BO DE SPEAKING THANG 9 DEN 12 NGOC BACH

YOUR HOME
1.Where do you live?
I live on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, in a district called Tan Phu, about 15 km from the city centre.
2.Do you live in a house or a flat?
I live in a 3 bedroom flat on the 11th floor of a big apartment building.
3.Who do you live with?
I live there with my wife and little baby son.
4.Is it a big place?
It’s pretty big for a flat. It has 3 large bedrooms, one for my wife and I and one for my son when he gets
older. It also has a smaller bedroom that I use as a study and to store things in. The kitchen is small but it
is part of a big open plan living room, so there is lots of space for the family.
5.What is your favourite room?
That would have to be my study because it’s the only room that I can get peace and quiet in. When I’m in
there my wife knows I’m working, so she leaves me alone and I can concentrate on my work.
6.How is your apartment decorated?
I don’t like lots of over the top decoration, so I guess you would describe it as minimalist. The walls are all
white and the furniture is also either white or black. There are very few ornaments or pictures because
again, I like to keep things quite minimal and I hate clutter.
7.Is there anything you would like to change about your flat?
I would like to have a big balcony. We have a sort of balcony at the moment, but we mainly use it for
washing and drying clothes. It would be really nice to have some tables and chairs on a proper balcony,
with maybe a few plants, so we could sit there in the evenings and relax.
8.Do you plan to live there for a long time?
I really like where I live but it is really far from where I work in the centre of town. It takes around 45
minutes to drive there by motorbike and in the hot season and wet season it can be really uncomfortable,
so we will consider moving closer to the centre in a year or so.
9.Do you have a garden?
That’s the best part of where we live, we have a huge garden. It takes around 40 minutes to walk around
it. It has a few play parks for the kids, a number of gyms and four small lakes. We are really lucky to have
it and I try to go for a walk around it every day, if I have time.
10.Are there many amenities?

Not really, because it is on the edge of town. If you want to go for a nice meal, use a swimming pool, go
shopping or head out for a drink, you really have to drive for about 30 minutes. That’s the major
drawback, but if you are organised and buy everything when you are in the centre of town, it’s not so bad.

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STUDY
1. What are you studying at the moment?
I'm studying history at university. It's a four year course, and I started it three years ago, so I have
just one year left. I'm enjoying it a lot so it will be sad to finish.
2. Why did you choose that major?
I was fascinated by being an auditor when I was in high school. At that time I was inspired by my
cousin, who is an excellent auditor. To be a good auditor, I have to be good at accounting so I made a
decision to study it in Hanoi University.
3. Is it a popular subject at your university?
Very popular, in fact it’s one of the most sought after courses. I think there are about 350 people
reading law at Queen’s. I think lots of student’s parents want them to study law so they can get a good job
after they graduate.
4. If you could change to another subject, what would it be?
I planned to study medicine, but then when I went on work experience I fainted at the first sight of

blood, so definitely not that. I’m a real history buff and read books about World War 2 all the time, so I
suppose it would have to be Modern History.
5. What do you like most about your studies?
We learn about many things from the past such as politics and wars, but I like learning about how
people lived in the past the most. It's amazing to see how our lives have changed so much from the past
up until now. In some ways our lives have got much easier now, but in other ways the simplicity of life in
the past made people much happier. Learning about all that is fascinating.
6. What do you hope to do in the future when you have finished?
I'm not sure at the moment, but I may go into teaching. This is why I'm doing the IELTS, as I intend to
carry on and do a Masters in a specific area of history. I'll probably decide for sure what to do when I have
completed that.

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NAME

1) How did your parents choose your name?
To be truthful, I’m not sure how they chose it; I’ve never asked them. I suppose it was just a name
that they both liked, and maybe they thought it suited me.
2) Does your name have any special meaning?
I think it might do, but I don’t know what that meaning is; I’ve never looked it up. Maybe I’ll google it
later today; you’ve made me curious to find out!
3) Is your name common or unusual in your country?
Yes, it’s quite a common name. I remember that there were two other people with the same name as
me in my class at school.
4) If you could change your name, would you?

Not at all, I definitely wouldn’t. My name is part of my identity now, and it would feel strange to
suddenly change it. I don’t think my friends and family would like that either.

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JEWELRY
1. What kind of jewelries do you like?
Well, I think I like all kinds jewelries, like the necklace, the ring, the earring and so on. Since the
women are natural jewelry-lovers, I think the jewelry has already become a part of my life.
2. Have you given other people jewelries?
Yes, I have. I remembered that I sent a beautiful necklace to my best friend when it came to her
birthday. The necklace was made of the white gold and crystal, and its design was very unique. My friend
fell in love with it at the first sight.
3. Why do people like it?
Well, on the one hand, people like wearing jewelry according to the style of their clothes. In this case,
they will look more elegant under the decoration of the jewelry. On the other hand, the jewelry also
symbolizes the social status and the social background.
4. What is your attitude toward jewelry?
Well, I think the jewelry is very important since it can show a person's taste and quality. However, I
do not think that people should buy too much jewelry since it may make people look like an upstart.
5. Why so many people choose to buy expensive jewelry to maintain value?
Well, I think buying expensive jewelry is also a kind of investment. With the development of the
society, the currency may be devalued due to the inflation. Since the material and the design of jewelry
has their own value, people may chose to invest on the expensive jewelry in order to make money.
6. How often do you wear jewelry?
Well, I do not often wear jewelry. In most of the cases, I will only wear the jewelry in some special

occasions, like my friend's birthday party, some annual events.

necklace, the ring, the earring and so on
natural jewelry-lovers
became part of my life
when it came to one’s birthday
be made of white gold and crystal
unique design
fall in love with sth.
at the first sight
on the one hand

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according to the style of clothes
in this case
look more elegant under the decoration of the jewelry
symbolize the social status and social background
show a person’s taste and quality
make people look like an upstart
a kind of investment
currency may be devalued
due to the inflation
has own value
the material and the design of jewelry
in order to

make money
choose to invest
in most of the cases
in some special occasions
annual events

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FRUIT
1. Do you usually eat fruit and vegetables every day?
• Yes, I do. I usually have bananas with my cereal at breakfast time, an apple for lunch, and
sometimes I have melon or some other types of fruit after the main meal. I eat lots of vegetables each day
as well because they’re good for me.
2. What kind of fruit do you enjoy the most?
• I really love bananas because I enjoy the flavour and the fact that they are convenient to take to
school, and they fill us up easily. They’re also healthy.
3. Did you enjoy the same type of fruit when you were a child?
• No, I don’t think so. I used to hate peeling the skin of bananas, so I never really enjoyed eating
them. Then, when I got a bit older, I changed my mind.
4. Do you prefer to eat fruit or vegetables?
• Sometimes, I think I prefer vegetables because they are always part of the meal, not separate, so
it’s easier to get enough vegetables to stay healthy. But then, fruit is so sweet and delicious. I guess I
enjoy both fruit and vegetables equally.
5.Are there any fruits or vegetables you don’t like? Why?
Yes, there are… I’m not a fussy eater, but I really hate onions and seafood… I try to avoid meals that
might contain these products…

6.Do most people eat vegetables in your country?
Yes, they do. Almost every meal has either rice or potatoes and also another vegetable as well, such
as cabbage, carrots, green beans or something like that. Quite a lot of people have a small proportion of
vegetables to meat but at least they always have some kind of vegetable with their meal.
7.Are there many vegetarians in your country?
Yes, quite a lot. Many people choose to avoid eating meat and their diet consists of both vegetables
and grains. There are quite a few restaurants in my city which cater to vegetarians and offer the most
wonderful dishes such as fried aubergine, spinach and potato, onion cakes and things like that. They’re
actually very delicious.

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LETTER
1.At work or in your studies, do you often write things?
Yes, I write a lot of emails as part of my job. I work for a company that has offices in several
countries, so we use email to communicate.
2.How often do you send e-mails?
I probably write between 5 and 10 work emails every day, and I send emails to friends or family a few
times a week.
3.Do you prefer to write by hand or on a computer?
It depends what I’m doing. I prefer the computer for most things because it’s faster and you can save
or copy things, but I still like making notes or writing ideas down by hand.
4.Do you prefer to send letters or emails?
I prefer to send emails they’re so much quicker and easier. But then again I suppose letters are more
personal and a bit more special. I certainly prefer to receive letters and I guess my real answer is that I
get more pleasure out of sending letters too.

5.Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting?
No, I think we will always write by hand as well. I think it’s an important skill, and schools will continue
to teach children to write by hand before they learn to type.

Apologizing
I'm sorry about...
I am sorry that...
I'm very sorry about...
I'm very sorry for...
Please forgive me for...
I'd like to apologize for...
Please accept my apologies.
Please accept my sincere apologies. (very formal)
Asking for Help
I'd be grateful if you could...
I would be grateful if you could...
I would appreciate it if you could...
Could you please...

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I was wondering of you could help me.(informal)
I would like to know...
Asking for Information
I am writing to enquire about...
I am writing to find out about...

What I am looking for is...
I would like to know about/if...
Closing
I look forward to seeing you.
I look forward to hearing from you.
I look forward to meeting you.
Complaining / expressing dissatisfaction
I'm writing to express my dissatisfaction with...
I'm writing to express my annoyance with...
I am not happy about...
...was very disappointing.
Conveying regards
Please give my best regards to your family.
Please pass on my best wishes to your wife and children.
Please give my regards to your parents.
Expressing satisfaction
I was delighted to hear that...
I was very happy to learn that...
I was thrilled to find out that...
I was glad to hear that...
...was very enjoyable.
Expressing concern / sympathy
I was sorry to hear about... (your accident/ illness)
I am writing to express my concern about...
Giving bad news

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I regret to inform you that...(semi-formal)
I am sorry to tell you that...(informal)
I regret to advise you that...(formal)
I am afraid I have some bad news.(informal)
Giving good news
I am pleased to inform you that...(semi-formal)
I am delighted to tell you that...(informal)
I am happy to advise you that...(formal)
I thought you might like to know that...
Giving reasons
This is because...
This is because of...
This is due to... (formal)
This is as a result of...(formal)
This is owing to...(formal)
Making suggestions
Would it be a good idea to...
Perhaps it would be a good idea to...
Thanking
Thanks.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you kindly.
I can't thank you enough.
No words can express my gratitude.
I am extremely grateful for...

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HISTORY
1. Do you like ( to learn about) history?
Yes, I like to learn about history. When I was a student, I enjoyed studying history. I like learning
about things that had happened in the past and discovering why certain events happened. I also like
visiting museums and historical places. I think they are quite interesting and informative. So I like history.
2. Do you think history is important?
Yes, I strongly believe history is important. History is a record of events that had happened in our
past. By studying history, we can learn the lesson of our past and prevent ourselves from making the
same mistakes. So I think history is quite important.
3. Do you think you can really learn history from films or TV programs?
No, I don’t think so. It is true that by watching some history films or TV documentaries we can learn
some things about history that we might not have known before. However, most information presented by
films or TV shows are, at best, simplistic in content and, at worst, full of errors and misrepresentation. So
even thought it might be visually entertaining to learn history through visual media, I don’t think it is the
best way to learn history.
4. Do you think the internet is a good place to learn about history?
Well... Not all sources and websites are of the same quality. Even though there are a lot of historical
information online, it is important to remember that just as there are educational websites run by
professionals and experts, there are also websites full of false and misleading data. So, as long as one is
cautious and verify the validity of the source, the internet can be a good place to learn about history.
5.Do young people feel that history is very important?
Probably not, no, because I think a lot of young people nowadays don’t really feel that history has a
direct impact on their own lives, which I guess is reflected in the fact that not many students choose
History as their major at university, at least compared to other subjects like Accounting or Finance for
example. So I think this is a good indicator that many young people don’t see history as being that

important to them.
6.What is the value of learning about history?
Well I’d say there’s a lot of value in learning it, and one of the main reasons would be that history
quite often repeats itself, so if we’ve learnt history well, we should be able to avoid making the same
mistakes as we did in the past. And as well as this, I guess another important aspect is that history plays
a big part in helping us understand how things came to being. So for example, through learning history,
we get to understand things like why we speak the language we do, and how our country developed the
way it did. And in a way, I think this kind of makes us better appreciate everything we have around us,
instead of just taking it for granted.

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TRANSPORTATION
1. How did you get here today?
A. I came by bike because the roads are pretty congested at this time and a bike is quicker. It only
took me about 15 minutes to get here.
2. Do you often use public transport?
A. Yes, I do. I use the bus almost everyday. It’s the cheapest way to get around even though it’s
really overcrowded and not particularly punctual.
3. How could the transportation system be improved in your country?
A. Well, I think the first step to improvement would be to widen the roads and build to overpasses
and underpasses to help traffic flow more freely which would reduce the congestion in the city center.
Also, it would help if the bus service was improved to make it run more frequently which would help with
the overcrowding in rush hour. I think those are the two main changes that need to happen.
4.What form of transport do you prefer to use? Why?
I prefer to travel by car because it means that I have my own space. Also, the buses and trains in my

city are usually overcrowded; my car is much more comfortable.
5.How much time do you spend travelling on a normal day?
I probably spend about an hour and a half travelling to and from work. I travel during the rush hours,
so there is quite a lot of traffic.
6.What do you do while you are travelling?
I usually listen to the radio or a CD. In the morning I like to listen to the news to find out what is
happening in the world.
7.Do you ever have problems with transport?
Yes, as I said, I get stuck in traffic on my way to and from work. I used to get annoyed by traffic jams,
but now I'm used to them.

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FRIENDS
1. Are your friends mostly your age or different ages?
Most of my friends are about the same age as me because we met at school or university. I've got
one or two friends who are older or younger that I met through work.
2. Do you usually see your friends during the week or at weekends?
I tend to meet up with my friends at weekends because everyone's too busy during the week.
3. The last time you saw your friends, what did you do together?
It was one of my friends' birthday last weekend. Six of us went out for a meal to celebrate.
4. In what ways are your friends important to you?
I think it's important to have friends that you can talk to and share experiences with. My friends make
me laugh, but I know I can also rely on them whenever I need help or support.
5. Do you like to make friends?
Answer 1: I like to do that on a regular basis. I’m a social person, so if I can’t have more friends, I’ll

be bored.
Answer 2: Kind of. I don’t need too many friends, but it’s good to have some new ones. It’s necessary
for me.
6. What are the differences between best friends and other friends?
A best friend is someone you may not talk to very often, but you never feel distant. General friends
are easy to lose so you need to talk to them often.

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MAGAZINE
1.Which do you prefer, reading newspapers or magazines?
I would say I prefer newspapers. Newspapers in just ten or eight pages give you a glimpse of the
entire world, including all the sections. From fashion to the general news to comics to sports to almost
everything. In just one newspaper, you have access to the entire world.
2.What type of stories do you like to read about?
I love reading autobiographies and non-fiction. Autobiographies because they give a glimpse of
lifestyle of a very successful person. You get to know them when they were the mango people and what
they did to become what they became. Their struggle, the inner story, their point of view and for some
reasons I find it quite exciting. Other than this, I like reading non-fiction.
3.Have you ever read a newspaper or magazine in a foreign language? [When/Why?]
Yes, all the time. I lived in another country for several years, so reading in a foreign language was a
normal activity for me, not just newspapers and magazines, but all kinds of documents and literature. I
still do it to maintain my reading skills.
4.Do you think reading a newspaper and magazine can help you learn a language?
Yes, but it depends on your language level. If you are just beginning to learn a language then it can
be very difficult and frustrating – certainly not the best way to try and learn a foreign language – but as

you progress and develop your vocabulary it is a good way to learn expressions and phrases related to
common topics in the news and current affairs, or related to a specific topic in the case of magazines.
5.Why do you think some people prefer magazines to newspapers?
I think the reason might be that magazines are more specific. So, for example if I am interested in
reading about like sports, then a magazine will offer me better articles and more specific, to be concise. It
also de clutters all the things that one does not wants to read.
6.Which magazines and newspapers do you read (why)?
Answer A) I prefer reading magazines on travel. Being a travel host, it is very important for me to
know about more places and understand them theoretically, before taking on my camera and team along
side. Travel magazine also help me to understand the perspective of the other person for a same place
that I have also visited. Apart from it, I like fashion magazines as well. Not for the reasons of fashion, I
find them good entertainer when one wants to just spend time idly.
Answer B) I only read magazines and newspapers if I’m waiting someplace and they are there, and
there is no other alternative. Most of the time, I prefer doing something on my phone. But, either ways, I
like to read sports magazine. Cars and their engines excite me for the most part. I mean, there are
fantastic cars out there and in magazines, a perfect description is given. Newspapers, I rarely read. I
prefer getting the news on either phone or television.

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HOLIDAY
1.What kind of holiday do you like?
I try to avoid tourist traps ... I like to get away from it all and prefer going somewhere off the beaten
track ... last year I had the holiday of a lifetime ... a two week wildlife safari in Kenya.
2. What do you like to do when you’re on holiday?
I enjoy visiting the local places of interest ... I like to go sightseeing and always sign up for guided

tours as it’s a chance to be shown around and take photographs ... one of my hobbies.
3. Do you have many tourists in your country?
Yes ... we have a lot of holiday resorts along the coast that are popular with tourists... most people
come on package holidays and stay in one of the many hotels and self- catering apartments.
4. Do you like holidays? Why / why not?
Yes, I love holidays because I get the chance to take a break from work, to relax and unwind, and to
spend time with my family.
5. Do you prefer to travel or stay at home during holiday periods? Why?
If I can I prefer to travel. It's nice to get away from everything and to have a change of scenery. Also,
I like visiting new places and doing some sightseeing.
6. What do most people do during their holidays in your country? Why?
During the summer especially, I think most British people go somewhere hot and sunny, to escape
from the British weather!
7. When do you prefer to take your holidays? Why?
I like taking my holidays just outside the main summer season, which is July and August. If you go on
holiday in May, June or September, everything is cheaper and places aren't so crowded with tourists.

all-in package/package holiday: a holiday where you purchase the travel and accommodation
together
breathtaking view: an extremely beautiful view
to get away from it all: to take a holiday to escape a busy or stressful lifestyle
guided tour: an organised group shown around a place of interest by an expert
holiday destination: where you go for a holiday
holiday of a lifetime: a special holiday that you are unlikely to repeat
holiday resort: a place where lots of people go for a holiday
hordes of tourists: crowds of tourists
local crafts: objects produced locally

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long weekend: an extended weekend holiday including Friday or Monday
out of season: outside of the main holiday period
picturesque village: very pretty village
places of interest: sites of interest to tourists
wildlife safari: a holiday, often in Africa, to observe wild animals
self-catering: a holiday where you supply your own food
short break: a short holiday
to go sightseeing: to look around the tourist sites
stunning landscape: extremely beautiful countryside
tourist trap: somewhere where too many tourists go
youth hostel: a cheap form of accommodation

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SHOE
1.Do you like shopping for shoes?
It's ok I suppose, but it's not something I especially enjoy doing. You know, for me it's just a matter of
finding the right shoes and buying them, and the faster I can get it done, the better!
2. How often do you buy shoes?
Let me have a little think…um, I guess probably something like once every few months, cos I mean,
the shoes I buy tend to last quite a long time, sometimes even a year or so, before I need to get another
pair. So yeah, on average I'd say I buy a couple of pairs a year. Something like that!

3. What kinds of shoes do you usually buy?
Well, thinking about it, the shoes I normally buy are just plain, simple walking shoes, cos that's all I
really need. Oh and I also occasionally buy trainers for running, but that's pretty much it!
Pretty much = more or less.
4. Do you prefer comfortable shoes or good-looking shoes?
Ah, that's an easy one! I much prefer comfortable shoes, cos for me, comfort is definitely the number
one priority. But that's not to say I don't care at all about how they look. I mean, I don't wanna go around
wearing shoes that look hideous! You know, that would be pretty embarrassing. But as long as they're ok
looking, then that's good enough for me.
5. What kind of shoes do you usually wear?
A) I mostly wear flat shoes rather than high heeled shoes because I find them more comfortable. I
also go for shoes that aren’t lace-ups so that I can slip them on and off whenever I need to.
6. Do you think the type of shoes someone wears reflects their character?
A) Yes, I do. People say that first impressions are important and I think that goes for shoes too. If you
see a person wearing a worn out pair of shoes, it gives you the impression that they that are sloppy. On
the other hand, if you see someone wearing brand name shoes that cost a fortune, you know that the
person has plenty of money to splash around and doesn’t care about costs. So, shoes can tell you a lot
about someone’s character.

shoe
high-heeled shoe
loafer
slippers
walking sandal
flip-flops (also knows as thongs)
trainers (also known as sneakers)
wellington boots (also known as wellies)

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cowboy boot
walking boots (also known as hiking boots)
lace-ups = shoes with laces
to slip something on and off = to put them on and take them off easily
worn out = tatty, shabby, the worse for wear, tired
sloppy = not tidy, lazy, slovenly
cost a fortune = cost an arm and a leg, expensive
have money to splash around = have money to waste, to throw around

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TEACHER
1.Do you have a favorite teacher? / Who was your favorite teacher when you were young?
A: Certainly. I was lucky enough to study with a few amazing teachers, but the most impressive one
is probably a lecturer in my university.
The most impressive one is
Another possible answer:Of course, Yes. I studied with many teachers during my academic career,
but the person who inspired me the most was my Maths teacher in high school.
Academic career
Inspire-：
(1)Incredibly knowledgeable
(2)A sense of humor and friendliness

(3)Strict discipline that drove me to study diligently to reach my potential2.What you have learnt from this teacher?
Besides knowledge, he also teaches us how to adapt to the society. I have learnt comprehensive
skills from him, such as how to get along with other people, how to overcome difficulties and so on, which
are essential to be an useful citizen in the society.
3.Do you still keep in touch with your teacher?
yes, I often send them text messages on teachers' day. Sometimes i go back to school to visit them.
When we have a class reunion, we also invite them as well.
4.Why do people become teachers?
I personally love this profession. I think that people become teachers because they want to help
other people. Teachers play a very important role in the character development of a student. In my
opinion they are serving the society in a very good way.
5.Do you think you could be a teacher?
I don’t think I am suitable to be a teacher, I am not a patient man and cannot bear to repeat the same
things frequently. Teachers’ job is really boring to me, you have to make your explanations as easy as
possible for students to fully understand. It is a challenging job, I am afraid I cannot do it.
6. In the future, do you think machines will replace humans for doing housework?
Not completely, no, because, as I mentioned just now, machines often need humans to operate
them, so I think, in all likelihood, it will continue to be a combination of both machines and humans.

as I mentioned just now
in all likelihood

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FORGETTING THINGS
1.What do you remember to do every day?

Well, there are many things I have to remember to do every day. For example, after getting up in the
morning, I need to take some simple physical exercises like doing some crunches and push-ups.
Besides, another important thing that I should keep in mind is to teach my son to read the traditional
Chinese poems in the evening.
2. What helps people to remember things?
Well, it’s kind of hard to say but people I know around me use the to-do-list apps in their mobile
phones to help them remember what to do next; but maybe for others, they may probably write the urgent
things down in the notebooks.
3. Why do old people forget about things easily?
Well, I guess it’s quite normal that people are more and more forgetful when they are becoming
ageing. Apart from some negative emotional factors like stress and depression, elderly people are easier
to forget things because of their normal ageing.
4. Have you ever forgotten something important?
Oh yes, I nearly forgot the birthday of a woman I liked last time. I once asked her what her birthday
was, and told her I would send her a gift, but I just unbelievably forgot it until the evening that day.
Fortunately I asked her out to dinner to celebrate with her.
5.Why do people often forget small things?
Well, I suppose it could be because they have a lot of things to think about or remember and
sometimes it’s easy to remember big important things - but little things are more easily forgotten.
6. What kind of things do you have to bring when you go out?
Cell phone, of course. I take it with me wherever I go. And my keys, wallet, lipstick are also musthave items. I always put them together in a small handbag.
7.Did you ever forget to bring something?
I rarely forget to bring something as I have a good memory. But there was a time when I forgot to
take my house key before I left home. What was worse, my parents were on their trip. So I had to stay
with my friend for onenight.
8.How do you remind yourself?
I always write a note about what I should bring, and stick it to the refrigerator door. Everyday before I
leave my home, I check it to find out what is missing. And it really works.
9.Do you carry different things in the morning and in the evening?
For me, there is no difference between the things carried in the morning and in the evening, almost

the same.

lose the track of time

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ring a bell
stick in your mind
memory loss
forgetfulness
crystallized memory
fades with time
do memory exercises
reminder app
I often set up alerts on my (Apple) calendar events to remind me that I have to leave for an
appointment
My daily to-do list is written on a notepad at my desk and includes things like, “edit blog post” and
“clean out fridge.” Eventually it all gets done.
A hanging calendar that I lay flat on my desk with large enough spaces to write in reminders.

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SCHOOL
1.How old were you when you started school?
My school is in the vicinity of my house.I went there when I was 6 years old, because it is not allowed
to start school before than 6.
2.How did you get to school each day?
My school was just located near my home, so every day I walked to school with myself, or sometimes
with my neighbours.
3.Tell me something about the school
My school is called the Haiyang Elementary School, which was established 50 years ago in my
hometown. The school was quite spacious as it was large but there were no many students. Besides, the
teachers there were always kind-hearted and responsible for their teaching.
4.What subjects did you study in secondary school (=high school)?
There were many subjects we had to learn at secondary school, such as maths, English, physics,
chemistry, history, geography, and so on. So you can see we had a heavy burden at that time.
5.Have you ever returned to see your old school again?
Yes, every time I go back to my hometown, I’d like to visit my old school and I’ll be very delighted to
see how my school developed. I was really proud of it.
6.Can you describe yourself as a good student?
Well, overall I think I am a good student. ... I am not an eager beaver, nor the teacher's pet... but I'm
good at scientific subjects and, most importantly, I like studying.
7.Do you study English now?
Yes, of course. I've taken an intensive course this year, where I've attend classes three times a
week... And I plan on pursuing my studies in the future, too...
8.Did you enjoy/Do you enjoy studying at school?
I've never really liked school... I'm not a bookworm and a lot of humanities subjects seemed too
boring to me. However, the workload was not too big... The other good thing about school is being able to
see your friends. And fortunately, I had wonderful classmates.
9.What kind of school did you go as a child?
I have always gone to co-ed schools, right from primary to intermediate and it has helped me to be
more comfortable while interacting with opposite sex.

Teacher’s pet
Definition: A teacher’s pet is a student who the teacher likes the best, usually because that student is
very well behaved, does all the homework and gets good grades.

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IELTS example answer: I was a teacher’s pet in almost all my classes, and this made some other
students make fun of me sometimes. However, that didn’t bother me because I always got better grades
than them!
A kiss-up, or to kiss up
Definition: A kiss-up is someone who always flatters, or gives compliments, to another person. In
school, sometimes students kiss up to teachers to try and get better grades or, perhaps, get out of
trouble.
IELTS example answer: Science was never my strongest subject in school, so I always tried to kiss
up to the teacher at the beginning of the year. I would tell my teachers how young they looked, and
sometimes I would bring them little presents.
Side note: This could be used to describe a person in any situation, perhaps a brother or sister who
kissed up to your parents, for example. Get more idioms to describe family here, as this is another very
common IELTS Speaking topic!
Draw a blank
Definition: When you cannot think of a word or idea, your mind is blank and empty.
IELTS example answer: The teacher asked me about the chapter we had read for homework, but I
drew a blank. I suddenly could not remember anything about what I had read the night before.
Side note: This is also a great phrase for buying time on the IELTS Speaking exam!
Cover a lot of ground

Definition: This phrase means to go over a lot of material or information.
IELTS example answer: Although my test preparation class is only one hour, we learn a lot in that
time. I’m amazed at how we cover so much ground in every class.
Side note: This could also be used when talking about work, such as when you describe a meeting in
which you went over a lot of information. Get more idioms for describing work, another very common
IELTS topic.
Learn by heart
Definition: This is lovely idiom which is synonymous with “memorize”.
IELTS example answer: In sixth grade, we had to learn all the states and their capitals by heart. I still
remember all of them!

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ROBOTS
1.Are you interested in robots? Why?
Yes, i have to say that i am fanatical about robots. I uesed to watch a very touching movie named
Cyborg girl, which tells about the love story of a robot and her owner. we often think that robots can not
think and love, but the movie has shown the opposite, by which i was deeply impressed.
2.Why are robots part of many TV shows and movies?
That's a very interesting question ! Scientists and science researchers improve techniques by testing
advanced technologies with robots to better understand our world as well as the universe in the filmmaking field. The audience feel like they have superpowers while the television or film is speaking to
them .
3. Would you like a robot to help out around the home?
I hope so ! I'm in charge of making sure that everyone and everything is in the right place at home .
Almost every day I am in need of urgent help . A robot , my most anticipated assistance , may reduce the
frequency of my daily stress . It can become a part of my family .

4. Would you ride in a car driven by a robot?
I would love to have a car with a robot in it, but only if there is an option of manually driving the car as
well. Having a robot every time in the car, will just take away the fun of driving the car. The fun that you
get, the rush of reaching to a place, the fact that you can control something is amazing. Although, having
a robot will help in having those long trips but a permanent driver is something I’ll avoid.
5.will robots replace human beings in the workplace completely?
Well, i don't think so. Even though robots are massively replaceing human labour and this helps us
avoid potential dangers as well as saving labour, the role of human beings is rereplaceable. We still need
to control robots as well as find solutions for arising problems or process data as robots are still unable to
do these tasks.
6.What kinds of robots would like to have?
Just as I mentioned, I really want to have a robot like Baymax. Since I am so busy with my study
every day, I don’t have any time to do any housework. So it would be great to have a robot that could do
laundry, cooking and cleaning for me, which could save me lots of time.
7.Will robots change our society significantly?
Technology has already made great changes to our lives, and have made a lot of jobs much easier.
Therefore, I am sure there will continue to be changes. However, it is hard to say how significant they will
be.

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INDOOR GAMES
1. Do you play any indoor games?
Absolutely yes! Playing indoor games is a must-do activity for me and my friends. The best part of it
is that you don't have to prepare much or spend money, by simply following the instruction you can get
tons of fun together with friends.

2. Do you prefer to play indoor games or outdoor games?
Well, I'll definitely choose indoor games. Lazy bones as I am, playing outdoor games is a basically a
waste of energy. Even thinking about the burning sun and clothes soaked with sweat makes me sick. On
the contrary, indoor games can energize me without spending too much energy. So indoor games is no
doubt my type.
3. What indoor games did you play when you were a child?
Well, there are lots of indoor games to play for me when I was a child. Card game, puzzles and
indoor hopscotch 室内跳房子 were all very much interesting. More than that, I think it's also my parents'
company that comforted me. No matter how busy they were, they always took some time from their tight
schedule and played with me.
4. Is there any particular indoor games that you liked when you were a child?
Looking back to my childhood, playing hide and seek was the utmost important activity to me. I
always enjoyed the excitement when I was hiding. My heart flooded with adrenaline as the seeker
approached. As they left, the heart felt relief again excited me. Moreover, playing hide and seek can also
build a close relationship with my friends. This indoor game now become my most cherished childhood
memory.
5. What sort of indoor games do children play now?
I think children nowadays are more than willing to play video games. Take my nephew for example,
whenever I propose to play hide and seek, he shows obviously no interest in it. Nevertheless, the moment
I start my PS4, he will rush to my side and stare at me keenly. I guess virtual games now has taken over
reality games.
6. Do you think the young people should spend a lot of time on playing games?
Well, I think so. I think the children can make many friends when playing games together and I think
it is a good opportunity for them to broaden the social circle. Moreover, the children may play games with
other friends, so I think the children can be more active and cooperative during this process.

a must-do activity
The best part of it is that …
have to prepare much or spend money
by simply following the instruction

get tons of fun
I'll definitely choose …

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