Describe a time when you got lost. You should say: when it happened where it happened how old were you and explain how you felt when you got lost. Model Answer 1:
Oh no, this is a great topic to talk about and it is slightly embarrassing to describe! You ask how old I was when I got lost as if this is something that can only happen to you as a child. Unfortunately, the example I am thinking about is rather more recent. I’ll try and explain what happened, where – I will tell you how old I was if you like, and I’ll certainly describe what it felt like too. So, the situation was just a couple of months ago. I’ve fairly recently taken up a new hobby of running. I’m not very good at it, I’m very slow, and I just like to use it as a way to see interesting and beautiful sceneries. I prefer running trails, that is going cross country, rather than running on roads, but that can be a problem as you need to be able to navigate, and I’m not very good at that either! I heard about a fell race that was taking place a short drive away from where I live. It was a 5 mile route across open countryside, such events usually use footpaths and some trails, but there is a risk you can lose your way. Because I’d never done anything like this before I emailed the organisers in advance. I explained I was worried about getting lost and that I was also very slow, so I didn’t want to find myself stuck out on the open moor when night fell! I got a lovely reply. The organiser assured me that she herself could ‘get lost going upstairs in my own house’ so she had personally put out really clear markers along the whole route. What’s more, there would be a back-marker bringing up the rear. ‘Honestly’ she said ‘there is really no way you can get lost or come last, I promise! ’ Can you guess what happened? The day of the event dawned. Everyone took off, and after the first couple of miles, I found I was running alone. All the faster runners had sprinted off out of sight. I wasn’t last, I could at first hear the back-marker laughing and joking with some really slow runners at the back – one of whom had to go extra steady because of a heart condition. The course was well-marked, and I enjoyed running through woodland, lolloping through fields and even along a few country paths. Towards the end of the race, I entered a thick patch of trees. The marker flags turned off sharply to the right and I followed them – straight to the banks of a stream. I was really confused, the path just ended at the water. I went on for a bit, but no more way markers or signs, I stared at the water again. I retraced my steps, but the signs were really clear. Then I had a ‘lightbulb’ moment, I suddenly realised this was a fell race so it was designed to be challenging. I ‘obviously’ had to just wade across the stream to the other side, and so I did. Only to end up in really thick bracken and bramble undergrowth. There was no path there. I was so confused, I crossed back over the river, and repeatedly checked for signs, but I just couldn’t find the route. In the end, I double backed about half a mile to try and find the backmarker, but they had vanished too. After about 10 minutes (though it felt like much longer) I found a different way out of the woods and saw the race finish. Everyone was there waiting for me in a bit of a panic, as they couldn’t work out how the backmarker (who was supposed to come in last to make sure everyone had finished safely) had somehow come back before me. Because we all had numbers, they had realised that I was still out on the course but they couldn’t work out where I could possibly be. I ran back rather lopsidedly, and soaking wet from having waded back and forth across the stream countless times. Breathless at the end I explained that I was sure I’d followed the path correctly yet somehow I had achieved the impossible thing of both getting lost AND finishing last! It didn’t make any sense… The organisers couldn’t understand it, they went back into the woods to see what had happened. It turned out that some vandals had set a false trail in the woods. The other runners had all been in sight of someone in front so hadn’t really been looking at the markers, only following the person in front. The back marker was local and knew the way, so she too hadn’t needed to check the route either. Hence, it was only me that got caught out. How unlucky! So how old was I, well fifty – you apparently don’t have to be a child in a fairy tale to get lost in the woods! As to how I felt, well initially confused, a little alarmed and then embarrassed as I couldn’t work out how it happened. Once there was an explanation I felt a bit better. The event organisers were lovely and friendly and very concerned that his had happened – but it wasn’t their fault, it was just one of those unlucky things. However, once it was all over, I thought it was hilarious. No one was hurt and in a funny way, it boosted my confidence because the two things I’d dreaded most had happened, and actually, it didn’t matter one bit! Even so, next time, I think I’ll look at the intended route more carefully on a map before setting off! [ Written by - Lucy Marris: Careers Adviser (UK), TEFL teacher (Vietnam) ] Sample Answer 2:
I was a very naughty kid in my childhood days. Bunking school was a usual phenomenon for me and some of my friends. In fact, the attempts were dangerous for me and them. Now I will describe how I lost one day.
I with two of my friends went to the Sydney Stadium to enjoy a high voltage football match. So, we made a plan on the previous day to bunk the school. Unluckily, I was unable to take the necessary preparations as dad dropped me at the school gate. However, I managed to escape the school with them. We travelled here and there in the city, did many things, took our lunch and so on. Finally, we reached at the stadium before the match began. We entered into the stadium and enjoyed the match. The trouble began when we started to get back home. My pockets were empty. I have spent all of my money round the day like an inconsiderate.
The event took place at the stadium. In fact, the situation was the same for the two others. Peter and Thomas, both had spent their bucks on the lunch and soft drinks, ticket of the match, buying badges for the team we supported etc. The situation was like that we did not have a single penny to pay for the transportation to way back to home. I was lost. Actually, we all were lost. There were no other ways to us to get rid of the situations. By the same time, it was becoming dark. Our school began at 7. 30 am and ended by noon. But I told mum that I would go Peter’s home for some home works and participating in sports, and will be back by evening. The distance of our residence was moderate from the stadium. In fact, it took around 20 minutes to reach in our residential block from the stadium by bus.
I was 12 or 13 but I cannot exactly remember the age. It was the beginning of my teenage. By the same time, it was the age to explore the world. The curious mind wanted to see the unseen and know the unknown. As part of the curiosity, I along with some of my friends started to see the world. In fact, Sydney was the world for us. We travelled in various corners of the city and passed our days amid great fun. The time was not so modern and the development of the city did not happen so much as it is today. Besides, we used to change our school uniform so that people could not understand we bunked the school. The idea was my brainchild.
But it was sad for all the three of us. We were lost. We started feeling hungry. But we were unable to buy any food to satisfy the hunger. Gradually tension aroused. Finding other ways, three of us started walking to home. But the streets were unfamiliar to us. Actually, we came there by public transport and the bus moved in various parts of the city. Hence, it was really difficult for us to spot the streets that will lead us to home. Later, we reached home safely but made late. Each of us managed our parents that saying that we had spent much time on the outdoor sports and thus we made late. I was relieved and learnt some lessons as well. Similar Cue Card Topics Your ability to talk about this Cue Card would enable you to talk about the following Cue Cards as well: Describe an interesting childhood memory you have. Describe an unknown place where you got lost. Describe an unusual thing happened to you. Describe a bad experience you have. Describe a funny experience you have.
Describe
a
time
when you
got
lost
. You should say: when it
happened
where it
happened
how
old
were you and
explain
how you
felt
when you
got
lost
. Model Answer 1:
Oh no, this is a great topic to talk about and it is
slightly
embarrassing to
describe
! You ask how
old
I was when I
got
lost
as if this is something that can
only
happen to you as a child. Unfortunately, the example I am thinking about is
rather
more recent.
I’ll
try and
explain
what
happened
, where
–
I will
tell
you how
old
I was if you like, and I’ll
certainly
describe
what it
felt
like too.
So
, the
situation
was
just
a couple of months ago. I’ve
fairly
recently taken up a new hobby of
running
. I’m not
very
good
at it, I’m
very
slow, and I
just
like to
use
it as a
way
to
see
interesting and
beautiful
sceneries.
I
prefer
running
trails,
that is
going
cross country
,
rather
than
running
on roads,
but
that can be a problem as you need to be able to navigate, and I’m not
very
good
at that either!
I
heard about a fell
race
that was taking place a short drive away from where I
live
. It was a
5 mile
route
across open countryside, such
events
usually
use
footpaths and
some
trails,
but
there is a
risk
you can lose your
way
.
Because
I’d never done anything like this
before
I emailed the
organisers
in advance. I
explained
I
was worried
about getting
lost
and that I was
also
very
slow,
so
I didn’t want to find myself stuck out on the open moor when night fell! I
got
a lovely reply. The
organiser
assured me that she herself could ‘
get
lost
going upstairs in my
own
house
’
so
she had
personally
put out
really
clear
markers along the whole
route
. What’s more, there would be a back-marker bringing up the rear. ‘
Honestly
’ she said ‘there is
really
no
way
you can
get
lost
or
come
last, I promise! ’ Can you guess what
happened
? The day of the
event
dawned. Everyone
took
off
, and after the
first
couple of miles, I found I was
running
alone. All the faster runners had sprinted
off
out of sight. I wasn’t last, I could at
first
hear the back-marker laughing and joking with
some
really
slow runners at the
back
–
one of whom had to go extra steady
because
of a heart condition. The course was
well
-marked, and I enjoyed
running
through woodland, lolloping through fields and even along a few country
paths
. Towards the
end
of the
race
, I entered a thick patch of trees. The marker flags turned
off
sharply
to the
right
and I followed them
–
straight to the banks of a stream. I was
really
confused, the
path
just
ended at the water. I went on for a
bit
,
but
no more
way
markers or signs, I stared at the water again.
I
retraced my steps,
but
the signs were
really
clear
. Then I had a ‘
lightbulb
’ moment, I
suddenly
realised
this was a fell
race
so
it
was designed
to be challenging. I ‘
obviously
’ had to
just
wade across the stream to the
other
side, and
so
I did.
Only
to
end
up in
really
thick bracken and bramble undergrowth. There was no
path
there. I was
so
confused, I crossed
back
over the river, and
repeatedly
checked
for signs,
but
I
just
couldn’t find the
route
. In the
end
, I double backed about half a mile to
try and
find the
backmarker
,
but
they had vanished too. After about 10 minutes (though it
felt
like much longer) I found a
different
way
out of the woods
and
saw
the
race
finish. Everyone was there waiting for me in a
bit
of a panic, as they couldn’t
work
out how the
backmarker
(who
was supposed
to
come
in last to
make
sure everyone had finished
safely
) had somehow
come
back
before
me.
Because
we all had numbers, they had
realised
that I was
still
out on the course
but
they couldn’t
work
out where I could
possibly
be. I ran
back
rather
lopsidedly
, and soaking wet from having waded
back
and forth across the stream countless
times
. Breathless at the
end
I
explained
that I was sure I’d followed the
path
correctly
yet
somehow I had achieved the impossible thing of both getting
lost
AND finishing last!
It didn’t
make
any sense… The
organisers
couldn’t understand it, they went
back
into the woods to
see
what had
happened
. It turned out that
some
vandals had set a false trail in the woods. The
other
runners had all been in sight of someone in front
so
hadn’t
really
been looking at the markers,
only
following the person in front. The
back
marker was local and knew the
way
,
so
she too hadn’t needed to
check
the
route
either.
Hence
, it was
only
me that
got
caught out. How unlucky!
So
how
old
was I,
well
fifty
–
you
apparently
don’t
have to
be a child in a fairy tale to
get
lost
in the woods! As to how I
felt
,
well
initially
confused, a
little
alarmed and then embarrassed as I couldn’t
work
out how it
happened
.
Once
there was an explanation I
felt
a
bit
better. The
event
organisers
were lovely and friendly and
very
concerned that his had
happened
–
but
it wasn’t their fault, it was
just
one of those unlucky things.
However
, once it was all over, I
thought
it was hilarious. No one
was hurt
and in a
funny
way
, it boosted my confidence
because
the two things I’d dreaded most had
happened
, and
actually
, it didn’t matter one
bit
! Even
so
,
next
time
, I
think
I’ll look at the intended
route
more
carefully
on a map
before
setting
off
!
[
Written by
-
Lucy
Marris
: Careers Adviser (UK), TEFL teacher (Vietnam)
]
Sample Answer 2:
I was a
very
naughty kid in my childhood days. Bunking
school
was a usual phenomenon for me and
some
of my friends. In
fact
, the attempts were
dangerous
for me and them.
Now
I will
describe
how I
lost
one day.
I with two of my friends went to the Sydney
Stadium
to enjoy a high voltage football
match
.
So
, we made a plan on the previous day to bunk the
school
.
Unluckily
, I was unable to take the necessary preparations as dad dropped me at the
school
gate.
However
, I managed to escape the
school
with them. We travelled here and there in the city, did
many
things,
took
our lunch and
so
on.
Finally
, we reached at the
stadium
before
the
match
began. We entered into the
stadium
and enjoyed the
match
. The trouble began when we
started
to
get
back
home. My pockets were empty. I have spent all of my money round the day like
an inconsiderate
.
The
event
took
place at the
stadium
. In
fact
, the
situation
was the same for the two others. Peter and Thomas, both had spent their bucks on the lunch and soft drinks, ticket of the
match
, buying badges for the team we supported etc. The
situation
was like that we did not have a single penny to pay for the transportation to
way
back
to home. I was
lost
.
Actually
, we all were
lost
. There were no
other
ways
to us to
get
rid of the
situations
. By the same
time
, it was becoming dark. Our
school
began at 7. 30 am and ended by noon.
But
I
told
mum that I would go Peter’s home for
some
home works and participating in sports, and will be
back
by evening. The distance of our residence was moderate from the
stadium
. In
fact
, it
took
around 20 minutes to reach in our residential block from the
stadium
by bus.
I was 12 or 13
but
I cannot exactly remember the age. It was the beginning of my teenage. By the same
time
, it was the age to explore the world. The curious mind wanted to
see
the unseen and know the unknown. As part of the curiosity, I along with
some
of my friends
started
to
see
the world. In
fact
, Sydney was the world for us. We travelled in various corners of the city and passed our days amid great fun. The
time
was not
so
modern and the development of the city did not happen
so
much as it is
today
.
Besides
, we
used
to
change
our
school
uniform
so
that
people
could not understand we bunked the
school
. The
idea
was my brainchild.
But
it was sad for all the three of us. We were
lost
. We
started
feeling hungry.
But
we were unable to
buy
any food to satisfy the hunger.
Gradually
tension aroused. Finding
other
ways
, three of us
started
walking to home.
But
the streets were unfamiliar to us.
Actually
, we came there by public transport and the bus
moved
in various parts of the city.
Hence
, it was
really
difficult for us to spot the streets that will lead us to home. Later, we reached home
safely
but
made late. Each of us managed our parents that saying that we had spent much
time
on the outdoor sports and
thus
we made late. I
was relieved
and
learnt
some
lessons as
well
.
Similar Cue Card Topics Your ability to talk about this Cue Card would enable you to talk about the following Cue Cards as
well
:
Describe
an interesting childhood memory you have.
Describe
an unknown place where you
got
lost
.
Describe
an unusual thing
happened
to you.
Describe
a
bad
experience you have.
Describe
a
funny
experience you have.