Aim
In this lesson you’ll master the formula for why do some people like X? type questions.
Why do some people like cooking?
Why do some people enjoy reading?
Why do some people like gardening?
The formula
When the examiner asks you why do some people like X? type questions, you must.
Answer order
- Describe why some people enjoy X or doing X.
- Say which types of people or personalities enjoy it.
- Explain why it’s good for them and why they might like it.
Language steps
- Use native speaker words to talk about types of people.
Most teenagers enjoy listening to pop music.
- Use native speaker personality adjectives.
Creative people tend to enjoy going to the theater and art museums.
- Use native speaker activity adjectives.
Volunteering at the hospital is very rewarding.
Language step 1 Types of People.
Let’s look at how the two IELTS candidates, Alice and David, mention different types of people.
Alice: I think people of all ages enjoy cooking, especially creative people….
David: Gardening is most popular with middle-aged and elderly people, probably because gardening is a very therapeutic and relaxing activity. Members of the older generation are generally more patient and often prefer less energetic activities…
Notice that Alice and David do not talk about themselves and whether they like cooking and gardening, but talk about the different types of people in society and say whether they like cooking and gardening.
Remind yourself of some useful words to talk about types of people:
Married couples.
Single parents
Teenagers
Adolescents
The elderly
The older generation
Retired people
Rich people
Poor people
Language step 2 Personality Adjectives.
Let’s look at how the two IELTS candidates, Alice and David, use personality adjectives.
Alice: I think people of all ages enjoy cooking, especially creative people… even quite conservative people like cooking…
David: Members of the older generation are generally more patient and often prefer less energetic activities…
Notice that Alice and David use different personality adjectives to help them say why different groups of people enjoy doing X – you should too.
Look at the following useful native speaker personality adjectives:
Energetic, apathetic, curious, studious, social, family-oriented, patient, creative.
Language step 3 Activity Adjectives
Let’s have a look at how the two IELTS candidates, Alice and David, use activity adjectives.
Alice: … For those who love to creative new things, cooking provide a great way to express themselves as they can experiment with different dishes and ingredients… it can be very satisfying to successfully cook a whole meal from start to finish.
David: Gardening is most popular with middle-aged and elderly people, probably because gardening is a very therapeutic and relaxing activity. Members of the older generation are generally more patient and often prefer less energetic activities-gardening is a good way to unwind whilst making their home more beautiful.
Notice that Alice and David talk about the benefits people get from doing cooking and gardening – this helps them explain why people like to do these activities.
Therapeutic – gardening, cooking, yoga, tai chi, meditation.
Relaxing – gardening, watching TV, listening to the radio, knitting, reading.
Healthy – going to the gym, doing physical exercise, running.
Good (for the mind) – the news, blogs, reading books.
Inspiring – looking at art, watching live music, going to the theater or cinema.
Rewarding – doing charity work, studying, raising money for a cause.
Fun – sports, games, car games, travelling
Satisfying – painting, drawing, cooking, gardening.
Source: 31 High-scoring Formulas to Answer the IELTS Speaking Questions
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