Nature & weather: IELTS Speaking Part 1 questions

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3. Feeling

It's mostly hot and humid where I live, with a long monsoon that runs from about June to September. The rain tends to come in heavy bursts in the afternoon, so the streets can flood within an hour. It can feel quite oppressive at times, which is why everyone looks forward to the short, cool winter.

hot and humid

very warm with a lot of moisture in the air

come in heavy bursts

arrive suddenly and strongly, then stop

looks forward to

feels happy and excited about something coming

56 words · about 24 seconds spoken

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3. Example

I love those crisp, clear winter mornings when there's a slight chill in the air. It's the only time of year I can walk anywhere without breaking a sweat. On days like that I'll often skip the bus and walk to work, just to make the most of it.

a slight chill in the air

a little coldness you can feel outside

without breaking a sweat

without getting hot or tired

make the most of it

enjoy something as fully as possible while it lasts

49 words · about 21 seconds spoken

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All the time, especially during the monsoon. You can set off under a blue sky and be caught in a downpour twenty minutes later. Just last month I had to call off a picnic with friends because the park was completely waterlogged, so we ended up playing board games at my place instead.

caught in a downpour

stuck outside when heavy rain suddenly starts

had to call off

was forced to cancel

we ended up

in the end we did something we hadn't planned

53 words · about 23 seconds spoken

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3. Feeling

Cold weather, without a doubt, although I should say our winters are mild rather than freezing. When it's cold you can always put on another layer, but there's only so much you can do about the heat. Long, sticky summers just drain my energy and make me a bit irritable.

without a doubt

definitely, I'm completely sure

put on another layer

wear one more piece of clothing for warmth

drain my energy

make me feel tired and weak

50 words · about 22 seconds spoken

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Yes, quite noticeably, even though we don't really have four distinct seasons. There's the sweltering heat of April and May, then months of rain, and finally a cool, dry spell around December and January. You can see the shift in what people wear, too, as cotton shirts give way to shawls and jumpers almost overnight.

four distinct seasons

four clearly separate seasons

sweltering heat

extremely hot, uncomfortable weather

give way to

are replaced by

55 words · about 24 seconds spoken

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Autumn, hands down, though spring comes a close second. After the heavy, sticky heat of summer, those first cool, clear days feel like a huge relief. The hills near my hometown also turn deep red and gold in November, which is just stunning.

hands down

easily, without any doubt

a close second

almost as good as the best one

feel like a huge relief

make you feel much better after something unpleasant

43 words · about 19 seconds spoken

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I spend as many weekends as I can hiking in the mountains. It's the perfect walking weather, cool enough that you don't overheat but still bright and sunny. On the way home I always grab a roasted sweet potato from a street stall, which for me is the real taste of autumn.

as many weekends as I can

the largest number of weekends possible

the perfect walking weather

ideal conditions for going on walks

the real taste of autumn

the food that best represents the season

52 words · about 23 seconds spoken

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3. Feeling

Yes, I really struggle with the rainy season in June. It drizzles almost every day for about six weeks, and everything feels damp, even your towels and bedsheets. By the end of it I'm usually desperate to see the sun again.

really struggle with

find something very hard to cope with

desperate to see the sun

wanting sunshine very badly

41 words · about 18 seconds spoken

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They do, and each one feels completely different from the last. We get snow in winter, cherry blossom in spring, really humid summers and then those crisp autumn days. You notice it in the shops as well, with cafés bringing out seasonal menus and convenience stores stocking chestnut desserts the moment September arrives.

completely different from the last

very unlike the one before it

bringing out seasonal menus

offering special food for that time of year

the moment September arrives

as soon as September begins

53 words · about 23 seconds spoken

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3. Feeling

Spring is the big one, because of the cherry blossom. When the trees are in full bloom, people take blankets to the park and have picnics under the branches with friends or colleagues. It only lasts about a week, so there's a real sense that you have to enjoy it while it's there.

in full bloom

with all its flowers completely open

a real sense that

a strong shared feeling that

enjoy it while it's there

appreciate something before it disappears

53 words · about 23 seconds spoken

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I really do, although living in a big city means I don't get nearly enough of it. Being surrounded by trees and open space seems to clear my head in a way nothing else does. Even a quick walk along the river near my flat on a Sunday morning makes the whole week feel more manageable.

don't get nearly enough of

have much less of it than I'd like

clear my head

help me stop worrying and think calmly

feel more manageable

seem easier to deal with

56 words · about 24 seconds spoken

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Yes, there's a lake about two hours from the city that I go back to every few months. It's surrounded by pine forest, and if you walk round to the far side, you can go a whole afternoon without seeing another person. Sitting on the rocks there with a flask of tea is my idea of a perfect day.

without seeing another person

completely alone, meeting nobody

my idea of a perfect day

what I consider the best possible day

59 words · about 26 seconds spoken

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Absolutely, and not just for the sake of wildlife. We depend on healthy forests and rivers for clean air, water and food, so damaging them is really damaging ourselves. The river I walk along used to be full of plastic, and since a local group started regular clean-ups, you can actually see fish in it again.

for the sake of

for the benefit of

used to be full of

in the past contained a lot of

56 words · about 24 seconds spoken

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Quite a lot, actually, because my grandparents lived in a village and we spent every summer holiday with them. My cousins and I would disappear into the fields all day, climbing trees and catching tadpoles in the pond. Looking back, I think that's where my love of the outdoors comes from.

disappear into the fields all day

go off outside and not be seen for hours

Looking back

thinking now about the past

my love of the outdoors

my enjoyment of being outside in nature

51 words · about 22 seconds spoken

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Much calmer, and it happens almost as soon as I leave the city behind. There's no traffic noise or constant notifications, so my mind finally gets a chance to slow down. I start noticing little things I'd normally miss, like birdsong or the smell of wet grass after a shower.

leave the city behind

go away from the city

gets a chance to slow down

finally has the opportunity to relax

50 words · about 22 seconds spoken

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Not at the moment, but we had a dog called Bruno for most of my childhood. He was a scruffy little stray my dad found wandering near our building, and he ended up living with us for thirteen years. Losing him was genuinely one of the saddest moments of my teenage years.

Not at the moment

not now, though maybe in the past or future

for most of my childhood

during the greater part of my early years

ended up living with us

stayed with us in the end, without it being planned

52 words · about 23 seconds spoken

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They're becoming much more popular, especially among young professionals in the cities. Lots of people live alone now, and a cat fits into a small flat and a busy schedule far more easily than a dog. Half my friends have adopted rescue cats recently, and their social media is now mostly cat photos.

young professionals

people early in their careers with office jobs

a busy schedule

a life with lots to do and little free time

adopted rescue cats

took in cats from an animal shelter

53 words · about 23 seconds spoken

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I've always had a soft spot for elephants. They're incredibly intelligent, and the way they look after each other in a herd is remarkably human. I once watched a documentary where a whole family stood guard over a sick calf, and I honestly found it quite moving.

had a soft spot for

have always particularly liked

stood guard over

stayed close to protect someone

found it quite moving

felt emotional when watching it

47 words · about 20 seconds spoken

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Definitely, as long as the parents are realistic about the work involved. Looking after a pet teaches children responsibility and empathy in a way no lecture ever could. Walking Bruno before school was my job from the age of nine, and it taught me to stick to a routine even when I didn't feel like it.

the work involved

all the effort something needs

stick to a routine

keep doing things regularly at set times

didn't feel like it

did not want to do it

56 words · about 24 seconds spoken

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I'd love to, but only once I've got a place with a bit of outdoor space. Keeping a dog cooped up in a flat while I'm at the office all day wouldn't be fair on it. Still, I'm already browsing rescue centre websites, so I suspect it'll happen sooner rather than later.

cooped up in a flat

kept inside a small space for too long

wouldn't be fair on it

would treat it badly

sooner rather than later

fairly soon, not after a long time

52 words · about 23 seconds spoken

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3. Feeling

I do, and my flat has slowly turned into a bit of a jungle over the last few years. I've got about a dozen plants now, mostly hardy ones like pothos and snake plants that can survive a bit of neglect. They make the place feel alive, especially on grey days.

turned into a bit of a jungle

became very full of plants

survive a bit of neglect

stay alive even when not looked after well

make the place feel alive

give a room energy and life

51 words · about 22 seconds spoken

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My mum does, on the roof of our family home. She's got rows of pots with tomatoes, chillies and coriander, and in a good year she grows more than we can eat. Every time I visit, she sends me back with a bag of whatever's ripe, which saves me a fortune on vegetables.

in a good year

when conditions are favourable

more than we can eat

a bigger amount than the family needs

saves me a fortune

means I spend much less money

53 words · about 23 seconds spoken

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Yes, though mostly on particular occasions rather than just because. You'd take a bouquet when visiting someone in hospital, and flowers are huge at weddings and graduations. Around Valentine's Day the price of roses practically doubles, and the flower stalls near my office have queues out the door.

rather than just because

instead of for no special reason

practically doubles

almost becomes twice as much

queues out the door

so many customers the line reaches outside

48 words · about 21 seconds spoken

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I'd really like one someday, even a small one. Houseplants are lovely, but I'd love to grow my own herbs and vegetables, the way my mum does. There's something deeply satisfying about cooking dinner with tomatoes you've grown yourself.

grow my own herbs

plant and harvest herbs myself

something deeply satisfying about

a strong sense of pleasure in

39 words · about 17 seconds spoken

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A huge difference, in my opinion. Even a single vase on a table makes a room look cared for, as if someone has made an effort. My favourite café has fresh flowers on every table, and I'm convinced that's part of why it feels so welcoming compared with the chain places nearby.

look cared for

seem well looked after

made an effort

tried hard to do something well

part of why

one of the reasons that

52 words · about 23 seconds spoken