IELTS Speaking Part Three- Useful Phrases

IELTS Speaking Part Three on nature questions and model answers

Useful phrases for IELTS Speaking Part Three presentation and practice

Take turns asking and answering three or four questions from below, asking follow-up questions like those in brackets below if you want to extend the conversation.

• Are people in your country worried about light pollution?
• Are people your age in your country interested in vegetarianism, do you think?
• Can you think of any bad effects of dams?
• Do you believe that people your age in your country live ecologically friendly lifestyles?
• Do you think it is okay for families to have two cars?
• Do you think it is possible to stop global warming without stopping economic growth?
• Do you think that banning plastic bags is a good idea?
• Do you think that people’s energy consumption is changing?
• Do you think the air quality in the place where you live is getting better or worse? (What makes you say that?)
• Do you think there is a danger that rising sea levels could directly affect this city?
• Do you think your government is doing enough to save endangered species? (Why do you think that?)
• How has people’s awareness of green issues changed over the last 50 years in your country?
• How important is recycling, in your opinion?
• How much do you think the government should get involved in making sure less packaging is used? (What could they do?)
• How popular are organic foods in your country?
• In what ways do genetically modified foods benefit society?
• Is noise pollution a problem where you live?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind turbines?
• What are your predictions for the state of the environment in your country in the next few years?
• What can be done to increase the amount of recycling? (Do you think that is likely?)
• What can be done to stop global warming, do you think?
• What could be the consequences of deforestation?
• What do you think about environmental education in your country?
• What do you think the ecological state of your country will be like in 50 years’ time?
• What is the biggest environmental problem facing your country, do you think?
• Why do some people resist nuclear energy?

Ask about any questions above you couldn’t understand or couldn’t answer.

Match the model answers below to the questions above. Not all the questions above have answers.

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Mixed model answers

Check as a class.

• According to an article I read/ something I read somewhere/ what I’ve heard/ what I learnt at school/ what someone told me/ government predictions, there will almost certainly be more flooding here in the future.
• I don’t have any data on this but in my experience/ my personal impression is that/ I get the impression that the atmosphere is quite a lot cleaner than when I was growing up.
• I don’t know much about this but I guess/ imagine/ suppose/ would (probably) say that/ think/ believe the government could tax things that cause global warming such as plastics.
• I don’t know much about this/ I’m no expert/ I haven’t read much about this subject/ I’ve never thought about this before/ I’m not really into history/ we didn’t really study this at school/ I’m not sure/ It’s difficult to say/ It’s hard to say (for sure) but I guess people are quite a lot more aware of green issues than they were half a century ago, as it’s often on the news.
• I haven’t heard any figures, but it must/ may/ might/ could be slowly decreasing due to the increase in the cost of power.
• I haven’t heard much about this problem before, but I suppose it could cause/ lead to/ result in lots of species of animals who lived there becoming extinct.
• I’m afraid I know nothing at all/ almost nothing/ very little about this topic, but I imagine they are doing their best.
• I’m no expert on this, but I think most people would say that it’s the nuclear problem, for example/ e.g./ specifically/ especially radiation being released into the sea.
• In my humble opinion, it’s not at all/ not really/ not very/ a little/ fairly/ quite/ very/ really/ incredibly/ It’s really/ absolutely vital.
• It’s hard to generalise but I’d say that almost all/ the vast majority of/ most/ the majority of/ many/ some/ few/ very few people my age pay attention to the impact on the planet of what they are doing.
• One advantage/ benefit/ positive factor/ selling point is that it should be easier for farmers in less productive poor areas to be able to grow crops.
• Prohibition is certainly/ almost certainly/ probably/ maybe/ perhaps/ possibly a good idea, because people can just use their own.
• They obviously produce totally clean energy and I heard they are getting cheaper than gas or coal, but (you could also say)/. However,/. On the other hand,/ . Other people say that/. There are also drawbacks, e.g. they ruin the scenery of places where they are put, and can affect birds.
• This is mainly because/ One reason is (that)/ The main reason is (that)/ One cause is the fact that/ It’s probably due to the fact that they are worried about another accident at a power station like the one in Fukushima in Japan a few years ago.

Ask about any answers above which you couldn’t match to a question or couldn’t understand.

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Suggested answers

• Are people in your country worried about light pollution?
• Are people your age in your country interested in vegetarianism, do you think?
• Can you think of any bad effects of dams?
• Do you believe that people your age in your country live ecologically friendly lifestyles?

It’s hard to generalise but I’d say that almost all/ the vast majority of/ most/ the majority of/ many/ some/ few/ very few people my age pay attention to the impact on the planet of what they are doing.

 

• Do you think it is okay for families to have two cars?
• Do you think it is possible to stop global warming without stopping economic growth?
• Do you think that banning plastic bags is a good idea?

Prohibition is certainly/ almost certainly/ probably/ maybe/ perhaps/ possibly a good idea, because people can just use their own.

 

• Do you think that people’s energy consumption is changing?

I haven’t heard any figures, but it must/ may/ might/ could be slowly decreasing due to the increase in the cost of power.

 

• Do you think the air quality in the place where you live is getting better or worse? (What makes you say that?)

I don’t have any data on this but in my experience/ my personal impression is that/ I get the impression that the atmosphere is quite a lot cleaner than when I was growing up.

 

• Do you think there is a danger that rising sea levels could directly affect this city?

According to an article I read/ something I read somewhere/ what I’ve heard/ what I learnt at school/ what someone told me/ government predictions, there will almost certainly be more flooding here in the future.

 

• Do you think your government is doing enough to save endangered species? (Why do you think that?)

I’m afraid I know nothing at all/ almost nothing/ very little about this topic, but I imagine they are doing their best.

 

• How has people’s awareness of green issues changed over the last 50 years in your country?

I don’t know much about this/ I’m no expert/ I haven’t read much about this subject/ I’ve never thought about this before/ I’m not really into history/ we didn’t really study this at school/ I’m not sure/ It’s difficult to say/ It’s hard to say (for sure) but I guess people are quite a lot more aware of green issues than they were half a century ago, as it’s often on the news.

 

• How important is recycling, in your opinion?

In my humble opinion, it’s not at all/ not really/ not very/ a little/ fairly/ quite/ very/ really/ incredibly important./ It’s really/ absolutely vital.

 

• How much do you think the government should get involved in making sure less packaging is used? (What could they do?)
• How popular are organic foods in your country?
• In what ways do genetically modified foods benefit society?

One advantage/ benefit/ positive factor/ selling point is that it should be easier for farmers in less productive poor areas to be able to grow crops.

 

• Is noise pollution a problem where you live?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind turbines?

They obviously produce totally clean energy and I heard they are getting cheaper than gas or coal, but (you could also say)/. However,/. On the other hand,/ . Other people say that/. There are also drawbacks, e.g. they ruin the scenery of places where they are put, and can affect birds.

 

• What are your predictions for the state of the environment in your country in the next few years?
• What can be done to increase the amount of recycling? (Do you think that is likely?)
• What can be done to stop global warming, do you think?

I don’t know much about this but I guess/ imagine/ suppose/ would (probably) say that/ think/ believe the government could tax things that cause global warming such as plastics.

 

• What could be the consequences of deforestation?

I haven’t heard much about this problem before, but I suppose it could cause/ lead to/ result in lots of species of animals who lived there becoming extinct.

 

• What do you think about environmental education in your country?
• What do you think the ecological state of your country will be like in 50 years’ time?
• What is the biggest environmental problem facing your country, do you think?

I’m no expert on this, but I think most people would say that it’s the nuclear problem, for example/ e.g./ specifically/ especially radiation being released into the sea.

 

• Why do some people resist nuclear energy?

This is mainly because/ One reason is (that)/ The main reason is (that)/ One cause is the fact that/ It’s probably due to the fact that they are worried about another accident at a power station like the one in Fukushima in Japan a few years ago.

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Gapped phrases for IELTS Speaking Part Three brainstorming

Without looking above for now, brainstorm at least three words or phrases into each of the gaps below. Many words not above are also possible.

• Do you believe that people your age in your country live ecologically friendly lifestyles?

It’s hard to generalise but I’d say that ________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________ people my age pay attention to the impact on the planet of what they are doing.

 

• Do you think that banning plastic bags is a good idea?

Prohibition is ____________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

______________________________ a good idea, because people can just use their own.

 

• Do you think that people’s energy consumption is changing?

I haven’t heard any figures, but it ___________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

____________________be slowly decreasing due to the increase in the cost of power.

 

• Do you think the air quality in the place where you live is getting better or worse? (What makes you say that?)

I don’t have any data on this but ____________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

___________________the atmosphere is quite a lot cleaner than when I was growing up.

 

• Do you think there is a danger that rising sea levels could directly affect this city?

According to__ _________________________________________________________,

___________________________________________________________________________________________ there will almost certainly be more flooding here in the future.

 

• Do you think your government is doing enough to save endangered species? (Why do you think that?)

I’m afraid I know _________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

___________________________ about this topic, but I imagine they are doing their best.

 

• How has people’s awareness of green issues changed over the last 50 years in your country?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

but I guess people are quite a lot more aware of green issues than they were half a century ago, as it’s often on the news.

 

• How important is recycling, in your opinion?

In my humble opinion, it’s __________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

________________________important./ It’s _____________________________ vital.

 

• In what ways do genetically modified foods benefit society?

One __________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________ is that it should be easier for farmers in less productive poor areas to be able to grow crops.

 

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of wind turbines?

They obviously produce totally clean energy and I heard they are getting cheaper than gas or coal, ________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

_____________ they ruin the scenery of places where they are put, and can affect birds.

 

• What can be done to stop global warming, do you think?

I don’t know much about this but I ___________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

_________the government could tax things that cause global warming such as plastics.

 

• What could be the consequences of deforestation?

I haven’t heard much about this problem before, but I suppose it could ______________

______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________ lots of species of animals who lived there becoming extinct.

 

• What is the biggest environmental problem facing your country, do you think?

I’m no expert on this, but I think most people would say that it’s the nuclear problem, _

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________ radiation being released into the sea.

 

• Why do some people resist nuclear energy?

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________ they are worried about another accident at a power station like the one in Fukushima in Japan a few years ago.

 

Use the key words below to help with the task above, then compare your ideas with those on the first page. Many other answers are also possible.

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Mixed words for the gaps

• a little
• absolutely
• advantage
• all
• almost all
• almost certainly
• almost nothing
• an article I read
• believe
• benefit
• but (you could also say)
• cause
• certainly
• could
• due to the fact that
• g.
• especially
• fairly
• few
• for example
• government
• guess
• however
• I don’t know much about this
• I get the impression that
• I haven’t read much about this subject
• I’m no expert
• I’m not really into history
• I’m not sure
• I’ve never thought about this before
• imagine
• in my experience
• incredibly
• it’s difficult to say
• it’s hard to say (for sure)
• lead to
• many
• may
• maybe
• might
• most
• must
• my personal impression is
• not at all
• not really
• not very
• nothing at all
• on the other hand
• one cause is the fact that
• one reason is (that)
• other people say that
• perhaps
• positive factor
• possibly
• probably
• quite
• really
• really
• result in
• selling point
• some
• something I read somewhere
• specifically
• suppose
• the main reason is (that)
• the majority of
• the vast majority of
• there are also drawbacks, e.g.
• think
• this is mainly because
• very
• very few
• very little
• we didn’t really study this at school
• what I learnt at school
• what I’ve heard
• what someone told me
• would (probably) say that

Underline typical IELTS Speaking Part Three question stems above (= phrases which can be used to make many similar questions). 

Ask and answer other questions made from those question stems.