Now compare that (the original Economist piece) to this short article from The New Scientist. The language here is much closer to what you typically see in IELTS reading passages.
When you're told to practice your reading, make sure you're practicing with the right kind of materials.

I’ve been a bit busy over the past couple of days, but as promised, here’s the simplified version of the article.

Read both versions back-to-back and make a list of the changes ChatGPT made.

https://telegra.ph/Unsafe-haven-the-simplified-version-04-27

The latest edition of The Economist is out, and this short article caught my eye; it contains some useful language for IELTS Writing Task 1.
The problem with The Economist is that the language is often too complex for English learners. So, I’ll be using ChatGPT later to provide a simplified version of the article.

#comedy #standup

When the delivery is funnier than the punchline 😁

But don’t get me wrong: the punchline was funny too, but the delivery kinda stole the show.

OPAL stands for Oxford Phrasal Academic Lexicon.

Should not it be Oral spoken words?
Instead of a Cyrillic R? As far as I know, English language primarily used Latin alphabet.

Here are the correct answers with explanations:

❌ During the protests, some students were killed and others were seriously damaged.

✅ During the protests, some students were killed and others were seriously wounded/injured.

Explanation: People are hurt/injured/wounded, not damaged — that word is used for things.

❌ Most of the damage has been produced by acid rain.

✅ Most of the damage has been caused by acid rain.

Explanation: Use cause/do damage — NOT make or produce.

❌ We all know about the damage that smoking can do in our health.

✅ We all know about the damage that smoking can do to our health.

Explanation: The correct preposition is to, NOT in.

❌ The car crashed into a tree and suffered a serious damage.

✅ The car crashed into a tree and suffered serious damage.

Explanation: Damage is usually an uncountable noun, so no “a” or plural here.

But there is a context where “damages” (with an -s) is correct. Any guesses?

#CommonErrors

Each of these sentences contains a mistake that many English learners make. See if you can spot them WITHOUT consulting the AI:

1. During the protests, some students were killed and others were seriously damaged.

2. Most of the damage has been produced by acid rain.

3. We all know about the damage that smoking can do in our health.

4. The car crashed into a tree and suffered a serious damage.

📖 #WordOfTheDay: GIVEN

Even though the OALD above highlights the adjective meaning of “given,” I thought it’d be helpful to explore its other uses too.

🔹 Preposition:
"Given the weather, we canceled the picnic."
*(= Considering; taking into account)*

🔹 Adjective:
1️⃣ "The assignment must be done by a given date."
*(= Already arranged or specified)*
2️⃣ "At a given moment, the signal will flash."
*(= Particular; specific)*
3️⃣ "She’s given to dramatic outbursts."
*(= Inclined or prone to something)*

🔹 Conjunction ("given that"):
"Given that it’s raining, we’ll stay indoors."
*(= Because; since)*

🎯 Idiom: "To be given to (doing) something" = To have a habit/tendency.
*Example*: "He’s given to biting his nails when nervous."

💡 Bonus: As a noun, *"given"* means a known fact ("It’s a given that practice improves skills!").

Which usage surprised you the most?

I only post a #WordOfTheDay when I truly think the word is worth a closer look.

So, how confident are you with the word “given”? Let’s explore!

#DailyReading

A lot of people think getting rid of standardized tests helps disadvantaged students — but what if it’s actually the opposite?

This article from The Economist makes a pretty strong case for why keeping the SAT and ACT might do more to level the playing field than we realize.

#SelectArticles
#TheEconomist

Tell me what you make of this short film; it’s less than 3 minutes long but leaves quite an impression.

https://youtu.be/P5_Msrdg3Hk?si=6TaaWF4gYSETqYlC

Reading an article a day keeps your IELTS worries away.

When reading articles like this one, don’t try to focus on everything at once. Instead, pick one or two aspects of the language to zoom in on.

For today’s article, I recommend paying attention to useful grammar structures.

Read it once and highlight any interesting sentence patterns or constructions you notice. Then, try breaking one of them down to see how it works.

Which grammar structure did you find useful from the article? Let us know in the comments section!

Nihoyat rasman e’lon qilindi.

Aslida, ruchka yoki qalam bo‘lishining unchalik farqi yo‘q.

Chunki agar answer sheetdagi javobingizni o‘zgartirmoqchi bo‘lsangiz, shunchaki ustidan chizib, yoniga to‘g‘ri javobni yozib qo‘yishning o‘zi kifoya.

Writing qismida ham xuddi shunday — biror so‘zni o‘chirmoqchi bo‘lsangiz, ustidan chizib qo‘ysangiz bas.

https://t.me/examsuz/1708

https://telegra.ph/A-walk-in-the-park-04-10

The way the article is written really reminds me of the kind of language you often see in IELTS reading texts.

The paragraph below clearly illustrates the point:

Romulus and Remus are doing what puppies do: chasing, tussling, nipping, nuzzling. But there’s something very un-puppylike about the snowy white 6-month olds—their size, for starters. At their young age they already measure nearly 4 ft. long, tip the scales at 80 lb., and could grow to 6 ft. and 150 lb. Then there’s their behavior: the angelic exuberance puppies exhibit in the presence of humans—trotting up for hugs, belly rubs, kisses—is completely absent. They keep their distance, retreating if a person approaches. Even one of the handlers who raised them from birth can get only so close before Romulus and Remus flinch and retreat. This isn’t domestic canine behavior, this is wild lupine behavior: the pups are wolves. Not only that, they’re dire wolves—which means they have cause to be lonely.

By now, you’ve probably heard about the revival of the dire wolf, a species that went extinct 10,000 years ago. I’m sharing this fascinating article in case you’d like to learn more.

https://time.com/7274542/colossal-dire-wolf/#

I got one word for you all: ADOLESCENCE.
#Netflix

Adolescence has seen significant viewership success on Netflix following its release. In its first three weeks, the series garnered 96.7 million views on the platform.

Not a city fan, but this letter really hit me hard.

I’m sharing it for the language.

What phrases can stand out to you?

Some people finally got it right!

The expression I had in mind was “damaged goods.”

Look it up—it’s one of the very few times (if not the only time) the word “goods” is used in modern English to refer to people—and in a negative way.

Hint: it has nothing to do with slavery!

I’m so happy to have come up with a question even chatGPT cannot answer right away :)

🧐 Vocabulary Quiz
The word "goods" is normally used to describe things, not people.

But there’s one exception.
❓ Can you think of a situation where “goods” might actually refer to a person?

Ramazon Hayit ayyomi muborak!

🌙 IELTS ZONE jamoasi siz va barcha oila aʼzolaringizni Hayit ayyomi bilan tabriklaydi. Muqaddas Ramazon oyida qilgan barcha ibodatlaringiz va duolaringiz qabul boʻlsin!

😇 Bu muborak kunda qalbingizdagi barcha tilaklar ijobatini tilab qolamiz. Tinchlik-osoyishtalik va muvaffaqiyat sizni hech qachon tark etmasin!

Ertaga 31-mart kuni o'quvchilarimiz uchun dam olish kuni.

Ushbu qutlugʻ kunni yaqinlaringiz davrasida xursandchilik bilan oʻtkazing!

@ieltszone_uz

Alhamdulillah. I got into Harvard. This is a dream come true after years of hard work, challenges, and perseverance.

I just discovered “you have two cows” memes on the internet. At the start, it was educational, explaining the difference between socialism, communism and capitalism. And it got funnier and funnier. Look it up and enjoy. Maybe you can even share some in the comments section too.

The game between North Korea and the UAE ended with a last minute stunner from the UAE.

We held our own against Iran despite a few defensive lapses. However, the draw means Iran has officially qualified for the 2026 WC with two rounds to spare.

As for our team, we are now closer than ever to securing our first-ever World Cup qualification. All we need is a draw against the UAE, a realistic goal given our recent form.

Here are my thoughts about these three games (with useful language highlighted)

I think the Kyrgyz Republic might be able to hold their own against Qatar, but the UAE will likely beat North Korea by a landslide. As for our team, we might manage a draw since Iran only needs a single point to qualify. But if they play for a win, there’s a chance we could lose—though probably by a narrow margin.

Any predictions for today’s crucial game against Iran?

#Vocabulary #KeyWords

🛍 10 Useful Phrases & Expressions from Today’s Reading 🌱

Fresh from The New York Times — save these for your next IELTS essay!

1️⃣ At first glance – When something seems a certain way initially, but might change after a closer look.
📝 Example: At first glance, paper bags seem like the greener option.

2️⃣ After all – Used to emphasize a reason or add supporting information.
📝 Example: Plastic bags are harmful — after all, they’re made from fossil fuels.

3️⃣ Pun intended – A fun way to point out a deliberate play on words.
📝 Example: It’s hard to make apples-to-apples comparisons (pun intended).

4️⃣ Environmental footprint – The total impact something has on the environment.
📝 Example: Reusing your tote helps reduce your environmental footprint.

5️⃣ Wind up in a landfill – End up as trash buried underground.
📝 Example: Most paper and plastic bags eventually wind up in a landfill.

6️⃣ Defeats the purpose – Stops something from achieving its original goal.
📝 Example: Hoarding dozens of tote bags defeats the purpose of reducing waste.

7️⃣ The takeaway – The main point or lesson learned.
📝 Example: The takeaway? Reuse whatever bag you have as many times as possible.

8️⃣ Best bet – The smartest or most reliable choice.
📝 Example: A sturdy tote made from recycled materials is your best bet.

9️⃣ The bottom line – The most important fact or conclusion.
📝 Example: The bottom line — reusing bags matters more than what they’re made of.

🔟 The math is simple – A way to emphasize that the logic is clear and easy to understand.
📝 Example: Reuse your cotton bag 100 times — the math is simple.

#DailyDose #Reading

Straight from The New York Times — fresh and ready for you. Enjoy!

Click here for telegraph access.

#9x9

"An article a day keeps your IELTS worries away" ©️

#9x9

Repost

IELTS ZONE da umumiy to'qqizinchi overall 9.0!

9 NINERS (still the highest result in Uzbekistan)

O'zbekistonda 3-female Niner Gulasal Butaevani jamoamiz nomidan chin yurakdan tabriklaymiz!


IELTS ZONE - aim for the highest!

#9x9

Fill in the gap below.

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS.

The third ... in Uzbekistan!

#music #songs

I’ve started listening to Garth Brooks almost religiously ever since I discovered him through the show The Ranch. One of my favorite songs of his is The Dance, which feels like a dose of sanity after a hard day’s work. I’ve always loved country music, but there’s something especially soothing about his voice.

#trips

Just safely landed in Samarkand on a very small plane.

“Kukuruz” samalyotda Samarqandga bir nima qilib yetib kevoldik.

I love watching these short Ted-Ed videos.

So much to learn, so little time.

Feeling stuck? Learn how to regain focus and overcome your motivational obstacles!

https://youtu.be/kD3-DKkiVeA?si=G-kG3NCGkRitIfDc

Happy International Women’s Day!

A common mistake among Uzbek learners is saying “congratulate with 8th of March.”

Instead, remember that we congratulate people on their achievements, but for holidays, we wish them happy holidays!

I think such an animated version of the Task 1 graph would make it easier for candidates to describe the changes. Would you agree?

I’ve never taken Donald Trump seriously, even back when he first announced his run in 2016. His understanding of politics, the economy, medicine—you name it—just feels so surface-level. People might say I’ve been brainwashed by the mainstream media, but honestly, if you actually listen to what he says and fact-check him, it’s hard not to cringe at how often he contradicts himself or just flat-out gets things wrong. The sad part is, a lot of people either don’t notice or don’t care, which is probably why he won so decisively in 2024. Just watch this video—he’s completely twisting the facts while trying to justify cutting funding for medical research.

#comedy

Here’s something funny to watch before bed.

This SNL episode from last year pokes fun at the imperial measurement system used in the US, along with a few other American oddities.


Here’s a little excerpt:

One of the soldiers: so, in football, there’s no kicking?

Washington: there’s a little kicking… you kick the ball to get points.

Another soldier: how many points, sir?

Washington: sometimes 1, and sometimes 3.

Are you ready to have your mind blown?

Meet Miles, the new AI voice. I just had a lot of fun talking to him—he sounds just like a real person!

The future is here… but should we be excited or a little freaked out?

https://www.sesame.com/research/crossing_the_uncanny_valley_of_voice#demo

So much to learn about ourselves from this particular TedX talk. Give it a watch and let me know what you think.
https://youtu.be/veEQQ-N9xWU?si=Rs0ccF7Pq3LoyxeK

Rahmat katta tabrik uchun!

Aytdim nimaga bugun kun ochilib ketdi deb 😎😄.

Gap buyoqda ekan-da.

What a beautiful day in Tashkent! ☀️🌞

Finally it feels like the spring is here, doesn’t it?! 🌺🌼🌿

What is the weather like today where you live?

March is here, which means it’s time for a new book!

This month, my goal is to read The Black Swan by Nassim Taleb.

Can you believe that this is hand-drawn?

Today my team-mates and I were honored to meet the students and teachers at the National Institute of Painting and Design named after Kamoliddin Behzod.

RAMADAN CHALLENGE — 2025

🕯 Ramazon oyi nafaqat yeb-ichish va gunohlardan tiyilish, shu bilan birga «ilm» olish oyi hamdir.

9️⃣ IELTS ZONE jamoasi eng kuchli instruktorlari bilan birgalikda, IELTS kandidatlari uchun 1 oylik «Ramazon Challenge» tashkillashtirmoqda.

📈 Challenge davomidagi darslar CELTA va IELTS 8.5 - 9.0 ballga ega o'qituvchilarimiz tomonidan o'tiladi.

✔️ Challenge’da qatnashish mutlaqo bepul! Faqatgina, ushbu postni do'stlaringiz bilan ulashsangiz kifoya.

🔖 Challengeda qatnashish uchun ushbu havolaga bosing

🎙 Darslar saharlikdan so'ng, IELTS ZONE telegram kanalida soat 06:00 da bo'lib o'tadi.

📱 @ieltszone_uz

From sunny Sharm to snowy Tashkent! 🥶

Is there anyone else who is coming to Sharm El-Sheikh in the coming 2-3 days?

Sharm is charming me with its stellar translation work :)

I’m currently in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Does this mean I’ve finally set foot on African soil, or is Sharm still considered part of Asia?
🧐🤨

Guess where I am )

Today, we’ll be reading an article about the key differences between the Apple Watch and a dedicated fitness wearable—the Whoop.

https://www.ambitiousathletics.com/blog/whoop-vs-apple-watch

Tesla or BYD?

In addition to being a must-read for car enthusiasts, the following article offers a great deal of model language for Task 1 Writing.

https://thesmartinvestor.com.sg/tesla-vs-byd-who-will-dominate-the-global-ev-market-in-2025/

Yaxshi suhbat bo’lgan edi Farg’onada. Ko’rib chiqib, fikringlarni aytarsizlar.

https://t.me/ieltszonefergana/3101

But on a more serious note, I really liked the food.

Do you guys know any other great place to have my dinner before I fly back to Tashkent this evening?

#Travel #Nukus
I like this place, but I can’t help wondering why they named it “Cake Bumer.”

The word “Bumer” sounds a lot like “bummer” or, even worse, “burner.”

Imagine rejecting this place just because you think they’d burn your cake!

Flying to Nukus ✈️

The last time I was in Nukus was back in 2008.

How has the city changed in the last 16 to 17 years?

Of course … but maybe

#humour

The greatest four minutes of stand-up #comedy

https://youtu.be/XLGzFQg_1xc?si=4Q8Nmt6Sfpp9l9oP

#FebruaryChallenge #DailyStoic

Actually, I’m on my way to another region I’d never been to before.

#FebruaryChallenge #DailyStoic

#FebruaryChallenge #DailyStoic

Hamkorligimiz Oʻzbek futboli uchun foydali bo‘ladi degan umiddaman.

Uzbekistan Professional Football League

#FebruaryChallenge #DailyStoic

Almost everyone has correctly identified the problem: overgeneralization.

But what exactly is overgeneralization, and how can you avoid it?

Try correcting the issue in the three example sentences above.

#WritingHelp

What common mistake do you notice in the following sentences:

1. Teenagers are addicted to social media.

2. Fast food causes obesity

3. Social media has ruined real-life communication.

#FebruaryChallenge #DailyStoic

IELTS ZONE - aim for the highest!

We resent the person who comes in and tries to boss us around. Don’t tell me how to dress, how to think, how to do my job, how to live. This is because we are independent, self-sufficient people.

Or at least that’s what we tell ourselves.

Yet if someone says something we disagree with, something inside us tells us we have to argue with them. If there’s a plate of cookies in front of us, we have to eat them. If someone does something we dislike, we have to get mad about it. When something bad happens, we have to be sad, depressed, or worried. But if something good happens a few minutes later, all of a sudden we’re happy, excited, and want more.

We would never let another person jerk us around the way we let our impulses do. It’s time we start seeing it that way—that we’re not puppets that can be made to dance this way or that way just because we feel like it. We should be the ones in control, not our emotions, because we are independent, self-sufficient people.

Feb 2: A PROPER FRAME OF MIND
_____________________________________

Frame your thoughts like this—you are an old person, you won’t let yourself be enslaved by this any longer, no longer pulled like a puppet by every impulse, and you’ll stop complaining about your present fortune or dreading the future.
— MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 2.2

Bekzod Mirahmedov IELTS ZONE Fergana da! 🤩

Ertaga 11:00 da barchangizni kutamiz!🔥

Joylashuv: IELTS ZONE

#DailyStoic #FebruaryChallenge
February 1 - For the hot-headed man

This excerpt is from Ryan Holiday’s book, Daily Stoic. It’s not something I wrote myself.

As I’ve already mentioned in the video I sent yesterday, I’ve been planning to share daily excerpts from the book throughout February.

Do let me know what y’all think and whether it is worth the effort.

Why do athletes talk trash to each other? Why do they deliberately say offensive and nasty things to their competitors when the refs aren’t looking? To provoke a reaction. Distracting and angering opponents is an easy way to knock them off their game.

Try to remember that when you find yourself getting mad. Anger is not impressive or tough—it’s a mistake. It’s weakness. Depending on what you’re doing, it might even be a trap that someone laid for you.

Fans and opponents called boxer Joe Louis the “Ring Robot” because he was utterly unemotional—his cold, calm demeanor was far more terrifying than any crazed look or emotional outburst would have been.

Strength is the ability to maintain a hold of oneself. It’s being the person who never gets mad, who cannot be rattled, because they are in control of their passions—rather than controlled by their passions.

Feb 1: For the hot-headed man
————————————————


Keep this thought handy when you feel a fit of rage coming on— it isn’t manly to be enraged. Rather, gentleness and civility are more human, and therefore manlier. A real man doesn’t give way to anger and discontent, and such a person has strength, courage, and endurance—unlike the angry and complaining. The nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength.
— MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 11.18.5b

#DailyStoic

#FebruaryChallenge starts today!

February - Passions and Emotions

By the way, I’ve already finished GRIT, and my next book for February—separate from this channel’s February challenge—is 21 Lessons for the 21st Century.

The summary of GRIT is on its way...

February Challenge

#DailyStoic #book by Ryan Holiday

#februarychallenge 2025

02.02.2025 ertalabki soat 11:00 da barcha Farg’onaliklarni kutib qolamiz!

#WordOfTheDay

menacing - threatening, seeming likely to cause you harm or danger.

Ex: He looked up at the circle of menacing faces surrounding him.