✦ IELTS Topic: Sport Places to Play – 10 Useful Phrases

1. Football pitch
   e.g., The match was held on a well-maintained football pitch.

2. Athletics track
   e.g., She trains every morning on the local athletics track.

3. Stadium atmosphere
   e.g., The stadium atmosphere was electric during the final.

4. Spectator stands
   e.g., Thousands of fans filled the spectator stands before kickoff.

5. Cricket ground
   e.g., We watched a game at one of the oldest cricket grounds in the country.

6. Tennis court
   e.g., You need to book the tennis court in advance at our club.

7. Basketball court
   e.g., They play every weekend on the outdoor basketball court near the school.

8. Home ground advantage
   e.g., The team usually performs better with the home ground advantage.

9. Indoor arena
   e.g., The match had to be moved to an indoor arena because of the rain.

10. Training facility
    e.g., The club has invested in a state-of-the-art training facility.

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✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Sport Places

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

1. Do you like playing or watching sports?

2. Are there good sports facilities in your area?

3. Have you ever been to a stadium?

4. What’s your favourite place to play or watch sport?

5. Do you prefer indoor or outdoor sports venues?

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Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a sports venue you have visited or seen.
You should say:

• what kind of place it is

• what sport is played there

• what it looks like
  and explain why you remember it.

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✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I love both! I enjoy playing on the football pitch at my local park.
2. Definitely. We have a nice basketball court and a modern training facility.
3. Yes, I’ve been to a huge stadium for a concert, but also to watch a match — the stadium atmosphere was amazing.
4. I like watching matches from the spectator stands at the cricket ground near my house.
5. I prefer indoor arenas for sports like volleyball — no weather interruptions!

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Part 2 Sample Answer

Last year, I visited a famous cricket ground in London with a group of friends. It was a historic stadium and had a great stadium atmosphere, especially when the home team scored.

We sat in the spectator stands quite close to the field, and the view was fantastic. I learned it was also used as a training facility when matches weren’t on.

The whole experience was exciting — even though I’m not a huge cricket fan, being in such a place made it really memorable.

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✦ Comprehension Test: Sport Venues

1. "The match was held on a well-maintained football pitch."
Q: What kind of surface was the game played on?

2. "She trains every morning on the local athletics track."
Q: Where does she go to train?

3. "The stadium atmosphere was electric during the final."
Q: What was the atmosphere like?

4. "Thousands of fans filled the spectator stands before kickoff."
Q: Where were the fans sitting?

5. "We watched a game at one of the oldest cricket grounds in the country."
Q: What kind of venue was it?

6. "You need to book the tennis court in advance at our club."
Q: What do you have to do before playing tennis?

7. "They play every weekend on the outdoor basketball court near the school."
Q: Where do they usually play?

8. "The team usually performs better with the home ground advantage."
Q: What helps the team perform better?

9. "The match had to be moved to an indoor arena because of the rain."
Q: Why was the venue changed?

10. "The club has invested in a state-of-the-art training facility."
Q: What did the club build?

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✦ Answer Key

1. A football field or pitch.

2. At an athletics track.

3. Very exciting or lively.

4. In the stadium seating area.

5. A place where cricket is played.

6. Make a reservation.

7. At an outdoor basketball court.

8. Playing on familiar ground.

9. Bad weather.

10. A modern place for practice.

 

🧛‍♂️ Dracula – Chapter 10 (Adapted)

Title: A New Target

Now that Lucy had been laid to rest, Van Helsing and his friends knew that Count Dracula was still alive—and dangerous. He had already taken one victim, and they feared he would take more.

Van Helsing spoke to Jonathan and Mina.

“We must be brave. Dracula is in London. He hides by day and walks by night. We must find him and stop him.”

Jonathan remembered the castle in Transylvania. His face went pale as he said:

“I know him. I was his prisoner. I saw him crawl down the castle wall like a lizard.”

Mina hugged him. She was proud of how strong he had become. But Van Helsing noticed something else—Mina looked tired. Her skin was pale, and her eyes had dark circles beneath them.

He looked at Jonathan.

“Has Mina been sleeping well?”
“Not really,” he replied. “She wakes up with bad dreams.”

Van Helsing began to worry. Lucy had also started with strange dreams before she became ill. He asked Mina to write everything in her journal—her dreams, thoughts, and feelings. Mina agreed.

Meanwhile, Van Helsing and the others searched London for Dracula. They visited graveyards, dark alleys, and even the docks, looking for signs of him.

Then, something terrible happened.

One night, Mina was alone in her room. A mist entered through the window. She couldn’t move or speak. She saw a tall, pale figure in black leaning over her. It was Dracula.

Mina later wrote:

“I felt cold, as if my blood was turning to ice. He pressed his lips to my neck. I could not stop him. I could not scream.”

Jonathan, sleeping in the next room, did not hear anything. When he found Mina the next morning, she was weak and pale.

Van Helsing arrived and examined her. He found two small wounds on her neck—the same as Lucy had.

“He has started with her,” Van Helsing said sadly. “We must act quickly.”

They gave Mina garlic and hung a crucifix above her bed. Van Helsing also placed mirrors and sacred objects around the room to protect her.

Then they planned their next move.

Van Helsing believed that Dracula had brought boxes of earth from Transylvania—boxes filled with his native soil. These were his hiding places during the day.

“If we find and destroy his boxes, he will have no place to rest. Then we can destroy him,” he said.

The group split up. Jonathan and Dr. Seward searched the docks. Arthur and Quincey Morris went to investigate old houses Dracula might be using.

Mina stayed behind, growing weaker each night. But she still helped, typing notes and keeping their records in order.

Van Helsing looked at her with admiration.

“You are brave, Miss Mina. Stronger than many men.”

But he knew they were running out of time.

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📘 Glossary

Word	Meaning
Laid to rest	Buried after death
Brave	Showing courage
Pale	Having little color in the face
Mist	Light fog or steam
Sacred	Related to religion or protection
Crucifix	A Christian cross with Jesus on it
Soil	Earth or dirt
Admiration	Respect and approval

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. Why did Van Helsing believe Dracula was still in London?

2. What symptoms did Mina begin to show?

3. What happened to Mina one night while she was alone?

4. How did Van Helsing try to protect Mina afterward?

5. What did Van Helsing say about the boxes of soil?

6. How did Mina continue to help the group?

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✅ Answers

1. Because strange things were happening and people were still in danger.

2. She became pale, weak, and had strange dreams.

3. Dracula visited her, drank her blood, and she couldn’t move or scream.

4. He used garlic, a crucifix, mirrors, and sacred objects.

5. Dracula used them as places to hide during the day; destroying them would leave him vulnerable.

6. She typed notes, organized journals, and stayed involved despite being weak.

 

✦ IELTS Topic: Art – 10 Useful Phrases

1. Work of art
   e.g., That sculpture is a real work of art — so detailed and expressive.

2. Art gallery
   e.g., I visited an art gallery last weekend and saw an exhibition of local artists.

3. Portrait painting
   e.g., She commissioned a portrait painting for her parents’ anniversary.

4. Modern art
   e.g., Some people find modern art confusing, but I think it’s creative.

5. Artistic expression
   e.g., Graffiti can be a form of artistic expression when done well.

6. Famous masterpiece
   e.g., The Mona Lisa is probably the most famous masterpiece in the world.

7. Sculpture exhibit
   e.g., The museum is holding a sculpture exhibit next month.

8. Creative process
   e.g., I’m interested in learning about the artist’s creative process.

9. Abstract style
   e.g., Her paintings use an abstract style with bright, bold colours.

10. Cultural value
    e.g., Art has great cultural value and reflects the society it comes from.

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✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Art

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

1. Do you like art?

2. Have you ever visited an art gallery?

3. What type of art do you enjoy?

4. Did you learn about art at school?

5. Would you like to learn to paint or draw?

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Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a piece of art you like.
You should say:

• what it is

• where you saw it

• what it looks like
  and explain why you like it.

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✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I enjoy looking at different works of art, especially paintings.
2. I went to an art gallery last month — they had a brilliant sculpture exhibit.
3. I really enjoy modern art and paintings with an abstract style.
4. Yes, we studied famous masterpieces in school.
5. I would love to take a class to explore my own artistic expression.

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Part 2 Sample Answer

One of my favourite pieces of art is a portrait painting I saw in a small gallery in Italy. It was painted in an abstract style, but you could still recognise the emotion in the face.

I learned more about the artist’s creative process from a guide at the art gallery. It made me realise how much thought goes into every brushstroke.

The painting had both emotional impact and cultural value, and it’s a work of art I’ll never forget.

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✦ Comprehension Test: Art Vocabulary

1. "That sculpture is a real work of art — so detailed and expressive."
Q: What does the speaker think about the sculpture?

2. "I visited an art gallery last weekend and saw an exhibition of local artists."
Q: Where did the speaker go?

3. "She commissioned a portrait painting for her parents’ anniversary."
Q: What kind of artwork did she request?

4. "Some people find modern art confusing, but I think it’s creative."
Q: What is the speaker's opinion of modern art?

5. "Graffiti can be a form of artistic expression when done well."
Q: What can graffiti be considered?

6. "The Mona Lisa is probably the most famous masterpiece in the world."
Q: What does the speaker say about the Mona Lisa?

7. "The museum is holding a sculpture exhibit next month."
Q: What event is happening?

8. "I’m interested in learning about the artist’s creative process."
Q: What aspect of the artist’s work interests the speaker?

9. "Her paintings use an abstract style with bright, bold colours."
Q: How are her paintings described?

10. "Art has great cultural value and reflects the society it comes from."
Q: What role does art play in culture?

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✦ Answer Key

1. It’s impressive and well-made.

2. An art gallery.

3. A personalised painting of someone.

4. It’s creative, even if confusing.

5. A way to express creativity.

6. It’s extremely well-known.

7. A sculpture exhibit is planned.

8. How they come up with and make their work.

9. They’re abstract and colourful.

10. It shows what a society values or feels.