As far as you know, IELTS candidates will have only 11-14 minutes for IELTS

Speaking and it comprises Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Therefore, it is

absolutely necessary that you invest time in practicing the real IELTS
Speaking questions.
Besides the Cambridge IELTS Practice Tests series published by Oxford
University Press, IELTS Speaking Recent Actual Tests with Suggested
Answers aims to develop speaking and test-taking skills along with
language proficiency to help you achieve a high IELTS Speaking score. It
contains IELTS Speaking questions that were asked and would be asked
in IELTS Speaking tests in 2022. The questions are divided into parts 1, 2,
and 3. Each question has answers provided by a certified IELTS expert
along with the vocabulary specifically used for that question/topic.
When using this e-book, you can be aware of the kinds of questions that
you would face in a real exam, and how the answers are framed
accordingly.
Moreover, these tests are extracted from an authentic IELTS bank source;
therefore, you are in all probability to encounter these questions in your
real examinations.
The authors are convinced that you will find IELTS Speaking Recent
Actual Tests with Suggested Answers beneficial on your path to success
with the International English Language Testing System.

Don’t just trust luck in your IELTS exam – the key is practice!

 How to Make Use of the IELTSMaterial.com

Speaking Book?
Preparing for the IELTS exam can seem overwhelming at times, but it
doesn’t have to be. As long as you have patience, a willingness to learn,
and determination, you will do well. One more thing you’ll need to
succeed—preparatory books! These books will help you better
understand the material covered on the exam, obtain a high score, and
stand out from the crowd. Our Ebook is a good source of self-study that
is perfect for IELTS Speaking. Here are some of the pointers on how to
make use of our Speaking ebook:

The Speaking book can be utilized to gain in-depth information

about each question type (short and long format) as well as
strategies for dealing with them.
We offer Speaking vocabulary so you can significantly speed up your
speaking as well as a large word bank to keep in mind while you
strive for high marks.
When used properly, our study guide can help you become much
more clear and build a new learning habit, both of which will
positively affect your Speaking performance and result in a higher
band score.
To sum up, Books are said to be a portable medium of magic.

Introduction to IELTS Speaking

The Speaking test comprises 3 parts and is conducted by an examiner for 11-14
minutes. This test is similar to an interview and thus the emotions attached to
the test are also similar – jitters, scary, and anxiety. This is where the IELTS
Speaking book comes in.

1
 What does the test consist of?
Part – 1
Most of the part one questions are personal questions that the examiner
will ask you to bring you into a comfort zone. These questions are sorted in
terms of different personal information.
Part – 2
The second part consists of a cue card for which you will be given 1 minute
to prepare and 2 minutes to talk. The questions in the cue card are
addressed and a sample answer is given for the cue card.
Part – 3
Following the cue card are part 3 questions. Part 3 of the speaking book
consists of questions related to the cue card you will receive. And so, these
questions are found with sample answers below the related cue cards.

How am I going to be marked?

There are four key assessment criteria for IELTS Speaking:
Fluency & Coherence
Lexical Resource
Grammatical range and accuracy
Pronunciation

Each contributes 25% of your total IELTS speaking score. You will be
awarded bands 0-9 in full and halves. E.g. 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5 - This is calculated
as an average of your scores in all four assessment criteria, to the nearest
score.

2
 Learning Pathway

Here’s a student learning pathway you will follow. The rest of the learning
pathway can be seen as a study guide so please Follow this pathway

Band Descriptors: The IELTS band score descriptors explain the

scoring to help you calculate and understand your score.   
    

Understanding Different Question Types: The first step to

performing well on IELTS Speaking is understanding the question
type.         

Study Method: Our study methods will guarantee sure-shot

success in the IELTS Speaking test and ace it with higher band
scores.         

Tips & Tricks: Our tips and tricks will help you prepare well and
ensure good band scores in your first attempt.           

Practice With Help: Candidates' chances of getting a high band

score can be boosted by practice, so attempting all question types
will help them become more efficient for the examination.           

First CheckPoint: There’ll be performance checks for you to

evaluate your scores, and understand where you lack, and where
you can improve

3
 Band Descriptors
The primary role of the IELTS band score descriptor is to determine the
task focus of each of the sections of the IELTS syllabus. Based on the score
range, the IELTS band descriptors describe how each band score is
aligned with a specific performance level.

Grammatical
Fluency and Lexical
Band range and Pronunciation
coherence resource
accuracy

speaks fluently
uses a full range of
with only rare uses a full range
uses idiomatic pronunciation
repetition and of structures
language features with
9 develops topics naturally and in
naturally and precision and is
fully and in an an appropriate
accurately effortless to
appropriate manner
understand
manner

uses less produces a sustains flexible

speaks fluently common and majority of error- use of features,
with only idiomatic free sentences with only
8 occasional vocabulary with only very occasional lapses
repetition or self- skillfully, with occasional and is easy to
correction occasional non- basic/non- understand
accuracies systematic errors throughout

may demonstrate
language
hesitation at uses some less frequently shows all the
times, or some common and produces error- positive features
repetition and idiomatic free sentences, of Band 6 and
7
uses a range of vocabulary with though some some, but not all,
connectives and some incorrect grammatical of the positive
discourse markers choices mistakes persist features of Band 8
with some
flexibility

4
 Understanding Different Sections of
IELTS Speaking

Speaking: Part 1
In IELTS Speaking part 1, the test will begin with the examiner first introducing
himself/herself and then asking you about your identity. He/she will then ask
you general/ simple questions relating to your background, home, work, studies,
family, interests, hobbies, and so on.

Speaking: Part 2
This section of the Speaking test gives you the opportunity to speak for longer on
a topic. You will be given one minute to prepare to talk about the topic on the
task card. A pencil and paper will be provided for you to make notes.

Speaking: Part 3
In part 3 of the Speaking test the examiner will ask further questions which are
connected to the topics discussed in part 2. This part of the test is designed to
give you the opportunity to talk about more abstract issues and ideas. It is a
two-way discussion with the examiner and will last 4-5 minutes.

5
Study Method

Tips & Tricks to Ace IELTS Speaking Test

Speaking Part 1:
1. Typically, your answers should be between 2 to 3 sentences. One
word answers are not acceptable. As a basic rule, answer the
question directly and then add a little bit more information.
2. The examiner wants to test your ability to speak naturally.
Memorized answers do not come across as natural speaking and
this will be reflected in your score.
3. The key is to use vocabulary appropriate to the questions. In this
case, the questions are somewhat informal, so your vocabulary
should match.
4. If your answer to an examiners question is no, then feel free to say
so, and then as always, add a little bit more reasoning or some
examples.

Speaking Part 2:
1. Use the 1 minute preparation time.
2. Focus on the question words on the task card - where, how long,
what, why, How.
3. Write down only your key points briefly in the paper given. (1 min)
You can write few vocabulary and idioms along with your main
ideas.
4. Starting to speak with a backstory mostly helps.
5. Begin your speech with a Past tense (back story/flashback) to the
topic you will be talking about.

6
Speaking Part 3:
1. In speaking part 3, you’re Often asked to do more of these - Compare,
Comment on, Explain/Give reason, Agree/Disagree, etc.
2. Expand your answers.
3. Paraphrase the questions.
4. Cite examples and personal experiences.
5. Use transition words and adaptable phrases.
6. Employ a wide range of grammar and vocabulary.

7
 Practice With Help

Let’s Decode IELTS Speaking by implementing your learnings.

Speaking Exercise: Part 1

Marks: 3
Topic: Time
Q) Are you good at managing your time?
Q) How do you manage your time?
Q) When is it most important for you to manage your time?

Speaking Exercise: Part 2

Marks: 3
Describe an old person that you know.

You should say:

What is your relationship with this person?
How often do you see them?
What do people think about this person?
Explain why you like them.

Speaking Exercise: Part 3

Marks: 3
Topic: The Internet
Q) Do you think people take notice of advertisements on the internet?
Q) How do you think it will change people's buying habits in the future?
Q) Are there any disadvantages to shopping on the internet?

9
 Sample Answers
Speaking Exercise: Part 1
1) Are you good at managing your time?
Actually, I'd say I'm not too good! I don't really have a system in place to
organize things. But I always make sure I am on time for appointments
and things like that, and I meet deadlines and get things done.

2) How do you manage your time?

As I said, I don't have any specific system in place to manage my time.
For example, if I am at work and I have a lot of cases, I just go through
them each day and decide which I need to tackle first.

3) When is it most important for you to manage your time?

I think it is probably when you are at work. When out of work, it's not
really going to affect things too much, or at least only yourself, if you are
late to meet friends or for an appointment, or if you are getting things
done in your house. But at work, it will cause problems if you don't
manage your time effectively because you could miss deadlines or miss
appointments. You could lose your job. So at work when it is most
important to manage your time.

Speaking Exercise: Part 2

Ok, I’d like to tell you about an old person that I know. His name is John,
and he is the owner of a small convenience store at the end of my street.
I would say that my relationship with him is as a friend. I know him
because I regularly go to the shop in order to buy things when I don’t
have time to go to a supermarket. He’s quite friendly and I always have
a chat with him.

10
I’ve known him now for about five years - since I’ve lived in the area in
fact. That’s why I’d now call him a friend. I’d say that I see him fairly
regularly. As I said, I go to the big supermarket out of town sometimes to
stock up, but you always need odd things during the week such as milk,
or some snack or other. So when this happens I just have a walk down to
his shop. I think John is pretty popular as he’s been there for years as far
as I’m aware, so most of the locals around the area know him. There will
always be someone in the shop having a chat with him. They like him
because he’s not just the shopkeeper but he’s also very involved in
activities in the community. For instance, a while back I was having
problems with my work, and I was really feeling stressed. I didn’t really
have anyone to talk to at the time as my family is abroad and a couple
of my good friends were not around. I mentioned it to John and he was
great. He listened and also gave me some really good advice. He didn’t
need to do that so it was great that he made the time to anyway.
Generally, though, he’s really welcoming when you go to his shop. He’ll
always have a smile on his face.

Speaking: Part 3

1) Do you think people take notice of advertisements on the internet?

Despite the fact that there are many adverts on the internet these days, I
think actually many people tend to ignore them, or at least that is my
experience. People usually go onto the internet to find something
specific that they are looking for, which may be a product, or to read
about something, so they will ignore what is not relevant to that.
Advertising on the internet is a practice most companies partake in now,
and they have to pay quite substantial sums to advertise on highly
ranked sites.

11
2) How do you think it will change people's buying habits in the future?

Buying from the internet is becoming more and more popular. For
example, we’ve seen many bookshops close down because people can
buy online at cheaper prices from sites such as Amazon. It makes life
much easier if products can be delivered direct to our door, especially
with our busy modern lifestyles. I think this will only increase in the future
as more people feel safe buying online and online shops make it easier
to purchase this way. Also, I think our lives are only going to become
busier, so more people will choose to shop this way.

3) Are there any disadvantages to shopping on the internet?

There certainly are some. Firstly, buying clothes can be a problem. When
you go into a shop you can check if what you are buying fits you and
suits you, but it is obviously not possible to do this online. Shopping does
not become less hassle if you have to send something back in the post.
Another problem is security. We have to give out our bank details to
people we don’t know. There have been several recent reports in the
press about sites that have had their security breached and credit card
details have been stolen. So far this is fairly uncommon, but it is a risk
none the same. Another disadvantage is to society as it could destroy
local shops and businesses if people are not going out to shop in their
local town.

12
 First Check Point

Performance Check:

We assume that you have understood how to do the IELTS Speaking test,
so, let’s check your performance and calculate your overall score.

Part 1 ____/3
Part 2 ____/3
Part 3 ____/3
Total Score: _____/ 9

After every band completion, there’ll be performance checks for the

candidates to evaluate their scores for each question type and
understand where they lack, and where they can improve.
Hint: It could be according to question type, accurate grammar, style of
speaking, and pronunciation.

13
 Part 1

Noise 1
Science 3
Plants 6
Painting 8
Cooking 10

Part 1 Part 1

Headphones 12 Bicycles 27
Advertisement 15 Dictionaries 31
Watch 19 Evenings 34
Collecting Things 22 Going Overseas 37
Street Market 25 Phases/Stages of life 40
 Part 1 Part 1

Home/Accommodation 43 Weddings 59
Window View 46 Activity near water 62
Being Happy 49 Lost 65
Trees 52 Shoes 68
Stages of Life 55 Living 71

Part 2 & 3 Part 2 & 3

Internet 75 Businessman 100
Comic actor 80 Creative person 105
Competition 86 Difficult thing 111
Feeling proud 92 Solving a Problem 119
Second language 98 Natural talent 125

Part 2 & 3 Part 2 & 3

Medicine 133 Repairing 161
Opinion 139 Free gifts 167
Conversation 144 Childhood 172
Apology 150 Stranger 178
Revisiting Book 156 New Year 184
 Part 2 & 3
Art and Craft 191
Environmental protection 199
Live sports 206
Favourite movie 213
Puzzle 219

The Book Begins!

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To Access the Speaking Part 1 Audios, Scan

the QR Code.

14
 Now that you have understood the basics of
IELTS Speaking, Let's dive into the Practice Tests
(Actual Mock Papers).

SPEAKING: PART 1

Noise Audio

Sample Answers

1. What natural sound(s) do you like (the most)? (Why?)

Hmm, that’s an interesting question. I’m quite a morning person, and

furthermore, I find nothing more relaxing than the sound of birds chirping (the

noise birds make). I find that sound to be so fresh, which helps me to start my

day energetically. Even though I live in a big city now, it takes me back to my

childhood in the countryside.

2. What sounds do you dislike? (Why?)

My biggest pet peeve is the sound of honking. They drive me mad! I find this

noise almost unbearable, mostly because it’s a loud, abrupt sound that

1
SPEAKING: PART 1
instantly disturbs my peace. Furthermore, it’s usually the sound of a frustrated

or angry driver, which makes it even more unpleasant.

3. Do you mind the noises? (Do any noises bother you?)

As I’m quite a light sleeper, I get irritated by the noises around me. I’d have to

say the most aggravating noise is the sound of a barking dog. It’s so shrill! I find

it very disturbing and almost impossible to focus on anything else. Moreover, it

makes me sad to know that a dog is in such a state of distress that they must

bark like that.

4. What type of noise do you come across in your daily life?

Well, quite a cacophony! It varies from the sound of screaming matches from

the partners and families in my apartment, street sellers shouting out their

product for all to hear, motorbikes speeding by, all the way to the sound of

blaring horns. I would say that the sound that defines my city most would be the

sound of horns. As it has major traffic issues and un-defined lanes on the roads,

it is quite natural that the sound of horns would fill the streets.

2
SPEAKING: PART 1

Vocabulary

1. Morning person

those who rise from sleep fairly easily and are most productive and/or active in

the mornings.

Eg: He has always been a morning person.

2. Pet peeve

something that a particular person finds especially annoying.

Eg: One of my biggest pet peeves is poor customer service.

3. Shrill

Something that gets in your head

Eg: She gave a shrill laugh and ran off.

4. Cacophony

A mix of sounds

Eg: The carnival parade was a blast of colour and a cacophony of sound

3
SPEAKING: PART 1

Science Audio

Sample Answers

1. Do you like science?

That’s an interesting question. Science was thrust on me as a mandatory

subject, and it was never my favourite. I found the topics quite fascinating,

especially biology and chemistry, but I was not able to understand them easily.

However, I always wished that I was better at science since it’s a life-oriented

subject.

2. What’s the most difficult part of studying science?

The mathematical aspect of it. Since I’ve never been good at Math, this is the

area of Science that kept me down. For example, I got decent grades in Biology

class, but Chemistry and Physics were a huge struggle for me due to the

Mathematical nature of them.

4
SPEAKING: PART 1

3. How has the science that you have studied helped you?

Although I’m not conscious of it, I will not deny that Science has been beneficial.

I see how Biology, Life Science, Anatomy, Chemistry, and Ecology have helped

me understand my body and the world around me better, including animals.

Furthermore, Chemistry has helped me to understand the chemical make-up of

the items around me and what causes explosive reactions. For example, I know I

should not drop mentos in my Diet Coke!

Vocabulary

1. Kept me down

prevented me from succeeding

Eg: The friendships I maintained in my college days were the ones keeping me

down from participating in events.

2. Conscious

aware of and responding to one's surroundings

Eg: Although I was in pain, I was conscious.

3. Fascinating

extremely interesting

Eg: It was a fascinating book to read.

5
SPEAKING: PART 1

Plants Audio

Sample Answers

1. Do you like plants? Why?

Yes, I really like plants! I think they add to the ambience of our homes. I can’t

explain it in words, but they just make you feel better somehow. Maybe it’s

because of the oxygen and the physical appeal.

2. What plants do you like?

I really like orchid flowers. I have several of them, both white and purple, around

my home. My friends always give me orchid flowers for special occasions since

they know I like them so much! Apart from that, I also love the look and

symbolism of the lotus, but it’s a bit difficult to find them here in Spain since they

aren’t native to this part of the world.

6
SPEAKING: PART 1
3. Have you ever grown any plants?

I would love to, but I’ve never really had the chance. Since I live in an apartment

without a balcony, it’s quite difficult for me to get the necessary sunlight. Oh,

how I dream of having a big backyard with a vegetable and herb garden one

day! I especially want to grow my own tomatoes and basil.

4. Did you grow any plants when you were a child?

I never grew any plants as a child, but I used to help my grandmother on her

olive tree farm in the countryside of southern Spain. I’ve learned that olive trees

need mild winters and long, warm, and dry summers to sustain themselves.

Vocabulary

1. Ambience

the character and atmosphere of a place.

Eg: The relaxed ambience of the cocktail lounge is popular with guests.

2. Native

a person born in a specified place or associated with a place by birth, whether

subsequently resident there or not.

Eg: He was a native of Montreal.

3. Backyard

A grassy green area behind the house

Eg: A few kids were playing in my neighbours backyard.

7
SPEAKING: PART 1

Painting Audio

Sample Answers

1. Do you like drawing or painting?

I like both of them, but I enjoy drawing more. When I paint, I often make a mess

and just cannot blend the colours properly. I find drawing to be easier and

something that you can do on the go, such as on the underground or doodling

on your notes during class.

2. What kinds of things do you like to draw?

Definitely portraits. I’ve always been inclined to draw the human face, capturing

their intricate features and expressions. When I travel, I take photographs of

local people then later replicate them to keep those memories alive.

8
SPEAKING: PART 1
3. Did you enjoy taking art lessons when you were a child?

Of course! It was one of my favourite classes. Since I was never a math or

science person, art was always a creative outlet for me. I felt like I needed it

after all the stress of logical thinking throughout, not to mention my art teacher

was really cool and zany.

4. Do you ever draw or paint pictures now?

Absolutely! Not as often as I used to, because of time and adult responsibilities,

but I still manage to draw a few times per week, especially to unwind a bit

before bed. And I make sure to go on a 2 or 3 week holiday abroad each year,

so I sketch the local people there.

Vocabulary

1. Doodling

drawing without proper form

Eg: She doodled in her notebook instead of taking notes.

2. Intricate

Detailed or very complicated

Eg: It was an intricate network of canals

3. Zany

amusingly unique and quirky.

Eg: He is known for his zany humour.

9
SPEAKING: PART 1

Cooking Audio

Sample Answers

1. Do you like cooking?

Moderately! Since I’m a vegetarian, and there are just a few vegetarian options

in this town, it’s critical for me to cook for myself. I wouldn’t say that I love it, but

it is growing on me. I feel accomplished when my own concoctions turn out

well!

2. How often do you cook?

Pretty much every day. Since I’m a busy bee, I usually prepare meals for the

week on Sunday afternoons. For example, I prepare some tofu, beans, and rice

then just heat them up with some stir-fried vegetables throughout the week.

10
SPEAKING: PART 1
3. How good are you at cooking?

I would consider myself to be average. I’ve mastered some dishes, but could still

use work on others. For example, I’m quite good at preparing vegetable curry

and falafel. That is what I usually prepare when I have guests.

4. Does anyone in your family like to cook?

Not really. I can remember that my grandmother enjoyed entertaining and

preparing food for family and friends. I distinctly remember her corned beef and

cabbage. However, she died when I was quite young along with that tradition.

Vocabulary

1. growing on me

Starting to like them/it or it more and more.

Eg: The neighborhood was beginning to grow on me.

2. busy bee

A busy person

Eg: As a manager, my friend has been a busy bee in the past few months.

3. Corned beef

meat that has been cured in a salt solution.

Eg: Corned beef is a famous dish in my hometown.

11
SPEAKING: PART 1

Headphones Audio

Sample Answers

1. Do you use headphones?

Yes, I use headphones on a daily basis while I work or study and also when I

watch movies during my leisure time.

2. What type of headphones do you use?

As I have to multi-task and wired headphones tend to intertwine easily,

Bluetooth or wireless headphones are my favorites. Although they are pricey

compared to wired ones, they are cost-effective as well as hassle-free.

3. When would you use headphones?

Actually, I have two sets of Bluetooth headphones. One of them is an in-ear set

which I use during exercising at the gym. The other one is an on-ear set which I

use mainly for work, listening to music or movie-watching. 

12
SPEAKING: PART 1

4. What do you use headphones for?

My headphones have a noise-cancellation feature which helps me focus on

whatever I am doing. Secondly, in public places I can use them nonchalantly

without disturbing others with whatever I am listening to. Moreover, as they are

wireless, I do not have to hold my phone in my hand and use my hands to the

fullest.

5. In what conditions will you not use headphones?

Using headphones continuously can be detrimental to our ears. So, I take

breaks after prolonged usage. Also, I don’t use headphones when I am in the

kitchen or outdoors to be mindful of my surroundings and thwart accidents.

Vocabulary

1. Intertwine

Meaning: connect or link (two or more things) closely.

E.g.: The electric wires are intertwined in such a way that it is difficult to

separate them.

2. Pricey

Meaning: having a high price; expensive

E.g.: “Don’t you think the food in this restaurant is pricey?”, said my

mother.

13
SPEAKING: PART 1

3. Nonchalantly

Meaning: in a casual way that shows a relaxed lack of concern or interest

E.g.: The man walked out of the office nonchalantly even after the big

fight.

4. Detrimental

Meaning: causing harm or damage

E.g.: Pollution is detrimental to humans as well as the surroundings.

5. Thwart

Meaning: prevent (someone) from accomplishing something

E.g.: The police tried to thwart the attack, but were unsuccessful in

stopping them.

Student's Space:

14
SPEAKING: PART 1

Advertisement audio

Sample Answers

1. Are you interested in watching TV advertisements or internet

advertisements?

Honestly, I am intrigued by neither of them because they ruin my concentration

while I listen to or work on something. But, as I mostly use the internet for

study/work or to respite from my hectic life, I am more conversant with

internet advertisements.

2. What kinds of advertisements do you dislike?

All kinds of advertisements annoy me as they create a disruption in the activity

I am engaged in. But, I am mostly irritated by junk mails and website pop-ups

as they block essential information and I miss them out.

15
SPEAKING: PART 1
3. Are there many advertisements in your country?

Certainly, there are multiple advertisements for myriads of products and

services throughout all cities and villages in India. They appear all over the

place, from the streets to social media, with a high density. For example, there

are a multitude of colorful billboards stuck on the street side wherever you go.

4. Why do you think there are so many advertisements now?

I guess it’s due to the benefits of the companies. To begin with, advertisements

are the easiest way to reach customers to entice their attention to a particular

brand or product. From that tantalizing information, customers will be able to

choose an appropriate one. Besides, it also plays a paramount role in the

marketing strategy that the company applies to lure customers.

5. Have you ever bought something because of its advertisement?

Earlier, I used to be enticed by the sale advertisements of various e-commerce

websites like Amazon and Myntra, which resulted in lots of unwanted shopping

and turned me into a shopaholic. Fortunately, now, I have been able to control

my craze after getting an earful from my mother.

6. Do you want to work in advertising in the future?

Although advertisements bug most of us, it requires a lot of creativity and

research to make them comprehensible and relevant to the contemporary

time and market needs.

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SPEAKING: PART 1
Unfortunately, I lack that level of ingenuity and knowledge and currently, it

would be a travesty to consider myself eligible for that field. But we never know

what life brings us, and in the future, I might take up it as a challenge if given

the opportunity.

Vocabulary

1. Respite

Meaning: a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or

unpleasant.

E.g.: The traveler wanted to have a respite from the heat of the desert.

2. Conversant

Meaning: having knowledge or experience

E.g.: Make sure you are conversant with the ways of the company before

the interview.

3. Tantalizing

Meaning: making you excited about having something wanted

E.g.: The surprise planned for my brother’s birthday had a tantalizing

effect on him.

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4. An Earful

Meaning: to complain angrily to someone; scold

E.g.: Our principal gave an earful to the seniors after they misbehaved in

the annual function.

5. Ingenuity

Meaning: skill at working out how to achieve things or skill at inventing

new things.

E.g.: She is known for her ingenuity in work.

Student's Space:

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Watch audio

Sample Answers

1. Do you have a watch?

With the advent of mobile phones, using a watch has become superfluous.

Therefore, even though I own some watches, I do not wear them often.

2. Have you ever gotten a watch as a gift?

My father, being a hobbyist of watches, has a vast collection ranging from

analog to digital and chronograph to hybrid. But he knows my insouciance to

his passion. So, keeping my affinity with modern tech accessories in mind, he

gifted me a smartwatch on my last birthday.

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3. Why do some people wear expensive watches?

I guess, to most people, expensive watches are status symbols or fashion

accessories. They flaunt their class and power in the society or convey their

inclination toward sophistication. But, there are others who don luxury watches

as they are fervent about them, and one such example is my father.

4. Do you think it is important to wear a watch?

Wearing watches has lost its essence nowadays as everyone can afford

smartphones that serve the same purpose, along with lots more attributes.

Even if people wear watches, I feel it’s mostly for style or fixation rather than

necessity.

5. What kind of watches do you like to wear?

To be honest, I am not keen on watches, unlike my father. So, I guess even if I

have to choose a watch I would like to wear, it would definitely be a

smartwatch which has numerous advantages other than only time-keeping.

6. What was your first watch like?

As far as I can remember, I have owned only one watch, which is a smartwatch

gifted by my father. It is a Samsung Galaxy Watch and has some remarkable

features that come in handy, like call support, daily assistant, endurance and

good power backup. I really cherish and take good care of it.

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Vocabulary

1. Superfluous

Meaning: being more than is needed, useful, or wanted; excessive

E.g.: One of my friends is very superfluous about his father’s business.

2. Hobbyist

Meaning: a person who pursues an activity in their spare time for

pleasure

E.g.: I have never seen a hobbyist so invested in their pastimes. 

3. Insouciance 

Meaning: lack of concern shown by someone about something which

they might be expected to take more seriously

E.g.: My sister’s insouciance on such grave matters was very irritating for

me.

4. Affinity

Meaning: a strong liking for or attraction to someone or something

E.g.: Boxer had an affinity to chase the neighborhood cats.

5. Fervent

Meaning: showing strong and sincere feelings or beliefs

E.g.: The superstar had many fervent fan following.

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Collecting Things audio

Sample Answers

1. Do you collect things?

 When I was a child, I used to accumulate a good deal of things. It ranged from

toys and pens to books and colorful notepads. Besides, I also maintained a

scrapbook that housed different kinds of newspaper cuttings. Presently, I don’t

have time to collect anything, but I add on to my book collection.

2. Are there any things you keep from childhood?

Although my mother has donated most of the toys and my sister has

destroyed my scrapbooks, I have guarded my books and pen collection

against obliteration and depreciation.

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3. Where do you usually keep things you need?

I have organized the books on a bookshelf and don’t allow anyone to use them

without my consent. As I am a bookworm, I am incredibly proud of my

collection and always see that they are well-maintained. Other than that, I

keep all my necessary items in a cupboard in my room.

4. What kinds of things do people often like collecting?

Diverse people amass various things according to their preferences and

passion. While some people collect small things like coins, stamps, toys, and

pens, others collect expensive articles like luxury cars, watches, houses, jewelry,

antiques and limited-edition collectibles.

5. Why do you think people collect certain objects?

People gather whatever they find interesting or ardent about. For example, a

philatelist collects stamps, or numismatists are interested in coins. Also, people

scavenge for antiques to sell them and earn profits. Moreover, caching

expensive things like luxury watches, houses, and cars can be to mark their

power and status.

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Vocabulary

1. Obliteration 

Meaning: to remove all signs of something, either by destroying it or by

covering it so that it cannot be seen

E.g.: Some people commit crimes for popularity which will save them

from obliteration.

2. Depreciation

Meaning: a loss of value, especially over time

E.g: The trader was afraid of depreciation due to inflation. 

3. Amass

Meaning: to get a large amount of something, especially money or

information, by collecting it over a long period

E.g.: The empire had amassed a massive amount of wealth under its new

ruler.

4. Scavenge

Meaning: search for and collect (anything usable) from discarded waste

E.g.: It is sad to see street animals scavenge for food in the dustbins.

5. Caching

Meaning: to put or store so as to be safe or hidden

E.g.: Caching certain things is not useless as their value reduces with

time.

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Street Market audio

Sample Answers

1. What is the difference between a street market and a supermarket?

Well, in a street market, sellers trade discounted but vital goods like food,

clothes, decorative articles, etc. independently and in limited quantities. On the

other hand, in a supermarket, we find more variety and quantity in each article

we need, but they are expensive compared to street markets.

2. What does the street market sell?

There are profuse types of street markets that sell a variety of goods, ranging

from fruits and vegetables, various kinds of other eatables, clothes, bags,

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inexpensive jewelry and other local merchandise according to the requirement

of the people.

3. What do people usually buy at the street market? / Why do you think people

go to the street market?

Before the advent of supermarkets or online shopping, people used to frequent

local street markets to buy their day-to-day essentials, like food and clothes,

as well as decorative pieces like toys, jewelry, etc. It was because they were the

only source of fresh and rudimentary supplies. But now, people visit these

markets to buy economical goods and rare collectibles.

4. Do you prefer to go shopping in the shopping mall or on the street market?

I enjoy both kinds of shopping according to my demands. When I want fresh

food and local antiques, I visit these street markets as they are more

reasonably priced. But, for my other necessities like clothes and luxury items, I

prefer shopping malls and online shopping as they provide good quality

commodities and offer a good variety.

5. Do you like to go to street markets when you are on a vacation?

To be honest, when I visit new cities or towns, I definitely explore the local

markets as they offer a glimpse into the culture and lifestyle of the local

people, besides offering a variety of exquisite local wares. For example, when I

visited Delhi, I had a tour of Janpath and Chandni Chowk market to soak in the

aura of the history of the city.

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Vocabulary

1. Profuse

Meaning: a lot of something or even way too much

E.g.: The workload for the week after a long holiday is profuse.

2. Vend

Meaning: to sell something

E.g.: He was caught while he was vending illegal drugs to the school

children.

3. Rudimentary

Meaning: basic, or at a very early stage

E.g.: Our rudimentary needs are food, clothes and shelter. 

4. Exquisite

Meaning: very beautiful and delicate

E.g.: Raman bought an exquisite necklace for his wife on their

anniversary.

5. Aura

Meaning: a feeling or character that a person or place seems to have.

E.g.: There was a negative aura coming from most people in the room

and it led to a heated argument.

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Bicycles audio

Sample Answers

1. Do you have a bike?

At present, I do not own a bike, but I had one till the time I studied in school.

Now, it has been given to my cousin for his use.

2. How often do you use it?

Currently, I do not use the bike I once had as I mostly commute by my

motorbike, which I bought recently, or use the office vehicle for work purposes.

But, with the increasing pollution, traffic and oil prices, I am planning to buy a

bike soon.

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3. How old were you when you learned to ride a bike?

As far as I can remember, I was around four years old when my grandfather

taught me how to ride a bicycle. Initially, my father did not acquiesce. But,

when I learnt to ride very quickly, he was proud.

4. Do many people in your country use bicycles?

Yes, a large section of my country’s population uses bicycles for daily

commute. They live mostly in the countryside. But, in the cities, people are also

veering to bikes as it is a more viable option for their health as well as the

environment.

5. Do you think using bicycles should be encouraged?

In my opinion, bicycles are a healthier alternative than motorcycles or cars, at

least for short distances. Earlier, people used to complain about bikes not

being time efficient. But, with the development of engineering, companies have

come up with much faster bikes. So, I think using bicycles should definitely be

facilitated if we want to save the environment and keep ourselves fit.

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Vocabulary

1. Shuttle

Meaning: travel regularly between two or more places.

E.g.: Due to the mismanagement, we had to shuttle from the office to the

factory thrice today.

2. Acquiesce

Meaning: to accept, agree, or give consent by keeping silent or by not

making objections

E.g.: John finally acquiesced to attend the seminar. 

3. Commute

Meaning: to travel regularly a distance

E.g.: We get tired in the evening due to the daily commute of 2 hours.

4. Viable

Meaning: able to exist, perform as intended, or succeed

E.g.: Do you think it is a viable option to invite Mr. Valentine to this party

after his behaviour at the last one?

5. Facilitated

Meaning: helped bring about

E.g.: The sunny yet cool weather facilitated the successful conclusion of

the great event.

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Dictionaries audio

Sample Answers

1. Do you often use a dictionary?

Earlier, as I read a lot of books and magazines, I used to carry a dictionary with

me and use it often. But now, due to my dynamic timetable, I get less time to

read, so the use of a dictionary has also become finite.

2. What do you use dictionaries for?

My grandmother had advised me to note any obscure words and find their

meaning in the dictionary as I read. I still heed her advice today, which has

helped keep my lingo updated.

3. What kind of dictionaries do you think are most useful?

Different types of dictionaries have diverse purposes, and it depends on the

intent. Earlier, I used to carry a pocket dictionary and now, I mostly use

bilingual dictionaries as it helps me understand the word and usage better.

Other than that, while researching, an encyclopedic dictionary can also be

beneficial.

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4. Do you think dictionaries are useful for learning a language?

I do agree with the view that dictionaries, especially bilingual dictionaries or

etymological dictionaries, are effectual for language learning. While the former

helps the beginners as they comprehend the new word in their mother tongue

or a language, they are efficient in, the latter helps in clarifying how the term

has come into being and facilitating mastery of spelling and retaining the

meaning.

5. What kind of information do you find in a dictionary?

The information in a dictionary mainly depends on its type. But, in the most

common type of dictionaries, we will get words organized based on the

spelling, their phonetic transcription and their meaning. Sometimes, we also

get some example sentences to show the usage. Other than these, in bilingual

dictionaries, we have words with similar meanings in the alternate language; in

etymological ones, we get the evolution of the specific word, etc.

Vocabulary

1. Finite

Meaning: having a limit or end

E.g.: The tornado victims are dependent on the finite resources they can

get.

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2. Obscure

Meaning: not clear and difficult to understand or see

E.g.: Even after he gave an explanation, the reason was obscure to most

of us.

3. Lingo

Meaning: a way of speaking that's shared by a particular group of people

E.g.: The interns were not familiar with the office lingo yet.

4. Bilingual

Meaning: involving or written in two languages

E.g.: Nowadays, being bilingual is a common quality.

5. Etymological

Meaning: relating to the study of the origin and history of words, or of one

particular word

E.g.: The linguist was interested to know the etymological sources of

these sets of phrases.

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Evenings audio

Sample Answers

1. What do you do in the evenings?

Mostly, after logging out of work/ study, I take a coffee/tea break and chit chat

with my mother about the day’s work. Then, I get to assist her with her work or

continue to read a book till dinner.

2. Do you prefer to spend your evenings with your family or friends?

Usually, I spend most of my evenings with my family. Occasionally, I go out with

my friends, or they visit me. Both have profound value in my life as I like to

communicate with them on eclectic matters.

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3. What is a popular activity for young people in your country in the evenings?

With the changing lifestyle and accessibility to diverse activities, different

groups of young people participate in multifaceted tasks in the evening. Like

on weekdays, office-going people either de-stress or organize themselves for

the next day and students relish their hobby or go out for tuition in the evening.

But, on the weekends, all young people mostly enjoy themselves with family or

friends.

4. Do you ever work or study in the evening?

No, I try to take a hiatus from work or study in the evening as I go through a

hectic schedule throughout the day and need some time to unwind. Although,

on some occasions, I do research for my career and personal growth.

5. Do you do the same thing in the evenings as you did when you were a child?

It is not possible to continue with the exact activities I did in my childhood now,

as there has been a monumental shift in the way of living as well as my

responsibilities. As a child, I used to study with my cousin under the supervision

of my grandfather and then play with them. But now, I take a break from work

and spend quality time with my family or friends.

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Vocabulary

1. Profound

Meaning: very great; felt or experienced very strongly

E.g.: The saint’s words have a profound effect on the villagers. 

2. Eclectic

Meaning: including many different styles or methods

E.g.: Due to the eclectic stock of food, the store became popular among

the inhabitants of the town.

3. Hiatus

Meaning: temporary gap, pause, break, or absence

E.g.: My manager took a hiatus from work to enjoy fatherhood.

4. Unwind

Meaning: to relax and allow your mind to be free from worry after a

period of work or some other activity that has made you worried

E.g.: Music helps me unwind when I am stressed after a day’s work.

5. Multifaceted

Meaning: having many different aspects or sides

E.g.: The audience was surprised at the multifaceted nature of the

performance of the troupe.

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Going Overseas audio

Sample Answers

1. Why are you planning to spend a period of time abroad?

I envisage moving abroad for a short duration to complete the research I am

conducting for my PhD studies. It will assist me in my studies and aid me in

accumulating experience as well as satisfy my dromomania.

2. How have your family and friends supported you in this?

I feel blessed that both my family and friends have been extremely

corroborating towards this venture. My parents have been upfront about

providing me with financial aid if required. Likewise, my friends have suggested

several places to visit and encounter local cuisine and forewarned me about

certain hardships I might have to face.

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3. How long do you plan to be abroad?

I intend to divide the first ten months between Coventry and Edinburgh and

eventually move to London for the remaining eight months for the concluding

part of the research. In case my supervisor feels it is necessary, I might need to

extend my stay.

4. How exactly will you benefit from this experience?

Firstly, I will partake in how people live in these places, their culture and the

past. Secondly, communicating with locals will help me attain acuity, which

will help me in my analysis. Additionally, I will be able to explore a new place

which will fulfill my wanderlust.

5. What problems do you think you may have abroad?

In accordance with the advice of one of my experienced friends, I might have

difficulty adjusting to the climate as India is a tropical country and the UK has a

temperate climate. She has also added that initially, I might feel homesick, but

the welcoming people will make me a part of their community. Other than that,

I don’t think I will have any hurdles unless something unusual happens.

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Vocabulary

1. Envisage

Meaning: to imagine or expect something in the future, especially

something good

E.g: Mario has envisaged that one day he will take her mother to

Jerusalem.

2. Dromomania

Meaning: a drive to wander and a constant journey

E.g.: He left his family due to his dromomania.

3. Corroborating

Meaning:  to support with evidence or authority

E.g.: The evidence the lawyer presented is corroborating what the victim

said.

4. Upfront

Meaning: speaking or behaving in a way that makes your intentions and

beliefs clear

E.g.: His mother was upfront about her support of LGBT rights. 

5. Acuity

Meaning: the ability to hear, see, or think accurately and clearly

E.g.: When the Principal heard the whole incident, he gained acuity about

the crime.

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Phases/Stages of Life audio

Sample Answers

1. Do you enjoy your current stage of life?

Although every stage of life has its own trials and tribulations, they are also

accompanied by certain benefits and uniqueness. So, even though my current

stage of life is full of commitments and future endeavors, I also enjoy the

camaraderie of my partner, the accolades of my colleagues and the eternal

love of my parents.

2. In what stage of your life were you the happiest?

I used to miss my nonchalant childhood days. But now that I have attained

maturity, I think I was happiest during adolescence as I had the best days of

my school life, opportunities to learn unknown things, face untried challenges

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and also the freedom of being an adult without carrying the load of liabilities of

adulthood or the infantile errors of childhood.

3. Which stage of your life do you think is the most important?

In my view, adolescence is the most critical stage of a person’s life as it is the

turning point and can make or break the blossoming of life. In other words, this

is when we leave behind the insouciant days of childhood and are on the verge

of being accountable adults. So, everyone needs appropriate direction and

care, without which they can fall prey to peer and societal pressure and easily

be led astray.

4. What’s your plan for your next stage of life?

I intend to pursue better job opportunities and create a niche for myself. Apart

from my career, I want to keep my parents happy as much as possible, explore

new places and relish the comradery of my close friends and my partner.

5. What is the attitude of older people in your country?

In my country, elders hold a respectful position in society. However, due to

recent lifestyle changes, older people are left to fend for themselves while the

young ones build their own space or move to other countries for better

opportunities. Consequently, while a group of elderly have matched up to their

changing times, others die of depression and loneliness.

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Vocabulary

1. Camaraderie 

Meaning: a friendly feeling toward people with whom you share an

experience

E.g.: I miss the camaraderie we shared with our friends during the school

days.

2. Infantile

Meaning: immature or childish

E.g.: Nash’s infantile demands angered his parents.

3. Insouciant 

Meaning: relaxed and happy, with no feelings of worry or guilt

E.g.: Whenever Anne looks at the old house, she is reminded of the

insouciant days she spent with her parents.

4. Fend for

Meaning: to take care of and provide for yourself without depending on

anyone else.

E.g.: The little puppy was left to fend for itself as its mother died in the

accident.

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Home/Accommodation audio

Sample Answers

1. Do you live in a house or an apartment? Please describe it a bit.

I live in a small town, and my house is situated in the heart of the town. It is a

four-story pucca house. There are seven rooms, three kitchens, two living

rooms, and a drawing-room. There is a small home garden in the backside of

the house where the ladies of my house have planted vegetables and fruits.

2. What is your favorite room in your home?

Unequivocally, my favorite room is my own. I have decorated it in such a way

that it gives me immense peace and tranquility from time to time. 

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3. What have you done to your room to make it look nice?

First of all, the walls of my room have been painted white and blue. Behind the

bed is the focus wall that is painted in black. Since I am an art aficionado, I

have accumulated a variety of souvenirs from varying places I have been to.

They are showpieces and wall hangings that I have put into my room.

4. How do you expect your future house to be and why?

In a few coming years, we are planning to build our property according to

unexcelled design specifications. It will have almost three bedrooms and 2

extra bathrooms. Alongside, there will be a large, open dining area. There will

also be a garage and a patio.

5. Would you change anything about your home? Why/ why not?

I like my house quite too much to change it entirely. However, if I have to, I

would like to have a porch and a sitting area on the front side of the house, for

which I am preparing as well.

Vocabulary

1. Unequivocally

Meaning: in a way that doesn’t leave a doubt

Eg: My college unequivocally condemns violence in the premises. 

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2. Tranquility

Meaning: the state or quality of being peaceful

Eg: I love the tranquility near lakes. 

3. Aficionado

Meaning: a person who likes a specific thing or knows about it a lot

Eg: According to the aficionados, pizza is one of the best inventions. 

4. Souvenirs

Meaning: something that constantly reminds you of a place you have

been to

Eg: I bought back a wall hanging as a souvenir of my vacation in Rome.

5. Unexcelled

Meaning: matchless, better than other examples of the similar type

Eg: I like automotives with an unexcelled design. 

Student's Space:

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Window view audio

Sample Answers

1. What scenery can you see from the window of your home?

It’s unfortunate to state that the windows of my home don’t overlook a

mesmerising view. I live in the city center; thus, all I see is bustling streets,

high-sky buildings, and countless vehicles contributing to noise pollution. In

my opinion, living in a concrete jungle is nothing less than stressful as there is

no peace.

2. Do you want to live in a house with beautiful window views?

Of course, I want to. In fact, one of my fantasies is to reside in such a place that

is surrounded by a tranquil neighbourhood and has a scenic beauty to it. I

believe being close to nature helps us emotionally and spiritually.

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3. Do you like looking at the scenery from your window?

Not really! As I have already mentioned, my windows don’t overlook any

pleasing scenery. The view is nothing but an eyesore. 

4. How do you feel when you can’t see any beautiful view from your window?

As I constantly dream of a spectacular view, it disheartens me to wake up to

something that doesn’t excite me. However, I don’t fret as I am very much

present in reality and know what will greet me when I uncurtain my windows.

Vocabulary

1. Mesmerising 

Meaning: something that holds the complete attention

Eg: The audience is mesmerised with the new web series. 

2. Bustling 

Meaning: to be full of noise, people or activity

Eg: The streets are always bustling during the festive season.

3. Concrete 

Meaning: something that is definite or real

Eg: My thoughts on empowerment are concrete.

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4. Tranquil 

Meaning: peaceful and quiet

Eg: I love visiting tranquil places.

5. Eyesore

Meaning: something that is unpleasant or ugly

Eg: All the litter in the park is an eyesore

Student's Space:

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Being Happy audio

Sample Answers

1. Is there anything that makes you feel happy lately?

Yes, chasing my dreams is making me jovial lately. I believe we all have a

driving force that compels us to wake up each morning and work hard. For

now, the thing that is filling me up with sheer happiness is acquiring an

admission to one of the putative universities to pursue a course of my choice.

2. What do you do to stay happy?

For me, feeling happy is nothing less than a roller-coaster ride. There are days I

feel down in the dumps, and there are others when I feel overjoyed. However,

regardless of the situation, I don’t suppress any of my feelings and don’t force

myself to be happy. I merely go with the flow.

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3. Can you stay happy all the time?

No. In fact, that is a vague myth. Humans have been blessed with a myriad of

emotions. There are times when we feel anxious, worn out, despondent. Also,

there are times when we feel neutral, neither happy nor sad. So, it’s obvious

that nobody can stay happy all the time.

4. Is it important to be happy?

Definitely, it is. Life is too short to dwell on anything that doesn’t give us utmost

joy. In a way, happiness is directly related to our physical health. If we are

optimistic and exuberant, we stay a tad healthier than others. Issues like heart

diseases, anxiety, and depression, decrease to a great extent by being happy.

Vocabulary

1. Putative

Meaning: reputed

Eg: AIIMS is one of the putative hospitals in India. 

2. Vague 

Meaning: not definite or clear

Eg: He is vague about how much money his next trip will cost

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3. Worn out

Meaning: extremely tired

Eg: I am worn out after today’s workout

4. Despondent

Meaning: with no hope

Eg: I am becoming despondent about traveling next month.

5. Exuberant

Meaning: full of excitement or energy

Eg: She tries to stay exuberant despite going through so much in life.

Student's Space:

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Trees audio

Sample Answers

1. What kind of trees do people usually plant in your country? How about your

hometown?

Well, considering the land and population diversity in India, there are sundry

plants here. Majorly, the plantation depends upon the type of land and weather

conditions. However, some sought-after plants are Neem, Banyan, and Peepal

trees.

2. Have you ever planted trees?

Yes, I have. I come from a small village in the state of Haryana. In my village,

generally, houses are colossal, so we get a lot of space for plantations. Also,

since my mother is an avid gardener, I have helped her in planting an array of

trees in our backyard.

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3. What kind of trees do you plant?

Out of all, I have a soft spot for flowering plants. Thus, I have planted roses,

hibiscus, marigolds, and jasmine. Other than that, I have also planted lemon,

banana, and mango trees in my backyard.

4. Do you like planting trees and why?

Yes, I am really fond of planting trees. Not only are they quintessential for the

environment, but also make the place look alluring. Trees purify the air, offer us

shade and food and allow us to calm down as well.

5. Did you ever climb a tree when you were a child?

Yes, I have climbed plenty of trees in my childhood. Out of all, I have climbed

mango trees the most as they were planted in our own backyard. Other than

that, I used to visit a nearby jungle with my friends and climb trees there.

Vocabulary

1. Sundry 

Meaning: of various types and kinds

Eg: My mother has a sundry collection of jewellery.

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2. Sought-after 

Meaning: in great demand, popular

Eg: The complete set of Harry Potter series is a sought-after collection.

3. Colossal 

Meaning: extremely large

Eg: My great grandfather had a colossal mansion in Pakistan before

partition.

4. Avid 

Meaning: enthusiastic about something

Eg: I am an avid reader.

5. Quintessential 

Meaning: being the perfect example of something

Eg: He is a quintessential example of chivalry

Student's Space:

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Stages of Life audio

Sample Answers

1. Do you enjoy your current stage of life?

Absolutely! Currently, I am having a whale of a time being a student. Right now,

I am preparing for my higher studies and spend hours altogether researching

some of the elite colleges and universities.

2. In what stage of your life were you the happiest?

In my opinion, childhood and early teens are the only two phases that almost

every person cherishes. I was vivacious and got a lot of love from my parents

and everybody else at home. My days were filled with carefree enjoyment. I

miss that time a lot. 

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3. Which stage of your life do you think is the most important?

I believe all of the stages of life are important, but childhood is the paramount

one. It is crucial for our physical, emotional, and mental development. A child’s

brain can be moulded, and whatever one learns during their childhood will

determine the kind of a person they will become as adults.

4. What’s your plan for your next stage of life?

I want to graduate from a good college and find a well-paying, satisfactory job.

I would like to help my parents financially and also pay off some of their debts.

At one point in time, I want to help my parents fulfill their dreams. 

5. What is the attitude of older people in your country?

In India, the elderly have always been treated with great respect and occupied

a prominent position in the family. In rural India, the joint family system is still

prevalent. However, in this competitive world, youngsters migrate to other

cities to find well-paying jobs; thus, they have to leave their elders behind.

Vocabulary

1. Elite 

Meaning: the most successful or powerful

Eg: My family is one of the elite families in the town. 

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2. Vivacious 

Meaning: lively, fully of energy

Eg: My dog is a vivacious pet. 

3. Paramount 

Meaning: most important

Eg: Safety is paramount when travelling out of the city.

4. Prominent 

Meaning: noticeable 

Eg: He is a prominent figure in the town. 

5. Prevalent

Meaning: most common in a specific place at a specific time

Eg: The prevalent weather conditions are worrisome. 

Student's Space:

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Yay!
So far You did Amazing with the Provided Sets

of Questions with Audio. Now, We have also

included 5 Sets without Audio.

Hop On, Let’s give them a Try too!

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Weddings

Sample Answers

1. Have you ever been to a wedding?

Yes, being a social butterfly and an extrovert by nature, I love attending

functions. Thus, I have been to plenty of weddings of my close friends and

relatives.

2. What clothes do people wear to weddings?

I believe wedding functions are not just euphoric but also give an opportunity

to dress up according to the latest fashion. Right from formal suits to pure

traditional clothing, dressing up for a wedding is all about ethnicity.

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3. Describe a wedding ceremony.

A couple of days ago, I attended a wedding with my parents. It was an austere

wedding held in my hometown. There were 100 people from each side - both

bride’s and groom’s. A special lunch was organized, consisting of a variety of

starters and dishes. Post lunch, everybody gathered in a hall for the final ritual

- Pheras. The bride and groom looked mesmerizing. Once the bride was sent

off with the groom, we came back to our house.

4. What sort of gifts do people buy for the bridal couple?

I have seen people buying a variety of gifts as a token of endearment for the

bridal couple. This seemingly is the best possible method to congratulate

them. Some people buy clothes, while others buy jewellery items. Some also

buy paintings. And then, there are some people who even sponsor honeymoon

tickets for the newly-wed couple.

5. What kind of clothes did the bride and groom wear at the wedding?

The groom’s garb was a traditional Sherwani that was in cream colour. It had

red embroidery. He was also covered in a red pashmina shawl, engraved with

pearls. On the other hand, the bride was dressed in a red lehenga. Both of them

were looking jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

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Vocabulary
1. Extrovert

Meaning: a person who likes being with other people

Eg: I have always been an extrovert.

2. Euphoric

Meaning: a feeling of great excitement or happiness

Eg: I try to maintain my euphoric mood for as long as possible.

3. Austere

Meaning: very simple

Eg: The 90s era was quite austere, unaware of the world’s luxuries.

4. Endearment

Meaning: to show affection or love for somebody

Eg: She often uses terms of endearment when talking to other people.

5. Garb

Meaning: clothing

Eg: I like wearing traditional garbs on a daily basis. 

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Activity Near Water

Sample Answers

1. What activities would you do if you were spending some leisure time at a

beach or near the ocean?

If I were spending leisure time at a beach, I would try my hands on some water

sports, be it surfing or skiing. I would also play volleyball on the beach. Along

with that, I would probably relish reading at the beach or making castles in the

sand.

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2. Why do some people like water sports?

Some people prefer water sports over others because they are quite refreshing.

Getting in and out of the water rejuvenates our senses. In fact, some people

have even pursued this as a profession or a career. Also, it’s a good form of

exercise as well.

3. Do you think the government should invest money in developing facilities

for water sports?

Yes, I think the government should invest money in developing facilities for

water sports. This is one of the best ways to stimulate people so as to pursue it

as a career and earn fame and name for the nation. It is also a good form of

exercise that promotes physical and mental fitness.

4. Do you think that human activity is posing a threat to the oceans of the

world?

Yes, I do think that human activity is posing a serious threat to the oceans. The

alarmingly rising levels of pollution caused by boats, ships, and oil drilling

machinery are harming marine life to a great extent. The impact is so severe

that a lot of aquatic animals and plants are on the verge of extinction.

5. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of travelling on

the ocean?

To begin with, one of the major advantages of travelling on the ocean is that it

helps us learn a bountiful amount of facts pertaining to marine life.

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It’s a stress buster and a good way to spend quality time with family and

friends. As far as the disadvantages are concerned, the survival chances are

less during a natural calamity, like a tsunami or a storm, and the rescue work is

extremely tedious.

Vocabulary

1. Relish

Meaning: to enjoy something

Eg: I relish reading the crime genre.

2. Rejuvenate

Meaning: to make somebody feel better and younger.

Eg: Drinking healthy smoothies rejuvenates our digestive system.

3. Stimulate

Meaning: to make somebody feel interested in something

Eg: The lessons don’t stimulate him.

4. Verge of

Meaning: a point when something is about to happen

Eg: I am on the verge of breaking down.

5. Bountiful

Meaning: in a large quantity.

Eg: This year, we managed to get a bountiful harvest.

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Lost

Sample Answers

1. Have you ever lost your way?

Well, yes, a couple of times. Actually, I have direction-dyslexia, owing to which I

tend to lose hold on my ways to an address more often than not. Thankfully, I

have always been aided by someone or the other.

2. How do you find your way when you are lost?

I generally ask people. Thanks to my interactive nature, I never shy away from

taking help from strangers when it comes to asking for the destinations I have

to reach. In fact, I don’t get bothered by losing the way as I have this habit of

asking people wherever I get bewildered.

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3. Can you read a map when you get lost?

Yes, maps are indeed my second most preferred option in case I am not able

to find someone to direct me to the right destination. I am pretty adept at using

google maps per se.

4. Have you ever helped someone who got lost?

Yes, a lot of times. I remember there was a kid who came to our colony and

was wailing incessantly. I approached the little kid to console him, and it was

then when I realized that he had lost the way to his uncle’s home, who he had

come to visit along with his family. So, I took him to his uncle’s house.

Vocabulary

1. Dyslexia

Meaning: A general term for disorders that involve difficulty in learning to read

or interpret words, letters, directions, and other symbols.

Eg: His son has Dyslexia.

2. Aided

Meaning: Helped

Eg: He has always been aided by his teachers and his friends.

3. Bewildered

Meaning: Confused

Eg: I got really bewildered when I saw this question.

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4. Wailing

Meaning: Crying

Eg: She has been wailing a lot since yesterday.

5. Incessantly

Meaning: Continuously

Eg: I was incessantly working on this progress report.

Student's Space:

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Shoes

Sample Answers

1. How frequently do you buy shoes?

I have never been much of a shoe enthusiast. Since I like to stay indoors, the

pairs of shoes I own are not used regularly. I feel the need to buy a new pair of

shoes once a year or sometimes even two years.

2. Where do you usually buy shoes?

Ever since I was a kid, I have always preferred buying shoes from this store

called Sreeleathers. During my childhood, my mother used to take me to this

store for shoe shopping. Sreeleathers are known for their high-quality leather

shoes and other footwear. Recently, I have started browsing and purchasing

shoes from online stores too.

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3. What is your favourite type of shoes?

The kind of shoes that I prefer depends on the occasion. For events like parties

or wedding ceremonies, I prefer a pair of leather shoes. If I am just going out to

buy groceries or for a stroll, I prefer T-bar sandals. In general, I like to wear

comfortable shoes, so I prefer sandals or loose-fitting sneakers.

3. Why do some people have too many shoes?

Shoes, like any other form of apparel, are a fashion statement. Some people

tend to wear different styles of shoes for different occasions. For some people,

shoes tend to be a type of collectable that brings them joy. Some people prefer

wearing fresh pairs of shoes even if the old pairs are not worn out, leading

them to buy more shoes than they need.

4. Have you ever bought shoes online?

No, I have never bought a pair of shoes online. I prefer to try out a pair of shoes

before making a purchase decision. Since online shopping platforms do not

have the trial option, it is perplexing to make a decision based on mere images.

I have heard instances where friends of mine had purchased a pair of shoes

that looked attractive on the online shopping website, but when they received

the product, it didn’t match their expectations.

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Vocabulary

1. Enthusiast

Meaning: a person who is very interested in a particular activity or subject.

Eg: She was known to be a poetry enthusiast.

2. Browsing

Meaning: survey goods for sale in a leisurely and casual way.

Eg: She was browsing through the collection of new footwear.

3. Stroll

Meaning: walk in a leisurely way.

Eg: They went for an evening stroll.

4. Collectable

Meaning: (of an item) worth collecting; of interest to a collector.

Eg: Old coins were his favourite collectable.

5. Perplexing

Meaning: completely baffling; very puzzling.

Eg: This mathematics problem is quite perplexing.

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Living

Sample Answers

1. Where are you living now?

Currently, I am living in a housing society that is situated in Newtown. I have

recently moved from a place called Garden Reach to Newtown. Newtown is

located on the outskirts of Kolkata, whereas Garden Reach is closer to central

Kolkata. Kolkata is one of the biggest metropolitan cities in India.

2. What do you like most about where you live?

The most wonderful part about my society is that the environment is very clean

and well maintained. The roads are lined with trees and small bushes, which

create a peaceful and pleasing ambience. The roadways within the society are

also well planned and kept in good condition. During the monsoon season,

there are no issues related to waterlogging or drainage.

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3. What is the neighbourhood like where you live?

Since I live in a housing society, most residents are not acquainted with one

another. Although some individuals have friends or even other family members

and relatives staying in the society, they don’t meet frequently. Mostly young

working individuals with rented apartments stay in my society. Since Newtown

is the new business hub of Kolkata, a majority of the residents are employees in

various organizations located in this area

4. Do you have any friends there?

No, I do not have any friends in my society. I am not a very outgoing person;

thus, I rarely meet new people. Since I have only been living in this society for

almost a year, I haven't had the chance to make new friends.

5. What can be improved in the area where you live?

Although there are very few complications with the housing society that I live

in, some improvements can be made. Firstly, there is an issue of stray dogs

loitering on the premises, and there have also been cases of occupants getting

bitten by these dogs. I think the authorities should take the necessary action to

solve this problem. Secondly, the water in this society has too much iron

content in it, and I believe proper steps should be taken to improve the quality

of water.

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Vocabulary

1. Outskirts

Meaning: the outer parts of a town or city.

Eg: Their office was located on the outskirts of the city.

2. Waterlogging

Meaning: saturate with water; make (something) waterlogged.

Eg: The issue of waterlogging was common in this neighbourhood.

3. Acquainted

Meaning: make someone aware of or familiar with.

Eg: The contestants were yet to be acquainted with the judges.

4. Outgoing

Meaning: friendly and socially confident.

Eg: She was known to be an extrovert and an outgoing person.

5. Loitering

Meaning: stand or wait around without apparent purpose.

Eg: Those two were loitering around for quite a long time.

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To Access the Speaking Part 2 & Part 3

Audios, Scan the QR Code

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SPEAKING: PART 2 & 3

Part 2 - A time you looked for information from

the internet Audio

Sample Answer

I’m going to tell you about how I used the internet to look for information

about social events online. I had just moved to Seoul and didn’t know a

soul, so I began searching on Facebook. I found an ex-pat page called

“Expats in Seoul” which became one of my greatest resources for meeting

locals and ex-pats in the city. I came to believe that social media can be a

great blessing!

It’s been ten months in Seoul now, so I began this search during my first

month here. I initially wanted to find a meditation group and a language

exchange group, and I found it by scrolling up and down the feed. I also

wrote a post on my own.

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Countless people informed me about events in the area. From the first

month, I have been attending a meditation group every Thursday and

have met several friends via the ex-pat meet up. Since then, I’ve expanded

my horizons and even began attending a Philosophy Forum on

Wednesdays and have joined a yoga club, too!

I decided to opt for the internet to start building my social life because I

didn’t see many other options, as I am a freelancer. With this said, I don’t

have co-workers, and I’m a bit standoffish when I go out to the bar.

Although you must use your judgment when meeting people from the

internet, I think it can be a great tool when you arrive in a new city, alone. I

find it, quite an efficient way to put yourself out there to meet others.

Although it can be a curse at times, I certainly feel thankful for it!

Vocabulary

1. Didn’t know a soul

To not reveal some confidential information to a single person or more

Eg: Sorry,I didn’t know a soul about this piece of news.

2. Blessing

A prayer or asking for divine favor and protection

Eg: It is indeed a blessing from God

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3. Expanded my horizons

Pushed my limits a bit more

Eg: Everyone should expand their horizon to gain insightful experiences.

4. Standoffish: Unfriendly

Eg: She seemed to be a bit standoffish with her sister-in-law

5. Put yourself out there: to make an effort to do something

Eg: Don’t put yourself out there. I have already gathered a bunch of

information

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - A time you looked for information from the internet

1. Do you think online information is reliable enough?

There is a lot of information you can find on the internet, and all are reliable

too. There are many websites where the articles are written by the doyens

in the field. So they can be trusted. For example, Weight loss. There are a

plethora of websites which offer tips by recommended doctors. Millions of

people have benefited from those tips and techniques.

2. Do you think there is too much information on the internet?

Yes , there is a lot of information provided on the internet and that could be

very mystifying. It can overload you at times. It can be quite annoying

when every web site shows different information for the same subject of

matter.

3. Is the information on TV useful?

Yes, mostly information provided on tv is useful . It does not give wrong or

misleading information. Also it gives us exact facts and provides us with

proper substantiation. Television is one of the most important inventions of

the millenium. Without it, we would not be able to visualise important facts

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about the world. Also television is the bridge between the governing party

and the normal public.

Vocabulary

1. Astonishing : Extremely surprising

Eg: That was a astonishing achievement

2. Mystifying: Confusing

Eg: Her attitude towards her parents is mystifying

3. Substantiation: Evidences

Eg : Do you have any substantiation to show in regards to the allegations

that have been put against you??

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Part 2 - Describe a comic actor who is popular in

your country Audio

Sample Answer

I would like to tell you about a silly, versatile actor from my country called

Jim Carey. He’s an American actor. I first saw him in the movie “Dumb

and Dumber” when I was about 8 years old. I thought the faces he made

were hilarious. Since then, I started following his movies. What I like about

him is that he can nail both a serious and comedy role in movies. In real

life, I hear he leads a hippy sort of life. He discusses the universe a lot and

says that he wants a simple life opposed to the luxurious life he could

have. I’ve seen recent photos of him with a long, unkempt grey beard. This

makes him appeal to me even more because he’s not the average star.

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He’s popular for all of his hit films, and especially his over-the-top faces

and voices he can do. I think others also appreciate that he can make you

crack up laughing in one film, then make burst into tears in the next.

Vocabulary

1. Versatile: can do many different things

Eg: he is a versatile player.

2. Nail: to do a good job

Eg: She nailed at hosting a party .

3. over-the-top: crazy

Eg: the politician went over the top with his speech.

4. crack up: laugh a lot

Eg: his jokes always cracks me up.

5. burst into tears: to start to cry a lot

Eg: Tania burst into tears when she heard the death news.

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Part 3 - Describe a comic actor who is popular in

your country

1. Why do some youngsters try to copy film stars? Is it good or bad?

I guess we assume that what the media portrays is what we should be. As

youngsters are quite impressionable and unsure of their identity in most

cases, they latch on to these stars to try to be someone. I think it’s a bad

thing, but also normal for young people. However, if older people try to do

this, I feel sorry for them because they must not be comfortable in their

own shoes.

2. Are famous personalities rich in your country?

Way too rich! Those in the entertainment industry are among the richest in

the country, better yet in the world. Furthermore, athletes are incredibly

rich. Kudos to them for their talents, but also sometimes this makes me

feel a bit ill because other professions are poorly paid, such as teachers,

which deserve more. This doesn’t make sense to me.

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3. Do you think they spend their money wisely?

I guess this depends on the individual. I know that some famous people,

like Bill Gates, for example, are huge philanthropists. He invests money on

disadvantaged countries so that they can get vaccines for preventable

diseases. However, I’ve heard that some celebrities such as Justin Bieber,

throw away every outfit after they wear it once which is just plain wasteful

and sinful. So, I would say that most famous people probably spend some

of their money on unnecessary luxuries, but many also donate to charities.

4. What is the difference between film stars in the past and film stars

nowadays?

In my opinion, I felt like stars in the past were famous because of their

talents, like acting or singing. Nowadays, it seems like people get fame

from their over the top reality show personalities or just simply by their

business tactics of getting their name out there, like the Kardashians.

Furthermore, I think stars in the past were more glamorous and reserved,

like the images of Marilyn Monroe.

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5. Do you think film stars have the right to privacy?

Of course! I think all people deserve privacy. At the end of the day,

celebrities are humans like us. They have feelings and private affairs too,

so I don’t think that the paparazzi have the right to infringe upon this. Of

course, stars have chosen this path, so they must accept that some

matters in their life will be publicly shared. However, I don’t think every one

of their moves should be snapshotted. I can imagine that this must be one

of the biggest downfalls of being famous! You can’t even go to a private

beach villa without someone following you.

Vocabulary

1. in their own shoes: with who they are

Eg: Try to put yourself in his shoes before you judge him.

2. kudos: to congratulate or respecter.

Eg: Kudos to all the members of association for doing the work so

diligently

3. Philanthropists: people who help humanity.

Eg: His father was a philanthropist.

4. Disadvantaged: poor and/or unlucky

Eg: the distance from his house to college was a disadvantage.

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5. Is just plain: is simply

Eg: the answer to your question is just plain “No”

6. infringe upon: not follow

Eg: Having that much work to do at home will only infringe upon time with

my family.

7. downfalls: disadvantages

Eg: The downfall of the British empire was the beginning of Independent

India.

Student's Space:

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Part 2 - A competition you want to take part in Audio

Sample Answer

I’m going to tell you about my real dream. First, let me give you some

background. I think that I have a pretty decent singing voice, but I’m rather

shy so I usually limit myself to singing in the shower. I’ve always dreamt of

having the courage to sing my heart out in front of a large audience. But

I’ve always dreaded being in the spotlight. So, I must work to overcome

this fear to pursue my dream.

I recently read on a Facebook ad that there is a singing competition

happening in Istanbul, about 100km in my house in November. I know it’s a

bit far, but I really want to make that journey. You have to pay $500 dollars

to enter, but I feel that this will be a worthy investment.

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Last year’s winner, Aybars, won a new car and singing lessons with the

American winner of The Voice. There will be over 100 contestants, so the

competition is stiff.

There is a preliminary round to see if you are able to continue, then there

will be two other elimination rounds. It will even be on live air on the local

Turkish television.

I’m feeling really nervous and apprehensive because I have never sung in

front of an audience, let alone on TV, before! I’m afraid that I may do

something embarrassing like trip and fall on TV, or even not make it past

the preliminary round. I even have nightmares about these situations

sometimes! However, I feel quite confident with my voice so I think I can

make it far. Even if I don’t win, I would still love to have this experience. It

will be one for the books.

Vocabulary

1. sing my heart out: sing passionately.

Eg: She sings her heart out whenever she is happy.

2. Stiff: rigid or firm

Eg: The stiffness of the shed was commendable.

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3. preliminary round: introductory rounds

Eg: Niten couldn’t qualify the preliminary rounds.

4. on live air: live on radio/television

Eg: Sania’s songs will be live on air.

5. apprehensive: anxious or fearful that something bad or unpleasant will

happen.

Eg: He is apprehensive about something.

6. Let alone: neither.

Eg: That much food will not satisfy anyone, let alone our son.

7. trip and fall: to lose balance and fall down.

Eg: she tripped and fell down.

8. make it far: do something successfully.

Eg: There’s minimal hope whether he will be able to make it that far.

9. for the books: something memorable.

Eg: the win will be one for the books.

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Part 3 - A competition you want to take part in

1. Why do you think some school teachers use competitions as class

activities?

Well, there are a lot of competitive people in this world. Some people

thrive on it, so learning would become fun with it. For this reason, I think

teachers use it to appeal to all different types of personalities. Secondly, it

gives us an incentive to pay attention and try harder in class. If we are

never tried , we may keep silent in the back of the classroom. But when

there is a prize at stake, people tend to put a lot more effort into it. All in all,

it is a fun way to spark interest and attention in the classroom, not to

mention students of any age always smile when they receive some sort of

prize.

2. Is it a good thing to give prizes to children who do well at school? Why?

I would say yes because it is an incentive to put effort into your studies.

However, I don’t think the teacher should build a prize in every lesson

because then the children may focus on that instead of actually gaining

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knowledge, which is the real prize. I think it’s fun and healthy competition

to bring in a small prize for pupils, such as candy, but definitely not

something to do on a daily basis.

3. Would you say that schools for young children have become more or

less competitive since you were that age? Why?

It’s tough to say really, but I would say that they are becoming more

competitive and I think one of the reasons for this is social media. Now

that our lives are on blast, children see this and begin to compare

themselves with others. For example, maybe some student may post

pictures of their high scores online or their parents may post it and praise

them on their Facebook status. So, this creates more of a comparative,

hence competitive sense. Furthermore, the job market is becoming more

and more competitive, so as a society we must put more effort into

standing out. The students may not be aware of this, but it might be a

factor as to why nowadays parents put more pressure onto their children

to be better than the others.

Vocabulary

1. Thrive on: makes them excited.

Eg: He thrives on stress

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2. Incentive: motivation for a reason.

Eg: the incentive encouraged Rahul to work harder.

3. tried: test

Eg: She has never tried alcohol.

4. a prize at stake: something you are able to get.

Eg: The prize of the game is at stake

5. on blast: something everyone can see.

Eg: the mark sheets were on blast on the bulletin board

6. standing out: being remembered; being different from others.

Eg: she stood out from all her classmates

Student's Space:

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Part 2 - A time when you felt Proud Audio

Sample Answer

Being an integral part of this materialistic world, often people leave no

stone unturned to rake in massive amounts of money. However, in

contrast to these people, there are some who still go beyond the

conventional limits to offer unabated support to those in need. 

I am grateful to have such an individual in my own family. And, he is none

other than my father, Mr. Rakesh Sinha. Lately, he helped up to 10 people

with their medical care. 

Since the world does not cease to surprise us with turbulent times, a lot of

businesses shut down with each passing day. Worse, some even come on

the verge of extinction. So, during the second wave of Covid-19 in India,

while most hospitals and privately functioning doctors were minting

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money, they had the least interest in providing medical facilities without

their own benefits. During this time, there was an acute shortage of beds

in the hospitals. Moreover, the medical system was completely disarrayed.

Seeing the plight of those people and feeling blessed with the privileges,

my father decided to arrange free medical treatments for needy people.

He worked with dedication and determination for an entire month and

managed to save several lives. 

I feel extremely proud to be his daughter. Unlike other people, my father

did not care about losing his money for innocent people. Rather, he was

instrumental in spending from his own pocket to save others.

Vocabulary

1. Integral 

Meaning: necessary

Eg: Completing graduation is an integral step to enrolling in the master's

course.

2. Conventional

Meaning: behaving in a normal or traditional way

Eg: We need to break the conventional chains and change our attitude

with time. 

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3. Unabated 

Meaning: without becoming weaker

Eg: If global warming continues unabated, the world will burn itself down.

4. Turbulent 

Meaning: a state of agitation

Eg: Business losses have created a turbulent life for me.

5. Minting

Meaning: to earn a large amount of money

Eg: After the success of his startup, my cousin is minting money like never

before.  

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - A time when you felt Proud

1. When would parents feel proud of their children?

Parents feel proud of their children when they are consummate in

something or accomplish their objectives, be it getting good grades in

school or getting into an athletic team in college. For younger children,

parents do feel when they achieve tiny milestones, such as taking the first

step, saying the first word, and more.

2. Should parents reward children? Why and how?

Yes, parents should take into consideration rewarding their children from

time to time for every achievement. It invigorates them to consistently

work hard and do good deeds in life. However, rather than offering

materialistic rewards, parents can try praising their children in front of

relatives, spend time with them outside, or take them for their favourite

activity.

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3. Is it good to reward children too often? Why?

From my perspective, I don’t think parents should reward their children too

often as it may integrate a sense of entitlement into their brains. Buying

them gadgets or toys as rewards can push them towards the materialistic

world. By doing so, youngsters may get more inclined towards rewards

and do nothing out of passion.

4. On what occasions would adults be proud of themselves?

Adults come across a gamut of such occasions when they feel proud of

themselves, such as grabbing the promotion they were eying for long or

buying their first home or buying their dream car, and more.

Vocabulary

1. Consummate

Meaning: extremely skilled

Eg: My sister is a consummate singer. 

2. Invigorate

Meaning: to make something feel full of energy

Eg: Yoga invigorates me like nothing else. 

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3. Entitlement

Meaning: the official right to receive or have something

Eg: Taking this decision may affect your entitlement to pension. 

4. Inclined

Meaning: wanting to behave in a specific way

Eg: I am inclined towards the idea of working from home. 

5. Gamut 

Meaning: a complete range of something

Eg: On an online ecommerce site, you can find a gamut of products to buy

from one place. 

Student's Space:

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Part 2 - Talk about a person who can use or

speak a second language.

Sample Answer

Well, let me start off by saying who this person is. Actually, I know quite a

lot people who are bilingual, however I’d like to talk about my best friend

who is fluent in Japanese. Her name is Nguyen and she is currently

working in a Japanese corporate. The thing that makes her unique to me

is that despite acquiring Japanese on her own, she managed to become

excellent at it with gorgeous intonation like a native speaker. When she

was in university, she fell in love with a Japanese person and gradually

became addicted to this country’s culture and language.

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Therefore, she exerted herself and put a lot of effort in Japanese with the

first target of being able to communicate with her boyfriend in his mother

tongue. Time went by and her passion for this language grew so strong

that she committed herself to conquer it, no matter how hard it is when it

comes to the matter of self – study. However at the end of the day, she

achieved it with flying colors and lots of opportunities came to her after

graduation from university. It is my friend who gave me a precious lesson

in life: Do the thing you are truly passionate about and you will rock it.

Vocabulary

1. Intonation: the rise and fall of the voice in speaking

Eg: Controlling your intonation is important for communication in spoken

English.

2. Passionate: having, showing, or caused by strong feelings or beliefs.

Eg: The woman’s passionate devotion to her religion is evident in her

frequent prayers.

3. Exerted: the application of a force, influence, or quality; physical or

mental effort.

Eg: He exerted pressure on the students

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Part 2 - A Businessman you Admire Audio

Sample Answer

Often, I find myself inclined toward biographies of successful business

personalities from across the world as they, I believe, could be the best

teachers. They allow us to learn a lot from their real experiences. 

Lately, I came across an article about how a barber turned into a

businessman and now has a worth of billions altogether. Post reading the

article, I was extremely fascinated by his sheer hard work and destiny.

And now, I admire him the most. Commencing his journey with a humble

beginning, Ramesh ended up losing both of his parents at a young age,

resulting in the inability to attend school. 

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To survive in this cut-throat world, he began working as a barber and

gave haircuts at Rs. 2. However, nothing could overshadow his intelligence

and wittiness. Thus, after saving from his barber’s work, he bought a

second-hand car and began a car rental business. Despite upgrading his

venture, he didn’t cease to give haircuts. Gradually and steadily, his car

rental business grew profoundly, making him the billionaire that he is

today. In his fleet, he owns hundreds of cars, including Rolls-Royce and

Maserati. 

I admire Ramesh Babu because despite living a king-sized life, he

contributes heavily to society. His benefaction has made him a true

legend. I am following him religiously on social media channels, especially

Twitter, where he consistently shares innovative ideas and motivates the

younger generation to follow their dreams. 

Just like many in the queue, I wish to become as successful as Mr. Ramesh

Babu someday.

Vocabulary

1. Inclined 

Meaning: wanting to behave in a specific manner

Eg: I am familiar with the benefits of Ayurveda, so I am inclined towards it. 

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2. Fascinated 

Meaning: to interest or attract somebody

Eg: Indian culture has always fascinated me.

3. Sheer 

Meaning: used to emphasize

Eg: To drink and drive is sheer stupidity.

4. Commencing 

Meaning: Beginning

Eg: I am commencing my new business next month.

5. Benefaction

Meaning: a donation

Eg: Mr. Ratan Tata is highly praised for his benefaction. 

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Part 3 - A Businessman you Admire Audio

1. What do you think should be the retirement age for men and

women?

As per my opinion, the retirement age should be more according to the

profession than gender. In such professions that require physical fitness

as a pivotal part, the retirement age should be lower, while for office jobs,

the age could be higher. In general, an ideal retirement age should be 60 -

65 years. 

2. What qualities do people need to run their own business?

I believe that the prime quality everybody should be adept at is financial

management. Ultimately, the success of any business is based on the

amount of profit it is making and how excess money is being used.

Besides, people must also have leadership skills ingrained in them as they

would have to delegate responsibilities.

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3. What do you think are the key factors that contribute to the

success of a business?

I believe there are many factors that ascertain the success of a business.

Also, the importance of these factors varies as per the business type. For

instance, to run a successful restaurant, good location, quality service,

and delicious food are more vital than anything else. Overall, I’d say that

providing quality products and fulfilling the demand can make any

business successful.

4. If you had the opportunity to open your own business, what would it

be and why?

Just like everybody else, I am somehow fascinated by the idea of running

my own business as well. So, if I get a chance, I would love to start a

clothing store. I love fashion, and I stay updated with everything in vogue.

So, it would be more of a passion than just a mere business for me.

5. Is it better to start a business alone or as a team?

Well, it would be beneficial to begin the business as a team. This way, you

can brainstorm better and develop plenty of ideas to double the financial

capital. If you start alone, seeking advice from others becomes a tough

task. Hence, you may find it strenuous to make decisions and take risks.

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Having a partner always helps divide the workload; thus, preventing

burnout.

Vocabulary

1. Pivotal

Meaning: important

Eg: It is pivotal to express yourself to save relationships. 

2. Prime

Meaning: main

Eg: I am a prime candidate for the captain’s position. 

3. Ascertain

Meaning: to determine something

Eg: I am ascertaining my option from the given list. 

4. Fascinated 

Meaning: attracted

Eg: I am fascinated by the idea of becoming my own boss. 

5. Strenuous 

Meaning: something that uses a lot of energy

Eg: I find completing my to-do list quite strenuous. 

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Part 2 - A Creative Person you Admire Audio

Sample Answer

I have a flair and an eye for creativity and I always get enchanted by a

piece of creative work. One such person who has never failed to lure me

by his tangent of creativity is Hemant. He is a great pal of mine and we

met in the sophomore year of my college. He ensures to add a tinge of art

in almost everything, be it his room decor, craftwork, designing of his

vehicles, and so on and so forth. He never fails to attract attention for his

novel piece of innovation. One such incident where he completely swept

the ground with his talent was in the calligraphy competition that

occurred during the Annual Fest of our college, in which he participated in

the eleventh hour.

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Understandably, we didn’t have very high hopes for him, and all of us were

discussing that he wouldn’t be able to make it this time as he wasn’t

prepared. We were about to leave when the bell rang as the time was up

and all the participants were called to the centre of the stage to show their

art piece. The next moment I vividly remember was when the whole of the

auditorium was filled with applause and whistles, and this legendary boy

was able to continue his streak of winning the contest again. He is

absolutely a master of creativity who doesn’t really need time to prepare

himself. He seems to have this running in his blood. I am his absolute

admirer.

Vocabulary

1. Flair

Meaning: Inclination

Eg: I have a flair for writing and so I took this job.

2. Enchanted

Meaning: Attracted

Eg: I was enchanted by the movie.

3. Lure

Meaning: Fascinated

Eg: This town and its weather always lure me.

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4. Tinge

Meaning: Shade

Eg: This tinge of green color in this pastry makes it even more appealing.

5. Vividly

Meaning: Clearly

Eg: I vividly remember the first day of my school till today.

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - A Creative Person you Admire Audio

1. Do you think you are a creative person?

Well, I guess I am. I always like having my creativity come to the forefront

whenever there is an opportunity, like while writing something or singing a

combination of songs together, and so on. Though I won’t rate myself too

high on creativity, yes, I have a penchant for it. I like writing and music and

never miss a chance to experiment with it.

2. Is it good for children to learn arts?

Yes absolutely. I believe it is immensely useful for the children to learn arts

as it gives them the feathers to fly and explore their creative selves. I think

humans are innately creative and making children learn art would provide

them ample opportunities to dig deeper into their creative selves. At times,

people never realize that they were excellent at a particular task as they

never got exposed to it. Hence, I believe teaching art for kids should rather

be a priority, thereby making them cognizant of a colourful world of

creativity.

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3. What kind of jobs require people to be creative?

I believe almost all the jobs command creativity and novelty as otherwise

even the best of the jobs with the widest scope of creativity could be

rendered drab and lustreless. However, some of the jobs that obligatorily

need people to be creative are painters, designers, writers, public

speakers, Event planners, and Marketers. That being said, I still feel there is

no job that could work efficiently without creativity and creative

approaches.

4. Do you think leaders need to have the creative ability? 

Most certainly! Leaders have to be mandatorily creative and innovative in

all aspects without fail. People look up to someone who has got new and

unprecedented things to offer. Nobody would follow or willingly listen to an

individual who serves similar hackneyed and mundane stuff to the people

who follow him/her. People like freshness and newness. A common and

usual person is too normal to be a leader.

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Vocabulary

1. Immensely

Meaning: Greatly

Eg: This town is immensely populated.

2. Render

Meaning: Give

Eg: He rendered me his pair of new shoes for the party.

3. Drab

Meaning: Boring

Eg: This job is too drab to be applied for.

4. Lustreless

Meaning: Uninteresting

Eg: He said his daily life has become a lustreless routine.

5. Mandatorily

Meaning: Necessarily

Eg: This project is to be submitted mandatorily. Please make sure you

complete it ahead of time.

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Part 2 - A Difficult Thing you Did Audio

Sample Answer

Since my childhood, I have never liked any complexities in life. At almost

every step of my life, I tried keeping things short and simple. However, in a

few situations, the circumstances prompt me to go with arduous tasks

just to get a different taste of life. Lately, I had one such experience when I

finished a daunting task after a lot of effort and hard work. 

With India being hit by the second wave of Covid-19, the country was

experiencing a tough time. Keeping the havoc in mind, the higher

authorities imposed stringent restrictions, and the nation was under

lockdown. Since all educational institutions were shut down, I was forced

to give exams online.

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However, unfortunately, just a few days before my final exam, my phone

stopped working. On top of that, to my dismay, all of the shops were

closed at that time. I did not have any other option than to repair the

phone on my own. 

Definitely, it was taxing for me as I didn’t have any know-how about the

repair. While I was pretty good at operating the phone, I was a rookie at

repair.

Here, my wits and quick learning skills came to the rescue. To begin with, I

resorted to the internet to get help. I watched plenty of videos and read an

array of articles. It took me almost 7 hours to figure out a minor issue that

could have been corrected in 10 minutes, given I was a professional. With

the unabated support of the internet and my zeal to get my phone

running, I managed to repair it after hours altogether. However, it didn’t

end there as the challenging part was to reassemble the phone post

repairing it. 

Once done, I sighed in relief and felt proud of myself. After all, I had

learned how to repair a phone - all by myself. 

All in all, I believe that tackling challenging tasks is a must-have attribute

that everybody should follow to gain success in life.

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Vocabulary

1. Prompt 

Meaning: act without delay

Eg: I am always prompt in paying my bills. 

2. Arduous

Meaning: difficult

Eg: Completing minor tasks when you are ill is arduous. 

3. Stringent 

Meaning: strict

Eg: I was happy to move out of my family and escape the stringent rules.

4. Dismay

Meaning: a feeling of disappointment or sadness

Eg: To my dismay, I realized I had missed the flight.

5. Zeal

Meaning: great enthusiasm or energy

Eg: My zeal helped me stand out from other candidates in the interview. 

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Part 3 - A Difficult Thing you Did Audio

1. What kinds of jobs require people to be confident? 

Nearly all kinds of job roles require the incumbent to have some degree of

confidence. If individuals do not believe in themselves, no matter how

competent they are, they will fail. Sometimes, even if a person does not

possess the required skill set to perform a task, they can get the job done

if they have confidence. In my opinion, jobs that fall in the category of

sales and public relations require the job holders to be extremely

confident. Since people who work in such job roles mainly perform the task

of handling customers and the general public, having a confident

personality is a must for such positions.

2. On what occasions should children be encouraged? How?

Children should always be supported in their endeavors. One of the finest

ways of facilitating the growth of a child is to encourage them to pursue

their interests. Children should be encouraged when they are unsure of

their abilities. There are numerous occasions when children doubt

themselves and often give up due to the fear of failure.

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Youngsters, especially young children, should be encouraged by their

parents. Encouragement can be given by providing assistance and

reassurance to children regardless of their capabilities.

3. How do you help children stay focused? 

First of all, it is important to understand that the needs of every child are

different. There are several ways to help children remain focused. Some

children can easily concentrate on a task if the activity they are doing is

engaging. Some children tend to be more focused if their ambience is

calm and free from distractions. It is important to recognise the individual

needs of a child before attempting to help them concentrate on their daily

activities.

4. What challenges do young people face today? 

There are several problems that young people have to deal with regularly.

Adolescence, late teenage and early adulthood are some of the most

difficult times in a person’s life. Youth is a period of time when an

individual is confused, frustrated and in some cases unhappy with the

state of their life. One of the biggest challenges faced by young people is

in determining their goals and aspirations. Young people are often

perplexed when it comes to choosing a definite path that provides them

with opportunities and certainty.

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5. What are the most difficult things for youngsters to do?

There are several aspects of a youngster’s life that are difficult to deal

with. Young people often face problems that may seem insurmountable

and even discouraging. Since youth is a time when a person is about to

begin their journey as a self-sufficient individual, there are various tough

decisions that need to be taken. One of the most difficult things for

youngsters to do is make prudent decisions. Since young people lack

sufficient life experience, they are often faced with the consequences of

uninformed decisions and hasty choices.

Vocabulary

1. Incumbent

Meaning: the holder of an office or post.

Eg: The incumbent of the current Junior Lecturer of Media Studies position

was quite competent.

2. Endeavors

Meaning: an attempt to achieve a goal.

Eg: They wished him good luck for all his future endeavors.

3. Ambience

Meaning: the character and atmosphere of a place.

Eg: The ambience of this restaurant is quite welcoming.

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4. Adolescence

Meaning: the period following the onset of puberty during which a young

person develops from a child into an adult.

Eg: Adolescence is a difficult time for everyone.

5. Insurmountable

Meaning: too great to be overcome.

Eg: The pain he suffered from was insurmountable.

Student's Space:

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Part 2 - Solving a Problem Audio

Describe a person who solved a problem in a smart way.

You should say:

● Who is this person?

● What was the problem?

● How did he/she solve it?

● And explain why you think he/ she did it in a smart way?

Sample Answer

I have always considered myself to be a clever person, but there are times

when a situation is so unnerving that it is difficult to come up with a

solution. During such times, I feel blessed to have sensible and resourceful

friends. Although I am rarely in a dicey situation that I cannot find my way

out of, there have been times when it was the quick-wit of a friend which

saved me. I would like to talk about one instance where Ishaan, a very

close friend of mine, was able to get me out of a tough situation.

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It was during the first semester of college, and I had just gotten my driver’s

license, so I had been taking my father’s motorcycle to the institute. One

day, we had plans to visit another friend who stayed close to me. 

Ishaan and I were going to meet him on my father’s motorbike.

Unfortunately, the vehicle ran into problems and stopped suddenly on the

road. Since we were in the middle of a busy road, I steered the bike

towards the side, and both of us began to look for the cause of such a

snag. Since this was the first time I had faced such a problem with the

bike, I started panicking about the situation. Nevertheless, Ishaan quickly

figured out that there was a connection problem with the vehicle’s battery,

and he was right. I was relieved and impressed with how quickly he

figured out and even solved the problem by making a few tweaks to the

battery, and we were able to carry on without any hassle.

Vocabulary

1. Unnerving

Meaning: causing one to lose courage or confidence; disconcerting.

Eg: The days before the final results were unnerving

2. Resourceful

Meaning: having the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome

difficulties.

Eg: He was known to be a resourceful person.

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3. Dicey

Meaning: unpredictable and potentially dangerous.

Eg: They found themselves in a dicey situation.

4. Snag

Meaning: an unexpected or hidden obstacle or drawback.

Eg: There was a snag when we operated the new machinery.

5. Tweaks

Meaning: a fine adjustment to a mechanism or system.

Eg: The engineer made a few tweaks to the machine and it worked better

than before.

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - Solving a Problem Audio

1. Do you think children are born smart or do they learn to become

smart?

In my opinion, smartness is an attribute that one acquires with experience.

An individual can indeed have hereditary abilities that make them

brighter than the average person. For example, when examined, Albert

Einstein’s brain was said to be younger than the average person’s brain at

the age of his death. Nevertheless, a person can be extremely intelligent

and lack common sense at the same time. Thus, even if a person is born

with a sharp mind, prudent decisions can only be made with experience

and wisdom.

2. How do children become smart at school?

Children are known to be easily influenced by their surroundings. They

adopt habits that they find to be intriguing and follow in the footsteps of

their idols and peers alike. If a child is surrounded by friends and teachers

who are brainy and sharp-witted, the cognitive development of that

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student is imminent. Similarly, it is an observable fact that being in the

company of dull and incompetent peers makes a person ignorant as well.

Thus, it can be assumed that if a child is blessed with skilful teachers and

a bright group of friends, they tend to become smart themselves.

3. Why are some people well-rounded and others only good at one

thing?

A person can have an array of abilities, and it is entirely dependent on the

individual on which of these abilities is more apparent. Many individuals

are good at a multitude of activities. However, some individuals are

competent in only a certain discipline. Such a phenomenon can have

several causes behind it, but such traits are quite common. Usually,

all-rounders are known to be sociable as they learn new things from

peers, friends or even strangers. On the other hand, individuals who are

good at one thing are usually more introverted than others. Thus, they find

joy in only a few activities.

4. Why does modern society need talent of all kinds?

Competition is one of the hallmarks of present-day society. If an

individual is not proficient in a range of activities, they are often looked

down upon by peers.

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At the same time, employers of the present generation are known to be

demanding and expect candidates to multitask regularly. Also, a person

needs to be capable of handling multiple responsibilities, especially

during their youth, to cope with the challenging environment of modern

society. Thus, it is natural for people to develop a knack for all kinds of

tasks to be able to survive and thrive in this present day and age.

5. How can we assist youngsters in realizing their potential?

There is a common issue with children being forced to follow whatever the

majority is doing. There are many cases of students who choose a

discipline or even a profession due to its universality and later regret their

decision. Parents and teachers need to encourage youngsters to develop

interests and hobbies that are stimulating to them. Thus, to facilitate the

growth of the youth into realizing their potential, we must support them in

their endeavors.

Vocabulary

1. Hereditary

Meaning: (of a characteristic or disease) determined by genetic factors

and therefore able to be passed on from parents to their offspring or

descendants.

Eg: Her love for apples was hereditary.

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2. Intriguing

Meaning: arousing one's curiosity or interest; fascinating.

Eg: The artistry of Dali is intriguing.

3. Multitude

Meaning: a large number of people or things.

Eg: There are a multitude of reasons why this plan will not work.

4. Hallmarks

Meaning: a distinctive feature.

Eg: Courage and sensibility are the hallmarks of a wise person.

5. Universality

Meaning: the quality of involving or being shared by all people or things in

the world or in a particular group.

Eg: The universality of social media in this era is concerning.

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Part 2 - Natural Talent Audio

Sample Answer

Every individual has some inborn capabilities. Some of us discover these

skills early on, whereas others realize their talents later on in life. We often

tend to neglect these abilities due to various reasons. However, I am going

to talk about my talent for poetry that I am proud of and which I have

always wanted to improve and utilize more in my spare time. As a school

student, I was always fascinated by literature, but poetry intrigued me.

Initially, during school, my fondness for poetry was limited to reading the

works of great poets like Robert Frost, Emily Dickinson and Sylvia Plath.

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The first time I discovered my knack for poetry was in the 8th grade when

during a free period, our English teacher asked us to write something

creative. While most of my classmates were busy writing short stories and

other types of fiction, I was among the very few who attempted to write a

poem. The fact which impressed my teacher the most was that before a

majority of the class was done writing, I was able to come up with a terse

but charming poem on friendship in a matter of minutes. Subsequently, I

have always considered poetry and writing as my passion. I wish to

improve my creative writing skills by exploring new themes and writing

styles. Writing has always been a very satisfying activity for me as it acts

as a healthy forum to convey my thoughts and feelings. In the future, I

hope I can invest more time in writing and publishing my creative works.

Vocabulary

1. Inborn

Meaning: natural to a person or animal.

Eg: He had an inborn sense of danger.

2. Intrigued

Meaning: arouse the curiosity or interest of; fascinate.

Eg: Everyone was intrigued by the unexpected visitor.

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3. Fondness

Meaning: affection or liking for someone or something

Eg: The infant had an acute fondness for ice cream.

4. Knack

Meaning: an acquired or natural skill at doing something.

Eg: Her knack for singing was remarkable.

5. Terse

Meaning: sparing in the use of words

Eg: She was able to shut everyone up with a terse statement.

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - Natural Talent

1. Do you think artists with talents should focus on their talents?

Yes, in my opinion, artists should always focus on their talents. A person

might be a very skilled painter, but if they neglect their work, no amount of

talent will produce a satisfying result. There are many instances when a

person with a certain talent loses touch with that ability. In such situations,

a person might lose their skill and subsequently their passion for that

discipline as well. Therefore, it is always important to focus on improving

your skills and strive to give your best.

2. Is it possible for us to know the children who are 3 or 4 years old will

become musicians or painters when they grow up?

I don’t think it is possible to recognize and undeniably conclude what an

infant of 3 to 4 years will turn out to be later on in life. A person experiences

countless ups and downs in the course of their life. These experiences are

crucial in developing the personality of an individual. A person might be

fond of painting during childhood, but they might find a keen interest in

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adventure sports later in life. Thus, it is practically impossible to assume

the vocation of a person at such a young age.

3. Do you think parents feel guilty for putting too much pressure on

their children?

I believe that the feeling of guilt is dependent on the nature of the parents.

Most parents have an innate sense of affection for their children. However,

there are a few cases where parents do not recognize the mental stress

that they put on their kids. Sometimes, parents feel compelled to

pressurize their children due to their lack of academic competence.

Nevertheless, I also believe that parents do regret putting too much stress

on their children in some way or another.

4. Why do people like to watch talent shows?

There can be several reasons for watching a talent show. Talent shows are

a great dais for people to show their skills and abilities to the world. I

believe that the audience of talent shows are mostly present for

entertainment purposes. However, there are cases where talent shows act

as an encouragement for people to express their capabilities. In a few

cases, people also watch talent shows to follow a person that they know or

are familiar with and show their support.

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5. Do you think it is more interesting to watch famous people or

ordinary people’s shows?

In my opinion, some people are more entertained by viewing famous

people while others prefer to watch regular people on television. This

predilection is entirely dependent on a person's taste and personality. For

example, numerous shows merely broadcast the lavish lifestyle of

celebrities, and such shows are extremely popular with a certain segment

of people. On the other hand, shows like "Who wants to be a millionaire",

which is a show consisting of ordinary people, is also one of the

most-watched shows on television.

Vocabulary

1. Discipline

Meaning: a branch of knowledge

Eg: Leonardo Da Vinci was an expert in several disciplines.

2. Undeniably

Meaning: used to emphasize that something cannot be denied or

disputed.

Eg: This chef’s salad is undeniably the best I’ve ever had.

3. Innate

Meaning: inborn; natural.

Eg: The sense of morality was innate to him.

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4. Dais

Meaning: a platform or a stage

Eg: The dais was set for the evening performance.

5. Predilection

Meaning: a preference or special liking for something; a bias in favour of

something.

Eg: Her predilection for spicy food was surprising.

Student's Space:

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Part 2 - Medicine audio

Sample Answer

I abhor taking medicines generally and taking them for paltry issues and

mild health inconveniences is not what I usually practice. However, there

was a time when I became quite lackadaisical with a fever that I got after

taking my vaccination for Covid -19. The post-vaccine symptoms took a

toll on my health not because of the vaccine but because of intestinal

inflammation that I came to know later.

After bearing the pain for some days, I finally decided to get myself

examined and the doctor confirmed that it was not due to the vaccine

symptom. Instead, I had Colitis due to which there is an inflammation in

my intestine wall, and hence the pain. So, I was recommended medicines

and routine checkups every third day.

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Actually, after getting my vaccination for Covid-19, I was told that I could

expect mild symptoms post the vaccine as the immune system gets

activated and charged up as a reaction to the constituents of the vaccine.

However, little did I know that under the pretext of the symptoms, I would

be brushing my intestinal inflammation aside. On the stipulated day, I got

my dose and at night, I had a mild headache and a slight fever.

The next day, I felt a severe headache and pain in my intestine, which I

thought would be a cascade of symptoms I was going through, so I didn’t

take any medicine. However, my situation deteriorated with no fever or

headache but an excruciating pain in my intestine due to Colitis. Thus,

when the doctor prescribed the medicines for this, I had no option but to

take them.

I felt quite relieved after two doses of the medicine and got treated well

due to the prescription. Consequently, I realized that health is not

something one can topple up with. 

Vocabulary 

1. Abhor

Meaning: hate

Eg: I abhor the fact that I am lactose intolerant and could not have

ice cream. 

2. Paltry

Meaning: trivial

Eg: Such paltry issues are a matter of complete indifference to me.

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3. Lackadaisical

Meaning: lazy

Eg: You are an extremely lackadaisical and careless person. 

4. Inflammation

Meaning: swelling

Eg: There was inflammation in his muscles due to a sprain.

5. Recommended

Meaning: suggested

Eg: The dentist recommended she properly brush her teeth.

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - Medicine

1. What do you think of buying medicine online?

Buying medicine online is very convenient, especially when one is

not able to find the drug that is recommended for a disease.

However, a proper prescription and consultation with a doctor are

indispensable.

2. In your opinion, why do some people dislike taking medicine?

Generally, there is a mindset of people that medicines make one’s

immunity enervated and hence one gets more prone to diseases.

Due to this reason, they avoid taking medicine.

3. Some people say medicine is harmful. Do you think so?

Everything taken in excess and without proper consultation or

guidance is harmful, and so is the case herewith. Medicines can be

harmful if one gets the hold of a pill and a capsule for every mild

health hassle, as that enfeebles one’s natural tendency to fight off

the diseases. Apart from that, people generally consider a single

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medicine to be a panpharmacon for every disease without

consulting a doctor and that, at times, can get severe.

4. What do you think of fake medicine?

Fake medicines are quite dangerous to one’s health and are very

deleterious to one’s health in case the composition and the ratio of

the ingredients are not checked for quality. Hence, it can have a

pernicious effect on one’s immune system and the associated

hormonal and enzymatic actions. 

Vocabulary

1. Convenient

Meaning: easy

Eg: It is very convenient to let go of things.

2. Consultation

Meaning: a conversational session with a medical professional

Eg: You should book a consultation with the ophthalmologist.

3. Enervate

Meaning: weaken

Eg: He kept on getting enervated after the disease.

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4. Enfeeble

Meaning: to become feeble (weak)

Eg: Lack of proper and regular diet can enfeeble the boy.

5. Deleterious

Meaning: harmful

Eg: Pollution in the city is deleterious for everyone.

Student's Space:

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Part 2 - Opinion audio

Sample Answer

Opinions tend to get modified often and that keeps on altering every time

a new perspective comes into the picture. One such incident where my

preconceived notion was changed upside down was on my 16th birthday. 

Until my 16th birth anniversary celebration, I believed that true ebullience

and vitality come only when we celebrate an occasion in the grandest

way possible and that throwing lavish parties was synonymous with real

joy. I used to celebrate each of my birthdays in the best possible way as

per what a typical teenager would think and want to celebrate as. 

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Then on my 16th birthday, due to certain circumstantial prevalence, I

couldn’t actualize my plans to celebrate the year of ‘sweet 16’ in the way I

imagined it to be. I still remember how crumpled my emotions were and

how disconcerted I was until my parents took me to an orphanage.

That was when my definition of contentment was changed and a film of

pseudo-happiness was denounced. 

My parents bought lots of gifts and until we reached the orphanage, I

didn’t even have a shade of the idea for whom those gifts were being

bought for. The next moment I vividly remember was the wide grin and the

sounds of chuckling coming from the beautiful faces of those

underprivileged children. I was so contented and overwhelmed with

emotions that I couldn’t hold myself to stay and play with those kids for

the rest of the day and that indeed was a moment of epiphany for me.

This incident not only made my 16th birthday the best one to date, but it

also changed my opinion and brought me to the actual horizon of

humanity and true happiness. 

Vocabulary 

1. Perspective

Meaning: an idea about something/someone.

Eg: My perspective of that movie is still floundering as it keeps on

changing every time I see it. 

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2. Notion

Meaning: idea

Eg: His notion about the weather was severely falsified after it rained

heavily. 

3. Ebullience

Meaning: happiness

Eg: The occasion came with immense ebullience.

4. Lavish

Meaning: splendid

Eg: We had a false idea that being a billionaire, he would have a

lavish mansion. 

5. Circumstantial

Meaning: due to circumstances

Eg: Circumstantial evidence suggested that he was guilty.

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - Opinion

1. Do children like to change opinions?

Yes, children like to change their opinions and they are the most prone

group of people who tend to adjust their views more frequently than the

adults. Childhood is the phase that is the most susceptible to learning new

things, and in this process, children make, change and remake different

opinions. 

2. Why do people change opinions?

People change opinions due to sundry reasons. Some might change it

due to the inefficiency of the beliefs they held prior, while some might

change it when they come face to face with the reality of their perception.

3.  Who do young people turn to for advice?

Young people often turn to the elder ones for advice as we all have been

conditioned in such a way that we run after the experience, which is

understandable as knowledge triumphs over everything. I believe children

approach their parents, elder siblings and teachers more often than not

whenever they find themselves in a fix. 

4.  Do people like giving an opinion about politics?

Yes, they do. Politics, by its very name, implies something relevant to

people, and hence, people do take an interest in such affairs.

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It is a very recurrent scenario when people are spotted gathering around

and exchanging their school of thoughts with each other. People love to

discuss the authority and functioning of the association/parties that are

ruling them, which helps them understand and rectify their flaws. 

Vocabulary 

1. Prone

Meaning: vulnerable

Eg: The weakest group in the competition is prone to get attacked

sooner.

2. Sundry

Meaning: various

Eg: There are sundry options available for you, so choose wisely. 

3. Triumph

Meaning: victory

Eg: He threw a party on his triumph in the election

4. Imply

Meaning: suggest

Eg: This is a very vague statement, so could you please elaborate on

what it implies?

5. Recurrent

Meaning: repeated

Eg: Burglary and theft are recurrent in this area. 

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Part 2 - Conversation audio

Sample Answer

I am the kind of a person who loves to chat and converse and I can talk

over any given topic for a long duration of time. However, some

conversations can become awkward and the topic may not keep you

engrossed for a long time. There was a time when I had such an exchange

with an eleven-year-old and it was the most coerced and banal

conversation I ever had so far. 

My friends and I planned a trip to a hill station 200 kilometres away from

the city I lived in. However, that trip became very searing to my ears

because of the younger brother of one of my friends. Five people went on

that trip, and I took the car's back seat. The little boy urged me to sit with

him, to which I happily agreed. However, little did I know that the boy

would become a matter of irk for me.

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The boy started talking about all the animated series and animes that he

had seen so far and wanted me to talk about them with the same zeal.

Unfortunately, I didn't even have an idea about the ABC of those series. He

pointed out my indifference and lack of exhilaration for the toon series he

was such a zealot of and started chivvying me to talk about the series that

I might have watched in the past.

I have never been interested in animated series, even when I was a kid, let

alone watching or talking about them. Hence, that discussion

disconcerted me a lot as I wasn't supposed to miff that kid with my

avoidance and turn my back on him. 

Vocabulary 

1. Converse

Meaning: to talk

Eg: Sheika and Shileka were conversing for over three hours.

2. Engrossed

Meaning: absorbed

Eg: I was enchanted and engrossed in the play we saw last week.

3. Coerced

Meaning: forced

Eg: He was coerced to get out of the room.

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4. Banal

Meaning: uninteresting

Eg: It was such a banal and uninteresting story. 

5. Irk

Meaning: irritation

Eg: Will you please stop irking me with your baseless questions?

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - Conversation

1. What topics do young people in India talk about?

Well, Indian people love to talk and converse over a range of topics

and they can communicate about anything under the sun. However,

some of the most frequent topics that one may listen to the Indians

talking about are politics, any latest movie released at a given time,

sports, family issues and so on.

2. What is the difference between topics that are popular now and

topics that were popular in the past?

Topics in the past were more or less inclined towards mythology,

religions and real-time discussions, even when the discussion was

among the children of that time. Nonetheless, today the discussion

is majorly about gadgets, technology, web series, politics, etc. 

3. How do you know if others are not interested in the conversation?

People tend to elude the conversation by hopping over a different

topic if they don’t find themselves absorbed in the topic at hand.

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Apart from that, the lack of interest can be pointed out by the way

one is emoting their responses or their facial expressions.

4. What’s the influence of modern technology, such as the internet,

emails, on our communication?

The modern world has changed every aspect of our life and the

means of communication is one of those. Earlier, written

communication used to take place through letters and applications.

While, today, emails and the internet have dislodged the

conventional way of communication and the pen-paper era seems

to be submerging down the sea. 

Vocabulary 

1. Frequent

Meaning: regular

Eg: Such frequent occurrences of violence are a matter of concern

for society. 

2. Gadget

Meaning: device

Eg: He had all the gadgets one can think of.

3. Elude

Meaning: evade

Eg: I wanted to elude the situation; hence I ran away from the place.

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4. Hop over

Meaning: to switch

Eg: I kept on hopping over different counters in the mall yesterday to

spend my time.

5. Submerge

Meaning: immerse

Eg: The plants were submerged in the river. 

Student's Space:

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Part 2 - Apology audio

Sample Answer

An apology can work wonders and it is one of the best ways to rectify

one’s mistakes or misdemeanors with someone. I remember I had a minor

fallout with one of our school prefects back in the days, and we were at

loggerheads for over a week. However, his apology was enough to call it a

truce and to placate the hard feelings we shared.

In our school, there was a provision for making prefects for every house we

had, i.e., red, yellow house, etc. I was the prefect of the Red House and the

guy named Thomas was a prefect of the Blue House. Thomas and I shared

a good bond and were very amenable to each other.

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One day he planned to go absent from the annual function of our school

and wanted me to miss it as well so that both of us would be at the harsh

receiving end of the slander and chide.

However, I denied his plans, so he had to come to school as well. After that,

we were at tiffs for almost a week until he realized how silly it was on his

part to miss the function on such an important day and, above all, wanted

me to strike a chord with him. He apologized for his conduct and I happily

accepted that.

He came to me, smiled, and said sorry for all he did. As he accepted his

mistake, I showed no sign of rigidity and accepted the apology. I felt good

about the situation, which made our bond stronger than ever. We never

turned back again to any resentment and enmity toward each other and

our friendship emboldened so much that we still are friends.

Vocabulary 

1. Rectify

Meaning: to make something better, especially mistakes.

Eg: Rectification of your mistakes is expected from good boys like

you. 

2. Fallout

Meaning: argument

Eg: I had a minor fallout with Christa yesterday.

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3. Amenable

Meaning: cordial

Eg: You should be amenable to guests.

4. Chide

Meaning: scold

Eg: They chided her for her behaviour. 

5. Emboldened

Meaning: to make bold (strong)

Eg: His concepts were emboldened by the revision classes.

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - Apology

1. Is it important to say sorry?

Yes, it is imperative to say sorry and accept the misstep if you have

committed a peccadillo or any mistake.

2. In what situations do people say sorry?

People say sorry for many reasons. Some might have made derisive

remarks about others, while others might have told a lie at a time,

etc. Hence, there could be many such reasons to ask for an apology.

3. Why do some people hate to say sorry?

Some people think too highly of themselves. For them, saying sorry

could be taken as something subpar to the standards that they

might have decided for themselves. 

4. In what situations should we apologise immediately?

At times, we might accidentally bump into someone or disrupt an

action by yawning or making noise. In this case, it is always good to

say sorry immediately as not only does this show one’s courtesy,
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but it also circumvents a major brawl that might take place if not

pacified immediately. 

5. When was the last time you found it hard to accept an apology?

Well, I have never found it hard to accept an apology. In any case, I

feel I am quite fortunate to have not been wronged by someone to

an extent where it would have been difficult to accept someone’s

apology. 

Vocabulary 

1. Imperative

Meaning: important

Eg: It is imperative that you do your homework.

2. Peccadillo

Meaning: minor mistake

Eg: It is sufficient that you accepted your peccadillo and understood

your flaw. 

3. Derisive

Meaning: scornful; mocking

Eg: Don’t bother yourself with the derisive and sarcastic remarks of

the opponents.

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4. Subpar

Meaning: below standards

Eg: Your performance is subpar compared to how you performed in

the last quarter. 

5. Pacified

Meaning: calmed

Eg: I pacified the entire fracas

Student's Space:

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Part 2 - Revisiting Book audio

Sample Answer

I am an ardent reader and have read a significant number of books so far.

I believe one gets to know and learn about a lot of things as meaningful

and priceless insights are imparted through a well-written book. Talking

about the book, which, apart from being an enriched source of knowledge,

became my go-to partner is the book named ‘Laws of the Spirit World’. I

never thought of reading this book. However, while surfing the internet for

some spiritual content, I came across this prodigious book as I have a

propensity for spirituality.

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I have always been spiritually inclined and philosophy and the way of

living have been one of my favorite subjects. This book took that zeal and

exuberance towards the art of living to an altogether higher level. It talks

about the essence of living and that all of our actions are watched over.

Humans are their own guides and they do not have to look for somebody

else to guide or direct them if they pay attention to what their conscience

and subconscious mind say. I read this book as I found the reviews and

ratings on a positive note. It is a critically-acclaimed book and I believe all

those rave reviews and amazing ratings its readers gave were all worth it.

At any time, whether good or bad, this book comes to the fore and boosts

you up and revitalizes your esteem.

At times, one might feel dejected or might go astray from a good path in

life. In such a scenario, this book works as a leash to bring one to the

optimistic trajectory again by blowing wisdom and enlightenment in one’s

soul. Hence, as many times I read the book, I never feel as though I have

already read it quite a lot of times.

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Vocabulary 

1. Ardent

Meaning: passionate

Eg: He is an ardent traveller and has covered half of the nation

already.

2. Impart

Meaning: to give or share

Eg: You should always be an example who imparts goodness and

inspiration.

3. Propensity

Meaning: inclination

Eg: The propensity to get carried away is higher at a young age.

4. Prodigious

Meaning: genius

Eg: He was a prodigious student and was loved by all.

5. Dejected

Meaning: hopeless

Eg: I felt dejected at the thought of losing the game.

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Part 3 - Revisiting Book

1. Do people read more nowadays?

No, I believe people don’t read much nowadays as the internet era

has dominated almost every other thing. Owing to the plethora of

multimedia available, including podcasts and videos, people are

more invested in them.

2. Do you read before going to bed?

I generally try to read a good book before retiring to bed as it is

believed that whatever we go through before sleeping gets

percolated in our subconscious mind and hence has a profound

impact on our sleep.

3. How will eBooks affect paper books?

Ebooks have already affected the offline medium of reading. As a

result, paper books are facing a diminution in their usage as people

prefer to stick to the internet and ebooks for reading a book or a

discourse.

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4. What’s the difference between films and books?

The basic difference between books and films is that films are video

sources of information where everything is presented before our

eyes. In contrast, books are written accounts of information, so we

need to use our imagination to get a clear idea of the details. 

Vocabulary 

1. Plethora

Meaning: high in number

Eg: There are a plethora of options available in the fair.

2. Percolated

Meaning: to get inside

Eg: The water percolated through the soil and the plant survived.

3. Profound

Meaning: deep

Eg: He had a profound and sound sleep.

4. Retiring to bed

Meaning: going to bed and falling asleep

Eg: I retired to bed at 9 PM yesterday as I had to wake up early today

5. Diminution

Meaning: plummet

Eg: There is a diminution in the price of this item and it needs

upgradation.

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Part 2 - Repairing audio

You’ll have to talk about the topic for 1-2 minutes. You can take some
time to recollect your thoughts before you start speaking for Part 2.

Sample Answer

These days, there is a conventional idea to buy newer models instead of

getting the obsolete, broken ones repaired. 

However, just a few weeks back, our refrigerator broke down. Fortunately, it

was still under warranty; thus, we didn’t have to replace it. All of a sudden,

it ceased to work. We tried plugging and unplugging it but to no avail.

Initially, we considered getting the socket checked as there could have

been an issue with it.

But when I plugged my phone charger into the socket, it worked. That’s

when we knew the refrigerator was broken. Not sure, but it could have

been because of the voltage fluctuation as it rained cats and dogs last

week.  

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We had bought this machine only a couple of months back. Thus, we

dialed the company and scheduled a technician’s visit. Upon arriving, he

evaluated the situation and declared that the main circuit was burnt,

which caused the fridge to break down. The good thing was he came

equipped with all of the necessary parts. So, without any further ado, he

replaced it. 

The feeling was definitely unpleasant. Whenever something breaks down

in the house, it creates an unwanted ruckus. And, that’s what happened

that day. Most of the food got spoilt because of this breakdown. However,

once it got repaired, we received an official apology email from the

company, which was indeed a good gesture from their end. 

We appreciated the quick and prompt services provided by the company.

Vocabulary

1. Conventional

Meaning: behaving in a normal way

Eg: My family has broken the conventional attitude to adopt a

modern approach of living. 

2. Obsolete

Meaning: not useful any longer as something more useful has been

invented

Eg: Smartphones have made landlines obsolete.

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3. Ceased

Meaning: to end or stop

Eg: Rain has finally ceased today. 

4. Avail

Meaning: benefit or help

Eg: His good intentions were of no avail to his family. 

5. Fluctuations 

Meaning: a back-and-forth shift

Eg: There were several fluctuations in the weather today. 

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - Repairing

1. Are IT-related jobs valued more by society?

I don’t think that they are valued more or less in comparison to other

jobs. However, the magnitude that IT jobs hold has increased lately

with our increased dependence on technology.

2. Is the quality of products worse than before?

I agree with the fact that the quality of products has degraded in

recent years. I can claim it from my personal experience. The

equipment and machines that my parents bought, be it an air

conditioner, refrigerator, or anything of the sort, lasted for years

altogether. However, when I purchased the same equipment and

machines, they didn’t work for more than four years at a stretch. I

think the technology is becoming intricate, but that has taken a toll

on product durability.

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3. What kinds of things do people like to repair by themselves?

I think DIY videos and articles available on YouTube and Google

have made it possible to repair anything and everything ourselves.

Recently, my mom fixed her sewing machine by watching a

YouTube video. I have fixed my mobile phone and laptop many

times by just searching about the issue and finding a quick fix.

4. Why do people like to get their mobile phones repaired in

specialised stores?

I think the main reason is that they don’t want to void the phone’s

warranty. Most of the companies clearly mention that if the phone is

opened by a non-registered technician or store, the warranty would

not be applicable. In my opinion, this is just another stratagem by

companies to ensure that they can charge people heavily for parts,

which could be repaired cheaply otherwise.

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Vocabulary

1. Magnitude

Meaning: the greater size or impact of something

Eg: The magnitude of the earthquake is low. 

2. Degraded

Meaning: decrease the standards

Eg: Unwanted thoughts have degraded the true meaning of

equality. 

3. Intricate

Meaning: complex

Eg: The concept of physics is intricate. 

4. Stratagem

Meaning: a plan or trick used to gain advantage

Eg: We won the match because of our captain’s stratagem. 

5. Heavily

Meaning: extremely

Eg: I am heavily inclined towards healthy diet. 

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Part 2 - Free Gifts/Things audio

Sample Answer

In my lifespan, I have received a myriad of free things. However, one of

them that I would like to share here is when I received a free cup of coffee

in Starbucks. The occasion was my birthday. 

Since I am a frequent visitor to Starbucks, one of the salespersons

suggested that I get a card. With forbearance, she explained all of the

perks and benefits I was to get with this free card. At first, I was a bit

sceptical about taking it up. However, after much persuasion by the

salesgirl, I signed up for it. Out of all the advantages, one of them was a

free coffee in my birthday month. 

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Completely clueless, I randomly visited Starbucks in September - my

birthday month. When I reached the counter to pay for the coffee, the

salesperson told me that I had a free coffee due as it was my birthday

month. Thus, the order was completely free. 

I was stumped but equally excited. Upon inquiring about the type of coffee

and the customizations, they said I could order whatever I wanted. So,

taking a different track than usual, I ordered a mocha with whipped

cream.

I always wanted to try this one but was refraining as it was a bit

expensive. Since it was the perfect opportunity, I went for it without any

ado. I simply relished every sip of my coffee and felt satisfied.

Vocabulary

1. Forbearance

Meaning: a quality of patience

Eg: My manager thanked our team for forbearance during the times

of covid-19.

2. Skeptical 

Meaning: doubtful

Eg: I am sceptical about the benefits the government has promised

to the poor class. 

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3. Persuasion 

Meaning: the act of causing people to believe or do something

Eg: Her persuasion skills landed us the biggest possible project. 

4. Stumped 

Meaning: not being able to answer the questions instantly

Eg: The entire question paper left me stumped. 

5. Refraining 

Meaning: to stop yourself from doing something

Eg: I have been refraining myself from talking to my mother after our

fight.

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - Free Gifts/Things

1. Do you think people should pay for higher education? Why?

If people are interested in pursuing higher studies, I definitely think

that they should pay for it. This will help us avert lamentable money

wastage, and we will only pay for it if we want it desperately. At the

same time, those who cannot afford it should be backed up by the

government through loans and scholarships to accomplish this

goal.

2. Is it good or bad for people to have a free education in the future?

In my opinion, primary education should be free. The reason is that it

is highly indispensable for everybody. As far as higher education is

concerned, it could cost a bit but should also be affordable.

3. What free gifts do companies usually give to their customers?

As far as I know, in India, companies distribute budgeted gifts, such

as cups, pens, calendars, etc., to customers. Although given without

charging any dime, in a way, they are meant to advertise the

company. Usually, these products have brand elements printed on

them, such as the company’s name, logo, address, etc.

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4. Why do customers like to receive free gifts from companies?

I think there is no better feeling than getting something for free. I

believe this is just another human trait to get excited when receiving

gifts. Unlike paying for something, a product that comes free of cost

never fills us up with doubts or regrets.

Vocabulary

1. Pursuing

Meaning: to follow something or someone

Eg: When policemen started pursuing the robber, he ran off.

2. Avert

Meaning: to avoid or prevent something

Eg: You could avert the accident by driving slowly.

3. Lamentable

Meaning: bad or disappointing

Eg: His casual behavior towards personal hygiene is lamentable.

4. Indispensable

Meaning: very important

Eg: In today’s world, a personal vehicle is indispensable.

5. Dime

Meaning: a small amount of money

Eg: I will not pay a dime for the useless piece of furniture. 

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Part 2 - Childhood audio

Sample Answer

Well, talking about anything pertaining to childhood makes me nostalgic.

Just like others, it was the golden phase of my life, and memories related

to it would always hold a special place in my heart. When talking about

childhood, nothing could be more precious than a bewildering collection

of toys I had.

Since I was the first child in my clan, both maternal and paternal, I was

fortunate enough to have a gamut of toys, including dolls, stuffed animals,

building blocks, puzzles, handmade toys, board games, small vehicles,

and many more. 

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However, out of all, the one that was extremely close to my heart was a

handmade stuffed caricature of Noddy, which my grandfather gifted me

on my 10th birthday.

Back in the day, I was a cartoon fanatic. I used to watch varying animated

shows for hours altogether. During the weekends, it was nothing but

arduous to take away the remote control from me. Amongst others, I used

to watch Noddy In Toyland for a long period of time. I was fascinated by

all of the characters, especially Noddy, Tessie Bear, and Big Ears. I was

awestruck by how Noddy managed to do everything on his own. 

So, this one time, when my grandfather asked what I wanted to be, I said

that I wanted to be Noddy in a jiffy. Just a few days later, on my birthday

morning, I saw a large gift-wrapped box in my room. I wanted to open it

that instant, but out of the blue, all my family members started to sing a

birthday song.

Gauging my inquisitiveness, my grandpa asked me to unwrap it. I was

over the moon to see my favourite toy. I was extremely ecstatic about this

toy and used to play with it all the time.

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Vocabulary

1. Bewildering 

Meaning: deeply confused to say something

Eg: My last trip was a bewildering experience. 

2. Arduous 

Meaning: difficult

Eg: The question paper was extremely arduous.

3. Fascinated 

Meaning: to interest or attract somebody

Eg: American culture has always fascinated me. 

4. Awestruck 

Meaning: filled with awe

Eg: I was awestruck by the surprises I got on my birthday.

5. Inquisitiveness

Meaning: curiousness

Eg: I could sense my sister’s inquisitiveness when she entered my

room. 

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Part 3 - Childhood

1. What is the difference between girls’ and boys’ toys?

Traditionally, girls enjoy softer and mushy toys like dolls, kitchen

sets, stuffed toys, etc. On the contrary, boys prefer mechanical toys,

such as guns, automobiles, etc. Boys usually pick dark colours while

girls go with the lighter ones.

2. Do you believe toys really assist in children’s growth?

Yes, toys play a gigantic part in children’s development. It helps

develop their motor, sensory, and cognitive abilities. At the same

time, toys also lead to improved social growth, particularly when

they play with other kids.

3. Does modern technology have an impact on children’s toys?

Definitely, modern technologies leave a massive impact on toys.

Along with the types of toys available, the preferences of children

have altered over time. Today mechanical and STEM-oriented toys

are more prevalent, such as robots, app-controlled cars, etc.

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4. What toys are popular with children in India now?

A myriad of toys is popular in India currently. Children love playing

with electronic and mechanical toys more these days. Also, parents

are inclined toward buying such toys that not just keep them

entertained but also improve their cognitive abilities.

5. In general, do kids today have many toys?

Yes, they do. Children today have far more toys than my friends, and

I had collectively back then. I believe working parents are

substituting time that they have to spend with kids by giving them

more and more toys.

Vocabulary

1. Mushy

Meaning: thick and soft

Eg: I love sleeping on a mushy pillow.

2. Gigantic 

Meaning: something that is really big

Eg: The buildings in New York are gigantic.

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3. Cognitive 

Meaning: connected with the process of understanding

Eg: Reading books improve our cognitive abilities

4. A myriad of 

Meaning: a great variety

Eg: A myriad of emotions flooded over as my father danced with my

sister at her wedding.

5. Collectively

Meaning: together

Eg: In our family, we take major decisions collectively.

Student Space

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Part 2 - Stranger audio

Sample Answer

Well, talking from experience, I can claim that I have always been coming

across new people at different places. Some were easy to forget, while

others left a profound impression on me. 

Here, I would like to talk about a person who touched my life enormously.

His name is Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam. He was the 11th

president of India and the first Indian aerospace scientist. 

Back in 2013, he was invited to our school on the juncture of space day. The

intent behind inviting him was to offer an unbiased career and life

guidance to teenagers. The gathering was not exhaustive; hence, we got

some time to talk to him individually.

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If you are cognizant of his life, you would be enthralled enough to find out

more and more about him. His backstory is extremely enrapturing to me.

Being a son of a boat owner and imam of a local mosque, Dr. Kalam was

an average student but turned out to be an astounding citizen of India. I

want to know the zeal and the driving force behind his intentions that

helped him carve a path to the presidency. Sadly, I will have to resort

merely to internet resources to learn more about him.

I have nothing but extreme respect and high regard for him. Even if I put

him on a pedestal in my life, I would not be exaggerating. I admire his

audacity to take life as it comes and make the most out of it while staying

humble and grounded throughout. That’s how I wish to become one day.

Vocabulary

1. Profound 

Meaning: something that you feel strongly

Eg: His motivating words left a profound influence on me.

2. Exhaustive

Meaning: including everything possible

Eg: This shopping list is exhaustive.

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3. Enthralled 

Meaning: to hold somebody’s attention

Eg: I was enthralled by his story.

4. Astounding 

Meaning: feeling extremely surprised

Eg: This video game has astounding graphics.

5. Zeal 

Meaning: great enthusiasm or energy

Eg: His zeal to follow traditions is inspiring.

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - Stranger

1. How do people make friends in India?

Making friends in India is not strenuous at all, owing to their affable

nature. Commencing a conversation on a topic of mutual interest is

sometimes enough to spark a friendship. Also, making friends

through social media is another prevalent technique that people are

using these days.

2. On what occasions do people like to make friends?

There are plenty of occasions that allow people to make friends. One

of the foremost is profuse events, such as birthday parties,

weddings, hangout parties, and more. People also make friends

during illustrious travelling experiences. And then, joining online

groups or offline classes is another way to make friends with

like-minded people.

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3. Is it important to have the same hobbies and interests when

making friends?

Not really! Common hobbies definitely act as a driving force to start

a conversation and begin a friendship. However, those who are

poles apart can become friends as well. In fact, it’s extremely

invigorating to be friends with somebody who has different interests

as it helps us get exposed to more things.

4. What qualities make true friends?

A true friend is someone who backs us up through our thick and thin.

They are non-judgmental, benevolent, and accept all of our flaws.

They stay forthright and help us learn the difference between right

and wrong. And then, they give an abundance of love and care.

Vocabulary

1. Strenuous 

Meaning: difficult

Eg: I have a strenuous workout regime. 

2. Affable 

Meaning: friendly to talk to

Eg: My group of friends is affable to strangers as well.

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3. Likeminded 

Meaning: having similar opinions or tastes

Eg: I like spending time with likeminded people.

4. Invigorating 

Meaning: refreshing

Eg: Taking vitamin D every morning is extremely invigorating.

5. Benevolent 

Meaning: helpful to others

Eg: Her sister is extremely benevolent to others. 

Student's Space:

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Part 2 - New Year audio

Sample Answer

Well, setting up new year resolutions with great vivacity and eagerness is

quite customary. However, not all of them stick to it and generally host a

flop show. This year, even I made a resolution. And, so far, it’s going good.

My new year resolution is to moderate the use of mobile. 

I am trying miscellaneous ways to complete this resolution. Now, instead

of wasting hours on my phone, I have started stepping out of the house

more. To stay vigorous, I have started playing physical sports with friends.

Also, I switch off my phone at sharp 10 pm and hit the bed. To be honest, I

am feeling much more undisturbed now than before.

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Earlier, I used to be on my phone until the wee hours of the night. But now, I

meditate for half an hour to relax my mind before sleeping. Also, I take a

deep slumber for 8 hours daily, which is helping my focus and

performance. 

The truth is that, just like many other people, I had a phone fixation. This

addiction, at one point, reached such an extent that I began squandering

my golden hours playing games, surfing social media, and watching

movies. So finally, I decided to put a full stop to it and take control of my

life.

Vocabulary

1. Vivacity 

Meaning: the quality of being lively

Eg: Her vivacity attracts everybody.

2. Vigorous

Meaning: filled with enthusiasm

Eg: She is vigorous enough to win this competition.

3. Slumber 

Meaning: to be deeply asleep

Eg: Meditation has helped me with slumber.

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4. Fixation 

Meaning: addiction

Eg: I have a shopping fixation.

5. Squandering 

Meaning: to waste money, time, etc

Eg: Everybody should pay attention to their career rather than

squandering around.

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - New Year

1. What are the most common resolutions in your country?

The most common resolutions in my country are about

self-improvement. At the start of a new year, people pledge to get

up early, go for a walk, or start a new hobby. Most of them also join

the gym to lead a healthier routine.

2. How difficult would it be for you to save money this year?

Saving money this year would be a daunting task, keeping in mind

that inflation is rising rapidly. Moreover, I have to buy a few gadgets

this year, such as an iPad, a car, and a new laptop. As there would

be too many expenses, I would not save much.

3. How difficult would it be for you to get fit this year?

As I have started practicing intermittent fasting, getting fit will not be

a challenging task for me. However, it also depends upon my zeal to

continue with it. If I stop being consistent, the tables might turn.

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4. What do you think this year will be like for you?

I firmly believe that this year will bring a paradigm shift to my life. I

will complete my studies this year. Moreover, I am also

contemplating beginning a new business this year, something

completely different from my family business. In totality, it will be a

happening year.

5. What things would you like to stop doing this year?

This year I would like to stop procrastinating. And then, I would like

to inculcate a habit of curating plans and work according to them

so that I could be more productive and don’t waste time.

Vocabulary

1. Daunting 

Meaning: difficult

E.g.: Getting up early in the morning is a daunting task for me. 

2. Zeal 

Meaning: great energy

E.g.: I take up adventurous activities with zeal.

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3. Contemplating 

Meaning: to think carefully about something

E.g.: I am still contemplating on the college where I wish to take

admission. 

4. Procrastinating

Meaning: to put off something till another time and day

E.g.: Stop procrastinating, you have to complete a lot of tasks today.

5. Inculcate 

Meaning: to learn or remember something by repeating it often

E.g.: I would like to inculcate a sense of responsibility in my younger

brother now.

Student's Space:

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Yay!
So far You did Amazing with the Provided

Sets of Questions with Audio. Now, We have

also included 5 Sets without Audio.

Hop On, Let’s give them a Try too!

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Part 2 - An Art or Craft

Sample Answer

Arts and crafts did not fall under the most popular activity among my

friends and other schoolmates, yet I was always inclined towards such

creative escapades. The form of art that stimulated me the most was

painting, and here I would like to talk about this art form and my

experience with different painting styles and themes that I came across

and learnt during school. Initially, the artworks that I came across in

school textbooks never really struck a chord with me, and neither did I put

much thought into them or what they were trying to portray. However, my

perspective dramatically changed after our art teacher showed us a

replica of a brilliant painting by M. F. Husain.

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Although the painting was a mere imitation, the eccentric imagery, which

was oddly captivating, fascinated me like no other piece of art had done

until that point in my life. Subsequently, my curiosity about this art form

increased with time as I came across more stunning artworks through

different sources. The first painting I made was in the 9th grade when we

were asked to create something about our country, and the best artworks

were to be published in our school newspaper on Independence Day. I was

thrilled by this opportunity and put my heart and soul into creating a

canvas painting with watercolors that would impress my teachers and

classmates. Happily, I was able to convey my patriotism through my work,

which depicted the Indian Army as they hoisted our national flag at our

borders. My art teacher was delighted to see my painting and

recommended it to the editing team of my school newspaper. The entire

experience of painting my first piece of art was enriching, and I have

considered painting and sketching my passion ever since.

Vocabulary

1. Escapades

Meaning: An action that involves excitement and adventure

Eg: The travelers had several stories regarding their thrilling escapades.

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2. Portray

Meaning: depict (someone or something) in a work of art or literature

Eg: The work of this artist portrays his vulnerability.

3. Fascinate

Meaning: attract the strong attention and interest of (someone)

Eg: The on-lookers were fascinated by the magician’s jaw-dropping tricks.

4. Captivating

Meaning: capable of attracting and holding interest

Eg: The paintings of Salvador Dali are captivating.

5. Enriching

Meaning: improve or enhance the quality or value of

Eg: The meditation classes were an enriching experience.

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - An Art or Craft

1. What kinds of traditional handicrafts are there in your country?

India, the country that I hail from, is one of the richest countries in regards

to handicrafts. The countless indigenous handiworks and textiles are a

significant part of Indian culture. Some of the well-known traditional

handiworks include the Pashmina shawls from Kashmir, the exquisite

woodworks of the northern regions including Punjab, painted pottery from

the state of Rajasthan and the jute handicrafts from Bengal. The

popularity of Indian handicrafts is so widespread that such products have

a huge demand across the world.

2. Should children learn more about art? / What are the benefits of

making handcrafts?

Art should be an essential part of a child’s learning phase. It originates

from the creative space in our minds and is the only discipline that cannot

be taught using a defined system. Proficiency in a particular work of art

can only be achieved through self-interest and one’s creative skills.

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Therefore, encouraging children to learn and develop an interest in any

kind of art or craft is bound to enhance their creativity.

3. Why do some people think it is difficult to understand art?

It is a common belief that art is not everyone’s cup of tea. Although the

rationale behind this idea is simple and understandable to a certain

extent, such notions are one-sided in nature. It is a well-known fact that

art is entirely subjective. A piece of art can remarkably impact an

individual, whereas the same can end up making no sense to another

individual. Thus, when people are unable to decipher an artist’s creation,

they deem their work as incomprehensible and even illogical.

4. What can we do to make young people pay more attention to

traditional art?

With changing times, the interests of the youth are also changing. The

activities that engrossed our previous generations have become

uneventful to the younger population in this era. Thus, to pique the interest

of younger people in traditional art, such creative activities must be

presented in a modern way. The activities popular among the youth must

be amalgamated with fine arts. Arts and crafts contests must be held in

school and college festivals. Information and knowledge about different

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artworks must be integrated with popular culture to grab the attention of

the younger generation.

5. Do you think it’s important to cultivate an appreciation of art in

children?

In my opinion, introducing children to art and educating them to admire

the creative mastery in great works of art is crucial in the development of

their personalities. If a child is always engaged in school work and

theoretical disciplines, their knowledge is bound to remain limited.

Developing a keen interest in any art form is a gateway to discovering

further areas of interest. At the same time, being devoid of any artistic

awareness can also lead to a person lagging in social interactions. Thus,

children should be encouraged to follow their preferred works of art from

an early age.

6. Do you think art should be included in school curriculums? Why?

I believe that arts and crafts should be made a compulsory subject in the

school curriculum. Although many schools include such disciplines in their

curriculum, proper schooling is not provided to students in regards to art.

There are several reasons why arts and crafts should be given more

emphasis during a child’s education. Firstly, they promote creativity and

help children artistically express themselves.

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Secondly, they also help children discover their passion and even their

preferred vocation. Furthermore, such activities help children balance

their time between schoolwork and creative pursuits.

Vocabulary

1. Indigenous

Meaning: originating or occurring naturally in a particular place

Eg: This form of art is indigenous to India

2. Decipher

Meaning: succeed in understanding, interpreting, or identifying

Eg: The detective was unable to decipher the criminal’s intentions.

3. Incomprehensible

Meaning: not able to be understood

Eg: The handwriting on this particular answer script was

incomprehensible.

4. Amalgamated

Meaning: combine or unite to form one organization or structure.

Eg: This movie perfectly amalgamated the current political scenario and

the director’s opinions.

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5. Vocation

Meaning: a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or

occupation.

Eg: The vocation of being a singer is not suitable for everyone.

Student's Space:

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Part 2 - Environmental Protection

Sample Answer

Looking at the appalling conditions of the natural surroundings in this

present day and age, laws and regulations for the protection of the

environment are being implemented by the governments of several

countries across the world. The law in particular that I am going to talk

about is crucial for the preservation of our environment and the

prevention of its further degradation. One of the chief causes of

environmental degradation is the widespread increase of

non-biodegradable waste, especially plastic. Since plastic and similar

substances cannot decompose and become a part of the environment,

they have a detrimental effect on the area where they are discarded.
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The prevalence of plastic is a consequence of its cost-effective nature.

The production of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials has

surged to such an extent that some believe that the damage caused by

such harmful substances is irreversible. Nonetheless, measures are being

taken to ameliorate the situation as governments are becoming aware of

the dire consequences of plastic. Many states across our country have

completely banned the use of plastic, especially in convenience stores.

Special laws have been passed in various states that penalize the use of

plastic, and anyone caught using plastic bags is bound to pay a hefty fine

to the authorities. I first noticed this phenomenon when many

convenience stores in my locality completely shifted to jute bags or paper

bags to provide their customers with during purchases. This regulation

has led to a significant reduction in the production of plastic waste in the

regions where similar laws have been introduced. The positive impact of

this measure is felt by the general public, as it has led to cleaner living

conditions. I feel that such laws need to be implemented on a national

level and immediate steps should be taken by the central government to

address the situation.

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Vocabulary

1. Appalling

Meaning: very bad, awful

Eg: The performance of the entire class was appalling in the Maths quiz.

2. Crucial

Meaning: decisive or critical, especially in the success or failure of

something

Eg: The victory of team India in yesterday’s match was crucial to their

qualification in the finals.

3. Detrimental

Meaning: tending to cause harm.

Eg: The habit of smoking is detrimental to a person’s health.

4. Ameliorate

Meaning: make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better

Eg: The steps taken to ameliorate the quality of life by the government

were unsatisfactory.

5. Hefty

Meaning: impressively large.

Eg: His poker luck earned him a hefty bankroll of 10 million dollars.

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Part 3 - Environmental Protection

1. Do you think this law is acceptable to the people?

Yes, I believe that such a law is widely accepted by the general public.

These laws were an outcome of the efforts of several NGOs and welfare

organizations, along with the increased awareness of the people

regarding the decline of our natural habitat. Even before any laws were

passed, there were instances where a sizable number of people adopted

the use of biodegradable materials. Also, in areas where environmental

laws are not that stringent, people are known to follow an

environment-friendly lifestyle on their own accord. Thus, it can be safely

assumed that similar environmental laws are welcomed by the public.

2. Is there any situation wherein people may disobey the law?

Firstly, it is important to understand that obeying the law is the personal

responsibility of an individual. There are several cases where people

intentionally break the rules and cause harm to society. People of such a

nature cannot be reasoned with to become better citizens.

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There are instances where people still use and ask for polythene bags

even after knowing the consequences. In some cases, customers are

known to squabble with shopkeepers when refused a plastic bag to carry

their groceries.

3. What qualities should a police officer possess?

Due to the authority and the responsibility that police officers have to

bear, they are required to possess an array of positive traits. The chief

quality that must be present in a police officer is a zeal to serve the

community. A police officer must also have an ethical moral compass and

they should also be principled. Moreover, a calm disposition is essential to

tackle problems without making rash decisions as law enforcers. Finally,

police officers should be just and always assess the situation thoroughly

before penalizing anyone.

4. Is kindness the most important quality of a police officer?

In my opinion, kindness is not the most important quality that a police

officer should possess, although it should be a part of a law enforcer’s

personality. The role of a police officer is tough, and sometimes they are

required to put aside their feelings and be stringent with lawbreakers.

Thus, qualities like shrewdness, agility and honesty should hold more

importance over kindness when enforcing the law.

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We should remember that criminals may not play fair and take

advantage of an officer in the course of their duty. However, there are

situations where a police officer must deal with a problem with kindness

and avoid being too harsh on civilians.

5. Should people be penalized when they use mobile phones while

driving?

In this day and age, when digital technology has enabled us to access

information, receive and make calls hands-free, using mobile phones

while driving is irrational. Even today, a majority of road accidents are

caused due to the irresponsibility of drivers who are glued to their phone

screens while driving. Although there are already hefty fines imposed on

drivers who resort to such unlawful actions, there are people who remain

unbothered and repeat such activities. I believe that more stringent

measures must be taken to set an example. The licenses of drivers who

use their phones either for making calls or texting while driving should be

revoked on multiple counts of such illegal actions.

Vocabulary

1. Stringent

Meaning: strict, precise, and exacting

Eg: The company imposed stringent policies on sexual harassment.

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2. Squabble

Meaning: a noisy quarrel about something trivial

Eg: Squabbles between siblings are common in this house.

3. Zeal

Meaning: great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective

Eg: The zeal of our football team was admirable.

4. Shrewdness

Meaning: the quality of having or showing good powers of judgement.

Eg: The only way we stand a chance against them is through tactical

shrewdness.

5. Revoked

Meaning: officially cancel

Eg: His membership was revoked due to disciplinary actions.

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Part 2 - Live Sports

Sample Answer

I have never been much of a sports person. After high school, my

inclination towards playing outdoor sports gradually declined.

Nevertheless, I have always followed sports events as my friends and

family are ardent about watching sports. The most followed sports among

my friends and family members are cricket and sometimes football. Like

any other Indian, my friends and I are passionate about cricket, and we

never miss any major cricket tournament or series. The opportunity of

watching live cricket matches rarely presents itself, as we have to depend

on the organizers of these events to schedule a game in our city. However,

we had the good fortune of witnessing a live cricket match from the Indian

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Premier League, a cricket league between ten Indian cities based on the

T-20 format. The match I am going to talk about here was held in 2016

during September, and it was between the teams of Kolkata and Chennai.

The entire experience was exhilarating from the beginning till the end. My

friends, and I had adjacent seats. Since our seats were almost at the

bottom of the stadium, we could see every player and the entire field.

During the match, one of the batsmen hit a sixer, and the ball flew into the

crowd behind us and created a huge ruckus which was also fun to watch.

The match lasted for the entire evening and continued well into the night.

Every moment of the match was nail-biting and both the teams

performed marvelously. In the end, the home team of Kolkata, which was

the team we supported, won, and the entire stadium erupted as the

winning boundary was scored. I will never forget this experience as I had

never felt more passionate about cricket than I did on that day.

Vocabulary

1. Inclination

Meaning: an interest in or liking for (something).

Eg: His inclination towards creating music was admirable.

2. Ardent

Meaning: very enthusiastic or passionate.

Eg: Their entire group were ardent football fans.

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3. Exhilarating

Meaning: making one feel very happy or elated; thrilling.

Eg: The rollercoaster ride was exhilarating.

4. Adjacent

Meaning: next to or adjoining something else.

Eg: The entire family got adjacent rooms in the hotel.

5. Ruckus

Meaning: a row or commotion.

Eg: The teacher was furious when the students created a ruckus in the

classroom.

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - Live Sports

1. Do you prefer to watch live sports or watch it on TV?

I have always preferred watching sports on television. Given a choice, any

individual would choose to watch sports on television over live events.

Watching sports in the comfort of one’s home can never be surpassed.

Although, watching a live cricket or football match with thousands of

people has its moments, overall, it is a weary experience. Also, live sports

events are only fun to watch when your favorite teams are playing, which

is a rare occurrence.

2. Why do some people like to watch live sports?

The very essence of sports is to enjoy the thrill with a group of people.

Sports enthusiasts will always enjoy every moment during a match. The

hustle and bustle of the crowds, the collective roars of fans when their

favorite player scores and the general ambience is what attracts people

to watch live sports. The idea of enjoying two major sports teams

competing against each other is something that attracts sports lovers all

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over the world. Watching a live sports event propagates a feeling of

exhilaration that cannot be experienced anywhere else.

3. What kind of sports do Indian people like to watch?

Indians are in-born sports lovers. With a population of more than one

billion people, nearly every sport has fans all over the country. The most

popular sports that Indians enjoy playing and following are team sports.

Sports like cricket, football, hockey, kabaddi are some of the sports that

have an enormous fan following in India. I believe that the passion Indians

have for cricket cannot be matched by any other nation or community.

4. Do you think competition is good for students?

In my opinion, competition among students is healthy and should be

encouraged. It is a known fact that not every student in a class can

perform exceptionally. A classroom consists of academically bright

individuals and others who might have their talents in other disciplines.

That being said, the urge to perform well and receive praise can be a

motivating factor for students to give their best. However, students should

also be taught to focus their efforts on improving themselves and not put

too much thought into outdoing other students.

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5. Do you think children should be involved in sports competitions?

Yes, I agree with the notion that children should be encouraged to take

part in sports contests. The habit of engaging in physical activities and

sports should be adopted at an early age. As it is easier to form healthy

habits at a young age, being athletic can have several benefits for

individuals throughout their lives. Additionally, competing in sports events,

especially team sports, helps children develop good interpersonal skills.

Such practices can help youngsters be team players and exhibit

sportsmanship traits throughout their lives.

Vocabulary

1. Weary

Meaning: tiring and tedious.

Eg: The two-hour drive was weary, to say the least.

2. Essence

Meaning: the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something

Eg: The essence of this painting was hopeful.

3. Inborn

Meaning: natural to a person

Eg: Every Bengali is an inborn food lover.

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4. Outdoing

Meaning: be superior in action or performance.

Eg: Those two are constantly outdoing each other.

5. Sportsmanship

Meaning: fair and generous behaviour or treatment of others

Eg: His great sportsmanship even in defeat was commendable

Student's Space:

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Part 2 - Favorite Movie

Sample Answer

Watching films and movies has always been a great passion of mine. Ever

since I discovered the artistry of cinema, I’ve always been fascinated by

the works of great directors. Filmmakers like Stanley Kubrick, Alfred

Hitchcock, Martin Scorsese, Satyajit Ray are some of my favourite

directors. The movie that I would like to talk about here is Pulp Fiction by

Quentin Tarantino, another great movie director whose work is deemed

one of the best in filmmaking history. The first time I saw Pulp Fiction was

in 2018 when I first started watching movies as a diurnal ritual. It was a

Saturday, and since I had no prior plans for the evening, I was browsing on

Google for good crime dramas at home when I came across this

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particular movie. Since Pulp Fiction is considered as one of the greatest

works of not only Quentin Tarantino but in the crime genre as a whole, it

was ranked among the top ten search results on Google. The mastery of

Tarantino is evident in this film, which doesn’t have a philosophical or

poetic message but is simply a montage of different stories and instances

of crime and drama among a set of characters, which are somehow

interlinked. Nevertheless, even without a deeper meaning, the film

engages the viewer with witty dialogue, an unconventional narrative and

aesthetic cinematography. The most brilliant aspect of this film, and what

makes it my favorite is the non-linear storytelling which makes the

audience think that the events in the movie are unrelated, until the final

scene where the narration ends where it began, connecting the whole

story.

Vocabulary

1. Artistry

Meaning: creative skill or ability.

Eg: The artistry of Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is unmatched.

2. Deemed

Meaning: regard or consider in a specified way.

Eg: The event was deemed a commercial success.

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3. Diurnal

Meaning: daily; of each day.

Eg: His diurnal requests were frustrating.

4. Genre

Meaning: a style or category of art, music, or literature.

Eg: I am not fond of the classical music genre.

5. Witty

Meaning: showing or characterized by quick and inventive verbal humor.

Eg: He was known for his witty humor.

Student's Space:

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Part 3 - Favorite Movie

1. Do you think (watching) films have (has) any educational

benefits?

The value that a person can derive from a film is dependent on the viewer.

There is always a deeper meaning or a message that a film tries to

convey to the audience. There are also numerous films that are based on

true events and historical occurrences. Moreover, films are not always

made for entertainment purposes. Some are made with an educational

agenda in mind. Thus, I believe that there are several educational benefits

to watching films.

2. In what ways are documentary films and films only for

entertainment different?

While documentaries are a sub-genre of movies, the range of movies

made for entertainment can span across hundreds of categories. The

major difference between a documentary and a regular movie is that

documentaries are always non-fictional, whereas a majority of

recreational movies are fictional.

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Furthermore, there is little to no use of skilful cinematography, engaging

dialogue and music in documentary films which is entirely different from

the format followed by other motion pictures. The artistic expression in

documentaries is very limited due to the factual nature of the subjects

covered in these films. Movies belonging to other genres, however, often

have a deeper meaning or a message.

3. Why do you think documentary films are not so popular?

Documentary films have a limited audience due to several reasons.

Documentaries intend to educate the viewers on a particular topic. The

audience of documentaries is mainly researchers and scholars. The

reason behind documentaries being an overlooked genre is the technique

in which they are made. Since a majority of movie enthusiasts want to be

entertained by a movie, the lack of any aesthetic appeal makes

documentaries a neglected category.

4. How are movies and real-life different?

Everything about a movie is different from reality. The motive behind

filmmaking is to give a form to an artist’s imagination. In the realm of

movies, anything is possible, which is not the case in real-life. Moreover,

the events in a film are in the control of the director, whereas the life of a

human being is not directed or controlled by someone else.

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Also, real life is filled with highs and lows, movies on the other hand,

sometimes only depict the positive aspects of a subject.

5. Do different age groups like the same kinds of films?

The taste in movies may vastly differ between people belonging to

different age groups. Our parents and grandparents are from an era

where motion pictures were not technologically advanced and

augmented. Cinema has evolved tremendously over the years and the

kinds of movies made today are poles apart from films from previous

generations. Thus, the choice of films also varies among different age

groups. However, there are exceptions to this notion, and there are a few

films that are liked by people of all age groups.

Vocabulary

1. Convey

Meaning: make (an idea, impression, or feeling) known or

understandable.

Eg: He tried to convey his problems to the counsellor.

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2. Cinematography

Meaning: the art of photography and camerawork in film-making.

Eg: The cinematography in the film Dune was amazing.

3. Aesthetic

Meaning: giving or designed to give pleasure through beauty.

Eg: This aesthetic floor design was expensive.

4. Motive

Meaning: a reason for doing something.

Eg: The motive behind this housebreak was simply robbery.

5. Augmented

Meaning: make (something) greater by adding to it

Eg: He aimed to augment his income by doing multiple jobs.

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Part 2 - Puzzle

Sample Answer

Puzzles are a part of almost everyone’s childhood. These brainteasers are

a riveting and refreshing way of diverting our minds. A similar experience

of solving a puzzle that I would like to talk about is the Rubik’s Cube. The

Rubik’s Cube is probably the most recognized puzzle around the world. It is

difficult to find an individual who hasn’t tried their hand at solving a

Rubik’s Cube. This particular puzzle comes in the form of a plastic cube

that is overlaid with multicolored squares on every side. The objective is to

twist and turn the cube and cumulate all the same-coloured squares on

each side or face. The most intriguing characteristic of this puzzle is that it

can be solved in a matter of seconds if the player can figure out all the

moves accurately.

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On the other hand, this exact feature has a tantalizing effect on players,

because, in a rush to solve the puzzle as quickly as possible, players often

twist and turn the cube in the wrong direction, making it even more

perplexing. 

I remember distinctly when my mother brought me a Rubik’s Cube as a

birthday present. Initially, I had no clue how to go about solving this puzzle

on my own. I would spend hours twisting and turning the cube, making the

colors even more jumbled than they were before. Eventually, I managed to

solve the puzzle after several days and was ecstatic at the fact and

showed my parents the solved Rubik’s Cube.

The Rubik’s Cube has always been a puzzling and entertaining experience

for me ever since I was a child. Even to this day, I still have not figured out

a definite pattern to solve this particular puzzle.

Vocabulary

1. Riveting

Meaning: completely engrossing; compelling.

E.g.: The new magic show had a riveting effect on everyone present

in the auditorium.

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2. Cumulate

Meaning: gather together and combine.

E.g.: The detective wanted to cumulate all the evidence before the

trial. 

3. Tantalizing

Meaning: tormenting or teasing with the sight or promise of

something unattainable.

E.g.: Fame has a tantalizing effect on the minds of many people. 

4. Perplexing

Meaning: completely baffling; very puzzling.

E.g.: The Bermuda Triangle is one of the most perplexing mysteries of

the world.

5. Ecstatic

Meaning: feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful

excitement. E.g.: The college volleyball team was ecstatic about their

tournament victory.

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Part 3 - Puzzle

1. What do people do online in their free time?

The current era is known for its technological advancements. Presently,

the most common form of leisure is surfing the Internet. People nowadays

tend to spend a majority of their free time on social media platforms.

Online video-sharing platforms like Youtube are also extremely popular as

a form of entertainment during spare time.

2. What impact does the internet have on schools?

Just like any other phenomenon, the Internet has both positive and

negative effects on schools and schoolchildren. Today, a stupendous

amount of study resources are available to both students and teachers

through online platforms. Such a development can remarkably improve

the quality of education dispensed at the school level. On the other hand,

the convenience of the Internet can have a detrimental effect on both

teachers and students. The easy availability of information can lead to a

certain degree of complacency in the process of learning.

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3. Do you think many people waste their time online?

Yes, I believe that spending too much time online has become a

distressing issue over the last few years. Today, people tend to spend

hours on the Internet browsing and scrolling through social media

platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Such practices deteriorate the

mental and physical health of the general masses. The average person

has significantly less time on their hands because of the amount of time

they waste online.

4. What can people do with the Internet in the future? And how?

The Internet can be a dynamic and powerful tool if used correctly. There

are dedicated online platforms available for nearly every aspect of human

life. One of the most striking characteristics of the Internet is the ability to

make a livelihood online. I believe that people will be able to earn a living

online. Such an endeavor can be undertaken when people showcase their

skills and talents through online platforms like Youtube and Twitch.

5. In what ways can people get information nowadays?

The most prevalent approach to acquiring information in the present-day

scenario is browsing the Internet. Since the Internet is accessible through

personal computers and smartphones, any kind of information is

available at a person’s fingertips.

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