“Describe a person who solved a problem in a smart way” is not a tough topic, but to be able to answer this topic correctly, you need a good vocabulary and the ability to develop natural ideas.
In this article, readingielts.com will share with you sample answer topic “Describe a person who solved a problem in a smart way” to help you prepare for the IELTS Speaking Part 2.
Describe a person who solved a problem in a smart way
Cue card
You should say:
- Who this person is
- What the problem was
- How he/she solved it
- And explain why you think he/she did it in a smart way
Sample answer
When it comes to someone who solves problems in a clever way, the first one that comes to mind is an 80-year-old lady I saw on social media.
I watched a video of a reporter interviewing the lady. She said she has had a great liking for paper- cutting since she was a kid. And she still goes to a senior college for a paper-cutting course. But as she gets older, she finds that there are less and less young people who take an interest in this art form, and we are losing the culture of paper-cutting.
In order to change the situation, she came up with the idea of promoting the folk art on social media. She cuts paper into comics that tell traditional Chinese stories and creates videos of them.
You can see how she has presented many storylines through paper cuttings. She even bound them into a book form and got them published. Most importantly, she really made it work! Her story and artwork have already been covered by foreign media and now she is an authentic internet celebrity in China. Since her videos went viral, tons of young people have become interested in the art of paper-cutting.
It’s definitely a brilliant idea. She successfully took advantage of the media trend. I was amazed by how creative she is for her age. Actually, although she’s in her 80s, she’s still learning new things and improving her skills every day. She is such a great to young people like me and role model definitely earns my admiration.
Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meaning | Example |
| come up with (phrasal verb) | to suggest or think of an idea or plan | She’s come up with some amazing scheme to double her income. |
| folk art (noun) /ˈfəʊk ˌɑːt/ | pictures, objects, etc. that express something about the lives and feelings of ordinary people in a particular group or country, especially those living in the countryside | Carousels are a fine example of American folk art. |
| celebrity (noun) /səˈleb.rə.ti/ | someone who is famous, especially in the entertainment business | The magazine is all about the lives of celebrities. |
| viral (adj) /ˈvaɪə.rəl/ | used to describe something that quickly becomes very popular or well known by being published on the internet or sent from person to person by email, phone, etc | Here’s a list of the top ten viral videos this week. |
| brilliant (adj) /ˈbrɪl.jənt/ | extremely intelligent or skilled | Her mother was a brilliant scientist. |
| take advantage of sb/sth (phrasal verb) | to use the good things in a situation | I thought I’d take advantage of the sports facilities while I’m here. |
| admiration (noun)/ˌæd.mɪˈreɪ.ʃən/ | the feeling of admiring someone or something | My admiration for that woman grows daily. |
Some IELTS Speaking part 2 cue-cards you may like :
- (Update 2024) Describe a town or city where you would like to live in the future – IELTS Speaking Part 2 Free
- (Update 2024) Describe an item on which you spent more than expected – IELTS Speaking Part 2 Free
- (Update 2024) Describe an ambition that you haven’t achieved Free
IELTS Speaking Part 3 : Follow up Questions
1. Do you think children are born smart or they learn to become smart?
I think that there is a very interesting debate about nature vs. nurture. The central question of this debate is whether children are born with their personality and skills, or if they develop into these traits. Personally, I suppose that it is a combination of both. Some people are born naturally gifted with a high level of intelligence, whereas others have learning disabilities that may affect their intelligence. Nonetheless, any child can become more intelligent with the proper supports and education.
2. How do children become smart at school?
It seems to me that children usually become smart at school by applying themselves and being open to learning new things. They have to work hard at a subject in order to master it. That requires doing all the homework and persevering even when it gets hard. But they also have to adapt to new material and ways of learning. For example, their teacher might teach them something using a hands-on method. So they have to learn how to work with that method in order to get smarter.
3. Why are some people well-rounded and others only good at one thing?
Being well-rounded or being good at one thing depends on your personality, as well as the amount of effort you put into different aspects of your life. Some people find one thing that they are good at and throw all of their effort into that one thing, becoming experts. Others do not have one passion, but rather prefer to develop many different talents. Either way, most people tend to focus on things they are good at rather than things they struggle with.
4. Why does modern society need talents of all kinds?
Well, modern society needs talents of all kinds because that is the best way to have a healthy workforce and consequently a healthy society. If everyone was good at science and became doctors, then no one would become an author or a teacher or a business person. It is much better to have a multi talented society so that everyone can contribute something different. We need just as many artists as we need accountants.
5. Do you think clever people are bad at some things? What things can clever people be bad at?
I think that everybody has weaknesses, no matter how smart or clever they are. But when it comes to what clever people in particular might struggle with, it really depends on what they’re clever at. For instance, someone who’s really quick with numbers might have a hard time writing a good essay,and vice versa. Or someone who’s very smart and has a quick with might be bad at being empathetic. There are different ways to measure intelligence.
6. What role can a good teacher play in a student’s learning?
Well, a good teacher plays a huge part in a student’s education. A good teacher who can effectively teach a lesson can help a student grasp the material quickly. As a result, that student can get a good grade and feel confident about learning. But beyond that, a good teacher can encourage a student whenever they have difficulty. That helps the student know that they’re worth more than just a grade.
7. Do the people around you have special skills?
Well, I’m friends with people who have studied other subjects, so to me it feels like they have special skills. I know some people who are science majors, so they’re able to figure out complex equations’ and solve difficult problems. I have a friend who works in construction, so they’re also very handy and are good with tools in a way that I’m not. It’s cool to know people with different specialties. It makes me appreciate everyone’s differences.
You can find out more information about IELTS Speaking Part 2 at the British Council website:
https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-ielts-practice-tests/speaking/part-2
Vocabulary Soure: Cambridge Dictionary
No Responses