Part of the ielts speaking Test Yourself 13 Reading Your Family 14

11 Music

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102
5. Do all children in your country study music at school?
Yes, definitely. Music is a compulsory subject at school in China. Usually teachers
teach students how to sing, and how to recognize the musical notes：do, re, mi. You know,
there are so many students per class, so teachers cannot teach everyone how to play an
instrument. It’s easier to make everyone sing.
6. Do you play a musical instrument?
No. When I was a child, I started learning the clarinet but it didn’t last long. I didn’t
like it, and my mother kind of forced me to. We had a big fight one day, and that was it（＝
it was over). I would like to learn how to play the guitar in the future. Right now, I have no
time because of my studies．Maybe during the next summer holidays...
7. Do you think children should learn to play a musical instrument?
I think it’s great if parents can give their children an opportunity to learn how to play
one instrument, but the problem is that, very often, kids don’t enjoy it, but they keep on
learning because their parents expect them to. Maybe it’s better to wait until the children are
old enough to actually make the decision on their own.

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103
1. Do you enjoy shopping?
Yes, definitely, a lot. You know how much most girls like shopping, and I am no
exception. I frequently go shopping with my mother or some friends. There are many new
shopping malls in my city, with a lot of new shops, more choices．It’s always exciting to go
there, and relaxing too．
No, I can’t say I like it and I hardly ever go to the mall unless I know for sure what I
want to buy. Some people, especially some girls, can go window shopping all afternoon, just
trying on new clothes even if they don’t need anything new because their closets are already
full at home. They think it is fun and exciting, but I find it tiring and boring to walk around
with no precise aim. My girlfriend frequently asks me to go shopping with her, and I must
admit I am running out of excuses not to go！