Wednesday, October 26, 2016

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

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


10 Useful Expressions You May Have Missed To Get Higher Score In IELTS

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 06:29 AM PDT

Ever wonder how to express ordinary actions in an extraordinary way. These are some extremely handy phrases that will help you kick your speech and essay up the notch. Let's dive in!

  1. whet someone's appetite for something: make or increase someone's interest in something

Ex: "Let's Eat" – a Korean drama revolving around four lead characters who greatly enjoy their single lives apart from having to dine out alone – has whetted my appetite for Korean cuisine.

  1. take great pains to do something = be at pains to do something: make great effort to do something

Ex: Susan took great pains to get back into shape after having given birth to her second child.

  1. sweep someone off his/her feet: make someone suddenly fall in love with you

Ex: John's heroic action has swept Kim off her feet after he rescued her from a car wreck.

  1. cast aspersions on someone/ something: make critical or insulting remarks about someone/ something

Ex: There is no good in casting aspersions on people when you don't know what they have been through.

  1. shoulder the blame/ burden/ responsibility: take responsibility for something

Ex: You shouldn't have been the one who shouldered all the blame, Kate played a huge part in it.

  1. act as a catalyst: cause something important to happen

Ex: The constant wave of disapproval among employees acted as a catalyst for positive changes in the company's policy regarding minimum salary rate.

  1. keep/ hold … in check: take control of …

Ex: Paul was losing it after the dead of his dad. He barely held himself in check.

  1. keep someone in the loop: keep someone informed about something

Ex: We'll keep you in the loop if there's any update from the client.

  1. cut no ice (with someone): not impress or influence someone

Ex: His patronizing attitude cuts no ice with me

  1. beat around the bush: take too long before saying what you want to say, avoid saying things directly

Ex: You are wasting time. Stopping beating around the bush and tell me what's wrong.

IELTS Listening Practice Test 82

Posted: 26 Oct 2016 02:33 AM PDT

SECTION 1

Questions 1-6

Complete the form below.

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

STUDENT HEALTH CENTRE MEDICAL RECORD

Example                                            Answer
Patients name:                                 Martin Hansen

Faculty of                                          1__________________

Address:                                            13 2________________ Street, Perth

Telephone:                                        3__________________

Date of Birth:                                   15th June, 1986

Serious illness/ accident:               4__________________

Operations:                                      5__________________

Allergies:                                          6__________________

Questions 7-9

Circle the correct letters A-C.

7. Why is Martin visiting the doctor?

A. He suffers from headaches.
B. He suffers from nausea.
C. He has an infection.

8. How many hours does Martin usually sleep each night?

A. Less than eight.
B. Between eight and nine.
C. More than nine.

8. Which of these describes Martin’s problem?

A. It’s continuous and constant.
B. It's worse during the daytime.
C. It's worse in the evening and at night.

Question 10

Circle TWO letters A-E.

10. Which of these things does the doctor suggest Martin should do?

A. change his diet
B. have his eyes tested
C. sleep more
D. take more exercise
E. take some medicine

SECTION 2

Questions 11 -20

Complete the notes below.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answer.

ARTISTS EXHIBITION

General details

  • Place: 11_
  • Address: 1,12_
  • Dates: 6th October to 13_

Display details

  • jewellery
  • furniture
  • ceramics
  • 14
  • sculpture

Expect to see:

                            crockery in the shape of 15______________

                            silver jewellery, e.g. large rings with 16________________

                            a shoe sculpture made out of 17_______________

Go to demonstrations called 18  “________________"

ARTISTS CONSERVATORY

Course include:                  Chinese brush painting

                                              19______________

                                             silk painting

Fees include:                     studio use

                                            access to the shop

                                            supply of 20__________________

SECTION 3

Questions 21-23

Circle the appropriate answer.

21. Dave thinks the last tutorial

A. was exciting and Sarah disagrees.
B. was not exciting and Sarah disagrees.
C. wasn’t very interesting and Sarah agrees.
D. was good and Sarah feels she has to agree.

22. Sarah states that she understood

A. a very small part of the tutorial.
B. all of the tutorial.
C. most of the tutorial, but parts of it were incomprehensible.
D. none of the tutorial.

23. Sarah and Dave have just attended a tutorial on

A. study skills for English Literature.
B. reading in literature.
C. writing in literature.
D. general studies.

Questions 24-2?

Listen and complete the table below with the appropriate numbers.

Sarah Dave Terry Arnold
pages per hour 25-30 24_________ 120 25__________
books per week 1 26_________ 27__________ 20

Questions 28-30

Using NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each blank space, complete the sentences below.

28. Terry thinks it is important to develop one’s reading speed to______________.

29. Terry felt _______________after his first tutorial with Dr. Pratt.

30. When Terry first arrived at university, his reading speed was___________________pages per hour.

SECTION 4

Complete the summary.

Write NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS for each answers.

COASTAL ZONE INQUIRY

Sneaker: Kevin Ackrovd from the 31____________

Background:

Problem: The recant. 32 put extreme pressure on 33_________________

Contributing factors:

  • economic development
  • 34___________________
  • industrial expansion
  • 35___________________

Two particularly important factors:

  • 36________________ is likelv to continue.
  • Industry, especially tourism which competes with 37_________________ farming industries.

Conclusions:

Need to

  • raise profile of coastal zone
  • exercise greater vision
  • 38____________________

Recommendations:

Need for

  • long-term view
  • broad view
  • modem 39_______________
  • consultation with 40__________________

Answer keys:

Section 1, Questions 1-10

  1. Medicine
  2. Chatham

  3. 01734 24655

  4. (a) broken leg/broke leg

  5. none/no (operations)

  6. dust (and) cats

  7. A

  8. B

  9. C

  10. B (and) E

Section 2, Questions 11-20

  1. Royal Museum
  • Queen’s Park Road/Rd

  • 10th December/Dec.

  • metalwork

  • (garden) vegetables

  • coloured stones

  • (white) paper 1$ Face to Face

  • pencil drawing

  • all materials

  • Section 3, Questions 21-30

    1. D
  • C

  • A

  • 60 -70 (sixty to seventy)

  • 160

  • one/1

  • three/3

  • suit the circumstances

  • so inadequate

  • twenty-five/25

  • Section 4, Questions 31-40

    1. Department of Environment
  • population shift/urban expansion/ population growth/expansion

  • coastal environment/environment of coast/natural resources/ water resources

  • 34. aging population

    1. government policies
  • urban sprawl/urban expansion/growth

  • (intensive) fish and shellfish

  • adopt (a) national approach/ nationwide coordination

  • management and practices

  • people affected/people concerned

  • 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 have to fill each space with the missing word by listening to the audio for this IELTS listening practice test. 

    SECTION 1

    Doctor:            Good morning.

    Martin:            Morning.

    Doctor:            Come in. Sit down. Now, you’re a new [………………………………], aren’t you?

    Martin:            Yes, that’s right.

    Doctor:            Ok, so I’d better get some basic [………………………………]down first. Right, we’ start with your name.

    Martin:            Martin Hansen. Example

    Doctor:            Do you spell that S-O-N or S-E-N?

    Martin:            H-A-N-S-E-N.

    Doctor:            OK. And you are a first-year student?

    Martin:            Yes, I am.

    Doctor:            Studying?

    Martin:            [………………………………], actually.

    Doctor:            Ah! Good choice. I hope you enjoy it.

    Martin:            Thanks.

    Doctor:            And your address?

    Martin:            Yes. it’s [………………………………].

    Doctor:            That’s C-H-A-T-H-A-M, isn’t it?

    Martin:            That’s right.

    Doctor:            And your phone number?

    Martin:            [………………………………]

    Doctor:            01734 26455.

    Martin:            No, you got the 6 and the 4 the wrong way round. It’s 24655.

    Doctor:            Huh! Sorry, right. And when were you bom?

    Martin:            On the [………………………………].

    Doctor:            Here in New Zealand?

    Martin:            Yes.

    Doctor:            Now, let’s get some of your medical [………………………………]. Have you ever had any serious [………………………………]or accident?

    Martin:            A broken lee I got plaving football when I was 17. I was in the school team.

    Doctor:            What [………………………………]did you play in?

    Martin:            I was the [………………………………].

    Doctor:            A lot of standing around then!

    Martin:            Yes, when we were winning.

    Doctor:            Right. Anything else?

    Martin:            No, apart from that, nothing.

    Doctor:            And, have you had any [………………………………]of any kind?

    Martin:            No, the only time I’ve been to hospital was when I broke my leg.

    Doctor:            Fine. Any [………………………………]?

    Martin:            Yes. to dust and cats.

    Doctor:            What form does that take? How do you react?

    Martin:            They both make me [………………………………]a bit. Nothing else.

    Doctor:            So you’re not allergic to antibiotics like [………………………………]as far as you know?

    Martin:            I don’t think so.

    Doctor:            Good. So what’s your problem?

    Martin:            Well, recently I’ve been getting this Dain here, iust behind my eves and in my [………………………………].

    Doctor:            I see. Have you felt sick or dizzy at all, or [………………………………]?

    Martin:            No, not at all, though the pain is pretty intense sometimes.

    Doctor:            And how’s your health [………………………………]? Have you had any colds or flu [………………………………]?

    Martin: I had a cold a couple of weeks ago, but that’s gone. It was only a [………………………………]really.

    Doctor: Good. Are you studying a lot? Are you getting enough sleep?

    Martin: Yes, I’m studying quite a lot-I’ve got some exams coming up in [………………………………], but I’m [………………………………]sure to sleep plenty.

    Doctor: What time do you go to bed?

    Martin: Usually around 11. I sleep about [………………………………], and I'm up about 7:30 so I have time to go jogging for half an hour before going to the university at 9.

    Doctor: Very healthy. And has this pain kept you awake or stopped you jogging?

    Martin: Yes, it makes getting to sleep harder. It’s much worse at the end of the day. I hardly notice it in the morning.

    Doctor:            What about food? Are you eating [………………………………]?

    Martin:            I think so. My [………………………………]cooks my meals.

    Doctor:            Right. And do you wear glasses?

    Martin:            No.

    Doctor:            Aha. When did you last visit an [………………………………]?

    Martin:            I don’t remember. When I was a child, I suppose.

    Doctor: OK. Well I think first you should get that done again, just to make sure it’s not the cause. In the [………………………………], take an aspirin or two when you’re in pain, and come and see me again in a week. Ask the receptionist to give you an [………………………………]with the optician. He’s here on Tuesday and Thursday mornings…

    SECTION 2

    And now for some information about the local events and [………………………………]. A couple of [………………………………]for art [………………………………]and budding artists alike. First, a new [………………………………]of artwork is going on show to the public next month in the form of an artists [………………………………]. The exhibition will [………………………………]many different types of art…over 100 different pieces, by 58 [………………………………]from the local area. It’s being held at the Roval [………………………………]which-for those of you who are [………………………………]with the area-is located [………………………………]the library in West Street, right on the comer… the actual address is 1. Queen’s Park Road-it isn’t difficult to find. The [………………………………]will run for 9 weeks and will begin on the [………………………………]and continue until the [………………………………]. So there’s plenty of time for you to go along and have a look. I’m sure that it will be well worth doing.

    What will you see there? Well, [………………………………]the items on display will be some exciting pieces of modern [………………………………], furniture, ceramics, metalwork and [………………………………]. To give you some examples. Local artist Kate Maine will be there to [………………………………]her collection of pots and bowls that she has made to [………………………………]garden vegetables. They are the sort of thing that would [………………………………]up any dining table, and range from things like yellow [………………………………]bowls to round tomato-shaped teapots. Prize-winner Cynthia Course, will also be there to talk about her silver jewellery, all of which she produced using ideas from the [………………………………]setting of her country home. Some of her rings are quite [………………………………]and have beautiful coloured stones on them. Or if you prefer [………………………………], there’s plenty of that, too. Take, for example, Susan Cup’s white paper sculpture of [………………………………]of shoes. It sounds easy, but believe me it looks [………………………………]! All of these items along with many others will be on sale throughout the [………………………………]period.

    As part of the exhibition, there will be a series of [………………………………]called “Face to Face” which will take place every Sunday afternoon during the exhibition and these will [………………………………]an [………………………………]for you to meet the artists.

    The second set of activities are for those who would prefer to [………………………………]in some artwork themselves…the Artists [………………………………]are holding a series of course over the [………………………………]period. The courses cover all media and include subjects such as Chinese [………………………………], pencil drawing and silk painting. All the tutors are [………………………………]artists, course sizes are kept to a [………………………………]of 15 and there will be plenty of individual [………………………………].

    All the sessions offer excellent value for money and the opportunity to relax in a [………………………………]rural setting. Fees are very [………………………………]and include the use of an excellent studio and [………………………………]to the art shop, which you will find sells eveiything from paper to CD’s, and they also include the [………………………………]of all materials. For more information on dates, costs and [………………………………]you should get in touch with the programme [………………………………]on 0459 2839584 or go direct to the website…

    SECTION 3

    D = Dave S = Sarah    T = Terry

    D: Hi Sarah. That was actually quite [………………………………], wasn’t it?

    S: You really think so, Dave? I’m completely worn out. If I have to take in another piece of [………………………………], my head’s going to explode.

    D: It was good, though.

    S: I have to admit it was, mmm.

    D: And it was [………………………………].

    S: Challenging? The last tutorial? It makes me think I learned [………………………………]nothing at school. I understood nearly all of it. but a few bits I’m not sure I got at all. Reading is reading and that’s that.

    D:        Well, it is and it isn’t, you know.

    S:         We all read in the same way.

    D:        No, we don’t![………………………………]T:        What are you two [………………………………]about?

    S:         Oh, it’s Terry. Hi.

    D:        Reading!

    T:         Reading?

    D:        Yes, reading.

    T:         It’s not exactly a [………………………………]to be arguing about. Is it, Dave?

    D:        I don’t know; I find it quite exciting, really.

    S:         You would’

    D:        We’ve iust been to this [………………………………]on study skills as part of the English Literature course and Sarah’s found it difficult to follow.

    S: No, Dave. That’s not true. It’s just there were some things that I’m not so sure about or more [………………………………]sure whether they’re important or not.

    T: Well, what was the problem?

    S: Well, when I read I just read and Dr Pratt was going on about all these different [………………………………]that we need to develop and hone.

    T:         Mmm. How do you read then, Sarah?

    S:         I just read as I said; like everyone else. I read each word as it comes.

    T:         How many pages do you read in an hour?

    S:         About [………………………………]to thirty.

    T:         And what about you, Dave?

    D:        Sixty, maybe [………………………………].

    S:         Sixty to seventy!

    T:         That’s not a lot.

    S:         How many do you read, then, Terry?

    T:         It [………………………………]. About 120…

    S/D:     What?

    S:         Oh, come on, Terry.

    T:         Yeah and I’m not unusual. One of my friends, doing Medieval European History, Arnold, he reads about [………………………………] an hour.

    D: But does he remember it all?

    T: Yeah, I think so, Dave.

    S: I get through only one book a week!

    D: Me too. What about you, Terry?

    T: At the moment, 3.

    S: And your friend Arnold?

    T: Twenty. 1

    S: Twenty!

    T: In fact, what matters, is that you develop your reading speed to suit the [………………………………]. You could still stick to your reading speed of [………………………………]an hour for [………………………………]purposes, but double your reading speed for reading journals or [………………………………]texts. If I’m scanning a text for [………………………………]information, I can just [………………………………]through. Then when I find what I want, I’ll read through that [………………………………]part very slowly.

    S: Mm.

    T: With forty to fifty or more books to get through in a term you can’t [………………………………]to read every word.

    D: Have you always read like that?

    T: No, it’s only since I’ve been here.

    S: I find this all very [………………………………]. How did you do it then?

    T: In the first week of term, in the first year, we had a [………………………………]on reading.

    D: From Dr. Pratt.

    T: Yes, and I felt so inadequate after the class.

    S: Well, what did he tell you?

    T: He just gave us a few basic [………………………………]on reading and then over the last two years he’s been [………………………………]us, so that we all now work very [………………………………].

    S: So he’s your tutor too. You can tell us then what he means when he talks about learning to read the content words only.

    T: Well, this is [………………………………]just the first step. If you read every a, the, to, from, was etc. it really slows you down.

    S: Yeah?

    T: But if you train your eyes to look at the nouns, verbs, adverbs and adjectives.

    S: Assuming you know what they are’

    T: Well, then the big words. Then you [………………………………]increase your speed.

    D: Yeah, that makes sense.

    S: Mmmm Right. I think I’m going off to the library to start. Thanks for the [………………………………]!

    T: Anytime. I’m off to the sports centre.

    D: By the way, what was your reading [………………………………]per hour when you first came here?

    T: Twenty-five.

    SECTION 4

    Presenter: Good afternoon everyone. Today we have with us Mr. Kevin Ackrovd, a [………………………………]from the Department of Environment to outline the [………………………………]of last year’s inquiry into [………………………………]problems along the [………………………………]. Mr. Aqkrqyd, please.

    Mr. Ackroyd: Thank you Ms. Cranston. Good afternoon everyone. Perhaps it would be best if I first [………………………………]for you what I plan to talk about. I’ll begin with some [………………………………]to the inquiry looking at the new [………………………………]we are making on our old [………………………………], so to speak, and go on to give some idea of the [………………………………]we came to in our inquiry.

    OK, first the background. The inquiry was [………………………………]off because vaxious concerned [………………………………]in the [………………………………]region realized that the recent population shift, which really got going in the [………………………………], was putting [………………………………]pressure on our coastal [………………………………]. Over the past two decades half of the country’s population growth has been in the [………………………………]areas. Today, nine out of ten people live in the [………………………………]. The reasons for this shift are not yet fully understood, but there is a range of factors which probably [………………………………], including economic development, an aging population, and growth in [………………………………], particularly tourism and its [………………………………]industries. We would have to admit that government [………………………………]have also contributed to this trend. A trend which is likely to continue so that it’s [………………………………]that by the year [………………………………]there will be millions of additional people living in the non-metropolitan coastal zone. This population [………………………………]puts considerable pressure on the natural [………………………………]of the zone, and there are two [………………………………]likely to impose particular strains. These are firstly that those areas of greatest growth in the past are likely to continue to grow as strongly as before-in other words, urban [………………………………]or extension will continue for at least another [………………………………]. The second factor contributing to the [………………………………]is industry, particularly the newer industries like [………………………………]. These newer industries will compete for [………………………………]with other users such as the [………………………………]fish and shellfish farming industry. All of this will take place in an environment that is already under [………………………………]stress, and in particular the water resources will be [………………………………]. It is the view of the inquiry that water [………………………………], whether of seas, rivers, or lakes, is the greatest resoi'-ie problem in the coastal zone as a whole.

    Now the [………………………………]of the inquiry can be stated quite plainly and simply. First we must raise the [………………………………]of the coastal zone in our thinking, especially in our [………………………………]to conservation and economic development.

    Second, we must [………………………………]much greater vision. We must be prepared to think in the long term rather than the short term, and to pay [………………………………]to details; so better [………………………………]and better planning.

    And thirdly, we must adopt a national approach. We can no longer afford to leave the [………………………………]-making to individual [………………………………], to local government bodies or even to the central government. We are looking here at the need for [………………………………]on a nationwide level. To achieve [………………………………], effective results [………………………………]all levels of government as well as the various non-government organizations in this country will be no easy task, but it is [………………………………]we try. Well, I see time is running out, so perhaps if I just [………………………………]the recommendations made by the inquiry for you:

    • the long view prevails over the short;
    • broad considerations [………………………………]over narrow;
    • the techniques of modern management, and the tools of modem economic are brought into [………………………………];
    • people being [………………………………]by decisions (including indigenous people) are [………………………………]consulted before decisions are made.

    With that I’ll stop and give the [………………………………]to ask questions. But perhaps first I should tell you that the full report of the [………………………………]… [Fade out]

    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.

    IELTS SPEAKING CUE CARD 60, TOPIC: Something you make by yourself

    Posted: 26 Oct 2016 02:15 AM PDT

    IELTS CUE CARD 60

    Describe something you make by yourself. You should say:

    • What the thing is?
    • How do you make it?
    • Why do you like it?

    Band 8.0+ Sample Answer

    I guess I could begin by saying something about what this thing is. In fact, I am not that meticulous and patient therefore the things that I have created by myself can be counted on the fingers of one hand. However one thing that made me really proud of is the kite that I made when I was 7 years old. In fact, it was also the very first thing that I created all the parts from scratch. Another part worth mentioning is the making process of this toy. Well, my kite had the shape of a diamond and was made mainly of paper. Considering the fact that I had never done anything like this before, it’s not astonishing to say that I spent almost three days in a row to complete just the fundamental parts. The first step was attaching paper to a bamboo frame. Although this sounds quite simple, it was absolutely not as easy as a piece of cake since I had to keep the balance for the kite. After that, it came to the issue of assembling lots of colorful light weight pieces in order to make the tail. The thorny part was ensuring the flying ability of the kite even when it was attached with a long tail. Until now, I still remember the gorgeous feeling when I completed the toy which was considered as a treasure back then. I guess this was mainly because it gave me a sense on own achievement and pride whenever I played with it or talked about it to my friends. In my childhood, the whole world was just as simple and funny as a party to be thrown – like a famous singer said.

    Vocabulary:

    • Meticulous (a): showing great attention to detail
    • Count something on the fingers of one hand (idiom): say that something is really scarce
    • Start from scratch (idiom): start from the very first part
    • Fundamental (a): basic and important
    • In a row (idiom): continuously
    • Assemble (v): put together
    • Piece of cake (idiom): easy and not requires lots of effort
    • Thorny (a): very difficult
    • Ensure (v): to make sure
    • Gorgeous (a): very pleasant, beautiful and attractive
    • Throw a party (idiom): to hold, to arrange a party.

    Decry – Word Of The Day For IELTS

    Posted: 26 Oct 2016 12:38 AM PDT

    Decry – Word Of The Day For IELTS Speaking And Writing

    Decry: (Verb) /dɪˈkraɪ/

    Definition:

    to state publicly that you do not approve of something

    Synonyms: 

    Criticise, Blame, Condemn

    Example:

    For IELTS Speaking:.
    “Loisel decried the election results.”
    “Others may decry competitions for their tendency to emphasise technique over artistry, conformity over originality.”

    For IELTS Writing:
    “In organisations with scarce resources political activity is inevitable and only the naive decry it.”

    Exercise:

    Choose the following words to fill in the blank: achieve, obtained, decry, instituted, credit, residents, evaluated, assist, primary, site.

    1. If I can _______________ you in any way, please let me know.
    2. The government is looking for a _______________ on which to build a new school in this area.
    3. Firemen had to evacuate the elderly _______________ of a local nursing home after smoke was seen coming from one of the rooms.
    4. The English Program has _______________ many changes over the years in an attempt to provide an increasingly better program.
    5. Every employee’s work performance will be _______________ on a yearly basis.
    6. He _______________ a final mark of just over 80%.
    7. We have to give her a lot of _______________ for our success.
    8. The _______________ reason he has done so well at school is that he works incredibly hard.
    9. If you want to _______________ real progress in your speaking skills, you need to speak English as often as possible while you are here.
    10. And baseball will certainly have more critics ready to __________ well-heeled owners buying pennants.

    Answer key:

    1. assist.
    2. site.
    3. residents.
    4. instituted.
    5. evaluated.
    6. obtained.
    7. credit.
    8. primary.
    9. achieve.
    10. decry

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

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