Describe an important river/lake in your country: IELTS Speaking Cue Card

You should say

Where is it located?
How big/long it is?
What it looks like?
And explain why it is important.

35 unique answers with expert feedback

What activities do people engage in along the river Ganga?

People engage in various activities along the river Ganga, such as bathing, performing religious rituals, and celebrating festivals. Many also visit the river for picnics, boating, and enjoying the natural beauty. The riverbanks are often bustling with life, especially during religious events.

How does the river Ganga contribute to the economy of your country?

The river Ganga plays a significant role in the economy by providing water for agriculture, supporting fishing industries, and facilitating transportation. Additionally, it attracts tourists, which boosts local businesses and creates job opportunities in the hospitality sector.

What measures are being taken to protect the river Ganga?

Various measures are being implemented to protect the river Ganga, including government initiatives like the 'Namami Gange' program aimed at cleaning and conserving the river. Efforts include waste management, pollution control, and raising awareness about the importance of preserving this vital water source.

Band 7

00:00

India has a lot of rivers and lakes, but one of the most important and auspicious rivers is the river Ganga. I recently visited it on my trip to Uttar Pradesh. It is a river that flows starting from the glaciers of Himalayas and it flows through Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Bengal and it empties into the Bay of Bengal. This is considered a very holy river and bathing in it ensures a sort of divine blessing upon oneself and it is worshipped as Goddess Ganga by the Hindu religion in India and many festivals and religious activities are conducted centering around this river and it is a very wide river and many river activities can be conducted on it. The flow of the water is very fast during monsoon so it is not recommended to visit without a guide. Many people take a dip in this river during the festival seasons. I did so myself just this year when I visited it for the festival of Mahakum.

Follow up questions

What are some other rivers or lakes in India that you find significant?

Apart from the Ganga, rivers like Yamuna and Brahmaputra are significant. Lakes like Dal Lake in Kashmir are also important for their beauty and cultural significance. Each has its own unique features and plays a vital role in the local ecosystem and culture.

How do people celebrate festivals around the Ganga?

Festivals like Kumbh Mela attract millions to the Ganga for ritual bathing. People perform prayers, offer flowers, and participate in cultural events. The atmosphere is vibrant with music, dance, and food stalls, making it a significant spiritual and social gathering.

What measures are being taken to protect the Ganga?

The Indian government has initiated the 'Namami Gange' project to clean and protect the Ganga. This includes sewage treatment plants, river surface cleaning, and awareness campaigns to reduce pollution and preserve the river's sanctity for future generations.

IELTS Cue Cards asked last week

Reported by Leap students who gave IELTS

Describe your favourite food at a traditional festival or a special event in your country

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.

Band 6-7

00:00

One of the most important river in the whole of India is the Ganga river. It is also known as Ma Ganga in the common native language and Ganges in the foreign languages. It is considered to be a holy river as it is the formation of two rivers such as the Alaknanda and the Bhagirath. When the Alaknanda and Bhagirath, these two rivers meet in the Himalayas, they both form the Ganga river. It is a very long river and it has been recognized from a long time. It has also been one of the most famous rivers across the world. Currently in the Prayagraj, the Mahakam was originated which had over 600 million visitors for the holy dip in this holy water. The Ganga river is considered to be so holy that it removes your sins and other bad negative aspects from your body. It gives you proper energy and excitement when you took the dip in the Ganga river. It has a long stretch. It starts from the Himalayas all the way to Bangladesh and it finally goes down and mix in Bay of Bengal. It is a mixture of other rivers as well. But even though the other river mix with Ganga, it remains the Ganga river such as the Yamuna Brahmaputra and other rivers. But the originality of the Ganga river is that

Follow up questions

What cultural significance does the Ganga river hold for people in India?

The Ganga river holds immense cultural significance as it is considered sacred in Hinduism. Many rituals, including cremation and ceremonies, are performed along its banks. It is believed that bathing in the Ganga purifies the soul and helps in attaining moksha, or liberation from the cycle of life and death.

How does the Ganga river impact the economy of the regions it flows through?

The Ganga river significantly impacts the economy by providing water for agriculture, supporting fishing industries, and facilitating trade and transportation. Many towns and cities along its banks thrive due to tourism, especially during religious festivals, which attract millions of visitors each year.

What are some environmental challenges facing the Ganga river today?

The Ganga river faces several environmental challenges, including pollution from industrial waste, sewage discharge, and plastic waste. Efforts are being made to clean and preserve the river, but ongoing urbanization and population growth continue to threaten its health and purity.

Band 6-7

00:00

So, India being a vast country has many important rivers and lakes but particularly the most important is the Ganga which flows in the northern part of India. It is basically considered a holy river by the people residing in India, by the Indians. And currently there is a festival you can say called Makum which is being conducted right now and which is going to end at 24th Feb itself. So basically people go to, it is the most largest human gathering which is happening in the world where people go to Prayagraj, a place called Prayagraj where people take holy showers in river Ganga considering that sins will get washed away and now that's it.

Follow up questions

Why do you think the Ganga is considered holy by many people?

The Ganga is considered holy because it is believed to purify the soul and wash away sins. Many Hindus perform rituals and ceremonies along its banks, and it holds significant cultural and spiritual importance in Indian traditions.

What are some environmental issues facing the Ganga River?

The Ganga faces several environmental challenges, including pollution from industrial waste, sewage, and religious offerings. Efforts are being made to clean and preserve the river, but it remains a significant concern for both the government and local communities.

Can you tell us more about the Makum festival?

The Makum festival, also known as Kumbh Mela, is a major Hindu pilgrimage where millions gather to bathe in the Ganga. It symbolizes spiritual cleansing and renewal. The festival occurs every 12 years at four different locations, attracting devotees from across India and beyond.

Band 6-7

00:00

There are many important rivers in India, but I would like to talk about River Yamuna which is situated behind the Taj Mahal which is one of the famous monuments of the world. River Yamuna has a significant impact in the history of India and also it is used for many resources in modern lifestyle. Firstly, it is used for the generation of electricity as many power plants are situated on the banks of it which helps to supply electricity in all parts of the agram. Moreover, activities like fishing are held around the shore of the rivers. Many fishers go there and they buy the fishes and do sell them in the markets as their habit of living. Other than that, it is a famous tourist destination as many people do visit Taj Mahal and they do go to the river and do perform various activities like boating. Many people tend to go for water activities too like water balloons or scuba diving. Also, it is decorated beautifully as there are trees all around the river. Moreover, on special occasions like Diwali or any religious activities are held on the river and it does have some significance as many people consider it as a holy river and perform some rituals during some special days.

Follow up questions

How does River Yamuna contribute to the local economy?

River Yamuna contributes significantly to the local economy through fishing activities, tourism, and electricity generation. Fishermen rely on the river for their livelihood, while the influx of tourists visiting the Taj Mahal boosts local businesses. Additionally, power plants along the river provide essential electricity to the region.

What environmental issues does River Yamuna face?

River Yamuna faces several environmental challenges, including pollution from industrial waste, sewage discharge, and encroachment. These issues threaten the river's ecosystem and the health of communities that depend on it. Efforts are being made to clean and preserve the river, but it remains a significant concern.

What cultural significance does River Yamuna hold?

River Yamuna holds immense cultural significance as it is considered a holy river in Hinduism. Many rituals and festivals, such as Diwali, are celebrated along its banks. People perform religious ceremonies and offer prayers, reflecting the river's importance in spiritual practices and local traditions.

Show all 35 answers

Cue 1:Where is it located?

Begin by stating the name of the river or lake and its geographical location in your country.
Mention any significant cities or landmarks nearby to give context.

Example

The river I want to talk about is the Ganges, which flows through northern India. It originates from the Himalayas in Uttarakhand and passes through several states, including Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.

Cue 2:How big/long it is?

Provide specific measurements, such as the length of the river or the area of the lake.
You can also mention how it compares to other rivers or lakes in the country.

Example

The Ganges is approximately 2,525 kilometers long, making it one of the longest rivers in India. It is not only significant in terms of length but also in terms of the vast area it covers, supporting millions of people along its banks.

Cue 3:What it looks like?

Describe the physical characteristics of the river or lake, including its color, width, and surrounding scenery.
Mention any unique features, such as islands, wildlife, or cultural landmarks.

Example

The Ganges is a majestic river with a wide, flowing body of water that appears a muddy brown due to the sediments it carries. Along its banks, you can find lush greenery, ancient temples, and bustling towns, creating a vibrant and picturesque landscape.

Cue 4:And explain why it is important.

Discuss the cultural, economic, and environmental significance of the river or lake.
Mention any historical or spiritual importance it holds for the people.

Example

The Ganges is extremely important to India as it is considered sacred by Hindus. It supports agriculture for millions of farmers and is a vital source of drinking water. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in the economy through tourism, as many people visit to experience its spiritual significance and beauty.

Conclusion

Example

In conclusion, the Ganges is not just a river; it is a lifeline for millions of people in India. Its beauty, significance, and the life it supports make it an essential part of our culture and environment.

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: Ignoring Key Cues

Failing to address all the cues can lead to an incomplete answer. This may result in a lower score as it shows a lack of preparation and understanding of the task.

Tip

Make sure to answer all the cues provided, such as location, size, appearance, and importance, to give a comprehensive response.

2: Being Vague or General

Using vague language or general statements can make your answer uninteresting and unclear. Specific details are crucial for a strong response.

Tip

Include specific facts and descriptions about the river or lake, such as its exact location, size, and unique features to enhance your answer.

Lack of Personal Connection

Not sharing personal experiences or feelings about the river or lake can make your answer less engaging. Personal connections can add depth to your response.

Tip

Incorporate personal anecdotes or feelings about the river or lake to make your answer more relatable and interesting.