Idioms "do"

Do me a favour = Please do something for me e.g. Do me a favour. Buy some bread on your way home.
Did you ever! = expressing surprise, amazement etc. e.g. Well did you ever! Lady Gaga is having a concert here!
Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do! = Be good e.g. Bye Sarah. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!
Easy does it! = Do it slowly and carefully. e.g. Easy it does it! There are glasses in that box.
How are you doing? = How are you?
How do you do it? = How is that done? e.g. How do you do it? Five children and a full-time job!
I could do with… = I need. e.g. I could do with a holiday as I’ve been working so hard lately.
Sure do! = Yes please. e.g. Do you want some cake? Sure do!
That does it! = I can’t bear any more, I’m going to take action e.g. That does it! They have been partying non-stop. I’m calling the police.
Well done! = expressing praise and congratulations e.g. Well done! You got an A.
What do you do? = What’s your job?
You do that = Yes, do it e.g. Shall I ring Daniel? You do that.

The elderly exercising in China

Model Answer – IELTS (Task 1)

The graph below shows the number of complaints made about noise to Environmental Health authorities in the city of Newtown between 1980 and 1996.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The Environmental Health authorities in Newton received a number of complaints in relation to domestic, factory, traffic and road work noise over a sixteen year period.

To begin with, just over 600 complaints were received in 1980 relating to the noise from road works. Complaints from this category fell sharply to less than 100 in 1996. Protests over domestic/household noise were steady from 1980 to 1984 at approximately 500 and between 1986 and 1990 at 400. There was a dramatic upward trend over a 6 year period ending at 1200 complaints in 1996 which represents the highest figure. Factories accounted for 400 complaints in 1980 with the figure increasing by about 200 over the sixteen year period. Finally, the fewest complaints were made about traffic noise in 1980. 300 complaints were recorded during the first four years and 200 between 1986 and 1988. Following a rise in traffic noise complaints, the 1996 figure stood at 600.

Overall, the numbers of complaints received for domestic/household, factory and traffic noise were on the rise whilst noise from road works noted a drop. In 1996, domestic/household noise was complained about the most and road works the least.

Question taken from Official IELTS Practice Materials (2009) p.35

IELTS Reading - Synomyms

Advantage, benefit, upside, plus, pros
Disadvantage, downside, drawback, stumbling block, problem, handicap, cons
Aim, purpose, goal, objective
Consequence, outcome, effect
Difficulty, problem, obstacle
Difference, discrepancy
Risk, hazard
Analysis, explanation, interpretation
Characteristic, feature, trait
Shows, describes, details, explains, provides, sets out
Condemn, disapprove, censure, criticize
Think, believe, perceive, conceive

IELTS Task 1 - Describing a process

The diagram below shows the process of using water to produce electricity.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The illustration demonstrates how sea water is transformed into hydro-electric power to supply our energy needs.

Initially the sun’s rays heat the surface of the sea causing the water to evaporate into clouds which then results in rain. A man-made dam stores this rainwater in a reservoir. With the aid of a valve, the reservoir water completes a cycle as it is channeled through a turbine and pump. In this way, water is re-cycled and the pressure from its circulation produces energy.

The turbine is connected to high voltage cables and once the water energizes the turbine this goes to a transformer station. The station is responsible for distributing the electric power to hospitals, schools, factories and houses via underground cables. This forms the final stage of the process.

To conclude, natural resources (water, sun, rain) in combination with man-made aids (turbine, cables, power station etc) supply us with clean energy using a relatively simple procedure.

Question taken from Official IELTS Practice Materials (2009) p.32

Idioms with "word"

Could I have a word? = May I speak to you in private? e.g. Could I have a word? It’s about Peter.

In other words = clarify something that has just been said. e.g. There are conference, meeting and banqueting rooms, in other words, the hotel has many facilities.

Mark my words = take note of what I’m saying. e.g. Mark my words, he’ll come back for revenge. He doesn't give up that easily.

My word! = an expression showing surprise, annoyance. e.g. My word! What a mess!

Not a word = Don’t say anything. e.g. I can hear them coming. Not a word or you will ruin the surprise.

Words fail me = to show surprise, shock, happiness, anger e.g. I won the lottery. I can’t believe it. Words fail me.

One more word out of you = punishment will follow if there isn’t silence e.g. One more word out of you and you’ll be sent to your room.

You can take my word for it = believe me e.g. Take my word for it, she’s an excellent teacher.

Synomyms (modern)

Contemporary, current, latest, new, novel, present day, state-of-the-art, up-to-date