Table of Contents
Describe A Prize You Have Received Recently (E.g. Money, Something Valuable, A Medal)
Cue Card
You should say:
- What it was
- When you received it
- What you did to receive it
- And explain how you felt about it
Sample Answer 1
The prize I’d like to talk about is one that holds a special place in my heart, even though it might not seem like much to others. It was a first-place trophy from my school’s annual rope-jumping competition. I received this prize when I was just 13 years old, during a school assembly held in late spring.
To earn this prize, I had to undergo rigorous training for several weeks. I practiced every evening, timing myself to improve my speed and endurance. My goal was to break the school record, and after countless hours of jumping, I managed to achieve something I never thought possible – I jumped 261 times in one minute (I remember this quite clearly). Of course, compared to world champions who can jump hundreds more, my achievement might seem modest, but it was my personal best, and it felt like a monumental effort.
The prize itself wasn’t grand; it was a simple certificate of achievement and a plain notebook. But the sense of accomplishment was immense. When my name was announced, and I walked up to receive my trophy, felt a rush of pride and joy. My hard work had paid off, and had proven to myself that dedication and perseverance could lead to success.
Well, this small piece of paper-made certificate and a notebook couldn’t be seen as big prize now, but the true value of the prize wasn’t in what it was made of, but in the memories and skills it represented. It was a moment of self-realization and a stepping stone for future endeavors. I was proud of myself and overjoyed, not just because I had won it, but because I had pushed myself beyond my limits.
Sample Answer 2
To be honest, I haven’t received many prizes recently. The only one I can think of is something I won in my cricket team, and that was the new player of the year. This happened a couple of years ago. I had recently returned to England, and I love playing cricket. Before I left to live in China and Colombia, I played cricket every summer, but I hadn’t played for eleven or twelve years, a very long time, so I was very rusty. I was very much out of practice, but I thought, I’ll give it a try now that I’m back in England and it’s the summer—it’s perfect cricket weather. Let’s find a team and see what happens.
So I found a local team and I joined that team. In the first few games that I played, I was pretty bad. I enjoyed playing, but my performance was pretty bad. But over time, throughout the summer, over the course of several months, my performances improved as I remembered how to play cricket, and I scored a 50—a half century in the last game of the season. So that was a very satisfying way to end the season.
Then, at the end-of-season award ceremony, there were different awards given: the player of the year, the young player of the year, and the new player of the year. Because I’d played lots of games in that season, and I think because in the last game I’d scored some runs, people voted for me as the new player of the year. It was quite surprising because I don’t usually win awards, but it was very nice. It was nice to have the recognition for coming every week and trying my best, and it was just a really enjoyable experience. So that was the prize that I received recently.
Sample Answer 3
So the important and valuable item that I lost was my Kindle, my Kindle e-reader. And I have to be honest, I still don’t know. This happened four years ago, and I’m still not entirely sure when, where, and how I lost it. All I remember is that on a Monday, I had my Kindle. I was reading it, and then about two days later, I couldn’t find the Kindle. It was gone.
So I don’t know if I possibly left it on the bus, left it on the train, in a coffee shop, or even potentially maybe someone stole it. It’s really hard to say. But all I knew was about two days later, I couldn’t find it. I looked everywhere in my house, and I couldn’t find my Kindle. So it was very annoying. It’s important and valuable to me because I really enjoy reading, and I like to read ebooks because I don’t really want to carry physical books around with me. The Kindle is a lot smaller and thinner and lighter than a physical book.
And usually, at any one time, I’m reading two or three different books. For example, I might be reading a novel, and at the same time, I’m reading a business book. And at the same time, I might be reading a book about history or something else, non-fiction. And the reason I do that is because I like, I have different moods, and in different moods, I like to read different things. So in the morning, I like to give myself energy by reading a business book. And then at night, when I’m quite tired, I want to relax. I’ll read a novel.
Part 3
1. Do you think competition is all about the prize?
No, Definitely not. While the prize can certainly be a motivating factor, I think the true essence of competition lies in the process itself. It fosters personal growth, encourages skill development, and often builds friendship among participants.
The journey of striving to improve themselves and the challenges faced during competition are often more valuable than the reward itself.
2. Why should we set prizes for competitions?
Well, of course, the basic purpose is to recognize and reward excellence. Prizes serve as a tangible acknowledgment of effort, dedication, and skill.
They can motivate participants to strive for their best, pushing them to exceed their own limits.
Additionally, for the organizers, prizes can attract more participants and viewers, so that the level of competition can be improved.
Consequently, the overall quality of the event can be enhanced as well.
3. What prices should schools set for students?
Basically, some commonly-seen prizes, like scholarships, certificates, or even small grants for further studies should be set. Because those are both meaningful and motivational for students. Of course these are some prizes for students who get some academic achievements.
For the non-academic ones, such as artistic or athletic excellence, awards like trophies, plaques, or opportunities to showcase their skills at school events should be more appropriate.
Moreover, prizes that promote personal growth, like character awards for kindness or perseverance, can be incredibly rewarding for students too.
4. What criteria should be set for students to win a particular prize?
Wow, the criteria should be clear, fair, and relevant to the competition.
For academic prizes, factors like grades, participation in extracurricular activities, and teacher recommendations could be considered.
For artistic or athletic prizes, the quality of work, improvement over time, and adherence to rules and regulations should be assessed.
Additionally, criteria should be consistently applied to ensure fairness across all participants.
5. Why do many companies offer prizes to their customers?
Well, I think it’s a kind of a marketing strategy to increase brand loyalty and customer engagement.
Prizes can be an incentive for customers to make purchases, participate in promotions, or provide feedback. By offering attractive rewards, companies can differentiate themselves from competitors and create a memorable customer experience.
Moreover, prizes can generate excitement and buzz around the brand, so this can lead to increased visibility and sales. Again, it’s a marketing strategy.
6. Why do some companies encourage employees to compete with each other?
I would say that ultimately, it’s about increasing productivity.
For one thing, some companies encourage employee competition to drive innovation, improve performance, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
For another, by setting clear goals and offering rewards for outstanding achievements, companies can motivate employees to strive for excellence. Competition can also create a sense of urgency and purpose, pushing employees to think creatively and develop new skills. So with better performance, more outstanding achievements and excellent work, productivity will be boosted for sure.
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Credits
Image : Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash
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