A person who apologized to you

 Cue Card-20 

A person who apologized to you.

1. Who this person is?

- Friend in Canada.

2. When this happened?

- Not long ago.

3.  What was it for?

- Trusted someone else.

- Shouted at me.

4. Explain how you felt?

- I felt upset first.

- happy later when it was solved.

1. The person who apologized to me is a dear friend who lives in Canada.

2. This incident happened recently.

3. It was because he made the mistake of trusting someone else more than me and shouted at me when I was right. 

4. Initially I was hurt and upset but later I was happy that I got sorted out. 

Nobody is perfect all make mistakes but the best thing we can do after committing a mistake is admitting it and apologizing to people who may have been affected by it. I feel people always apologize, when the relationship holds more value than their ego and not to prove someone right or wrong. Not long ago, one such incident happened with me. My close friend who is in Canada, was very rude to me and blamed me for something I had not done. She made the mistake of believing someone who was not worth trusting and told me that I had lied to her, so I wanted to tell her that I would never speak to her again because I hate being blamed for things I don’t do. However, before I could tell her that she sent me a message, apologizing for her rudeness and not trusting me. She told me that she valued our friendship and would always be careful before trusting anyone without verifying the facts. I generally accept apologies and do not take time to forgive others. I decided to end the matter and continue our friendship as if nothing had happened. I feel, we should not hesitate or rethink before apologizing because it is not worth losing a relationship when it can be saved with an apology. We should always be ready to forgive and forget. 

Follow ups:

1. Is it important to say sorry? (I think, saying sorry is very important because if a person makes a mistake, an apology is the least that is expected from him/her.)

2. In what situations do people say sorry? (People say sorry when they hurt someone, fight, forget something important or break someone’s trust.)

3. Why do some people hate to say sorry? (A few people hate to say sorry because they feel apologizing is not worth compromising with their ego.)

4. In what situations should we apologize immediately? (In situations where we hurt someone, damage someone’s belongings etcetera we should be sorry immediately.)

5. When was the last time you found it hard to accept an apology? (I normally never find it hard to accept apologies because when I commit a mistake, I also expect people to forgive me. So, I easily forgive others.) 

Proverb: Forgive and Forget.

Meaning: We should forget the hurt and forgive the people who cause the hurt or pain. 

A person who apologized to you.

A place near water which you have visited

 Cue Card-19 

A place near water which you have visited. 

1. Where is it?

- Sukhna Lake

- Chandigarh 

2. What you did?

- Admired nature 

- Saw people

- Relaxed yourself 

3. Who you went with?

- Alone

4. Explain what you liked?

- Beauty of nature 

- Calm atmosphere 

1. The place near water that I visited is Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh.

2. I admired the sky and observed various people involved in different activities and relaxed myself. 

3. I had gone alone.

4. I loved the beauty of nature and the calm atmosphere. 

Being a nature a lover and a keen observer, I admire and contemplate the bounty of nature in all its manifestations like trees, grass, rivers, lakes, clouds, flowers, sunlight, animals and humans. I find these creations of the Almighty very fascinating. When I feel tired and fed up of the daily monotonous routine, I go to a beautiful lake called ‘Sukhna Lake’ in Chandigarh. It is a popular tourist attraction and a well known spot for all seeking an escape from the daily humdrum of life. Last week, I went alone to the lake to enjoy the beauty of nature. I entered the premises of the lake at about 5.00 pm. I saw people of all age groups and from different walks of life feeling happy, close to this wonder of nature. Some were following their fitness routine, others were eating, some were chatting but I was on a different mission. I was sitting alone and reflecting on this marvelous creation of the Almighty. The sky had clouds scattered around and they looked like little pieces of cotton which someone had carefully placed in the sky. A lot of people may have found the sky to be dull and gloomy but for me, it was an unusual kind of beauty. That is why they say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and every cloud has a silver lining. This visit was particularly memorable because it helped me to change my perspective on life. I started looking at everything from the view of finding something good in it. It has been an unforgettable visit and I am looking forward to many more in the future. 

Follow ups: 

1. Why do so many people like going to places near water such as lakes, rivers or oceans? (Many people like to go to places near water to relax and admire the beauty and charm of nature.)

2. Do you think children and old people do the same type of things when they go to beach? (No, I do not think children and old people do the same activities on a beach. Children love playing with sand and adults chit chat and relax.)

3. Do you think that human activity is posing a threat to the oceans of the world? (Humans are being very careless and irresponsible by treating water bodies as means of waste disposal. Human activities are causing water pollution which is very harmful for oceans and aquatic life.)

4. How important is water in people’s everyday lives? (Water is also called life. It is very important for our survival and day to day activities.)

Related Question: A memory you have related to nature.

A wedding you have been to. IELTS

 Cue Card-18 

A wedding you have been to.

1. When this happened?

- Recently 

- a month ago 

2. Whose wedding?

- First cousin brother’s wedding 

3. Who was with you?

- My whole family

4. Explain why you feel happy about it.

- Togetherness 

- Celebration 

- New beginning 

- New family member 

1. I attended a happy event about a month ago.

2. It was the marriage of my cousin.

3. My whole family was with me to celebrate this event. 

4. I felt very happy because we all of us were together in the grand celebration and a new member was added to the family and it was a new beginning for my cousin. 

Being a Punjabi Indian, I have the previlege of being invited to many big, fat punjabi wedding. In my culture, the union of two souls is celebrated with a lot of mirth and jubilation. Attending a wedding excites me and I plan my clothes and jewellery well in advance. I attended my first cousin’s wedding about a month ago. This was an awaited family event because all the others including the elders of the family were eagerly waiting for my cousin to find a match. When he finally found the right girl after a long wait, the entire household was ready to celebrate the beginning of another phase of his life. The marriage lasted for about five to six days with all small functions at home in which there was a small gathering and all grand ones in banquets. It was a destination wedding in Jaipur and everyone enjoyed it thoroughly in the pink city. Each One of us was dresses in extravagant beautiful attires looking happy and ready for the occasion. We kept singing traditional songs and danced enjoying every moment to the fullest. Every person present there enjoyed every aspect of the wedding ranging from food and decoration to photography. Some unique concepts were used in the marriage, a book was placed at the entrance for everyone to write messages for the couple and their photographs were being flashed on the screen. This whole event was full of life and bliss. The event justified its classification as a big, fat punjabi wedding and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am now looking forward to even greater fun at the wedding of my younger cousin which is coming soon. 

Follow ups:

1. How would you define happiness? (In my opinion, happiness is a state of mind in which an individual feels content with what the situation he is in.)

2. What kind of things make Indian people feel happy? (Marriages, birthdays, shopping, promotions etcetera are some of the many things which make Indians happy.)

3. Do you think people would be happy when they become richer? (I do not think that money can buy happiness, so according to me becoming richer may not make anyone happy.)

4. Why do some people say happiness never lasts long? (Some people think that happiness never lasts long because life is an alternating share of joy and pain and like all other things, happiness is also temporary.)

5. What kinds of things make people unhappy? (People can be unhappy due to many reasons. Some of them are bad health, failure in achieving desired objectives, deadlines, financial problems and problems in personal life.)

Related Question: Recent happy event. 

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

 Cue Card-17 

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

1. Where is it?

- Agra

2. When you visited 

- A year ago

3. What kind of pollution you saw there?

- Air pollution 

4. Explain how this place was affected?

- Marble was flaking 

1. I visited Agra which is affected by pollution.

2. I had gone there a year ago.

3. The pollution that I observed was air pollution.

4. The Mathura gas refinery which is near the Taj Mahal is causing discoloration of the Taj. 

Pollution refers to the addition of unwanted substances to the environment which degrade its quality. There are several kinds of pollution and due to the increased interference of man in nature, the level of pollution all over the globe is rising. The city that is a home to one of the wonders of the world is affected by air pollution. The fanous city of Agra, where the beautiful Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal is now bearing a burnt of man’s activities. The monument which is an attraction to tourists from every part of the world was built by Shah Jahan in pure white marble and is acclaimed for its lusture and grandeur. Sadly, due to the emissions from the Mathura gas refinery, which is at a distance of 50 km from the Taj, its is getting dirty white. The air of the surrounding areas is polluted by the smoke emitted by this oil refinery. The marble of the Taj is also flaking slowly and this is a matter of great concern as we cannot afford to let this historical monument, deteriorate. It is a proof of our rich, royal and beautiful past. Though the government is taking some steps towards saving this wonder but there is very little that can be done. Only the effect of pollution can be reduced but it cannot be eliminated. I feel that it is high time for us get some serious about various kinds of pollution and its effects so that preventive measures can be taken to curb it. 

Follow ups:

1. What kinds of pollution are serious in your country? (In my country, all kinds of pollution are present but air and water pollution have become the concerns.)

2. What can individuals do to protect our environment? (Individuals can do a lot to protect the environment. They can plant trees, ensure proper waste disposal and usage of eco- friendly products to protect the environment.)

3. Do you think individuals should be held responsible for pollution? (Yes, I believe that individuals are responsible for pollution because certain measures can only be taken by the authorities and individuals may not be effective in cases where legislations for environmental protection needs to be passed and enforced.)

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

Describe a program/application in your computer/phone.

 Cue Card-16 

Describe a program/application in your computer/phone. 

1. What the app is?

- WhatsApp 

2. When you started using it?

- 6 to 7 years ago

3. How you use it?

- On my phone

- Internet Connection

4. How you feel about it?

- Made life easy

- Better communication 

- Addictive

1. My favourite app is WhatsApp.

2. I started using it 6 to 7 years ago.

3. I use it daily on my phone with the help of an internet connection.

4. I feel it has made life a lot easier, allowed better communication but it is addictive. 

These days, science and technology are progressing by leaps and bounds and there are hundreds and thousands of applications which are the brainchild of computer experts. I also use many different applications like Facebook, Flipkart, Instagram, Wynk etcetera but my favourite will always be WhatsApp. It is a blessing and I think we all feel handicapped without it in our phones. It initially allowed chatting and exchanging pictures. However, with the passage of time many additions are being made. One can now send pictures with captions and even make audio calls. The option of video calling is yet to come. I think WhatsApp is the most commonly used application and is found in the phone of every individual. It helps people to connect with their loved ones, carry out businesses, people make groups to share ideas, beliefs, or send important information of common interest. I find this a marvelous creation and I will always use it. 

Follow ups: 

1. What kinds of apps do you have on your phone ?

- I have social networking, photo editing, shopping, music and banking apps on my phone. 

2. What are the drawbacks of having too many apps on your phone?

- There are several drawbacks of having too many apps like the phone can get hanged, too much memory gets used and many updates have to be done from time to time.

3. How much time do you spend on these apps everyday?

- I spend almost two hours on these apps each day and on days that I have holidays, I spend even more time. 

4. Do you like to look for new apps or do you just keep using old ones?

- I am not very fond of looking for new apps but if someone suggests an app to me and I feel it is of my use then I download it. 

Related Question: An app that you have recently started using. 

A time when the weather changed your plan cue card

 Cue Card-15 

A time when the weather changed your plan.

• When this happened?

• What kind of weather was it?

• Explain why you could not finish the planned activity?

• What you did at the end? 

1. On my younger cousin’s birthday weather changed my plan.

2. At about 10am it started raining very heavily.

3. Our picnic got canccelled because the rain did not show any mercy. 

4. Finally, we celebrated her birthday by ordering food, requesting our neighbours to join us and playing indoor games.

Due to the increased interference of man in nature, the patterns of weather are undergoing an erratic change. Unexpected and unsystematic season cycles are have become common. A recent plan that I had with my cousins was a fiasco. It was the birthday of my younger cousin when we decided to go for a picnic and celebrate it. We got everything ready the previous night. Everyone was so thrilled that the lengthy discussions about what we would do the following day carried on till late night. At about 10am we decided to leave for the fun filled day we had planned, when we were getting ready to leave the heavens opened up. We thought that it will stop raining in sometime but Mother Nature had other plans in store and the downpour only got heavier. Everyone was disappointed so we decided to celebrate the birthday at home with the same enthusiasm. We prepared some snacks, called some of our neighbours, played board games, cards and watched a movie on television. Though we were upset intially but later, it turned out to be a fulfilled day and probably we enjoyed more than what we may had enjoyed at the picnic, the neighbours who joined us added to the fun. It was a memorable day and the birthday girl was also very happy. 

Follow ups:

1. Where can people get weather reports?(People can get weather reports from newspapers, applications on mobile phones, websites and television news.)

2. How do weather reports affect people’s life? (Weather reports affect people’s holidays, travel plans. They also affect everyday decisions like washing clothes etc.)

3. What do people do on rainy days and sunny days? (On sunny days people generally wear light cotton clothes, use sunglasses, hats etcetera to protect themselves against the sun’s heat but on rainy days they use raincoats, colourful umbrellas. On rainy days people prefer to remain confined to their homes and on sunny days people don’t hesitate to venture out.)

4. Has climate affected your country? (Like every other part of the world, my country too has been affected by unexpected climate changes. Human interferences with the balance of nature is the primary reason for erratic climatic conditions.)

5. Does weather affect your mood? (Yes weather affect my mood, on sunny days, I feel lively and energetic on cloudy days, I feel sad and gloomy.) 

A time when the weather changed your plan.

Time when you helped someone cue card

 Cue Card-14. 

Q. When you helped someone.

• What was the situation?

• Who was the person?

• How you helped him/her?

• Explain how you felt after helping the person?

1. I helped a poor woman and her baby in an evening when it was raining heavily.

2. They were strangers to me; I saw them near my house. 

3. I provided them food, some warm clothes and shelter.

4. I felt happy and content that I was of use to someone. 

Man is a social animal and we cannot live alone. We should always help everyone we can. There have been many instances when I helped people but I am about to relate one which happened not too long ago. It was a friday evening when it was raining cats and dogs that I saw a woman carrying a little baby and shivering in the cold. She had covered her baby with a torn shawl and the child was howling. This situation depressed me and I felt a deep urge to help. I directed her towards my house and made them comfortable in a room that we had for our helpers. I handed over some clothes to the woman and gave her tea to warm her body and milk for the body. Later, that night after everyone had dinner, my mother and I spoke to the poor woman that the woman was a parent and was abandoned by her husband. We decided to keep them with us to help in household chores and we could give them shelter, food and also send the girl to school. When my mother proposed this to the lady, she had tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. That moment made me realise now a helping hand gives rise to such emotions in humans. I felt so thankful for all. I have and realised how tough life can be for certain people. I felt very happy and joyful that I was able to help a person and her daughter. It gave me contentment and also taught me a lesson to help the needy in any possible manner. 

Follow ups:

1. Do you like helping others? (Yes, my parents and teachers have taught me that we must help others.)

2. In your view should children be taught to help others? (In my opinion, children should be taught to help others keeping in mind that they may also need someone’s help in future.)

3. How can we encourage children to help others? (Children can be encouraged to extend help by asking them to help their parents in daily chores, helping old people by bringing things for them etcetera.)

4. Do you think people are less willing to help others these days? (These days we have become materialistic and self-centred and as compared to the past people are more hesitant in extending help to others.)

5. How can charitable organizations help people? (Charitable organizations can help people by raising funds for food, education, shelter, clothing, medicine etcetera.)

6. What are some examples of such organizations in your country? (The examples of charitable organizations in India are Missionaries of charity, MAD (Make a difference), Retract.

Cue card special place you would like to visit in future.

 Cue Card-13

Describe a special place you would like to visit in future.

• Where is this place?

• Who would you like to go with?

• What would you do there?

• Explain why this would be a special trip? 

1. I would like to go to a hill station called Khajjiar, it is known as the Switzerland of India.

2. I want to go there with my friends as none of us has been there.

3. I would enjoy and admire nature, visit some tourist attractions like the lake and the pine forests.

4. It would be a very special trip as I am longing for pleasant weather and good company. 

Today everyone has a very tight schedule and stuck in their professions and end up being a participant in the rat race for money and professional glory. A  short trip is good way of taking a break from daily routine and rejuvenating. I am keen traveller but I am a student and I haven’t had the chance to visit many places. I have visited very few places in India and sadly none abroad. Before going abroad, I want to visit all places in India and I would like to begin with Khajjiar, the Switzerland of India in Himachal Pradesh. I have heard a lot about its beauty and charm. It is situated in foothills of the Dhauladhar range of the Western Himalayas. It has a beautiful lake led by streams originating from the mountains. It is a unique ecosystem comprising of a lake, pastures and evergreen forests. I have read about it in books, seen it in some movies and heard a lot about it from friends and relatives who have been there. It is an hour away from Dalhousie. There are a couple of private hotels in Khajjiar but the preferred choices of accommodation for tourists are a hotel and colleges managed by the Himachal Pradesh Tourism department. Dense Deodar and Pine trees of the Dhauladhar range along with lush green meadows make Khajjiar one of the other 160 places in the world which resemble Switzerland. The best sources of entertainment in Khajjiar are walk around the picturesque lake and trekking in the thick pine forests. Children like this place because they get freedom of movement, they can roll down the grass covered slopes without the fear of getting hurt. Horse riding is another famous activity. There have been times when we have planned a trip to Khajjiar but we could not execute any of those plans. I hope something materializes soon. 

Follow ups: 

1. Are there any special places for visiting in India? (There are many special places worth visiting in. Some places are famous for natural beauty, temples, monuments and buildings. Others are famous for food, clothing, art, music etcetera.)

2. Do Indian people like to travel abroad? (Yes, Indian people like to travel abroad for vacations, business or study.)

3. How can people benefit from travelling? (There are many advantages of travelling like attaining knowledge of places, understanding reigonal and cultural diversity. Widening our social circle by meeting new people is also one of the many advantages of travelling.)

4. Do you like to travel on your own or with your family? (I am solitary and peace loving person. I prefer to travel alone and do what I want when I visit new places.)

5. Do you like to visit popular places or less-known places? (I like to travel, so I visit any place that is new for me and its popularity really has no significance.)

Related Questions: A short vacation you would like. OR A trip with your friends. 

Favourite festival cue card IELTS

 Cue Card-12 

Favourite festival 

• Which festival is it?

• When is it celebrated?

• Why is it celebrated?

• Explain why you like it?

1. My favourite festival is Baisakhi.

2. It is celebrated in the month of April.

3. It is celebrated as the festival of harvest and marks the beginning of the Sikhs’ New Year.

4. I love this festival because people wear colourful clothes and there is celebration all around with a lot of happiness. 

Incredible India is a land of Unity in Diversity, where people of various religions and cultures live together. There is hardly any month in India which has no festival. Festivals are of varied nature and have their own significance. Some festivals are celebrated to mark the change of seasons, some have a historical or religions value and some are national festival. I love all festivals but my favourite is Baisakhi. It is celebrated on the 13th of April every year and is better known as the harvest festival but also mark the beginning of the Sikh New Year and the remembrance of laying of the foundation of Khalsa by the 10th Guru of Sikhs, Shri Guru Gobind Singh. People visit Gurudwara the holy Temple of Sikhs. Farmers offer prayers thanking God for the abundant harvest of the year which passed and seeking blessings of the year ahead. People dress in colourful costumes and they perform the traditional dance, Bhangra. Some gather in groups and sing songs along with playing drums. There is great mirth and jubilation on each face. People of all age groups zealously take part in the celebrations. To conclude, I would say that people should involve in celebrations as it strengthens bonds among masses and also keeps them connected to their roots. 

Follow ups:

1. Do you have traditional dresses in your country? (India is home to people from many cultures. Traditional dresses vary from culture to culture and reigon to reigon. For example, in Punjab ‘Salwar Kameez’ is the traditional dress for women and ‘Kurta Pyjama’ for men.)

2. Do you think traditions would be lost in the future? (I think may be lost in future because of our inclination and liking to Western Culture. We are adapting to Western culture on a scale which may make us forget our original traditions.)

3. Should young people celebrate traditional festivals? (In my opinion, young people should celebrate festivals so that they become familiar with their importance and pass it to the future generations.)

4. Are there any drawbacks of celebration of festivals? (There are some problems associated with the celebration of festivals at times people get carried away in celebrations and indulge in excessive consumption of alcohol and use gambling as a source of celebration. Noise pollution, air pollution, wastage of resources like electricity and water are other drawbacks of uncontrolled festive celebrations.)

Describe a perfect job you would like to do in future.

 Cue Card: 11

Describe a perfect job you would like to do in future.

• What is it?

• How you can get this job?

• What kinds of things you would do for this job?

• Why do you want to do it? 

1. The job which I like to do is of HR Manager.

2. After completing a degree in Human resources, I can get the job.

3. I am working very hard to achieve this job.

4. I want this job because I really like managing Human resources and feel that I can do really well in such a role. 

The desire to succeed is inherent in every individual. All people work to make ends meet. It is natural to want more and better and my parents and teachers have taught me to aim higher. I aspire to become a human resource manager of a reputed company abroad. I made this my goal about 2 years ago when my aunt who lives in Canada visited us. I always had an interest in dealing with people as I usually like to interact and know individuals. Also, my aunt suggested this to me because she has known me for many years now. As per her experience the role of an HR manager is very fulfilling and satisfying. Human resources are the most valuable asset of all organisations and there is a lot of development in this field. I hope I am able to fulfill my desire of getting into this job soon I am making very possible effort to make it come true. 

Follow ups:

1. What kinds of jobs are unpopular in India? (Some jobs like babysitting, old age care-taking which are unpopular in India.)

2. Why do many young adults keep changing their jobs? (Many young adults keep changing their jobs due to availability of better opportunities, growing monotony with a particular job and dissatisfaction with salary.)

3. How to find a perfect job? (I think, there is no way to find what we call a perfect job but choosing our passion as a profession, is an effective way of achieving job satisfaction.)

4. Would you ask your parents for advise about work? (I would like to ask my parents to advise me about my work because I know that they will never give me wrong advice and they know what suits me.)

5. Would you like to apply for challenging jobs or common jobs? (I would like to apply for uncommon and challenging jobs as I like to take up challenges and do things which are out of the ordinary.)

6. Would you like to work abroad? (I have always had this desire to work abroad and I am trying my best to make it come true.)

Related Question: Future goal

A person elder to you whom you admire cue card

 Cue Card-10

A person elder to you whom you admire

1. Who this person is?

- My Mother

2. What you do together?

- We do many things together 

- Walks, movies

3. How you feel about this person?

- She is a woman of courage 

- I feel indebted to her for all that she is to me.

1. The elder person who I admire is my mother. 

2. We do many things together like walking, watching movies etcetera.

3. I feel she is a courageous woman and I owe a lot of what I am today to her. 

It is rightly said, ‘The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.’ My favourite person and someone whom I admire and appreciate a lot is my mother. She is an epitome of love, compassion, simplicity and sacrifice. Teaching me the basic things like walking, talking and complex skills of decision making and handling the pressures of adult life, she has been an instrumental person in my life. She is a beautiful person inside out and always displays great elegance and confidence. I am indebted to her for teaching me some very important values. She is someone who never gets tired of doing good. She has been with me on every step no matter how tough a situation I face in my life, she always gives me comfort and helps me to be the best of me. She never hesitate to sacrifice to make her family happy and peaceful. Taking care of all the sorts of needs of each one of us, she even listen to us when we lose our temper and forgives our mistakes. She has never been judgemental about me even when I have committed big blunders. I lover her a lot for her strength and courage. I always have one surety that she is my mentor and guide. I am grateful to god for giving me the opportunity to be her child and I will always try to be like her. I wish God gives her good health and happiness throughout her life. 

Followups:

1. What kind of activities do old people like to do these days? (Old people like to go for walks, join clubs, meditate and perform yoga.)

2. Why do some old people only remember happy things? (Some old people remember only happy things because recalling unpleasant and bad things makes them sad.)

3. Why do young people like to ask about the past of old people? (Young people can learn, morals, ways to handle tough situations and a lot of other life skills from old people.)

4. Do you think old people enjoy their life more these days as compared to the past? (I think old people enjoyed their life more in the past as life was simple, everyone stayed together and everyone had a lot of time for her family and relatives but nowadays old people feel lonely as their children are busy and do not have time for them.)

Related Question: Favourite family member OR A person who inspires you. 

An advertisement you like Cue Card

 Cue Card-9

An advertisement you like

1. Which advertisement it is?

- Kit-Kat

- Dancing

- Nestle

2. Who is featured in it?

- Group of babies

- Hardworking doctor 

3. Why do you like it?

- Cute, simple, short

- Genuine 

1. My favourite advertisement is the dancing babies kit-kat chocolate by Nestle India.

2. A group of dancing babies and a hard-working doctor are featured in this advertisement.

3. I like it because it is cute, simple and genuine. 

An advertisement is an audio or visual form of marketing communication that employs a openly sponsored, non personal message to promote or sell a product, service or an idea. There are several mediums of advertisement like newspapers, radio, television, hoardings and many more. The most appealing, recent advertisement that I like is the dancing babie’s advertisement for the kit-kat chocolate by Nestle. I have seen this being flashed on several channels and I have started liking it so much so that I even watch it on YouTube sometimes. For this advertisement, kit-kat in India has taken a page from the playback Evian Roller babies to create this advert which has already been viewed by 2.7 million people, just a couple of weeks after its release. In this ad, a hardworking doctor takes a kit-kat break during his work shift. Thus, the tagline gains more meaning ‘Have a break, Have a kit-kat’. While he is relishing his kit-kat bar, he notices a room full of babies who break into a dance and they keep dancing unaffected. It is my favourite because I find the dancing babies adorable and they make me feel that it is important to remain stress-free and of course the way the doctors peels the wrapper and munches the chocolate, tempts everyone to take a kit-kat break. All in all, more of such adverts that captivate a viewer’s attention and are simple, short and genuine should be encouraged in the market.

Followups: 

1. Why advertisement is necessary?

- It is important to make customers aware about the products available in the market and also to boost the sales.

2. What are the different ways of advertisement?

- Advertisements are done through newspapers, radio, hoardings, television etcetera.

3. Do you think advertisements mislead consumers? 

- I definitely feel that advertisements sometimes mislead consumers about the qualities of the product. However, this is not always true. 

An occasion when you got up extremely early.

 Cue Card-8 

An occasion when you got up extremely early. 

OR 

A time when you got up early. 

1. When did this happen?

- Few days ago. 

2. Why you got up early?

- Heard a loud noise

- Few were crying

3. Who were you with?

- Alone in my room

4. How did you feel?

- Confused initially

- very upset and restless

- throughout the day 

1. It was only a few days ago that I got up unusually early at around 4am.

2. I got up when I heard a very loud noise of people crying.

3. I was alone in my room and my parents were there in their own room.

4. I was initially confused as to where the noise came from but when I found out about the death in the neighbourhood, I was upset and restless. 

I have heard the saying early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. However, after making multiple attempts to follow this saying, I am unable to get up early in the morning. I am only able to do so in exceptional cases, otherwise I am not an early morning bird. Few days ago, I heard a blaring noise at around 4 a.m. and I have a very strong hearing ability and even the slightest of sounds do not escape my ears. I got up to check the source of sound. When I looked out of the window to figure out the source, I could not really make out because I was very sleepy. The noise got louder and it seemed like people were mourning a death. My guess was right an old man in the neighbourhood who had been suffering from a severe heart condition and many such issues for almost 2 weeks had passed away. He was the most helpful person in the locality and was loved by his family and every living person or animal in the neighbourhood. His demise was very sad for me because I was dearly attached to him. He always gave me a candy whenever I greeted him and he wore a very positive and radiating smile. I woke up my parents as they had not heard the noise.  Their bedroom is on the other side of the house. They instantly rushed to the house next door. I was unable to sleep and the whole day I was upset. I realized life is very uncertain and everything is transitory. To conclude, the demise of the beloved old man made me realize the truth the we only leave footprints in the sands of time like he did. We should do live ethically and be remembered for good. 

Followups: 

1. Who usually gets up early- young people or old people? (It is more common to see old people getting up earlier than young people as old people generally go to bed earlier than youngsters.)

2. Does working late night influence the next day’s work? (Yes, working late night influences the next day’s work as due to lack of sleep we feel tired throughout the next day which decreases our efficiency.)

3. Do young Indians sleep late night? (Mostly young Indians sleep late at night because they either spend a lot of time surfing the internet or talking over the phone. Some even watch late night movies or roam with friends.)

4. Is it easy for you to get up early? (I am not habitual of getting up early and it is not an easy task for me. I only do it when I have no choice.)

5. What do you do to guarantee a good sleep? (To guarantee a good sleep, I ensure that I do not do anything unethical intentionally and I also try to complete all the tasks planned for the day to avoid any stress in my sleep.)

6. Can you sleep well if there is noise around? (No, I am unable to sleep in a noisy environment.)

Proverb: Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

Meaning: One should sleep early and wake up early to keep fit, and live a good life. 

Importance of Colours Cue Card

 Cue Card-7 

Importance of Colours 

1. What colours meant to you? 

- Also called hues

- Significant part of life 

2. What do they symbolize?

- Red: love, danger

- Green: prosperity, greenery

- White: peace and purity

3. How they affect mood?

- Dark: energetic, happy

- Dull: Sad, upset

1. Colours are also called hues and they are an important part of life. 

2. Different Colours depict different things. Red is the colour of love, danger and also fertility, that is why, it is preferred for wedding garments.

3. Colours have an impact on mood like bright colours make one feel happy and energetic, whereas dull ones make one sad, upset and gloomy. 

Colours are also called hues. They are ccategorized into primary and secondary types. Life without colours is dull, meaningless and lacks excitement. Colours are very important because of the beauty, vitality and vigour that they add to our existence. Nature is painted in various colours. Every colour has some or the other significance or it incites some emotion. Green is the colour of nature and it represents prosperity. It also forms the last band of our national flag. The associations and meanings of colours vary from culture to culture. For example, white is associated with death and mourning in one culture or religion, whereas it is the colour of bride’s dress among Christians, universally, it represents purity and peace. Red, for instance, symbolises love and danger, one colour can depict opposite things and emotions. Red is also considered auspicious for certain occasions and hence chosen as a dress for brides in most Indian religions, while in the corporate world, Red is used to highlight poor performance. Colours help to facilitate and fulfill some basic human needs like identify and specify necessary objects. Sometimes colours are also related to gender stereotypes like blue colour is normally associated with men, whereas pink is invariably every lady’s favourite. Colours are so important that they are often taught to children as early as possible and they even affect the mood of individuals. Bright or eye catching colours are a happy sight. They send energy across the body and add mirth to one’s life. Light colours are often better suited for older age groups and preferred by people during summers because they are good reflectors of heat. Some colours are linked to evil or even bad omens for instance, black is the colour of the popularly known “black magic”. All in all, colours are vital to human existence for a variety of reasons and are a part and parcel of our lives. Without them, our lives would be dull and gloomy.

Followups: 

1. Why do we think colours are important? (Colours are very important for man’s existence as without colours, we will find it difficult to differentiate between things.)

2. What is your favourite colour and why? (My favourite colour is white as it is the symbol of peace and purity and suits my personality.)

3. Are there any colours which are considered as bad or inauspicious in your country? (Normally, black is considered inauspicious as brides are not allowed to wear it for a year after marriage. It also has other evil association like black magic etcetera.)

A meal with your friends cue card

 Cue Card-6 

A meal with your friends 

1. When it happened?

- Recently 

2. Where it happened?

- Spices

- Sector 35 Chandigarh 

3. Who you were with?

- 5 of my friends 

4. How did you feel?

- Happy

- Satisfied 

1. I recently went with my friends for dinner.

2. We went to a fine dining restaurant in sector-35 called ‘Spices’.

3. I went with my five close friends.

4. I felt happy spending time with them and the food and services were also satisfying.

I believe that books and friends should be low in quantity but high in quality. I have some close friends who are like family to me. I stay away from home and their company is a source of happiness. We go out to see movies, sip coffee and have our meals together when possible. Recently, I went with my friends to a restaurant to celebrate the birthday of one of my friends, we went to sector-35 to a place called “Spices”. It is a multi cuisine restaurant and there were 6 of us. It had beautiful ambience and very sumptuous food. We ordered some snacks, drinks and later, the main course everything was more delicious than expected. The entire staff was very courteous. They served us well with a smile on their faces. The food was well-prepared and served in a beautiful crockery. We had a wonderful time. We clicked many photographs, cut a creamy birthday cake and conversed with each other for hours. Before leaving, we complimented the staff for their amazing services and told them to keep up the good work. To conclude, I would say, I loved this place and would suggest all my friends and family to visit it atleast once. 

Followups:

1. Do Indian people like to eat at home? (Yes, Indian people like to eat traditional food cooked at home and occasionally eat out.)

2. How often do Indian people eat out? (It differs from person to person but mostly Indians prefer to eat out on occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or an outing with friends and family.)

3. Why do some people like to eat alone? (Some people like eating alone because they want some time for themselves with no company.)

4. Are there any disadvantages of eating outside? (There are some problems of eating out like high cost and at times very oily, unhygienic and fattening food is served.)

5. What is the difference between having meals at home and in a restaurant? (The differences between having meals at home and in a restaurant are that spices and condiments can be added according to taste at home and homemade food is more economical than the food at restaurants. Besides, food cooked at home is more fresh and hygienic.)

6. Why do some people keep eating unhealthy food even if they already know the harm? (People continue to eat unhealthy food despite being aware of the harm because of lack of time and limited choices for a quick meal.)

Related Question: An outing with your friends. 

Proverb: A friend in need is a friend in deed.

Meaning: A person who helps at the time of need is a true friend. 

Describe an activity you do to keep fit.

 Cue Card- 5

Describe an activity you do to keep fit. 

1. What the activity is?

- Aerobics

2. When and where you usually do it?

- Every evening 

- joined a class near my house

3. Explain why it keeps you fit?

- Reduces weight 

- Mentally fresh

- Infuses energy

1. To keep fit, I do aerobics daily.

2. Every evening, I go for a class near my house.

3. It has helped me to reduce weight, and feel fresh and energetic. 

Health is wealth, it is important for us to stay healthy. A person who remains unwell or is not fit is unable to do anything efficiently. Though I have a very hectic and busy schedule but I manage some time for my health. My parents and friends are very health-conscious so I get a lot of encouragement to keep fit. Owing to my in disciplined eating habits, I had started gaining weight which made me feel very awkward. Then I decided to join an evening aerobics class to add physical activity to my day to routine which was otherwise deprived of physical work. Aerobics keep me fit and happy. I go to my Aerobics session with a group of friends and it gives us a lot of joy because we get to spend time with each other and talk about our day. My aerobics class is about 75 minutes long, these 75 minutes of the day make me feel happy and energetic. I don’t miss my aerobics session because it is an important part of my daily routine and I feel contented when I work out. It is also serve as a good stress buster. I think Aerobics are the best way of getting rid of those extra kilos. Aerobics sessions are entertaining and effective. I would suggest everyone to do this activity. 

Followups: 

1. What do old people in your country do to keep fit? (The old people in my country walk and do yoga with some other kind of indoor exercise, they also care of their diet.)

2. What kinds of sports are popular in India? (India hasca diverse population playing many different sports. Cricket is the most popular sport in India. Other sports like football, hockey, badminton, volleyball are also played.)

3. Do you think young people should play dangerous sports? (I do not think that participation of young people in dangerous sports is worth the high risk of serious injuries which may also turn out to be fatal.)

4. What else people can do to keep fit besides sports? (People can meditate, avoid stress and ensure a healthy, balanced diet to keep fit.)

5. What can parents do to make their children like sports? (Parents can emphasize on the advantages of sports and encourage their children to participate in games so that they develop a liking in sports.)

Proverbs:

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Meaning: Without time off from work/study we get bored and become boring.

Health is wealth.

Meaning: Good health is the most prized possession of a human being.

Describe one of your best friends.

 Cue Card-4 

Describe one of your best friends

1. Who is that person?/ Who this person is?

- Amrit

2. How you became friends?

- Met in College 

3. What things you do?

- Go for movies

- Go for vacations 

- Mostly together 

4. Explain why he or she is your best friend?

- Understanding 

- Supportive 

- Helpful 

• My best friend’s name is Amrit.

• She became my friend when I met her in college.

• We are mostly together, going for movies, vacations or needs.

• I think, she is my best friend because she understands me and is supportive and helpful. 

Friendship is not an opportunity but a sweet responsibility. I believe that books and friends should be good and few. I have never had many friends and I would like to talk about my best friend, Amrit. She is a beautiful person inside, out and she has always been with me through the thick and thin of my life. I can never thank her enough for being a pillar of strength for me. Although our friendship of four years has had some dark days but I am sure that though days have had no effects on the bond we share. Together we have made many memories, been there for each other when there was no one else. We have been out to shop, watch movies and plan trips to the hills. I know for sure that she is one person who will never been judgement about me. With her, I do not have to think of what I say. I can be myself and be sure for her constant support and help. I am awestruck at the amount of faith and trust she places in me because I feel that to be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved. She has never failed at illuminating my dark times and has always made me feel that though I am away from home, I have another home and family. I wish and pray that we share this bond for our lives and always stand by each other in hours of need and that God also blesses others with a friend like her. 

Followups:

1. How do people in your country make friends these days? People in my country make friends through social networking sites or other applications like WhatsApp, Instagram etcetera. Some may meet new people in gardens or parks and make friends.

2. Do you trust friends that meet on the internet? I do not feel that making friends on various websites is reliable. I do not trust people who are acquainted through the internet.)

3. How do you get along with people you don’t like? (I stay neutral towards people who I don't like. I indulge in limited conversations with them.)

4. Why is it hard to maintain friendships for some people? (Ego and taking friends for granted are the main reasons for the inability of some people to maintain friendship.)

5. Would you only make friends with people who are similar to you? (I generally make friends with people similar to me because it is easier to get along likeminded people.)

6. Do you like to have many friends? (I believe that books and friends should be high on quality and low in quantity. So, I don’t have many friends but the few I have are very good.) 

Related Questions: Childhood friend OR A person you like spending time with. 

An incident where you forgot something important

Cue Card-3 

An incident where you forgot something important. 

1. When was it? 

- 4 years ago

2. What did you forget?

- Admission 

- Younger sister

3. What was the result?

- Seat given to someone else 

4. How did you feel?

- Upset

- Angry

1. I made the mistake of forgetting something four years ago.

2. I forgot to deposit my sister’s admission fee.

3. She was to begin school and her seat was given to someone else.

4. I was upset and angered with myself at the way I had been careless and forgetful.

To err is human. No one is perfect and I too make mistakes. I remember it was 4 years ago when my youngest sister was begin to school that my parents entrusted me with the responsibility of depositing the fees in her school as they had to go out of town due to an unexpected death in the family. I was sure that I would remember and be able to do so but sadly on the day of deposit, I totally forgot. It was in the late afternoon that I realized about the same. I felt so upset and angered with myself that because of my carelessness, my little sister would suffer as this was the best school for girls in my town. However, after a lot of efforts, we were able to secure the seat back for her. Though I had gone several times and so did my parents to speak to the principal and request her but she refused and bluntly said that rules were same for all. Finally, by the grace of God, someone who knew the principal spoke to her and managed to get my sister’s admission done. My parents did not scold me but only told me to learn my lesson. I learnt it the very same day and till today, I make it a point to write or a set a reminder so that I do not commit the same mistake again. 

Followups:

1. What do people do to remember things?

- People normally write the things that they need to remember or use alarms and reminders on their phones. 

2. Why do old people forget things easily?

- Yes, they find it difficult to remember things because growing age makes the memory weak in most people and they are unable to retain most things. 

3. What kind of things can people do to prevent a bad memory?

- In India, people eat almonds but one can also avoid the excessive use of phones or other electronic gadgets to avoid bad memory. 

4. Do you think memory is important while learning a language?

- Undoubtedly, like for all other things, memory is also important to learn a language, if you are a forgetful person other then learning a language will be challenging.

Related Question: An appointment you forgot. 

Describe a method that helps you save money

 Cue Card - 2 

Describe a method that helps you save money.

1. What method?

- Recurring deposit

2. When you started?

- 3 years ago

3. How you knew it?

- My mother told me

- Aunt in neighbourhood 

4. Explain its helpfulness.

- Saves money for emergency 

- Proper rate of interest 

1. I save money in a recurring deposit account in the post office.

2. I started this practice 3 years ago.

3. My aunt in the neighbourhood works in a post office so, my mother suggested this to me.

4. It is very useful as it helps me to save money for tough times and rate of interest is appropriate, so it is like an investment. 

Money is the most desirable commodity and it brings a smile to every face and gleam to every eye. People put in a lot of effort to earn money. And in today’s world, maximum emphasis is laid on money. Tough I am spendthrift and a shopaholic but I have sure that I save some amount of money for bad times. Whenever I get my pocket money, I make a list of few things I need to spend my money on in a particular month and buy them. Every month, I deposit a part of my pocket money in my recurring deposit account at the post office. This idea was given to me by my mother. A lady in our neighborhood who works at the post office completes the monthly deposit procedure for me. The rate of interest is also good and I have been following this for about three to four years. When my deposit matures, I re-deposit the entire amount and continue the cycle. In this way, I have been able to save a substantial amount of money. And I feel one should be encouraged to save from childhood because tough financial times are unpredictable. To conclude, I would say that for financial security money should be spent wisely and saved generously.

Follow ups:

1. What can parents do to teach children to save money? (Parents can buy children piggy banks to encourage them to form a habit of saving money.)

2. Why do young people tend to waste money? (Akk Young people are not wise or experienced enough to spend money judiciously. So they spend extra money on unnecessary things.)

3. What kinds of things people like to buy in your country? (People in India like to buy a wide variety of things. Women generally spend money to buy clothes and jewellery. Men may like to buy vehicles and children prefer toys.)

4. Do schools in India teach anything about financial management? (I do not think so because as far as I know, no school in India has generic lessons on financial management. Such lessons are restricted to students who choose to study commerce after 10th grade.) 

5. Why is it necessay to teach teenagers to manage money? (It is necessary to teach money management to teenagers because if they are not taught at this age, they may find it difficult to manage their finances later in their life.)

6. How do parents give pocket money in your country? (It varies from family to family. Some parents prefer giving a weekly or montly pocket money to their children, while others give it as and when needed.)

A news reporter you would like to meet.

 Cue Card - 1

A news reporter you would like to meet.

1. Who is it?

- Barkha Dutt

2. How do you know him/her?

- Columnist in Hindustan Times 

- TV show  We the people

- News anchor

3. Why do you like him/her?

- Confident 

- Graceful, elegant

- Well-educated 

India has had many great people from time to time. There are a few personalities who leave indelible footprints in our hearts and they influence us in several ways. The person I truly admire and appreciate is Barkha Dutt who is an Indian television journalist and columnist. I have read several articles written by her in the widely read newspaper, Hindistan Times. She is the host of my favourite TV serial and award-winning, weekly serial ‘We The People’ as well as the daily prime time show, ‘The Buck Stops Here’. She emerged as a prominent figure post her reporting of the Kargil war in 1999. She has to her credit books named the Uniquet Land, Gujrat: The making of a tragedy. She is also the recipient of the Padma Shri for her excellent work. I am inspired by her confidence, elegance and grace. She is a woman par excellence who is an inspiration to many others especially me. Her strong and charismatic disposition makes all her viewers get impressed. All in all, she is a woman who I respect and admire in all respects and would surely want to meet one day. 

Follow ups:

1. What type of people can be seen on TV?

- All kinds of people whether politicians, doctors, priests, astrologers or dieticians can be seen on TV. 

2. Do you think there is too much news about celebrities? 

- Yes, I feel celebrities are excessively flashed on news channels so much so that they lose their privacy. 

3. Do you think negative information shown in the news can have a negative influence on people?

- Definitely, I think that there is major negative influence on people by showing such things on television like crime being committed, or fear of terror attacks, etcetera.

Related Questions:

- Favourite personality 

- Favourite person on television 

- A person you admire