Describe a story/book with animals in it: IELTS Speaking Part 2 Cue Card and Part 3 Questions
Part 2 cue card
Describe a story/book with animals in it
You should say:
- What animals are in it
- What the story/book is about
- Why you read the story/book
- And explain what you think of this story/book
You will have one to two minutes to talk about this topic.
Read the complete transcript
One book with animals that made a big impression on me is Charlotte’s Web, a children’s novel by E. B. White. The main animals are Wilbur the pig, Charlotte the spider, Templeton the rat and a group of geese and cows on the farm. I especially liked Charlotte because she’s clever and calm, and the geese add comic relief with their chatter. The story follows Wilbur, a pig saved from being slaughtered by a girl called Fern, and later by Charlotte, who spins words into her web to save him. It’s really about friendship and the way different animals – and people – can help each other in unexpected ways. For example, Charlotte’s web tricks the farmer into treating Wilbur as special. I read it when I was at primary school and then again as an adult because someone recommended it to me for its humane message; the first time I loved the characters, the second time I noticed deeper themes about life and death. It’s written simply but with warmth, so it’s easy to return to. Overall I think it’s a lovely, slightly melancholic book that teaches kindness without being preachy, and it still makes me well up when I think of Charlotte’s final act.
Preparation status: Predicted topic cycle. This independent practice resource is not an official IELTS paper, and the questions in your test can be different. How topics are labelled.
Part 3 discussion questions
Move one question at a time: listen, answer, compare and retry. The complete question text remains in the page HTML for accessibility and search.
- 01Should schools teach children about animals?
- 02Some people think pets should not be kept in cities. What do you think?
- 03Many people regard pets as members of their family. What do you think?
- 04Do many people keep pets in your country?
- 05What are the advantages of keeping a pet?
- 06Why do people always tell children stories with animals?
See the topic before you speak
Use the images as idea prompts. Describe what you notice, connect it to your experience, then answer the real question.


Model answers, heard side by side
Start with the simpler answer, switch bands to hear how the same task can be developed, then record a personal response. These are teaching examples, not official answers or score guarantees.
Part 2 — Model Answer
Part 2 cue-card response
A story with animals that I remember is Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White. The main animals are Wilbur the pig, Charlotte the spider, Templeton the rat and some geese and cows. The book is about Wilbur, a pig who is saved from being killed by a girl called Fern, and later a clever spider Charlotte helps him by writing words in her web so people think he is special. I read the book when I was a child at school because it was on the reading list and my teacher recommended it. I liked it because the animals felt like real characters and it was easy to understand. Overall I think it is a kind and sad story that teaches friendship and caring for others.
One book with animals that made a big impression on me is Charlotte’s Web, a children’s novel by E. B. White. The main animals are Wilbur the pig, Charlotte the spider, Templeton the rat and a group of geese and cows on the farm. I especially liked Charlotte because she’s clever and calm, and the geese add comic relief with their chatter.
The story follows Wilbur, a pig saved from being slaughtered by a girl called Fern, and later by Charlotte, who spins words into her web to save him. It’s really about friendship and the way different animals – and people – can help each other in unexpected ways. For example, Charlotte’s web tricks the farmer into treating Wilbur as special.
I read it when I was at primary school and then again as an adult because someone recommended it to me for its humane message; the first time I loved the characters, the second time I noticed deeper themes about life and death. It’s written simply but with warmth, so it’s easy to return to. Overall I think it’s a lovely, slightly melancholic book that teaches kindness without being preachy, and it still makes me well up when I think of Charlotte’s final act.
Part 3 — Model Answers
Should schools teach children about animals?
Yes, I think schools should teach children about animals. It helps children learn basic biology and where food comes from. Lessons or school trips to farms can also teach kindness and how to look after animals. Teaching about animals can make children more responsible and aware of nature.
Absolutely, schools should include learning about animals, both in science lessons and through practical activities. It gives children a sense of empathy and an understanding of ecosystems, while visits to farms or nature reserves bring the topic to life. Also, discussing animal welfare and conservation builds moral awareness and prepares pupils to make informed choices as consumers. In short, it’s useful across subjects and helps create more thoughtful adults.
Some people think pets should not be kept in cities. What do you think?
I don’t fully agree that pets shouldn’t be kept in cities. Many people in towns and cities keep small pets like cats or small dogs and they can be happy if owners are responsible. Space is smaller so you must take care with exercise and noise. Some exotic pets or large dogs might not be suitable in built-up areas.
I’d say it depends – pets can certainly live well in cities if owners are sensible and there’s good infrastructure like parks and vets. Urban pet ownership brings mental health benefits and companionship, but council rules and responsible ownership are crucial to prevent problems such as noise, poor hygiene or unsuitable animals being kept. In my view, bans are heavy-handed; better to regulate and educate owners than to forbid pets outright.
Many people regard pets as members of their family. What do you think?
Yes, many people see pets as members of their family. Pets give emotional support and company, and owners often treat them like children, buying toys and clothes. This makes sense because pets are always there and people form strong bonds with them.
I think it’s quite common nowadays to regard pets as family members, especially in urban societies where people may live alone or have smaller families. This reflects changing social patterns and stronger emotional investment; people include pets in trips, celebrations and even legal decisions about inheritance or care. While this can be very positive for wellbeing, it also brings responsibilities and sometimes difficult choices, for example during illness or travel.
Do many people keep pets in your country?
Yes, in my country many people keep pets, especially dogs and cats. Some families have fish, birds or small mammals too. Pet ownership seems to be quite common across towns and cities, and shops and vets are easy to find.
Yes, pet keeping is very common where I live, with dogs and cats being the most popular choices, though there are also many owners of rabbits, birds and small rodents. Trends have shifted recently towards adopting from shelters and choosing pets for companionship rather than for work. As a result, you can see lots of businesses and services – groomers, pet cafés and training classes – that cater to owners.
What are the advantages of keeping a pet?
Keeping a pet has many advantages. Pets give company and can reduce loneliness. Dogs in particular encourage exercise because you have to walk them. Pets can also teach children responsibility and caring.
There are lots of advantages to keeping a pet: they provide companionship and routine, which can significantly improve mental health, reduce stress and ease feelings of isolation. For children, pets teach empathy and practical responsibility; for older people, animals often increase daily activity and social contact. Additionally, animals are used in therapy contexts, where trained dogs or horses support recovery and wellbeing.
Why do people always tell children stories with animals?
People tell children stories with animals because animals are fun and make stories interesting. It is easier for kids to understand lessons about right and wrong when animals act like people. Animals in stories can be simple examples to teach morals.
Stories with animals are popular for children because animals act as clear, engaging symbols and reduce the emotional distance from difficult topics. Anthropomorphised creatures allow authors to explore morals, social roles and consequences in a way children can grasp; Aesop’s fables are a classic example. Also, animals capture attention and imagination, making lessons memorable while avoiding the defensiveness that might come with stories about people.
How to answer Describe a story/book with animals in it IELTS Speaking questions
For the Describe a story/book with animals in it cue card, use the preparation minute to build a route through the talk. Choose a clear subject, add two specific moments or details and end with why it matters. Then use the linked Part 3 questions to practise broader explanation and comparison.
Cue-card prompts:
- What animals are in it
- What the story/book is about
- Why you read the story/book
- And explain what you think of this story/book
- Opening: identify the person, place, object or event.
- Development: describe two details or moments in a logical order.
- Extension: explain a reason, result, comparison or problem.
- Reflection: finish with why the subject is memorable or important.
Question-by-question approach
| Practice question | Useful answer move |
|---|---|
| Should schools teach children about animals? | Give a direct answer, one reason and a short example without memorising a script. |
| Some people think pets should not be kept in cities. What do you think? | Give a direct answer, one reason and a short example without memorising a script. |
| Many people regard pets as members of their family. What do you think? | Give a direct answer, one reason and a short example without memorising a script. |
| Do many people keep pets in your country? | Give a direct answer, one reason and a short example without memorising a script. |
Vocabulary focus
Useful language already demonstrated in the model answers includes empathy, ecosystems, animal welfare, infrastructure, regulate, heavy-handed, emotional investment, wellbeing. Learn the meaning and a natural word partnership, then use each item in a different answer instead of copying a complete script.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Giving a memorised response that only partly answers the question.
- Adding difficult vocabulary without checking meaning or collocation.
- Restarting after every error instead of correcting briefly and continuing.
- Reading the model answer before recording your own first attempt.
Describe a story/book with animals in it practice FAQ
How should I use the Describe a story/book with animals in it cue card preparation minute?
Write keywords for an opening, two or three details and a final reflection. Do not try to write complete sentences.
Do I have to cover every cue-card bullet?
The prompts help you organise the talk. Covering them is useful, but a coherent one-to-two-minute response matters more than mechanically ticking off each line.
How are Part 3 questions connected to Part 2?
They develop the same broad theme through reasons, comparisons, social effects or future possibilities, so answers normally need more explanation than Part 1.