Describe something that was broken in your home and then repaired (Part 2/3)

IELTS Speaking – Part 2

Describe something that was broken in your home and then repaired

You should say

• What was it?

• How was it broken?

• How did you get it repaired?

• And how did you feel about it?

Sample Answer:

These days, there is a conventional idea to buy newer models instead of getting the obsolete, broken ones repaired.

However, just a few weeks back, our refrigerator broke down. Fortunately, it was still under warranty; thus, we didn’t have to replace it. All of a sudden, it ceased to work. We tried plugging and unplugging it but to no avail. Initially, we considered getting the socket checked as there could have been an issue with it. But when I plugged my phone charger into the socket, it worked. That’s when we knew the refrigerator was broken. Not sure, but it could have been because of the voltage fluctuation as it rained cats and dogs last week.

We had bought this machine only a couple of months back. Thus, we dialed the company and scheduled a technician’s visit. Upon arriving, he evaluated the situation and declared that the main circuit was burnt, which caused the fridge to break down. The good thing was he came equipped with all of the necessary parts. So, without any further ado, he replaced it.

The feeling was definitely unpleasant. Whenever something breaks down in the house, it creates an unwanted ruckus. And, that’s what happened that day. Most of the food got spoilt because of this breakdown. However, once it got repaired, we received an official apology email from the company, which was indeed a good gesture from their end.

We appreciated the quick and prompt services provided by the company.

Vocabulary

• Conventional
  Meaning: behaving in a normal way
  Eg: My family has broken the conventional attitude to adopt a modern approach of living.
• Obsolete
  Meaning: not useful any longer as something more useful has been invented
  Eg: Smartphones have made landlines obsolete.
• Ceased
  Meaning: to end or stop
  Eg: Rain has finally ceased today.
• Avail
  Meaning: benefit or help
  Eg: His good intentions were of no avail to his family.
• Fluctuations
  Meaning: a back and forth shift
  Eg: There were several fluctuations in the weather today.

IELTS Speaking – Part 3

1. Are IT-related jobs valued more by society?
   I don’t think that they are valued more or less in comparison to other jobs. However, the magnitude that IT jobs hold has increased lately with our increased dependence on technology.
2. Is the quality of products worse than before?
   I agree with the fact that the quality of products has degraded in recent years. I can claim it from my personal experience. The equipment and machines that my parents bought, be it an air conditioner, refrigerator, or anything of the sort, lasted for years altogether. However, when I purchased the same equipment and machines, they didn’t work for more than four years at a stretch. I think the technology is becoming intricate, but that has taken a toll on product durability.
3. What kinds of things do people like to repair by themselves?
   I think DIY videos and articles available on YouTube and Google have made it possible to repair anything and everything ourselves. Recently, my mom fixed her sewing machine by watching a YouTube video. I have fixed my mobile phone and laptop many times by just searching about the issue and finding a quick fix.
4. Why do people like to get their mobile phones repaired in specialised stores?
   I think the main reason is that they don’t want to void the phone’s warranty. Most of the companies clearly mention that if the phone is opened by a non-registered technician or store, the warranty would not be applicable. In my opinion, this is just another stratagem by companies to ensure that they can charge people heavily for parts, which could be repaired cheaply otherwise.

Vocabulary

• Magnitude
  Meaning: the greater size or impact of something
  Eg: The magnitude of the earthquake is low.
• Degraded
  Meaning: decrease the standards
  Eg: Unwanted thoughts have degraded the true meaning of equality.
• Intricate
  Meaning: complex
  Eg: The concept of physics is intricate.
• Stratagem
  Meaning: a plan or trick used to gain advantage
  Eg: We won the match because of our captain’s stratagem.
• Heavily
  Meaning: extremely
  Eg: I am heavily inclined towards healthy diet.