PART 1
COFFEE AND TEA
ANSWERS
Are tea and coffee popular in your country?
(Answer 1)
Yes, they are. We have a long tradition of drinking tea and coffee in this country that we practice and preserve. Drinking either of the two drinks revitalizes (re-energizes) us, especially when we feel exhausted from work or school. We enjoy drinking tea or coffee after our meal.
(Answer 2)
I think coffee is more popular than tea in this country because we have lots of coffee farms. My country is, in fact, a great exporter of coffee to many countries in the world and that is actually helping our economy a lot. Well, when you visit different places in this country, you can always find a coffee shop where you can rest for a while (for a period of time).
Do people like tea or coffee nowadays?
(Answer 1)
That’s a difficult question because I believe it depends on people’s preferences. There are some people who enjoy drinking tea over drinking coffee, and vice versa (the other way around; conversely). Also, there are those who love drinking both tea and coffee because each has a distinct (clear) taste. So, I can’t really give a definite answer to that question.
(Answer 2)
To answer that question, we need to understand the culture of different countries. For instance, in England or in some Asian countries, tea is preferred because drinking tea is obviously part of their culture. In some African countries, coffee is what people drink because of its availability. In other words, we cannot generalize that tea is more popular than coffee, or coffee is more sought-after these days because we need to consider the place where people come from, their culture, and their lifestyles.
Do you often drink coffee and tea?
(Answer 1)
I only drink coffee. I don’t like drinking tea because I hate the smell of it. I dunno I just can’t take the smell of any kinds of tea. I know it sounds crazy to some but that’s just how I feel about teas.
(Answer 2)
I can drink both. I don’t have any problem with those two beverages. Both are healthy and they energize me, especially when I’m stressed out. But I only drink coffee in the morning because if I drink it later in the afternoon, I normally have trouble sleeping. So, after lunch or dinner, I drink tea, instead of coffee.
Do people in your country like to drink coffee or tea?
(if TEA)
Well, that’s a no-brainer! People in my country enjoy drinking tea and that’s because of our tea culture. Back in the day, our ancestors considered tea as the most important beverage more than water. If you roam around this city, you can find a lot of tea shops and cafes that serve refreshing tea and if you happen to visit some places in the countryside you can see some tea plantations.
(if COFFEE)
Definitely, coffee! That’s simply because we do have a lot of farms for coffee in this tropical country. As you know, the best coffee plants grow in places where there’s much sunshine. We have plenty of them and we do drink coffee as much as we drink water.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
No-brainer [noun] – something that is so simple that don’t need much time to think
Ancestor [noun] – is any person from whom one is descended
Beverage [noun] – a drink
Roam [verb] – to wander; to walk aimlessly
Tropical country [noun] – countries with so much sunshine
TIPS
i.) FIRST ANSWER: The speaker talked about the culture that his country has and then added details regarding how popular the tea is in his country. That reasoning surely supports his answer as to why people in his country prefer tea over coffee. When you answer questions in Part 1, always add supplemental details. Take note, that the speaker used some good expressions or words.
ii.) SECOND ANSWER: The speaker made the examiner understand why in his country coffee is more popular than tea. He gave the examiner an idea of how his people treated coffee as water. This surely best explained his answer.
Which do you prefer drinking tea or coffee?
(if TEA)
Of course tea! I couldn’t imagine life without tea, it must be dull. Drinking tea is one important part of my daily routine and I cannot emphasize more the benefits it brings to my body. Every time I drink tea, I feel so refreshed and I don’t feel bloated after eating.
(if COFFEE)
Well, I love coffee and it’s my first love! Without it, I couldn’t work efficiently, especially when I need to burn the midnight oil. To be honest, I consider myself a coffee expert, I can easily distinguish which one is best and which one is not.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
(I) couldn’t imagine [expression] – used to emphasize how good or bad something is
Dull [adj.] – boring
Emphasize [verb] – to give importance; to highlight
Bloated [adj.] – swollen with fluid or gas
My first love [expression] – the main thing one is passionate about
Efficiently [adv.] – in a way that is organized and competent
Burn the midnight oil [phrase] – to read, study, work late into the night
Distinguish [verb] – to recognize
TIPS
i.) FIRST ANSWER: The speaker naturally answered using the expression ‘Of course!’ You can use this in this part but avoid using it in Part 3 as you need to provide formal expressions. There are some good expressions used by the examiner that surely boost his mark in the criterion, Lexical Resource.
ii.) SECOND ANSWER: The speaker didn’t provide a typical answer by using the expression, ‘I prefer…’ instead he started his answer by acknowledging his love for coffee. While it is alright to say ‘I prefer..’, it would be great if you could utter some expressions that are not very common. This is to show that your vocabulary knowledge is not limited and to show confidence to the examiner in speaking English.
Which do you prepare for your guests at home, tea or coffee?
Well, that surely depends – if my visitors are not those whom I know very well, I usually ask them about their preferences. However, if my guests are my closest friends, I automatically offer them coffee since all of them are coffeeholics.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Preference [noun] – liking; taste; choice
Automatically [adv.] – spontaneously; without conscious thought or attention
Coffeeholic [noun] [informal] – refers to a person who is addicted to coffee
TIP
i.) The speaker answered in a more natural or realistic way. There’s no one answer that fits all on this question – it does depend on the choice of the guests of whether they like coffee or tea. The speaker was able to explain his answer logically.
When was the last time you drank coffee/tea?
(if COFFEE)
It’s funny to say that I’ve just drunk a cup of espresso a few minutes ago, in order for me to be energized and to keep myself at ease while taking this exam. To be honest, whenever I’m in a demanding situation, I make sure to drink a cup of coffee to make me feel calm.
(if TEA)
Well just this morning, right after I had my breakfast. I make it a habit to always drink a cup of tea in order for me to improve my mood throughout the day, most especially in the morning. Actually, I only drink tea once a day.
LEXICAL RESOURCE
Espresso [noun] – strong black coffee
At ease [phrase] – relaxed; calm
Demanding (situation) [adj.] – challenging; requiring so much skill or effort
Make a habit [phrase] [expression] – to do something regularly
Mood [noun] – a temporary state of mind or feeling
All throughout [prep.] – during the whole period
TIPS
i.) FIRST ANSWER: The speaker delivered a very honest answer to the examiner – explaining the last time he drank coffee then talked about the importance of drinking coffee on the day of his exam. Then he transitioned by giving a general thought about drinking coffee.
ii.) SECOND ANSWER: The speaker just simply answered what was being asked, then, added some ideas about how drinking tea affected his mood. This is how you can make your answer better and not short. Take note of some collocations he used.
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Meaning of Words and Phrases Sources: Collins, Macmillan, Cambridge, Oxford
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