Author: admin

1. Describe a time when the weather changed your plan.

• When this happened
• Where you were
• What kind of weather it was
• Explain why you could not finish the thing
• What you did in the end

• Well, I remember awful weather prevented me to attend my class last year
• I’m studying in Bangalore, and my mom came over to see me for a few days
• I thought to accompany her on return and to have a couple of days with my whole family in Mumbai
• Therefore, she and I planned our itinerary in a way that we would be flying on Friday evening, and I would be returning on Sunday night so that I could attend my school on Monday morning
• Everything went ahead as planned, but it started pouring on Sunday morning
• Mumbai, at times, receives unprecedented rainfall, but this time it was beyond my imagination
• The city received over 400mm rain in just 10 hours, and it was like, the entire city was submerged in water. I wanted to brave the weather but then decided against it as I could see from my balcony that many cars were swimming on the road
• I remember waiting for the sun to break through the clouds and water to recede (=abate, decrease) but in vain
• Eventually, I had no chance but to cancel my plan to go back to Bangalore. In any case, flights were canceled on that day, so even if I wanted to fly, I couldn’t
• It was frustrating because I had an important class to attend that day and missed it
• As soon as the weather let up (=abate, lessen, decrease), I flew back on the following day

Follow-up questions:

• Where can people get weather reports?

There are several sources from where you can always get the weather updates. People regularly listen to weather forecasts on radio and television. But this habit seems to be getting obsolete as smartphones also give you instant weather forecasts these days.

• How do weather reports affect people’s life?

It does a great job, in fact. Perhaps in India, it may not be very much useful because it doesn’t snow here. But I think people in Europe and North America cannot do without it. The weather in those parts of the world is extremely unpredictable. In my country, more than flurries, we are concerned about fog in winter, especially in North India. Some cities and states in North India get covered in a thick blanket of fog. And, it’s really scary when you drive while clearing those patches of fog.

• What do people do on rainy days and sunny days?

It rests on what kind of personality you are. If I’ve to deal with rains, I will be blooming like a peacock. I love getting drenched in the rain. But some people hate it. I love sunny days in winter because India has warm weather throughout the year. And, at times, the sunshine is harsh on you. If you see my arms, they are tanned because of the harsh summer. In a nutshell, the bright weather with some sun during winter is always welcomed.

• Has climate change affected your country?

Yes, I think so because I can witness extremes of the weather for the last some years. Sometimes it rains heavily and the other time, it hardly rains. And the same goes for the winter season. It feels chillier than what it was some ten years ago. In short, we have been experiencing both the worst worlds of the weather.

• Does the weather affect your mood?

Yes, it does greatly. I think this applies to all humans. Anything extreme puts you down. I mean too cold or too hot, both are undesirable. As far as I’m concerned, I can’t stand with the hot weather and feel like killing myself during the hot summer. It kills my productivity and creativity also, whereas pleasant weather pumps you up, and you feel going out and explore the world or hang out with friends. In extreme weather, you feel being at home or office and decide not to brave the weather.

2. What would you like to change at the place where you live?

• How you can do it
• What obstacle you could face
• Why you want to make this change

• There are many things that I want to see them changed where I live. But I think I cannot cover all of them today in this speaking session
• Let me pick the one issue for this question. We’ve a large garden nearby, and it’s one of the most visited parks in our vicinity (=neighborhood, proximity)
• However, whenever I visit this park, I always feel that the municipality could make this garden much better than what it looks now, but it never happens on its own
• Therefore, one day I decided to gather some people and collectively approach the authority and pressure them to beautify this park. You know what? The municipality receives an abundance of funds every year to maintain and beautify this park, but these corrupt and unconscionable (=unethical, preposterous) people take away our hard-earned money for their personal use
• First, I started to visit this park every morning and evening and made friends. I mean I talked to everyone for a few days, and gradually I convinced them to unite for this cause. In three-month time, I managed to gather more than 150 park-goers and collectively we jotted down improvements that we want to see in the park
• We voiced our disagreements and appealed to the municipality to spend money on beautification and installation of some amusement rides for children
• In the beginning, nobody bothered our request and were unmoved. Such thick-skinned people they are!
• But we kept on building pressure on them by writing emails, posting dirty spots of the park and broken amusement rides on Facebook, posting pictures on Twitter, and whatnot
• Eventually, they realized that this movement was getting bigger and swung into action under pressure. We got whatever improvements done that we wanted then after
• Now, you can see well-maintained jogging and walking track, the lake got the life, all new amusement rides for children installed, gazebos were repaired and refurbished, more new trees were planted for the future, and toilets get cleaned properly and attentively twice a day
• After everything was done, I was proud of myself because it was something benevolent (=caring, benign) job for society. It’s our hard-earned money in the form of tax collection for the government, and these bureaucrats were enjoying their lives on our money. Plus, people of all ages deserve all the facilities in this park, and they were ignored for a long time

Follow-up questions:

• What is the best place to communicate with people?

I guess all the places are good enough to communicate with people, but we’ve got to see that some places need to be noise-free. For example, we need to restrain our loud voice in religious places or libraries, or else people will be disturbed and annoyed. We’ve no right to harass people by promoting a noisy environment. Some people lack this basic discipline and behave as if they had always owned this world.

• Why is it important to communicate with people?

We cannot live in isolation. You would have seen some people are courteous but aloof (=unresponsive, detached). We all are social animals and need interactions more often or you feel being jailed for no reason. Loneliness takes me on a drive, and I always need somebody around me. If there’s no one, pets fill that vacuum because, for many people, pets are their family members. I’m one of them.

• Does technology impact the way people communicate? In what way?

Technology has changed our lives immensely, and it’s both positively and negatively. I’ll talk about its positives. Today, I can video chat with anyone in any part of the world at almost no cost. It’s cool. My girlfriend does video chat whenever she feels talking to me, and that’s the great innovation for connecting people. You’ve many popular texting apps on which you can share photos, hilarious snippets and forwards, and leave important messages if somebody is not available. Businessmen also use specific apps that are designed to address their needs. Overall, we can’t do without technology and communicating gadgets.

3. Describe the happiest day you had.

• Where you were
• Who were you with?
• What you did
• And explain why you think it was the happiest day

• I guess it’s a difficult question to answer because there are countless moments we’ve in life when we feel the happiest on earth
• But the good news is I’ve picked one from so many
• I love pets, whereas my father doesn’t like to have a pet at home. Therefore, I had been convincing him to get me a dog for a long time, but he didn’t heed at my request
• I don’t know what happened to my daddy all of a sudden. He surprised me by presenting a pup to me last year. It was just unbelievable, and I was taken aback (=bewildered, confused) to see my daddy carrying a puppy in his arms for me
• I pinched myself to ensure that I wasn’t dreaming. But ‘no’, I wasn’t, and it was happening
• I was also confused over the decision of my daddy that he didn’t buy any popular breed of the dog. Instead, he brought the stray puppy from somewhere. So, I thought of knowing his rationale (=explanation, reason) about it. He said, “He’s an orphan, and he was weeping by the road. The moment I heard him crying, I couldn’t help but fall in love with him”
• This was amazingly a 360 degree U-turn of my daddy. He fell in love with a dog that was simply incredible. But, anyway, I love all dogs whether they are stray or not
• The moment my daddy handed over the puppy in my hands, I was speechless and didn’t have words to thank my daddy for this remarkable gift
• Apart from my daddy, everyone in the family was on the same boat. I mean they favored the decision of having a dog at home
• I love dogs and cats very much
• Anyway, so there was all cheering from my mommy, sister, and grandfather
• We were fighting for naming him. Everyone has his choice of name, but in the end, everyone accepted the name that I chose for him. I named him ‘Piper’
• Truly, I believed that unexpected things happen in life, and some surprises are simply superb and joyful
• I felt like running around and dancing the whole day. And even when I’m describing this moment right now, I feel as if it had happened this momentous incident yesterday
• I can say proudly that this was one of the happiest days in my life

Follow-up questions:

• Do Indian people spend a lot of money on birthday presents?

Yes. It’s a new culture these days. Party inflation is a matter of discussion and arguments, and you could see this as one of the most debated topics. It wasn’t such in the past, but people not only give gifts to others on birthdays but they also get gifted in the name of a ‘return gift’. The money they spend in celebration of the birthday and gifting is overly dizzying.

• What do Indian people do on New Year?

It all depends upon what kind of personality you are. The youth stays up late night and wait for the New Year, and at the tick of 12, they set off firecrackers and dance with friends. Boys and girls roam around the city yelling and enjoying. Some people don’t like to go out and enjoy, and they stay home and celebrate and welcome the New Year. In my family, we’ve dinner together with relatives, and every year the host changes. I mean if it were celebrated this year at my place, the next year would be at somebody’s place. So, roughly our turn comes once in ten years. 

• Do you think we are happier than the people in the 19^th century?

I’m not sure about it because happiness is a very subjective topic. For example, billionaires may have sleepless nights, whereas people without a roof over their heads have sound sleep. Therefore, it has nothing to do with the present and past. People with lesser means also know how to remain happy and are motivated in any condition. In a nutshell, I don’t believe in this statement.

• Why childhood is the best time for most people?

It’s simple because you don’t have internal and external worries. Nor do we have lofty ambitions and ego! The more mature you become, the deeper you think about difficulties and critical times. At times, it’s unwarranted, but human behavior is such, and we can’t help it.

• Do you think money can bring happiness in life?

Not all times, but to a great extent. It’s easier said than done, but money makes life comfortable. I would rather love to cry in a Lamborghini Gallardo than to cry in an open public place.

• What do you think is important in bringing happiness?

The most important part starts with ‘US’. Some people face all critical situations with a grin and make it inconsequential (=insignificant, negligible). At the same time, some people have a habit of grudging every tiny thing, which may impact our lives. Such tormenting and complaining behavior put us away from happiness. Happiness is a state of the mind broadly. You’ve got to learn how to navigate through turbulent times of your life.

4. Describe a film you watched.

• When and where you watched it
• What the movie was about
• Why you chose to watch it
• How you felt about it

• Watching movies is very much a part of our lives, and there’s no question about it
• Fortunately, we’ve options for watching movies in cinemas and at home these days. This was not the case in the past
• I remember watching one of my favorite movies named ‘Skyfall’ with my friend in Toronto last month. It’s an old movie, which first released in 2012. But I like this movie very much, so my friend and I decided to watch it again
• It’s a movie about a fictional MI6 agent, James Bond. James Bond character is popular all over the world, and I’m sure everybody must have grown up watching this character
• ‘Agent down’: You hardly hear this word in the Bond movies, but in this movie you see the first Bond being shot and almost died and resurrected
• It’s a pure thrilling movie. An ex-MI6 agent steals a computer hard drive with top secrets and carries out a vendetta on Bond’s boss ‘M’. ‘M’ is ‘Moneypenny’, who is a usual character as a boss of the agent in Bond movies
• Then, you see the whole series of attacks on the headquarters of the British Spy Office, and their deep assets get killed by the order of the villain – ex-MI6, Javier Bardem
• As usual, Bond goes after him to neutralize, and in the end, he wins but ‘M’ dies and many other undercover agents, too
• I like most James Bond movies for some reason. They are packed with flyaway entertainment, cars with the latest technology, new gadgets, and those beautifully designed suits of James Bond
• I also love the way Bond introduces himself and background music. What he says, “Bond, James Bond”
• This latest Bond, Daniel Craig is superb compared to his predecessors (=former, ancestor) for many reasons. In old Bond movies, you would never see him bleeding, and they were slightly superficial on certain action scenes, whereas in the latest Bond movies they try to make it real. I mean Bond gets hurt, bleed, and writhe (=recoil, wince, suffer) in pain
• I can binge-watch all Bond movies more often, and now I’m waiting for his new movie, “No Time to Die”

Follow-up questions:

• What kinds of films are popular in India?

I guess it depends upon the characteristics of people who have certain preferences toward a specific genre (=category, kind, style – check pronunciation). Kids love cartoons and youngsters may love to watch movies that include romance or fantasy. So we’ve all types of movies, but these days, movies that deal with thrill, suspense, and action generally make the top. In the past, love stories were popular but now not anymore.

• Do different age groups like the same kinds of films?

I doubt it. You know it’s a journey of life. I mean when we’re kids, we love movie genres, such as cartoons, mindless actions, and maybe fantasies. As we grow, we lean towards thrillers, comedy, and romantic movies. And during the 30’s and 40’s, again a bit of mixture that we prefer, and as we age further, we choose to watch different kinds of movies.

Yet I’m not sure about what I want to say because it’s hard to know the human preference with changing times. What you like now, you may hate it later, so it’s difficult to say that all people of different ages like the same kinds of movies.

• What kinds of films do young people particularly like?

I guess they love movies which are on romance, comedy, fantasy, action, horror, and spy thriller. I’ve also seen people in their late 20’s taking interest in documentary movies. The youth, these days, prefer to keep abreast of (=to make sure you know all the most recent facts about a subject) what happened to certain stories, political nonsense, and episodes which were epoch (=era, time, a particular period in the past) incidents in the country’s history.

• Do fewer people choose to watch movies in cinemas than people did in the past?

I will answer this question by coining a new terminology. It’s pre and post coronavirus time. Before the coronavirus struck in the world, people loved going to cinemas to watch their favorite movies. The big and widescreen makes sense when you really want to enjoy the movie. I personally love to go to watch a movie in the auditorium. But things changed after the outbreak of coronavirus in the world. People yet are scared to go to theatres, citing they might contract coronavirus. Therefore, it’s fair to say that it has changed a lot, and people no longer want to risk their health by visiting theaters. I guess cinema halls will be back to their glory once the fear of coronavirus is gone or vaccine is available. The other part of your question talks about yesteryears. I don’t agree with it. People in the past and present enjoy watching movies in the theaters.

• What are other ways to watch movies now?

The OTT platform is in vogue these days. You can watch movies on Netflix and Amazon and also your TV setup box. You pay a yearly subscription fee on Netflix and Amazon and could watch movies of your choice at home. A similar facility is available with your setup box. Some people are members of recreational clubs, and they have an opportunity to watch movies on amphitheaters. We’ve an amphitheater in our society and watch a movie every weekend. It is cool.

• What is the difference between American movies and movies from your country?

American movies are made with a view to reaching out to the world. You can see Hollywood movies showing in every part of the world, and there’s no doubt that they’ve a strong fan following, too. Hence, some of their movies are based on international stories, also. For example, they will spend billions of dollars to make a movie like ‘Troy’, which has nothing to do with the American culture, but it reaches everywhere. While it’s clear that most Indian movies are based on the theme of our country. Things are changing now, and I feel proud that the Indian directors are putting their efforts to make movies that could woo (=solicit, charm, caress) the global audience.

• What do you think of violent films?

Well, all violent movies may not be as bad as we think. Sometimes we need to face the harsh reality of life. And it’s said that movies are a reflection of your society. I agree with this notion. For example, you see ruthless killing in a movie like ‘Uri’, but it’s based on true events. We must not forget that violence is also a part of our society. We don’t approve it, but we can’t sweep it under the carpet (=to try to stop people from finding out something wrong, illegal, embarrassing, etc. that has happened or that you have done). In this episode, we just need to see that children may not wrongly be impacted by watching such violence. Therefore, we need to enlighten (=educate) them with facts and rationale (=explanation, reason) after watching such movies.

• Why do you think movies need computer techniques?

Can we imagine movies such as, ‘The Lord of the Rings’, ‘Bahubali’, ‘The Lion King’ and many more be possible without the use of computer techniques? I guess not. The best-animated movies and movies with special effects and cinematography cannot be completed without the intervention of modern computer technology. For example, the movie such as ‘Finding Nemo’ is an animated movie and one of the most popular, hilarious, and loveliest animated films of all time in the world. Children and parents loved it not only for its content and story but also for advanced technology that was put in use.

• Do you think cinema will disappear in the future?

No, I don’t think so. It’s an integral part of our society for entertainment and unwinding.

• Do you think (watching) films have educational benefits?

Yes, to some extent. Some movies are enlightening in different ways, especially the documentary movies. They offer a wide range of information for students and all. They also offer insight into how and where the world is heading in the years to come. For example, there was a movie called ‘I Robot’ that depicted how technology in the form of robots would intervene in our day-to-day life. People felt it humbug (=babble, balderdash, empty talk) then, but it looks that we are not far away from this technological evolution to happen sooner.

• Do men and women like to watch the same kinds of films?

Hard to say that because all people are unique personalities with unique behavior. This statement could be right for some but not for all for sure.

• In what ways are documentary films and films only for entertainment different?

Documentary movies offer realities that had happened, whereas ordinary movies are commercialized in nature to make money out of the fictional content and story. Therefore, there is a huge difference in both as far as the intent is concerned. I guess the audience knows this distinction before they choose to watch either type of movie.

• Why do you think documentary films are not so popular?

Simply, it doesn’t cater to fictional content that viewers like to watch for entertainment. It’s more of a reality check with educational values. For example, I remember that we were made to watch a movie called ‘Too Big to Fail’ while I was studying the finance course during my MBA degree. The theme was based on the financial meltdown which took place in 2008. This particular movie was helpful for us while completing this course, but it’s not popular yet.

5. Describe an article on health that you read from a magazine or online.

• What the article was
• When and where you read it
• What you learned from the article
• Explain why you think it is a good or bad article

• I remember having read a useful article on mental health while flying to Toronto from Charlottetown nearly one year ago in Canada
• This article talked about mental illness that Americans went through in general and what remedies were available to stay healthy mentally
• While reading this article, I came across some appalling facts and figures about mental illness that people went through not only in America but also elsewhere
• It says that research shows that one in five Americans currently experience mental illness. That’s huge. It is nearly 44 million people we talk about, and if we extrapolate (=hypothesize, deduce) the same number around the world, it comes in over one billion people
• This article was full of sensible facts, pieces of advice, helping avenues and whatnot
• I liked this article because of some remarkable pieces of advice
• In society, people who suffer from mental illness are stigmatized and shamed. Because of this hostile behavior towards these patients in our society, it affects their ability to cope with, solve problems, and adapt. It also affects them to be happy, well adjusted, and productive
• They deserve a better life and peace of mind. It’s possible only when we support them and make them understand that their limiting thoughts only hold them back
• Mental health is as important as physical health

Follow-up questions:

• Why do different people like to read different magazines?

Every human is different and the way he thinks. Some people are interested to learn more about the people who they idolize, whereas others only mind their own business and concentrate their career. It’s simple. People come from different backgrounds, social strata, regions, countries, religions, castes, and creeds. Because of such diversity, preference, and taste for so many things including which magazine to choose will always vary.

• What kinds of magazines do teenagers like to read?

Teenagers are more inclined toward reading magazines that talk about scientific research, innovations, music, entertainment, and popular personalities of the world. All children have their own heroes. Some idolize Steve Jobs or some may like to become a successful businessman like Mukesh Ambani. Hence, any piece of news about their lives is worth following for them.

• What is the difference between the news on TV and news in magazines?

First of all, the news on TV is up-to-date, while news in the magazines could be stale. Magazines are focused on different genres, and in most cases, they confine to their theme and area of expertise. This is not the case on TV. They broadcast all type of news that takes place in our life every day.

• Do people like to read news from the Internet?

This is the trend to dominate in the years to come. Spreadsheet newspapers nowadays look outdated. I guess nobody likes it but elderly people as they’re used to with them. Again, news on the Internet is not only updated but also up-to-the-minute. Plus, most people have smartphones these days, and they’ve instant updates and news on their palms. This remarkable feature of the Internet will crush other forms of news broadcasters and newspapers. More importantly, in most cases, it is free of cost. And we must not forget that our society is price sensitive.

• Do people still buy magazines in your country?

I don’t think so. Most magazine houses are on the verge of collapsing, and many of them have shut their operations now. The Internet gave birth to many new industries, and at the same time, it killed so many, too.

• Do you think people today are healthier than those in the past?

It’s arbitrary (=subjective), I guess. I assume that in the past, hardly people went to gyms to stay fit but their lifestyle was laborious with fewer comforts. This was an added advantage. For example, people used public transportation to commute in the past and that made them walk long, whereas most people own their cars and hardly walk now. In the present time, you will see the influx of gyms at every corner of the street, and people are more concerned about their health and diet but their lifestyle is sedentary (=inactive, idle). Overall, it is one and the same thing.

• Why do magazines have health-related articles?

There is a section of people who is interested in learning about health-related articles. As I said that people nowadays are more interested to remain fit, and they love to maintain their fitness regime at any cost. Magazines have readers from all classes and ages with different preferences, so it makes them saleable with a pure commercialized motive.

• How do people keep a healthy diet?

Countless apps are available these days to profess you about healthy diets. Some gadgets that offer valuable tips on health and your health analytics. These apps and gadgets are available as primary sources. They guide you on what to eat and whatnot. This is how people stay in touch with technology for their customized health-related needs. Apart from this, it’s a usual thing in our society to discuss topics on a healthy diet. Everyone has his say on the diet.

• What kinds of foods are considered as unhealthy?

I think fast food is extremely unhealthy for everyone. Some people consider other foods that contain excessive sugar, salt, and oil. But fast food is a kind of poison and the irony is people relish it the most.

1. Do people in India usually exercise?

Yes, I think so. People are more conscious about their health. To inspire them to be health freak, I guess there’s enough motivation in the environment. You have people talking about health and healthy food all the time, the bombardment of gym adverts and health supplements, plenty of diet plans are available on the Internet, and so many other things. More than making people healthy, it has become a big industry, so you see that impact on the minds of everyone.

1. Describe a time when a family member asked for your help.

• When it was
• Who asked you for help
• How you helped him/her
• How you felt about it

• Family means a lot; it means putting your arms around each other and being there forever
• Whether you call it a clan, call it a network, call it a family, call it a mini world of yours or call it a tribe, whoever you are, you need one, and that’s what is the meaning of family
• Today, I would like to talk about one incident where my niece rushed to seek my assistance around a year ago
• She’s studying at the University of Toronto and was about to finish her undergrad degree in the Finance concentration
• She had to complete her thesis to graduate and was stuck in the middle while writing her thesis paper
• As I also did my master degree in business administration with the Finance concentration, she thought that I could  be the right person to seek some academic assistance, and hence, she called me up for the same
• Initially, as usual, our Indian way, she wanted me to help extensively on her paper because, you know, sometimes we take academic integrity for granted and generally, in most cases, we don’t find it wrong in taking assistance in writing university assignments
• I learned her subject and went through her paper; I mean whatever she had completed then
• First, she wanted me to write, synthesize, and edit her some parts of the paper for which I blatantly (=openly) refused because it was academic dishonesty
• But I lent my helping hand to her in a different manner. I guided her about what to be included, what to be researched, what all citations could be helping to her and whatnot
• On the contrary, I suggested her not to be the one who steals information or indulges in plagiarism (=piracy, falsification) or wants someone to write her paper. Instead, I offered her academic guidance to complete her paper
• She soon realized where I came from and agreed with my point
• I felt jubilant (=elated, glad) when she called me after some time about her final grades
• She got 88% in her final thesis paper
• She called to thank me for my guidance. And I said, “You yet to have your finest hour.” There could not be a better moment in our lives than to help family members and see them doing the best. That was special news for everyone in our family

Follow-up questions:

• What can children help their parents with?

I think this could be a big ask from children. Generally, they’re very young to know what parents feel like or what they want. I guess if they remain straight in their academic careers or maybe in their extracurricular activities, parents will be pleased with that discipline. Mostly, parents don’t expect children to return whatever they’ve have given to them, such as time, care, or money. But they really want that their efforts must not go in vain. If children simply understand this ask and align them with this philosophy, parents won’t ask anything more. And why not? Parents make them feel like they can fly (metaphorical expression).

• What are the benefits of children helping their parents?

It shows a sense of responsibility and respect for elders. Children hardly know the fact that how much pain is taken by their parents day and night over the years. Most responsible parents keep worrying about their future and in all their prayers, they’re put on the high priority. And when children reciprocate (=repay, barter, retaliate) with their responsible attitude, it’s like a dream come true for them. They breathe a sigh of relief, and all their worries, all of a sudden, disappear. It makes their life comfortable, which they deserve for all good reasons. 

• Should parents reward their children when they help others?

Yes, absolutely. I personally believe that every good act must be incentivized (= encourage, motivate) in different ways. When parents endorse their good deeds such as helping others, they are further motivated to repeat the same over and over again. This process inculcates (=impart, instill, indoctrinate) good values and respect for other humans. That’s needed because when they grow, their success depends upon various factors, and one of them is to help others selflessly.

• Do parents help their children because they need their help when they are old?

I don’t think so. In most cases, I have seen parents are selfless, and they don’t do good things for their children expecting any reciprocity (=exchange, cooperation, mutuality). They just help them out of pure love and affection. This is the life, in fact, I say. At least, I’ve not seen any such parents who raise their children for any benefit. It’s their blood, after all. I’m sure such selfless love of parents will always exist as long as we survive on this earth. That’s infinite love.

2. Describe one of your family members you spend the most time with.

• Who she/he is
• What usually you do together
• What kind of a person she/he is?
• Why you spend most of the time with her/him

• Family means a lot; it means putting your arms around each other and being there forever
• We love spending time with friends and family in general, and it depends upon the occasion or the mood of the person. Today, I would like to talk about someone who is very special to me in life. It’s none else but my 6-year old daughter, Natasha
• The moment you see her, she is full of life. She’s sunlight. Words will fall short to describe her because she’s a marvelous kid
• My whole day goes by working hard like a donkey at the office. So, when I arrive home, I’m dead tired, and hardly have any energy left for me to talk or do any other activity
• But this little angel comes to me, giggling, yapping, dancing, and, all of sudden, that work fatigue disappears instantaneously
• She’s a sweet talker and inquisitive (=analytical, nosy) by nature. At times, she’s full of remarkable and bizarre (=strange) questions for me
• Some of her questions bring me back to my childhood. She is such a sweet child of mine!
• I’ve inculcated a reading habit in her because kids hardly have a reading habit in our country, and it’s hard for kids to form a habit, which is not in vogue. It’s like you’re moving against the wind. So, I ensure to bring at least 3 new books on different subjects for her in two weeks. They are from stories to fictional novels to sci-fi books
• Both of us read books together; I mean I read my favorite book while she is by me reading her own book
• At times, I read books aloud on purpose so that she follows the suite. And when she does, I’ve an opportunity to correct her pronunciation if she makes a mistake. I ensure that she delivers the right pronunciation with appropriate stress and intonation
• It’s important for children when they grow up. They have to deliver different types of speeches in their academics and career. Or, maybe, sometimes they need to do a presentation during their assignments at the school. This skill instills confidence in our children. Therefore, I leave no stone unturned to train her at her early stage of life. Because once she’s grown up, it will be hard for her to develop this essential skill
• While having quality time with her, I see my shades in her. It reminds me of my childhood memories where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky

Follow-up questions:

• How many generations usually live together in India?

In the past, it was usual to see at least a couple of generations live together in my country. But things have changed now. People are no longer interested to live in a joint family, and they rather prefer a nuclear family for many reasons. I don’t see it as a negative development because people didn’t pay a lot of attention to the significant aspect of life, which is privacy. In a nutshell, what was the custom is no more in practice.

• Is it important to visit family members?

Yes, it is. It’s the small world that we own. Plus, it makes sense to check on every family member now and then. Together with the family, it develops everlasting bonding, and it works wondrously during your bad time. For example, people realized the value of family members during the lockdown that was imposed during the coronavirus pandemic. Everyone realized that nothing else mattered than the love of family.

• What are the values of family in your country?

Bharat is a land of joyful giving. Our civilization teaches us to be peaceful, tolerant, and respectful of elders, Mother Nature, and all animals. This overall package of kindness runs through the veins of all Indians. You will find people who would be concerned about feeding even ants. I haven’t seen such a kind and giving culture anywhere in the world. This sums it all, and it comes in the DNA of every Indian. However, we must not forget the fact that some people in my country deviate from these values for short-term benefits, and that’s a plague (=curse, ravage) for society.

• Why is family bonding necessary for happiness in life?

Well, family bonding offers you strength during any type of crisis. How can we live on this earth without family bonding? We will become a stone without love and care. Material things could certainly give us some pleasure for a while, but in the long run, it’s the family that stands by in our good and bad times. With the support and love of the family, several colossal (=enormous, gigantic, huge) difficulties become tiny, and that passes easily.  

• Do you think the support from a friend is different from the support of a family member?

It’s arbitrary (=subjective), I guess. In many cases, we have witnessed that friends have come forward to help people than their family members. The opposite is also true. Hence, I can’t tell for sure what works and whatnot.

• Who should be more responsible for educating children in a family?

I believe it’s the responsibility of the parents. Unfortunately, in my country, we’ve seen that only mothers are burdened to raise children and look after their school workload. It’s unacceptable. Both men and women have a different temperament and a learning curve, so the blending of both could be rather helpful for children. But the societal asking or modern-day settings deprive of the attention of either of the parents. I totally abhor (=despise, detest, hate) this culture, but I can only wail (=grieve, sob, weep) and do nothing about it.

• Do you think there are differences between how men and women care for children?

Well, honestly speaking, I’ve no idea about it. Maybe I’m not that mature to understand the nuance of these critical skills. But let me guess. Yeah, I think there must be some difference. I can tell you from my own experience. My mother is soft-spoken and overly loves me, so even if I do something wrong, she is always there to cover my mistakes. She pampers me a lot. However, sometimes this pampering could land me into trouble. While my father is steadfast (=true, staunch, dedicated) disciplined and straight, and he doesn’t give me much room to play with my mistakes. He teaches me to face any challenge with a grin. Maybe, he faces the real challenges of the world, whereas my mommy is a housewife, so she has a different experience of life.

3. Describe a place where you are able to relax.

• Where it is
• What it is like
• How often you go there
• How you feel about this place

• Being a millennial, to me, relaxation must include some parts of adventures, sound sleep, amazing scenery, and a great place to roam around
• There could be no better place than Canada for all purposes, whether it is enjoying leisure time, or taking some time off to rejuvenate yourself, or going to mesmerizing (=fascinate, enthrall, stupefy) places with friends, or simply skiing
• If I have to choose my beloved place for relaxation, it is always Lake O’Hara Lodge in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia near Alberta
• I’ve several reasons to visit this marvelous beauty over and over again and never get tired of it
• It may not be the fanciest back county accommodation, but it is overly friendly, laidback with a spectacular setting
• This place is so much popular that regulars like me return year after year for hiking the trails or skiing. It’s located near Lake Louise
• I savor the outdoor grandeur. Playing in or on the lake with friends or family members is real fun
• I visit this place at least once a year. I don’t need a reason to travel there, but I make sure to visit this place during summer as it offers lots of things along with better deals of accommodation over a hearty breakfast
• When you visit this place, you feel bliss, serenity, God’s own abode, beautiful birds and their chirping, and the purest water of the lake. It makes you feel as if you are in paradise, and it redeems you from your stress
• It gives you an opportunity to re-energize yourself

Follow-up questions:

• How do students relax?

Unlike elderly people who believe in a complete rest as the form of relaxation, students have altogether a different way to relax. For us, it’s simple. The thing that we like to do is a kind of relaxation. For example, I would love to lie in bed for hours and play games on the laptop is also a form of relaxation. Or going to some places with friends to have unlimited fun with delicious food and drink offers me the best relaxation because the happiness that I get by doing the things that I like is important.

• What activities do employers organize to help employees relax?

Employers, these days, arrange an excursion near their workplace; I mean not very far from their place so that they can return comfortably without having to travel long. They book a resort that includes water splash, restaurant, gaming zone, and a countryside-felt accommodation where they can play games and have fun, and at the same time, they can feel relaxed and motivated after such a vacation.

• Do people now have more ways to relax than in the past?

I agree with this statement precisely. With time, the significance of well-being, frolic activities, and other such facilities to please the mood of people has improved a lot over the decades. Businessmen try hard to come up with new ideas of entertainment and hospitality. It is a big industry worth billions of dollars, and every year, people take out their time from the busy schedule to enjoy. They don’t mind traveling far enough to experience something extraordinary. For example, you have resorts that are placed right in the middle of the forest or a sanctuary to see live animals. In the past, we did not have such entertaining places and even if we had them, only the rich could afford it, whereas it’s now become a commodity. I mean people with the average earnings can also think of going to such places with friends and family and enjoy. In the past, it was just a dream for them.

• Do you think natural sceneries are more helpful than indoor activities?

I guess natural sceneries calm your nerve and offer absolute soothing feelings. It gives a sense of exotic and unforgettable experience, which indoor activities can’t… Just imagine that you are sitting on the deck of a century-old home in coastal Nova Scotia with a glass of Screech rum with 500-year-old iceberg rocks in hand. Or maybe you are sitting right in the middle of the forest of Mahabaleshwar in India and the place is surrounded by large and tall trees. Such an experience is incredible, and if we’ve decided to stay home, probably we will miss a grand opportunity to feel the earth. 

• Do you like to visit movie theaters?

Yes, I love to watch movies in the auditorium. In fact, it’s the only place for you to enjoy the movie. These days, we have an OTT platform on which we can watch any new or old movie. But honestly speaking, watching a movie in the theater offers the maximum joy because of its setup. That dark room surrounded by a Dolby sound system with the cozy seat and never-ending widescreen gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself in the plot of the movie. There’s no comparison.

• Where do Indian people like to go on weekends?

I can’t say exactly about all the Indians how they enjoy their weekends. But, certainly, I can tell what people do around me. Some people pack up their things and go skiing or rafting nearby. Others go to resorts located either in the countryside or in the forest where they get scrumptious food and enjoy playing games and dancing. People like us who are in their twenties love to hand out at the local pubs and clubs, have some drinks, and dance with friends. Possibly, some people might not go anywhere and just relax at home.

• What do old people do to relax?

I think they don’t go far enough and stay home and enjoy it. They strive to enjoy a perfect retirement. They’ve the food of their choice, and it triggers the emotions and gives them the feeling of a free-flying bird. But it may not apply to all the elderly people. Some enjoy outing more than staying home, no matter how old they are and they are as good as children in terms of their ways of enjoyment.

• What is the importance of relaxation?

It soothes your feelings and re-energizes you. Otherwise, people will go crazy and maybe buried under the stress of their career or in money-making.

• What are the ways people relax?

There’s a list of activities depending upon the age, natural inclination, availability of resources, and many more things. It could be from hanging out at the pubs to going places located in the countryside to going with friends and family to entertaining resorts to skiing and going places, where all different kinds of playing facilities are placed.

• What do you do to relax yourself?

It’s typical the boy stuff. I go with my friends to the pub or sometimes go to the multiplex for a newly-released movie. Or maybe if I’m too tired or stressed out at times, I may not go out and stay home and read my novels. It all depends upon the mood, time, schedule of friends, and the money in the pocket.

• Do you think we should take a day off from our work?

It’s a good idea, in fact, I work five days a week. I’ve seen people working for six days a week or the whole week and I feel empathy for them. A 5-day working is the best mode of working so that you can balance your personal and professional life. So those who work for six days or the whole week, I would advise them to take a day off from their work in a week.

• Do you think people can actually relax by doing relaxation exercises?

I’m not sure but maybe. Everybody has his own way to relax. And some people might think that this way is appropriate for them.

• Some people do nothing to relax. Do you think it is a good idea? Or do you think relaxation should include some activities or doing nothing is enough?

I believe relaxation along with the activities that you like the most makes sense. And, that’s the way it should be. You can stay in bed for twenty-four hours and activities that you enjoy the most give you a sense of relaxation and happiness.

4. Describe a goal that you achieved, which was set by yourself.

• What it is
• When you set it
• How you achieved it
• Explain how it influenced your life

• Well, there are several goals that I had set till date; some of them have been fulfilled and others are yet to realize in the years to come gradually
• Today, I would like to share with you one of the goals that make me feel proud of me all the time, and I guess I’ll never forget also
• It was Grade 9, and I always struggled in Math courses. For some reason, it always discomforted me, and it was too heavy pain for me to carry
• Somehow I managed to pass this course but almost failed in this course. It was a sad thing on my part because I became an object of mockery in my classroom. But, more than that, I was worried about how my father would react to this piece of news
• When I came home in the evening and showed my mark card, I was expecting to face his ire
• But he didn’t lose his temper and said, “My doll, I wanted to see you as a commercial pilot in your career but looking at your math performance, I think you better become a businesswoman in the future”
• First, I heaved a sigh of relief as if I had dodged the bullet {idiomatic expression (=to have a narrow escape; to avoid injury, disaster, or something undesirable situation)}, but later on, I realized that I broke the dream of my beloved dad. And the best thing that I learnt was how he adjusted his dream for me. Therefore, after a few days, this sacrifice of my dad was eating me from inside day in, day out
• So, one day I decided not to surrender to my Achilles heel (=weakness, weak link) and fought back
• I started to learn Math course from scratch and studied as if I were going to complete my Ph.D. degree in this course
• Guess what? In year 10, I managed to get 94% in mathematics and a topper in my classroom
• I remember that smile and proud feeling on the face of my dad when I showed my mark card to him. I was waiting for him to say something on this feat of success
• You know what he said, “My sunshine, with this grade, now you can fly Rafale jet fighter for our motherland.” My dad is such a darling, and he knows how to motivate me for the best. His expressions and encouragement were priceless for me
• From this incident, I realized that nothing can stop you from chasing your goal provided you keep on persevering it passionately. You just need to decide it firmly and go after it, no matter how hard it is.

Follow-up questions:

• Do people need to write down goals or simply memorize them?

I guess once you have decided on anything, it is always there on your mind. It stays on your mind always. So, I don’t think people who are self-motivated will be writing down their goals. This is my assumption. I’ve no idea whether people write down their goals or not but it ain’t make any sense.

• Do Indian people usually set goals?

Well, it has nothing to do with the nationality of a person about setting goals. We’re 8 billion people on this earth, but not all are born to become leaders. Inspiration can come from any part of the world. Therefore, maybe some Indians set their goals and maybe others not.

• Should parents set goals for their children?

My answer is ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ both. Let’s start with my affirmative answer. What do you expect from a kid who is just 17 years old? Can we expect any maturity or seriousness toward career building? The answer is mega ‘No’. Yes, we can probably give them the best of the environment and encouragement to be someone. But what parents can foresee and envision the career of children, kids can’t do that. Therefore, we need their guidance for some years. Maybe at least up to 24 years or so.

Now, my negative part of the answer is some parents expect their kids to fulfill the unfinished goals that they couldn’t achieve during their life. This is over the top. Just from my personal example, if I didn’t want to be a general practitioner, I won’t think of it. My mom wanted to become a doctor, so she wanted me to be a doctor. That’s an unreasonable expectation from children.

• When do young people start setting goals for themselves?

Again, it’s arbitrary (=subjective). I’ve seen some people who have no dreams or goals even if they are married and well in their thirties. At the same time, I’ve seen people who set their goals early in their life and go after them passionately. But the right age is between 17 and 19 because whatever you want to do in your life, it must be backed by your theoretical learning. I mean your education. Otherwise, it’s hard to come back to what you had planned for yourself.

In some cases, for example, if someone wants to become a tennis player, he has to be given all types of motivation, facilities, time, and other things as early as at the age of 9 or 10.

• What are the kinds of goals that are unrealistic?

It’s a good question. Smart goals are realistic, and all other goals are just dreams which are not going to be fulfilled ever. For example, if someone at the age of 21 decides to beat the great tennis player like Roger Federer, it might be a far-fetched dream and almost impossible task to achieve it because as I said before if I had wanted to become a tennis legend, I had to start at the age of 10 or so.

• Do young people and old people have different kinds of goals? If yes, what are they?

Certainly! As human grows old, he gets matured with every good or bitter experience. Goals change as we age. For example, a kid may want to become a football player, and somebody who is 65 years old wants to run as fast as he could. So, both put their efforts to fulfill their dreams of what they want to achieve. Both may have different approaches to reach their goals.

• What is more fulfilling working towards a goal or achieving it?

I would say it’s a journey, and both have to be enjoyed. While moving toward our goal, we’ve some unforgettable experiences. Sometimes you win, and sometimes you also fail. Yes, there couldn’t be a better joy when we reach our destination; I mean our goal. Because when we turn back and see what it had taken to achieve our goals, it’s a marvelous journey that we have walked on. Sometimes in the process, we tend to lose our best time of enjoyment, sleep, money, friends, excitement, and among others. But everything is worth it, in the end. 

• Do you think it is important to have realistic goals?

It does by any means or you end up disgruntled forever. Unrealistic goals put unnecessary pressure on people, and at times, it is unbearable and torture. It leaves scarred memories. That’s why it’s highly advised to set those goals which are in our boundaries. At the same time, the goal-setting must test our boundaries, otherwise, they cannot be termed as goals, too.

5. Describe a time when you missed an appointment.

• When and where it happened
• What the appointment was for
• What happened when you missed it
• And explain how you felt about the appointment

• Oh, my dear! Sometimes missing an appointment could be as bad as missing an opportunity. It happens more often in our life, so there must be discipline to be punctual on appointments
• I won’t go far back to refresh my memory about when I missed an appointment. In fact, it happened just last week
• I have been preparing for the IELTS test for the last month. And I had a few doubts on my Writing Section, so I wanted Mr. Gambtoo to help me on my write-up
• He doesn’t train these days, but somehow I convinced his secretary to arrange my appointment to help me with my Writing section
• I was allotted 12 minutes for this appointment, and I arrived at his office slightly late by 5 minutes
• We discussed on my queries exactly for 7 minutes, and then he let me go
• I was first shocked at this punctuality and time management and sulked my face with disappointment because I wanted him to give me some more time, and it wasn’t enough
• He replied, “You had your opportunity, and I’ve gotta an inventory of several jobs lined up. If I extend my time further for you, I may not justify other jobs”
• I never thought that my procrastination (=delaying) could cost me so badly because I had to go with certain queries unanswered
• And at the time of the exam, I struggled where I was weak, and hence I would never forget this incident in my life
• Initially, I cursed him because 7 minutes of his time could have saved me, and I could have taken my IELTS test more confidently. I was really angry at him and shared my concern with my dad
• My dad simply said this, “You procrastinated, so you are at fault not him. Why make a fuss on something for which you yourself are responsible”
• Then after, I realized my mistake. Yes, it was my fault because he did try to help me but he can’t keep waiting for me only. I should have honored the appointment time, and I missed it big time

Follow-up questions:

• Which events in your country do most people forget?

It depends upon the memory of the person. Most people forget birthdays and anniversaries of others. At times, due to this, the relationship gets impacted also. I can share with you my personal experience on this point. I forgot about the birthday of my girlfriend. And you know what? She broke up the relationship saying that I no longer loved her. So, sometimes this small thing could cost you heavily.

• Do you think it is a good idea to use electronic devices for putting reminders?

Yes, it does help. We, humans, can forget things but not the technology. In fact, I personally believe that we must use technology as much as possible for everything because it brings you back to your destination if you’ve deviated. Technological assistance must be welcomed always.

• Do you use them?

Yes, I use my iPhone appointment calendar, and at the workplace, we use Google calendar so that it keeps you reminding of appointments, and you miss none.

• How memory can help you to learn a new skill?

I believe having a strong memory is an added skill itself. Most people ain’t blessed with a sharp memory, and it’s a natural process. You can’t master it by doing a course or by any other means.

With superior memory, a person can learn multiple skills. He could be good at studying, doing business, or dealing with people also.

• How can modern technology help you keep good memories?

It doesn’t allow you to forget important events. For example, I don’t remember birthdays of anyone, but every morning, Facebook reminds me of birthdays of others. A simple little message on somebody’s achievements or on important events brings you closer to the relationship. It’s cool and caring, and that pays the dividend in the long term. I can give you an example of another remarkable technological boon. I have set a warning message for my car if it over speeds. The moment I cross the limit of 75 mph, a girl like Siri reminds me of my crazy act.

• Is human memory important nowadays?

‘Yes’ and ‘No’ both. If it has to relate with your professional duties, there are several software and apps which keep you reminding of your pending jobs. So, in this case, average human memory can do. But apart from this, we meet people, and in business, sometimes we negotiate certain terms by flouting (=disregard, defy) our own set criteria, and we don’t write them down on some occasions. There strong human memory comes handy because you must remember what you’ve promised or ensured that somebody does not take advantage of yours if it’s not evidenced.

• Can electronic devices such as smartphones replace human memory?

I don’t think so. We have created them, not they have created us. But, yes, they could be handy to our memory and life. They make things easier for us, and without them, it’s hard to think of life these days.

• How often do you make appointments?

I guess, at least a couple of them in a day. But the worst part in my country is no matter how disciplined you are, people, at times, manage your time. Sometimes we have unwanted visitors and guests, and they visit us without making appointments. They don’t value the time of others, and it’s big torture that we go through almost every other day.

• Is it important to be punctual in your country?

It is crucial in every country. However, in my country, it is a joke. Most people don’t think about others, but they think about their own conveniences only. In my country, when somebody says ‘5 minutes’, you should assume that he would do his job or return no sooner than 15 minutes for sure. It’s sad to say, but people in my country are not punctual. Exceptions are always there.

• Is it easy to make an appointment in India?

It depends upon the person who (m) you want to meet. It comes down to how much he is busy.

1. Describe an unpleasant job you did.

• What the job was
• When you did it
• Why you found it unpleasant
• How you felt about it

• Well, describing my unpleasant job now is a confession of what I did in my previous job. In fact, it was hard for me to carry this burden for some time.
• But this is the right opportunity for me to relieve somewhat from my misdeeds
• Last year, I joined a small-sized corporation, which had the strength of only 25 employees. I joined as a software designer. My job paid me well also
• I happened to be a part of workplace toxicity. I was one of the contributors of all the mess, which I had realized that I shouldn’t have done that after quitting the job
• Here the story goes! Our boss rebuked our team leader on one project in which the company had not only incurred the loss but also faced the humiliation of being late in completing the project. The follow-on deal of the company got terminated based on the previous project work progression
• Obviously, the front line, I mean our team leader, had to face the ire of the boss, but this simple thing I didn’t understand that it was a part of professional life
• Our team leader took it to himself personally and turned a saboteur (= collaborator of the enemy). A couple of other coworkers including myself joined this toxic force without any reason
• We either delayed other projects or delivered a low quality on other projects on purpose. Again, the company had to bear the loss, and they fired our team leader
• In friendship, we also quit the job and joined others
• However, after a few months later, I realized it was absolutely unacceptable and unethical on my part
• I asked a question to myself, “What would I have done if I were a boss.” I had my answer and started cursing for such a crime that I did
• There was no way I could atone my misdeeds, but I felt disclosing all those unscrupulous (= corrupt, deceitful) activities and thoughts with my boss.  I apologized for my acts and took an oath of not sabotaging anybody’s reputation ever in my life

Follow-up questions:

• How do modern technologies influence people?

Modern technologies have greatly influenced people from all walks of life. Technology has made complex ways of working easier, and it’s a great boon to humankind, I would say. In our personal lives, it has brought the world closer than ever before. Today, we can chat with our friends and relatives who are miles away from us through various apps instantly. In our work life, there are several apps and software that have streamlined our job duties. We can track the productivity of every team member by which we can help our company to grow swiftly. Overall, words will fall short to describe and admire the presence of technology in our life.

• Do people now work lesser than in the past because of technological advancement?

I don’t think so. In fact, I think otherwise. For example, let’s talk about lazy workers at the workplace. In the absence of technology, they had their ways to underperform but would prove themselves as if they had been outperformers. But technology doesn’t lie, and it catches every piece of inertia. For performers, it keeps on reminding your task. The moment you are away from your objectives and goals, it brings you back to the source. Constant reminders and tracking never allow you to sit idle. So, all in all, I would say technological advancement has increased the burden of duties by multifold, but, undoubtedly, it has streamlined our jobs and organized our work schedules smartly for maximizing growth.  

• Will people work less in the future?

I don’t think so. On the contrary, they will be besieged with innumerable challenges that we might not be facing currently. The world is getting competitive in all aspects, so you’ve gotta put your all things at stake to stay ahead in the race. Additionally, in the near future, we will be competing with humanoids, robots, smart corporations that have inducted artificial intelligence and automation to produce merchandise and drive future sales through economies of scale. Hence, for hard workers, whether they are with or without technology, they will be slogging hard for sure. And those who are incompetent or lazy, they work less now, and the same tradition will continue for them in the future.    

• What does it make people successful?

The one-word answer is discipline. You’ve gotta be disciplined in what you do. Most people take things for granted and fail to understand the significance of opportunity that they have gotten. Successful people create opportunities for themselves and others, and they keep on striving to challenge their own creations/ideas time after time. Most successful people don’t shy away from accepting their failures. Rather, they believe them as a learning lesson for another creation/job. Dynamics and challenges keep changing with time, and they test your experience now and then. Some people get blinded with their success, and sometimes they end up being a one-trick pony (= a person with only one feature, talent, or area of expertise), whereas successful people keep learning and adapting to new challenges. They leave no stone unturned to develop and update skills.

• Do successful people have different abilities?

Some have different abilities but not to all. Yet they mark their success in the long term. Successful people learn how to get things done. That’s their specialty. They never bog down to threats and challenges, rather they convert them to lifelong opportunities. They have resolute conviction in what they do. For example, the world laughed at Steve Jobs in the beginning when he talked about the touchpad screen on the mobile phone. Detractors (= critic, defamer) riled (= annoy, exasperate) him profusely and tagged him as a wacko man. But, deep inside his heart and mind, he knew that the Querty pad will be obsolete one day. And, here we are! He challenged the status quo in the smartphone industry, and he brought everyone to his vision: Touchpad Phones.

• Are the genetics of successful people different?

I don’t think so. Some people are born successful, whereas others learn from their mistakes and improvise from the hindsight (= experience, recollection, knowledge). There’s another section of people who get inspired by the surroundings. Therefore, I don’t think that it has to do anything with genetics. I can tell you countless examples wherein children of successful people are super-duper failures in all their ventures. For example, the son of the great test match batsman, Sunil Gavaskar, did not taste any success in the world of cricket. Hardly, people know his name. So, the bottom line is a success isn’t a monopoly of any person, caste, creed, religion, or anything else.

• How does innovation influence global progress?

Innovation is the mother of breakthrough technologies. Without innovations, today, we would have been riding on camels or horses for commuting. It’s a constant process, and we, humankind, must thank all the innovators for whatever they have created because it has eased our lives.

Innovation makes things easier for all countries to do trade. For example, the internet has brought the world closer than ever before. Today, by emailing and exchanging information and valuable papers with one another anywhere in the world has propelled (= drive, shoot, push) business growth. Just imagine how businessmen did trade in the absences of air cargos and ships. We can think of having anything at our doorstep due to the many innovations made by outliers.

2. Describe an important piece of news that you received via a text message.

• Who shared the message with you
• What the news was about
• How it was written
• Explain why the news was important

• Our cellphones are filled with countless messages, and this digital junk has no value on most occasions unless they are of need
• I would like to share with you one of the important messages that I received around six months ago
• My cousin, Siffat, lives in Auckland, New Zealand. She did her master’s degree and decided to stay back in New Zealand
• She had been hunting for a better job for a long time but in vain
• Because of her consistent failure to obtain the desired job, she remained dejected (= disheartened, discouraged) and upset
• Everybody in the family was worried about her struggle. She is a very talented girl and deserves a beautiful life
• She persevered for her job hunt, and finally, she made progress in her career and got the job that she wanted
• So, it went like this. I wake up and check my phone. I read a notification of a new message, reading ‘Siffat Sis’. Generally, she sends messages via Whatsapp, but this was a regular text message, so it was bizarre
• The message read, “Woohoo! Hey, couch potato (= idler, lazy person). I made it. I’ve got a job respecting my credentials in the Finance Dept. at AIG.” And, there was a stanza of a Hindi song reading, “Aaj me upar, aasman niche.”
• It was such encouraging and good news for everyone in the family
• I was happy for her success because we share a strong bond
• We both did school together up to higher secondary and always helped each other during all good and bad times

Follow-up questions:

• Why do some people dislike sending text messages?

Well, as long as a short message is sent or received, I don’t think people would hate it. But, certainly, most people hate writing a long message including me. It takes a lot of time and effort to compose a long message. It’s just boring! This is my take. But we don’t know how people think about this messaging service. Some people rather believing in talking to someone over the phone than texting a message. To them, it’s a waste of time. At the same time, some people get annoyed at receiving calls, and they rather prefer to be contacted by text messages only.

• What is the information that cannot be communicated via text message?

There could be many pieces of information that are believed not to be sent through messages. Some information contains vital or classified items. If they get viral or get into the wrong hands, it could damage someone’s reputation, or somebody’s money or peace of mind could be robbed of. For example, phishing is a usual way to siphon the money off your account. Sometimes we receive messages asking us for our personal details, such as PAN card, credit card number, one-time password, Aadhar card, and others. If you share these details by mistake with someone, you could surely be in trouble. Hence, people must exercise restrain while sharing such information.

• How do people in India deliver important information?

We’ve ways to transmit vital information to our friends, family, or clients. The best medium that’s believed to be in vogue (= practice, fad, popular) is through email. It’s quick and cheap. Some people in the business also share business details or requirements through WhatsApp. I personally don’t like this mode of communication in the business, but it’s quite popular in my country. Where original papers are needed to be sent, people yet rely on the traditional method of courier via DTDC, Blue Dart, Express Post, or DHL.

• What do you think of traditional paper mails?

The significance of paper mails has diminished a great deal these days. However, it has not become obsolete (= archaic, antiquated) yet because there are tens of thousands of people across the globe who believe in verifying, receiving, or sending original papers to the opposite party. Plus, we cannot expect all the people to be well versed with technology. Some people may not have access to technology, and they use traditional methods of communication. I foresee a further downward on the traditional paper mails. However, when it happens is a matter of a question.

• Do you think it is still a good way to deliver information using traditional mails?

To me, it has some merits depending upon what you are sending or receiving. For example, valuable papers such as passports, property documents, I20s, legal papers, and business agreements among others carry substantial weight and relevant authorities may not accept them in other formats such as photocopy, pdf version, or through electronic mail. Apart from these papers, I think we should use advanced technologies of communication to save time and money both.

• Have our ways to communicate with each other changed in recent years?

Yes, in fact, it has changed a great deal. It’s just like the evolution of humans. In the past, we had a telegram to send urgent messages. Then, we were promoted to trunk calls. People had to book a trunk call with the telecom authority, and they would connect you with the other party in other states. Then after, we had paid STD, ISD, and PCO for making calls and sending messages. Pagers came in life, but they were short-lived. I would say that they died before they were born. In the late nineties, we saw the world of communication changed dramatically. Cellphones made their ways with resounding success, and now they have been replaced by smartphones. I don’t know what lies ahead in the future. It’s quite a transformation, especially in the last thirty years. Technological advancements are challenging all the traditional ways of doing business, communicating, studying, and way of thinking.

• What are the advantages of sending messages via social apps?

The one-word answer is ‘Fun’. Social apps have made the digital platform alive, unlike in the past, which was banal. You have emojis to attach to your message that signifies your mood while sending a message. Otherwise, people might take your message in a bad taste because at the end of the day, it is technology, and it does not deal with emotions and other expressions. Therefore, this feature of social apps has had tremendous success in the present. After the lockdowns of coronavirus in the world, things have changed further. People love connecting to each other via Facetime, Google Duo, Zoom, Jiomeet, and other platforms. People rather pick up the phone and connect to others using such kinds of popular apps. So, the writing and reading part is almost gone. Again, I would say, “quite a transformation.”

3. Describe a volunteering experience you have had.

• What it was
• Where it was
• Why you volunteered
• How you felt about it

• This topic reminds me of my school time because it was mandatory for us from Grade 9 to Grade 12 to participate in community welfare jobs targeted on various causes
• But today, I would like to recount a volunteering experience which I had more recently, not far back
• The entire world has faced a novel calamity named ‘Coronavirus pandemic’. Coronavirus originated in China and spread throughout the world like wildfire in no time
• Ever since it came, the world is a different place now
• This pandemic is not over yet, and every nation is struggling to contain the spread of it
• During this testing time, we saw many people came forward to do a bit, and so did I.
• You would have seen or heard that many people or not-for-profit organizations came to rescue migrant workers, feed underprivileged (= disadvantaged, destitute, needy) people, assist health workers or police officers and whatnot
• The whole country saw a complete lockdown for almost two months. It was like, “Life has stopped all of sudden, and it was frightening for sure”
• I wanted to do my part during this medical crisis and assessed the situation. I realized that there were almost none who worried about stray animals and birds. Who would feed them? Because most of the time, people like us feed them or they scavenge (= search for or collect (anything usable) from discarded waste) from our leftovers (= extra, unused, residual, surplus).
• So, I started feeding stray dogs and birds every day. I would pack up food for birds and animals and travel to several places to feed them
• I felt myself as if I were a Superman for these mute creatures, and this job offered me solace, especially when I looked into the eyes of dogs. They were kind of thanking me every day. Their love and thanking look gave me the motive to do more for them
• I’m also thankful to police officers on duty. Sometimes they stopped me because the public movement was prohibited, but the moment they learnt my motive of traveling, they let me go and appreciated my job
• I felt that this was part of humanity. You couldn’t get better than seeing hungry birds and animals eat or waiting for you as if you were their family members. I guess the compassion (= empathy, humanity, kindness) inside me activated further. It was dormant for the years, and now it has given me a purpose to help these beautiful creatures. It’s really cool

Follow-up questions:

• What qualities are required for being a volunteer?

There could be several qualities required to be a good volunteer. I think that the volunteer should be altruistic (= charitable, philanthropic, humanitarian) because without this quality, probably he cannot perform his duty diligently. In other words, he won’t be able to justify his job. Volunteering is not a commercial business where you think of making money. But it’s a selfless act, and I believe very few people on earth have such selflessness. Moreover, I believe that the volunteer must be driven naturally to fulfill his desire to address the cause. For example, I’m an animal lover, I don’t need any reason to serve them under whichever capacity I do my acts. The motive drives you to do something for which you may not be applauded or recognized. So, the bottom line is you talk to yourself and you satisfy yourself by doing these noble acts.

•  What type of personality does a volunteer have?

I guess genuine volunteers are magnanimous, kind, and altruistic people. They are full of compassion for various causes. Some are driven to help humans and others are there to make the world a better place to live. The quality of serving for the community welfare comes from the heart, without thinking of quantifying gains or publicity. Some people believe in giving back to society because they feel that’s the noblest job they could do in their life. For example, Ratan Tata is considered as the greatest philanthropist in India because he is always there to assist downtrodden (= needy, exploited, destitute) people or when the country needs him the most. Such people leave aside their priorities and rush to help the needy in any difficulty.

• How can companies engage in volunteering help in our society?

It has been around two decades or so wherein large corporations have realized the value of giving back to society. Therefore, it’s a common sight when you visit their websites, they will have a button of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Under the CSR initiatives, these corporations mobilize people and resources on targeted causes. For example, the wife of the Indian billionaire, Mukesh Ambani, Nita does a lot of charity. Her not-for-profit organization feeds people, take hospital expenses of patients who are unable to afford the cost, invest in new ideas wherein the youth are unable to raise the capital for their ventures, and others. All these translate into financial help to people and the country at large. By these benevolent (= benign, generous, philanthropic) acts, she is able to help people to stand on their feet or dream whatever they want.

• Do you think people nowadays should participate more in volunteering?

Yes, I think so. Just imagine how the human race was like some centuries back. Brutal, or not thinking of anything such as resources, animals, Mother Nature, and among others. Now, things have changed because people have access to the world of information, so they know what’s going on wrong and what’s needed to fix any problem. Humankind has realized the importance of helping each other, and we’ve seen on many occasions that they come forward and volunteer for the right cause. We have calamities whether it’s natural or manmade, but thousands of people flock together and assign themselves to do a benevolent job when needed. They set the right tone and example for the future generation. Volunteering is a symbol of humanity or investing in humanity to uplift society.

• How do modern technologies assist volunteers and volunteering experience?

Well, I don’t have much idea about it, but I know of sure that technologies make our life easy and assume that it must be doing the same for volunteers. I remember how technology helped one of our animal betterment organizations. They did not have an X-ray machine for animals. So, people raised funds and bought an X-ray machine for making the job easier. Today, any animal which is hit in the road accident, they are immediately diagnosed, treated, and x-rayed in house. In the past, we had to take injured animals to the hospital for getting an x-ray done. This is one example, but there could be many other things by which, I believe, the life of volunteers has become comfortable to deliver their jobs. Or I would say their passion.

4. Describe something difficult you would like to succeed in doing.

• What it is
• Why it is difficult
• How you would like to prepare for it
• Explain why you would like to be successful in doing it

• That’s a good question. In fact, it relates to my current situation. I have been trying to get 7.5 band score in the IELTS test for the last three months but in vain
• I will become eligible for a PR status only when I achieve 8,7,7,7 score in the IELTS test
• Therefore, I’m putting all my efforts to achieve this target, but I don’t know why I have been failing slightly from the last two tests. In one module, I end up scoring at 6.5 band score, and then I’ve to retake the test all again. That’s frustrating for sure
• I don’t know what’s wrong with my efforts and preparation. I easily manage to get over 7.5 band score in Listening, Reading, and Speaking, but Writing is my Achilles heel (= damaging weakness, failing, defect)
• After successive failures, I decided to take the classes of Vinod Gambtoo for my Speaking and Writing this time. Now, I have learnt what mistakes I was making in the past, and hopefully, I’ve corrected them this time and will achieve the required band score
• I have started to take note of each hardship that I had experienced in my Writing section
• I realized how important Grammar, Vocabulary, and other parameters if someone desires to get a higher band score. I started paying attention to my mistakes and had all my doubts cleared step by step
• This time, I have justified my opening and concluding paragraph of my write-up. Plus, I have improvised my performance by addressing the vocabulary part like the right word for the right situation where I was making mistakes in the past. Additionally, I used to overdo my write-up. I mean I had a popular misconception of writing at length, using very heavy words, and writing off the topic. Hence, my write-up was dense and quite haphazard (= random, erratic, casual, careless) when it came to finesse (= competence, skill, savvy, sophistication). These all mistakes dragged my score downward
• This time, I guess I’ve fine-tuned my preparation and taken care of all those goof-ups (= silly mistake) of the past
• My trainer has taught me a framework of a good write-up, on which I have practiced hard. Moreover, I started to read the right academic material from which I could take some lesson and improve my performance

5. Describe a time you got lost in a place you did not know about.

• When it happened
• Who was with you?
• What you did
• How you felt about it

• Aha! Well, I generally don’t get lost when I travel to places
• But I remember one occasion where I got lost and found myself nowhere in the middle
• It was around two years back when my girlfriend and I decided to visit Niagara Falls
• She had never been to this mesmerizing (= fascinating, enthralling) beauty in her life, whereas I had visited it on several occasions. So, there was confidence, as everyone has when they travel to some places over and over again, that I knew this place better. In fact, no one else knew better than me about this place.
• As it’s always said that overconfidence is evil. And the same happened to me
• Around Niagara Falls, there are many interior roads – some of them lead to the US jurisdiction, too – that I took her to show the places around
• I forgot how to go downtown then. I tried a few ways to arrive at my destination, but that was of no use
• However, it wasn’t bad though because while I was searching for my destination, she enjoyed the ride with me and was witnessing this marvelous place. In fact, she was having more fun at the cost of my desperation to reach my destination
• This place is generally not crowded, so you hardly see anyone on the road
• While I was driving, there came a store, which sold maple syrups, sauces, and other stuff. I pulled over my car there, and we went inside. The owner was in her sixties, and she was really a good lady
• When I shared my trouble, she guided me the way. Not only this assistance, but she also offered us coffee and talked to us gently. She was all ready to come with us to drop us where we wanted to go, but I rather thought of not troubling her
• After her road guidance, we arrived at our destination
• It wasn’t a bad experience because my girlfriend enjoyed the whole ride, and in the end, we happened to meet a noble lady who offered us the best hospitality that she could have offered to anyone

Follow-up questions:

• Do you often get lost?

In most cases, I generally don’t get lost, especially we have a Google map installed on our phone these days. Plus, I guess I’m good at remembering roads wherever I go in the world. However, the incident that I talked about was one of the rarest ones in my life.

• Is map-reading skill important?

Certainly, it is. Or you get lost somewhere, and it wastes your time and gasoline. In North America, we cannot think of going to a new place without map-reading because once you have driven the wrong way, it takes miles to return to correct your driving course. Sometimes I wonder how people managed to drive places without ‘Google Map’ in the past. I remember my uncles used to have a book that showed the written navigation, pictures, and maps in it. But, now it’s gone and technology has made our life easy and comfortable to a great extent.

• Are some people good at map-reading than others?

Well, it’s not rocket science, I guess. Anybody can be good at this basic skill. I don’t think people should be struggling to develop this basic skill. So, my answer is ‘yes’, and most people are good at it.

• Why do some people like travelling to other places?

I think it all depends on your disposition. I sometimes feel that I’m a born traveler. I always love exploring new places and meeting people around the globe. In one life, if you’ve not traveled to magnificent places, your life is boring. It’s not cool at all. At the same time, some people hate traveling, and they are happy with their routines. They get annoyed at disturbing their routines. Well, I can’t comment on anybody’s way of living as it’s their life. We’re just born with different choices. Moreover, our upbringing and friends around us influence our choices, too. When I was very young, I had friends who always loved to go to different places. Maybe that could be a reason that I’m such. So, it varies from person to person.

• Should they find information about the place before going there?

It will be handy if you have collated all the information about the place where you are going. Because it saves time and allows you to have more time to enjoy the place. Otherwise, your precious time will be wasted away. In other words, there is something that can surprise you in this crazy helter-skelter (= chaotic, haphazard, hurried) world.