English Lesson 101
Cooking and homes
Food and cooking at home, a home that someone you know lives in, and renting and buying homes.
How to practise
- Listen to an answer two times. Read the text while you listen.
- Shadow it. Set the speed to 0.75×. Play it again and speak at the same time as the voice.
- Turn on practice mode. The answers are hidden. Read each question and answer it out loud.
- Make it yours. Use the same phrases, but say true things about your city, your job and your life.
- Practise with a partner. One person reads the questions. The other answers without looking.
Part 1 · Interview
Food and cooking
Short answers. About 20 to 30 seconds each. Answer, give a reason, add one detail.
What sorts of food do you like eating most? Why?
I like rice dishes the most, especially with chicken or with herbs and fish. I also love soups in winter, because they're warm and comforting. And I can never say no to fresh bread from the bakery.
- rice dishesfoods made with rice
- warm and comfortingmake you feel cosy and better
- I can never say no to…I always want
Who normally does the cooking in your home? Why?
My mother does most of the cooking, because she enjoys it and she's an amazing cook. But I cook on Fridays to give her a break. My father makes the best kebabs, so he cooks when we have a barbecue.
- does most of the cookingcooks most often
- an amazing cooka very good cook
- to give her a breakso she can rest
Do you watch cooking programmes on TV? Why?
Sometimes, mostly on YouTube rather than TV. I like short videos that show quick and easy recipes. I've learned to make pasta and a few desserts that way. Some cooking shows are also fun to watch, like competitions.
- rather than TVinstead of TV
- quick and easy recipessimple instructions for cooking
- that wayby doing this
In general, do you prefer eating out or eating at home? Why?
I prefer eating at home. It's healthier and cheaper, and I can relax in comfortable clothes. Eating out is nice for special occasions, or when I want to try food I can't make myself, like sushi.
- In general, …usually
- eating outeating at restaurants
- food I can't make myselffood I don't know how to cook
Part 2 · Cue card
A home that someone you know lives in
You get 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Follow the four points on the card in order.
Candidate task card
Describe a house or apartment that someone you know lives in.
You should say:
- whose home it is
- where it is
- what it looks like inside
- and explain what you like or dislike about it
Start
I'd like to talk about my uncle's house in a village near Kashan. It's a very special old house.
Whose home it is
It belongs to my uncle and his wife. They bought it about ten years ago, when it was almost a ruin, and they spent three years restoring it.
Where it is
It's in a quiet village at the edge of the desert, about half an hour from the city. The houses there are made of mud brick, and the streets are narrow and winding.
What it looks like inside
Inside, there's a big courtyard with a small pool in the middle and pomegranate trees around it. The rooms are around the courtyard. They have high ceilings, coloured glass windows and Persian carpets on the floor. There's also a wind tower, which keeps the house cool in summer without air conditioning.
What you like and dislike
I love how peaceful it is. In the evening, sitting in the courtyard and listening to the water is wonderful. The only thing I don't like is that it's far from shops, so you have to plan your shopping carefully. But I'd still love to live in a house like that one day.
- It belongs to…it is owned by
- almost a ruinnearly destroyed
- restoring itrepairing it to its original state
- narrow and windingthin and with many turns
- a wind towera tower that brings cool air into the house
- plan your shopping carefullythink ahead about buying things
Part 3 · Discussion
Homes
Longer answers. About 30 to 45 seconds. Give your opinion, explain why, and give an example.
What kinds of homes are most popular in your country? Why?
In big cities, apartments are the most popular, because land is expensive and there isn't much space. In small towns and villages, people prefer houses with a yard, where they can grow plants and have more privacy.
- land is expensivethe ground costs a lot
- a yardan outside space next to a house
- more privacymore personal space
What are the advantages of living in a house rather than an apartment?
A house usually has more space, and often a garden. You don't share walls with neighbours, so it's quieter. Children can play outside safely. And you have more freedom to change things, like painting or building an extra room.
- You don't share walls with neighboursno neighbours next to you
- play outside safelyplay outdoors without danger
- building an extra roomadding a room
Would everyone like to live in a larger home? Why?
Not everyone. A bigger home costs more money, and it's more work to clean. Many young people and older people prefer a small home that's easy to manage. Location is often more important than size.
- Not everyone.a careful no
- more work to cleanharder to keep clean
- easy to managesimple to look after
- Location is often more important than sizewhere it is matters more
How easy is it to find a place to live in your country?
It's quite difficult, especially in big cities. Prices have gone up a lot, and rents increase every year. Many young people can't afford to rent alone, so they live with their parents longer or share an apartment.
- Prices have gone up a lotthings cost much more
- rents increase every yearrent gets higher yearly
- can't afford to rent alonedon't have enough money to rent by themselves
Is it better to rent or to buy a place to live? Why?
If you can, buying is better in the long term, because you don't lose money on rent, and the home becomes yours. But renting is more flexible. It's good for young people who might move for work. It depends on your situation.
- in the long termover many years
- the home becomes yoursyou own it
- more flexibleeasier to change
Is there a right age for young adults to stop living with their parents?
I don't think there's one right age. In my culture, many people live with their parents until they get married, and that's normal. In other countries, people leave at eighteen. It depends on culture, money and the person.
- one right agea single correct age
- until they get marriedbefore marriage
- It depends on culture, money and the personmany things matter
Audio: Microsoft neural voices. A British voice reads the examiner's questions, and an American voice reads the model answers.