[The examiner asks the candidate about him/herself, his/her home, work or studies and other familiar topics.]
Topic: Your country
Q. Which part of your country do most people live in?
A. Approximately 84 million people live in Germany and it is the most populated country in Europe. The population distribution in urban areas is much higher than that of rural areas. The population density varies significantly from east to west and there has always been an east-to-west movement since the 19th century in Germany.
Q. Tell me about the main industries there.
A. German is a highly developed industrialised country and one of the top exporters in the world. Local automobile industry here produces annually more than 5 million vehicles. Besides, Germany has high productivity is the electrical equipment industry. The recent IT investment in the country is also remarkable.
Q. How easy is it to travel around your country?
A. I would say, it’s very convenient to travel around Germany. Germany often seems too small to travel by plane and too big to travel by bus. Air Berlin has domestic service between all major German cities and many people prefer air over road transports. Besides, trains are the quickest way between cities and you can always find a tour service provider whenever you need to travel to a place in Germany.
Q. Has your country changed much since you were a child?
A. I would say I have noticed a remarkable shift in Germany during the last two decades. Just after East and West Germany unified, it entered into a new era – an era of political stability, progress, gender equity, better trade policy, improved lifestyle and so on. On the downside, the rapid urbanisation has somewhat diminished some of the old ways of life where people in a community were closer and happier.
[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 admire this person.
Cue Card Answer:
Albert Einstein is one of the most celebrated scientists of all time and he was born in Germany in 1879. He is perhaps the most-celebrated person whom I admire the most. I would like to thank you for this excellent topic and the time to let me talk about this great mind.
Einstein is well known as an original free-thinker, a genius and a great visionary. After contributing to the theoretical development of nuclear physics his contribution to science kept on heightening. In 1911, he became a full-time professor at the Karl-Ferdinand University in Prague.
Born in Germany to Jewish parents, Einstein settled in Switzerland and then, after Hitler’s rise to power, the United States. Einstein was a truly global man and one of the undisputed genius’ of all time. It would be hard to find someone who does not know about this talented scientist.
He is often referred to as the Father of Modern Physics and his theories on relativity laid the framework for a new branch of physics. In 1921, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his contributions to theoretical physics and the evolution of Quantum Theory.
I admire him for his simple way of life, humanitarian feelings and his contribution to science. Without his theories and contribution to physics, the world still would have been in the backward stage. He was a true genius whom the world will pay reverence for many centuries to come.
Discussion topics: Famous people in your country
Q. What kinds of people become famous these days?
A. Well, from a global perspective, actors, sportsmen, musicians, authors, scientists, and political leaders become famous these days as they get huge media coverage. Some influential bloggers and YouTubers have gained fame due to a large fanbase and this has been possible with the widespread use of technology, especially the internet.
In my country, political leaders, football players, celebrities and scientists become popular among the mass population in this modern era. I believe success and exemplary contribution to the country make people appreciated and revered.
Q. Is this different from the kind of achievement that made people famous in the past? In what way?
A. I would say people with notable contributions in shaping a nation became national heroes in the past. Scientists and political leaders, despite some of their controversial actions, were famous. Besides, sportsmen who could bring glory to the nation would have been respected and commemorated.
This rule applies to the modern era as well. However, technology and digital media coverage have somewhat added new categories in which people could become famous which was unheard-of in the pre-internet era. For instance, a blogger or an environmentalist with millions of Facebook or Twitter followers is considered famous these days.
Q. How do you think people will become famous in the future?
A. I think the fundamental rule will remain the same. Someone does something that brings national pride, helps or inspires millions of people will be famous and respected by generations to come. Someone who lay the foundation for a ground-breaking invention will be famous in the future as it always had been.
However, the future generation would be more interested in people who can inspire them in a remarkable way – be it a writer, scientist, tech guy or a political leader. Technology will play a role to make more people famous beyond the boundaries in many new categories.
Discussion topics: Being in the public eye
Q. What are the good things about being famous? Are there any disadvantages?
A. Famous people, in most of the cases, contribute to form a public opinion and their words are taken seriously. They enjoy economic freedom, media coverage and love from fans. For instance, Bono, an Irish singer cum songwriter, is taken sincerely when he gives a statement to protect the environment which others without fame cannot enjoy even if their statements are more credible. Finally, fame brings success in life and famous people are cherished by many even after their death.
Among disadvantages, I fathom privacy is the most concerning issue for famous people. They are constantly followed by media people and often are subject to the scrutiny of media. Their fame often perils their very personal and social life.
Q. How does the media in your country treat famous people?
A. I have a mixed opinion about it. I would like to mention that mass media is responsible to present unbiased news and coverage of famous people. In my country, they often highlight the good things many famous people do. Mainstream media treat them fairly, as far as I am concerned. However, there are other types of gossip magazines, TV programmes and online portals which often exaggerate to get public attention and often falsifies what famous people are up to. I believe, ethical journalism and a responsibility to present true facts are the keys to solve this problem.
Q. Why do you think ordinary people are interested in the lives of famous people?
A. That’s a difficult question to answer. It’s so obvious that mass people treat famous people as if they are from a different planet and have a different lifestyle. They want to know what they are up to, who they talk to, what they wear, how they have become successful and how would they react in public. The curiosity is the main force here. For instance, I have always been mesmerised to learn about a famous writer who constantly inspired me in my childhood. So when I heard that he is in our town, I accepted tough challenges to meet him, perhaps talk to him for a minute and get his autograph. This never did happen and it made me wonder why should not I be able to meet him! The way they are guarded against common people is perhaps another reason ordinary people want to get close to them and learn about their lives. Finally, people watch them on silver screens or in newspapers and that makes them inquisitive what these famous people are like in the real world.
This post was last modified on 11th April 2019 12:35 pm