Describe a Puzzle That You Solved (jigsaw, crossword, etc)- IELTS Cue Card

Sample Answer

Puzzles are a part of almost everyone’s childhood. These brain-teasers are a riveting and refreshing way of diverting our minds. A similar experience of solving a puzzle that I would like to talk about is the Rubik’s Cube. The Rubik’s Cube is probably the most recognized puzzle around the world. It is difficult to find an individual who hasn’t tried their hand at solving a Rubik’s Cube. This particular puzzle comes in the form of a plastic cube that is overlaid with multicolored squares on every side. The objective is to twist and turn the cube and cumulate all the same coloured squares on each side or face.

The most intriguing characteristic of this puzzle is that it can be solved in a matter of seconds if the player can figure out all the moves accurately. On the other hand, this exact feature has a tantalizing effect on players, because, in a rush to solve the puzzle as quickly as possible, players often twist and turn the cube in the wrong direction, making it even more perplexing.

I remember distinctly when my mother brought me a Rubik’s Cube as a birthday present. Initially, I had no clue how to go about solving this puzzle on my own. I would spend hours twisting and turning the cube, making the colors even more jumbled than they were before. Eventually, I managed to solve the puzzle after several days and was ecstatic at the fact and showed my parents the solved Rubik’s Cube.

The Rubik’s Cube has always been a puzzling and entertaining experience for me ever since I was a child. Even to this day, I still have not figured out a definite pattern to solve this particular puzzle.

Vocabulary

• Riveting

Meaning: completely engrossing; compelling.
Eg: The new magic show had a riveting effect on everyone present in the auditorium.

• Cumulate

Meaning: gather together and combine.

Eg: The detective wanted to cumulate all the evidence before the trial.

• Tantalizing

Meaning: tormenting or teasing with the sight or promise of something unattainable.
Eg: Fame has a tantalizing effect on the minds of many people.

• Perplexing

Meaning: completely baffling; very puzzling.
Eg: The Bermuda Triangle is one of the most perplexing mysteries of the world.

• Ecstatic

Meaning: feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement.
Eg: The college volleyball team was ecstatic about their tournament victory.

Speaking Part 3 – Follow up Questions

• What do people do online in their free time?

The current era is known for its technological advancements. Presently, the most common form of leisure is surfing the Internet. People nowadays tend to spend a majority of their free time on social media platforms. Online video-sharing platforms like Youtube are also extremely popular as a form of entertainment during spare time.

• What impact does the internet have on schools?

Just like any other phenomenon, the Internet has both positive and negative effects on schools and schoolchildren. Today, a stupendous amount of study resources are available to both students and teachers through online platforms. Such a development can remarkably improve the quality of education dispensed at the school level. On the other hand, the convenience of the Internet can have a detrimental effect on both teachers and students. The easy availability of information can lead to a certain degree of complacency in the process of learning.

• Do you think many people waste their time online?

Yes, I believe that spending too much time online has become a distressing issue over the last few years. Today, people tend to spend hours on the Internet browsing and scrolling through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Such practices deteriorate the mental and physical health of the general masses. The average person has significantly less time on their hands because of the amount of time they waste online.

• What can people do with the Internet in the future? And how?

The Internet can be a dynamic and powerful tool if used correctly. There are dedicated online platforms available for nearly every aspect of human life. One of the most striking characteristics of the Internet is the ability to make a livelihood online. I believe that people will be able to earn a living online. Such an endeavor can be undertaken when people showcase their skills and talents through online platforms like Youtube and Twitch.

• In what ways can people get information nowadays?

The most prevalent approach to acquiring information in the present day scenario is browsing the Internet. Since the Internet is accessible through personal computers and smartphones, any kind of information is available at a person’s fingertips. Google, which is the most powerful web browser available, is commonly used for research and queries of all sorts. This particular browser can give an individual more than millions of results for the type of information they are looking for.

Vocabulary

• Surfing

Meaning: move from page to page or site to site on (the World Wide Web).
Eg: A better internet connection makes surfing much easier.

• Stupendous

Meaning: extremely impressive.
Eg: The company rewarded the employees with bonuses due to their stupendous performance.

• Detrimental

Meaning: tending to cause harm.
Eg: The Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster in Ukraine had a detrimental effect on all the neighboring countries.

• Complacency

Meaning: a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one’s achievements.
Eg: Kevin was fired from the team due to his complacency during work.

• Dynamic

Meaning: characterized by constant change, activity, or progress
Eg: The economy is a dynamic aspect of a nation that requires time and effort to understand.