Slowing down

C2 Proficiency · Speaking Collaborative · Cambridge Ready original exercise

Work with your partner. First talk about two of the pictures for about a minute, then use all five pictures to discuss a situation and reach a decision together in about three minutes.

Now you'll work together. Here are some pictures of people taking time out from busy lives.

Slowing down

A man fishing alone at the edge of a misty lake at dawn.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/f7f29b03719aafbd94bf0f8726fe417b8ec613e14c9d432066878d8f94ca0fdc.avif

candid documentary photograph, a Black man in his fifties fishing alone at the edge of a misty lake at dawn, completely still, peaceful mood, natural light, shot on 35mm film, no print, logos or writing on anyone's clothes, no signs or labels with readable text, no text, no watermark

Adults doing yoga on a city rooftop at sunrise.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/3e0815e4130b3d3058de065ddd5277d8dac8dd864108ce6835a5df08a0d5583a.avif

candid documentary photograph, a group of adults of mixed ages doing yoga on a rooftop in a big city at sunrise, tall buildings behind them, calm focus, natural light, shot on 35mm film, no print, logos or writing on anyone's clothes, no signs or labels with readable text, no text, no watermark

A young woman reading a book in a hammock in a shady garden.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/136e9e7730126ffff9d944373bab88e6f7ccec0d43dd3fbb056fe5963a6a43d2.avif

candid documentary photograph, a young woman lying in a hammock reading a paperback in a shady garden, summer afternoon, unhurried mood, a plain cream cotton hammock with no tags or labels, the paperback's cover plain, natural light, shot on 35mm film, no print, logos or writing on anyone's clothes, no signs or labels with readable text, no text, no watermark

Two elderly friends chatting on a bench in a small town square.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/96b68c60dbf74d4cfe9ac712eaf2a93d11021c03ddc9c44f8fc966723f259b57.avif

candid documentary photograph, two elderly friends chatting on a bench in a small town square, watching the world go by, gentle afternoon light, natural light, shot on 35mm film, no print, logos or writing on anyone's clothes, no signs or labels with readable text, no text, no watermark

A young man knitting on a crowded commuter train.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/3ad0cfc18a938b0315879dcad82ff140c71a93cde9dc79d3e57c5ec9c475f1cc.avif

candid documentary photograph, a young man knitting on a crowded commuter train, absorbed in his work while other passengers look at their phones, everyone in plain solid-colour coats and hoodies with no badges, patches or logos, a plain grey carriage interior with no signs, maps or adverts, natural light, shot on 35mm film, no print, logos or writing on anyone's clothes, no signs or labels with readable text, no text, no watermark

Begin with pictures {a} and {b}. Think together about what the people might be getting out of these moments, and what might have led them to spend their time like this. You have about a minute for this.

Now look at all the pictures. Imagine an organisation is running a campaign to persuade people to build more rest into their lives. Discuss what each of these activities might offer someone with a demanding lifestyle, and how realistic each one would be. Then decide which picture would make the most convincing image for the campaign. You have about three minutes for this.

Answer this Speaking task out loud and an AI examiner marks it on the official Cambridge Speaking criteria, with what you did well and what to fix next.

Practise this Speaking task free online: solo with exam timers and a self-recorder, as a live mock Speaking test with a partner over a video call, or as a full three-person mock exam — a real examiner reads the official examiner script to Candidates A and B. Rooms are invite-by-link; partners can join without an account.

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