CUE CARD
Describe a time when you were late.
You should say:
- When it was ?
- Why you were late ?
- How you felt about being late ?
SAMPLE : I still remember a time when I was late for a very important event. It was my friend’s farewell party at college, scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m. I had promised him that I would be there on time because he was leaving for higher studies abroad, and this was our last chance to celebrate together. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.
That day, I had some urgent work at home which took longer than expected. By the time I finished, I realized I was already running late. To make matters worse, I couldn’t find a cab quickly, and when I finally got one, the traffic was unusually heavy. I kept looking at my watch, feeling more and more restless with every passing minute.
When I finally reached the venue, the party was already in full swing. My friend noticed me entering late and gave me a playful smile, but I could sense he was slightly disappointed. I felt guilty because I had promised him I would be there on time. Being late made me realise how important it is to plan ahead and respect others’ time.
Although I joined the celebration and we had a great evening, that small delay stayed in my mind. I kept thinking that punctuality is not just about being disciplined, but also about showing care and responsibility towards people we value. Since then, I have tried to be more careful with my schedule, leaving earlier than needed to avoid such situations.
PART 3 : FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS
Q.1 Are you ever late for anything? Are you a punctual person? I consider myself a punctual person. I respect time and always try to be on schedule. I’m rarely late, except in situations where something unexpected or unavoidable happens.
Q.2 What excuses do you use when you are late? I don’t believe in making unnecessary excuses. Most of the time, I manage to be on time. But if I ever get delayed due to genuine reasons, I prefer to inform the person in advance rather than coming up with excuses.
Q.3 Why are people often late for appointments or meetings? In my opinion, the main reason is poor time management. Many people fail to plan properly, and nowadays some even feel that arriving a little late is acceptable, which shows a casual attitude towards punctuality.
Q.4 Do old people and young people manage time in a similar way? Not really. Older people usually have a stronger sense of responsibility and discipline, so they value time more. On the other hand, younger people can sometimes be impulsive or impatient, which makes them less careful about managing their time effectively.