PART 1
WATER SPORTS
ANSWERS
Have you done water sports?
(Answer 1)
Yes, I have but not a lot, only a couple of, specifically kayaking and swimming. I love swimming so much that I consider myself a professional swimmer. In fact, I’ve joined several swimming competitions in our city and most of the time I won. Also, I enjoy kayaking and it’s my favorite recreational sport!
(Answer 2)
Yes, I have but not at an athletic level, I just do some water sports like swimming, diving, and scuba diving for recreational. Doing so is my way of keeping myself fit and it’s also a great opportunity for me to meet new people whose interests are the same as mine.
(Answer 3)
Unfortunately not, I have aquaphobia. I actually had a bad experience in my childhood that traumatized me. I nearly drowned in an eight-feet pool, thankfully, one of the lifeguards found me struggling in the water and saved me. Had he not found me, I would have passed on long before.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
A couple of [idiom] – two things or a few things
Recreational sport [noun] – activities where the primary purpose of the activity is participation with the goals to improve one’s physical fitness and to have fun
Athletic [adj.] – relating to athletes or athletics; competitive
Recreational [adj.] – done for enjoyment not for competition
Keep fit [idiom] – to keep in good physical condition
Aqua-phobia [noun] – fear of water
Traumatize [verb] – subject to lasting shock as a result of a bad experience
Nearly drowned [expression] – almost died of drowning
Pass on [phrase] – die
TIPS
i.) ANSWER 1: The speaker gave a positive answer to the question and mentioned two types of water sports that he’s interested in doing. Then to extend his answer, he talked about his love of swimming and that’s joining some competitions and he also shared his feelings about kayaking. Adding details is such a great way for you to express your ideas better.
ii.) ANSWER 2: The speaker gave a positive answer and talked about his interest in three different water sports. He pointed out to the examiner that he did those water sports for enjoyment, thus, he’s not professionally doing those sports mentioned. He then ended his answer by mentioning the benefits of doing those sports. He ended his answer in a good way!
iii.) ANSWER 3: The speaker gave a negative answer and talked about his traumatic experience of water that stopped his interest in water activities. To extend his answer, he described his bad experience in the water briefly and ended his answer using a conditional tense. Take note, the use of conditional tense is helpful in boosting your mark in the criterion, Grammar and Accuracy, just make sure you use it right!
What water sports are you interested in?
(Answer 1)
Well as I’ve just said, I’m more into kayaking and swimming! I go swimming almost every single day and my summer holiday is not perfect without doing kayaking. I can’t imagine my life without doing those two water sports.
(Answer 2)
As I mentioned earlier, swimming, diving, and scuba diving are the water sports that I’ve loved doing, however, I’m more fascinated with scuba diving, simply because I’m entranced by the beauty of the ocean. Seeing magnificent colors of corals, different kinds of fish, and other aquatic living things is heaven on earth!
LEXICAL RESOURCE
As I’ve said / Like I mentioned [phrase] – used when you want to reiterate what you have previously said
Fascinated [adj.] – strongly interested or attracted
Entrance [verb] – captivate; fill someone with delight
Magnificent [adj.] – splendid; spectacular
Aquatic [adj.] – relating to water
Heaven on earth [noun phrase] – a very pleasant or enjoyable place or situation
TIPS
i.) ANSWER 1: The speaker started his answer by reiterating the sports that he mentioned in the first question. He did use a good expression to reiterate his answer. Then, in order for him to not give a short answer, he just talked about how often he did swimming and how perfect his summer was when he did kayaking. Finally, he wrapped up his answer by saying those two kinds of sports are part of his life. Great way to end his answer!
ii.) ANSWER 2: The speaker answered this question by mentioning again the water sports that he loved doing, then, he transitioned to talking about scuba diving because the experience was wonderful and completely different from other water sports that he did. He ended his answer by telling the examiner how beautiful scuba diving was.
What kind of water sports do people in your (this) country like?
(Answer 1)
Well, this country is tropical and with many islands, so we can expect that local people love swimming, surfing, and scuba diving, to name a few. We are fortunate that we have many white-sand beaches and well-protected coral reefs that people can enjoy.
Not only that, some parts of this country have the best weather conditions for surfing, and that attracts hundreds of thousands of surfers from different countries every summer.
(Answer 2)
I’m sorry that I cannot give you an accurate answer to that question as I’m not sure. However, I assume it’s swimming because all of us learn swimming at an early age since it’s part of every school’s curriculum. But then again, I’m not entirely sure – I can be wrong.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Tropical [adj.] – relating to the tropics; warm to hot
Fortunate [adj.] – lucky; blessed
Coral reef [noun] – underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals
Accurate [adj.] – correct; precise
Assume [verb] – suppose; presume
Curriculum [noun] – course of study
TIPS
i.) ANSWER 1: The speaker did not immediately mention the water sports that his countrymen loved doing, instead, he talked about the typical climate in his country and started talking about the different sports he thought people in his country enjoyed doing. The speaker still achieved coherence in that kind of answer because the first few ideas of his answer were completely connected to his main answer.
ii.) ANSWER 2: The speaker sounded very natural in his answer as he’s very honest in expressing his thoughts. Well, that kind of answer doesn’t really need to have an exact answer, so what he did was just right. He then transitioned to talking about his assumption and his basis focused on the fact that all students in his country learned swimming. Right after that, he ended his answer by claiming that he could be wrong. Great answer! Very natural!
What other water sports would you like to try?
(Answer 1)
Well, water polo is only what I have in mind, I find it interesting. It’s like a combination of two kinds of sports: rugby and swimming as some people call it ‘water rugby’. That captured my interest just recently after watching Southeast Asian games on TV. I might try that one this summer with my friends.
(Answer 2)
I’m thinking of surfing and wakeboarding, however, I don’t have the confidence yet to do so. I think I need someone who can motivate me to give it a shot. I suppose those kinds of sports are really nerve-wracking but I’d like to challenge myself and they’re on my bucket list.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Water polo [noun] – a competitive team sport played in the water between two teams. Players swim in a pool and use a ball like a football that is thrown into the opponent’s net. This is played in a deep pool that is players cannot touch the bottom of the pool
I have in mind / Have something in mind [phrase] – to be thinking of doing something
Capture (my) interest [phrase] – to make someone interested in or excited about something
Surfing [noun] – a kind of water sport or pastime of riding waves towards the shore while standing or lying on a surfboard
Wakeboarding [noun] – a kind of water sport of riding on a short, wide board like that of a surfboard and performing acrobatic maneuvers while being towed behind a motorboat
Give it a shot [idiom] – to try something
Nerve-wracking [adj.] – causing stress or anxiety
Bucket list [noun] – a number of experiences or achievements a person hopes to accomplish during his lifetime
TIPS
i.) ANSWER 1: Here the speaker gave a direct answer to the question and gave his reason as to why he liked that kind of water sport. He gave a little description of that sport so as to give the examiner an idea of what kind of sport it was. He just simply ended his answer by mentioning his interest in playing that sport in the summer.
ii.) ANSWER 2: The speaker gave two types of water sports as his answer and admitted that he’s not confident enough to try it sooner. He simply just talked about his feelings about those water sports and mentioned that doing those sports was on his bucket list. Simple answer yet spontaneous and equipped with the right vocabulary words.
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Meaning of Words and Phrases Sources: Collins, Macmillan, Cambridge, Oxford
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