[SEP – DEC 2021] Describe something special you brought home from a holiday

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Describe something special you brought home from a holiday IELTS Cue Card

You should say:

• what it was
• when and where you went on this holiday
• what you did with it after you brought it home
• and explain why you thought it was special

Band 8 Sample Answer 

I’m a penny pincher and usually don’t get attracted to anything easily. But when I went on a tour to Delhi with my friends, I could not resist buying an expensive piece of jewellery from Chandni chowk.

(what it was) (when and where you went on this holiday) Last month, when I was holidaying in Delhi with my friends, I happened to go to Chandni Chowk, the busiest street in Delhi. The place is famous for silver articles. As I was passing from one shop to another, something piqued my interest. It was a pair of silver earrings. I could not hold myself from entering the shop. As I examined the earring closely, I found that they had pearls studded in them. It was very beautiful, and I purchased it.

(what you did with it after you brought it home) Back home, I gave the earrings to my cousin, who was much younger than me. She was overjoyed. She stared at it for some time and not knowing how to use it, reached out to me for help. I assisted her in wearing it. It was during the night, and she looked like a princess. Everyone at home was happy to see the little girl move hither and thither with the dangling earrings.

(and explain why you thought it was special) The earrings were exquisite, and I felt they were specially made for a princess. My little sister seemed to be the chosen one. She flashed a smile as she moved around the room, and the earrings produced a sound which mesmerized everybody and made it all the more special.

Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking Part 2 (IELTS Cue Card)

Penny pincher (idiom) – a person who is unwilling to spend money: Eg: Sita is a penny pincher.

Holidaying ( verb ) – spend a holiday in a specified place.

Eg: Ram was holidaying in Hawaii.

piqued (verb) – arouse (interest or curiosity).

Eg: Einstein’s theories piqued his interest.

dangling (adj) – hanging or swinging loosely.

Eg: The child became happy on seeing the dangling bells in the church.

exquisite (adj) – extremely beautiful and delicate.

Eg: The painting was exquisite.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 (Discussion)

What sorts of things do tourists often buy to help them remember a holiday they have had?

(Give a direct answer to the question) (Explain your reason or reasons) People usually buy things which are unique in that place. (Give an example) For example, if they are visiting Taj Mahal, they buy a toy image of TajMahal. Watches are famous in Switzerland. In the US, the one- dollar shops are very common. People buy a lot of gifts from these shops. Key chains, dresses, toys, postcards are some of the commonest things that people buy.

Do you think it’s good that locals sell things to tourists at tourist locations?

(Give a direct answer to the question) (Explain your reason or reasons) On the positive side, it is a business opportunity for the local people. On the flip side, local people take advantage of innocent tourists, especially foreigners and try to sell things at a very high price. It will bring down the image of the nation when foreigners get to know the actual price. If locals should use the opportunity in the right manner, it may be profitable to them and as well improve the nation’s image.

Why do you think people like to take photos when they go on vacation (= go on a holiday)?

(Give a direct answer to the question) (Explain your reason or reasons) Photos are the only way by which people can connect to the past. On a holiday, photos help to capture the scenic beauty of the place, which later serves as a powerful tool of remembrance. It is a sense of pride to share photos with friends and family. Photos remind the person that he/she had been in a particular place.

What do you think are the pros and cons of taking an expensive (o, a high-quality, or a professional) camera with you on a vacation?

(Give a direct answer to the question) (Explain your reason or reasons) By carrying a high- quality camera, the person is guaranteed of good photos. Tough cameras will withstand the severe heat and cold, and they will have special inbuilt modes to capture the nighttime sceneries. So they enable you to shoot in the day and night. On the contrary, costly items are prone to theft. So the person must be very careful not to lose them.

Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking Part 3 (Discussion)

Unique (adj) – being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.

Eg: “These oranges are unique in England.”

flip side ( noun ) – another aspect or version of something, especially its reverse or its unwanted concomitant.

Eg: Corruption is the flip side of electing this party.

take advantage of (phrase ) – To use an opportunity to achieve results, sometimes in an unfair way:

Eg: The employee took advantage of his boss’s innocence

image (noun) – the general impression that a person, organization, or product presents to the public.^ £

Eg: The politician got arrested for bribery. So she is working hard to revive her image.

mode (noun) – a way of operating, living, or behaving:

Eg: Tom turned on the video mode in his mobile phone.