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.

 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.