English at Home

Wednesday, 23 July 2025

✦ IELTS Topic: Travelling by Train – 10 Useful Phrases

Catch a train
e.g., I usually catch a train to work every morning.
Miss the train
e.g., I overslept and missed the train to the airport.
Train station
e.g., The train station was busy with commuters and tourists.
Platform number
e.g., The train to Manchester departs from platform number 3.
Reserved seat
e.g., I booked a reserved seat to make sure I had space to work.
Onboard services
e.g., The onboard services included free Wi-Fi and refreshments.
Express train
e.g., We took the express train to London — it was much faster.
Train timetable
e.g., Always check the train timetable before your journey.
Change trains
e.g., We had to change trains halfway through the journey.
Scenic route
e.g., The train journey through the mountains took the scenic route.

✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Travelling by Train

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

Do you often travel by train?
What do you like or dislike about train journeys?
Are trains common in your country?
Do you prefer trains or buses?
Have you ever missed a train?

Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a train journey you enjoyed.
You should say:

where you were going
what the train was like
what you did during the journey
and explain why you enjoyed it.

✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I catch a train to university almost every day.
2. I enjoy the view, especially when the train takes a scenic route.
3. Trains are very common, especially between big cities.
4. I prefer trains because of the onboard services and comfort.
5. Yes, I once missed the train because I was stuck in traffic.

Part 2 Sample Answer

Last spring, I took a train from Edinburgh to the Highlands. I had a reserved seat and boarded at the central train station just after lunch.

The train followed a scenic route through hills and valleys. I used the onboard services to grab a coffee and enjoy the ride.

I had to change trains once, but it was easy because I’d checked the train timetable in advance.

It was a relaxing and beautiful trip — the landscape was stunning, and the express train made the journey quick and comfortable. I’d definitely do it again.

✦ Comprehension Test: Travelling by Train

1. "I usually catch a train to work every morning."
Q: What does the speaker do regularly?

2. "I overslept and missed the train to the airport."
Q: What happened to the speaker's journey?

3. "The train station was busy with commuters and tourists."
Q: What was the station like?

4. "The train to Manchester departs from platform number 3."
Q: Where can the speaker board the train?

5. "I booked a reserved seat to make sure I had space to work."
Q: Why did the speaker reserve a seat?

6. "The onboard services included free Wi-Fi and refreshments."
Q: What was provided on the train?

7. "We took the express train to London — it was much faster."
Q: What was special about this train?

8. "Always check the train timetable before your journey."
Q: What should you check before travelling?

9. "We had to change trains halfway through the journey."
Q: What did they do during the trip?

10. "The train journey through the mountains took the scenic route."
Q: What made the journey special?

✦ Answer Key

Takes the train daily.
Missed it due to waking up late.
Very crowded and active.
At platform 3.
To ensure space and comfort.
Internet and drinks/food.
It was faster than usual trains.
The train schedule.
Switch to another train.
It went through beautiful scenery.

🧛 Dracula – Chapter 6 (Adapted, ~600 words)

Title: Sleepwalking and Storms

Mina Murray arrived in Whitby, a quiet seaside town in England. She had come to visit her best friend, Lucy Westenra, who was staying with her mother for the summer. Mina brought her notebook and wrote in it every day.

“Lucy looks so beautiful and happy here,” Mina wrote. “But sometimes she seems tired during the day. She says she sleeps well, but I’m not sure.”

Lucy loved to walk outside. She often sat on the bench near the old graveyard, watching the sea. One night, Mina woke up and saw Lucy’s bed empty. Panicked, she ran out to find her.

She found Lucy outside—sleepwalking! She was wearing only her nightgown and had bare feet. Her eyes were open, but she said nothing.

“Lucy!” Mina cried. “Wake up!”

Lucy did not move. She was standing at the edge of the cliff, near the graveyard. The moonlight made her look like a ghost.

Suddenly, Mina saw something else—something like a tall, dark figure behind Lucy. She blinked, and it was gone.

Mina quickly led Lucy back home. In the morning, Lucy remembered nothing.

Meanwhile, strange things were happening in the town.

A Russian ship had crashed on the beach during a terrible storm. The ship was empty—except for the dead captain, who was tied to the wheel. His face showed great fear.

“There were no sailors. No one on board. Just a large black dog that jumped out and ran away,” one of the townspeople said.

Mina read the news in the paper and wondered if there was a connection. That night, she again found Lucy missing from her bed.

She ran to the cliff. Lucy stood in the same place, her face turned toward the sea. Again, a dark shape seemed to be near her—this time closer.

Mina rushed forward and grabbed Lucy. Her skin was cold, and she had small red marks on her neck.

“You’re safe now, Lucy,” Mina whispered. But she was frightened.

Back at the house, Mina took care of her friend. Lucy’s mother thought it was only the sea air making her tired.

But Mina wasn’t sure.

📘 Glossary

Word	Definition
Seaside	A place next to the ocean or sea
Graveyard	A place where people are buried; cemetery
Sleepwalking	Moving around while asleep without knowing it
Panic(ed)	Feeling sudden fear or anxiety
Nightgown	A long, loose dress worn for sleeping
Moonlight	The light from the moon
Blinked	Quickly closed and opened the eyes
Crash(ed)	To hit something hard; in this case, the ship hit land
Wheel	The steering part of a ship
Marks	Small spots or signs on the skin

❓ Comprehension Questions

Why did Mina go to Whitby?
What was unusual about Lucy’s behavior at night?
What did Mina see behind Lucy during the night?
What happened to the Russian ship?
What did the townspeople see leave the ship?
What marks did Mina see on Lucy’s neck?

✅ Answers

To visit her friend Lucy Westenra.
Lucy was sleepwalking and left the house at night.
A tall, dark figure, which disappeared when she blinked.
It crashed on the beach during a storm and had no living sailors.
A large black dog jumped off the ship and ran away.
Small red marks.

Sunday, 20 July 2025

✦ IELTS Topic: Boats & Sailing – 10 Useful Phrases

Set sail
e.g., We set sail just after sunrise for a day trip around the islands.
Calm waters
e.g., The boat moved smoothly across the calm waters.
Rough seas
e.g., The ferry was delayed due to rough seas and strong winds.
Sailing trip
e.g., We booked a weekend sailing trip along the coast.
Anchor the boat
e.g., We anchored the boat near a small beach and went for a swim.
Crew members
e.g., The crew members helped us get settled and explained the safety rules.
Luxury yacht
e.g., They rented a luxury yacht for their honeymoon cruise.
Fishing boat
e.g., The harbour was filled with colourful fishing boats returning at dawn.
On board
e.g., There were around twenty passengers on board the tour boat.
Dock at the harbour
e.g., We returned to dock at the harbour just before sunset.

✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Boats & Sailing

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

Have you ever travelled by boat?
Are boats common in your area?
Would you enjoy going on a sailing trip?
Have you ever experienced rough weather at sea?
Do you prefer travelling on water or on land?

Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a time you travelled by boat or ship.
You should say:

where you went
what kind of boat it was
what you did on the journey
and explain how you felt about the experience.

✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I once took a sailing trip while on holiday in Greece.
2. Not really — we’re far from the coast, but there are a few fishing boats on the local river.
3. Definitely! I love the idea of being on board a small yacht in calm waters.
4. Yes, we hit rough seas on a ferry once. It was a bit scary!
5. I prefer land travel, but boats give a unique perspective.

Part 2 Sample Answer

A few years ago, I went on a half-day sailing trip while visiting Croatia. We set sail from a small town and spent the day exploring nearby islands.

The boat was a small luxury yacht, and there were about ten people on board. The crew members were helpful and told us about the local area.

The water was beautiful — completely calm — and we even stopped to anchor the boat so we could swim and have lunch.

At the end of the day, we docked at the harbour just as the sun was setting. It was peaceful, beautiful, and truly memorable.

✦ Comprehension Test: Boats & Sailing

1. "We set sail just after sunrise for a day trip around the islands."
Q: When did they leave?

2. "The boat moved smoothly across the calm waters."
Q: What was the water like?

3. "The ferry was delayed due to rough seas and strong winds."
Q: Why was the ferry delayed?

4. "We booked a weekend sailing trip along the coast."
Q: What kind of holiday did they choose?

5. "We anchored the boat near a small beach and went for a swim."
Q: What did they do with the boat?

6. "The crew members helped us get settled and explained the safety rules."
Q: Who assisted the passengers?

7. "They rented a luxury yacht for their honeymoon cruise."
Q: What kind of boat did they choose?

8. "The harbour was filled with colourful fishing boats returning at dawn."
Q: What kind of boats were in the harbour?

9. "There were around twenty passengers on board the tour boat."
Q: How many people were on the boat?

10. "We returned to dock at the harbour just before sunset."
Q: When did they finish the trip?

✦ Answer Key

In the early morning.
Smooth and peaceful.
Bad sea conditions.
A boat trip along the coast.
Stopped it near a beach.
The boat staff.
A very comfortable, high-end boat.
Boats used for catching fish.
Twenty.
At sunset