Hi Students! Here are the Speaking part 3 questions that we covered in the past. Remember to practice your speaking by clicking, “Student Partner Speaking” in your My Student Account at https://www.gieltshelp.com/buy/ (Use code A8TW9 to get a 10% discount when you join the Premium Package) Good studies.

PART 2

Talk about a dangerous object that you have used.

You should say:

• What it is and what it looks like.
• When did you use it.
• Why did you use it?
• Why is it dangerous and how can you use it safely?

You will have one to two minutes to talk about this topic.
You will have one minute to prepare what you are going to say.

I have recently used a gas-powered lawnmower that is a very dangerous object if not used appropriately. My red Toro mower has a self-drive system with a 4-stroke, 140cc diesel engine, it has a square-shaped body with a powerful rotating blade to cut all types of grass to an even height, and a long handle that guides the mower’s direction. It weighs roughly 15kg.

I had purchased my mower from Home Hardware about three years ago for roughly 500 dollars because I had got tired of wasting too much time and energy cutting my front and back yard with a manual mower. So, these days, I actually really enjoy cutting the grass every other Saturday around 9 am to a beautiful even height of about two and a half inches.

Even though this machine is fun and efficient to use, if not used well, it can either seriously injure or even kill a person. The powerful blades can cut the feet and legs, it can sever arteries, and lead to mortal injury. In addition, the loud engine with prolonged use can result in hearing damage, not to mention flying debris can blind the user if they do not wear protective goggles. In fact, while cutting the grass last week, I lost control and ran over some pebbles on my driveway, the blade threw them all over the yard and one pebble chipped my car’s windshield. Therefore, it is very important to take precautionary measures when using this lawnmower. I always wear my steel-toed boots to protect my toes. Also, I put in earplugs to safeguard my eardrums and I wear gloves so that I have a good grip on the handle and don’t lose control.

What did you do when you lost control of the lawnmower last week?

I immediately released the safety shut-off lever and stopped the engine. Fortunately, the mower is designed with this safety feature in order to avoid more serious consequences. Also, I took my car into the glass repair shop to fix the windshield.

PART 3

Let’s talk about dangerous objects

What are some common objects around the home which can be dangerous when used incorrectly? (*this is where your brainstorming in Part 2, for possible answers, is very useful, so remember those ideas here.)

Electrical devices such as blenders and kitchen robots can be dangerous because they have strong motors, like the mower, and they can injure people’s hands or body parts if used inappropriately. Also, other devices that generate a lot of heat like an iron, oven, or hairdryer can burn the operator, my wife burned her hand just last month with the iron.

Which of these most often leads to injuries?

Hmm, please allow me a moment to think. Well, if I consider my own experiences, I think the item around the home that results most frequently in some harm, would have to be the chef’s knife. I think that like myself, most people cut themselves every now and again in the kitchen with a knife while preparing food. Usually, it’s not too bad, but sometimes, it’s a real bleeder.

Electrocution – to get zapped by electricity

Where are common places people encounter lots of dangerous items?

Aside from the kitchen and the yard, as I had spoken about just now, people also come across hazardous items at building sights where there is a lot of heavy machinery used to construct buildings. That’s why the workers must really pay attention and wear a variety of safety equipment.

***Keep calm throughout your interview so that you can maintain dynamic thinking and give good answers.

How have technological advancements reduced the danger of certain tools?

The development of technology has really made a lot of equipment much safer than in the past. New inventions in engineering have decreased the chances of getting electrocuted or cut by machinery. Most electrical devices have safety shut-off functions that are triggered when the operator loses control of if there is a problem with the power supply.

Can you give a couple examples?

Yes, just like the safety leaver on my Toro mower which cut the engine when I lost control. Also, my table saw will turn off if a person had got close to the rotating blade because it has a moisture sensor built into it that can detect the sweat and oil on the skin.

Let’s talk about user safety
What should people do before they use an object that is potentially dangerous?

Definitely, people ought to read the user instructions carefully and maybe even watch some instructional videos on YouTube before they start using a machine that is potentially dangerous for health. In this way, they know what to pay attention to and the correct operating procedure. I spend about three hours getting to know my Toro mower before I fired up the engine.

Why do some people not do this?

What kinds of objects are commonly found around the home that helps people to avoid injuries? Where should people store objects like this?