General questions related to History

History

1.  Do you like to learn about history?

- I like to learn about history because I find it very interesting. I am deeply interested to learn about historical events and historical personalities of significance.

2.  What historical event do you find most interesting?

- I think independence of my country is very interesting event since this event turned a new leaf in the history of our country. It has shaped our country's face in a new way. It is the most important important historical even according to me. 

3.  Do you think history is important?

- Yes. History is important as history tells us about our past, culture and heritage. What is more, we can learn from the past mistakes and improve our future. 

4.  Do you like to watch programs on TV about history?

- I like to watch television programmes about history. I specifically watch History channel to learn about the historical events and personalities from other countries to improve my knowledge. 

5.  Do you think you can learn history from friends and / or TV programs? 

- It depends upon the person. If I have an interest in a particular event or personality, I can source this knowledge from anywhere, whether it is television or my peers. 

6.  Do you think of the Internet is a good place to learn about history?

- Definitely, since internet provides a multimedia experience involving photographs, videos, audio etcetera. Due to availability of these features learning about history from internet becomes a cake walk. 

7.  Can you name the person from history who you would like to learn more about?

- If I want to learn about a historical figure, it would certainly be Sardar Bhagat Singh. He became a martyr at the age of 23. I want to know more about what motivated him to become so mature and sensitive at such a young age. 

8.  Why would you like to learn more about him or her?

- He is the role model of youngsters of today. He is a great source of inspiration for all of us. His philosophy can guide the youth on the right path. 

Describe a foreign country you want to visit but haven’t been to

Cue Card

Describe a foreign country you want to visit but haven’t been to

• Where this place is
• What it is like
• What you can do in this country
• Explain why you want to visit this country

Sample Solution:

All my life, I have dreamt of visiting Canada. It is a country, which is very popular among the people who want to go and settle abroad. Almost half of my relatives live in Canada. I have listened so many stories about Canada from them. Since my relatives live in Toronto, Ontario, I know about some places worth seeing in Toronto. The best thing about Toronto is that it is colder compared to Punjab. I have heard that, in Toronto, it snows a lot and the winters start in October and continue till March. My  cousins tell me that they visit Niagara Falls every summer and it is a beautiful place of attraction. They go shopping very frequently because there are a lot of shopping malls which provide a variety of products at reasonable prices. The houses are beautiful and seem very comfortable. If I ever go there, I can get admission in a good educational institute. Upon completion of education, I can get a job in the field of my education and eventually settle there. I come across news everyday which inform us about the aplenty of jobs available in Canada. I want to visit this country due to its multi-cultural set-up. People coming from different backgrounds and countries live there comfortably and peacefully. Crime rate is very low in this country. The living standards are also high and almost everyone can earn enough money to support himself and his family. I think I can become a successful and independent person if I go to this country. 

Follow ups

1. Why do Indian people like to travel abroad?

• Indian people like to travel abroad because they like to explore the foreign shores. They are fascinated by the popular tourist destinations abroad and they want to see everything themselves.

2. What can people benefit from international travel?

• People can earn a lot of benefits from international travel. They learn about new cultures, food, popular tourist destinations and their history.

3. What effects will tourism have on our environment?

• Tourism can take a heavy toll on the environment if there is uncontrolled cutting of trees and excessive use of fossil fuels. This can lead to a environmental degeneration. 

4. Why do people like to travel abroad?

• People like to travel abroad because they like to take a break from the monotonous routines. They think that travelling to foreign shores can help to broaden the horizons of their knowledge. They learn about new cultures, languages, food and lifestyle when they travel abroad. 

5. Would you travel around the world in the future?

• Yes. Like a lot of youngsters, I also dream to travel the world. I want to see all the popular places I have seen in the movies, on television and internet.

6. What’s the difference between travelling abroad and studying abroad?

• Travelling abroad is mainly for the leisure. People travel to enjoy their vacations but studying abroad is for learning more about your field of education. 

A long car journey you went on

Cue Card: 

Describe a long car journey you went on

• Where you went
• What you did at this place
• Who you went there with
• Explain why you went on that journey by car

Sample Solution: 

A long car journey, which I remember vividly is the one our family took when we bought our first car. It was almost 5 years ago. My father got a promotion and thanks to the pay-raise he got, he was able to buy a new car. It was a Maruti Suzuki Swift. So, on one Sunday, my family decided that we should go to Golden Temple to pay obeisance and thank the almighty for his blessings. Since we live in a town which is almost 200 kilometres away from the holy city Amritsar, we had to travel for almost 5 hours before reaching the Golden Temple. It was a very long journey and I had never travelled for so long before. We started our journey 5 am in the morning and drove for 3 hours. At 8 am, we took some rest and had breakfast at a roadside eatery. After that, we resumed driving and reached Golden Temple at 10 am. I went there with my parents and my younger brother and we were all very excited to take our first journey together in our car. When we reached there, we parked our car in a huge parking near the temple. Later, we entered the temple complex and we took off our shoes, covered our heads, washed our hands and feet and entered the temple. The view of the temple was breathtaking. It looked splendid. We performed a circumambulation around the temple and went inside to pay obeisance. After that, we went to the community kitchen and took the consecrated food. Then, we sat inside the corridors of the temple and said our prayers. After meditating for almost an hour, we decided to go to the famous markets of Amritsar and did a lot of shopping. We also bought some souvenirs for our friends and relatives. In the evening around 4:30 pm, we started our journey back and reached home at 10 pm. We specifically took that journey by car because we wanted to thank the god for the gift he has blessed us with and we wanted that the first journey we took by our car was the most special journey of our life. 

Follow ups

1. Why do people like to have private cars?

• People like to have their own cars because it is a comfortable mode of travel. We feel safe and we have privacy in our own car.

2. What are the differences between bicycles and private cars?

• Bicycles are cheap, need no fuel and they are a good way to get some exercise but the cars are expensive, need fuel and are a fast mode of travel for any person.

3. Is it a good thing that everyone has their own cars?

• It is a good thing because a person can travel anywhere he or she wants without facing any kind of troubles like heat or cold. You do not have to worry about the timings of public transport when you have your own vehicle. 

4. How to buy private cars in India?

• You can buy new private cars in India from the various agencies which sell the new cars or you can buy second-hand cars from the car dealers or directly from the sellers.

5. What’s the difference between men and women’s preference on cars?

• Men generally like cars which are fast and fuel-efficient but women like cars which are stylish and look attractive.

6. What will cars be like in the future?

• In future the cars will be more fuel-efficient and they will cause less pollution. Some people even think that cars can fly in the future.

7. Do many families own private cars in India?

• Yes, many families in India buy private cars because they think it is the best and most comfortable way to travel when they travel with their whole family. 

General Questions- Hometown

Home-town

1. What is the name of your home-town?

• My home-town is a small town in the vicinity of the city of lakes; Bathinda. 

2. Is it a big city or a small place?

• Like I said, it is a small town but we have a city nearby so we have access to almost all the modern facilities.

3. Please describe your home-town a little.

• My home-town is located 10 kilometres away from the city Bathinda. It is a suburban area and has a number of good educational institutes on the outskirts. It also has a famous Sikh Temple in the heart of the town. 

4. How long have you been living there?

• I have been living here since my birth. I was born and brought up here.

5. Do you like your home-town?

• Yes, I like my home-town a lot. In fact, it is the best place to live according to me.

6. Do you like living there?

• I love living in my home-town because there are many good educational facilities available here. In addition, the environment is pollution-free. 

7. Would you say it’s an interesting place?

• It is an interesting place. People know each other well and they are very supportive and caring. You never feel lonely in this town.

8. What do you like (most) about your home-town?

• I like the most about my home-town is the fact that although it is a small town still due to its location, we can get best education and we can also go to city easily for shopping, for employment and for healthcare facilities.

9. What’s your favourite part of your home-town?

• My neighbourhood is the best part of my home-town because I have spent my childhood here and most of my friends live in this neighbourhood.

10. Is there anything you dislike about it?

• I do not dislike anything about my home-town. It is the best place to live. 

11. Do you think you will continue living there for long time?

• I hope so. Since I know everything and everyone in my area, it is very comfortable to live here and I want to continue living here for a long time

12. Are there any tourist attractions in your home-town?

• There are not many tourist attractions in my home-town but the Sikh Temple I mentioned before is quite popular and lot of people come to this temple to pay obeisance.

13. Did your friends also grow up in the same place as you?

• Yes, almost all of my friends grew up in the same home-town and went to the same schools and colleges. 

14. Would you like to live there in the future?

• My home-town is a fast developing area. It is getting better day-by-day. So, yes, I would like to live here even in the future. 

General Questions-Home and Accomodation

Home/Accommodation

1. Do you live in a house or flat? What kind of house do you live in?

• I live in a single storey house with three bedrooms, a drawing room and a garden.

2. Please describe it a little.

• It is our ancestral house. My grandfather built it thirty years ago. It is located in the heart of the city.

3. What’s your favourite room in your home?

• My favourite room in the house is the living room where my whole family spends time together.

4. What have you done to your room to make it look nice?

• I have painted my room in my favourite colour. I have added furniture of my choice and also hung some of my favourite photos on the walls of the house. 

5. Who do you live with?

• I live with my family. it includes my parents, grandparents and my siblings.

6. Which room does your family spend most of the time in?

• My family spends most time in the living room, where we eat meals together, watch television and talk about our daily activities.

7. How long have you lived there?

• I have lived there since my birth. 

8. Do you plan to live there a long time?

• Yes. I am emotionally attached to this place. That is why I want to live here for a long time. 

9. (If you answer you haven’t lived there long) What’s the difference between where you are living now and where you have lived in the past?

• In our old house, there was less space. it was built according to old designs but the new house has more space. it is constructed according to the new techniques so it offers more comfort and is more attractive on the outside. 

10. Can you describe the place where you live?

• The place I live is huge, spacious, has a room for everyone, has all the mod-con facilities. It is attractive on the outside and  comfortable on the inside. 

11. Do you prefer living in a house or in a flat?

• I prefer living in a house. it is bigger and has more privacy.

12. Please describe the room you live in.

• My room is located at the back of my house. It is big and it is painted in my favourite colour. I have added furniture of my choice and also hung some of my favourite photos on the walls of the house. 

13. What part of your home do you like the most?

• I like the living room the most because my whole family gets together there and we enjoy a lot together.

14. What do you usually do in your house/flat/room?

• In my room/house/flat, I like to spend my time studying, cooking, listening to music, watching television or I like to spend time with my family. 

15. Are the transport facilities to your home very good?

• Yes, Since my home is located in the heart of the city. It is very easy to reach to our house.

16. Do you plan to move?

• No. I have no plans to move because I love my home and home town. 

17. Would you like to move to another place to live? (Why/why not?)

• I would not like to move to another place to live because a lot of memories are associated with the place where I live currently. 

18. Are you prepared to move?

• Since I have no plans to move, I can say that I am not prepared to move. 

General Questions - Education or Occupation

1. What subject(s) are you studying?

• I am currently pursuing a Bachelors/ Masters degree in arts, science, commerce, engineering, nursing, medicine et cetera.

2. Why did you choose to study that subject/those subjects?

• I always wanted to learn more about this subject. Even as a child I had an interest in the various topics I am learning these days.

3. Do you like your subject? Why/Why not?

• Yes, I like it. As I said, I always had an interest in this subject.

4. Is it very interesting?

• It is very interesting. I get to learn about the variety of new things everyday and this knowledge is very helpful practically.

5. Are you looking forward to working?

• I look forward to working and apply all my knowledge in the practical field. What is more, I can also support my family and myself financially.

6.Do you prefer to study in the mornings or afternoons?

• I prefer to study in the mornings. Since, I am an early bird and I can focus/concentrate better in the mornings. 

7. What work do you do?

• I am working as a doctor/teacher/nurse (insert your occupation). Or I am not working anywhere I am a student.

8.  Why did you choose to do that type of work (or that job)?

• It was a childhood dream to work as a doctor/teacher/nurse. Further, my family helped me achieve this goal in my life.

 9. Do you like your job?

• Yes, I like my job because it provides new challenges and vistas of growth every day.

10  Is it very interesting?

• Yes, it is very interesting because I apply my knowledge I have learned in the past in practical scenarios. It is a great experience. 

11. Do you miss being a student?

• I definitely miss being a student. Being a student is the best stage of life. We have no responsibilities and we are free of any burden. All we do hangout is with our friends.

    Describe a person you know who is good at cooking

-       Who the person is

-       What is your relationship with this person

-       What kind of food he or she cooks

-       Explain why you think this person is so good at cooking

Sample Answer:

I believe that my mother is a good cook and she is very good at this skill. Ever since I can remember my mother has fed me with delicious food items. She can cook a variety of food stuffs. But she is really good at cooking Punjabi food. Since I live in Punjab and we Punjabis eat a variety of dishes which are prepared using vegetables, pulses, cereals, meats and so many other snacks and sweet dishes. My mother has a mastery at cooking all the dishes we eat during all the seasons. When I was a child; I did not like the food adults ate which was hot and spicy for me. So, my mother would cook food specially for me. This allowed me to realise the efforts she makes to ensure everyone sleeps with a full tummy. As I grew older, she changed her cooking style and ingredients as per my growth requirements. During summers, she cooks the seasonal vegetables like squash, pumpkin, varieties of gourds and in winters, she cooks the fresh vegetables like carrots, peas, cabbage and cauliflower to ensure we relish the nutrition rich fresh food. It is in this season that we eat the famous sarson da saag. It is basically a green curry prepared by mustard and spinach leaves. It is tempered with garlic and ginger and then served with a dollop of butter and maize flat-bread. I especially love the sweet dishes she prepares because I have a sweet tooth. She makes rice pudding, vermicelli cooked in milk and a special pudding made of wheat-flour or semolina, sugar and milk fats. It is a treat in itself. I think my mother is good at cooking and I think no one can cook food as delicious as my mother does. She makes sure that the food she cooks suits everyone's taste. She goes an extra mile to select the hygienic, healthy and delicious ingredients for every dish. I have also learned some dishes to cook with the help of my mother. Although they are not comparable with what she cooks but still I try. I hope that I will also become as good cook as her some day.

Follow ups

1. How often do Indian people cook at home?

- Indian people often cook at home. We prefer to eat almost all three meals at home. It is healthier and also economical for us. 

2. There are more restaurants nowadays. Do you think people eat out more?

- Yes there are more restaurants these days but I guess when people need to take a break from the food they eat daily and they want to celebrate special events such as weddings, engagements, anniversaries, birthdays etc, they like to eat at the restaurants. 

3. Do schools have cooking classes in your country?

- I think some schools have cooking classes as part of their curriculum. But it is only in some schools. Most of the schools do not have cooking classes because the schools have so much burden of other subjects and extra-curricular activities. 

4. Do you think we should teach children how to cook?

- I think yes, we should teach the children how to cook food. This will be very helpful in the long run. For example; if children are going to go to hostels for their senior secondary or tertiary education or if they are alone or if they have no one to cook at home; in such a situation, they can cook the food or sometimes help the main person cooking the food. So, it comes handy when children know how to cook. But at the same time, they should be given proper precautions regarding how they can handle the kitchen equipments especially gas stoves and knives.