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Speaking vocabulary · Topic 17 of 46

Names

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.

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

  • read and listen to model answers to 4 Part 1 questions about names
  • 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

  • slip your mindbe forgotten
  • on the tip of my tonguealmost remembered but not quite
  • put a name to a faceremember who someone is by their name
  • come up withthink of an idea or a solution
  • mix upconfuse one person or thing with another
  • memorableeasy to remember
  • awkwardembarrassing and uncomfortable
  • brush offtreat something as unimportant
  • take it personallyfeel offended by something
  • go blanksuddenly be unable to remember anything

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 find it easy to remember people's names?

Not very, to be honest, because I'm hopeless with names. Although I'm good with faces, I often can't put a name to a face, and names slip my mind almost as soon as I hear them.

How do you remember people's names?

I've come up with a few tricks which seem to help. I repeat the name as soon as I hear it, and I try to link it to something memorable, like a celebrity who has the same name.

How do you feel when people can't remember your name?

It doesn't bother me much, because I forget names myself all the time, so I'd never take it personally. When it happens, I just remind them, and we usually brush it off with a laugh.

Do you often forget people's names?

Unfortunately, yes. The worst thing is when I meet someone again and their name is on the tip of my tongue, but I just go blank. It's really awkward, especially when I mix up two people who look alike.

Step 3

Practise the vocabulary

Exercise 1

Match the meanings

Choose the phrase that matches each meaning.

confuse one person or thing with another
treat something as unimportant
feel offended by something
think of an idea or a solution
easy to remember
remember who someone is by their name
be forgotten
embarrassing and uncomfortable
suddenly be unable to remember anything
almost remembered but not quite
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).

brush offput a name to a faceslip your mindtake it personally

Do you find it easy to remember people's names?

Not very, to be honest, because I'm hopeless with names. Although I'm good with faces, I often can't , and names almost as soon as I hear them.

How do you feel when people can't remember your name?

It doesn't bother me much, because I forget names myself all the time, so I'd never . When it happens, I just remind them, and we usually with a laugh.

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.

How do you remember people's names?

I've a few tricks which seem to help. I repeat the name as soon as I hear it, and I try to link it to something , like a celebrity who has the same name.

Do you often forget people's names?

Unfortunately, yes. The worst thing is when I meet someone again and their name is , but I just . It's really , especially when I two people who look alike.

Exercise 4

Choose the right phrase

Which phrase completes each sentence?

  1. Although I'm good with faces, I often can't ______, and names slip my mind almost as soon as I hear them.
  2. I've ______ a few tricks which seem to help.
  3. I repeat the name as soon as I hear it, and I try to link it to something ______, like a celebrity who has the same name.
  4. It doesn't bother me much, because I forget names myself all the time, so I'd never ______.
  5. When it happens, I just remind them, and we usually ______ with a laugh.
  6. The worst thing is when I meet someone again and their name is ______, but I just go blank.
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
3
4
5
6
7
8

Across

  1. 1 remember who someone is by their name (3,1,4,2,1,4)
  2. 4 suddenly be unable to remember anything (2,5)
  3. 5 easy to remember (9)
  4. 7 be forgotten (4,4,4)
  5. 8 treat something as unimportant (5,3)

Down

  1. 2 embarrassing and uncomfortable (7)
  2. 3 think of an idea or a solution (4,2,4)
  3. 6 confuse one person or thing with another (3,2)

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.