IELTS Speaking Cue Card

Some people carry a ready for action kind of attitude and spread a sense of exuberance with their contagious energy. I am one of those people, but I am going to talk about my friend David who is the most zestful person I have ever met. He has a kind nature and highly talkative with a tad bit of humour. He works in a construction company and often volunteers at the local library for children’s book reading sessions. It is safe to say that he is the only person who can grab the attention of toddlers for an hour as he reads to them. 

I met him at a mutual friend’s birthday party where we have become buddies instantaneously. It was the first part I attended after moving from my hometown; I was a bit anxious meeting new people, so I was standing at corner looking at my phone just when he came to my rescue saying he was new as well and we have been close friends ever since. 

He was good at making small talk from the beginning, asking me about my background and telling me many facts that I immediately forgot. I am not sure if he prepares a list of things that he should do and say wherever he goes but he never runs out of energy. He is also an avid traveller who blogs every visit he makes to a new unexplored location. Not only does he indulge in intrepid activities, but also likes to engage a room full of people for hours at end. 

I feel relaxed and blessed for having such a friend. I have started travelling and now write travel blogs in my leisure time. I have a wonderful time whenever I meet him. 

Vocabulary:

1. Exuberance – a quality of being full of cheerfulness
2. Zestful – characterized by great energy
3. Instantaneously – at once
4. Intrepid – adventurous

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Part 3 Follow Up - Questions & Answers

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1. What kind of jobs need a lot of physical activity?

In today’s world, with a boon in technology, majority of jobs require desk work. However, there are jobs like construction labour, police force, plumbing and gym training require immense physical activity. In addition, people who work in marine corps, army and navy are also subjected to severe physical training.

2. What’s the difference between payment for physical work and payment for mental work?

Mental work is as important as physical work and often times it is more vital as it effects physical work too. So, jobs that require mental work such as psychiatrist therapies demand a higher salary than jobs with physical work do. Jobs like plumbing, farming are only paid minimum wages whereas mental health counsellors earn significantly more.

3. Can physical workers have higher salaries in the future?

I believe physical workers would relatively have lower salaries in the future. Nowadays machines have replaced many labour workers in factories and the demand for daily wage workers has drastically declined.

4. Do you think machines could replace manual labour in the future?

I don’t think machines will replace manual labour completely, but given the recent trend, jobs of manual workers are impacted by the use of machines. Anyway, people with specific skill sets are also required to work on such kind of machines in case of repairs. This would in turn create some job opportunities for many in need of one.