SET- IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'teenager' topic by Martin

Describe a positive experience that you had as a teenager. You should say

- what the positive experience was
- where you were
- who you were with
- and explain why you found the experience positive

 

Let me talk about my high school graduation trip, which was one of the most memorable and positive experiences I had when I was a teenager.

 

I used to live in Argentina, and just like most senior high school classes around the country, traveling to the town of Bariloche in the Andes mountain was the most popular and economical choice. We were all quite excited about that trip; it was the trip that marked the end of our high school years and also the start of a new stage in our lives.

 

We were around 30 students in that 1-week trip and we chose to travel by plane rather than bus, otherwise we would have wasted 2 days just to get to the place. We had so many activities in that week. We not only visited the most popular scenic spots of the area but also went skiing twice and went dancing at different night clubs every night.

 

This was definitely a positive experience for all of us. We had spent 5 years in the same classroom and rarely had the chance to hang out and truly get to know with each other. Thanks to this trip, we were able to renew and confirm our friendships and that's why we all still keep in touch even though it has already passed 15 years since our graduation.

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SET- IELTS Speaking Part 1: ‘hometown’ topic by Martin

1. Where are you from?

I’m from Kaohsiung, which is a metropolitan city located in the southern part of Taiwan.

2. Do you like your home town? (Why?)

Yes, I think the nicest thing about Kaohsiung is its people. Everyone is so friendly to each other and you can really enjoy the atmosphere of a warm city.

3. Would you prefer to live somewhere else? (Why?)

Probably not for the moment. I have my family and best friends over there and I wish to contribute to my hometown after I obtain my master’s degree in the UK.

4. Do you think your home town is a good place for young people? (Why?)

Yes, I guess so. Kaohsiung has lots of nice schools with modern facilities. Young people can also enjoy the different cultural attractions, such as museums, theaters, as well as public libraries.

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SET- IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'hospitality' topic by Martin

IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'hospitality' topic

1. In your country, how do people treat visitors from abroad?

I think Taiwanese people treat foreign visitors very well. We understand the hassle of traveling long distances so we tend to do our best to help visitors have a relaxing time. If it’s someone close to us, we will offer our home as the place to stay and show him or her around the city or town where we live. For example, last time when I visited my in-laws in Taiwan, they allowed me to stay at their home and spent plenty of time with me to take me to some nearby tourist spots as well as eat traditional Taiwanese foods.

2. Do you think hospitality towards visitors is less important than it was in the past?

No, I don’t think so. I think hospitality has always been part of human nature, especially when it comes to close friends or people who we really care. When there are relatives or friends visiting me from out of town, I’ve always been willing to take care of them. Since I also enjoy travelling, I would treat their visits as the perfect excuse to take time off and have a bit of vacation myself!

3. What are the benefits of staying with a friend when visiting a foreign country?

Well, I think there are plenty of benefits. Staying at a friend’s place is probably the most cost effective when it comes to traveling abroad, not to mention that he or she can show you around and take you to those secrets places where tour buses never go. Also, since it’s a friend of yours, you can ask for the activities you want to do and have a more personalized trip. For example, last time when my childhood friends from Argentina came to visit me, my wife and I made time for them and took them to shop at the outlets, do some wine tasting, and visit some of the most iconic places in San Francisco.

4. What are the advantages of staying in a hotel instead?

Staying at a hotel gives you more privacy and you can enjoy the different facilities that it offers, such as the swimming pool, hot spa, gym, or its breakfast services. When staying at a hotel, you won’t feel afraid of disturbing your friend and you can do whatever you wish in your room. In other words, you have your own private space and perhaps can rest better than staying in your friend's home.

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SET- Speaking part 2- 'school subject' topic by Martin

IELTS Speaking Part 2: 'school subject' topic

Describe a subject that you think should be removed from school education programmes.

You should say
- what the subject is
- why you think it is unnecessary for children to study it
- and explain what you would replace it with.

Today I'm going to talk about Physical Education, which I think is the subject that should be taken out of the school curriculum.

P.E. classes encourage the kids to do physical activities as well as different kinds of sports, which is great and healthy, but I don't think it is necessary to be part of the school program because I believe that every kid can easily do that after school with family or friends. Besides, when I was in elementary school, Physical Education was the class that I always looked forward to because it didn't involve any kind of reading, memorization, or difficult problem-solving tasks, and that meant that my mind was not concentrated and focused enough on core subjects such as mathematics, literature, and the social and natural sciences.

Instead of having Physical Education, I think I would replace it with more hours of foreign language education. It is true that most schools nowadays offer a second language course, but I think the time spent on it is simply not enough. If we look at today's senior high school students, many of them still struggle with the foreign language they have learned for several years, and that's a clear indication of the insufficient class activities or materials offered to them. Take myself again as an example. During my elementary and high school years, my parents had to spend extra money to hire a private English tutor for me, and by the time I graduated from high school, my English level was way ahead of my classmates and I was confident enough to start thinking about attending an American college.

All in all, Physical Education is actually an unnecessary subject and I think schools should devote more time to help students improve their second language skills.

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SET- Speaking Part 3 by Martin- "newspapers' topic

IELTS Speaking Part 3: 'newspapers' topic

1) In your opinion, are newspapers important?

Well, I think newspapers used to be very important because they were the only sources for domestic and international news. They were also the only resources for people looking for jobs. However, I think newspapers are no longer important because they are being quickly replaced by "online newspapers" and very few people still buy them nowadays. From what I know, things that you can expect in a newspaper can easily be found on the Internet.


2) Do you think that newspapers will disappear as a result of the Internet?

Yes, definitely. I know that some older people still tend to choose the newspapers to read every day, but most of the younger generation are now opting for online news and information. Social media is also replacing the newspapers because it is so convenient and people can easily catch the latest news when checking their Facebook or Twitter accounts. In my case, I haven't read the news from a newspaper for years and I think it will continue this way, so I think newspapers will eventually disappear and everything will be Internet-based.

3) What negative consequences might there be if newspapers did disappear?

Mmm... I don't think there will be any negative consequences when newspapers disappear. In fact, I think the positive aspect is that we won't need to cut any trees anymore for printing newspapers and it will be a huge relief for the environment. Also, as I said, more and more people nowadays are relying on the Internet to read the news, so I don't think we will even notice it when the newspapers disappear.

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SET- Speaking part 2 : Describe an old object which your family has kept for a long time by Martin

Describe an old object which your family has kept for a long time.
You should say
- what the object is
- where it came from
- how long it has been in your family
- and why your family has kept it.

 

Today I'd like to talk about an old sword that my family has kept for several years.

 

This is a sword that was once used by a general in Argentine history. It is a very long sword, about 1 meter in length, its blade is slightly curved and it's made of pure steel, so it's quite heavy. It probably wasn't used to kill people because it is not sharp at all, so I guess it was used only to guide troops during battles.

 

Since my father likes collecting old objects as a hobby, he purchased this sword at an antique store about 30 years ago. I'm not sure how much he paid for it, but I believe he had a good deal on it. Ever since he bought it, it's been hanging on our living room's wall for decoration. This sword certainly looks great and it somehow gives our home a sense of power and protection, so maybe this is the main reason why we've kept it all this time.

 

When I was a kid, I would sometimes borrow this sword from my dad so that I could play with it and pretend to be a general. Whenever I hold this sword, I feel powerful and confident; it's just amazing!

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SET-口說講稿分享 Part 1, 2, and 3 by Martin

NOTE: these are the sample answers that I would probably say if I took the IELTS test here in the U.S.

PART 1

1. Where are you from?

I'm originally from Taiwan, but I've been living here in the US for over 10 years.

2. Do you like the place where you live?

Sure. I live in a suburban city called Tracy and things are pretty quiet over there; I like it a lot!

3. Do you work or are you a student?

I’m currently a full-time office worker.

4. What job do you do?

I’ve been working full-time in Sales at a trading company for almost 10 years and have also been tutoring English part-time for about 3 years.

5. Do you like walking?

Yes, I think walking is one of the easiest exercises. My wife and I really enjoy walking our dog to the park nearby our home every morning.

6. Do you think walking is important?

Definitely. Although walking doesn’t require much energy, I think it’s important to keep your body moving on a regular basis.

7. Do you think walking in the countryside is better than walking in the city?

Yes, I think so. When walking in the countryside, one can breathe fresh air, expect some nice views, and things tend to be much quieter than in the city.

8. What could be done to improve the experience of walking in cities?

Mmm… I would say that one can get the best walking experience when they do it during the weekend because that’s when things are not as chaotic as work days. On a Saturdayor Sunday, the city is less crowded, there is less traffic, and one can enjoy the architecture as well as the variety of stores.

PART 2

Describe an occasion when someone visited your home.

You should say

            who the person was

            what the occasion was

            what you did during the visit

And explain how you felt about this person’s visit.

  I would like to talk about the day when one of my childhood friends visited my home 2 months ago.  Her name is Cata and we both grew up in Argentina. Back then we were classmates in Chinese school and would meet at least once a week. She is now working in Germany and had decided to take a short vacation trip here in the US to visit my wife and I as well as many of her other friends.

  Anyway, since she knew that I had bought a new house, she made sure to allocate some of her time to stop by my place. We did a quick tour around the house and also introduced our little dog to her. We took several pictures together, had a cup of tea with some snacks and fruits, and spent most of the time talking and catching up with one another.

  Although very brief, Cata’s visit was quite important to me. She is a very busy woman and has plenty of friends, so it was really nice of her to spend some of her time with us. This also shows that she is a true friend despite the distance and her busy schedule.

  

  All in all, it was definitely a pleasure to have this friend in my home for a short time and I truly wish her the best in her career!

PART 3

1. In your country, how do people treat visitors?

I think Taiwanese people treat visitors very well. We understand the hassle of traveling long distances so we tend to do our best to help visitors have a relaxing time. If it’s someone close to us, we will offer our home as the place to stay and show him or her around the city or town where we live. For example, last time when I visited my in-laws in Taiwan, they allowed me to stay at their home and spent plenty of time with me to take me to some nearby tourist spots as well as eat traditional Taiwanese foods.

2. Do you think hospitality is less important than it was in the past?

No, I don’t think so. I think hospitality has always been part of human nature, especially when it comes to close friends or people who we really care. When there are relatives or friends visiting me from out of town, I’ve always been willing to take care of them. Since I also enjoy travelling, I would treat their visits as the perfect excuse to take time off and have a bit of vacation myself!

3. What are the benefits of staying with a friend when visiting a new place?

Well, I think there are plenty of benefits. Staying at a friend’s place is probably the most cost effective, not to mention that he or she can show you around and take you to those secrets places where tour buses never go. Also, since it’s a friend of yours, you can ask for the activities you want to do and have a more personalized trip. It’s also a good chance to catch up with one another!

4. What are the advantages of staying in a hotel instead?

Staying at a hotel gives you more privacy and you can enjoy the different facilities that it offers, such as the swimming pool, hot spa, gym, or its breakfast services. When staying at a hotel, you won’t feel afraid of disturbing your friend and you can do whatever you wish in your room. In other words, you basically have your own private space.

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SET- Speaking Part 2- Describe a conversation by Martin

IELTS Speaking Part 2: describe a conversation

Describe an interesting conversation you had with someone you didn't know. 
You should say- who the person was
- where the conversation took place
- what you talked about
- and explain why you found the conversation interesting.

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SET- IELTS Speaking Part 1: Sports topic by Martin

IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'sports' topic

(Sample answers for someone who dislikes sports)

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IELTS Speaking Part 2: future plans by Martin

Describe a future plan which is not related to work or study. You should say

- what the plan is
- when you thought of the plan
- who is involved in the plan
- and say how you think you will achieve the plan.

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SET- IELTS Speaking Part 2: favourite season by Martin

IELTS Speaking Part 2: favourite season

Describe your favourite season in your country. You should say

- when that season is
- what the weather is like at that time of year
- how that season is different from other seasons
- and why it is your favourite season.

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SET- IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'shopping' topic by Martin

IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'shopping' topic

1) Who does most of the shopping in your household?
That would be my wife. Since I have to work most of the time, she is the one in charge of doing grocery shopping as well as buying products that we may need on a regular basis.

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SET- IELTS Speaking Part 3 by Martin:transport topic

What types of transport are there in
your town?

In the small town where I live, I
would say that public transport is non-existent as there are only a few buses
and shuttles running around. We can find some taxis once in a while, but
residents in this town mostly rely on their own cars. Some people say that if
you don't have a car, you basically don't have any legs.

How has transport changed since your
grandparents were young?

Well, I think there were fewer
options and the technology was not as good as today. Cars were only affordable
to people in the upper class so most people relied on trains and buses. But
nowadays, most people in the middle class can affordable owning a car and
public transport has improved so much that we can travel to different
destinations faster, safer, and at reasonable prices.

What types of transport do you think
we will use in the future?

Well, it's hard to imagine how
things will be in the future, but I guess we will continue to have the same
means of transport as today. It's likely that we will see improvements in terms
of fuel-efficiency, safety, and technology overall, but I think we will keep
driving our own cars, taking airplanes when traveling abroad, and
using the metro and bus systems while in the city. 

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SET- IELTS Speaking Part 2 by Martin: Describe a plant grown in your country

Describe a plant grown in your
country. You should say

- what the plant is

- where it is grown

- why you like or dislike it

- and explain why it is important to your country.

---

 Model 1:

Let me talk about the grapevine,
which is an important plant grown in the US.

 

The grapevine is a type of climbing
plant that grows grapes. There are several species of grapevines and Americans
eat grapes as fruits or use them to make wine, raisins, jams, and so on.

 

In the US, we can find plenty of
vineyards and wineries in valleys along the west coast, especially here in the
state of California because of its suitable climate; even I have a grapevine in
my own garden!

 

I like eating grapes very much since
they are nutritious and refreshing, which comes perfect in a hot summer day.
And for special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries, my wife and I
would open a bottle of wine to enjoy the moment and have a relaxing time.

 

Grapevines are extremely important
in the US as they contribute a big part of the economy. Here in the state
of California, for example, the wine industry is so big that nearly 90% of
the entire country's wine is produced here. Also, just to give you an idea, the
average American family consumes 20 bottles of wines a year.

 

---

  Model 2:

Let me talk about the grapevine,
which is an important plant grown in my country Argentina.

 

The grapevine is a type of climbing
plant that grows grapes. There are several species of grapevines and Argentine
people eat grapes as fruits or use them to make wine, raisins, jams, and so on.

 

In Argentina, we can find plenty of
vineyards and wineries in valleys along the high altitudes of the Andes
mountain range; I guess that's because of its suitable climate. I would say
that 99% of the grapes are grown in that region of the country.

 

I like eating grapes very much since
they are nutritious and refreshing, which comes perfect in a hot summer day.
And for special occasions such as birthdays or anniversaries, my wife and I
would open a bottle of wine to enjoy the moment and have a relaxing time.

 

Grapevines are extremely important
in Argentina as they contribute a big part of the economy. Argentine wines
are well-known and have a pretty good reputation. In fact, Argentina is
considered one of the top wine makers in the world and it exports millions of
bottles of wine per year, so that shows you how important grapevines are for
the country.

 

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SET- IELTS Speaking Part 3 by Martin: Children’s toys

1) Do you think it’s important for boys to play with “boys’ toys” and
for girls to only play with “girls’ toys”?

Well, since I have a pretty traditional way of thinking, I would say
that boys should only play with “boys’ toys” and girls with “girls’ toys”. If I
had a boy, I would encourage him to play with toy cars or robots because I
believe that’s how it should be. In fact, I would feel very uncomfortable if my
boy played with Barbie dolls!

2) Is it good if parents only buy “educational” toys for their children?

I think it is OK for parents to buy “educational” toys, but they
shouldn’t be the only kind of toys children play with. It is understandable
that all parents want their children to learn new things all the time, but I
think it is also important to give children their own time to relax by playing
with toys they choose. Even when playing with action figures like Superman or
Ironman, children can have fun by making up their own stories or games, which I
think is essential to any kid’s growth as it helps to develop their creativity
and imagination.

3) Are there any differences between toys in the past and toys today?

Yes, definitely. Toys in the past were not as sophisticated or detailed
as the ones we find today. With the help of technology, I think toy makers
today are able to produce more realistic toys that can look almost identical to
the characters from movies or cartoons. For example, I remember having 1 or 2
Transformers as a kid; although they were able to convert from a car to a robot
like in the cartoons, they didn’t look very real. But now, the Transformers
toys look much better, are with higher quality, and come with more features to
give children a more realistic feel when playing with them.

4) What are the advantages and disadvantages of playing with toys?

On the one hand, toys can be quite beneficial to children because they
allow children to relax and have fun after school. Playing with toys also
encourages children to use their imagination and creativity as they tend to
invent their own rules and games. On the other hand, toys could be a big
distraction and children may become addicted to them. Addiction to toys can
lead to poor grades at school and may have a negative impact on children’s
overall education. 

 

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SET- IELTS Speaking Part 2 by Martin: Describe a toy

Describe a toy that was
special to you when you were a child.

You should say:

- when you got it

- what it looked like

- who gave it to you

- and how you used it or played with it.

Today I'd like to talk
about LEGO, which was a special and my favorite toy as a kid.

LEGO is actually a brand
of children's building blocks and it consists of small, colorful plastic bricks
and figurines that can be assembled in different ways. LEGO is one of those
toys that encourages children to use their imagination and creativity to build
other toys.

I received my first set
of LEGO bricks when I was about 10 years ago. My father gave it to me when he
came back from a trip to the US. I remember it was a large spaceship and I had
to follow the step-by-step instructions to put all the hundreds of pieces
together. It was definitely a challenging task for me as it took me several
days to assemble it, but I surely enjoyed it because it gave me a sense of achievement
and satisfaction once I was able to accomplish it.

I remember playing with
that LEGO spaceship in my home's bathtub and I would make up my own space wars
or underwater missions. And if I got bored with the large spaceship, I would
take it apart and build smaller vehicles like planes, cars, or boats.

All in all, LEGO was probably the toy that I spent
the most time with as a child. I really loved the fact that I could build
different things out of my imagination! 

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SET- IELTS Speaking Part 1: Toys topic by Martin

1) Did you play with toys when you were a child?

Yes, definitely. I played with all kinds of toys and I think they were a
very important part of my childhood.

2) What kinds of toys did you like?

Lego was my favorite, but I also spent plenty of time playing with toy
cars, robots, and action figures like Superman, Batman, and the ThunderCats!

3) In your country, do boys and girls play with the same types of toys?

Mmm... no, I don't think so. In general, I would say that boys play with
the kinds of toys I've just mentioned, and girls would prefer to play with
dolls or stuffed animals.

4) Do you think that toys help children to learn?

Yes, absolutely! Toys are basically tools for children to develop their
imagination and creativity. Children also make new friends and develop
their social skills by playing and sharing toys. 

 

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SET- IELTS Speaking Part 2 by Martin: Describe an open-air or street market

Describe an open-air or street
market which you enjoyed visiting. You should say:

- where the market is

- what the market sells

- how big the market is

- and explain why you enjoyed visiting it.

 

I want to talk about the farmers'
market in my town, which is a type of open-air market my wife and I really
enjoy going to.

    I live in a small town near the San
Francisco Bay Area and they have a farmers' market on its main street in
downtown every Saturday in the summertime. This open-air market is
actually quite small, about only 3 blocks long, but you can find all
sorts of products. Here you can find locally grown fresh fruits and
vegetables as well as handmade accessories and jewelry. There are also some
stands selling different kinds of snacks, such as caramel apple, kettle
corn, and cotton candy. 

    My wife and I really enjoy going to
this farmers' market because the atmosphere is quite relaxing. All the vendors
are locals and they treat everyone nicely. I also feel they are honest people
and would never try to trick you when selling you something. In fact, we
have bought oranges, apples, and different kinds of vegetables, and everything
was indeed quite fresh.  

All in all, although very small,
this farmers' market is a wonderful place for local residents to hang out and
buy some fresh produce.

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SET- IELTS Speaking Part 2 by Martin: Describe recent news

Describe something that was recently reported in the news.

You should say:

·  what happened

·  who was involved

·  and why you found this news interesting

Sample answer #1:

 

I want to talk about a recent
news that I think is very interesting, and that is about the
German Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg winning the Monaco Grand
Prix last weekend.

 

Formula 1 is the top auto racing
category in the world, and the race in Monaco is one of the most prestigious of
the entire calendar. For a driver to actually win in this track is certainly a
dream come true. This was Nico Rosberg's only 2nd win in his career in Formula
1, but it surely was a memorable one. The race was halted for several minutes
due to a big accident in one of the corners, but Nico was able to maintain his
concentration for the rest of the race and finish at the position where he
started.  

 

I find this news very interesting
because Nico's father is a former Formula 1 World Champion, and to actually see
a son having success in the same competitive career is quite fascinating. Also,
it was exactly 30 years ago when his father won this same race, so I'm sure
this was also an emotional win for the German driver. 

 

All in all, I think it's great to
see a young driver competing in the highest category in motorsports and I hope
he can win more races in the near future.

 

Sample answer #2:

 

I want to talk about the news of
a Taiwanese fisherman being shot dead by the Filipino coast guard.

 

This event took place in a
conflicting area of the sea between Taiwan and the Philippines. According to
reports, the Taiwanese fisherman crossed the line and disobeyed the Filipino
authorities' order to move back. As a result, one of the coast guards opened
fire and killed the fisherman in the process.

 

I think this news is interesting
because it basically has become a political war between the 2 countries. The
Taiwanese president reacted strongly towards this event and is determined to do
whatever possible to find justice. He first asked for an official apology from
the Filipino government and then even threatened to use military force. On the
other hand, the president of the Philippines seems quite relaxed and is
investigating this issue at its own pace.

 

The investigations are still
ongoing. Inspectors from both countries are in search of evidence to find out
whether this shooting was justifiable or not. The general public has become
quite emotional and are desperate to see the outcome of this event. I guess we
will have to wait and see.

 

All in all, I hope both countries
can quickly reach an agreement and have a positive and peaceful outcome. 

 

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SET- IELTS Speaking Part 1: telephoning topic by Martin

IELTS Speaking Part 1: 'telephoning' topic

1. How often do
you make telephone calls?

I make several phone calls every day at work. It's either to communicate with
co-workers or deal with my customers. 





2. Who do you spend most time talking to on the telephone?

I think it's probably one of my biggest customers. You know, it's important to
have a close communication with customers if you want to expand the business
and have a long-term relationship with them.





3. When do you think you'll next make a telephone call?

I'll probably call my wife after the exam and see where she is at. This way
I'll know where to look for her and be able to go home together.





4. Do you sometimes prefer to send a text message instead of telephoning?

Yes, especially if it's for something not so important. I think a text message
is also better if you know that the friend or customer has a busy lifestyle and
may be unavailable to talk on the phone for leisure.

 

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