Cambridge IELTS 20 Speaking Test - 4 with Answer / Cambridge Book-20 Speaking Test -4 / IELTS Speaking- Cambridge Book-20 Test 4 Questions with Answers / IELTS Speaking - Cambridge Book's Answers

Cambridge IELTS 20 Speaking Test- 4

Speaking Part 1

Personal Qualities

• What do you think your best personal qualities are? Why?

• Do you have the same personal qualities as your parents? (Why/Why not?)

• What personal qualities are important to you in a friend? (Why?)

• Do you think you have the personal qualities to be a good/successful leader? (Why/Why not?)

Speaking Part 2

Describe a time when you had a long discussion about a news story.

You should say:

• What the news story was about• Who you discussed this news story with• What people’s opinions wereand explain why you had such a long discussion about this news story.

Speaking Part 3

News and Media

• How do most people find out about the news in your country?

• Are people more interested in local news than national news?

• How important is it to know about international news?

Public Debates and Talk Shows

• Why are discussion programmes involving members of the public popular on TV and radio?

• What kinds of people want to take part in discussion programmes?

• Do discussion programmes influence people in a good or bad way?

Questions and Answers

Part 1: Personal Qualities

What do you think your best personal qualities are? Why?

I would have to say my patience and my adaptability. I spend my days teaching Grade XI students, which means I am constantly interacting with different personalities, resolving minor conflicts, and answering endless questions. Without a deep well of patience, I simply wouldn't survive. Furthermore, the ability to adapt quickly is crucial because lesson plans rarely go exactly as intended; you have to be ready to pivot at a moment's notice.

Do you have the same personal qualities as your parents? (Why/Why not?)

It’s a bit of a mix, to be honest. I definitely inherited my patience from my mother, who has always been an incredibly calm and grounding presence in our family. However, I am much more adaptable than my father. He is a man who thrives on strict, predictable routines and gets quite stressed when plans change, whereas I am quite comfortable navigating unpredictable situations.

What personal qualities are important to you in a friend? (Why?)

Reliability is absolutely paramount. I value friends who show up when they say they will and who stand by their word. Beyond that, a good sense of humor is essential. Life can get incredibly stressful with work and responsibilities, so having a friend who can lighten the mood and make you laugh over a cup of coffee is invaluable.

Do you think you have the personal qualities to be a good/successful leader? (Why/Why not?)

Yes, I genuinely believe I do. Managing a classroom every day is essentially a form of leadership. It requires clear communication, a strong sense of empathy to understand where people are struggling, and the ability to inspire a group to reach a common goal. I try to lead by encouraging collaboration rather than just dictating orders, which I think is the hallmark of effective modern leadership.

Part 2: Describe a time when you had a long discussion about a news story.

A time that stands out vividly in my mind was a few months ago in the school staff room. The news story we were discussing was the rapid integration of advanced artificial intelligence—specifically tools like Claude and NotebookLM—into the mainstream education sector. An article had just been published detailing how students worldwide were using these platforms to draft essays and complete assignments.

I ended up discussing this for over an hour with a group of my fellow language teachers. It started casually over morning tea but quickly evolved into a deep, philosophical debate.

The opinions in the room were heavily polarized. On one side, some of the more traditional teachers were absolutely terrified. They felt that AI was a direct threat to academic integrity and argued that it would completely destroy students' critical thinking and writing skills. On the other side, a few of us, myself included, took a more optimistic view. I argued that these tools are simply the new calculators for language and research. Instead of fighting a losing battle to ban them, we should be teaching students how to use them ethically as brainstorming partners to elevate their work.

The reason the discussion went on for so long is that this news story wasn't just some distant political event; it directly threatened and challenged our daily livelihood. It forced us to completely rethink how we assess student knowledge. By the end of the conversation, we hadn't completely agreed, but we did realize that our traditional methods of giving homework had to change forever.

Part 3: News and Media & Public Debates and Talk Shows

How do most people find out about the news in your country?

Traditional print media is largely a thing of the past. Nowadays, the vast majority of people get their news through social media algorithms on platforms like X, Facebook, or through short-form video apps. Additionally, news aggregator apps on smartphones send instant push notifications for breaking stories. While it makes information highly accessible, it does mean people often only read the headlines rather than the full context of an article.

Are people more interested in local news than national news?

I think it leans heavily toward local news on a day-to-day basis. People are naturally more invested in things that directly impact their immediate surroundings—such as local traffic updates in Doha, changes to municipal taxes, or upcoming community events. National news only really captures the majority's attention during major events like elections, economic policy shifts, or international sporting tournaments.

How important is it to know about international news?

It is incredibly important because we live in a deeply interconnected global economy. A political conflict in one part of the world can instantly disrupt supply chains, which directly impacts the price of groceries and fuel at our local supermarkets. Furthermore, being aware of international news fosters a sense of global empathy and prevents societies from becoming too isolated or narrow-minded in their thinking.

Why are discussion programmes involving members of the public popular on TV and radio?

Human beings are naturally drawn to drama and conflict. These programs offer raw, unscripted emotion, which is highly entertaining. Furthermore, it is quite cathartic for viewers to see everyday, ordinary people—rather than polished politicians or celebrities—voicing the exact same frustrations and opinions that they hold. It makes the audience feel heard and validated.

What kinds of people want to take part in discussion programmes?

Generally, it attracts individuals who have extremely strong, often polarized opinions on a subject and possess the confidence to argue their point on national television. You rarely see moderate, quiet thinkers volunteering for these shows. Unfortunately, it also attracts a fair number of people who are simply seeking their fifteen minutes of fame and enjoy the attention, regardless of the topic being discussed.

Do discussion programmes influence people in a good or bad way?

It is certainly a mixed bag. On the positive side, they democratize the media by giving a platform to marginalized voices and bringing ignored social issues into the public spotlight. However, the influence can be quite negative because these shows thrive on sensationalism. Producers often encourage shouting matches rather than nuanced, respectful debates. This can further divide society by convincing viewers that whoever shouts the loudest is the one who is right.

Vocabulary

Words/expressions from the text, with meanings in English and Bangla, and examples.

Comprehensive Vocabulary & Expressions List

Word / Expression	Meaning	Meaning in Bangla	Example
Pivot at a moment's notice	To quickly change your plan or strategy with very little warning.	মুহূর্তের নোটিশে পরিকল্পনা বদলানো	When the projector broke, the teacher had to pivot at a moment's notice and use the whiteboard.
Paramount	More important than anything else; supreme.	সবচেয়ে গুরুত্বপূর্ণ / পরম	In any strong relationship, trust and honesty are absolutely paramount.
Hallmark	A typical or defining characteristic or feature of a person or thing.	মূল বৈশিষ্ট্য / পরিচায়ক	Paying close attention to detail is the hallmark of a great graphic designer.
Polarized	Divided into two completely opposing groups or opinions.	দুই মেরুতে বিভক্ত / সম্পূর্ণ বিপরীতমুখী	Public opinion on the new tax law is deeply polarized.
Academic integrity	The moral code of academia, including avoiding cheating or plagiarism.	শিক্ষাক্ষেত্রে সততা ও নৈতিকতা	The university has very strict rules to maintain academic integrity during exams.
Livelihood	A means of securing the necessities of life; your job or income source.	জীবিকা / জীবনধারণের উপায়	The coastal villagers rely entirely on fishing for their livelihood.
Push notifications	Automated messages sent by an application to a user's device.	স্বয়ংক্রিয় নোটিফিকেশন	I turned off push notifications on my phone because they were too distracting.
Supply chains	The sequence of processes involved in the production and distribution of a commodity.	সরবরাহ ব্যবস্থা	The global pandemic caused massive disruptions to international supply chains.
Narrow-minded	Unwilling to listen to or tolerate different ideas or opinions.	সংকীর্ণমনা / রক্ষণশীল	It is hard to have a debate with someone who is so narrow-minded.
Cathartic	Providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions.	রেচনমূলক / মানসিক স্বস্তিদায়ক	Writing all my frustrations down in a journal was an incredibly cathartic experience.
Validated	Feeling that your opinions, emotions, or ideas are recognized and worthwhile.	মূল্যায়িত বা স্বীকৃত বোধ করা	Hearing that others struggled with the same problem made me feel validated.
Fifteen minutes of fame	Short-lived media publicity or celebrity status for an ordinary person.	ক্ষণস্থায়ী পরিচিতি বা খ্যাতি	He went viral on TikTok for a day, enjoying his fifteen minutes of fame.
A mixed bag	A situation, group, or experience that contains both good and bad elements.	ভালো-মন্দের মিশ্রণ	Living in a massive city is a mixed bag; there is great food but terrible traffic.
Marginalized	Pushed to the edges of society; treated as insignificant or unimportant.	প্রান্তিক / অবহেলিত	The charity works to provide free education to marginalized communities.
Sensationalism	The use of exciting or shocking stories or language at the expense of accuracy, in order to provoke public interest.	চাঞ্চল্যকরতা / উত্তেজনা সৃষ্টি	Many tabloids rely entirely on sensationalism rather than actual investigative journalism.
Nuanced	Characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression; complex and not just black-and-white.	সূক্ষ্ম ও গভীরতাসম্পন্ন / বহুমাত্রিক	The history of this conflict is highly nuanced and cannot be explained in one sentence.