TASK 2*writing* No.9

Yasmeen...i need your x-ray eyes to detect my mistakes;)


# 9>>Are zoos cruel to wild animals? Discuss<<

Could we use some of the points below to express our views for essay #10:
Zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but not poor alternatives to a natural environment.Discuss some of the arguments for and/or against keeping animals in zoos.


It is said:”" (now the wrong inverted commas can only b due to tension!)God loved birds and made trees for them, man loved birds- (not sure why the - is here??)and placed them in cages”.According to the statistics,in Asia,7/10 animals die in the zoos,(no comma required here) due to poor and unhygenic environment.Metaphorically speaking,(there should always be a gap after the comma, I've noticed u dont give a gap after the commas) all creatures of God-big or small ,deserve their right to live freely.

But, the story is rather grim in real life as many endangered species,(space after commas please) example:koala bears,penguins,elephants and so on are taken in shelter in such zoos (instead of 'are taken in shelter', do you mean to say: are given shelter in such zoos, or '....and so on take shelter in such zoos??).Eventually,the lack of space,invasion of privacy (that sounds like human beings ;)) and improper living conditions,force them to succumb to death.Recently, Geo Tv (TV) in Pakistan telecasted a documentary? a program?? a drama or what? about a zoo resident-a monkey in France who smoked cigarettes.He inculcated (such a) this habbit by puffing the butt’s thrown (at) on the floor by the visitors and the zoo wardens.In a final decision by the monkey’s doctor,if he does not quit smoking-he will die.(Not clear Mubs. What final decision? Do you mean to say: The doctor diagnosed that if the monkey does not quit smoking he would die?) So much for the safe and longer (long sounds better here cos you've written safe. If you write safer, then you can write longer) life guranteed (at) in the zoos.

Furthermore,few years back I visited the Al-Ain zoo in UAE.A limping kangaroo, dried up drinking wells, heaps of rubbish inside the animal cages were few of the horrified scenes I witnessed.I also saw a big cat who was nothing more than a bag of bones.I was appalled to find out that the creature was the lion-king of jungle!.Later on, i got to know that his food containing meat was taken away before it reached him and distributed amongst the zoo-wardens.

Often I get to hear a cliched (get to hear is present, so it should be cliche? not very sure about this though) statement: "zoos help to preserve nature.”If so, why do we hear about rhino’s and elephants dying , by being caught up in the barbed wires which is used to confine them?.Such man-made jails and entertainment centres are used by selfish and self centered people to cash in on the masses emotions.But are the smiles of such spectators more important than the tears of these confined creatures?.Man- should not play the Creator.Let the animals deserve what was bequeathed to them by God-liberty to live as they will.

300 words
40min + (2,3min)...too much disturbance at home

Notes for you dear Mubs:
1. You don't use space after full stops, commas, and -
2. You use too many - even when not necessary, use only IF required cos it kind of becomes an abrupt sentence this way.
3. You have put forward the essay in an excellent way!! GREAT JOB DONE AT WRITING!! :)
4. Just need to be careful with punctuation marks and their spacing and use.

All the very best my dear. Yasmeen.

Can we?

Oh hello everyone!

I was thinking regarding the pattern of the questions in the writing exam.(ACADEMIC)
Will we be getting both the task 1 and 2 in the same question paper?(DUH..i know)
If so, is it possible to do the task 2 FIRST and than answer the task 1?

gimme a feedback....plz

Query !

Greetings,

I just finished completing my form for the exam.
One particular 'line' in the ADVICE AND INFORMATION section caught my eye.It said:
'Correction fluid and highlighters must not be used'

Is it true that we can not carry a highlighter to the examination hall?

Secondly,should we mention the date of written test or speaking test in the preferred date of test?

Authentic comments will be appreciated.

It's Friday again ...

Good evening, I-match folk!

What a match,eh? It was an amazing comeback, wasn't it? Certainly worth staying up till 2.00am, wasn't it?
What's that? You DON'T like football? You think it's OVERRATED and a WASTE of TIME, MONEY and ENERGY?

How sad! I had one of the most sublime sporting experiences of my life watching Liverpool come back from the dead and beat the Italian aristocrats AC Milan, who were leading 3 - 0 at half time...
The moral is, my dear I-match folk is never, ever give up and keep plugging away, against all the odds. OK then, what were you doing on Wednesday evening that was more memorable - some IELTS reading/listening etc etc etc? Come on, get a life, enjoy!

Anyway, the third week is looming and the temperature is hotting up in more ways than one. I've read your mid-course feedback, thanks - you asked for more speaking, so we have a debate tomorrow on computers and I'll try to set up another debate for TUESDAY 31 May, OK? I hope tomorrow's debaters have been liaising (nb correct spelling) witheach other.

Talking of TUESDAY 31 May, how about AFAQ AFAQ AFAQ AFAQ AFAQ AFAQ AFAQ AFAQ
coming in to brief us on his IELTS test yesterday? Afaq, please, please, please can you help us, please?

OK then I-match people, if you have read this post then please make me a COMMENT below. Otherwise I'll write you off as a a bunch of "wussies" who are too "wet" to help themselves.

Right then, give me your comments and plans for the next two weeks - did ANYONE use the Learning Zone on Thursday? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, "no pain, no gain..."

Will check for comments/responses before I hit the pit. Use the blogmember account if yours does not work.

bfn

Tony

Where are you?
What are you?
Any news of Ahmed and Suha - the two MIA students?

COMMA and AND

My fellow ielts exam warriors,

I often used to get baffled by the concept of using comma ,AND and together in a sentence.Most of my corrections done on this weblog bear witness to my confusion.
But, not any more.
After much research on the internet and my faithful dictionary, i have reached to this conclusion that both(comma,and) can be most certainly used together-in a sentence.

Comma is used in coordination of conjunctions such as and,but,for,or and nor when they join the clauses of a compound sentence.

We have never been to that place before,and were delighted with the scenic beauty.
I have heard and read so much about her dancing skills,but still fail to understand what the uproar is about.

Apart from the above mentioned examples, it can be used in short sentences or otherwise.

When the class was over, our heads were swimming.

You are coming too, arent you?

and so on.

It feels great to overcome such language hurdles ,specially when we use them everyday and yet seem to ignore the basic rules.

If you have such related queries/comments/discoveries, go on and post it on the weblog.
Someone reading it might benefit from your knowledge!

Greatest invention and why?

Hello I-match

I forgot - you have to tell me what, in your opinion is the greatest invention man has ever made and why?

Closest so far is the computer - it's number 2 on my list.

Come on, put your thinking caps on!

CU tonight

Tony

Good LUCK to Dear 'Zeena'...!

Hey pretty girl!

How are you? Hmm…and how was the movie-'kingdom of heaven'?.
Sir Tony has been giving a positive review about the film so I think I should watch it before the ielts exam. Maybe it might affect me in some good way.

So, what are you up to? I heard your exams are coming up? Well sweets, try hard and give it your best shot, so that you do not have any regrets later on .I know it is difficult practicing and perfecting yourself ,but it’s definitely not worse than the feeling you get after the exam-I wish I had worked harder!.

I guess that’s all I have to say now. My sister is calling and we need to have a small pep-talk before I tuck her to bed-her exams are also starting –a week later.

Take care and be good!

Love and loadsa best luck!

Nice and relaxed?

Phew - that was the weekend that was - before you know it, Saturday is upon us.
Only Mais and Mohammed Sarhan are contributing to the blog. Mubarka is giving fantastic support, but yet again the silent majority just sit back and say / do nothing. Why do I bother Samira, Shamsa, Ghalya, Ashwaq, Shyma, Suha, Azza, Reda, Thara,Jithu, Mohannad,Ahmed, Salem, Nasser and Ahid? Some of you started posting / commenting and then stopped. Only Mais turned up on Thursday for a practice IELTS test run with Mubs. Hmmmmmmmmmmm, it seems you people are not hungry and are content to just sleep walk through the course. Come on, argue with me - let's have a reaction!
Ah well, I expect this posting will go the way of most of my others and be ignored by the class, what a pity...
Just to recap then:

• you have written me a task 2 essay
• you have the Learning Zone booked on Sat 21 May, from 7.30 - 8.30pm
• you will work in study groups in room 8 on that Sydney opera house reading / Task 1 writing handouts or in the Learning Zone until 8.30
• you will finish that reading exam you started last week while I interview Mohannad and Thara
• you will all acknowledge reading this message by commenting below or making a new posting as to your intentions on how to be more responsible for your own learning
• you can post a good luck message to my daughter Zeena who has her Grade 6 SAT exams this week as well as her violin and clarinet tests from the Associated Examinaning Board UK [she'd love to hear from anyone in ieltsmatch.blogspot. com]
• you should ALL see Ridley Scott's film Kingdom of Heaven - ignore the soppy romantic love interest bit and it is a very thoughtful, intelligent movie that people in the West MUST see and learn from. Zeena found it a bit gory in places, but as a fellow lover of history, I felt that she could benefit from seeing this film (she asked lots and lots and lots of questions...)

Sorry about no online correcting / mistake highlighting. I, too, need to switch off and relax at the weekends. However, for the next four days I'll be nagging and demanding effort - 'cos if there's no pain, there's no gain.

Good night i-match weblog. You don't seem to be late night net prowlers such as Yasmeen and Mubs, more's the pity.

Just can you try to respond and show me, Mubs and Yasmeen that you are listening and that you are interested? Is that too much to ask, ya pasha muhandis / muhandissa?

Your IELTS tutor

Tony (slightly disappointed, but still hopeful)

Useful site for WRITING task 1 and 2

Dear all,

The following site was suggested to me by Yasmeen.It is also listed in the ielts sites list given by Sir Tony.I found it particularly helpful whilst describing graphs.

http://www.writefix.com/englcourses/ielts/index.htm
OR go directly to the home page
http://www.writefix.com/
follow the other stuff on Writefix and check: "ielts tips, material and links"
Go through the subheading - Higher Colleges of Technology Links

This is bound to clear most of your doubts regarding writing-especially task 1.

Tell me what you think of this site.

CONFIRM PEOPLE!

Dear reader,

This is to inform you that a collective learning and test session for and by the ielts students will be held at the British Council, tomorrow, around 11am.

This particular session will include:
writing Task 1
Writing Task 2
Speaking Test
Reading test(if we have enough time)

If you are keen in improving your ielts skills,be there and remember to bring:
1.A4 size paper/pencil/sharpener/eraser, for written exam.
2.List of topics you can ask your fellow student during the speaking test.( we will be interviewing each other).
3.Any fantastic graph you went through in the news paper, which could be useful for our writing task 1.(cut and bring it along)
4.If you have a stop watch-BRING IT.
If not, try bringing a small clock.

5.Above all, remember to bring yourself.

Mohammad Sarhan has volunteered to come.

Are you up to it?

Report by Reda Alkaabi

dear sir:This is my article:Boys Town "NEBRASKA"It is a famed village style haven for (a) troubled kids who have (a) real sad stories : broken homes , neglect abuse , drugs/alcohol usage and who have been to detention centers . They were sent to this town by their relatives and they lives(S) here in group homes. (and) tTheir teachers give them back their childhoods ,by teaching them skills and giving them love. This town leans against Omaha's sprawl but retains its identity as a campus of sorts with five hundred kids , ranging from middle school (and)to high school (,)with 2 churches , a park, post office , police (and) fire station , atheltic(S) facility and fields.The teachers advice (any)the visitor's (dont)not to (ask them) the children about their pasts (,) and let them focus on the present.There are some roles in adressing and a hair cut(not clear )(but). Tthe students are interested ,( they have) in work shops and play sports like footbal matches and the girls share kitchen duties .Some of them say "Boys Town saved my life, so i will come back to help the next generation."

Reda Alkaabi

Well, the main points of the story were highlighted.
You have a habit of adding 'a' to every plural word: aboys ,atroubled kids and many more which i deleted instantly.
AVOID THAT!

Grammar,grammar and grammar>>>work on it!!!

Sincerely,

Mubs

Blogmember protocol + Thursday Learning Zone session: 19 May 2005

Good morning bloggers!

When you are posting or commenting while using the blogmember account, would you PLEASE identify yourself?

It's not a big deal, but it would be nice to know who this smart person is, don't you think?

Also how about ieltswords and ieltsmatch students getting together in the Learning Zone this Thursday, that is TOMORROW? The LZ is open from 08.00am to 08.00pm and it's a wondeful chance to get some serious IELTS practice done and timed practice tests too. After 11.00/12.00 (?) it's quieter with the young learners finishing their classes. Why not use room 8 for some group work if the LZ is being used by a class?

What do you think? Please let me know!

Cheers

Tony

National Geographic , Ashwag

Australia, by Bike(is it a thing or person ?) is an impressive story for me. He hit the road by his bicycle to find out more about his ne(S) adopted country. (H)how he narrates his everyday events, findings and experiance(S) through the end.
How about writing this sentence this way:
I found the everyday events and findings experienced by the narrator to be very intriguing ,till the end of the story.

At the sam(S) time to overcome his broken marrige(S).
(Not clear-incomplete sentence)

Ashwag, you have used 'he'-two times and 'his'- once, to describe the writer.It would be appropriate to use the author/narrator/writer/story teller.Variable usage of words creates a strong impression on the examiner-that you know the language.

Humbly,
Mubs

The latest posting

Geograhy of Memory Synthetics

Decades of rats researh had convinced that longterm spatial memories and retained in the hippocampus, a structure in temoral lobes of the brain and learned other wise by examing 2 casess.As a conclusion the spatial memories initially depend on the hippocampus but eventually they are stored out side the region.

Ghalya's report

Parting the water
Around the Korean peninsula's south weastern tip at least once every mounth, 300,000 peaple opening a 1.7 mile long path between Chindo and Modo Island crossing by walking through parting or deviding the water. It is part of the annual festival. the revelers have little time to rest and within an hour the walkway begins to clase.

Samira's report

This is my report about Turkey.Turkey is a famous and beautiful country.(how about joining the first two sentences?)
This is a report about the famous and beautiful country called Turkey. At first, you think(WC) the sights,smells,and sounds are just a feast for the senses, but then you realize that all the little curlicues and flourishes of Turkish culture and(R) art and(R) architecture actually relate to the country's complex past(break the sentence into 2).The Turks roll all those(their) traditions into who they are today: proud, refined,a little reserved,(refined yet reserved) they'r(they are) also amazing craftsmen and artists(with a display of amazing artistic craftsmanship.The most wonderful place I like in Turkey is Istanbul's Labyrinthine. It's covered bazaar, (you see all) (highlights) their crafts-gold, and(G) gem work, carpets, leather work and hand painted tiles. But the very best crafts man ship(carftsmanship) on display in the bazaar is the Turkish art of deal making.Turkey has always been at the crossroads of Europe and asia(Asia), with foot in each. A place, not quite like any other, that knows how to hold to its past and yet constantly change.

The report was well done.
Samira, dear you forgot to mention the author's name.Further more,placing facts is a good thing-shows the reader your memory and interest.
Avoid using 'and' repeatedly-be cautious! .


humbly,
Mubs

Thank you I-match folk!

Well done lads and lasses!

I've had a really gruelling day at work and just got in to see three posted reports and three comment reports which I have posted on the blog.

Maybe Afaq, Mubs, Mohammed or Yasmeen can help me by looking at these reports from National Geographic magazines that the class were asked to read and write a paragraph report for the blog.

Give me time and I will help correct / edit these posts, but at the moment I have to gather myself for this evening's class...

Good work, I-match, keep it up!

Tony

A third student posting

My article is about one of the famous festivals in India - Diwali.Diwali- (It) is a five- (P)day festival of Lights.How about:The festival of lights is celebrated over a period of five days.Now the point of interest is that, it comes on the night of the new moon in the Hindu month known as either Karthik or Asvina, which falls in late October and early November.(G)the Hindus of the North celebrate this festival in the memory of Lord Ram and his wife(Sita) on thier(S) return to India after their victory against the demon-king of Sri Lanka.The Sikhs also do celebrate this festival.The market places are hung with tinsel and poor village ladies (would)come to the city (and)to sell handmade lamps to the housewives.Thus, during Diwali one can see/witness tiny oil lamps dat(S) are lit to outline(WC) every house to guide them(who?) on thier(S) way back home.

Report by:Misty

Festival has been used 4 times in this paragraph.You can use other descriptive words, such as:event/occassion/celebration and so on.
Lots of spelling mistakes.Keep some time in the end to delete such trivial errors.
Quite a colourful report.
What is the name of the writer who's story impressed you enough to report on it?

Sincerely,
Mubs

Another student posting

ihad read this article today ,antartic first :alone accross a frozen land .they were talking abut the hardest part of skiing across Antartica "iagin yourself in just white world .they went to a journey after 64day in whichthey covered 1,764 miles and braved tempretures that less than 69 F ,BOURGE OSLAND was the one who went to this side on Antartica he was one of three men to attempt a solo crossing .They spent two weeks waiting for the weathere to permit them to begin .OSLAND was the only one who could completed the terk ,it was very difficult and tough thing to do it ,but he is proud to reachd Norht pole on1990

Jithu's report

I read an article on 'World of Water - Enough for All?' by(name of author). Here is a report.
Water is usually considered a seemingly limitless resource. This is because water evaporates from the oceans, falls on land, runs into rivers, and(can we place a comma and 'and' together?) flows back to the sea. But only 2.5 percent of Earth's water is fresh, most of which is frozen in polar regions. On a rough scale, only 0.6 percent is usable. This is usually due to unequal distribution(of?), pollution and growth of population. Some 80 countries already report shortages. About 25,000 people die everyday from water-related diseases.Let us all try to save water and make mother earth a better place to live in.

Statistics provided-excellent!
Bravo Jithu..keep up the marvellous work!

Sincerely,
Mubs

Solar Energy from National Geographic Magazine

This is my first article from the National Geographic magazine and it was about solar energy I will just write general information about this article and I leave the rest to you to discover:

Solar energy (now) is becoming one of the most important and continuous sources of energy available to the human race. So many large(WC) research and development effort is underway to develop economical system to harness solar energy and make it a major source of fuel energy especially for the heating and cooling of building.How about: A massive effort in research and development is underway to develop an economical system to harness solar energy.By doing so, sun energy would transform into a major source of fuel energy especially for heating and cooling of buildings.

Also(WC) there are some advantages and disadvantages for the solar energy and the advantages(WC)(benefits/uses) can be concluded as the following: It is nonpolluting, reliable, and free. While the disadvantages(WC)(R) can be concluded(R) as the following: It is very dilute, It is(R) not constant for some applications.

This environment friendly, reliabe and free of cost system demonstrates its positive end.

On the other hand, its dilute and variable nature shows its drawbacks.

Mohammed Sarhan

Mohammad,pleaseeee use a variety of words.

In the last 4 lines, i was confused as to what is the positive aspect and where are the negative points shown.

The introduction was good.Somehow i felt, you lost interest in the end.

You can do much better!

Sincerely,

Mubs

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE-THE KING COBRAS.

King Cobras are the longest venomous snakes that produces(G) starling (did you mean startling?)amounts of neurotoxins.The(G) are shy (and)retreating ,and aggressive only if provoked.Although snakes strike fear in many Westerners,in the East the cobra is often an object of worship and reverence.In New Delhi for example, cobras are serpents of the Gods,while in Thailand they are used as part of peoples livelihoods.About 25 cents is paid by passersby(passerby's?) to watch ladies dancing with the cobra's head in their mouth.Cobras are also the forest's deadly king - wherever it resides,and no smaller snakes of any species is safe.A modern snakebite remedy,(P)-antivenom,is made by having adult cobras milked ,and(can we use a comma and'and' together?) small doses of the venom is injected into horses until they develop antibodies.Later, the horse plasma is collected and treated to make a final product which if given to a victim in time,stops the venom's toxic effects.
Mais.

Dear Mais,
Your report was very informative, since you intelligently absorbed all the facts and organised them in your essay.
Minute grammer mistakes.
Impressive!

Regards,
Mubs

Dear Sir,
Thanks for your last post ,it was really useful or else i would not have been able to use it.One thing i would like to mention is that i did not really get your third invitation so please if you dont mind ,ill appretiate it alot if i get it again.
Mais.

How to post

It's very simple.

Go to www.blogger.com

Sign in using your username/password or the universal blogmember account username/password.

On the dashboard go to ieltscommunity3 blog and click on "new posting".

ieltscommunity 1 and 2 are inactive, while ieltsmatch.blogspot.com is struggling for life.

Mohammed Saeed, we need you and your enthusiasm! What was your IELTS score - please let me, and the world, know!

Post on I-match.

I need those National Geographic magazines back (all 17) and I WANT to see some paragraphs posted on the weblog.

I'm starting to get impatient . . .

Expecting to hear from you, have done the re-invitations, Mais for the third time!

Remember the learning Zone is free all morning.

Reactions, comments, anything please!

Tony

Save your Lives

Come on I-match group, time is passing, the first week is almost over and only one of you has used the weblog!

I want to see Mais, Muhamnnad, Mohammed and Jithu getting together down in the Learning Zone and working together. You four have no excuse! Please confirm that you four have started a study group and will be using the BC program for IELTS on the start menu.

The others, let's see you on the blog and show some initiative. Don't be shy, it's your chance to practise and learn! Go for it!

If you come early tonight (6.40 onwards, I'll show anyone interested the Learning Zone material and get you started. OK? Is it a deal?

See you tonight

Remember, you can use "blogmember's" username and password to post/comment on the weblog.

I have re-invited Mais, Muhannad, Nasser and the fourth person who was having problems using their account.

BFN

Tony

I read all your letters - it was very interesting, honest! I'm getting a better picture of you as individuals, but more importantly, as a team with a common focus and goal in mind - to defeat the 'demon' IELTS! I'm on your side, but need to see that you care!

Question for tonight: What is one (just one!) of your passions in life - what makes you tick and really turns you on? Idioms, idioms, idioms my dears!!!

New IELTS Class - check your inboxes!

Hello class! Have you indeed checked your email inboxes?

Hope you have had a good day, I'll be seeing you in just under 4 hours' time.

Are you a match for IELTS? Let's see.

I hope you managed that letter for me.

Some negative points:

1. One student was chewing gum - yuk! No more, please!
2. One mobile wasn't silent - ah well the first day
3. A 10 minute break is a 10 minute break is a 10 minute break...

Some positives:

1. Everyone came - let's have 100% attendance every day
2. You all had pens and pencils and looked interested. Now some HIGHLIGHTER pens pls!
3. I was told that your level was high, so I can expect a lot from you

Some questions (to make sure you have logged in!):

1. Why do I need your help on 21 May?
2. What is the secret of IELTS success? ** Former students please feel free to comment.
3. What is the best way to increase your vocabulary?

Anyway, my brain (and body) need to relax. So after a nap, I'll check to see who are the really, really keen students.

BFN

Tony

Sample Ielts speaking questions

Hello everyone,

Since i was at home during the weekend, i tried surfing the net to find questions which could possibly be thrown at us during the speaking test.

Go through them and please add your own questions to this post also.
Some questions might be a bit weird.

1.''If you have the choice of going back or forward in time, what would you choose and why?''
2.''If you had the choice to exchange your beauty for anything else in the world, what would you exchange it for, and why?
3.“Somebelieve that too much of everything is as bad as too little. What do you think of this?''
4.What does a beauty contest teach?
5.Whom do you consider the most successful living woman, and why?"?
6.Whose death matters less: Princess Di's, or John F. Kennedy's?
7.How do you feel about animal testing by Revlon, CoverGirl and Loreal?
8.What has been the biggest disappointment in your life to date?
9.Do you think the government should try to legislate morality to create a better environment for children to grow up in?
10.Do you feel more comfortable in small gatherings or large parties?
11.What is your town/state known for?
12.Everybody worries about something. What do you worry about?
13.Do you prefer to have friends of the same sex or opposite sex? Why?
14.What makes you angry?
15.What makes you cry?
16.Tell us about your family...
17.Who is your family's "black sheep" and why?
18.You could spend a Saturday reading a novel or playing a sport, which would you pick and why?
19.Describe your community.
20.Why would anyone want to visit your community/state/country?
21.How do you relax?
22.What do you look for in a friend
23.How would you resolve the Middle East crisis?
24.Describe your future husband/wife
25.What is the greatest crisis facing your country?
26.Would a woman make a better - or worse - president of your country?
27.What is genocide?
28.Which of these women do you think was the best role model and why? Princess Diana...Mother Theresa...
29.If you could go back and start your life over again, what one thing would you do differently?

The oracle answers

Hi bloggers!

In response to Afaq's query as to whether to use "a" or "an" before abbreviations, the rule is to obey the pronunciation. So it is correct to write "an" MBA or "an" FMCS. If it is pronounced as a consonant then use "a" as in "a" UN declaration, but if the pronunciation (NOT the spelling) is a vowel sound, then use "an".

"H" can be a problem - aspirated (Hard) H words take "a" as in "a" Herts. address or "a" hilac demonstration, BUT we write "an" H-bomb for the unaspirated (Soft) H sound.

So, forget the simple rules you learned at school, go with the sound not the spelling. Acronyms count as regular words in their own right, abbreviations are a special case.

Good luck

Tony

Ielts mock test-Mubs story

OK people
I took my practice speaking test today.Apart from me, Afaq and Katayoun managed to show up.
We had around 7-8 students willing to become the scapegoat and around 16-18 examiners.First, all of us were taken to room and introduced to the examiners, collectively.Later on, we were informed that each student would have to give 1 test and than a 2nd test to a different examiner, to give both the parties enough practice.
Fine with that..Each student was allotted alphabets from a-g and accordingly we dispersed to our respective separate rooms.

First interview:
2 people -1 asking questions verbally other was taking down notes
name of examiner: Elizabeth
Questions asked:
Show your ID please
1.What’s your name?
2.which country do you belong to?
3.What is the main festival of your country?
4.What are you doing currently-studying or working?
5.What do you think is the status/trend of cinema in today’s life?
6.Status of cinema in the years to come?
7.What are your views on censorship in this country?

Task 2:(what/when/where/why)
Any film/television show which effected my life ?
Ans:Bridget Jones diary
(the woman gave a big bright smile)
Would your recommend this film to other women? Of which age?

1.What kind of a family do you have?
2.Is it big or small?
3.Relating to the answer I gave, I was asked:
4.How do you spend time with your sister?
5.How does films, video games and television play role in our lives?

Comments I received from both the people at desk:
Easy to understand English
Confident person who rephrased sentences to get the point through
Pronunciation: good
Grammar: appropriate/enough variety
Fluency: really good
Vocabulary: relaxed, relevant … “didn’t hit the examiner in the face”

Negative comments:
Got lost in the topic pertaining cinema trends
(actually I forgot what the question was)

Second interview:2 examiners, one taking notes ,other doing the oral exam.
Name of examiner: Bob(good looking male )
Questions asked:
Show your ID please

1.Same questions as 1,2
2.Since when have you been studying English?
3.What are the different status symbol people recognise in your country?
4.Are they going to be any different in the future?
5.What was life like in the past, in regard to status symbols?
6.What do you do in spare time?
7.How do you spend your weekends?
8.Are your week days same as your weekends?
9.What are your hobbies?
10.How did you start inculcating this hobby?

Task 2:(what/when /where/why)
What is a thing you own , that you like and why?
Ans:Talked about my car.

Comments from both people at desk:
Strong candidate
Used certain idioms, which suited my answers
Diverse range of vocabulary
Speaking clearly

After much coercing by me:
They found one negative point-I lost steam in one of the answers in the middle, but no deduction of marks will be done.
They could only think of this point saying they were basically nit picking.

After the exam they asked what I would like to do in future and why?
I said I would love to see the examiner in my real life ielts exam also ;)

My observation:
The examiners were too friendly, maybe helping us to get over our nervousness.
They were encouraging, some other students said too much.
Conclusion: they are humans, with emotions ,just trying to do their jobs.

before the exam :-
i tried talking to as many new people as possible, just to get my jaw exercise done and get over the jitters.
Loads of water drinking.
Divert your attention prior the exam by listening to music you like or you will be nervous/edgy and sweat like a p!g.
Be there at least 20 min before the exam.

(in the real exam there would only be 1 examiner with a tape recorder)

I hope i could be of any help

Well, iam off now, tired!!
**yaWn**

Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!

Hello my class-in-waiting!

I have created our own weblog and you might want to check out the previous IELTS weblogs that we had in March and April, they are:

www.ieltsmagic.blogspot.com (class of March/April 2005)

www.ieltswords.blogspot.com (class of April / May 2005)

So, welcome aboard and please, please, please start commenting and posting - you'll never look back!

Delighted to make your acquaintance!

Tony