English Lesson 33

Going out and presents

You and your free time, a present you broke by accident, and changes in gift-giving.

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

You and your free time

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

Can you tell me a little about yourself and your family?

Sure. I'm twenty-four, and I work as a graphic designer. I live with my parents and my younger brother in an apartment in the city. My father is a taxi driver, and my mother runs a small sewing business from home.

  • Sure.a friendly, natural start
  • I work as a…say your job
  • runs a small … businessrun = manage

Do you prefer going out with friends or staying at home in your free time? Why?

It depends on my week. If work has been very busy, I prefer to stay at home and rest. But usually, I like going out with friends. We go to a café or a park, and it helps me feel energetic again.

  • It depends on my weekthe answer changes
  • If work has been very busy, …describe a situation
  • feel energetic againhave energy again

What are some benefits of travelling?

Travelling helps you relax and forget about daily problems. You also learn about new cultures, new food and new ways of thinking. And when you travel with friends or family, you make memories together that you never forget.

  • benefitsgood results
  • forget about daily problemsstop thinking about normal stress
  • new ways of thinkingdifferent ideas
  • make memories togetherdo things you will remember together

Could you tell me something about your hometown?

My hometown is Tabriz, in the north-west of my country. It's a big, old city, and it's famous for its huge covered bazaar, one of the oldest in the world. The winters are very cold, but the people are warm and hard-working.

  • It's famous for…say what people know it for
  • covered bazaara market with a roof
  • The winters are very cold, but…contrast weather and people

Part 2 · Cue card

A present you were given and broke by accident

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 present which you were given and that you broke by accident.

You should say:

  • what it was
  • who gave it to you and why
  • how you broke it
  • and explain how you felt when you broke it
Ready 1:00

Start

I'd like to talk about a beautiful glass vase. It was a present, and I'm still a bit sad that I broke it.

What it was

It was a blue glass vase, hand-made by a famous glass artist. It had small white flowers painted on it, and it looked lovely in the sunlight.

Who gave it and why

My aunt gave it to me when I moved into my first apartment. She said every new home needs something beautiful, and she knew I love the colour blue.

How you broke it

About a year later, I was cleaning the living room. I was moving the table, and I didn't notice that the vase was near the edge. It fell onto the floor and broke into many pieces.

How you felt

I felt terrible. It wasn't only because it was expensive, but because it was a gift from my aunt. I didn't know how to tell her. In the end, I told her the truth, and she just laughed and said, "It's only glass." Her reaction made me feel much better, and I learned to be more careful.

  • I'm still a bit sad that…show your feeling now
  • hand-mademade by hand
  • when I moved into…when I started living in
  • near the edgeclose to the end of the table
  • broke into many piecesbecame many small parts
  • Her reactionwhat she said or did after hearing

Part 3 · Discussion

Presents and shopping

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

Are there any famous markets or stores in your city that attract tourists?

Yes, the old bazaar is the most famous. Tourists love it because it's very old, with brick roofs and narrow paths. You can buy carpets, spices, dried fruit and handicrafts there. Even if you don't buy anything, just walking through it is an experience.

  • attract touristsmake tourists want to come
  • the most famousthe best known
  • dried fruitfruit with the water removed, like raisins
  • just walking through it is an experienceit's interesting even without buying

Are presents always a good thing for people? Why?

Mostly yes, but not always. A present can make someone feel loved. But sometimes people feel they have to give a present back, which can be stressful, especially if they don't have much money. Also, expensive presents can sometimes create pressure in a relationship.

  • Mostly yes, but not always.a balanced answer
  • make someone feel lovedmake them feel important
  • give a present backgive a present in return
  • create pressurecause stress

What kinds of presents are suitable in any situation?

Flowers and sweets are suitable for almost any situation, like a visit, a birthday or a thank-you. A good book is also a safe choice. And gift cards are useful, because the person can choose what they want.

  • suitable for almost any situationgood for most events
  • a safe choicea choice that is not risky
  • gift cardscards with money for a shop

How has gift-giving changed since your grandparents' time?

In my grandparents' time, presents were simple, like home-made food, fabric or a little money. People didn't give presents very often, only on big occasions. Today, we give presents more often, and they're more expensive. Also, we buy many of them online.

  • In my grandparents' time, …talk about the past
  • fabriccloth used to make clothes
  • on big occasionson important events
  • more oftenmore times

Have people become more materialistic about gifts than in the past?

Yes, I think so. Today, many people judge a gift by its price or brand. Social media makes it worse, because people post photos of expensive gifts. In the past, people cared more about the thought behind the gift than the price.

  • materialisticcaring too much about money and things
  • judge a gift by its pricedecide its value by cost
  • makes it worsemakes the problem bigger
  • the thought behind the giftthe care and idea in it

How do you think gift-giving will change in the future?

I think digital gifts will become more common, like online subscriptions or digital money. People will also give more experiences, like tickets or courses. But I hope traditional gifts, like flowers and hand-written cards, won't disappear, because they feel more personal.

  • will become more commonwill happen more often
  • online subscriptionspaying regularly for an online service
  • hand-written cardscards written by hand
  • feel more personalshow more care

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