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IELTS General Training – Writing Task 1 (Letter)
You are organizing a sports event to collect money for charity. Write a letter to your friend asking for his help.
In your letter:
explain why you are collecting money
describe the sports event you are organizing
say what kind of help you need from him
You should write at least 150 words.
Dear Rahul,
I hope you are in good health. I am writing to inform you about a sports event I am organizing to raise funds for charity and to ask for your support, as your help would be extremely valuable.
The primary purpose of collecting money is to support underprivileged children in our community. The funds raised will be used to provide essential educational resources such as books, school uniforms, and stationery. I strongly believe that contributing to a social cause like this can bring positive change and improve the lives of those in need.
The event will be a one-day sports tournament featuring cricket and football matches, scheduled to take place at the local sports complex next month. We are expecting active participation from local teams and a good turnout of spectators. The charity fund will be generated through team registration fees, entry tickets, and sponsorship contributions.
I would really appreciate your help in managing team registrations and coordinating volunteers on the event day. In addition, your support in promoting the event on social media and approaching potential sponsors would greatly contribute to the success of the program.
I hope you will be able to spare some time to support this meaningful initiative. I look forward to your response.
Best regards, Yadwinder Singh
High-Level Vocabulary
raise funds – collect money for a purpose
charity event – an event organized to help others
underprivileged children – children from disadvantaged backgrounds
educational resources – materials used for learning
social cause – an issue that benefits society
active participation – enthusiastic involvement
local community – people living in the same area
meaningful initiative – an action with a positive impact
promote the event – advertise or publicize
potential sponsors – people or companies that may provide funding
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Question
Some people say that nowadays children have an easy life, while others believe that children’s lives were easier in the past. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Sample Answer
Introduction
There is an ongoing debate about whether children today enjoy a more comfortable life compared to previous generations or whether childhood was easier in the past. While modern children benefit from technological advancement and improved living standards, I believe that each era presents distinct challenges, and childhood today is easier in some respects but more demanding in others.
Body Paragraph 1 – Children Have an Easier Life Nowadays
On the one hand, many people argue that children nowadays lead an easier life due to increased access to resources and modern facilities. Contemporary education systems provide advanced learning tools, and technology has made information readily accessible. Furthermore, improved healthcare, better nutrition, and safer living environments have significantly enhanced children’s quality of life, allowing them to grow up in greater comfort and security.
Body Paragraph 2 – Life Was Easier in the Past
On the other hand, others believe that childhood in the past was less stressful and more carefree. Children were largely free from academic competition, constant digital exposure, and social media pressure. As a result, they were able to spend more time outdoors, engage in physical activities, and develop social skills naturally. In addition, lower expectations and simpler lifestyles reduced psychological stress and allowed for a more balanced upbringing.
Conclusion (Opinion)
In my opinion, although modern children enjoy material comfort and better opportunities, they are also exposed to higher expectations and mental pressure. Therefore, while childhood today may appear easier in practical terms, life in the past was arguably easier from an emotional and psychological perspective.
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READING PASSAGE 3
Petrol power: an eco-revolution?
Laura Ingalls Wilders semi-autobiographical novel The
Long Winter describes how the inhabitants of a small town called De Smet in
the american mid-west narrowly avoided starvation during the severe winter of
1880-1881. Over three metres of snow fell on the northern plains, immobilising
the railways and cutting off the settlers from the rest of the world. Laura and
her neighbours were only saved when her fiance and his friend trudged 30
kilometres through the snow to fetch food, risking their lives in the process.
The story is a reminder of how lethal geographical isolation and crop failures
could be before the advent of modern farming and transportation technologies.
Not long ago, subsistence farmers in many countries had to cope with the ‘lean
season’ – the period of greatest scarcity before the new crops became available.
In England, late spring was once referred to as the ‘hungry gap.’ The situation
was made worse by the cost of moving heavy things over muddy dirt roads. Three
centuries ago, moving goods 50 kilometres on land between, say, Liverpool and
Manchester was as expensive as shipping them across the North Atlantic.
The development of coal-powered railways and steamships in
the 19th century revolutionized the lives of farmers. Instead of having to grow
everything they needed, they could now specialise in what they did best and
rely on other producers for their remaining needs. The result was not only
starvation, as the ever-cheaper prices, but the end of widespread famine and
food and largely displaced coal because harvests could now be transported to
those that had experienced mediocre ones. Since then petroleum-derived fuels
have largely from regions with good harvests could now be transported to those
that have experienced mediocre ones. Since then petroleum-derived fuels have
largely displaced coal because of their higher energy density, cleaner
combustion and greater ease of extraction, further improving road and rail
transportation systems.
While the convenience of modern methods of transportation is
obvious, few people grasp their historical significance. In 1898, delegates
gathered in New York City for the world’s first international urban-planning
conference. The topic that dominated discussions was not infrastructure or
housing, but horse manure. The problem was that as the populations of cities
like New York and London grew, the number of horses there also grew, and in New
York these produced nearly two million kilograms of manure each day. If this
problem continued it was estimated that by 1950 every street in London would be
buried three metres deep in horse manure. Unable to think of any solution, the
delegates concluded that urban living was inherently unsustainable.
Paradoxically, The shift to deliver perishable goods, such
as meat and dairy products, from locations that benefited from better soil and
climate, put many farms located near cities out of business. As this was greatly
reduced. As this was greatly reduced and the city workhouses for fertiliser,
the demand felt both in the cities and in the countryside. In urban workhouses
was felt both in the cities and in the countryside. breeding grounds for house
flies, perhaps three billion flies were hatched each day in US cities in the
early 20th century. With manure piles in heavy traffic and cholera and
dysenteria. The clatter of wagon wheels on cobbled pavement could be deafening,
and since a horse and wagon occupied more street space than a modern truck,
they also created an traffic congestion while a horse that collapsed on the
road significant obstruction that was difficult to remove. The countryside also
suffered. To supply the workhouses with oats and hay, additional land had to be
cleared of its natural animal and vegetation, and sometimes water had to be
diverted to irrigate it, with considerable negative effects on the whole area.
So, while the trains, cars and trucks of the early 20th
century were noisy and polluting by today’s standards, they were available,
poor soils often meant that a large amount of land was required to sustain
households, and much environmental damage, primarily in the form of soil
erosion, was caused by trying to farm these soils. It could be argued that
modern transportation allowed the development of remote regions like the
Canadian prairies and allowed more suitable crops to be grown in the poorer
soils in Europe before being sold elsewhere.
Over time, the concentration of food production in the
world’s best locations allowed some agricultural land to revert to a wild
state. For instance, France benefited from an expansion of its forest area by
one third between 1830 and 1960. This so-called ‘forest transition’ occurred in
the context of a doubling of the French population and a dramatic increase in
standards of living. Improvements in logistics also allowed the production and
export of food from locations where water was abundant to regions where it was
scarce, thus preventing the depletion of water resources there. It also made
possible a drastic increase in the size of our cities. Contrary to what most
people believe, the growth in cities is a positive development. In the words of
economist Ed Glaeser: “Residing in a forest might seem to be good way of
showing one’s love of nature, but living in a concrete jungle is actually far
more ecologically friendly.” If you love nature, stay away from it. It could be
argued that modern transportation technologies have been a major contributor to
a wealthier, cleaner and more sustainable world.
Questions 27 - 30
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter in boxes 27-30 on your answer
sheet.
27 Why were the inhabitants of De Smet in danger of starvation?
A. The trains were unable to operate normally.
B. The harvest had been completely destroyed.
C. Their access to food was limited for certain times.
D. The roads to the town had not yet been built.
28 What problem did subsistence farmers have in the past?
A. They had no effective means of storing food.
B. Food was expensive because of high shipping costs.
C. Their access to food was limited for certain times.
D. Food could not be transported for long distances by road.
29 The writer says that the use of coal to power railways
and steamships
A. led to a greater range of fresh vegetables being
available in urban areas.
B. was less efficient than the use of petroleum-derived
products.
C. allowed farmers to be more self-sufficient than they were
previously.
D. was better for the environment than using
petroleum-derived products.
30 The writer refers to an urban planning conference held in
1898 in order to
A. illustrate a problem that was later solved by modern
technology.
B. give an example of poor decisions made about urban
planning.
C. show that urban issues were misunderstood in the past.
D. indicate the disregard at the time for public health
concerns.
Questions 31 - 35
Complete the summary using the list of words, A-J, below.
Write the correct letter, A-J, in boxes 31-35 on your
answer sheet.
Problems caused by urban workhorses
In cities, the large amounts of horse manure led to certain
31. ……… in the streets and was also linked to the spread of 32. ……… . In
certain situations, the horses might even cause 33. ……… to passers-by. There
were also the problems of noise and congestion caused by horse-drawn vehicles.
In the countryside, there were problems too. The 34. ……… was damaged because of
the need to provide 35. ……… for urban workhorses.
A rich
landownersB injuries C food
D accidental
fallsF dangerous area G use of irrigation
E environmentH unpleasant smellsI treatment
J diseases
Questions 36 - 40
Do the following statements agree with the views of the
writer in Reading Passage 3? In boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet, write
YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks
about this
36 Farmers whose land was poor failed to benefit from modern forms of
transport.
37 Between 1830 and 1960 there were positive effects
associated with changing patterns of agriculture in France.
38 A fairer distribution of the world’s water resources is
needed.
39 Living in the countryside does less harm to the
environment than living in a city.
40 It is possible that modern developments in transportation
have had an effect which is
27. A 28. C 29. B 30. A 31. H 32. J 33. B 34. E 35. G 36. NO 37. YES 38. NOT GIVEN 39. NO 40. YES
Password: 24JANREADING
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Question
In some countries, the number of people who visit art galleries is declining. What are the reasons for this? How can this problem be solved?
Sample Answer
In several parts of the world, there has been a noticeable decline in the number of visitors to art galleries. This issue can be explained by changes in modern lifestyles and entertainment preferences, and it requires practical solutions to restore public interest in art-related activities.
One major reason for the decreasing popularity of art galleries is the rapid growth of digital entertainment. People now have easy access to online content, including virtual exhibitions and social media platforms, which reduces the need to visit physical galleries. In addition, busy work schedules and fast-paced lifestyles leave individuals with limited leisure time, making gallery visits seem less appealing compared to more convenient forms of entertainment.
To tackle this problem, art galleries should modernise their approach to attract a wider audience. Introducing interactive exhibitions, multimedia displays, and guided tours could significantly enhance visitor engagement. Furthermore, governments and educational institutions can play a crucial role by promoting art education, organising school trips, and offering subsidised or free entry. These measures would help raise public awareness and encourage people to appreciate art from a young age.
In conclusion, the decline in art gallery attendance is mainly caused by technological advancement and changing lifestyle patterns. However, by adopting innovative strategies and strengthening educational support, art galleries can regain public interest and remain culturally relevant.
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A Survivor's Story: (IELTS Reading Recent Actual Test)
One native bird in New Zealand that has managed to survive
the introduction of non-native species.
As an island country with a fauna dominated by birds, New
Zealand was once home to an owl species which is now extinct. The laughing owl,
named for its distinctive cry. This bird was widespread throughout the islands
when European settlers arrived in the middle of the 19th century and remained
in good numbers for some years thereafter. Where other native birds suffered
from predation by the Polynesian rat, the laughing owl turned the tables and
adapted its diet to include the rodent. It was also capable of catching and
killing the other New Zealand owl, the morepork, and even larger birds, such as
the weka. However, the laughing owl was wiped out around the beginning of the
20th century, its demise caused by specimen collectors, habitat changes, and
non-native predators including cats and stoats. Surprisingly, it is the smaller
owl, the morepork, that has managed to survive until this day.
At dusk, the melancholy sound of the morepork can be heard
in forests and parks as it calls to other moreporks and claims territory. Its
Maori name, ruru, echoes its two-part cry. In the tradition of the Maori people
of New Zealand, the morepork, or ruru, was often seen as a careful guardian. A
number of sayings referred to the bird's alertness. As a bird of the night, it
was associated with the spirit world. Moreporks were believed to act as
messengers to the gods in the heavens, flying along spiritual paths in the sky.
They were the mediums used to communicate with the gods. The occasional high,
piercing call of the morepork signified bad news, but the lower-pitched and more
common ruru call heralded good news.
Speckled dark brown, with yellow eyes and long tails, they
are around 20 centimeters long from head to tail and 175 grams in weight.
Moreporks have hinges on the edge of their feathers, so they can fly almost
silently and not alert potential prey. They have acute hearing and their large
eyes are very sensitive to light. Moreporks nest in tree hollows, in clumps of
plants, or in cavities among rocks and roots. In the wild, moreporks usually
start nesting in October, although zoo specimens have been recorded nesting in
midwinter, possibly stimulated by an ample food supply. The female lays up to
three white eggs, which she incubates for 20 to 30 days. During this time, she
rarely hunts, and the male brings food to her. Once the chicks hatch, she stays
mainly on the nest until the young owls are fully feathered. When hatched,
chicks are covered in light grey down, and have their eyes closed. The eyes do
not open until the eighth day after hatching. They can fly at around 35 days.
By day, moreporks sleep in crevices. By night, they hunt a
variety of animals mainly large invertebrates including scarab and huhu
beetles, moths, caterpillars and spiders. They also take small birds and mice.
They can find suitable food in pine forests as well as native forest. A
morepork will swoop to catch or stun its prey, which it then carries away in
its bill. Moreporks are clever hunters and birds such as robins, grey warblers
and fantails can end up as their prey. In the day, these small birds sometimes
mob drowsy moreporks and chase them away from their roosts. They have a more
peaceful life
The New Zealand Department of Conservation
The New Zealand Department of Conservation is taking steps
to ensure the preservation of New Zealand's only native owl. The department is
involved in measuring the population of moreporks and has put transmitters on a
number of birds to determine survival and mortality. As well as being New
Zealand's only native owl, the morepork has symbolic and spiritual importance,
so in monitoring the bird it is hoped that the morepork will continue to
survive and thrive.
Other Threats to Moreporks
Predation
by non-native predators: Cats, stoats, and ferrets are a major threat
to moreporks, especially nestlings and young owls.
Habitat
loss: Deforestation and urban development are reducing the amount of
suitable habitat for moreporks.
Pesticides:
The use of pesticides can poison prey species, which can then accumulate
in the food chain and harm moreporks.
Road
mortality: Moreporks are often killed by cars when they fly across
roads at night.
Conservation Efforts
In addition to the efforts of the New Zealand Department of
Conservation, there are a number of community groups and individuals working to
protect moreporks. These efforts include:
Nest
box installation: Providing artificial nest boxes for moreporks to
breed in.
Predator
control: Trapping and poisoning predators to reduce their impact on
morepork populations.
Education
and awareness: Educating the public about the importance of moreporks
and how to help protect them.
By working together, we can help ensure that the morepork
continues to be a part of New Zealand's natural heritage for generations to
come.
Part 1
Questions 1-7
Do the following statements agree with the information given
in Reading Passage 1?
In boxes 1-7 on your answer sheet, write:
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
Early
European settlers made detailed studies of the morepork.
The
Polynesian rat had a negative effect on the number of laughing owls.
The
laughing owl was larger than the morepork.
Rats
pose a risk to young moreporks.
The
New Zealand Department of Conservation is hoping to limit the population
of moreporks.
Other
bird species are frightened away when they hear the morepork's cry.
In
Maori tradition, the low call of the morepork had negative associations.
Part 2
Questions 8-13
Complete the notes below.
Choose ONE WORD AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each
answer.
Write your answers in boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet.
The Morepork
Appearance
approximately
8 ______ in length
large
yellow eyes
feathers
with fringes to enable quiet flight
Nesting
nests
in trees, plants or spaces in roots and 9 ______
after
about 25 days, baby moreporks are capable of leaving the nest
Hunting
transports
prey using its 10 ______
can be
chased away by other birds during the 11 ______
attacked
by 12 ______ that had been introduced to Motuora Island
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Cue Card: Describe An ambition you have not yet achieved
You should say:
what the ambition is
when you first had this ambition
what you have done so far to achieve it
and explain why this ambition is important to you.
Sample Answer:
One ambition that I have not yet achieved is to establish a comprehensive online IELTS preparation platform, particularly focused on the computer-based test. I first developed this ambition a few years ago when I started interacting with IELTS aspirants and noticed that many of them were struggling due to a lack of reliable guidance and exam-oriented resources.
Over time, I realised that although there is no shortage of study material available online, much of it is either outdated or poorly aligned with the actual test format. This motivated me to bridge the gap by creating content that reflects real exam conditions. So far, I have taken several concrete steps towards this goal. I regularly analyse recent IELTS exam trends, design realistic practice questions, and assist candidates through personalised guidance and feedback. I have also been steadily building my understanding of digital platforms and content creation, although there is still a long way to go.
This ambition is extremely important to me because it aligns perfectly with both my professional interests and personal values. On a professional level, it allows me to apply my knowledge of IELTS in a meaningful way. On a personal level, it gives me a strong sense of purpose, as helping students achieve their target scores can genuinely transform their academic and career prospects.
Although I have not fully achieved this ambition yet, I remain highly motivated. I strongly believe that with sustained effort, continuous learning, and the right strategic planning, I will be able to turn this ambition into reality in the near future.
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Describe an occasion when you were not allowed to use your mobile phone
Describe a program or app on your computer or phone
Describe a natural place (e.g. parks, mountains, etc.)
Describe an occasion when many people were smiling
Describe an item on which you spent more than expected
Describe a person who solved a problem in a smart way
Describe a time when you needed to use your imagination
Describe a natural talent you want to improve, such as sports or music
Describe a time when you were waiting for something special to happen
Describe a time when you encouraged someone to do something that he/she didn’t want to do
Describe an event you attended in which you didn’t like the music played
Describe an unusual meal you had
Describe an interesting building
Describe a perfect job you would like to have in the future
Describe a bicycle, motorcycle, or car trip you would like to go on
Describe a time when you received good service in a shop or store
Describe something that you can’t live without (not a computer or phone)
Describe a positive change that you have made recently in your daily routine
Describe a time when you felt proud of a family member
Describe a movie you watched recently that you felt disappointed about
Describe a person who makes plans a lot and is good at planning
Describe the home of someone you know well and that you often visit
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READING PASSAGE 2
You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 14–26, which
are based on Reading Passage 2.
The collective evolution of tangle-web spiders
A study of spider colonies supports the idea that natural
selection can act on communities as well as on individuals
Paragraph A
As a rule, spiders are antisocial. They hunt alone, defend
their webs from other spiders, and sometimes even eat their mates. But a few
species of spiders have learned to cooperate for the good of the group. For
example, tangle-web spiders form groups of 1,000 or more to spin webs that
stretch for hundreds of yards, entrapping flies, small birds, and invertebrates
such as snakes. Smaller groups of a few dozen work together like a pride of
lions; some of the spiders hunt for prey, while others look after the colony’s
young.
Paragraph B
The spiders present a puzzle to evolutionary biologists.
According to ordinary Darwinian natural selection, only the fittest individuals
pass on their genes. However, if that’s the case, why do tangle-web spiders act
in ways that might conflict with an individual’s drive to compete? A spider
that defends the nest might put itself at personal risk, possibly reducing its
chances of producing offspring. And a spider that looks after the young might
have to wait to eat until the hunters have eaten and are satisfied. These are
not behaviors that would be expected to enhance an individual’s fitness.
Paragraph C
Biologists have long argued over the question of how natural
selection can promote the evolution of traits that are good for the group, but
not necessarily for the individual. A model known as ‘kin selection’
illustrates how organisms such as bees can behave in an unselfish way – for
example, many females forgo the possibility of reproduction in order to raise
the young produced by the queen. But despite its unselfish appearance, kin
selection is actually selfish because these female bees will still pass down
their genes indirectly, through the queen, meaning that they are safeguarded
for future generations. The question is whether natural selection can promote
traits that are good for the group, but not necessarily of benefit to
individuals or their immediate kin.
Paragraph D
A study of tangle-web spiders by Jonathan Pruitt, a
behavioral ecologist at the University of Pittsburgh, suggests that evolution
does indeed work at the level of the group. Female tangle-web spiders fall into
one of two categories: ‘aggressive’ spiders, who spend their time capturing
prey and defending the group, and ‘docile’, peaceful spiders who raise the
colony’s young. The balance of aggressive and docile spiders in each colony
appears to be adapted to its habitat, according to the resources available. How
does nature maintain this balance? One possibility is that it’s the result of
evolution at the individual level. However, if the group, not the individual,
is the most important evolutionary unit, then the group as a whole will evolve
characteristics that are suited to the environment, such as a particular ratio
of aggressive to docile spiders. Colonies with the ratio best suited to the
environment will be most likely to survive.
Paragraph E
To figure out which of these possibilities was correct,
Pruitt took spider colonies out of their original environments in the wild and
amended them in the lab, changing the ratio of aggressive to docile spiders
from what it had originally been. He then took the colonies to new locations in
the wild and left them there for a year. On revisiting the colonies, he found
that even in colonies whose composition appeared to be suitable for the new
environment, the colonies had reverted to the original ratio of aggressive to
docile spiders.
Paragraph F
Pruitt claims the experiment provides ample evidence for
group selection. Other scientists support this. ‘No other explanation fits the
observed data as well as group selection,’ said Peter Nonacs, an evolutionary
biologist at the University of California, who was not involved in the
research. The findings are especially significant because Pruitt watched the
spider colonies revert to their original composition over generations. Michael
Wade, an evolutionary biologist at Indiana University, adds, ‘If the characteristics
of groups stay the same from one generation to the next, it’s evidence there is
a genetic basis for the trait.’
Paragraph G
Pruitt does not propose a mechanism by which the colonies
returned to their original state. And without such a mechanism, some
researchers argue that the results could be due to ordinary individual
selection. ‘I think they over-interpret the results,’ says Andy Gardner, a
biologist at the University of St Andrews. ‘Natural selection may factor in the
needs of the group, to some extent … but group fitness is not the whole story.’
Paragraph H
A combination of group selection and individual selection
could be the key to resolving the tension. Historically, researchers have
thought of the two as being at odds, but ‘sometimes group selection and
individual selection are not necessarily conflicting,’ Nonacs said. In these
cases, group fitness, even though group and individual selection may be going
in the same direction, ‘group level is stronger,’ he added.
Paragraph I
Though the tangle-web spiders present strong evidence for
group-level selection in the wild, researchers are unsure if it’s a common
occurrence in nature generally. Nonacs remarks that it is still uncertain
whether natural selection at a group level could extend to birds and mammals.
Others feel that it is more widespread. ‘I don’t think this is rare at all,’
said Bernard Crespi, a behavioral ecologist at Arizona State University.
Researchers are looking more and more at characteristics among members of a group,
and they often find a mix of aggressive and less aggressive members. Tangle-web
spiders may be rare, but their behavior could be a model for many other
species.
QUESTIONS
Questions 14–19
Reading Passage 2 has nine paragraphs, A–I.
Which paragraph contains the following information?
Write the correct letter, A–I, in boxes 14–19 on your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
An
example of a spider endangering itself for the sake of the group
The
different stages in a study of how colonies react to changes in their
structure
A
description of behavioral patterns of spiders in general
A
reference to a possible weakness in Pruitt’s research
Examples
of the types of food eaten by tangle-web spiders
Agreement
among scientists that group selection exists
Questions 20–22
Complete the summary below.
Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer.
Kin selection
In considering group selection of single-web spiders, the
writer describes a model called ‘kin selection’. This explains why some
species, for example 20 ________, behave in a way that does not seem to be in
their individual best interests. For example, certain members of the species
may give up the chance of reproduction so that they can help raise the
offspring of the 21 ________. However, there is a selfish motivation for this
behaviour. The close relationship between the members of the group means that
the 22 ________ of these individuals are safeguarded.
Questions 23–26
Look at the following statements (Questions 23–26) and
the list of researchers below.
Match each statement with the correct researcher, A, B, C
or D.
Write the correct letter, A, B, C or D, in boxes 23–26 on
your answer sheet.
NB You may use any letter more than once.
Group
selection provides an incomplete explanation for why spider colonies used
in the experiment returned to their initial composition.
While
group and individual selection both affect tangle-web spiders, group
selection is more powerful.
Combinations
of different personality types in a group could mean that group selection
is present in other animals besides spiders.
The
extent to which larger animals are affected by group selection is unknown.
List of Researchers
A. Peter Nonacs
B. Michael Wade
C. Andy Gardner
D. Jennifer Fewell
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SECTION 3
READING PASSAGE 3
You should spend about 20 minutes on Question 27-40 which are based on Reading Passage 3 below.
The future of the World's Language
Of the world’s 6,500 living languages, around half are expected to the out by the end of this century, according to UNESCO. Just 11 are spoken by more than half of the earth’s population, so it is little wonder that those used by only a few are being left behind as we become a more homogenous, global society. In short, 95 percent of the world’s languages are spoken by only five percent of its population—a remarkable level of linguistic diversity stored in tiny pockets of speakers around the world. Mark Turin, a university professor, has launched WOLP (World Oral Language Project) to prevent the language from the brink of extinction.
He is trying to encourage indigenous communities to collaborate with anthropologists around the world to record what he calls “oral literature” through video cameras, voice recorders and other multimedia tools by awarding grants from a £30,000 pot that the project has secured this year. The idea is to collate this literature in a digital archive that can be accessed on demand and will make the nuts and bolts of lost cultures readily available.
For many of these communities, the oral tradition is at the heart of their culture. The stories they tell are creative as well as communicative. Unlike the languages with celebrated written traditions, such as Sanskrit, Hebrew and Ancient Greek, few indigenous communities have recorded their own languages or ever had them recorded until now.
The project suggested itself when Turin was teaching in Nepal. He wanted to study for a PhD in endangered languages and, while discussing it with his professor at Leiden University in the Netherlands, was drawn to a map on his tutor’s wall. The map was full of pins of a variety of colours which represented all the world’s languages that were completely undocumented. At random, Turin chose a “pin” to document. It happened to belong to the Thangmi tribe, an indigenous community in the hills east of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. “Many of the choices anthropologists and linguists who work on these traditional field-work projects are quite random,” he admits.
Continuing his work with the Thangmi community in the 1990s, Turin began to record the language he was hearing, realising that not only was this language and its culture entirely undocumented, it was known to few outside the tiny community. He set about trying to record their language and myth of origins. “I wrote 1,000 pages of grammar in English that nobody could use—but I realised that wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough for me, it wasn’t enough for them. It simply wasn’t going to work as something for the community. So then I produced this trilingual word list in Thangmi, Nepali and English.”
In short, it was the first ever publication of that language. That small dictionary is still sold in local schools for a modest 20 rupees, and used as part of a wider cultural regeneration process to educate children about their heritage and language. The task is no small undertaking: Nepal itself is a country of massive ethnic and linguistic diversity, home to 100 languages from four different language families. What’s more, even fewer ethnic Thangmi speak the Thangmi language. Many of the community members have taken to speaking Nepali, the national language taught in schools and spread through the media, and community elders are dying without passing on their knowledge.
Despite Turin’s enthusiasm for his subject, he is baffled by many linguists’ refusal to engage in the issue he is working on. “Of the 6,500 languages spoken on Earth, many do not have written traditions and many of these spoken forms are endangered,” he says. “There are more linguists in universities around the world than there are spoken languages—but most of them aren’t working on this issue. To me it’s amazing that in this day and age, we still have an entirely incomplete image of the world’s linguistic diversity. People do PhDs on the apostrophe in French, yet we still don’t know how many languages are spoken.”
“When a language becomes endangered, so too does a cultural world view. We want to engage with indigenous people to document their myths and folklore, which can be harder to find funding for if you are based outside Western universities.”
Yet, despite the struggles facing initiatives such as the World Oral Literature Project, there are historical examples that point to the possibility that language restoration is no mere academic pipe dream. The revival of a modern form of Hebrew in the 19th century is often cited as one of the best proofs that languages long dead, belonging to small communities, can be resurrected and embraced by a large number of people. By the 20th century, Hebrew was well on its way to becoming the main language of the Jewish population of both Ottoman and British Palestine. It is now spoken by more than seven million people in Israel.
Yet, despite the difficulties these communities face in saving their languages, Dr Turin believes that the fate of the world’s endangered languages is not sealed, and globalisation is not necessarily the nefarious perpetrator of evil it is often presented to be. “I call it the globalisation paradox: on the one hand globalisation and rapid socio-economic change are the things that are eroding and challenging diversity But on the other, globalisation is providing us with new and very exciting tools and facilities to get to places to document those things that globalisation is eroding. Also, the communities at the coal-face of change are excited by what globalisation has to offer.”
In the meantime, the race is on to collect and protect as many of the languages as possible, so that the Rai Shaman in eastern Nepal and those in the generations that follow him can continue their traditions and have a sense of identity. And it certainly is a race: Turin knows his project’s limits and believes it inevitable that a large number of those languages will disappear. “We have to be wholly realistic. A project like ours is in no position, and was not designed, to keep languages alive. The only people who can help languages survive are the people in those communities themselves. They need to be reminded that it’s good to speak their own language and I think we can help them do that—becoming modem doesn’t mean you have to lose your language.”
Questions 27-31
Complete the summary using the list of words, A-J, below.
Write the correct letter, A-J, in boxes 27-31 on your answer sheet.
Of the world’s 6,500 living languages, about half of them are expected to be extinct. Most of the world’s languages are spoken by a 27…………………. of people. However, Professor Turin set up a project WOLP to prevent 28…………………… of the languages. The project provides the community with 29……………………. to enable people to record their endangered languages. The oral tradition has great cultural 30…………………….. An important 31…………………… between languages spoken by few people and languages with celebrated written documents existed in many communities.
A similarity
B significance
C funding
D minority
E education
F difference
G education
H diversity
I majority
J disappearance
Questions 32-35
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage 3?
In boxes 32-35 on you answer sheet, write
TRUE if the statement is true
FALSE if the statement is false
NOT GIVEN if the information is not given in the passage
32 Turin argued that anthropologists and linguists usually think carefully before selecting an area to research.
33 Turin concluded that the Thangmi language had few similarities with other languages.
34 Turin has written that 1000-page document was inappropriate for Thangmi community;
35 Some Nepalese schools lack resources to devote to language teaching.
Questions 36-40
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.
Write the correct letter in boxes 36-40 on your answer sheet.
36 Why does Turin say people do PhDs on the apostrophe in French?
A He believes that researchers have limited role in the research of languages.
B He compares the methods of research into languages.
C He thinks research should result in a diverse cultural outlook.
D He holds that research into French should focus on more general aspects.
37 What is discussed in the ninth paragraph?
A Forces driving people to believe endangered languages can survive.
B The community where people distrust language revival.
C The methods of research that have improved language restoration.
D Initiatives the World Oral Literature Project is bringing to Israel.
38 How is the WOLP’s prospect?
A It would not raise enough funds to achieve its aims.
B It will help keep languages alive.
C It will be embraced by a large number of people.
D It has chance to succeed to protect the engendered languages.
39 What is Turin’s main point of globalisation?
A Globalisation is the main reason for endangered language.
B Globalisation has both advantages and disadvantages.
C We should have a more critical view of globalisation.
D We should foremost protect our identity in face of globalisation.
40 What does Turin suggest that community people should do?
A Learn other languages.
B Only have a sense of identity.
C Keep up with the modem society without losing their language.
D Join the race to protect as many languages as possible but be realistic.
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Talk about a recent experience where you had to address an audience
Sample Answer
A recent experience where I had to address an audience was during a small awareness session organised at my workplace. The purpose of the session was to talk about the importance of maintaining a healthy work–life balance and managing stress effectively.
The audience mainly consisted of my colleagues, including a few senior team members and some new employees. There were around twenty to twenty-five people, so although it wasn’t a huge crowd, it was still a bit nerve-racking at the beginning.
I prepared a short presentation and shared practical examples from my own routine, such as how changing daily habits and prioritising health helped me stay productive. At first, I felt slightly anxious, but as I noticed people listening attentively and nodding, my confidence gradually increased. I also invited questions at the end, which led to a brief but meaningful discussion.
Overall, it was a rewarding experience because I felt heard and appreciated. More importantly, it helped me realise that I can communicate my ideas clearly in front of others, which boosted my self-confidence.
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✅ IELTS Speaking – Sample Answers
Part 1: Interview
Do you like flowers?
Yes, I do. I wouldn’t say I’m obsessed with them, but I genuinely like flowers because they add colour and freshness to any place.
What kinds of flowers do you like the most?
I particularly like roses and lilies. Roses look elegant, while lilies have a very pleasant fragrance, which I find quite calming.
Do you usually buy flowers for yourself or for others?
Mostly for others. I usually buy flowers as a gift rather than for myself, especially on special occasions.
On what occasions do people give flowers in your country?
In my country, people commonly give flowers on birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and sometimes even to apologise or congratulate someone.
Why do you think people like flowers?
I think people like flowers because they represent positive emotions such as love, happiness, and respect. They also help people feel relaxed and cheerful.
Do you feel happy when someone thanks you?
Yes, definitely. It feels good to be appreciated, even if it’s for something small.
How do you usually react when it happens?
I usually smile and say “you’re welcome.” Sometimes I also feel a sense of satisfaction because my effort is recognised.
Do people in your neighbourhood thank each other often?
Yes, to some extent. Neighbours usually thank each other for small favours, although it’s not very frequent.
In general, do people in your country express gratitude?
Yes, but it depends on the situation. In formal settings, people express gratitude openly, while in daily life, it’s sometimes taken for granted.
Part 2: Cue Card
Describe a store or shop that you would like to visit.
One store that I would really like to visit is a large electronics and gadget store, especially one like a flagship technology outlet.
It is located in a major shopping mall in a metropolitan city, usually in the city centre, where many branded stores are situated.
In this shop, I can buy electronic items such as smartphones, laptops, smartwatches, headphones, and other tech accessories. What attracts me the most is that I can try the products before buying them and also compare different brands in one place.
I would like to go to this shop because I am very interested in technology, and visiting such a store allows me to explore the latest gadgets. Moreover, the overall experience of browsing, testing new products, and interacting with knowledgeable staff makes shopping enjoyable rather than stressful.
Part 3: Discussion
Why do people enjoy going shopping?
People enjoy shopping because it gives them a break from their daily routine. For many, it is a form of entertainment rather than just a necessity.
Do people in your country prefer shopping online or in physical stores? Why?
Nowadays, many people prefer online shopping because it is convenient and time-saving. However, physical stores are still popular for clothes and expensive items, where people want to check quality.
How has the way people shop changed in recent years?
Shopping has become more digital. People rely heavily on mobile apps, online reviews, and home delivery, which has completely changed consumer behaviour.
Do young people and older people have different shopping habits?
Yes, young people prefer online shopping because they are comfortable with technology, while older people usually prefer traditional stores as they trust face-to-face interaction more.
What impact do large shopping centres have on local towns or communities?
Large shopping centres create job opportunities, but they also negatively affect small local shops, which often struggle to survive.
Do you think shopping has become more about leisure than necessity?
Yes, in many cases. Shopping malls have restaurants, cinemas, and entertainment zones, so people visit them for enjoyment, not just to buy things.
