SPEAKING
Speaking Test Model Answers
15. Good Manners
Manners is a topic that has come up in parts 2 and 3 before. It could also be useful to prepare this topic so you're ready to talk about other people, and the way they behave.
1. Are you a polite person?
Yes, I like to think so. I was brought up to have good manners and I think it’s important to show respect and be considerate to others.
2. What are some examples of good manners in your country?
Much like in many other countries, good manners includes greeting people politely, using respectful language, saying please and thank you, holding doors for others, and avoiding making a scene in public.
3. Who taught you about manners?
I learned about manners from my parents, teachers, and others but my parents were my biggest role models. They set a good example for me to follow, so I mostly picked up my good manners from them.
4. Do you think it’s important to be polite?
Yes, polite behaviour is really important. If people are respectful and courteous to each other, avoid inappropriate and rude behaviour and have empathy for others, the society will be much more pleasant to live in for everyone.
5. What impolite behaviours annoy you the most?
Some impolite behaviours that get on my nerves include interrupting others, speaking loudly on the phone in public, not saying please and thank you, being obnoxious to service staff, and not respecting personal space.
6. Are car drivers polite in your country?
It varies a little by region, but most places car drivers are fairly considerate. In the capital drivers tend to be more aggressive and you occasionally see really antisocial behaviour on the roads, such as swearing and shouting at other motorists.
7. What behaviours are impolite when eating?
Some impolite behaviours when eating include talking with your mouth full, slurping or making loud noises, burping, and playing with your food. The main thing is to keep your mouth closed when you’re chewing food.
8. Are you ever late? Does it annoy you when other people are late?
Yes, for me being punctual is a sign of respect and consideration for others' time. It gets on my nerves when others are late, so I always try to be on time.
PART 1
Listen:
Model Answer:
I’d like to tell you about a good friend of mine, Mark, who I’ve known for several years now. He lives in my neighbourhood and we got to know each other because we’re both sports fans and take part in similar activities. He comes to mind because he is such a considerate person, and always tries really hard to put people at ease and make sure everyone around him is comfortable.
Mark is a really polite person. He’s patient and rarely gets angry with people, although if he’s provoked he will stand up for himself. Anyway, the main reason I think he is so polite is that he makes an effort to be nice and friendly. He asks a lot of questions, and is talkative, but not overbearing.
Sometimes I joke that he should be called Mr Charming, because when you meet him he always has good things to say and looks for ways to compliment you. In fact, the last time I saw him he noticed that I'd lost some weight and noted how fit and healthy I was looking. That may sound a little creepy, but from Mark, you know that it's a sincere compliment, and that's all.
He’s also really thoughtful, and he’s very good at avoiding hurting people’s feelings. I think he has a lot of empathy for other people, and makes sure that he doesn’t upset or embarrass people by putting his foot in it and saying something inappropriate or upsetting.
PART 2
Describe a polite person you know.
You should say:
who this person is
how you know this person
and why you think this person is polite
Listen:
PART 3
1. Do you think people are more or less polite than in the past?
I would say that people are less polite these days than in the past. It seems to me that there’s more antisocial behaviour, and people are much more likely to make a scene in public than in the past. So for example, people will listen to loud music on public transport, and disturb all the other passengers. Sometimes I wish that people were a bit more thoughtful and had a bit more empathy.
2. Should parents or schools teach children good manners?
In my opinion parents have the biggest influence on kids and should take most responsibility for providing a good role model for their children to follow. While teachers need to set a good example too, it’s difficult for them to really influence the children’s behaviour if they don’t have the support of parents. Really it’s up to the parents to set limits for their kids and punish them if they behave in a rude or unacceptable way.
3. How can parents encourage their kids to have better manners?
I think the most important thing that parents can do is to be role models for their kids. Children absorb everything around them and pay particular attention to how their parents behave. If they see their parents and other relatives act in a polite, courteous way, they are very likely to adopt the same behaviours. Likewise, if the parents are generally bad-mannered, their kids will probably copy them and act in the same way.
4. Can good manners help you to be more successful?
Yes, absolutely, I think it’s very important in the business world to have good manners. Colleagues and customers expect you to be polite and friendly, and not to lose your temper easily. To be successful you should know how to talk to people in the right way, and how to avoid offending or upsetting people. Often people who are successful make a good impression on people they meet and this requires being polite and friendly.
5. Do you think mobile phones should be banned in public places?
I think this question is a bit old-fashioned because it would be impossible to totally ban mobile phones in public places these days. However, I think there are some special situations where people should be strongly encouraged not to use their phones, for example, in libraries or cinemas. In these places noise will disturb the people who are trying to concentrate on reading or watching the movie, so to be considerate to others, phones shouldn’t be used. In these kinds of places, people should be asked to leave if they talk on their phones or make other noise.
6. How important are role models in teaching good manners?
I believe that role models are absolutely essential to teaching good manners. As I mentioned before, children are really influenced by how adults around them behave. If their role models behave in an impolite way, then kids are certain to pick up these bad habits. I think kids can be influenced not just by parents but by other adults too. So sports stars and celebrities are also role models to kids and can show them how to behave well, or unfortunately in some cases, to be rude and obnoxious.
Listen:
VOCABULARY
Topic Vocabulary:
aggressive (adjective):
Definition: Having or showing a readiness to attack or confront.
Example: The aggressive behaviour of the dog scared the children.
antisocial (adjective):
Definition: Relating to actions that harm or lack consideration for the well-being of others or society
Example: The neighbourhood watch program was implemented to deter antisocial behaviour.
compliment (verb):
Definition: A nice thing you say to make someone feel good about themselves.
Example: She complimented her friend on her earrings.
considerate (adjective):
Definition: Thinking about how your actions will affect others and trying not to upset them or cause problems.
Example: The inconsiderate party guests left their empty glasses and plates scattered all over the house.
courteous (adjective):
Definition: Polite and respectful in behaviour or speech.
Example: The courteous driver allowed the other car to pass first.
disturb (verb):
Definition: Bother or annoy someone by interrupting their peace or concentration.
Example: I couldn't work because the loud music next door kept on disturbing me.
empathy (noun [u]):
Definition: Understanding and sharing the feelings of others.
Example: Schools can promote a culture of empathy by encouraging kindness and compassion.
hurt someone's feelings (idiom):
Definition: Make someone sad or upset by what you say or do.
Example: I didn't mean to hurt her feelings when I said that I didn't like the dress.
inappropriate (adjective):
Definition: Not suitable or proper for a particular situation or context.
Example: It's inappropriate to wear shorts to a job interview.
lose your temper (idiom):
Definition: To get really angry and be rude or act aggressively because you can't control yourself.
Example: I lost my temper and shouted at the stupid man.
make a scene (idiom):
Definition: to make a lot of noise in public, usually because you are angry.
Example: He was obviously angry and started making a scene on the train.
obnoxious (adjective):
Definition: extremely unpleasant, offensive or annoying.
Example: He was being obnoxious to the staff so he was told to leave the shop.
offend (verb):
Definition: Upset or annoy someone because of something you say or do that they don't like.
Example: He really offended her when he criticised her cooking.
overbearing (adjective):
Definition: Excessively controlling in a relationship or situation.
Example: My boss can be overbearing at times and it's hard to speak up.
provoke (verb):
Definition: To cause someone to feel angry or irritated.
Example: The rude comment provoked him into yelling.
punctual (adjective):
Definition: Arriving or happening at the scheduled or expected time.
Example: It's important to be punctual for meetings and appointments.
put someone at ease (verb phrase):
Definition: To make someone feel comfortable and relaxed in a situation.
Example: Her friendly smile put everyone at ease in the room.
put your foot in it (idiom):
Definition: To make a mistake, often by saying or doing something inappropriate.
Example: He really put his foot in it when he made that joke about her divorce.
thoughtful (adjective):
Definition: Considerate and kind towards others, often showing empathy and understanding.
Example: He gave her a thoughtful gift for her birthday that showed how much he cared.
unacceptable (adjective):
Definition: Not meeting expected standards or norms of behaviour.
Example: The teacher made it clear that cheating on exams was unacceptable in her class.
