speaking 208

How to answer well

• • Answer the question directly, then add a reason or example — one-word answers score badly.
• • Aim for 20–40 seconds per question at this level.
• • Use a range of tenses and linking words; the examiner is listening for variety.
• • If you lose your thread, paraphrase rather than stopping.

All questions

1. 1. What are the most important characteristics of a job that make it a good job?
2. 2. Is it better to be a lawyer or a construction worker? (Why / Why not?)
3. 3. When people retire from their jobs they are often quite unhappy at first. Why do you think this is?
4. 4. In times of recession, many people lose their jobs, but others do not. What are some jobs that we will always need people to do, however bad the economy is? (Why?)