Cue card A news reporter you would like to meet.

 Cue Card-43

A news reporter you would like to meet.

• Who is it? // How do you know him/her? // Why do you like him/her?

The news reporter I would like to meet is Barkha Dutt. // She is a columnist in the Hindustan Times and a journalist and news anchor for NDTV. // I like her because of her confidence and also because she is graceful, elegant and 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 popular newspaper, Hindustan Times. She is the host of my favourite TV show and the award winning weekly show, ‘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 Unquiet 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 impresses the viewers. She is a woman who I respect and admire and would surely want to meer her one day. 

Follow ups:

1. What type of people can be seen on TV? (All kinds of people like 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 to an extent that they lose their privacy.)

3. Do you think negative information shown in the news can have a negative influence on people? (I think that a negative influence is cast on people when things like crime and fear of terror attacks are hyped in news.)

Related Question: Favourite personality OR Favourite person on television OR A person you admire

Cue card Visit to a hill station ielts speaking cue card

 Cue Card-42

Visit to a hill station 

• Where did you go? // Who were you with? // When did you go? // How was your experience?

I went to Shimla, which is the “queen of hills” in Himachal Pradesh. // I had gone with friends. // I went in the mid of August. // The experience was pleasant, we all had fun and it was a very memorable time. 

I am fond of travelling but being a student, I have never had enough time to visit different places. However, it was near Independence Day that we had a three-day off and my friends and I went to Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. We begun our journey in the afternoon and by the evening, we were there. I enjoyed each and every step of the way. The scenic beauty was mesmerizing and mind-blowing. We stopped several times along the way to click pictures. The weather was a wonderful escape from the scorching heat of the plains. Our three days' trip brought us really close to each other and gave us memories that we will cherish for life. We went to the famous Mall Road, visited the Christ Church and rode horses. We went to the institute of advanced studies which is a famous monolithic structure. We also had coffee in a newly opened coffee shop with friends. This rejuvenating trip to Shimla gave me very fond memories which I will recall them when I am sad and I am sure, they will make me smile. 

Follow ups:

1. What are the advantages of travelling?

- Travelling helps us to gain knowledge and widens our experience. It also increases understanding of cultural diversity.

2. What do you prefer, travelling with friends or family?

- I prefer travelling with friends as with them, I do not have to be formal and I can enjoy freely. 

3. What means of transport are popular in your country?

- People in my country use all kinds of transport ranging from cycle rickshaws to aeroplanes. 

Related Question: A short vacation with friends OR A holiday you recently went to.

Proverb: He that travel far knows much.

Meaning: A person who has been to many places has a lot of knowledge and experience.

A time when you waited for something.

 Cue Card-41

A time when you waited for something. 

• Where did you wait? // When did this happen? // Who you were with? // Explain why you had to wait. 

I had to wait at a hospital. // This happened in the freezing month of December. // I was with my mother and uncle. // I had to wait because my maternal aunt had to be operated.

I generally go prepared to wait and usually carry a book or something with me to pass my time but the one occasion when I had a very unpleasant waiting experience was when my aunt had to undergo a surgery in the freezing month of December. My mother, my uncle and I reached the hospital at 8 am as my maternal aunt was to be operated for a gall bladder condition at 8.30 am. However, to our surprise, this time was not for her and the doctor was caught up in an emergency. My aunt was given some medicine which made her feel sleepy and my mother starts praying whenever she is free. My uncle went to his workplace to be back shortly and this wait went on not only till the afternoon but further into the evening. It was what I would call a very unpleasant wait because the atmosphere of the hospital was disturbing as there was death, blood, sickness, disease and I get upset at the sight of such things. Therefore, I hated this wait and I was not even able to read a book because I found the atmosphere disturbing. Finally, the wait was over and around 5:15 pm she was taken to the operation theatre for her surgery. To conclude, I would not want to experience this kind of a wait again. 

Follow ups: 

1. Why do you think patience is important? (Patience is important because actions performed and decisions taken in haste are likely to fall.)

2. Why is it tough for children to be patient? (Children are immature and always excited, so they find it tough to be patient.)

3. Do you feel angry easily when told to wait? (I remain calm when I am made to wait because I believe that people don’t make others wait deliberately.)

Best Part of the Day. Cue Card.

 Cue Card-40

Best part of the day. 

• Which part of the day? // What do you do? // Why you like it the most? 

My favourite part of the day is the morning. // I get up and go for a walk and come back and greet my prayers after bathing. // I love this time because of the fresh air, everthing is bright and beautiful and nature is blooming.

The day is divided in four parts morning, afternoon, evening and night. Morning is my favorite part of the day. It is the time when sun rises as a symbol of hope and strength to keep moving. The atmosphere is calm and peaceful. I get up to pray, walk and then get ready for my work every day. It is wonderful to see people going to the temple to offer prayers, some are exercising, in the garden, Birds sit on trees and chirp melodiously, insects also make various kinds of sounds. Children flock to school carrying colourful bags and bottles, which reminds me of the days when life was free of stress and responsibility. I prefer getting up as early as I can so that I can enjoy the beauty of every morning. 

Follow ups:

1. Do youngsters get up early by choice or out of compulsion? (These days youngsters get up early in the morning due to compulsions like schools, jobs etcetera.)

2. Do you enjoy the other parts of the day as much as morning? (No, I do not enjoy other parts of the day as much as morning because I feel most energetic and lively in the morning.)

3. Why do some people prefer to study in the morning? (Some people prefer to study early in the morning because the mind is rested and fresh and it is easy to retain things for a longer period of time.)

A tall building you saw. Describe a historical monument. IELTS Speaking Cue Card.

 Cue Card-39 

A tall building you saw

• Which building is it? // Where is it? // Who you went with? // What did you do? 

The tall building that I visited is the Qutub Minar. // It is situated in Delhi. // I had gone there with my family. // I admired the architecture and clicked photos. 

India has been a land rich in culture and heritage and is a home to many beautiful monuments and buildings. The tall building that I visited last month with my family is the Qutab Minar in Delhi. It was built in 1193 by Qutub-ud-din-Aibak after whom, it is named. It is a marvelous structure which has stood the test of time for so many years and still stands as it was built. It is a 73-metre high tower. The tower was started by Qutub-ud-din Aibak who in his lifetime was only able to complete the base and his successors got the 5 stories made. The different styles of architecture are clearly visible in this building. Apart from the tower, the complex comprises of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first ever Mosque built in North India and is an attraction for thousands of tourists every year. It has an Afghan style of architecture and is a charming structure of red marble. It is also called the marble tower of success. Qutub means justice and due to this, it is known as a symbol of Islamic justice. On my visit, I clicked several pictures and it was a great learning experience as I saw something that I had read about only in books, everything was there for me to see live. I saw the great architecture and enjoyed a lot. 

Follow ups:

1. Have you seen many tall buildings in your country? (Yes, there are many tall, multi-storied buildings in my country which are called sky scrapers.)

2. What are some advantages of tall buildings? (Some advantages of tall buildings are that they occupy less ground area and accomodate more people in proportion to the ground area covered, living in tall buildings gives easy access to sunlight and fresh air.)

3. What are some disadvantages of tall buildings? (Tall buildings may block sunlight of other places near them, construction of tall buildings is hazardous for the people building them. During the construction phase there is high risk of the structure falling apart which can be fatal for a lot of people.)

4. Do you like to live in a tall or short building? (I prefer to live in a short building as for me open space with a lawn and flowers is more important.)

Related Question: Describe a historical monument.

First time you used a foreign language to communicate

 Cue Card-38

First time you used a foreign language to communicate.

• Where it happened? // When it happened? // Who did you talk to? // How you felt about the conversation?

The first time, I used a foreign language to communicate was with a lady in a train to Mumbai. // It happened when I was 8 years old. // I spoke to a woman from London who was my co-passenger in a train. // I felt pleasant about the whole conversation in general. 

Language is a medium of communication that allows different people to convey their thoughts, ideas and beliefs. I studied at a school where three languages were taught Hindi, English and Punjabi. Punjabi is my mother tongue and Hindi is the national language of my country so I knew both but English was a foreign language. I remember how my parents and teachers worked to help me learn this language. I used to communicate in broken sentences at home with my parents but the first proper communication I had in English was with a foreign traveller sitting next to us when I was on a train to Mumbai with parents and siblings. It was when I was 8 years old. I spoke to a foreigner sitting beside me in the train. She started a conversation with me beginning with general questions like my name, school’s name and what grade I was in. After I spoke to her, I came to know that she was from London and had come to visit several parts of India after being attracted to its culture and heritage through photographs, books etcetera. She spoke to me for about 15 to 20 minutes and I do not recall the entire conversation but I remember most of it. It was a pleasant experience which I will never forget and I remember the lady’s face as if it happened yesterday. 

Follow ups:

1. What do you think about children learning a foreign language? (I think it is very good for children learn a new language as it makes them more informed and enhances their knowledge.)

2. Why some people learn languages fast and others slowly? (The learning of a language depends upon the internet and capability of an individual and based on these, a person learns a language fast or slowly.)

3. Does one’s age affect learning of a language? (It is easier to learn a language at a young age, because when we are young we are open to learning and our minds are sharp. Our speed of learning and acquring knowledge decreases with age.)

4. What can be a good way to learn a foreign language? (A language course from an institute and a person proficient in that language are good sources of learning a foreign language.)

A book or novel that was particularly interesting to you. IELTS Speaking Cue Card

 Cue Card-37

A book or novel that was particularly interesting to you. 

• What book or novel was it? // From where did you came to know about it? // When you read it? // Explain how you felt about it.

A novel I liked is Two States by Chetan Bhagat. // My friend suggested this book to me and I read it. // I read it when my aunt was hospitalized and stayed the night with her. // I found it interesting because of its relevance in modern society. 

Books are our best friends. I do not like reading many books but one book which I read and liked was “Two States” by “Chetan Bhagat”. He is a new author who has written other books, some of his bestsellers include, “One Night At The Call Centre”, “Three Mistakes Of My Life” and “Five Point Someone” but I have only read “Two States”. A friend who had read it recommended it to me. One night, when my aunt was admitted in the hospital, I got the time to read this book. It depicts the reality of Indian society which modernizing, but conservative towards young men and women choosing their life partners. The story is based on the author’s life and shows the difficulties which a boy and a girl from different states of India face in getting their parent’s nod to the knot. The author wrote this novel after quitting his job as an investment banker. The characters in the story are Krish and Ananya who belong to Punjab and Tamil Nadu respectively. Being in love, they want to get married. Their story began in the IIM hostel mess, where Ananya was the best among the freshers and became a close friend of Krish. Studying together, each night, they became romantically involved and decided to get married after they secure suitable jobs.

Krish faces a lot of hardships in first convincing Ananya’s father by making a power point presentation and helping her brother with his studies and enabling her mother to realize her dream of singing at a big concert. The story moves on and after a while, the parents of the girl decide that they will not allow Ananya to marry Krish. Later Krish’s father came to his assistance and helped him to marry Ananya. Though the relations between Krish and his father were not healthy, yet he helped the couple to get married amongst all huddles. Ananya gave birth to twin boys and their grandfather said that “these boys are born in a state called India and to end religion inequality”. The lessons of the novel were where there is a will there is a way and love is more powerful than hatred. 

Follow ups:

1. What kinds of stories do children like to learn? (Children love to listen to fairy tales because they can imagine a perfect world as described in the stories.)

2. How often do people in your country read novels? (It differs from person to person, people read novels based on their interest and the availability of time.)

3. What are the benefits of listening to stories or reading novels? (Reading novels improves knowledge, vocabulary, language and creativity.)

4. Are you a good storyteller? (I think, storyteller is an art and one really needs to use expressions, have proper voice modulation in order to narrate stories effectively and I do not have this ability.)