Describe A Poisonous Plant You Know About: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

What plant is it?
Where is it found?
What are the benefits and side effects of this plant?
How do you know about it?

24 unique answers with expert feedback

Show all 24 answers

Cue 1:What plant is it?

Begin by naming the poisonous plant clearly and confidently.
Provide a brief description of its appearance and characteristics.

Example

The plant I want to talk about is called 'Aconitum', commonly known as Monkshood. It has beautiful blue flowers and is often found in the mountainous regions of India. However, it is important to note that all parts of this plant are highly toxic.

Cue 2:Where is it found?

Mention specific regions or habitats where the plant grows.
You can include details about its natural environment or any specific locations in India.

Example

Aconitum is primarily found in the Himalayan regions, particularly in states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. It thrives in moist, shady areas and is often seen growing in the wild, near streams and in meadows.

Cue 3:What are the benefits and side effects of this plant?

Discuss any medicinal uses the plant may have, while emphasizing its dangers.
Explain the side effects and potential risks of handling or consuming the plant.

Example

While Aconitum has been used in traditional medicine for its analgesic properties, it is extremely dangerous. Even a small amount can cause severe poisoning, leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and even heart failure. Therefore, it is crucial to handle this plant with care.

Cue 4:How do you know about it?

Share a personal experience or story related to the plant.
Explain how you learned about its properties and dangers.

Example

I first learned about Aconitum during a nature walk in the Himalayas with my friends. A local guide pointed it out and warned us about its toxicity. Since then, I have researched more about it, and I always remind others to be cautious around such plants.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, Aconitum is a fascinating yet dangerous plant that highlights the importance of respecting nature. While it has some medicinal uses, its toxicity makes it essential to approach it with caution. I believe that awareness about such plants can help prevent accidents and promote safety in nature.

Following this structure will ensure you cover all the essential points while providing a clear and engaging response to the cue card topic.

Tips to answer this Cue Card

1: Vague Descriptions

Using vague language can make your answer unclear. It's important to provide specific details about the plant to engage the listener and demonstrate your knowledge.

Tip

Use descriptive adjectives and specific examples when talking about the plant's characteristics and effects.

2: Ignoring Side Effects

Failing to mention the side effects of the plant can lead to an incomplete answer. It's crucial to discuss both benefits and risks to show a balanced understanding.

Tip

Always include both the benefits and potential dangers of the plant to provide a comprehensive response.

Lack of Personal Connection

Not sharing how you know about the plant can make your answer less engaging. Personal experiences can add depth and interest to your response.

Tip

Include a personal story or experience related to the plant to make your answer more relatable and memorable.

IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

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Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

Pitampura Test Centre, New Delhi

Answer

I like to taste different types of cuisine. Here I would like to talk about my favorite dish at my traditional festival of Onam which is Sadya. Sadya is popular in my city. We are experimenting these cuisines on Onam festival day. Onam is a famous festival in my city. All family members get together in my home and we make a delicious Sadya. There are many ingredients includes that Sadya. Moreover, we make a big feast that day as well as we create a lot of memories together and we wear that day the traditional dress called Sari and men wear the Dhotis. That festival is really important to us because the whole day we are conducting different kinds of games at our homes and all the family members came together. It's a memorable day in my life. This is the festival. We are making the Sambar and Aviyal. These all the kinds of foods are making with the vegetables.

Talk about a toy you liked in your childhood

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 8

Sector 34 Test Centre, Chandigarh

Answer

The toy which I liked in my childhood was a panda doll, which makes me pleasant and makes me more blush. The pandas are the most beautiful creatures of the world, which looks gigantic and has pooshy cheeks and they are like stars in the clouds and they dream in me. Furthermore, these have been given by my father. My father is a very very beautiful artistic person, who makes me think of that. Every day you will face every difficulties and make you suffer and move forward. Pandas are always seen in Japanese countries. It is my lifelong dream to visit a Japanese country and click a photo with the original pandas, which makes sounds better.

Describe a time you were in a place where you didn't know the local language

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 6.5

Whitefield Test Center, Bengaluru

Answer

As India is a very large country full of diversity, so there are many places which have their own language and speak their native language. The place which I visited and I didn't know about their language was Leladakh, which is about 300 km away from my hometown and it is a very good place as it consists of different kind of trees, animals and have many scenic views and I visited over there last year in summers as it was the best time to visit because it has many, it was cold over there and we had summers in our area so it was the best time to visit over there and I went over there with my whole family.

Describe a time when your friend damaged something you owned

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7

Begumpet Test Centre, Hyderabad

Answer

When I was a kid, I had a little pencil box which had these four buttons which gave the pencil box an operative use. When you press the button, the box would open up. When you press the second button, a little part of it would slide out. Basically it was just a little electronical and a fun thing to have and I owned it when I was in 6th. One day after break, I was standing and talking there with one of my friends and another friend of mine was running through the hallway and accidentally she pushed my shoulder and my pencil box hit the ground and it broke into multiple pieces to the point that it was not functional anymore.

Describe a book you recently read

Reported by

Anonymous student Band 7.5

CBD Belapur Test Centre, Navi Mumbai

Answer

It Ends With Us is a book I read recently. It's by the author Colleen Hoare. It's mainly a story about two teenagers, Atlas and Lily, and how they just handle their life going through high school, adolescence, and just domestic violence at home. Both of them come from very, very different families. However, they have one common determining factor between them, which is domestic violence. The abuse that they've seen their moms go through is just insane, and they connect through that on a different level. They're actually in the same high school, but they never speak to each other until Atlas actually crashes into an empty house next to Lily's villa. When Atlas is homeless and he doesn't have anywhere to go, he just comes and breaks into the house next to Lily's, and Lily helps him with all the daily necessities like clothes and food, medicines and stuff. Furthermore, their friendship blossoms into love, but it doesn't really fructify as Atlas has to leave. This book really gave me a lot of knowledge about domestic abuse and how to deal with it.

All Answers

Here are all the answers by real-users practicing speaking for IELTS Cue Cards on our IELTS Prep App.

Band 5-6

Well, to be honest I am not aware of any poisonous plant, however, I think there are some plants which are poisonous on the planet, the terrestrial plants which are in the deep woods, there are some plants and trees which can be poisonous, majorly I think the leaves, if you pluck it off that can be dangerous, it can cause a casualty and it can have major significant issues and it can be life-threatening as well, if you have no knowledge about a particular plant or a flower and I think...

Band 5-6

Actually, there are a lot of poisonous plants present on the earth, but I am gonna say about a plant which I know the most, which is a datura plant, which is a datura plant, which has a very good benefits and also it is considered one of the most poisonous plant because of its seeds. Actually, it will be found in any bushes or some weeds. It is the first plant to grow there, but it is also having a lot of benefits like it flowers and leaves and some parts of the plant are used in medical purpose, which can cure some kind of disease or some kind of skin infections. So, it is considered one of the plant which is having both medical and poisonous effects. And coming to its poisonous effects, its seeds has some kind of poison. If we get to consume it, it will affect us, which will kill us.

Band 5

Certainly, I know a poisonous plant which is harmful for human lives and it's like in shape of a mango or guava. In my opinion, it was seen in rural areas where I was lived in a rural area and I just seen this plant all over there and I don't think so it have advantages. The people were staying there, they told to me that at my childhood they shared an advice for me that to not take or eat that plant and it causes very dangerous effect by eating that. So, they also gave me a information that if we eat or taste that fruit, we can get some symptoms of coughing and itching in our neck and it may cause some health issues. And even after death. So, at my teenage I was very, I was taken precautions to avoid that plant.

Band <5

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