IELTS Speaking: Risk, Insurance & Disaster Planning
Risk, insurance and disaster planning
Answers and an explanation for each question appear once you add this activity to your own library.
🎯 Target: 7.0-7.5
ℹ️ How to use this lesson
Teacher: Spend about 12 minutes on Module 1, then let students record in Module 2 (30 minutes in all). Check the answers together and discuss the fun fact guesses before you reveal them.
Learner: First, test your memory of the vocabulary and collocations. Next, read the sentence patterns aloud to get comfortable using them.
Let's build up your vocabulary and grammar for talking about risks and disasters.
1. Word Review
Type the missing word to complete each sentence. Use each word once: contingency, vulnerable, premium, mitigate, evacuation.
1. The monthly ____ for our home insurance has gone up this year.
2. The town ordered an immediate ____ before the hurricane hit the coast.
3. Coastal communities are particularly ____ to rising sea levels and flooding.
4. Building a seawall will help to ____ the effects of future storms.
5. We need a solid ____ plan in case the power grid fails for several days.
2. Collocation Match
Match each meaning to the correct unit collocation.
3. Useful Sentence Patterns
Read these patterns aloud. They will help you sound natural and clear when discussing risks in Part 3.
Anyone who ... runs the risk of ...
"Anyone who builds a home in a flood zone runs the risk of losing everything."
There is every likelihood that ...
"There is every likelihood that insurance premiums will go up next year."
In the event of a ..., [someone] stands to ...
"In the event of a flood, uninsured families stand to lose everything they own."
It is sensible to ..., rather than ...
"It is sensible to save money for emergencies, rather than assuming the state will pay."
4. Fun Facts: Guess the Number
Fact A: The North Sea flood of 1953
How many people were killed in the Netherlands during this historic flood?
Fact B: The Sendai Framework
In what year was the United Nations Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction adopted in Sendai, Japan?
🗣️ Part 3: Speaking Practice
Now let's practice answering some longer questions about risks and disasters.
1. Who should pay when a family's home is destroyed by a storm: the family, the insurer or the state?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"Well, honestly, I think it's a mix of all three. If a family has the means, they should definitely buy insurance, so the insurer covers the bulk of it. But, um, you can't always plan for a massive storm. That's where the state needs to step in, especially for folks who can't afford high premiums. Like in my town, when we had severe winds last year, the government helped fix the main roads, but my neighbor had to rely on his own insurance to fix his roof. At the end of the day, leaving people with nothing just isn't right."
Useful phrases:
- the bulk of it: the largest part of something.
- step in: to get involved and help.
- At the end of the day: something you say before stating the most important fact.
2. Is it sensible for people to build homes in places that are known to flood?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"To be fair, no, it doesn't make a lot of sense. I mean, if you know a river overflows every few years, building a house right next to it is asking for trouble. But, um, it really depends on the situation. Sometimes people have lived there for generations and just don't want to move. Or maybe the land is a lot cheaper. I have an uncle who lives near the coast, and his house floods a bit every spring. He just deals with it because he loves the view. Still, broadly speaking, it's a massive financial risk."
Useful phrases:
- asking for trouble: doing something that will likely cause problems.
- deals with it: takes action to solve or accept a problem.
- broadly speaking: generally.
3. Should governments force people to buy insurance against natural disasters?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"That's a tough one. I'd lean towards saying yes, at least in high-risk areas. If a hurricane hits and nobody is insured, the government ends up footing the bill anyway. So, making it mandatory makes sure there's a safety net. But, on the other hand, you can't just force everyone to pay out if they're already short of money. It really depends on the person's income. Like, a friend of mine can hardly pay rent, let alone disaster insurance. Maybe the state could force the insurance, but help cover the cost for those who need it most."
Useful phrases:
- footing the bill: paying for something.
- on the other hand: you say this before a second, different point.
- let alone: not to mention.
4. How far should a community prepare for a disaster that may never happen?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"Well, you know, I think they should prepare enough to avoid total chaos, but without overdoing it. You have to have a basic plan, like clear escape routes or emergency supplies. But, um, if you spend all the town's money on a giant wall for a flood that hasn't happened in a lifetime, people will get upset. It's all about balance. In my neighborhood, we just have a text alert system and a safe meeting point. It didn't cost much, but it gives us peace of mind. You don't need to turn the place into a fortress."
Useful phrases:
- overdoing it: doing more than you need to.
- peace of mind: a feeling of being safe and not worried.
- all about: the most important thing is.
5. Do warnings about risks make people more careful, or do they just make people anxious?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"I'd say a bit of both, really. At first, a warning definitely makes you take notice. If I hear on the news that a bad storm is coming, I make sure my windows are shut and I have flashlights ready. So yes, people become more careful. But if you hear warnings every single day, it just wears you down. You start to stress out, or worse, you just ignore them completely. That is when it stops working. Eventually, folks just tune it out because they are tired of always feeling worried about something that might never happen."
Useful phrases:
- take notice: start to pay attention.
- wears you down: makes you feel tired and stressed over time.
- tune it out: stop listening or paying attention to something.
6. Would you choose a safe but expensive area to live in over a risky but cheap one?
[Bài tập luyện nói]
"Honestly, I'd choose the safe, expensive area every time. I just value my sleep too much! Living in a risky spot might save you money on rent, but, um, the constant worry would stress me out. Plus, if a storm actually hits, all that money you saved gets wiped out replacing your broken stuff anyway. When I was younger, I lived in a cheap basement apartment that flooded every time it rained heavily. It was awful saving my books and clothes. So yeah, I'd much rather pay a bit more upfront and just feel secure."
Useful phrases:
- stress me out: make me feel worried and tense.
- wiped out: completely destroyed or lost.
- I'd much rather: I would prefer this.
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