Describe a person who helps protect the environment
Describe a person who helps protect the environment
You should say:
- Who this person is
- How you know them
- What they do to protect the environment
- And explain how you feel about their actions
One minute to prepare, then speak for one to two minutes.
How to plan it in one minute
- Choose a real person to make your delivery more natural and effortless.
- Jot down three specific actions they take to avoid repetitive vocabulary.
- Use the final bullet to connect their actions to your own personal feelings.
Band 8 model answer
I’d like to talk about my cousin, Sarah, who is truly an environmental crusader. I have known her since we were children, as we spent every summer at our grandparents' cottage in the Lake District, but it was only recently that I truly appreciated her dedication to the planet. Sarah works as a marine biologist, but her commitment extends far beyond her professional duties into her daily lifestyle. She is a staunch advocate for zero-waste living. She meticulously avoids single-use plastics, even going so far as to frequent bulk-buy stores where she brings her own glass jars and fabric bags. Beyond that, she organises monthly community beach clean-ups along the coast near her home in Brighton. I’ve joined her on a few occasions, and it’s genuinely eye-opening to see the sheer volume of waste that ends up on our shores. She also volunteers her weekends to rehabilitate injured seabirds, often turning her spare room into a makeshift clinic. Watching Sarah operate, I am struck by her unwavering consistency. It isn't just a hobby for her; it is a fundamental part of her identity. Honestly, I feel incredibly inspired by her actions because she demonstrates that one individual can indeed make a tangible difference. In a world where many people feel helpless about climate change, Sarah’s proactive approach serves as a powerful reminder that small, deliberate steps, when taken regularly, have a significant cumulative impact on the health of our local ecosystems.
241 words, about two minutes at a natural pace. Details are invented; use your own.
Vocabulary from the answer
- environmental crusader
- someone who campaigns vigorously for environmental protection
- staunch
- loyal, firm, and committed in an attitude
- zero-waste
- a lifestyle aiming to send nothing to landfills
- bulk-buy
- purchasing large quantities to avoid individual plastic packaging
- proactive
- creating change rather than just reacting to events
- tangible
- clear, definite, and able to be touched or felt
- cumulative
- increasing in quantity by successive additions over time
- ecosystems
- a biological community of interacting organisms and environment
Part 3 questions that follow this card
- What role does society play in shaping our attitudes towards this?
- Has the way people view this changed over the years?
- How do you think it will develop in the future?
- What are the benefits and drawbacks?
- Do you think the government should be involved in regulating this area?
Answer each in three to five sentences: position, reason, example, limit. See the Part 3 guide.
Say it out loud and get a band
Record this card with the AI examiner: one minute of prep, two minutes to speak, then a band for fluency, vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation with the words that cost you.
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Frequently asked questions
How should I start the cue card "Describe a person who helps protect the environment"?
Choose a real person to make your delivery more natural and effortless.
How long should my answer be?
Speak for the full two minutes, about 220 to 280 words at a natural pace. The examiner will stop you at two minutes, which is a good sign, not a problem.
Can I use this model answer in the exam?
Use its structure and vocabulary, not its sentences. Examiners recognise memorised answers and mark fluency down; a shorter answer from your own memory scores higher than a recited one.
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