Picture Description for International Exams Cambridge

1. PICTURE DESCRIPTION
Expressway or Motorway: A broad highway designed for high-speed traffic. Highway: A major road for any form
of motor transport..
This picture shows a motorway in a very nice area full of vegetation. There are bushes and trees on both sides of
the road and in the centre. It is very well signposted. It isn’t congested with traffic or trucks, there are only a few
and actually there are more lorries as probably this leads to a holiday resort and they are transporting goods. On
both sides of the motorway there are wide hard shoulders. Traffic is flowing freely on the motorway. The
vehicles are not travelling too close to one another on the motorway In the background there is a very
pronounced curve. It might be summer and there is a clear sky.
Bushes: low plant to the size of a small tree.
Lorries: motor truck
Signposted: provided with traffic signs.
Goods: merchandise.
Hard shoulders:

2. This photo shows a busy rush hour scene. Most of the
buildings in the picture are very tall and seem to be
really luxurious. In my opinion it is an important city
like Shanghay. Many people are walking along the
coast. There is a crowded road as it might be rush hour.
There are also many boats and ships in the sea. It is an
important harbour and as I have mentioned before it
might be Shanghai as the road signs are written in
Chinese. The road is well singposted and seems to be a
very neat and clean city.

3. This is a traffic jam in a highway. There are many lanes
of traffic. Some of the cars have their brake lights on.
There are no pedestrians on the hard shoulder. It
seems to be early in the morning when people go to
work or late in the evening when they are coming
back from work. This is definitely rush hour. There is
a traffic sign on the right. This congestion might have
been caused by an accident or problems with the toll.

4. The boy and the girl are in a library which seems to be
really huge as there are many rows of books. The
man is showing a page to the girl and she seems to be
interested in what he is showing her. The boy is
wearing a green top or t-shirt and a necklace. The girl
is wearing a white tank top, she seems to be in her
twenties like the boy, and they are both young.

5. • This is one of the largest pyramids in the world and considered to
be one of the great among the seven wonders of the world. There
are actually 3 Pyramids . There are also two camels and two men
wearing turbans and tunics to protect themselves from the heat
or high temperatures of the desert. The two men aren’t sitting on
the camels. There is a clear sky and a lot of sand. They are very
high and composed of blocks of stone. Actually The Great Pyramid
of Giza was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Some of the
Wonders of the World are: The Great Wall, China - Machu Picchu,
Peru -
The Roman Colosseum, Italy - The Taj Mahal, India

6. • They are having a stroll by the sea on the beach. It is probably a holiday
resort or some place by the sea. Both camels are walking in line. One
camel is rederless and they are both the same colour. The sea is bright
bluema and it is a beautiful day. One man wearing a turban and a tunic
is riding one of them and on the other he has load some things. He
might be going from one place to another or maving moving out and
taking with him all his belongings.
• Pictures and descriptions taken from:
http://www.english-test.net/toeic/listening/a_stroll_by_the_sea.html

7. Expressions for Picture
Description
• Describing the fotographs: The first photograph shows a woman reading
a book. In the background we can see a family sitting around a table
outside a café.
• Comparing the photographs: Both pictures are about being a parent. I
think the common theme here is communication.
• Contrasting: In contrast, the people in the second image look worried. On
the other hand, the scene looks much more modern. Unlike the first
photo, this looks like a happy occasion.
• Speculating: Perhaps they are celebrating something. Maybe the reason
they look so serious is because…..She might be a busy working mother.
• Personal feelings: I wouldn’t like to be in their shoes. The first photo
reminds me of my own childhood. Personally, I’d love to visit a place like
that.
• The following phrases are fo helping you while you speak.
• What I really mean is that……. What I am trying to say is that…..Well,…..
Hmm…. let me see.

8. Compare and contrast these two photos and say why
they have chosen to participate in the event and which
of the parties you would choose to be at.

9. More expressions

10. Describing – Comparing – Contrasting - Speculating