Some simple phrases are very useful because they are both natural and help with your thinking and organisation.
This is one of them:
(1) “extremely complicated”
(a) use of adverb intensifier: extremely – this is natural.
(b) synonyms for extremely: hugely, very, enormously
(c) used in speaking and writing to give yourself time / at the beginning of an answer to a question that requires thought.
(d) If you use it you MUST then go on to explain it.
e.g. How have attitudes to divorce changed in your country?
“I think it is an extremely complicated question because it varies from group to group: for some people attitudes have changed a lot but for others not very much. It seems to me that…”
Listen:
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(2) Use:
Not only a way of speaking or writing – it shows a way of thinking about a question – it helps you to organise your answer.
You can give a simple direct answer to some questions – to others the answer is more complicated. You choose – and this is a good way to introduce the more complicated ones.
NOTE: the emphasis is content – it is what you are saying that is really important.
Listen:
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(3) Practice:
Read the 3 IELTS questions from Part 3 of the Speaking test:
(1) What kind of possessions show status in your country?
(2) Do you think consumerism is a positive or negative development?
(3) How do you think the Internet will affect buying patterns in the future?
Listen to my answer to question 2:
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Answer the questions: speaking or writing. Practise them.
Members: send me your answers / comment / ask me for help or advice.
（1）Personally I think it is an extremely complicated question because it varies from group to group: some people believe authority stand for status, but others say money could show more. Refer to this issue, the opinion of people from north is totally different to people who stay in south of China. Northern people takes power seriously, thinks big power could control lots of things. However, southern people considers money as the most important thing, it could buy anything they want including authority.
（2）In my opinion, it is an extremely complicated question because it varies from group to group: some people think it makes a lot of contribution to Economic, but others claim it lead to Materialism. For rich person, consumerism is benefit to them and could make them earn more cash.However, for poor person, it just make them much poorer than in the past.
（3）I believe it is an extremely complicated question because it varies from group to group: for some people it highly affects their buying pattern, but for other not very much. It seems to me that more and more young people prefer to buy things on Internet, however,the elderly persist in traditional buying pattern.
(3) How do you think the Internet will affect buying patterns in the future?
I think it is an extremely complicated question because it varies from group to group: for some people shopping online means buying products with low-quality and bad after-sell service, while for others, e-shopping is both far less time-consuming and more economical than traditional buying pattern. It seems to me that it is an unresistible trend for online shopping to take place traditional buying pattern in terms of its convenience and economy.
irresistible trend” “to replace traditional” “because of its convenience..” “after-sales service” You check!
What kind of possessions show status in your country? Well, I think it is an extremely complicated question because different people may have very different answers. Some people think that having a lot of money shows your social status, others think that a successful career is highly appreciated.
“a successful career is to be valued.” I am not sure that a career is “a possession.” I think with all these questions it’s important to focus on the content. For some people having designer clothes and a Ferrari may show status, whereas for others it might be art, antique furniture, a country house. (Personally I would like the flashy stuff!)