The cue card
Describe something you do to help protect the environment.
You should say:
- what you do
- when you started doing it
- how often you do it
and explain why you think it helps the environment.
You have one minute to make notes, then speak for one to two minutes.
Band 8–9 sample answer
Written by Abroadway as a model of natural, high-band speaking (not an official IELTS sample).
Something I do to help the environment, which might sound a bit unusual, is composting our family's kitchen waste on the roof of our building in Chattogram.
Basically, instead of throwing vegetable peelings, eggshells and tea leaves into the rubbish, I collect them in a bucket with a lid in the kitchen. Every couple of days I carry it up to the roof, where I keep two large clay pots with holes drilled in the bottom. I layer the scraps with dry leaves and a bit of soil, give the mixture a stir now and then, and after about two months it turns into dark, crumbly compost. We then use it in the little rooftop garden where my mother grows chillies, tomatoes and spinach.
I started doing this about three years ago, during the long Covid lockdown. I was stuck at home with very little to do, and I happened to watch a video made by a group of students in Khulna who were composting on a much larger scale. It looked surprisingly simple, so I persuaded my mother to let me try. The first batch was a disaster, I have to admit. It was far too wet, it smelt terrible, and the neighbours on the top floor complained. But I learnt to add more dry material, and since then it's gone smoothly.
These days it's part of my routine: I empty the bucket two or three times a week and turn the compost every weekend.
As for why I think it helps, a large share of household rubbish here is food waste, as far as I know, and when it ends up in open dumps, it rots and releases methane, not to mention a horrible smell. Composting keeps that waste out of the system entirely. It also means we hardly ever buy chemical fertiliser, and honestly, our tomatoes taste far better than anything from the bazaar.
Useful phrases from this answer
- now and then
- sometimes, but not regularly
- it's gone smoothly
- it has happened without any problems
- with your own eyes
- personally, not just by hearing or reading about it
- lead by example
- show others how to behave by doing it yourself
- carry the greater share of responsibility
- have more of the duty than others
- make a difference
- have a real, positive effect
- the effect adds up
- many small actions together become significant
- swallow coastal land
- cover land by the sea with water so that it disappears
Part 3 follow-up questions and answers
What are the biggest environmental problems in your country?
I'd say the most serious ones are air pollution, water pollution and the effects of climate change. In Dhaka especially, the air during the dry season can be awful, largely because of brick kilns, construction dust and old vehicles. Rivers near industrial areas have also suffered badly from untreated factory waste. On top of that, Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to rising sea levels and stronger cyclones, which threaten farmland in the south as salt water gets into the soil. What makes these problems so difficult is that they're closely connected to economic growth, so tackling them often means balancing jobs against cleaner air and water.
How can schools teach children to care about the environment?
I think the most effective way is to make it practical rather than purely theoretical. Children can learn about climate change from textbooks, but they're much more likely to care if they're actually involved, for example by planting trees on the school grounds, running a recycling scheme or keeping a small vegetable garden. Field trips help as well; seeing a polluted canal or a mangrove forest with your own eyes makes a far stronger impression than a diagram. Schools can also lead by example, by cutting down on plastic in the canteen or saving electricity. If children see adults taking it seriously, they're more likely to pick up those habits themselves.
Is protecting the environment the responsibility of individuals or governments?
Honestly, I think it's both, but governments carry the greater share of responsibility. Individuals can certainly make a difference through their choices, such as using less plastic or saving energy, and when millions of people change their habits, the effect adds up. However, the biggest sources of pollution, like power stations, factories and transport systems, are things only governments can regulate effectively. It's also unfair to expect individuals to make green choices if those choices are expensive or simply unavailable. So I'd argue governments need to set the rules and make sustainable options affordable, and individuals then have a duty to make use of them.
Should plastic bags be banned completely?
I'm broadly in favour of a ban, but I think it has to be introduced carefully. Thin plastic bags cause enormous problems, especially in cities like Dhaka, where they clog drains and make flooding worse during the monsoon. So there's a strong argument for getting rid of them. In fact, thin polythene bags have been restricted in Bangladesh for years, yet you still see them everywhere in local markets, which shows that a ban means very little unless it's enforced and people have affordable alternatives, such as jute or cloth bags. I'd also allow a few exceptions, for instance in hospitals, where hygiene matters more than anything else.
How might climate change affect low-lying countries in the future?
I'm afraid the effects could be very serious. Low-lying countries like Bangladesh, the Netherlands or small island nations face the risk of rising sea levels, which could gradually swallow coastal land or make it impossible to farm because of salt water. Stronger storms and floods are likely to cause more damage to homes and infrastructure as well. One of the most worrying consequences, I think, is migration: if people in coastal villages lose their livelihoods, many will move to already overcrowded cities. Having said that, the outcome depends partly on how well countries adapt. The Netherlands, for example, has been managing water for centuries, so there are lessons others could learn.
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