IELTS|Intermediate|10. On board
Read the sentences and tick those you agree with the most. Explain your choice
You are going to hear an information announcement for passengers on a ship. Before you listen, look at the diagram and answer the questions
1. Where are you on the plan?
2. Which places are on A Deck?
3. Which places are next to reception?
4. What places are below reception?
5. Which questions may need the name of a place on the ship?
6. Which question may need the name of something you can eat or drink?
7. Which question may need the name of something you can take to your cabin?
Each of these extracts from the announcement is related to one of the gaps on the diagram. Write the number of the gap by each extract
Listen to the announcements and label the diagram. Write one word only for each answer
Exam advice
Labelling a diagram
- Look at the diagram and decide what type(s) of word you need.
- Look at the words on the diagram and listen for similar words and phrases to tell you the answer is coming.
Read Questions 6-10 and underline the key ideas in each question
These phrases from the recording will help you to focus on the correct question. Write the number of the question (6-10) by each phrase
Listen to the audio and answer the questions
Exam advice
Multiple choice
- Underline the key idea in each question to help you focus on the meaning.
- Listen for a phrase which means the same as one of the options.
Read the exam card, make notes and prepare a 2-minute speech
Exam advice
Speaking Part 2
- Structure your talk by using your notes and introducing your points clearly to the examiner.
- Use appropriate phrases to mark the stages in your talk.
Speaking Part 2
Describe a travel experience by boat.
You should say:
- When did you travel by water?
- Where did you travel to?
- Why did you choose travelling by water?
And explain how you felt about travelling by water.
Wordlist
1. restless
2. facilities
3. deck
4. cabin
5. obtain
6. steward
7. appetite
8. voyage
9. ferry
10. upgrade
11. queue
Useful language
- a reclining seat
- caters
- an overnight trip
Read the passage and do the task below
The Development of Travel under the Ocean
For millennia, humans have been intrigued by what lies beneath the sea and although submarine travel was attempted from time to time, it did not become common place until the middle of last century. Several clever and innovative people had experimented with designs for submersible boats before then, but there was much loss of life and little success.
There had long been use of a primitive diving bell for explorative purposes, but it was as a war machine that the submarine came into its own. The first development in the history of American submarines was a small submersible with a hand-cranked screw-like oar and a crew of one. It was built before the American Revolutionary War (1775—1783) but was adapted for use against the British during this war. Although its pilot twice failed to fasten explosive devices to British ships before losing control of his vessel, he escaped harm.
In 1800, an American inventor, Robert Fulton, designed an underwater machine that he called the Nautilus. His version brought in features that can still be found in some modern submarines, notably adjustable diving planes for better underwater manoeuvring, dual systems of propulsion, and a compressed air system that allowed it to stay down for about four hours without surfacing.
Development of submersible vessels lagged a long way behind the continued progress in the design of surface ships until the American Civil War (1861-1865) when both sides tried out various designs. One of those, called the Hunley — named after its financier rather than its inventor, sank twice during training missions with 11 crew members losing their lives including Hunley himself. Notwithstanding these failures, it was commissioned again in 1864 to attack a ship in Charleston Harbor. A torpedo was used to strike and scuttle the ship – a first in naval history, but the submarine never reappeared, and once again the whole crew perished. Its potential had been recognised, but there still remained the challenge of operating safely under the water.
The US Navy could appreciate the strategic benefits of having submarines in its fleet and held a competition to encourage design and construction of these underwater craft. The inventor, John Holland, won the competition and it was his sixth prototype, the Holland, that the navy bought and added to its fleet in 1900. This submarine was quite different from previous designs. It was propelled by a gasoline engine that turned a propeller while the vessel was on the surface. When it submerged, the engine ran a generator to charge batteries to operate an electric motor. The improved propulsion methods were, unfortunately, highly dangerous. Not only is gasoline flammable and unstable, using it in the restricted environment of a submarine posed quite a hazard for the crewmen. There was another problem, too: the batteries were not only heavy, cumbersome, and inefficient, but they were also extremely volatile.
During the same period as Holland’s efforts were being trialled, a German scientist by the name of Rudolf Diesel created an engine which used a fuel less explosive than gasoline and which could consequently be stored safely. Another advantage was that there was no necessity for an electric spark to ignite the fuel. These safety improvements combined with better fuel economy allowed Diesel engines to power a submarine for longer on the surface; however, batteries were still needed to supply energy for underwater operation.
Although diesel-powered submarines were successful and used by the US Navy for almost 50 years, the search for a single power source carried on. It wasn’t long before the concept of nuclear power was realised in Germany and taken up by an American physicist, Ross Gunn, who could envisage its potential in submersibles. A research team was put together to adapt the concept of nuclear power for use in submarines. In effect, modern nuclear submarines have on board a small nuclear power plant which produces a great amount of energy. This is used to heat water and create steam which drives a huge turbine which turns the propeller.
There have been many adaptations and technological improvements made to submarines over the years, but the shape is basically the same. Obviously, it is a totally enclosed craft, cigar-shaped with narrowed ends. The outer hull is the largest part of the boat and forms the body. The inner hull is designed to resist the considerable water pressure and insulates the crew from the cold. This is where the crew works, cats, and sleeps. It also contains the engine room and the apparatus that makes clean air and clean water. Between the hulls are the ballast tanks for controlling buoyancy. There is a tall fin-shaped sail that comes up out of the hull. Inside the sail is the conning tower and extending from this, to the fore, there is a periscope (through which the captain can see the sea and sky when the submarine is near the surface of the water). Sonar is used for navigation deep below the surface. The other projection from the conning tower is the radio antenna.
Underwater, there are two controls for steering the submarine. The rudder (like a tail fin) controls side-to-side movement, and diving planes influence rise and descent. There are two sets of diving planes: the forward sailplanes and the stern planes, which are located at the back with the rudder and propeller.
Advancing technology will undoubtedly result in different shapes and modes of operation, and it is quite possible that, in the future, submarines will be manned by robots or computer technology that communicates information to land bases via satellite.
Answer the questions below. Choose no more than three words or numbers from the text for each answer
Read the text one more time and label the diagram below. Choose no more than two words from the text for each answer
The Development of Travel under the Ocean
For millennia, humans have been intrigued by what lies beneath the sea and although submarine travel was attempted from time to time, it did not become commonplace until the middle of last century. Several clever and innovative people had experimented with designs for submersible boats before then, but there was much loss of life and little success.
There had long been use of a primitive diving bell for explorative purposes, but it was as a war machine that the submarine came into its own. The first development in the history of American submarines was a small submersible with a hand-cranked screw-like oar and a crew of one. It was built before the American Revolutionary War (1775—1783) but was adapted for use against the British during this war. Although its pilot twice failed to fasten explosive devices to British ships before losing control of his vessel, he escaped harm.
In 1800, an American inventor, Robert Fulton, designed an underwater machine that he called the Nautilus. His version brought in features that can still be found in some modern submarines, notably adjustable diving planes for better underwater manoeuvring, dual systems of propulsion, and a compressed air system that allowed it to stay down for about four hours without surfacing.
Development of submersible vessels lagged a long way behind the continued progress in the design of surface ships until the American Civil War (1861-1865) when both sides tried out various designs. One of those, called the Hunley — named after its financier rather than its inventor, sank twice during training missions with 11 crew members losing their lives including Hunley himself. Notwithstanding these failures, it was commissioned again in 1864 to attack a ship in Charleston Harbor. A torpedo was used to strike and scuttle the ship – a first in naval history, but the submarine never reappeared, and once again the whole crew perished. Its potential had been recognised, but there still remained the challenge of operating safely under the water.
The US Navy could appreciate the strategic benefits of having submarines in its fleet and held a competition to encourage design and construction of these underwater craft. The inventor, John Holland, won the competition and it was his sixth prototype, the Holland, that the navy bought and added to its fleet in 1900. This submarine was quite different from previous designs. It was propelled by a gasoline engine that turned a propeller while the vessel was on the surface. When it submerged, the engine ran a generator to charge batteries to operate an electric motor. The improved propulsion methods were, unfortunately, highly dangerous. Not only is gasoline flammable and unstable, using it in the restricted environment of a submarine posed quite a hazard for the crewmen. There was another problem, too: the batteries were not only heavy, cumbersome, and inefficient, but they were also extremely volatile.
During the same period as Holland’s efforts were being trialled, a German scientist by the name of Rudolf Diesel created an engine which used a fuel less explosive than gasoline and which could consequently be stored safely. Another advantage was that there was no necessity for an electric spark to ignite the fuel. These safety improvements combined with better fuel economy allowed Diesel engines to power a submarine for longer on the surface; however, batteries were still needed to supply energy for underwater operation.
Although diesel-powered submarines were successful and used by the US Navy for almost 50 years, the search for a single power source carried on. It wasn’t long before the concept of nuclear power was realised in Germany and taken up by an American physicist, Ross Gunn, who could envisage its potential in submersibles. A research team was put together to adapt the concept of nuclear power for use in submarines. In effect, modern nuclear submarines have on board a small nuclear power plant which produces a great amount of energy. This is used to heat water and create steam which drives a huge turbine which turns the propeller.
There have been many adaptations and technological improvements made to submarines over the years, but the shape is basically the same. Obviously, it is a totally enclosed craft, cigar-shaped with narrowed ends. The outer hull is the largest part of the boat and forms the body. The inner hull is designed to resist the considerable water pressure and insulates the crew from the cold. This is where the crew works, eats, and sleeps. It also contains the engine room and the apparatus that makes clean air and clean water. Between the hulls are the ballast tanks for controlling buoyancy. There is a tall fin-shaped sail that comes up out of the hull. Inside the sail is the conning tower and extending from this, to the fore, there is a periscope (through which the captain can see the sea and sky when the submarine is near the surface of the water). Sonar is used for navigation deep below the surface. The other projection from the conning tower is the radio antenna.
Underwater, there are two controls for steering the submarine. The rudder (like a tail fin) controls side-to-side movement, and diving planes influence rise and descent. There are two sets of diving planes: the forward sailplanes and the stern planes, which are located at the back with the rudder and propeller.
Advancing technology will undoubtedly result in different shapes and modes of operation, and it is quite possible that, in the future, submarines will be manned by robots or computer technology that communicates information to land bases via satellite.
Listen to the audio and complete the notes below. Put one word in each gap
Read the task and prepare your 2-minute speech on the topic «A place near the sea»
Describe a place near a lot of water you enjoyed visiting.
You should say:
- where this place was;
- who you went there with;
- what you did there;
and explain why you enjoyed visiting that place.
Speak no longer than 2 minutes.
Cover all of the points, use the active vocabulary of the lesson.
- Structure your talk by using your notes and introducing you points clearly.
- Use appropriate phrases to mark the stages in your talk.
- Give reasons for your answers.
- Offer extra details, extend your answer.
- Sound interested in what you are saying.
- Speak clearly so that the examiner can hear you easily.
- Use wide range of vocabulary.
Wordlist
1. restless
2. facilities
3. deck
4. cabin
5. obtain
6. steward
7. appetite
8. voyage
9. ferry
10. upgrade
11. queue
Useful language
- a reclining seat
- caters
- an overnight trip
Allow your browser the access to the microphone, press the button «Record» and record the speech you have prepared
Look at the map below and describe the information which it provides
IELTS Writing Part 1
Write a description of the charts.
You should:
- write at least 150 words.
- spend not more than 20 minutes on this task.
Exam advice
Chart summary
- Study the chart(s) carefully and look for the most important features.
- Write an introductory sentence which says what the chart(s) show(s).
- Make sure the facts you write are correct.
The two maps below show an island, before and after the construction of some tourist facilities.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
To refresh the strategy of dealing with the task follow the 🔗link
Wordlist
1. restless
2. facilities
3. deck
4. cabin
5. obtain
6. steward
7. appetite
8. voyage
9. ferry
10. upgrade
11. queue
Useful language
- a reclining seat
- caters
- an overnight trip
- Warm-up
- Lead-in
- Sea travel
- Voyage
- On board a ship
- Travel experience
- Underwater travelling
- Travelling under the sea
- Ocean biodiversity
- Speaking
- Describing a map