Cue Cards Samples with band 8 answers
Describe a cold winter morning you remember - Cue Card # 691
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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 cold winter morning you remember.
You should say:
- when it was
- what you were doing
- what the temperature was like
and explain why you remember this particularly cold winter morning.
[Instruciton: 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:
To tell you the truth, remembering a cool winter experience is one of my least favourite things to do simply because I try to run away from winter as far as I can! But, no matter how far I try to run, I do have to suffer from “the bite” of winter pretty much every year, just like I did about a few years ago.
As I have already mentioned earlier, I don’t really like winter. But, I am pretty sure that Mother Nature doesn’t care whether I like it or not, just as it didn’t care on a morning in mid-December when I needed to pick up my aunt from the airport. As soon as I woke up and took a peek through my window, I immediately knew that it was going to be a cold morning as I could see fog covering the landscape above the ground. For a minute, I thought that I should wait until the sun came out but then decided against it, as my aunt wouldn’t like the delay.
So, I took a taxi and hit the road after wearing all kinds of warm clothes to protect me from the assault of a cold winter morning, as the temperature on that day was probably as low as minus 2 degrees Celsius. But, after arriving at the airport, I came to know that there was a flight delay of about two hours because of low visibility in the sky. So, I had no other option but to wait at the airport in the open cold, until my aunt arrived, as the airport authority had restricted our access to the arrival lounge because of security reasons.
So why do I remember this particularly cold winter morning? Well, I remember this winter morning because it was really cold for my liking. Besides, travelling to the airport and waiting there for about 2 hours in extreme cold was a very troubling experience for me. Finally, I remember it because there was too much fog in the atmosphere that day, and I was afraid of having an accident because of the low visibility of the road.
Model Answer 2:
Introduction:
Thank you for the opportunity to give me this topic that asks me to talk about a cold winter morning that I remember. In fact, I can recall many such winter mornings, but here, I will talk about one particular winter morning that left a lasting impression on me.
When it was:
I vividly remember a cold winter morning in Ottawa, Canada, which occurred in January last year. It was a blunt winter day in Ottawa, known for its harsh cold and heavy snowfall. This was a special day because it was also my wife's birthday.
What you were doing:
On that particular morning, I woke up early to plan for my wife's birthday. We were supposed to go out and enjoy the outdoors. But we had to discard the idea. As I stepped out of my warm bed and onto the icy floor, I could feel the chill seeping through the windows and doors of my house. I felt sad that our plan to enjoy the day outdoors was not possible!
What the temperature was like:
The temperature outside was frigid, hovering around -28 degrees Celsius. But the blizzard made it even worse. The outside from my window looked so gloomy that I did not dare to go out that morning. The biting cold made it difficult to even step outside without bundling up in layers of warm clothing.
And explain why you remember this particularly cold winter morning:
What made this cold winter morning particularly memorable was the fact that it was my wife's birthday, and the intensity of the cold forced us to discard our plan for any outdoor activities. Despite being accustomed to Ottawa's harsh winters, the bone-chilling cold on that morning was unlike anything I had experienced before. The biting wind stung my cheeks, and every breath felt like icy needles piercing my lungs. We did enjoy the day in our own way staying indoors but it became one of the special days that we will remember for a long time.
Idea generation for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
This topic asks you to describe a cold winter morning that you still remember clearly. You should explain when this morning occurred, what you were doing at that time, how cold it was, and why the memory has remained in your mind. To answer this topic effectively, try to include details like the sight of mist or frost, the feeling of cold air, or the smell of morning tea. You can talk about a regular school or workday, a special occasion, or an unexpected event. Positive and negative memories are both acceptable, but make sure your story is detailed and easy to relate to. Here are a few ideas to help you develop your own answer:
1. A morning walk in the snow-covered countryside:
One winter morning, during a trip to a hill station, I went for a walk and was amazed by the beauty of nature. The trees were frosted, and the fields were blanketed with fresh snow. The temperature was below freezing, but I was wrapped in warm clothes. I remember it because it was the first time I saw real snow, and the peaceful surroundings made it unforgettable.
2. Preparing for final exams in the early morning:
When I was in college, I used to wake up at 5 AM in winter to study for my final exams. On one particular morning, the temperature had dropped to around 2°C. My fingers were so cold I could barely hold a pen, but I still pushed myself to revise important topics. I remember it because it showed me how determined I could be when working toward a goal.
3. Catching a train at dawn with my family:
Years ago, my family and I had to catch an early morning train in the middle of December. It was pitch dark and freezing cold, and the train station was packed with sleepy travellers. The air was misty, and we huddled together in thick shawls. I remember that morning because even though we were cold, we laughed and joked the entire time.
4. Falling ill after getting drenched by freezing rain:
One winter morning, I was walking to school when it suddenly started to rain. I hadn’t carried an umbrella, and within minutes, I was soaked and freezing. I ended up catching a cold and missing school for several days. That unpleasant experience taught me to always check the weather forecast and dress properly in winter.
5. A surprise school holiday due to frost:
In class 7, we were on our way to school when we got the news that classes were cancelled due to extreme cold and frost. The temperature had dropped to below 0°C overnight. Instead of being upset, my friends and I returned home and spent the day playing indoor games. That morning stands out because it turned into an unexpected holiday.
6. A power outage on a freezing morning:
One of the coldest mornings I remember was when the power went out, and our heaters stopped working. I was shivering even under multiple blankets, and it was impossible to focus on anything. We had to light candles and wait for hours until the power returned. It was tough, and I remember it because of how helpless we felt in the cold.
7. Enjoying hot tea and snacks on a foggy morning:
On a particularly chilly winter morning last year, my father and I sat on the balcony wrapped in blankets, sipping hot tea and eating freshly fried snacks. The fog outside was thick, but the warmth of the food and the conversation made the morning special. It’s a memory I cherish because it was such a simple but meaningful moment.
8. Delayed bus and a long wait at the bus stop:
A few years ago, I had to take a long-distance bus ride early in the morning. It was one of the coldest days of the year, and the bus arrived more than an hour late. I stood at the bus stop shivering despite wearing layers of clothes. I still remember that morning because of the discomfort and how grateful I was once I got inside the warm bus.
Vocabulary for this Candidate task card/ Cue card topic:
When describing a memorable cold winter morning, using vivid vocabulary can effectively convey the atmospheric conditions, your activities, and the reasons for its lasting impression. Thoughtful word choices will help you articulate the chill and the specific sensory details, making your response both immersive and relatable. Here are some relevant words and phrases:
Frigid: – Very cold in temperature.
Example: It was a truly frigid morning, with temperatures well below freezing.
Numbing: – Depriving of feeling or responsiveness.
Example: The numbing cold seeped into my bones despite my layers of clothing.
Biting wind: – A very cold and strong wind.
Example: A biting wind whipped around me, making the cold even more intense.
Crisp air: – Air that is clean, fresh, and often cold.
Example: Despite the cold, the crisp air felt invigorating as I stepped outside.
Hoarfrost: – A white crystalline deposit of ice formed by the freezing of supercooled fog or cloud on objects, especially those with small diameters.
Example: The trees were covered in a delicate layer of hoarfrost, glistening in the faint light.
Shivering uncontrollably: – Trembling involuntarily from cold or fear, without being able to stop.
Example: I remember shivering uncontrollably as I waited for the bus.
Huddled for warmth: – Crouched close together to keep warm.
Example: We huddled for warmth around a small fire, trying to escape the chill.
Visibility was low: – The distance to which one can see clearly was reduced, often due to fog or mist.
Example: The heavy fog meant visibility was low, adding to the morning's starkness.
A memorable chill: – A cold sensation that is particularly striking or unforgettable.
Example: It left me with a memorable chill that I still recall vividly.
Felt invigorated: – Experienced a feeling of being filled with fresh energy or enthusiasm.
Example: Despite the intense cold, the fresh air somehow made me feel invigorated.
Stark beauty: – A severe or barren beauty, often in nature.
Example: The landscape had a stark beauty, with everything covered in white.
Left a lasting impression: – Had a significant and memorable effect on one's mind or feelings.
Example: That morning left a lasting impression due to its sheer intensity.
Pervasive cold: – Cold that is present everywhere and spread throughout.
Example: The pervasive cold seemed to penetrate every layer of my clothing.
A rare phenomenon: – An unusual or uncommon event or occurrence.
Example: Such extreme cold was a rare phenomenon in our area, which is why it stood out.
If you prepare for the topic "Describe a cold winter morning you remember", you should be able to talk about the following topics as well:
1) Describe a bad weather experience you have had.
2) Describe a day when you thought the weather was perfect.
3) Describe something you like doing during the winter.
4) Describe something you did that was new or exciting.
5) Describe a time when you had to change your plan due to a bad weather condition.
6) Describe a time when you woke up very early in the morning.
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