10 More IELTS Cue Card Questions (part 4)

Please note that the following questions are not only for those sitting the IELTS examination. Teachers, students or anyone who wants to improve their spoken English can use them to practice speaking.

All you have to do is practice with a tutor or speaking partner, or even by yourself. Use a stopwatch to time your answers -- a reasonable answer should last 2-5 minutes. 

For IELTS test takers, this is the fourth list of cue card questions, so if you haven't seen the previous lists, you can find them here (part 1), here (part 2) and here (part 3). Remember to limit your answers to 2 minutes.

IELTS candidates should also read the tips for Part 2 of the Speaking section here:IELTS Speaking: Part 2 Sample Questions (List 1) & Tips.

Kate Chopin - A Pair of Silk Stockings (Overview - Part 2)

Before reading this post, if you haven't already done so, please read the first part here. It has a very brief note on the story's author, covers the plot, characters and setting.

You can find the story itself here.

This second part will deal with point of view, themes, symbolism, irony, the story's title, and will try to give some explanations as to the reasons why Mrs. Sommers gave in to temptation.

Kate Chopin - A Pair of Silk Stockings (text)

An analysis of Kate Chopin's short story "A Pair of Silk Stockings" can be found here.

Kate Chopin - A Pair of Silk Stockings (Overview - Part 1)

If I were to say that the typical love triangle is substituted for a different one in the opening paragraph of Kate Chopin's "A Pair of Silk Stockings", few students would believe this is possible. In fact, when students give me feedback on this short story, it usually is negative, not because they didn't get it -- it's written plainly enough -- but because there's nothing going on in it, as they say.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, this is a symptom of the disease rampant in the 21st century called 'boxofficematerialitis', an epidemic conjoined with 'keeptheirinterestbyusingquicksuccessionofimagesitis', which has given rise to what has been conveniently labelled attention deficit disorder. The fact of the matter is that if there's no real action, that is, action which contains a number of spectacular car chases, shoot-'em-up scenes, explosions, or dirty underhanded scheming (that results in one or all of the aforementioned chases, scenes and explosions), then a story is simply bland.

Chopin's story, unfortunately, is just that. It's not invested with anything out of the ordinary to qualify as lively. There's no flagrant conflict between two people. The main character, Mrs. Sommers, doesn't seem to be shunned by all, oppressed by a totalitarian government, abused by a brute of a husband, worked to the bone by an overbearing supervisor. 

Job Application Videos - A Checklist

Take a look at the post Job Application Videos - The Basics before reading this checklist, otherwise it won't make any sense.

Simply copy-paste and print this onto a sheet of paper so you can get your thoughts down and check off the items on the list as you prepare your video.

Teachers who are planning to carry out the whole activity with younger students, have something they can give them to work with as they prepare their videos. 

Job Application Videos - The Basics

More and more companies are requiring job applicants to send in a video of themselves as a precursor to an interview. What this means is that whether or not you get that precious invitation to appear for an interview depends on the effect the video you send will have on those in charge of the hiring process. 

Another key fact to keep in mind is that although the video might also be complementary to an applicant's CV, there are times when it is the only piece of evidence firms will ask to see, meaning that you will have to condense education, experience, achievements and personal interests into a short minute or minute and a half audiovisual commodity.

Many are at a loss about where to start or what to cover in their application videos as soon as they discover that a prospective employer requires one to be sent, which is why the following post was drafted. In it, applicants can focus on 

a) the factors that a video brings into play that CVs do not

Eve Merriam - Willow and Ginkgo (Overview)

This poem is a classic. It is taught in English-speaking schools to demonstrate how similes work in favor of descriptions and students are often assigned to write their own poem which should include a number of similes. This is an activity I heartily applaud as it introduces poetry to a younger audience, enabling every imaginative dreamer to experiment with novel ways to express their creativity and inner world.

Merriam's gift is to balance her thoughts perfectly as she weaves her argument, sweeping us with her objective and inventive comparisons, making us think this is a neutral, matter-of-fact exposition of two trees, then hitting us with an emotional viewpoint to draw the matter to a close.

Ray Bradbury - The Utterly Perfect Murder (Overview)

Murder will out. It always will. 

Well, not quite in the way we anticipate it will in this story by Ray Bradbury. 

Taught in schools at a somewhat earlier age than expected, it is a tale of revenge, self-loathing and reconciliation you'd bank on adults to fathom to its fullest extent. However, it's never to early to make young adults aware that their actions tempt fate, and fate is never kind to those who snub it.

When a 48-year-old man comes up with the insane idea on his birthday to return to his hometown and kill his so-called friend of 36 years ago, you expect the short narrative that ensues to be insanely interesting. 

Oracle & Folly du Jour - On the Extent of Man's Fallen Nature

Grammar - Who's versus Whose

Many students learning English often misspell a number of words that sound the same but have a different spelling (such words are known as homophones). What is surprising is that there are a number of native speakers who also make the mistake of confusing such like-sounding words.

The difference between who's and whose is easy to spot because of the apostrophe, making it simple to differentiate between the two words.