IELTS Speaking Cue Card

I live in Mumbai, which is a metropolitan city with a large population. Even though the city is crowded, there are many parks situated in every nook and cranny of the city. I like visiting parks when I want to spend time by myself peacefully. I would like to talk about Shivaji park that I visited recently, located near Dadar in Mumbai. It is usually thronged with people during weekends, so I went there on a Wednesday last month.

There are many parks in my neighbourhood but I chose to go to Shivaji park as it has been months since I visited it. It is about 10 kilometers away from my home. There are public transportation services such as metros and buses available every hour to reach the park. However, I went there on my bicycle to avoid being stuck in traffic. 

After reaching the park, I bought cotton candy for myself and went inside for a stroll. There were a lot more facilities provided in the park now than in the past. It had an astonishing collection of bonsai trees and a garden of roses. There was a newly developed skating rink and a jogging track where many adults were running. There was a small koi pond which was beautiful. I sat by it for a few minutes enjoying the view and proceeded to walk around the park for an hour. 

I absolutely enjoyed my visit to the park where I had a chance to play with some kids as well. The ride to reach the park and the walk felt rejuvenating. I loved the bonsai garden and musical fountain set up in the center of the park. I am glad I visited it and look forward to going there again soon.

 

Vocabulary:

1. Nook and cranny – every part
2. Thronged – crowded
3. Stroll – a leisurely walk 
4. Astonishing – impressive
5. Rejuvenating – refreshing

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Part 3 Follow Up - Questions & Answers

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1. Should parks charge admission fees?

I think public parks do not have an entry fee. However, for better maintenance and providing good facilities, parks should charge a nominal admission fee. This would go towards developing the park and providing additional facilities such as skating rinks, playgrounds for kids and jogging tracks for adults.

2. Do we need big parks or small parks in the city?

Well, given the rate at which pollution is increasing by the day in cities, it is important to have parks constructed all around them. Big or small, parks need to be built to promote a better living environment and encourage people to often visit them so as to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

3. Why is it important to have parks in a city?

There is a famous quote I believe in that says, ‘Parks are the lungs of a community’. They are vital to lead a healthy life while keeping our environment safe and thriving. They also serve as a way to cherish greenery and teach younger generations to take care of them.

4. What kinds of things should a park offer to visitors?

Parks should have a variety of things offered such as benches, drinking water facilities and jogging tracks for people who visit the park to run or walk. For kids, there should be playgrounds with swing sets, slides, the seesaw and others. Furthermore, there should be a food court available for visitors to buy some food and snacks.