Compare Past and Present - IELTS 5.0 S P3

Question 1

"How has the way people pay for things changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

People used to carry cash everywhere, while now many of us pay with a phone or a bank card.

Answer

Many people pay with apps or bank cards now, and even small food stalls display a scan code.

Answer

In the past, cash was the normal way to pay, and people counted coins carefully at the counter.

Answer

In the future, shops may stop taking cash completely, so everyone will need a card or an app.

Question 2

"How have schools changed since your parents were young?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

My parents wrote everything by hand, whereas we often submit work online.

Answer

Most classrooms now have projectors, fast internet and a screen the teacher controls.

Answer

In the past, students carried heavy paper books and copied notes from the blackboard.

Answer

Schools will probably use more artificial intelligence to mark work and plan lessons.

Question 3

"How has family communication changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Relatives once waited weeks for a letter, but now they chat every day.

Answer

Families now send messages all day through phones, and my cousins post photos in a group chat.

Answer

People wrote letters or waited for a rare evening phone call when I was a small child.

Answer

Families may meet in person even less often once video calls feel completely normal to everyone.

Question 4

"How has shopping in your city changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

My parents used local stalls more, but now my friends order many things online.

Answer

There are big shopping malls and online stores everywhere in my city today.

Answer

Years ago, most people bought their daily vegetables and rice at small neighbourhood markets.

Answer

Online delivery will probably become even faster and cheaper than driving to a mall.

Question 5

"How has transport changed in your area?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Ten years ago my road had only buses, whereas now it has a metro stop.

Answer

My area has more taxis and ride-hailing bikes now, and they arrive within about three minutes.

Answer

In the past, crowded buses were the only public transport near my grandmother's old house.

Answer

Transport may become cleaner and quieter here once electric buses replace the old diesel ones.

Question 6

"How has the way people watch films changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

People once waited for cinema showings, but today they stream films whenever they want.

Answer

People can watch films on phones, laptops and televisions at any hour today.

Answer

In the past, cinemas were the main place to see any new film.

Answer

Cinemas may add bigger screens and better seats to attract younger audiences.

Question 7

"How has food delivery changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

It used to mean phoning one shop, while now apps show hundreds of choices.

Answer

Food delivery is common in cities today, even for a single cup of coffee.

Answer

Years ago, only a few big restaurants delivered meals to a customer's home.

Answer

Delivery robots and small drones may become quite common in busy neighbourhoods later.

Question 8

"How has children's free time changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Children once spent afternoons outdoors, but now many relax with online games.

Answer

Children now spend a lot of their free time on phones, tablets and games consoles.

Answer

In the past, children often played football in the street after school until it got dark.

Answer

Parents may limit screen time much more strictly once schools give clearer advice about it.

Question 9

"How has your hometown changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

It used to be a quiet farming town, but now apartment blocks stand beside the old fields.

Answer

My hometown has many new apartment blocks, cafes and a wide road along the river today.

Answer

When I was small, there were rice fields and a quiet little temple just behind my house.

Answer

More young families will probably move there once the new railway station finally opens.

Question 10

"How has the way people read news changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

My grandparents bought a newspaper, whereas I read headlines on my phone.

Answer

Many people read news on social media now and see the same story from several accounts.

Answer

People used to wait for the morning newspaper and read it slowly over their breakfast.

Answer

News videos may become even shorter and may arrive as short clips on a watch.

Question 11

"How have office jobs changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Offices relied on paper records before, while now most files are stored in the cloud.

Answer

Many office workers now use laptops, video calls and shared documents every day.

Answer

In the past, office workers filled thick paper files and posted letters every afternoon.

Answer

More companies may let staff work only four days a week in future.

Question 12

"How has travelling abroad changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Trips abroad once needed a travel agent, but now people plan everything online.

Answer

People can compare hotels, flights and honest reviews online in just a few minutes today.

Answer

In the past, a travel agent arranged the flights, hotel and visa for most families.

Answer

Foreign travel may become more expensive if airlines pay higher taxes on fuel.

Question 13

"How has home entertainment changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Families used to share one television, whereas now everyone watches a separate screen.

Answer

Many homes now have a smart television, fast internet and a small speaker in almost every room.

Answer

In the past, one television in the living room was enough for the whole family.

Answer

Virtual reality headsets may become a normal family activity in a few more years.

Question 14

"How has exercise changed for adults?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Adults once exercised mainly through daily work, but now many schedule workouts after office hours.

Answer

Many adults now use gyms, running apps and watches that count every step.

Answer

In the past, most jobs involved walking, lifting or standing up for the whole day.

Answer

People may train with online coaches who watch their movements through a small phone camera.

Question 15

"How has eating lunch at work changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

People used to bring lunch boxes, while now workers order meals to the door.

Answer

Workers now order lunch through apps and eat it at their desks while answering emails.

Answer

Years ago, many workers carried rice and vegetables from home in a metal container each morning.

Answer

Company canteens may serve healthier menus and may print the calories beside each dish.

Question 16

"How has studying English changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

My older cousins learned mainly from textbooks, but I practice with apps and videos.

Answer

Students can use short videos, apps and online dictionaries whenever they want today.

Answer

In the past, learners depended on printed books and one weekly classroom lesson.

Answer

More students may take their speaking tests online with a computer examiner.

Question 17

"How has city housing changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Many families once lived in low houses, but today most live in high-rise apartments.

Answer

High-rise apartments with lifts, guards and underground parking are very common in the city today.

Answer

In the past, low wooden houses with small gardens and shared wells were far more common.

Answer

Future apartments may be smaller but may control the lights and air automatically.

Question 18

"How has the role of grandparents changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Grandparents used to live with the whole family, whereas now many help from their own home.

Answer

Many grandparents now collect the children from school and cook for them until the parents return.

Answer

In the past, three generations often shared one house and one kitchen together.

Answer

Grandparents may use health apps and watches that warn their children about problems.

Question 19

"How has the way people buy books changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Readers once browsed the shelves in shops, but now they order books online.

Answer

Many readers now buy books online and start reading them on a phone the same evening.

Answer

People once visited bookshops on a Saturday afternoon and asked the owner for a good recommendation.

Answer

Bookshops may turn into cafes and quiet study spaces with only a few shelves left.

Question 20

"How has school homework changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Teachers once checked notebooks, but now many assignments are uploaded to a website.

Answer

Homework is submitted through an online system and marked on screen now.

Answer

In the past, teachers collected exercise books and carried them all home.

Answer

Homework may become more personal as learning software chooses each task.

Question 21

"How has dating changed for young adults?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

People used to meet mainly through friends, while now many first meet through apps.

Answer

Dating apps are common among young adults now, and matching takes only a minute.

Answer

In the past, friends and older relatives introduced most couples to each other.

Answer

Dating may become more video-based, with a short call before any real meeting.

Question 22

"How has the way people store photos changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Families once kept printed albums, but today thousands of photos sit on phones.

Answer

Most photos are stored on a phone or in a cloud account that nobody ever opens.

Answer

In the past, people printed fewer photos and glued each one into a heavy album.

Answer

People may take photographs with smart glasses and store everything on a company server.

Question 23

"How has farming changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Farmers once depended on manual labour, whereas now machines do the heavy work.

Answer

Many farms now use tractors, water pumps and weather apps to plan the whole week.

Answer

In the past, whole families cut the rice by hand and carried it home themselves.

Answer

Farms may use drones to check the fields and spray only the dry corners.

Question 24

"How has the way people listen to radio changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

My grandfather listened at a fixed time, but I play recorded shows whenever I want.

Answer

People now listen to radio shows and podcasts on a phone while they travel.

Answer

In the past, a whole family sat around one radio set in the evening.

Answer

Radio may become completely personal, with a station built for one listener.

Question 25

"How has paying bills changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

People once queued at an office, whereas now many pay bills through apps.

Answer

Most bills can be paid online in a single minute without leaving the house today.

Answer

In the past, people had to visit an office or a bank carrying enough cash.

Answer

Bills may be paid automatically by a smart home system that reads the meter.

Question 26

"How has street food changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Vendors used to rely on regular local customers, but now tourists find them through review apps.

Answer

Street food stalls are advertised online now, and the busiest ones have a long evening queue.

Answer

In the past, street stalls served the same nearby workers every single morning.

Answer

Street food may become more expensive once city councils raise the price of a stall licence.

Question 27

"How has classroom discipline changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Classes were once controlled by strict rules, while now teachers explain the reasons.

Answer

Teachers today often use a quiet discussion about behaviour rather than any kind of strict punishment.

Answer

In the past, teachers were formal and strict, and nobody spoke without raising a hand.

Answer

Schools may use cameras and software to monitor behaviour in every classroom.

Question 28

"How has going to the bank changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

My parents waited at counters, but I transfer money on my phone in seconds.

Answer

People now use a banking app for transfers, loans and most card problems.

Answer

Years ago, customers visited a branch and queued for almost every single payment.

Answer

Bank branches may become rare, with only a few open in each city.

Question 29

"How has music practice changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Students once waited for a teacher's correction, while now they replay online lessons at home.

Answer

Many music students now learn from online videos and record themselves on a phone camera.

Answer

In the past, learners needed a teacher or a printed music book to improve.

Answer

Music apps may correct mistakes automatically and suggest an easier piece instead.

Question 30

"How has visiting relatives changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Relatives once travelled for a rare visit, but now they meet on video every week.

Answer

Families now make video calls every weekend when they live in different cities or different countries.

Answer

In the past, a visit lasted several days because the journey itself was long and expensive.

Answer

People may use virtual reality headsets to sit in the same room as relatives.

Question 31

"How has buying train tickets changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

People once queued for paper tickets, whereas now many show a phone code.

Answer

Train tickets are bought on websites and apps now, often several weeks before the actual journey.

Answer

Passengers used to queue at the station window for a small paper ticket every morning.

Answer

Ticket machines may disappear from every station, and gates may simply read a passenger's face.

Question 32

"How has children's homework research changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Older students used library shelves, but now children type questions into search engines.

Answer

Children can search online for information about almost any school topic today.

Answer

In the past, pupils used heavy encyclopedias and books borrowed from the library.

Answer

Homework research may become harder to check because of writing software.

Question 33

"How has the way people find jobs changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Applicants once looked in newspapers, while now they search job sites and company pages.

Answer

Most applicants use job websites and send the same CV to many companies.

Answer

In the past, job adverts appeared in newspapers or in a shop window.

Answer

More interviews may be done by video, even for the final round.

Question 34

"How has local entertainment changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

People once gathered in small tea shops, but now entertainment is mostly inside malls.

Answer

There are more cinemas, cafes and busy game centres in this district than anywhere nearby.

Answer

In the past, local entertainment was simpler and cheaper, and often just a small street festival.

Answer

Local events may use digital tickets and may be streamed for people at home.

Question 35

"How has the way people use libraries changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Libraries were once mostly for borrowing books, while today students use them as quiet workplaces.

Answer

Libraries now provide computers, printers and long tables where students can work in groups.

Answer

In the past, people mainly borrowed printed books and returned them within two weeks.

Answer

Libraries may lend far more digital material and may keep only a few paper shelves.

Question 36

"How has keeping in touch with old classmates changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

My parents lost their classmates' numbers, but my class still chats every week.

Answer

Old classmates can follow each other online and see photographs of every birthday and family holiday.

Answer

In the past, people lost contact soon after graduation and only met again at a wedding.

Answer

Class groups may become better organised inside apps built for old school friends.

Question 37

"How has the work of taxi drivers changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Drivers used to wait at taxi stands, whereas now many receive rides through apps.

Answer

Many taxi drivers now take bookings on a phone and follow its map.

Answer

In the past, passengers stopped a taxi by waving from the busy street.

Answer

Self-driving cars may change taxi work completely within twenty more years.

Question 38

"How has clothes shopping changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

Shoppers once tried everything in a store, but today many order several sizes online.

Answer

People now compare prices, colours and reviews online before they even visit a real clothes shop.

Answer

In the past, people depended on a few local shops and waited for the yearly sale.

Answer

Clothing shops may use virtual fitting rooms that show a customer's exact measurements.

Question 39

"How has environmental awareness changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

People once took plastic bags without thinking, while now many bring their own.

Answer

More people now carry a reusable cloth bag and a metal water bottle everywhere they go.

Answer

In the past, ordinary shoppers rarely questioned plastic and threw every bag away after one use.

Answer

Governments may make much stricter rules about packaging and single-use plastic.

Question 40

"How has the way people celebrate birthdays changed?" Which answer fits the question?

Accepted Answer

My parents had cake at home, but my friends book cafes and post videos.

Answer

Birthday photos are posted online within minutes and friends comment from several other cities.

Answer

In the past, birthdays were small family events with a cake and some relatives.

Answer

Future parties may include online guests who join the singing from another country.

BLASTROOM

BLASTROOM

BLASTROOM

Compare Past and Present - IELTS 5.0 S P3

Ways to Play

Device Games: Students play on their phones

Blast Go

Zombie Escape

Avalanche

Maze Blast

Cave Climb

Blast Out

Mystery Auction

Tour Guide

Food Truck Rush

Tug of War

Alien Blast

Glacier Rush

Board Games: Teacher-led, projected to the class

Like what you see?

Bug Blast

BlastRace

BlastQuiz

BlastBoard

Seek & Destroy

Mystery Blast

Checkers

Texas Hold 'Em

Da Bomb

Castle Siege

Hot Potato

Market Mayhem

King of the Hill

Bank Heist

Top Corner

Compare Past and Present - IELTS 5.0 S P3

Ways to Play

Device Games: Students play on their phones

Blast Go

Zombie Escape

Avalanche

Maze Blast

Cave Climb

Blast Out

Mystery Auction

Tour Guide

Food Truck Rush

Tug of War

Alien Blast

Glacier Rush

Board Games: Teacher-led, projected to the class

Like what you see?

More like this

Bug Blast

BlastRace

BlastQuiz

BlastBoard

Seek & Destroy

Mystery Blast

Checkers

Texas Hold 'Em

Da Bomb

Castle Siege

Hot Potato

Market Mayhem

King of the Hill

Bank Heist

Top Corner