IELTS Speaking 'Park' Topic
Describe the perfect park for a city.
You should say:
where it would be located in the city
what (facilities) it would have ( = what would be in the park)
what people would do in the park (or, what people would be able to do)
and explain why you think this would be the best kind of park for a city.*
Important Grammar Points: If the word 'would' is used on the task card, you should use 'would' in your answer. If the word, 'would' is used, this topic is asking you to describe an imaginary park, not a real park that exists now or a real park that will exist in the future. You can think of the word 'would' as an imaginary form (= the subjunctive form, 虚拟语气) of 'will' – we only use 'will' when talking about something real in the future.
"It will have a lake" is incorrect because that is talking about the real, (more or less certain) future.
It is also incorrect to say, "It has a lake" or "There is a lake" because these are present tense – i.e., now, and real.
'Hope' is incorrect because 'hope' is used to talk about a real possibility for the future.
'Wish' is incorrect here because 'wish' is mostly used to talk about a desired change to the present or past.
It is also incorrect to say, "I would like it to have a lake." because "would like" = "I want it to have a lake", which is unsuitable here because it sounds like your are talking about a real thing in the future.
Correct sentences are: "It would have a lake." or, "There would be a lake." (Best to use the contracted form, " There'd be ..." at least a few times – don't use "There would be ..." all the time.)
You could also say something like, "I (can) imagine it having a lake."
It is also possible to say "It should have a lake" but it would be best to use "should" only a few times. Understand that 'should' is used to mean the same as in this sentence: "All parks should have a toilet." There is no reason why an ideal park 'should have a lake' but it is obvious that an ideal park should have toilets. Saying "it should have a toilet" is the normal usage of the word, "should". But saying, "it should have a lake" is using the word "should" to mean he same as "would" – that is an old-fashioned usage and you should avoid it. Only use "should" as in such sentences as, "If you want to get up at 6 am tomorrow morning, you should go to bed before 10.30." The word "would" is mostly used to mean an imaginary or subjunctive, (虚拟语气) form of "will".
Another possible mistake is using 'can' instead of 'could'. For example, the following sentence is incorrect: "It would have exercise equipment so people can exercise if they want to." ("Can" and all present tense verbs are used to talk about real, present things but "could" is the way to express the verb 能 in the subjunctive form, 虚拟语气, which is used when speaking about imaginary or unreal things.) The correct sentence is: "It would have exercise equipment so people could exercise if they wanted to." (I think both 'want to' or 'wanted to' are acceptable here but 'wanted to' is a little better.)
Which is better, to have a park that is beautiful or a park that is functional (= well-used)? FQ
These two are not mutually exclusive.
Do you think that the park you just described should have any cultural facilities? (If yes, what?)
Hints: An outdoor performance area; A community notice board; A display of art; A statue of a local historical character, with information to read about this person; An information board with information about the history of this location ...
What role do parks play in the life of a community?
Hint: Many of the old people who go to a park in the morning are really going there just to be with other people, rather than to just exercise. For example, many of these old people might be living alone because their spouse has died and they feel lonely, living alone.
Does a park represent the culture or the history of the place where it is located?
One hint: Parks can be used as community gathering places because a park is a pleasant environment and has a lot of space. Therefore, parks are ideal places for people to celebrate and practice their cultural traditions or cultural events such as performances or concerts. In addition, parks, (as well as city squares), are ideal places to put statues of famous (local) historical characters.
What are some differences between parks in cities and those in the countryside?
Hints: The countryside has national parks and sometimes you can find 'safari parks' or open zoos where animals live in natural conditions. These parks are much bigger than city parks and have natural landscapes and natural flora and fauna, in comparison to city parks which have man-made landscapes, cultivated trees and flowers and no animals. The main purpose of national parks is to preserve the unique environment of that place.
Do you think gardens are important for children to see and experience or play in? FQ
Exploring a garden can be a wonderful educational experience for young children because these children are fascinated by nature, especially small creatures such as insects (U.S. = bugs). If a child never has any experience of exploring nature, he or she will be missing out on experiencing, first hand, some important lessons about the natural world. As well as that, exploring and satisfying the curiosity is, itself, an important part of the development of the mind of a child.
You should say:
where it would be located in the city
what (facilities) it would have ( = what would be in the park)
what people would do in the park (or, what people would be able to do)
and explain why you think this would be the best kind of park for a city.*
Important Grammar Points: If the word 'would' is used on the task card, you should use 'would' in your answer. If the word, 'would' is used, this topic is asking you to describe an imaginary park, not a real park that exists now or a real park that will exist in the future. You can think of the word 'would' as an imaginary form (= the subjunctive form, 虚拟语气) of 'will' – we only use 'will' when talking about something real in the future.
"It will have a lake" is incorrect because that is talking about the real, (more or less certain) future.
It is also incorrect to say, "It has a lake" or "There is a lake" because these are present tense – i.e., now, and real.
'Hope' is incorrect because 'hope' is used to talk about a real possibility for the future.
'Wish' is incorrect here because 'wish' is mostly used to talk about a desired change to the present or past.
It is also incorrect to say, "I would like it to have a lake." because "would like" = "I want it to have a lake", which is unsuitable here because it sounds like your are talking about a real thing in the future.
Correct sentences are: "It would have a lake." or, "There would be a lake." (Best to use the contracted form, " There'd be ..." at least a few times – don't use "There would be ..." all the time.)
You could also say something like, "I (can) imagine it having a lake."
It is also possible to say "It should have a lake" but it would be best to use "should" only a few times. Understand that 'should' is used to mean the same as in this sentence: "All parks should have a toilet." There is no reason why an ideal park 'should have a lake' but it is obvious that an ideal park should have toilets. Saying "it should have a toilet" is the normal usage of the word, "should". But saying, "it should have a lake" is using the word "should" to mean he same as "would" – that is an old-fashioned usage and you should avoid it. Only use "should" as in such sentences as, "If you want to get up at 6 am tomorrow morning, you should go to bed before 10.30." The word "would" is mostly used to mean an imaginary or subjunctive, (虚拟语气) form of "will".
Another possible mistake is using 'can' instead of 'could'. For example, the following sentence is incorrect: "It would have exercise equipment so people can exercise if they want to." ("Can" and all present tense verbs are used to talk about real, present things but "could" is the way to express the verb 能 in the subjunctive form, 虚拟语气, which is used when speaking about imaginary or unreal things.) The correct sentence is: "It would have exercise equipment so people could exercise if they wanted to." (I think both 'want to' or 'wanted to' are acceptable here but 'wanted to' is a little better.)
Which is better, to have a park that is beautiful or a park that is functional (= well-used)? FQ
These two are not mutually exclusive.
Do you think that the park you just described should have any cultural facilities? (If yes, what?)
Hints: An outdoor performance area; A community notice board; A display of art; A statue of a local historical character, with information to read about this person; An information board with information about the history of this location ...
What role do parks play in the life of a community?
Hint: Many of the old people who go to a park in the morning are really going there just to be with other people, rather than to just exercise. For example, many of these old people might be living alone because their spouse has died and they feel lonely, living alone.
Does a park represent the culture or the history of the place where it is located?
One hint: Parks can be used as community gathering places because a park is a pleasant environment and has a lot of space. Therefore, parks are ideal places for people to celebrate and practice their cultural traditions or cultural events such as performances or concerts. In addition, parks, (as well as city squares), are ideal places to put statues of famous (local) historical characters.
What are some differences between parks in cities and those in the countryside?
Hints: The countryside has national parks and sometimes you can find 'safari parks' or open zoos where animals live in natural conditions. These parks are much bigger than city parks and have natural landscapes and natural flora and fauna, in comparison to city parks which have man-made landscapes, cultivated trees and flowers and no animals. The main purpose of national parks is to preserve the unique environment of that place.
Do you think gardens are important for children to see and experience or play in? FQ
Exploring a garden can be a wonderful educational experience for young children because these children are fascinated by nature, especially small creatures such as insects (U.S. = bugs). If a child never has any experience of exploring nature, he or she will be missing out on experiencing, first hand, some important lessons about the natural world. As well as that, exploring and satisfying the curiosity is, itself, an important part of the development of the mind of a child.
