优格雅思《口语救星》31版

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: Part1 60 400 Part2 90 Part3( Part2 )
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PART 1
1. Your Work or Your Studies

Do you work or are you a student? Im a student. Now, Im studying in XX University in XX province and my major is XX, which requires us to do a lot of relative practice. Im about to graduate next year, but I want to pursue my masters degree in XX.
Im a high school student in XX high school. Ill graduate next year and Im planning to study in the UK because I think the education system there is very advanced. I hope I can get into a good university so that I can be competitive in the job market when I graduate.
Im working. I have been working in a private company in my hometown for two years. I think the job is very suitable for me because I could use what I have learned at school and of course therere also a lot of new things for me to learn in this field.
1) Your Work What job (or, what work) do you do? What do you do in that job?
Im an accountant in a private company in Hangzhou. My job involves a lot of calculating and tabulating. Sometimes, its hard to explain what I do because I dont produce or sell products, but I think my job is important for the company.
Why did you choose to do that kind of work(or, that job)?

I chose to be an accountant because I majored in accounting when as was in the college. And I had already accumulated some work experience by doing part-time jobs before I graduated. Whats more, the job suits my character and my interest.
Would you recommend the job to other people?

Yes, I recommend it to people who are majored in Business or Accounting. They may be able to put the knowledge they have learned in the courses into practice. And it is a well-paid job.
2) Your Studies
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Do you like your major?

Yes, I do. I actually chose my major by myself because Im interested in science since middle school. When I was a child, I always wanted to be a scientist. Now, I feel Im closer and closer to my dream.
Is that a popular major in your country?

Yes, it is. Its comparatively easier for engineering major students to find suitable jobs because there are a lot of manufacturers in China and they all need professional engineers to work in the R&D department or their factories. I guess the prospect of this major is bright.
Is it difficult to learn your major?

Kind of. My major involves a lot of math and physics theories, so if one wants to be excellent in this field, you must know the foundational knowledge well. Sometimes, we also need to do some lab work and I think the most difficult part is put what we have learned into practice.
Do you think it's important to choose a subject you are interested in? (Why?)
Definitely. Its probably true for everybody. When youre interested in something, you can put more effort into it and youre more likely to succeed. However, if you have no interest in something, you probably can do it, but its hard to be good at it. So, teachers should try their best to arouse students interest and help them to learn unconsciously and students should choose something their interest lies in.
What's the most enjoyable part of being a student?

Its hard to say. As a student, I can learn knowledge and dont need to work to earn my living. However, sometimes, I feel its hard to be a student because I have too much workload and so many things to learn.
For you, what's the most interesting part (or subject or class) of your course?
I like practical knowledge. When I learn something about my future work, I would always feel excited. I feel Im not only learning some theories, but the real skills for my career. Its the most interesting part for me.
(For high school) What's the most interesting of your subjects at school?
I love science. I think science classes can help me know the wonders of the universe and tell me the laws of the nature. Because of my science classes, many questions I have had since I was a child have been solved.
What are your future work plans? (after you graduate)

Now, Im planning to pursue my masters degree in the UK. After my graduation, I would find a job at one of the worlds best enterprises because there will be more promotion opportunities in such companies. I dont mind starting from a lower position, but eventually I want to become a department manager.
Who do you think is more important, the students or the teacher?

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400-000-5173 I think both. The classmates can create a group atmosphere, which could be warm, hostile, or indifferent. If you have a bunch of good classmates, you could get help from them in your studies or social life. Teachers are also important. They could teach professional and moral knowledge. If the teachers are dedicated, they could influence the students learning outcomes and world view.
Are there anything special about your teachers and classmates in this major?
Yes. Professors and students studying science tend to be a little nerdy. We dont mind spending a lot of time reading or doing experiments. Its probably true that many of my classmates are not very sociable; however, therere always exceptions.
How should teachers teach?

Teachers shouldnt only teach, they should help students learn well and arouse their interests. Since we will leave school sooner or later and theres still a lot there for us to learn, teachers should foster students self-teaching abilities so that they will become lifelong learners.
Will children tell their parents when they face difficulties in their studies?
It depends on the childrens personalities. A lot of children like sharing what happen at school, things both good and bad. Its always good to get help from their parents. However, some children feel its embarrassing to tell their parents their bad grades at school, which might make them want to hide the truth from their parents.
Do you think its good for teachers to praise the students when they do something good
and point it out when they do something wrong? Of course. When children get approval from their teachers, theyll be motivated to do better in the future. When they do something wrong, they also need someone to remind them. However, its not good to give complements all the time and too much criticism can also create hatred and make students rebellious.
What subject(s) are you studying?

I am studying Business. There are many specialized courses related to it, such as Introduction to Business Conference, Marketing Strategy and Business Law &Company Law. I have to study the general courses for all college students as well.
Why do you choose to study that?

I chose to study Business because I dreamed to be a businessman since I was a kid. You know, both my parents are businessmen and I have been greatly influenced by them. I am determined to learn the courses well before I can really set about to practice.
What school/university do you go to now?

I go to Zhejiang University, one of the best universities in China. Many great scientists and artists, such as Feng Zikai and Zhu Kezhen graduated from this university. The Business College is in the campus located on Xixi Road, in the West of Hangzhou. http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 5
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How long have you been going to that school/studying your subjects?
Ive been studying here/this subject for 3 years. Being a junior, I have finished all the required general courses and most of my major courses. Thats why I am preparing for the IELTS test and the further education.
Do you like studying at that school/university?

Yes, I enjoy studying there very much. With a river flowing nearby, the environment of the campus is quite good. Convenient facilities are available in teaching buildings, the library and mass-media rooms all day along. And teachers help a lot both in the class and in our daily life.
Whats the most important thing/part of your study life?

Its hard to say. As a student, I think I should firstly learn the courses well. However, a lot of my classmates and I are doing part-time jobs in our spare time in order to accumulate some work experience and to social experience. I think both of them are also essential when we are to find jobs.
2. Home (Accommodation)
Do you live in a house or a flat?
I live with my parents in a flat. I have my own bedroom and study room, so even though it is a flat, I think there is enough room for me to do what I want to do.
Do you like to live in a big city or a small town

I dont mind. Because I was born in XX, a comparatively big city, so I like city better. But if I was born in a small town, I think I will also fall in love with the small town because its convenient to travel around in a small place.
Which room is your favorite in your home?

I like my study room the best. I have my bookcase, piano, drawing stand and desk in the room. So I can do whatever I like in the study room. If I want to have a rest, I just need to bend over the desk.
What do you think can be added to your flat?

Maybe a dancing room that has lots of mirrors, because in that way, my mother and I can practice dancing in our spare time at home, and we dont need to go to the fitness club.
Do you like changing your flat?

No, I dont. I like my flat very much, and I dont think it is necessary to change my flat. I have my own living room and study room, so even though it is a flat, I think there is enough room for me to do what I want to do.
Do you know your neighbors? Is it good to know your neighbors

Yes, I do. We have a really good relationship with my neighbors, because we will send each other foods or other things. Also, we will help each other if we encounter some problems. http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com
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Do you prefer young or old neighbors?

I dont mind. I believe that everyone in the world in very kind, so no matter my neighbor is young or old, if we treat each other friendly, we must get along well with each other.
Do you like a house or an apartment?

It depends. If I live alone, of course I like to live in an apartment, because the cheap rent, and convenience for cleaning. But if our big family needs to live together, I will prefer a house, since every member in the family will have their own space.
3. Your Hometown
Whats your hometown?
Im from XX, the capital of XX province. I was born and raised in that city so I know my hometown very well, but now Im studying in XX and I also know this place well.
Im from XX, a small city in XX province. Since the place is small, Ive been to almost every corner of the city and know many good restaurants. Its also interesting when I go out because I could always run across some acquaintances.
Is your hometown famous for anything?

Yes, my hometown is famous for the local food, XX. Everyone who comes to my hometown would try this food. Also, therere some famous tourist attractions and the most famous place is XX, which would attract people from all over the world.
What do you like most about living in your hometown (or, about living where you are
living now)? I love the local food. I have to admit every region has their famous food and its hard to find authentic food of my hometown in other cities, so I would always miss the delicious local food when Im away.
Do you like your hometown?

Of course! Who doesnt like his hometown? And from among all the aspects, I love the local food most. Its hard to find authentic food of my hometown in other cities, so I would always miss the delicious local food when Im away.
Would you say its an interesting place?

Yes. Though its a small place, there are some scenic spots. Modern facilities for entertainments are also built up in downtown areas. So we can always find something interesting to do when getting together with friends. And if you have time, I may be your guide to have a tour around there.
What would you say are the good points and the bad points of your hometown?
Well, the local food is definitely a good point, and the native people are hospitable. In the past, the environment was among the best in the neighboring areas. But the protection has http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com
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400-000-5173 not been attached importance to. So now pollution has become one of the most serious problems in my hometown.
Did your friends also grow up in the same place as you?

My old friends are mostly former classmates and neighbors in my hometown. Since I attended the university, I have been making new friends coming from different areas.
Would you like to live there in the future?

Yes. There is a Chinese saying; Fallen leaves return to the roots. So even if I may have further education and future jobs in bigger cities, I will go back to my hometown and live there when I grow old.
4. Concentration
Is it important to focus on one thing (you should deal with)? Yes, I think its very important that we give enough attention to one thing at a time and accomplish it. When we have it done, well feel a sense of success. However, life is not always like that. We sometimes need to juggle several balls at the same time and learn how to change our roles in different situations. But I still believe that no matter what we do, we should finish tasks that we start, so that we can learn how to be consistent. When do people need (concentration) to focus on something? In a lot of situations. For example, if we want to write an essay, we have to set the time aside and go to a comparatively quiet place to focus on it. If we dont give us enough time to think and doing research, our work wont be done with quality. Also, when we are preparing for a test, we also need to concentrate on what we need to learn. Its the same for doing tasks for the working class. When do people become the most focused? When we have a time limit, I guess, and the stuff were handling is also very important, well be very careful and focused. Also, when were really interested in the tasks were doing. For example, some game players are always focused, not because of the cause but because of their pure interest. Is it easy to concentrate? It depends, sometimes we dont have to try and can easily concentrate on what we do if were interested or in a very calm and peaceful state. However, a lot of times, we dont actually want to do what were doing (for example, preparing for a test or finishing a task our boss assigns us). In that case, we have to force ourselves to think about the consequence of failing and try to concentrate. Can people deal with two different things at the same time? I think so, but of course, it wont be easy. For example, some mothers, they have to take care of their children and have the house work done at the same time. They have to have very good time management skills and be organized; otherwise they might be trouble for not doing either one well.
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5. Concert &Music
Have you ever been to a live concert? When was the last time you attended a concert?
Yes. One year ago, I attended a live piano concert, and I like it very much. A group of artists played famous piano sonatas such as that of Mozart and Bath. Really amazing!
Would you like to go to a concert in the future? If you have the chance, will you attend
the concert? Yes, of course. I would like to go to a concert in the future. I think it is good to enjoy a live concert. I am planning to attend a rock bands concert when they have a world tour.
Would you prefer to watch a concert on TV or to attend a live concert?

I would prefer to attend a live concert. To watch a concert on TV is very different from the live one. You cannot enjoy the atmosphere, the ambience, the close distance to the stage.
What is the most popular concert in China?

I think the most popular concert in China is the concert held by famous stars or bands such as Faye Wong, or bands like Beyond. Also, Korean and Japanese bands such as SMAP are also popular here.
What type of music did you like when you were a child? What about now?
When I was a child, I like classical music of such as Mozart and Bath very much. Now I still keep an interest in this type of music. Now, I have developed a new interest in pop music.
Do you have a lot of classmates who play musical instruments?

Yes. A lot of my classmates had to take music classes after school. Some of them wanted to learn by themselves and some were forced by their parents. I also learned how to play the piano but I stopped when I was in middle school because I felt my workload was too heavy. I think playing a musical instrument can make our life more enjoyable so Im glad that I learned how to play the piano.
6. Computer& Internet
Do you like using the computer?
Definitely. I think the computer has become an important part in my life. I use it to do my homework (work), get on the internet to do research and get some entertainment as well. I cant imagine what my life will be like if I dont have the computer.
Do you use the computer often?

Yes. I spend almost more than five hours a day on my computer. I use the computer to get online and do my homework (work). Of course, I also play games and chat with friends occasionally. However, sometimes I tend to spend too much time on the computer, which is not good for my eyes and my spine. I think I should try not to use the computer all the time.
What do you use the computer for?

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400-000-5173 Many things. I get on the internet to search for information, read news, and even chat with my friends. I also store all my digital photos on my computer so that I dont have to go to a photo studio to print them out. When I need to write a paper, Ill use word and print my paper when I finish it. Its much neater than hand written ones.
What does computer mean to you?

Computer means a lot to me. It makes my life convenient and helps me to get up-to-date information. Its a great way for me to entertain myself. I could play games, read electronic books, and chat with my friends. If my computer is broken, my life will be much more different and difficult, I guess.
How do you think about the advertisements online?

I think a lot of advertisements online are annoying, especially the pop out ones. They could block what youre viewing and you have to click them to make them disappear. I think there should be some laws to regulate the ways advertisements are shown on the internet.
When was the first time you used the Internet?

I think its in middle school when I first used the Internet. I watched comic cartoons, read novels on the Internet, and later, I even began to write novels by myself in the online community.
Is the Internet very important (or, useful) to you?

Yes, definitely important. You know, if I cannot check email or chat with my friends online, I will feel depressed. Many of my friends are studying abroad, so Internet is the only way to connect with them. Besides, I can also use the Internet to search useful information, or listen to music.
Do you often buy things on the Internet?

Not really. I dont like shopping clothes online. I prefer to go the shopping mall and try the clothes on, and then decide to buy or not. If I cannot try it, Ill feel it may not fit me well. But sometimes I will buy some daily necessities on the Internet that dont have the problem of size or fitness.
Do you think information on the Internet is very reliable?

It depends. Sometimes the information on the forum is not reliable, and you cannot believe all of it, but usually the information on the CNN, NHK, and China Daily is reliable news. So I think we should be careful when it comes to the information online.
What do you use it for?

Many things. I get on the internet to search for information, read news, and chat with my friends. You know, many of my friends are studying abroad, so Internet is the only way to connect with them. Besides, I can also use the Internet to listen to music.
Do other people in your family also use the internet?
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400-000-5173 Well, both my parents use it to get information of the stock market every weekday. When I stay in the college, my mother sometimes chat with me on the net, but I prefer her to call me, because she types too slowly.
What can you learn from the internet?

You know, Im now preparing for the IELTS test, and on-line teaching has been well-applied in IELTS teaching. So I learn a part of the courses online. Besides, I obtain most of the information of the colleges in UK from the net.
7. Leisure Time
How much free time (or time to relax) do you have (per week)?
I have two days off every week, and I think it is not enough for me to relax. I dont really have a good time. I hope I could have more shop holidays than now, so I can visit my friends and go traveling more.
What do you do in your spare time (= free time)?

I will do many things. If I stay at home, then I will read books or watch TVs. Sometimes I will also go outside to take part in outdoor activities or parties with my friends and family members.
(In the evenings), do you prefer to relax at home and watch TV or go out with your
friends? It depends. Sometimes if I am tired, I would prefer to relax at home, either watching TV or reading novels. If I have a lot of energy, I would like to go out with my friends.
Do you have a lot of fun in the city?

Yes, of course. There are a lot of entertainment activities in the city. You can go to the cinema to watch films, the KTV to sing songs, the gym to exercise your body, or the restaurant to have a meal. As long as you want to, you could always find interesting places to enjoy yourself.
Do you think it's important to (have time to) relax?

Yes, I do. I think it is very important to have time to relax. We cannot work all day, it may affect our efficiency. We need to have time to relax, so that we will have better performance.
Do men and women relax (= spend their free time) in the same way?
No, I dont think so. Men will prefer to play basketball or watch games. But women like to go shopping. Of course, they will also choose to travel or watch films.
When do you spend time with your family or your friends?

I spend time with my family every evening and every weekend, because we will usually have dinner together. On weekends, our family will go to the tea house to relax. Sometimes, if I have free time, I will also go out with my friends to have a meal.
Who are more important to you, family or friends?

I think family is more important to me, because family members cannot be replaced by others; you can always find new friends, but it is not possible for you to choose family members. http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 11
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8. Mobile Phones
Do you have a mobile phone (= "a cell phone")? What do you use it for? Is your cell
phone important for you in your daily life? Yes, I have a mobile phone, and I cannot imagine a life without my mobile phone. I use it to send messages or call my family and my friends. Sometimes, I also use the mobile phone to get on the Internet. When do you use it? How often do you use it? Whenever I have something to discuss with my family or friends, I will use the mobile phone. Or when I want to search some information, I will get on the Internet by mobile phone. I use it everyday, and I cannot imagine a life without a mobile phone, I may not lead a normal life with it. When did you get your first mobile phone? In my middle school, I got my first mobile phone as a birthday present. Its a Nokia, so I have developed great love for the brand Nokia, and thats why I still use Nokia now. I think Nokia can type messages very fast. Is there anything you dislike about using cell phones? Not really. I think I dislike about using cell phones only when it occupies a lot of my time, and I dont have enough time to finish important and urgent things. I dont use it so often now. Do you think you will continue using your mobile phone in the future? Of course, I will continue using mobile phones in the future, because I cannot leave a mobile phone and lead a normal life. But maybe one day I will change my Nokia for IPhone, since its so popular nowadays.
Do people in your country like using mobile phone?

In fact, mobile phone has become a necessity in peoples daily life. Young people are especially fond of using mobile phone. We dont only use it as a means of communication, but also an entertainment tool and a daily companion.
Have you ever had any problems using your mobile phone when traveling?
Yes. The signals are not always good when travelling, especially when I am on fast-moving vehicles or in the mountainous areas.
How do you think mobile phones will develop (or)change in the future?
If you ask me, I would say that some mobile phones will become as small as an earphone jack so as to be easily portable. And the rest may be of a notebook size to provide convenient uses in processing documents and photos.
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9. Museums
Are there many (or, any) famous museums in your hometown/country?
Therere some museums in major cities and a lot of them are free to the public. I think museums are the legacy of our ancestors. Its a great way to help travelers and city dwellers to know the origin of human civilization, art, and history.
Do you think museums are useful for visitors to your hometown/country?

Yes. I think museums are not only helpful for visitors to know the city or country well, but also can educate the citizens to understand and appreciate the place they live in. Therefore, its necessary for the government to invest money in building better museums for the country.
Do you often visit a museum?

Whenever I go to a new place, I would always want to visit the local museums because its a good way to help me know the history and culture of the place. I still remember visiting the beautiful museums on my trip to Europe. It was a wonderful experience.
Did you go to any museums when you were a child?

Of course, I have. I still remember when I was eight years old, my father and I went to the Shanghai museum. When we entered this building, I saw a lot of relics and exhibits, which aroused my interest in history.
When was the last time you visited a museum?

Last year, I went to Shanghai science and technology museum. This museum was very interesting and I learned a lot of science knowledge, which could help me improve my studies. If I have the opportunity, Ill go there again.
Do you think museums are important?

Museums are an indispensable part of our civilization. Its a great way to exhibit the culture, history, art, etc. to a great number of people. It provides extra education for people young and old.
Do you think its suitable for museums to sell things to visitors?

I think its ok because people could buy these things as souvenirs. However, if museums focus too much on selling things, they will lose the original functions and values.
10. Name
Do you like your name?
Yes, I do like my name very much. My name was given by my parents and it carries a very good meaning, which means happy. I believe this name can bring me good luck and Ill be happy all the time.
Are there any special meanings of your name?

Yes, my name in Chinese pronunciation means happy because my parents want me to lead a happy life in the future, and I can smile to every circumstance encountered.
Who gives the names in China? Whats the tradition of giving names?
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400-000-5173 In general, parents will give the children the name, but sometimes, grandparents will also take part in the naming process. I think it is universal around the world. In every country, relatives will give the children names.
Are you willing to change your name? Why?

No. First, I like my name very much, and I dont feel it necessary to change my name. Second, name is just a small part of me; people get along with me, not with my name. So it doesnt matter.
What meanings are there in the nicknames of Chinese children?

Most children in China will have a nickname for different reasons. Some people believe a nickname will bring their children blessings, and some others want to call their children more conveniently.
In your country, do people feel that their name is very important?

Well, every Chinese name carries a meaning, and it represents the common value and pursuit of the family. So people usually consider their own names unique and important.
Is it easy to change your name in your country?

Its not so easy. Firstly the family members should come to an agreement on that. Then I have to go to the police station for registration. And all the friends and acquaintances should be informed.
What names are most common in your hometown?

Those with nice meanings. A lot of boys are given names like Da, meaning making achievements. And girls parents prefer characters such as Fang, implying fragrance.
11. Photography
Do you like taking photos?
Yes, I like taking photos. But since I am not good looking in photos, I prefer to take photos of scenery such as clouds, mountains, trees, rivers, and other scenic spots. Do people in China like to take photos? I think it is just the same as other parts of the world. Many people in China like to take photos, but still some others dont like to take photos very much because of various reasons. What kinds of photos do you like? Since I am not good looking in photos, I prefer to take photos of scenery such as clouds, mountains, trees, rivers, and other scenic spots. If I travel to a place, I would always take a variety of photos to keep my memories. Do you like taking photos? Yes, I love taking photos, especially at some parties or trips. I think photos can help us keep the good memories beautiful scenery. Also, I love showing my photos to my friends or family members to help them know my life.
How do you take photography?

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400-000-5173 It depends on the occasion I need to take photography in. I use cameras or DVs when I am travelling or in important situations. But cellphones are right at hand in daily usage when I find something interesting.
Do you like cameras?

Well, I view cameras as one of the necessities in the daily life, for it is needed when there are parties, birthdays, anniversaries and other important occasions. Thus I need it rather than I like it.
How do you organize (or keep, or save) your photos?

I keep my photos in the computer and a back-up copy in the Mobile Hard Disk, insuring that I may never lose them by accident. And I pick out the best or the most interesting ones among them to get printed and put them in the albums.
Hows do you think you will keep your photos in the future?
I find cellphones are becoming a convenient tool in taking photos and keeping them recently. So maybe they will be applied further and better in keeping photos in the future.
Would you say photographs are a good way to preserve memories?

Definitely! Photos can record not only the scenes but also the way people look and act at a certain time. From my perspective, photos are one of the best and fast ways to preserve memories.
Do you think its important to preserve memories?

I think so. Happy memories help us to recover from miseries. And remembering failures prevents us from making the same mistake again. You see, preserving memories help us grow faster and stronger.
12. Time management

How do you organize you time?
I have a timetable in both my notebook and the cellphone to manage my time. At the beginning of every term I fill in the timetable firstly with the curriculum schedule. Then I can make proper plans of other activities according to the spare time I have.
Do you think young people organize their time in the same way?
Most of my fellow students do it like me. Study is our prime task anyway, so we have to devote enough time to it. If there is much spare time left, we may consider joining in clubs or doing part-time jobs.
Are you ever late for anything?

Yes, sometimes I sleep over in the morning and was late for the classes. Once I didnt manage to come back from part-time work to the class-meeting on time. But generally speaking I am a punctual person.
What excuses do you use when you late?

Excuses will not help anything, according to me. So I told the truth rather than used excuses, and made apologies to the teachers and my classmates. They all forgave me in those cases. http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com
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(similar to above) What excuses do people have when are late?

Well, some people dont like to use excuses when they are late. They just tell the truth and make apologies then. While some may make up lies or excuses, hoping not to be blamed by others. But the effect doesnt always turn out to be good.
Do you like it when others are late?

Some people may mind it, but I dont really hate it when others are late. I think they must have their own reasons, or no one wants to be blamed for that.
In your country , do people forgive others when they are late?

It depends on the exact circumstance. In a serious occasion such as a conference or an appointment, being late is annoying and may not be forgiven. But if its a party among friends, I think people wont care if someone comes a little late.
If you had more time , what would you do with the extra time?
I have been hoping to learn playing violin since I was 15 years old. But I have never had enough time to do it because I have to spend most of my time studying. So if I had more time I would use it to learn violin.
13. Weekend
How do you usually spend your weekends? /What do you usually do on weekends?
I sometimes go travelling in suburban areas with my friends, or get together with my former classmates. But in most cases I go back home and accompany my parents, talking with them about things happened at school.
In your country, do men and women usually do the same kinds of things on weekends?
Im not sure. Being men or women, young people like me usually have similar entertainments. Some middle aged men would like to go fishing at weekends while women of that age wouldnt. But generally I think there is no big difference.
When do you spend time with your family?

You see, Im an introversive person, so I spend a lot of time staying at home, accompanying my family. I am with them almost every weekend, and we go travelling together when I am on summer holidays.
What did you do last weekend?

My parents and I went to visit my grandpa last weekend. He has been in hospital for 3 months, for he broke his leg and it is not easy for old people like him to recover soon. We go to see him almost every week.
What do other people in your hometown usually do on weekends?

People visit friends and relatives on weekends, since most of us have to work. And if the weather is fine, natives often go to have tea in the open air around the West Lake.
What are you going to do next weekend?

My parents have been talking for weeks about going boating in the West Lake. And its becoming warmer these days. So if there is no other important arrangement, I would like to go boating with them next weekend.
Is there any thing new that you would like to do on weekends?

There are only 2 days on one weekend. I think the time is too limited to try doing anything. And weekends are for us to release pressure from study/ work. So its just fine to stay at http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 16
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400-000-5173 home accompanying my parents.
Do you like working on weekends?

Absolutely not. Weekends are supposed to be a time to relax ourselves from the work pressure. Since Ive been working throughout the weekdays, why would I go on it on weekends?
Do you think employees should have to work on weekends?

I dont think so. Employees work on weekdays, and they deserve a rest from it when the end of a week comes. They need time to accompany their family and to enjoy their life. So let the weekends be weekends.
Do you feel that weekends now are more important to you than when you were a
child? Yes I have a strong feeling of that. Life was to play and eat and sleep when I was a kid. Every day was free from troubles. But now days are filled with problems waiting for me to solve. Weekends seem to be the only time I can stop thinking over them for a while.
14. Art
Are you very interested in art?
I have to admit I know nothing about paintings and the like, but I am fond of music. I learned a little flutes and piano when I was a little girl, and I keep practicing them until now.
Did you create any art such as painting or sculpture when you were a child?
Well, when I was very small, my parents sent me to learn traditional Chinese painting. But I was not interested in it at all, and I failed to work out anything nice. So at last all of us gave up.
Have you ever been to an art gallery( or , an art exhibition)?

Yes, my father is fond of traditional Chinese painting, so he used to take me to the art exhibitions and the museums a lot. There are quite a few art galleries in Hangzhou. If you would like to go, you do have a choice.
How often do you visit art galleries?

I used to visit art exhibitions along with my father at least once a month. But now I go there much less. The last time I went to an art gallery was about three months ago.
15. Bags
What types of bags do you use (in your everyday life)?
I use big and simple bags and sometimes I use my backpack because it can contain a lot of stuff. I care about the quality of bags. Good bags are usually more user-friendly and can last for a long time. I think its worth spending more money buying something good.
What do you put in these bags?

I put a lot of things I need every day in my bag, such as cell phone, wallet, keys, and tissue. Sometimes, I would put some small things I buy on the street in my bag. Carrying a bag makes life easier.
Do you usually carry a bag when you go out?

Yes. I kind of feel that my bag is a part of me when I go out. If I dont carry a bag, I would http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 17
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400-000-5173 feel like Im not wearing a certain important piece of clothing. With a bag, it comes handy when I need something.
What sorts of bags do women like to buy?

Women like bags that can match the clothes they wear and can have enough space for different things. Of course, the brand is also very important nowadays because good brand means status and taste.
When you are buying a bag, what factors do you consider?

Ill consider the material, the style, color, and price. Its not easy to make a decision because we have to consider so many factors when we choose a suitable bag. Buying a suitable bag can make us feel happy and successful.
Do you think the style of a bag is very important? (Why? /Why not?)
I think so. Different age groups would want to buy bags with different styles. For example, if an old lady carries a bag thats designed for a young woman, you would feel awkward when you see this matching. Also when wearing formal clothes, we would want to carry bags that are suitable for the style of clothing were wearing.
Do you have a bag for special occasions?

Not really. All the bags I have are rather casual. I think I should buy some fancier bags for some important occasions because bags are important for us. I think I should go to some big department stores to have a look and choose something suitable.
16. Cards
Do you ever receive letters or cards?
Yes, I usually receive cards on my birthday and during Chinese New Year. It would always make me fee warm when I receive cards because it means that people care about me. I sometimes receive letters from my friends to tell me their life, which would keep me updated.
Which do you think is better (to send or receive), a postcard or letter?

I think theyre different. Usually we receive postcards when we travel to different places. When we are traveling, we dont get much time to write letters, but postcards are simple and can show that we want our friends or family to know how we are doing. When we write letters, we can convey more information, which is very different from postcards.
17. Dancing
Do you dance? When was the last time you danced?
Yes, I dance sometimes as a way to exercise. I think it was one month ago, I joined a dancing club to learn ballet, and I really enjoy it.
Why do people like dancing?

Some people like dancing because it can help them lose weight, and it is a healthy way to strengthen the body. Some others like dancing because they love the feeling when they dance, and they feel happy.
Do you like to watch dance performances?

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400-000-5173 Yes, of course. Dance performances are very fantastic, and I can enjoy them very much. What I like best is a group called The Cloud Gate Dance, and I like their idea to express traditional spirit by modern body motions.
Have you ever learned to dance?

Yes. I have learned ballet twice, but not for professional reason, just for interest. I like the feeling very much and I feel I just want to dance while the music is flowing.
Is it important to learn how to dance?

I dont think so. If you like to dance, it is good for you to learn how to dance. But if you dont like it, why you bother to learn it? Importance depends on your own standard, not the criteria of others or the society.
How do you feel when you watch other people dance?

I always admire people who can dance well because I think dancing is the combination of music and elegant movements. Its not only beautiful but also good for our health. When I see other people dance well, I always have the desire to learn some kind of dancing.
Do people in your country like to dance?

Yes, I think the majority of people in China like to dance, especially the aged women. In most of the communities and public parks, groups of people can be seen dancing together every evening. Its a way they do exercises and enjoy life.
When do people in your culture dance?

Different people dance in different occasions. Young people dance when they go to the ballroom or when they have a party at home. Many aged people, on the contrary, join in dance groups and exercise together every day in the communities or the public parks. And when there is a big celebration, all the people participating in it may dance in happiness.
Where can we see people dancing?

We can see people dancing in the ballrooms and on TV. However, I recommend you to take a walk into the communities or the parks in the evening so that you can see a large number of people dancing together there. Some are dancing in groups while some are practicing social dancing or even international-standard ballroom dancing.
What dances are most popular in your country?

In recent days there is a popular TV program in which all kinds of dancers do their best to win the first prize. Different audiences prefer different types of dancers. But generally speaking, I think modern dancers have caught most attention.
Did you like dancing when you were a child?

Yes! I liked it much more than I do now. Dancing was taught by teachers in the kindergarten, and I learned a little by myself like many other girls as well. My parents also supported me to dance.
What do you thing about dancing for old people?

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400-000-5173 I consider dancing to be one of the best exercises for old people. It will not only improve their health condition, but also create a chance for them to meet more friends of the same age.
18. Entertainment
What do you do for entertainment?
Nothing special. I like watching movies, and reading novels during my spare time. I think its very important to have some time set aside for myself. Its a great way for me to enjoy myself and release my pressure.
What did you do for entertainment when you were a child?

When I was a child, I loved playing games with my friends. We would always play tag and seek and hide. It was a lot of fun to play with children. I think nowadays, children dont get that much time to play with friends because they have too many after school courses to take.
What do (other) people do for entertainment around where you live?

Different age groups do different things for entertainment. For example, a lot of young people like traveling nowadays, but for many middle aged people, they love exercising on the square or in the park.
What choices for entertainment are there for young people around where you live (or,
in your hometown)? Nowadays, a lot of young people love surfing on the internet. Table games are very popular, too. A lot of young people would go to such clubs to play table games. Its a good time to hung out with friends. Besides that, people also like roller skating, skiing, or hiking.
Are there any entertainment places near your school (or university)?
Not really. Nowadays, therere not of a lot of entertaining places for people except Karaoke. I usually go biking in the suburbs with my friends. Its a great way to hang out with friends and breathe the fresh air.
Have you recently been to any place for entertainment?

I dont know if it counts. I went to a place near Inner Mongolia for horse riding. I think its fun, but unfortunate I couldnt do it very often because its too far away from my hometown.
Do you think modern lifestyles give people enough time for leisure (or, entertainment)?
Nowadays, because of the internet, a lot of people feel their time is killed by the internet. Its actually not good because people feel busy all the time. They dont have enough time for reading or talking with family members.
19. Friends and family

Do you have any (or, many) close friends?
Yes, I have a few good friends. I can trust them and tell them my troubles and worries. Its always good to have someone to turn to when you have something you want to share with others. I value my friendship with them very much because friends are an important part of our life.
What qualities make them good friends?

I think good friends should be honest to each other and care about each others feelings. Its http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 20
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400-000-5173 also important for good friends to have the same topics and same values so that they can share many things in their lives.
Do you live with your family?

I dont live with my family, but I could visit them during vacations. I think its always good to live close with them. We could have dinner and spend weekend time together. Its nice to have quality time with family members because theyre the ones who love us the most.
Do your family and friends still live in your hometown?

Yes, my family and most of my friends still live in my hometown, so its very convenient for me to see them whenever I go back to my hometown. Its always nice to see so many people you know well around you.
Do you think family members should live together? (Why? /Why not?)
I think it depends. For me, I prefer to live by myself but be close to my family members. If we live together, under the same roof, therell be a lot of conflicts between us, but if we live too far away from each other, well miss each other. So its better to be close but not together.
When do you spend time with your family? What do you do together?
I usually spend the major holidays with my family members. I really enjoy the time that we do something together, such as playing pokers or going shopping. Occasionally, we would cook a family meal together.
Do you often go out with your friends?

Maybe once a week, but of course, usually with different friends. I like going shopping with friends because they could always give me good advice and help me make sensible decisions. When traveling, I also love going with a bunch of friends because we could do many fun things together.
Is your family very important to you?

Of course. No one can replace our family members in our life. We should try our best to spend some quality time with our family members and make them feel happy. I think family can help us to feel a sense of belonging and identity as well.
Do you prefer to spend time with your family or your friends?

I dont know. Sometimes I want to spend time with my friends because we have a lot of things in common and its easy for us to find interesting topics to talk about. But when Im with my family, I can feel the love from them, which make me feel comfortable.
What do you do in your free time with your friends?

I enjoy chatting, traveling, and shopping with my friends. When we do things alone, well feel lonely, but if we do something with a bunch of friends, well feel the merry atmosphere. Maybe thats why people always say the more, the merrier. I agree with that a lot. When I travel with a group of friends, I will usually laugh more and feel more enjoyable.
Are there any times when you prefer to be alone?

Yes. When Im spending too much time with others, Ill want to have some solitary time to help myself think better and enjoy some time to read or watch movie by myself. I think a balance of solitary and group life is healthy for us.
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20. Health lifestyle

What do you do to keep healthy? / how do people maintain good health ?
I do sports regularly to maintain good health. Every evening I go jogging after dinner, and I play badminton 3 times a week. When the weather is hot I swim and do yoga in the gym. People do sports to keep healthy. Children run and jump ropes on the playground. Young people play basketball and football. Old people join in group dancing and go climbing mountains. Doing sports build up our body and make us cheered up.
What would you say is a healthy lifestyle?

I think a healthy lifestyle includes a proper diet, regular exercises and adequate sleep. In recent years people are paying more and more attention to living a healthy life. And there are often pages of instructions on it in the newspapers.
Is there any soprt ( or activity that promotes good health) that you would like to try in
the future? In fact, I think I am doing enough sports now and I will keep doing them. Maybe what I need to do is to sleep earlier at night. You know, a lot of young people, including me, often stay up late at night, and I know its bad for health. So I would like to try to go to bed before 11 oclock.
21. Public transport

What form of transport do you usually use (to get around your city?
I often take buses rather than drive my car, especially in rush hours. The traffic in Hangzhou is always busy, but on most roads there are Bus Lanes, so buses sometimes move faster than private cars. If the distance is long, I take public bikes.
How often do you use public transportation?

The place I do my part-time job is about 5 kilometers away from campus, so I take a bus to commute back and forth every other day. At weekends, I sometimes rent a public bike, riding around the West Lake.
What form of public transport do you prefer to ( or , most often) use? why?
I like public bikes, for they are available near every community or big bus stop. There is no need to wait when renting it and no payment if it is returned within one hour. Whats more, riding a bike helps me to relax and exercise.
What do you like to do while you are traveling?

I take picture of the views outside the train window, write diaries of interesting things I see, talk to different people, and send post cards to my friends. I like to take my time wandering around.
What do you usually take with you when you are traveling?
Beside daily necessities, I take a camera, a notebook and a guidebook. In most cases I am a free walker, because I view travelling as a chance to see different things. So I use them to lead me around and help me record things encountered.
Is the transportation very crowded in your city?

Yes, there is a possible of traffic jam at any time on any road, especially in the rush hours. Cars, buses, motorbikes and electric bikes sometimes are on the same lane, trying to run http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 22
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400-000-5173 faster than the others.
Do you ever have problems with noise when you are traveling?
Yes. The biggest noise problem in my travelling experience has been the snoring on the train. I dont understand why some people can snore so loudly throughout the whole night! But I have met it several times, and I just could not sleep a single minute.
Do you think government could do anything to improve the public transport system in
your area? To be honest, I think Hangzhou has already set up a relatively complete public transport system, including the public bikes, buses and subways. Maybe more bus routes should be put into use, connecting newly developed areas to the downtown area.
22. School
Did your parents choose a secondary school for you?
Not really, I had to take a high school entrance test and the schools would admit us according to our scores. Because my score was good, I went to the best high school in my city. If the students couldnt get a good score, they wouldnt be able to go to good high schools. Which school did you like the most? Will you send your children to that school? I liked my middle school most, but I probably wont send my children to that kind of school. I prefer private schools because the teachers are better and they can take care of the students more. Plus, most private schools have small classes, which are good for the students to receive enough attention from the school and teachers. How did you go to school everyday? When I was a child, I lived very close to my school, so everyday I could just walk to school. I think its nice because I didnt need to get up too early to catch a bus or wait for my parents to send me to school. Actually, some of my classmates had to travel for a long time to go to school, so I always felt I was blessed.
What was the first school you attended?

The first school I attended was a kindergarten near my mothers working place. Every day she took me there on her way to work. I loved it very much, for the teachers were motherly. And there were slides and swings on the playground.
Where was it ?
It was on Xinhua Road, Downtown District in Hangzhou. And it was in a 5 minutes walk distance from my mothers working place,
Was it far from you home?

Not that far. It took about 10 minutes to arrive there by bike. But since it was nearer to my mothers working place, she took me there on her way to work and fetched me in the afternoon every day.
Would you say it was a good school?

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400-000-5173 Definitely. I spent the happy childhood there, playing with little friends and being taken good care of. The school provided best facilities and management.
23. Seasons & Weather

What's the weather (usually) like in your hometown?
The weather in my hometown is not so good. Spring and autumn is very comfortable, because it is neither cold nor hot. The weather in winter is very cold, and summer is scorching; I can hardly put up with it.
Whats your favorite weather?

My favorite weather is sunny days. If it is raining heavily, I can hardly go out to do sports or play with my friends, so I like sunny days better. But sometimes a little rain will also make me feel romantic.
What's your favorite season? (Why?)

I like spring the best, because the weather in spring is neither too cold nor too hot. I can do outdoor activities. Also, spring is the season everything becomes alive, it gives me a feeling of hope.
What do you usually (like to) do during your favorite weather (or season)?
I like to do outdoor activities, such as playing basketball or hiking with my friends when the weather is good. Besides, travelling is also another choice when there is a long holiday.
Is there any season you dislike? (Why?)

I dont like summer very much. Summer here is very scorching, I can hardly put up with it. I feel I am burnt up in the sun, and I cannot concentrate to what I do when there is no air conditioner.
In what weather do you like to go out with your parents?

I should say I like to go out with them in any weather as long as they suggest to. Because both my parents are busy doing their jobs and they seldom have free time to take me out. I enjoy every moment spending together with them.
24. House and apartment

Do you live in a house or an apartment?
I live in an apartment in downtown area, near the Zhejiang Library. Beside a living room, a washroom and a kitchen, there is just one bedroom with a small balcony in this apartment. Its not big, but its my cozy home.
How do you like it? and why?

What part of your home do you like best? I love it very much. Being on the 4th floor, there is always plenty of sunshine in the rooms. So one of the best entertainments in my spare time is to sit in a chair by the window and have a book in my hand.
Can you describe your room?

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400-000-5173 Yes. The room is right beside the washroom, and opposite to the living room. It is of medium size. There are French windows and I put a comfortable chair by them. My bed is laid in the middle of the room, with the computer desk beside it.
Do you want to change your room?

No, I love my room. I dont want to change it.
What ould it be if you could change something about your room?

En, I think I would paint one of the walls to be light green. Sometimes its so comfortable staying in the room that I dont want to study any more. Maybe I would become more concentrated when faced with a green wall. And the color would do good to my eyesight.
Where do you live now? And how long have you been there?
I live in a small apartment on Shuguang Road, near the Zhejiang Library. Ive been staying there for 2 years after my graduation from university. Im now living in the school dormitory. Its just on campus, not far from the study area. I have been staying there for 3 years, because, you see, Im a junior.
Who do you live with?

I live alone. My parents bought the apartment for me because I work here, and they are both staying at the hometown. Sometimes one or two friends may come by and stay overnight, talking about everything, but in most cases I live by myself.
25. Housework
Do people do a lot of housework in your country? Do Chinese people like spending
time doing housework? Like people in other countries, we have so much work to do once we have a house. But more and more people are now buying hourly housekeeping services to deal with their housework. In my opinion, nobody really likes doing housework. Its kind of responsibility rather than fun.
Did you do a lot of housework when you were a child?

I began to wash my own socks and underwear every day since about 3 or 4 years old. My parents told me kids should do our own things. Sometimes I helped to sweep the floor or to wipe the dinner table, too. But I dont think that was too much.
Is it important for a child to do housework?

I think so. Doing housework will make the child know his parents hardwork. It will also help the child become independent. Those who dont help do housework when they are young will have problems looking after themselves once grown up.
What kind of housework do you do in China?

Im a big boy/ girl now, so I do whatever needed. When I stay on campus, I wash clothes, brush shoes, tidy up the bed and desk, and clean the dormitory. Once I go back home on holidays, I even help change the bulbs.
What different kinds of housework do man and women do?

Well, men usually undertake manual jobs, such as moving the furniture and repairing the bike. While women tend to do jobs requiring patience and skills, like ironing the clothes and looking after babies.
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26. Boat
Do you like boating?
Well, I like to go boating in the early summer. But I am not really good at it, so I prefer sitting in a boat when someone else is rowing.
Why do you like it?

Its relaxing and comfortable when sitting in a boat, isnt it? Especially when the weather is warm, there will be soft cool breeze caressing my cheeks and water birds flying over. Its one of the best entertainments.
What have you ever done by boat?

I have been to the 3 small islands in the West Lake by boat. Its more interesting than to sit in an electric boat or a big ship. And another time I went boating in the sea, finding it exhausting to row against the waves.
Do Chinese people usually travel by boat?

No, we seldom take boats as our transportation when travelling, unless we go to visit the lakes or rivers. And boats move slowly, so planes or trains are better choices if we are going to places far away.
27. Newspaper and Magazines /News

What (kinds of) newspapers do you have in your country?
In China, there are many kinds of newspapers, such as the daily and evening newspaper. There are also newspapers divided by entertainment, news, living, and so on.
What kinds of (types of) newspapers do you usually read?

I usually read City Express. City Express is a very popular newspaper in my hometown, and nearly every family has this newspaper. This newspaper contains a lot of information, and it is very interesting.
Why do people read newspapers?

I think it is because they want to know things happening around the world, and it is a way to get that useful information. Also, it is very convenient to read newspapers when you commute to work or school.
Which do you prefer reading, magazines or newsprint?

I prefer reading newsprints. Because a magazine is usually of a specialized topic, containing relative reports and advertisements, but I need to get information from the timely reports and comments of various themes in newspapers, especially the news home and abroad.
How old were you when you first started to read newspapers?
Im afraid I cannot recall the exact age. Reading newspapers being a family routine at my home, I think my parents helped me to read newspapers not long after I entered the primary school. We read newspapers together and discussed about the news every day after supper.
Do you think its important to read newspapers? why?

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400-000-5173 Yes, I think it is very important to read newspapers every day to get well-informed of the events happening around us. It makes us keep pace with the times.
What different types of newspaper are there in china?

There is a variety of newspapers in China, such as official newspapers, local newspapers and specialized newspapers. Peoples Daily is the most famous nationwide official newspaper. Qianjiang Evening News and City Express represent local papers in Hangzhou. Specialized ones like Sports Weekly are welcome by certain groups of people.
Do you care about the new? / Is the news important to you?

Yes. I read newspapers every day, and I surf the Internet and use the cellphone to scan various news as well. I think it has already become a part of my life to get to know the current information.
What kinds of news do Chinese people read in newspapers

For young people, they look for news on sports, the entertainment circle and travelling when they are browsing the newspapers. But old people care more about the social news and the Health page.
Do you prefer to read about domestic (or local) news of international news?
I prefer to read about local news to international news, because they are closer to my daily life, and sometimes provide useful information of sales and services.
What are some methods that newspapers use to attract readers?

Newspapers may put the titles of the most striking news that day on the front page in especially big blackface letters to attract readers. Some newspapers have their special columns, appealing to certain groups of people.
What influence do you think newspaper have on society?

I think they have influence on society in every scope. The public opinion is leaded by the information and comments in the newspapers. Even our entertainments and consumptions are following the guidance of them.
Do you think the internet is a good way to get news?

Yes. The internet spread news much faster than the newspapers and TV and there are usually more complete and various news. However, some false news also spread far and wide on the net, being hard to be distinguished.
28. Parks/garden
Are there many parks or public gardens where you live (or, in your hometown)?
Therere a variety of parks in my hometown, some of them are really small and some are super big. Parks provide resting places for the citizens and some very beautiful ones can also serve as tourist spots where a lot of tourists could appreciate the manmade beauty. What do you (like to) do when you go to a park or public garden? http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 27
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400-000-5173 I would sometimes use the fitness facilities to exercise. I think its really good for the government set the free equipment for us to work out. During spring time, I also like appreciating the beautiful flowers and taking photos. If I can get up early, its always nice to do morning exercise in the park. What do other people do in these places? People can do many things. A lot of morning people would go to the park to do morning exercise, such as dancing, taiji, or joggling. Therere some fitness facilities which could provide people with some alternative ways to exercise. For parks with lakes or rivers, people could also go fishing and sometimes they can catch very big fish. During the day, some old people or housewives would go to the park to chat or play some chess games. Do you think parks and public gardens are important to a city? (Why?/Why not?) I think parks are very important for city life because therere not enough green areas in cities. Sometimes parks are the only places where people could feel close to the nature. I think the government should build more parks in the city in the future.
Do you often(or, ever) go to a park or a (public) garden ?

Yes. I often go to the public gardens near my community to use the fitness facilities to exercise. If the weather is fine, I sometimes go to big parks to enjoy the views and to breathe fresh air.
How often do you go there?

Well, as for the gardens nearby, I go there once every day in the morning as long as the weather is good. Only if I have a whole days free time will I go to big parks near the West Lake.
When do other people go there)?

Mostly the same as me. Perhaps some people make use of the community gardens and fitness facilities more often than me. They may go to exercise there both in the morning and in the evening. But the big parks are visited most frequently at the weekends or holidays.
29. Plan and goals

Please summarize your plans for the future?
I am planning to further my education in UK as soon as I graduate, for I want to be a businessman in the future.
When do you plan to start that?

Well, I will graduate one year later, so I am going to UK then if the IELTS score is good. But before I begin to do my own business, I will spend several years doing internships in some business companies to accumulate experience.
How do you intend to achieve that?

I intend to get a good score in IELTS so that I can apply for good business schools/ good universities in UK. There I can learn necessary knowledge on \business.
When you do abroad, do you plan to live in the countryside or a big city? why?
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400-000-5173 I will live in a city. There are more convenient services in the city, like libraries, hospitals and shopping centers. And, though living in the countryside is relaxing, it may provide fewer chances to broaden my eyes.
Do you plan to spend many years overseas?

No, I just intend to stay there for a few years. Firstly it will take me at least one year to get the masters degree. After my graduation, if its possible for me to get an internship there, I may stay for a couple of years longer. But I will come back as soon as possible.
After you go abroad, do you plan to join any clubs?

Of course. I do sports regularly and I am a member of the school basketball team. So I think I will join the sports clubs in the university I am staying in.
30. Sleep
How many hours are you asleep for every day?
Ha, I need a lot of sleep. On holidays I can fall asleep as soon as I go to bed at 11 oclock at night, and then wake up at 11 in the second morning! But on weekdays I usually sleep 7 to 8 hours every day.
Is it necessary to take a nap every day?

No, there is usually no time for me to take naps on weekdays. And I think Ive got enough sleep at night. For old people, a nap may do good to their health.
Do old people sleep a lot? why?

Not really. Old people seem to need less sleep than young people. Most of them go to bed early and get up even earlier, sleeping only 5 to 6 hours every night. Maybe thats because of the reduction of their hormone.
31. Writing
Do you often write things?
Yes, I write diaries every other day. When theres something important or interesting, or when I am travelling, I make notes from time to time.
Do you write every day?

Not really. I usually write a diary every two days. I think it preserves the memory while saves my time as well.
What do you usually write?

I write down the things happened during the daytime, like interesting affairs encountered, a new friend I made, funny stories I saw, or an old acquaintance I came across on the road.
Do you like writing to people?

Yes I like writing to my friends staying in other countries, because calling them is too expensive and there is time difference.
How of the do you send e-mails?

I check my e-mail box and send e-mails almost every day. You know, some of my best friends are studying or working in other countries, so e-mail is the most convenient way we contact each other.
Do you like to send e-mails?

Yes. E-mails are the most convenient way to contact my friends abroad and to inform about http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 29
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400-000-5173 conferences or business details, so I like using them. They travel fast and are not likely to be lost.
Do you usually write by hand or write by a computer?

In recent years I write by a computer more than by hand. Typing is faster than hand-writing, and sending e-mails saves more time than going to a post office.
Nowadays, how do most people write things?

I think most young people are used to writing by computers or by cellphones just like me. But the elderly may still write by hand when needed.
Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting?

I doubt it. It is very likely that computers will be applied in most occasions, like business letters, essays and invitations. But in some intimate or important circumstances, handwriting will never be replaced.
When do children begin to write in your country?

Most children began to learn the Chinese characters one year before they attend the primary school. But they cant really write them until they are grade one.
How did you learn to write?

At first I read a number of well-written articles of other people, and tried to imitate their word application and writing style. Then I started to learn the writing techniques. Much practice was carried on after that and I began to write my own things.
Do you think handwriting is very important?

Yes, I think handwriting the basis of writing by computer. One cannot write well on computers if he is unable to write by hand. Well, I think a persons handwriting implies his character and education. When I see neat and legible handwriting, I tend to guess that the writer may not mess up in his work.
How can children today improve their handwriting?

I suggest they catch any possible chance to write by hand rather than by computer. Chinese children can also practice calligraphy. It helped a lot in my improving my handwriting.
What impression does a persons handwriting have on other people?

Well, people may judge a persons character and education by his handwriting. For example, if I see a person write neatly and legibly, I tend to guess that he may not mess up in his work.
32. Building
What kinds of buildings are popular in china now?
In recent years many tall buildings have been set up in China. Most of them are over 10 stories and some have glass walls outside.
Compare old buildings and modern buildings .which do people prefer to live in?
More and more people choose to live in newly built high-rises, because modern facilities like elevators make it unnecessary to mount stairs. However people like me still prefer old buildings and walking a little.
How do people in china feel about old buildings?

Old building is a part of sweet memory to every Chinese, if he is no longer living there now. Living in old buildings is a life style with smaller rooms but more communication with http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 30
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400-000-5173 neighbors and more exercise.
Do old people and young people in china hve the same attitudes towards old buildings?
No. I think old people cherish the memory of old buildings more than the young, because most of them spend their best time there. Most young people below 20 may have never had the chance to be living in old buildings. So they are not affectionate to them at all.
Is it important to preserve old buildings? Why?

Yes I strongly agree to the importance of preserving them. Old buildings represent the history of the city. And they carry the memory of generations. A city with no old buildings is a tree without its root.
Do you think its worth the money to preserve old buildings?

Of course. A city with no old buildings is a tree with no root. New buildings make cities look alike. While old ones can help preserve the history, the tradition and peoples memory of life.
How have buildings changed in the past few years?

Buildings are becoming taller and with more modern facilities. We can find that residential buildings are now equipped with videophones, elevators and floor heating. In the past, people would be satisfied with simple multi-story residence
33. Countryside
Have you ever lived in countryside for a long time?
No. Growing up in the city, I have never lived in the countryside for long. Sometimes in the summer holiday our family go to the summer resorts in the countryside, but we stay there for no more than one month.
What are advantages and disadvantages of living in the countryside?

Life is simpler in the countryside. There is less working pressure or social pressure. And the fresh air there does good to health. However once people fall ill, the medical treatment in the countryside is neither good nor convenient.
Compare the availability of services such as education, health services and

transportation in cities and countryside? Well, schools and hospitals are set up near every community in the cities. A variety of public transportations are for us to choose when we are going out, letting alone our private cars. However, there are much less such services and facilities in the countryside. Children have to walk a long way to school and patients can only find small clinics in some areas.
What are some of the differences between city people and country people?
Generally speaking, city people are better educated, because they are provided more and better choices in education from the very beginning. Country people mostly lead a simple life, for they are not faced with too much information or social pressure. Thus they are more hospitable and unadorned. They differ in family background, education, horizon, living style and attitude towards life.
Which place is more beautiful than the countryside?

It depends on personal interest. According to me, scenery by the sea appeals to me more than the countryside. http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 31
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Which do you think is the more relaxing place to live, the city or the countryside?
Its more relaxing to be living in the countryside, because I find nothing to do there except playing cards and climbing mountains. So I think cities are more suitable for me.
1. Books & Reading

Do you like reading (books)? (Why? / Why not?)
Yes, I like reading books very much. I cry when the heroes cry,and I laugh when they laugh. Its just like another special experience. I like reading because it brings me happiness.
What books did you like when you were a child? What about now?
When I was a child, I liked classical Chinese poems and novels very much. Also, I liked foreign literature such as Jane Austin, Kafka, and Kawabata Yasunari. Now, I also have the same interest as childhood, and I have developed an interest in contemporary Chinese literature, such as the novel of Yuhua, Wang Anyi, and Zhu Tianwen.
What (kinds of ) books do you like to read?

I like all kinds of books as long as I have an interest, and no matter what genres they are, I may fall in love with these books. For example, I not only like novels written by Virginia Woolf, but also poems written by Emily Dickenson.
For children, what do you think are the benefits of reading?

I think it cannot only broaden their sight but can also bring them happiness. Reading is a way to enrich your mind and heart, but not for the appearance. When children grow up, they will understand the inner part is always important than the appearance, because what inside you decides what you are, and the people around you.
Would you like to write a book?

Yes, I would like to if I have a chance. Actually I began to write novels since middle school, and it is already more than 10 years. I like writing very much, because it is like creating a new world as you imagine.
Do you like receiving a book as a gift?

Of course. My supervisor has sent me his own book with signature as a gift to me, and I cherish it very much. I think it is meaningful when people send you their own books, especially the teachers.
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2. Painting & Drawing

Do you like drawing / painting? (Why / Why not?)
Yes. Recently I fell in love with drawing. I feel the world becomes very quiet when I am drawing. I can sit there for an afternoon just sketching or painting. When it is finished, I feel a sense of accomplishment.
What do you think are the benefits of painting (or drawing; or art) for children?
Yes, I do think there are benefits of leaning art for children. If they learn some knowledge of art, they will have a different view towards the world, and they may have sharp eyes to find the beauty in their daily life.
Do you think painting (or drawing) is important for adults?

Yes, I do. Adults can draw or paint what they like in their spare time. It is a hobby that wont disturb others, and you can enjoy it very much if you can explore it deeply.
Do you still draw those pictures that you did in your childhood?
Not really. I dont draw the sun, flowers, and trees as I did in my childhood. Now I draw those elements in a different way, in a more abstract way.
Should children learn paintings or drawings?

There is no such should actually. If they like painting or drawing, then they certainly can learn what they love. If not, why should they learn it? Why not enjoy playing with classmates? We cannot learn something only because it is beneficial.
3. The Ocean
Have you ever been to the seaside? How do you feel about the ocean?
Yes, I have been to the seaside many times. I like it very much, and I think when I stand in front of the ocean, I feel all my worries are blown away by the wind and the vast blue ocean.
What do people in China do when they go to the beach?

Most of them will just walk along the seaside and enjoy the scenery. Some others may play with the water, or swim in the ocean. Chinese people are afraid of sunburn, so it is hard to see people have a sunbath on the beach.
Would you like to live in a house near the ocean?

Oh, yes, if possible. I think people live near the ocean will not get irritated easily because the air is very fresh, the scenery is beautiful. With such a vast blue ocean, it is hard for you not to enjoy it.
What kind of people like to go to the seaside?

I think many people like to go to the seaside, no matter the young or the old. It is very exciting to view the scenery near the ocean, to be close to the nature, and to write words on the beach. http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 33
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4.
Colors
My favorite color is white and black, because I feel they are very simple, and I like simple things very much. Also, black and white are very easy to match in terms of clothes.
What's your favorite color? (Why?)
Do you usually (or, always) wear clothes in your favorite color?

Yes, actually today I wear a white shirt, and my cardigan is in black. From what I wear, you will understand that I usually wear clothes in my favorite color, but sometimes I will also wear clothes in bright colors.
Are there any colors that have a special meaning in your country?
I think it is red. Everyone views red as a lucky color that will bring blessing to people. And thats why you can always see red couplets on peoples doors. My family and our neighbors also have such read couplets during the spring festival.
What color would you choose to paint the walls of your room?
I will paint it white. Although some other colors may be vivid, but in a long term, it will be easily make people feel bored; simple white may not excite you, but it also will not bore you.
What kind of color do you dislike?

In fact, I dont have any colors that I dislike. If I must pick one, I think it is yellow. I dont like yellow very much, because its too bright in my eyes, it confuses me sometimes.
What color did you like in your childhood?

I dont know, maybe green. When I was a child, I like those vivid colors such as green and red that bring me a sense of hope. I actually had a lot of clothes in green when I was a child.
What colors do Chinese people dislike?

Maybe white and black in some cases. If you go to a funeral, you can only wear white or black clothes. So in some situations, black and white is the representation for bad luck.
Is color important when you buy things?

Definitely. When I buy something, I would always try to select the ones in my favorite color, which is green. But when I buy clothes, Ill consider if theyre easy to match, so Ill choose some simple colors. So I think colors are very important for shopping selection.
What color do you dislike in your apartment?

I think I like most colors, but I think I dont like black, which will make me feel depressed. I prefer some bright and warm colors, like red, yellow, and green. These colors can make me feel energetic and cozy.
Do you like light or dark color more?
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400-000-5173 I prefer light colors, especially for clothes because they can make me feel refreshed and clean. However, dark colors are better for winter because they can absorb more sun light and make you feel warm.
5. Food &Cooking
What food did you like to eat when you were a child?
I like to eat fast food such as KFC very much when I was a child. Although the media says fast food is not good for our health, as a child, I didnt care much about those things. As far as the food is delicious, I like to eat the food.
Do you think it's good to (often or sometimes) take children to restaurants?

Yes, I think it is good to take children to restaurants sometimes. My parents would take me to restaurants since I was very a child, and I learned the table manners when eating outside.
Do you think it is important to cook at home? Why?

Of course. Therere at least three advantages for cooking at home. First, you can eat many delicious foods at a reasonable price. Second, food cooked at home is much safer than that in restaurants. Finally, it is very good to enjoy dishes together with family members.
What is the feature of the home-made food?

The most important feature of home-made food is that food cooked at home is much safer than that in restaurants. And home-made food contains our love for family members, and this is hard to compare with foods made in restaurants by chefs.
What kind of food is popular in your country?

China has a vast territory, so the popular food varies from place to place. Generally, there is some food that is very popular such as dumplings. According to places, the filling for dumplings is a bit different, but most people like to eat dumplings very much. At the Spring Festival, many families will also make dumplings themselves and share with friends and relatives.
Do people in different places like different kinds of food?

Its natural that people in different places like different kinds of food. They grow up in different climate and environment. For example, people in Sichuan and Hunan province all like spicy foods, but there is a bit difference even between the two. People from the southeast tend to prefer sweet food.
Who usually does the cooking in your family (or, in your home)?
My mom usually does the cooking at home. My father cant cook, so my mom takes the job to cook for the family. Sometimes I will also do some cooking if I want to try new dishes.
Did you learn how to cook when you were younger (or, when you were a child)?
No, actually I didnt learn how to cook when I was a child. After I grew up, I gradually learned how to cook, and I find I like it very much. Cooking is a very interesting thing. http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 35
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In the future, do you think you will be cooking more than you do now, or less? (Why?)
Of course. Now I am a student, so I just cook for myself if Im away from home. If I get married, I need to cook for my family members. Also, I need to make bento for my children, so I will be cooking more than I do now.
What kind of food do you think is healthy?

I think there is a lot of healthy food and how you cook it is the most important. Usually deep fried food or food that contains too much sugar or salt is considered bad for our health. We should eat a balanced diet and try to cook the food in a healthy way.
Do you think Chinese peoples diet is healthy?

Yes, a lot of Chinese people pay attention to the food we eat, and many of us like eating soup or vegetables. I think thats pretty healthy. But I have to admit that nowadays because of the fast pace of living, many people have to choose fast food for lunch, which is usually not healthy.
Will you change your diet habit?

Yes, Id like to make some changes. I actually eat too much junk food, which really makes me fat and unhealthy. In the future, I think I should learn how to cook by myself so that I could make healthy and delicious food at home. Also, I dont eat enough vegetables, so, in the future, I should try to have vegetables for every meal.
Do you like tasting new food?

Yes, whenever Im in a new place, I would always try my best to find the famous local food and have a taste. I think food cannot only satisfy my stomach but also can help us understand the local culture. However, sometimes, its not easy to get used to the new food for the first we try it.
Do you like lunch or dinner?

Probably dinner, because I usually have some fast food for lunch, which is not nutritious and doesnt always have a good taste. But our family usually can prepare the dinner together and well have several dishes and a soup for the meal. I love it not only because of the variety we could have, but also because of the family time we spend.
6. Sport /Exercise/Workout
What sports do you like? (Why?) What kind of outdoor activity do you often do?
I like swimming very much, because I think its a healthy way to exercise. Also, it may greatly help me lose weight. I dont take part in outdoor activities very often, but sometimes I will go hiking and cycling with my friends.
What sports do Chinese people like?
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400-000-5173 I think Chinese people like to play Ping-pong and badminton in their spare time, because unlike basketball, ping-pong and badminton are not very intense sports. So it is suitable for both the young and old.
What are the differences between boys' sports and girls' sports?
Most of the boys like intense sports such as basketball and football, while girls may like sports such as yoga, badminton, or simply walking. I think boys sports are much fiercer than girls sports.
Did you like (to play) sport when you were a child?
Yes, I did. Actually I was a very naughty girl when I was a child. For example, I played basketball with my cousin, and I sometimes even won the games. But now I dont play sports like that.
If you have children in the future, will you let them take part in any sport?
Of course I will. I think it is important for a child to take part in sports, especially for boys. It will not only help them become healthier, but also improve their cooperation skills.
Whats the amount of exercise that modern people do?

I think in modern society, the life pace is becoming faster and faster. People hardly have any time to do exercise, so there is little time left for exercise. But some people will go to the gym to exercise once a week.
What sports do old people like in your country?

I think old people in China like hiking very much. For example, my 80-year-old grandpa will go hiking every morning with his friends, so I think hiking is a very popular outdoor activity among the old.
Do you exercise regularly?

I try my best to exercise more, but not regular enough. I would sometimes go jogging in the evening because its really hard to get up early in the morning. Occasionally, I go to the nearby indoor swimming pool to swim. I think swimming is a good way to exercise almost every muscle in my body.
Do you think daily exercise is good for people?

Definitely. If we dont do enough exercise, even young people can feel sick and tired all the time. Exercise can help us stay fit, and its also a good way to release the pressure from work and studies. I think we should exercise regularly.
What can exercise bring to different age groups?

For children, if they exercise enough, they will grow strong and tall. For young adults, exercise is a good way to stretch the body after sitting in front of the computer for several hours and it can also make people feel relaxed. If old people exercise often, they can stay healthy and live a long life.
What outdoor activities do you like?
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400-000-5173 I like many different outdoor activities. I would go jogging in the evening if I dont have the companion. If I could find enough people, I love group sports, such as basketball, volleyball, and football. Its also enjoyable to play badminton or pingpong with one partner.
Were you active when you were a child?

I would say I was very active when I was a child. I had never felt tired of playing. I was very energetic and spent most of my after school time on playing outdoor activities. I think tag, hide-and-seek, and rope jumping were very popular at that, so I would play them all the time.
What outdoor activities do people in your city like?

Therere a lot of. Some people love cycling with a group of people and they would job a biking club. Some people love going to the gym to play badminton, tennis, or pingpong. Also, some others love go swimming. I think different people have different ways to exercise.
Would you say youre an active person?

I think I was an active child, but I changed when I reached puberty. Now I stay a lot of time at home in front of the computer. I think its not good because too much indoor activities can make our bodies less healthy. I should work out more in the future and try to do sports regularly.
Which sport is good for people of all ages?

I think a lot of sports are good for people of all ages, such as badminton, pingpong, and tennis. These sports are mild and we dont need to worry about getting injured. Of course, some extreme sports are not suitable for young children or old people. For example, we definitely dont want our children or grandparents to climb a high mountain or do bungee.
Which sport do you want to try in the future?

I have never tried ice hockey and I heard its a very interesting sport. I think if I have the opportunity I would like to learn how to play it. Itll be fun to play something very different from the sports you do all the time.
7. Shopping /Clothes /Fashion

Where do you usually do your shopping? Where do you buy your clothes?
I will buy daily necessities through online stores, but when it comes to clothes, I will certainly go to the shopping mall, because although online shopping is very convenient, in terms of clothes, we dont know the size and color, so we wont know if it is suitable for us by simply seeing the picture online.
Do you enjoy shopping in big shopping malls (big shopping centers)?

Yes, I do. I like to go shopping in big shopping malls very much. First, the environment there is better than the small street shops. Second, the service there is also very good. Finally, I think it is much more fun to shop at big shopping center than online shopping.
How often do you buy clothes? What styles of clothes do you like to buy?
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400-000-5173 Once or twice a month. I buy clothes I really like, no matter which kind of style. As long as it is the suitable style for me, I will decide to buy the clothes. Clothes dont wear us; we wear clothes.
Why some people dont like shopping?

I dont know. Maybe it is because they feel it is very troublesome to shop. They have enough clothes, or they dont care about their appearance, so they are not shopaholics.
What do you feel about the trend of the fashion?

The trend of the fashion is changing all the time, sometimes vintage is the fashion, while sometimes Korean style becomes the fashion. It is really hard to understand the trend of the fashion.
Have you ever bought clothes that you (now) don't like?
Of course. I sometimes bought clothes that I dont wear now. Maybe at that time, I liked the clothes very much, but as the time went by, I have turned my interest to another style, so the clothes gradually became the one that I dont like.
Do you think you will like wear a different style of clothes when you are older?
Maybe. Who knows? I am changing all the time about the style of clothes, and of course I think I may change to a different style when I become older.
What types of clothes are in fashion now?

Probably Japanese style. I was an exchange student in Japan, and my style has been influenced by the fashion there, and when I came back, many friends and relatives say my style makes me look like a Japanese.
Do you think fashion trends will be the same when you are old(er)?
Of course not. There is nothing that stays the same all the time; everything will change, and fashion will also change quickly from one style to another style. So I think when I am older, the style may be different from that of now.
Are you very interested in fashion and clothes?

Yes, I love fashion because I think fashion can make our life more enjoyable. For young people, we should care about how we look. Of course, its also not right to follow fashion blindly. I would buy new clothes every year in order to be up-to-date.
Do you like to wear fashionable clothes? Do you wear designer clothes?

Yes, I do. I think fashionable clothes can make me feel more confident. Of course, Ill try my best to wear something different from others because I want to be unique. When people are all wearing the similar style clothes, it wont be too good so we should also care about the individuality in clothes selection.
Do you have a lot of nice clothes?
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400-000-5173 I dont have a lot, but some. Most of my clothes were carefully selected. When I buy a piece of clothing, I would usually wear it for a long time so I care about the brand and quality. I think bad quality clothes can make us look cheap and destroy our taste.
Is there anything that you used to wear in the past that you don't wear now?
When I was a child, I liked wearing clothes with cute cartoon characters or animals. But now Im a grown-up, so I wouldnt wear something that childish. I guess its the biggest change for me.
How often do you go shopping for clothes?

I dont go shopping very often, about once every other month. I only go shopping when I really need to add some pieces to my closet and Im pretty efficient because I know exactly what I want. I could finish my shopping in one or two hours and buy a lot of stuff.
8. Numbers
In your country, do any numbers have special meaning?
Yes, of course. For example, 8 has the similar pronunciation of fa, which means a lot of money, so many people favour 8, and thats why you can see many license plates consist of 8.
What's your favorite number? Do you have any special (lucky) numbers in your
memory/life? I think its 8, but not because its common meaning of a lot of money, but because of my birthday. I was born on Jan. 8th, and thats why I like 8 very much. I consider it a lucky number for me.
Are there any numbers or dates that you think are (especially) important to
remember? Yes. I remember the number of my parents mobile phones, and of course I remember my own phone number. As for dates, I think it is important to remember the birthdays of your beloved ones, such as the birthdays of parents, siblings, and spouses.
Which do you think are easier to remember, names or numbers?

I think names are easier to remember, because they are consisting of Chinese characters, and many names have special meanings. If you remember the special meanings, you can remember the names. Numbers dont have logical relationship with each other, so it must be hard to remember the numbers.
How do you remember long numbers?

I dont know. If I must remember long numbers, I will repeat it several times in my mind. And if I use it for a few times, I will certainly remember it clearly no matter how long the numbers are.
Whats the relationship of your major and numbers?

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400-000-5173 I dont know if there is any direct relationship of my major and numbers. Since my major is one of the fields in humanity, so it is hardly related to numbers directly, but sometimes maybe the historical dates may have some meaning to us because numbers may give you an impression of history as a whole.
What is the most important number to you? Is there any special meaning?
I think its 8, because I was born in Jan. 8th, and thats why I like 8 very much. I consider it a lucky number for me. Also, 8 has the similar pronunciation of fa, which means a lot of money, so many people have a favor towards 8.
Are you good at remembering numbers? Are there any ways to help us remember
numbers? Yes, I am good at remembering numbers, and I dont know why. I am just good at math, and it is hard for me to forget the numbers. When I see it once, I can remember it clearly and fully. If it is a long number, maybe you can think about the pronunciation of numbers, and use some association to remember it. Also, if you keep using one number, you can remember it easily.
Are there any good or bad numbers in your culture?

Yes. In my culture, 8 and 6 are good numbers, while 4 is not such a good number. 8 has the similar pronunciation of fa, which means a lot of money; 6 means something is going smoothly; so many people favor 8. 4 has the similar pronunciation of die in Chinese, and thats why people dislike this number.
9. Gifts
When was the last time you received a gift?
Actually it is today. My best friend came home from Taiwan, and she bought me some delicious snacks from Taiwan, so today was the last time I received a gift, and I love the taste very much.
Do you prefer receiving a gift or giving a gift?

I prefer receiving a gift. For giving a gift, I need to consider the interest of that person, and sometimes it may not be accurate, so it is very hard to send gifts. But for receiving a gift, you can decide if you like it or not.
Do you think it's difficult to choose what gift to give to people?

Of course it is very different to choose gifts for people. Everyone is different. I need to consider the interest of that person, and sometimes it may not be accurate, so it is very hard to send gifts.
What were the gifts you sent to others recently?
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400-000-5173 I sent to my friends some cosmetics such as the eye shadow makeup or the daycare cream. Besides, I also sent one of my friends a blue bag that is very cute, and she liked it very much.
Do you like giving gifts to your friends?

Yes, of course. I always bring some gifts to my friends if I travel. If they like my gifts very much, I will also feel very happy. So I like to choose gifts for them. Also, gifts can express my love to my friends or family members.
10. Parties
Do you like parties?
Yes, I like parties. Although I am not a party addict, I will join the Halloween party, Christmas party, or movie party in my friends house. It is a good time to chat with friends.
Where do people in your country hold parties?

At home most, I think. Sometimes people will also have birthday parties outside in a restaurant. And nowadays, parties such as Christmas party are more and more popular, which are often held at a big hall.
Do you prefer parties with friends or with family?

I like both, because it is very different to have parties with friends and family. With friends, I feel you can play more; with family, the party looks more like a family reunion than crazy activities.
Is there much difference between young people's parties and old(er) people's parties?
Yes, I think there are some differences between young peoples parties and older peoples parties. The most important aspect is that at older peoples parties, they may chat more than dancing, but young people may prefer to do much more crazy activities such as dancing.
11. Collecting
Do you like collecting things? What do you collect? Did you collect anything (such as
stamps or CD's) when you were a child? Not now, actually. When I was a child, I collected currencies from different countries. My father had many business trips abroad, and he would bring back many coins for me to collect, and it was very fun to a child. When I was a teenager, I collected DVDs and CDs, I have at least 200 DVDs and a lot of CDs at home.
Do you collect anything as a hobby now?

Actually I dont collect anything as a hobby now, but I like to collect accessories very much. I have a lot of scarves, hats, necklaces, and bracelets. I like to buy and collect those accessories. When I am in different clothes, I may put on different accessories according to the style.
Why do you think people like collecting things?

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400-000-5173 I think its because human beings have a desire to own something, and thats why people will gather thing they like to see or wear. It also gives them a sense of accomplishment.
If you had a lot of money, what would you like to collect?

I would like to collect some airplane tickets, which means I have chances to go outside to travel. I would rather travel than buy some luxury items. My world travel dream may come true when I begin to collect airplane tickets.
Why do you think some people like to collect something old?

I think it derives from a sense of nostalgia. Many people like to collect something old that contains memory of childhood or precious people such as the beloved ones.
What do you think is worth collecting in your country?

I think maybe stamps, because China is a very diverse society with lots of different images. The stamps here have lots of kinds, such as architecture, climate, and scenery.
Where do those collectors go to buy their collections?

Most of them may go to some second-hand markets to buy their collections. But since you dont know if it is a fake or not, collectors who go to markets need to be professional and careful to avoid being cheated.
12. Films
Do you prefer to watch films at home or at a cinema? (Why?)
It depends. For some movies directed by Ingmar Bergman, which contain a lot of philosophical thinking, I like to watch them alone at home. For some blockbusters, I will go to the cinema to enjoy them, because the sound effects are much better in the cinema.
Do you prefer to watch films or read books?

Watching films and reading books are two completely different things. Films cannot substitute books, and vice versa. Sometimes I will read the original book, and if there is any film, I would like to watch it, too.
What films do you like, why?

I like many kinds of films, such as films directed by Shunji Iwai, Karwai Wong, Kieslowski, and Tim Borton. I not only like love stories, but also are fond of philosophical films.
What was the film you watched recently?

I have watched a Japanese film called Hanamizuki, and the title means a kind of plant. This film is a love story describing how two young people fell in love with each other, and then broke up because of distance, but finally they made up as first.
What films did you like when you were a child?

When I was a child, I liked cartoons very much, especially Japanese cartoons, such as SlamDunk and Conan. I also liked to watch films, like comedies casted by Zhou Xingchi.
Is watching movie a good time to kill time?

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400-000-5173 Yes, of course. Sometimes if I dont know how to kill time, I will watch films. Watching movie is a good way to relax myself, and experience another kind of life that I cannot live.
13. Traveling
Do you like travelling? Where do you like to go when you go traveling?
Yes, I like travelling very much. I will travel at least twice a year, sometimes even more. I would like to visit the art gallery in the city that I visit, and also some famous local spots.
Do you like long trips? Have you ever traveled for a long time? = Have you (ever) been
on any long trips? Yes, I like long trips, which provides more time for you to experience the atmosphere of the travel destination. I have travelled for 15 days in Europe, and I enjoyed the trip very much.
How do you feel when you travel?

I feel very excited when I travel. I think it is a great chance for me to enjoy the scenery and taste local foods. I may even have the chance to meet local people and chat with them.
Do you prefer to travel alone or with other people?

I dont mind. Sometimes I think travel alone is much more comfortable, because I can do whatever I want to do, without considering others feelings. If I travel with other people, I need to respect others choice of restaurants or favorite sites. But if I travel to some dangerous places, I would prefer to travel with other people, because we can take care of each other.
Where (which country or place) would you like to travel to (in the future)?
I would like to go to Denmark in the future. First, Anderson, a famous fairy tale writer, was born in Denmark, and I have heard that Denmark is a country full of the feeling of fairy tales. Second, I have been friends with a Danish couple, and they welcome me to visit them someday.
Which country do you like?

I like Australia. I have a few Australian friends. I think theyre very friendly people, so I guess the country must be nice. Also, I heard its a very warm country and with a lot of wide lives. I always want to visit the famous tourist spot called Ayers Rock and see kangaroos. Besides, therere a lot of natural beach and coastal cities, which are also attractive.
14. Science
Are you very interested in science?
Not really. I am interested in science, especially physics. I feel a lot of scientific phenomena are very interesting. But of course, compared with humanities and fine art, I feel I like the latter more than science.
Is there anything about science that you dislike?

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400-000-5173 Not really. Although I am not good at biology, I think it is very interesting. For example, biology will tell us how to calculate the probability of genetic genes, which is very interesting.
What science do students learn at school in your country?

In China, everyone will learn Math, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics at middle school and high school. If you major in science at university, then you need to learn more knowledge about those subjects.
What do you find most interesting in science? Is science helpful for you?
I am interested in science, especially physics. I feel a lot of scientific phenomena are very interesting. Of course, science is helpful for me, because when I face a problem, I will use the method of science, which really helps a lot.
15. Flowers
Do you like flowers?
Yes, I do like flowers. Among all the flowers, I like white calla the best, because of its clean appearance. Of course, like many other women, I also like roses, if given by the beloved one.
In your country, do people (ever) give flowers as a gift?

Yes, it is very popular to give flowers as a gift among lovers and couples. Besides, people will also bring flowers when they pay a visit to others home, or go to the hospital to visit a patient.
On what occasions do people in your country give flowers to other people?

For lovers and couples, usually men will buy flowers for women on special occasions such as Christmas, and Valentines Day. In other cases, people will also bring flowers when they pay a visit to others home, or go to the hospital to visit a patient.
Do any flowers have any special meaning in your country?

Yes. Almost every flower has a special meaning in China. For example, roses mean love, and not everyone can send roses as a gift, unless he or she wants to express love. Also, the carnation means enthusiasm, so you can send teachers as a gift or when you visit patients.
Whats the national flower of China?

The national flower of China is the peony. Each flower type becomes more complex in its arrangement of petals. It is also known as the "flower of riches and honor," and is used symbolically in Chinese art.
What flowers do you like to decorate your home during festivals?

We usually use lilies to decorate home during festivals, because lilies have a very pleasing scent, and it is also very beautiful, the house seems very vivid when decorated by lilies.
Are flowers important in our life?

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400-000-5173 Not really. I sometimes buy flowers and also make flower arrangement at home, but it doesnt mean that I cannot live without flowers. I think it is just a small part of my life.
16. Swimming
Can you swim?
Yes, I can. I learned to swim when I was a child. Because my parents think if I can swim, then I could save myself in emergency, so they sent me to learn swimming.
Do you like swimming?

Yes, I do. I like swimming very much. It is not only a way to exercise and keep fit, but also very cool at summer. Sometimes it is also very interesting to play with water.
Have you ever been trained in swimming? When did you learn to swim?
Yes. I have been trained in swimming when I was a child. Before elementary school, I started to learn swimming. Because my parents think if I can swim, then I could save myself in emergency, so they sent me to learn swimming.
Is it important to learn swimming?

Yes, I think so. It is very useful if you encounter some difficulties. For example, if the car drops to the river, the swimming skills may save your life.
Where do you like to swim?

I like to swim in a swimming pool because I have no other choice. My city is far away from the sea, and swim in the river is not very safe. And I think no matter what you want to do, safety is always the most important thing.
Do you rather swim in the ocean or in swimming pools?

I would rather swim in the ocean if I have the chance. Ocean is blue, and with beautiful scenery, while swimming pools are too small and there are too many people swimming in it at the same time.
Which one is safer, swimming pool or the sea near the beach?
I think it is the swimming pool. Sea is not that safe because there are lots of marine animals. And if you get drowned in a swimming pool, you could be saved by others, but in the sea, there is hardly anyone who can rescue you.
What should children pay attention to when they are learning swimming?
I think when the children learn to swim, safety is the most important thing. Their parents should pay attention to their safety, so they should not leave the children alone in the swimming pool.
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17. Handcraft
When do you need to make something yourself?
I usually dont need to make things myself because we can always find everything at supermarkets. But occasionally I make scarves or sweaters by myself. Its like my pastime hobby. I would always feel a sense of success when I complete a project.
Is it good for children to do more hands-on activities?

I think so. When children make things themselves, theyre more likely to remember things and their interest will be aroused during the process. Its also a good way to teach them to be independent. When children use their hands, theyll need to think and their brains will also be developed better.
Did you do a lot of hands-on activities in your childhood?

Yes. When I was a child, I sometimes even needed to make my own toys, which helped me develop my imagination and creativity. I think its really important for children to use their hands more because they can
Should children learn a certain skill in their early age?

It depends. If theyre interested in something, such as drawing, and playing instruments, its helpful for them to start early. Theyll have more career choices when they grow older if they have some special skills. However, if the children dont want to learn a skill that the parents think is important, itll be wise for parents to respect the childrens choice.
Did you ever learn to make something by hand?

Yes, when I was a child even in the kindergarten, my teachers had taught me how to make a paper plane and paper bird. It was quite encouraging to see things made by my own hands.
Do you think it is popular in china?

These days, hand-made things are becoming popular. Coz you know, some hand-made things are so unique and exquisite that no such machines can produce. On some other occasions, when people are bored with those things massively produced by machines, they may choose to make one with their own hands.
If you have a chance, what do you want to learn?

If I have the chance, I would like to learn to make a kite with my own hands. You know, when I was a child, I liked to fly kites very much, and my father had bought me a lot of kites. But I dreamed of having one kite, made all by myself, that could fly higher than any of my classmates and friends. But I never had a chance to do so because my father was too busy with his business and could not provide me with the necessary material and skills.
Did you do handcrafts at school?
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400-000-5173 I actually had a handcraft class when I was in elementary school, and the teacher would teach us to do all kinds of handcrafts. I would always feel proud of myself, when I brought my own art works home.
Do you think Chinese people like making handcrafts?

I think so. In the past, a lot of people would make their own sweaters, and now cross stitch is getting popular among young ladies. I think its nice to see your own finished works, because they could give you a sense of achievement.
18. TV program
Do you watch TV often?
I used to, but not anymore. After I found that the internet can give me a lot more choices for entertainment, I just dont have much time for TV anymore. But, I still watch TV occasionally with my family after dinner or at weekends. I sometimes wish there were fewer advertisements to stop me in the middle of a TV drama or entertaining program.
What programs do you like?

When I watch TV, I like dramas and entertaining programs. Once you watch a TV series, youll find very difficult to let it go. You just have to finish it and find the ending of the story. I also like entertaining programs, especially the ones involve famous movie stars or singers. I dont know why but Im interested in their lives and always want to find out more about them.
Do you like watching TV with your family or friends or by yourself?

I dont like watching TV alone. I prefer to do it with my friends or family members. When I watch TV, I also like talking and sharing my feelings with others. Its like an important part of TV watching. When I watch TV alone, Ill feel bored and hard to concentrate.
Do you think you watch too much TV when you were a child?
I dont think so. You know, when I was a child, my parents were very strict with me, and they even forced me to learn many other skills after I finished my school work. Actually, I missed a lot of interesting cartoon programs in my childhood.
19. Language
Whats the most difficult part about language learning?
For beginners, pronunciation might be difficult, but as you learn more, youll realize, if you dont have a big vocabulary; its hard to get around in that new language. So at that stage, memorizing a lot of words might be very challenging for learning a new language. Are there a lot of people choosing English as their major? Yes, English is becoming the international language and its a very useful tool for us. Because of the globalization, many companies need to do business with foreign countries,
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400-000-5173 so people who are good at English are in high demand. Actually, nowadays, non-English major students also put a lot of effort into learning English. How many foreign languages do you know? I only speak English, and I know a little Japanese and Korean, mostly from the TV dramas Ive watched. I always admire people who can speak many foreign languages because language doesnt only convey meanings but also can convey cultures. What other foreign languages do you want to learn? If I have enough time, Id like to learn Korean and Spanish because I always watch Korean dramas and I think itll be cool if I could understand what they are saying without looking at the subtitles. If I know Spanish, Ill be able to use it in many countries such as Spain and Mexico. What advantages of being able to speak other languages other than the native one? I think there are a few advantages. You can communicate with people more fluently. You can exchange you ideas, and understand their culture better. Also, its one way to improve your language skills. What are the benefits of learning English? English is an international language now. If we can speak it well, well be able to communicate with not only people from English speaking countries but also people from other areas. Speaking English well can also help young people to be competitive in the job market.
20. Birthday
Do you like to spend your birthday with your parents or friends?
Ive never thought about it, but I think I have spent most of my birthday time with my friends because my friends would usually give me a birthday party on my birthday. After spending time with them, Ill feel exhausted and dont have any energy left for my family members. I hope I can spend more time with my family during my birthday in the future. How do children celebrate their birthday in China? Nowadays, children like having birthday parties on their birthday. They would invite their friends to their home to have a big meal and enjoy a big birthday cake. Its also common for good friends to give birthday gifts to each other. Is birthday highly valued in China? What age is mostly valued? Yes. Since you can only have the day once a year, its really highly valued in our country, especially some special ages, such as, the first birthday, the twentieth birthday, and the sixtieth birthday. On these birthdays, all the friends and family members will have big parties for the birthday people. Whats the meaning of birthdays?
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400-000-5173 I think birthdays are important in our lives because its the day that we came to this world. Its something important both for ourselves and for the family. Also, we turn one year older on our birthday, which means that we have got more experience and knowledge from our life in this world. So, its really important for us to celebrate our birthdays.
21. Driving
Do you have a car?
No, I dont, I think it is not so convenient without a car. The public transportation in my city is not as convenient as that in Shanghai. So if I have enough money, I may consider buying a car.
Do you have a drivers license?

Yes, I do. I just got it recently. I think a drivers license is really useful in this modern society. Now, a lot of people can afford cars, so if you can drive, your life will be much easier. Also, many companies prefer hiring people who can drive. A drivers license will make us more competitive in job hunting.
Do you want to drive for a long time for traveling?

Yes, I do. I think its fun to drive our own cars when we go traveling because we can decide where to go and what to do during our trips. However, if the time is really limited, we might get tired and its dangerous to drive in fatigue, so enough rest is really important. Do you prefer to be the driver or the passenger? I prefer to be the passenger because a driver should take a lot of responsibilities but a passenger can do many things they want during the trip. As a passenger, I can appreciate the scenery more and can even read novels or play games on our cell phones. If I get tired, I can take a nap, which will definitely be a luxury for the drivers.
Is it hard to get a driving license in your country?

No, it is not that hard. You just need to go to a driving school to take classes in order to get a driving license in China. After you learn the theoretical and practical driving knowledge, you have to take a test. If you pass the test, then you will get a driving license. Do you have an experience of having a long trip by bus? Yes, I do. Last year, I took a bus to visit my aunt and uncle in another province. It took me ten hours to get to the destination. The scenery on the way was beautiful because we passed by a lot of mountains. But I also felt tired sitting there for a long time. Fortunately, the driver would stop regularly to give us bathroom breaks, which could be used to stretch our bodies and breathe some fresh air.
22. Children
Do you like spending time with children?
Yes, I do, especially very young kids. I think they are very innocent and they show their feelings without bias. If you treat the children well, theyll love you back. Also, when I http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com
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400-000-5173 spend time with children, I can teach them a lot of things they dont know. I think its fun to do that.
What kind of child do you like?

I like active children more because when Im with them, they can make me feel Im also full of energy and all the good memories about my childhood would come back. I think its a very enjoyable thing to play games with children because they always love games and theyre curious to learn new things.
Whats the difference between children now and in the past?

Children in the past were more nave and they didnt have too much exposure to computers and modern technology, so they tended to play outdoors more. Nowadays, a lot of children are much more mature than their actual age because of too much exposure to TV and the internet. Some of them play too much computer games and dont do enough exercise, which is not good for their physical and mental growth.
What do you usually do when youre with children?

When Im with children, Ill feel I need to play games with them to make them feel happy and have some fun. Ill teach them the games I learned when I was a child. Most of the time, the children are interested in what Im teaching and they could be really happy to play with me.
What did you play when you were a child?

When I was a child, there were a lot of children in my neighborhood. We would always play outdoor activities. I remember tag and hide-and-seek were really popular then. Sometimes, boys would play with marbles or cards outside and girls would play more with their dolls.
Do you like children?

Yes, I like children very much. I think children are very cute, and frank, so its fun to play with them. In the future, I want to have at least two children, so they wont be lonely. What kind of child were you when you were little? Believe it or not, actually I was very naughty when I was little. I was curious about everything, and I dared to adventure many dangerous things that even my cousin did not. I am not that brave now. Do children like change? I think so. Children are always curious about things around them and they like asking whys. They always look for changes and changes can make them feel excited. However, children will experience some hardship if their living environment change too often and too much. For example, its not good for children to change schools or move so often because they need to have stable relationship with the people around them. Whats the difference between children past and now?
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400-000-5173 Children now are exposed to high technology all the time so they tend to be more mature compared to children in the past. In the past, its common for children to play outside, but nowadays, children tend to spend more indoors, which is not good for their physical development. What did you like to do when you were a child? When I was a child, I loved playing with my little friends. We would run around in our neighborhood doing all kinds of games, such as tag or hide-and-seek. Its always difficult for me to stay at home for a long time because I felt playing with friends was so attractive to me. What was your personality like when you were a child? When I was a child, I was very curious about everything. And I liked playing very much. I would always play with my friends outside. Its really hard for my mom during dinner time because she could hardly find me.
23. Noise
Is your living environment noisy?
I think its ok. My home is in a comparatively quiet complex, which is far away from the main roads, so its free from traffic noise. However, sometimes when my neighbors are remodeling their homes, there will be loud noise for days. I think thats the most annoying thing. How can noises be reduced in the city? Well, therere not much for us to do, but I think the government can set laws to restrict the working hours of construction sites and not to allow cars to honk in the city. Also, when scientists could invent better noise proved windows for ordinary buildings to use, life will be more enjoyable. Do you think there are more noises than before? Probably, especially in cities. Nowadays, because of the urbanization, therere more people and cars in cities, and a lot of industries are also making loud noise, so many people feel they cant enjoy the peaceful environment they once had. I hope the situation wont go any worse in the future. Maybe the government can find some solutions to reduce these problems. Do you think the society will be noisier and nosier? I hope not. Along with the advance of technology, I think scientists will be able to invent better sound proof glass and walls to block noises from traffic and construction sites. Maybe noise wont be a problem any more in the future.
24. Emails & Letters

Do you write many letters or emails?
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400-000-5173 Yes, I use email nearly everyday to contact my friends all over the world. But I write letters not so often, maybe once a month. What are the differences between emails and letters? There are a few differences. Emails are very free, convenient, and most importantly, very fast, but emails cannot contain your emotion, and we hardly review emails later. Letters are different. They are inconvenient, and need a long time to be received, but letters may convey your emotions better. What kind(s) of letter/email do you think is (are) the hardest to write? I think emails to professors are the hardest to write, because I will be afraid if I dont use the proper word or make him or her feel uncomfortable. But as for friends, we can write to each other quite freely. How do you feel when you receive a letter or email? I will be very glad to receive a letter or email, because it means that there is someone who remembers me, and sends me something for greetings, or if they have something to discuss with me, I am also pleased to reply to them. What kinds of emails (or letters) do you receive that make you feel happy? Whatever I receive, I will be glad. Of course, if my friends tell me some happy news about them such as weddings, or being admitted to a good university, such as Stanford, I will be really glad to share the happiness with them. Do you think people will still write letters in the future? Yes, I think so. Because I think emails cannot take place of your emotions filled in the writing letter, and thats why you can see people still sending postcards, or writing letters to each other even they are really far away. Do you keep letters? Yes. I kept a lot of letters from elementary school until now in my drawer. When I have free time, I will take the letters out and review them. It seems that I return to that time, so I value the letters I keep. How do you get on the internet? I use the broadband of China Telecom to get on the internet. Therere actually two computers in my home. Now we use a router so that two computers can get online at the same time. Recently, I bought a smart phone, which can enable me to get online even when Im outside. Is the internet very popular in China? The internet is very popular in China. Now, we use the internet in every aspect of our life. We use it to entertain and search for information. Its also a very important way for us to communicate with each other. To be honest, because of the internet, I havent written a real letter for more than ten years. How can people learn things on the internet? http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 53
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400-000-5173 A lot of people post their own experience on the internet and sometimes, you could also find some video clips that teach you how to do things. For me, I love reading Wikipedia to gain knowledge and solve my questions. Also, a lot of people use online courses to get their degrees without going to the campus, which is really convenient for our life. Do you write letters to your parents often? Not really. Now, I use the cell phone all the time because I could receive the respond immediately so that I could communicate with my parents easier. If I write letters, I have to wait for a while to receive the reply, which will make me feel anxious. However, I sometimes write emails to friends that I havent heard from for a long time.
25. Competition
What is competition for?
I think sometimes competition is good for people to some extent. Without competition, we may not work or study hard, but if we know that we need to compete with each other, it may force us to try our best. But we should avoid vicious competition.
26. Visiting others/hospitality

Do you like hosting visitors from other places? How do you treat visitors at your
home? Yes. I would always feel happy when people coming from other places to visit my family. We would prepare a lot of snacks and drinks to make them feel welcome. Of course, delicious meals are also a very important part to welcome visitors. If they want to see some tourist sites, we would also be happy to take them there. Do you prefer people to visit you at home or go outside? I prefer people to visit me at home because I think its more personal. We could do a lot of activities and dont need to worry about being disturbed by others. Also, its our family tradition to cook a big meal for the visitors, which is a good way to show our hospitality. Do you visit others often? Not very often, but occasionally. When I visit others, they would always feel very happy and therell be a lot of snacks and drinks for me to choose from. However, I dont want my hosts to be exhausted from preparing all these, so sometimes I prefer to see them at restaurant or coffee shop. How often do you have visitors? We dont have visitors very often, about three or four times in a year. Sometimes our relatives or friends will come over to spend some time with us. My parents are always busy at that time because they need to prepare a big meal for our guests, which is our family tradition. Do people in your country (generally/usually) meet each others indoors or outdoors?
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400-000-5173 We meet indoors more because we care about meals a lot in China. We want to treat our guests a big meal either in a nice restaurant or at home. We think the atmosphere is always good and people can talk more during a meal. When you have a party, do you usually go out or have the party at someone's home? Its common for us to have parties at a restaurant or at someones home because we can always enjoy a great meal at such places and the atmosphere is more relaxing. However, nowadays its also common for people to go outing or have picnics for a party.
27. Walk
Do you take a walk often?
Yes, I think walking is a good way to keep us fit. I would usually take a walk with my parents after dinner because we think its good for our digestion. When we walk, we could always communicate a lot, so I love walking very much. Do you like walking? (Why?/Why not?) Yes, I think walking is a good way for us to exercise. Its mild but also works. Its my family habit to walk after a meal because Chinese people believe walking after you eat can help you enjoy a long life. Where do you walk? I would walk on campus or just in my neighborhood when Im at home because therere a lot of green areas in my complex. When I walk, I like to walk slowly because its good for me to meditate in that way. I think walking is a good way for us to get close to the nature. Did you walk a lot when you were a child? Yes. When I was in elementary school, I had to walk to school everyday, which was about half an hour walking distance, so round trip would be one hour. I think walking is always fun for children. What do you think are the benefits of walking? Walking can help us digest if we do it after our meal. Its also a mild way to exercise. When we walk with others, we could communicate with each other. I think we should walk more because its a good way to help us release our pressure form life.
28. Indoor Activities

Do you prefer indoor activities or outdoor activities?
I like doing outdoor activities when the weather is good because I spend too much time indoors, which is not good for my physical and mental health. Sometimes I would go hiking or play badminton outdoors with my friends or family members. Outdoor activities can always make me feel refreshed. Do you play any indoor games?
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400-000-5173 Yes. When Im with my friends, we would sometimes play card games, table games, or even majiang. I think indoor games can help you think more logically and when I win a game, I would always feel very excited. Is there any indoor game you'd like to learn (how) to play? I dont know how to play Weiqi, which is called go in English. I always feel its very complicated because you have to think very carefully before making a move. Its said playing weiqi is just like fighting on the battlefield. I would like to take some lessons or learn from someone whos really good at it. What outdoor activities did you do when you were a child? When I was a child, I played all kinds of outdoor activities, something like tag, hide and seek, and hopscotch. I think these games are also popular in other countries but we probably play them a little differently. What sorts of games do children play now? Children love games. Nowadays I could still see children playing tag, hide and seek, and hopscotch in my neighborhood. However, I have to say a lot of children are also fond of computer games and they could spend hours at the computer.
Did you play electronic games when you were a child? (If yes, what games or why? If
no, why not?) Not really because my parents would always say that these games were not good for my school work and they didnt buy me any electronic game machines, such as PSP. I guess its nice to stay away from electronic games because many people say its really easy to get addicted. I love electronic games and I have been playing them since I was in elementary school. I could spend hours playing them and would never feel tired. Its very important not to get addicted to them because these games are so interesting. Actually I think playing some games is good for brain development. Do you think electronic games are good for children? Its hard to say. If children can learn self-control and not get addicted, they can benefit from game playing because a lot of games have educational values. I remember playing games about English vocabulary learning and recognizing figures for young children. These are definitely good for children. However some violent games are not good to play at all because they teach negative values to children. What sorts of (indoor) games do you think children will be playing in the future? I guess most of the games will still be the same, both outdoor and indoor games. However, in the future, people might move a great number of outdoor activities indoors. Just look at the X-box today, well be able to see what future games will be like. I hope children will play healthier electronic games in the future. http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 56
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29. Being Late

When is it okay to be late?
Its not okay to be late for most of the occasions, but maybe its okay to be a few minutes late when we visit a friend or going to a party because we want to give them some extra time to get ready.
Have you ever been late for something?

Yes, I sometimes would be late for some morning classes because its really hard to get up early for me. Sometimes because of the bad traffic condition, I can also be late for other appointments. Actually, I hate being late, but therere always some unexpected things in life.
30. Wedding
Why are weddings important?
Every young couple can only have their wedding once in their life, so its very important for them. Wedding is a time that a lot of relatives and friends can witness the love oath for the young couple and give them their blessings. Who will be invited to a wedding? Usually, the couple would invite their relatives, neighbors, friends, and colleagues. Its a very important occasion, so the couple would try to invite all the people they know. If you go to a wedding, youll see a lot of new faces, so its also a good time to make new friends. Whats the Chinese wedding like? There are a lot of rules and customs for traditional weddings. The young couple should be in red and the brides head will be covered with a piece of red cloth. The young couple should bow to the parents, the heaven and earth. Its very different from the western wedding. But now weddings are westernized and its hard to see traditional weddings any more. How do Chinese people view weddings? Chinese people think weddings are very important because it symbolizes that a young couple will start their new life. So its very common for them to prepare for the wedding for several months, just for that one day. Whats the difference between weddings in the past and now? Definitely. In the past, young couple should wear red clothes for the wedding day because red is the lucky color in China and there were a lot of customs for weddings. But now most weddings are westernized. The bride would wear white wedding dress and groom will be in suit. Many people dont even know the traditional wedding customs any more.
31. Relatives
Do you have many relatives?
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32. Toys
What toys did you like to play with when you were a child?
When I was a child, I loved playing with my transformer. I would always do role play with my friends, imagining that we were from different planets and we had to fight for our people. Its really fun. Do you think you learned anything from playing with toys? I learned how to share with other friends and also the toys helped me to be imaginative and creative. Some educational toys also taught me English vocabulary or math problems. I think toys are helpful for childrens growth. Did you (prefer to) play with those toys alone or with other children? I would usually play with the toys with my friends. When I was with my friends, we could have more good ideas for playing, so its really important for children to have some friends to play with. If you have children in the future, what toys will you give them? I would buy toys that they like. For example, for boys, I would probably buy toy cars or guns. But for girls, I think they might like dolls better. Of course, besides these, I also want to buy some education toys for them to learn something new. http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com 58
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33. Animals
What's your favorite animal? (Why?)
My favorite animal is the rabbit, because I think the rabbit is a very gentle animal, and it wont hurt people. When I see them, I always want to pet them because they look so cute and innocent.
What wild animal do you like?

I have no idea toward wild animals. If I am asked to pick one animal, maybe I will pick the horse, because I can ride on the horse to gallop on the pasture land, and I think it must be very interesting.
Are people in your country fond of animals?

Yes, I think so. Chinese people are fond of animals, and that is why they keep pets such as dogs or cats or birds in their home. Some people will also take pets to go for a walk in the park.
Do people raise pets in the city? What kinds of animals as a pet do the people have in
your country? Why do people like to raise pets? Yes, of course people raise pets in the city. Chinese people usually keep pets such as dogs or cats or birds in their home. I think raise pets can help people feel not so lonely, and they can accompany each other.
Compared with the past, have there been any changes concerning pets in your
country/hometown? Yes, I think so. In the past, people regarded pets as pets, not as a kind that was similar to human beings. Although they are pets, they also have the right to do many things. Nowadays, people dont look down upon pets.
Do you have pets at home? Did you have any pets when you were a child?
No, I dont have pets at home. Yes, I kept rabbit as a pet when I was a child, but rabbits are very hard to take care of. My rabbit died after a few weeks and I felt really sad so that I made a tomb for it.
How will you arrange your pets when youre having a long journey?
Obviously, I will ask some of my friends if they would like to help me look after my pet during the journey. Also, if I have a good relationship with my neighbors, I can also ask them to help me.
What is the function of animals in the agriculture?

I dont know much about it. Nowadays, most of the agriculture is mechanized. In the past, I think cattle are very important, because they can help spread the seed of rice in the field.
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PART2 PART3
1. A talkative person
Describe a talkative person you know You should say: who the person is how you know the person what the person is like and explain how you felt about the person. Sample: I think my grandpa is a very talkative person I know. Its easy for him to talk to people from all walks of life. Because of his personality and knowledge, I feel that I could always learn a lot from talking with him. As a great learner, he has accumulated a lot of knowledge and rich life experience. When we are together, I love listening to his life stories. To be honest, I really want to write a biography for him when I have the time because his life is full of excitement, very different from many other old people around me. Through his life experience, I could learn the meaning of life and the significance of knowledge. He was a history teacher in high school. Because of him, Im interested in history since I was a little child. We could find many history topics to talk about, and its amazing how clearly he could remember all the important events in the past. And he could always recommend good books for me to read to increase my history knowledge. After reading the books, I would always have the desire to talk with him to express my feelings toward a certain period of history and Im always enlightened when I hear his point of view. I think Im lucky to have such a grandpa. Its good to be talkative because Ill never feel bored when Im with him. I hope I can be a master of language, too. PART 3: discussion topics: 1. What kind of people do you think should learn communication skills? In fact everybody should learn some communication skills. It will definitely make good impressions and bring profits if one is good at integrating with other people. On the contrary, a person with limited communication skills will find it hard to be understood and accepted. 2. How to learn communication skills? There are various ways to learn how to communicate. We can observe other
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people who are good at it. Someone told me he learned some communication skills in the TV plays. And there are even books telling us how to communicate properly and successfully. As to me, I think the best means is to practice communicating with people as much as we can.
2. A good parent
Describe a good parent you know You should say who the parent is how you know this parent what the parent looks like and explain why you think the parent is good. Sample: My cousin is definitely a good parent. I think she is a model parentpatient, knowledgeable, and the most important one is full of love. She was a few years older than me and now her son, my nephew, was in fifth grade. I couldnt imagine how fast the boy has grown. She is very patient with her son. Shes not like some parents who would yell at the children when they do something wrong. She always tries her best to reason with her son and help him understand right from wrong. She even sacrificed her careershe quit her job after she had her babybecause she believes that spending time with her son is the most important thing in her life. Because of her love and time poured on the child, now my nephew has grown to be a very nice and healthy boy, both physically and mentally. I think a good parent is very important for children development, which could help them to feel secure and know how to behave themselves even when nobody is watching them. I hope all parents could learn some parenting skills before giving births to their children. Its very important not only for the family but also for the society. (P3 )
3. First met friend

Describe a person who became your good/intimate friend at the first meeting. You should say: who the person was when you first met the person what you did together and explain why you became friends at the first meeting. Sample: Im not a very outgoing person, so its not easy for me to make friends very fast, but I recently became friends with a person who I met the first time. I am hanging out a
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lot with this friend I just made during this vacation. She is not the kind of person who shares exactly the same interest with me; in fact, we dont have much in common. The only thing we do together is volunteer job and it is how we met. We became friends in a museum and at that time we were both voluntary guides, leading the young children who came to visit the museum. She is indeed a nice girl, very honest and willing to help others, which can be shown by an incident. That day she saw a thief stealing other's wallet, she did not keep her mouth shut but she shouted loudly and caught him. Nowadays, a lot of people are afraid of getting trouble from helping others, so peoples hearts are calloused, but she is not influenced by that. I believe her action can inspire a lot of people to be more willing to help others. Because of that, we talked a lot on that day and became good friends afterwards. She is brave and kind hearted girl and I admire her from the bottom of my heart. I think theres still a lot for me to learn from her. Im glad to have a friend like her. PART 3: discussion topics: 1. Do you think the people you admire will become good examples? Definitely. Generally speaking, we tend to follow the people who we admire. For example, nowadays, a lot of people want to do the things that their favorite movie stars do and wear the same clothes. As for me, because my friend, Tom, is good at math and English, I want to be like him. Now I also study hard. He really influenced me. 2. Where can you meet new friends? I can meet new friends at school, especially in my class. Its a good way to know my friends well because we could do some group activities together. I also meet new friends at some parties or through old friends. For some of them, we can keep the friendship for a long time, but if I move away from a city, itll be a little difficult to maintain all the friendships. 3. Whats the most important quality for friends to possess? I think good friends should be the people who we can trust, so honesty is definitely the trait they should have. Also, we seek understand and encouragement from our friends, so they should be patient and can give us valuable advice when we need them, 4. Is it easy to make friends who are much older or younger than you? No, not really. We usually have generation gaps with the people who are older or younger than us. However, if we have the same interest or share something in common, it might be easier. If we can, its beneficial. We can learn new trends from the younger friends and life experience from older ones. 5. How do the people in your country meet new friends? For students, the most common way would be at school. They could be friends with their classmates easily and they can also meet friends in their neighborhood. For adults, they could meet new friends in their company or even be friends with their clients. Nowadays, a lot of people also make friends online, which is also popular.
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6. Is it important for friends to have the same interests? It depends. If my friends have the same interests as me, we could have many topics in common and we can do the same things together. However, if my friends have different interests, I can actually learn from them and enrich my own knowledge. So I would like to make friends whore similar or very different from me. 7. Are friends more important when we are young or when we are old? Well, both important I think. To young people, friends can play with them, encourage them and help them, enabling them a happy growth. And to the old, friends can chat with them and accompany them, reducing their loneliness and helping them to spend their latter half of life. 8. Whats the impact of modern communication technology on friendships? Well, in my opinion, the modern technology does help people to bring closer their friendship. For example, when they miss each other, a phone call, a short message, an email, or an instant message on the online chatting tools, can help them to share their feelings and their ideas. Besides, in some cases, this modern technology enables people to explain their good wishes, and their apologies to each other, without feeling embarrassed, which deepens their friendships. 9. Do you have different kinds of friends? Sure, no one can live well in this society without friends, so do I. you know, I have many friends since my childhood. For example, now, I have my kindergarten friends, primary school friends, middle school friends, and college friends. Besides, I attend many training schools, I take part in many outdoor activities, I join in some clubs, where I also have made friends. These days, I even have friends on the internet, who I may not even know but just have chats on line. 10. Is it easy to make new friends? Yeah, as long as one is not so introvert, or one is willing to make fiends with others, he or she may soon have new friends. These days, we may make new friends in various ways, such as in schools, clubs, activities, and on the internet. People are having much more friends now than in the past, but the relationship among friends seems to be not so close or deep as those in the past due to the economy-driven social atmosphere. 11. Will you spend more time with friends or with family? I think the more time people get together with each other, the closer their relationship becomes. I choose to accompany my family almost every day and hang out regularly with my friends, like once a week or so. Because family means more to me and they need me more than anyone else.
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4. Polite person
Describe the most polite person you know You should say: who the person is how you know this person what the person looks like and explain why you think the person is the most polite Sample1 Being polite is important because it can make people feel comfortable and respected. Its the basic manner we should possess. However, a lot of times, we fail to be polite in many situations. One of my friends, XX, is the most polite person I know. She would always be polite no matter what the situation is. Because of her politeness, its not easy to quarrel or be angry with her. For example, one day when we were on the bus, because its too crowded, she accidentally stepped on someones foot. Immediately, she apologized several times for what she did to the person. Of course, the person had no choice but to forgive her. When she is with people who are older than her, she would always try her best to talk to them and address them in proper ways, which is considered important for giving people who are older than you a proper title to show your politeness. Because of that, older people all like her very much. China is a crowded country and sometimes people dont stand in line. But my friend, XX, would always try her best to wait in lines even though she sometimes has to sacrifice her time for some unruly people who cut in line. I think if all people are like her, we would shop or travel must easier. I think most people know exactly what is polite and what is not, but its really difficult to follow the rules all the time. If we do it all the time, well change politeness to our habit, and then, itll be easier for us to be polite. I hope I can learn from her and can be as polite as she is. Sample2 China has been known as the land of ceremony and propriety, and the majority of Chinese people are very polite. My middle school history teacher, Mr. Li is a typical example. Mr. Li is as polite to his students as to his colleagues and leaders. He uses please and thanks in the class when he asks us questions. Even to those most naughty ones he never forgets to talk politely with great patience.
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Once some of my classmates just finished their picnic in the school park and were about to go, leaving the rubbish behind them. Mr. Li happened to be taking a walk there with his wife. He just picked up all the rubbish and said nothing blaming the students. Of course, the kids indeed felt ashamed and respected him more thereafter. And there have many times we seen him letting others get on the bus first or offering his seat to the elderly or other people in need. All his students admire him from the bottom of our heart, and we regard him as a symbol of courtesy and a great model for us to learn from. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What are some ways that people in your country show politeness towards others? Well, in my country, its common to ask people about their meals when start a conversation. Its a way to show that we care about them and its considered polite. Also, when we buy something, its always polite to stand in line. 2. Do you think people are equally polite at home (with their family) as they are outside the home (with strangers)? Probably not. A lot of people believe that its okay to be casual around family members so they dont have to say thank you all the time and they dont have to force themselves to have a small talk with their family members when theyre not in such a mood. 3. What do you think are the differences between a polite person and a friendly person? Well. Polite people have a lot of rules in mind and when they follow all the rules, they can make other people feel comfortable and show that theyre well raised. However, for friendly people, they dont have to know the rules. They could make people happy because they care about others and they want to make others happy and welcomed. 4. Do you think telling lies is impolite? Well, its a hard question. Usually I think lies and politeness are not connected. Its definitely not polite to tell lies and its something related to their honesty. If people lie to us, well feel very uncomfortable and lose trust in them. Even if theyre really polite, well still feel hurt. 5. Are there any times when it might be polite to tell a lie? Probably. If we tell the truth, we can hurt other peoples feelings; it might be more polite to tell lies. For example, if a friends clothes are very ugly, its still polite to say its okay or suitable for them. If you dont want to go to a party because you think it might be boring, its not polite to tell the truth. 6. Do you always tell the truth to people? Most of the time, but when the truth may not make them feel happy, Ill try to say it in a more polite way because I think its not necessary to tell others everything in your mind. For example, if theyre really heavy, its not polite to say it out loud and if the clothes they wear are not nice looking, its also not
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polite to remind them of that. 7. Which do you think is better, to always show your feelings or to sometimes conceal your feelings? I think its better to know how to control ones feelings. When were happy or excited, all these positive feelings, most of the time, are okay for others to know. But if were angry or sad, sometimes its better to hide our feelings because we dont want to give others negative influence and make them feel bad too. 8. On the question of showing emotions, do you think males and females are the same? I think were probably different. For males, they tend to have more control of their feelings so its really hard to see men crying in front of others unless they are experiencing very big things in life. However, for females, we tend to be more emotional. A lot of women will cry when we watch some moving films or hear something that touches our heart. 9. Do you think pretending to smile is polite? Yes. If were not happy to see somebody, its still more polite to give them the smile to tell them that theyre welcomed. When were upset, we dont have to wear the sad face all the time, we should have some smile occasionally to lighten our heart and also give the people around us some reasons to feel happy. 10. Are you a polite person? I think so. I talk politely both in public occasion and with intimate friends. I care about other peoples feelings and act politely when accompanying them. When I am eating, I also remember to the polite manners such as chewing food with my mouth closed. I am trying my best to be a polite person. 11. How do people usually show courtesy? Well, in China, its common to ask people about their meals when start a conversation. Its a way to show that we care about them and its considered polite. Also, when we buy something, its always polite to stand in line. 12. Do you think people living in the city are more polite than people in the country? Why? I think so. Living in the city, people have to follow more rules, like the traffic rules and company rules. All these rules are supposed to make people behave politely and orderly. On the other hand, life in the country is more casual and relaxing. People have closer relationships. They are less bothered by politeness. 13. Are Chinese people more polite than before? Why? We are as polite as we were. In ancient times Chinese people behaved under the guidance of the doctrine of Confucius and Mencius. They had strict moral standards. The influence of the doctrine has been declining in current society, but people are still polite, because we are receiving higher education. 14. What behavior do you think is polite? Many behaviors can be considered polite, such as chewing with mouth closed when having dinner, talking in a low voice in public places, and dress properly in formal occasions. And I think smiling to people when talking or listening to
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them also shows politeness. 15. Is it important to be polite? Yes. A polite person is likely to be accepted and respected by most people. Politeness can make people feel comfortable and at ease, and thus maintain the relationships. Once everyone is polite to each other, the general social relationship will become harmonious and stable. 16. Compare the polite behavior between in the past and present. There are some similarities in peoples polite behavior in the past and present, while there are also differences. Most of the courtesy in conversation, contacting and eating has been the same. However, people in the past consider modesty as polite, while nowadays it is polite to demonstrate ones real ability appropriately rather than to be excessively moest.
1.
A neighbor
Describe a good neighbor of yours. You should say: how long you have known this neighbor what sort of person he/she is how often you see him/her and explain what kind of relationship you have with him/her or and explain why you consider this person to be a good neighbor. Sample I have a lot of neighbors, but Id like to say something about a special neighbor. Everybody calls him uncle li, a warm-hearted man. Ive known him for more than fifteen years. He is retired now and is always looking for opportunities to help his neighbors. Sometimes, he said he felt bored if he couldnt do something for others. Hes just such a person. He even volunteers to look after the children in the neighborhood when their parents are busy at work. Almost everybody lives in that neighborhood is uncle Lis friend and when we are in trouble, he will offer his help without hesitation. Sometimes this might bring trouble to himself, but he never gives up his mission. Sometimes, his wife complains about him being too nice. However, when we compliment on what he has done, his wife would always smile. I think shes happy for marrying this kind man. Nobody can say that uncle li is not a good neighbor. I dont expect all neighbors to be as nice as uncle li, but I believe if everyone is willing to sacrifice a little, our
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neighborhood will be a much enjoyable place to live in. Sample2 Speaking of a good neighbor, the first one coming to my mind is Mr. Lee. He is indeed a model neighborkind, warm-hearted and full of patience. Living near him makes our life cheerful and easy. I cannot remember clearly how many times I have received his help. It seems that he is always ready to help the neighbors. There was a time when I got home and found my dog lost. I was really in the panic and had no idea what to do. I knocked at MR. Lees door and asked him for help. Without any hesitation he decided to go out with me, searching for my dog. Ultimatelyhe found my dog playing with another dog in an old park nearby. He has become a respectable person in my mind. He has helped most of the families living near him, fixing up the bulbs, lending them tools, or helping them carrying heavy things. He never accepts any gifts for thanks, saying that just a word of thank is enough for him. Mr. Lee has become a respectable man in my heart. I think warm-heartedness may be the most important factor to make someone a good neighbor. And genuineness makes him a best one. Mr. Lee is loved and respected by all the neighbors, including me. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Are there any changes of the relationships between neighbors now and in the past? Is it a positive or negative change? Yeah. In the past, a lot of people live in the apartment buildings or quadrangle houses that their companies provided for them, so they were familiar with each other, everybody knew everybody. When one person needed help, all the neighbors would come to help. Nowadays, people buy their own apartments. A lot of people dont want to talk to strangers, so their neighbors will remain strangers for the rest of their life. I think its not a positive change because people are less close to each other. 2. Whats the difference between living environment past and now? In the past, there were fewer buildings in the city and the rivers were less polluted. Children could get close to the nature much more easily. Nowadays, therere more and more tall buildings in the city and a lot of rivers and lakes were heavily polluted. However, the government is trying to fix this by building more parks and planting trees and flowers in the city. And therere also laws to prohibit factories from discharging waste water into rivers. Now our living environment is getting better. 3. Whats the importance of neighbors in our society? Well, just as an old Chinese saying goes: a good neighbor is better than a brother far off, neighbors are very good helpers to each other in the community. If any emergency happens, neighbors will just be nearby to provide the first help, which is impossible when the relatives are miles away. Besides, having a
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4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
good relationship with neighbors, the living atmosphere can be very friendly and enjoyable, while having a poor relationship, the life in the community is meaningless. Whats the difference between relationships with neighbors past and now? Well, it seems the relationship between neighbors now has changed a lot from the past. For example, with a slower life pace, and less life pressure, the relationship among neighbors was closer and friendlier in the past. However, these days, locked in their own flats, busy with their own matters, neighbors are more of strangers than in the past. Nowadays people change neighbors very often, what about in the future? Maybe people will change more in the future. This is mainly because the life pace is speedy, the life pressure is increasing, and peoples interest is widening. People like to change their living places to meet their pursuit in life. How can the relationship between neighbors be improved Well, many things can be done to improve the relationship among neighbors. For example, more activities in the communities can be organized, so that more neighbors can take part in, and so share happiness with the neighbors, deepening their understandings and bringing closer their relationship. Also, a better welfare system can be established, so that people can enjoy their life better, and so are enabled to have more time and a relaxed atmosphere to stay with neighbors. What are the most important qualities for neighbors? Well, being good neighbors, they should have some important qualities. First, they should be considerate, not to violate the interest of those others who live beside them, such as not to make noises to disturb others. Also, good neighbors should be helpful. Just as the old saying goes, a good neighbor is better than a brother far away, neighbors should be ready to help others, particularly in case of some emergency of other neighbors. Are community centers important? To be frank, I am not so sure. Because you know, up till now, I have spent most of my time on the campus, and I dont have many chances to enjoy my time in the community. But to the residents in the community, I believe the community centers will be important to them, because community centers can provide them good places to have a pleasant community life after their busy work and heavy pressure in the social competition, and so they can have the good chances to relax and then get refreshed to contribute more the development of the society. How to improve neighbor relationships? Well, I think various ways can be tried to improve the relationship between neighbors. For example, more community facilities can be provided for the whole community, so that all the neighbors in the community can be there to share their leisure time together and so become closer. Also, more community activities can be held to provide chances for neighbors to communicate with each other, enabling them to have better relationships.
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2. An old person you enjoy talking with

Describe an old person You should say: who he/she is what do you usually talk about why you like to talk with he/she And explain the positive effects. Sample: I really enjoy talking with my grandpa because hes very knowledgeable and we could always find common topics to talk about. Now hes in his seventies. As a great learner, he has accumulated a lot of knowledge and rich life experience. When we are together, I love listening to his life stories. To be honest, I really want to write a biography for him when I have the time because his life is full of excitement, very different from many other old people around me. Through his life experience, I could learn the meaning of life and the significance of knowledge. He was a history teacher in high school. Because of him, Im interested in history since I was a little child. We could find many history topics to talk about, and its amazing how clearly he could remember all the important events in the past. And he could always recommend good books for me to read to increase my history knowledge. After reading the books, I would always have the desire to talk with him to express my feelings toward a certain period of history and Im always enlightened when I hear his point of view. I think Im lucky to have such a grandpa. When we talk with the old, we could learn a lot from them. I hope I can be as wise as he is when Im his age. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1. What do you think is the role of old people in the family today? I think the old people play a very important role in the family. They have very rich life experience, so they can give their children useful advice. For example, my grandma is in her eighties, but her children still come to her for help when they face difficulties in life because of her wisdom and experience. 2. Has this role changed, compared to the past? In the past, the old were respected by the whole family and they had the final say. In a family, even if the son was thirty or forty years old and had his own family, he still needed to listen to his parents. Now this has changed a lot. Although we still respect older people, young people also have the freedom to make their own choices. I think this is a good change. 3. Do you think people's attitudes towards old people have changed in recent years? = Do people treat old people differently compared to the past?
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4.
5.
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7.
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In the past, a lot of grandparents had to take care of their grandchildren and nobody felt it was not right. Nowadays, this has changed a lot. A lot of young couples would take care of their own children and give their parents more time to enjoy their lives. What do old people (in your country) do at home? = In your country, what do old people do after they retire? =How do old people relax? It really depends. Some people enjoy going to parks to exercise and make friends. We can see a lot of old people there, especially in the morning. They also enjoy watching TV and playing some card games or majiang. A few old people also picked up computer skills and some of them could be really professional. In your culture (your country), do old people usually live with their children? In the past, almost all the old people would live with their children, but nowadays, this has changed a lot. Some old people prefer to live by themselves because they can enjoy more freedom and privacy. However, a lot of them still want to live close to their children, so when they get sick, the children can take care of them. Do you think this might change in the future? I think in the future, therell be a lot retirement homes for older people. Old people might enjoy places like that because they could make more friends of their own age and therere also nurses to attend their daily life. Who do you think should be responsible for looking after old people, the government or the family? =Should the young take care of the old? I think both the government and the family should be responsible. If the old people have children, definitely the children should take care of them when they grow old. However, therere also a lot of old people without children. Its not right to ignore them, so the government should build more retirement homes for these people to help them enjoy their lives. What are some reasons why old people sometimes (have to) take care of young children? Nowadays, a lot of young couples have a lot of pressure from work and family. Usually, both of them have to work in order to buy a new apartment and support the family. If the grandparents take care of the children, they dont have to pay for child care and can also keep both of their jobs, which can provide them with more money. Another reason is that when old people get retired, they usually feel lonely; itll be a very nice way for them to spend time with their grandchildren and help their children as well. However, I think its not right because usually children need to spend enough time with parents but not grandparents so they can grow mentally healthy. You think old people should have to take care of (young) children? For some families, it might be yes because a lot of young couples have a lot of pressure from work and the society. Usually, both of them have to work in order
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to buy a new apartment and support the family. If the grandparents take care of the children, they dont have to spend any money on child care. 10. Do you think its a good idea for old people to take care of (young) children? I think its not right. Children need to spend enough time with parents but not grandparents so they can grow mentally healthy. If they spend too much time with the grandparents, they might be spoiled and lack the love from their parents.
3. A person you would talk to

Describe a person you would talk to You should say: Who he is? How you know him/her? What you talk about? And explain why you would talk to him or her. Sample: Talking to others is always a wonderful way to enrich ourselves, especially to a person with stories. As for my favorite person to talk to, I would say it is my grandfather because he has gone through lots of events in his life and has come up with some really useful and practical life principles. Whenever I feel disappointed, his advice is always the best to comfort me. For example, he always tells me that when I face difficulties, I should hang in there, and pretty soon Ill enjoy the triumph. This has helped me go through many hard days in the past. Also, from him, I am able to get access to some real knowledge that otherwise I can never know, such as the stories happened in North Korea during the Second World War since he himself was a soldier at that time. Apart from that, he also acts as a mentor in my life and he usually tells me how to be a person that is welcomed and how to be the one that is needed by this society. Those are the reasons why I fancy talking to him and I really appreciate his suggestions and advice. Part 3: 1. What do you think are good communication skills? I think in order to communicate well, we should be a good listener. Nobody likes people who talk all the time but never listen. Also, its important to have eye contact so that well know whats going on in our listeners mind. We can also use body language to help us communicate well, things like nodding to acknowledge a strong point in the conversation. And when we speak, we should try to speak clearly and concisely, so that others can easily get what were trying to convey. 2. Do you think everyone can learn these skills?
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3.
4.
5.
6.
I think most people can learn these skills easily. It just involves practice and awareness. Sometimes were too self-centered to use the skills we have learned, so itll be a problem. As long as we keep all the rules in mind and try to apply them when we converse with others, we can be good masters of communication. How would you suggest these skills be taught to children? I think there should be some discussion activities for students to be involved in communication and teachers can also teach the rules of thumb in class so that the students will be able to know if theyre doing the right thing or not. Practice makes perfect. If they children start practicing good communication skills since theyre young, theyll grow up to be good communicators. Do you think adults and children communicate the same way? Probably not. When children talk, they want to tell you the things happened in their life and how they feel about them. When they talk, they use a lot of facial expressions and actions. Because of their attention span, usually we cant expect children to sit down and have long conversations. Also, due to lack of experience, its hard for children to talk about something deep in life. But when adults talk, we want to find a place quiet to talk, so that we can talk about something really deep in our life. Its normal for adults to sit there and talk for hours. Also, adults tend to seek for advice because we want to get opinions from others and we want to share our feelings. Can you think of any examples of work (or, jobs) that require good communication skills? A lot of jobs require good communication skills, for example, the service industry. Nurses and doctors should communicate with the patients and comfort them. Sales representatives should help the consumers have good shopping experiences and try their best to sell more products. Teachers should convey the knowledge to the students in an interesting and simple way. If we dont know how to communicate with others, well be in a lot of trouble. What (personal) qualities do you think good communicators have? I think its not easy to be a good communicator. Good communicators can maintain a relaxed, but not slouching posture, regardless whether they are the one speaking or listening. When speaking, good communicators are clear and concise. They speak on important matters directly and do not waste time with long drawn out stories that will cause the listeners mind to wander. They also dont expect someone to just know what they are saying, even if it is crystal clear in their own minds. Besides these, its important to be patient and considerate when we communicate with others.
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4. A teenager you know

Describe a teenager who you know. You should say: how old they are (= how old he or she is) how and where you met him or her what you and this person do together what kind of person he or she is (his or her personality) and explain how you feel about him or her. or and explain whether you like or dislike this person and why Sample: This topic reminds me of my nephew, a seventh grader, about fourteen years old, definitely a teenager. I remember when I was his age, I was very rebellious and would always think the adults around me were too conservative. Now I feel I was very silly and immature at that time. Unlike other teenagers, my nephew is a very mature and independent boy. Hes a prodigyhe would always get good scores and read extensively. Because of his love in reading, he spends a lot of his spare time at the local library and bookstores. He says reading could help him know the outside world and its like traveling around the world while sitting in his own bedroom. Because of his knowledge and wisdom, hes very popular among his peers. He was elected the monitor in his class and he would always try his best to help the teachers and classmates. For a person who reads and being friends with a lot of people, you might think he has very poor grades. Actually, its quite the opposite. He ranks the first in his class all the time. Unlike other children who would feel proud of themselves and look down on others, he would always say he should study harder because he wants to do something extraordinary in the future. I think hes a smart teenager who knows how to balance his life and studying. Im sure hell have a happy life and a good career in the future. Part 3: 1. What do you think is the difference between children and teenagers? For children, because of their lacking of knowledge, they trust the adults around them and theyre usually more obedient. For teenagers, its a crucial age to form their own world view because theyve accumulated enough knowledge. They want to be respected as adults but sometimes theyre confused and dont know how to make this transformation. Thats why a lot of people consider teenagers as rebellious and troublesome. Actually, they need enough guidance and counseling to help them in this crucial stage of life.
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2. At what age do you think people become responsible (for their own actions)? For my understanding, people become more responsible when they are in high school, so probably after seventeen years old. By then, theyve usually experienced enough discouragement for being rebellious and theyve learned that theyre respected by their adult friends and family when theyre responsible. In order to prove their maturity, they try their best to be responsible for what they do. 3. What responsibilities do you mean here? Something like handling their studying life and social life. If they say something, theyll keep their words. Even when nobody is watching, theyll exhibit more self-control and independence because they know what they do will affect their life and how people view them as individuals. 4. How could (or, should) schools educate students to be responsible people? I think school teachers should first set good examples for these young adults to follow and let them know what are the right things to do. Its also important to give them some extrinsic reward for being responsible, for example, giving scholarship for hard working students. 5. Do you think children also should be responsible people? Of course. Theyre in the stage of learning, and being responsible is a key element for them to learn because it will benefit them in many ways when they grow up. So I think its really important for teachers to teach them how to be responsible. For example, they should hand in their homework on time and organize their own desk in a neat way. Teachers can give them reward or punishment for doing or not doing their work properly, which will help them to be responsible children. 6. Do you think modern culture is mainly a young peoples culture or a culture for the elderly? (why?) I think its more of a culture for the young people. Now a lot of companies are trying to promote young leaders to give more fresh blood to the business and many governments are proud of having young government officials in their leading party. Also, because of the fast advancing of technology, if you dont learn fast, youll be out of date. Actually I think its not only a young appearance but more of a young heart that matters.
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1. The happiest person you know

Describe the happiest person you know You should say: who this friend is what the person is like what the person likes to do and explain why you think hes so happy. Sample: The happiest person I know would be my grandpa. I could always see him laughing and he can also make the people around him happy. He loves his life and could always think ways to make his life more enjoyable. For example, recently, he is learning how to grow vegetables in the flower pots and hes pretty successful for growing tomatoes. When we go to his home, he would always take us to see his marvelous work and tell us we must join him for picking up the tomatoes, which is really interesting. I must admit that my grandpa is a very humorous person and hes very good at telling jokes and stories. When I was a kid, my cousins and I would always gather around my grandpas knees to beg for more stories and jokes. He could always make us laugh our tears out. Even now, I still like listening to the jokes he tells. I think happy people have better chance to stay healthy and live a long life and they could also influence the people around them. He has influenced me a lot and I want to be as happy as my grandpa is. Part3: Discussion topics: 1. Do you think people are happier than earlier generations? In some way, that might be true. When my grandparents were young, there were wars all the time, so it might be hard for them to enjoy their lives. Now the society is stable and because of the development of the economy, people are wealthier than before. I think in this way, people might be happier 2. Do you think money can make people happy? I dont think so. Its true that we cant do many things if we dont have money, but money cant make us feel happier. When people think about earning money, they have to know what things they should sacrifice. If its happiness, I guess that they should say no. 3. Which do you think brings more happiness to people, material things or spiritual satisfaction? I believe spiritual satisfaction can bring people more happiness than only material things. We dont need luxuries to make us happy, but we also wont feel
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happy if we cant even satisfy our basic needs. I think the happiness that we receive from doing something useful for the society or from acquiring fame because of what we do can be much greater. 4. When do you usually celebrate? Ill celebrate on festivals or when I achieve something at school or in my life. Its always nice to have some excuse to get away from studies or work. I can invite friends to good restaurants to eat or have a little party at home. I think celebrations are important in our life because they add spice to our boring routine life. 5. Whats the traditional view of celebration? Traditionally, people just feel its their responsibilities to prepare for big celebration events without thinking why. And usually therere a lot of rules that past down from generation to generation, and sometimes people even forget the real reasons of them. I believe celebrations are some excuses for us to get away from work or studies. We can enjoy our life and spend time with families and friends. 6. How do advertisements influence the way you view happiness? Sometimes advertisements tend to mislead people. They can make you feel that if you dont buy their products, your life will be miserable. Actually, we have to learn how to refuse these temptations and stick to the true meaning of happiness. 7. How do people view happiness past and now? Well, in the past, when people were able to have their stomachs stuffed, have their bodies warmed, they may feel happy. And so, in the past, when people had less desire in life, actually they were happier. However, although peoples life level is greatly improved, peoples pursuit in life also increases dramatically, which means more expectations cannot be satisfied, leading to a phenomenon that people are actually not so happy as those in the past. 8. What do people usually do to celebrate these happy events? Traditionally, people would wear new clothes and cook a lot of delicious traditional food to celebrate big festivals. Its also our tradition for family members to get together on big events to catch up with each other. Big events make our life more colorful and help us to get away from our work and studies. 9. What do you think gives people happiness that lasts a long time? Its a hard question. I think when people feel that they can do something meaningful, the happiness can last a long time, but if we only get some material satisfaction, such a good meal, the happiness will disappear in a short time. 10. Which is more important to you, wealth or happiness? If I have to choose, Ill say happiness. If I have all the wealth in the world, but Im not happy, my life is still meaningless. Money can make our life
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comfortable, but we dont need too much of it, so we should know how to balance our life and not be obsessed with making money.
2.
A band or a musician
Describe a popular band or musician you like You should say: who this person or band is when you first heard of them what style of music does he or they have and explain why you like him/them Sample 1 I like listening to pop songs a lot and know many pop song singers. Today, Id like to talk about a new star, a very young singer called Yoga Lin, a Taiwanese singer and the winner of One Million Star, a reality TV singing competition in Taiwan. After winning the first place, he was signed by famous music company along with three fellow contestants. They were dubbed the "Four Princes of Superstar Avenue". His musical style is full of change and excitement. Despite being only in his early twenties, Lin has proven his ability to deliver a wide variety of musical performances, and he continues to experiment with new music genres and vocal styles. His songs include soft rock, Jazz and Swing, Rock & Roll, and R&B. After listening to his songs two years ago, I started to like him. I like most of his songs, especially a song called You are my eyes, which talks about how important love means to a person, just like eyes for the blind. His songs are full of feelings and can really touch my heart. I hope one day he can come to my city to hold a concert, so that I can see him singing on the stage and sing along with him. Sample 2: I like rock music, especially the songs of the Beatles, the famous English rock band. I think their voices are beautiful and expressive. Its amazing that they could compose most of the songs by themselves and make them very touching. Their songs really resonate with me even so many years has passed. I still remember the first time I heard their music. One day I was at my friend, XXs house and he showed me a lot of the music CDs and DVDs he had collected. Among them, I saw the music of the Beatles. He told me he loved Beatles music very much and he played the music for me. I felt very interested in it because I heard of this band many times but I always thought the music might be too old for me to appreciate. When the song let it be started, I felt the music was very nice and expressive. I also liked the guitar and drum that accompanied the singing. I began to understand why the music of this band was so popular.
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I think I have fell in love with rock music. From then on, I would always play some music from the Beatles during my spare time and I hope I can find new bands as good as them. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Is it good for children to learn music? Yes, I think so. When children learn music, they are enabled to enjoy the world better. Knowing how to appreciate the beauty, feeling relaxed after study, being stimulated in ideas about the society, music can help children live a better life 2. How do Chinese people learn music? Various ways I think. Some may learn music on their own, through listening to the CDs, radio or TV programs, or their MP4s. However, others may go to training schools to lean music from teachers. It just depend on their own interests and their purpose in learning music 3. Do men and women play different kinds of musical instruments? Well, its hard to say. For one thing, I havent paid much to what kinds of musical instruments people are playing. For another, from what I see and what I hear, nowadays, men and women are playing all kinds of instruments as they are interested in. 4. Whats the status of traditional music now? It seems that the traditional music is now being paid growing attention than several years ago. In a sense, the government is realizing the importance of traditional music in the unity of a nation, because it contains the essence of our traditional culture, and can help to arouse a sense of patriotism. Also, formed through a long history over the wisdom of our ancestors, traditional music is always there to be pleasant to listen to. No matter how popular the modern music is, there will always be a place for the traditional ones to live in. 5. Do all grades have music class? I am not sure about the situation, as it has been a long time since I was in the primary school. But I think, there should be music class in every grade. For one thing, music classes can teach students to love their life and the world. For another, music classes can help them to relax and regain their energy and courage to face challenges in their lives. 6. Is music class important? Yes, I think music class is important in the process of education. For one thing, music classes can teach students to love their life and the world. For another, music classes can help them to relax and regain their energy and courage to face challenges in their lives. 7. What kind of music do children like? Well, I think children may like many kinds of music. For example, they may like music that is pleasant, that is easy to understand and easy to mimic. Or sometimes when the music is cool, or when the music is popular among the children, or when the music is in the cartoon that they like, the children may fall
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in love with it. 8. Why would some parents force their children to learn some musical instruments? Well, parents may force their children to learn some musical instrument for various reasons. For example, when the parents believe that doing so will help the children be better prepared for their future life, when the parents find that their children may be talented in some specific field in music, or when parents think doing so will enable the children to have better chances in future achievements or have more opportunities to be further their education. 9. Whats the difference between live concerts and listening to songs on your cell phone? Well, there are some differences. For example, by attending the live concerts, people can enjoy the music in larger groups with better sound system. Also, people can be closer to the stars and feel the excitement. In comparison, by listening songs on the cell phone, it is quite convenient for me to be with music anywhere and anytime. Besides, no matter whether others like it or not, I can listen to it without disturbing others or being disturbed by others. 10. Should children learn some musical instrument? I think its not a must but itll definitely make the childrens life more colorful. They could play the instrument in their spare time and it can become their hobby. However, I dont like the fact that a lot of parents are forcing their children to learn musical instruments. I think they should respect their childrens choice.
3. A friend you havent seen for a long time

Describe a friend you haven't been in contact with for a long time but who you would like to see again. You should say: who this friend is how long you have not been in contact when you would like to meet him or her and explain why you haven't been in contact for a long time. Sample: I want to talk about my best friend, Lily. Actually we were neighbors and went to the same elementary school. We have always been friends even when she moved to another city after high school. Because most of her relatives are still in my hometown, she would come back to visit very often. But two years ago, her family immigrated to Canada and we havent seen each other since then. I really miss her and want to see her again. If I see her, I would like to tell her my life in college and I want to hear her experience in a foreign land. Shes a very optimistic person and she has given me a lot of encouragement since our childhood, and Ive learned a lot from her. When were kids, we would always play together and we could think of all kinds of fun ways to play. Whenever I have
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something difficult to face in life, she would always be there to support me. I really thank her for what she has done for me. Now, both of us are busy with our study, so we havent contact each other for about one year. I hope distance wont change our friendship because I cherish it very much. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. How do (young) people make new friends? I think it varies from person to person. Usually young people make friends among their classmates, or through group activities such as a picnic or a Christmas party. Sometimes, they may also make friends through the Internet. For example, by chat tools like MSN or QQ. 2. How do people choose new friends? I dont know how others choose new friends. As for me, I only make friends with kind and frank people, I think its very important to be frank to people, especially friends. If he or she shares the same interest with me, I think that will be better. 3. What about old people? Do you think they make friends the same way as young people? Of course they also make friends like young people. For example, my grandpa will go to climb the mountain everyday to meet his friends, and sometimes he will also get to know new people, and gradually through activities, they become friends. 4. Which do you think is more important, friends or family? I think family is more important than friends. We can always make new friends, but family members are not possible to be alternated. Although friends are also important in many ways, but when it comes to most important ones, I will say family. 5. Who do you think young children need more, their family or friends? I think young children need friends more than their family. First, they can play happily with their friends, but parents may not have enough time to accompany them. Second, they can share secrets with their friends, and they may not want their parents to know. 6. On the question of making new friends, do you think there is much difference between the situation in the countryside and in the cities? I dont think so. Although I dont know the way to make new friends in the countryside, I think there is not such big difference between them. In order to make new friends, we need to know each other first. Thats why it will be easier for us to make new friends among classmates, because we have more chances to chat and get along with each other. Through taking part in activities, we can also make new friends. 7. What can damage friendship? Generally speaking, time and space will damage friendship. But in my opinion,
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only the weakness of your relationship will influence it. Several of my best friends are studying abroad since undergraduate level, so we can only see each other once or twice a year. I think a strong bond between your friend and you is very important. With this strong bond, its difficult to damage the friendship. Even there are some misunderstandings, it can be understood with efforts of both sides. 8. What kinds of people may become good friends? It depends. I think people who share the same interest will become good friends, because they have more things to chat with each other. But sometimes, people who have completely different personalities will also become good friends; their differences turn into their attraction between each other. 9. How do friends contact with each other? They can contact with each other by various ways. The most popular way in China is to chat online by tools like QQ. Besides, you can contact your friends by emails or letters. Of course, the easiest way is to make phone calls. 10. How to make a friendship last for long? I dont know. I have several best friends, and we have been known each other for more than ten years. As for new friends, I think if you share the same interest or same life goals, it may help develop your friendship and make it last for a long time.
4. A good student you have studied with

Describe a person you have studied with who is a good student You should say: who this person is what kind of person he/she is why you think this person is a good student and explain why you think this person is helpful with your studies. Sample: Id like to talk about my college classmate, liming, whos a very good student in my class. I think hes a very special person and definitely an excellent student. He got a very high college entrance examination score when he got into my university. Since were good friends, he has given me a lot of help about my English studying and other courses. Later, as I spent more time with him, I began to realize that his achievement was closely related to his hard work. Sometimes, its common for college students to skip some classes, but he would never do that. Even when he caught a cold or had a headache, he would still try his best to go to classes. He would always take notes very carefully during the lectures. Sometimes, I would borrow his notes because I felt they were even clearer than the teachers lecture. He gave me a lot of good advice and encouragement. When I just started university,
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my English was not very good because Im from a little town, and the English education there wasnt good enough. I felt hard to understand the teachers English lectures. I was very frustrated when I failed my first English band 4 test, which was required for all university students. He encouraged me and told me his own studying methods and learning strategies. From then on, I would always go to the nearby park with him in the early morning to read English aloud and memorize vocabulary. Finally, my hard work got paid; I passed the test with a good mark. I think I should thank ming for what he has done for me. I believe when we are friends with some good students, we would definitely receive positive influence. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. What kinds of students often have good academic results? In my opinion, I think students that work hard will have good academic results. Although some people will say that students who are clever will have good scores, but just as the Edison says, Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration. Obviously, study hard is more important than one percent inspiration. 2. What will academic achievement influence students? I think if a student can get academic achievement during the school days, its helpful for the student even in his or her later life, because the achievement can give the student confidence to believe that one can achieve more than ones imagination. So after one gets academic achievement, he or she can conquer more troubles than before, and may achieve the success in other areas in later life. 3. What are the other students attitudes towards good students? It depends. Some students will respect good students, for they can do a good job in study, and its not such an easy thing for everyone. But sometimes, some students will be jealous to good students, because they cannot be as outstanding as good students. 4. What are the common characteristics of good students? They usually work very hard in study, and they have patience in doing one thing again and again, which may be one of the reasons that why they can get good scores. They also obey the rules, for example, few of them will be late for school, or do not handle homework. 5. Is a good teacher important? Which is more important, a good teacher or yourself? Yes, of course; a good teacher is also very important. For example, I didnt like Physics in middle school, but when I meet a good teacher, I gradually became interested in Physics and this interest remains until high school. Besides, I got good scores in Physics. I think both are important. Without a good teacher, you may lose interest in one subject or area. Without your hard working, you cannot get a good score. 6. Is it too early for children to work hard now? Yeah, I strongly agree with it. Nowadays, children are not carefree, and they
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cannot get a happy childhood due to the work load. Most of the children cannot play what they want, but take part in a lot of classes that they may not enjoy very much. I think its better to return them the childhood. 7. Do primary schools have heavier workload than the past? Probably not. When I was a child, our teachers would always give us a lot of homework. I remember once I had to stay up until 12pm to finish my homework. Nowadays, students dont have as much homework, but many of them have to take extra-curriculum classes, which will occupy a lot of their free time. 8. Do you think students should be excellent in their study and personal life? Its desirable but is definitely not a must. A lot of excellent students spend too much time on their school work and dont have much time and energy left for their personal life, so its hard for them to succeed in both ways. However, I still think the life outside of school is also important, so parents and teachers should encourage students with good school marks to participate in more after school activities, so that they can develop in a more balanced way. 9. Do you think the friends made at school are important? I think so. When children are at school, they have a lot of opportunities to play and communicate with their classmates so they could really know each other well. The friendship can last for a long time and sometimes, these friends can become their lifelong friends. So we should value the friends we make at schools. 10. What kind of students is popular at school? Is it important to be popular? Its not easy to be popular at school. Usually a student should have both good school marks and be sociable enough. Students love fashionable and smart people because they are more attractive. To some extend its important. Although we dont want to be under the spotlight all the time, a lot of us want to be welcomed and be friends with their peers.
5.
A famous person
Describe a famous person You should say: Who this person is Why the person is famous What the person does And esplain why you would like to meet him/her Sample: To be honest, I am a huge fan of lee hom wong who is a well known taiwanese singer with great popularity worldwide. He is one of the best singers in China now. The first time I saw him was on TV. Actually, I have to admit that I was initially attracted by his appearance especially his charming eyes. As I got to know him more, I gradually became more interested in him. I realized that his charisma was far beyond outlook and my adoration mainly came from his passion for music and determination for success. In terms of family background, he
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is from a doctors family. However, he didnt follow his fathers footstep; instead he left home at an early age and was determined to pursue his own dream to become a singer. I went to one of his concerts, which was a really impressive night. It was like a huge party and everybody was connected by his music like a united family. His songs are so touching for the great melody and lyrics as well as the emotions they convey. I believe his diligence, determination and talents ensure his success in this field. I really admire him and hope one day I could be as famous as he is. Part 3: 1. What changes will your life have if you become famous? If I am famous one day, I think I will have a much healthier life style first, since I should not leave any chances for those paparazzi to disclose scandals on me. Also, I will work even harder, so that I can be a good role model for the majority, and so we could help more people in need in this world. 2. Should we have privacy even with family members? I think so. Although family members are usually the closest to us, every member may be different in their ideas about life, living habits, and personal secrets. In this sense, having some extent of privacy is necessary, which not only gives ourselves benefits, but also shows a respect to other members. 3. Can famous people always contribute to the society? Yes. Usually famous people are rich or have a lot of followers. They can donate money to help the poor if theyre rich. If they are great thinkers, they can influence people emotionally and mentallyhelp people think more positively and be wiling to do something useful for the society. 4. How (or why) do some people become famous? People can become famous through many ways. In the past, its easier for politicians, writers, movie stars or singers to get famous. Nowadays, because of the development of the internet, people could acquire fame just because of some interesting news. I think its quite different from the past. For example, theres a girl named Fengjie and she became famous just because of her interesting advertisement for a life partner, which might sound hilarious but its real. 5. Why do people idolize these famous people? = Why do you think a lot of people like movie stars? =Why do a lot of people like famous people? Usually its not easy to acquire fame. It requires a lot of good qualities. A lot of people want to get famous and they think famous people are just much better than many ordinary people. Actually I think its not quite right because were all humans. We shouldnt think too high of some celebrities. If we do, they might let us down easily. 6. Do you think that celebrities are happy? It depends. If they enjoy their career and have a happy family, usually they can be happy. However, they usually have less privacy. This might make them feel less happy.
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7.
Do you think that celebrities deserve to have their privacy? Yes, definitely. Everyone has the right to have their privacy. If the celebrities are watched all the time, they might feel very difficult to do many things they like and have to worry constantly. I think its not good for their mental health. 8. Whos your favorite celebrity? For girls: I like Dee Xu, a famous TV presenter. Shes a mother of two daughters now but she still looks very modern and young. As a successful presenter, she has unique presenting style. When shes on TV, she can always make the people laugh and talk freely. I really want to learn her humor and optimism. For boys: I love Chauncey Billups, an American basketball player. As a basketball fan, I care about these famous basketball stars. Billups is very different. I like his calmness and his low-key personality. I think celebrities should be like him. 9. Can celebrities be good role models?= What can young people learn from successful people? Yes. A lot of young people like reading books about their celebrities and care about what they say and do. If these celebrities can set good examples by living a healthy life, they can influence their fans to a great extent. I think the most important thing is for celebrities to have good moral standard, so that the young people can learn how to live a good life and how to benefit the society and the people around them.
6. A friend you made recently

Describe a friend you made recently You should say: Who it was? When and where you met to be friends? What you did? And explain why you would talk about him or her Sample: I am recently hanging out a lot with a friend I have just made during this vacation. She is not the kind of person who shares exactly the same interest with me; in fact, we dont have much in common. The only thing we do together is volunteer job and it is how we met. We became friends in a museum and at that time we were both voluntary guides, leading the young children who came to visit the museum. She is indeed a nice girl, very honest and willing to help others, which can be shown by an incident. One day she saw a thief stealing other's wallet, she did not keep her mouth shut but she shouted loudly and caught him. Nowadays, a lot of people are afraid of getting trouble from helping others, so peoples hearts are calloused, but she is not influenced by that. I believe her action can inspire a lot of people to be more willing to help others.
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She is brave and kind hearted girl and I admire her from the bottom of my heart. I think theres still a lot for me to learn from her. Im glad to have a friend like her. Part 3: 1. How do (young) people make new friends? I think it varies from person to person. Usually young people make friends with their classmates, or through group activities such as picnics or parties. Sometimes, they may also make friends through the Internet. I made a lot of friends through chatting software called QQ. 2. How do people choose new friends? I dont know how others choose new friends. As for me, I only make friends with kind and frank people, I think its very important to be frank to people, especially for friends. Besides that, interest is also important. If he or she shares the same interest with me, I think well be able to do many things together and have more topics to talk about. 3. What about old people? Do you think they make friends the same way as young people? Of course they also make friends like young people. For example, my grandpa will go to climb the mountain everyday to meet his friends, and sometimes he will also get to know new people, and gradually through activities, they become friends. 4. Which do you think is more important, friends or family? I think family is more important than friends. We can always make new friends, but family members are not possible to be alternated. Although friends are also important in many ways, but when it comes to the most important ones, I will choose family. 5. Who do you think young children need more, their family or friends? I think young children need friends more than their family. First, they can play happily with their friends, but parents may not have enough time to accompany them. Second, they can share secrets with their friends, and they may not want their parents to know. 6. On the question of making new friends, do you think there is much difference between the situation in the countryside and in the cities? I dont think so. Although I dont know the way to make new friends in the countryside, I think there is not such big difference between them. In order to make new friends, we need to know each other first. Thats why it will be easier for us to make new friends among classmates, because we have more chances to observe and talk with each other. Through taking part in activities, we can also make new friends. 7. What can damage friendship? Generally speaking, time and space will damage friendship. But in my opinion, only the weakness of your relationship will influence it. Several of my best friends are studying abroad since undergraduate level, so we can only see each
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other once or twice a year. I think a strong bond between your friend and you is very important. With this strong bond, its difficult to damage the friendship. Even there are some misunderstandings; they could be solved with efforts of both sides. 8. What kinds of people may become good friends? It depends. I think people who share the same interest will become good friends, because they have more things to chat with each other. But sometimes, people who have completely different personalities will also become good friends; their differences turn into their attraction between each other. 9. How do friends contact with each other? They can contact each other through various ways. The most popular way in China is to chat online by tools like QQ. Besides, you can contact your friends by emails or letters. Of course, the easiest way is to make phone calls. 10. How to make a friendship last for long? I dont know. I have several best friends, and we have known each other for more than ten years. As for new friends, I think if you share the same interest or same life goals, it may help develop your friendship and make it last for a long time.
7. A science subject teacher you know

Describe a science subject teacher you know you should say: which type of science subject the teacher taught how the teacher taught what you did and explain how you felt about the teacher. Sample I want to describe a teacher who influenced me deeply when I was at secondary school. He was my physics teacher, Mr. Shen. In addition, hes also my good friend. He didnt only teach me knowledge in science but also in life. Hes very professional in teaching; he liked to teach the knowledge by telling us stories and his own analysis. This helped us greatly in understanding the knowledge and remembering the facts. Like most physics teachers, he would draw figures on the board very often, and I have to say hes talented in art. His drawings helped me a lot in understanding difficult theories. The most interesting part about his class would be the fun lab experiments we did. He said that when we used the knowledge we learned in our life, we could remember it better. I definitely agree with him. When I had some troubles in life, I would always go to him for advice. Hes like my friend because he could always tell me what he felt when he was my age, which helped me a lot.
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Im so lucky to have him as my teacher. Hes really a good teacher, friendly, responsible, skillful and professional. I love him and take pride of him. Now I still visit him when I go back to my hometown because hes an important person in my life. Part 3: 1. Do you think why most people who get the Nobel Prize are men? Its a good question. Honestly, I dont know why. I think maybe because a lot of women have to take care of their children and do family chores after they get married, so they don't have much time left for their career. I dont think women are inferior to men, but they usually have different choices in life. 2. Do you think its more suitable for boys to study science than for girls to study it? I think gender doesnt really matter, but interest plays a big role in decision making. For famous female scientist, we know Marie Curie, a very well-known woman in the world. If she could do a good job in science, I believe other women are also able to do it, if they want to. 3. Do you think boys are actually better at science than girls? I think interest plays a big role. Usually boys are more interested in science compared to girls. We can tell this from the different games typical boys and girls play. However, therere always exceptions. I know a lot of girls who are very good at science, so it really depends. 4. How do you think the teaching of science in high school could be improved? Nowadays, a lot of high schools dont give students enough opportunities to do lab work. I think we can learn better if we have more chances to practice the knowledge we have learned. So if there are enough hands-on activities along with the abstract theories, high school students will learn better. 5. How do people get information about science as it applies to their everyday lives? I think most people get information about science from school. However, we have to admit school knowledge cant satisfy our curiosity in our daily life, so a lot of people also read books or search on the internet for science knowledge they want to know.
8. A person you liked in your childhood

Describe a person you liked in your childhood You should say: Who the person was What you did together Why you liked the person And explain why you still remember the person. Sample: I want to talk about my best friend, XX. We were actually neighbors and we went to
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the same primary school. We became best friends because we would always play together. I liked her a lot when I was a child because shes very nice to me and would always think of interesting ideas to play. When we were children, we would play all kinds of games together. Because of her innovation, we had a lot of fun together. Shes a very optimistic person and has given me a lot of encouragement. Sometimes I am a worrier and a lot of things would make me nervous. She has known how to encourage people since she was a little girl. She could always make me feel confident and comfortable to do things. I was very thankful for all the encouragement she gave me. I think its common for children to like someone who could play with them and be nice to them when theyre down. Now shes studying in Beijing and Im studying in Shanghai, but were still good friends. I think I should thank the advanced technology. We can keep in touch through emails, phones, and QQ, popular Chinese chatting software. I hope our friendship can last forever.
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1. A museum or library
Describe a museum or library you visited You should say: what it is used for what it looks like how you know about this building and explain what you think is interesting about this place. Museum: A lot of public facilities in my city are pretty modern and advanced. Here, I would like to talk about the very unique museum building. The building was completed in 2000, so now it has been there for more than ten years. If you pass it, youll never fail to notice it because its so interesting and unique. Its like a big tent if you look from the outside and the whole building is made of glass and steel. The color is blue, which can make people feel happy and peaceful. Its not a very tall building because therere only four or five storeys. Therere all kinds of exhibition, but mostly about nature and science. Its really suitable for educating young kids. Schools would always take their students there for a field trip and sometimes you could see people from other cities visiting. If you go into the building, youll feel its very spacious on the first floor. The big hall is gorgeous. Its very bright inside the museum because of the good lighting system. Besides the exhibitions, you could also get free brochures which will tell you a lot of details of the museum. I really like this building because I think its very creative. I hope therell be more buildings like that built in China. Library: Therere a lot of public facilities in my city, such as the libraries, museums, and parks. Id like to talk about the city library near my home. I would go there all the time because I like reading and the place is very peaceful. When I was a child, I would always go to the childrens section, in a separate building. I could find many beautifully illustrated () books there. Now, I go to the regular building for adults. I could find reference books and really enjoy studying and reading at a quiet corner. Its a perfect place to relax and read
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some books that youre interested in. My favorite place is on the third floor. There are some traditional style tables and chairs. When Im there, Ill feel Im in ancient China. Sometimes, Ill also go to the periodical room () to find some fashion magazines and newspapers to read. When Im tired and want to find some information online, I can use their advanced computers to surf the internet and read some electronic version books. Im so glad that theres such a good library in my city. I could go there whenever I have time. For a book lover like me, I think its a good way for me to relax and release my pressure from study (work). Library2: Id like to talk about the new Hangzhou Library. it is Chinas first free-of-charge and zero-barrier public library, and is a paradise-like library. People could swipe their ID Cards or Hangzhou Citizen Cards to read and borrow books. And the library serves all people equally. Anyone, including farmer workers, beggars and scavengers, is allowed to read in the library only if they wash their hands in order not to get the books dirty. New Hangzhou Library is located on the J Building in the northwest corner of Hangzhous Qianjiang New Town. The library has several wings beautifully designed with spacious layouts. They are tastefully furnished and equipped with advanced audio-visual technology. In the library, there are study areas equipped with personal reading lamps, power supplies and free Wi-Fi coverage. In the foreign language section, reading areas are furnished with western taste, with an artificial fireplace to create a comfortable, relaxing environment. Besides there are rooms for movies and musical appreciation, general audio-visual rooms, a caf, a childrens section, and a calligraphy room, etc. The library also organizes activities such as talks by guest speakers, community activities, and performances. Part 3 Discussion Questions: 1. What kind of public buildings do young people often go to? Young people usually go to public buildings like the stadium and museum. Stadium enables them to work out and improve the condition of their health. They also like to visit museums because there are some special exhibitions like modern art or design or even the exhibitions like development of games. 2. Should government spend money on public buildings? Yes, I think so. The public building is an important aspect of connecting the people together. Besides, after one days work or classes, people need to have a place to relax themselves. In addition, if the government can use public buildings wisely, it is helpful for school children to understand the history of our country.
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3. Should government build stadiums? Yes, I think so. Since health is the most important thing in everyones life, the government needs to put peoples health into consideration. Without health, we cannot lead a normal life, and we cannot go to work and make contribution to GDP, either. So I think the government has to build stadiums so that more and more people will visit the stadium to work out. 4. Now many people use public buildings to earn money. Do you think this is good? I think it is not a good thing because the meaning of public buildings is that it serves people, but if businessmen start using public buildings to earn money, most people may choose not to go to public buildings again. However, although I think to use public buildings to earn money is not good; it is necessary that administrator may need to charge a few fees for the operation of the place. 5. Do you think those public buildings can bring you happiness? Yes, I think so. I have been to the stadium with my friends a few times this summer. We swim in the pool and it is really great because it can not only get rid of the tiredness of us, but also makes us feel cheerful. In addition, when I visit museums, I also feel happy because I learn knowledge of culture, and enjoy the art works which exhibited there. 6. Who should carry out a planning of public building, the government or the public? I think its better that when planning the public building, the government will consider the advice of the public people, because the government want to build public areas to benefit the public, so the public have to take part in the plan to speak their voice out. However, it is better for the government to carry out the actual planning and construction. 7. Some people do not like to take pets to public areas, what is your opinion? I think it is better for people to understand each other. Some people like to take pets to public areas, so if you do not like it, you can go for a walk to another part of the public area. Also, for people who take pets with them, theyd better consider others feelings, and do not take pets so often. 8. Describe the function of public building. There are many functions of public building. For example, people usually go to public buildings like the stadium and museum. Stadium enables them to work out and improve the condition of their health. They also like to visit museums because they can improve their knowledge.
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2. A cafe
Describe a cafe that you know in your hometown You should say: where it is how often you go there what kind of food they serve there (or, what service they provide) who you usually go there with and explain why you like to eat at this place/ why you choose to eat at this place. Sample: I want to talk about a cafe called hometown cafe in my hometown, which is my favorite dining place. My friends and I would always go there to relax or read books. This place gave us many happy memories. As soon as you enter the caf, youll be impressed by the unique atmosphere and decoration. If you look up, you will find the ceiling is a fishing net full of colorful balloons. I am also attracted by the soft music they play. In this place, everyone can avoid the noise from work or studies. They serve home-made coffee, rice combo, French fries, fried chicken ect. I could eat and read a book or talk with my friends. I could spend a whole afternoon there and sometimes Ill even bring my school work to the caf. I feel I can concentrate more if Im in this special place. When I feel tired or sad, I would always go to this caf. At that place, I can feel at ease and can forget the worries and troubles in life. Sample2: C-straits Caf on Wulin Road is my favorite Caf in my hometown, and I often go there to enjoy myself. When I am in low spirits, I will go there to have a cup of coffee to cheer myself up. When I am happy, I will go there with some friends to share our happiness with each other. At first, I went to the caf by chance just because it is nearby my home. But the environment in it immediately attracted me so much that Ive almost been fascinated to it. Located in the center of Hangzhou, it is a quiet spot in the noisy neighborhood and it is very convenient to park cars with its free parking space. Inside the caf, couches are separated from each other with large space, so that customers privacy are protected and everybody has a comfortable place. Here I can feel at ease with my own business, this is also why I like the caf. Sometimes, if I am lucky I can watch someone play the piano. After dinner time, they will light the candles to create a romantic atmosphere. The foods such as steak, coffee, and desserts in the caf are also delicious. I like chestnut cake and coconut mousse in particular. And the service here is perfect: whenever I order something, I dont have to wait for a long time.
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Part 3 Discussion Questions: 1. What foods are most nutritious and what food are not very nutritious? Generally, fresh foods are all most nutritious; no matter it is vegetable, meat or fruit. There are different sorts of nutrition in various foods. Vegetables and fruits contain plenty of vitamin and dietary fiber, while meat provides protein and fat. On the other hand, junk food is of little nutrition, for mostly it is fried food, containing nothing but fat and salt. 2. Do you think advertising has an effect on what food people eat? Yes, the effect of advertising is usually sound and lasting. When the exaggerated advantages and functions of a certain food can be repeatedly seen, people tend to consider the food a real good choice to eat. Thus they may buy it without a second thought. Thats also why some food of best quality doesnt sell wellthey dont advertise much. 3. Do you think that junk food should be banned? I strongly agree with it. People like to eat junk food because it usually tastes good. Either savoury or crispy, junk food in fact contains a lot of fat and salt rather than nutrition. So it does no good to people health, but only makes people overweighed. I think junk food should be banned, at least be limited, especially for teenagers troubled by obesity. 4. What measures should be taken to increase public awareness of proper nutrition? Various measures can be taken to do it. Firstly, medias can be used to publicize the knowledge on health and nutrition. Secondly, the manufacture and marketing of junk food should be under management. Whats more, hospitals may open up Health and Nutrition rooms. Similarly, community clinics may provide nutrition evaluation and consulting services. 5. Are there many cafes near your home/school/university/work? There are just a couple. Coffee appeals to young people and businessmen rather than the aged, so most cafes are located around shopping centers and office building in downtown areas. In districts around my home/school/work, tea houses seem to be more popular. 6. What (different) types of cafes are there in your hometown? There are generally 2 types of cafes: the chain shops and the independent ones. One of the most popular caf chains in Hangzhou is the Cross Straits Caf. It provides nice coffee and beef stakes as well. Those private cafes are usually of smaller size and their own features. 7. What are some of the factors that make a caf a good one? Since it is a caf, firstly it should provide fine coffee, and other food as well. A good environment is also important. No one wants to drink coffee in a noisy and messy place. Another important factor is that the waiters should be well trained so that they are both polite and fast reacting to the requests of the customers. 8. Does the food in the caf you just talked about (in Part2) taste different to Western food? (compare the two)
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Well, some of the foods they serve are western styled, such as the Fried Chicken and the French Fries. But the rice combos are Chinese food. I find that in Western food, most of the main foods are cooked by frying, while in China people prefer boiling or steaming. We think fried food is not so healthy. 9. Is it important in Chinese culture to eat outside with other people? You see, in traditional Chinese culture, people invite important guests or intimate friends to their home for dinner. Visiting home may make people know each other better and draw them closer. However, we tend to eat out in recent years. For one thing, there are more choices eating out. For another, restaurants provide professional cooking and they are more suitable for business meals.
3. A crowded place
Describe a time you went to a place crowed with people You should say: when you went there where the place was what you did there And explain why you went there/how you felt the crowd place. Sample: I would like to talk about the train station in my hometown. I think its the most crowded place. Ive ever been especially during the spring festival. I have to take the train very often because my college is far away from my hometown. And the experience last spring festival was the most impressive one. When I arrived at the train station, I felt it was a place full of people and people were literally every where. You began to feel elbowed even before entering the waiting room. I had to stand in line to take the elevator to the waiting room and when I was there, I couldnt find a seat to sit. When I had to use the bathroom, it was full and I had to wait for more than half an hour. When it was time to get on my train, I felt it was hard to walk with so many people pushing to the same destination. Fortunately, I finally got the on the train safely. I live in a crowded country and people all want to go home during the Spring Festival, so I just have to accept the fact the train station will never lack people. I hope therell be more buses with reasonable prices in the future so that people could choose alternative ways to go home during festivals. Then, the train station wont be overloaded and crowded as now. Sample2: Last National Day, my friends and I were on the way to Lishui, and we experienced a time when the highway was crowded with people. For the first time in China, during last National Day, highways gave free passage to small passenger cars under 7 seats. As a result, the highways connected with hot scenic resorts mostly witnessed traffic jam, so did Hangxinjing Highway.
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In fear of being held up the traffic jam, we set off early in the morning. On the highway, we drove almost at a normal speed as usual during the first hour. But an hour later our speed was increasingly slow; and then we had to be stuck in the traffic jam for more than one hour. Many people were stuck in the jam for so long time that many of them got off their cars to do all kinds of exercises: some people just strolled nearby their cars, some walked their dogs, and the others even began to play badminton on the highway. After that, we had to keep driving at a low speed. On the way, we witnessed many rear-end collisions and broken glass can be found here and there. Later, from broadcast, we knew that on some highways the cars got stuck in the massive tailback stretched over 40 kilometers! Part 3 Discussion Questions: 1. Do you like large places? Yes, I like large places, such as squares, parks and seas. Large places are usually not very crowded and provide large room. It makes me at ease. Once I am in a narrow space, I feel repressed and nervous. Then I will cape from there as soon as possible. 2. What event will attract many people in China? People may be attracted by various occasions. When there is a traffic accident, people gather around to see what has happened or whether they can give a hand. Performances usually appeal to people to stand there and watch for a long time. Sometimes quarrels and fights in the streets also attract peoples attention. 3. What place will attract many people in China? Some restaurants provide good but cheap food, so there are usually many people waiting to have meals there once it is dinner time. Galleries with exhibitions of modern arts and stadiums with concerts are popular with most young people, while conference rooms attract a large number of aged people when there are health instruction reports. 4. What do you think is the most important thing of an event? The most important factor of an event lies in its consequence. With a good result, the event will bring benefits and happiness to both the participants and other people involved. And it will receive rewards and support. On the contrary, a bad result causes only nightmares, hurting peoples feelings and lives. 5. What problem is better to be solved through group work? Many problems need group work, such as a problem involving too many aspects to be solved by the ability of a single person. A single persons capability is limited, while the members in a group each has his own merits and resources. So it is easier to solve a problem appropriately through group work. 6. Do people like crowded places in China? Well, different people have different characters. Some people like crowded and
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boisterous places very much. Once they see people are gathering together, they struggle in to have a close look. However, people like me prefer quiet, relaxing atmosphere, so they usually would rather run away from crowded circumstances and find a peaceful place.
*1. Natural beauty

Describe a natural beauty You should say: what it is when you visited what you saw and explain why you think it was beautiful. Sample: As to a natural beauty, Id like to talk about Huangshan, a mountain range in southern Anhui province. The mountains were formed about 100 million years ago, and its name is thought to have been coined in honor of Huang Di, a legendary Chinese emperor. Huangshan is a frequent subject of traditional Chinese paintings and literature, as well as modern photography. The great Chinese geographer and traveler, Xu Xiake once said that a trip to Huanshan is more worthy than trips to any other famous mountains in China. It is well known for strange peaks, peculiarly shaped stones, pine trees, and views of clouds. The view of the clouds from the mountaintops is known as the Sea of Clouds, because the clouds movements look like the waves in an ocean. Climbing up the three tallest peaks--Lotus Peak, Bright Summit Peak, and Celestial Peaks, one can experience pleasure of conquering the nature. Huangshan attracts many visitors every year. At the top of the mountain, there are hotels, restaurants, and other facilities. But the resources are expensive because they are carried up by the porters on foot. Staying overnight on the mountain, we can get up early and see sunrises. Ive been there several times and each time I was amazed by various beautiful scenes. If you are to go there, youd better take one more coat along with you, for the temperature up there is much lower at night. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. In general, what types of places in your country have natural beauty?
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2.
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Well, I think therere a lot of natural beauties all around China, and most of them are in the countryside because therere not so many people there, its easier to preserve the scenery the way they are. We usually like natural beauties near rivers or mountains so its easy to find beautiful places around them. What do you think are the benefits of preserving a place such as a beautiful forest and turning it into a location for tourism? Therere a lot of benefits. If we preserve a natural place well, we can help the animals to enjoy their lives in their natural habitats and preserve the variety of plant species. Also, green areas can help cleanse the air and solve the pollution problems. Besides, the local government can always earn money from tourism through the natural places, which can contribute to the city development. Do you think there are any possible downsides to doing that? Yes. For example, if many people go to the same place, its very likely that theyll damage the natural environment and scare the habitants. People might litter in the place and we know a lot of garbage cant be decomposed in a very short time, so its a big burden for the nature. Too many buses or cars running in these places can also cause serious air pollution. So the government should control the number of people visiting a place. How can humans protect natural places? Its really important not to cut trees too often and let the place stay as the way it is. Sometimes, its also helpful for us to plant new trees to help preserve the natural environment. Also, the government should set strict laws to forbid hunting. For tourist sits, the number of people visiting should be monitored closely. What can we do about natural disasters that do damage to places of natural beauty? Well, I dont know this well, but I think there should be some cleaning work to do and if there are trees damaged, new trees should be planted. For injured animals, people also need to give them special care so that they could return to their natural habitat when theyre fully recovered. If you were going a trip to a natural place, what things would you take with you? I would take pants and long sleeve shirts to prevent from bug bites. Also, its necessary to prepare enough food and water to feed myself. Furthermore, a map for the place could help me find the way when I get lost. How does man-made art compare to scenes of natural beauty? Theyre very different. Sometimes people are trying very hard to help us see the natural beauty from another angle. But the natural beauty is Gods work, which cannot be really copied. Also its in a larger scale, such as a waterfall, a forest. Its not easy to appreciate unless we get close to it.
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*2. Garden or park

Describe a park or garden that you went to You should say where it was what it was like when you went there and explain why you liked it. Sample Ive been to many parks, but Prince Bay Park in Hangzhou is the park I like the most. I like it because it is very beautiful and it is a wonderful place to see clear blue sky and breathe fresh air when the environment anywhere else in the city is polluted so seriously. I go to the park many times every year. In the park, there are lots of trees, vast lawn and several creeks. A casual walk in the park is very pleasant and can make me totally relaxed. When tired I camp on the lawn to have a rest. Very often, I can see new couples taking wedding photos in the park. Lots of people take their kids there to have fun. In spring or autumn, it is a gorgeous park providing students with a nice place for outing and picnics. The park is especially famous for the flowers: in March and April, beautiful cherry blossoms, tulips and some other flowers bloom successively. And every year there are tulip exhibitions in the park, attracting countless visitors. The best time to visit Prince Bay Park is in flower season, but during the period it will be very crowded especially at weekends or in holidays so wed better go there on workdays. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Should parks charge admission fees? Well, I dont think it is necessary. For one thing, the building of a park, usually from part of the government revenue, is actually from the tax paid by citizens. So, in this sense, charging admission fees is unacceptable. For another, providing public places for people to relax, to refresh themselves, and to enjoy life, should be part of the responsibility of the government. 2. Should every town have their own parks? Yes, I think its a good idea to do so. With parks in town, the residents there would have public places to relax, to refresh themselves, and to enjoy their life. Otherwise, they may have to travel a long way to visit parks in other cities. 3. What is the value of nature to children? Nature means much to children. Firstly, nature provides a lot of knowledge to children, such as the names of plants, animals, the importance of the sun and water, and the natural law. Also, being close to nature, children are enabled to
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breathe fresh air, stretch their bodies and relax. So if it is possible, children should be encouraged to stay more with the nature. 4. Should there be parks in cities? Yes, I think its a good idea to do so. With parks in cities, the residents there would have public places to relax, to refresh themselves, and to enjoy their life. Otherwise, they may have to travel a long way to visit parks in other cities. 5. How can we encourage children to go to parks? Actually, if the parents want, they can do a lot to encourage children to go to parks. For example, parents can themselves act as role models, so that their kids will go with them to the parks. Also, more activities could be organized at parks, so that children will find it interesting to go there. 6. Are there many parks in your city? Sure, there are many parks in Beijing. Almost every community has their own parks, with some being small while others bigger. And every region will have a central park for that area, where people around there can have free access. Besides, there are still some parks, acting as tourist attractions, which people can visit. Various parks in my city encourage people to enjoy their life better. 7. Why do people go to gardens? Well, people may go to gardens for various reasons. Some people go there to have a walk around with families after meals, to enjoy a family get-together and their leisure time with the nature. Other people may go there to refresh themselves from their daily routines, and some people, especially the old, may go to the gardens to find a place to do some exercise, or just find some other old ones to share their ideas about life, and sometimes, young people may go to the gardens to have their datings. 8. Whats the difference between public gardens and private gardens? There are some differences between public gardens and private gardens. For example, public gardens are usually funded by the government, while private gardens may be funded by some individuals or enterprises. Also, public gardens are there to provide a place to relax for the public, while private gardens may just serve for some private purposes. In addition, public gardens may be bigger in size whereas private garden may be much smaller. 9. Should gardens be free to the public? Yes, I think so. Free gardens can provide the public good places for the public to relax and refresh, and therefore, they can then contribute more to the development of the society. Also, the public have already paid their money, in the form of taxes, and thus they should receive some public service from the government, to which gardens are just one of the good examples. 10. How to cultivate childrens love towards the nature? In my opinion, its easy to cultivate childrens love towards the nature. You can take them to go picnic, or go hiking, or go cycling sometimes, so children will fall in love with nature very easily. Besides, you can also tell them some stories about nature and human beings, so they may feel close to nature.
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11. Do you think more gardens can mean a place is more developed? Yes, I think so. I have heard that in some developed countries, there are many gardens for people to relax, or have meals, or read books. In China, with the development of economy, people care more about their leisure activities, so there are more and more gardens in China nowadays. 12. What benefits can teenagers get from planting trees? Planting trees are beneficial to teenagers in at least two ways. First, they can get a chance to close nature, and they may fall in love with nature. Second, they will be educated to protect the environment, which will benefit the earth.
*3. A beautiful house or apartment you've visited

Describe a beautiful house or apartment youve visited You should say: Where it is? How it looks like? What is it used for? And explain why you like it Sample: A friend of mine lives in the suburbs of Hangzhou. Once she invited me together with several friends to her home, and the apartment deeply impressed all of us. Her apartment is situated in a new neighbourhood with fantastic greening. She showed us around the neighbourhood before we went up to her apartment. It was in autumn, and we found ourselves standing in a beautiful garden where varieties of flowers were in full bloom and fruits are fragrant. The apartment, on the third floor, was spacious and tastefully decorated. As soon as we entered in it, we all marveled at the design of it. It contained a living room, dining and kitchen area, large balcony, a study with a built-in desk and a large bookcase, and both the master bedroom and guestroom were with walk-in wardrobes and bathrooms. Almost every space of her apartment was perfectly utilized. The wall in each room was painted in different colors, and the floor except that of kitchen and bathrooms was covered with wood floor of log color. Most of the furniture was made of wood and the colors matched well with those of floor and wall. Quite a lot of green plants and flowers were planted on the balcony, which made her apartment full of vitality. Her apartment was really terrific and I dream of an apartment like it of my own. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What makes a location suitable for young people? Living in the city centers is best suitable for young people. Because many companies are located in the business area, living in the city centers could be convenient for them to get to work. And there are also a lot of entertaining
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facilities in the city centers, such as cinemas, theaters and shopping centers. 2. What makes a location suitable for old people? I think it's better for the olds to live in the rural areas. Nowadays, the facilities in the rural areas have been improved a lot so people don't have to go to the city to do shopping and get treatment in the hospital. And living in the rural areas can be beneficial for their health as the air is fresher and the water is cleaner. 3. What places for entertainment are there near where you live? All the places for entertainment are located in the city center near where I live. There are cinemas, KTVs, shopping centers. As I live in a small town, it is very convenient to get to those places. 4. Do you think the design of a home is important? Absolutely. home is the place for you to feel relaxed and people spend half of their lives at home. So a home that you like is very significantly important. Warm color could make you feel happy, so you can release your pressure when you walk into your home. I think it is worthwhile to make effort in designing the home as comfortable as possible. 5. Do you think it's possible for a person to design his own home? Yes, of course. One of my friends designed his own apartment. It might not be as good as the profession's design but as long as he likes it, I think it's good. People could do the main design of their own home, such as the walls, the floors, and so on. But I think they should ask profession's advice before making decisions.
*4. Favorite room

Describe a room you spend most of the time in. You should say: where the is what the room looks like what you usually do in the room and explain how you feel about the room. Sample I have to admit that the room I spend most of my time in is my bedroom. Its a small but cozy room in which Ive lived since my childhood. I prefer to spend most of my time there because it is my private domain. It is a common room without special design. The wall is white and the floor is covered with dark brown wooden floors. Beside my bed, there is a built-in desk and several closets. On the desk, theres a computer, a beautiful book shelf, a desk lamp and a potted green plant which is said to be able to reduce radiation and make me refreshed after long time of study. My room is well-lighted during the daytime, so I would study in my bedroom most of the time, needless to turn on the reading lamp. In my spare time, I often stay in the room surfing the internet to search information, see movies, listening to music or
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do some shopping. Sometimes, I just lie in the bed with my mind wandering. And I can sleep late at weekends when I am a little tired. My bedroom means a lot to me. It is in this room that I go through some hard time and experience some joyful occasions as well. Staying in this room, I always feel safe and relaxed. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Would you like sharing a bedroom with others? = Why do many people feel a need to have their own room (bedroom)? = Do you think it is important for people to have their own room? I think most people dont want to share a room with others because we all need some personal space and privacy. Its good to have a friend living with you, but occasionally you also want to stay alone and enjoy some quiet time. Also, if I have my own bedroom, I can decorate it in whatever way I want. It might be hard to do it if I share a room with a roommate. 2. Are there any advantages for children to share a bedroom with other children? Yes, when children share a room with others, they can learn something from each other. When they face some difficulties in life that they dont want to talk to their parents, its also easier to share with their roommates. I think its good. Do you think having some privacy is important? Definitely. Thats why we have curtains at night, not for warmth but for privacy. Its just hard if we feel were watched all the time. Sometimes, its important for us to stay alone to enjoy some quiet time. What do you think homes of the future will be like? =How do you think homes of the future will be different to (or, better than ) the homes we have today? = In the future, do you think that the amount of space that people have to live in will be better or worse than the situation today? I think homes in the future might be worse than homes now, especially in big cities. Because of the housing prices, a lot of people cant afford houses in big cities. Maybe in the future, the government will build very small homes for poor people to live in. Which do you think is better, to live in a small house or a big house? For me, my home is small, so owning a big house is like a dream to me. I definitely think a big house is far better than a smaller one. You can invite as many guests as you want and you dont have to worry about guest rooms. You can hold parties in your own home because you have enough space. I just admire big houses. How many rooms does a typical Chinese family need? =How many rooms do you think is enough for a family of three =Do you think people's homes in your country are big enough
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Nowadays, a lot of family usually only has three members. For this kind of family, two bedrooms and a living room will be enough. However, if they want to invite friends and family occasionally, an extra guest room might be useful. If the money allows, a study will be good for both the parents and the child. 7. Do people have enough living space in your country? It depends. For people living in the countryside, they usually have spacious homes because the availability of land. In cities, most rich people can afford large houses or apartments, but poor people usually have to live in small makeshift apartments. Why is housing important to people? Your house is your home. If we cant have good housing, its hard for you to enjoy your family life. People value where they live because they spend a tremendous of time and energy there. If housing problems cant be solved, its hard for people to feel content with their lives. Is private space important? Yes, I think so. Everyone may have his or her own secrets and privacy. A private space is just the place to release the secrets or privacy. Otherwise, one will be suppressed, which is not good to their health. Besides, everyone may have his or her own preferences or favourites, without the disturbance of others, a private space can ensure them to enjoy their own space.
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10. Why do people like going to public places, like pubs? People go to public places for different reasons. Some go there because they dont want to be alone when they are free. Others go there to find fun or excitement to refresh themselves, and still others go there, hoping to release their stress in life or making some new friends. 11. How does the workplace affect people? Many factors of the workplace will affect peoples passion for work, such as the lighting, space and decoration conditions. People tend to work energetically when the workplace is bright, roomy and neat. On the contrary, in a dim and narrow environment people may feel reluctant to do their job.
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*1. A street in your hometown

Describe a street you know well. You should say: where it is what the main buildings are in (on) that street what you usually do in (on) that street and explain how you feel about this street. Sample: For those interested in special foods in Hangzhou, I always recommend to them Shengli River Food Street, a street I know well. The street is located beside the branch river of Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal Shengli River in Gongshu District. It is a Food Featured street, having prosperous night market. There are some popular restaurants on both sides of the street, and the buildings combine the imitation of the South Song Dynastys architectural style. Every evening, the street is decorated with colourful lanterns and lights, and its always crowded. It has already become a hot spot for Hangzhou residents to have dinners and or get together. There, we can taste various kinds of delicious special foods. Besides, some fancy crafts and souvenirs are exhibited and sold there. The scenery along the street is also marvelous. There is a large parking lot for the visitors to park their cars, but at weekends, it would be a little difficult to find a vacant parking space. I prefer to go there on foot in the evening so that I can appreciate the beautiful sceneries along the river. If I get there earlier than scheduled, I would take a walk by the river. Of course, whenever I go there, my main purpose is to taste some delicious food and it can always be satisfied. I think Shengli River Street is a real choice to enjoy eating something and it is a blessing for local residents as well as visitors from other places. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What are Chinese residential areas like? Ill say according to the standard of the homes, residential areas are very different from one another. Some places are nice with guards, enough trees and flowers, and other facilities. However, some cheap homes are surrounded basically by other buildings, and people could only go to nearby parks to relax. As a matter of fact, without guards, these people have to worry more about their home security. 2. How can the government have a better plan of those areas?
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I think the government can invest more money on fitness facilities and parks in residential areas to help people stay more time outdoors. If we can work out for free in our neighborhood, more people will be able to exercise. Its also important to make sure of the local security. I hope therell be more police around residential areas to prevent theft and robbery. How can residents satisfaction rates about the residential areas be enhanced? If therere more accessible facilities, people definitely will be happier. There should be local libraries for people to read and check out books, fitness center and swimming pools that are free or at a low cost for local residents. If people can benefit from these investments, their satisfaction rate can definitely be higher. Are those traditional houses suitable to be constructed in modern cities? In china, most traditional houses are one or two storeys and they usually require big pieces of land. Now most cities are getting more and more crowded in China, this kind of house is not practical any more. I think cities should build higher buildings to accommodate more people. What are the benefits for old people to live in the city? There are many benefits when the old choose to live in cities. For example, they can have a fast treatment when they are ill since the old are more likely to suffer from illness. Also, they can enjoy better life qualities in cities because the welfare system there is usually more improved. Besides, the old can enjoy a more enriched life there because of the facilities available in cities. Whats the ideal residential area? Well, its hard so say for sure, coz people may have diversified pursuits of their life. For those who want more excitement in life, a residential area in the downtown area may be an ideal choice for them, especially when there are full of entertainment places and facilities to help them enjoy their free time. However, to those who like a more peaceful life, a residential area in the suburbs with life convenience but little disturbance will be better; particularly when there is beautiful scenery no matter whether is manmade or natural. How to promote the quality of residential areas? Various measures can be taken, as long as people hope to do so. For instance, they can improve the infrastructure, such as the building of more health facilities and clinics, so that residents will enjoy a healthier life there. Also, more convenient services could be provided, such as the vegetable market, housekeeping service, which could help residents deal with their daily problems. Is community life important? To be frank, I am not so sure. Because you know, up till now, I have spent most
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of my time on the campus, and I dont have many chances to enjoy my time in the community. But to the residents in the community, I believe the community life will be important to them, because only when they have a pleasant community life after their busy work and heavy pressure in the social competition, will they have the good chances to relax and then get refreshed to contribute more the development of the society. 9. Whatre the benefits of living in the city? Well, life in cities does have many benefits. For example, due to the developed transportation facilities, it is quite convenient for citizens to travel around the city. Also, comparatively, in cities, the welfare system is better, educational chances are more available, medical service is usually more advanced, and the ways of entertainment are more enriched, providing the public a more secured life. In addition, because of a larger population, there will be more opportunities for the young to find a position in the society. 10What kinds of streets do you like? I like walking around different streets. When I feel lonely, I like to go to those popular streets where many people are gathering around, but when I feel depressed, I prefer those peaceful streets with fewer people. And on some other occasions, I may go with my friends to do window shopping, and thus we may choose those streets with a lot of shops for specialties.
*2. River or lake you like

Describe a place near water you visited You should say: what the place is when you visited what you saw and explain why you liked the place. Sample: Living in a region south of the Yangtze River, I have visited countless places near water. And I like Su Causeway the most. The 2.8-kilometer-long Su Causeway spans the West Lake. Along the causeway there stand six bridges. Su Causeway was first built as early as 1090 when Su Dongpo, a famous poet in the Song Dynasty came to serve as a governor of Hangzhou. He had the lake dug and the silt were piled up and formed into a causeway, naming after him later. Todays Su Causeway has been refurbished over centuries and has become a tourist attraction. Famous as Spring Dawn by Su Causeway, we can enjoy diverse fantastic sceneries of West Lake in four seasons on the causeway
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On both sides of the causeway, peach trees and willows are planted alternate with each other. In spring, willow trees dance slightly in the breeze and peach flowers are in full bloom. Many visitors will be attracted there to enjoy themselves. I often go to Su Causeway with my families or friends. With the fragrance of flowers, wed like to take a walk on it. More often than not, we cycle on the causeway. We can rent bicycles there free of charge. Sometimes we can rent tandem bicycles which are funny. Of course, every time we will take lots of photos. I really like Su Causeway for its beautiful sceneries. PART3: discussion topics 1. Would you like to live near water, for example, near a river or the ocean? =What advantages can you get if you live near the water? = Why do some people like to live near water? Yes, I do. I think for people who live near water, therere many advantages to take. For example, they could go swimming or fishing much more often. Also, the scenery near water is usually nice and beautiful. If I live near the water, I can have a walk near the river or sea and even go there to enjoy the nature during my spare time. 2. Are there any disadvantages to live at the seaside? Yes, people can walk at the beach and swim in the sea if they live at the seaside. However, when natural disasters come, the people near the sea might be affected first. Just like the tsunami happened in Japan. Many people lost their lives, especially the ones who lived near the seaside. 3. Do you think climate change will have an effect on people's desire to live at the seaside? Possible. When natural disasters come, the people near the sea might be affected. Just like the tsunami happened in Japan. Many people lost their lives, especially the ones who lived near the seaside. I often hear people talking about not living near the sea as a blessing, so I think this might have some effect. 4. What's the difference between swimming in a swimming pool and swimming at the beach? Theyre quite different. First, the water is different. Also, the sea is much bigger than a swimming pool, so when you swim in it, you can have more freedom and can feel close to the nature. 5. What activities do people do when they go to places with a lot of water? Therere many things to do, such as fishing and swimming. Sometimes, people can also ride a boat or do water drafting. Some special parks even provide water fighting facilities for visitors to enjoy some group activities. 6. Is there much water transportation in your country? = Do you like traveling by ship? = Is water transportation today the same as it used to be in the past? Yes, therere. However, Ive never taken a ship to go somewhere. I guess most of the ships nowadays are used for cargo transportation because tourists usually
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feel theyre slower than trains or airplanes. In the past, a lot of people have to take ships or boats as transportation if they want to go somewhere near water. I read many novels talking about people visiting other countries by ship. I guess ship traveling was very popular in the past. 7. How does water transportation compare to other forms of transportation? I guess its hard for water transportation to have traffic jams because therere not that many ships or boats in the big river or the ocean. Thats a good thing. However, planes and trains are probably faster than ships, so a lot of people prefer not to travel by water. 8. Do you like water? Yes, I do. Water is the origin of life. When Im close to the ocean or river, I can feel the marvelous work of the nature. We cant live without water because we need to drink it and use it in our life. I think we should try our best to save water and protect the water resources. 9. How do people use water? People use water for many things. In fact, we can't live without water! Most importantly, we need to drink water. We water our gardens and farms. We use water to cool ourselves. We swim and play in water. We use water for recreation people ride water skis, and sail or drive boats of all kinds. We also use water as transport for people and things to go from place to place across oceans or along a river. 10. Whatre the disadvantages of living near water? Therere some disadvantages. If we live near water, we might be affected by natural disasters, such as floods, and tsunamis. If we think about what has happened in Japan, probably, we need to think carefully before moving near water.
*3. An important city in your country

Describe an important city in China You should say: where it is what you can see in the city why it is important and explain how you feel about the city. Sample: As a big country, China has so many famous and important cities. Beijing is one of them and its influence in China cant be denied. Being the capital of China, Beijing is the nations political, cultural, and educational center and one of the four municipalities directly under the central government. It is also the second largest Chinese city by urban population after Shanghai. Beijing plays an important role in our country both in the history and at the present.
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The history of it can be dated back to three thousand years ago. As the last of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, Beijing has been the political center of the country for much of the past seven centuries. The city is also famous for abundance of world-famous places of interest such as the Great Wall, Summer Palace and Forbidden City. Moreover, its art treasures and prestigious universities have made it a center of culture and education in China. Few cities in the world can exert as great influence in a country as Beijing does. Beijing Olympic Games makes the city one of the most popular cities to visit. But nowadays, with its development, Beijing is also facing some serious problems: Terrible transportation jams and air pollution make it notorious in the world. So I think the government should take some effective measures to improve the image of the city. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Have cities changed much in your country in the past few decades? Yes, definitely. In the past, the city didnt have a lot of tall buildings, the facilities were just basic, and the bus system couldnt cover some suburban areas. But now the city has been developing very fast. Skyscrapers are all over the city and people could enjoy the advanced facilities and transportation. 2. How do you think living in a city and living in a rural environment are different? I think for people who live in the city, they can enjoy the advanced facilities and good public transportation. However, the air is usually fresh and the housing price is low in the rural areas, so people can enjoy their life and the living environment more there. 3. Which is more developed in your country, the cities or the rural areas? Probably the cities, because we can find a lot of modern facilities and big companies in the city, which can provide good living environment and working places for city people. Also, there are more entertaining places in cities to provide city citizens to enjoy and very well developed transportation system can help people to get around in the city easily. 2. Are the facilities the same in the cities and in the countryside? Not really. Therere much more facilities in the city, such as libraries, parks, and museums, but you could seldom find them in the countryside. Also, good hospitals are usually located in the city. Its not easy for countryside people to benefit from the good facilities. 3. Can you suggest any ways that this development gap could be narrowed? I think transportation is really important. If the countryside people can go to the city very conveniently by paying very cheap bus fare, more people would like to live in the countryside. Also, I would say its important to build enough infrastructures in the countryside. Although the cost might be high, it will attract more people to live in countryside and enjoy the life there.
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Are there any problems concerning cities in your country? Therere some problems. We all know the fast rising housing price in the city has become a big burden for many young people. I hope the government can build some cheaper houses for people with minimum wages to have a nice living environment. Also, the traffic jams are serious, so its also necessary for the government to spend money on this area.
4. An open air place to relax

Describe an open air place you go to where you feel relaxed You should say: When you go there Where it is What it is like What you do there and explain why you feel relaxed in this place Sample1 : Talking about my favorite outdoor place that can bring me clam and relaxation, I would like to introduce a well-known tourist attraction, the XX. It is located in the center of my hometown. It is one of the biggest inner city lakes in China, attracting thousands of tourists every year. There is a small island in the lake and two famous bridges across it. Personally, it is not only a place for traveling but also a place where I would like to relax myself. Usually when I feel under great pressure, I would always have a walk along the lake at dusk. The gentle breeze, the willows and the colorful sunset are all catalysts that help me get away from the busy city lifestyle and get into another world where only inner peace exists. However, what people can do is more than just have a walk. There are a lot of people doing all kinds of activities, including local opera performance, singing and dancing. Just by watching them, I am able to find the beauty of life and hold a more optimistic view of it so that I can release my pressure and feel relaxed. I highly recommend people to take a troll around the place to get to know the city and more importantly find inner peace. sample2 : I often go to Longwu with my family during the weekends or holidays. Longwu is a small village where I can feel totally relaxed and refreshed. Located in the southwest of Hangzhou, it is one of famous scenic spots and Longjing tea production bases. Longjing tea produced here is well known for its jade color, strong fragrance, pure taste and beautiful appearance. Longwu is surrounded by hills in three direction. The village is situated at the foot of the hills, and there are many teahouses in there. The hills are covered by large tracts of tea trees and bamboo forest near the village, so when I go there, I either climb mountains or stroll in the bamboo forest to breathe fresh air. I often have typical delicious cuisines cooked by farmers in the open air, and sometimes taste Longjin tea there.
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In spring, many people fly kites with their kids on the hill. And the old people play mahjong outside the room. Besides, many people go there to take mountain spring water every day. I love Longwu especially in spring and autumn. And its the first place I want to go to whenever I feel exhausted or depressed. Describe an open air place that you went You should say: When you went there what the place was like what people were doing and explain why you liked this place. Sample: I like going to the open air place because I can be close to the nature and have enough space to stretch my arms and legs. Recently, I went to a beautiful scenery site in my city. When I was there, I saw people taking pictures and camping on the grass because they were attracted by the fine weather and the beautiful flowers. Its like a big outing day for everybody. The flowers were very beautiful and the whole place was like a flower garden. Theres also a wide river running along the scenery site. You could see people fishing and there were even traditionally designed boats for tourists and visitors to ride and appreciate the natural beauty from the river. I took the boat to go all the way up and saw other flowers as well. Im glad that I got the opportunity to go to the park because I could feel close to the nature. Its nice to have many gorgeous open air places in the city because they provide people with nice places for outing and picnics during weekends and holidays. Part 3 Discussion Questions: 1. What do you do on holidays? If I have enough time and money, I like travelling to other places during holidays, because I like to meet different kinds of people and communicate with them. Travelling also enables me to gain knowledge of different culture. If I dont have enough time, I will read books, or watch movies to relax myself. 2. Why some people dont like holidays? I dont really understand what they are thinking about, because personally, I like holidays very much. I suppose it is because that they dont have many things to do during holidays. If they have many hobbies, like travelling or hiking, they will like holidays. 3. What do people usually do on holidays in your country?
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It depends. Many people will travel with families together to other places of China, or even travel to other countries to enjoy their holiday. Some people may stay at home to read books, or watch movies, or cook delicious foods. Some people may just sleep at home since their work makes them tired, so they need to refresh themselves. Are there any difference between city and countryside in terms of relax? Living in the city center, people can go shopping and have fun very easily since the leisure facilities are well equipped around the city center. However, in the countryside, there are not so many places for fun, but people can do something that is more natural like going hiking, and they enjoy fresh air more than people who live in the city center. Are wealthy people more stressful? I dont think so. Wealthy people dont need to worry about money, so they dont have pressure about money things. And they can provide their family with a better environment, and provide their children with a better education; harmony of the family will get rid of stress. They may be stressful in some way, but they can also release their stress through travelling to foreign countries like Europe. Are there any positives of stress? Of course. Stress can make us work harder and harder, so it will be easier for us to reach our goals. If we do not have any stress, we may lose the motive to go ahead, so that we cannot improve ourselves. Do you think music can make people relaxed? Of course. Music with pleasant melody can make people relaxed, and smooth their mood. For example, if a person is angry, and he or she happened to listen to the kind of music of Secret Garden, they may feel very quiet and comfortable. Do city people have more stress compared to the countryside? Yes, I think so. City people are under the pressure of buying house and cars, most people need to earn more money to live, while people in the countryside do not have much more pressure, and they can just live without stress. People can do something that is more natural like go hiking, and they enjoy fresh air more than people who live in the city. Will wealthy people feel more stressful?
I dont think so. Wealthy people do not need to worry about money, so they do not have pressure about money things. And they can provide their family a better environment, and provide their children a better education; harmony of the family will get rid of stress. They may be stressful in some way, but they can also release their stress through travelling to foreign countries like Europe.
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*5. A place you want to live in (not work or study)

Describe a place you want to live in where you do not work or study You should say: Where it is What you want to do there What there are in the place And explain why you want to live there Sample: When it comes to a place I want to live in, I think it would be a place far away from city. A village on a hill, for example, would be preferable. The living environment in city now is becoming worse and worse, with all the pollution and population. In my imagination, there should be a house with a yard and a small garden. I would raise some poultry such as chickens and ducks in the yard and grow some beautiful flowers, fruit trees and vegetables in the garden. Every morning, with the fragrance of flowers, I would get up early to do some housework with pleasure: I would feed the poultry, and weed and water the plants. After breakfast, I would go out for a walk nearby. In the afternoon, maybe I would read some novels while having a cup of tea in the shade of the trees. The evenings would be spent with some friends, talking about news we hear about and appreciating my flowers together. I could enjoy vegetables grown by myself for meal. In autumn, the air would be full of the aromas of ripe fruits and I can experience the joy of harvest. If I can live in a place far away from city and free from environment pollution, I would be happy and content. I can enjoy the clean fresh air as well as comfortable rural life there. (P3 )
*6. Building
Describe an old (or historic) building that you visited You should say: where it was what people do there why you went there and explain how you felt about this building Describe a modern building that you think is interesting You should say where it is what it is used for what it looks like how you know about this building and explain what you think is interesting about this building. Sample 1: Historic building--YueYang Tower
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I want to talk about an old building that I visited last summer Palace Museum, one of the most famous scenic spots in Beijing. The Palace Museum is also named Forbidden City. It is located in downtown area of Beijing. It was the royal palace of emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties. As a mysterious royal palace, with incomparable magnificent ancient buildings, it attracts many tourists from home and abroad every year. Many people are curious about lives of royal families, and inside the Palace, they can learn more about the emperors and their families. Most people visiting Palace Museum take a lot of photos of the ancient buildings and they have chance to try on imperial robes in the shops around. The Palace Museum is also famous for a large collection of amazing, rare, and precious culture relics and priceless treasures from various dynasties. With the introduction of the tour guides, tourists can surely have a better understanding of Chinese culture and history. And there is a gift shop where visitor can by distinctive souvenirs to make their visit memorable. I was amazed at the magnificence of the Imperial Palace at the first sight and marveled at the unbelievable craftsmanship in ancient China. I believe the palace is an unrivalled landmark of both the Chinese culture and history. Sample 2: Modern building --Bird nest I want to talk about the National Stadium that I visited last summer when I was in Beijing. It is one of the most interesting modern buildings I have ever seen. The National Stadium is designed as the main stadium of the 2008 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The design of this large stadium was accomplished together by two Swiss architects and Chinese architect Li Xinggang and the others. The appearance of the stadium resembles a birds nest, so it is also known as the Birds Nest. Its appearance was formed by big steel frames and its top surface is saddle-shaped. The top is covered by semi-transparent and waterproof material, which can make enough sunshine penetrate into the stadium. In the stadium, there is a bowl-like stands zone. The stands can be changed in many ways, which can satisfy the needs of different numbers of audience. With its unique design and advanced technology, the games can be seen without any visual obstruction and all the audience can hear the broadcast clearly. Whats more, there are more than 200 wheelchair seats intended for the disabled. Since the Olympics in 2008, it has been opened as a tourist attraction and has been the center of both international and domestic sports competition. PART 3Discussion topics:
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1. Do you like visiting historic sites? Why? = Why do people visit these historic buildings? Of course, I do. I like world history very much. When I see historic buildings, Ill feel very excited and interested. And I would search relevant information in order to understand them more and better. 2. What are the famous historic sites in china? Therere many, especially in Beijing. As the capital of several dynasties, therere many relics, such as the famous Summer Palace, and the thirteen tombs of the Mind dynasty. Apart from these, the most well known buildings are the Forbidden City. The Great Wall is also a must go place in Beijing. 3. What places would you recommend people to visit if they want to know the history of your city? What can people learn when they visit these places? Yu garden is the most famous historic site in Shanghai. The construction style reflects the southern building style. Many people would visit this tourist site. They can learn a lot of culture and customs about the people who lived in shanghai in the past. 4. How to make historic sites more attractive=How to encourage people to visit historic sites? Advertisements are very important. Also, I think historic sites will be more attractive if they could provide some traditional performances, so they could entertain people and help them learn cultural knowledge. 5. How do you think about the admission fee for historic sites? Reasonable admission fees are necessary because in this way they could control the number of visitors and use the money to maintain the historic sites. However, if the admission fee is too high, fewer people will visit these sites to learn the historical knowledge that are valuable to them. 6. Why do these buildings need repairing? The simplest reason is that the old buildings are weathering as time goes by and we dont want them to collapse because of their historic value. If theyre not maintained well, itll also be dangerous for visitors to come close to them. 7. Who should pay for the maintenance cost of old buildings? The government, of course. Since we pay tax, the government is responsible to maintain old buildings in order to preserve history and culture. Also, buildings in historic sites can receive money from tourists through admission fees. Furthermore, Ive also seen some old temples ask the local people to raise fund for their maintenance needs. 8. Why should people visit historic buildings? Therere many reasons. Historic buildings can teach us culture and history. When children see these old buildings in person, their love for history can be aroused and theyll likely to learn more on their own. For adults, we can appreciate the life of our ancestors when we see the ancient buildings. 9. Is it important for Chinese people to learn history? Definitely. History tells us what our origin is and teaches us the life that our
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ancestors led at their time. China has a five-thousand-year history and we should be proud of that and know it well. Also, when we know history, we can learn from the mistakes that our ancestors made. 10. Do children like visiting historic buildings? I think so. Children are curious about many things. When they see the wooden Chinese historic buildings with traditional design, theyll usually feel intrigued and amazed. Its a good way to arouse their interest for history by taking them to historic sites. 11. Have China got aware of the situation that children do not pay enough attention to historic buildings? I think so. Nowadays, a lot of historic sites sell half-price tickets to students to encourage them to visit these places more. Schools also organize some events to take children to historic sites as their field trips. To tell you the truth, when I was a child, these things were not as common. 12. Is it good to sell things in temples? Maybe. On one hand, those who visit the temples may like to take something back as souvenirs. In this way, selling things in temples just provide them some convenience. Also, the temples, with such a large space to maintain and so many people work in, will need some money. Thus, selling things may help them raise funds. On the other hand, temples are usually regarded as holy places, free from the worldly matters, not to say many believers donation and governments allocations have already ensured the normal operation of temples. In this sense, selling things in temples seem to be against the belief. 13. Whats the difference of seeing buildings in books and the actual ones? Seeing buildings in books is a lot different from seeing those actual ones. In books we can just sense the appearance of the buildings, but on the spots, we can feel the grandness or majesticness. In books, we can just see the buildings from the outside, but seeing the actual ones, we are able to go inside to see its structures, sense its functions, and learn about its building material and techniques. If we have a chance to visit them on spot, it will surely be better than just see them on books.
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1. A difficult thing you did well

Describe a difficult thing you did well You should say: what it was when it happened how you did it and explain how you felt about it. Sample: Id like to talk about a speech competition I did well in high school. Actually, it was a little difficult for me because I had never participated in such an event before and I would usually get nervous when talking in front of a large group of people. My best friend is a very optimistic person and gave me a lot of encouragement during that time. I entered for the competition because I wanted to conquer my fear of speaking in front of people. But I began to panic as the time was close to that big day. She told me to think of the worst thing that could happen and helped me to practice many times. I would go to the park to practice my speech when a lot of people could see me. At first I felt uncomfortable, but very soon I began to talk very fluently. Although I didnt win any prize for the competition, I felt less scared of speaking in front of people after that experience. This experience meant a lot for me. Now, when I feel unconfident and want to give up something, I would always remind myself that the time I won in the speech competition. I think we should face challenges in life because they could teach us a lot and help us grow. Sample2: I can clearly remember a difficult physics examination I did well in junior middle school. I was a top student in my class then but I was not so good at physics and every physics examination was difficult for me. Before physics examinations, I always felt so nervous that I cannot fell asleep the night before and my hands would even tremble during it. My elder brother, a senior middle school student then, did really well in physics, so my parents asked him to help me with the subject several days before that exam. Those days, every evening we spent about one hour reviewing what I had learned in class. My brother explained the formula and definitions in detail. He also supervised me to finish lots of physics exercises. With the help of my brother, before the exam, I was more confident of myself and believed I could do well; as a result, I finished
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the exam calmly and got a good grade. After that exam, I wasnt so anxious about physics and I did very well in the Entrance Examination. From that experience, I realized that nothing is impossible if we can try our best to strive for it. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What challenges do young people face today? Well, young people face a lot of challenges nowadays because of the fast develop of technology and fierce competition in the job market. Young people have to learn as much knowledge as possible during the school years. Also, they need to have good communication skills and teamwork skills in order to fit in a company well. So thats why a lot of people are still learning even after gradation from college. 2. Do you think there's much difference between the challenges that young people face today and those that young people faced in the past? In the past, peoples jobs were comparatively stable, so young people would try their best to get into a good college and after that the government would assign them to different jobs. Then they didnt need to worry much about their life. But nowadays, people face more challengesthey have to learn up-to-date technology and face expensive housing price so they have to learn all the time in order to pursue a better future. 3. Do you think there's much difference between the challenges that young people face today in your country and those that young people face in other countries? Maybe. I think nowadays young people in China not only face competition in the job market; they also need to worry about the high housing price in the city. In some Middle Eastern countries, young adults also need to worry about the wars and their own safety, so the situation might be very different. 4. Which do you think is better, to face these difficulties and challenges alone or to seek the help of others? I think its better to seek for help when we cant deal with them by ourselves. Therere a lot of people who have more experience and knowledge about the problems we face, so if we ask them for suggestions or advice, things might become much easier than we have expected. However, if we ask advice from too many difference sources, we might get confused, just like the saying goes, too many cooks spoil the broth. 5. What ambitions (or, aspirations) do most young people have today? A lot of young people want to be famous and its also common for Chinese young people to have the dream of starting their own business. I think if they really want to do it, they might be able to do it well. Because its said that where theres a will, theres a way. 6. Do you think it's good to be ambitious? I think its good to be reasonably ambitious, which means that we dont set goals that are way beyond our ability, otherwise, well only feel the failure and
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frustration. If we set goals that are reachable, we will enjoy the process and eventually taste the success. 7. Some people who are highly ambitious never let anything stop them from reaching their goal, even if it includes hurting other people in order to achieve this goal. Do you think that is good? I think thats not good. Reaching goals is not the ultimate objective. We want to do something well because we want the recognition from others, which means that we should be useful for the society and other people. If we hurt other peoples benefits for the sake of fulfilling our own dream, well eventually taste the bitter fruit we have grown with our own hand.
*2. A special meal

Describe a memorable meal or dinner you would like to have You should say: what you want to eat where you would have it who would be eating with you and explain why you want to have this meal. Sample: I want to talk about a dinner I would like to have with my mother on her birthday. In fact, I have never celebrated my mothers birthday for her because she never mentioned her birthday when I was young and she refuses to celebrate it now. I really hope I can prepare a memorable dinner for her on her birthday. I think the dinner should be at home because my mother always tells me to be economical and I want to do something for her myself. I would prepare several kinds of cuisines she likes such as stewed meat, poached shrimp and some vegetables. And I would do the cooking with the recipes she has taught me. While I am cooking, I would ask her to watch TV or surf on the Internet doing nothing but making her relaxed as she always does to me. Of course, I would also book a big cake for her. During the dinner we would have an agreeable conversation, and I would tell her how much I love and appreciate her. Finishing the delicious foods, we would eat the cake together. I would create a romantic atmosphere for her: I would light some candles, sing the birthday song and ask her to make a wish. After the dinner, we would go out to stroll near our home and enjoy the company of each other. I believe it would be a memorable dinner and my mother would be happy for it.
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Describe a special meal you were invited to You should say: when, where you were invited who invited you what you ate and explain how you felt about the meal. Sample: Last year, I had a very special meal, a western meal, with my classmates at our English teachers home. She lived overseas for several years so she said she would prepare a western dinner for us. It was my first time to have a western meal. The food we had was very different from Chinese food, but they all tasted good. There were meat, vegetables and salad. When we cook Chinese food, we dont use cheese, but westerns love it. I think its very different from us. We had a good time talking about different foods in China and in America while we were eating. I feel very full and satisfied. Then, when my professor saw that everybody was finished with their food, she said, Ok, now its our dessert time. I was pretty surprised because I didnt know dessert was always the last course to be served for a western meal. I was too full to eat any thing else. From then on, I learned that I should always save some space for dessert when I eat at a western meal. Its a good experience because I learned a lot about the western culture and had a taste of the special food. Sample2: Id like to talk about a special meal I was invited by one of my teachers. She was my teacher of Chinese when I was in junior middle school, and we hadnt been in touch with each other for several years because I lost her phone number. That evening I was excited when I received the call from her. She told me she had gotten my phone number from one of my friends and she invited me to her home to have a dinner several days later. When I got her home, she and her families welcomed me warmly. And then she prepared some delicious food for me. I accompanied her when she was cooking in kitchen where we recalled my middle school life and I heard about some of my middle school classmates lives. She cooked stewed meat; braise fish, poached shrimp, poached crabs and some vegetable for me. During the dinner we had an agreeable conversation, nothing extraordinary, but catching up on recent events of each others lives. We were so happy with each others company that three hours went by quickly and we ate up all the cuisines.
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After dinner, we promised to keep in touch with each other. PART 3 Discussion Questions 1. What do people in China like to eat? Its hard to say. People from different regions like different food. People from the north like eating dumplings, while people from the south like sticky rice cake. People from Sichuan, hunan, and hubei love spicy food, especially hot pot. 2. Can you give me an example of a traditional Chinese food? Do you like this food? Why?/Why not? Yes, I think dumplings have a long history in China and we all love it. In the past, the shape of money was like the dumpling, so when you eat it, its said that you would have a fortune. I guess food also carry peoples good wishes. I also like the dumpling because my parents would make it all the time and theyre really good at making tasty fillings. 3. How do you feel about eating alone? I dont like eating alone because I think its always good to have conversations with our friends or family during a meal. When Im eating alone, its just to satisfy my appetite, and it wont be a very enjoyable moment of sharing food and opinions. 4. Do you think it's important for family members to eat together? =Do you think it is better for children to eat with their parents or to eat separately? Yes, definitely. For a lot of family, eating time is the only moment that the family can spend some quality time together. We can talk about what happens in the day and exchange our opinions about the latest news. Its also a good time to make some family decisions together, to give support and advice to each other. I think we should always value this time with our family. 5. What changes do you think will occur in China in the next 20 years or so concerning the way people eat? Now, a lot of people begin to pay attention to the nutrients of our food, so I guess its a trend for the future as well. In the future, itll be common for students to take nutrition courses at school and people will eat healthier than now. Maybe even restaurants can provide healthier recipe for customers. Im really looking forward to it. 6. What kinds of restaurants are there in your city? Therere all kinds of restaurants in the city. Food from different provinces in China, and you can also find a lot of western food restaurants. Some restaurants are very expensive for the good service and special food they offer. Of course, if youre not rich enough, therere also some very small and cheap restaurants available. 7. How to train waitresses and waiters? I think its important to find some professional trainers to train them. Its actually not that simple because good service is more like an art. Theres special polite restaurant language to show the professionalism. Plus, its important to train waiters and waitresses to care about the customers feelings and make their
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dining more enjoyable. 8. Are there other important factors to consider for a successful restaurant besides food? Definitely. If a restaurant is dirty, even when the food is delicious, itll still be hard for you to enjoy it, so restaurants should provide a neat eating environment. Also, we dont want to see angry waiters or waitresses, which will make us feel bad about eating at a place, so relevant training for these people is also a must. 9. Should we always eat vegetables that are in the season? Absolutely. Usually vegetables that are out of season contain more chemicals, which is very bad for our health. Also, in season vegetables usually taste better because they receive natural sunlight and grow more healthily. Plus, these vegetables are usually cheap in price and can save us a lot of money. 10. How do you think about the importance of food in Chinese culture? I think Chinese people value food very much. There are a lot of gourmets ( )in China who pay a lot of attention to the food they eat. Actually, therere also a great number of idioms we use that are connected to food, and asking about meals is a very common way to start a conversation in China. 11. What do people in China like to eat? People in different areas are in favor of different food. Those who are living in Northern China have flour-made food as their main food, while southerners are used to rice. Sugar is put into the dishes when people in south-eastern provinces such as Zhejiang and Jiangsu are cooking, whereas spice is most popular in south-western areas. 12. Is the food that people in China eat today the same as the food people ate 30 or 50 years ago? Not really. People were much poorer several decades ago, thus they could not afford to eat much meat, seafood or refined food. Imported food was absolutely not available at that time, either. But now most of the people are able to eat any food they like. And in the market there are various foods of best quality from all over the world. 13. How have modern science and technology changed the food we eat today? Generally speaking, modern science and technology has increased the production of agricultural and animal products. The breed has been improved; the growing cycle shortened; and the diseases and insect pests reduced. However, the application of science and technology harms the food safety and taste. 14. In China, what role does the government play in maintaining food quality? The government maintains the food quality from all aspects. Firstly they issue laws and regulations to set up a standard of food quality. Secondly they constantly supervise the food manufacturers and retailers, and make regular examinations. Lastly, they rigorously handle the illegal activities in food production and sales once investigated. 15. What is the best way to learn how to cook? There are various ways to learn cooking. Some learn from TV programs; some
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are taught by parents, while others attend cooking schools. As for me, the best way seems to be learning from parents, and I did learn it this way. I remember I prepared the food for them and watched them cook for several months before I tried to cook my first dish, and it turned out to be successful! 16. Do you think its important for family members to eat together? Yes, I think it is necessary that family members have dinners together. Eating nice food, each member will feel free to talk about what he is doing recently, and listen to the others if he needs suggestion. They will in this way share happiness and sorrow with the most reliable ones. It will in return promote the love among them 17. If a child doesnt eat with his or her family very often, what kind of person do you think the child will grow up to become? As to a child, family members are the most reliable people in the world. If he doesnt often get together with them, the child may find no one to tell about his worries and fears, and he cant feel the love from parents. Thus he may gradually become indifferent to other people and dont know how to care about others either.
*3. A wrong decision you made

Describe a wrong decision you made You should say: What was it? When you made it? What was the situation then? And explain why it was influential to you. Sample: I always believe that I am a decisive person who understands the difference between decisions that really make a difference and those that dont, and I seldom feel sorry for what I have done. But I have to admit that I once made an unwise decision, and I still regret it now. When I was about 10 years old, I had an intimate friend who had kept staying with me almost all the time. But one day, we had a quarrel because of a trifle when we played games. We were so mad at each other that we yelled at each other and went back home in a bad temper respectively. For several days we kept ignoring each other. And then I felt a little regretful, and thought I shouldnt have been so mad at her. But I was too stubborn to apologize to her. Instead, I waited for her to make an apology to me. Unfortunately, she was also a stubborn girl, and remained taking no notice of me. As a result, I decided not to talk with her any more. About half a year later, I moved to another city with my parents and we havent seen each other since then. Sometimes I will think of her and wonder if she lives a happy life. If I could be
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more generous and said sorry to her, I wouldnt have lost such a good friend. When I recall that incident, I always feel regretful for that wrong decision. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. Do you think decision-making today is different to decision-making in the past? I think so. In the past we didnt have so many choices and so it might have been easier for people to make decisions then. But nowadays, we have a variety of choices, which is why its getting harder and harder to make decisions. Whenever we make decisions, we need to take everything into consideration. Sometimes, its even necessary to consult some professionals for making major decisions. 2. In your country, how are decisions made within the family? In China, in many families, the old are respected by the whole family and they have the final say, so we want to ask the older generations opinions when we make decisions. But younger people also have the freedom to make their own choices. Usually these days, we would have a family meeting to give out everyone's opinion before making a final decision. I think its a very democratic way. 3. Do you think its a good idea to make decisions when one is feeling strong emotions or is it better to make decisions when ones emotions are not strong? We definitely need to make decisions when were very calm and can think clearly. This is because strong emotions would misguide people and keep them from being sensible about certain issues. However, there are some occasions that people make good decisions when they are feeling emotions because they can conquer their fear and be firm about what they want to do. 4. Should parents make decisions for their children? It depends. When the children are really young and they cant judge right from wrong and they have no idea what might be good for their future, I think its right for parents to help children make decisions. However, its also necessary to ask the children about their feelings so that parents wont force children to do something they dont like. For example, nowadays some parents will force their children to learn the piano, even though the kids have no interest in it. I think in that case, itll be not very good to make that kind of decision for children. On the other hand, if the children tell their parents that they dont want to go to school because they prefer playing at home, parents should definitely make decisions for them and send them to school any way. 5. What family decision should be discussed? I think, when the decision can affect other family members life, it should be discussed in a family meeting. For example, if the family wants to move to a new location, they should definitely discuss that with every member because it means a lot of change in their life. For married couples, a lot of time they dont make their own decision but family decisions. If the husband or wife wants to
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invest the family money in some business, it should be more respectful to discuss it with the spouse. 6. Do women today have more power to make decisions in the family than before? Definitely. To be honest, I think in a lot of families, women might be a little too powerful. In my family, my mom always makes the final decisions. In the past most women were housewives and many of them were not encouraged to go to school, so a lot of women respected their husbands and considered them very powerful, so they would involve very little in decision making. Nowadays, a lot of women have good education and they can make money, too, so in a family, both the husband and wife can make decisions. I think its good for both men and women to be involved in decision making.
*4. A project you cooperated with others

Describe a project you cooperated with others You should say: When it happened? Who you did it with? What you did together? And explain why it was impressive to you. Sample 1: I like teamwork because cooperating with others enables us to finish the job efficiently. And there are many opportunities to learn from each other during the process of cooperation. So Id like to talk about a project I cooperated with others. When I was a junior, one day our teacher of Chinese asked us to cooperate with our partners to make a presentation on Socrates. Our team was composed of three hard-working girls and me. This abstract and boring topic puzzled us a lot, but soon we made a clear division of the assignment and began our work. To make our presentation interesting, we decided to turn to PPT. According to the division, one member of our team went to collect relevant materials in our school library; another went to search for information and pictures about Socrates on the Internet. Then all of us sorted out and studied the materials before I made the PPT. We put in one week preparing for the presentation and the fourth member of our group made the presentation in class. It turned out to be an informative and vivid presentation: it attracted all our classmates attention and our teacher thought highly of it. From the enjoyable experience, I realized that cooperation can save our valuable time and energy and can help us finish what we cant do solo. Since then, I like to cooperate with others more than before. Sample 2: I did many projects at school and some of them left me very deep impressions. Id
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like to talk about the project I did for my English class in high school. I was very blessed to have a native English teacher to teach us English. Hes very creative and would always give us interesting projects to work on in order to practice our English. I remember once we had an advertisement competition. Our teacher assigned four students in a group and each group had to come up with a theme and a product to promote. Then, we had to video tape our advertisement and present it in front of our whole class. We felt it was a hard task when we first heard it because we had never done projects like that before. Our group met several times to discuss the details of our project. Eventually we decided to make an advertisement to sell a very special toy called comforting bear. The whole thing was actually simple. A girl was crying and suddenly the comforting bear appeared on the screen and as soon as she saw it, she stopped crying and began to smile happily. When I thought about it now, I felt like laughing because it was just so childish. However, our teacher and classmates all said we did a good job. Later I realized, the project itself was not as significant as the teamwork skills we had learned through the process. I definitely think doing projects at school can help students build personal relationships and learn how to cooperation with others. I think schools should give students opportunities to do that as early as possible, maybe from kindergarten. Sample 3: Speaking of this topic, I would like to talk about the paper flowers made by my classmates and me for our teacher. It was before the Teacher's Day. I once saw some beautiful paper flowers in a magazine and from then on, I would always think that should be a wonderful present for the Teacher's Day. One of my classmates is actually good at making it, so I asked her to teach all of us for help. We bought a lot of color paper and other materials. After learning some basic skills and trying for twenty roses, we can make some paper flowers, like roses. Some of them could look just like real flowers if you do not look at them closely. So we made 100 roses and packed it as a gift. We gave this big present to our teacher on that day and she was very happy when she saw the flowers and I could see tears in her eyes. I think this is the first time we did a project together and it was very meaningful. And making things by hand is really fun because we could experience the producing process. When we finished this work, we were very happy about our achievement. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1. Do you think teamwork is important?
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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Absolutely. If we dont know teamwork, well have a lot of trouble in our social and professional life. We need to know how to cooperate with others so that we can succeed in our work. Nowadays, it becomes harder and harder to work all by oneself. We have to work with others. If we dont know teamwork skills, our colleagues wont like us and we wont have our work done efficiently. Do you have any ideas on how to help children learn to co-operate with others and work as a team ( or develop sense of teamwork)? Yes. I think both the parents and the school should give children enough guidance in this area. First of all, they should know why its important to have teamwork skills so that theyll have internal motivation. Of course, its easier for children to cultivate teamwork skills when they do enough group work, so parents and schools should provide enough such opportunities for children. Besides, its necessary to recognize childrens improvement and give them enough encouragement in this area. Do Chinese value teamwork? In my opinion, no matter at work or at school, people has begun to emphasize the importance of teamwork. They are willing to join group activities in order to learn team work skills. Schools would help students develop team work skills by organizing many different group activities. How to teach children to cooperate with others? At school, teachers can teach students the importance of team work and different ways to improve teamwork skills. These can help students know team work better. At home, parents have the responsibility to create and organize some interactive activities for their children in order to give them more this kind of experience. Whatre the advantages and disadvantages of teamwork? Usually teamwork is beneficial because we can think with more than one heads and work with more than two hands. Its also a good way for us to build relationship with our team members. If therere some disadvantages, I would say the less uniqueness of our work. When we work with others, well tend to compromise with the majority and this can take away the creativity part of our thoughts. Is it difficult for children to cooperate with each other? Yes, I think so. Children are usually less patient. When they feel that their team member is a drag on the team, theyll tend to kid this one member out. And when one is better than others in some way, he or she will tend to be too proud and screw the project. Its very important to teach children the key of cooperation. Every one has their unique share to contribute to a group work, so they shouldnt look down on anyone and try their best to respect each other. What communication skills should people have? In our modern society, we need good communication skills to talk to our boss, colleagues, and friends. Communication is basically to have our ideas precisely send to the recipients. In this process, we should avoid ambiguity and make our
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ideas as clear as possible. Also, we need to pay attention to the wordings to make our message appropriate according to the status of the recipients. We also need to make our language polite enough to avoid offending others.
*5. Being Late

Describe an important occasion when you were late. You should say: when this happened what occasion you were late for why you were late (Or, how you explained your lateness) and explain the result of your being late. or and explain what you did after you were late. or and explain what happened after you were late. Sample 1 I am a punctual person seldom late for all kinds of occasions. But last year, unexpectedly, I was late for one of my cousins wedding reception. Until now, whenever I recall the occasion, I feel guilty and ashamed. My cousin held her wedding reception last October in Sophia Hotel which was far away from my home. The reception was scheduled to start at six oclock in the evening, and there would be a wedding ceremony at the beginning of the reception. I had planned to get there by taxi and I set off from my house at 5 oclock. But unfortunately, I found it impossible for me to hail a taxi, so I had to get on a bus half an hour later. At about 6:30, I arrived at the hotel only to find that the wedding ceremony had come to an end and the banquet has already begun. I was so embarrassed that I blushed with shame. And I also felt regretful for I missed so many memorable scenes: I even didnt take a photo with the new couple, which, you know, is a convention at a wedding reception in Hangzhou. I apologized to my cousin and her husband after the wedding reception. And I learned to make a detailed schedule to be punctual especially for some important occasions. Sample 2 Id like to tell you a very embarrassing experience. It was about being late for an important examination in high school, the general mock examination for entering the college. It happened last year. The exam started at 1:30 in the afternoon, but I arrived at school in the morning because I had another meeting to attend. After lunch, I went to the examination room. I waited and waited until 1:35, but nobody showed up--no students, no teachers. I felt that something must have been wrong so I went to the school office to call my teacher. My teacher told me that the examination room was changed; everybody except me got the news. Its late already. I was so scared so I
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ran to the new site as fast as I could. Unfortunately, the school was big and I am not good at direction, so I got lost. By the time I got there, it was 2 oclock already. The teacher still allowed me to take the exam, but I only got 15 minutes to finish it. Luckily, the subject was history and I am good at it, so I finished it in time. I hope that kind of thing will never happen to me again. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What do you think of time? The shortage of time will make things difficult to accomplish. For students, they would always spend time on study in order to go to good colleges while for working-class, they have to spend time on their careers. 2. How important is punctuality? I think punctuality is very important to a person. To some extent, punctuality means credit. In modern society, in order to do things right, you need to have good credit. The people who are always late will make people think theyre not responsible and well not trust them to do important things. Punctuality is one of the necessary qualities for a person. 3. What kind of people value time more? How do old people and children view time? Therere many kinds of people who value time. For example a lot of businessmen are busy, so they dont want to waste time because time means money for them. Actually this is true for almost everybody. 4. Do you feel that time is going faster as you grow older? Yes, I do. When we know more, we will have more things to do. So we dont feel that we have enough time. This makes time go faster. My grandpa always complains that time goes too fast. He has too many things to do and usually he cannot finish the tasks he has planned each day. Everyday is like this so he feels that his time goes fast. 5. How do you think about the influence of usage of advanced technology? Most advanced technology can help us save time. For example before the invention of modern traffic tools, we had to spend more time to get from one place to another. But now, we use much less time than before. So I think they are helpful. 6. When is ok or not ok to be late? I think when we visit friends or go to parties, its ok to be a few minutes late. I heard its actually polite to be five minutes late for dinner appointment at someones home in western culture. However, for some occasions, the time might be set very strictly. If I arrive at the IELTS test center half an hour late, basically I couldnt take the test, whichs a great waste of money. If we go to a wedding, its also not ok to be late because when everyone is waiting for the bride to enter the hall, itll be very inappropriate for a late guest to rush in.
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7. What kinds of reasons make people late? Therere a lot of reasons. The most common one would be traffic jam, especially for people living in big cities. For married couples with kids, they also can have more unexpected troubles happen at the moment they want to leave the house. For me, I could always remember leaving some important things at home when I have walked away from home for a few minutes. Its just annoying. Arriving anywhere on time requires preparation, departure, and travel. It's all geared toward a timely arrival at the destination. The vast majority of people who suffer from chronic tardiness arrive at their destinations late because they fail to properly plan, which delays their time of departure; thus making them late. 8. What is the regular working hours in China? It should be eight but I know a lot of companies vary it a lot. For example, some companies give employees long period of lunch break, which, of course, is not calculated to the total working hours, so these people have to leave the company a little later than a lot of others. Also, many farmer workers are asked to work overtime, about ten hours a day on average. If this happens six days a week, well say its kind of regular. 9. How to balance work (study) and rest? Working-class: Its hard in some working environment because if the assigned work is not finished, youll feel uneasy, and even your boss or colleagues can give you a lot of pressure, so I think if one wants to balance work and rest, its necessary to find a comparatively less demanding job. Then, the resting hours will be ensured. Student: As a student, I have to study for more than ten hours a day, which makes me feel sick of studying sometimes. So, Ill try my best to go outside to do some exercise or group activities on weekend. When I have holidays, Ill go on a trip to stay away from school and homework for a few days. 10. How do you think about some doctors working for more then ten hours a day? I think thats very cruel for a person to work for such long period of time. Both mental and physical fatigue can make them less healthy. Its said that a lot of doctors who work under such pressure can live a much shorter life than average. I guess its time for hospitals to make some changes for doctors sake. 11. Whats the difference of pace of life past and now? Theyre very different. People in the past didnt have to worry about traffic jams and increasing living expenses. There were not too much competition and material desires. The pace of living was much slower than now. But now, a lot of people have the pressure to keep learning and try to be more competitive. They have to work effectively and time is everything for them. The pace of living is
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very fast and the sense of happiness seems to be taken away from many of them. 12. Is frequent phone calls occupying too much of our time? Yes, sometimes it is true. When we are busy with our work, and when we are focusing on something, phone calls may disturb what we are doing, especially when our friends who are not clear about our situations, and thus keep talking with us for something they believe interesting or they care for. In some other cases, since our phone numbers may be exposed to the public for some reasons, we may even be disturbed by someone who we dont know, just to listen to their sales promotion. 13. What kinds of excuses do people usually give when theyre late? Well, peoples excuses for their being late may be different, but many are similar. For example, these days, people will usually say they are stuck in the busy traffic when they are late for some occasions, other people may say they are sick in some way, and still others may say an important one in their life is holding them. It is not so bad if they have these excuses, at least better than those who dont say anything for their being late. 14. What do you think about the concept of time? Wow, it is really a big question. To people, they may be different in wealth, power, and health, but they have to have the same length of time everyday. Time may be too long when we are waiting for somebody or something, and time may be too short when we are not ready but the deadline is approaching. Also, to aimless people, time may be useless, however, to those ambitious ones, time always seems not enough. So the concept of time is really a complex one.
*6. Helping others

Describe a time when you helped someone You should say: who you helped how you helped them why you helped them (or, how you felt when you helped them) and explain how this person benefited from your help/ how this person reacted to your help. Sample: In the journey of life, its typical of people to be helped or help the others. Ive helped the others many times as Ive been taught. And Id like to talk about a time when I helped one of my classmates with his study. When I was in junior middle school, our head teacher once advocated the top students to help those who didnt do well in study. I was arranged to help a naughty boy with study problems. He lived in the same neighbourhood with me, and during that period we kept studying together after school for an hour a day. We reviewed what we had learned in class and I would explain what he didnt
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understand in detail and supervised him to finish our homework. I found he was clever but lazy, unwilling to spend any time on study, so the main task of me was to supervise him. And we often played games with each other after study. After about one year, his study improved greatly and we had become good friends. And now we are still good friends who never hesitate to help each other. So I think it pays to help the others: helping others can enable me to make more friends, and the others will also giving their helping hands when I am in trouble. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Why and how can parents teach children to help others?= Should parents encourage children to help others? When children help others, they can also learn many things. Theyll be less selfish and willing to share with others. I think these are important qualities for children to learn. First, parents need to tell them why they should help others. Also, parents should set good examples for their children because children like to copy what adults do. 2. How can school teach students to help others? The best way for schools to teach students to help others is to encourage teachers to set good examples for their students. When I was a child, we had to read and write a lot about helping others, but I dont think that was helpful. Adults can really influence the children around them. Teachers and schools shouldnt only say helping others is important, but they should demonstrate what they believe through their actions to the kids. 3. Do you want to choose careers that can help others, e.g. nurse, teacher? Why should teachers and doctors help others? These careers are different from others because the functions of these jobs are to teach and help others. When people choose these careers, they should know why and how they can help others. 4. How can the government help poor people? =What should the government do in helping people? The government should have some funds for helping poor people. There should also be some state owned organizations to look for poor people who need help. The government should also encourage the general public to support people who are in need. Because of the number of Chinese people, if everyone is wiling to help, there wont be poor people in this country anymore. For example, a lot of people are donating money for some poor children who live in the countryside because of the government really put effort into publicizing the importance of helping these people. 5. How do you think about charity organizations that are not run by the government?
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I think theyre necessary and can help the society in many ways. When people want to donate money or clothing to poor people or people who suffer from disasters, a lot of them cant find the right way to help. When therere enough charity organizations, almost everyone who wants to help can reach target groups through these organizations. 6. Is it important to help others? Yes, I think so. When we help others, we can feel happy because were useful to the society. We can also make friends through helping others. If a person doesnt want to offer help to others, its likely that hell not receive help when hes in need. 7. What kinds of people need help? A lot of people. People who are struggling with poverty definitely need help. Sometimes for these people, money can only give them temporary help, so if its possible, we should help them to make money to support themselves. For some people who suffer emotional problems also need help. We can give them comfort and encouragement to help them go though the difficult time. 8. How to help others? When we help people, we have to know what they really need. The people whore poor or have lost everything in disasters have material needs. We need to give them food and daily necessities. For people who need comfort and encouragement, we can also spend time with them and help them get out of difficulties. 9. Should people or the government give more help to the society? I think both. The government is more powerful when they help people. The government has more money and can publicize the importance of peoples needs and ask the general public to help. The citizens also need to respond to the government and be willing to give help to the people who are in need. 10. Is there any organizations helping people in your country? Yeah, many. For example, the Hope Project in China helps thousands of students from poor families to go to school to be educated; the China Welfare Fund for the Handicapped brings a better life for the disabled, and the Red Cross in China has conducted a lot of humanitarian aids to people who are in need. 11. Would you say that helping other members of the family is important? Why? Definitely. Giving a hand to family members shows my love to them and my sense of responsibility. What more, they will feel that they are cared and loved. The relationship is then drawn nearer and family ties are maintained. 12. How do the members of your family (or, families in China) help each other? We help each other in every possible way. Once anyone in the family falls ill, the others take care of him and accompany him in turn. When one meets setbacks and becomes depressed, the others encourage him and believe in him.
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If one family has financial problems, the relatives will support them either by lending them money or helping them solve the problem. 13. In general, why do people help others? Generally thats because people have love and sympathy. When an acquaintance or relative needs help, we will be deeply affected by their bitter experience, and volunteer to help them out of our love to them. However, even if it is a stranger who is in trouble, most people are warm-hearted enough to give him a hand. 14. How do you feel after you have helped someone? I feel happy and content. Being able to give others a hand means that I am loving and powerful, thus I am satisfied with myself. On the other hand, people will appreciate my help by thanking me. This makes me pleased as if I am praised for doing it. 15. Do you think people in China should help foreigners who are visiting China and who need help? (Why?/Why not?) Yes. First of all, we should help people in trouble, no matter he is a Chinese or not. And then, foreigners are especially in need of help, because they know neither the language nor the place. Though there are signs in most scenic spots and main streets, they may have difficulties in looking for places or other problems. We should do our best to help them. 16. What is the most important way for a country to help foreigners who are visiting the country? There are various methods to help them, such as putting up signs in different languages, or issuing policies to make their visiting more convenient. As for the most important one, people may have different ideas. According to me, it is the most urgent to teach the service staff daily expressions in foreign languages. So that they can answer the requests and consulting of foreign guests with a quick response. 17. Many people only look out for themselves and never think about helping others. What do you think of this attitude? I think it is selfish. Everyone needs help now and then. If someone only looks out for himself, he is unable to bring happiness and care to others. Perhaps in the short run he can get as much as he can for himself, but once he is in trouble, there will be no one to give him a hand either. So selfish attitude only leads to loneliness and failure. 18. How do you help other people? I am most willingly to help others, and once I have a chance I take actions. Sometimes I lead the road for people when they cant find their way. Sometimes I donate money or materials to organizations when there are disasters such as earthquakes or diseases. 19. Do Chinese people help others who need help, such as people in extreme poverty? (How?) Yes, it is a traditional Chinese virtue to help others when they are in trouble. We donate goods and materials as well as money for survivors in earthquakes,
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people in extreme poverty or even foreign people who have lost their homes in war. We donate blood and organs for critical patients, and volunteer to teach in mountainous areas. We do what we can to help others.
*7. A perfect holiday

Describe a perfect holiday you want to have in the future. You should say: who you will be together with when, where you will spend the holiday what you will do on holiday and explain why you think it will be a perfect holiday. Sample: As far as I am concerned, a perfect holiday I want to have in the future should be a trip I would undertake with my parents. In fact, I seldom travel with my parents because they seem to be busy all the time. We would go to Sanya City to enjoy our holiday and we would go there in spring when the temperature is comfortable. We would stay there for no less than a week to totally relax ourselves. We would choose to live in a hotel nearby the sea. Every morning, we would sleep late and then enjoy sunshine on the beach or swim in the sea after we have breakfast. After lunch, we would stay in the hotel to have a nap or hang out in the city to do some shopping. In the evening, we would see sunsets and taste some special local foods. We would also go to some pubs to have a drink. Sometimes, we would stay at the hotel, doing nothing but enjoying each others company. Furthermore, the holiday would be perfect if I could pay for all the expenses, so I have to work hard from now to earn enough money to make preparations for my perfect holiday. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What do Chinese people like to do on holiday? It depends on the area people are living in. Country people like to visit relatives and invite them to dinners, for most young people may be working out and only go back on holidays. On the contrary, city people would like to go travelling once they have time, visiting places they have never been, or those where they can relax themselves. 2. Where do they like to go? Well, various people have their own choices. There are many popular scenic spots in China. Some are historical sites, while some are of beautiful scenery. In the recent couple of years, Hainan has probably become the most heated travelling destination. Also, more and more people go abroad to tour around in foreign countries. 3. Do Chinese people like to travel abroad?
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Yes. There is a growing number of Chinese people going travelling abroad in recent years. I know some friends with travelling experiences in various countries or regions. The landscape, architecture, history and culture in different countries vary from each other. It broadens our eyes to travel abroad. 4. And which country do they like to go to? It depends on ones own interests and other factors. Developed countries, like European countries and America appeal to people who like visiting metropolitans and shopping centers. On the other hand, African or southeast Asian regions are also popular, for people can see the venerable folk customs in local areas.
*8. Change in your life

Describe a recent change in your life (that changed your life in a good way). You should say: what the change was when and where this change happened what caused this change what the result of this change was and explain how you felt about this change when it happened. Sample: Three moths ago, I moved to a new neighbourhood with my parents since my father had been transferred to a sub-company and the new neighbourhood is near to his new working place. I felt bitter-sweet when we decided to move. I was upset because I had to live far away from some of my good friends and the surroundings I am familiar with. At the same time, I felt a little excited about the new life because it was the first time for us to move to a new apartment since I grew up. But as soon as I visited the new apartment, I was convinced that we had made up a good decision. Now I am absolutely satisfied with the new surroundings as well as our new apartment. The new neighbourhood is elaborately designed with fantastic greening. Lots of trees, flowers are planted there and there are several lawns besides a manmade stream. Our apartment is also well furnished. Whats more, it is much more spacious than the old one. I can enjoy the study of my own and we have two bathrooms which make our lives more convenient. Last, living in the new neighbourhood, we can enjoy more convenient public transportation. In a word, I think weve made a wise choice, and the change is beneficial to both my study and my life. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Whats the difference between men and women in their daily schedule? I dont know. Maybe men would work a longer time than women, and most men
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do not care about doing housework. However, women usually do housework at home, so they need to buy vegetables and meat to cook dishes, and wash the dishes after dinner. Maybe it is the main difference. Do old people or young people have more changes in their life? I think young people have more changes in their life. Young people have begun their life road in the beginning; its hard to guess what will happen to them in the future. Every small choice of them will influence their life. But old people do not have more choices, so they will not have big changes. In what ways can a person's diet help them maintain good health? I think its important for a person to have self-control. When were full, its better stop eating no matter how delicious the food is. And there are all kinds of snacks and fast food. We all know theyre junk foods, so we need to control ourselves and not eat them too often. We can also read some good books about how to eat healthily. Im sure theres a lot for us to learn. Do you think people's diets (or, eating habits) today are healthier than in the past? I think theyre worse than the past. In the past, a lot of people couldnt afford a lot of extra food to eat so there werent so many over-weighted people. Nowadays, because of the fast pace of living, its very often for us to eat fast food as lunch. Thats not good for our health. How do you think the diet of children could be improved? They should be educated about the harm of junk food so that they might pay more attention to what they eat. I also think parents can set good examples for children. If the parents eat healthily, the children might want to copy them. What effects do you think stress has on people's health? I think too much stress can make people feel upset and unhappy. This might cause some body conditions. Also, if we have too much stress, probably we dont want to eat and sleep well, which are also not good for your body health. Did people eat more healthily in the past than now? Probably yes. People in the past ate more natural food. Nowadays, because of the fast development of technology, a lot more processed food is available in supermarkets and restaurants. We all know food additives are not good for our health but were always tempted to have more and more. Excessive eating is also a problem for us. Because were comparatively richer than the past, we could afford as much food as we can consume, which makes us eat without self-control. Of course, its not healthy to our body. What exercise do Chinese people do to make them fit? I think usually men do more exercise, something like basketball, football, and badminton. A lot of people also like go hiking on weekend and old people love exercise in parks with a group of people to keep them accountable. For people who live at the seaside with beautiful beach available, they would swim more. All of these are good ways to work out, so we should try our best to choose some of them and exercise more.
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9. What influences will the faster pace of life bring to our diets? When the life pace goes faster, people may be forced to have less time in preparing food for themselves, and so, more people will go to restaurants to have their stomachs stuffed. Especially in the morning and in the noon, when many people are hurrying to their work or class, they may turn to fast food, or even go without any food at all. This is not good to their health. 10. Do you think modern equipment is giving people more stress or making peoples life easier? I think we receive both, advantages and disadvantages. Nowadays, modern equipment like computers and cell phones is making our life very easy. We can contact people who live far away from us and we can also find all kinds of information on the internet. However, sometimes, we tend to be obsessed with the equipment we have and spend way too much time on it than we should. For example, we might chat on the phone or use the computers for hours. In some sense, were controlled by these modern devices and were losing our time when we dont even realize it. 11. For working people: Did the change you just talked about affect your work in any way? Yes, now my company requires me to arrive at 9 oclock in the morning. Getting up as early as 6:30, I have usually exercised 30 minutes to build up my body, and cooked myself a nice breakfast before I set off to work. It makes me feel energetic and work efficiently during the whole day. 12. Do you like changes? (Why?/Why not?) Well, I dont resist changes. Once I find there is something going wrong in my life and I am able to change the situation, I just do it. Or sometimes the surrounding objective circumstances change by themselves, and I have no choice. At that time I usually try my best to adjust to the new circumstance as soon as possible. 13. Are you willing to make personal changes, such as change things about your personal habits and attitudes? (As I just said,) once I find my habit or attitude makes my life going wrong, I will try hard to change myself. You know, changing a habit is not so easy, while changing an attitude may be more difficult. So far, I have succeeded several times in changing my bad habits, making my study/life better. 14. Do you think experiencing change is good for children? According to me, small and occasional changes are good for children, so as to make them have stronger adaptability. However, if there are too frequent big changes in small childrens living environment, they may be continuingly nervous and thus become lack of sense of security. 15. How could a parent (or teacher) help a child be prepared to cope with future change? The very first and important thing: the parent should make the child have confidence that he will be supported all the time. Then the parent may
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accompany the child to experience some minor changes, and show him that there is nothing dangerous or uncomfortable to undergo a change. Gradually the kid will become prepared and fearless for changes. 16. Do you think there are any advantages to having the parents help the child with his or her after-school activities? I dont think so. Its better for children to take part in after-class activities by themselves. For one thing, they can behave at their own will without the supervision of parents. For another, cooperating with children at the same age but not parents improves their communication skills. 17. Do you think society is changing fast? Yes, I think changes take place more and faster than before. Due to the development of modern science and technology, things are upgrading fast. The outdated falls into disuse immediately. And we are already used to this trend, and work as hard as possible to keep up with the pace of social developments. 18. In general, do Chinese people like change? In the old days, people resisted change. They thought it was better to stay in a place or a status than to leave it, even for a better place. However, the young generations are different from former ones. We grow up along with the great changes of the whole society, so we are not afraid of change. We like it if its a chance to prove and improve ourselves.
*9.
Challenge
Describe a challenge that you faced You should say What the challenge was Why you faced it What the result was And explain what you learned from the challenge/how you felt about the challenge.
Sample: Well, living in a rapidly changing society, I face an increasing number of challenges every day. Here I want to talk about a challenge that I faced when I entered senior high school. My senior high school was far away from my home, so I had to live in the school dormitory. It was the first time that I had lived independently, and it turned out to be a big challenge for me. During that summer holiday, my mother worried about it a lot and taught me to do some housework by myself. At first I was quite optimistic and believed that it would be very comfortable to live independently without my parents supervision. But on the first night I stayed in my dormitory, I began to miss my parents and everything in my home so much that I couldnt fall asleep. But I forced myself to calm down and comforted myself that everything would be ok soon. In the following days, I found living independently
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was far more difficult than I had imagined, and I was not so capable of handling some living affairs. But when I ran into a problem, I would be compelled to analyze and deal with it calmly; sometimes I would turn to my teachers and sometimes I called my parents to ask for help. In this way I gradually adapted myself to the new school life. Now I think challenge means not only hardship, but also opportunity. It can tap into our potential and lead us to success. So we should get ready for it and deal with it when confronted. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What challenges do young people face today? Well, young people face a lot of challenges nowadays because of the fast develop of technology and fierce competition in the job market. Young people have to learn as much knowledge as possible during the school years. Also, they need to have good communication skills and teamwork skills in order to fit in a company well. So thats why a lot of people are still learning even after gradation from college. 2. Do you think there's much difference between the challenges that young people face today and those that young people faced in the past? In the past, peoples jobs were comparatively stable, so young people would try their best to get into a good college and after that the government would assign them to different jobs. Then they didnt need to worry much about their life. But nowadays, people face more challengesthey have to learn up-to-date technology and face expensive housing price so they have to learn all the time in order to pursue a better future. 3. Do you think there's much difference between the challenges that young people face today in your country and those that young people face in other countries? Maybe. I think nowadays young people in China not only face competition in the job market; they also need to worry about the high housing price in the city. In some Middle Eastern countries, young adults also need to worry about the wars and their own safety, so the situation might be very different. 4. Which do you think is better, to face these difficulties and challenges alone or to seek the help of others? I think its better to seek for help when we cant deal with them by ourselves. Therere a lot of people who have more experience and knowledge about the problems we face, so if we ask them for suggestions or advice, things might become much easier than we have expected. However, if we ask advice from too many difference sources, we might get confused, just like the saying goes, too many cooks spoil the broth. 5. What ambitions (or, aspirations) do most young people have today? A lot of young people want to be famous and its also common for Chinese
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young people to have the dream of starting their own business. I think if they really want to do it, they might be able to do it well. Because its said that where theres a will, theres a way. 6. Do you think it's good to be ambitious? I think its good to be reasonably ambitious, which means that we dont set goals that are way beyond our ability, otherwise, well only feel the failure and frustration. If we set goals that are reachable, we will enjoy the process and eventually taste the success. 7. Some people who are highly ambitious never let anything stop them from reaching their goal, even if it includes hurting other people in order to achieve this goal. Do you think that is good? I think thats not good. Reaching goals is not the ultimate objective. We want to do something well because we want the recognition from others, which means that we should be useful for the society and other people. If we hurt other peoples benefits for the sake of fulfilling our own dream, well eventually taste the bitter fruit we have grown with our own hand.
*1. Polite
1) describe an occasion you have to be polite, when, where, how to be polite Describe an occasion you have to be polite You should say: what the occasion is what you have to do who are involved and explain why you think it is important. Sample: Well, Id like to talk about how I would be courteous when I am invited to dinner in the others such as one of my friends home. First I have to prepare some presents before I go to her home. I will greet her parents warmly when they welcome me. During the dinner, I give my compliment on her mothers cooking sincerely once a dish is carried onto the table. I shouldnt stand up to reach the food. On the contrary, I accept their serving and kindly show my appreciation when they serve the dishes for me. I will leave a little food in my bowl and politely show them that I am really full. What Ive mentioned above is typical Chinese dinner etiquette and I would do it habitually. Doing so, I think, would make me a popular guest in the others home. In fact, I think being polite is all about being considerate and appreciative. I never
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find it difficult to be polite because my parents have taught me to be so since I was young. They require me to behave myself and be polite to others especially to my elders in any situation. 2) An occasion you were polite Describe an occasion when you had to be polite. * You should say: what the occasion was where it was who was with you and explain why you had to be polite. Sample: Well, Id like to talk about one of my experiences on a bus. About a year ago, I went on a bus crowded with passengers on an early morning. It was so crowded that I almost couldnt stand comfortably, let alone found a vacant seat. I stood between a seat and an old lady. As I thought it was more comfortable to lean against the seat, I advised the old lady to exchange her position with me. But she misunderstood me, and said that I was selfish and I wanted to get off the bus more easily and kept saying some words like that harshly. At that moment, I felt so wronged that I was almost impulsive to quarrel with her. But I resisted the impulse, and said sorry to her politely and told her that it was ok if she preferred to stay where she was. You know, being polite is one of traditional Chinese virtues. Many Chinese are taught to be polite in all situations, so am I. And I always behave as Ive been taught. As to why I had to be polite on that occasion, I think it was basically because of my concept that respecting the aged and taking good care of children is our unchanged traditional value. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What are some ways that people in your country show politeness towards others? Well, in my country, its common to ask people about their meals when start a conversation. Its a way to show that we care about them and its considered polite. Also, when we buy something, its always polite to stand in line. 2. Do you think people are equally polite at home (with their family) as they are outside the home (with strangers)? Probably not. A lot of people believe that its okay to be casual around family members so they dont have to say thank you all the time and they dont have to force themselves to have a small talk with their family members when theyre not in such a mood. 3. What do you think are the differences between a polite person and a friendly person? Well. Polite people have a lot of rules in mind and when they follow all the rules, they can make other people feel comfortable and show that theyre well raised.
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However, for friendly people, they dont have to know the rules. They could make people happy because they care about others and they want to make others happy and welcomed. Do you think telling lies is impolite? Well, its a hard question. Usually I think lies and politeness are not connected. Its definitely not polite to tell lies and its something related to their honesty. If people lie to us, well feel very uncomfortable and lose trust in them. Even if theyre really polite, well still feel hurt. Are there any times when it might be polite to tell a lie? Probably. If we tell the truth, we can hurt other peoples feelings; it might be more polite to tell lies. For example, if a friends clothes are very ugly, its still polite to say its okay or suitable for them. If you dont want to go to a party because you think it might be boring, its not polite to tell the truth. Do you always tell the truth to people? Most of the time, but when the truth may not make them feel happy, Ill try to say it in a more polite way because I think its not necessary to tell others everything in your mind. For example, if theyre really heavy, its not polite to say it out loud and if the clothes they wear are not nice looking, its also not polite to remind them of that. Which do you think is better, to always show your feelings or to sometimes conceal your feelings? I think its better to know how to control ones feelings. When were happy or excited, all these positive feelings, most of the time, are okay for others to know. But if were angry or sad, sometimes its better to hide our feelings because we dont want to give others negative influence and make them feel bad too. On the question of showing emotions, do you think males and females are the same? I think were probably different. For males, they tend to have more control of their feelings so its really hard to see men crying in front of others unless they are experiencing very big things in life. However, for females, we tend to be more emotional. A lot of women will cry when we watch some moving films or hear something that touches our heart. Do you think pretending to smile is polite? Yes. If were not happy to see somebody, its still more polite to give them the smile to tell them that theyre welcomed. When were upset, we dont have to wear the sad face all the time, we should have some smile occasionally to lighten our heart and also give the people around us some reasons to feel happy.
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*2. Unforgettable birthday

Describe a birthday celebration that you enjoyed. You should say: whose birthday it was who was there what you (or what people) did and explain why you enjoyed it. Sample 1: You see, the pace of city life nowadays is so fast that people spend most of their time working or studying, which makes relaxation a luxury to us. So when I was invited to a birthday celebration, I enjoyed it very much. About two months ago, a friend of mine invited me, along with several other friends, to his house for dinner to celebrate his birthday with him. And when we got there with our presents, we were welcomed warmly by his parents who then offered us some soft drinks and various snacks. We talked and ate and watched TV while they were preparing the dinner. It turned out that it was worth the wait, because there were so many delicious foods including a fancy cake, and I was really full after the fantastic meal. His parents are that kind of liberal parents and they entered their room shortly after the dinner to make us feel at ease. After dinner, we had some interesting conversations to catching up on recent events of each others lives. And then we watched a new movie while chatting with each other until it was very late. I really enjoyed that birthday occasion because the foods were delicious, it was great to get together with old friends and it was a nice way to wind down after a hard week at work. Sample 2: I want to talk about the birthday party I had last year, which was my twentieth birthday, a very important one for young adults because it means that were grownup and can make decisions more independently. On that day, my parents invited all my friends to my home and they prepared a big cake and a lot of delicious food for us. When it was the time for me to unwrap my presents, I was very excited. They all surprised me a lot. The most special gift would be the X-box from my parents. I always wanted to have one because I could use it to play sports at home. Then, my friends also organized some interesting games for the party. We laughed and screamed a lot. The most interesting game we played would be the mafia game, which was very suitable for young people to play as a group and my parents even joined us and they also had a lot of fun.
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It was definitely an unforgettable party. I hope all my birthdays can be as interesting as that one. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What are some of the main festivals in your country? Therere a lot of important festivals in China. The most important one should definitely be the Spring Festival, during which people would have a long holiday and its a tradition for people to go back to their hometown to have a reunion with the family members. Besides that, the mid autumn festival and dragon boat festival are also considered important. 2. How do people celebrate birthdays in your country? Well, well have a party for the birthday person, but instead of eating cakes, traditionally, we would eat long noodles, which represent long life and carry the good wishes of the family members. People believe the long noodles can bring good luck to the birthday person. Now, its common for us to eat cake, so its very much like western birthday parties. 3. Are there any differences between birthday celebrations for adults with birthday celebrations for children? Yes, therere some differences. For children, they would play many games because children love having fun. Parents need to prepare for them and they also need to control the whole party. But for adults, therell be a lot of talking. Because adults dont need supervision, they could go to wherever they like to hold the party, such as the KTV, and the beach. 4. What's the most important birthday for people in your country? Well, basically we considered birthdays with a 10 important, such as twentieth, thirtieth, and sixtieth. On these birthdays, a lot of family members or friends will be present and usually they will hold a big party for the birthday person. Some people even have it at a nice hotel and invite a lot of people, which would be as big as a wedding ceremony.
*3. Sport competition

Describe a sports event that you watched or took part in. You should say: when this event was held where it was held who participated in the event and explain why you remember this event so well. Sample Id like to talk about the sport meeting held in our school. Our school holds sports meeting once a year, and it is one of the most important events for us. The sports meeting usually lasts for two days. The students participating in the event will keep training for several months in advance. Those who dont take part in it also look forward to it because during those two days, the lessons will be cancelled.
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There are many races and matches on the sports meeting such as relay races and basketball match. I didnt participate in it until last year when a competitor from our class was injured accidentally. Just two weeks ahead of the sports meeting, I was informed to replace him to take part in the 1500-meter-race. It was the first time that I had participated in such kind of sports event and I am not so good at long-distance running, so I was really nervous and anxious about my performance in the race. But I determined to do well, and I told myself that I must at least finish the race. During those two weeks, our monitor accompanied me to run around our playground every morning and evening. On the big day, I had made good preparations for it at least mentally. But it was still a challenge for me and I was the last one to reach the finishing line. This experience had a great influence on me: it aroused my interest in sports and I spend more time doing exercise now. 2) A sport competition you wanted to watch but you didnt Describe a sports event that you wanted to watch but you didnt You should say: when this event was held where it was held who participated in the event and explain why you wanted to go to this competition. Sample: Well, I want to talk about the final of the mens singles at the London Olympic badminton tournament which I had expected eagerly but missed at last. You know, the tournament took place on August 5th, 2012, and Chinas Lin Dan played Lee Chong Wei from Malaysia. My parents and I all love to play badminton and we are all Lin Dans fans, so we had waited for it before TV long before it started. But just several minutes before it begun, my grandma fell down from the chair and broke her arm. My parents and I had to send her to the hospital promptly. I rushed home immediately after we got everything settled in the hospital only to find that the tournament had been come to an end. Then I surfed on the Internet and learned that Super Dan lost the first game but finally won the gold medal, defeating Lee Chong Wei by 21-10 and 21-19 in the last two games. Later I watched the video of the match and marveled at Lin Dans outstanding skills and extraordinary mental quality. Fortunately, my grandma had recovered several months later. But I always regret for I failed to watch the live match because I couldnt experience the atmosphere of the live match and that kind of expectation and anxiety. I hope I will never miss such
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kind of live tournament any more. Sample 2 Im a big football fan and my favorite team is Barcelona. Actually, I missed the UEFA champions League final in 2011, which was held at Wembley Stadium in London in May 2011. That day, it was Barcelona versus Manchester United, so I really looked forward to it. However, because of the time difference I didnt wake up on time. By the time I got up, the competition was already over. I felt very disappointed. But I still searched on the internet for the results. Fortunately, Barcelona dominated the match, winning 31 with goals from Pedro Rodrguez, Lionel Messi and David Villa, securing their fourth Champions League title. I think Ill definitely watch the final this year and would ask my best friend, whos also a football fan, to give me a call just in case I couldnt get up again. I think watching games is always fun, especially when your favorite team is winning a game. If I have the opportunity in the future, I would like to go to Europe to watch a live final of the UEFA champions League. I think itll be a memorable moment for me. If Im fortunate enough, I might even meet my favorite player, Messi. Sample 3 : A sport competition you want to watch Im a big football fan and my favorite team is Barcelona. I would watch football games all the time. If I have the opportunity, I would like to watch the UEFA champions League final this year in Europe. Last year, Barcelona dominated the final match, winning 31 with goals, securing their fourth Champions League title. And I think Barcelona is still very likely to win it this time. I would like to go to the spot to witness the exciting moment. If Im fortunate enough, I might even meet my favorite player, Messi. Of course, watching a game in Europe will be expensive so I should start saving now. Also, I might need to buy the ticket beforehand to make sure I could definitely watch the game. I think watching games is always fun, especially when my favorite team is winning a game. I could cheer for them and experience the excitement with them. The audience around me could also influence the atmosphere. When Im at home watching games, my parents would always say Im too loud, but I think it wont be probably in the stadium because everybody is doing the same thing. I hope my dream can become true that day. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. How do you think about Chinese football teams? Well, to be honest, they are quite disappointing. With such a large population to select out those excellent players, with so high a salary to encourage them, and with such good training facilities, their performances are really disappointing to
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the public. For so long a time, the Chinese team was only once able to play in the world cup, but unfortunately they were weeded out in the first round. Besides, in the Asian cup, they had never been able to stand on the first place, compared with so many other tiny countries. Why parents want their kids to win the first place in a sport competition? Parents do so for various reasons. Some parents, failing to make such achievements themselves, hope that their children can, on behalf of them, realize their dreams. Other parents, expecting to earn a face in front of other parents, may also want their children to do so. And still others, out of true love of their kids, hoping that the children can gain confidence through wining the games. Which one is better, participating in or watching a competition? Well, it depends. When one hopes to have an overall view about the competition, and try to learn something from it, standing by watching the competition may be a good choice. However, when one expects to feel the real excitement, or display his talents, participating in the competition may be better. What indoor and outdoor activities are there in China? Well, there are great varieties of indoor activities in China, such as chess, table tennis, billiards, cards, mahjong and so on. On the other hand, we also have a lot of outdoor activities, such as football, tennis, basketball, and boating. However, these days, with the help of technology in construction, we now are enabled to play indoor activities outdoors, and we can also play outdoor activities inside. What sports are popular in China? What sports do Chinese people like? Well, many sports are popular in china now. For example, many people are in favor of playing badminton, and even without booking in advance, one cannot find a place to play. Also, many students like to play pingpong or table tennis with their classmates or friends, especially in school, because of the availability. University students, however, may be better fond of playing basketball and tennis. when do you watch the matchesWhat will you do when you are watching the match? Well, at nights or weekends, when I finish my school work and when there are some excellent basketball or football matches on show, I will be there watching, or even sometimes, when I know some matches are held in the sports center, I may go with my friends there to watch the games on spots. When we are watching, we will cheer for the good performance of the players, and of course, when I have a preference of the teams on playing or when I am fond of some specific players, I will only cheer to support them. Who like sports more, men or women? Generally speaking, men like sports more than women. For one thing, men are usually stronger physically, and its human nature to choose doing something they are good at, so men play sports more than women. Also, because men are often more energetic, sports help them to release part of their energy, otherwise, they may feel fidgety. In addition, men like to seek excitement more than
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women, and sports are just a way for them to achieve the aim. 8. What will life be when there are no sports? Well, its hard to imagine when there are no sports in the world. Our ancestors had long in history invented varieties of sports, to help them become stronger, to relieve their pressure, to amuse themselves, and to entertain others. Without sports, our world will be monotonous, and to achieve something like from the sports, there may be more wars around. 9. Whatre the advantages of watching live games and games on TV? Well, there are some differences. For example, by watching live games, people can enjoy the games with a larger audience and so feel the greater excitement. Also, people can be closer to those players or the stars, and so get more involved with the games. In comparison, watching games on TV is quite convenient and economical to enjoy the same game. Also, we can record the games and so watch the games repeatedly on TV, which is impossible for live games. 10. Why do you think some old people like exciting sports more than young people? Well, I am not so sure. Maybe some old people are still quite strong physically, and so they like exciting sports. Or in some other occasions, because they are old and they can not take part in those sports, they like to watch those games to show that they are still energetic. In addition, some old people may like those exciting sports since they were young, and so it is their habits to still love those sports. 11. What benefits can a country get from hosting international games? Well, to host international games, a country can benefit a lot. For example, it may attract millions of people to come there to watch the games, which may bring them huge income. Also, to meet the requirement of holding the games, the country may be forced to improve its construction of those facilities, which, if not given the chance, may be delayed. In addition, the games will be reported in various media throughout the world, which provides a very good chance for the country to publicize itself, and so make it better understood and have its international status enhanced. 12. Do you think men are better sports players than women? Generally, I think so. This s because men are usually stronger physically, and so can run faster, jump higher and farther. However, these days, with the improvement of peoples life level, women can also enjoy the nutrition to become as strong as men, and with the help of professional training, women can also do well in sports.
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4. Your plans for the future

Describe your plans for the future You should say: What you plan to do Who you plan to do it with How you will do it And explains why you want to do this Sample: People have different plans in their life. For me, I would like to run a bookshop in the future because I love reading and I want to share the books with others. Theres no bookshop near my home, so I always want to open one for the neighbors. I shared my dream with my best friend once and hes also interested in it so I think he will become my future partner. I would start this business after making enough money. By then, Ill probably have enough money to rent the place and buy books. I also need to accumulate knowledge in book selection, so that I could always sell very good books to customers. The decoration should be in a Chinese classical way with a lot of pictures hanging on the wall to tell the history of China. Ill sell a variety of books and put them in order. Service is always important for any business. The shop assistants should very friendly and warm-hearted. If the customers ask them to recommend books, they should be able to give useful advice. So I think it might be a good idea to hire some part time college students to work in my shop. Because of the development of technology, Ill also need to sell books online to provide better service. Its my childhood dream and I hope I can fulfill it as soon as possible. Part 3: 1. Do you think its important to make plans for the future? Yes. I think we should make both short term plans and long term plans in our life so that well find our life more organized and therere always goals to direct us what to do and whats more urgent. If we dont make plans, we might feel regretted one day when we realize that we have wasted a lot of time and energy on things we shouldnt have done. 2. How do you think you will feel when (if) you achieve your goal? Ill definitely feel joyful. Therere many goals that lead us to live our life. If we dont have them, well feel empty or meaningless. When we have goals, well know what to do and how to work towards our goals. 3. Some people have some goals but they still have trouble making a plan for the future. Why do you think that happens? When we set goals, its important to make sure that theyre reasonable. If we have unreachable goals, its very easy to make us feel frustrated and discouraged.
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Also, we might want to break the goals to more feasible tasks so that we can do it one at a time.
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A training session you enjoyed
Describe a training session you enjoyed You should say: When it happened? What was it about? Who you were with? And explain why it was impressive to you. Sample: The most unforgettable training session that I had is definitely the outdoor education organized by my university. I joined this training session last spring with many of my classmates. Although it was just a two day session, we all benefited a lot from it. In this session, we were divided into several groups of 10 people. We enjoyed a great number of challenging and interesting activities, including kayaking, raft building, rock climbing, caving and so on. Through these activities, we not only strengthened our friendships but also built up teamwork skills. Undoubtedly, rock climbing taught us to trust our partners since they held the string attached to our life and caving let us know how to cooperate so that we could find the exit together. To be honest, this session was the most tiring training session I have ever had, but it was very meaningful. I hope my university can organize more sessions like this to add some spice to our school life. Part 3 1. What do you think are the qualities of a good teacher? I think its really difficult to be good teachers because they need to have a lot of noble characteristics. First of all, teachers should be professional, which means that they should know what they are teaching really well. But knowledge is not the only thing that a good teacher should possess. Patience is also the key for being successful teachers because we cant guarantee that every student is bright and will understand the knowledge immediately. Sometimes its a very hard process to help every student master what they need to learn. Last but not least, teachers should have a loving heart. We tend to remember the teachers who care about us. In that sense, teachers are not only teaching, theyre mentoring the students. 2. Do you think the usage of science and technology has changed teaching very much? Yes, I think so. Because of the usage of science and technology, multimedia teaching is allowed. Nowadays, teachers can provide students a lot of visual and audio aids through the computer, overhead projector and other high-tech products. I recently saw a special board called smart board, which even allows the students to have hands-on activities on the board. Its definitely a revolution
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for teaching and learning. 3. Which do you think is better, distance education or classroom education? I prefer classroom education because when students are in the classroom, theyre not only listening to the teachers lecturing but also are involved in social activities with the classmates. The learning atmosphere is better in a classroom and we wont feel frustrated because of network disconnection or other technology problems from distance learning. However, distance education is cheap and time saving because we dont need to commute from home to school everyday, which will give us more time to do other things in life. So maybe its good to have a combination of both. 4. Do you think distance education might one day replace classroom education? I dont think so. Although distance training is cheaper and more convenient, its very different from classroom education in many ways. First of all, its hard for students to build personal relationships with their teachers and classmates, so it lacks the social element. Also, distance education depends too much on high-tech equipment. Both students and teachers will suffer from malfunction of their computers or network from time to time. Besides, its hard for children to pay attention when they are taking distance courses, so its definitely not for younger students. So I think classroom teaching will still exist in the future.
6. Traditional Event
Describe an important traditional event (in your culture/country). You should say: when this event is held who attends this event (or, who is involved in this event) what people do during this event and explain why this event is important. Sample : Well, I think the most important traditional event in China will be the Spring Festival gathering, which is held in Chinese New Year according to the traditional calendar. We will have half a month holiday during that time. It is as important as Christmas in the west. At that time, we would clean the house and wear new clothes. On that day, we usually do traditional things, such as making dumplings, and giving presents to relatives. On the New Years Eve, all family members will get together to share a great meal to celebrate and look forward to the coming new year. Well also watch the Spring Festival Gala on CCTV Channel. It would be one of the most important topics after New Year. At twelve oclock, we would go out to set off fireworks to celebrate the coming year and it is also said that in this way we could scare away ghosts and bad luck. We hope the following year will be much better than the past one.
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I like the spring festival and always look forward to it. I think its the most interesting festival in our culture. Part 3 1. Does your country have what we could call "traditional food"? Yes, I would say its the dumpling. Chinese people love it and we even like the process of making the dumpling. Because its a perfect opportunity for the whole family get involved. When my family makes it, my father would always be the one making the wrappers and I would put the fillings in and wrap it. We have dumplings when we have traditional events, such as the new years party, and big reunions. 2. Do you have "traditional dress" (or, traditional clothes) in your country? I think Qipao is considered the traditional dress for women, which is actually from a Chinese ethnic group called manzu. Qipao is usually worn at important occasions because of the fancy fabrics used and the beautiful tailoring. For men, Tangzhuang is the traditional clothes to wear, which is made of the similar fabrics as qipao and if you wear it, you will feel the Chinese element in this kind of clothes. 3. Do you think it's important to maintain traditions? Definitely. Traditions make who we are. If every nation is the same, people will lose interest traveling around the world and life will lack the excitement we should have. I think traditions can teach us about our ancestors and history, also they give us a sense of belonging and identity. 4. Do you think these traditions will be lost in the future? It depends. A lot of things will be changed and young people may forget about them, but I still believe the essential parts of the tradition will remain there and we cant easily lose them. Its also important to encourage young people to learn and value what our ancestors have left for us. 5. What is the value of traditions? Traditions can help us learn from the history and we can know what our ancestors experienced in the past. Its a great way to maintain the cultural elements of our nation. If we lose all the traditions, well feel a lack of spice and meaning in our life. I think its important for us to learn and value the traditions we have, so that we can have a strong sense of identity as a member of the country. 6. Which do young people prefer, traditional ways of doing things or new ways? (Why?) I think both. Usually people want to try new things, but when new things become common things, they might feel tired of it and the new will become the old. In that case, the traditional ways of doing things might become in fashion again. For example, nowadays, after changing from traditional weddings to western ones, now a lot of young people are actually think its fashionable to have a traditional wedding.
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If a tradition disappears in one generation, do you think it's possible for it to return in the future? I think its possible. Just like nowadays, a lot of archaeologists are trying to study and reveal things in the past. A lot of people are interested in studying and preserving traditions. So I would not be surprised when I see a lost tradition return. However, even when it returns, it wont be exactly the same.
1. Historical event
Describe an important event in the history of your country. You should say: what event it was when it occurred who was leading this event and explain why you think it was important. Sample: I think the significant historic event in China would be the time that Qinshihuang united China, which also made him famous throughout history in China. Before him, China was divided into several small countries and those countries fought all the time, which made the civilians life miserable. Qingshihuang was a very ambitious man and his dream was to make China one country. Because of his hard work and good leadership, his country became very powerful and eventually beat his rivals and established the powerful Qin dynasty. At that time, he did many good things to help China to develop. The most important one would be to unify the Chinese characters used in the whole country, so that people could communicate more easily and didnt need to worry about misunderstandings. He also built the Great Wall to pretend the country from foreign invasions. I think this historic event is really important in Chinese history and everybody should study it and know it well. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Do you think it's important to know about history? Definitely. We could learn from the mistakes of our ancestors. If we learn the history, we can also know the origin of our culture and customs. Its a way to help us know ourselves and our identity well. Through learning history, people can become wise and knowledgeable. 2. What can we learn from history?
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We can learn many things. History should be studied because it is essential to individuals and to society, and because it harbors beauty. There are many ways to discuss the real functions of the subjectas there are many different historical talents and many different paths to historical meaning. All definitions of history's utility, however, rely on fundamental facts. How do (or how can) people get reliable historical information? Most books about history are very reliable, but its also necessary to read books from different sources in order to get the accurate information. In the past, history books were mainly composed in favor of the emperor and the government, so sometimes the information might be altered. When historians study history, they cant trust all the information a certain book gives, and they have to study a variety of books from different aspects. I guess we should learn from their way of judging historical information. Do you think any famous historical figures can serve as models for young people today? Yes, definitely. Although nowadays a lot of young people take modern stars or characters in books or films as their models, people still believe the people with very true stories in history can teach us more and we can learn a lot from them. When young people learn from the biographies of historical figures, they could know what to do in their life. Do many people today visit museums? Yes, a lot of people still visit museums because they can learn a lot about art and history in museums. Its actually more helpful if you have a tourist guide when you visit a museum. Sometimes, I think a little preparation beforehand can make our visit more enjoyable. Do you think governments should spend more money on museums? Yes, I think so, because museums can educate the local residents and travelers the history of the area and help them to appreciate their own tradition and history. Also, its important for the young children to know the ancient culture and history through museums. What do you think is the role (or, purpose) of museums? Museums can help the city to attract more tourists. Generally speaking, museums collect objects of significance that comply with their mission statement for conservation and display. Its also a great way to educate the public. Some museums provide leaflets and even hand-on activities for the public to learn science, history, or art. Why do people visit museums when they can see pictures of the same things in books? Pictures are very different from the actual items you can see at museums. They have different sizes, of course. When you see actual items, you can feel more connected to them, which can make you feel that these items could be used in the real life, but pictures can only give us two dimensional visual effects to make sure that we could be able to recognize them.
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Do you think museums should charge admission fee? I dont think so. I think the main purpose for museums to exist is for educational reasons, so they should teach people history, culture, and art. Its a place for the general public to learn. A small amount of admission fee is understandable, but its definitely not a means for the government to earn money. 10. What should be preserved in museums? A lot of things. Most museums preserve things that have historical value or artistic value. We can learn the history of human culture or even know the earth well from the fossils unburied by archeologists. We can definitely learn a lot from the collections in different museums.
2. an event made you laugh

Describe an event that made you laugh You should say: what event it was when it occurred what made you laugh and explain how you felt about it. Sample: I think the family event I had with my extended family during the Chinese New Year was very interesting, which made us laugh a lot. As usual, our family had a family reunion at my grandparents home on the New Years Eve and we enjoyed the time a lot. The event was a little different because my cousin was in charge of the whole thing. In order to make it special and memorable, he planned a lot of activities for us to participate. One thing was really hilarious, in which he asked one person at a time to mimic a family member for others to guess. He would tell the person, who was going to perform, the name of the family member secretly and then the rest of us had to guess cooperatively. The most interesting part was he asked my grandma to mimic my little five-year cousin. My seventy-year-old grandma suddenly became very lovely and active. We couldnt stop laughing and guessed the name immediately because my grandma really did a good job. I think its the most interesting family event I have ever attended. I told them how I liked it and we really should have it often. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What makes people laugh in your country (your culture)? I think its probably the same as in other countries. When we see or hear something funny, well laugh and when people tell interesting jokes, well laugh. I think if we can laugh more, well definitely enjoy our life more and have a good mood.
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Are comedy TV shows very popular in your country? Yes, therere a lot of entertaining programs have comedic elements in them. When we see such programs, well feel relaxed and laugh with the audience. Since they dont require us think too much, and after watching it, well feel happy, this kind of program is very popular nowadays. Do you think there are any differences between the comedy shows on TV that young people like and those that old(er) people like? Yes. Old people usually like watching some shows that are close to their life, but young people love interesting things that are related to fashion the hot topics because theyre young and learning all the time. So its really hard to for young people and old people to appreciate the same comedy shows. What do you think are the differences between seeing comedy on TV and reading funny materials in a book? Well, when we see comedies on TV, we use more senses, both our visual and auditory senses, so we can feel it more. But when we read something, well have to take the initiative because we need to imagine the funny scene so that after the process, we can feel its really funny. Would you like to appear in a TV comedy program? Maybe not, because I dont think Im a very humorous person. If I appear in such a program, I might feel nervous and if they ask me to do some funny things, Ill be too shy to cooperate with them. How would you make people laugh? I know some jokes and when I want to make others laugh, I would tell them the jokes. Usually they can laugh a lot if theyve never heard of them. However, occasionally, I tell jokes that people already know, then, itll be hard for them to laugh. Do you think it's easy to translate comedy TV programs into other languages? I think its very hard. I remember a friend of mine telling a Chinese joke to an American friend. All the Chinese students got it, but the American friend didnt feel its funny at all. I guess theres culture involved in a lot of funny things, so the funny thing in one culture may not be that interesting in another language. Is comedy used much in advertisements in your country? Not much, but now we can see more and more funny elements in advertisements. I have to say its good to make people laugh when watching advertisements because it can make us feel less bored. Also, its easier for us to remember things when we laugh a lot, so its also good for promoting the products. Do you think funny advertisements on TV are effective? Yes, I think so. When we see something that can make us laugh, we can usually remember it better. Also, its common for friends to talk about funny things we
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see on TV, so in this way the advertisement can be spread among friends, which will definitely make the advertisement more effective.
3. Happy event in your childhood

Describe a happy event from your childhood that you remember well You should say: what the event was when and where it happened who participated in this event and explain why you remember this event so well. Sample: My class hosted a lot of interesting events when I was a child. I still remember the most interesting event, a cooking competition, which was held when I was in fourth grade. Actually, its not a real competition, and its more like a party for parents and children. On that day, every family would bring their best dish to the class. Our family made the food my mom would cook all the time at home, called rice dumplings. My classmates brought a variety food and soon our classroom was full of good smell of the delicious food. I was very excited to taste all kinds of dishes made by different students and their families. In the end, the judges chose the best three dishes. Although our family didnt win any prize, I still think its the most interesting event in my childhood because I could have fun with my classmates and their families. I think there should be more events like that for parents to get involved in childrens school life. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living with the old? Living with the old, young people can have a better opportunity to learn something from the rich experience of the old, including their advice to deal with problems in the daily life. Also, the old may help to look after the home or even take care of the children for young couples. However, due to the generation gap, some cases of disharmony may occur, such as the different opinions about life between the young and the old. Also, the young may feel life inconvenient because of their different life habits. Above all, I think, when they have love toward each other, the young and the old will all enjoy their life better when living together. 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing up in a big family? Growing in a big family, the young may enjoy a better care form the parents and grand parents, they may learn a lot from the experience of those elders in the family, and they may get more supports or helps in their growth. However, in a
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big family, the young may have less privacy, there may be more conflicts among family members on trivial matters, and the young may be spoilt by the elder members. Therefore, it depends on people themselves to adjust when living in a big family. How do you think about the aging society problems? For one thing, thanks to the advancement in life science and the improvement in life quality, people are now enjoying a longer life expectancy, and people are now enabled to do more things they like throughout their life. However, an aging society may also mean a lot of problems. The burden of health care, old pension, and resources to raise the old but fruitless people, can all be problems. What help do parents need to bring up children? In bringing up their children, parents do need a lot of help from others, from the society, and from the government. For example, the parents need others experience in raising the kids and taking care of the kids. The parents need schools and teachers to educate their children, especially when they are busy with their own jobs. And the parents need there to be more social activities for them and their children to take part in and to have fun. What are the differences between the family parties in china and the western ones? Well, to be frank, I am not so familiar with what is going on at the parties in western families, but according to my understanding, there are some differences. For example, at family parties in China, people now like to do that in restaurants, because we now dont have a very big house to hold parties. However, from films, holding parties in the yard is quite popular in western families. Who are more important, friends or family? Well, just like another story, to save the mother or save the wife when they both are drowning, it is also hard to say who are more important as to friends and family. If I have to choose one, I would say its the family, because we could have more friends if we wish, but we could not have the family back if we lose them. Do people take care of the old because of love or obligation? I think both. When the old people get sick, they need somebody to be around to take care of them and make sure that theyre ok. However, since everybody has their own nuclear family and a job, a lot of people feel tired because of taking care of the old. So, its out of love and obligation for them to try their best to take care of the old. What benefits do family reunions have? Nowadays, a lot of young people are working in places that are far away from their hometown. They dont see their family and relatives very often. Family reunions are the best time for them to catch up with family members and to feel the warmth from the family. Its really important for the empty-nesters to enjoy the quality time with their children and grandchildren.
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9. Is it good to have siblings? I think so. Its really not good to be the only child in a family. If therere some siblings, children can learn how to care about each other and share their toys with their brothers and sisters. Also, when they have something they dont want to tell the parents, they could always share their feelings with their siblings. I think its really nice to have more than one child in a family. 10. How do you think about the one child policy?
I dont like it. Although it seems necessary for China, such a big country, to have some birth control, its just too strict to limit every family to only have one child. As the only child in a family, these children are often feeling lonely or get too much attention from the older generation. I think there should be more freedom in this child birth area.
4. Travel
1) A trip you took when you were a child Describe a trip you took when you were a child You should say: when it was who you went with where you went and explain why you think the trip was special. Sample: I still remember the trip with my parents to Qinhuangdao in Hebei province when I was ten years old. It was during my summer vacation and my parents happened to have time for a family trip. I was very excited. The destination was not that important but the time to spend with my family was very valuable for me. We took a train there. When we got to Qinhuangdao, it was dinner time already. After settling down in the hotel, we went out to have a seafood dinner. My dad promised to take me to see the sunrise at the beach the next morning, but he said that I should get up extremely early than usual. Before going to bed I set my alarm oclock and I even dreamed about all the fun we would have. The next morning, we got to the seaside on time and waited for the sun to rise. At first, the sun looked like an egg, then it became bigger and bigger. I felt it was amazing. It was my first time to see the ocean as well, so you could understand how excited I could be. My parents bought me a swimming ring and I we had a lot of fun in the water. Since my parents had to work, we only spent two days there. The trip was short but memorable. I felt the place was very beautiful. I really want to go there again in the future. I guess its because of the memories I had from this experience. I think its really important for children to travel with their parents and for the family to have some
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quality family time. 2) A trip with family or friends Describe a trip you had. You should say: who you traveled with where you went what you did or saw and explain why you want to talk about this trip. Sample This topic reminds me of the trip to Beijing with my parents last year. It was a wonderful trip because I got to visit the capital of China and see many ancient tourist attractions. We booked a very nice hotel and stayed there for three days. The first day, we went to the famous Great Wall. When we looked at it from distance, the Great Wall was like a huge dragon. My parents and I climbed to the highest point and took a picture as our souvenir. We also went to the Forbidden City. I was amazed at seeing so many wooden constructions in the emperors palace. Of course, we also took some time to taste the delicious local foods. I especially liked the Beijing Roasted duck, which tasted very good. I hope I could have it in my hometown as well. I enjoyed the trip very much because I got to see the famous ancient city in China and could spend time with my parents. I hope to visit Beijing again in the future because I feel therere still a lot more to see. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1. What kinds of transport facilities are more important to a new town? Well, to a new town, convenient transportation is very important. People in the town need to go out a lot to keep in touch with people in other cities while the outsiders will go to the new town to seek chances or other contacts, and so convenient ways of transportation can help them a lot. To be specifically, buses, taxes, private cars, and bicycles will firstly serve as the main ways of transportation. 2. What should governments do to reduce traffic jams? The governments can do a lot to reduce traffic jams. For example, more roads can be built and the old ones can be broadened, so that more cars can run on the roads without being stuck in jams. Also, more public transportation facilities can be provided, such as the buses, and metro systems, so that more people can travel around at a time and fewer cars will be there on the roads. After all, as long as the government is making efforts, the traffic jams can be reduced to a large extent. 3. Why do many people choose to travel a long distance away? What are the advantages and disadvantages of long distance traveling?
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These days, more people are trying to travel a long way from their home. Staying in a place for a long time, and with the improvement of their life level, these people hope to find something that is totally different from their life to see and to experience. Also, other people may expect to stay away from the people they are familiar with and other matters they are involved in. However, they have to make good plans before they go, otherwise, they may encounter something that is beyond their control since they are also a long way from the usual supports. Should people choose some other ways of travelling? Well, it depends on peoples personal choices. After their busy work or study, being tired of their life, expecting to experience something different, people may choose different destinations to go. In this sense, any mandatory orders will be unacceptable. What do you think about trains, cars, and bicycles? Which do you prefer? Well, in my opinion, they are just different ways of transportation, they are there for different destinations, and they are there for people to choose. Trains offer us safe, economical and long journeys; cars provide us with private, convenient, and relaxed travels, while bicycles enable us to travel around freely with a side effect of exercising. As to me, I will make my choice according to the real situation, and so it is hard to say for sure which one is the most suitable to me. What are the differences of transportation means now and in the past? Well, there are many differences in ways of transportation now and in the past. For example, people now can travel around by bus, by plane, by car, by bicycle, and by underground railway. However, these may not be possible in the past, when people could only choose to travel on foot, on horses or by boats. Therefore, people now are enabled to travel faster, safer and farther. Which do you prefer, long distance journey or short distance journey? To be frank, it depends. When I have long holidays, when I want to experience something different, I may choose to travel a long distance away. However, when I have a short holiday, or when I just want some outings with my family or friends, a short distance trip is ok. What do people in your country like more now? Why there are such changes? Are there any benefits for people? It seems more and more people like to travel to farther places. These people hope to find something that is totally different from their life to see and to experience. Also, other people may expect to stay away from the people they are familiar with and other matters they are involved in. this is mainly because peoples life level is now greatly improved and advanced ways of transportation are developed. What way of transportation do you want to choose? To be frank, not lime many other young people who may dream to have their cars, I like to choose bicycle as my way of transportation. Firstly, I am a student, I dont go far away from my home or my school often, a bike offers me the
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convenience I want. Besides, riding a bicycle on the campus or around the city provides me a chance to exercise. I think this is extremely important to me because except this, I have too little exercise of my body. 10. Whatre the advantages and disadvantages of cycling? Well, as to me, cycling has great advantages. For example, it brings me great convenience whenever I wan to go around the city. Also, it helps me exercise because I have little chance to exercise my body. In addition, cycling helps to reduce pollution to the air and to the environment. However, compared with other ways of transportation, cycling cannot take me to a far away place, and it is unsafe when racing with other motor vehicles. 11. Can bikes cause traffic congestions? What should the government do to solve it? Generally, bikes are good alternatives to cars to reduce traffic congestions. However, theses days, some people, who are not following the traffic regulations, would still ride their bicycles onto the motor ways, which may easily cause traffic accidents, or at least, will slow down the traffic, and so cause traffic jams. To solve this, I think the government should do something, such as setting out a certain lanes specifically for bikes, educating those cyclists to obey the traffic rules. As long as we are making efforts, this current situation can be alleviated. 12. How do people view long journeys? Well, I think peoples view about long journeys may vary from person to person. Some people may like long journeys because they can have a chance to stay away from their busy life and have refreshment. However, to others, long journeys may cause stress on them, because they may feel uneasy to leave home to go to other places that they are not so familiar with. 13. What measures should the government take to solve transportation problems in traveling? The government can do a lot to solve traffic problems. For example, better educations of the citizens to follow traffic rules, more provision of public transportation facilities, such as buses and underground railways, as well as broadening the roads or building skyways, can all contribute to the alleviation of traffic problems. 14. What transportation do people choose for short trips? Well, it depends. Some people, especially students, may like to take buses or ride bikes when they have short trips, because it is economical. But for others, particularly those rich adults, they may choose to drive out their own cars, because it is convenient. And to the old, maybe they would like to go with a tour bus, because they dont need to care for other things 15. Whats the difference between long journeys and short trips? What about the difference between business trips and private trips? Therere many differences between them. Through long journeys, you can be exposed to different cultures more. This can widen our horizon. When we feel
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busy and tired with our work or studies, short trips can help us relax and refresh, so short trips can add color to our life as well. 16. Do you use the internet to get travel information? Yes, I do. With the development of the internet, theres more and more information about traveling. Before I go to a place, Id always search relevant information to help me enjoy my trip more. 17. Hows the tourist business in China? In China, you can see a lot of travel agencies. From this phenomenon, you can see how prosperous the tourist business is. Now people are beginning to realize how to enjoy their lives. Most people will choose traveling so tourism is flourishing in China. 18. How to improve public transport Public transport can be improved in many ways. For example, more buses can be put into use, so that people can travel around more conveniently. Also, more metro systems can be built, so that it can take more people at a time. Besides, the number of private cars on the road can be limited, so that the public transport can be used by more people and they can run more smoothly. 19. What will you miss if you have a long distance journey? When I am on a long journey, I may miss my family, coz I am still not so accustomed to days without them beside me; I may miss my pet dog, coz now I will play with her everyday; I may miss my friends in my city, coz when I am out, I have fewer chances to chat with them.
5. An occasion that you saw an animal

Describe an occasion that you saw an animal You should say: Where and when you saw it Who was together with you What the animal was doing And explain how you felt about it Sample: I always wanted to see the panda because its the national treasure in China. They have black patches around the eyes and ears, and across the body. We can find pandas in the west of China, mainly in Sichuan province because theres a lot of bamboo in that place. Finally, I got the chance to see real pandas. I still remember my first time seeing pandas was in chengdu panda reserve last year. I went there with my friends. The pandas seemed to enjoy their peaceful life in the zoo very much. I especially liked the baby pandas. They looked like Barbie dolls. Because of their cute appearance, I really wanted to hug them. When I was there, I found that the pandas were very friendly. I even took a photo with a panda, of course theres a fence between us.
http://www.ukingedu.com : http://ielts99.taobao.com
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The Giant Panda is an endangered species, threatened by the loss of their natural home and a very low birthrate. I think People should help pandas to survive in China because animals and humans are good friends. Its really important that we can live in peace and I hope the number of pandas will increase soon. Part 3: 1. Are animals important for people? Definitely. From the ecological aspect, all animals have important roles in the food chain. If we dont have one species, we may not even notice the difference, but if we dont have many, serious problems will arise. Also, animals have educational value. Children need to know what the world is like and animals can give a lot of evidence to that. Also, we need to consume meat and keep pets. All these needs can be satisfied only by animals. 2. Is there any difference between the way animals are used for work today and the way they were used for work many years ago? Sure. In the past, a lot of animals were used for transportation and agriculture purposes, especially horses and cows. They were very important for farmers in the past. But now, machines have taken their places, so this has changed a lot. Nowadays, from what I know, we still use dogs in police stations to help us find some crucial evidence with their acute sense of smell. In circuses, animals are used to entertain people. 3. What do you think is the biggest problem when taking care of a pet? (Or, the biggest problem of having a pet) Well, pets also need to eat meals regularly as us, so I think the biggest problem is to feed them. If we have to take a short or long trip, we need to find a baby sitter for our pets because we dont want them to go hungry. Also, pets have emotional needs. We need to accompany them occasionally, otherwise they might be depressed. Its just not easy to keep a pet. 4. What is the importance of pets? Pets are humans friends. A lot of people feel lonely, but with pets, theyll have loyal company who wont leave them because of conflicts or argument. Also, I heard pets could help cure some mental problems, such as depression. Occasionally, we could also hear news about pets saving their owners during emergencies, so they might be the angel from above in such cases. Theyre very important in this society. 5. Do you think animals have 'rights'? (Why? What rights?/Why not?) Its a hard question. Sometimes I do think so. When I see people killing animals, Ill feel sad for them and when I see wild animals kept in cages in zoos to amuse people, Ill feel its not fair for them. However, I have to admit, many of us still need meat as an important element of our diet. We still need to educate our children how wild animals look like through zoos. But I think there should be some basic laws to protect them. For example, to make killing of animals less cruel or even invent artificial meat. For zoos, they should provide more natural like living environment for animals so that they dont feel suffered when they
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live there. 6. What are some examples of human activity that affect animals in the wild? People hunt animals. In the past, hunting was legal. Now a lot of laws have been set to protect endangered animals, but I think its still common for people to hunt elephants or dolphins in some countries, for example. Its really a time to put a stop to that. Also, because of the industrialization, the earth environment has been polluted very seriously throughout the world; this can definitely affect animals natural living habitats. Its also something we should work on. 7. Do you agree that animals should be used for (experiments or) scientific testing of chemical products such as new medicines, new cleaning products or new cosmetics etc.? Its a dilemma. I hope we dont need to, but its just inevitable. We need to test the chemical products before using them; otherwise a lot of people might suffer from the unsuccessful products. If we dont use animals, we have to use humans instead. However, when using them on animals, we should be more careful about it. We should test them only when we have to. 8. Some people are vegetarians i.e., they don't eat any meat. What do you think of that attitude? I think its really a noble deed if they do it for the sake of animal protection. Im not a nutritionist so I dont know if meat is irreplaceable or not. If we dont have to get nutrition from animals and could find alternatives, I would say we should all start to be vegetarians because I feel its really cruel to kill animals for their meat. Its just a matter of time. If we get used to eating non-animal products, we might feel its a good way of living. 9. How do you think about animals like tigers and lions? They eat people, why should we consider them friends? Tigers and lions are very strong and cruel animals, but this is not their fault. Tigers and lions need to live in the nature, so they have to protect themselves and their family. If people do not harm them, they may not harm people, and we can live equally. So why not consider them friends? 10. Should pets stay at home all the time? I dont think so. Pets also need to go outside, or pets will feel very boring. Pets have to stay at home, but sometimes if their owners have time, owners need to take their pets outside to relax and breathe the fresh air. 11. Why do you think therere more people have dogs compared to cats? I dont know because I dont have pets. Maybe because there is an old saying, dogs are our loyal friends. First, dogs are lovely and helpful, for example, they also help the blind people. Moreover, when we are bored, we might take our dogs for a walk, we could play with them. Mainly dogs listen to their owners all the time; they are most obedient pet out of all kinds of animals. 12. Why do you think people like having big dogs at home I think big dogs not only can be peoples friends, but also can be a guard at home. When people feel lonely, big dogs can accompany people for a walk.
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When some strangers want to break doors, they can also be a guard to warn strangers go away from their home. 13. Why do some people like eating dog meat? Personally, I havent taste dog meat before, but some people say dog meat is very delicious. People will prefer food that is delicious, and they will not consider the cruelty, for people also eat other meat, so its the same.
6. Traveling/ long journey

Describe a trip you had. You should say: who you traveled with where you went what you did or saw and explain why you want to talk about this trip. Sample The longest journey I had would be the fifteen-day trip to three Southeast Asian countries. I went with a tourist agency last year. It was a great trip because I saw many new things and experienced different cultures. The first stop was Thailand. It took us six hours to get there by air. By the time we arrived, we all felt exhausted. The best thing in Thailand would be the food. Its so delicious. I hope there would be some Thai restaurants in China in the future. Then, we went to Malaysia. We stayed in the famous Genting Hotel. It was said that the hotel was haunted and we felt very curious about it. We also went to a Casino in Malaysia. As a girl, I dont like gambling, but I had a try there. Interesting enough, I won a big amount of money. The last stop was Singapore. It was just as what I had expected, beautiful and clean. The trip was very long. After I got back home, I had to rest for a few days to recover. However, I still think it was a great experience and hope I could go to other countries in the future.
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A product you bought but dissatisfied
Describe a product you bought but dissatisfied You should say: What it was? When and where you bought it? Why you were dissatisfied with it? And explain what you did to make up? Sample: Because Im planning to study in the US next year, now Im shopping for my trip. Last month, I bought something on the internet, which was a very unsatisfactory shopping experience. I needed to buy two big suitcases and my friend told me a good brand called samsonite. I found the suitcases were much cheaper online than in real shops, so I decided to buy them online. I ordered the size of 28 inches, but when the suitcases arrived, I found they were only 26. I was surprised and began to contact the store owner. But I was a little angry because the store keeper gave me a lot of excuses. Finally, after three day negotiation (talking), he agreed to return the suitcases. I think this is something that shouldnt have happened because the shop owner should have checked their products carefully before sending them. When they found that they sent the wrong things, they should have dealt with it faster. Part 3: 1. Why do you think young people want to buy expensive things that they dont really need? There are many reasons. Sometimes we do buy things that we want but dont need. For example, we can spend fifty yuan on a piece of clothing and 1000 yuan for a similar one but of a famous brand with good quality. For some people, these two kinds of clothes are very similar but for a lot of others, theyre completely different. Expensive products usually mean status and taste. 2. Why do you think high-tech products are sold very expensively? I have to say knowledge is very important in modern society. Sometimes high-tech products need a lot of people to spend many hours in labs to do research. Because of the time and money spent on them, its natural for companies to sell them for high prices. 3. Have you ever bought something expensive but not useful? Yes. Once I bought a set of wireless earphones, which was a little expensive. Later I found they were very battery consuming. Now I just put it in my drawer
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and seldom use it. I guess its something expensive I bought but not useful. 4. How should parents teach children to save? Why? Parents can share their saving experience with their children because good models can always influence the children. Also, its necessary to help children make their own plans on saving. If children dont learn how to save, they might have financial problems when they grow up. 5. Have people changed their shopping habits? Maybe. In the past, people were comparatively less wealthy, so they didnt have a lot of money to spend. However, now, people are getting richer, so theyll have more money to spend on luxuries. 6. What can influence the way people spend money? Well, many areas in our life. If most of the people living around us tend to be frugal, we might learn from them. If we can barely make a living, well tend to spend more carefully. However, if we earn a handsome salary, theres no reason to be cheap to ourselves. 7. Whats the difference between credit cards and cash? When we use credit cards, we only get to see a number that we spend, which might make us feel that were not really spending a lot of money. However, when we spend cash, we tend to be more careful because when seeing the money we pay, we might feel thats a lot. Its also safer to use credit cards because, if we carry a lot of cash with us, we need to worry about theft and robbery. 8. Whats the difference between men and women when they go shopping? Men usually have very specific goals when they go shopping. They can choose a piece of clothing in five minutes. However, women love looking around in shopping centers before making their decisions. A woman might spend a whole day shopping without taking anything home. Its partly because of the wide variety of women clothing and partly because of womens indecisive nature. They just cant make the decisions easily. 9. Why should parents control how much money children spend? If children develop the habit of spending too much money, its actually harmful for them, even for children from rich families. If they dont see the value of money as ordinary people see, they might tend to waste money in the ways that they dont realize. What if they get poor one day, it might be hard for them to survive if theyve got used to spending way too much money than they could actually make. Parents should teach children how to save money because frugal children usually have fewer financial problems when they grow up. 10. Are people easily influenced by others when they buy things? Absolutely. Conformity mentality can occur everywhere in our life. When we see people buy something, well feel that we have to have this or that, even if its not suitable for us. Its just hard to think clearly when a group of people are saying, its right, through their actions. I think we really need to learn to stick to our own plans and opinions.
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11. In what areas do people spend most of their money? Different people spend money in different areas but nowadays we usually dont spend too much on our basic needs. Young women tend to spend more money on clothing, but a lot of young men might be more interested in electronic equipment and couldnt wait to buy the latest edition. A lot of parents spend money on their childrens education and people who get sick easily might give a big amount of their money to hospitals and pharmacies. 12. Are people getting more and more materialistic? Along with the development of the economy, a lot of people begin to compare what they have with others possessions. Its like materials can give a lot of people satisfaction and we feel happy when we possess certain stuff we want. However, materials make us feel tired and sometimes drive us to work more and more in order to afford more products we desire. I think we should be careful about being too materialistic. We should only care about what we really need but not others think we should have. 13. Whats the difference of spending money between old and young people? A lot of old people in China believe they should for their children, so they tend to be frugal and spend very carefully. However, many young people spend generously with themselves and sometimes they even need to rely on credit cards. I think neither way is good. The old people need to learn how to be generous with themselves and the young people need to learn how o save some money for their future. 14. What do you think about luxury consumption? It depends. If we buy a few luxuries to make our life more colorful, I think its good. For example, a bottle of expensive French perfume on ones birthday is definitely understandable, but I just cant stand people throwing things away after using them a few times. For example, some people change cars every year or buy thousands of clothes that dont have time to wear them all. I think its a great waste.
2. 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 where you played with it who gave it to you and explain how you used it (how you played with it). Sample-Robot Id like to talk about the robot I had when I was a child. I had many toys when I was a child, but my favorite would always be the robot. I still remember the day my parents gave it to me. It was on my sixth birthday. The
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robot was very special from all the toys I had. It was about two feet tall with five parts, and every part is a car. Each car had a different colorred, green, blue, yellow, and black. I liked it very much and would play with it all the time. I would assemble and dismantle it whenever I could. My parents said this toy was good for the development of my brain. Sometimes, I would also show my unique robot to my friends and they all loved it. I still keep it at home and I think Ill give it to my children to play in the future. I think good toys are very important for children because we cannot only play with them but also learn from playing. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Are educational toys helpful for children? How can toys be used in education? Definitely, educational toys are beneficial to children. For instance, puzzle games can develop childrens creativity and imagination. 2. Do you think it's good if parents only buy "educational" toys for their children? I think its not a good idea. Because children have their own opinions. Sometimes they like playing what they like. This can cultivate their interests in some areas and is important for their future life. Its not necessary for parents to only buy educational toys. 3. Whats the difference between watching TV and playing toys? I think watching TV is a way to relax, while playing toys need imagination, creativity, and sometimes even communicating skills if they play with others. 4. Are there any differences between toys in the past and now? Yes, in China in the past most toys were simple and had fewer functions. Sometimes children even had to create their own toys, but they could still have a lot of fun. While now, children might feel less happy although they have all kinds of beautiful toys. Maybe its true you only value whats hard to get. 5. Do boys and girls play different toys I think so. Many boys like to play guns and cars because they can play with their friends and have games or competitions. However, girls prefer to play beautiful dolls alone or with friends because they like quieter games and beautiful things. 6. Do children in the countryside play different toys compared to children in the city? Yes, in the countryside, most toys are simple and have fewer functions. Sometimes children even have to create their own toys, but they can still have a lot fun. While in the city, children might feel less happy although they have all kinds of beautiful toys. Maybe its true you only value what is hard to get. 7. Should parents encourage children to share their toys with others? Its very important. In this way, parents can teach their children the importance
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of teamwork. If they dont know how to share in their childhood, they will have a hard life when they grow up because nobody wants to be friends with a selfish people. 8. Have you ever played electronic toys? Are they good for children? Yes, I had many electronic toys. I still remember the remote control toy car my father bought me. I really liked it because I could control it with only one hand when the car was running around. I think electronic toys are good for children because they can bring surprise to children and make them feel excited.
3. Clothes you like

Describe the type of clothes that you usually like to wear. You should say: what type (or style) of clothes where you usually buy these clothes how often you buy them how you choose what you buy and explain why you like this style of clothes. Sample: I like sports clothes because I think theyre comfortable to wear. I would usually go shopping in XX square in my hometown because I can find all kinds of famous sports brands there. I like famous brands because they can provide good quality stuff. My favorite brand is Adidas because I think the brand logo is very cute and the most important reason is that my favorite football team, real Madrid, work with them, so I can buy Adidas clothes with Real Madrid logo. Unlike a lot of people, I like window shopping because I want to be a businessman in the future, so I care about the latest trends and fashion. I like white, red, and black, because I think these colors are easy to match. Most of my clothes are these three colors. Now, Im a little busy, so I dont have a lot of time to shop. I think I should go shopping after the test because I really need new clothes. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Does everyone like to go shopping for clothes? Well, I think most girls like going shopping while boys dont. Boys usually dont like to be bothered by wandering around and shopping for clothes by themselves. They would like their clothes be prepared for them. On the other hand, girls like going shopping even if they dont buy anything. They are content with merely try on the clothes. 2. Why do you think some people dont like shopping for clothes? In fact I am one of those who hate shopping for clothes. There are many reasons, such as: the air in the shopping centers is usually bad due to the large number of people; its not easy to find a parking place around the clothes shops; and it
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drives me mad after trying dozens of clothes but unable to find a suitable one. Do you think its important (or good) to follow the current fashions in the clothes you wear? Yes. Wearing fashionable clothes makes me feel fresh and confident, and enables me to have common language with other young people. So I care about the current fashions by reading magazines or watching TV. And I buy new clothes every season to catch up with the latest fashion. Why do many young people feel its important to wear clothes that are in fashion? Firstly, I think young people just represent fashion itself. Most of the fashionable styles are designed for the young. Then, wearing clothes that are in fashion makes young people smart and attractive, so that they feel confident and self-satisfied. Whats more, wearing in fashion makes young people accepted by contemporaries. Do you think people tend to judge others by the clothes they wear? (Why?) (Is this good?) Well, its a fact that people judge others by the clothes they wear. Peoples clothes usually reveal their professionscharacters and financial conditions. There are advantages as well as disadvantages doing so. For one thing, it may help us have a first evaluation of their situations, so that we can behave and talk with them properly. However, a false judgment is quite possible and it may lead to bias. Do you think these differences in clothes reflect differences in personality? Yes, peoples characters are reflected in the clothes they wear. A conservative person usually wears formal, traditional and plain clothes, while the open-minded prefer bright-colored, new-fashioned clothes. Quiet, introversive girls like dresses more than sports clothes, but boots and pants are popular with outgoing ones. Do you/did you like wearing a school uniform? The uniform was a kind of non-cotton sports clothes when I was in middle school. It was neither nice-looking nor comfortable, so I rarely chose to wear it unless the school required me to. Now the uniforms are of much better quality in the middle schools. Do you think its good for people (such as school students) to wear uniforms? Well, uniforms can make others know at the first sight the company/school we belong to. Automatically being representatives of our company/school, our behavior is cared about and supervised. So that we behave properly according to the company/school rules both in and out. Whats more, it may improve our sense of belong and group honor. What impact do you think the fashion industry has on the economy of your country? I think it has stimulated the national economy to improve. Textile industry has
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been a traditional mainstay industry in China, and modern fashion industry has brought now life to it. The traditional techniques are innovated; international elements added in; and market broadened.
4. Important plant
Describe an important plant in your country (such as vegetables, flowers, fruits, trees, etc). You should say: what the plant is how you know it why it is important and explain how you like the plant. Sample I would like to talk about the peony, which is considered very important by Chinese people throughout history. The peony is among the longest-used flowers in Chinese culture and is a traditional floral symbol of China. It is known as "flower of riches and honour" or "king of the flowers", and is used symbolically in Chinese art. There are a lot of poems and paintings about it. Peonies are extensively grown as ornamental plants for their very large, often scented flowers. In the past, rich people would hire gardeners to grow peonies of different kinds and every spring theyll hold parties for guests to appreciate the beautiful blossoms. The ancient Chinese city Luoyang has a reputation as a cultivation centre for the peonies. Throughout Chinese history, peonies in Luoyang have been said to be the finest in the country. Dozens of peony exhibitions and shows are still held there annually. Now its also common for people to grow peonies in flower pots. Its especially common in luoyang because of the suitable climate.
I like peonies very much. To be honest, I dont have a lot of opportunities to see them. If I have enough money, I will buy a house with a garden and grow peonies of different colors in it. Every spring, I would invite my friends over to appreciate the beauty of peonies.
PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Do you think farming is a good job? Well, I think it is a tiring job. Most people just see the products of farming. But in fact it involves various jobs, such as ploughing, sowing, fertilizing and disinsection. So it is no relaxing job and needs hard work. 2. Do you think more and more people in the future want to plant fruits for themselves? I think so, for a lot of people have already begun to be fond of planting fruits or flowers now. It reflects their love for nature as well as their worry about recent problems in food quality. However, most peoples housing condition may limit them in planting big fruit trees. Perhaps they can just have small plants like
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strawberries. 3. Are there more and more people regarding farming as their work today and why? In fact, its not that case. Due to the development and application of modern science and technology in farming, less labor force is needed than before. Meanwhile, urbanization has been taking away farmlands from people who used to be farmers. Thus there are now less people regarding farming to be their work than before. 4. Do you think that is a positive trend? Well, I think its an unavoidable trend. Modern science and technology has freed a part of labor force from farming, drawing it to other aspects of the construction of modernization. It will promote the development of the society and economy. However, it should go along with the popularization of education, so that the redundant labor force can be properly re-employed.
1. Electronic product
Describe an electronic device that you have (or want to have in the future), such as a CD player. You should say: what it is how you use it when you use it and explain how you benefit (or will benefit) from using it. Sample: Id like to talk about the X-box I bought for my family when I was in Japan. Its white in color and just a little bigger than a book. The Xbox is a video game console manufactured by Microsoft. My friends recommended me this amazing device and I also did some research on the internet. After seeing it and experiencing it at my friends home, I really wanted to have one for my family. And the price was comparatively cheaper, so I bought it last year on my trip there. Now, we have tried many of the functions the product provides. For example, I can use it to practice driving with an emulated world it provides. When driving with this device, its like driving in the real world. My father and I love playing tennis with it, which helps us stretch our arms and release the tension from using the computer all the time. Now, our family would usually play the games together very often, which is good for our body and mental healthy. Besides, it has become an important part of our family life because we could have fun together.
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I think X-box is a great electronic product in this modern society, which allows us to have fun and gives us a great opportunity to exercise without leaving the house. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Do schools in your country use electronic equipment in the classroom? Yes. Nowadays, classrooms are full of electronic equipment. Its very often for classrooms to have TV sets and computers. And some good ones even have projectors installed. I think multimedia equipment can definitely help teachers to teach well. 2. How does that compare with schools (in your country) in the past? Schools now are much more different than schools in the past. Teachers can show students pictures or even web pages without leaving the classroom now. In the past, teachers would seldom use visual aids and they would play the role of a lecturer all the time. Now with the electronic equipment, there can be more interactive learning in the classroom. 3. Are computers very useful in high school? (For students and/or for teachers) Yes, I think computers are very important for both the students and teachers. Teachers can use the computer to prepare their lessons better and they can find all kinds of teaching resources on the internet. For students, they could get online during their breaks and can also use the internet to do some research for their homework. 4. What are some examples of modern, hi-tech equipment or devices that people in your country use in the home? Well, nowadays, almost every family has computers and they could use it to get online, chat with friends, and search for information they need. Also, some families have X-box, which allows them to do family activity at home. Besides these, therere also other things, such as ipad, ipod, and some fitness facilities. 5. How is this different to homes in the past? Its very different from the past. When I was a child, its actually not common to have telephone at home, a lot of people visit friends in order to get information communicated. And TV was usually the mostly used way of entertaining. Its hard to imagine what the world will be like twenty years from now. 6. Do you think these things have improved people's lives? Yes, I think so. Of course, its on the condition that we can make good use of them. If we dont know how to use them well but be controlled by them, our life will be more miserable than before. For example, some people are addicted to playing computer games and they cant concentrate on their study or work. Also, a lot of people are complaining about being interrupted all the time by cell phones, so its really a dilemma. 7. What are the various ways that mobile phones can be used?
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We can use the mobile phone in many ways. The most common and original one would be making phone calls. If we have some emergencies or need to talk with someone, we could always use the phone. Also, nowadays, text messages are very popular among young people because you dont need to spend much time to talk and one message can solve your problem. Besides these, its also becoming common to use the mobile phone to surf the internet. 8. Do students use mobile phones very much to cheat in exams? Ive never heard of it because students are not allowed to use their mobile phones during exams. But Ive heard of other ways to cheat, something like hiding a mini earphones in the ears. I think cheating is not only bad for schools but also for the students because they pay to learn not to get a good score on the test paper. 9. What do you imagine the future of hi-technology equipment (or devices) will be like? I think in the future, hi-tech equipment will make our life even more comfortable. We can do almost all things through them and our homes will be full of them. Well be dependent on them more and more. I think its a good thing and a bad thing because sometimes hi-tech equipment can make us busy and well tend to use them more than we need.
2. A gift you gave others

Describe a gift you gave to someone. You should say: what the gift was who you gave it to why you gave it and explain whether this person liked the gift or not. Sample:--Chanel Number 5 perfume I remember the most expensive thing I bought was a gift I gave to my mom on her 48th birthday. Its chanel number 5, a classic perfume. It cost me 7 hundred Yuan. The bottle was round and fancy. As we know, Chanel is a famous French fashion brand. Chanel specializes in luxury goods and has always specialized in items such as simple suits, dresses, women's pants, and perfume. I can always remember she sent me the umbrella in a rainy day when I was in primary school. My mother sacrificed her youth and beauty for me so I wanted to give her something good. I know she likes all kinds of perfumes but she didnt have channel number 5. I thought it was a great idea to give her something she liked on her birthday. Actually I had to save for a long time to buy it. I was so happy the moment I had enough money for it. I cant forget the smile on her face when she opened my present box. She was very happy and told me, this was the best gift she had ever received. She tried it immediately and the room was full of the fragrance of the perfume.
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She told me she would wear it whenever she could. When she wore the perfume, she would feel that I was around her. Im glad that I chose the right gift for my mother. I think we should give the best to the ones who love you. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Why are people giving more and more expensive gifts? Because of the improvement of our living standard and the update of products, more and more people like to send their friends or the people they love expensive gifts. In China a gift means respect and friendship, so if they give expensive gifts, it means they value the relationship. 2. Do you like giving gifts or receiving gifts? I like receiving gifts because every gift represents friendship and love. However, when I give gifts to others I can express my feelings and love. I think its also important to have the opportunities to give. 3When do you give gifts to others? On what occasions do Chinese people give gifts? =Do Chinese people give each other gifts on festivals? I usually give gifts on other peoples birthdays or anniversaries. Also, I would always send gifts to my friends on Christmas and New Year. And on mothers day and fathers day, I also give gifts to my parents to show my appreciation. 4 How do you choose presents for others if you dont know what they like? Is it difficult to buy the right present? I think so. Choosing the right gift is very difficult because therere too many choices. We always hope the gift we give will be liked by our friends or family. For me, before I choose a gift, I would try to ask the person questions to know what they really want. After that, Ill have a clear idea about what to buy. 5Is it good to give money or presents? It really depends. If the person really needs money instead of gifts, I think giving money will be very practical. For example, we usually give money as wedding gifts because most newly married couples need a lot of money to adjust to the changes. 6How do you think about buying gifts online? =Do you send gifts through the internet? I think its ok to buy gifts online. Sometimes when were busy, its convenient to shop online. Besides, theres always a variety of products online. Buying gifts online can give us more choices. 7What do you think about giving and receiving? I like receiving gifts because every gift represents friendship and love. However, when I give gifts to others I can express my feelings and love. I think its also important to have the opportunities to give. 8Should gifts be connected to the cost? Sometimes yes. Because of the improvement of our living standard and the update of products, more and more people like to send their friends or the people they love expensive gifts. In China a gift means respect and friendship, so if
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they give expensive gifts, it means they value the relationship. 9Which do you think is better, giving gifts or money? It really depends. If the person really needs money instead of gifts, I think giving money will be very practical. For example, we usually give money as wedding gifts because most newly married couples need a lot of money to make the changes. 10Why should we give different gifts to different people? Definitely. We have to give gifts according to peoples preference, age, and gender. If we buy the same gift for a child and our grandparents, itll just be unreasonable. We want the people who receive our gifts feel that they really like and need what we give. We have to choose gifts carefully.
3. A book you like to read/a kind of book you like

Describe a book you recently read that you would like to read again. You should say: what book it was what the book was about why you read it what you learned from this book and explain why you would like to read it again. Sample I like reading biographies because we could always learn a lot from other peoples life, especially famous and successful ones. I recently read the biography of Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple Inc. I think its an inspiring book and I would like to read it again when I have time. The book started with Steves life as an unborn baby. Actually his life wasnt very smooth because his biological parents gave him up and a nice couple adopted him. As a young man, he was full of energy and also very rebellious. He quit college and started his own company in the garage. It was hard to imagine how bad the working condition must be, but because of his dream and hard work, eventually his company became successful and influential all over the world. However, the book didnt stop here. It also talked about how Steve was driven away by his own company and how he started other companies and eventually went back to Apple Company and made it even more successful. I think Ive learned a lot through this book. Although Steve didnt live a long life, he really impacted the world and had great contribution to the computer industry. I think this biography is a must keep one and I would recommend it to my friends in the future. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Can you give some examples of different types of books and the reasons
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why people read them? Yes, of course. Therere books for studying and entertaining. Therere many different kinds of books, such as novels, documentaries, science fiction, biographies, and history books. Some people reading books for fun and others want to know more about the world and their professions. Can you give some reasons why people read different things? Yeah, people have different interests and purposes. For example, some girls are interested in love stories, so they might read more novels about that, but for some boys, they want to learn something about the world history, so theyll choose this kind of book. If a doctor wants to improve his profession, medical books will be his first choice. How is reading a book on the internet different to reading an ordinary book? I always feel reading on the screen is bad to our eyes. And its just not as convenient as reading paper books. You can fold your books to whatever ways but not your laptop. Also, I guess a lot of people just got used to reading actual books, they may feel reading from the screen is a little unreal and weird. Whats the influence of the internet on book publishing? Well, the advent of the internet does exert tremendous influence on the book publishing industry. For example, in many cases, people may like to obtain information on the internet, rather than read books, and so the decrease in demands for books will surely lead to the decline in book publishing. Also, to cater to the readers, publishing companies may also publish electronic books. In this way, the influence is great. Do you need to choose carefully of the information you get online? Well, its a must. The internet provides us with so much freedom that almost anyone can put forward their opinions, by which some may be misleading, profit-oriented, cheating, eye-catching, or truly informative. To seek out the one we are really in need, a picky eye is surely needed. What books do old people and young people read? Well, the old and the young do have some difference in their choices of reading material. For instance, the old may like to read newspapers to keep up with the time, while the young may like to know about this from the articles on the internet. Also, the old may like to read something of their ages, to remind them of the past years, while the young may like to read more about fashion, about cartoons, about the future life. Do you think government should build free libraries? Yeah, its a good idea for the government to build free libraries. In this way, the government does not only show its service to the public when using the public money, and so improve its image and win support from the citizens, but also helps to create a cultural atmosphere and enhance the quality of the citizens. Do you always trust the information from the internet? Not really. The internet provides us with so much freedom that almost anyone
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can put forward their opinions, by which some may be misleading, profit-oriented, cheating, eye-catching, or truly informative. To seek out the one we are really in need, a picky eye is surely needed. 9. Are there any other sources to read besides paper book and electronic books? = What are other ways to obtain information besides reading books? Thanks to the development of technology, now various ways are available for us to obtain information. For example, the TV reports, the radio programs, the internet broadcast, and even short messages on the mobile phones, all contribute to our knowing about the world. 10. What kinds of books did you read when you were a child Like many other children, I liked to read books about cartoon figures, about fairy tales, about heroic deeds, about detective stories. Reading theses kind of books left me a very happy childhood, and even now, the memory about my childhood is related to many stories about those books I read. 11. What do people in your age read now? Well, it differs widely. Some people, especially girls, may like to read about fashion, shopping, travelling, or love stories, while boys, may like to read about sports, science fiction. And in some other cases, some people may just like to read books about their major, to help them further their career. 12. What books do children, adults, or old people read? Well, these people may have a different preference in their choices of reading material. For example, children may like to read books about cartoon figures, about fairy tales, about heroic deeds, about detective stories. The old may like to read newspapers to keep up with the time, or they may read something of their ages, to remind them of the past years. In comparison, the adults, having a strong purpose in their reading, may choose to read books to get information for their careers, to help them earn money, or solve their problems. 13. Is it illegal to download things from the internet? Well, it depends. When some one upload the document onto the internet, if their purpose is to share their interest with others for free, downloading these kinds of things is surely acceptable. However, when others upload something, when they have a patent for their work and just hope to let more people know about their products, decoding those things and download freely is illegal. 14. Whats the advantage and disadvantage of reading online? Reading online, of course, has many advantages, such as the wide choice of reading material, the free access to the latest updated information, and the share of opinions of many other readers of the same content. However, reading online also has its disadvantages. For example, some free information online is misleading, too much exposure to the computer screen is harmful to our health, and it is inconvenient to continue reading when we have no access to the internet. 15. Which way do you think people prefer, reading actual books or electronic
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books? To be frank, its hard to say for sure. Some people like to read actual books because in their minds, reading in this way is quite convenient, and they can make notes and underline the highlights when reading. However, others may like to read electronic books, because with the huge volume of their gadgets, they may take a lot of electronic books with them, and so enable them to read for what they like at anytime and anywhere. 16. How old did you start reading? Well, I am now in my twenties, so it is really something far away from my memory. I think I may start reading at 3 or 4years old, when I started my education in the kindergarten. I think the reading later in my childhood did bring me great happiness. 17. Do you think old people will read online or hold a book? Generally, I think the old may like to hold a book, because they may not be used to those new things, including reading online. However, things are changing along with the fast change of the world. Now it seems more and more old people are beginning to learn to use the internet, and read on the internet. 18. Do girls and boys read different kinds of books? Yeah. Because of their different interests in life, girls and boys may have some differences in their choices or reading material. For example, more boys than girls like to read books about sports, detective stories, career planning and science fiction, while more girls than boys like to read books about love stories, fashion, and superstars. 19. Is it important to read extensively? Yes, I think so. Reading is one of the important ways for us to acquire knowledge. Nowadays, the society requires us to know many things in order to be more competitive. If we read extensively, well definitely know more about our life and the world, which will be helpful for our future development. However, reading is time consuming, so we have to choose the most suitable materials to read so that we wont waste our time on something thats not helpful to us. 20. Why do you think Harry potter series are successful? Basically, I think Harry potter series are very well written novels. I read most of the volumes and I like them a lot. Successful novels all share something in common. They should have good story lines and be attractive enough to the targeted audience. Harry potter is targeted to young children and teenagers. As a matter of fact, these children are curious and love adventures and magic. Harry potter series can definitely satisfy childrens need for these.
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4. A vehicle you want to buy

Describe a vehicle you would like to buy (or, own). You should say: what kind of vehicle what it would look like why you would like to have it (or, how you would use it) how you would buy (or, get) it and explain why you would prefer this means of transport. Sample I like cars, especially uniquely designed ones. And now Id talk about my ideal car, Porsche 918 Spyder. Its a sports car designed by Porsche. I fell in love with it when I first saw a girl driving in it passing me by. You know, the design is so cool and outstanding, so youll not fail to notice it even when there are thousands of cars in the street. Driving such a car will surely make me feel thrilled. Besides, it has plug-in hybrid engine. Its said it can be switched to a mode to only use the electric motors. Nowadays, people are really concerned with the problem of air pollution caused by cars. If I can drive this car, Im sure its environmental friendly. In addition, its a sports car and it has the most excellent performance on the road. Fancy that when I am driving it on the road, I could easily surpass others by slightly stepping on the accelerator. Its cool. The speed can reach over 320 kilometers per hour. Although Im not planning to drive that fast, it can still make me feel excited to know the capability of the car. Like most sports cars, the roof is convertible, so it will allow me to appreciate the scenery and breathe fresh air when I drive. However, the price is a little high, about 4 million RMB. Maybe, one day Ill be able to afford it. Itll be great if I can drive it around. Sample 2 I dont know cars well, but I think the car I want to buy should be environmental friendly and safer. My car should be white in color because I think white is a pure and beautiful color for cars. I always admire people who drive this kind of car. It also needs to be a convertible, so I can appreciate the beautiful scenery and breathe the fresh air when therere not many other cars around me. Car exhaust bothers many people. When we walk on the street, we have to put up with the bad smell from cars and the city atmosphere can be really polluted. I think my car should use environmental friendly energy source, so I can protect the
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environment. Now we have car accidents everyday and thousands of people have lost of their lives. I want to drive a car that is safer and has better safety equipment. So Ill not suffer from brake or engine problems. Then there will be fewer accidents. I hope Ill be able to buy my ideal car soon. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What kinds of transportation are there in your hometown? Therere a variety of thembuses, cars, and bikes. I usually ride a bike to school. And pretty soon, the subways will be ready. Im really looking forward to it because the traffic conditions will be much better then. 2. What kinds of vehicle (or car) do people in your hometown buy? It really depends. For some rich people, good quality cars are definitely their choice. For some middle-class people, bikes and electric bikes are very common. Right now, I dont have anything, but Im planning to buy a bike soon. 3. How do you think transportation will (or might) change in the future? I think in the near future, a lot of cars will use environmental friendly resources and people will drive safer cars, too. Actually, I still think its a good for the government to invest more money in public transportation and make it easier and faster. By then, maybe nobody has to drive anymore because its more convenient to use the public transportation. 4. Compare vehicles today with vehicles in the past. Vehicles today are definitely faster and more convenient. In the past, even bicycles were not very common, but now a lot of people can afford nice cars. I think thats really a big change. 5. How do you think vehicles could be improved? (Perhaps, the word "cars" or "motor vehicles" is used) I really think vehicles should be safer and environmental friendly. Sometimes, we have to worry about getting hit by cars and have to put up with car exhaust. If these problems can be solved, itll be great for the environment and society. 6. What do you think about the traffic conditions in your hometown? Well, its terrible. Especially during rush hours, you can never imagine how annoying it is, when you are in a hurry going to work or going to school, but you are stuck in the middle of the road, with hundreds or thousands of cars in your front, in your back, in your right and in your left, and you could not move, could not leave the car on the road, could not run to your destination. We really have too big a population in the cities, and too many cars on the roads. I hope something could be done to alleviate this in the near future. 7. How can we solve the problems of traffic jams during the rush hours? Actually, various ways can be attempted. For example, more metro systems could be built, so that more people may travel underground, leaving much space for others on the roads. Also, more public transportation facilities could be
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provided. By carrying more people at a time, the number of cars on roads could be reduced, and so alleviating the traffic jams. Of course, I believe, with the use of technology, with our imagination, and with our effort, may effective ways could be thought out and carried out to help us out of this situation. 8. What kind of transportation do most people take? Generally, most people now in china like to take buses to go here and there, because it is economical and convenient. Also, many young people may like to ride their bicycles to go around the city, because they could enjoy more freedom and they can get some exercise in the duration. Of course, now more and more cars are coming into our lives, which means another large group of people may drive their own cars to go to their destinations. 9. Should people who buy cars be taxed? Of course. A lot of people who can afford cars are rich people. Because of the large population in China, a lot of cities are overcrowded and traffic problems are getting more and more serious. One of the reasons to cause this is the increasing number of cars. If car consumption tax is high, this will discourage some people to buy cars or change cars too often. Also, car exhaust can pollute the atmosphere and the cost for that is also huge. So I believe people should be taxed more in the future for buying cars.
1. A piece of cloth or jewelry you wear on a special occasion

Describe an item of clothing or jewelry that you wear on special occasions. You should say: what this clothing looks like where you bought it on what special occasions you wear it and explain why you wear it on special occasions. or and explain what other people think about this item of clothing. Sample: I would like to talk about the special tie that I would wear on special occasions. Its a very fancy tie made of silk and the pattern is also very unique, which is the pattern of all kinds of Chinese Beijing opera facial makeup. At the first sight, you might think its an ordinary tie because the color is rather light and the pictures are small. But when you look at it closely, youll notice the small pictures of Beijing opera facial makeup. Therere a variety of them spreading on the tie.
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Actually its a gift from my best friend, who bought it on his trip in Beijing. Since the fabric is really soft and the design is fashionable, I would always wear this tie on special occasions. For example, I wore it to my cousins wedding and my relatives all said this tie looked very nice and suitable for me. I think ties are very important for men to wear on special events, which could make us look more mature. I especially like clothing that has Chinese elements because it can always make me feel its special. Ill still wear this tie for important situations in the future and I believe it can always bring me good luck. Sample 2 I would like to talk about the gold necklace my parents bought me on my twentieth birthday. Its the most expensive piece of jewelry I own, so Im really careful with it. I dont wear it very often, only for important occasions. Its just a simple necklace with a very beautiful tiger pendant because I was born in the year of tiger according to Chinese zodiac. I remember the first time I wore it. It was on my cousins wedding. I wore a beautiful dress and the necklace made me look like a princess. All my relatives said the necklace was very suitable for me and the children admired my birthday gift a lot. I think Ill still wear this special piece of jewelry when important occasions come because it can help me to feel more confident. Also whenever I wear it, I can feel the love from my parents. I think jewelry is very important for girls because it can make us elegant young ladies and help us to look more beautiful. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Do you like shopping? What brand/style do you like to wear? I like shopping very much, because I can learn the latest trends and buy something I need. I like sport style, especially Nike. I often buy clothes of this brand because I feel very comfortable and fashionable when I wear this brand. 2. How and where do you buy clothes? What kind of clothes do you like to buy? Well, usually, I like to buy my clothes from those big department stores, because I think the clothes sold there may be of higher quality and better brands although the price may be a little bit high. I like to buy pants, and suits there. But now I start to buy clothes on the Internet for clothes like sports wear and leisure wear. Its so convenient and economical. 3. Why should clothes designed by famous designers expensive? Well, firstly, the famous designers may be evidence to prove the quality of the clothes. Also, there are not many famous designers around the world, and when more people want to buy the clothes they design, according to scarcity principle, the clothes are expensive. 4. Whats the difference between men and women when they go shopping?
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Well, there are some differences between them. For example, men like to go directly to the specific shop to buy the specific goods he has thought about for a time, while women may just walk around between shops, looking here and there but buy nothing. Besides, men may buy something they need and of a high quality, while women may purchase the things because of impulse or the inducement of a low price, and most probably they may not even use them later in life. 5. What do you think about buying those luxury goods? It depends. If we buy a few luxuries to make our life more colorful, I think its good. For example, a bottle of expensive French perfume on ones birthday is definitely understandable, but I just cant stand people throwing things away after using them a few times. For example, some people change cars every year or buy thousands of clothes and dont have time to wear them all. I think its a great waste. 6. Why should people pay a lot of money for designers to design their clothes? Why do they like clothing tailored and designed for themselves? Well, firstly, some people hope that their clothes could be unique, totally different in styles with others. In this sense, they are not willing to buy some ready-made clothes, but ask professional designers to design their clothes. Therefore, to ensure the quality, to focus on the design, to guarantee the uniqueness, and to satisfy the requirements of the customers, those designers have to be highly paid. 7. Can you tell peoples personality from what they wear? Yeah. To some extent, we can tell a persons personality from what he wears. For example, those who are always in formal suits may be serious and careful, those who are in casual wears may like sports and be friendly, and those who are in black may be introverted or unwilling to communicate with others. However, these days, people are always changing what they wear, just to make themselves feel comfortable and elegant. In this way, its hard to tell. 8. Are school uniforms necessary? Yes, I think so. For one thing, school uniforms enable the schools to manage the students more efficiently, and they help make students look orderly on the campus. On the other hand, when all students are in uniforms, they can focus more on their studies, rather than compare with each other for their clothes or try to follow the fashion. 9. Is it good for young people to follow fashion? To some extent, yes. When young people are following fashions, they are up to date with the time, they have their interests to develop, and they have the topics to share with their peers. However, too much focus on following the fashion may prevent the young from developing their careers, which is not good for their growth. 10. Why Chinese people like to buy clothes? Where do they go? How often do they buy clothes?
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Thanks to the development of economy and the improvement of peoples life level, Chinese people now are much richer than ever before, so their affordability of clothes is greatly enhanced. When people become rich, the first thing they do is to buy those beautiful clothes that they have dreamed of, to make themselves look beautiful and to satisfy their needs. These days, people are going farther to bigger stores and more fashionable shops to buy their clothes, and even some of them go to Hong Kong, London or Paris, to buy a lot of clothes they like.
2. Work of art
Describe a work of art you have seen (e.g., a painting or sculpture) You should say: when you (first) saw this work of art where you saw it what it looked like and explain your feelings about this work of art when you saw it. Sample: I went to a painting exhibition a few years ago with my friends and fortunately I saw the master piece of a famous Chinese painter, Xubeihong. The painting was about horses and I was amazed when I was in front of the great art work. There were eight horses running on the grass. Even though they were painted with ink and brush, I could clearly see the muscles rippling and their manes flowing in the air, and I could almost hear the thundering hooves. They looked very powerful and vigorous. I was surprised at how well Xu integrated firm and bold brush strokes with the precise delineation of form. Although there were eight horses, they all looked different from each other. From the painting, I could appreciate the beauty and spirit of horses. Now, I know why Xu was so famous in the art field. Im sure Xu must have observed horses for a long time before painting them; otherwise, he wouldnt be able to paint them so well and so life like, because art is higher than life but after all from life. Because of this painting, I suddenly had the desire to go horse riding because the horses looked so gorgeous in the painting. I think art works can really help us look at the things around us from a different angle and teach us the beauty of life. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What are some examples of the various forms of art? Art works are all around us; we could see them everyday and everywhere. There are stone and copper statues in parks and squares. If we go to museums, we can appreciate famous paintings or photographs from different artists. Also, therere unearthed pottery from the past, which are also art works. 2. Do you think art is an important part of the culture of a country? Definitely. Art works carry a lot of cultural elements. If we want to know our
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culture well, its necessary to study the art works from the past and now. Art works can also teach us how the peoples lives were and what they valued in the past. If we know these, we can understand the history and of course the culture even better. 3. Do you think art should be included in school curriculums? Absolutely. Art classes can help students develop their potential and talents. Some of them may realize where their interest lies through art classes. Also, its important for people to learn how to appreciate the beauty in art around us. So art class is very important in school. 4. How do you imagine that art will be taught in the future? (Will there be differences to the way art is taught today?) Nowadays, a lot of art classes are not fun enough so very often students cant enjoy the learning process. I think in the future, art classes will give students more opportunity to explore. They could learn through practice and they will have special art classroom for them to have fun and learn new things at the same time.
3. An animal
Describe a time when you saw an interesting animal. You should say: what animal it was where you saw it what happened when you saw it and explain why you thought it was interesting. Sample: Therere a variety of animals in China. Among them, I would like to talk about tigers. In China tigers are said to be the king of animals not because of their size but because of their power and wisdom. Tigers are great hunters and are very independent animals, so we can seldom see tigers hunt as a group. When I was six years old, I saw real tigers the first time in my life. My father took me to a wild animal zoo and I was so excited to be close to the wild animals that I could only see in books or on TV. The most amazing part was to see the king of the animals. I was surprised because tigers were big and fierce. In the zoo, they still kept their dignity and tried their best to look noble. I think theyre real members of the royal family. In the past, people hunted tigers for their furs, and other parts of the body for medical uses. So, tigers are getting fewer and fewer. Now the government has built many reserves to protect them. If the government didnt do these things, tigers would die out in the future. I hope more animals like tigers will be protected. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. Are animals important for people?
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Definitely. From the ecological aspect, all animals have important roles in the food chain. If we dont have one species, we may not even notice the difference, but if we dont have many, serious problems will arise. Also, animals have educational value. Children need to know what the world is like and animals can give a lot of evidence to that. Also, we need to consume meat and keep pets. All these needs can be satisfied only by animals. Is there any difference between the way animals are used for work today and the way they were used for work many years ago? Sure. In the past, a lot of animals were used for transportation and agriculture purposes, especially horses and cows. They were very important for farmers in the past. But now, machines have taken their places, so this has changed a lot. Nowadays, from what I know, we still use dogs in police stations to help us find some crucial evidence with their acute sense of smell. In circuses, animals are used to entertain people. What do you think is the biggest problem when taking care of a pet? (Or, the biggest problem of having a pet) Well, pets also need to eat meals regularly as us, so I think the biggest problem is to feed them. If we have to take a short or long trip, we need to find a baby sitter for our pets because we dont want them to go hungry. Also, pets have emotional needs. We need to accompany them occasionally, otherwise they might be depressed. Its just not easy to keep a pet. What is the importance of pets? Pets are humans friends. A lot of people feel lonely, but with pets, theyll have loyal company who wont leave them because of conflicts or argument. Also, I heard pets could help cure some mental problems, such as depression. Occasionally, we could also hear news about pets saving their owners during emergencies, so they might be the angel from above in such cases. Theyre very important in this society. Do you think animals have 'rights'? (Why? What rights?/Why not?) Its a hard question. Sometimes I do think so. When I see people killing animals, Ill feel sad for them and when I see wild animals kept in cages in zoos to amuse people, Ill feel its not fair for them. However, I have to admit, many of us still need meat as an important element of our diet. We still need to educate our children how wild animals look like through zoos. But I think there should be some basic laws to protect them. For example, to make killing of animals less cruel or even invent artificial meat. For zoos, they should provide more natural like living environment for animals so that they dont feel suffered when they live there. What are some examples of human activity that affect animals in the wild? People hunt animals. In the past, hunting was legal. Now a lot of laws have been set to protect endangered animals, but I think its still common for people to hunt elephants or dolphins in some countries, for example. Its really a time to put a stop to that. Also, because of the industrialization, the earth environment
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has been polluted very seriously throughout the world; this can definitely affect animals natural living habitats. Its also something we should work on. 7. Do you agree that animals should be used for (experiments or) scientific testing of chemical products such as new medicines, new cleaning products or new cosmetics etc.? Its a dilemma. I hope we dont need to, but its just inevitable. We need to test the chemical products before using them; otherwise a lot of people might suffer from the unsuccessful products. If we dont use animals, we have to use humans instead. However, when using them on animals, we should be more careful about it. We should test them only when we have to. 8. Some people are vegetarians i.e., they don't eat any meat. What do you think of that attitude? I think its really a noble deed if they do it for the sake of animal protection. Im not a nutritionist so I dont know if meat is irreplaceable or not. If we dont have to get nutrition from animals and could find alternatives, I would say we should all start to be vegetarians because I feel its really cruel to kill animals for their meat. Its just a matter of time. If we get used to eating non-animal products, we might feel its a good way of living. 9. How do you think about animals like tigers and lions? They eat people, why should we consider them friends? Tigers and lions are very strong and cruel animals, but this is not their fault. Tigers and lions need to live in the nature, so they have to protect themselves and their family. If people do not harm them, they may not harm people, and we can live equally. So why not consider them friends? 10. Should pets stay at home all the time? I dont think so. Pets also need to go outside, or pets will feel very boring. Pets have to stay at home, but sometimes if their owners have time, owners need to take their pets outside to relax and breathe the fresh air. 11. Why do you think therere more people have dogs compared to cats? I dont know because I dont have pets. Maybe because there is an old saying, dogs are our loyal friends. First, dogs are lovely and helpful, for example, they also help the blind people. Moreover, when we are bored, we might take our dogs for a walk, we could play with them. Mainly dogs listen to their owners all the time; they are most obedient pet out of all kinds of animals. 12. Why do you think people like having big dogs at home I think big dogs not only can be peoples friends, but also can be a guard at home. When people feel lonely, big dogs can accompany people for a walk. When some strangers want to break doors, they can also be a guard to warn strangers go away from their home. 13. Why do some people like eating dog meat? Personally, I havent taste dog meat before, but some people say dog meat is very delicious. People will prefer food that is delicious, and they will not consider the cruelty, for people also eat other meat, so its the same.
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4. Family Photo
Describe a family photo You should say: When and where it was taken Why it was taken Who were there in the photo What did you do then And explain why you think this photo is impressive. Sample: Our family doesnt take photos very often. When I was a child, we would take photos almost every year, but I dont remember when we stopped this family tradition, maybe because my parents got tired of it. But two years ago, we had a family photo taken at my cousins wedding. That day, we all dressed up. My dad was in his favorite suit and my mom even wore make-up. I was wearing my favorite dress. After the wedding and before the reception started, my dad suggested that we take a family photo because we all dressed nicely. Then, three of us took this memorable photo. We all smiled happily in the picture. Now, we enlarged the photo and put it in our living room. I also have a copy and I put it in my dorm. My parents say sometimes they would feel lonely because Im away for college, but when they look at the photo, they feel that Im just with them. Actually, I feel the same way too. Photos are good because they can keep our beautiful memories. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Do you like to take photographs? =What kind of photo do you like to take? Yes, I do. I think its a good way to keep our memories. I like taking both natural beauty and people. I think theyre all good. However, Im not a professional, so I hope I can learn more photographic skills in the future. 2. Do people in your country like to take photographs? Yes. In the past, there were not many people who had cameras, but now, along with the fast development of the economy, almost every family can afford cameras. People really enjoy taking pictures when they go traveling or when they have some big events. Therere also some people who like photography, which is an interesting hobby. 3. Some people dont like taking photographs. Can you suggest any reasons why they might feel that way? Some people think its not necessary to take pictures too often and a few pictures will be enough. However, Ive never seen people wouldnt take pictures at all. 4. Why do some people dislike having their photo taken? Its really hard to say. I think a lot of people who dont like taking photos are shy
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and less confident. For example, I have a friend. He always says that he looks ugly and would always refuse to take pictures with his friends. I think its a little weird. 5. How do people keep their photos?= How do you keep your photos? In the past, most people keep their photos in albums. Nowadays, because of the popularity of digital cameras, a lot of people began to keep their pictures on their computers or even upload them to the internet. 6. Why do some people throw away some of their photographs? I guess when people want to forget something that happened in the past, they would want to throw away photos that carry these memories. Or if they think they dont look good in the pictures, they might also want to throw them away. 7. What are the various ways that photographs are used? Therere actually many ways. Photos can be used for keeping our memories. For photography, photos are a kind of art and they could express their feelings and talents. For police, photos can be used as evidence. 8. What are the differences between taking photographs today and in the past? In the past, many families couldnt afford cameras, so its very common for some families to have their pictures taken at the professional photo studio. Nowadays, almost every family can afford cameras and most of them have digital ones, so people are taking pictures whenever they want. 9. Has photographic equipment changed? (Compared to the past) ==What do you think are the differences between digital photography and the old form of photography? Which do you think is better? Definitely. The technology is advancing all the time. In the past, cameras were usually big and only a few people could afford them. Nowadays, a majority of Chinese people have much smaller digital cameras and we can see our photos as soon as they were taken. 10. Whats the difference between using a cell-phone to take a photograph and using a camera? I think the quality of photos is different. The photos taken by professional cameras have better quality and we can usually take a lot of them because the space of our camera memory card is big. However, most of the photos taken by cell phones are rather small and unclear. We usually cant save a lot of photos to our cell phone due to the limited space of the memory card. 11. What are the differences between photos used for books and those used for advertisements? I think photos used for books are usually more personal and related to real life because when people read books, theyre more willing to spend more time to look at the pictures closely. However, a lot of photos in advertisements are commercialized and exaggerating because their goal is to attract peoples eyeballs. If people are not interested, their advertisements wont be viewed by enough people, which will definitely hurt their goal of selling products.
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12. Who likes taking photographs more, men or women? I think men. A lot of women like being taken in photos, but they usually care more about themselves rather than the surroundings. However, a lot of men are interested in taking photos of beautiful scenery, and interesting scenes. They may not want to be in pictures, but theyll take a lot of photos when they go out or on a trip. 13. How do you think about the photos on face book? Believe it or not, I havent had a try on the face book yet, although it may be extremely popular in western countries. I usually log onto my QQ to chat with my friends online, and I just write my blogs on the QQ space or the space on SINA.com. Maybe facebook is just something like this QQ space, which is just a place for the public to express their opinions, and share their feelings with others. Maybe when I study abroad, I may have a try on it. Do as Romans do when I am in Rome, right? 14. Do Chinese people like video taping? Yes. It wasnt popular in the past, but nowadays more and more people can afford video cameras, so video taping some special events or marvelous scenery is becoming an important part of life. Video taping is very different from taking pictures because you can see the people or scenery in a very vivid way. My parents said they would bring the video camera on my graduation day to help me keep the best memory. 15. What photos can be considered as good ones? It depends. If there are some good friends or relatives in photos, when you see the photos, they may remind you of precious things. Thats also good photos, even without good skills. However, there are some scenery photos with excellent photography skills; thats also good photos. 16. Should we learn photography? It depends. For me, I like taking photos very much, and I will learn photography to provide me a better skill to take good photos. Besides, I also learn how to print photos taken by film cameras. But to others, maybe they dont like taking photos very much; they just use cameras to record something, so I think it is not necessary for them to learn photography.
5. Something expensive you would buy

Describe something expensive you would buy if you had a lot of money. You should say: what it would be (or, is) what it looks like how much it would cost (or, how much it costs) what you would do with it and explain why you would buy this. Sample 1 The most expensive thing I want to buy is a Mac book Pro, which is about ten
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thousand RMB. I always want to have an apple laptop because of the functions and beautiful design. For me, it's important for my laptop to look as good as it performs. After all, technology needn't be drab (). One of my friends has a Mac and I tried it a few weeks ago. This computer is super. You wouldnt even notice that it has a cooling fan because its completely silent. Its also super fast, and the base plate never gets more than lukewarm (). The light weight, small footprint, lighted keyboard, and speed really make this computer shine. As a student, Im not rich at all, so a Mac book is a luxury for me. If I really want to buy it, I think I should take part time jobs during my school holidays. If I have a Mac, I dont know how happy I will be. All my classmates and friends will admire me and I could enjoy all the good functions of the laptop. If I take it to school, whenever I unveil my beautiful laptop, I will draw the oohs and aahs of my envious peers. Sample 2: I would buy a helicopter if I had a lot of money. Flying in the sky is always my dream. However, it couldnt be realized by sitting on a commercial jet. I think owning a helicopter will enable me to fly whenever I want. However, the price is very high. I dont exactly know the specific number, but I guess it might be around 10million RMB, so I have to be very rich. My ideal helicopter should be white in color because I think white is the most beautiful color for vehicles and aircrafts. In order to take my family with me occasionally, there should be at least four seats in the helicopter. Therere a lot of things I could do when I have it. I could spend my weekend on a far away island and come back in time for work. I would be able to see many things that I dont have the privilege to see as an ordinary person. I would fly my helicopter to work and the roof of my office building would be my parking lot. I could send and pick up my children from school without worrying about the traffic condition. I actually think its cool if we could use air transportation in our daily life. Then, the traffic problems will be much better than now and we could save a lot of time for other important things in life. I hope my dream can become true one day and I could really own an expensive helicopter. I should try my best to study hard and earn enough money for this goal. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Why do you think young people want to buy expensive things that they dont really need? There are many reasons. Sometimes we do buy things that we want but dont need. For example, we can spend fifty yuan on a piece of clothing and 1000
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yuan for a similar one but of a famous brand with good quality. For some people, these two kinds of clothes are very similar but for a lot of others, theyre completely different. Expensive products usually mean status and taste. Why do you think high-tech products are sold very expensively? = Why do you think people want to buy something they dont really need? I have to say knowledge is very important in modern society. Sometimes high-tech products need a lot of people to spend many hours in labs to do research. Because of the time and money spent on them, its natural for companies to sell them for high prices. Will you spend a lot of money on something expensive but necessary? If I have the money, I will. For example, housing prices are really high right now, but if Im old enough to start a family, Ill definitely buy one. Have you ever bought something expensive but not useful? Yes. Once I bought a set of wireless earphones, which were a little expensive. Later I found they were very battery consuming. Now I just put them in my drawer and seldom use them. I guess its something expensive I bought but not useful. How should parents teach children to save? Why? Parents can share their saving experience with their children because good models can always influence the children. Also, they were necessary to help children make their own saving plans. If children dont learn how to save when they are young, they might have financial problems when they grow up. Have people changed their shopping habits? Maybe. In the past, people were comparatively less wealthy, so they didnt have a lot of money to spend. However, now, people are getting richer, so theyll have more money to spend on luxuries. Whats the young peoples spending philosophy? Why? Nowadays, a lot of young people believe its ok to spend tomorrows money for today. Many people rely on credit cards and sometimes a lot of working class can spend more than they earn. However, therere still a lot of people like saving. What can influence the way people spend money? Well, many areas in our life. If most of the people living around us tend to be frugal, we might learn from them. If we can barely make a living, well tend to spend more carefully. However, if we earn a handsome salary, theres no reason to be cheap to ourselves. Whats the difference between credit cards and cash? When we use credit cards, we only get to see a number that we spend, which might make us feel that were not really spending a lot of money. However, when we spend cash, we tend to be more careful because when seeing the money we pay, we might feel thats a lot. Its also safer to use credit cards because, if we carry a lot of cash with us, we need to worry about theft and robbery.
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10. Do Chinese people spend a lot of money shopping? Some people, especially young people. Nowadays, theres a new term, yueguangzu, which talks about people who always spend all their salaries or earnings before the end of the month. I think its ok to spend a reasonable amount of money each month, but definitely not all we earn. Its harmful for both the people and the society. 11. Whats the difference between men and women when they go shopping? Men usually have very specific goals when they go shopping. They can choose a piece of clothing in five minutes. However, women love looking around in shopping centers before making their decisions. A woman might spend a whole day shopping without taking anything home. Its partly because of the wide variety of women clothing and partly because of womens indecisive nature. They just cant make the decisions easily. 12. What do young people like to buy? Clothing and electronic products. Ive seen many of my friends changing cell-phones every year or several times a year. They just cant refuse the temptations of electronic product advertisements. Also, many young people love dressing themselves up in unique styles, so theyll need to go shopping for clothes very often. 13. Is shopping a popular way to relax for Chinese people? For a lot of women, but definitely not for men. Women think its great to see and even try different styles of clothing. When they spend money, theyll feel like giving away their troubles and stress from work or studies. So its really a popular way to relax. For me, shopping in big shopping malls can make me nervous and uncomfortable because sometimes therere just way too many people, so I go shopping only when I have to. 14. Why should parents control how much money children spend? If children develop the habit of spending too much money, its actually harmful for them, even for children from rich families. If they dont see the value of money as ordinary people see, they might tend to waste money in the ways that they dont realize. What if they get poor one day, it might be hard for them to survive if theyve got used to spending way too much money than they could actually make. Parents should teach children how to save money because frugal children usually have fewer financial problems when they grow up. 15. Are people easily influenced by others when they buy things? Absolutely. Conformity mentality can occur everywhere in our life. When we see people buy something, well feel that we have to have this or that, even if its not suitable for us. Its just hard to think clearly when a group of people are saying, its right, through their actions. I think we really need to learn to stick to our own plans and opinions. 16. In what areas do people spend most of their money? Different people spend money in different areas but nowadays we usually dont spend too much on our basic needs. Young women tend to spend more money
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on clothing, but a lot of young men might be more interested in electronic equipment and couldnt wait to buy the latest edition. A lot of parents spend money on their childrens education and people who get sick easily might give a big amount of their money to hospitals and pharmacies. 17. Is it worth spending a lot of money on high-tech products? Personally, I think its not necessary. Some people dont really need a lot of advanced functions of the high-tech devices but they want to have them because their friends all do. I think its not environmental friendly if we change our cell-phones frequently or throw our computers away after a year. 18. Are people getting more and more materialistic ()? Along with the development of the economy, a lot of people begin to compare what they have with others possessions. Its like materials can give a lot of people satisfaction and we feel happy when we possess certain stuff we want. However, materials make us feel tired and sometimes drive us to work more and more in order to afford more products we desire. I think we should be careful about being too materialistic. We should only care about what we really need but not others think we should have. 19. Whats the spending philosophy of modern people? A lot of people think they should treat themselves well, so theyre willing to spend a lot of money on a piece of clothing or a meal. Some young people even dont have a savings account and have to live on credit cards. I think for these people, they really should learn how to be thrifty and frugal because they might face serious financial problems if theyre not careful. 20. Whats the difference of spending money between old and young people? A lot of old people in China believe they should save money for their children, so they tend to be frugal and spend very carefully. However, many young people spend generously for themselves and sometimes they even need to rely on credit cards. I think neither way is good. The old people need to learn how to be generous with themselves and the young people need to learn how o save some money for their future. 21. What do you think about luxury consumption? It depends. If we buy a few luxuries to make our life more colorful, I think its good. For example, a bottle of expensive French perfume on ones birthday is definitely understandable, but I just cant stand people throwing things away after using them a few times. For example, some people change cars every year or buy thousands of clothes that dont have time to wear them all. I think its a great waste. 22. Should the government take measures to control how much people spend? I dont think it necessary. Firstly, people have contributed part of their money in the form of taxes to the government, and with that limited money left, they should have the freedom to spend on their own. Also, the government has a lot more important things to do, although to some extent, a kind of guidance may be helpful to create a healthier atmosphere of consumption.
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6. Something you bought but not useful.

Describe something you bought but have not used very much You should say What it is When you got it from Where you got it from And explain why you have not used it very much. Sample: Actually, Ive bought a lot of things that I found not useful. I think its important to learn the advantages and disadvantages of something that youre planning to buy, especially something expensive. I recently bought a juicer. I always admired people who could drink fresh juice at home, so last month, I decided to buy one for my family. I learned that Jiuyang was a famous juicer brand in China, so I bought this brand. After I bought it, our family members were all very excited. We bought all kinds of fruit to make juice. We had fun for about a week. Soon, we realized that a juicer was good to use but difficult to wash. Every time, I have to use more than ten minutes to wash it after using it. Now, the once welcomed juicer just lies in a box because nobody enjoys taking time to wash it. I think the juicer is not as useful as I expected. Next time, when I want to buy a juicer, I think its necessary for me to find out if its difficult to wash. I hope Ill be able to be a wise shopper and only buy things that are very useful for me. Part 3: 1. Do you like shopping? To be honest, I dont like shopping. If I have a lot of money, I would like to hire a person to be more personal buyer so that I dont need to spend time to think about what to buy and where to buy. But living in this world, we cant live without materialistic things, so I have to go shopping very often to satisfy my needs. 2. How do people generally feel about shopping? I think a lot of young women enjoy shopping because they feel a sense of success when they buy something suitable and with a reasonable price, but I also know some people like me, who would feel its extra work to go shopping. 3. What products do people buy in China? Different people spend money in different areas but nowadays we usually dont spend too much on our basic needs. Young women tend to spend more money on clothing, but a lot of young men might be more interested in electronic equipment and couldnt wait to buy the latest edition. A lot of parents spend money on their childrens education and people who get sick easily might give a big amount of their money to hospitals and pharmacies.
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4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping malls (or supermarkets/department stores)? I think the advantages would be the comprehensive selection of products. It allows consumers to buy most of the things they need in one place, so its time saving. However, it also encourages consumption. For example, when you go to a supermarket to buy a pair of gloves and you see the tissue is on sale. Even though you dont need tissue, you will buy it anyway. So sometimes, we might buy something well never use, which is a waste of money. 5. When people go shopping, do you think they are more concerned about price or quality? I think both are important. When we go shopping, we usually have a budget to spend on a certain area. Even if the quality is very good, well probably choose the price that is the most suitable for us. But I believe good quality is important because in the long run, were saving money for buying expensive and good things. 6. When people go shopping, do you think theyre more concerned about the appearance of the product or its quality? I think both, and a lot of the times, theyre closely related. Its hard to say a dress is beautiful if its not made of very good fabrics. But of course, we dont want to wear something with good quality but very out-dated style. I think its true not only for clothing but also for many other daily necessities. 7. Compare shopping online with shopping in the normal shop. I love shopping online because its time saving. I dont need to spend time on the way to travel back and forth. By simple clicks on the computer, well be able to receive something we need in a couple of days. However, the problem is that we could only see the photo of the product and we cant touch it, so sometimes, we will buy something thats not the same as we have expected. Thats why a lot of people still prefer normal shops. 8. What brand of mobile phone is the most popular in China? Well, the iPhone has become very popular due to its high quality, beautiful design and ease of use. For example, the iPhone allows you to multi-task, whichs extremely important in any busy life. The touch screen can quickly take you to the application or function that you need, so all of the applications and features are just at your fingertips. Its hard to refuse such a perfect mobile phone although the price is a little high.
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1. An advertisement
Describe an advertisement that you think is successful. You should say: what is advertised what the advertisement contains (the contents of this advertisement) what is the function (purpose) of this advertisement and explain why you think this advertisement works well. Sample I think nobody really enjoys watching advertisements, but no one can actually avoid them all together. Were exposed to ads almost everyday. If we think carefully, ads are very useful because they provide information for us. Recently I saw an advertisement of KFC on the bus TV. KFC was promoting their new combo products. I think the information was very helpful to me. The advertisement was very simple but informative. It showed us three different choices for lunch and they all looked very delicious. Then it said that each combo would only cost fifteen yuan. I was immediately attracted by it because nowadays a lot of restaurants were raising their prices, but KFC was selling their food for cheaper prices. It also said that the new products would be healthier than before, which was also a big selling point. When I saw the advertisement, I couldnt wait to try their new food. The advertisement was very successful because they knew what people really wanted. I think advertisements are important in our life because they could inform us what new products are available for us to choose from. I hope all advertisements could be as informative as the KFC one. Sample2:Naobaijin I want to tell you an advertisement about a health product called Naobaijin. Its such a famous advertisement that almost everybody in China can recite the lines of the advertisement. The advertisement is very simple. An old couple tell us that they dont need any gift for the spring festival but naobaijin. It has been showed on TV year after year, especially during the Spring Festival. In China, young people are supposed to buy presents for the older generation during Chinese New Year, but they usually dont have many good choices except cigarettes and wine. These are not good for their health. Because Naobaijin is a very healthy gift for older people, so it becomes
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popular.
You would see it everywhere from newspapers to internet.
A lot of people might feel tired of it, but I think it is a successful advertisement although it is not creative. Its simple to remember so everybody knows this product now. It has drawn our attentions successfully and brought fortune to the manufacturer. PART 3Discussion topics 1. What advertisements do you like the most? I like creative advertisements. Advertisements can let us know a product in a few seconds. Creative advertisements can always leave a deep impression after we see them. They can also make our life more colorful and give us creative ideas. 2. Do advertisements influence you about what brand you buy? Of course, advertisements can help us know products better so when we go shopping, we would choose the brands that were familiar with. I usually dont like to buy products that Ive never heard of because I feel hard to trust them. I guess advertisements influence me a lot. 3. What kind of advertisement can be seen by more people? I think it will be the ads on TV. Most people in China like watching TV while they are having dinner with their family. In addition, compared with ads on newspapers, advertisements on TV can give us a more vivid view and we can have a deeper impression, so people prefer ads on TV and they watch them more. 4. Where can you find ads outdoors? Many places. At the bus stop and subway stations, you can always see big screens showing ads. Besides these, on buses, therere tv sets to show ads and other programs all day long. Furthermore, ads are placed in big departments stores as well. 5. Do you think therere too many ads nowadays? Of course. I think the ads on TV take a lot of our time so they always disturb us when we watch a program. However, when we watch ads on buses, they can give us some color on our journey, so these ads might be good. 6. Are ads more likely to succeed if they have celebrities in them? I think so. Because a lot of people like celebrities and theyd like to try the products that celebrities advertise. This kind of advertisement is more trusted and effective. However the cost of these advertisements should be expensive and as consumers, we are actually paying for this. 7. Through what ways can people see advertisements? People can be exposed to ads almost everywhere. When we watch TV, read newspapers, or surf the internet, well always be surrounded by different ads. Even when we ride the bus, therell be ads on the bus TV screens. 8. What kinds of advertisements attract people more? People like creative advertisements. Some ads can be like stories and make us
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feel intrigued when we see them and we want to see them over and over again. However, therere also many boring ads that repeat the same thing over and over again. 9. Why should advertisements have fashionably dressed people in them? Most ads are giving us visual attractions. If we see fashionably dressed people, well tend to think highly of their products. Its not right but very common, people judge you from what you wear. The clothing shows status and taste. 10. Do you think over-weighted or not good looking people might feel sad when they see only beautiful people are in ads? I dont think so. Everyone is willing to appreciate beauty no matter how ugly looking they are. Those over-weighted or not good looking people, most of them, having an appropriate attitude about themselves and about the world, and they know the beautiful people in ads are just to attract audience to promote sales. In this sense, I dont think they will be sad. 11. What kind of media is more favored by advertising companies? Advertisements, in essence, are to attract people eyes, to maximize the influence of the brands, the products, and then promote sales. In this sense, I think the advertising companies may like those media that have a large loyal audience, that have a positive fame, and that can focus on the expected customers. 12. Will you be bothered by the posters on buildings? Sometimes. Usually, the posters on buildings will be to advertise some popular goods, with some beautiful looking people, and some attractive colors, so they may just attract me rather than annoy me. However, occasionally, when the advertisers hope to attract eyes in a special way, or leave a deep impression on the viewers, the posters designed by them may be shocking or abrupt in front of my eyes. In this sense, I am bothered to some extent. 13. What kind of advertisement can attract people more? I think vivid advertisement can attract people more. If an advertisement is very simple, it may not attract people. But if an advertisement has a variety of colors and some vivid scenes, it will catch peoples eyes. Besides, I think if there is a famous star in an advertisement, it will certainly be helpful to attract people. 14. Should the advertisement indicate that certain products are harmful for peoples health, such as the cigarette? I think so. Because even the advertisement is used for increase the profit of a product, they need to point out the bad influence of the product. If a person likes to smoke, he or she may not care so much about the bad effect of cigarette, so I dont think they need to avoid the bad influence of a product. 15. Some people think advertisements can provide more choices for consumers and others disagree, whats your opinion? I agree with the statement that advertisements can provide more choices for consumers. Without advertisements, we dont even know the existence of many products, but advertisements make us known about those choices. For example, once I saw the advertisement of KFC, and I went there to taste new dishes there.
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16. Does China have laws concerning advertisements? Yes, I think so. Although I do not have much knowledge about the laws concerning advertisements, I think there are some laws to regulate the market of advertisements. For example, the advertisements should not have information about eroticism, violence, and so on. 17. Should the government supervise advertisements? Yes, I think so. I think its necessary because with supervision, it will not bring bad influence on teenagers. For example, the advertisements should not have information about eroticism, violence, and so on.
2. Something you learned from a family member

Describe something useful you learned from a member of your family. You should say: what it was who you learned it from how you learned it and explain why you think it is useful. Sample: Ill talk about my mother because she taught me how to swim when I was a child. Swimming is a very important skill for me because it could help me exercise almost all the muscles on my body and its a lifesaving skill when I fall into the water accidentally. Actually, my mom is good at many sportsvolleyball, pingpong, and swimming. She believes swimming is a must learned skill for everybody, so when I was in elementary school, she taught me how to swim. At first, I was a little scared of water because I was always afraid of being drowned. But my mom was very patient, just like a lot of other teachers; she taught me some basic strategies for swimming and told me to relax. She said she would always be there for me, which made me feel much more confident. She taught me breaststroke first because she said its the basic stroke for every swimmer. She said I should lean on the chest, arms breaking the surface of the water slightly, legs always underwater and the head underwater for the second half of the stroke. She said the kick of breaststroke was sometimes referred to as a "frog kick" because of the resemblance to the movement of a frog's hind legs, so she asked me to think of how frogs swam. She also taught me how to us the abdominal muscles and hips to add extra power to the kick. After I conquered my fear, because of my moms good instructions, I soon mastered the first stroke she taught me. Then, she taught me backstroke. She said that due to its position on the back, backstroke used some different muscles in the upper body than other styles. Since breathing in backstroke was easier than in other strokes, as the mouth and nose are
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usually over water, I felt happy to learn this one. She said for the initial position, I should lie flat on my back; arms stretched with extended fingertips, and legs extended backwards. The leg movement in backstroke could make a small contribution to the forward speed, yet were very significant for stabilizing the body. After knowing breaststroke, backstroke was easier for me. Now, Im pretty good at backstroke, which makes feel relaxed when Im in water. Im very thankful that my mom taught me swimming skill because now it has become one of my hobbies and its a great way for me to exercise and relax my muscles. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. What do children learn from parents? Children can learn a lot of things from their parents, whichs why parenting skills are very important. Children can learn the language their parents speak and the way parents handle daily matters. For young children, parents can teach them how to tell right from wrong. When they face troubles in life, its very likely that the parents give their advice and suggestions. 2. What do children learn from peers? The children you play with can influence the way you think a lot because you trust each other and you want to get confirmation from them. Children can learn good behaviors from good kids and learn violence or swearing words from bad friends. Its important that parents teach children how to choose friends wisely. 3. Which has a greater impact on children, TV or teachers? I guess teachers. For a lot of kids, they dont spend that much time watching TV compared with the time they spend at school with their teachers. Many young children take their teachers words really seriously and they trust their teachers. If they have good teachers, they can definitely get positive influence from them, and of course bad ones can also make enough damage to childrens childhood. For TV, parents should control what their kids are watching and help them only receive good things from TV and avoid bad information. 4. How do parents influence their children? Parents can influence their children in many ways. Children will copy what their parents say or do unconsciously, so parents should always set good examples for children. Also, parents should teach children some important meanings in life and help children solve problems they face. In that way, children can learn from their parents in a positive way. In addition, good books can give people good influence, so parents should recommend good books for children to read as well. 5. Who can influence children more? I think parents can influence children more because children are spending a lot of time with their parents. What their parents do or say, they are always happy to imitate at a young age, which will influence them a lot even when they grow up. Its said that many psychological problems can be traced back to the childhood, so we could see how parents can have great impact on the children.
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6.
Who are more important in a class, teachers or students? I think both. We need professional teachers to give the right directions and support students learning. However, when the students are not motivated, even the best teacher will feel frustrated about how to teach them. I think the best way is teachers and students can cooperate to achieve the learning goals. 7. What can parents teach their children? Parents can teach children many things. Parents are usually the language teacher to their children, so the language used by children is greatly influenced by the way the parents talk. Also, parents can teach children the natural surroundings and the names and functions of the things around them. When they face difficulties, parents can teach them ways to solve problems. 8. Is pre-education given by parents important? What are the benefits for children? Definitely. Its said that the pre-education of children can influence their future learning. If children receive good pre-education, theyll be benefited a lot and might develop their potentials earlier. 9. Does childrens way of learning change as they grow older? Of course. Babies will learn through their sensestouching, tasting, seeing, or hearing. But as they become older, they will know how to think in an abstract way and be able to memorize long sentences or imagine what they can see in their brain. 10. What can children learn from peers? What negative influence can peers bring to children? Children can learn many things from peers. They could learn the language their peers use and the ways they play and solve problems. From good friends, they can learn positive things, from bad ones, they can get negative influence. For example, if their friends always use swearing words and are mean to others, they could be influenced unconsciously.
3.
A game you played with friends in your childhood
Describe a game you enjoyed when you were a child. (Not a sport.) You should say: what the game was when, where and with whom you usually played it how you played it and explain why you enjoyed this game. Sample: When I was a child, I played a lot of games with my neighborhood children. I think the game I played the most was hide-and-seek. Its probably the same all over the world. We would decide who the it was by doing rock, paper, and scissors. Then, the it would face the wall and count to one hundred loudly. At the same time, the children would try to find the safest place to
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hide. The first one to be found would be the next it. Actually, my friends and I usually play this game at my home when my parents were not in. I would always hide in the closet or behind some furniture. Once we played the game with a bigger area involved, including the yard and the store room. I hid in our store room and they couldnt find me and forgot about me, so finally I decided to get out from my hiding place after waiting for about hour an hour. I still remember the moment they saw me because they had started another two rounds of games already. I think games are really important for children because they could help them learn to work with other kids and also use their imagination and creativity. PART 3Discussion topics 1. In general, how is outside play for children different to playing inside? The variety of games played inside is limited. Most children play with toys or watch TV in the house, being attracted to the light and sound. On the contrary, scenes and objects in the outside world is numerous. Children get not only fresh air and physical exercise, but also a broader horizon then playing out. 2. Do you think the indoor activities and outdoor activities develop childrens abilities the same way? Definitely not. The indoor environment is quieter and room for activities is limited, so it is likely to develop childrens peaceful mind, focus of attention and sense of discipline. Meanwhile, outdoor activities tend to make children creative, courageous and open-minded. 3. Whats the most popular game in China? There are various popular games in China. Some of them have long histories, such as Chinese chess, rope jumping and kicking shuttlecock. I especially would like to talk about riddle guessing, which is popular with people at all ages and of both sex. It is a tradition that people guess riddles and win prizes in the celebrations of almost all important festivals. 4. How have games changed in the past few decades? When TV and computer were not so popular decades ago, people get together and play games like guessing riddles, playing chess or ballgames. However, as almost every family has various electric facilities nowadays, most people only play games on their computers or cellphones. 5. How have childrens games changed in the past few decades? In the past, any simple thing could be childrens tools to play games, like rubber bands, wood sticks or small stones. They played them with little friends. Now children are over exposed to video games and such. Their games involve more visual and sound effect, but less communication with others. 6. How are childrens games different to adults games? Childrens games are most simple, and they play them purely for fun. They may play with all kinds of things at their hand, sometimes over and over again.
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Comparatively, most adults play games with purposes. Their games are more complex and realistic, and they expect light and sound stimulations. 7. Why do many adults today not play games? There are various reasons. Some adults have no time to play games for they have to spend it on study or family or their jobs. Some are not in the mood to play games, for they have so many affairs to worry about. And some find that they have no close friends to play with though they are in complex and abundant relationships. 8. Do you think modern lifestyles encourage, or discourage, adults from playing games? I dont think modern lifestyles encourage people to play and to relax ourselves. Fast paced modern lifestyles draw people to work fast, live fast and eat fast. We are having more pressure and challenges rather than time to play. We seem to have plenty of choices to entertain, but we can hardly find a chance to play some games with friends and relax ourselves. 9. What benefits do people get from playing games? Playing games bring people happiness. Thinking less of the troubles and setbacks we meet in our studies/work/personal relationships, we focus our attention to the game itself, and only think about winning. Whats more, playing games with others can bring us friendship and make us have a sense of group belonging. 10. What benefits can children get from playing games? Playing games benefits children a lot. Their communication ability, physical skills and intelligence are improved during playing games. Moreover, they meet friends in playing, so that their sense of cooperation and group belonging are gradually developed. 11. Do you think group activities (including team sports) can help give a child a sense of responsibility? Yes. In group activities, every individual has his own position and relative responsibilities. Working in a group, every child makes use of his advantages, works to the best of his capability, and does what he can to complete his responsibilities.
4. A website
Describe a useful website that you like to visit. (Or, that you have visited) You should say: what he contents of the website are (or, were) how and when you first found this website how often you go to this website and explain why you think this website is (or, was) useful. Sample: I like the website called Discovery Asia, which is in both English and Chinese. I started surfing this website when I was in middle school. It teaches us a lot of things
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around the world, from biology to astronomy, from history to culture. Therere a variety of video clips about different areas for us to choose from. Every video clip has a short description to help you decide if you want to watch it. Because of the website I began to know that the world was wonderful and there was so much more to learn. Ive added this website as my favorite and I would always go to visit it to explore their up-dates. I especially like the part featuring Egypt. At first, I was attracted by the beautiful pictures showing the ancient Egypt, like how they might built the pyramids and make mummies. They also suggested many possible reasons for making these things, which showed the unique culture and philosophy of the ancient Egyptians. Through that, I began to feel interested in history. Ive learned a lot through it. I think its really a good educational website, not only for children but also for adults. I hope one day China can also make such a good website to show our history explorations to the world. PART 3Discussion topics 1. Is the internet used very much by people in China? Yes, I think so. Its like a miracle. I still remember ten years ago, the internet was still not very common, but now, its just everywhere in our life. We could find almost everything on the internet and the internet allows us to write emails to our friends and use facebook to give our friends and family our up-dated information. Also, online shopping is popular, which makes our life more convenient. 2. Some people say that different age groups have different tastes in internet content. What do you think? I think so. Different people like different things. Children would play some simple online games or watch some funny videos. Young people are more interested in some interesting news, and blogs or twitters of celebrities. For some professionals, academic information is really important for them. They would use the internet to do online research and try to improve their professional skills. What influence can (or, does) the internet have on children? And what about teenagers? Therere both good and bad influences. Children can have access to all kinds of information, so they can learn from the internet by using some search engines. However, therere also some bad stuff on the internet, such as sexual and violence web pages, which could be viewed by everybody, so its really important to monitor what children can see on the internet. I think its the same worry that we have for teenagers. Its really important for the government to screen the internet and only allow healthy and good stuff to appear on it. What (kinds of) people don't use the internet and what are the
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disadvantages that these people suffer because they don't use the internet? A lot of old people dont use the internet because its hard for them to accept new things and they think its very difficult to pick up all the details of using the internet. For example, my parents dont use the internet at all. They cant view my blog or chat with me online. They used to like writing letters to me, but now most people are using emails, so hand written letters are out-of-date. They would feel very pleased if they could write emails to their children and friends. 5. How do you think the internet might develop in the future? I think the internet will be even more powerful in the future. Now, online shopping and online courses are still not the main stream compared to actual shops and schools, but in the future, these services will be made more professional and user friendly, so they will become the major means to provide service for people. Of course, a lot of businessmen are going to make a fortune from it. Do you think people can freely express their opinions on the internet? To some extent, yes. In the past, people were more careful about what they would say about the government or some highly debated matters, but now with the internet, people could express their feelings and points of view anonymously, which helps more people feel free to say what they really want to. However, the government is still keeping an eye on everything appear on the internet, so sometimes some too radical expressions will be blocked or deleted. Have you ever bought anything on the internet? Definitely. Compared to many of my friends, Im on the slow side. I started online shopping two or three years ago and found it very convenient. For example, I bought a phone card online for only half of the price compared with the one from an actual store. And I could find books I want with only a few clicks of the mouse. Its really amazing. In China, is the internet used much in schools or colleges/universities? Nowadays, yes. A lot of teachers or professors begin to post homework online for students to see and there are forums for students to discuss their course work and communicate with each other. For some universities, they also offer online courses for students who are busy with their work or cant come to class because of the distance. I think the internet will play a more important role in education in the future.
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5.
Important information
Describe an important message you received by phone, email or text. You should say: what the message was who it was from what you did after you got this message and explain why the message was important. Sample: I still remember the important message about my college admission. After my college entrance exam, I began to worried about whether I could get in the college I applied. I had a lot of free time at that time, but I could hardly enjoy myself. I still remember that day. I was on my way to my friends home. My father called me because he received my college admission letter. He was very excited, so was I. I didnt go to my friends home but got home directly because it was so important for me. I wanted to see the admission letter myself. When I held the admission letter, I didnt know how to express my feelings. It was the most exciting message I have ever received. For many high school students, its the most important thing to get in the ideal college. It was the same for me. Therere no others things more important than this message during that time. Until now, the moment is still very vivid in my mind. PART 3Discussion topics 1. How important do you think communication between people is? I think communication is the basis on which people build up any relationship. Communication makes it possible that people introduce themselves to others and get to know others as well. We deliver our thoughts in communication, and solve problems though it. 2. Do you think its important to have good communication skills? Yes. Good communication skills help make good impressions. People need it to make their ideas delivered and make themselves understood and accepted. Meanwhile, having good communication skills, people may find it easier to solve problems. 3. In what situations do you think communication is very important? It is needed in every situation. When people first meet, they have to communicate with each other so that they can gradually know each other. Once a relationship is founded, constant communication maintains the closeness and friendship. So it is important in every aspect of interpersonal relationships. 4. Would you say you are a good communicator? Well, I think I am not good enough. You see, I am a little introversive, so I sometimes hesitate to practice communication even though I know clearly the importance of it. Meanwhile, since I am a student/working as an accountant, I
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stay in a relatively simple environment. There are not many circumstances in need of communication. So my communication skill still needs to be improved. What sorts of skills do you believe are important for good communication? The skill to talk is a primary skill in communication. Short and logical speeches make it possible that the speaker expresses his ideas clearly without bothering other people. And the skill to listen is equally important. Listening to others with patience and attention is half of communication. It makes others feel respected and accepted. Is there much difference between the ways young people communicate and the ways old people communicate? Yes. Young people communicate with all kinds of tools, like cellphones, social networks, or chatting software. However, old people prefer face-to-face talks to communicate with others, despite the fact that a growing number of old people are also learning to use cellphones and computers. What sorts of jobs (or work) especially require good communication skills? In fact, all kinds of jobs require communication skills. No matter what job it is, we have to report the work we have done, and get others understand. Of course, some jobs such as the sales job especially need good communication skills. People doing those jobs should have more practice of communicating with others. Do you think communication skills can be taught or are they part of the (inborn/innate) nature of a person? Perhaps its mainly nature whether a person has a strong will to communicate with others or not. But skills are mostly acquired capabilities. The living environment, guidance of surrounding people and self-awareness all have influence on the proficiency in peoples communication. Do you prefer to communicate face-to-face or to communicate by texting message, e-mail, etc.? It depends on whom I communicate with. If I am contacting my relatives or close friends nearby, I would like to be with them face-to-face. However, messages and e-mails are more suitable when I am communicating with friends living far away, or with ordinary friends.
6. A show
Describe a show or performance that you enjoyed watching. (For example, a dance or singing performance). You should say: what kind of performance it was when and where you saw it who you saw it with who the performer(s) was (were) and explain why you attend this performance/ how you felt about this performance. Sample
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I went to XXs solo concert a few years ago with my cousin. His performance gave me a very deep impression. XX is known for his baritone () voice. His successful music career has made him one of Hong Kong's icons. People, both old and young, all like him and his songs. Of course, Im one of his fans. The concert lasted for two hours and since our seats were close to the stage, we could have a clear view of the performance. He was very friendly to his fans and sometimes even asked us to sing along with him. He changed about five customs and danced a lot. Its amazing how fit he was because some of the songs required him to dance a lot. Live concerts are very different from listening to CDs. I felt so excited because I was so close to my favorite singer. I also saw some mid-aged people at the concert. Actually, its quite understandable because XX has been famous for many years. I think the performance was very successful and it gave me a good memory to cherish. If I have a lot of money, Ill attend more of such performances. PART 3Discussion topics 1. Besides what you said in Part2, what other types of (performing) art are there? I think we can find all kinds of performing arts in the theatres in Hangzhou now. Not only have the Chinese folk art forms been well maintained and innovated, but also have the modern arts been introduced and well accepted by people. 2. What kinds of performances are most popular in China? Different people have their own interests. Generally speaking, newly introduced art forms like drama are popular with young people. However, aged ones prefer Chinese folk performances, such as Peking opera, cross-talk and folk singing. In recent years, it has become fashionable to watch dance. 3. Do you think art forms such as ballet and drama are important in life? You know, art is a very important part of life. It brings us joy and imagination. However, ballet and drama are not traditional Chinese folk art, so they are not welcome by every person, though more and more people, especially young people have been able to accept them and appreciate them. 4. Do you think live theatre is important today? Yes, I live theatres. There are several ones in Hangzhou, among which there are two big ones with best facilities. Famous entertainers and groups often perform there. And there are several other specialized live theatres of smaller sizes, such the Shaoxing Opera Theatre and the cross-talk theatre. People can find what they are interested in in different live theatres and have colorful leisure time. 5. Do you think art forms such as dance and drama have an impact on peoples everyday lives? Well, I think most people who are fond of art love their lives. The charm of art lies in that it brings people both visual-auditory enjoyment and new inspirations on their daily life, so that people may have more passion for life and may
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become good at looking for small joy in their lives. 6. Do you think they should receive financial support from the government? Yes, financial support is important in development and maintenance of art. Marketized Art will gradually become superficial and vulgar. Only with adequate financial support from the government can artists practice art for arts sake, so as to develop it to higher levels.
7.
A language
Describe another language [in addition to English and your own language (Chinese)] that you would learn, if you wanted. You should say: the name of this language (& where it is spoken) how you would learn it what equipment or facilities you would need to study this language and explain what difficulties you think you would have (or, might have) when learning this language/why you would choose to study this language. Sample: I always want to learn Korean because I think its a very useful language. Besides, I like watching Korean dramas. It would be cool if I could understand what they are saying without reading the subtitles. I think time is the only problem for me. In order to learn a new language, I should use my time wisely, which means I should surf the internet less and watch fewer movies. Also I need to get up early in the morning so that I could use the time when my brain is the most active. Its very important to have the language environment to learn a language. I believe I cant learn it all by myself, so its necessary to enroll in a language class. Theres actually a language training center near my home where my cousin is taking some classes there. She told me they also offered Korean class and the teachers were actually from Korea. I think itll be a good place to start with. Because of my English learning experience, I could use some of the strategies I think are effective for me, such as writing vocabulary on flash cards to use the bus waiting time to memorize words. Also, watching Korean dramas is a good way to give me extensive listening experience. If I can stick to my goal, eventually, Ill be able to speak fluent Korean. I think itll be a great success for me. Im looking forward to having my goal realized. PART 3Discussion topics 1. Do many people in China study a second foreign language? (Why?/Why not?) Yes, most school children do so. Because our society is developing fast and the
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globalization is intensified, knowing a second foreign language does a lot of good. It can help us become more competitive when we are hunting for jobs, especially in multinational corporations. It will also help broaden our horizons. Why do you think some people are better than others at learning a foreign language? Well, I think there are different occasions. Some people are relatively better than others at remembering, so they may find it easier to learn the vocabulary. Some work very hard and thus make big progresses in a short time. And there are also some people who are in an English-speaking environment. They are usually better in speaking and listening. How would you assess your own language ability? Well, actually, there are various ways to assess it. Taking part in suitable exams is the most common method, because exams can evaluate almost every aspect of the language learning, from listening to writing. Besides, talking with native speakers can also help suggest the level of my language ability. Do you think children can learn a foreign language faster than adults? (Why?/Why not?) Yes, I think so. Because normally people begin to get in touch with a language and then master it in their early years. Childhood is a stage when people are curious about everything around them, which makes them to have strong learning ability. So children can learn a foreign language faster and better. Who do you think is better at learning a language, boys or girls? As far as I am concerned, girls are better learners. First of all, it is a truth that girls at schools generally do well in both reading and speaking areas. In addition, girls are more careful and serious in learning a language. It makes them more competent in remembering the grammar rules and less possible to make mistakes. If you were an English teacher, how would you try to make your lessons (more) interesting? In the first place, I would find out what students are interested in and make these things associated with English. I believe that it is the most important thing to arouse the learners interests. Then I will make the forms of lessons diverse. Watching English movies and giving them chances to have debates are both OK. How does studying a foreign language help people to understand the culture of the people who speak that language? Well, according to me, communication and observation are the only means to understand a culture. It is obvious that we cant understand them when we observe foreigners and communicate with them if we have never studied their language. So studying their language makes it possible to study their culture. Do you think its important (or, a good idea) to have one main world language? To be honest, I dont think so. Different languages are based on different culture. Maybe its convenient for people from different nations to communicate with
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each other to have one main language. However, this will make a variety of unique cultures lost. That will be a great loss to human society. 9. What would be the advantages and disadvantages of having a global language? The advantages come that exchanging cultures will be easy and the development world-wide will tend to be coordinate. However, disadvantages also exist. Having a global language may make some cultures disappear and the world will be lack of diversity, either.
8. Book or film about future

Describe a book or a film about the future you read or watched You should say: name of the book or film when you read or watched it what it was about and explain how you felt about it. Sample I watched the famous movie, Avatar, in 2009, which was directed by James Cameron. The film is set in the mid-22nd century, when humans are mining a precious mineral on Pandora. The expansion of the mining colony threatens the continued existence of a local tribe, who are indigenous to Pandora. The film's title refers to a genetically engineered Na'vi body with the mind of a remotely located human, and is used to interact with the natives of Pandora. By 2154, humans have severely depleted Earth's natural resources. Pandora, whose atmosphere is poisonous to humans, is inhabited by the Na'vi, very tall, blue-skinned people, who live in harmony with nature and worship a mother goddess called Eywa. Jake, in the form of avatar, went to Pandora to work and during his time there, he became friends with the natives. Eventually, he and the natives conquered the evil power and set the planet free. With the exceptions of Jake and a few other scientists, all humans are expelled from Pandora and sent back to Earth, after which Jake is transferred permanently into his avatar with the aid of the Tree of Souls. I think this is a very good movie about future because it tells us how important it is to preserve our natural resources so that we wont experience the situation as the movie showed. Also, its a movie to tell us all men are equal, no matter where we are and what group we belong to. I hope the future of our earth will be good. PART 3Discussion topics 1. Will books or films disappear in the future? Of course not. Books and firms are important parts in our daily life. Speaking of
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books, although they are not as convenient as electric ones, it is more comfortable to hold a book in hand than to hold an electric reader. Whats more, books do less harm to our eyes. Firms are one of the best entertainments to some people, for they not only provide vivid pictures but also fine sound effects. I believe that they will never disappear. 2. How the government restricts the media? On the one hand, the government has strict controls on propaganda. It takes advantage of the media to effectively shape its good image. On the other, the government sets up special information agencies, such as the central information office, in order to publicize the policies to people.
9. A talk/speech
Describe an interesting (and impressive) talk (or speech) that you heard. You should say: who gave the talk what the walk was about where you heard it (or, where this talk was given) and explain why the talk was interesting/ what you learned from this talk. Sample Ive heard many speeches, but theres one that gave me a very deep impression. Its both interesting and meaningful. I actually heard the speech two years ago on the internet. It was recommended by one of my friends. As soon as I started, I was deeply engrossed by it. Randy Pausch, born in 1960, a computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2007. After learning he has only a few months to live, he gave a 76-minute speech dedicated to his three children. Although the topic was serious, Randy used humorous way to deliver his message. It was also very interesting. He is a man who can give his life meaning. He describes life as facing many brick walls, but the challenges made life interesting. He gave examples of how he made his childhood dreams come true. He shared events that happened in his life, and the lessons which he had learned. He valued his own dreams and enabled others to achieve their dreams as well. Furthermore, he cherished the love he had received from his family and his friends. It is an inspiring speech, through which we can see what an optimistic world view can bring to a person. Facing death makes people think about the meaning of life. It is a good opportunity to help us think about our purpose of life and know ourselves better. Through this speech, I learned life and death, friendship, love, and optimism. I think its a very good speech and I would always recommend it to my friends. PART 3Discussion topics
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1. What different kinds of speeches or lectures have you attended in your life? I have attended lectures of various themes and forms. I sometimes go to lectures intending to encourage us students to persist on our dreams and to study hard. And in other cases I attend speeches delivered by writers, who want to advertise for their books and make them to sell better 2. What qualities (attributes) should these visiting speakers have? Firstly I think it should be a famous person who can be a visiting speaker. He should either be well-learned or good at practising something. Then a speaker should be willing to share his knowledge or experience with the audience. Whats more, he should be capable to make a good and clear speech. 3. Why do many people find it hard to give a talk to young children? The most important reason is that there exist generation gaps between adults and children. They grow up in different decades, learn different information and think about different things. There will be problems in their communication and understanding. So even the well-intentioned talks are sometimes rejected by young children. 4. Why do you think many people are nervous before they give a speech? Well, some speakers may feel that the people in the audience are extremely critical and will blame them strictly when they make mistakes. So they may become nervous and anxious, and tremble uncontrollably before talking. I think thats mostly because they are not confident enough. 5. Why do people give speech to children? There are various reasons to do so. Some people give speech because they want to encourage children to pay more attention to their study and work harder. Some just intend to correct the mistakes that kids have made. And some other people hope their children meet fewer setbacks than they did, so they try to guide the kids by telling them what to do. 6. Who make people to do so? Well, in some cases, like when children fail in their exams or made big mistakes, their teachers may contact their parents and advise them to give small speech to their children, so as to give them guidance. And in other cases, adults do so at their own will, depending on their own experiences. 7. How are media related to the speech to children in school? Media have influences on school children in various aspects. They may encourage a certain form of activity by reporting relative speeches, so as to lead the tendency and contents of them. On the contrary, they criticize it when they want to stop the popularization of another sort of speeches. 8. What kind of people can give speech to children? Famous people and model students are often invited to give speech to children. They are mostly patient and loving, but the most important thing is that they are supposed to have a sense of what is right and what is wrong. And their own experiences may make it easier for children to accept their speeches.
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9. How about people on normal jobs? People on normal jobs can also be heroes if they love their job and make contributions without caring about personal profits. We have examples like this, such as **. They are invited to make speech not only to children, but also to working people in every field. 10. Whats the aim of the speeches to children? The most direct one is that the speakers hope the children can learn something from the speech and enhance their personal qualities. They hope the children can avoid making mistakes. And once they make one, they may realize it and correct it according to what is told.
10. Math class

Describe a mathematics class you attended at primary school You should say: when, where you attended the class what the teacher taught you what you did and explain what you learned from the class/how you felt about the class. Sample It has been so many years, but I still remember the math class in third grade. That year we had a new math teacher who just graduated from college. We liked her very much because she would not use very difficult mathematical terms to explain math problems to us, but she would try to make math real life related and try to help us learn from fun activities. At that time, we were learning fractions. She gave each one of us an orange and told us to peel it and use it to make different fractions. We had a lot of fun learning it and I felt math was the most interesting class. She would also ask us to stand up and move around in the classroom to play fun math games, which made studying a happy thing to do. In third grade, almost all my classmates could get good grades in math. Before, I thought math classes were very boring, but after that I could enjoy it and even liked to discuss question with my teacher. I find that if you are interested in something, it is more likely you will do it well. I think good teachers should help students learn while having fun. I hope therell be more good teachers like my third grade math teacher to help students learn more effectively. (P3 )
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11. An important job

Describe a person who has an important job You should say who the person is where the person works what the person does in the job and explain why you think the persons job is important. Sample I think my cousin, XX, has an important job. Hes a fireman and everyday he faces saving people or their important properties from burning houses. I admire him for his bravery and willing to help others. We cant live without firemen, so this job is inevitable important for our society. When people are crying in burning houses, firemen would always appear at the right time. One day, I asked my cousin why he chose this job. He said he was happy to help people and save a lot of lives, despite the danger of this job. Whenever he saves a person, he always feels a sense of success. He also said this job was suitable for him because of his passion to help others. I think a lot of firemen are just like him, brave and strong. I believe China needs a lot of firemen. A fireman is not a simple profession, which requires bravery, strong bodies and professional skills. So when they help people, they know what the right ways are, and what they should do. If therere more people in society like firemen, who could help others and make people feel safe living in this world. Then, the world will become a better place to live in. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Does advanced technology help people work better? To a large extent it does. With the modern technology, people are enabled to work more efficiently due to the automatic operation system. Also, people are ensured more safety at work, thanks to the replacement of machines for working in dangerous areas. In addition, the modern technology helps people to work in a more comfortable environment. However, potential risks do exist when people are too dependent on those high technologies, in case they stop working. 2. Do you think the profession of policemen is important? Should they receive high salaries? Police are definitely important for us. If we dont have qualified police force to protect us, criminals will do whatever they want and the society will be in a state of chaos. I think being good police is not easy because it requires high moral standards and the willingness to fight with the evil power, so good police should be paid well. However, we should also note some bad eggs in the police force
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are degrading ( ) the police image as a whole, so I think the government should deal with it and make citizens more willing to see that police receive good salaries. What are the factors that people consider when they choose jobs? Therere many things to consider when choosing jobs. The location and payment are all important for people who have a family because they need to stay close to their family and they need to have enough money to support the family financially. For many young people, they also care a lot about the advancement of their career. They want to gain experience and need opportunities to learn more, so for these people, the pay will probably rank the second. What kind of job is interesting? It might be different for different people. I think the most interesting job would be the jobs that can fulfill our dreams and agree with our interest. If we do something we really like, well feel the time is going very fast when were working. I have a friend who loves playing computer games and now his job is to develop game software. Hes very happy about his job because he loves this area and he can draw energy and strength from his work place. Its very lucky for him. How can school help students to master necessary skills for their future career? Please give concrete examples. I think schools should have classes about these necessary skills so students can learn at school. Also schools can organize events to cultivate these skills. Its very important for the students to use these skills because practice makes perfect. What kinds of jobs are hot in China now? Management positions are always hot in China. With the development of many small companies, they need good managers to save money and help the companies operate smoothly. However, being a good manager is not easy. It requires professional training and experience. How do people usually find jobs in China? What about in the past? Nowadays, people have many ways to find jobs. Using the internet is very popular because you can search the jobs youre interested in all over China or even in other countries and you dont need to go to job markets in person. Submitting application forms are easier now. You only need to press a button. However in the past, the government would assign jobs to people. A lot of people stay in the same job for their whole life. Whats more important, salary and self development? Theyre both important, but for young college graduates, self development might be more important because they need to gain some experience so that they can be more competitive in the future. For the people who need to take care of their family, they will probably consider the salary more. Is it easy to find a job? It depends. When you are well-educated, when you are not picky, I think, it is
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easy to find a job in China now, because job chances exist everywhere. However, many university graduates now, wasting too much time in their four-year schooling and expecting too much from their first job. To them, it seems not easy to be employed. 10. How can you succeed in a job interview? To succeed in a job interview, we have to be well prepared. For example, it is a good idea to know something about the company, in this way; we can share opinions with the interviewers. Also, we need to wear clean and neat clothes, to show our respect to the interviewers, and they may have a favor on us. Thirdly, we should be confident in our knowledge and ability, showing our competence in doing the job well. By doing so, I believe we may have a higher possibility to be employed. 11. What kind of employees do companies want to hire? To be honest, I am not sure about the answer. But according to my understanding, the employees who are loyal to the companies, who are well educated for the positions, who are good in interpersonal skills and who are clearly aware of the work, will be better needed by the companies. 12. Should schools teach more skills than knowledge? I dont think so. For schools, the main purpose is to educate students of their common knowledge about the world, the moral standard in their behaviors, the ways of studying. These help lay a solid foundation for the students to pursue a career in the future. As to skills, they can learn from their parents or just by themselves in the spare time, or accumulate on their later job positions. Teaching too much about skills in schools will make students be worldly or sophisticated, which is not good to create a positive social living atmosphere. 13. Is it reliable to search jobs online? Yeah, searching jobs online is a good idea and is growing popular theses days. But we have to possess a picky eye on it. Sometimes, the internet may be taken advantage by some ill-willed people, we should be careful enough not to be misled by them. But thanks to the stricter censorship from the government, and increasing warning from the media, the environment on the internet is much healthier these days. 14. How could governments solve the problems of labor shortages? I think its the time for the government to pay more attention to the low class workers and help them get more benefits in the city. Otherwise, a lot of farmer workers will prefer to stay at home to attend to their land because even if they labor for their whole life and save most of the money they earn, a lot of them still cant afford to get settled in cities. 15. Is it difficult to change jobs? I dont think so. If you have certain skills, and do not mind salary problem, you can easily find a job. But sometimes if you care about the salary, the work place, and the colleagues, it will be hard for you to change jobs. 16. What kind of job can make the most money in China?
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I think jobs related to finance, economy can make the most money. For example, if you are doing works of front office in an investment bank, you can earn one million for one year. Normally a few people can earn 100000 for one year, so one million is really a lot of money, and its hard to find such a job. 17. What job do young people like to do nowadays? As far as I know, young people nowadays are eager to become famous stars standing on a world-class stage and giving performances. This is a job that not only brings them fame and a large amount of money but also satisfies their vanity.
1. A group activity that you do

Describe a group activity you like You should say: what the activity is who are with you how easy or difficult it is and explain how you feel about being part of this team. Sample: I would like to talk about the interesting group activity called taboo that I play a lot in my English class. Our English teacher is very creative and she would use all kinds of group activities to help us communicate in English and have fun. Taboo is a word guessing game involving a lot of talking. Were usually divided into two teams and we win points by guessing words in the time given. The teacher would write the secret words on slips of paper and give to students one at a time. Players in each team take turns as the "giver," who attempts to prompt his or her teammates to guess as many keywords as possible in the allotted time. However, the taboo word on the paper shouldnt be used, and even an abbreviation of it, otherwise, the word will be passed. I love this game a lot because it allows us to communicate and use English without to naturally. I think this kind of group activity should be used more in English class. In that way students can definitely learn a lot through fun ways. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What are some examples of people working as a group? (I.e., at work) Nowadays, a lot of schools pay attention to communicative learning, so students have a lot of opportunities to do group research, which is good for cultivating
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cooperation skills. When people do some group sports work, such as basketball, volleyball, and football, they also need to have teamwork skills. Do you think it's beneficial for children to take part in group activities? Definitely. Children need to learn cooperation skills because nowadays, its hard for people to do something all by themselves. They have to work with their teammates, so its very important for children to have enough group work opportunities to practice and learn how to work with others. Do Chinese value teamwork? In my opinion, no matter at work or at school, people have begun to emphasize the importance of teamwork. They are willing to join group activities in order to learn team work skills. Schools would help students develop team work skills by organizing many different group activities. How to teach children to cooperate with others? At school, teachers can teach students the importance of team work and different ways to improve teamwork skills. These can help students know team work better. At home, parents have the responsibility to create and organize some interactive activities for their children in order to give them more this kind of experience. Whatre the advantages and disadvantages of teamwork? Usually teamwork is beneficial because we can think with more than one heads and work with more than two hands. Its also a good way for us to build relationship with our team members. If therere some disadvantages, I would say the less uniqueness of our work. When we work with others, well tend to compromise with the majority and this can take away the creativity part of our thoughts. Is it difficult for children to cooperate with each other? Yes, I think so. Children are usually less patient. When they feel that their team member is a drag on the team, theyll tend to kid this one member out. And when one is better than others in some way, he or she will tend to be too proud and screw the project. Its very important to teach children the key of cooperation. Every one has their unique share to contribute to a group work, so they shouldnt look down on anyone and try their best to respect each other. What communication skills should people have? In our modern society, we need good communication skills to talk to our boss, colleagues, and friends. Communication is basically to deliver our ideas precisely to the recipients. In this process, we should avoid ambiguity and make our ideas as clear as possible. Also, we need to pay attention to the wordings to make our message appropriate according to the status of the recipients. We also need to make our language polite enough to avoid offending others.
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2. A happy marriage you know

Describe a couple who you think have a happy marriage. You should say: who they are how long they have been married how they live their lives and explain why you think they are happily married. Sample: I think my cousin really has a successful marriage. When I go to his home and see the happy life they live, I would always admire them. Therere always fresh flowers on their dining table and whenever I ask my cousin, she would tell me how romantic it is that her husband still buys her flowers. I know shes very happy because of the love from her spouse. My cousin is much older than me, so now they have been married for about ten years and they have a lovely five-year-old boy. Their love doesnt fade because of the ordinary routine of life, which could be seen from every detail of their life. Sometimes, my cousin would ask me to baby sit their son because she and her husband need to have some quality time together, such as going to the movie, or having a fancy dinner at a nice restaurant. I think thats great for couples to do. Many people stop doing romantic things after getting married for a while, which will make them feel their life is plain without enough excitement. I think its not right, because couples need to fill their marriage with love and surprises. I hope my future marriage could be that successful and Im sure Ive learned a lot from my cousins family. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Is wedding very expensive in China? I think so. Nowadays, the wedding is more and more expensive in China. The average expense in my hometown Hangzhou is nearly 100000 yuan, which may be the whole years salary of a person who has a good job. So its really hard for young people to save so much money, and usually parents will give them some help. 2. Chinese people prefer to send gifts or money? Whats your opinion? Chinese people prefer to send money rather than gifts which is very different from the western style. But thats because we dont know others favorite things, so we may choose a gift that they dont like very much, so we think it may be better to send money so that they can use as they like. Personally, if for my friends, I may send my friends gifts rather than money, because that represents my heart to them
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7. If your friends get married, what will you sent to him or her? I will send them a set of pottery pot and cups that I made myself. Because I think every family needs to use pots and cups for drinking tea or coffee or just water, and I like to DIY things, too. 8. Is there something special of wedding in China? Describe the difference between Chinese and Western wedding. I do not know the details about it. One thing is that Western wedding is usually held in a church, while Chinese wedding is held in a restaurant. Another thing may be Chinese wedding is much more complex than western style wedding. I think theyre getting more and more similar. At a traditional Chinese wedding, the bride is supposed to wear red wedding dress and have their head covered by a piece of red cloth, but now, the bride will wear white wedding dress. The western weddings Ive seen on TV were usually held at churches, but in China, we would usually go to a hotel or a big restaurant to have our weddings. 9. Whats the attitude of women and men towards wedding? Women usually want a better wedding than men. Men do not care much about those things, but women have read a lot of fairy tales and dream about a fantastic wedding than men. Men are more realistic, and the practical use may be more important than the beauty of the wedding. 10. Whats the best age to get married? Which is better, to get married earlier or later? It depends. Some people like to get married early, and some prefer later. For women, if get married early, you cannot do your own things, but need to focus on family things. If get married later, you may miss the best time of the time to play with your children. So its hard to say which is better. It depends on what you want, and then its reasonable to say which is more suitable for one. 11. Do you like weddings? Yes, I like wedding very much. I have attended some weddings before, and they are very fantastic, and I would like to have a beautiful wedding one day in future when I get married. Im always moved by scenes like change the rings, vow to each other and so on. 12. Whats the difference between big weddings and small weddings? Do you like big weddings or small weddings? I think small weddings can be more personal. You could invite only your best friends and close relatives. Since the weddings small, there should be less preparation work to do. However, a lot of people feel that each couple can only have the wedding once, so they want to have big weddings to invite all the people they know and have the wedding held at a nice hotel, such as the shangri-la if they have enough money. They want to have the feeling of under the spot light that day.
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13. What kind of place is good for wedding ceremonies? The place should be spacious for many guests to attend. Its common for people to have their weddings at a big restaurant or hotel. Ive also see weddings held on the hotel lawn when the weather is nice. For Christians, theyll have their weddings at the church. I think all these are good places to have weddings. 14. Why do you think people like and dislike going to weddings? I think a lot of young people and children like weddings because they want to find out what weddings are like. Its mostly out of curiosity. Also, you could enjoy the food at wedding receptions so its worth going. However, some people feel a lot of weddings are similar and its time consuming for them to go to weddings. And to be honest, a lot of the food at wedding receptions isnt very delicious. 15. Do you think the wedding is a waste of money? Maybe yes. Some people can spend one million on a wedding nowadays and its just a one day thing, so it might be a waste of money from that point of view. But since each young couple can only have their wedding once, its something that can give them a good memory for their future life. In this sense, weddings are necessary. If we compromise, we should try to spend less money on a good wedding.
3. Job
1) An unusual job Describe an unusual job you did You should say: What it was about? When you did it? What you gained? And explain why it was unusual to you Sample: Id like to describe a very interesting job that I did several years ago. I think most people probably have never heard of it. The job was in a cake factory, called smelling the egg workers. I needed to identify the bad eggs and take them away because bad eggs would ruin the taste of the cake. Since I have a good sense of smell to tell the difference, I was hired immediately. This job required a lot of patience. It sounded very interesting but it was a little boring after doing it for a while because I had to do one thing over and over again all day long. But, I still liked this job because its very important since I could ensure the quality of the eggs, which were used as the main ingredient to make cakes. When I think about this job, Ill see a very interesting pictureI was sitting in front of many eggs
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to smell them. I think it was a funny job. Therere various jobs available on the job market nowadays. Some of them might seem more interesting than others. However, I think every job is important in some way. Ill devote my energy and time to whatever career I choose in the future. 2) Childhood dream job Describe a job you wanted to do when you were a child You should say: what it is what people would do how can you get it and explain why you like it. Sample: When I was a child, I always wanted to be a tour guide. I remember watching a film about how wonderful a tour guide life could be, which must have planted a seed in my heart and from then on, I would always tell people I wanted to be a tour guide when I grew up. I always think being a tourist guide is fun because you can travel to different places and meet people from all over the world. Im interested in history and geography and reading books about these areas is always one of my hobbies. Through the reading, Ive learned a lot. If I become a tour guide, I believe Ill be able to introduce all the interesting things Ive learned in books. However, being a tour guide is not that simple, I also need to learn a lot of knowledge about the local culture and customs. If I try my best, I believe Ill be a professional tour guide. Now, my major is not related to tourism; however, being a tour guide is always my dream and I hope I can try it one day. Maybe in the future, I will just quit my job and join a tourist agency to travel around the world. 3) A future job=ideal job Describe your ideal job. You should say: what it is what people would do how can you get it and explain why you like it. Sample: My ideal job is to be a writer. Being a novelist, I can create a mysterious world in my novels. In novels, my characters can fulfill what I cant do in my real life. Things can always be wonderful.
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I have been reading long novels since I was in elementary school. The famous Chinese writer, Jinyong, is my favorite. I have read all the novels he wrote. When I read them, I would feel very excited and want to write novels just like him. Actually, I started writing novels when I was a freshman in college. I shared my novels with my classmates and they all liked them. I think I have the potential to be a writer. I hope one day my novels can be published. Of course, its not easy to be a successful novelist. I need to practice more and keep writing everyday or at least every week. If I can do this job well, I can also enjoy many benefits. Being a novelist, I can have a flexible schedule and can have my own fans. I can also make friends with a lot of famous writers. I hope my dream can become true one day and maybe Ill meet my favorite writer, Jin yong. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What careers (or jobs) are popular with young people in your country? I think many careers are popular in China. Nowadays, a lot of young people are interested in studying law, medicine, economics, accounting, and engineering because they believe these majors can help them find good jobs and could give them bright future prospects. However, some people still follow their heart and choose the things they are interested in the most, something like art, music, and literature. I dont think its good to choose the careers just because theyre popular. We should know what jobs can satisfy us the most and help us gain a sense of achievement. 2. Do you think theres any difference between males and females when it comes to choosing a future career? Yes, I think so. A lot of people have stereotypes for certain careers. For example, its common for women to be nurses but not for men. Most the engineers are males and we dont see many female taxi drivers. When people choose careers, theyll think about their physical and mental advantages. A lot of men care about how much money they could make because its considered important for a man to support the family. And when women choose careers, they might need to consider if they could have enough time to take care of future family. 3. What factors do males (young men) consider and what factors do females (young women) consider when they are making this choice? I think a lot of men care about the salary they are going to make and they want to have more promotion opportunities. Usually they dont mind taking jobs that require a lot of business trips or over time working. However, women usually care about their family time and they dont want to take super busy jobs. Women are also not physically as strong as men, so women dont want to choose jobs that involve heavy lifting. 4. Do you think money (the salary) is the most important factor to consider? Its definitely not the most important factor but we cant deny salary matters a lot when we choose jobs. Our bosses recognize the work we do through the
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amount of money they pay us. If we earn minimum wages (not for non-profit organizations), it means were not that important. Also, money can satisfy us materially, which could provide us with a comfortable life. However, money is not everything. We want to do jobs that we enjoy and can give us enough opportunities to use what we have learned. Do you think parents should let their children make their own choices about a future career or should the parents make the choice for the children? When children are old enough to decide what they want to do for their future, I think parents should give them the freedom to choose their future careers. Its easier for people to succeed in something theyre interested in and it can also give people more satisfaction. If the children are forced to learn something they dont like, they wont feel happy and it also creates conflicts between parents and kids in the family. However, since parents are older in age and have more experience, its good for them to give some suggestions or advice to their children. Are there any other ways in which young people can get some guidance on what career to choose? Yes. Young people could use the internet to search for answers from some experienced people and they can learn what the careers they are interested in are like through reading books. Some good schools also have counselors to give students professional guidance for what to choose for the future. I think its really crucial for young people to make a wise decision at that point in life, so the society should give them a lot of help so that they will not regret when they grow older. What jobs can be seen as dangerous jobs? Therere a lot of jobs that are dangerous. Police have to fight with criminals who are dangerous and sometimes even violent. Firefighters have to go to buildings on fire in order to save other peoples lives. Taxi driving can also be considered a dangerous job. Therere so many car accidents each day. Since taxi drivers drive more often than others, the chances of having an accident are higher. Should people do these dangerous jobs receive high salaries? I think so. Since people are risking their lives, they should be paid better. Although some people dont care about the salary because they have passion to do the jobs that can help others, its just not an excuse to pay them less or mediocre(). If these people receive low salary, I guess well need to worry about the quality of people who are doing these jobs, which is something that we dont want to see. Does advanced technology help people work better? To a large extent it does. With the modern technology, people are enabled to work more efficiently due to the automatic operation system. Also, people are ensured more safety at work, thanks to the replacement of machines for working in dangerous areas. In addition, the modern technology helps people to work in a
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more comfortable environment. However, potential risks do exist when people are too dependent on those high technologies, in case they stop working. 10. How do you think about the jobs that can protect public safety? I think those work at positions that protect public safety need to be respected. Firstly, throwing themselves into those high risky jobs to ensure our safety, those people have shown us what unselfishness is and what courage is. Besides, thanks to their hard work, we are able to enjoy our life with fewer worriesabout being hurt in the society. 11. Do you think the profession of policemen is important? Should they receive high salaries? Police are definitely important for us. If we dont have qualified police force to protect us, criminals will do whatever they want and the society will be in a state of chaos. I think being good police is not easy because it requires high moral standards and the willingness to fight with the evil power, so good police should be paid well. However, we should also note some bad eggs in the police force are degrading() the police image as a whole, so I think the government should deal with it and make citizens more willing to see that police receive good salaries. 12. What are the factors that people consider when they choose jobs? Therere many things to consider when choosing jobs. The location and payment are all important for people who have a family because they need to stay close to their family and they need to have enough money to support the family financially. For many young people, they also care a lot about the advancement of their career. They want to gain experience and need opportunities to learn more, so for these people, the pay will probably rank the second. 13. What kind of jobs can produce pollution? I would say a lot of factories will pollute the air and water, so the jobs in these places might be responsible for the pollution. For example, recently a battery manufacturer () is closed in my hometown because it polluted the nearby water sources. I think people who need to handle chemicals a lot should be careful and pay more attention to the environmental protection. Its also important for them to take care of themselves because its also risky for them to work in such environment. If all the factories can follow the safety procedures(), well feel safer to live on this planet. 14. What kind of job is interesting? It might be different for different people. I think the most interesting job would be the jobs that can fulfill our dreams and agree with our interest. If we do something we really like, well feel the time is going very fast when were working. I have a friend who loves playing computer games and now his job is to develop game software. Hes very happy about his job because he loves this area and he can draw energy and strength from his work place. Its very lucky for him. 15. What kinds of skills do students need?
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Students need to learn many skills. I think students must have good communicating and teamwork skills in order to be successful in their future jobs. 16. How can school help students to master necessary skills for their future career? Please give concrete examples. I think schools should have classes about these necessary skills so students can learn at school. Also schools can organize events to cultivate these skills. Its very important for the students to use these skills because practice makes perfect. 17. What kinds of jobs are hot in China now? Management positions are always hot in China. With the development of many small companies, they need good managers to save money and help the companies operate smoothly. However, being a good manager is not easy. It requires professional training and experience. 18. What kinds of jobs do not require higher education? Therere many jobs. For example, waiters and waitresses dont need to have higher education. However, if you want to find a good job, education is necessary. 19. How do people usually find jobs in China? What about in the past? Nowadays, people have many ways to find jobs. Using the internet is very popular because you can search the jobs youre interested in all over China or even in other countries and you dont need to go to job markets in person. Submitting application forms are easier now. You only need to press a button. However in the past, the government would assign jobs to people. A lot of people stay in the same job for their whole life. 20. Whats more important, salary and self development? Theyre both important, but for young college graduates, self development might be more important because they need to gain some experience so that they can be more competitive in the future. For the people who need to take care of their family, they will probably consider the salary more. 21. Is it easy to find a job? It depends. When you are well-educated, when you are not picky, I think, it is easy to find a job in China now, because job chances exist everywhere. However, many university graduates now, wasting too much time in their four-year schooling and expecting too much from their first job. To them, it seems not easy to be employed. 22. How can you succeed in a job interview? To succeed in a job interview, we have to be well prepared. For example, it is a good idea to know something about the company, in this way; we can share opinions with the interviewers. Also, we need to wear clean and neat clothes, to show our respect to the interviewers, and they may have a favor on us. Thirdly, we should be confident in our knowledge and ability, showing our competence in doing the job well. By doing so, I believe we may have a higher possibility to
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be employed. 23. What kind of employees do companies want to hire? To be honest, I am not sure about the answer. But according to my understanding, the employees who are loyal to the companies, who are well educated for the positions, who are good in interpersonal skills and who are clearly aware of the work, will be better needed by the companies. 24. Should schools teach more skills than knowledge? I dont think so. For schools, the main purpose is to educate students of their common knowledge about the world, the moral standard in their behaviors, the ways of studying. These help lay a solid foundation for the students to pursue a career in the future. As to skills, they can learn from their parents or just by themselves in the spare time, or accumulate on their later job positions. Teaching too much about skills in schools will make students be worldly or sophisticated, which is not good to create a positive social living atmosphere. 25. Is it reliable to search jobs online? Yeah, searching jobs online is a good idea and is growing popular theses days. But we have to possess a picky eye on it. Sometimes, the internet may be taken advantage by some ill-willed people, we should be careful enough not to be misled by them. But thanks to the stricter censorship from the government, and increasing warning from the media, the environment on the internet is much healthier these days. 26. How could governments solve the problems of labor shortages? I think its the time for the government to pay more attention to the low class workers and help them get more benefits in the city. Otherwise, a lot of farmer workers will prefer to stay at home to attend to their land because even if they labor for their whole life and save most of the money they earn, a lot of them still cant afford to get settled in cities. 27. Should we always do the same job or change jobs? It depends. If you like the job, its good for you to do the same job, but if you dont like the job very much, its also possible for you to change jobs. The purpose of changing jobs should be finding a suitable job, but not for changing jobs. 28. Is it difficult to change jobs? I dont think so. If you have certain skills, and do not mind salary problem, you can easily find a job. But sometimes if you care about the salary, the work place, and the colleagues, it will be hard for you to change jobs. 29. What kind of job can make the most money in China? I think jobs related to finance, economy can make the most money. For example, if you are doing works of front office in an investment bank, you can earn one million for one year. Normally a few people can earn 100000 for one year, so one million is really a lot of money, and its hard to find such a job. 30. What kinds of jobs are popular in China? I think jobs that can earn a lot of money are popular in China, because nowadays
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under the pressure of buying house and cars, most people need to earn more money to live. So people will choose jobs related to finance and economy, for those jobs usually can earn a lot of money.
4. A quiz show on TV
Describe a quiz show on TV that you would like to take part in or you know You should say : What kind of quiz show it would be What kinds of questions would be asked What preparation you would need to do for this show and explain why you would like to be a competitor in this program Sample: Talking about a quiz show on TV, I would like to share the show called who is still standing, which is very popular nowadays. I started watching the show last year. It offers contestants the opportunity to win up to ten household appliances and a trip to Maldives (). Every time, therell be 11 players including one hero and 10 competitors. They would take turns to answer questions in carious perspectives, such as science, art, history, and geography. The participant has 20 seconds to give the correct answer, starting from the moment the question appears. The Hero is given two passes at the start of the game. Passing a question forces the competitor to answer it, with a fresh 20-second countdown. Competitors may not pass; they must answer every question put to them. The challenge ends when a contestant misses a question: the trapdoor under that person's feet opens, dropping the participant through the stage and eliminating him or her from the game with no winnings. I love the exciting element in this show. Every time, I would try to answer the questions they give to test my command of knowledge. When I answer several questions correctly, I would feel that I should try the game, but therere always questions that I dont. So I think I should study more before joining the game. Maybe one day Ill be ready to beat all the competitors and become the final winner. Part 3 1. What types of television programs are popular in your country? Many kinds. I think different people have different tastes. For example, usually older people enjoy watching news and educational programs. A lot of young people enjoy entertaining programs. Now the entertaining programs on Hunan TV are very popular in China. 2. What are the differences between the TV programs that people watch today and the programs of several years ago? I think most of the TV programs several years ago tended to be more serious. Its very unusual for ordinary people to appear on TV, but nowadays, it seems that everyone has the opportunity to participate in TV programs and a lot of entertaining program presenters are very humorous.
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3. Why do you think different places in the world have different television programs, instead of having the same programs for the whole world? Its an interesting question. Of course, language will be a major problem. People might say we can translate the programs to different languages. I think its just hard for people all over the world to appreciate the same thing although we watch western films and Korean dramas. Its just different. People need to watch something that is related to their own life and culture, so I think its not very practical to have the world watch the same programs. 4. Do you think government should control what is shown on TV? (If so, how much and control what?) Definitely. I think the government should give us enough freedom to watch what were interested in, but a lot of unhealthy stuff on TV should be restricted. Children can learn from these things and even when adults see too much violence, theyll act differently. I think the government should control the bad things and make our life healthier. 5. Do you think children's TV programs should have advertisements? I think its ok but not too much and they shouldnt mislead children. Nowadays, I feel people cant really live without advertisements because advertisements can help us know new products and service. Children also need to know whats popular and what they might want to buy, so its ok to have some advertisements for childrens TV programs. 6. How can children be influenced by advertisements? Children will ask their parents to buy the toys they see in advertisements because they like following other kids. When they see the children on TV have something interesting, they also want to possess them. 7. What TV programs are popular in China? Right now, some dating programs are really popular in China. People just love seeing what the young men and young women would say or do in these programs. I think theyre fun but I prefer watching some TV dramas because the story lines in these dramas are much better prepared.
5. A way to relax
Describe a way to relax You should say: What it is? How you do it? When you do it ? And explain why you like to do it Sample: Talking about my favorite way to release my stress, I would like to share my experience of reading. People nowadays are so busy that they forget to slow down and take an insight look
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of themselves and in my opinion, reading is the best way to help us know ourselves so that we can get away from the stressful world for a moment. By reading, I mean reading those books that have nothing to do with topics such as how to find a shortcut to success but reading those articles that are meaningful. I am personally into spending my time reading those articles with a cup of tea and I sense that at those moments I am a person that can truly enjoy my inner peace and the mental relaxation reading brings. In addition, I am a huge fan of classic books that are made of paper rather than e-books since I believe paper books can help us keep the traditional reading style. I think I will continue reading in the future and I believe this is the best way for us to learn and relax at the same time. PART 3 Discussion topics: 1. What are some of the various things that people do to relax? There are all kinds of things you can do to relax. Sometimes if I am tired, I would prefer to relax at home, either watching TV or reading novels. But for some other people, they may choose to relax by getting out and doing a lot of sports and afterwards taking a hot spa. It is certain that everyone has his own way of relaxation. 2. Are there any differences in the way people relax today compared to the past? Definitely. In the past there were not so many ways to entertain, such as watching TV and playing games, and we could hardly find such facility like cinemas. Although the way people relax has been improved, the traditional way to relax has not been changed. People still read books and do some sports in order to relax. 3. Do you think that there is more stress in modern life than there was in the past? I have to admit that. With the developing of the world, we are living in a fast-paced lifestyle. So we are getting more and more pressure everyday, especially from our work. Nowadays, as there are so fierce competitions in the job market, it would be very hard to get a job. And the high housing price is making people more stressful, you may either bear a heavy burden of purchasing a house by mortgaging, or have to live outside the city and spend two hours a day to get to work. 4. What about the future? Do you think there will be less stress than today, or more? In the future, as I can see, I do not think so. It would take quite a while to get the population decrease. Therefore, as long as there is a huge population competing for chances, stress will always exist. And although we have so many ways to relax, people actually do not have time to do such things to relax.
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6. A documentary film
Describe a film about a real person or event that you have watched. You should say: When (and where) you saw this film What person or event the film was about What happened in the film And explain who you felt about (or, explain your opinion of) this film. Sample: I watched a documentary film at home with my friends last month, which was about a person hitchhiked home during the spring festival. It was based on a real persons experience and the film was full of interesting and moving scenes. I was deeply touched by his deeds and how people treated him. I was very surprised for his braveness. As a student in Nanjing University, during the spring festival He leilei wanted to go back to his home in Xinjiang province which is more than 3000 kilometers away. At first I thought he was poor and couldnt afford the train ticket, but actually he just wanted to prove that people were still willing to help others and not cold-blooded as many people thought. Of course, its not easy, he spent about two weeks to accomplish his journey and twenty drivers gave him lifts. And many people were friendly to him and even treated him meals. At the beginning, the movie told us the aim of the journey, he said that, for a lot of things, if you dont do it now, probably you wont do it in the future. The whole world will be on your side, if you are determined to do something. He just wanted to do something unforgettable for his college life. After watching this movie, I also want to do something special in my life because life is short. Therere a lot of things are waiting for us to try them out. I think its a great documentary film to inspire young people. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Would you rather watch a film in the cinema or at home? I like watching films in the cinema because it provides a big screen and better audio and visual effect. Moreover, the atmosphere is much better at the cinema. When I watch films in a cinema full of people, I could feel very different than watching films at home. 2. What kind of films did you like to watch when you were a child? I didnt change much. I still like comedies because they can make me laugh and forget all my troubles and worries in life. I still remember the famous film called shaolin football, which I watched when I was in primary school. Some of the scenes were just hilarious and I still remember the film vividly. 3. Do you agree that parents should know what their children are watching? I think so. Its hard for young children to know what films are suitable for them.
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Some films are about sex and violence, which can bring a lot of inerasable harm to young children. Parents should help their kids choose good films and protect them from bad influence. 4. What effects do films have on children? I think young people, because a lot of young people like learning foreign languages. Watching foreign films will be a good way to improve our listening and speaking skills. Also, through foreign films, we can be exposed to different cultures, which always interest a majority of the young, because young people are curious about unknown areas and can accept new things easier. 5. What type of film do you like past and now? Why? What kind of film is popular in China? What are popular films in china? I watched a lot of cartoon films when I was a kid. They could always lead me to the wonderland and arouse my creativity. Now, I like romantic films. When I watch them, Ill feel the beauty of love. I think a lot of Chinese people like comedies, such as let the bullets fly, an interesting Chinese film directed by Jiangwen. This kind of film can reflect many things in our real life and make people feel connected. 6. What is the difference between Chinese film and foreign films? Basically, the culture and language are different. In Chinese films, its very easy to see the traditional value and culture embedded in them. Some Chinese people can feel their lives are actually mirrored in the films theyre watching. But foreign films are giving slightly different value and culture. Its good for us to watch some foreign films because we can learn how people from other regions think and behave. 7. What do you learn from watching films? Watching films is like reading books. Films can tell us a lot about life, history, and the world. Of course, we have to choose wisely. If we watch good films, we can learn a lot. If we watch bad ones, its a waste of time and some bad memories from films would always make us feel uncomfortable when the scenes come to our minds. 8. What kind of film do parents think is bad for children? Why? I think violent and crime films because children dont know how to judge right from wrong. They also tend to copy what they see. If they watch bad films, they might do bad things themselves. So, its important for parents to know what their children are watching. 9. Are expensively produced films better? Of course not. A lot of cheaply made films are good and popular because they have good story lines and deep meanings to attract the audience, while some expensively made films might have very beautiful scenes and famous movie stars, but if the meaning is shallow, its still hard for people to appreciate them. 10. What factors can make a film successful? A successful film should have deep meanings, beautiful scenes, and a good story line. This kind of film can teach us knowledge and meaning of life. Good films
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should also be close to peoples life or talking about some widely concerned topics. A good film is worth seeing again, but bad ones might make us regret seeing them. 11. How can foreign films influence Chinese culture? Yeah. Foreign films do have some influence on Chinese culture. The different value of life, different pursuits in life, and the different ways of interaction among people, though the actions of the heroes or the heroines, through the wording, and though the pictures may influence the audience, the most popular of which will then come deep into our culture. 12. Do you want to be a movie star? Not exactly. On the one hand, I do like to be a movie star, so that I could enjoy the same fame with them, have the great wealth as them, and hold the huge influence as them. However, I am a little bit afraid of being a movie star, because of the hidden rules in the circle, because of the lack of privacy, and because of the limited freedom. 13. What kind of qualities should movie stars have? I think movie stars need to be responsible persons, so they will pay more attention to acting. In that case, the film will be more realistic and exciting. Besides, they need to be patient, so they will practice lines again and again to make sure no mistakes in movies. 14. Do you think movie stars are making too much money? No, I dont thinks so. Movie stars are very tired when acting. They are very busy, may not have time to relax, but keep on acting until it is finished. So I think its reasonable that they earn a lot of money. 15. Do you think Chinese movies can convey Chinese culture to the audience? Yes, of course. Lots of my foreign friends have told me that they get to know Chinese culture by Zhang Yimous or Jia Zhangkes movies. It is better than books because movies have vivid scenes so it is much more understandable than books. 16. Whats the difference between Chinese actors and foreign actors? I dont know. I think they are all human beings, so they may not have such a big difference, they also lead a life of normal people, and they need some privacy of themselves. Maybe foreign actors have higher education than Chinese actors. 17. Do you think appearance is important to actors? I dont think appearance count so much on acting, because different appearance can act different roles. Of course, with a good appearance, actors may be popular among young people. But with good acting skills, they can also be admired by audience. 18. Whats more important, good film scripts or good actors? I think its hard to say. Both are important. Only wit food film scripts can the film be exciting and attracting. But its not enough to have good film scripts only. Good film scripts also need good actors to convey the exciting story.
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1. A form of communication
Describe a form of communication you like You should say: what it is who you communicate with how you use it and explain why you like it Sample: I enjoy using the cell phone to make phone calls as a way of communication because its very convenient and I could reach people for help and socialize with them during my spare time. I like making phone calls, because I could even talk with my sister, whos studying in the US, as often as I could. It makes me feel that were still living together and whenever I face difficulties shell be there for me. We could share them with each other immediately, when therere important things in our life. Talking on the phone is much better than sending text messages and writing emails because I can use my intonations to show my feelings, so a lot of misunderstandings in written ways of communication will be prevented. Also, if I ask questions, I can get instant response most of the time, which will save me the time from wondering why. I love making phone calls, so in the future, Ill stick to this form of communication and make good use of it. Part 3: 1. Do you prefer face-to-face conversations or conversations by phone? I prefer face-to-face conversations because I think its more personal when I talk in this way. Nowadays, the telephone is getting more and more popular. Sometimes, people would spend hours on their phones but neglect the people who live with them. I think its not a good phenomenon. We should treasure face-to-face talking opportunities and spend more time with our family members. 2. Would you say that cell phones are important in today's society? Yeah, definitely. Now a lot of people will feel that they cant live without cell phones. People use cell phones as the way of communication and entertainment. Many people give up wearing watches because their cell phones can tell them the time. I think it may not be good for people to be dependent on cell phones too much because a lot of our time is killed by them without us being conscious of the fact. 3. Do young people and old people use cell phones in the same way? Kind of. Both the young and old like cell phones because they can use them as the means for communication and entertainment. However, young people would
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use cell phones in many ways, such as surfing the internet, playing games, using the GPS system, and of course, making phone calls. But most of the old people would only use cell phones to make phone calls. Do you think cell phones ever cause problems for people? Yes, of course. Some children bring cell phones to school and it really distracts them from studies. Now I know a lot of schools have strict rules to forbid students to bring cell phones to school. We also know the radiation problems of cell phone. Although we dont know exactly how serious it might be, it still makes us feel uncomfortable if were on the phone for a long time. Do you think people should turn their cell phones off (or turn them to "silent ringing") when they are in a cinema or similar places? Absolutely. It is absolutely one of the rudest things for people to talk on their cell phones near others because every word out of their mouth goes right into our ears. If this happens in the cinema, itll almost be impossible for us to appreciate the films and we have to be forced to listen to a conversation that were not interested in. I think the cinemas and movie production companies really should spend some time putting together the announcements about turning the cell phone ringer off so that we can enjoy the films better. Whats the difference between phone communication and writing letters? I think theyre very different. When we write to each other, we can think very carefully about our wording and we can express our thoughts at length. Since we can revise what we write, the organization of letters should also be better. The only problem is that we cant actually show our emotions when we write so sometimes there might be misunderstandings. However, when we talk on the phone, we can hear each others voice and express our thoughts and feelings in a more vivid way. Since we dont have much time to think before we speak, we also might make some hasty expressions. I think therere both advantages of disadvantages for both ways of communication. Whats the disadvantage of communicating through the phone? Therere some disadvantages of talking on the phone. When we use the phone, we usually cant see each others facial expressions, so we might have misunderstandings in phone conversations. Also, cell phones have radiation problems and its not good for our health if we talk on the phone for a very long time. One more thing is that when we talk on the phone, were not actually facing other people, so if there are other distractions, we might be distracted easily compared to face to face conversations. Whatre the advantages and disadvantages of the cell phone? The cell phone is one of the biggest inventions in this modern world. Because of the cell phone, we can communicate with others when we dont have the opportunities to talk to them face to face. We can chat with friends and family members who live far away from us and when we have emergencies, we can always press the buttons to call for help. However, therere also some disadvantages. As we all know, radiation problem of the cell phone is serious.
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Also, when we use cell phones, we literally dont have any privacy because people can find us no matter where we are. 9. What is the most difficult kind of letter or email to write? I think formal letters or emails are always more difficult to write because you have to be careful about the wording. If you make mistakes, people will think you dont care about it and youre not polite. The consequence might be serious. So when I write a formal letter or email, I always need to proofread it several times before sending it. 10. What are the advantages and disadvantages of emails, compared to handwritten letters? I think emails are fast and cheap. We can click a button to send it, its easy to correct when we make mistakes and we dont need to pay anything for using it. However, handwritten letters are more personal. When we look at them, seeing the handwriting of our friends or family, well feel more connected to them. 11. What do you think are the benefits and the shortcomings of writing letters? I think when you write a letter, you can put more thoughts and take more caution about the wording. However, letters take longer to get to the destination and if you want to correspond, it takes even longer.
2. A time you enjoy in a day

Describe a time you enjoy in a day You should say: when it is what you usually do where you like to be and explain why you like it Sample: As an early bird, I work better in the morning because I think morning is the start of the day. If we can have a good start, were more likely to succeed in the day. Mornings, for me at least, are the most productive time of day. I like to do some studying and reading in the morning, when there are no distractions. When Im preparing for my test, its always good for me prepare at this time because my brain is very active after a nights sleep. I get so much more done by starting on my work in the morning. Then, when evening rolls around, I have no work that I need to do, and I can enjoy some leisure time. Therere always a lot I can do in the morning and usually this period of time is quiet compared with the daytime since most people are still fast asleep. I could go to the park to do some morning exercise. People who wake late miss one of the greatest feats of nature, repeated in full stereovision each and every day the rise of the sun. I love how the day slowly
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gets brighter, when the midnight blue turns to lighter blue, when the brilliant colors start to seep into the sky, when nature is painted in incredible colors. Nowadays, a lot of young people dont know how to use the morning time effectively and many of them sleep in until lunch time, which is really not good for our health and time planning. Im glad that I can have this good habit. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. How do people plan their routines? For some people, they would write memos or use a small portable calendar to note down all the things they need to do so that they could organize their time more efficiently. Also, its common for people to just do things spontaneously, so that they dont need to follow a timeline strictly. 2. What are the advantages of planning your time? I think its a good habit to plan our time ahead of time. In this way, we can avoid wasting a big chunk of time and can leave more time for the urgent and most important things. Planning time can also help us to know what we will face so that we can adjust our schedule and do these things well. 3. What are the disadvantages of routines? When we have a routine, we might follow it rigidly, which will make us lose the ability to give our life more changes. Sometimes the routine may not be the best way to have our work done, but since weve follow it for a long time, we sometimes never have the idea to improve it. So its necessary to have some change occasionally. 4. Do you think there are any differences between the ways young people and older people plan their time? Sometimes. Young people are comparatively more energetic and open to changes, so its very common for young people to make changes to their plans. But for old people, they usually have some routines that they want to follow, and they dont want others things to break their routine, so they might plan their time in a more rigid way. 5. Are there any special tools (or methods) that people use to plan their time? I dont quite know this area. Ive seen people make plans by using their cell phone memo book, where they could note down everything they need to do on the calendar. Also, its common for people to use the computer to make a plan. 6. How do you think a person (especially a married person) can find the right balance between work time and family time (family life)? I think its very important for them to know the difference of working time and family time. It might be difficult for people who have a very busy schedule at work, but its still important for them to keep it in mind. So it might be helpful if they have a calendar to plan all their work in their working hours and leave the rest of the time for their family.
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3. Science course
My favorite subject in secondary school was science and I always looked forward to having the class because I had a very good science teacher. Actually, I didnt like it at first because the theories in science could be really complicated, but soon, my teacher helped me to realize how interesting science class could be. She would give us a lot of opportunities to go to the school lab to do science experiments and a lot of these experiments were real life related, which would always make us feel fascinated. I think applying theories to real life is a very good way to teach knowledge. Besides that, our teacher also gave us opportunities to do group work so that we could brainstorm, discuss, and work cooperatively. I think good teachers are really important because they could arouse students interest in learning and help students develop their intrinsic motivation, which would make learning much more enjoyable. Because of the fun science class I had, I could always have good marks and even now, Im still fond of this subject and always want to learn more about it. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. What do you think is (was) the greatest scientific discovery (or advancement) of the 21st century? I think the greatest scientific discovery in this era would be the use of the internet. Because of the internet, people are allowed to get information from all over the world. It has made our life more convenient. Now, we could write emails instead of sending letters through the post office; we can shop online and get our stuff delivered to our door step. I cant imagine what our life will be like if we dont have the internet. 2. How have science and technology contributed to China's (recent) development? Science and technology have helped Chinas development a lot. Now because of the wide use of the internet, Chinese businessmen can do business online and even talk to foreign customers on the internet. China has made rapid advances in areas such as education, and infrastructure. The use of the high speed train makes travelling much more convenient and schools are equipped with computers and other high tech equipment to enhance students learning. 3. What effects does rapid technological change have on people in society? The rapid technological change gives people more convenience in life but it also requires people to learn up-dated knowledge in order to catch up with the development, which means that the competition is fiercer than before. Also, people tend to stay more time indoors because of the wide use of the computer, which is not good for peoples physical health.
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Can you think of any examples of (advanced) technology that are not good for society (or, not good for humanity)? Its hard to answer. I think most advanced technology has positive effects on peoples life. However, some of them also have some drawbacks. For example, plastic bags are a new invention for this century. They make peoples life more convenient, but they also leave a serious problem for people because they will take a very long time to decompose. 5. Do you think it's good for (high) schools to have (or, to offer the choice of) science classes? Definitely, science class can teach students practical skills for them to use in their daily life and the knowledge they learn is also helpful for their future studying, especially when they choose to study science in college. I think it might be good for schools to give students more choices so that they could decide which area they want to learn more. 6. What age do you think is most suitable age for school students to begin studying science? Do you think it's suitable to start teaching science to very young children? I think students can start science class from first grade because there is a lot of simple knowledge that they can learn. The information can help them to understand their living surroundings better and can solve many problems they have. Of course, as they grow older, more difficult and abstract concepts can be introduced. 7. Can you think of any examples of children learning about science outside of the classroom? (i.e., not at school) Yes. Children can learn science in the park where the teacher can teach them a lot of science knowledge about the nature. Or, schools can have field trips for students to visit observatories to learn the knowledge of the sky and stars. 8. On average, in the whole world, more males than females study science in high schools and at universities. Why do you think more males than females study science? Well, I think its a hard question. More males study science is probably because of the stereotype that most people have for girls and boys. Most people associate science and math fields with male and humanities and arts fields with female, this can definitely affect the way people choose what to study. 9. In your opinion, what is the most important area of scientific research? I think the most important scientific research would be something that can improve human beings living condition, for example, ways to solve the pollution problems and cure a variety of serious diseases. The government should definitely invest more money in these areas. 10. Do you think that different countries should share the knowledge they gain from scientific research? Its a hard question. I know a lot of countries are trying to keep the knowledge they gain as highly confidential because the information can help a country to
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develop faster and better equipped in defense. But I still think some knowledge about improving our human living conditions or curing certain diseases should be shared, so that the world can all benefit from the new scientific research.
4. Sport/outdoor activity
1) An outdoor activity Describe an outdoor activity that you like doing (or do regularly). You should say: what this activity is where you do it when you do it and explain why you like it. Sample: I would like to talk about tennis, which is my best love among all the popular sports. Tennis is popular all over the world, especially loved by teenagers. There is a comic book named, Prince of Tennis, illustrated by a Japanese artist. The spread of this book made tennis more popular. The spirit of tennis is practice makes perfect, and we should never give up. When I was in sixth grade, I began to learn how to play tennis because I was a fan of the comic book. When I play tennis, I will devote myself to it. I have entered for many tennis competitions. I like winning so the procedure seems exciting. At that time, I was not good at sports. But after playing tennis, my PE grades became the best in my class. Because of tennis, I learned that I should never give up when I faced difficulties. I still have lots more to work on. Tennis is my favorite outdoor sport. 2) The most popular sport in your country Describe the most popular sport in your country You should say: what it is how popular it is who play it and explain why it is popular
Sample:
Nowadays, more and more people began to realize the importance of exercise so sports are receiving a lot of attention from ordinary people. I think the most popular sport in China is table tennis. As you know, table tennis athletes in China have won many gold medals in important world competitions. I guess its basically because table tennis is loved by people all over the country. Because of the population problem, China is a little crowded. Sometimes, not
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everyone can find a spacious place to play football or basketball. But, table tennis is not space required. You can just find a table and put a net in the middle, then, you can play. I remember, when I was a child, I would sometimes practice my skill by playing with the wall at home, whichs also a perfect way to exercise. My friends told me that they would even make their own bats when they were children because they couldnt afford bats in stores and their hand made bats also worked and they kept playing, so you can see how little equipment is needed for this game. One more thing good about this game is the number of people required for a game. As long as you can find a partner, you can play. So, its like you can do it whenever you want. Nowadays, therere better indoor table tennis courts at a reasonable price. A lot more city people can enjoy their after work life in these sport centers. I hope therell be more sport facilities accessible in China so that more sports will become popular, and people at all age can enjoy their spare time by playing sports with friends and family. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1. Do young people (in your country) like sports? (Why?) It depends. A lot of young people like sports, especially boys. Because of the lack of sport facilities, a lot of them would go to nearby colleges to play sports. Of course, richer people could afford private fitness centers, which could provide a variety of ways to exercise. Therere still a lot of young people who wouldnt do exercise at all because they think its not worth going far away places to play sports and fitness centers are too expensive for them. I think its necessary for the government to build more public sports facilities so that young people could have access to them more conveniently. This will definitely encourage people to do sports more often. 2. Do you think sport (or PE classes) are important (or, necessary) at school? I think so. Students have to sit in classes for long hours. If they dont move around, they might become weak. Exercise during beak or PE classes can help them feel refreshed and energetic, so that they could learn better when they go back to their classrooms. I think schools should put more emphasis on sports and PE classes and encourage students to exercise more even during their spare time. 3. Is there much difference between boys and girls when they do sport? Yes, definitely. I have to say the percentage of girls who like sports should be much lower compared to boys. Its very often to see boys playing football and basketball during breaks but girls would prefer to play some mild sports, such as jump ropes or badminton. I think schools should encourage girls to play more sports by teaching some sports that will interest female students more. 4. What do you think are the benefits of having international sporting competitions? These competitions can arouse peoples love for sports. When they watch sports games on TV or in stadiums, they can learn many playing skills and feel that
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they should play more as well. A lot of countries care about these sports events very much because they know if the nation likes sports, the people will be much healthier physically. And these competitions can also bring people and countries financial profits. Do you think international sport can help ease conflicts between different countries? Ive never thought about it, but I think its possible. Countries will have a lot of opportunities to communicate with each other during sport games and people can get to know other countries through sports events as well. Also, I did see some sports players who could treat each other very nicely and they could build their friendship through some competitions, which would eventually help their countries build relationship. Some companies spend a lot of money promoting (or, sponsoring or investing in) sports events. Why do you think they do this? I think they can get money from these sports events. For example, if the players wear something with the company logo, people will want to buy the products from the company. We can also see a lot of advertisements at the stadium where the sport event is held. These advertisements can definitely bring the companies fortune because people are getting more and more interested in sports and these ads can definitely draw their attention. What benefits can big sport events, such as the Olympics, bring to a country? = Why does China care so much about big sport events, such the Olympics? Take the Olympics as an example. In 2008, Beijing hosted the Olympic Games. People in China were proud of our country. During that sport event, all the mass media paid a lot attention to China, which enhanced the international status of China. Apart from this, business sponsorship helped promote our economy at that time. Why do you think that some countries are good at certain sports? Therere many aspects, such as culture and weather. In china, a lot of people like playing pingpong since they are little children. So therere more better pingpong players in China. If a country has a long winter, they will likely to be good at winter sports. Should companies invest in sports to help their employees stay healthy? If companies invest in sports, what can they gain? =Should companies sponsor sport events? Some big companies would build their own gyms to provide different kinds of sport facilities for their employees. The employees can go there after work or during their weekends and holidays. In addition, companies also can host some ball game competitions to encourage their workers to exercise more and promote their team work skills. Therere many advantages. Healthy employees can work more effectively, and good team work skills can also contribute to their performance.
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10. What do we learn from doing sports? Therere many things we can learn. Group sport games can help us learn team work skills, which is very important for our social life and careers. Some sports, such as running, can teach us endurance. 11. Why do some people like risky sports? Risky sports can make people feel excited. By doing risky sports, people could cultivate their courage and can also release their stress from work and study. 12. Should parents encourage their children to do risky sports? I think parents should encourage their children to do risky sports because children can learn a lot of things from the process and risky sports can cultivate their courage and help them learn how to be independent. 13. Should fast food companies invest in sports because junk food is harmful to our health? I think they should. They make a lot of money by selling junk food. If they invest a little of their earnings, they can reduce the damage they have done. I think the government should have laws to make the fast food companies invest money in healthy sports and some public facilities. 14. Do you think sport classes are necessary at school? I think they are necessary, because children can stay healthy by doing sports. Apart from this, children can also learn how to cooperate with others through sport classes. This is also important for their later life. 15. What are the international sports? Now because of the globalization, a lot of sports are internationalized. The most common ones should be basketball, football, snooker, and table tennis. I heard football is the most popular sport in the world and football stars can make a handsome amount of money. I really want to play (or learn to play) football well in the future. 16. Is it good to work outside? Its hard to say. A lot of people think its not good because people who work outside have to be exposed in the sun and its hard to control the temperature outdoors. But nowadays, a lot of people have to work in the office and stay in front of the computer for most of their working time. If we compare these two kinds of jobs, I would say it might be healthier to work outdoors because you can breathe the fresh air and exercise your body more.
5. Song/music
1) A song meaningful to you Describe a song that is meaningful to you You should say: What it is? When you heard it? What is it about? And explain why you think it is meaningful to you.
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Sample: I used to like Chinese pop music, but I changed when I was in high school. Now I like Sarah Connor's song very much. Especially the first song I heard which was a song called 'Change'. I still remember the first time I listened to this song. I was traveling in my dad's car and the beautiful music came out from the radio. Because of the music I felt very peaceful. Later I learned it was called Change and it really could express the feelings of the singer. Just like the song says that we need to make a change if our life is not satisfying and we actually can make our life better if we want to change. I like the lyrics and the melody. Now whenever I listen to it, I will remember the moment I listened to this song with my father and I cherish the moment we shared. Before I go to sleep everyday, I would like to listen to it. It is good for my sleep because I can always sleep very soundly. When I go traveling, listening to it can make me feel relaxed. Music is like a common language in the world. Although her songs are in English, I can still understand the emotions and feelings of the musician. Because of listening to English songs, I felt my English is improved a lot. 2) Foreign music Describe an occasion when you heard some music from another country. You should say: what type of music it was where you heard it when you heard it (or, what occasion it was) and explain how you felt when you heard it. Sample: I like Chinese music and also enjoy music from other countries. I would like to talk about the occasion that I heard the music of the Beatles, the famous English rock band. One day I was at my friend, XXs house and he showed me a lot of the music CDs and DVDs he had collected. Among them, I saw the music of the Beatles. He told me he loved Beatles music very much and he played the music for me. I felt very interested in it because I heard of this band many times but I always thought the music might be too old for me to appreciate. When the song let it be started, I felt the music was very nice and expressive. I also liked the guitar and drum that accompanied the singing. I began to understand why the music of this band was so popular. I think I have fell in love with rock music. From then on, I would always play some music from the Beatles during my spare time and I would also look for other rock and roll music to listen to. Recently I also listen to another English rock bands music, called Coldplay. I think music plays an important part in my life.
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3) A type of music Describe a type of music that is popular in your country. You should say: what type of music it is on what occasions people hear this music what types of people usually like this type of music and explain why you it is popular. Sample I think Erhu music is pretty popular in China although it belongs to classical music. Er means two in Chinese. Because the instrument consists of only two strings, we call it erHu. Erhu music is soft and expressive, which is just like a persons singing. There are a lot of famous pieces of erhu music which have been popular for many years. Among them, I like Erquanyingyue best. Its composed by a famous musician, Abing. When I listen to it, its like listening to a moving story. It makes me feel very peaceful. At first, I didnt like erhu music because I thought it was old and out of date, but my mother likes it and would play it all the time. As I listen to it more, I realize why it has been popular for such a long time. Its surely great music. I have collected some Erhu music CDs at home and sometimes, I will play them while I study or relax. I think Erhu music can serve as great background music for me. I hope there will be more modern Erhu composers who can write something as good as the famous pieces from the past. 4) A Childhood Song Describe a song or melody that you remember from your childhood. You should say: where you heard this song how old you were when you first heard it what kind of song it is what the song is about and explain why/how you remember this song. Or and explain how you felt (or feel now) when you heard (or hear) this song. Sample: I want to talk about a song that I liked a lot when I was a child. Its a childrens song about swallows. It says that a little swallow dresses in beautiful clothes and she comes to my hometown every year. I ask the swallow why she comes every year, she says, the spring here is the most beautiful. I learned this song pretty early, even before I went to elementary school. My mom would sing it to me before I went to bed.
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At first, I was too young to understand this song, so I asked her many questions. One day we saw two swallows making a nest under the roof of my neighbors house, my mom explained that swallows would migrate to the south during cold winter, but the weather in the north during the spring and summer was nice and comfortable, so they would fly all the way back to their homes in the north. I felt it was pretty interesting about having two homes and taking long journeys every year. I actually admired swallow for being able to fly and had fun trips each year. I think its a good song for children to learn the living habits of swallows. Sometimes, I feel uncomfortable when young children sing adult songs. I think they should sing some songs that are more suitable for their age. If they learn good songs, they could learn some good values about life. Love songs are definitely too early for children to sing. I hope therell be more children songs like the little swallow, interesting and easy to remember. PART 3Discussion topics: 1. Do Chinese people like songs? Yes, most of the people around me love songs although not all of them are good at singing. Nowadays, besides pop songs in China, many young people also have their favorite foreign singers, which is quite different from the past. However, most old people still prefer traditional and classical songs because they believe only tested songs are worth listening. 2. Do you like to sing songs with your friends? = Where do you usually sing songs? Sometimes. I know a lot of people love going to KTV to sing with their friends. The atmosphere is good there and people can usually get to know each other better through singing together. Occasionally, I would go there, but since Im not good at singing, Im a little shy to sing in front of others, especially people that Im not very familiar with. 3. Do your friends all sing well? Not really, but some of my friends have very beautiful voices. I guess its probably genetic. My parents are not good at singing, so am I. Some people believe practice can also help ones singing skills. I think it might be more helpful if a person starts practicing early. I hope my children wont be like me because singing is really important in life. 4. What are the differences between traditional music and modern music? Traditional music in China is usually expressive and soft. Its tested by time, so it usually has very good quality and can reflect the feelings of people from different backgrounds. Modern music follows the latest fashion and trend, but some tends to be shallow, so theyll fade out sooner or later. 5. What are the differences between modern peoples understanding of music and the old generation? Why are there differences? I think modern people want to listen to music that can help them express their feelings about the present, so young girls and boys like love songs. Some people
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also think music is something that can make them feel excited and energetic, so a lot of pop music is loud and noisy. However, the old generation believes music is for appreciation. From their point of view, you dont have to share the same feelings but appreciate all the details of the music. 6. Can you play any musical instruments? I play the guitar. I started learning it when I was in middle school from a friend of mine. Because I always wanted to play some instrument, I was very motivated and would practice almost every day. After two or three months, I began to play some simple songs and could accompany other peoples singing. 7. What kind of musical instruments do you like to learn to play? If I have the opportunity, I would like to learn how to play the piano. I feel its a very complicated instrument and requires skills and practice, but once I master it, Ill be able to enjoy myself during my free time. I can play music for myself and others. I think Ill probably take some piano lessons when I have time. Hopefully, my dream can become true soon. 8. Why do people like singers? Well, people like singers for various reasons. Some people like singers because they like listening to those pleasant songs or music, others like singers because they admire those singers for their great success in life, and still others like singers because singers have sung out the true feelings deep in their heart which they dont know how to express. 9. Do pop song lyrics have special values? I think so. Some lyrics, especially those well-composed ones, can truly reflect the publics feelings about life, and so helps the public to find a way to release their emotions. Other lyrics, instructive or educational, may help the public to have guidance in their life, and so behave actively and live a positive life. 10. When music recording business is developed so well, do we still need live music? I believe live music can never be replaced by recorded music. Theyre very different. When we go to live concerts, the atmosphere and sound effect can always make us feel more enthusiastic and can help us concentrate more on what we listen to. Its the same reason why people still love going to the cinema when the same thing can be done at home. Live music makes us feel different. The kind of feeling cannot be substituted by other means. However, I have to say recorded music is more accessible for us. We can play it whenever and wherever we want, so its also an important part of life. 11. What kind of song is good for childrens development? Of course, children songs are always good for childrens mental development. We cant expect children to learn something useful from love songs that are way hard for them to understand. They need to be exposed more to songs that are more suitable to their mental age level. Thats why we need to have children books instead of asking everyone to read the same thing as adults do. I hope
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therere more songs that are tailored to different age group children so that every child can sing and enjoy the songs they learn. 12. What kind of music do you think people like to listen to? It depends. Different people have different tastes. Pop music may be popular among all people. Girls and old people may like to listen to light music or classic music more because it brings them the serenity of heart. Some boys may prefer rock and roll music, which is suitable for the saying of "the lost generation". 13. What benefits can music bring to people? Music can benefit people in many ways. For one thing, vivid melody can help people get rid of the bad mood and wear a smile again. For another, music is also one way to improve concentration; especially listening to the classics improves the duration and intensity of concentration. Therefore, without music, our life may seem boring, but with music, our life is full of colors. 14. What benefits can music bring to the society? Music can make the society more colorful and funny. If we go shopping, and happened to hear a piece of great song, it may make us happy and feel willing to buy clothes. If we go to an expensive restaurant, light music there always make us calm, while in the fast-food restaurant, we always feel excited because of the pop music. Its hard to think about a society without music. 15. What are the differences between old people and children in their preferences of music? Of course. Old people may like to listen to light music or classic music more because it brings them the serenity of heart. Young people like pop music better, and some of them may even prefer rock and roll music, which is heavy but brings young people passion and excitement. 16. What influence will the Internet bring to music? I think due to the Internet, we can hear various kinds of music now. Since the Internet is very convenient, and the information is spread very fast, so we do not need to buy tapes or CDs to listen to the music. Besides, new kinds of music also emerge through the Internet which is called "the Network music", which is very funny so that it is popular among young people. 17. What is your parents favorite type of music? I think they like classic music very much. For example, the music played by traditional Chinese instrument such as Erhu or Guqin. Because that kind of music is usually very quiet and full of serenity, so they like it very much. 18. Are there different kinds of music in China? Yes, of course. In China, there are many different kinds of music such as the classic music, pop music, and rock music and so on. You can listen to the kind
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of music that you like best. In addition, there are some music types combining many elements such as the traditional instrument and western instrument to create a new genre. 19. Why does the record company produce music products? I think the record company can make profits through producing CDs or DVDs. There are many fans that will buy their favorite stars music products such as CD. There are also some people do not like the quality of voice on the Internet, so they will also choose to buy CD. 20. What kind of singer is liked by audience? Pop stars are liked by audience such as Jay Zhou, Faye Wong. They sing very well, and they are also full of charisma. If you cannot catch the attention of audience, its hard for you to be admired by people. 21. What influence can internet development bring to music industry? I think internet development brings some bad influence on music industry. Some years ago, when internet is not so popular, I will still buy CD record to listen to music, but nowadays, with the fast development of music, I usually download the music on the internet.
6. Something you enjoy doing in your leisure time

I like playing jigsaw puzzles and its the best way for me to relax. Ill never feel tired playing it and its like a way for me to get recharged. My mother gave me my first puzzle game when I was in middle school. After that, I began to love this game and now I have collected a lot of them. I think its very interesting to figure out very difficult problems and know which piece should go where. Sometimes, it takes hours to solve some problems. I also googled a lot of strategies and techniques for puzzle playing, and now Ive become an expert in this area. My friends call me puzzle king (queen). Im pretty flattered by this nick name. I like using my brain a lot and I think puzzle games enable me to stretch my imagination and creativity. I also made a lot of friends who are also interested in this pastime and its great that we could exchange our experience and feelings. Now, I dont have much time to do it because of my work load at school, but I still try my best to find time for my biggest hobby. I hope in the future I can design puzzle games for others because I know what would work and what wouldnt. I think its very important for us to have some healthy means to release our pressure and I definitely have found mine. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. Are there more holidays in China compared to other countries? I dont think so. We dont have a lot of holidays although because of the
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westernization, many of the western festivals are introduced to China, the government doesnt give holidays for big western festivals such as Christmas, Easter, or Valentines Day. Most of the holidays we have are the traditional festivals, such as the Spring Festival, and the Mid-autumn Festival. Of course, we also have long holidays during the Labor Day and National Day. But from what I know, I think people in other countries also get a lot of holidays. Probably were the same. What do children do during holidays? Children will spend most of the time playing with their friends or at home if their parents dont register them for any extra curriculum cram classes. Nowadays, a lot of parents will pay for after school lessons for students to catch up with their school work even during national holidays, so these holidays dont really always mean free time for students. What do parents do during holidays? In the past, parents would do a lot of housework or cook delicious food for the family. But nowadays, a lot of peoples minds have changed. Some of them would go for short or long trips or spend time catching up with friends during holidays. I think its a really positive change for a lot of hard working adults. If we dont relax well, we cant work well, so some entertainment is necessary for people who spend most of their time working or studying. They should take advantage of the short and long holidays. Do you think its important for family members to do something together? Yes. If we really calculate how much time we spend with our family, well be shocked. We spend most of our time working or studying, and even when were at home, we have other obligations, such as doing housework, talking with our friends, and now even surfing the internet. That will leave a little quality time for family members. So its really important for family members to plan family events so that they can get closer to each other and know each others needs better. How do men and women spend their spare time differently? Women and men are different. A lot of women like shopping or chatting with friends during their spare time and a lot of them consider that kind of activity entertaining. However, men like different things, such as games or sports. Its very often to see the men around us hanging out playing sports or games. They can communicate with friends and feel refreshed through these kinds of activities. What do children do in their spare time? Children like playing and having fun so they wouldnt sit there quietly during their spare time. Most children would find some games or sports to play with their classmates or neighbors. Nowadays, a lot of young kids are addicted to computer games and they could sit in front of a computer for hours playing their favorite games, which I think is not very healthy for young children because
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theyre at a growing stage. Its natural for them to run around outside. Its not good for their bones and mental health if they spend too much time at home.
7. An exciting experience you had

Describe an exciting experience you had You should say: What it was When and where you had it Who with you was And explain why this experience was exciting for you Sample: Recently, I went to an Amusement Park in my hometown with two friends. It was my first time to go to such a place, so I felt very excited. There were a variety of entertainment facilities and we tried many of them. I was very nervous when I rode the roller coasters in the park. There were so many people in the park and we had to wait for hours to take the ride. When it was finally my turn, I felt very nervous. However, I was an amazing experience. We screamed and laughed a lot. I think roller coasters are very suitable for young people to play because it could make young people feel recharged and help them release pressure. Besides the rollercoaster, we also tried the water slide in the park. Since its summer time, playing with water made us feel cool. If I have time, Id like to go there again. I think its necessary for me to have some fun with my friends occasionally. I could release my pressure and tension from my studies (or work). I should go to such places more often in the future. Part 3: 1. In your country (or, hometown), how do people usually spend their free time? Different people spend their leisure time differently. A lot of young people like staying at home to surf the internet. Some sports lovers will play sports, such as basketball, football, and tennis. Women might like shopping a lot because they want to make themselves look beautiful. However, therere also some people who would play Mahjong during their free time, which I dont like because most of this kind of game involves gambling. 2. In general, who do you think has more leisure time, men or women? I think for a lot of married couples, men might have more free time than women because its very common for women to do the house chores and take care of the children. Since most women also work after getting married, they dont have much time left for other leisure things. However if a woman is a housewife, she will definitely have more free time. 3. Do you think that people today have more leisure time than people in the
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4.
5.
6.
7.
past? Maybe not. Nowadays, modern people have more pressure than before. People have to keep learning in order to be competitive in their professional field, and because of the urbanization, a lot of people need to commute for several hours each day to go to work, which makes their limited time even shorter. However, for people who live in the countryside, their life is probably still very relaxing and they have a lot of free time to enjoy themselves. Do many people in your country often work overtime? Nowadays, I think the number is getting smaller and smaller. Before, its very common for people to work overtime but now there are a lot of labor laws issued by the government to protect the interest of the working class. A lot of companies began to seek other ways to promote their production rather than asking the employees to work overtime. However, because of the nature of certain occupations, some people need to work overtime from time to time, such as accountants who work in big accounting firms and some computer programmers. What do you (and your friends) usually do in your free time? I do a lot of things. I like surfing the internet, going shopping with my friends to know the latest trends. And, occasionally, I also play some sports if I can find someone to do it with me. If I have a long holiday, Ill go to some nearby tourist sites to appreciate the nature and learn some historic knowledge. Do young people prefer to do things alone or in a group? I think a lot of young people prefer to do things in a group because they need support from their friends and need to feel a sense of belonging. Its good for young people to stay with groups more because they could learn teamwork skills and know how to communicate with others well, which are very important for their future careers. How much effect does the leisure and entertainment industry have on the economy? Leisure and entertainment industry can make a great amount of money because when people get richer, they like to spend money on leisure activities. This industry can contribute to the economy a lot through hiring people and paying tax. Leisure and entertainment places cannot only attract local people but also people from other places, which will contribute to the tourist industry and eventually boost the economy.
8. your favorite season or time of the year

Describe your favorite season or time of the year You should say: What season(or time of the year) it is What the weather is like at this time What you usually do at this time And explain why you enjoy that season or time of the year
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Sample: I like the spring, because the weather is neither cold nor hot and its the time of revivaleverything will come back to life. Its very comfortable to take a walk or go hiking with a bunch of friends. When the weather is sunny and warm, its also good for a picnic in the park with friends or family members. Its a nice time to spend some quality time when the environment is full of energy and life. Every spring, I would go to a big park in the suburbs of my city, where I would be able to see green grass and willow trees. Also, the beautiful flowers will make me feel Im in a wonderland. Different kinds of flowers are blossoming one after another, and all of them are trying to show the beauty of the spring. I also like flying the kite in the spring and when I see the kite flying high, I would feel Im like a bird. Actually, my dream is to live in an all spring city, such as Kunming. Because in such a city, I could enjoy nice warm sunny days and be surrounded by flowers all year round, which is really an ideal life for me. Part 3: 1. What are the differences between the different seasons in china? Well, China is a big country, so the climate varies from region to region. Basically, the winter in the north is very long and dry, but because of the good heating system in northern cities, people dont feel that unbearable in cold weather. Summer in the north is very short and a little humid, but in the south, summer could last for almost half a year and it would be accompanied by raining days most of the time. 2. Please briefly describe the different seasons in china. In the north, the winter is long and cold and summer is short but hot. In between therere a very short periods of spring and fall time. On the contrary, the winter in the south is short but the summer is very long and it rains a lot during summer time. So it seems nowhere has the perfect climate. 3. What are the signs that the seasons is changing (for example, from summer to autumn)? From summer to autumn, well observe the withered and falling leaves. The color turning of plants will signal us a new seasons coming. I like the change from winter to spring the best, because you could see green spouts and grass everywhere and the surrounding area is changing everyday. Its a beautiful change. 4. In general, do you think people prefer to live in (very) hot places or in (very) cold places? I think it really depends on where a person grows up. For the northerners, they feel they cant leave the warm heaters in winter and they love the moderate temperature in summer. If they go to the south in summer, theyll feel the scorching heat and in winter, theyll miss the radiators in the north. On the
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contrary, I often hear southerners complain of the cold winter in the north. But I heard yunnan is a perfect place to live because its neither hot nor cold. So if I could choose, I would definitely live in such a place. 5. Do you think that weather will influence peoples moods? Of course, it will definitely influence peoples moods. For example, if the weather is warm and neither too cold nor too hot, people will usually wear a smile and enjoy the time to go to work or study. However, if its raining heavily outside, people will always complain about the weather. When people get wet in the rain, it may ruin their days. 6. What kind of weather do you like? Dislike? Why? I like the weather in spring or autumn, because its neither too hot not too cold and its suitable for outdoor activities such as picnic and hiking. I can always have fun during spring and autumn. But I hate the weather that is too hot, because I cannot go out since it is scorching outside, I can just stay indoor which is very boring. 7. Talk about the different influence of different weathers on people If the weather is good, then the mood of people will also rise to a high level. Even if they quarrel with others, when they see the sunshine, immediately they get rid of the bad emotion. However, if the weather is bad, such as rainy days, people will always complain about the weather. When people get wet in the rain, it may ruin their days. 8. What are the harms of bad weathers to us? It may not only influence our mood but also influence our life. For example, if its raining heavily outside, people will always complain about the weather. When people get wet in the rain, it may ruin their days. In addition, if natural disasters such as the earthquake or typhoon come, it will harm the order of our daily lives, and may lead to the death of people, and severe harm in production. 9. What kind of weather do you like? I like the weather in spring and autumn because its neither hot nor cold during that time. When the weather is good, we could do a lot of outdoor activities and dont need to worry about getting too hot or cold. Also, when the weather is good, Ill feel more comfortable and my productivity in working and studying will be greatly promoted. 10. Do you think weather can affect peoples personality? Its possible. Thats why we have stereotypes when we talk about people from different regions, even within one country. For example, in China, its said that people from the north are more generous and hot-tempered because of the influence of the cold weather; while people in the south are considered gentler because of the mild weather in many provinces in the south.
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9. your favorite weather

Describe your favorite weather You should say: What kind of weather it is When this weather usually occurs What you usually do during this weather And explain how this weather affects you(yous feelings=yous mood) And explain why you like this type of weather Sample: I like sunny days, especially the ones in spring because the weather is neither cold nor hot. Its very comfortable to take a walk or go hiking with a bunch of friends. When the flowers are blossoming, we could also go to the parks to appreciate the beauty of the spring and take photos of them. When the weather is sunny and warm, its also good for a picnic in the park with friends or family members. Its a nice time to spend some quality time when the environment is full of energy and life. Sunny days are always better than rainy ones because rainy days will make the road dirty and we couldnt wear whatever shoes we like otherwise they might get wet and muddy. Its also not comfortable when we have to walk in the rain. When we cant see the sun, its more likely that we might feel gloomy, but sunny days can always make people have a light heart. Actually, my dream is to live in an all spring city, such as Kunming. Because in such a city, I could enjoy nice warm sunny days all year around, which is really an ideal life for me. PART 3 Discussion topics: 1. What kind of weather do the other members of your family like best? I think it depends, but most of my family members would prefer sunny days. Because on the rainy days, it would be inconvenient to do everything and you can hardly go out to work or have fun. All of my family members love sunshine, and we would go to the park during sunny days. But if you would like to stay at home, a little rain will make people feel romantic. 2. What's the weather usually like in your hometown? The weather in my hometown is not so good. To be specific, in spring and autumn, the weather is very comfortable, because it is neither cold nor hot. However, in winter it is very cold, and summer is scorching. I can hardly put up with it. 3. How does weather affect people's mood? I think weather can affect people's mood a lot, especially for those people who are at work. Raining can make it very inconvenient to stay outside, since it would easily make us wet and make us feel unhappy. If you wake up and find its raining on the day you plan to travel, you would feel disappointed. On the
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contrary, a sunny day would be a gift in holiday if you are planning to go outdoors. 4. Why are people interested in the weather? People are interested in weather because it would affect people's daily life. If you are doing something outdoors, you need to make sure it would not rain or its not too hot or cold. And weather can also affect people's mood as well. 5Have there been any climate changes in China recently? It is hard to say. But in the city where I live, I can feel that it has changed a little bit. In the past, summer would never be so hot as it is nowadays, and we could always see snow during the winter. But I have not seen any snow in my hometown for several years.
10. a policy you are familiar with

Describe a policy you are familiar with You should say: What the policy is Why the policy is needed How popular the policy is and explain what benefits people can get from it sample: Speaking of a policy I am familiar with, the first one pass through my mind should be the family planning policy, which is also known as the one child policy. It has been a stable policy since 1982 and now becomes a basic state policy. This policy encourages late marriage, late birth and fewer births in order to control the population. Basically the policy advocates that each couple can only have one child, if not they may be punished; some will even lose their jobs. Obviously this policy was launched due to the huge population. In 1982, China had the largest population in the world, and this huge number of people would not only have impact on the economy but also the society. In the economic point of view, there are limited resources; the food China could produce would not be enough if the population kept growing. Besides, there will not be enough rooms for so many people as well. However, this policy has faced a lot of challenges when China started its way to balance population. This policy has influenced all families during the 1980s in china. Those rich families pay penalty fees to have more than one child, while others just avoid the government checking or give the baby to their relatives. In fact, personally I am disappointed with the experience I had from this policy because I wish I would have a sister. In conclusion, as aging problem is becoming a rising issue in China, there are fewer young people that the olds. This will bring problems to the job market and the welfare system. Therefore I suggest that the Chinese government should make several changes to such policy.
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Part 3: 1. When will you need a lawyer in China? Along with the development of the society and the division of different fields, now we have different people who are specialize in different areas. We can get professional advice and therefore get our benefits and interests that we deserve. 2. Whats the relationship of law and the society? Law serves for the society. Because of the law, the society can be in order and stable. We need law because law can give us set standards so that we know its not ok to destroy the stability of the society. 3. Do lawyers receive more respect from others? Yes, of course. To some extend, lawyers are like directors because when people face troubles, the lawyer can give them reasonable suggestions to solve the problems. So we usually respect them. 4. What is the difference between policemen and policewomen? In my opinion, policewomen are more suitable to solve conflicts between people because compared to men, women are more considerate and friendly. This kind of job is more suitable for them. Of course, policemen are more suitable for jobs that need physical energy and are more dangerous because theyre usually stronger than women. 5. Should police be armed with guns? Why? In my opinion, they should be armed with guns, especially when they have dangerous cases to take care. Guns cannot only protect them but also can warn the bad people. However, they need to be careful with the guns because they are dangerous.
11. A leisure activity near the sea

Describe a leisure activity near the sea you like most You should say What the activity is (where you do it) how often you do it who you do it with and explain why you like the activity most Sample My favorite activity at the beach would be beach volleyball. To be honest, I dont play it often, but every time I play it, I would have a lot of fun. When you play beach volleyball, you dont need to wear your shoes because the sand is very soft and warm. When you run on it and try to save the ball, you dont need to worry about hurting yourself when you fall because the sand wont hurt you at all. When I play it, I would always feel very relaxed and happy. I think the first time I played it was in middle school. Our school organized a spring
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trip to the beach and we played volleyball there. At that time, I wasnt good at volleyball but really enjoyed the game. Then, whenever I go to the beach with friends, I would always take a volleyball with me to prepare for this activity. Many of my friends also tell me how fun they think this activity is. I think its great to do something at the beach, especially with a group. We can feel the magnificent ocean, listen to the waves, and play with our friends at the same time. I hope I could have a beach house in the future, so that I could invite my friends to go there to play volleyball whenever I want. Part 3 1. Are activities near the sea good for health? I think moderate amount of activities near the sea should be good for our health. The sea allows us to play with the water, run on the beach, and do a lot of exercise. Its good for us to breathe some fresh air and workout at the sea, so I think its good for us. Also, if we have enough equipment, we could go surfing, which is a very exciting game. We can definitely release our pressure when we do activities near the sea. 2. What jobs or activities must be done near/at sea? A lot of fishermen have to work at the sea because they need to catch the fish. Also, surfing couldnt be done at small rivers or lakes, so people have to go to the sea to surf. Besides these, activities involve the beach should also be done near the sea. 3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of boating? Boating could help us to see the beauty of the ocean and be close to sea creatures. However, some people might feel sea sick if they ride the boat for a long time. Also, we cant store too many necessities on the boat, so we will need to leave the boat to get things we need very often. 4. How do factories use seawater? Only very big factories could make use of seawater because of the transportation of it isnt easy. For most factories, water is essential raw material needed for cooling, heating, washing or as fuel. From collieries and crude oil refineries to food processors, hotels and car factories, everyone needs continuous water supply. But it is expensive, so if the transportation is not a problem, factories would prefer using seawater in these areas. 5. Do you think why Chinese dont like activities near the sea as much as British? I think Chinese people like activities near the sea. The problem is the transportation and population. A lot of people live far away from the sea, so going to the sea will mean a long trip and a lot of expense. Also, because of the big population in China, even when you go to the sea, its hard to find a quiet spot to enjoy the time.
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12. a new law

Describe a new law (or regulation) that has recently introduced in your country (or, where you live). You should say: what the law is why this law is needed how popular this law is and explain why you like this law in your country. or and explain how your country would benefit from having this law. Sample Id like to talk about the new law concerning DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol). Recently, China is carrying out a crackdown campaign on DUI. The zero-tolerance policy has generated positive results. According to statistics, much fewer people were killed in the traffic accidents caused by DUI after the law was issued. As far as I know, according to the new law, the drunken driver's license will be suspended for 3 or 6 months, in serious cases, the driver would be detained for 15 days, with a fine of 2,000 yuan. And if he is caught twice within a year, the license will be revoked for 2 to 5 years. In the past, China had many roadway killers, who drove under the influence of alcohol because the punishment was less severe compared to the current law. One of my friends was almost killed by a drunken driver once. This made me pay more attention to laws concerning DUI. The new law is surely good news for all road travelers. In order to reinforce the law, police officers are permitted to initiate random breath tests and DUI checkpoints whenever and wherever they like. The new law can definitely discourage people from intoxicated driving. I think there should be more laws that can improve the environment were living in issued in China. Sample B I like a new law about smoking forbidden in public. If one smokes in public, they will be fined. As a non-smoker, when I see people smoke in public places, I would feel angry because Im forced to breathe in the smoke polluted air. If this law is issued, a lot of people will not smoke in public, such as restaurants, cinemas, or buses. This is good for many people.
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Also, smoking in public places is bad for peoples health. Studies reveal that there is a definite link between smoking and some serious diseases such as lung cancers and heart disease. Besides, careless smokers may cause dangerous fires. I think it will be great if one day nobody will smoke any more. I think the government should issue more laws like that to improve our living environment. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1. When will you need a lawyer in China? Along with the development of the society and the division of different fields, now we have different people who are specialize in different areas. We can get professional advice and therefore get our benefits and interests that we deserve. 2. Whats the relationship of law and the society? Law serves for the society. Because of the law, the society can be in order and stable. We need law because law can give us set standards so that we know its not ok to destroy the stability of the society. 3. Do lawyers receive more respect from others? Yes, of course. To some extend, lawyers are like directors because when people face troubles, the lawyer can give them reasonable suggestions to solve the problems. So we usually respect them. 4. What is the difference between policemen and policewomen? In my opinion, policewomen are more suitable to solve conflicts between people because compared to men, women are more considerate and friendly. This kind of job is more suitable for them. Of course, policemen are more suitable for jobs that need physical energy and are more dangerous because theyre usually stronger than women. 5. Should police be armed with guns? Why? In my opinion, they should be armed with guns, especially when they have dangerous cases to take care of. Guns cannot only protect them but also can warn the bad people. However, they need to be careful with the guns because they are dangerous. 6. Who can become better lawyers, men or women? Good lawyers come from their grasp of different laws and their abilities to defend the clients, not because he is a man or woman. The existence of so many good male lawyers and female lawyers around the world is just a case in point 7. Do you think being a lawyer is good? Yeah, being a lawyer is a decent job in China, which also means a high salary and a free working time. However, being a lawyer one has to know the laws in his filed very clearly, and challenged by various cases. Its not easy to be a good lawyer. 8. Whats the biggest challenge for police? Well, being a police means shouldering the responsibility to ensure the safety of the citizens and their properties. They should always bear this in mind. With this,
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the policemen will be brave to face criminals, be sensitive to crimes, and be wise in solving cases. 9. Are the responsibilities of police more difficult than other careers? Yes, when they are shouldering the responsibility to ensure the safety of the citizens and their properties. They will always bear this in mind. With this, the policemen will be brave to face criminals, be sensitive to crimes, and be wise in solving cases. On the other hand, just pursuing a career, they could just fulfill their daily tasks, and show before their leaders that they have performed their duties. Thats easier. 10. Is it popular to be a policeman in China? These days, yes. Coz you know, the society in china now is quite stable and harmonious, and the crime rate is not high, thus being a policeman is not so dangerous. On the other hand, being a policeman means a higher salary, more power at hand, and an improved welfare, so more and more people want to be policemen, although many of them do not truly want to serve the public. 11. Should policeman be provided with high salary? I think so. Police need to take risks in their jobs. Some criminals are very dangerous and violent. A lot of police have lost their lives because of the nature of their job. If they only make mediocre salary, its not fair. The government should give police good benefits and handsome salaries to help them stay away form financial worries so that they can focus on their jobs more.
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1. Your Work or Your Studies

Why did you choose to do that kind of work(or, that job)?

Would you recommend the job to other people?

Do you like your major?

Is that a popular major in your country?

Is it difficult to learn your major?

What's the most enjoyable part of being a student?

What are your future work plans? (after you graduate)

Who do you think is more important, the students or the teacher?

How should teachers teach?

What subject(s) are you studying?

Why do you choose to study that?

What school/university do you go to now?

Do you like studying at that school/university?

Whats the most important thing/part of your study life?

Do you like to live in a big city or a small town

Which room is your favorite in your home?

What do you think can be added to your flat?

Do you like changing your flat?

Do you know your neighbors? Is it good to know your neighbors

Do you prefer young or old neighbors?

Do you like a house or an apartment?

Is your hometown famous for anything?

Do you like your hometown?

Would you say its an interesting place?

Did your friends also grow up in the same place as you?

Would you like to live there in the future?

Would you prefer to watch a concert on TV or to attend a live concert?

What is the most popular concert in China?

Do you have a lot of classmates who play musical instruments?

Do you use the computer often?

What do you use the computer for?

What does computer mean to you?

How do you think about the advertisements online?

When was the first time you used the Internet?

Is the Internet very important (or, useful) to you?

Do you often buy things on the Internet?

Do you think information on the Internet is very reliable?

What do you use it for?

Do other people in your family also use the internet?

What can you learn from the internet?

What do you do in your spare time (= free time)?

Do you have a lot of fun in the city?

Do you think it's important to (have time to) relax?

When do you spend time with your family or your friends?

Who are more important to you, family or friends?

Do people in your country like using mobile phone?

Do you think museums are useful for visitors to your hometown/country?

Do you often visit a museum?

Did you go to any museums when you were a child?

When was the last time you visited a museum?

Do you think museums are important?

Do you think its suitable for museums to sell things to visitors?

Are there any special meanings of your name?

Are you willing to change your name? Why?

What meanings are there in the nicknames of Chinese children?

In your country, do people feel that their name is very important?

Is it easy to change your name in your country?

What names are most common in your hometown?

How do you take photography?

Do you like cameras?