IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions
Page 135
671. A Time You Borrowed Something (Sep, 2015) (Probably no longer used)
672. Someone in the News (Sep, 2015) (Probably no longer used)
674. A Long Walk (Sep, 2015) (Probably no longer used)
675. Noise (Sep, 2015) (Probably no longer used)
FQ = frequent question = a question that has frequently been reported = a question that is probably in the examiner's question book
* = my guess at a question
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671. A Time You Borrowed Something (Sep, 2015) (Probably no longer used)
Notes
If the last line is, "
Notice that the use of "it" is referring to a singular object. But, if you want, you could choose to describe borrowing money, (which is an uncountable noun), by saying "a sum of money", which can be referred to as "it".
Of course, a very common thing for people to borrow is a book from a library.
Lending and Borrowing
See also any similar questions from the Part 3 of Topic 587, Page 118
See Note 1
What are some examples of the things that people in
your country typically borrow from others?
Who do they more often borrow from, their family or their friends
What kind of friend will lend you things?
Do you think it's right to borrow things?
How long do people usually keep the things that
they have borrowed before they return them
How long do you think is a reasonable length of time
for a borrower to keep a borrowed item?
(Similar to above) Do you think there should be a time
limit on how long a borrower keeps the borrowed item?
What would you do if you borrowed something expensive that broke while you had it?
People's Feelings about Lending
Do you think people usually feel comfortable borrowing (or lending) things?
Can you suggest why some people are reluctant to lend things to other people?
Do you think there are any things that are not acceptable
for people to lend or borrow
Would you say it's suitable to borrow someone else's shoes or clothes?
Returning Borrowed Items
(Similar to above)
Lending and Borrowing Money
What do you think are the differences between borrowing a thing and borrowing money?
Do you think there are any differences between
borrowing money from family members and borrowing it from friends?
(Similar to above) What do people usually borrow from their family rather
than from their friends
Habitual Borrowers
If someone habitually borrowed from you, would you continue to lend to that person?
What would you do if a friend wanted to borrow something from you that you didn't want to lend?
Asking Permission Before Borrowing
What sorts of things do students at school often borrow from other students?
Before you borrow something (such as a pen), do you
think it's always necessary to ask permission?
What are some other suitable questions to ask when you
want to borrow something
Alternatives to Borrowing
Which do you think is better, to buy something or to borrow it?
What are the differences between buying something and borrowing something?
(Similar to above) In what situations do you think it is more suitable to borrow something rather than buy it (or, buy one)?
What are some examples of things that people (in your country) prefer to buy rather than borrow?
Can you
think of examples of things that some people pay to borrow?
What are the advantages of paying to borrow something rather than buying it?
Borrowing from Libraries
What are the benefits of borrowing books from a library?
Which do you think is better, to borrow books from a
library or to buy good-quality second-hand books
The Quality of Products
Do you agree that companies have a responsibility to advise customers on the quality of the products they sell?
Companies Borrowing Things
Do companies ever borrow anything?
How long do they usually borrow these things for?
672. Someone in the News (Sep, 2015) (Probably no longer used)
Notes
This seems to be a repeat of
The third point is, at the moment, unknown. However, no matter what this third point is, you should include in your answer what you would say to, or ask this person. After all, if you met this person, you wouldn't just sit there and smile, saying nothing!
"In the news" does not necessarily mean "in the news on TV". This person might have been only in the news in a newspaper.
Not everyone who is "famous" or well-known is frequently in the news. Many famous people are well-known mainly because they are in books, learned about at school etc.
Only use the words, "want to meet" if you have an active, strong and frequent desire to meet this person. The most suitable wording to use is, "would like to meet" (if I could, or if I had the chance).
See also the Part 3 of Topic 342.
(Similar to above) Besides politicians (or government
officials),
Do you think television viewers benefit by watching (and / or listening to) the people in the news?
Do you think TV news programs have changed in the past
one or two decades
Do you like the fact that media gives importance to the
news about famous personalities, politicians and so on
(Similar to above)
Do you feel that entertainment news is really "news"?
Why are people so interested in hearing news about
entertainment celebrities?
Do you think these "great" inside stories about the personal lives of people are always true?
Do you think people who are interested in news about entertainers are also interested in more serious news topics?
Some people say that entertainment news (e.g., news about entertainers) is designed to divert people's attention away from more important news. What do you think?
The News
How often do you watch the news on TV?
What do you think are the differences between the news
on TV and the news in newspapers?
Which do you prefer, to get your news from the internet or from newspapers?
What types of people are most likely to read newspapers?
What are the typical topics that are in the news in your country?
Do you ever discuss the news with your friends or family?
Which topics in the news are most interesting to you?
How do you the news today is different to the news in the past
In your country, what are the differences between
domestic news and foreign news?
Do you think there is freedom of the press in your country and in other countries?
Do you think the news is always true (or, believable)? FQ
If the news is not accurate (or true), can you suggest why we are given such news?
Do you think the news on social media websites is always reliable?
How do you think people feel when (if) they realize (or believe) that some news is not true?
Do you agree that media focuses more on bad news rather
than bringing good news to people
In your opinion, why is there more "bad news" (such as news
about disasters and wars) than "good news" on the TV news, or in newspapers?
Do people really "like" to hear bad news?
What effects do you think so much bad news might have on people? (the people who receive this news)
Do you think more good news should be broadcast?
Why do you think some people just think the news is a form of entertainment?
The News Media
What do you think are the main differences between the
ways people got their news several decades ago, and the ways they get it today?
What do you think is the most important aspect (or quality) of news reports that journalists and the news media should pay attention to? *
Do you think the media should focus primarily on the authenticity of the news?
How do you think the news media will change (or develop) in the future?
Which do you think is better, to read the news or to
watch it on TV?
Do you think newspapers will disappear in the future (to be replaced by electronic news media)?
Notes
Possibly the topic really is, "Describe a time when you decided to wait for something". This would mean that you had a choice whether to wait or not.
See also the Part 3 of Topic 592
See Note 7
Waiting
In what situations do people in your country (have to) wait for something, or someone? FQx2
(Similar to above) In everyday life, what do people in your country
(usually or often) wait for?
Do you think there are times (or situations) when it is best to wait?
When someone has to make an important or difficult
decision, what do you think are the advantages of waiting before making the
decision
Patience
How important do you think it is for people to have
patience?
For what people (in what jobs or roles or doing what
activities) is being patient important?
What sorts of people do not think being patient is important?
Would you say patience is a skill?
Do you think people are born with different levels of
patience, or is it something that is learned?
Do you think that people tend to enjoy things more if
they had waited a while before getting those things?
Children and Patience
Do you think there is a difference between the patience
of children and that of adults?
What are some differences between what children wait for and what adults wait for?
Do you think all children are (naturally) impatient or are there some children who are patient?
How should one treat a child who, for example, does not wait his or her turn when it's an adult whose turn it is to do something?
How can parents and teachers help young children to learn to have patience?
In what ways does it benefit a child to teach them the virtue of patience?
In what ways will learning to be having patient help these children to become successful in life?
Punctuality / The Pace of Modern Life
Have you ever been late for meeting someone?
Do you think the pace of modern life is faster than it was in the past?
Do you think the pace of life will become even faster in the future?
Do you think modern technology tends to make people less patient?
Notes
Accurate details about the points on the card are not yet available. The points above are my guesses.
This seems to be asking about one specific time when you had a walk, not a walk that you habitually take.
A "long walk" or hike is most commonly done in the countryside, the mountains, the forest etc but one could also talk about a long walk within a city.
"Long" can be measured in either distance or time and you should specify in your answer why you say that it was a "long walk". Even a walk of one hour is longer than most people usually walk so a one-hour walk would be suitable enough to talk about.
It does not have to be a walk that you were happy about undertaking (unless the wording says, "a long walk you enjoyed). For example, maybe you once had to walk for three hours to the nearest town because your car broke down in the countryside.
See also any relevant questions in the Part 3 of Topics 336, 253 and 20.
Walking
Would you say your hometown is a suitable place for walking? See Note 5
Can you suggest why some people dislike walking?
Did you like walking when you were a child?
What do you think are the benefits of walking? FQ
In the future, do you think you’ll continue to enjoy walking or will you choose some other form of transportation, or exercise?
What kinds of people are most suited to walking as a form of exercise?
Outdoor Leisure Activities
How do people in your country spend their leisure time?
Do people in your country prefer indoor leisure activities, or do they prefer outdoor leisure activities?
What
are the most popular outdoor leisure activities in your country?
(Possibly) Can you suggest why different people engage in different outdoor activities?
Do you think people with different incomes (choose to) do different outdoor activities?
What are the differences between the outdoor activities that old people engage in, and those of young people?
Do men and women (or, males and females) generally choose the same outdoor leisure activities?
Which outdoor activities do you think are most suitable for children?
How do
children benefit from those outdoor activities?
In what
ways do you think outdoor activities today are different to outdoor
activities several decades ago?
Would
you say that people in your country today spend more time on outdoor
activities than they did a few decades ago, or do they spend less time?
Do you
think people today have enough time for outdoor activities?
Do you think modern technology is changing how much time people spend outdoors and what they do outdoors (= changing people's lifestyles)? See Note 12
How do you think people who dislike sport or exercise could be made to change their minds?
Notes
So far, the wording has been reported as
something like that. But this wording might be inaccurate and the real
wording might actually be closer to that of
The wording might be, "a loud noise" instead of, "a lot of noise"/
If the wording is in the past tense (as it seems to be), then you should talk about a specific event that happened once, not something general that is happening all the time, such as the traffic on the road outside your window. However, if you no longer live in that place, the traffic outside your window would be suitable. That example means, "the traffic made a lot of noise when I lived there (past tense)" Therefore, talking about a situation or place that is always noisy is probably suitable if you describe how it was a continuous situation in the past when you were there.
See Note 16
See also the Part 3 for Topic 282
Noise
What are the main sources of noise where you live?
What effects does noise have on people?
(Similar to above) What problems can noise cause?
Why do you think noise makes some people nervous?
Is noise pollution a problem where you live (or, in
your country)?
What do you think could be (should be) done to reduce
this noise?
(Similar to above) How do suggest noise in cities could
be reduced?
Would you like to live in a noisy place?
Do you ever like to go to places that have a lot of noise?
Do people in your country prefer to eat in a noisy restaurant or in a quiet restaurants
What would you do if your neighbours were noisy all the time?
Are there any sounds (noises) that are not a problem?
Do you think it's good to have background music playing
in places such as department stores
Earphone / Headphone Usage
What do you think of people who listen to music while
they are walking or cycling?
What do you think are the advantages, and the disadvantages of listening to music while you are walking?
What do you think of people who turn the volume up very
loud on their headphones when they listen to music?
(Similar to above) Can you explain why young people
(or, teenagers)
like to listen to loud music?
What kind of people do that?
Why do they make the volume so loud?
Do you think these people are damaging their hearing by doing that?
Do you think schools should teach the dangers of excessively loud noise?
Loud Sound / Harmful Noise
Why do some people like to go to places that have a lot of noise (or, loud noise)?
Can you think of any jobs that (sometimes) have
excessive noise at the workplace
(Similar to above)
What effects do you think loud noise at work has on the
workers?
Do you think the efficiency of workers is affected when they work in a place that has a lot of noise, or loud noise?
Do you think it's good for people to listen to music
while they are driving?
(Similar to above)
Why do some people (sometimes, or usually) speak very loudly?
Don't forget, we "borrow from someone" and "lend to someone". Unlike some languages, English has two different words here.
Of course, one of the most common things that people borrow is money, usually from banks and similar organizations.
The word "too" here means "excessive". In other words, the question is asking, "Do you feel it is reasonable to have so many news reports about celebrities (such as film stars)?"
The suitability, or otherwise, of an urban environment for walking is mainly referring to the ease of walking, the safety of the place for walking, and the degree of pleasure one can get from walking there.
The following factors would make some streets not very suitable for walking:
Heavy air pollution; heavy traffic with few traffic lights and few pedestrian crossings; excessive noise, such as in towns where drivers honk their car horns a lot; few or no footpaths; footpaths that are blocked by parked motorcycles or other objects; broken footpaths (that could cause you to trip and fall); icy or slippery footpaths in winter or after rain; footpaths crowded with people; dangerous people who might assault or rob you; dangerous dogs running free; ugly or boring sights; bad smells from polluted waterways etc.; a lack of shade in summer; a lack of suitable places to stop and rest; and, a lack of public toilets.
Despite the common perception (or misconception) that some of us have, people in the past, especially three or more generations ago, usually worked many more hours per week than the average person does today. This is especially true when you consider that, unlike today, the majority of people several generations ago were farmers. Many farmers used to, and still do, work from sun-up to sun-down. Furthermore, laws limiting the working hours of employees were non-existent a few generations ago. People also had bigger families in the past, and having a big family means more work to do at home, although that is balanced by having more willing hand to share the work . As well as that, people had fewer labour-saving (i.e., time-saving) devices in the home. Therefore, I would say that modern people do, on average, have more leisure time than people in the past.
By looking at how people use their leisure time, we can more clearly see how busy most people are today. It is probably true that more than 50% (= "most") of the population watches 10 to 20 hours of television per week. In no way can watching television be described as "being busy". It is difficult to imagine people three or more generations ago spending so much time per week on such a passive activity as that. This is a new phenomenon in human society.
People today seem to be busier today because they have many more choices of non-work activities, as well as greater aspirations for upward social mobility (e.g., studying part-time while they are working in order to advance their careers) than people had in the past.
An example of this upward social mobility is you university students, who might feel that you are so busy studying but this is a lifestyle choice that your ancestors usually did not even have, you are not compelled to attend university, and it only lasts for three or four years. So, while the majority of people have more leisure time than people had in the past, some people (e.g., students) do choose to engage in activities that make them very busy, sometimes busier than average people in the past. They make this choice because they can; they have this choice, or this opportunity for social advancement. Although whether one is busy by choice or by necessity does not change the fact that one is "busy", the main point here is that being a busy university student is not only something that a minority of the people do, it is something that is done for only a short period in one's life.
Another point is working mothers, which was not a common phenomenon just a few generations ago. These women are actually doing two jobs, their paid job as well as taking care of the home and family. Whether by choice or from financial necessity, working mothers today are probably just as busy as non-working mothers were in the past, unless their husbands share in the housework, which many modern husbands do. So, one sector of society, working mothers, might be busier today than non-working mothers were in the past.
Know the terms, "to queue up" and "form of queue" = form a line when waiting.
A better way to express, "given to people" is the one word, "propagated". But examiners are unlikely to use such an advanced word in a question.
Someone has reported that the words, "broadcast to people" but "broadcast" is usually only applied to radio and TV, and possibly to the internet today. It is not usually used when applied to newspapers, although, strictly speaking, that could be one usage of the word, "broadcast".
Wear earplugs or ear muffs, both of which are designed to block loud noise from entering the ears.
Some types of ear muffs are designed to protect the ears in a very cold environment, while other types are designed to protect the hearing from loud noise. The latter is the one being referred to here but, of course, ear muffs that block cold also block a lot of sound, or noise.
Ear phones, which are inserted into the ears, and headphones, which look similar to ear muffs, are both mainly designed to supply sound to the ears, such as music. Headphones also block some outside sounds, similar to the way ear muffs work but their main purpose is not to protect the hearing.
"Protect the hearing" means to protect the ear's ability to hear
More than one person has reported this question. The words, "foreign news" can have two meanings and you should be clear which meaning you are talking about.
The first meaning is "news on the TV or in newspapers in your country about foreign events".
The second meaning is "foreign-derived news", i.e., "news that people in your country can receive from foreign countries". People can receive this second type of "foreign news" most easily on the internet but also on international TV stations, international radio stations and in foreign magazines and newspapers. This foreign-derived news might be about any topic, not just news about specific countries.
Of course, the words "modern technology" here mainly refer to, "the internet" and, to a lesser extent, "smart phones".
Although this question can refer to different types of people in the news saying something, I think it mainly refers to a) "experts" and, b) "celebrities" or "well-known" people.
The experts are people such as professors and other "voices of authority" (e.g., govt. officials) who often appear in TV news programs giving commentary on or explanations of news events. One example is financial or economics "experts" Another example is "terrorism experts" and other political "experts" who basically tell the viewer what to think, which may or may not be based on truth. They do not always speak objectively.
What a celebrity or a well-known person says in a news program not only attracts people's attention but can, in the case of a well-known person, also feel like "an old friend" saying something.
Make sure you know the verbs, "to rent" and "to hire".
It is possible that the following more general question is also being used:
That is, the question might be about TV programs in general, not just TV news programs.
Some people from several different non-English speaking backgrounds make the mistake of saying the adjective, "noisy" when they should say the noun, "noise". Same with the words, "healthy" and "health". They might know the correct word to use and might be trying to say "noise" or "health" but they still add a little sound to make it sound like they are adding "y" to the word. If you are one of these people, practice mimicking the pronunciation of these words at www.howjsay.com.