Ready for C1 p 3. Challenges. Speaking Sample

1. What are the major housing challenges in your area?

2. What are some of the main challenges faced by parents today?

3. What are the most daunting challenges the world is currently facing?

To begin with, one of the major housing challenges in my area is (1)_____________ (DOUBT) the rising cost of living. Over the past few years, housing prices have (2)________________ (SKY), making it (3)_______________ (INCREASE) difficult for young people to achieve the impossible dream of owning their own home. Many families struggle to find (4)________________ (AFFORD) accommodation, and in some neighbourhoods, (5)____________________ (CROWD)has become a daunting challenge. It’s not only a financial issue — it also affects people’s well-being, as those living in cramped conditions often feel cut off and isolated from their communities. Local authorities have tried to rise to the challenge by building more social housing, but progress has been slow, and the problem remains a major concern.

Moving on to the challenges faced by parents, I’d say parenting today has become nothing less than a full-time test of (6)_______________ (ENDURE). Parents are constantly under pressure to balance work, family life, and their children’s education. Many of them feel that they’ve taken on an enormous challenge, especially when trying to fit in quality time with their kids while keeping up with (7)_______________ (DEMAND) jobs. Moreover, the rise of technology and social media has posed new challenges, as children are often influenced by negative role models online. In this sense, I truly admire parents who manage to pull it off — who succeed in raising confident, responsible young people despite all the distractions and pressures around them. It’s certainly one of life’s (8)______________ (CROWN) achievements.

Finally, when it comes to the daunting challenges the world is currently facing, the list seems (9)_________________ (END). From climate change and economic (10)________________ (EQUAL) to wars and political (11)_______________ (STABLE), it sometimes feels as though humanity is being tested on every front. One could argue that the environmental crisis is the most urgent, as it poses an enormous challenge to our survival and demands that we defy the odds through innovation and global cooperation. However, I believe that the lack of motivation among world leaders to take (12)________________ (MEAN) action is equally worrying. If we are to succeed, we need to harbour a collective ambition to make the planet a more sustainable and fair place for everyone. It will require courage, vision, and determination — but, as history shows, when people rise to the challenge, extraordinary things can happen.

All in all, whether we’re talking about housing, parenting, or global issues, challenges are what shape our character. As daunting as they may seem, they also give us the chance to grow, to take the plunge, and to turn difficulties into (13)_______________ (REMARK) achievements.

KEY 

1. undoubtedly

2. skyrocketed

3. increasingly

4. affordable

5. overcrowding 

6. endurance

7. demanding

8. crowning

9. endless

10. inequality

11. instability

12. meaningful

13. remarkable