Simile* - an expression that describes something by comparing it with something else, using the words 'as' or 'like', for example 'as white as snow' [↪ metaphor] (According to Online Longman Dictionary)

BEFORE WATCHING

1. What is an ‘abbey’? What are they usually made for? What famous abbeys do you know?

2. What do you know of the beginning of the 20th century? Were there any break troughs in it? Which ones? What was the society like? What is a way different from the beginning of the 21st century?

 BEFORE LISTENING

1. What is happiness for you? if you could imagine it what would it look like? Describe it.

e.g.: If I could describe what is happiness for me, I would imagine .... It looks like a..., because...

2. What do you usually feel like doing when you feel happy?

e.g. When I feel happy, I usually feel like singing my favourite songs in English:)

Geosynthetics are synthetic products used to stabilize terrain. They are generally polymeric products used to solve civil engineering problems. This includes eight main product categories: geotextiles, geogrids, geonets, geomembranes, geosynthetic clay liners, geofoam, geocells and geocomposites. Read more about geosynthetics.

VOCABULARY

nouns (n)

• barren - пустка
• bare ground - земельна ділянка без насаджень
• carbon - вугілля
• disaster prevention - запобігання катастрофи
• facets - сторони, частинки
• fountain - фонтан
• road collapse - руйнування доріг
• riverbank - берег річки
• highway - траса, автомагістраль, велика дорога
• landscape damage - шкода ландшафту, середовищу
• safety - безпека
• sustainability - екологічна раціональність
• slope - схил
• nourishment - підтримка

Look through the quotations in Latin and say how you understand them. Use the knowledge from your personal experience.

NB: These citations may help you develop both writing and speaking language skills. Remember that your speech should consist of a proper Introduction, the Main Body and the Conclusion.

BEFORE LISTENING

Task 1. Listen to the original version of the song 'Rather Be' and say how you understand the main idea. What, to your mind, is the role of the video clip. Does it match the lyrics?

Task 2. How do you translate the title of the song into your language? How do you understand the grammar notion 'RATHER DO smth*'?

would rather do = 'd rather ... = rather.. - would prefer to do smth

Use Longman Dictionary to have a closer look at the usage of 'rather'.

BEFORE LISTENING

Task 1. Do you understand the meaning of the word combination 'family portrait*'? How do usually family portraits look like? What, to your mind, is the purpose of making 'family portraits'? Do you have any? What are they like? How do you feel when leafing through your family photos?

*a painting, drawing, sculpture, photograph, or other likeness of an individual, esp of the face (according to Collins Dictionary)

NB: Mind the the way the word 'portrait' is pronounced. it is the word of a French origin. 

BEFORE WATCHING

Task 1. Read the beginning of the story and say what you think of it by answering the questions that go after it.

Once upon a time in a far away land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish and unkind. But one winter’s night an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for the shelter from bitter cold. Repulsed from her unpleasant appearance the prince refused from the gift and turned the old woman away, but she warned him not to be deceived by appearances for beauty lives within and when he dismissed her again the old woman’s ugliness melted away to reveal beautiful enchantress, the prince tried to apologize, but it was too late for she had seen that there was no love in his heart and as punishment she transformed him into a beast… If he could learn to love in return by the time the last petal fell, then the spell will be broken. If not, he will be doomed to remain a beast for all time.

An IELTS examiner may ask you to comment on any topic or to role play any situation you might face in real life. That is why, our piece of advice is to be ready for any topic as well as imagine yourself talking in any potential situation you could have to cope with.  

There are some sample questions to practise your speaking skills. Take about half a minute to answer each of them. Your possible answer may contain at least 2-3 extended sentences. 

Pay a special attention to the key words that have been highlighted for you. Make sure you understand the question properly. 

***

1. What is your attitude to the violation of the copyright policy? Have you ever by chance violated such a policy?
2. To your mind, should the old languages, local varieties or any other rare accents be preserved? What variant of the language do you speak? Is it your mother tongue? What other languages do you fancy? Why? Why not?
3. What is your attitude to corruption? What sorts of corruption are you familiar with? Is it a problem to be solved in your country? How do the authorities fight it?
4. What famous inventions can you name? would you like to invent anything yourself?
5. Do you think it is worth searching for extra-terrestrial life?

Balto is a 1995 American live-action animated historical adventure drama film directed by Simon Wells. The film is loosely based on a true story about the dog of the same name who helped save children from the diphtheria epidemic in the 1925 serum run to Nome. The live-action portions of the film were filmed at Central Park in New York City. The film was the final animated feature produced by Steven Spielberg's Amblimation animation studio. Read more 

BEFORE WATCHING

Answer the questions given below.

1. What is a memorial?
2. Are there any in your town/city?
3. Do think it is important to remember the history of any place? Why? Why not?