communication skills are important?

All types of communication skills that important.

13. Should old people read books?

Yes, old people should read books. Books are the best companions.

14. What's the most important skill a person needs to have?

The most important skin a person needs to have is communication skills. Without this skill, all other skills are useless. Language skills are also important. Academic skills are also important.

15. What is the most important practical skill in modern society

The most important practical skill in the modern society is being able to read and write the more skilled you are in reading as well as writing, you can gain more knowledge about the happenings around you.

16. Which one is more important, cooking or driving a car?

Well driving is important but cooking is more important as you can survive without driving but you cannot survive without eating

17. What kind of job require practical skills?

All jobs require practical skills to some extent of the other. A Medical practitioner has to be skilled in the diagnose of a disease, a mason has to be skilled and laying bricks.

18. What kind of professions require practical skills?

Professional that are making some artistic object need more practical skills. A guide or teacher needs very good communication skills. I think no professional can escape from learning the skill that is mandatory to his profession.

19. What kinds of skills are difficult to learn?

Skills that need precision are more difficult to learn like cutting a diamond or even a dentist has to be very skilled to the minutest of details.

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73. Describe your idea of a perfect home or dream house

- Where this place would be

- What it would look like

- When you would like to live there

- Explain why it is ideal to you

Note: This question could be asked in present tense as well

Describe an ideal house

● Where this place is

● What it is like

● When you want to live there

● Explain why it is ideal to you?

Sample answer (For those who live in villages)

● Presently, I live in a village.

● My house is very big and has many rooms and open space in the front and back.

● But, for every small requirement, we have to rush to the village.

● My dream home would be in the suburbs of my hometown.

● There I would get the best of both worlds.

● I would be near the facilities of the city as well as be able to enjoy the calm and peaceful atmosphere of the village

● I would not like to live in a big house.

● Big houses are difficult to maintain.

● My house would have three bedrooms, a lobby, a kitchen a small lawn in the front and a kitchen garden in the backyard.

● I am very fond of gardening.

● I would grow coriander, mint, aubergine, okra, tomatoes, green chilly and some other seasonal vegetables.

● I would use only organic fertilisers, such as home made compost from the kitchen waste.

● I would not use any insecticides and pesticides.

● All the rooms of my house would be well lit and airy.

● The bathrooms and kitchen would have the latest fittings.

● I would have solar panels set up on the terrace to harness solar energy.

● I would like to welcome and entertain friends and relatives in my house.

● I would keep it spic and span.

● I hope to live in such a house one day.

Sample answer (For those who live in cities)

● Presently, I live in a city.

● My house is not very big but has three bedrooms and some open space in the front and back.

● But, it is a very noisy and congested area.

● My dream house would be in the suburbs of my hometown.

● There I would get the best of both worlds.

● I would be near the facilities of the city as well as be able to enjoy the calm and peaceful atmosphere of the village

● I would not like to live in a big house.

● Big houses are difficult to maintain.

● My house would have three bedrooms, a lobby, a kitchen a small lawn in the front and a kitchen garden in the backyard.

● I am very fond of gardening.

● I would grow coriander, mint, aubergine, okra, tomatoes, green chilly and some other seasonal vegetables.

● I would use only organic fertilisers, such as home made compost from the kitchen waste.

● I would not use any insecticides and pesticides.

● All the rooms of my house would be well lit and airy.

● The bathrooms and kitchen would have the latest fittings.

● I would have solar panels set up on the terrace to harness solar energy.

● I would like to welcome and entertain friends and relatives in my house.

● I would keep it spic and span.

● I hope to live in such a house one day.

Part 3 - Follow up Questions

1. Do most Indian people live in an apartment or house?

I think it depends on the region they are living in. In most of the big cities, like the metropolitan cities, people live in apartments, as there is a scarcity of land in such places and to accommodate the ever-increasing population, there are more and more apartment buildings being built. However, in the small cities, towns and the countryside, we can find people mostly living in houses, rather than apartments.

2. Do young people in your country like to live with their parents or by themselves?

In my country, young people like to live with their parents, unless they have to move to another city or country, for higher education or for better career prospects. It’s a part of the Indian culture for children to live with their parents.

3. Do Indian people like to rent a place to live?

No, Indian people do not like to rent a place to live. I think it’s the dream of almost every Indian to own his/her own house.

4. Would you live in a foreign country in the future?

Yes, definitely. I would like to live in a foreign country in the future. I plan to pursue my education abroad. I think there are better education facilities and better job opportunities in developed countries.

5. How is modern home design in your country different to that of the past?

The modern home design is very different to that of the past, in my country. The material being used now in the construction of houses if much advanced, like weather proof paints, insulated walls, soundproof windows, etc. The design of the modern houses is according to the space available. There is better utilization of space in the modern home designs. The homes in the past used to be more spacious and not equipped to handle the latest electronic gadgets and equipment, like washing machine, microwave, dishwashers & so on.

6. In your country what type of home do most people live in?

India is a vast and diverse country. People live in different types of houses, depending on the region and the climate in that region. For example, in the eastern parts of India, houses made from bamboo are very common. In regions where there is snowfall, sloped houses are common. In plain areas, people design their houses, as per the area and space available.

7. Do people prefer to live in Modern Homes or the older style homes (for example from 50 years ago)?

People prefer to live in modern homes rather than older style homes because modern homes are better equipped to handle the latest electronic gadgets and technology. Also, the material used to build modern homes is better, for instance, weather proof paints, earthquake proof design, etc. The modern homes are planned better to utilize the space properly.

8. How are modern homes different to older homes?

Modern homes are quite different from the older homes, in terms of the design, material used and the structure of the building. Older homes were more spacious, with proper ventilation. Modern homes are designed to properly utilize the space, due to the shortage of land these days. These days, people employ interior designers and architects to plan and decorate their homes. Older homes may not be equipped to handle the latest electronic gadgets and appliances.

SPEAKING PART 1

INTRO QUESTIONS

Important for Sep-Dec 2020

Hometown

Work or study

Home/Accommodation

List

Text Messaging

Sport

Recycle

Picnic

Fishing

Jokes and Comedies pen&pencil science class watersports cenery laugh spending time by yourself number art park cake running history break Countryside

Patience

Haircut

Math

Plan

Walking

Languages

The area you live in

Concentration

Friends

Tea and coffee

Reading

Market

1. First set of questions, asked to almost all students

1. May I know your full name?

My full name is Kiranpreet Kaur Makkar.

(Note: Full name means given name + middle name if any + surname. Mostly students will speak the name given in the passport, which may not have the surname. So, you must speak your full name in answer to this question)

2. How may I address you?

You may address me as Kiran.

(Note 1: Here you may even speak your nickname. It just means that while asking the next questions, the examiner will call you by that name.

Note 2: Many students start speaking their address here. Here, the word ‘address’ has been used as a verb, which means ‘call’. In other words, the question is - How may I call you?)

3. May I see your ID?

Here is my passport. (Note: open the first page of the passport and show it to the examiner. You don’t need to say ‘Yes’)

4. Where do you come from?

I come from Phagwara. It is a small town between Jalandhar and Ludhiana.

2. Work or Studies

(General Training students are likely to be asked questions related to their job experience which could be personal)

WORK

1. What work do you do?

(personal answer)

2. Why did you choose to do that type of work (or that job)? I chose that work, because I was interested in it.

3. Do you like your job?

Yes, I like my job. It is very interesting.

4. Is it very interesting?

Yes, it is very interesting.

5. Do you miss being a student?

Yes, I miss being a student. Now, when I look back I realize that they were the happiest days of my life.

STUDIES

1. What subject(s) are you studying?

I’ve just completed my senior secondary in commerce stream. Now I wish to go abroad for my higher education.

2. Why did you choose to study that subject/those subjects? I chose these subjects because I was interested in them.

3. Do you like your subject? Why/Why not?

Yes, I like my subjects. I think they’re very interesting.

4. Is it very interesting?

Yes, my subjects are very interesting.

5. Are you looking forward to working?

Yes, I’m looking forward to a part-time job when I go abroad to study.

6. Do you prefer to study in the mornings or afternoons?

I prefer to study in the mornings because at that time I feel very fresh and I can concentrate on my studies.

3. Home_/Accommodation

1. Do you live in a house or flat? Or What kind of housing/accommodation do you live in? I live in a house. It is a two storey brick house.

2. Please describe it a little.

It is a two storey brick house. There’re four bedrooms with attached bathrooms, a kitchen, a living room and a drawing room. There is a small lawn in the front and a kitchen garden in the backyard.

3. What’s your favorite room in your home?

My favorite room is my own room, because I’ve decorated it according to my taste.

4. What have you done to your room to make it look nice?

I keep my room spic and span. The walls are painted light pink because it is my favorite color. There are floral curtains.

5. Who do you live with?

I live with my parents and brother.

6. Which room does your family spend most of the time in?

My family spends most time in the living room. We have our meals there. We watch TV together and also entertain informal guests in that room.

7. How long have you lived there?

I have lived there since my birth.

8. Do you plan to live there a long time?

Presently I plan to go abroad for my studies. But, but I love my home and would like to come back there.

9. (If you answer you haven’t lived there long) What’s the difference between where you are living now and where you have lived in the past?

10. What do you usually do in your house/flat/room?

I do many things in my house. I spend time with my parents, eat there, sleep there, Study there and entertaining guests in my house.

11. Are the transport facilities to your home very good?

Yes, the transport facilities to my house are very good. The bus service is ready frequent and the railway station is also very near.

12. Do you plan to move?

I plan to go abroad for higher education. Apart from that I do not plan to move.

13. Would you like to move to another place to live? (Why/why not?)

I plan to go abroad for my higher education. If I like it there, I might think of settling there.

14. Are you prepared to move?

No, I am not prepared to move.

4. Hometown

1. What’s (the name of) your hometown?

I am from Phagwara, which a small but beautiful town between Jalandhar and Ludhiana.

2. Is it a big city or a small place?

It is a town with a population of about 1.5 lakhs. It is on the national highway.

3. Please describe your hometown a little.

My hometown is very beautiful. All facilities are available here. There are good educational facilities, good hospitals, good job opportunities and already good shopping center.

4. How long have you been living there?

I have been living there since my birth.

5. Do you like your hometown?

Yes, I love my hometown.

6. Do you like living there?

Yes, I like living there.

7. Would you say it’s an interesting place?

Yes, I would say it is an interesting place. The shopping center is very nice. In fact it is called a shoppers paradise. There are many historical places. There are three Sikh temples.

8. What do you like (most) about your hometown?

I like everything about my hometown, but what I like the most is that it does on the main road and so it is well connected by roadways and railways

9. What’s your favorite part of your hometown?

My favorite part of my hometown is a park, where I go every morning for my morning walk.

10. Is there anything you dislike about it?

As such there is nothing I dislike about my hometown, but yes, the drainage system could be improved. Whenever there is rainfall there is a lot of water logging on the roads.

11. Do you think you will continue living there for long time?

Yes, I think I would continue living there for a long time. I wish to go abroad for sometime for my higher education, but would definitely like to come back here.

12. Are there any tourist attractions in your hometown?

Yes, there are two Sikh temples, dedicated to the sixth guru of Sikhs. There is an ancient Shiva Temple and there is a famous hotel Haveli, which is very popular among the tourists.

13. Did your friends also grow up in the same place as you?

Yes, most of my school friends grew up in the same place.

14. Would you like to live there in the future?

Yes, I would like to live there in the future because it’s a beautiful place.

5. Text Messaging

1. Do you like texting?

Yes I like to chat with people using text messages because it is very convenient.

2. Do you prefer sending or receiving messages?

I don’t have any specific preference, I send messages when it is necessary or if I want to talk to somene. Similary, I receive messages from others.

3. Have you ever received a confusing text message?

Well I might have refused a confusing message but I am not able to recall it at this moment.

4. In what circumstances is making a phone call better than sending a text messages?

In case of emergency its better to make a call than send a message because people do not read messages immediately after reading them whereas they attend the calls right away.

6. Sports

1. Are you interested in sport?

Yes, I am interested in sports. I like watching cricket and hockey on TV. Sometimes I play badminton with my brother, on the terrace of our house.

2. (Similar to above) Do you like sport?

3. What sports do you like? (Why?)

I like cricket, hockey, badminton and many other sports. I like watching these on TV. But I play only badminton.

4. Do most people in your country like sport?

Yes most people in my country like sport. Cricket is the most popular sport. People also like hockey and football.

5. (Similar to above) What sports do people in your country like to play?

India is a diverse country. People like to play all types of sports, but cricket is the most popular sport.

6. What benefits do you think sport can bring us?

Playing sport and bring us many benefits. By playing competitive sports, we learn competition, and by paying team sports we learn cooperation

7. Recycle

1. Do you recyle? Why?

Yes I do recycle because it is good for our environment.

2. Did you recycle when you were a kid?

When I was a kid I was not aware about recyling. Also recycling was not so popular back then.

So, I did not recyle during my childhood.

3. Will you recycle in the future?

Yes, defintely I will recycle things in future as well. I think everyone should recycle whatever things they can

4. What kind of things do you recyle?

I recycle things like plastic bottles, old newsapers and aluminum cans. I also gave my old phone for recycling when it stopped working.

8. Picnic

1. Did you go on a picnic when you were a child?

Yes my parents used to take me to picnic during my childhood. We used to go on picnic during the winter or spring season.

2. How often do you go on a picninc now?

Nowadays we are not going for picnic because of the pandemic but before it we used to go once in an year.

3. Where do you go on a picnic?

I am from Chandigrah, the best picnic spots in my hometown are Sukhna Lake and Rose garden, so we generally go to these places.

4. What is the difference between a picnic and cooking at home?

Well, when we go for picnic we take home cooked food only but eating the food while sitting in naure’s lap makes the food more delicious.

9. List

1. Do you make a list when you shop?

Yes, I like to make a list when I shop. It helps me to remember the things I need and also prevents me from doing impulsive shopping.

2. Do you make a list for your work or study? (Does it work?)

Well I don’t do it all the time but sometimes when my exams are near or if I am working on something important I like to create a list.

3. Why don’t some people like making lists?

Some people are good at remembering things, so they consider writing lists as a waste of time.

4. Do you prefer to make a list on paper or your phone?

I prefer to make a list on the notes app in my phone, as it is always with me, whereas I lose the paper bits easily.

10. Meeting New People

1.Do you like meeting new people?

Yes I love meeting new people because I like to make friends and discuss new ideas.

2. How do you feel when people welcome you?

I feel great and happy when people welcome me. I think it is a great way to show care and love for your guests.

3. Do you often meet new people?

Yes I often meet new people but nowdays due to the pandemic I have been staying home, so I have not been able to meet anyone new.

4. Can you tell if you like someone when you meet them for the first time? Why?

No, it takes me a lot of meetings to actually like someone. I take time to understand people.

11. Discussion

1. What do you like to talk about?

I like to discuss news and recent events. Sometimes I like to talk about life in general.

2. Have your discussion topics changed since you were a child?

Yes when I was a child I only used to talk about toys and games but now most of my discussions are related to my studies and currentevetns

3. Do you change your opinion frequently?

Well, I form my opinions on the basis of facts. If I come to know that my facts are wrong then I do change my opinion.

4. Do you prefer to talk or listen?

I am more of a listener. I like to hear what people have to say.

12. Tidiness

1.Are you a tidy person?

Yes I like to keep things tidy and don’t like to create a mess around me.

2.How do you keep things tidy?

I like to keep my surroundings tidy by putting the things in their right place.

3.Do you think people should be tidy all the time?

Yes people should definitely keep things tidy, this helps them to stay organised

4.Are you tidier at work(school) or home?

I think I am more tidier at work(school) as compared to home because I feel more relaxed at home and sometimes I tend to procrastinate about tidying up.

13. Gift

1. What's the best present or gift you have ever received?

The best present that I have ever received is my mobile phone. It was gifted to me by my father on my birthday.

2. Do you give expensive gifts?

Well, I have not started earning money yet so I don’t give expensive gifts.

3. What do you give others as gifts?

Generally, I gift chocolates and clothes to the young and for adults I prefer to gift an home décor product.

4. What kind of gifts are popular in your country?

The most popular gift in our country is money. The elderly often gift it on occasions like weddings or birthdays.

14. Jokes and Comedies

1. Are you good at telling jokes?

Well, I try but I don’t think I am good at it because my friends do not laugh at my jokes. May be my jokes are not witty enough.

2. Do your friends like to tell jokes?

Yes my friends love to share jokes. In our free time we often search for jokes on the internet.

3. Do you like to watch comedies?

Yes, I love to watch comedies. I feel they are a great way to relax and spend one’s time.

4. Have you ever watched a live show?

No I have never watched a live stand up comedy show but I would definitely like to experience live comedy.

15. Shopping

1. Do you like shopping?

Yes, I am a shopaholic. I absolutely love shopping. I normally do shopping, once or twice in a month.

2. Do you compare prices when you shop?

Yes, whenever I go for shopping, I normally visit 2-3 shops to get the best price.

3. Is it difficult for you to make choices when you shop?

Yes, this is the most difficult part for me when I shop and because of this I waste a lot of time. Because of so many brands and different varieties of products, it is very toguh to make a quick buying decision nowadays.

16. Newspaper & Magazine

1. Do you prefer to read newspaper or magazine?

I prefer to read the newspaper. I have a habit of reading the newspaper every morning. Magazines come only after a week or once in a month so I find it to difficult to make a routine for reading magazines.

2. Do you prefer to read the news online or on a printed newspaper

Nowadays I prefer to read the news online on my mobile as it is very convenient and I can read the news, no matter where I am.

17. Insects

1. Do you like insects?

I do not like insects. I am scared of them.

2. Are there many different insects where you live?

Yes there are many insects around my house because we have lot of greenery in area which attracts the insects.

3. Do you think insects are useful?

Well, I read somewhere that insects are an important part of our foodchain so I think they are useful. For example they help in fertilizing the soil.

18. Age

1. What do you think is the best age to learn driving?

In my country, one can learn to drive when they turn 18. I think this is the right age because at this age a person’s mind and body are fully developed to handle the complexties of driving a vehicle.

2. How do you feel about getting older?

I think ageing is a natural process and one should embrace it gracefully.

3. Should we treat people of different ages in the same way?

No, I don’t think how we treat others should depend on their age. Irrespective of the age, everyone should be treated with love and respect.

19. Fish

1. Why do people go fishing?

Probably, because they enjoy it and humans have been doing it for ages. Earlier it was for gathering food but now it is a hobby for some.

2. Do you like eating fish?

No, I am a vegeterain. I don’t eat fish or any other meat.

3. Where can you see fish?

We have a lake in the city where I live. There are a lot of fishes in that lake. Otherwise fishes can be found in rivers and oceans.

20. Perfume

1. Do you use perfume?

Yes, I use a perfume. I have got many perfume bottles at my home.

2. What kind of perfume do you like?

I like perfumes with mild fragrance. Mostly I prefer flower based scents.

3. What does perfume mean to you?

Well it doesn’t hold any special meaning in my life, I treat it as any other everyday item that I use.

4. Do you give perfume as a gift?

Yes, I have gifted perfumes to many of my friends. They were not very expensive.

21. Market

1. What do street markets sell?

Street markets sell all kinds of everyday use products like groceries.

2. Are there many street markets in your country?

Yes, in Inda you will find street markets in almost every city.

3. What are the differences between street markets and supermarkets?

I think the basic difference in the price and quality of the products. In street markets you get low quality and cheaper products.

4. Do you often go to the supermarket?

No, I don’t often go the supermarket as I don’t like shopping.

22. Pen or Pencil

1. Do you prefer to use pen or pencil?

I prefer to use pencil because it can be erased, and mistakes can be removed. Also, I love to draw, and pencils are much better for that. They are also cheaper than pens.

2. When was the last time you bought pen or pencil?

I bought a pencil set for myself at the beginning of my college year along with other stationery items like notebooks, pens, erasers, sharpeners etc. I usually buy pencils when I run out or if I see a new kind that I don’t already have.

3. How would you react if someone sent you a pen as a gift?

I would be very happy if someone sends me a pen as a gift because I love to write and for me pens are a sign of creativity. My mom gifted me a set of pens last year that I still use a lot and remember her whenever I write with them.

23. History

1. Have you ever been to museum to learn history?

Yes, I went to the Partition Museum in Amritsar last year. It opened in 2017 and is about a 5 minute walk from Golden Temple. It has a rich collection of stories, events, arts and artifacts related to partition of India in 1947. I was brought to tears listening and reading about the sufferings of millions of people.

2. Do you think history is important?

Yes, history is important. They are a lot of events that changed the world and to know about these we need to delve deep into history. History also helps us understand other cultures. History repeats itself so it’s important to learn about mistakes made in the past so that we don’t make the same mistakes in the future.

3. When was the last time you read a book about history?

Last time I read a book about history was in my summer break last year. The book I read was The Discovery of India. India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote this book during his imprisonment at Ahmednagar fort from 1942-1946.

24. Cake

1. Do you like dessert?

Yes, I love dessert. In fact, I love it so much that I can skip a meal and have two portions of dessert instead. I love all kinds of desserts like cakes, ice creams, pudding, Indian sweets etcetera

2. Do you like eating cakes?

I love eating cake specially the ones with chocolate. My favorite is chocolate lava cake which has molten chocolate in the middle. I enjoy it with a cup of hot coffee

3. What desserts do Indian people like?

Indian people usually like Indian sweets like Gulab jamun, barfi, ladoo etc and puddings like carrots pudding, rice pudding. The younger generation likes to eat cakes and ice cream.

4. Have you ever made a cake?

Yes, I have made cakes in the past. Baking is both a hobby and a stress reliever for me. I like to search for cake recipes on the internet, make them from scratch and impress my friends and family with my yummy creations.

25. Running

1. How often do you go for a run?

I go for a run 2-3 times a week. I would like to run more often but sometimes it’s hard to keep up because of my busy schedule.

2. Where do you usually go running?

I usually go to a park near my home for running. If the weather is bad, I run on a treadmill in the gym but I prefer to run outside where I can also enjoy the beautiful scenery and fresh air.

3. Do you like running?

I love to run, I feel it’s the best form of exercise. Running makes me happy and also helps me maintain my weight.

4. Do you think running is a good way to stay healthy?

Yes, running is a very good way to stay healthy. Running adds years to your life. It can reduce stress and also improve your heart health.

26. Mathematics

1.When did you start learning math?

I started learning numbers in the nursery classes, but the basic math of addition and subtraction, started when I was in the 1st standard.

2.Do you like math?

I am not very good at math. However, I don’t dislike math. I think it is very useful in our everyday lives.

3.Who taught you math?

I have had many math teachers throughout my school and college years, who taught me math.

4.Who’s your favorite teacher so far?

My favorite math teacher is Ms. Roy, who taught me math when I was in the 7th grade.

5.Is math difficult for you to learn?

I don’t consider myself very good at math. I find certain aspects of it very difficult to understand. I don’t do manual calculations; I use the calculator app on my phone most of the times.

6.Do you like to use a calculator?

Yes, I use the calculator app on my phone whenever I have to calculate something. I think that it is very useful, accurate and saves our time.

27. Music

1. Do you often (like to) listen to music?

Yes, I often listen to music. I like listening to film songs and Punjabi folk songs.

2. When do you listen to music?

Whenever I’m free I listen to music. I have downloaded a few songs in my cell phone. Listening to music relaxes me.

3. How much time do you spend listening to music every day? I spend an hour or two listening to music every day.

4. What kinds of music do you like to listen to?

I like Hindi film songs. I also love Punjabi folk music.

5. What's your favorite kind of music?

My favorite genre of music is folk music. I also like film music.

6. Have you ever been to a concert?

Yes, I have been to a concert once. There is a village near my hometown where a famous Punjabi singer comes once a year to perform for charity. Last year I went with my friends. He performed live. He always has his tambourine in his hand. It was an electrifying performance.

7. Do you like to listen to live music?

Yes, I do like to listen live music. It is a different experience. In many restaurants and also in marriage functions, they have live music going on, which is very enjoyable. Concerts are also live music.

8. When did you start listening to this type of music?

I remember, I specially went for GurdasMaan’s live performance in a concert last year. Before that I had never been for a live music show.

9. Where do you listen to it?

Concerts may be held in concert halls, which are built for the purpose, or they may be held in any other suitable large building such as a school hall, or a large house. Some concerts are given to very large audiences in the open air. They may take place in a field or in a stadium. The music for these “open-airs”, is usually amplified by loudspeakers, so that large audiences can hear it.

10. How do you feel when you listen to this music?

I feel very relaxed when I listen to music. I feel as if all my worries and tensions have flown out of my body. I forget everything for sometime.

11. Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument?

Yes, I tried learning the guitar. My cousin has a guitar, and once I stayed with them a few days in my vacations. But, I found it very difficult.

12. Is music an important subject at school in India?

Unfortunately, it is not. Music is an optional subject in some schools, but all schools don’t have it.

13. Did you often listen to music when you were a child? (If yes, give details.) Yes, I listened to music as a child. Mostly I listened to film music.

14. What kinds of music are (most) popular in India?

India is a diverse country. All kinds of music are popular. Some like folk music, some like classical, some like sufi music, some like film music and some like fusion music, which is a blend of Indian classical and western music. A.R.Rehman plays fusion music.

28. Concentration

1. When do you concentrate?

There are lot of times when I have to concentrate like when I am studying or working on

something that is important.

2. Do you find it difficult to concentrate?

Most of the times I can concentrate easily on my task but when there is lot of noise around I find it difficult to concentrate.

3. Do you think you can do two things at the same time?

Yes, I do this all the time. For example, I listen to music while studying. Sometimes when I am cooking, I like to talk to people.

4. How do you concentrate?

I don’t follow any specific method to concentrate, I just focus on the task that I am doing.

29. Water Sport

1. Have you done water sports?

Yes, I have done swimming. There is a swimming pool near my home where I learnt how to swim.

Or No, I have never done water sports. I am afraid of water.

2. What water sports you like doing?

Swimming is the only water sport I know, so I like to swim.

I would not like to try any water sport as I have a phobia that I will drown in the water.

3. Are water sports popular in India?

In India, the water sports are popular in Coastal areas, llocated in the southern part of the country.

4. What kind of water sports do you want to try?

I would like to try rafting and Scuba Diving.

I would not like to try any water sport as I have a phobia that I will drown in the water.

30. Science Class

1. Do you like science?

Yes I love science. It is a very interesting subject.

2. Did you have science class in primary school or high school? I started learning science in my primary school.

3. What kind of science did you do at school?

In primary school, we learnt about body parts and our environment. In secondary school we studies science subjects like physics, chemistry and maths.

4. Do you think science classes are important?

Yes, science is defintetly an important subject as it teaches us a lot of different things.

31. Scenery

1. Is there good scenery in your hometown or does your hometown has a lot of scenic views?

I am from Chandigarh and it is a city located in the foothills of Shivalik Mountains. There are lot of beautiful views in our city, especially at the city lake.

2. When you travel, do you like to live in hotels with good scenic views?

Yes, whenever I travel to I ask for rooms which have a good view of the hills or the beach depending upon the place I am travelling to.

3. Do you like to take picture of good scenic views with your smartphone? Why?

Yes, I mostly keep scenic pictures as my wallpaper because I get inspiration from nature.

4. Is there good scenery in cities?

Nowadays, cities have become concrete jungles and there are not many scenic views in the cities.

32. Laugh

Do you like to watch movies or TV shows that make people laugh? Yes, I like to watch comedy shows. I think it is a good way to relax.

Do you usually make your friends laugh?

Well, I try to but I don’t think I have a good sense of humour.

Are you the kind of person who makes people laugh?

As I said earlier, I try my best to make people laugh but I don’t think my friends find my jokes funny.

Do you think it is important to laugh with friends?

Yes, it is very important to laugh with friends it helps in developing strong bonds.

33. Spending time by yourself?

Do you usually spend time by yourself?

Yes, I believe it is very important for everyone to spend some good time alone, so I usually give time to myself.

What did you do last time you were by yourself?

Last time when I was alone, I did some drawing alongwith listening to my favourite music.

Do you like spending time by yourself?

Yes, I really enjoy being alone because it makes me feel relaxed.

How do you usually spend time by yourself?

Usually, when I feel like spending some time by myself, I prefer to read poetry or do sketching.

34. Number

What is your favorite number?

My favourite number is seven. It is also my date of my birth.

Are you good at remembering phone numbers?

It’s difficult for me to memorise phone number because whenever I have to make a call I just look up the person’s name and call their number.

Are you good at math?

I would say that I am average in maths. For difficult calcualtions, I have to rely on the calculator.

Do you usually use numbers?

I use numbers everyday, mostly while doing any financial transactions.

35. Break

Do you prefer a long break or several short breaks?

I prefer several short breaks because I can only concentrate for short durations.

What do you usually do during a break?

During a break I like to check news or social networking apps on my phone.

Why do you need to take a break?

As I said earlier, I find it difficult to concentrate for longer durations so I take breaks to relax myself.

How often do you take a break?

When I am studying or working, I normally take a break after every hour.

36. Haircut

How often do you have a haircut?

I don't go for a haircut very often, as I like long hair but yes I think it is good to have a haircut every 3-4 months.

How long have you had your current haircut?

It's been 2 months since my last haircut. I think it still looks good.

Have you ever had an unhappy haircut experience?

No, I haven't experienced anything like this but I will feel terrible if it happens.

Do you like to have your hair cut?

No I don’t like it much, because I don't like anyone doing anything with my hair. So, I go for haircuts only when it is necessary.

37. Area you live in

Do you like the area you live in?

Yes, I love my neighbourhood. It is clean, green and beautiful.

What are some changes in the area recently?

An open gym was recently inaugurated by the mayor in our area.

Do you know any famous people in your area?

No, I do not know any famous people in my area.

Where do you like to go in that area?

I like to go the market and park in my neighbourhood.

38. Tea and Coffee

a. Do Indian people like to drink tea or coffee?

Yes Indian people love to drink tea a lot. We drink tea almost 3-4 times in a day. Those who live in the city prefer coffee nowadays as compared to tea.

b. Do you prepare tea or coffee for guests at home?

Yes I have prepared tea many times for the guests. I have a special recipe for making tea and all our guests always appreciate my tea.

c. When was the last time you drank tea or coffee?

Last time I drank tea was yesterday evening with my friends. We went to an outlet called Chaayos and had Ginger tea and some sandwiches.

39. Voice

a. Has your voice ever changed?

Yes, I rember the change in my voice happened I entered the teenage. Probably due to the hormonal changes, my voice became more deep.

b. Is your voice similar to your parents?

No, but it is similar to my brother. People find it hard to distinguish between my brother’s and my voice over the phone.

c. Do you like your voice?

Yes, I love my voice. I love to sing.

d. Is your voice different from when you were young?

Yes, as I mentioned before, my voice changed when I became a teeenager.

e. Do you like to record your voice?

My voice sounds a lot different after I hear the recording so I don’t like to record it much. But I did do a lot of recordings when I was preparig for the IELTS exam

f. Does anyone in your family have similar voice?

Yes, my brother’s voice is similar to mine.

40. Language

a. What languages do you speak?

I speak Punjabi, Hindi and Englsih.

b. When did you learn English?

I started learning englsih when I was in 1^st standard. Probaly I was around 5 years old at that time.

c. Do you think English is difficult to learn?

I do not think any language is difficult to learn, it depends a lot on whether a person is giving enough time for practice or not.

d. Would you like to learn other languages?

Yes I would like to learn French because the country where I am planning to do my higher studies, has French as the second language.

41. Smile

a. Do you always smile?

Not always, but most of the times. I think it is a good thing to do.

b. Do you like smiling?

Yes, it is a good thing to do and it brings positivity in me.

c. Should people smile more?

Yes, absolutely. It will make the world a better place.

d. Do you smile while taking photos?

I always smile for photos, I don’t like photos with a straight face.

e. When do people smile at others?

People smile when they meet each other for the first time or when they are wishing each other like Good Morning.

f. Can you recognise a fake smile?

I am not good at recognising fake smiles because sometimes I do not understand people.

42. Jeans

a. Do your wear jeans?

Yes, it is one of my favourite items of clothing.

b. How often do you wear jeans?

I wear jeans almost everyday.

c. Do you like wearning jeans, why?

Yes, I like wearing it because it is a piece of clothing with which you can combine anything like shirt, t-shirt etc.

d. Why do you think jeans are popular?

Jeans are popular because of many reasons like comfort factor, you don’t have to wash them everyday. Moreover you can wear them for years and they still look new.

43. Walking

a. Do you walk a lot?

Yes, I like walking. It is probably the only exercise that I do.

b. Do yu walk more than in the past?

Yes, I recently bought a fitness tracker which counts the number of steps I make everyday and since I bought it I have been trying to achieve a target of 10000 steps everyday.

c. Where do you usually take a walk?

I normally walk in the park, near my house.

d. Do you think people will walk more in the future?

Yes, I think the current generation understands the importance of staying healthy and since they have less time for exercise, they will prefer to walk more.

44. Plan

a. Do you make plans everyday?

No, I am not a kind of person who is good at planning things. I sort of do things as they come.

b. Are you good at managing your time?

Until now I have been good at managing my time since I did not have much to do as a student but I am not sure about how things would be once I start working.

c. What is the latest plan you made?

My latest plan was for a trip to Delhi which I went for with my friends.

d. What is the hardest part about making plans?

The hardest thing about making plans is the amount of time that goes into thinking and sometimes thinking too much stops you from doing actual work.

45. Festival

a. What is is your favorite festival?

My favorite festival is Diwali. It is also known as the festival of lights and is celebrated during winters.

b. How do you celebrate this festival?

I do a lot of things on Diwali. I buy new clothes, clean my house and decorate it with colorful festive lights. I also distribute sweets with my friends and exchange gifts. In the evening, I light the candles at the temple and burst firecrackers.

c. What is the most popular Indian festival?

Diwali is the most popular festival in our country as people from all walks of life celebrate it with great enthusiasm.

d. Do you like Western festivals?

Yes, I like to celebrate Christmas. It is a beautiful festival. I like to wear red clothes on Christmas day. I also go to the Church and enjoy Christmas cake with my friends.

46. Island

a. Have you ever been to any island?

No, I have never been to an island but I have seen many islands on televeision and would love to vist one day.

b. Are there any islands in your country?

Yes, in India we have Andaman and Nicobar islands.

c. Do you want to live on an island?

Well, I would certainly love to try but whether I would want to stay their forever, will depend upon if I like the experience or not.

d. What would you like to do if you go to any island?

I would love to explore the beaches on the island and stay in a tree house.

47. Driving

a. Do you drive often?

Yes I drive everyday for my classes or work.

b. Do you want your children to drive in future?

Yes, it is an important skill that everyone should know

c. Do you have a driver’s licence?

Yes, I have a driver’s license. I got it when I turned 18.

d. At what age are people allowed to drive in your country? At the age of 18.

e. Do you think its difficult to drive a car?

No it is not a dificult thing, millions of people do it everyday.

48. Sky

a. Do you like to see the sky?

Yes I love to see clear blue sky and appreciate the nature. Looking at the sky reminds me that there are no limits and boundaries in life and we can achieve anything we want.

b. How about stars?

Yes i also like to see the stars sometimes. I read about constellations during my childhood and I like to find them in the sky. My favourite constellation is Orion.

c. Which is a good place to see the stars?

I think mountains are the best place to see the stars. There is less pollution in the mountains so the stars are clearly visible and they also appear more closer.

d. Do you know something about stars?

There are millions of stars in our galaxy and our nearest star is sun. It provides us the energy that makes life possible on our planet.

e. How often do you look at the sky?

I do not often look at the sky during the daytime when it is sunny, but yes I love to see the sky during the night when there are lot of stars in the sky.

f. Do you prefer the sky in the morning or the sky at night?

As I mentioned earlier, I prefer watching the sky during the night because it is more comfortable.

g. Can you see the moon and stars at night where you live?

Yes I can see the moon and stars as I live on the top floor of my house and I have a beautiful view of the sky from the rooftop.

h. Is there a good place to look at the sky where you live?

In our city, the best place to look at the sky is at the lake. There one can also see the reflection of stars and moon in the lake and it’s a beautiful view.

49. Crowded place

a. What places do you think are often crowded?

There are lot of public places which are mostly crowded like shopping malls, sports stadiums etcetera.

b. When was the last time you were in a crowded place?

Last time I went to a crowded place was a concert that I attended on New Years Eve. A famous singer had come to perform at a resort and thousands of people had come to attend the event.

c. How do you feel when you are in a crowded place?

It depends on the place and the occasion. If I am at a shopping mall or a public place like airport then I tend to be very careful about my belongings. If I am at an event, I try to enjoy it as much as I can.

50. Sharing

a. Did you share anything with others recently?

Yes I shared my bike with a friend. My friend’s bike had gone for repair and he was finding it difficult to commute to college so I lent him my bike for few days.

b. Did your parents teach you to share when you were a child?

Yes my parents taught me that sharing is caring. They always told me to share my toys with my friends.

c. What kind of things do you like to share with others?

I share a lot of things with my friends like food, my bike etc. When we are playing cricket I take along my cricket kit which everyone shares.

d. What kind of things are not suitable for sharing?

Things that are personal like clothes are not suitable for sharing. The reason is that it is not hygenic to share such items.

51. Patience

a. Were you patient when you were young?

Well I do not remember exactly but I guess I was patient. My parents never told me that

b. How do you feel when other people are not patient?

It feel bad when other people are not patient because if we do something in hurry then there are chances that things can go bad.

c. Are you less or more patient when you are angry?

I normally do not get angry, but whenever I do its momentary. I also go silent when I am angry and try to reason logically with people. So I am more patient when I am angry.

52. Sunglasses

a. Do you have a pair of sunglasses

Yes, I have Rayban aviator sunglasses. I bought them from Sector 17 in Chandigarh. They look really nice on me.

b. How often you wear them?

I wear them whenever I go out in the sun, sunglasses help in protecting your eyes from the harmful UV rays of the sun

c. Have you ever lost sunglasses?

Yes, unfortunately, I have lost my sunglasses couple of times. It feels very bad when you lose an valuable item but now I try to be careful and always remember where I have kept them

d. Do people in your country wear sunglasses?

Yes people in my country do wear sunglasses. Some people wear expensive sunglasses whereas some buy the lesser expensive one’s as a style accessory

53. Drinking water

a. Do you think we should drink a lot of water?

Yes we should definitely drink a lot of water as it is good for our health. Drinking water has lot of health benefits, it keeps our skin and body hydrated. If we do not drink enough water, our body will suffer from dehydration.

b. How often you drink water?

I try to drink at least 3-4 litres of water everyday, so I normally have water after every 2-3 hours during the day.

c. Do you drink bottled water or water from machines?

I like to drink water from machines like water purifier because I believe water in machines is more pure and safe as compared to water that is packed in plastic bottles

d. What kind of water do you like to drink

Well, I like to drink water at room temperature because when I drink cold water I get a sore throat

54. Maps

1. Do you often use maps?

Yes, I use maps for navigation. Nowadays I use maps application on my mobile for directions while traveling. The app also tells me about the traffic and the time it would take to reach the destination.

2. Who taught you how to use a map?

We learn to use maps in our school but nowadays mobile apps like google maps have made learning maps easier.

3. Do you prefer electronic map or paper maps?

I prefer electronic maps on my mobile as it is more interactive and it tells me the directions, traffic information and time to reach my destination.

55. Being Bored

a. What do you do when you feel bored

When I feel bored, I call my friends and talk to them in order to pass time or I see updates on social media. Sometimes I watch videos on youtube when I feel bored.

b. What kind of things are boring to you ?

Well, there are lot of activities that I find boring like Reading a novel. I find it very boring to wait for someone.

c. Do you think young people are more likely to get bored?

Yes younger generation gets bored easily when they have nothing to do, the primary reason behind this is that the younger generation is very impatient and wants immediate results without working hard.

56. Foreign Food

a. Have you ever tried foreign food?

Yes, I have a tried a lot of different cuisines like Italian, Mexican, Japanese Chines, etc.

b. Do you like to try new food?

Yes, I call myself a foodie, I absolutely love to try new food, especially the local food of any new place that I visit.

c. What kind of new food you have tried recently?

Recently, I went on a holiday to Thailand and I tried the street food over there. I dont remember the name of the dish, but it had noodles, prawn and vegetables.

d. What kind of foreign foods are popular in your country

In my country most popular cuisines are Italian and Chinese. Most of the people like to eat Pizzas and Noodles when they eat outside

57. Saving Money

a. Did you save money when you were young

Yes, when i was young I saved some funds from my pocket money and I later used them for buying books.

b. Have you ever given money to other children

No, I have never given money to other children. I believe only parents should give money to their children and they should teach them to use it wisely

c. Do you think parents should teach children to save money.

Yes, as I already mentioned parents should teach children about money management as it is an important skill in life

d. Do parents give pocket money to children in your country

Yes, parents in my country do give pocket money to their children.

58. PhysicalExercise

1. What kind of exercises you do?

I like to do all kinds of exercise like weight training at the gym, running for cardio exercise and yoga for stretching and meditation.

2. Do you think children should play sports regularly?

Yes children should regularly play sports at it helps them in staying active and healthy. It is also a good break from their monotonous study routine.

3. What was the favourite sport when you were young?

My favourite sport was cricket when I was young, it is also my favourite sport now. I remember I used to play cricket continuously for 5 to 6 hours during my holidays. Batting was my favorite part in cricket.

4. Do you like extreme sports?

Yes I like extreme and adventure sports such as Formula 1 racing, sky diving and deep sea diving. It is thrilling to watch these sports on television. I would also like to try these sports one day

5. What kind of exercises are popular in your country?

In my country yoga is the most popular exercise as it has originated from here. People nowadays also like to join gymnasiums for weight training.

59. Travel (Space Travel)

1. Do you want to travel in outer space?

Yes, I would love to travel to moon or any other planet like Mars. I want to see how our planet, earth, looks from Space

2. What would you do if you had the opportunity?

First of all, I will be really excited and inform all my friends and family. I will do a lot of planning for this trip so that I cherish it for lifetime.

3. Do you think it’s necessary to see other planets?

Yes we can gain a lot of information from other planets. Some of this information might be helpful in solving existing challenges on earth or discovering how life started.

4. When was the last time you went traveling?

Personal answer

5. Do you like to travel by air?

Yes I would like to travel by air, but unfortunately I have not got the opportunity to travel by air yet.

60. Plants

1. Do you keep plants at home?

Yes there are lots of plants at my home. I keep them in the mud pots. They look very beautiful and are soothing to the eyes.

2. What plant did you grow when you were young?

When I was young I grew a plant known as money plant. I grew it in a glass bottle. Since it is called as money plant I believed that if this plant grows, I will also become rich.

3. Do you know anything about growing a plant?

Well I am not an expert but I know we have to regularly feed water and manure to the plant and we should keep it in sunlight for it to grow. Sometimes we also have to use insecticides to prevent it from insects.

4. Do Indian people give plants as gifts?

Yes nowadays Indian people are gifting plants to each other and I believe it is a really good gift. People often gift a small variety of bamboo which can be kept inside homes and offices.

61. Dreamjob

1. What was the dream job for you when you were young?

When I was young I wanted to become a pilot

2. Have you changed your mind on your dream job?

Yes I have changed my mind as it is very expensive to become a pilot and it involves lot of studies. But I still plan to take flying lessons.

3. What do you plan to do in the future?

Personal Answer

4. What kinds of jobs are popular in your country?

In my country computer or IT related jobs are more popular these days because these are well paid jobs.

5. Have you had full-time or part-time job before? Personal Answer

62. Animals

1. Do you like animals?

Yes, I like animals. I think they are all unique and beautiful creations of nature and form an important part of our ecosystem.

2. What's your favourite animal? (Why?)

My favourite animal is dog because I think it is the most affectionate and the most loyal animal. Dogs make excellent companions for humans.

3. What's your favourite wild animal? (Why?)

My favourite wild animal is a tiger because I think tigers are beautiful creatures and they look very regal.

4. Are people in your country fond of animals?

Yes, in my country many people are fond of animals. Many people keep pet animals.

5. Do many people in your country keep animals at home (or, keep a pet)? OR Do people in your country like to raise animals?

Yes, people in my country like to keep pet animals. People keep dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, fish, etc. as pets.

6. What kinds of animals do people in in your county (or, hometown) keep? OR What kinds of pets do the people have in your hometown?

People in my hometown/country have different types of pets like dogs, cats, birds, fish, rabbits, etc.

7. Compared with the past, have there been any changes concerning pets in your country/hometown?

I think the only change I can think of is that the number of homes that have pets have increased. Also, there are many people who have started adopting the stray dogs and cats, instead of buying them from a breeder.

8. Do you think pets are important?

Yes, definitely. Pets act as stress reliever and are also said to be therapeutic. They act as good companions and provide security. They also teach us about responsibility and unconditional love.

9. Do you think cities are suitable places for keeping a pet?

Yes, cities are suitable to keep small pets like cats, smaller breeds of dogs, fish, etc.

Farm Animals

10. What farm animals do you have in your country?

There are many farm animals in my country, like cows, goats, sheep, buffalos, horses, hens, etc.

11. Do you think farm animals are important?

Yes, I think farm animals are important. They are a source of income for many people, especially in the rural areas. They provide us many products like milk, eggs, wool, meat and they can be used for farming, like to plough and till the land.

12. How are these animals used? OR In what ways are animals used in agriculture in your country?

Farm animals are used for their products, like eggs, milk, meat etc. or in the fields to plough and to till the land for the crops.

13. Do you think raising farm animals is important?

Yes, it is important to raise farm animals, as it is a source of livelihood and income for many people living in the rural areas. Also, they provide us with many products.

Wild Animals

14. What's the most famous wild animal from your country?

India is a diverse country and many wild animals are found in India. However, I believe that the Bengal Tiger is the most famous wild animal in my country and it is also our national animal.

15. What's your favourite wild animal (from your country)? The Bengal Tiger is my favourite wild animal.

63. Dictionary

1. Do you often use a dictionary?If yes, how often and what for? If no, why not? If not very often, say how often and why not very often?

Yes, I use a dictionary very often, in fact daily. I am a student and I read a lot of text related to my studies. I often come across words I don’t know the meaning of and I use the dictionary to look up the meaning and synonyms.

2. Do you prefer to use an electronic dictionary or a dictionary made of paper?

I prefer to use the electronic dictionary now as it is very convenient and I can easily search for a meaning in a matter of a few seconds. I have a dictionary app downloaded on my phone.

3. If someone gave you a dictionary as a gift, how would you feel?

I will feel happy, as it is a very useful gift for me or for anyone. We keep coming across new words everyday and everyone should have a dictionary.

4. Do you think it would be interesting to write a dictionary? OR Do you think it would be interesting to be part of a team that is writing a dictionary?

Yes, I think so. It will be very interesting to understand the details of all the words, like which part of speech they form, what the origin of the word is, its synonyms and many more such details.

5. What kind of person do you think writes a dictionary?

A person who writes a dictionary has to have an in-depth knowledge of the language and also needs to know the origin and history of the language. It requires a great deal of work and thoroughness, so the person has to be very patient and thorough.

64. Mobile Apps

1. Which mobile apps do you use?

I use a lot of mobile apps for different purposes like Whatsapp for sending messages to my friends and family members. For social networking I use facebook and for sharing my pictures I use

Instagram. Apart from this I use apps to read news or do banking services on my phone

2. Which ones do you want to use?

I would like to use apps to know more about jobs or studies related to my field. I believe there is a huge requirement for apps related to specific jobs or courses and these can help people in becoming good and what they do or study.

3. Which ones are popular in your country?

In my country whatsapp, snapchat and instagram are the most popular apps as people in my country like to spend their time by chatting with each other and sharing their pictures.

4. Do you want to make an app?

Yes, I would like to make an App. I would make an app for the IELTS exam which can help students in preparation of the exam and to score good band score.

65. Sleep

1. How many hours you sleep everyday

I sleep around 7-8 hours everyday. I think it is necessary to sleep for atleast 6 hours everyday.

2. Is it necessary to take a nap everyday

Yes it is very important to take a nap everyday because it gives a much needed break to our body and we feel refreshed after sleep.

3. Do old people sleep a lot? Why

Yes old people tend to sleep a lot because due to old age they get tired easily and they need more rest as compared to young people.

4. What time you usually go to the bed?

I normally go to the bed around 11 PM but if I have important work or have to prepare for exams I sleep early so that I can study or work by getting up early in the morning.

5. Do you always have a good sleep?

I am a happy person so I normally have a good sleep, but if I am disturbed about something or my health is not good I find it difficult to sleep.

66. Handwriting

1. Do you think handwriting is still important?

Yes, I think so. Handwriting skills will always be important. Formal letters are needed in business. Writing skills are also needed in writing resumes. We all know that we belong to a global village. Today we have to compete with children all over the world. We have to apply for jobs in multinational companies. So we need good writing skills.

2. Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting?

Even though technology has reduced the need of writing skills, still, I feel that it is very important in today’s world and will remain in future as well.

3. Do you usually write by hand or write using a computer?

Well it depends on the situation, if I am sending an email to my friends or texting them then it is usually by computer or mobile phone. When I am studying and making notes then I usually write by hand.

4. When do children begin to write in your country?

Nowadays the children have started writing a lot earlier. They normally join the schools at the age of 4 and they begin to write at the age of five

5. Do you think handwriting will die in the future?

No, definitely not. Handwriting will never die. Its need may decrease because of technology; still there will be many areas in which handwriting will be needed. I also feel that, that day is still very far when each and every person on earth will have access to technology.

6. Do you write letters?

Yes, I do. I write e-mails to my friends and relatives.

7. Do you think children should be taught to write like in the old days?

Yes, I think so. Writing is an art, which is going down because of modern technology. Computers automatically check the spelling and grammar because of which children are losing such skills.

Most of the Essays in 2017-18 IELTS Exams have been from our book,“IELTS Academic Essays from the Past Exams”- (available on Amazon).

You can also check them at our facebook page www.facebook.com/makkarIELTS or watch the Youtube videos of our essays on www.youtube.com/makkarIELTS

67. Weekends

1. How do you usually spend your weekends? What do you usually do on weekends?

I spend my weekends in different ways. Sometimes I just relax at home. Sometimes I go out with my friends for a movie. Sometimes I finish my pending work. Sometimes I help my mother in household chores.

2. In your country, do men and women usually do the same kind of things on weekends (or in their free time)?

Gender differences are disappearing nowadays. Mostly men and women do the same kind of things on weekends.

3. When do you spend time with your family?

I spend the evenings with my family. We watch TV together, have dinner together and go for walks together.

4. What did you do last weekend?

Last weekend I went for a movie with my friends. We also had dinner at a restaurant. It was great fun.

5. What do other people in your hometown (or in your country) usually do on weekends?

People do a lot of things on weekends. Some go for outings; some people spend time at home with family; some people visit relatives. So people do different things on weekends.

6. What are you going to do next weekend?

I have not yet made any plan for the next weekend, but maybe I go out with my family for a movie.

7. Is there anything new that you would like to do on weekends?

I would like to learn some new language on weekends. As a plan to go to Canada, so French would be a good option for me. My relatives live in Montréal and it is a Francophone area. So learning French would help me.

8. Do you like working on weekends?

No, I don’t like working on weekends. I prefer to spend time with my family and friends on weekends.

9. Do you think employees should have to work on weekends?

No, definitely not. I think there should be no compulsion on employees to work on weekends. It should be their choice. If they want to earn more, they should be allowed to work.

10. Do you think that weekends now are more important to you, than when you were a child? Yes, weekends now are more important to me than when I was a child. When I was a child, all days were like weekends. So I did not give importance to weekends. But today, I look forward to weekends.

68. Transportation (public/private)

1. What's the most popular means of transportation in your hometown?

The most popular means of transportation in my hometown is the bus. My hometown is on the national highway, and there is bus service to different places every two minutes.

2. How often do you take buses?

I take the bus pretty often, in fact three or four times a week.

3. Can you compare the advantages of planes and trains?

Trains are cheaper then planes, but planes are much faster than trains. In trains you can take as much luggage as you want to, but in planes there is a restriction. Railway stations are there in almost all towns and cities, where as airports are there in only a few places.

4. Is driving to work popular in your country?

Yes, driving to work is popular in big cities, and in places where transport facilities are not so good.

5. Do you think people will drive more in the future?

It is difficult to say about the future, but at the rate at which traffic congestion is increasing on the road, I think people will use public transport more.

6. Would you ride bikes to work in the future?

No, I don’t think I would ride bikes to work, as I think they are not very safe.

7. What will become the most popular means of transportation in India? I think road transportation will remain the most popular means.

8. Do you prefer public transportation or private transportation?

I prefer private transportation for short distances and public transportation for long distances.

9. How did you come here(get here) today?

I came here/got here by bus/car/bike today.

10. Why did you choose that form of transport?

I chose it because I think it is very convenient and comfortable. (You can add 1-2 advantages of the mode of transport you used that day)

11. What form of transport do you usually use?

I usually prefer private transport to public transport. I feel that the public transport is not very comfortable and leads to wastage of time.

I normally use public transport/bus. It is very convenient, comfortable and easy on the pocket.

12. Is it convenient to take a bus/taxi in your city?

Yes, it is very convenient to take a bus or a taxi in my city. It is a small city and the bus stand and taxi stands are very approachable

69. Watch

1. How often do you wear a watch?

I don’t wear a watch very often. I check the time on my cellphone. I wear watches occasionally. OR I wear a watch every day, to check the time.

2. What was your first watch like?

My first watch was a basic children’s watch. It was a gift from my parents on my 5th birthday. It was digital and was pink/black/blue in color.

3. What kinds of watches do you like to wear?

I like to wear watches that match my outfit and also on which, it is easy to check the time.

4. Do people still wear watches in your country?

Yes, people in my country still wear watches. There are many national and international brands available in my country.

70. Visitors

1. Do you often invite friends to visit your home?

Yes, I like to invite friends to visit my home. Sometimes we have get-togethers at home and sometimes when we have to study or make a project, I invite my friends over.

2. Do you like visitors coming to your home?

Yes, I like visitors coming to my home. Its good to have relatives and friends come over and we can spend quality time with each other.

3. Do people often visit you at your home?

Yes, people visit me at home quite often. We have an extended family system that we follow and a lot of my relatives live in the same city. Also, sometimes my friends and neighbors also visit us at home.

4. How often do visitors come to your home?

Visitors come to my home very often, in fact twice or thrice a week.

5. When do visitors come to your home?

When someone has to visit, they usually call ahead and come. There are no specific times when people visit us at home.

6. Do you prefer to have friends visit you, or relatives?

I like having both my friends and relatives visit me. These days everyone is busy on their routines and so, when anyone visits me, it’s a good way to spend quality time with them.

7. What do you usually do together with your visitors?

When we have visitors over, we usually sit and chat, discuss the day’s happenings or any social or national issues. Sometimes we share jokes and have a good laugh and all this happens usually over of a cup of tea or coffee and some snacks. Sometimes we also have visitors over for lunch or dinner.

8. When someone visits you, how do you usually show hospitality (or, entertain them)? Hospitality towards visitors is in our culture. In India, guests are treated like God. We show our hospitality by making them feel comfortable and offering them drinks and snacks or food, depending on the time of the day.

71. Dream

1. Do you often have dreams at night?

Yes, I often have dreams at night. Sometimes I have very pleasant dreams, and sometimes I have bad dreams. But I’m not really superstitious about these dreams.

2. Have you had a bad dream before?

Yes, many times I have bad dreams. But I have never seen them turn into reality.

3. What was the strangest dream you have had?

The strangest dream I had was that I am going for my exam, and things are going wrong and I cant reach, and then I get up and feel so relieved that it was a dream.

4. What do you usually dream about?

I dream about weird things. Sometimes I am in Canada in my dreams and sometimes in America. My relatives have told me a lot about Canada and USA, and I keep picturing them in my dreams.

72. .Colours

1. What colours do you like?

I like all colors but red is my favorite color.

2. What is the most popular colour in India?

India is a vast country. It is difficult to generalize one color as the most popular color. I think all colors are equally popular, but the three colors off a national flag are the most popular. Green stands for prosperity, saffron stands for sacrifice and white stands for peace.

3. Do you like to wear dark or bright colours?

I like to dark or bright colors in winters, but in summers I like to wear light shades.

4. Do colours affect your mood?

Yes, colors affect my mood. When I see you bright colors I feel energetic, but light shades make me feel calm.

5. Did color matter to you when you were a child?

Yes, colour mattered to me when I was a child. My mother tells me I always wanted things in red colour. My school bag was always red and my clothes also had shades of red.

6. Does color matter when you buy things?

Yes, definitely. Colour is very important while shopping. I like my clothes in light pastel shades but household items like bed sheets and dinner sets in bright shades.

7. Which color you don’t like to have in your home?

I like all colours but I wouldn’t like grey on the walls of my house because I find grey to be a dull colour.

8. What is the difference between men’s and women’s preference on colours?

There are no gender differences nowadays. Both men and women wear on types of colors.

9. Have you ever seen a rainbow?

Yes, I have seen a rainbow many times. It looks very beautiful. Generally, it is seen in the rainy season. There are seven colors in the rainbow – violet, indigo, Blue, Green, yellow, Orange and red. I feel really happy when I see a rainbow. In Hindu mythology, it is called Indradhanush, or the bow of the Lord indra, the Lord of thunder and lightning.

73. Family

1. How often do you meet with your family?

I stay with my family. I meet my family members every day.

1. How do you spend the time with your family?

I spend time with family in many ways. We eat together, cook together, watch TV together and do many things together.

1. Do you want to live with your family in the future?

Yes, definitely. My family is my life Even though I go to some foreign country temporarily, I finally want to be with my family.

1. Are you close to all of your family members? Yes, we are a very close-knit family.

1. How has your family influenced you?

My family has influenced me in many ways. We depend on each other for many things. We guide each other from time to time and we do many things together.

74. Friends

1. Do you have many friends?

Yes, I have many friends, but only a few close friends.

2. How often do you talk to your friends?

I talk to my friends every day. By best friend is also my neighbour. We are together most of the time.

3. How do you communicate with your friends?

I communicate face-to-face and also through cell phone and apps like Whatsapp.

4. What do you think makes people have a long friendship?

Mutual understanding makes people have a long friendship. If people can tolerate each other’s shortcomings and be simple and straight forward, then friendships can be for a long time.

5. Does it make things easier in a friendship if you have similar interests?

Yes, definitely. With similar interests friends can spend time together and not get bored. They will also have similar topics for discussion. In a lasting friendship it is very essential that your likes and dislikes are similar.

6. How do people make friends now?

Now a days, people make friends through internet by joining social networking sites like face book, twitter and whatsapp.

7. Do you think we meet new people differently now than in the past?

Yes, definitely. Nowadays, we meet new people through internet by joining social networking sites like face book, twitter and whatsapp. Earlier, people had lots of free time and they made friends by meeting personally.

8. Is friendship (= are friends) important to you? (Why?/Why not?)

Yes, friends are very important for me. I can share all my feelings with them, and they understand me very well because they are mostly my age.

9. Do you prefer to spend time with friends or spend time alone? (Why?) I prefer to spend time with my friends. I love their company and I enjoy with them.

10. What kind of people do you like to have as friends?

I like my friends to be honest, trustworthy, helpful and intelligent. I also like friends with a good sense of humor.

11. Do you like to spend time with friends? (Why?)

Yes, I like to spend time with friends because I enjoy their company. I like to go out with them for movies, for shopping and for walks.

12. What do you and your friends do together?

We study together, go for walks together, watch movies together and sometimes eat out together.

13. What do your friends think of you? (Do your friends think that you are a good friend? Why?) I think my friends like me. We spend a lot of time together and they never seem bored. I am honest and straightforward with them. So I think they like me.

14. Are friends more important than family? (Why?)

Friends and family both are important. But, I think Family is definitely more important than friends. Friends can turn out to be fair-weather friends but family is always with you in your good times and bad times. It has been rightly said that in prosperity your friends know you, but in adversity you know your friends.

15. How do Indian people make friends? (= where, in what situations, e.g. at school & at work.) Indian people make friends in schools, colleges, while travelling, during family get-togethers, during outings and in many other ways. Now a days making online friends has also become very popular.

16. Do adults and children make friends in the same way?

Adults and children do not make friends and the same way. Children are very innocent and make friends from the heart. They don’t judge a person before making friends. Adults, on the other hand, are very calculative. They make friends after judging whether that person could be helpful to them or not

75. Advertisement

1. Are there many advertisements in your country

Yes, there are too many advertisements in our daily lives. In fact advertising has become an industry. It has become the backbone of many economies of the world. Ads are ubiquitous nowadays. We see ads on TV, newspapers, hoardings and flyers. We also get ads through the radio, cell phone and the Internet.

2. Why do you think there are so many advertisements now?

There are so many advertisements because there are many products, and the manufacturing companies are competing with each other. They have to advertise to stay in the race. So we have an advertisement for almost each and every product that is available.

3. What are the various places where we see advertisements?

Advertisements are all around us. We have advertisements in newspapers, magazines, on TV, on radio and on the Internet.

4. How do you feel about advertisements?

I feel that advertisements are a necessity. Apart from telling us about products they are also telling us about the working of these products. Ads also touch social issues. However, I also feel that ads are very disturbing at times.

5. Do you like advertisements?

Yes, I like advertisements. I think they are very informative and keep us updated about the latest products and offers.

6. What kind of advertisement do you like the most?

I like adverts that have a touch of humor. I also like advertisements that touch social issues.

76. Art

1. Do you like art?

Yes, I like art. Art gives meaning to life. Art is what differentiates us from animals. I like all sorts of art. I like drawing and painting. I also liked performing arts like music and dance.

2. Do you think art classes are necessary? {Why?)

Yes, I think art classes are very necessary. Art brings out peoples creativity. Art preserves our culture and tradition.

3. How do you think art classes affect children’s development?

Art classes affect children’s development in many ways. Art brings out the hidden creativity of children. Art is a form of communication. People can convay their feelings through their paintings and through their songs.

4. What kind of paintings do Indian people like?

Indian people like different kinds of paintings. It is a matter of personal choice. Some people like portraits, some like paintings of landscapes, some like the traditional forms of painting and some like the modern art forms.

5. What can you learn from western paintings?

We can learn many things from western paintings, in fact from any form of art from anywhere. Sometimes it is related to a culture, sometimes it maybe someone’s expression of their perspective, sometimes it’s a social message and we can also learn about the types of material (canvas, paints, etc.) used to create that work of art.

6. What benefits can you get from painting as a hobby?

Painting as a hobby can bring out your hidden talent. Painting can relax you. You can even sell your paintings and earn money. You can also gift your painting to someone you love.

77. Bags

1. Do you like bags?

Yes, I like bags. I have different bags for different occasions. I carry a backpack to my school/college/classes, as I can easily carry my books in it. I have special bags for formal occasions, shopping and everyday use.

2. What types of bags do you like?

I like bags that are easy to carry, like backpacks, sling bags and totes, and I can use such bags to easily accommodate the things I need. I also like bags that have a few compartments, so that I can keep my things organized. m a kkar IELTS

3. Do you usually carry a bag (when you go out)?

Yes, I usually carry a bag when I go out, however, the type of bags I use for different occasions vary.

4. What types of bags do you use (in your everyday life)?

1. (Similar to above) Do you have different bags for different occasions (or, different purposes)?

Yes, I have different bags for different occasions. I use a backpack when I go for my classes, for formal occasions I have formal bags, for shopping I use totes and sometimes I use a sling bag when I don’t have to shop and the occasion is not formal.

5. What do you put in these bags?

For my classes or when I go to school/college I usually carry books and stationary in my bag. When going for shopping I carry my wallet, cellphone, and a bottle of water and when travelling I also put medicines and a book or a magazine in my bag. On formal occasions I carry only my wallet and my cellphone.

6. What sorts of bags do women like to buy?

I don’t think it can be generalized, as it depends on the individual choice of the women. Some women like big bags and some like smaller ones, some always use a sling bag and some like a particular color or material of bags. Some women also choose bags from a particular brand

78. Books

1. How often do you read?

I like to read quite often. I read magazines and newspapers and my textbooks. Apart from that I have read a few novels by Amrita Pritam. I have read her Pinjar, which means skeleton.

2. Do you have many books at home?

No, I do not have any books at home. I only have my textbooks at home.

3. Do Indian people do enough reading?

Yes, Indian people do a lot of reading. They read magazines, newspapers, fiction and nonfiction such as biographies and autobiographies.

4. Do Indian people like to read?

(similar to above)

5. What kind of people like reading and what kind of people don't like reading very much?

People who are literate like to read. Many people don’t like reading because they don’t have interest in reading.

6. What type of books children read nowadays?

50 years ago – Children read a lot. They read moral and spiritual books. They read animal stories.

After 50 years – I do not think they will do any reading. All the time will be spent in front of computers.

7. Do you think children have lost their interest in stories?

No, I don’t think that children have lost their interest in stories. However, the stories they read today are very different from the past.

1. Can story books be an ideal gift for children?

Yes, definitely! Story books can be an ideal gift for children. They can help the child imagine the characters in the mind which is the first step to creativity. Another important benefit is that we can impart the knowledge of culture, tradition, moral values and religion in the mind of the child. This forms the basis of the child’s personality. Finally, story books enhance the curiosity of the child and enhance their mental growth.

9. What can be done to encourage the habit of reading among children?

A lot can be done to encourage the habit of reading among children. The first and foremost step would be to make books available. There should be good libraries in the schools as well as in neighbourhoods. Story telling competitions could be organised. If children have to take part in these competitions, then naturally, they would be encouraged to read books. Finally, books could be made more interesting by adding graphics.

10. How does reading help a child?

Reading helps to improve concentration. It also helps to improve general knowledge. It also improves the language skills and satisfies the curiosity of children on various things.

11. What sort of books can be suggested to children to read?

Children should be encouraged to read religious and historical books. They should also read biographies and autobiographies of famous people so that they get motivation from them. They should also be encouraged to read books on science and technology. However, these books should be made very interesting by adding pictures. Ma kkar IELTS

12. How much should a child read every day?

A child should read half to one hour daily. I think that would be enough considering that they have to go to school and do their homework as well.

13. What is the difference between the books sold in the past and the books sold nowadays?

In the past, books related to culture, tradition, religion and history were sold. Nowadays, books are mostly based on fiction and fantasy.

79. Celebrity

1. Who is your favorite celebrity in India?

My favorite celebrity in India is Amir Khan. He’s an actor par excellence. Recently I saw his movie Dangal, which I liked very much.

2. Do you like any foreign celebrities?

Yes, I like some cricketers of Australia and South Africa.

3. Would you want to be a celebrity in the future?

No, I would not want to be a celebrity in the future. I am happy with the quiet and peaceful life of a commoner.

4. Do you think we should respect famous people’s privacy?

Yes, we should respect famous people’s privacy. They have a right to their privacy. It can affect their performance if anyone invades their private life.Makkar IELTS

5. How do celebrities influence their fans in India‘?

Celebrities are role models for their fans. People like to follow their celebrity, and do what they do.

80. Chocolate

1. How often do you eat chocolate?

I do not eat chocolate very often. I eat chocolate once or twice a month. Usually I like dark chocolate, which is not very sweet.

2. What’s your favorite flavor?

My favorite flavor is Cadbury’s dark delight.

3. ls chocolate expensive in India?

Yes chocolate is expensive in India, especially the chocolate of foreign brands, which is available here.

4. When was the first time you ate chocolate?

I don’t remember exactly, but I have been eating chocolate since I was very small.

5. ls chocolate popular in India?

Yes, chocolate is very popular in India. We can get all varieties of Indian and imported chocolate.

81. Outdoor activities

1. What do you do in your spare time?

I do many things in my spare time. I watch TV, listen music and do a little bit of gardening.

2. Do you like outdoor activities?

Yes, I like outdoor activities. I go for walks in the morning. I play badminton at times and I also do some gardening.

3. What outdoor activities do you (most) like to do?

( same as above)

4. How often do you do that?

I do these activities almost everyday.

5. What outdoor sports do you like? (Why?)

I like many outdoor sports such as cricket hockey and football, but I play only badminton.

6. How much time do you spend outdoors every week?

I spend about 30 to 40 hours outdoors every week.

7. How often do you do outdoor activities?

I do these outdoor activities very often, almost everyday.

8. What (types of) outdoor activities are popular in your country?

India is a diverse country. All types of outdoor activities are popular. But, I think cricket is the most popular outdoor sports.

82. Photography

1. Do you like to take photographs? (Why?)

Yes, I like taking photographs. Photographs are the memories of good times and special events. We can capture special moments, interesting things or beautiful sceneries through pictures. They are reminders of good times.

2. Do you prefer to take photos yourself or to have other people take photos? (Why?)

I prefer taking photos myself, as everyone has a different way of looking at things. Another person may not like, what I find interesting.

3. How long have you liked taking photographs?

I have liked taking photographs since I was a child. We used to take our camera to all our vacations and I used to be very fascinated with it. Now I mostly use my cellphone to take pictures.

4. How (why) did you become interested in photography?

I became interested in photography because my father was very fond of taking pictures and he always had a good camera. We used to take a camera to all our vacations and take pictures.

5. How often do you take photographs?

I take photographs very often, in fact almost everyday.

6. In what situations do you take photographs?

I take photographs in many situations. Sometimes its during friends or family get-togethers, sometimes it is a beautiful scenery, like of the sky or the sunset or when I travel to another city, I take pictures and on many more such situations.

7. What kind of photos do you like to take? (Why?)

I like to take photos of different things. Sometimes it is a beautiful scene, which can be of the clouds, sky, sunrise, sunset and so on. Sometimes I take pictures of plants and animals. I also like to capture the different expressions on people’s faces.

8. Do you prefer to take pictures of people or of scenery?

I do not prefer one to the other. I like taking pictures of various things, sometimes it’s scenery and sometimes I like capturing a person’s expressions.

9. Who do you take photos of?

I take photos of family, relatives, friends, my dogs, other animals, etc.

10. How do you keep your photos?

I save pictures mostly in online albums, like Google photos. Sometimes, I get them printed also.

11. Do you keep your photographs on your computer?

Yes, I keep my photographs on the computer. I always backup my phone photos onto the computer.

12. Are there any photos on the walls of your home?

Yes, there are photos on the walls of my home. We have pictures of all special family events, like birthdays and weddings and also of all of us growing up and at different stages of our lives.

13. Do you frame (or have you framed) any of your photos? (If yes, which? & why?)

Yes, I have a family photo framed. It is from my sister’s wedding. All five members of my family are there in this picture together and everyone is looking cheerful and happy. It is one of my favorite photographs.

14. Do you prefer to send postcards to people or to send photos that you took yourself? (Why?) I prefer to send photographs I took myself, as they are a way to share your experiences with your near and dear ones and letting them know that you are thinking of them.

83. Television and Radio

1. What kind of entertainment do you prefer, TV or radio? (Why?)

I pay for TV to radio because TV is both audio as well as visual. I listen to radio only while traveling.

2. How are radio programs and television programs different?

While listening to radio you can do other things such as cooking and driving. This is not possible while watching TV. Radio programs are cheaper as you do not have to subscribe to radio channels.

Watching television is costlier in comparison. Radio programs have only the audio component whereas TV is audio as well as visual.

3. What programs do you like to watch/listen to?

I like to watch sitcoms like comedy night with Kapil. I also watch some daily soaps, some sports channels and news programs. OR

I listen radio Mirchi and other such radio channels from where I can listen to the latest songs.

4. When do you watch TV/listen to the radio?

I watch TV mostly in the evenings. At that time we all family members sit together and watch some sitcoms or news channels.

I listen to radio only when I’m traveling with my parents in our car.

5. In India, has television/radio changed much in recent years?

Television has changed a lot in the recent years. Many new channels and programs have been added. High-definition TV has become very popular. You can also watch some TV shows of other countries almost at the same time.

In the radio also many new channels have been added. So there is an improvement in both TV and radio.

6. How do you think TV/radio broadcasts in India could be improved?

Some new shows on education could be added. Otherwise I’m quite happy with the TV programs and the radio broadcasts.

7. Do you prefer TV news or news on the radio? (Why?)

I prefer news on TV to news on radio. This is because TV has both the audio as well as a visual component.

84. Teacher (More questions with sample answers in the end)

1. What kind of teachers do you like best?

I like teachers who are friendly and have patience; who do not get mad at me when I don’t understand anything. I like teachers who have depth of knowledge of the subject, and who have good communication skills to teach well.

2. Who was your favorite teacher when you were young?

When I was young Mrs. Promilla was my favorite teacher. She used to teach me maths. I remember I used to be very weak at Maths, but Mrs. Promilla taught us so well that Maths became my favorite subject.

3. Would you want to be a teacher in the future?

Yes, I would definitely want to be a teacher in the future. I think I have the patience. Moreover, teaching is a very lucrative profession nowadays.

4. Have you ever had bad teachers before?

No, I have never had bad teachers in my life. All my teachers have been very nice.

85. Newspapers

1. Do you often read newspapers?

Yes, I often read newspapers. I read the newspaper every day. I come to know what is happening around me and in the world.

2. Which do you prefer reading, magazines or newspapers?

I prefer reading newspapers because I like to know what is happening around me.

3. What kinds of (types of) newspapers (or magazines) do you usually read?

My father has subscribed to the Tribune. So I read that daily. It is a National newspaper, but has a maximum circulation in Punjab.

4. How old were you when you first started to read newspapers?

I remember I was 10 years old when I started reading the newspaper. I started from the sports section.

5. Do you think it's important to read newspapers? (Why?/Why not?)

It is very important to read newspapers. We feel connected with the whole world.

6. Why do (you think) people read newspapers?

People read newspapers to know what is happening around them. They also read newspapers for the international news. They also read newspapers for the employment advertisements and matrimonial.

7. What different types of newspaper are there in India?

There are broadsheets and tabloids. There are newspapers in English, Hindi, Punjabi and other regional languages.

8. Do you care about the news?

Yes, I care about the news. I think news is very important. We should be aware of what is happening around us and in the whole world.

9. Is the news important (to you)?

(same as above)

10. What kinds of news do Indian people read in newspapers?

Indian people like to read fall types of news. They read local news, National news, International news, Sports news and many other news.

11. Do you prefer to read about domestic (or local) news or international news? (Why?) I like to read domestic news as well as international news.

12. What are some methods that newspapers use to attract readers?

Some newspapers use colourful graphics. Some use very bold headlines. Some newspapers add puzzles like Sudoku and crossword puzzles to attractive readers.

13. What influence do you think newspapers have on society?

Newspapers have a lot of effect on society. They shape people’s opinions. Through letters to the editor they are a link between the government and people. They also entertain us.

14. Do you think the Internet is a good way to get news?

Yes, the Internet is a really good way to get the news nowadays. People subscribe to the enewspapers. There are many apps off the TV News channels, which help the people to be updated all the time.

86. Mirrors

1. How often do you look at yourself in the mirror everyday

I look at the mirror at least once a day when I go out for my work. Apart from that whenever I get a chance I flatter myself by looking at the mirror. I think if you are a confident person, looking at the mirror always boosts your confidence

2. Have you ever bought mirrors?

Yes, I bought a beautiful mirror when I went to Jodhpur last month, it has a nice wooden frame and a clear mirror to look at. It also has carving on the frame

3. Would you use Mirrors to decorate rooms?

Yes I would like to use Mirrors to decorate the rooms. Mirrors add space to the room and also enhance the lighting effect. My interior decorator friend also recommended it for my study room recently.

4. Do you check yourself when you decide to buy a mirror?

Yes, I check for any defects or flaws in the reflection, when buying a mirror. I also check for any physical damage, like cracks or den

87. Robots

1. Do you like robots?

Yes I like robots as they can do so much for you these days. There are simple robots to clean the houses and sophisticated ones to perform surgeries.

2. What kind of robot would you like to have

Recently I have heard about a robot that cleans your room I would like to process one. It is like an automatic vacuum cleaner that picks up the dirt from all the looks and corners

3. Will robots change society significantly?

Yes, robots will changes in society. In fact they have already done so, most of the jobs that were done manually earlier are performed with the help of robotics and with more precision.

No I don't think robot will change the society it will only changed the way we work

88. Gifts

1. What is the importance of gifts?

Gifts are gestures of love. They strengthen bonds of friendship. Gifts make the recipient feel special.

2. Is there any pressure on us to buy presents?

As such, there is no pressure on us to buy presents. But sometimes when we receive costly presents then there is a pressure to reciprocate in the same way. Then it may cause pressure. I believe that gifts should be just gestures of love. Too costly gifts should not be there.

Nowadays, we belong to a consumerist society. There are so many choices of gifts. This may seem good to some, but I often get confused when it comes to selecting a gift.

3. How often do you buy others gifts?

I buy gifts very often. I buy gifts for my friends and siblings, but I don’t buy expensive gifts. I am not earning yet. So, my budget is restricted to my pocket money only.

4. Do you like to send expensive gifts?

No, I don’t buy expensive gifts. I am not earning yet. So, my budget is restricted to my pocket money only.

5. What kinds of gifts are popular in your country?

All sorts of gifts are popular in my country. People buy gifts according to their choice and pocket.

6. Why do people send gifts?

Gifts are tokens of love. They give happiness to the giver and receiv

89. Shoes

1. How often do you buy shoes?

For me comfort of shoes is more important than the looks, so whenever I find a pair of shoes that are very comfortable I don't miss the chance to buy .As a matter of fact I end up buying a pair of shoes every month.

2. Have you ever bought shoes online?

Yes, online shopping these days offers a wider range of products, than conventional shopping in the stores. So I prefer to buy shoes online these days. I just bought a pair yesterday.

3. Do you know anyone who likes to buy a lot of shoes?

Yes I have come across many people who like to buy a lot of shoes. My sister, my aunt ,my mother all of them have a good collection of Shoes in all colours .

4. What's your favourite type of shoes?

As I just mentioned my favourite type of pair of shoe is the one that offers comfort rather than good looks only. I like shoes that are simple in design and polishable.

90. Forget things

1. What kinds of things do you have to bring when you go out?

When you go out you should have your purse with some money, an ID card and your cell phone.

2. Did you ever forget to bring something?

Yes, once I had to go to Ludhiana by bus. I forgot my wallet at home. Fortunately, I knew someone in the bus, who helped me. Otherwise, I would have had to get down midway.

3. How do you remind yourself?

I have become very forgetful. I try to repeat things in my mind and sometimes I set reminders on my cell phone.

4. Do you carry different things in the morning and in the evening?

It depends on where I have to go. In the morning, it is generally to school or college. So, I carry my bag and books. In the evening, I may have to go shopping. So, I carry my purse and shopping bag.

91. .Indoor games

1. Do you play any indoor games?

Yes, I play carom board and cards with my siblings and parents.

2. Do you prefer to play indoor games or outdoor games?

It depends on the weather outside. In hot summer afternoons, I play indoor games. But, when the weather is good, I play cricket and badminton outside with my friends.

3. What indoor games did you play when you were a child?

I played carom board, ludo and snakes and ladders as a child.

4. Is there any particular indoor game that you liked (when you were a child)?

I liked ludo and snakes and ladders.

5. What sorts of indoor games do children play now?

Nowadays, children are of the digital era. They play electronic games on the computer.

6. Do you play video games?

Yes, I play Mario and tetris sometimes on my phone.

7. What kinds of video games do you like to play?

I play Mario and tetris only. Sometimes I feel I have wasted a lot of time on these two games.

8. Is it good for young people to play video games?

Yes, video games are good, but only if played in a limit. These introduce children to computer technology, and teach strategy building skills.

92. City Life

1. Do you live in the city or the countryside? (countryside = village)

I live in the countryside. (-----Then go about talking about your village) I live in the city. (-----Then go about talking about your city)

2. Is it good for young people to grow up in the city?

Yes, it is good for young people to grow up in the cities because cities provide many facilities. There are good education facilities, recreational (entertainment) facilities, and health facilities. There are also good job opportunities in cities.

3. Is your city/village a good place for young people to grow up?

Yes, my village is a good place for young people to grow up. First, it is very near to the city. It is as good as being in the suburbs of the city. We can enjoy all the facilities of the city as well as the clean and pollution free atmosphere of the village.

Yes, my city is a good place for young people to grow up. There are good education facilities, recreational (entertainment) facilities, and health facilities. There are also good job opportunities in my city.

4. Have you ever been to the seaside?

No, I have never been to the seaside. My cousin went to Goa last year. He told me that beaches are fun places. I would like to go there whenever I get a chance.

Yes, I have been to the seaside once. I went to visit relatives in Mumbai. They took us to the Juhu Beach

5. Do you often eat out (go to restaurants)?

I eat out very often, in fact two or three times a month.

6. What food do you like?

I like traditional Punjabi food, such as dal roti. I also like Chinese Manchurian and cheese chilly. I love eating Italian pizza and pasta.

93. Foreign language

1. Why do you think it is important to learn a foreign language?

It is important to learn a foreign language because it helps you connect with more people. As it is, today we do not belong to a big planet Earth; we belong to a small global village and to survive in this global village, it is necessary to be multilingual. For example, English is spoken in 86 countries. If you know English you can communicate with people of 86 countries.

2. How is it helpful to you to speak a foreign language?

I know English which is a foreign language. It is very helpful for me. Knowledge of English makes me feel more confident as it increases my communication skills and also it helps me in surfing the net because most websites are written in English.

3. What is the most difficult part of learning a foreign language for you?

I find some pronunciations very confusing at times. For example bough is pronounced ‘bo’ whereas tough is ‘tuff’.

Sometimes the spellings which have silent words also confuse me. For instance ‘b’ is silent in doubt and debt.

4. What is the best way to memorize new words?

The best way is to start using them in daily life so that they become part of your natural spoken English.

5. Is it better to learn a new word from translation or by definition?

I think both ways are equally good. Sometimes some words are learnt best by translation and some by definition.

6. Why don’t some people know the language of the society they live in?

This is perhaps because they live in their own shell and don’t intermingle with those people.

7. What do you think of children learning a foreign language?

I think children should learn a foreign language. It is very easy for children to learn a foreign language as they are very receptive and they are not hesitant about making mistakes. They also have a benefit of not knowing any other language too well, to make comparisons and assumptions about the difficulty of language learning. In this era of globalization, knowledge of a foreign language is very beneficial for a better career and a brighter future. It opens more avenues for the students for higher education and good jobs.

8. Why are some language classes boring?

Some language classes are boring because of the teaching methods used. If there no interactive and fun activities involved in teaching a language and only textbook teaching methods are followed, students become bored easily. Incorporating technology in classrooms, keeps the students interested in learning and they learn it easily. For example, there should be audio-visual means used.

9. Some students hate to learn foreign languages, what can teachers do to develop their interest? Some students hate to learn a foreign language mainly due to lack of interest and uninteresting teaching methods used. Teachers play an important in developing students’ interest. Interactive and fun activities should be included to keep the children involved and interested in learning. If students are taught only from text books and there is a pressure of examination, it leads to students becoming bored or disliking language classes. Teachers should also use contexts and examples to which the students can relate in their day-to-day life. If they understand how the language can help and benefit them, students would be motivated to learn that language.

10. Some people travel for learning a foreign language, what do you think?

I think that traveling is a very good way to learn a foreign language. It is true that the more we use a language, the better we get at it. So, if travel to a county/region where that language is used, we will interact more with the local people in that language and learn its nuances better. Also, language is related to the culture. If we travel, we learn more about the culture and can learn the language better.

11. What’s the best way to learn a foreign language?

I think the best way to learn a foreign language in a classroom environment, from a teacher who has in-depth knowledge of that language. The teacher should preferably be a native speaker of that language or should have a high proficiency level in that language. It is very important to incorporate technology and audio-visual methods to teach that language. Also, travelling to that country/region where the language is spoken is also a good way to learn it. These days learning a language through videos and online classes has become very popular, as the students get a chance to interact with the teachers and also with native speakers of that language, through the internet. There are many apps also available, which can be downloaded on smartphones, which help learning a foreign language in a fun and interactive way. For example, the Duolingo app.

12. Why can some people learn languages fast white others learn slowly?

Some people learn language faster than some others because of the teaching methods used to teach them. Interacting more with the native speakers also helps with learning a language better and faster. Also, there may be a motivating factor, like a job that requires them to learn that language, which makes people learn a language faster than others, who don’t have any motivation behind learning a language.

13. Does one’s age affect their language learning?

Yes, I think age affects language learning. I thing the learning curve goes down with increasing age. Also, at an older age, people try and compare the new language they are learning with the language they already know. That may cause a hindrance in the learning of a language. People also become more hesitant about making mistakes and feel more embarrassed, at a later age, as compared to young learners.

Advantages for children to learn languages – Why it is good to learn languages at younger age

1. When children learn multiple languages at a younger age, they develop a lifelong love of communicating with others.

2. It is much easier to learn foreign language when young. At a later age it becomes harder to become fluent

3. Learning a foreign language helps a child’s mind develop. Such children do better in other subjects. It helps their intellect to develop more

4. Learning a foreign language helps children to expand their knowledge of the world. They want to know about other people and other countries. They would want to understand them instead of being afraid of them.

Advantages for the adult learner of a foreign language

He has his own language to compare with the second language. So new terms or concepts are easily understood.

They have a strong motivation to learn a new language especially if it is connected to an employment opportunity.

Most adult learners have participated in study earlier, so they know what method of learning works best for them.

94. Birds

1. How do you feel about birds? (Why do you feel that way?)

I feel that birds are very special. They are beautiful creations of God. They add diversity to nature.

2. How do Indian people feel about birds?

India is a diverse country. Everyone has different feelings. Some love birds, and keep them as pets. Others just admire them flying in the sky. Some even eat birds.

3. Are there many birds near your home?

Yes, there are birds near my home. I can see pigeons, crows, sparrows and even the cuckoo bird occasionally.

4. Have you seen many different kinds of birds? (near your home)

Yes, I have seen many different birds. Apart from the birds I see routinely around my house, I have seen peacocks in my neighbouring village. I have also seen some rare birds, in the Chhattbir zoo. There were different varieties of parrots and the ostrich and emu over there.

1. Do any birds have any particular significance in India? For example, does India have a national bird?

Yes, peacock is our national bird. It is a beautiful bird. The male looks very beautiful with its plumes spread out.

1. Do you think birds should be protected? (Why? / Why not? How can they be protected?) Yes, definitely. They are beautiful creations of nature. They add diversity to our environment. Apart from that, they are the best pollinators. Also, birds eat insects. That is why crops are protected. They are part of our ecological chain. We all know that if any link of our ecological chain is not there, then the whole ecology can collapse.

Birds can be protected by having strict laws against catching and selling birds. The NGOs like SPCA, which means Society for prevention of cruelty to animals, and the PFA, which means people for animals can also help in this matter.

5. Do Indian people like raising (keeping) pet birds?

Yes, they do. Some people keep birds as pets. They keep colourful parrots and pigeons as pets.

6. Have you ever raised (kept) a pet bird?

No, I have never raised a pet bird. There is a lot of work involved.

95. Boats

1. Do you often travel by boat?

No, I don’t often travel by boat. I don’t live in the coastal area and where I live people do not travel by boat. Boating is done only in places with water such as the Sukhna Lake.

2. Have you ever been on a boat while you were on holidays (on vacation)? No, I have never traveled to a coastal area for holiday. I never got a chance.

3. (Similar to above) Have you ever been on a boat tour while you were on holidays? (Same question as above. Can be answered differently)

No, I have never been on a boat tour, but yes, I did boating once then I went to Chandigarh to visit my relatives. They took me to the Sukhna Lake.

4. Would you like to go on a boat tour? (Why?/Why not?)

Yes, I would definitely like to go on a boat tour. I think it would be great fun. My relatives live in USA. They told me that there’s a cruise to Alaska. One day I would love to do that cruise.

5. (Similar to above) Would you like to have a holiday on a boat?

6. Where in your country do people most often use boats? (or, travel by boat)

India has a long coastline. The coastline is more than 7000 km. People living near the coast use boats very often.

7. Do many people in your country own their own boat?

Maybe people living near the shores have their own boats, but people living off shore do not have their own boats.

8. Would you like to buy a boat?

No, I would not like to buy a boat. I think it would be a waste of money.

1. If you had your own boat, what would you do with it?

If I had my own boat, I would buy a house near the beach and do boating everyday.

96. Relatives

1. Do you often visit your relatives?

No, I don’t often visit relatives. I visit them once or twice in six months.

2. What do you do when visit them?

Whenever we visit relatives, we have lots of fun. We visit some historical places, eat out, watch movies and do lots of other activities.

3. Do you prefer to spend time with your relatives, or your friends?

I prefer to spend time with my friends. I like the company very much. We have lots of fun together.

4. (Possibly the question above is this) Do you prefer visiting your relatives, or your friends?

5. (Similar to above) Who is the more important to you, your relatives / your family, or your friends?

Both are important for me, but my friends are more important than my relatives. Of course, my immediate family is more important then friends.

97. Daily routine

1. Do you like to plan what you will do each day? (Why?/Why not?)

Yes, I like to plan what I do each day. If I do not plan I tend to procrastinate and then all my work piles up and I start getting stressed.

2. Please describe your typical daily routine.

I get up at around six in the morning. Then I freshen up and go for a walk. I walk for around 5 km every day. If for some reason I do not go for a walk, then I feel something is missing from my life. After coming home I help my mother in household chores. Then I go to school/college. In the evening, I hang out with my friends for about an hour or so. Then I study for sometime. We are family members have dinner at around eight. We all watch TV together for about an hour. I go to bed at around 10.

3. What's your favourite time of the day? (Why? What do you do at that time?)

My favorite time of the day is evening time. We are family members have dinner together. We share our day’s happenings with each other. We watch TV together. Sometimes we go for walk after dinner. So this is my favorite time of the day.

4. What do you usually do at this time of day?

( same as above)

5. Do you usually do the same things at the same time each day?

No, my timetable is not that fixed. Dinner time is more or less fixed. Sometimes I go to bed late, if I have to complete an assignment or prepare for some test.

6. How do you plan (organize) your study time?

I plan my study time very meticulously. I’m usually very diligent and try to study for 2-3 hours on school days, and 5 to 6 hours on weekends.

7. Do you ever (or, do you often) change these plans?

Yes many times, I have to change my plans. Sometimes there are guests at home and I have to help my mother. Then my timetable gets disturbed, but I usually make it up the next day by studying more.

98. .Punctuality

1. Do you wear a watch?

(Similar to above) Do you think everyone should wear a watch?

Yes, I wear a watch and I think that everyone should wear one too, or keep a check on the time. These days please check time on their cell phones, however, the point is to be on time and not waste time.

2. In your country is it important to be on time (= be punctual)? (e.g., for meetings, work, classes) Yes, it is very important to be on time to meetings, classes or for work. Time is valued a lot in India, as unlike money, time once gone doesn’t come back.

3. Do you like to be on time?

(Similar to above) Is being on time important to you?

Yes, being on time is extremely important to me. I ensure that I am never late for my classes and other appointments and meetings. I understand that time is much more important than any other material thing or money.

4. How do you feel when others are late?

When others are late occasionally, it maybe due to a genuine problem, however, if someone is late very often, then it’s definitely a habit that I do not appreciate or like.

5. How do you remind yourself to be on time?

I usually remember the appointments and meetings, but sometimes I set reminders on my phone to be on time.

6. Why are some people always late?

Some people are always late because they do not plan well and are not good at time management.

They may also not value time.

7. Do you think it’s important to be punctual?

I think it’s very important to be punctual. It saves our time and the other person’s time also. Time is the most precious commodity.

8. What will you do if you are waiting for someone?

If I am waiting for someone, I’ll probably pass time by playing games on my phone or reading the news or chatting with my friends.

9. Do you think people these days are as punctual as they were in the past?

I think people are as punctual these days, as they were in the past. However, sometimes due to the traffic situation of today, despite wanting to be punctual, people are sometimes not able to reach on time for their work, meetings, appointments etc

99. Names

1. Does your name have any special meaning?

Yes, my name has a special meaning. My name is Kiran. It means a ray of light. My name is very significant for me. It has been my identity for the last 56 years. It is a gift given to me by my parents. It brings out positive feelings from within me. I am proud of my name.

2. Is your surname very common in India?

My surname is Makkar. I think it is very common. I know many people with this surname.

3. Do you like your name?

Yes, I love my name. It is my identity. It is the meaningful name. It is my parents gift to me.

4. Would you like to change your name?

No, I would never like to change my name. I love my name as it is.

5. Do people in India ever change their names?

Yes, sometimes people change their name. Sometimes, when a girl gets married, her in-laws give her a new name and start calling her by that name. However, it is a very cumbersome process to change one’s name in papers.

6. What name do people at home (your family members) call you? My nickname is Mohini. At home everyone calls me by that name.

100. Birthdays

1. How do children celebrate birthdays in your country?

Children celebrate birthdays in different ways. Some children invite friends and cut the cake. Older children take their friends out for a party. Some people celebrate by donating for charity.

2. How did you celebrate your last birthday?

I took my friends out for dinner at Rangla Punjab, a famous restaurant in the suburbs of my hometown.

3. What kinds of birthday gifts do you like to receive?

I like to receive clothes, books, flowers as gifts. I take gifts as gestures of love. So I happily accept anything that anybody brings for me.

4. Is there a difference between the way you celebrated your birthday in the past and the present?

When I was younger, my mother used to make snacks at home and bake a cake. I used to invite my friends, but now I prefer to take them out for lunch or dinner.

101. Computer

1. Do you use computer very much?

Yes, I use computers a lot. I have a laptop I use for my studies, to stay connected to my friends and relatives living far away, to research on various topics, for entertainment I watch movies and play games.

2. When do you use a computer?

I use the computer everyday at home, usually in the evenings and after dinner. I use it to research for my assignments and to check my emails, check Facebook updates and post messages and sometimes I use it to watch movies or play games.

3. What do you use computer for?

I use it to research for my assignments and to check my emails, check Facebook updates and post messages and sometimes I use it to watch movies or play games.

4. What was your impression when you used a computer the first time?

I remember the day when I used the computer the first time. I was in class 6 at that time. I vividly remember how fascinated I was with the computer.

5. How did you learn to use a computer?

I learned to use a computer through school lessons. Later I got my own personal desktop at home and I learned a little more by using it more at home. Now I have a laptop that I use regularly.

6. Have computers changed your life in anyway (if yes, How?)?

Yes, definitely. Computers have changed my life. I am well connected with all my friends and relatives, irrespective of which part of the world they are in. It has made the research work for my assignments very convenient. I think it’s a very good source of entertainment and with the Internet it is a boon for the humankind. Many everyday tasks can be done in a matter of a few clicks and in a few seconds, be it banking, shopping, etc.

7. Are computers used much in your country?

Yes, the use of computers has increased greatly in my country. It is a common household electronic equipment and almost all the workplaces make use of a computer, like in a grocery store, bank, coffee shop, school, post office, etc.

8. Do you think computer are useful in everyday life (how)?

Yes, computers are very useful in everyday life. We can pay our bills, book tickets, shop for anything, set reminders, connect with relatives and friends, research, entertain ourselves, create new things and do umpteen other things by using a computer.

9. Computers are now used a lot in education. What do you think of this?

I think it is the need of the day to make use of computers in education. It not only makes the lessons more interesting, it also helps make the children more techno-savvy, as technology is used in almost all fields.

10. Do you play computer games?

Yes, sometimes I play word games, puzzles or card games on my computer.

11. Do you think computers are perfect now or do they still need to be improved? I think the computers technology, in terms of both hardware and software keeps changing and there is always something new that needs to be added as time passes. So, in the future I can foresee a lot of changes and improvements that are made to the computers.

102. Being in a hurry

1. When was the last time you did something in a hurry?

The last time I did something in a hurry was two months ago. I remember my exams were going on. I slept really late because I was studying and in the morning I did not hear the alarm. So I got ready in a hurry, and forgot my wallet at home.

2. Do you like to finish things quickly?

If I don’t like what I’m doing, then I like to finish things quickly. But, if I am enjoying what I’m doing then I take my time.

3. What kind of things you would never do in a hurry? I would never drive in a hurry, or cross the road in a hurry.

4. Why do people make mistakes more easily when they are in a hurry?

It is easy to make mistakes in a hurry, because the mind is preoccupied and so it is easy to forget certain things. That desire it has been rightly said that haste makes waste.

103. Museums

1. Are there many (or any) museums in your hometown?

No, there are no museums in my hometown. That is on museum of our great martyr Bhagat Singh, which is 30 km away. There is an another Sikh museum in Amritsar in Golden Temple.

2. Do you think museums are useful for visitors to your hometown/country?

Yes, museums are very useful for the visitors. Museums provide knowledge and information. They also provide entertainment. Museums preserve a collection. Museums inspire people to do things.

3. Do you often visit a museum?

No, I don’t often visit museums. I visited a science museum about a year ago. This museum is also near my hometown.

4. Did you go to any museums when you were a child?

Yes, I saw the Sikh museum in the Golden Temple when I was a child. I also saw the Bhagat Singh Museum during my school days. Our school organized an educational tour to this museum.

5. When was the last time you visited a museum?

The last time I visited the Museum was about a year ago.

6. Do you think museums are important?

Yes, museums are very important. (as answer 2)

7. Do you think it’s suitable for museums to sell things to visitors?

No, I do not think museums should sell things to visitors. If museums start selling things then the whole purpose of museums would be lost.

104. Dance

1. When was the last time you went to a place where people go to dance in your country? I have never been to any such place where people specially go to dance. In my country people specially go to dance in discos, pubs and clubs. But there are no such places in my home town. I love to dance on family functions.

2. When was the last occasion when you danced a lot?

The last occasion I danced a lot was last Sunday. It was my friend’s birthday. He invited us to his home. We danced a lot on that day.

3. Do you like dancing?

Yes, I love dancing. I dance on all family functions like marriage parties and birthday parties.

4. Have you ever learnt dancing? Why? / Why not?

No, I have never learnt dancing. Unfortunately, there are no places in my hometown where dance is taught. All the steps I know, I’ve learnt from TV programmes and movies.

Yes, I’ve learnt dancing. There is a very nice centre in my village which teaches Punjabi folk dances like Giddha and Bhangra.

5. Did you learn to dance? Why? / Why not?

No, I did not learn to dance. Unfortunately, there are no places in my hometown where dance is taught. All the steps I know, I’ve learnt from TV programmes and movies.

Yes, I learnt dancing in my childhood. There is a very nice centre in my village which teaches Punjabi folk dances like Giddha and Bhangra.

6. Why do you think people love to dance?

People love to dance because they can express their joy. Dance is a form of expression. Dance is a good way to relieve tensions and worries. It also keeps the body fit.

7. Do you think children love to dance?

Yes, children love to dance because they can express their joy. Dance is a form of expression. Dance is a good way to relieve tensions and worries. It also keeps the body fit.

8. Do you see dance on TV?

Yes, I see a lot of dance reality shows like Dance India Dance, NachhBaliye and Dancing Superstars.

105. Hats

1. Do you like to wear hats?

No, I don’t like to wear hats. I find them very uncomfortable.

Yes, I wear hats when I go out in the sun, or when watching a match in the stadium.

2. What kinds of hats do you have?

I have a baseball cap, woolen caps for winters, a beret and some fashion hats.

3. Where do you like to buy hats?

I usually buy hats at a store where such accessories are available and some such stores are there in a nearby mall. I have also bought a couple of them online.

4. Is wearing hats popular in your country? M a kk a r IE LTS

Yes wearing hats is popular in India. In different states of India there are different types of hats that are a part of the traditional attire. These days hats are very popular among the young generation. They wear them as a fashion accessory.

106. Singing

1. Do you often (like to) sing?

Yes, I like to sing, but as my singing abilities are not pretty good so I sing only in the bathroom.

2. When do you like to sing?

Whenever I’m alone I hum some songs to myself.

3. How much time do you spend in singing every day? Not much, a few minutes perhaps.

4. What kinds of music do you like to sing?

I mostly like to sing film songs. I like Punjabi folk songs also.

5. Is it difficult to sing well?

Yes, it is difficult to sing well. I think only talented people can do it.

6. Do you want to be a singer?

No, I would not want to be a singer. I know I don’t have the abilities.

107. Noise

1. How is the noise level in your city?

My city is an industrial city and on top of that it is on the national highway. So, the noise levels are very high.

2. Where does noise in urban areas come from?

The noise in urban areas comes from pressure horns of vehicles, industries and loud speakers.

3. Do you think it is important to be alone sometimes?

It is very important to be alone sometimes. Everyone needs to introspect at times. One needs to know about ones likes and dislikes and everyone needs time for one’s personal work which can be best done in solitude.

4. What is the importance of belonging to a certain group?

There is a lot of importance of belonging to a social group. Man is a social animal and cannot live alone for long. One needs to share one’s happiness and sorrows with others. That is why we join social groups and feel part of these groups. Social groups are a sort of support system. They give us support when we are low in life. It is mentally unhealthy to be alone for long.

5. What are problem you could have if you go out together in big group?

There could be a lot of problems in a big group. It is difficult to organise a big group. Mismanagement can lead to conflicts. It could end up in a lot of wastage of time. It has been well said that “two is a company and three is a crowd”.

108. Bus or Taxi

1. How often do you take the bus?

I take the bus everyday. I go to school/college by bus.

2. When was the first time you took a taxi?

The last time I took a taxi was about two months ago. I went to Delhi to visit my relatives. I hired a cab from the railway station to their home.

3. What are the advantages of taking a taxi compared with buses.

The advantages of taxi are that you don’t have to wait for the bus. You can start at anytime. A taxi takes you from one destination to the other whereas the bus will drop you at the bus stop.

4. Is it convenient to take the bus/taxi in your city?

The bus service in my city is very good and frequent. The taxi service is also very good, but I normally take the bus as it is much cheaper.

109. Mobile phones

1. How often do you use your mobile phone?

I use my mobile phone very often, in fact every day.

2. Can you describe your mobile phone?

I have an iPhone 5s. It is in golden color. It is rectangular in shape. It has two cameras. It has a 8GB Space. It has many features. It is like a mini computer in my hands.

3. What was your first mobile phone?

My first mobile phone was a Nokia phone. I don’t remember the model but it was a very basic phone.

4. Would you buy a new one in the future?

I don’t have any plans to buy a new phone in the future. I’m quite happy with my iPhone.

5. How has your mobile phone changed your life?

My basic mobile phone was it enough to change my life. It kept me connected with my family all the time, but my iPhone is a smart phone and is much more than a phone for mere connectivity. I can check my emails on my phone. I can surf the net on my phone. I can play games on my phone. I can do calculations on my phone. I can do so many other things on my phone.

110. HISTORY

1. Do you like (to learn about) history?

Yes, I like to learn about history. It is through history we come to know about the important events that gave way or shaped the way to progress or changes in any country. Also, history teaches us important lessons and we can learn from the achievements or mistakes of our ancestors. Everything in this world has its history. It’s through that we value what we have today. For example, we value our independence today because of the knowledge of the independence struggle.

2. What historical event do you find most interesting?

The historical event I find the most interesting is the day India became an independent nation, on 15^th August 1947.

3. Do you think history is important?

Yes, I think history is very important. We can learn a lot from history. We come to know about the way of life, culture and traditions of the past times. We can come to know about the important historical events that paved way for progress and development, like the Industrial revolution. We can get motivation by learning about the achievements of some people and we can also learn from the mistakes of our ancestors.

4. Do you like to watch programmes on TV about history?

Yes I like to watch programmes on TV about history. In fact, the History channel is one of my favourite TV channels. It has some great shows about history of different parts of the world.

5. Do you think you can really learn history from films and TV programmes?

Yes, definitely. TV programs and films make learning about history interesting and easy. Reading about history may become very boring after a while. Children also learn history better if an audiovisual medium is used.

6. Do you think the Internet is a good place to learn about history?

Yes, Internet is a good way to learn about history. It is a vast source of knowledge. We can search about any topic related to history and get all the information we need. There are also videos, documentaries, podcasts, e-books etc. also available on the Internet.

7. Can you name a person from history whom you would like to learn more about?

I would like to learn more about martyr Bhagat Singh, who was a freedom fighter in the struggle for Independent India.

8. Why would you like to learn more about him/her?

I would like to learn more about him because he is a motivation for the youth of today. I do not know much about him, but I know that his role in India’s freedom struggle was integral and the British rulers hanged him at a very young age of 23 for the assassination of a British police officer.

111. Magazine

1. Do you read magazines?

Yes, I read magazines. Reader’s Digest is the one I usually read.

2. Who prefers to read magazines – younger or older people?

I think it is a matter of personal choice and is not related to age.

3. Have you ever read online magazines?

Yes, I have read online magazines. But I prefer traditional printed magazines to online ones.

4. Did you read magazines when you were young?

No, I didn’t read magazines, but I read comic books and other children’s books when I was young. I started reading magazines in my late teenage years.

5. What kind of magazines are popular in your country?

There are many types of magazines popular in my country, like fashion magazines, sports magazines, housekeeping magazines, automobiles magazines, art & craft magazines and many more.

112. Internet

1. Do you use internet (very much)?

Yes, I use the internet a lot, especially for research for my studies. I also use the internet for chatting with my friends, watching movies and playing games.

2. When was the first time you used the internet?

The first time I used the internet was when I was in around 10-11 years old. We got a computer and an internet connection set up at our home.

3. Is the internet very important (or useful) to you?

Yes, the internet is very important/useful for me. I mostly use it for research purposes for my studies. It also helps me stay connected with my friends.

4. Do you think you can (or could) live without the internet?

It is very hard to imagine a life without the internet. The communication and connectivity we have now because of the internet will suffer greatly. I would feel alienated/cut off from the world without the internet.

113. Neighbor –

1. Do you know your neighbors?

Yes, I know my neighbors well. I meet them daily and we are like a family.

1. Do you like your neighbors?

Yes, I like my neighbors. They are very friendly and helpful. In fact, we are like a family.

1. Why are neighbors important?

Neighbours are very important because they are next to our family. In fact, in today’s era of nuclear families, neighbours are the only family we have in times of emergencies. Neighbours are the people with whom we share our walls. They are the first ones to help us in times of need.

1. When do you meet your neighbors?

I meet my neighbors in the evenings. We usually meet them in the park or outside my home. Sometimes we have some celebrations in our neighborhood or some community programs, where I get to meet my neighbors.

1. How often do you meet your neighbors?

I meet my neighbors very often, in fact almost daily.

114. Pop star

1. Who’s your favorite pop star?

My favorite pop star is the famous Punjabi singer, DiljeetDosanjh. He is an excellent singer, performer and an actor.

2. Do you want to be a pop star?

No, I don’t have the qualities or talent to be a pop star.

3. Do you like to go to concerts?

Yes, I like to go to concerts. I think live performances are very enjoyable and much different from listening to recorded music. We get to meet like-minded people, with similar interests.

4. Do you prefer live music or recorded music?

I don’t prefer one to the other. I enjoy both equally. Live music has its own charm and energy, whereas recorded music can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere

115. Teenagers –

1. Do you like to spend time with teenagers?

I have a few cousins who are in their teenage years and I like to spend time with them. I get to know about what is the latest trend and what kinds of apps are popular among them.

2. Do you know anything about the kind of fashion that teenagers like?

Yes, I know about the kind of fashion that teenagers like, through the TV shows and movies. I also see a lot of teenagers when I go out and get a sense of the kind of fashion they follow.

3. What are the best things of being a teenager?

I think that the best part of being a teenager is the sense of responsibility that is developed in those years. It is also a stage of life, which brings a little more freedom, than the younger years.

4. How do teenagers entertain themselves?

Teenagers usually entertain themselves by watching movies, listening to music, hanging out with friends, chatting online with friends, playing outdoor sports, and other such activities.

116. Films

1.Do you like to watch films?

Yes, I love to watch films. I think it is a very good form of entertainment and gives us the much-needed break in our busy life. It is also a good way to spend quality time with friends and family.

2.Do you prefer foreign films or Indian films?

I like watching both, Indian and foreign films. I think that the Indian films keep us connected to our culture and roots and through the foreign films, we get knowledge about other cultures. Both are an equally good source of entertainment.

3.How often do you go to cinema to watch a movie?

I go to cinema to watch a movie quite often, at least once or twice a month.

4.Do Indian people like to go to cinema to watch a film?

Yes, Indian people like to go to cinema to watch films. It is evident from the increasing number of multiplexes that are opening in every city and are almost always full of people.

5.What kinds of movies do you like the best?

I like movies that have a good story, with some good lessons or a message and those with good acting and direction.

6.What was the first film you watched?

I don’t remember exactly, but one of the first films I remember from my childhood is ______________________. (Add a couple of lines about the kind of movie and the story/what was it about).

117. Social Network

1.What kind of social networking websites do you like to use?

I mostly use the Facebook website for social networking. These days all the social networking sites have an app that we can install and use on our phones, so I don’t usually visit the websites. I use my cellphone apps.

2.Are you a social person?

I am not a very social person. However, I have a good social circle of friends. I like to meet them at least once in two-three months.

I am a social person. I like to meet new people and make new friends. I have a big social circle of friends.

3.What kinds of people do you like to be friends with on those websites?

On those websites, I only have friends whom I already know or whom I know through someone. I do not make new friends on such websites.

4.Is it easy to find real friends on a social networking website?

No, it is not at all easy to find real friends on social networking websites. People make fake ids, with fake information and dupe people.

5.What kind of chatting app or software do Indian people like to use?

Indian people like to use chatting apps like, Whatsapp, Snapchat, Hike, V-chat, Viber, etc.

118. POLITENESS

1. 1. Who teaches you to be polite?

Our parents, teachers, relatives, friends and other acquaintances, teach us politeness. We also learn about the importance of politeness from stories we read and movies we watch.

2. 2. How do Indian people show politeness?

Indian people show politeness in their actions, like talking softly, spending time with the elderly, helping people, greeting others with a smile and many other such small gestures reflect politeness.

3. 3. Has the way people show politeness changed in India?

Yes, I think with the advancement in technology, the way we show politeness has changed. With the advent of the internet and social networking, it is very important to show respect to others in the way we write messages or emails, so as to not offend others. For example, when chatting with someone, it is not acceptable to type in capital letters. It is considered rude and impolite.

4. Are you angry with people who are late?

Yes, definitely I am angry with people who are late. I am very punctual myself and I feel irritated when somebody keeps me waiting.

5. Do you think that people have less free time today than in the past? Why?

Yes, I do feel that people have less free time today than in the past. Today, people have become workaholics. They run after money and in doing so they work longer hours. Moreover, today we belong to a materialistic society and to buy the luxuries we have to work more. In earlier times, life was slower and the needs of people were limited. So people had a lot of free time.

6. Do you think that the quality of living is increasing? How?

I feel that the quality of life has increased in many ways and in many ways it has gone down. People today enjoy greater comforts and have more money to enjoy life but on the other hand we face many problems today such as pollution and global warming which make the quality of life bad.

7. Today people use machinery to automate everything, is it good or bad?

It is both – good as well as bad. In many ways it is good. We have more time because of machines. We get good quality things because machines make uniform things. We do mass production because of automation and this boosts our economy as we can export things to other countries when we produce them in bulk.

On the other hand, many people have lost jobs because of automation. So, unemployment occurs and this leads to many other problems in society. Machines can also not give a personal touch to things.

8. How does modern technology help to save time?

Modern technology has touched all aspects of life. In transport industry we have much faster means of travel. In communication, technology has given us tools to connect to others at the click of a mouse. In the homes, we have washing machines and microwave ovens, which save our time.

9. Do you agree that people should let machinery do everything?

I do not agree that machines should do everything. In that way we shall become slaves of our own creation. We should know when, where and how much we have to use machines. We should know where to draw the line. When we need mass production, we should take the help of machines. In doing repetitive and boring work we can let the machines take over. But where creativity is needed, we should do with our own hands.

119. TIME MANAGEMENT

1. Are you ever late for anything?

No, I am a very punctual person. I value time and am never late for anything, unless it is due to some unavoidable and unforeseen circumstances.

2. What excuses do you use when you are late?

I am usually not late for any meetings or appointments. However, if at all I am getting late due to an unavoidable circumstance, then I inform the person I am meeting, beforehand. I don’t make excuses.

3. What excuses do people have when they are late?

People give excuses like car or bike breakdown or that they were stuck in traffic, when they are late

4. Are you good at organizing time?

Yes, I am good at organizing time. I set up reminders for important events and meetings. I am never late for an appointment.

5. How do you usually organize time?

I sometimes set up reminders for important events or meetings, sometimes I make lists of tasks to complete, sometimes I set deadlines for myself, especially when working on an important assignment/project.

6. Do you think planning is important for time management?

Yes, planning is essential for good time management. If we don’t plan ahead, we will tend to waste time doing tasks/things which are unimportant or unnecessary.

7. Why do you think some people pay to learn time management?

Time management has become very important in today’s fast-paced world. Some people pay to take courses on time management so that they can succeed and excel at their work. Some people are not very good at organizing and managing time, so they need to take up courses on managing time well.

8. Do you think children should learn to manage time?

Yes, definitely. We live in a fast paced world and children too need to manage their time well, so that they can deal with the competition and do well at their studies and later, at their jobs.

9. Why do some people find it hard to follow their plans?

Some people find it hard to follow their plans because of other pressing commitments, like family commitments. Some people maybe too lazy to follow their plans.

10. 10.How would you teach your children time management?

Time management can be taught to children by helping them make a timetable and ensuring that they follow it. Also, children can learn easily from stories or movies, which teach them a lesson about the importance of time and managing it well. The parents are role models for children and they should set a good example for their children.

11. 11.Do old people and young people manage time in a similar way?

No, old and young people do not manage their time the same way. Old people have more life experience and they understand the importance of time management better than the young generation. The young people may be too impulsive or impatient and may not understand the importance of planning ahead. Another difference is the way the younger generation manages time. They make more use of technology and the old people may use the traditional methods, like a timetable or writing down a list of tasks.

120. FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

1. Do you like fruits and vegetables? OR Do you like to eat fruit(s) and vegetables? Yes, I like fruits and vegetables. In fact they are a part of my daily diet.

2. How often do you eat fruits and vegetables? OR Do you often eat fruit(s) and vegetables?

I eat fruits and vegetables daily. In fact seasonal fruits and vegetables are part of my daily diet.

3. Why do you think fruits and vegetables are important for us?

I think they are important because they have essential vitamins and minerals, which we must eat to be healthy.

4. What kind of fruit do you prefer?

I prefer all kinds of fruit. But I prefer seasonal fruits because they are readily available and cheap.

5. What fruit(s) (and /or vegetables) do you especially like to eat?

I like to eat allfruits and vegetables, but I especially like the okra and broccoli among the veggies and my favourite fruits are watermelon and mango.

6. Do you like the same fruits and vegetables today as you did when you were a child? As a child, my favourite fruit used to be grapes, but now I like mango and watermelon more. Also, I wasn’t very find of vegetables as a child. Now I love all kinds of vegetables and fruits.

7. What fruit and vegetables did you like to eat when you were a child?

I liked all fruits as a child and my favourite fruit used to be grapes. I wasn’t very fond of vegetables when I was a child.

8. Is it easy (or, convenient) to buy fruit and vegetables where you live?

Yes, it is very convenient to buy fruits and vegetables where I live. I live in a city and there are many fruit and vegetable sellers, who have stalls/standsset up in many parts of the city. In grocery stores also we have a fruits and vegetables section.

9. Do you think people should eat more fruits and vegetables?

Yes, I think people should eat more fruits and vegetables, as they contain essential vitamins and nutrients needed for a healthy body and mind. Also, it has become all the more important now to eat healthy food as most of the people lead a sedentary life.

10. Do you think it's (really) necessary to eat fruits and vegetables? OR How important is it to eat fruit and vegetables? OR What are the benefits of eating fresh fruit (or, fresh fruits and vegetables)?

Yes, certainly. It is essential to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, as they contain nutrients like vitamins and minerals, which our body needs to function properly and to remain healthy. Also, having a healthy diet makes us feel more energetic.

11. How much fruit and vegetables do you think a person needs to stay healthy? I think fruits and vegetables are needed as a part of our everyday diet. Many dieticians suggest that we should eat fruits and vegetables of at least five different colors everyday.

121. High school

1. Are you still in contact with your friends from high school?

Yes, I am in contact with my friends from high school. Many of them are now in different cities and countries. But we stay in touch through social networking apps and we also have reunions sometimes.

2. What is your high school like?

Give a brief description of your school – describe building(s), garden, playground and other facilities) 3. What happened on the first day of high school?

I don’t remember exactly what happened. However, I do remember that all my classmates and I were feeling like we have entered an important stage in our lives and that we are grown ups now.

4. Did your parents choose your secondary school (= high school) for you?

Yes, my parents chose my secondary school. My high school and primary school were the same.

5. What subjects did you study in secondary school (= high school)?

I studied many subjects in secondary school like, social sciences, mathematics, the Hindi and English languages, science subjects like biology, chemistry, physics and geography, art and crafts, etc.

6. What was your favourite subject ( = class) in secondary school? (= high school)

My favourite subject in secondary school was science. I liked science subjects because I learned about the basic principles of the way things work all around us.

7. And which class (= subject) did you like the least? (Why?)

There wasn’t any subject I liked the least. I liked all the subjects in secondary school.

8. Which secondary school subject do you think is most useful for people in adult life?

I think all the subjects that we study in secondary school are useful for people in adult life. A strong foundation is built in primary and high school years that helps us throughout our life.

9. What part of your secondary school education did you enjoy most? OR Did (do) you like your secondary school life?

I enjoyed my secondary school education a lot. There is no one part that I liked more than the other. I liked the fact that our school had an equal focus on extra curricular and physical activities, and not just on the academics.

10. How do you feel about your high school (secondary school)?

I think that high school years were the wonder years and I miss those times.

11. Why did you choose to attend (= to go to) that particular school?

My parents chose my school for me. I think I was too young to decide on my own and my parents chose the best school for my siblings and me.

12. Which class did (do) you enjoy the most? (Why?)

I enjoyed all the school years a lot. However, there was a lot of excitement and a feeling of pride when

I got promoted from the primary wing of the school to the high school wing

122. Emails

1. Do you often write (or, send) emails?

No, I don’t often write/send emails. I sometimes write official emails, like for sending in a job application through email and sometimes I write to my friends.

2. What do you write about?

I sometimes I write official emails, like sending a job application. When I write to my friends or relatives, it is informal and I ask about their health and wellbeing and tell them about what’s going on in my life.

3. Do you think emails are useful?

Yes, I think that emails are very useful. Emails are convenient, timesaving, cost-effective and easy to send and receive. These days, emails are a good way to communicate for both formal and informal purposes.

4. What kinds of emails do you send and receive?

I mostly receive promotional or spam emails advertising various shopping websites or products. I sometimes receive emails from my friends who are living in another country and at times I receive official communication, e.g. emails from the bank or the Income Tax department.

5. Do you think it is a good thing that some companies send out letters/spam emails for the purpose of advertising?

I think sending spam emails for the purpose of advertising is a good marketing strategy and promotes a product or a service. However, it sometimes becomes a nuisance when it is sent repeatedly.

6. How often do you write letters?

I don’t write handwritten letters any more. If I need to, I send an email. All official and personal letters can be sent through emails now.

7. What do you write about?

It depends whom I am writing to. When I’m writing to my friends and relatives, it’s usually about what’s happening in my life and to ask about their wellbeing. When writing an official letter, it is for a specific purpose and it is formal.

8. On what occasions do you write letters?

I write letters very rarely and there are no specific occasions when I write them.

9. Do you like writing letters to your relatives and friends? (why/why not?)

Yes, I like writing to my relatives and friends, but I write emails or messages to them. I don’t write handwritten letters now.

10. 10.Do you and your friend keep in touch by (handwritten) letter?

No, I don’t stay in touch with my friends through handwritten letters. I text them or chat with them or send them an email.

11. 11.How do you keep in touch with your friends and relatives (by email, letter, by phone or by any other way)?

I stay in touch with my friends mostly through the online social media apps and websites, like Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, etc.

123. RAINY DAYS

1. Does it rain much in India? (Where? When?)

India is a diverse country with different climatic conditions in different regions. So there are some parts of India that receive a lot of rain, like Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, Amboli in Maharashtra, etc. Some places receive a lot of rainfall only during the monsoon season, like Mumbai, Chennai, Goa, etc.

2. Does it rain much in your hometown? (Include how often)

It doesn’t rain much in my hometown. It is only during the monsoon season, that is in the months from June to August that we receive some rainfall.

3. In what season does it rain the most? OR When (in what month/season) does it rain most in your hometown?

It rains the most in my hometown in the monsoon season, that is in the months from June to August.

4. What about the other parts of India? OR In which season does it rain most in other parts of India?

India has a varied terrain. In many parts of India, it mostly rains in the monsoon season. However, it also depends on the geographical location as it affects the rainfall in many regions.

5. Would you prefer to have, more rain or less rain (in your hometown)?

I would prefer to have more rain in my hometown. In the last few years, there has been a drastic change in the seasons and the summers get very hot. If there is more rainfall in the summers, there will be respite from the heat.

6. Do you like rainy days? OR How do you feel on rainy days? ORDo you feel sad on rainy days? I like rainy days in the summer season because the temperatures drop and we get respite from the summer heat. In winters I am not too happy when it rains, as it becomes very cold after it rains.

7. How does rain affect different people’s moods? OR How does rain affect people's lives? I think rains affect people’s moods when it restricts their activities or leads to a loss in the work or business. Some people feel happy when it rains as the weather becomes pleasant and people can enjoy hot beverages and fried snacks.

8. Do you prefer rainy days or sunny days?

I prefer rainy days in the summers and sunny days in the winter season. Rains give us respite from the heat in the summers and we can enjoy sitting out in the sun on a cold winter day.

9. What do you do on rainy days (or, on a rainy day)?

I enjoy hot beverages, like coffee and fried snacks like fritters and samosas on rainy days. It gives us an opportunity to stay at home with family and spend quality time with them.

10. What do you usually do when it rains (or, when it starts to rain) and you are outside?

If it rains when I am outside, I usually look for a café or a place where I can sit and enjoy coffee and some snacks.

11. Do you think rain is good? (Why?)

Yes, I think rains are good. Rains are important to maintain the ecosystem’s balance. Rains help with maintaining the groundwater levels. They make the dust settle down and help clean the environment. For agriculture-based economies, rains during the rainy season are very important for a good crop.

12. How does rain affect (life in) your country?

Agriculture is a major part of India’s economy and that is largely dependent on timely rains. So a lot of farmers depend on a good monsoon season for a good crop. Unseasonal rains can have an adverse affect on agriculture, as it can destroy crops. In places where there is water shortage, people depend on rains and save rain water in reservoirs.

13. Is there any part of India where it doesn't rain much? (Where?) OR Is there an even distribution of rain throughout India?

India is a diverse country with different climates in different parts. There are many parts in the east of India that experience a lot of rain throughout the year. In most parts of India, monsoon season is the time when most of the rainfall happens. In some western parts, like in the deserts of Rajasthan, there is very little rain. Sometimes some states experience droughts because of no rainfall for a very long period of time.

14. What effects can a shortage of rain (a drought) have on people's lives?

Droughts/Shortage of rain can have adverse effects on the livelihoods of many people, especially those who are dependent on agriculture. Sometimes people are forced to leave their hometowns due to water shortage and start afresh somewhere else and face hardships. Many people die each year in India and all over the world because of droughts.

15. Can you remember any time when it rained particularly heavily in your hometown? (When?)

Yes, I remember that during my childhood it used to rain continuously for days and the roads and parks got filled with water. We used to enjoy a lot playing in the rain and in the pools of water. This used to happen during the monsoon season. Now the amount of rainfall has reduced drastically due to climate change.

16. Does rain ever affect transportation in your hometown? (How?)

Yes, sometimes the rain affects the transportation. It is mostly on some roads where the drainage system is not good or when it is blocked. At such times the water logging happens on the roads and the movement of traffic is affected.

17. Do you think the seasons have changed in recent years, compared to the past? (Why? How?)

Yes, I think seasons have changed in the recent years because of global warming and the consequent climate change. The summers last longer and the winters are shorter. Also, the amount of rainfall during the monsoon season has reduced. Sometimes we hardly get any rains during the monsoon season.

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