Speaking part 1, cô ngân IELTS ZORBA

Cô Lê Ngân

Speaking part 1: 8.0+
Topic: Borrowing/lending & perfumes


1. Have you borrowed books from others?
No, I don't tend to borrow books, I think many people
either read a book once and then it becomes redundant.
Others like to keep hold of their books so that they can
refer back to them over and over, or simply show off their
collection and make themselves appear to be well read! I
definitely fall into the first category, so I prefer to swap
books, rather than borrow them.


1. Tend to
2. Redundant / rɪˈdʌndənt/
I think many people either read a book once and then it becomes
redundant.
3. well read
Show off their collection and make themselves appear to be well
read!
4. Fall into
I definitely fall into the first category
5. Swap /swɒp/
I definitely fall into the first category, so I prefer to swap books,
rather than borrow them.


2. Have you ever borrowed money from others?

I used to regularly borrow money when I was younger,
but now, not so much. I loathed the feeling of losing
money out of my pay check immediately after receiving
it. Now I definitely prefer lending money, as the feeling
described is far better when the shoe is on the other
foot! it's also nice to be able to bail out friends that you
trust when they find themselves in sticky situations.


1. Loathe/ləʊð/
I loathed the feeling of losing money out of my pay check immediately
after receiving it.
2. The shoe is on the other foot!
Now I definitely prefer lending money, as the feeling described is far
better when the shoe is on the other foot!
3. bail out / beɪl/
4. sticky situations
it's also nice to be able to bail out friends that you trust when they find
themselves in sticky situations.


3. Would you like to lend your phone to others?
I think, like many modern people, I feel naked without my
mobile phone. It is essential for so many things these days.
However, I do often lend my phone to people in need if they
only require use of it for a few minutes, to make a call or
send a message.


1. I feel naked / /ˈneɪkɪd//: unable to protect yourself from

being harmed, criticized, etc.
I feel naked without my mobile phone.
2. People in need
However, I do often lend my phone to people in need


4. Would you like to lend things to others? What would you
like to lend to others?
I can't really think of many things I would like to lend to others.
I'm quite a minimalist so everything that I have is something
which I need to use on a regular basis. And although I
suggested earlier that I like the feeling of helping out friends
by lending them money, unfortunately I am not rich enough to
say that I 'like' doing this, it always comes with a personal cost.


1.Minimalist/’mɪnɪməlɪst/: using very simple ideas or a very
small number of simple elements
2. on a regular basis
I'm quite a minimalist so everything that I have is something
which I need to use on a regular basis.


5. Is there anything that you will not lend to others?
I think the main things I refuse to lend to others are personal
hygiene products such as razors and toothbrushes, I find the
very notion of sharing such things nauseating. They spread
germs and you can catch skin diseases through sharing
razors, so the sharing of such products is not something that
I like to dabble in!

1. Personal hygiene products
2. nauseating / ˈnɔːzieɪtɪŋ/:making you feel that you want
to vomit
I find the very notion of sharing such things nauseating.
3. dabble in / ˈdæbl/to take part inan activity, etc. but not
very seriously
The sharing of such products is not something that I like to
dabble in


Topic 11 Perfume

1. Do you use perfume?
I don't really use after shave on a regular basis. I think it's
an unnecessary luxury product, which is too expensive to
consume in high quantities. However, having said that, I
think that when in a relationship, or courting somebody,
it can be a nice and subtle way to show them that you
are actively making an effort for them.


1. luxury product
I don't really use after shave on a regular basis. I think it's an
unnecessary luxury product,
2. court/ kɔːt/
3. Subtle
4. make an effort for sbd
I think that when in a relationship, or courting somebody, it can be

a nice and subtle way to show them that you are actively making
an effort for them.


2. What kind of perfume do you like?
I'm really not a big fan of men's aftershaves, as I
suggested in my previous answer, I most often wear it
for the benefit of someone else, so it is their taste which
I try to accommodate over my own.
However, when it comes to women's perfumes, I
definitely prefer the sweeter smelling ones.


1. aftershaves
I'm really not a big fan of men's aftershaves,
2. accommodate /əˈkɒmədeɪt/
I most often wear it for the benefit of someone else, so it is
their taste which I try to accommodate over my own.
3. when it comes to
When it comes to women's perfumes, I definitely prefer the
sweeter smelling ones.


3. Do you give perfume as a gift to others?
Yes, I do. My mother is quite fond of perfumes, and my brother is too, so
the amount that I have spent on perfume and aftershave for other people
in my life, probably exceeds the amount that I have spent on myself!
And, actually, this question reminds me of a little anecdote of mine. I once
gifted perfume to a girlfriend, stating that it was my favourite, purely
because I was not a fan of the one she wore all the time. This tends to

amuse people as the reason I did it was because I was not brave enough to
actually tell her that I did not like the perfume which she clearly adored!


1. Exceed /ɪkˈsiːd/ : to be greater than a particular number or amount
- The amount that I have spent on perfume and aftershave for other people
in my life, probably exceeds the amount that I have spent on myself!
2. anecdote/ ˈænɪkdəʊt/: a short, interesting or amusing story about a real
person or event
And, actually, this question reminds me of a little anecdote of mine.
3. adore/ əˈdɔː(r)/
I was not brave enough to actually tell her that I did not like the perfume
which she clearly adored!


4. How much money would you like to spend on perfumes?
I haven't actually bought any perfume or aftershave since living in
Vietnam, so I will answer with reference to British pounds. I definitely
prefer to stay at the cheaper end of the spectrum when buying such
things, but it's one of the rare times when I am happy to spend more
on an item as a gift for someone else than I would feel comfortable
spending on myself. This is because I know the recipient is likely to
appreciate the fragrance far more than I would. So, for myself I would
maybe spend up to £40. But for someone else, perhaps up to £60,
provided that the bottle is a reasonable size.


1. end of the spectrum/ˈspektrəm/
I definitely prefer to stay at the cheaper end of the spectrum when
buying such things,

2. fragrance/ˈfreɪɡrəns/
This is because I know the recipient is likely to appreciate the
fragrance far more than I would.
3. provided that
So, for myself I would maybe spend up to £40. But for someone
else, perhaps up to £60, provided that the bottle is a reasonable
size.


5. What does perfume mean to you?
For me, although I have repeatedly said that I'm not a
massive fan of it, certain perfumes can become quite
pertinent to different stages of your life. What I mean by this
is that you can begin to associate the scent of different
perfumes and aftershaves with certain significant times and
people in your life. Although 'perfume' as a product means
little to me, there are particular scents which will always
evoke particular feelings or memories whenever I encounter
them. The olfactory sense has a fantastic ability to provoke
emotion. For example, 'Cool Water' will remind me of my
dad, and 'White Musk' of my mum. There are countless more
which would remind me of other people.


1. Although I have repeatedly said that I'm not a massive fan
of it,
2. Pertinent/pɜːtɪnənt/:appropriate to a particular situation
Certain perfumes can become quite pertinent to different
stages of your life.
3. evoke/ /ɪˈvəʊk/: to bring a feeling, a memory or an image

into your mind
there are particular scents which will always evoke particular
feelings or memories whenever I encounter them.
4. olfactory/ɒlˈfæktəri/: connected with the sense of smell
The olfactory sense has a fantastic ability to provoke emotion.