PART I

Maps

1 Do you ever use maps?

Yes. Whenever I go somewhere new, I plan my journey with the help of a map.

2 When do people usually need to use a map?

I imagine that some people use a map every day if they travel to different places for work. Others might only use a map when they’re on holiday.

3 Do you prefer electronic or paper maps?

I still prefer paper maps for a long journey; I like being able to open the map out on a table and see the full journey ahead.

4 Do you ever ask people for directions instead of using a map?

Only if I’m really lost. Whenever I ask for directions, I find it difficult to remember what the person said. So I prefer to find my own way.

Collecting

1 Have you ever collected anything as a hobby? (What?)

Yes. When I was younger I used to collect keyrings. I remember that my favourite was a Lego man keyring that someone bought me as a present.

2 What kinds of thing do people often like collecting?

Some people collect cheap items like stamps, keyrings or toys. Others collect expensive antiques, watches, jewellery or even cars.

3 Why do you think people collect certain objects?

Maybe they like the constant search for a new item, or they want to remember past experiences. Others might like the feeling of organising and presenting what they own.

4 Is there anything that you would like to collect in the future?

Yes. If I could afford it, I’d love to have a collection of guitars in different colours, shapes and sizes!

Coocking

1 Do you like cooking? Why / why not?

Sometimes. I like preparing a special meal for family or friends who visit, but everyday cooking is a bit boring; it’s something that has to be done, but it’s not really fun.

2 Who did the cooking in your family when you were a child?

My mother almost always did the cooking when I was young. I don’t think she trusted my father to make a nice meal.

3 Do you think that it’s important to know how to cook well?

I’m not sure whether it’s important to cook well, but I do think that everyone should know the basics. It definitely isn’t healthy to rely on pre-prepared meals or fast food.

4 Do you think that children should be taught cookery at school?

Yes, that’s probably a good idea. If all children knew how to cook a few basic, healthy meals, that would surely be a good thing.

5 Do you prefer home-cooked food or food from restaurants?

I prefer home-cooked food because I think it’s healthier and you know exactly what you‘re eating. I also enjoy cooking for family and friends.

Study

1 Do you like studying? Why / why not?

Yes, I like studying because it’s the best way to gain a deeper insight into any subject. I like reading, learning from others, and trying to understand difficult concepts.

2 Do you prefer to study alone or with others? Why?

I prefer to study alone because I need to be able to concentrate fully. Other people are a distraction.

3 Where do you prefer to go when you need to study? Why?

I like to find a quiet corner in my local library; being in an old building and surrounded by books seems to help me to focus on my work.

4 How do you feel if someone disturbs you when you are studying?

It frustrates me because it breaks my concentration. I prefer to avoid distractions by going somewhere where nobody will interrupt me.

Park

1 Do you like parks? Why / why not?

Yes, I like parks because they’re great places to relax or go for a walk. I think every city needs some green space where people can escape from the crowds.

2 How often do you visit parks?

There’s a park very close to where I live, so I probably go there once or twice a week if the weather’s nice.

3 Why are parks an important part of many towns and cities?

Parks are like an oasis where people get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. They are where people go to have lunch, to take some exercise, or to forget about work for a while.

4 What do you think could be done to make parks better?

The parks in big cities are already really good in my opinion. If I think about the famous parks in London, Paris or New York, I can’t imagine what I would do to improve them.

house/apartment

1 Do you live in a house or an apartment?

I live in a semi-detached house with three bedrooms in a suburb of XXX. I‘ve lived there for just over a year.

2 Which is your favourite room in your home? Why?

I don’t really have a favourite room. But if I had to choose, I‘d say the living room because that’s where I go to sit and relax.

3 Would you change anything about your home? Why / why not?

Yes, I‘ve been meaning to redecorate it since I moved in last year. It needs a new kitchen, so that’s what I‘d change first.

4 Would you like to move to a different home in the future?

Yes, I‘d definitely move again at some point if I could afford to. I‘d like to live in the countryside, or maybe in a different city or country.

Games

1 What games are popular in your country?

Well, if we can consider sports as games, then football is definitely the most popular game in my country, but we also love board games like chess.

2 Do you play any games?

Not regularly these days. I play the occasional game of tennis with my brother-in-law, and I recently played a bowling game on the Nintendo Wii with my nephew. I wasn’t very good at it.

3 How do people learn to play games in your country?

I think children teach each other to play games. I remember a friend at primary school teaching me to play chess, for example.

4 Do you think it’s important for people to play games?

Yes, it’s really important, especially for children. I think research has shown that play can improve brain development, intelligence, creativity, and the ability to cooperate with others.

Reading

1 Do you like reading?

Yes, I like reading a lot. I read all sorts of things, including novels, newspapers, magazines, and online articles.

2 Do you usually read for leisure or for work purposes?

Well, I have to do a certain amount of reading as part of my job, but I probably read more for enjoyment. I pick up a newspaper most days, and I usually have a book on the go.

3 What was your favourite book or story when you were a child?

The first book that I remember really enjoying was ‘……….’. It only took me a few days to read because I liked it so much that I couldn’t put it down.

4 Do you think it’s important that children read regularly?

Definitely. I think reading is possibly the most important skill that children learn. The ability to read opens the door to all aspects of education.

Home Town

1 Where are you from?

I’m from Harbin, which is a city in the north east of China.

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

Yes, I like living in Harbin because it’s where most of my friends live, and because there are plenty of things to do there. The only thing I don’t like is the weather.

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

For the moment I‘m happy living here, but at some point I‘d like to live in a city with a warmer climate, and I‘d like to live near a beach!

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

Yes, Harbin has lots of things for young people, such as sports facilities, music and cinemas.

Sports

1 What sports or physical activities do you regularly do?

Unfortunately I don’t have time to do any sports or physical activities because of my work commitments. I‘d like to find more time for regular exercise.

2 Which sport or game would you like to be good at?

I‘d like to be good at tennis. It must be great to be able to hit the ball as hard as you can and watch it land exactly where you wanted it to.

3 Do you prefer watching or playing sports?

I don’t watch much sport on TV and I‘m not a big sports fan, so I think I would probably enjoy doing sports more than watching them.

4 Do you think children should be encouraged to do more sport?

Yes, I think that sport is really important for children. Sports and games teach children to play together and try their best.

shopping

1 Who does most of the shopping in your household?

There isn’t one person who does most of the shopping. I‘d say it’s a shared responsibility because we tend to go shopping together as a family.

2 What kind of shopping do you like doing?

I quite like shopping for presents for people’s birthdays or for Christmas. My favourite type of shop would have to be a bookshop.

3 Is shopping a popular activity in your country?

Yes, it’s very popular. Saturday is the busiest shopping day, and lots of people treat shopping as a kind of leisure activity, rather than something practical.

4 What types of shops do teenagers like best in your country?

I‘m not an expert on teenage behaviour, but I guess they like buying clothes, music, gadgets[ˈgædʒɪt]… that kind of thing.

Toy

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

Yes, of course. I loved playing with toys when I was a child; I think all children do.

2 What kinds of toys did you like?

As far as I remember, I mostly played with toy cars, planes and action figures from films or cartoons. I also liked building things with Lego.

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

Not really. I think boys like the kinds of toys that I mentioned before, whereas girls play with dolls. My niece, for example, doesn’t like toy cars; she prefers dressing dolls in different outfits.

4 Do you think that toys help children to learn?

Yes, I do. All toys encourage children to use their imagination and creativity. Even with simple toys, children imagine situations and invent games and rules.

Telephone

1 How often do you make telephone calls?

I probably make three or four phone calls every day, usually just to make arrangements with work colleagues or to speak to family and friends.

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

I think it would be one of my closest work colleagues. We often call each other rather than meeting face-to-face.

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

My family are expecting me to phone them as soon as I finish this exam. They‘ll want to know how it went.

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

Yes. I prefer to send a text message when I‘m arranging something simple, like a time to meet someone. In those situations, a phone call isn’t necessary.

Friends

1 Are your friends mostly your age or different ages?

Most of my friends are about the same age as me because we met at school or university. I‘ve got one or two friends who are older or younger that I met through work.

2 Do you usually see your friends during the week or at weekends?

I tend to meet up with my friends at weekends because everyone’s too busy during the week.

3 The last time you saw your friends, what did you do together?

It was one of my friends’ birthday last weekend. Six of us went out for a meal to celebrate.

4 In what ways are your friends important to you?

I think it’s important to have friends that you can talk to and share experiences with. My friends make me laugh, but I know I can also rely on them whenever I need help or support.

Music Instrument

1 Which musical instrument do you like listening to most? (Why?)

My favourite musical instrument to listen to is the guitar. I like the fact that there are different types of guitar, like classical, acoustic and electric. I love the variety of sounds a guitar can make.

2 Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument?

I took some guitar lessons when I was younger and still have a guitar at home. I don’t play it much nowadays. I wish I had more time to practise.

3 Do you think children should learn to play an instrument at school?

Yes, I think it’s a great skill and it’s really enjoyable to be able to play a musical instrument. All children should be given this opportunity.

4 How easy would it be to learn to play an instrument without a teacher?

It would probably be more difficult without a teacher. You need someone to show you what to do and correct your mistakes. You need a lot of discipline to (OR a lot of self-discipline to) teach yourself.

    It requires a lot of time, commitment and discipline to keep up with the flow of the course.
    跟上课程进度需要许多时间、努力和训练。
    discipline 努力
    self-discipline 自律

Clothes

1 Are clothes and clothing fashions important to you? (Why/Why not?)

No, clothes and fashions are not really important to me. I tend to wear clothes that are comfortable and practical rather than fashionable.

2 What different clothes do you wear for different situations?

Well, I have to dress quite formally for work, so I wear a shirt and trousers. At home I prefer to wear jeans and a T-shirt, and on special occasions I might wear a suit.

3 Do you wear different styles of clothes now compared to 10 years ago?

No, not really, because I don’t follow fashion. I think I have dressed in a similar way for the last 10 years.

4 Do you think the clothes we wear say(indicate) something about who we are?

Yes, they probably do. Some people are really careful about what they wear because they want to be seen as stylish. Other people wear clothes that show wealth or status, such as clothes by famous designers.

Communication

1 How do you usually keep in touch with members of your family?

I mostly keep in touch with my family by phone, and I‘ve started using the Internet to make video calls. I also try to visit members of my family in person as often as I can.

2 Do you prefer to speak to people by phone or by writing emails?

It depends on the situation. I use email and text messages to communicate with friends, but my parents prefer it if I phone them.

3 Do you ever write letters by hand? (Why / Why not?)

No, I don’t write letters by hand because it’s so much easier to send an email that will arrive immediately.

4 Is there anything you dislike about mobile phones?

Well, I don’t like listening to other people’s conversations in public places, and I don’t like it when someone’s phone rings in the cinema or during a lesson.

Dancing

1 Do you like dancing?

No, I don’t like dancing. I‘m not a big music fan, and dancing just makes me feel uncomfortable and self-conscious(除了自觉，第二个意思).

self-conscious(除了自觉，第二个意思) excessively and uncomfortably conscious of your appearance or behavior

2 Has anyone ever taught you to dance?

No, I‘ve never been interested in learning to dance, so I‘ve never taken any lessons or asked anyone to show me how to do it.

3 Do you think that traditional dancing will be popular in the future?

I‘m afraid I have no idea because I don’t follow what’s happening in the dancing world! I suppose it will always be popular with some people.

A best friend

1 I met my best friend at school when I was 11 years old, so we‘ve known each other for … years. I remember we sat next to each other in my first science lesson at secondary school, and we had to work together to do an experiment. We got on straight away, and we‘ve been friends ever since.

Work

1 Do you work or are you a student?

I’m a qualified doctor, but at the moment I’m studying English so that I can work in this country.

2 Do you enjoy your job?

Yes, I really enjoy my job. Ever since I was a child I have always wanted to be a doctor; I’ve always wanted to be able to help people.

3 What’s the best thing about your job?

The best thing about my job is that I can make a difference in people’s lives. It’s a great feeling to see someone recover after an illness because my colleagues and I were able to help.

4 Do you prefer working alone or with others? Why?

In a hospital you have to work as part of a team. I’ve got used to working with others, and I think you can achieve a lot more as a team than you would alone.

Accommodation

1 Tell me about the kind of accommodation you live in.

I live in an apartment that has a living room, a kitchen, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a small balcony. It’s not a very big, but it’s just right for me.

2 How long have you lived there?

I‘ve lived there for about five years. It’s the first apartment that I‘ve owned; before that I was renting an apartment.

3 What do you like about living there?

I like living there because I think the house reflects my personality: I decorated it myself, I chose all the furniture, and everything is where I want it to be.

4 What sort of accommodation would you most like to live in?

-If I could, I‘d buy a bigger house near a beach or in the mountains, preferably somewhere with a warm climate.

e-mails

1 How often do you send e-mails?

I probably write between 5 and 10 work emails every day, and I send emails to friends or family a few times a week.

2 Do you prefer to write by hand or on a computer?

It depends what I’m doing. I prefer the computer for most things because it’s faster and you can save or copy things, but I still like making notes or writing ideas down by hand.

3 Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting?

No, I think we will always write by hand as well. I think it’s an important skill, and schools will continue to teach children to write by hand before they learn to type.

laughing

1 What kinds of thing make you laugh?

I laugh most when I‘m with friends talking about funny things that have happened to us. I also like watching comedians and comedy films.

2 Do you like making other people laugh?

Yes, it’s a nice feeling when you can make someone laugh because you can see that you‘ve made them happy. It’s great to share a funny moment with someone.

3 Do you think it’s important for people to laugh?

Yes, of course. It’s important to see the funny side of things; humour helps us not to take life too seriously. I think that laughter is good for our health.

4 Is laughing the same as feeling happy?

It’s not exactly the same because you can be happy without laughing, and sometimes we laugh when something bad has happened; a sense of humour can help us to cope with difficult situations.

transportation

1 What form of transport do you prefer to use? Why?

I prefer to travel by car because it means that I have my own space. Also, the buses and trains in my city are usually overcrowded; my car is much more comfortable.

2 How much time do you spend travelling on a normal day?

I probably spend about an hour and a half travelling to and from work. I travel during the rush hours, so there is quite a lot of traffic.

3 What do you do while you are travelling?

I usually listen to the radio or a CD. In the morning I like to listen to the news to find out what is happening in the world.

4 Do you ever have problems with transport?

Yes, as I said, I get stuck in traffic on my way to and from work. I used to get annoyed by traffic jams, but now I‘m used to them.

numbers

1 Do you have a favourite number or a number that is special to you?

Yes, my favourite number is… because it’s ** the day I ** was born on , and it** ‘s ** my lucky number.

2 Do any numbers have special importance in your country?

Yes, certain ages ** are ** special. For example, your 18th birthday ** is ** important because it’s when you ** are considered to become ** an adult.

3 Are you good at remembering numbers? Why / why not?

No, I** ‘m not ** very good at ** remembering ** numbers. I ** don’t think ** it’s necessary ** to learn ** them by heart; I just ** save ** them on my phone.

4 What numbers do people often have to memorise?

The most important number ** to remember ** on a daily basis is the ** pin number ** for your bank card. Without this you ** can’t pay for ** anything or ** get cash out** .

neighbours

1 How well do you know your next-door neighbours?

I know my neighbours quite well. They‘re really nice people, and I always stop to talk whenever I see them. I think it’s important to get on well with the people who live next door.

2 How often do you see them?

I see my neighbours at least a few times a week. We usually see each other when we‘re leaving for work in the morning or coming home in the evening.

3 What problems do people sometimes have with their neighbours?

I think the most common problem is probably noise. It’s difficult to live next to people who have a dog that barks at night, or who play loud music or have too many parties.

mathematics

1 At what age did you start studying mathematics?

I can’t exactly remember, but it was probably in my first year at primary school when I was 5 years old. I probably learnt simple addition at that age.

2 Do you like mathematics? Why / why not?

I don’t dislike maths, but I wouldn’t say that I‘ve ever really liked the subject either. I‘m happy to do simple calculations, but my brain can’t cope with the complex stuff!

3 Is it necessary for everyone to learn mathematics?

Yes, I think it is. We all need a basic grounding in maths so that we can do daily tasks, like managing our money, working out bills, and so on.

4 Do you prefer to use a calculator when doing mathematics?

It depends. I quite like exercising my brain with anything that’s easy enough, but I use the calculator on my phone for anything tricky.

Music

1 Do you like music?

No, I don’t really like music, and I don’t listen to it. It’s not something that I‘ve ever been interested in.

2 What kind of music did you listen to when you were young?

I can’t remember listening to much music as a child either. I suppose I must have heard some traditional music at festivals or parties, but I didn’t take much notice of it.

3 When was the last time you went to a concert?

I‘ve never been to a music concert. Maybe I should try going to one; perhaps it would be interesting to see an orchestra playing classical music.

4 Would you like to participate in a live music show?

No, definitely not. I don’t play a musical instrument and I don’t sing, so I can’t imagine that I‘d ever find myself performing to an audience.

walking

1 Do you like walking?

I‘m not one for going on really long walks in the countryside, but I don’t mind walking when I‘m in a town or city, for example when I‘m sightseeing in a new place.

2 Do you think walking is important?

Yes, I think it’s important to be active, and walking is the most basic physical activity that we can do.

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

Personally, no. As I said before, I like walking in the city, especially if it’s somewhere with a lot of history like London or Paris.

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

I suppose the main issues are space and safety. Pavements need to be wide enough to accommodate lots of pedestrians, and we need safe places to cross the street.

part1 cont.

PART II

Describe a person (family member, famous person...)
Describe a place (city, holiday...)
Describe an object (something you use, a gift...)
Describe an event (festival, celebration...)
Describe an activity (hobby, game, sport...)
Describe your favourite (book, film, website...)

Describe an aim or goal that you hope to achieve in the future.

what the aim is
when you hope to achieve it
what you need to do to reach your goal
and why this goal is important to you.

I’m going to describe a future aim of mine, which is to write a book. I’d like to write a novel, so the story or plot would be fictional, but it would probably be influenced by some of my own experiences, ideas and views.
Unfortunately I have no idea where to start or what my novel would be about, so I can’t imagine achieving this aim until later in my life. Maybe it will be something that I do as a hobby when I retire, or I might suddenly be inspired to start writing much sooner. It’s just a vague objective at the moment.
I think it must be extremely difficult to find the motivation to write a novel, so more than anything I would need time, commitment and the passion to keep working until I finished. I would probably need to set a goal of writing for a certain amount of time each day, and of course I’d need a good idea for a story in the first place.
This goal interests me because I’ve always wondered how people manage to create a work of fiction from nothing; I’ve always wondered whether I could do the same, and whether I’d be capable of bringing a story to life. I’ve always enjoyed reading, and I’d like to follow in the footsteps of my favourite authors.

        Band 7-9 phrases
        a future aim of mine
        the plot would be fictional
        influenced by some of my own experiences, ideas and views
        I might suddenly be inspired
        a vague objective
        time, commitment and passion
        to set a goal
        I’ve always wondered how
        create a work of fiction
        bringing a story to life
        follow in the footsteps of my favourite authors

Describe a prize that you would like to win. You should explain

what the prize is for
how you know about it
what you would have to do to win it
and why you would like to win this prize.

I’m going to talk about a prize that I would like to win, which is the ‘employee of the year’ award at the company where I work. At the end of December each year, the company directors give this award to a member of staff who has made an outstanding contribution to the business over the previous twelve months.
I first heard about this prize during my training and orientation period just after I got the job three years ago. It was early December and some of my colleagues were discussing who might be awarded ‘employee of the year’ later that month. I was intrigued, and asked them to tell me more about the award.
As I said, the prize is given for ‘outstanding contribution to the business’. We don’t have an exact definition of what this means, but we assume that you have to achieve certain standards, such as 100% attendance, good punctuality, meeting targets and deadlines, good teamwork, and so on. I think the winner also needs to have done something especially creative. For example, last year’s winner created a completely new service for our clients.
I’d like to win ‘employee of the year’ because it would mean that my work had been recognised by the company directors, and this would definitely help me to progress in my career. It would also give me a great sense of personal achievement.

Describe an indoor game that you enjoyed as a child. You should say

what the game was
where you played it
who played this game with you
and why you liked it

1 As a child I enjoyed playing chess. I think chess is probably the best known board game in the world. It’s a game for two players, and the aim is to defeat the other player by taking his or her pieces and eventually trapping his King. This final move is called checkmate.

2 I remember that it was a classmate of mine at primary school who first taught me to play chess. He had a small, portable chess set, and once I knew how each piece moved, we started playing at break and lunch times; we played in our classroom or outside on the school playground. Later my parents bought me my own chess set as a birthday present so that I could play at home.

3 I taught my younger brother to play, and at some point I joined the school chess club. There I had the chance to hone my skills against some of the older pupils, and in my final year of primary school I made it onto the school team. There were five of us on the team, and we competed against children from other primary schools in the same town.

4 I liked playing chess because I enjoyed the challenge of thinking ahead and trying to outwit my opponent. I was probably seven or eight years old when I started playing, and it seemed like a very mysterious and intellectual game at that time. Also, although I loved winning, chess taught me to learn from my losses and to congratulate the person who had beaten me.

Describe a school that you went to when you were a child. You should say

where the school was
when you went there
what the school and the teachers were like
and explain whether you enjoyed your time there.

1 I’m going to talk about my primary school. The school was called ….. and it was in the town of ….. . The location of the school was great because it was within walking distance of our family home at the time. The route to school was all downhill, which made it an easy walk in the morning, but a tiring journey on the way home in the afternoon!

2 I was a pupil at ….. school between the ages of 5 and 11 - the full 6 years of primary education. From age 11 onwards, I went to a nearby secondary school.

3 My primary school seemed like a big place at the time, but it was actually quite a small school, with only six classes. I remember there being a large room called the assembly hall, where the whole school gathered every morning to hear messages from the headmaster. I also remember spending a lot of time on the playground and on the sports field. I liked all of my teachers; they were caring but strict at the same time, and I think they fostered a positive and fun atmosphere in the school.

4 I have really fond memories of my primary school years, mainly because of the friends I made and the fun I had. One of my most vivid memories is of performing in the school play in my final year. I had to learn lines and play the part of a character in a traditional children’s story. It was a nerve-racking experience, but it felt like my first real achievement.

Describe a family celebration that you remember. You should say

what you were celebrating
who was present
what you and your family did to make the celebration special
and why you enjoyed the occasion.

1 I’m going to describe my sister’s wedding day, which took place a few years ago in the town where I grew up. For my sister it was the biggest and most important day of her life.

2 I think there were around 100 people at the marriage ceremony, which was held in a church. Even more people came to the party, or the wedding reception as we call it, after the ceremony. Of course, most members of my family were there, as well as the groom’s family and a collection of the bride and groom’s friends and colleagues.

3 To make the celebration special, we did what families normally do. My mother made sure that the church and the reception venue were nicely decorated - there were flowers everywhere! Obviously we all dressed for the occasion, and there were bridesmaids, gifts, a huge wedding cake, and so on.

4 I enjoyed the occasion because it was great to see my sister so happy on her big day. The ceremony was perfect, and we all had a fantastic time at the reception. It’s rare for me to see all of my family and friends together in one place, so that’s probably what made the day so memorable for me.

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

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

1 I’m going to describe the first time I visited one of the biggest city in Australia, Sydney, on a school trip when I was a teenager. I had never been to Sydney before, and it was great to share that experience with my school friends.

2 The positive experience wasn’t confined to one particular place in Sydney. As far as I remember, I enjoyed the whole trip, from the plane journey to the visits to various tourist attractions. We got off the coach near Sydney Harbour Bridge, and so one of my first memories was seeing the famous Sydney Opera House. We also visited the Sydney Town, Tauranga Zoo and Bondi Beach.

3 As I said earlier, it was a school trip, and I think there were around thirty of us, including two teachers. I was with a group of close friends, which made the experience more enjoyable.

4 What really struck me about Sydney was that it was historic but modern and thriving at the same time. It seemed to me to be a lively, fashionable and cosmopolitan place. Coming from a relatively small city, the experience made me keen to visit more cities around the world in the future.

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

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

1 I’m going to suggest that art could be taken out of the school curriculum. In my experience, art lessons at school tend to include drawing, painting, and the making of collages using paper, fabric and other household materials.

2 There are a few reasons why I think that school art lessons are unnecessary. Firstly, I don’t believe that drawing and painting are essential skills that children will need when they leave school. Children might find these activities enjoyable, but it’s unlikely that they will need them in the working world. Secondly, children can draw, paint and make collages in their own time at home; parents can encourage this, and they can even join in. Finally, remembering my own art lessons at school, I don’t think we learnt any real art skills; the teachers left us to draw or create things, but they didn’t provide much technical instruction.

3 Instead of art lessons, children could do more work on core subjects like maths, science or language. These subjects are more likely to help children in later life when they enter the job market, and I think both children and their teachers would benefit if more time were devoted to them.

Describe an interesting conversation you had with someone you didn’t know. You should say

who the person was
where the conversation took place
what you talked about
and explain why you found the conversation interesting.

1 I’m going to talk about an interesting conversation that I had a couple of weeks ago in a music shop. I was walking along one of the main shopping streets in the city centre, when a large window displaying all sorts of musical instruments caught my eye. Out of curiosity, I decided to go in and have a look around.

2 The person I ended up speaking to was a shop assistant on the second floor, in the area of the shop dedicated to acoustic guitars. I hadn’t intended to speak to anyone, but the assistant approached me in a friendly way and asked whether I had any questions.

3 I explained to the assistant that I hadn’t played the guitar for years, but that I wondered what the differences were between the various acoustic guitars on show. He talked to me about the different makes and models, whether they were factory or hand made, the woods and varnishes used, the variation in sound quality, and of course the price range.

4 I found the conversation fascinating because the shop assistant was so knowledgeable. It was obvious that he had a passion for the guitar, and he didn’t mind talking to me even though I had made it clear that I didn’t intend to buy anything. He even picked up and played three or four of the instruments to demonstrate the differences in their sound.

Describe a future plan. You should say

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

1 I’m going to talk about a future plan that I have, which is to buy a good camera and to become a better photographer. At the moment I’m just using the camera on my mobile phone, but I’ve realised that it has its limitations.

2 I thought of this plan when I was at a friend’s wedding a few weeks ago. I got some great pictures of the bride and groom and their guests celebrating, but I did notice that with my phone camera I wasn’t able to capture longer range photos, or photos in darker conditions; the phone’s zoom and flash aren’t very good. Next time I’d like to be able to capture a special occasion in higher quality images.

3 Obviously this plan depends on whether I can save enough money to buy the camera I’d like. Also, before making a decision about which camera to get, I’ll probably talk to a friend who knows more about photography than I do.

4 In terms of buying a camera, I’ll achieve this plan if I can save some money! In terms of becoming a better photographer, I think I’ll achieve that goal by experimenting with my new camera and by learning as I go along.

Describe your favourite season in your country. You should say

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

1 My favourite season in China is winter. A typical Northern Chinese winter would last around 4 or 5 months between November and March, but when I say that I like the winter, I’m really thinking about the coldest month or two each year.

2 During those really wintry months, the temperature drops below zero and it often snows. Over the last few years we’ve had periods of quite heavy snowfall, to the extent that roads have been blocked and schools have had to close. Last winter I remember looking out of the window one morning and seeing everything covered in a layer of white.

3 Obviously the snow is what differentiates winter from the other seasons, but when it doesn’t snow there isn’t much difference between winter, autumn and spring; winter is just a bit colder.

4 The reason I’ve chosen winter as my favourite season is because I like the snow. I live near the countryside, and the landscape looks beautiful when everything is covered in white. We also celebrate Christmas and New Year in the winter, and these are my favourite festivals.

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

where the market is
what the market sells
how big the market is
and explain why you enjoyed visiting it.

1 I’m going to describe a street market that I’ve enjoyed visiting many times in Dalian. It’s the Dalian Central Market, and it comes to the city for about a month from the end of March every year. The market stalls are spread across several sites in the city centre, but the centrepiece is the large market in Zhongshan Square next to a university.

2 The Market stalls sell an array of souvenir, gifts and mouth-watering food and drink from all over the whole country. It’s a great place to find handmade crafts such as jewellery, ornaments, wooden toys and other souvenirs, but it’s the food and drink that seem to be most popular. Probably the biggest seller is the ‘xxx’, a hot, sweet wine which is sold in a souvenir mug.

3 The market was originally** quite small, occupying just one of the squares in Dalian, but it’s grown quickly in recent years, spilling over into maybe five other pedestrian streets and a few other squares. Apparently there are over 200 stalls now, so it’s become a really big event attracting thousands of visitors.

4 The main reason I’ve always enjoyed visiting the Central Market is the fantastic atmosphere. When I went there last December, it didn’t matter how cold or wet the weather was, Dalian seemed to come alive when the market opened; the streets were bustling with people and there was a real festive feel to the city.

Describe a funny situation that made you laugh. You should say

when this situation took place
what happened
how you reacted and why you found the situation funny.

1 I’m going to talk about a funny thing that happened to me a couple of weeks ago. I think it was a Saturday morning, and I was sitting having a coffee in a café near where I live.

2 I was on my own so I decided to read the newspaper while drinking my coffee. I must have been quite engrossed in what I was reading because the time passed quickly, and I suddenly realised that I needed to get going. What I didn’t realise was that I had been sitting with my legs crossed, and one of my legs had completely gone to sleep. As I stood up to leave the café, I quickly became aware that my left leg was ‘dead’, but it was too late; I started to fall. I thought I could catch myself on the table, but the table tipped over and I fell to the floor in front of everyone in the café!

3 I can remember being on my knees in the middle of the café, looking up at the staff and customers around me. I felt really embarrassed and I expected the other people to find it funny, but to my surprise nobody was laughing. They were all worried that something really bad had happened to me! As I got up from the floor, I had to explain to the whole café that I was fine. I was embarrassed at the time, but I laughed about it later!

Describe a team project that you worked on. You should say:

what it was
what you did
and how you felt about it.

1 I’d like to talk about a team project that I was involved in during my final term at business school. There were four of us on the team, and our task was to work with a local company to research a new market, in a European country, for one of their products or services. Our objective was to produce a report and give a presentation.

2 The first thing we did was split into two groups of two. We had been assigned a company that produced a range of bicycle accessories, so two of us spent some time getting to know the company while the other two researched the market and the competitors in the target country, which was Germany. In the end, I think it was a successful project because we managed to identify a possible gap in the market in Germany for one of the company’s products. Our group presentation also went really well.

3 Until that point, the course had been all about business theory, so it was quite a learning experience to work with a real company. I felt a real sense of accomplishment when we handed in our report and delivered our presentation, and I think all of us were proud of what we had done.

furniture

1 I’m going to talk about my favourite chair. It’s a big, leather armchair that sits in my living room at home, just under my living room window.

2 I didn’t actually buy the armchair. One of my friends was moving house and was going to buy some new furniture. I had always liked his leather armchair, so he said I could have it if I managed to move it. The chair wouldn’t fit in my car, and it was tricky to get it out of my friend’s apartment. I had to hire a small van to take the armchair home.

3 Obviously I use the armchair for sitting! It’s my favourite place in the house to relax, read a book, watch TV or even do some work; the chair’s arms are quite wide and flat, so my laptop fits nicely on either of them. Last night I fell asleep in my armchair while I was watching a film.

4 The main reasons why I like this piece of furniture are that it’s comfortable and it’s in the perfect position in my living room. The only drawback might be that I enjoy sitting in the armchair too much, and sometimes I think it makes me lazy!

Describe an old building that you like. You should say:

where it is
what it is used for
and why you like it.

1 I’m going to describe a very famous building in New York: the Empire State Building. People might not think of it as an old building, but the Empire State Building was built in 1931, so I don’t think it can be classed as new. It’s located on Manhattan island and it’s probably the most distinctive and recognisable building when people look at New York’s skyline.

2 As far as I know, the Empire State Building is an office building, but visitors can go up to an observation deck on the top floor, which is the 102nd floor. There’s also a 360-degree observation area on the 86th floor. Apparently, the building makes more money from the sale of tickets to the observation floors than it does from office rentals.

3 I think the Empire State Building is still one of the most impressive skyscrapers in the world. It’s such an iconic structure, and it’s amazing to think that it was built around 80 years ago. The best thing about the building is the viewing deck on the top floor, which offers spectacular views of the city; it’s definitely the best vantage point in New York. many friends recommend me to go there and to experience the view.

Describe a law in your country.

1 In many countries it is now illegal to use a mobile phone while driving. You could start by talking about the popularity and benefits of mobile phones, and explain that people want to be able to answer calls wherever they are. Then you could explain the dangers of being distracted while driving; this law could reduce the number of road accidents, and therefore save lives.

2 If you feel confident talking about the ‘education’ topic, you could choose the ‘compulsory education’ law. This is the legal requirement that children up to a certain age must attend school. In the UK, for example, children are required by law to continue in education until they are 16 years old. This is a good topic because you can talk about the benefits of education.

Describe a TV programme or channel that you enjoy watching regularly.

What it is called and what is it about?
When do you usually watch it ?
Why do you prefer it to other programmes or channels?

1 I rarely watch traditional television channels nowadays; I much prefer searching for interesting programmes or videos online. So, although it’s not a normal TV channel or programme, I’d like to talk about a website which I think is kind of a modern version of a TV channel. It’s called TED, which stands for ‘Technology, Entertainment, Design’, and it’s a great place to watch short talks and presentations about all sorts of interesting topics.

2 The good thing about the videos on TED is that I can watch them whenever I want. I have ted.com saved as one of my favourites on my laptop, and I tend to visit the website every few days to check whether there is anything new. I often watch TED videos on my phone while I’m travelling to work on the train.

3 The reason I like watching online videos on TED is that I learn something new every time I watch one. The tagline for the TED website is ‘ideas worth spreading’, and this really sums up the appeal of the site for me. Instead of watching meaningless soap operas and talk shows on TV, I’d much rather spend 10 minutes watching someone talk about a breakthrough in technology, science or healthcare.

Describe a vehicle you would like to buy in the future. You should say

what kind of vehicle it is
what you would use it for
and why you would like to buy it.

1 If I had the money, I’d like to buy my own helicopter. I recently saw a TV programme about someone who flew around in his own helicopter, and I remember thinking that it would be great to have one. The helicopter on the programme was a small, blue, two-seater and it seemed quite easy to fly - that’s the kind of thing I‘d like to buy.

2 Ideally, I’d use my helicopter instead of a car. First, I’d need to learn to fly it, but then I’d use it to go on short trips or holidays. It would be fantastic to be able to avoid traffic jams, and get everywhere in a fraction of the time it normally takes. I’d take friends and family sightseeing, over cities or mountain tops, and maybe I could even use it to do the shopping!

3 The reason I’d like to buy a helicopter is that you can park one almost anywhere. You don’t need to find a runway or an airport like you would for a plane. So I’d be able to park my helicopter in my garden - if I had a bigger garden. Also, I’ve always been intrigued by those helipads on the tops of tall buildings - I think it would be fun to land on top of a building. A helicopter probably isn’t a realistic choice of vehicle, but you never know - I might win the lottery!

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Describe a foreign culture that you like. You should say

what culture it is and how you know about it
what differences there are between that culture and your own
and why you like that foreign culture.

1 I’m going to talk about France and French culture. I know France quite well because it was the first foreign country that I visited as a child. I‘ve been on a family holidays there, and I lived and worked in Paris for a while after finishing university.

2 The first thing that comes to mind when I think about France is the bread! I love the fact that French people buy fresh baguettes every morning, usually from small local bakeries or ‘patisseries’; it makes a change from the loaves of sliced bread that most of us buy from the supermarket here in the China. One slightly negative difference I noticed in Paris is that Parisians don’t seem to make friends with their work colleagues to the same extent as we do here.

3 I really like the café culture in France. You can always find somewhere interesting to sit and have a coffee and chat to friends or just watch the world** go by. I **actually put on a bit of weight when I lived in France because I got into a habit of having a croissant or a cake in every nice café that I found. Another thing I could mention is that the last time I went to France on holiday, I played a game called ‘boules’ every day. The game consists in throwing metal balls as close to a target ball as possible. It’s the perfect game for a relaxing afternoon when the weather’s hot.

Describe a website that you often use. You should say:

what type of website it is
how you found out about it
what it allows you to do, and why you find it useful.

1 Weibo is a social networking website. It’s a free website that gain or share professional and interesting knowledge, find people you‘ve lost touch with, allows you to keep in contact with friends. It’s one of the most popular websites in the world, with millions of users in my country.

2 All of my friends use Weibo. One of my friends sent me an email inviting me to join. I signed up and I‘ve been using it ever since.

3 Wei allows you to keep up to date with what people are doing. You have a profile page with information and status updates so that you can tell everyone what you‘re doing. You can post articles in your own page, or send messages to other people’s pages. You can also upload photos and videos. I find Weibo most useful for learning knowledge , organising my life, keeping in touch with friends and storing photos. I think social networking websites have become part of everyday life.

Describe a photo that you like
Describe an important letter you received.

You could describe a photo of your family on a special occasion (e.g. a birthday party). This would allow you to talk about the members of your family and tell the story of what happened at the party when the photo was taken. Alternatively, you could describe a holiday photo of a place you visited. Then you can talk about the place and what you did there.

If you have a job, you could describe the letter you received telling you that you got the job. You could talk about the job interview, how you felt when you received the letter, and what you now do in your job. On the other hand, if you are a student, you could say that you received a letter confirming your place on your degree course.

Garden description

Today I’d like to describe my uncle’s garden, which I think is a beautiful one and which I like very much. The garden is part of his home’s backyard, and the house is located in the suburbs, about a 1-hour drive from the city of Dalian. There is a big tree right in the middle of the garden, which is surrounded by a hot tub, a small water fountain, several bushes, a section for vegetables, and different kinds of flowers.
This garden was actually one of the reasons why my uncle chose to buy the house because it had been beautifully maintained by the previous owner’s gardener and landscaper. It’s been only 1 year since he bought the house and now he is taking care of the garden by himself. Even though he is not experts in gardening, he still try his best to plant things that he like, such as roses and tulips[‘tjʊləp], and he even grow tomatoes.
Whenever family and friends come to visit his, he invites them to have a relaxing time in our hot tub, and enjoy the view. So in other words, his garden has also become a kind of resort! It definitely requires lots of hard work to properly maintain the garden, but it gives him a great sense of accomplishment to “decorate” it the way he like.
All in all, the garden is one of the best features of his home and it is a place where he can relax after a long day of work or during the weekends.

Describe a situation that made you angry. You should say

when it happened
what happened
how you felt

1 A recent situation that made me angry was getting stuck in a traffic jam on the way to meet some friends. It was last Sunday lunchtime, and I didn’t expect there to be much traffic; people don’t work on Sundays, so the roads aren’t usually very busy.

2 Everything was going well until suddenly I saw a queue of cars on the road in front of me. I had no choice but to join the queue and wait to get past whatever was causing the delay. It turned out that it was caused by some roadworks, and it took me an extra 30 minutes to get past them.

3 Getting stuck in traffic congestion doesn’t usually make me angry, but this time it did, mainly because I wasn’t expecting it and I knew that my friends were waiting to meet me for lunch. I felt frustrated and powerless because there was nothing I could do to change the situation, and I had no idea how long I would be sitting there waiting. When I finally saw the reason for the congestion, I was relieved that I was close to getting past the roadworks, but I still felt a bit stressed knowing that I was half an hour late.

Describe an artist or entertainer you admire. You should say

who they are and what they do
how they became successful
how you found out about them
and why you admire them

1 I ** ’m going to talk about ** a musician that I ** admire** , called… He** ’s ** a singer who also ** plays ** the guitar and ** writes ** his own songs. I ** think ** he ** recorded ** his first album about 10 years ago, and he** ’s released ** several other CDs since then.

2 He ** became ** successful after many years of ** writing songs ** and ** performing live ** in small venues all over the country. Gradually he ** built ** a following of people who ** liked ** his music. I ** think ** the key to his success ** was ** one of his songs that ** was used on ** a TV advertisement. This ** meant ** that more people ** became aware of ** his music.

3 I ** found out ** about… because one of my friends ** got ** tickets ** to see ** him in concert. I ** hadn’t heard ** any of his music before, but I ** went along to ** the gig and really ** enjoyed ** it. After that I ** bought ** the first CD, and now I** ’ve got ** all of them.

4 The reason I ** admire… ** is that he ** has worked hard ** for his success: it ** takes ** years of practice ** to become ** a good singer and guitarist, and he ** spent ** several years ** playing to ** very small audiences before he ** became ** successful. I ** also like ** the fact that he ** writes ** his own music. I ** admire ** people who ** have worked hard to get ** where they ** are** .

Describe an interesting lesson that you attended. You should say

where you attended this lesson
what it was about
and why you found it interesting

1 I’m going to talk about an interesting science lesson that I ** attended ** at secondary school when I ** was ** 14 or 15 years old.

2 It ** was ** quite a long time ago, so I ** can’t remember ** every detail, but the lesson ** was about ** respiration. We ** learnt about ** how the lungs ** work** , how we ** breathe** , and how oxygen ** passes into ** the blood. The science teacher ** also talked to ** us about the effects of ** smoking on ** the lungs.

3 I ** found ** this lesson interesting because my science teacher, Dr. Smith, always ** introduced ** new topics by ** showing ** us a video. We ** watched ** a short film ** about ** how respiration ** works** , and I ** found ** this much easier ** to understand than ** a science textbook. The film ** showed ** diagrams of the lungs ** to explain ** the breathing process. Later in the lesson we ** saw ** real photos of healthy lungs and lungs that ** had been damaged ** as a result of smoking; they ** had turned ** black. I ** think ** the image of a smoker’s lungs ** is ** the reason why I ** remember ** this lesson.

Describe a modern building. You should say:

where it is
what it is used for
and why you like/dislike it.

1 I’m going to describe a modern building in [where]. It’s called the [name] Tower, and it’s the tallest building in the city, with about 50 floors.

2 Although it’s called the [nem] Tower, most people know this building as the Hilton Hotel. In fact, the bottom half of the tower is the hotel and the top half is apartments. The apartments are expensive because the location and views make them very desirable.

3 I‘m not sure if I like the design of the building, it’s just a huge glass tower, but it definitely stands out. It has become a famous landmark in the city. You can see it as you approach [where], and it’s ** an easy place **to meet people because it’s so distinctive and easy to find. The most interesting thing about the Tower is that there is a bar/restaurant on the 23rd floor which has spectacular views of the city; it’s definitely the best vantage point in [where] because there are no walls, only huge windows, so you can look out over the city in any direction. I‘d recommend anyone who visits [where] to go there and experience the view.

Describe a practical skill that you have learnt (e.g. cooking, driving). You should say

what the skill is
how you learnt it
why you learnt it
and how this skill has helped you.

1 I’m going to talk about driving, which is a practical skill that I use almost every day.

2 I learnt to drive a car by taking lessons when I was 17. My parents paid for me to have lessons with a professional driving instructor. I learnt by practising: first I had to get used to steering, changing gears and using the mirrors, then we practised things like reversing and parking. I also had to learn the highway code.

3 As a 17-year-old, I wanted to have the experience of driving a car, and I was fed up with having to walk or take the bus or train whenever I wanted to go somewhere. I also knew that driving would be an extremely useful skill.

4 Being able to drive has helped me in so many ways. The public transport where I live isn’t very good, so I travel to work by car most days. Having a car makes my life much easier when it comes to things like shopping or visiting family and friends. (Last week, for example,…)

Describe a foreign person that you like. You should say:

where you met him/her
why you like him/her
and explain what you learnt from him/her

Describe something that you collect.

Describe an important decision that you made.

Describe an important letter you received.

describe a place

Describe a place you have visited.
Describe a historic place.
Describe a holiday.
Describe a place you would like to visit.
Describe somewhere you have lived or would like to live.

Adjectives: it’s exciting, busy, hectic, cosmopolitan, multicultural, unique. It’s historic but modern at the same time, it’s a thriving, prosperous city, it’s fashionable, lively, fun…
Activities: London is famous for its history, culture, art, museums. Tourists go there to see Big Ben, The Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square etc. You can get a fantastic view of the city from the ‘London Eye’. It’s also famous for its theatres and shows in the West End, its shops, restaurants and nightlife. There are endless things to see and do.
Negatives: London is expensive, crowded, stressful, polluted. The underground system is dirty, travel is overpriced and unpleasant. The cost of living is high (shopping, house prices etc.), the locals are always in a hurry and can be unfriendly, there are social problems (like you can find in most big cities).

Describe a recent event that made you happy. You should say:

when and where it was
who was involved
what happened
and explain why it made you happy.

1 When and where: my friend’s birthday party, last Saturday evening, we went for a meal in an Italian restaurant.

2 Who: there were about 10 of us, he invited some close friends and work colleagues, most of them were people I’ve known since university.

3 What happened: we met at the restaurant, I gave my friend a present and a birthday card, we ordered some food, while we ate dinner everyone chatted, after the main course the waiter brought out a cake and we sang ‘Happy Birthday’, everyone went home quite late.

4 Why it made me happy: it was great to get together with old friends, I had some interesting conversations, it was a good opportunity to catch up with what my friends had been up to, it was a nice way to wind down after a hard week at work, the food was delicious, I went home feeling full after a fantastic meal.

Describe a person you admire. You should say:

who the person is
what he or she is like
and why you admire him or her.

1 I’m going to talk about my father because he has been a major influence in my life.

2 My father was always a good role model for me as I was growing up. He’s hard-working, patient and understanding; he’s also got a good sense of humour and seems to get on well with everybody. Hopefully I‘ve inherited some of these traits.

3 I admire my father because I think he brought me and my brothers/sisters up well; he was quite strict but always fair, and he has always been someone I can turn to for advice. I think my father set a good example by working hard and having a positive outlook on life. I remember that he used to leave for work early and come home quite late, but he always made time for me and my brothers/sisters.

Describe a festival: Christmas

1 Christmas is an annual holiday that, in Christianity, commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ.

2 Popular customs of the holiday include gift-giving, music, an exchange of greeting cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various decorations; including Christmas trees, lights, nativity scenes, and holly. In addition, Father Christmas (known as Santa Claus in some areas) is a popular figure in many countries, associated with the bringing of gifts for children.

3 Over the Christmas period, people decorate their homes and exchange gifts. In some countries, children perform plays re-telling the events of the Nativity, or sing carols that reference the event. Christmas, along with Easter, is the period of highest annual church attendance.

4 A special Christmas family meal is an important part of the celebration for many, and what is served varies greatly from country to country. In England and countries influenced by its traditions, a standard Christmas meal includes turkey, potatoes, vegetables, sausages and gravy, followed by Christmas pudding, mince pies and fruit cake.

Describe an interesting advertisement that you have seen. You should say:

where you saw it
what it was about
why you think it was an interesting advertisement.

1 I’m going to talk about an advertisement for Coca-Cola, which is one of the biggest brands in the world. I‘ve seen Coke advertised everywhere, on posters and TV commercials.

2 The advert shows a picture of Santa Claus smiling and holding a bottle of Coke. I think the aim is to target children and associate (link/connect) the brand with Christmas time.

3 The advert is interesting because the company is deliberately trying to influence and attract children. The marketers are trying to capture young customers. They are presenting the drink as something special, a gift for Christmas. However, Coca-Cola is not necessarily a healthy drink for children; it contains a lot of sugar. Maybe this kind of advertising manipulates children and encourages them to pester their parents.

describe an object

Describe something you bought recently.
Describe a gift you gave or received.
Describe something you own which is important to you.

I’m going to describe my mobile phone. I bought it online / in a mobile phone shop / it was a present from…
I use the phone to keep in touch with friends and family, for communication by voice, text and email. It has various features like video, MP3 player, wireless Internet, digital camera and games. It’s easy to share photos and music. I use it for almost everything, it even has a calendar that reminds me about appointments.
My phone is an essential part of my life. It holds my contacts, my photos, my music collection. I‘ve got instant access to my favourite websites. It’s like having my whole life in my pocket. I couldn’t live without it.

describe a toy

One special toy that I remember getting was a Lego car. It was a birthday present from my parents. I can’t remember exactly how old I was, but I was probably about 10 or 11.
The special thing about this car was that I had to build it myself out of hundreds of pieces of Lego. The pieces came in a box with a picture of the finished car on the front, and I had to follow step-by-step instructions to put all the pieces together in the correct way. This wasn’t an easy task because the car even had an engine, movable seats and gears. It took me a day or two to make, and required a lot of concentration.
When the car was finished it looked great, and I felt a sense of accomplishment. I seem to remember that I didn’t play with the car very much; the fun part had been the process of building it.

Describe a long walk that you enjoyed. You should say

when you went on this walk
where it took place

1 When: I’m going to describe a walk that I enjoyed last summer while I was on holiday on the south coast of Hainan. It was the first week of August, and we set off on the walk on the first morning of the holiday just after breakfast, at around 9 o’clock. The walk took us the whole morning and finished at lunchtime.

2 Where: As I mentioned, the walk took place on the south coast of Hainan. I was on holiday with my family in a place called …., and we were staying in a rented house. Our aim was to walk from the house to a place called … beach. First we had to find the coast path, and then we followed this path for several miles until we reached … and finally descended the steep steps that led to the beach.

Describe an educational television programme that you liked. You should say

what the programme was about
when and where you saw it
how you found out about this programme
and why you liked it.

1 I’m going to talk about one of my favourite educational TV programmes, which is a nature documentary called ‘Planet Earth’. There were eleven episodes of this programme, and each one featured a different habitat on Earth, such as mountains, caves, deserts and jungles. The aim of the ‘Planet Earth’ series was to take the viewer into those habitats, using spectacular footage of interesting animals, plants and landscapes.

2 I first saw ‘Planet Earth’ on television when it was broadcast by the … several years ago. I think it was shown every Sunday evening, which was the perfect time to watch a fascinating nature programme. Then, a few years a ago, somebody bought me the DVD box set of the whole series as a Christmas present, and I watched the episodes again.

3 I found out about this TV programme because it was advertised repeatedly in the weeks before it was first aired. The TV trailers were really eye-catching because they showed incredibly beautiful images of nature. I also recognised the voice of the narrator of the programme, the well-known naturalist …. It was these trailers that persuaded me to watch the first episode.

4 What I liked most about the ‘Planet Earth’ series was its stunning photography and its global scope. For example, in the “Fresh Water” episode, they showed us the giant salamander in Japan, crocodiles in the river Nile, and river dolphins in the Amazon. I was amazed at how they had managed to film such interesting creatures in so many locations. I enjoyed learning about strange animal species, and the programme opened my eyes to the hidden wonders of our planet

describe a hobby

Think about question words: What, when, where, why, who with:

What: One of my hobbies is photography.
When and where: I take photos on my phone almost every day, and I have a proper camera that I use on special occasions. If I see something interesting or I want to record a particular memory, I take photos wherever I am.
Why: I take photos so that I have a record of the things I’ve seen or done.
Who with: Most of my photos are of friends and family, but I also take pictures of interesting things that I see.

Describe opinions and feelings:

I like photography because it’s a creative hobby and it makes you notice the world around you. I love capturing special moments or unusual or beautiful images, and it’s a great feeling to be able to look back through my pictures and relive different experiences. These memories usually cheer me up.

Tell a story related to the topic:

The last time I took photos on a special occasion was at my friend’s wedding a few weeks ago. I got some great pictures of the bride and groom and their guests celebrating. After the wedding I made an album of all the best pictures and sent it to my friend as a present.

Describe a change that you would like to see in your local area. You should say

what the change would be
who would be involved in making the change
how it would be done
and why you would like to see the change happen.
The change that I’d like to see in my local neighbourhood is the pedestrianisation of the main shopping street in the town centre. I’d like to see traffic diverted around this area in order to make it saferand more attractive for visitors and shoppers. Most of the traffic that clogs up the main street is just passing through the town, but it’s the local people who have to put up with the congestion, noise and pollution.
It’s the job of the local council to make changes like the one I’m suggesting. But before the council does anything, there usually needs to be some pressure from local people to bring a problem to light. So, perhaps we need a campaign by local residents who want to see this change. Then the council might contract a town planner or an architect to come up with some possible designs for a new road system.
I’m not sure how exactly the process of creating a pedestrian street would work, but I imagine that it would require detailed planning. Perhaps a bypass would need to be built around the town centre first. This would give drivers a faster alternative to driving through the town, and it would allow the main shopping street to be blocked off and pedestrianised.
I’d like to see this change because it would really improve the quality of life of residents in the town where I live. I can imagine the new pedestrian street having cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating. It would be a safer and more pleasant place for families to go shopping, and I’m sure this would have a positive knock-on effect on local shops and businesses.

Describe a book

I had sought a textbook specialized in phrasal verbs for a very long time and this one is the first I found that deserves this appellation. You will find tons of phrasal verbs in there, almost 400, among the most popular.
The book is divided in 40 units or so containing a dozen verbs. Quick grammar rules relative to phrasal verbs introduce each unit. Here are treated, little by little, the following issues which are salient characteristics of the phrasal verbs, i.e. What is a particle? Is a particle always separable? How to make the difference between a particle and a “vulgar” preposition? Where is the accentuation of a phrasal verb? Is it possible to find a common abstract notion between some meanings of verbs that share the same particle (e.g. break in, call in, give in)? Yes, you’ll have the answers to all these riveting questions!
In each unit, each verb is followed by its inflected forms (gerund, past and participle). Its different meanings are described and you’ll see that sometimes the particle of a verb can go from a non-separable state to a separable state depending on the sense given to the verb! A couple of practical examples illustrates each meaning.
Now, exercises! You’ll find a lot of them in the book. Five, six, sometimes more per unit, including a recapitulation exercise using verbs that you studied in previous units, so that you can train your memory and check your knowledge.
A unit will take you quite a certain time and sometimes you’ll need up to 1 hour 1/2 if you do them seriously. Perhaps my mistake was to try hard to complete a whole unit in one time. Because of that, I admit I felt discouragement from time to time, especially because I had to interrupt my working session for domestic or professional reasons. If you don’t get time, make two or three exercises a day and the day after, review the main points and carry on your training.
You’ll quickly realize that mastering phrasal verbs is no child’s play and requires steady and hard work. But it’s a fascinating world and it’s so funny to see the power a single particle can have over the meaning of a common verb and hence, over a sentence :)
This book is a premiere. If you already enjoyed it and are looking for a useful complement, buy the Cambridge international dictionary of phrasal verbs, it will give you a pretty thorough overview of the power of these verbs. But I would suggest it for people with at least an intermediate level.

Describe A movie

but oh was I thankful for it!!! All through the movie I kept on having this big large smile sculpted into my face. For the record, I’m 30 years old, and I’ve played warcraft and wow for many years since when I was 13 or 14 years old. Ever since then, I haven’t stopped playing. Therefore you can count me as a fan. Now onto the movie… Gosh, I saw it at a pre-screening, and I kept wanting more of it. It just never gets boring! I really enjoyed the little stuff that is found throughout the movie for the fans. I also incredibly enjoyed the intro sequence.
Those who argue the movie cuts too many parts or that it changes the story too much are totally wrong. This movie could not have shown the whole first time in its entirety - keep in mind that the lore lasts well over ten hours, making a movie this long would, well, make it way too long and besides, how would you financially sustain such a project?
OK, so there are changes in the movie - well, this is Duncan’s vision of it. All of us have our own visions of the lore and books which may or may not be compatible with that of Duncan’s, but I can safely assume that nobody can say they have a hundred percent the same vision of the story as Chris Metzen; that’s the thing with story: each player / reader has a different vision of it. As for me, I was blown away. Never before have I felt so much at home in a movie, it is as if I had taken a walk in the town where I grew up, Stormwind, Goldshire, Ironforge, everything felt so much like home, I was moved. I cannot tell of another movie that had me shed tears just by seeing a landscape on screen.
As for the changes, well, I found good reasons behind all of them, and let me tell you right away, yes, maybe coming from a fan it will look like absolute heresy, but I enjoyed the story a lot. The actors were great, they were a lot into their characters, and for the first time, I had never seen orcs in such detail before, hulky, robust, terrifyingly but also relative.
Quite frankly, I can’t wait for the next movie… In the meantime, I’ll watch this one over and over again when I can. This movie has everything that a good movie needs to have, and more. Plus, it just might bring more people to actually play WoW. Parents, maybe some scenes will frighten your kids, but this movie has almost NO blood (even though it has a good share of battle) and the foes are undeniably evil, plus it has good values in it - friendship, courage, responsibility, sacrifice for a good cause, and the belief that anyone can help to change things. That will go down in history as being one of the best ever, for sure.

part2 cont.

PART III

Aims for the future: Do you think that it’s better to have clear aims for the future, or is it best to take each day as it comes?

(Answer) I think it’s best to have a good idea of what you want to do with your life, especially in terms of studies and career. (Why) Having aims allows you to plan what you need to do today and tomorrow in order to achieve longer-term objectives. (Example) For example, if you want to become a doctor, you need to choose the right subjects at school, get the right exam results, and work hard at university. (Opposite) Without a clear aim, it would be impossible to take the necessary steps towards a career in medicine, or any other profession.

community

1 What are some of the ways people can help others in the community? Which is the most important?

I think there are many ways to help others in our local communities. For example, where I live, some people volunteer to run activity clubs for children, or they help out in residential homes for elderly people. Others give money, food or clothes to organisations that support people living below the poverty line. In my opinion, there isn’t a scale of importance when it comes to helping others; all forms of help are positive.

2 Why do you think some people like to help other people?

Most people get a good feeling when they help others, and they understand that we can all experience difficult times in our lives when we might need support. For example, we all grow old, and we all run the risk of losing our jobs or having a health problem that affects our ability to look after ourselves. So, I think people help others because they empathise with them.

3 Some people say that people help others in the community more now than they did in the past. Do you agree or disagree? Why?

I disagree with that kind of opinion. It’s impossible to generalise about how much people help in their communities from one generation to the next, so I don’t think we should try to judge or compare how altruistic people are now or were in the past. There have always been those who help others and those who don’t.

    Band 7-9 phrases:
    volunteer to run activity clubs
    help out (phrasal verb)
    residential homes for elderly people
    support people living below the poverty line
    there isn’t a scale of importance when it comes to helping others
    all forms of help are positive
    experience difficult times
    run the risk of losing our jobs
    people help others because they empathise with them
    It’s impossible to generalise about...
    from one generation to the next
    judge or compare how altruistic people are

advice

1 Is it better to get advice from a friend or from a family member?

I think it depends on the kind of advice that you need. Parents and grandparents probably have more life experience than a friend, and so you might get a wiser or more sensible answer from them. On the other hand, friends are less likely to become too worried if you go to them with a problem. For example, I probably wouldn’t want to burden my parents with a financial problem.

2 What would you say are the characteristics of a good adviser?

Well, firstly, a good adviser should be a good listener, someone who takes the time to understand the situation before offering advice. Secondly, an adviser should try to be objective, and avoid judging the person who is seeking help(no s). Finally, I think the best advisers have the ability to ask the right questions and encourage others to find their own answers.

3 Should people make their own work and career decisions, or is it a good idea to ask for advice about this?

I’d say that it’s a mixture of both things. Most of us talk to family, friends, teachers or colleagues before we make career choices. However, I believe that the final decision should rest with the individual; we all need to take ultimate responsibility for the big life choices that we make.

Holiday

1 Do you think that it’s important for people to go on holiday?

Yes, I think we all need to go on holiday at least once or twice a year. It isn’t healthy to work all year round without some time off to relax; we all need to take a break and recharge our batteries from time to time. Last summer, for example, I went on holiday to Hainan for a couple of weeks, and it was great to leave all of my usual responsibilities behind me. I came home feeling really refreshed and reinvigorated [riːɪn’vɪgəreɪt].

2) Why do you think some people prefer not to go abroad on holiday?

I suppose there are different reasons why some people choose not to go abroad on holidays. Firstly, it’s usually more expensive to travel abroad than it is to stay at home. A second reason could be that some people find it stressful to spend time in a foreign country where they don’t speak the language, or where they feel that they can’t easily integrate with the locals. Finally, many people just love where they live, and don’t feel the need to travel abroad.

Hospitality

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

I think we treat visitors well. Most people in China are very open-minded and welcoming, and we enjoy the mix of cultures that tourism brings. Most cities, for example, are really cosmopolitan, and you can meet visitors from every part of the world.

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

In my city, maybe it’s true that hospitality is less important nowadays, but that’s only because we are so used to seeing visitors from different countries, so we treat it as a normal part of life and nothing too special.

3 What are the advantages of staying with a friend compared to staying in a hotel when visiting a foreign country?

If you stay with a friend, you benefit from someone with local knowledge of the best places to visit. You can also get to know the character and customs of the local people, and for me, this is one of the most interesting aspects of a visit to another country. On the other hand, if you stay in a hotel, you are forced to discover the new place on your own, so it’s more of an adventure.

4 Describe a recent journey.

I’m going to talk about a recent journey to Beijing. It was a couple of weekends ago, and I decided to visit the capital with some friends. I had never been before, so I wanted to go there to do some sightseeing. I don’t have a car, but my friend does, so he volunteered to drive. He had done the trip a few times before, so he knew the way. Maybe it was a bad idea to travel by car because the traffic between Dalian and Beijing was terrible. We spent a lot of time sitting in traffic jams, which were due to roadworks and minor accidents, and it took us the best part of an afternoon to get there…

Newspapers

In your opinion, are newspapers important?

Yes, in my opinion newspapers are very important (why?) because they give us information about what is happening around the world. (why?) They are a vital source of knowledge about education, technology, medicine and many other fields. (alternative?) If newspapers didn’t exist, I think the quality of news coverage would suffer because there would be fewer professional journalists. (example?) We would have to rely, for example, on unpaid bloggers who do not have the budgets to carry out detailed research before they write an article.

Seasons & Behave

Do you think the seasons still influence people’s behaviour?

Yes, I do think the seasons affect how we behave. (how?) We still wear different clothes depending on the weather, and clothes shops change what they sell according to the season. We also adapt our habits and daily routines according to the time of year. (example) For example, people in my country like to eat outside in their gardens in the summer, but we can’t do that during the other seasons. (opposite) On the other hand, I don’t think we notice the change in seasons when it comes to food; the big supermarkets import food from around the world, so most people don’t buy seasonal fruit and vegetables any more.

Find a job

Do you think it’s important to find a job that you love, or is it more important to earn a good salary?

Personally, I‘d prefer to do a job that I really enjoy; as long as I earn enough to live comfortably, the salary is less important. However, I can see the benefits of doing a job that you don’t like if it pays well. With a good salary, you can probably do more enjoyable things in your free time.

Transport

1 What types of transport are there in your town?

In Harbin I think you can find every form of transport. You can drive around the city by car or get on a bus; there are even free buses that take people between the train stations. Harbin also has an underground system, and of course there are taxis too.

2 How has transport changed since your grandparents were young?

Well, they didn’t have cars, trains and planes back then, let alone take underground subway. as technology has moved on, it is easy and convenient for people to travel around cities. However, sometimes the transport system is not necessarily better nowadays, people may travel a lot more, and I‘m sure we spend more time getting stuck in traffic.

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

I‘m not sure, but hopefully we‘ll have cars that drive themselves and never crash. I think we‘ll probably fly more, and it might become normal to have your own plane. On the other hand, many cities are building more bicycle lanes, so maybe we will use cars less for** getting around** towns and cities.

Hobbies

Do you think it’s important for people to have hobbies? Why?

Yes, I think people need to have hobbies because we all need to do things we enjoy in our spare time. In my case, I find that playing football once a week with some friends helps me to relax,** keep fit** and forget about work. I think it’s the same for everyone.

Can hobbies have any negative effects?

Yes, if you spend too much time on your hobby, it can affect other parts of your life. I remember that one of my friends spent most of his time at university playing computer games instead of studying. In the end, he failed most of his exams.

Friends

1 What do you think are the most important qualities for friends to have?

Maybe the most important things are that friends need to share common interests and be honest with each other. (why?) Friends are people we spend a lot of time with, so it definitely helps if they enjoy doing the same activities or talking about the same topics as we do, and of course we need to be able to trust our friends, so honesty is vital for a good friendship. (alternatives / example?) I think I would struggle to become friends with someone who didn’t have anything in common with me, or who wasn’t reliable or trustworthy.

2 How important do you think it is for a person to spend some time alone?

I’d say that it’s essential to spend a bit of time alone, even if it’s just a few minutes a day. (why?) When you have a few minutes to yourself, it’s a chance to take stock and reflect on things. (why?) Most of us live such busy lives that our brains need time to catch up every now and then. (example / alternatives?) Personally, I try to have a bit of “me time” every day; I’ll go for a coffee or find a quiet place to sit and read the newspaper. If I never had any time alone, I think I’d go mad!

Children have their own ideas

Do you think that school children should be encouraged to have their own ideas, or is it more important for them to learn what their teachers give them?

I think that we should definitely allow children to be creative and have their own ideas. (why?) Children need to develop the ability to think for themselves and solve problems (why?) because as adults they will not always have somebody to guide them or tell them what to do. (alternatives?) If we don’t allow children to have their own ideas, they will be less successful in the adult world; they will be too reliant on others. (example?) A doctor, for example, might encounter a situation that he or she hasn’t been trained for, but will still be expected to make a decision that could save someone’s life.

How has technology affected the kinds of music that young people listen to?

1. Be honest and explain why you don't know
2. Guess, and tell the examiner that you are guessing

To be honest I don’t really know the answer to that because I‘m completely out of touch with what young people are listening to, and I‘m not a fan of pop music.
However, I suppose that technology must have affected music. Maybe young people are listening to music that has been made using computer software instead of real musical instruments like the piano or guitar.

How do you think the design of homes will change in the future?

I don’t think there will be much change in terms of what houses look like from the outside. In this country, people still like traditional brick or stone houses. Having said that, the design of apartment blocks will probably continue to develop, with more and more experimental or futuristic buildings** made of** glass and metal. I imagine that it will be the insides of homes that change the most; houses will no doubt be full of technological devices to make our lives easier. Maybe we‘ll have things like voice-controlled doors, lights and appliances.

History

1 What do you think we can learn by studying events of the past?

I think we can learn a lot by studying history. Just as individual people learn from their mistakes, societies can learn from the mistakes made by previous governments or leaders. For example, from what I‘ve read in the newspapers, many economists are looking back to the time of the Great Depression, around 80 years ago, in order to understand the financial crisis that is currently affecting many countries around the world. Even if we don’t always learn from mistakes, I think it’s fascinating to study history because it gives us an insight into who we are and where we come from.

2 What important events do you think might take place in the future?

It’s really difficult to predict what will happen in the future; most of the big, historic events of the past would have been impossible to foresee. For example, I don’t think that anyone living 100 years ago could have imagined that people would one day walk on the moon! If I had to guess what might happen in the future, I‘d like to think that scientists will invent cures for diseases like cancer, and we‘ll all live longer.

Being polite

1 In your country’s culture, how do you show that you are being polite?

We really value politeness and good manners in the China, and there are many types of polite behaviour. One of the first things we learn as children is to say “please” and “thank you”. As adults, I think we are careful not to be too direct in the language we use. For example, we would never say “Bring me the bill” in a restaurant because this kind of direct instruction would sound rude. It would be much more polite to say “Could we have the bill, please?”.

2 Are we less polite with members of our families than with people we don’t know?

I suppose it’s normal to be a bit more relaxed about politeness with family members. Most people tend to speak in a more informal way at home; in the China, we still say “please” and “thanks”, but it’s fine to use colloquial language and things like nicknames that you would never use with someone you didn’t know.

Celebrities: comparing past and present

1 Are there any differences between the types of people who were seen as celebrities in the past and those who are celebrities nowadays?

Yes, I think there have been some big changes in the types of people who become famous. In the past, before the invention of television, I suppose there were very few national or international celebrities; maybe kings and queens, military, political and religious leaders were the only household names. With the advent of TV and radio, performers such as actors and musicians became more well-known. However, we now seem to have a completely new breed of celebrity as a result of ‘reality’ television programmes; these are people who don’t really have any special skills as performers, but who are famous for just being themselves.

Imported items

1 Why do you think some people prefer to buy products from their own countries rather than imported items?

(idea) I suppose it’s because those people want to support the economy of the country they live in. (explain) If they buy something that** was made in** their own country, they know that they are contributing to the salaries of workers within the same country, (alternative) whereas if they buy imported items, a foreign company and its employees will benefit. (example) For example, if I buy some meat that originates from a local farm rather than a farm in another country, I’m helping one of my fellow citizens to carry on in business. (another idea) Also, I think that trust is an issue; people might feel that they can trust domestically produced items more than imported ones.

Cities

1 How is life different in cities compared to rural areas?

Firstly, the cost of living in cities is much higher. Housing is much more expensive in cities compared to rural areas; everything costs more. I think life in cities is more difficult. There are more people, so there’s more competition for jobs. Life is a lot slower in rural areas, everyone knows each other and there’s a sense of community. I don’t think rural areas experience the social problems that you find in cities, like crime and homelessness.

2 How do you think life in big cities could be made easier?

In my opinion cities need to be well-planned. Good public transport can definitely make life easier because there are so many people and it can be really stressful just to move around. Public areas like parks are also important because people need space to relax, and I think cities should be made into healthier places to live and work.

3 What do you think cities will be like in 50 years time?

I imagine cities will be less polluted because we‘ll have electric cars and better public transport. More people might work from home so maybe cities won’t be so busy. But I think there will probably still be problems because more and more people are migrating to cities. So I‘m not so optimistic about issues like crime, homelessness and unemployment.

Use mobile phone

For example, yesterday I used my phone to call some friends to arrange a get-together this weekend. Some of them didn’t answer, so I either left a message in their voicemail or I sent them a text. I also replied to a few emails while I was waiting in a queue at the bank.

River, lakes, sea

1 What do you think are the functions of rivers nowadays?

Rivers have various functions. In the China, they were probably more important in the past because they were used for the transportation of goods, but I suppose this is still the case in many parts of the world. Rivers can be used as a source of renewable energy in the production of hydro-electric power, and they are also a source of fresh water for drinking and irrigation. Leisure activities are another function: fishing, canoeing [kə’nuː], swimming, bathing… I‘m sure there are many other things I haven’t thought of.

2 What do you think of boats and ships as forms of transportation?

I‘m not really a fan of boats and ships. If I‘m going abroad, I like to get to my destination quickly, so I prefer travelling by plane. Of course, ships are vital for the transportation of oil and other heavy cargo.

3 Why do some people like to live near rivers, lakes or the sea?

Well, the view is probably a major factor; most people like to look out to sea, or across a river or lake. I‘d much prefer to look out of my window onto a natural landscape than an apartment building in a city. Then there’s the lifestyle: if you live close by the sea, for example, you can lie on the beach, go for a swim, or do water sports like surfing or waterskiing. I definitely wouldn’t mind living near a beach at some point in my life!

go for doing/n. 外出(进行某活动)

competition

Why do you think some school teachers use competitions as class activities?

I think teachers use competitions to motivate the children in their classes. I‘m sure that teachers try all kinds of activities to engage their pupils, and competitions might be one of the best ways to keep children interested or get them excited. Children love winning things.

Is it a good thing to give prizes to children who do well at school? Why?

It might be a good idea to encourage children to do well in games or sports, but I don’t think we should give children prizes for their academic work. Children need to learn that the reason for studying is to learn useful things that will help them in their lives. I don’t like the idea of children thinking that they will only work hard if there is a prize.

Would you say that schools for young children have become more or less competitive since you were that age? Why?

I‘d say that they have become more competitive since I was young. Children now have to take exams from a much younger age, so I think there is more of a focus on doing well in tests. Parents also seem to be getting more competitive; I think that many parents push their children to do extra homework rather than letting them play with friends.

emotions

1 Do you think it’s good to show your emotions when you’re angry?

I think it depends on the situation and how you show your emotions. I find that if I’m angry with a friend or someone in my family, it’s best to tell them what the problem is and try to express how I feel. However, I don’t think it helps to argue with people when you’re angry; it’s better to control the anger and explain what’s wrong.

2 In your opinion, do women show their emotions more than men?

The stereotypical view is that women are more emotional, and in my experience there is some truth in this; my mother, for example, tends to show her feelings much more readily than my father. However, I’m sure that there are exceptions to the stereotype.

3 Why do you think men tend to show their emotions less than women?

Maybe it’s because of the way we are brought up. I think that boys are often taught from an early age not to cry. Also, boys are aware that their friends might see it as a sign of weakness if they show their feelings. Perhaps girls are brought up to be more sensitive to their friends’ feelings.

lifestyle & tenses

1 Do you think people had easier lives 50 years ago?

Yes, maybe life was simpler and less stressful 50 years ago. The mobile phone didn’t exist, so I suppose it was easier to forget about work at the end of the day because people couldn’t contact you so easily.

2 Do you think life will be more stressful in the future?

Yes, it probably will be more stressful. As the world gets smaller, employees will probably have to travel to different countries more often and stay in touch with colleagues and clients all over the world. There will also be more competition for jobs and the cost of living will keep going up.

gender & conversation

1 What are the differences between men’s and women’s conversations?

I think it depends on the people who are having the conversation, and it depends on the situation, but most people would say that men talk more about sport or cars, whereas women talk about their friends, family and relationships. Women are supposed to be better at expressing their feelings, while men prefer not to talk about themselves.

2 What do you think are the characteristics of a good speaker?

I thinkv good speakers are confident and passionate about the subject of their speech. They need to be interesting and engaging. I think a speaker’s body language is also really important. A famous example of a great speaker is Barack Obama; he seems to be a naturally inspiring speaker, but I‘m sure that practice and preparation are more important than natural talent.

leisure & economy

1 What is the relationship between leisure and the economy?

Well, people spend a lot of money on all sorts of leisure activities nowadays, so I think leisure is a very important part of the economy of most countries. Leisure could be anything that people do in their free time, such as eating out, going to the cinema, watching a football match, or staying in a hotel. Millions of people are employed in these areas.

2 How does the economy benefit from people’s leisure activities?

The leisure industry makes a huge contribution to the economy. As I said before, it keeps millions of people in employment, and all of these employees pay their taxes and have money to spend on other goods and services. At the same time, most people spend some of their earnings on leisure activities, and this money therefore goes back into the economy.

3 Do men and women enjoy the same type of leisure activities?

Yes and no. I think both men and women enjoy things like eating in restaurants or going to the cinema, but I ‘m sure there are other activities that are more popular with one gender. For example, I think more men than women go to football matches.

Wildlife

1 What effects do you think humans have on wild animals?

Humans ** have** a huge impact on wild animals. We ** have destroyed** a lot of natural habitats, and many animals ** are** in danger of extinction. Tigers and rhinos, for example, ** are** endangered species because of humans. The pollution and waste that we ** produce** also ** have** an effect on animals. In some places there ** are** no fish in the rivers.

2 What measures could we take to protect wildlife?

I think we ** need** stricter rules to protect natural areas and the wild animals that ** live** there. For example, we ** should stop cutting down** trees in the rain forest. National parks ** are** a good idea because they ** attract** tourists while protecting wildlife.

3 Is it the responsibility of schools to teach children about protecting wildlife?

Yes, schools can ** play a big part in educating** children about this issue. Children ** should learn** how ** to look after** the natural environment. I ** think** schools ** already teach** children about endangered species and the destruction of rain forests, so hopefully future generations ** will do** a better job of ** protecting** wildlife.

Sports

1 Why do you think sport is important?

I ** think ** sport ** is ** important for different reasons. For me, ** doing ** a sport ** is ** about ** having fun** . When I ** play ** football, for example, I ** forget about ** everything else and just ** enjoy ** myself. Also, doing a sport ** helps ** you ** to keep ** fit and healthy, and it** ‘s ** a good way ** to socialise ** and ** make ** friends.

2 Do you think famous sportspeople are good role models for children?

I ** think ** that sportspeople ** should be ** good role models. Children ** look up to ** their favourite football players, like David Beckham for example, so I ** think ** that these people ** have ** an enormous responsibility. They should ** try to be ** a good influence, and ** behave ** in the right way.

3 Do you agree that sports stars earn too much money?

In my opinion, it** ‘s** fair that the best sportspeople ** earn ** a lot of money. ** Being ** a top sportsperson ** requires ** hours of practice, and ** there are ** millions of sports fans who ** are willing to pay to see ** them ** play** . If we ** don’t want ** sportspeople ** to earn ** so much money, we ** shouldn’t go to watch ** them.

friendship

1 Why do you think friendship is important?

I think friendship is important for all sorts of reasons. (why?) We need friends to share experiences with, to talk to, and for support. (example?) In my case, I like to meet up with friends at the weekend ** to do ** something enjoyable, like see a film or go out for dinner. I like chatting with my friends about what we‘ve been doing during the week, or about what’s happening in the world. (alternatives?) Without friends to talk to, life would be dull and boring; we would only have our families to talk to.

lessions

1 What do you think makes a good lesson?

I ** think ** a good lesson ** is ** one that ** is ** interesting and engaging. By ** ‘engaging’ ** I ** mean ** that the students ** should feel involved ** in the lesson; they ** should feel ** that they ** are learning ** something new that ** is relevant to ** them. In my opinion, a lot ** depends on ** how the teacher ** delivers ** the content of the lesson in a way that students ** like** . My favourite teacher at university ** used to involve ** the students by ** making ** us teach some of the lessons ourselves.

2 Do you think it’s better to have a teacher or to teach yourself?

Well, ** there’s ** no substitute for a good teacher. I ** think ** you ** can teach ** yourself, but you ** can learn ** a lot more quickly ** with the guidance of ** a teacher. For example, when ** learning ** a language, you ** really need someone to correct ** your mistakes; you ** can get ** the grammar and vocabulary from books, but books ** can’t tell ** you where you** ‘re going ** wrong.

3 Do you think the traditional classroom will disappear in the future?

I ** don’t think ** it ** will disappear** , but it ** might become ** less common. I ** think ** more people ** will study independently** , ** using ** different technologies rather than ** sitting in ** a classroom. Maybe students ** will attend ** a lesson just once a week, and ** spend ** the rest of their time following online courses or watching video lessons.

questionnaires

1 What kinds of organisation regularly conduct questionnaires?

All kinds of organisations and companies use questionnaires to find out what people think about them. For example, university lecturers often ask their students to answer questions about their courses. Someone from a Starbucks cafe stopped me in the street yesterday to ask me about my coffee drinking habits.

2 Do you think schools should ask children for their opinions about lessons?

On the one hand, it might be useful for teachers to get feedback from children about how much they learnt and how enjoyable they found the lessons. However, children don’t necessarily know what’s best for them, and it might do more harm than good to allow them to give opinions about their teachers.

technologies

1.What technology or equipment is used in most workplaces nowadays?

Advice: give a list of different technologies, then talk about one in detail:

In most workplaces people use equipment such as computers, phones, printers, fax machines and photocopiers. I think the computer is probably the most essential piece of equipment because we rely on it for almost everything: communicating by email, writing reports, organising data, and finding information on the Internet.

Does technology help workers, or does it make their lives more difficult?

Advice: talk about the positives AND the negatives:

Technology definitely helps workers because it makes many tasks so much easier. For example, email is such a useful tool for communication between employees in different offices, or even in different countries. On the other hand, technology can make life more difficult, especially when it goes wrong. It causes a lot of stress when the Internet is down or a computer crashes.

What effect does new technology have on employment?

Advice: give the good effects AND the bad effects:

I think technology is often responsible for people losing their jobs. Machines have replaced people in areas like manufacturing and agriculture, and whenever a new technology is introduced, there are redundancies. At the same time, jobs might be created thanks to a new technology; there would be no computer programmers if the computer hadn’t been invented.

4 How do you think the Internet will affect our lives in the future?

Personal perspective: I think the Internet has a huge impact on our lives. More and more people are using social websites to keep in touch with friends. I think the Internet will probably replace TV because most channels **are already available online.
Economic perspective: Also, I think we‘ll do more online shopping. Web-based companies like Amazon are already really successful. In the future, there will probably be more companies that only sell via the Internet, and I expect we‘ll spend more money online than in traditional shops.
Educational perspective: Schools and universities might also use the Internet to provide courses, so online learning will probably become a normal part of life.

status symbols

1 In your country, what possessions show a higher status or position in society?

In my country, people who are wealthy tend to buy big houses and cars. Certain makes of car such as Mercedes or Ferrari are status symbols. They **let other people **know that you are important or powerful. People who want to give this impression often wear expensive designer clothes, or watches by brands like Rolex.

2 Do you think we place too much importance on possessions?

Probably, yes. Some people are obsessed with showing off their new mobile phone or wearing the latest fashions. I think it’s a problem for teenagers because there’s a lot of peer pressure to follow fashion or buy the latest gadget that their friends have got.

3 Do you think things were different 50 years ago?

Yes, maybe people were less materialistic. I think they bought things that lasted longer; my grandparents talk about how they repaired things rather than throwing them away. Maybe brands and advertising weren’t as powerful as they are now.

children’s toys

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

I think boys naturally seem to prefer playing with “boys’ toys” and girls with “girls’ toys”. When I was young I had toy cars, trucks, guns and things like that, whereas my sister always wanted to play with dolls. I don’t suppose it really matters if a boy plays with a doll or a girl plays with a toy car, but children learn quickly what toys are supposed to be for boys and for girls.

Do you think it’s good if parents only buy “educational” toys for their children?

No, I don’t agree with only giving children educational toys. In my opinion, children learn by playing with whatever interests them. Children invent their own games, even if they don’t have any toys at all. It’s important for children just to have fun; there will be plenty of time for parents to worry about education when their children get older.

disagreements

(Idea / basic answer) Teenagers disagree with their parents about all sorts of things, like the clothes they want to wear, whether they can go out with their friends, doing homework, and how much help they give their parents around the house. (Explain why) I think the teenage years are when we develop a sense of identity, and we want to make our own decisions rather than follow other people’s instructions. (Personal example) I remember having disagreements with my own parents, usually about simple things like getting up early in the morning, tidying my room, or doing the washing up!

TV

1 Do you think most people watch TV for education or for entertainment?

I think people watch TV primarily for entertainment. There are far more entertainment programmes than educational ones, and in my experience most people treat television as a form of relaxation in the evening. If I think about the most popular TV programmes in the China, such as talent shows like ‘X Factor’ or soap operas like ‘…’, the focus is definitely on entertainment rather than education.

2 Should TV play a role in educating children? How?

Yes, it definitely should play a role in my opinion. Good children’s TV programmes should tell stories that contain some kind of lesson about how to behave or what is morally right and wrong. Many of the traditional fairy tales, such as ‘Cinderella’, have been made into TV programmes, and there is always a postive message in those stories.

3 How do you think TV viewing habits change as people get older?

TV viewing habits obviously change a lot as we get older. While toddlers might watch programmes about talking animals, teenagers prefer action and adventure or sports, and as adults we start taking an interest in news and politics. My own preferences, for example, have changed over the years - I would never have watched news programmes when I was younger. I think it would be very strange if our viewing habits didn’t mature!

films have changed

1 Do you think films have changed since you were a child?

No, I don’t think films have changed much since I was a child. When I was younger I enjoyed watching action films, and the Hollywood formula for this type of film seems to be the same today. For example, I liked the original ‘Superman’ films, and superheroes are still a popular subject for film-makers.

2 As the technology for home viewing improves, do you think people will stop going to the cinema in future?

No, I don’t think that people will stop going to the cinema. People can already buy fantastic home viewing equipment, but it still feels more special to share the experience of watching a new film with a theatre full of people. I don’t think that technology will be able to replicate that cinema atmosphere.

part3 cont.