Speaking vocabulary · Topic 3 of 46
Collecting things
Model answers to every Part 1 question on this topic, with natural B2–C1 vocabulary and idiomatic phrasal verbs to help you answer in your own words.
In this lesson you will
- read and listen to model answers to 4 Part 1 questions about collecting things
- learn 10 natural phrases, including idiomatic phrasal verbs
- practise them in a gap fill, drag-the-word, multiple-choice and crossword
- answer the questions yourself and record your answers
Step 1
Key vocabulary
- hold on tokeep something instead of throwing it away
- throw awayput something in the rubbish because you don't want it
- sentimental valueimportance because of personal memories, not money
- pick upget or buy something, often by chance
- treasuredkept carefully because it is very important to you
- cluttera lot of things in an untidy state
- hoardcollect and keep large amounts of things, often secretly
- pass downgive something to a younger person in your family
- keepsakea small object you keep to remember a person or event
- stash awaystore something in a safe or secret place
Step 2
Model answers
Read and listen. The highlighted phrases are the vocabulary for this topic: hover over or tap them to see what they mean. Notice how each answer gives a reason or an example, not just “yes” or “no”.
Do you collect anything?
Not seriously, but I do have a small collection of fridge magnets that I pick up whenever I travel somewhere new. Although they're cheap, each one reminds me of a particular trip, so they've become little keepsakes.
Have you kept anything from your childhood?
Yes, I still have a teddy bear that my grandmother gave me when I was born. It's a bit worn out now, but because it has so much sentimental value, it's one thing I would never throw away.
Do you usually keep old things for a long time? Why?
Only if they mean something to me. My mother tends to hoard everything, which means there's a lot of clutter at home, so I try to be more selective. I hold on to photos and letters, whereas old clothes and gadgets usually go.
Where do you usually keep the things you need?
I keep everyday things like my keys and wallet in a little tray by the door, so that I don't lose them. My most treasured possessions, such as a watch which was passed down from my grandfather, are stashed away in a box at the back of my wardrobe.
Step 3
Practise the vocabulary
Match the meanings
Choose the phrase that matches each meaning.
- a small object you keep to remember a person or event
- store something in a safe or secret place
- importance because of personal memories, not money
- collect and keep large amounts of things, often secretly
- put something in the rubbish because you don't want it
- kept carefully because it is very important to you
- get or buy something, often by chance
- keep something instead of throwing it away
- give something to a younger person in your family
- a lot of things in an untidy state
Gap fill: use the right form
Complete the answers with phrases from the box. You may need to change the form (e.g. drag on → dragged on, struggle with → struggling with).
Do you collect anything?
Not seriously, but I do have a small collection of fridge magnets that I whenever I travel somewhere new. Although they're cheap, each one reminds me of a particular trip, so they've become little .
Do you usually keep old things for a long time? Why?
Only if they mean something to me. My mother tends to everything, which means there's a lot of at home, so I try to be more selective. I photos and letters, whereas old clothes and gadgets usually go.
Drag the words
Drag each phrase into the right gap. On a phone, tap a phrase and then tap the gap. Tap a filled gap to empty it.
Have you kept anything from your childhood?
Yes, I still have a teddy bear that my grandmother gave me when I was born. It's a bit worn out now, but because it has so much , it's one thing I would never .
Where do you usually keep the things you need?
I keep everyday things like my keys and wallet in a little tray by the door, so that I don't lose them. My most possessions, such as a watch which was from my grandfather, are in a box at the back of my wardrobe.
Choose the right phrase
Which phrase completes each sentence?
- Not seriously, but I do have a small collection of fridge magnets that I ______ whenever I travel somewhere new.
- Although they're cheap, each one reminds me of a particular trip, so they've become little ______.
- It's a bit worn out now, but because it has so much ______, it's one thing I would never throw away.
- My mother tends to ______ everything, which means there's a lot of clutter at home, so I try to be more selective.
- I ______ photos and letters, whereas old clothes and gadgets usually go.
- My most ______ possessions, such as a watch which was passed down from my grandfather, are stashed away in a box at the back of my wardrobe.
Crossword
Write the phrases without spaces or hyphens. The numbers in brackets show the length of each word, e.g. kill time (4,4) → KILLTIME.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||||
| 4 | |||||||||||
| 5 | 6 | ||||||||||
| 7 | |||||||||||
| 8 | |||||||||||
| 9 | |||||||||||
Across
- 1 a small object you keep to remember a person or event (8)
- 4 a lot of things in an untidy state (7)
- 7 kept carefully because it is very important to you (9)
- 9 keep something instead of throwing it away (4,2,2)
Down
- 2 get or buy something, often by chance (4,2)
- 3 put something in the rubbish because you don't want it (5,4)
- 5 store something in a safe or secret place (5,4)
- 6 give something to a younger person in your family (4,4)
- 8 collect and keep large amounts of things, often secretly (5)
Step 4
Now you answer
Pick a question, then answer it out loud in two or three sentences. Try to use at least two phrases from this lesson, and give a reason or an example. Record yourself and listen back: did you sound natural? Did you extend your answer?
Press Record, answer out loud, then listen back.
Questions: frequently reported IELTS Speaking Part 1 topics. Model answers and exercises written for Tips4IELTS.