Sample answer by Lifestyle Training Centre:
Traveling is not my cup of tea. I’ve been avoiding it at any given opportunity, and I remember, I’d made a terrible mistake not so long ago. Recently, I had made a trip to Nagaland with my wife. Embarking on the journey, I started feeling a bit green around the gills in the beginning of the trip itself. It took me almost three days to reach there by train. I was very happy to meet a lot of friends there and my in-laws.
People in Nagaland eat different kinds of food, especially insects. The second day, though reluctant at first, I started savouring on some local cuisines, and it felt quite nice. However, after two or three hours, I started feeling some kind of uneasiness, and to make the long story short, I was hospitalized immediately. The chips were down, and everybody was on pins and needles, particularly my dear wife. It was found out that I was actually allergic to the food I was offered. However, by the grace of God, I was able to come out of the hospital in one piece.
After this journey, I made a decision that I would never ever travel, especially to any places that are far away, and I would never ever ingest any unfamiliar or exotic foods. This incident has been a disastrous but learning moment in my life, and it changed my perspective about food and travel. I will just settle for things that familiar to me and only explore proximal sites for my own wellbeing.
Note: this is a made up, spontaneous story and was framed by Jomon during one of the IELTS sessions. There is nothing to be feared when comes to Naga food.
Idioms and phrased used:
- “Not my cup of tea”: Indicates something is not to one’s liking or preference.
- “Green around the gills”: Describes looking pale or sickly, often due to nausea or illness.
- “The chips were down”: Suggests that the situation became difficult or critical.
- “On pins and needles”: Expresses feeling nervous, anxious, or tense.
- “In one piece”: Indicates emerging from a difficult situation without harm or injury.
- “Embarking on the journey”: Refers to starting a journey or undertaking a new endeavor.
- “Savouring on some local cuisines”: Enjoying or tasting local foods.
- “To make the long story short”: Used before summarizing or providing a brief version of a lengthy story.
List of vocabulary used
- Cup of tea – something one likes or is good at.
- Avoiding – keeping away from or preventing something from happening.
- Embarking – beginning a journey or undertaking.
- Green around the gills – looking or feeling ill.
- Reluctant – unwilling and hesitant.
- Savouring – enjoying and appreciating something, especially food.
- Cuisines – styles or methods of cooking, especially as characteristic of a particular country, region, or establishment.
- Uneasiness – a feeling of discomfort or anxiety.
- Hospitalized – admitted to a hospital for treatment.
- The chips were down – a situation in which things are not going well.
- On pins and needles – in a state of nervous anticipation or anxiety.
- Allergic – having an allergy to a substance.
- By the grace of God – a phrase expressing gratitude or relief that something fortunate has happened.
- In one piece – safe and unharmed after a dangerous experience.
- Disastrous – causing great damage or distress.
- Perspective – a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something.
- Ingest – take food or drink into the body.
- Exotic – originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country; unusual and exciting.
- Learning moment – an experience from which one gains knowledge or insight.
- Proximal – situated nearer to the center of the body or the point of attachment; in this context, meaning close or nearby.
- Wellbeing – the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
Tenses used: Break down.
Traveling is not my cup of tea –idiom. simple present
I’ve been avoiding it at any given opportunity, – present perfect continuous
and I remember, – simple present
I’d made a terrible mistake not so long ago. – past perfect
Recently, I had made a trip to Nagaland with my wife. – past perfect
Embarking on the journey– phrase, I started feeling a bit green around the gills in the beginning of the trip itself. – simple past
It took me almost three days to reach there by train. – Simple past
I was very happy to meet a lot of friends there and my in-laws. – Simple past
People in Nagaland eat different kinds of food, especially insects. – simple present
The second day, though reluctant at first, I started savouring on some local cuisines, – simple past
and it felt quite nice. – simple past
However, after two or three hours, I started feeling some kind of uneasiness, – simple past
and to make the long story short, I was hospitalized immediately. – simple past
The chips were down, idiom – Simple past
and everybody was on pins and needles, – idiom – Simple past particularly my dear wife.
It was found out that I was actually allergic to – Simple past passive
the food I was offered.- Simple past passive
However, by the grace of God, I was able to come out of the hospital in one piece- phrase. – Simple past passive
After this journey, I made a decision – Simple past
that I would never ever travel, – Simple future
especially to any places that are far away, and
I would never ever ingest any unfamiliar or exotic foods. – Simple future
This incident has been a disastrous – Present perfect
but learning moment in my life, and it changed my perspective about food and travel. – Simple past
I will just settle for things that familiar to me – Simple future
and only explore proximal sites for my own wellbeing. – Simple future
Has this helped you? If it did, please pen down your precious thoughts in the comments section. Thanks