IELTS Speaking Part 2
Describe a crowded place you’ve been to
You should say:
- when you went there
- where the place is (or, was)
- who you went therewith
and explain how you felt about the place
IELTS Speaking Part 3
Why do a lot of people enjoy going to crowded places?
Where (or what) would you say is the most crowded place in your city?
Would you say it’s important for a city to have amusement (and/or recreational) facilities?
Why do you think people choose to live in big cities (despite certain problems)?
How do you think cities overseas are different from those in your country?
Would you say urban planning is important?
Reference articles
https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2017/mar/17/london-book-fair-book-sales-up-ebooks-down
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/15/what-will-you-be-reading-next-year-london-book-fairs-star-attractions
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-26/-why-some-people-find-crowded-cities-relaxing-and-others-don-t
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/apr/20/london-book-fair-2009
Sample Answer ( Part 2)
In my country every place has become a crowded one, especially in urban areas where people from every corner of the countries, especially from villages, come in search of pastures new.
But there are places that remain crowded all throughout the year. One such place is the “Book-Mall” in my city.
Usually an annual book-fair is what publishers organize in a big city like Ahmedabad. But then it has its limitations. Even though they arrange it for two weeks, they are still unable to meet the demands of booklovers that would like to explore the book fair at their own pace.
And to settle this matter permanently, some 10-15 bookshop owners and publishers came together with an idea to set up a permanent exhibition of books, same like a shopping mall.
And then this Book-Mall came into existence. That is the favorite haunt of booklovers like me.
Just last month I visited it with my friends who are also very much enthusiastic about books and literature. That place is not very far from my house.
I can walk there and it takes me only 5 minutes to reach there. But this time I had to purchase some hardbacks and old classics like “War and Peace”, “Les Miserables” ,”Count of Monte Cristo”, and the 6-volume-set of “Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”. So I took my car to put all these books in the boot and bring them home safely.
But it was a holiday on that day, and to my surprise, there was this annual sale that was going on. So people from neighboring cities also came there and buying loads of books at throwaway prices.
Once I entered the venue, I felt myself the part of that jolly crowd that had only one aim : to buy as many books as possible before someone else gets the chance to grab your favorite titles.
And luckily, I landed up just in front of Penguin Publication stall. There I saw all the titles , in hardcover, that I was looking for. Of course, this stall was also very much crowded, yet we all could manage to browse the shelves without any difficulty.
When I came out, I was exhausted due to the armload of books that I was carrying from one stall to another. Yet, I felt this visit a very rewarding one. Perhaps I would not find any excitement at a religious gathering or at a cultural event where the same type of crowded situation arises. But when it comes to buying books, the temptation to purchase fresh volumes overpowers the dread of physical exhaustion.
Sample Answer ( Part 3)
Why do a lot of people enjoy going to crowded places?
It is generally believed that surrounding yourself by the relative silence and greenery of nature blankets you with a meditative calm. But this is not completely true. A recent study published in the Nature magazine demonstrates that restorative qualities of nature might be overblown.
In a secluded place, like a forest or a nature reserve, one feels very lonely. But in a busy marketplace one is surrounded by fellow human beings. This gives us a sense of safety and the companionship of other people.
Where( or what) would you say is the most crowded place in your city?
We the people of Ahmedabad ( you can use the name of your city ) are food lovers and any place that offers multiple varieties of cuisines is apt to become a crowded spot in my city.
One such place is Manek Chawk – a food street located in the center of Old city. It is the favorite haunt of food lovers , especially at night from 10 to 12.
Would you say it’s important for a city to have amusement ( and/or recreational ) facilities?
As far as I am concerned , a city is incomplete without places where people can go for recreational activities. Parks, cinema theatres, shopping malls are the places that offer the time for relaxation and enjoying the company of friends and loved ones. Life would be boring if a locality didn’t have any places to find solace in the company of nature or a place like a cinema hall to forget all our worries and enjoy the present moment.
Why do you think people choose to live in big cities ( despite certain problems)?
Previously , better job opportunities attracted people to settle in big cities. But nowadays this is not the only reason for big cities to become favorite destinations for a better life. In big cities people get better healthcare facilities and educational institutes that are not easily available in small towns. And one thing that is easily overlooked but nevertheless it is the most important thing. In big cities , mainly in democratic countries, one can expect a better law and order situation and possibility of social justice. Even a very trivial incident such as robbery or theft gets proper media coverage in big cities. In small towns sometimes even crimes committed in the broad daylight don’t get enough media attention.
How do you think cities overseas are different from those in your country ?
The biggest difference between Indian cities and cities abroad is the time when town planning is done. Here we build the cities first and then try thinking about town planning , in the Western countries they draw up a plan and then develop a city according to that plan. And this sounds ridiculous but it the reality , especially in each major city in my country. Other than that the cleanliness of streets that makes Western cities stand out as the cleanest places to roam about. In India, you might find some of the dirtiest streets littered with garbage , cow excreta , and all other nauseous waste products that make it impossible to walk there without covering your nose.
Would you say urban planning is important ?
I strongly believe that town planning is the need of the hour, especially in Indian cities. Urban population is increasing exponentially . With limited living space , it is becoming a very challenging task for civic authorities to accommodate such a large number of people and provide better facilities such as transport, sanitation, electricity and water supply. Better town planning also reduces the energy consumption and that leads to the reduction of green house gas emissions. And most importantly , it makes life comfortable for city-dwellers when the city they live in has places for amusement, better roads, good transportation facilities, and efficient water and electricity supply system.