📙 Part 2: Describe a time you needed to use your imagination

This episode's vocabulary

Stands out (phrasal verb) – to be very noticeable or memorable. → Example: One time that stands out most recently was when I was reading a book.

Work your way through (phrasal verb) – to finish something by doing it in stages. → Example: The book I was working my way through was a science fiction one.

Weird and wonderful (idiom) – strange but also interesting or enjoyable. → Example: It had a lot of weird and wonderful characters.

Think up (phrasal verb) – to invent or imagine something, especially an idea or a plan. → Example: I had to think up how they might look.

Fill in the blanks (idiom) – to supply missing words or information. → Example: I needed to fill in the blanks with my own ideas of how things might look.

Picture things in my head (phrase) – to form a mental image of something; to visualize. → Example: I'm pretty good at picturing things in my head.

Taxing (adjective) – needing a lot of physical or mental effort. → Example: I didn't find it very taxing; it was actually quite fun.

As the plot progressed (collocation) – as the sequence of events in a story developed or moved forward. → Example: I added details as the plot progressed.

In my mind's eye (idiom) – in one's imagination or memory. → Example: I can still vividly remember the characters and their images in my mind's eye.

Vividly (adverb) – in a way that produces powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind. → Example: I can still vividly remember the characters.

Draw up (phrasal verb) – to prepare something, usually a plan, list, or document, by writing it. → Example: You used your imagination to draw up the route for your holiday.

Sequels (noun) – books, films, or plays that continue the story of a previous one. → Example: I'm looking forward to doing the same thing with the sequels, actually.

Questions and Answers

Maria: Hello, sunshine, and welcome into IELTS Speaking Part Two. We are discussing a super interesting topic. Describe a time you needed to use your imagination. You should say when it was, why you needed to use your imagination, how difficult or easy it was, and explain how you felt about it. Rory, give us your story.

Rory: Well, I have to do this all the time, really, but one time that stands out most recently was when I was reading the book I just finished. In terms of when it was, this was about, maybe a week ago, I think. I usually read two or three books a month, and I only just started this new one. But it's an autobiography, so it takes less imagination. When it comes to why I needed to use imagination for this particular book, the one I just finished, the one I was working my way through was a science fiction one. So it had a lot of weird and wonderful characters that were described in various ways. So I had to think up how they might look. Not only that, the author described how they sounded when they talked, so I had to imagine that as well. And all the scenery and settings were described in great detail most of the time, but there were sometimes when I needed to fill in the blanks with my own ideas of how things might look. So I spent time thinking about that. I'd like to think I'm pretty good at picturing things in my head. So, I didn't find it very taxing. It was actually quite fun to think up how things might be and then add details as the plot progressed. And as for how I felt about it, I quite enjoyed the experience. It's not often I've read something like that, and I'm looking forward to doing the same thing with the sequels, actually. If I hadn't read it, I doubt I would have been too caught up about the whole thing, but it's good I didn't miss out. I can still vividly remember the characters and their images in my mind's eye. So, I'm looking forward to doing that again. Maybe next time it will take less effort because I already practiced and warmed my imagination up with this particular book.