Speaking Topic 3 – A Machine or Process

MP3 Recording of "Describe a Machine or Process " (Sample. I added a little extra information at the end and took 3’ 43”)

Task

You have 3 minutes to describe a machine or process. Be careful to explain in a very systematic way

Sample Transcript (Thor)

I would like to describe a very useful tool used every day by many men. It is called an electric shaver.

I will also explain why I use it a bit differently from most other people.

~ The electric shaver I use is cheap, made of silver coloured plastic with black trim.

~ The shaver is about 14cm long. It is tapered, and about 6cm across at the widest point.

~ The tapered body means that it is easy to hold in my hand while I shave.

~ The long tapered section contains rechargeable batteries which last a few days. In the middle of this section is an external power switch. In the base is a plug hole for a power lead.

~ The cutting heads for the shaver are contained in the wide top end of the body.

~ Skin contact for shaving is with three small perforated steel discs, each 2cm in diameter. They are set into a triangular cap which can be unclipped from the body.

~ These discs, or shaving foils, are very thin and flexible, with many holes just wide enough for a whisker to enter.

~ When the cap with the shaving foils is unclipped, three cutting heads are revealed.

~ Each cutting head is a small nylon wheel containing four radiating stainless steel blades. The blades are spring loaded, so they can bend backwards only.

~ As the cutting heads are rotated by the shaver motor, the blades press lightly against the cutting foil disks.

~ When I press the shaving foil disks against my skin, whiskers penetrate the perforations and are cut off by the cutting disks.

~ Although the electric shaver is cheap – about $15 four years ago – it does a good enough quick “grass cutting job”.

~ After I have shaved roughly with the electric razor, I apply a little liquid soap and trim the whiskers thoroughly with a safety razor. This is also quick, and a safety razor used like this will last a least six months.

~ If I used a safety razor for the full job, it would take much longer and the razor would wear out quickly. This is my shaving secret!

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Articles by Thor May