CONTENTS

1 SAMPLE ANSWERS

Sample questions and answers from speaking part 1, 2 and 3

1. 2.

3. 2

KEY VOCABULARY

Words and phrases frequently used when talking about this topic.

4.

3 WORD FORMATION

Learn how to use wide variety of parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives

5. 4

COLLOCATIONS

Find out groups of words that usually used together by native speakers

5

USEFUL RESOURCES

Links and downloadables to teaching and authentic materials related to this topic: IELTS blogs, podcasts, videos and articles

TOPIC:

TECHNOLOGY Sample answers, useful vocabulary and resources for IELTS speaking exam

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1. SAMPLE ANSWERS

PART 1 1. Do you use any gadgets on a daily basis?

- I use many gadgets on a daily basis. In particular, I use kitchen gadgets a lot because I love to cook different kinds of dishes.

2. Has the Internet made your job / studies easier?

- Indeed, my schooling has been made easier by the Internet. The Internet has definitely provided me the right answers to all my homework and research questions in school.

3. How much time do you spend using a computer at work or at home? - I am writer. For that reason, I spend about 6 to 7

hours every work day typing articles using my computer.

4. Have you ever bought anything online?

- I have bought a cellphone online. Online shops offer me the opportunity to choose from different kinds of cellphones without having to walk from one shop to another.

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PART 2

Talk about some technology that you have started using fairly recently. You should say: • What it is and what it does

• How it makes life better or easier • How it is different to other similar

technology And say whether you think you will still be using it

in ten years’ time or not, and why

I bought a bicycle two months ago from a shop near our house. At first, I thought of buying a large-sized bike. However, I wanted the other members of my family to use it too so I bought I medium-sized one. My new bike is very helpful to me. My weekly routine includes going to work, the supermarket, and park. These are short-distance destinations which I can get to without driving a car. Life is a lot better now that I have a bike. For one thing, I am able to save money. I spend less money now on gas because I don’t have to use my car for short-distance trips. For another, I will also spend less money for car repair because my car’s lifespan will increase for infrequent use. Riding a bike is also a form of aerobic exercise which gives your heart and lungs a good workout. This protects people from diseases like high blood pressure, heart problems, obesity, and arthritis. A bicycle is different from other vehicles. First, it does not require fuel and therefore helps save the planet by reducing air pollution. Second, finding a parking area is not a problem if you use a bicycle. Third, riding a bike is a form of exercise while driving other vehicles is just a sedentary activity. I will still be using a bicycle in ten years’ time because the benefits are huge. I am able to save money since I don’t have to buy fuel. I am also able to maintain my good health. Lastly, I am able to get to my short-distance destinations conveniently.

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PART 3

1. Do you think people rely too much on technology today? Well, in my opinion, travelling by train is the safest. So far, it is the means of transportation that I almost never heard of being in an accident. Since it has its own railway, it does not have much chance to come across with other vehicles that could collide with. I think most accidents that happen with trains are due to mechanical or technical issues which could be avoided if the system is being checked and monitored properly.

2. What are some great inventions you know about?

Two great inventions that I know of are the wheel and telephone or cellphone. These inventions are so important in daily life that their absence can cause loss of human lives. For example, without the phone it would be very hard to report an accident immediately. Without wheeled motor vehicles it would be impossible to quickly rush victims of an accident to a hospital.

3. Do you think that the advance of technology has improved standards of education in

schools? Advanced technology such the use of computers and the internet has improved the standards of education in schools. These technologies allow the students and teachers to find answers to their academic questions. For example, they can find the answers to their academic problems from other parts of the world through the internet when no available answers can be found in their locality.

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2. KEY VOCABULARY TECHNOLOGY AT HOME

appliance a device, machine, or piece of equipment, especially an electrical one that is used in the house, such as a cooker or washing machine

We have different kinds of appliances at home.

household used to describe something that is used in the home

This household appliance is no longer working.

chore a job or piece of work that is often boring or unpleasant but needs to be done regularly

The whole family cooperate in doing all the household chores.

to operate to work or cause something to work, be in action, or have an effect

I do not know how to operate this new washing machine.

to repair to put something that is damaged, broken, or not working correctly, back into good condition or make it work again

My neighbor knows how to repair all kinds of household appliances.

useful effective; helping you to do or achieve something

She was very happy about the useful appliance she bought.

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TECHNOLOGY – TRANSPORTATION

transportation a vehicle or system of vehicles, such as buses, trains, etc. for getting from one place to another

The Government does not have problems about the city’s transportation.

mode a way of operating, living, or behaving

This mode of transportation is very slow.

convenient suitable for your purposes and needs and causing the least difficulty

Taking a taxi is the most convenient way to go to the city museum.

destination the place where someone is going or where something is being sent or taken

Please do not forget to tell me your destination.

to travel to make a journey, usually over a long distance

He loves to travel by car.

distance the amount of space between two places

The distance between my house and workplace is very short.

self-driving car a vehicle that is capable of sensing its environment and navigating without human input

Prototype self-driving cars first took to Europe's public roads in 2013.

infrastructure the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, and power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise

Over the next three years we are committed to the biggest investment in Britain 's transport infrastructure in our history.

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drone aircraft without a human pilot aboard

In the past three decades, the world has witnessed an immense evolution in the sphere of drone technologies.

TECHNOLOGY – COMMUNICATIONS -IT

communications the various methods of sending information between people and places, especially phones, computers, radio, etc.

Young people today are very interested in communications.

signal a series of electrical or radio waves that are sent to a radio or television in order to produce a sound, picture, or message

I can’t hear her clearly because the phone signal is not powerful enough.

gadget a small device or machine with a particular purpose

I dislike using this gadget because I usually lose small things.

message a short piece of information that you give to a person when you cannot speak to them directly

I haven’t read your text message because I left my cellphone at home.

to contact to communicate with someone by calling or sending them a letter, email, etc.

You can’t contact me at that time because I will be very busy at work.

to receive to get or be given something Did you receive my message?

augmented reality a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world,

Nowadays many brands experiment with augmented reality.

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thus providing a composite view

machine learning

a field of computer science that uses statistical techniques to give computer systems the ability to "learn"

Every day there seems to be a new way that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning is used to enhance our daily life.

software development

complex process of creating computer programs, libraries, online documentation, digital media and mobile apps

Software development is the process of creating new software solutions.

innovation

a "new idea, device or method”, the application of better solutions that meet new requirements, unarticulated needs, or existing market needs

In recent years the value of innovation has been demonstrated in many sectors.

invention

a new idea, thing, process, word etc that has been invented

He had patented several inventions during the late 1920s.

cloud computing

the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data

Service providers create cloud computing systems to serve common business or research needs.

cutting edge technologies at the latest or most advanced stage of development;

Through the years, scientists have

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technologies

innovative or pioneering

introduced cutting-edge technologies intended to make life a lot more convenient for humans.

cyber security

protection against the criminal or unauthorized use of electronic data

Some people have argued that the threat to cyber security has been somewhat inflated.

game changers

an event, idea, or procedure that effects a significant shift in the current manner of doing or thinking about something

New technologies are big game changers in many industries.

nanoengineering

is the practice of engineering on the nanoscale

Nanoengineering is one field of nanotechnology

decentralized energy very large number of small-capacity units that are all connected to the powergrid

Decentralized energy is now recognized as an essential part of the solution to the challenge of ensuring a low-carbon energy future.

artificial intelligence the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence

The use of artificial intelligence systems requires processor speeds three to four times as high.

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TECHNOLOGY – AT THE WORKPLACE

elevator a device like a box that moves up and down, carrying people or goods from one floor of a building to another or taking people up and down underground in a mine

The elevator can only carry 10 people.

skyscraper a very tall modern building, usually in a city

Offices are usually found in skyscrapers.

air conditioner a machine that keeps the air in a building cool

It is hot in here because there is no air conditioner.

computer an electronic machine that is used for storing, organizing, and finding words, numbers, and pictures, for doing calculations, and for controlling other machines

I cannot work without a computer.

photocopier a machine that makes copies of documents using a photographic process

The employees requested the manager to buy a new photocopier.

office a room or part of a building in which people work, especially sitting at tables with computers, phones, etc., usually as a part of a business or other organization

The office is noisy because there are 100 employees working in it.

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transnational corporations

companies that spread out their operations in many countries to sustain high levels of local responsiveness

The growth in the number and size of transnational corporations since the 1950s has generated controversy because of their economic and political power.

TECHNOLOGY – ADJECTIVES

sophisticated advanced and complicated Today companies use highly sophisticated computer systems.

advanced sophisticated, complex, more evolved

Lasers are the latest and the most advanced light sources .

genetic of or relating to genes or heredity All the cells in the body contain the same genetic information.

global

relating to the entire world Social , cultural , economic , global change is rushing at us , propelled by new information technologies.

TECHNOLOGY – VERBS

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to evolve develop gradually Evolved to the point where you are not involved in the daily decisions.

impact effect or influence The impact of technology cannot be overstated.

to embrace

include or contain (something) as a constituent part.

Dr Davies ' research interests embrace two areas relating to clinical and professional work

overstate express or state too strongly; exaggerate

The impact of technology cannot be overstated.

rethink

think again about, especially in order to make changes to it

It will be necessary to rethink the strategy and decide what must be done in order to get back on track.

creative

good at thinking up new ideas and clever ways of doing things

I admire him because he is just so creative in his work.

imaginative

having or showing creativity or inventiveness

Children who enjoy imaginative play have been shown to be more likely to smile

empower

to give somebody more control over their own life or the situation they are in

Information and education empower people .

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accelerate

happen or make something happen at a faster rate

The growth in IT has accelerated in recent years .

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3.WORD FORMATION

transporter noun The transporter can carry all the books.

transporting noun Transporting people is not an easy job.

communicator noun The communicator is silent this time.

communicating noun Communicating to all employees is a tiring task.

communicative adjective The new student is not communicative to his classmates.

housing noun The housing is made of quality materials.

to house verb We need a comfortable place to house the visitors.

operator noun The elevator operator is tired of his work.

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operation noun The machine is already in operation.

to operate verb Laundry workers will operate steam cabinets, use steam and vacuum presses or finish items by hand.

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4.COLLOCATIONS AND PHRASES to arrive by to travel by to go by to come by

verb+by+ bicycle

to talk on to communicate on to chat on to say on

verb+ phone

mode of way of manner of system of

verb+ transportation

use operate utilize manipulate

verb+ appliances

clever useless latest modern new electronic

Adjective+z gadget

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1. SAMPLE ANSWERS

PART 1 1. Do you use any gadgets on a daily basis?

- I use many gadgets on a daily basis. In particular,

I use kitchen gadgets a lot because I love to cook

different kinds of dishes.

2. Has the Internet made your job / studies easier?

- Indeed, my schooling has been made easier by

the Internet. The Internet has definitely provided

me the right answers to all my homework and

research questions in school.

3. How much time do you spend using a computer

at work or at home? - I am writer. For that reason, I spend about 6 to 7

hours every work day typing articles using my

computer.

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kitchen

website magazine link access search engine service provider user dating shopping technology age

Internet + noun Internet

current emerging the latest modern advanced leading-edge innovative communication computer digital energy information educational, environmental medical military

adjective+ technology

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5.USEFUL RESOURCES

THIS TOPIC ON IELTS BLOGS

� IELTS topic vocabulary for speaking test: Technology

[thetesttaker.com]

� IELTS Speaking sample: Technology Topic [ielts-

up.com]

� Technology - IELTS sample speaking tests

[ipassielts.com]

� IELTS Speaking Part 3: Technology Questions and

Model Answer [ieltsliz.com]

PODCASTS

� Zapp! English Listening 3.8 – The

Future[zappenglish.com] � TED Radio Hour: Building Better Cities [npr]

� The Rick Thompson Report: Technology and The

Future (January 2017) [teacherluke.co.uk]

ARTICLES

� What technological changes will create the most opportunities for new startups over the next 2-3 years? [quora.com]

VIDEOS

� Band 9 Sample IELTS Part 3 Answers About

Technology [allearsenglish.com]

� IELTS & TOEFL Vocabulary – Technology [engVid]

� TED Talk by Ray Kurzweil: The accelerating power

of technology [ted.com]

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