Cue Card Sample
Unpopular opinion you hold or have - Cue Card # 707
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IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.
Describe an unpopular opinion you hold or have.
You should say:
- what it is
- for how long you have this opinion in your mind
- whether you have ever shared it with someone
and explain why you think this is an unpopular opinion.
[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:
Well, that's an intriguing topic and I am delighted that I have been given a chance to talk about something I feel deeply but can't discuss very often.
The obvious and yet very unpopular opinion I want to talk about is how our police and special security forces have been given an autocratic power to get away with their misconduct and oftentimes serious crimes. I am not talking about one or two corrupt cops and their discrete horrendous acts, but about the whole system that helps them get away with it.
Police and special forces are meant to protect ordinary people and their property and lives and maintain peace and harmony in our society by acting lawfully. They are also a part of society and they should be made responsible for any crime they commit. But, the legislative system and the existing policies make it really tough to hold them responsible and discriminate when it comes to ensuring justice. Police, in our country and many other countries, go unpunished for their crimes but ordinary citizens are convicted swiftly for the same crime. It's like a single country with dual policy and that's something I believe is totally unfair and unjust.
I have been holding this unpopular opinion for more than ten years. The first time a corrupt cop killed an innocent boy in our neighbourhood over a false charge of extortion and got away with it, I started to believe that something was wrong in our system. Despite the media attention and demonstration from ordinary citizens, the same policeman is now working in a different department with the police and seems like have been promoted for his crime!
I have shared my opinion with a few of my friends and their opinions are mostly against these discriminatory policies and systems. My uncle is a retired policeman and when I discussed it with him, to my surprise, his opinion accorded with mine.
This is an unpopular opinion because people don't want to talk about it, let alone do something to break the corrupt system. They either believe that they can't do anything about it or feel that police personnel are above the law and should be granted special privileges. Their opinion is often biased because they consider it a political issue rather than a social or human rights issue.
Model Answer 2:
I am not exactly an opinionated person who likes to impose his views or opinions on others. But, there are some issues and opinions, which I feel really strongly about from time to time. Today, I would like to talk about one such opinion which is considered to be very unpopular by many.
This unpopular opinion involves imposing more than 100% VAT or sales tax on all kinds of tobacco products/cigarettes and banning public smoking altogether, if possible. I have held this opinion for more than a decade, after witnessing the death of one of my dear uncles, but I started to feel even more strongly about all kinds of smoking in recent years after learning about its negative effects on our health and environment.
In fact, smoking can cause fatal diseases such as pneumonia, emphysema and lung cancer. Smoking causes 84% of deaths from lung cancer and 83% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). And, I am not even talking about the more regular negative health effects like cough, cold, wheezing and asthma. On top of that, the negative effects of smoking on our environments are just immeasurable, given the fact that trillions of cigarettes filters/butts, made of a form of cellulose acetate plastic, are tossed out every year worldwide which takes about a decade to decompose and then get absorbed by the soil.
And, because of this long process to recycle these plastic matters back into the soil, it slowly and slowly loses its fertility and natural characteristics to liven our earth. By the way, I have already taken up the issue to our local city council authority to put some kind of ban on smoking, but they simply laughed at my suggestion.
I think that this is an unpopular opinion, mainly because the businessmen, who are involved with the business of manufacturing and selling tobacco products, are vehemently opposing this idea because that would make them lose their business and money. Besides, some chain smokers would simply never let go of their habit of smoking because they are just too addicted to this deadly habit.
Model Answer 3:
What it is:
Well, one unpopular opinion I hold pertains to university admissions, particularly regarding the use of quota system to grant special privileges to certain groups of students. I firmly believe that universities should accept students based solely on their talents and merits, without the implementation of any quota system.
For how long you have this opinion in your mind:
I believe I have held this opinion for quite some time, as it aligns with my principles of fairness, equality, and meritocracy. Growing up, I was exposed to discussions about the importance of equal opportunities and the detrimental effects of preferential treatment based on factors other than individual abilities.
Whether you have ever shared it with someone:
While I have shared this opinion with friends and family during casual conversations, I understand that it is a contentious topic that may not be well-received by everyone. I have encountered differing perspectives and engaged in respectful debates, but I remain steadfast in my belief that merit should be the sole criterion for university admissions.
And explain why you think this is an unpopular opinion:
This opinion is considered unpopular because it challenges the status quo and calls into question existing practices aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in higher education. Advocates for quotas argue that they are necessary to address historical inequalities and ensure representation from marginalized groups. However, I believe that quotas can sometimes lead to unfair advantages or disadvantages based on factors beyond an individual's control, such as their demographic background.
I firmly believe that admitting students in a university based on their talents and achievements fosters a level playing field and rewards individuals for their hard work and dedication, ultimately contributing to a more equitable and meritocratic society.
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