Speaking vocabulary · Topic 38 of 46
Science
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 6 Part 1 questions about science
- 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
- fascinated byextremely interested in
- hands-oninvolving doing things yourself, not just reading
- carry outdo a task, such as an experiment
- figure outunderstand or solve something by thinking
- eye-openingshowing you something surprising that you did not know
- fizzproduce lots of small bubbles
- interactiveallowing you to touch or take part
- come acrossfind something by chance
- spark curiositymake someone want to know more
- packedvery full of people
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 like science?
Yes, I've always been fascinated by how things work, even though I'm not brilliant at maths. I love reading about new discoveries, because they show how much we still don't know.
When did you start learning about science?
We started basic science in primary school, when I was about seven. However, it was a children's encyclopaedia which I came across at my grandparents' house that really sparked my curiosity.
Which science subject do you find most interesting?
Biology, especially anything about the human brain, because it's so complex. Every documentary I watch is eye-opening, since scientists still haven't figured out exactly how memory works.
What interesting science experiments have you done?
At school we carried out a lot of simple experiments, which were the highlight of my week. My favourite was when we mixed vinegar and baking soda to make a model volcano fizz and overflow.
Do you like watching science programmes on TV?
Yes, I watch them on video sites quite often, especially when I can't sleep. I prefer the ones with hands-on experiments, because they're more interesting than a presenter who just talks.
Do Chinese people often visit science museums?
Yes, especially families with young children, because the museums in big cities have lots of interactive exhibits. As a result, they're usually packed when it's the weekend or the school holidays.
Step 3
Practise the vocabulary
Match the meanings
Choose the phrase that matches each meaning.
- involving doing things yourself, not just reading
- produce lots of small bubbles
- extremely interested in
- allowing you to touch or take part
- understand or solve something by thinking
- find something by chance
- showing you something surprising that you did not know
- do a task, such as an experiment
- make someone want to know more
- very full of people
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 like science?
Yes, I've always been how things work, even though I'm not brilliant at maths. I love reading about new discoveries, because they show how much we still don't know.
Which science subject do you find most interesting?
Biology, especially anything about the human brain, because it's so complex. Every documentary I watch is , since scientists still haven't exactly how memory works.
Do you like watching science programmes on TV?
Yes, I watch them on video sites quite often, especially when I can't sleep. I prefer the ones with experiments, because they're more interesting than a presenter who just talks.
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 did you start learning about science?
We started basic science in primary school, when I was about seven. However, it was a children's encyclopaedia which I at my grandparents' house that really .
What interesting science experiments have you done?
At school we a lot of simple experiments, which were the highlight of my week. My favourite was when we mixed vinegar and baking soda to make a model volcano and overflow.
Do Chinese people often visit science museums?
Yes, especially families with young children, because the museums in big cities have lots of exhibits. As a result, they're usually when it's the weekend or the school holidays.
Choose the right phrase
Which phrase completes each sentence?
- Yes, I've always been ______ how things work, even though I'm not brilliant at maths.
- However, it was a children's encyclopaedia which I ______ at my grandparents' house that really sparked my curiosity.
- Every documentary I watch is ______, since scientists still haven't figured out exactly how memory works.
- At school we ______ a lot of simple experiments, which were the highlight of my week.
- My favourite was when we mixed vinegar and baking soda to make a model volcano ______ and overflow.
- I prefer the ones with ______ experiments, because they're more interesting than a presenter who just talks.
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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Across
- 7 find something by chance (4,6)
- 9 produce lots of small bubbles (4)
- 10 understand or solve something by thinking (6,3)
Down
- 1 make someone want to know more (5,9)
- 2 involving doing things yourself, not just reading (5-2)
- 3 extremely interested in (10,2)
- 4 allowing you to touch or take part (11)
- 5 showing you something surprising that you did not know (3-7)
- 6 very full of people (6)
- 8 do a task, such as an experiment (5,3)
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.