IELTS SPEAKING A TIME YOU SAW SOMETHING IN THE SKY

​IELTS SPEAKING INTENSIVE

A time you saw something in the sky
A Sport event you participated as audience

By Ánh Ngọc

Multiple Choice

The Wright brothers’ airplane (1903) stayed in the air for 12 seconds and flew 36 meters. That’s about the same as… ✈️

• A. Half the length of a football field

• B. The distance of 10 parked cars in a row

• C. The height of the Eiffel Tower

• D. A 200-meter running track

Multiple Choice

Hot air balloons were first launched in France in 1783. Guess who the very first passengers were? 🎈

• A. A brave soldier and a priest

• B. A duck, a sheep, and a rooster

• C. Two children

• D. A pair of cats

Multiple Choice

The black box (flight recorder) is one of the most important airplane inventions. Fun fact: it’s not black! What color is it actually? 📦

• A. Orange

• B. White

• C. Silver

• D. Blue

Multiple Choice

The longest tennis match in history was played at Wimbledon 2010. How long did it last? 🎾

• A. 6 hours
  

• B. 8 hours
  

• C. 11 hours 5 minutes
  

• D. 24 hours straight

Multiple Choice

Which outdoor sport was originally a way to train soldiers for battle? 🏹

• A. Archery
  

• B. Baseball
  

• C. Football
  

• D. Cycling

crimson and golden hues /ˈkrɪm.zən ænd ˈɡoʊl.dən hjuːz/ – sắc đỏ thẫm và vàng óng
The sky was filled with crimson and golden hues as the sun dipped below the horizon.

a blanket of twinkling stars /ə ˈblæŋ.kɪt əv ˈtwɪŋ.klɪŋ stɑːrz/ – một tấm chăn đầy sao lấp lánh
When I looked up, I saw a blanket of twinkling stars covering the entire sky.

birds gliding effortlessly overhead /bɜːrdz ˈɡlaɪ.dɪŋ ˈɛf.ɚt.ləs.li ˌoʊ.vɚˈhɛd/ – những chú chim lướt đi nhẹ nhàng trên cao
We sat by the lake, watching birds gliding effortlessly overhead.

kites soaring against the breeze /kaɪts ˈsɔːr.ɪŋ əˈɡɛnst ðə briːz/ – diều bay vút lên ngược gió
Dozens of colorful kites were soaring against the breeze that afternoon.

a dazzling meteor streak /ə ˈdæz.lɪŋ ˈmiː.ti.ɔːr striːk/ – một vệt sao băng chói lóa
Suddenly, a dazzling meteor streak flashed across the night sky.

a tranquil, picture-perfect evening /ə ˈtræŋ.kwɪl ˈpɪk.tʃɚ ˈpɜːr.fɪkt ˈiːv.nɪŋ/ – một buổi tối yên bình, đẹp như tranh
It was a tranquil, picture-perfect evening by the beach.

VOCABULARY

crimson and golden hues /ˈkrɪm.zən ænd ˈɡoʊl.dən hjuːz/ – 🌅 sắc đỏ thẫm và vàng óng
Bầu trời ngập tràn sắc đỏ thẫm và vàng óng khi mặt trời dần khuất.

a blanket of twinkling stars /ə ˈblæŋ.kɪt əv ˈtwɪŋ.klɪŋ stɑːrz/ – 🌌 cả bầu trời sao lấp lánh
Khi ngước nhìn lên, tôi thấy cả bầu trời sao lấp lánh như được phủ kín ánh sáng.

birds gliding effortlessly overhead /bɜːrdz ˈɡlaɪ.dɪŋ ˈɛf.ɚt.ləs.li ˌoʊ.vɚˈhɛd/ – 🕊️ những chú chim lướt đi nhẹ nhàng trên cao
Chúng tôi ngồi bên hồ, ngắm nhìn những chú chim lướt đi nhẹ nhàng trên cao.

kites soaring against the breeze /kaɪts ˈsɔːr.ɪŋ əˈɡɛnst ðə briːz/ – 🪁 diều bay vút lên ngược gió
Buổi chiều hôm đó, hàng chục cánh diều đầy màu sắc bay vút lên ngược gió.

a dazzling meteor streak /ə ˈdæz.lɪŋ ˈmiː.ti.ɔːr striːk/ – ☄️ một vệt sao băng chói lóa
Bất chợt, một vệt sao băng chói lóa lóe sáng trên bầu trời đêm.

a tranquil, picture-perfect evening /ə ˈtræŋ.kwɪl ˈpɪk.tʃɚ ˈpɜːr.fɪkt ˈiːv.nɪŋ/ – 🌿 một buổi tối yên bình, đẹp như tranh
Đó là một buổi tối yên bình, đẹp như tranh bên bãi biển.

VOCABULARY

Open Ended

Describe a time you looked at the sky

I still vividly remember an evening last summer when ...

Open Ended

Describe a time you looked at the sky

What impressed me the most was .......

Fill in the Blanks

Trong vòng vài phút, ánh sáng ban ngày rực rỡ mờ dần, và cả bầu trời sao lấp lánh từ từ hiện ra trên cao.

Fill in the Blanks

Tôi đã cảm thấy vừa bình yên vừa biết ơn, tôi nhận ra những lo toan hằng ngày của mình thật nhỏ bé so với sự bao la của thiên nhiên.

Open Ended

Make an outline:

Describe a time when you saw something in the sky (e.g.

flying kites, birds, sunset, etc.)

You should say:

What you saw

Where/when you saw it/them

How long you saw it/them

And explain how you felt about the experience

Audio Response

Describe a time when you saw something in the sky (e.g.

flying kites, birds, sunset, etc.)

You should say:

What you saw

Where/when you saw it/them

How long you saw it/them

And explain how you felt about the experience

Open Audio Recorder

Open Ended

Choose 1 - 3 key ideas that you are interested in

Real Shape of Stars: Stars, including the Sun, are spherical due to gravity pulling their mass evenly toward the center. These spheres may become slightly flattened at the poles (oblate spheroids) if a star rotates rapidly, but the difference is subtle and not visible to the naked eye.

Star Shapes in Art and Culture: In various cultures and contexts, stars are often depicted with five or more points in drawings, flags, and symbolic art. This pointed-star imagery arises more from artistic convention than scientific reality, influenced by effects such as atmospheric distortion and how light interacts with the eye or camera lens.

Constellations and Patterns: Groups of stars are arranged into constellations, which form recognizable shapes and pictures. While people identify patterns in these star groupings, they do not perceive individual stars as having actual geometric shapes, but rather as dots that make up a larger picture.

Public Attention: Although stars are important in symbolism, spirituality, and navigation, very few notice the true spherical shape of stars; the common representation of stars with points is primarily a cultural and artistic choice, not a scientific observation

Source: https://www.perplexity.ai/search/do-many-people-pay-attention-t-49KWDgSUQzqUE_QkR4POKw

Open Ended

Choose 1 - 3 key ideas that you are interested in

Emotional and Psychological Benefits: Stargazing helps many people relax, unwind, and achieve mindfulness, similar to meditation. Being under a dark sky can lower stress hormones like cortisol, regulate sleep cycles, and promote calmness, which is especially helpful in the digital age.

Sense of Awe and Perspective: Looking at the vast night sky often leads to a sense of awe and wonder, reminding individuals of their place in the cosmos and diminishing everyday worries. This perspective can make people kinder, increase their appreciation for life, and help them realize the smallness of personal problems.

Inspiration and Creativity: The night sky has historically inspired poets, writers, artists, and thinkers, boosting creativity and imagination through its beauty and mystery. Studies have shown that awe-inspiring experiences like stargazing can enhance problem-solving skills and creative thinking.

Social and Cultural Connection: For centuries, humans have used stars for navigation, storytelling, and understanding the world, making stargazing a shared cultural and historical experience. Observing the night sky encourages a sense of connection to others and to history.

Source: https://www.perplexity.ai/search/why-do-some-people-like-to-wat-jUaDF_VdTVGi0yFZAbIVyQ

Open Ended

Do many people pay attention to the shapes of stars?

What are the differences between things people see in the sky in the daytime

and at night?

Why do some people like to watch stars at night?