General Rules:
Here are some general rules about Part 1 that you may find useful. The point of Task 1 is for you to answer shortly to many questions. Think of it like an interview where you need to answer questions about yourself. You should:
Keep it short. When you practice, in general try to answer in 15 to 20 seconds per question.
Give at least 1 reason and 1 real-life example. Again very general but try to have at least 1 real example in your answer.
Talk about yourself. This part is all related to you (if the question doesn't say another person).
So, lets take a look at some questions:
Vocabulary related to the topic
Sentence starters and Linking words
Idioms or Special Phrases
Have you ever seen old buildings in the city?
Answer 1:
Yes. I come from a smaller town where we have a lot of older-looking community buildings. Even me and my family live in a family house which is quite old, but well-preserved. There are many other places as well like the public library, some schools, a big church and so on.
My Personal Answer:
I've lived in many cities throughout my life and so, I've seen a lot of old architecture. I remember, when I lived in Belgium, that the city had a lot of these neighborhoods, where all the buildings looked old, with their architectural style looking like they were from the 19th century. However, most of them were clean and well-preserved. I remember vividly the big city cathedral and a few marvelous bridges, which were a fantastic sight to see.
Answer 1:
My Personal Answer:
Do you think we should preserve old buildings in the cities?
Answer 1:
Yes, absolutely. These buildings represent the history and the culture of the city and the whole country. Many people love visiting cities that have this kind of historic atmosphere and even dream of moving in and living there one day. So these buildings are a part of the local culture and need to be protected and renovated as it's a huge benefit for the city and its citizen.
My Personal Answer:
Well, yes and no. It depends on the types of buildings. For instance, there are a lot of areas in some cities called slums, and those areas consist of half-broken, damaged, moldy, and dirty buildings which are beyond repair. These have to be cleaned and replaced, as they do not hold any value or cultural importance. Now if we are talking about historic monuments like museums, cathedrals, government buildings, and so on, these definitely have to be renovated and protected, as they are important for a city's culture and heritage.
Answer 1:
My Personal Answer:
Do you prefer living in an old building or a modern house?
Answer 1:
As a young person, I'd prefer to live in a modern, new place. Everybody in my age dreams of having a brand new home all for himself, and I am no exception. Old homes are beautiful to look at and I appreciate their cultural importance, but they have a lot of problems and generally feel a bit... depressing.
My Personal Answer:
As someone who lived in an older home for the most part of my childhood, I'll tell you that there are a lot of issues that pop up regularly. It could be mold, plumbing, electrical system-related, foundation problems and so much more. Older buildings were not built with sustainable and long-lasting materials, so it's a huge pain in the neck to take care of. I definitely want to have a new modern place to live in, as at least in the beginning, I won't need to constantly repair and deal with problems after problems.
Answer 1:
My Personal Answer:
Are there any old buildings you want to see in the future? Why?
Answer 1:
I don't have a particular building in mind. I like traveling and seeing everything both old and new, but I don't know those buildings' names and to be honest, I just want to go and look around, without making specific plans.
My Personal Answer:
Well, there are some landmark buildings from the past I'd definitely want to visit. For instance, I really want to see the Pyramids in Cairo, Egypt, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and many of the Mexican pyramids as well. I used to read a lot of history books and encyclopedias about ancient civilizations, and I am absolutely fascinated to this day by their architecture, design, and longevity. We definitely don't build modern buildings like those anymore, that's for sure.
Answer 1:
My Personal Answer:
How can we protect old historic buildings?
Answer 1:
Well, I guess there are many ways, but all of them are related to money. Governments need to set budgets so they can maintain, clean, and repair all these historic old buildings. Without that, I'm afraid that history and culture will be lost sooner or later. We need to have this priority in our governments to protect our cultural heritage for the next generations.
My Personal Answer:
I'd say in two main ways - restoration and solid fines on offenders. One of the biggest problems for historic buildings and places these days is vandalism and the disrespect young people have towards these places. It's like every teenager wants to carve their name, draw some stupid thing or simply leave their "mark" on those places for completely no reason. So, who should be held responsible for that? Well, their parents of course. If they can't control and educate their kids to respect old places, then they should pay fines until they learn the hard way. Of course, it is the responsibility of the local officials to keep old places renewed, however, it is our responsibility to keep those places clean.
Answer 1:
My Personal Answer:
What kinds of old buildings or constructions do you know?
Answer 1:
There are these... monuments like old statues and landmarks in many cities. In fact, we have some of these in my hometown as well. What else is there...hmm. Many big government buildings like the town hall or the city police station are older and well-known buildings. I suppose they pick them as these buildings bring a sense of respect for culture and traditions.
My Personal Answer:
When I think about it, there are so many things that come up in my mind like big castles and palaces. One of the most famous palaces is Buckingham Palace in London with the Big Ben clock tower nearby. There are many other fantastic constructions I've visited long ago in Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg. In Europe, we tend to protect and renovate our traditional houses and buildings, and that brings this sense of culture and history when walking throughout the cities. Further, there are religious churches, cathedrals, mosques, and other places of prayer that are some of the most marvelous buildings in the whole world.
Answer 1:
My Personal Answer: