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

Describe an old object which your family has kept for a long time.

You should say:

• what it is
• where your family has got it from
• how long your family has kept it

and explain why your family has kept this old object for a long time.

Model Answer 1:
There usually are so many objects in a household that we use for different purposes. Of course, not all of these objects are equally valued by us because some of them become old and worn out while the others look still new and decent. But, then, there are some objects in our households which we use for a long time but they still look very nice. Today, I would like to talk about one such object which my family has used and kept for a long time.

The object, which my family has kept for a long time, is a dining table. I have seen so many objects being replaced by newer items in my family for the last 15 years or so, but the dining table is still declaring its presence at our dining space aloud. Of course, the dining chairs around it have been changed on numerous occasions, but the dining table is still there.

This is a round-shape dining table which is made of “mahogany” wood. By the way, I must admit that this is one of the best mahogany wood tables I have ever seen. In fact, the wood of this particular table seems to be so seasoned and solid that I can hardly see any scratch on it, even after using it for almost 15 years. Some regular painting works on this table, which was made at the shop of a local carpenter in my hometown, have also helped it remain smooth and in good shape for such a long time.

Anyway, we all like the dining table, and it probably will remain in our dining space for another 210 years because it has some emotional value attached to it. In fact, my parents have kept this table for such a long time because it was made from the wood of a tree, which was planted by my paternal grandfather about 60 years ago. So, again, it is some emotional stuff. Besides, I think that my family has kept it for such a long time because it still looks nice and decent after using it for so many years.

Sample Answer 2:
Some of the medical books, which were once owned and used by my paternal grandfather, are still kept with great care in our house. This topic reminds me of those books that I believe are some of the oldest objects that we have at our home.

My grandfather was a doctor and he had a great number of medical books and reference books. When he died, I was just a 5 years old kid, and now I can hardly remember things about him. But I heard that he was a great person and a superb doctor. Everyone in our locality revered him very much. After his death, my father took one of his used tables, an armchair, and a big portrait of my grand-grandfather and some of his books to preserve his memory. Among those things, my grandfather’s medical books have survived, and they are still present on a bookshelf at our house.

Those books would be no less than 50 to 60 years old, and we have them on our bookshelf for the last 20 years. The caretakers in our house sometimes bring out those books, clean dust from them, and finally, put them back on the shelf again.

I once tried to read a few pages from those books when I was a young schoolboy, and I remember that they had a strong smell. I tried to interpret what the writings in those books were about, but except for a few pictures, I did not understand anything. Basically, they are medical-science-related terms and that's why seemed jargon to my young mind.

My family has kept these books as a reminder of my grandfather's memory. My father loved my grandfather very much, and my grandfather was very fond of him too. These books are the only tangible belongings that were used by my grandfather. So they, in a way, convey my grandfather's reminiscences. Though these books do not have their material values, they are priceless to our family and remind us of the precious memory of our grandfather.

Similar Cue Card Topics:

1. Describe something old you have in your house.
2. Describe an old thing or object in your home.
3. Describe something your family has kept for a long time.

• IELTS Cue Card
• Candidate Task Card

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