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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.
Show all 78 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.

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    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.

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    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.

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    Tip

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

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    All Answers

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

    Band 6-7

    Ganga is one of the most important river of India located in the northern states of India. It originates from the Gangotri Glacier in Uttarakhand and it passes through numerous states of India like UP, Bihar, West Bengal and it finally merges into Bay of Bengal. It is one of the longest river of India. It looks like a branch of tree because it has a dendritic drainage pattern as numerous rivers meets it from different direction and importance. It is very important river to sustain Indian economy. In the northern India, mostly various crops like wheat and paddy grown through the water of irrigation through river Ganga. It supplies water to the various industries in the West Bengal and Jharkhand region. Mainly the Tata Iron and Steel plant receive water from one of the tributary of Ganga which is Damodar river which is also known as the Sourva of Bengal. And it has also its cultural significance. It is known as the most holy river of India and various festivals are celebrated at its bank like the famous Chhat Puja festival of the Bihar. So it is one of the most auspicious river of India.

    Band 6-7

    So, the river in our country which is considered to be sacred and important is Ganga river. This river is located on the northeast side of India which is Bangladesh. The beauty of it is that it is a fast flowing river and it is turquoise in color and it has beautiful mountains behind it which makes it look more and more unique. Not just its beauty, it is 2525 km long and flows throughout the northeast India. The river is sacred and is praised by lot of devotees every year and it's

    Band 6-7

    rivers and lakes are extremely important as they provide economic growth opportunities and also provide necessary resources such as drinking water. So one particular river that I would like to talk about today is, it is a group of rivers that is known as Sutlej, Ravi, Chenab, Beas and Jhelum. They originate from around northern India and they go through Punjab and even Pakistani Punjab and then they meet up in the oceans. If I talk about its length, it is around several thousand kilometers and the most astonishing thing about these particular rivers are that they are extremely beautiful and they offer numerous sites for sightseeing and lastly if I talk about their importance, they are extremely important for several reasons. Firstly, they provide employment opportunities for several individuals that are working near them. For example, the workers at a dam or individuals that rely on fishing for their households and even they provide fresh drinking water for numerous households and without this particular river, it would lead to discomfort for several families.

    Band 6-7

    One of the most well-known lakes of my country, India, is Ganga, River Ganga, the Holy River Ganga. It is one of the most significant rivers in India as it is considered to be one of the most religious ones as well. It's a very long river which is situated in Uttarakhand state in Haridwar in particular. It is a very important river for the religion Hindu. Hindu religion basically signifies Ganga as the holy river water that includes basically that whenever if a person wishes to purify their mind, their body, their energy, their soul, they can just go and take a dip in the holy river and all of the impurities will be taken by the river water. It is considered from the ancient period and is one of the most important and well-known lakes of my country. When a person dies, the last remains of the is also poured down in Ganga which heavily signifies how people treat that river water. If a person wishes to inaugurate their house, Ganga water is sprinkled in their house which shows how pure that water is and how important and how well significant the river water is.

    Band 6-7

    The river Ganga is a very important river in India, from where I belong to. The river holds a very significant aspect in cultural background and also religious aspects. The river is magnificent with gushes of water flowing through it throughout the year. We see all through the year various devotees from across the world visiting river Ganga. The river bath is a very significant part of visiting the river culture. It holds a very significant cultural and religious holding due to which it holds a very significant importance in the country and also known as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The river in the country is located in the north of India in the Uttar Pradesh region. Various devotees and residents over there consider the river as a very auspicious river. Flooding and littering while violation of rules is considered as a disruption of the religious activities and hence is prohibited and also heavily fined. I would like to also say that I have visited this place twice so far and it has been a wonderful experience. The river is magnificent and I would suggest anybody who I know to visit this place.

    Band 6-7

    The lake or the river that I am going to talk about right now is called Ganges or the river Ganga which flows in the northernmost part of India and goes on to converge with another river and just basically goes into an ocean. I saw the river in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The river is very big and very wide. It is of grayish color and the river looks like an endless stream of water that just goes on and on and on. Moreover, the river has a lot of benefits and it is also very important to the people of India. The river Ganges was once the habitat for a lot of fish species and dolphins which are nowhere to be seen in the river now as it is very polluted. Furthermore, the river possesses great significance for the people of the Hindu tradition as they treat the river as a god and worship it.

    Band 6-7

    I'd like to speak about the river Ganga. It is a spiritual river over here in India and it flows from the mountain regions of Himalayas. I think the glacier from which it starts, it's called Gangotri and it flows from the Himalayas, goes through different cities, specifically Varanasi, Kashi and it ends in West Bengal and it mixes in the Bay of Bengal. It is a specifically very famous spiritual river because there are many people visiting it every year. People take holy dips in that river and they do also believe that your sins get washed away when we take a dip in that river. Unfortunately, due to which the river has been contaminated highly in the previous years and it also adds to the increasing pollution. There are also rivers which are connecting to it, which are Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, which are also polluted as well, which makes Ganga more vulnerable to the pollution. I have never specifically been to Ganga personally, but my parents have been to Varanasi. Over there, there is the Triveni Sangam and which is a meeting point of three different rivers. That is Ganga, Saraswati and Yamuna. There is a Ganga Aarti over there. It is held every evening, which is very, very peculiar to our eyes. You would really want to experience it once in your lifetime. Moreover, it is also a famous tourist spot as well. People really like to go there and take pictures.

    Band 6-7

    An important river in our country is Kaveri, Tunga, Bhadra, Krishna, Ganga. There are many rivers, specifically if I want to mention one is Kaveri which is in Karnataka where I am familiar about that because we use the Kaveri river water in a daily basis. It's a pure and fresh river water that we get. Basically I am born in Mandya and brought up in Channapatna. So since I grown up there, I know the importance of water and the essential thing that people gave on that water. We treat the river water as God, we can drink that water, there are now Karnataka government has given us more facilities like the water directly connects to every home. So they have given some connections through pipes so that everybody should use the water. So that is one thing and it's a very fresh and pure as I already said. This Kaveri river actually links both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu border. So the water is also used by Tamil Nadu border people also. But the main dam is in Karnataka where the dam was constructed by Visvesvaraya.

    Band 6-7

    The most important river in my country for me is Muadwira river. It is located in a city called Muadwira. The main reason the city is named as Muadwira because of this river and it is not much long like Periyar but this river is really special for me because I cherish my special moments of my childhood there. During my childhood, I spend a lot of time with my friends and family on there. We on vacation, we go to the river, we swim there, we bathe and during the vacation, most of the time is on river. It's a very special thing on my mind is river. I love to always visit the river sometimes when I am not feeling, when I feel stress, I will visit the river often because for me, it is really a stress relief. So I love to visit the river always and I think for everyone, there is one thing which make us very calm and which provide us peace. I think for me, it is that river. Even if I am working on Kakanad for my work but I often visit my city, my hometown twice in a month and maybe due to the work stress, I will be so sad and I am not in a mood to talk to anyone but after that during the weekends, I go to the river, I take a bath there. It's really refreshing for me and it is really...

    Band 6-7

    So, one of the important rivers I would like to talk about is Tunga river. It is one of the most important river in the Western Ghats. So, since I am from Shivamogga, I have very close connection with this river and that is how I love this one. So, Tunga river originates from the Western Ghats. The original place is called Dangamula. From there it flows through two districts that is Shivamogga and Chikmangaluru and then eventually it merges with Bhadra river which flows through Bhadravathi as well. So, it then merges with Bhadra to form Tunga-Bhadra river in a place called Koodli. So, this is the Sangam of the two rivers, confluence of two rivers where it meets and then this river also flows as Krishna river which goes to Andhra Pradesh. So, one of the major cultural significance is that on the banks of this river you can see Shringeri temple. So, this is one of the holy shrines for Hindus which is located in Shringeri. It is called Shringeri Sharda Peetam. And also a major dam called Gajnur dam has been built over this river which you know is the major source of water for Shivamogga. And then this is also Koodli where I was mentioning, it is also a tourist spot because of the confluence of two rivers where it meets and it receives a lot of tourists as well.
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