A street market in your city IELTS Cue Card
IELTS CUE CARD TOPIC
A street market in your city / A street market where you did shopping?
- Where is it?
- What can you buy there?
- How you felt about it?
Sample 1
I live in Bury, and there are a lot of streets in my city which are very beautiful. And here I would like to talk about a particular street where I would like to go shopping.
The name of the market is Downtown Market. It is located on Kulia Street. It is 2 km far from my house. I will visit over there in my car. If someone wants to go there by bus, they can do that. If someone wants their privacy, they can book over there also.
If I talk about the things we can buy there, there is a lot of stuff. It is a vast market. Lovely places surround it. It is spread over about 500 meters. The main thing that fascinates most people is Italian restaurants, especially for lasagna pizza.
Whenever I visit there, I try that because the smell of the food fascinates everyone. And no one can stay there without trying it. And it’s worth it if you see it there. You should try that one. Apart from the food, there are plenty of shops for clothes, toys and other general things that people can buy there.
Moreover, this market is also famous for its clubs. There are two different clubs. One is Indian, and the other one is Mexican club. They organize parties every Saturday. Above the market, this market is perfect because of the price of things over there. It’s very cheap compared to other markets.
Also, other beautiful places are suitable for photography. Their picturesque view also makes it more worth it.
What I don’t like about this market is that it is very crowded. It’s a very famous market. That’s why there are a lot of people who visit there daily.
People like to spend their weekends over there. Apart from that, there are also homeless people. The amount of homeless people is getting raised day by day. The government should do something about them because it is the only thing that tarnishes the image of the market.
Sample 2
There are many street markets in the city. But there is one very near my locality in sector 63, Mohali. We can buy anything from that market when it comes to stationery. There are many shops specially dedicated to stationery. And even there is a cyber cafe.
It is a very functional cyber cafe. Also, there are a few departmental shops. Also, there are places where we can buy groceries and items we need daily. Recently, a new cafe and restaurant opened. And there are special shops where we can buy daily products. Also, recently I have seen many new eating places in the city. But they are very popular in other cities. Those branches have opened in our sector. There are some shops where we can get wholesale clothes and footwear. My house is in a good location. It is a prime location.
And because we have a hospital facility nearby, there are places to worship. And the market is also within walking distance. It takes hardly two minutes to reach the market. And we can easily source anything required. We can get it from there, even if it is urgent or emergent. Due to development, few shops were near my house in my childhood. So, it was challenging to buy anything spontaneously. But now, as the pace of development has taken a step, buying anything at any hour has become very convenient.
Sample 3
As a citizen of a small city, I know there are a lot of street markets. Today, I am talking about a street market, my favorite one, Grand Plaza New Mundi Muzaffarnagar Road. I recently bought an iPhone for myself, and again, we visited the store to purchase a MacBook for my cousin.
There are a lot of accessories and gadgets available in this store, and the store’s name is iCare. As a food enthusiast, exploring food items such as pani puri, momos, french fries, and many other foods is the best opportunity. After visiting the market, I felt over the moon because many relatives and friends had met me there.
Many people in the market entertained us by taking some cash from us, and in the end, we enjoyed the ice cream and burgers in the market.
Sample 4
I live in Chandigarh, a big city, and my town has many street markets. But the most popular market for buying clothes is Sector 23.
It is located in the city’s centre, and many options are available to buy clothes, shoes, cosmetics, and daily routine products. It has almost 200 shops selling different kinds of things, the products are very reasonable, and the quality is excellent. Many food options are available as Garg Chat is one of the most famous shops in Sector 23, and all the Chandigarh people like to eat their food.
There are many other options in Chinese and different cuisines. I feel thrilled when I go to this market because it saves me money and makes me more interested in my clothing. There are lots of cultural activities happening in this market during the festival season.
On Diwali, they decorate the market very beautifully and look stunning. It is one of the best markets, and I would like to visit it once a month.
Follow-ups
1.What kinds of markets are there in India?
In India, there are a lot of markets, as compared to Canada; in Canada, we have everything under one roof. But this thing is happening outside of India. India has a separate market for its products. There is a separate vegetable market, a separate food market, and a separate fruit market. Apart from that, different general things market. And there are modern, very tricky, and exciting names for the markets in India.
2.Do you think small markets will disappear in the future?
In my perspective, yes. The small markets will disappear because of the malls, the general department stores, and the retail stores. Because it finds people very handy, like, because people have to visit different shops in a small market, but in retail stores, people can get everything under one roof. And if I talk about the price, you must pay whatever the store owner asks. But in retail stores, there are always discounts on various things that attract people.
3.Have people’s shopping habits changed in recent years?
Yes. In this contemporary era, people prefer to go shopping online. And also, they prefer to buy things which have good discounts.
4.What is the difference between shopping in street markets and big shopping malls?
There are a lot of differences between the small market and the malls. The prices are very high in the mall. But we also get discounts over there on different things. In the small market, we get cheaper things. But we need to trust the quality. In the mall, we can trust their quality. And we can choose a large variety of things over there. Lastly, in the small markets, things are limited.
5.Do you think the goods sold at discount stores do not have good values or qualities?
I don’t think so. It’s the only way to lure the people. And for that reason, big markets put discounts on things. So they can attract more people.
6.Why do some people like to buy extensive goods?
There are a lot of reasons behind this scenario. First of all, wealthy people try to buy things that have high prices because it shows their identity and their richness to people. And some of them believe in high-priced stuff because they want good quality. The quality is also better if the price is high. For that reason, people buy high-priced goods.
7.Do you like shopping online or going out to shop?
I want to go shopping in person. I like to. I like to. I would not like to. I like to go shopping in person. We can’t judge the quality or touch the material when we look at things online. So, for that reason, I prefer shopping in person. Also, I can feel the quality, and I can negotiate if I can negotiate the price according to the quality of the product.
8.What is the difference between shopping with friends and shopping alone?
There are a lot of differences between solo shopping and shopping with a friend. When we shop alone, we tend to get bored quickly, whereas time passes when with friends.
9.What are the disadvantages of shopping in a big mall?
The disadvantages of shopping in a big mall are that the significant markets have high prices, which are not affordable for middle-class people. The prices are high or too much. A lot of time goes to waste because generally there is a lot of crowd. So, for billing and other things, you need to wait.
10.Why do people like to buy branded products?
Some people like to buy branded products because of brand values, some are fascinated by advertisements, and some want to buy branded clothes because of their role models. For example, the brand Being Human, Salman Khan is the brand ambassador of being human, and Salman Khan is a role model for most youngsters in my country. So, for that reason, people like to buy clothes from this brand because of their role models.
11.In your opinion, are significant discounts real or just advertisements?
It could be both because some companies discount things when they are about to expire, and other companies discount their products if they want to increase their sales, especially during the festival season.
12.What types of items are commonly sold in street markets in your area?
In my area, the most commonly sold items are a few fast food places where fast food is sold. So, the place near my house, that market, is very famous for eating places. So, people from other sectors visit this sector’s market for good food.
13.What do you think makes street markets appealing to shoppers?
Street markets are like a hub where we can get articles related to stationary clothing. Or be it food items, groceries, departmental shops are there. So, it is like a small shopping facility where the shoppers can get anything. Also, there is a thing that the shoppers can go and bargain. And nothing is according to the MRP. Due to the convenience and variety of the items for shopping, the shoppers will be attracted to that market.
14.Can you describe the atmosphere of a typical street market?
A typical street market is a happening place. Because people buy and sell things. People are having a conversation at the corner. There is mostly a tea stall. There are a few gyms in the market. So, loud music sound will be coming from there. There would be one or two main streets between the market. People might be talking. There would be small disputes when it comes to parking. So, in all, the marketplace is a very happening place. We can also imagine a few stray pets along the road. And a few beggars sitting down at the corner. So, that is how the marketplace is.
15.What are some advantages of shopping at street markets compared to traditional stores?
Shopping at a street market is convenient. People go and bargain there. There is a huge variety in that particular set of small shops, which form a market. In a store, the store would have dedicated products for that brand. In a market, one can buy all sorts of items, including groceries, stationery, and clothes. A street market is a happening place. People can get together because there are good eating points. A store is where people visit, but they must have a predetermined mindset about what they will buy.
16.Do street markets play a significant role in the local economy?
The street market plays a very significant role in the local economy. Because there are various kinds of shops. That is what attracts the shoppers. They buy a specific product but something else because all the shops are very attractive. That’s how the market setting helps all the vendors earn well at the end of the day.
17.Have you ever tried bargaining or negotiating prices at a street market?
Yes, I have tried to bargain and negotiate on the prices of not many products but a few. My dad told me to do that and learn how to bargain. Because he thinks I am more of a person who would buy the product immediately by asking the price. He made me do that, so it’s just another skill. Bargaining is a skill that needs to be learned.
18.What popular street foods or snacks can you find at street markets?
At street markets, various street foods are present. For example, the street market, which is near my house, has good eating places. There is one pizza place that attracts the most shoppers. Then, some people have put up stalls outside their shops that sell good Indian food and Chinese fast food.
19.How do street markets contribute to preserving cultural heritage and traditions?
The street markets mostly have shopkeepers who are local to that area. Street markets often don’t have big multinational brands. So, those vendors or shopkeepers keep the products relatable to the people of the surrounding area or the locality. That’s how they preserve that place’s heritage and culture.
20.Would you recommend visiting a street market to someone who has never been there?
Yes, I recommend that someone who has never been to a street market go there once and experience the atmosphere. Because there is a sense of belongingness in a street market compared to big brands, stores, or malls. People care about each other. If there is a small dispute inside a street market, many people will come and try to solve that. Unfortunately, if there is a small accident, people actually do care, and they come all together and get together, and they help that person out. So it’s another experience. I recommend that someone who has never been to a street market go and feel the vibe at least once.