English Lesson 92

Traffic and games

Traffic where you live, a game or sport you enjoy playing, and games and competition.

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

Traffic where you live

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

How do most people travel to work where you live?

Most people drive their own cars, because public transport doesn't reach every area. Many others use the metro and buses. Recently, more people are using ride-hailing apps, and a few brave people cycle.

  • drive their own carsuse private cars
  • doesn't reach every areadoesn't go everywhere
  • a few brave people cyclesome people ride bikes

What traffic problems are there in your area? Why?

The main problem is heavy traffic in the morning and evening. There are too many cars, and the roads are narrow. Also, some drivers don't follow the rules, which causes accidents and makes the traffic even worse.

  • heavy traffica lot of cars moving slowly
  • don't follow the rulesbreak the traffic rules
  • makes the traffic even worsemakes it worse than before

How do traffic problems affect you?

They waste a lot of my time. Sometimes it takes me an hour to travel just ten kilometres. I arrive at work tired and stressed. The air pollution from all the cars also gives me headaches.

  • They waste a lot of my timeI lose time
  • tired and stressedexhausted and worried
  • gives me headachescauses pain in my head

How would you reduce traffic problems in your area?

I'd build more metro lines and make buses more frequent. I'd also create bike lanes, so people can cycle safely. Companies could let workers start at different times, so not everyone is on the road at eight o'clock.

  • more frequentcoming more often
  • cycle safelyride bikes without danger
  • start at different timesbegin work at various hours

Part 2 · Cue card

A game or sport you enjoy playing

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 game or sport you enjoy playing.

You should say:

  • what kind of game or sport it is
  • who you play it with
  • where you play it
  • and explain why you enjoy playing it
Ready 1:00

Start

I'd like to talk about badminton. It's my favourite sport, and I've been playing it for about ten years.

What kind of sport

Badminton is a racket sport. You hit a light shuttlecock over a high net. You can play one against one, or two against two. It looks easy, but it's actually very fast and tiring.

Who you play with

I usually play with my cousin, Sina. We're about the same level, so our games are always close and exciting. Sometimes, two friends join us, and we play doubles.

Where you play

We play in a sports hall near my house, twice a week, in the evening. In summer, we sometimes play in the park, but the wind makes it difficult.

Why you enjoy it

I enjoy it because it's great exercise, and it's a lot of fun. After an hour, I'm completely tired, but I feel fresh in my mind. I also like the competition with my cousin. Whoever loses has to buy the drinks, so we both try really hard!

  • a racket sporta sport where you hit with a racket
  • a light shuttlecockthe small object you hit in badminton
  • about the same levelequally good
  • our games are always closethe scores are always near
  • we play doublestwo against two
  • Whoever loses…the person who loses

Part 3 · Discussion

Games and competition

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

How have games changed since you were a child?

When I was a child, we played outside, with balls, ropes and simple things. Now, most children play video games on phones and consoles. Games today are much more realistic and online, so children can play with people from all over the world.

  • with balls, ropes and simple thingsdescribe old games
  • consolesmachines for video games
  • much more realisticmore like real life

Do you think this has been a positive change? Why?

Partly. Some video games teach problem-solving and teamwork. But children move much less, and many play alone for hours. I think it's best if children play both video games and outdoor games.

  • Partly.only in some ways
  • problem-solvingfinding answers to problems
  • move much lessare less active

Why do children like playing games?

Games are fun and exciting, and children learn naturally through play. Games also let them use their imagination and be with friends. And children love the feeling of winning.

  • learn naturally through playlearn while playing
  • use their imaginationthink creatively
  • the feeling of winninghow it feels to win

Are competitive games good or bad for children? In what ways?

They can be good, because children learn to try hard and to accept losing. But if adults focus too much on winning, children can become stressed or aggressive. The most important thing is to have fun.

  • accept losingbe okay with not winning
  • focus too much on winningthink only about winning
  • The most important thing is to…the main point

How can games sometimes help to unite people?

Games create a shared goal and shared fun. When people play together, they forget their differences. For example, a football match can bring together people from different backgrounds. Even online games connect players from different countries.

  • unite peoplebring people together
  • a shared goalthe same aim for everyone
  • forget their differencesstop thinking about what makes them different

Why is competition often seen as important in today's society?

Many people believe competition makes people and companies work harder and improve. In education and jobs, there are many people for few places, so competition is part of daily life. But too much competition can make people stressed and lonely.

  • seen as importantpeople think it is important
  • many people for few placesmore people than opportunities
  • part of daily lifehappens every day

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