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IELTS Speaking Part 2: IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card.

Describe a famous business person that you know about.

You should say:

• who this person is
• what kind of business this person is involved in
• what you know about this business person

and explain what you think of this business person.

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

Model Answer 1:

There are many great and successful business persons in my country of national prominence who have made a great stride in moving the economy forward. One such person is popularly known “Mr H. Rahman”, and today, I would like to talk about him.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to suggest that Mr H. Rahman is the pioneer of all kinds of modern furniture in my country who actually started his journey about 50 years ago by starting a timber industry. But, back in 50 years, running and managing a timber industry wasn’t exactly a matter of joke, especially for a person with little capital and assets. However, Mr Rahman managed to do a very superb job of that by virtually bringing the entire country under his supply chain – supplies of timber, logs, and other types of primary/secondary wood products.

And, he didn’t stop at that as he soon put his eyes on making furniture – affordable furniture of great quality – both for household and office needs. Today, with more than 25% market share of furniture products in my country, Mr Rahman can certainly claim himself to be the most famous and successful businessman of his country since there is hardly any single household in my country who doesn’t know about the furniture brand, made my Mr Rahman’s company.

I have known a great deal about this visionary business leader of my country, but what impresses me the most about him is that he still works from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm every day, just like a regular person. Happily married with 5 children, Mr Rahman lives a rather simple life for such a rich and successful person.

Anyway, to conclude, I think that Mr Rahman is indeed a very hard-working person who is passionate about his work and business, otherwise, he wouldn’t really be able to come up with such beautiful furniture. I also think that Mr Rahman can teach a lot to the rising entrepreneurs of his country about how to develop a business from scratch.

Model Answer 2:

Introduction: 
This is a nice topic, and I am grateful to you for the opportunity to let me talk about a famous business person whom I know about. His name is Elon Musk, and he is widely known for his innovative ideas and entrepreneurship skills.

Who this person is:
Elon Musk is a South African-born American entrepreneur and business magnate who is involved in several businesses, including SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. He is known for his unconventional ideas and has been successful in many of his ventures.

What kind of businesses this person is involved in:
SpaceX is a private American aerospace manufacturer and space transportation services company founded by Elon Musk in 2002. The company's ultimate goal is to reduce space transportation costs and enable the colonization of Mars. Tesla, on the other hand, is a leading electric vehicle and clean energy company. Neuralink is a neurotechnology company that develops implantable brain-machine interfaces (BMIs). The Boring Company is an infrastructure and tunnel construction company.

What you know about this business person: 
Elon Musk is a self-made billionaire who started his entrepreneurial journey in the late 90s with Zip2, a company that provided city guide software to newspapers. He sold this company for over $300 million and went on to found X.com, which later became PayPal. After selling PayPal, he invested in SpaceX and Tesla, and the rest is history. He is known for his bold ideas, such as colonizing Mars and revolutionizing transportation with the Hyperloop.

And explain what you think of this business person:
In my opinion, Elon Musk is an inspiring business person who has achieved incredible success in various fields. He is not afraid to take risks and has a futuristic vision that could change the world for the better. His companies are making great strides in renewable energy and space exploration, and I believe he has the potential to create a positive impact on society. However, his sometimes controversial statements and actions have also generated criticism. Overall, I have a lot of respect for Elon Musk and the work he is doing.

Model Answer 3:

Introduction:
In this modern era, we are surrounded by many influential business people who have left their mark on the world of entrepreneurship. One of the business people that I truly admire is Bill Gates, who is well-known for co-founding Microsoft Corporation.

Who this person is:
Bill Gates is a renowned American business magnate, software developer, and philanthropist. He is one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world and is widely recognized for revolutionizing the computer industry with his groundbreaking contributions. He co-founded Microsoft in 1975 with Paul Allen and has been one of the most successful tech-business people in history.

What kind of business this person is involved in: 
Bill Gates is primarily involved in the technology sector, particularly in computer software development. Microsoft, which he co-founded, is one of the world's leading software development companies. In addition to Microsoft, he is also involved in several other businesses, including Cascade Investments, TerraPower, and Corbis.

What you know about this business person: 
I have been following Bill Gates for quite some time now, and I am impressed with his contributions to society through his philanthropic work. He is known for his generosity and has donated billions of dollars to charity through his foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. I have also read several books and articles about his life, including his autobiography, which gave me insights into his personal and professional life.

And explain what you think of this business person: 
In my opinion, Bill Gates is an exceptional business person who has achieved enormous success through his dedication and hard work. He has not only made a significant impact in the technology industry but has also contributed greatly to society through his philanthropic work. He is an inspiration to many young entrepreneurs and is a role model for all those who aspire to achieve success in their respective fields.

Idea generation for this Candidate task card / Cue card topic:

Here are some famous business people from various fields you can consider for your answer. You can choose any of them and expand on their contributions to their businesses and their impact on society.

1. Elon Musk:
Elon Musk is a renowned entrepreneur and business magnate. He is the CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and several other innovative companies. Musk is known for revolutionizing the electric vehicle industry and his ambitious plans for space exploration with SpaceX. His vision for a sustainable future has made him one of the most influential figures in the tech and automotive industries.

2. Steve Jobs:
Steve Jobs was the co-founder of Apple Inc. and is widely regarded as a pioneer in personal computing and consumer electronics. His vision led to the development of revolutionary products such as the iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers. Jobs’ approach to design, innovation, and marketing made Apple one of the most successful companies in the world.

3. Warren Buffett:
Warren Buffett is the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, a multinational conglomerate holding company. Known for his investment strategies, Buffett is one of the wealthiest individuals globally and has built his wealth through wise investments and value investing principles. His ability to foresee market trends and make profitable decisions has earned him the title of “The Oracle of Omaha.”

4. Jeff Bezos:
Jeff Bezos is the founder of Amazon.com, which has transformed from a small online bookstore into one of the world’s largest e-commerce platforms. Bezos expanded Amazon into various sectors, including cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and entertainment. His leadership and willingness to take risks have contributed to Amazon’s massive success.

5. Mark Zuckerberg:
Mark Zuckerberg is the co-founder and CEO of Facebook, the world’s largest social media network. His entrepreneurial journey started with creating Facebook in a Harvard dormitory, which later expanded to multiple platforms under the parent company Meta. Zuckerberg is a key figure in the digital revolution, with a focus on social connectivity and virtual reality.

6. Richard Branson:
Richard Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group, which includes more than 40 companies. Branson is known for his adventurous spirit, having completed several record-breaking feats. His entrepreneurial mindset has led to the creation of companies in diverse industries such as aviation, telecommunications, and health.

7. Indra Nooyi:
Indra Nooyi is the former CEO of PepsiCo and is known for her visionary leadership. Under her guidance, PepsiCo experienced significant growth, focusing on both financial performance and sustainability. Nooyi’s work in improving the healthiness of PepsiCo’s product lineup and her advocacy for women in business has made her a trailblazer in the corporate world.

8. Bill Gates:
Bill Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft Corporation and is one of the wealthiest philanthropists in the world. He revolutionized the personal computing industry and played a crucial role in making computers accessible to the masses. His contributions to technology, coupled with his extensive charitable efforts, have cemented his legacy.

9. Larry Page and Sergey Brin:
Larry Page and Sergey Brin co-founded Google, the world’s largest search engine. Through their innovations in search algorithms and advertising technologies, Google has transformed how people access information online. They are pioneers in the tech industry and have significantly shaped the digital landscape.

10. Oprah Winfrey:
Oprah Winfrey is a media mogul and philanthropist. She became famous for hosting “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and later expanded her business empire into various ventures, including television networks and publishing. Winfrey is known for her ability to connect with people, her philanthropic endeavors, and her powerful influence on culture.

11. Jack Ma:
Jack Ma is the founder of Alibaba Group, a multinational conglomerate specializing in e-commerce, technology, and artificial intelligence. His leadership in establishing Alibaba as one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the world has made him one of the most influential entrepreneurs in China.

12. Ratan Tata:
Ratan Tata is the former chairman of Tata Group, one of India’s largest conglomerates. Under his leadership, Tata Group expanded globally and acquired several notable companies, including Jaguar Land Rover and Corus Steel. Tata is known for his focus on ethical business practices and his contributions to India’s industrial growth.

Part 3 - Details discussion:

Discussion topic: "Famous people today"

Q.  What kinds of people are most famous in your country today?
Q.  Why are there so many stories about famous people in the news?
Q.  Do you agree or disagree that many young people today want to be famous?

Discussion topic: "Advantages of being famous"

Q.  Do you think it is easy for famous people to earn a lot of money?
Q.  Why might famous people enjoy having fans?
Q.  In what ways could famous people use their influence to do good things in the world?

The answer to those Part 3 questions - Speaking Sample 116- Part 3: Details Discussion

• IELTS Cue Card
• IELTS Speaking
• Candidate Task Card
• Speaking Part 2

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