If you are looking at a picture and you are describing it to somebody, as you might well do during an exam, you should use the Present Continuous tense because the action is happening at that very moment. Let's take your example. I can see a woman who is wearing a red waistcoat. [Present Continuous because the action is happening at the moment you see it in the photo]. The woman wears a red waistcoat during the ceremony. [Present Simple because this is an action which occurs habitually: whenever this ceremony takes place, then the woman wears a red waistcoat]. One way to differentiate between Present Simple and Present Continuous is to ask when the action takes place. Take the following example: She [work] in a library. When? Now answer the question with either 'now' or 'usually'. If you think the answer should be 'now', then you would use Present Continuous. If you think the answer should be 'usually', then you will need the Present Simple. She [work] in a library. When? Usually [because it's her job - she does it every day] Therefore the answer should be: She works in a library. If you think the answer is 'now', then you would write; she is working in a library now. This implies that it is a temporary state: she is working there this week, but next week she could be working somewhere else. It could also be used to contrast a former state with the present: She used to work in a hospital, but now she is working in a library. Although you could just as well say: She used to work in a hospital, but now she works in a library. Getting back to your example. Have you considered using the following constructions: The woman may well be wearing a red waistcoat. The woman seems / appears to be wearing a red waistcoat. the woman must be wearing a red waistcoat. It looks as if the woman is wearing a red waistcoat. I can see a woman who is wearing a red waistcoat. I can see a woman wearing a red waistcoat. Try using some of the above constructions when you are describing a picture, because they might make your answers sound more 'impressive'! Best wishes for 2013

I take issue with both the word "lady" and the word "waistcoat". The woman in the picture is wearing a vest. She wears that style of costume only for festivals.