Luyện theo cấu trúc Cambridge IELTS 15 · Speaking Part 1–3: Walking and the Outdoors

1. I do, especially in the evening after work. It's the only part of the day when I'm not looking at a screen, so it really helps me clear my head.

2. Usually around a lake that's about ten minutes from my flat. There's a path all the way round, and in the early evening it's full of people jogging, chatting or walking their dogs, so it has a nice, lively atmosphere.

3. Definitely. When I was little, I walked to primary school every day with my neighbours, and we used to take a long detour just to buy snacks. Now I tend to ride my motorbike everywhere, even for very short trips, which I'm not proud of.

4. Not really, to be honest. The pavements are often blocked by parked motorbikes or street vendors, so you end up walking in the road. Some newer districts have wide pavements and parks, though, so things are gradually improving.

I'd like to talk about a hike I did two summers ago in the mountains in the north of my country. The route went from a small village up to a viewpoint at about two thousand metres, and it took us around seven hours there and back.

I went with three friends from university. None of us were experienced hikers, to be honest, but one of them had read a lot about the route online, so we felt reasonably well prepared. We also hired a local guide, which turned out to be a very wise decision.

The first few hours were wonderful. We walked through rice terraces and bamboo forest, and the guide kept stopping to show us plants that local people use as medicine. But at about midday the weather changed completely. Thick cloud came down, it started to rain heavily, and the path became so muddy that we kept slipping. At one point we couldn't see more than a few metres ahead, and I have to admit I was quite frightened. Our guide stayed very calm, though, and decided that we should turn back before reaching the top.

Afterwards I felt a mixture of disappointment and relief. We never saw the famous view, which was a shame, but I was so grateful that we had someone with local knowledge. It taught me that mountains have to be taken seriously, and that turning back is sometimes the bravest decision. I'd still love to go back and finish the route one day, ideally in the dry season.

1. I think it's partly a reaction to modern lifestyles. Most people spend all day indoors, often in front of screens, so being surrounded by nature feels refreshing. There's also a sense of achievement when you reach the top of a mountain, which is quite different from the kind of satisfaction you get at work.

2. The weather is probably the biggest danger, because conditions can change very quickly at altitude. People also get lost, particularly when paths aren't clearly marked, or they injure themselves on steep, slippery ground. Often the real problem is overconfidence: people underestimate how long a route will take and get caught out by darkness.

3. It's a difficult question. I don't think anyone should hesitate to call for help because they're worried about the cost, as that could cost lives. That said, if hikers ignore official warnings, for instance by climbing during a storm, it seems fair that they should contribute something, perhaps through compulsory insurance.

4. The most effective approach is to make walking pleasant and safe. That means wide pavements that aren't blocked by parked vehicles, shade from trees, and safe places to cross busy roads. Some cities also close certain streets to traffic at weekends, which encourages families to walk and explore their own neighbourhoods.

5. I suspect it will depend on the person. On the one hand, technology is making indoor entertainment more and more attractive. On the other hand, there's growing awareness of the health benefits of being outdoors, and I think more people will deliberately make time for it, in the same way that many people now plan their exercise.