Task 1

Spend 20 minutes on this task. You have recently moved to a new city for work and you are living in a rented apartment. You have noticed that the apartment is missing some important furniture items. Write a letter to your landlord to report this situation.
In your letter, you should:
- Explain why you are writing.
- Describe the furniture items that are missing.
- Explain why these items are important to you.
- Suggest a solution to the issue.
You should write at least 150 words.

Answers and Tips

Task 1

Band 5 Example Answer:

Dear Landlord,

I am James Smith, a new tenant in Apartment 405. I moved here for work. I am writing to tell you about a problem. The apartment is missing some furniture. There is no bed in the bedroom and no table in the kitchen.

These items are very important for me. I need the bed to sleep. Without it, I am sleeping on the floor. It's hard and not good for my back. The table is also important. I need it to eat and to do my work. Now, I am eating on the floor and working on my bed.

Can you please bring these items? I need them to live and work. If you can't, I can buy them and you can subtract the cost from my rent. This is a big problem for me. If it's not solved, I might have to find another apartment.

Thank you for understanding.

From,
James Smith

Band 7 Example Answer:

Dear Landlord,

I am writing to inform you about a situation in my new apartment. My name is Sarah Thompson and I recently moved into Apartment 405 for my new job.

Upon moving in, I noticed that the apartment is missing some essential furniture items. Specifically, there is no dining table or chairs, and the bedroom lacks a wardrobe. These items were listed as included in the rental agreement.

These missing items are crucial for my daily life. A dining table and chairs are necessary for meals and also for when I work from home. The absence of a wardrobe is inconvenient as I currently have no place to store my clothes and other personal items.

I kindly request that you arrange for these furniture items to be delivered to my apartment as soon as possible. Alternatively, if you could reduce my rent for the next month, I would be happy to purchase these items myself.

Thank you for your understanding and prompt attention to this matter.

Best regards,
Sarah Thompson

Band 9 Example Answer:

Dear Landlord,

I am John Smith, a new tenant in Apartment 506. I am writing to inform you about a situation concerning the lack of certain essential furniture items in my apartment.

Upon moving in, I noticed that the apartment is missing some key furniture pieces, namely a dining table and chairs, a wardrobe, and a bedside table. These items were expected to be part of the furnished apartment as per our agreement.

The absence of these items has been causing some inconvenience. The dining table and chairs are essential for me to have my meals comfortably, and without them, I have been resorting to eating on the couch. The lack of a wardrobe is making it difficult for me to store and organize my clothing. Furthermore, the absence of a bedside table is inconvenient as I have no place to put my alarm clock, reading glasses, and other personal items I need within reach at night.

To rectify this situation, I kindly request you to arrange for the delivery of these missing items at the earliest. If there are any complications in providing these items, I would appreciate if you could reduce my rent accordingly, so I can purchase them myself.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter. I am confident in your commitment to ensuring a comfortable living environment for your tenants.

Yours sincerely,
John Smith

Useful expressions and vocabulary for Task 1:

1. Relocate (verb): This means to move from one place to another. It is used in your letter to explain why you moved to a new city.
2. Residence (noun): This is a fancy word for where you live. In this case, your residence is the rented apartment.
3. Landlord (noun): This is the person who owns the apartment that you're renting. You pay them money to live there.
4. Essential (adjective): This is a word that means very important or necessary. You can use it to describe the furniture items that are missing.
5. Inventory (noun): This is a list of things. In your letter, you can use this word to describe the list of furniture items that are missing.
6. Amenities (noun): These are things that make a place more comfortable or easy to live in. In the letter, you can refer to the missing furniture as amenities.
7. Request (verb): This means to ask for something. You can use this word to ask your landlord to fix the situation.
8. Draw attention to (expression): This means to make someone notice something. In your letter, you can use this expression to make your landlord notice the missing furniture.
9. Clarify (verb): This means to make something clear or easy to understand. You can use this word to explain why the missing furniture is important to you.
10. Solution (noun): This is a way to fix a problem. In your letter, you can suggest a solution to the issue of the missing furniture.
11. Address the issue (expression): This means to deal with a problem. In your letter, you can use this expression to ask your landlord to fix the problem.
12. Resolved (adjective): This is used to describe a problem that has been fixed. You can use this word to describe how you want the situation with the missing furniture to be.
13. Cooperation (noun): This means working together to do something. In your letter, you can thank your landlord in advance for their cooperation.
14. Anticipate (verb): This means to expect something to happen. In your letter, you can use this word to say that you expect your landlord to fix the situation.
15. Rectify (verb): This is a fancy word that means to correct or fix something. You can use this word to ask your landlord to fix the situation with the missing furniture.

Tips:

1. Start with a Polite Introduction: Begin your letter with a polite greeting to your landlord. For example, "Dear Mr./Mrs. [Landlord's Name]". Then, explain why you are writing the letter. You could say something like, "I am writing to inform you that there are a few important furniture items missing from my apartment." Make sure to keep the tone of your letter respectful and professional.

2. Describe the Missing Items: You need to clearly describe what furniture items are missing. Try to be as specific as possible. If you can, mention the type, color, or any other detail that will help your landlord understand exactly what is missing.

3. Explain the Importance: Next, you have to explain why these items are important to you. You could talk about how these items would make your living situation more comfortable or practical. For example, you could say, "As a professional who works from home, I really need a desk for my work."

4. Propose a Solution: After explaining the issue, suggest a solution. This could be asking your landlord to provide the missing furniture or asking them if you can buy the items and deduct the cost from your rent. Remember to keep your suggestion reasonable and respectful.

5. End with a Positive Note: Conclude your letter on a positive note. You could say something like, "I am sure we can resolve this issue quickly." Also, remember to thank your landlord for their time and consideration.

Task 2

Band 5 Example Answer:

Many people think it is good to spend money to learn about space. They say it is important to know what is out there. We can learn new things and maybe find new places to live. For example, scientists found water on Mars. That is very exciting because it means people might live there one day.

But other people think we should use that money to make things better here on Earth. There are many people who are poor and hungry. There are places where people do not have clean water to drink. We could use the money to help these people. For example, my friend Maria lives in a place where there is not enough food. If we had more money, we could send food to Maria and her family.

I think both ideas are good. It is important to learn about space, but it is also important to help people on Earth. Maybe we can do both. We can spend some money on space and some money to help people. That way, we can learn new things and also make sure everyone has what they need.

So, in the end, I think we should try to do both. We should explore space and also help people on Earth. It is not easy, but I think it is the best thing to do.

Band 7 Example Answer:

Exploring outer space has always been a fascinating idea for many people. They believe that spending money on this can bring many benefits. For example, we can learn more about our universe. We can also find out if there is life on other planets. This could lead to new discoveries and advancements in science and technology. For instance, the invention of satellite technology has improved communication and weather forecasting.

On the other hand, some people argue that we should use this money to improve conditions on Earth. There are many problems that need solving like poverty, hunger, and climate change. For example, in many parts of the world, people do not have access to clean water or enough food. If we use the money to solve these problems, we can save many lives and make the world a better place.

In my opinion, both viewpoints have their merits. It is important to explore outer space because it can lead to new discoveries and advancements. However, we should not ignore the problems on Earth. We need to find a balance between these two. We can spend some money on space exploration, but we should also make sure that we are doing enough to improve conditions on Earth.

For example, in my country, India, the government is spending money on both. They are investing in space exploration, but they are also working hard to improve conditions for the poor. They are building new homes and providing free meals for school children. This shows that it is possible to do both.

In conclusion, while space exploration can bring many benefits, we should not forget about the problems on Earth. We need to find a balance and make sure that we are doing our best to help everyone.

Band 9 Example Answer:

The allocation of resources towards space exploration has been a contentious issue for many years. While some people argue that these funds could be better utilized to address terrestrial problems, others believe that the exploration of outer space is a worthwhile investment. Both viewpoints have their merits and demerits.

On one hand, advocates for space exploration argue that it has numerous benefits. Firstly, it pushes the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding. For example, the Apollo missions not only landed humans on the moon but also brought back valuable lunar rocks that have been pivotal in understanding the moon's formation. Secondly, space exploration often leads to technological advancements that have practical applications on Earth. The development of satellite technology, for instance, has revolutionized communication and weather forecasting.

On the other hand, critics argue that the vast sums of money spent on space exploration could be better utilized to address pressing issues on Earth such as poverty, hunger, and climate change. Many argue that it is unethical to invest in space exploration when millions of people lack access to basic necessities like clean water and healthcare. For example, the billions of dollars spent on the Mars Rover mission could have been used to provide clean drinking water to millions of people in developing countries.

In my opinion, a balanced approach is necessary. While it is true that there are urgent issues that need to be addressed on Earth, it is also important to invest in space exploration. The knowledge and technologies gained from exploring outer space could potentially solve some of the problems we face on Earth. For instance, research into growing plants in space could lead to new ways of producing food in harsh climates on Earth.

In conclusion, while the benefits of space exploration are undeniable, it is crucial to ensure that such endeavors do not divert resources away from addressing pressing terrestrial issues. A balanced approach that acknowledges the importance of both space exploration and improving conditions on Earth is necessary.

Useful expressions and vocabulary for Task 2:

1. Exploration (noun): Discovering and learning about new places or subjects. Similar to traveling to unknown areas and uncovering their secrets.
2. Investment (noun): Putting resources like money, time, or effort into something, anticipating future benefits. Comparable to investing in education for long-term career benefits.
3. Advancement (noun): Progress or development in a particular area. Like achieving a higher level of skill or knowledge.
4. Allocate (verb): Distributing or assigning resources for specific purposes. Like budgeting funds for different household expenses.
5. Terrestrial (adjective): Related to or existing on Earth. Similar to describing landscapes, wildlife, and natural phenomena on our planet.
6. Extraterrestrial (adjective): Pertaining to anything outside of Earth, such as other planets or alien life forms.
7. Humanitarian efforts (noun phrase): Actions aimed at promoting welfare and helping those in need. Like aid organizations providing relief after natural disasters.
8. Scientific breakthrough (noun phrase): A significant and impactful discovery in the field of science. Comparable to the discovery of antibiotics.
9. Space exploration (noun phrase): The act of traveling into space to discover and study celestial bodies and phenomena. Like NASA missions to Mars.
10. Domestic issues (noun phrase): Problems or challenges within a particular country. Like addressing national healthcare or education reforms.
11. Unprecedented (adjective): Something that has never occurred before. Similar to a historical event happening for the first time.
12. In the long run (idiom): Thinking about the future consequences rather than immediate outcomes. Like considering the long-term effects of environmental policies.
13. To weigh the pros and cons (idiom): Evaluating both the positive and negative aspects of a decision. Like considering the benefits and drawbacks of moving to a new city.
14. Prudent (adjective): Acting with or showing care and thought for the future. Similar to saving money for unforeseen emergencies.
15. To allocate resources (verb phrase): The process of distributing or managing available resources. Like planning a budget or managing time effectively.

Tips:

1. Understand the Question: Make sure you understand what the question is asking you. It wants you to talk about the benefits of spending money on space exploration and improving conditions on Earth. You also need to give your personal opinion on this matter.

2. Plan Your Answer: Before you start writing, think about the points you want to make. You could make a small outline. This will help you organize your thoughts and make your writing clearer.

3. Give Balanced Arguments: Since the question asks you to discuss both viewpoints, it's important to give balanced arguments. This means you should talk about the benefits of both, exploring outer space and improving conditions on Earth. Don't just focus on one side.

4. Include Your Personal Perspective: The question also asks for your personal perspective. So, after discussing both viewpoints, make sure to clearly state your own opinion. This could be a separate paragraph towards the end.

5. Use Examples: The question asks for any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience. If you can, include some examples that support your arguments. This could be something you've read or seen, or even a personal experience. This makes your answer more interesting and convincing.