English at Home

Thursday, 24 July 2025

✦ IELTS Topic: Books & Literature – 10 Useful Phrases

Page-turner
e.g., That mystery novel was a real page-turner — I couldn’t put it down.
Hard to follow
e.g., The plot was a bit hard to follow with so many characters.
Well-developed characters
e.g., I enjoy stories with well-developed characters that feel realistic.
A gripping story
e.g., It was such a gripping story, full of suspense and emotion.
Classical literature
e.g., I studied classical literature like Shakespeare and Homer in school.
Light reading
e.g., On holiday, I prefer light reading like romance or travel books.
Non-fiction book
e.g., I just finished a non-fiction book about climate change.
Borrow a book from the library
e.g., I usually borrow books from the library instead of buying them.
Fictional world
e.g., Fantasy novels let readers escape into a fictional world.
Literary prize
e.g., That novel won a major literary prize last year.

✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Books & Literature

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

Do you enjoy reading?
What kind of books do you like?
How often do you read?
Do you prefer paper books or e-books?
Have you ever read a book more than once?

Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a book you have read recently.
You should say:

what the book is
what it is about
when you read it
and explain why you liked or disliked it.

✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I read almost every day — mostly fiction.
2. I love novels with well-developed characters and a gripping story.
3. I try to read for at least 30 minutes a day.
4. I prefer real books, but e-books are great for light reading while travelling.
5. Yes, I’ve read a few page-turners multiple times.

Part 2 Sample Answer

A few weeks ago, I read Educated by Tara Westover, which is a non-fiction book about her life growing up without formal education.

I borrowed it from the library and finished it in just a few days. It was a real page-turner — very emotional and powerful.

What made it interesting was how honest and personal it was. Although it wasn’t a fictional world, the story felt just as dramatic.

It even won a literary prize, which I think it truly deserved. I’d definitely recommend it.

✦ Comprehension Test: Books & Literature

1. "That mystery novel was a real page-turner — I couldn’t put it down."
Q: What kind of book was it?

2. "The plot was a bit hard to follow with so many characters."
Q: What was difficult about the story?

3. "I enjoy stories with well-developed characters that feel realistic."
Q: What does the speaker value in a story?

4. "It was such a gripping story, full of suspense and emotion."
Q: How did the speaker feel about the story?

5. "I studied classical literature like Shakespeare and Homer in school."
Q: What type of books did they study?

6. "On holiday, I prefer light reading like romance or travel books."
Q: What kind of books does the speaker read on holiday?

7. "I just finished a non-fiction book about climate change."
Q: What kind of book was it?

8. "I usually borrow books from the library instead of buying them."
Q: Where does the speaker get books?

9. "Fantasy novels let readers escape into a fictional world."
Q: What do fantasy novels offer?

10. "That novel won a major literary prize last year."
Q: What recognition did the book receive?

✦ Answer Key

Exciting and hard to stop reading.
It was confusing due to many characters.
Believable and strong characters.
It was very exciting and emotional.
Classic or historical literature.
Easy, enjoyable books.
A factual, real-life topic.
From the library.
An imaginary setting or escape.
A writing award.

🧛‍♂️ Dracula – Chapter 8 (Adapted)

Title: The Bite of the Night

Lucy’s condition grew worse every day. Though Van Helsing tried everything to save her—garlic, medicines, even more blood transfusions—nothing worked for long. At night, she would become pale, weak, and breathless again.

Mina stayed by her side, but soon she had to leave. Jonathan had returned with her from Budapest, and they were now staying in London. She promised to write often.

Van Helsing stayed behind, watching Lucy carefully. He believed she was under the influence of something unnatural—something evil. He did not speak of vampires yet, but his fear showed in his face.

One night, Lucy’s mother was watching over her when she opened the window to let in fresh air. The room suddenly filled with a cold wind. A great bat flew in and circled above Lucy’s bed. Mrs. Westenra screamed and fainted.

When Van Helsing arrived the next morning, Lucy was barely alive. He shouted for help and gave her another blood transfusion. He then placed a wreath of garlic around her neck and closed all the windows.

But Lucy’s health continued to weaken. Van Helsing begged Arthur to come again. Arthur was heartbroken to see the woman he loved so pale and still. But he gave more blood, without hesitation.

Van Helsing began to suspect that the thing attacking Lucy came at night and drank her blood. Each morning, she looked weaker, and the red marks on her neck were deeper.

Then, something terrible happened.

During another night, a wolf escaped from the local zoo. It broke into Lucy’s house, smashing the window and frightening everyone. When the servants rushed to help, they found Lucy unconscious, her mother lying dead on the floor.

The shock had caused Mrs. Westenra to have a heart attack. Lucy, once again, had lost a lot of blood. Her body was cold and still, and Van Helsing feared she would die.

He stayed with her all night. For a moment, Lucy opened her eyes and smiled sweetly at him. Her voice was soft.

“I am so glad you are here,” she whispered.

But then her breathing stopped. Van Helsing held her hand and prayed. She seemed dead.

Suddenly, Lucy opened her eyes again. But something was different—her face was no longer sweet. Her teeth looked sharper. She laughed strangely.

Then she closed her eyes and was still again.

Van Helsing was shocked. He placed a crucifix (a cross) in her mouth and called the others.

“She is not gone,” he said. “Not completely.”

📘 Glossary

Word	Meaning
Breathless	Having difficulty breathing
Influence	Power or control over someone
Transfusion	Giving blood from one person to another
Fainted	Lost consciousness for a short time
Unconscious	Not awake or aware
Wreath	A ring of flowers or leaves
Suspect	To think something is true without proof
Crucifix	A Christian cross with Jesus on it

❓ Comprehension Questions

Why did Van Helsing stay behind when Mina left?
What happened when Lucy’s mother opened the window?
What was Van Helsing’s theory about what was happening to Lucy?
What happened the night the wolf broke in?
How did Lucy act before she finally “died”?
Why did Van Helsing put a crucifix in Lucy’s mouth?

✅ Answers

To protect and care for Lucy, who was getting worse.
A bat flew into the room, and her mother fainted.
He believed something was attacking her at night and drinking her blood.
The wolf scared the family, Mrs. Westenra died, and Lucy lost more blood.
She smiled sweetly, then changed—her teeth looked sharp and her laugh was strange.
Because he believed she was becoming something evil and needed protection.

Wednesday, 23 July 2025

✦ IELTS Topic: Travel by Bus & Coach – 10 Useful Phrases

Catch a bus
e.g., I usually catch a bus to school every morning.
Miss the bus
e.g., I missed the bus and had to wait 30 minutes for the next one.
Bus stop
e.g., There’s a bus stop right outside my house.
Coach station
e.g., We arrived at the coach station just before departure.
Long-distance coach
e.g., I booked a seat on a long-distance coach to visit my family.
Overcrowded bus
e.g., During rush hour, the buses are often overcrowded.
Bus fare
e.g., The bus fare is cheaper if you buy a monthly pass.
Timetable delay
e.g., The timetable said 3 p.m., but the coach was delayed by 20 minutes.
Comfortable seats
e.g., The coach had surprisingly comfortable seats and free Wi-Fi.
Get off at the wrong stop
e.g., I wasn’t paying attention and got off at the wrong stop.

✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Travel by Bus & Coach

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

Do you often travel by bus or coach?
What do you like or dislike about buses?
Are coaches popular in your country?
When was the last time you took a coach trip?
Have you ever missed a bus?

Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a time you travelled by bus or coach.
You should say:

where you went
what the journey was like
who you were with
and explain how you felt about the experience.

✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I catch a bus to work almost every weekday.
2. I dislike overcrowded buses, but they’re convenient.
3. Yes, long-distance coaches are common and quite affordable.
4. Last month, I went to the coast on a coach — it had really comfortable seats!
5. I once missed the bus after a late class and had to walk home.

Part 2 Sample Answer

A few months ago, I travelled by long-distance coach from my city to the countryside to visit a friend. I arrived at the coach station early and found my seat.

The journey was smooth, and the coach had comfortable seats and even Wi-Fi. I sat by the window and listened to music for most of the trip.

Unfortunately, there was a timetable delay, so we arrived about half an hour late. Still, it was a nice break from driving myself, and I’d definitely do it again.

✦ Comprehension Test: Bus & Coach Travel

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

2. "I missed the bus and had to wait 30 minutes for the next one."
Q: What happened to the speaker?

3. "There’s a bus stop right outside my house."
Q: What’s near the speaker’s home?

4. "We arrived at the coach station just before departure."
Q: Where did they arrive?

5. "I booked a seat on a long-distance coach to visit my family."
Q: What kind of transport did they choose?

6. "During rush hour, the buses are often overcrowded."
Q: What’s a problem at busy times?

7. "The bus fare is cheaper if you buy a monthly pass."
Q: How can someone save money?

8. "The timetable said 3 p.m., but the coach was delayed by 20 minutes."
Q: What was wrong with the timing?

9. "The coach had surprisingly comfortable seats and free Wi-Fi."
Q: What made the ride pleasant?

10. "I wasn’t paying attention and got off at the wrong stop."
Q: What mistake did the speaker make?

✦ Answer Key

Takes a bus every day.
Missed the bus and had to wait.
A bus stop.
At the coach terminal.
A coach for a long trip.
Too many people on the bus.
Buying a pass.
The coach was late.
Seats and amenities.
Got off at the wrong place.