Table of Contents
Describe a Person You Know Who Loves to Grow Plants (e.g. vegetables/fruits/flowers etc.)
Cue card
You should say:
- Who this person is
- What he/she grows
- Where he/she grows them
- And explain why he/she enjoys growing plants
Sample answer 1
Well, speaking about the person who loves to grow or plant some veggies and fruits, the first one that pops in my mind is actually an old grandpa in my community. He is Mr. Zhang, and he is already 65 years old.
I heard that he has been retired for five years or so, and he used to be a Chinese teacher in a high school. Anyway, in recent years, he is really into this kind of urban farming, which means that he would like to do the farming on the roof of the building. I went to the roof of the building in my community before. He just turned the roof into a small vegetable garden.
In his spare time, he would like to put some foam boxes on the top of the building to just grow some plants there, like a variety of vegetables, such as some green pepper, potatoes, tomatoes, and some eggplants, you name it. So he would just go there and water them regularly. I met him several times when I was actually on the roof of the building and tried to dry my clothes. And I talked to him, and I found out more about this person.
According to my observation, maybe he really has green fingers, and so that’s why the plants can always grow quite healthily. He is really skillful at this kind of gardening thing. He told me that he has been keeping this hobby for over five years after he retired. It can always help him to come down, and it can soothe him. Since he has nothing to do after he retired, he needs to feel occupied. Meanwhile, he said he could actually eat some organic foods, which is free from the pesticides and chemicals, because all the vegetables are planted by himself.
Actually, it’s very helpful, because during the pandemic, we had a lockdown last month in our city, and thanks to Mr. Zhang, he actually had some vegetables there on top of the building. He just shared some vegetables with other neighbors in the community. I even received some pepper and tomatoes from him. That was really sweet.
So basically, I think it’s perfect for him to have this kind of healthy hobby, and it’s also meaningful. So I will support him 100%.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pop into (one’s) mind | C1 | Idiom | To suddenly come into your thoughts. | The first person who pops into my mind is Mr. Zhang. |
| be retired | B2 | Adjective phrase | To have stopped working, usually because of age. | He has been retired for about five years. |
| be really into (something) | C1 | Phrase (informal) | To be very interested in and enthusiastic about something. | These days he’s really into urban farming. |
| urban farming | C1 | Noun phrase | Growing food in a city, e.g. on rooftops or balconies. | He does urban farming on the roof of the building. |
| in (one’s) spare time | B2 | Fixed phrase | During free time when you’re not working. | In his spare time, he grows vegetables up there. |
| a variety of (something) | B2 | Noun phrase | Several different kinds of something. | He grows a variety of vegetables up there. |
| you name it | C2 | Idiom | Used to say that almost anything you can mention is included. | Peppers, potatoes, tomatoes — you name it. |
| have green fingers | C2 | Idiom | To be naturally good at growing plants. | He clearly has green fingers — everything thrives. |
| be skillful at (something) | B2 | Adjective phrase | To be very good at doing something. | He’s really skillful at this kind of gardening. |
| soothe / calm (someone) down | C1 | Verb phrase | To make someone feel calmer and more relaxed. | Gardening helps calm him down and soothe him. |
| feel occupied | C1 | Verb phrase | To feel busy and engaged with something to do. | After retiring, he needs to feel occupied. |
| organic food | B2 | Noun phrase | Food grown without artificial chemicals. | He gets to eat fresh organic food. |
| free from pesticides | C1 | Adjective phrase | Not containing chemicals used to kill pests. | His vegetables are free from pesticides and chemicals. |
| a lockdown | C1 | Noun | A period when people must stay at home for safety. | During the lockdown, he shared vegetables with neighbours. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: A person who grows plants
Sample answer 2
I wanna talk about my neighbour Teresa who’s keen on gardening and has inspired me to grow plants myself.
I first met her in the elevator in our apartment. She was reading a book, totally immersed in it that she forgot to push the button on the panel. So I asked her which floor she lived on. She said 6 and I realized we lived on the same floor. Out of curiosity, I asked her what she was reading, and she said the book is about indoor gardening. I told her I merely saw people grow vegetables on farmland, but I hardly knew how it could be done indoors.
I could see her face suddenly brightened and she started to introduce to me eagerly the concept and method of indoor gardening even after we stepped out of the elevator. That’s how we were introduced.
A few days later Teresa invited me to her home to take a visit of her indoor garden. There’s a big south-facing window in her sitting room by which she keeps her veggies. She told me that insufficient light is the major barrier to success in indoor gardening, so it’s important to select a spot that receives the strongest and most sustained sunlight.
Teresa grows a variety of veggies, including herbs like basil and parsley, which are common ingredients for many recipes and are also delightfully fragrant and pleasant to have at home. She also keeps green beans, spinach and arugula that can thrive indoors because they grow well even in partially shaded conditions.
After the visit, I was so inspired and decided to have a go at growing vegetables at home as well. I still remember vividly the moment the first seed I planted with my own hands popped up from dirt. It’s incredibly satisfying. For me, indoor gardening is an empowering pursuit that not only lowers my food bill but also engages my mind.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| be keen on (something) | B2 | Adjective phrase | To be very interested in or enthusiastic about something. | My neighbour Teresa is really keen on gardening. |
| inspire (someone) to (do something) | C1 | Verb phrase | To make someone want to do something. | She inspired me to grow plants myself. |
| be immersed in (something) | C2 | Adjective phrase | To be completely absorbed in an activity. | She was so immersed in her book she forgot her floor. |
| out of curiosity | C1 | Fixed phrase | Because you want to know or learn something. | Out of curiosity, I asked what she was reading. |
| (one’s) face brightened | C1 | Verb phrase | Someone’s expression suddenly became happy and lively. | Her face brightened as she started to explain. |
| south-facing | C1 | Adjective | Positioned so that it faces south and gets a lot of sun. | She keeps her veggies by a big south-facing window. |
| a barrier to (success) | C1 | Noun phrase | Something that blocks or prevents success. | Insufficient light is the main barrier to success. |
| sustained sunlight | C2 | Noun phrase | Continuous, long-lasting sunlight. | You need a spot with the most sustained sunlight. |
| fragrant | C1 | Adjective | Having a pleasant, sweet smell. | Herbs like basil are delightfully fragrant. |
| thrive | C1 | Verb | To grow strongly and healthily. | Spinach and arugula can thrive indoors. |
| partially shaded conditions | C2 | Noun phrase | A setting that gets only some sunlight, not full sun. | Some plants grow well in partially shaded conditions. |
| have a go at (something) | C1 | Idiom (informal) | To try doing something. | I decided to have a go at growing vegetables too. |
| an empowering pursuit | C2 | Noun phrase | An activity that makes you feel capable and in control. | For me, indoor gardening is an empowering pursuit. |
| lower (one’s) food bill | C1 | Verb phrase | To reduce how much you spend on food. | Growing your own food lowers your food bill. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: A person who loves gardening (Teresa)
Part 3
1. Are there many people growing their own vegetables now?
Yeah, I think the number of people who are considering planting some vegetables by themselves is increasing now. Not only because those people in the countryside would like to, you know, plant those vegetables by themselves, which is really convenient, but also some people in the city, they are also considering to do some urban farming, which means they can just use some small space at home, maybe on a roof of a building, or a balcony.
They can use the space to plant something by themselves for several reasons. Some of them will use this kind of opportunity to just chill out. Sometimes they just want to plant some vegetables and they can eat those things by themselves, so they don’t have to go to the market. It can help them save money. Meanwhile, they can eat some healthy, organic food, which is actually free from the pesticides and chemicals.
Plus, during the pandemic, it is also very practical. If you have a lockdown, you can still have the vegetables planted by yourself, so you can still have some food to eat, and when the lockdown starts, vegetables can be really something like a luxury.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| in the countryside | B2 | Prepositional phrase | In rural areas away from towns and cities. | People in the countryside grow their own vegetables. |
| urban farming | C1 | Noun phrase | Growing food within a city, using small urban spaces. | City dwellers are increasingly into urban farming. |
| a balcony | B2 | Noun | A small outdoor platform attached to an upper floor. | They use a rooftop or a balcony to grow plants. |
| chill out | C1 | Phrasal verb (informal) | To relax and stop worrying. | Some grow vegetables just to chill out. |
| save money | B2 | Verb phrase | To spend less than you otherwise would. | Growing your own food helps you save money. |
| organic food | B2 | Noun phrase | Food grown without artificial chemicals. | You get to eat healthy, organic food. |
| free from pesticides and chemicals | C1 | Adjective phrase | Not containing chemicals used to kill pests. | Home-grown veg is free from pesticides and chemicals. |
| practical | B2 | Adjective | Useful and sensible in real situations. | During a pandemic, it’s actually very practical. |
| a lockdown | C1 | Noun | A period when people must stay home for safety. | In a lockdown you still have vegetables to eat. |
| a luxury | C1 | Noun | Something expensive or hard to get that is a treat to have. | During lockdown, fresh vegetables became a luxury. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: Growing your own vegetables
2. Do you think it’s good to let kids learn how to plant?
I think it’s quite positive to teach children something about farming or planting, because, you know, most kids nowadays, in the city area especially, they just know a lot of things about new technologies, like all kinds of electronic devices. They’re just actually quite isolated from nature.
By teaching them something about planting, it can help them get close to nature, really observe the growth of the plants. It can actually help them to appreciate life. Life is really a beauty. So they can see how the vegetables or the plants actually develop from the very beginning, like a seed, how it actually sprouts, how it takes root. Try to help them to understand the circle of life and appreciate life.
I think that’s a very pretty important value to the children. They can also learn some skills in the future. If they only know something about their own mathematics or physics, they don’t know anything about biology, it’s a kind of shame.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| electronic devices | B2 | Noun phrase | Gadgets like phones, tablets, and computers. | City kids know all about electronic devices. |
| be isolated from nature | C1 | Adjective phrase | To be cut off from the natural world. | Many children are quite isolated from nature. |
| get close to nature | B2 | Verb phrase | To spend time in and connect with the natural world. | Planting helps them get close to nature. |
| observe the growth (of something) | C1 | Verb phrase | To watch how something develops over time. | They can observe the growth of the plants day by day. |
| appreciate life | C1 | Verb phrase | To value and be grateful for living things. | It helps children appreciate life more deeply. |
| sprout | C1 | Verb | (Of a seed) to begin to grow and produce shoots. | They watch how a seed sprouts from the soil. |
| take root | C2 | Idiom | (Of a plant) to grow roots and become established. | They see how the plant takes root and grows. |
| the circle of life | C2 | Fixed phrase | The natural cycle of birth, growth, and death. | It helps them understand the circle of life. |
| learn skills | B2 | Verb phrase | To acquire useful abilities. | They also learn skills that are useful later in life. |
| it’s a shame | B2 | Fixed phrase | Used to say something is unfortunate or a pity. | If they know no biology at all, it’s a shame. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: Should children learn about farming?
3. What do you think of the job of a farmer?
Well, I think people have different opinions about being a farmer. Some people will think that it’s a kind of a tedious job and it’s a labor work which is really demanding. You have to work many hours in the fields, sweat a lot. But for me, I think nowadays the modern technology has changed the farming industry.
If you are looking at the modern farmers, they probably will be using some new technologies like all kinds of tractors or some machines that can help them to be more efficient. So maybe the modern farmers will just operate some like the aircraft, the unmanned aircraft or they can just manipulate some machines and try to use them to do the farming for you. So it can be very productive and wealthy. Being a farmer nowadays actually could be a very good job.
And also we know that agriculture is always the foundation of the country. So I think the job is also quite meaningful and very helpful to our society.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| tedious | C1 | Adjective | Boring and repetitive. | Some see farming as a tedious job. |
| manual labour | C1 | Noun phrase | Hard physical work done with the hands and body. | They think of it as demanding manual labour. |
| demanding | C1 | Adjective | Needing a lot of effort, time, or energy. | It’s physically demanding work. |
| work long hours | B2 | Verb phrase | To spend a great many hours working. | You have to work long hours in the fields. |
| the farming industry | C1 | Noun phrase | The whole business of producing crops and livestock. | Modern technology has changed the farming industry. |
| efficient | B2 | Adjective | Working well without wasting time or effort. | Machines help farmers be far more efficient. |
| unmanned aircraft / drones | C1 | Noun phrase | Flying machines operated without a pilot on board. | Modern farmers may operate unmanned aircraft. |
| operate machines | B2 | Verb phrase | To control and run machinery. | They operate machines to do the heavy work. |
| productive | B2 | Adjective | Producing a large amount of results or output. | Modern farming can be extremely productive. |
| the foundation of the country | C1 | Noun phrase | The essential basis a nation depends on. | Agriculture is the foundation of the country. |
| meaningful | B2 | Adjective | Having real purpose, value, or importance. | It’s a meaningful job that helps society. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: Is being a farmer a good job today?
4. What are the differences between traditional and modern agriculture?
I think there are some distinctions between these two, like I said before, the traditional farming will be depending a lot on the laborers. You need a lot of people to do the work, toil in the field, otherwise the plants cannot grow healthily. You have to do this by your hands.
But the modern one is different with new technological innovations. Farmers can use machines like the unmanned aircraft to spread the pesticides, and they can also try to use tractors or some other machines to reap, so it can help them to work more efficiently. So nowadays, the modern farming is more scientific and also more productive.
| Word / Phrase | CEFR | Type | Definition | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| distinctions (between) | C1 | Noun | Clear differences between two or more things. | There are clear distinctions between the two methods. |
| depend on (laborers) | B2 | Verb phrase | To rely on something or someone to function. | Traditional farming depends heavily on labourers. |
| toil in the field | C2 | Verb phrase | To work long and hard doing physical farm work. | Many people had to toil in the field all day. |
| by hand | B2 | Adverbial phrase | Using your hands rather than machines. | Much of the work had to be done by hand. |
| technological innovations | C1 | Noun phrase | New inventions and advances in technology. | Modern farming benefits from technological innovations. |
| spread pesticides | C1 | Verb phrase | To apply chemicals that protect crops from pests. | Drones can spread pesticides across the fields. |
| reap | C1 | Verb | To cut and gather a crop, especially grain. | Machines are used to reap the harvest quickly. |
| work more efficiently | B2 | Verb phrase | To do a job faster and with less wasted effort. | These tools help farmers work more efficiently. |
| scientific | B2 | Adjective | Based on careful method, evidence, and knowledge. | Modern farming is more scientific and precise. |
ieltsquangtri.com — CEFR-tagged vocabulary bank · Topic: Traditional vs modern farming
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Credits
Image : Photo by Filipp Romanovski on Unsplash
