Keeping active

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 I'd like you to work together. Here are some pictures of people keeping active in different ways.

Keeping active

People running on rows of treadmills in a crowded gym.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/d7fdaa60cfe022ccc32de93175e4e93d2edb09ecb05f474a8a56844135d534a7.avif

candid documentary photograph, people of mixed ages running on rows of treadmills in a crowded gym, headphones on, daylight from tall windows, seen from the front so we look at the runners' faces and only the plain black backs of the treadmill consoles face the camera, everyone in plain solid-colour sportswear with no logos or stripes, plain headphones, 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

Older adults doing tai chi together in a park in the early morning.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/4236248eed5a2e3242511454660ffafaf2e14dcd8fffce09979c9b6e6087073e.avif

candid documentary photograph, a group of older adults doing tai chi together in a city park in the early morning mist, slow graceful movements, 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 woman cycling alone up a steep mountain road.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/1b70c25f0b7ec6e26cf5f528e7560da2d3d6d5ab9247f5063ec5015fd8c14adc.avif

candid documentary photograph, a Latina woman in her forties cycling alone up a steep mountain road, determined expression, dramatic landscape, wearing a plain navy long-sleeved top and black leggings with no logos, marks or writing anywhere, a plain white helmet, a plain unbranded black bicycle, 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

Friends playing an informal game of football on a dusty pitch at sunset.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/cfbb7c59e9d8eb576506eb126f78fff759e290a118625b01b30f2e335cb63faf.avif

candid documentary photograph, friends of different backgrounds playing an informal game of football on a dusty pitch at sunset, laughing, everyone in plain solid-colour T-shirts and shorts with no logos, stripes or numbers, plain black trainers with no logos, 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 man in a suit climbing the stairs of an office building.

https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/5f86053b49a8ec36a1f5f6070d21909665045cbc14b3c4ad9d4ccf29f8af3e39.avif

candid documentary photograph, a man in his forties in a dark suit, his whole body and face in view, carrying a single briefcase in one hand and walking briskly up the indoor stairs of an office building instead of taking the lift, seen from the side, plain stone stairwell with bare walls, 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

Starting with pictures {a} and {b}, talk to each other about what might keep people exercising in these ways month after month, rather than giving up. You have about a minute for this.

Now look at all five pictures. Imagine a health campaign is trying to persuade people who currently do no exercise at all to become more active. Discuss how appealing and how realistic each of these activities might be for that group. Then decide which one the campaign should feature. 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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