ILets speaking

COLLECTION OF NEARLY ALL SPEAKING TOPICS Fanpage: IELTS speaking and writing Corne Part 1 Most frequently asked questions and suggested sample answers (51 topics) Since most of part 1 questions ask your personal information, suggested answers here can be used for reference Try to be flexible and use some of your information to fit your own situation (Mr Saint's advice) 1. Your Work or Your Studies  Do you work or are you a student? Well, I am a senior in Zhejiang University and I’m planning to pursue my master’s degree in the U.K after my graduation. That’s why I take this test. 1a) Your Work General Description of Your Job  What job (or, what work) do you do? I’m a teacher at an English training center. I’ve been working there for several years. It’s my pleasure to see my students make progress, so I think this job is very suitable for me.  What is the nature of that work? It’s a teaching job. I help the students improve their English language skills and most of them are planning to take IELTS.  What do you do in that job? I teach English, both productive and receptive skills. My job is to help my students succeed in their studies and pass exams if they need to.  Would you say your job (or, your work) is very important? 、 I think so. I think the world will be much worse if there’re no teachers, especially good ones. I think my job is very important to the society.  How do you think your subject will help you (or, benefit you) in the future? I’m planning to be a teacher. Now I major in TESOL, which can help me learn teaching skills and I’m sure in the future I’ll be a qualified teacher because of my educational background. However, experience is also important, so I can’t stop learning even after I start working.  Do you think this subject has good prospects for the future? Teachers are always needed in our society, so I’m sure I’ll be able to find a suitable job when I graduate. 3 Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner  What benefits can people have if they do the jobs they like? Well, there're many benefits. If people enjoy the jobs they do, they can be more productive and are more likely to succeed. When they do the jobs, they also won’t feel too much pressure but can enjoy themselves. It’s good for their mental health as well. Finding a Job  How did you get that job? I searched online and saw the job post. There were many chances for me to choose, so I submitted my resume online and got the interview and everything.  Was it easy to get that job? Of course, it’s not easy, but I tried my best and because of my past working experience and professional training, I got this job.  Is it easy (for other people in your country) to find work doing your job? It depends. For some people, if they graduated from some prestigious schools with good majors, they can find jobs easily. Nowadays, a lot of companies also pay attention to experience. Enough relevant working experience can help a person to be more competitive. Feelings about the Job  Do you like (or, enjoy) your job (or, your work)? Yes, I do. It provides me the ways to achieve my goals and help other people succeed. I’m sure I can learn a lot from my job.  Which do you enjoy more, communicating with people at work, or the work itself? I enjoy the work itself. I think good communication is also important, but it seems not matter much in our daily life. How to work better, in my opinion, would be more significant for me because my main purpose is to work not to have unnecessary conversations.  Which is more important to you, co‐operating with others at work, or the work itself? I like working with others because we can all contribute our efforts and make our goal easier to achieve. If I work by myself, I can probably organize my own time and work better, but I won’t get feedback and support from others. 4 Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 5  Which is more important to you, the work you do or your colleagues (the people you work with/ your workmates)? It’s hard to say. I think they’re both important. For a lot of working class people, their social circle is made by the people they work with. Plus, I cannot work all by myself, so the good relationship with my colleagues can also help me do my job well. 1b) Your Studies General Description of Your Studies  Do you like ______ (your subject)? Yes, I do. I’m really interested in economics and numbers and that’s why I chose accounting as my major. Also, this major can provide me with a stable job in the future. I think I’ll enjoy doing this job.  Is that a popular subject (to study) in your country? Nowadays, along with the development of the economy, there’re a lot of companies in China and they all need people to help them in their finance department. I have a lot of friends who have chosen this major. I believe I’ll have a bright future. Interest  Do you think it's important to choose a subject you are interested in? (Why?) I think so. If I’m not interested in something, it’s really hard for me to focus on it and I won’t be able to put all my effort into it. It’s said that interest is the best teacher and I really agree with that.  For you, what's the most interesting part (or subject or class) of your course? I’m good at math and when I figure out difficult problems, I’ll always feel a sense of success. I think all the courses are interesting because they are all connected with each other.  For you, what's the best part (or subject or class) of your course? I’m good at math and when I figure out difficult problems, I’ll always feel a sense of success. I think all the courses are interesting because they are all connected with each other.  (For high school) What's the most interesting of your subjects at school? I liked math very much in high school and all my classmates knew how I liked numbers. When I figured out difficult problems, I’d always be very excited. 5 Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 6 Future Work  What are your future work plans? (after you graduate) I want to find a big company and work in their finance department. I don’t mind being an assistant at first because I still need to learn a lot and gain experience.  Do you think you will be able to easily find work in the future after studying _______ (your subject)? It’s hard to say. It might take me a few months to find the right job, but I definitely can have a bright career in the future, as long as I now start to lay a solid foundation for the knowledge and skills needed in that field. Being a Student  What's the most enjoyable part of being a student? The most enjoyable part is to learn new things, without worrying about earning money. One more thing is that students can always have more chances to tap their potential to achieve their dreams.  Do you enjoy studying that (your subject)? ‐‐What's the most enjoyable thing about it? I do. I think the most enjoyable thing is that I can connect all the things I study with my future career. I think the preparation process is enjoyable.  (In a class,) who do you think is more important, the students or the teacher? They are both important. I think when students really want to learn, they can achieve their goals more easily; and of course, good teachers can make students learn more effectively.  (In your class,) who do you think is more important, the students or the teacher? They are both important. I think when students really want to learn, they can achieve their goals easier; and of course, good teachers can make students learn more effectively.  How should teachers teach? I believe teachers should apply fun and interesting methods to their teaching. Students can learn better when they’re not conscious that they’re actually studying. If a teacher can achieve this, I’ll say he/she is successful.  Will children tell their parents when they face difficulties in their studies? It depends. For some children, they like sharing their feelings with their parents, they’ll let their parents know what they’re encountering. However, 6 Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 7 for a lot of teenagers, they feel telling their parents their troubles and difficulties might make parents look down on them, so they’ll tend to keep all the problems to themselves.  Do you think it’s good for teachers to praise the students when they do something good and point it out when they do something wrong? I think it’s the right way to do things; however, teachers shouldn’t praise the same student too much because they might get too proud of themselves and may not be able to keep doing what is good. Also, besides criticism, teachers should also encourage the students who do something wrong to help them to be better in the future. School  What types of schools have you been to? I was always in public schools when I was a child. The elementary school I went was pretty small and there were not many advanced facilities. I liked my middle school because it was big and the school would always have all kinds of activities for the students. When I went to high school, we spent most of our time studying, so I didn’t enjoy the time that much.  Did your parents choose a secondary school for you? Not really, I had to take a high school entrance test and the schools would admit us according to our scores. Because my score was good, I went to the best high school in my city. If the students couldn’t get a good score, they wouldn’t be able to go to good high schools.  Which school did you like the most? Will you send your children to that school? I liked my middle school most, but I probably won’t send my children to that kind of school. I prefer private schools because the teachers are better and they can take care of the students more. Plus, most private schools have small classes, which are good for the students to receive enough attention from the school and teachers. Major  What attract you most about your major? Well, since I major in English, I am able to apply my knowledge into practice, and I can chat with foreigners. When I help my father do business with foreign business people, I am proud of my choice of this major.  Do you like your major? Same to above.  Who are more important, teachers or students? 7 Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 8 I think both. With the help from good teachers, students may learn more effectively. And on the other hand, with the hard work and the quick understanding of the knowledge by students themselves, the process of teaching and learning can go more smoothly.  Who are more helpful, teachers or classmates? It’s hard to say. When students need help in the academic field, maybe teachers who could offer more professional help are more helpful, and while students need help in daily life, their classmates more be more helpful.  Is your major popular in China? Yeah. You know, there’s an English department almost in every college. And almost every student, even in kindergarten, has started learning English.  What’s the value of your major? I major in business, which, I think, is a very meaningful major. As we all know, in this fast developing society, we need businessman to help the products reach consumers so the world can develop in a balanced and healthy way.  Are there anything special about your teachers and classmates in this major? Most of the professors are academically influential in this area, so I can learn up‐to‐date knowledge and information from them. My classmates are interested in business and we have passion to talk about topics related to this area and we pay attention to relevant news report. It’s like I’m surrounded by people of my kind.  Is it difficult to learn your major? Well, nothing is easy to learn. My major involves a lot of math solving strategies and we have to do research both at the library and in the real world, which requires us read extensively. If I don’t have interest in this major, it’ll be very difficult for me to continue all the hard work. 2. Your Hometown The Place  Where do you come from? Well, I am a native here. You know, I am proud of the city, not only because it has a long history and even once being the capital of China, but because of the famous scenery sites which attracts thousands of visitors every year. I love this city. It’s so clean and beautiful, and life here is really enjoyable.  How long have you lived there? 8 Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 9 I was born and raised here. Now, I’ve lived here for about twenty years. I love here because it’s beautiful and clean and the people are friendly.  (If you are living in a different place to where you "come from) Why did you move there/here? I would move to Hainan because I hear the weather is very nice. I like my hometown but the weather is a little too humid sometimes and the winter is too cold. The most important reason is that my father has the business there. It’s helpful for the business when our family move there.  Is that a big city or a small place? It is the capital of Zhejiang province, but compared to others, it’s not so big. I like it because there’re many famous universities in the city, so sometimes I can go around there to enjoy the campus life with the students. Also, I can enjoy many public facilities, such as the big public libraries and many beautiful parks.  What are the advantages (or, benefits) of living in a big city/small place? If I live in a small city, I can know many people in town. When I go shopping, I might run across my friends very often. Since the place is small, I don’t have to travel for a long time to see my relatives and friends.  Would you say your hometown is more suitable for young people to live in, or old people? My hometown is suitable for both young and old people. Since the economy is good, young people can find jobs easily and they can also start their own business if they want to. For old people, they can enjoy the beautiful scenery and parks as well as the welfare system. Famous  Is your hometown famous for anything? My hometown is famous for the Longjing tea. It’s only for the emperor in the past because of the good taste and quality. Nowadays, both Chinese and foreign people can enjoy it. However, the price is pretty high because of the fame. The History of Your Hometown  Do you know much about the history of your hometown? = Is your hometown a historical city? Yes, I do. It’s the capital in Song dynasty. Now we still have some constructions left from the past. Among them, the Yue temple is a famous 9 Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 10 place, which is near the west lake. Every year a lot of people would go there to visit. Transport  What form of transport do you prefer to use in your hometown? I love riding bikes because it can help me exercise and it’s also environmental friendly. Plus, sometimes, traffic jams are really annoying. If you ride a bike, you’ll not be bothered by them. Free Time Activities in Your Hometown  What place(s) in your hometown do you go to in your leisure time? I love the nature. Sometimes I would ride my bike along the river. Although there’re always a lot of travelers, I can always find my own quiet place to relax. This can really help me feel close to the nature.  How often do you go outside every week? It’s not a certain thing though. When I am free of worries about test or homework, I could go outside a lot, such as going shopping or outing. But when I am busy with my studying or test preparation, I could stay at school for weeks.  What activities do you usually do when you go outside? Same to above  Do you spend enough time doing outdoor activities? I should not say enough. You know, I’m a senior in college, so I have my papers to write, I have the IELTS exam to prepare for, and I love to stay with my classmates for the already‐limited time on the campus. So I do not have many chances to do outdoor activities this term. Your Feelings about the Place  What do you like (most or, best) about (living in) your hometown (or, about living where you are living now)? I like the scenery and the cleanness of the city. I love the beautiful river. Sometimes I would ride my bike along the river. It’s such a big place. Although there’re always a lot of travelers, I can always find my own quiet place to relax. This can really help me feel close to the nature.  Is there anything in your hometown that (you think) needs to be improved? Nowadays, people are getting richer than before and more people can afford cars. I think that’s really a problem. They cause traffic jams and sometimes Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 11 we’ll see cars parked everywhere in the city. Hopefully, the government will do something about it.  Where are you living now? Do you like this place? Why? I’m currently living in Beijing, a metropolis and the capital of China, because I’m studying in Beijing University. I like this city very much because of the rich historical and cultural elements. Beijing has been an integral part of China’s history for centuries; there is scarcely a major building of any age in Beijing that does not have at least some national historical significance. Beijing is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, and huge stone walls and gates. Its art treasures and universities have long made the city a centre of culture and art in China.  What interesting things can we do in big cities? We can have a lot of fun in big cities. If you like shopping, you could go shopping for beautiful clothes and see the designs of famous brands. We have to admit that major museums are usually located in big cities. In these places, we can appreciate our culture and history. There’re also some amusement parks and leisure centers for people both young and old. 3. Your family  Tell me something about your family members? Well, I live in a nuclear family, just like many other people of my age. My father, a civil servant in the government, and my mother, a doctor in a hospital. We’re all busy with our own business, so it is not easy for us to get a family‐get together.  Should young people live with the old? Just as the saying goes “the old are the treasure of the family”, I definitely think young people should live with the old if they have the chance. In this way, the young could get a lot of different kinds of advice from the weather‐beaten old ones, and of course, the old could get passion and energy from the young.  Do your parents call their parents often? What do they usually talk about? Well, these years, my grandparents are getting older, and coz they don’t live with us, my parents would sometimes go to visit them or sometimes call them, caring about their lives and their health. I think this is a virtue for many Chinese to care for their parents when they get old. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 12  What’s the difference between children raised in a single‐parent family and a two‐parent family? I think children who grow up in a two‐parent family will be healthier because they could get the influence from both mom and dad. They’ll learn how to be around with men and women. However, children who grow up in a two‐parent family will tend to be more manly or feminine because they only receive influence from the only parent.  Do you think it’s good to raise a child in the city? It’s a hard question. I think it’s ok. Actually, nowadays a lot of children are raised in the city. Although they can’t get close to the nature, they can receive good education and can enjoy the advanced facilities such as parks, museums, and libraries in the city. 4. News  Do you prefer to read newspapers or watch TV to get your news? I prefer to watch TV because I can see the vivid pictures on TV and in this way, I can usually understand news better than reading newspapers.  What kinds of news are you most interested in? I usually like reading news about things that happen around us. When I see headlines like that, I’ll usually read more in detail. 5. Festivals & Holidays (= vacations = 假期)  What do you usually do when you have holidays? I do many things. Sometimes, I stay at home to read and surf the internet to relax myself. Occasionally, I’ll go shopping or traveling. Since I live near the suburbs, I’ll also go to ride the bike near a lake. It’s a great way to help me get close to the nature.  What did you do in your last holidays? I went to Hainan last holiday and stayed there for about ten days. Although the weather was still cold here, it’s very warm in Hainan. I walked on the beach and appreciated the beautiful scenery.  Which public holidays do you like the most? What’s your favorite festival? I like the holiday of spring festival because we can have a very long holiday. It’s also a time to be together with family and relax. I’m always looking forward to it.  Do you prefer doing things indoors or outdoors on a holiday? = Do you like spending your holidays alone or going out with friends? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 13 I prefer going outdoors because I usually stay indoors to work or study. It’s really important for me to breathe the fresh air and exercise my body during holidays. Sometimes, I would go on short trips to relax myself.  In your country, do old people usually do the same things as young people during a holiday? It depends. If the old people are retired at home, every day is like a holiday for them. They would prefer to do some traditional things. For example, my grandma would always make zongzi during the dragon boat festival.  What family holidays do you (or, does your family) usually celebrate? I usually celebrate the spring festival because it’s so important for Chinese people, just like Christmas for the westerners. At that time, we would have family reunions and do many traditional things.  Do you like national holiday or the spring festival? I like the spring festival holiday because it’s the time for family reunions. I could also eat a lot of delicious food and set off fireworks. I guess it’s just a special season for Chinese people and no other festivals or holidays can replace it.  Do you want to have more holidays? Of course. I would like to go to school three days a week and have four days off if that’s possible. However, if I have too much free time, I will feel bored. For example, during long vacations, I’ll feel happy for the first week, and then, I might feel like going back to school to have more structure in my life. I think balance is the most important thing for us.  Where would you go for long holidays? There’re a lot of good places to go. I like both historical interest places and natural sites. If I have enough time and money, I’ll go to Tibet, Xinjiang, or Yunnan because there are a lot of beautiful scenery and a variety of minorities live in these places. I can see different natural beauty and learn the cultural differences. 6. Dancing  Do you dance? When was the last time you danced? To be honest, I don’t really know how to dance, but I remember last summer I went to the park to dance with some old ladies. I think dancing is a good way to exercise and make friends.  Why do people like dance? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 14 Some people like to dance because they think it’s a good way to exercise. Dancing can help them keep in shape and stay healthy. Others like dance because they like the passion or excitement or take it as a good way to make friends.  What do you feel when you watch dancing programs on TV? Those dancers are really in perfect shapes, their movements are graceful. But sometimes I find too many similar activities on TV, which decreases my interest.  Do you like to watch dance performances? Yes. I sometimes watch dance performances on TV. When I was a child, I would always get excited when I saw them dance on TV and wanted to learn from them.  Have you ever learned to dance? Not really, but I think I should learn in the future because dance can help us stay healthy and make friends. It’s a very good way to make our life more colorful.  Is it important to learn how to dance? I think learning how to dance is important. Dance is an art form used as a form of expression, social interaction or presented in a spiritual or performance setting. Many social dances are partner dances, which’s an important way to get socialized in some formal situations. If we learn some traditional dances, we can understand our cultural value even better. It’s also believed that dancing is a great way to exercise our muscles and keep us fit. Because of so many benefits, it’s hard to say that we don’t want to learn it. 7. Books & Reading  Do you like reading (books)? (Why?/Why not?) I used to, but now I’m busy all the time, so I don’t spend a lot of time reading. I used to read novels and they could help me enrich my life.  What books did you like when you were a child? What about now? Same to above  What (kinds of ) books do you like to read? I used to read novels and they could make my life more colorful. When I read novels, I always feel I’m in a different world.  For children, what do you think are the benefits of reading? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 15 They can learn knowledge and develop their imagination. I learned many Chinese characters from reading when I was a child. I love history books. Through them, I leaned a lot of history knowledge.  Would you like to write a book? I always want to but it’s not an easy thing to do. Maybe when I’m old, I can write my own biography to share my own stories with others.  Do you like receiving a book as a gift? Yes, I think it’s nice to get a book as a gift. I also like giving other people books as gifts. It’s a great thing to share what we like with our good friends.  What books did you like to read in your childhood? When I was a child, I loved cartoon books because the vivid illustrations could always make me feel that the stories were alive in front of me. I still remember the book my mom bought me when I was five. It’s called the boasting king. I still remember all the details in that book. 8. The Ocean  Have you ever been to the seaside? How do you feel about the ocean? Yes, I’ve been to the seaside many times. I still remember the first time I saw the ocean, I was very excited. When I’m there, I can always feel relaxed because the immense of the ocean, I feel all my worries are just trivial compared to the greatness of the nature.  How many times have you been to the seaside? Many times. Same to above.  Did you like the ocean (or, it)? (or, like the sea; or, like the seaside) Yes, I do. Same to above.  What do people in China do when they go to the beach? People like swimming when the weather is good and they could also have a walk around there. I also hear a lot of people saying that they like watching the sunrise and sunset there.  What would you enjoy doing if you were at the seaside? I enjoy watching the waves and when the weather is good, it’s nice to lie on the beach and feel the sunshine. It’s also great to put my feet in the water to feel the sea.  Would you like to live in a house near the ocean? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 16 Yes, I think it’s great if I could have a beach house because there’re so many fun things to do at the beach. I could also invite my friends and relatives to stay with me during their vacations.  What kind of people like to go to the seaside? I would say all kinds of people, young and old. Little children could run on the beach and build sand castles. Young people can go swimming or even go surfing in some places. Old people can enjoy some sunbathing and swim. 9. Your Daily Routine  What time of the day do you like best? What’ the best part of the day for you? What time in a day can you work more effectively? I like working in the morning because it’s the start of the day. I can always feel energetic and enthusiastic when I learn something in the morning. It’s the best time for me to remember things.  When do you do most of your study? I like studying in the morning because it’s the start of the day, I can always feel energetic and when I learn something new, it’s the best time for me to remember things.  Would you like to change your daily routine (in any way)? I think I should get up a little early because morning is the start of the day, I can always feel energetic and when I learn something new, it’s the best time for me to remember things.  How much time do you think people should spend working per week? It’s a hard question. I think eight hours is reasonable. However, a lot of people in china have to work overtime; I think the government really should do something to protect these people. 10. Animals  What's your favorite animal? (Why?) Do you have pets at home? I like many animals, like rabbits, dogs, and cats. When I was a child, I always wanted to have a pet, but my mother felt it was too much trouble to take care of them. Now I also feel I’m too busy to have a pet. Maybe when I get old, I’ll get one as a member in my family  Are people in your country fond of animals? I think so. A lot of people have pets in the cities and you can see a lot of people walk their dogs in the evening. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 17  Do people raise pets in the city? What kinds of animals as a pet do the people have in your country? Mostly cats and dogs, and you can see a lot of people walk their dogs in the evening. People think pets are good companions when they feel lonely.  Compared with the past, have there been any changes concerning pets in your country/hometown? In the past a lot of people have dogs as their guards, especially in the countryside. But nowadays, a lot of old people feel lonely when their children are grownup. I think it’s the main reason for people to have pets now.  Did you have any pets when you were a child? When I was a child, I always wanted to have a pet, but my mother felt it was too much trouble to take care of them. Now I also feel I’m too busy to have a pet. Maybe when I get old I’ll have one.  How will you arrange your pets when you’re having a long journey? I’ll ask the relatives or friends that I trust to take care of my pets. Of course, it’s important to tell them what my pets like to do or eat. If they’re allergic to something or have some body conditions, I’ll also let them know. When I’m away, I’ll call occasionally to check on my pets to see if they’re doing ok and having a good time.  Why do people like to raise pets? Well, some people like to raise pets because of their cuteness, but others keep pets may because they want to have loyal friends at home to accompany them. There’re also some people who may feel bored of their daily routine and hope to find some excitement from their pets.  What wild animal do you like? To be frank, I don’t have much chance to be close to those wild animals. Mostly I see them on TV. If I have to choose one, I would to say the polar bear, because they are so strong physically and so perseverant even when they live in such a harsh environment.  What is the function of animals in the agriculture? Animals may be helpful in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, so they are beneficial to the growth of many plants. Also, some animals, like frogs, may help to kill those insects that are harmful to crops. However, some other animals, like boars, may damage the crops by taking too much as their food. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 11. Colors 18  What's your favorite color? (Why?) I like many colors and my favorite color is green because it’s the color of the nature. When I buy something, I tend to choose green ones because this color can make me feel relaxed and comfortable.  Do you usually (or, always) wear clothes in your favorite color? Yes, although I like other colors too, I tend to choose green if I have the choice.  Are there any colors that have a special meaning in your country? It’s red. Red represents good luck and happiness. In the past, people would always wear red clothes during big festivals and important events.  What color would you choose to paint the walls of your room? I would paint my walls light green because my favorite color is green. It’s the color of our nature. Green can make me feel relaxed and comfortable.  What kind of color do you dislike? I don’t like very bright colors, such as yellow or red because they can make me feel a little dizzy. Also, I think bright color clothes are more difficult to match. I prefer colors that are softer and are easy to match other colors. So I would usually buy clothes that are not too bright.  What color did you like in your childhood? When I was a child, I was fond of the blue color, coz I liked the blue sky, which would always make me feel relaxed and delighted. And I liked the blue sea water, coz it reminded me of my being tiny in the world. However, these days, it is not so easy for me to see the blue sky since it is always gray, and I have few chances to go to the sea because life in the city is so busy for me.  What colors do Chinese people dislike? Traditionally, white and black are colors used in funerals, so a lot of people don’t like these two colors. But now, this has changed a lot, which’s why you can see brides wearing white wedding dresses nowadays. In the past, they would always wear red wedding clothes. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 12. Food 19  What food did you like to eat when you were a child? I used to like celery a lot, but once after having it, I became sick. From then on, I don’t like it any more. I guess people’s feelings can influence what they eat.  Do you think it's good to (often or sometimes) take children to restaurants? I think it’s ok to take children to restaurants occasionally because they can taste different food and feel happy. However, it’s not good for taking children to restaurants all the time. It’s always nice for family to have meals together and the dishes cooked at home are usually cleaner and safer.  Do people in your country like to eat together? Yes, most people in China like to eat with others. They like to have a chance to chat with each other, since they are usually too busy with their own matters. Also, eating together helps people to increase their appetite, and so they will feel more delicious of the food they eat.  Do you think it is important to cook at home ? Why ? To some extent, yes. Cooking at home provides us with good chances to have a family get‐together, with somebody preparing the food, somebody cooking, somebody making the table, and somebody washing the dishes, family members can feel closer to each other. Besides, cooking at home enables us to have dishes that are cleaner and healthier.  What is the feature of the home‐made food? I think there are at least two features of the home‐made food. First, it is cleaner than food cooked in the restaurant, because we don’t know the actual process how they cook the dish, but at home, we cook the food ourselves, so it is very safe. Second, it is warm if we make food at home and eat together, for the food contains our feelings; we try our best to make delicious foods.  What kind of food is popular in your country? Do people in different places like different kinds of food? Actually people in different places like different kinds of food. A lot of people in the north like Jiaozi, and many people in the south like rice dumplings. But hot pot is very popular all over China. You could see hot pot restaurants almost every where. 13. Sport  What sports do you like? (Why?) I like many different kinds of sports, badminton, tennis, and volleyball. I think it’s a good way for me to stretch my muscles and make friends. I Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 20 would sometimes go to the university campus near my home to do these sports.  What sports do Chinese people like? Boys may like basketball and football more, but the rest of the sports are both good for men and women, such as badminton, tennis, and volleyball. I like playing them a lot.  What are the differences between boys' sports and girls' sports? Same to above.  Did you like (to play) sport when you were a child? Yes, I did. When I was a child, I was more active and would always play some sports with my friends on our school playground, even after school. I think it’s good for children to do some exercise.  What sports did you play when you were a child? I used to play Chinese jump rope and volleyball. I would always play with a group of children and I had a lot fun.  If you have children in the future, will you let them take part in any sport? I would take my children to play sports occasionally and encourage them to play with their friends as well because I think sports can help them develop mentally and physically.  What’s the amount of exercise that modern people do? A lot of people care about their physical health and would go to fitness centers or do outdoor activities regularly. However, a lot of others also tend to stay at home more and might be too lazy to work out regularly. It’s really bad for their health. I think the government should build more public fitness facilities to encourage everybody to exercise.  What kind of outdoor activity do you often do? I usually go hiking and play badminton in the park during my spare time. I think hiking is good for my health and can help me get close to the nature. Playing badminton is good for me to stretch my arms after a whole day’s work or study. 14. Shopping  Where do you usually do your shopping? I usually go to nearby supermarkets to buy both daily necessities and clothes. I don’t like spending too much time shopping. Occasionally, I would also shop online and I think it’s pretty convenient. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 21  Do you enjoy shopping in big shopping malls (big shopping centres)? Yes, I do. There’re usually a variety of products and brands available there. And the service is good. If you don’t like something you have bought, you can ask for a refund, but usually you can’t do that at a smaller shop.  Where do you buy your clothes? How often do you buy clothes? What styles of clothes do you like to buy? I usually by my clothes at a shopping mall near my home. I care about the quality of clothes and I want to wear comfortable ones so I would usually buy good brand casual clothes. Since I don’t want to spend a lot of time shopping, I would go shopping once every two months and buy enough clothes to wear for the whole season.  Why some people don’t like shopping Shopping is usually time‐consuming and shopping centers are always full of people, so some people might feel dizzy and uncomfortable when they go to such places. Sometimes too many choices can also make people feel hard to make decisions. So this might also make people feel reluctant to shop.  What do you feel about the trend of the fashion? I think it’s nice because people would always try to follow the trend and they would make a lot of changes accordingly. Fashion can add more spice and sparkles to our life. However, fashionable things may not be suitable for everyone, so we shouldn’t follow fashion blindly. 15. Numbers  In your country, do any numbers have special meaning? Yes, Chinese people love several numbers, such as 8, 6, and 9. 8 is probably the most popular one because it sounds like getting rich in Chinese. People would pay extra money for telephone numbers that contain this number.  What's your favorite number? I love eight because 8 is probably the most popular one and because it sounds like getting rich in Chinese. People would pay extra money for telephone numbers that contain this number.  Are there any numbers or dates that you think are (especially) important to remember? We should definitely remember our telephone number and some passwords. For dates, it’s important for us to remember the birthdays of our loved ones.  Which do you think are easier to remember, names or numbers? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner I think it depends. Sometimes, some numbers can remind us of something we’re familiar with, we’ll more likely to remember them. For example, 9494 sounds like yes, yes in Chinese pronunciation, so it’s easier to remember. This rule also applies to names.  How do you remember long numbers? I’ll try to give the numbers some interesting meanings or connect them with my Chinese language. For example, my cell phone number contains 94, which sounds like yes in Chinese, and 781, which sounds like ‘I can’t get up’. If I do it in this way, it’s really easy for me to remember numbers.  What’s the relationship of your major and numbers? I major in accounting, so I have to work with numbers all the time. I think numbers are my best friends and I have to treat them with great care. I’ll be in big trouble if I make some mistakes with the numbers.  What is the most important number to you? Is there any special meaning? 21 is the most important number to me because I was born on that day. I’ll always remember it and it’s also important to call my mom on my birthday to tell her how thankful I am.  Are you good at remembering numbers? Are there any ways to help us remember numbers? Actually not. It usually takes me a long time to remember long numbers. However, if I try to associate their pronunciation with other meaningful phrases, I’ll more likely to retain them.  Are there any good or bad numbers in your culture? Yeah. China has a long history, and we do have a culture almost in every field of life. As to numbers, the number 6, 8 and 9, are usually considered good numbers, because number six conveys a meaning of smoothness, number 8 means fortune and number 9 offers us an everlasting feeling. However, number 4 and number 13 are taken as bad numbers, because the former pronounces as the word “death” while the latter contains a meaning of being foolish.  Do you have any special (lucky) numbers in your memory/life? Well, yes. I take Number 7 as my lucky number. You know, the seventh day of a week is Sunday when I could enjoy my free time, and I always got number seven in score ranks when I was in school. And now, if I get a band 7 for ielts, I can be admitted by the university I have dreamed to go. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 16. Time 23  Would you say you are good at managing (or, organizing) your time? Sometimes, when I have pressure, I can usually manage my time better because I have to. However, if I have plenty of time to do something, I’ll tend to put it off.  How do you organize/manage your time? I would keep my schedule in a calendar note book, so that I would know what I need to do each day or even each week. It’s a good way to see how much time I’m spending on certain things.  How did you learn this? Who did you learn it from? I learned it from my college professor. If we want to ask her for advice, she would always look at her schedule book to tell us when she’s available. I think it’s a good way to manage one’s time, so I started doing it myself and after trying it, I feel it’s very effective. 17. Painting and Drawing  Do you like drawing / painting? (Why / Why not?) I think it’s interesting, but I don’t know how to draw well. When I was a child, I would always draw something by myself, but I have never received professional training. If I have the opportunity, I want to learn some painting skills.  What do you think are the benefits of painting (or drawing; or art) for children? I think painting can help children to use their imagination and creativity. I think it’s a very good way for children to express their feelings and emotions. They can create their own imaginary world through painting.  Do you think painting (or drawing) is important for adults? I think not everyone needs to learn the skill but paintings are definitely important in our life. When we want to express ourselves better, sometimes, we might need to draw for others. Paintings can add some color to our life.  Do you still draw those pictures that you did in your childhood? Not really. I used to like drawing fairies and cartoon characters because I was very interested in these stories. However, when I reached certain age, all these drawings just seemed childish to me, so I stopped. I guess I should start learning to draw some thing else soon.  Should children learn paintings or drawings? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 24 I think it is a good idea to send children to learn painting or drawing. For one thing, children’s talents in this field can be developed and cultivated. For another, it provides the children with good chances to develop their sense of beauty and their ability to create. 18. Gifts  When was the last time you received a gift? Last month, my sister bought a very beautiful sweater for me. It was a good gift. Actually, I don’t receive gifts often, but I’m always happy to have them.  Do you prefer to receiving a gift or giving a gift? I think both. When I receive gifts, I can feel happy and loved, but when my friends or family members love the gift I give them, I also feel happy.  Do you think it's difficult to choose what gift to give to people? Definitely. It’s really hard to know what others want or need. Sometimes, we might buy what we like for others, but they may not like it or need it. I sometimes feel it’s a good way to give money or gift card instead if we don’t really have the idea of what to buy.  What were the gifts you sent to others recently? Um, last week, when my classmate came from shanghai to see me, I sent her a bag of longjin tea, which is one of the famous produce in my hometown. When I saw the happy smile on her face, I felt delighted also.  Is it easy for you to have the ideas to send gifts to others? Do you like giving gifts to your friends? Yes, I believe sending gifts to others not only shows your love or respect to them, but also helps to bring closer the relationship between each other. So I always try to send my friends something as gifts, no matter how insignificant the gift is, and I could always see happy smiles on my friends’ faces. 19. Parties  Do you like parties? Yes, I do. I think it’s always nice to get together with friends occasionally. It’s also nice to make friends at parties. However, we don’t have parties very often in China.  Where do people in your country hold parties? At home or restaurants. I think most of the informal parties I attended were held at homes. I think it’s nice to visit someone’s home and get to know them better. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 25  Do you prefer parties with friends or with family? I like both because when I’m with friends, we can share our feelings and get closer to each other, but with families, we can spend some quality time together.  Is there much difference between young people's parties and old(er) people's parties? I think so. Usually young people like playing games on parties and maybe even play loud music, but old people usually like talking with each other and do some quieter activities. 20. Seasons and Weather  What's the weather (usually) like in your hometown? The weather is usually nice in my hometown, especially during the spring‐‐it’s neither hot nor cold. I can do many outdoor activities.  What's your favorite season? (Why?) I like spring and autumn because the weather is neither hot nor cold. I could go outside to do many outdoor activities.  What do you usually (like to) do during your favorite weather (or season)? Same to above.  Is there any season you dislike? (Why?) It should be summer. The summer in my hometown is a little too hot, so I would usually feel very uncomfortable if I stay outdoors for too long. I really hope the summer here could be a little cooler.  In what weather do you like to go out with your parents? Often it is on fine days. Without worrying to be caught in the rain or snow, with a comfortable temperature, we would like to have some outings to the parks or other tourist attractions. We really like to be close to the nature and meanwhile have a family get‐together.  What’s your favorite weather? Well, it depends. In winter and spring, I like sunny days, because it makes me feel warm and relaxed, and I can walk around to do activities conveniently. But in summer, sunny days will be too hot for me to go out. And thus, I like rainy days in summer, coz it can always bring me a feeling of coolness.  What weather is best for working and studying in your opinion? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 26 To be frank, I don’t think weather matters much when people are determined to work or study, not to say usually people are doing this inside. However, to those outdoor activities, maybe sunny days or cloudy days will be more convenient than stormy days or rainy days.  What kind of weather do Chinese people like? Well, it is hard to say for sure, coz people’s preferences may vary from person to person. Generally, in winter and spring, people may like sunny days, because it makes them feel warm and relaxed, and they can walk around to do activities conveniently. But in summer, sunny days will be too hot for people to go out. And thus, people may like rainy days in summer, coz it can always bring them a feeling of coolness.  In which season there are more fine days? why? Well, in China, I think there are more fine days in autumn, a season of harvest. You know, in autumn, the temperature is not as high as that in summer, and it is always sunny. The weather is fine enough for people to do whatever they like, not matter indoors or outdoors.  Do you think the weather now has changed greatly compared to the past? To some extent, yes. I remember that in my childhood, the temperature was not so high, and it was not so hot in summer. Besides, there was less disastrous weather like these days. The disasters brought by typhoon, hurricanes, hails, acid rains and sandstorms were much less. 21. Concert  Have you ever been to a live concert? Yes, many times. I think the atmosphere is very different at a live concert. I can be influenced by the people around me and the singer or musical instrument performers on the stage. It’s just very nice.  Do you ever go to live concerts? Definitely. I think the atmosphere is very nice and if I go to a concert of my favorite singer, I might even take a picture with him or her.  Would you like to go to a concert in the future? Same to above.  Would you prefer to watch a concert on TV or to attend a live concert? I think if I have plenty of money, I’d prefer to go to the concert. However, it’s also nice to keep a CD so that I can listen to it whenever I want to. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 27  When was the last time you attended a concert? To tell the truth, it has been a long time since I attended a concert. The last time I went to a concert was several years ago, when Liyuchun winning the super girl singing competition. In that concert, I saw more than 20 stars on the stage, it was great.  What is the most popular concert in china? Well, it’s really a big question to me, coz I am actually not so familiar with concerts, and I am not so interested in concerts either. In this sense, it is hard for me to give you an answer for sure. However, these days, I know that many people are watching a game show on Hunan TV, HAPPY GIRL, which is quite popular among the public.  If you have the chance, will you attend the concert? I am not so sure. You know, I am not so enthusiastic about concerts. I don’t see much value from attending a concert. If I have the chance, without any bothering of other matters, and if I have some friends or family to go with, I may go there to have a relaxation. 22. Collecting   Do you like collecting things? What do you collect? Did you collect anything (such as stamps or CD's) when you were a child? I used to collect stickers of famous film stars. It was just very popular to do that when I was a child and I collected about a hundred of them. I really enjoyed taking them out and look at them. I spent most of my allowance on them. Do you still collect them now? Not really. After I went to middle school, I began to feel it’s too childish to do it so I stopped. However, now I still keep some of them in my home.  Do you collect anything as a hobby now? Not really because I’m pretty busy with my studies right now. Maybe in the future, I can collect some antiques because I think I can learn a lot from them.  Why do you think people like collecting things? I think if you once start, it’s really hard to stop. People can learn a lot of knowledge and get to know some new friends. The collection itself can also give you a lot of pleasure.  If you had a lot of money, what would you like to collect? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 28 If I had a lot of money, I would definitely collect antiques because I love history and am really interested in old things that carry stories and knowledge.  Why do you think some people like to collect something old? Maybe in their mind, those old things have some special meanings to them, or in other cases, those old things are limited in production, and may generate more values to them in the future. And to others, a collection of old things may provide them a feeling of self‐satisfaction.  What do you think is worth collecting in your country? Well, you know, China has a long history, so we really have a lot to collect. For example, some people like to collect those paintings by ancient famous painters, others like to collect antiques made in history, and still others nowadays may like to collect photos of their idols. Collections can bring collectors some certain values.  Where do those collectors go to buy their collections? Nowadays, there are some markets for collectors to buy their collections. For instance, stamp collectors can go to the stamp market, and antique collectors can go to those antique markets. Besides, some collectors may go to the rural areas to buy in high price something found by the rural people. On some occasions, they can even find some invaluable things 23. Films  Do you prefer to watch films at home or in a cinema? (Why?) I think they’re just different to me. When I watch films at home, I can have the freedom and the happy time with my family members, and when I watch films in a cinema, I can enjoy the bigger screen and greater sound system, as well as the company of larger groups of audience.  Do you prefer to watch films or read books? I think they’re just different to me. When I read books, I can imagine what really happen and when I watch films, I can see the vivid pictures.  What films do you like, why? I like romance because they can always make me feel the world is wonderful and full of love. Most love stories are touching and can make me laugh and cry.  What was the film you watched recently? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 29 I watched a film called YEWEN last weekend, which was an excellent Chinese Kongfu show, acted by Zhenzidan. He is my favorite movie star, and the Kongfu films really arouse my passion in life. I like it  What films did you like when you were a child? I liked watching cartoon films a lot and actually I still do. I think cartoons can provide an imaginary world for children and help them to cultivate their creativity.  Is watching movie a good time to kill time? Yeah, I agree. When we are watching movies, we are involving ourselves in the plots of the movies, and so staying away from the reality, which helps us to kill time easily. 24. Clothes and Fashion Shopping for Clothes  Where do you buy your clothes? I usually buy clothes at some big shopping centers because I can find a variety of brands there. Occasionally, I also shop online. It’s convenient to do that because I don’t have to go to different shops to choose what I like.  Have you ever bought clothes that you (now) don't like? Actually, many times. When I actually wear the clothes, I may find some parts that I don’t like and then I may just don’t want to wear it again. It’s a waste of money. I just hope I can be wiser when I buy clothes. Wearing Clothes  What kinds of (or, style of) clothes do you usually buy (or, wear)? I like girly clothes because I want to look feminine. Clothes with some lace or bows can always attract me.  What kinds of (or, style of) clothes do you like? I like wearing casual clothes because they can make me feel comfortable and relaxed. However, if I have a job, I’ll probably need to dress more formal. Then, I’ll buy some formal clothes for work.  Do you think you will like wear a different style of clothes when you are older? Same to above. Fashion  What types of clothes are in fashion now? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 30 I heard that bright color clothes are in fashion this year, but I don’t see many people wearing them yet. I guess probably when the weather gets warmer; girls and boys will dress in colorful clothes.  Do you think fashion trends will be the same when you are old(er)? It might be. Nowadays, a lot of people are trying to dress in old fashion ways. It’s considered the new fashion today. Maybe when I get old, something will still be the same. 25. Traveling  Do you like travelling? Yes, I do. Traveling can help me learn local cultures and customs. I can also taste a variety of local food. I think it’s great to travel with friends and families. It might be even better if I could travel overseas.  Where do you like to go when you go traveling? I don’t like very crowded places. I don’t like to visit the tourist attractions, but I would like to visit some people’s home and some unique restaurants. I can learn a lot from just walking in a city.  Have you ever traveled for a long time? = Have you (ever) been on any long trips? Yes, I went to Yunnan province last summer and stayed there for almost two weeks. It’s really my longest trip so far. I like the stone forests in Kunming and Lijing ancient town. Since there’re a variety of ethnic groups in Yunnan, the culture and construction styles are very different from cities in my hometown.  Do you like long trips? If I have enough time, I think long trips are nice because I can always learn new things by staying there for a longer time. Also, if I have plenty of time to explore a place, I won’t feel too tired.  How do you feel when you travel? I can always feel relaxed and excited because I can see different things and learn the local cultures and customs.  Do you prefer to travel alone or with other people? I prefer to travel with other people because I can talk with them and share our experiences. Also, I’m not good at directions. If I travel with others, I don’t need to worry about getting lost. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 31  Where (which country or place) would you like to travel to (in the future)? If I have enough money, I’d like to travel to Egypt. It’s a mysterious country to me and I always want to walk in the pyramids. I think I might even find the buried treasure if I’m lucky enough. 26. Science  Are you very interested in science? Yes, I do. Science can help me understand the world and nature better. I always feel very excited when I learn something new. I think it’s important for us to learn science.  Is there anything about science that you dislike? Not really, but if I learn too much theory, I’ll feel hard to digest it. I think schools should provide more lab classes for students.  What science do students learn at school in your country? Students learn many things about science, such as physics and chemistry. It’s really helpful for children to learn something at school and experience it in labs.  What do you find most interesting in science? Is science helpful for you? Well, many things in science interest me. for example, the change of a substance into another just by adding some chemical ingredients, the lighting of a bulb by rubbing papers, and the moving of objects by the magnets, observing tiny things through the microscopes, all make me amazed about the mystery of science 27. Flowers  Do you like flowers? Yes, I do. I think flowers can make our life more colorful. I like roses most because I think it’s the symbol of love. When my boyfriend gives me roses, I’m always very happy. (When I give roses to my girl friends, she’s always happy)  In your country, do people (ever) give flowers as a gift? Yes, more and more people like giving flowers to each other, especially for young couples. Sometimes, people also give flowers on Mother’s day and other big events.  On what occasions do people in your country give flowers to other people? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 32 People would give flowers to their loved ones on Valentine’s Day and mother’s day. When we visit sick people, it’s also nice to bring some flowers.  Do any flowers have any special meaning in your country? Yes. For example, Peonies are considered as the flowers of richness and power. In the past, a lot of people like planting peonies in their gardens.  What’s the national flower of china? It is the peony maybe, I am not so sure, coz in these days, people don’t talk a lot about this. In history, the peony was considered as a kind of flower to show elegance and fortune, so it was always grown in the yard by rich or powerful people.  What flowers do you like to decorate your home during festivals? Red flowers, including the natural ones and the artificial ones. Coz you know, red in china represents luck and fortune; people hope the decoration with these flowers can bring them good fortunes.  Are flowers important in our life? Yes, I think so. Flowers can help us get close to the nature and we can also use it to decorate our houses. If we don’t have flowers, the world will be very boring. 28. Newspaper (and Magazines)  What (kinds of) newspapers do you have in your country? There’re many kinds, such as Newspapers about politics, about TV celebrities, and education etc. I enjoy reading news related to my life. It’s good to know what’s happening around me.  What kinds of (types of) newspapers do you usually read? I don’t read newspapers often because I usually get news from the internet, but I enjoy reading news related to my life. It’s good to know what’s happening around me.  Why do people read newspapers? There’s a lot of information in newspapers and people can learn what’s happening around them. There’re also some interesting stories to entertain them. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 29. Cooking 33  Who usually does the cooking in your family (or, in your home)? My mom does most of the cooking and she’s an excellent cook. She has the ability to make simple dishes taste very good. I think I should learn from her.  Did you learn how to cook when you were younger (or, when you were a child)? Kind of. I learned how to make simple dishes and noodles. Actually, when I was a child, I felt cooking was fun and would always like to watch my parents cook.  In the future, do you think you will be cooking more than you do now, or less? (Why?) I think so. If I study in a foreign county, I probably can’t taste Chinese food very often. The best way to solve this problem is to make dishes myself. I’m sure I’ll learn a lot through this kind of experience. 30. Housework  Do people do a lot of housework in your country? Do Chinese people like spending time doing housework? Yes, many people like to do the housework themselves, because they believe it is their own private matters. But it seems more people like to pay for somebody else to do the house work for them, because in their mind, their time is more valuable than doing housework.  Did you do a lot of housework when you were a child? Well, I have to say sorry to my parents. Coz you know, when I was a child, my parents wished that I could spend all my time in studying or playing. And so they did not ask me to do any house work  Is it important for a child to do housework? Maybe. I am not so sure. It is possible for them to do house work, to understand the value of life, or to know more about life. Coz I didn’t do a lot of house work when I was a child, I couldn’t really tell whether it is important or not.  What kind of housework do you have to do in China? Usually some cleaning jobs, such as mopping the floor, cleaning the table or the dishes, and making the beds. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 34  What different kinds of house work do man and women do? Well, many a time men will do some house work like changing the bulbs, fixing the locks, or plumbing, but now more men are sharing other housework with women.  Should children help their parents to so some housework? Yes, I think it is a good idea to ask children to help their parents to do some housework. In this way, the children cannot only learn some practical skills but also have a sense of their parents’ hard work, as well as understanding the importance of cherishing the fruits of labor. 31. Swimming  Can you swim? Yes, not very good though. I learned it at a swimming pool near my home when I was in middle school. At first, I felt it was very difficult, so I even bought a book about swimming. Finally, I realized that I could swim. Now it became very easy to me and I would always go swimming, especially in summer.  Do you like swimming? Yeah. I think swimming is a very good way to exercise and keep me fit. When I swim, I would feel that I’m like a fish. I usually swim at the swimming pool near my home or go to the beach.  Have you ever been trained in swimming? Yes, my parents enrolled me in a swimming lesson at the swimming pool near my home when I was in middle school. The coach I had was very nice and she gave me a lot of encouragement. Now I could do freestyle and butterfly stroke swimming.  Is it important to learn swimming? Definitely. We all know swimming is a good way to exercise our body. When we’re face disasters or emergencies involving water, swimming can also help us get away from dangers.  Do you rather swim in the ocean or swimming pools? It’s a dilemma. I like swimming in the ocean because it makes me feel close to the nature and there’s more space for me to stretch my arms and legs. However, if I have my private swimming pool, I’d love to swim in it Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 35 because the water is fresh and sallow so I can enjoy my time without worrying being drowned or the taste of the salty water.  When did you learn to swim? I learned to swim when I was in primary school. At that time, there were often reports of children drowning in water, so my father sent me to a swimming school, hoping that I could be free from the threats of drowning in water.  Where do you like to swim? I have never tried to swim in some other places but the swimming pools. However, it now seems not interesting to always swim in the swimming pool. I hope one day I can swim in the natural environment, such as the shallow sea or some rivers. I think that will be more interesting.  What should children pay attention to when they are learning swimming? Well, when they are learning swimming, there must be someone there to look after them, in case emergencies happen. Also, they should be brave enough to bury their head under water, so that they can learn to swim quickly.  Which one is safer, swimming pools or the sea near the beach? Of course, swimming pools are safer because the water is usually shallower and there are always some lifeguards watching the people who are swimming. Comparatively, the ocean is so big and deep and it’s very hard to predict what might happen in the next minute. So we should be very careful when we swim in the ocean. 32. Home & Family  Do you live in a house or a flat? I live in a flat. It’s a fifteen‐story building and my home is on the fifth floor. We have three bedrooms and a big living room. I like my home because it’s spacious.  Do you like to live in a big city or a small town？ It’s a dilemma. I think it would be nice to live in the countryside but work and enjoy the modern facilities in the city. Right now, I live in big cities. I have access to all kinds of modern facilities and it’s also easier for me to find a suitable job. However, the air pollution and traffic problems sometimes drive me crazy. I think I’ll move to the countryside after I get retired. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 36  Which room is your favorite in your home? I love our living room because it’s spacious. I could watch TV and play computer games there. I also like the view from the big window. From there, I could see the river in my city and the beautiful trees along the river. I think I spend most of the time at home in the living room besides sleeping time.  Do you like changing your flat? If I have the option, it’ll be nice to move to a bigger flat. I will never complain about having a big flat. If I do, I’ll be able to hold parties with my friends and even play badminton in our living room. Now, we would usually feel crowded if we have a guest. With a big flat, this won’t be a problem anymore.  Is it good for family members to eat together? Absolutely. For a lot of Chinese families, dinner time is the quality time that the family can spend together, because during that time, we’ll concentrate on our meal and set our tasks or homework aside. If we take family meals away, I think it’ll be hard for the people who live under the same roof to know each other well.  Do you know your neighbors? Is it good to know your neighbors？ Yes. I recently moved to this new home, so I don’t know most of my neighbors. But one day, when I was walking down the stairs and one of my neighbors, a young girl, was doing the same thing, we started talking. From then on, I would always talk to her when I see her in the stair way. I feel it’s good to know my neighbors because when I have some problems or troubles, I could ask them for help.  Do you prefer young or old neighbors? I prefer young neighbors, especially people of my age because we will more likely to have things in common. It’s easier for us to communicate and we could even do some outdoor activities together. However, if I have old neighbors, I’ll be able to learn life experience from them.  What do you think can be added to your flat? If it’s possible, I’d love to have a guest room added. Sometimes my friends visit but my home is too tiny so they have to sleep in the living room. I always feel embarrassed for that. With an extra guest room, everything will be solved. Besides, if we don’t have guests, I can use it as my private study room, which will help me study more effectively. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 37 33. Bird  Can you see birds where you live? = Are there many birds around where you live? Yes, most of them are sparrows. Occasionally, I can also see some colorful birds, which I don’t know their names. I think it’s good to hear the birds singing, which can make me feel very close to the nature.  What kinds are they? They’re just very common birds, sparrows, swallows, and occasionally woodpeckers. I hope there’re other kinds of birds in my hometown so that I could observe them and learn their living habits.  Are their any values of them? Absolutely. Many birds are. Some species, particularly songbirds and parrots, are popular as pets. Birds figure prominently in all aspects of human culture from religion to poetry to popular music. Some nectar‐feeding birds are important pollinators, and many frugivores play a key role in seed dispersal.  Is it important to protect those birds? From what I know, many species have become extinct as a result of human activity. Currently a lot of other species of birds are threatened with extinction, though efforts are underway to protect them. If we don’t pay more attention to protecting them, we’ll destroy the ecosystem and it’s hard to know what consequences we will be expecting.  Do Chinese people like to keep birds? Well, keeping birds are not popular among Chinese people. But there are still some who keep birds, especially those old ones. And I have seen some people take their birds with them when they are doing morning exercise in the park.  What birds do Chinese people like? Well, Chinese people like many different kinds of birds. For example, we like pigeons, because they are showing a sense of peace around the world, we love swallows because they are so hard working in killing pests, and we are fond of peacocks because they are so beautiful.  What birds will people keep at home as pets? Well, as I have seen, people like to keep pigeons, parrots, mynas, and thrushes. The main reason is that these birds can serve some certain purposes. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 38 For example, pigeons are once considered the best postmen, while parrots are the ones that can mimic human voices to amuse people.  What kinds of birds are famous in China? In China, birds like pigeons, swallows and peacocks are famous. Because pigeons are showing a sense of peace around the world, and we love swallows because they are so hard working in killing pests. In addition, we are fond of peacocks because they are so beautiful. 34. Name  Do you like your name? Now, yes. Actually, when I was a child, my friends would make fun of my name and I felt I should change it, but eventually I didn’t. Now I’m used to it and feel it’s a part of me. It’ll be weird for me if I start using a different name. I think it’s a good one.  Are there any special meanings of your name? 参考一：Yes, my given name mei means beautiful roses, which is a very common name for girls. My mom gave me this name because she wanted me to grow to a beautiful woman. 参考二：Yes, my given name long means dragon. Most Chinese people think that dragon means success and power. I guess that’s why the emperors in China all had dragon figures on their clothes. My parents gave me this name because they wanted me to be successful in the future.  Who gives the names in China? What’s the tradition of giving names? Usually the parents and sometimes grandparents are involved in name giving. Chinese people always attach great importance to the choice of names, so they would even go to fortune tellers to get the perfect names for their children. The fortune teller will consider the astrological principles, the birth date, the array of five elements (metal, wood, water, fire, and earth), the form, pronunciation, and meaning of name.  Are you willing to change your name? why? To tell the truth, I won’t change my name. For one thing, I have used this name for so many years, and I have got used to it. For another, this name is given by my grandfather, and he is now in another world. Keeping this name is to commemorate him.  What meanings are there in the nicknames of Chinese children? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 39 Well, usually when children are at a very early age, the parents will give them nicknames. For one thing, a nickname can be easier to be understood by the babies and then bring closer the relationship easier. For another, a nickname shows the great love from the parents to their children. Also, in some rural areas, some parents may give their children some nicknames, just for the sake of an easier growth of the children, although we know this is just a kind of superstitions. 35. Music  What type of music did you like when you were a child? What about now? When I was a child, I love children songs. I learned most of the songs from school and my mom. Songs are easier to remember because I can still sing most of the songs I learned when I was a child. Now, I like pop music more, especially the songs can express my feelings. 36. Handcraft  When do you need to make something yourself? I usually don’t need to make things myself because we can always find everything at supermarkets. But occasionally I make scarves or sweaters by myself. It’s like my pastime hobby. I would always feel a sense of success when I complete a project.  Is it good for children to do more hands‐on activities? I think so. When children make things themselves, they’re more likely to remember things and their interest will be aroused during the process. It’s also a good way to teach them to be independent. When children use their hands, they’ll need to think and their brains will also be developed better.  Did you do a lot of hands‐on activities in your childhood? Yes. When I was a child, I sometimes even needed to make my own toys, which helped me develop my imagination and creativity. I think it’s really important for children to use their hands more because they can  Should children learn a certain skill in their early age? It depends. If they’re interested in something, such as drawing, and playing instruments, it’s helpful for them to start early. They’ll have more career choices when they grow older if they have some special skills. However, if Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 40 the children don’t want to learn a skill that the parents think is important, it’ll be wise for parents to respect the children’s choice.  Did you ever learn to make something by hand? Yes, when I was a child even in the kindergarten, my teachers had taught me how to make a paper plane and paper bird. It was quite encouraging to see things made by my own hands.  Do you think it is popular in china? These days, hand‐made things are becoming popular. Coz you know, some hand‐made things are so unique and exquisite that no such machines can produce. On some other occasions, when people are bored with those things massively produced by machines, they may choose to make one with their own hands.  If you have a chance, what do you want to learn? If I have the chance, I would like to learn to make a kite with my own hands. You know, when I was a child, I liked to fly kites very much, and my father had bought me a lot of kites. But I dreamed of having one kite, made all by myself, that could fly higher than any of my classmates’ and friends’. But I never had a chance to do so because my father was too busy with his business and could not provide me with the necessary material and skills.  Did you do handcrafts at school? I actually had a handcraft class when I was in elementary school, and the teacher would teach us to do all kinds of handcrafts. I would always feel proud of myself, when I brought my own art works home.  Do you think Chinese people like making handcrafts? I think so. In the past, a lot of people would make their own sweaters, and now cross stitch is getting popular among young ladies. I think it’s nice to see your own finished works, because they could give you a sense of achievement. 37. Photography  Do you like taking photos? Yes, I do. I think photography is a great invention because we can keep our memories through photos we take. I would always take my camera with me when I go on a trip or have some big events with friends or family. I keep all Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 41 my pictures on my computer and it’s nice to look at them during my spare time. I can recall many things.  Do people in China like to take photos? Yes, I think so. You could see a lot of Chinese people taking pictures at tourist sites. Also, we take pictures for new born babies to track their growing process. For students, they’ll have their pictures taken during graduation time and usually people will keep these photos for the rest of their lives. Pictures can help us keep good memories and even document historical events.  What kinds of photos do you like? I like a wide range of photos, such as people, buildings, natural beauty, and animals. I think different pictures can show us different dimension of life. If we don’t get to go to our dream city, photos can help us see what is there and what the people are like. Photos can also be used as great visual aids if we need to demonstrate something or make our points clear.  Do you like to take photographs when you are visiting new places? Yes. Every time when I visit some new places, I would take a lot of pictures there. I would take photos about beautiful scenery, attractive events, and interesting people. You know, all these leave me very good memories of the places I visit.  What is the most impressive photo to you? One most impressive photo I have ever taken was the photo I took last year when I had a visit in Hainan province. In that picture, a male bird was protecting and trying to save his dying mate. He even forgot the safety of himself. Because when I approached him, he did not fly away but tried to drag his mate away. Every time I look at this photo, I would be moved by the true love shown by the bird.  Why some people dislike taking photos of themselves? Well, they may be some introverted people and they may feel shy to be recorded in the photos. Also, some people who are not self‐confident, may also be reluctant to have their photos taken, for fear that they may leave a poor impression.  Why some people like to take photos of themselves? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 42 Well, they may be too confident in themselves, and they hope their charm can be left on the photos to be enjoyed by others. Besides, when some people are happy with their experience and hope to have a record, they may like to have their photos taken, so that someday the photos can remind them of their happy time. 38. Happiness  What can make you feel happy? A lot of things. For example, if I hear some good news about myself or people around me, I’ll feel happy. Last month, one of my cousins gave birth to a baby girl. I felt happy for her and for the new born baby. The other day, I bought a nice bag on sale, which also made me feel happy. I guess life is full of happiness and we just need to have the eyes to discover it.  How to improve your happiness level? We need to treat ourselves well. When it’s time to rest, we should make excuses to work or study too much. We should exercise more and eat healthily in order to keep our body fit. If we’re healthy physically, we’ll also feel happy mentally. In addition, having good social connections can also make us feel happier, so we should treat the people around us nicely.  Will unhappy things influence your mood? Definitely. Sometimes, just a tiny unhappy thing can ruin a whole day. For example, if I have some conflicts with another driver while I’m driving or riding a bike. This incident will haunt me the whole time on my way to work or school. If I learn that I didn’t do well on an exam which I have studied for a whole month, I’ll probably be upset for a few days.  Is happiness important? Of course. That’s why we use the words related to happiness to show our good wishes, such as happy New Year, have a good time, and enjoy your meal. If a person gets irradiated easily, he/she will have greater chance to have cancer or other serious diseases. If we’re happy, we’ll more likely to enjoy a longer life. Also, happy students can study well and happy workers can work more productively. So, we have to remind ourselves and people around us to be happy all the time.  What do we do with happy things and sad things? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 43 If we have happy things, we should definitely share them with the people we know. Happiness can be multiplied in this way. If we have something sad or unpleasant, it’s better to share our feelings with our friends or families as well. It’s said that we can have the sadness divided to many pieces and only a fragment will be left to ourselves, and then, we can get rid of it much faster than we carry it alone. Also, when we feel down, we have to think positively and shouldn’t let depression overcome us.  Can money make people happier? Sometimes, it does, but money doesn’t work when it comes to long term happiness. Money can buy us material satisfaction but spiritually, it is pale and weak. Although we need money to buy us daily necessities but we shouldn’t be obsessed with making more and more money, especially when we have to sacrifice our family or health. A lot of rich people will eventually regret it when they get money and lose everything else in the end.  Are all kinds of unhappiness bad Not necessarily. On some occasions, when we are stuck in unhappiness, we may learn something that is helpful to us, so that we will not suffer from the unhappiness in this aspect again. In this sense, the unhappiness is just a kind of beneficial experience. 39. TV program  Do you watch TV often? I used to, but not anymore. After I found that the internet can give me a lot more choices for entertainment, I just don’t have much time for TV anymore. But, I still watch TV occasionally with my family after dinner or at weekends. I sometimes wish there were fewer advertisements to stop me in the middle of a TV drama or entertaining program.  What programs do you like? When I watch TV, I like dramas and entertaining programs. Once you watch a TV series, you’ll find very difficult to let it go. You just have to finish it and find the ending of the story. I also like entertaining programs, especially the ones involve famous movie stars or singers. I don’t know why but I’m interested in their lives and always want to find out more about them.  Do you like watching TV with your family or friends or by yourself? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 44 I don’t like watching TV alone. I prefer to do it with my friends or family members. When I watch TV, I also like talking and sharing my feelings with others. It’s like an important part of TV watching. When I watch TV alone, I’ll feel bored and hard to concentrate.  Do you think you watch too much TV when you were a child? I don’t think so. You know, when I was a child, my parents were very strict with me, and they even forced me to learn many other skills after I finished my school work. Actually, I missed a lot of interesting cartoon programs in my childhood. 40. Computer  Do you like using the computer? Definitely. I think the computer has become an important part in my life. I use it to do my homework (work), get on the internet to do research and get some entertainment as well. I can’t imagine what my life will be like if I don’t have the computer.  Do you use the computer often? Yes. I spend almost more than five hours a day on my computer. I use the computer to get online and do my homework (work). Of course, I also play games and chat with friends occasionally. However, sometimes I tend to spend too much time on the computer, which is not good for my eyes and my spine. I think I should try not to use the computer all the time.  What do you use the computer for? Many things. I get on the internet to search for information, read news, and even chat with my friends. I also store all my digital photos on my computer so that I don’t have to go to a photo studio to print them out. When I need to write a paper, I’ll use word and print my paper when I finish it. It’s much neater than hand written ones.  What does computer mean to you? Computer means a lot to me. It makes my life convenient and helps me to get up‐to‐date information. It’s a great way for me to entertain myself. I could play games, read electronic books, and chat with my friends. If my computer is broken, my life will be much more different and difficult, I guess.  How do you think about the advertisements online? I think a lot of advertisements online are annoying, especially the pop out ones. They could block what you’re viewing and you have to click them to make them disappear. I think there should be some laws to regulate the ways advertisements are shown on the internet. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 45 41. Leisure Time        How much free time (or time to relax) do you have (per week)? I have a lot of free time, about five to six hours a day. I would usually stay at home to surf the internet or read books. Occasionally, I would go shopping or go on short trips. What do you do in your spare time (= free time)? Same to above. (In the evenings), do you prefer to relax at home and watch TV or go out with your friends? I think both are good for me, half to half would be a good balance. I like spending some time with my friends each week, but definitely not every day because I also need some quiet time to think and read by myself. Do you have a lot of fun in the city? Sure. You know, at weekends or when we are free, we have many places around the lake to visit, which really provides us with a lot of fun. And at night, there are many pubs on Nanshan road and around the Yellow Dragon Sports Center. Besides, other people may choose the tea house, the KTVS, the cinemas, or other recreational centers. We really have a lot of fun living in the city Do you think it's important to (have time to) relax? I think so. When I’m too busy with my school work, I’ll usually feel very stressed. I just need some time to do nothing but relax. Do men and women relax ( = spend their free time) in the same way? Sometimes, but men like sports more than women. They would go to play basketball or football, but women may enjoy shopping more. When do you spend time with your family or your friends? These days, when everyone in the family is so busy with their own personal matters, it seems they are having fewer chances to spend time together, so do I. usually I may stay with my parents on holidays, especially the spring festival. On other occasions, I stay with my friends more, mainly because we are doing similar things together.  Who are more important to you, family or friends? In my deepest heart, I think family is more important to me, although sometimes I may spend more time with my friends. You know, we can only be born once by our parents, but we can make new friends all the time. Besides, in this benefit‐oriented society, only parents truly love us. Therefore, family should be on a more important position. *42. Language  What’s the most difficult part about language learning? For beginners, pronunciation might be difficult, but as you learn more, you’ll realize, if you don’t have a big vocabulary; it’s hard to get around in Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 46     that new language. So at that stage, memorizing a lot of words might be very challenging for learning a new language. Are there a lot of people choosing English as their major? Yes, English is becoming the international language and it’s a very useful tool for us. Because of the globalization, many companies need to do business with foreign countries, so people who are good at English are in high demand. Actually, nowadays, non‐English major students also put a lot of effort into learning English. How many foreign languages do you know? I only speak English, and I know a little Japanese and Korean, mostly from the TV dramas I’ve watched. I always admire people who can speak many foreign languages because language doesn’t only convey meanings but also can convey cultures. What other foreign languages do you want to learn? If I have enough time, I’d like to learn Korean and Spanish because I always watch Korean dramas and I think it’ll be cool if I could understand what they are saying without looking at the subtitles. If I know Spanish, I’ll be able to use it in many countries such as Spain and Mexico. What advantages of being able to speak other languages other than the native one? I think there are a few advantages. You can communicate with people more fluently. You can exchange you ideas, and understand their culture better. Also, it’s one way to improve your language skills. 43. Birthday  Do you like to spend your birthday with your parents or friends? I’ve never thought about it, but I think I have spent most of my birthday time with my friends because my friends would usually give me a birthday party on my birthday. After spending time with them, I’ll feel exhausted and don’t have any energy left for my family members. I hope I can spend more time with my family during my birthday in the future.  How do children celebrate their birthday in China? Nowadays, children like having birthday parties on their birthday. They would invite their friends to their home to have a big meal and enjoy a big birthday cake. It’s also common for good friends to give birthday gifts to each other.  Is birthday highly valued in China? What age is mostly valued? Yes. Since you can only have the day once a year, it’s really highly valued in our country, especially some special ages, such as, the first birthday, the twentieth birthday, and the sixtieth birthday. On these birthdays, all the friends and family members will have big parties for the birthday people.  What’s the meaning of birthdays? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 47 I think birthdays are important in our lives because it’s the day that we came to this world. It’s something important both for ourselves and for the family. Also, we turn one year older on our birthday, which means that we have got more experience and knowledge from our life in this world. So, it’s really important for us to celebrate our birthdays. *44. Driving  Do you have a driver’s license? Yes, I do. I just got it recently. I think a driver’s license is really useful in this modern society. Now, a lot of people can afford cars, so if you can drive, your life will be much more easier. Also, many companies prefer hiring people who can drive. A driver’s license will make us more competitive in job hunting.  Do you want to drive for a long time for traveling? Yes, I do. I think it’s fun to drive our own cars when we go traveling because we can decide where to go and what to do during our trips. However, if the time is really limited, we might get tired and it’s dangerous to drive in fatigue, so enough rest is really important.  Do you prefer to be the driver or the passenger? I prefer to be the passenger because a driver should take a lot of responsibilities but a passenger can do many things they want during the trip. As a passenger, I can appreciate the scenery more and can even read novels or play games on our cell phones. If I get tired, I can take a nap, which will definitely be a luxury for the drivers.  Is it hard to get a driving license in your country? No, it is not that hard. You just need to go to a driving school to take classes in order to get a driving license in China. After you learn the theoretical and practical driving knowledge, you have to take a test. If you pass the test, then you will get a driving license. *45. Children  Do you like spending time with children? Yes, I do, especially very young kids. I think they are very innocent and they show their feelings without bias. If you treat the children well, they’ll love you back. Also, when I spend time with children, I can teach them a lot of things they don’t know. I think it’s fun to do that.  What kind of child do you like? I like active children more because when I’m with them, they can make me feel I’m also full of energy and all the good memories about my childhood would come back. I think it’s a very enjoyable thing to play games with children because they always love games and they’re curious to learn new things. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 48  What’s the difference between children now and in the past? Children in the past were more naïve and they didn’t have too much exposure to computers and modern technology, so they tended to play outdoors more. Nowadays, a lot of children are much more mature than their actual age because of too much exposure to TV and the internet. Some of them play too much computer games and don’t do enough exercise, which is not good for their physical and mental growth.  What do you usually do when you’re with children? When I’m with children, I’ll feel I need to play games with them to make them feel happy and have some fun. I’ll teach them the games I learned when I was a child. Most of the time, the children were interested in what I’m teaching and they could be really happy to play with me.  What did you play when you were a child? When I was a child, there were a lot of children in my neighborhood. We would always play outdoor activities. I remember tag and hide‐and‐seek were really popular then. Sometimes, boys would play with marbles or cards outside and girls would play more with their dolls.  Do you like children? Yes, I like children very much. I think children are very cute, and frank, so it’s fun to play with them. In the future, I want to have at least two children, so they won’t be lonely. *46. Exercise/Workout  What sports do old people like in your country? A lot of old people love going to the park to do some soft sports. They would play Taiji, do some group dancing. Sometimes, they can also go some nearby mountains to go hiking. I think all these activities are good for the old to stretch their bodies and stay fit.  Do you exercise regularly? I try my best to exercise more, but not regular enough. I would sometimes go jogging in the evening because it’s really hard to get up early in the morning. Occasionally, I go to the nearby indoor swimming pool to swim. I think swimming is a good way to exercise almost every muscle in my body.  Do you think daily exercise is good for people? Definitely. If we don’t do enough exercise, even young people can feel sick and tired all the time. Exercise can help us stay fit, and it’s also a good way to release the pressure from work and studies. I think we should exercise regularly.  What can exercise bring to different age groups? For children, if they exercise enough, they will grow strong and tall. For young adults, exercise is a good way to stretch the body after sitting in front Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 49     of the computer for several hours and it can also make people feel relaxed. If old people exercise often, they can stay healthy and live a long life. What outdoor activities do you like? I like many different outdoor activities. I would go jogging in the evening if I don’t have the companion. If I could find enough people, I love group sports, such as basketball, volleyball, and football. It’s also enjoyable to play badminton or pingpong with one partner. Were you active when you were a child? I would say I was very active when I was a child. I had never felt tired of playing. I was very energetic and spent most of my after school time on playing outdoor activities. I think tag, hide‐and‐seek, and rope jumping were very popular at that, so I would play them all the time. What outdoor activities do people in your city like? There’re a lot of. Some people love cycling with a group of people and they would job a biking club. Some people love going to the gym to play badminton, tennis, or pingpong. Also, some others love go swimming. I think different people have different ways to exercise. Would you say you’re an active person? I think I was an active child, but I changed when I reached puberty. Now I stay a lot of time at home in front of the computer. I think it’s not good because too much indoor activities can make our bodies less healthy. I should work out more in the future and try to do sports regularly. *47. Noise  Is your living environment noisy? I think it’s ok. My home is in a comparatively quiet complex, which is far away from the main roads, so it’s free from traffic noise. However, sometimes when my neighbors are remodeling their homes, there will be loud noise for days. I think that’s the most annoying thing.  How can noises be reduced in the city? Well, there’re not much for us to do, but I think the government can set laws to restrict the working hours of construction sites and not to allow cars to honk in the city. Also, when scientists could invent better noise proved windows for ordinary buildings to use, life will be more enjoyable.  Do you think there are more noises than before? Probably, especially in cities. Nowadays, because of the urbanization, there’re more people and cars in cities, and a lot of industries are also making loud noise, so many people feel they can’t enjoy the peaceful environment they once had. I hope the situation won’t go any worse in the future. Maybe the government can find some solutions to reduce these problems. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 50 *48. Mobile Phones  Do you have a mobile phone (= "a cell phone")? What do you use it for? Is your cell phone important for you in your daily life? Yes, I have a mobile phone, and I cannot imagine a life without my mobile phone. I use it to send messages or call my family and my friends. Sometimes, I also use the mobile phone to get on the Internet.  When do you use it? How often do you use it? Whenever I have something to discuss with my family or friends, I will use the mobile phone. Or when I want to search some information, I will get on the Internet by mobile phone. I use it everyday, and I cannot imagine a life without a mobile phone, I may not lead a normal life with it.  When did you get your first mobile phone? In my middle school, I got my first mobile phone as a birthday present. It’s a     Nokia, so I have developed great love for the brand Nokia, and that’s why I still use Nokia now. I think Nokia can type messages very fast. What feature (or, function) of your cell phone do you like the best? I like the function of messages very much. In fact, I prefer sending messages to making a phone call, because I think you won’t bother others when sending messages, and they will reply you as soon as they see the message. Of course, if you have something urgent to discuss, making a phone call will be better. Is there anything you dislike about using cell phones? Not really. I think I dislike about using cell phones only when it occupies a lot of my time, and I don’t have enough time to finish important and urgent things. I don’t use it so often now. What's the difference between sending a text message and calling someone? In fact, I prefer sending text messages to making a phone call, because I think you won’t bother others when sending messages, and they will reply you as soon as they see the message. Of course, if you have some urgent thing to discuss, making a phone call will be better. Do you think you will continue using your mobile phone in the future? Of course, I will continue using mobile phones in the future, because I cannot leave a mobile phone and lead a normal life. But maybe one day I will change my Nokia for IPhone, since it’s so popular nowadays. *49. Internet  When was the first time you used the Internet? I think it’s in middle school when I first used the Internet. I watched comic cartoons, read novels on the Internet, and later, I even began to write novels by myself in the online community.  Is the Internet very important (or, useful) to you? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 51     Yes, definitely important. You know, if I cannot check email or chat with my friends online, I will feel depressed. Many of my friends are studying abroad, so Internet is the only way to connect with them. Besides, I can also use the Internet to search useful information, or listen to music. Do you often buy things on the Internet? Not really. I don’t like shopping clothes online. I prefer to go the shopping mall and try the clothes on, and then decide to buy or not. If I cannot try it, I’ll feel it may not fit me well. But sometimes I will buy some daily necessities on the Internet that don’t have the problem of size or fitness. Do you think information on the Internet is very reliable? It depends. Sometimes the information on the forum is not reliable, and you cannot believe all of it, but usually the information on the CNN, NHK, and China Daily is reliable news. So I think we should be careful when it comes to the information online. In general, what impact does the Internet have on people's lives? I think Internet greatly changes the way people live. In the past, people don’t have the Internet, and they cannot get information so quickly and so broadly. Nowadays, with the development of Internet, we can understand the world better through the Internet. Maybe that’s why “The world is flat” now. Is the Internet very popular in China? Yes, of course. Not to say young generations, even old people begin to learn how to use the Internet, create a blog, and upload some photos. From this, you may understand how popular Internet is in China. *50. Emails and Letters      Do you write many letters or emails? Yes, I use email nearly everyday to contact my friends all over the world. But I write letters not so often, maybe once a month. What are the differences between emails and letters? There are a few differences. Emails are very free, convenient, and most importantly, very fast, but emails cannot contain your emotion, and we hardly review emails later. Letters are different. They are inconvenient, and need a long time to be received, but letters may convey your emotions better. What kind(s) of letter/email do you think is (are) the hardest to write? I think emails to professors are the hardest to write, because I will be afraid if I don’t use the proper word or make him or her feel uncomfortable. But as for friends, we can write to each other quite freely. How do you feel when you receive a letter or email? I will be very glad to receive a letter or email, because it means that there is someone who remembers me, and sends me something for greetings, or if they have something to discuss with me, I am also pleased to reply to them. What kinds of emails (or letters) do you receive that make you feel happy? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 52 Whatever I receive, I will be glad. Of course, if my friends tell me some happy news about them such as weddings, or being admitted to a good university, such as Stanford, I will be really glad to share the happiness with them.  Do you think people will still write letters in the future? Yes, I think so. Because I think emails cannot take place of your emotions filled in the writing letter, and that’s why you can see people still sending postcards, or writing letters to each other even they are really far away.  Do you keep letters? Yes. I kept a lot of letters from elementary school until now in my drawer. When I have free time, I will take the letters out and review them. It seems that I return to that time, so I value the letters I keep. *51. Competition  What is competition for? I think sometimes competition is good for people to some extent. Without competition, we may not work or study hard, but if we know that we need to compete with each other, it may force us to try our best. But we should avoid vicious competition. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 53 Part2 and Part3 introduce most frequently asked questions. Those questions marked with asterisks (*) are updated questions recently. (About 25 topics) 1、A leisure center in your area Describe a leisure centre in your area. You should say: where it is what it is like (or, what it looks like) what people do there and explain why (some) people like to go there. Sample 1: I want to say something about a leisure center in a big shopping mall in my hometown. It’s on the third floor of that building. Every time I go shopping, I would go to that floor to have fun with my friends and family. There’s a little cinema where you could watch the latest films. If you want to exercise, there’s a little roller skating rink. Many young couples enjoy having fun there. There’s even a place for little children, where they could paint beautiful pictures by using a variety of colors and interesting materials. I’ve never tried it but I think it’ll be fun. My favorite place would be the magic show center. It’s amazing that the magicians could show us so many interesting tricks. I know they’re not real, but it’s fun to believe that they could really make people disappear and make living pigeons suddenly appear in front of you. I would often go there with my friends and family members. I think it’s a wonderful place to entertain people. Sample 2: I like going to leisure places very much. There’s a leisure center in the downtown area in my hometown. I usually go there with my friends or family members during my spare time. There’s a sport center. Since I got a member card, I don’t need to pay for most of their facilities. I usually go there to exercise with my friends or my parents. We could play all kinds of sports, such as badminton, tennis, and bowling. After we exercise there, we would usually go to a coffee shop in the same building, where we could enjoy a cup of coffee and read some magazines the shop provides. You could also find a modern cinema in this area, where you can enjoy the latest movies. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 54 Recently, I watched transformer 3 with two friends there. It’s great to enjoy the films at the cinema because of the good sound and visual effects. I think it’s really important for city people to have a place to relax and spend time with their friends. If we can rest well, we can definitely work and study well. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1、Do you think it's good to have leisure centers in the community? Definitely. It’s natural for people to look for ways to relax and spend their weekends and holidays. If there’re leisure centers nearby, it’ll be much more convenient for them to have fun very often. 2、How is it good for young people? It’s not good for young people to stay at home all day. When there’re leisure centers near their homes, they could go there to meet friends and release their pressure from their school or work. I think it’s definitely good for young people’s mental and physical health. 3、What are the differences between recreational facilities in big cities and in the countryside (i.e., in villages and small towns)? There’re usually few recreational facilities available in small cities or the countryside. The people there usually find other ways to compensate it. For example, it’ll be easier for them to go hiking. However, we usually find a variety of recreational facilities in big cities. There’re even fitness facilities in parks. 4、What are the differences between people's leisure activities in big cities and in the countryside? In big cities, people can go to fitness centers to workout and enjoy swimming in big swimming pools. However, in small cities or the countryside, people do something much more different as their way of recreation. They could swim in the nearby rivers and go hiking near their homes. 5、Do you think companies (or, work units) should provide leisure facilities for their employees? =Should companies provide entertainment facilities? I think so. If companies can provide leisure facilities, the employees can usually feel happier to work there because they could have some fun at work or after work. Also, if employees can stay healthy, they could be more productive and work more effectively. 6、Do you think companies (or, work units) should encourage more outdoor recreational activities for their employees? If employees can stay healthy, they could be more productive and work more effectively. Also, if employees can do some outdoor activities as a group, they could also get to know their colleagues better and learn more teamwork skills. 7、If there are no leisure facilities (in a certain place), what can people do? People might stay at home during most of their leisure time. Or for some people, they might choose to go to far away places to workout and have fun, which is not convenient and so it shouldn’t be a regular thing. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 55 8、What benefits do people get if some colleagues go to a leisure center together? I think it helps people know their colleagues better because people usually act differently in leisure time. It’s a good opportunity to see people from different angles. Also, they could work more productively if they have good relationship with each other. 9. What different leisure places would different people choose to go? Well, people may have diversified preferences for their choices of leisure places. For example, young people may like to go to KTVs, cinemas, theatres, pubs, or game houses, because they usually like to be entertained or find excitement. However, the old may choose tea houses, or foot massage shops, or chess rooms, because they may just hope to relax themselves or stay with friends freely. 10. Where do students in your school go to have their leisure activities?== What kind of leisure activities do university students usually do? In my school, many students like to spend their time in the library, reading books or magazines they like there. Other students may like to go to the computer center, surfing the internet or just playing some games for fun, and still others may just stay in the dormitory, chatting with their roommates or friends. 11. What are the differences between leisure activities of the young and of the families? Well, young people may like to play games with their friends, go to KTVs to have fun together, or just stay at home watching TV or surf the internet. However, when families are having leisure time together, they may like to travel around somewhere, enjoying the nature or just having tea or coffee somewhere not at home, because chances are rare for them to stay together in this modern society. 12. Who do young people like to spend their leisure time with, their friends or their families? Usually, young people may like to stay with their friends more when they have leisure time. Firstly, they may have more topics to share with their friends because of little generation gap. Also, they may have similar interest in something, so that they may have more fun with their friends. However, these days, it seems that young people are growingly choosing to stay with their families, coz chances for them to get together are rare in such a fast‐paced life. 13. Where can parents take their children for fun on a fine day? On a fine day, I think parents can take their children to many places for fun. For example, they can go to museums, where the children can widen their horizons and experience the mystery of history; they can go to the zoos, and other natural attractions, where the children can feel closer to the nature; and also they can go to some theme parks, where children can play with various modern entertainment facilities to enjoy the excitements. 14. Is leisure time important for people live around you? I think so. People around me all seem so busy with their work, their study or Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 56 their personal matters, but just as the old saying goes, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, those busy people need to have some leisure time to have a rest, to have a relaxation, and to have a refreshment, so that they can regain their energy into what they are seeking for. 2、A peaceful place Describe a peaceful place that you like to go to. You should say: where it is how often you go there what you do there and explain why you like this place. Sample: I’m an introverted person, so I love being alone and having some quiet time. There’s a special place near my home that I would always go to when the weather is good. Actually it’s a corner of a park. There’s a big stone, which just looks like a stool. When the weather is not too hot or cold, I would go there to read and appreciate the nature around me. There’s a canal a few meters away from that stone. When I’m there, I could watch the water flowing. Sometimes, there could be a few people fishing quietly. When I hear some startling noises, I would know that they must have caught something. There’re also a few sparrows chirping around. Their songs can always add some color to this peaceful environment. From my spot, if I look straight ahead, I’ll be able to see the beautiful mountains far away. Everyone has different ways to make themselves feel refreshed and relaxed. I believe this place provides me with the best way to enjoy my time. Sample 2: I want to talk about a peaceful place I would always go to. It is a small café, named XX, near my college. My friends and I would always go there to relax or read books. This place gave us many happy memories. As soon as you enter the café, you’ll be impressed by the unique atmosphere and decoration. If you look up, you will find the ceiling is a fishing net full of colorful balloons. I am also attracted by the soft music they play. In this place, everyone can avoid the noise from work or studies because you can taste a cup of home‐made coffee while you are reading interesting books. I could spend a whole afternoon there and sometimes I’ll even bring my school work to the café. I feel I can concentrate more if I’m in this special place. When I feel tired or sad, I would always go to this café. At that place, I can feel at ease and can forget the worries and troubles in life, so I think this café is my Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 57 peaceful place. PART 3 ：Discussion topics: Noise in Cities 1、What are the sources of noise in (large) cities? There’re a lot of them. For example, big cities usually have a lot of places under construction. The noises from construction sites can definitely harm the people who live around them. Besides that, traffic noises can also bother some people, especially for the people whose houses are close to busy streets. 2、How (or why) does noise sometimes make people unhappy? Sometimes, when I want to concentrate on something, the noises from construction sites near my company can really bother me. They are definitely harmful to my mental and physical health. Sometimes, noises can also wake us up early in the morning and affect our sleep at night. 3、How do you think noise in cities could be reduced? =How can we solve the problems? It might be a little hard to reduce the noise because we can’t stop constructing more buildings and if cars are not allowed to run in streets, it’ll be very inconvenient. However, I hope better sound‐proof windows can be invented soon. Maybe we won’t have to suffer from noise problems any more then. 4、In what circumstances do people want to be alone? =When do you want to be alone? I think for most people, when they feel upset, they want to be alone. Or for introverted people, being alone is the best way for them to recharge their energy and feel refreshed. 5、In your country, how hard is it for people to be alone? ==How can a person be alone in a big city? I think it’s usually not too difficult. As long as you are by yourself, I think you’re alone. Being alone doesn’t mean we can’t see anyone around. If we go to the park or cinema by ourselves, we’re also alone. Nobody can really bother us. If a person wants to be really alone, maybe it’ll be better to stay in one’s own room. 7、Is your living environment peaceful or noisy? It depends. I would say most of the time it’s peaceful, but occasionally, I have to put up with loud noises. For example, sometimes, some neighbors would remodel their homes during the day and make very loud drilling sounds, which could drive me crazy. When the people living around me don’t do some noisy activities, I could enjoy my peaceful life. 8、How do noises affect the society? = What bad effects can noise bring to people? Noises can have a lot of harmful effects on the society. For example, if we are under loud noises for a long time, we might suffer from some hearing loss. Also, people might feel hard to concentrate on their work or study if they’re surrounded by noises. In the street, loud honking noises can distract drivers and cause serious accidents. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 58 9、Do you like to be alone or stay with a group? I would say both. I always need some time for myself after being together with my friends and family. It’s a good way for me to reflect and recharge myself. However, if I stay by myself for a long period of time, I might feel lonely and I would look for ways to be together with a group. It’s important for me to share my feelings with my friends. 10、How to reduce honking noises from cars? I think the government should implement laws on honking pollution in cities. Automobile companies should also make an effort to invent better cars to reduce the honking noise. It’s also necessary to create awareness in schools, colleges, and offices through print media, radio, and TV. 11. Why do people like living in one place for a long time? Well, people may have various reasons to choose to live in one place for a long time. For instance, some like to stay with all their acquaintances, because they will not feel at ease living among strangers. Others may have their business or their jobs in the place, leaving it means they will lose money or lose jobs. Still others may not be active people, and they don’t expect much from their life, so they just don’t want any changes. 12. What places, in your opinion, can be considered as peaceful places? Well, although in this modern society, we can see hustle and bustle here and there, we still could have some peaceful places to go around us. For example, libraries are usually quiet places, even when some people may chat with their friends, they would lower their voices to the lowest degree, so that little disturbances will occur to others. Also, in some temples, where people are praying in their hearts before the Buddha or God, all the noises and chaos will be gone. If one is careful, there will be many other peaceful places around us to go. 13. Do people always have the time to go there? It’s hard to say. Firstly, in this society, when the life pace is so fast, everyone seems to be busy with their own matters. When they are free, some of them may go there to enjoy the peace, but others may choose some other ways to get themselves refreshed. Also, some people are used to the hustle and bustle around them, to whom the peaceful places may not be their ideal places to go even if they have the time. 14. Do you have any suggestions to reduce the number of cars to relieve the traffic? Well, actually, some measures can be taken to reduce the number of cars on roads if the government is determined to do so. For example, the price of the petrol can be raised, so that people, without emergency, may give up some of their plans to drive their cars. Also, the roads can be limited for the cars to run on according to the plate numbers of the cars. Besides, more money can be charged for the use of roads, so that some unnecessary driving on the roads can be reduced. 15. Do people have a lot of opportunities to go to peaceful places? What about Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 59 students? Well, although in this modern society, we can see hustle and bustle here and there, we still could have some peaceful places to go around us. For example, libraries are usually quiet places, even when some people may chat with their friends, they would lower their voices to the lowest degree, so that little disturbances will occur to others. Also, in some temples, where people are praying in their hearts before the Buddha or God, all the noises and chaos will be gone. If one is careful, there will be many other peaceful places around us to go. 3、A place to visit Describe a place you would go to visit in the future. You should say: where it is how would you go there who would you go with and explain why you would like to go to this place. Sample 1： Since I’m a southerner, I always want to visit some cities in the north. If I have the choice, I’d like to visit Haerbin in the northeast of China. I heard Haerbin is famous for its ice lanterns and sculptures in winter. There’s even a place called ice and snow world. For me, I don’t see snow very often, so I think it’d be an exciting experience for me. Haerbin is very close to Russia, so there’re also a lot of Russian style constructions. It’d also be interesting to see them and take pictures in front of them. Of course, the local food is a must. When I visit some famous tourist places, I would always feel fun to try a variety of local foods. I think the food there must be very different from what I eat every day at home. If I go, I’ll probably stay there longer in order to know the local culture better. I’m sure it’ll a wonderful trip and I should probably start saving now. Maybe I should go there this winter. Sample 2： I’ve never been to Kunming in Yunnan province. If I have enough money and time, I’ll definitely visit this city with my family. It’s called an all spring city because the weather is really nice throughout the year. There’re a lot of ethnic groups in China and Yunan is probably the province with most of them. I always feel the place is full of mysteries and wonders. If I go there, I’ll be able to know the cultures and life styles of different minorities. It’s said that if we understand others better, we can know ourselves better too. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 60 Besides the culture and ethnic groups, the tourist sites also make me feel excited. There’s a famous stone forest. Just as the name implies, you’ll not be able to see real trees but stones. However, because of the variety of shapes of the stones, you’ll feel you’re in a real forest. I really want to see it with my own eyes. Next to kunming, there’s a little ancient town, called Lijiang, which’s very beautiful and full of traditional style buildings. I’ll also go there to explore. I think the trip to Kunming should be fun and I can learn a lot of new things as well. I hope my dream can become true soon. PART 3 ：Discussion topics: 1. What’s the influence of travel to the environment? How to prevent it? Travelling or tourism may have some negative influence on the environment. For example, it may result in overexploitation of the natural resources there just for the purpose of attracting more tourists. Also, with the advent of more travelers, the burden of the environment in the local places would be heavier, not to say some of the tourists may litter everywhere or even bring damages to the places there. Therefore, in order to prevent these from happening, tourists’ awareness of environmental protection should be strengthened, and the local authorities should have a reasonable management and plan when they try to promote tourism. 2. Is it good or bad working overseas? Well, it depends. To some people who are well‐prepared, expecting to obtain more experience, hoping to change their working circumstances, trying to cultivate their own abilities, working overseas may be beneficial to them. However, to other people who are not willing to leave their motherlands, or not able enough to fulfill the tasks alone in foreign countries, forcing them to work overseas may not be a good idea. 3. Should the government prohibit foreigners to come to visit? Why? I don’t think it is a good idea to do so. Firstly, foreign visitors may help to boost the tourism industry, and so contribute to the development of economy in the country. Also, foreign visitors may bring in some new ideas or concepts, from which the country may be enabled to absorb the essence to enrich its own culture. In addition, with more foreign visitors coming, they will have better understandings of the country, promote the spreading of the culture worldwide, improving the international status of the country. So if possible, I would support more attractions of foreign visitors instead of prohibiting them. 4. What are the differences between travelling alone and travelling in groups? Well, while travelling alone, we may enjoy more freedom in choosing the destinations, the ways of transportation, the accommodation and the activities we do, and also test our own independence and sense of exploration. However, while travelling in groups, we may share our feelings or happiness with others, Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 61 we may support or help each other on the way, we may learn from each other, and we may not feel lonely. So, it depends on how you wish for your travelling. 5. What kind of characters people have are suitable to be travel pals? Well, personally, a person who is independent, talkative, humorous, energetic and supportive can be my good travel pals. Coz you know, when I am travelling, I don’t want somebody who is always dependent on me to make decisions, or somebody who is weak and cannot follow me. Of course, I don’t like to stay with someone on the journey with only little conversation. That will be too boring. 6. What is the most famous tourist attraction in China? I think it must be the Great Wall. If a visitor coming to China does not go to the Great Wall, he cannot say he has been to China. Besides, just as the old saying goes, he who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man, a traveler to China can understand deeper the Chinese culture when visiting the Great Wall. In addition, it is considered as one of the eight Wonders over the world, because of its grandness and long history. So, if you like a travel in China, the Great Wall must be your first Choice. 7. What are the differences of people’s attitudes toward traveling between now and in the past? What’s the difference between travel in the past and now? In the past, people may travel much less because of the limited financial resources. When food and clothes were the main concern of people in their life, how could they dream to travel around the world? Also, the backward level of transportation in the past, preventing people having big dreams of travelling far away. However, these days, people’ s life level is greatly improved, the modern transportation tools, such as trains, cars, planes, enable people to travel around conveniently as they wish. 8. Do you like long holidays or short holidays? Why? Well, to be frank, I like holidays, no matter whether it is a long one or a short one. On long holidays, I can travel around to further away places, to see something I have never seen and to experience something I have never experienced. While on short holidays, I can have a release from my heavy burden of study to refresh myself, I can have time to stay with my friends to enjoy a happy time, or I can stay with my family to have a get together. 9. What are the negative effects of tourism on the environment? Well, too focus on promotion of tourism may bring some negative effects on the environment. For example, some tourists are not so well‐behaved while they are travelling, and they may litter everywhere or damage the environment by not following the instructions. Also, the crowd of travelers may challenge the capacity of the environment in providing accommodation, or even change the temperature of the tourist attraction. 10. Will more and more people choose to travel? Definitely. When people’s life level is improved, people are increasingly able to afford travelling. Besides, due to the faster pace of life, people are suffering Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 62 from more stress in their life and work, so they need traveling to refresh themselves. In addition, the modern transportation makes it much more convenient for people to travel around. 11. Why do people like travelling? People like travelling because they want to travel around to release their stress from work and life. Also they like travelling because they hope to broaden their horizon and enrich their experience. Besides, they may hope to leave the places they are familiar with to some strange places to seek excitement. 12. Some people say travelling with others having a lot of troubles. What’s your opinion? Well, it depends. When the other people are troublesome, when they are weak physically, when they are too dependent, they may bring us a lot of troubles on the journey. However, on other times, travelling with others may enable us to get supports, to share opinions, and to enjoy more happiness. 13. What is the biggest trouble in travelling in your mind? Well, I think it must be illness. When we are sick on the journey, since we are away from home, which means we are away from the helps of people that we can seek help from, and we are not sure how to find the timely help. In this case, we may be stuck in danger. 14. What areas need to be improved for Chinese tourism? There’re many areas needed to be improved. For example, there should be more hotels built near tourist sites to target people from different social class and have different budgets to spend. One more thing is traffic. A lot of people travel during official national holidays, so many tourist attractions will usually be packed with people. The local government should put more effort to ensure the traffic conditions and social order. 4、A school building Describe a building in a school or university that you attended. You should say: where it is what it looks like what it is used for and explain what facilities it has. or and explain how you feel (or feel) about this building. Sample 1: Nowadays, there are many creative modern buildings built in China. Among them I’d like to talk about the stadium in my college. It’s located in the east corner of the school. The stadium can hold up to 10,000 people and was completed in 2000. We would Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 63 sometimes go there to watch basketball or volleyball competitions. It’s also a place for students to exercise and have PE classes. Whenever I’m there, I’m amazed by the gorgeous shape and construction. Like many other modern buildings, it’s made of steel and concrete, but the design is very unique. If you look at it from outside, the roof is like a big bird stretching its wings to cover the whole stadium. The roof is supported by two towers on two sides of the stadium. When you look at the stadium from distance, you’ll find it just like a very big boat. On the internet, you can find pictures of the stadium taken from the air. From high above, it looks like a big circular spaceship. It has become a symbol of our school. Sample 2: I’m a junior in XX University. I’d like to talk about the library in my college. I have to say the library is the most unique building of my university. It’s like other buildings, made of concrete and steel, but the shape and design are special. If you look at the library from outside, you’ll find it looks like a big book case full of books—the shape of each window is just like a book. The color is red and yellow because these colors are very bright and attractive. The first floor is a big hall, where you can check out or check in your books. All the news books are placed there. On the second to fourth floor, you could find all kind of reference books about various majors, and of course, there’re also some entertaining books. There’re also study areas on each floor. On the fifth floor, there’s a computer lab, where students can get online or search for books. I love reading and the gorgeous library makes me love reading even more. I’m glad that our school could have such a wonderful library building. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1、What are some differences between schools in the countryside and cities?= What’re the advantages of high school in countryside and in the city? Usually there’re not as many students in the countryside schools as in the city ones. Because of this, the buildings in countryside schools are usually much smaller. There’re also more advanced facilities in city schools. I don’t know why, maybe these schools get more financial support from the government. Actually I really think city schools and countryside schools should have the same treatment. 2、Do you think it's good to live at a school? I think it’s good for older students to live at school, however, for young children, I still think they should spend more time with their parents because there’re certain things that they can’t learn from teachers and classmates but from their parents. 3、How are schools for young children different to schools for teenagers? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 64 I think usually the facilities are different. We should provide slides and swings for young children, but we should provide football, basketball, or other sport facilities for teenagers. Also, teenagers need to have other advanced facilities, such as science labs and computer labs. 4、How is the environment in schools for young children (i.e., primary schools) different to the environment in schools for teenagers (i.e., high schools)?= Should small children and teenagers have different buildings? Young children usually like very bright color decorations because they need to develop their imagination and creativity. Teenagers are usually interested in a variety of different knowledge, it’s better for them to have easy access to these kinds of facilities, such as a big library, and the display of their own projects. 5、How do you think school buildings could be improved? I think usually the design of school buildings is plain and simple. It might be better to make them more unique and attractive. Also, they should provide enough bathrooms according to the number of students and make more recreational facilities for students to access during breaks. 6、How do you think schools could be improved (not just the buildings)? Schools should use more decoration about students’ school life, such as the projects of students. It’s also necessary for schools to provide enough facilities for students to play after class. 7、What are the differences between international schools and general schools? Well, there are some differences. For example, in international schools, there are usually more foreign teachers and better facilities, mainly because of the demands of those international students. However, in recent years, with the growing investment in education, these differences seem to be in the decline. 8. What’s the difference between going to a local college and college in another city? Going to a local college, we may have a lot of students coming from our hometown or even the same high school, which means we will not feel lonely in the first few days in the college. Also, we may have more help or support from former friends and family, because we are close to them. These will be hard to achieve when we go to a college in another city. However, going to college in another city will help us to develop our independence, helping us to be better prepared for our future life. 9. What’s the difference between teachers in the countryside and in the city? Teachers in the countryside may be less knowledgeable and less skillful in teaching, because the good ones are usually retained by the government in cities, to provide better education to the city residents. Of course, teachers themselves, would like more to compete for chances to stay in cities to obtain better welfare, better working conditions, and higher salaries. Luckily, these days, more and more good teachers, some sent by the government, some out of their own wills, are going to the countryside to improve the educational level there. 10. Should sport facilities open to students after school? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 65 Yes, I think it is a good idea to do so. After school, when sport facilities are offered to students, they will have more chances to take part in sports activities, which not only helps students to exercise to stay healthy, but also enable them to get refreshed after heavy burden in study. In addition, this gives students chances to communicate with their classmates and friends, as well as making new friends. 11. What will schools be like in the future? Well, it’s a big question. As far as I can imagine, the schools in the future, may be better in educating students, be more skillful in cultivating students overall abilities, and be more helpful in assisting students to get jobs after graduation. Besides, the teaching facilities will be more advanced, teaching resources will be richer and the teaching environment will be more comfortable. 12. How much time should children spend playing? As far as I am concerned, children should have as much time as possible in playing. Through playing, they are able to grow up healthily, establish good skills in tackling problems, enjoy friendly relationship with others, cultivate their creativity, and develop their curiosity in learning something more, which may not be possible when they are always forced to focus on those academic studies as expected by most adults. 13. What’s the characteristic of building style in suburbs? Well, in china, the building style in suburbs is quite different from that in cities. The buildings there are usually 3 or 4 storied houses, designed by the residents themselves and so are less classical. Besides, lack of some city plans, the buildings there are not so orderly and hence are not so attractive. However, they are spacious for people in the suburbs to live in. 14. Is it necessary for high school and middle school to build dorms? Any benefits? Yeah, I think so. If there are dorms in the school, some students, especially those who live far away from school, can then live on the campus, without having to travel a long way to go to and back from school every day, so that parents may not worry about the safety of their children on the roads. In addition, with more time staying at school with teachers and other classmates, students may have more interest in learning, and so study more efficiently. Besides, by living on the campus, far away from their parents, the students are enabled to develop their independence in dealing with things on themselves. 15. What is the value of play ground to children? ==Should there be any play area in the kindergarten or primary school? Well, playground means a lot to children. Being able to play on the playground, children can have more chance to stretch their bodies, develop their skills and have a good time with their friends. Besides, playground allows children to enjoy more freedom and have less pressure from academic studies. Just as the old saying goes, all work, no play makes jack a dull boy. A playground helps children to refresh themselves and so they can learn more effectively. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 66 16.Should teenagers and children be put together in schooling? I think it’s a good idea. When they are in the same school, teenagers may gradually form a habit of helping taking care of the children, and so become more responsible, while the children may have more chances to have role models and hence grow up more healthily. Of course, the school should be careful in guidance and management, in case that the teenagers may bully those children. 5、Historical building: Shanhaiguan Describe a historic place that you enjoyed visiting. You should say: where it was when you went there what it was like and explain why you liked it. Sample 1: I’d like to talk about Shanhaiguan, a China First Class National Cultural Site, the "First Pass Under Heaven". Shanhai Pass is located in Qinhuangdao in Hebei province. It’s a part of the Great Wall, one of the greatest wonders of the world, was listed as a World Heritage. Shanhaiguan is one of the major passes of the Great Wall of China. It is a popular tourist destination, featuring the eastern end of the main line of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall. With a history of more than 2000 years, some of the sections are now in ruins or have disappeared. However, it is still one of the most appealing attractions all around the world owing to its architectural grandeur and historical significance. The place where the wall itself meets the Pacific Ocean (at the Bohai Sea) has been nicknamed the "Old Dragon's Head." The pass of Shanhaiguan is a square, with a perimeter of around 4 kilometers long. The east, south and north sides are surrounded by a deep, wide moat. There are drawbridges over the moat. In the middle of the pass stands a tall bell tower. All four sides of Shanhaiguan had a gate. Due to disrepair over the centuries, only one gate still remains today. Written on a board that hangs above the gate is an alternate name of Shanhai Pass, "First Pass Under the Heaven". Sample 2: YueYang Tower I’d like to talk about the Yueyang tower in Hunan province, next to the famous Dongting Lake. It is one of the three great towers in China. One can gaze at the distant view of the Dongting Lake, with boats sailing on the Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 67 vast lake. It has long enjoyed the reputation of being the "first tower under heaven". In song dynasty, a famous poet named fanzhongyan, wrote a prose called Yueyang louji, translated as Memorial to Yueyang Tower. Because of this prose, the tower became more famous than before. The building has three storeys and is 15 meters in height, with four huge pillars supporting the whole construction, twelve columns supporting the second floor, and another twelve pillars supporting the roof. Although the tower was constructed of wood without using any nails, the main part is very steady. Its roof looks like a general's helmet, grand and unique. I really like this building and hope to visit it again. PART 3：Discussion topics: Historic Buildings 1、Do you like visiting historic sites? Why?= Why do people visit these historic buildings? Of course, I do. I like world history very much. When I see historic buildings, I’ll feel very excited and interested. And I would search relevant information in order to understand them more and better. 2、What are the famous historic sites in china? There’re many, especially in Beijing. As the capital of several dynasties, there’re many relics, such as the famous Summer Palace, and the thirteen tombs of the Ming dynasty. Apart from these, the most well known buildings are the Forbidden City. The Great Wall is also a must go place in Beijing. 3、What places would you recommend people to visit if they want to know the history of your city? What can people learn when they visit these places? Yu garden is the most famous historic site in Shanghai. The construction style reflects the southern building style. Many people would visit this tourist site. They can learn a lot of culture and customs about the people who lived in shanghai in the past. 4、How to make historic sites more attractive？=How to encourage people to visit historic sites? Advertisements are very important. Also, I think historic sites will be more attractive if they could provide some traditional performances, so they could entertain people and help them learn cultural knowledge. 5、How do you think about the admission fee for historic sites? Reasonable admission fees are necessary because in this way they could control the number of visitors and use the money to maintain the historic sites. However, if the admission fee is too high, fewer people will visit these sites to learn the historical knowledge that are valuable to them. 6、Why do these buildings need repairing? The simplest reason is that the old buildings are weathering as time goes by and we don’t want them to collapse because of their historic value. If they’re not maintained well, it’ll also be dangerous for visitors to come close to them. 7、Who should pay for the maintenance cost of old buildings? The government, of course. Since we pay tax, the government is responsible to Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 68 maintain old buildings in order to preserve history and culture. Also, buildings in historic sites can receive money from tourists through admission fees. Furthermore, I’ve also seen some old temples ask the local people to raise fund for their maintenance needs. 8、Why should people visit historic buildings? There’re many reasons. Historic buildings can teach us culture and history. When children see these old buildings in person, their love for history can be aroused and they’ll be likely to learn more on their own. For adults, we can appreciate the life of our ancestors when we see the ancient buildings. 9、Is it important for Chinese people to learn history? Definitely. History tells us what our origin is and teaches us the life that our ancestors led at their time. China has a five‐thousand‐year history and we should be proud of that and know it well. Also, when we learn history, we can learn from the mistakes that our ancestors made. 10、Do children like visiting historic buildings? I think so. Children are curious about many things. When they see the wooden Chinese historic buildings with traditional design, they’ll usually feel intrigued and amazed. It’s a good way to arouse their interest for history by taking them to historic sites. 11、Have China got aware of the situation that children do not pay enough attention to historic buildings? I think so. Nowadays, a lot of historic sites sell half‐price tickets to students to encourage them to visit these places more. Schools also organize some events to take children to historic sites as their field trips. To tell you the truth, when I was a child, these things were not as common. 12. Is it good to sell things in temples? Maybe. On the one hand, those who visit the temples may like to take something back as souvenirs. In this way, selling things in temples just provide them with some convenience. Also, the temples, with such a large space to maintain and so many people work in, will need some money. So, selling things may help them raise funds. On the other hand, temples are usually regarded as holy places, free from the worldly matters, not to say many believers’ donation and governments’ allocations have already ensured the normal operation of temples. In this sense, selling things in temples seem to be against the belief. 13. What’s the difference of seeing buildings in books and the actual ones? Seeing buildings in books is a lot different from seeing those actual ones. In books we can just sense the appearance of the buildings, but on the spots, we can feel the grandness or majesticness. In books, we can just see the buildings from the outside, but seeing the actual ones, we are able to go inside to see its structures, sense its functions, and learn about its building material and techniques. If we have a chance to visit them on spot, it will surely be better than just see them on books. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 69 6、My Ideal House Describe the ideal home (flat or house) that you would like to live in. You should say: where it would be what type of house it would be how you would decorate it (or, how you would furnish it) who you would like to live with and explain why you would like to live in this kind of home. Sample 1: Since I was a little child, I have been imagining my ideal house. I remember talking about it with my best friend and once we even drew a draft of it. The location should be in the countryside because I can have more space to plant in my own garden. I will plant trees around the house and make them my fence. It’s beautiful to have trees as fences. I’ll plant different fruit trees in the garden and various flowers. I’ll set chairs and a table there, so in summer days, I could go there to smell the flowers and eat fruit from my own fruit trees. The house shouldn’t be too big, but there should be enough rooms for me, my parents, my children, and guests. The living room should be big enough to hold parties, so I could ask friends over whenever I want. I think I’ll buy wooden and bamboo furniture to decorate the room and beautiful good quality carpet for the floor. I’ll also have pets, such as goldfish, dogs, and cats. If you let me, I can go on and on. Things can always be perfect and wonderful in our imagination. I hope one day my dream can become true. Sample 2: Most people have the experience of dreaming about their ideal house. I also have my ideal house in mind. The location should be in the suburbs, because I can have more space to build a big house and to plant my own garden. Our family is a big family, so the house will have 3 storeys and a basement. I’ll place a piano on the first floor because our family members all like classical music. All the bedrooms will be arranged on the second floor. Each room should have its unique design. My parents are traditional people, so their bedroom should be decorated in traditional Chinese style. I like western style decorations, so different kinds of oil paintings in my room will be indispensable. The 3 floor is the most special floor, because my father and I are movie lovers and watching films is our biggest hobby, I will place a home cinema projector there, so we could enjoy good films at home. The basement will serve as a storage room for our family, so the house would always look neat. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 70 This is my ideal house, but I need money to fulfill my dream. I’ll try my best to Make enough money for this house and I hope I don’t need to wait for too long. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1、In your country, what type of home do most people live in? =What kind of Housing do Chinese people have? It depends. Because there’re too many people but not enough land in the city, Usually city people live in apartments but countryside people can have more Space to build big houses because of the availability of land. 2、How are traditional houses different to modern houses? In the past, a lot of traditional houses are courtyard houses with gray bricks and tiles. People can visit their neighbors very easily because they could see each other very often. Modern houses are usually apartments because nowadays, there’re more people in cities, houses are not practical anymore. A majority of people have to live in apartments. Usually they don’t see their neighbors as often as before. 3、What do you think people’s houses will be like in the future? I think, in the future, people probably will still live in apartments in the city, but there should be more recreational facilities, such as swimming pools, and big gardens on top of each building. 4、What do you think is the biggest difference between urban and rural areas? Because there’re too many people but not enough land in the city, usually city people live in apartments but people who live in the rural areas can have more space to build big houses. People could plant their own gardens in rural areas, but city people usually consider it a luxury. 5、How are the lifestyles different between the big cities and the countryside? Because of the transportation problem and work pressure, a lot of city people feel they have to do things as fast as they can. This might make them value time more. However, life in the countryside is usually considered slower. Since many farmers are self‐employed, they don’t have to worry too much about their time management. In this way, I guess they can enjoy their life more. 6、Do people from the big cities ever look down upon rural people? For this question, the answer is yes. Some city people just feel they are better human beings because of they are born city people and sometimes, they might feel countryside people aren’t as well educated as they’re. I think this is wrong. Everyone is born equal. We shouldn’t look down on others and I believe everyone has the potential to be better. 7、How do you think cities will change in the future? == Do you think cities will continue to become larger and larger? I think there’ll be probably even more people in big cities, and buildings in cities will be taller than now so that more people can fit in a small space. Also, the surrounding areas of big cities will also be used as residential areas and industrial centers. 8、What problems do you think such large cities would bring? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 71 Traffic conditions must be even worse because of the increasing number of population. Housing prices will be higher too. Now, a lot of people complain about it, I think in the future, people might get used to it because the prices will be too high for the majority of people to possess their own houses. 9、In the future, do you think rural areas will become more attractive as places for people to live in? I think so. Because of the traffic conditions and housing prices in big cities, a lot of people will want to live in the rural areas instead. I think it’ll be possible that subways will go all the way to the countryside, so commuting won’t be a problem any more. 10、What’s the difference between houses now and in the past? What about in the future? There used to be more houses in the past and most apartment buildings were much lower than now. Nowadays, a lot of old houses were replaced with high residential buildings with lifts. In the future, people might build even taller buildings in order to make good use of the limited space. 11、What kind of people should live in the countryside? == What kind of people choose to live in the countryside? It’s hard to say. Farmers, of course, should live in the countryside and retired old people can also live there because they can enjoy the fresh air and appreciate the natural beauty. But nowadays, a lot of farmers are working in factories in the city. Only the old and children are left in the countryside. 12、What’s your definition of good quality of life? The quality of life can be divided to two categories: outer and inner qualities. We have to have a livable environment and can do our work well. It’s also important to obtain the necessary materials that we need for a quality life, such as food, clothing, and daily necessities. The inner part includes our relationship with others and our mental stability. 13、Whose fault is it for the narrow space in cities? The fast development of the society is definitely the key reason. It’s easier to start business in the city because of the consumer groups, the convenient transportation, and many other useful resources available in cities. Workers always follow the companies, so they also move to cities. Because of the increase of the population, the cities are getting more and more crowded. It’s urgent to build high buildings and widen roads for people to reside and the flow of traffic. 14、What are the benefits and drawbacks to live in flats? Well, living in flats does bring us great benefits, such as the fewer disturbances from others, the convenient way of life due to the good service provided by the community, and less space to do the cleaning. However, drawbacks also exist. For example, we may have less communication with the neighbors, less room for all the family members. Personally, when there is less land for the growing population, living in flats is a good way to relieve the burden of the earth. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 72 15、What’re the features of houses in the rural areas? Usually, houses in rural areas are much lower than those in cities, because there are more land available for building houses and less need for houses, so the houses there are often 2 to 3 storied buildings. Also, with more expectation for the function in putting things, those houses are usually bigger. Besides, most of those houses in the rural areas are not so well‐decorated as those flats in cities. 16、Why are the housing prices so high in china? Well, I think, there are several reasons. Firstly, you know, China has such a large population, and the wealth among people these years are increasing so fast. Therefore, when more people are hoping to buy houses for their families, the lack of provision of houses promotes the increase of the prices. Also, since the capital is profit‐driven, when they see the great demand, which means a huge profit, they speculate in the real estate, buying a lot of houses, aggravating the situation. 17. Do you think the quality of life in the countryside is higher than in the city? Not necessarily. On one hand, with a slower pace of life, with less hustle and bustle, with more private spaces to enjoy, and with a closer relation to the nature, life quality in the countryside is better than that in cities. However, with fewer facilities, with poorer welfare, with fewer chances of education and with poorer health care, life in the countryside seems not so good as that in cities. 18. Why do rich people also want to live in the suburbs? Well, out of some reasons, some rich people may want to live in the suburbs. Some of them like to stay away from the hustle and bustle in cities, to enjoy their peaceful life in the suburbs, some of them like to live closer to nature, which is easier to obtain in the suburbs, and some of them like to stay away from the public, or to escape from others seeking help from them, hoping to enjoy more privacy in the suburbs. 19、How to help people live in the suburbs have the same quality life as city people? I think the government should build more pubic facilities and provide more public transportation in the suburbs so that people live there can travel easily and also have the access to places, such as parks and sport centers. Education is also a problem for people live in the suburbs. A lot of parents worry about their children’s education because of the quality of schools in the suburbs. So I think the government should also pay attention to this area and try to provide children in the suburbs with the same standard of education as the city kids. 20、What kind of people will choose to live in cities? To my mind, those people who are seeking more chances of success, who are enjoying the great convenience of basic facilities, and who are expecting better welfare systems, may choose to live in cities. 21、When rich people choose to live in the countryside, they still have their jobs in cities. Do you think they will give up their career in cities and then work in the rural areas? Probably not. It is their careers in the cities that bring them the wealth, so that Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 73 they can enjoy their life freely and being able to change their residence conveniently. In this sense, giving their jobs in cities means they may lose the chance to continue to make the fortune to support their life. 22、When rich people choose to live in the rural areas, there are no such basic facilities such as superior schools and hospitals. Do you think they will live long in the rural areas? Probably not. It is in the cities that they earn the wealth, so that they can enjoy their life freely and being able to change their residence conveniently. In this sense, living long in the rural areas means they may lose the chance to continue to make the fortune to support their life. 7、Your favorite room when you were a child Describe a room in your home where you spent a lot of time when you were a child. You should say: what it looked like what was in the room what you did in that room and explain why you liked that room. or and explain why you spent most of your time in that room. Sample 1: When I was a child, my bedroom was my favorite because I could decorate it by myself and invite my friends to play with me there. The room was not very big, about 15 square meters. My mom bought me a very beautiful carpet with many pictures of animals on it. I actually learned many of the animal names from the carpet. I liked cartoon films very much, so I asked my parents to buy many cartoon posters and put them on the walls. When I was in my bedroom, I felt I was in the wonderland. I used to have many toys and I kept all of them in my bedroom. Sometimes I would invite my friends to play with me. My favorite game was to build castles with blocks. I think it’s great to share my toys with my friends. I also like reading. There’s a small book case full of children books in my bedroom. When I felt tired playing with my toys, I would spend some time reading. Reading taught me knowledge and gave me the opportunities to use my imagination. My bedroom gave me a lot of joy and I think it’s important for children to have their own special place to play in and spend time with their friends. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 74 Sample 2: When I was a child, my bedroom was my favorite because I could decorate it by myself and invite my friends to play with me there. The room was spacious for a child, about 20 square meters. My mom bought a beautiful carpet for me, and I liked it very much because the pattern was a superman. In addition, the wall was full of different kinds of posters of cartoon characters. There’s also a little bookcase in my room and I kept most of my books in it. Books gave me a colorful childhood and I could spend hours reading them. When I was a child, I used to invite my friends to play with me in my home. They also liked my bedroom, because they could not only appreciate many sorts of posters, but also could play with toys in my room. I felt very happy when I was playing with them. My bedroom enriched my childhood and gave me a lot of joy. I think it’s important for children to have their own special place to play in and spend time with their friends. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Would you like sharing a bedroom with others? ==Why do many people feel a need to have their own room (bedroom)? ==Do you think it is important for people to have their own room? I think most people don’t want to share a room with others because we all need some personal space and privacy. It’s good to have a friend living with you, but occasionally you also want to stay alone and enjoy some quiet time. Also, if I have my own bedroom, I can decorate it in whatever way I want. It might be hard to do it if I share a room with a roommate. 2. Are there any advantages for children to share a bedroom with other children? Yes, when children share a room with others, they can learn something from each other. When they face some difficulties in life that they don’t want to talk to their parents, it’s also easier to share with their roommates. I think it’s good. 3. Do you think having some privacy is important? Definitely. That’s why we have curtains at night, not for warmth but for privacy. It’s just hard if we feel we’re watched all the time. Sometimes, it’s important for us to stay alone to enjoy some quiet time. 4. What do you think homes of the future will be like? = How do you think homes of the future will be different to (or, better than ) the homes we have today? = In the future, do you think that the amount of space that people have to live in will be better or worse than the situation today? I think homes in the future might be worse than homes now, especially in big cities. Because of the housing prices, a lot of people can’t afford houses in big cities. Maybe in the future, the government will build very small homes for poor people to live in. 5. Which do you think is better, to live in a small house or a big house? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 75 For me, my home is small, so owning a big house is like a dream to me. I definitely think a big house is far better than a smaller one. You can invite as many guests as you want and you don’t have to worry about guest rooms. You can hold parties in your own home because you have enough space. I just admire big houses. 6. How many rooms does a typical Chinese family need? ==How many rooms do you think is enough for a family of three ？==Do you think people's homes in your country are big enough？ Nowadays, a lot of family usually only has three members. For this kind of family, two bedrooms and a living room will be enough. However, if they want to invite friends and family occasionally, an extra guest room might be useful. If the money allows, a study will be good for both the parents and the child. 7. Do people have enough living space in your country? It depends. For people living in the countryside, they usually have spacious homes because the availability of land. In cities, most rich people can afford large houses or apartments, but poor people usually have to live in small makeshift apartments. 8. Why is housing important to people? Your house is your home. If we can’t have good housing, it’s hard for you to enjoy your family life. People value where they live because they spend a tremendous of time and energy there. If housing problems can’t be solved, it’s hard for people to feel content with their lives. 9. Is private space important? Yes, I think so. Everyone may have his or her own secrets and privacy. A private space is just the place to release the secrets or privacy. Otherwise, one will be suppressed, which is not good to their health. Besides, everyone may have his or her own preferences or favourites, without the disturbance of others, a private space can ensure them to enjoy their own space. 10. Why do people like going to public places, like pubs? People go to public places for different reasons. Some go there because they don’t want to be alone when they are free. Others go there to find fun or excitement to refresh themselves, and still others go there, hoping to release their stress in life or making some new friends. 8、A shopping center Describe popular shopping center You should say: where the place was why you went there what you could buy there and explain why it was popular Sample: Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 76 There’s a very big shopping center in my hometown. I would always go there to shop and have fun. I like there very much because I can find almost everything I want to buy and can also relax myself at the leisure center on the top floor. There’re six floors. If you want to buy some daily necessities, you can go to the supermarket on the first floor. For clothes, you can go to the second to fourth floor. There’re all kinds of brands and styles for different people. If you want to buy electronic equipment, you’ll be able to find there on the fifth floor. After I get tired from shopping, I would go to the leisure center on the sixth floor. It’s a great place to relax and have fun. There’s a little cinema where you could watch the latest films. My favorite place would be the magic show center. It’s amazing that the magicians could show us so many interesting tricks. This shopping center gave me a lot of fun and good memories. I think shopping places should be like that. PART 3： Discussion topics: 1. Should parents buy whatever the children ask? Of course not. Sometimes children don’t know how to judge, so they will want to buy everything they like. However, parents know what the children really need, so parents can help children make good decisions about what to buy and what not to buy. 2. How can children save money? Actually parents can encourage their children to save money by buying money boxes for them. It’s a very good way to help them realize the importance of saving money. When they grow older, parents can help the children open a bank account to save more money. 3. Can children be influenced by ads? Of course. Children lack the ability to judge right from wrong. When they see a beautiful toy in the advertisement, they will feel that they must buy it. 4. What is the difference between shopping in big cities and countryside? It’s more convenient to shop in big cities because there’re many big department stores and shopping malls. You can find almost all that you want. However, if you live in the countryside, there will be fewer stores and fewer brands available. Shopping will be difficult. However you can save money. 5. What are the differences between men and women when they go shopping? =What is more important‐‐ price, quality, or appearance? There’re many differences. For men, they pay more attention to the quality of the products. They prefer paying more for good stuff. However, women care about the styles and colors more; they will tend to pay a lot of money to the latest style. 6. What do you think about shopping online? Shopping online makes our life easier. It gives us a variety of products. So many Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 77 people, especially the young, prefer shopping online. However, shopping online usually has problems with the quality of the products because you can’t see the real thing. So I think people need to be careful. 7. What’s the difference between traditional and modern shops? Well, great differences exist between traditional and modern shops. The first difference lies in the size. The traditional shops are smaller in size and usually family owned, while modern shops are much bigger, some of which are even of national chains. In addition, the product variety is quite different, modern shops often provide a greater variety of products, ranging from daily necessities to sports facilities. Also, modern shops sell things at a lower price because of their greater economy of scale 8. What effect can shops bring to the people who live in the community? Shops can produce various effects to people living around. Firstly, shop offer great convenience to people in nearby communities, because, without going out far away, they can buy what they need in nearby shops. However, the existence of shops means a bigger flow of population, generating a sense of insecurity along with its provision of chances 9. Do you think an increasing number of people spending too much time shopping? Yeah. Thanks to the development of economy over the world in recent years, it seems people’s life level is greatly improved, and so more people are able to afford more goods they want. In the meantime, to attract more customers and earn more profits, companies are endeavoring to produce a huge variety of products. In this way, people are dazzled in choosing what to buy and hence people are spending more and more time in selecting out the ideal ones to buy. 10. Through what ways do people shop now? Thanks to the development of the society, people are now enabled to do shopping in various ways. For example, some people, who like to do window shopping and have a walk around those things they hope to buy, may go to the department stores, the shopping malls and the supermarkets on the spots. Other people, who may be reluctant to go out, may choose to do shopping on line or by telephone calls, through which they can get the ordered goods sent to their homes. 11. Introduce two forms of shops in your living area and tell about their individual merits. Well, in my community, there are a lot of grocery stores, which sell some small things, especially those daily necessities. Therefore, without going far away, people in my community can buy what they need conveniently at a quite low price. On the other hand, there is a big supermarket nearby, which enables people around to have a walk around after dinner, and buy almost anything they want. 12. Why women like to go shopping? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 78 Well, in my opinion, women like to dress themselves up, so that they can look more attractive. To achieve this, they have to go shopping all the time, to follow the fashion, no matter whether they have already had a lot of those things, because they need to keep everything new and make themselves charming. Besides, without so much pressure as men in earning money to support the family, women may have much more free time than men, and so, to kill their time and find something interesting, they like to go to those big shopping malls. 13. The difference between shops now and in the past? I am not sure if there is a big difference between shops now and in the past. Maybe shops now are much more modern than those in the past. Besides, the service now is better due to a higher education of people. 14. Who provide better service, shopping malls or small shops? I think shopping malls provide better service than small shops. Foe example, if you buy something in a shopping mall, and you find it not so suitable later, you could get a refund with no condition. But it’s hard for you to get such services in small shops. 9、A place near water Describe a place near a lot of water (such as a river or the ocean) that you enjoyed visiting when you were a child. You should say: where this place was what you did at this place who you went there with and explain why you liked this place. Sample: Water is the source of life and it can always make me feel close to the nature. I used to live in the suburbs, so there were a lot of rivers and ponds around me. There’s a pond near my home and I would always go there to play. There were a lot of fish in the pond and sometimes I could see people fishing there. Occasionally, they could catch very big fish. You can imagine how people were excited when they got fish on their hooks. It is said that the happiness does not lie in the time when people eat the fish but lie in the excitement when they catch the fish. I liked to stand by them to share the happiness with them. I used to have a small fishing net and sometimes I would go there to catch tadpoles with my friends. And later when those tadpoles eventually transformed to frogs, I could hear them sing loudly, especially in the evenings. And I knew I was close to the nature, rather than like just now we hear nothing but noise in the cities . There were also a lot of ducks and geese in my neighborhood and sometimes they Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 79 also enjoyed swimming in the pond. Seeing them swim freely in the pond without any worries, I felt relaxed and it seemed that I was there with them to enjoy the freedom. I loved this place and the pond was very important for the people who lived around it. If I go there again, I’m sure a lot of good memories will come back to me. PART3: discussion topics 1. Would you like to live near water, for example, near a river or the ocean?=What advantages can you get if you live near the water? ==Why do some people like to live near water? Yes, I do. I think for people who live near water, there’re many advantages to take. For example, they could go swimming or fishing much more often. Also, the scenery near water is usually nice and beautiful. If I live near the water, I can have a walk near the river or sea and even go there to enjoy the nature during my spare time. 2. Are there any disadvantages to live at the seaside? Yes, people can walk at the beach and swim in the sea if they live at the seaside. However, when natural disasters come, the people near the sea might be affected first. Just like the tsunami happened in Japan. Many people lost their lives, especially the ones who lived near the seaside. 3. Do you think climate change will have an effect on people's desire to live at the seaside? Possible. When natural disasters come, the people near the sea might be affected. Just like the tsunami happened in Japan. Many people lost their lives, especially the ones who lived near the seaside. I often hear people talking about not living near the sea as a blessing, so I think this might have some effect. 4. What's the difference between swimming in a swimming pool and swimming at the beach? They’re quite different. First, the water is different. Also, the sea is much bigger than a swimming pool, so when you swim in it, you can have more freedom and can feel close to the nature. 5. What activities do people do when they go to places with a lot of water? There’re many things to do, such as fishing and swimming. Sometimes, people can also ride a boat or do water drafting. Some special parks even provide water fighting facilities for visitors to enjoy some group activities. 6. Is there much water transportation in your country? =Do you like traveling by ship? ==Is water transportation today the same as it used to be in the past? Yes, there’re. However, I’ve never taken a ship to go somewhere. I guess most of the ships nowadays are used for cargo transportation because tourists usually feel they’re slower than trains or airplanes. In the past, a lot of people have to take ships or boats as transportation if they want to go somewhere near water. I read many novels talking about people visiting other countries by ship. I guess ship traveling was very popular in the past. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 80 7. How does water transportation compare to other forms of transportation? I guess it’s hard for water transportation to have traffic jams because there’re not that many ships or boats in the big river or the ocean. That’s a good thing. However, planes and trains are probably faster than ships, so a lot of people prefer not to travel by water. 8. Do you like water? Yes, I do. Water is the origin of life. When I’m close to the ocean or river, I can feel the marvelous work of the nature. We can’t live without water because we need to drink it and use it in our life. I think we should try our best to save water and protect the water resources. 9. How do people use water? People use water for many things. In fact, we can't live without water! Most importantly, we need to drink water. We water our gardens and farms. We use water to cool ourselves. We swim and play in water. We use water for recreation –people ride water skis, and sail or drive boats of all kinds. We also use water as transport for people and things to go from place to place across oceans or along a river. 10. What’re the disadvantages of living near water? There’re some disadvantages. If we live near water, we might be affected by natural disasters, such as floods, and tsunamis. If we think about what has happened in Japan, probably, we need to think carefully before moving near water. 11. What’re the advantages of shipping by sea? Although it’s not as fast as the airplane, the price can be much cheaper. If we don’t need something right away, it’s a good choice to ship by sea. Plus, ships usually can carry much larger cargos compared to airplanes, so if companies want to ship big equipment, it’ll be convenient to go by sea. 12. Is ocean shipment more advanced than before? I don’t quite know this area, but I think the safety equipment should be better because nowadays we seldom hear shipwrecks. Also, a lot of specialized companies can provide very detailed information of the cargo process to customers. 13. Do rivers have economic value? Absolutely, rivers have long been used as the source of drinking water, for obtaining food (such as fish and shrimps), for transport, as a source of hydropower to drive machinery (which is an important part of the electric power in China), for bathing, and as a means of disposing of waste. I have to say rivers really contribute a lot to our economy. 14. Do you like the sea? How often do you visit the sea? I love the sea. I live inland, so the first time I visited the sea, I felt the beauty of it was breath‐taking. When I looked at the immense ocean, I felt I was so small and the universe was so great. I would try my best to visit the sea once or twice a year and every time I’m there, I can experience something new. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 81 15. Why do people study the ocean? Well, it’s the source of life and when we think about three fourth of the earth is covered by it, we’ll see how important it is. If we don’t know the ocean well, we might make big mistakes, but if we do, we can make good use of it. For example, if we can change salty water to fresh water, a lot of water shortage problems will be solved easily. 16. How to prevent ocean pollution? Ocean contamination is caused by chemicals and other debris. One of the best ways to prevent this is to learn about proper waste removal practices. Automobile oil, paint, and leftover cleaning chemicals should all be properly disposed of, and not just dumped down the drain. Government should also issue stricter regulations for factory waste disposal and encourage companies to use cleaner ways to treat and dispose of waste. 17. Is there much water in your country? To be frank, although China is a country with a vast territory, the water resource is far from being enough for such a large population. On the average, the water resource for everyone in China is very low compared to the situation in many other countries, especially in these years when the industrial use of water is increasing dramatically and when more rivers and lakes are polluted. 18. Were rivers in your city clean in the past? How about now? Sure, you know, in the past, my grandfather always told me that they used to swim and catch fish in the rivers. And my grandma would wash clothes and even take water from the rivers to cook. However, these days, when you see the black water in the rivers, when you see dead fish floating on the water, when you smell the odor from the river, the first idea coming into mind would be to stay away from them as soon as possible. Luckily, our government is aware of this, and is now trying to solve the problem of pollution in these rivers. 19. Is it safe to travel by boat or by ship? Yeah, in rivers and lakes, it is safe to travel by boat or by ship, especially when the modern technology is used in building ships, Also, because the scenery along rivers is usually more attractive than those concrete buildings, more and more people now prefer to travel by boat, as long as they are not in a hurry. 20. How are rivers, lakes and oceans exploited in china? Well, it’ a big question and out of my knowledge, since I have rarely thought about it. But according to what I hear and see on the media, China is now making great achievement in the exploitation of rivers, lakes and oceans. For example, they are used to irrigate lands, transport goods, and do fish‐farming, and even for tourism in China now. 21. Should we protect the oceans together internationally? How? Yeah, I think it’s a must. You know, the oceans are usually related to many countries along the sides, so only one country’s effort may end in vain, because the water with problems will flow in. By cooperation internationally, the human resources, technologies, and governments’ funds and natural recourses needed Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 82 can be well combined, so that the oceans can be protected more effectively. 22. What are the benefits and drawbacks of cities along the ocean? Great benefits can be obtained when cities are situated along the ocean. For example, they can take advantage of the oceans to develop transportation, which is a significant factor why coastal cities are usually more developed. Also, because these cities usually lack natural resources on land, they are forced to make effort, leading to their faster development than those inland cities satisfying with their current situations. However, these coastal cities may be threatened with natural disasters from the ocean—the tsunami happened in Japan months ago was just a case in point. 23. What can cause water pollution? Well, water pollution can be caused by various reasons. For example, the release of waste water from factories, households and other process of productions, especially when not properly treated, will lead to water pollution. In addition, some natural disasters may turn over the existing ecosystem in the water, and so brings pollution. Besides, some human activities, such as littering, or pouring some pollutants in the water, may also cause the water pollution 24. Are beach houses worth the high prices? It’s hard to say. Actually I think it’s probably a debate about luxuries over necessities. Beach houses can give people not only places to live but also the surrounding areas. When you live near the beach, you can have access to the sea as often as you want and you don’t have to travel far for this. Since time is money and life for a lot of rich people, maybe for them it’s worth the price that they pay for beach houses. However, for ordinary people who care about the functions of houses more than the scenery, they might think the prices of beach houses are not reasonable at all. 10. Garden or park Describe a garden you like You should say: where it is what it looks like what you do there and explain why you like it or how you feel about this garden. Sample： I want to talk about the flower garden at my grandparents’ house. My grandparents live in the countryside, so they could have a big piece of land to grown flowers and fruit trees. They planted trees around the garden and made them fences. It’s beautiful to have trees as fences. In the garden, they always plant various beautiful flowers. There’re azalea flowers (杜鹃花), which represents elegance and wealth. The pomegranates (石榴) give very beautiful flowers and the fruits are sour but contain a lot of seeds Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 83 inside. I especially like the smell of lilacs （紫丁香） and the purple color is so adorable. Peach flowers （桃花） blossom in spring and the peaches are very juicy and sweet. There’re chairs and tables set in the garden, so in summer days, we could go there to smell the flowers and eat fruit from the fruit trees. This garden gave me a lot of good memories. I think it’s nice for families to have their private gardens. Gardens can definitely make our life more enjoyable. Sample 2: A park I went Describe a park or garden that you went to You should say where it was what it was like when you went there and explain why you liked it. Sample: I went to many beautiful parks and I’d like to talk about the park in my city. I liked it because it was very beautiful and big. Since it was spring, my friends and I went to the park to see the beautiful cherry blossoms on the Tomb Sweeping Day. There were many people taking pictures and camping on the grass in the park because they were attracted by the warm weather and the beautiful flowers. It’s like a big outing day for everybody. The flowers were very beautiful and the whole park was like a flower garden. There’s also a wide river that ran through the park. You could see people fishing and there were even traditionally designed boats for tourists and visitors to ride and appreciate the natural beauty from the river. I took the boat to go all the way up to the park and saw other flowers as well. When I got tired, I found there were a lot of well designed pavilions (凉亭) to provide shade and places for people to rest. I’m glad that I got the opportunity to go to the park because I could feel the coming of the spring and get close to the nature. It’s nice to have many gorgeous parks in the city because they provide people with nice places for outing and picnics during weekends and holidays. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Should parks charge admission fees? Well, I don’t think it is necessary. For one thing, the building of a park, usually from part of the government revenue, is actually from the tax paid by citizens. So, in this sense, charging admission fees is unacceptable. For another, providing public places for people to relax, to refresh themselves, and to enjoy Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 84 life, should be part of the responsibility of the government. 2. Should every town have their own parks? Yes, I think it’s a good idea to do so. With parks in town, the residents there would have public places to relax, to refresh themselves, and to enjoy their life. Otherwise, they may have to travel a long way to visit parks in other cities. 3. What is the value of nature to children? Nature means much to children. Firstly, nature provides a lot of knowledge to children, such as the names of plants, animals, the importance of the sun and water, and the natural law. Also, being close to nature, children are enabled to breathe fresh air, stretch their bodies and relax. So if it is possible, children should be encouraged to stay more with the nature. 4. Should there be parks in cities? Yes, I think it’s a good idea to do so. With parks in cities, the residents there would have public places to relax, to refresh themselves, and to enjoy their life. Otherwise, they may have to travel a long way to visit parks in other cities. 5. How can we encourage children to go to parks? Actually, if the parents want, they can do a lot to encourage children to go to 6. 7. 8. 9. parks. For example, parents can themselves act as role models, so that their kids will go with them to the parks. Also, more activities could be organized at parks, so that children will find it interesting to go there. Are there many parks in your city? Sure, there are many parks in Beijing. Almost every community has their own parks, with some being small while others bigger. And every region will have a central park for that area, where people around there can have free access. Besides, there are still some parks, acting as tourist attractions, which people can visit. Various parks in my city encourage people to enjoy their life better. Why do people go to gardens? Well, people may go to gardens for various reasons. Some people go there to have a walk around with families after meals, to enjoy a family get‐together and their leisure time with the nature. Other people may go there to refresh themselves from their daily routines, and some people, especially the old, may go to the gardens to find a place to do some exercise, or just find some other old ones to share their ideas about life, and sometimes, young people may go to the gardens to have their datings. What’s the difference between public gardens and private gardens? There are some differences between public gardens and private gardens. For example, public gardens are usually funded by the government, while private gardens may be funded by some individuals or enterprises. Also, public gardens are there to provide a place to relax for the public, while private gardens may just serve for some private purposes. In addition, public gardens may be bigger in size whereas private garden may be much smaller. Should gardens be free to the public? Yes, I think so. Free gardens can provide the public good places for the public to Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 85 relax and refresh, and therefore, they can then contribute more to the development of the society. Also, the public have already paid their money, in the form of taxes, and thus they should receive some public service from the government, to which gardens are just one of the good examples. 10. How to cultivate children’s love towards the nature? In my opinion, it’s easy to cultivate children’s love towards the nature. You can take them to go picnic, or go hiking, or go cycling sometimes, so children will fall in love with nature very easily. Besides, you can also tell them some stories about nature and human beings, so they may feel close to nature. 11. Do you think more gardens can mean a place is more developed? Yes, I think so. I have heard that in some developed countries, there are many gardens for people to relax, or have meals, or read books. In China, with the development of economy, people care more about their leisure activities, so there are more and more gardens in China nowadays. 12. What benefits can teenagers get from planting trees? Planting trees are beneficial to teenagers in at least two ways. First, they can get a chance to close nature, and they may fall in love with nature. Second, they will be educated to protect the environment, which will benefit the earth. 11. A street/road in your hometown that you like most Describe a street you know well. You should say: where it is what the main buildings are in (on) that street what you usually do in (on) that street and explain how you feel about this street. Sample: I’d like to talk about the road in my hometown that I took to school every day when I was a child. This special road gave me so much fun and so many good memories. The road is along a river. When I have time, I would go to observe fish swimming in the river. There’re also a lot of wild flowers and plants growing on the banks of the river, they make the road even more attractive. When I was a child I would sometimes go to the river banks with my friends to catch butterflies or dragonflies. There’s also a little snack store at the end of the road, which would always attract a lot of children on their way to school or home. I specially liked the candy bars they sell. There were actually not a lot of people and cars on the road when I was a child. I still remember, when I first started riding a bicycle, I did most of my practice on this road. Everyday after school, a bunch of little children, including me, would ride bikes there, laughing and screaming. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 86 I like the trees along the road because they could give us shade in summer, and it’s said that some of the trees are more than one hundred years old. The road would always look gorgeous when the trees blossom in spring. Now whenever I’m at home, I would take a walk on this road. I’m glad that there’s a beautiful road near my home. Sample 2: I’d like to talk about the street near my home, which I would go almost every day. The street is along a river. When I have time, I would go to observe fish swimming in the river. There’re also a lot of wild flowers and plants growing on the banks, which make the road even more attractive. In the past, the street wasn’t busy at all. There used to be a little snack store at the end of the road, which would always attract a lot of children on their way to school or home. Now, you can find many fashion shops that sell very fancy clothes to both men and women. There’re also a variety of restaurants and I especially like the hot pot restaurant at the corner of the street. Actually, the building of this restaurant is very unique. It’s built in the traditional Chinese style with red wooden pillars and windows. I think this restaurant makes this street more unique. I also like the trees along the road because they could give us shade in summer, and it’s said that some of the trees are more than one hundred years old. The road would always look gorgeous when the trees blossom in spring. Now whenever I’m at home, I would take a walk on this road. I’m glad that there’s a gorgeous street near my home. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. What are Chinese residential areas like? I’ll say according to the standard of the homes, residential areas are very different from one another. Some places are nice with guards, enough trees and flowers, and other facilities. However, some cheap homes are surrounded basically by other buildings, and people could only go to nearby parks to relax. As a matter of fact, without guards, these people have to worry more about their home security. 2. How can the government have a better plan of those areas? I think the government can invest more money on fitness facilities and parks in residential areas to help people stay more time outdoors. If we can work out for free in our neighborhood, more people will be able to exercise. It’s also important to make sure of the local security. I hope there’ll be more police around residential areas to prevent theft and robbery. 3. How can residents’ satisfaction rates about the residential areas be enhanced? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 87 If there’re more accessible facilities, people definitely will be happier. There should be local libraries for people to read and check out books, fitness center and swimming pools that are free or at a low cost for local residents. If people can benefit from these investments, their satisfaction rate can definitely be higher. 4. Are those traditional houses suitable to be constructed in modern cities? In china, most traditional houses are one or two storeys and they usually require big pieces of land. Now most cities are getting more and more crowded in China, this kind of house is not practical any more. I think cities should build higher buildings to accommodate more people. 5. What are the benefits for old people to live in the city? There are many benefits when the old choose to live in cities. For example, they can have a fast treatment when they are ill since the old are more likely to suffer from illness. Also, they can enjoy better life qualities in cities because the welfare system there is usually more improved. Besides, the old can enjoy a more enriched life there because of the facilities available in cities. 6. What’s the ideal residential area? Well, it’s hard so say for sure, coz people may have diversified pursuits of their life. For those who want more excitement in life, a residential area in the downtown area may be an ideal choice for them, especially when there are full of entertainment places and facilities to help them enjoy their free time. However, to those who like a more peaceful life, a residential area in the suburbs with life convenience but little disturbance will be better; particularly when there is beautiful scenery no matter whether is manmade or natural. 7. How to promote the quality of residential areas? Various measures can be taken, as long as people hope to do so. For instance, they can improve the infrastructure, such as the building of more health facilities and clinics, so that residents will enjoy a healthier life there. Also, more convenient services could be provided, such as the vegetable market, housekeeping service, which could help residents deal with their daily problems. 8. Is community life important? To be frank, I am not so sure. Because you know, up till now, I have spent most of my time on the campus, and I don’t have many chances to enjoy my time in the community. But to the residents in the community, I believe the community life will be important to them, because only when they have a pleasant community life after their busy work and heavy pressure in the social competition, will they have the good chances to relax and then get refreshed Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 88 to contribute more the development of the society. 9. What’re the benefits of living in the city? Well, life in cities does have many benefits. For example, due to the developed transportation facilities, it is quite convenient for citizens to travel around the city. Also, comparatively, in cities, the welfare system is better, educational chances are more available, medical service is usually more advanced, and the ways of entertainment are more enriched, providing the public a more secured life. In addition, because of a larger population, there will be more opportunities for the young to find a position in the society. 10．What kinds of streets do you like? I like walking around different streets. When I feel lonely, I like to go to those popular streets where many people are gathering around, but when I feel depressed, I prefer those peaceful streets with fewer people. And on some other occasions, I may go with my friends to do window shopping, and thus we may choose those streets with a lot of shops for specialties. 11. Should we preserve those traditional buildings? To some extent, yes. Some traditional buildings may serve as a base for research, a tourist attraction, or a record of our glorious history. Old buildings for these purposes are worth preserving. However, to those buildings that are dangerous to people’s life, that are functionless in this modern society, and that are hindering the development of society, there is little value to keep them. 12. Why do people want to live in cities? Maybe cities have much more streets than the countryside. Countryside only has small roads, but cities usually have bustling streets with a lot of cars and people. Some people do not like quiet places, so they will prefer to live in cities. 12. Where you would go if you have a day off Describe where you would go if you have a day off You should say: where the place is who you would go with what you would do and explain why you want to spend your day there. Sample: If I have a day off, I would go to the beach with my best friend, Lee. I love the ocean because it’s the origin of life. When I look at the immense ocean, all my worries and anxieties will become trivial. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 89 Fortunately, my hometown isn’t very far from a port city，XX. If I have a day off, I would go there with my friends the day before and stay overnight. The next morning, we will get up very early to see the sunrise. I always think the sunrise at the ocean is very beautiful and marvelous. Then, we could go swimming. I love swimming very much and I believe it’s the best way to exercise because of the natural water resistance we need to fight with while we swim. Then, the fresh sea food will be a must. I love sea food because it’s very nutritious and tasty. Most sea food doesn’t require complicated cooking process. Even if we just boil shrimp or crab in water, they’ll still taste good. At night, I’ll walk at the beach with my friend and we can talk about many things in life. For me, this is the perfect day off I can imagine. Since it’s so easy to achieve, I feel I should do it this weekend, right after my test. Part 3 Discussion topics: 1. Why do people need breaks? Just as the old saying goes, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, people need breaks to relax themselves, to get refreshed and to regain their passion and energy in continuing their pursuit of careers. It is hard to imagine that a person can work or study non‐stop 24 hours a day like machines. After all, life is not only for work. 2. What can make people feel stressful? Well, stress can be caused by various factors. For example, unpleasant conditions or events can cause stress, such as financial problems, a divorce, health issues or pressure at work. However, sometimes, even desirable situations can cause stress, such as exercise, dating, moving to a new home or taking a long trip. 3. Would you like to have long holidays or short holidays? Why? To be frank, I like holidays, no matter whether it is a long one or a short one. If I have a long holiday, I may choose to travel a long distance away to experience something that is totally different from what I have experienced in my hometown. And if I have a short holiday, I could have a chance to stay with my family or my friends, or just stay alone to enjoy a period of peaceful time. 4. Should people have holidays? Definitely. Just as the old saying goes, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”, people need holidays to relax themselves, to get refreshed and to regain their passion and energy in continuing their pursuit of careers. It is hard to imagine that a person can work or study non‐stop 365 days a year like machines. After all, life is not only for work. 5. Do men and women spend holidays differently? To some extent, yes. Due to their different pursuits and different interests in life, they may tend to do differently. For example, men may like to join with Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 90 their friends for some ball activities or just play computer games together. However, women may choose to go shopping or just window shopping with their friends. 6. How have working hours changed compared to the past? Well, with the advancement of civilization, people are enjoying a better welfare than in the past. One example is the shortening of working hours. I remembered when I wan in primary school, I had to study for 9 hours a day and 6 days a week and my parents had to work for 9 hours a day and 6 days a week. But now, only 8 hours a day and 5 days a week is required. 7. What’s the difference between female and male lifestyle? Generally, with the liberation of women in the society, it seems that men and women are similar in almost every field, and so, there are not many differences between their lifestyles. What is different is the gap between individuals due to their different pursuit and interest in life, not because of their genders. 8. What do you think are the changes of lifestyle compared to a couple of years ago? Compared to a couple of years ago, the lifestyle does change a lot. For example, people are sleeping later and getting up later, because the evening lives are greatly enriched. Also, people seem to be busier than in the past, since the life pace is now faster and people are having higher aims in life. 9. Do you think the lifestyle will change in the future? Yes, the world is developing through changes, and no one can resist the wheels of history. With a higher aim in life, with the efforts to improve the life level, with the enhancement of working efficiency, people in the future are surely to enjoy a happier life than people now. 10. Do people prefer working or having holidays? Well, it’s hard to say for sure, since views about life may differ from person to person. Some people may not feel at ease when they are free, without any work to do, while others may hope to have holidays all the year round. It is something depending on people’s pursuit and interest in life. 11. Do people work more compared to the past? I think so. Nowadays, a lot of people feel busier because they need to work a lot in order to get promoted and be a good worker. Because of the competition, a lot of people need to learn new things in order to keep up with the fast developing society. Also, certain positions need people to spend more time and energy on their jobs, such as managers. 13. A public place—library There’re a lot of public facilities in my city, such as the libraries, museums, and parks. I’d like to talk about the city library near my home. I would go there all the time because I like reading and the place is very peaceful. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 91 When I was a child, I would always go to the children’s section, in a separate building. I could find many beautifully illustrated (加插图)books there. Now, I go to the regular building for adults. I could find reference books and find a quiet place to study. It’s a perfect place to relax and read some books that you’re interested in. My favorite place is on the third floor. There are some traditional style tables and chairs. When I’m there, I’ll feel I’m in ancient China. Sometimes, I’ll also go to the periodical room(期刊阅览室) to find some fashion magazines and newspapers to read. When I’m tired and want to find some information online, I can use their advanced computers to surf the internet and read some electronic version books. I’m so glad that there’s such a good library in my city. I could go there whenever I have time. For a book lover like me, I think it’s a good way for me to relax and release my pressure from study (work). （Part3 问题正在收集中） *14. Work Place Describe your ideal work place (office, factory) You should say: what the place is like what the people are like how you think it would be good and explain how you can achieve your dream. Sample: I major in business, so I want to become a businessman in the near future. My ideal working place should be in a modern office building. I want to have my own office so I’ll be able to have more privacy. When other people are talking loudly, I can always shut the door to keep all the noises from me. There should be large windows in my office so that I can look at the city scenery when I feel tired from my work and want to take a short break. Nowadays, it’s getting harder and harder to work all by oneself, so I need a good team—good coworkers. They should be friendly and good team players. When we have to face challenges, we can use all our power and knowledge to have things work out well and when there’re new members joining us, we could all show our friendliness and make people feel happy and easy to adjust to the new environment. Sometimes, I’m a workaholic. I expect my boss to provide enough leisure facilities in the office building, so that I don’t need to set my feet out and can enjoy a cup of Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 92 coffee or lie down in the sofa in the lounge to rest for a while. I think a good working environment will not distract the employees but motivate them to work harder. However, only very successful and good companies can provide all the things I’ve mentioned above. I guess I have to work hard and gain enough experience before I can enter such an ideal working place. Sample 2: A place you worked in I major in business, so last year I had my internship at an international company in Beijing. It’s a very nice place and I would like to work there in the future. The building and the working environment is great. All the managers have their own private offices, but the other employees are sitting outside of their manager’s office. Probably it’s a better way for management. Every Monday, there would be a short meeting for each department in order to give some announcement and assign tasks. I don’t like long meetings but I think short ones are necessary. The facilities for staff are pretty nice. When I felt tired, I could go to the staff lounge to sit on the sofa and enjoy a cup of coffee. They value teamwork spirit very much, so every one of them is a good team player. When we had to finish some tasks, we could always cooperate well. I think it’s important for modern companies. I think a good workplace should be like that—everyone is friendly and they could create an enjoyable working environment. All the people would feel it’s an honor to work in this place and they could enjoy their work. Part 3 Discussion Questions: 1. Do you like to go on a business trip to a far away place? Yes, personally I like to go on a business trip to a far away place. I like travelling very much, so if I can combine my work and travel, I think that could not be better. I don’t mind the tiredness; I think it’s just a chance for me to enjoy the scenery as well as working. 2. Do you think the location of a company is important? Why do you think people want to choose different cities to work in? Yes, I think the location of a company is important. If it’s too far away from their home, people may not want to work in that company. I don’t know because I would like to work in my hometown. Maybe some people want to change their lifestyle, or they may want to seek some other opportunities in other cities. 3. What workplace do you think is desirable? I think a desirable workplace should be close to my home, so that I can get there on foot or by bike. I don’t need to spend too much time commuting each day. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 93 Also, my workplace should provide enough necessary facilities, such as a dining room, and a fitness center. 4. Where should a company locate? I think companies should locate in a quiet place so that the employees can enjoy the peaceful environment. It’s better for a company to locate in the suburbs, because there should be enough land for building facilities and plant trees and grass to make the place more attractive and enjoyable. 5. What kind of transportation do people choose to go to work? Nowadays, the majority of people choose buses and subways to go to work because these means of transportation are cheap and convenient. For some rich people, they would drive their private cars to work, but sometimes, traffic congestions can kill them a lot of time. 6. Why do some people go to work by plane? I think it’s still rare. Only very important people or celebrities who need to travel to far away places very often need airplanes as the way of transportation. I guess, maybe in the future, public transportation can be like airplanes to fly in the sky to save people a lot of time. 7. Where do you think is the best location to set companies for people to go to work? In order to help people to commute easily, companies should be located in places where public transportation is convenient and if people drive, there should be enough parking spots for people to park their cars. Downtown area might be a little too crowded and the traffic may not be smooth enough, so I guess it’s better for companies to locate in places that are not too far away from the downtown area but definitely not the city center. 8. What impact does the location of the company have on the company and on the employees? If the company location is not convenient for the employees, the employees might be late very often and they will also tend to be too tired to work after long time spent on the road. If a company is located in the countryside, they may not be able to contact their business partners easily and it will cost them more money on transportation. 9. What problems can result when people have to travel a long distance to work? The employees need to get up very early in order to go to work on time, and they will get home very late after work and don’t have much time left for their personal life. When people have to spend a lot of time on their way to work each day, they might be very exhausted and may not be energetic enough to work well. 10. What sorts of problems do you think people have when they move to another country to work? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 94 They will experience culture shock because every country or region has their own culture and customs. It will take the new comers a while to get used to it. Also, food might be another problem. A lot of people feel uncomfortable at first when they eat something very different from what they’re used to. So it’s really important for them to find a restaurant that can make their home cuisines and learn how to cook before they move to the new place. 15. An open air place that you went Describe an open air place that you went You should say: When you went there what the place was like what people were doing and explain why you liked this place. Sample: I like going to the open air place because I can be close to the nature and have enough space to stretch my arms and legs. Recently, I went to a beautiful scenery site in my city. When I was there, I saw people taking pictures and camping on the grass because they were attracted by the fine weather and the beautiful flowers. It’s like a big outing day for everybody. The flowers were very beautiful and the whole place was like a flower garden. There’s also a wide river running along the scenery site. You could see people fishing and there were even traditionally designed boats for tourists and visitors to ride and appreciate the natural beauty from the river. I took the boat to go all the way up and saw other flowers as well. I’m glad that I got the opportunity to go to the park because I could feel close to the nature. It’s nice to have many gorgeous open air places in the city because they provide people with nice places for outing and picnics during weekends and holidays. Part 3 Discussion Questions: 1. What do you do on holidays? If I have enough time and money, I like travelling to other places during holidays, because I like to meet different kinds of people and communicate with them. Travelling also enables me to gain knowledge of different culture. If I don’t have enough time, I will read books, or watch movies to relax myself. 2. Why some people don’t like holidays? I don’t really understand what they are thinking about, because personally, I like holidays very much. I suppose it is because that they don’t have many things to Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 95 do during holidays. If they have many hobbies, like travelling or hiking, they will like holidays. 3. What do people usually do on holidays in your country? It depends. Many people will travel with families together to other places of China, or even travel to other countries to enjoy their holiday. Some people may stay at home to read books, or watch movies, or cook delicious foods. Some people may just sleep at home since their work makes them tired, so they need to refresh themselves. 4. Are there any difference between city and countryside in terms of relax? Living in the city center, people can go shopping and have fun very easily since the leisure facilities are well equipped around the city center. However, in the countryside, there are not so many places for fun, but people can do something that is more natural like going hiking, and they enjoy fresh air more than people who live in the city center. 5. Are wealthy people more stressful? I don’t think so. Wealthy people don’t need to worry about money, so they don’t have pressure about money things. And they can provide their family with a better environment, and provide their children with a better education; harmony of the family will get rid of stress. They may be stressful in some way, but they can also release their stress through travelling to foreign countries like Europe. 6. Are there any positives of stress? Of course. Stress can make us work harder and harder, so it will be easier for us to reach our goals. If we do not have any stress, we may lose the motive to go ahead, so that we cannot improve ourselves. 7. Do you think music can make people relaxed? Of course. Music with pleasant melody can make people relaxed, and smooth their mood. For example, if a person is angry, and he or she happened to listen to the kind of music of Secret Garden, they may feel very quiet and comfortable. 8. Do city people have more stress compared to the countryside? Yes, I think so. City people are under the pressure of buying house and cars, most people need to earn more money to live, while people in the countryside do not have much more pressure, and they can just live without stress. People can do something that is more natural like go hiking, and they enjoy fresh air more than people who live in the city. 9. Will wealthy people feel more stressful? I don’t think so. Wealthy people do not need to worry about money, so they do not have pressure about money things. And they can provide their family a better environment, and provide their children a better education; harmony of Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 96 the family will get rid of stress. They may be stressful in some way, but they can also release their stress through travelling to foreign countries like Europe. 16. An interesting public building Describe an interesting public building You should say: what it is used for what it looks like how you know about this building and explain what you think is interesting about this building. Sample: A lot of public facilities in my city are pretty modern and advanced. Here, I would like to talk about the very unique museum building. The building was completed in 2000, so now it has been there for ten years. If you pass it, you’ll never fail to notice it because it’s so interesting and unique. It’s like a big tent if you look from the outside and the whole building is made of glass and steel. The color is blue, which can make people feel happy and peaceful. It’s not a very tall building because there’re only four or five storeys. There’re all kinds of exhibition, but mostly about nature and science. It’s really suitable for educating young kids. Schools would always take their students here for a field trip and sometimes you could see people from other cities coming here to visit. If you go into the building, you’ll feel it’s very spacious on the first floor. The big hall is gorgeous. It’s very bright inside the museum because of the good lighting system. Besides the exhibitions, you could also get free brochures which will tell you a lot of details of the museum. I really like this building because I think it’s very creative. I hope there’ll be more buildings like that built in China. Part 3 Discussion Questions: 1. What kind of public buildings do young people often go to? Young people usually go to public buildings like the stadium and museum. Stadium enables them to work out and improve the condition of their health. They also like to visit museums because there are some special exhibitions like modern art or design or even the exhibitions like development of games. 2. Should government spend money on public buildings? Yes, I think so. The public building is an important aspect of connecting the people together. Besides, after one day’s work or classes, people need to have a place to relax themselves. In addition, if the government can use public buildings wisely, it is helpful for school children to understand the history of our country. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 97 3. Should government build stadiums? Yes, I think so. Since health is the most important thing in everyone’s life, the government needs to put people’s health into consideration. Without health, we cannot lead a normal life, and we cannot go to work and make contribution to GDP, either. So I think the government has to build stadiums so that more and more people will visit the stadium to work out. 4. Now many people use public buildings to earn money. Do you think this is good? I think it is not a good thing because the meaning of public buildings is that it serves people, but if businessmen start using public buildings to earn money, most people may choose not to go to public buildings again. However, although I think to use public buildings to earn money is not good; it is necessary that administrator may need to charge a few fees for the operation of the place. 5. Do you think those public buildings can bring you happiness? Yes, I think so. I have been to the stadium with my friends a few times this summer. We swim in the pool and it is really great because it can not only get rid of the tiredness of us, but also makes us feel cheerful. In addition, when I visit museums, I also feel happy because I learn knowledge of culture, and enjoy the art works which exhibited there. 6. Who should carry out a planning of public building, the government or the public? I think it’s better that when planning the public building, the government will consider the advice of the public people, because the government want to build public areas to benefit the public, so the public have to take part in the plan to speak their voice out. However, it is better for the government to carry out the actual planning and construction. 7. Some people do not like to take pets to public areas, what is your opinion? I think it is better for people to understand each other. Some people like to take pets to public areas, so if you do not like it, you can go for a walk to another part of the public area. Also, for people who take pets with them, they’d better consider others’ feelings, and do not take pets so often. 8. Describe the function of public building. There are many functions of public building. For example, people usually go to public buildings like the stadium and museum. Stadium enables them to work out and improve the condition of their health. They also like to visit museums because they can improve their knowledge. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 98 17. An enjoyable place in your city or town Describe an enjoyable place in your city or town You should say: where it is? how do you know this place? what the place is like? what do people do there? and explain why you think this place is enjoyable. Sample: I’d like to talk about an entertaining place for young people in my hometown, which is called Before Time Teahouse. After going there with my friends five years ago, I fell in love with it. It has given me a lot of fun and enjoyment. The place is like a cold drinks shop, but it’s very big. The decoration is very modern because it’s tailored for young people. You only need to pay 18 yuan and you can enjoy all the drinks and ice cream they have. Of course, the reason I go there is not because that I want to drink something or eat ice cream but because I want to spend time with my friends. The most amazing part is that they provide all kinds of games for groups, such as Monopoly, Chinese chess, and poker cards. I especially like the table football they have. If we have four players, we’ll be able to play the amazing football on the table. Because I’m been playing it for several years, I’m better than a lot of my friends. I’ll be so happy when I score with my little guys on the stick. Sometimes, I also like to go there alone. When I want to prepare for a test or feel bored at home, I would go there to have nice drinks and ice cream. I kind of like the little noise that people make in this place, which makes me feel easier to concentrate on my work. I actually don’t like very quite places, so when I’m there, I can be more productive and usually can prepare better for my test. I’m glad that there’s such an enjoyable place in my hometown. I hope there’ll be this kind of place in every city in China. So no matter where I’ll go, I’ll be able to enjoy the fun. PART 3 Discussion Questions： 1. What are the differences between cities and villages? A city will have a large population, and is well equipped with a lot of leisure facilities like the shopping mall and fitness club and so on. Besides, a city also has a lot of tourist attractions compared to a village. However, a village has a small population, and it usually located in rural agricultural area, and people usually make a living by doing farm work. 1. What are the differences in education between cities and the countryside? I think there are many different things in education between cities and the countryside. Compared to the countryside, cities have better facilities of the Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 99 teaching buildings; cities also have various, excellent teachers who are specialists in a certain area. So students in cities always enjoy a better education than those in the countryside, for it is lacking of teachers, let alone excellent teachers. 2. Why do more and more people like to go to cities? A city is well equipped with a lot of leisure facilities like the shopping mall and fitness club and so on. Besides, a city also has a lot of chances of working compared to a village. People can find jobs which offer a better salary than the work in a village. In addition, a city also has a lot of tourist attractions where you can relax and enjoy yourself. I think that’s why more and more people like to go to cities. 3. How do people work in the cities contact with the families in the countryside? Nowadays, with the fast development of science and technology, there are a lot of ways to contact people in a different place. For example, people who work in the cities can contact with the families in the countryside by telephone, or mobile phone, or even by the Internet. 4. Do you think family life is different in cities and in small towns and villages? Yes. People in big cities tend to be busier because of the fast pace of living and traffic congestion problem. Parents usually don’t have enough time to spend with their children. But in a small city, parents don’t have that much pressure from the society and traffic is always good, people could enjoy more quality family time. 5. How is people's work different in cities and in small towns and villages? There’re a lot of big companies in cities, so a lot of people will work for big companies and receive high salaries. However, in small towns, there’re not so 6. 7. 8. 9. many job opportunities. Many people work for the government or run their own business. In the villages, farming will be the most common job for people to do. Why do many people want to leave the smaller places and go to live in a city? I have to admit that there’re more job opportunities in big cities. For example, an international company will not set their office in a small place but in the big cities. Although it’s competitive, people still can find job postings that suit them the best. But in a small place, there’re not a lot of choices, so many people might need to choose a job that they don’t like. What kind of building is special? Buildings that have a long history is very special, even you want to imitate the appearance of the building, it’s hard for you to imitate the atmosphere of the building with a long history, which means a building with stories. Should a tourist place have animals? It depends. For example, in the city of Nara in Japan, there are a lot of deer on the streets and in the tourist places, and the deer become one of the symbols of Nara. But it’s not necessary for the government to put animals in a tourist place. Keep the tourist place as it was is a better solution. How should we protect the environment at a tourist site? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 100 I think it not only needs the government to regulate the order at a tourist site, but also needs the cooperation of tourists. For example, they must not throw the rubbish away or carve words on historical sites. 10. Why do you think now city people are moving towards the countryside? I think it’s because that city now become more and more busy, and with many problems such as the traffic jam, and the noise problem. Besides, cities do not have fresh air like countryside, so many city people feel the city environment is not so good, and that’s why they are moving towards the countryside. 18. Do you want to live in a flat or a house Describe if you want to live in a flat or a house? You should say: who do you like to live with? Where it should be? How it looks like? What will you do there? And explain why do you like to live there? Sample: I think houses are much more desirable than apartments. When you think about apartments, you can easily connect them with the words‐‐narrow, crowded, and expensive. As we all know, most apartments are in cities. Even though a lot of them are small, the price is never low. Nowadays cities are getting more and more crowded and it’s really not that enjoyable if you live in the downtown area. All the traffic noises and polluted air can make living in the apartment less enjoyable. Besides, if you live in an apartment, you’ll not be able to have your own garden, so you’ll miss a lot of fun from planting your own vegetables and flowers. Because of all those reasons, I would like to live in a big house in the suburbs. If I’m not married, I’ll live with my parents. I want my house to be big and have two or three storeys. I’ll not paint it to any color but to expose the red brick color because I think it will look more unique and original that way. The roof should be pointed and I’ll lay white tiles on it. All the windows in the house should be big so that I can have a good view of the nature. Inside the house, I’ll have wooden floor and put all kinds of wooden and bamboo furniture in it. I like Chinese paintings, so if you come to my house, you’ll be able to see them everywhere. I want to have a big living room so that I could have my friends and relatives over occasionally. I believe we can have a lot of fun. Since the house is in the suburbs, I’ll have a lot of space around the house. I’d love to have a vegetable garden in the backyard to plant my own organic vegetables, which will be very safe to eat. In the front yard, I’ll have plant some flowers and trees to give me a good view of the nature. Although the traffic may not be that convenient, I still want to live there because of all the fun I could have in such a house. I hope my dream can become true in the Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 101 near future. PART 3 Discussion Questions 1、What are the differences between living in the countryside and living in the city center? Living in the city center, people can go shopping and have fun very easily since the leisure facilities are well equipped around the city center. However, in the countryside, there are not so many places for fun, but people can do something that is more natural like go hiking, and they enjoy fresh air more than people who live in the city center. 2、Why many people like to move to new places? Maybe it is because many people are not content with their condition before. So when they have enough money, they will move to either a bigger place or a place that the surrounding environment is better than before. In this way, the condition of their life can improve a lot. 3、What kind of houses do most Chinese people live in? It depends. Most Chinese people live in the apartment. For nuclear families, they usually choose to live in an apartment of 80 to 100 square meters with two bedrooms, a dining room, a separate kitchen and a bathroom. However, for families live with grandparents, they usually live in a large apartment with three bedrooms. Only very rich people can afford a villa. 4、What kind of houses do most Chinese people like to live in? I think most Chinese people like to live in a clean and spacious house with three bedrooms and a large dining hall, but the problem is, few people can afford the house due to the expensive price nowadays. Besides, if the place is nearer to the city center, it will be better for it is convenient for people to go to work and school. 5、Why people like to live in big houses but live in flats? Obviously, big houses are more spacious, and are equipped with more leisure facilities such as big TV screen which looks like a small family cinema or a swimming pool which enable people to relax. But flats don’t have so many spaces, so it may not be as comfortable as big houses. 6、Where houses and flats are usually located? Houses usually located in the suburban area of the city, because of the restriction of the land resource in the city. Sometimes the houses located in the countryside or on the mountains with a better environment. Flats usually located near the city center, but due to the spread of the city, flats also spread everywhere. 7、What kind of houses are there in the countryside? What is the usual style and why there are so many houses of this style? In the countryside, there are houses like the villa which are two or three floors. Because in the countryside, there are more people in one family than in the city, so they need a large house to live. Sometimes, they can also rent the first floor to businessmen or for commercial use themselves, so they need to build it higher so that the space won’t be wasted. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 102 8、Will weather condition be a factor to influence the style of buildings? Of course. Weather condition is a major factor which influences the style of building. For example, in the tropical areas, there are houses with a pitched roof, because during the rainy season, the weather is not so good, so a pitched roof can let the heavy rain down to the earth easily. That’s a way to protect the safety of the local people there. 9、Will the space of the houses have influence on you? In fact, I don’t mind if it is a large space or narrow space. For me, both is ok. I live in a large room back home; I feel comfortable and quiet because no one will disturb me. When I live in the narrow dormitory in my university, I also feel happy because I can chat with my roommates, and share many things with them. It doesn’t matter how large the house is, I think it depends on the space of your heart. 10、Will the size of houses affect the relationship in the neighborhood? To some extent, I think so. If the house is bigger and separate, we will have fewer chances to chat with our neighborhood, so maybe we live in a place for 5 years, but we still don’t know much about our neighbors. However, if the house is small, and people share a kitchen, then you may have more chances to communicate with each other, and you may get along well with each other. 11、Except not having enough money, what other reasons are there for people not being able to live in big houses? I think the most important reason is that it’s not so convenient because big houses usually located in the countryside or on the mountains with a better environment, which is far away from the city center. It will probably cost people two hours or more to go to work or school. It’s great to have vacations in those places, but for daily lives, I think it’s inconvenient. 12、Are apartments only seen in cities? Are there any apartments in the countryside? No, I don’t think so. Although in the countryside, there are fewer apartments than that in the city, but still, I have seen some apartments which located in the countryside, but maybe fewer people in the countryside will choose to live in the apartment. Probably, young couples will prefer to live in a separate apartment than the house with parents and grandparents. 19. A Restaurant Describe a place where you sometimes go to eat lunch. You should say: where it is what it looks like who you usually eat with what you usually eat there and explain why you like to go to this place. Or and explain what the food is like. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 103 Sample A: I’d like to talk about a hotpot restaurant called super hot in my hometown. I like hotpot very much. My friend told me about the restaurant, so I went there with my sister. The food there is very delicious. After eating there many times, I recommended it to my friends and most of them liked it too. I think the manager is very creative. Since the business is very good, sometimes customers have to wait for the tables. The manager make this waiting time more rewarding. When the costumers have to wait for more than five minutes, they can have three plates of vegetables for free. Sometimes we feel happy if we have to wait, which is very different from the experiences in other restaurants. If you eat there, you can enjoy your drinks for a low price and you can get your refills for free. I think it is very economic. It became a very famous restaurant in my city. Now a lot of chain restaurants opened in my hometown. I think the business of this restaurant will be even better. Maybe soon, we will be able to find it every where in China. Sample B: My favorite restaurant is on Nanhu street. I’m a regular there. The restaurant is small…tiny, you know, not obvious at all until you pass it. But it offers a great selection of Chinese food. The chef is awesome. Just order some dishes there like general cao’s chicken(宫保鸡丁) and braised pork（红烧肉） and you’ll understand what I mean. And the portion is sooooo big. But we’re attracted to this restaurant by more than just good food. The owner knows most customers on a first‐name basis. The seats are comfortable. The waiters and waitresses are friendly and helpful. You can always count on them. Oh, by the way, the lighting in the restaurant is pretty and the background music is all laid‐back pieces. It’s cozy, especially on a freezing winter day… PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Where do Chinese people like to have lunch? What about dinner? A lot of people now have fast food for lunch or eat at their company cafeterias. Most people prefer having dinner at home because they can cook delicious food by themselves and have more opportunities to spend time with their family members. 2. Do you like to eat out or at home? Eating out has many advantages. You don’t have to spend much time cooking. You can have a variety of food to choose from and the professional cooks will make your meal. Eating at home is also good because you can enjoy the cooking time and spend more time with your family. 3. What kind of food is healthy？ Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 104 I think it’s seafood because it contains a lot of vitamins and protein that can help us stay healthy. Of course, many vegetables also have a lot of nutrition. So we should have a balanced diet in order to keep healthy. 4. How do most restaurants attract customers? I think the most important way is to have good food. Apart from this, unique decoration, good quality service and reasonable price are also good elements for attracting customers. 5. What kinds of restaurants are there in your country? There’re many different kinds of restaurants. If we classify them by the food origins, there’re restaurants make dishes of different provinces in China, such as Sichuan food restaurants and Shanghai food restaurants. If we think about the standard, there’re very fancy restaurants and very low standard noodle restaurants. 6. Why do some people like eating out? There’re many advantages of eating out. You don’t have to toil in the oily and steamy kitchen for hours to make a meal. Also, the professional cooks are like artists who can turn simple raw ingredients to wonderful dishes. There’re many different style restaurants that make food from all over the world. They can definitely give us variety in our food choice. Variety is the spice of life, so we need it. 7. Which way is more healthy, eating at home or out? I think eating at home. With limit our time, eating at home is very often exchanged with on the go meals at fast food or casual dining places. Actually, eating at home has numerous health benefits, but most importantly, it gives you the choice of what ingredients you want to include or omit in your meals. One of the reasons that many people have gained weight is due to the portions that many restaurants serve you, which are much larger than necessary. If you eat at home, you can choose the appropriate amounts for yourself. 8. Why do people change restaurants very often? Just like the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. If we eat the same style of food, we can certainly get tired. Since there are a variety of restaurants to choose from, we tend to change restaurants and try the dishes from different regions and chefs. 9. How to encourage children eat healthy food? Parents can do many things. If parents involve kids in planning meals, going grocery shopping, and preparing food, they will become invested in the process and more likely to eat the healthy food they have worked for. Young children's food tastes are significantly related to foods that their parents like and dislike, so parents need to be good role models and demonstrate how to eat healthily. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 105 10. What are the favorite foods of people where you live now? Well, it’s hard to say for sure. Different people may have their own personal choices of the foods they like. Generally, people like to have rice as their main food, although sometimes they may still choose noodles or even foreign food to have a change for their diets. 11. What food do Chinese people think to be healthy? In most Chinese people’s eyes, the food that contains rich nutrients, the food that is nurtured naturally without being influenced by pollutants, and the food that is produced without much addictives, can be healthy to us. Of course, a balanced diet is also necessary even if we are having those healthy foods. 12. How do we choose a restaurant? Well, usually, when the restaurant has some special food that is not offered in somewhere else, when the restaurant is convenient for us to go to enjoy the food, and when the restaurant is clean in environment and good in service, we may go there to have a taste of the food. 13. When you don’t know the price, how could you judge is a product is good or not? For me, if I like a product, I will judge a product as good, so it doesn’t matter if I know the price or not. Sometimes, I can also know the quality of a product by its material or appearance or style. *20. A city or town you want to live in the future If I can choose, I will live in Lijiang, an ancient town in the north of Yunnan province. I’ve never been there but I’m always planning to because I’ve heard a lot from my friends who visited this place. The history of the ancient city is very long, about 800 years. I heard the city was originally built in song dynasty and now it’s still well preserved. If I live there I’ll be able to appreciate the ancient town and see the beautiful scenery whenever I want. There’s a famous place called Yulong Snow Mountain. It’s amazing that you could see snow all year round in the south of China. My friend told me I could also go skiing there although the price was a little high. The summer is really nice and comfortable. Because the latitude of this city is a little high, the summer is much cooler compared to other places in China. Yunnan is famous for minority cultures. If I live there, you’ll be able to appreciate the different traditions and customs preserved by the people who have been living there for so many years. I think this city is definitely a perfect place for me to choose to live in the future. Maybe I could open a little shop to support myself and enjoy the beauty of this place during my spare time. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 106 描 述 一 个 人 1、An old person Describe the oldest person that you know. You should say: who this person is how old they are (= how old he or she is) how you know this person and explain what kind of person he or she is. or explain what kind of life this person has now. or explain what this person does every day. Sample: I want to talk about my grandpa. He’s in his early seventies but he’s physically strong and has a young heart. All his children and grandchildren respect him because he is a wise man who can give us valuable advice when we face difficulties in life. He used to be a company manager and worked very hard when he was young. After he retired, he felt restless for a while but soon he began to pick up some new hobbies and got busy again. He loves biking and even joined a biking club. This activity really helps him keep healthy. Besides biking, he also likes traveling. He has almost traveled around China and sometimes he also travels abroad. He believes traveling is a great way to learn cultures and customs of different regions. The most amazing part is that he learned computer skills by reading relevant books. It’s not common for people his age to use high‐tech devices, but he really sets a good example for us. I’m really proud of him and definitely respect him because he deserves. I hope I can be like my grandpa when I grow old. It’s like the saying goes, you are only as old as you feel. Sample 2: An old person you enjoy talking with Describe an old person You should say: who he/she is what do you usually talk about why you like to talk with he/she And explain the positive effects. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 107 I enjoy talking with my grandma a lot because she’s different from many old people. Now, she’s in her seventies. She’s wise, patient, and caring. Whenever I face difficulties in life, I would go to her for advice and help. She’s a good listener and she is always patient when she listens to me. She’s also a good story teller. She would always tell me something that happened in the past, and her life. I enjoyed listening to the stories very much. I think these stories are much better than the ones written by famous writers because they’re real life stories. I can learn a lot from them. My grandma is also a book lover. Whenever I visit her, she’s always reading in her living room. There’re many books on the book shelves. Sometimes I feel my grandma’s home is like a small library. Because of the influence from my grandma, I started reading since I was a little girl. Sometimes, I would discuss the books I read with her because she has read so many books and she can always give me a different perspective to view the books. I’m glad that I have such a good grandma that I could talk with all the time. I think if we could be friends with the old people around us, we can learn a lot from their rich life experience. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1. What do you think is the role of old people in the family today? I think the old people play a very important role in the family. They have very rich life experience, so they can give their children useful advice. For example, my grandma is in her eighties, but her children still come to her for help when they face difficulties in life because of her wisdom and experience. 2. Has this role changed, compared to the past? In the past, the old were respected by the whole family and they had the final say. In a family, even if the son was thirty or forty years old and had his own family, he still needed to listen to his parents. Now this has changed a lot. Although we still respect older people, young people also have the freedom to make their own choices. I think this is a good change. 3. Do you think people's attitudes towards old people have changed in recent years? = Do people treat old people differently compared to the past? In the past, a lot of grandparents had to take care of their grandchildren and nobody felt it was not right. Nowadays, this has changed a lot. A lot of young couples would take care of their own children and give their parents more time to enjoy their lives. 4. What do old people (in your country) do at home? = In your country, what do old people do after they retire? = How do old people relax? It really depends. Some people enjoy going to parks to exercise and make friends. We can see a lot of old people there, especially in the morning. They also enjoy watching TV and playing some card games or majiang. A few old people also picked up computer skills and some of them could be really Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 108 professional. 5. In your culture (your country), do old people usually live with their children? In the past, almost all the old people would live with their children, but nowadays, this has changed a lot. Some old people prefer to live by themselves because they can enjoy more freedom and privacy. However, a lot of them still want to live close to their children, so when they get sick, the children can take care of them. 6. Do you think this might change in the future? I think in the future, there’ll be a lot retirement homes for older people. Old people might enjoy places like that because they could make more friends of their own age and there’re also nurses to attend their daily life. 7. Who do you think should be responsible for looking after old people, the government or the family? =Should the young take care of the old? I think both the government and the family should be responsible. If the old people have children, definitely the children should take care of them when they grow old. However, there’re also a lot of old people without children. It’s not right to ignore them, so the government should build more retirement homes for these people to help them enjoy their lives. 8. What are some reasons why old people sometimes (have to) take care of young children? Nowadays, a lot of young couples have a lot of pressure from work and family. Usually, both of them have to work in order to buy a new apartment and support the family. If the grandparents take care of the children, they don’t have to pay for child care and can also keep both of their jobs, which can provide them with more money. Another reason is that when old people get retired, they usually feel lonely; it’ll be a very nice way for them to spend time with their grandchildren and help their children as well. However, I think it’s not right because usually children need to spend enough time with parents but not grandparents so they can grow mentally healthy. 9. You think old people should have to take care of (young) children? For some families, it might be yes because a lot of young couples have a lot of pressure from work and the society. Usually, both of them have to work in order to buy a new apartment and support the family. If the grandparents take care of the children, they don’t have to spend any money on child care. 10. Do you think it’s a good idea for old people to take care of (young) children? I think it’s not right. Children need to spend enough time with parents but not grandparents so they can grow mentally healthy. If they spend too much time with the grandparents, they might be spoiled and lack the love from their parents. 11. Do you think it's fair for old people (if they have to do that)? I think it’s not fair because old people have worked for their whole life and after they retire, they should enjoy their life and do something they really like, for example, traveling, exercising, or even learn something interesting. If they take Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 109 care of the children, they’ll have no time for these things. It might be a little selfish for young couples to do that. 12. What will you do after you get retired? I’ll probably follow most of the old people in our society, exercising in the morning at parks, and learning some new skills at senor colleges to enrich my life. Also, I always want to travel around the world. If I’m still strong by the time I retire and have enough money, I’ll probably plan my journey around the world. 13. Why should old people get retired when they reach certain age? We have to admit that old people can’t be as strong as the young and a lot of their body functions are getting worse. They need time to rest more and enjoy their life after they reach certain age. If not, the companies will have a lot of employees on sick leave, which might make managers life hard. On the other hand, a lot of old people are still strong and they want to work because they might feel restless at home after they retire. In this case, it might be necessary to provide certain positions for them to be reemployed. 14. How does retirement influence the society? It’s a hard question. A lot of retired people are still strong and experienced in their work. If they don’t do something useful to the society, it’s a kind of waste of their energy and knowledge. Also, some old people might get depressed because it’s hard for them to get used to the new life routine. The society should really pay more attention to retired people and help them to live healthily and provide more entertaining places for senior citizens to enjoy their life. 15. What should we do for retired people? We should treat them with respect because they all have rich life and work experience, and they have worked their whole life for the society. The government can build some senior colleges for old people to learn new practical skills and meet new friends. For some people who don’t have children to take care of them, the government should also build more retirement homes for them to live in. If we pay more attention to retired people, we can actually feel safer when we grow old. 16. Do Chinese people do housework often? Yes, definitely. If we want to keep our house nice and clean, we have to do housework everyday. Usually, we would sweep, mop, do laundry, and cook for ourselves. I actually think it’s good for us to do some housework because nowadays, we have fewer and fewer opportunities to work out. Some young people even consider doing housework as a way of exercise. 17. Would you help your parents with the housework when you were a child? Should children do housework? Yes, I would always help them sweep the floor and sometimes wash the dishes. I actually felt very happy when I did something at home because I felt I was just like the adults and could do something useful for the family. I think it’s good for Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 110 children to do some housework because they can learn how to be independent and take care of themselves better. 18. What’s the relationship between old and young people now? A lot of old people love their young grandchildren and would want to share their life experience with them. For most young people, they respect the old and would sometimes ask help from them. However, it might be hard for the young and old play together because they usually have different interests and hobbies. 19. What’s the difference between big families and small families? Well, I think they’re some differences. In a big family, we can spend time with our siblings or grandparents. It’s nice to get opinions or support from many family members when we face difficulties. While in a small family, the families members are usually have closer relationship because of the number of people. In some one child families, the child also feels it’s nice for parents to spend all the money on himself or herself. 20. What role do children play in a family? Children play an important role in a family. They can help the parents connect much closer with each other. Because of them, parents will be more responsible to the family and their life. Children are always active and curious, so they add spice to the routine life of their adult parents and can also give their innocent love to the people they love. 21. What can the government do for families? There’re many things that the government can do. Nowadays, it’s getting more and more expensive to raise children and have a family. I think the government should give some money to people who just give birth to a child, so they won’t feel too much financial pressure. Also, they should provide better service at public schools, so parents don’t need to worry too much about their children’s education. 22. What do you think about the one child policy in China? Well, on the one hand, it is a great policy. Because of the application of such policy, the population growth in China is now under control. Otherwise, the resources available in China may not be able to feed the people on its land. This may be one of the major reasons why China is developing at such a dramatic speed in recent decades. However, to the children born under this policy, such as me, it is a pity that we don’t have any brothers or sisters to play with in childhood, and the only one child in the family may usually be spoilt, which is not good to the development of those children. 23. What’s the ratio of old and young people in the area you live? You know, I live in the downtown areas in my city. It seems more and more young adults are moving to live in my community, and the old are growingly moving out to more quiet places. However, it is not easy to say for sure the ration of them, and it is beyond my imagination. 24. What’s the difference of old people now and past? Well, the old people now are having a better life compared to the past. They are Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 111 enjoying much more care from the government, in forms of old pension, improved life level, better health care, and nursery houses. Therefore, compared with the past, old people are having a longer life expectation now. 25. Do old and young people often live together? Well, it’s hard to say in this society with such a fast pace of life. In some families, the old may live with the young, because they need to take care of each other, or they just cannot afford to have enough space to live alone. In other families however, the young and the old may live separately, because they like to enjoy their own freedom and privacy. It depends on the families’ economic status, and so, it is not easy to say which style is better. 26. Is it not respectful if the young don’t live with their parents? I don’t think so. When the young live separately from the old, if they can afford to do so, for the purpose to enjoy their own freedom, as long as they continue to take care of the old, and come back to see the old frequently, I believe they have taken the responsibility, and so can not be considered as not respectful to the old. 27. How do you think about taking care of four old people for a young couple? Honestly, it’s a problem for a lot of families now in China. Because of the one child policy, a lot of families only have one child and after their children get married, the young couple will face the problem of taking care of four old people. This is especially true in cities, where the one child policy is carried out more strictly. I think in the future, the government should build more retirement homes for old people to live in, which will certainly lessen the younger generation’s burden. 28. Do you think family members will live farther and farther from each other? Yes, this is already true for many families. Take my family as an example. I have an older sister, who is currently studying in the US, and I’m studying in Anhui, which is far from my hometown. In the future, I’m planning to study overseas, probably in the UK. So our family members are actually separated in three different countries. This might sound very strange to the older generation. My grandparents from my mother’s side have six children and they all live in the same city, which is good because the relatives can visit each other pretty conveniently. 29. What is the function of the old in family? I think old people are very important in the family. When the children face challenges and difficulties in life, they could give their children good advice from their own rich experience. In some families, old people could also take care of the little kids when the parents are busy with their work. 30. What is the function of the old in company? These old people have been working in the profession for a long time, so they are experienced. They could train new comers the professional knowledge and they could help solve some emergencies. Most old people are very stable because they don’t change jobs very often. These people are loyal to their Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 112 companies. 31. What’s your relationship with the old in family? I respect my grandparents because they are very wise and can always give me good advice. I also find that old people tend to be more patient than young people. However, sometimes they tend to be conservative when dealing with things. Since they love me very much, I would always visit them when I have time. 32. What is the contribution the old to the society? Old people are very important for the society. Although they’re old, some of them can still do a lot of things for the society. We have to admit many top scientists are old people, but their contribution is still great. A lot of old people are hired again after their retirement because of their professional skills and knowledge. 33. What’s the influence of the old to children? Old people could teach children culture and tradition, which can help the younger generation to have a sense of identity and know their past from not only the history books but also the old people in their family. Children can also learn from the old how to be cautious in what they do. 34. What’s the influence of children to the old? Children can make the old feel energetic because they are always full of energy. They could bring happiness to the old in their old age. Children are always curious and full of energy, so they could help the old people to try new things and learn the new fashion trends. 2、A friend you’d like to travel with Describe a person who you would like to travel with. You should say: who this person is where you would travel what kind of person he or she is and explain why you would choose to travel with this person. Sample 1： I like traveling with my best friend, lily. She loves trying new things and wouldn’t mind taking risks. I have so many memories about doing fun things with her. I remember, when we were children, she was like a pioneer to me. She taught me how to climb trees and took me to the nearby mountains to collect mushrooms. For children of our age, her deeds were always considered very brave. Sometimes we would disagree with each other about trying news things. For example, she would always try new roads when we were out. I’m very conservative, so I would always worry about getting lost. Sometimes, we would find the road was a dead end. However, there were other times, when we found shortcuts. It’s fun to travel with Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 113 someone who’s willing to try and learn new things. There must be a lot of surprise on the journey if I could travel with her someday to a further place. Sample 2 I like traveling with my best friend, Ming. He loves trying new things and wouldn’t mind taking risks. I have so many memories about doing fun things with him. I remember, when we were children, he was like a pioneer to me. He taught me how to climb trees and take me to the nearby mountains to collect mushrooms. For children of our age, his deeds were always considered very brave. When we go traveling, he could always discover something new. He taught me how to enjoy my life by discovering and trying different things. When we go traveling, sometimes we would disagree with each other about trying news things. Actually we would usually have more fun if I’m a little more adventurous. It’s fun to travel with someone who likes exploring. There must be a lot of surprise on the journey if I could travel with him someday to a far away place. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Do people in your country like to travel alone? ==Please compare the advantages and disadvantages of both traveling alone and traveling with another person.= Do you like traveling alone or with a group? It depends, I heard it’s very popular for young college students to travel alone. However, most of the people I know prefer to travel with some companions. When you travel with others, you can take care of each other and it’s also fun to talk about what you see and feel with the people you travel with. 2. In general, what qualities should a good traveling companion have? A good traveling companion should be friendly and helpful, so when there’re difficulties, we can work together to solve the problems. It’s also nice if the companion is good at communication. It’s always nice to share the feelings with our friends on a trip. Version 2 I think the most important quality for a traveling partner is the love for traveling. Only when a person is full of energy and interest, he/she will more likely to influence the rest of the people who are traveling with him. It’s also important for a good travel companion to have enough geography and history knowledge, so that when we visit a place, we can have more to talk about. 3. What do you think are the benefits of traveling overseas? When we travel overseas, we can experience different cultures and customs. It’s very easy for us to learn new things. By seeing these, our horizon will be widened. 4. How does international tourism benefit a country? ==When foreigners come Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 114 to visit your country, what benefits does it bring to your country? Foreign tourists will need to spend money whenever they go, so they’ll benefit our country economically. Also, they could bring their own culture and language. People can learn from them and china can become more internationalized. 5. What impact does foreign culture have on your country? A lot of people want to study abroad. I think many of them are probably influenced by foreign culture. Also, there’re all kinds of foreign films nowadays and that can influence our lifestyle and way of thinking. 6. How do you think about traveling internationally? I think it’s good because we can learn different culture and customs in different countries. If children can travel internationally, they can definitely be more interested in geography. It’s actually a lot of people’s dream to travel around the world because we want to know what the world is like and if everyone can have the opportunity, we’ll probably feel happier. Also, tourism can help many countries financially and help their economy to flourish. 7. Will tourists affect the local people’s life? Definitely. Tourism can help the local economy because it can provide job opportunities for local people and the service industry can flourish because of the needs of the tourists. Foreign language and culture can also help the local country be internationalized. 8. What are the benefits of traveling abroad? Traveling abroad may help us to broaden our sight by enabling us to view different scenery, meet different people, taste different foods, and experience different cultures. In addition, by travelling abroad, we may feel far away from the life at home, and so better relax ourselves. Besides, having a fresher eye about the world and learning something new or more advanced from the country we visit may also be possible. 9. Will you travel abroad through travel agencies or will you travel abroad on yourself? Well, when I am quite familiar with the country I am going to visit, in cases that I have visited there before or I have learned a lot about travelling in that country through the media, I may choose to travel on my own. In this way, I don’t need to worry about getting lost and meanwhile enjoy my freedom in travelling. However, when the country is strange to me, going there with a travel agency may be better for me 10. Do Chinese people like to travel alone or travel in groups? People in China have different choices when they are travelling. Some like to travel alone, because they want to enjoy their freedom in travelling and Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 115 meanwhile enjoy the excitement of exploring new things. Others like to travel in groups, because they favor the relaxed ways in travelling, without too many worries about where to go, where to live, and what to eat. Besides, by travelling in groups, people will have companions to help each other and will not feel lonely on the journey. 11. Do you like traveling by yourself or with a group? It depends. When I want to enjoy my own freedom or I just want to stay alone, I like to travel by myself and face all the things on my own. However, when I want to share my happiness with others, or I want some others to help me in some aspects on the way, I may travel with a group. 12. What benefits can you get if you travel abroad? By travelling abroad, I may broaden my vision by seeing different scenery, enrich my experience by taking part in some cultural activities, and strengthen my own independence by solving problems by myself. Besides, travelling abroad may help me to have a general view about the world and then have a fresh eye on my own life. 13. Since china has five‐thousand‐year history, why do you want to experience different cultures abroad? Well, one can never make progress without learning something from others, no matter how able or powerful he is, so do cultures. Although we have 5000‐year history, to develop it better, and to have a more promising future, we still have to beware of the existence of other cultures, to absorb the essence and discard the dregs. Only in this way, can the Chinese cultures go further in the world. 14. What kind of problems will you encounter on a trip? When we are travelling to somewhere else, especially the places that are far away from our hometown, or the places that we are unfamiliar with, we may encounter various problems. For example, we may be unaccustomed to the weather or the foods there, we may get hurt and do not know how to get treated, or in some other cases, we may get stuck in misunderstandings with the local people. Therefore, we have to be well‐prepared when we want to have a trip. 15. Should the government limit the number of foreigners traveling in China? I don’t think it’s necessary. From what I see at tourist sites, Chinese people still make the big part of the tourists. Chinese people should welcome foreign visitors because we can promote the image of our country and help the world know better of our culture and customs. We should also encourage Chinese people to travel abroad to see what the other countries are like. 16. Do people prefer traveling with a tourist agency or by themselves? I think nowadays, a lot of people prefer to travel by themselves because we can have more freedom. We don’t need to follow other people’s schedule or sometimes need to rush ourselves. Now all kinds of information can be found online, we don’t need to rely on tourist agencies to book hotels or learn travel Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 116 information about a target place. Plus, the cost is usually lower when we travel on our own. *3、A Leader Describe a friend who you think is a good leader. You should say: who this friend is how you first met this person what you and this friend do together what kind of person he/she is and explain why you think he/she is a good leader. Sample: I definitely think leadership abilities require a person to have many good qualities. I remember my friend, Gang, a good leader with noble character. I have known him for more than ten years. He’s willing to help others, and can take people’s advice. The most important thing is that he can always have a big picture when he does things. Maybe that’s why people all like him and support him. Actually, he’s my middle school classmate. He’s very outstanding, so he became our class monitor. He has the ability to make people trust him and be willing to follow his instructions. When we had some big events, such as the New Year’s party or the school field day, he could always arrange everything well. Now, he’s a manager of a big company. He’s still the same. All the employees are supportive because he’s willing to sacrifice his time and energy for them. Once he told me his dream was to make his employees successful, and he said when his employees were successful, he would be even more outstanding I think he’s a good leader and I have learned a lot from him. I’m sure it’s a pleasure for others to work for him. Sample 2: A leader from a company I want to talk about Uncle Li, a friend of my father’s. My father would always compliment him on his excellent managing skills. I started to know him better after I took a part job at his company. I think he’s a natural leader. He has leadership charisma so he could influence the people around him. People are willing to support him and follow him. When the company faces some difficulties, he can always stay calm and make good decisions. I think a good leader should be like Uncle Li, who need to have a big picture and can encourage the team members even when they face big challenges. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 117 Uncle Li’s very gentle and would always smile to his employees. However, when his employees break some company rules, he would become very strict with them. Since he’s fair in everything he does, people respect him very much. I major in business so I want to be a businessman in the future. Sometimes, when Uncle Li is not busy, I would ask him about how to be a good leader. He likes to share his point of view with me. He said, if one wanted to be a good leader, one should care about the employees and try to make them successful. I think this is a very different perspective. Although I’ve read it from some books, I think there’re only a few leaders can actually put this theory into practice. Sample 3: Political Leader in China—Wen Jiabao I’d like to talk about the premier in China called Wenjiabao. Soft‐spoken and known for his strong work ethic, Wen has been one of the most visible members of the Chinese administration, and has been dubbed "the people's premier" by both domestic and foreign media. Usually we think the top leaders are far away from us and they don’t know the life of common citizens in the country, but Wen is very different. For us, we feel Wen is a populist, and an ordinary Chinese citizen, who knows and understands ordinary people's needs. Instead of concentrating on GDP growth in large cities and rich coastal areas, Wen advocated for a more balanced approach in developing China's hinterland regions, and advancing policies considered more favourable towards farmers and migrant workers. Wen was known to conduct visits to relatively poor areas of China's countryside randomly to avoid elaborate preparations to appease officials and hide the real situation. I think a good political leader should be like Wen, who cares the ordinary people’s life and wants everyone in the nation to live a wealthy and healthy life. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Would you say that companies in your country are managed more in an authoritarian way, or in a democratic way? In the past, most companies were managed in an authoritarian way. However, nowadays, things are really changing. People are beginning to explore better ways to lead a team and a company. I think a lot of people believe that a democratic way might work better. 2. When company managers are making decisions, do you think they should consider the opinions and ideas of the workers? Definitely. If the decisions are concerning the workers, it might be good to hear their voice. The managers don’t have to listen to every employee’s opinion because it’s impossible to please everyone, but they should know the opinions of the employees. Also, if the workers are not happy, the company can’t really run well. 3. Which do you think is better, to have "one man rule" or to have rule by Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 118 everybody? I think a combination will be better. When we have ‘one man rule’, we might feel that our opinions and ideas aren’t respected at all. However, it’s also hard to listen to everyone’s opinion because people usually think differently, even in the same group. 4. In your country, who is usually the head of the family? Actually, in a lot of families, the woman is the leader and she usually has the 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. final say. In the traditional way, men are usually the leading figure because they’re usually physically and mentally stronger than women. I think the best way is for a couple to discuss everything they want to do and respect each other’s opinions. Who has the final say in your family? I would say my mom has the final say in my family. Whenever we need to make big decisions, we would trust my mom and let her decide after giving our opinions and ideas. Actually, it’s common in a lot of Chinese families. From my point of view, I think the man should be the leading figure of the family because they’re usually mentally and physically stronger than women. Is it ok for a factory to only have a manager without employees? Of course not. The employees are actually carrying out all the procedures of either making products or giving service. The manager’s job is to coordinate and help the employees work more effectively and cooperatively. If there’s only a manager, he or she may not have the energy to do all the things well. What qualities should a leader have? It’s not easy to be a leader. A good leader should have an exemplary character. It is of utmost importance that a leader is trustworthy to lead others. A good leader is enthusiastic about their work or cause. Leaders need to be able to be a source of inspiration, and be a motivator towards the required action or cause. Although the responsibilities and roles of a leader may be different, the leader needs to be seen to be part of the team working towards the goal. Good leaders are tolerant of ambiguity and remain calm, composed and steadfast to the main purpose. Should managers have higher salaries? Definitely. Managers usually need to put more efforts into their career and the company. It’s not common to see a manager have a lot of free time but we would usually picture them working in front of the desk all day long. Also, when a company faces difficulties or is in trouble, it’s usually the manager to be blamed at because they take greater responsibilities than others. Because of these reasons, I believe they deserve higher pay. How do you think the gap between the rich and the poor will develop in the future? In my opinion, the gap between the rich and the poor will be narrowed in the future. Firstly, the information gap, one of the major reasons to cause the difference, will be narrowed, due to the easy accessibility with the help of modern information technology. Also, with the effort of governments at all Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 119 levels, monopolies, privileges, and inequalities among people will be reduced, helping to shorten the gap between the rich and the poor. 10. Who is usually the leader in a family in China? Is it important to have a leader in the family? What is the most important ability to be a leader in the family? Well, I think it is important to have a leader in every family. In this way, all the 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. family members can be better united, and then make effort to achieve the same aim. So usually, in China, the grandfather or the father will be the leader in the family. This is mainly because fathers are usually believed to be broader‐minded, more powerful, more intellectual in the family , and so can lead the family to develop better in the future. How to become a good leader in a company? To become a good leader, one has to possess several qualities besides working hard. For example, to unite all the employees together to achieve the same aim of the company, a good leader should be excellent in organizing abilities; to stimulate the employees to work harder willingly, a good leader should be outstanding in his working passion; and to make his words convincing, a good leader should be prominent in his profession. It is really not easy to be a good leader. What’s the difference between female and male leaders? Which one is better? Why? I think female and male leaders are very different. Usually female leaders pay more attention to details and because of the woman nature, they usually care more about people’s feelings, while male leaders are usually more decisive and they look at the big picture more than women. It’s hard to say which one is better, but I think a combination might be the best. If female and male leaders can work together, I’m sure they will be able to supplement each other. Do you think a good leader is always a good person? Not really. Sometimes, good leaders are really good people and they care about the people under their power, and many company leaders like donating money to charity. However, there’re also leaders who only care about their own interest and they don’t care about other’s feelings or benefits. Which Chinese leader do you like? I like zhou’enlai, the first Premier in our country. He’s a skilled diplomat and a leader respected by many people. He’s both a military and a political leader. He fought many successful battles and he could always have a big picture during his political life. Because he spoke many different languages and understood many different foreign cultures, he’s really good at communicating with people from all over the world. What kind of responsibilities should a leader take? A leader has many responsibilities. They should oversee the employees and help them to work cooperatively. Also, they need to have a big picture and know the direction and future of a company or an organization, and they should plan things accordingly. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 120 16. Why do you think braveness is important for a leader? A leader needs to take risks when they make big decisions because it’s hard to know what’s going to happen next. If they’re not brave, they might be indecisive and can’t make the right decision at the right time, which might cause very serious problems. They should also encourage the team members during crisis and difficulties, so they need to be brave. 17. Why do people feel disappointed at leaders sometimes? Sometimes, leaders can make us feel disappointed when they can’t make right decisions or care too much about their own benefits. So it’s hard to be good leaders because they’re put in a high position that everybody can see their weaknesses and mistakes. Leaders should keep learning and be careful about what they say or do in order to set good examples for the team members. Only when they receive respect from others, we can say they’re really good leaders. 4、A person I helped Describe a time when you helped someone. You should say: who you helped how you helped him/her why you helped him/her (or, why he or she needed help) and explain how you felt when/after you helped this person. Sample: I want to talk about the experience of helping one of my secondary school classmates. He sat behind me and he’s a very naughty boy. He would always fall asleep during the class, so his marks would always make him sad. His mother and my mother were coworkers since we were children. Before the final exam, he asked me to help him with his school work. I agreed to help him. Everyday after school, I would go to his home to help him review what the teacher had taught during the day. Actually he was a smart boy. He learned everything quickly when he really wanted to. On the final exam, he got great marks. He was very excited and thankful to me. I felt a sense of success because I could make other people successful. I was happy because I felt the time and energy spent on him was well rewarded. I think it’s good to help others although we might need to spend some time and energy. When we see other people make it, we also can share their happiness. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Why and how can parents teach children to help others?== Should parents encourage children to help others? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 121 When children help others, they can also learn many things. They’ll be less selfish and willing to share with others. I think these are important qualities for children to learn. First, parents need to tell them why they should help others. Also, parents should set good examples for their children because children like to copy what adults do. 2. How can school teach students to help others? The best way for schools to teach students to help others is to encourage teachers to set good examples for their students. When I was a child, we had to read and write a lot about helping others, but I don’t think that was helpful. Adults can really influence the children around them. Teachers and schools shouldn’t only say helping others is important, but they should demonstrate what they believe through their actions to the kids. 3. Do you like helping people? Yes, I do. I think helping others can make me happy. If we are all willing to do our best to help others, the world will be full of love and happiness. 4. What is the difference between helping/taking care of young children and elderly people? When we help children, we need to set good examples to help them tell right from wrong. Many elderly people get sick easily and they might need some people to help them do some housework. They may also need to communicate with others because it’s easy for the old to feel lonely. 5. Do you want to choose careers that can help others, e.g. nurse, teacher? Why should teachers and doctors help others? These careers are different from others because the functions of these jobs are to teach and help others. When people choose these careers, they should know why and how they can help others. 6. How can the government help poor people? =What should the government do in helping people? The government should have some funds for helping poor people. There should also be some state owned organizations to look for poor people who need help. The government should also encourage the general public to support people who are in need. Because of the number of Chinese people, if everyone is wiling to help, there won’t be poor people in this country anymore. For example, a lot of people are donating money for some poor children who live in the countryside because of the government really put effort into publicizing the importance of helping these people. 7. How to help foreign visitors to enjoy their trips in China more? During the Olympics in Beijing, a lot of people began to learn English. You could hear taxi drivers and shop keepers use English to talk to foreign travelers. I think this is very helpful. If it’s possible, tourist sites should offer brochures in Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 122 both English and Chinese in order to help people from other countries understand the culture and history of the places that they’re visiting. 8. Do people in your hometown like helping each other? I think so. I’m from a small town, people there are hospitable and warm hearted. When they see people in need, they are willing to help. However, in big cities, because of the fast pace of living, many people are too busy to offer help to the people around them. It’s also true that people are scared of revenge when they see thieves stealing, so some people even pretend that they don’t see anything. I think this isn’t a good phenomenon and I hope this situation can change soon. 9. How do you think about charity organizations that are not run by the government? I think they’re necessary and can help the society in many ways. When people want to donate money or clothing to poor people or people who suffer from disasters, a lot of them can’t find the right way to help. When there’re enough charity organizations, almost everyone who wants to help can reach target groups through these organizations. 10. Is it important to help others? Yes, I think so. When we help others, we can feel happy because we’re useful to the society. We can also make friends through helping others. If a person doesn’t want to offer help to others, it’s likely that he’ll not receive help when he’s in need. 11. What kinds of people need help? A lot of people. People who are struggling with poverty definitely need help. Sometimes for these people, money can only give them temporary help, so if it’s possible, we should help them to make money to support themselves. For some people who suffer emotional problems also need help. We can give them comfort and encouragement to help them go though the difficult time. 12. How to help others? When we help people, we have to know what they really need. The people who’re poor or have lost everything in disasters have material needs. We need to give them food and daily necessities. For people who need comfort and encouragement, we can also spend time with them and help them get out of difficulties. 13. Should people or the government give more help to the society? I think both. The government is more powerful when they help people. The government has more money and can publicize the importance of people’s needs and ask the general public to help. The citizens also need to respond to the government and be willing to give help to the people who are in need. 14. Is there any organizations helping people in your country? Yeah, many. For example, the Hope Project in China helps thousands of students from poor families to go to school to be educated; the China Welfare Fund for Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 123 the Handicapped brings a better life for the disabled, and the Red Cross in China has conducted a lot of humanitarian aids to people who are in need. 15. What kind of help can we get from family members? How do family member help each other? We can get varieties of help from family members. For instance, the young members may get help from the old in the form of advice, care, and money, while the old can get help from the young in terms of labor, defense, and accompaniment. 5、A successful person Describe a person who you think is successful. You should say: who he or she is (or, who they are) what they did (or, what they do) how you know this person why (or how) he or she became so successful why you choose to talk about this person and explain how his/her success has helped society. Sample： I would like to talk about a successful foreign freelance performer, DaShan, originally named Rowswell, who is a Canadian but speaks excellent Mandarin. Dashan was once presiding as Canada's Commissioner General at the Shanghai 2010 World Expo. After his graduation from the college, he came to China to study Chinese at Beijing University. Later he began to appear on TV at different TV programs. His rise to fame is not an accident because he has remained famous for more than twenty years. I admire him for his strong learning desire and his interests in Chinese language. After his first appearance on TV, he didn’t stop there but continued his language study by taking Xiangsheng, also called cross‐talk, from the most famous master, Jiangkun. If I were asked to take that kind of training in English, I would feel impossible because Xiangsheng is often called "the art of comedic language", and as such is regarded in China as a highly skilled form of performing art beyond the reach of most native speakers, not to say a foreigner. However, his hard work was eventually paid‐‐‐he became a prominent xiangsheng performer pretty soon. Also, Dashan has a big heart. Dashan is active as a spokesman for several charity organizations, primarily involved with cancer prevention as well as environmental protection. Now I think he will probably continue learning the Chinese language, or it might be better to say “study”, of course, academically. I consider him really a successful Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 124 man. I admire him and would like to meet him in the future. Part3: Discussion topics: 1、What does "success" mean to you? == How do you define success? I think success means you can achieve a goal that you set for yourself. This goal can be big or small. For example, I want to be a manager. When I become a good manager, I can say I’m successful. 2、Do you think a rich person is the same as a "successful" person? I think for some rich people, yes. If they really worked hard towards their goals and made it, I have to say they’re successful people. However, for some people, they’re just born rich; it’s hard to say they’re successful. Also, I think, when a person loses too many things to pursue money, we can’t say he’s successful either. 4、How do you think one could achieve a balance between (spending time on) success in one's career and a happy family life? It’s hard, but there’re a lot of books teaching people how to achieve a balance. It’s important for people to know the importance of resting and time spent with family members. If we always remind ourselves that life is short and we shouldn’t give all our life to our work, it might be helpful. 5、How (or why) do some people become famous? People can become famous through many ways. In the past, it’s easier for politicians, writers, movie stars or singers to get famous. Nowadays, because of the development of the internet, people could acquire fame just because of some interesting news. I think it’s quite different from the past. For example, there’s a girl named Fengjie and she became famous just because of her interesting advertisement for a life partner, which might sound hilarious but it’s real. 6、Why do people idolize these famous people? = Why do you think a lot of people like movie stars? =Why do a lot of people like famous people? Usually it’s not easy to acquire fame. It requires a lot of good qualities. A lot of people want to get famous and they think famous people are just much better than many ordinary people. Actually I think it’s not quite right because we’re all humans. We shouldn’t think too high of some celebrities. If we do, they might let us down easily. 7、Do you think that celebrities are happy? It depends. If they enjoy their career and have a happy family, usually they can be happy. However, they usually have less privacy. This might make them feel less happy. 8、Do you think that celebrities deserve to have their privacy? Yes, definitely. Everyone has the right to have their privacy. If the celebrities are watched all the time, they might feel very difficult to do many things they like and have to worry constantly. I think it’s not good for their mental health. 9、Who’s your favorite celebrity? For girls: I like Dee Xu, a famous TV presenter. She’s a mother of two daughters now but Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 125 she still looks very modern and young. As a successful presenter, she has unique presenting style. When she’s on TV, she can always make the people laugh and talk freely. I really want to learn her humor and optimism. For boys: I love Chauncey Billups, an American basketball player. As a basketball fan, I care about these famous basketball stars. Billups is very different. I like his calmness and his low‐key personality. I think celebrities should be like him. 10、Can celebrities be good role models?= What can young people learn from successful people? Yes. A lot of young people like reading books about their celebrities and care about what they say and do. If these celebrities can set good examples by living a healthy life, they can influence their fans to a great extent. I think the most important thing is for celebrities to have good moral standard, so that the young people can learn how to live a good life and how to benefit the society and the people around them. 11、Does success mean good careers and money? Sometimes but not all the time. For example, mother Teresa didn’t have money or a good career when she was helping people in India but no one can deny the great impact she had in the world. I have to say she’s successful because she could do what her passion led her and made a lot of others want to follow her foot steps. 12、Are successful people always famous?= What’s the connection between fame and success? Most of the time. People seek success and they want to know who’s successful, so it’s hard for a successful person to keep away from the public. I think these people really have power because if they want, they can influence others and the society in many ways. 13、Can famous people always contribute to the society? Yes. Usually famous people are rich or have a lot of followers. They can donate money to help the poor if they’re rich. If they are great thinkers, they can influence people emotionally and mentally—help people think more positively and be wiling to do something useful for the society. 14、Do you want to become a successful person? Sure, it seems that no one in this world doesn’t want to be successful although people’s view about success may vary to some extent. I want to be successful. I hope that I could earn a huge wealth, so that I could help as many people in miseries as possible. Also, I hope to be famous, because in that way, I can appeal as many people as I want to follow my ideas. 15、What changes will your life have if you become famous? If I am famous one day, I think I will have a much healthier life style first, since I should not leave any chances for those paparazzi to disclose scandals on me. Also, I will work even harder, so that I can be a good role model for the majority, and so we could help more people in need in this world. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 126 16. Should we have privacy even with family members? I think so. Although family members are usually the closest to us, every member may be different in their ideas about life, living habits, and personal secrets. In this sense, having some extent of privacy is necessary, which not only gives ourselves benefits, but also shows a respect to other members. 6、Adventurous person Describe an adventurous person you know You should say: who the person is how you know this person what this person does that is adventurous and explain why you think this person likes to take risks. (or explain how you feel about the risks this person takes.) Sample: This topic makes me think of my cousin. Adventurous is definitely a good word to describe him. He loves trying new things and likes risky sports. I have so many memories about him being adventurous. He told me many of his adventures and I would always feel very intrigued when I learned the stories. His favorite sports are bungee and rock climbing. He told me risky sports can help him release the pressure from studies. When he did them, he could always feel very excited. I remember, when we were children, he was like a pioneer to me. He taught me how to climb trees and take me to the nearby mountains to explore. For children of our age, he was considered very brave among us. I think, deep down, I admire him for willing to try new things. I think it takes courage and determination to be adventurous. I’m a quiet and conservative person. I think I should try to be a little more adventurous and try new things more. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1. How do adventures affect people? Experiencing many adventures can help people become more confident because they’ll know what they’re really capable of doing. Also, these adventures can help people release their pressure and stress from their lives. This can promote their mental health. 2. What kind of extreme sport do Chinese people like? To be honest, I don’t know much about it because I’m rather conservative and tend to do more mild sports. I think maybe rock climbing because there’re a lot of steep mountains in China. This sport can be extremely challenging and dangerous. 3. Why people like extreme sports? = How do extreme sports affect people? When people do extreme sports, they might be able to explore their potential Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 127 and become more confident in themselves. Also, it’s a great way to exercise one’s body and brain. People can release their pressure from their lives and learn how to be optimistic. 4. What type of spirit do you think these people should have? I think adventurous people need to be confident of their abilities and like challenging their limit and potential. If they’re not strong‐minded people and don’t have the spirit of perseverance, it’ll be difficult to be truly adventurous. 5. Do you think the government should give money to these adventurous activities? Maybe. If the safety problems can be solved, a lot of extreme sports can build children’s independent spirit and help them understand their limits better. I think the government should invest some money in the safety equipment and help the people who love this kind of sport enjoy them safely. 6. Should children be independent? =Is it important for children to be independent? = Do you think independence is important to children’s growth? Absolutely. Children will grow up, have jobs, and start their own families sooner or later. If they always rely on others, they might face serious problems in the future. It’s very essential to teach children to be independent. 7. How to educate children to become independent? =How to help children be independent? Parents should give their children more opportunities to take care of themselves and plan their own life. If they can make their own decisions more, they might become more independent. For school, teachers should give students more tasks to work on by themselves and help them learn problem solving skills. 8. Do modern children have more freedom or restriction? It’s a complicated question. I think both. On the one hand, modern children have more access to information compared to any of their precedents, so they have more freedom in this area. On the other hand, the society or their parents also give them more responsibilities to learn and adjust to the society. In this way, I’ll say they have less freedom. 9. Do you think children now have more freedom than those when you were a young kid? I think it’s the contrary. Nowadays, children have more pressure from the society and their parents. They have to learn many extra‐curriculum skills and spend more time learning than playing, whereas, when I was a kid, I could play a lot and get close to the nature very often. I think it might be bad for kids in the modern society to carry too much baggage. 10. What do modern Chinese children like to do? Any difference from the past? I know now a lot of children like computer games and advanced electronic devices. On the one hand, it’s good to have varieties in life and these can add spice to their school life. On the other hand, they might tend to stay at home more and do less exercise, which’s certainly not good for their health. 11. Are there many people in today's society who take risks (or, who do dangerous Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 128 things)? Yes. Because of the pressure from life and work, a lot of people want to do some risky things to release their pressure. Some people believe when they challenge themselves more, they’ll be braver and be able to achieve bigger things. 12. If a person is injured or needs help while doing something dangerous, who do you think should be responsible for paying the cost of helping this person? It depends, if they go to some professional places to do risky sports and get injured, the company should pay for all the expenses they need. However, if a person chooses to do something dangerous by themselves, they should pay for themselves because they should know the consequences of doing these dangerous things beforehand. 13. Can you give any examples of adventurous work (or jobs)? There’re actually quite a few, such as police, firefighters, and animal trainers. Their jobs are dangerous by nature. It’s very possible for them to get injured during work, so people should get prepared when they choose this kind of job. 14、Do you like taking risks? Do you like challenges? I’m a conservative person, so I think taking risks is a little hard for me. I’m afraid of making mistakes or putting myself in a dangerous situation. I think it’s not necessary to take risks if we have safer ways to achieve our goals. However, sometimes, it’s just inevitable to take some risks. I guess on such occasions, I should be a little more adventurous. 15、What kind of people like adventures? Why? I guess people who like challenges and are always curious about new things like adventures more. It’s like their mission to try different things and to challenge their limit. People who love adventures often feel bored if they have to settle for a boring routine of life and they want to make changes to their lives. 16、What should the government do to protect the safety of these people? The government should make certain regulations about risky sports to ensure the safety of people. There should be certain criteria for companies to offer risky sports to the general public so people won’t be killed because of poor safety equipment. 17、Do you think Chinese children are independent? It depends. For some families, the parents are busy with their work, so their children have to take care of themselves since they’re young. These children are usually more independent. However, in some families, both parents and grandparents just pour their love to the only child in the family. Children grow up in these families are usually less independent. 18、Why some people are not willing to accept challenges? Well, not everyone in the world likes challenges. Those who are weak in mind, those who like peaceful life, and those who don’t have any ambitions for life may not be willing to accept challenges, because they don’t like to do something difficult, and they don’t want any changes in their life. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 129 19、How can we develop children’s independence? Should we develop children’s independence from their childhoods? We should develop children’s development from their childhood. In the duration of their growth, when they are cultivated to be independent, they will be able to deal with many problems happening in their life. To achieve this, the parents should not spoil their children, instead, they can let go of their babies, so that the babies can learn to walk on themselves; they can provide more chances for their children, so that the children can learn to solve problems independently. 20、you want to try risky sports? Yeah, in my deepest heart, I like to try everything new, and everything exciting, including those risky sports. By doing so, I can have a test of my courage, and a cultivation of my ability. However, to think rationally, I have to take into consideration of my physical condition, and the potential results before actually participating in those risky sports. As long as I make sure it is safe to me, I will have a try. 21、where can people get risky sports equipment? From many places, I think. Firstly, you can go to those big department stores or supermarkets, there will usually be sectors specially designed for sports facilities. Also, you can find some small stores on the streets that are specialized in selling that equipment for those risky sports. In addition, with the growing popularity of on line shopping, you can even search the internet to find some net shops to buy what you want. 22. Do more people do adventurous sports than before? I guess so, although I’m not a big fan of adventurous sports. I know a few people who love adventurous sports, such as bungee and rock climbing. Usually you can do these sports at some special parks with very advanced safety equipment. In the past, most people didn’t have enough access to these sports, but now there’re more and more these places that offer such kinds of sports. As people get to know them more, the number of people who want to try it also increases. 23、Should people do risky sports purchase insurance? Yeah, I think this is a good idea. For one thing, since those people are putting themselves in risk of being hurt, buying insurance will help them be treated in hospital more economically, so that they could have money still to continue their pursuit. For another, as risky sports lovers, they should also bear the responsibility of family supporting. Hence, when they are seriously injured in doing the sports, or even die, they can still have the insurance to help them serve their duty. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 130 7、A child Describe a child you know. You should say: how you know him or her what he or she likes to do what he or she looks like what kind of person he/she is (= what his/her personality is like) and explain how you feel about this child. Sample: Ok, this topic reminds me of my neighbor’s daughter, QiQi, a lovely and clever girl. Now she’s three years old. Our families are close to each other, so I visit the family very often. Whenever I go there, I’ll buy some snacks for QiQi. I like her not only because of her sweetness and lovely but because of her personality and talents. Qiqi’s a very friendly child. She’ll talk to almost all guests who come to her home. Qiqi’s a very smart child, too. She can recite Chinese poems since she was two. We would always be amazed how quickly she can learn. She’s also good at singing. She can sing a song after listening to it only a few times. The most marvelous part is that she can even remember English songs. Once her mother played some foreign songs, she picked up the lyrics immediately. I think she’s adorable because she’s so smart and beautiful. One day she may even become a successful singer or poet. To have such a lovely girl as my neighbor makes me feel happy. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1、Is there any difference between the way children play today and the way children used to play, in the past? In the past, children would usually play outside. They could have fun in the nature or play some sports with their friends. Nowadays, more and more children know how to use the computer and computer games really play an important part in their life. However, it might be bad if they get addicted to it. 2、Do you think computer games are good for children? It’s definitely bad if they play too much. Some good games might help children develop their imagination and creativity. Nowadays, more and more children know how to use the computer and computer games really play an important part in their life. However, it might be bad if they get addicted to it. 3、How important do you think it is that young children's play allows them to get some physical exercise (such as running around outside)? Children really need some physical exercise to release their pressure and help them grow physically. If they always stay at home, they might become weak and get sick easily. It’s also harmful to their mental health because they can’t play Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 131 with their friends and build team work skills. 4、Do children play outside or inside more？ When I was a child, because I lived in the suburbs, I would always play outside. However, nowadays, a lot of children who live in the city don’t have enough opportunities to get close to the nature. Many children tend to stay at home more. I think it’s not good for their health because children need to run outside and get close to the nature more. It’s just not natural for them to stay at home too often. 5、What kind of computer games do children play? Are they good to children? I think there’re many cute games online to attract children and a lot of children, especially boys, are addicted to certain games. For boys, they would play some gun fighting or other challenging games. Girls love to play games involve love stories. I think games are good if they’re only for entertaining but too much is definitely bad for children’s mental and physical health. Parents should help their kids to draw a fine line between addicting and entertaining. 6、How have technology changed children’s way of entertaining? Is it good? I think technology has changed children’s way of entertaining to a great extent. In the past, children would do some outdoor sports together because they didn’t have many resources for entertaining at home. It’s good for them to build teamwork skills and exercise their bodies through these sports. Nowadays, a lot of children stay at home most of the time, playing computer games and surfing the internet. Too much computer will make children tired and less healthy. I think this situation should be changed in the future. 7、What’re the advantages of outdoor activities? Outdoor activities are good for children. They could help children develop their physical potential and can also teach children teamwork skills through some group activities. Nowadays, children usually need to study a lot. If they can get outside to breathe some fresh air, I believe they can work more effectively. 8、How should children balance outdoor activities and indoor activities? I think parents should help their children make plans every week. They should set some time for indoor and outdoor activities. It’s also helpful if they enroll in some after school outdoor activity clubs, such as football clubs, and hiking clubs. It’s usually easier to do something with a group because all the members in a group can be their accountability partners. 9、Do parents raise children differently nowadays? Yes, I think parents nowadays are more willing to learn parenting skills from books and the internet, so a lot of them are equipped with advanced and useful knowledge from experts, which is really good for the children. Parents nowadays tend to be more democratic and they can listen to their kids’ voice more. In the past, a lot of parents in China had many children and felt tired to make a living, so most of them didn’t have much energy left for their kids. And they usually tended to be stricter and felt hard to respect their children’s opinions. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 132 10. Who are the idols for most Chinese children? For very young children, they love the cartoon characters from both China and abroad. Right now, a famous cartoon series called happy sheep and grey wolf is very popular among young children. For older children, they love pop singers and movie stars. Some of them would buy the posters of their favorite celebrity and pay very close attention to their idols’ blogs and twitters. 11. Is community important for children? Absolutely. Children are easily influenced by what they see and what they hear. If the people in the neighborhood are nice, the children can learn good values from them. If not, they can be badly influenced as well. In China, there’s a story about a mother moving three times for the benefit of her child, which shows how much importance that Chinese people place on community. 12. What can children do outdoors? These days, children have a lot of choices in outdoor activities. For example, they can pay the ball games such as basket ball and football, with their friends. Also, they can stay close to the nature, observing with their cameras or microscope, the life of pants or animals. In addition, if they like, they can ask their parents to take them to many theme parks, where exciting games are available to them to enjoy a happy time. 8. A neighbor Describe a good neighbor of yours. You should say: how long you have known this neighbor what sort of person he/she is how often you see him/her and explain what kind of relationship you have with him/her or and explain why you consider this person to be a good neighbor. Sample： I have a lot of neighbors, but I’d like to say something about a special neighbor. Everybody calls him uncle li, a warm‐hearted man. I’ve known him for more than fifteen years. He is retired now and is always looking for opportunities to help his neighbors. Sometimes, he said he felt bored if he couldn’t do something for others. He’s just such a person. He even volunteers to look after the children in the neighborhood when their parents are busy at work. Almost everybody lives in that neighborhood is uncle Li’s friend and when we are in trouble, he will offer his help without hesitation. Sometimes this might bring trouble to himself, but he never gives up his mission. Sometimes, his wife complains about him being too nice. However, when we compliment on what he has done, his wife would always smile. I think she’s happy for marrying this kind man. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 133 Nobody can say that uncle li is not a good neighbor. I don’t expect all neighbors to be as nice as uncle li, but I believe if everyone is willing to sacrifice a little, our neighborhood will be a much enjoyable place to live in. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Are there any changes of the relationships between neighbors now and in the past? Is it a positive or negative change? Yeah. In the past, a lot of people live in the apartment buildings or quadrangle houses that their companies provided for them, so they were familiar with each other, everybody knew everybody. When one person needed help, all the neighbors would come to help. Nowadays, people buy their own apartments. A 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. lot of people don’t want to talk to strangers, so their neighbors will remain strangers for the rest of their life. I think it’s not a positive change because people are less close to each other. What’s the difference between living environment past and now? In the past, there were fewer buildings in the city and the rivers were less polluted. Children could get close to the nature much more easily. Nowadays, there’re more and more tall buildings in the city and a lot of rivers and lakes were heavily polluted. However, the government is trying to fix this by building more parks and planting trees and flowers in the city. And there’re also laws to prohibit factories from discharging waste water into rivers. Now our living environment is getting better. What’s the importance of neighbors in our society? Well, just as an old Chinese saying goes: a good neighbor is better than a brother far off, neighbors are very good helpers to each other in the community. If any emergency happens, neighbors will just be nearby to provide the first help, which is impossible when the relatives are miles away. Besides, having a good relationship with neighbors, the living atmosphere can be very friendly and enjoyable, while having a poor relationship, the life in the community is meaningless. What’s the difference between relationships with neighbors past and now? Well, it seems the relationship between neighbors now has changed a lot from the past. For example, with a slower life pace, and less life pressure, the relationship among neighbors was closer and friendlier in the past. However, these days, locked in their own flats, busy with their own matters, neighbors are more of strangers than in the past. Nowadays people change neighbors very often, what about in the future? Maybe people will change more in the future. This is mainly because the life pace is speedy, the life pressure is increasing, and people’s interest is widening. People like to change their living places to meet their pursuit in life. How can the relationship between neighbors be improved？ Well, many things can be done to improve the relationship among neighbors. For example, more activities in the communities can be organized, so that more neighbors can take part in, and so share happiness with the neighbors, deepening Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 134 their understandings and bringing closer their relationship. Also, a better welfare system can be established, so that people can enjoy their life better, and so are enabled to have more time and a relaxed atmosphere to stay with neighbors. 7. What are the most important qualities for neighbors? Well, being good neighbors, they should have some important qualities. First, they should be considerate, not to violate the interest of those others who live beside them, such as not to make noises to disturb others. Also, good neighbors should be helpful. Just as the old saying goes, “a good neighbor is better than a brother far away”, neighbors should be ready to help others, particularly in case of some emergency of other neighbors. 8. Are community centers important? To be frank, I am not so sure. Because you know, up till now, I have spent most of my time on the campus, and I don’t have many chances to enjoy my time in the community. But to the residents in the community, I believe the community centers will be important to them, because community centers can provide them good places to have a pleasant community life after their busy work and heavy pressure in the social competition, and so they can have the good chances to relax and then get refreshed to contribute more the development of the society. 9. How to improve neighbor relationships? Well, I think various ways can be tried to improve the relationship between neighbors. For example, more community facilities can be provided for the whole community, so that all the neighbors in the community can be there to share their leisure time together and so become closer. Also, more community activities can be held to provide chances for neighbors to communicate with each other, enabling them to have better relationships. 9. A character from a childhood story Describe a character from a story you read or heard in your childhood. You should say: who the character was what the character was like what the character did in the story and explain what influence this character had on you. Sample: I read many interesting stories when I was a child. Now I want to talk about a character called Caochong, a very intelligent child from Han Dynasty, the son of the famous warlord Cao Cao. He was renowned as a child prodigy (神童), having the intelligence of an adult at the age of five. He is best known for his ingenious （有独 创性的） method of weighing an elephant using the law of buoyancy （浮力）. Once, Caochong’s father received an elephant as a gift. Caocao was very eager to know the weight of the elephant, so he asked his followers about the way to weigh the elephant, but no one could provide a solution. However, his son Cao Chong Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 135 replied, ‘Put the elephant to the boat and mark on it the load line; then drive the elephant away and put stones in the boat until it reaches to the same load line; finally, weigh the stone, add the weights together, and you will know the weight of the elephant.’ Hearing about this, CaoCao was pleased. He ordered his men to follow the guidance of Cao Chong, and finally figured out the elephant's weight. This story just gave me a very deep impression. When I faced difficulties in my childhood, I would remember Caochong. Since he could come out solutions for difficulties problems at such a young age, I believed I should try my best, too. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. What books do Chinese children like? How about the adults? What books do Chinese children like? How about the adults? Well, people may have a different preference in their choices of reading material. For example, children may like to read books about cartoon figures, about fairy tales, heroic deeds, or detective stories. The old may like to read newspapers to keep up with the time, or they may read something of their ages, to remind them of the past years. In comparison, the adults, having a strong purpose in their reading, may choose to read books to get information for their careers, to help them earn money, or solve their problems. 2. Do children believe in the content in books? Perhaps. Some children, especially the younger ones, without many ideas about invented things and the reality, may believe in the content in books, and even try to imitate the behaviors of the heroes in books. However, when they grow older, when they are better educated, most of them will learn to tell the difference between the content described in books and those happening in the real life. 3. Do adults like the heroes in the books or those in reality? Generally, adults like the heroes in reality, because they may take these heroes as their models, to learn from them and to make efforts in making similar achievements. However, some adults may like those heroes in books, because in reality, chances are rare for them to realize their dreams to be such heroes. In this sense, they turn to those invented heroes, imagining they are similarly successful and powerful, which actually eases their pressure or we may say, they are trying to evade from reality. 4. What do children read? Well, children may like to read more books related to their interests, such as those cartoon books, and books about fairy tales, games, toys and animals. They like to read those books to know more about the world. With the time going on, they may gradually turn from reading those invented or imaginary stories to more real ones that are close to their daily lives. 5. What characters do adults like in movies? Well, people may have different preferences for their favorite heroes in movies. Man may like some supermen who are handsome, powerful, wealthy, and very successful characters in the movies, because in their deep heart they hope to be Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 136 one like this, or sometimes they may like those beautiful, sexy, graceful women characters, because they hope someday they can find a wife like this. However, women may like those humorous, romantic, and handsome men character, reflecting their hopes to find such husbands in life. Movies are actually releases of human beings’ unrealistic dreams. 6. What qualities do characters in children stories possess? Well, usually, the characters in children stories are cute, brave, and clever. Children like cute figures because they like to take cute ones as their friends, children like brave ones because often the characters in the story can do many things that children may not dare to do in their life; and children like clever ones because they can learn a lot from the figures in settling problems. 7. What kind of characters do adults like? Well, adults may like characters that are heroic, charming, powerful, successful and humorous. Heroic characters help to realize adults dreams in doing heroic deeds, charming ones refresh adults’ eyes, powerful ones reflect adults expectation , successful ones represent adults pursuit, and humorous ones help adults to relieve their pressure. 8. What’s the difference between fictional characters and people in real life? Well, in fictions, the characters can be anything that can be imagined, while in real life, people have to follow the rule of nature. On the other hand, the characters in fiction usually reflect people’s expectation of themselves in the real life. When people find it hard to realize their dreams in reality, they tend to create some characters in fiction, so that they can enjoy a feeling of accomplishment, although not real. 9. Which character in movies is admired by adults in your country? ==Which character is the idol in your country? Well, there are tens or hundreds. Different people may have different heroes in their minds. As to me, Chenzhen is the character that I admire most. Chenzhen was a character living in the time of Anti‐Japanese war in China, when the Japanese invaders were domineering on China’s streets and bullying the Chinese, Chenzhen would always be there to beat the Japanese and save the Chinese through his Kong Fu. Hence, many Chinese admire him. 10. Why are martial arts movies so popular? Well, people love martial arts movies for various reasons. For example, some like martial films because they want to find something exciting, which they could not have in the real life; others like martial films because they expect to behave like those Kong Fu Figures, which they could not achieve in reality, and still others like martial movies because they hope to be so powerful, so charming like the heroes in the film, which could help them to be away from the pressure of life. 11. Why do people like fiction movies? Well, people like fiction movies for a variety of reasons. For example, some like fiction movies because they want to stay away from reality, others hope to seek Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 137 excitement, and still others like fiction movies to kill their time in a relaxed way. 12. Do you think it’s bad for people to watch fiction movies? I don’t think so. Films are just films, which depend on people’s ability to distinguish. By watching fiction movies, people are enabled to stay away from their stress in real life, enjoy excitement to refresh themselves and kill their time in a relaxed way. 13. How much will people believe the characters? Maybe in the past, when information was not too convenient to update, and when the mass media were not so powerful, some people may believe in the characters that were in movies. However, these days, most people may just take those characters as imaginary ones, as amusements in life, and as relieves of their pressure. 10. A person in the news you’d like to meet Describe a person in the news you like to meet. You should say: who he/she is how you learned about him/her what the news was about and explain why you want to meet him/her. Sample 1: About two months ago, I read the news in China daily. In the news, it talked about a wealthy man named Mr. Palmer in Australia. He became famous because he decided to give a big amount of his earnings to his employees as rewards, not to the high ranking managers but to the lower class workers. The most impressive thing is that the best performers in his company would get Mercedes‐Benz cars. When reporters asked him the reasons for this, he told them that he wouldn’t be able to make it without the help and support of his employees. And he’s positive that his workers deserve the rewards. After knowing the news, I became very interested in Mr. Palmer. If I have the opportunity, I’d like to meet Mr. Palmer. If I can see him, I would ask him why he was so willing to give his money away to his working staff and ask him his managing strategies because I believe he’s a good manager. His story is really touching and it made me and a lot of others happy. Usually people view business men as shrewd and greedy, but this man can certainly change our view. He is willing to share what he earned with his working staff. I’m sure he’ll make more money in the future and it’s very likely that he’ll surprise us again. I hope I can work in such companies in the future. Maybe I’ll be able to win a good car because of my hard work. Sample 2: I recently watched the news about a noble man running a hope school in a remote Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 138 area in yunnan province. He actually graduated from a prestigious university in China, Beijing University. After graduating, he tried almost everything he wanted. He went to the US and got his green card. But eventually he felt his passion lied in China with a lot of children in some poor regions. He believes that everybody deserves good education. For many of the children living in these places, getting a bachelor’s degree is the only way for them to change their life. After some research, he went to Yunnan province. At first, the school was not big at all and the facilities were very backward. He tried his best to raise fund and find teachers. Now the school has helped a lot of children, but he still needs more good teachers in the school. After watching this news, I really want to meet him, because I think he’s very different from many people I know. A lot of people nowadays are thinking about getting a good job or doing some profitable business so that they can live a better life. But he gave up all the good things that many people seek after to devote his time and energy to the children that he didn’t know before. If it’s possible, I also want to volunteer in the school and want to contribute a little of my effort. I hope more and more people will realize the needs and be willing to give their help to children in these places. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. What kind of people will usually appear in the news in China? In this modern society, everyone is likely to appear in the news. For example, those who are successful in some certain field may be reported, so that the public can have some good models, those who are stuck in troubles, such as those in disasters may be reported, so that more people can be there to offer help, and those who commit crimes or do bad things may also be reported, so that the public can be warned to stay away from them or help the police to catch them. 2. In what ways do people usually get news? These days, people can get news from various ways. For example, they can watch TV, listen to the radio, read newspapers, or surf the internet, and even, they can get news from the text messages on their mobile phones. Therefore, people in this modern society are much more informed than those in the past. 3. Should more news be focused on ordinary people? Yes, I think so. By reporting more news about the ordinary people, we may get to know the world better, and we will become more involved in the news rather than stay cool like the time when we are watching or reading news on those famous ones. In addition, we can learn more from the news, so that we could deal with our own matters in a more preferable way. 4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a majority of news targeting at celebrities? Well, when a majority of news targeting at celebrities, the public can be well aware of what is happening on those celebrities, and so play a better role in supervision. Also, news of this kind may encourage the public to work hard to Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 139 be famous, and so can act as stimulation. However, too many news focusing on the celebrities may discourage the public from the news. After all, those things are not closely related to their personal matters, or just none of their business. And to say the least, those news may violate the privacy of those celebrities and so disturb their normal life. 5. Do you like bad news or good news? To tell the truth, I like good news. Usually, good news may help me to have a positive view about my life and about the world. Also, good news may encourage me to work hard, so that one day I may become the hero in the news. Besides, from watching or reading good news, I may share the happiness of 6. 7. 8. 9. others. What’s better, news on TV or in newspapers? Well, to be frank, I like to read news in newspapers rather than watch news on TV. Coz you know, I don’t have as much time everyday to sit in the sofa at home to watch TV, and as a student, i don’t have TV sets in the classroom or in the dorm. In this way, watching TV to get news is actually something far away from me. On the other hand, newspapers are always available to me, and they are convenient to carry with me, so that I can have access to what is happening around me Besides celebrities, what kind of people can also appear in news? Well, many people can appear in news. For example, those who are in disasters can be reported; those who have done something interesting or threatening can be reported; and those who are involved in some events that the public are concerned can also be reported. Is there much false information in news? These days, yes. When the competition among the mass media is becoming increasingly fierce, in order to struggle for survival, induced by some interests, more reporters are beginning to sacrifice the benefits of the public, by inventing or distorting the facts in news, just to satisfy their own interests. In this way, the news is false, and cannot be trusted. Do you think the news reported in China could be trusted since the media is mainly controlled by the government? It depends. Some news about what is happening around us is about facts, and so can be trusted. Besides, due to the prosperity of mass media in this century, especially the advent of the internet, the public are much more convenient in obtaining information, making the truth stand out much easier, and false news rootless. However, sometimes, when the government wants to guide the public, they may create something unreal, but we would like to take it as something out of government’s good wills. 10. What is your opinion towards today's news report? Well, some news about what is happening around us is about facts, and so can be trusted. Besides, due to the prosperity of mass media in this century, especially the advent of the internet, the public are much more convenient in Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 140 obtaining information, making the truth stand out much easier, and false news rootless. However, sometimes, when the government wants to guide the public, they may create something unreal, but we would like to take it as something out of government’s good wills. 11. What are differences between news report nowadays and in the past? Well, in the past, when there were less ways of releasing news, and people had fewer channels to know about the world, the news seemed to be controlled by the media. Whatever the media said seemed believable. However, theses days, when people can have access to information in a very convenient way, and with the improvement in the public’s awareness to tell the right from the wrong, it seems not easy to mislead the people. In this sense, news is more trustful in this modern society. 12. Why people show more interest in bad news rather than good news? Well, people do so for many reasons. Some people are bored about their life, they hope to find something shocking to excite them; others are worrying about the world, and so they care about anything bad happening around, although they don’t actually like it to happen; and still others expect to find some others who are more miserable in the bad news, so that they can feel comforted for their not well‐off life. 13. Do you think international news is important? Yeah. In this era of globalization, when international cooperation is so frequent, international news is rather important. It helps us to be well aware of what is happening around the world, it enables us to learn from the strengths of other countries, and it prevents us from suffering the sorrows which others country are experiencing. 14. Written news has less or more content than television news? In my opinion, written news has more content than television news. For example, in written news, the readers can have an imagination of the situation in the news, and so with their minds involved, they can have a better understanding about what is happening. Also, we can have more pages and more editions of newspapers in news reporting, but the television channels can not be altered so easily. 15. What are the differences between people’s ways of viewing the news now and in the past? Well, people’s ways of viewing the news has changed greatly over the years. In the past, when there were few ways to release news, people may usually get informed by the radio, the TV and the newspapers. However, theses days, people can still get news from those mentioned normal ways, but in a greater variety. Besides, people can get news conveniently from the internet, from the messages on the mobile phones and from other public media such as the video shows on the wall and even on the bus. 16. Why do you think bad news can spread faster than good news? I think people might take bad news more seriously because it can affect our life Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 141 in many ways and sometimes we need to do something accordingly, so they feel they should spread it to their close friends and family members. However, a lot of good news is usually only about a few people so it can’t draw the attention from everybody. 17. What’s the difference between the news reported in China and in the west? I think different countries will report the news in favor of their own country. The news reported in China will say something good about China, so when I want to know the exact situation, it’ll be helpful to read news from both China and other countries. 18. Why do you think there is false news? I think there’re a lot of reasons. Sometimes, people want to draw attention from others, so they make false news to attract readers or viewers. Other times, people might take rumors as facts to spread and they may not even know where the news is originally started. 11. A person who has a healthy lifestyle Describe a person who has a healthy lifestyle You should say: who this person is how you know him/her what he does to make himself healthy and explain why you think his lifestyle is healthy Sample： I think my Dad has a very good lifestyle. He always keeps a regular schedule and a healthy diet, and he works out almost everyday. Many young people like staying up late. Actually it’s not healthy. My dad agrees with Frankly ‐‐“Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” He would get up at six punctually and he doesn’t even need to use an alarm clock because it has been his routine for so long, so his body and brain has got used to it. And, he never stays up late. It’s beneficial to one’s health if we keep a healthy diet. My dad has known it since I was a little child. He reads all kinds of books about eating healthily. Our family eat a lot of vegetables and fruits because they’re natural vitamins and minerals providers for us. He also tells me that we need to eat a variety of food because variety is the spice of life and it can also make our body stronger. My dad will never sacrifice his exercising time for other obligations. He would sometimes jog in the morning, or go swimming in the afternoon. He even bought a running machine to exercise at home when he gets too busy with his work. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 142 My Dad has set a good role model for me and I should learn a lot from him. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. What can affect people’s health? People’s health is affected by various factors. For instance, their lifestyles, their diets, the living environments, the time they take part in exercises, and the work they do, can all influence their health. Therefore, it is really not easy for people to stay healthy all the time. 2. What’s the difference of self‐grown vegetables and vegetables in the market? There must be some differences; otherwise I will not see so many people are pursuing those self‐produced natural vegetables. In general, self‐grown vegetables may be better cared about, with less fertilizer used, fewer additives added, and so are more natural and healthier. However, for the vegetables in the market, usually profit‐driven, may be produced in simpler ways, with much industrial ways in production 3. Why do you think hamburgers are popular? Well, these days, when the pace of life is becoming faster, people are having less time to prepare food for themselves and for their family, so more people turn to fast food, among which hamburgers are one of the most popular. Without waiting for the preparation, with an easy way to stuff the stomach, with a somewhat delicious taste, and with an economical price, hamburgers become one of the favourite choices of those busy people in the modern society. 4. Which is healthier, eating at home or eating out? Why? I think it’s much healthier to eat at home. When we eat at home, we can prepare all the ingredients so we know what we are eating. The sanitation of the food is definitely ensured. A lot of food at restaurants is fried and contains a lot of oil, so it’s not good for our health. When we eat at home, we can decide how much oil we need and we can cook the food in a way that’s healthier to our body. Sometimes, when we eat at restaurants, we might order too much food than we need because of the availability of food, which might encourage us to eat more than we actually need. It’ll make us gain weight and it’s not healthy for us to digest. So I think we should eat more at home and try to cook healthy food ourselves. 5. What kind of Chinese food is healthy? Why? I think the healthiest Chinese food should be herbal soup, which is especially popular in the southern part of China. People would make chicken, pork soup by adding a variety of Chinese herbs and nuts in it. This kind of soup is supposed to be cooked for a few hours. It’s really healthy to our body and the taste is also great. My parents would always make pork herbal soup for me when I’m at home and now I have also learned how to make it by myself. 6. Why would some people eat unhealthy food? Why would people spend a lot of time making unhealthy food for themselves? Why would people eat junk food? To be frank, I think no one like to eat unhealthy food. Because of the heavy pressure and fast pace of life, some people are forced to eat those unhealthy food, Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 143 especially those fast food. Otherwise, they may be late or have less time for what they are required to do. In addition, because the healthy food is not produced so delicious in taste, and so fragrant in smell, some people are induced by those unhealthy foods. 7、Do you think parents and teachers have the responsibility to teach children how to live healthily? Definitely. The children are usually lack of the sense of a healthy life style and a healthy diet. Being their parents or teachers, adults should teach children to live healthily. For one thing, this shows their true love to children, and for another, they are contributing to cultivate a new generation for the sustainable development of the country. 8、What’s junk food? Well, to my understanding, junk foods may mean those unhealthy foods that may contain too much calories, too much fat, and too much oil. In other words, junk foods are those fast foods that do not provide people the necessary nutrition or those that contain unhealthy substance. 9、Do you prefer eating at the restaurant or eating at home? I like to eat both at the restaurant and at home. For one thing, eating at the restaurant enables me to eat conveniently, without worrying about cooking and washing. Also, I can enjoy a greater variety of foods that are well prepared the cooks, in addition to have a more pleasant eating environment. For another, eating gat home frees me of any worries about the food, because it is all done by myself or my parents. Moreover, I can enjoy my favorite foods at a much lower price, coz I don’t need to pay extra money for the service. 10、How to keep healthy? Well, people can try a lot of ways to stay healthy. For example, they can have more exercise in their spare time, they can have a healthy diet , they can try their best to avoid stress, and they can go to the hospital regularly to have check‐ups. I think as long as people are hoping to stay healthy, and stick to their ways to keep fit, they will enjoy a better health condition. 11、Do you think the food you buy in the supermarket is safe? Not necessarily. In the past, I did believe that food provided in the supermarket was of higher quality and safer than food offered in other places. But now, as you see, when so many cases of dangerous food were exposed in the media, which were once reported to be the best choices and the best sellers in the supermarkets, I begin to doubt this so‐called safety. 12、Do you have a lot of pressure and how to release it? Well, I think every one in this world may have their pressure, more or less, to say the least. As for me, to earn a better score to study abroad, to make better academic achievements to realize my dream, to think out ways to make people around me happy, can all have pressure on me. Whenever I feel the pressure, I may choose to stay alone, listening to the music, watching a film or reading a book, which helps me to stay away from the reality for a while, and so helps Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 144 me to relieve my pressure. 12. A playmate in your childhood When I was a child, I had a lot of friends. Here I’d like to talk about my best friend, and also my next door neighbor, Lily (Qiang). Her (his) mom and my mom were colleagues and we were neighbors, so we became friends before we went to kindergarten. We would always play together when we were children. She’s (He’s) very smart because she (he) could always think of new ways to play for us. We would sometimes imagine that we were some characters from some children books and do some role‐play games. She’s (He’s) also good at making things. I still remember she (he) taught me how to make paper cutting when we were in elementary school. Because of her (him), my childhood was very colorful. Now, her (his) family moved to Beijing and I could seldom see her (him), but we still keep touch with each other through phones and emails. We would always find a lot of topics to talk about. I think it’s really important for us to have some good friends in our childhood. They can help us have good memories about our childhood. I’m glad that I could be friends with Lily (Qiang) and I hope we could see each other more often in the future. (Part3 正在收集中) *13. A good student you studied with Describe a person you studied with who is a good student You should say: who this person is what kind of person he/she is why you think this person is a good student and explain why you think this person is helpful with your studies. Sample: I’d like to talk about my college classmate, liming, who’s a very good student in my class. I think he’s a very special person and definitely an excellent student. He got a very high college entrance examination score when he got into my university. Since we’re good friends, he has given me a lot of help about my English studying and other courses. Later, as I spent more time with him, I began to realize that his achievement was closely related to his hard work. Sometimes, it’s common for college students to skip some classes, but he would never do that. Even when he caught a cold or had a headache, he would still try his best to go to classes. He would always take notes very carefully during the lectures. Sometimes, I would borrow his notes because I Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 145 felt they were even clearer than the teacher’s lecture. He gave me a lot of good advice and encouragement. When I just started university, my English was not very good because I’m from a little town, and the English education there wasn’t good enough. I felt hard to understand the teacher’s English lectures. I was very frustrated when I failed my first English band 4 test, which was required for all university students. He encouraged me and told me his own studying methods and learning strategies. From then on, I would always go to the nearby park with him in the early morning to read English aloud and memorize vocabulary. Finally, my hard work got paid; I passed the test with a good mark. I think I should thank ming for what he has done for me. I believe when we are friends with some good students, we would definitely receive positive influence. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. What kinds of students often have good academic results? In my opinion, I think students that work hard will have good academic results. Although some people will say that students who are clever will have good scores, but just as the Edison says, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety‐nine percent perspiration.” Obviously, study hard is more important than one percent inspiration. 2. 2、What will academic achievement influence students? I think if a student can get academic achievement during the school days, it’s helpful for the student even in his or her later life, because the achievement can give the student confidence to believe that one can achieve more than one’s imagination. So after one gets academic achievement, he or she can conquer more troubles than before, and may achieve the success in other areas in later life. 3. 3、What are the other students’ attitudes towards good students? It depends. Some students will respect good students, for they can do a good job in study, and it’s not such an easy thing for everyone. But sometimes, some students will be jealous to good students, because they cannot be as outstanding as good students. 4. 4、What are the common characteristics of good students? They usually work very hard in study, and they have patience in doing one thing again and again, which may be one of the reasons that why they can get good scores. They also obey the rules, for example, few of them will be late for school, or do not handle homework. 5. 5. Is a good teacher important? Which is more important, a good teacher or yourself? Yes, of course; a good teacher is also very important. For example, I didn’t like Physics in middle school, but when I meet a good teacher, I gradually became interested in Physics and this interest remains until high school. Besides, I got good scores in Physics. I think both are important. Without a good teacher, you may lose interest in one Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 146 subject or area. Without your hard working, you cannot get a good score. 6. 6. Is it too early for children to work hard now? Yeah, I strongly agree with it. Nowadays, children are not carefree, and they cannot get a happy childhood due to the work load. Most of the children cannot play what they want, but take part in a lot of classes that they may not enjoy very much. I think it’s better to return them the childhood. 7. Do primary schools have heavier workload than the past? Probably not. When I was a child, our teachers would always give us a lot of homework. I remember once I had to stay up until 12pm to finish my homework. Nowadays, students don’t have as much homework, but many of them have to take extra‐curriculum classes, which will occupy a lot of their free time. 8. Do you think students should be excellent in their study and personal life? It’s desirable but is definitely not a must. A lot of excellent students spend too much time on their school work and don’t have much time and energy left for their personal life, so it’s hard for them to succeed in both ways. However, I still think the life outside of school is also important, so parents and teachers should encourage students with good school marks to participate in more after school activities, so that they can develop in a more balanced way. 9. Do you think the friends made at school are important? I think so. When children are at school, they have a lot of opportunities to play and communicate with their classmates so they could really know each other well. The friendship can last for a long time and sometimes, these friends can become their lifelong friends. So we should value the friends we make at schools. 10. What kind of students is popular at school? Is it important to be popular? It’s not easy to be popular at school. Usually a student should have both good school marks and be sociable enough. Students love fashionable and smart people because they are more attractive. To some extend it’s important. Although we don’t want to be under the spotlight all the time, a lot of us want to be welcomed and be friends with their peers. 14. Two people from the same family Describe two people from the same family You should say: who they are how you know them what kind of people they are and explain what difference and similarity they have. Sample: I want to talk about two sisters from the same family. They are my neighbors actually and I have known them for more than twenty years. Although they’re from the same family, their personalities are very different from each other. The older sister is a very strong minded person who would always Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 147 become the leader of a group and she’s also very independent. However, the younger sister is very gentle and easy‐going. It’s hard to see her get angry with others. When we play together, the younger sister would always make us feel very comfortable, but when the older sister is there, we could always think of new ideas to play. It’s really interesting because the sisters grew up in the same family with the same parents, but their personalities are so different. A lot of people may think they resemble each other, and occasionally, some people would even mix them up. I guess the appearance sometimes can fool us—the similar looking people may be completely different. I actually think it’s good to be different, because variety can make our life more interesting. It’s just like the saying goes, variety is the spice of life. Part3： 1. How do you think about the normal Chinese family life? I think just like foreigners, normal Chinese family life is that each of the family member has the independence, but they will also get together to cook dinner and have dinner together. In some special occasions like the Mid‐Autumn Festival or the Spring Festival, all the members of the family will get together to have a bigger dinner just like the Thanksgiving Day. 2. Do you live in a nuclear family or an extended family? Once I live in a nuclear family, but now I live in an extended family. I live with my grandpa and grandma. They treat me very well. My grandpa will buy me delicious snacks and cook foods that I like, and my grandma will help me do housework. I like living with them together. 3. Which do you prefer to live in, a nuclear family or an extended family? I prefer to live in an extended family than a nuclear family because it is much more cheerful with more people. For example, if my father and mother and I cook a dinner at home, we cannot eat many dishes. But with my grandpa and grandma, we will always eat more than our imagination. Besides, it is more fun than fewer people when we have some activities such as play pokers. 4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in an extended family? I think it is much more cheerful and fun when living with more people. For example, if my father and mother and I cook a dinner at home, we cannot eat many dishes. But with my grandpa and grandma, we will always eat more than our imagination. However, an extended family may restrain your privacy. Sometimes you do not want to be disturbed, but it is easily being disturbed when living with many people together. 5. What is the generation gap between the old and the young? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 148 Nowadays, more and more people care about the gap between young people and the old generation today. For example, old people like traditional movies while the young like the fashion ones. Besides, the old care more about the family, the harmony of the family, while the young cares more about their own. 6. Do you feel that the characteristics of parents are always passed on to their children? I think so. Children are born with certain personality traits that resemble their parents, which is genetic influence. As children live with their parents, they’ll be influenced by what the parents say or do. This is the influence of one’s growing environment. However, different people receive different education and make different friends, so we are still different from our parents in many ways. 7. Are young people more influenced by their friends or their family? Probably friends, especially teenagers. When we reach certain ages, we’ll feel our parents are no longer the heroes we have admired all the time and we began to notice their imperfection and try to be different from them. At that time, we usually seek advice from our friends more and can be influenced by the friends we make a lot. I think it’s important for young people to make good friends so that they can grow healthily. 8. Why is it important for children to live with adults? (What effects do adults have on children?) Children need to learn a lot of things about the world and the society. If they don’t live with the adults, it’s hard for them to figure things out all by themselves. When they live with adults, they can learn a lot through the rich life experience of the adults and they can always seek for help when they’re in trouble. 9. How has family life changed in China in the recent past? In the past, it’s common for families to have more than one child, so children will not only get influence from their parents but also siblings. But now, because of the one child policy, many families only have one child, so the children receive more attention from the parents and grandparents, but it’s not good in some ways because they don’t have other siblings to play with and they might be spoiled if they get too much love. 10. What are the responsibilities of parents? It’s not easy to take care of children. Parents need to satisfy the physical and mental needs of their children. At the same time, they need to educate the children both in academic knowledge and knowledge about the society. Parents need to learn what children need at different ages so that they can communicate with the kids well and ensure their healthy growth. 11. What are the benefits (and possible disadvantages) of living in extended families? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 149 For people who live in the extended family, they can get help from the old people and when they have family activities, there’ll be more people to be involved so there’ll be more fun. Besides, more people in a family, the house chores will be divided and each person will only need to do a little. *15. A good friend Describe your best friend. You should say: how (and when) you first met this person when you see this person (or, how often you see this friend) what kind of character (or, personality) he or she has (= what he or she is like) what you usually do together and explain why you became (or, are) such good friends. or and explain why you think this person is your best friend (and not simply "a friend"). Sample: I want to talk about my best friend, XX. We were actually neighbors and we went to the same primary school. We became best friends because we would always play together. But her family moved when we were in middle school. After that, we still keep in touch and visit each other because we are still living in the same city. When we were children, we would play all kinds of games together, but now, when we see each other during our vacations, we would usually talk about our lives in different cities and show each other the photos we have taken. She’s a very optimistic person and has given me a lot of encouragement. Sometimes I am a worrier and a lot of things would make me nervous. I remember once I entered for a speech competition in high school because I wanted to conquer my fear of speaking in front of people. But I began to panic as the time was close to that big day. She told me to think of the worst thing that could happen and helped me to practice many times. Although I didn’t win any prize for the competition, I felt less scared of speaking in front of people after that experience. I’m really thankful to her. I think a good friend is someone who can give you support and encouragement when you’re down or face troubles. Now she’s studying in Beijing and I’m studying in Shanghai, but we’re still good friends. I think I should thank the advanced technology. We can keep in touch through emails, phones, and QQ, popular Chinese chatting software. I hope our friendship can last forever. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. How do (young) people make new friends? I think it varies from person to person. Usually young people make friends among their classmates, or through group activities such as a picnic or a Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 150 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Christmas party. Sometimes, they may also make friends through the Internet. For example, by chat tools like MSN or QQ. How do people choose new friends? I don’t know how others choose new friends. As for me, I only make friends with kind and frank people, I think it’s very important to be frank to people, especially friends. If he or she shares the same interest with me, I think that will be better. What about old people? Do you think they make friends the same way as young people? Of course they also make friends like young people. For example, my grandpa will go to climb the mountain everyday to meet his friends, and sometimes he will also get to know new people, and gradually through activities, they become friends. Which do you think is more important, friends or family? I think family is more important than friends. We can always make new friends, but family members are not possible to be alternated. Although friends are also important in many ways, but when it comes to most important ones, I will say family. Who do you think young children need more, their family or friends? I think young children need friends more than their family. First, they can play happily with their friends, but parents may not have enough time to accompany them. Second, they can share secrets with their friends, and they may not want their parents to know. On the question of making new friends, do you think there is much difference between the situation in the countryside and in the cities? I don’t think so. Although I don’t know the way to make new friends in the countryside, I think there is not such big difference between them. In order to make new friends, we need to know each other first. That’s why it will be 7. easier for us to make new friends among classmates, because we have more chances to chat and get along with each other. Through taking part in activities, we can also make new friends. What can damage friendship? Generally speaking, time and space will damage friendship. But in my opinion, only the weakness of your relationship will influence it. Several of my best friends are studying abroad since undergraduate level, so we can only see each other once or twice a year. I think a strong bond between your 8. friend and you is very important. With this strong bond, it’s difficult to damage the friendship. Even there are some misunderstandings, it can be understood with efforts of both sides. What kinds of people may become good friends? It depends. I think people who share the same interest will become good friends, because they have more things to chat with each other. But sometimes, people who have completely different personalities will also Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 151 become good friends; their differences turn into their attraction between each other. 9. How do friends contact with each other? They can contact with each other by various ways. The most popular way in China is to chat online by tools like QQ. Besides, you can contact your friends by emails or letters. Of course, the easiest way is to make phone calls. 10. How to make a friendship last for long? I don’t know. I have several best friends, and we have been known each other for more than ten years. As for new friends, I think if you share the same interest or same life goals, it may help develop your friendship and make it last for a long time. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 152 描 述 一 个 事 1、Change in your lifestyle 1) A change you would like to make Describe a change you would like to make to your lifestyle in order to improve your health (or fitness) You should say: what change you would like to make how you would make this change how difficult you think it would be and explain why you think this change would improve your health (or fitness) Sample： Well, yes, I should do something to change my current lifestyle now. I am a little bit too lazy and inactive. I’d like to start playing badminton regularly, maybe twice a week. Playing badminton is a good way to stretch my arms and help me lose some weight. I’ll definitely be healthier if I keep doing it. I used to play badminton almost everyday when I was in high school, but somehow I stopped because of my school workload and never picked it up again. Now, I have a lot of free time, I think it’ll be the best time for me to start doing it regularly. I know it’d be difficult for me because I tend to get lazy after doing something for a while, but it might be easier for me to find a partner to do it with me. I have a good friend who lives close to me and she told me once that she wanted to exercise more. I think she can be my badminton partner. If we could encourage each other more, I’ll be able to achieve my exercise goal. 2) A Positive Change you made Describe an event that resulted in a positive change in your life. You should say: when it happened where it happened what the change was and explain how you have benefited from this change ( or, explain how you feel about this change) Sample: I’d like to talk about the change in my life that happened last year. I used to stay up late and get up late in the morning. I thought that was the best way for me to use my time more effectively because I loved studying and doing things at night. One day, I watched a TV program about health living. In the program, the expert said that if we Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 153 didn’t go to bed before 11 o’clock, our body wouldn’t get a good rest even if we got up late. Then, I began to reflect on my own life style and began to feel that I was living a very unhealthy life. I decided to have a change. I began to go to bed before 11. At first, it was very difficult for me because I felt hard to fall asleep. Then, I tried to listen to some soft music and drink a cup of milk before going to bed. After a while, I began to get used to my new schedule. However, even without staying up late, I still got up very late in the first two weeks. I began to set my alarm clock and I also asked me mom to keep an eye on me and wake me up in the morning. Of course, my mom was very happy to contribute in such things. Now, I feel I can be more productive than before and I can use my morning time well to study. I think it’s a very positive change in my life and I’m sure I’ll keep doing it. Sometimes, making changes isn’t easy, but if we try our best, we’ll be able to succeed. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1、What forms of exercise are most popular in your country? A lot of them are popular. I know many of my friends love football, basketball, and badminton. They would always get together with their friends to play some group sports. Biking is also getting popular nowadays. I think they’re all good ways to work out and make us feel refreshed. 2、Is there much difference between the exercise that young people do and the exercise that old(er) people do? Young people usually like more competitive sports, something like football, basketball, and mountain biking. However, a lot of older people enjoy doing some mild exercise at parks, such as Taiji, and dancing. 3、What do you think are the health benefits of exercise? Exercise is good for our mental and physical health. After sitting in front of the computer for a whole day, some good sports can definitely help us stretch our arms and tired muscles. We can also feel relaxed and release the stress and tension from work and studies. 4、Which do you think is better, to do things indoors or outdoors? I think a combination will be good. We need to go outside to breathe fresh air, exercise our body, and spend some time with our friends. However, it’s also necessary for a person to have some quiet time at home, such as reading, surfing the internet, and listening to music. They’re just different. 5、How much do you think diet is an important part of having a healthy lifestyle? I think it’s very important. If we don’t eat healthily, we might be over‐weighted, which can cause many serious body conditions. Nowadays, a lot of studies have showed us how important it is to have a healthy diet. 6、In what ways can a person's diet help them maintain good health? I think it’s important for a person to have self‐control. When we’re full, it’s Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 154 better stop eating no matter how delicious the food is. And there are all kinds of snacks and fast food. We all know they’re junk foods, so we need to control ourselves and not eat them too often. We can also read some good books about how to eat healthily. I’m sure there’s a lot for us to learn. 7、Do you think people's diets (or, eating habits) today are healthier than in the past? I think they’re worse than the past. In the past, a lot of people couldn’t afford a lot of extra food to eat so there weren’t so many over‐weighted people. Nowadays, because of the fast pace of living, it’s very often for us to eat fast food as lunch. That’s not good for our health. 8、How often do you eat fast food? I try not to eat it too often, maybe once a week. I think it’s not good but sometimes fast food is just too delicious to refuse. 9、How do you think the diet of children could be improved? They should be educated about the harm of junk food so that they might pay more attention to what they eat. I also think parents can set good examples for children. If the parents eat healthily, the children might want to copy them. 10、Do you think it's important to have a healthy lifestyle? Definitely. If we don’t have a healthy lifestyle, we might get sick easily. If we’re sick all the time, we can’t enjoy our life. 11、What effects do you think stress has on people's health? I think too much stress can make people feel upset and unhappy. This might cause some body conditions. Also, if we have too much stress, probably we don’t want to eat and sleep well, which are also not good for your body health. 12、Did people eat more healthily in the past than now? Probably yes. People in the past ate more natural food. Nowadays, because of the fast development of technology, a lot more processed food is available in supermarkets and restaurants. We all know food additives are not good for our health but we’re always tempted to have more and more. Excessive eating is also a problem for us. Because we’re comparatively richer than the past, we could afford as much food as we can consume, which makes us eat without self‐control. Of course, it’s not healthy to our body. 13、What exercise do Chinese people do to make them fit? I think usually men do more exercise, something like basketball, football, and badminton. A lot of people also like go hiking on weekend and old people love exercise in parks with a group of people to keep them accountable. For people who live at the seaside with beautiful beach available, they would swim more. All of these are good ways to work out, so we should try our best to choose some of them and exercise more. 14、What influences will the faster pace of life bring to our diets? When the life pace goes faster, people may be forced to have less time in preparing food for themselves, and so, more people will go to restaurants to have their stomachs stuffed. Especially in the morning and in the noon, when many people are hurrying to their work or class, they may turn to fast food, or Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 155 even go without any food at all. This is not good to their health. 15、Do you think environmental pollution can affect the way we exercise? Of course. If we want to run in the street, we’ll need to worry about the car exhaust, so a lot of people choose not to do it although jogging is good for our health. Ocean pollution is also a serious problem. Because of the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, a lot of people have to quit all ocean involved exercise in that area. The same thing is probably true for a lot of Japanese people who live near the nuclear leak zone. 16、Why are some people still over‐weighted even when they exercise a lot? Well, there’re many reasons for people to get over‐weighted. If we don’t have a healthy diet, such as eating more than we can consume or having a lot of junk food, we’ll get over‐weighted easily. For some people, there’re also genetic reasons. Some people’s metabolism rate is usually low, so it’s harder for them to use all the calories they get from food. In order to stay in shape, we have to do many things besides exercising. 17、What do you think about vegetarians? Although I’m not a vegetarian, I still believe it’s good to eat more vegetables and fruit. Some vegetarians eat veggies because they believe animals shouldn’t be killed and some just for the sake of health. I think either reason is worth doing. If we think about how many animals are killed because of our need for meat, we might feel sad for our deeds. When we learn all the benefits that veggies can bring us, we’ll also feel happier to eat them more. 18、Have you ever thought about growing your own vegetables? Yes, actually, when I was a child, my parents had a small vegetable garden and we would grow a few kinds of vegetables in it. I just had a lot of good time planting and harvesting the food by ourselves. I think that it is fun to grow my own vegetables and it’s also healthier to have organic food. If I have enough land, I’ll definitely grow my own vegetables. 19、Why do people like meat more nowadays? I don’t know if people are really eating more meat, if yes, it might be because people were less wealthy in the past so that they couldn’t afford a lot of meat. Nowadays, our money allows us to eat a lot of food we like, so people tend to eat more meat. I think it’s not good for our health if we eat too much meat and not enough vegetables and fruits. We should learn how to have a balanced diet. 20、Do you think modern equipment is giving people more stress or making people’s life easier? I think we receive both, advantages and disadvantages. Nowadays, modern equipment like computers and cell phones is making our life very easy. We can contact people who live far away from us and we can also find all kinds of information on the internet. However, sometimes, we tend to be obsessed with the equipment we have and spend way too much time on it than we should. For example, we might chat on the phone or use the computers for hours. In some sense, we’re controlled by these modern devices and we’re losing our Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 156 time when we don’t even realize it. 21、What’s the diet difference between children and old people? I think children might eat more snacks nowadays, which is not good for their health and growth. And they love all kinds of fruit. However, old people usually are losing their teeth, so they prefer soft food, something like porridge. Also, children are usually curious, so foods from other countries, especially fast food, like KFC and McDonalds, are very attractive to them, but these foods are usually not very appealing to older people, who usually prefer to eat home made traditional dishes. 22、What’s the difference between men and women in their daily schedule? I don’t know. Maybe men would work a longer time than women, and most men do not care about doing housework. However, women usually do housework at home, so they need to buy vegetables and meat to cook dishes, and wash the dishes after dinner. Maybe it is the main difference. 23、Do old people or young people have more changes in their life? I think young people have more changes in their life. Young people have begun their life road in the beginning; it’s hard to guess what will happen to them in the future. Every small choice of them will influence their life. But old people do not have more choices, so they will not have big changes. 2、a visiting experience to your friend’s home Describe a visit you recently made (for example, to a friend or family member) You should say: who this person was why you visited them where you visited them and explain how you passed the time together. Sample： I remember going to a classmate’s home when I was in college. Her family lived in the countryside and she told me that we could do many fun things there. I felt very excited and planned the trip during the summer holiday. Her home was a little far from mine. It took me four hours to get there by bus. When I got off the bus, my friend was there waiting for me already. Then, we walked to her home. On the way, she told me many interesting things about her neighborhood. In the afternoon, she took me to a small river near her home. We fished with a small fishing net. She said she would always go there to catch fish when she was a child. We caught several medium sized fish after two‐hour hard work. I felt so happy, coz it was the first time for me to catch fish on my own. Her mother cooked the fish and I felt it was the most delicious fish in the world. The next day, we went hiking in the nearby mountains. Luckily I took my camera with me, so we had many pictures of the beautiful scenery. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 157 I stayed at her home for two days and really had a lot of fun. I hope I could go there again in the future because I love to be close to the nature and be together with my friend. PART 3： Discussion topics: 1、Do you think it's important to visit other people? Yeah. We’re social animals, so we should visit our friends and family members often in order to keep the relationship. 2、Who prefers visiting other people, adults or children? I think children. When I was a child, I would always be thrilled when I could go to visit someone with my parents. I think it meant a lot for children to have some social time like that. However, as people grow older, they might feel less excited about visiting others. 3、Who prefers visiting other people, older people or young people? I think both. Young people love visiting friends and spending time with them. A lot of old people feel lonely at home after they retire. They prefer to visit some friends or family members often. 4、Do you think it's important to make visitors feel comfortable? Definitely. I think it’s the basic manner for us. Unless we hate our visitors, we always want them to feel happy and welcomed, so they will come to our home again and we can keep our relationship. If we treat our visitors badly, they probably wouldn’t want to see us again and we definitely will lose their friendship. 5、Compared to the past, do you think people today visit friends and family more often, or less often? I think less. Nowadays, because of the invention of the telephone and the internet, we can solve a lot of problems through them. This may make some visits less necessary. When we want to talk to our friends or family members, we could just do it through the internet or the phone. However, I think it may not be good because face to face communication is still more personal. 6、Has modern life changed people's relationships with others, compared to many decades ago? Yes. Nowadays, a lot of people feel the pressure from work and study. In the past, people might live in the same town or city for their whole life, but now because of the development of the economy and technology, people are getting busier and it’s very often for people to move to new places. Sometimes, people will make friends quickly and when they change a new environment they’ll keep making new friends. In this way, it might be hard to keep friendships for a long time. 7、Do you agree that people today are busier than people in the past and so have less time to visit others? I think so. Nowadays, a lot of people have pressure from work and study, especially for people who live in big cities. We can always hear people complaining about not being able to see friends or families as often as they used Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 158 to. 8、How will you welcome a foreign visitor? When a foreigner visits my home, I’ll try to study their culture beforehand in order to avoid making him/her feel uncomfortable. I’ll prepare some traditional Chinese refreshments and drinks. Then, I also either cook or take him/her to a fancy restaurant to try the local food. If he/she wants, I can also show him/her around the city and take pictures at some famous tourist sites. 9、How to make a foreign visitor feel at home? It’s very important to study their culture beforehand so that we can avoid making them feel uneasy. When we understand each other more, they’ll feel at home and can make themselves comfortable. It’s also important to provide some food that choose topics that they’re interested in to talk about. 10、Why do some people value socializing more than others? We can’t live without people around us. We need each other so it’s important to keep good relationships with others. It’s easy for a person to feel lonely but friends can always make us feel loved. When we’re in difficulties, we need to get encouragement and support from our friends and families. At work, we have to cooperate with our team. If we’re incapable of socializing, it’ll be hard for us to live healthily in this modern society. 11、Why don’t some people want to keep contact with friends? Nowadays, people are moving much more frequently than before, so we usually have friends who live in every part of the country. We have to admit that distance sometimes can do a lot of damage to friendship. If we don’t see each other often, it’s hard for us to keep contact for long. A lot of people usually give up keeping in touch with friends who live in other cities after trying for a few months or a few years. Also, when people start having a family, friendship will become luxury for them because they have to spend a majority of their time on work and family and a little time will be left for friends. 12、what kinds of methods do people connect with each other, why? We have to thank to the modern technology. Nowadays, we have many ways to connect with each other. Cell phones and the internet are probably the major ways for most of us. We could make phone calls and send text messages to friends and family. Because of the internet, we can chat online, send emails, and get on face book to update our information for friends. 13、What’s the difference between children and adult visit? I think they’re very different. When children visit each other, their goals are to play together. There should be games or activities for them to do. Otherwise, they’ll feel bored. However, when adults visit each other, a lot of us usually only want to talk and share our life with each other. We don’t actually need to play games or anything. Also, adults can visit for business purposes. In this case, there should be very specific goals to achieve. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 159 *3、Happy Event Describe a happy event that you had You should say: when the event was who participated why this event was held and explain why you were happy. Sample: I like school events because I can always meet new friends and participate in different activities. School events make my school life more colorful and enjoyable. I’d like to say something about the school field day we had in fifth grade. Every school would hold a big sport event during autumn. Every class would participate in it and we would always look forward to it. During that time, we would see who the future famous school sport star was. We would usually have a variety of sport activities, such as running race, high jump, and long jump. Because our primary school was too big, so only a few students could really participate in sport activities. I’m good at running, so I entered for the relay race. Our team won the second place. During the game, my classmates cheered for us and we felt very excited. Through this race, I learned the joy of teamwork and cooperation. You know, it was the only time that I thought I had contributed to the honor of my class, and I won great respect from my classmates and teachers, although I was just one of the 4 members. This really left me a happy memory for a long time in the school. I think it’s a great event because we learned how important exercise was and really had a wonderful time. Part3: Discussion topics: 1. Do you think people are happier than earlier generations? In some way, that might be true. When my grandparents were young, there were wars all the time, so it might be hard for them to enjoy their lives. Now the society is stable and because of the development of the economy, people are wealthier than before. I think in this way, people might be happier 2. Do you think money can make people happy? I don’t think so. It’s true that we can’t do many things if we don’t have money, but money can’t make us feel happier. When people think about earning money, they have to know what things they should sacrifice. If it’s happiness, I guess that they should say no. 3. Which do you think brings more happiness to people, material things or spiritual Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 160 4. 5. 6. 7. satisfaction? I believe spiritual satisfaction can bring people more happiness than only material things. We don’t need luxuries to make us happy, but we also won’t feel happy if we can’t even satisfy our basic needs. I think the happiness that we receive from doing something useful for the society or from acquiring fame because of what we do can be much greater. When do you usually celebrate? I’ll celebrate on festivals or when I achieve something at school or in my life. It’s always nice to have some excuse to get away from studies or work. I can invite friends to good restaurants to eat or have a little party at home. I think celebrations are important in our life because they add spice to our boring routine life. What’s the traditional view of celebration? Traditionally, people just feel it’s their responsibilities to prepare for big celebration events without thinking why. And usually there’re a lot of rules that past down from generation to generation, and sometimes people even forget the real reasons of them. I believe celebrations are some excuses for us to get away from work or studies. We can enjoy our life and spend time with families and friends. How do advertisements influence the way you view happiness? Sometimes advertisements tend to mislead people. They can make you feel that if you don’t buy their products, your life will be miserable. Actually, we have to learn how to refuse these temptations and stick to the true meaning of happiness. How do people view happiness past and now? Well, in the past, when people were able to have their stomachs stuffed, have their bodies warmed, they may feel happy. And so, in the past, when people had less desire in life, actually they were happier. However, although people’s life level is greatly improved, people’s pursuit in life also increases dramatically, which means more expectations cannot be satisfied, leading to a phenomenon that people are actually not so happy as those in the past. 8. What do people usually do to celebrate these happy events? Traditionally, people would wear new clothes and cook a lot of delicious traditional food to celebrate big festivals. It’s also our tradition for family members to get together on big events to catch up with each other. Big events make our life more colorful and help us to get away from our work and studies. 9. What do you think gives people happiness that lasts a long time? It’s a hard question. I think when people feel that they can do something meaningful, the happiness can last a long time, but if we only get some material satisfaction, such a good meal, the happiness will disappear in a short time. 10. Which is more important to you, wealth or happiness? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 161 If I have to choose, I’ll say happiness. If I have all the wealth in the world, but I’m not happy, my life is still meaningless. Money can make our life comfortable, but we don’t need too much of it, so we should know how to balance our life and not be obsessed with making money. 4、Interesting News Describe an interesting piece of news that you read or heard about recently. You should say: what this news was how you got this news who was involved in this news and explain why you think (or, thought) it was interesting. Sample: I read the news from the internet a few weeks ago about people buying a lot of salt because of rumors. You should know the leak of nuclear materials in Japan because of the big earthquake and tsunami. I don’t know how people began to spread news about salt being able to heal radiation problems and others were saying that the salt from the ocean wouldn’t be safe anymore. So a lot of people rushed into supermarkets to buy salt. In the past, two bags of salt will be considered a lot, but now they would buy one hundred bags at a time. This influenced a lot of people. Some of them didn’t even know why but rushed with the others. I think the news is very funny and I couldn’t stop laughing. In china, a lot of the salt is produced in lakes and mines and only a small percentage is from the ocean. Even if the ocean is polluted, the problem won’t be as serious as people have said. I think sometimes, when we hear something, we have to think carefully before we do anything stupid. Sample 2: I recently watched a piece of interesting news on TV. It was about a young man marrying a woman who was thirty years older than him. When I saw it, I was really shocked because the age difference was so big. The news said that the young man, about thirty years old, joined a dancing club, and met the old woman. The old woman was really good at dancing. When they were dancing together, they felt very happy. Eventually, they fell in love with each other. When they decided to get married, their families couldn’t accept it because they were not in the same age group. Finally, their love changed their family members’ attitude and they got married. Now they live happily together. Because the marriage was so extraordinary, the news spread very fast. Now a lot of people have heard the Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 162 news and the couple became famous. I think the news was very interesting. It makes me believe that love can change almost everything and age is not a problem at all. I admire their braveness. I hope the couple can be happy and their marriage can last for their whole life. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1. Do you think international news is important? Absolutely. The world is more and more like a global village. Things happen in many other places can have tremendous impact on our life. For example, the nuclear leak in Japan and the war in the Middle East. It’s not ok anymore to only mind our own business because we have to know what’s happening to the next door neighbors, or rather say the surrounding countries. 2. How do people in your hometown get news national and international news? There’re many ways. Old people tend to use the TV, newspapers, and radio more, whereas young people prefer to surf the internet for news. I think all the means are effective and informative. 3. How do foreigners know the information about China? Well, since I’m not a foreigner, I have to guess. I think most of them get information about China through their national media and the internet. However, since most of the news is in their own language and is controlled, I guess some of the news might be biased just like the international news in China. 4. Do you think young people pay attention to news? I think so. A lot of my friends like to share the news they read on the internet or watched on TV. It’s actually a good way for us to communicate and know what is happening around us. 5. Do you think people in different ages may have different ways of getting information? Certainly. Old people prefer to watch TV, listen to the radio, or read newspapers, while the young people like surfing the internet for news. I guess all these means are effective but you might get news faster from the internet. 6. Do people use the internet more and more? Definitely. Before I had access to the internet, I felt my life was ok, but now, it seems that I can’t leave without it. I have to admit that the internet is playing an important role in a lot of modern people’s life. 7. How can you develop their interest to news if you have children? The best way would be to talk about the news with them. When they only know a little bit about something, they might want to find out more. I think sometimes curiosity is a good teacher for children. 8. Do you think children will discuss news in school? I think so. When I was a child, we loved talking about news in school. It’s a way to show off our knowledge and made us feel more like adults. 9. School education and parents’ education, which one is better? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 163 It’s a hard question. I think both are important, but parents might have more fundamental impact on children than their school courses and classmates because they respect and trust their parents more. 10. Is there any way for school to improve students’ ability to obtain information? Of course. I think schools should help students know all the possible ways to obtain information and it’s necessary to also teach students how to select useful information from an array of it available on hand. 11. Do you think the information obtained on the internet is reliable? Not all the time. It has happened that some of the news on the internet was just rumors. However, we usually can trust news from more official websites. If we read something on a forum, we’ll need to judge it with our own standard. 12. Do you watch or read international news? Yes, I do. With the development of the media, more and more international news is available through many ways. I’m interested in international news very much because I can learn many things like politics, economy, and lives in other countries. This can widen my horizon and I can get to know what’s happening around the world. 13. Who watch or read news more, young or old? Through what ways? In my country, old people love to know news about their life on TV or through newspapers and young people love to know news about fashion and trends through the internet. 14. How can parents encourage children to pay more attention to news? What about school? In the family, parents should always create a good environment for children to be interested in news. They can buy newspapers and choose news topics children are interested in to talk with their family members. At school, teachers should spend some time asking students some questions about daily news and sharing opinions. 15. Is there any difference in the attitude to news between foreigners and Chinese? I think we should have the similar attitude towards news cause news report events from an objective view. We all respect facts than other things. 16. What kind of newspapers can you find in China? I don’t read newspapers often, but from what I know, there’re a variety of papers available, such as China daily, evening news, and economic news. Different people can choose different ones. I know a lot of companies subscribe to several newspapers for their employees to read. 17. How do you think about newspapers in China? I think they’re good ways for people to obtain news. A lot of papers can give us information about the things that happen around us. Also, we can find some international news concerning topics we’re interested in. 18、What’s the difference between morning newspapers and evening newspapers? Well, we can tell the difference from their names. Morning papers are reporting news that has taken place on the previous day. But evening papers Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 164 can give us the current news of that very day. As long as we are subscribing to one of them consistently, we can get the same information from either morning or evening newspapers. 19、Which one is more important, radio or TV? I think both are important. I know a lot of people who own private cars prefer listening to the radio, which’s actually an important way for them to entertain while driving and can help them stay awake. However, TV is also widely spread. Nowadays, it seems that no family can feel happy without a TV at home. It’s good for family to watch TV together and share their feelings. 20、Do people prefer newspapers or TV for news? For people who love reading, they’ll tend to read newspapers more. But when we watch news on TV, we can have both visual and audio aids to help us understand news more, so a lot of people like this way to obtain news. Nowadays, because of the development of the society, many young people wouldn’t watch TV or read newspapers because they think the internet is the fastest and easiest way to get news. 21、Compare media technique with the past? People had TV, newspapers, and radio in the past. Now, we still have these means to obtain news and information, but the internet is really widely used all over the world. We can read news, watch TV, and see advertisements through the internet. Sometimes I feel it’s hard to live without it. 22、Why should people read or watch news? News is important because it tells us what is happening around us in the wider community—International, National, State and Local. It’s also a good way for us to communicate with our friends and families. We could discuss the latest news and share our opinions in a group. 23、What’s the difference between international news and national news? They’re quite different. National news tells us something happening within our country and usually it has immediate impact on our lives. However, the world is more and more like a global village. Things that happen in many other places can also have tremendous impact on our life, so we need to read international news, too. For example, the nuclear leak in Japan and the war in the Middle East. It’s not ok anymore to only mind our own business because we have to know what’s happening to the next door neighbors, or rather say the surrounding countries. 24、What’s the advantage of paper newspapers? Well, there’re many advantages. For some newspaper collectors, they could cut out the news that they’re interested and make a newspaper scrap book, which can’t be done with electronic newspapers. Also, when we don’t have internet access, we can still read actual newspapers. Reading on a screen is really bad for our eyes, but actual paper‐reading can’t bring us that serious harm. 25、Do people buy newspapers for different purposes or the same ones? Since there’re a variety of newspapers available, different people will choose Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 165 different papers for their specific purposes. For example, businessmen will tend to choose papers about economic news, but some old people will prefer China daily or evening papers for entertaining and getting news happening around them. 26、Are scandals fair to the targeting people? If it’s not real news, I think it’s really unfair because scandals are very harmful to the lives of the targeted people. Also, I believe some news is really about the celebrities’ personal life, the media shouldn’t expose certain information just for the ranking. There’re certain scandals that can ruin people’s life and even make some people commit suicide. I think it’s really unfair for these people. 27. How do you think about the big screens on the street? I think they are ok. Most of time, they show all kinds of advertisements and occasionally, we can also see news and other programs on them. I think they make the cities more colorful and modern. If it’s possible, I guess it might be nice if these screens can show us more news and interesting programs to make our road trips more enjoyable. 28. What do you think of online newspapers? I think it’s a great advance of human history. There’re many advantages of online papers. I like online newspapers because they are free and we can access them very easily. You might read the news online before the paper newspapers are delivered. Also, it’s environmental friendly since we don’t need to kill trees to make newspapers. So, I think we should read online papers more and try not to buy too many paper newspapers in the future. 5、Travel 1) Traveling/ long journey Describe a trip you had. You should say: who you traveled with where you went what you did or saw and explain why you want to talk about this trip. Sample： The longest journey I had would be the fifteen‐day trip to three Southeast Asian countries. I went with a tourist agency last year. It was a great trip because I saw many new things and experienced different cultures. The first stop was Thailand. It took us six hours to get there by air. By the time we arrived, we all felt exhausted. The best thing in Thailand would be the food. It’s so delicious. I hope there would be some Thai restaurants in China. Then, we went to Malaysia. We stayed in the famous Genting Hotel. It was said that the hotel was haunted and we felt very curious about it. We also went to a Casino in Malaysia. As Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 166 a girl, I don’t like gambling, but I had a try there. Interesting enough, I won a big amount of money. The last stop was Singapore. It was just as what I expected, beautiful and clean. The trip was very long. After I got back home, I had to rest for a few days to recover. However, I still think it was a great experience and hope I could go to other countries in the future. 2) A trip with family or friends Describe a trip you had. You should say: who you traveled with where you went what you did or saw and explain why you want to talk about this trip. Sample： This topic reminds me of the trip to Beijing with my parents last year. It was a wonderful trip because I got to visit the capital of China and see many ancient tourist attractions. We booked a very nice hotel and stayed there for three days. The first day, we went to the famous Great Wall. When we looked at it from distance, the Great Wall was like a huge dragon. My parents and I climbed to the highest point and took a picture as our souvenir. We also went to the Forbidden City. I was amazed at seeing so many wooden constructions in the emperor’s palace. Of course, we also took some time to taste the delicious local foods. I especially liked the Beijing Roasted duck, which tasted very good. I hope I could have it in my hometown as well. I enjoyed the trip very much because I got to see the famous ancient city in China and could spend time with my parents. I hope to visit Beijing again in the future because I feel there’re still a lot more to see. 3) A trip that took longer than you had expected Describe a trip that took you more time than you had planned You should say: when it happened who you traveled with where you went and explain why it took longer than you had expected. Sample： I like traveling and I’ve been to many places. I remember the trip to Beijing took me more time than I had planned. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 167 I went with the other two friends of mine and we planned to stay there for three days. Since I have many friends there, we didn’t stay in a hotel but in a friend’s dorm in Beijing University, which saved us a lot of money. The first day we went to the Great Wall. I felt very excited because I had heard and seen so much about it, but it was quite different to see it with my own eyes. We spent a whole day there and took many pictures. The next day, when we got up, we found it started raining heavily outside, so we had to cancel our trip to the Forbidden City and do some indoor activities. The rain continued for two days. We literally wasted two whole days in my friend’s dorm, watching movies and playing computer games. Finally, the rain stopped so we could continue our trip. We ended up staying seven days in Beijing, but I had to say it was a good trip because we went to all the famous tourist sites as we had planned. Life is just like that. Not everything will turn out as we have planned, so we have to be prepared for emergencies and unpredictable situations. 4) A trip you took when you were a child Describe a trip you took when you were a child You should say: when it was who you went with where you went and explain why you think the trip was special. Sample: I still remember the trip with my parents to Qinhuangdao in Hebei province when I was ten years old. It was during my summer vacation and my parents happened to have time for a family trip. I was very excited. The destination was not that important but the time to spend with my family was very valuable for me. We took a train there. When we got to Qinhuangdao, it was dinner time already. After settling down in the hotel, we went out to have a seafood dinner. My dad promised to take me to see the sunrise at the beach the next morning, but he said that I should get up extremely early than usual. Before going to bed I set my alarm o’clock and I even dreamed about all the fun we would have. The next morning, we got to the seaside on time and waited for the sun to rise. At first, the sun looked like an egg, then it became bigger and bigger. I felt it was amazing. It was my first time to see the ocean as well, so you could understand how excited I could be. My parents bought me a swimming ring and I we had a lot of fun in the water. Since my parents had to work, we only spent two days there. The trip Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 168 was short but memorable. I felt the place was very beautiful. I really want to go there again in the future. I guess it’s because of the memories I had from this experience. I think it’s really important for children to travel with their parents and for the family to have some quality family time. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1. What kinds of transport facilities are more important to a new town? Well, to a new town, convenient transportation is very important. People in the town need to go out a lot to keep in touch with people in other cities while the outsiders will go to the new town to seek chances or other contacts, and so convenient ways of transportation can help them a lot. To be specifically, buses, taxes, private cars, and bicycles will firstly serve as the main ways of transportation. 2. What should governments do to reduce traffic jams? The governments can do a lot to reduce traffic jams. For example, more roads can be built and the old ones can be broadened, so that more cars can run on the roads without being stuck in jams. Also, more public transportation facilities can be provided, such as the buses, and metro systems, so that more people can travel around at a time and fewer cars will be there on the roads. After all, as long as the government is making efforts, the traffic jams can be reduced to a large extent. 3. Why do many people choose to travel a long distance away? What are the advantages and disadvantages of long distance traveling? These days, more people are trying to travel a long way from their home. Staying in a place for a long time, and with the improvement of their life level, these people hope to find something that is totally different from their life to see and to experience. Also, other people may expect to stay away from the people they are familiar with and other matters they are involved in. However, they have to make good plans before they go, otherwise, they may encounter something that is beyond their control since they are also a long way from the usual supports. 4. Should people choose some other ways of travelling? Well, it depends on people’s personal choices. After their busy work or study, being tired of their life, expecting to experience something different, people may choose different destinations to go. In this sense, any mandatory orders will be unacceptable. 5. What do you think about trains, cars, and bicycles? Which do you prefer? Well, in my opinion, they are just different ways of transportation, they are there for different destinations, and they are there for people to choose. Trains offer us safe, economical and long journeys; cars provide us with private, convenient, and relaxed travels, while bicycles enable us to travel around freely with a side effect of exercising. As to me, I will make my choice Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 169 according to the real situation, and so it is hard to say for sure which one is the most suitable to me. 6. What are the differences of transportation means now and in the past? Well, there are many differences in ways of transportation now and in the past. For example, people now can travel around by bus, by plane, by car, by bicycle, and by underground railway. However, these may not be possible in the past, when people could only choose to travel on foot, on horses or by boats. Therefore, people now are enabled to travel faster, safer and farther. 7. Which do you prefer, long distance journey or short distance journey? To be frank, it depends. When I have long holidays, when I want to experience something different, I may choose to travel a long distance away. However, when I have a short holiday, or when I just want some outings with my family or friends, a short distance trip is ok. 8. What do people in your country like more now? Why there are such changes? Are there any benefits for people? It seems more and more people like to travel to farther places. These people hope to find something that is totally different from their life to see and to experience. Also, other people may expect to stay away from the people they are familiar with and other matters they are involved in. this is mainly because people’s life level is now greatly improved and advanced ways of transportation are developed. 9. What way of transportation do you want to choose? To be frank, not lime many other young people who may dream to have their cars, I like to choose bicycle as my way of transportation. Firstly, I am a student, I don’t go far away from my home or my school often, a bike offers me the convenience I want. Besides, riding a bicycle on the campus or around the city provides me a chance to exercise. I think this is extremely important to me because except this, I have too little exercise of my body. 10. What’re the advantages and disadvantages of cycling? Well, as to me, cycling has great advantages. For example, it brings me great convenience whenever I wan to go around the city. Also, it helps me exercise because I have little chance to exercise my body. In addition, cycling helps to reduce pollution to the air and to the environment. However, compared with other ways of transportation, cycling cannot take me to a far away place, and it is unsafe when racing with other motor vehicles. 11. Can bikes cause traffic congestions? What should the government do to solve it? Generally, bikes are good alternatives to cars to reduce traffic congestions. However, theses days, some people, who are not following the traffic regulations, would still ride their bicycles onto the motor ways, which may easily cause traffic accidents, or at least, will slow down the traffic, and so cause traffic jams. To solve this, I think the government should do something, such as setting out a certain lanes specifically for bikes, educating those Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 170 cyclists to obey the traffic rules. As long as we are making efforts, this current situation can be alleviated. 12. How do people view long journeys? Well, I think people’s view about long journeys may vary from person to person. Some people may like long journeys because they can have a chance to stay away from their busy life and have refreshment. However, to others, long journeys may cause stress on them, because they may feel uneasy to leave home to go to other places that they are not so familiar with. 13. What measures should the government take to solve transportation problems in traveling? The government can do a lot to solve traffic problems. For example, better educations of the citizens to follow traffic rules, more provision of public transportation facilities, such as buses and underground railways, as well as broadening the roads or building skyways, can all contribute to the alleviation of traffic problems. 14. What transportation do people choose for short trips? Well, it depends. Some people, especially students, may like to take buses or ride bikes when they have short trips, because it is economical. But for others, particularly those rich adults, they may choose to drive out their own cars, because it is convenient. And to the old, maybe they would like to go with a tour bus, because they don’t need to care for other things 15. What’s the difference between long journeys and short trips? What about the difference between business trips and private trips? There’re many differences between them. Through long journeys, you can be exposed to different cultures more. This can widen our horizon. When we feel busy and tired with our work or studies, short trips can help us relax and refresh, so short trips can add color to our life as well. 16. Do you use the internet to get travel information? Yes, I do. With the development of the internet, there’s more and more information about traveling. Before I go to a place, I’d always search relevant information to help me enjoy my trip more. 17. How’s the tourist business in China? In China, you can see a lot of travel agencies. From this phenomenon, you can see how prosperous the tourist business is. Now people are beginning to realize how to enjoy their lives. Most people will choose traveling so tourism is flourishing in China. 18. How to improve public transport Public transport can be improved in many ways. For example, more buses can be put into use, so that people can travel around more conveniently. Also, more metro systems can be built, so that it can take more people at a time. Besides, the number of private cars on the road can be limited, so that the public transport can be used by more people and they can run more smoothly. 19. What will you miss if you have a long distance journey? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 171 When I am on a long journey, I may miss my family, coz I am still not so accustomed to days without them beside me; I may miss my pet dog, coz now I will play with her everyday; I may miss my friends in my city, coz when I am out, I have fewer chances to chat with them. 6、An Enjoyable Phone Conversation Describe an enjoyable conversation you (recently) had with someone by mobile phone. You should say: When this happened who you spoke to what you spoke about and explain why this conversation was enjoyable. Sample： Recently I had a conversation with my best friend, Ling, just a month after she immigrated to Canada with her family. We actually grew up together and share many good memories. When I heard her family was moving to Canada I was very upset. Then, it really happened one day. After she got there, she called me and told me she was sad because she could barely see people around and she missed the bustling atmosphere in China. Then, a month later, she called me again. This time we had an enjoyable conversation. It’s amazing how fast she got used to her new country and new school. She told me many interesting things that happened there and shared with me the recent school event called international festival. She said she dressed in her Chinese Qipao and her classmates became very interested in her dress and her origin. I also told her what happened here in China and the conversation lasted for more than one hour. I’m glad that we can still communicate with each other freely even when we’re so far away from each other. I have to thank cell phones because they enable us to communicate more conveniently. I hope she can be happy and in the future I can visit her in Canada. I’m pretty sure very soon, we’ll be able to have more enjoyable conversations. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Do you prefer face‐to‐face conversations or conversations by phone? I prefer face‐to‐face conversations because I think it’s more personal when I talk in this way. Nowadays, the telephone is getting more and more popular. Sometimes, people would spend hours on their phones but neglect the people who live with them. I think it’s not a good phenomenon. We should treasure face‐to‐face talking opportunities and spend more time with our family members. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 172 2、Would you say that cell phones are important in today's society? Yeah, definitely. Now a lot of people will feel that they can’t live without cell phones. People use cell phones as the way of communication and entertainment. Many people give up wearing watches because their cell phones can tell them the time. I think it may not be good for people to be dependent on cell phones too much because a lot of our time is killed by them without us being conscious of the fact. 3、Do young people and old people use cell phones in the same way? Kind of. Both the young and old like cell phones because they can use them as the means for communication and entertainment. However, young people would use cell phones in many ways, such as surfing the internet, playing games, using the GPS system, and of course, making phone calls. But most of the old people would only use cell phones to make phone calls. 4、Do you think cell phones ever cause problems for people? Yes, of course. Some children bring cell phones to school and it really distracts them from studies. Now I know a lot of schools have strict rules to forbid students to bring cell phones to school. We also know the radiation problems of cell phone. Although we don’t know exactly how serious it might be, it still makes us feel uncomfortable if we‘re on the phone for a long time. 5、Do you think people should turn their cell phones off (or turn them to "silent ringing") when they are in a cinema or similar places? Absolutely. It is absolutely one of the rudest things for people to talk on their cell phones near others because every word out of their mouth goes right into our ears. If this happens in the cinema, it’ll almost be impossible for us to appreciate the films and we have to be forced to listen to a conversation that we’re not interested in. I think the cinemas and movie production companies really should spend some time putting together the announcements about turning the cell phone ringer off so that we can enjoy the films better. 6、Do you think happiness is important? Sure. Although we may sometimes neglect to cultivate our own happiness, feeling happy is intrinsically important. If we are happy it has added knock‐on effects and benefits. These include us becoming more compassionate and feeling healthier both physically and emotionally. We become more creative, witty, energetic and fun to be around and it can also lead us to become more financially successful. 7、 your opinion, can money ever take the place of happiness? From my point of view, money and happiness are connected but also different. It’s true that financially richer people tend to be happier than poorer people, and money can give people more freedom, and material satisfaction. However, something that money just can’t buy. For example, money can’t buy health. If a person is physically or mentally unhealthy, it’s hard to say that happiness is in their life. 8、y are iphone and other apple products so popular in China? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 173 Well, the iPhone and other apple products have become very popular due to their high quality, beautiful designs and ease of use. For example, the iPhone allows you to multi‐task, which‘s extremely important in any busy life. The touch screen can quickly take you to the application or function that you need, so all of the applications and features are just at your fingertips. It’s hard to refuse such a perfect mobile phone although the price is a little high. 9、what’s the difference between phone communication and writing letters? I think they’re very different. When we write to each other, we can think very carefully about our wording and we can express our thoughts at length. Since we can revise what we write, the organization of letters should also be better. The only problem is that we can’t actually show our emotions when we write so sometimes there might be misunderstandings. However, when we talk on the phone, we can hear each other’s voice and express our thoughts and feelings in a more vivid way. Since we don’t have much time to think before we speak, we also might make some hasty expressions. I think there’re both advantages of disadvantages for both ways of communication. 10. What’s the disadvantage of communicating through the phone? There’re some disadvantages of talking on the phone. When we use the phone, we usually can’t see each other’s facial expressions, so we might have misunderstandings in phone conversations. Also, cell phones have radiation problems and it’s not good for our health if we talk on the phone for a very long time. One more thing is that when we talk on the phone, we’re not actually facing other people, so if there are other distractions, we might be distracted easily compared to face to face conversations. 11. What’re the advantages and disadvantages of the cell phone? The cell phone is one of the biggest inventions in this modern world. Because of the cell phone, we can communicate with others when we don’t have the opportunities to talk to them face to face. We can chat with friends and family members who live far away from us and when we have emergencies, we can always press the buttons to call for help. However, there’re also some disadvantages. As we all know, radiation problem of the cell phone is serious. Also, when we use cell phones, we literally don’t have any privacy because people can find us no matter where we are. 12、What is your favorite mobile phone brand? What is your attitude toward mobile phone brand? Describe the influence of the development of mobile phone. I like Nokia best, because I like to send messages with friends and parents, and Nokia is the mobile phone brand that type fast among all mobile phones. I don’t really mind the brand of mobile phone. I think the usage is the more important than the fame of a brand. Due to the development of mobile phone, the world is now flat, because we can contact each other very conveniently through mobile phone, even make phone calls to friends in another country. It make us feel that they are just in one city with us, not that far away from us. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 174 7. A day off from your work or college Describe what you would do if you have a day off from your work or school. You should say: Where you will go What you will do Who you will spend the day with and explain why. Sample: There’re actually many things that I could do. I’ll sleep in and get up at probably ten am. Then, I’ll make my favorite breakfast, fried egg and sweet patato porridge. Of course, the breakfast will be more enjoyable if I can play some soft music. If the weather is good, I’ll go cycling with my best friend, ming. And we’ll also have a picnic on our favorite spot near the river. I usually just buy some foods from the supermarket because they’re easy to carry and we don’t need to prepare the food. Then, I’ll probably get home in the early afternoon. If I’m too tired, I’ll take a short nap. Then, it’ll be movie time. I love watching comedies because they could make me laugh a lot. In the evening, I’ll have dinner with my family and watch TV with them. It’s always important to spend some quality time with family members. It’ll be a perfect relaxing day because I can get away from work and school. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Why do people need holidays? People need holidays for various reasons. Some people, after busy work for a period of time, need holidays to relax themselves, so that they can regain the energy to continue their work. Other people, finding themselves not qualified enough, need holidays to make up for their weaknesses; otherwise, they may lag behind others. Still others, having some personal affairs to deal with, need holidays to tackle those matters, so that they can focus on their work. 2. What are the benefits for companies to give holidays to their employees? Companies may get a variety of benefits form giving holidays to their employees. For example, after having holidays, their employees may relax themselves well, and so can regain the energy to continue their work. Also, to those not qualified ones, holidays allow them to make up for their weaknesses; otherwise, they may lag behind others. Besides, holidays enable employees to have the time to deal with some personal affairs, so that they can focus on their work. 3. Do you like long holidays or short holidays? I like holidays, no matter it is long or short. In long holidays, without the pressure of studying, I may have a lot of travel, to broaden my eyes and enrich Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 175 4. 5. 6. 7. my knowledge. And in short holidays, I can have a rest after suffering from the heavy pressure of studying or working, which will help me regain energy to study more efficiently. What are the differences between men and women in what they do on holidays? Men and women may have some differences in what they do on holidays. For example, men may like to have some trips to broaden their eyes and enrich their knowledge, and also they may take some part time jobs to earn some more experiences or return to the society. However, women may like to travel a long way to do shopping. The prosperity of shopping malls in Hong Kong in these years is mainly due to the swarm in of shopping women from the mainland China. Do you feel more relaxed during short holidays or long holidays? Of course long holidays. It’s really difficult to plan long distance travel during short holidays and I usually stay at home or go to some nearby parks and shopping centers to spend my holidays. But for longer vacations, I can plan long distance travels and visit friends in other cities. Of course, I’ll also spend some relaxing time at home to watch movies, listen to music, and read some books. However, I don’t like very long holidays, because I can get bored of having too much free time. What do women do during holidays? Women love shopping during holidays. Maybe that’s why supermarkets and shopping centers will always advertise frantically during holidays. They want to attract all the women who have money to spend. Besides shopping, I guess women probably do the same things to relax themselves as men, such as going on a trip, getting online, and spending time with friends. What’s the difference between people’s job now and in the past? Well, there are great changes of people’s jobs now and in the past. For example, in the past, fewer people were working in companies; most of them were doing labor work; there were fewer varieties of work positions; the working conditions were not so comfortable; the working hours were longer, and the productivity was much lower. In comparison, people are now working much happier, but they are suffering from more competitions and more challenges in their jobs. 8. A lot of people choose to work overtime, how do you think about it? I don’t think it a good idea to work overtime. For one thing, working overtime means a low working efficiency. When they cannot finish their work in required time, they have to work over time to complete the job. Also, working overtime means people have less time to relax and refresh themselves, which is not beneficial not only to their health, but also to the next day tasks. Thirdly, working over time reduces people’ time to do some personal things or enjoy their personal lives, which is not good to the relationship among people in the society. 9. Should the government extend the retirement age? Well, it’s hard to say. For one thing, when the competition for job positions are Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 176 so fierce, when the young are finding it hard to be employed, when the old are reluctant to accept new ideas, and when the old are deteriorating in their health, the retirement age should not be extended. For another, when the society needs the old with their rich experience, when the old are still energetic in continuing their jobs, and when considering the waste of human resources of the old and those who are there to take care of the old, it seems a wise decision for the government to extend the retirement age. 10. Why do people need time to relax? Just as the old saying goes: all work and no play makes jack a dull boy, people need their time to relax. After relaxation, people can regain their strength, rebuild their interests, and refresh their minds, so that they can make greater contributions on their positions. Besides, life does not only mean work, and it is not easy to have a life on this earth, so people need time to enjoy their life aside from their contributions to the world. 11．Should the government set up a regulation to limit the working hours? Yes, I think so. Health is the most important thing. If people work too much, it may do harm to their health, even the danger of death. Without health, we cannot lead a normal life, and we cannot go to work and make contribution to GDP, either. So I think the government should set up a regulation to limit the working hours. 12．Is it wise to give up work for the reason of family or health? It depends. If a family has enough money, I think it’s good for them to give up work for the reason of either family or health, because in that way, they may lead a happier life than ever. However, if a family does not have enough money, they need to consider the condition of the family, and may not choose to give up work. If they give up the work for family, it may not improve the condition of the family, and also influence the harmony of the family. *8. A Musical Event Describe a musical event you liked. You should say: what it was when it was who did you go with and explain why you liked it. Sample: I want to talk about the solo concert of zhang xueyou, a famous hongkong singer. Zhang is known for his baritone (男中音的)voice. His successful music career has made him one of Hong Kong's icons. People, both old and young, all like him and his songs. Of course, I’m one of his fans. The concert was held at the beginning of the year and I went with my best friend, Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 177 Fei, also a fan. The concert lasted for two hours and since we bought the tickets which were close to the stage, we could have a clear view of the performance. He was very friendly to his fans and sometimes even asked us to sing along with him. He changed about five customs and danced a lot. It’s amazing how fit he was because some of the songs required him to dance a lot. Live concerts are very different from listening to CDs. I felt so excited because I was so close to my favorite singer. I also saw some mid‐aged people at the concert. Actually, it’s quite understandable because zhang has been famous for almost thirty years. I think the concert was very successful and it gave me a good memory to cherish. If I have a lot of money, I’ll attend more of his concerts. Sample 2: Well, there’re a variety of music events on TV, but one gave me a very deep impression. It’s a solo concert of the famous folk song singer, songzuying. I would usually hear her singing in the spring festival TV programs, but I’d never thought about watching her solo concert because nowadays most concerts are held by pop singers. The most special part is that the concert was held in the US. I heard it was the first concert that Song had in the US and probably the first Chinese folk song concert as well. This concert was very different from the pop song concerts I’ve seen before. Her singing was both accompanied by Chinese traditional instruments and an orchestra. Unlike other pop song concerts at which the audience would get very enthusiastic, this one was more like an opera concert, the audience were quiet and concentrated when they were listening to the singing from a far away country. Some of the songs were very common folk songs, but she could make them sound very special and lovely. I would say her voice was so beautiful, just like an angel. Since most of the songs were combined with minority culture and customs, Song would change costumes after almost every song. The variety of minority costumes showed the audience the richness of Chinese minority cultures. I hope there’re more music events like that to introduce China and Chinese culture. PART 3：Discussion topics: 2. Is it good for children to learn music? Yes, I think so. When children learn music, they are enabled to enjoy the world better. Knowing how to appreciate the beauty, feeling relaxed after study, being stimulated in ideas about the society, music can help children live a better life 3. How do Chinese people learn music? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 178 Various ways I think. Some may learn music on their own, through listening to the CDs, radio or TV programs, or their MP4s. However, others may go to training schools to lean music from teachers. It just depend on their own interests and their purpose in learning music 4. Do men and women play different kinds of musical instruments? Well, it’s hard to say. For one thing, I haven’t paid much to what kinds of musical instruments people are playing. For another, from what I see and what I hear, nowadays, men and women are playing all kinds of instruments as they are interested in. 5. What’s the status of traditional music now? It seems that the traditional music is now being paid growing attention than several years ago. In a sense, the government is realizing the importance of traditional music in the unity of a nation, because it contains the essence of our traditional culture, and can help to arouse a sense of patriotism. Also, formed through a long history over the wisdom of our ancestors, traditional music is always there to be pleasant to listen to. No matter how popular the modern music is, there will always be a place for the traditional ones to live in. 6. Do all grades have music class? I am not sure about the situation, as it has been a long time since I was in the primary school. But I think, there should be music class in every grade. For one thing, music classes can teach students to love their life and the world. For another, music classes can help them to relax and regain their energy and courage to face challenges in their lives. 7. Is music class important? Yes, I think music class is important in the process of education. For one thing, music classes can teach students to love their life and the world. For another, music classes can help them to relax and regain their energy and courage to face challenges in their lives. 8. What kind of music do children like? Well, I think children may like many kinds of music. For example, they may like music that is pleasant, that is easy to understand and easy to mimic. Or sometimes when the music is cool, or when the music is popular among the children, or when the music is in the cartoon that they like, the children may fall in love with it. 9. Why would some parents force their children to learn some musical instruments? Well, parents may force their children to learn some musical instrument for various reasons. For example, when the parents believe that doing so will help the children be better prepared for their future life, when the parents find that their children may be talented in some specific field in music, or when parents think doing so will enable the children to have better chances in future achievements or have more opportunities to be further their education. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 179 10. What’s the difference between live concerts and listening to songs on your cell phone? Well, there are some differences. For example, by attending the live concerts, people can enjoy the music in larger groups with better sound system. Also, people can be closer to the stars and feel the excitement. In comparison, by listening songs on the cell phone, it is quite convenient for me to be with music anywhere and anytime. Besides, no matter whether others like it or not, I can listen to it without disturbing others or being disturbed by others. 11. Should children learn some musical instrument? I think it’s not a must but it’ll definitely make the children’s life more colorful. They could play the instrument in their spare time and it can become their hobby. However, I don’t like the fact that a lot of parents are forcing their children to learn musical instruments. I think they should respect their children’s choice. 12. Are there enough music classes at school? Music classes are not valued too much in Chinese schools. There’re always more math and Chinese classes, but a few music and PE classes. I think schools should give students more opportunities to learn music at school because they might be able to develop their potential talents if they have enough professional training. 9. An unusual or interesting event in your life Describe an unusual or interesting event in your life. You should say: When it happened Who you were with What you did and explain why it was interesting or unusual. Sample: I remember an interesting and unusual event I had when I was a child. Some older children in our community organized a big celebration event for the Children’s Day. There were altogether about fifty children participated. We prepared a variety of performances—dancing, singing, and talent shows. I was in the dancing team and we performed a Chinese traditional dance. Actually, we prepared for this event for about a month. We would meet almost everyday after school and practice in the community center. It was a big day when we had the event. A lot of parents and neighbors were present. They were very surprised at how well the little children really did for this event. After the performance, we also got the time to enjoy some delicious food that the parents brought. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 180 When you have to participate in an event, you’ll get more fun and remember it better. This event definitely gave me a deep impression. I think children should have events like that because they could get closer to their old friends and make new friends. When they really do something, they can feel a sense of success. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. What do you usually do on weekends? On weekends, I will usually have a sound sleep in the morning, to make up for all my inadequate sleep during the week days. After that, I may play with my friends, go shopping or go travelling. And sometimes, I may go to the gym to have some exercise to keep me fit. Anyway, weekends belong to me, I will do something l like 2. Compared with the past, do you have more or less spare time? To be frank, I feel that I have more spare time compared with the past when I was preparing for the college entrance examination. You know, at that time, I almost had 8 classes everyday, plus 4 hours self study during the night. You can’t imagine how busy I was at that time. But now, life space seems much slower to me, and I have a lot more free time to do what I like. 3. What are the differences between men and women in having spare time? Men and women are quite different in having spare time these days. For example, men like to play sports with their friends or play computer games at home, while women may like to go shopping or chat with friends. But in some cases, they may be similar, such as surfing the internet or attending some training courses to enrich their knowledge. 4. What do children do in their spare time? When children are free from their schooling, they may play with their friends, play computer games, or travel with their parents to some other places. However, these days in China, many children are forced by their parents to learn something more, such as drawing, dancing, or some other courses for knowledge. 5. How can we arrange our time reasonably? Well, in my opinion, we can arrange our time like this. To start with, find out the most important and meanwhile the most urgent things to do first, and then, the important but not urgent things, after which, the less important but urgent things. Finally, if we still have time and the interest, we can do those not important and not urgent things. If we can arrange our time like this, I believe we are quite successful ones in time management. 6. Is it good for children to spend their vacation with their parents? I think it’s a good idea. For one thing, having stayed away from their parents in studying for a whole semester, the vacation just provides them a good chance to be close to their parents, so that they can enjoy the great happiness of a family reunion. For another, having not spent much time with the children, vacation enables parents to show their love, their care and their guidance to the children, Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 181 so that they can express their sense of responsibility to the children. 7. What do you do in your free time? Are there any changes compared to the past? Well, when I am free, I like either to go travelling with my parents or with my friends, because I like to see something new and enjoy the nature, or I will just stay at home, surfing the internet for anything I am interested in, since it is a good time for me to make up for something I lose during studying time. This is a little bit different from the past when my parents would always send me to the training schools to learn this or that. Although I am appreciated for my parents’ cultivation of my ability, I still hope that I could have more time for myself to pursue something that I like. 8. Why do children like computer games? Children like computer games for different reasons. For example, some children like computer games because they don’t have playmates in the real world. You know, under the one child policy in china, this is a problem. Also, because of the great pressure in reality, some children just like to be involved in the illusive world where they seem to realize their dreams easier. Besides, driven by profits, many computer game producers have studied carefully children’s minds, and so their products will to a large extent, attract children’s attention. 9. What do Chinese people do as their usual ways of entertainment? Well, different people may have different preferences in entertainment. Some may like to go to the KTV, the cinema, or the pub, to share the time with their families or friends, others may like to go travelling, to see something new and stay close to the nature, and still others may just stay at home, enjoy a lazy time , to relax from their busy work. 10. What do children do as their usual ways of entertainment? Not like adults, children’s choices of their entertainments are quite different. Some children may like to play with their friends or classmates for some sports or some games even the adults may not understand, other children may just play computer games, to stay away from the real world, and still other children may just watch TV lazily in the sofa at home. 11. What are the advantages and disadvantages of children’s playing computer games? Well, they may benefit a lot from playing computer games. For example, they may stay away a time from the reality when there are much pressure, so that they can get relaxed and then refreshed to achieve more in the following hours. Also, they may learn to challenge their knowledge and understanding of the world in order to win a game, not to say they can develop a sense of problem solving ability. However, playing too much computer games may also exert negative influence on the children. They may not be able to cope with matters in the real world, they may become lazy and less energetic physically, and they may be influenced by the violence and other negative attitudes in the games. Therefore, parents should provide some kind of guidance to children when they are playing computer games. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 182 *10. A special family event you enjoyed Describe a special family event you enjoyed what it was when you had it what you did And explain why you liked it Sample: I want to describe a special family event I enjoyed, which was a birthday party for my grandpa. In my country, when old people have their 60th birthday, there will be a grand birthday party to celebrate it. My grandpa has seven children and eleven grandchildren. Fortunately, his birthday is always during my summer vacation, but my aunts and uncle had to get a day off because it was on Friday that year. Each one of us brought a special present that we prepared for him. Mine was a hand made T‐shirt on that day. My grandpa was very happy and I even felt he looked younger than usual. The birthday was a little westernized. We bought a big cake and we sang happy birthday song together before cutting the cake. It’s also necessary for people at that party to eat very long noodles. The noodles symbolize longevity. It is believed that the birthday person will have a long life after eating this kind of noodles. After that, I got to talk with my cousins and my grandpa and we took many photos together. I liked the event very much because I could spend time with my relatives and it was my first time to attend someone’s sixty’s birthday. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of living with the old? Living with the old, young people can have a better opportunity to learn something from the rich experience of the old, including their advice to deal with problems in the daily life. Also, the old may help to look after the home or even take care of the children for young couples. However, due to the generation gap, some cases of disharmony may occur, such as the different opinions about life between the young and the old. Also, the young may feel life inconvenient because of their different life habits. Above all, I think, when they have love toward each other, the young and the old will all enjoy their life better when living together. 2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing up in a big family? Growing in a big family, the young may enjoy a better care form the parents and grand parents, they may learn a lot from the experience of those elders in the family, and they may get more supports or helps in their growth. However, in a big family, the young may have less privacy, there may be more conflicts Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 183 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. among family members on trivial matters, and the young may be spoilt by the elder members. Therefore, it depends on people themselves to adjust when living in a big family. How do you think about the aging society problems? For one thing, thanks to the advancement in life science and the improvement in life quality, people are now enjoying a longer life expectancy, and people are now enabled to do more things they like throughout their life. However, an aging society may also mean a lot of problems. The burden of health care, old pension, and resources to raise the old but fruitless people, can all be problems. What help do parents need to bring up children? In bringing up their children, parents do need a lot of help from others, from the society, and from the government. For example, the parents need others experience in raising the kids and taking care of the kids. The parents need schools and teachers to educate their children, especially when they are busy with their own jobs. And the parents need there to be more social activities for them and their children to take part in and to have fun. What are the differences between the family parties in china and the western ones? Well, to be frank, I am not so familiar with what is going on at the parties in western families, but according to my understanding, there are some differences. For example, at family parties in China, people now like to do that in restaurants, because we now don’t have a very big house to hold parties. However, from films, holding parties in the yard is quite popular in western families. Who are more important, friends or family? Well, just like another story, to save the mother or save the wife when they both are drowning, it is also hard to say who are more important as to friends and family. If I have to choose one, I would say it’s the family, because we could have more friends if we wish, but we could not have the family back if we lose them. Do people take care of the old because of love or obligation? I think both. When the old people get sick, they need somebody to be around to take care of them and make sure that they’re ok. However, since everybody has their own nuclear family and a job, a lot of people feel tired because of taking care of the old. So, it’s out of love and obligation for them to try their best to take care of the old. What benefits do family reunions have? Nowadays, a lot of young people are working in places that are far away from their hometown. They don’t see their family and relatives very often. Family reunions are the best time for them to catch up with family members Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 184 and to feel the warmth from the family. It’s really important for the empty‐nesters to enjoy the quality time with their children and grandchildren. 9. Is it good to have siblings? I think so. It’s really not good to be the only child in a family. If there’re some siblings, children can learn how to care about each other and share their toys with their brothers and sisters. Also, when they have something they don’t want to tell the parents, they could always share their feelings with their siblings. I think it’s really nice to have more than one child in a family. 10. How do you think about the one child policy? I don’t like it. Although it seems necessary for China, such a big country, to have some birth control, it’s just too strict to limit every family to only have one child. As the only child in a family, these children are often feeling lonely or get too much attention from the older generation. I think there should be more freedom in this child birth area. 11. Sport competition Describe a sports event that you watched or took part in. You should say: when this event was held where it was held who participated in the event and explain why you remember this event so well. Sample： I just went the college basketball game last month. I’m a big basketball fan so I went to the competition and cheered for my school team. If we won the game, our school team would be able to play for the final, so everybody was very exciting. Before the game, fans and players alike were all preparing for the beginning of the basketball tournament. The game was held in our school stadium, which could hold about 5000 people. When I entered the stadium, I noticed that all the players were very serious because they were about to face a very big challenge. Then, the game started. Actually our team was 2 points behind at first. The most important player on this team was Lee and we all hoped that he could score for us. Surely, he didn’t let us down. He scored 8 points and added a 3‐pointer score with 40.4 seconds left. Then he turned and posed for some fans who screamed in delight. The coach of the opponent team stood silently near the bench, his arms folded across his chest. I guess he was very disappointed with his team. After the game, I couldn’t wait to take pictures with our school team. I felt very excited because our school won the game. I think it’s a very memorable game for me. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 185 PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. How do you think about Chinese football teams? Well, to be honest, they are quite disappointing. With such a large population to select out those excellent players, with so high a salary to encourage them, and with such good training facilities, their performances are really disappointing to the public. For so long a time, the Chinese team was only once able to play in the world cup, but unfortunately they were weeded out in the first round. Besides, in the Asian cup, they had never been able to stand on the first place, compared with so many other tiny countries. 2. Why parents want their kids to win the first place in a sport competition? Parents do so for various reasons. Some parents, failing to make such achievements themselves, hope that their children can, on behalf of them, realize their dreams. Other parents, expecting to earn a face in front of other parents, may also want their children to do so. And still others, out of true love of their kids, hoping that the children can gain confidence through wining the games. 3. Which one is better, participating in or watching a competition? Well, it depends. When one hopes to have an overall view about the competition, and try to learn something from it, standing by watching the competition may be a good choice. However, when one expects to feel the real excitement, or display his talents, participating in the competition may be better. 4. What indoor and outdoor activities are there in China? Well, there are great varieties of indoor activities in China, such as chess, table tennis, billiards, cards, mahjong and so on. On the other hand, we also have a lot of outdoor activities, such as football, tennis, basketball, and boating. However, these days, with the help of technology in construction, we now are enabled to play indoor activities outdoors, and we can also play outdoor activities inside. 5. What sports are popular in China? What sports do Chinese people like? Well, many sports are popular in china now. For example, many people are in favor of playing badminton, and even without booking in advance, one cannot find a place to play. Also, many students like to play pingpong or table tennis with their classmates or friends, especially in school, because of the availability. University students, however, may be better fond of playing basketball and tennis. 6. when do you watch the matches？What will you do when you are watching the match? Well, at nights or weekends, when I finish my school work and when there are some excellent basketball or football matches on show, I will be there watching, Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 186 or even sometimes, when I know some matches are held in the sports center, I may go with my friends there to watch the games on spots. When we are watching, we will cheer for the good performance of the players, and of course, when I have a preference of the teams on playing or when I am fond of some specific players, I will only cheer to support them. 7. Who like sports more, men or women? Generally speaking, men like sports more than women. For one thing, men are usually stronger physically, and its human nature to choose doing something they are good at, so men play sports more than women. Also, because men are often more energetic, sports help them to release part of their energy, otherwise, they may feel fidgety. In addition, men like to seek excitement more than women, and sports are just a way for them to achieve the aim. 8. What will life be when there are no sports? Well, it’s hard to imagine when there are no sports in the world. Our ancestors had long in history invented varieties of sports, to help them become stronger, to relieve their pressure, to amuse themselves, and to entertain others. Without sports, our world will be monotonous, and to achieve something like from the sports, there may be more wars around. 9. What’re the advantages of watching live games and games on TV? Well, there are some differences. For example, by watching live games, people can enjoy the games with a larger audience and so feel the greater excitement. Also, people can be closer to those players or the stars, and so get more involved with the games. In comparison, watching games on TV is quite convenient and economical to enjoy the same game. Also, we can record the games and so watch the games repeatedly on TV, which is impossible for live games. 10. Why do you think some old people like exciting sports more than young people? Well, I am not so sure. Maybe some old people are still quite strong physically, and so they like exciting sports. Or in some other occasions, because they are old and they can not take part in those sports, they like to watch those games to show that they are still energetic. In addition, some old people may like those exciting sports since they were young, and so it is their habits to still love those sports. 11. What benefits can a country get from hosting international games? Well, to host international games, a country can benefit a lot. For example, it may attract millions of people to come there to watch the games, which may Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 187 bring them huge income. Also, to meet the requirement of holding the games, the country may be forced to improve its construction of those facilities, which, if not given the chance, may be delayed. In addition, the games will be reported in various media throughout the world, which provides a very good chance for the country to publicize itself, and so make it better understood and have its international status enhanced. 12. Do you think men are better sports players than women? Generally, I think so. This s because men are usually stronger physically, and so can run faster, jump higher and farther. However, these days, with the improvement of people’s life level, women can also enjoy the nutrition to become as strong as men, and with the help of professional training, women can also do well in sports 12. A walk 1) A walk with a friend Describe a walk with a friend that you enjoyed You should say: when it was who you walked with where you walked what happened during the walk and explain why you remember it. Sample: I like walking alone and with friends. I think it is a good way to exercise and socialize. Walking might be more enjoyable when you have a company. I still remember the walking experience with my best friend, Lee, during the summer holiday last year. He was leaving for England to study. Before he left, we decided to take a walk in the city where we shared so many good memories. We wore the same T‐shirts that we bought together and walked for several hours. We went to our old school buildings and other familiar places. Lee said he wanted to keep the good memories, so he took many pictures along the way. During the walk, we talked a lot of things—some interesting things happened in our childhood, our future plans etc. We felt very happy and laughed a lot. When we walked pass some shops, we bought our favorite snacks and drinks. When it got dark and we had to go home, I gave him a card and a gift. They carried my best wishes for Lee. The walking with Lee was so enjoyable. I hope we can do it again soon. I think it’s a good thing to walk with a friend because we can have a very good time communicating. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 188 2) A walk you regularly take I like walking a lot because it can help me relax and appreciate my living environment. I would usually take a walk after dinner because there’s a saying in Chinese, “Walk after you dine; live to ninety nine.” There’s a canal near my home and there’re many flower trees planted along the banks. It’s my pleasure to look at the beautiful blossoms at different seasons. I would usually take a walk there with my parents or friends after dinner. We could talk about what happens during the day and share our feelings. Sometimes, my dad would tell jokes to us during the walk. I’m just wondering how he could remember so many funny stories. There’re actually quite a lot of people taking a stroll after dinner. We could see people at all age walking and talking. Sometimes, we could also see some neighbors walking their dogs. When two dogs meet, they’ll make a scene. There’ll usually be some barking and fighting among the little dogs, and then their owners have to use a lot of strength to pull them away. I think walking is a very good habit to have because it provides the time to communicate and exercise. I hope I can continue it in the future. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1. What kind of career requires walking a lot? I think a lot of jobs. For example, waitresses and waiters always need to walk around in order to attend to the customers’ needs. For janitors working on the street, they need to walk a lot in order to clean a big area. Compared to office work, this kind of job is good for our health as long as it’s not too tiring. Nowadays, a lot of people sit in front of the computer for most of the time of their work, which is really harmful to their physical health because they can’t move around. I think we need to remind ourselves to take a break occasionally so that we won’t get some serious body conditions. 2. Do people walk more or less now? Is it good? Nowadays, with the availability of elevators and cars, we need to walk less and less. In the past, we can exercise unconsciously through walking up the stairs and walk to work or shops, but now a lot of people don’t have this privilege any more. It’s not good for our health at all. Now people have realized this problem and many people have begun to attend fitness centers regularly in order to make up the walk they have missed in their daily life. 3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of walking? There’re more advantages over disadvantages of walking. Walking is a great way to give us some mild exercise. It’s said that if we walk every day after we dine, we can live a long life, through which, we can see the importance of walk. However, there’re also some disadvantages of walking, especially in the modern society. Because of the increasingly serious environmental pollution, Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 189 if we breathe the dirty air when we walk, we can receive more harm than good. 4. Do you like walking? Which do you think is better, to walk alone or with someone else? I like walking very much because I think it’s a good and easy way to exercise our body and get relaxed. When I walk alone, I can use the time to reflect on the things that have happened during the day and plan my future. But when walking with friends, I can chat with them and spend some quality time together. 5. Do you think walking is very important? I think so. Nowadays, people are getting fewer and fewer opportunities to exercise. Walking is always good for our health. Walking is a very gentle way for people both young and old to exercise. If you don’t live far away from your school or company, it’s nice to go to school or work on foot. 6. Is the attitude of modern people towards walking different to the attitude of people in the past? Yes. In the past, a lot of people have to do some labor job, so walking will be considered a kind of burden. However, nowadays, we have advanced equipment at home and good transportation system, we barely need to walk for a long time. Because of the lack of enough exercise, people can feel tired easily. Nowadays, walking has become a good way for people to exercise and relaxed from their busy working days. 7. Besides walking, what other ways are there for people to exercise? People also do a lot of other exercise. Students can play basketball, football, or tennis on campus while working class will make good use of the nearby fitness centers. A lot of people have membership cards at fitness centers and they’ll try to go there regularly. Also, there are biking clubs for people to go mountain biking and swimming pools for people to swim indoor. 8. Is life in your country very fast‐paced? I think it’s getting faster and faster. When I was a child, a lot of people had a lot of free time and they could chat or play games for very often. But nowadays, people are getting busier. Although the advanced technology can make some people’s life easier, a lot of people are also getting too busy to learn the new things and try to keep up with the developing of the society. I think modern people also need to make sure that they could give themselves enough time to relax. 9. How to encourage more and more people to have a walk? I think the government can publicize the merits of walking through public interest advertisements and TV programs, and make the city environment greener and more beautiful to attract people to walk more. Schools should teach children what walking can bring them and encourage them to walk more after school. 10. Why do people choose driving? A lot of people are very busy with their work and time is really money for them. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 190 If they don’t drive, they won’t get to places on time. Bikes can only take us to close places and public transportation is usually crowded and you have to walk to the stops or station, so they are not as fast as driving your own car. 13. Something interesting and unusual you did Describe something unusual or interesting that you did recently. You should say: what it was who was with you why you did it. and explain why you think it was unusual or interesting. Sample 1—for boys I want to tell you something very interesting I did last month. A friend of mine set me up on a blind date with a beautiful girl. I’m a very introverted person, so I don’t have a girlfriend yet. All my friends are worried about me so they decided to arrange a blind date for me. I felt it was interesting and unusual to me so I agreed to go. I went shopping the day before with my friends because they wanted me look handsome and fashionable. I felt it was unnecessary because I usually feel uncomfortable the first day I wear something new. The date was in a coffee bar near our school and the girl had seen my photo before. My friend said she thought I was handsome and I was happy about that. I was nervous and didn’t know what to say when I saw her. Then, she started talking about a pet she had. I used to have a pet dog but he died last year. We suddenly had something in common and we started talking about many things in life. Now we still keep in touch with each other, but I’m not sure if she’ll become my girlfriend eventually, but I have to say she’s beautiful and lovely. Ok, this is the unusual and interesting thing I did recently. Actually, I think we should do something unusual occasionally to add some spice to our life. This thing is definitely memorable to me. Sample 2—for girls I want to tell you something very interesting I did last month. A friend of mine set me up on a blind date with a handsome young man. I’m a very introverted person, so I don’t have a boyfriend yet. All my friends were worried about me so they decided to arrange a blind date for me. I felt it was interesting and unusual to me so I agreed to go. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 191 I went shopping the day before with my friends because they wanted me to look beautiful and fashionable. I felt it was unnecessary because I usually feel uncomfortable the first day I wear something new. The date was in a coffee bar near our school. I was nervous and didn’t know what to say when I saw him. Then, he started talking about a pet he had and I happen to have a pet dog. We suddenly had something in common and started talking about many things in life. Now we still keep in touch with each other, but I’m not sure if he’ll become my boyfriend eventually, but I have to say he’s handsome and cute. Ok, this is the unusual and interesting thing I did recently. Actually, I think we should do something unusual occasionally to add some spice to our life. This thing is definitely memorable to me. Sample 3: Recently, I went to an Amusement Park in my hometown with two friends. It was my first time to go to such a place, so I felt very excited. There were a variety of entertainment facilities and we tried many of them. I was very nervous when I rode the roller coasters in the park. There were so many people in the park and we had to wait for hours to take the ride. When it was finally my turn, I felt very nervous. However, it was an amazing experience. We screamed and laughed a lot. I think roller coasters are very suitable for young people to play because it could make young people feel recharged and help them release pressure. Besides the rollercoaster, we also tried the water slide in the park. Since it’s summer time, playing with water made us feel cool. If I have time, I’d like to go there again. I think it’s necessary for me to have some fun with my friends occasionally. I could release my pressure and tension from my studies (or work). I should go to such places more often in the future. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. In your country (or, hometown), how do people usually spend their free time? Different people spend their leisure time differently. A lot of young people like staying at home to surf the internet. Some sports lovers will play sports, such as basketball, football, and tennis. Women might like shopping a lot because they want to make themselves look beautiful. However, there’re also some people who would play Mahjong during their free time, which I don’t like because most of this kind of game involves gambling. 2. In general, who do you think has more leisure time, men or women? I think for a lot of married couples, men might have more free time than women because it’s very common for women to do the house chores and take care of the children. Since most women also work after getting married, they don’t have Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 192 much time left for other leisure things. However if a woman is a housewife, she will definitely have more free time. 3. Do you think that people today have more leisure time than people in the past? Maybe not. Nowadays, modern people have more pressure than before. People have to keep learning in order to be competitive in their professional field, and because of the urbanization, a lot of people need to commute for several hours each day to go to work, which makes their limited time even shorter. However, for people who live in the countryside, their life is probably still very relaxing and they have a lot of free time to enjoy themselves. 4. Do many people in your country often work overtime? Nowadays, I think the number is getting smaller and smaller. Before, it’s very common for people to work overtime but now there are a lot of labor laws issued by the government to protect the interest of the working class. A lot of companies began to seek other ways to promote their production rather than asking the employees to work overtime. However, because of the nature of certain occupations, some people need to work overtime from time to time, such as accountants who work in big accounting firms and some computer programmers. 5. What do you (and your friends) usually do in your free time? I do a lot of things. I like surfing the internet, going shopping with my friends to know the latest trends. And, occasionally, I also play some sports if I can find someone to do it with me. If I have a long holiday, I’ll go to some nearby tourist sites to appreciate the nature and learn some historic knowledge. 6. Do young people prefer to do things alone or in a group? I think a lot of young people prefer to do things in a group because they need support from their friends and need to feel a sense of belonging. It’s good for young people to stay with groups more because they could learn teamwork skills and know how to communicate with others well, which are very important for their future careers. 7. How much effect does the leisure and entertainment industry have on the economy? Leisure and entertainment industry can make a great amount of money because when people get richer, they like to spend money on leisure activities. This industry can contribute to the economy a lot through hiring people and paying tax. Leisure and entertainment places cannot only attract local people but also people from other places, which will contribute to the tourist industry and eventually boost the economy. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 193 *14. A success Describe something that you would like to succeed in doing in the near future. You should say: what it is how difficult you think it will be what you should do to prepare for this and explain why you want to succeed in doing this. Sample: I always want to learn how to play the piano because I think the piano is a very magical instrument, which can accompany almost all kinds of other instruments. I’ve always been busy with my studies, but I think it’s time for me to really make the plan to succeed in this area. I know it might be a little too late for me to learn it because most people start playing the piano as kids, but I’m not planning to enter for any competitions but to play it for myself, so I think as long as I try, I’ll be able to fulfill my expectations. I play the guitar, so I have some music knowledge. I think, when I study the piano, my music background will help me a little. I’ll probably not able to succeed this by studying it all by myself, so I should find a good tutor. Also, because of the practice involved, I should buy a piano. My parents said they wanted to give me something nice as my graduation gift, so I guess I’ll tell them I want a piano. Besides hiring a tutor and enough practice, I also need to find a few friends who also play it, so that I can get encouragement from other to help me keep going. I hope my dream can become true soon. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1. Should children be rewarded? Yes, I think it is a good idea to do so. When children do something right, a reward is just a timely encouragement, so that they can feel proud of themselves and continue to behave appropriately. Also, it gives them a hint that their deeds are noticed, so that they can have a sense of being supervised. 2. How do managers motivate employees? Managers can motivate their employees in varieties of ways. For example, to those who have financial problems, a pay rise or a bonus, can be a good motivation, to those who have ambitions, a promotion can be a good encouragement, and to those who like to show off, a chance to let him display his talent is enough to make him excited. 3. What’s success? People’s view about success may vary from person to person. Generally, I think that when people can achieve what they want, they can be considered as Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 194 successful. To some people, having a great sum of wealth may mean success to them , while to others, having a fame or a commanding power may be their definition of success, and still to others, being able to enjoy a healthy body or stay with their beloved ones may mean success to them. 4. Should parents reward the children if they get good marks at school? Yes, I think it is a good idea to do so. When children get good marks at school, a 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. reward is just a timely encouragement, so that they can feel proud of themselves and continue to study hard to make even greater achievements. Also, it gives them a hint that their deeds are noticed, so that they can have a sense of being supervised and so can focus more on their studies. How should teachers treat successful children? Well, teachers can have many choices to treat those successful children. For example, teachers can introduce them as good models to other students. In this way, in order to keep a good image in front of others, those successful students will be motivated to behave even better. Also, teachers can set higher aims for those students, which may arouse their emulation to work harder. So, a good teacher will always have ways to treat his students. What kind of employee is successful? In my opinion, employees who are loved by their colleagues, who are believed in by their employers, who are professional in what they do and who are making contributions to the development of the companies, can all be considered to be successful. How should bosses motivate employees through money? What other ways are there? Managers can motivate their employees in varieties of ways. For example, to those who have financial problems, a pay rise or a bonus, can be a good motivation, to those who have ambitions, a promotion can be a good encouragement, and to those who like to show off, a chance to let him display his talent is enough to make him excited. What do children and old people do in their spare time? What about men and women? Children spend a lot of their spare time playing, especially computer games or electronic machine games. Old people would read newspapers or go to the park to do some mild exercise. It’s also common for some old people to play mahjong with their friends. Men probably spend more time on exercise and a lot of women love to pay attention to fashion and clothes. Making themselves beautiful is like women’s endless mission. How to reward children and students? I think it’s better to give children and students both inner and outer rewards so that they will know their good work is not only recognized by others with complements but also with some prizes. They’ll more likely to do a better job in the future. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 195 10. Is money the best way to motivate people? I think in the short run, money is very effective. However, in order to make people motivated all the time, money is not enough, there should be some inner motivation for the people to know that they are achieving some inner goals instead of just getting money as rewards. *15. A past experience that had positive influence on you Describe a past experience that had positive influence on you You should say: when it was who were involved what happened and explain why it had some positive influence on you. Sample: There’re so many things happening in life and some of them can give us very important and positive influence. I want to talk about the experience of passing a PE test in high school, which gave me very positive influence. I still remember, when I was in high school, our PE final examination was to finish eight hundred meters’ running in four minutes. At the beginning of the semester, we had a try and a lot of students failed to achieve it in such short time. I didn’t exercise very often at that time, so I failed too. From then on, because of the pressure of failing a test, I began to practice everyday. I would run on the school track every evening with my roommates because I lived in the dorm at that time. After practicing for about two months, I finally past the final PE test without any difficulty. I felt proud of myself. This experience had very positive influence on me. Now whenever I face difficulties, I’ll always remind myself that everything will be fine because I had achieved something after my hard work. Life is not always easy. Sometimes, we might have some difficulties. If we don’t give up and keep trying, we’ll be able to conquer a lot of challenges. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. What changes are there with the fast development of cities? There are some good changes, for example, there are more and more leisure facilities such as the shopping mall, the KTV and the fitness club. People can relax and enjoy themselves more easily than before. However, it also has some bad change, for example, the rapid development leads to the boom of cars, and it always has traffic jam when go to work or school. 2. What are the changes of people’s roles in society? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 196 In China, I think people’ roles have changed a bit. In ancient China, women cannot go to school to accept education, so they don’t have a chance to go out to work. But nowadays, with the development of the society, women also play an important role in the society. They are patient, and careful than men to some extent, so they can do different works which is better for the resource allocation of the society. 3. What are the changes of old people’s attitudes toward children? I think old people spoil children badly nowadays. Maybe it is because that there are fewer children in a family, usually one child in one family, so old people do not treat them seriously, but always agree with the child’s request. Sometimes, old people say children now are not as polite as before, but one of the reasons is that they spoil children too much. 4. What change did new technology bring to us? Because of the development of new technology, our life is becoming much more convenient than before. Big farming machines are freeing a lot of farmers from the land and because of the invention of computer and the internet, we can send emails, type our documents, and search information online. A lot of people’s lives are made simpler. However, people now have the pressure to learn a lot of new things in order to keep up with the fast developing society. 5. Is it good or bad to change fast? It’s really hard to say. In some way, changes are making our life more convenient, but they also bring some problems. For example, the traffic congestion and environmental pollution are making a lot of people worry about our future generations. I guess when we’re enjoying all the benefits; we should also take the bad effects coming along. 6. What’s the major change in your life? I guess the major change in my life is leaving my home to live in a dorm, which makes me feel that I’m more independent. I think it’s a good change because sooner or later, we’ll need to rely on ourselves and our parents can’t help us all the time. 7. Do you like making changes in your life? I do, but I’m also afraid of changes. When I’m about to face big changes in life, I always feel nervous because the unknown things can really scare me. But if I stay the same for too long, I can also feel bored and willing to welcome some changes in life. 8. Are there any changes in the way people work? Yes, definitely. For example, in the past accountants had to write everything in books, but now they will record the numbers on the computer and could use some user friendly software to calculate most of the problems. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 197 9. How has people’s view of money changed in their career life? I think people are more materialist now. It’s common for people to judge a career by the money a person can make in the career. I think it’s not right. Because there’re a lot of careers that can help people in great ways but won’t give them enough monetary reward. 16. Something you did in a bad weather condition Describe something you did in a bad weather condition You should say: when this happened who were there what you did that day and explain how the weather influenced you. Sample: I like light rain, but heavy rains can seriously ruin our plans sometimes. I want to talk about the bad weather on the day we climbed Mogan Mountain. I went there with my friends recently. We really looked forward to that trip because I heard the scenery was beautiful. We actually knew it might rain. Since it’s summer time and raining days, especially drizzling, can cool the temperature and make the outing more enjoyable, we decided to go there on a cloudy day. At first, we felt very happy because the weather was neither hot nor cold and we felt very comfortable. We took a lot of pictures on our way and talked a lot. When we got to the middle of the mountain, it suddenly began to rain heavily. We looked around and found we were in the middle of nowhere. Although it’s said that it’s not safe to take shelter under a tree when it was raining, we had no other choices. After twenty minutes, the rain was still pouring and we were drenched (湿透的). Then, we decided that we should head down the mountain and go home because it seemed that the rain would last forever. We ran all the way down the mountain and because of the heavy rain we felt hard to see what’s in front of us. Ironically, by the time we reached the foot of the mountain, the rain stopped. You’ll never know what’s gonna happen next. I could say the heavy unexpected rain ruined our day, but somehow I felt it was interesting to go hiking on such a day. I guess it was the time I spent with my friends and the fun we had from running away from the bad weather. Although the weather can’t always be fine, we could still get some fun when we feel happy inside. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. Do you think that weather will influence people’s moods? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 198 Of course, it will definitely influence people’s moods. For example, if the weather is warm, and neither too cold nor too hot, people will usually wear a smile and enjoy the time to go to work or study. However, if it’s raining heavily outside, people will always complain about the weather. When people get wet in the rain, it may ruin their days. 2. What kind of weather do you like? Dislike? Why? I like the weather in spring or autumn, because it’s neither too hot not too cold and it’s suitable for outdoor activities such as picnic and hiking. I can always have fun during spring and autumn. But I hate the weather that is too hot, because I cannot go out since it is scorching outside, I can just stay indoor which is very boring. 3. Talk about the different influence of different weathers on people If the weather is good, then the mood of people will also rise to a high level. Even if they quarrel with others, when they see the sunshine, immediately they get rid of the bad emotion. However, if the weather is bad, such as rainy days, people will always complain about the weather. When people get wet in the rain, it may ruin their days. 4. What are the harms of bad weathers to us? It may not only influence our mood but also influence our life. For example, if it’s raining heavily outside, people will always complain about the weather. When people get wet in the rain, it may ruin their days. In addition, if natural disasters such as the earthquake or typhoon come, it will harm the order of our daily lives, and may lead to the death of people, and severe harm in production. 5. What should government do to prevent us from the bad influence of weathers? The government can strengthen the construction of public transportation such as the subway which will enable us free from the rainy or snowy days. Besides, they can improve the technology so that the weather report may be more correct, and we can take suitable measures to protect ourselves from the bad influence of weather. 6. Are people living in different weathers different? Yeah, I think so. I have heard that people live in the Northern Europe are very calm according to their weather, which is extremely cold compared with weather here. People who live in the tropics may be easier to get angry than people who live in a cold world. It must have some relation between the weather and people, but not one hundred percent accurate. 7. How do you get information about weather? I usually search the information on the internet, and it’s very convenient and mostly accurate. I could also subscribe to a weather message service through my cell phone. If I pay a small amount of money, they’ll send me a weather Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 199 message everyday. For my parents, since they don’t use the internet, they would get the weather information through TV weather forecast. 8. What should the government do protect the environment? They should do a lot of things. For example, reduce the pollutants that factories discharge to the environment and set stricter laws concerning air pollution and water pollution. Nowadays, people are getting richer, so car exhaust can also cause air pollution. The government is figuring out good ways to solve this pollution problem as well. I hope our environment will be better in the future. 9. What kind of weather do you like? I like the weather in spring and autumn because it’s neither hot nor cold during that time. When the weather is good, we could do a lot of outdoor activities and don’t need to worry about getting too hot or cold. Also, when the weather is good, I’ll feel more comfortable and my productivity in working and studying will be greatly promoted. 10. Do you think weather can affect people’s personality? It’s possible. That’s why we have stereotypes when we talk about people from different regions, even within one country. For example, in China, it’s said that people from the north are more generous and hot‐tempered because of the influence of the cold weather; while people in the south are considered gentler because of the mild weather in many provinces in the south. 17. Angry experience Describe an angry experience You should say: when it was who were there what happened and explain what made you angry. Sample: I have to say there are a lot of things in life make me feel angry but most of the time the feeling doesn’t last for long. After it passes for a while, we could hardly record the incidence that makes us feel angry. However, there’re also occasions that we can feel angry for a long time because of certain unfair things that have happened to us. I want to talk about the unpleasant experience I had when I had to take a taxi to the airport last month. It’s drizzling that day and I was carrying heavy luggage because I was going to have my vacation in Yunnan province. After waiting for taxi for a while, I suddenly spotted one, so I waved very hard to the taxi. Fortunately the driver saw me and began to slow down and pull over. Because of the heavy suitcase, I walked a little Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 200 slowly to the taxi. When I was almost there and could almost touch the taxi door, suddenly, a young woman jumped from no where and rushed into the taxi and the taxi drove off without me. I felt very angry at the moment. First, the lady was not nice for fighting a taxi with me, who’s carrying a lot of things. Second, because the driver knew that I was walking towards his car, he should have told the lady that the taxi wasn’t available. However, they both ignored me just because I couldn’t do anything about it. It is just a trivial thing that happens around us all the time, but I really hope that people could consider more of other’s feelings before they do things. I hope this kind of thing will happen less often in the future so that we will have fewer reasons to feel angry. PART 3 Discussion Questions 1. Do Chinese people like to express their feelings? Should people hide their anger? What’s your opinion? I don’t think that Chinese people like to express their feelings, because we are living in a nation that hide our feelings inside more than express our feelings out loud. I think it depends on the situation. It’s very rude if you are angry to your boss or people who are older than you, and it’s also not very good to be angry to your friends or parents. So maybe it’s better to hide your anger to some extent, and then you could express your feelings in another way. 2. Do women tend to express feelings more than men? Why? Yes. Women tend to express feelings more than men. For example, women will cry very hard when reading a moving novel or watching a touching film, or when they feel they are being bullied by others. Even though men have the same feeling as women, they may not cry out; they will hide their feelings to some extent. 3. Could children in China figure out others’ feelings? How? Who teach them? I think so. They will know if others are happy or not. May be they can feel others’ feelings naturally, for it’s not such a hard thing. You can always feel others’ feelings using your heart. Sometimes I think parents will teach them, like “Mom is angry now, please be quiet”, so that the child will learn if his/her mom is angry or not. 4. What’s the problem that may occur to a person whom you cannot figure out feeling? I think it’s not such a good thing if a person hide his or her feelings too much. He or she may be too stressed, and do some extreme things due to the pressure. So it is very dangerous if a person do not let anyone know his or her feelings. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 201 5. What is the expression when people get angry? Do the old and the young act in the same way? Why or Why not? When people get angry, they will usually raise their voice up, and cry out to others. Some people will even throw things at others, or want to beat others. When they get angry, the old and the young act very differently, because they are in different age groups. The old people usually will not beat others, they may just educate someone that they are angry with; the young people sometimes will do some extreme things like quarrelling with others harshly. 6. Do you think people have to learn how to release their angry? Yes, of course. In modern society, people usually have a lot of pressure due to the work load and family burden. So it is very important for people to release their angry, or they will become stressed and cannot lead a normal life. 7. How do Chinese people express their love and anger? We’ll smile a lot and do something for the people we love, but it’s not common for Chinese people to hug each other, especially for the old generation. When we’re angry, we’ll probably express it verbally. I think a lot of Chinese people don’t like express their feelings. Traditionally, In general, one may say that by the influence of Confucius' philosophical thinking, the Chinese have become more reserved or at least the gestures expressing emotions are comparatively less expressive. But young people are getting more open‐minded and they tend to express their feelings openly. 8. Do you think it’s good to express your feelings or hide them? I think most of the time it’s good to express your feelings. When people around you know what you’re up to, they’ll be friendlier and tend to make friends with you. However, sometimes, it’s better to hide our anger when you have to because when we’re angry we might do something stupid, but after considering the consequences, it’ll be wise to keep our angry and try our best to stay calm. 9. How do people usually express their feelings in your hometown? I think the people in my hometown are friendly. When they like you, they’ll smile to you and tell you their feelings. But when they feel angry, they’ll usually express their angers directly, which may hurt some people’s feelings. 10. How to teach children to express their feelings in the right way? I’ll tell the children that it’s ok to have feelings because we’re humans. And I’ll teach them it’s better to share their feelings with the people they trust. When they feel angry, it’s ok but don’t do something stupid and they need to try their best to conquer the angry inside of them. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 202 18. Wedding Describe a wedding you attended You should say: when it was who were there how the wedding was and explain why you think the wedding was successful. Sample: I want to talk about the special wedding I attended. It’s my friend, Lucy’s wedding. It’s very special because the wedding was planned by us, a few good friends of hers. Her parents died when she was a little girl and she grew up with her grandparents. Her husband’s parents live in anther province but she wanted to have a wedding in her hometown where all her friends and relatives live. So she came to us for help. I think the wedding was very successful and memorable. On that day, our best friend, Ming, who’s very good at hosting big events, was the wedding host. The bride looked very beautiful in her white wedding dress and the groom was handsome too. When the bride walked slowly down the isle, accompanied by her grandpa, two little girls holding flower baskets showered her with beautiful rose pedals. And the most moving part of the wedding was when they exchanged their wedding rings. The host asked them to say something before they exchanged it. They said they were happy for the moment and were thankful to all the friends and family members present. Not like most of the Chinese weddings, we only had some refreshments after the wedding because our goal was to make it simple in order to save money for the young couple. During and after the wedding, our photographer friend took many beautiful wedding pictures for them and all the friends and relatives. The wedding was short but very meaningful. Although we worked very hard, we felt the work we did was rewarding because we saw a beautiful and a happy newly wedded couple. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. Is wedding very expensive in China? I think so. Nowadays, the wedding is more and more expensive in China. The average expense in my hometown Hangzhou is nearly 100000 yuan, which may be the whole year’s salary of a person who has a good job. So it’s really hard for young people to save so much money, and usually parents will give them some help. 2. Chinese people prefer to send gifts or money? What’s your opinion? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 203 Chinese people prefer to send money rather than gifts which is very different from the western style. But that’s because we don’t know others’ favorite things, so we may choose a gift that they don’t like very much, so we think it may be better to send money so that they can use as they like. Personally, if for my friends, I may send my friends gifts rather than money, because that represents my heart to them 3. If your friends get married, what will you sent to him or her? I will send them a set of pottery pot and cups that I made myself. Because I think every family needs to use pots and cups for drinking tea or coffee or just water, and I like to DIY things, too. 4. Is there something special of wedding in China? Describe the difference between Chinese and Western wedding. I do not know the details about it. One thing is that Western wedding is usually held in a church, while Chinese wedding is held in a restaurant. Another thing may be Chinese wedding is much more complex than western style wedding. I think they’re getting more and more similar. At a traditional Chinese wedding, the bride is supposed to wear red wedding dress and have their head covered by a piece of red cloth, but now, the bride will wear white wedding dress. The western weddings I’ve seen on TV were usually held at churches, but in China, we would usually go to a hotel or a big restaurant to have our weddings. 5. What’s the attitude of women and men towards wedding? Women usually want a better wedding than men. Men do not care much about those things, but women have read a lot of fairy tales and dream about a fantastic wedding than men. Men are more realistic, and the practical use may be more important than the beauty of the wedding. 6. What’s the best age to get married? Which is better, to get married earlier or later? It depends. Some people like to get married early, and some prefer later. For women, if get married early, you cannot do your own things, but need to focus on family things. If get married later, you may miss the best time of the time to play with your children. So it’s hard to say which is better. It depends on what you want, and then it’s reasonable to say which is more suitable for one. 7. Do you like weddings? Yes, I like wedding very much. I have attended some weddings before, and they are very fantastic, and I would like to have a beautiful wedding one day in future when I get married. I’m always moved by scenes like change the rings, vow to each other and so on. 8. What’s the difference between big weddings and small weddings? Do you like big weddings or small weddings? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 204 I think small weddings can be more personal. You could invite only your best friends and close relatives. Since the wedding’s small, there should be less preparation work to do. However, a lot of people feel that each couple can only have the wedding once, so they want to have big weddings to invite all the people they know and have the wedding held at a nice hotel, such as the shangri‐la if they have enough money. They want to have the feeling of under the spot light that day. 9. What kind of place is good for wedding ceremonies? The place should be spacious for many guests to attend. It’s common for people to have their weddings at a big restaurant or hotel. I’ve also see weddings held on the hotel lawn when the weather is nice. For Christians, they’ll have their weddings at the church. I think all these are good places to have weddings. 10. Why do you think people like and dislike going to weddings? I think a lot of young people and children like weddings because they want to find out what weddings are like. It’s mostly out of curiosity. Also, you could enjoy the food at wedding receptions so it’s worth going. However, some people feel a lot of weddings are similar and it’s time consuming for them to go to weddings. And to be honest, a lot of the food at wedding receptions isn’t very delicious. 11. Do you think the wedding is a waste of money? Maybe yes. Some people can spend one million on a wedding nowadays and it’s just a one day thing, so it might be a waste of money from that point of view. But since each young couple can only have their wedding once, it’s something that can give them a good memory for their future life. In this sense, weddings are necessary. If we compromise, we should try to spend less money on a good wedding. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 205 描 述 一 个 物 1、A book you like to read/a kind of book you like(这个也可以用在 讲历史人物上的哦) Describe a type of book you like to read. You should say: what type when you started reading this type of book and explain why you like (or, prefer) to read this type of book. Sample 1： Well, I do like reading books, especially books about historic stories, which helps me gain knowledge and passion coz I am always moved by the heroic deeds described in those books. One of my favorite book is named <精忠报国>，which means serving the country with the utmost loyalty. It tells the stories about 岳飞，a very famous hero in Chinese history, and his statue is now erected in 岳飞 temple beside the west lake, enjoying thousands of visitors showing their respects. I started to read books about him since I was in primary school when my teacher told us the stories about him. And this did arouse my patriotism. From this book, I knew that 岳飞 was such a hero that even when he was a teenager, he could bear the pain when his mother tattooed the 4 Chinese characters on his back using needles. He loved the country so much and the words on his back were also a reminder for him. Because of this, he later became the general in song dynasty, and led his army to successfully defeat the invaders many times. Reading the book puts him as a real hero in my heart, and always encourages me to love the country and love the world. You know, even now, I still keep more than ten books about him in my room, and almost every year I would go there to his temple to show my respect to him. Reading gives me strength. I like it. Sample 2: I enjoy reading very much and I especially like inspirational fiction, which is very appealing and can give me a lot of insight about life. This kind of book can provide anecdotes that give inspiration to the readers. Many of these books highlight people overcoming adversity or reaching new levels of understanding. Whether they pull themselves up by their own bootstraps or have help from a higher power, these books will uplift and entertain you. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 206 Recently I read a book entitled awaken the giant within. It’s written by a famous speaker, Anthony Robbins, the leader in the science of peak performance. He shows you his most effective strategies and techniques for mastering your emotions, your body, your relationships, your finances, and your life. As the acknowledged expert in the psychology of change, Anthony Robbins provides a step‐by‐step program teaching the fundamental lessons of self‐mastery that will enable you to discover your true purpose, take control of your life, and harness the forces that shape your destiny. I think it helps me to understand myself better, know how to plan my own life in order to make the most out of it. I love this kind of book and hope I can read more in the future. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Can you give some examples of different types of books and the reasons why people read them? Yes, of course. There’re books for studying and entertaining. There’re many different kinds of books, such as novels, documentaries, science fiction, biographies, and history books. Some people reading books for fun and others want to know more about the world and their professions. 2. Can you give some reasons why people read different things? Yeah, people have different interests and purposes. For example, some girls are interested in love stories, so they might read more novels about that, but for some boys, they want to learn something about the world history, so they’ll choose this kind of book. If a doctor wants to improve his profession, medical books will be his first choice. 3. How is reading a book on the internet different to reading an ordinary book? I always feel reading on the screen is bad to our eyes. And it’s just not as convenient as reading paper books. You can fold your books to whatever ways but not your laptop. Also, I guess a lot of people just got used to reading actual books, they may feel reading from the screen is a little unreal and weird. 4. What’s the influence of the internet on book publishing? Well, the advent of the internet does exert tremendous influence on the book publishing industry. For example, in many cases, people may like to obtain information on the internet, rather than read books, and so the decrease in demands for books will surely lead to the decline in book publishing. Also, to cater to the readers, publishing companies may also publish electronic books. In this way, the influence is great. 5. Do you need to choose carefully of the information you get online? Well, it’s a must. The internet provides us with so much freedom that almost anyone can put forward their opinions, by which some may be misleading, profit‐oriented, cheating, eye‐catching, or truly informative. To seek out the one we are really in need, a picky eye is surely needed. 6. What books do old people and young people read? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 207 Well, the old and the young do have some difference in their choices of reading material. For instance, the old may like to read newspapers to keep up with the time, while the young may like to know about this from the articles on the internet. Also, the old may like to read something of their ages, to remind them of the past years, while the young may like to read more about fashion, about cartoons, about the future life. 7. Do you think government should build free libraries? Yeah, it’s a good idea for the government to build free libraries. In this way, the government does not only show its service to the public when using the public money, and so improve its image and win support from the citizens, but also helps to create a cultural atmosphere and enhance the quality of the citizens. 8. Do you always trust the information from the internet? Not really. The internet provides us with so much freedom that almost anyone can put forward their opinions, by which some may be misleading, profit‐oriented, cheating, eye‐catching, or truly informative. To seek out the one we are really in need, a picky eye is surely needed. 9. Are there any other sources to read besides paper book and electronic books? = What are other ways to obtain information besides reading books? Thanks to the development of technology, now various ways are available for us to obtain information. For example, the TV reports, the radio programs, the internet broadcast, and even short messages on the mobile phones, all contribute to our knowing about the world. 10. What kinds of books did you read when you were a child Like many other children, I liked to read books about cartoon figures, about fairy tales, about heroic deeds, about detective stories. Reading theses kind of books left me a very happy childhood, and even now, the memory about my childhood is related to many stories about those books I read. 11. What do people in your age read now? Well, it differs widely. Some people, especially girls, may like to read about fashion, shopping, travelling, or love stories, while boys, may like to read about sports, science fiction. And in some other cases, some people may just like to read books about their major, to help them further their career. 12. What books do children, adults, or old people read? Well, these people may have a different preference in their choices of reading material. For example, children may like to read books about cartoon figures, about fairy tales, about heroic deeds, about detective stories. The old may like to read newspapers to keep up with the time, or they may read something of their ages, to remind them of the past years. In comparison, the adults, having a strong purpose in their reading, may choose to read books to get information for their careers, to help them earn money, or solve their problems. 13. Is it illegal to download things from the internet? Well, it depends. When some one upload the document onto the internet, if their purpose is to share their interest with others for free, downloading these kinds of Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 208 things is surely acceptable. However, when others upload something, when they have a patent for their work and just hope to let more people know about their products, decoding those things and download freely is illegal. 14. What’s the advantage and disadvantage of reading online? Reading online, of course, has many advantages, such as the wide choice of reading material, the free access to the latest updated information, and the share of opinions of many other readers of the same content. However, reading online also has its disadvantages. For example, some free information online is misleading, too much exposure to the computer screen is harmful to our health, and it is inconvenient to continue reading when we have no access to the internet. 15. Which way do you think people prefer, reading actual books or electronic books? To be frank, it’s hard to say for sure. Some people like to read actual books because in their minds, reading in this way is quite convenient, and they can make notes and underline the highlights when reading. However, others may like to read electronic books, because with the huge volume of their gadgets, they may take a lot of electronic books with them, and so enable them to read for what they like at anytime and anywhere. 16. How old did you start reading? Well, I am now in my twenties, so it is really something far away from my memory. I think I may start reading at 3 or 4years old, when I started my education in the kindergarten. I think the reading later in my childhood did bring me great happiness. 17. Do you think old people will read online or hold a book? Generally, I think the old may like to hold a book, because they may not be used to those new things, including reading online. However, things are changing along with the fast change of the world. Now it seems more and more old people are beginning to learn to use the internet, and read on the internet. 18. Do girls and boys read different kinds of books? Yeah. Because of their different interests in life, girls and boys may have some differences in their choices or reading material. For example, more boys than girls like to read books about sports, detective stories, career planning and science fiction, while more girls than boys like to read books about love stories, fashion, and superstars. 19. Is it important to read extensively? Yes, I think so. Reading is one of the important ways for us to acquire knowledge. Nowadays, the society requires us to know many things in order to be more competitive. If we read extensively, we’ll definitely know more about our life and the world, which will be helpful for our future development. However, reading is time consuming, so we have to choose the most suitable materials to read so that we won’t waste our time on something that’s not helpful to us. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 209 20. Why do you think Harry potter series are successful? Basically, I think Harry potter series are very well written novels. I read most of the volumes and I like them a lot. Successful novels all share something in common. They should have good story lines and be attractive enough to the targeted audience. Harry potter is targeted to young children and teenagers. As a matter of fact, these children are curious and love adventures and magic. Harry potter series can definitely satisfy children’s need for these. 2、A vehicle you want to buy Describe a vehicle you would like to buy (or, own). You should say: what kind of vehicle what it would look like why you would like to have it (or, how you would use it) how you would buy (or, get) it and explain why you would prefer this means of transport. Sample： I like cars, especially uniquely designed ones. And now I’d talk about my ideal car, Porsche 918 Spyder. It’s a sports car designed by Porsche. I fell in love with it when I first saw a girl driving in it passing me by. You know, the design is so cool and outstanding, so you’ll not fail to notice it even when there are thousands of cars in the street. Driving such a car will surely make me feel thrilled. Besides, it has plug‐in hybrid engine. It’s said it can be switched to a mode to only use the electric motors. Nowadays, people are really concerned with the problem of air pollution caused by cars. If I can drive this car, I’m sure it’s environmental friendly. In addition, it’s a sports car and it has the most excellent performance on the road. Fancy that when I am driving it on the road, I could easily surpass others by slightly stepping on the accelerator. It’s cool. The speed can reach over 320 kilometers per hour. Although I’m not planning to drive that fast, it can still make me feel excited to know the capability of the car. Like most sports cars, the roof is convertible, so it will allow me to appreciate the scenery and breathe fresh air when I drive. However, the price is a little high, about 4 million RMB. Maybe, one day I’ll be able to afford it. It’ll be great if I can drive it around. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. What kinds of transportation are there in your hometown? There’re a variety of them—buses, cars, and bikes. I usually ride a bike to school. And pretty soon, the subways will be ready. I’m really looking forward to it because the traffic conditions will be much better then. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 210 2、What kinds of vehicle (or car) do people in your hometown buy? It really depends. For some rich people, good quality cars are definitely their choice. For some middle‐class people, bikes and electric bikes are very common. Right now, I don’t have anything, but I’m planning to buy a bike soon. 3、How do you think transportation will (or might) change in the future? I think in the near future, a lot of cars will use environmental friendly resources and people will drive safer cars, too. Actually, I still think it’s a good for the government to invest more money in public transportation and make it easier and faster. By then, maybe nobody has to drive anymore because it’s more convenient to use the public transportation. 4、Compare vehicles today with vehicles in the past. Vehicles today are definitely faster and more convenient. In the past, even bicycles were not very common, but now a lot of people can afford nice cars. I think that’s really a big change. 5、How do you think vehicles could be improved? (Perhaps, the word "cars" or "motor vehicles" is used) I really think vehicles should be safer and environmental friendly. Sometimes, we have to worry about getting hit by cars and have to put up with car exhaust. If these problems can be solved, it’ll be great for the environment and society. 6、What do you think about the traffic conditions in your hometown? Well, it’s terrible. Especially during rush hours, you can never imagine how annoying it is, when you are in a hurry going to work or going to school, but you are stuck in the middle of the road, with hundreds or thousands of cars in your front, in your back, in your right and in your left, and you could not move, could not leave the car on the road, could not run to your destination. We really have too big a population in the cities, and too many cars on the roads. I hope something could be done to alleviate this in the near future. 7、How can we solve the problems of traffic jams during the rush hours? Actually, various ways can be attempted. For example, more metro systems could be built, so that more people may travel underground, leaving much space for others on the roads. Also, more public transportation facilities could be provided. By carrying more people at a time, the number of cars on roads could be reduced, and so alleviating the traffic jams. Of course, I believe, with the use of technology, with our imagination, and with our effort, may effective ways could be thought out and carried out to help us out of this situation. 8. What kind of transportation do most people take? Generally, most people now in china like to take buses to go here and there, because it is economical and convenient. Also, many young people may like to ride their bicycles to go around the city, because they could enjoy more freedom and they can get some exercise in the duration. Of course, now more and more cars are coming into our lives, which means another large group of people may drive their own cars to go to their destinations. 9. Should people who buy cars be taxed? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 211 Of course. A lot of people who can afford cars are rich people. Because of the large population in China, a lot of cities are overcrowded and traffic problems are getting more and more serious. One of the reasons to cause this is the increasing number of cars. If car consumption tax is high, this will discourage some people to buy cars or change cars too often. Also, car exhaust can pollute the atmosphere and the cost for that is also huge. So I believe people should be taxed more in the future for buying cars. 3、Food 1) A foreign food you want to try Describe a (type of) foreign food that you would like to try (or had it). You should say: the name of this food what country it comes from how you know about this food and explain why you like(d) it. Sample 1—The foreign food you’d like to try: I’d like to have Sushi if I have the opportunity. We all know that sushi is famous Japanese food. It’s said that Sushi is very nutritious because it contains a lot of seafood, such Sashimi. Since the Sashimi is very fresh, the taste of Sushi is amazing. From the appearance, I think it’s the most delicate food. I could always see it on TV and magazines, but I have never had it because most Japanese restaurants are expensive in China. If I have a lot of money, I would order a variety of Sushi, especially Sashimi Sushi because the fish is very tender and tasty. And it’s said the best way to eat Sushi is dipping it in wasabi. I hope I can make delicious Sushi myself one day and could share it with my friends and family. I think food is not only something we eat but also can carry the culture of its origin. When we try different food from different country, we’re actually being exposed to their traditions and cultures. 2) A foreign food you like to make I like all kinds of foreign food, Thai food, western food, and Indian food. Among all these, pizza is my favorite, especially pepperoni pizza. I like the sticky cheese, which is not common for Chinese dishes. If I have the opportunity, I’d like to learn how to bake it by myself. I heard pizza is originally from Italy, but now people all over the world like eating it. I remember the first time I had pizza was about 10 years ago. I felt it was different Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 212 from the bread I had before and it’s also the first time for me to have cheese. I think the taste is amazing. Since then, I began to love this food. I would usually go to eat pizza with my friends and family. I think it’ll be great if I could one day make my own pizza. Maybe even add some Chinese cooking elements and make it a Chinese dish. If I can learn how to make pizza, I can make it for my friends and family members, and maybe I can even open a pizza restaurant and let Chinese people know more about Italian culture and their food. 3) Food in your hometown Describe a type of food in your hometown You should say: what food it is where you can eat it how you know about this food and explain you like it. Sample 1： I think the most famous food in my hometown is Jiaozi, which typically consist of ground meat and/or vegetable filling wrapped into thinly rolled pieces of dough, which are then sealed by pressing the edges together. You can order jiazo in restaurants or make them at home. We can divide jiaozi into various types depending on how they are cooked: boiled, steamed, or shallow fried. My favorite is the steamed jiaozi. Common jiaozi meat fillings include pork, mutton, beef, chicken, fish, and shrimp which are usually mixed with chopped vegetables. Popular vegetable fillings include cabbage, scallion (青葱), and leek （韭菜）. Jiaozi are eaten with a soy sauce‐based dipping sauce that may include vinegar, garlic, ginger, rice wine, hot sauce, and sesame oil. Jiaozi are eaten all year round and can be eaten at any time of the day – breakfast, lunch or dinner. Every family has its own preferred method of making them, with favorite fillings, and of course, jiaozi types and preparation vary widely according to region. My family would usually add some raw egg into the fillings to make it tender and juicy. Jiaozi are also one of the major foods eaten during the Chinese New Year. They look like the golden ingots（ 元宝）used during the Ming Dynasty for money, so serving them brings the promise of wealth, good luck and prosperity. Many families Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 213 eat these at midnight on Chinese New Year's Eve. Some families will even hide a clean coin in one for the most lucky to find. I love jiaozi because I think it reflects Chinese culture and our tradition. I hope people all over the world will know it and like it. Sample 2: Four Joy Meatballs The most famous food in my hometown is called four‐Joy Meatballs, which uses lean meat and crumbled steamed buns as the major ingredients to make meatballs. Then the meatball will be fried and steamed with soup in the bowl. It tastes fresh but not greasy (油腻), crisp and tender, and is conducive to digestion （消化）. The “Four‐Joy” have many implications (含义). Some believe that the “Four Joys” means “good fortune, prosperity, longevity and happiness”, while some others mention that it stands for the “four happiest occasions in one’s life, namely, to have a long‐felt need satisfied, succeed in a government examination, experience at a wedding night and meet an old friend in a distant land”. My family would always make this food during festivals and special occasions. It’s one of the main dishes at wedding receptions because of the good taste and the meaning it carries. Because I love it very much, my mom would sometimes make it for me as a comfort food, but of course not always four meat balls. I hope Four‐Joy‐Meatballs can be known and liked by many people from other countries. 4) Healthy Food Sample: Eating is one the most important events in everyone’s life. We depend on eating: the foods we eat are the sole source of our energy and nutrition. It’s important for us to know more about eating ‐ about how the foods we eat everyday affect our health. Among the healthiest of all foods are fruits and vegetables. Nutritionists(营养学家) recommend everyone eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, but most people, including me, fall far short of this important goal. Eating fruit and vegetables does not mean you are limited to simply eating pieces of fruit and raw carrots all day. We can add fresh fruits to our favorite energy drink or smoothie, for instance, top our yogurt with strawberries or enjoy a sliced banana with our morning cereal. It’s also good to eat fish, poultry （家禽） and meats. If you can afford it, buy free‐range chicken, beef and eggs. One more thing is water, simple but important. Water can help flush out fat and Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 214 toxins (毒素). If it's a hot day or you are really exercising and perspiring a great deal you may need to drink more than 8 glasses of water a day. Last but not least, we have to replace junk food with healthy food. Junk food is known to have certain key ingredients – sugar, fat, and salt – and lacks many of the nutrients we need for good health. I believe, if we eat more natural and organic food, we’ll be healthier. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1、Which do you think is better, eating in restaurants or eating at home? I think eating occasionally at the restaurant is good but definitely not all the time. I like eating at home with my family members. When we prepare the food together and sit at the table in our dining room, I can always feel personal and loved. 2、Do many people cook nowadays? (Why?/ Why not?) A lot of single young people don’t cook, but I think most married couples cook their own meals at home. For one person, it’s hard to have the motivation to prepare a big meal, but for a family, people will be willing to do it. 3、Do many people know how to cook nowadays? (Why?/ Why not?) Many people in my age say they don’t know how to cook, but my mom also told me she didn’t know how to cook when she was a girl. Now she’s an excellent cook. I guess people can just learn how to cook very fast after they get married, especially for women. 4、What typical kitchen equipment do people have in your country? =What kitchen equipment do Chinese people usually have? Different family has different things. But most of them have a stove, a microwave oven, and a fridge. Sometimes, people might have juicers, ovens, and dish washers. Because of the modern kitchen equipment, cooking is much easier now compared to the past. 5、How has kitchen equipment changed (or, improved), compared to many years ago? When my parents were young, they had to cook with wood heated stove, but now, most people live in the city don’t have to worry about that anymore. I think this is a big change. Also, after the invention of microwave oven, we can heat food much easier than before. 6、 What are the advantages of modern kitchen equipment, compared to the equipment we had before? Most of the modern kitchen equipment serves to save our time and energy. However, there’re also some drawbacks. For example, it’s said that microwave oven can give out radiation, which’s definitely bad to our health. 7、Can people use modern kitchen equipment to make traditional food? Sure, you know, cooking is something related to the skills of the cook, rather than the equipment that they use. With fewer cooking utensils and ingredients in Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 215 the past, our ancestors were able to cook delicious food that lasted for centuries. In other words, with the modern kitchen equipment that is specifically designed for cooking, we should be better able to cook traditional food. 8、Do people cook less often at home now? Yeah. Due to the fast pace of life and heavy pressure from work or studies, people are having less time to prepare food for themselves. And also, because of the huge attractions of various restaurants and the convenience brought by the growing number of those restaurants, people are eating less at home now. 9、How do equipment and technology change the modern kitchen? Well, the modern equipment and technology do help us create a better environment in the kitchen. With the cooker hoods, less smoke is left to harm the cook, with the electric cooker and microwave oven, less energy is needed in preparing foods, and with the fridge and other utensils, cooking is much more convenient. 10、What do people in your country typically eat?= What do Chinese people like eating? The food in different part of China varies a lot, but I think most of Chinese people eat rice and flour as their main food. We can get tired of certain dishes but never rice. Besides that, we also like eating stir fried dishes a lot, but these dishes usually contain too much oil, which may not be good for our health. 11、What is the most popular food in your country? The food in different part of China varies a lot, but I think hot pot is probably popular all over China. It’s originally from Sichuan province and sometimes it’s really spicy. Now people every where in China are eating it. It’s really popular now. 12、What factors determine what foods different people eat? I think what people eat when they’re children can really affect their food choice when they grow up. I’m from the north and now I still like eating northern food although I’ve moved to the south. However, if people want to lose weight, they might choose something that has fewer calories but not what they really like. 13、Do you think the food we eat now is healthier than in the past? I don’t think so. I think food now is probably less healthy than before. For example, a lot of people love snacks and fast food. As we know, they are really bad for our health. That’s why these foods are called junk food. 14、In your opinion, do any people in industrialized countries have health problems that are related to food? Yes, definitely. A lot of people have to eat fast food as their lunch because of the fast pace of living. I think that’s really bad for people’s health and sometimes because they can eat whatever they want, they also might get over‐weighted. 15、How do you think people could be better educated about food? I think schools should teach children the knowledge about eating healthily even when they’re very little. The media can also play an important role through programs about healthy diet on TV and some public interest ads as well. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 216 16、What are the health problems that food can cause? Well, as medical science has shown us, eating food containing too much fat may make people suffer from overweight, heart disease, high blood pressure, and eating too much refined food may prevent us from obtaining the necessary nutrients our bodies need. Not to say in current society, there are so many reports about food that is added with too much chemicals or polluted by the environment. We have to be careful when we are seeking something to eat. 17、Which county do you think is the biggest food exporter? I think maybe it is the USA. With a bigger territory than China, it has only one sixth of the population on its land. And also, from the textbook since primary school, we are told that the land in the USA is fertile for food production. In addition, it is considered as the most developed country in its technology. In this sense, when they produce too much food, they will surely export the surplus to other countries, and so it is natural for the USA to be the largest food exporter. 18、How do you think about the population growth and food supply needs? Well, the population growth will surely lead to an increase in demands for more food supply. But since more labor work is done by machines, people are working less strenuously these days and so eat less food. Also, thanks to the development in technology, the land productivity is greatly increased, producing much more food than in the past. So people are not suffering from starvations. 19、How to make healthy food? To make healthy food, a lot need to be done. Firstly, the raw material must be natural and healthy. With less use of fertilizers, with little pollution, and with a healthy way of production, we can get that raw material to prepare for healthy food. Also, the ingredients used to make the food should be healthy, which need a very strict supervision from the government. Besides, a healthy method in making the food is needed. By doing so, I believe the food will be healthy for us to have a taste. 20、What’s the difference between Chinese food and foreign food? Well, there are some differences between Chinese food and foreign food. For example, in cooking Chinese food, we may fry, stew, sauté, stir‐fry the food, with cooking oil, cooking wine, salt, sugar and other ingredients, we emphasis on the flavor, the color, and the taste. Also, we have quiet diversified cuisines over the land of China, such as Guangdong cuisine, Sichuan cuisine and so on. Almost every place, people may have their special food. However, foreign food is much simpler, and much less in variety. But they are good at creating a comfortable eating environment. That’s why when they come into China; many people like to have a taste. 21、Who care about cooking more, the younger or older generation? Maybe the old generation. The younger people, busy with their work or study, having less time to care about the food they eat, as long as it can stuff their stomach. They concern more about their future than their health. However, the older generation, realizing the importance of food and their health, may pay Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 217 more attention to what they eat 22、Should people learn cooking at cooking schools? Not necessarily. With the practice of cooking at home, and with the time goes by, I believe people can cook the food they like. My mother is just a good example, she has never gone to any cooking schools to learn cooking, but every dish she cooks is so delicious. 23、What’s the difference between food in the west and in the east? Well, there are some differences between food in the east and in the west. Take China for example, in cooking Chinese food, we may fry, stew, sauté, stir‐fry the food, with cooking oil, cooking wine, salt, sugar and other ingredients, we emphasis on the flavor, the color, and the taste. Also, we have quiet diversified cuisines over the land of China, such as Guangdong cuisine, Sichuan cuisine and so on. Almost every place, people may have their special food. However, western food is much simpler, and much less in variety. But they are good at creating a comfortable eating environment. That’s why when they come into China; many people like to have a taste there. 24、Is fast food popular in China? It seems fast food is growingly popular in China now. With the increase of pressure in people’s work or study, people are having less time in preparing food, and many of them just take fast food to stuff their stomach. That’s why you see so many people eating at KFC, McDonalds, and many other Chinese fast food restaurants. 25、What’s the most popular food in China? Well, to be frank, it’s really hard to name one, because there is such a great variety of food in China. People in different areas may have their own special flavors, and men and women, young and old, all have their preference, it’s just a tough question to tell you one name of the most popular food. 26、Who cooks in your family? In my family, my mom does most of the cooking. Although we complain occasionally about the dishes being plain, neither my father nor I want to cook. I think cooking requires a lot of work and thoughts. I sometimes help my mom wash the dishes, but I think I should probably do more in the future. 27. What kitchen equipment do you use for cooking? I am not a good cook, and I don’t cook often, so what I use to cook is very simple, just the gas ring, and the pan, or sometimes I may use the microwave oven. These may also be the most common equipment people may use to cook at home, but, when more complicated equipment is needed in cooking, I think most people would like to enjoy that in restaurants, with the chef in the restaurants to use those facilities in cooking for them. 28. What’s the difference between western and Chinese food? Well, differences do exist between western and Chinese food. Usually, Chinese food is more complicatedly cooked with more ingredients, while the western food may seem to be simpler. Also, Chinese food has a greater variety for people Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 218 to choose from, while western food has much fewer choices. In addition, Chinese food contains a lot of vegetables and seafood, which is considered as much healthier, while western food usually contains a lot of calories, eating too much of which is unhealthy. Therefore, many Chinese people may taste some foreign food as a change of their diets, but they cannot bear eating western food for a long time. 29. What’s the food safety problem nowadays? Nowadays. Food contamination is becoming more and more common because of the mass food production and the development of technology. Sometimes, it’s hard to say if it’s a good thing or bad that we can have abundant food choices in supermarkets. Actually, some of the processed foods are not safe. Even if they are not contaminated, the food additives are also bad for our health. I believe we should eat more natural food in the future to avoid food contamination. 4、Job 1) A future job=ideal job Describe your ideal job. You should say: what it is what people would do how can you get it and explain why you like it. Sample ‐‐Tourist Guide: If I could choose, I want to be a tourist guide. I always think being a tourist guide is fun because I can travel to different places and meet people from all over the world. I don’t need to pay for all the benefits, but on the contrary, I can even earn a lot of money. I met a tourist guide, named Tom, in Australia. He told me how wonderful his job was. He used to live in a very expensive city, Sidney. One day, he decided to become a tourist guide. Now he could travel for free and enjoy his life. I think this job is interesting. Maybe in the future, I will just quit my job and join a tourist agency to be a tourist guide. However, being a tourist guide is not that simple, I need to learn a lot of knowledge about the local culture and customs. If I try my best, I believe I’ll be a professional tourist guide. Now I’m an engineer. It’s a well paying job and I like it. However, being a tourist guide is always my dream and I hope I can try it one day. 2) A job that will make the world better Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 219 Describe a job that you believe will make the world better. You should say: what it is what people would do how can you get it and explain why you think it’s important. Sample: I’ll say it’s the social worker. I have a friend who majors in this in Hongkong University. Actually, I had no idea of this career before meeting her. Now I know social workers are paid to make the world a better place. They do all kinds of things to help the local, national, and even international communities. A social worker works with people who have been socially excluded or who are experiencing crisis. Their role is to provide support to enable service users to help themselves. They maintain professional relationships with service users, acting as guides, advocates (拥护者) or critical（爱挑剔的） friends. I believe China needs a lot of social workers because there’re many people in need—young children, homeless people, and people face crisis in life. Social work is not a simple profession, which requires moral integrity, empathy, patience and listening skills. When we help people, we have to know what the correct ways are, so relevant education is also needed. Some social workers even hold doctor’s degree, pretty amazing, right? I believe this profession requires passion and dedication; otherwise, even the smartest person can’t do it well. I hope there’ll be more people who are interested in this occupation. Then, the world will definitely become better and better. 3) A new job Because of the development of the economy and technology, there are a lot of new jobs created each day. These new jobs are making our life more convenient than before. I want to talk about a job that’s called public nutritionist because one of my friends is very interested in it and is planning to be one. We all want to have a healthy lifestyle, which, of course, includes an important element—healthy diet. In some public places, such as the hospital, schools, and companies, they need to provide people with healthy and balanced diet each day. They can’t make the menu from a scientific perspective without any help, so they have to hire a public nutritionist to give them suggestions and help them plan what to include in their food each day. I think it’s a very good job because nutritionists could help people live a healthier lifestyle. They can also help themselves and their family members eat healthily. I Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 220 also heard they could make a big amount of money. If I could choose my major again, I might choose this job as my future career. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. What jobs can be seen as dangerous jobs? There’re a lot of jobs that are dangerous. Police have to fight with criminals who are dangerous and sometimes even violent. Firefighters have to go to buildings on fire in order to save other people’s lives. Taxi driving can also be considered a dangerous job. There’re so many car accidents each day. Since taxi drivers drive more often than others, the chances of having an accident are higher. 2. Should people do these dangerous jobs receive high salaries? I think so. Since people are risking their lives, they should be paid better. Although some people don’t care about the salary because they have passion to do the jobs that can help others, it’s just not an excuse to pay them less or mediocre(平凡的). If these people receive low salary, I guess we’ll need to worry about the quality of people who are doing these jobs, which is something that we don’t want to see. 3. Does advanced technology help people work better? To a large extent it does. With the modern technology, people are enabled to work more efficiently due to the automatic operation system. Also, people are ensured more safety at work, thanks to the replacement of machines for working in dangerous areas. In addition, the modern technology helps people to work in a more comfortable environment. However, potential risks do exist when people are too dependent on those high technologies, in case they stop working. 4. How do you think about the jobs that can protect public safety? I think those work at positions that protect public safety need to be respected. Firstly, throwing themselves into those high risky jobs to ensure our safety, those people have shown us what unselfishness is and what courage is. Besides, thanks to their hard work, we are able to enjoy our life with fewer worriesabout being hurt in the society. 5. Do you think the profession of policemen is important? Should they receive high salaries? Police are definitely important for us. If we don’t have qualified police force to protect us, criminals will do whatever they want and the society will be in a state of chaos. I think being good police is not easy because it requires high moral standards and the willingness to fight with the evil power, so good police should be paid well. However, we should also note some bad eggs in the police force are degrading(降低身份) the police image as a whole, so I think the government should deal with it and make citizens more willing to see that police receive good salaries. 11. What are the factors that people consider when they choose jobs? There’re many things to consider when choosing jobs. The location and payment are all important for people who have a family because they need to stay close to their family and they need to have enough money to support the family Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 221 financially. For many young people, they also care a lot about the advancement of their career. They want to gain experience and need opportunities to learn more, so for these people, the pay will probably rank the second. 12. What kind of jobs can produce pollution? I would say a lot of factories will pollute the air and water, so the jobs in these places might be responsible for the pollution. For example, recently a battery manufacturer (制造商) is closed in my hometown because it polluted the nearby water sources. I think people who need to handle chemicals a lot should be careful and pay more attention to the environmental protection. It’s also important for them to take care of themselves because it’s also risky for them to work in such environment. If all the factories can follow the safety procedures(安全规程), we’ll feel safer to live on this planet. 13. What kind of job is interesting? It might be different for different people. I think the most interesting job would be the jobs that can fulfill our dreams and agree with our interest. If we do something we really like, we’ll feel the time is going very fast when we’re working. I have a friend who loves playing computer games and now his job is to develop game software. He’s very happy about his job because he loves this area and he can draw energy and strength from his work place. It’s very lucky for him. 14. What kinds of skills do students need? Students need to learn many skills. I think students must have good communicating and teamwork skills in order to be successful in their future jobs. 15. How can school help students to master necessary skills for their future career? Please give concrete examples. I think schools should have classes about these necessary skills so students can learn at school. Also schools can organize events to cultivate these skills. It’s very important for the students to use these skills because practice makes perfect. 16. What kinds of jobs are hot in China now? Management positions are always hot in China. With the development of many small companies, they need good managers to save money and help the companies operate smoothly. However, being a good manager is not easy. It requires professional training and experience. 17. What kinds of jobs do not require higher education? There’re many jobs. For example, waiters and waitresses don’t need to have higher education. However, if you want to find a good job, education is necessary. 18. How do people usually find jobs in China? What about in the past? Nowadays, people have many ways to find jobs. Using the internet is very popular because you can search the jobs you’re interested in all over China or even in other countries and you don’t need to go to job markets in person. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 222 Submitting application forms are easier now. You only need to press a button. However in the past, the government would assign jobs to people. A lot of people stay in the same job for their whole life. 19. What’s more important, salary and self development? They’re both important, but for young college graduates, self development might be more important because they need to gain some experience so that they can be more competitive in the future. For the people who need to take care of their family, they will probably consider the salary more. 20. Is it easy to find a job? It depends. When you are well‐educated, when you are not picky, I think, it is easy to find a job in China now, because job chances exist everywhere. However, many university graduates now, wasting too much time in their four‐year schooling and expecting too much from their first job. To them, it seems not easy to be employed. 21. How can you succeed in a job interview? To succeed in a job interview, we have to be well prepared. For example, it is a good idea to know something about the company, in this way; we can share opinions with the interviewers. Also, we need to wear clean and neat clothes, to show our respect to the interviewers, and they may have a favor on us. Thirdly, we should be confident in our knowledge and ability, showing our competence in doing the job well. By doing so, I believe we may have a higher possibility to be employed. 22. What kind of employees do companies want to hire? To be honest, I am not sure about the answer. But according to my understanding, the employees who are loyal to the companies, who are well educated for the positions, who are good in interpersonal skills and who are clearly aware of the work, will be better needed by the companies. 23. Should schools teach more skills than knowledge? I don’t think so. For schools, the main purpose is to educate students of their common knowledge about the world, the moral standard in their behaviors, the ways of studying. These help lay a solid foundation for the students to pursue a career in the future. As to skills, they can learn from their parents or just by themselves in the spare time, or accumulate on their later job positions. Teaching too much about skills in schools will make students be worldly or sophisticated, which is not good to create a positive social living atmosphere. 24. Is it reliable to search jobs online? Yeah, searching jobs online is a good idea and is growing popular theses days. But we have to possess a picky eye on it. Sometimes, the internet may be taken advantage by some ill‐willed people, we should be careful enough not to be misled by them. But thanks to the stricter censorship from the government, and increasing warning from the media, the environment on the internet is much healthier these days. 25. How could governments solve the problems of labor shortages? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 223 I think it’s the time for the government to pay more attention to the low class workers and help them get more benefits in the city. Otherwise, a lot of farmer workers will prefer to stay at home to attend to their land because even if they labor for their whole life and save most of the money they earn, a lot of them still can’t afford to get settled in cities. 26. Should we always do the same job or change jobs? It depends. If you like the job, it’s good for you to do the same job, but if you don’t like the job very much, it’s also possible for you to change jobs. The purpose of changing jobs should be finding a suitable job, but not for changing jobs. 27. Is it difficult to change jobs? I don’t think so. If you have certain skills, and do not mind salary problem, you can easily find a job. But sometimes if you care about the salary, the work place, and the colleagues, it will be hard for you to change jobs. 28. What kind of job can make the most money in China? I think jobs related to finance, economy can make the most money. For example, if you are doing works of front office in an investment bank, you can earn one million for one year. Normally a few people can earn 100000 for one year, so one million is really a lot of money, and it’s hard to find such a job. 29. What kinds of jobs are popular in China? I think jobs that can earn a lot of money are popular in China, because nowadays under the pressure of buying house and cars, most people need to earn more money to live. So people will choose jobs related to finance and economy, for those jobs usually can earn a lot of money. 5、A healthy lifestyle Describe something good for the health that you would recommend to others. You should say: who you would recommend it to what it is (or: what it would be) what equipment is needed for this (or: what equipment would be needed) and explain why you would recommend it to this person. Sample: There’re many ways to keep healthy. I’d like to talk about how to have a regular schedule, which’s very necessary for many young people who like staying up late. Staying up late or not getting enough sleep is very bad to our health. We may feel tired at work or in class and this will affect our performance. I think it’s important to have a regular schedule. It might be easier said than done, so we have to make plans and try to stick to them. Having a regular schedule is not a simple thing, which involves time management skills. Usually the reason for people staying up late is that they don’t organize their tasks wisely but try to rush everything at the last Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 224 minute. It’s not productive and bad for our health. I encourage all young people begin to follow the old saying, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” I’ve been doing it for a long time and I feel great for keeping this habit. I believe a good life style can help me stay healthy. I want to keep it and recommend more people join me. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. What role can media play in educating people about health? Well, it plays an important role because through the media, people can gain many kinds of information about health, which can advise them to improve their diet habits and the right ways to exercise. 2. What kind of food is healthy? What is junk food? There’re many healthy foods. In my opinion, seafood is very good for our health because it has rich vitamins and protein. However, a person should eat a variety of healthy food in order to keep a balanced diet. Fast food and many snacks are junk food. Although most junk food is delicious, it has less nutrition and is usually harmful to us, so we have to learn how to say no to it. 3. How can people improve their health in China? How can school/parents help children stay healthy? There’re many ways. In china, most people pay attention to the importance of exercise. In additional, some people believe a balanced diet is important for them to improve their health. 4. Do you work out/exercise regularly? How about most people old and young in China? Yes, of course. I often go to the fitness center near my home to work out. I think exercise is important for me because I can relax and refresh myself. Most old people exercise at the park, so they cannot only keep healthy but also make friends, while a lot of young are like me, they would choose fitness centers or play sports at school or some big squares. 5. How to teach children to live healthily? At home, the parents should teach their children the importance of keeping a regular schedule. It’s said that early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. At school, teachers should teach the children to exercise more, which can help the children grow healthily and even study more effectively. 6. How can employers/government encourage people to live healthily? Employers can organize outdoor activities or give the employees fitness center member cards, so the employees can have more motivation to work out. The government should provide more free fitness facilities near parks for people to exercise during their free time. Besides this, the government should encourage the citizens to eat healthily. 7. Do you think modern equipment are giving people more stress or making 优格官网：http://www.ukingedu.com 优格淘宝: http://yougejiaoyu.taobao.com 224 Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 225 people’s life easier? I think we receive both, advantages and disadvantages. Nowadays, modern equipment like computers and cell phones is making our life very easy. We can contact people who live far away from us and we can also find all kinds of information on the internet. However, sometimes, we tend to be obsessed with the equipment we have and spend way too much time on it than we should. For example, we might chat on the phone or use the computers for hours. In some sense, we’re controlled by these modern devices and we’re losing our time when we don’t realize it. 6、Family Photo Describe a family photo You should say: When and where it was taken? Why it was taken? Who were there in the photo? What did you do then? And explain why you think this photo is impressive. Sample: I have many family photos and sometimes my mom would put them in frames and hung them on the wall. They can tell the guests what the past was like in our family and can also remind us of the good memories we cherish. I want to talk about a photo taken on the great wall with my father and mother in last summer holiday. Now I put it in my bedroom and whenever I look at it, the good memory will come back to me. In the picture, you could see three people standing on the Great Wall and smiling happily. There’re also a few people around us because there were so many people on the great wall that day. It’s said that a person is not brave enough if he has never been to the great wall. So when my family traveled there, we decided to take a picture. We asked a traveler and she helped us take this special photo. Because my parents are always busy with their work, we don’t have a lot of opportunities to travel together. The trip to Beijing was really special to me, so the picture became one of my treasures at home. Photos can help us keep beautiful memories. I’m really thankful that we can take photos whenever we want. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Do you like to take photographs? =What kind of photo do you like to take? Yes, I do. I think it’s a good way to keep our memories. I like taking both natural beauty and people. I think they’re all good. However, I’m not a professional, so I hope I can learn more photographic skills in the future. 优格官网：http://www.ukingedu.com 优格淘宝: http://yougejiaoyu.taobao.com 225 Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 226 2. Do people in your country like to take photographs? Yes. In the past, there were not many people who had cameras, but now, along with the fast development of the economy, almost every family can afford cameras. People really enjoy taking pictures when they go traveling or when they have some big events. There’re also some people who like photography, which is an interesting hobby. 3. Some people don’t like taking photographs. Can you suggest any reasons why they might feel that way? Some people think it’s not necessary to take pictures too often and a few pictures will be enough. However, I’ve never seen people wouldn’t take pictures at all. 4. Why do some people dislike having their photo taken? It’s really hard to say. I think a lot of people who don’t like taking photos are shy and less confident. For example, I have a friend. He always says that he looks ugly and would always refuse to take pictures with his friends. I think it’s a little weird. 5. How do people keep their photos?= How do you keep your photos? In the past, most people keep their photos in albums. Nowadays, because of the popularity of digital cameras, a lot of people began to keep their pictures on their computers or even upload them to the internet. 6. Why do some people throw away some of their photographs? I guess when people want to forget something that happened in the past, they would want to throw away photos that carry these memories. Or if they think they don’t look good in the pictures, they might also want to throw them away. 7、What are the various ways that photographs are used? There’re actually many ways. Photos can be used for keeping our memories. For photography, photos are a kind of art and they could express their feelings and talents. For police, photos can be used as evidence. 8、What are the differences between taking photographs today and in the past? In the past, many families couldn’t afford cameras, so it’s very common for some families to have their pictures taken at the professional photo studio. Nowadays, almost every family can afford cameras and most of them have digital ones, so people are taking pictures whenever they want. 9、Has photographic equipment changed? (Compared to the past) ==What do you think are the differences between digital photography and the old form of photography? Which do you think is better? Definitely. The technology is advancing all the time. In the past, cameras were usually big and only a few people could afford them. Nowadays, a majority of Chinese people have much smaller digital cameras and we can see our photos as soon as they were taken. 11、What’s the difference between using a cell‐phone to take a photograph and using a camera? I think the quality of photos is different. The photos taken by professional Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 227 cameras have better quality and we can usually take a lot of them because the space of our camera memory card is big. However, most of the photos taken by cell phones are rather small and unclear. We usually can’t save a lot of photos to our cell phone due to the limited space of the memory card. 12、What are the differences between photos used for books and those used for advertisements? I think photos used for books are usually more personal and related to real life because when people read books, they’re more willing to spend more time to look at the pictures closely. However, a lot of photos in advertisements are commercialized and exaggerating because their goal is to attract people’s eyeballs. If people are not interested, their advertisements won’t be viewed by enough people, which will definitely hurt their goal of selling products. 13、Who likes taking photographs more, men or women? I think men. A lot of women like being taken in photos, but they usually care more about themselves rather than the surroundings. However, a lot of men are interested in taking photos of beautiful scenery, and interesting scenes. They may not want to be in pictures, but they’ll take a lot of photos when they go out or on a trip. 14、How do you think about the photos on face book? Believe it or not, I haven’t had a try on the face book yet, although it may be extremely popular in western countries. I usually log onto my QQ to chat with my friends online, and I just write my blogs on the QQ space or the space on SINA.com. Maybe facebook is just something like this QQ space, which is just a place for the public to express their opinions, and share their feelings with others. Maybe when I study abroad, I may have a try on it. Do as Romans do when I am in Rome, right? 15、 Do Chinese people like video taping? Yes. It wasn’t popular in the past, but nowadays more and more people can afford video cameras, so video taping some special events or marvelous scenery is becoming an important part of life. Video taping is very different from taking pictures because you can see the people or scenery in a very vivid way. My parents said they would bring the video camera on my graduation day to help me keep the best memory. 16、 What photos can be considered as good ones? It depends. If there are some good friends or relatives in photos, when you see the photos, they may remind you of precious things. That’s also good photos, even without good skills. However, there are some scenery photos with excellent photography skills; that’s also good photos. 17、 Should we learn photography? It depends. For me, I like taking photos very much, and I will learn photography to provide me a better skill to take good photos. Besides, I also learn how to print photos taken by film cameras. But to others, maybe they don’t like taking photos very much; they just use cameras to record something, so I think it is not Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 228 necessary for them to learn photography. 7、Skill/learning 1) A practical skill you learned Describe a useful practical skill that you learned (such as driving a car, speaking a foreign language, cooking etc). You should say: why you learned this skill how (and when) you learned it how difficult it was to learn and explain how this skill is useful to you. Sample： I’d like to describe a skill I learned, which is to edit songs on computer by using the software called cool edit. I love singing, so a skill to edit songs is very practical and important for me. I first heard about it when I was in high school. When I was surfing the internet, a net friend told me about this software. I began to learn how to use it at once by watching many online classes about it. Soon I can record my voice on the computer, and after a lot of practice, I can edit many audio files perfectly. For example, I sang a song named “take me away”. After being edited, it sounds just like the original singer’s singing. This skill is amazing because I can even change a girl’s voice into a boy’s voice. I like to play with it in my spare time, so my skill has improved a lot. When I told my friends about it, all of them were really impressed. 2) Something you enjoyed learning I enjoy learning how to play the guitar. I have to say I’m still not very good at it although I have been learning it for about a year. I think it’s because of my basic music knowledge and my busy schedule. I always wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument but my parents didn’t support me when I was a child. Last year, I mentioned that to one of my classmates and he immediately offered to teach me how to play the guitar. I was very excited and promised that I would try my best to learn. Then, I realized that it’s not that easy to learn a musical instrument. My fingers hurt a lot for the first few days, and then, I could see calluses (皮肤硬结) grew on them. But I enjoy learning it so I would practice almost everyday. At first, I could only play some simple notes, but now I could play some music pieces and can even Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 229 accompany my own singing. I still try my best to spend a few hours on it every week. I really enjoy the process. I guess, when you really like something, the learning will not be painful but rewarding. I’m glad that I’m learning this skill because it brings me a lot of happiness. 3) Something You Would Like to Learn More About Describe something that you are interested in and would like to learn more about. You should say what it is when (or how) you first became interested in it how you would learn it (If you decided to learn it.) and explain why you would like to learn more about this topic. Sample： I recently learned how to use the software called cool edit. It’s really cool because I could use it to edit songs and make them as good as the voices of famous singers. However, I only know the basic functions of it. If I have the opportunity, I’d like to learn more. I love singing, so a skill to edit songs is very practical and important for me. When I was surfing the internet, a net friend told me about this software. I began to learn how to use it at once by watching many online classes. Soon I can record my voice on the computer, and after a lot of practice, I can edit some audio files. But my friend told me I could use the software to change a girl’s voice into a boy’s voice and make some sounds just like the bird singing. I’m still not good enough to do these tricks. I think I should find some classes to take so that I can learn the skill from some professional teachers. I’m sure, one day I’ll be able to use this software perfectly. PART 3： Discussion topics: 1. Why are some children smarter than others? = Why do you think some people are gifted in certain areas? There’re many reasons. Genetic reason is one of the most important one. It’s said that smarter parents will be likely to have smarter children. Education also plays an important role. According to research, good parenting skills can help children become smarter. 2. Are there any disadvantages for being smarter than others? Of course. If a child is too smart, he or she might be proud and feel lonely. Eventually, these children may not be successful as the less smart children. 3. What skills do children learn faster than adults?= Do children learn things faster than adults? That’ll be language. I heard that children can learn a language and speak it fluently by studying it for only three months. But it’s usually difficult for adults. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 230 For example, I’ve been learning English for more than ten years, but I still can’t speak it very fluently. 4. How do you learn something new? How do people learn new things now? I learn new things through many ways, searching information on the internet, taking classes, or reading relevant books. I think most people are like me. 5. How do you learn things through the internet? I’ll search all kinds of information available and organize them. It’s very helpful because you can find almost everything online. 6. Can people be more talented if they get enough training? I think so. Relevant training can help a person to develop in a certain area. When you know a lot about an area, compared with others, you’re talented. So I think it’s hard to define talent sometimes. 7. Is it good to praise a child by saying “you’re smart”? I think encouragement is important for children because they will feel interested and can continue what they’re doing. However, too much praise will make children proud and arrogant, so it will be harmful to their growth. 8. Why do you think children learn language faster? Children don’t learn language as adults do. They learn through mimicking how other people say it, which is very effective. Also, children are willing to take risks. We seldom see children feel embarrassed for making grammar or vocabulary mistakes when they speak. They just try and try again. This spirit helps them succeed. 9. Should we learn more practical skills? Yes, definitely. If we learn more practical skills, we can use them in our future working environment. With an ever‐increasing competition in today’s society, employers think highly of adults who integrate theory with practice. Practical skills will help us get promising jobs in the future. Also practical skills are usually closely related to our real life; they could benefit us and make our life easier. 10. Is it easier to learn skills compared to pure knowledge? I think skills are harder to master because we need to fully understand the theories in order to put them into practice. If students just memorize test answers to get high scores, they’ll feel hard to have the skill if they don’t learn the theories at a deeper level. 11. What skills do Chinese children learn? Nowadays, a lot of Chinese students learn problem solving, presenting, and group work skills at school. I think these are very helpful to their future life and career. If they don’t know these skills, it’ll be hard for them to survive and fit in the society. 12. What’s the difference between young people and old people when they learn new skills and theories? A lot of young people can receive new things easily and they might learn faster than a lot of older people, especially theories. However, old people have Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 231 rich experience and if they could connect what they learn with their existing knowledge, they might learn better. 13. Should people always study up‐to‐date skills? Yes. Our society is developing very fast. If we don’t learn up‐to‐date skills, we might be out of date and couldn’t function in many circumstances. For example, if an accountant is away from his or her career for several years, I guess it’ll be hard for him or her to return to the profession right away without some relative training. 14. What’s the difference between the way people learn things past and now? In the past, people learn from schools and books. Nowadays, we can register courses online and search for relevant information on the internet. This really makes our learning easier and more convenient. 15. Should companies pay for their employees to learn new skills? Yes, I think so. If the employees learn new skills, they can be more productive and work more effectively for their companies. They can also teach what they have learned to their colleagues. The company may need to spend some money first, but in the long run, they’ll benefit in many ways. 16. What can be considered practical skills? A lot of skills can be considered practical. Nowadays, even college students want to learn driving, which is useful when they start working. Also, good communication skills are also important because when we work, we have to communicate with our boss or colleagues effectively in order to do our job well. 17. Is it not necessary for people to learn new things when they reach a certain age? It’s never too old to learn. Even when we’re old, we should still try to keep up with the society. For example, I know a man in his seventies learned computer skills. It’s not only something that makes young people admire him but also helps him be more confident in himself. 18. Is it easier to learn by yourself or from others? Well, it depends. Sometimes, when I have to focus on something, when I am sure how to achieve my aim in studying, I think learning by myself, with less disturbance from others may help me grasp the knowledge or skills more easily. However, in other cases, when I am not sure how to learn, and what to learn to realize my dream, maybe it is easier to learn from teachers or others who are professional in the field. 19. Who do you think learns more easily, adults or children? = Who do you think is more receptive to learning, adults or children? It depends. Adults can learn some abstract concepts faster and they’re usually good at using their hands. However children can learn many other things more easily, such as language. I heard that children could learn a language and speak it fluently by studying it for only three months. For me, as an adult, I’ve been learning English for more than ten years, but I still can’t speak it very fluently. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 232 20. Compare how teachers should teach academic subjects with how practical knowledge (skills) should be taught. I think academic subjects also involve some practical usage. It’s better to teach students academic subjects by connecting them to their real life. However, practical skills should be taught in a different way. Students should really do what they learn in order to learn and master the skill well. 21. Do you think it’s important for people to keep learning after they have finished their formal education (at school/university)? I think so. Just like the saying goes, it’s never too old to learn. The society is progressing everyday. I think it’s really important for us to keep learning in order to catch up with the rest of the people around us. 22. So, why do people go to work and stop learning things after they graduate from university? After people start working, they’ll usually have to consider having a family, which will definitely occupy a lot of their time. Also, some people feel that after they finish school, they’ll need some time to relax and enjoy their life and learning is a hard task. Of course, it’s a wrong concept but it’s common. 23. What facilities are there in your hometown for adults (working people) to continue learning? = How easy is it for adults (working people) in your hometown to continue learning? There’re a lot of professional training schools to teach almost all kinds of skills, such as cooking, computing, and languages. Besides, many colleges also offer courses to working class. If they enroll in such programs, they only need to attend evening or weekend classes. I think as long as you want to learn, you’ll be able to find ways to achieve your goals. 24. Do you think governments should support adult education? Definitely. In china, a lot of people don’t get the opportunities to learn when they are children, but they still want to fulfill their dreams when they’re working. If the government supports adult education, these people might produce more for the society. 25. What would you suggest would be good courses for old people? A lot. I think old people can learn many skills, such as cooking, painting, and dancing. If they learn these skills well, they can have more hobbies to enjoy after they retire and they can also meet new friends in their classes. 26. In your opinion, what has the greater influence on a child’s development, his or her family or other things (such as TV, school, friends, etc.)? I think both parents and the environment can influence a child’s development. Parents can teach the children manners and knowledge. Children can also copy what their parents do. However, the influence from schools, friends, and TV is just inevitable. 27. What are the main sources of knowledge or information that are available today? = Is this different to the past? Many ways, the internet, books, and TV. Nowadays, we can learn things by Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 233 simply exploring the internet. We can almost find everything we want. It’s really important for us to have the wisdom to choose the suitable information. In the past, most of us get information from books, newspapers and TV. I think the only difference is the internet. 28. Do you think information that we find on the internet is reliable? Not always. Since everybody has the access to the internet, sometimes people may post something that only reflect their own opinions and experiences. That can mislead people. We should be wise to know how to judge the information we get. 29. How do you think about the education system in China? I think the education system in china is basically test oriented. Schools and the parents pay too much attention to the test scores. Actually the students who’re good at taking tests may not be good at putting the theories into practice. Now, both the government and schools have realized the problem and they begin to take measures to encourage students to learn more practical skills as well as theories. 30. Which one is the better way for adults to learn new things, going back to schools or taking courses after work? I think both are good, but different people should choose different further education according to their own situations. For example, if a person hasn’t started a family, he/she might want to study full‐time at a college or grad school. However, with a family, people will have more obligations, especially financial ones, so it might not be reasonable for them to quit their jobs. In this case, taking some courses in the evening or at weekends might be more suitable for them. 31. Should the government give retired people more education opportunities? Of course, that’ll be wonderful. A lot of retired people are still very energetic and willing to learn new things. Since they have been busy with their work all their life, they might want to enjoy learning something new when they get old. I think the government should provide some senior colleges to teach these people something they are interested in. For example, a lot of old people enjoy painting and they think it’s a great way to relax. So it’ll be nice to provide something like that for them. 32. What are the advantages and disadvantages of group learning? Group learning is beneficial to us in at least one way. It will teach us how to cooperate with others, for it must have a lot of discussions and debates in group learning. As for the disadvantages, if your group leader is very excellent, you may not develop your own opinion, but just follow him, so you will lose the chance to think individually. 33. What are the advantages and disadvantages of learning from a teacher? Learning from a teacher is beneficial to us in at least one way. It will help us to gain knowledge of one specific area, for a teacher must be a specialist in one filed. As for the disadvantages, if your teacher is very excellent, you may not develop your own opinion, but just follow him, so you will lose the chance to Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 234 think individually. 8、Clothing Describe an item of clothing that was bought for you. You should say: what it is who bought it what it looks like why it was bought for you and explain how you feel (or felt) about this item of clothing. Sample 1： an item of clothing that was bought for you. I’d like to describe a piece of clothing that my friend bought for me. Actually I used to like boy friend style. It means wearing a very loose shirt with a belt, matching with a pair of very tight trousers. My friend thought it was not very suitable for me because I was very girly. On my thirteenth birthday, one of my best friends bought me a very girly dress. The color was very bright, red and black. The dress came with a belt. The belt was black and there was a big bow on it. The belt made this dress even more girly. There was a lot of lace as well. I didn’t like it when I first saw it, but I felt that it was polite to try it on for my friends. After putting it on, I felt it was very suitable for me. In the mirror, I looked like a princess. After that birthday, I started to dress myself more girly. I still keep this dress in my closet because I like it a lot. Sample 2—Jacket I’d like to talk about a jacket my father bought me on my eighteen’s birthday. It’s a gray jacket made of cotton. The style is very casual, so it is comfortable to wear. There are four pockets on the jacket. It is really convenient for me because I can keep my money and keys in them. Because of the color, it can almost match all the clothes I have. I especially like the hood that connected to the jacket. When the wind is very strong, I can use it to keep myself warm. I remember how I got the jacket. I went shopping with my parents before my birthday because they wanted to buy me some clothes as my birthday present. My father liked the sweater jacket, so he wanted to buy it for me. But I thought it was too expensive. I told him that I was only a child, so I didn’t need to wear expensive clothes. I thought he didn’t buy it. But on my birthday, he gave me this jacket as my birthday present. He said, “you are eighteen already now, so you are no longer a child. I want to give you this gift to remind you that you are an adult.” It is the best gift I have ever received. I still keep this jacket and wear it occasionally. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 235 Sample3：A type (or style) of clothes you like Describe a style of clothes that you like to buy. * You should say: what type (or style) of clothes where you usually buy these clothes how often you buy them and explain why you like this style of clothes. Sample： I like casual clothes because I think they’re comfortable to wear and easy to match. I would usually go shopping in a department store in the downtown area of my city because I can find all kinds of famous brands there. I care about brands because I think big companies usually put more effort into what they make. In that case, I don’t have to worry about the quality of my clothes too much. I don’t like window shopping because I’m busy with other obligations. I would usually shop when I feel that I really need to add more pieces to my wardrobe. A shopping list is always helpful for me. I prefer to buy several shirts and pants at the same time. Of course, I usually vary the colors and styles. I think color is also very important for my clothes selection. I prefer light color clothes in summer because they could make me feel cool and refreshed. In winter, I would wear more dark color clothes. I guess they might make me feel warm. Sometimes, I’m amazed that how much time some fashionable girls and boys can spend on clothes selection. In my opinion, clothes should be used to serve our needs, both physical and aesthetical. Of course, we shouldn’t care too less of our appearance, but we also shouldn’t be obsessed with what we wear and how we look. PART 3： Discussion topics: 2. Do you like shopping? What brand/style do you like to wear? I like shopping very much, because I can learn the latest trends and buy something I need. I like sport style, especially Nike. I often buy clothes of this brand because I feel very comfortable and fashionable when I wear this brand. 2、Have you ever bought some clothes that you didn’t wear? Certainly, once, I bought a T shirt online. When I received it, I felt the color and style were not the same as I had expected. I think we should be careful when we shop online. 3、What’s fashion? I think when things are popular among most people, it’s fashion. Now, I‐phone is in fashion all over the world. We can see many stars use i‐phone to update their twitters. 4. What’s your opinion about famous brands and designs? = How do you think about famous brands? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 236 Famous brands mean great quality and unique designs. I think it’s not good for people to be obsessed with famous brands because they have to spend a lot of money on that. It’s not worthy. 5、 How do you think about the works of famous designers? The works of famous designers are worth collecting because to some extend they are art works rather than clothing. However, common people cannot afford them because they’re too expensive. 6、How and where do you buy clothes? What kind of clothes do you like to buy? Well, usually, I like to buy my clothes from those big department stores, because I think the clothes sold there may be of higher quality and better brands although the price may be a little bit high. I like to buy pants, and suits there. But now I start to buy clothes on the Internet for clothes like sports wear and leisure wear. It’s so convenient and economical. 7、Why should clothes designed by famous designers expensive? Well, firstly, the famous designers may be evidence to prove the quality of the clothes. Also, there are not many famous designers around the world, and when more people want to buy the clothes they design, according to scarcity principle, the clothes are expensive. 8、What’s the difference between men and women when they go shopping? Well, there are some differences between them. For example, men like to go directly to the specific shop to buy the specific goods he has thought about for a time, while women may just walk around between shops, looking here and there but buy nothing. Besides, men may buy something they need and of a high quality, while women may purchase the things because of impulse or the inducement of a low price, and most probably they may not even use them later in life. 9、What do you think about buying those luxury goods? It depends. If we buy a few luxuries to make our life more colorful, I think it’s good. For example, a bottle of expensive French perfume on one’s birthday is definitely understandable, but I just can’t stand people throwing things away after using them a few times. For example, some people change cars every year or buy thousands of clothes and don’t have time to wear them all. I think it’s a great waste. 10、Why should people pay a lot of money for designers to design their clothes? Why do they like clothing tailored and designed for themselves? Well, firstly, some people hope that their clothes could be unique, totally different in styles with others. In this sense, they are not willing to buy some ready‐made clothes, but ask professional designers to design their clothes. Therefore, to ensure the quality, to focus on the design, to guarantee the uniqueness, and to satisfy the requirements of the customers, those designers have to be highly paid. 11. Can you tell people’s personality from what they wear? Yeah. To some extent, we can tell a person’s personality from what he wears. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 237 For example, those who are always in formal suits may be serious and careful, those who are in casual wears may like sports and be friendly, and those who are in black may be introverted or unwilling to communicate with others. However, these days, people are always changing what they wear, just to make themselves feel comfortable and elegant. In this way, it’s hard to tell. 12. Are school uniforms necessary? Yes, I think so. For one thing, school uniforms enable the schools to manage the students more efficiently, and they help make students look orderly on the campus. On the other hand, when all students are in uniforms, they can focus more on their studies, rather than compare with each other for their clothes or try to follow the fashion. 13. Is color important for you when you choose clothes? Not really. As long as I find myself look good, I will buy the clothes, no matter in what colors it is. Sometimes I may be in red, which make me feel energetic, sometimes I may be in blue, which helps me to stay calm. 14. Is it good for young people to follow fashion? To some extent, yes. When young people are following fashions, they are up to date with the time, they have their interests to develop, and they have the topics to share with their peers. However, too much focus on following the fashion may prevent the young from developing their careers, which is not good for their growth. 15. Why Chinese people like to buy clothes? Where do they go? How often do they buy clothes? Thanks to the development of economy and the improvement of people’s life level, Chinese people now are much richer than ever before, so their affordability of clothes is greatly enhanced. When people become rich, the first thing they do is to buy those beautiful clothes that they have dreamed of, to make themselves look beautiful and to satisfy their needs. These days, people are going farther to bigger stores and more fashionable shops to buy their clothes, and even some of them go to Hong Kong, London or Paris, to buy a lot of clothes they like. 9、a small but successful company Describe a small company in your hometown that you think is successful. You should say: what this company produces (or does) how you know this company what kinds of people work in this company and explain why you think this company is successful. or and explain how you think this company became successful. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 238 Sample： There’re many successful companies around me. When we know them better, we’ll be able to see they really have something in common. A successful company has to have an excellent leader, good policies, and encouraging company culture. I’d like to talk about a small training company owned by my friend, Ming. When he had this idea about opening a training school, he was just an English teacher. He believed that he could do it and the future was promising. He started this company 1 year ago. At first, they only had three employees but now the company has developed to a much bigger one—they have about one fifty employees and many students. At first, there were not many students, but he didn’t give up. He went out to advertise with his employees and gave free demo lessons. And they tried their best to make their classes different than other schools and organized many school events to attract students. The company is also willing to pay money for the teachers to receive relevant training and they have cultivated a good company culture. I think effective advertising and the quality of the staff members make the company successful. Every company has their own ways to succeed, but it’s important for a company to be willing to learn and invest effectively. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1、What types of companies (or, businesses) are most successful in your country (or, hometown)? It’s hard to say. I think all types of companies can be successful as long as they could sell their products or service. I think the most successful companies are restaurants. I guess it’s because people are getting richer and can eat out more often. 2、Why do some businesses become successful while others do not? There’re many reasons. If a business wants to be successful, it should choose a good area to begin with. They have to have their unique products or service and can be competitive among their rivals. Otherwise, it’ll be hard for them to survive. 3、Which would you prefer to do, be an employee or a manager of a company? = Which work do you think is easier, being an employee or being a manager? If I can earn enough money, I prefer to be an employee because managers usually should take more responsibilities and it’s very common for managers to work overtime and spend much more energy. 5、Would you like to have your own company (or, business)? I don’t have the plan so far, maybe in the future. Actually I prefer to be an employee because business owners usually should take more responsibilities and it’s very common for them to work overtime and spend much more energy. 6、What fields do you think will be successful in the future? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 239 Well, the world is full of opportunities now. As long as we are thinking from the aspect of the customers, when we could provide something that people are deadly in need of, we will succeed, no matter in what field we are. 7、Is it better to start your own companies or work for others? At the start of my career, I think a period of working for others is a must for me. I need to practice my skills, know more about the market, and accumulate more resources. After 5years, I hope I can start my own company, because in this way, I can make my ability into full play, achieving my life goals to be a successful man in this world. 8、What are the advantages and disadvantages of working at a family company? Working at a family company, we will contribute all our energy for the benefit of the company, coz we are working for ourselves. However, this may limit the development of the company, due to the difficulty in management. To employees, with a relatively restricted view about the world, it is not good for them to accumulate experience and due to lack of competition, it is not an ideal place to cultivate their abilities. 9、What qualities should employees have? How to acquire these qualities? Well, I think employees should be loyal to the company, and so they will consider things from benefit of the company. Also, they should be competent in their job positions, so that they can contribute to the development of the company. Besides, team work spirit is important because only one person cannot support a company. If the employees are well aware of these, they will surely develop their qualities in their career; otherwise, they will be laid off. 10 、 What kind of companies can be considered successful? And what are unsuccessful? Well, companies should sell products or service. If they have their own specialty, a lot of people can recognize their products or service, and they’re making profit, I’ll say they’re successful. If not, even the biggest company shouldn’t be considered successful. Most unsuccessful companies don’t have good policies and specialties. I think these companies need to spend more energy on the creativity and quality of their products or service. 11. Can small companies become successful easily? Not really. In this society, when the game rules are set, it is even not easy for small companies to survive, not to say become successful. In comparison, the small but successful companies are actually very rare, or even when they succeed for a period, we are not sure whether they can continue their success in the next period. 12. What can make a small company successful? In order to be successful, the small companies have to be unique in some way. For example, they can have a very different product which is greatly needed by the people while the big companies wouldn’t bother to produce, or the boss of the company is extremely specialized in some certain field that the others cannot replace him, and in other cases, via the internet, when the small company can Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 240 take advantage of the information and grasp the chance to take quicker actions, they may have an opportunity to become successful. 13、What are the major industries in China? Well, these days, it seems that all forms of industries are developing quickly in China. The heavy industry, the light industry, the tertiary industry, farming, fishery, almost every line, there are people working in. In general, there is a trend for the high‐tech industry and service industry to develop into the major industries. 14、Are there any newly developed industries in China? Yeah, a great many new industries are developed these years. For example, thanks to the coming of the internet, on‐line shops are now becoming popular in China, and many people like to buy things from those shops on the internet. Also, under the strict regulations on drunk‐driving, a new profession named “drive service” is created. And to help people write meaningful and funny messages to send to others, SMS writers appeared. With the need of the change, more new professions and so many new industries will come into our life. 15、What’s the value of foreign companies in China? In the beginning of China’s opening policy, foreign companies brought in a lot of investment, and new concepts in China, which helped us to develop at a faster speed. Now, foreign companies still contribute a lot to the employment rate and the cultivation of advanced managers and professional workers. 16、Besides making money, what else should companies do? Taking advantage of the social resources to earn a great profit, I think the companies, besides continuing to make money, should also do something in return to the society, such as donating some of their profits to those charity organizations to help those in great need. In addition, they should do something to protect the environment, to create a better social atmosphere and provide more service to the society. 17、What kind of business does Chinese government pay more attention to? In this modern society, it seems that Chinese government are paying more attention to those companies that can pay large sum of taxes, those that can provide more job opportunities, those that can promote the development of high technology, and those that can be truly beneficial to the society. For example, the prosperity of real estate industries and the internet companies are just cases in point. 18、What can companies contribute to the economic development in china? Actually, companies can help to do a lot to promote the economic development. For example, they can try their best to be stronger, so that more job opportunities can be provided, and more revenues (税收)could be levied （征 收）. Besides, with their profits earned, they can contribute to some investment in poor areas or some small companies, to help them develop at a faster speed. Thirdly, by producing more products to the society, they are using some other raw material, which will lead to the boom of other downstream enterprises. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 241 19、How important is environmental protection for companies? Generally, environmental protection is quite important for companies. For one thing, they are seeking raw material from the environment, and so a good environment can ensure them a sustainable development. Also, only in a good environmental situation, will the public have the interest in their consumption of daily necessities to make profits for the companies. 20、What kind of people is suitable to be bosses? Well, in my opinion, people are not born to be bosses. They have to do a lot to be bosses. For example, they have to try their best to find out the opportunities to make a fortune, they have to accumulate enough resources to help them do the businesses, and they have to motivate the employees to make more contributions. In this way, can they be real bosses with success. 21、Do you think everyone should start their own business? Not necessarily. For one thing, not everyone is suitable to be the boss, to whom having a good job may be ideal. For another, it is not easy to achieve success in this modern world, even if he starts his business. Without the right opportunity, without the needed resources, and without the ability to manage the business, one is better not to start for a failure. However, when everything is ready, and when one is determined to do so, having a try will at least make him regretless when he gets old. 22、What’s the difference between companies in the past and now? Well, companies in the past and now have quite big differences. In the past, companies were usually of a smaller scale, with fewer advanced managing skills, focusing more on the traditional businesses. But now, we can find giant companies everywhere, with international branches, and professional employees, doing businesses in almost every field that we can imagine or even beyond our imagination. 10、A gift 1) A gift you gave others Describe a gift you gave to someone. You should say: what the gift was who you gave it to why you gave it and explain whether this person liked the gift or not. Sample‐‐Chanel Number 5 perfume： I remember the most expensive thing I bought was a gift I gave to my mom on her 48th birthday. It’s chanel number 5, a classic perfume. It cost me 7 hundred Yuan. The bottle was round and fancy. As we know, Chanel is a famous French fashion brand. Chanel specializes in luxury goods and has always specialized in items such as simple suits, dresses, women's pants, and perfume. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 242 I can always remember my mom sent me the umbrella in a rainy day when I was in primary school. She sacrificed her youth and beauty for me so I wanted to give her something good. I knew she liked all kinds of perfumes but she didn’t have channel number 5. I thought it was a great idea to give her something she liked on her birthday. Actually I had to save for a long time to buy it. I was so happy the moment I had enough money for it. I can’t forget the smile on her face when she opened my present box. She was very happy and told me, this was the best gift she had ever received. She tried it immediately and the room was full of the fragrance of the perfume. She told me she would wear it whenever she could. When she wore the perfume, she would feel that I was around her. I’m glad that I chose the right gift for my mother. I think we should give the best to the ones who love you. 2) A gift you would like to buy for a friend Describe a friend you would like to give a gift to. * Or Describe a gift you would like to give to a friend. * You should say: who the friend is how long you have known this person what the gift is (or would be) and explain why you would like to give this particular gift to this person. Sample: I would like to buy a bottle of Chanel number five perfume for my best friend, Lily. Lily and I have been friends since we were in elementary school. She likes perfume very much because she thinks the fragrance of perfume can make our life more colorful. I know she has collected a lot of perfume but she doesn’t have Chanel number five yet. Now she is about to have her twentieth birthday. I think this perfume will be the perfect gift for her. I went to the mall the other day and found that the cost of the perfume is about seven hundred yuan. I think it’s a little expensive but since we’re good friends, I shouldn’t be too stingy about her gift. I’ll save for it and I think I’ll be able to have enough money next month. Her birthday is in the end of next month, so I have enough time to prepare for it. I can imagine how happy she will be when she opens my present. She’ll probably try the perfume right away and the whole room will be full of the elegant smell. Whenever she wears this perfume, it’ll be a reminder of our friendship. I think we should give something nice to the people we love. PART 3：Discussion topics: Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 243 11. Why are people giving more and more expensive gifts? = Should gifts be connected to the cost? Because of the improvement of our living standard and the update of products, more and more people like to send their friends or the people they love expensive gifts. In China a gift means respect and friendship, so if they give expensive gifts, it means they value the relationship. Sometimes yes. Because of the improvement of our living standard and the update of products, more and more people like to send their friends or the people they love expensive gifts. In China a gift means respect and friendship, so if they give expensive gifts, it means they value the relationship. 12. Do you like giving gifts or receiving gifts? = What do you think about giving and receiving? I like receiving gifts because every gift represents friendship and love. However, when I give gifts to others I can express my feelings and love. I think it’s also important to have the opportunities to give. 13. When do you give gifts to others? On what occasions do Chinese people give gifts? =Do Chinese people give each other gifts on festivals? I usually give gifts on other people’s birthdays or anniversaries. Also, I would always send gifts to my friends on Christmas and New Year. And on mother’s day and father’s day, I also give gifts to my parents to show my appreciation. 14. How do you choose presents for others if you don’t know what they like? Is it difficult to buy the right present? I think so. Choosing the right gift is very difficult because there’re too many choices. We always hope the gift we give will be liked by our friends or family. For me, before I choose a gift, I would try to ask the person questions to know what he/she really wants. After that, I’ll have a clear idea about what to buy. 15. Is it good to give money or presents? = Which do you think is better, giving gifts or money? It really depends. If the person really needs money instead of gifts, I think giving money will be very practical. For example, we usually give money as wedding gifts because most newly married couples need a lot of money to adjust to the changes. 16. How do you think about buying gifts online? = Do you send gifts through the internet? I think it’s ok to buy gifts online. Sometimes when we’re busy, it’s convenient to shop online. Besides, there are always a variety of products online. Buying gifts online can give us more choices. 17. Why should we give different gifts to different people? Definitely. We have to give gifts according to people’s preference, age, and gender. If we buy the same gift for a child and our grandparents, it’ll just be unreasonable. We want the people who receive our gifts feel that they really like and need what we give. We have to choose gifts carefully. 18. What’s the difference between gifts now and past? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 244 In the past, because most people were less wealthy, when they choose gifts, they tend to think about the practical value of gifts. Nowadays, people are richer than before, sometimes, we give gifts that are just for decoration or memory. 19. What gift do you want to receive? Personally, I like practical gifts. I want to receive something useful because I have a pile of presents that can’t be used any where. I think, when we give gifts, we have to think whether the people who receive them really need them. 20. When do you need to give expensive gifts? On big events, something like wedding or baby showers, we have to give something nice because a lot of people only have this kind of experience once in their life. 21. How do you think about people giving money to charity organizations? I think it’s good because people can show their care to the poor and needy. Although a lot of people are living a wealthier life, it’s important to keep in mind that a lot of people are still suffering from poverty and hunger. I think it’s necessary for us to take care of them. 22. Do you think parents are buying too many things for their children? Probably, you know. It is not long before China carried out its opening and reforming policy to boom the economy, and most of the parents now were once in their childhood, experiencing a poor life, without much to eat, to clothe, not to say to play, so they want to create a better living environment for their children through buying them almost every thing the children need, expecting the children to have a much happier life. However, with too much supply, and nothing to dream for and work hard for, the children may lack some important personality traits to achieve success in their latter life. 11、The most expensive thing you ever bought Describe the most expensive thing you bought You should say: what it was when you bought it where you bought it and explain why you bought it. Sample： The most expensive thing I bought was a gift I gave my sister on her birthday. It’s a Mac laptop, which cost me more than ten thousand RMB. I bought it last year in an apple computer store. My younger sister really wanted to have an apple laptop because of the functions and beautiful design. Since the price was a little high, my parents didn’t want to buy one for her. I always wanted to give her something she liked as her birthday gift, so I decided to buy a Mac in spite of the price. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 245 As a student, I’m not rich at all, so I made my plans, such as taking part time jobs during my school holidays and selling flowers on Valentine’s Day. When I got enough money for the laptop, I found that the price had dropped a little because I had saved for so long, which was actually good news for me. On my sister’s birthday, I gave her the laptop I bought. She was thrilled and said it was the best and most expensive gift she had ever received. I believe I made the right decision because we should give what we value to the people we love. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Why do you think young people want to buy expensive things that they don’t really need? There are many reasons. Sometimes we do buy things that we want but don’t need. For example, we can spend fifty yuan on a piece of clothing and 1000 yuan for a similar one but of a famous brand with good quality. For some people, these two kinds of clothes are very similar but for a lot of others, they’re completely different. Expensive products usually mean status and taste. 2. Why do you think high‐tech products are sold very expensively? ==Why do you think people want to buy something they don’t really need? I have to say knowledge is very important in modern society. Sometimes high‐tech products need a lot of people to spend many hours in labs to do research. Because of the time and money spent on them, it’s natural for companies to sell them for high prices. 3. Will you spend a lot of money on something expensive but necessary? If I have the money, I will. For example, housing prices are really high right now, but if I’m old enough to start a family, I’ll definitely buy one. 4. Have you ever bought something expensive but not useful? Yes. Once I bought a set of wireless earphones, which were a little expensive. Later I found they were very battery consuming. Now I just put them in my drawer and seldom use them. I guess it’s something expensive I bought but not useful. 5. How should parents teach children to save? Why? Parents can share their saving experience with their children because good models can always influence the children. Also, they were necessary to help children make their own saving plans. If children don’t learn how to save when they are young, they might have financial problems when they grow up. 6. Have people changed their shopping habits? Maybe. In the past, people were comparatively less wealthy, so they didn’t have a lot of money to spend. However, now, people are getting richer, so they’ll have more money to spend on luxuries. 7. What’s the young people’s spending philosophy? Why? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 246 Nowadays, a lot of young people believe it’s ok to spend tomorrow’s money for today. Many people rely on credit cards and sometimes a lot of working class can spend more than they earn. However, there’re still a lot of people like saving. 8. What can influence the way people spend money? Well, many areas in our life. If most of the people living around us tend to be frugal, we might learn from them. If we can barely make a living, we’ll tend to spend more carefully. However, if we earn a handsome salary, there’s no reason to be cheap to ourselves. 9. What’s the difference between credit cards and cash? When we use credit cards, we only get to see a number that we spend, which might make us feel that we’re not really spending a lot of money. However, when we spend cash, we tend to be more careful because when seeing the money we pay, we might feel that’s a lot. It’s also safer to use credit cards because, if we carry a lot of cash with us, we need to worry about theft and robbery. 11、Do Chinese people spend a lot of money shopping? Some people, especially young people. Nowadays, there’s a new term, yueguangzu, which talks about people who always spend all their salaries or earnings before the end of the month. I think it’s ok to spend a reasonable amount of money each month, but definitely not all we earn. It’s harmful for both the people and the society. 12、What’s the difference between men and women when they go shopping? Men usually have very specific goals when they go shopping. They can choose a piece of clothing in five minutes. However, women love looking around in shopping centers before making their decisions. A woman might spend a whole day shopping without taking anything home. It’s partly because of the wide variety of women clothing and partly because of women’s indecisive nature. They just can’t make the decisions easily. 13、What do young people like to buy? Clothing and electronic products. I’ve seen many of my friends changing cell‐phones every year or several times a year. They just can’t refuse the temptations of electronic product advertisements. Also, many young people love dressing themselves up in unique styles, so they’ll need to go shopping for clothes very often. 14、Is shopping a popular way to relax for Chinese people? For a lot of women, but definitely not for men. Women think it’s great to see and even try different styles of clothing. When they spend money, they’ll feel like giving away their troubles and stress from work or studies. So it’s really a popular way to relax. For me, shopping in big shopping malls can make me nervous and uncomfortable because sometimes there’re just way too many people, so I go shopping only when I have to. 15、Why should parents control how much money children spend? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 247 If children develop the habit of spending too much money, it’s actually harmful for them, even for children from rich families. If they don’t see the value of money as ordinary people see, they might tend to waste money in the ways that they don’t realize. What if they get poor one day, it might be hard for them to survive if they’ve got used to spending way too much money than they could actually make. Parents should teach children how to save money because frugal children usually have fewer financial problems when they grow up. 16、Are people easily influenced by others when they buy things? Absolutely. Conformity mentality can occur everywhere in our life. When we see people buy something, we’ll feel that we have to have this or that, even if it’s not suitable for us. It’s just hard to think clearly when a group of people are saying, it’s right, through their actions. I think we really need to learn to stick to our own plans and opinions. 17、In what areas do people spend most of their money? Different people spend money in different areas but nowadays we usually don’t spend too much on our basic needs. Young women tend to spend more money on clothing, but a lot of young men might be more interested in electronic equipment and couldn’t wait to buy the latest edition. A lot of parents spend money on their children’s education and people who get sick easily might give a big amount of their money to hospitals and pharmacies. 18、Is it worth spending a lot of money on high‐tech products? Personally, I think it’s not necessary. Some people don’t really need a lot of advanced functions of the high‐tech devices but they want to have them because their friends all do. I think it’s not environmental friendly if we change our cell‐phones frequently or throw our computers away after a year. 19、Are people getting more and more materialistic (享乐主义的)? Along with the development of the economy, a lot of people begin to compare what they have with others’ possessions. It’s like materials can give a lot of people satisfaction and we feel happy when we possess certain stuff we want. However, materials make us feel tired and sometimes drive us to work more and more in order to afford more products we desire. I think we should be careful about being too materialistic. We should only care about what we really need but not others think we should have. 20、What’s the spending philosophy of modern people? A lot of people think they should treat themselves well, so they’re willing to spend a lot of money on a piece of clothing or a meal. Some young people even don’t have a savings account and have to live on credit cards. I think for these people, they really should learn how to be thrifty and frugal because they might face serious financial problems if they’re not careful. 21、What’s the difference of spending money between old and young people? A lot of old people in China believe they should save money for their children, so they tend to be frugal and spend very carefully. However, many Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 248 young people spend generously for themselves and sometimes they even need to rely on credit cards. I think neither way is good. The old people need to learn how to be generous with themselves and the young people need to learn how o save some money for their future. 22、What do you think about luxury consumption? It depends. If we buy a few luxuries to make our life more colorful, I think it’s good. For example, a bottle of expensive French perfume on one’s birthday is definitely understandable, but I just can’t stand people throwing things away after using them a few times. For example, some people change cars every year or buy thousands of clothes that don’t have time to wear them all. I think it’s a great waste. 23. Should the government take measures to control how much people spend? I don’t think it necessary. Firstly, people have contributed part of their money in the form of taxes to the government, and with that limited money left, they should have the freedom to spend on their own. Also, the government has a lot more important things to do, although to some extent, a kind of guidance may be helpful to create a healthier atmosphere of consumption. 12、Film/movie Describe a film you have recently seen. You should say: where you saw it what the film was about who you saw it with what you liked or disliked about this film. and explain why you chose to watch this particular film. Sample : I recently watched a film called Kungfu panda 2 with my friends at a cinema near my home. I saw a lot of advertisements about it on the street and on the internet, so I was very excited when I finally got the chance to see it. Although it’s a cartoon film, a lot of adults also liked it. I think it’s a good film and I liked it. The story was simple. When I watched Kungfu panda 1, I was always wondering why Po’s father was a goose, but this story told us the reason. Po’s parents were killed by a bad peacock lord, Lord Shen. Shen believed that pandas would defeat him because he heard the prophecy from a goat. That’s why he killed all the pandas, but Po survived and was adopted by the goose. Because Shen wanted to build secret weapons, he robbed a lot of people, including Po’s friends. Because of this, Po found out his past and his parents’ death, so Po decided to revenge. Eventually, po succeeded through his Kungfu power. I think it’s a nice film because there were a lot of Chinese elements in this film. And Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 249 the ending told us justice will always defeat evil power. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Would you rather watch a film in the cinema or at home? I like watching films in the cinema because it provides a big screen and better audio and visual effect. Moreover, the atmosphere is much better at the cinema. When I watch films in a cinema full of people, I could feel very different than watching films at home. 2. What kind of films did you like to watch when you were a child? I didn’t change much. I still like comedies because they can make me laugh and forget all my troubles and worries in life. I still remember the famous film 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. called shaolin football, which I watched when I was in primary school. Some of the scenes were just hilarious and I still remember the film vividly. Do you agree that parents should know what their children are watching? I think so. It’s hard for young children to know what films are suitable for them. Some films are about sex and violence, which can bring a lot of inerasable harm to young children. Parents should help their kids choose good films and protect them from bad influence. What effects do films have on children? I think young people, because a lot of young people like learning foreign languages. Watching foreign films will be a good way to improve our listening and speaking skills. Also, through foreign films, we can be exposed to different cultures, which always interest a majority of the young, because young people are curious about unknown areas and can accept new things easier. What type of film do you like past and now? Why? What kind of film is popular in China? What are popular films in china? I watched a lot of cartoon films when I was a kid. They could always lead me to the wonderland and arouse my creativity. Now, I like romantic films. When I watch them, I’ll feel the beauty of love. I think a lot of Chinese people like comedies, such as let the bullets fly, an interesting Chinese film directed by Jiangwen. This kind of film can reflect many things in our real life and make people feel connected. What is the difference between Chinese film and foreign films? Basically, the culture and language are different. In Chinese films, it’s very easy to see the traditional value and culture embedded in them. Some Chinese people can feel their lives are actually mirrored in the films they’re watching. But foreign films are giving slightly different value and culture. It’s good for us to watch some foreign films because we can learn how people from other regions think and behave. What do you learn from watching films? Watching films is like reading books. Films can tell us a lot about life, history, and the world. Of course, we have to choose wisely. If we watch good films, we can learn a lot. If we watch bad ones, it’s a waste of time and some bad Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 250 memories from films would always make us feel uncomfortable when the scenes come to our minds. 8. What kind of film do parents think is bad for children? Why? I think violent and crime films because children don’t know how to judge right from wrong. They also tend to copy what they see. If they watch bad films, they might do bad things themselves. So, it’s important for parents to know what their children are watching. 9. Are expensively produced films better? Of course not. A lot of cheaply made films are good and popular because they have good story lines and deep meanings to attract the audience, while some expensively made films might have very beautiful scenes and famous movie stars, but if the meaning is shallow, it’s still hard for people to appreciate them. 10. What factors can make a film successful? A successful film should have deep meanings, beautiful scenes, and a good story line. This kind of film can teach us knowledge and meaning of life. Good films should also be close to people’s life or talking about some widely concerned topics. A good film is worth seeing again, but bad ones might make us regret seeing them. 11. How can foreign films influence Chinese culture? Yeah. Foreign films do have some influence on Chinese culture. The different value of life, different pursuits in life, and the different ways of interaction among people, though the actions of the heroes or the heroines, through the wording, and though the pictures may influence the audience, the most popular of which will then come deep into our culture. 12. Do you want to be a movie star? Not exactly. On the one hand, I do like to be a movie star, so that I could enjoy the same fame with them, have the great wealth as them, and hold the huge influence as them. However, I am a little bit afraid of being a movie star, because of the hidden rules in the circle, because of the lack of privacy, and because of the limited freedom. 13. What kind of qualities should movie stars have? I think movie stars need to be responsible persons, so they will pay more attention to acting. In that case, the film will be more realistic and exciting. Besides, they need to be patient, so they will practice lines again and again to make sure no mistakes in movies. 14. Do you think movie stars are making too much money? No, I don’t thinks so. Movie stars are very tired when acting. They are very busy, may not have time to relax, but keep on acting until it is finished. So I think it’s reasonable that they earn a lot of money. 15. Do you think Chinese movies can convey Chinese culture to the audience? Yes, of course. Lots of my foreign friends have told me that they get to know Chinese culture by Zhang Yimou’s or Jia Zhangke’s movies. It is better than books because movies have vivid scenes so it is much more understandable than Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 251 books. 16. What’s the difference between Chinese actors and foreign actors? I don’t know. I think they are all human beings, so they may not have such a big difference, they also lead a life of normal people, and they need some privacy of themselves. Maybe foreign actors have higher education than Chinese actors. 17. Do you think appearance is important to actors? I don’t think appearance count so much on acting, because different appearance can act different roles. Of course, with a good appearance, actors may be popular among young people. But with good acting skills, they can also be admired by audience. 18. What’s more important, good film scripts or good actors? I think it’s hard to say. Both are important. Only wit food film scripts can the film be exciting and attracting. But it’s not enough to have good film scripts only. Good film scripts also need good actors to convey the exciting story. * 13、A TV program you like Describe a television program you enjoy watching. You should say: what the program is (including the contents of the program) where you watch it when you watch it who you usually watch it with and explain why you like it. Sample1: I recently began to watch a TV program on CCTV channel one, called documentaries. I think it’s very interesting because it can really arouse your interest by talking about many big historical events or important figures in history. When I was in secondary school, I wasn’t good at history, but watching this TV program really made me feel history was fun. I wish I had seen it earlier, which would be very beneficial for my history class. People always have the curiosity to find out the facts in the past, so if you like history you’ll be interested in this program. I think the program is very low cost for producing because there’s only one presenter. To be honest, I don’t know his name but I think he’s very good at holding your attention. There would be one topic for each show, and the presenter will show us a lot of documents, photos or videos from the past while he’s talking. It’s very different to see the real things compared some films or movies. It could make you feel that the past is more tangible. I enjoy watching this program with my family or my friends at home. After watching each show, we could always discuss and share our feelings. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 252 I think there should more good programs like that to help people learn when they are actually enjoying the progress. Sample 2: An educational TV program Well, with the wide application of cable TV, now in my hometown we have more than 70 channels available for us to choose to watch. You know, I like to choose something that I am interested in, so I always change from one channel to another as long as there‘s an advertisement on show. Then, about 2 months ago, I noticed a program, antiques road show, or treasures appraisal, I am not sure how to name it in English correctly, but it was really an educational TV program for me and truly aroused my interest. This program is now very popular among people in China. You know, china has such a long history, and we really have a lot of antiques collected by the public. Many items shown in the program may never be seen anywhere else. Since many families do have their collections, but they are not so professional, they all want to have their collections, or their treasures, appraised by those experts. Outside the film studio, we can see many people holding their treasures, waiting in queues, hoping that the things they hold can be truly priceless treasures in the eyes of those experts. Then , when those treasures are handed to those experts, including one for drawings, one for calligraphy, one for china, and one for bronze ware, you know, they will tell us how to appraise a piece of antique, and what value it is now to us, as well as the market price of it. Learning those skills, seeing those antiques, sensing the great joy when a true antique is discovered, and sympathizing the pity when an item is defined as a fake, this TV program does teach me a lot. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1、What types of television programs are popular in your country? Many kinds. I think different people have different tastes. For example, usually older people enjoy watching news and educational programs. A lot of young people enjoy entertaining programs. Now the entertaining programs on Hunan TV are very popular in China. 2、What are the differences between the TV programs that people watch today and the programs of several years ago? I think most of the TV programs several years ago tended to be more serious. It’s very unusual for ordinary people to appear on TV, but nowadays, it seems that everyone has the opportunity to participate in TV programs and a lot of entertaining program presenters are very humorous. 3、Why do you think different places in the world have different television programs, Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 253 instead of having the same programs for the whole world? It’s an interesting question. Of course, language will be a major problem. People might say we can translate the programs to different languages. I think it’s just hard for people all over the world to appreciate the same thing although we watch western films and Korean dramas. It’s just different. People need to watch something that is related to their own life and culture, so I think it’s not very practical to have the world watch the same programs. 4、Do you think it's a good thing that different places (or, different countries) each have their own television programs? * Definitely. Although that means more money and more energy will be needed, I think it’s just inevitable (不可不免的). Although the world is globalizing （全球 化）, there’re still different cultures and traditions all around the world, and sometimes even within the same country. People need to watch something that’s closer to their life. 5、What has satellite （卫星） TV brought to our lives? Nowadays, because of the satellite TV, we can watch TV programs from other provinces and even from other countries. I think it’s really nice for us because we can see the world through our TV screen and get to know different people and their lifestyles. 6、In the future, how will an increased use of satellite TV affect people's lives? In the future, I think we can probably watch TV programs from all over the world and we’ll be able to know what the life in other countries is like and learn their culture and customs. It’ll be very fun. 7、Do you think government should control what is shown on TV? (If so, how much and control what?) Definitely. I think the government should give us enough freedom to watch what we’re interested in, but a lot of unhealthy stuff on TV should be restricted. Children can learn from these things and even when adults see too much violence, they’ll act differently. I think the government should control the bad things and make our life healthier. 8、Do you think children's TV programs should have advertisements? I think it’s ok but not too much and they shouldn’t mislead children. Nowadays, I feel people can’t really live without advertisements because advertisements can help us know new products and service. Children also need to know what’s popular and what they might want to buy, so it’s ok to have some advertisements for children’s TV programs. 9、How do TV advertisements influence people? 简：TV advertisements can influence people about the brand they want to buy. For me, when I go shopping, I would like to pick the brands that I have heard before because I think these companies who have appeared in advertisements are more reliable. Some advertisements can also make people feel that they should buy what they don’t really need. 难：Ever since mass media became mass media, companies have naturally used Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 254 this means of communications to let a large number of people know about their products. There is nothing wrong with that, as it allows innovative (创新的) ideas and concepts to be shared with others. However, as the years have progressed, the sophistication of advertising methods and techniques has advanced, enticing （诱人的）and shaping and even creating consumerism and needs where there has been none before, or turning luxuries into necessities. 10、How can children be influenced by advertisements? Children will ask their parents to buy the toys they see in advertisements because they like following other kids. When they see the children on TV have something interesting, they also want to possess them. 11、Why do companies still pay for advertisements when people change channels when they see them? Although people change channels when they see ads, they can still see a part of the ads. I don’t like advertisements, but I still want to buy what I see on TV. Ads are just powerful because they can give us unconscious (无意识的) influence. 12、Why would people switch channel when they see advertisements? A lot of advertisements are boring and it’s just not good when we’re disturbed by them while we’re watching something interesting on TV. However, we still can’t avoid being influenced by them. 13、What TV programs are popular in China? Right now, some dating programs are really popular in China. People just love seeing what the young men and young women would say or do in these programs. I think they’re fun but I prefer watching some TV dramas because the story lines in these dramas are much better prepared. 14、What are the influences of those negative TV programs on children and the young? Children can learn quickly, especially from what they see. If the programs are about violent and sex, the children’s minds will be contaminated （污染的）. A lot of young offenders（罪犯） actually learned from the TV. I think the government should control the amount of bad stuff showed on TV and try to protect the children when they’re young. 15、What are the influences of those positive or negative advertisements on our life? Positive advertisements can give me information about the latest products. When I need them, I’ll feel great because I know what products I should choose. However, some negative advertisements can disturb my time of watching TV or browsing web pages. Sometimes I can buy something I don’t need or of poor quality because of irresponsible (不负责任的)ads. 16、Can you watch foreign channels in China? As far as I know, some people are able to watch foreign channels, by using some other equipment. And also, other people who pay money to the cable TV companies may also be enabled to watch those channels. However, it’s a pity that in my home, there is no such equipment to help me watch those channels. 17、What’s the influence of TV on human beings? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 255 TV has brought great influence on human beings. For example, by watching TV, people are enabled to know what is happening around them and in the world, helping them keeping pace with the society. In addition, by watching TV, people’s horizon is broadened, knowledge is enriched, and experience is accumulated. Besides, TV also provides a way for people to kill time; otherwise, they may not know what to do when they are having too much free time. However, when people are watching too much TV, they may become lazy, their eyes may be harmed, and they may be misled by some cheating information. 18、Do Chinese like entertaining programs or educational programs on TV? It’s hard to say for sure. Different people may have various preferences. Some people, especially women, may like entertaining programs more, because they like the happiness and excitement from those programs. While men, on the other hand, may like to watch those educational programs, because men are usually more ambitious, and they hope that they can make improvement in their abilities and knowledge about the world. 19、Should the government supervise TV programs? I think it is a must. The TV programs, having such a huge audience around the country or even the road, will have significant influence on the society. Therefore, the government should have supervisions on the TV programs, to make sure that those programs will not mislead people, cheat people and cause terror among people. Only in this way, can the public enjoy their life more. 20、 Do you watch Chinese TV series or foreign TV series? I watch both Chinese TV series and foreign TV series. The style of Chinese TV series and foreign TV series are very different. As for foreign TV series, I have watched the Friends, Lost, Lie to me, and so on. As for Chinese TV series, I have seen some series related to ancient Chinese history. 21、What do you know about the actors in reality? I don’t know much about the actors in reality. I think they must be different from TV series, because in TV series, actors act characters that may be different from their actual personality. Sometimes I will see some pictures or information of actors in reality, but I do not know much about it. 22、Why people are concerned about their privacy in reality? That’s natural people care about their privacy in reality. If you do not have privacy in reality, it means that all people know your private things; that’s not so comfortable. People need to preserve some secret themselves. 14、Sport/outdoor activity 1) An outdoor activity Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 256 Describe an outdoor activity that you like doing (or do regularly). You should say: what this activity is where you do it when you do it and explain why you like it. Sample: I would like to talk about tennis, which is my best love among all the popular sports. Tennis is popular all over the world, especially loved by teenagers. There is a comic book named, Prince of Tennis, illustrated by a Japanese artist. The spread of this book made tennis more popular. The spirit of tennis is practice makes perfect, and we should never give up. When I was in sixth grade, I began to learn how to play tennis because I was a fan of the comic book. When I play tennis, I will devote myself to it. I have entered for many tennis competitions. I like winning so the procedure seems exciting. At that time, I was not good at sports. But after playing tennis, my PE grades became the best in my class. Because of tennis, I learned that I should never give up when I faced difficulties. I still have lots more to work on. Tennis is my favorite outdoor sport. 2) The most popular sport in your country Describe the most popular sport in your country You should say: what it is how popular it is who play it and explain why it is popular Sample: Nowadays, more and more people began to realize the importance of exercise so sports are receiving a lot of attention from ordinary people. I think the most popular sport in China is table tennis. As you know, table tennis athletes in China have won many gold medals in important world competitions. I guess it’s basically because table tennis is loved by people all over the country. Because of the population problem, China is a little crowded. Sometimes, not everyone can find a spacious place to play football or basketball. But, table tennis is not space required. You can just find a table and put a net in the middle, then, you can play. I remember, when I was a child, I would sometimes practice my skill by playing with the wall at home, which’s also a perfect way to exercise. My friends told me that they would even make their own bats when they were children because Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 257 they couldn’t afford bats in stores and their hand made bats also worked and they kept playing, so you can see how little equipment is needed for this game. One more thing good about this game is the number of people required for a game. As long as you can find a partner, you can play. So, it’s like you can do it whenever you want. Nowadays, there’re better indoor table tennis courts at a reasonable price. A lot more city people can enjoy their after work life in these sport centers. I hope there’ll be more sport facilities accessible in China so that more sports will become popular, and people at all age can enjoy their spare time by playing sports with friends and family. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1. Do young people (in your country) like sports? (Why?) It depends. A lot of young people like sports, especially boys. Because of the lack of sport facilities, a lot of them would go to nearby colleges to play sports. Of course, richer people could afford private fitness centers, which could provide a variety of ways to exercise. There’re still a lot of young people who wouldn’t do exercise at all because they think it’s not worth going far away places to play sports and fitness centers are too expensive for them. I think it’s necessary for the government to build more public sports facilities so that young people could have access to them more conveniently. This will definitely encourage people to do sports more often. 2. Do you think sport (or PE classes) are important (or, necessary) at school? I think so. Students have to sit in classes for long hours. If they don’t move around, they might become weak. Exercise during beak or PE classes can help them feel refreshed and energetic, so that they could learn better when they go back to their classrooms. I think schools should put more emphasis on sports and PE classes and encourage students to exercise more even during their spare time. 3. Is there much difference between boys and girls when they do sport? Yes, definitely. I have to say the percentage of girls who like sports should be much lower compared to boys. It’s very often to see boys playing football and basketball during breaks but girls would prefer to play some mild sports, such as jump ropes or badminton. I think schools should encourage girls to play more sports by teaching some sports that will interest female students more. 4. What do you think are the benefits of having international sporting competitions? These competitions can arouse people’s love for sports. When they watch sports games on TV or in stadiums, they can learn many playing skills and feel that they should play more as well. A lot of countries care about these sports events very much because they know if the nation likes sports, the people will be much healthier physically. And these competitions can also bring people and countries financial profits. 5. Do you think international sport can help ease conflicts between different Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 258 countries? I’ve never thought about it, but I think it’s possible. Countries will have a lot of opportunities to communicate with each other during sport games and people can get to know other countries through sports events as well. Also, I did see some sports players who could treat each other very nicely and they could build their friendship through some competitions, which would eventually help their countries build relationship. 6. Some companies spend a lot of money promoting (or, sponsoring or investing in) sports events. Why do you think they do this? I think they can get money from these sports events. For example, if the players wear something with the company logo, people will want to buy the products from the company. We can also see a lot of advertisements at the stadium where the sport event is held. These advertisements can definitely bring the companies fortune because people are getting more and more interested in sports and these ads can definitely draw their attention. 7. What benefits can big sport events, such as the Olympics, bring to a country? = Why does China care so much about big sport events, such the Olympics? Take the Olympics as an example. In 2008, Beijing hosted the Olympic Games. 8. 9. 10. 11. People in China were proud of our country. During that sport event, all the mass media paid a lot attention to China, which enhanced the international status of China. Apart from this, business sponsorship helped promote our economy at that time. Why do you think that some countries are good at certain sports? There’re many aspects, such as culture and weather. In china, a lot of people like playing pingpong since they are little children. So there’re more better pingpong players in China. If a country has a long winter, they will likely to be good at winter sports. Should companies invest in sports to help their employees stay healthy? If companies invest in sports, what can they gain? =Should companies sponsor sport events? Some big companies would build their own gyms to provide different kinds of sport facilities for their employees. The employees can go there after work or during their weekends and holidays. In addition, companies also can host some ball game competitions to encourage their workers to exercise more and promote their team work skills. There’re many advantages. Healthy employees can work more effectively, and good team work skills can also contribute to their performance. What do we learn from doing sports? There’re many things we can learn. Group sport games can help us learn team work skills, which is very important for our social life and careers. Some sports, such as running, can teach us endurance. Why do some people like risky sports? Risky sports can make people feel excited. By doing risky sports, people could Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 259 cultivate their courage and can also release their stress from work and study. 12. Should parents encourage their children to do risky sports? I think parents should encourage their children to do risky sports because children can learn a lot of things from the process and risky sports can cultivate their courage and help them learn how to be independent. 13. Should fast food companies invest in sports because junk food is harmful to our health? I think they should. They make a lot of money by selling junk food. If they invest a little of their earnings, they can reduce the damage they have done. I think the government should have laws to make the fast food companies invest money in healthy sports and some public facilities. 14. Do you think sport classes are necessary at school? I think they are necessary, because children can stay healthy by doing sports. Apart from this, children can also learn how to cooperate with others through sport classes. This is also important for their later life. 15. What are the international sports? Now because of the globalization, a lot of sports are internationalized. The most common ones should be basketball, football, snooker, and table tennis. I heard football is the most popular sport in the world and football stars can make a handsome amount of money. I really want to play (or learn to play) football well in the future. 16. Is it good to work outside? It’s hard to say. A lot of people think it’s not good because people who work outside have to be exposed in the sun and it’s hard to control the temperature outdoors. But nowadays, a lot of people have to work in the office and stay in front of the computer for most of their working time. If we compare these two kinds of jobs, I would say it might be healthier to work outdoors because you can breathe the fresh air and exercise your body more. *15. Music/foreign music or song 1) Foreign music Describe an occasion when you heard some music from another country. You should say: what type of music it was where you heard it when you heard it (or, what occasion it was) and explain how you felt when you heard it. Sample: I like Chinese music and also enjoy music from other countries. I would like to talk about the occasion that I heard the music of the Beatles, the famous English rock band. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 260 One day I was at my friend, XX’s house and he showed me a lot of the music CDs and DVDs he had collected. Among them, I saw the music of the Beatles. He told me he loved Beatles’ music very much and he played the music for me. I felt very interested in it because I heard of this band many times but I always thought the music might be too old for me to appreciate. When the song “let it be” started, I felt the music was very nice and expressive. I also liked the guitar and drum that accompanied the singing. I began to understand why the music of this band was so popular. I think I have fell in love with rock music. From then on, I would always play some music from the Beatles during my spare time and I would also look for other rock and roll music to listen to. Recently I also listen to another English rock band’s music, called Coldplay. I think music plays an important part in my life. 2) A foreign song Describe an occasion that you heard some type of music of foreign countries. You should say: where you heard this song what kind of song it is what the song is about and explain how you felt (or feel now) when you heard (or hear) this song. Sample: I used to like Chinese pop music, but I changed when I was in high school. Now I like Sarah Connor’s songs very much. The first song I listened was a song called Change. I still remember the first time I listened to this song. I was riding in my dad’s car and the beautiful music came out from the radio. Because of the music I felt very peaceful. Later I learned it was called Change and it really could express the feelings of the singer. Just like the song says that we need to make a change if our life is not satisfying and we actually can make our life better if we want to change. I like the lyrics and the melody. Now whenever I listen to it, I’ll remember the moment I listened to the song with my father and I cherish the moment we shared. Before I go to sleep, I like to listen to it. It is good for my sleep because I can always sleep very soundly. When I go traveling, listening to it can make me feel relaxed. Music is like a common language in the world. Although Sarah Connor’s songs are in English, I can still understand the emotions and feelings of the musician. Because of listening to English songs, I felt my English improved a lot, especially my Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 261 listening skill. I’m glad that I like foreign songs. 3) A type of music Describe a type of music that is popular in your country. You should say: what type of music it is on what occasions people hear this music what types of people usually like this type of music and explain why you it is popular. Sample： I think Erhu music is pretty popular in China although it belongs to classical music. Er means two in Chinese. Because the instrument consists of only two strings, we call it erHu. Erhu music is soft and expressive, which is just like a person’s singing. There are a lot of famous pieces of erhu music which have been popular for many years. Among them, I like Erquanyingyue best. It’s composed by a famous musician, Abing. When I listen to it, it’s like listening to a moving story. It makes me feel very peaceful. At first, I didn’t like erhu music because I thought it was old and out of date, but my mother likes it and would play it all the time. As I listen to it more, I realize why it has been popular for such a long time. It’s surely great music. I have collected some Erhu music CDs at home and sometimes, I will play them while I study or relax. I think Erhu music can serve as great background music for me. I hope there will be more modern Erhu composers who can write something as good as the famous pieces from the past. 4) A Song Describe a song or melody that you remember from your childhood. You should say: where you heard this song how old you were when you first heard it what kind of song it is what the song is about and explain why/how you remember this song. Or and explain how you felt (or feel now) when you heard (or hear) this song. * Sample: I want to talk about a song that I liked a lot when I was a child. It’s a children’s song about swallows. It says that a little swallow dresses in beautiful clothes and she comes to my hometown every year. I ask the swallow why she comes every year, she says, the spring here is the most beautiful. I learned this song pretty early, even Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 262 before I went to elementary school. My mom would sing it to me before I went to bed. At first, I was too young to understand this song, so I asked her many questions. One day we saw two swallows making a nest under the roof of my neighbor’s house, my mom explained that swallows would migrate to the south during cold winter, but the weather in the north during the spring and summer was nice and comfortable, so they would fly all the way back to their homes in the north. I felt it was pretty interesting about having two homes and taking long journeys every year. I actually admired swallow for being able to fly and had fun trips each year. I think it’s a good song for children to learn the living habits of swallows. Sometimes, I feel uncomfortable when young children sing adult songs. I think they should sing some songs that are more suitable for their age. If they learn good songs, they could learn some good values about life. Love songs are definitely too early for children to sing. I hope there’ll be more children songs like the little swallow, interesting and easy to remember. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Do Chinese people like songs? Yes, most of the people around me love songs although not all of them are good at singing. Nowadays, besides pop songs in China, many young people also have their favorite foreign singers, which is quite different from the past. However, most old people still prefer traditional and classical songs because they believe only tested songs are worth listening. 2. Do you like to sing songs with your friends? = Where do you usually sing songs? Sometimes. I know a lot of people love going to KTV to sing with their friends. The atmosphere is good there and people can usually get to know each other better through singing together. Occasionally, I would go there, but since I’m not good at singing, I’m a little shy to sing in front of others, especially people that I’m not very familiar with. 3. Do your friends all sing well? Not really, but some of my friends have very beautiful voices. I guess it’s probably genetic. My parents are not good at singing, so am I. Some people believe practice can also help one’s singing skills. I think it might be more helpful if a person starts practicing early. I hope my children won’t be like me because singing is really important in life. 4. What are the differences between traditional music and modern music? Traditional music in China is usually expressive and soft. It’s tested by time, so it usually has very good quality and can reflect the feelings of people from different backgrounds. Modern music follows the latest fashion and trend, but some tends to be shallow, so they’ll fade out sooner or later. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 263 5. What are the differences between modern people’s understanding of music and the old generation? Why are there differences? I think modern people want to listen to music that can help them express their feelings about the present, so young girls and boys like love songs. Some people also think music is something that can make them feel excited and energetic, so a lot of pop music is loud and noisy. However, the old generation believes music is for appreciation. From their point of view, you don’t have to share the same feelings but appreciate all the details of the music. 6. Can you play any musical instruments? I play the guitar. I started learning it when I was in middle school from a friend of mine. Because I always wanted to play some instrument, I was very motivated and would practice almost every day. After two or three months, I began to play some simple songs and could accompany other people’s singing. 7. What kind of musical instruments do you like to learn to play? If I have the opportunity, I would like to learn how to play the piano. I feel it’s a very complicated instrument and requires skills and practice, but once I master it, I’ll be able to enjoy myself during my free time. I can play music for myself and others. I think I’ll probably take some piano lessons when I have time. Hopefully, my dream can become true soon. 8. Why do people like singers? Well, people like singers for various reasons. Some people like singers because they like listening to those pleasant songs or music, others like singers because they admire those singers for their great success in life, and still others like singers because singers have sung out the true feelings deep in their heart which they don’t know how to express. 9. Do pop song lyrics have special values? I think so. Some lyrics, especially those well‐composed ones, can truly reflect the public’s feelings about life, and so helps the public to find a way to release their emotions. Other lyrics, instructive or educational, may help the public to have guidance in their life, and so behave actively and live a positive life. 10. When music recording business is developed so well, do we still need live music? I believe live music can never be replaced by recorded music. They’re very different. When we go to live concerts, the atmosphere and sound effect can always make us feel more enthusiastic and can help us concentrate more on what we listen to. It’s the same reason why people still love going to the cinema when the same thing can be done at home. Live music makes us feel different. The kind of feeling cannot be substituted by other means. However, I have to say recorded music is more accessible for us. We can play it whenever and wherever we want, so it’s also an important part of life. 11. What kind of song is good for children’s development? Of course, children songs are always good for children’s mental development. We can’t expect children to learn something useful from love songs that are way Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 264 hard for them to understand. They need to be exposed more to songs that are more suitable to their mental age level. That’s why we need to have children books instead of asking everyone to read the same thing as adults do. I hope there’re more songs that are tailored to different age group children so that every child can sing and enjoy the songs they learn. 12. What kind of music do you think people like to listen to? It depends. Different people have different tastes. Pop music may be popular among all people. Girls and old people may like to listen to light music or classic music more because it brings them the serenity of heart. Some boys may prefer rock and roll music, which is suitable for the saying of "the lost generation". 13. What benefits can music bring to people? Music can benefit people in many ways. For one thing, vivid melody can help people get rid of the bad mood and wear a smile again. For another, music is also one way to improve concentration; especially listening to the classics improves the duration and intensity of concentration. Therefore, without music, our life may seem boring, but with music, our life is full of colors. 14. What benefits can music bring to the society? Music can make the society more colorful and funny. If we go shopping, and happened to hear a piece of great song, it may make us happy and feel willing to buy clothes. If we go to an expensive restaurant, light music there always make us calm, while in the fast‐food restaurant, we always feel excited because of the pop music. It’s hard to think about a society without music. 15. What are the differences between old people and children in their preferences of music? Of course. Old people may like to listen to light music or classic music more because it brings them the serenity of heart. Young people like pop music better, and some of them may even prefer rock and roll music, which is heavy but brings young people passion and excitement. 16. What influence will the Internet bring to music? I think due to the Internet, we can hear various kinds of music now. Since the Internet is very convenient, and the information is spread very fast, so we do not need to buy tapes or CDs to listen to the music. Besides, new kinds of music also emerge through the Internet which is called "the Network music", which is very funny so that it is popular among young people. 17. What is your parents’ favorite type of music? I think they like classic music very much. For example, the music played by traditional Chinese instrument such as Erhu or Guqin. Because that kind of music is usually very quiet and full of serenity, so they like it very much. 18. Are there different kinds of music in China? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 265 Yes, of course. In China, there are many different kinds of music such as the classic music, pop music, and rock music and so on. You can listen to the kind of music that you like best. In addition, there are some music types combining many elements such as the traditional instrument and western instrument to create a new genre. 19. Why does the record company produce music products? I think the record company can make profits through producing CDs or DVDs. There are many fans that will buy their favorite stars’ music products such as CD. There are also some people do not like the quality of voice on the Internet, so they will also choose to buy CD. 20. Do Chinese people like songs? Yes, most of the people around me love songs although not all of them are good at singing. Nowadays, besides pop songs in China, many young people also have their favorite foreign singers, which is quite different from the past. However, most old people still prefer traditional and classical songs because they believe only tested songs are worth listening. 21. Do you like to sing songs with your friends? = Where do you usually sing songs? Sometimes. I know a lot of people love going to KTV to sing with their friends. The atmosphere is good there and people can usually get to know each other better through singing together. Occasionally, I would go there, but since I’m not a good at singing, I’m a little shy to sing in front of others, especially people that I’m not very familiar with. 22. Do your friends all sing well? Not really, but some of my friends have very beautiful voices. I guess it’s probably genetic. My parents are not good at singing, so am I. Some people believe practice can also help one’s singing skills. I think it might be more helpful if a person starts practicing early. I hope my children won’t be like me because singing is really important in life. 23. What are the differences between traditional music and modern music? Traditional music in China is usually expressive and soft. It’s tested by time, so it usually has very good quality and can reflect the feelings of people from different backgrounds. Modern music follows the latest fashion and trend, but some tends to be shallow, so they’ll fade out sooner or later. 24. What are the differences between modern people’s understanding of music and the old generation? Why are there differences? I think modern people want to listen to music that can help them express their feelings about the present, so young girls and boys like love songs. Some people also think music is something that can make them feel excited and energetic, so a lot of pop music is loud and noisy. However, the old generation believes music is for appreciation. From their point of view, you don’t have to share the same feelings but appreciate all the details of the music. 25. Can you play any musical instruments? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 266 I play the guitar. I started learning it when I was in middle school from a friend of mine. Because I always wanted to play some instrument, I was very motivated and would practice almost every day. After two or three months, I began to play some simple songs and could accompany other people’s singing. 26. What kind of musical instruments do you like to learn to play? If I have the opportunity, I would like to learn how to play the piano. I feel it’s a very complicated instrument and requires skills and practice, but once I master it, I’ll be able to enjoy myself during my free time. I can play music for myself and others. I think I’ll probably take some piano lessons when I have time. Hopefully, my dream can become true soon. 27. What kind of singer is liked by audience? Pop stars are liked by audience such as Jay Zhou, Faye Wong. They sing very well, and they are also full of charisma. If you cannot catch the attention of audience, it’s hard for you to be admired by people. 28. What influence can internet development bring to music industry? I think internet development brings some bad influence on music industry. Some years ago, when internet is not so popular, I will still buy CD record to listen to music, but nowadays, with the fast development of music, I usually download the music on the internet. *16. Something you do very often recently Describe something you do very often recently You should say: what it is why you started doing it what it bring you when you do it and explain why you think it’s good for you. Sample: Recently I go biking very often with my friends. Because I feel sitting in front of the computer every day is really bad for my health. One of my friends noticed my problem and suggested me to go biking with him and he told me he had benefited from bike riding a lot. I felt I should give it a try, so I joined him. Now, I’ve been doing it for almost two months. I would go biking in the nearby mountain roads about once or twice a week. It’s very helpful for me to sweat and to get close to the nature. Now I’m using my old bike but I feel if I want to do it very often, I should buy a good mountain bike. It’s usually hard for me to do something for a long time, so I should try my best to continue this new hobby because it’s really helpful for my mental and physical health. Because of the biking riding, I made many new friends and I felt it was fun to talk with people who’re sports lovers because they would always tell me how Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 267 important it is to exercise regularly. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1.Which is better, to learn by yourself or by a teacher? I think both are important. Without following a teacher, you may lose direction in one subject or area. Without your hard working, you cannot get a good score. So it’s better that you can combine the two aspects. 2. Which is more important, the professional skill or academic class? In my opinion, I think professional skill is more important than academic class. Why you need to attend academic class? That’s because you want to gain professional skills in one area or subject, so you choose to attend academic class. When you master professional skill, it will be useful in your future work or study. 3. Why do people have less entertaining time now? Nowadays, a lot of people have to spend a lot of time commuting each day. People will also have the needs to learn new technology and information in order to keep up with this fast developing society, so many people feel they don’t have enough time for them to relax and enjoy their life. 4. What do children do on weekends? Many children don’t have their weekends free because of the extra curriculum classes they take. For example, nowadays, it’s very common for children to study a musical instrument, which will require them to practice for many hours each week. If they have some time left, of course they will spend their free time playing computer games or playing with friends in their neighborhood. 5. Do men have less free time compared to women? Possible. A lot of men feel they need to earn enough money to support the family, so it’s common for them to work overtime and they tend to choose careers that are more time consuming. *17. A magazine or newspaper you like Describe a magazine or newspaper you like what it is what content it has when you started reading it And explain why you like it Sample1: Newspaper—China daily I want to talk about an English newspaper in China called China Daily. I heard about this paper when I was in middle school. I wanted to practice my English so my parents began to subscribe to it for me. At first, it was too difficult for me because of my limited vocabulary. However, because of the vivid photos, I could guess what the articles were talking about. After reading this paper for a while, I realized I could understand most of the stories and could even appreciate the writing. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 268 I think it’s a very good newspaper for both foreigners who want to know china and for Chinese who want to learn English. Later, I learned that the state‐run publication was established in 1981—thirty years from now. The editorial policies differ in being slightly more liberal than Chinese‐language newspapers. A number of editorials intend to give critical comments on both domestic and international issues. Most of the paper's editorial staff members are still Chinese, but their English reports are 'polished' by a small group of expatriate (外籍的) editors, so I can be sure that the language I receive is authentic. Besides national and world news, the paper also offers program guides to Radio Beijing and television, daily exchange rates, local entertainment schedules, which come handy for many people. One thing I don’t like is that the paper has adopted a more commercial approach, so there would be ads every where, especial ads from real estate investments. Now, I stopped subscribing to this paper because I found the online version. It has editions in three languages; Chinese, English, and French, but I usually read the English version. I’m so thankful that there’s such a good English newspaper in China. Sample2: Difference between magazines and newspapers I love reading both magazines and newspapers. Both of them can give us information about life， but I think they’re very different sources of information and we can’t treat them the same. Basically, newspapers provide news. We get up‐to‐date news about the things happening around us and in other countries. Usually, people don’t want to keep old newspapers because out‐dated news is usually the least thing you want. So the date of a newspaper is definitely what we care. There’re a variety of magazines available nowadays, such as sport magazines, fashion magazines, and home decoration magazines. A lot of people buy magazines to read and will usually keep some of them. They’ll consider their magazines their important collections. I like reading cooking magazines because I want to know how to eat healthily and how to make delicious food all by myself. For me, I don’t want to throw my cooking magazines away because food can never be out of fashion. Both magazines and newspapers make our life more colorful and give us more opportunities to read. I think they’re all indispensable( 不可缺少的 ) and not Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 269 interchangeable（不可替换的）. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. What are the differences between men and women in reading magazines? Men and women are usually interested in different things. For most women, fashion is the most important thing, so they like reading fashion magazines. For a lot of men, magazines about automobiles, electronic products, and sports are very attractive. For me, I like magazines about cooking because I like the feeling of making a variety of foods. 2. What kinds of newspapers are there in China? There’re all kinds of newspapers in China, such as China daily, which’s an 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. English news paper, China economic times, China public security daily, China youth daily, economic information daily, global times, guangming daily, and legal daily. It’s good to know what’s happening around me through newspapers. I enjoy reading news related to my life and right now I’m reading China daily ,which is also good for my English improvement. What do you think about China Daily? I like it very much because the news reported in this paper is less restricted by the government. The editors can express their views freely in some extent. Also, the English is authentic and standard. I’m learning vocabulary about hottest issues in the world, which can definitely enable me to talk with people all over the world in English. What are the different kinds of magazines? There’re a variety of magazines available. We could easily find sports and fashion magazines at book stores or newspaper booths. A lot of housewives love cooking magazines and home decoration magazines. They could find their favorite recipes and their ideal house decoration in these magazines. Besides these, I’ve also seen auto magazines and even sport shoes magazines. I think if we try, we’ll be able to find the magazine that interests us the most. What are the benefits of newspapers? I think newspapers are very important because people can be informed of the things happening around them and they could also find some interesting stories in newspapers. In the past, before the invention of the internet, the newspaper is a major way to give many people up‐dated news. Now, we can still find relevant information in newspapers, such as economic news, sports news, and local news. I think they’re still an important part of our life. Can newspapers change people’s way of thinking? That’s possible. Media can influence people in a slow way sometimes. If we read the similar news opinions all the time, we’ll be influenced little by little even if we’re strong‐minded people. So it’s really important for newspapers to give positive attitudes to people, help people to foster good living habits and encourage people to enjoy their lives more. Do you communicate with your family members often? Not really. It’s like everybody is busy. When I’m at home, my parents are Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 270 always busy or even when they’re not busy, they’re watching TV or chatting with friends. I feel sometimes dinner time is the only quality time for us to talk. However, when I’m away from home, we could actually talk more on the phone because our only purpose is talking with each other. I feel it’s really important for family members to do something together. Otherwise people from the same family may not know each other well. 8. Do Chinese people like magazines or books more? I think people still like books more because there is more information in books. We can read long stories and study professional knowledge from books. However, nowadays, a lot of people get used to electronic books, but we still have to admit that they’re books. Magazines are also popular, especially with young people. They could provide some up‐to‐date information could give people many suggestions in specific areas, but they usually don’t provide very detailed information as most books do. 9. Do people in the countryside generally read the same kinds of magazines as people in the cities? I don’t know this well, but I think probably they read similar magazines. But maybe city people pay more attention to fashion, so they will tend to read more fashion magazines and people in the countryside read more magazines about farming and gardening because they have enough land for them to do these. 10. Do you think magazines might one day disappear? I don’t think so. Although a lot of people read more online articles than before, magazines are still different because we could carry them everywhere you want and the pictures are tend to be more beautiful in magazines compared with pictures on the computer. 18. Personality Describe your personality You should say: what your personality is like how it influences your life and work and explain why you think it is good. Sample 1： I think my personality is complicated, or maybe that’s true for everybody. Sometimes, I’m more introverted, but when I’m with close friends, I’ll be talkative and humorous. Goals are important in my life, and I’m always motivated to take many steps to achieve them, even if I’m required to talk to strangers, which’s hard for an introverted person, but I’ll do it without hesitation. I enjoy interacting with others, mostly through work or school related activities. I have to say I am really energetic, which means that I’m great at getting things done! Sometimes, I can stay up for a whole night to get a school project or paper done. Of course, I know it’s not good for my health. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 271 When I’m with others, I enjoy being a provider because I want to be helpful in people’s lives, so I’m always offer help and ideas to friends and family. I thrive in structured environments and don't mind enforcing the rules. I think I would make a great teacher, judge, or police detective. I see myself as realistic, stable, and pragmatic; however, sometimes for people who don’t like me, they’ll think I’m rigid, bound to rules, and a bad listener. I guess I have to improve in these areas and learn how to be more flexible and try to listen to others more before I open my mouth. Sample 2: A positive personality trait you have I think my personality is complicated, or maybe that’s true for everybody. Sometimes, I’m more introverted, but when I’m with close friends, I’ll be talkative and humorous. The most positive personality trait of mine would be my goal oriented characteristic. Goals are important in my life, and I’m always motivated to take many steps to achieve them, even if I’m required to talk to strangers, which’s hard for an introverted person, but I’ll do it without hesitation. In order to achieve my goals, sometimes, I can stay up for a whole night to get a school project or paper done. Of course, I know it’s not good for my health. I still remember the time I did a project for my accounting class. In order to do it perfectly, I did library and online research. Then, I stayed up very late for a week to finish it. Of course, both my teacher and my classmates recognized my work and effort. I believe I’ll be able to succeed in the future because of my perseverance and my hard work. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. How do your friends say about your personality? Well, my friends all like me. They like to stay with me to have fun because my humorous words will always make them feel happy. However, although they like my talkative style, they also advice me to be braver in front of strangers coz I am sometimes a little introverted. Besides, my friends are always amazed at my ensoiasm when I am interested in something. In general, we are having a very good time together. 2. What kind of personality should your friends have? To be frank, I don’t have much requirement for my friends, as long as they are happy with their life. Everyone can be my friend, you know. Honest and loyal friends will make me feel safe with them, competent and supportive friends will help me achieve more in life, modest and careful friends will remind me to be prudent while deceptive and selfish friends can force me to be analytical. So I can be friends with anyone. Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 272 3. Does western culture affect Chinese people’s personality? Yes. These years, with more concepts of western cultures coming into China, along with those foreign companies and foreign products as well as those foreign foods, Chinese people’s personality is greatly influenced. For example, we are turning from conservative ones to ones that are more willing to accept new things; many people are becoming more pragmatic rather than theoretical; and many are changing from passive ones to active ones in their pursuit of life. 4. What’s the typical personality for most Chinese people? Well, we have the biggest population over the world, so it’s really uneasy to say a unified personality for Chinese people. According to the textbooks offered to students, Chinese people are a hardworking, courageous, and intelligent people. So this may be an explanation of the personality that Chinese people generally have. 5. Is honesty an important quality for people? I think so, especially in this modern society when principle of good faith is emphasized in almost very field. Being honest means others can trust you, so that you can have a closer and stronger relationship with others. People’s being honest is beneficial to create a safer living environment for the public. 6. What kind of qualities do Chinese people value? Well, Chinese people do value some qualities. For instance, many people like to be friends with those who are honest and kind, many girls like their boys to be courageous and ambitious, while many boys may like their girls to be considerate and gentle. 7. Are successful people happy people? Probably. With the power to attract more people to work for them, with more wealth to buy what they want, and with greater fame to influence others, successful people may be happy about their life. However, with more people trying to seek help from them, with more loss of their private time and privacy, and with more pressure of failure, the successful ones may not be as happy as those common ones without much expectation of life. 8. What’s the personality difference between men and women? Well, there are some differences of personalities between men and women. For example, men are usually braver, more independent, more ambitious, and more energetic, while women are often more careful, more patient, more considerate. However, these days, men and women tend to be similar in personalities, which means, some man‐featured characteristics are seen in women and vice versa. 9. Do people always choose friends who’re similar to them? Not necessarily. Some people like to choose friends who are similar to them, because they hope to share similar interests, have similar topics and can understand each other better and deeper as well. However, others may still choose people who are totally different from them, and so help them to learn from each other, and get mutual improvements. 10. Should people always have ambitions? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 273 Generally, having ambitions can stimulate people to work hard, to seek every opportunity or possibility to success, and to help them overcome difficulties. In this sense, being ambitious is important for everyone. However, other people may not be well‐educated, really skillful or intelligent, without any good opportunities, having ambitions may mean misery to them. 11. Is it important for us to be brave? To be honest, it depends on the situations. When there is actually no danger, except for our own lack of confidence or being coward, being brave may mean a breakthrough in our personality. However, on some other occasions, being brave may mean a threat to our life or a great loss, and when there are some other better ways out of the situation, being brave is not necessary. For example, when we are facing robbery, giving them the money and calling the police is better than fighting with the rogues and then face the risk of losing lives. 12. What qualities should successful people possess? In my opinion, successful people must have their unique qualities or talented in some certain field. For example, some may be excellent in interpersonal skills, others may be good at organizing, and still others may be extremely hard working. To say the least, they have the reasons to be successful. 19. An interesting animal Describe a time when you saw an interesting animal. You should say: what animal it was where you saw it what happened when you saw it and explain why you thought it was interesting. * Sample 1: Panda I’d like to talk about pandas. Pandas are the national treasure in our country. They have black patches around the eyes and ears, and across the body. In the past, people would hunt pandas for their furs because the fur is really soft. We can find pandas in the west of China, mainly in Sichuan province because there’s a lot of bamboo in that place. I still remember my first time seeing pandas was in chengdu panda reserve last year. I went there with my friends. The pandas seemed to enjoy their peaceful life in the zoo very much. I especially liked the baby pandas. They looked like Barbie dolls. Because of their cute appearance, I really wanted to hug them. When I was there, I found that the pandas were very friendly. I even took a photo with a panda, of course there’s a fence between us. The Giant Panda is an endangered species, threatened by the loss of their natural home and a very low birthrate. I think People should help pandas to survive in China because animals and humans are good friends. It’s really important that we Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 274 can live in peace and I hope the number of pandas will increase soon. Sample 2: Dolphins I like animals and I think all animals are intriguing because of their different living habits. Today, I want to talk about dolphins. Last month, I went to the aquarium(水 族馆) and it was my first time seeing them besides TV or photos. As soon as I saw them, I fell in love with them. I think they’re very interesting and cute. As we know, dolphins are marine mammals and are often regarded as one of Earth's most intelligent animals and their often friendly appearance and seemingly playful attitude have made them popular in human culture. In the aquarium, the dolphins cooperated with the trainers to complete very difficult acrobatic movements and they could also perform in groups, which showed their social abilities. They just looked so smart and as if they could understand the words or gestures of the trainers. Also, a kid was asked to cooperate with the dolphins and they seemed to be able to communicate with the kid as well. Actually, I heard that play is an important part of dolphin culture. Dolphins play with seaweed and play‐fight with other dolphins. Dolphins enjoy riding waves and frequently surf coastal swells and the bow waves of boats, at times “leaping” between the dual bow waves of a moving catamaran. Occasionally, they playfully interact with swimmers. Dolphins occasionally leap above the water surface, and sometimes perform acrobatic figures. Scientists are not certain about the purpose(s) of the acrobatics. Possibilities include locating schools of fish by looking at above‐water signs like feeding birds, communicating with other dolphins, dislodging parasites (除掉寄生物) or simple amusement. Because of the living environment is full of potential dangers, generally, dolphins sleep with only one brain hemisphere, so maintaining enough consciousness to breathe and to watch for possible predators（捕食者） and other threats. They must swim continuously to avoid injury. I think this part is also interesting. Imagine what will happen to us if we don’t need to sleep at all just like dolphins. I’m glad that I got the opportunity to see the performances of dolphins and I hope they can live peacefully with humans in the future. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. Are animals important for people? Definitely. From the ecological aspect, all animals have important roles in the food chain. If we don’t have one species, we may not even notice the difference, but if we don’t have many, serious problems will arise. Also, animals have educational value. Children need to know what the world is like and animals can give a lot of evidence to that. Also, we need to consume meat and keep pets. All Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 275 these needs can be satisfied only by animals. 2. Is there any difference between the way animals are used for work today and the way they were used for work many years ago? Sure. In the past, a lot of animals were used for transportation and agriculture 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. purposes, especially horses and cows. They were very important for farmers in the past. But now, machines have taken their places, so this has changed a lot. Nowadays, from what I know, we still use dogs in police stations to help us find some crucial evidence with their acute sense of smell. In circuses, animals are used to entertain people. What do you think is the biggest problem when taking care of a pet? (Or, the biggest problem of having a pet) Well, pets also need to eat meals regularly as us, so I think the biggest problem is to feed them. If we have to take a short or long trip, we need to find a baby sitter for our pets because we don’t want them to go hungry. Also, pets have emotional needs. We need to accompany them occasionally, otherwise they might be depressed. It’s just not easy to keep a pet. What is the importance of pets? Pets are humans’ friends. A lot of people feel lonely, but with pets, they’ll have loyal company who won’t leave them because of conflicts or argument. Also, I heard pets could help cure some mental problems, such as depression. Occasionally, we could also hear news about pets saving their owners during emergencies, so they might be the angel from above in such cases. They’re very important in this society. Do you think animals have 'rights'? (Why? What rights?/Why not?) It’s a hard question. Sometimes I do think so. When I see people killing animals, I’ll feel sad for them and when I see wild animals kept in cages in zoos to amuse people, I’ll feel it’s not fair for them. However, I have to admit, many of us still need meat as an important element of our diet. We still need to educate our children how wild animals look like through zoos. But I think there should be some basic laws to protect them. For example, to make killing of animals less cruel or even invent artificial meat. For zoos, they should provide more natural like living environment for animals so that they don’t feel suffered when they live there. What are some examples of human activity that affect animals in the wild? People hunt animals. In the past, hunting was legal. Now a lot of laws have been set to protect endangered animals, but I think it’s still common for people to hunt elephants or dolphins in some countries, for example. It’s really a time to put a stop to that. Also, because of the industrialization, the earth environment has been polluted very seriously throughout the world; this can definitely affect animals’ natural living habitats. It’s also something we should work on. Do you agree that animals should be used for (experiments or) scientific testing of chemical products such as new medicines, new cleaning products or new cosmetics etc.? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 276 It’s a dilemma. I hope we don’t need to, but it’s just inevitable. We need to test the chemical products before using them; otherwise a lot of people might suffer from the unsuccessful products. If we don’t use animals, we have to use humans instead. However, when using them on animals, we should be more careful about it. We should test them only when we have to. 8. Some people are vegetarians i.e., they don't eat any meat. What do you think of that attitude? I think it’s really a noble deed if they do it for the sake of animal protection. I’m not a nutritionist so I don’t know if meat is irreplaceable or not. If we don’t have to get nutrition from animals and could find alternatives, I would say we should all start to be vegetarians because I feel it’s really cruel to kill animals for their meat. It’s just a matter of time. If we get used to eating non‐animal products, we might feel it’s a good way of living. 9. How do you think about animals like tigers and lions? They eat people, why should we consider them friends? Tigers and lions are very strong and cruel animals, but this is not their fault. Tigers and lions need to live in the nature, so they have to protect themselves and their family. If people do not harm them, they may not harm people, and we can live equally. So why not consider them friends? 10. Should pets stay at home all the time? I don’t think so. Pets also need to go outside, or pets will feel very boring. Pets have to stay at home, but sometimes if their owners have time, owners need to take their pets outside to relax and breathe the fresh air. 11. Why do you think there’re more people have dogs compared to cats? I don’t know because I don’t have pets. Maybe because there is an old saying, “dogs are our loyal friends”. First, dogs are lovely and helpful, for example, they also help the blind people. Moreover, when we are bored, we might take our dogs for a walk, we could play with them. Mainly dogs listen to their owners all the time; they are most obedient pet out of all kinds of animals. 12. Why do you think people like having big dogs at home？ I think big dogs not only can be people’s friends, but also can be a guard at home. When people feel lonely, big dogs can accompany people for a walk. When some strangers want to break doors, they can also be a guard to warn strangers go away from their home. 13. Why do some people like eating dog meat? Personally, I haven’t taste dog meat before, but some people say dog meat is very delicious. People will prefer food that is delicious, and they will not consider the cruelty, for people also eat other meat, so it’s the same. 20. Something you enjoy doing in your leisure time I like playing jigsaw puzzles and it’s the best way for me to relax. I’ll never feel tired playing it and it’s like a way for me to get recharged. My mother gave me my first puzzle game when I was in middle school. After that, I began to love this game Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 277 and now I have collected a lot of them. I think it’s very interesting to figure out very difficult problems and know which piece should go where. Sometimes, it takes hours to solve some problems. I also googled a lot of strategies and techniques for puzzle playing, and now I’ve become an expert in this area. My friends call me “puzzle king (queen)”. I’m pretty flattered by this nick name. I like using my brain a lot and I think puzzle games enable me to stretch my imagination and creativity. I also made a lot of friends who are also interested in this pastime and it’s great that we could exchange our experience and feelings. Now, I don’t have much time to do it because of my work load at school, but I still try my best to find time for my biggest hobby. I hope in the future I can design puzzle games for others because I know what would work and what wouldn’t. I think it’s very important for us to have some healthy means to release our pressure and I definitely have found mine. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. Are there more holidays in China compared to other countries? I don’t think so. We don’t have a lot of holidays although because of the westernization, many of the western festivals are introduced to China, the government doesn’t give holidays for big western festivals such as Christmas, Easter, or Valentines’ Day. Most of the holidays we have are the traditional festivals, such as the Spring Festival, and the Mid‐autumn Festival. Of course, we also have long holidays during the Labor Day and National Day. But from what I know, I think people in other countries also get a lot of holidays. Probably we’re the same. 2. What do children do during holidays? Children will spend most of the time playing with their friends or at home if their parents don’t register them for any extra curriculum cram classes. Nowadays, a lot of parents will pay for after school lessons for students to catch up with their school work even during national holidays, so these holidays don’t really always mean free time for students. 3. What do parents do during holidays? In the past, parents would do a lot of housework or cook delicious food for the family. But nowadays, a lot of people’s minds have changed. Some of them would go for short or long trips or spend time catching up with friends during holidays. I think it’s a really positive change for a lot of hard working adults. If we don’t relax well, we can’t work well, so some entertainment is necessary for people who spend most of their time working or studying. They should take advantage of the short and long holidays. 4. Do you think it’s important for family members to do something together? Yes. If we really calculate how much time we spend with our family, we’ll be Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 278 shocked. We spend most of our time working or studying, and even when we’re at home, we have other obligations, such as doing housework, talking with our friends, and now even surfing the internet. That will leave a little quality time for family members. So it’s really important for family members to plan family events so that they can get closer to each other and know each other’s needs better. 5. How do men and women spend their spare time differently? Women and men are different. A lot of women like shopping or chatting with friends during their spare time and a lot of them consider that kind of activity entertaining. However, men like different things, such as games or sports. It’s very often to see the men around us hanging out playing sports or games. They can communicate with friends and feel refreshed through these kinds of activities. 6. What do children do in their spare time? Children like playing and having fun so they wouldn’t sit there quietly during their spare time. Most children would find some games or sports to play with their classmates or neighbors. Nowadays, a lot of young kids are addicted to computer games and they could sit in front of a computer for hours playing their favorite games, which I think is not very healthy for young children because they’re at a growing stage. It’s natural for them to run around outside. It’s not good for their bones and mental health if they spend too much time at home. *21、a new law Describe a new law (or regulation) that has recently introduced in your country (or, where you live). You should say: what the law is why this law is needed how popular this law is and explain why you like this law in your country. or and explain how your country would benefit from having this law. Sample 1： Well, to provide a secured life for the public, every year the government of China is improving in its law system by updating those already existed ones or by issuing new ones. Here, I would like to talk about a new law that was just in practice in January 1st this year. It is about the regulations on advertisements on TVs and Radios. For a time in the past, there are great varieties of advertisements on TVs and radios, but due to lack of proper management and supervision, there exist a lot of misleading or unhealthy advertisements, which exert a negative influence on the Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 279 general public. And therefore, in January 1st, this new regulations were called into practice. In this new law, it does not allow any misleading advertisements, or advertisements that contain unhealthy information, such as violence, pornography, disgusting pictures, unhealthy life attitude. Also, it does not allow any advertisements about cigarettes, and those about liquors are limited to a larger extent. In addition, it also regulates about the timing, the periods about the advertisements. In this way, this new law tends to provide the public a much healthier living environment. And from its practice over the past months, the public, especially the children, do have a much better exposure of information from TV and radio programs. I do hope that more and more news laws that are intended to improve our life are issued in the future. Sample 2： I would really see a new law about smoking forbidden in public. If one smokes in public, they will be fined. As a non‐smoker, when I see people smoke in public places, I would feel angry because I’m forced to breathe in the smoke polluted air. If this law is issued, a lot of people will not smoke in public, such as restaurants, cinemas, or on buses. You don’t have to live with that any more, especially for non‐smokers. Also, smoking in public places is bad for people’s health. Studies reveal that thee is a definite link between smoking and some serious disease such as lung cancers and heart disease. Besides, careless smokers may cause dangerous fires. I think it will be great if one day no body will smoke any more. I think the government should issue more laws like that to improve our living environment. Sample 3: I’d like to talk about the new law concerning DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol). Recently, China is carrying out a crackdown campaign on DUI. The zero‐tolerance policy has generated positive results. According to statistics, much fewer people were killed in the traffic accidents caused by DUI after the law was issued. As far as I know, according to the new law, the drunken driver's license will be suspended for 3 or 6 months, in serious cases, the driver would be detained for 15 days, with a fine of 2,000 yuan. And if he is caught twice within a year, the license will be revoked for 2 to 5 years. In the past, China had many “roadway killers”, who drove under the influence of alcohol because the punishment was less severe compared to the current law. One of Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 280 my friends was almost killed by a drunken driver once. This made me pay more attention to laws concerning DUI. The new law is surely good news for all road travelers. In order to reinforce the law, police officers are permitted to initiate random breath tests and DUI checkpoints whenever and wherever they like. The new law can definitely discourage people from intoxicated driving. I think there should be more laws that can improve the environment we’re living in issued in China. PART 3: Discussion topics: 1. When will you need a lawyer in China? Along with the development of the society and the division of different fields, now we have different people who are specialize in different areas. We can get 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. professional advice and therefore get our benefits and interests that we deserve. What’s the relationship of law and the society? Law serves for the society. Because of the law, the society can be in order and stable. We need law because law can give us set standards so that we know it’s not ok to destroy the stability of the society. Do lawyers receive more respect from others? Yes, of course. To some extend, lawyers are like directors because when people face troubles, the lawyer can give them reasonable suggestions to solve the problems. So we usually respect them. What is the difference between policemen and policewomen? In my opinion, policewomen are more suitable to solve conflicts between people because compared to men, women are more considerate and friendly. This kind of job is more suitable for them. Of course, policemen are more suitable for jobs that need physical energy and are more dangerous because they’re usually stronger than women. Should police be armed with guns? Why? In my opinion, they should be armed with guns, especially when they have dangerous cases to take care. Guns cannot only protect them but also can warn the bad people. However, they need to be careful with the guns because they are dangerous. In your country, if people need help from the police, do they approach the police on the street or do they go to the police station? If there’re some police around, they’ll definitely just approach the police on the road; however, it’s not often to see police around all the time so it’s most common for people to go to the police station to get help from them, such as reporting theft and robbery. In what ways do you think being a police officer is different to other types of work? I think it’s not easy to be police officers because this job is dangerous and they Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 281 need to take a lot of responsibilities. Police need to be strong enough in order to fight with criminals and they sometimes need to work overtime if there are some emergent cases to handle. 8. Do you think it's fair that, in many countries, lawyers are so highly paid? I think it’s fair. Usually, lawyers need to study for many years and memorize a lot of things in the law book. Also, they need to be very talented people who could put what their have learned into practice. Because of all the efforts they put, they should be paid well enough. 9. What qualities do you think good lawyers have? Lawyers should be smart people who could memorize all the items in the law book and they can analyze different situations and find the best solution. They also need to have good communication skills to help the jury and judge understand the situation well and help the innocent and punish the guilty ones. 10. Do you think the law is applied equally to all people, no matter what social class they belong to? Mostly it is. However, we can’t ignore the fact that sometimes, wealthy or powerful people will be above the law and they will do something bad and not get relevant punishment. I think the government should do something about it so that all men can be equal under the law. 22. Hobby Describe a hobby you have You should say: what it is what is involved in this hobby how (and when) you became interested in this hobby and explain why you like doing this or and explain what you gained from this hobby Sample: I have a lot of hobbies but some of them don’t last for long. However, one of them is different. I love reading and have been reading since I was in third grade. My sister influenced me a lot. When she brought home some good books, I would always read with her and we could talk about the interesting story lines all the time. Now I read all kinds of books—history books, novels, and inspirational books. When you read a good book, it’s even more interesting than watching good movies because writers can express their feelings and emotions well in words. Sometimes when you read a good book, it’s like talking with a wise person. I can learn a lot from reading. Now I still read a lot. Whenever I have time, I’ll read some interesting books. It’s like my favorite pastime. I have a small bookcase and I keep all my favorite books Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 282 in it. These books are like my good friends. When I’m alone, I’ll take them out and read one or two chapters from them. Some of the books are really good to keep because every time I read them, I’ll feel I can learn something new. I’m glad that I have such a good hobby. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. Do you have enough free time? Do you want more? What do you do in your spare time? How much free time do you think it’s good? Most people want more time to relax, but I think my spare time is enough because I’m good at time management. I can organize my time wisely. During my free time, I can either stay inside or outside. If the weather is good, I’ll do sports with my friends and do some outdoor activities; while, when in rainy days, I’ll read novels or watch films to enjoy my life. 2. What hobbies for children do you think will be most useful for them when they grow up? I think hobbies that can help children develop their brain and creativity are good for their future, such as puzzle games. Also, if a child has a hobby about sport, it’s also beneficial for their team work skills and body health. 3. What are the positive effects of your hobby for your study and work? Same to above. 4. What hobbies are common and popular among Chinese people? There’s one. Nowadays a lot of young people in China love posting on their micro‐blogs. Because of the widespread of the internet and the development of technology, people want their friends to know their up‐dated information and feelings as soon as possible. Of course, a lot of movie stars also follow the trend. This makes it more popular. 5. Do you think people have less free time now? What about in the future? Yes, I agree. I think with the development of the society, people have to learn more and more knowledge and skills in order to keep up with others. So they have less time to relax and to be with their family. I think this situation might get better in the future because people will learn how to make good use of machines, so they will have more free time for themselves. 6. Who have more time, students or working class? It’s hard to say. For students, if someone wants to go to a good college or to have some special contributions in a field, they will be busy with their studies. They might need to spend a lot of time at the library or at the lab, so they’re busier than the working class. 7. What ‘s the difference between children’s hobby past and now? In China in the past, most children would develop hobbies by themselves. For example, some children would read or do sports. However now, a lot of parents actually help their children choose hobbies. If they take piano lessons, Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 283 it’s very likely they will like playing the piano. I think this will be the major difference. 23. A school subject that you liked Describe a subject that you studied (in secondary or high school) that you thought was interesting You should say: what the subject was what your teacher was like how long you studied this subject and explain why you thought it was interesting. Sample: History My favorite subject at secondary school was history. Actually, I didn’t like it at first because I couldn’t get high marks in history. But at the age of thirteen, my cousin recommended me a very famous TV drama called Kangxi Dynasty. I was attracted by the content of this TV show immediately. After watching it, I began to care more about history and even found some resources about history to read on my own. Through reading these books, I got more information about the development of human society. I think it’s very meaningful for us to know some facts about the past. We can learn lessons from the mistakes made by our ancestors. Now I can get high scores in history. Before, I thought history classes were very boring, but now I can enjoy it and even like to discuss question with my teacher. I find that if you are interested in something, it is more likely you will do it well. PART 3 Discussion Questions: 1. Do most Chinese students like this subject? Most Chinese students like history because we can know the important things that happened in the past, which can help us be wise and smart. Certainly, history stories would often become hot topics among our classmates. It’s also a reason for us to like it. 2. How are the education facilities in your country in high schools like? In our country, most high schools possess advanced facilities. For instance, good lab facilities can help students to learn science knowledge easily and vividly. In addition, physical education facilities are also very good. They cannot only educate students physically but also add color to their school life. 3. How can teachers make their class interesting? I think for college students, case study method is a very effective way. Students can learn knowledge and also enrich their life experience, so they will feel the class is more interesting. For children, story telling method can Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 284 draw their attention. This cannot only teach them knowledge but also can enrich their imagination. 24. An advertisement Describe an advertisement that you think is successful. You should say: what is advertised what the advertisement contains (the contents of this advertisement) what is the function (purpose) of this advertisement and explain why you think this advertisement works well. Sample： I watched an interesting advertisement online a few months ago, and I think it was very unique compared to the advertisements I saw before. It was an advertisement about coca cola. A boy appeared in front of a vending machine. It’s hard to guess what he wanted to buy. First, he put his money in the machine and got a can of Pepsi. He didn’t drink it but put it down and step on it to reach the coca cola button. Finally, he was very satisfied when he drank the coca cola. Although it’s more like a joke, but I think this advertisement is very creative because one had to think carefully in order to understand the idea. Although I saw this advertisement a long time ago, I can still remember the details of it. Nowadays, there’re a lot boring advertisements. For example, some of them will just repeat the same thing over and over again. Although we can remember the products, no one likes them. If we could watch creative advertisements all the time, maybe people might prefer watching advertisements to TV programs. PART 3：Discussion topics: 1. What advertisements do you like the most? I like creative advertisements. Advertisements can let us know a product in a few seconds. Creative advertisements can always leave a deep impression after we see them. They can also make our life more colorful and give us creative ideas. 2. Do advertisements influence you about what brand you buy? Of course, advertisements can help us know products better so when we go shopping, we would choose the brands that we’re familiar with. I usually don’t like to buy products that I’ve never heard of because I feel hard to trust them. I guess advertisements influence me a lot. 3. What kind of advertisement can be seen by more people? I think it will be the ads on TV. Most people in China like watching TV while they are having dinner with their family. In addition, compared with ads on newspapers, advertisements on TV can give us a more vivid view and we can Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 285 have a deeper impression, so people prefer ads on TV and they watch them more. 4. Where can you find ads outdoors? Many places. At the bus stop and subway stations, you can always see big screens showing ads. Besides these, on buses, there’re tv sets to show ads and other programs all day long. Furthermore, ads are placed in big departments stores as well. 5. Do you think there’re too many ads nowadays? Of course. I think the ads on TV take a lot of our time so they always disturb us when we watch a program. However, when we watch ads on buses, they can give us some color on our journey, so these ads might be good. 6. Are ads more likely to succeed if they have celebrities in them? I think so. Because a lot of people like celebrities and they’d like to try the products that celebrities advertise. This kind of advertisement is more trusted and effective. However the cost of these advertisements should be expensive and as consumers, we are actually paying for this. 7. Through what ways can people see advertisements? People can be exposed to ads almost everywhere. When we watch TV, read newspapers, or surf the internet, we’ll always be surrounded by different ads. Even when we ride the bus, there’ll be ads on the bus TV screens. 8. What kinds of advertisements attract people more? People like creative advertisements. Some ads can be like stories and make us feel intrigued when we see them and we want to see them over and over again. However, there’re also many boring ads that repeat the same thing over and over again. 9. Why should advertisements have fashionably dressed people in them? Most ads are giving us visual attractions. If we see fashionably dressed people, we’ll tend to think highly of their products. It’s not right but very common, people judge you from what you wear. The clothing shows status and taste. 10. Do you think over‐weighted or not good looking people might feel sad when they see only beautiful people are in ads? I don’t think so. Everyone is willing to appreciate beauty no matter how ugly looking they are. Those over‐weighted or not good looking people, most of them, having an appropriate attitude about themselves and about the world, and they know the beautiful people in ads are just to attract audience to promote sales. In this sense, I don’t think they will be sad. 11. What kind of media is more favored by advertising companies? Advertisements, in essence, are to attract people eyes, to maximize the influence of the brands, the products, and then promote sales. In this sense, I think the advertising companies may like those media that have a large loyal audience, that have a positive fame, and that can focus on the expected customers. 12. Will you be bothered by the posters on buildings? Visit our face: IELTS speaking and writing Corner 286 Sometimes. Usually, the posters on buildings will be to advertise some popular goods, with some beautiful looking people, and some attractive colors, so they may just attract me rather than annoy me. However, occasionally, when the advertisers hope to attract eyes in a special way, or leave a deep impression on the viewers, the posters designed by them may be shocking or abrupt in front of my eyes. In this sense, I am bothered to some extent. 13. What kind of advertisement can attract people more? I think vivid advertisement can attract people more. If an advertisement is very simple, it may not attract people. But if an advertisement has a variety of colors and some vivid scenes, it will catch people’s eyes. Besides, I think if there is a famous star in an advertisement, it will certainly be helpful to attract people. 14. Should the advertisement indicate that certain products are harmful for people’s health, such as the cigarette? I think so. Because even the advertisement is used for increase the profit of a product, they need to point out the bad influence of the product. If a person likes to smoke, he or she may not care so much about the bad effect of cigarette, so I don’t think they need to avoid the bad influence of a product. 15. Some people think advertisements can provide more choices for consumers and others disagree, what’s your opinion? I agree with the statement that advertisements can provide more choices for consumers. Without advertisements, we don’t even know the existence of many products, but advertisements make us known about those choices. For example, once I saw the advertisement of KFC, and I went there to taste new dishes there. 16. Does China have laws concerning advertisements? Yes, I think so. Although I do not have much knowledge about the laws concerning advertisements, I think there are some laws to regulate the market of advertisements. For example, the advertisements should not have information about eroticism, violence, and so on. 17. Should the government supervise advertisements? Yes, I think so. I think it’s necessary because with supervision, it will not bring bad influence on teenagers. For example, the advertisements should not have information about eroticism, violence, and so on. 25. A bird I like birds. When I look at the little creatures, I would always feel the power of the nature. Today I want to talk about sparrows because they’re almost everywhere and they are very vigorous. Sometimes I can see them singing in the trees or picking food on the sidewalk in my city. I like them because they make our life more colorful and they also have strong character that we can’t ignore. When I was a child, I always wanted to have a bird as my pet. 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