Thursday, September 22, 2016

IELTS Materials and Resources, Get IELTS Tips, Tricks & Practice Test

IELTS Materials and Resources, Get IELTS Tips, Tricks & Practice Test


Defence – Word Of The Day For IELTS

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 02:29 AM PDT

Defence – Word Of The Day For IELTS Speaking And Writing

Defence: (Noun) /dɪˈfɛns/

Definition:

the act of protecting something or someone from attack

Synonyms: 

Aegis, Armor, Arms

Collocations: 

With adjective: civil/ foreign/ good/ national/ only defence
With noun: budget/ counsel/ expenditure/ force/ industry/ mechanism/ system/ policy
With verb: provide/ spend defence

Example:

For IELTS Speaking:.
“Ony the defence budget will see the benefit of prosperity”
“There is already tension over the controversial national missile defence system.”

For IELTS Writing:
“These difficulties were greatly exacerbated by poor civil defence planning.”

Exercise:

Complete the summary using words from the list below: aquatic, arrays, defence, fells, habitats, intercepts, myriad, vegetation.

The logging industry ………1………. trees to get the wood that is used to make many products. This practice has ………….2………….. effects on the environment. The natural …………3…………. of many terrestrial and aquatic animals are damaged. Trees protect the environment in many ways. They are an effective …………4…………. against both air pollution and soil erosion.

Answer key
1. fells
2. myriad
3. habitats
4. defence

Check out Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking & Writing on IELTS Material website to improve your vocabulary for IELTS and get a high score in IELTS.

Not Lose Sleep Over – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 01:46 AM PDT

Not Lose Sleep Over – Idiom Of The Day For IELTS Speaking.

Definition: 

Not worry about

Example:

“I have studied very hard so that I will not lose sleep over a result of the test.”

“Jack does not lose sleep over what you think about him, he just focuses on his target and tries to achieve it.”

“Don’t lose sleep over the failure. Stand up and concentrate on your goal.”

Exercise: 

  1. Choose the suitable idiom to complete the sentence below.
    “It was just a silly argument –  I wouldn’t ______________”
    A. lose sleep over it.
    B. went out like a light.
    C. stuck in a rut .
    D. have eggs on my face.
  2. Describe the failure you have met . Try to use this idiom in your speech. You should say:
    – What the failure is
    – When it happened
    – How you feel when you face it
    And do you learn any lessons from it

IELTS Cue Card Sample 43 – Topic: An Older Person Who You Admire

Posted: 22 Sep 2016 01:16 AM PDT

IELTS Cue Card for IELTS Speaking Part 2:

Describe An Older Person Who You Admire
You should say:
 Who this person is
 How long you have known him/her
 What qualities he/she has
BAND 9.0 SAMPLE ANSWER:

I would like to describe one of my teachers who taught me at high school. She had a great influence on me and was a role model whom I look up to.
Her name is Yen and she taught me Math for 3 years of high school. She was in her 50s, and so she had a lot of teaching experience. Actually, we met each other almost everyday as she was also my form teacher. She cared about us as if we had been her sons and daughters. For example, she always brought some kinds of medicines so that whenever her students got a coldcoughed or something like that, she would give them the medicines immediately.
Above all, I was most influenced by the way she taught us in class. Her thoroughness in teaching inspired me to study Math, even though I had not been interested in the subject before. Thanks to her effective teaching method, I was able to pass the university entrance exam with a high Math grade. Besides, I was also influenced by her lifestyle, which was so simple and worthy of respect that I really wanted to copy her. As she is a warm-hearted person, she always gave us advice about any problems we faced. At times, I felt that she was like my friend who I could share everything with. Although we have now all graduated from high school, my friends and I often visit her at the weekends to tell her about our daily life at university.

VOCABULARY
role model: [noun phrase] a person that you admire and try to copy. Example: Parents are usually the most important role models for a child.\
in her 50s: [expression] between the ages of 50 and 59. Example: My mother retired from her job as a teacher when she was in her 50s.
cared about: [phrasal verb] felt that we were important and worth worrying about. Example: Everybody had a good opinion of the hospital – the doctors and nurses really cared about the health of the patients.
thoroughness: [noun] the quality of doing things very carefully and with great attention to detail. Example: The report was perfectly organised and included every important detail, and I had to admire his thoroughness.
lifestyle: [noun] the way in which a person or group of people live and work. Example: When I moved to the countryside from Hanoi, I had to change my lifestyle completely.
warm-hearted: [adjective] kind and generous Example: He often gave money and chatted in the street to poor people that he knew – he was a very warm-hearted person.

IELTS Listening Practice Test 48

Posted: 21 Sep 2016 09:39 PM PDT

SECTION 1:

Questions 1-5

Complete the form below.

Write NO MORE THAN ONE WORD OR A NUMBER for each answer.

PAN ASIAN AIRWAYS
LOST PROPERTY REPORT FORM

Example                                                                   Answer
First Name                                                               Kirsty

Surname: Allen

Address: (1)………………………… Windham Road Richmond

Postcode: (2) ……………………….

Home tel. 020 8927 7651

Mobile tel. (3)………………………..

Flight Number: (4)…………………………….

Seat Number: (5)……………………………….

From New York

To London Heathrow

Questions 6 -8

Circle THREE letters A – F.

What items did Kirsty's bag contain?

A. 17 pounds

B. pens

C. her passport

D. a book

E. 200 dollars

F. her house keys

Questions 9 and 10

Choose a letter (A – D) that correctly answers questions 9 and 10.

9 What has Kirsty done regarding the loss of her credit card?

A. Informed the police but not the credit card company.

B. Informed the credit card company but not the police.

C. Informed both the police and the credit card company.

D. Informed neither the police nor the credit card company.

10. What must Kirsty do after the call regarding her lost handbag?

A. Call back after 1 1/2 hours.

B. Just wait for a call back.

C. Call back after 1 1/2 hours if she has heard nothing.

D. Call back the next day if she has heard nothing.

SECTION 2

Questions 11 -14

Label the locations on the map below

ielts listening practice test 48

Questions 15 – 20 

Complete the notes below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer.

Notes on Student Facilities

Students' Union                                 Very cheap
Bookshop
Food and drink available
Parties!
Offices – travel, welfare etc.
Open 8am -12 midnight

Library                                                 Must register
Tours every (15)………………………. for 2 weeks.
Open 9am – 9pm (later during (16)………………………………..)

Refectory                                             Cheap meals
Lunch 12 noon – 3pm
Dinner (17)…………………….. -8.30pm
Types of food – favourites
healthy
ethnic
(18)
vegan
Sports Hall                                          Must join Athletic Union which – lets me use facilities
lets me play for teams
(19)………………………….. me all year
Discount Card                                    Costs (20) £…………………………….
Gives me discounts on all uni. services

SECTION 3

Questions 21 – 25 

Complete the table below 

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

John  Jane 
Day of Arrival Thursday (21)……………………………
Subjects Studying economics
maths
french
(22)…………………………..
history
music
Monday’s 9am lecture french history
Monday’s 2pm lecture maths (23)…………………………..
Wednesday afternoon sport selected (24)…………………………. volleyball
Location of Sport sports hall (25)…………………………..

Questions 26 – 29

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS OR A NUMBER for each answer.

26 Students can choose from how many essay titles for their first assignment?_______________________________________________________

27 Where did John travel during the summer?_______________________________________________________

28 What is the word limit for the essays?_______________________________________________________

29 When must the first essay be handed in by?_______________________________________________________

Question 30

Circle the correct letter A – C.

30. Where will John and Jane meet up later that day?

A. the economics course office

B. the economics common room

C. the campus cafeteria

SECTION 4

Questions 31 – 34

Choose the correct letters A – C.

31. Japan relies on oil tankers because…….

A. the country consists of islands.

B. the country has no pipeline network.

C. the country has no natural oil resources.

32. Professor Wilson says that oil tankers are…….

A. very safe.

B. quite safe.

C. quite unsafe.

33. According to Professor Wilson, the main cause of oil slicks is…..

A. accidents while loading and unloading oil.

B. collisions.

C. deliberate releases of oil.

34. According to Professor Wilson, slicks are rarely burned off nowadays because……

A. the oil is refined.

B. it usually doesn’t work.

C. it creates too much air pollution.

Questions 35 – 39

Complete the notes below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

Oil exploration clean-up techniques

Techniques Advantages Disadvantages
The Containment Boom Cheap and easy Only good when there are (35)………………………..
Chemical Detergents Good for treating (36)……………………………. Chemicals remain in the water + kill marine life.
The Sponge Oil remains permanently in the sponge. The sponge mats turn into (37)…………………………….
Bacteria Cheap
Easy to administer
Totally (38)………………………….
(39)…………………………..

Question 40

Complete the notes below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.

Optional essay question.

Remember to check out the faculty’s notice boards. You will find:

  • reading lists
  • essay questions
  • (40)………………………………………..

Answer key:

  1. 48
  2. R16 GH7
  3. 07754 897 432
  4. PA 365
  5. E6
  6. B
  7. D
  8. E
  9. C
  10. C
  11. Student’s Union
  12. University Library
  13. Hall of Residence
  14. Sports Hall
  15. 2 hours
  16. Final exams
  17. 6 pm
  18. Vegetarian
  19. (Fully) insures
  20. £50
  21. Tuesday
  22. Economics
  23. free/nothing
  24. Squash
  25. Main sports hall
  26. About 10
  27. Africa and Asia
  28. 4000 words
  29. 30th October
  30. B
  31. C
  32. B
  33. B
  34. B
  35. Very calm seas
  36. Larger slicks
  37. Toxic waste
  38. Eco-friendly
  39. No (discernable) drawbacks/none
  40. Deadline for submission

BONUS EXERCISE: GAP-FILLING 

The texts below are transcript for your IELTS Listening Practice Test. To make the most out of this transcript, we removed some words from the texts and replaced with spaces. You has to fill each space with the missing word by listening to the audio for this IELTS listening practice test. 

Section 1. You will hear a conversation between a man and a woman discussing the loss of a bag on board a plane.

Man Pan Asian Airways. John speaking. Can I help you?

Wom Yes please. I left something on one of your planes last night. I got this number from the […………………………..]. Is this the right number to call?

M Yes, madam. This is the right number. I just need you to tell me your name to start with so I can fill out a lost […………………………..]form.

W […………………………..]. That's K-I-R-S-T-Y A-L-L-E-N.

M Right. I've got that. Now what happened last night?

W Well, I was on a flight last night from New York to London that landed at […………………………..]. We were delayed a while in New York so that when we eventually […………………………..], I was so tired that I […………………………..]left my handbag on the plane.

M Did you report this to anyone last night?

W No, I'm afraid not. I didn't […………………………..]until I got home and then it was really too late to phone.

M Very well madam. Let me take a few […………………………..]for this form and I'll see what I can do. OK, so the name was Kirsty Allen. And what's the address please?

W        […………………………..].

M        The postcode?

W        […………………………..]

M        Good. I've got that. Now, your telephone number?

W        Well, my home number is […………………………..]and my mobile is […………………………..].

M        I'm sorry. I didn't catch the second one. What was the mobile again?

W        0 double 7 54 897 432.

M        Thanks. Now, do you know the flight number of the plane that you were on last night?

W Oh yes, hang on a second. I've got my boarding pass […………………………..]right here. Err; the flight number was […………………………..]. No, I'm sorry, PA365. That's it: 365.

M And does the boarding card stub say what seat you had?

W Oh yes. It was E6.

M And you said that it was New York to London Heathrow. Is that right?

W Yes, that's right.

M OK then. Now I have to take some details about the bag that you lost. It was a […………………………..], yes?

W That's right.

M Can you describe it to me?

W Well, I guess it just looks like any regular handbag. It's very dark red with black […………………………..]and the catch on the top is gold […………………………..].

Does it have any […………………………..]marks?

W Not really. It's quite new you see so I haven't […………………………..]it or anything. It's got a […………………………..]name but that's just inside the bag when you open it, under the catch.

M OK. Now, can you tell me what was inside the bag?

W Quite a few things actually. Not my […………………………..]of course or I would never have got out of the airport. My purse is inside and that's got about […………………………..]and about […………………………..]cash. There is also my credit card and some […………………………..]cards.

M Good. I'll just write that down. Anything else in the bag?

W A small […………………………..]that I was reading, some makeup, my work keys, but not my house keys thank God and a couple of pens.

M Have you informed the police about the loss of the card?

W Yes and I've also […………………………..]the card with the […………………………..]company.

M Right. Now what I'll do is to contact the lost property, which is where your bag will have gone if it was found. I'll give you a call back within an hour and tell you what the […………………………..]is. If you haven't had a call within an hour and a half, call back this number and ask for me. My name is John. OK?

W Yes, that's great John. I'll speak to you later. Goodbye.

M Goodbye.

Section 2.

Hello and good afternoon. My name is John Walker and I'd like to welcome you new students to the University of […………………………..]. What I am going to do today is just […………………………..]to you about some of the […………………………..]that you will find here on our main […………………………..]and where you will find them.

If you look at the map on the […………………………..]projector, let me talk you through some of the locations before […………………………..]some of them in more detail. Well, at present we are in the University's main lecture hall. If you go out of the main front […………………………..]then you will see opposite across the car park the entrance for the focal point of a lot university life for most students. This is of course the Students' Union. About […………………………..]on the left of the Union, as you look at it from here, is another […………………………..]point for the students (though not as popular as the Union), the University library. Behind the library is the main University […………………………..]where many students eat both lunch and […………………………..]. On the other side of the Union is the college […………………………..]and behind that there is a small hall of […………………………..]. There are three other halls of residence behind the Students' Union. Behind the hall that we are in now is the sports hall and […………………………..]and either side of us are academic departments with lecturers' offices, lecture halls and […………………………..]. You will find it all a bit […………………………..]at first but you'll get to know your way around fairly quickly.

I'd like now to talk about a few important places on the Campus.

All students must belong to the Students' Union if they wish to use any of its […………………………..]. It is very cheap and we certainly […………………………..]that you join. The Union provides a bookshop covering all the course books at the university plus lots of other […………………………..]for a range of interests. You can eat and drink at the Union. There is a Fat Phillips on the ground floor serving a […………………………..]of fast foods and drinks. Then there is the main Union bar up on the First Floor. This is where the Union […………………………..], dances and balls are held and there's a pizza corner where cheap and large pizzas can be […………………………..]in a few minutes. Other areas that will be of interest to students are the Welfare Office, the Travel Office and the Clubs' Office. The Clubs' office will get you in touch with all the Clubs that are part of the Students' Union. These clubs vary from football to […………………………..]to […………………………..]to beer drinking. There really is something for everyone. The Union opens up at 8 am every day and closes at […………………………..]unless there are any functions going on later.

I'd like to move onto the library now. This is where a lot of you will, I hope, be spending a lot of time over the next three or four years working and doing research. Of course this isn't as exciting as the social […………………………..]of university life but of course it really is the main reason that you are all here. I therefore urge you to get over there as soon as you can as you have to […………………………..]and then you can have a look around. During the first two weeks of the […………………………..]year, that is, now, there are tours every two hours aimed at […………………………..]new students to all the services that the library offers. The library's open from 9am to 9pm though it stays open later during final exams.

As I said earlier, the refectory is behind the library. The […………………………..]offers a range of cheap meals at […………………………..]and in the evenings. It is open from 12 noon to 3 pm for lunch and from 6 pm to 8.30 pm for dinner. They try to offer a variety of food from […………………………..]to healthy options to […………………………..]foods and there is always a choice for […………………………..]and vegans.

The University Sports Hall is one of the most used buildings at the University. To use the hall or the grounds you must be a member of the Athletic Union, which is part of the Students' Union. Again this costs very little and will allow you to use all University sports […………………………..], represent University teams and it fully insures you during your membership of the Athletic Union. This is really […………………………..].

For departments and academic facilities, there isn't enough time to go through all of them but your […………………………..]departments should […………………………..]you with maps and information that will satisfy your needs.

For all services offered at the university, I recommend that you purchase a […………………………..]plus card. This card costs […………………………..]and lasts for the academic year. It will then give you discounts on all services at the university. For instance, a £4 meal at the refectory would be reduced to […………………………..]. It will also give free […………………………..]of the late night mini bus that the university runs to places off campus, which normally costs a pound. You can see that it wouldn't take very long to make it […………………………..]. The cards can be bought at the Students' Union.

Well, that's what I have to say for the moment. Now, are there any questions?

Section 3.

Jane Hey John. I didn't know you were here at the University yet. When did you get here?

John Oh just yesterday; Thursday. I've got some […………………………..]to get sorted out for the start of my second year as I've just got some new subjects. Today I've had to sort out my […………………………..]. It seems like I've got quite a lot to do this year. When did you get here?

Jane I've been here since […………………………..]. What classes are you doing this year then?

John Well, I'm continuing […………………………..]of course as that's my major but I'm taking an extra maths class and I'm […………………………..]Spanish so I can take up French. What about you?

Jane My major's the same as yours of course but I'm going to continue the same classes as last year as I liked them so much. They're history and music. What's your Monday timetable like?

John Well at 9, it looks like I've got French for 3 hours. That's going to be a tough start to the week!

Jane Yeah. I can't […………………………..]it worse. I've got history for three hours which will kill me. The good thing for me is that I've got a free in the afternoon which will relax me after that morning.

John No such luck for me […………………………..]. I've got that extra maths class starting then so I'll be hard at work all day on Mondays.

Jane Yeah, I don't envy you that. Still the […………………………..]will really help your economics in the long run.

John I know. That's why I'm taking it this year. Last year I really […………………………..]with all the maths that I didn't understand in the economics but […………………………..], this year, that will all change.

Jane What about sport? What have you chosen to do on the […………………………..]afternoons? Are you sticking with rowing?

John I'd love to but the rowing club […………………………..]got broken into and the boats were […………………………..]so it's not possible till the club can get enough money to repair or […………………………..]the boats. They're really […………………………..]so that'll take quite a long time. So, as I can't do that, I'm going to try out […………………………..]. What about you?

Jane I'm going to the same as last year. […………………………..].

John That's good as it's in the main sports hall like the squash. I'll be able to see you a lot

this year.

Jane Yeah, it looks like that. You can help me with the maths that I don't understand.

John (laughs) Maybe. For a small fee of course.

Jane I know it's early but do you know anything about the first […………………………..]that we have to do?

John Yes, it's already up on the economics […………………………..]notice board. There's a choice of essays up there. I think there are about 10 you can choose from. I can't remember any of the titles though apart from the one that I think I'm going to write about.

Jane What's that one then?

John It's about the […………………………..]future of third world economies.

Jane Ooh. I don't like the sound of that. It seems very […………………………..].

John It is but remember that I spent some of the summer […………………………..]travelling in Africa and Asia so that has made me more interested in the subject and I've also got some first hand ideas on the subject.

Jane Does the essay list mention how long the essays have to be and the […………………………..]?

John Yes. You remember that last year all the essays had to be […………………………..]in length?

Well, that's gone up by a thousand words!

Jane Oh no! They'll take ages.

John I know. I was hoping that they'd stay at 3000 words or only go up to […………………………..], but no luck I'm afraid.

Jane What about the deadline?

John The first one has to be in by the […………………………..]and the second by the 30th November. It looks like one essay a month like last year.

Jane Well at least that hasn't changed but as it's the end of September now, that leaves only a month to get the first one done. I'm going to have get onto that […………………………..]away.

John Yes, you'd better. If you want to talk about it, I'm going to be at the campus […………………………..]at 1.30 for lunch. We could go over some questions.

Jane I can't then, as I'll be in the sports hall working out. How about 3 this afternoon at the economics […………………………..]room?

John That seems OK. We'll be right by the economics course office where the questions are, so that'll be […………………………..]for checking up on them.

Jane OK. See you then. Bye.

John Bye.

Section 4.

Good morning everyone. My name is Professor Wilson and I am […………………………..]you today as part of your […………………………..]sciences course. Part of this course is concerned with pollution issues in our world today and part of this lecture will look at some of ways that the oil […………………………..]has developed to deal with oil […………………………..]around the world.

Oil […………………………..]are the largest ships to sail in the ocean. For countries such as Japan that have no oil deposits of their own, tankers are the only way that the oil needed to power their economies can be moved. They are designed to hold millions of […………………………..]of crude or […………………………..]oil in reasonable safety and without damage to the […………………………..]. When oil is released from these ships, the oil […………………………..]over the surface of the water in a large slick. These oil slicks can cover hundreds of miles and they cause huge environmental […………………………..]. Oil is released for varying reasons. […………………………..]while loading and unloading and […………………………..]spills account for many […………………………..]today, but it is ships hitting other ships or rocks, which is the major cause of slicks. Because oil slicks are so damaging to the environment, […………………………..]ways of containing them and cleaning them up have been […………………………..]. In previous years, slick cleaners would sometimes try to set fire to the slicks and burn them off but this is rarely done […………………………..]because, surprisingly, nearly all oil slicks consist of […………………………..]that aren't […………………………..]; combustibility comes after refining.

The four ways of cleaning up oil spills that we'll look at today are as follows:

The Containment Boom.

Chemical Detergents.

The Sponge.

[…………………………..].

The containment boom is the most common method of cleaning up after an oil spill. […………………………..]are erected in the water and the oil is then […………………………..]. Basically a containment boom is just a large float that […………………………..]and contains the slick. This method is cheap and […………………………..]however it only functions in very calm seas.

Another method to clean slicks is to spray […………………………..]solution from airplanes or boats directly onto the spill. Depending on the detergent, two things can happen. One possible result is that the oil can break up into […………………………..], which sink to the bottom of the ocean. Although these […………………………..]are themselves […………………………..], the problems caused by the clumps are much easier to deal with than the problems caused by oil slicks. The other possibility is that the oil then breaks down into tiny […………………………..], which are soon spread and become […………………………..]. This method is well suited to dealing with the larger slicks. A negative […………………………..]is that often the chemicals […………………………..]in the water and they can kill fish and other […………………………..]life.

A Berlin-based company has developed an […………………………..]method for cleaning up oil spills. Eco.carbon has invented a giant […………………………..]made of lignite resin that sucks up the oil, preventing it from harming the environment. The sponge comes as a mat, which contains […………………………..]coal, whose small […………………………..]can soak up large amounts of oil. The process is safe and cheap. The sponges have so far withstood […………………………..]testing in pools of water with […………………………..]oil slicks. A unique advantage is that once the oil is […………………………..]into the mat, it remains fixed there […………………………..]. The downside, however, is that the mats become toxic waste.

Scientists are also trying to improve other methods to fight oil spills. At the scenes of oil […………………………..]around the world, they've found bacteria that seem to have an […………………………..]for the toxic black […………………………..]. Now, the scientists are breeding these bacteria and studying them to […………………………..]which is most effective at reducing oil levels. Eventually, they hope to put the best bacteria to work in helping clean up after oil spill […………………………..]. The bacteria actually use the oil as food. As the bacteria […………………………..], they eat more and more of the slick until it finally […………………………..]. Eventually this method should be cheap, easy to […………………………..]and be completely eco-friendly as when the slick is gone, the bacteria's food source is gone and they die, leaving nothing behind at all. So far this method has no […………………………..]drawbacks.

Well, that's the end of the section of the lecture on cleaning up spills. This subject is an optional question for your course. You'll find the reading lists and essay questions on the […………………………..]notice boards along with the deadline for […………………………..]. If you choose it, […………………………..]will be held at a later date.

Practice every day to improve your IELTS listening skills. Don’t forget to visit IELTS Material website on a daily basis to find more practice tests for every skill in the IELTS Test.

 

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