English Lesson 29

Transport and famous people

Public transport in your city, a famous person from history, and heroes and leaders.

How to practise
  1. Listen to an answer two times. Read the text while you listen.
  2. Shadow it. Set the speed to 0.75×. Play it again and speak at the same time as the voice.
  3. Turn on practice mode. The answers are hidden. Read each question and answer it out loud.
  4. Make it yours. Use the same phrases, but say true things about your city, your job and your life.
  5. Practise with a partner. One person reads the questions. The other answers without looking.
Speed

Part 1 · Interview

Public transport

Short answers. About 20 to 30 seconds each. Answer, give a reason, add one detail.

What kinds of public transport are there where you live?

In my city, we have a metro, buses and taxis. There are also shared taxis, which take four passengers on a fixed route. Recently, ride-hailing apps, like Snapp, have become very popular. You book a car on your phone, and it comes in a few minutes.

  • shared taxistaxis that carry several passengers together
  • a fixed routea route that doesn't change
  • ride-hailing appsapps for ordering a car with a driver
  • it comes in a few minutesit arrives quickly

Which type of public transport do you use the most? Why?

I use the metro the most. It's the fastest way to get around, because it doesn't get stuck in traffic. It's also cheap. The only problem is that it's very crowded in the morning, so sometimes I have to stand for the whole journey.

  • the fastest way to get aroundget around = travel from place to place
  • get stuck in trafficbe unable to move because of cars
  • for the whole journeyfor all the trip

What problems are there with public transport where you live?

The biggest problem is overcrowding, especially at rush hour. The buses are also often late, and some of them are old and dirty. And the metro doesn't reach every part of the city, so many people still need to use their cars.

  • overcrowdingtoo many people in one place
  • at rush hourthe busy time when people go to and from work
  • doesn't reach every part of the citydoesn't go everywhere

How would you improve the public transport system in your city?

I'd build more metro lines and buy new, clean buses. I'd also add special bus lanes, so buses don't get stuck in traffic. And I'd make an app that shows exactly when the next bus will arrive. That would save people a lot of time.

  • I'd build…I would = an imaginary plan
  • bus lanesparts of the road only for buses
  • exactly whenthe exact time
  • That would save people a lot of timeexplain the benefit

Part 2 · Cue card

A historical figure or famous person you know about

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 historical figure or a famous person you know about.

You should say:

  • who he or she is
  • what makes him or her famous
  • whether you like him or her
  • and briefly explain something about his or her life or work
Ready 1:00

Start

I'd like to talk about Avicenna, or Ibn Sina, as we call him in my country. He's one of the most famous scientists in history.

Who he is

He was a doctor, a philosopher and a scientist. He lived about a thousand years ago, in what is now Uzbekistan and Iran.

What makes him famous

He's famous mainly for his book The Canon of Medicine. It was a huge book about diseases and how to treat them. European universities used it to teach medicine for about six hundred years.

Do you like him

Yes, I really like him. I admire people who love learning, and he was a perfect example. People say he had memorised the whole Quran by the age of ten, and he was treating patients when he was only eighteen.

His life or work

He wrote more than four hundred books, on medicine, maths, music and many other subjects. His life wasn't easy. He often had to move from city to city because of wars. But he never stopped working. Today, there are many hospitals and schools named after him.

  • as we call him in my countrythe name we use
  • He's famous mainly for…give the main reason
  • how to treat themtreat = make a sick person better
  • a perfect examplethe best example
  • by the age of tenbefore or at ten years old
  • named after himgiven his name to honour him

Part 3 · Discussion

Heroes, role models and leaders

Longer answers. About 30 to 45 seconds. Give your opinion, explain why, and give an example.

Who are the most influential people in your society?

I think social media influencers and famous athletes are very influential now, especially for young people. Many young people copy what they wear and say. But in families, parents and grandparents still have the most influence on important decisions.

  • influentialable to change what others think or do
  • especially for young peoplemore than for others
  • copy what they wear and saydo the same
  • have the most influence onhave the strongest effect on

Are there many heroes or role models today?

Yes, but they're often not famous. For example, doctors and nurses during the pandemic were real heroes. Many teachers and volunteers are role models too. The problem is that the media gives more attention to celebrities than to these everyday heroes.

  • role modelspeople others want to be like
  • they're often not famousmost people don't know them
  • real heroestruly brave people
  • everyday heroesnormal people who do great things

It is said that heroes are born, not made. Do you agree?

I disagree. I think heroes are made by their experiences. Most heroes are normal people who are in a difficult situation and choose to do the right thing. Of course, some people are naturally braver, but courage can also be learned through practice and good examples.

  • are born, not madethey have it from birth, not from learning
  • I disagree.a clear opinion
  • choose to do the right thingdecide to act well
  • couragebeing brave

What qualities should a good leader have?

A good leader should have a clear vision, so people know where they're going. They should also be honest and humble. And they need to listen to people and admit their mistakes. A leader who never says sorry is not a good leader, in my opinion.

  • a clear visiona clear idea of the future
  • humblenot thinking you are better than others
  • admit their mistakessay they were wrong
  • in my opiniona common way to give your opinion

What does a leader need to do to be loved by the people?

They need to show that they really care about people's lives. They should live a simple life, not a luxurious one, and they should be close to ordinary people. Most of all, they should improve people's lives, for example by creating jobs and lowering prices.

  • really care abouttruly think about and want to help
  • a luxurious onea very rich and expensive life
  • Most of all, …the most important thing
  • lowering pricesmaking prices go down

How do you see leaders now and in the future?

Today, leaders are under a lot of pressure, because everyone can see what they do on social media. In the future, I think leaders will need to be even more open and honest. They'll also need to understand technology, because many future problems will be connected with it.

  • under a lot of pressurewith a lot of stress and expectation
  • even more open and honestmore than now
  • be connected with itbe related to it

Audio: Microsoft neural voices. A British voice reads the examiner's questions, and an American voice reads the model answers.