IELTS Speaking Cue Card

I go on walks regularly to get some exercise as I sit in front of my computer most of the day because of my work. I usually go alone as it is the time of the day when I get to relax and get away from the hustle and bustle of my daily routine. However, when my friend Alisha was visiting me, she accompanied me on one of my walks. I would like to talk about that walk which became the longest walk yet.

Last month, Alisha came to visit me after a year of me pestering her to do so. After spending the day going to the mall and doing some shopping, I told her I would go on a walk, and she wanted to tag along. So, we decided to just go for a stroll in a park near my place for some fresh air. We got back to my apartment to dump all the stuff and went about to the park.

The park we went to, is called ‘Central Park’ which is one of the biggest parks in my city, with lots of greenery all around and a huge water fountain at the center of the walkway. We started to walk around to the flower garden, followed the trail that leads to the bonsai garden and then to the fountain. We circled back to the gardens twice later but were so immersed in our conversation that we did not notice it at all. 

Our little amble turned out to be longer than we expected; we walked for about two hours without realizing how much time had passed. It was very relaxing as well as the most fun because of our nonstop chatter. I would love to go on such walks again soon.

 

Vocabulary:

1. Hustle and bustle - a lot of work usually in a noisy setting
2. Pester - annoy someone with persistent requests
3. Stroll - a short leisurely walk
4. Amble - walk at a relaxed pace

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Part 3 Follow Up - Questions & Answers

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1. What outdoor activities do people like?

People do a variety of activities outside such as going for a walk or jog, playing games and exercising. It is a way to relax as well as have fun. Besides, jogging helps get some exercise and maintain a healthy routine. Furthermore, outdoor activities elevate mental state and reduce stress of a person leading to a peaceful state.

2. What are the differences between the outdoor activities that children did in the past and now?

Now-a-days, children have a tight schedule with school, homework, projects and extracurricular activities that most of them spend their breaks doing indoor activities. They go out to play some ball games often with other children but mostly stick to playing video games. In the past, technology was not that advanced, and children used to do outdoor activities like playing cricket, hide and seek etc., all the time.

3. Is leisure important to everyone? why?

There have been many studies and surveys that have proved getting free time is key to having a balanced and healthy life. Leisure time lets a person relax and spend time doing some outdoor activities or meeting their friends and family thereby having some fun time. This is especially important in order to take a break from regular life and recharge our minds.

4. Do women have more leisure time than men?

I don’t think gender has anything to do with the amount of leisure time a person has rather, it entirely depends on the schedule and work that one has to do. If someone has a day job and works overtime or two jobs, they will have little to no leisure time except in the weekends. For people who stay at home, they would have comparatively longer hours of leisure time.