A person from your country who has won a prize, award or medal

IELTS Cue Card/ Candidate Task Card 591 with Model Answer:

Describe a person from your country who has won a prize, award or medal.

You should say:

• who this person is
• which prize, award or medal they received
• what they did to win this

and explain whether you think it was right that this person received this prize, award or medal.

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

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Model Answer 1:

Thank you very much for this interesting topic, which allows me to talk about a remarkable individual from my country who has received significant recognition. The person I'd like to describe is Professor Muhammad Yunus, and the prestigious honour he received was the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

Professor Yunus, an economist and social entrepreneur from Bangladesh, is globally renowned for pioneering the concepts of microcredit and microfinance. He realised that poverty was often perpetuated by the lack of access to even small amounts of capital for the poorest individuals. Traditional banking systems were hesitant to lend to those with no collateral, trapping them in a cycle of destitution. To address this, Professor Yunus founded the Grameen Bank, which provides small loans – microcredit – to the poor, predominantly women, in Bangladesh.

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Professor Yunus and the Grameen Bank "for their efforts to create economic and social development from below." The Nobel Committee recognised their work as a crucial step in alleviating poverty and fostering human dignity. Through microcredit, millions of impoverished individuals, who were previously considered unbankable, gained access to small loans to start their own businesses, improve their living conditions, and break free from the clutches of poverty. The Grameen Bank's model has been replicated worldwide, demonstrating its profound and lasting impact on poverty reduction globally.

Without a doubt, I believe it was absolutely right that Professor Yunus received the Nobel Peace Prize. His work has not only transformed the lives of millions in Bangladesh but has also provided a sustainable and empowering model for poverty alleviation that has been adopted across the globe. By focusing on economic empowerment, particularly for women, he has fostered social development and given dignity and hope to those who were previously marginalised. His innovative approach challenged conventional economic thinking and demonstrated the power of extending financial services to the poorest members of society.

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Model Answer 2:

One of the most notable individuals from my country who has won a prestigious award is Mary Kom, the celebrated Indian boxer. She is a highly respected athlete who has made significant contributions to Indian sports, particularly in the field of boxing. She is widely known for her perseverance and dedication to the sport. I am glad to be able to talk about this boxer who has won a prestigious award.

Mary Kom has won numerous awards and accolades, but one of the most prominent is the Padma Bhushan, India's third-highest civilian award, which she received in 2013. Additionally, she has also been honoured with the Padma Shri in 2006, and she is a six-time World Champion in women's boxing. Mary Kom made history when she became the first Indian female boxer to win a bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics, further cementing her place as one of the country's most accomplished athletes.

To win these prestigious awards, Mary Kom dedicated herself to boxing from a very young age, starting her career when she was just 15. Despite coming from a humble background, she overcame numerous challenges, including financial difficulties and the constraints of her remote village in Manipur, India. What sets her apart is her remarkable ability to juggle her career with being a mother, which is extremely rare in such a physically demanding sport. She proved time and again that sheer determination, combined with an unwavering spirit, could lead to extraordinary accomplishments.

I believe it was absolutely right for Mary Kom to receive these prestigious awards. She not only achieved excellence in boxing but also became a symbol of hope and inspiration for women in India and across the world. Her resilience, passion, and ability to break barriers have made her an iconic figure, both in the sporting world and in the context of female empowerment. Without a doubt, she deserves all the recognition and accolades she has received for her contributions to Indian sports.