IELTS Speaking Samples and Answers

Speaking Part 3 - Details discussion (part 2)

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IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic: Technology in housework & Technology in the workplace.

1. What kinds of machines are used for housework in modern homes in your country?
2. How have these machines benefited people? Are there any negative effects of using them?
3. Do you think all new homes will be equipped with household machines in the future? Why?
4. What kinds of equipment do most workers need to use in offices today?
5. How have developments in technology affected employment in your country?
6. Some people think that technology has brought more stress than benefits to employed people nowadays. Would you agree or disagree? Why?

[Topic: Technology in housework]

Q. 1. What kinds of machines are used for housework in modern homes in your country?
Answer: Different kinds of home appliances and machines are some of the main features of all modern homes today, and the modern homes in my country are no exception either. These machines may include refrigerators, microwave ovens, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers, washing machines, and ironing machines. Electric appliances like electric kettles, induction stoves, blenders and coffee makers are also very common in many, many modern homes in my country.  To deal with extreme heat and extreme cold, many modern homes in my country also use Air conditioners, room heaters, and geysers (water heaters).

Q. 2. How have these machines benefited people? Are there any negative effects of using them?
Answer: Machines have benefited people in so many ways that living without them in today’s world is next to impossible. One of these benefits is that it has increased productivity and efficiency drastically. Besides, it helps put much less strain on humans by minimizing human errors. Another benefit is that products become cheaper for consumers since machines help to produce on a very large scale. 

But, machines have some negative effects too. Too much dependency on machines is making people too lazy. Besides, machines are also causing environmental degradation by releasing toxic and harmful products into the air and water. 

Q. 3. Do you think all new homes will be equipped with household machines in the future? Why?
Answer: It would actually be hard to predict the preferences and needs of future homeowners, but given the income and economic disparity around the world today, it would be fair to assume that not all new homes will be equipped with household machines in the future. Besides, many people around the world are now slowly but surely beginning to understand the adverse effects of too much dependency on machines and technology. So, the chances are that even if many people will have the means and ability to equip their homes with household machines in future, they will probably hold themselves back from using them for health and environmental reasons.  

[Topic: Technology in the workplace]

Q. 4. What kinds of equipment do most workers need to use in offices today?
Answer: Office workers, like most of us, also want to make their life easy today by using all kinds of office equipment to get their job done quickly and accurately. Such office equipment can be divided into two different kinds: one is electronic and the other type is non-electronic. Some of the electronic office equipment (or “machine” as some might also call them) today may include computers, laptops, computer monitors, printers, copiers, scanners, and pen drive/flash memory drives. Non-electronic equipment may include telephones/PBX systems, filing cabinets, pens, staplers, and calculators. 

Q. 5. How have developments in technology affected employment in your country?
Answer: The developments in technology have affected all kinds of employment in my country in a mostly positive manner. For example, people can search for their preferred jobs from online job portals, apply online and can even work from home once hired. Moreover, workers in my country can communicate with their fellow workers in seconds, thanks to the advancement in communication technologies. Another example is that workers can prepare any kind of office document today in minutes, which would have taken them hours probably, if not days, before using the technology. Technology hasn’t only helped in productivity and efficiency at the workplace, but it also has sustained that increase.

However, technology has affected employment a bit negatively too as it has forced some of the low-skilled labour forces out of their jobs.

Q. 6. Some people think that technology has brought more stress than benefits to employed people nowadays. Would you agree or disagree? Why?
Answer: If we were to count the numerous benefits of the technology, we would probably have to disagree with what the question is trying to insinuate. In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to suggest that technology today has actually helped the workers to survive, and survive long and well, with the others. For example, with the help of technology, they can finish their work rather quickly so that they can relax a bit more and use that extra time to spend with their family and loved ones. But that’s just one example. How about the example of a pilot finding his/her way, with the help of advanced technology, in very adverse weather conditions to land his/her aeroplane safely? The negative aspects of technology pertain to our overreliance on technology which we can easily adjust. But the blessings that technology has brought for us simply could not be replaced with anything else.


IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic: Art.

1. Describe the general purpose of art. And say why do people enjoy art?
2. Do you think that art is as important as academic subjects when it comes to educating children?
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of art education?
4. Why do you think some people enjoy looking at paintings and sculptures and others do not?
5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being an artist?
6. Do you think that some people are naturally better artists than others?

Q. 1. Describe the general purpose of art. And say why do people enjoy art?
Answer: We, humans, are “unique” in our existence and experience. Therefore, it is only natural that we have our needs and expectation that are unique as well. But among those unique needs and expectation, that separates us from animals, enjoying art seems to be something that makes us “truly” unique as humans.

So, what is the general purpose of art? Well, the answer is, art helps us to look at ourselves little “closer” in a different light by explaining our desire and expectation in more details which otherwise wouldn’t be possible. With the help of art, we are able to communicate our social, political, cultural and spiritual ideas in a much more organized manner so that we feel “challenged” to rethink over the issues and the subjects that are affecting us and our surroundings on a daily basis.

We enjoy art because it stimulates our hearts and minds to appreciate our lives in a more positive light. We enjoy art also because it makes us feel “different” by combining our “unusual motifs” that weave their way into our “subconscious” (or the “hidden” us) and alter our mood so that we feel free to travel into a different realm.

Q. 2. Do you think that art is as important as academic subjects when it comes to educating children?
Answer:
Pablo Picasso once said that “every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up”. Therefore, offering children the much-needed space to create, to explore and to express themselves through art is absolutely important so that a holistic approach to education can be ensured. However, the purpose of art as academic subjects is not, and should not be, taught just to produce some “world-class artists”, but to provide a means of exploring feelings and experiences and expressing them beautifully which “words”, that we use on a regular basis, can’t do alone. This is something that every child can experience and benefit from.  In other words, the children should be able to find the true value of “art” in the process itself as well, not only in the “end product”.

Q. 3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of art education?
Answer:
 There are a number of advantages of art education. In fact, many studies suggest that art education has many social and academic benefits to students as it promotes self-directed learning and sharpens creative problem-solving skills and critical thinking. The arts provide challenges for learners at all levels by connecting students with their own culture as well as with the rest of the world. Studies also suggest that Integrating art education with other disciplines helps reach the students who otherwise wouldn’t feel “engaged” and interested in class works.

However, there are some disadvantages to art education as well. Learning art can be time-consuming and sometimes can take “decade” to succeed in the “business” of art. Another major disadvantage of art is, people, in general, don’t exactly understand the idea of “art”, and therefore, don’t exactly learn to “appreciate” art, whether it is drama, painting, or music, which can be really depressing and de-motivating for the aspiring artists.

Q. 4. Why do you think some people enjoy looking at paintings and sculptures and others do not?
Answer:
 The fact, that some people enjoy looking at paintings and sculptures while others don’t, can be attributed primarily, in my opinion, to how much “art education” one has received. Besides, this is also an issue of “sensibility” and how emotionally we get triggered by certain artworks. In fact, there is a theory which explains that because colours, shapes, sounds and thoughts are all waves form, and the more we are sensitive to these kinds of waves, the better we can understand an emotional message, considering that a piece of painting or sculpture essentially is an expression of an emotion, or transmit it. Besides, another “theory” suggests that most “visually intelligent” people love art while people who cannot concentrate upon a single detail for more than 10 seconds cannot enjoy art.

Q. 5. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being an artist?
Answer:
On a metaphysical level, an advantage of being an artist is that he/she has a heightened sensitivity to the surroundings and being able to nurture it with a childlike playfulness towards experiences throughout the entire life by having the satisfaction by creating something “beautiful and special”. But on a practical level, being an artist allows one to become his or her own “boss” without having to worry about ‘satisfying’ others.

However, one of the major disadvantages of being an artist is that he/she is not financially solvent most of the times, and he/she has to rely on some other sources of income to survive. And, as a result, an artist has no or a very limited social life. Another disadvantage of being an artist is most people don’t take “art” as an actual “profession” which can be equally demoralizing and frustrating for a person with a sense of “self-respect”.

Q. 6. Do you think that some people are naturally better artists than others?
Answer: Yes, I do think that some people are naturally better artists than others, just like somebody is better in science and mathematics academically, primarily because of their genetic structure and disposition towards “creativity”. In fact, it is my opinion that it is the “genetic disposition” of some children who spent much of their time in their childhood by engaging in creative activity, whether it was drawing or singing, or whatever that they enjoyed, in order to develop their skills from the early years of their lives in the process of play.

Of course, some people would choose to argue that it is their “passion” that drives them to become “better” artists. But, even if I agree with them to some extent just for the “sake of debate”, I would still argue that if it is not for their “natural inclination or disposition”, they wouldn’t be able to turn themselves into some “better” artists.



IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic: Eating habits.

1. Tell me about the types of food that people eat in your country.
2. How are the eating habits now in your country different from eating habits in the past?
3. How healthy is your country’s food?
4. Why do you think different cultures have different table manners?
5. How may eating habits change in the coming decades?
6. What one aspect of a foreign tradition you like about their eating habits? Why?

Q. 1. Tell me about the types of food that people eat in your country.
Answer: I guess that it is fair to say we all love to eat, but what we eat largely depends on where we live, and what kinds of foods are available there to consume. For example, where I live, our main foods are steam rice and curries- curries that are made with vegetables, meats and fishes by mixing them with varieties of spices in proper measures. We also eat a lot of “bread” in combination with curries or some sweets that we like.

Of course, the food, which I just mentioned above, are regular day foods for regular occasions. When there is a special occasion, we cook foods like “chicken biriyani” or “mutton biriyani” by mixing a certain kind of long-grain rice, such as basmati with a great aromatic flavour, with meats of our choice while adding a mixture of freshly-ground spices in it in order to make the dish even more delicious. Then, there are of course fast foods which we also enjoy eating on a limited scale.

Q. 2. How are the eating habits now in your country different from eating habits in the past?
Answer: Traditionally, in the past, people in my country relied heavily on home-cooked food, such as steam rice, curry and bread along with local fruits and vegetables. But, in the last couple of decades, we have seen that some “not-so” traditional food items (of course, in the context of my country’s food habits) such as pasta, pizza, French fries, burgers and sandwiches, mostly cooked and served at restaurants and fast food places, have also made their ways into the menu of our regular foods. As a result, we are becoming more and more “reliant”, especially in the big cities, on fast food instead of home-cooked food which has ruled our appetite for hundreds of years. We are even ordering for “home delivery” which was almost impossible to imagine even a decade ago!

Q. 3. How healthy is your country’s food?
Answer: There are some people in the world who eat food “purely” because of their nutritional values while there are the others who choose to eat their food primarily because of their “awesome taste” and then for their nutritional values secondarily. For better or worse, we fall into the category of “food lovers” we eat foods primarily because of their “awesome taste”, but luckily the type of foods, which we choose to consume in our country, are not any lesser healthy.

In fact, the only reason, for which I would say that our food is not always as “healthy” as we would prefer them to be, is that people in my country, in general, like to eat a bit too many spices in their foods purely because of “additional taste and flavour”. But, other than that, I am pretty confident that food in my country is pretty healthy because we boil them and cook them properly.

Q. 4. Why do you think different cultures have different table manners?
Answer: People from different parts of the world with different cultures choose to eat different kinds of food, and therefore, it is only natural that their table manners would be different. For Example, the people in China, Japan and much of East Asia relies heavily on wooden or bamboo-made chopsticks to eat their food, especially rice. And they chose chopsticks because of Confucius who believed that sharp utensils like knives would remind eaters of the gruesome way the meat finally made their way into the bowl.

Chopsticks, on the other hand, had dull ends, thus sparing their users from images of the slaughterhouse. But, the very knives, which got rejected by the people in East Asia on the ground it would remind the “gruesome” image of the slaughterhouse, became the symbol of “aristocracy” at the dinner table in medieval Europe probably because they were and still are used to eating meats and fishes that are usually cut into rather “large pieces” instead of small ones.

In the same way, people in the Arab world, including Iran, and some parts of Africa like to eat by making themselves comfortable on the floors, while eating at homes, in order to uphold one of the many traditions of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon Him). This “sitting habit” is practised also because people would feel that their stomach is getting full by eating much less than they would normally like to eat, which is actually in a way healthier than eating on a table.

Q. 5. How may eating habits change in the coming decades?
Answer: I firmly believe that with “globalization” at such a rapid pace, people will actually forget about the “idea” eating traditional food as we all will start preparing and enjoying all kinds of food from different parts of the world. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see that each and every country in this world is organizing some kinds of international food festivals or international cooking competition in the coming decades in order to encourage their citizens to change their food habits so that they don’t have to rely on only one certain kind of food to “survive” when there is a “famine” or “drought”.

Besides, I also wouldn’t be surprised if most of the people in different parts of the world stop cooking at home completely because of making fast food available at a very affordable price. However, at the same time, I wouldn’t also be surprised if we see “obesity” becoming an epidemic problem or disease all over the world.

Q. 6. What one aspect of a foreign tradition you like about their eating habits? Why?
Answer: I like pretty much all the traditions with regards to eating habits of all countries and cultures as they all help me to understand and appreciate the “diversities” in our world in a better way. But one particular tradition, which I really like, is the habit of eating fishes by the Japanese people. In fact, fish is featured so much prominently on the Japanese food menu that the average Japanese person consumes more than 154 pounds annually - or about a half pound a day!

The Japanese are so “mad” about eating fish that they collectively consume 12% of the world’s fish while accounting for only 2% of the global population. I like this particular habit because the health benefits of eating fish are just too many to count, and I also happen to enjoy eating fish too much! Besides, who doesn’t know that fresh, cured, smoked, or salted, fish, loaded with vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids, help to protect against various types of cancer!



IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic: Work.

1. Do you think job satisfaction is more important than salary when choosing a job?
2. What skills do you think are needed to get a good job these days?
3. Do you think women should be able to do all the same jobs that men do?
4. How has technology changed the way we work?
5. What is the difference between white-collar and blue-collar jobs?
6. What jobs do you think are most valuable to society?

Q. 1. Do you think job satisfaction is more important than salary when choosing a job?
Answer: When it comes to seeking satisfaction from work, the basic philosophy is pretty simple - get a job that you love and work your way up to earning a lot. But, unfortunately, life isn’t really that simple, especially, when options are rather limited and the choices vary greatly from person to person.

I would say that salary is more important to many than their job “satisfaction” from where they see the life as the more money they have, the better they will be able to take care of their “needs”. But to me, job satisfaction is far more important than the money I will earn from my job.

Q. 2. What skills do you think are needed to get a good job these days?
Answer: In the past, we could get good jobs if we have a good degree or certification and a good result. But, these days, things are a bit tricky when it comes to landing on a good job as just a good degree and good result are not enough. We need to have some “soft skills” also, such as great people and communication skills, planning and organizing skills, good team works, problem-solving skills and great time management skills. On top of that, we also need to be “connected” to a network of professionals in the same fields in which we are looking for jobs. Finally, knowledge and skills in technology, especially in computer and internet, are also important these days to get a good job.

Q. 3. Do you think women should be able to do all the same jobs that men do?
Answer 1: This is a difficult issue to deal with. However, I will be completely honest in my opinion. I don’t necessarily think that women should be able to do the same jobs that men do primarily because of their different job expectation, physical built and safety issues from a job.

Women shouldn’t be really doing works like operating drilling machine to make holes in the streets nor they should be working in military engineering core to build a bridge overnight. Women should also not be doing jobs that require them to do some “heavy lifting” or climbing up to an electric power plant. In fact, I would dare to say that women were not created to do everything that men can dot but rather, women were created to do everything that men are not able to do.  

Answer 2: There is no doubt that women are just as much capable as men in doing many jobs, and perhaps sometimes better in some jobs, which are not really that physically demanding and does not pose threat to women. So I would say a female can do any job that a man can do. But I also believe that just because women are equally adept to do some jobs that men can do, they should not take up any jobs especially if the job environment is not safe for them.

Q. 4. How has technology changed the way we work?
Answer: Technology has changed the way we work by improving things at our workplaces so much so that it will be literally impossible to work without the help of technology these days. If we go to talk about communication at our workplaces, we will see how communication among the employees or management to subordinates or management to management has become fast, instantaneous, collaborative, and more unified because of technology.
 
Because of using computer system like project management software, our businesses and workplaces are way more organized than before as it helps in building, delegating, reviewing, and assessing a task much more efficiently and thus helping in keeping everything on track. Businesses, big and small alike, are now able to use science and math more than ever before, because of using technology, to determine what their customers want, when in the past, they did this mostly on a “hunch”. There are so many other examples like these.

Q. 5. What is the difference between white-collar and blue-collar jobs?
Answer: In an organization, there are hundreds of people who are distinguished by the colour of the dress they worn, and the colours of the uniform specify the “type” of jobs performed by the workers in that organization. Blue-collar jobs in an organization are the jobs which are taken care of by manual labourers who get an hourly or daily wage, based on the performance of their works. Blue-collar jobs do not require higher education. However, a worker should be skilled enough in a specialized field to perform the tasks in an efficient manner. The jobs may include manufacturing, mining, construction, repairs and maintenance, installation of machinery and so on.
 
On the other hands, the white-collar jobs, wherein the employee does clerical works in an office, without getting their clothes “dirty”, and draws a monthly salary at a fixed rate. White-collar workers usually have a higher degree or certification.

The difference between blue-collar and white-collar jobs is fading away with the passage of time due to the low pay scale of the white-collar jobs and high demand for skilled labourers.

Q. 6. What jobs do you think are most valuable to society?
Answer: In my opinion, this is a very “subjective” question because the answer pretty much depends on the individual needs and preference of a person. In a society, where an engineer or medical doctor is highly valued, it won’t exactly be able to understand and appreciate the value of a “trash collector”. Similarly, in a society, where agricultural works are highly valued, it won’t exactly very much for the profession of a “teacher”. However, if I must name jobs that are most valuable to society, then I would go for “farming” and “medical doctor” because both jobs save lives. Farmers save our lives by producing food so that we can eat while a medical doctor saves our lives by diagnosing the disease and prescribing medicines for us when our lives are in danger.



IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic: Transport.

1. How do most people travel long distances in your country?
2. Have the types of transport people use changed much over the last few decades?
3. What kind of improvement have there been in transport in your country in recent years?
4. Do you think transport is likely to continue to improve in the future?
5. Do you think most people should use public transports? Why/ why not?
6. Why some countries impose higher taxes on car ownership? How is the scenario in your country?

Q. 1. How do most people travel long distances in your country?
Answer: In Bangladesh, where I live, most people use either buses or trains when travelling a long distance. Bangladesh has about more than 21,000 kilometres of road, crisscrossed all over the country while about 3000 kilometres of railway. In the year 2017, almost 75 million passengers travelled by rail. However, there is a very tiny percentage of wealthy people who have started to travel by domestic aeroplanes as well. In the past, water transports were highly used throughout the country but in recent days, the use is restricted to villages only.

Q. 2. Have the types of transport people use changed much over the last few decades?
Answer: As a developing nation, Bangladesh still is heavily reliant on affordable public transports, but over the last few decades, the country has gradually started to prefer a bit expensive private transports, such private cars, private minivans and private commercial buses, over the public transports because of their “easy” availability. This change has taken place, of course, because of the steady economic growth in the country over the last few decades. Another significant change, which my country has witnessed in the last few decades, is that the number of motorbikes has skyrocketed (because of their availability and affordability) as more and more people are relying on these two-wheeled vehicles in order to travel short distance rather easily and conveniently.

Q. 3. What kind of improvement have there been in transport in your country in recent years?
Answer: In recent years, the road and transportation system in Bangladesh has significantly improved as more wide highways and roads have been built to facilitate the transportation a greater number of vehicles from one part of the country to another. Major bridges over the large rivers, connecting one part of the country to another, and elevated expressways have also been built in order to significantly reduce the travel time and length.

As for the improvements in vehicles, more and more luxurious buses and trains with air conditioning systems have been added, both in private and public sectors, in order to ensure the comfort and luxury for the passengers recently. The number of domestic flights of aeroplanes has also increased significantly over the last few years as more and more passengers are becoming interested in using aerial routes.

Q. 4. Do you think transport is likely to continue to improve in the future?
Answer: Yes, I have every reason to believe that the improvement in our transportation sector will continue to improve in the future as the county is well on course to become a middle-income developed country in the next decade or so. Besides, with the ever-increasing economic and development activities in the country, Bangladesh has no choice but to develop its road infrastructures and overall transportation system sooner rather than later. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if I see that a significant number of people are taking the aerial routes to travel from one part of the country into another in the near future in order to save time.

Q. 5. Do you think most people should use public transports? Why/ why not?
Answer: Yes, I think that most people should use public transports, depending on their availability, as they seem to be more affordable and more reliable in most cases. Besides, in a developing nation like Bangladesh, allowing private citizens to dominate a particular service sector almost inevitably will pave the way for “abuse” and “exploitation” of the existing system in order to “reap off” the citizens financially. On top of that, with more and more people using public transportation systems, the country will be able to put a “cap” on the “indiscriminate use” of private transports, even when not needed, in order to prevent the roads and streets from getting over-crowded. And, as a result of this, we will be able to keep a “cap” on air pollution as well in our country.

Q. 6. Why some countries impose higher taxes on car ownership? How is the scenario in your country?
Answer: The primary reason to impose hefty taxes on car ownership is to discourage citizens from buying and using more and more private cars and to curb air pollution.

The scenario in my country is not much different when it comes to imposing higher taxes on car ownership. In fact, over the last decade, the number of private cars has increased to such extent that the government has been forced to put a tax on the ownership of a new car as high as 300% of the purchasing price in some cases!

This kind of high taxes is only natural in countries where there are a huge number of travellers with significantly limited road infrastructures as this is how the government of a country tries to limit the number of private cars on the streets. This should be also a familiar scenario in countries where there are risks of higher air pollution than its normal danger level. 



IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic: Famous Person.

1. Do you think that famous people are generally happier than ordinary people?
2. What qualities does a person need to have in order to be famous?
3. Is it easier or more difficult to achieve fame today than in your grandparents’ time?
4. Describe the ways that famous people influence the public.
5. Do you think more is expected from famous people than ordinary citizens?
6. What types of people become famous in your country? Do you want to be famous?

Q. 1. Do you think that famous people are generally happier than ordinary people?
Answer: The problem with the definition of “happiness” is that it just has no common definition and meaning that is accepted by all. In fact, every individual chooses to define happiness in his/ her own unique way the way he/she deems it.

So, are the famous people are generally happier than ordinary people? Well, I would venture to say that being “famous” has nothing to do with being “happier” simply because “happiness” is nothing but just a state of mind. Of course, famous people are usually more satisfied than the average people because their “needs and wants” are easily met at their wills. But, unfortunately, we tend to confuse ‘satisfaction’ with ‘happiness’. However, does that necessarily mean that famous people can’t be happier than ordinary people? Well, the answer is, of course, they can be, but it will be so not because they are “famous”, but because they just “choose” to remain happy with or without having the “satisfaction” in life just like the “ordinary” people.

Q. 2. What qualities does a person need to have in order to be famous?
Answer:  Becoming a famous and “successful” person is not really easy. But, a person can become famous in his/her own right by winning against all the challenges and battles, thrown at him or her, because of carrying certain qualities in his or her life. And, some of these qualities are 'passion, persistence (or patience), hard works, positive attitude, self-reliance, self-confidence, integrity and rock-strong willpower'. Of course, a person also needs to have his or her fair share of “luck” as well in order to become famous. But, of all these qualities, I would say that “patience” may prove out to be the most important and decisive factor in attaining the “fame” as one may need to wait a long time to achieve it. However, it is worth mentioning here that if a person’s sole intention is to become “famous” by hook or by crook, without necessarily understanding the “value” of it, the “success” will probably be a very “short-lived” matter for him or her at the end of the day. 

Q. 3. Is it easier or more difficult to achieve fame today than in your grandparents’ time?
Answer:  Yes, for better or worse, it is easier, generally speaking, to “achieve” fame today than in our grandparents’ time primarily because today people have more scopes and opportunities at their disposal to advertise themselves on different kinds of media channels due to the technological advancements. Besides, we also seem to have “compromised” a lot with the traditional social and cultural values in becoming famous. In fact, it looks like the more one can behave “out of the box”, the easier it gets for him or her to be famous. I have a friend who has more than 80 thousand YouTube followers and he is kind of famous in his community. It was unheard of during my grandparents' era, thanks to the technological advancement we have in our modern days.

Q. 4. Describe the ways that famous people influence the public.
Answer:  Famous people, be them in sports, politics, cinema, business or whatever, can influence and inspire people with their talent, hard work, sincerity and styles. Sometimes, the way famous people lead personal lives, handle problems and relationships, they can actually set examples for the general public. But, the problem is, sometimes, people tend to forget about their own responsibilities as they may not be able to accept the mistakes of their favourite famous person(s).  Sometimes, they even try to justify not only the mistakes of their favourite famous persons but also their own, which can actually be misleading for the rest of the general public.

Q. 5. Do you think more is expected from famous people than ordinary citizens?
Answer:  Yes, I do think that more is expected from famous people than ordinary citizens as being famous usually mean that they have more “power” and “influence” to accomplish good things economically, socially and culturally in order to help the average people with no or very limited “power”. Famous people also have the power to communicate or to reach a large segment of ordinary citizens as they are the leaders to their followers more often than not. Therefore, it is only natural for the ordinary citizen to expect that famous people must have a good sense of responsibility to guide their followers towards a better life.

Q. 6. What types of people become famous in your country? Do you want to be famous?
Answer:  People, who work in the film industry and play sports, usually become famous in my country rather quickly. And politicians don’t really lag very far behind them either. However, the difference is, in my opinion, the famous people in the film industry and sports are “famous” because most of the average citizens genuinely like them because of their creativities and performance while people “like” the famous politicians out of “fear”.

Yes, I would like to be famous one day, but I am certainly not looking to be famous “overnight” as many of the “so-called” famous people these days who have pretty much changed the “rules of the game” for worse. 



IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic: Holiday.

1. Why do you think people go on holiday?
2. How important is it for families to go on holiday together?
3. Why do some people go on holiday alone?
4. What kind of holidays will be popular in the future?
5. Is it better to take a holiday in your own country or in a foreign country? Why?
6. What problems can people have on holiday in a foreign country?

Q. 1. Why do you think people go on holiday?
Answer: Life is too short to spend in doing the same things over and over again for all of our lives and become “bored” to death. The only way we can get rid of this “boredom” is to do something different from time to time, and there just seems to be no better way of doing this than going on holidays. So, people go on holidays to enjoy their lives a little and have some fun as it helps them to reduce their stress and increase the level of immunity. In fact, some reports suggest that people, who do not take vacations, have a 21% higher risk of death from all causes.  When you go on holidays, you become more positive about your life and surroundings around you as you get exposed to new environments, different human behaviours, cultures and diverse ways of doing things. In other words, going on holidays serve for you as an unstructured education for you where you absorb “treasures of lessons” which is not possible to gain otherwise.

Q. 2. How important is it for families to go on holiday together?
Answer: It is absolutely important for families to go on holidays together because when working or doing something, we tend to compromise on our relationships, especially within our families. In fact, as “work deadlines” take priority in our lives, we usually miss out on family gatherings and regular bonding opportunities. Now, if we wait for our retirements to compensate for our lost time and opportunities, we will have to wait for a long, long time.

But, luckily we can make up for those lost time and opportunities by going on holidays with our families together by carefully planning them whenever we get an opportunity. In other words, we should never underestimate the power of holidays as a very good way to create an even stronger bond with our families even if it means to spend an hour enjoying a family meal together.

Q. 3. Why do some people go on holiday alone?
Answer: Some people go on holiday mainly because travelling alone can be an incredibly liberating experience with the freedom to do exactly what you want to do, when you want to do, and how exactly you want to do. If you go on holiday alone, there will be no arguments, no compromises and no worrying about which place to visit and what foods to eat. Some people also prefer to go solo because they just don’t like to put up with some “annoying” habits of their fellow travellers.

Q. 4. What kind of holidays will be popular in the future?
Answer: We can debate all we want on what kind of holidays will be popular in the future, but one thing is for sure that some are going to be real “hi-tech” and much more “luxurious” than what it is in the present days. Interestingly, the popular UK newspaper, The Guardian, published a news article in 2014 on what kind of holidays would be popular in the future (in 2024, to be precise) in which it predicted that travellers will “have no need to encounter a single human being” from the moment they check into the hotel to the moment when they check out! In other words, robots will do the job. In fact, hotel rooms will be transformed into digital, hyper-interactive spaces in which even the pillows will be “embedded” with an electronic device(s) to massage your neck and wake you up in the morning! Now, if that wasn’t enough surprising for you, please wait till you read what else the newspaper had to say! Anyway, it went on saying that “the walls will display high definition images of your friends and family, hologram personal trainers will hang out with you and the shower will use sound technology to “agitate” dirt from your body, using a traffic light system to indicate when you’re clean enough to get out.” Sounds pretty cool! Doesn’t it!

Q. 5. Is it better to take a holiday in your own country or in a foreign country? Why?
Answer: I would say that I would prefer to take a holiday in my own country since my country has pretty much everything from blue and beautiful oceans to mountains and from snow to plenty of green spaces and plenty of unique architectures. In fact, my country is among the top 10 visited countries in the world with more than 30 million travellers visiting it every year. So, I would rather be interested to see my own beautiful country than some distant foreign lands. Besides, I would certainly feel more comfortable and secured when having holidays in my own country. On top of that, I haven’t also travelled to most areas and locations in my own country since it has a rather large area. So, if I visit some of those locations, the chances are I will get to see something very unique right here in my own country without ever needing to see them in another country. Of course, I have nothing against visiting another country, but, given what I already have in my country, I would always prefer my own country as a popular holiday destination over others.

Q. 6. What problems can people have on holiday in a foreign country?
Answer:  People can have a number of problems, especially if they don’t know the language of the locals, when enjoying a holiday in a foreign country. For example, you may lose your important stuff, or you yourself might get lost in the process of travelling from one place to another, and you would be in real trouble if you couldn’t communicate your problems properly to the locals. You would also have trouble getting used to the food of a foreign land no matter how “exotic” and delicious they may sound. However, the biggest problem of having holidays in a foreign country would be getting really sick. With no family or close friends (considering that you are travelling alone) and no proper health insurance policy, your life could be in real danger in a foreign country if you were ever to fall sick.



IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic: Technology.

1. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology.
2. In what ways has technology changed your society?
3. How has technology changed the way we communicate?
4. How has technology changed the nature of long-distance relationships?
5. What are the limitations of technology when it comes to interpersonal relationships?
6. How could technology be considered a hindrance for us? Can we overcome it?

Q. 1. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of modern technology.
Answer: Modern technology today is an integral part of our lives, and therefore, we will have to live with it whether we like it or not.

Among the advantages of modern technology, I can say that it has made our lives much easier than it used to be ever before a few decades ago. It has revolutionized our production systems in all kinds of businesses and industries by increasing the output, quality and efficiency at all levels. The advancement in the communication technology, with the advent of the internet, has made communication among us so easy and fast that we can actually talk to each other on video even if we are a world apart from each other. Besides, modern technologies also made it pretty easy for us to get access to virtually any kind of information at any time and anywhere through smart gadgets like the iPad, iPhone, Galaxy tablets and etc.  Finally, the use of modern technology has also made it very easy for us to travel long distances really fast. In fact, nowadays, we can travel a 10 miles distance within just a few minutes, if not any lesser, by using electric trains, aeroplanes and fast cars which were almost impossible even a few decades ago.

On the other hand, one of the greatest disadvantages of using modern technology is it makes us “idle” to a point that we don’t even make an effort to do a calculation as simple as adding or subtracting and use a calculator to do it. But the problem with such “inaction” is that we are actually killing some of our memory cells in our brain. Modern technology is also being used to bring deaths and destruction upon this earth as it helps in building such advanced new war weapons that it was even impossible to imagine them even a few decades back. Finally, as most technological discoveries aim to reduce human efforts, it would only mean that more work is done by machines instead of humans. And as a result, more and more people are losing their jobs to machines as processes are becoming automated, and humans just can’t compete with such processes.

Q. 2. In what ways has technology changed your society?
Answer: For better or worse, technology has changed our society in the way we are earning our livings and the way we interact with each other. It also has changed our “mobility”. Nowadays, because of technology, we don’t rely on just one source of income, and as a result, society has become more “affluent” than in the past. Another remarkable change, that has taken place in our society for good, is that we can travel to any place at any time without wasting our time. Besides, with the advancement of information technology such as the internet and smartphones, my small society feels like it has suddenly become a part of a “much bigger global community”.

Q. 3. How has technology changed the way we communicate?
Answer: Technology pretty much has changed each and every aspect of our lives, but perhaps it is safe to say that it has changed the way we communicate with each other the most with the advent of the internet, mobile phones and smart gadgets.
 
Technology has indeed proved the age-old saying “talk is cheap”- so cheap that we talk to each other by using our phones pretty much always, whether we are staying close to each other or far apart, even when we don’t need it. We have also become lazy to walk even 100 feet or a few minutes these days if we are in need to communicate something to our friends or families since we can do the same in seconds just by pushing a button on our phones. But, if we are not in a mood or feel really lazy to “talk” sometimes, we simply leave or send a message on social media networks and “messenger” to inform others about our “status”. Finally, technology has made communication really “personal” as we can see each other on live video while communicating, no matter where we live with the use of the internet.

Q. 4. How has technology changed the nature of long-distance relationships?
Answer: Technology has changed the nature of long-distance relationships mostly for the better. In the past, we would have to rely on “postal mails”, or expensive “long-distance” calls from our land phones, to communicate with each other. But even that was not always possible due to the limited “infrastructure” necessary to ensure these services efficiently. But, with the improvement in the communication infrastructure and communication technologies, such as internet and smartphones, we can not only communicate with each other in seconds, but we can actually see each other live on video, even if we live in another corner of the world. So, by the way, we wouldn’t be really very surprised if we see one day that the ‘postal mails” are being preserved in a museum as a “thing of the past”.

Q. 5. What are the limitations of technology when it comes to interpersonal relationships?
Answer: Continuing a healthy “interpersonal relationship” is very important for our overall wellbeing. But, unfortunately, modern technology has affected our lives rather negatively by taking the all-important “emotion” away from us to a large extent. In fact, with the advancement of technology, we have become so busy and “robotic” that we don’t even care to say “hello” to the closest members of our families, let alone spending some quality “family time” with them. As a result, the “personal ties and bonds” are becoming very loose with our family members, especially when it comes to the elderly ones, and friends which certainly doesn’t augur well for the wellbeing of our society.

Q. 6. How could technology be considered a hindrance for us? Can we overcome it?
Answer: Modern technology can be considered as an impediment for us when we are relying too much on it. In fact, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to suggest that technology is limiting our potentials and growth, as humans, both physically and mentally. For example, before the advancement of modern technology, we used to walk to a local grocery shop, in order to buy our groceries, which was certainly good for our health and minds (since we could feel more closed to our natural surroundings). But, now, we simply ride in our vehicles to do the same task because we just feel too lazy to get out of our comfort zone. The end result of such “laziness”?  The answer is “Obesity” with a big “O”!

However, the greatest, and also the most dangerous at the same time, in my opinion, hindrance is that we have actually started to believe that without technology, we just won’t be able to survive. In other words, we are leaving ourselves to the “mercy” of technology, and if, God forbids, it ever stops working, our very existence, as a human race, will be at stake. So, can we overcome this hindrance? Yes, we sure can if we just reduce our reliance on technology a little and make ourselves a bit more “active” both physically and mentally.



IELTS Speaking Part 3 topic: Decision Making.

1. Why do some people find it hard to make decisions?
2. How important is it to get advice from other people when making decisions?
3. Why is it sometimes difficult to accept advice?
4. What are some of the most important decisions young people have to make?
5. Do you agree that parents should make important decisions for their children?
6. Is it better to make a decision thinking about what you want or thinking about what other people want?

Q. 1. Why do some people find it hard to make decisions?
Answer: Why do some find it really troublesome to make decisions? Well, they are probably of “libra’ zodiac sign! Well, putting that little joke aside, I really wish that the answer to this question was a simple one, but unfortunately, it isn’t. However, I would like to attribute such “indecision” mostly to the “fear” of what kind of outcomes we would come up with after the decision was made and implemented, simply because we humans, in general, are fearful of the “unknown” even at a time when the “odds’ are very much in favour of some positive results. Making decisions for some people becomes hard also probably because they are just not good enough in gathering all the necessary data and information to make an “informed” decision.

Q. 2. How important is it to get advice from other people when making decisions?
Answer: It is very important, in my opinion, to receive advice from other people always, when making decisions, primarily because it would help one become familiar with an array of ideas and possibilities with regards to the kinds of outcomes he/she would need to expect. Besides, when we are opened to receiving advice from others, the chances are that we would be able to learn about the outcomes when somebody took the same kind of decisions in the past. Finally, we should be opened to receive advice from others, when making decisions, even if they don’t serve our purposes in the present since there is always a chance that they would benefit us in the future.

Q. 3. Why is it sometimes difficult to accept advice?
Answer: It is difficult to accept advice sometimes for some people mainly because of an inherent human characteristic called “ego”. It is because of this “ego”, we sometimes fail to see the “truth” just as we fail to accept advice. In other words, we feel that we know “better” than others and that accepting advice from other people will “belittle” us in front of them. Of course, it also has something to do with the “reliability and trustworthiness” of the persons who are offering advice.
 
Whether a piece of advice will be accepted or not depend largely also on the “location” where the advice is being offered. For example, if we want to advise a person on not do something while he is terribly busy with his works at his office, the chances are that he won’t pay any attention to that advice.

Q. 4. What are some of the most important decisions young people have to make?
Answer: Young people are not “exempted” from making important decisions just because they are called “young”. In fact, they also have to make some important decisions in their lives such what kind of career path to choose; what kinds of subjects to study at universities, or when to get married and start a family. Finally, what kind of “financial” habit and “health” habit to practice is also a very important decision, along with the decisions above I just mentioned, for young people to make if they want to live happy and healthy for the rest of their lives.

Q. 5. Do you agree that parents should make important decisions for their children?
Answer: Parents should make important decisions, in consent with the inputs and opinion of the children, for their children until they reach their “adulthood”. But once they are grown up and ready to leave the “nest”, parents should leave their children alone to make important decisions on their own. If the parents don’t allow their children to make important decisions, they will probably never learn how to take “risks’ in life and live on their own. In fact, parents should always encourage their children to make decisions even if their children are reluctant to do so. After all, parents will never be around them forever to help their children out during crucial times.

Q. 6. Is it better to make a decision thinking about what you want or thinking about what other people want?
Answer: Yes, it is always better to make a decision thinking what I really want instead of worrying about what others really want primarily because it will be me who will have to live with whatever decision I make for the rest of my life one way or another. Of course, it never harms to consult with the people, we love or care for, and ask them what they also want, from time to time in order to bring them on board with my decision, but the decision will always be mine based on what I really want.

One thing, which is worth mentioning here, is that one doesn’t worry what others want, not because he/she has total disregards for others, but because it would be easier for the decision-maker to achieve his/her goal rather easily since he/she is so intimately involved with the decision made.



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Paul Lee
Such a thorough and extensive resource. Thank you so much for this incredible effort.
Santa
Need answers to these questions.