Speaking vocabulary · Topic 25 of 46
Music
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 music
- 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
- cheer upbecome happier, or make someone happier
- get intostart to enjoy something
- upbeatcheerful and full of energy
- melancholysad, often in a gentle way
- put onstart playing music
- tune outstop listening and ignore what is around you
- give upstop doing something
- pick uplearn something without much effort
- background musicquiet music that plays while you do something else
- lift your moodmake you feel happier
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 prefer sad or happy music?
Mostly happy music, so I put on something upbeat while I'm getting ready in the morning. That said, I sometimes enjoy melancholy songs on a rainy evening, when I'm in a reflective mood.
Does happy music make you feel more excited?
Yes, definitely, because it really helps to lift my mood. If I'm feeling down, a cheerful song usually cheers me up within a few minutes.
Have you ever taken any music lessons?
Yes, I had piano lessons for about five years, but I gave up when I started secondary school because I didn't have enough time. Since then I've picked up a bit of guitar from online videos.
Do you listen to music while you're doing other things?
All the time. I have background music on while I'm cooking, and on the bus I use music to tune out the noise. Although I can't study to songs with lyrics, I've recently got into instrumental music, which helps me concentrate.
Step 3
Practise the vocabulary
Match the meanings
Choose the phrase that matches each meaning.
- stop doing something
- quiet music that plays while you do something else
- make you feel happier
- sad, often in a gentle way
- cheerful and full of energy
- stop listening and ignore what is around you
- start playing music
- learn something without much effort
- start to enjoy something
- become happier, or make someone happier
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 prefer sad or happy music?
Mostly happy music, so I something while I'm getting ready in the morning. That said, I sometimes enjoy songs on a rainy evening, when I'm in a reflective mood.
Have you ever taken any music lessons?
Yes, I had piano lessons for about five years, but I when I started secondary school because I didn't have enough time. Since then I've a bit of guitar from online videos.
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.
Does happy music make you feel more excited?
Yes, definitely, because it really helps to . If I'm feeling down, a cheerful song usually within a few minutes.
Do you listen to music while you're doing other things?
All the time. I have on while I'm cooking, and on the bus I use music to the noise. Although I can't study to songs with lyrics, I've recently instrumental music, which helps me concentrate.
Choose the right phrase
Which phrase completes each sentence?
- Mostly happy music, so I ______ something upbeat while I'm getting ready in the morning.
- That said, I sometimes enjoy ______ songs on a rainy evening, when I'm in a reflective mood.
- Yes, definitely, because it really helps to ______.
- If I'm feeling down, a cheerful song usually ______ within a few minutes.
- Yes, I had piano lessons for about five years, but I ______ when I started secondary school because I didn't have enough time.
- Since then I've ______ a bit of guitar from online videos.
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.
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| 3 | 4 | ||||||||||
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| 8 | |||||||||||
| 9 | |||||||||||
Across
- 1 start to enjoy something (3,4)
- 5 become happier, or make someone happier (5,2)
- 6 stop listening and ignore what is around you (4,3)
- 7 cheerful and full of energy (6)
- 8 sad, often in a gentle way (10)
- 9 make you feel happier (4,4,4)
Down
- 1 stop doing something (4,2)
- 2 quiet music that plays while you do something else (10,5)
- 3 start playing music (3,2)
- 4 learn something without much effort (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 Record, answer out loud, then listen back.
Questions: frequently reported IELTS Speaking Part 1 topics. Model answers and exercises written for Tips4IELTS.