Books & Reading Topic
Part 1 Questions
Short, personal questions. Answer directly, then add one extra sentence to extend your answer naturally.
1. Do you enjoy reading?
"Yes, quite a lot actually. I try to read most evenings before bed, even if it is only for twenty minutes or so."
2. What kind of books do you like?
"I mostly enjoy fiction, particularly mystery and historical novels, though I occasionally read non-fiction too."
3. Did you read a lot as a child?
"I did, actually. My parents encouraged reading from a young age, and I have loved it ever since."
4. Do you prefer physical books or e-books?
"I still prefer physical books, mainly for sentimental reasons, though I do use e-books when travelling since they are more convenient."
5. How often do you read?
"Almost every day, though how much I read varies quite a lot depending on how busy or tired I am."
6. Who is your favourite author?
"It is hard to pick just one, but I have always particularly admired Agatha Christie for her clever, tightly-plotted mysteries."
Part 2 Cue Card
You get 1 minute to prepare, then speak for up to 2 minutes.
Describe a book you enjoyed reading
You should say:
- What the book was about
- When you read it
- Why you decided to read it
- And explain why you enjoyed it
Full model answer
I'd like to talk about a novel I read a couple of years ago, which genuinely stayed with me long after I finished it.
It follows the story of a family across several decades, exploring how a single difficult decision made by the parents early on quietly shapes the lives of their children as they grow into adulthood. It is not a fast-paced or dramatic book in the traditional sense, but rather a slow, thoughtful character study that gradually reveals how the past continues to influence the present.
I read it about two years ago, during a fairly quiet period when I had a bit more free time than usual. I decided to pick it up mainly because a close friend recommended it, insisting I would love the writing style, and she turned out to be completely right.
What I enjoyed most about it was honestly the quality of the writing itself. The author had this remarkable ability to describe small, ordinary moments in a way that felt genuinely profound, and the characters felt so real and flawed that I found myself thinking about their decisions long after putting the book down each night.
I think what made it particularly enjoyable was also the structure, since it jumped between different time periods and perspectives, gradually piecing together the full picture. It required a bit more attention than a typical novel, but that made the experience of reading it feel genuinely rewarding rather than simply entertaining.
Part 3 Discussion
Deeper, more abstract questions. Give your opinion and explain your reasoning with an example.
1. Why do you think reading habits have changed in recent years?
Smartphones and social media have introduced a huge amount of competition for people's attention, and shorter-form content has arguably shortened people's attention spans for longer reading. That said, audiobooks and e-readers have also made reading more accessible in different formats, so it is really more of a shift than an outright decline.
2. Do you think e-books will eventually replace physical books?
I doubt they will fully replace them, though they will likely continue to grow in popularity due to their convenience. Physical books still hold strong sentimental and collectible value for many readers, so I suspect the two formats will continue to coexist rather than one completely replacing the other.
3. What are the benefits of reading fiction compared to non-fiction?
Fiction tends to build empathy and imagination by immersing readers in other people's perspectives and experiences, while non-fiction is generally more effective for acquiring specific knowledge or skills. Both offer genuine value, just in quite different ways.
4. Should children be encouraged to read more at school?
Definitely, yes. Reading builds vocabulary, comprehension, and critical thinking skills that benefit virtually every other subject, and instilling a genuine love of reading early tends to create lifelong readers, which has benefits well beyond the school years.
5. Do you think libraries are still important in the digital age?
I believe so, yes, though their role has evolved somewhat. Beyond lending books, many libraries now serve as community spaces, offer digital resources, and provide access to those who cannot afford books themselves, which remains a genuinely valuable social function.
6. How does reading benefit a person's language skills?
Reading regularly exposes people to a much wider range of vocabulary, sentence structures and writing styles than everyday conversation typically does. Over time, this naturally improves both written and spoken communication, which is actually one of the main reasons I encourage my own students to read outside of class.
Useful vocabulary for this topic
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