IELTS Speaking Task: Cue Card Question With Sample Answer on Books

Question

Describe a book you read that you found useful or Describe an exciting book you read

• When you read it
• What type of book is it
• What is it about
• Why did you find it useful

Answer

I find it healing and inspiring to read at least a little section of a self-help book a day. Just a chapter or 20 pages in the morning can make all the difference in how you see yourself and the world around you.

I just completed a book called ‘Ikigai’. Now the first thought that would come in your mind after reading just the title of the book is what is ‘Ikigai’? It's a concept of leading your life by finding the purpose of your life. Something that would motivate you to come out of bed every morning, something that would keep you satisfied even after working for long hours, something that acts as your fuel and keeps you going. It is a Japanese concept which simply means the art of living or the reason to begin. 

The book basically deals with ways of increasing your longevity in a disease free and happy way! It focuses on experiences, advice and lifestyle of Japanese people who lived more than 100 years. I believe that it can help you find your zeal for living! So, this book is all about finding yourself where you are and what you are doing, are you satisfied by yourself or not, happy or not, have you only lived your life or you actually enjoyed it. 

When I went through the book I found that every person described in the book has an ‘Ikigai’. The only thing they did was to find it. And those who discovered their Ikigai had everything they eventually needed for a long and joyful journey through life. It reveals the secrets of staying young and anti-aging. The book makes you think how small changes in your life can make a large difference.

Reading the book was surely a positive experience. The book is written in very simple language and conveys the philosophy in a very simple yet profound manner! Overall, it’s a good read and I recommend people to read it once, because who knows you may find your ‘IKIGAI’ too.

Part 3 Questions

Do you generally read a lot of books or do you prefer watching TV? Why?

I appreciate reading books more than watching arbitrary television shows. That does not, however, imply that I detest watching television. Reading, in my opinion, is a far healthier habit than watching television. Every book offers us the chance to learn something new, and reading a book is a more productive use of time. The same cannot be said for the TV. When we watch TV to pass the time, we frequently wind up channel-surfing rather than watching anything interesting.

What kind of books are considered good reads in your opinion?

I consider novels that are age-appropriate, free of hate speech, and offensive content to be wise choices. Generally speaking, a book is a good read if it can hold readers' attention, provoke thought, or help them learn something new. For me, the main components of a successful read are always a compelling tale and strong character development. But I frequently appreciate books just because they're instructive and based on actual occurrences.

Do you think that people read nowadays as they did in the past?

In my opinion, readers have always existed in our society and there are still those who prefer reading over other pastimes. However, reading habits have altered from the past. Today, we can read books on digital devices and use the Internet to download and read any book we want. 

Young people today seem to be more interested in technology than books, but as I've already mentioned, there are still plenty of readers who utilise technology to read the books of their favourite authors. Online forums also provide us the chance to speak more honestly about a writer and his or her books.

Do you regard famous writers as good role models?

The majority of politicians, entertainers, and athletes pale in comparison to famous writers as role models for us. On the other hand, we ought to emulate them by their writings, social contributions, and good deeds, not the select few who lead by negative examples in their personal lives.

We have always been inspired by writers, and they continue to do so in many ways. We will therefore have more to gain than to lose if we look up to famous authors as our role models.

If a movie is based on a book, would you prefer to read the book or to watch the film? Why?

Actually, I wouldn't mind seeing the movie and reading the book simultaneously. But from my own experience, I know that, for the most part, books are superior to movies. For many people, viewing a movie is more stimulating, and the film's intriguing visual elements make it more alluring. However, a reader can be affected more deeply by a book than a movie.

Books spark our imagination and transport us to a world we are unfamiliar with, and the journey allows us to feel every experience the characters go through, leaving a lasting impression in our memory. While movies can bring entire worlds to life before our eyes and transform characters into living things. So, while I might forego a few excellent books-to-film adaptations, I would not want to.

How does our reading habit change as we grow up? Why does it happen?

As we become older, we have a tendency to read more, and this habit is purely driven by our interests rather than by academic demands. Because we are so innocent when we are young, a fairy tale can transport us to a fantastic mystical realm. We aspire to have magical abilities like the hero or heroine who vanquishes evil. 

However, this is not the case as we get older because as our minds mature, they need more real-world stimuli to keep them amused and challenged. Thus, as adults, we aspire to be like a real-life hero who doesn't possess any enigmatic abilities but instead has the sheer strength and tenacity to overcome obstacles and transform the world, or at the very least, the people around him.