Answer key

UNIT 1. STUDY/ WORK

BAND 6. EXPANDING ANSWERS WITH DETAILS, REASONS

AND EXAMPLES

Exercise 1. Suggested answers:

Things you would

Things you like Things you dislike
like to do
• like to do • facilities • family
• friends • subjects • gap year/voluntary
• teachers • workload activities
• opportunities • rules • a good job
• courses and workshops • administrative • further study
procedures • internship
• accommodation/
dormitory
• tuition fees

Exercise 2.
1-b
2-c
3-e
4-a
5-d

How to crack the IELTS Speaking Test  | 211

 BAND 7. OPINION DISCOURSE MARKERS

Exercise 1. Suggested answers:

1. In my opinion, finance and banking is one of the most lucrative careers in
modern society. Finance and Banking graduates are more likely to land
a decent job (than students of other fields) based on their knowledge
and experience, of course.
2. From my perspective, international internships will definitely become
popular among youngsters. I guess the reason for this is that those
interns can obtain precious experiences during the trip when they have
to live and work with foreigners. These experiences can be applicable
to their future jobs as experts in the field.
3. Personally, I think RMIT University is a good choice for me because
the learning environment is highly effective. I have a chance to learn
and work with foreign students, which betters my English skills. What’s
more, when learning at RMIT, students always have the opportunity to
practice in real-life situations.

Exercise 2.
1. C
2. C
3. B

UNIT 2. HOME/ HOMETOWN

BAND 6. LINKING WORDS: COORDINATORS

Exercise 1.
1. and
2. for
3. but
4. neither
nor
5. though
6. but
so
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Exercise 2.
1. A
2. C
3. C
4. D

BAND 7. HEDGING I

Exercise.
1. indicates
2. likely to
3. It might be suggested that
4. possibly

UNIT 3. TRANSPORTATION
 

BAND 6. AGREEING OR DISAGREEING

Exercise 1.

Strongly Disagree Neither Agree Strongly

disagree to some agree nor to some agree
extent disagree extent
1. As a 6. People 2. It’s quite 3. I’d have 5. Without a
matter of may think… difficult for to say it. doubt.
fact, no. but for me, me to say. 7. Absolutely.
8. I absolutely it’s not the 4. Well, I
cannot case. have mixed
stand… feelings.
9. Well, I
think it all
depends…
10. I’m of two
minds.

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 Exercise 2.
1. A
2. A
3. A
4. A
D
5. A
A

BAND 7. HEDGING II

Exercise 1.
1. generally
2. doesn’t seem to be
3. reportedly
4. technically
5. supposedly

Exercise 2.
1-d
2-a
3-c
4-b

Exercise 3. Suggested answers:

1. Free travel in public vehicles can certainly bring benefits for users,
especially in financial terms.
2. It is of general belief that better road quality would increase the levels of
safety and ease traffic congestion.
3. Expanding roads and building more highways are believed to curb traffic
jams.
4. Compared to vehicles, public transit modes can accommodate a larger
number of passengers at a time.
5. A shift from private to public transport would tremendously alleviate
urban congestion which has been considered one of the alarming
issues of metropolises.

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 UNIT 4. ADVERTISEMENTS

BAND 6. ORGANIZING A LONG TALK

Exercise 1.
4-2-5-1-3
4-2-1-3

Exercise 2.
Sample answer:

DESCRIBE AN INTERESTING ADVERTISEMENT

Today, I’m gonna tell you about an interesting commercial that I’ve
seen recently. It was an Oppo advertisement, aired on TV, endorsed
by a celebrated singer named Son Tung MTP. In that advert, he was
demonstrating the photo-taking capabilities of the phone. Regarding Son
Tung MTP, if you don’t know, he was a nationally acclaimed singer and
music composer with a number of hits that always topped music charts in
the past few years.

I have to say that the advert was quite appealing thanks to the lively
graphics and vibrant sounds. It was an advantage of TV Commercial
over other kinds of advertising. You know, when promoting products on
magazines or newspapers, I guess it was popular in the past, you couldn’t
incorporate sounds and colorful images in the advertisement. By contrast,
when on TV, visual aids are employed to attract customers.

Needless to say, I, at that time, was a diehard fan of Son Tung MTP, so
I was immediately drawn to the advertisement. I was also tempted to
purchase another new phone because mine was outdated. But eventually,
I didn’t buy it coz I didn’t have enough money, honestly.
Commercials normally annoy me whenever I saw them on any platform,
but I had to admit that the OPPO advert was very fascinating.

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 BAND 7. LOGIC

Exercise 1.
5-3-2-4-1
3-4-2-1

Exercise 2. Suggested answers:

1. I think traffic causes health problems.
The high volume of traffic in Hanoi has contributed to the deterioration
of air quality. As air pollution becomes more severe, people are more
vulnerable to respiratory problems and other health issues.

2. Videos can cause violence among children.

The fact that children nowadays are frequently exposed to unverified
videos on the Internet, especially violent content, increases the likelihood
of a child acting aggressively.

3. Celebrity endorsement is really good for advertising products because

many people know about them.
Celebrity endorsement is one of the most optimal advertising methods
because when famous people use the products, customers are
psychologically convinced that the items should be high-quality, then
they are more likely to buy them.

4. If children do not go to school until they are 18, they will commit crimes
such as robbery and thievery.
Children should go to school until they are 18 because schools will
equip them with practical knowledge and skills, which can be of great
importance to their future. On the contrary, lack of full-time education
may make the kids miss out on promising job opportunities.

5. All companies must use advertisements if they want to survive in the

market.
Advertising is one of the most important survival techniques in intense
competition in the labour market.

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 UNIT 5. DAILY ROUTINES

BAND 6. SYNONYMS

Exercise 1.

1-e 6-i
2-a 7-j
3-d 8-f
4-b 9-g
5-c 10-h

Exercise 2. Suggested answers:

1. 7 A.M
morning person
2. occupied
3. leisure activities

Exercise 3.
1. After a day of hard work at school, I come home and play video games
to unwind.
2. What do you do in your leisure time?
- I like to go out with my friends and have some beer.
3. Doing exercise every morning helps me feel dynamic and be in high
spirits for a new day.

How to crack the IELTS Speaking Test  | 217

 BAND 7. CONDITIONALS

Exercise 1.
1. will spend
2. would have
3. would sleep, would have, would go out.

Exercise 2. Suggested answers.

1. If I did more exercise, I would be more in shape.
2. If I had more time, I would go home to have dinner with my parents and
spend evenings going out with my friends.
3. If I were you, I would never buy that dress at such an exorbitant price,
you are too impulsive.
4. If I hadn’t stayed up late last week, I would not have performed poorly
in the final test.
5. If I have breakfast at home, I will spend time enjoying a cup of tea or
coffee in my favorite cafe along the way to my office.

Exercise 3. Suggested answers:

1. If I were you, I would dye my hair pink. That would be so attractive!
2. If I have the means to visit Japan this summer, I will spend time
learning some basic Japanese.
3. If I were you, I would go to bed early. Staying up late is detrimental to
your physical health as well as your memory.
4. If I had known that you had to go to school early yesterday, I would
have woken you up at 5 A.M.

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 UNIT 6. COLORS

BAND 6. VOCABULARY: CHANGING WORD FORMS

Exercise 1.
1. symbolize 6. importance
2. affect 7. significance
3. positivity 8. stimulate
4. influence 9. psychology
5. emotional

Exercise 2.
1. important
significant
2. affect
influence
3. influence
affect
4. positivity
5. stimulate

Exercise 3. Suggested answers:

1. What color would you like to paint your house in and why?
I would like to paint my house in bright colors, specifically blue.
To be honest, I’m a blue sucker. My wardrobe is full of blue items.
The color is also proved to be mood-boosting color, making me feel
relaxed and serene.
2. Do you usually wear clothes in your favorite color?
Yes, why not? As I have said, all of my items are blue. The color not only
tones my skin but also boosts my confidence.
3. Were colors important to you when you were a child?
How to crack the IELTS Speaking Test  | 219
 Absolutely. When I was a kid, I always pestered for blue items, from
dresses to dolls. Growing up, I have to be mindful of the color of the
garment and consider whether it would match other items or not, so I
try not to be picky.

BAND 7. GRAMMAR: MIXED NARRATIVE TENSES

Exercise 1.
1. is decorated
2. flatters
3. suggested
4. lifts
5. been proved
6. create

Exercise 2.
1. When I was a child, I always bought things in my favorite color - green.
2. I once pestered my mom to buy a blue doll for me.
3. One day, out of the blue, my best friend said that she was about to go
abroad and would never come back (reported speech).
4. Correct.
5. A blackout occured when I was staying at home, alone. I was scared to
death and had to call my parents immediately.

Exercise 3. Suggested answers:

1. (something you haven’t bought in your favorite color)
I’ve just bought a new dress in orange for the first time. I once thought
that orange was not my thing but when I tried the dress on, I was struck
by the design and color. It was so lovely.
2. (something you would like to paint in your favorite color)
If I had a new house, I would paint my room in blue and yellow. I would
decorate my room with paintings and different shades of colors.
3. (someone you want to wear clothes in a particular color)
I would love to see my boyfriend wearing a pink shirt. Since he’s a
lawyer, he always chooses dark and formal clothes.

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4. (something you should have done in the past, which was related to your
favorite toys)
If I had been more considerate, I wouldn’t have broken my sister’s doll
just because I was jealous of her.
5. (something in a particular color you will never purchase)
I never buy things in purple because I cannot mix and match purple
items with others in my wardrobe.

UNIT 7. NEWS/ NEWSPAPER

BAND 6. DATES AND NUMBERS

Exercise 1. Listen to the audio and fill in the blanks.

1. 2005
2. 6
3. 2011
4. 500,000,000
5. 30,212

Exercise 2.
1. C
2. A
3. C
4. C

BAND 7. SPECULATING

Exercise 1.
1. C
2. A
3. A
4. A

How to crack the IELTS Speaking Test  | 221

 Exercise 2. Suggested answers:
1. Do you think online newspaper will replace physical one?
Yes, absolutely. Online newspapers are much more convenient than
physical newspapers. For example, in the past, printed newspapers
were bought every day. Today, every news is available online at the click
of a mouse.
No, I think traditional newspapers are still favored by a lot of people
thanks to the validity of the information. By contrast, online news may
not be strictly verified before being published, so readers sometimes
may be exposed to distorted information.

2. What type of newspaper(s) do you usually read?

I am not a picky person when it comes to reading. But I’m interested in
newspapers focusing on foreign cultures. I’d love to know more about
their politics, customs and food. For the most part, they are written in
English, which also helps improve my English reading comprehension.

3. Do most people in your country follow the news?

Yes, I guess. Keeping ourselves updated is really important today. We
are living in a changing world so we need to know what’s happening not
only in our country but also abroad. Newspapers effectively document
global current affairs and through them, we can enrich our knowledge
and be aware of every opportunity and possible dangers.

4. How do you usually get your news?

I usually read online news by using my phone or laptops. One of my
trusted newspapers is The New York Times, which offers me a diversity
of topics to read, from politics to healthcare and wellness. Whenever I
have free time, I will indulge myself with a cup of strong coffee and flick
through some articles.

5. Do you prefer to read local news or international news?

You can have the same answer as Question 2.

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 UNIT 8. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

BAND 6. FALSE FRIENDS I

Exercise 1.
1. climactic
2. prevent
3. besides
4. avoid
5. Look at
6. work

Exercise 2.
1. I compliment my friend on her attempt to lose weight. Now she has a
beautiful body!
2. The museum guide was telling us about the historic victory that took
place here. Honestly, I was bored to death with historical knowledge.
3. My university principal is an excellent educator. He has earned the
respect of all academic staffs and students.
4. I bear no resemblance to my sister. She is a sporty person with a
beautiful body while I hate outdoor activities and prefer staying at home.
5. I love traveling by train rather than by plane because I can admire
breath-taking views along the way. The mountains, the rivers, they are
magnificent!

Exercise 3.
1. stairs
2. seen
3. allowed
4. capitol
5. chance

How to crack the IELTS Speaking Test  | 223

 6. dew
7. due
8. mourning

BAND 7. USING MULTIPLE SYNONYMS

Exercise 1.
1-d
2-c
3-b
4-e
5-a

Exercise 2.
1. magnificent
2. from my perspective
significant
3. in the vicinity
4. challenging

Exercise 3.
1. C
2. C
3. A
4. B
5. B

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 UNIT 9. ANIMALS

BAND 6-7. FALSE FRIENDS

Exercise 1.

1. sea 6. respectable
2. conservation 7. migration
3. effects 8. lay
4. appreciable 9. besides
5. worthless 10. sale/punished

Exercise 2.

1. stake  steak 9. dears  deers

2. peared  paired 10. flees  fleas
3. bread  bred 11. hoarse  horse
4. flour  flower 12. wails  whales
5. wining  whining 13. Bare  Bear
6. sauce  source 14. soul  sole
7. mousse  moose 15. links  Lynx
8. hair  hare

Exercise 3.

1. flair 6. haul
2. censored 7. hall
3. intent 8. alright
4. holy 9. quay
5. aural 10. victim

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 UNIT 10. APPS/ COMPUTERS

BAND 6. PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE STRATEGY

Exercise 1.

1. would say 7. use

2. play 8. prepare
3. was admitted 9. watch
4. pestered 10. invest
5. had 11. goes
6. submitted 12. have come

Exercise 2.
1. experience
technical
2. to be
software
3. have
privacy
4. breakthrough
5. proliferation
are getting
6. was
lifesaver
studied

Exercise 3. Suggested answers:

1. technological advancements/changes in lifestyles.
Thanks to technological advancements, the world can see the changes in
lifestyles of modern people. They tend to lead healthier and happier lives.
2. too many hours using computers/sedentary lifestyle/health consequences

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 Spending too many hours using computers and having a sedentary
lifestyle can result in a number of health consequences.
3. The Internet/revolutionalise/communication
The Internet has revolutionalized our ways of communication.
4. artificial intelligence/smart home
Artificial intelligence is now being applied in smart homes, making them
more and more convenient.
5. technology proficiency/important in the workplace.
In the digital age, technology proficiency is greatly important, especially
in the workplace.

BAND 7. FALSE FRIENDS II

Exercise.
1. a. Bank (n): ngân hàng
b. Bank (n): bờ sông
2. a. Quarter (n): 15 phút (a quarter to ten)
b. Quarter (n): 25 cents (one-fourth of a dollar)
3. a. Commune (n): công xã
b. Commune (v): trò chuyện thân mật với ai đó
4. a. Minute (n): phút
b. Minute (v): ghi chép biên bản
5. Continuously (adv): chỉ hành động diễn ra liên tục không ngừng nghỉ
(nhấn mạnh vào quá trình xảy ra hành động)
Continually (adv): chỉ hành động có sự tái diễn, lặp lại thường xuyên
(nhấn mạnh vào tần suất xảy ra hành động)

How to crack the IELTS Speaking Test  | 227

 UNIT 11. MUSIC

BAND 6. PAST PERFECT VS. PAST SIMPLE VS. PRESENT SIMPLE

Exercise 1.

1. was 11. was

2. founded 12. hadn’t had
3. broke 13. reached
4. are 14. came
5. drew 15. were
6. range 16. welcomed
7. were 17. became
8. starting 18. was
9. played 19. broke up
10. had changed 20. remain

Exercise 2.
1. Jazz was born in New Orleans in America in the late 20th century.
2. (At that time,) New Orleans was a melting pot of cultures.
3. (Having said that,) the musicians (here) had a chance to be exposed to
different kinds of music.
4. European classical music, American blues and South American songs
were put together to create a new type of music called Jazz.
5. Jazz is considered a testament to the cultural diversity and individualism
of the United States.

Exercise 3.
1. A. Westlife has organized 3 tours around the world.
(Meaning: Westlife is still a band).

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 B. Westlife organized 3 tours around the world.
(Meaning: Westlife is no longer a band. They broke up).
2. A. Jazz has become popular since the early 20th century.
(Meaning: Jazz was popular in the past and jazz is still the talk of the
town today).
B. Jazz became popular in the early 20th century.
(Meaning: Jazz was popular in the past, it is no longer in).
3. A. It is the first time I’ve seen BTS in person.
(Direct speech)
B. It was the first time she’d seen BTS in person.
(Reported speech)
4. A. I didn’t watch American Idol this morning.
(Meaning: This morning was over and I didn’t watch American Idol).
B. I haven’t watched American Idol this morning.
(Meaning: It’s still morning and I haven’t watched American Idol, I can
watch it later).

BAND 7. FLUENCY/VOCABULARY: ADVANCED NUMBERS AND DATE

Exercise 2.
1. A. “increas by” refers to the amount of the increase.
B. “increase to” refers to the total amount after an increase.
Eg: The figure for digital downloads increased from 30% to 45%.
=> The figure for digital downloads increased by 15% but it increased
to 45%.
2. A. The exact number was 86% in 1997.
B. There was a likelihood that the number of singers would hit 86% in
1997 but the exact number was unknown.

How to crack the IELTS Speaking Test  | 229

 UNIT 12. WEATHER

BAND 6. GRAMMAR: CORRECTING ERRORS

Exercise 1.
1. Given the fact that Vietnam is a tropical country, the weather is hot and
wet all the time.
2. 
3. 
4. The weather does affect people’s lives, especially when it rains.
5. 

Exercise 2.
1. To address global warming related issues, several viable solutions could
be adopted by the government.
2. Glacier National Park was home to around 150 glaciers in 1910. The
number has declined to 30 glaciers four years later, and even the ones
that remained shrunk by two-thirds.
3. I always love autumn because of its pleasant weather and my birthday
is in August.
4. Although it was a long day, (X) I was content with the work I’ve done.
5. My friend accepted to pick me up at school when I called him and said
that it was raining heavily and I could not go home.
6. He wants to learn about global warming, sea level rise and (I)
environmental problems.
7. The one who made a speech about global warming impacts at the
conference this morning was my professor. Her speech was so
impressive, wasn’t it?
8. I must (I) buy a new umbrella because my old one was broken.
9. When I arrived, she was soaked to the skin and began shaking.

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 BAND 7. PARAPHRASING: PASSIVE/ACTIVE

Exercise 1. Suggested answers:

1. We are taught environmental science by him.
2. The weather affects my daily commute.
3. My holiday plans have to be changed owing to weather forecast.
4. Many meaningful environmental campaigns have been organized by
this organization.
5. The special medical treatment is needed for older patients during hot
weather.

Exercise 2.
1. enjoy
2. grown
is packed
sent
3. rains
4. negatively influence

Exercise 3.
1. was damaged
2. has been stolen
3. started
4. broke
5. was ruined

How to crack the IELTS Speaking Test  | 231

 UNIT 13. MEALS/EATING OUT

BAND 6. CORRECTING ERRORS

Exercise 1. Correct the following sentences.

1. A growing body of scientific evidence has suggested that teaching
obese patients to cook at home is one of the optimal ways to prevent
type 2 diabetes.
2. Correct.
3. The programs are designed for type 2 diabetes patients to lower their
blood pressure and lose weight.
4. Changes in diet can help people lose weight and prevent specific
illnesses and learning some healthy recipes would definitely help.
5. When we eat at a restaurant, we pay for not only our meals but also
other hidden costs, chief among which are staff wages and rent.

Exercise 2.
1. was
2. suggested
3. are eschewing
4. was considered/represented
5. was used

Exercise 3. Complete the following sentences.

1. Eating out/on a daily basis/not a wise choice/because/ it/unhealthy.

Eating out on a daily basis is probably not a wise choice because the
food at restaurants contains unhealthy substances.

2. People/gravitate towards/food/high in salt, sugar and fat.

People gravitate towards food that is high in salt, sugar and fat.

3. Fast food/appear/cheap and cheerful/but/the flip side/most of it/greasy

and overly processed.
Fast food appears cheap and cheerful but on the flip side, most of them
are greasy and overly processed.

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4. The ingredients/use/in fast food/can/pose a threat/your health.
The ingredients which are used in fast food can pose a threat to your
health.

5. Fast food/increase/the risk/diabetes, obesity and heart diseases.

Fast food (can) increase(s) the risks of diabetes, obesity and heart
diseases.

BAND 7. CHRONOLOGY

Exercise 1.
Last week, I read an article about how business trips can influence people’s
health.
Firstly, recent research has suggested that going on business trips on a
regular basis takes a toll on people’s health, causes the aging process to
happen much faster.
In addition, lack of regular exercise and quality food plus sleep disorders
render businessmen unable to adopt a healthy lifestyle during their trips.
Therefore, it is understandable why research shows that 92% of business
travelers suffers from obesity.

Exercise 2.

1. starts 6. then
2. Then 7. After that
3. Next 8. the next stage
4. then 9. Then
5. The next step 10. Subsequently

How to crack the IELTS Speaking Test  | 233

 UNIT 14. BOATS

BAND 6. RELATIVE CLAUSES

Exercise 1.
1. where
2. who
4. that/which
5. which

Exercise 2.
1. My son is five years old. He really likes toy ships.
My son, who is five years old, really likes toy ships.
My son, who really likes toy ships, is five years old.
2. Submarine is a kind of ship. It can travel underwater for a limited time.
Submarine is a kind of ship which can travel underwater for a limited
time.
3. The ships were damaged during the Second World War. Now they are
being rebuilt for historical purposes.
The ships which were damaged during the Second World War are being
rebuilt for historical purposes.
4. My boat has been stolen. It is really expensive.
My boat, which is really expensive, has been stolen.
My boat, which has been stolen, is really expensive.
5. I hired that sailboat for five days to travel with my friends. But it broke
down after a few miles.
The boat that I hired for five days to travel with my friends broke down
after a few miles.

Exercise 3.
1. My neighbor, who is a helmsman in the marine division of the country,
is really kind to others.

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2. My uncle whose boat is sailing over there is a nationally acclaimed
successful businessman.
3. I work for a company which produces boats for marine division of the
country.
4. What is the name of the boy who is playing with toy ships over there?
5. A dock is an area close to the land where goods from the ships can be
taken off or ships arrive for repair.

BAND 7. CAUSES AND EFFECTS I

Exercise 1.
1. As the price of a boat is relatively high, people with average income
cannot afford one.
2. Submarines were equipped with the most state-of-the-art weapons at
that time so these battleships played an important role in the Second
World War.
3. Given the majority of Vietnamese citizens live inland, owning a boat is
not practical in Vietnam.
4. Buying a boat from an online website is not a wise choice, therefore, few
people would do that.
5. By virtue of the danger of some extreme water sports, all participants
are required to undergo rigorous tests before joining.

Exercise 2.
1-d
2-e
3-c
4-a
5-b

Exercise 3.
1. because  so
2. therefore  because
3. 
4. because  therefore
5. so  due to the fact that
How to crack the IELTS Speaking Test  | 235
 UNIT 15. PARKS

BAND 6. EXPLAINING THE WORDS YOU DON’T KNOW

Exercise 1.
1. merry-go-round: a flat and round piece in the playground for children to
sit while it’s spinning.
2. seesaw: a long piece of wood that children play on. It is balanced on a
central point, when a child sits on an end, he or she can make the other
goes up.
3. slide: a structure for children to slide down
4. swing: a seat with two ropes or chains tied to a metal bar or a tree for a
person to sit on.
5. monkey bars/horizontal ladder: a standard ladder put on horizontally for
children to play on.
6. still rings: metal rings held on long chains.

Exercise 2.

1-f 5-c
2-d 6-e
3-h 7-a
4-g 8-b

Exercise 3.
1. wrench: a tool used to hold and turn objects.
2. chopping board: a board to place meat or other stuff for cutting.
3. spatula: a cooking tool used for spreading, turning or mixing food
4. eating utensils: bowls and chopsticks
5. butcher knife: a long, large and broad-bladed knife used for cutting meat.

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 BAND 7. CAUSES AND EFFECTS II

Exercise 1.
1. The reason
2. due to
3. is a (direct) consequence of
4. because of
5. are the reason for

Exercise 2. Suggested answers:

1. The death of many fishes and other marine animals is a consequence
of the fact that sewage, garbage and liquid waste from households,
factories and agricultural activities are discharged into water.
2. Many studies has proven that water scarcity can be the leading cause
of public health related problems.
3. The lack of environmental awareness among people is the leading
cause of many alarming issues including air and water pollution.
4. The reason for the severely damaged marine system is toxic components
and harmful chemical released by human activities.
5. The reason for insufficient water for daily activities and, in worse cases,
starvation in some places where water is rare is the overuse of citizens.

Exercise 3. Suggested answers:

1. Due to
2. one of the leading causes of
3. As
4. cause
5. resulted in

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 UNIT 16. FRIENDS/FAMILY

BAND 6. PRONUNCIATION ‘S’

Exercise 1.
1. works
2. plans
3. weekends
4. dreams
5. stops
tries
schools

Exercise 2:
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 

Exercise 3:
2. Johns is Emily’s brother/John is James and Hannah’s son
3. Chris is Emily’s husband
4. Mark is Scarlet’s brother
5. Tom is Scarlet and Mark’s brother
6. Scarlet is James and Hanah’s granddaughter

BAND 7. COMPARISON

Exercise 1.
1. My sister is the tallest in my family.
2. Hoa - my best friend, is smarter than other girls in the class.
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3. My income is not as high as my boyfriend’s.
4. The previous garden is not as big as the one in our new house.
5. I love reading books. My little brother shares the same passion.

Exercise 2.
1. less  more
2. 
3. better  best
4. Add: more  Your speech is more persuasive than others’
5. Add: the most  Stanford University is one of the most expensive schools

Exercise 3.
1. Even though we are twins, my sister and I are nothing alike.
2. Family always provides constant support for people when they are
down and similarly, friends are important especially when people face
problems and are in need of help.
3. I am trying my best to earn more money because I need to support my
family.
4. Lack of emotional support from family members makes children more
vulnerable to illegal activities.
5. Friends play the same important role as family members in everyone’s life.

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 UNIT 17. DREAM JOBS

BAND 6. PRONUNCIATION: ‘ED’

Exercise 1.
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 

Exercise 2.
1. struggled
2. harness
3. depressed
4. remember
5. decide

Exercise 3.
1. lived
2. set
3. had
studied
4. supported
happened
had
5. are

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 BAND 7. CONCESSION

Exercise 1.
1. I’ve received a full scholarship in the United States, although I was
expected to be rejected.
2. despite
3. whereas
4. in spite of
5. but

Exercise 2.
1. Although my parents and sisters had advised me a lot, I still applied for
linguistics.
2. I want to become a teacher, whereas my parents always force me to
become a lawyer.
3. In spite of a lot of obstacles on my career path, I was lucky enough to
have family, friends and some of my colleagues standing by my side.
4. Notwithstanding the relatively low income an academic career offers,
given my skills and experience and more importantly, my passion, I
would love to follow that.
5. Even though there may be challenges, I am determined to become a
lawyer.

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 UNIT 18. HANDWRITING

BAND 6. CONSONANT TO VOWEL LINKING

Exercise 1.
1. Do you usually write by hand?
Not really anymore. These days, I find myself typing a lot on computers
and texting on my phone.
2. I still have to jot down notes in class because laptops are not allowed.
3. In this day and age, modern technology has increasingly developed, it
is understandable why people prefer typing to writing. However, I think
some things still need to be handwritten.
4. I think handwriting can speak volumes about someone’s personality.
5. Scientific evidence shows that writing by hand does benefit the brain,
especially children’s. Handwriting helps people to focus on the
information and understand it better.

Exercise 2.
1. Hold on a second. I will write down your phone number and name.
2. I have to practice a lot to pick up on the American intonation.
3. My handwriting is unintelligible so I’ve opted for IELTS on computer.
4. Sometimes, a monetary reward erodes other motivations.
5. Each individual can make a difference to the environment if they put
waste in the right place.

BAND 7. PARAPHRASING NEGATIVES

Exercise 1.
2. I never write letters by hand.
4. I never write reports by hand.
5. I haven’t prepared any lessons. I am not ready to take the test.

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Exercise 2.
1. Hardly did I arrive at home when the phone rang.
2. Rarely do you see her without makeup.
3. Seldom did we have a chance to enjoy such amazing landscapes.
4. Never have I seen my idols in the flesh.
5. Only when I finish my reports can I watch new episodes of my favourite
TV series.

UNIT 19. SHOES/ HANDBAGS/ JEWELRY

BAND 6. RONUNCIATION: SCHWA

Exercise 1.
1. jewelry /ˈdʒu·əl·ri/
2. feminine /ˈfem.ə.nɪn/
3. visual interest /ˈvɪʒ.u.əl ˈɪn.trɪst/
4. bracelet /ˈbreɪ.slət/
5. necklace /ˈnek.ləs/
6. pendant /ˈpen.dənt/
7. about /əˈbaʊt/
8. photography /fəˈtɑː.ɡrə.fi/
9. machine /məˈʃiːn/
10. camera /ˈkæm.rə/

Exercise 2.
1. A
2. B
3. A
4. A
5. B
Note: weak form of can: /kən/

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 Exercise 3.
1. Apples and bananas are my favorite fruits .
Note: weak form of are: /ɚ/
2. I need a washing machine in my new house .

3. Learning how to photograph is quite exciting .

Note: weak form of is: /z/ or /s/

4. My new dress is very beautiful. I will be the spotlight at the party.
Note: weak form of at: /ət/
5. Christmas is around the corner.
This sentence has no schwa sound
Note: weak form of the: /ðə/

BAND 7. PRONUNCIATION: CHUNKING, STRESS AND

INTONATION

Exercise 1.
1. record /rɪˈkɔːrd/ (v)
/ˈrek.ɚd/ (n)
2. building /ˈbɪl.dɪŋ/ (n)
rebuilt /ˌriːˈbɪlt/ (v)
3. progress /prəˈɡres/ (v)
/ˈprɑː.ɡres/ (n)
4. greenhouse /ˈɡriːn.haʊs/ (n)
5. green house /ɡriːn ‘haʊs/

Exercise 3.
A: Achieving 8.0 in IELTS exam is quite challenging, isn’t it? (A)
B: Yeah, I know. It is a long journey because I haven’t studied English for
years. (A)
C: But I believe it is achievable unless you are too lazy. (D)

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A: Honestly, I do think I have the dedication and enough background
knowledge to take an IELTS course. I also need an IELTS score to apply
for a scholarship in the United States. I think I would give it a try. (A)
B: Well, I’m so scared and worried. I don’t think it’s time for me to learn
IELTS. I may not need it right now. (D)
C: If not now, then when? IELTS score can pave the way for you to get
promising job prospects and even education opportunities. You need it,
don’t you? (Tag question, ask for agreement)
B: Yeah, I will think about it. You two should go and learn it first. (A)

UNIT 20. PATIENCE

BAND 6. PRONUNCIATION: CHUNKING AND PAUSING

Exercise 1. Listen to the audio and check.

Exercise 2. Listen to the audio and check.

BAND 7. CONTRASTIVE STRESS

Exercise 1.
1. I think you should pursue a master’s degree in other countries.
(YOU are the person who should go abroad, not others.)
2. I think you should pursue a master’s degree in other countries.
(The best advice for you is that you SHOULD study abroad.)
3. I think you should pursue a master’s degree in other countries.
(You can pursue another bachelor degree in another field, but pursuing
a master’s degree is the optimal choice at the moment.)
4. I think you should pursue a master’s degree in other countries.
(You can pursue a master degree in your country, but studying abroad
can provide you with more advantages.)
How to crack the IELTS Speaking Test  | 245
 5. I think you should pursue a master’s degree in other countries.
(It’s just my opinion. You can agree with me or not.)

Exercise 2.
1. A. Do you like dancing?
B. No, I hate dancing.
2. A. Do you think you are a patient person?
B. No, I am not. I get irritated easily.
3. A. Have your returned Chris’s bike?
B. Not yet because I still need it for one more day.
4. My sister is really good at math but she is less competent in literature.
5. Social scientists and psychologists have recently proved that EQ
(Emotional Intelligence Quotient) is as important as IQ (Intelligence
Quotient).

Exercise 3.
1. A. Would you like to have more tea or coffee?
B. I’d love a cup of tea, please.
2. A. If you have to choose between bottled water and tap water, which one
do you prefer?
B. I would lean towards bottled water out of convenience even though
it is not exactly good for the environment.
3. A. Would you like to do a master’s degree in linguistics or continue
working?
B. I will work for two years before applying for a master’s degree in
another country.
4. A. Sir, which one do you prefer?
B. I think I will go with the blue one.
5. A. Do you want this or that kind of wine?
B. I will go with the latter.

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