Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
Describe a time when you trusted a stranger - Cue Card # 504
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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 a time when you trusted a stranger.
You should say:
- when it was
- who this stranger was
- why you had to trust this person
and explain how you felt about it.
[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:
In an ideal world, nobody should really be strangers to us because we all share pretty much the same goals, feelings, sadness and happiness in our lives. But, unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world where our limitations as humans and fear of the unknown force us to be sceptical about trusting a stranger. Needless to say, I am not immune to this scepticism either.
But, I still needed to trust a stranger about 5 years ago when my father had to go through a critical heart surgery. By the way, my father was already 70 years old back then, and he had suffered from a massive heart attack a few days earlier. Luckily, we were in the hands of a very expert heart surgeon, who assured us that his team would have no problem in having a successful operation on my father by the grace of the Almighty. However, he also warned us at the same time that my father was also at risk of losing too much blood at the time of surgery since he was a rather old man. Anyway, the doctor also gave us an idea as to how many bags of blood would be required to keep my father in a stable condition.
So, we started to talk to all of my family members and relatives, but unfortunately, we were still short of one blood bag. So, we decided to contact some professional blood donors even though we heard a lot of negative comments about them earlier. Since we had no other options because my father had a rather rare blood group, we decided to accept his blood after running some regular tests on his health condition.
Luckily, the blood transfusion into the body of my father, who had just gone through some serious surgery, was successful without any reaction or complication. I felt extremely relieved as I was anxious about it. My family and I thanked the blood donor from the bottom of our hearts. In response, he simply said that he was happy to have been able to help. It made me feel that he was a great man.
Model Answer 2:
Introduction:
Thank you so much for this interesting topic. Well, I can clearly recall a time when I had to trust a complete stranger, and it turned out to be a surprisingly positive experience. It taught me a lot about human kindness and the importance of trust in everyday life.
When it was:
This happened about a year ago, during a solo trip I took to London. I was exploring the city on my own and, as it often happens in unfamiliar places, I faced a situation where I needed some help.
Who this stranger was:
The stranger was a middle-aged man who worked as a taxi driver. I had just missed the last train to my accommodation and needed a safe and reliable way to get there late in the evening.
Why you had to trust this person:
Since I was alone and unfamiliar with the area, I had no other option but to trust him. I gave him the address of the hostel I was staying at and explained that I had no idea how to get there from the train station. Even though I didn’t know him, I could tell from his polite demeanour and professional approach that he was trustworthy. I felt comfortable handing over my safety into his hands, which is not always easy when you’re alone in a foreign city.
And explain how you felt about it:
I felt a mix of relief and gratitude throughout the journey. He drove carefully, chatted politely, and even pointed out some interesting landmarks along the way. When I finally reached my hostel safely, I felt genuinely thankful and pleasantly surprised at how a stranger could make such a positive impact. That experience made me more confident about trusting people in similar situations and reminded me that kindness and honesty still exist in the world.
Sample Answer 3:
This is an interesting topic, and thank you for allowing me to talk about an event when I trusted a stranger! We sometimes have to trust people we do not know. The outcome of this faith and trust varies, and trusting a complete stranger is not always a bad idea. However, our intuition and experience tell us not to rely on a complete outsider. Despite this, I believed people on different occasions and many times they were completely unknown to me.
One day, I was on my way to my hometown and our bus got delayed. To add more misery, on the route, the bus suddenly stopped working in a desolate area. The driver said to us that the brake of the bus was not working properly, and he had to stop the bus to avoid any risk. Some of the passengers took alternative buses, but the rest of us were stuck there. At least 4-5 hours were needed to repair the bus, and waiting that long was not a good idea, especially in this strange place.
All of a sudden, a stranger approached us and told me that we should hire a private car to reach our destination. I noticed that he had already managed three other passengers who had accepted his proposition. However, when this person told me that the nearest car hire service was two miles away and we would need to give him $30 per person so that he could pay the money to the company and bring the car, my gut feeling told me not to trust him. I asked him to call the car rental company to pick us. He replied that he had already done so, and the car rental company would not send the car this far without advance payment. The stranger I am talking about was around 35 years old, and as I recall, his name was Stephen.
I trusted this stranger, gave him 30 dollars and waited dubiously for an hour for him to return. At a time during my waiting, I thought he would not show up at all. Nevertheless, after approximately 2 hours, he came back with a hired car and a driver. It was a great relief to me. I laughed silently for distrusting this person initially. However, it turned out that trusting him was a good idea.
I reached home just before darkness settled in and thanked this stranger for his initiative. His plan, stamina, leadership quality and timely decision saved us from the possible danger of being stuck in an unknown place. When the car dropped me off near my home, the stranger had already dropped off the car. Nonetheless, I thanked him again, this time silently, without him noticing my gratitude for his timely decision and action.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
This topic asks you to describe a time when you trusted a stranger. To give a compelling answer, you should mention when it happened, who the stranger was, why you had to trust them, and explain how you felt about the experience. Here are a few ideas to help you develop your own response:
1. Asking for directions in a foreign city:
Once, while travelling alone in a foreign city, I approached a local to ask for directions to a popular museum. I didn’t know this person, but his friendly demeanour encouraged me to trust him. I felt relieved when he guided me safely, and it gave me confidence in being open to help from strangers during travel.
2. Receiving help after a flat tire:
During a road trip, my car tire suddenly went flat on a deserted street. A stranger passing by offered to help change the tire. I trusted him because he seemed experienced and sincere. The assistance was invaluable, and I felt grateful and impressed by the kindness of someone I had never met before.
3. Lending a lost wallet:
I once found a wallet lying on a park bench. Instead of keeping it, I handed it over to a person nearby who claimed to be the owner. I trusted their honesty based on their reaction and demeanour. Returning the wallet felt rewarding, and I was reminded that trusting others can sometimes lead to positive outcomes.
4. Letting a stranger guide me through a crowded train station:
While navigating a very busy train station, I asked a stranger to show me the platform for my train. I felt a bit anxious initially, but decided to trust their guidance. They led me accurately and even helped me carry my bag. I felt a mix of relief and gratitude, realising that most people are willing to help without expecting anything in return.
5. Accepting help during a sudden rainstorm:
Once, during a sudden downpour, a stranger offered me an umbrella and guided me to a nearby shelter. I had to trust them since I was completely drenched and disoriented. Their kindness made me feel safe and warmed by the generosity of strangers during unexpected situations.
6. Trusting a stranger in a hostel:
When I stayed in a hostel while backpacking, a fellow traveller suggested a safe route to a hiking trail. I didn’t know them personally, but chose to trust their recommendation. The advice turned out perfect, and I felt thankful for their insight and friendliness.
7. Following a stranger’s advice in a market:
I once got confused in a large marketplace and asked a vendor about a nearby landmark. She suggested a shortcut through an alley. I hesitated initially but trusted her knowledge. The shortcut worked, saving me time, and I felt pleased and more confident about interacting with locals during travels.
8. Being guided by a stranger in an emergency:
While walking home at night, I noticed a minor accident nearby. A stranger quickly directed me away from the scene and ensured I stayed safe. I had to trust their guidance instantly. Their actions made me feel grateful for their awareness and responsiveness in a critical moment.
9. Accepting a ride from a trusted taxi driver:
I once missed my train and needed urgent transport. A taxi driver I had never met offered to take me safely to my destination. I had to trust him completely with my safety and schedule. The ride went smoothly, and I felt a mix of relief and appreciation for the reliability of strangers in such situations.
10. Relying on a stranger to guard belongings:
While attending a crowded event, I briefly asked a stranger to watch my bag while I went to the restroom. I trusted them because they seemed responsible and attentive. Upon returning, everything was intact, leaving me pleasantly surprised and reinforcing my belief that trusting strangers can sometimes work out well.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing a time you trusted a stranger, using specific vocabulary can effectively convey the situation, the person involved, the reasons for your trust, and your emotional response. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the vulnerability, the sense of relief, and the gratitude you felt, making your response both honest and compelling. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Trust: – A firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something.
Example: I had to place my trust in a complete stranger in that moment.
Stranger: – A person whom one does not know or with whom one is not familiar.
Example: This incident changed my perspective on how I interact with strangers.
Vulnerable: – Exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.
Example: I felt very vulnerable and helpless in that situation, which is why I had to accept help.
Leap of faith: – An act of believing in or attempting something whose existence or outcome cannot be proven or known.
Example: It felt like a true leap of faith to rely on someone I had just met.
Helpless: – Unable to defend oneself or to act without help.
Example: I was feeling completely helpless until the stranger offered to assist me.
Grateful: – Feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness; thankful.
Example: I was incredibly grateful for his kindness and willingness to help.
Relieved: – No longer feeling distressed or anxious; reassured.
Example: After the problem was solved, I felt a huge sense of relief.
Compassion: – Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
Example: The stranger showed great compassion and went out of their way to help me.
Kindred spirit: – A person whose tastes, interests, or attitudes are similar to one's own.
Example: We were strangers, but in that moment, I felt a connection with a kindred spirit.
Altruistic: – Showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish.
Example: Their altruistic act of kindness restored my faith in humanity.
Unforeseen circumstance: – A situation that was not anticipated or predicted.
Example: I found myself in an unforeseen circumstance and had no one else to turn to.
Act of kindness: – A benevolent deed or favour.
Example: What they did was a simple act of kindness that had a huge impact on me.
Selfless: – Concerned more with the needs and wishes of others than with one's own.
Example: It was a completely selfless gesture, and they asked for nothing in return.
Gut feeling: – A feeling or an intuition not necessarily based on facts.
Example: I decided to trust them based on a gut feeling that they were a good person.
Intuition: – The ability to understand something immediately, without the need for conscious reasoning.
Example: My intuition told me that I could rely on this stranger.
If you can talk about 'Describe a time when you trusted a stranger', you are supposed to be able to answer the following topics:
1. Describe a time when someone helped you.
2. Describe a time when you helped someone.
3. Describe an event when someone came to your rescue.
4. Describe an event when you sought help from someone you did not know.
5. Describe a time when you helped a child.
6. Describe someone who accidentally became your friend.
7. Describe a person whom you met once and would like to meet again.
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