Part 2 (Cue Card) Technology

A Useful Piece of Technology

Cue Card

Describe a piece of technology that you find very useful.

You should say:

and explain and explain why you consider it to be so useful

Model Answer

Well, the piece of technology I'd like to talk about is my noise-cancelling headphones, specifically a pair of Sony headphones that I bought about a year and a half ago. To be honest, I was a bit skeptical at first because they were quite pricey, but they've turned out to be one of the best purchases I've ever made. I use them pretty much every single day for a variety of things. During my commute to work, I listen to podcasts and audiobooks, which has actually helped me learn quite a lot during what would otherwise be dead time. At the office, I put them on when I need to focus on demanding tasks because they block out all the background chatter and noise. I'd say they've genuinely boosted my productivity by at least thirty percent. In the evenings, I also use them for video calls with friends and family who live abroad, and the sound quality is crystal clear on both ends. Actually, what makes them truly indispensable is the noise-cancelling feature itself. I live in a fairly noisy neighbourhood near a busy road, and being able to just switch them on and instantly create this bubble of silence is incredible. It's almost like having a superpower. I also appreciate the long battery life — they last about thirty hours on a single charge, which means I rarely have to worry about them dying on me. Overall, I genuinely don't know how I managed without them before.

Key Vocabulary

skeptical
having doubts or not easily convinced about something
pricey
informal word meaning expensive
dead time
unproductive time that is otherwise wasted
demanding
requiring a lot of effort, attention, or skill
boosted
increased or improved something
crystal clear
completely clear and easy to understand or hear
indispensable
absolutely necessary and impossible to do without
bubble of silence
a figurative space where no outside noise can reach you

Pronunciation Guide

indispensable /ˌɪndɪˈspensəbəl/
Stress the third syllable SPEN. Five syllables: 'in-di-SPEN-suh-bul'. The ending is '-able', not '-ible' in spelling, but both sound like 'uh-bul'.
efficiency /ɪˈfɪʃənsi/
Stress the second syllable FISH. Say 'ih-FISH-un-see'. The 'ci' makes a 'sh' sound, not a hard 'k'.
sophisticated /səˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd/
Stress the second syllable FIS. Five syllables: 'suh-FIS-tih-kay-tid'. Avoid saying 'so-FIS-ti-cated' with a hard 'c'.

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Speaking Tips

When describing technology, avoid overly technical jargon that might trip you up. Instead, focus on how the technology impacts your daily life with concrete examples. Quantifying benefits ('boosted my productivity by thirty percent') and using before-and-after comparisons make your answer more vivid and convincing.

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