IELTS Cue Card 23 : Talk about a time when you were cheated or someone cheated you

Directly go to the follow up questions

Talk about a time when you were cheated or someone cheated you.

• What was the occasion/ What the situation was?
• When this happened?
• Who was the person?
• What did he hide about?
• Why do you think the person did not tell the whole truth?

It is common to tell lies these days. People do so either for their personal gains or to deceive someone or to save their own skins. But sometimes, people tell lies for some good purpose also. There are some incidents when I felt cheated. One such incident happened when I was in college last year.

One of my friends was in need of a book. It was an expensive book as its price was Rs. 800. I was having that book. So, he borrowed it from me for one week to get it photo copied. In next few days, I almost forgot that I had given book to my friend. After two weeks, I needed to prepare a chapter from this book and then I came to remember that my friend borrowed it from me.

So I asked my friend to return the book but he claimed that he had already returned it. I had no idea whether he returned it or not. So, I did not argue with him. But, in the following days, one day I saw him sitting in classroom and reading my book. When he saw me coming towards him, he immediately put the book back in his bag.

I was deeply hurt because I caught my friend’s lie. It was intolerable how he managed to cheat me. But then I kept patience. I didn’t blame him as I didn’t want him to feel ashamed. Perhaps, he needed book more than I did or he had no money to buy it. So I just chose to forget about this book.

Even now, we are friends. But I do not share anything with him.

So, this was the time when I was cheated and I felt disappointed.

Part 3 – Follow up Questions

Question: What is the definition of cheating?

Answer: Cheating is when you act dishonesty and unfairly to get an advantage. There are many types of people who cheat in different sorts like, students cheat in an exam, kids cheat on their parents for some mistakes and many more types of cases in every city, the country also.

Question: Have you ever cheated?

Answer: yes, I remembered in 5th standard in cheated in my science exam because that time I did not have an interest in a science subject and I made cheating paper with the help of my friend. after it, I never cheat myself and any buddy.

Question: Do you feel everyone cheats in relationships?

Answer: I do not think everybody cheats and the reason why is because, I think it’s about your morals, values, self-respect, and self-control. cheating also a choice. You either choose to cheat or not as well as, its depend on the relation. sometimes people cheat in relation for a good reason and many folks are say lie for save the happiness and relationship.

Question: Do you think if people stopped cheating the world would be a better place?

Answer: definitely, if folks stopped the cheating in every situation world will be more peaceful with it, maybe people achieve little less but it makes sure they live happy and fearless. children also get good moral values and knowledge.

Do you think telling White lies is acceptable sometimes?

Yes, it is. White lies are good lies. They are told so as not to hurt the sentiments of the other person. They have a good cause and so it is alright to tell white lies. For example, a mother may hide from his child that he is suffering from a fatal disease and may not live long.

Do you think honesty is the only important quality that should be in a person?

No, I don’t think so. Honesty is important, but intelligence, helpful nature, a good sense of humour and many other things are equally important.

Do you think children should be taught honesty in young age?

Yes, they should be taught honesty at a young age. Honesty is something parents can teach without any extra effort. All they have to do is to lead by example. Children imbibe everything from their parents. They generally act and behave as their parents do. As such honesty has no lessons. Children are natural apes. So, if parents are honest, so are the children.

Do you think being completely honest all times can be not good?

Yes, sometimes being too honest means being too blunt and may sound rude or even hurt the other person’s self-esteem. For example, if a four year old makes a drawing which you think is not at all good, you can still tell the child that she has done a good job. That will encourage the child to draw again and become better. Similarly, at times a doctor may have to tell a cancer patient that he will get well, even if the chances of recovery are next to nil.

Why do people lie sometimes?

Sometimes people lie for hiding certain things. They may not want to reveal that information and so have to lie. Some may tell white lies because the truth may hurt others.

How would you define white lies?

White lies are good lies, which are told to encourage someone or to protect the sentiments of the other person from being hurt.

Some people say liars are those who have a good memory, what do you think?

Liars need good memory and there is no doubt about that, but whether they have good memory or not is questionable. Those who do not have good memory may be caught very soon because they will forget what lie they told and in what context.

What are the other ways to teach children about honesty except having parents or teachers teach them?

Media can teach honesty to children by showing animated stories with morals. Children can also learn honesty from their peers and by reading books.