Gift IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card Questions with Answers

I’d like to tell you about a good friend of mine. My friend’s name is Gianni and we’ve known each other for more than thirty years. As you can tell from his name, he’s of Italian descent but he was born in the UK. His mum and dad came to England for work in the 60s and although he was born here, Italian was his first language until he started school. He told me that he had problems adjusting at first, but he soon got the hang of English.

I meet him on our first day at university. He was doing the same course as me, B.A. psychology and philosophy, and was waiting for the lift to go up to the restaurant. We started talking and had lunch together and then became friends. We were both keen on sport and had the opportunity to start playing badminton and golf. He’d never played golf and I’d never played badminton and we were soon playing badminton most evenings and having a couple of games of golf every week.

I’d like to give him a tree. This may seem a slightly strange idea but recently we have been talking about ways to make a bit of cash on the side and I’d researched how trees were a great investment. Firstly, they only get bigger and increase in price and if you raise them in pots, they don’t need a lot of maintenance. Plus, people are becoming more environmentally-friendly, and more people, companies and organisations are planting trees to offset their carbon footprint. Anyway, you look at it, it’s a win/win situation. And if at the end of the day you don’t sell your trees, you are left with a forest and that’s not a bad legacy.

I’d like to give him that gift because as I mentioned, it is a legacy. It’s something that he can keep and hopefully enjoy, and we’re both trying to be more environmental, so it will do something very small but positive toward climate change. I think that I’d make sure that it was a dwarf variety that grew in a pot and if he moved house, he could take it with him. I’d also like to give him a tree as a gift because it is something that I’d like, and I believe that’s one of the secrets of a good gift is that the giver, as well as the receiver, has to like it too. I’m not sure that I’d be comfortable buying someone something I didn’t like, even if I knew they’d love it.

I am going to talk about a time I was given money as a gift. It happened two years ago, after I had graduated from your university. I remember it was on the day of my graduation. As a congratulatory gift, my parents took me for a meal, where they gave me a bulky envelope that said ‘to help you get started’. When I opened it, I saw cash inside.

I was completely dumbfounded. I did not expect such a generous gift! My parents could see the shock in my eyes, and they explained the situation to me. They knew I wanted to pursue a career in the arts, and even though I had graduated with a degree in the field, they were aware of how expensive the supplies would be, and the high cost of living where I wanted to reside. They wanted me to know they had my back, always.

I was moved beyond words, and I teared-up a little. All I could do was give my parents the biggest hug and thank them. I feel uncomfortable asking for money from anyone, as I like to be as self-reliant as possible, but I was so touched by their kindness and unconditional love and support.

I realise how invaluable the gift was, and it has helped me tremendously. I think that, in some cases, money as a gift really can make a difference to someone’s life. My parents’ gift really inspired me to support other aspiring artists who are in the same situation I was. If I am able to make a comfortable living out of my trade, I would love to support others financially, through donations to artistic organisations, for instance