English for Exams Karen Kovacs

Exam iner: 
Why did you choose to go to Spain?
Candidate: 
Well, one of my friends spoke Spanish really w e ll so it seemed the obvious choice. I don't 
like going to a country w ithout speaking any of the language. And my friend taught us both 
Spanish as we travelled round the country so by the end we could order ou r food ourselves 
and talk to people, albeit not on any complex subjects.
Track 48
See page 92 fo r text.
Track 49
1
I gather you're from New Zealand.
2 
Saudi Arabia has an extrem ely cold clim ate.
3 
Is the capital of England Tokyo?
4 
Scotland lies to the south of England.
Track 50
See page 93 fo r text.
Track 51
a 
Although it ’s more expensive, many people 
do 
go abroad fo r th e ir holidays.
b 
We nearly decided not to go to South Africa, but in the end we 
did 
go.
c 
I 
do 
love being able to lie in when I'm on holiday.
Track 52
The benefits of tra ve l
Do you think it's tru e that travel broadens the mind?
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Speaking for IELTS

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CD2: Tracks 4 8 -5 3
Do young people and older people benefit differently from travelling? 
How can you make sure you get the most from your travels?
The im pact of tourism
What are the positive im pacts of tourism ?
What about the negative impacts of tourism ?
How has tourism impacted to u ris t sites in your country?
S am ple answ ers:
Exam iner: 
Do you think it's tru e that travel broadens the mind?
Candidate: 
I do, yes. I w o u ld n 't want to disparage people who haven't travelled because that is alm ost
invariably due to a lack of opportunity. I doubt any of my great-grandparents’ generation ever 
travelled anywhere. But I can’t help but think that it does make you a more open-m inded 
person, as you see different ways of living, eating, drinking, interacting w ith others, and it 
allows you to see your own culture more objectively. It also leads to you having a w ider range 
of experiences and makes you more interesting to talk to.
Do young people and older people benefit differently from travelling?
I th in k younger people tend to enjoy adventure and having fun. And o lder people value 
relaxation more because they have so many responsibilities at home that what they want 
more than anything is to ’switch o f f when they go away. Of course, that's a generalisation 
and only takes you so far. I know it's true of me, though.
How can you make sure you get the most from your travels?
I've always thought learning som ething of the language of the country you're going to is 
the best possible way of b e n e fitin g fu lly from your holiday. That way, the local population 
aren't so likely to see you as an outsider, but ra th e r as someone who has made the e ffort of 
learning some words and expressions, and so has an interest in th e ir culture.
What are the positive im pacts of tourism ?
They are manifold. Tourism brings investment and better infrastructure to poorer communities. 
This means that tourists find it easier to get around, but it also leads to an improved quality 
of life for the local people. It also brings about greater w ork opportunities for the local 
community. Previously, for example, they may just have had fishing or farming, but tourism
opens up the possibility of higher earning jobs.