IELTS Speaking Part 2: Handmade Cake Describes First Homemade Gift

TÌM THÊM TÀI LIỆU
IELTS SPEAKING PART 2
Topic 1: Make a cake
Useful phrases for this topic
Handcraft To take matters into my own hands

Off the top of my head Step by step
Used to + V As smart as a whip
Turn out All by oneself
Look up a tutorial video Actual practice
Follow the steps Plain talk
The whole process was a breeze Recipe for baking
Over the moon Remember like it was yesterday
It was totally worth it In order to
Fulfill Despite not getting a hand from anyone
No gift was more genuine than Without paying a penny
Have a knack for
Describe a handmade gift you gave to a friend or relative.

You should say:
What it was
Why you did it
Whether it was difficult to do it
And explain your friend or your relative’s feeling.
Fill in the blanks using words below
Birthday, do handcraft, alerted, baked, cake, off the top of my head, looked up a tutorial
video, It wasn’t exactly rocket science, it was totally worth it, comes to mind, used to buy,
mixing, no gift is more genuine than, fulfilled, turned out, followed , poured, oven, perfectly,
tray, was a breeze, over the moon
1.
I don’t usually ………………………………. (1), but when my mom had her ……………………… (2)
last May, I ………………………………………… (3) a birthday ………………………. (4) myself.
So ………………………………………….. (5) , this is the first thing that
……………………………………….. (5)
Actually I …………………………………………… (6) birthday gifts, but this time I wanted to give
my mom a surprise. And I think …………………………………………………………………. (7) a
gift you made yourself. So I decided to bake a delicious cake for my mom. It
…………………………………………………….. (8) pretty good even though it was the first time I
had baked a cake.
Before I made the cake, I ……………………………………………………………… (9) on a cooking

website called Youku. On my mom’s birthday, I just ……………………………. (10) the steps the
video showed. I prepared lots of ingredients like cake flour and butter. And after the
……………………….. (11), I just …………………………… (12) the dough into a
……………………….. (13) and put it into the …………………………. (14). I remember after around
30 minutes, the oven ……………………….. (15) me that the cake had been baked
……………………………. (16).
You know, the whole process ……………………………….

(17)…………………………………………………………………………………………………….
(18). Most importantly, my mom was ………………………………….. (19) that I made the cake for
her. She had never eaten a homemade cake before that day. Even though it took me some time to make
a cake by myself, ………………………………………………… (20) because I was very
………………………………….. (21) making my mom happy on her special day.
Describe a time you taught something new to a younger person

You should say:
Who this person was;
What you taught him or her;
How you taught him or her;
And explain how you felt about the teaching.
Came to me, the thing is, actual practice, as smart as a whip, no gift is more genuine than,
take matters into my own hands, turned out, fulfilled, plain talk
2.
I’m going to talk about the time I taught my cousin how to bake a birthday
cake………………………………. (1), her mother, I mean my aunt, was about to celebrate her birthday.
And my adorable cousin thought ………………………………………………………………….. (2) a
gift she made herself. So she decided to bake a delicious cake for her mom. Since she knew I often bake
cakes at home, she …………………………………………….. (3) so she could learn how to make a
cake.
Anyway, I don’t have a knack for teaching, so I decided to take matters

…………………………………………………………… (4) by making a cake myself. I went to her
home with lots of ingredients like cake flour and butter. I showed her the procedures step by step while
explaining what I was doing. My cousin is…………………………………………………………….
(5). She took a video of the whole process so she could imitate what I did.
Afterwards, on her mom’s birthday, my cousin successfully baked a cake all by herself. And she even
sent me a picture of it on WeChat. It ………………………………………………….. (6) pretty well
even though it was the first time she had baked a cake.
As for how I felt about it, well, I was ………………………………………… (7) that I could teach
something I know to others. By the way, I feel sometimes it’s easier to teach others a life skill by
……………………………………………… (8) rather than ………………………………………

……………… (9)
Describe a time that you looked for information from the internet.
You should say:
When you looked for;
What you were looking for;
How long it took;
And explain how you felt about the information (whether it is useful).
Picked, a recipe for baking, without paying a penny, remember it like it was yesterday,
detailed, despite not getting a hand from anyone, have a knack for
3.
I’m going to talk about the time I needed to find……………………………………………….. (1). I

don’t …………………………………………………. (2) baking, and it was the first time I had ever
tried to find out how to bake something, so I still ……………………………………
……………………………………………………… (3) It was several months ago, just before my
mom’s birthday. In order to give her a special birthday celebration, I decided to bake a cake. A friend
told me baking a cake is actually easier than cooking a meal. She said she taught herself through a
tutorial video on a cooking website called Youku. So before I made the cake, I looked up a video on the
website that my friend recommended.
I found many related videos about baking cakes; some were long, and some were super short. In the
end, I ……………………………………………… (4) one that was very
……………………………………………….. (5). Following the recipe from the video, I prepared lots
of ingredients like baking pans, cake flour, and butter. And I kept the video playing on my tablet while
I was making the cake …………………………………………… …………………………. (6), I

managed to bake a nice looking cake all by myself.
My mom was over the moon that I made the cake for her. So, I have to say, thanks to the internet, I
made my mom happy on her special day. And I also learned baking, which is a pretty useful skill,
……………………………………………………… (7)
Topic 2: Swimming
Leave a mark on I was a little afraid of water

Non-swimmer Get the relevant credit
A huge fan of Sign up for
Mandatory subject As soon as possible
It’s a pity Frog style
Properly Slow learning curve
A little tricky for me to learn Within walking distance
A piece of cake Butterfly stroke and breaststroke
Within walking distance of Work their weight in gold
Try it out Pretty old and run-down
Life-saving skill Launch a rebuilding project
Wind down Scroll though social media
Swimming enthusiast Bounce the walls
Sedentary lifestyle Chill out
Tied-up with work and study If memory served correctly
Get the relevant credits Open to public
Keep fit Strengthen my back muscles
Build a daily wellness routine Keep putting it off
Describe a sport you watched (on TV) and would like to try.
You should say:
What sport it is;
How you got to know it;
Whether it is difficult to do;
And explain why you would like to try it.

it’s a pity that, when it comes to, left a mark on, trying it out, off the top of my head, non-
swimmer, swimming game, huge fan of, my hometown, properly, a natural, tricky, a piece of
cake, within walking distance, life-saving skill, awesome, wind down, mandatory subject
1.
……………………………………………. (1) a sport I’d like to try,

…………………………………………………………………………. (2), the only one I can think of
is swimming29. Last semester, my friends and I watched a
…………………………………………………………………………… (3) at my university. It was the
first time I’d watched one of those live. I never knew swimming was so exciting. The game
…………………………………………………………….. (4) me and turned me from a
…………………………………………………………. (5) to a …………………………………… (6)
swimming.
Actually, in ………………………………………………. (6) , swimming is not a

……………………………………………………. (7) at school, which means not every student has the
chance to learn how to swim. And ……………………………………………………. (8) even though
I’ve been to a waterpark before, I’ve never learned how to swim
………………………………………….(9)
My friend Lisa is ……………………………………………………. (10) when it comes to swimming.

One time I asked her whether it’s hard to learn swimming, she told me it’s a little
……………………………………………………….. (11) to learn how to float in the water at the
beginning, but after I grasp that skill, the rest will
be…………………………………………………………….. (12). Plus, Lisa mentioned that a
swimming center that’s ……………………………………………………. (13) of my home offers a
very good training course.
Honestly, I really look forward to ………………………………………………… (14). After all,

swimming is not only an interesting sport but also a…………………………………………. (15).
What’s more, I believe swimming will be also an ………………………………………. (16) way for
me to …………………………………………… (17)
Describe a skill that took you a long time to learn.

You should say:
What skill it was;
How long it took you to learn it;
How you learnt it;
And explain how useful the skill was.
butterfly stroke and breaststroke, I was a little afraid of water, get the relevant credits, signed
up for…, as soon as possible, life-saving skill, in frog style, slow learning curve, worth their
weight in gold
2.
Well, off the top of my head, the first one I can think of is swimming. Actually, in my hometown,
swimming isn’t a mandatory subject at school, which means not every student has the chance to learn
how to swim. Plus…………………………………………………………………………………. (1), so
I’d never learned how to swim properly.
However, when I went to my university, I found that the school requires every student to pass the
swimming exam, or we won’t ………………………………………………………………………. (2)
So I ……………………………………………………… (3) a swimming class for beginners at my
university and hoped to learn swimming ………………………………………………. (4). I remember
it took me a whole semester to learn how to
swim………………………………………………………………. (5), the most basic style.
The main reason for my ………………………………………………………… (6) was that it was a

little tricky for me to learn how to float in the water at the beginning. Fortunately, my friend Lisa is a
natural when it comes to swimming. She encouraged me a lot, and after class, we often went to a
swimming center that’s within walking distance of our university. I practiced my swimming skills there
quite often.
Later, when the first school year was over, I learned both
the………………………………………………………………………………………..(7). Although I
had to work harder than others, all the dedication and hard work were
………………………………………………………………. (8). After all, swimming is not only an
interesting sport but also a ……………………………………………… ………………………… (9).
Describe a piece of good news you recently heard from TV or the internet.
You should say:
What it was about;
When you got this news;
Where you got the news;
And explain why you think it was a piece of good news.
chill out, launch a rebuilding project, had posted an update, scrolling through social media,
bouncing off the walls, tied-up with work, swimming enthusiasts, pretty old and run-down,
wind down, live a sedentary lifestyle
3.
A month ago I got some good news: a new swimming center is going to be built in our neighborhood!
According to the local news, the place where they’re going to build the swimming center is still an old
small stadium. But not many people have gone there in recent years because the facilities
are…………………………………………………….. (1). To use the land better, the city has decided
to …………………………………………………………… (2) to turn it into a swimming center.
As for where I got the news, well, almost a month ago I was
………………………………………………………………………… (3) and I found a public account
……………………………………………………………………………(4) about the local news that
mentioned the swimming center. I was basically

……………………………………………………………. (5) when I read the news.
I think it’s great news for most locals. Firstly, it’ll make life a lot easier for
………………………………………………………………………….. (6) like me. I’ll definitely go
practice my swimming skills there pretty often. Plus, I believe relationships between neighbors can be
improved because normally, this kind of public sports center would hold tons of community events, like
swimming games and pool parties.
Besides, in my view, it’ll also be an awesome place for residents in the neighborhood to
………………………………………………..(7). We usually ……………………………………
………………………. (8); you know, we’re always ………………………………………
…………………………………… (9). So a swimming pool nearby will be a great place for people to
…………………………………..…………………………………………………….. (10)
Describe a new public facility that improves the local quality of life (such as a park or a
cinema)
You should say:
What it is;
Where it is;
What people can do;
And explain how it influenced the city.
comes to mind, swimming center, If memory serves correctly, swimming enthusiasts, within
walking distance, recreational, when it comes to, opened to the public, pretty old and run-
down, launched a rebuilding, community events, wind down, live a sedentary lifestyle, chill
out
4.
I’m going to talk about a ………………………………. (1) in my city. It’s

…………………………………………………………….. (2) of my home. It’s probably the most
popular place for entertainment in my hometown. So ……………………………………………… (3)
a new public facility in my city, the swimming pool is the first thing that
…………………………………………………….. (4)
………………………………………………………………….. (5), this new swimming center

…………………………………………………………………… (6) last May. Before it was
constructed, there was a small stadium on the same land. But not many people went there in recent years
because the facilities were………………………………………………………… (7). To use the land
better, the city ……………………………………………………………………………… (8) project to
turn it into a swimming center.
Since the opening of the pool, tons of people of all different ages have gone there to swim. It makes life
a lot easier for …………………………………………………………………… (9) like me. I practice
my swimming skills there pretty often. Plus, I think relationships between neighbors can be improved
because the center often holds tons of…………………………………………………………………
(10), like swimming games and pool parties.
Besides, in my view, it’s also an awesome place for residents in the neighborhood
to……………………………………………………………. (11). We
usually……………………………………………………………………… (12); you know, we’re
always tied-up with work and study. So a swimming pool nearby is a great place for people to
…………………………………………………………….. (13) I hope there can be more public.
facilities like this in the future. They will bring a more ………………………………
…………………….. (14) life to people in the community.
Describe an activity you do to stay healthy.

You should say:
What you do;
When and where you usually do it;
How you do it (whether you enjoy it);
And explain why this activity helps you stay healthy.
keeping fit, off the top of my head, on a regular basis, swimming, building a daily wellness
routine, promotes good health, establish, four, get the relevant credits, signed up for, within
walking distance of, do wonders for
5.
Well ,……………………………………………………………… (1), the first one I can think of is

……………………………………………………………. (2) Actually, I believe swimming is a good
way for people of all ages to ……………………………………………. (3) a healthy lifestyle.
I’ve been crazy about swimming for almost …………………………………….. (4) years. When I went
to my university, every student was required to pass the swimming exam, or we
wouldn’t…………………………………………………………………….. (5). So I
……………………………………………………………. (6) a swimming class for beginners at my
university. en I gradually learned that swimming is not only beneficial
for……………………………………. (7), but also for
……………………………………………………………………………… (8) As for how to keep fit
through swimming, well…it’s really important to stick to
practicing……………………………………………………… (9), otherwise you’ll pretty much waste
all your efforts. So I go swimming about twice a week. After the swimming classes, I often went to a
swimming center that’s ………………………………………………………… ……………………
(10) our university. I practiced my swimming skills there pretty often.
In terms of why it can help me stay healthy, well, first of all, swimming can
………………………………………………………………………….. (11) building body shape. It
involves the activity of each and every muscle of my body, which strengthens the body
and……………………………………………………………………… (12). Besides, now I usually
live a sedentary lifestyle; I mean, I’m always tied-up with work and study. So swimming is a great way
for me to chill out.
Describe an outdoor sport that you played for the first time
You should say:
What it is;
When and where you played;
Who you played it with;
And how you felt about the sport
turned me off from, when it comes, , I’m still crazy about, a regular basis, off the top of my
head, Soon after, If memory serves correctly, sign up for, within walking distance, , it was
really a bummer that, super windy, variables
6.
Well actually, I think nowadays most sports can be done both indoors and outdoors. For me,
………………………………….. (1) to an outdoor sport I’ve tried,
………………………………………………. (2) the only one I can think of is swimming. And I only
swam once outside.
……………………………………………… (3), when I was about 15 years old, my mom helped me

………………………………………………..(4) a swimming class for beginners. I spent weeks
learning how to swim in frog style, the most basic style…………………………………… (5), a new
swimming center was built in our neighborhood. It’s a large outdoor swimming pool. And it’s
…………………………………………………….. (6) of my home. So I was thinking about practicing

my swimming skills there on ………………………………………….. (7) I felt amazing when I got
into the swimming pool the first time. It’s so different from indoor swimming pools. I could breathe
fresh air while swimming. However……………………………………………………………………
(8) the weather changed suddenly and became……………………………………………….. (9). The
pool became very cold and caused me to catch a heavy cold that night.
So that was the first time I swam outside but also the last time. It really
……………………………………………………. (10) swimming in outdoor pools. Even though
…………………………………………………… (11) swimming, I’ve never swam outside since then.
And compared with outdoor sports, I always feel indoor sports are more comfortable and less risky.
After all, there are too many …………………………………………………….. (12) outside.
Describe something you want to do but don’t have time for

You should say:
What it is;
Why you would like to do it;
How easy or difficult it is to do it;
And explain why you don’t have time for it
strengthen my back muscles, When it comes to, a big fan, back pain, tied-up with work and
study, That’s really a shame, live a sedentary lifestyle, on end, keep putting it off, on a daily
basis, manage my time, a productive way, procrastinate
7.
………………………………………….. (1) something that I don’t have enough time to do, I have to
say that I’ve always wanted to go swimming. But I haven’t gotten a chance to be in a swimming pool
for almost a year.
As for why I want to do it, well, it’s mainly because of my ……………………… ………………….
(2). You know, I’m always ………………………………………………… …………………… (3). So
I usually ……………………………………………… ………………….. (4). Sometimes people like
me have to sit in front of a desk for hours ……………………………………………………… (5). As
a result, I often deal with back pain. A doctor suggested that I go swimming because it can
………………………………… …………………………………… (6) and relieve my back pain. So I
have been planning to do it, but I just ………………………………………………………… (7) over
and over again.
Honestly, I’m ……………………………………………… (8) of swimming, so I would be happy if I

had the time to swim…………………………………………………… (9). But now, I feel like I barely
have free time to do things I like. You know, there’s a swimming center that’s
……………………………………………………………... (10) my university. But I’ve never visited
there once... Actually I think it’s all because of my laziness. I mean, since I can’t
…………………………………. (11) in…………………………………………….. (12), I always
have to ………………………………………………… (13) what I should do, even though I seem to be
busy all the time. …………………………………………………….. (14)
Topic: Pressure cooker
Digital Order take-out food

Be controlled remotely It’s a shame
Wait for the sale to buy one It’s a bummer
It’s magical to V Mushy
Feel like we share one mind A defective product
Cost an arm and a leg Under warranty
Without a second thought History won’t repeat itself
Have a stroke of bad luck Rain on my parade
Take advantage of me Trustworthy
Let it pass Leave a lot of desired
Half-price discount Put a unit on hold
Run on errand
Describe a time when you received something that you needed.

You should say:
What it was;
Who gave it to you
Why you want it;
And explain your feeling.
It feels like we share one mind, graduated from college last year, It turned out that, pressure
cooker, waiting for a sale to buy one, When it comes to, would send it to me, noticed, it’s
magical to, practical
1.
…………………………………………………… (1) something I received from others, um…the first

thing that comes to mind is my rice cooker, which was given to me by my parents when I
…………………………………………………………….. (2) At the time, I had just moved to a new
apartment from my campus dorm and needed a cooker to make meals. One of my friends recommended
a kind of ………………………………………….. (3) that she bought online. It’s a digital pressure
cooker that can be controlled remotely by smartphones. It’s literally so
……………………………………. (4) for someone like me who doesn't know how to cook. So I was
………………………………………………………………. (5)
……………………………………………………………….. (6) a few days later, my parents told me

on WeChat that they had bought me a rice cooker and ……………………………
……………………… (7) from my hometown. I saw the picture of the cooker they bought, and
……………………………………………… (8) it was very similar to the one I wanted to buy. I was
surprised but my parents thought it was normal. They said I had just started to live independently, so I
definitely needed a cooker.
Anyway, I just want to say that …………………………………………………….. (9) receive

something that you want…………………………………………………………… (10), you know. And
I believe the giver would feel over the moon as well; after all, everyone wants to give others things that
are valuable to them.
Describe something you bought but don’t often use.

You should say:
What it is;
When and where you bought it;
What it is used for and why you bought it;
And explain why you don’t often use it

cost me an arm and a leg, comes to mind, rice cooker, without a second thought, last year,
pressure cooker, barely, digital, be controlled remotely, practical, It turned out that, congee,
ordered take-out food, it’s a shame that
2.
Well, the first thing that …………………………………….. (1) is my ………………

………………….……………… (2), which I bought when I graduated from college
……………………………….. (3) At the time, I had just gotten a new job and moved out from my
campus dorm to a new apartment. So I thought I definitely needed a cooker to make meals. And one of
my friends recommended a kind of ……………………………………………………. (4) that she
bought online. It’s a ………………………………….. (5) pressure cooker that can
……………………………………………………….. (6) by smartphones. It’s literally so
…………………………………………… (7) for someone like me who doesn't know how to cook. So,
even though it…………………………………………………………………. (8), I bought one from
Taobao ……………………………………………………………… (9)
……………………………………………………………… (10) I only used it a couple of times. When

I received it, I was excited and used it to cook rice right away. Afterwards, I cooked
……………………………………. (11) with it on a few weekends. But since I was often tied up with
work and wasn’t in the mood for cooking, I usually just
……………………………………………………… (12) on weekdays. So the cooker has been sitting
in the kitchen collecting dust by now.
I think ……………………………………………….. (13) I bought this cooker. If I knew I would

…………………………………….. (14) cook at home, I wouldn’t have bought it at all. But I do wish
I had more free time to make a meal with it. After all, eating at home saves money and is healthier than
dining out.
Describe a time when you had a problem with a piece of equipment (For example, a TV
or a washing machine)
You should say:
What equipment it was
What problem you had
When you had this problem
And explain what you did about this problem. (How you fixed or resolved the problem)
digital pressure cooker, broken equipment, it’s a bummer, rain on my parade, comes to mind,
a defective product, If memory serves correctly, basically, be controlled remotely, without a
second thought, overcooked, mushy, under warranty, repeat itself
3.
When it comes to a piece of………………………………………………… (1), um…the first thing that

……………………………………………………………….. (2) is my rice
cooker…………………………………………………………………………… (3), I bought it online
last July. I ………………………………………………………… (4) use it every day, so it really
bothered me when it stopped working properly.
Actually it’s what my friend recommended that I buy. It’s a

………………………………………………………………………………. (5) that can
……………………………………………………………………………….. (6) by smartphones. You
know, at the time, I had just moved to a new apartment from my campus dorm and needed a cooker to
make meals at home, so I bought one from Taobao …………………………………
…………………………….. (7)
It worked perfectly at the beginning, but …………………………………………………………………

(8) because several months ago, I found that it often
……………………………………………………….. (9) the food. I mean, I set it up correctly by
following the instructions, but it either cooked the rice too dry or too
…………………………………………………………………… (10) I bet it must be

……………………………………………………………………….. (11) as it didn’t last for six months
before it broke. Since I didn’t know anything about repairing appliances, I had to contact the customer
service of this online shop for repair. Fortunately, it was still
………………………………………………………………. (12) so the customer service staff
apologized to me for this issue. And more importantly, they shipped me a new unit instead. So far, the
second cooker still works fine. I hope that history
won’t………………………………………………………………. (13); it’d definitely
………………………………………………………………… (14)
Describe a complaint that you made and you were satisfied with the result.
You should say:
When it happened;
Who you complained to;
What you complained about;
And explain why you were satisfied with the result.
If memory serves correctly, I’ll ever, leaves a lot to be desired, rice cooker, recommended,
digital pressure cooker, without a second thought, it’s a bummer, Speaking of, overcooked,
mushy, a defective product, gave me the time of day, pissed off, issued a complaint, as
compensation,
4.
………………………………………………….. (1) a complaint, I just made one not long

ago………………………………………………………………………. (2), it happened in July. I
bought a ……………………………………………………. (3) online. Actually it’s what my friend
……………………………………………………………. (4) that I buy. It’s a
………………………………………………………………………… (5) that can be controlled
remotely by smartphones. It really blew me away, so I bought one from Taobao

…………………………………………………………….. (6) It worked perfectly at the beginning, but
…………………………………………………………… (7) because several days ago, I found that it
often ……………………………………………………………… (8) the food. I mean, I set it up
correctly by following the instructions, but it either cooked the rice too dry or too
……………………………………………………. (9) I bet it must
be……………………………………………………………………. (10). So I contacted the customer
service of this online shop for repair right away. But when I mentioned the product was having a
problem, nobody replied to me or…………………………………………………………… (11). I was
…………………… ……………………………………….. (12). So I had to contact Taobao and write
a complaint against this online shop.
It’s funny that just an hour after. I ………………………………………

………………………………… (13), the owner of the online shop called me and apologized for the
unprofessional behaviour of their customer service. He even offered me a better and more expensive
cooker……………………………………………………………………. (14). Well, I was satisfied with
the result; at least I didn’t lose money. But I don’t think
……………………………………………………….. (15) buy anything from this shop. Its customer
service doesn’t seem to be trustworthy enough, and definitely
…………………………………………………………………….. (16).
Describe a time when someone didn’t tell you the whole truth about something
You should say:
When it happened;
What the situation was;
Who you were with;
And why the person didn’t tell you the whole truth.

online shop, rain on my parade, pressure cooker, I was lied to, without a second thought, had
a stroke of bad luck, the warranty card, advantage of me, had been ages
When it comes to a time……………………………………………… (1), the first thing comes to mind

is the time I was cheated by an …………………………………………………. (2) The thing is that last
July, I had just gotten a new job and moved out from my campus dorm to a new apartment. So I thought
I definitely needed a cooker to make meals. One of my friends recommended a kind of
……………………………………………………………… (3) that she bought online. So, on her
advice, I bought one from Taobao ………………………………… ……………………………. (4) But
after several weeks, I found that it often overcooked the food. I contacted the customer service of the
online shop. They told me that I needed to send it back to them for a repair and there would be a charge
of 200 yuan. I thought I just……………………………………………………………………… (5), so
I paid them 200 yuan to repair the rice cooker.
However, several months later, when I was cleaning the house, I found
………………………………………………………….. (6) of the rice cooker, which stated that I had a
3-year warranty on the unit. It means the shop was supposed to repair the rice cooker for free. But they
took …………………………………………………………. (7) by lying. You know, it
………………………………………………………………………….. (8) since the repair, so I decided
to let it pass. But it really taught me a lesson. I hope that history won’t repeat itself; it’d definitely
……………………………………………………………………………… (9).
Describe an occasion when you received bad service from a shop or a restaurant
You should say:
When it happened;
What the situation was;
Who you were with;
And explain how you felt about the service.
Sold out, repelled me, disgusted me, rained on my parade, run an errand, customer service,
left a bad taste in my mouth, an exclusive shop, On her advice, had a half-price discount, put
a unit on hold,
6.
Actually, I’m satisfied with most shops and restaurants in terms

of………………………………………………….. (1). But when it comes to one
that………………………………………………………… (2), I have to talk about the time I wanted to
buy something in a shop.
The thing is that last July, I had just gotten a new job and moved out from my campus dorm to a new
apartment. So I thought I definitely needed a cooker to make meals. One of my friends recommended a
kind of pressure cooker. She specifically told me about
……………………………………………………………… (3) selling this product in a Wanda Plaza
near my home.
………………………………………………………… (4), I went to the shop with my mom. Luckily,

the model my friend recommended…………………………………………………………….. (5).
Since my mom and I needed to …………………………………………………………. (6) in the
shopping mall, I asked the staff member if she could
……………………………………………………….. (7) for me. She said it was okay. But when we
returned to the shop to pick up the unit I ordered, they told me it was
……………………………………………………………… (8)
I was so disappointed and asked to talk with the staff member who agreed to help me hold a unit.
However, her attitude totally……………………………………………………………. (9). She avoided
my inquiry about the situation and blamed me for not buying it earlier… It was literally my worst
shopping experience ever. The service quality of the
shop……………………………………………………………………. (10). It definitely
……………………………………………………………………………. (11)
Topic: Coffee Business
Pay attention to things about business Be blown away

Chain coffee shop Face-to-face speech
A giant in the coffee business Start up a business
Dozens of locations Entrepreneurship
Chatting over coffee Be dying to meet
Inherit the business from See somebody in person
Comic- themed Resourceful
Outstanding Come up with
Presentation Unique
Intriguing Showcased
Enter the business field Make one’s first bucket of gold
Have faith in oneself
Describe a family business which is successful.

You should say:
What the business is;
How you know it;
Who the customers are;
And explain how you like it.
chatting over coffee, It’s said that, pay attention to things about business , To tell you the
truth, dream to open, “Maya Coffee” , is run by, a giant in the coffee business, inherit the
business from their father, comics-themed, a great selection of, comic fans,
1.
Well, I don't know much about family business. Honestly, I don’t usually …………………………
……………………………………………………… (1). But the first one that comes to mind is a very
popular chain coffee shop called ………………………………………………… …………………. (2).
It’s the only family business I know something about. The company
………………………………………………….. (3) a family in my city. It’s probably
…………………………………………………………………………………….. (4) because it has
dozens of locations all over the province.
I learned about it from my friend. One time, we hung out at a coffee shop near my campus. When we
were………………………………………………………………. (5), my friend told me that the owner
of this coffee shop was her friend’s father. And he graduated from my university as well.
……………………………………………………………………… (6) his son and daughter were also
working for the management and preparing to ……………………………
………………………………………………………………….. (7) Now the family has opened over 10
shops in our city and also dozens of shops in other cities. Lots of their shops
are……………………………………………………………………………………. (8). The staff there
cosplay as all kinds of comic characters, and they also provide …………………………
………………………………………………… (9) comic books to read while you’re there. So most
customers there are young people and mostly ……………………………… …………………….. (10)
like me.
………………………………………………………………………………. (11), I like this business

because I love coffee and always
…………………………………………………………………………………. (12) my own café in the
future. Plus, I admire someone who can develop a small business into a giant family business. The
owner really has some great ideas for making all the shops outstanding.
Describe an interesting speech or talk you heard recently.

You should say:
When and where you heard it;
What the talk or speech was about;
Who gave the talk or speech;
And explain why you think it was interesting.
had faith in himself, made his first bucket of gold, a presentation, a household name, a giant
in the coffee business, was literally blown away by, truly, showcased, start up a business,
entrepreneurship, intriguing, entered the business field.
2.
I’d like to talk about a speech I heard when I was in university. If memory serves correctly, it was my
junior year. At the time, I was taking a business management course. The professor of that course once
invited a local entrepreneur to our class for………………………………………….. (1).
The speaker was …………………………………………………………….. (2) in our city. He has a

very popular chain coffee shop. It’s probably ………………………………………………
………………………………………………. (3) because it has dozens of locations all over the
province. He actually graduated from my university. So he happily shared many interesting stories about
him and his company.
What impressed me the most was some …………………………………………………… (4) real

stories about how
he………………………………………………………………………………………… (5). He really
has a knack for business. When he was a college student, he used to sell study supplies, books and even
make-up in the campus. He did fail many times and lost money, but he
always………………………………………………………………………………. (6). After he
graduated, he …………………………………………………………………………………….. (7) in
the coffee business. I ………………………………………………

……………………………………… (8) what he did. This was a really interesting talk in my opinion,
mainly because that was the first time I listened to a successful businessman’s speech face to face. His
words …………………………………………………………. (9) inspired me a lot and
…………………………………………………………. (10) the importance of self-confidence. Even
though I may not …………………………………………………………………………….. (11) in the
future, his …………………………………………………………………………………. (12) will
benefit me for life.
Describe an interesting person that you have never met but would like to know more.
You should say:
Who this person is;
How you knew about this person;
Why you think this person is interesting;
And explain why you would like to know more about this person.
entered the business, a long list of people, I’m dying to, made his first bucket of gold,
resourceful, come up with, starting up a business, see him in person, comics-themed, chatting
over coffee, intriguing, outstanding
3.
Honestly, I have ………………………………………………………………………. (1) that

……………………………………………………………………………. (2) meet, like the singers and
actors I support. But recently, there’s a businessman I’ve heard about and I really hope to
…………………………………………………………………………….. (3) I know about him from
my friend. One time, we hung out at a ………………………………………………………. (4) coffee
shop near my campus. When we were …………………………… ………………………… (5), my
friend told me that the owner of this coffee shop was actually her friend. But he wasn’t in the shop that
day.
I learned many ………………………………………………………….. (6) real stories about him from

my friend, like how he ………………………………………………………………….. (7) field. My
friend said he really has a knack for business. When he was a college student, he tried many kinds of
small businesses, such as selling study supplies, books and even make-up on campus. After he
graduated, he …………………………………………… ………………………………………… (8) in
the coffee business. I was literally blown away by what he did.
I think the owner must be an interesting and …………………………………………………. (9) person,

otherwise how could he ………………………………………………………………. (10) the idea of
selling make-up? Plus, the coffee shop he opened in our city is pretty unique. I hope to have a chance to
talk with him face to face. Of course, it would be better if we can be friends. Since I have some ideas of
……………………………………………………………………… (11) myself, I really want to hear
some great ideas from him about how to make a shop outstanding.
Topic: Money, Concert
Such a huge fan Pay it back
I was 300 yuan short Appreciate her giving me a hand
In time Money can ruin friendships
Transfer the money to my account Practically
In a hurry Loud enough to wake the dead
Have a blast Once in a blue moon
An incredible feast for the eyes and ears
Describe a time that someone gave you money as a gift.

You should say:
Who gave the money to you
When you received it
What you did
And explain your feeling.
way more, back then, was tight on cash, was very grateful to my parents for, I don’t think
there’s anyone who wouldn’t, Is not uncommon, red envelopes, pocket money, To be
specific, sent me red envelopes through WeChat,
1.
Well, receiving cash as a gift …………………………………………………………… (1) in China.

For example, when I was a kid, I often received …………………………………
…………………………………… (2) with some ………………………………………

…………………………………. (3) in them from elders in my family, especially during spring
festivals. The most recent time someone gave me money as a gift was when I had my last birthday.
……………………………………………………. (4), it was last May. I was living at school, so I

couldn’t get back home to celebrate the birthday with my parents. Plus, they didn't know what to buy
for a birthday gift either, so they just ……………………………………………………………………..
(5) instead. Actually, both of them gave me 1000 yuan, which was
……………………………………………………. (6) than I expected.
Honestly, it was the perfect birthday gift for me. You know, ………………………
………………………………. (7), my favorite singer Eason Chen was coming to Hunan for a concert.
I was eager to buy a concert ticket but
I……………………………………………………………………….. (8). So with the gift money from
my parents, I could finally afford the ticket. And of course, I had a blast at the concert. It was truly an
incredible feast for the eyes and ears.
Anyway, I ………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………. (9) giving me money as a birthday gift, which was exactly what I needed
at the time. Plus, I ………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………. (10) want to receive money as a gift, am I right?
Describe something you borrowed from your friend or family.

You should say:
What you borrowed
When you borrowed it
What you used it for
And explain why you borrowed it

A huge fan of, an incredible feast for the eyes and ears, paid it back, appreciated her giving
me a hand, off the top of my head, If memory serves correctly, was coming to, 300 yuan
short, transferred the money to my account, in a hurry, money can ruin friendships,
trustworthy
2.
Well, it seems that I often borrow stuff from my friends, such as pens and books.
But…………………………………………………………………… (1), the first experience I can think
of is a time I borrowed money from my roommate. You know, borrowing money from a friend isn’t like
borrowing something ordinary.
…………………………………………………………………………. (2), it was about half a year ago.

My favorite singer Eason Chan …………………………… ……………………………….. (3)
Hunan156 for a concert. Going there was a must for me because I’m such
……………………………………………………. (4) his. But at the time, I
was……………………………………………………….. (5). To reserve the ticket in time, I had to ask
my roommate if she could lend me 300 yuan.
I explained to her what it was for. Honestly, I felt a little embarrassed when I tried to borrow money
from her. But she
……………………………………………………………………………………………………. (6)
right away and said she wasn’t …………………………………………………… ……………………
(7) to get it back. Thanks to her, I booked the ticket in time. And of course, I had a blast at the concert.
It was truly ………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………… (8) Anyway, I …………………
…………………………………………………………………………………… (9) to her immediately
when I got enough money about a week later. I really
………………………………………………………………………………………………….. (10)
and, most importantly, trusting me. My mom used to tell me that
…………………………………………………………………………………….. (11). I think I’m
pretty lucky to have a …………………………………………………………… …………………….
(12) friend.
Describe a thing made you happy recently.

You should say:
What it was;
When it happened;
Where it happened;
And explain why you are happy.
If memory serves correctly, Eason Chan, a huge fan of, cost me an arm and a leg, practically,
Off the top of my head, literally, wake the dead, an incredible feast for the eyes and ears, had
a blast, a big fan, wind down, a blue moon
3.
I’d like to talk about the time I went to a concert

………………………………………………………………………………………… (1), that’s the first
thing that I can think of. It’s …………………………………………………………….. (2) the most
exciting and joyful event I’ve experienced recently.
…………………………………………………………………………………………. (3), it was about

half a year ago. I heard my favorite singer …………………………………
…………………………………. (4) was coming to Hunan for a concert. You know, going there was a
must for me because I’m such ……………………………………… …………………………………
(5) his. So, I bought a ticket right away when they started selling. I remember clearly that I paid 900
Yuan for the best seat, which really
……………………………………………………………………………………………….. (6)
Anyway, I was so excited for the concert. My friend and I even arrived at the stadium two hours before
the show began. Overall, the atmosphere there was great. The stadium was
…………………………………………………………………………………….. (7) loud enough
to………………………………………………………………………………. (8). It was truly
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
…. (9) and we all …………………………………………………………………

…………………………… (10) I was so glad to go to the concert because I’ve been
…………………………………………………………………………. (11) of Eason Chan for 10 years.
Whenever I was stressed with work and study, I always listened to his songs
to……………………………………………………………………………… (12). And that was the
first time I could see my idol so closely. I mean, I saw him in person, not on TV. It was an experience
that only happens once
in…………………………………………………………………………………… (13). I believe I will
never forget that day.
Topic: Decision, People
Part-time job Worry sick about

Job responsibility Sales tricks
Portable power bank Accountable
Reach the sale target Leave a deep impression on me
As usual Swamp with all the assignments
Cater to Have work shifts on weekends
Out of my depth Things weren’t going too smoothly trying to
Traffic collision balance work and study
Fail to meet the target List the pros and cons
Make a bold decision Be better off
Think out of the box Ditch
Have the nerve to You can’t have your cake and eat it too
Crash and burn
Describe a time you changed your plan/mind.

You should say:
What the plan was;
Why you changed it;
What you did instead;
And explain how you felt about changing the plan.
If memory serves correctly, reach the sales, cater to, out of my depth, traffic collision, fail to
meet the target, Job responsibility, portable power banks, think out of the box, have the
nerve to, crashed and burned
1.
I’m going to talk about the time I changed a plan for work. It was actually because of a part-time job I
had during summer vacation, where my …………………………… …………………………… (1) was
mainly selling ……………………………………………… ……………………………………… (2)
………………………………………………………… …………………………………. (3), on a
Saturday morning, our boss asked us to
……………………………………………………………………………. (4) target on time. As usual, I
was planning to ………………………………………………………….. (5) the customers at the shop.
However, after I worked for a whole morning, I felt like I was ………………………………
…………………………………. (6) because there were barely any customers in the store. Then I found
out a pretty bad ……………………………………………………….. (7) had happened near our store,
which blocked road access to us. Actually there were lots of people on the streets because it was a
Saturday. So I realized that I had to change my plan, otherwise I would
definitely…………………………………………………………………. (8). Then I made a bold
decision to go out and find deals instead of just waiting in the shop. Luckily, I managed to achieve the
goal that day.
I was so glad and also proud of myself that I was able to ………………………
…………………………………………………….. (9) and …………………………………
………………………….. (10) break the routine. Most importantly, it worked! I definitely would’ve
………………………………………………………………………… (11) without changing the plan.
After all, I normally would’ve just waited in the shop.
Describe someone you would like to study or work with

You should say:
Who this person is;
How long you have known this person;
What you have done together;
And explain why you would like to work/study with this person.
think outside of the box, off the top of my head, accountable, literally, comes to mind,
portable power banks, reach the sales target, worried sick about, sales tricks
2.
………………………………………………………………. (1), the first person that

……………………………………………………………………….. (2) is my co-worker Lisa. I know
her because of a part-time job I had during last summer vacation, where my job responsibility was
mainly selling…………………………………………………………………………. (3). Lisa was our
team leader and I really liked working with her.
I worked there for a whole summer holiday, so we worked together for two months. I still remember
that on a Saturday morning, our boss asked us to
…………………………………………………………………….. (4) on time. However, after I worked
for a whole morning, I felt like I was out of my depth because there were barely any customers in the
store. When I was ……………………………………………………………………… (5) failing to
meet the target, Lisa came to me and suggested that I go out and find deals instead of just waiting in the
shop. And she even kindly taught me some ……………………………………………………………
(6) that I had never learned before.
Thanks to Lisa, I managed to achieve the goal that day. Since then, I often consulted her about matters
that I didn’t know how to handle. And she always helped me
……………………………………………………………………………………….. (7)and encouraged

me to have the nerve to break the routine. I was so happy I could have such an
…………………………………………………………………… (8) and helpful colleague. If possible,
I hope I can work with her again in the future. She is……………………………………………….. (9)
the best colleague I’ve ever had.
Describe an important decision you made with the help of others.

You should say:
What the decision was;
Who helped you make this decision;
Whether it’s a good decision;
And explain why you think it is an important decision.
list the pros and cons of, be better off, ditch, had work shifts on weekends, Later on, things
weren’t going too smoothly trying to balance work and study, a piece of cake for me to, You
can’t have your cake and eat it too, let that job go, swamped with all the assignments
3.
I’d like to talk about a time my uncle helped me make a decision about quitting my job. Last July, I
found a part-time job at a shop during summer vacation, where my job responsibility was mainly selling
portable power banks.
After I worked for two months, the new semester began. Then I became
……………………………………………………………………….. (1) I had to do. Even though I only
……………………………………………………………. (2), it still took up a lot of my time that I was
supposed to use for studying. I felt like I was out of my depth.
…………………………………………… (3), my uncle who works at a university as a history professor

visited my home. I told
him…………………………………………………………………………………. (4). He helped me

…………………………………………………………………………………. (5)quitting this part-time
job in a very objective way. From his judgement, I would ………………………
……………………………….. (6) to …………………………………….. (7) this job and focus on my
study.
Well, it was an important decision; after all, it wasn’t exactly

……………………………………………….. (8) find that job. But I listened to my uncle and the
decision proved to be right………………………………………………………………. (9). If I
didn’t……………………………………………………………. (10), I probably would’ve failed my
final exams. So I was grateful to my uncle for the analysis he did for me at the time.
Topic: People
Stand out in a crowd Be really hooked on

Smooth and flawless Make complementary for
Nicely-shaped nose Go into detail about
Stunning eyes Listen with relish
Dressy person Blow off some steam
Stylishly Wise
Give her extra charisma Whole career
Beautiful inside and out Stop by
Live practically within spitting distance of At the podium
It’s safe to say Hang off every word
Literally Decent pay
As far as I know Childhood memory
It’s hardly an exaggeration to say that Back then
Straight A student Role model
Get ton of likes To some extent
Have a good head for Environmentalist
Know history like the back of his hand Reusable bag
Gene from his parents Live a greener life
Nerd Green acts
A people person Not a burden to him
It’s not a big surprise to me that Awareness of environmental protection
Chomping at the bit He doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk
Put so much effort into True spirit of
Build up his resume
Give or take
Describe a person you have seen who is beautiful or handsome

You should say:
Where you saw this person;
When you saw this person;
What the person looked like;
Why you think this person is handsome or beautiful.
gives her extra charisma, think outside of the box, have the nerve to break the routine,
beautiful inside and out, left a really deep impression on me, stands out in a crowd, smooth
and flawless, stunning eyes, dressy person, stylishly
1.
Off the top of my head, the first person that comes to mind is my co-worker Lisa. I know her because
of a part-time job I had during last summer vacation, where my job responsibility was mainly selling
portable power banks. Lisa was our team leader. She
…………………………………………………………………………………… (1) when I met her for
the first time. She always …………………………………………………………. (2) because of both
her pretty look and fashionable style.
I worked there for a whole summer holiday, so I know her pretty well. Her skin is
very…………………………………………………………………………… (3), and she has a straight
and nicely-shaped nose and a pair of …………………………………………….. (4) as well. Besides,
she is tall and slim. She told me her secret of keeping a fit body is doing yoga every night.
Plus, she’s also a…………………………………………………………………… (5). I mean, she

really has a knack for matching clothes and accessories. She always dresses
……………………………………. (6) but also appropriately for any occasion.
She’s the most attractive girl I know in person. I think it’s not only because of her beautiful looks, but
also because her kind and warm personality ……………………………………………………… (7).
When we consulted her about matters that we didn’t know how to handle, she always helped us
…………………………………………………………………… (8) and encouraged us
to………………………………………………………………….. (9). So, it seems to me that she is
………………………………………………………………….. (10).
Describe an intelligent person you know.

You should say:
Who this person is;
What this person did;
Why you think the person is smart;
And explain how you feel about the person.
straight A student, has a knack for, a people person, beside the fact that, live practically
within spitting distance of, it’s safe to say, literally, It’s hardly an exaggeration to say that,
got a ton of likes, knows history like the back of his hand, it’s a gene from his parents, nerd
2.
Well…off the top of my head, the first person that comes to mind is my high school classmate Tom.
…………………………………………………….. (1) we went to the same high school, I
………………………………………………………………… (2) his house and I hang out with him a
lot, so ……………………………………….. (3) I know him pretty well.
He’s……………………………………………… (4) the smartest person I’ve ever known in person.
As far as I know, Tom is majoring in computer science at his university.

………………………………………………………………… (5) he’s a ………………………
……………………………………… (6) . And he especially
………………………………………………………………. (7) math. He even took part in a college
math competition and won third place. Not too long ago, he posted a photo of him having the first-class
award of this competition by winning third place. Of course, he
…………………………………………………………………… (8) Besides his talent in math, he also

has a good head for history. He loves reading historical novels and
really……………………………………………………………………….. (9). You know, when the
conversation moves to history, he never stops talking. Sometimes I’m blown away by how much he
memorizes in his head.
I have no idea why he’s so smart. Maybe…………………………………………………….. (10).

Anyway, it seems to me that he’s not a …………………………………….. (11) at all. I mean, he’s very
outgoing and he’s definitely ……………………………………… (12) as well. Honestly, I think he
comes pretty close to being perfect.
Describe a success your friend has had that you are proud of.
You should say:
Who your friend is;
When it happened;
How easy or difficult it was to achieve;
And explain why you thought this was a success.
got a ton of likes, chomping at the bit, off the top of my head, put so much effort into, over
the moon, his resume, besides the fact that, it’s safe, a straight A student, has a knack,
3.
Well………………………………………………. (1), the first thing that comes to mind is that last year,
my friend Tom won an award in a college math competition. Tom and I have been close friends for
many years. …………………………………………. (2) we went to the same high school, I live
practically within spitting distance of his house and I hang out with him a lot, so
………………………………….. (3) to say I know him pretty well.
Anyway, Tom is majoring in computer science at his university. It’s hardly an exaggeration to say that
he’s……………………………………. (4). And he especially …………………………. (5) for math,
which is the reason why he participated in the college math competition. Not too long ago, he posted a
photo of him having the first-class award of this competition by winning third place. Of course,
he………………………………………… (6).
It’s not a big surprise to me that he could win it. You know, when he was in high school, he was always
……………………………………… (7) to solve all kinds of complicated math problems. But I guess
he must have ……………………………………… (8) preparing for the competition.
As his friend, I was ………………………………………. (9) when I heard about it and I was proud of
his success. After all, not many people can achieve that, right? I believe this award will definitely help
him build up ………………………………. (10) in the future
Describe an interesting old person you met.

You should say:
Who this person was;
How you met this person;
What you did or talked about;
And explain why you think this person was interesting
really hooked on, had never learned, in his head, it’s pretty nice talking to a senior like him,
some steam, Lisa’s grandpa, give or take
4.
Well…off the top of my head, the first person that comes to mind is my
friend…………………………………………………. (1). I live practically within spitting distance of
her house and I hang out with her a lot, so I often see her grandpa at her home. He’s literally the most
interesting senior I’ve ever known.
Lisa’s grandpa is about 70 years old ,…………………………….. (2). According to Lisa, he was
a history teacher at a secondary school.
I still remember the first time I met her grandpa. That was also the first time I had lunch at Lisa’s
home. At the time, we had lunch while watching a TV show about an ancient war together. Lisa’s
grandpa was ……………………………………………… (3) the program. He made commentary for
the show by going into detail about some interesting historical stories that we
……………………………………………….. (4) in our history class. Lisa and I listened to him with
relish. It was as fun as listening to some gossip.
Lisa says her grandpa loves reading historical novels and really knows history like the back of
his hand. I’m blown away by how much he memorizes………………………… (5). After all, he is 70
years old now. And I guess………………………………………………………………………………..
(6). Not only can I learn tons of history knowledge from him, but I can definitely blow off
…………………………………………….. (7) by talking to an old wise person like him.
Describe a job your grandparent did.

You should say:
What job it was;
When and where your grandparent did the job;
How long he or she did the job;
And explain how you think about the job.

makes commentary for, going into detail about, with relish, stopped by, at the podium, his
hometown Zibo, was his whole career, hanging off his every word, decent pay
5.
I’d like to talk about my grandpa’s job. My grandpa is 70 years old now. In the past, he was a history
teacher at a secondary school in …………………………………………. (1)
If memory serves correctly, he mentioned to me that being a history teacher

…………………………………………………… (2) and he spent thirty years on it. He used to tell me
how much he loved doing what he did. Plus, he has a good head for history. He loves reading historical
novels and really knows history like the back of his hand. I think it’s the reason why he chose to become
a history teacher.
Actually it’s a lot of fun watching a historical movie or TV show with my grandpa. He often
…………………………………………………. (3) the TV program by
…………………………………………………….(4) some interesting historical stories that we have
never learned in our history class. I always listened to him………………………………………. (5). It
was as fun as listening to some gossip.
Honestly, I used to dream about being a teacher like my grandpa. When I was young, I
……………………………………………….. (6) his school once and saw him
teaching…………………………………………………. (7). I was blown away by seeing all the
students listening to him so carefully. I mean, they were practically
……………………………………………………………… (8). I felt it was such a cool job. Now, I still
think it’s a very good career choice since it’s an honorable occupation and
has………………………………………………… (9).
Describe someone you wanted to be similar to when you were growing up.
You should say:
Who the person was;
How you got to know this person;
What impressed you most about this person;
And explain why you wanted to be like this person.
hanging off his every word, at the podium, role model, decent pay, I’ve looked up to the
most, my uncle, In my childhood memory, go into detail, with relish, dream to be
6.
The person ……………………………………………………………… (1) since I was young

is…………………………………………………. (2). He’s a high school history teacher. I live
practically within spitting distance of his house and I hang out with him a lot, so it’s safe to say I know
him pretty well.
……………………………………………………………. (3), he was the most knowledgeable

person in my family. I used to love watching TV with him, especially some historical dramas, because
he could often ………………………………………………. (4) about some interesting historical stories
that we had never learned in our history class. I always listened to
him………………………………………………… (5). It was as fun as listening to some gossip.
Under his influence, I used to …………………………………………….. (6) a teacher like him. When
I was young, I stopped by his school once and saw him
teaching……………………………………………………… (7). I was blown away by seeing all the
students listening to him so carefully. I mean, they were practically
……………………………………………………………………. (8). I felt it was so cool. So back then,
when someone asked me what I wanted to do in the future, I always said I wanted to be a teacher like
my uncle.
Till now, my uncle is still my……………………………………. (9). I hope I can be as knowledgeable

as him and have great teaching skills. Plus, it’s really a good career choice to be a teacher in China.
After all, it’s an honorable occupation and has ……………………………………. (10).
Describe a teenager you know.

You should say:
Who he or she is
How you got to know him or her
What this teenager likes to do
And how you feel about this teenager
I’m blown away, cover most of the expenses, are obsessed with, to some extent, besides the
fact that, has a good head for, which is what I’m always craving
7.
Well…off the top of my head, the first teenager that comes to mind is my little cousin. If memory serves
correctly, he is 17 years old now. He is a sophomore student in high school.
………………………………………………………………. (1) I’ve known him since he was born, I

live practically within spitting distance of his house and I hang out with him a lot, so it’s safe to say I
know him pretty well.
As far as I know, my cousin ………………………………………………………………. (2) history.

He loves reading historical novels and really knows history. When the conversation moves to history,
he never stops talking. Sometimes ………………………………………………………………. (3) by
how much he knows at such a young age. Another thing he is extremely fond of is travel,
……………………………………………………………………… (4). So we often travel to some fun
places together during holidays, even though I have to
……………………………………………………………………. (5) for both of us.
As for what I think about him, well, he’s a very outgoing person, but it seems that he is a special kid.
Nowadays, tons of teenagers ……………………………………………………………….. (6) video
games; however, my cousin is not interested in video games at all. He looks a lot more mature than his
peers. Plus, even though he’s younger than me, he often teaches me some historical facts and stories.
So…………………………………………………… (7), he’s definitely my teacher.
Describe a person who helps to protect the environment.

You should say:
Who this person is;
How this person protects the environment;
Whether it is difficult for the person to protect the environment;
And explain how you felt about it.
not a burden to him, awareness of environmental protection, he doesn’t just talk the talk, he
walks the walk, It’s hard to say, an absolute environmentalist, it’s safe to say, reusable bag,
living a greener life, green acts
8.
Well…talking about people who are passionate about environmental protection, off the top of my head,
the first one that comes to mind is my uncle. If memory serves correctly, my uncle’s 45 now. He works
at a university as a history professor. ………………………………………………………….. (1) if he’s
……………………………… ……………………………………….. (2), but he really cares about what
happens to the environment and related news stories, especially the negative ones.
I live practically within spitting distance of his house and I hang out with him a lot, so
………………………………………………………………………. (3) I know him pretty well. One
good habit of his I’ve noticed is that he rarely uses plastic bags and always has a
………………………………………………………… (4) with him when he goes grocery shopping.
As far as I know, when it comes to………………………………………………………. (5), my uncle

always starts small by doing the little things in our everyday life, like picking up litter on the street,
using less plastic products, and taking public transportation as much as possible. It seems very normal
to him. I think those ……………………………………………. (6) have become a part of his lifestyle,
and it’s definitely ……………………………………………………………… (7) As for my feelings
about what he does, well, I do admire his
………………………………………………………………………. (8); more importantly,
…………………………………………………………… (9). I think that’s the true spirit of an
environmentalist, even though he never admits he’s one.
Topic: Book
Halfway done Cough up

Literal translation of Day dream
As its name suggests Local conditions and customs
Travel journal Cost me a decade or even longer
Be crazy about traveling A sense of achievement
It came with glowing recommendation from Develop this hobby because of the influence of
Travel without going anywhere My cup of tea
With a budget of Kill some spare time
Travel log In the mood
Gain Be conductive for
Be fond of Kick back and relax
Without breaking the bank Kill two birds with one stone
The top thing on my bucket list
Describe a book you have read recently.

You should say:
What kind of book it is
Who wrote the book
What the story of the book is
And explain if it is a good book or not.
halfway done, a literal translation of, with a budget of, travel log, so fond of, without
breaking the bank. As its name suggests, travel journal, If memory serves correctly, It came
with glowing recommendations from
1.
I’m going to talk about a book named “一个人，三十座城202.” I just started it and
I’m………………………………………………. (1). It doesn't have an English version, so there’s no
proper English name either. By ………………………………………………… (2) its Chinese name, it
simply means “One person, thirty cities”……………………………………………………. (3), it’s a
…………………………… (4)…………………………………………………………..(5) , my friend
Lisa, who is crazy about traveling, recommended the book to me several months ago.
…………………………………………………………………………. (6) her. She said the book
mainly focuses on showcasing the beautiful nature and interesting places in China. And it would be the
best book to choose if I wanted to travel without going anywhere.
The author of this book is a journalist in a travel program. She travelled to 30 cities in mainland China
…………………………………………………………………… (7) only 20 thousand yuan. And she
wrote a specific ……………………………………………. (8) for each city she’s been to. The book
also has tons of knowledge about the local conditions and customs in all parts of China. I actually gained
so much useful and helpful travelling information from it.
Even though I haven’t finished this book yet, I’m ……………………………………… (9) it. It really
helps me to relax. Whenever I’m stressed with work and study, I always read it to wind down. Plus,
from this book, I learned some great tips that’ll help me enjoy the journey
………………………………………………………………………… (10)
Describe a book you want to write.

You should say:
When you had the idea;
What will be the topic;
Whether it will be easy or difficult to write;
And explain why you want to write this book
travel journal, The top thing on my bucket list, Only in this way could, cost me a decade or
even longer, Not only can I, I’ve been, cough up, a day dream, travel log, local conditions
and customs,
2.
I’ve never thought about writing a book. Um… If possible, I think I’ll write
a……………………………………………………………………. (1).
I’m crazy about traveling. ……………………………………………………… (2) is to travel around

the world and enjoy beautiful nature and interesting places in different countries. So it would be an
awesome achievement if I could write a book about the places
………………………………………………….. (3) and my stories during the journey.
Of course, to write a travel journal, I have to ……………………………………………. (4) enough

money to afford international travel first, otherwise it would be just
…………………………………………………………… (5). Besides, since I plan to write a specific
………………………………………………….. (6) for each city I go to, I also need to make sure the
book has tons of knowledge about the ……………………… …………………………………….. (7)
in different places around the world. So it means that I have to observe the local lifestyle and ways of
doing things carefully. …………………………………………………………. (8) the readers of my
book gain tons of useful and helpful travelling information.
To finish a travel journal like this would probably ……………………………

……………………………………………… (9), but I think it would be an interesting and meaningful
thing to do. ………………………………… ……………………………….. (10) share my feelings and
experiences of my journeys with readers, but I can also recall the memories when I get older. It’ll
definitely give me a sense of achievement.
Describe an activity you would do when you are alone in your free time.
You should say:
What the activity is;
Where you do it;
Why you do it;
And explain how you felt about it.
is really conducive for, all by myself, on the go, developed this hobby because of the
influence of, my cup of tea, intriguing, in the mood, kick back and relax, being pulled in, kills
two birds with one stone
3.
If I’m………………………………………………………. (1), especially when I don’t have any work

or school assignments………………………………………….. (2), what I love the most is reading. I
feel I ………………………………………………………………………. (3) my mom. She loves
reading and often bought me books when I was a kid.
Actually, I like reading all kinds of books. But books about travel are ……………………
…………………………………… (4), such as travel journals. My friend Lisa, who is also crazy about
reading, often recommends some ………………………………………………………………….. (5)
books to me. The books always come with glowing recommendations from her. So when I want to kill
some spare time, I often try to find the books she talked about and read.
Usually I prefer reading a book at home. I’ll just lay on the couch and play some light music in the
background. Sometimes, when I’m…………………………………………………….. (6), I also love
to go to a library that’s within walking distance of my home. It’s definitely a perfect place for reading.
When everyone around is concentrated on studying, the atmosphere
………………………………………………………….. (7) concentration.
Anyway, for me, reading is the best way to ……………………………………………………… (8)

when I’m all alone. I like ………………………………………………………. (9) by the stories in the
books. Plus, as I mentioned, I like to read travel notes. I’ve actually gained so much useful and helpful
travelling information from those books. So it really
……………………………………………………………………………….. (10)
Topic 30: Hobby
Tied-up with Sit in the kitchen collecting dust

Blow them off correctly Highly recommend by
As long as Enjoy every minute of it
Be in the mood We work to live, not live to work
Describe a time you enjoyed a free day off work or school.

You should say:
When it was;
Where you were;
What you did;
And how you felt about it.
Sitting in the kitchen collecting dust, kick back and relax, we work to live not live to work,
blow them off completely, slept in, ordered take-out food
Honestly, I’m always tied-up with work and study, so overall, I don’t have much spare time
to…………………………………………………………… (1). If memory serves correctly, the only
relaxing day I can think of right now is a Sunday about several weeks ago.
I remember I …………………………………………………. (2) until 10 o’clock that morning. Then I

went to a swimming center that’s within walking distance of my home. And I swam for almost an hour.
Actually, as long as I have free time, I always try to practice my swimming skills there.
Then, at noon I …………………………………………………… (3) and ate it at home. Even though I

had time for cooking, I was just too lazy and wasn’t in the mood for it. So basically, all the kitchenware
I bought has been ………………………………………………………….. (4) by now. Anyway, in the
afternoon, I downloaded a book highly recommended by my friend and read it while lying on the couch
and playing some light music in the background. It was a great way for me
to…………………………………………………………….. (5).
So I have to say I didn’t do anything meaningful that day. But it did help me wind down. Due to my
work and study, I’m not usually able to spend a day like that. But when I can, I enjoy every minute of
it. Plus, I hope I can have more holidays; after all, …………………………………
……………………………………………………… (6)
Topic: Travel
Have family vacation Botanical garden

For an entire week Tourism industry
For ages Running bed and breakfasts
Without a second thought The pace of life
Enjoy breathtaking views Way slower than
Have a reputation for High speed train
Stunning Huge discount
Tourist attraction An absolute must for us to V
Look like an oriental Venice Put on opera performance
Inspiring natural sceneries Real treat
Threatening or scamming Forbid tour guides from upselling
Bully tourist Package tour
Lawmakers A big thumbs-up for
Describe a beautiful city that you have been to.

You should say:
Where it is;
How you got to know about it;
What it is famous for;
And explain why you think it is a beautiful city.
look like an oriental Venice, inspiring natural sceneries, without a second thought, enjoyed
the breathtaking views, has a reputation for, the city is like a botanical garden, for an entire
week, for ages,
1.
Speaking of a beautiful city, the first one that comes to mind is Hangzhou, which is the capital of
Zhejiang province. If memory serves correctly, last July, I took a plane to Hangzhou with my parents.
We had our family vacation there…………………………………………………… (1).
In fact, it’s a place I had planned to visit……………………………………………… (2). It came with

glowing recommendations from my best friend Lisa, who was there before. Because of that, when my
parents planned the next family trip, I insisted on going
there………………………………………………………….. (3).
During our trip in Hangzhou, we took lots of photos and I really

……………………………………………………………. (4). It is a very clean and organized city. We
rarely saw litter on the street. It also ……………………………… ………………………………… (5)
its beautiful sceneries. Tons of visitors go there because the scenery there is stunning. Actually the most
famous tourist attraction there is the west lake, which is one of the most beautiful lakes in China. It’s
definitely the place to be when you travel in Hangzhou. Besides, in Hangzhou, you can also see many
buildings built above water, which makes the city…………………………………………………… (6).
Anyway, the main reason that I think Hangzhou is a very attractive city is that you can enjoy lots
of……………………………………………………………
(7)……………………………………………………………………… (8). If possible, I would love to
move to Hangzhou and live there, which will be lovely.
Describe an interesting part of your country.

You should say:
Where it is;
How you got to know about it;
What people do there
And explain why you think it is interesting

inspiring natural sceneries, running bed and breakfasts, the pace of life, way slower, If
possible, If memory serves correctly, for an entire week, without a second thought, look like
an oriental Venice
2.
There are tons of interesting things in our country, such as the culture, the food and
many………………………………………………………………….. (1). Here, I’d like to talk about an
ancient town located in Zhejiang province ………………………………………………….. (2), last
July, I took a plane to Zhejiang with my parents. We stayed in that small town
…………………………………………… ……………………….. (3).
In fact, it’s a place I had planned to visit for ages. The town came with glowing recommendations from
my best friend Lisa, who was there before. Because of that, when my parents planned the next family
trip, I insisted on going there ……………………………………………… ……………………. (4).
Anyway, it’s a very historic town. The scenery there was also stunning. Many buildings were built above
water, making the town……………………………………………………. (5). Since there are tons of
visitors coming there for a tour, most of the local people work for the tourism industry in town, such as
being tour guides or …………………………………………………………… (6) There are two reasons
why I think this is an interesting place. For one, it’s the first place I’ve been where most houses were
built above water, which is very unique. Besides, ………………………………………………….. (7)
there is …………………………………… …………………. (8) than life in cities. I found the streets
were quiet and shops were still closed till 9 o’clock in the morning. Honestly, I love the lifestyle there
……………………………………………. (9), I would love to move to this town and live there, which
will be lovely.
Describe a place you would like to travel to that is far away from your home.
You should say:
Where it would be;
How you would like to go there;
What you would do there;
And explain why you would like to go there.
on my bucket list, a unique experience to me, an absolute must for us to, puts on opera
performances, get away for a family vacation, came with glowing recommendations, a high
speed train
3.
If possible, I hope that next spring festival, I can …………………………………

……………………………….. (1) to an ancient town called Nanxun, which is located in Zhejiang
province. In fact, it’s a place I’ve planned to visit for ages. It ……………………………
…………………………………… (2) from my best friend Lisa, who was there before. She said the
scenery there was stunning, and the buildings were all built above water.
I don’t know the exact distance from here to there. But Lisa went there by
……………………………………………………….. (3) for 9 hours. So I bet it must be very far. If I
could find flight tickets with a huge discount online, I would definitely take a flight there instead.
Anyway, as I said, I plan to go with my family, and there will be a lot to do. Firstly, it’s
……………………………………………………………………… (4) take tons of photos, and I think
we’ll enjoy the breathtaking views. Besides, I heard there’s a famous theater at the center of town that
……………………………………………………………… (5) We’ll surely go see it during our trip. It
must be a real treat to see a great traditional opera.
Actually, visiting a small southern town is one thing ………………………………

……………………………………………… (6). I really want to feel the difference of a watery town in
South China from the northern cities. Besides, I’ve never seen houses that were built above water, so it
would be…………………………………………………………………….. (7).
Describe a good law in your country.

You should say:
What it is How you know about it
Who is affect by the law
And explain why you think that it is a good law.
it was not uncommon to see, Scamming, over the moon, bully tourists, lawmakers, a big
thumbs-up for, clause, forbids tour guides from upselling, the tourism industry, newly
issued, a package tour, dropped by, have no worries
4.
I’d like to talk about a law for …………………………………………. (1) that was
………………………………………………………………. (2) this year in China. Off the top of my
head, that’s the first thing that comes to mind. Well, I don't know the details, but one
……………………………………………………. (3) I know very well is that it clearly
………………………………………………………………. (4) any product or souvenir to their
customers.
Actually, I learned about this law when I was travelling earlier this year. During the spring festival in
February, my family and I signed up for ………………………………… ……………………………
(5) to an ancient town for a family vacation. When we
……………………………………………………. (6) a famous shopping destination, our tour guide
said it was the place to be if we wanted to buy some souvenirs. Then she explained to us that we should
………………………………………………. (7) about being forced to buy anything, because a new
law specifically banned it. We could enjoy our shopping there freely and safely.
Honestly, in the past, …………………………………………………………………. (8) news about

tour guides threatening or …………………………………………………….. (9) tourists to get high
commissions from their purchases. Many people are hesitant to travel in groups because of concerns
about that.
So, as a tourist, I was ………………………………………………… (10) to know that the protection

of our rights was well improved. This good law obviously works well and effectively restricts those tour
guides who used to……………………………………………. (11). The
…………………………………………………….. (12) deserve …………………………………
…………………….. (13) making this law.
Topic: Party, Food
Throw a housewarming party Stuffing made of sth

Move out of What was left to us was
Meet up Dumpling skin Boiling water
From top to the bottom Fluffy
Side dishes A ton of
Great bonding experience Good fortune
Have a blast Absolutely to die for
Traditional must-eat food Pack away
As well as Have a chit-chat
Dough
Describe a party that you have attended.

You should say:
What party it was;
When and where the party was held;
Whose party it was / Who attended the party;
And what you did in the party.
party food, side dishes, kill time, a great bonding, housewarming party, graduation, moved
out of, good luck, meet up, from top to bottom
1.
I’m going to talk about the time I attended my friend Lisa’s………………………………….. (1). If
memory serves correctly, it was last June, before our…………………………………… (2). Lisa had
just ……………………………………………….. (3) the college dorm and into a new apartment.
Chinese tradition states that the host of the house should throw a housewarming party when they move
somewhere new, so they’ll have ………………………………… (4) when they live there. Due to this
custom, Lisa invited three friends to her home. And I was one of them.
Um…it was a Saturday, she texted all three of us to ……………………………………… (5) at her
apartment at around 5pm. Of course, every guest brought a housewarming gift for Lisa, and after we
arrived, Lisa showed us her new apartment. It was very stylish and clean; I guess she definitely cleaned
the apartment …………………………………………………. (6) before we went, ha-ha.
She also prepared hotpot as our……………………………………………… (7), then we prepared the

………………………………………………….. (8) for hotpot in the kitchen together. That night, we
had tons of beers and talked a lot while enjoying our dinner. We also played some card games to
…………………………………… (9) after the dinner.
Actually, that was the first time I’d been at someone’s housewarming party. It was
………………………………………………. (10) experience for all of us, plus we really had a blast
while enjoying the tasty hotpot. I hope I can own a place in the near future and hold a housewarming
party like Lisa did.
Describe a kind of food that people eat during a special event

You should say:
What it is;
What event it was;
How it cooked;
And explain how you feel about it

boiling water, fluffy, bonding experience, traditional must-eat food, throw a housewarming,
as well as, dough, the stuffing made of pork and green onion, what was left to us was
2.
I’m going to talk about the dumplings I made and ate at my friend Lisa’s housewarming party. In fact,
in China, dumplings are a kind of ……………………………………………………. (1) at almost every
important holiday event.
Anyway, if memory serves correctly, it was last June, before our graduation. Lisa had just moved out of
the college dorm and into a new apartment. Chinese tradition states that the host of the house should
……………………………………………………………………………. (2) party when they move
somewhere new. And Lisa said that in her hometown, the host family has to serve dumplings for the
guests during party so they’ll have good luck when they live there. Due to this custom, Lisa invited three
friends to her home to make dumplings together …………………………………………………. (3)
have a small party. And I was one of them.
Before we arrived, Lisa had prepared the ……………………………………… (4)

and…………………………………………………………….. (5). So
……………………………………………………………… (6) making dumpling skins and wrapping
them. I remember we spent about an hour on it. After that, the dumplings were cooked in a pot
with……………………………………………. (7). We were over the moon that they looked so
……………………………………….. (8) and were also very tasty. I ate at least twenty dumplings that
day.
Actually, that was the first time I’d been at someone’s housewarming party making dumplings. It was a
great …………………………………………. (9) for all of us. Plus, we really had a blast while making
and eating dumplings together.
Describe a kind of food that people eat during a special event

You should say:
What it is;
What event people usually eat it / why people eat it;
How it cooked;
And explain how you feel about this kind of food.
absolutely to die for, dough, stuffing, dumpling skins, fluffy, traditional must-eat food,
stuffed with pork and green onion, pack away, have a chit-chat, bonding, a piece of cake,
good fortune
3.
I’m going to talk about dumplings. In fact, in China, dumplings are a kind of
……………………………………………………. (1) at almost every important holiday event. But
since making dumplings isn’t exactly……………………………………….. (2), people don't make
dumplings every day.
Anyway, as I just mentioned, we eat dumplings to celebrate a ton of special days and events like New
Year’s, the beginning of winter, weddings, or even a housewarming party. I remember I read somewhere
that Chinese people like eating dumplings because its name in Mandarin sounds like a type of ancient
money, so dumplings mean ……………………………………………. (3) in Chinese culture as well.
Plus, dumplings are really tasty; they’re ……………………… ………………… (4), honestly. I don’t
know if you’ve tried them before, but almost everyone I know loves eating dumplings.
As for the recipe, um…first of all, you have to prepare the ………………………………. (5) and the
………………………………………. (6), which is made of all kinds of meats and vegetables. And then
you need to make the dough into ……………………………………. (7) and wrap them. After that, the
dumplings need to be cooked in a pot with boiling water. You can start having them when they look
…………………………………… (8)
I love dumplings, especially ones………………………………………………… (9). Normally I can

………………………………………….. (10) at least twenty of them. Besides, I like making them with
my family because we can …………………………………………………… (11) while making
dumplings together. It’s a great ………………………………………….. (12) experience for all of us.
Topic: Subject
Caught my interest Sensational

Tedious Rote learning
Exam-oriented Which is what I’m always craving
As fun as watching paint dry Be obsessed with
Describe a subject you didn’t like before but have interest now.
You should say:
What it is;
When you studied the subject;
Why you didn’t like it before;
And explain why you have interest in it now.
caught my interest, some historical movies, tedious, listening to some gossip, rote learning,
exam-oriented, as fun as watching paint dry, sensational
Speaking of a subject I used to hate but like now, I would say history. I was in history classes from
primary school to high school, but it never really………………………………………….. (1). All the
history teachers I had were pretty…………………………………………… (2) since they just taught
with textbooks. And the learning process was
basically……………………………………………………………………….. (3). It was one of the
most boring subjects I ever had. Sitting in history class was about …………………………
……………………………………………….. (4) But things changed after I entered college. I found a
talk show about history that was ……………………………………… ……………………… (5) on the
internet. The host was Gao Xiaosong, who is also a famous music producer in China. He has a good
head for history. He loves reading historical novels and really knows history like the back of his hand.
He often makes commentary for ……………………………………………………………… (6) and

TV shows by going into detail about some interesting historical stories that I never learned in history
class. I always listened to him with relish. It was as fun as ……………………………
…………………………….. (7).
From his talks, I found that learning history is actually interesting and meaningful. And I gradually came
to understand that it wasn’t history itself that was the problem; it was just the
…………………………………………………………….. (8) of it that made me dislike history class.
If I’d had a history teacher like Gao Xiaosong, I might’ve been a straight A student in the subject.
Topic: Place
With a great learning atmosphere It’s rare to

To be accurate If I ever make it big
Sections It’s even better if
Quiet and peaceful Duplex penthouse
Be conscious about Smart home
Keep their voices down Remotely controlled
Silent study On top of that
Have any issues with Chat over tea
Be really conducive for Feel right at home
Exam-takers What if
Describe a place you like to study at (indoor or outdoor).

You should say:
Where it was;
When you went there;
What you did there;
And explain why you like to study there
To be accurate, are conscious about, never had any issues with, conducive, exam-takers, it’s
rare to, with a great learning atmosphere
1.
Well, I like studying at a place…………………………………………………………… (1). One place

I often go to is a library that’s within walking distance of my home
…………………………………………………… (2), it takes me just about 10 minutes to walk there.
It’s a large public library that has lots of different sections, like a newsroom, video room, study room
and children’s reading room. It’s also a popular place in my neighborhood as I always see plenty of
people there. Even though it often has many visitors, the environment there is usually quiet and peaceful
as most of them ……………………………………………………….. (3) keeping their voices down
after they’ve entered the library.
Actually, now that I’m preparing for the IELTS test, I often go there to study, especially on weekends.
It’s definitely a perfect place for silent study. You know, I love studying in silence and I’ve
………………………………………………………….. (4) people making noise and disturbing my
study. And I always feel very productive studying at the library. When everyone around is concentrated
on studying, the atmosphere is really ……………………………………………………. (5) for
motivation and concentration. Plus, many …………………………………………………….. (6) study
there as well. I even made friends with several students who are also preparing for the IELTS exam.
To tell the truth, …………………………………………………. (7) have such a perfect place to read
and write in the city. I hope there can be more good places like this library for people to study.
Describe an ideal home (house or apartment) that you would like to live in
You should say:
Where it would be;
How big it would be (big or small);
What type of home it would be;
And explain why you would like to live in this place.

duplex penthouse, Make it big, Everyone should have a dream. What if it comes true? On top
of that, chat over tea, feel right at home,
2.
Honestly, if I ever ……………………………………………….. (1) someday, I’d love to live in a

unique flat on the top floor of a high-rise building. It’s even better if it’s a
……………………………………………………….. (2), because it means it’ll have two stories,
including a large living room.
Specifically, I hope there will be a big home office for me to work comfortably in, and also four
bedrooms so even if guests spend the night, it won’t get too crowded. Plus, I want it to be a smart home
so that all the appliances, lights and other household items can be remotely controlled by my smartphone.
For example, when I’m about to come back home, I can remotely turn on the lights and the air
conditioner. It’s cool just to think about it.
……………………………………………………… (3), the home must have an open balcony. You

know, standing on the balcony must be like standing on a rooftop. And I’ll put a beautiful garden up
there so I can always enjoy the scenery, relax, and …………………………………………………. (4)
with my family or friends.
I believe I will love living in such a place very much. An environment like that will help me wind down
and …………………………………………………. (5) every day. Even though a penthouse like what
I said just now must be pretty expensive, I will work hard for it. Just like a famous entrepreneur said:
………………………………………………………………………. (6).
Topic: Habit
On a whim Work like a charm on

Make a to-do list By a long shot
An absolute must Way more
Do the trick for me Conducive
Sort out A certain amount of time
Priority Procrastination
Cross the ones I’ve finished off Check off a bullet
Describe something you often do to help you study or work

You should say:
What it is;
How you learn it;
When you do it;
And explain how you feel about the method.
by a long shot, way more, conducive, did the trick for me, sort out, cross the ones I’ve
finished off, works like a charm on, procrastination, check off a bullet, on a whim, to-do list,
an absolute must,
I think I’m the kind of person who likes following a schedule rather than doing
things………………………………………………… (1). So, when it comes to something helpful to
my work and study, I have to say I make a …………………………………….. (2) every day. It’s
……………………………………………….. (3) for me.
I’ve been keeping this habit for years and it ……………………………………………… (4) from day
one. Specifically, I ……………………………………….. (5) the things that need to be completed in
the morning before starting my study. And I organize all the tasks I plan to do in terms of their
importance and priority. Recently, I’ve been preparing for the IELTS test. So every morning I make a
list of the modules that I need to do on that day. And then I just
……………………………………………………………………. (6) my list.
That way ………………………………………………………………. (7) me. I feel like the to-do list
helps me improve my productivity……………………………………………………….. (8). After I sort
out all the things I need to do, I’m ………………………………………… (9) focused on finishing the
tasks one by one. So, it’s really …………………………………… (10) for motivation and
concentration.
Plus, planning things beforehand lets me do more things for a certain amount of time. Now I’ve never
had any issue with……………………………………………………. (11). By the way, I feel pretty
fulfilled every time I ………………………………………………… (12) on the to-do list.
Topic: History
The central planning era Experience the poverty and rigid lifestyle of that era
In a planned economy environment Iron rice bowl
Simply speaking A job for life
Have control over Compete in the stiff job market
Nation-owned business Be bored out of my mind
Describe a historical period you’d like to know more about.

You should say:
When it was;
What happened during that period of time;
Who played an important role in this period of time;
And explain why you are interested in this period of time
an iron rice bowl, compete in the stiff job market, be bored out of my mind, the central
planning era, had control over, nation-owned businesses, experienced the poverty and rigid
lifestyle of that era,
I’d like to talk about ……………………………………………………………… (1) in China. At the

time, our country was in a planned economy environment. Simply speaking, the government
………………………………………………………… (2) all economic activities and there were only
…………………………………………………….(3) The period was between the 1950s and the 1970s.
I remember it well because my history teacher in high school gave us a very good lecture about it with
all kinds of details about that era. Plus, my parents grew up during that period
and………………………………………………………………………….. (4). They’ve shared some
stories of their life back then with me as well. So this era in our history has definitely left its mark on
me.
At that time, everyone’s jobs were assigned by the government. But the salary was fixed whether your
work performance was good or bad. People called jobs like
this……………………………………………………………. (5), which means a job for life.
I’m always curious about this period in China’s history. For one, I’m a little jealous of the young people
at that time because they didn’t have to
……………………………………………………………………….. (6) that all the college graduates
are facing today. For another, I often wonder what my life would be like if I was born back then. I don’t
know if I would ………………………………………………………. (7) every day. After all,
everything was planned.
Topic: Found something
Pack in like sardines Have a tight schedule

Keep an eye on his stuff Turn out for the best
Slipped out of his pocket Down the drain
Must have been a nervous wreck without his Kind of
phone Finder
Lost and found
Describe a time you found something that someone lost.

You should say:
What it was;
When and where you found it;
What you did after you found it;
And explain how you felt about finding it.
turned out for the best, down the drain, packed in like sardines, keep an eye on his stuff,
slipped out of his pocket, a nervous wreck, had a tight schedule,
Off the top of my head, the first thing that comes to mind is the time I found a smartphone, an iPhone
4. Honestly, it might be the most expensive item I’ve ever found.
If memory serves correctly, it was about two years ago. At the time, I was on a bus that was so crowded,
people were practically…………………………………………………. (1). When I was about to get off
the bus, I found a cellphone on the seat next to me. And the guy who sat there had just gotten off the
bus at the previous stop. So I guess he forgot to
………………………………………………………………. (2), and the cellphone must’ve

……………………………………………………………….... (3)
Anyway, I thought the guy must have been ………………………………………………… (4) without
his phone. So I gave the cellphone to the bus driver right away. He said he would put it in the lost and
found of a police station. Since I still ……………………………………………………………… (5) to
follow, I just let the driver handle it.
I don’t know if the cellphone has been returned to its owner or not, but I hope
everything………………………………………………………………… (6). After all, losing an
iPhone is basically like throwing 5000 yuan……………………………………………….. (7). Besides,
I was kind of happy that I was the one who found it. You know, not every finder would return it or
submit it to the lost and found.
Topic: TV program
Have been caught up with Hilarious

Make me crack up Make me laugh so hard that I cry
Stars Have a good laugh
Come out Facial gestures and body movements
A big hit at the box office Let you down
Spectacularly Make a bust a gut
Scam
Describe a film or TV program that made you laugh a lot.

You should say:
What it was;
When you watched it (How often you watched it);
What it was about;
And explain why you laughed a lot.
Domestic 007, been caught up with, let you down, make me bust a gut, made me crack up,
stars, made me laugh so hard that I cried, came out, a big hit at the box office, spectacularly,
scammed, had a good laugh, facial gestures and body movements,
I’ve ……………………………………………………….. (1) studying recently and haven’t seen much

TV or movies, but when it comes to a movie that ……………………………………………………. (2),
the first one that comes to mind is a comedy called ………………………………………………. (3) It
……………………….. (4) Stephen Chow, who is a well-known comedian in China.
It’s not a new movie; it’s actually been out for at least 10 years, but in the year when the film
……………………………………. (5), it was ……………………………………………… (6). If
memory serves correctly, I first watched this film on a DVD that I borrowed from my friend Lisa about
5 years ago. It came with glowing recommendations from her, since she was also a huge fan of this
movie.
In the movie, there are many …………………………………………… (7) funny plots that happen
between Chow and the bad guys. I still remember a scene where he
………………………………………….. (8) a man to put his head into a toilet, it was hilarious. It was
definitely a comedic masterpiece and it ……………………………………………
……………………….. (9)
Anyway, I ………………………………………….. (10) watching this film. I think it was mainly

because of the funny plots as well as Chow’s hilarious………………………………………… (11).
Honestly, it’s the kind of movie you can watch over and over again and it will never
……………………………………….. (12). I’ve watched it with my friends at least three times, it can
always ………………………………………………………….. (13).
Topic: Game
Hide-and-seek Scam my friends into coming out

The counting kid Hiding spots
Back then Bluffing
The most often Tirelessly
A stone’s throw away from Give me a sense of achievement
The heart of the community Have a blast
Maze
Describe a game you liked to play when you were a kid.

You should say:
What it was;
Who you played with;
Where did you play it;
And explain why you liked to play this game.
hiding spots, bluffing, tirelessly, gave me a sense of achievement, hide-and-seek, the

counting kid, the most often, a stone’s throw away from, maze, scammed my friends into
coming out
Off the top of my head, the first one I can think of is definitely
………………………………………………… (1). You know, when a kid counts to 10 with their eyes
closed, all the other kids have to find a place to hide and wait to see if
…………………………………………………………. (2) can find them later. It’s a pretty common
game among children, at least for my generation. Back then, I often played with friends living nearby.
The place we played at ………………………………………………….. (3) was a park located
………………………………………………………………… (4) our home. The park was pretty much

the heart of the community because basically it had tons of entertainment facilities for kids. Anyway,
the garden in the park was like a………………………………. (5), so it was perfect for us to play hide
and seek.
If memory serves correctly, we often played there when we were off from school. One thing I will never
forget is that I often …………………………………………………………… …………………. (6)
from their ……………………………………………………… ……………………….. (7) by shouting
“Hey! Found you!” but actually I was just……………………………………… (8). It was hilarious
whenever I tricked them. I really loved playing the game with my friends. We actually often played
…………………………………………………… (9) until sunset. Sometimes I would find the hiding
kid quickly, sometimes I hid so well that they couldn’t find me. Either way, it
…………………………………………………………………….. (10) and we always had a blast.
Topic: Plant/ flower
Used to plant Edible

Front yard Be cooked into
Like its name suggests Have great viewing value
Sunlight is sufficient Enormous sunflower farms
Move with the motion of the sun Tourist attractions
Economic plant Golden sea made of countless yellow flowers
Describe a plant or flower that is famous or important in your country.

You should say
What type of plant, flower or tree it is
Where it grows or is usually seen
How it is used in your country
And why it is famous or important
Enormous sunflower farms, a golden sea made of countless yellow flowers, Sunflowers, front
yard, sunlight is sufficient, a grown man, moves with the motion of the sun, economic plant,
edible, be cooked into, have great viewing value
I’d like to talk about ………………………………………….. (1). When I was young, my grandparents
used to plant a ton of sunflowers in their………………………………… (2). I saw them all the time
when I visited my grandparents. So when it comes to a plant or flower, the first one that comes to mind
is sunflowers.
Like its name suggests, sunflowers grow in places where………………………………………….. (3).

Most parts of China are suitable for planting it. It’s usually very tall. I remember the ones in my
grandparents’ yard were even taller than……………………………………………………. (4). And the
most interesting feature of sunflowers is that its flower

……………………………………………………………….. (5) every day. It faces east in the morning
and gradually turns west during the day.
Sunflowers are a kind of important ……………………………………………………………. (6) in

China, especially in the food industry. You know, its seeds are …………………………………………..
(7) and can ……………………………………….. (8) tasty snacks, which are one of the most common
snacks in China. Besides, sunflower oil is very healthy and nutritional. Even though it’s much pricier
than normal cooking oil, it has become pretty popular among Chinese people now.
Besides, I think sunflowers also………………………………………………………. (9). Many

……………………………………………………………. (10) are actually tourist attractions as well.
When sunflowers blossom in summer, their fields look
like……………………………………………………………………….. (11). You will definitely be
blown away by this view if you see it.
Topic: Language
At the top of my list Enunciate

Set French courses as a mandatory subject There are different genders for different terms
As for Come from the back of your throat
Phrases we use in everyday life Will be very practical
Mimic with recordings on them Definitely
Describe a second foreign language you would like to learn.

You should say:
What it is and where it is spoken
How would you learn it
What difficulties you might have when learning it
And explain why you would choose to study this language.
enunciate, as fun as watching paint dry, there are different genders for different terms, the
back of your throat, practical, at the top of my list, Quebec, set French courses as a
mandatory subject, phrases we use in everyday life, mimic with recordings on them
To be honest, I haven’t planned to learn a second foreign language yet. But if I have to choose one,
French would be…………………………………………………………. (1). France and many other
French-speaking areas, such as ……………………………………. (2) in Canada, all use French.
Actually I know many English-speaking countries also
………………………………………………………………… (3) As for how I would learn it, well,
now there are many language-learning apps. They teach basic pronunciation, vocabulary, and
………………………………………………………… (4). You can even
…………………………………………………………….. (5) and the machine will judge if you

……………………………………………………………… (6) correctly. So I think I will download
this kind of app to teach myself.
But to me, the hardest part would be grammar and the rules of pronunciation. You know, grammar rules
are about……………………………………………………………… (7). And I heard that in French ,
………………………………………………………………………… (8), which is more complicated
than English. Plus, some of the sounds in French come
from……………………………………………………………………….. (9); sometimes it sounds like
you’re talking with water in your mouth. I feel this is extremely hard for me.
Anyway, I think learning French would be very……………………………………………….. (10). If I

have a chance to go to Europe for travel or work in the future, this language skill will definitely help me
find a job easily. Plus, many people say French is the most beautiful language, so I would love to learn
more about it.
Topic: Mobile phone
A used phone A bummer

Cost my mon an arm and a leg Cellphone plane
Back then Access to
A real pain As well
Make my life a breeze
Describe the first mobile phone that you have got.

You should say:
When and where you got it;
Who bought it;
What you mostly used it for;
And explain the difference/influence it made to your life.
a used one, Back then, telephone booth, my cellphone plan didn’t have data, I called my
family more frequently, And it made me become closer
My first cellphone was an iPhone 3G given to me by my mom. I got it when I was a high school student.
It was a little funny that my mom gave me her old iPhone because she bought a new model. Even though
my first cellphone was……………………………………… (1), I was glad to have it. After all, iPhones
were pricy; even the old one cost my mom an arm and a leg.
………………………………………………………… (2), I was at a boarding school, so it was a real

pain for me to contact my parents at school without a cellphone. I had to wait in a long line at the
……………………………………………………….. (3) whenever I wanted to make a call. So a

cellphone really made my life a breeze when I wanted to call someone.
Anyway, I mainly used it to text and call my family and my friends. Honestly, it was really a bummer
that……………………………………………………………………… (4). I had a smartphone but I
couldn’t use QQ, WeChat and all the fun apps, because they all need access to the internet.
As for how my life changed with this cellphone, I think it made me feel less lonely than before. When I
had the cellphone…………………………………………………………. (5) and talked more with them
about my school life, which was a great way for me to wind down from the stress.
……………………………………………………. (6) to my family as well.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Handmade Cake Describes First Homemade Gift

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IELTS Speaking Part 2: Handmade Cake Describes First Homemade Gift

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TÌM THÊM TÀI LIỆU

IELTS SPEAKING PART 2

Topic 1: Make a cake

Useful phrases for this topic

Handcraft To take matters into my own hands

Describe a handmade gift you gave to a friend or relative.

Fill in the blanks using words below

Before I made the cake, I ……………………………………………………………… (9) on a cooking

You know, the whole process ……………………………….

Describe a time you taught something new to a younger person

Fill in the blanks using words below

Anyway, I don’t have a knack for teaching, so I decided to take matters

……………………………………………… (8) rather than ………………………………………

Fill in the blanks using words below

I’m going to talk about the time I needed to find……………………………………………….. (1). I

I was making the cake …………………………………………… …………………………. (6), I

Useful phrases for this topic

Leave a mark on I was a little afraid of water

Fill in the blanks using words below

……………………………………………. (1) a sport I’d like to try,

Actually, in ………………………………………………. (6) , swimming is not a

My friend Lisa is ……………………………………………………. (10) when it comes to swimming.

Honestly, I really look forward to ………………………………………………… (14). After all,

Describe a skill that took you a long time to learn.

Fill in the blanks using words below

The main reason for my ………………………………………………………… (6) was that it was a

Fill in the blanks using words below

mentioned the swimming center. I was basically

Fill in the blanks using words below

I’m going to talk about a ………………………………. (1) in my city. It’s

………………………………………………………………….. (5), this new swimming center

Describe an activity you do to stay healthy.

Fill in the blanks using words below

Well ,……………………………………………………………… (1), the first one I can think of is

Fill in the blanks using words below

……………………………………………… (3), when I was about 15 years old, my mom helped me

…………………………………………………….. (6) of my home. So I was thinking about practicing

Describe something you want to do but don’t have time for

Fill in the blanks using words below

Honestly, I’m ……………………………………………… (8) of swimming, so I would be happy if I

Topic: Pressure cooker

Useful phrases for this topic

Digital Order take-out food

Describe a time when you received something that you needed.

Fill in the blanks using words below

…………………………………………………… (1) something I received from others, um…the first

……………………………………………………………….. (6) a few days later, my parents told me

Anyway, I just want to say that …………………………………………………….. (9) receive

Describe something you bought but don’t often use.

Fill in the blanks using words below

Well, the first thing that …………………………………….. (1) is my ………………

……………………………………………………………… (10) I only used it a couple of times. When

I think ……………………………………………….. (13) I bought this cooker. If I knew I would

Fill in the blanks using words below

When it comes to a piece of………………………………………………… (1), um…the first thing that

Actually it’s what my friend recommended that I buy. It’s a

It worked perfectly at the beginning, but …………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………… (10) I bet it must be

Fill in the blanks using words below

………………………………………………….. (1) a complaint, I just made one not long

remotely by smartphones. It really blew me away, so I bought one from Taobao

It’s funny that just an hour after. I ………………………………………