English Lesson 51
Clothes and birthday gifts
The clothes you wear, a birthday gift you received, and how people give and receive gifts.
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
Clothes
Short answers. About 20 to 30 seconds each. Answer, give a reason, add one detail.
What types of clothes do you like to wear?
I usually wear casual clothes, like jeans, T-shirts and trainers. They're comfortable, and I can move easily. For work, I wear a shirt and trousers. I only wear a suit for weddings or important meetings.
- casual clothesrelaxed, everyday clothes
- I can move easilythe clothes don't stop me moving
- I only wear a suit for…a suit = formal jacket and trousers
Why do you like to wear these clothes?
Mainly because they're comfortable and practical. I walk a lot during the day, so I don't want tight clothes or uncomfortable shoes. Also, casual clothes are cheaper and easier to wash.
- comfortable and practicaleasy and useful
- tight clothesclothes that are too small
- easier to washsimpler to clean
What clothes do most people wear where you live?
Most people wear modern, Western-style clothes. Men usually wear jeans or trousers and shirts. Women often wear a long coat called a manteau and a headscarf. Older people sometimes wear more traditional clothes.
- Western-style clothesclothes like in Europe and America
- a headscarfa piece of cloth worn over the head
- more traditional clothesclothes from the old culture
How are the clothes you wore as a child different from what children wear today?
When I was a child, my clothes were simple, and many of them were made by my mother or my grandmother. Today, children wear clothes with cartoon characters and famous brands. Children also care much more about fashion now, even when they're very young.
- were made by my motherpassive: who made them
- cartoon characterspeople or animals from cartoons
- care much more about fashionthink fashion is more important
Part 2 · Cue card
A birthday gift you received
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 birthday gift you received.
You should say:
- what it was
- who gave it to you
- whether it was important to you
- and explain how you felt about the gift
Start
I'd like to talk about a gift I got for my twenty-fifth birthday. It was a cooking class.
What it was
It was a gift card for a one-month Italian cooking course. There were eight lessons, and each one taught us how to make a different dish, like fresh pasta, pizza and tiramisu.
Who gave it
My best friend, Neda, gave it to me. She knows I love Italian food, and she also knows that I'm terrible at cooking. So I think it was a gift with a little joke in it!
Was it important
Yes, it was more important than I expected. Before the course, I could only make eggs and instant noodles. After it, I felt confident in the kitchen for the first time.
How you felt
When I opened it, I laughed, but I was also a bit worried, because I didn't think I could cook. Now, I'm really grateful. I cook pasta for my family at least once a week, and every time, I think of Neda. It was a gift that changed my daily life.
- It was a gift card for…a card to pay for something
- each one taught us how to…describe the lessons
- I'm terrible at cookingterrible at = very bad at
- more important than I expectedmore than I thought
- I felt confident in the kitchenI believed I could cook
- I'm really gratefulgrateful = thankful
Part 3 · Discussion
Giving and receiving gifts
Longer answers. About 30 to 45 seconds. Give your opinion, explain why, and give an example.
What kinds of gifts do men, women and children usually like to receive?
It depends on the person, of course. In general, children love toys, games and sweets. Many women like jewellery, perfume or flowers. Men often like gadgets, watches or things for their hobbies. But a thoughtful gift is good for anyone.
- It depends on the person, of courseavoid a strong general claim
- In general, …usually
- gadgetssmall, clever machines
- a thoughtful gifta gift chosen with care
How should people react when they receive a gift they don't like? Why?
They should still say thank you and smile. The person spent time and money to choose it, so it's polite to show you're grateful. You don't need to lie and say you love it. You can thank them for thinking of you.
- reactact after something happens
- it's polite to…good manners say you should
- You don't need to lieno need to say false things
- thank them for thinking of youthank them for remembering you
Why do some people enjoy looking for gifts for others?
Some people enjoy it because they like making others happy. When they see the other person's face as they open the gift, it gives them a good feeling. For them, choosing the perfect gift is like a fun challenge.
- they like making others happythey enjoy giving happiness
- it gives them a good feelingit makes them happy
- a fun challengesomething difficult but enjoyable
Some people say expensive gifts make everyone happy. What do you think?
I disagree. An expensive gift can be nice, but if it doesn't match the person's interests, it doesn't mean much. Sometimes, a cheap gift, like a hand-written letter, makes people happier, because it shows real feeling.
- I disagree.a clear opinion
- match the person's interestsfit what they like
- it doesn't mean muchit's not very important
- it shows real feelingit shows true emotion
What changes have there been in the last ten years in giving and receiving gifts?
The biggest change is online shopping. Now people can order a gift and send it to anyone's home. Gift cards and money transfers are also more common. And people often share photos of their gifts on social media.
- The biggest change is…give the main point
- money transferssending money electronically
- are also more commonhappen more often
How do you think technology will change the way we give gifts?
Maybe apps will suggest the perfect gift for each person, based on what they like online. Gifts may also arrive faster, maybe by drone. But I hope people will still choose gifts themselves, because that's what makes a gift personal.
- suggest the perfect giftgive the best idea
- based on what they like onlineusing their online interests
- by dronea drone = a small flying machine
- makes a gift personalshows care for one person
Audio: Microsoft neural voices. A British voice reads the examiner's questions, and an American voice reads the model answers.