✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Sport Equipment

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

1. Do you play any sports that require equipment?

2. What sports equipment do you own?

3. Do you prefer team sports or individual sports?

4. Have you ever borrowed or shared sports gear?

5. Do you think quality equipment makes a difference?

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Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a piece of sports equipment you own or have used.
You should say:

• what it is

• how you got it

• how often you use it
  and explain why it is useful or important to you.

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✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, I play tennis and use a tennis racket every week.
2. I have a cricket bat and football boots that I use for weekend games.
3. I prefer team sports — I enjoy playing goalkeeper and wearing my goalkeeper gloves.
4. Yes, I once borrowed a table tennis paddle at a tournament.
5. Definitely — good protective gear and shoes help performance and safety.

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Part 2 Sample Answer

One piece of sports equipment I use often is my tennis racket. I bought it last year when I joined a tennis club near my house.

It’s lightweight and has a strong grip, which really helps with control and power. I use it about twice a week when I play with friends.

I’ve also invested in protective gear like wristbands and a case to protect the strings.

It’s important to me because tennis helps me stay fit, and having the right gear makes it even more enjoyable.

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✦ Comprehension Test: Sport Equipment

1. "She bought a new tennis racket for the school tournament."
Q: What equipment did she buy?

2. "His grandfather gave him a wooden cricket bat as a gift."
Q: What did he receive?

3. "You need proper football boots to play on grass pitches."
Q: What kind of shoes are required?

4. "The goalkeeper’s gloves helped him make some amazing saves."
Q: What helped the player?

5. "Cyclists should always wear protective gear like helmets and pads."
Q: What is recommended for safety?

6. "He forgot his table tennis paddle and had to borrow one."
Q: What did he forget?

7. "They installed a basketball hoop in the schoolyard."
Q: What was added to the schoolyard?

8. "The wind kept blowing the shuttlecock off course."
Q: What object was affected by the wind?

9. "She always wears swimming goggles to protect her eyes."
Q: What does she use in the pool?

10. "The team left their hockey sticks in the changing room."
Q: What equipment did they leave behind?

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✦ Answer Key

1. A tennis racket.

2. A cricket bat.

3. Football boots.

4. Goalkeeper gloves.

5. Helmets and pads for safety.

6. A table tennis paddle.

7. A basketball hoop.

8. The shuttlecock.

9. Swimming goggles.

10. Hockey sticks.

 

🧛‍♂️ Dracula – Chapter 11 (Adapted)

Title: Hunting the Count

Van Helsing and his team continued their mission: to find all of Dracula’s boxes of earth—his safe places—and destroy them. They believed this would weaken him and make it possible to end his evil forever.

Jonathan, Arthur, Dr. Seward, and Quincey searched every location Dracula had visited. In one house near the Thames River, they found several of the boxes. Some were empty, but others still held dirt. They placed holy wafers in them so Dracula could not return.

Van Helsing stayed with Mina, who was now very weak. Her face was white, her lips red, and the wounds on her neck deeper. She had dreams of a dark fog entering her room and of hearing Dracula’s voice. Still, she helped with the group’s work—writing, organizing notes, and encouraging the men.

One day, Van Helsing gathered them together.

“Dracula is planning to escape. He knows we are closing in.”

“Where would he go?” asked Arthur.

“Back to Transylvania,” said Jonathan. “To his castle.”

Van Helsing nodded.

“We must stop him before he leaves England.”

Then something terrible happened. Mina cried out in the night. The men ran to her room and found her lying in bed, her face pale and wet with tears. In the dark corner stood Count Dracula, his red eyes glowing.

Dracula hissed at them, his lips stained with blood. Jonathan rushed forward, but the Count disappeared into a cloud of mist.

Van Helsing ran to Mina. Her nightdress was soaked with blood. But this time, the marks were not only on her neck—there was also a small wound on her chest.

“He made her drink his blood,” Van Helsing said in horror. “Now their minds are connected.”

Mina began to cry.

“Am I becoming one of them?”

“No,” Van Helsing said firmly. “We still have time.”

They quickly put protections around the house—garlic, holy water, crucifixes. Mina was given sacred items to keep with her at all times.

But now there was a new idea: if Mina and Dracula were mentally linked, perhaps they could use this to track him.

Van Helsing spoke to Mina.

“If you concentrate, can you see where he is?”

Mina closed her eyes. After a long pause, she said:

“He is on a ship. I feel the sea. I smell salt in the air. He is going home…”

“Then we must follow!” shouted Jonathan.

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📘 Glossary

Word	Meaning
Wafer	A small piece of holy bread used in church
Thames River	A river in London
Encouraging	Giving support and confidence
Escape	To run away
Nightdress	A dress worn for sleeping
Sacred	Religious or holy
Mentally linked	Connected by the mind or thoughts

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. What did the group do to Dracula’s boxes?

2. How was Mina feeling during this chapter?

3. What did Dracula do to Mina during the night?

4. Why was Van Helsing so worried after the attack?

5. How did they plan to use Mina’s condition to help?

6. Where was Dracula going?

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✅ Answers

1. They placed holy wafers inside the boxes to make them unusable.

2. She was weak but still tried to help the others.

3. He made her drink his blood and bit her again.

4. Because Dracula and Mina were now mentally connected.

5. They planned to track Dracula using Mina’s mental link.

6. Back to Transylvania, on a ship

 

✦ 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.