Professional Documents
Culture Documents
@MrNiner The Only Vocabulary Book
@MrNiner The Only Vocabulary Book
ONL
Y
VOCABUL
ARY
BOOK
YOUNE
SPE
E
AKI
DT
NGF
OBOOSTYOUR
ROM 5.
0TO8+
ol
How t nI
ear ng
TSspeaki
EL
vocabul
arybyspendi
ng
0mi
1 esaday!
nut
GUARENTEED
MR.
NINER
Mr
.Ni
ner
Di
l
shodMar
upov
I
NGL
IZTI
LISOHASI
DA
I
ELTS-BAND8.
0(L
ist
eni
ng9.
0)
CEFR-C1(
Speaki
ng30/
30)
Taj
riba-7yi
l
O’
quvchi
larsoni-5000danz
iyod
O’qi
tishmet odi
ka-Qi
sqavaqt
da
si
fat
lita’
l
im beri
sh
THE ONLY VOCABULARY BOOK YOU NEED TO BOOST YOUR
SPEAKING FROM 5.0 TO 8+
MUNDARIJA
MUALLIFDAN SO’ZBOSHI…………………………………………………4
HEALTH………………………………………………………………………6
TECHNOLOGY……………………………………………………………….13
ENVIRONMENT……………………………………………………………...22
WEATHER…………………………………………………………………….33
EDUCATION……………………………………………………………….…48
SPORTS……………………………………………………………………...…61
SHOPPING…………………………………………………………………….70
ACCOMMODATION……………………………………………………...…..81
BUILDINGS…………………………………………………………...………89
TRANSPORTATION…………………………………………………………101
MUSIC…………………………………………………………………………109
FAMILY……………………………………………………………….………119
GUARANTEED
BY MR.NINER
MUALLIFDAN SO’ZBOSHI
Hozirgi kunda lug’at yodlash muammosi nafaqat ingliz tili o’rganuvchilari balkim boshqa
tillarni o’rganuvchi insonlar uchun ham muammoli vazifa hisoblanadi. Statistikaga qaraganda
ingliz tilini o’rganishni boshlagan o’quvchilarning 35% birinchi oydan keyin aynan lug’at
muammosi tufayli tilni o’rganishni to’xtatishadi. Ular takrorlaydaigan sabab esa “Men
o’rganishda natija ko’rmayapman”. 18% o’quvchilar esa 3 oydan keyin o’rganishni to’xtatishadi
aynan shu sabab bilan.
O’zbekiston bo’ylab yuzlab o’quv markazlar va ustozlar aynan mana shu sabab orqali
minglab o’quvchilarni dahshatli tartibda yo’qotishadi lekin shu muammoni hal qilish uchun
kamdan-kam ilm egalari o’z hissalarini qo’shadilar.
Ilm ulashishni boshlaganimdan beri bir shiorni o’zimning professional maqsadim sifatida
belgilab oldim. Ingliz tilida ushbu maqsad quyidagicha “Don’t be a user, be a GIVER”. Yani
mavjud narsadan shunchaki foyalanib o’quvchilarga yetkazishi o’qituvchini juda ham yaxshi
darajaga chiqarishi mumkin lekin buyuk va o’z sohasida birinchi o’rinda bo’lishi uchun albatta u
yaratishi kerak. Yaratganda ham shunchaki nomiga yoki faqat o’zining 10-15ta o’quvchisi uchun
emas balkim butun O’zbekistondagi o’quvchilarga foyda beradigan va ularning ilmini yangi
darajaga chiqarishga haqiqattan ham yordam beradigan, foydali narsani yaratishi kerak.
Ingliz tilida dars berish sohasidagi 7-yillik faoliyatim davomida shu narsani anglab
yetdimki. Hozirgacha ishlagan metodika, ilm berish uslublari va texnikalari endilikda
ishlamaydi. Chunki hozirgi yoshlarda vaqt juda ham kam va o’rganishi kerak bo’lgan narsalar
juda ham ko’p. Shuning uchun ham shunaqanggi innovatsiyalar qilish kerakki o’rganuvchilarni
ichidan kemirib borayotgan og’riqlarga bu yechimlar shunchaki malham bo’lishi kerak.
Aynan sizlarga hozir taqdim etayotgan ushbu boshqa joyda uchramaydigan lug’at
kitobimiz sizga xuddi shunday imkoniyatni beradi. Har bir mavzudagi lug’atlar va frazalar
o’zbekchaga audio shaklda tarjima qilingan bo’lib, siz uni o’zingiz xohlagan joyda tinglab
lu’g’atingizni yangi darajaga chiqarishingiz mumkin. Sizga qayer qulay bo’lsa, hattoki yodlashni
imkoni yo’q deb o’ylagan joylarda (avtobus, taksi, piyoda yurish, kafe va hattoki ho******nada
ham) ham bu lug’atlarni yodlab boraverasiz.
Aytishadiku, agarda niyat bo’lsa va maqsad kuchli bo’lsa sharoit bahona bo’lolmaydi.
Sharoit yoki boshqa narsa bahona sifatida tanlandimi unda o’sha inson buyuk bo’lolmaydi.
4
Sizlarda savol paydo bo’lishi tabiiy: Nima uchun shuncha mehnatni bizlar uchun tinim
bilmay qilyapsiz?
Javobi esa oddiy: Alloh roziligi uchun chunki ehsonning avvali o’zingda bo’lgan
bilimni kimgadir o’rgatishdir degan juda ham chuqur manoli gap bor. Agarda har bir
mehnatni qandaydir moddiy manfaat uchun emas balkim Alloh roziligi uchun qilinsa, albatta
Allohnin o’zi bandasiga barakani qo’shqo’llab topshiradi.
5
Health Vocabulary
Key definitions:
health – the physical and mental condition of the body and the extent to which it is free from illness
or injury
fitness – the state of being physically fit and healthy.
healthy diet – mainly eating food that is nutritious and cutting down on sugar and fat.
- Eating a healthy diet can help prevent illness and disease.
health problems (or health issues) – situations where the body is suffering from illness, injury or
disease.
- An unhealthy lifestyle can lead to many health problems in old age.
- Smoking and drinking excess alcohol can lead to many serious health issues.
health risk – any factor that exposes a person to the increased chance of experiencing illness, injury
or disease such as poor nutrition, alcohol or drug consumption, unsafe water, poor hygiene and
sanitation, unsafe sex.
- Binge drinking is a significant health risk and can have many long and short-term consequences.
ill health – suffering from some form of physical or mental illness or disease.
- He had been suffering from ill health for several months before he died.
poor health – the general state of not being in a good condition of health.
- The refugees arrived in a state of poor health having had little food or water for many weeks.
unhealthy – harmful to health or not having good health.
- Smoking is a really unhealthy habit.
- I read in a magazine article that it’s unhealthy to eat too much red meat.
health scare – a state of alarm or anxiety caused by concern about the risk of developing or being
diagnosed with a particular illness or condition.
- Suffering chest pains while playing in the park with his kids was a real health scare and
prompted him to lose weight and get fitter.
good health – the general state of being in a good condition of health.
- Despite celebrating his 90th birthday, Peter had no medical problems and was in remarkably good
health.
healthy lifestyle (or unhealthy lifestyle) – a way of living that contributes to good health and well-
being.
- Regular exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle.
- His excessive weight and the fact that he gasped for breath when he walked were clues to
his unhealthy lifestyle.
health care – the services provided by governments or organisations for the treatment of illness,
injury, disease and to maintain well-being.
- Many governments cannot afford to provide free health care for their people.
health education – education that promotes an understanding of how to maintain personal health.
- Basic health education is vital if child mortality in rural African communities is to be reduced.
health-conscious – to be concerned about how your diet and lifestyle are affecting your health and
take an active interest in maintaining good health.
- After his sister died young of heart disease, Bill became far more health-conscious and made
changes to his lifestyle and diet.
health benefit – the positive effect on a person's health gained from food, activity, medical
treatment or therapy.
- Eating fruit and vegetables has many health benefits.
mental health – the state of a person’s emotional and psychological well-being. The health of the
mind.
- Stress or bullying at work can lead to serious mental health problems.
6
to look after your health / to take care of your health – to eat well, drink alcohol sensibly and
take exercise.
- I believe I’m still able to enjoy an active life in my 80’s because I have always looked after my
health.
to regain your health – to recover from illness or injury.
- Sunita was very ill with the flu but is gradually regaining her health.
Health Vocabulary Set 2: Fitness
diet – the type of food and drink a person usually eats and drinks.
- In many Asian countries, the staple diet includes lots of rice and vegetables.
or
diet – an eating plan where someone eats less and/or changes what they eat to lose weight and to
become healthier.
- I’m going on a diet because I’m too fat to fit into my favourite dress.
balanced diet – a combination of healthy types and amounts of food.
- Eating a balanced diet is important for staying healthy.
dietary habit – eating similar things regularly.
- Dietary habits are hard to change, especially for people addicted to junk food.
dietary requirement – the correct types and amounts of food to maintain health which may vary
from person to person depending on age and lifestyle.
- In many poor communities, people can’t grow or buy enough food to meet their basic dietary
requirements and so they get ill.
comfort food – types of food that provide a feeling of well-being. They are typically sweet and
high in calories.
- I always feel happier after eating a slice of chocolate; it’s such a great comfort food.
portion – the amount of food served to a person
- When I visited the US I was shocked at the oversized portions served in the restaurants. No
wonder obesity is such a big problem over there.
7
additive – A substance which is added to food in order to improve its taste or appearance or to
preserve it.
- I try to avoid food that is full of additives because I think they are bad for your health.
nutrients – a substance that provides the essential elements needed for living things to survive and
to grow.
- Most fast food contains very few nutrients. I like to eat cook my own meals so that I can be sure
they are nutritious.
binge drinking – drinking an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time or drinking to
get drunk.
- There’s a worrying increase in binge drinking among young people in many societies today.
you are what you eat – makes a connection between the food someone eats and the state of their
health.
- I feel so much better and have lots more energy since I cut out junk food and started eating more
healthily. I guess it’s true that “you are what you eat”.
Health Vocabulary Set 4: Health issues
8
- It took my gran a while to get over the effects of her fall but she’s back on her feet again now.
to be on the mend – to be recovering after ill health.
- I suffered from depression after my brother was killed in an accident last year but I’m on the
mend now and beginning to enjoy life again.
to make a speedy recovery – to recover quickly from an ill health.
- The doctors said that it was because he was so fit and healthy that he made a speedy
recovery from the operation on his fractured shoulder.
road to recovery – the process of becoming healthy again.
- They didn’t think she’d survive the bout of pneumonia with her weak chest but she’s finally on
the road to recovery.
clean bill of health – a decision by a doctor that a person is healthy.
- Tony changed his lifestyle after suffering from heart problems and has now been given a clean
bill of health by his doctor.
fit as a fiddle – to be in very good health.
- I was fed up with feeling tired, full of aches and pains and always getting colds so I changed my
diet and took up running. Now I’m as fit as a fiddle.
to feel washed out – to not have much energy after an illness.
I’m much better than I was but I’m still feeling washed out.
Health Vocabulary Set 5: Health Care
9
symptom – a physical or mental change to the body that is caused by illness.
- Yang Li had many of the typical symptoms of flu including aching muscles and a high fever.
to catch a cold – to get a cold.
- There were lots of people coughing and sneezing on the tube this week so it’s hardly surprising
that I’ve caught a cold.
a chesty cough – a cough caused by mucus in the lungs.
- Whenever I get a cold it nearly always develops into a chesty cough.
a runny nose – a nose that has mucus coming out of it.
- I hope that my runny nose is due to the cold weather and not a sign that I’m coming down with a
cold.
a blocked nose – when the nose has excess fluid due to a cold.
- A blocked nose is one of the worse symptoms of a cold as it can make it difficult to breathe.
a sore throat – when the throat is inflamed causing pain when swallowing.
- I find that a drink of honey and lemon helps to soothe a sore throat.
high temperature – when body temperature is high than the average body temperature ranges
of 97°F (36.1°C) to 99°F (37.2°C); often a symptom of illness.
- When I was young, my mother only believed my story of feeling ill and not going being well
enough to go to school if I had a high temperature.
to be sick / to vomit / to throw up – when the contents of the stomach are expelled through the
mouth.
- Camilla’s two-year-old son ate six pieces of cake when she wasn’t looking and as then sick all
over the kitchen floor.
- Jared drank far too much at the party and threw up on the way home.
diarrhoea – a condition where the body’s solid waste matter becomes more liquid than normal and
is discharged from the body more often.
- Diarrhoea is considered a minor complaint in the developed world but in the developing world,
around 1.5 million children a year dies of it mainly due to unsafe drinking water, inadequate
sanitation and poor hygiene.
splitting headache – a continuous severe pain in the head.
- After a day of intense meetings with the boss and senior managers, Brigit went home with
a splitting headache.
to pull a muscle – to overstretch or tear a muscle causing pain.
- Anatoly was favourite to win the 100 metres but fell to the ground in pain after pulling a
muscle before reaching the finish line.
cuts and bruises – minor injuries. With cuts, the skin is torn but with bruises, it is not.
- Lucy got knocked off her bike cycling to work today and was lucky to get away with just cuts and
bruises.
IELTS-Style Speaking Test Questions and Answers
Part 1
1) What do you do to stay healthy?
I eat a balanced diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and take some form of exercise every
day. I also make sure that I get enough sleep.
10
I really want to take up yoga because I often feel stiff after exercise and I think it would help. It
would also make me more flexible and less likely to get injured when I work out.
Part 2
Describe a change you have made to improve your health and that you would recommend to
others.
You should say:
what it is
why you decided to do it
how you have benefitted from it
and explain why you would recommend it to others.
I often make changes to my lifestyle to try and look after my health but the one I’d like to tell you
about is cutting down on how much meat I eat.
There’s been a lot of stuff in the media about how unhealthy it is to eat too much meat, especially
red meat and processed meat. I was already fairly healthy and ate a balanced diet, but when I took
up a new sport, which involved vigorous exercise, I started to think that maybe I should try to cut
down on it a little. I was particularly concerned about the increased risk of heart disease and of
having a stroke. I know a healthy diet can help to prevent these.
I started by cutting out meat one day a week and making a vegetarian meal instead. This was easy
so I started doing it twice a week and then for three days. Soon I began to look forward to my non-
meat days as I was discovering many delicious foods that I’d never tried before. I also started to eat
more fish which has many health benefits.
Within two months I’d lost nearly half a stone in weight. Although I hadn’t actually had a weight
problem, it was a nice surprise. Even better, my cholesterol level went down which I was especially
pleased about. I certainly felt as fit as a fiddle. Many of my friends who still eat lots of red meat
suffer from high cholesterol and I’m sure there’s a connection.
Over time, I’ve found that the less meat I eat, the less I want to eat, and I’m now down to just
cooking meat dishes at the weekends. Maintaining this diet is made easier by the fact that I live on
my own so can cook and eat whatever I want to without being influenced by anyone else. If I had to
cook a chicken casserole or steak pie for my family I don’t think I’d be strong enough to resist
eating it myself.
I don’t think I’ll ever cut out meat altogether as I enjoy it too much. I can say, however, that going
partly vegetarian has definitely saved me money as meat has gone steadily up in price over the past
few years. For this reason, as well as all the others I’ve mentioned, I would definitely recommend
cutting down on meat.
11
Part 3
12
Technology Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases
13
- Future developments in space travel may mean that our ancestors live on other
planets.
revolutionary – involving or causing a complete or dramatic change and
improvement.
- The development of personal computers has proved revolutionary for business
owners.
revolutionise – to radically change something so it is much better.
- There’s no doubt that computers have revolutionised our lives.
breakthrough – important development or discovery.
Some people argue that the invention of the internal combustion engine was the most
important technological breakthrough of all time.
modern – of the present time; using recent ideas and methods.
- Modern science is transforming the way we understand our world.
modify – to change something in order to make it better.
- Being disabled, I need a car that can be modified to meet my specific needs.
cutting-edge – very modern.
- Our new mobile phone is still in development but it is at the cutting-edge of
technology.
state-of-the-art – the latest stage of development of a product, using the most recent
ideas and method and including the latest features.
- The new aircraft design was state-of-the-art and was expected to revolutionise
passenger’s experience of flying.
advanced – modern and well developed.
- In the developing world, simple technologies such the mechanical water pump are
often more practical solutions to everyday problems than the advanced computer
technologies of the western world.
high tech – using or involving advanced technology.
- Some high tech solutions are less reliable than the basic technology they replace.
indispensable – something you could not manage without; absolutely necessary.
For many people, their mobile phone is indispensable.
outdated – out of date; old-fashioned.
Jared didn’t want to buy a new iPhone but his mobile looked so outdated compared
to those of his friends that he felt pressured into updating it.
obsolete – not in use any more, having been replaced by something better.
Jerry had to close down his small printing business as his old printer had
become obsolete and he couldn’t afford to replace it with the latest state-of-the-art
equipment.
14
- There can be no denying that computers have transformed the way we work and
study.
game changer – a new idea or factor that significantly changes an existing situation
or way of doing something.
- The professor’s new theory was a game changer and if proved correct, brought the
possibility of time travel one step closer.
affect – to influence or cause a change in something.
- Social media has radically affected both how we communicate and who we
communicate with.
influence – the power to have an effect on the character, development or behaviour
of someone or something.
- The influence of modern technology is evident in almost every aspect of our daily
lives from how we shop to how we spend our leisure time.
15
to crash – to suddenly stop working.
- Guti was in the middle of his online English lesson when his computer crashed.
internet – the extensive global system of connected computers that allows people to
share information and communicate with each other.
- I love the fact that I can get free English lessons on the internet.
to surf the internet – to look at a series of websites one after the other.
- I spent hours surfing the internet searching for the best holiday deals.
online – connected to the internet.
- Most of my friends do their grocery shopping online but I prefer to go to the
supermarket and choose my food items myself.
website – a set of pages of information on the internet about a particular subject,
published by a single person or organization.
- I found an excellent website about how to train puppies the other day.
to browse – to look for and look at information on the internet.
- I often browse the internet for gift ideas when a friend has a birthday coming up.
wifi – using radio or microwaves rather than wires to connect to the internet.
- Having a wifi connection gives me so much more freedom in the way I work as I’m
no longer tied to my desk.
wifi hotspot – an area with an accessible wireless network, often a public place.
- Whenever the ship was in port, the crew flocked to the nearest wifi hotspot to
connect with their families back home.
internet connection – the link between a computer and the internet.
- There is such a poor internet connection where I live that I have to go to the library
when I want to get online.
social media – websites and computer programmes such as Facebook or Twitter that
allow people to connect and share content online.
- I have to admit that I connect with my friends on social media more often than I see
them face-to-face.
viral – an image, video or piece of information that becomes very popular very
quickly on the internet.
- The video of her cat riding on a giant tortoise went viral and achieve nearly a
million views.
e-commerce – commercial transactions conducted electronically on the internet.
- Their business really took off when they built an e-commerce website and started
selling their products online.
e-book – a book published in digital form and read on a computer or other dedicated
electronic device.
- The best thing about e-books is that you can download them instantly and start
reading them immediately.
16
privacy – the right to keep personal information secret.
Many internet users are very concerned about the privacy of their personal
information.
censorship – suppressing or stopping certain information being available to the
public.
- The Chinese have their own social media channels as
government censorship means they can’t access Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
internet security – computer systems implemented or actions taken by computer
users to protect their data while using the internet.
- Internet security is a real concern for people making credit card purchases online.
internet safety – computer systems implemented or actions taken by computer users
to stay safe while using the internet.
- I want to learn more about internet safety as I’ve heard many stories about children
being befriended by paedophiles online and I want to protect my own kids
hacker – a person who illegally gains access to a computer system to steal
information or tamper with the system.
- Computer hackers cause huge disruption within the organisations they target and
could even pose a threat to our country’s security.
computer virus – a piece of code which is capable of copying itself and typically has
a detrimental effect, such as corrupting the system or destroying data.
- Timor's computer was infected with a computer virus and many of his files were
damaged.
cyber – involving, using, or relating to computers, especially the internet.
- Many business owners live in fear of a cyber attack, especially infection of their
computer network with a virus.
cybersecurity – the measures taken to protect against the criminal or unauthorised
access of electronic data.
- Cybersecurity has become a major industry as computer hackers have become
more and more skilled at breaking into supposedly secures computer systems.
cybercrime – criminal activities carried out by means of computers or the internet.
- Identity theft, where someone steals and misuses your personal information, is one
of the most common types of cybercrime.
17
user-friendly – simple to understand and easy to use.
- I didn’t find my new mobile phone user-friendly at first but my grandson was able
to show me how to use it and now I understand what to do.
microchip – a very small piece of silicon with electronic circuits on it that can hold
large quantities of information or perform mathematical and logical operations.
- One of the greatest technological breakthroughs of modern times was the
development of the microchip.
the digital age – the time since personal computers were introduced and became
central to people’s lives.
- I envy people born in the digital age as they’ve grown up with computers and seem
to find it easier to adapt to new technologies than us older generation.
AI (artificial intelligence) – the development of computers or computer-controlled
robots to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence.
- Although AI is still largely confined to science fiction, some people believe there
will come a time when computers will rule the world.
electronic – a device that operates by electric current passing through it.
- Electronic games are extremely popular with both adults and children.
appliance – typically a piece of electrical equipment, such as a kettle or toaster, that
uses less advanced technology.
- Modern kitchen appliances make cooking and baking much easier than they would
have been 100 years ago and save so much time.
Part 1
18
4) Do you enjoy using the internet?
I find it exciting using the internet because I love to learn new things. These days
you can find out almost anything online so computers have been a real game
changer for people like me who enjoy discovering new information.
Part 2
Describe an item of technology you have that is very important.
You should say:
what the technology is
when you got it
how often you use it
and say how different your daily life would be without it.
I have several electronic devices that I use on a daily basis but the one I’m going to
describe is my mobile phone.
I’m never the quickest to adopt new technology and all my friends had them long
before I did. I eventually bought one back in 1999 after my dad had a stroke and was
rushed into hospital. I needed to be in constant contact with my family during this
difficult time so I had to join them in owning a mobile.
I now have an iPhone and keep it with me at all times in case of emergencies but
mainly use it for texting and keeping in touch with my rowing club friends via
WhatsApp. The phone is so high techthat, not being a techie, I only understand and
use a few of the functions. It’s incredible what it can do though, and every now and
then I discover something new about it. In fact, this happened just the other day when
I was out walking my dog.
I often get ideas for my work when I’m out and about and usually carry a notebook
and pen to jot them down before I forget them. If I forget to take the notebook, I type
short notes on my iPhone to remind me of my thoughts. Then last week, I notice a
microphone icon and thought I’d try recording my ideas to play back later.
When I tried this, I found that my mobile actually types out the words as I say them. I
was amazed and over the moon as I’d discovered a quicker and easier way to make
notes. It saves me lots of time and means that I never lose a good idea. I can record as
I’m walking along rather than having to stop and write things down, so my dog’s
happier too as he used to get fed up with me stopping all the time.
It’s quite incredible the advances in technology since I bought that first mobile all
those years ago. Back then you could just make calls and send texts. Having started
as a reluctant user, I now consider my mobile an indispensable part of my life and
19
wouldn’t be without it. My life wouldn’t actually be very different if I didn’t have it
as I’m not addicted to the internet or social media like many people. However, I do
feel a sense of security having one and it also gives me peace of mind knowing that
any of my family can contact me if they have a problem.
Part 3
2) Do you think parents should control what internet sites their teenagers use?
Internet safety is a huge concern for parents these days. Computers and
the internet have so many benefits for young people, for their education and for
staying connected with friends and family, but there are some unpleasant
people online who target children on social media and trick them into building
harmful relationships.
Teenagers are particularly vulnerable because they have a lot of freedom as to who
they connect with and they can be too trusting. Most own mobile devices so can go
online when they’re away from home and their parents can’t see
what websites or social media platforms they’re browsing. Many youngsters are
pressured into posting pictures of themselves naked or lured into sexual relationships,
which is just awful.
I do think that parents should monitor what internet sites their teenagers use,
although this is difficult because of this freedom their kids have and how easy it is to
get online. On laptops and PCs there are settings for limiting access to parts of
the internet, which parents should activate. I’m not sure if you can do this on
mobile devices.
Perhaps the best things parents can do is to discuss internet safety with their children
and make them aware of the dangers they could face online.
20
3) Could you suggest reasons why some people are deciding to reduce their use
of technology?
Many people’s whole lives are controlled by technology, especially the internet.
With so many different devices available and the number of wifi hotspots increasing
all the time, people can surf the internet anytime they want to. It’s easy to waste
hours browsing or posting trivia on social media. This is often for no real purpose
but simply because people are addicted to it. Everywhere you go you see people
tapping away on their mobile phones rather than engaging with the people around
them.
I think some people realise that they’re slaves to technology and have made a
conscious decision to cut down on their use of the internet and their mobiles in
particular. It’s hard to relax with emails, social media posts and texts pinging at you
all the time. There’s more understanding these days of mindfulness and the need to
regularly step back from our frantic, stressful lives. Reducing the use of
our electronic devices can certainly help a great deal with this and I believe this is
many people’s motivation for doing so.
21
Environment Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases
22
Environment Vocabulary Set 2: The natural world – wildlife, plant life &
habitats
wildlife – animals that live in the wild in natural conditions. Birds, fish and insects
are often included in the definition.
- Every evening, a wide variety of wildlife came to the waterhole to drink.
local wildlife – the wildlife to be found in a particular area.
- The children did a school project on their local wildlife.
native wildlife – wildlife that naturally lives in a particular area and is not there as a
result of human intervention.
When cats were introduced to the island, they hunted the native wildlife and cause a
rapid decline in many species.
creature – any living thing that can move independently.
There are some fascinating creatures living in the deep ocean that we know hardly
anything about.
fauna – the animals of a particular region or habitat.
- The group of scientists lived in tents while studying the fauna of the remote
mountain region.
flora – the plants of a particular region or habitat.
- Much of the native flora of Australia isn’t found naturally anywhere else in the
world.
vegetation – the collective name for all the plants growing in a particular place or
area.
- Tropical regions are known for their dense vegetation.
species – a group of animals or plants that have similar characteristics and can
reproduce together.
- Lions are a species of wild cat.
Collocations:
endangered species – a species that is in serious danger of extinction.
threatened species – a species that is likely to become endangered in the near
future.
rare species – an uncommon or scarce species.
protected species – a species which it is forbidden to harm by law.
extinct species – a species of which there are no more alive.
ecosystem – all the living things in an environment and the complex relationship
between each of them and that environment.
- Coral reefs have a delicately balanced ecosystem which can be seriously damaged
by overfishing.
Collocations:
delicately balanced ecosystem – an ecosystem where the loss of a key
species, or several significant species, can seriously affect it.
fragile ecosystem – an ecosystem that does not adapt easily to change and is
easily destroyed by human or physical impact.
23
Mother Nature – nature or weather considered as a force that controls all living
things.
- It’s far better to try and work with Mother Nature than again it.
diverse – varied and very different from one another.
- They were able to grow a diverse range of crops in the rich, fertile soil.
biodiversity – the variety of animal and plant life found in a particular place.
It is important to preserve biodiversity in order to protect our ecosystems.
Collocation:
loss of biodiversity – when species become extinct in an area and there is no
longer such a great variety of species.
ecology – the relationship between animals, plants, people and their environment in a
particular area, or the study of this.
- Ben studied the coastal ecology of Lundy Island in his final year at university.
habitat – the natural home or environment of an animal, plant or other organism.
- The loss of their natural habitat through deforestation is a serious threat to the
orang utan in Borneo.
to inhabit – to live in a certain place.
- The rainforest is inhabited by many different species of monkey.
natural surroundings – the habitat in which a species would naturally live.
- The best thing about going on safari is seeing the animals in their natural
surroundings rather than caged up in a zoo.
to adapt – to change or adjust in response to new conditions.
- With the loss of large areas of countryside to housing development, foxes have had
to adapt to living in towns.
to evolve – change or develop gradually.
- Scientists now believe that humans evolved from apes.
evolution – the process by which living things slowly change and develop over a
long period of time.
- The theory of evolution states that all life on Earth today evolved over millions of
years from simple organisms.
thrive – to grow and develop well or quickly.
- The leopard seal is well adapted to the cold and thrives in the fish-rich waters of the
Arctic.
marine – related to or found in the sea.
- Marine wildlife is badly affected by the amount of waste plastic in our oceans.
nocturnal – active at night.
- Almost all species of bats are nocturnal, preferring to hunt or search for food at
night rather than during the day.
migrate – to move from one region or habitat to another, usually when the season
changes.
- Many birds migrate south to warmer climates in the winter.
extinction – being completely destroyed so that it no longer exists.
- The dodo, a flightless bird once found in Mauritius, was hunted to extinction by
1681.
24
dying out – to become increasingly less common, almost to the point of extinction.
- Tigers are in serious danger of dying out in the wild.
25
-The greenhouse effect is believed by many to be responsible for climate change.
erosion – the gradual wearing-away of something by the natural forces of the wind,
rain and water.
- Crop rotation is important to ensure the soil isn’t left bare and subject to erosion by
the wind and rain.
Collocations:
coastal erosion – damage to the coastline caused mainly by waves.
soil erosion – removal of the upper layer of the soil, mainly by water or wind.
wind erosion – a process where soil or rocks are worn away by the wind.
deforestation – the cutting down or burning of all the trees in an area.
- Deforestation results in the loss of habitat for millions of species, leads to soil
erosion and, according to scientists, is a major cause of climate change.
land clearance – the process of removing vegetation to create new areas of land
suitable for farming.
- Land clearance leaves the soil bare and at risk of serious erosion.
logging – to cut down trees for their timber.
- Uncontrolled logging is destroying vast areas of our precious rainforests.
pollution – damage to water, air or land by harmful substances and waste materials.
- In some cities, the air pollution is so bad that people have to wear face masks when
they go out.
to pollute – to contaminate water, air or land with harmful substances and waste
materials.
- In many countries, heavy industry continues to seriously pollute the environment.
emissions – the production and discharge of something, especially gas.
- Many countries are reluctant to reduce toxic emissions as the huge expense
involved can affect the rate of economic growth.
carbon footprint – the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere as a
result of the activities of a particular individual or organization.
- I have reduced my carbon footprint by cycling to work instead of driving.
global warming – a gradual increase in world temperatures caused by polluting
gases, such as carbon dioxide, which are collecting in the air around the Earth and
preventing heat from escaping into space.
- It’s not too late to reverse the effects of global warming but we must act right now.
Collocations:
to fight / to combat / to tackle global warming – take action to reverse the
effects or promote the issue of global warming.
contribute to global warming – to add to the problem of global warming.
the effects of global warming – the environmental changes caused by global
warming such as climate change.
disposable products – items that are intended to be thrown away after use, generally
after just one or a few uses.
26
- When I was young, things were made to last a long time and be used over and over
again, but now we live in a world of disposable products and have a huge waste
problem.
dumping ground – a place where things that are not wanted are left
- If we continue treating our oceans as a dumping ground, it will eventually become
too polluted to sustain life.
acid rain – rain rainfall made so acidic by atmospheric pollution caused by burning
fossil fuels that it causes environmental harm, especially to forests and lakes.
- In Poland, large areas of forest have been destroyed by acid rain.
to contaminate – to make something poisonous as a result of adding waste or
chemicals.
- Pesticide and fertilisers used on the field can contaminate rivers and kill all the
fish.
degradation – the process in which the quality of something is damaged or
destroyed.
- Soil degradation due to over-farming means that many farmers have had to move
to the cities in search of work.
depletion – the reduction in the number or quality of something.
- Over-fishing has led to the depletion of the ocean’s fish stocks.
fumes – strong, unpleasant and sometimes dangerous gas or smoke.
- Car exhaust fumes are a major contributor to air pollution.
smog – a mixture of smoke, gases, and chemicals, especially in cities, that makes the
atmosphere difficult to breathe and harmful for health.
- Some days the smog is so bad that people are forced to stay indoors.
air quality – the extent to which the air is free of pollution.
- When the company was forced to install filters in their factories chimneys, the air
quality in the area improved considerably.
poisonous – having chemical properties that can cause harm or kill.
- Hundreds of people became seriously ill when poisonous chemicals from the
nearby factory seeped into the water system.
toxic – poisonous.
- The dumping of toxic waste in the ocean is totally unacceptable and must be
stopped.
threat – something or someone that is a risk or a danger.
The greatest threat to the environment comes from the actions of human beings.
to endanger – to expose something to harm or destruction.
- Organised poaching is endangering the survival of the African rhino.
poaching – the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals.
- Elephant’s valuable tusks make them a target for poaching.
drought – a long period when there is little or no rain.
- The severe drought meant that the crops failed for the second year running and
many people faced starvation.
flooding – when an area of land that is normally dry is covered with water.
- We have been told to expect more violent storms and frequent flooding as a result
of global warming.
27
flash floods – a sudden, local flood caused by very heavy rainfall.
- The flash flood washed a whole village from the hillside, killing dozens of people.
28
- Many farmers in my area have installed wind turbines to provide the electricity
they need.
wind farm – a group of wind turbines.
- We were horrified when they got permission to build a wind farm in our beautiful
countryside, but we’re used to it now and understand how important it is to generate
renewable energy.
clean energy – energy produced from renewable energy resources and which doesn’t
produce emissions that contribute to global warming.
- Scientists predict that clean energy could reliably and affordably provide up to 80
per cent of U.S. electricity by 2050.
organic farming – farming without the use of synthetic chemicals.
- Concern for the environment is leading to changes in agricultural methods and
especially to a greater interest in organic farming.
afforestation – the action of planting trees on an area of land in order to make a
forest.
- Afforestation is vital if we are to reduce the carbon-dioxide levels in the
atmosphere.
to go green – to choose an environmentally-friendly lifestyle.
- In an attempt to go green, my family is recycling everything we can and we no
longer buy bottled water.
on foot – to walk rather than use a form of transport.
- When the weather is fine, I go to work on foot rather than catching the bus.
safeguard – take action to protect something from harm or damage.
- It is the responsibility of all of us to safeguard the environment for future
generations.
Part 1
1) Do you think pollution is a big problem nowadays?
I think it’s a massive issue. It really worries me how much damage we are doing to
the natural environment, especially how we pollute the oceans with plastic waste
and release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
29
I recycle as much rubbish as I can and I walk when possible rather than driving or
taking public transport in order to reduce my carbon footprint.
Part 2
Describe an environmental problem you’ve heard about.
You should say:
what it is
how long it has existed
how it affects people’s lives
and explain how you think the problem will develop in the future.
There are a number of serious environmental problems being covered by the media
at the moment but the one I’d like to talk about is the deforestation of vast areas of
rainforest to grow palm oil. I’m not sure when it started to become a concern
to environmentalist but I know that they’re increasingly worried about it.
This land clearance is on a huge scale and the forest is often just burned down. This
sends large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere which
contribute to global warming and climate change. This affects everyone on the
planet.
Just as important is the effect on the native wildlife. Deforestation to grow palm oil
in Borneo and Sumatra destroys the natural habitat of orang utans as well as many
other animals. Conservationistsestimate that unless the situation changes, the orang
utan and Sumatran tiger could become extinctin the wild in the next 5-10 years. In
fact, a third of all mammal species in Indonesia are thought to be
critically endangered because of this type of unsustainable development.
Furthermore, the oil palm plantations that replace the rich vegetation of the rainforest
support very low levels of biodiversity and create a totally a different ecosystem. I
don’t fully understand why the loss of biodiversity is such a problem but I did read
somewhere that it means that our food crops are more vulnerable to pest and diseases.
This could lead to serious food shortages in the future.
I think that the palm oil industry and its associated problems are going to be difficult
to change. Perhaps it’s consumers who can have the biggest impact by refusing to
30
buy products containing palm oil which is in around 40-50% of common household
products in many developed countries. In the UK, there’s already one major food
retailer that has promised to ban palm oil in its own products. This I really
encouraging and I hope other companies will do the same soon.
Part 3
31
foot rather than going by vehicle. Cutting down on car journeys also means fewer
polluting exhaust fumes entering the atmosphere.
Finally, we can make sure that we know about the major conservation issues our
world is currently facing. If we are well-informed then we can take action to bring
about change.
These are all measure we can take as individuals to help safeguard the environment.
32
Weather Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases
33
snow – water vapour frozen into ice crystals and falling to the ground as white flakes.
- I live in a hot climate so we don’t get snow but I’ve seen it in photos and it looks so
beautiful.
snowflake – a single particle of snow.
- Did you know that every single snowflake is different which is quite amazing?
snowing – when snow is falling to the ground.
- It was so exciting to wake up this morning to find that it was snowing.
snowy – when it’s snowing or things are covered with snow.
- Children love snowy weather as it often means that the schools are closed.
fresh snow – snow that has recently fallen.
- The fresh snow glistened in the moonlight, the pristine carpet of white not marked
by a single footprint.
heavy snow – when a lot of snow falls.
- The weather forecast predicted heavy snow so we got out our sledge ready to have
some fun.
a blanket of snow – a complete covering of snow.
- It snowed heavily all afternoon and the countryside was soon covered in a blanket
of snow.
snowstorm – when a large amount of snow falls, often mixed with wind.
- I was still at work when the snowstorm hit and had to sleep in my office as the
buses were cancelled and I couldn’t get home.
blizzard – a storm with very heavy snow and strong winds.
- It’s dangerous driving on the roads in a blizzard.
whiteout – snowfall that is so heavy that it’s almost impossible to see anything.
- I was so glad I decided not to drive to the shops as the light snowfall soon turned
into whiteout conditions.
flurry – very light snowfall.
- The children were hoping for heavy snow so they could make a snowman but all we
got were light flurries.
avalanche – a large mass of snow and ice sliding rapidly down a mountainside.
- It was reported that five skiers were caught in the avalanche and rescuers are trying
to dig them out.
snowdrift – a bank of deep snow formed by the wind.
- The road was blocked by snowdrifts blown by the strong winds.
sleet – a mixture of rain and snow.
- The sleet made the pavements slippery and it was difficult not to fall over.
slush – partly melted snow
- As the temperature rose slightly, the glistening white snow turned to mucky slush.
34
- I put on a thick coat, gloves, hat and a scarf before going outside as it was
well below freezing.
ice – very cold water in a solid state; you only see it when the temperature is below
freezing.
- I had to clear ice from my car windscreen before I could drive to meet my friend.
icy – covered in ice; slippery because of ice.
- It’s better for elderly people to stay indoors when it’s icy as they can easily fall over
and break a bone.
frozen – when the temperature is so cold that water has turned to ice or expression to
mean feeling very cold.
- It was so cold that the surface of the pond was frozen.
- Ingrid got absolutely frozen watching her son’s team playing football.
freezing cold – very cold.
- Bruno was reluctant to take the dog for a walk as it was freezing cold outside.
bitterly cold – extremely cold.
- The sun was shining but there was a bitterly cold wind blowing.
hail – pieces of ice falling from the sky; frozen rain.
- I hate being out in hail because it really hurt when it strikes your face.
frost – ice crystals on a frozen surface.
- I could tell from the frost on the ground that the temperature overnight had fallen
below freezing.
hard frost – when it gets very cold overnight and everything is covered with thick
frost.
- The hard frost turned everything white and made the garden look like a magical
frozen wonderland.
Jack Frost – mythical character who comes out at night and lays out frost.
- We woke in the morning to see that Jack Frost had been in the night.
frostbite – injury to any part of the body caused by overexposure to extreme cold.
- Frostbite is one of the greatest dangers faced by Arctic explorers.
to dress up warm – to wear warm clothes to protect yourself against wintry
conditions.
- If you go out to play in the snow, be sure to dress up warm.
to melt – the process by which snow or ice changes to water as the temperature rises
above freezing.
- After a week of freezing conditions, the temperature rose and the snow finally
began to melt.
a cold spell / cold snap – a short period of cold weather.
- The weather is usually mild at this time of year but the forecasters say we’re in for
a cold spell next week.
- The sudden cold snap had us searching for our hats, gloves and scarves.
chilly – uncomfortably cold.
- Fuyuko was feeling a bit chilly so she turned the heating up.
35
Weather Vocabulary Set 5: Rainy weather
precipitation – water that falls to the earth in the form of rain, hail, mist, sleet, or
snow.
- The average annual precipitation in London is 23 inches (58 cm) which makes it
drier than New York which has an average of 50 inches (127cm) of rain per year.
heavy rain – intense rainfall.
- The heavy rain kept the children indoors all day despite it being the weekend.
torrential rain – very heavy rain.
- The torrential rain was making driving conditions hazardous.
driving rain – heavy rain mixed with strong wind.
- We walked on through the driving rain, wanting to get home as quickly as
possible.
to pour – to rain heavily.
- It was pouring with rain when I set off for the bus stop.
downpour – heavy shower of rain.
- Christian got caught in a downpour on his way to the party but fortunately had an
umbrella with him.
cloudburst – sudden rainfall that it over quickly.
- The sudden cloudburst took them by surprise and they had to run for shelter.
raining cats and dogs – raining heavily.
- What miserable weather. It’s been raining cats and dogs all day.
to get drenched / soaked – to get very wet.
- Ekrem left her coat at home and got drenched in the cloudburst.
- The children had great fun playing in the rain but got soaked to the skin.
rainy day – a day when it rains a lot.
- I quite like a rainy day as I can be lazy and cuddle up by the fire with a good book.
a drop of rain – a small amount of rain.
- There was a drop of rain in the afternoon but it didn’t spoil our day out.
drizzle – very light rain.
- There was a bit of drizzle in the air as we set off on our walk but it didn’t come to
anything.
gentle rain – light rain.
- The gentle rain was quite welcome at the end of a long, hot day as it really cooled
the air.
shower (of rain) – a quick, light rainstorm.
- It was only a shower of rain so we didn’t get too wet.
- It was only a quick shower so we didn’t get too wet.
to get caught in the rain – to be outside when it rains unexpectedly.
- Meena was soaked through having got caught in the rain without a coat on.
to be rained off – to be cancelled or postponed because it’s raining or expected to
rain.
- The pupils were looking forward to the school sports day but sadly it got rained off.
let up – to stop raining.
- We’ll go out for a walk if there’s a let up in the rain.
36
to clear up – when clouds or rain disappear.
- The forecast says that it will clear up by this afternoon.
puddle – a small pool of water usually formed by rainfall.
- When I was young, I loved splashing in puddles.
to flood – when a large amount of water flows over an area of land that is normally
dry.
- There had been so much rain that the road was flooded.
a flash flood – a sudden and severe flood.
- The flash flood brought mud and debris gushing down the road bringing traffic to a
standstill.
burst its banks – when a river overflows onto the land due to heavy rainfall and
causes flooding.
- After nearly three days of continuous rain, the river burst its banks flooding the
town.
rainbow – an arch of colours seen in the sky during or after rainfall when it is also
sunny.
- As the storm passed, a beautiful rainbow appeared in the sky.
monsoon – the season of heavy rain in tropical climates.
- Nearly all of the country’s annual rainfall falls during the monsoon.
rainy season – another term for the time of the monsoon.
- The rainy season in my country is normally July to October.
horrid weather – unpleasant weather.
- I’m fed up of this horrid weather and can’t remember when I last saw any
sunshine.
foul weather – bad weather.
- The foul weather kept the fishing boats in the harbour as it was too dangerous for
them to go to sea.
Weather Vocabulary Pronunciation
37
baking hot / boiling hot – very hot.
- Sunday was baking hot so Duong and his friends headed to the river for a swim.
scorcher – a very hot day.
- The day was a real scorcher, far too hot to be out in the sun for very long.
drought – a long period with no rainfall.
arid – having had little or no rain for a long time; too dry to support vegetation.
- Large areas of Australia are suffering from drought. The land has become arid and
cattle and sheep on the ranches are dying from a lack of food and water.
humid / humidity – hot and damp conditions
- Celeste found the climate in Florida too humid and moved to California where it
was still hot but with less humidity.
stifling – uncomfortable hot; can make you feel breathless.
- The heat of the day was stifling so the expedition travelled only at night when it
was cooler.
sweltering – extremely hot.
- My classroom is sweltering in the summer so I take the children outside and we
have lessons in the shade of a large tree.
close – warm and uncomfortable.
- We don’t have a humid climate in the UK but in summer it is often close which
leaves you feeling sweaty and lethargic.
warm – a temperature in between hot and cold.
- Feeling the warm spring sunshine on your face is such a treat after the long, cold
months of winter.
sunburn – painful red skin caused by being in the sun too long.
exposed to sunlight – allowing strong sunshine to fall on the skin.
- It’s important to limit our exposure to sunlight as sunburn can lead to skin cancer.
suntan / tanned – brown skin caused by long periods of exposure to sunlight.
- Jay got a great suntan on his sailing holiday in Greece and arrived home
looking tanned and healthy.
sunscreen / suntan lotion – a cream or lotion that protects the skin from the
damaging UV (ultraviolet) rays of the sun.
- As children, we were never allowed out to play in the sun without sunscreen on.
glorious weather – wonderful weather.
- We had glorious weather on our holiday in France.
fine weather – lots of sunshine and no rain.
- The fine weather we’re having at the moments has lifted everyone’s spirits.
pleasant weather – warm temperatures and mainly clear skies.
- Jerry made the most of the pleasant weather to get some gardening done.
a break in the weather – when the rain stops for a while.
- I waited for a break in the weather before taking the dog for a walk.
a spell of fine weather – a short period of good weather.
- It’s been a pretty awful summer but we’re finally enjoying a spell of fine weather.
clear blue skies – a sky without clouds.
- The clear blue skies drew hordes of tourists to the beach.
not a cloud in the sky – when no clouds are visible.
38
- There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and it promised to be a glorious day.
cloud – a grey or white mass, made up of very small drops of water, floating in the
sky.
- As the dark clouds drifted overhead, Yana rushed to the garden to bring in her dry
washing before it rained.
cloudy – when there are lots of clouds in the sky.
- Although it was a cloudy day, they still had a good time on the beach.
overcast – very cloudy with no sun is visible.
- Thahn was disappointed that it was overcast for the barbecue but at least it wasn’t
raining.
partly cloudy – when it is sunny and cloudy at the same time.
- The TV weather forecast has said partly cloudy but it ended up being overcast for
most of the day.
dull – not clear, bright or sunny.
- Dull days can be rather depressing, especially at this time of year when it’s cold
outside and daylight hours are short.
39
- The wind started picking up at about 3.00 pm and an hour later had reached gale
force.
Weather Vocabulary Pronunciation
fog – a thick cloud of tiny water droplets close to the ground or sea that makes it
difficult to see.
- I hate driving in fog as it’s hard to see other cars on the road.
foggy – when there is a lot of fog.
- It’s so foggy today that I can hardly see the houses across the street.
smog – fog-like cloud caused by pollution.
- The smog hung over the city and many people wore masks when they went out to
stop them breathing in the polluted air.
40
unpredictable – likely to change suddenly and therefore not easy to predict.
- The weather in the Scottish islands is notoriously unpredictable so it’s best to carry
a raincoat at all times.
weather permitting – if the weather allows it.
- We’ll be having a family picnic in the park at the weekend, weather permitting.
the weather holds – fine weather continues.
- I hope the weather holds as I have a few days off next week.
freak weather conditions – weather conditions, often extreme and destructive, that
are not normal for that place.
- Freak weather conditions are becoming more common due to global warming and
climate change.
41
List of Weather Idioms
We'll start with a couple of general ones:
42
windfall – a large amount of money that is won or received unexpectedly.
- Asha was delighted to receive a windfall on the death of a wealthy relative she
hardly even knew.
to be a breeze: to be very easy or simple.
- I was dreading the English exam but it turned out to be a breeze.
43
Weather Idioms Related To Storms
to go down a storm – to be popular or well received.
- The new flexible working hours went down a storm with the staff.
calm before the storm – a period of calm and stability before a time of great activity
or difficulty.
- The children would be arriving for her daughter’s party in just over an hour but
everything was ready so she sat down for a cup of tea in the calm before the storm.
to weather a storm – to successfully deal with a problem or to get through a difficult
situation.
- The business nearly went under during the recession but they managed to weather
the storm and profits are now rising steadily again.
a storm brewing / a storm on the horizon – a situation where something unpleasant
is about to happen despite everything currently being calm.
- Although no-one has openly objected to the radical shake-up on the team, the coach
could sense astorm brewing.
- Cherie is yet to find out that her best friend went out with her ex-boyfriend and I
sense a storm on the horizon.
stormy relationship – a relationship characterised by lots of arguments.
- Katia and Hugo had always had a stormy relationship so no-one was surprised
when they split up.
to take by storm – to suddenly be very successful in a particular place or with a
certain group of people.
- The new band took the audience by storm when they appeared at their first gig.
storm in a teacup – a small problem or event that has been made more significant
than it really is.
- The row over who used the last teabag was just a storm in a teacup.
to steal someone’s thunder – to take the attention away from someone or deny them
praise or success but saying or doing something they were going to do or say first.
- I was so angry at Arash for leaking information to the staff about the exciting bonus
package I was going to reveal in the meeting. He really stole my thunder.
face like thunder – looking very angry.
- I knew Mum had told Dad about the dent I’d put in his car because he stormed into
the room with a face like thunder.
44
snowed under – very busy, or overloaded with work or things to do.
- I really try to get home in time to eat with the family in the evening but I’m snowed
under at work at the moment and rarely manage it more than once or twice a week.
put on ice – to postpone for another time.
- We were making good progress with the project but it had to be put on ice when
government funding dried up.
IELTS-Style Speaking Test Questions and Answers
45
That’s really difficult as I like things about every season but if I had to choose one, I
guess I’d go for spring. It covers the months of March, April and May in my country
and is actually the time of year I was born.
I spend the cold winter months looking forward to the first signs of spring as nature
comes back to life with the change of the season – things like the snowdrops poking
through the soil, colourful daffodils and crocuses, blossom on the trees, shiny new
leaves and the birds singing their hearts out as they build their nests. It’s such a lovely
time of year.
The weather gradually improves week by week, although we can still get frost right
up to the end of April and even snow, but it’s usually just sleet and turns to slush as
soon as it touches the ground. Hail storms are quite common and bright rainbows,
which we see as a promise of fine weather to come.
Whilst there’s plenty of warm sunshine in spring, a shower of rain is never far
away and the windtends to be quite chilly so you need to dress up warm to go out. I
keep a close eye on the weather forecast before making plans as to what to do.
To sum up the weather, you’d have to say that it’s changeable – a mixture of sunny
spells and cloudbursts is how I’d describe it.
As the temperature rises, I definitely get more active. I start to take longer walks and
go out on my bike more often. Weather permitting, we often have a barbecue on my
birthday.
I also get stuck into some gardening. There’s always lots of cutting down and
clearing up to do, plus the grass begins to grow again and needs cutting. At
weekends, I go to the garden centre to buy bedding plants ready for a
colourful summer display.
One of the best things of all about spring is the lighter evenings, such a relief after
the dark wintermonths. You can now spend evenings outdoors if you want to rather
than being stuck in watching TV.
So you see, there are lots of reasons why spring is my favourite month. I love the
hotter weather of the summer, of course, but there’s something about the freshness
of spring that makes it special.
Part 3
1) How do the different seasons affect the lifestyle of people in your country?
As we have a fairly mild climate, people are able to enjoy the outdoors all times of
the year. Of course, summer is the most popular time for going to the beach and such
like but even on blusterywinter’s days, you’ll see people out walking along the
shore enjoying the fresh air. With ourunpredictable weather, we’re used to
getting caught in the rain whatever the season so we just put on our waterproofs and
off we go.
When it’s warm, people tend to take a picnic when they go out walking or cycling
but in chillyweather, they’re more likely to stop off at a cosy pub or café for
something to eat.
46
One of the biggest differences in our lifestyle through the seasons is down to the
variation in daylight hours. In summer, it’s light until around 10.30pm whilst in the
middle of winter it’s dark by 3.30pm. No-one feels much like going out when it’s
cold and dark so we stay at home more.
2) Do you think people who live in cold places have different personalities to
people who live in warm or hot places?
That’s something I’ve never considered but now I come to think of it, I’m sure they
do. From my experience, people living in cold countries are fairly reserved and quite
serious. Those living in hot climates, on the other hand, are more outgoing and full of
life. That’s apart from the most humidregions where it’s so hot and sticky that you
just want to sit around and do nothing all day.
Although I’d have to agree overall, I think there are many other factors
than temperature and the weather that affect people’s personalities.
3) Do you think there are any problems with the world's climate now?
I believe that we’re facing many serious issues with our climate at the moment and
they're only going to get worse unless we do something about global warming soon.
In my country, the winters are getting milder and wetter and serious flooding is
becoming common. It’s a real problem in many areas. However, that’s nothing
compared to the devastating tropical storms that some parts of the world are
experiencing, more violent ever before. Meteorologistspredict that they will get even
stronger in the future which is a great concern.
One of the most serious problems of climate change is the melting of the icecaps as
it’s causing rising sea levels. It’s possible that many coastal areas could be under
water by the end of the century. Now that really is a worry.
47
Education Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases
preschool – a school for children who are too young to begin their formal education
- Most children in the UK go to a preschool but it isn’t compulsory.
nursery school (UK)/kindergarten (US) – preschool education
- In the UK, most children begin nursery school at the age of four.
primary school (UK)/elementary school (US) – the type of school for children ages
5-11
- Bindi was so excited about starting primary school when the new term started in
September.
primary education – the education of 5-11 year olds
- In an ideal world, primary education would be compulsory in every country.
secondary school (UK)/high school (US) – the type of school for children age 11 to
16, sometimes 18
- I want to teach in a secondary school when I finish my teacher training as I really
enjoy working with older pupils.
co-educational/mixed – a school where girls and boys are taught together.
- These days, most schools in the UK are co-educational.
single-sex school – a school for either male or female students but not both
48
- Both my parents went to single-sex schools but it’s more normal these days to go to
a mixed school.
state school – a school that is funded and controlled by the government and for
which no fees are charged
- The government is facing growing criticism for the underfunding of state schools.
comprehensive school – a state school that accepts pupils regardless of their level of
academic ability or achievement
- There is an ongoing debate as to whether all young people should
attend comprehensive schools or if schools that select pupils on academic ability are
still relevant.
grammar school (UK) – state secondary school that selects their pupils by means of
an examination taken by children at age 11
- Although many people are against selective education where some school places go
to the most academically able pupils, grammar schools are still popular.
private school – a school that is not supported by government money, where
education must be paid for by the children’s parents
- Jonah’s parents decided to pay for him to go to a private school because most
classes only had 20 pupils in.
private education – education parents have to pay for
- Only a small percentage of parents can afford to give their children a private
education.
public school (UK) – an exclusive, expensive school, run independently
public school (US) – a school which is free and paid for by the government
higher education (also called tertiary education) – education beyond the age at
which it is compulsory, usually in a college or university
- Most of Vijay’s friends wanted to leave school and get a job as soon as possible but
he was determined to go on to higher education to improve his career prospects.
boarding school – a school where students live and study during the school term.
- Yu Yang hated boarding school as she missed her family and felt very homesick.
college – a place of higher education where people study specialized subjects or
undertake vocational training for a skilled job
- Hugo applied for a place at the local college to train to be a chef.
university – a high-level educational institution where students study for degrees and
academic research is done.
- Fuyuko wanted to study nursing at university in Australia but had to get a band 7 in
her IELTS exam to be accepted.
49
intensive – fast-paced courses which give a lot of information quickly and in a short
time
qualification – an official record showing that you have achieved a certain level of
education or skill in a particular subject or skill area
- Riya was determined to leave school with good qualifications so she could get a
well-paid job to support her family.
certificate – an official record of achievement, generally issued for a short course
- Shona was delighted to be presented her TEFL certificate on passing her course to
become an English teacher.
diploma – issued for a higher education course that is shorter than a degree
- Greg did so well in his two-year engineering diploma that his tutor persuaded him
to study for another year to qualify for a degree.
bachelor’s degree/or just degree (BA/BSc etc) – qualification issued by a university
or college at the end of three or four years of study
- I’m studying for a bachelor’s degree in marine biology.
- I’m studying for a BA in history.
master’s degree/or just master’s (MA/MSc etc) – qualification issued by a
university when the student has completed further study beyond a degree, often in a
more specialisn'ted field than a bachelor’s degree
- Alonso wanted to stay on at university an extra year to study for his master’s but
his parents couldn't afford the fees.
doctorate (PhD) – the highest level of degree qualification issued by a university
- I’m so proud of my sister for achieving a PhD in biochemistry.
fellowship – a teaching or research post given to a person studying for an advanced
degree.
- Being awarded a research fellowship at my university is a dream come true as it
enables me to stay on and study for my doctorate.
50
- Professor Stephen Hawking was one of the most influential figures in modern
science.
an academic – a person who teaches in a college or university and continues to
research and increase knowledge about their specialist subject
- She was such a bookworm at school and always in the library researching some
topic or other, so it’s no surprise that she became an academic.
pupil – a person, usually a child at school, who is being taught
- The pupils loved Miss Lefebvre’s French lessons as she gave them fun learning
games to play.
student – a person, usually a college or university, who is being taught
- The beginning of the academic year was so busy with all the new students starting
their college courses.
mature student – an adult student who attends college or university some years after
leaving school
- Jose was so grateful for the chance to study for a degree as a mature
student having left school with very few qualifications.
a graduate – a person who has finished their college or university education
- University graduates can usually get higher paid jobs than people with vocational
skills.
peer – a person who is in the same class, age group or social group as someone else
Pupils these days are under a lot of pressure to dress and behave like their peers.
51
physics – the branch of science concerned with the nature and properties of
matter and energy
biology – the study of living organisms
chemistry – the branch of science concerned with the substances of which
matter is composed
geography – the study of the physical features of the earth and its atmosphere, and of
human activity as it affects and is affected by these
religious studies – the study of religion and belief systems
history – the study of past events, particularly in human affairs
information technology (IT or ICT) – the study of the development, maintenance,
and use of computer systems, software, and networks for the processing and
distribution of data
physical education (PE) – instruction in physical exercise and games, especially in
schools
art – the study of artistic techniques such as drawing, painting, sculpture, etc. or the
appreciation of works of art
music – the study of how to play a musical instrument or sing, how to read music,
how to compose music, etc
drama – the study of acting and theatrical performance
home economics – cooking and other aspects of household management, especially
as taught at school
52
- There are many children in the poorest countries of the world who have little or no
access to education and are illiterate.
remedial – involving pupils who need extra help with a particular area of study or
subject
- Pupils who got poor grades use to be put in a remedial class but now they are given
extra support from a learning assistant.
additional needs/special needs – related to students who need special help due to a
learning or physical difficulty
- Shona spend the later part of her teaching career working in a school for students
with additional needs.
extra-curricular activities – activities or subjects offered in addition to the normal
curriculum usually offered outside normal class hours, such as art, cooking or
computer clubs and extra sporting activities
- The most popular extra-curricular activities at Westcroft School were pottery,
badminton and computer programming.
school uniform – a particular set of clothes that has to be worn by pupils
- Do Hyan looked so smarting setting off for school on his first day wearing his
new school uniform.
discipline – a set of rules governing conduct or behaviour
- Schools where a high level of discipline is maintained, generally have above
average exam results
impose discipline
maintain discipline
lack of discipline
timetable – a chart showing times of particular events, such as lesson times in the
school day
- Ruby wasn’t very happy with her new timetable as she had double maths followed
by double science on a Monday, both subjects she found hard.
53
laboratory – a room or building with scientific equipment for doing scientific tests or
for teaching science
- Kate’s favourite part of her degree course in molecular biology was
the laboratory work.
campus – the buildings and grounds of a university or college
- It took me a long time to find my way around the campus when I first started at
university.
halls of residence – a college or university building where students live
- In his first year at college, Somchai lived in a hall of residence, but in his second
year, he rented a house with some other students.
student accommodation – living accommodation for college or university students
- The university offered a range of student accommodation including studio
apartments, flats, halls of residence and shared houses.
54
- At university, I found seminars far more useful than lectures as I learn best in a
small group.
lesson – a period of learning or teaching, usually in a school
- Walter was late for the history lesson and got into trouble with the teacher.
homework – additional coursework work given to pupils to complete in their own
time outside school hours
- Most pupils hate homework as they’d rather be out with their friends or playing
computer games than studying.
correspondence course – a course of study in which student and tutors communicate
by post
- Juan’s local college didn’t offer a course in accountancy but he found a
good correspondence course to give him the qualification he needed.
distance learning – a way of studying in which lectures are broadcast or lessons are
conducted by post or via the internet without the student needing to attend a school or
college or have in-person teacher interaction
- I prefer to study by distance learning as I can work when I want and at the pace I
want.
online learning – Similar to distance learning but done 100% via the internet and
often involving in-person interaction with a teacher online
- I find online learning ideal for preparing for my IELTS exam and enjoy connecting
with my teacher via Skype.
to sit an exam – to take an exam.
- I want to carry on learning for the rest of my life but after I finish my training I hope
I never have to sit an exam again.
tuition fees – the money paid for a course of study, especially at a private school or a
college or university
- High tuition fees mean that many young people can’t afford to go to university.
a grant – money given by the government to support a student while studying
- Bernice was successful in her application for a grant which meant that she could
attend her local university.
a student loan – money which a student can borrow while they are studying, but
which has to be repaid
- Geraint took out student loans of £9000 a year to pay for his tuition of fees and left
university heavily in debt.
a scholarship – money given to someone, often by the institution they are studying
at, to help pay for their tuition
- He was overjoyed to receive a scholarship to Oxford University as his parents
couldn’t afford to pay the fees.
internship – a period of work experience (often unpaid) offered by an employer to
give students and graduates experience of working in an industry related to their field
of study
55
- All students on the course were expected to secure an internship during the long
vacation between the second and third years of their degree course.
unconditional offer – the offer of a place at an educational institution for which you
already meet the entry requirements
- Mustafa was delighted to receive an unconditional offer from his first choice
university and accepted immediately.
conditional offer – the offer of a place at an educational institution which requires
you to meet certain entry requirements, usually specific exam grades
- She was fairly confident that she would get the exam grades she needed to take up
the conditional offer at Bristol University.
to major in – to choose as your main subject
- I want to major in primary education with a specialism in science.
to read (a subject) – to study a specific subject
- Hans read geology at university and is now working for an oil company in the
States.
faculty – department in a university that specialises in a specific subject
- It was a proud day for the university when the faculty of science move into the new,
state-of-the-art building.
research – a detailed study of a particular subject
- I’m really enjoying this research project on the migratory behaviour of the golden
eagle.
conduct research
carry out research
Education Vocabulary Set 12: More common words, phrases & expressions
to work your way through university – to have a paid job while studying to support
yourself financially
- With the steep increase in tuition fees, many students are forced to work their way
through university.
to keep up with your studies – to not fall behind with your work
- Giang would have to limit his time socializing with his friends if he was going
to keep up with his studies.
to fall behind with your studies – to not get your coursework and assignments done
in the time allowed
- She was a hard-working student but fell behind with her studies after catching
pneumonia and having to spend time in hospital.
to learn something by heart – to memorise it
- By the end of his first week learning English, Elisha had learnt all the days of the
weeks and months of the year by heart.
56
gap year – a period, typically an academic year, taken by a student as a break
between school and university or college education
- Many students spend their gap year travelling to get more experience of life before
they settle down to studying for a degree.
to take a year out – to take a gap year
- Before going to the university, I took a year out to travel and also earn some
money.
to enrol – to officially register on a course at a college or university
- She didn’t know an old friend had enrolled on the same course until they met up on
the first day.
sign up for – to commit to something for a specific period such as the duration of a
course
- Having signed up for the photography course, she now had to ask her brother if she
could borrow his camera.
to drop out – to leave a course before completing it
- Hiran was forced to drop out of university when his father became ill and he had to
take over the family business to support his family.
a dropout – a student who fails to complete a course of study and leaves the
educational institution with no qualifications
- Many famous and very wealthy entrepreneurs are college dropouts, which proves
that you don’t need a degree to succeed in life.
Education Vocabulary Pronunciation
57
scrape through – to just pass an exam
- She ran out of time in the exam and left many questions unanswered but
just scraped through with a pass mark.
to resit/retake an exam – to take an exam again in order to get a better result
- Madee needed band 7 in her IELTS Speaking test but only got 6.5, so she had
to retake the exam.
58
There There were three subjects I particularly enjoyed at
school, English, geography and P.E. but if I had to choose a favourite, I guess it
would be geography.
I suppose you start learning about the natural features around you and other countries
in primary school but geography first appeared on the curriculum as a specific
subject in secondary school. I’d been fascinated with other places and cultures for as
long as I could remember. My dad had travelled a lot and had a large map on the wall
with pins in all the countries he’d been to. I loved looking at it so perhaps that’s
where my interest in geography first started.
The geography classroom was great; full of globes, atlases and books about places
that were very different to where I lived. We had a nice teacher called Mrs Rose who
used lots of pictures and maps in her lessons. This was perfect for me as I’m a visual
learner. If Mrs Rose had just talked all the time, as some of our teachers did, I
probably wouldn’t have enjoyed the subject so much or learnt so easily.
I even liked doing geography homework. I can remember sitting at my desk at home
spending hours carefully drawing maps and adding all the features. When my mum
took me to the library on a Saturday morning, I’d look for adventure stories set
around the world or books on how people live in other countries.
When I reached the sixth form and had to choose just three subjects to
study, geography was one of them, although I actually failed my final exam. My
family moved house yet again just before I took it and I was very unsettled. I had a
private tutor for a few months then retook the exam and got a good grade.
At university, I trained as a teacher myself. I chose primary education so
taught geography along with many other subjects. However, during one of my
training placements, the headteacher asked me to spend three weeks teaching the
subject to every class in the small village school, from 5 year olds up to 11 year olds.
It was one of the happiest times in the whole of my career even though I hadn’t even
got my teaching qualification yet.
Part 3
59
used by local people. A university city I used to live in had an excellent theatre that
attracted top plays, shows and performers from around the country.
60
Sports Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases
to keep fit – to keep the body in good physical condition by exercising regularly
- I do several things to keep fit but dancing is the one I enjoy the most.
fitness fanatic – to be obsessed with keeping fit
- Dylan is a real fitness fanatic and goes to the gym every day.
to exercise – to do an activity requiring physical effort, generally in order to improve
health and fitness
- I make sure that I exercise every single day even if it’s only taking the dog for a
walk.
strenuous exercise – exercise that needs a lot of physical effort.
- I used to hate strenuous exercise until I took up running to lose weight and now
really enjoy it.
to get into shape – to become fit
- Jae Hwa was so determined to get into shape that she started cycling to work.
to take up (a sport) – to start playing a sport.
- I have always wanted to take up archery and am going to join the new club that has
just started in my area.
to warm up – to prepare for strenuous activity by doing gentle exercise first
- We always warm up before we start our workout session in the gym.
to cool down – to end a session of strenuous activity with gentle exercises to allow
the heart rate to come down and the body return to a near resting state.
- It’s important to cool down after exercising hard as this helps to prevent injury.
to be out of condition – to be not physical fit (unfit)
- My friend is so out of condition that she gets out of breath walking up the stairs.
training – to work hard at physical exercise and skills in order to be fitter and better
at a sport
- I often don’t feel like training but I know I have to if I want to win more races.
to train hard – to train with a lot of effort and passion
- The team trained hard before the match and beat the other team easily.
fitness programme – a planned timetable of activities to help someone improve
their health and physical condition
61
- Following a fitness programme at my local gym helped me to stay motivated as I
got back into shape after having a baby.
aerobic fitness – having strong heart and lungs and being able to carry out sustained
exercise such as jogging, swimming or cycling
- In order to be a competitive rower, you need a high level of aerobic fitness.
to work out – to exercise, usually in a gym.
- Dhruv worked out at the gym three evenings a week.
a workout – a session of exercises, usually in a gym.
- Cressida found that a workout at the gym helped her de-stress after a hard day at
work.
to bulk up – to make your body bigger and heavier, especially by gaining more
muscle
- He felt so much stronger since he started working out with weights and his body
was really beginning to bulk up.
boot camp – a short, intensive, and rigorous course of training
- William couldn’t believe he’d agreed to go along to the boot camp with his friend.
He didn’t even like exercising.
sports facilities – places and buildings used for sporting activities such as swimming
pools and running tracks
- There are excellent sports facilities at my university which is one reason I chose it.
stadium – a large building, with tiers of seats for spectators, where people watch
sports events such as football matches or athletics
- The stadium was buzzing with excitement as the two teams came out onto the pitch
for the start of the match.
fitness centre – a place where people go to do physical exercise; usually has a gym,
weights equipment and rooms for exercise classes
- I can’t wait for the new fitness centre to open as they’re advertising some great
exercise classes.
sports centre – a building where people can do a range of different sports
- We have a great sports centre in our town which offers everything from martial
arts training to indoor bowls.
gym – a large hall or room with special equipment for doing physical exercises
- If it’s raining when I want to go running, I run on the treadmill in the gym instead.
an athletics track – a sporting facility with a track for running and areas for other
sports such high jump, long jump and javelin throwing
- Each summer we have a big competition for all the schools in our area down at the
local athletics track.
pitch – a surface on which a particular sport is played, such as a football pitch or
baseball pitch, that is marked out with lines
- Victor felt nervous as he waited with his team to go out onto the pitch for the first
big match of the season.
court – a surface where you play sports such as tennis, badminton and squash
62
- Shelley was playing an excellent opponent who made her run from one side of the
tennis court to the other throughout the match.
swimming pool – an area of water, often in a building, created for swimming in
- My mum took me to the swimming pool every Saturday morning when I was a
child.
changing room – a room in a sports building or school where people can change
their clothes before exercise
- The changing room smelt awful with all the sweaty bodies in there after the
football match.
locker room – a changing room where people can leave their clothes in a small
lockable cupboards
- Matilda put in a complaint as many of the lockers in the locker room were broken.
athlete – a person who is very good at sports or physical exercise, especially one who
competes in organised events
- Kofi trained hard for many years to become one of the top athletes in his country.
coach – an expert who trains someone learning or improving a skill
- The coach made them focus on their tackling skills as this was a weakness in their
game.
trainer – similar to a coach but often relates more to the fitness side of training
- Janine has been concerned about working with the new trainer but her performance
improved considerably after just one month.
personal trainer – a coach or trainer who works with someone on a one-to-one basis
- If you find it hard to stay motivated when working out on your own, I recommend
hiring a personal trainer.
competitor – someone who takes part in a sports competition
- There were nearly 100 competitors in the cycle race, so Megan was delighted to
come tenth.
referee – a person who is in charge of a sports game and who makes certain that the
rules are followed
- It’s hard being a referee as not everyone agrees with your decisions.
umpire – a referee in sports such as tennis and cricket
- The umpire ruled that the ball was out of court.
goalkeeper – the player whose job it is to stop the ball going into the goal in games
such as soccer and hockey
- Our goalkeeper was the star of the match after saving two goals in the penalty
shootout.
a personal best – to get a better score or achieve a faster time in your sport than
you’ve ever done before
63
- Although Hicham didn’t win the 400m, he achieved a personal best of 45.38
seconds so was delighted with his performance.
to set a record – to achieve the best result in a particular sport
- I knew my jump was a good one but I couldn’t believe it when I learnt I’d set a new
long jump record for my college.
to break a record – to do something that is better, faster, etc. than anything that has
been done before
- The crowd in the stadium went wild when Usain Bolt broke the 200m record yet
again.
prize – a reward that you get for being successful in a sports competition
- Fahmi didn’t compete for the prize money but because she loved playing tennis.
64
championship – a large and important competition
- She was overjoyed to be selected to run for her country in the
world championships.
tournament – a competition for teams or single players in which a series of games is
played, and the winners of each game play against each other until only one winner is
left
- The school team arrived home with a large trophy after winning the regional
hockey tournament.
regatta – a sporting event involving boats
- Gregor has only been learning to sail for six months when he took part in his
first regatta.
Sports Vocabulary Pronunciation
versus/v – against, used to denote competing teams or players in a sports contest
- The final of the men’s tennis championship was Nadal versus Federer.
to compete – to take part in a competition or sports event
- Jolene was so excited about competing in her first professional golf competition.
competitive – involving competition; wanting very much to win or be more
successful than other people
- Danny was very competitive and trained harder than anyone else in the effort to be
the best hurdler at his county.
league – a group of sports teams who take part in competitions between each other
over a period of time
- If they won the next game, they would end the season top of the league.
to score – to get a point or goal in a game or sport
- Baz scored in the last minute of the match and won the game for his team.
the score – how many points an individual or team has
- The final score was 3-1 to the home side so there was much celebration in the town
that evening.
a draw – when two competitors or teams get the same score
- When the final whistle blew the score was 34-34 so the basketball match was
a draw.
reserve – an extra player who is ready to play if needed
- Narong was pleased to be selected as a reserve but really hoped he’d have a chance
to play.
to drop out – to not do something that you were going to do, or to stop doing
something before you have finished
- She was leading the race until she pulled a muscle and had to drop out in the third
lap.
to pull out – to withdraw before an event or competition
- The crew had to pull out of the regatta after they all fell ill with a stomach bug.
injury – when part of the body is damaged or hurt
- Lena was favourite to win the golf tournament until she picked up a
shoulder injury.
season – a period of the year when a particular sport is played
65
- I love it when the cricket season comes round each year as it means that summer
has finally arrived.
a season ticket – an entry ticket for all of a team’s home games during a specific
season
- For my thirtieth birthday, my family bought me a season ticket to watch my
favourite soccer team play.
amateur – a person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid basis
- Although he only played rugby in an amateur team, it was his dream to turn
professional one day.
professional – a person is paid for playing a sport
- Professional racing drivers get paid vast sums of money.
blow away the competition – to easily beat the opposing competitor or team
- I thought it was going to be a challenging race but he blew away the competition.
neck and neck – when two competitors are level with each other and have an equal
chance of winning
- Coming down the home straight, the two front-runners were neck and neck until
Yoshi edged ahead as they reached the finish line.
front-runner – the person or team considered most likely to win
- There were some excellent gymnasts in the competition but Nadia was definitely
the front-runner and the one to beat.
to get second wind – to experience renewed energy after a period of fatigue
- He began to struggle in the final stages of the marathon but hearing the crowd cheer
him on, he got second wind and finished in the top twenty.
underdog – a competitor thought to have little chance of doing well or winning
- The British skiing team were definitely the underdogs in the competition so
everyone was shocked when they got third place.
IELTS-Style Speaking Test Questions & Answers
Part 1
1) Do you like sport?
I’m a great sports fan. I sometimes watch on it TV but I prefer actually taking part
in sport.
66
Keeping fit is and very important part of my life. In fact, my friends would say I’m a
bit of a fitness fanatic. It helps to keep me healthy and I also work out to be
in good shape for taking part in my sport of rowing.
Part 2
Describe a sports club you belong to or used to belong to.
You should say:
what club it is
when you joined
why you joined
and explain the benefits of belonging to your club.
I belong to Barnstaple Pilot Gig Club. It’s a rowing club but we row a very special
type of boat called a pilot gig. They’re traditional wooden boats, about 30 foot long
and with six rowers and a cox. In the old days, these gigs would have been used to
take a pilot out to sailing ships coming into port and they were also used as lifeboats.
Now gig rowing has become a competitive sport which is gradually growing in
popularity.
I joined the club when it started back in 2010. I’d wanted to row pilot gigs from the
age of 12 when my family started taking holidays in the Isles of Scilly where gig
races between the islanders took place every Friday evening in the summer. I loved
going out on the passenger boats to watch and cheer on the crews. As soon as I heard
about a gig club starting in my own town I jumped at the chance to join.
Back when I was young, I never imagined that one day I’d be racing in the Pilot Gig
World Championships in the Isles of Scilly but I’ve done so with my club several
times now. It’s an amazing experience with over 140 boats taking part. …a bit
different to all those years ago when I used to watch just seven or eight boats racing
while on my holidays.
Although we mostly row on the river, we also train on the sea to prepare us
for rowing in competitions. We compete in regattas all year round but the
main season is from March to September.
Rowing is very strenuous exercise and you need a high level of aerobic fitness as
well as strength. We train hard both on the water and in the gym and I really
enjoy working out and training with the other club members. We’re all close friends
and often enjoy social activities together. I’d go as far as to say that the club is my
social life as well as my sport.
67
I guess that sums up the main benefits of belonging to my club. It contributes so
much to both my physical and mental well-being that I can’t imagine it not being a
part of my life.
Part 3
68
Finally, international sporting events encourage people to get involved
in sport themselves, especially the younger generation. The TV coverage
of competitions for disabled sportspeople in recent years has led to a massive
increase in people with disabilities taking up sports which is life-changing for them.
69
Shopping Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases
Shopping Vocabulary Set 1: Going Shopping
70
- Can I try on these two dresses please as I’m not sure which size will fit me best?
take something back – return an unwanted item to a shop
- I’m going to have to take this jacket back to the shop as the colour doesn’t match
my skirt.
to return an item - to take or send something back to the retail outlet it was
purchased from
- I’ll have to return the jumper I bought online as they sent the wrong size.
exchange – change an item that has been purchased for a different one
- The shirt I bought my dad for his birthday is too large so I’m going to exchange it
for a smaller one.
for sale – available to buy
- I was really impressed by the quality of goods for sale in the new furniture shop in
town.
shopping list – a list of the things you want to buy when you go shopping
- I always take a shopping list when I go to the supermarket so that I don’t forget
anything.
customer service – any activity designed to increase the level
of customer satisfaction, such as help them find finding the right product and
guidance about its use
- I was really impressed with the customer service at the computer shop as a sales
assistant helped me to choose the best laptop for my needs rather than trying to sell
me a more expensive one.
to give someone the hard sell – try to sell someone something in a forceful way
- When I said I needed to go away and think about it before buying the car, the
salesman tried the hard sell on me.
shoplifting - take goods from a shop without paying for them
- My cousin was caught shoplifting again and might be sent to prison this time.
shop online / internet shopping – to buy things over the internet
- It’s really popular to do your grocery shopping online these days and have it
delivered to your house.
- The increase in internet shopping is leading to many local shops closing down
to order – to request a product over the internet or from a shop when the required
item is not in stock
- I must remember to go online and order the computer game my brother wants for
his birthday or it won’t arrive in time.
Shopping Vocabulary Pronunciation
71
retailer – a business or person that sells goods to individual customers, as opposed to
a wholesaler or supplier, who normally sell their goods to another business
- Although supermarkets are primarily food retailers, they also sell many other
things such as electrical goods and clothing.
bargain hunter – someone who is looking for goods that are very good value for
money, usually because they are on sale at a lower price than normal
- My sister is a keen dedicated bargain hunter and rarely pays full price for
anything.
shop assistant / sales assistant – a person who serves customers in a shop
- These days, shop assistants are often too busy chatting to one another to help their
customers.
cashier - the person who takes the money in a shop
- The cashiers were all busy and I had to join a queue to pay for my groceries.
market trader / market vendor – a person who runs a stall at a market
- I was late getting into town and many of the market traders were already packing
away their stalls.
store detective – a person employed by a store to detect and prevent theft from the
store by shoplifters.
- The store detective stopped the man as he was leaving the store and discovered a
stolen bottle of wine in his coat pocket.
Shopping Vocabulary Pronunciation
shop / store / retail outlet – a place where customers can buy goods
- My favourite shop / store / retail outlet to visit when I’m in London is Harrods.
chain store – a group of shops that belong to one company
- These days, most towns in the UK are full of chain stores and there are very few
independent retailers left.
independent stores – shops not owned by large companies
- When I want to buy a special outfit for a wedding, I shop in an independent
store so that I can be sure that no one else will be wearing the same thing.
department store – a large shop that sells different types of items in different areas
or departments of the store
- The department store in our town sells everything from clothes and shoes to
bedding, kitchenware and cosmetics.
convenience store – a small local shop that is open for long hours and sells a limited
range of everyday food and other goods
- If we run out of bread or milk, I send one of the kids down to the convenience
store at the end of the road to buy some.
supermarket – a large shop that sells mainly food and household items
- I buy most of our food at the supermarket, although I do like to go to the local
butcher for meat.
discount store – a shop that sells goods at less than the normal retail price
72
- Having a motor parts discount store near my home means that I can keep my car on
the road quite cheaply.
grocery – shop that sells groceries (the collective term for items of food sold in a
grocery or supermarket)
- I hope that our local grocery store doesn’t close down now that a big supermarket
has been build near town.
greengrocer – person or shop that sells fresh fruit and vegetables
- When I was young I was always given a free apple when I went to
the greengrocer with my mum.
butcher – person or shop that sells fresh meat
- My butcher makes the best sausages in the area.
bakery – shop that sells fresh bread and cakes
- Fresh bread from a bakery always tastes much better than bread bought from a
supermarket.
fishmonger – person or shop that sells fresh fish
- Our fishmonger buys his fish straight off the local fishing boats so it’s very fresh.
farm shop – a shop which sells produce from a farm directly to the public
- Buying from a farm shop helps to support the local economy and guarantees the
produce is fresh.
Shopping Vocabulary Pronunciation
pharmacy – shop that sells medicines
- They were very helpful at the pharmacy and recommended some cough mixture
that has calmed my chesty cough.
chemist (UK) / drugstore (US) – sells medicines and toiletries
- I was glad that mum asked me to pick her tablets from the chemist as they had an
offer on razor blades and I needed some new ones.
newsagents – shop that sells newspapers and magazines
- Harry stopped off at the newsagents on his way to the train station each weekday
morning to buy his daily paper.
pet shop – shop that sells food and other items for dogs, cats and other pets and
sometimes small pets as well
- My dog loves visiting the pet shop with me as he knows that I’ll buy him a dog
chew.
bookshop – shop that sells books
I buy lots of Christmas and birthday present from bookshops as all my family are
keen readers.
DIY store – shop that sells things for home improvement
- Dad has promised me some shelves in my room so we’re off to the DIY store at the
weekend to buy some planks of wood and screws.
hardware shop / ironmonger – shop that sells goods such as nails, screws and hand
tools.
- I love browsing in hardware stores as they sell so many interesting bits and pieces.
delicatessen (deli) – shop that specialises in cooked meats, cheeses, and unusual or
foreign prepared foods
- My special treat is a venison and mushroom pie from our local deli.
73
market – a place where people sell produce and good on small stalls
- I buy all my fruit and vegetables at the market because they are fresher than in the
supermarket.
flea market – a group of stalls selling old furniture or clothes
- The flea market in Portobello Road, London, started in the 1800s and is still
popular with both locals and tourists.
shopping mall – a large enclosed shopping area from which traffic is excluded
- The first time I visited a shopping mall I was so excited to see so many big brand
name shops all in one place.
shopping centre – a large building or a group of buildings containing lots of
different stores, often build away from town centres
- One of the reasons why people like out-of-town shopping centres is that you get
free parking.
Shopping Vocabulary Pronunciation
74
credit card – a plastic card that you use to buy goods or services and pay for them
later
- I’m careful as to how I use my credit card as it is very easy to overspend with one.
cash – money in the form of notes and coins
- I hardly ever use cash these days as I do most of my shopping online.
receipt - a piece of paper showing the amount of money you have paid for something
used as proof of purchase
- I always keep the receipt when I buy something in case I have to return it.
refund – money given back to a customer when they return a product they are not
happy with
- I took the faulty clock back to the shop and asked for a refund.
Shopping Vocabulary Pronunciation
75
- The sunglasses made me look really cool but they were over-priced so I didn’t buy
them.
to save up – to put money aside for something until the required amount is reached
- Khalil was saving up to buy a new bicycle.
haggle – to negotiate the cost of an item
- I had to really haggle with the car salesman to get the price I wanted.
Shopping Vocabulary Pronunciation
checkout – the place where payment is made for goods, especially in a supermarket
- The girl on the checkout was very friendly and chatted as she took the payment for
my groceries.
queue – a line of people waiting
- The supermarket was really busy and I had to queue for ages at the checkout.
shelves – the place where they put the products in a shop, especially in a supermarket
- With Christmas only a few weeks away, the shelves were stacked with festive food.
trolley – a large container with wheels that you use to put products in, especially in a
supermarket
- It’s important to pack your trolley carefully so that your fruit and eggs don’t get
squashed under heavy items.
changing room / fitting room – place in a shop where you can try clothes on before
buying them
- Belita wasn’t sure which size blouse would fit her best so she took a small and a
medium into the changing room to try on.
opening hours – the times when a shop is open for business
- In recent years, many shops have extended their opening hours to stay open later
and catch customers leaving work.
Shopping Vocabulary Pronunciation
76
a luxury – something expensive that you do not need but you buy for pleasure or
comfort
- One day I’m going to treat myself to a luxury car but while the kids are young, a
station wagon is far more suited to our family needs.
status symbol – a product that people want to have because they think othe people
will admire them for owning it.
- Designed clothes are an important status symbol among young people.
second-hand – something that is for sale but has been used before
- I often browse the second-hand clothes shops to see if they’ve got anything worth
having in my size.
fake – imitation or counterfeit
- The sale of fake designer clothes and perfumes is illegal but can make dealers a lot
of money.
genuine – what it is meant to be, not fake
- The leather jackets were so cheap that Marlon doubted that they were genuine.
throwaway society – the idea that we have become a society that consumes a lot of
stuff and readily throws it away, replacing it with new goods
- Whilst the transition to throwaway socieities is good for economic growth, it's
leading to a huge waste problem.
Shopping Vocabulary Pronunciation
3) What changes have you seen in those shops in the past few years?
77
I’ve noticed that the supermarket seems to sell a wider range of goods and services
every year. They now even have their own pharmacy. I think that the main
difference in the department store in an improvement in their customer service.
Part 2
Describe your favourite shop.
You should say:
where it is
what it sells
how often you go there
and explain why you think it is a good shop.
I particularly like browsing shops that sell outdoor wear, things like waterproof
jackets, walking boots, hiking trousers and rucksacks. There are several in my home
town but my favourite is called No Sweat. It’s an independent store and they stock
all the big brand names in outdoor gear. Their goods are expensive but top quality
One reason I enjoy shopping there is their excellent customer service. The sales
assistants are very helpful and do their best to advise you on the best products for
your needs. They never try and give you the hard sell and will recommend a
different brand that they don’t sell if they think it would suit you better.
They are extremely knowledgeable about outdoor gear, which is more than can be
said of the shop assistants in similar stores in town. The other retail
outlets are chain stores and they don’t give you the same personal service or feeling
of confidence that they really know what they’re talking about.
I can’t say that I go to No Sweat very often but I always pop in for a spot of bargain
hunting if they have a sale on or if I need something in particular. I try to avoid
the shop otherwise as it’s just too tempting to spend money I can’t really afford. If I
want something like an expensive new jacket, I generally save up for it.
The last time I went there was to buy a new pair of walking boots. By chance, they
had an offer on a fabulous lightweight waterproof jacket in my favourite colour. It
was at a real knock-down price so I just had to buy that as well. I also bought a
78
couple of t-shirts that were reduced. It all added up to quite a lot of money but they
gave me a free pair of walking socks and some stuff to clean my new boots. They
usually give you free products if you make a large purchase. It makes you feel
valued as a customer.
I think that’s why the shop has been so successful when most independent stores are
struggling to compete with the big high street names. It’s because of the way they
value their customers and give good value for money.
Part 3
1) Do you agree or disagree that women spend more time shopping than men?
I would definitely say that women go shopping more often than men and also spend
longer looking for what they want. For a start, it is usually women
who buy the groceries each week and also clothes for the children if they have a
family. Many women I know purchase most of their husband’s clothes as well
because their men hate shopping.
I think this is less the case with younger men as they are more fashion conscious and
happy to hit the shops themselves. Brand named clothes are a status symbol with
the younger generation as they like to dress to impress. Men more readily pay
for expensive items, especially the latest electronic gadgets, and aren’t too bothered
about discounts.
For women, shopping is often a social activity done with friends. It’s common to
go window shopping and my sister’s idea of a fun morning is browsing the second-
hand shops in town. You never see men doing either of these things.
2) Do people generally prefer to buy products from their own or from other
countries?
I think it varies very much from person to person. On the one hand, there’s an
increasing number of people who choose to buy their meat and vegetables from farm
shops rather than supermarkets. This is partly to support the local economy but also
because they are concerned that transporting produce around the world is contributing
to global warming.
Unfortunately, supermarket products are often cheaper despite having travelled
many miles to the shops. For example, I live in the countryside and can see sheep out
of my window and yet it’s cheaper to buy lamb from New Zealand, 11,000 miles
away, than it is to purchase local lamb.
So, on the other hand, you have people on a low budget who are forced
to buy cheaper supermarketimports even if they don’t want to.
With most goods other than food, there’s often little choice but to buy foreign
imports as most things in the shops come from abroad.
3) Why do you think some people purchase things that they do not need?
In my opinion, unnecessary purchases are made for several reasons. Firstly, many
people, especially the younger generation, like to have the latest gadgets and fashions
79
so they quickly discard old stuff. We have become a real throwaway society. Also,
they want to have the same products as their friends whether they need them or not.
Secondly, these days we tend to have more spare cash to buy luxuries that our
parents would not have been able to afford at our age.
Finally, I think that aggressive advertising convinces people that they need things that
they don’t and, of course, the internet encourages impulse buying as shopping
online is so quick and easy.
80
Accommodation & Home Vocabulary – Common Words &
Phrases
Home Vocabulary Set 1: Key definitions
81
- There is little space for housing in my city and most people live in a high-rise.
block of flats / tower block – a tall building with flats on many levels
- They are clearing some of the old terraced houses in our town and replacing them with blocks of flats.
penthouse – an expensive flat at the top of a tall building in a fashionable area of a city
mansion – a large, impressive house
- If we were rich, I would buy a penthouse in London overlooking the River Thames but my husband
would prefer a mansion on the coast.
villa – a large, often luxurious house in the country or near the sea, especially in southern Europe, and
often rented out for holidays
- We stayed in a fabulous villa when we visited Greece. It even had its own swimming pool.
student digs – student accommodation, often in a shared house
- I was apprehensive about moving into student digs but I’m enjoying it and get on well with my
housemates.
hall of residence – a college or university building where students live in flats
- Shishka lived in a hall of residence for her first year at university then rented a house with some
friends.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
82
landing – area at the top of the stairs
- I’m always telling the kids off for leaving their toys on the landing in case someone trips over them
and falls down the stairs.
utility room – room used for storage and equipment such as the washing machine, freezer, etc.
- It’s a rule in our house that all muddy boots are left in the utility room.
basement / cellar – room below ground level used for storage and sometimes for accommodation
- The children are so excited that our new house has a basement as we’ve promised to turn it into a
playroom for them.
porch – a covered shelter protecting the front entrance of a building
- I’m so grateful for the porch on a wet day when I have to stop and wipe the dog’s feet before going
indoors.
conservatory – a room with a glass roof and walls, attached to a house at one side
- It was Klaus and Meena’s dream to build a conservatory on the side of their house as somewhere to
relax in the sun.
attic / loft – space in the roof used for storage and often converted into accommodation
- Margit regretted putting so much junk up in the attic now that she had to clear it out ready for the
builders to start work on the loft conversion.
pantry / larder – small, cold room used for storing food
- We had a proper larder when I was young but nowadays, most people keep food in the fridge, freezer
or a cupboard.
balcony – a platform enclosed by a wall or bars on the outside of a building, with access from an upper-
floor window or door
- My dream home would have a balcony overlooking the sea.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
83
- Tuyen told the estate agent what sort of property she was looking for and he gave her the details of ten
houses she might be interested in looking at.
to get on the property ladder – to buy a low priced property with the aim of buying another bigger or
more expensive one later in life
- They were fed up with paying high rents and longed to get on the property ladder and invest in a
home of their own.
mortgage – a large loan given to buys a house or flat
- Julio was delighted when his mortgage application was accepted and he could go ahead with his
house purchase.
to take out a mortgage – to borrow money from the bank in order to buy a house
- Taking out a mortgage is a big commitment and most homeowners spend all their working life
paying it off.
first-time buyer – someone buying a property for the first time
- The developer converted the old house into four apartments that would be affordable to first-time
buyers.
repossess – to take back possession of something, especially a property when mortgage payments have
not been made
- Luther lost his job and couldn’t pay his mortgage so the bank repossessed it.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
(all the) mod cons – appliances in the home that make it easy to do jobs like washing, cooking,
cleaning, etc.
- The furnished apartment I’m interested in renting has all the mod cons, including a dishwasher and
tumble drier which many rentals don’t have.
appliances – a device, machine or piece of equipment, especially an electrical one, that does a specific
job in the home, such as a cooker or washing machine
- It must have been such hard work for my grandmother running a home without all the time-
saving appliances we have today.
fitted kitchen – a kitchen with the cupboards and units designed to fit the space exactly and then fixed
in place
- My new fitted kitchen has built-in appliances which make so much better use of the space.
built-in wardrobe – a wardrobe that is part of a room and fixed to the wall
- I didn’t need to buy much bedroom furniture for my first flat as it had built-in wardrobes.
carpeted – the floors have carpet on them
- Some people like bare floorboards in their home but I prefer the rooms to be carpeted.
furniture – items in a home that make it comfortable and functional to live in such as chairs, tables,
beds, etc.
- Wolfgang and Angelika went to town to choose some furniture for their new extension.
utilities – gas, electricity, water
- On top of the rental fee, they had to pay for the utilities as well.
spacious – having a lot of space inside
- Sally loved her friend’s new home, especially the spacious kitchen.
cosy – giving a feeling of warmth, comfort and relaxation
- Old cottages have really thick walls which makes them cool in summer but cosy in winter.
natural light – light from the sun
- I hate houses that are dark inside and like my home to be full of natural light.
elevator (US) / lift (UK) – a box-like compartment housed in a shaft for raising and lowering people or
things to different levels in a building
-Vadim often walked up the stairs to his tenth-floor flat but took the lift if he was carrying shopping.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
84
garden – area of grass or other vegetation beside a house and belonging to the property
- I would hate to live in a house without a garden as I love to grow my own vegetables.
lawn – an area of grass that is cut short, especially in someone's garden
- Our garden is mostly lawn with some flower borders and a vegetable patch.
backyard – a small space surrounded by walls at the back of a house, usually with a hard surface (US –
an enclosed area covered with grass)
- The kids are out playing in the backyard.
terrace / patio – paved area close to the house for relaxing, eating, etc
- In the summer we enjoy relaxing on the patio and often set up the barbeque there.
hedge – a line of bushes or small trees growing close together around a garden or field
The property had a high hedge which gave it good privacy from the neighbours.
fence – a flat upright structure made of wood or wire that surrounds a garden or other area of land
- We had to put up a new fence at the side of the house as the old one blew down in a gale.
shed – small wooden building in a garden usually used for storing garden tools
- I don’t like going into the shed to get tools out as there are large spiders in there.
garage – building intended for storing a car, usually attached to the side of a house
- Most people in the UK use their garage for storage and don’t have room for the car.
Home Vocabulary Pronunciation
85
- I’m going to a colleague’s house-warming party on Saturday and can’t wait to look around her new
home.
to have a place of your own – to have your own home and not have to share it with anyone else
- I love living at home with my family but I’m 21 now and have a good job so I feel it’s time to find a
place of my own.
to move in – to begin to live in a property
- Niko was impressed with the recently renovated hall of residence and couldn’t wait to move in.
to move out – to stop living in a particular place
- Veronica broke up with her boyfriend and moved out of their flat.
downsize – to reduce in size; to buy a smaller house
- Many parents downsize when their children have left home as they don’t need such a large house.
to feel homesick – to feel unhappy because you are away from home and are missing your family,
friends, and home very much
- For the first few months at university, Dalia felt very homesick but she began to feel better once she
started to make new friends.
there’s no place like home – an expression that means your home is a special place
- I do enjoy travelling the world and visiting amazing places but there’s no place like home.
next door – the property next to yours
- A new family has just moved into the house next door.
a view – what you can see from a particular place
- The thing I remember most about my grandmother’s house was the lovely view of the mountains.
Part 1
I moved in on my 21st birthday and I'm nearly 25 now so I've been there for almost four years.
Buying and selling a house is very stressful and I said that I would never do it again after last time.
Besides, I love my home so think I will stay there forever.
Not really. I have thought about doing a loft conversion to give me another bedroom for when friends
come to stay but that’s all.
86
5) What's the difference between where you live now and your last home?
I used to live in an apartment by the sea. It had a wonderful view but no garden. Now I have a
largelawn surrounded by a high hedge, and a patio where I like to sit in the sun. I’m very happy to have
a garden again.
Part 2
where it was
whose house or apartment it was
what it was like
A few years ago I saw a photo in the window of an estate agent of a fabulous property in a village
quite near to where I live. It was my idea of a dream home so I just had to have a look around it. I felt a
bit bad about doing this as I knew I couldn’t afford the house. I’ve never done anything like it before, or
since.
The house itself was quite modern. It had three bedrooms, separate kitchen and dining rooms and
a spacious lounge. It was mostly carpeted and the large windows let in plenty of natural light. There
was also a utility room and a double garage. It was actually a fairly ordinary house but would have
made a lovely home and it certainly felt cosy.
All the windows had wonderful views over the surrounding countryside which is something I would
make a priority if I was house-hunting for real. The owners said that they often saw deer out on the
hillsides.
All this was very nice, but I haven’t told you about the best part of the property yet, the garden. That’s
what had attracted me in the photo. It was amazing and exactly what I would love to own. For a start, it
was huge. There was a large area of lawn, several pretty flower beds and a terrace sheltered by a fence.
Even better than that was the stream running through the garden into a big pond with ducks on it. I wish
I had that in my garden. You crossed the stream via a little wooden bridge that led to a small field that
was also part of the property. It was perfect.
The location of the house was also ideal. It was down a small lane on the outskirts of the village. I
know the village well and it’s a close-knit community, something else that would be important to me if
I was thinking of moving house. While the area is beautiful countryside, the beach is only 15 minutes
away so it has the best of both worlds.
I’m glad I visited the property. One day I’ll buy a home like it but for now, I’ll just keep dreaming.
Part 3
87
1) What are the advantages of living in a house compared to an apartment?
I’d say that the biggest advantage is that you don’t have people living above and below you as you do in
a flat. Noisy neighbours can be a real problem if you live in an apartment block.
Secondly, most apartments don’t have a garden, although some do have a communal outdoor that all
the residents share. That was what I missed most when I lived in a block of flats. It was the main reason
I decided to move to a house.
Finally, a house feels more like a home of your own, even if you rent it, as you aren’t sharing any part
of the building with other people.
Certainly not. In my opinion, it’s mainly people with young families who want a more spacious home.
As their family grows, they like to have a separate bedroom for each child and more than
one bathroom. Because it’s so expensive to buy and sell a property, many people add
an extensionrather than buying a larger house.
Once the children have left home, many parents downsize as they no longer need so many rooms. They
often use the money they make from buying a smaller property to help their children get
a mortgage and buy a home of their own.
Also, many retired people move from a two-storey house to a bungalow so they don’t have any stairs
to climb as they get older. Modern bungalows are cosy and cheap to heat so there’s a saving
on utility bills as well. This is important when you’re living on a pension.
In conclusion, although many of us would like a nicer home, I don’t think size is the most important
thing for a lot of people.
That’s not something I’ve ever thought about but I would guess that more people will live in high-
risesbecause some places in the world are running out of space for building new houses.
I saw a programme on TV recently where someone had designed a small apartment where
the furniture folded away so you could quickly change the same space from a living room to a dining
room and then into a bedroom. The kitchen appliances were hidden in cupboards so were shut away
until you needed to use them. It was amazing and I think this sort of accommodation could become
common in the future.
However, in places with more land available I don’t think there will be much change in the near future.
Perhaps in fifty years, people will be living in space but I can’t imagine what
their accommodation would look like.
88
Buildings Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases
89
- Modern architects such as Zaha Hadid use steel to create stunning Futuristic designs
rather than just using it to form the hidden framework of a building.
timber – wood that is prepared for use in building
- In Sweden, timber is a popular building material because they have lots of forests.
stone – a hard, solid substance found in the ground, used for building
- Stone has been used as a building material for centuries.
glass – a hard, brittle, man-made material that you can see through
- These days, they can make glass that is so strong that you can have whole walls
made out of it.
marble – a type of hard stone, often with a beautiful lined pattern going through it,
that can be highly polished
- The Taj Mahal is the most famous building in the world made from marble.
Buildings Vocabulary Pronunciation
90
- Prefabs were popular after the war when many new homes had to be built quickly
but are coming back into fashion with new technology and modern designs.
historic building – an old building that is important to history
- We are fortunate in my country to have many magnificent historic buildings.
a ruin – a building reduced to a state of decay and collapse
- One of the most visited historic sites in the world is the Inca ruins at Machu Picchu
in Peru.
monument – a statue, building, or other structure erected to commemorate a notable
person or event, often of historical importance
- India gate is one of the most recognisable monuments in India.
Buildings Vocabulary Pronunciation
column – large, upright pillar, typically cylindrical, supporting the upper part of a
building
- The huge columns of many ruined Greek temples are still standing today.
pillar – a tall vertical structure of stone, brick, wood, or metal, used as a support for a
building
- The roof was supported by two rows of brick pillars.
arch – a curved symmetrical structure spanning an opening and typically supporting
the weight of a bridge, roof, or wall above it
- Old churches are one of the best places to see impressive arches.
steeple – a tall pointed roof, usually on a church
- The church steeple could be seen for many miles away from the town.
spire – similar to a steeple but usually a narrower structure
- Skyscrapers such as the Shanghai World Finance Center often have a spire built on
top to make them taller and thus increase their prestige.
tower – a tall, narrow building, either free-standing or forming part of a large
building such as a church or castle
- There was an amazing view over the city from the top of the tower.
dome – a rounded roof
- The dome of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is one of the most recognisable domes in
the world.
balcony – a platform enclosed by a wall or bars on the outside of a building, with
access from an upper-floor window or door
- My dream home would have a balcony overlooking the sea.
Buildings Vocabulary Pronunciation
(These words are all proper nouns so start with a capital letter.)
91
Gothic – characterised by large expanses of glass, clustered columns, sharply pointed
spires, intricate sculptures and pointed arches
92
Victorian – characterised by sash windows set in bay windows, an asymmetrical
shape, bright colours and decorative features
Art Deco – characterised by simple, clean shapes, usually with a ‘streamlined’ look
and decoration that is geometric or stylised forms of plants, animals and sunrays
Islamic – known for its arches, domes, minarets, geometric designs, courtyards and
often colourful tile decoration
93
Modernist – typically characterized by simple designs in glass, steel and reinforced
concrete and no ornamentation
If there is a particular style of architecture that you like, focus on that one and learn
appropriate vocabulary related to it. There may also be styles of architecture very
specific to your own country.
If there’s a style of architecture common in your town or city, learn the buildings
vocabulary that will enable you to talk about it easily.
Buildings Vocabulary Pronunciation
94
eye-catching – very attractive or noticeable
- She found the carved stone pillars particularly eye-catching.
ornate – covered with a lot of decoration, especially complicated designs
- It’s common for grand manor houses to have ornate ceilings.
a radical design – extreme
- Pilau liked his buildings to stand out and was well-known for his radical designs.
controversial – something that people have strong opinions about; something that
people either love or hate
- The design of the new town hall was certainly controversial and strongly opposed
by many people.
iconic – in architecture, a design that is 'ground-breaking' and sets new standards or a
building that represents a particular style of architecture
- The Sydney Opera House is Australia’s most iconic building.
state of the art – incorporating the newest ideas and features
- The new hospital was state of the art and medical professionals from across the
country were eager to work there.
spacious – having lots of space for people to move around in
- Older properties tend to have more spacious rooms than modern homes.
geometric – patterns or shapes consisting of regular shapes or lines
- Many styles of architecture incorporate geometric designs both for strength as well
for decoration.
symmetrical – where one side is the same as the other
- If you cut a symmetrical design in half, one side is the mirror image of the other.
ugly / unsightly – unpleasant to look at; not attractive
- I think that the houses being built on many new housing estates are really ugly.
monstrosity – a thing, especially a building, which is very large and unsightly
- The civic centre in our town, of typical 1960’s design, is a total monstrosity and I
wish they’d demolish it to build something more attractive.
eyesore – a building that is not attractive
fall into disrepair – to be in a damaged state, often to the extent that it is dangerous
- The cinema used to be a beautiful building but has become a bit of an eyesore since
it fell into disrepair.
past its heyday – no longer at the peak of popularity or success
- Although Victorian architecture is past its heyday, Victorian townhouses are still
very popular as they make spacious family homes.
derelict – in very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect
demolish – completely destroy a building
They are going to demolish the derelict buildings down at the docks to make way for
a development of new waterside apartments.
Buildings Vocabulary Pronunciation
See my Home Vocabulary list for some home improvement words and phrases.
Here is some related buildings vocabulary:
95
preserve – to keep looking the same
- The National Trust is a charity in the UK that is dedicated to restoring
and preserving historical buildings.
transform – to change something completely, usually to improve it
- The new owners transformed the derelict manor house into a stunning country
hotel.
maintain – keep something in a good condition by checking and repairing it
regularly
- Old buildings generally cost more to maintain than ones built with modern
materials.
Buildings Vocabulary Pronunciation
96
- Bare floorboards are very popular in the homes of today but I prefer carpet as it
makes floors warmer to walk on.
stairs – a long set of steps inside a building joining the different levels
- The children were told not to leave their toys on the landing in case someone
tripped over them and fell down the stairs.
storey – a level of a building
- The three-storey house with an extra bedroom in the attic was perfect for Milek,
Edyta and their four children.
fireplace – a space in the wall at the base of a chimney for a fire to burn
- When people renovate Victorian properties they often remove the old fireplaces but
some keep them as decorative features.
For the vocabulary related to the different rooms in a house see my Home
Vocabulary list.
Buildings Vocabulary Pronunciation
Part 1
97
In the town, there are lots of Victorian houses constructed from locally
made bricks and some modern shops and offices. We certainly don’t have any high-
rise apartments or skyscrapers in the area.
98
in my town has many Art Deco features, in particular, the style of the windows, the
shape and symmetry of the building and the decoration around the large clock set in
the wall.
For people who are real fans of Art Deco architecture, I recommend that they visit
the town of Napier in New Zealand because almost every building is Art Deco. It’s
an amazing place. They have tour guides to show you around and tell you about the
history of the town. Sadly it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1931 and completely
rebuild in the architectural style of the day – Art Deco. I don’t think there is
anywhere else in the world like it and I’m sure that it was my visit there that really
got me interested in this beautiful architectural style
Part 3
99
used to get and there are not so many bungalows being built. This is because there is
less building land available than, say, twenty years ago.
Second, new houses are more eco-friendly, with better insulation and
improved double glazing to make them more energy efficient.
Third, there are new rules concerning things like the width of doors and the height of
switches so that new properties are wheelchair friendly.
With regard to public buildings and commercial buildings, the development of
stronger building materials and new construction techniques means
that architects are beginning to design more Futuristic buildings.
100
Transportation Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases
vehicle – a machine, usually with wheels and an engine, used for taking people or
goods from one place to another, especially on roads
- Three vehicles were involved in the accidents near my house.
to transport – take or carry people or goods from one place to another using a
vehicle
- Their furniture was transported to their new house in a large lorry.
transportation – a vehicle or system of vehicles, such as buses, trains, etc. for
getting from one place to another
- What form of transportation are you going to use to get to the airport?
a means / form of transportation – any vehicle that you can travel in or on or use to
carry goods in
- Bicycles are a cheap means of transportation and also keep you fit.
transport system – a facility consisting of the means and equipment necessary for
the movement of passengers or goods
- The transport system in my country needs a lot of improvement.
public transport – a system of vehicles such as buses and trains that operate at
regular times on fixed routes, charge set fares and are used by the public
- It’s much cheaper to use public transport in the city than drive a car.
private transport – means of transport that are not available for use by the general
public such as your own car
- Most people prefer to use private transport to public transport as it makes them
more independent.
traffic – the vehicles, pedestrians, ships, or planes moving along a route
- There was a lot of traffic on the roads this morning.
infrastructure – the basic systems and services, such as transportation and power
supplies, that a country or organization uses in order to work effectively
- The earthquake caused serious damage to the area’s transport infrastructure.
a journey – the act of travelling from one place to another, especially in a vehicle
- The train journey took them through beautiful countryside.
Transportation Vocabulary Set 3: Roads & traffic
101
bypass / ring road / beltway – a road which circles a town or city and enables you to
go faster from one point to another.
- I usually take the ring road to visit my brother as the roads through town are
always congested.
freeway / highway / expressway – a public road, often with multiple lanes,
especially an important road that joins cities or towns together
- The traffic in the city centre moved slowly but once Raul hit the freeway there was
less traffic and he was able to drive much faster.
motorway (UK) – a road with three lanes going each way
- Motorways are vitally important for the transportation of goods around the UK.
overpass – a bridge that carries one road over another road
- No-one believed that the new overpass would really ease traffic congestion but it
has made a noticeable difference.
junction – where two roads meet
- Aksel only just missed the car that pulled out in front of him at the junction.
roundabout – a road junction at which traffic moves in one direction around a
central island to reach one of the roads converging on it
- The traffic flowed much better when they replaced the traffic lights with
a roundabout.
traffic light – a set of automatically operated red, amber and green lights for
controlling traffic at road junctions and pedestrian crossings
- I have to drive through ten sets of traffic lights on the way to work and if I’m late,
you can be sure they’ll all stop on red.
traffic jam – a line of vehicles moving very slowly or not at all
- The traffic jam was caused by roadworks near the shopping centre.
Collocations:
to be caught in traffic / a traffic jam
- Mayuree missed her train after getting caught in traffic on the way to the
station.
to get stuck in traffic / a traffic jam
- I nearly always get stuck in a traffic jam on my way to work.
heavy traffic – a lot of vehicles on the road
- A sunny weekend is forecast so there will be heavy traffic on the roads as people
head to the coast.
to be congested – when a road or place is so crowded with traffic or people as to
hinder or prevent freedom of movement
- The roads are particularly congested during the rush hour.
congestion – the state of being congested
- Congestion is a serious problem in most cities across the world.
queue – a line of people or vehicles waiting for something
- There were so many people heading into town for the sales that I had to queue for
the car park.
roadworks – building or repair work on a road
- The roadworks were causing long delays for people travelling to work.
diversion – a different route used because a road is closed
102
- The accident closed the road and traffic had to take a two-mile diversion to get into
town.
to be held up – to be stopped and delayed because of work on the road, diversions or
accidents
- Soo-min apologised for being late and explained that she’d been held up in traffic.
bottleneck – a place where a road becomes narrow or a place where there is often a
lot of traffic, causing the traffic to slow down or stop
- The roadworks were causing a serious bottleneck on the main road into town.
speed limit – the fastest rate at which you are allowed to drive in a particular area
If you are caught exceeding the speed limit, you will have to pay a fine.
speed camera – camera set up by a road to photograph cars exceeding the speed limit
- Most drivers slow down when they are approaching a speed camera.
road accident / car crash – a bad incident involving vehicles that happens
unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury
- Two people were taken to hospital following the car crash on the freeway.
to commute – travel some distance between one's home and place of work on a
regular basis
- When Talin got her new job, she moved closer to the city so that she wouldn’t have
to commute too far each day.
to travel by – to use a particular mode of transport, e.g. bus, car, train, bike, etc, to
get from one place to another
- To get to work, I travel by bus.
to take – to use a particular mode of public transport, e.g. bus, train, taxi, plane
- She didn’t want to wait for a bus in the pouring rain so took a taxi instead.
to get on – to get into a bus, train or plane
- They arrived at the station just in time to get on the train before it left.
to get off – to disembark from a bus, train or plane
- Shona pushed the bell as she wanted to get off the bus at the next stop.
bus route – the fixed, regular journey made by a bus
- One of the reasons I moved to my new address is because it’s on the main bus
route into town.
bus service – a public facility whereby the general public can travel on a bus from
one place to another along set routes for a fixed fee
- There is a good bus service into town from where I live.
timetable / schedule – a plan of the times when particular events are to take place
- Jared’s interview was at 9.30 a.m. and the timetable showed that the early train
would get him there in plenty of time.
rush hour – the times at the beginning and end of the working day when many
people are travelling to or from work
- Ogasi was so fed up with the rush hour traffic jams that he bought a bike to cycle
to work.
103
carpool (US) / car share (UK) – an arrangement between people to make a regular
journey together in a single vehicle, usually taking turns to drive
- If more people organized carpools, the roads wouldn’t be so congested.
park-and-ride – a system for reducing urban traffic congestion, in which drivers
leave their cars in car parks on the outskirts of a town or city and travel into centre on
public transport
- The park-and-ride scheme was so successful that a second one was set up on the
other side of the city.
the outskirts – the areas that form the outer edge of a town, city or village, that are
furthest away from the centre
- It’s great living on the outskirts. It’s easy to get into the city but we are also close
to the countryside.
convenient – fitting in well with a person's needs, activities, and plans
- There’s a bus stop right outside my house which makes it very convenient for
catching the bus to work.
independent – not influenced or controlled in any way by other people or events
- I’m so much more independent now that I have a scooter to get around.
overcrowded – full with too many people for it to be comfortable or safe
- The tube is so overcrowded in the rush hour that it’s impossible to get a seat.
unreliable – something or someone that is not trustworthy or efficient
- Our local bus service is very unreliable and is usually running late.
fuel – a substance that is used to provide heat or power, e.g. petrol, diesel, gasoline,
oil,
usually by being burned
104
- Scientists are working hard to develop more environmentally friendly fuels.
emissions – an amount of something, especially a gas such as carbon dioxide, that is
sent out into the air and harms the environment
- Car manufacturers are under pressure to reduce exhaust emissions.
emit – to produce and discharge something, especially a gas
- Vehicles emit high levels of harmful gases into the atmosphere.
exhaust fumes – harmful gases emitted from a vehicle engine
- Many cities have a big problem with air pollution caused by exhaust fumes.
energy efficient – using only a small amount of fuel
- I chose this make of car because it is very energy efficient.
air pollution – the presence of harmful substances in the air, often consisting of
waste emissions from vehicles
- Air pollution is so bad in some cities that people have to wear face-masks when
they go out.
environmentally-friendly – not harmful to the environment
- Electric cars are a more environmentally-friendly than those that run on petrol.
gas guzzler (informal) – a vehicle that uses a lot of fuel
- For many people, a large car is a status symbol and they aren’t concerned about the
harm their gas guzzler is doing to the environment.
105
- Some countries charge motorway tolls but most of our motorways are free to travel
on.
a speeding fine – a sum of money that must be paid as punishment for driving faster
than legally allowed
- I was really cross with myself for getting a speeding fine but it was my own fault
for driving too fast.
Part 1
1) Do you think pollution is a big problem nowadays?
I think it’s a massive issue. It really worries me how much damage we are doing to
the natural environment, especially how we pollute the oceans with plastic waste
and release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Part 2
106
Describe an environmental problem you’ve heard about.
You should say:
what it is
how long it has existed
how it affects people’s lives
and explain how you think the problem will develop in the future.
There are a number of serious environmental problems being covered by the media
at the moment but the one I’d like to talk about is the deforestation of vast areas of
rainforest to grow palm oil. I’m not sure when it started to become a concern
to environmentalist but I know that they’re increasingly worried about it.
This land clearance is on a huge scale and the forest is often just burned down. This
sends large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere which
contribute to global warming and climate change. This affects everyone on the
planet.
Just as important is the effect on the native wildlife. Deforestation to grow palm oil
in Borneo and Sumatra destroys the natural habitat of orang utans as well as many
other animals. Conservationistsestimate that unless the situation changes, the orang
utan and Sumatran tiger could become extinctin the wild in the next 5-10 years. In
fact, a third of all mammal species in Indonesia are thought to be
critically endangered because of this type of unsustainable development.
Furthermore, the oil palm plantations that replace the rich vegetation of the rainforest
support very low levels of biodiversity and create a totally a different ecosystem. I
don’t fully understand why the loss of biodiversity is such a problem but I did read
somewhere that it means that our food crops are more vulnerable to pest and diseases.
This could lead to serious food shortages in the future.
I think that the palm oil industry and its associated problems are going to be difficult
to change. Perhaps it’s consumers who can have the biggest impact by refusing to
buy products containing palm oil which is in around 40-50% of common household
products in many developed countries. In the UK, there’s already one major food
retailer that has promised to ban palm oil in its own products. This I really
encouraging and I hope other companies will do the same soon.
Part 3
107
pushed to the verge of extinction by poaching. It’s shocking to think that beautiful
animals such as the tiger are dying out in the wild because of the actions of human
beings.
There are many other environmental problems that we need to solve but these are
the ones I believe to be the most serious.
108
Music Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases
109
- We have some talented young folk musicians in my country who love performing
songs from the old days and writing new folk songs for our generation.
classical music – a form of music developed in Europe mainly in the 18th and
19th centuries by musicians highly skilled in musical composition
- I find that classical music really stirs up the emotions and I particularly enjoy
listening to Beethoven and Bach.
opera – a musical play, often very dramatic, in which most of the words are sung
- I’m not a fan of opera as I really don’t like the style of singing.
musical – a play or film that uses singing and dancing in the story but also includes a
lot of spoken dialogue
- Although there are lots of great new musicals being written, I still love West Side
Story the best.
instrumental music – music where you just hear instruments playing and there is no
singing
- I’m not happy when they play instrumental music on my favourite radio station as
I like to be able to sing along the lyrics.
easy listening – a type of music that is not complicated, is pleasant to listen and
doesn’t need much of your attention
- When I get home in the evening I put on some easy listening to help me relax after
a busy day.
background music – music that is playing while something else is happening
- My friend likes to have background music on while she’s studying but I need a
quiet place to work.
If there are any traditional musical instruments popular in your country that you
might want to talk about, add them to your own music vocabulary list.
instrument – something you play to make music
traditional instruments – a type of instrument that has been played for many
generations or that was popular in the past, often unique to a country or region
- A sitar is a traditional Indian musical instrument.
to take up (a musical instrument) – to begin learning a musical instrument
- I’m going to take up the guitar.
to read music – to understand and follow written musical notes
- I’m so glad I learnt to read music when I had piano lessons as a child because it
really helps me now that I sing in a choir.
to play by ear – to play without reading the musical notes
- Many talented musicians can’t even read music and only play by ear.
talented – to be naturally skilled at something
- I never got the hang of playing an instrument even though both my parents
are talented musicians.
to be musical – have a skill in or a great liking for music
- My friend Sally is very musical and can play several different instruments.
110
self-discipline – the ability to make yourself do things you know you should do even
when you do not want to
- You need a lot of self-discipline to learn the piano as you have to practise every day
and play boring scales.
sense of accomplishment – to feel like you've achieved something you can be proud
of
- Bernie felt a real sense of accomplishment at passing his Grade 2 flute exam.
vocals – a part of a piece of music that is sung
- My parents met in a band. Dad was a guitarist and Mum sang vocals.
Music Vocabulary Pronunciation
111
a performance – the act of entertaining other people by dancing, singing, acting or
playing music
- The choir gave a wonderful performance at my sister’s wedding.
a gig – a performance of a band
- My new band is playing their first gig at the weekend.
a show – a performance, especially involving music
- I’m going to my kid’s school this evening to watch them perform in a show.
live music – music performed in front of an audience
- We have many clubs in my city and I often go along with friends to listen to live
music.
Collocations:
live show
live performance
live gig
music festival – an organized event, typically lasting several days, featuring
performances by various musicians, singers and groups
- I try to go to at least one music festival each summer.
concert – a performance of music by one or more musicians or singers
- My orchestra is going to perform at a concert organized to raise money for charity.
stage – a raised platform on which musicians, actors or entertainers perform
- I felt nervous when I walked out on stage and saw the large audience waiting to
hear me sing.
venue – the place where a public event such as a concert happens
- The disused warehouse was the perfect venue for a rock concert.
Music Vocabulary Pronunciation
recording / recorded music – music that has been stored on a record, CD, computer,
etc., so that it can be heard again
- I have recordings of many of my favourite bands stored on my computer.
MP3 player – an electronic device that can store and play digital audio files
- I always carry my MP3 player with me so that I can listen to music whenever I
want to.
headphones / earphones – an electronic device that fits over or in the ears for
listening to music
- I wear earphones to listen to music on my MP3 player while I’m out jogging.
album – a collection of recordings issued as a single item on CD, record or another
medium.
- I can’t wait for my favourite band’s new album to come out.
to download tracks – to obtain music from the internet
- I heard a great band at the gig last night and I’m going to download some of
their tracks.
speakers – a piece of electrical equipment for playing recorded sound, through which
the sound is played
112
- The jazz album I got for my birthday sounds amazing through my new speakers.
Music Vocabulary Pronunciation
a song – a usually short piece of music with words that are sung
- My favourite Ed Sheeran song is “Thinking Out Loud”.
lyrics – the words to a song
- Leonard Cohen wrote some of the best lyrics of all time and many artists still
perform his songs today.
a melody – the main tune in a piece of music that is often played or sung more than
once
- I had trouble picking up the melody of the new piece we started learning at choir
rehearsal today and will practise it at home.
a tune – the musical part of a song, especially one that is pleasant and easy to
remember
a catchy tune – a tune or a song that's easy to remember and stays in your mind so
that you find yourself humming or singing it
- I heard a really catchy tune of on my kid’s TV programme this morning and I’ve
been humming it all day.
piece of music – a musical composition, especially but not necessarily an
instrumental one
- My piano teacher has given me a new piece of music to learn before my next
lesson.
taste in music – the music someone likes
- My boyfriend and I have the same taste in music and go to live gigs whenever we
can.
rhythm – a regular, repeated pattern of sounds
- I love the rhythm of reggae music.
beat – a characteristic rhythm in some types of music
- Rap music has such a distinctive beat.
harmony – a pleasant musical sound made by different notes being played or sung at
the same time
- One of the reason I enjoy country music so much is because many songs have
lovely harmonies.
Music Vocabulary Pronunciation
to be out of tune – to play or sing slightly wrong notes
- My dad likes to sing along the radio but is so out of tune that it sounds terrible.
to be in tune – to play or sing with the correct pitch
- Before the performance, the guitarist tightenend the strings of his guitar so that it
was in tune.
to have a great voice – to sing well
- I think my friend should enter the singing competition as she has a great voice.
to be tone deaf – to be unable to distinguish the different notes in music
- I’d really like to able to sing but I'm tone deaf so I don’t think there’s much chance.
113
chorus – a regularly repeated line or group of lines in a song
- The choir sang lots of well-known songs and encourages the audience to sing along
to the choruses.
upbeat – cheerful or lively
- If I’m feeling sad I put on some upbeat music and feel better almost at once.
nursery rhyme – a simple traditional song or poem for children
- I can still remember many of the nursery rhymes I learnt as a child.
lullaby – a quiet, gentle song sung to send a child to sleep
- If my baby wakes up in the night I just sing him a lullaby and he soon goes back to
sleep.
sing to sleep – to make someone feel sleepy by sing them a gentle song
- My mum used to sing us to sleep when we were young.
Music Vocabulary Pronunciation
114
to go on tour – to go on a planned series of performances around a region or country
- I hope my favourite band go on tour again soon as they put on an amazing live
show.
sellout – a performance or sports event for which no more tickets are available
because it’s so popular
- The Bruno Mars concerts were a sellout at every venue on the tour.
record company – a business that makes and sells musical recordings
- Our band is getting well-known across the country and we’re hopeful of getting
signed by a record company.
record label – a brand or trademark associated with the marketing of music
recordings and music videos
- You know you’ve hit the big time if you get signed up with one of the big record
labels such as Sony.
hit the big time – to become successful and/or famous
- After winning the TV talent show, Shelley hit the big time and was soon singing in
huge venues around the world.
a hit – to be popular; a record that sells lots of copies
- “Happy” was a massive hit for Pharrell Williams.
Music Vocabulary Pronunciation
the charts – a list of individual songs or musical performances ranked in order of
number of sales or downloads over a specific period of time which indicates their
popularity
- Ariana Grande’s new record is brilliant and I’m not surprised it’s made it to No.1
in the charts.
to sing along to – to join in singing
- My favourite songs in the charts are always the ones you can sing along to.
a sing-song – to sing informally, often with other people
- I have wonderful memories of my gran playing popular songs on the piano at family
get-togethers and everyone joining in for a sing-song.
music-lover – someone who really enjoys listening to music
- I can’t say I’m a great music-lover although I do enjoy listening to the radio when
I’m driving.
applause – approval or praise expressed by clapping the hands together
- The applause continued even after the band had left the stage.
a round of applause – an outburst of clapping from an audience to show
approval
- The audience gave the choir an enthusiastic round of applause as they came on
to perform.
to be into / not into – to be interested in or involved with / to not be interested in
- I’m really into folk music but not into jazz at all.
to improvise – create and perform music, drama or verse spontaneously or without
preparation
- I don’t enjoy listening to jazz when it’s improvised as it sounds like the musicians
are all playing different tunes.
once in a blue moon – hardly ever
115
- I’m definitely a music-lover but only go to live gigs once in a blue moon.
IELTS-Style Speaking Test Questions and Answers
Part 1
Part 2
Describe your favourite music group or band.
You should say:
what group or band is it
what type of music they play
how long you have been listening to their songs
and explain why you like this music group or band.
I like many different groups but the one that comes top of my list has to be Bruce
Springsteen and the E Street Band.
I first heard their music way back in 1980. I had a boyfriend who had one of
their albums and I was a fan from the first track I heard. I’ve been listening to them
ever since. The song that really hooked me was “The River”. It’s still one of my
favourite songs of all time. It has a slow, haunting melody and beautiful lyrics.
In those days, very few people in my country had heard of Bruce Springsteen but all
these years later his band are often on tour here and they
116
play sellout concerts around the world. His nickname is “The Boss” which shows
how much people respect him and his great music.
Although the E Street Band are essentially a rock band, there are strong influences
of folk, rock and roll, blues and country in their music which helps then appeal to a
wide audience.
I was once given two tickets to one of the band’s concerts at Cardiff Arms Park
rugby stadium; a great venue. They were a Christmas present and I took my sister
along with me. It’s the only time I’ve seen them at a live gig but it’s an event I shall
never forget. What a wonderful experience. We sang along to all the songs.
The highlight of the show was when they performed “The River. At the end,
the band stopped playing and Bruce led the audience in singing the chorus over and
over again. It was amazing and a very special moment. I actually found it quite
moving as that was the song that had started me as a fan all those years ago and there
I was singing it with him. There was silence when it finally ended and then
the applause started and went on for what seemed like forever.
It’s hard to put in words why I like Bruce Springsteen and his band so much. I think
it’s because their lyrics are so real while most of the songs have a strong melody that
stirs your soul. That’s the best way I can put it.
Part 3
2) Why do you think older and younger generations prefer different types of
music?
That’s something I’ve never really thought about but I suppose it’s because they grew
up listening to different types of music as styles change over time.
Speaking for myself, there are many talented new bands and singers that I enjoy
listening to. I often buy their albums and download them onto my MP3 player, but
there’s nothing quite like the music I loved when I was in my teens. Perhaps it’s as
much to do with the memories it brings back as the music itself.
That’s how I see it and I guess that many other people probably feel the same.
117
3) Do you think that music should be a compulsory subject in schools?
I do believe that music should be taught in schools. This is for several reasons.
Firstly, it’s important to develop children’s creativity and music is a great way to do
this. They should be encouraged to learn to play a musical instrument, but it’s
valuable if they just enjoy learning and singing a few songs together.
Secondly, making music is an excellent way of teaching youngster how to work
together in a fun way and most of them enjoy performing to their friends.
Finally, most schools put on concerts and other musical performances. Taking part
in these gives children confidence and they are an important part of the curriculum.
While older children may drop the subject for exams, having
school choirs and orchestras provides other opportunities for them to continue their
interest in music.
118
Family Vocabulary – Common Words & Phrases
119
- There are now only three people in my household as my older brother has gone
away to university.
Family Vocabulary Pronunciation
120
in-laws – the relatives of your husband or wife
- When we were first married, we couldn’t afford a place of our own so lived with
the in-laws.
mother-in-law – mother of your spouse
- Many people don’t get on with their mother-in-law but mine is really nice.
father-in-law – father of your spouse
- My father-in-law offered me a job in the family business so he is also my boss.
son-in-law – the husband of your daughter
- I didn’t like Amir when I first met him but he’s a great son-in-law and helps me out
whenever I need it.
daughter-in-law – the wife of your son
- We are very happy that our son has decided to marry Zehra and look forward to her
becoming our daughter-in-law.
brother-in-law – the husband of your sister
- My brother-in-law is lazy and not a very good husband to my sister.
sister-in-law – the wife of your brother
- I often help my sister-in-law to look after my baby niece.
Family Vocabulary Pronunciation
step – in the context of family relationships, ‘step’ means that you are related to the
person because of one of your parents marries one of their parents
stepmother – the wife of your father, but not your biological mother
stepfather – the husband of your mother, but not your biological father
stepson – the son of your new wife or husband, but not your biological son
stepdaughter – the daughter of your new wife or husband, but not your biological
daughter
stepsister – the daughter of your stepmother or stepfather
stepbrother – the son of your stepmother or stepfather
half-brother – a brother you have only one parent in common with
half-sister – a sister you have only one parent in common with
Family Vocabulary Pronunciation
121
- Billy and I are planning to start a family as soon as we get married.
to give birth – to have a baby
- It was a special moment in Cesar’s life when he saw his wife giving birth to their
first child.
offspring – a person's child or children
- My two sisters are coming over later with their offspring so the house is going to be
very noisy.
family man – a man who enjoys being at home with his wife and children
- Deepak used to love partying but now that he has kids he’s become a real family
man.
family life – the kind of life a person normally leads when they are married and have
children
- My husband and I enjoy doing lots of activities with our children and we all have a
great family life together.
to raise (a child) – to take care of a child until they become an adult
- It’s a big responsibility raising children but I love being a parent.
to bring up (a child) – to raise a child
- When Jae-min’s husband died, she was left to bring up the children on her own.
upbringing – the way in which you are treated and educated when young, especially
by your parents
- I was fortunate to have a good upbringing but not all children have caring parents
who look after them well and teach them the right way to behave.
to support (a family) – to have enough money to be able to look after a family
- Egor earned very low wages and had to work two jobs to support his family.
Family Vocabulary Pronunciation
breadwinner – the member of a family who earns most of the money that the family
needs
- In many countries, men are expected to be the breadwinner in a family.
dependant – someone who depends on you for financial support, such as a child or
family member who does not work
- I‘m working hard to get a promotion and earn more money now that I’m a husband
and a father and have dependants who rely on me.
to adopt – to legally take another person's child into your own family and take care
of them as your own child
- Paul and Siri were unable to have children of their own and decided to adopt a
baby.
to foster – to take care of someone else’s child, usually for a limited time, without
becoming the child's legal parent
- Even though I’m an only child, I always had other boy’s and girl’s to play with
when I was growing up as mum and dad often used to foster other children.
over-protective parents – a parent who protect their child too much
- Overprotective parents can prevent their children from building confidence and
independence.
spoilt child – a child who shows bad behaviour because they have been allowed to do
or have anything they want
122
- I don’t like playing with the girl next door because she’s a spoilt child and gets in a
temper if I don’t let her win all the games.
single parent – a person bringing up a child or children without a partner
- My sister is a single parent now that her husband has left her.
stay at home parent / stay at home mum – a parent who stays at home to take care
of their children rather than going out to work
- These days, it’s far more usual for men to be a stay-at-home parent than when I
was young when it was always the mother who looked after the kids.
to look after – to take care of
- I’m going to look after my daughter’s children on Saturday while she has a day out
with her friends.
childcare – the care of children, especially by a crèche, nursery or childminder while
parents are working
- Childcare is a big problem for many working parents and they are lucky if their
own parents can help out.
strict – strongly limiting someone's freedom to behave as they wish, or likely to
severely punish someone if they do not obey
- My parents are very strict with me and I have to finish all my homework before I’m
allowed to play or watch TV.
authoritarian – demanding that people obey completely and refusing to allow them
the freedom to act as they wish
- My father was very authoritarian when I was growing up and I was terrified of
him.
Family Vocabulary Pronunciation
generation – all the people of about the same age within a society or within a
particular family
- It’s hard to believe how much everyday life has changed for my
grandparent’s generation.
older generation – people of middle-age and older
younger generation – young adults, teenagers and children
- The older generation are often stuck in their ways, while the younger
generation welcome change.
generation gap – a difference of opinions between one generation and another
regarding beliefs and attitudes, often leading to a lack of understanding between them
- It’s a skilled politician who can bridge the generation gap.
teenager – a person aged between 13 and 19 years
- My lovely little boy turned into a rebellious monster when he was a teenager but
now he’s a lovely young man.
adolescent – a young person who is developing into an adult
- Many adolescents develop emotional problems as they try to find their place in the
world.
Family Vocabulary Pronunciation
123
Family Vocabulary Set 9: Other vocabulary
sibling rivalry – the feeling of competitiveness that often exists between brothers
and sisters
- There was huge sibling rivalry between my two brothers and they were always
fighting but they are the best of friends now that they’re adults.
run in the family – a common feature in a family; something which is passed from
parents to children
- Artistic ability seems to run in the family.
hereditary – passed from the genes of a parent to a child
- Diabetes is hereditary in our family so I make sure that I eat healthily and keep fit
to lessen my chances of getting it.
childhood – the time when someone is a child
- Many children in the world do not have a happy childhood.
family background – the details of a person's family regarding education, social
status, etc.
- We want our son to marry a girl from a good family background.
family gathering / family get-together – an informal event where family members
meet up
- We’re having a family get-together to celebrate my mother’s birthday.
close-knit – involving groups of people in which everyone supports each other
- We’re a close-knit family and know that we can rely on each other when one of us
needs help.
family ties – the sense of connection between family members
- Family ties aren’t as strong as they used to be in my country because relatives often
live many miles apart and even in different countries.
to care for – to provide the things someone needs, especially someone who is young,
old, or ill
- In my country, sons and daughters are expected to care for their elderly parents.
a widow – a woman whose husband has died
- Her husband died young and she has been a widow for almost thirty years now.
a widower – a man whose wife has died
- My mother died last year so my father is now a widower.
to desert – to leave someone without help or in a difficult situation and not come
back
- My father deserted us when I was young and my mother has brought me up on her
own.
Family Vocabulary Pronunciation
There are many idioms about the family but I’ve chosen just a few that might prove a
useful addition to your family vocabulary. Pick only one or two to learn and make
sure that you know how to use them 100% or they won’t make sense.
124
If you’re unsure about them, give them a miss rather than risking sounding silly.
get on with / get along with – to like someone and have a friendly relationship with
them
- I used to fight with my siblings when we were young but I get on with them really
well now that we’re adults.
to fall out with / to have a falling out – to have a disagreement which ruins a
relationship with that person
- I fell out with my sister when she started dating my boyfriend.
- The two brothers had a falling out over the broken toy.
on speaking terms – friendly enough to talk
- My parents had a big argument and are not on speaking terms at the moment.
to look alike – to look very similar to someone else
- My twin sister and I look alike and people often call us by each other’s names.
to take after (someone) – to be very similar to an older family member
- Mila was excellent at drawing. She took after her mother who was a famous artist.
a chip off the old block – the person is very similar (in character and personality) to
one of their parents
- Sanjay is always cracking jokes, just like his father. He’s a real chip off the old
block.
to follow in someone’s footsteps – to do the same thing as someone else did
previously, especially someone in your family
- I want to follow in my father’s footsteps and become a doctor like he is.
spitting image – to look extremely similar to someone
- Cher is the spitting image of her mother.
wears the trousers – to be the person in a family who holds the authority and makes
decisions
- My dad likes to thinks that he’s in charge but it’s my mother who wears the
trousers in our house.
black sheep (of the family)– someone who brings shame to their family by being
different or doing something wrong
- My brother first started getting into trouble with the police when he was a teenager
and he’s become the black sheep of the family.
IELTS-Style Speaking Test Questions and Answers
Part 1
125
Most definitely. I used to argue with my brothers and sister a lot when we were. It
was sibling rivalryI guess but we get on really well now.
126
the restaurant. He hadn’t guessed what we were arranging and it was a real surprise to
him to see everyone there.
We had a lovely meal together but the best thing was spending time with all
our relatives. It made me realize what a close-knit family we are even though we
don’t see each other very often. I think that Dad enjoyed it too and I hope it showed
him how much he means to our whole family.
Part 3
3) How has the role of elderly people in the family changed in recent times?
In the past, the older generation was highly respected in most cultures. They were
considered to be wise because of all the things they’d learnt in their long lives.
Elderly family members would have been family leaders, teachers and spiritual
127
guides to the younger generation. They helped to maintain the structure and stability
of the family.
One of their most important roles was to pass on the old traditions and to maintain
traditional culture. The other vital job they did, especially the grandmothers, was to
provide childcare for their grandchildren. They would certainly have played an
important role in their upbringing.
In my country, most of this changed when it became normal for adult children to
move away to study and get better jobs. Family ties are no longer so strong and
elderly people aren’t respected as they once were. Grandparents aren’t the people
we usually go to for advice these days. To be honest, many elderly people don’t have
a significant role in most families any more. However, many do still look
after the grandchildren if they live close to them.
128
Mr
.Ni
ner
Di
l
shodMar
upov
Theonl
yvocabul arybookyou
needt
oboostyourspeaking
f
rom 5.
5t o8+
ONL
INEKURSL
ARI
MIZ:
Pr
e-I
ELTS Wr
iti
ngTask1Boost
26tadarsdaniborat
.B1nitugatganlar Kur
sdavomi yli
gi:1haf
ta7tadar sdan
qabulqili
nadi
.Grammat ikaniyaxshi i
borat.Kursningmaqsadi :1haf
tada
bil
adiganva4taskillbo’
yichabiroz kamida1 +gao’ sishTask1bo’l
imida.
tushunchagaegabo’ l
ganlar.
I
ELTSCompl
ete Speaki
ngSt
art
30tadarsdani borat.B2darajadan 20darsdani borathaftada5kunDar s
qabulqili
nadiyaʼ niReadi ngLi
stening bo’
ladiKursnito’
li
qt ugati
shgabiroy
Writi
ngSpeaki ngbo’ yi
chafundament al vaqtketadivabuvaqti chida5-5.
5
bil
imlar
ibo’ l
ishikerakGr ammat ikani daraj
agachi qibolishi
ngizmumki n
yaxshibi
lishikerak. chunkikursshungamo’ l
jal
langan.
I
ELTSI
ntensi
ve Speaki
ngBoost
Kursningmaqsadi :24t adars 24dar sdani borathaftada5kunDar s
yordami daIELTSballni7.
5ga bo’l
adiKur snito’
li
qt ugatishgabi roy
kuchaytiri
sh.Ushbukur sI
ELTSdan 5kunvaqtket adivabuvaqti chida
hozir
gidar aj
asikami da5.5bo'l
gan 7-7.
5dar aj
agachi qibolishingiz
o'
quvchilargamo' l
jall
angan mumki nchunkikur sshunga
mo’lj
allangan.
Mur
ojaatuchun:@ni
ner
c |9701
4791
4