Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
An exciting competition or sporting event - Cue Card # 410
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IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.
[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand over to you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]
Describe an exciting competition or sporting event you have watched.
You should say:
- what the competition or sporting event was
- when and where it took place
- who won the competition or the sporting event
and explain why it was so exciting.
[Instruction: You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
Model Answer 1:
I am a great fan of cricket, which is passionately called by many people as the “gentleman’s game”, and I try to watch it whenever I get an opportunity. So, I would like to go ahead and talk about an exciting cricket competition that I witnessed a few years ago.
This competition took place at Edgbaston Cricket Stadium when I was visiting a very close friend of mine in that city on a long holiday. But little did I know that the Australian cricket team was also touring England to play three One Day International cricket tournaments, and one of the matches was scheduled to be held at Edgbaston Stadium just when I was visiting my friend there.
Not to mention, I didn’t want to miss that cricket match, since I was very much aware of the dimension of cricketing rivalry between Australia and England. Anyway, England, batting first, amassed 300-plus runs from their stipulated 50 overs, and so, it was expected that the host country was going to win the match rather easily since they had a very strong bowling line-up with some really great fast bowlers.
But, things changed quickly in favour of Australia when a couple of their batsmen played some destructive innings to take the match away from England. Of course, England also fought back very strongly as they managed to drag the match into the last over, and it was at that time that things got very tense for both teams. In fact, Australia needed only 7 runs in their last over, but England bowled brilliantly to restrict them below 300, giving the England team a well-deserved victory in the end.
Well, the competition was exciting, mainly because it was full of so many attacks and counter-attacks that the fans actually had to wait until the last ball of the match. It was exciting also because the fans at the stadium cheered for both teams pretty much equally, without supporting one team over the other.
Model Answer 2:
Ooh, this is an interesting topic, because I can instantly think of the most exciting contest I’ve ever witnessed, but I have a feeling it isn’t quite the sort of example you might have been thinking of!
The competition was in the natural world. It was a battle for territory between two mighty creatures. One was a very venomous and aggressive scorpion, and the other was a massive furry type of tarantula called a baboon spider.
I was working on a conservation project in South Africa, and after a communal meal with others in the camp where I was staying, I made my way back to my tent using a head torch to light my way. I knew there was a baboon spider living in a burrow near where I was camping. It might sound a bit strange, but I was quite fascinated by this spider. I often took a moth with my outstretched fingers just outside the burrow’s entrance, and then, after a few seconds, the baboon spider, sensing the movement, would emerge and grab the moth and drag it back into the earth to eat.
Anyway, I had got into the habit of taking a moth back with me after supper, so I could feed the spider as I went past. On this particular evening, as I caught sight of the burrow in the beam of my torch, I saw the strangest thing. The great spider was out of its burrow – really unusual as they spend almost the entire time in their underground lairs – and it appeared to be somersaulting! As I watched, I saw to my dismay that it was intertwined with a really dangerous scorpion of similar size. I could tell the scorpion was a deadly one because it had a huge venom-filled sting and relatively small pincers.
The two were fighting ferociously, tumbling about in the orange earth and short scrub grass. I called over a friend to come and witness it too. It was astonishing to watch. The scorpion kept trying to sting the spider’s abdomen, but the spider was so big that its legs kept the scorpion away. Over the next few minutes, though, the spider began to tire. It was very sad to watch the scorpion win and become victorious. The spider was left dying just a few inches from the burrow, and the scorpion entered the hole and took possession of it for itself.
I carried on watching with my friend, the scorpion began to use the burrow as a base to hunt, lying in wait and then emerging to grab termites that were passing by. These, to us, small creatures, were mighty titans when in battle with one another, and I had absolutely no idea how their fight would end.
It was horrifying, but exciting to watch because it was a battle to the death and silly as it sounds, I felt like I ‘knew’ one of the competitors. Witnessing it gave me a renewed appreciation of the natural world and its wonders. What a remarkable place we inhabit, and what extraordinary creatures live alongside us the world over!
[ Written by - Lucy Marris: Careers Adviser (UK), TEFL teacher (Vietnam) ]
Sample Answer 3:
To be honest, I’m more of a spectator than a participant when it comes to sports, and one of the most exciting events I’ve ever witnessed was a horse race in Singapore. It was my first time experiencing this kind of sporting event live, and I can still vividly recall the energy and atmosphere of that day.
Horse racing is fascinating because it combines speed, strategy, and suspense. A group of jockeys ride their horses on a professional track, and while betting is a huge part of the sport, I was there simply to enjoy the race itself. Watching those magnificent animals sprint at full speed, with the jockeys skillfully guiding them, was breathtaking.
The event took place at the Singapore Racecourse, which is an impressive venue designed specifically for horse racing. The stands were packed, the track was immaculate. I arrived just before sunset, and by the time the race began, the floodlights lit up the entire track, giving it a dramatic and almost cinematic feel.
Twelve horses were competing that evening, each with a unique name. The favourite to win was a horse called Stallion, who had a strong record and an experienced jockey. I, however, had my eyes on a horse named Thunderbolt. At first, Thunderbolt lagged behind, and it seemed unlikely that he would even finish in the top three. But in the final lap, almost out of nowhere, he surged forward with incredible speed, overtaking the favourites and crossing the finish line first. The stadium erupted in cheers, and I found myself jumping out of my seat in pure excitement.
What made this experience unforgettable was the raw thrill of the competition and the contagious energy of the crowd. I had only planned to watch casually, but the intensity of the race kept me glued to my seat. Seeing Thunderbolt’s unexpected victory gave me a genuine sense of joy, and I left the racecourse feeling like I had witnessed something truly spectacular.
Idea Generation for this Topic:
This topic asks you to describe an exciting competition or sporting event you have watched. You should explain what the event was, when and where it took place, who the winner was, and why you found it exciting. To make your answer a good one, add details about the atmosphere, the crowd, the intensity of the competition, and your own feelings while watching it. Here are some ideas to help you develop your own response:
1. Football World Cup Final:
Watching the World Cup final where two top national teams played an intense match, with dramatic goals and a penalty shootout that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.
2. Olympic Sprint Final:
Witnessing a 100-meter sprint final in the Olympics, where athletes ran at lightning speed and the winner was decided within seconds, making it breathtaking to watch.
3. Tennis Grand Slam Final:
Watching a five-set thriller in a major tennis tournament where two legendary players fought tirelessly, and the crowd cheered after every point.
4. Cricket World Cup Match:
Seeing a cricket World Cup final where the game went down to the last ball, creating suspense and excitement among fans.
5. Basketball Championship:
Watching a basketball final where one team made a comeback in the last minutes, and a buzzer-beater shot decided the winner, thrilling the audience.
6. Swimming Competition:
Observing a close swimming race where competitors finished within milliseconds of each other, making the event highly intense and nerve-racking.
7. Gymnastics Final in Olympics:
Watching athletes perform flawless and daring routines in gymnastics, with the crowd erupting in applause when the winning score was announced.
8. Boxing Match:
Witnessing a heavyweight boxing match where two fighters showed strength, stamina, and strategy, keeping the audience engaged until the knockout moment.
9. Marathon Race:
Watching a famous city marathon where runners pushed their limits, and the final sprint to the finish line created a highly emotional and exciting moment.
10. Ice Hockey Championship:
Observing an ice hockey final where the match was fast-paced, aggressive, and unpredictable, with a dramatic overtime goal securing victory for one team.
11. Esports Tournament:
Watching a global esports competition where players displayed extraordinary gaming skills, and the high-energy commentary and cheering crowd made the virtual event as thrilling as traditional sports.
If you prepare for the topic "Describe an exciting competition or sporting event you have watched", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:
1) Describe a sporting event you attended.
2) Describe a recent sports event that you have participated in or watched and enjoyed very much.
3) Describe a competition (e.g. TV, college/work or sports competition) that you took part in.
4) Describe a content or competition you would like to take part in.
5) Describe a popular public event that you went to (such as a carnival, sports event or religious event).
6) Describe an exciting sport you know about.
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