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Speaking vocabulary · Topic 13 of 46

Travelling

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.

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

  • read and listen to model answers to 2 Part 1 questions about travelling
  • 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 outlook for a long time at something outside
  • take in the viewlook at and enjoy what you can see
  • breathtakingextremely beautiful or impressive
  • get carsickfeel ill because of the movement of a car
  • set offstart a journey
  • make good timetravel faster than expected
  • pull overdrive to the side of the road and stop
  • stretch your legsgo for a short walk after sitting for a long time
  • memorableworth remembering
  • are we there yetwhat children often ask on long journeys

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 a window seat when you travel?

Definitely, because I love being able to gaze out of the window and take in the view, especially on trains through the countryside. When I fly at night, seeing a city from above can be absolutely breathtaking. Sitting by the window also means that I'm less likely to get carsick.

Did you go on long journeys with your family as a child?

Yes, every Spring Festival we drove about eight hours to my grandparents' village, and we'd always set off before dawn so that we could make good time. My father would pull over every couple of hours so we could stretch our legs, while my sister and I kept asking “are we there yet?” Looking back, those trips were really memorable, even though they were exhausting.

Step 3

Practise the vocabulary

Exercise 1

Match the meanings

Choose the phrase that matches each meaning.

start a journey
extremely beautiful or impressive
go for a short walk after sitting for a long time
travel faster than expected
feel ill because of the movement of a car
what children often ask on long journeys
look for a long time at something outside
look at and enjoy what you can see
worth remembering
drive to the side of the road and stop
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).

breathtakinggaze outget carsicktake in the view

Do you prefer a window seat when you travel?

Definitely, because I love being able to of the window and , especially on trains through the countryside. When I fly at night, seeing a city from above can be absolutely . Sitting by the window also means that I'm less likely to .

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.

Did you go on long journeys with your family as a child?

Yes, every Spring Festival we drove about eight hours to my grandparents' village, and we'd always before dawn so that we could . My father would every couple of hours so we could , while my sister and I kept asking “?” Looking back, those trips were really , even though they were exhausting.

Exercise 4

Choose the right phrase

Which phrase completes each sentence?

  1. Definitely, because I love being able to ______ of the window and take in the view, especially on trains through the countryside.
  2. When I fly at night, seeing a city from above can be absolutely ______.
  3. Sitting by the window also means that I'm less likely to ______.
  4. Yes, every Spring Festival we drove about eight hours to my grandparents' village, and we'd always ______ before dawn so that we could make good time.
  5. My father would ______ every couple of hours so we could stretch our legs, while my sister and I kept asking “are we there yet?” Looking back, those trips were really memorable, even though they were exhausting.
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.

123
45
6
78
9
10

Across

  1. 1 extremely beautiful or impressive (12)
  2. 6 travel faster than expected (4,4,4)
  3. 7 start a journey (3,3)
  4. 9 look at and enjoy what you can see (4,2,3,4)
  5. 10 go for a short walk after sitting for a long time (7,4,4)

Down

  1. 2 what children often ask on long journeys (3,2,5,3)
  2. 3 feel ill because of the movement of a car (3,7)
  3. 4 look for a long time at something outside (4,3)
  4. 5 worth remembering (9)
  5. 8 drive to the side of the road and stop (4,4)

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.