Do you like art?
Yes, though I'd call myself an admirer rather than an expert. I enjoy paintings that tell a story or capture ordinary life, and I often stop to look at the murals and graffiti around the Dhaka University campus. Abstract art is harder for me to appreciate; I sometimes feel I'm missing the point entirely.
Did you enjoy drawing or painting at school?
I did when I was little, but my enthusiasm faded as I got older. In primary school we had an art class every week, and I loved splashing watercolours about. By secondary school, though, everything revolved around exams, art became an afterthought, and I gradually accepted that my talent was fairly limited anyway.
Have you ever been to an art gallery or exhibition?
Yes, a couple of times. The most memorable was an exhibition at Shilpakala Academy where young artists showed work about climate change and flooding. One piece was a life-sized boat made entirely from plastic bottles, and it stayed with me for days. I'd like to go more often, but I rarely hear about events in time.
Do you have any paintings or pictures on the walls at home?
We have a few. In the living room there's a large painting of a village scene with boats on a river, which my parents bought years ago at a craft fair. There's also some framed Arabic calligraphy near the dining area. In my own room I've only got posters and a few printed photos, nothing particularly valuable.
What kind of art is popular in your country?
Folk art is probably the most distinctive. Rickshaw art, with its bright colours and painted film stars, is everywhere, and nakshi kantha, the embroidered quilts, are treasured in many families. During Pohela Boishakh, students from the Fine Arts faculty make giant masks and figures for the procession. More recently, digital illustration has become very popular among younger people.
Sample answers written by Abroadway as models of natural, high-band speaking (not official IELTS samples).
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