IELTS Speaking Part 2 & 3 Sample Band 9 – Describe an important river/lake in your country

Describe an important river/lake in your country

You should say:

• What is this river called
• How do you know about it
• How long/big it is
• And explain why it is important

 

Band 9 Model Answer

I’m going to talk about a very beautiful lake, which is referred to as a symbol of our country. So it’s a world famous lake. I’m talking about X lake, a very large lake located in the center of [Y city], which is known for its historic beauty. There is even a legend related to the name that went down in history.

As a child, I really liked the story so I always wished to visit it someday. Yet due to the great distance, I had no chance to see it with the naked eye until I turned 18 and went to a university nearby. My first visit to X lake remains an unforgettable memory. Its elegant beauty is out of this world, with a big tower and a red bridge leading to an old temple located in the middle of the lake. To be frank, I’m strongly attracted by historical monuments and relics of the past- they always make me feel a pang of nostalgia upon seeing them, because they provide a link to our roots. That’s why I really love this lake.

One of the various things I’d like to do there is to wander around with my friends, let out the negative feelings in my mind, and I’d take some tasty types of street food. Another thing I strongly wish to do but which is out of the question is to climb up the tower on the lake and observe the aquatic life. Maybe I could even watch the turtle of the legend sleeping like a baby. As far as I know, the authority won’t allow that, so I really hope that in the future, it’ll be approved so that my wish can be fulfilled.

 

QUESTIONS FOR PART 3

Would you like to live near water, for example, near a river or the ocean? What advantages can you get if you live near the water? Why do some people like to live near water?

Yes, I do. I think for people who live near water, there’re many advantages to take. For example, they could go swimming or fishing much more often. Also, the scenery near water is usually nice and beautiful. If I live near the water. I can have a walk near the river or sea and even go there to enjoy the nature during my spare lime.

Are there any disadvantages to live at the seaside?

Yes, people can walk at the beach and swim in the sea if they live at the seaside. However, when natural disasters come, the people near the sea might he affected first. Just like the tsunami happened in Japan. Many people lost their lives, especially the ones who lived near the seaside.

Is there much water transportation in your country? = Do you like traveling by ship? =Is water transportation today the same as it used to be in the past?

Yes, there’re. However, I’ve never taken a ship to go somewhere. I guess most of the ships nowadays are used for cargo transportation because tourists usually feel they’re slower than trains or airplanes. In the past, a lot of people had to take ships or boats as transportation if they wanted to go somewhere near water. I read many novels talking about people visiting other countries by ship. I guess ship traveling was very popular in the past

Why do so many people like going to places with water such as lakes, rivers or the ocean?

As far as I’m concerned, there are often a lot of trees and the atmosphere is fresh and tranquil in some places like the river bank or some lakes. This gives them the opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, breathe some fresh air and let their hair down a bit. On top of that, some places near water like the beaches is a source of great fun am folks Ran enjoy various outdoor activities with their friends or relatives like going for a swim or going sunbathing

What kinds of leisure activities do people like to do in places such as on the ocean, at a beach, at a river, at a lake etc.?

There is a great deal of stuff we can take part in when going to such places. Firstly, we can take advantage of some voyages to do the sights, look at the blue sea and skies and enjoy life. Secondly, we can go for a swim or soak in the sunshine on the beach, feel the cool breezes in our faces. Finally, at some riverbanks or lakes, we can have a good time Recharging our batteries, and enjoying our temporary escape from the hustle and bustle of city life

As a place to spend some leisure time, do you think the beach or the seaside is more suitable for children or for old people?

If you ask me, I would have to say that the youths benefit more from going to the beaches or the seaside than the elderly. The first point worth mentioning is that young people are dynamic and adventurous, so they are pretty into taking part in a mixed diversity of outdoor activities. So obviously, they can take a full advantage of their trips. On the contrary’, the older citizens are passive and wouldn’t love to move their bodies around. This means that they merely consider such travel trips as an occasion to idle their time away.

Do you think children and old people do the same types of things when they go to a beach?

No. I don’t really think so. The range of activities and their interests vary a lot. For the young, they show a fancy for strenuous physical activities like surfing.  swimming or sand castle building, so they tend to be really engrossed in what they are doing. By contrast, old people would rather pick up a good book to read, prepare some snacks for their kids to graze or find time to have a chat with one of their relatives, whom they may not ha vet been in touch for ages.

What activities would you do if you were spending some leisure time at a beach or near the ocean?

Well, if you ask me I would certainly say that I’m fond of strenuous outdoor activities. This is simply because, I am full of energy and would rather move my bodies around, burn some kilos and lave a genuine blast with my buddies at the beach. You sec. the mere thought of it makes me get itchy feet.

Why do some people like water sports?

Obviously, some like the youths are extremely into Aquatic sports. This can easily be understood because they are dynamic and adventurous so they are pretty drawn by water polo, surfing, snorkeling lo name but a few. Some sports like those tend to be risky so it can be a time for the young guys to challenge themselves and test their own limit, which can give them more confidence in life.

Do you think that human activity is posing a threat to the oceans of the world?

Yes, definitely. Although some argue that the ocean is vast and the pollution we cause is I would say that it does have negative effect on the marine ecosystem. For example, more trading activities mean more vessels being used to transport the goods across the oceans, and there have been many oil spills reported till now. This has claimed many lives of animal creatures and affected the local environment as well. Furthermore, sewage being directly dumped into the rivers means sometime in the future the ocean will probably suffer

How important is water in people’s everyday lives?

Well, water plays a crucial role in our routine lives. Imagine that if there were no water, human beings would be dirty and smelly is there would be nothing to wash our bodies cleanly except for water. The second one is that we need water to wash the raw foods and vegetables we eat on a daily basis: otherwise, humans could  suffer from some health-related issues like food poisoning, cholera and diarrhea, to name but a few.