English Lesson 67

Sport and new people

Sport in your country, a person you met recently and liked, and friends compared with family.

How to practise
  1. Listen to an answer two times. Read the text while you listen.
  2. Shadow it. Set the speed to 0.75×. Play it again and speak at the same time as the voice.
  3. Turn on practice mode. The answers are hidden. Read each question and answer it out loud.
  4. Make it yours. Use the same phrases, but say true things about your city, your job and your life.
  5. Practise with a partner. One person reads the questions. The other answers without looking.
Speed

Part 1 · Interview

Sport

Short answers. About 20 to 30 seconds each. Answer, give a reason, add one detail.

How popular is sport in your country?

Sport is very popular, especially football. When the national team plays, the streets are empty, because everyone is watching. Wrestling and volleyball are also popular, because our teams have won many international medals.

  • the streets are emptynobody is outside
  • international medalsprizes from world competitions

Do most people play sport or watch it on TV? Why?

I think more people watch than play. Many adults are busy with work, so they don't have time to exercise. Watching is easy and relaxing. But young people often play football in the streets or go to the gym.

  • more people watch than playwatching is more common
  • busy with workhaving a lot of work
  • easy and relaxingsimple and calm

Do you play any sport now? Why?

Yes, I play tennis once a week with a colleague. I started last year, because I wanted a sport that's not too hard on my knees. It's good exercise, and it helps me forget about work.

  • once a weekone time every week
  • not too hard on my kneesdoesn't hurt my knees
  • helps me forget about workhelps me relax

Is sport important for people today? Why?

Yes, more than ever. Many people sit at desks all day, so they need exercise to stay healthy. Sport also reduces stress and helps people sleep better. And it's a great way to meet people.

  • more than evermore than at any time before
  • sit at desks all daywork sitting down
  • reduces stressmakes stress lower

Part 2 · Cue card

A person you met recently and liked

You get 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Follow the four points on the card in order.

Candidate task card

Describe a person whom you have met recently and liked.

You should say:

  • who this person is
  • how you met him or her
  • what he or she does for a living
  • and explain why you liked this person
Ready 1:00

Start

I'd like to talk about a woman called Parisa, who I met about two months ago. I liked her immediately.

How you met

We met at a photography workshop on a weekend. We were put in the same group, and we had to take photos of the old bazaar together.

What she does

She's a vet. She works in an animal hospital, and she looks after cats, dogs and sometimes even horses. She told me some amazing stories about her work.

What she is like

She's very calm and kind, and she has a great sense of humour. She also notices small details, which makes her a very good photographer.

Why you liked her

I liked her because she was so positive and easy to talk to. In two hours, we talked about everything: photos, animals, travel and books. She also taught me a few tricks for taking better photos. We've met twice since then, and I think we're becoming good friends.

  • I liked her immediatelyI liked her from the first moment
  • a photography workshopa short practical class about photos
  • She's a vetan animal doctor
  • a great sense of humourshe is funny
  • easy to talk tocomfortable to talk with
  • We've met twice since thenpresent perfect + since

Part 3 · Discussion

Friends and family

Longer answers. About 30 to 45 seconds. Give your opinion, explain why, and give an example.

Is it easier for adults or children to make new friends? Why?

It's easier for children. They're more open, and they meet many other children at school every day. Adults are busy, and they're often more careful about who they trust. They also have less free time to meet new people.

  • They're more openthey accept new people easily
  • more careful about who they trustslower to trust
  • less free timenot as much free time

How are relationships with friends different from relationships at work?

With friends, you can relax and be yourself. At work, relationships are more formal and professional. You need to be polite, even with colleagues you don't like. Some colleagues can become real friends, but it takes time.

  • be yourselfact naturally
  • formal and professionalserious and suitable for work
  • it takes timeit needs time

Can people be close friends with their boss or teacher? Why?

It's possible, but it can be difficult. A boss or teacher has to judge your work, so a close friendship can make that hard. They might be accused of being unfair. I think it's easier to become close friends after you stop working or studying with them.

  • judge your workdecide how good your work is
  • be accused of being unfairpeople may say they are not fair
  • after you stop working … with themwhen the work relationship ends

Some people think friends can never be as important as family. Do you agree?

I mostly agree. Family is usually there for your whole life, and they help you without asking for anything back. But for some people, friends become their family, especially if they don't have a good relationship with their own family.

  • I mostly agree.agree with most of it
  • without asking for anything backwithout wanting something in return
  • friends become their familyfriends are like family

How are our responsibilities to friends and family different?

Our responsibilities to family are bigger. We usually have to take care of our parents when they're old, and help our brothers and sisters. With friends, we should be loyal and help them when we can, but we don't have the same duties.

  • responsibilitiesduties, things you should do
  • take care of our parentslook after them
  • be loyalalways support them
  • the same dutiesthe same responsibilities

Will the importance of friends and family change in the future?

I think friends will become more important. Families are getting smaller, and many people live far from their relatives. So friends will be the people we see every day and who help us. But I hope family will always stay important.

  • will become more importantmake a prediction
  • live far from their relativesfar away from family
  • I hope family will always stay importantsay a wish

Audio: Microsoft neural voices. A British voice reads the examiner's questions, and an American voice reads the model answers.