Speaking vocabulary · Topic 41 of 46
History
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 history
- 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
- bring to lifemake something seem real and interesting
- dryboring and serious
- memoriselearn something so that you can remember it exactly
- look intotry to find out about something
- a page-turnera book that is so exciting you want to keep reading
- artefactan object made by people long ago
- step back in timefeel as if you are in the past
- dynastya series of rulers from the same family
- put things into perspectivehelp you understand how important something really is
- grippingso exciting that it holds your attention
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”.
Did you like history when you were young?
Not at first, because I found it quite dry when we just had to memorise dates and names. A new teacher in secondary school changed that, because she brought it to life with stories.
When was the last time you read about history?
Just last month, when I read a book about the Tang dynasty. It was a real page-turner, because it was written almost like a novel.
Do you like history?
Yes, I do now, because I think history helps to put things into perspective. Some periods are as gripping as any drama, which is why I often look into the history of places before I visit them.
Have you ever been to a history museum?
Many times, but the best was the Terracotta Army museum in Xi'an, which I visited with my family. When I stood among thousands of ancient artefacts, I really felt as if I'd stepped back in time.
Step 3
Practise the vocabulary
Match the meanings
Choose the phrase that matches each meaning.
- boring and serious
- a book that is so exciting you want to keep reading
- feel as if you are in the past
- a series of rulers from the same family
- try to find out about something
- make something seem real and interesting
- so exciting that it holds your attention
- learn something so that you can remember it exactly
- an object made by people long ago
- help you understand how important something really is
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).
Did you like history when you were young?
Not at first, because I found it quite when we just had to dates and names. A new teacher in secondary school changed that, because she with stories.
Do you like history?
Yes, I do now, because I think history helps to . Some periods are as as any drama, which is why I often the history of places before I visit them.
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.
When was the last time you read about history?
Just last month, when I read a book about the Tang . It was a real , because it was written almost like a novel.
Have you ever been to a history museum?
Many times, but the best was the Terracotta Army museum in Xi'an, which I visited with my family. When I stood among thousands of ancient , I really felt as if I'd .
Choose the right phrase
Which phrase completes each sentence?
- Not at first, because I found it quite ______ when we just had to memorise dates and names.
- A new teacher in secondary school changed that, because she ______ with stories.
- Just last month, when I read a book about the Tang ______.
- It was a real ______, because it was written almost like a novel.
- Yes, I do now, because I think history helps to ______.
- Some periods are as ______ as any drama, which is why I often look into the history of places before I visit them.
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
- 4 boring and serious (3)
- 9 feel as if you are in the past (4,4,2,4)
Down
- 1 make something seem real and interesting (5,2,4)
- 2 an object made by people long ago (8)
- 3 learn something so that you can remember it exactly (8)
- 5 a book that is so exciting you want to keep reading (1,4-6)
- 6 so exciting that it holds your attention (8)
- 7 try to find out about something (4,4)
- 8 a series of rulers from the same family (7)
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.