INTRODUCTION
In this blog, we are going to talk about the topic that had come up in the recent IELTS Speaking cue card question- Money as a gift.
ANALYSIS OF THE QUESTION
How many of you remember receiving money as a gift while you were little or even as grown ups? When we first look at this question, what first strikes us is how money is usually given as gifts during special occasions. You should think deeply about this and make pointers that are relevant to the main topic. Those cues or pointers will help build your speech while you’re delivering it.
MIND MAP:
Let’s create a mind map of the topic at hand – Money as a gift.
Creating a mind map helps us remain fixated on the topic we are presented with and avoid deviations. Writing the main topic in the center and then jotting down relevant points associated with it will help us build our speech systematically.
Let’s observe the mind map drawn below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYtwyqxlvq8
ATTEMPT
Money is a valuable commodity and is of utmost importance. It is the very basis of why we get through our days even though some may beg to differ from my point of view.
My first memory of receiving money as a gift was during my tenth birthday. I had received a certain sum from my grandmother and at first, I felt quite overwhelmed. I did not know what to do with it but on her insistence, I kept it anyway. I gave it to my mother who safely deposited the sum into my savings account. She felt it was the ideal thing to do.
In comparison to the other presents that I had received, receiving money felt quite different. I almost started feeling responsible enough to make some of my own. I would have ample pocket money for my needs and so, I did not see any utility for it back then.
Gifts are supposed to be meaningful and a lot of thought usually goes into them. Personally, I wouldn’t hand cash over to anyone during an occasion as I believe in carefully picking out presents but one shouldn’t be rigid about it. Elderly people hardly have the energy to hunt around for something selective and so, they usually hand out cash during special occasions so that the recipient can spend it on something that he/ she would like to. The thought that goes into a gift should matter most. If money is given just so that a loved one can purchase something of their liking, one shouldn’t read too much into it. Respecting the thought process of that individual and valuing the amount received is the best thing one can do.
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