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Speaking vocabulary · Topic 4 of 46

Lost and found

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.

  • 5 questions
  • 10 phrases
  • 5 exercises
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In this lesson you will

  • read and listen to model answers to 5 Part 1 questions about lost and found
  • 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

  • hand ingive something to a person in authority
  • track downfind someone or something after searching
  • turn upappear unexpectedly after being lost
  • go missingbe lost, or not be where it should be
  • mislayput something somewhere and forget where it is
  • retrace your stepsgo back the way you came to find something
  • panic-strickenso frightened that you cannot think clearly
  • the rightful ownerthe person who legally owns something
  • reunitebring people or things together again
  • come acrossfind something by chance

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”.

What would you do if you found something that someone else had lost?

I'd try to track down the rightful owner first, because there might be an ID card or a phone number inside. If I can't find them, I'd take it to the nearest security desk, since that's where people usually hand in lost property.

Would you report it to the police if you found something that someone else had lost? Why?

It depends on how valuable it is. If I came across a phone or a lot of cash, I'd definitely take it to the police, because they're the most likely people to reunite it with its owner. For something small, like an umbrella, I'd just leave it somewhere where it can easily be seen.

Have you ever lost anything?

Plenty of times, because I'm always mislaying my earphones. The worst time was when my passport went missing two days before a trip abroad. I was absolutely panic-stricken until it turned up in the pocket of an old jacket.

Would you post about it on social media if you lost something?

Yes, I think I would, especially if there was a local group for my neighbourhood. People share posts like that very quickly, which means there's a good chance that someone has seen it.

Have you ever lost your keys?

Once, yes, after I'd been out shopping all afternoon. When I got home, they weren't in my bag, so I had to retrace my steps through three different shops. Eventually a cashier told me that someone had found them by the door.

Step 3

Practise the vocabulary

Exercise 1

Match the meanings

Choose the phrase that matches each meaning.

be lost, or not be where it should be
put something somewhere and forget where it is
give something to a person in authority
so frightened that you cannot think clearly
appear unexpectedly after being lost
go back the way you came to find something
the person who legally owns something
find someone or something after searching
bring people or things together again
find something by chance
Exercise 2

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).

go missinghand inmislaypanic-strickenthe rightful ownertrack downturn up

What would you do if you found something that someone else had lost?

I'd try to first, because there might be an ID card or a phone number inside. If I can't find them, I'd take it to the nearest security desk, since that's where people usually lost property.

Have you ever lost anything?

Plenty of times, because I'm always my earphones. The worst time was when my passport two days before a trip abroad. I was absolutely until it in the pocket of an old jacket.

Exercise 3

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.

Would you report it to the police if you found something that someone else had lost? Why?

It depends on how valuable it is. If I a phone or a lot of cash, I'd definitely take it to the police, because they're the most likely people to it with its owner. For something small, like an umbrella, I'd just leave it somewhere where it can easily be seen.

Have you ever lost your keys?

Once, yes, after I'd been out shopping all afternoon. When I got home, they weren't in my bag, so I had to through three different shops. Eventually a cashier told me that someone had found them by the door.

Exercise 4

Choose the right phrase

Which phrase completes each sentence?

  1. I'd try to ______ the rightful owner first, because there might be an ID card or a phone number inside.
  2. If I can't find them, I'd take it to the nearest security desk, since that's where people usually ______ lost property.
  3. If I ______ a phone or a lot of cash, I'd definitely take it to the police, because they're the most likely people to reunite it with its owner.
  4. Plenty of times, because I'm always ______ my earphones.
  5. The worst time was when my passport ______ two days before a trip abroad.
  6. I was absolutely ______ until it turned up in the pocket of an old jacket.
Exercise 5

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.

12
34
5
6
7
8

Across

  1. 4 put something somewhere and forget where it is (6)
  2. 6 bring people or things together again (7)
  3. 7 be lost, or not be where it should be (2,7)
  4. 8 give something to a person in authority (4,2)

Down

  1. 1 so frightened that you cannot think clearly (5-8)
  2. 2 find something by chance (4,6)
  3. 3 find someone or something after searching (5,4)
  4. 5 appear unexpectedly after being lost (4,2)

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 “Give me a question”.

Press Record, answer out loud, then listen back.

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Questions: frequently reported IELTS Speaking Part 1 topics. Model answers and exercises written for Tips4IELTS.