[The examiner asks the candidate about him/herself, his/her home, work or studies and other familiar topics.]
Topic: Leisure
Q. Do you have any hobbies or interests? [What are they?]
A. Yes, I like to travel and I try to visit at least one country in a year. I have so far travelled to most of the parts in my country and had been to more than 12 countries. I have a plan to visit India next year.
Besides travelling, I like to read – mostly novel and travel journals. My favourite writers are Ernest Hemingway, Jane Austen, Mark Twain, James Joyce & John Grisham.
Q. How did you become interested in (whatever hobby/ interest the candidate mentions)?
A. I became interested in travelling because my father loved to explore different cities and countries. He passed away a few years ago but his legacy still remains! I had been to Italy with my parents when I was only 10 and realised how the world is different from the way I knew it. The diversity of cultural aspects and people’s different lifestyles, not to mention different landscapes and scenic beauty, attracted me a lot and I wanted to explore the world from that time.
About reading, I had been a passionate reader from my childhood and my mother and grandfather have a great role in instilling this quality in me. They loved to read and often discussed the books with others. This was something unique and I felt attracted to reading books that I believe opens new doors in our mind.
Q. What is there to do in your free time in your hometown/village?
A. I live in Prague, the capital and largest city in the Czech Republic. The city has warm summers and chilly winters and Swarms of tourists crowd the historical streets, packing out the alfresco restaurants every day. Mountain biking is an interesting thing you can do in Prague. Besides, local people often delve deep into Prague Castle and enjoy street food.
Perhaps, there are quite a few reasons to watch a sunset in Prague, but the most obvious one is because they are awesome! I often do it.
Q. How do you usually spend your holidays?
A. I try to spend my holidays with my family and take them to a different city if the duration of the holiday is more than 5 days. For the shorter holidays, I take them to amusement parks, museums and theatres. Sometimes, we watch movies at home and enjoy home-made delicious food.
Apart from that, I sometimes take the reading challenges during a holiday and finish a few books before the holiday ends.
Q. Is there anywhere you would particularly like to visit? [Why?]
A. I would like to visit India. I have, in fact, a plan to go to this beautiful country sometime next year. India has a distinctive cultural aspect and its lush beauty and exotic architecture are recommended by many of my friends and relatives who had visited this country. Visiting India would be a great experience, I believe.
[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]
You should say:
and explain why you like this river, lake or sea.
Cue Card Answer:
I am originally from the Czech Republic and waters and mountains are the dominant components that constitute the uniqueness and diversity of the country’s terrain. Some of Europe’s largest rivers have their origins in the Czech Republic and the lakes are like queens in our country. So I would like to thank you for letting me talk about this topic.
My parents took me to the Elbe river when I was around 14 years old and the beauty of this river is still unforgettable. The Elbe is one of the major rivers in the Czech Republic and in fact one of the significant rivers in entire Central Europe.
The Elbe river rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northern Czech Republic before travelling much of the Czech Republic and then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven. Its total length is approximately 1,094 kilometres or 680 miles and the land beside the river makes the area picturesque.
The land near the river is so diverse that it is almost impossible to describe them all and frankly speaking, I have been to only a few of them. For instance, the northern part of the river in my hometown has a lavish forest beside it while the opposite has a white sandy area that runs for more than 9 miles. If you visit the west part of the town, you will find a tranquil small village beside it and thus the scene and the landscape beside the river vary based on the location of it.
One of Central Europe’s most important waterways, the Elbe River has great significance for us. I had been to an Elbe river cruise which was is extraordinarily delightful and I experienced stunning views during the voyage. The memory I have makes me a fan of this marvellous river.
Discussion topics: Water-based leisure activities
Q. What do people enjoy doing when they visit rivers, lakes or the sea? Why do you think these activities are popular?
A. I believe, people mostly visit rivers and lakes to enjoy the view, do boating, go for a swim or do water sports like surfing or waterskiing. They also lie on the beach, take a sunbath and enjoy the vastness of the sea. Personally, I like to enjoy the sunset on a seashore and sometimes go fishing in a lake.
I think people who do not live near a river or a sea go there to enjoy their vacation and take part in those activities to enjoy their time. For fishermen, the scenario is different who travel across the water to catch fishes.
Q. What benefits do you think people get from the activities they enjoy in the water?
A. Activities, like swimming in a river and enjoying the sunset, are refreshing. Whenever we are near a lake, a river or a sea, we try to enjoy our time and get involved in numerous recreation activities. These activities allow us to concentrate on things that are far away from the daily routine and thus release our stress. Personally, I like to catch fish which is both entertaining and rewarding. For many others, enjoying the view is like a medicine to their souls.
Q. What are the different advantages of going to the sea or to a swimming pool to enjoy yourself? What do you think the disadvantages are?
A. Going to a sea does not happen quite often and it is more refreshing. Taking a bath in the seawater or just lying on the beach can animate our mind. Swimming in a pool, on the other hand, is a good exercise and can be a part of our regular activity.
Among the disadvantages, taking a vacation near a sea is expensive and time-consuming. We often enjoy the view beside the sea and do not get engaged in physical activities. Finally, this can be a dangerous activity if we are not expert swimmers. Swimming pool, on the contrary, can be good for doing exercise but not so good to take a break for our daily routine.
Discussion topics: The economic importance of rivers, lakes and the sea
Q. How does water transport, like boats and ships, compare with other kinds? Are there any advantages/disadvantages of water transport?
A. Boats, ferries and ships run on water and can be more refreshing as a mean of journey compared to a train or bus journey. A large ship can be used to carry heavy goods and oils while small boats can carry people from one port to another. On the contrary, road and air transports are usually faster. If I want to travel to a different country I would prefer the air travel to save time but if I am to go to a different part of the city I live in and have a water transport available, I would prefer the boat.
Water transports, specially non-motorised boats, are environment-friendly and offer a great aqua view to the travellers. However, they are slow and take a considerable amount of time. An accident on water transport could be more deadly I believe.
Q. How important is it for a town or city to be located near a river or the sea? Why?
A. I think a city or a town located near a river or a sea has several advantages. Historically speaking, such cities always enjoyed economic benefits as they were often the gateway to international trades and the strategic location of an empire. This is why a city beside the sea or river had often been the most significant city in the country. It was a common scenario that a capital city was often located near a sea of a river and in many countries, it is still the case. Rivers allow many industries to be located nearby and thus help the development of the area.
Moreover, people near the river enjoys fertile lands and have better environment compared to the overcrowded cities in other parts of the country. A city or a town near a sea can reap the benefits of the blast of the tourism industry.
Q. Have there been any changes in the number of jobs available in fishing and water transport industries, do you think? Why do you think this is?
A. I believe the number of fishing-dependent population in my country has shrunk. I think the global scenario is also the same. The rapid urbanisation, global environmental changes and damages made to the water by industries are the reasons rivers and oceans have fewer fishes these days compared to the past. So it is natural that fishermen and their dependents have shifted to other occupations. The dependency on ships as goods carriers has also decreased with the advancement of large commercial flights and cargo-carrying aeroplanes.
Nevertheless, the global trade facilities, a boom in export industries, an increase in the number of merry time cruises in water and career in the navy and marine engineering has created a different segment of career opportunities in many countries.
This post was last modified on 11th April 2019 12:36 pm