English at Home

Monday, 4 August 2025

✦ IELTS Topic: Weather – Rain & Wind – 10 Useful Phrases

Heavy rain
e.g., The football match was cancelled due to heavy rain.
Drizzle
e.g., It was only a light drizzle, so we didn’t need umbrellas.
Gusts of wind
e.g., Strong gusts of wind knocked over some signs in the street.
Thunderstorm
e.g., A loud thunderstorm kept me awake most of the night.
Torrential rain
e.g., The torrential rain caused local flooding in the village.
Blustery weather
e.g., The blustery weather made it hard to walk without a coat.
Umbrella blew inside out
e.g., My umbrella blew inside out in the wind — so annoying!
Soaked to the skin
e.g., I forgot my jacket and got soaked to the skin walking home.
Howling wind
e.g., We could hear the howling wind all night through the windows.
Rainy season
e.g., In some countries, the rainy season lasts for months.

✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Rain & Wind

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

Does it rain often where you live?
Do you like rainy weather?
How do you prepare for a windy day?
Have you ever been caught in heavy rain?
Do you prefer calm weather or stormy weather?

Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a time you experienced rainy or windy weather.
You should say:

where you were
what the weather was like
what you did
and explain how you felt about it.

✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, we get a lot of drizzle and occasional torrential rain.
2. I like listening to howling wind, but not walking in it!
3. I wear a raincoat and check for blustery weather before leaving.
4. Once, I got soaked to the skin during a sudden thunderstorm.
5. I definitely prefer calm days — gusts of wind are annoying.

Part 2 Sample Answer

A few months ago, I was walking home from a friend’s house when the weather suddenly changed. It started as a light drizzle, but quickly turned into torrential rain.

I didn’t have an umbrella, so I got soaked to the skin within minutes. The gusts of wind were so strong that my hood kept blowing off, and I had to hold onto my bag tightly.

I even saw someone’s umbrella blow inside out! It was uncomfortable at the time, but now it’s a funny memory.

✦ Comprehension Test: Rain & Wind Vocabulary

1. "The football match was cancelled due to heavy rain."
Q: Why didn’t the match happen?

2. "It was only a light drizzle, so we didn’t need umbrellas."
Q: What was the weather like?

3. "Strong gusts of wind knocked over some signs in the street."
Q: What caused damage?

4. "A loud thunderstorm kept me awake most of the night."
Q: What disturbed the speaker?

5. "The torrential rain caused local flooding in the village."
Q: What was the result of the rain?

6. "The blustery weather made it hard to walk without a coat."
Q: What made it difficult to walk?

7. "My umbrella blew inside out in the wind — so annoying!"
Q: What happened to the umbrella?

8. "I forgot my jacket and got soaked to the skin walking home."
Q: What happened to the speaker?

9. "We could hear the howling wind all night through the windows."
Q: What could be heard?

10. "In some countries, the rainy season lasts for months."
Q: What kind of weather is common in these places?

✦ Answer Key

It was cancelled because of rain.
Light rain — not serious.
Strong wind.
The noise from the thunderstorm.
Flooding.
Windy conditions.
The wind damaged it.
Got very wet.
The sound of strong wind.
Frequent rain over a long time.

📖 Tom Sawyer – Chapter 1 (Adapted for English Learners)

Title: A Boy with a Wild Spirit

Tom Sawyer was a boy who loved freedom and fun. He didn’t enjoy school, and he didn’t like rules. He lived in a small town near the Mississippi River with his Aunt Polly.

One day, Aunt Polly looked around the house and shouted,

“Tom? TOM! Where is that boy?”

She walked quickly into the kitchen. She stopped and listened. She heard nothing. Suddenly, she saw something move behind the door. She smiled. She had an idea.

“Tom, what’s that on your hands?” she asked.

Tom came out slowly. His hands were dirty. His mouth was red.

“You’ve been eating jam again!” she said.

Tom smiled, trying to trick her.

“No, Aunt Polly. I didn’t touch the jam!”

But before she could say anything, Tom pointed behind her.

“Look, Aunt! A dog with a limp!”

Aunt Polly turned to look. In that moment, Tom ran away.

“That boy will be the death of me!” she shouted, but she laughed too.

Later that afternoon, Tom skipped school and went swimming in the river. To make it seem like he had been at school, he sewed his shirt collar back together with a white thread.

When he returned home, Aunt Polly said,

“Tom, were you at school today?”

Tom replied,

“Of course!”

But Aunt Polly was clever. She looked at his shirt collar. Then she pulled a thread from her sewing box and showed him.

“I used black thread this morning. This is white. You’ve been swimming again!”

Tom had nothing to say. He was caught.

That evening, Tom sat on the fence. He saw a new boy in town—clean, wearing a fancy hat and shoes. Tom didn’t like the look of him.

“Who are you?” Tom asked.

“I’m new here. Who are you?”

The boys started talking, but quickly began to argue.

“You think you’re better than me because of your shoes!” Tom said.

“Well, you don’t even have shoes!”

They started fighting. After rolling on the ground and getting dusty, the new boy ran away crying.

“You’re a coward!” Tom shouted after him.

Tom returned home with his clothes dirty and ripped. Aunt Polly was not pleased.

“Tomorrow is Saturday. And you, young man, will whitewash the fence!”

Tom groaned. It was the worst punishment he could imagine.

📘 Glossary

Word	Meaning
Aunt	Your mother or father’s sister
Sewed	Fixed something with a needle and thread
Collar	The top part of a shirt around the neck
Limp	A way of walking when one leg is weak or hurt
Whitewash	A type of white paint used for fences and walls
Coward	Someone who is afraid and runs away

❓ Comprehension Questions

Who is Tom Sawyer living with?
What trick does Tom use to escape Aunt Polly?
How does Aunt Polly know Tom has been swimming?
What happens when Tom meets the new boy?
What punishment does Tom receive?

✅ Answers

His Aunt Polly.
He points and says there’s a dog with a limp behind her.
His shirt collar is sewn with white thread, not black.
They argue and fight; the new boy runs away.
He has to whitewash the fence on Saturday.

Friday, 1 August 2025

✦ IELTS Topic: The Weather – Ice & Snow – 10 Useful Phrases

Heavy snowfall
e.g., The roads were blocked after a night of heavy snowfall.
Icy roads
e.g., Drivers were warned about icy roads and poor visibility.
Snow-covered landscape
e.g., The mountains offered a beautiful snow-covered landscape.
Frozen lake
e.g., We walked across the frozen lake, which felt a bit scary.
Snowstorm / blizzard
e.g., A snowstorm forced the airport to cancel several flights.
Frostbite risk
e.g., Hikers were advised to wear gloves due to frostbite risk.
Slippery pavement
e.g., I slipped on the slippery pavement outside my flat.
Snow-capped mountains
e.g., We took photos of the snow-capped mountains at sunrise.
Shovel snow
e.g., We had to shovel snow from the driveway every morning.
Whiteout conditions
e.g., The hikers got lost due to whiteout conditions on the trail.

✦ IELTS Speaking Practice – Ice & Snow

Part 1: Introduction & Interview

Does it snow where you live?
Do you enjoy snowy weather?
Have you ever experienced a snowstorm?
How do people prepare for icy conditions in your country?
What kind of winter clothing do you wear?

Part 2: Cue Card

Describe a time when you experienced snow or icy weather.
You should say:

where you were
what the weather was like
what you did
and explain how you felt about the experience.

✦ Sample Answers Using the Phrases

Part 1 Answers

1. Yes, we get heavy snowfall in winter, especially in January.
2. I love the snow-covered landscapes, but not the icy roads.
3. Yes, once we had a blizzard and the power went out for a day.
4. People use salt on the roads and wear boots on slippery pavements.
5. I wear layers, gloves, and a thick coat to avoid frostbite risk.

Part 2 Sample Answer

Last winter, I travelled to a mountain town with some friends. It had just experienced heavy snowfall, and the entire area was a beautiful snow-covered landscape.

The roads were icy, so we walked everywhere carefully. We even saw a frozen lake where children were skating.

One morning, I had to shovel snow from the driveway before we could go out. It was tiring but fun!

The trip was unforgettable — the scenery, especially the snow-capped mountains, was breathtaking. I enjoyed it, even though I slipped once on a slippery pavement.

✦ Comprehension Test: Ice & Snow Vocabulary

1. "The roads were blocked after a night of heavy snowfall."
Q: What caused the blockage?

2. "Drivers were warned about icy roads and poor visibility."
Q: Why were drivers being careful?

3. "The mountains offered a beautiful snow-covered landscape."
Q: What was special about the view?

4. "We walked across the frozen lake, which felt a bit scary."
Q: What was risky about the activity?

5. "A snowstorm forced the airport to cancel several flights."
Q: Why were the flights cancelled?

6. "Hikers were advised to wear gloves due to frostbite risk."
Q: Why should gloves be worn?

7. "I slipped on the slippery pavement outside my flat."
Q: What happened to the speaker?

8. "We took photos of the snow-capped mountains at sunrise."
Q: What kind of mountains were photographed?

9. "We had to shovel snow from the driveway every morning."
Q: What did they do daily?

10. "The hikers got lost due to whiteout conditions on the trail."
Q: What caused the hikers to lose their way?

✦ Answer Key

Too much snow fell.
The roads were icy and dangerous.
It was covered in snow.
The ice might not be safe.
Because of the snowstorm.
To avoid frostbite.
They slipped because of the icy ground.
Mountains with snow on top.
Removed snow using a shovel.
Poor visibility from heavy snow.