Speaking vocabulary · Topic 32 of 46
Outer space and stars
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 outer space and stars
- 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
- gaze up atlook at something above you for a long time
- stargazinglooking at stars in the night sky
- light pollutionlight from cities that makes it hard to see stars
- mind-blowingextremely impressive or surprising
- far-fetchedvery unlikely to be true or to happen
- spark an interestmake someone start to be interested in something
- blast off(of a rocket) leave the ground
- once-in-a-lifetimevery special and unlikely to happen again
- futuristicvery modern, as if from the future
- find outdiscover information
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”.
Have you ever learnt about space and the stars?
Yes, a little at school, and a documentary which I watched as a teenager sparked my interest. The size of the universe is absolutely mind-blowing to me, because it makes our problems seem so small.
Do you like science fiction films? Why?
I do, because they're so imaginative. I love the futuristic cities and spaceships, even though some of the stories are pretty far-fetched.
Would you like to know more about space?
Definitely, because I'd like to find out more about whether there's life on other planets. I'd also like to try proper stargazing somewhere remote, since light pollution in my city means you can only see a few stars. Whenever I'm in the countryside, I love to gaze up at the night sky.
Would you like to go into space in the future?
In theory, yes, because it would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But I think I'd be too nervous when it was time to blast off, so I'll probably just watch from the ground!
Step 3
Practise the vocabulary
Match the meanings
Choose the phrase that matches each meaning.
- very special and unlikely to happen again
- make someone start to be interested in something
- light from cities that makes it hard to see stars
- looking at stars in the night sky
- look at something above you for a long time
- very modern, as if from the future
- (of a rocket) leave the ground
- extremely impressive or surprising
- very unlikely to be true or to happen
- discover information
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).
Have you ever learnt about space and the stars?
Yes, a little at school, and a documentary which I watched as a teenager . The size of the universe is absolutely to me, because it makes our problems seem so small.
Would you like to know more about space?
Definitely, because I'd like to more about whether there's life on other planets. I'd also like to try proper somewhere remote, since in my city means you can only see a few stars. Whenever I'm in the countryside, I love to the night sky.
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.
Do you like science fiction films? Why?
I do, because they're so imaginative. I love the cities and spaceships, even though some of the stories are pretty .
Would you like to go into space in the future?
In theory, yes, because it would be a experience. But I think I'd be too nervous when it was time to , so I'll probably just watch from the ground!
Choose the right phrase
Which phrase completes each sentence?
- Yes, a little at school, and a documentary which I watched as a teenager ______.
- The size of the universe is absolutely ______ to me, because it makes our problems seem so small.
- I love the ______ cities and spaceships, even though some of the stories are pretty far-fetched.
- Definitely, because I'd like to ______ more about whether there's life on other planets.
- I'd also like to try proper ______ somewhere remote, since light pollution in my city means you can only see a few stars.
- Whenever I'm in the countryside, I love to ______ the night sky.
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 | 10 | ||||||||||||
Across
- 1 discover information (4,3)
- 4 very unlikely to be true or to happen (3-7)
- 9 light from cities that makes it hard to see stars (5,9)
Down
- 2 very special and unlikely to happen again (4-2-1-8)
- 3 make someone start to be interested in something (5,2,8)
- 5 (of a rocket) leave the ground (5,3)
- 6 looking at stars in the night sky (10)
- 7 very modern, as if from the future (10)
- 8 extremely impressive or surprising (4-7)
- 10 look at something above you for a long time (4,2,2)
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.