Technology and Internet
Describe a useful website that you often visit.
You should say:
- What the contents of this website are
- How you first found this website
- How often you visit this website
- And explain how this website helps you.
Model Answer
So, if there is anything that I miss about America, it would definitely be Netflix. I am really into TV series, you know, especially the DC comic series like the Flash, Green Arrow and Super-girl. Netflix is the world’s leading internet television network but it’s still unauthorized in Vietnam, so I found my first few months at home really quite unbearable.
Fortunately though, Minh, my good friend and saviour, saved me from this dilemma by introducing me to an unbelievable website called newmovie.vn. So basically, the website’s owners, who apparently are also real movie buffs, manage to get the hottest new shows from around the world and upload them on a daily basis for Vietnamese viewers for, if you can believe it, absolutely no charge whatsoever. Newmovie.vn possesses unlimited access to not only my favourite tv series’ but also many other shows on my movies-to-watch list including things like Game of Thrones and Sherlock Homes. Since this discovery, I’ve become addicted to the website and am a daily visitor.
In conclusion, newmovie.vn is a real lifesaver and honestly, I don’t think I could put up with all the stress and assignments in my life without my daily dosage of films from newmovie.com.
Vocabulary Highlights
- world’s leading – the best or most popular in the world
- unauthorized – not allowed, or without permission
- unbearable – too painful or unpleasant to continue doing or watching
- saviour – a person who saves someone from harm or danger
- dilemma – a situation when a difficult choice has to be made
- unbelievable – very surprising
- movie buffs – a person who knows a lot about and is very interested in films
- on a daily basis – everyday
- absolutely no charge whatsoever – free
- possesses – to have or own something
- movies-to-watch list – a list of films that you want to watch
- daily dosage – the amount of medicine you should take each day
Describe a time when you were not allowed to use your cell phone.
You should say:
- Where you were
- When it happened
- What you were doing
- And why you were not allowed to use your cell phone.
Model Answer
Well, I think that mobile phones have now become the must-have item for everybody in daily life, so much so that we somehow feel we can’t live without them. I always remember the one time that I had to be apart from my phone when I was sitting my high school graduation exam 2 years ago, and I have to say it was quite uncomfortable.
So, my high school graduation exam is a mandatory examination that students have to take at the end of grade 12 to get their diploma and their score is what determines their ability to enter into university. It’s one of the most important events in a students’ life, I guess, because it not only pretty much shapes their future but also helps to reassure their value in themselves.
And of course, cell phones are not allowed in the test, to ensure that no one gets an unfair advantage by cheating. If your phone makes a noise, or if you are seen using it at any time, including during breaks, you may be dismissed from the examination immediately, and your scores will be cancelled without exception.
I myself had a bad habit of always going on the internet on my phone to make sure I got the right answers when doing the practice tests at home, so during the exam, I constantly had a burning desire to reach for my phone but obviously it was just a thought and I didn’t dare to do it. However the feelings of uncertainty about my results were haunting me and made me really nervous, and it wasn’t until I handed in my papers and checked the answers when I got home, was I able to feel calm again.
From this experience, I realized that I do rely too much on my phone. And although it’s a great tool to assist studying I do think we should learn how to be more confident in ourselves and our knowledge without having to look at our phones all the time.
Vocabulary Highlights
- must-have item – something necessary
- mandatory – necessary or compulsory, must be done
- shapes their future – determines their future opportunities
- reassure their value – makes them feel good about themselves
- unfair advantage – to have something that other’s don’t that helps you to do something
- burning desire – a strong feeling to do something
- uncertainty – not sure of
- haunting – staying in your mind, or scaring you
Describe a computer game you have played.
You should say:
- what it was
- when you played it
- what the game was about
- And explain how you played this game
Model Answer
For a long time, I have not played computer games as I got busy with other tasks and can hardly manage time nowadays but I was a hardcore fan of the game Age of Empires 2. This was a strategy game developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft Studios. There were three series of this game and I played the second series called Age of Empire the Conqueror. This was a historic strategy game that the gamers could have played either in single player or in multiplayer mode.
I mostly played it when I was 16-18 years old. I usually played it against computer competitors and sometimes against my friends over the computer network.
There were several civilizations that a player had to pick from and then develop this civilization in every aspect to protect it from the attack of other civilizations. Each civilization had its own strength and weakness and the player had to control the game for a long time. The different soldiers, defence mechanism, war strategy, war defence and research and different technologies made it a really interesting game.
I often played it against the computer when I picked a civilization and computer had other 3 civilizations. We fought each other and often I won the games against the computer in Hard game mode. I often played with my friends and that was a different experience as I had to compete against a real human. That was more competitive and I enjoyed thoroughly playing against my friends.