Looking after animals & Growing plants
B2 First · Speaking Long Turn · Cambridge Ready original exercise
Speak by yourself for about one minute, comparing your two photos. Afterwards, give a short answer to a question about the photos your partner described.
Can you compare the two photographs and tell us what the people might find rewarding about looking after animals?
You're going to start. These two photographs are yours, and they show people looking after animals.
Looking after animals
A volunteer walking several dogs from an animal shelter in a park.
https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/c8f225e12d9f0b1f850027ec5971340acaef8516d3976ebc187b65f573286687.avif
candid documentary photograph, a young male volunteer walking four dogs of different sizes on leads through a green park on an autumn day, happy energetic mood, wearing a plain unbranded grey sweatshirt with no emblem, 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 farmer feeding goats on a small farm.
https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/9499220bedd467f65e033d4f836b35f70c8e6ffb4aea6f4351ed791db4cf5b13.avif
candid documentary photograph, a woman farmer in her forties scattering feed for a group of goats in a muddy farmyard beside a wooden barn, early morning, busy contented 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
Would you like to have a pet? (Why? / Why not?)
What might the people find rewarding about looking after animals?
Please compare them and tell us why the people might enjoy growing plants in these places.
Thank you. Now, here are two photographs for you. They show people growing plants.
Growing plants
A retired man watering vegetables in a community garden.
https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/a72d76dd84c056963a5d4d45d1313537ca0d4c2ce8ca8e9623304ca3445b1536.avif
candid documentary photograph, a retired Black man in a sun hat watering rows of lettuces and beans in a busy community garden between city buildings, relaxed satisfied 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
A young woman caring for houseplants on a small city balcony.
https://cdn.cambridgeready.com/images/a5acc7ab02c797b301c7c0302693d5d28f0b11665f388afbfb0e8aa06342e1c1.avif
candid documentary photograph, a young woman repotting and watering houseplants on a small crowded city-flat balcony full of green leaves, tall buildings behind, calm happy 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
Would you enjoy growing your own vegetables? (Why? / Why not?)
Why might the people enjoy growing plants in these places?
Now you're each going to have two photographs. You'll speak about yours alone for around a minute, and then I'll ask you something short about your partner's pictures.
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.