Speaking quý 3 2022

Sách tổng hợp sample speaking 2022 band 7.5+ dành cho các bạn đang ôn thi IELTS, muốn cải thiện band điểm, học thêm từ vựng, ngữ pháp nâng cao. Sách gồm nhiều chủ đề đa dạng giúp học sinh cải thiện, học hỏi nhiều cách trả lời.

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Address: Vincom Shophouse, PG01-18, No.1 Le

Thanh Tong Str., Ngo Quyen Dist., Haiphong

Tel: 0904.883.774

FB : IELTS Self-Help for Hải Phòng candidates Website: https://bingoenglish.edu.vn/

Table of Contents

PART 1 7

Work and Studies 7

Hometown (always in use) 9

Advertisements 11

Boring things 12

Watches 13

Computers 13

Old buildings 14

Reading 14

Meeting places 15

Talents 16

Sports programs 16

Evening time 18

Collecting things 18

Science 18

Sitting 19

Snacks 19

Names 20

Weather 21

Birthdays 22

Transportation 22

Cooking 23

Singing 24

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Technology 24

Writing 25

Social media 25

Geography 25

Puzzles 26

Hair 26

Morning time 27

PART 2 28

Describe a day out that didn’t cost a lot 28

Describe a positive change in your life 28

Describe a quiet place that you like to go to 29

Describe an occasion when you got stuck in a traffic jam 30

Describe a time when you lost something and then got it back 31

Describe in important river or lake in your country 32

Describe a completion (music, sports, etc.) You would like to take part in 32

Describe an interesting neighbor 33

Describe an important event that you celebrated 33

Describe something you do to keep fit and healthy 34

Describe something that surprised you 35

Describe a product from your area (a food or handicraft) 36

Describe something you do to keep yourself concentrated 36

Describe an invention that changed the world for the better 37

Describe a time when you were very busy 38

Describe a time when you helped a child 39

Something you do to save time 39

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Describe a family member you'd like to work with 40

Describe a difficult decision that you once made 41

Describe a person famous in your country 41

Describe a time when you used your cellphone to do something important 42

Describe a person you enjoyed talking with 43

Describe a time when you gave advice to others 44

Describe a place you visited (not your hometown) that you recommend others to live in 44

Describe a popular place for sports 45

Describe a time when you received money on your birthday 45

Describe a story you've heard 46

Describe an important thing you learned (not at school or college) 47

Describe a photo you took that you're proud of 47

Describe a movie you watched recently and want to watch again 48

Describe a time when you received money on your birthday 49

Describe a TV program you like 50

Describe an experience of online shopping 50

Describe a time when you shared something with others 51

Describe an object that you think is beautiful 52

Describe a time you forgot an appointment 52

Describe a friend from your childhood 53

Describe an impressive English lesson 53

Describe a song or piece of music you like 54

Describe an occasion when you made a decision to wait for something 55

Describe a person from a different culture 56

Describe an outdoor activity you did in a new place 56

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Describe a person who inspired you to do something interesting 57

Describe an interesting place in your country that you'd like to recommend to tourists 58

Describe a disagreement you had with someone 59

Describe a person you know who loves to grow plants (vegetables, fruits, flowers) 59

Describe a person who likes to dress fashionably 60

Describe a time when you saw a lot of plastic waste 61

Describe a house or apartment you often visit 61

Describe something you did that was difficult but successful 62

PART 3 64

Quiet places noise 64

Losing things 65

Neighbors 67

Festivals, important events 68

Sports, health and keeping fit 69

Happiness 71

Traditional products, traditions 73

Concentration 74

Inventions 76

Being busy 77

Volunteering, helping others 78

Time management 79

Making decisions 81

Popularity 82

Encouraging people 83

Mobile phones 85

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Meeting friends, communication 86

Opinions and advice 87

Cities, countryside, relocating 89

Money 92

Stories 93

Learning new things 94

Photos 95

Watching movies 96

Information and Internet 96

TV programs 97

Service 98

Sharing things 99

Beauty, beautiful things 101

Remembering and forgetting things 101

Friendship, social media 101

Learning languages 102

Music 103

Patience 103

Cultures 104

Outdoor activities, risk 106

Leadership 106

Travelling 106

Disagreements 107

Farming 107

Fashion 109

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Plastic 109 Accommodation, buildings 109 Success 110

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PART 1

Work and Studies

IDIOMS ABOUT WORK:

1 to be between jobs (to be unemployed)

2 to work one's fingers to the bone (to work very hard)

3 to go the extra mile (to go beyond what is necessary)

4 to learn the ropes (to learn how to do a particular job or task)

5 to be a change of pace (to be a variation in routine)

IDIOMS THAT CAN BE USED TALKING ABOUT STUDIES:

1 to miss the boat (to lose an opportunity to do something by being slow to act): I've missed the boat for the fall semester, so

Do you work or are you a student?

I've been working as an English teacher for about 15 years now, and for the last 10 years I've specialized exclusively in teaching IELTS And I absolutely love what I do Of course, sometimes I feel tired and emotionally drained, especially when I have to mark my students’ essays until midnight but I just don't see myself being happier doing anything else

What work do you do? What subjects are you studying?

I'm a student, and this is my final year at school Now I'm working hard in order to get passing grades to enter college in Canada If everything is ok, six months from now I'll already be studying there I want to major in Journalism as I like writing essays and articles and want to work for some famous magazine or newspaper I'm going to do a three-year course at X college

Why did you choose that job?

Well, I guess the primary reason why I decided to pursue a career in Finance was that I really loved Maths

at school as I was always good at numbers And because of this, I thought it was the only possible choice

I could make So it wasn't a tough decision And, thank God, I have never regretted it

Why did you choose to study that subject?

Back in the day when I was a high school student, I had an idea that I might like to do something related

to fashion, but my parents insisted on my choosing Accounting Frankly, I wish I hadn't listened to them

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as I don't really enjoy being an accountant

Do you like your job?

I do Mainly because it's never boring I love challenges, tasks In fact, the more challenging, the better

Of course, I usually spend a lot of time and energy, and put in a lot of effort in order to complete such tasks successfully, but the job satisfaction that it gives me significantly outweighs the hours, the stress and the hard work Among other things, there’s nothing to complain about as my remuneration is more than adequate, let alone all the perks that my employer provides

Is there anything you dislike about your job?

Well, I hate that I often have to work against the clock to meet deadlines and it seems that I'll never be able to escape this constant rat race I feel this jam packed schedule is robbing me of my life

What was your dream job when you were young?

Oh, when I was younger, I wanted to either become a CEO of a big company or be selfemployed I was really sure that this would bring me adequate remuneration and, as a result, a sense of satisfaction What

is more, I understood that I was good at problemsolving and managing people, could take on responsibility and work under pressure, which was very important for pursuing, such careers

Have you changed your mind on your dream job?

Well, on the whole, 'no' as this is what I still dream about However, now I realize that there are quite a lot

of things in this career which I didn’t think about at a younger age, for example, the fact that working under pressure is robbing people of their life, taking them from their families and pushing them to participate in the rat race in order to get recognition and good money

What do you like about your studies?

I will probably sound a bit nerdy, but I'm happy that school provides me with an opportunity to acquire knowledge about things I didn’t know before I guess that most subjects, we are taught, will help US to succeed in the future So I never miss lessons and complete all the assignments on time

What do you dislike about your studies?

As a high school student, I can safely say that I dislike school very strongly mainly because the teachers pile so much work onto US that we hardly get 5 hours of sleep a night during an average school week You see, no matter when I go to bed, I have to wake up early, because my classes usually start at 8 am To top it off, most subjects are boring and irrelevant to our future careers So it causes a lot of stress, making

me and my fellow students reluctant to study

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Hometown (always in use)

Please describe your hometown a little

Well, Delhi is the capital of India and by far the largest city in the country It’s a densely- populated place,

so the city is always crowded and noisy Also, Delhi has the highest number of vehicles, therefore traffic congestion is a norm here Also, it has a very rich history For this reason, it’s really popular with tourists who come to visit our wonderful temples and experience Indian culture It’s never boring to live here as the city provides a wide array of entertainment options It is also home to our government and all major institutions

What is your town well-known for?

You see, as it's an industrial city, I’m afraid, there’s nothing it can boast of There are neither ancient buildings nor other places of interest that could possibly attract tourists However, it is in my city that the best shoes are produced

Do you like your hometown?

Yeah, it is never boring no matter what your intere It's a large city, so you can easily find where to go and what to do One thing I particularly like about it is although it is vast, there are a thousand small and intimate places there such as peaceful gardens and small friendly restaurants

Is that a big city or a small place?

It’s neither small nor big Actually, it largely depends on what city you compare it with I would say it's big enough to provide city dwellers with all necessary facilities, whereas it's nowhere near as large as New York or Sydney, for example

How long have you been living there?

Well, I've been living there since I was born At times I leave the city just for a while when I go on holidays

Do you think you will continue living there for a long time?

Every time an opportunity to move to a different place turns up, I come to realise that I want to be here above everywhere else as the city is rich in everything you could possibly desire There are lots of things

to do and places to go What is most important for me is that X is the city of infinite possibilities for ambitious and career driven people like me as a lot of large international companies have chosen it for their headquarters

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Would you like to live in the countryside in the future?

Oh-no! Not until I retire! I’m only 25 and dreaming of a high-flying career, but I’m afraid that living in the countryside will leave my career in tatters Besides, I’m a very active and sociable person, so I think I will be bored to death being deprived of an active social life and abundance of entertainment options a big city provides

Have you ever lived in the countryside?

Do you ever spend time in the countryside?

Well, this isn’t what I'm dreaming of I’d rather say I don’t mind swapping city life for a rural idyll I’m tired of the constant rat race and I'll definitely enjoy a slower pace of life Also, I want to live in a house with multiple rooms, a garage and swimming pool which is obviously not possible until I move out of the city

What is the difference between living in the countryside and the city?

I guess that the most striking difference is that in the countryside there isn't much traffic even during rush hours Again, as there are fewer vehicles emitting exhaust fumes, rural areas are nowhere near as polluted

as urban ones So the air is definitely fresher This is why it's highly likely that people living in the country live longer However, there may be a number of people who won't appreciate these benefits as there aren't many opportunities for professional growth and the choice of facilities is limited

What do people living in the countryside like to do?

What do you like to do in the countryside?

There’s generally not much to do in the countryside, especially in the winter, so I'm sure the majority of young people like to chat with their friends online or play computer games They may also like to get together in order to play football, ride bicycles or explore the surroundings This is because if children are not glued to their devices, they usually have active pastimes The more adventurous, the better Again, as the number of recreational facilities is severely limited in the countryside, it seems to me that the most popular activity with adults is having barbeque parties or just chatting with their neighbours over the fence

How has your town changed over the last 20 years?

Oh, I would say it has undergone sweeping changes 'cause those who haven't been there for a long time can hardly recognise it First of all, the general quality of the city landscape has improved, so it's way more beautiful now For instance, many ancient buildings have been restored and modern ones have been erected Therefore, it has turned into a remarkable tourist attraction

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Advertisements

Do you watch ads from the beginning to the end?

Oh no Never When I watch videos on YouTube, always press the SKIP AD button as soon as it appears

on the screen When I watch TV, I always switch to another TV channel during ad breaks to avoid ads and

go back to a channel when advertisements end You see, if ads were different every time, and if they were similar to those produced by Procter & Gamble or Nike, I would definitely watch them from the beginning

to the end But it's just unbearable to watch the same ad every day 20 times per day

Is there much advertising in your country?

Yeah, nowadays there seems to be no place beyond the reach of `advertising Ads plaster urban areas, interrupt TV shows and constantly pop up on the screen of a computer or smartphone

What are the different places where we see advertisements?

Oh, they seem to be plastering the whole city Even in the most unlikely locations We cannot even go to

a bathroom in a cafe without being bombarded by marketing messages

What advertising do you have in your country?

Nowadays, there are numerous ways that companies use to target their audience If you watch a football match, you are likely to see an example of corporate sponsorship I mean a logo of some company on each player’s T-shirt There are also banner ads that clutter up the Internet Finally, oftentimes, you can see people distributing leaflets And, of course, there are hoardings that literally plaster cities

How do you feel about advertisements?

Well, I hate ads as they've become simply unbearable For example, there are magazines 200 pages long with only about 50, if that many, readable pages I also hate it when I look for some information on the Net and constantly come across the pages where the content exists just to serve the marketing purposes or the most valuable information is buried under a heap of ads

Do you like advertisements?

I don't really like ads, so I just try to tune out You know, you get used to ads being all around you and it's kind of like anything in your home, once it's been there for a while, you just stop paying your attention to

it

Do you like advertisements on TV?

I actually ignore advertisements as much as I can as they are nothing more than just an annoyance bet plot twists in my favorite TV shows and films, is off the sound on TV during ads I installed an AdBlocker on

my browser because incessant pop-up ads used to distract my attention and slow down my surfing the Net,

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thus, making it next to impossible to actually enjoy content on the page

What kind of ads do you dislike?

I don't really like ads, so I just try to tune out You know, you get used to ads being all around you and it’s kind of like anything in your home, once it's been there for a while, you just stop paying your attention to

it

What do you think is the purpose of advertising?

Well, competition is fierce, so you have to always remind your customers that you are still there and ready

to address their needs More importantly, advertising helps you to tell your customers why you are a better choice than your competitors If companies don’t advertise, customers will quickly forget about them and switch to competing brands

Do you think advertising plays a very important role in today’s world?

Well, competition is fierce nowadays and if competing companies advertised and you didn’t, it would take you ages to enhance sales and expand markets because no one would know that your products exist Being bombarded by advertisements of your rivals, customers won't bother spending time on finding out whether our company has what to offer or not They are likely what they have already seen advertised or what I see advertised on a regular basis

Why do you think companies advertise themselves or their products?

Well, to promote new products is one of the reasons why companies launch advertising campaigns By informing people about a product and highlighting its benefits, companies stimulate people's interest if they manage to show that the product will address the needs of customers

Boring things

What things are boring to you?

Well, to be honest, lots of things make you feel bored But the ones that top the list are doing chores, queuing, being stuck in traffic jams and filling in some documents

What do you do when you feel bored?

Oh, I try to find something that will bring me pleasure like planning my next vacation, watching a movie

or just going for a walk The main thing is to switch off

Do you ever get bored?

Thank god, almost never I can get bored only if I lack interest in something I do, do the same thing over

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and over again or do nothing at all, which happens once in a blue moon

Do you feel more bored than when you were young?

Fortunately not as I have learnt how to deal with boredom for years of my life Being a teenager I just didn’t have any experience in combating this psychological state and so suffered from it more often Now, the moment I start feeling bored, I do my best to switch off

Watches

Do you like to wear watches?

Do you think a watch is important for you?

No, I don’t feel the necessity to have a watch on my wrist as I’m used to checking the time with my phone

Have you ever received a watch as a gift?

When I was a child, my parents gave me a watch on my birthday as I was learning to tell time then, so I was dreaming of having my own watch and kept asking parents to buy it

Why do people like expensive watches?

Well, expensive watches are a status symbol and a symbol of success So it’s a great way to show everybody how wealthy you are without saying a single word For some people wearing an expensive watch is as natural as breathing, whereas others like to buy expensive watches just to impress their business partners or attract women although they may not be rich enough to afford such buys

Computers

How often do you use a computer?

What do you usually use your computer for?

Well, I guess I do it every waking hour because there is such a wide choice of what to use it for from storing and calculating data to browsing the Internet and socializing

What kinds of copters are popular in your country?

It seems to me that computers that are in high demand these days are laptops and tablet PCs I think it’s because they are small, flexible and mobile and at the same time rather powerful

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Who taught you how to use a computer?

When was the first time you used a computer?

It was my dad who did it I was around 3 or 4 years old when he taught me basic computer concepts He used some really engaging software programs to enhance my learning experience and desire to learn and

he did it in such a way that I thought I was playing rather than learning

Do you think computers have changed your life?

Surely, they have They have done it by facilitating my and people’s living and creating effective learning, production and medical care as well as relieving the severity of travelling difficulties

Old buildings

Should old buildings be preserved?

I guess ‘Yes’, especially if they are a symbol of architectural heritage Such buildings usually create a lasting imprint on the area they are in and provide an insight into the history of the country This draws attention to the country and provides important income attracting great numbers of tourists

What aspect of culture do old buildings reflect?

I'd say that both old and new buildings reflect three most important aspects of culture The first is the type

of behavior of the people of the time, for example, the speed of their life reflected in construction materials they used and design of the buildings The second is the art of the time I mean a variety of forms common

to a particular historical period or the techniques builders of the time used And the third aspect is religion that is beliefs people had and reflected in the buildings they constructed

How do old buildings affect the appearance of a place?

Well, they add some inexplicable charm to the area creating a tractive and mixed environment and making the place distinctive What is more, they create the context defining the style of the buildings around and completing the skyline in accordance with them

Reading

Do you like reading?

Oh, I’m really passionate about books If it weren’t for them, I guess my life would be boring in a sense While I’m reading, I become so deeply immersed into a different world that I feel almost like I’m experiencing it myself Books offer hundreds of lands to explore, the past and future to navigate, and of course an infinite number of lives to step into I feel as though I’m actually thee with the characters

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What books do you like to read?

To be honest, It doesn’t really matter what books to read provided that they blow my mind and leave me pensive long after I have finished reading I also like books that describe life situations that help me find solutions to my problems or learn some lessons

What book did you read recently?

Recently I finished reading Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance because it was one of the most-cited books of 2015 In this book the author looks inside the extraordinary life of Elon Musk and tells US about his incredible projects such as Tesla, Paypal, SpaceX and SolarCity I would like to say it’s one of the most interesting and inspiring books I have ever read

What did you learn from it?

I guess the most valuable insight is that impossible is nothing If Elon Musk and other inventors had listened to people around them or if he had hesitated whether to try or not, he wouldn’t have launched his wonderful projects that benefit people worldwide

Have your reading habits changed since you were younger?

Not too much, I used to read ebooks only because I was obsessed with being productive, and therefore I tried to always keep myself busy So I had an ebook reader, and I read a book whenever I had a spare moment Now I prefer printed books to digital ones And now I’m reading for pleasure

What was your favorite book as a child?

I remember I borrowed a Harry Potter book from my classmate and it appeared to be a real page turner I still consider it to be by far the best book ever

Meeting places

Where do you usually meet your friends?

Well, in all kinds of places where we can have a pleasant experience together like guestrooms, cinemas, live sporting events and restaurants, as well as all those places where we can have a lot of fun, for instance, amusement parks or karaoke clubs Also, I often meet my friends in places where we can walk and do something active together I mean parks, embankments and even fitness centers On special occasions, we get together with friends in spa-centers, saunas or baths In winter time, our most popular places for friend gatherings are skating-rinks and pubs In summer time we love meeting on beaches and in countryside resorts

Do you think there are some places that are more suitable for meeting others?

Well, definitely, there are as not all places are welcoming and accessible to everyone as well as not all

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or business partners and discuss some work issues, I'll probably organize a meeting in my office or rent a meeting room somewhere

Talents

Do you have a talent or something you are good at?

Well, all my relatives say that I'm a natural-born entrepreneur And they all say that if I were a business person, I would make lots and lots of money So everyone says that it's a pity that I used this talent of mine only when I was a kid And probably they are right As far as I remember, as a child, I came up with lots

of quick and easy ways to make money almost every day For example, I did a lot of garage sales When

I ran out of junk from my parents' garage to sell, I asked my friends if we could organize garage sales at their houses Also, I sold homemade lemonade in the summer and lots of other things like this

Sports programs

Do you like watching sports programs on TV?

Yeah, I love watching sports programs on TV 'cause it’s a lot more comfortable than doing so at a stadium First of all, a cozy seat or couch is much better than a cheap plastic seat with minimal legroom And you're not standing in long lines for food and toilet like you do when you watch it at a stadium Plus, you can watch a game with the sound off or turn down the volume if you don't want to hear crowds cheering as well as stadium or arena music What's more, I know that some people go to the game and then watch it

on TV after they get home because they feel they miss being there too much as there’s no replay

What sports do you like?

Oh, I am really fond of playing tennis as it is one of the most dynamic sports requiring my total involvement It encourages interaction, communication and just plain fun and is a great stress reliever which makes it even more loveable

What sports do people in your country like to play?

Oh, I would say all kinds of ball games People in my country are fond of football because it has simple rules, can be played just with a ball almost anywhere, is very entertaining to watch and play and very short

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Do you like to watch live sports games?

What is the difference between watching sports events at home and at the stadium?

Well, watching a game at home gives people more comfort as they don't have to queue for food or toilets for hours, get cold if the weather is not really good and waste hours after the game to get out of the parking lots Instead, they can enjoy the warmth of their home, the company of their close friends and unlimited snack breaks during long timeouts and halftime They can also easily_pause the game and not miss out on any of the action and, of course, replay the episodes they want to see one more time

Watching a match at the stadium people get first hand touch of the event and create long-lasting memories

of the fun and entertaining atmosphere created by a large number of fans One more advantage they get being at the stadium is a chance to focus on anything that catches their attention as they are not restricted

to a particular view of the camera, which is unfortunately impossible watching a game on TV Oh, and the last difference I see is the fact that going to the stadium can cost people quite a bit of money, while enjoying the game at home is for free

Who do you like to watch live sports games with?

Well, I enjoy watching live sports games with my father and brother as it brings US closer to each other Plus, we have a really good time together with food, beverages and entertainment all in one place And of course, it also makes the game much more special for the three of US

Do you like sports?

Oh yeah, I do as it's the only way for me to release stress and improve my general health What's more, it's

my favorite way to make friends and enjoy social interaction So, definitely yes!

Do most people in your country like sports?

Well, I guess yes as sport helps people stay in shape and in some cases even find a purpose in life Moreover, playing sports makes life more interesting and filled with positive emotions ’cause sports communication brings fun into everyday routine So, yeah, I am more than sure that most people in my country like it

Where is your favourite place to sit?

It's my new loveseat sofa in the kitchen It's very soft and comfortable This is where I sit back and relax after a hard working day Also, it’s a comfy reading corner It's big enough It has low armrests and thick, comfy, cushions The cushions are filled with memory foam that adapts to the contours of your body, but they easily regain their shape when a person rises The high back provides comfortable support for my

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Do you like the morning or the evening?

Well, I actually love both the morning and the evening but for different reasons I love the morning setting, the tone for my day as well as for the newness and possibilities it offers At the same time, I always wait for the evening to unwind and reflect on my day or accomplish overdue assignments when I'm still full of energy after a hard day at work

What do you usually do in the evening?

Well, in the evening I really love to take a stroll in order to exercise, get some fresh air and relax Also, I always have dinner with my family in the evening and then spend some time either taking a soothing bath

or not doing anything at all except for reflecting on my day and trying to make some plans for the next day

Collecting things

Do you collect things?

Well, actually, I do as it is the collection of the things I love and value that brings back my happy memories., connects me to some important periods of my life and gives me personal pleasure and enjoyment What's more, it satisfies my natural hunting instinct and lets me enjoy the social interaction with fellow collectors So, yeah, I do collect things, but I'm not a crazy collector I don't spend all my money and free time on building out a collection

Science

Do you like science?

Did you like science classes when you were young?

Of course I do Science is what lets US make progress as a race, it is something never- ending and so really addicting It defines US, our world and our universe, allows US to know where things come from and explains absolutely everything in life This is why I adore it

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Do you think school children should have both science classes and art classes?

I'm sure that kids need to study both science and art because they are equally important for kids’ development Science classes teach children about the way the world works and help kids create a hypothesis in their mind as well as form a healthy dose of skepticism While art classes connect kids more deeply to the world, opening them to new ways of seeing, promoting activity in their brain and nurturing, inventiveness that aids in the development of self-esteem, self-discipline, cooperation and self-motivation

So definitely both are important

Do you think science is important to our society?

No doubt it is It is part of our daily lives It is something that pushes back the boundaries constraining our knowledge and transforms our world at an incredible pace What is more, science allows US to define, investigate and try to understand the world we live in and how it works as well as provides the potential for long-term benefit worldwide

Sitting

Where is your favourite place to sit ?

Snacks

What is your opinion on snacks between meals?

Is it healthy to eat snacks?

Well, I guess unhealthy snacks like pizza, cakes and chocolates add extra calories to our day, which makes

it difficult to keep weight under control They also destabilize blood sugar and lead to tooth decay as the sugar left in the mouth after eating sugary snacks provides a breeding ground for bacteria But healthy ones like fruits and vegetables provide valuable nutrition

What kind of snacks do you like to eat?

Honestly speaking, I adore all kinds of junk and sugary snacks such as pizza, cakes, pies or muffins, but I often replace them with oatmeal cookies, muesli bars and dried fruit in order to satisfy my sweet tooth and

at the same time not ruin my health

What kind of snacks do children in your country like to eat now?

I guess it depends on their family's food preferences What I think kids like are apples, bananas, yogurt covered cereal, cheese, chocolates and all kinds of biscuits

What was the most popular snack when you were young?

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When do you usually eat them?

Well, I usually eat some sweet snacks in the mid morning between breakfast and lunch and some healthy stuff like nuts, raisins, yogurts or fruits in the mid afternoon between lunch and dinner

Do your parents allow you to eat snacks?

They do, but only healthy ones like fresh or dried fruits and vegetables or Greek yogurt They don't let me eat junk foods, though as they say they don't want me to ruin my health

Names

Is there any tradition about naming babies?

How do you choose names for your next generation?

Well, of course, there is but naming traditions vary from country to country and culture to culture For example, here in India many parents choose a baby's name according to his or her birth star There are 27 birth stars altogether, each with associated letters to start the baby's name

Does your name have any special meaning?

Well, definitely 'yes' like all other names, actually My name is Sophia and it's a Greek word for wisdom

or being wise as far as I know It's quite a popular name these days, and I think it's, first of all, because all parents want their daughters to be wise as it’s the shortest way to happiness

Do you like your name?

Oh yeah, I have always loved it It has a great sound and it's easy to spell What's more, it's quite common

in my country, and because of this I can easily find personalized items with my name on I mean coffee mugs, pendants and bracelets

Would you like to change your name?

Definitely not I like my current name and I can't imagine myself without it So, no I wouldn't change it Not for the world

Do people in your country ever change their names?

I guess it happens from time to time For example, when people dislike their current name or want to anglicize it They can also do so when they want to have a unique name or would like to change their life

by starting it with a new name

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What name do people at home call you?

Well, my parents usually call me sweetheart or any other affectionate name, while my siblings like to use

a hypocoristic form of my name

Weather

What's the weather usually like in your hometown?

What's your favorite weather?

Do you like the weather in your hometown?

Oh, the weather in my hometown is characterized by warm dry summers and fairly severe snowy winters

It is very sunny and relatively hot in summertime with the temperatures soaring up to 30 - 35 degrees Celsius as maximum Most rain occurs in early spring and late autumn making the second half of April, May, September and the first half of October the most comfortable and pleasant months of the year The lowest temperatures in wintertime are minus 20 - 25 degrees Celsius but they never last longer than a couple of days

Do you like hot weather?

Well, I do actually I adore sunshine and enjoy getting tons of vitamin D 'cause it always positively affects

my mood So, yes, I would rather sweat than get cold for sure

Do you like hot weather?

Or no Hot weather bothers me I feel grumpy, sweaty, and uncomfortable in such weather Oh, and I become too lazy to do anything So, no, it's definitely not my type of weather

What do you do in hot weather?

Well, if I am on vacation, I cool off near the sea or visit a waterpark But if not, I try to stay indoors with the air conditioner on In case I have to get outside, I look for ways to spend time in cool shady_places, drink plenty of fluids and eat a lot of icecream

Do you like wet weather?

Do you prefer wet or dry weather?

Oh yes, I really like rainy days as it's a great time to recharge, refresh and revitalize I find comfort in the rain I love the raindrops hitting my roof and windows, I love the moisture in the air, and I appreciate the after-rain scent Rain makes me feel alive So of course I like it a lot

Would you like to visit a hot country?

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How do children celebrate birthdays in your country?

Oh, usually the birthday morning starts with birthday gifts, a kid's favorite breakfast, a lot of balloons and streamers placed by parents all around the house Then there is a birthday cake and gifts from classmates and teachers at school And, finally, there's a party with lots of activities and fun either at home or somewhere out

How did you celebrate your last birthday?

Oh, my last birthday celebration was unbelievably cool I went on vacation to the mountains with my significant other We spent the whole day together enjoying nature and our being together In the evening

we had a super yummy dinner It was marvelous I still recall that day fondly

Is there a difference between the way you celebrated your birthday in the past and in the present?

I wouldn’t say there is a big difference, though some things really differ When I was younger, I always threw huge parties inviting even those people whom I knew for a month or so Now I have become more mature and love to have special get togethers with close people enjoying communication and reminiscing about our common past

What kinds of birthday gifts do you like to receive?

Oh, I really like to be given money, but it's usually a kind of present from very close people As far as presents from acquaintances and colleagues are concerned, I like to receive perfumes, flowers, and cosmetics or jewelry gift cards

Do you prefer public transportation or private transportation?

I prefer getting around in a private vehicle because ! don't like to be dependent on other people I like the

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Will you use public transport more in the future?

Well, I'd love to 'cause I think this is the only way to fight global warming and environmental pollution, but taking into account the current situation in the world, I don't think I will In my opinion, mass transit and social distancing are incompatible, especially during rush hour And even if I do my best to keep a safe distance, wear a mask and avoid touching surfaces, the risk of catching COVID-19 on trains and buses

is quite high because this disease is highly contagious I just don't want to jeopardize my health I think I won't use public transport unless absolutely necessary I will drive, walk or cycle more

Are there any traffic problems in your area?

Oh, in my city, I guess, it is traffic congestion that is the major problem During rush hours the city center and the main roads are blocked by vehicles which move so slowly that it seems they don't move at all

How would you improve transport in your town or area?

How would you reduce traffic problems in your area?

How do you think public transport could be improved?

Firstly, it is absolutely imperative that buses be made to stop at designated bus stops and have scheduled routes The problem is that having spotted a person flagging down, bus drivers stop wherever they want

as they seem to feel like kings of the road

Such sudden and abrupt stopping of buses often causes minor rear end collisions and tailbacks as there's barely enough room to let other vehicles pass and everybody is in a hurry It would also be great if roads were mended because dodging potholes is what drivers have to constantly do instead of moving smoothly and uninterruptedly And this again makes cars move slowly and leads to car accidents

Cooking

Do you like cooking?

Oh yes, I adore it Cooking at home is always a fun time with my family because we like to cook together It also lets me control my family’s health What’s more, it lets me save money as I have a choice about where and how many products to buy One more thing I can add is that homemade food tastes much better, especially when I see happy faces of my beloved ones enjoying the meal

Who usually does the cooking in your home?

Well, I am the one who always cooks in my home I do it because I dore cooking and because I am really

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good at it I can easily make a great meal out of random grudge ingredients and it makes life easy for all

my family members One more reason why I cook for everyone is the fact that I have enough time for that Though, from time to time my husband and kids help me in the kitchen but not more than once a week, to

my regret

Singing

Do you often sing?

Well, quite often I do it every morning when I have a shower and every evening when I want to get away from my problems and relax I also sing when I am happy and when I want to make people around me smile Oh, and whenever I hear the song I like So yeah, I sing almost all the time

When do you like to sing?

Oh, I enjoy singing when I hear the song I like or when I want to attract someone's attention Also, I often

do it when I want to express myself and what I feel or when my mood strikes, pushing my heart and soul

to sing and have fun

What kinds of music do you like to sing?

Well, I really enjoy singing ballads 'cause they are typically slow and have an emotional touch owing to the lyrical content Also, I like country songs for their meaningful lyrics and soothing tunes and, of course, for those good stories which they tell

Is it dtfficult to sing well?

I guess it isn't if you are extremely-gifted or if you practice daily taking singing classes or using a good vocal training program Regular practice helps people discover the full potential of their voice and take advantage of it So I don't think it's too hard when singing skills are well-developed

Do you want to be a singer?

Oh no, I don't First of all, I am too shy to perform live on stage in front of a large crowd Also, I am quite bad at acting which is important for a professional singer What's more, I think it's a very hard job So I wouldn't even like to try

Technology

Do you like to use new technology?

Well, I would even say I adore it as it has increased the speed of life and shaped nearly every aspect of the way we live and work today New technologies make me smarter and give me better opportunities For example, they allow me to get access to information from virtually everywhere eliminating problems posed

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Does technology deeply affect people's life?

Definitely yes It has changed the way people work, play and even raise kids It has improved people's lives They have more free time which gives them better opportunities It has also bridged the gap for communicating with people over long distances, changed the ways of education and learning methods and led to increased productivity in the office So I can claim without any doubt that technology deeply affects people's life

Writing

Do you usually write by hand or write using a computer?

Do you prefer typing or handwriting when you're writing?

Do you write a lot?

Well, it's hard to say On the one hand, I do a lot of writing by hand For example, I write down to-do lists

in my personal organiser, scribble notes if I recall some important piece of information or come up with a good idea I write reminders for my colleagues and family members But when it comes to writing long texts such as articles, of course, I never use pen and paper I prefer typing

Did you like writing things when you were a child?

Well, it was a real struggle for me as I didn't feel comfortable with it I was too immature to manage the writing process and I was constantly worried about making mistakes It led to tears and tantrums and made

me hate writing with all my heart

Social media

What's the most popular social media in your country?

I think by far the most popular social media is still Facebook because it lets people make social

connections, stay in touch with what friends are doing, share photos or videos with others and just fill up their free time Business people opt for professional networks such as Linkedln and Xing 'cause they help resolve lots of business issues such as meeting customers, recruiting new employees, keeping up with the latest news in business and developing relationships with suppliers and colleagues

Geography

Are you good at reading maps?

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Puzzles

Is it good for old people to do puzzles?

Undoubtedly, mainly because puzzles provide an excellent way for seniors to strengthen their brain function as solving them requires critical and logical thinking skills It kinda serves as a workout for their brains and memory function and helps to ward off dementia and delay Alzheimer's disease What's more,

it improves their decision-making capabilities, decreases stress and anxiety levels and improves their mood So, it's definitely good for the elderly

Hair

Do you like going to a hairdresser's (or barber's)?

To be honest, I don't 'cause I never know what exactly I want, which intensifies my feeling stressed and confused whenever I have to do it

Do you want to change your hair colour?

Well, why not But only if a new hair colour enhances my look and helps me stand out from the crowd, which adores me Not in any other case

How often do you have a haircut?

Well, I never ever do it as I like my hair long and only, get the ends trimmed regularly to keep my strands healthy and radiant

How often do you have a haircut?

Oh, I usually have a haircut at least once a month as it makes me look well-groomed and elegant I have business meetings almost every day, and it's important for me to make a good first impression

How long have you had this haircut?

Well, I've had it since I graduated from university, I guess Though, sometimes it seems to me that I've always had it

Have you had a haircut that you didn't like?

Only once in my life, thank god I guess it happened because there was a kind of miscommunication between me and my hairdresser (barber) Ljust failed to articulate my desired look, which resulted in the

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What is your morning routine?

Well, the first thing I do when I wake up is make my bed and meditate for 5 minutes Then I work out for

15 minutes, have a shower and drink a glass of warm water with lemon After that I quickly have my breakfast, pack a meal, snack and coffee and run to work That's my typical morning

Do you like the morning or the evening?

Well, I actually love both the morning and the evening but for different reasons I love the morning for setting, the tone for my day as well as for newness and possibilities it offers At the same time, I always wait for the evening to unwind and reflect on my day or accomplish overdue assignments when I'm still full of energy after a hard day at work

Is breakfast important?

Definitely, it is Breakfast provides many benefits to our health and wellbeing, for example, fills our body and brain with fuel after an overnight fast, restores glucose levels, an essential carbohydrate that is needed for the brain to function, and simply makes US happier

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PART 2

Describe a day out that didn’t cost a lot

You should say:

What you did

When you did it

Who you were with

Why it didn’t cost a lot

Last summer, when the national coronavirus lockdown came to an end, I said to my husband (brother, friends, etc) that I was fed up with staying indoors almost all the time He promised we would spend the whole day out the next weekend And we did My husband suggested having a bike ride through the countryside I agreed despite the fact that I hadn’t ridden a bicycle since childhood

So we rented two bikes, which didn't cost a lot And we went to our country house that is located in a very picturesque area near the coniferous forest Funnily enough, we only had barbeque parties in the garden there and had never explored the beautiful nature around We took some food because we didn't know if

we would return fast or spend the whole day cyclina And we took a navigator so as not to get lost somewhere in the middle of nowhere

At first, I was riding at a snail's pace I was concentrating solely on balancing and steering, of course, I didn't look around and couldn't appreciate the beautiful scenery But it was fun It was a bit like being a kid again I soon got the hang of it and started riding confidently There were cows grazing in green fields, ducks hiding in the grass, beautiful wild flowers and butterflies We often stopped to take photos and enjoy the stunning scenery

In general, it wasn't a strenuous tour Whenever we felt tired, we just wheeled our bikes

In the evening we returned to our starting point and went home This bike trip helped me recharge my batteries, and it was real fun

Describe a positive change in your life

You should say:

What the change was and when it happened

How it happened

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Why it was a positive change

Last year I came to realize that the quality of my life would improve significantly if I started leading a healthy lifestyle What I did first was I read a lot of articles in magazines and consulted a dietician because without professional help diets may do more harm than good The biggest challenge was to stop eating fast food I started to choose carefully what I ate, when and what for I became a frequent visitor of a gym and did exercises regularly At least 3 times per week

I’ve been living like this for more than a year now I have to confess that this appeared to be more difficult than I expected as, first of all, this requires discipline and time For example, sometimes you don't want to

go to the gym You say to yourself that nothing will happen if you skip one workout But you understand that if you do it once, nothing will stop you from doing it regularly Secondly, when you eat fast food, you don't have to think at all You take whatever you see in a shop to make your stomach full But if you start eating healthy food, you think about its nutritional value, you count calories and try to choose fresh high-quality meat and vegetables

In any case, all these efforts are worth changing the way you live For instance, it was not until I started following a healthy diet and doing sport regularly that I began to lose weight naturally without starving myself As a result, I started looking slimmer and feeling better What’s more, I became much more attractive for the opposite sex Now I have many admirers who say that I’m beautiful, and my photos get really many likes on social networks My health has improved significantly since I started taking the first steps towards my life I have started feeling more energetic than usual before This has also helped me get better skin, so now I don’t look as pale as before To sum up, the quality of my life has improved dramatically

Describe a quiet place that you like to go to

You should say:

What place it is

How often you go there, when you go there

What you do there

Why you like this place

Well, nowadays there's so much noise around that sometimes silence is a luxury I can no longer afford So time and again I go to some quiet places not to forget what 'silence' is My favorite one is a coniferous forest which is just a 20-minute drive from the city This is a magical place where quietness is almost

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This is by far the best place where I can take a bar from a constant stream of noises to reboot my bi and unwind Also, it is there that I can rid my mind of negative and unnecessary thoughts, slow down, take a deep breath, set my mind straight, think about my life and focus on what I really want If I'm feeling blue,

a walk in the forest helps me to set myself in the right mood When I feel stressed and exhausted, it helps

me to recharge my batteries

I usually notice a huge difference in the way I feel before and after I go there, and this is definitely what keeps me coming back for more

Describe an occasion when you got stuck in a traffic jam

You should say:

Where you went

How often you do this

When you did this

Why you dislike it

Every day I hit the morning rush hour I always sleep until the last minute, so I leave home when congestion

is at its height Because of this, my daily commute is nothing but a 40-minute stop and go crawling And

on Monday it’s particularly bad As a consequence, I routinely sit in about 40 minutes of bumper stop and go traffic every day Last Monday wasn't an exception Traffic moved very slowly, and there was no end in sight The closer to the city center, the slower This makes me really nervous

bumper-to-As a result, I was late for an important meeting In fact, if only I could leave home just 15 minutes earlier,

I would get to the office without any problems very fast Normally it takes not more than 15 minutes But

I never manage to

Another thing that made me irritated, and it always does, was that I wasted a lot of time What I mean is when I'm stuck in a traffic jam, for example, because of a car accident, and don't move, I take my tablet and write letters or do other important things But last time cars were crawling, the only thing I could do

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Also, traffic congestion usually entails additional expenses I've recently read that for every two minutes

a car is idling, it uses the same amount of fuel as a mile's drive What's more, it increases vehicle emissions,

so every morning I blame myself for contributing to environmental pollution, which I can avoid only if getting to work by car, which is out of the question

Describe a time when you lost something and then got it back

What it was

Where you lost it

How you found it

How you felt

I'm a person who's forever losing something And in most cases, I don't notice that some item is missing for a long time if ever However, recently there was one case that I remember very well This is because

I lost my smartphone, and it was a total disaster because I am not ashamed to say that I can't survive even

an hour without the device

So, one day I returned home after a busy day and wanted to text one of my friends, but I couldn't find my smartphone At first, I didn't worry at all I asked my mom to call my phone 'cause I was sure it was somewhere in my purse or in one of the pockets What we heard was 'the phone you dialed is not available

at the moment' This meant that locating my phone fant and easily was out of the question I thought the batt had gone flat, therefore it would just take a little time to find it I searched high and low, but the search was without success I realized I'd lost it

At that very moment I felt like my heart was coming to a complete stop I started panicking I thought that someone would hack my phone password and get access to my photos and notes, my accounts on social media, which was the last thing I wanted to have happened I thought of the potential consequences of my being out of contact for what might be several days Among other things, it was an expensive item, and I’d been saving for a long time to buy it

The worst thing about it was that I had no idea where I lost it What I remembered well was that I called

my friend after I left the office This meant I didn't leave it in the workplace Sol understood that I must have lost it either in the back seat of a taxi or in a changing room in a clothes store To be honest, I thought

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Describe in important river or lake in your country

Without exaggeration, I can call India the land of rivers And, in my opinion, by far the most important one is the Ganges It's the longest river in India which originates high in the Himalayan Mountains, flows for about 3000 kilometers through the country and discharges into the Bay of Bengal The Ganges has a lot of tributaries, which I can't name What I know for sure is that it flows in 5 states of India and passes through a number of towns on its way to the Bay of Bengal As a result, the river has a myriad of uses in the regions it passes through

First of all, it is the most sacred river in India It is worshiped as the goddess Ganga Ma or Mother Ganges There are large religious festivals that occur in the river throughout the year where millions of people travel to the river to bathe, cleanse and purify their sins Also, people bring their dead to the river for cremation along its banks, and afterward their ashes are spread in the river In some cases corpses are also thrown into the river

The Ganges River provides livelihood for a large number of people in my country as most of the people living on its banks use the river for daily needs such as bathing and fishing By the way, its basin is the most heavily populated in the world with over 400 million people living there

The river also plays an important role in the economy of my country as it provides irrigation water for agriculture, and it is the backbone of the country’s, of the transport system I'm not quite sure, but I think it's a source of electricity as well

Describe a completion (music, sports, etc.) You would like to take part in

Well, there's one business idea that makes me get up every morning, and I really want to implement it in the near future But I don't have enough money for it ’cause it requires huge investment And this is a big problem as while I'm still thinking, someone else is acting I want to create a blockchain-powered educational marketplace It will be like Coursera and eBay mixed together Both content creators and students will benefit from it because smart contracts that are used by the blockchain technology will guarantee easy, fast, safe and commission-free payments And no one will have to control the whole system as the system will regulate itself So what I want is to take part in a startup battle and pitch my project to investors

I've already done some research, and now I know more or less what I need to do to enter such a competition First, I have to submit an entry which is processty a panel of judges If they feel that angel investors may take interest in the project, I move to the next stage As a rule, finalists are selected to pitch on stage or

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have one-to-one short meetings with potential investors I'll have to prepare a detailed business plan, write

a powerful pitch and prepare an investor offer 'cause no one will invest a lot of money in the project if I cannot explain how exactly it will generate profit for investors

I suppose such a competition will allow me to test my idea to see how viable it is I will have a chance to prove to everyone that my idea is worth implementing In the bestcase scenario, I will attract investment

to develop my project Also, >1'11 get much needed PR coverage through local (national or international) media I want to make a difference in the world and become famous as Steve Jobs or Elon Musk And even if i go wrong, I'll get invaluable experience in order to get better prepared next time and not to make the mistakes In any case, it will be a good opportunity get my business idea evaluated by independent

Describe an interesting neighbor

Who this person is

How often you see him or her

How long you have known this neighbor

Why you consider this person to be interesting

I live in a crowded high-rise building, and have neighbors next door, below and above I guess, about a hundred people in total So it's not surprising that most of them are nameless and faceless to me The only person who stands out is my next-door neighbor

This is an elderly man whose name is John He's been living next door ever since I can remember So I can say I've known him since my childhood though for many years I just greeted him politely and smiled

I was too young to appreciate an opportunity to communicate with such a truly remarkable person Just imagine, now he is in his late 70s, but he seems to be more energetic than me and most of my peers

He is literally a person of indomitable energy John is retired And if I were him, I would sleep late, but he wakes up at 5 or 6 a.m and always starts his day with morning exercises He goes jogging, I think, every day regardless of the weather and the season I know about this 'cause when I go to work we often have small talk while waiting for an elevator because it usually doesn't come for ages

Another thing that draws people to him is that he will never say 'no' if you ask him to water your flowers when you're away, keep an eye on your flat or feed your pets I used to think he does it not to feel lonely, but some time ago I understood that this is just because he is a really caring and considerate person

Describe an important event that you celebrated

What event it was

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When this happened

Who was with you

How do you feel about this event?

I would say one of the most important events which was celebrated was my great grandfather's anniversary

It was a couple of years ago At that moment, of course, I didn’t realize how important that family gathering was I understood it much later when my grandfather died Just several weeks ago I was looking through the photos in a family album and recalled that event

My great grandparents invited all the members of our family to their house in the village Frankly speaking,

it was a few years ago, so I don't remember everything in detail I guess much of what I think I remember

is a product of my imagination Every time I recall this event, I see memories flooding across my mind like a kaleidoscope of pictures For example, there was a lot of food on the table though I don't really remember whether it was tasty or not The guests were laughing all the time Some of them were dancing, others were just sitting and eating non-stop One more thing that I can't help remembering is there was a firework display at night Also, there were huge bouquets of beautiful flowers everywhere

Thank God there is a photo taken during this event which depicts the whole family That was the last family party when my great grandfather was alive

Describe something you do to keep fit and healthy

What you do

When and where you usually do it

How you do it

How it helps you keep healthy

In my opinion, by far the best way to maintain good health is to work out in the gym, which I do every week, at least twice a week Of course, I wish I could do it more frequently, but I just don't have that much free time

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To make the most of each workout session, I start it with a warm-up This is usually a combination of some light cardiovascular exercises and stretches, which helps me to prevent the injury and prepare my body for more vigorous exercises

If I have strength training, I sometimes perform exercises with free weights such as dumbbells or medicine balls To be honest, I used to think that weights were something for bodybuilders But now I realize that light lifting exercises are really good for anyone Sometimes I use elasticized bands or specialized machines But in most cases, I do bodyweight exercises I mean everyone's all time favorites such as sit ups, squats, lunges and pull ups For me, bodyweight exercises are more difficult to do than weights, but

my fitness instructor doesn't care about it and makes me do several 25-rep sets of exercise When I have a cardio workout, I either run on a treadmill

Describe something that surprised you

You should say:

what it is

how you found out about it what you did

whether it made you happy

Just a couple of weeks ago, I was aimlessly scrolling down my news feed on Facebook when I spotted a catchy headline stating that Israeli scientists may have discovered a cure for cancer This made me immediately click on the link

What I read made me feel really enthusiastic about the future because nowadays cancer is a leading cause

of death worldwide For example, just in 2018, there were 17 million new cancer cases and 9.5 million cancer deaths What's more, treatment is super expensive and, in most cases, ineffective

So, according to the news article, a team of scientists has discovered the first complete cure for cancer The treatment is a multi-target toxin which specifically Lilia cancer cells Also, they say that patients could Ilk stop treatment after a number of weeks and not drug cocktails throughout their lives

The team has already concluded its first exploratory experiment on mice, and it had promising results The experiment inhibited human cancer cell growth and had no effect on healthy mice cells So, the company will soon begin clinical trials that could be completed within a few years and would make the treatment

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available in specific cases

Describe a product from your area (a food or handicraft)

You should say

what the product is

when you tried it for the first time

where you can buy it how it is produced why it is popular

As far as I know my country is famous for making such crafty things as ceramics I mean pottery, porcelain, and glasswork In my country, virtually every household has ceramics of various shapes and sizes, which are used for different purposes For instance, as far back as I can remember, my mother always used clay pots for cooking

I remember she would always say 'there is no healthy cooking without healthy cookware' I really liked everything my mom cooked in clay pots She steamed veggies and stewed meat The taste was truly exceptional

So when an opportunity turned up, I went to the artisan village and bought a few pots for my own family,

p way, it is these villages that are considered the places where all this stuff is produced and sold

When I was there, I watched a kind of a performance Craftsmen showed how they produced different crafted items But I'm afraid I can't go into detail about the production process as it was quite a while ago The only thing I remember is that clay was first dampened 'cause when dampened, it behaves like plasticine Then it was modeled, dried, and then fired Of course, I didn't see all the stages as this process

is long and complicated And I didn't have so much time to wait for each stage to be completed Anyway,

we got a broad idea of what the process is like

I really like ceramics for many reasons If we talk about pottery, for example, it is healthy and non-toxic Glassware and porcelain make very good presents and this list can be endless It is no wonder that ceramics have become a traditional product in my country

Describe something you do to keep yourself concentrated

You should say:

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what it is

how often you do it when you started doing it why it helped you concentrate

A couple of months ago I noticed that day by day I was getting more and more irritated 'cause I was unproductive at work just because I couldn't concentrate on the task I was doing I felt I just wasted my time doing nothing I sometimes literally stared at the screen trying to collect my thoughts Plus, I got easily distracted The main problem about it is that once you get distracted, it takes about 20 minutes to return to our original task I was stressed and overworked

My friend recommended that I practice mindfulness meditation in the mornings I'll explain what it is It’s simply focusing completely on what you're doing, slowing down, and observing all of the physical and emotional sensations that you are experiencing in that moment This is the skill that I really needed to master She told me to sit still and focus on my breath, then concentrate on the beating of my heart The most important thing was not paying any attention to anything else

But I’m a very active person So you can imagine I was absolutely terrified at the thought of sitting still, even for a couple of minutes, let alone half an hour At first, it was indeed a nightmare I couldn't get rid

of the incessant chatter in my head My thoughts were driving me crazy And therefore I couldn't slow down and make my mind relaxed Plus, it was boring

Despite this, I didn't give up and practiced every morning Gradually I got used to it and even started enjoying the process Just a week later I saw measurable improvements in attention span I saw that I could easily center my thoughts on what I did Later I started directing focused attention towards my ordinary activities For instance, I practiced mindfulness when I ate I took time to really chew my food and concentrate on its flavors and texture

Describe an invention that changed the world for the better

You should say:

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easy a way of communication, enabling US to do various tasks all at the same time and freeing US from the constraints of space The second change brought by smartphones is that they have replaced many devices such as ebook readers, MP3 players, or cameras If you want, you can use them for listening to music or watching a film Also, there are apps for practically everything They are quick to install and ready to use Thus, having a smartphone makes waiting not as boring as in the past

Describe a time when you were very busy

You should say:

when this time was

what you did at this time how you arranged your time

how you felt after this busy time was over

Last month, to say that I was busy is to say nothing I was like a hamster on a wheel trying to get everything what I'd planned done

It was an absolutely crazy time I was working on several projects at the same time to cover for a colleague who was on holiday I couldn't say 'no' because we usually cover for each other, and I knew that I wouldn’t

be able to count on her in the future if I had refused to pick up her workload So I had to push myself beyond my limits to get all the work done I had a constant flow of emails coming in Also, I had to deal with customer requests and phone calls, let alone my daily reports Even when I came home after work, I couldn't relax because I had to walk the dog and make sandwiches and tea so as not to collapse from hunger as I didn't even have time for lunch Also, in the mornings I woke up at the last minute, so breakfast was out of question in most cases

To tell the truth, the only thing that literally saved me from burnout and overwork was my paper planner called Slice Planner This planner presents a work day as a diagram which looks like a clock face This diagram is divided into 12 sectors, like 12 hours You have to shade the sector representing some time slot

if you plan to do something during that period of time Although I saw what fitted into my schedule and what didn't, I tried to do more work

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Describe a time when you helped a child

You should say:

how you helped a child

why you helped them

when it was

how you felt about it

Some years ago I taught my younger brother to tie shoelaces I found my nephew crying over his shoes 'cause he couldn't tie them I wanted him to let me help him, but he didn't allow me to tie his shoes 'cause

he wanted to be independent and do everything himself I remember myself when I was his age So I decided to help him and teach him this skill

I thought it would be a piece of cake as it takes no more than two seconds to do it And we, adults, do it automatically without thinking about it I mean it's as natural as breathing So I thought I would show it once or perhaps twice and it would be done, but sometimes things don’t go like we think they will This was just the case He couldn't repeat after me So it turned out to be one of the biggest challenges in my whole life My mom told me that this process could take up to a month of consistency and dedication from both the teacher and child

I understood that, first of all, I myself had to learn how to teach somebody So, I watched a number of video tutorials which showed different ways to teach a child to tie shoelaces After that we started practising 5 minutes every day, and I broke down this complicated task into smaller steps in order not to overwhelm the child

At first, we practised with his shoes off I used laces of two different colours to help him differentiate one lace from the other We started from learning to make a starting knot I showed him how to cross the left end of the lace over the right one, and pull both ends to complete the knot

Something you do to save time

Describe something you do to save time You should say: what it is

when you do it

how you feel

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when you do this how it helps you

Until recently, I thought the best way to save more time or to use time as efficiently as possible was to make lists of tasks for each day I sorted these tasks by priority But no matter what I did I couldn't get all the work done And I was really angry and frustrated So, now I know that creating a daily plan is enormously important But it's also necessary to peg a time limit to each task on the list I used to work slowly just because I didn't control the time Sometimes I was trying to bring the result to perfection, which

is pointless per se Sometimes I was distracted by emails, calls messages or Facebook You know, you want to quickly check something on Facebook or Instagram, but then you find yourself aimlessly scrolling the feed for half an hour

But now I understand that I have a limited period of time to complete some tasks So I just don’t pay attention to the distractors and activities that waste my time But it was easier said than done So I had to set some an ds and punishments in order not to be tempted to te someone or scroll the feed on Facebook The main problem about it is that once you get distracted it takes about 20 minutes to return to our original task

Now that I’ve managed to significantly increase my productivity, I can tell you that this method worked for me well And when I have a lot of tasks to complete I no longer feel nervous as I know that I will complete all the tasks on the list I feel calm and in control of what’s going on

Describe a family member you'd like to work with

I would be insanely happy if my younger brother became my business partner Together we could start an online store, manufacturing business or pizza shop We could open a restaurant Actually, we could start whatever business we want

The main reason why I want to go into business with him is that I'm sure he is able to build a very successful company 'cause he's a natural-born entrepreneur All our relatives say that if he started a business, he would make lots and lots of money And I want to be involved (LOL) As far as I remember, as a child,

he came up with lots of quick and easy ways to make money almost every day For example, he did a lot

of garage sales When he ran out of junk from our parents' garage to sell, he asked his friends if they could organize garage sales at their houses Also, he sold homemade lemonade in the summer Once, and that's one of my favourite stories, he figured out that he could invest, say, $3 into buying the whole pizza and then sell it! the slice So he was able to charge something lik $5 for a pizza that cost him just $3

I consider him a genius And I think these stories prove that he does have a business flair So everyone says that it's a pity that he used his talent only when he was a kid What's more, he already has extensive experience in sales, which is sometimes key to success in business Also, we complement each other very well We would engage in different activities and have different responsibilities So I believe there would

be less reason to fight Finally, what's important is that we know each other inside out and I know I can

Tiêu đề	Speaking quý 3 2022
Trường học	Bingo English
Năm xuất bản	2022
Thành phố	Haiphong

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Số trang	112
Dung lượng	2,43 MB