Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.

Target: 6.0-6.5

Module 1: Seed Banks & Crop Diversity

Build key vocabulary, master collocations, and practice high-scoring sentence patterns in 30 minutes.

🌱

📌 How to use this lesson

👩‍🏫 Teacher Instructions

In this 30-minute module, guide students through core terminology and structure practice to prepare for IELTS Speaking Parts 2 and 3.
Remind learners to record their answers clearly and check their audio transcriptions to verify correct pronunciation.

👨‍🎓 Student Steps

Review the unit vocabulary and collocation matching exercises first to enrich your word choice.
Practice the 4 sentence patterns out loud to build fluency before moving on to the speaking tasks in Modules 2 and 3.

1. Core Vocabulary Check

Select the correct definition for each key word from the unit list.

1. What does dormant mean?

____ a. Completely dead and unable to reproduce ____ b. Temporarily inactive but alive and able to grow later ____ c. Growing rapidly in warm weather conditions

2. What does germinate mean?

____ a. To start growing and sprout shoots from a seed ____ b. To dry out completely for long-term storage ____ c. To protect plants from harmful insects

3. What does withstand mean?

____ a. To weaken under extreme temperatures ____ b. To absorb water and nutrients quickly ____ c. To survive or resist harsh conditions successfully

4. What does sturdy mean?

____ a. Fragile and delicate to the touch ____ b. Strongly built, solid, and resilient ____ c. Small and lightweight for easy transport

5. What does blight mean?

____ a. A destructive plant disease causing decay ____ b. A type of organic fertilizer used by farmers ____ c. A healthy method of crop rotation

2. Common Collocations Matching

Match each key collocation on the left to its correct meaning on the right.

1. "dormant state"

____ A. Endure difficult environmental circumstances successfully ____ B. A period of inactivity where growth stops temporarily ____ C. Strong and solid structure unlikely to break

2. "withstand conditions"

____ A. Systematically list and organize things in a record ____ B. A severe agricultural disease destroying harvest plants ____ C. Endure difficult environmental circumstances successfully

3. "sturdy construction"

____ A. Strong and solid structure unlikely to break ____ B. A group of plant samples gathered and saved for future use ____ C. A period of inactivity where growth stops temporarily

4. "crop blight"

____ A. Systematically list and organize things in a record ____ B. Endure difficult environmental circumstances successfully ____ C. A severe agricultural disease destroying harvest plants

5. "seed collection"

____ A. Strong and solid structure unlikely to break ____ B. A group of plant samples gathered and saved for future use ____ C. A period of inactivity where growth stops temporarily

6. "catalogue items"

____ A. Systematically list and organize things in a record ____ B. Endure difficult environmental circumstances successfully ____ C. A severe agricultural disease destroying harvest plants

3. Useful Sentence Patterns for Speaking

Study these high-scoring sentence structures to express possibility, facts, and emphasis naturally.

Pattern 1

"There is a chance that ..."

Why this works: Use this pattern to discuss future possibilities or uncertainty in Part 3 answers.

"There is a chance that extreme weather events will threaten vulnerable crops in the near future."

Pattern 2

"... the fact that ..."

Why this works: Great for connecting an observation to a clear reason or consequence smoothly.

"We should not ignore the fact that preserving plant diversity is crucial for long-term food security."

Pattern 3

"There is a hope that ..."

Why this works: Expresses positive expectations about future environmental solutions.

"There is a hope that the rain will come before the end of the week."

Pattern 4

"It is vital that ..."

Why this works: Adds strong personal conviction and urgency when presenting your opinions.

"It is vital that international genebanks collaborate closely to safeguard rare seed varieties."

Fun Fact 1

Svalbard Global Seed Vault Capacity

How many seed samples in total does the Svalbard Global Seed Vault have room to store?

____ 0.45 million samples ____ 4.5 million samples ____ 45 million samples

Fun Fact 2

Global Genebanks Report

According to the FAO 2010 report, roughly how many seed samples were kept in genebanks around the world?

____ 0.74 million samples ____ 7.4 million samples ____ 74 million samples

Part 2 Practice

Module 2: Individual Long Turn

In this module, you will prepare and deliver a short talk on a topic cue card using your own experiences.

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Cue Card

⏱️ Prep: 1 min | Speak: 90-120 secs

Describe a plant, a fruit or a vegetable that you like to eat.

You should say:

what it is
where you buy or find it
how you like to eat it
and explain why you like it

Record Your Response

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 View Model Answer & Key Phrases (Click to expand after recording)

Well, to be honest, I'd like to talk about mangoes. They're definitely my favourite fruit, and I've loved them since I was a child.

I usually buy them from a small fruit stand a short walk from my apartment, so it's easy. The owner brings in fresh ones every morning, so they're always super sweet and juicy.

As for how I like to eat them, I prefer slicing them up when they're cold straight from the fridge. Sometimes, during summer, my mother makes a quick smoothie with them, and it really hits the spot on a hot afternoon.

I think I like mangoes so much because they just taste amazing and bring back good memories of family weekends. Whenever I eat one, it instantly puts me in a good mood. They're also really easy to prepare, so I can grab one as a quick snack whenever I'm busy. For me, nothing else really compares.

Useful Phrases

to be honest Used to introduce a personal, direct opinion naturally in spoken English.

a short walk from A natural way to say a place is close and easy to reach on foot.

hits the spot An everyday expression meaning something is extremely satisfying to eat or drink.

puts me in a good mood A natural phrase for expressing that something makes you feel happy.

Part 3 Discussion

Module 3: Two-Way Discussion

In this module, practice expressing and justifying your opinions on broader issues related to seed banks and plant conservation.

Question 1

Do you think it matters if some old kinds of fruit disappear?

Record Your Response

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 View Model Answer & Key Phrases (Click to expand after recording)

Well, to be honest, I think it really matters. If we lose older varieties, we lose unique flavours and plant diversity. For instance, my grandfather used to grow this rare type of sour apple in his garden, and you just can't find anything like it in modern supermarkets today. Also, if a new disease comes along, having different plant types helps us adapt. So yeah, I'd say keeping those traditional fruits around is super important for our future food supply, and we'd really miss out if they were gone for good.

Useful Phrases

to be honest Introduces a personal, direct opinion naturally.

comes along Phrasal verb meaning appears or occurs unexpectedly.

miss out Spoken phrase meaning to lose an opportunity or benefit.

gone for good Common expression meaning disappeared permanently.

Question 2

Should schools teach children where their food comes from?

Record Your Response

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 View Model Answer & Key Phrases (Click to expand after recording)

Definitely, I've always felt that way. A lot of kids nowadays think vegetables just appear on grocery shelves, which is a bit concerning. When I was primary school age, our teacher took us to a small local farm for an afternoon trip, and seeing how carrots actually grow in soil totally changed my perspective. Teaching kids about farming helps them respect nature and make healthier eating choices as they grow up. So, um, I reckon it's an essential lesson that every school should include in their timetable.

Useful Phrases

always felt that way Used to emphasize a long-standing personal view.

changed my perspective Means altered the way someone thinks about a topic.

grow up Phrasal verb meaning to mature from childhood to adulthood.

I reckon Natural spoken expression meaning "I think" or "in my opinion".

Question 3

Is it a good idea to keep seeds from many countries in one place?

Record Your Response

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 View Model Answer & Key Phrases (Click to expand after recording)

Well, I'd go for a mixed view on this one. On the positive side, gathering seeds together creates a centralized safety net if a disaster destroys crops in a specific region. But, um, relying on just one location can be risky because if that facility ever gets damaged by a flood or power failure, we could lose everything at once. My aunt keeps all her old photos in one box, and when it got wet last winter, she lost every single one. So, I think having multiple regional vaults is probably a much safer approach overall.

Useful Phrases

go for Phrasal verb meaning to choose or prefer a specific viewpoint.

safety net A protective arrangement against potential loss or failure.

at once Spoken phrase meaning simultaneously or all at the same time.

on the positive side Used to start the good side of an idea, before you give the other side.

Question 4

How can ordinary people help to keep old kinds of plants alive?

Record Your Response

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 View Model Answer & Key Phrases (Click to expand after recording)

Well, there are actually a few simple things anyone can do. First, people can plant traditional seeds in their own home gardens or balcony pots. My neighbour actually grows heirloom tomatoes on her small patio, and she shares the extra seeds with everyone on our street every spring. Another practical step is buying local produce from community markets, which encourages farmers to keep growing diverse crops. So, um, even if you don't have a massive backyard, small everyday choices can make a genuine difference in preserving these plant species.

Useful Phrases

practical step A realistic action that yields a direct result.

local produce A common phrase for fruits and vegetables grown nearby.

make a genuine difference Natural collocation meaning to have a real positive effect.

IELTS Speaking: Seed Banks & Crop Diversity

Module 1: Seed Banks & Crop Diversity

📌 How to use this lesson

👩‍🏫 Teacher Instructions

👨‍🎓 Student Steps

1. Core Vocabulary Check

2. Common Collocations Matching

3. Useful Sentence Patterns for Speaking

"There is a chance that ..."

"... the fact that ..."

"There is a hope that ..."

"It is vital that ..."

Svalbard Global Seed Vault Capacity

Global Genebanks Report

Module 2: Individual Long Turn

IELTS Speaking Part 2: Cue Card

Record Your Response

Useful Phrases

Module 3: Two-Way Discussion

Do you think it matters if some old kinds of fruit disappear?

Record Your Response

Useful Phrases

Should schools teach children where their food comes from?

Record Your Response

Useful Phrases

Is it a good idea to keep seeds from many countries in one place?

Record Your Response

Useful Phrases

How can ordinary people help to keep old kinds of plants alive?

Record Your Response

Useful Phrases

Related lessons

Grammar: Noun + That-Clause

Reading: Seed Banks and Crop Diversity

Vocabulary: Seed Banks and Crop Diversity

IELTS Writing: Seed Banks and Crop Diversity

Class activity: Curiosity Quiz Show (Science in Everyday Life)

Class activity: Digital Detox Debate