Part of the ielts speaking Test Yourself 13 Reading Your Family 14

1
．
What are the main agricultural products in your country?
Well, farmers grow all kinds of vegetables and cereals. In the south, they cultivate a
lot of rice, and I think that in northern China, corn, wheat and barley are more commonly
found. In Fujian, near my hometown, you can see a lot of tea fields. They look beautiful in
the mountains, with different terraces that look like green stairs on the hills. And of course,
farmers also raise all kinds of animals
：
chickens, ducks, pigs and rabbits
．
2. Do you have a pet?
No, I don’t. I live in an apartment in the city. It just doesn’t make much sense to get a
dog or a cat in a small apartment. I think that animals should have the option to spend time outside.
Animals might be happier outside, don’t you think?
I used to have a gold fish, but it
died a couple of years ago. And nowadays I think that fish look pretty sad inside their tank.
They keep on going round. They’re not the best companions anyway.
3. Do you like birds
？
Not really, although I have nothing against them
．
I think that parrots look cool,
with their colorful feathers, and small parakeets also sound funny, especially when they
can talk and imitate our voices
．
Otherwise, pigeons are pretty dirty; they defecate
（＝
crap)
everywhere, and I heard they can carry a lot of diseases
．
I really dislike birds in a cage
．
They’re prisoners
．
Birds should have the freedom to fly wherever they want.
4. How many Chinese families have a garden?
Well, very few. Only people who live in the countryside might have a small yard
．
But in China, space is limited, and old houses might have a courtyard in the middle of
the house, but you don’t see any gardens with grass, or people planting vegetables like in
＿
America or Europe. It doesn’t happen. Most houses are built next to others, so there isn’t that
much space for a peaceful and private garden.