Prepare for IELTS by Topic
10. Hopes & Dreams
As you prepare for IELTS, you should practise talking about your future goals. This is a topic that may well appear in the speaking test or writing test. Being able to talk about your hopes and dreams could help you reach your IELTS goals!
LISTENING
Listening Test Part:
3
Questions 1 & 2
Which TWO POINTS does Becky make about the applications of goal-setting theory?
A It could be used in relationships with relatives.
B It’s mainly useful in business management.
C It is important to the success of a business.
D It plays a role in staying motivated while studying.
E It determines how likely students are to graduate.
Questions 3 & 4
What TWO aspects of setting goals does Chris mention were investigated by Locke and Latham?
A Setting demanding goals.
B Deciding on specific goals.
C Setting financial goals.
D Giving clear instructions.
E Creating actionable goals.
Questions 5 - 10
5 What did Becky say about how difficult goals should be
A People need to be satisfied with the level of difficulty.
B Making the goals very difficult will demotivate people.
C Easy goals can be very motivating in the short term.
D Difficult goals drive people to work hard over a long period.
6 What did Chris say about giving feedback?
A Feedback is closely connected to motivation.
B The right kind of feedback is even more important than the goal.
C It’s easy to forget to give feedback.
D The research highlighted the importance of feedback.
7 What did Becky say about the goal setting process?
A Goals should not be optional.
B It’s best to set personalised goals.
C People should be reminded of their goals on a regular basis.
D People need to participate in the setting of their goals.
8 According to the students, how has the research been used in education?
A To help teachers working in international contexts.
B To increase teacher motivation.
C To lower student dropout rates in the sciences.
D To improve the motivation of mathematics students.
9 What does Chris say about the SMART framework?
A There is a clear connection to Locke and Latham’s study.
B It has helped many people achieve their goals.
C It has become less popular in recent years.
D Locke and Latham didn’t agree with it.
10. According to Chris, why do sports coaches use the research findings?
A To design more effective training programmes.
B To set more effective goals during training.
C To help athletes perform as well as possible.
D To help them perform their jobs more effectively.
READING
The Power of Dreams
A
More than two thousand years ago, Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher, emphasised the importance of pursuing one's dreams and aspirations. In his famous work "Meditations," he encouraged individuals to set clear goals and to persevere as they work towards them. He believed that having a sense of purpose and direction in life was essential for personal growth and fulfilment. Aurelius stressed that the pursuit of dreams not only leads to individual achievement but also contributes to the betterment of society as a whole. He saw the realisation of dreams as a means to making a positive impact on the world.
B
During the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci, the ingenious artist and polymath, showed a deep faith in the huge potential for human achievement. His notebooks are full of reflections on the ability to observe, imagine, and persevere in pursuing knowledge and creative endeavours. Leonardo's philosophy celebrated curiosity and determination when pursuing knowledge and saw it as crucial to human flourishing.
C
In the 17th century, John Locke, an English philosopher, argued that individuals have a natural right to pursue their own goals and aspirations, which he viewed as essential to human growth and development. Later, in the 1800’s, another highly influential philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, wrote about the concept of "becoming who you are." He encouraged individuals to pursue their own unique path and to ignore society’s expectations.
D
In modern times, psychological literature has consistently shown the importance of dreams as motivational drivers. In the late 1980’s, Locke and Latham published their Goal-Setting Theory, which suggested that setting specific and challenging goals leads to higher levels of task performance. These goals provide individuals with a vision of their desired future, creating a sense of purpose and direction.
E
More recently, research by Sheldon and Kasser on Self-Determination Theory emphasised that dreams are closely connected to intrinsic motivation, which is the internal drive that comes from inside an individual. When individuals are actively engaged in chasing their dreams, their motivation is more long lasting and resilient in the face of obstacles. Similarly, the psychologist C.R. Snyder's Theory of Hope highlighted the importance of having clear, attainable goals in building resilience. According to Snyder, dreams give individuals a sense of control over their destinies, letting them navigate challenges with strength and determination.
F
Several more recent studies underscore the importance of dreams in psychological strength. They show that individuals with well-defined dreams exhibit higher levels of psychological adaptability. They have greater coping mechanisms in the face of challenges, using their dreams as anchors that help them in their struggle during difficult times.
G
Psychological research also highlights the connection between having dreams and well-being. The study by Lyubomirsky and Tkach in 2004 suggested that individuals who strive to achieve their dreams experience higher levels of subjective well-being and life satisfaction. They showed that the fulfilment people experience from working towards meaningful goals adds to their feelings of well-being.
H
An alternative view on dreams comes from the research by Ryan and Deci who suggest that the pursuit of one's dreams fits with the psychological need for autonomy and competence. By working towards our dreams we express our power as individuals and are able to develop and perfect new skills. This results in a sense of growth, and personal development and consequently, feelings of satisfaction and happiness.
I
It seems that working towards making dreams come true has a large impact on the way we feel. From ancient philosophers to modern psychologists, great thinkers consistently suggest that dreams serve as important motivational drivers, increasing one's resilience and overall well-being. As we navigate through our careers and personal lives, it is important to help our dreams grow. They are important parts of our psychological makeup and can guide us towards the realisation of our highest aspirations.
Questions 1-5
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the reading passage? Write:
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
1 Marcus Aurelius believed that setting goals was important in the military.
2 Friedrich Nietzsche thought that we should not do what others want us to do.
3 Locke and Latham showed that dreams help us determine our path in life.
4 A number of studies showed that having dreams helps people to deal with problems.
5 Ryan and Deci believe that dreams help us work together to achieve goals.
Questions 6-10
The reading passage has 9 sections A-I.
Which section contains the following information?
Choose the correction letter, A-I.
6 Research on how people who work hard to realise their dreams enjoy life more.
7 A reference to how people with dreams are more psychologically flexible.
8 Research showing that achieving dreams involves exercising personal choice.
9 A reference to how dreams give people a feeling of power over their lives.
10 Mention of a strong belief that humanity will achieve great things.
SPEAKING
Speaking Part 1
1. Where would you most like to live?
2. Would you like to have a large house?
3. What is your ideal job?
4. Do you want to earn a lot of money in the future?
5. Would you like to work abroad?
6. Where would you like to go on holiday?
7. Would you like to travel first class on a plane?
8. What would you do if you were given a large amount of money by a relative?
Speaking Part 2
Describe an aim or goal that you hope to achieve in the future.
You should say
what the aim is
when you hope to achieve it
what you need to do to reach your goal
and why this goal is important to you
Speaking Part 3
1. Do you think it’s important to have dreams?
2. Why do some people dream about having a huge house?
3. What makes some people successful?
4. Does money make people happy?
5. Why do some people love to travel?
6. What are the advantages of working abroad?
WRITING
Writing Task 1 Assignment (General Training)
Your college has a programme for a small number of students to study abroad for a year. Write a letter to the programme organiser to express your interest in participating.
In your letter you should:
say why you want to study abroad
describe some of the difficulties you will face and how you will deal with them
and express your thanks for considering your application
Writing Task 2 Assignment
Some people work very hard to make their dreams come true, while others are happy with what they already have.
Do you think people should chase their dreams?
VOCABULARY
Vocabulary Exercises:
Exercise 1: Gap-fill Exercise
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of a word from the list provided below.
1. Achieving your goals requires ___________ and hard work.
2. Despite facing many ___________, he remained determined to pursue his dream.
3. She has a clear ___________ of what she wants to achieve in the next 10 years.
4. It's essential to ___________ your most important goals to ensure you're working towards what truly matters to you.
5. With dedication and a ___________ mindset, she was able to overcome every obstacle in her path.
6. To make a dream come true, one must be willing to ___________ certain short term pleasures.
7. He ___________ his mind on becoming a programmer and after 3 years he was one.
8. Despite the fact that she ___________ to finish school, she became one of the richest people in the
country.
prioritise
struggle
dedication
positive
vision
sacrifice
obstacle
set
Exercise 2: Matching Exercise
Match the vocabulary word on the left with its corresponding definition or description on the right.
1. appeal
2. aspiration
3. bucket list
4. chase a dream
5. drive
6. ideally
7. make a dream come true
8. perfect
a. A list of things a person wants to do or achieve before they die.
b. The quality of being attractive or interesting.
c. A big goal that you would like to achieve in the distant future.
d. To go after or work towards a big goal.
e. A strong feeling of enthusiasm or motivation.
f. To remove any mistakes from your performance.
g. In the best possible situation or circumstances
h. Achieving a big goal.
Exercise 3: Multiple-Choice Exercise
Choose the best word to complete each sentence.
1. Despite facing numerous ___________, she persevered and achieved her goal.
a) aspirations
b) struggles
c) visions
2. He decided to ___________ a dream he had since childhood and work towards becoming a professional musician.
a) chase
b) set
c) sacrifice
3. The ___________ of being her own boss kept her motivated while she was starting up her business.
a) dedication
b) perfect
c) appeal
4. It's important to have a ___________ mindset and stay focused on your long-term objectives.
a) positive
b) perfect
c) drive
5. The company's ___________ to be more sustainable and socially responsible attracted environmentally conscious consumers.
a) drive
b) draw
c) obstacle
6. To achieve success, one must be willing to ___________ certain comforts and work hard.
a) chase
b) prioritise
c) sacrifice
7. After many years during which she ___________ to build her business, it became very successful.
a) strive
b) perfect
c) aspiration
8. Once she ___________ a goal for herself, she would always achieve it.
a) struggle
b) set
c) strive
Topic Vocabulary:
appeal (verb):
Definition: Something that makes people like or want something.
Example: The colourful toys had a strong appeal to the kids.
aspiration (noun [c]):
Definition: A strong desire or hope to achieve something.
Example: Her aspiration is to become a successful entrepreneur.
bucket list (noun [c]):
Definition: A list of experiences or achievements that a person wishes to have during their lifetime.
Example: Skydiving is on my bucket list of things to do before I die.
chase a dream (verb phrase):
Definition: To try to achieve a very big personal goal.
Example: He decided to chase his dreams and left his job to start up his own business.
dedication (noun [u]):
Definition: Being committed and putting in effort to reach a goal.
Example: The athlete's dedication to daily training paid off with a gold medal.
draw (verb):
Definition: To attract or make someone interested in something or someone.
Example: The beautiful artwork drew people's attention at the gallery.
drive (noun [u]):
Definition: The push that makes you work hard and get things done.
Example: She was driven to become CEO.
ideally (adverb):
Definition: How things would be just right, in a perfect world.
Example: Ideally, we'd have sunny weather for our picnic.
make a dream come true (verb phrase):
Definition: To turn your hopes and wishes into something that you can actually do or have.
Example: With determination and hard work, you can make your dream of becoming a published author come true.
motivation (noun [u]):
Definition: The reason that makes you want to do something.
Example: The thought of winning the game was his motivation to practise every day.
obstacle (noun [c]):
Definition: Something that gets in the way or causes difficulty.
Example: The heavy traffic was a major obstacle on his way to work.
perfect (verb):
Definition: To try to improve your performance to the point where you make no mistakes.
Example: He worked hard to perfect his negotiation skills.
positive mindset (noun phrase):
Definition: Thinking optimistically and focusing on solutions.
Example: Having a positive mindset helps you see opportunities in challenges.
prioritise (verb):
Definition: To choose something as the most important or urgent thing to focus on or achieve.
Example: He prioritised success in his career over everything else in his life.
sacrifice (noun [c]):
Definition: Refers to giving up something valuable or important in order to achieve a greater goal or benefit.
Example: Many athletes sacrifice their personal time and social life in order to train and compete at a high level.
set a goal (verb phrase):
Definition: To decide what you want to achieve.
Example: She set a goal to read ten books this summer.
set your mind on sth. (idiom):
Definition: To really focus on one thing and want it a lot.
Example: He set his mind on becoming a chef and practised cooking every chance he got.
strive (verb):
Definition: Working hard and making an effort to achieve something.
Example: She will strive to improve her grades by studying harder.
struggle (noun [c]):
Definition: A difficult or challenging experience.
Example: It was a struggle to overcome the language barrier while studying abroad.
vision (noun [u]):
Definition: An idea or image of something that you want to achieve in the future.
Example: The company's vision is to create an affordable electric vehicle.
Listening Answer Key:
1/2 A/D, 3/4 A/B, 5B, 6A, 7D, 8D, 9A, 10C
Reading Answer Key:
1. Not Given
2. True
3. True
4. True
5. False
6. G
7. F
8. H
9. E
10. B
Vocabulary Answer Key:
Exercise 1: 1. dedication, 2. obstacles, 3. vision, 4. prioritise, 5. positive, 6. sacrifice, 7. set, 8. struggled
Exercise 2: 1b, 2c, 3a, 4d, 5e, 6g, 7h, 8f
Exercise 3: 1b, 2a, 3c, 4a, 5a, 6c, 7a, 8b