Stage Two
People Cards
[1]
Something about his/her appearance and personality
[1]
I met my best friend while I was at university. He was in the same class. At first, he scolded me for leaning back on the chair, but, after a while, we began to become good friends. I used to meet him regularly at an Internet cafe. He went there regularly. We would spend hours there together. He would always lend a hand to me because I didn't know much about computers at that time.
He's a humble guy, never shows off his knowledge, even though he can. He's sincere and doesn't mind mildly scolding you or even himself in all the same sentence. He is usually very sociable, but sometimes he can also be a bit shy. He is good at soccer and volleyball and used to be on the school team. He's quite muscular and his hair is frizzy. He has very droopy eyes, like a puppy, and a very wide mouth.
I think the main reason we are such good friends is because we have a lot in common and we both have the same kind of humour. We also always support each other whenever we need help. I think we are such good friends because we don't feel we ever have to pretend around each other, and we are really helpful to one another. I will miss this guy a lot if I go overseas, but since he is always at the Internet cafe, I can email him, and he's probably right there to receive it!
[2].
What subject the teacher taught you
[2]
First let me tell you about my teacher Zhang Fei, who still works at the Oalian Middle School number 23. She taught me English in school. I had her class about 6 years ago, and she taught me for a full year.
First let me tell you how she looks. She looks very normal except that she's very beautiful inside. She's tall and thin, but the thing you can notice about her is her wonderful, dark eyes with very bushy eyebrows under her spectacles. I can still picture her. You know she did not seem friendly at first, because she is very stem when she speaks, and she will not tolerate nonsense, but she is very kind in her own special way. She is also very demanding and clear when she speaks, and her concern is not so much with your grades but your effort.
The effect she had on me was very powerful. Essentially she taught me that you could be very disciplined and stem and hard working but still be very kind. Before, I thought all teachers who were strict were just mean. After her, I learned that hard work is about not compromising on quality.
[3]
Well, to start with, I think I will tell you what I do. I am a lawyer here in Shanghai and I've been working as an attorney for about 3 years. My work is interesting, but it involves very complicated issues and often there are various strategies that are necessary for success.
I enjoy meeting people and forming new relationships with people. I enjoy hearing people's stories and I like trying my best to help them. I also enjoy getting out with my friends and enjoying the entertainment places. I am a big fan of jazz and there are a few places that I go to enjoy it. I can also play the saxophone, and even play in a band at a bar from time to time, but I don't have time to do it regularly.
What I don't like doing? Hmm..1et me think, well I suppose I just don't like having to go through a lot of very tedious details at work, and, quite frankly, I don't like clients who lie to me about their situation. There are some things about the job which I don't like, and I'm not proud about everything that I do, but overall I really like it.
I think my good points are that I'm quite good at communicating. I mean, you have to be as a lawyer. I do know a lot about the law, especially commercial law, which is my specialty. I have a good memory for legal issues and law, and I can use them quite well to argue a point. My bad points are that I am the worst person for remembering directions. I get loot everywhere when I'm travelling. If you ask my wife she'll tell you that there's nobody as bad as me for getting lost in places.
As for how you can be my friend, I think the key thing is that you just need to have a good sense of humour and you just need to be honest in your actions. Actually, I am quite willing to be anyone's friend, but I hate people who make a big show of it. I don't need any special favours or gifts to be my friends. If people just act like themselves...well, that's good enough for me.
[4]
How you met him/her
Right, well... I had a tough time thinking about who was most unlike me, but I guess it would have to be my cousin, Zhou Jiao Ping. Jiao Ping is a person who's so clever when it comes to business that I have chosen him, because when it comes to business I always seem to make the wrong decisions. Jiao Ping is a real estate agent who puts almost every extra RMB into investments like property and stocks. He never seems to lose money.
His job alone pays him a reasonable income, but he makes a lot on all the private investments he makes, and perhaps you could call him a millionaire. I, on the other hand, don't dare to invest my money because I'm too afraid of losing it, and I prefer spending my money on things to make me and others feel good.
Jiao Ping is a driven man and I like his energy and persistence. He's not a boastful guy, in fact he's quite modest, but he's a complete workaholic and even if you sit him down for over a minute he will think of things he could be doing. He's a thin fellow, has no time for food it seems, and he has this permanent smile on his face. He has quite a sharp wit, and never seems to be serious when you talk with him, but in fact he's always thinking of this and that.
Jiao Ping is very generous and lends money to so many people, without even expecting them to pay it back. But he spends hardly a penny on himself. He has no wife, and although he has about four homes, he lives in a very small place. You might say he is a miser, but actually he just doesn't care that much for luxuries since he doesn't get any pleasure from them.
He's different from me in many ways. First, I enjoy spending money to make myself happy. I also have to have a balance of work and pleasure. I don't mind working hard during my work, but I can't stand always thinking about work, and I need some time to just relax. I also don't feel so guilty about wasting a bit of time every now and then.
[5]
The kinds of things he/she says that are funny
And explain how this person affects you (i.e. what impact this person has on you)
Ok, I've been asked to describe a person with a good sense of humour, and the person I've chosen is my classmate Zhang Hui. Zhang. Hui is a boy from Henan. He comes from Kaifeng. He majors in Economics and well, I guess you can say that Economics is not the most interesting subject, especially when the teachers start drawing graphics on the blackboard. Zhang Hui just seems to know how to make a joke out of it all. He has this funny face, which just adds to his humour.
I'll give you an example of how sharp his wit is. The instructor was talking about the relationship of supply and demand, and was looking for examples. So Zhang Hui stuck up his hand and said his mother is an example. He said the more money he spends on university, the better grades she demands. After he said that, everyone laughed so hard the professor had to wait for five minutes before he could continue.
I guess the way this person affects me is that he teaches me that there is nothing very serious in life. He puts me at ease and he reminds me that we are all human. I don't get overstressed when I spend time with him because he knows how to make a joke out of everything.
[6]
Let me describe my grandfather. He was-I should say was because he passed away a few years ago-very kind. My grandfather was just a farmer, and he didn't earn much, but he found different ways to earn an income, and managed to put my father through university. He lived in a village just north of Beijing and often made the trip into the city. His life was hard, but he never complained about it.
I say he was so kind because I'll never forget the efforts he made to help me read. I was five years old and I haven't learned to read yet. My grandfather spent so many hours helping me because my father had no time. He would force me to come to his place and he tutored me very strictly because he was determined that I would get a head start on the other students. As a result, I could read before I entered school, and that helped me gain an advantage in school.
Besides the fact that he taught me reading, he also taught me the value and importance of. kindness to others. He told me that you don't do kindness just to gain favour, but because that's what your true nature expects you to do. As well, he taught me that kindness isn't all smiles and praise; sometimes it involves strict and harsh words for the right reasons. He also told me that a kind person always dies happy and I think he also died happy.
[7]
The famous person I'd like to describe is Fu Mingxia. She was a gold medallist at Sydney Olympic games. In fact, she won four of them. She won them in the diving competition. She's now a student at Tsinghua University. So she's quite clever and she will graduate from a top university. She's about 25 years old. I think she must be blessed by god to be able to dive so perfectly. After all, most divers have trained in diving schools that are very sophisticated, but her training was not so privileged. She just worked hard and had a very committed coach.
I think I admire her so much because I can imagine how nervous she felt having the whole world watching her and yet she controlled that nervousness masterfully to make a perfect dive. Well, its that ability to control yourself that I'd really love to learn. Also, her diving style was unique and very-brave, and because of her innovative style, she has brought pride to her country.
I think that people can learn that by being the best at something you are not only helping yourself
but the whole country, because high quality is what improves our lives. I think people can learn that nothing is impossible if we set our minds to being the best. We shouldn't always think we can just do what we must to get by. Our goals should be much more ambitious. We should try to be the best because we can take pride from the value of hard work in everything we do.
[8]
The person I want to talk about who worked hard to achieve something is the famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. Of course, I've never met him but I did see him once in Beijing. He was coming out from the airport and someone said, "There's Zhang Yimou", and sure enough it was.
I once read a biography of Zhang Yimou. He really had to struggle to become a director. I read that he literally camped out and begged to be accepted at a famous school in Beijing called the Beijing Film and Cinematography Academy. He was five years over the age limit, but he submitted a portfolio of his best photographs to the Minister of Culture, and the minister was impressed and let him in.
I also know that he put a lot of effort into making his films artistic and realistic and sometimes he took chances and made some adventurous films. Like in 1987, he directed Red Sorghum and took a chance with the story, which was a bit controversial, and he also used an unknown actress at the time named Gong Li. He then went on to produce a lot of award winning films, and now he is Chinese best-known filmmaker. You can say that he is a bit of celebrity now.
I don't know that much about his personality. I know he is a perfectionist and he expects things to be perfect when he directs. He loves natural things in life and he expects actors and actress to "be that way as well. He is quite rebellious but, I think he's realistic, and willing to make compromises as well.
I guess I look at Zhang Yimou as being the kind of person that a lot of Chinese aspire to be. He's sort of cool, courageous, and blunt. He also makes the simple beautiful, which in my mind is a kind of magic.
[9]
The person I will talk about is my former Chinese Literature professor in University. He has his PhDin Chinese Classical Literature, and also has a Masters of Asian Studies from the University of Cambridge.
This person is just a walking library who has so much stored knowledge of Chinese literature that you wonder how one brain could hold that much knowledge. He has written 13 books on various writers including Lao She, Lu Xun and others. He did his thesis comparing English literary stories and Chinese classics. He has appeared on TV programs and even was the guest of a TV show in England while he was visiting there. His English is spectacular, and he could probably teach just that if he wanted to.
Amazingly, my Professor actually said he was not that good of a student until he got to University. In fact, the University that he initially studied in was not that high ranking, but he scored well and then did his Masters elsewhere. It was while he was doing his Masters at Cambridge that a lot of other scholars started to take notice of him. His interest was peaked after he met up with the famous Harvard professor Pairbanks while he was in England. They collaborated on a couple of projects together and published a number of journal articles. He returned to China and then went on to get his PhD at Beijing University.
How did this person affect me? He opened up my mind completely to the world of knowledge. You see, before I took his class I looked at literature as this kind of high-level intellectual science. I believed that you had to understand the techniques of deciphering it. But what he taught me was that most of the authors had a true desire to ensure that anyone could read their works and so the biggest trick is to pretend that you are working with the author. You should imagine yourself as a co-author and read for the experience and the incredible insights into human nature.
[10]
What he/she does
I have a friend who is quite similar to me, and I suppose that is why we are such good friends. She is my mother's friend actually, but I call her my friend too, although I don't dare address her in the same way as a friend. I call her Auntie Li Wie. She is an old friend of the family, and used to work for my mother's store before she got married to a fairly well off jeweller. She doesn't work, but she is quite active. In fact, she is head of a nature club in Chengdu, and is a volunteer worker at the Giant Panda Breeding Research station, where she helps maintain the site.
Aunt Li is a person who's quite shy, and she loves nature. She will do anything to get close to nature, and will even stay out in the woods for a few days camping. Some people think she's crazy because she's over 50 years old but she will still do that. She believes in preserving the natural state of things, and will even carry back litter that she finds on the ground that others have dropped or thrown carelessly. Aunt Li is also a vegetarian and will have nothing to do with meat. She doesn't condemn others for eating meat, but she does hope that one day the world will be full of vegetarians like her.
I think she's similar to me in her beliefs about the environment, and we share the same attitude about nature. I also like going outdoors, and I would never throw litter on the ground. I sometimes also do a bit of volunteer work at the Panda Centre, and I love the efforts that they do there. I am not a vegetarian, probably because I'm not strong enough to be one, but I do mainly eat only chicken and fish. I hardly ever eat any pork or beef. I think our dreams are similar-that one day the environment can be restored to a state where all humans and animals can live in comfort and happiness.
Place Cards
[11]
What you remember about it (briefly)
Ok, I'd like to describe my former middle school, which is located in Fuzhou. It's been so long I'm not sure if I can really describe it well. Wen, I studied just what everyone studied, and I guess' you could say that I was a normal student-nothing fantastic.
What I remember is the big gate outside of it, which was regularly opened and closed. We would wait there patiently to get in. The building was fairly big, and the entrance was typically wide with some important pictures of historical figures. It was typically box-like. What I remember most is the playground. It was fairly large with two baskets, and at the side there was a corridor where kids would play ping-pong.
I also remember the dreaded teacher's staff room, which was a place no student wanted to be in. It was lined with small desks and tall stacks of paper.
I remember this more than other places because it was the place where I was most affected, since I really started to grow up here. It was like a second home, and I went through so many different emotions there. I grew up, and it contained some of my best and worst memories. When I was going to this school I could never imagine life beyond middle school. Now that I'm going to university it seems like such a long time ago. I do miss it a lot, but I wouldn't want to return to that life since it was so structured and controlled. I prefer my life now as a university student.
[12]
Ok, I've been asked to describe my apartment, but I think the apartment I live in is quite typical. It is located in the south of Hefei and it's in a very clean and convenient neighbourhood. I've lived there for about three years. We used to live in a brick house, but my father's business began to do very well so we could afford a better place.
The rooms? Well, as for the rooms... there are 3 rooms. One is for my father and mother and another is for me. The other room is given to our maid. The apartment is about a hundred square meters, and it has a large living room and two bathrooms-one is in my parents' room. We have some comfortable chairs and a fairly large TV in the centre. We also have a stereo set and a karaoke set as well. I should mention that the kitchen is quite large compared to many other families because we extended it by knocking out the wall of another room.
Now you know about the rooms. Let me tell you how I feel about the place. To tell you the truth, I don't like it very much. I mean, even though it's much larger and cleaner than the previous place, sometimes I just don't feel it's my real home. I think I got too attached to my previotE home. Also, in the brick home we knew all our neighbours but here we know nobody. I think it's just as important to have friendly neighbours.
[13]
Alright, well I've been asked to talk about something beautiful and I'd like to choose the White Cloud Temple. It is located in Beijing and it's on the west side of town. It's not that far away from a subway station, but you would need to take a bus, because it's a bit far to walk. I go there probably two or more times a year. It's a Taoist temple, probably the most active Taoist temple in Beijing. I'm a Taoist. But I go there more than just to pray. I really try to take a trip to find some time to rediscover myself. During the Spring Festival people jam into it because they hold what I think is the best carnival during Spring Festival. We call them Miao Huis. At that time the temple is very crowded, but most other times it's quite peaceful, and it's a good place to get away from all the people.
I think the reason it's so beautiful is because it is simple and it seems to blend in well with its environment. The small praying hall is very serene. It has a nice pool and a bridge. The Taoist motifs are quite simple but I think they are very charming. I love to go there during the winter after a big snowfall because it's at this time that it seems to be most mysterious.
I choose this as the most beautiful because, to me, beauty is simplicity and natural design, and it also means it fits the environment it is in. I don't really like grand, elaborate temples. I prefer temples that seem powerful not because of their structures but because they are perfect for their simple beauty.
[14]
Ok, I'd like to tell you about the temple of the Six Banyan Trees. It's located in the city center of Guangzhou and its not far away from Zhongshan 6 Road, near the People's Hospital. It's a good place to go to and climb to see the Flower Pagoda, which has eight sides to it. You can also go there to pray if you are a Buddhist. It is an active temple and is also the head of the Guangzhou Buddhist Association. You can also do a bit of shopping there if you like. Besides the souvenirs you can buy there, it also has a very lively fruit and meat market nearby, so if you just want to shop instead you can.
The main feature of this place is the pagoda because it's the tallest in the city. From the outside it looks like it has only nine stories, but actually it has 17 inside. It's quite old, and was built some time in the 10th century. The temple itself is even older than that-I think it goes back to some time during the Tang Dynasty, around 500 AD or something like that. It's called the six Banyan Trees because there used to be six trees there, and Su Dongpu, one of china's best-known poets in the Song Dynasty, celebrated them in a poem. You can also see one of the most beautiful golden statutes of Guanyin, who's a Buddhist Goddess of Compassion
I would recommend this place because it represents real history in Guangzhou. A lot of people complain that Guangzhou is too concerned about money and business, and lacks culture, but I think there are several places that still remind people of its rich culture, and this is one of them.
[15]
Ok, I'll start by telling you about the Museum of the Japanese Germ Warfare Experimental Base. It's outside of Harbin, and it's a bit tough to get there. The base was the centre of the worst experiments in biological warfare. The Japanese set up a top secret, germ warfare research centre. The doctors there were very cruel and used many victims. I have been to this museum about four times, and each time I go it gives me a very eerie feeling.
It is a small museum and it takes you through two exhibit rooms. The displays are very graphic. There are lights and wax models of the people in the exhibits. There is also a vestige of the original base nearby. They recreate the type of things done to the victims. You can also watch a film about it in another room. The film is not exactly a happy one, so be prepared for some rather ghastly details.
I think what I gain there is a sense of how low humanity can sink if we're not careful. The museum tells us what our relatives often had to put up with and what sacrifices have been made. You know, even though such terrible things were done to us we still put up a sign in the entrance that says the friendship between Japanese and Chinese is everlasting. This shows that even though we will never forget such atrocities, we are willing to be friends and move on.
[16]
Ok, thank you. I want to choose a place you may be familiar with, and that's the Three Gorges, located between Wanxian and a city called Yichang, the gateway to the upper Yangtze River. You can get to them by going to Chongqing and taking the boat along the Yangtze River all the way to Wuhan if you like.
The best time to go there is during the fall, because it's not so hot on the boat, and that way if you want to spend more time in Chongqing or in Wuhan you can, because those cities can be quite unbearable during the summers. The Three Gorges are breathtaking-there isn't much out there that can beat the feeling of being walled in by such beauty. The thing that's so interesting about the Three Gorges is the sheer walls and sharp rocks along the side, and the historic tablets along the way. But even without looking up at these imp1;'essive rock formations, the river itself, with all its various rapids, is interesting. You know, it isn't easy for small boats to travel either down or up it.
I guess I've chosen this place because it won't be around for very much longer, and because it will soon all be flooded over. I think you know about the new dam being built. The dramatic scenery and rushing waters of China's greatest river has been the inspiration of China's painters and poets. It's now considered to be one of the great scenic attractions of China.
[17]
I would like to talk about my favourite shopping center, since I don't go to many restaurants or bars. My favourite shopping place in Xi'an is called Huajie Street. It is just a narrow alley running besides the Great Mosque with many small souvenir and antique shops.
It's a very good place just to do some browsing, and is one of the best places in China to pick up souvenirs like name chops or chiming steel balls. I always go there to do some shopping for old things and antiques. Usually if I go it will be on a weekday, because it's not as crowded and you can bargain more easily. Another reason I like it is because you can fmd some of the best miniature wire furniture. I don't know if you've ever seen these things, but they are made quite carefully and skilfully, and they look very nice in a living room.
Why is it my favourite? To me there's nothing like it in other places. Some of the stuff is quite overpriced because they get a lot of tourists coming in, but a local person like me, with a distinguishable accent from this area, can usually cut to the chase and get to the realistic price in a
hurry. It never seems to amaze me what kinds of old things they find to sell there. You almost feel as if you are walking around a museum. I know a lot of it might be fake, but to me it doesn't matter, because when you look at it, you think of the past. I have bought some stuff there before, and when I put it in my house it always becomes a conversation piece with my guests. They always tell me I could get these things cheaper elsewhere, but the truth is that you may not find it at other places, except perhaps by chance.
[18]
When I was younger I used to go to the Datong Jiche Chang, which is the Datong Locomotive Factory. It's located in the city's southwestern outskirts. It was the last factory to make steam engines for the main railway lines, and in 1989 it stopped making them and switched to diesels and electric lines.
Well, it wasn't the factory that I went to see but the museum that they had there-actually I think they still have it there if I'm not mistaken. I used to go with my father and spend hours there. To me it was more interesting than a playground. Sometimes some mends would join me there but my father was not always as happy when my friends were there because we tended to get a bit noisy.
You see, the museum has several locomotive trains in there, and if you love trains this place is heaven. The main feature of this place is that you can see these trains inside and out, and it's a place that does a good job explaining the features of the trains. What I really used to love is that I could get a ride in the cabin of one of these locomotives and pretend I was a passenger touring the country.
Well besides helping my imagination I think the main effect this place had was to give me some escape from home life which wasn't that great at that time. Also, it gave me a chance to play with my father and learn more about trains. I was so full of questions that my father would have to go to the library just to learn more about trains, especially old locomotives like the ones that were there.
[19]
Right, well, as my topic I chose a mountain that I like. This mountain is not famous, and it's located just north of Jinan. It is not the famous Taishan Mountain. In fact it's quite far away from that area. The mountain is called Black Bird and it is not high. To get there you must drive off a small road on the way to Taian and head right. It goes quite some length, and the condition of the road is not very good.
The mountain is simply a cliff that sticks out of a small range of hills. Its shape is like a bird, and it seems to be like a lonely eagle looking over its small family. In the far background you can see Taishan Mountain, but, as I said before, it's quite far away. If you want you can try to climb the cliff. You probably can, but be careful because the rocks are quite loose. There was a small road that lead to the base if the mountain, but I'm not sure if it's still in use anymore.
I think I like it most because it seems so mysterious, as if it's holding a secret. Sometimes I think it's like a demon, and I always feel very moved when I go there. I think it seems to have a kind of quiet power over the land that it overlooks.
[20]
The building I'd like to talk about is the Capital Library; in Chinese we call it Shou Du Tu Shu Guan. I first saw this building when I was a child. My mother took me there as a quiet place to study. She said that I could probably study there more easily than in other places. Now, I go there about once a month. It's quieter than the National Library and I like the atmosphere there.
The place is now a library for history books and any books published in China are there, but it also has an interesting history itself. It is located in the same area as the old Guo Zi Jian, or in English you might call it the Imperial College. The building was built in traditional Qing architectural style, because it was last rebuilt during that time. The roof is quite steep. Bi Yong Hall wa_ the place where imperial exams were held, and it has two layered roofs with a curved at each corner, just like the buildings at the Summer Palace. It is red and has quite a few wooden pillars holding it up at all sides.
The reason I like this building is because it seems to store the soul of our country. The Imperial College was actually set up in the Yuan dynasty to educate high-ranking Mongolian families in Chin_e, but then it was used by all the next dynasties. In the 50s, it stopped being an educatioml place and became an all-purpose library. You know, to be able to take the imperial exam was every young man's dream in China for hundreds of years. But few could take it and fewer would pass it. So apart from its grand appearance, it has a kind of untouchable nobility to it.
Object Cards
[21]
And explain what you used it for.
I've been asked to talk about a small object, and so I guess the most useful small object to me is my mobile phone. I use my phone whenever I'm travelling around Beijing, and also to make sure I can get ,in immediate touch with my clients, because often they make fast decisions and are looking at various options at the same time, so time is very precious.
I've had my mobile phone for about a year. At the time it was about 2000RMB, but I believe now you can get one for about 1500RMB. At that time it was considered to be very basic and small. Now the new phones are also small, but they are also much more sophisticated with so many different functions.
I know some people it as a toy, or just as an ego booster, but I really have to have one because I'm a real estate agent. You know, I travel around the city a lot and if my company secretary can't reach me then I'd waste a lot of time having to keep phoning the headquarters at some pay phone, store or booth. There are also a lot of details and facts that I need to keep checking back on whenever I'm preparing to meet a client.
I think the object that I had that was very useful was my toy bear. I had this toy bear for about five years. I first got it on my 4th birthday, and kept it all the way until I was about nine years old.
When I was a child, I used to take this bear everywhere because I actually didn't have that many toys to play with, and so you could say that it was my playmate. I also used to treat it as if it were my baby brother. If I felt very sad I often needed it to be near me, and it was also something I could imagine to be alive and doing things. My mother would sometimes let me take it to different places, and believe it or not I would even wash it. Even later, as my father and mother began to get richer and could afford a lot more toys, I would still favour this toy over others. I just had more of a connection to this toy.
I guess I would say that it was more useful to me as it was something that helped me through my childhood and added to my social life. You may say that a toy is not really useful, but for me it stopped me from being lonely, and allowed me to feel empathy for something, even though it wasn't really alive. When I turned nine I was too big and thought that having a toy bear was just for small kids, so I just stopped playing with it and put it away. Then I guess for some reason it got thrown away. Now I wish I had kept it because I could give it to my own children when they get older.
[23]
If I ever decide to buy a pet, I would buy two hamsters. A hamster is a kind of mouse, and it is smaller than a rat. It doesn't have long tail, and its mouth is not sharp. Hamsters have a lighter colour, something like gray. I like hamsters because they are very cute and have a good temper. I like hamsters because they are very mischievous pets. Moreover, hamsters like to run around a wheel and can go for 15-20 minutes without stopping. To me it is fascinating to watch them do that.
They are actually very easy to take care of. I would just need to put the hamster in a cage, have some pet toys in there, and that would be enough. I would also take it out once in a while and let the hamster run around the living room. A hamster doesn't run as fast as mouse, so it would be no problem for me to catch it and put it back to the cage. Food for hamsters is very simple: they like to eat carrot, fruits, and nuts. Of course, we shouldn't forget water. It's very simple to keep the cage clean. Just make sure the cage is clean and water is replenished every day. I would say a hamster is a very clean animal and very entertaining just to watch. I'm sure all kids and adults would surely like a hamster.
[24]
All right... so it was a bit tough for me to choose something to talk about because I don't do much cooking, but I've chose a microwave. These days you can buy a microwave at any appliance store, and there lots of different ones to choose from these days. I'm not sure how often I use it, but I think I can safely say that I use it every day.
I depend on my microwave quite a bit because, as I said before, I don't do much of the cooking in my house. So what my parents often do is cook a lot of food for me, freeze it, and then I just heat it up. I use it for quite a few other things, too. I mean, often I will make tea and then just become busy with something and forget all about it. If I didn't have a microwave, the tea would be wasted, so I find it very useful to have it around. One other very important reason is that I can just buy a lot of things from outside and then just heat it up when I get home.
I think that I've chosen it as being most important because I think it's the one object that really does affect my life on a daily basis. I mean, if I had to actually spend the time to cook things, my life would get very complicated. My parents think that the microwave makes me lazy, and maybe they're right.
[25]
Right, well the best gift I have received was my father's pocket watch. He gave it to me on my wedding day. You see, I know my father is not wealthy and he wanted to give me something important even though he didn't have to. He always loved this watch. I know this, because I remember one day when the watch wasn't working properly. Well, he was in quite a panic, because, he told me he felt like he was carrying around a sick baby in his belt. I always wondered what was so special about the watch. It seemed so funny to me, especially as I was growing up. Everyone else was buying those digital wristwatches, and his watch seemed like something out of the past. So I wondered if it might be an antique or a famous watch. My mother didn't say much to me, but she did tell me once that the watch wouldn't fetch much more than a few RMB if it were sold, but that my father might even kill or die to protect that watch.
You know, after my father died about a year ago, I asked my mother about the pocket watch. I had mainly kept it in my drawer but after he died I felt like I needed to know about this watch. My mother told me it was a watch my grandfather wore as well. You see my grandfather was killed in the war between Japan and China, and all that was found on him was this pocket watch that I guess the Japanese had neglected to take from him after they shot him. So this watch seems to carry the soul of both my father and my grandfather.
[26]
I want to describe the bus, which is probably the most common form of transport for most of us in Suzhou. I probably use the bus about 10 or more times in a week.
I use it not just to go back and forth to work but also to go shopping. I have a monthly pass and so I can travel freely on one without having to pay each time I go on. I also use a bus when I want to go traveling from one place to another for distances that do not last fur more than a day. I do have a bicycle, but I use that only for very" short distance" things, like getting some vegetables at the local grocery store or things like that.
I prefer taking the bus. I always feel safe taking a bus because it is a big vehicle and it moves more slowly than a taxi. It is quite convenient, since there are enough lines. Even though it is not as convenient as a car, it allows you to work while you are traveling. It is relatively cheap compared to a car and a subway, and it can be comfortable, although it can be a bit crowded, and it's not so nice if you have to stand for long distances. I like buses most because I can talk with people and make more friends. Riding a bus also has its disadvantages, like sometimes it can be a bit crowded, and you do have to watch for pickpockets. But overall it's the best option I have. Besides, if everyone were to drive a car, then the environment would be severely polluted.
[27]
A souvenir I once saw while traveling was very interesting. Three years ago, I went to Vietnam and traveled around the country. While I was in Hanoi, I bought some water puppets. These water puppets are sold in a number of small sores in Hanoi. You have to be able to distinguish the craftsmanship of them, but all the puppets are basically made in the same way.
Each puppet represents a character from a traditional story. You may say that's it's a kind of opera. You can see this opera in Hanoi-the most famous is the show called Thang Long, which is the famous, professional troupe that plays internationally. These puppets are used under the water, and the puppeteers must be able to move underwater, hold their breath and use graceful movements to manipulate their puppets. They are not moved by strings like many traditional Chinese puppets.
You can't see the puppeteers from where you are sitting, but every now and then you can see them raising their hands. The puppets are quite big. They are made of wood and are dressed in traditional Vietnamese clothes, although some of them are also dressed in village clothing. The one that I liked the most was a fisherman who could move a long pole back and forth. I bought it quite cheaply and it was very heavy, so I had to pack it a separate box to take it home.
I think these puppets are so interesting to me because this kind of art form---that is, puppeteering the water is unique. No one does it as professionally as the Vietnamese. I knew that such a souvenir would not only be an interesting thing to talk about with my friends but also an interesting toy for my children. So I knew when I saw the show that I couldn't miss the opportunity to take one of the puppets home.
[28]
Right, well, my favourite clothing is a traditional costume called the Qi Pao. The Qi Pao is a type of woman's dress that actually originated from the Manchus when they dominated China during the Qing dynasty. You may have seen pictures of it before.
I'lljust give you a brief description. The dress is slim cut to show the figure. The length varies but most traditional ones were down to the ankle. It is tightly bound at the end. The Qi Pao is high collared. Usually it is made of silk, and the pattern on it also varies from birds, to flowers, to butterflies, and it reflects traditional Chinese art. Usually, it is worn during festivals, particularly during Spring Festival, but if you want to see it before this time you can go to a Chinese opera or a teahouse and see the costumes there. Also, at many tourist areas you can also put one on and then get a photo done of yourself. You may see one being worn at the occasional wedding also.
The reason I chose this as my favourite costume is because it reflects the elegance of Chinese women. It reminds us of our past in so many ways, and not in always a flattering way. What I mean is that it is somewhat symbolic of the repressive way that women were treated in the Qing dynasty before we achieved liberation. The dress itself is not really that comfortable to wear from what I've heard, and in some ways I guess you could say that its purpose was to restrict the movements of women. On the other hand, one has to admire the great beauty and simplicity of the dress, and understand that it represents the way art can be transformed to clothing.
[29]
Ok, thanks, well, I used to be quite active in school art projects, and I was quite interested in calligraphy, which is a form of Chinese painting for certain characters. In middle school we were encouraged to do as much artwork as we could, mainly because our school needed the decorations to beautify our school. You see, my school wanted to make a name for itself as the best school in the city for arts. So our headmaster really pushed our art teacher to make sure we produced big quantities of high quality artwork. In a funny way, the students who were most highly favoured were those who were most artistic. So, you see, producing art wasn't just for fun, it was fairly serious business; and I, like every other student, took it quite seriously, too. Anyways, we were given a lot of competition-type projects, and I decided to sketch a landscape of the scenery at Shidu, a beautiful area just outside of Beijing that slightly resembles Guilin. My uncle and aunt lived out there--they were farmers--so it was easy for me to spend some time out there.
Well, I did the actual sketch in three days. Many people don't realize that although the strokes in Chinese sketches seem simple, they have to be done with perfect rhythm and flow or otherwise you have to do it again. I did the strokes, and if I wasn't happy I'd simply do the whole sketch again. So, probably I did about nine different drafts, threw away about four of them and compared five of them and chose one.
After I had completed it, I felt a bit on the edge. In my mind, I felt it was quite carefully done, but I had no way of knowing since I knew I was really just a beginner. So, when I submitted it I was full of fear and expectation. My art teacher looked at it quite favourably, but not with incredible excitement. It did not turn out to be the winner, nor was it chosen for the exhibits, but it received quite a good grade, and at least I knew that-although it wasn't fantastic work--it was at least a good start.
[30]
Ok, well I think my favourite animal has to be the Panda. Many people have seen pictures of the panda, and some have seen the panda in zoos. But I've had the pleasure of seeing pandas at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu, which is a research station where about 10-12 pandas live. The base is quite large, so you can see them live naturally, and in much better conditions than at a zoo. At this place you are guaranteed to see pandas during their feeding times. I managed to watch them feeding and the thing that astonishes you is just how much they can eat. The thing that also strikes you about the panda is the "teddy bear look" that they have, and the way that they look at you makes you feel they are begging for you to take them home as a pet. You know, not a single person isn't channed by the panda, especially when they look like they are reasonably happy.
I think the reason it is my favourite animal is because no animal better represents both the beauty and struggle of wildlife in China than the panda. The panda is, of course, an endangered species, because it is so fussy about its breeding, and so every panda alive today is special-like an emperor. I hope that the panda population will one day thrive again, but I think it is going to mean more of this kind of research station and I'll be happy if all the pandas in the zoos around the world can be transferred into these more humane conditions at research stations.
Habit Cards
[31]
Ok, I'd like to tell you about what I usually do on the weekends, and so I'll give you a few details. Actually, I often just stay at home. I don't go out very much because I have to take care of the home and he}p my father and mother do things around the house. I have to do this by myself since my father and mother are business people and the weekends are the busiest times for them. So I often have to take care of the cleaning and cooking. So you can say that Saturday and Sunday are really my working days of the week. Most of what I do is just give the house a good clean and wash the areas that need it most like the windows. I also do a bit of cooking, and then store some of the meals in the freezer so that my parents can just heat them up in the microwave when they want to.
I guess I do this simply because it's my duty. I mean my parents pay for my education and support me, and if they didn't have to go through all the trouble and expense, they'd probably get a house cleaner. So I hope to save them the expense of a housekeeper. I know they do appreciate what I do, and I feel that I am a useful person as well. If I ever have kids, I think I will let them to do the same thing because I think it helps me to be more responsible.
[32]
Ok, I'll tell you about my basic day. As I've told you, I'm a student, so it's not perhaps as routine a life as, say, work. I get up at 6:00am. When I first get up, I bathe and then clean up a bit and make my bed. Most of the morning I spend in the library, because I only have one class that starts at 9:30 and ends at 12:00.
­Between classes I go back to my place and have a nap. This is very common for Chinese students and we all wake up at about 1 :30. I have another class from about 2:00 to 4:30. Just before dinner, I usually play some basketball in the playground with a group of mends. After dinner, I usually study for my English classes by listening to cassettes. I have a tape recorder and so I can play English dialogues very carefully to learn from them. Most likely I will call up a group of mends and we get together and decide what to do. Most of the time we just try to have a good time, but sometimes, especially before we have an exam, we study together.
I guess you could say that my daily routine is normal and there is nothing in it that is really distressing or bad. It's not boring because there is some variation in it, but sometimes I think it could be a bit more exciting. I'd like to explore the world beyond just the campus.
[33]
Ok, so I've been asked to speak about my favourite dish. Well, that's tough because I could probably name about 50 dishes that I could call my favourite. But I think the dish that I seem to love whenever I go out is a dish called Suan Do Jiao Rou Muo. It consists of beans, which are a little bit sour and come with finely cut up meat. It is not a dish that you would call luxurious, but it is a dish that I would miss if I were to go without it for too long.
The basic style of it is quite simple. It is a dish that you might find in Sichuan, Hunan, or maybe another province that likes spicy dishes. There are lots of chilies in it and the taste has an interesting balance of being spicy, slightly salty and slightly sour. It is that balance that I think is really important, because if you don't cook it well it could be a disaster. Most restaurants will serve it in Hunan and Sichuan, but you can also find it around the country if the restaurant carries a few Hunan dishes on its menu. It's considered a good idea to eat it with a bowl of rice because rice can soften some of the saltiness of it.
I think one big reason I like it is because it is nutritious. The beans are good for you and the meat is not usually prepared in too much oil. But that balance that I talked about of being slightly sour but also being spicy and a bit salty is what makes it so delicious. It is the right dish to have if you are looking for something filling
[34]
How often you like to go to restaurants.
I think this is a good topic for me because I'm always eating out. The truth is that I don't like doing too much cooking, so I need to get out quite often-maybe twice a week. I will usually go with my wife but sometimes with a group of people from work. To tell you the truth, I try to avoid the dinner parties that have lines of beer bottles and rice wine because I know the conversations will just get sillier and sillier.
My favourite dishes are seafood dishes, and I don't like my food to be so spicy. I prefer Cantonese-style dishes, which emphasize lighter seasoning and mixed vegetables. The best places to find these kinds of dishes are in specialty Cantonese restaurants, because if you try to get people to cook it up north, you may find yourself quite disappointed with the way they cook it.
The reason I like these kinds of restaurants is because I'm originally from Guangzhou, so I've never really changed my eating habits. In fact, I still clean all my glasses with tea before I'll even drink out of a cup. Seafood dishes and restaurants are a little more expensive, but the food is nutritious, and there're so many different ways that Cantonese people cook food. You know, beyond just the food, I think it's also important to have good service. Sometimes you will find in some of these really big restaurants the waiters and waitresses are so busy that they have no time to serve you well. I like restaurants that have waiters and waitresses who come to you even before you need them. For instance, one good example is the tea. A good restaurant will have waiters and waitresses that are continually checking your tea supply and filling it up.
[35]
What I like doing to relax is practicing Tai Chi. There is a nice park near my home where I can practice it in comfort. I usually practice it in the morning, I go because if you practice it in the evening it may be difficult for you to sleep. I will try to continue this hobby if I go overseas. I am not sure how much time I will have, but I'll try to see if any clubs exist. I do know some of the moves, so I will probably be practicing it at home. I first started Tai Chi when I was 20 years old. I had never tried it before that time because I had always thought it was just for old people. The first day I tried it, I really felt great, although I still wasn't sure about all the movements.
Basically with Tai Chi I just practice a very smooth flow and try to regulate my breathing for maximum effect. So I just float my hands in various patterns and learn to exhale and inhale according to the harmony of my movements.
I think the feeling it gives you is hard to describe. Your concentration must be very solid, and that's not always easy to do. Afterwards, you will feel at peace, although you may also experience some slight stiffness. I think it will make you feel that all things in life can be controlled and handled smoothly, just like your body. I mean, your body is a very complex instrument, so if you can control that first you can control anything, no matter how complex it is.
[36]
I love watching films. Every chance I get I like to go out and purchase them. My favourite are ghost stories. There are a few from Hong Kong and Taiwan, but the best ones come from England and America.
I watch them about three times a week. Most of the time that means the weekends and probably one weekday, because I'm a student and I do most of my work from Monday to Friday.
I think a good film should have characters that we can connect to, and there should be some skill in the way the characters act. I mean, half the actors in Hollywood are only chosen for their appearance. With their huge budgets they can afford to do many takes on the same scene. I think it's important that stories don't move too quickly, or you lose your connection to the characters.
I like ghost stories because they usually involve some tragic situation from the past. And because people don't know the full story, the ghosts usually just want to communicate some injustice. I can discuss the films with friends or relatives. That's the great part about ghosts films :is that everyone likes to hear them. I mean, comedies are hard to tell, and so are human drama films, because they involve a special mood. But if you tell a ghost story the right way, it is simple to make someone frightened.
[37]
Right, well the music I'd like to talk about is hard rock. Some people call it heavy metal. I listen to it mainly while I'm on the bicycle going to work because it helps me forget about all the stress of the traffic.
You know the pioneer of bringing real rock and roll to China is Cui Jian, and he is still very popular. Another group is called Tang Dynasty, or Tang Chao. The basic features of hard rock in China and the west are that the music is dominated by lead guitar and the beat can vary. It's loud, and there are a lot of mixtures of different styles including jazz, blues, country and calypso.
Chinese hard rock focuses on a kind of lonely rebellious cry-it almost sounds desperate. A lot of it is modelled after Kurt Kobain, the American Rock'n Roll artist who committed suicide-he's wildly popular here.
I think I like this music because it's a safe way for me to hear expressions of different complex emotions. Pop music in my opinion is just too shallow, and I can't stand those vain, over-groomed singers who have no other themes except struggling with feelings of love. I mean, for me, rock does that too, but it's not the only thing in life.
[38]
appearance and sound)
Well, I like listening to a lot of different instruments; it's really hard to choose one. The instrument I want to choose are bells. You might not normally think of bells as an instrument, but they are a traditional form of music for us. I first became interested in bell music after I visited the Great Bell temple in Beijing and I visited a gift shop there. I learned about an incredible excavation of ancient bells. In fact they unearthed a whole scale of bells form the ground and rediscovered the ways to play them. It's really an ancient form of music. So I listened to the sounds the bells created and it was incredible. The music had such a powerful effect over me that I bought the cassette. I have been listening to this bell music now for about 3 years. I may not play it as much as say pop music, but I would say it's my favourite music just to relax or to listen to as background music as I'm doing something else.
The music is a bit slower, since each note has to have some time for the sound to come out, and the notes are played in small combinations of two or three notes at a time. You cannot of course play it as quickly as a piano or flute, but you can get a few bell sounds going at the same time, so long as the notes don't clash. The key issue with playing these bells is harmony.
I like listening to them because the music often sounds so sad. The sound is so penetrating that each note seems to go through your ears, and as you are listening you can just imagine the incredible effort that goes into playing these great instruments. I think such music is a true representation of beauty that we achieve through struggle.
[39]
I think this is good topic for me because I'm always eating out. The truth is that I don't like doing too much cooking so I need to get out quite often-maybe twice a week. Generally Friday, since I don't work on Saturdays so I can just relax.
I usually go out with my wife, but sometimes with a group of people from work. To tell you the truth, I try to avoid the dinner parties that have lines of beer bottles and rice wine because I know the conversations will just get sillier and sillier. I'd prefer not to pay too much, since it's generally not worth it and you are paying for the ambience more than the food quality.
My favourite dishes are seafood dishes, and I don't like my food to be so spicy. I prefer Cantonese-style dishes, which emphasize lighter seasoning and mixed vegetables. The best places to find these kinds of dishes are in specialty Cantonese restaurants, because if you try to get people to cook it up north, you may find yourself quite disappointed with the way they cook it.
The reason I like these kinds of restaurants is because I'm originally from Guangzhou, so I've never really changed my eating habits. In fact, I still clean all my glasses with tea before I'll even drink out of a cup. Seafood dishes and restaurants are a little more' expensive but the food is nutritious, and there're so many different ways that Cantonese people cook food.
You know, beyond just the food, I think it's also important to have good service. Sometimes you
will find in some of these really big restaurants the waiters and waitresses are so busy that they have no time to serve you well. I like restaurants that have waiters and waitresses who come to you even before you need them. For instance, one good example is the tea. A good restaurant will have waiters and waitresses that are continually checking your tea supply and filling it up.
[40]
You should say: '
Ok, well I have to say that my hobby is really about telling jokes. You know some people wouldn't call that a hobby because we think it's just an everyday thing. But I try to collect as many jokes as I can. The hobby involves part reading and part listening. Sometimes telling jokes involves listening to one joke and expanding it to another situation. There are jokes that involve word play; others just involve a surprising punch line. You need to keep a record and draw from that record whenever ,You can.
I got started with it when I worked as a computer teacher. Each day I would bring in a joke to tell the students, and I would say it at the beginning of the class, to try and encourage them to come on time. The main thing is you have to know that the skill is not just telling the joke itself but the expressions you use and the building of suspense.
Most people just think of a joke as being the punch line. No way-the best part of a joke is the process of telling it. You have to have a good memory for the process of a joke. Because jokes are easy to forget. You need to tell them almost right away to someone else once you've learned them, and you should always try to repeat them in a different, more expressive way.
The impact it has on me is that essentially it makes it easier to tell people serious things. I guess you could say it is a bit of a paradox that the things people take most seriously are the things you tell them in a joke. So it has improved my public speaking enormously.
Narration of experiences
[41]
Well, I will tell you right from the start that my first day at work was a scary experience for me, because I was so nervous and scared that I couldn't perform. You see, the job that I was hired to do, namely an editor, was really not my specially. I had received no specific training, and I was worried that they would quickly discover that I had no practical experience in this job. What made things rather scary was that I arrived late. I just couldn't find the place. I left quite early, but the building that I presumed it was located in was actually not the right building. So I spent about three quarters of an hour going up and down the lift of another building that I thought it was in. When I arrived late, I had to search for the boss because he was not in the office. I felt so embarrassed that I just sort of stood there watching everyone work.
When the boss finally came back he seemed rather amused that I looked so nervous, and that I was so apologetic about being late. He said that everyone is late for their job the first day because the address is so confusing. I was shown an office, and I was given stacks of the back issues of the magazines, and was told to use these old issues to write a report on the general patterns of the magazine outline and layout. I was surprised I was given this assignment because I just expected that he would tell me all about the layout, not actually let me find out for myself. So throughout the day I just poured through all these magazines and tried to find out the patterns and staple types of articles. Each issue was different, but there seemed to be many similarities too.
As I watched the other colleagues work, I realized that this was an organisation that didn't fool around. People knew what they were supposed to do and everyone seemed to work well by him or herself. The boss placed a lot of trust in people to work independently. After a few hours during the end of break time I had people approach me and ask me about myself. I found the people quite funny and cheerful. They were especially interested in my level of English because they said that their boss had told them that my English skills were quite good.
I submitted my report about the magazine, and I felt that at the end of the day this was the kind of organisation I could become very accustomed to working for. I realized also that the purpose of having to submit a report was so I would use my own judgment about the paper, and also prepare me for ideas about how I might improve the paper. So at the end of the day I felt quite lucky that I was in the right job.
[42]
How you released your happiness
The happiest time of my life was last year when I was accepted into Tsinghua University. I had just finished my exam, and I was watching TV. I really thought I had not passed. I was quite depressed and decided to forget it. Then one day my mother came in with the mail. I told my mother I didn't want to look at the letter. So she opened it up herself. She told me I had passed and had been accepted, but I didn't believe her. She pretended to hide her joy while I pretended to hide my tears. The next day I phoned all my friends.
I guess the reason I felt so happy was because I really wanted to make my mother proud, and I knew I could do it, but was so disappointed after the exam that I thought I would surely fail. So when I found out that I'd passed, I felt this immediate burst of relief.
Usually, when I am not very loud or boisterous and this was no exception.
From then on I never tried to predict my outcome and now I just work hard and let fate be my guide. I realize that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. But if you work hard you can always be sure you tried your best and that you have nothing to worry about.
[43]
Something about the style of teaching
My favourite class that I took was a class I took about five years ago. The class was on International Trade and Marketing for an International Market. I was a second-year student at university and I was eager to begin to specialize in my field. You see at that time I had all these ideas about how I could get rich by selling Chinese-made products to the west. You know, I think there are a lot of people who have the same dream that I did. My thinking was that what I could sell wasn't available in the west, so international marketing would just be about telling the world about it, and then waiting for the money to come in.
Inthis course we had a professor who was not only knowledgeable from a theoretical standpoint, he also had a lot of practical knowledge, since he used to work for a Chinese company who sold products in America. He lived in America and supervised the efforts of the marketing department, so he had a rich knowledge of the kinds of things that can go wrong when you're trying to market to people from a different market. He told us how some Chinese executives would choose certain clients over others only because they were willing to make advance payments, but that in fact the clients who wanted better .credit terms were actually more profitable clients. He said it was natural for executives to favor clients who paid early in China, but that in the west where credit was the norm most clients thought it quite normal to pay over long periods of time. He said that some clients took advantage of this mindset to try and squeeze lower prices out of his company.
The style was completely anecdotal. By that I mean he just told stories. He tried to organise these stories as they related to the theory, and they tended to make sense from a practical way of looking at the issues. He also gave us a lot of humorous examples of cultural differences along the way. But he also told us that people are people wherever they come from, and he even told us how he exported products to places like Rwanda and how similar they were to us in many respects.
It was my favourite because it taught me what issues to think about before setting up any international trade. More than just knowledge it also helped me to understand the issue of culture better, and this was very relevant to me since I am planning to go overseas soon.
[44]
Well, first of all I should say that I don't really believe in luck, but there are some days that seem to go a bit better than others. On the other hand, there are some days when things go so amazingly well that you wonder why all days can't go that way. Such a day occurred about four years ago.
I was having fun at a Miao Hui, which is simply a carnival held during Spring Festival. A group of us were wandering around all the amusement and a few of us were trying our luck in different games. Well, one of them was one of those ring-tossing games. There were five of us, and each of my friends tossed this ring a few times and couldn't land it over any of the pins. I picked up one of
the rings and closed my eyes and threw. I wasn't expecting anything to land and sure enough it did. In fact I threw it three times and it landed, so I walked out of there with 3 big panda toy bears. Well, if that wasn't enough, I also went outside the carnival later and bought a lottery ticket that they issue every year. I won 500 RMB. I couldn't believe it.
Well besides putting me in shock, I got a bit worried. I'll tell you why. First, when you have a lucky day you have to think that there's probably an equally unlucky day waiting for you. I believe in balances, and if you have such lucky day then you had better be prepared for something bad in the future. That's why I prefer getting my rewards through my hard work rather than my luck, so I would never want to go gambling.
[45]
Well, this is going to shock you, but I actually came across a person who was so kind that she was willing to give up a sum of money that many people could live on for about a year. I really don't know who this kind person was; I never really got a chance to get to know this person. She was a stranger.
My father had given me 50,000 RMB to continue my studies, and I was carrying it around in my purse. It was in a stuffed envelope and it was placed in my purse. I went into a snack restaurant and put my purse down beside me. The snack bar waitress asked me for the bill in advance so some small change and I guess as I was looking for something I accidentally knocked the envelope out of my purse. I didn't realise I had done this. About a half an hour later, I was travelling in the bus and I checked my purse and realized my money was gone. I went back to the snack bar but obviously no one had given it back, so I just left my telephone number. Well, this made me shake with fear. My father wasn't rich and he had sacrificed a lot to give me this kind of money. I went back to my dormitory and just cried and cried. Then I got a telephone call form the snack bar and they said that someone had found the money but wouldn't give it to them until I showed up and claimed it. So I rushed over. They said that a lady had found the 50,000RMB and wanted to give it to me but she didn't trust the waitresses to do it so she would just wait in the bar. I demanded to know who it was, but they just said it was somebody in the restaurant-they didn't want to say whom. So then they gave it to me and not a single note was missing. I took it and couldn't even thank the lady who gave it back, because she didn't want to identify herself. You see the snack bar was crowded, and there were many people sitting and eating alone. It could have been about 10 different people.
So I just accepted it and, amazingly, when I got home I cried even more than I did the first time. I just felt like I'd been spared something close to death, and I was angry with myself for being so foolish. I was no longer a victim but a lucky fool.
I think this person did more than just return my money. She also restored my faith in human nature. She made me realize the potential of human kindness, and that kindness is a quality we should never give up for any amount of money.
[46]
Ok, a popular movie I have watched is called Raise the Red Lanterns. Basically, it's a tragedy, and I first saw the movie in 1989, about two years after it was released. I saw it on video, and I watched it with a group of my friends.
I first saw this movie because a friend of mine said it was very artistic and even kind of eerie. Since I like those kinds of films, I decided to see it. I remember how fascinated I was with the film.
Well, basically it was about a young bride who becomes a concubine and finds out that there are a lot of inner politics going on among the concubines, and she gets caught up in it and even accidentally causes the death of one of the wives. She tries to fight against it all, and as she does, things just seem to get worse and worse. She finds out that there is one concubine in particular who is behind most of her problems.
The story deals with the whole theme of repression and its effect on people. Mainly it's about how repression can drive some people to cruelty and madness.
I think the impact this story had on me was it taught me that there are situations that are so bad for people that the best thing to do is either get out or be swallowed up by it. After seeing this movie, I decided to quit my job and do what I really wanted because I realized that my job would only drive me crazy if I continued with it.
[47]
My favourite story is The Rickshaw Boy. I read this story about five years ago, and I liked it so much that I read it perhaps three more times. The author of this story is the famous Lao She, and this book is so famous that it has been translated into many languages, including English.
Basically, the story is about the living conditions of rickshaw drivers in Beijing. It's kind of a social critique of the way people were during that time. The story is a bit complex, so I won't go through the plot but you do get a sense of the injustice and hardships suffered by people before liberation. The main character. is a man who had many dreams and ambitions as a youth, but lost them along the way. His life is thus a kind of struggle for survival and a challenge to reconcile his lost ambitions.
I like this story best because it's full of sympathy for ordinarily folk. Sometimes I feel we need to take a closer look at the conditions of people in our lives. You know, I guess you could say I came from a wealthier side of society, and it's so easy to ignore the conditions of people who are not so lucky as yourself. Also, this book reminds us how far our society has progressed. We still have rickshaw drivers and poor folk, but not nearly as many as during the time Lao She was writing. People's lives are better now, but we haven't yet reached the ideal state yet, so we had better look after each other and treat each other as brothers and sisters.
[48]
I have been asked to talk about a popular festival, so I'd like to tell you all about Spring Festival. The festival is basically a celebration of the new year and a farewell to the old year. According to the lunar calendar, Chinese New Year should start sometime in early February or late January. It is celebrated just to usher in a new year and to get rid of the demons from the older generation. I don't know the history of the New Year Festival that well. I only know that it is a festival that has basically been celebrated in a very similar way for hundreds of years, and that it mixes a bit of religion, superstition and festivity of the new season. I do know that it used to be celebrated a lot in the streets with a big parade and two dragons chasing a ball. We still do that now, but not as much; mostly you will find that at the Miao Hui carnivals.
People celebrate it by decorating their house with various emblems and also by getting together, having a big dinner, and giving hongbao, which actually means "red packets" . You see, in our Spring Festival we don't give presents. Instead, a married couple will give a single relative or friend a red packet with money in it. As for the dinner, it can vary-there's no dinner that we have to eat. In the west, I know you usually eat turkey. But in Beijing most people eat dumplings, and part of the fun is just sitting around and making them. Together with all our family members, we often sit around and gamble by playing cards or Mahjong, which is a very famous type of game with chips, played a bit like Bridge, but of course much different. On the second day, we often go around and visit friends.
Another way people celebrate Spring Festival is by dressing up in new clothes, and we often go out and attend what we call Miao Hui, which are simply outdoor carnivals, which basically sell a lot of things, and they hold a few events like Chinese opera.
I think that the reason Spring Festival is so popular is because a lot of our economy is planned around it. I mean even though we do think of January as the beginning of the year officially, many think of Spring Festival as the real beginning of the financial year. Also, because the holiday stretches for 15 days, it gives many people a chance to reunite with their family for the longest period of the year. In that sense you could say that it is like Christmas in the west.
[49]
And explain how you felt when you finally learned it.
I'm a business student, and I'm currently doing a lot of case studies and assignments which my professor expects me to hand in, and they don't allow us to hand in things which are handwritten. I bought myself a computer a year ago, and after three months I found that my typing skills were just too poor; in fact, I was wasting most of my time just typing things in. So I decided to take a three-week typing course.
The course was open to everyone and it was offered at a private, business skills school. I was very worried when I took the class that I'd be the only man in the class, but it turned out that there were 2 other men, although they registered with their wives. The instructor was quite young-a secretary who could type up to 110 words a minute. She types about as fast as some people play the piano.
Basically, the main trick was having faith in your ability to type without looking at the keys. So, the instructor would call out individual letters, and we had to quickly hit them without looking down. Actually we used a keyboard without letters in the beginning, because the temptation was too great to look anyways.
After the course I was able to type at about 30 words per minute-not enough to get me a job as a secretary, but enough to make my assignments go a lot faster. I felt very proud to increase my speed ,and I felt the skill was very useful to learn. By typing faster I was able to spend more time on the actual work of studying information and putting more work into my overall analysis.
[50]
I was trying to think of my best day. You know, my life at school seems so long ago. I can remember an occasion when I won first prize in a singing contest, and I think that had to have been my best day at school. The competition was held outside the school, and we had a stage set up for each of us to sing. The sound quality was not very good since it was an outdoor competition, but I suppose that might have acted in my favour, since I really don't think I am that good of a singer. But anyway, I can remember feeling on stage as nervous as anything, and just closing my eyes and letting myself sort of float in my imagination. I imagined this was my profession, and I thought of myself as a famous person-but I can't remember who it was, it was so long ago. Anyways, after the song was finished I remember people were giving me quite a good applause.
When my name was announced as the winner I felt like flying again. You know,' it was something that meant so much to me just to be on stage, but to actually also land first prize was something else. Now that I think back however, I probably won more because I had good relations with the judges. They were all teachers who quite liked me, but anyways I won't forget the feeling.
I consider it my best day because it was the first time I had ever won something and from that day on I really believed I could be the top at anything if I tried hard, and even my grades started to improve after that competition.
Instructional Cards
[51]
The piece of equipment that I would like to talk about is a computer. Well, these days you can buy a computer anywhere. A computer is not difficult to get, but it is important to get the right one.
Anyways, when you finally get it, the first thing you should do is to make sure it's plugged in.
Then you should press the power button and this will boot up the system. When you see the menu you should move the mouse or arrow key to start. After clicking start, you will see program. Click the program you want and then you will be able to use it. When you are finished, you should press the" X "button, which really means close. It will ask you if you want to save it. Say" yes" or "no", and you will return to the main menu. Finally, press start and shut down to end your process.
A few things to remember. First, don't panic if you hit the wrong button-you can always undo the action. Second, you can use different programs at the same time. Don't forget to close them all when you've finished. One more thing: It's important to save your work regularly and put it in a file where you can retrieve quickly.
[52]
I want to teach you how to make a cloth puppet, which I leaned a long time ago when I was a student at meddle school. All you need to prepare is some sharp scissors, and about five socks of different colours. Just use some old socks that you don't need any more. Also, you will need a needle and thread.
The first thing you need to do is create the arms You cut holes in the places you want to sew arms, and then you cut a long, thin rectangle in the cloth, which is then made into a tube and sewed onto the puppet holes. Then you cut a hole in the top and begin designing a head by cutting out a large piece of cloth and just squeezing it together and then covering it with another piece of cloth. Sew it onto the top and you are basically fished, except of course that you need to decorate the puppet with eyes, ears, a nose and you might want to give your puppet some clothes.
The main skill to concentrate on is just cutting the holes to the exact measurement and making sure your cuts are smooth. Your sewing skill must be adequate. You have to be patient. I think you also need a bit of imagination and visual foresight for your decorations to bring them to life
[53]
First, you look up the address or e-mail address of a university from a library or the Internet. You would be best to get the e-mail address because it's much faster and you can send out the same message to each of them. Then you write or send an e-mail to the school and get an application form. Just request any forms you need, and they will send them to you either by regular mail or by e-mail. A lot of them are sending forms out bye-mail, so be prepared to state which option you would prefer them to send them to you with.
When you receive your application you have to read it carefully. If you don't understand some of
the requirements then make sure you ask someone who can read the application form clearly. Fill in the application form and attach the additional requirements that they have. After that, you send it in with a copy of your school records and some letters of recommendation from your former teachers. The university may require you to take the TOEFL test if you're planning to go to America, and for some schools, especially those in the Commonwealth countries, you may have to take IELTS. Finally, you just wait for the letter of acceptance from the university.
I don't think the process is very complicated, and the chance of getting accepted into the university is quite good. I think the trickier and more complicated part is the student visa application, because you have to be very careful when you go through the process.
[54]
Well, I picked a sport that I think is pretty easy to explain. I don't really know if you'd call it a sport or not. Anyways, I chose bowling. Bowling is a sport that just requires you to roll a ball along the floor and to knock over some targets. Those targets are called bowling pins. There are either 5 or 10 pins lined up about 20 meters in front of you. You just need to knock them all down by rolling the balls down the aisle. If you can't knock them all down then you can receive some points for ones you do knock down. The rules are not complicated. You can't step over the line when you roll the ball down the aisle, and you can't throw the ball. That's about it. The scoring system is done automatically these days. When I was young we had to manually calculate it, but nowadays it's easy.
I think the skill in bowling is really in how you practice your stroke when you release the ball. The balls can be influenced by the slightest spin, so you have to give just the right little flick of the wrist when you release it. It's not just a matter of keeping your arm straight as many people assume. So the best thing to do is just keep practicing and experimenting with different ways to throw the ball. If you just keep leaving it to luck, you will not improve, but if you try different ways of releasing the ball you will inevitably find a consistent style. Also, you need to know how to hold the ball. If you always cup the ball, you wont be able to create the kind of spin that knocks down balls efficiently.
[55]
Well, my favourite hobby is shopping! Now I know you must be thinking this is not really a hobby but to me it is. I mean, it's interesting and it takes skills to do it well. So I'm going to tell you how to shop properly.
To begin, you need time. You may need some money or you may not, depending on what your intention is. You need to be able to understand the retail profession, and understand that not everything that seems like good quality is good quality. Price may give you some clue, but the key to shopping is getting something of high quality at a low price. First, I always try to go to shops where the business is not too good. It must be a place where the store is good and they carry good products, but perhaps it's just not in a popular location, or perhaps they have some problems with advertising. Its good to find a store that is in a reasonably competitive area, so they know you can just walk to the next store if you have to. Small stores are usually a bit cheaper and you can usually bargain. You need to be a bit of an actor when you shop and just check out the prices of many different types. You also need to be nice to the sales staff, because they often deal with so many pushy and rude people that they feel more generous when they come across a more polite person. You also need to show them that you know about the product and ask a few questions about the features. You want to tell them that there are products that have more features or are superior, but you are willing to consider this one if the price is right. That way you are putting the pressure on them.
To get better at this you have to do a lot of it and try different strategies. You need to be yourself and not take anything personally. After all, it's always possible to get a better deal somewhere else, but if you manage to get a reasonable deal, then you can feel satisfied that you've achieved something. Don't act arrogantly just because you are the customer. People are human and they may want your money, but not at the expense of their face or pride.
I think it's a good skill to learn because in life you have to learn to do business and still keep good relations with others, so it's important to do shopping well. Also you can obviously save a lot of money.
[56]
Ok, I've been asked to tell you the steps to find a job in my country. Nowadays, for graduates, most people look for a job on the Internet. More and more companies are putting their job vacancies on the Internet. It also makes it easier for people to search for job openings in the least amount of time. But there are also vacancies advertised in the newspapers. Candidates can send it their resume either through the Internet or by post, depending on the requirements of the advertisement. This is the first step.
How to get an interview? Well, it will depend on whether the company is impressed with the resume and calls the candidate up for an interview. Nowadays, most companies indicate that they do. not entertain calls requesting interviews. So candidates will have to wait patiently. There is nothing they can do here except wait.
If you're called in for an interview, I'd say this is the crucial part. You should present yourself well because a first impression is very important. Sometimes, it will determine whether you get the job. You have to come prepared for a range of possible questions and be knowledgeable in your field. It's getting more and more competitive, so do take this stage seriously.
After the interview, I think it is polite to send in a thank: you letter to the interviewer. Not only will this show the sincerity of the candidate, but also it will leave a good impression for the interviewer. That's all.
[57]
What he/she should bring
I think the best way to travel really depends on the kind of person you are, so it's a bit tough to tell you one best way. This is the way I think you'll gain the most out of China.
The best time to go is definitely not during Spring Festival. Now, I know a lot of you foreigners would like to see how China is during this time, but I think you're crazy to travel here during any of the holiday periods. Remember, there're a billion people here, and when even a tiny percentage of us decide to travel, that can still mean thousands of tourists at any given place you come across. If I had to recommend a time, I would probably say fall or spring during non-holiday times. You can probably get some more discounts on your domestic flights and your hotels.
What should you see? Well, that depends on what you like. If you like natural, mountainous areas that are not too rugged but are interesting, and also give you a bit of history, then I recommend you travel to the three famous mountains, Taishan, Huang Shan and Hua Shan. You might also what to explore Kunming, Guilin and Wulingyuan.
If you like rivers, then you will want to take in the Yellow River, and if you travel along the Yangtze River from Chongqing to Wuhan you can see the famous three gorges.
If you like history, don't miss Beijing, Nanjing, and, of course, the Great Wall. If you like beaches, go to Hainan, Qingdao or Dalian. If you like shopping I would probably recommend you stay away from the big cities and just stick to smaller towns that don't get too many tourists.
Bring almost nothing with you except an open mind and a good Chinese phrasebook. Keep your passport in a secure location, and you should have a contact number in China just in case you run into difficulties.
As for customs, one thing that you should understand is that its normal for us to bargain, and so you need to bargain wherever you go. Do not accept the first price out of pity or convenience. Also, remember the important aspect of face. If you make someone lose face out of anger, you can expect that person to want revenge or do nothing to help you out. When you are in tourist locations, you need to be careful not to get talked into anything, especially when it comes to you giving money for something.
[58]
Ok, I want to explain how to make a sandwich. You know, sandwiches are getting more and more popular here in China and they are so easy to make.
I am going to talk with you about how to make a basic sandwich called a tuna fish sandwich, which means it's made from tuna.
First, you should make sure that you have all the right tomatoes, onions, and meat. The important thing is to try and cut it up beforehand. Get it ready and have it in place so that there are no delays when you add everything together. The next thing you should do is add mayonnaise or butter to your bread. After doing so, you may need to add the ingredients together, and the trick is to add just enough to make it into a hardy sandwich, but not too much so that it will be dropping down onto your plate. I think: it's also important that you cut it properly, because if you try to cut it too roughly then it is not as appealing.
One thing to remember is to make sure that the tomatoes are fresh. Also, don't cut the slices too big because this will make the tuna too loose inside your sandwich. The mayonnaise that you add is quite high in fat, so if you are at all concerned about this issue, you shouldn't add too much. Finally, tuna fish is actually quite salty if you get it form a can, and the mayonnaise usually has a bit of salt as well, so probably you won't need to add any more salt.
[59]
The tool I will give you instructions about is the mobile phone. I will just assume that you've never used one before.
The first thing you should do is turn it on and check the battery level, and then the volume level. Well, see if it has enough battery. Wait for it to register. What I mean by register is that the picture screen should come up and then the main menu. You see, a mobile phone is really like a computer, so it needs its main menu before you start hitting any buttons. When you feel it is registered, dial the number. Remember that you need to key in 010 if you are phoning a home number, but if not, that is to say the number is also another mobile phone number, then key in the number directly. Check to see that the number you dialed is the same one you intended to dial. It will appear on the mobile phone screen. After that press the green button and wait. Finally, after finishing your conversation, press the red button.
When you are talking, you need to put the phone close to your ear. You should also adjust the volume, but that you can do even before the call. Also, make sure that you put it on lock, but we do that after we hang it up Remember to hang up the phone and recharge it.
[60]
Well, I've been asked to talk about how to study English. Well, I'm not sure I'm the best one to talk about this topic since I am just a learner myself, but I will try to give some suggestions based on my own experience.
I advise you first to know what your goals are and your budget. I don't advise you to go out and spend so much on English books and other things until you know clearly what you want to learn and for what purpose. I mean, if its just conversational English you want to learn, then concentrate on getting communication-style resources. But if you are more interested in studying for a test like this one then it may be best to focus on the types of topics you may be asked. I think you should explore all the various options first. Some my be quite cheap-for example, listening to CRI or English television is free of charge, while other options are more expensive-for example, taking an intensive course at a language school.
My own opinion is that you should probably study English in the morning or in the early evening. In other words, try to study it when you first get up because you'll feel more alert at that time. Trying to study English in the afternoon is like trying to drink a beer in the morning. Somehow it just doesn't seem to fit.
When you do get what resources you need, I advise you to begin with a good sound base in English. One regret I have in learning English is that I never developed this sound base. I developed a visual base first, and then later had to develop my listening and pronunciation. I would work primarily on listening at first. I wouldn't force you to speak too early because the experience will be too frustrating, as I found out. Once you do build up your listening, start talking and writing, and then finally do a lot of reading, which will help your English a lot at the latter stages.
I think it's important to remember that we don't learn language in any linear way. Also, it is not so simple to say, "the more words you remember the more you can produce." There is a relationship between memory and language, but it is not the only aspect. Creativity and experience using it are equally as important.
Dream or Imagination Cards
[61]
The object I would like to buy would be a robot. You see, I'm not a lazy person, but it has been a dream of mine for so long. To be frank, I have no idea where you could purchase a robot, but I have an idea you would probably have to find someone who is a technical genius to make one for you.
What would I use it for. Well, for starters, I would like one to teach me English. The robot should have an authentic English voice with a native accent, and it should have the ability to correct my mistakes as I make them. It should also be able to react to my statements and be able to ask me many questions. I think the English robot would also be able to tell me what level I am, and give me an idea form day to day whether my level is increasing.
I would also use it for housework. I mean, as I said before, I'm not lazy, but why should I do it if! can sit back and have a robot do it for me. For example, washing. This is something a robot could be programmed to do.
I chose this object over others because a robot is something that you can do new things with each day. Most things you buy you can only use for one basic purpose. Also, if I learn English through this robot, you can say that the money that I spend on this robot is substantially less than the money I spend on course books and private tutors.
[62]
A dream university I would like to talk about would be a university like one of those Ivy League schools in Britain or American like Harvard, Stanford, Oxford or Cambridge.
I would study there when I was about 30 because I think it is too stressful when you're very young.
I would study English literature, because I love reading the translated versions. You might say to me that it would be too difficult to compete with all those fluent classmates. Plus, the students are in such a tough major. Well, it's true that it would probably be impossible, but that's why it's just a dream.
The special feature would be... well, there would be a tutor to follow me to each class and help me all the way through my classes. And professors would be good friends with this tutor so I could visit the professor regularly and chat with them about English stories. That would certainly be a dream of mine.
I think this place would be a good place to study because future employers would instantly recognize how tough it was and they would marvel at my achievement. So I could almost handpick any job I really wanted. Also, imagine what pride it would be to say that I graduated from a top American university and did well studying literature from their country.
[63]
And say why you think you would enjoy such a job.
A dream job I would like to have would be a professional shopper. This job would involve me working for various companies as a free-lance shopper. I would go to various places and then pretend that I was shopping for certain things. I would record what the staff said to me in a secret tape-recorder. I would then write up a report about the service I received and determine what things I was impressed with and didn't like so much. Then I would be paid very handsomely for the report.
I would like to be able to create my own hours for this job, and I would like to have all my transportation paid for, and I would like all the normal benefits to apply like health insurance and pensions.
I think I would like this kind of job because, well ... I love shopping. I mean, I can shop all day without getting tired, so I imagine that this job would be a piece of cake. Plus, I think this kind of job is useful because it lets the companies know either their service towards customers is good or not, and if they know what areas they need to improve then they can go out and make these improvements. So I think the service I am doing for society is a good one and can lead to better service quality and perhaps increased salaries. Also, I have a feeling I could make big money with this job.
[64]
What food the restaurant would serve
What the restaurant would look like inside
What special service you would like to see
Ok, well, a dream restaurant might be something like this. First, for food, the restaurant must have a variety of dishes and these dishes would be separated by region. For example, if you wanted to eat dishes from Sichuan, there would be a special menu and chef from that region. Or if you wanted to eat Cantonese style, they'd give you a special menu.
I like a restaurant that has a theme in its atmosphere. It should be clean and be decorated with many things to look at. I prefer it if the restaurant has a place to store your belongings. I think service is important. My dream restaurant would have waiters and waitresses who have special skills like pouring tea and are experts at juggling plates and cutlery. They should always be checking on your table to see if things are ok, like your teacup. And there should be very clean aquarium tanks for the seafood that is to be served. The table should have a very nice enamel base, because I prefer tables without tablecloths. Prices... well... they'd be reasonable.
I guess the reason this is my dream is because it fits all the ideal expectations and wishes I have always had for a restaurant. Every restaurant I go to has some weaknesses in one of these areas, so my dream is for it to be perfect in every area.
[65]
A skill I would like to learn would be English. I would like the lessons to be in mY, home and the lessons would be on face-to-face communication skills. I would like teacher to just let me speak, bringing up topics which are interesting. I hope he could work on my pronunciation of individual words and sentences.
Also, I need a tutor who would force me to learn many words and expressions in English. Perhaps give me a test in each class. I hope he would also have made special textbooks for me to study. I would like this tutor to be strict, but I don't want the tutor to discourage me, so I hope that he's skilled at the art of encouragement and motivation.
This skill is so obviously important to me because it means everything to my career, and there's no doubt that being fluent would make my opportunities grow. Besides that, I would feel satisfaction being fluent in English, almost as if I had reached heaven.
[66]
A person I would really like to meet would be somebody like Justice Bao. I know it's impossible, but I would like to meet him at his living quarters in the Forbidden Palace.
I'd like to just discuss the principles of justice and laws and try to learn his style of solving a case. I would ask him how he managed to bring so much justice working under such a corrupt and weak emperor. I would like to ask him what his favourite case was. I wonder if there are any of the people that he put to death that he felt sorry for. Also, I would like to tell him about current conditions, and perhaps he might be fascinated wit the way modem life is. Hopefully, I could convince him to travel into the future and be a judge in modem China.
I choose this person because he represents the ideal for our society and a model for all young people. No one can corrupt him, and we know that if we were all like him our society would be magnificent. Justice Bao is incorruptible and this means that he puts his own self-interests aside and lets the principles of fairness and justice prevail.
[67]
And explain why you would choose this over others.
The entertainment I would like to see is a Broadway play, like those famous ones from New York. I've heard that The Phantom of the Opera is a famous one that is well worth seeing. Well, I guess I might need to go all the way to America to see one, but I have a feeling that there will one day be a grand performance in Beijing. Why not? You don't need that much English to be able to enjoy it, and Beijing certainly has the facilities. Perhaps it will come soon.
The basic features of these plays are incredible voices-I mean to sing like they do is not easy, and I know many famous signers and actors from America have tried but failed. Also they need to be graceful in their actions and decent at acting. These kinds of plays are usually visually very stunning, I mean a lot goes into making the setting wonderful. I heard for example that in The Phantom of the Opera there is a giant chandelier that comes crashing onto the stage, but that it is actually just a technical stunt.
I think the reason I would like to see this is because I prefer seeing acting live and on stage. Also, I love singing, and I think if I were to see such a play it would stick in my mind for quite some time.
[68]
I work in an express mail company, and I'm a marketing executive. I've been working for a few years and there is one thing I would like to change about my job. I'd like to have a chance to play music while I work. You see, we are forbidden to play music while working, but quite frankly I think I work much better with a bit of music playing.
How to change it? Well, there would have to be a new policy allowing the use of music in the office and we would all be provided with walkmans and earphones. If there was a message we could be told through a signal, either through the Walkman itself or maybe by some flashing red button. We would have to have some policy about the volume-obviously we couldn't allow the volume to be too high. I guess we could have some soft background music in the office for those people who did not want a Walkman on at the time.
Problems changing it? Well, I think the biggest one is convincing the boss to be more open minded about it, because he really think that it distracts people from concentrating, but I think that music is actually one of those things that can actually make you do more routine activities faster, because you are not as likely to start dreaming about other things. Also, I guess you'd need to see whether it is possible to still communicate with each other in the same way. We would have to do everything we could to avoid possible problems.
[69]
And explain any other special features you think are important.
This may seem funny, but the place I would like to visit would be Mars.
Well, as for its location, I only know that it is the closest planet to the Earth, and it is the most similar to Earth. Although Mars is the fourth closest planet to the sun, it is still much colder than the Earth. No one has been to Mars, but we do have some information on Mars. Like the satellites pictures showed that Mars has lots of craters, and scientists speculate that perhaps Mars used to be like Earth billions of years ago. But again, no one can know for sure unless someone has actually been there and stayed there for a long time. I think there is more to Mars than what the scientists believe. I believe there is life on Mars. Perhaps the definition of life on Mars is different from Earth. It could be that the life there does not need oxygen, but other kinds of gases. I would imagine that life may not be active, because Mars has been hit by meteorites and the surface has been very much bombarded. So I presume the life that still exist would not be like life on Earth.
I have no idea what the weather would be like, but I can presume it would be very cold, since Mars is much further from the sun than Earth.
As for its special features, I think if one stands on the surface of Mars, we can see the whole universe clearer than on the earth. And perhaps it's a million times more beautiful than earth. I hope one day we can have more exploration on Mars and solve the mystery.
[70]
The event that I would like to see is the Olympic finals of basketball. My chance to see it will be during the 2008 Olympic games. Of course, I can't know which teams would be involved, but I have a feeling it would probably be between America and China. After all, the NBA just keeps producing more and more talented basketball athletes from America. However, C4ina would have the advantage of having everyone in China cheering wildly for the Chinese national dream.
It would be my dream to see some stunning upset where China wins in basketball in some close match that thrills everyone right to the very end. I hope I could see all the greats in basketball, even Michael Jordan if he's still not too old to play. I would expect that the Chinese basketball team would be a group of people who have had lots of practice and worked together in harmony as a team. You see, it might be hard to compete with those very dazzling athletes from the NBA, but I think we might be able to beat them if we could work more closely as a team and just be perfect with our long jump shots.
I would like to see this event because, first, I like basketball. It's my favourite game and I watch the NBA regularly. The second reason is that I would be with all my countrymen together cheering for my team. And you know, since the Chinese team would be the underdog, there would not be that much pressure on them. Another big reason is that I would like some of the rather showoff NBA players to get the shock of their life by being outplayed by another team. I saw them play in the last Olympics, and I thought they just seemed too over-confident.
People Cards
[1]
Describe your best friend.
You should say:
Where and when you met him/her
What you do together
And explain why you think you are such good friends.
[1]
I met my best friend while I was at university. He was in the same class. At first, he scolded me for leaning back on the chair, but, after a while, we began to become good friends. I used to meet him regularly at an Internet cafe. He went there regularly. We would spend hours there together. He would always lend a hand to me because I didn't know much about computers at that time.
He's a humble guy, never shows off his knowledge, even though he can. He's sincere and doesn't mind mildly scolding you or even himself in all the same sentence. He is usually very sociable, but sometimes he can also be a bit shy. He is good at soccer and volleyball and used to be on the school team. He's quite muscular and his hair is frizzy. He has very droopy eyes, like a puppy, and a very wide mouth.
I think the main reason we are such good friends is because we have a lot in common and we both have the same kind of humour. We also always support each other whenever we need help. I think we are such good friends because we don't feel we ever have to pretend around each other, and we are really helpful to one another. I will miss this guy a lot if I go overseas, but since he is always at the Internet cafe, I can email him, and he's probably right there to receive it!
[2].
Describe a teacher that had a powerful effect on you. You should say:
When you had his/her class
Describe the teacher's appearance and personality
And explain what effect the teacher had on you.
[2]
First let me tell you about my teacher Zhang Fei, who still works at the Oalian Middle School number 23. She taught me English in school. I had her class about 6 years ago, and she taught me for a full year.
First let me tell you how she looks. She looks very normal except that she's very beautiful inside. She's tall and thin, but the thing you can notice about her is her wonderful, dark eyes with very bushy eyebrows under her spectacles. I can still picture her. You know she did not seem friendly at first, because she is very stem when she speaks, and she will not tolerate nonsense, but she is very kind in her own special way. She is also very demanding and clear when she speaks, and her concern is not so much with your grades but your effort.
The effect she had on me was very powerful. Essentially she taught me that you could be very disciplined and stem and hard working but still be very kind. Before, I thought all teachers who were strict were just mean. After her, I learned that hard work is about not compromising on quality.
[3]
Describe yourself.
You should say:
What you currently do
What you like and don't like doing
What your good points (strengths) and bad points (weaknesses) are
And explain what's the best way to become your friend.
Well, to start with, I think I will tell you what I do. I am a lawyer here in Shanghai and I've been working as an attorney for about 3 years. My work is interesting, but it involves very complicated issues and often there are various strategies that are necessary for success.
I enjoy meeting people and forming new relationships with people. I enjoy hearing people's stories and I like trying my best to help them. I also enjoy getting out with my friends and enjoying the entertainment places. I am a big fan of jazz and there are a few places that I go to enjoy it. I can also play the saxophone, and even play in a band at a bar from time to time, but I don't have time to do it regularly.
What I don't like doing? Hmm..1et me think, well I suppose I just don't like having to go through a lot of very tedious details at work, and, quite frankly, I don't like clients who lie to me about their situation. There are some things about the job which I don't like, and I'm not proud about everything that I do, but overall I really like it.
I think my good points are that I'm quite good at communicating. I mean, you have to be as a lawyer. I do know a lot about the law, especially commercial law, which is my specialty. I have a good memory for legal issues and law, and I can use them quite well to argue a point. My bad points are that I am the worst person for remembering directions. I get loot everywhere when I'm travelling. If you ask my wife she'll tell you that there's nobody as bad as me for getting lost in places.
As for how you can be my friend, I think the key thing is that you just need to have a good sense of humour and you just need to be honest in your actions. Actually, I am quite willing to be anyone's friend, but I hate people who make a big show of it. I don't need any special favours or gifts to be my friends. If people just act like themselves...well, that's good enough for me.
[4]
Describe a friend or relative who is very different from you. You should say:
Where the friend lives
How he is different from you
And explain how you can still be good friends even though you are so different.
Right, well... I had a tough time thinking about who was most unlike me, but I guess it would have to be my cousin, Zhou Jiao Ping. Jiao Ping is a person who's so clever when it comes to business that I have chosen him, because when it comes to business I always seem to make the wrong decisions. Jiao Ping is a real estate agent who puts almost every extra RMB into investments like property and stocks. He never seems to lose money.
His job alone pays him a reasonable income, but he makes a lot on all the private investments he makes, and perhaps you could call him a millionaire. I, on the other hand, don't dare to invest my money because I'm too afraid of losing it, and I prefer spending my money on things to make me and others feel good.
Jiao Ping is a driven man and I like his energy and persistence. He's not a boastful guy, in fact he's quite modest, but he's a complete workaholic and even if you sit him down for over a minute he will think of things he could be doing. He's a thin fellow, has no time for food it seems, and he has this permanent smile on his face. He has quite a sharp wit, and never seems to be serious when you talk with him, but in fact he's always thinking of this and that.
Jiao Ping is very generous and lends money to so many people, without even expecting them to pay it back. But he spends hardly a penny on himself. He has no wife, and although he has about four homes, he lives in a very small place. You might say he is a miser, but actually he just doesn't care that much for luxuries since he doesn't get any pleasure from them.
He's different from me in many ways. First, I enjoy spending money to make myself happy. I also have to have a balance of work and pleasure. I don't mind working hard during my work, but I can't stand always thinking about work, and I need some time to just relax. I also don't feel so guilty about wasting a bit of time every now and then.
[5]
Describe a friend, relative or other person who has a good sense of humour.
You should say:
How you know this person
What this person's job or major is
And explain how this person affects you (i.e. what impact this person has on you)
Ok, I've been asked to describe a person with a good sense of humour, and the person I've chosen is my classmate Zhang Hui. Zhang. Hui is a boy from Henan. He comes from Kaifeng. He majors in Economics and well, I guess you can say that Economics is not the most interesting subject, especially when the teachers start drawing graphics on the blackboard. Zhang Hui just seems to know how to make a joke out of it all. He has this funny face, which just adds to his humour.
I'll give you an example of how sharp his wit is. The instructor was talking about the relationship of supply and demand, and was looking for examples. So Zhang Hui stuck up his hand and said his mother is an example. He said the more money he spends on university, the better grades she demands. After he said that, everyone laughed so hard the professor had to wait for five minutes before he could continue.
I guess the way this person affects me is that he teaches me that there is nothing very serious in life. He puts me at ease and he reminds me that we are all human. I don't get overstressed when I spend time with him because he knows how to make a joke out of everything.
[6]
Describe a relative of yours who is very kind. You should say:
Who the relative is
What he does and where he lives
What kinds of kind things he/she does
And explain the effect he/she has on you.
Let me describe my grandfather. He was-I should say was because he passed away a few years ago-very kind. My grandfather was just a farmer, and he didn't earn much, but he found different ways to earn an income, and managed to put my father through university. He lived in a village just north of Beijing and often made the trip into the city. His life was hard, but he never complained about it.
I say he was so kind because I'll never forget the efforts he made to help me read. I was five years old and I haven't learned to read yet. My grandfather spent so many hours helping me because my father had no time. He would force me to come to his place and he tutored me very strictly because he was determined that I would get a head start on the other students. As a result, I could read before I entered school, and that helped me gain an advantage in school.
Besides the fact that he taught me reading, he also taught me the value and importance of. kindness to others. He told me that you don't do kindness just to gain favour, but because that's what your true nature expects you to do. As well, he taught me that kindness isn't all smiles and praise; sometimes it involves strict and harsh words for the right reasons. He also told me that a kind person always dies happy and I think he also died happy.
[7]
Describe a famous person that you admire.
You should say:
Who the person is and where he/she lives
What the person does
The things you admire about this person
And explain what you think people can learn from this person.
The famous person I'd like to describe is Fu Mingxia. She was a gold medallist at Sydney Olympic games. In fact, she won four of them. She won them in the diving competition. She's now a student at Tsinghua University. So she's quite clever and she will graduate from a top university. She's about 25 years old. I think she must be blessed by god to be able to dive so perfectly. After all, most divers have trained in diving schools that are very sophisticated, but her training was not so privileged. She just worked hard and had a very committed coach.
I think I admire her so much because I can imagine how nervous she felt having the whole world watching her and yet she controlled that nervousness masterfully to make a perfect dive. Well, its that ability to control yourself that I'd really love to learn. Also, her diving style was unique and very-brave, and because of her innovative style, she has brought pride to her country.
I think that people can learn that by being the best at something you are not only helping yourself
but the whole country, because high quality is what improves our lives. I think people can learn that nothing is impossible if we set our minds to being the best. We shouldn't always think we can just do what we must to get by. Our goals should be much more ambitious. We should try to be the best because we can take pride from the value of hard work in everything we do.
[8]
Describe a person who has worked very hard to achieve something.
You should say:
Who the person is and what relationship he/she has to you
What the person tried to achieve and the outcome
The person's character
And explain how this person makes you feel.
The person I want to talk about who worked hard to achieve something is the famous Chinese director Zhang Yimou. Of course, I've never met him but I did see him once in Beijing. He was coming out from the airport and someone said, "There's Zhang Yimou", and sure enough it was.
I once read a biography of Zhang Yimou. He really had to struggle to become a director. I read that he literally camped out and begged to be accepted at a famous school in Beijing called the Beijing Film and Cinematography Academy. He was five years over the age limit, but he submitted a portfolio of his best photographs to the Minister of Culture, and the minister was impressed and let him in.
I also know that he put a lot of effort into making his films artistic and realistic and sometimes he took chances and made some adventurous films. Like in 1987, he directed Red Sorghum and took a chance with the story, which was a bit controversial, and he also used an unknown actress at the time named Gong Li. He then went on to produce a lot of award winning films, and now he is Chinese best-known filmmaker. You can say that he is a bit of celebrity now.
I don't know that much about his personality. I know he is a perfectionist and he expects things to be perfect when he directs. He loves natural things in life and he expects actors and actress to "be that way as well. He is quite rebellious but, I think he's realistic, and willing to make compromises as well.
I guess I look at Zhang Yimou as being the kind of person that a lot of Chinese aspire to be. He's sort of cool, courageous, and blunt. He also makes the simple beautiful, which in my mind is a kind of magic.
[9]
Describe a person who knows a lot about something.
You should say:
Who the person is and how you know him/her
What the person knows a lot about
How he/she learned about this skill or area of knowledge And explain how this person affects you.
The person I will talk about is my former Chinese Literature professor in University. He has his PhDin Chinese Classical Literature, and also has a Masters of Asian Studies from the University of Cambridge.
This person is just a walking library who has so much stored knowledge of Chinese literature that you wonder how one brain could hold that much knowledge. He has written 13 books on various writers including Lao She, Lu Xun and others. He did his thesis comparing English literary stories and Chinese classics. He has appeared on TV programs and even was the guest of a TV show in England while he was visiting there. His English is spectacular, and he could probably teach just that if he wanted to.
Amazingly, my Professor actually said he was not that good of a student until he got to University. In fact, the University that he initially studied in was not that high ranking, but he scored well and then did his Masters elsewhere. It was while he was doing his Masters at Cambridge that a lot of other scholars started to take notice of him. His interest was peaked after he met up with the famous Harvard professor Pairbanks while he was in England. They collaborated on a couple of projects together and published a number of journal articles. He returned to China and then went on to get his PhD at Beijing University.
How did this person affect me? He opened up my mind completely to the world of knowledge. You see, before I took his class I looked at literature as this kind of high-level intellectual science. I believed that you had to understand the techniques of deciphering it. But what he taught me was that most of the authors had a true desire to ensure that anyone could read their works and so the biggest trick is to pretend that you are working with the author. You should imagine yourself as a co-author and read for the experience and the incredible insights into human nature.
[10]
Describe a friend, relative or famous person who you think is similar to you.
You should say:
Who the person is
Something about the person's character
And explain how he/she is similar to you.
I have a friend who is quite similar to me, and I suppose that is why we are such good friends. She is my mother's friend actually, but I call her my friend too, although I don't dare address her in the same way as a friend. I call her Auntie Li Wie. She is an old friend of the family, and used to work for my mother's store before she got married to a fairly well off jeweller. She doesn't work, but she is quite active. In fact, she is head of a nature club in Chengdu, and is a volunteer worker at the Giant Panda Breeding Research station, where she helps maintain the site.
Aunt Li is a person who's quite shy, and she loves nature. She will do anything to get close to nature, and will even stay out in the woods for a few days camping. Some people think she's crazy because she's over 50 years old but she will still do that. She believes in preserving the natural state of things, and will even carry back litter that she finds on the ground that others have dropped or thrown carelessly. Aunt Li is also a vegetarian and will have nothing to do with meat. She doesn't condemn others for eating meat, but she does hope that one day the world will be full of vegetarians like her.
I think she's similar to me in her beliefs about the environment, and we share the same attitude about nature. I also like going outdoors, and I would never throw litter on the ground. I sometimes also do a bit of volunteer work at the Panda Centre, and I love the efforts that they do there. I am not a vegetarian, probably because I'm not strong enough to be one, but I do mainly eat only chicken and fish. I hardly ever eat any pork or beef. I think our dreams are similar-that one day the environment can be restored to a state where all humans and animals can live in comfort and happiness.
Place Cards
[11]
Describe your past place of work, school or university.
You should say:
Where it is or was
When you study or studied there
And explain why you remember it more than other companies or schools.
Ok, I'd like to describe my former middle school, which is located in Fuzhou. It's been so long I'm not sure if I can really describe it well. Wen, I studied just what everyone studied, and I guess' you could say that I was a normal student-nothing fantastic.
What I remember is the big gate outside of it, which was regularly opened and closed. We would wait there patiently to get in. The building was fairly big, and the entrance was typically wide with some important pictures of historical figures. It was typically box-like. What I remember most is the playground. It was fairly large with two baskets, and at the side there was a corridor where kids would play ping-pong.
I also remember the dreaded teacher's staff room, which was a place no student wanted to be in. It was lined with small desks and tall stacks of paper.
I remember this more than other places because it was the place where I was most affected, since I really started to grow up here. It was like a second home, and I went through so many different emotions there. I grew up, and it contained some of my best and worst memories. When I was going to this school I could never imagine life beyond middle school. Now that I'm going to university it seems like such a long time ago. I do miss it a lot, but I wouldn't want to return to that life since it was so structured and controlled. I prefer my life now as a university student.
[12]
Describe your apartment or house.
You should say:
Where it is
How long you have lived there What rooms and furniture it has And explain how you feel about your home.
Ok, I've been asked to describe my apartment, but I think the apartment I live in is quite typical. It is located in the south of Hefei and it's in a very clean and convenient neighbourhood. I've lived there for about three years. We used to live in a brick house, but my father's business began to do very well so we could afford a better place.
The rooms? Well, as for the rooms... there are 3 rooms. One is for my father and mother and another is for me. The other room is given to our maid. The apartment is about a hundred square meters, and it has a large living room and two bathrooms-one is in my parents' room. We have some comfortable chairs and a fairly large TV in the centre. We also have a stereo set and a karaoke set as well. I should mention that the kitchen is quite large compared to many other families because we extended it by knocking out the wall of another room.
Now you know about the rooms. Let me tell you how I feel about the place. To tell you the truth, I don't like it very much. I mean, even though it's much larger and cleaner than the previous place, sometimes I just don't feel it's my real home. I think I got too attached to my previotE home. Also, in the brick home we knew all our neighbours but here we know nobody. I think it's just as important to have friendly neighbours.
[13]
Describe a beautiful building, structure, statue or temple in your hometown.
You should say:
Whereabouts it is in your hometown
How often you visit it
What makes it so beautiful
And explain why you choose this as the most beautiful.
Alright, well I've been asked to talk about something beautiful and I'd like to choose the White Cloud Temple. It is located in Beijing and it's on the west side of town. It's not that far away from a subway station, but you would need to take a bus, because it's a bit far to walk. I go there probably two or more times a year. It's a Taoist temple, probably the most active Taoist temple in Beijing. I'm a Taoist. But I go there more than just to pray. I really try to take a trip to find some time to rediscover myself. During the Spring Festival people jam into it because they hold what I think is the best carnival during Spring Festival. We call them Miao Huis. At that time the temple is very crowded, but most other times it's quite peaceful, and it's a good place to get away from all the people.
I think the reason it's so beautiful is because it is simple and it seems to blend in well with its environment. The small praying hall is very serene. It has a nice pool and a bridge. The Taoist motifs are quite simple but I think they are very charming. I love to go there during the winter after a big snowfall because it's at this time that it seems to be most mysterious.
I choose this as the most beautiful because, to me, beauty is simplicity and natural design, and it also means it fits the environment it is in. I don't really like grand, elaborate temples. I prefer temples that seem powerful not because of their structures but because they are perfect for their simple beauty.
[14]
Describe an interesting city, place or park to visit.
You should say:
Where it is
What you can do there
Its general features
And explain why you would recommend someone to see it.
Ok, I'd like to tell you about the temple of the Six Banyan Trees. It's located in the city center of Guangzhou and its not far away from Zhongshan 6 Road, near the People's Hospital. It's a good place to go to and climb to see the Flower Pagoda, which has eight sides to it. You can also go there to pray if you are a Buddhist. It is an active temple and is also the head of the Guangzhou Buddhist Association. You can also do a bit of shopping there if you like. Besides the souvenirs you can buy there, it also has a very lively fruit and meat market nearby, so if you just want to shop instead you can.
The main feature of this place is the pagoda because it's the tallest in the city. From the outside it looks like it has only nine stories, but actually it has 17 inside. It's quite old, and was built some time in the 10th century. The temple itself is even older than that-I think it goes back to some time during the Tang Dynasty, around 500 AD or something like that. It's called the six Banyan Trees because there used to be six trees there, and Su Dongpu, one of china's best-known poets in the Song Dynasty, celebrated them in a poem. You can also see one of the most beautiful golden statutes of Guanyin, who's a Buddhist Goddess of Compassion
I would recommend this place because it represents real history in Guangzhou. A lot of people complain that Guangzhou is too concerned about money and business, and lacks culture, but I think there are several places that still remind people of its rich culture, and this is one of them.
[15]
Describe a museum, library or exhibit in your hometown.
You should say:
Which you want to describe and where exactly it is in your hometown
How often you go to it
The general features of the place and what you can do there .
And explain what you gain personally from this place.
Ok, I'll start by telling you about the Museum of the Japanese Germ Warfare Experimental Base. It's outside of Harbin, and it's a bit tough to get there. The base was the centre of the worst experiments in biological warfare. The Japanese set up a top secret, germ warfare research centre. The doctors there were very cruel and used many victims. I have been to this museum about four times, and each time I go it gives me a very eerie feeling.
It is a small museum and it takes you through two exhibit rooms. The displays are very graphic. There are lights and wax models of the people in the exhibits. There is also a vestige of the original base nearby. They recreate the type of things done to the victims. You can also watch a film about it in another room. The film is not exactly a happy one, so be prepared for some rather ghastly details.
I think what I gain there is a sense of how low humanity can sink if we're not careful. The museum tells us what our relatives often had to put up with and what sacrifices have been made. You know, even though such terrible things were done to us we still put up a sign in the entrance that says the friendship between Japanese and Chinese is everlasting. This shows that even though we will never forget such atrocities, we are willing to be friends and move on.
[16]
Describe a place in your country that you think would be interesting to visit.
You should say:
Whereabouts it is
When would be a good time to visit!
What is interesting to do there
And explain why you choose it over other places.
Ok, thank you. I want to choose a place you may be familiar with, and that's the Three Gorges, located between Wanxian and a city called Yichang, the gateway to the upper Yangtze River. You can get to them by going to Chongqing and taking the boat along the Yangtze River all the way to Wuhan if you like.
The best time to go there is during the fall, because it's not so hot on the boat, and that way if you want to spend more time in Chongqing or in Wuhan you can, because those cities can be quite unbearable during the summers. The Three Gorges are breathtaking-there isn't much out there that can beat the feeling of being walled in by such beauty. The thing that's so interesting about the Three Gorges is the sheer walls and sharp rocks along the side, and the historic tablets along the way. But even without looking up at these imp1;'essive rock formations, the river itself, with all its various rapids, is interesting. You know, it isn't easy for small boats to travel either down or up it.
I guess I've chosen this place because it won't be around for very much longer, and because it will soon all be flooded over. I think you know about the new dam being built. The dramatic scenery and rushing waters of China's greatest river has been the inspiration of China's painters and poets. It's now considered to be one of the great scenic attractions of China.
[17]
Describe a shop, shopping center or market that you like to go to.
You should say:
Where it is
When you usually go there
What the store sells and what you usually buy there
And explain why you choose this shop rather than others.
I would like to talk about my favourite shopping center, since I don't go to many restaurants or bars. My favourite shopping place in Xi'an is called Huajie Street. It is just a narrow alley running besides the Great Mosque with many small souvenir and antique shops.
It's a very good place just to do some browsing, and is one of the best places in China to pick up souvenirs like name chops or chiming steel balls. I always go there to do some shopping for old things and antiques. Usually if I go it will be on a weekday, because it's not as crowded and you can bargain more easily. Another reason I like it is because you can fmd some of the best miniature wire furniture. I don't know if you've ever seen these things, but they are made quite carefully and skilfully, and they look very nice in a living room.
Why is it my favourite? To me there's nothing like it in other places. Some of the stuff is quite overpriced because they get a lot of tourists coming in, but a local person like me, with a distinguishable accent from this area, can usually cut to the chase and get to the realistic price in a
hurry. It never seems to amaze me what kinds of old things they find to sell there. You almost feel as if you are walking around a museum. I know a lot of it might be fake, but to me it doesn't matter, because when you look at it, you think of the past. I have bought some stuff there before, and when I put it in my house it always becomes a conversation piece with my guests. They always tell me I could get these things cheaper elsewhere, but the truth is that you may not find it at other places, except perhaps by chance.
[18]
Describe a place you used to like to go when you were a child. You should say:
Which place it was
Why you went there
What some features of this place were
And explain what effect the place had on you.
When I was younger I used to go to the Datong Jiche Chang, which is the Datong Locomotive Factory. It's located in the city's southwestern outskirts. It was the last factory to make steam engines for the main railway lines, and in 1989 it stopped making them and switched to diesels and electric lines.
Well, it wasn't the factory that I went to see but the museum that they had there-actually I think they still have it there if I'm not mistaken. I used to go with my father and spend hours there. To me it was more interesting than a playground. Sometimes some mends would join me there but my father was not always as happy when my friends were there because we tended to get a bit noisy.
You see, the museum has several locomotive trains in there, and if you love trains this place is heaven. The main feature of this place is that you can see these trains inside and out, and it's a place that does a good job explaining the features of the trains. What I really used to love is that I could get a ride in the cabin of one of these locomotives and pretend I was a passenger touring the country.
Well besides helping my imagination I think the main effect this place had was to give me some escape from home life which wasn't that great at that time. Also, it gave me a chance to play with my father and learn more about trains. I was so full of questions that my father would have to go to the library just to learn more about trains, especially old locomotives like the ones that were there.
[19]
Describe a mountain, beach, lake or waterfall that you like a lot. You should say:
Which part of the country it is in
How to get there
Some descriptions of the scenery and what you can do there
And explain why you like it so much.
Right, well, as my topic I chose a mountain that I like. This mountain is not famous, and it's located just north of Jinan. It is not the famous Taishan Mountain. In fact it's quite far away from that area. The mountain is called Black Bird and it is not high. To get there you must drive off a small road on the way to Taian and head right. It goes quite some length, and the condition of the road is not very good.
The mountain is simply a cliff that sticks out of a small range of hills. Its shape is like a bird, and it seems to be like a lonely eagle looking over its small family. In the far background you can see Taishan Mountain, but, as I said before, it's quite far away. If you want you can try to climb the cliff. You probably can, but be careful because the rocks are quite loose. There was a small road that lead to the base if the mountain, but I'm not sure if it's still in use anymore.
I think I like it most because it seems so mysterious, as if it's holding a secret. Sometimes I think it's like a demon, and I always feel very moved when I go there. I think it seems to have a kind of quiet power over the land that it overlooks.
[20]
Describe a traditional building in your hometown or country. You should say:
When you first saw it
What the building is used for
What the building looks like
And explain what feeling you have of this building.
The building I'd like to talk about is the Capital Library; in Chinese we call it Shou Du Tu Shu Guan. I first saw this building when I was a child. My mother took me there as a quiet place to study. She said that I could probably study there more easily than in other places. Now, I go there about once a month. It's quieter than the National Library and I like the atmosphere there.
The place is now a library for history books and any books published in China are there, but it also has an interesting history itself. It is located in the same area as the old Guo Zi Jian, or in English you might call it the Imperial College. The building was built in traditional Qing architectural style, because it was last rebuilt during that time. The roof is quite steep. Bi Yong Hall wa_ the place where imperial exams were held, and it has two layered roofs with a curved at each corner, just like the buildings at the Summer Palace. It is red and has quite a few wooden pillars holding it up at all sides.
The reason I like this building is because it seems to store the soul of our country. The Imperial College was actually set up in the Yuan dynasty to educate high-ranking Mongolian families in Chin_e, but then it was used by all the next dynasties. In the 50s, it stopped being an educatioml place and became an all-purpose library. You know, to be able to take the imperial exam was every young man's dream in China for hundreds of years. But few could take it and fewer would pass it. So apart from its grand appearance, it has a kind of untouchable nobility to it.
Object Cards
[21]
Describe an object that you possess which is very important to you.
You should say:
Which object it is (give a brief description)
Why it is so important
How long you've had it
I've been asked to talk about a small object, and so I guess the most useful small object to me is my mobile phone. I use my phone whenever I'm travelling around Beijing, and also to make sure I can get ,in immediate touch with my clients, because often they make fast decisions and are looking at various options at the same time, so time is very precious.
I've had my mobile phone for about a year. At the time it was about 2000RMB, but I believe now you can get one for about 1500RMB. At that time it was considered to be very basic and small. Now the new phones are also small, but they are also much more sophisticated with so many different functions.
I know some people it as a toy, or just as an ego booster, but I really have to have one because I'm a real estate agent. You know, I travel around the city a lot and if my company secretary can't reach me then I'd waste a lot of time having to keep phoning the headquarters at some pay phone, store or booth. There are also a lot of details and facts that I need to keep checking back on whenever I'm preparing to meet a client.
[22]
Describe an object you had as a child which was very useful to you.
You should say:
What the object was
How long you had it
What you usually used it for
And explain why you felt it was more useful than other objects.
I think the object that I had that was very useful was my toy bear. I had this toy bear for about five years. I first got it on my 4th birthday, and kept it all the way until I was about nine years old.
When I was a child, I used to take this bear everywhere because I actually didn't have that many toys to play with, and so you could say that it was my playmate. I also used to treat it as if it were my baby brother. If I felt very sad I often needed it to be near me, and it was also something I could imagine to be alive and doing things. My mother would sometimes let me take it to different places, and believe it or not I would even wash it. Even later, as my father and mother began to get richer and could afford a lot more toys, I would still favour this toy over others. I just had more of a connection to this toy.
I guess I would say that it was more useful to me as it was something that helped me through my childhood and added to my social life. You may say that a toy is not really useful, but for me it stopped me from being lonely, and allowed me to feel empathy for something, even though it wasn't really alive. When I turned nine I was too big and thought that having a toy bear was just for small kids, so I just stopped playing with it and put it away. Then I guess for some reason it got thrown away. Now I wish I had kept it because I could give it to my own children when they get older.
[23]
Describe a pet you would like to own.
You should say:
What kind of animal it is and where it lives
How you know about this animal
What it looks like and what its habits are
And explain what you think is important to take care of this pet.
If I ever decide to buy a pet, I would buy two hamsters. A hamster is a kind of mouse, and it is smaller than a rat. It doesn't have long tail, and its mouth is not sharp. Hamsters have a lighter colour, something like gray. I like hamsters because they are very cute and have a good temper. I like hamsters because they are very mischievous pets. Moreover, hamsters like to run around a wheel and can go for 15-20 minutes without stopping. To me it is fascinating to watch them do that.
They are actually very easy to take care of. I would just need to put the hamster in a cage, have some pet toys in there, and that would be enough. I would also take it out once in a while and let the hamster run around the living room. A hamster doesn't run as fast as mouse, so it would be no problem for me to catch it and put it back to the cage. Food for hamsters is very simple: they like to eat carrot, fruits, and nuts. Of course, we shouldn't forget water. It's very simple to keep the cage clean. Just make sure the cage is clean and water is replenished every day. I would say a hamster is a very clean animal and very entertaining just to watch. I'm sure all kids and adults would surely like a hamster.
[24]
Describe an object that you use for cooking or eating which is most important to you.
You should say:
What it is and where you can buy it
How often you use it
What you use it for
And explain why it is most important to you.
All right... so it was a bit tough for me to choose something to talk about because I don't do much cooking, but I've chose a microwave. These days you can buy a microwave at any appliance store, and there lots of different ones to choose from these days. I'm not sure how often I use it, but I think I can safely say that I use it every day.
I depend on my microwave quite a bit because, as I said before, I don't do much of the cooking in my house. So what my parents often do is cook a lot of food for me, freeze it, and then I just heat it up. I use it for quite a few other things, too. I mean, often I will make tea and then just become busy with something and forget all about it. If I didn't have a microwave, the tea would be wasted, so I find it very useful to have it around. One other very important reason is that I can just buy a lot of things from outside and then just heat it up when I get home.
I think that I've chosen it as being most important because I think it's the one object that really does affect my life on a daily basis. I mean, if I had to actually spend the time to cook things, my life would get very complicated. My parents think that the microwave makes me lazy, and maybe they're right.
[25]
Describe a gift that you have received which is important to you. You should say:
What the gift is
Who gave it to you
Why the person gave it to you
And explain why the gift means so much to you.
Right, well the best gift I have received was my father's pocket watch. He gave it to me on my wedding day. You see, I know my father is not wealthy and he wanted to give me something important even though he didn't have to. He always loved this watch. I know this, because I remember one day when the watch wasn't working properly. Well, he was in quite a panic, because, he told me he felt like he was carrying around a sick baby in his belt. I always wondered what was so special about the watch. It seemed so funny to me, especially as I was growing up. Everyone else was buying those digital wristwatches, and his watch seemed like something out of the past. So I wondered if it might be an antique or a famous watch. My mother didn't say much to me, but she did tell me once that the watch wouldn't fetch much more than a few RMB if it were sold, but that my father might even kill or die to protect that watch.
You know, after my father died about a year ago, I asked my mother about the pocket watch. I had mainly kept it in my drawer but after he died I felt like I needed to know about this watch. My mother told me it was a watch my grandfather wore as well. You see my grandfather was killed in the war between Japan and China, and all that was found on him was this pocket watch that I guess the Japanese had neglected to take from him after they shot him. So this watch seems to carry the soul of both my father and my grandfather.
[26]
Describe a form of transport that is important to you. You should say:
What it is
How often you use it
What you use it for
And explain why you prefer it to others.
I want to describe the bus, which is probably the most common form of transport for most of us in Suzhou. I probably use the bus about 10 or more times in a week.
I use it not just to go back and forth to work but also to go shopping. I have a monthly pass and so I can travel freely on one without having to pay each time I go on. I also use a bus when I want to go traveling from one place to another for distances that do not last fur more than a day. I do have a bicycle, but I use that only for very" short distance" things, like getting some vegetables at the local grocery store or things like that.
I prefer taking the bus. I always feel safe taking a bus because it is a big vehicle and it moves more slowly than a taxi. It is quite convenient, since there are enough lines. Even though it is not as convenient as a car, it allows you to work while you are traveling. It is relatively cheap compared to a car and a subway, and it can be comfortable, although it can be a bit crowded, and it's not so nice if you have to stand for long distances. I like buses most because I can talk with people and make more friends. Riding a bus also has its disadvantages, like sometimes it can be a bit crowded, and you do have to watch for pickpockets. But overall it's the best option I have. Besides, if everyone were to drive a car, then the environment would be severely polluted.
[27]
Describe a souvenir which you think is very interesting. You should say:
What it is
Where it is sold
What it looks like and/or does
And explain how you feel about this souvenir.
A souvenir I once saw while traveling was very interesting. Three years ago, I went to Vietnam and traveled around the country. While I was in Hanoi, I bought some water puppets. These water puppets are sold in a number of small sores in Hanoi. You have to be able to distinguish the craftsmanship of them, but all the puppets are basically made in the same way.
Each puppet represents a character from a traditional story. You may say that's it's a kind of opera. You can see this opera in Hanoi-the most famous is the show called Thang Long, which is the famous, professional troupe that plays internationally. These puppets are used under the water, and the puppeteers must be able to move underwater, hold their breath and use graceful movements to manipulate their puppets. They are not moved by strings like many traditional Chinese puppets.
You can't see the puppeteers from where you are sitting, but every now and then you can see them raising their hands. The puppets are quite big. They are made of wood and are dressed in traditional Vietnamese clothes, although some of them are also dressed in village clothing. The one that I liked the most was a fisherman who could move a long pole back and forth. I bought it quite cheaply and it was very heavy, so I had to pack it a separate box to take it home.
I think these puppets are so interesting to me because this kind of art form---that is, puppeteering the water is unique. No one does it as professionally as the Vietnamese. I knew that such a souvenir would not only be an interesting thing to talk about with my friends but also an interesting toy for my children. So I knew when I saw the show that I couldn't miss the opportunity to take one of the puppets home.
[28]
Describe a type of clothing that you like.
You should say:
The name of the clothing and who usually wears it A brief description of it
Your experience with this clothing
And explain why you like it so much.
Right, well, my favourite clothing is a traditional costume called the Qi Pao. The Qi Pao is a type of woman's dress that actually originated from the Manchus when they dominated China during the Qing dynasty. You may have seen pictures of it before.
I'lljust give you a brief description. The dress is slim cut to show the figure. The length varies but most traditional ones were down to the ankle. It is tightly bound at the end. The Qi Pao is high collared. Usually it is made of silk, and the pattern on it also varies from birds, to flowers, to butterflies, and it reflects traditional Chinese art. Usually, it is worn during festivals, particularly during Spring Festival, but if you want to see it before this time you can go to a Chinese opera or a teahouse and see the costumes there. Also, at many tourist areas you can also put one on and then get a photo done of yourself. You may see one being worn at the occasional wedding also.
The reason I chose this as my favourite costume is because it reflects the elegance of Chinese women. It reminds us of our past in so many ways, and not in always a flattering way. What I mean is that it is somewhat symbolic of the repressive way that women were treated in the Qing dynasty before we achieved liberation. The dress itself is not really that comfortable to wear from what I've heard, and in some ways I guess you could say that its purpose was to restrict the movements of women. On the other hand, one has to admire the great beauty and simplicity of the dress, and understand that it represents the way art can be transformed to clothing.
[29]
Describe something that you have created at school. You should say:
What it was
Why you made it
What process took place
And explain how you felt after it was completed.
Ok, thanks, well, I used to be quite active in school art projects, and I was quite interested in calligraphy, which is a form of Chinese painting for certain characters. In middle school we were encouraged to do as much artwork as we could, mainly because our school needed the decorations to beautify our school. You see, my school wanted to make a name for itself as the best school in the city for arts. So our headmaster really pushed our art teacher to make sure we produced big quantities of high quality artwork. In a funny way, the students who were most highly favoured were those who were most artistic. So, you see, producing art wasn't just for fun, it was fairly serious business; and I, like every other student, took it quite seriously, too. Anyways, we were given a lot of competition-type projects, and I decided to sketch a landscape of the scenery at Shidu, a beautiful area just outside of Beijing that slightly resembles Guilin. My uncle and aunt lived out there--they were farmers--so it was easy for me to spend some time out there.
Well, I did the actual sketch in three days. Many people don't realize that although the strokes in Chinese sketches seem simple, they have to be done with perfect rhythm and flow or otherwise you have to do it again. I did the strokes, and if I wasn't happy I'd simply do the whole sketch again. So, probably I did about nine different drafts, threw away about four of them and compared five of them and chose one.
After I had completed it, I felt a bit on the edge. In my mind, I felt it was quite carefully done, but I had no way of knowing since I knew I was really just a beginner. So, when I submitted it I was full of fear and expectation. My art teacher looked at it quite favourably, but not with incredible excitement. It did not turn out to be the winner, nor was it chosen for the exhibits, but it received quite a good grade, and at least I knew that-although it wasn't fantastic work--it was at least a good start.
[30]
Describe your favourite animal.
You should say:
What the animal is
How you know about it
What special features it has
And explain why you like such an animal so much.
Ok, well I think my favourite animal has to be the Panda. Many people have seen pictures of the panda, and some have seen the panda in zoos. But I've had the pleasure of seeing pandas at the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu, which is a research station where about 10-12 pandas live. The base is quite large, so you can see them live naturally, and in much better conditions than at a zoo. At this place you are guaranteed to see pandas during their feeding times. I managed to watch them feeding and the thing that astonishes you is just how much they can eat. The thing that also strikes you about the panda is the "teddy bear look" that they have, and the way that they look at you makes you feel they are begging for you to take them home as a pet. You know, not a single person isn't channed by the panda, especially when they look like they are reasonably happy.
I think the reason it is my favourite animal is because no animal better represents both the beauty and struggle of wildlife in China than the panda. The panda is, of course, an endangered species, because it is so fussy about its breeding, and so every panda alive today is special-like an emperor. I hope that the panda population will one day thrive again, but I think it is going to mean more of this kind of research station and I'll be happy if all the pandas in the zoos around the world can be transferred into these more humane conditions at research stations.
Habit Cards
[31]
Describe what you usually do on the weekends.
You should say:
Where you go or stay
Whether you do this by yourself or with friends What the activity involves
And explain why you usually do this rather than other things.
Ok, I'd like to tell you about what I usually do on the weekends, and so I'll give you a few details. Actually, I often just stay at home. I don't go out very much because I have to take care of the home and he}p my father and mother do things around the house. I have to do this by myself since my father and mother are business people and the weekends are the busiest times for them. So I often have to take care of the cleaning and cooking. So you can say that Saturday and Sunday are really my working days of the week. Most of what I do is just give the house a good clean and wash the areas that need it most like the windows. I also do a bit of cooking, and then store some of the meals in the freezer so that my parents can just heat them up in the microwave when they want to.
I guess I do this simply because it's my duty. I mean my parents pay for my education and support me, and if they didn't have to go through all the trouble and expense, they'd probably get a house cleaner. So I hope to save them the expense of a housekeeper. I know they do appreciate what I do, and I feel that I am a useful person as well. If I ever have kids, I think I will let them to do the same thing because I think it helps me to be more responsible.
[32]
Describe what you do on a typical day.
You should say:
What you do immediately after you get up
Your activities in the afternoon
What you do after you get home from school or work And explain whether you think your daily routine is satisfying.
Ok, I'll tell you about my basic day. As I've told you, I'm a student, so it's not perhaps as routine a life as, say, work. I get up at 6:00am. When I first get up, I bathe and then clean up a bit and make my bed. Most of the morning I spend in the library, because I only have one class that starts at 9:30 and ends at 12:00.
­Between classes I go back to my place and have a nap. This is very common for Chinese students and we all wake up at about 1 :30. I have another class from about 2:00 to 4:30. Just before dinner, I usually play some basketball in the playground with a group of mends. After dinner, I usually study for my English classes by listening to cassettes. I have a tape recorder and so I can play English dialogues very carefully to learn from them. Most likely I will call up a group of mends and we get together and decide what to do. Most of the time we just try to have a good time, but sometimes, especially before we have an exam, we study together.
I guess you could say that my daily routine is normal and there is nothing in it that is really distressing or bad. It's not boring because there is some variation in it, but sometimes I think it could be a bit more exciting. I'd like to explore the world beyond just the campus.
[33]
Describe a dish you often eat and like.
You should say:
What it is and how often you eat it
Where you usually eat it
What is in the dish (general description) And explain why you like this dish more than others.
Ok, so I've been asked to speak about my favourite dish. Well, that's tough because I could probably name about 50 dishes that I could call my favourite. But I think the dish that I seem to love whenever I go out is a dish called Suan Do Jiao Rou Muo. It consists of beans, which are a little bit sour and come with finely cut up meat. It is not a dish that you would call luxurious, but it is a dish that I would miss if I were to go without it for too long.
The basic style of it is quite simple. It is a dish that you might find in Sichuan, Hunan, or maybe another province that likes spicy dishes. There are lots of chilies in it and the taste has an interesting balance of being spicy, slightly salty and slightly sour. It is that balance that I think is really important, because if you don't cook it well it could be a disaster. Most restaurants will serve it in Hunan and Sichuan, but you can also find it around the country if the restaurant carries a few Hunan dishes on its menu. It's considered a good idea to eat it with a bowl of rice because rice can soften some of the saltiness of it.
I think one big reason I like it is because it is nutritious. The beans are good for you and the meat is not usually prepared in too much oil. But that balance that I talked about of being slightly sour but also being spicy and a bit salty is what makes it so delicious. It is the right dish to have if you are looking for something filling
[34]
Describe your habits for going out to eat.
You should say:
Which people you most enjoy going to restaurants with.
What your favourite dishes and restaurants are
And explain why you like these dishes and restaurants so much.
I think this is a good topic for me because I'm always eating out. The truth is that I don't like doing too much cooking, so I need to get out quite often-maybe twice a week. I will usually go with my wife but sometimes with a group of people from work. To tell you the truth, I try to avoid the dinner parties that have lines of beer bottles and rice wine because I know the conversations will just get sillier and sillier.
My favourite dishes are seafood dishes, and I don't like my food to be so spicy. I prefer Cantonese-style dishes, which emphasize lighter seasoning and mixed vegetables. The best places to find these kinds of dishes are in specialty Cantonese restaurants, because if you try to get people to cook it up north, you may find yourself quite disappointed with the way they cook it.
The reason I like these kinds of restaurants is because I'm originally from Guangzhou, so I've never really changed my eating habits. In fact, I still clean all my glasses with tea before I'll even drink out of a cup. Seafood dishes and restaurants are a little more expensive, but the food is nutritious, and there're so many different ways that Cantonese people cook food. You know, beyond just the food, I think it's also important to have good service. Sometimes you will find in some of these really big restaurants the waiters and waitresses are so busy that they have no time to serve you well. I like restaurants that have waiters and waitresses who come to you even before you need them. For instance, one good example is the tea. A good restaurant will have waiters and waitresses that are continually checking your tea supply and filling it up.
[35]
Describe your favourite way to relax.
You should say:
What it is and where you like to relax
When is the best time for you to relax
How you like to relax (i.e. activity)
And explain why you like this type of relaxation so much.
What I like doing to relax is practicing Tai Chi. There is a nice park near my home where I can practice it in comfort. I usually practice it in the morning, I go because if you practice it in the evening it may be difficult for you to sleep. I will try to continue this hobby if I go overseas. I am not sure how much time I will have, but I'll try to see if any clubs exist. I do know some of the moves, so I will probably be practicing it at home. I first started Tai Chi when I was 20 years old. I had never tried it before that time because I had always thought it was just for old people. The first day I tried it, I really felt great, although I still wasn't sure about all the movements.
Basically with Tai Chi I just practice a very smooth flow and try to regulate my breathing for maximum effect. So I just float my hands in various patterns and learn to exhale and inhale according to the harmony of my movements.
I think the feeling it gives you is hard to describe. Your concentration must be very solid, and that's not always easy to do. Afterwards, you will feel at peace, although you may also experience some slight stiffness. I think it will make you feel that all things in life can be controlled and handled smoothly, just like your body. I mean, your body is a very complex instrument, so if you can control that first you can control anything, no matter how complex it is.
[36]
Describe the kinds of films, TV programs or plays you like. You should say:
What they are
How often you see such entertainment
What a good film program or play must be or have And explain how such entertainment makes you feel.
I love watching films. Every chance I get I like to go out and purchase them. My favourite are ghost stories. There are a few from Hong Kong and Taiwan, but the best ones come from England and America.
I watch them about three times a week. Most of the time that means the weekends and probably one weekday, because I'm a student and I do most of my work from Monday to Friday.
I think a good film should have characters that we can connect to, and there should be some skill in the way the characters act. I mean, half the actors in Hollywood are only chosen for their appearance. With their huge budgets they can afford to do many takes on the same scene. I think it's important that stories don't move too quickly, or you lose your connection to the characters.
I like ghost stories because they usually involve some tragic situation from the past. And because people don't know the full story, the ghosts usually just want to communicate some injustice. I can discuss the films with friends or relatives. That's the great part about ghosts films :is that everyone likes to hear them. I mean, comedies are hard to tell, and so are human drama films, because they involve a special mood. But if you tell a ghost story the right way, it is simple to make someone frightened.
[37]
Describe the music which you like very much.
You should say:
What kind of music it is
When and where you usually listen to it
What features there are in this music (general description) And explain how it makes you feel.
Right, well the music I'd like to talk about is hard rock. Some people call it heavy metal. I listen to it mainly while I'm on the bicycle going to work because it helps me forget about all the stress of the traffic.
You know the pioneer of bringing real rock and roll to China is Cui Jian, and he is still very popular. Another group is called Tang Dynasty, or Tang Chao. The basic features of hard rock in China and the west are that the music is dominated by lead guitar and the beat can vary. It's loud, and there are a lot of mixtures of different styles including jazz, blues, country and calypso.
Chinese hard rock focuses on a kind of lonely rebellious cry-it almost sounds desperate. A lot of it is modelled after Kurt Kobain, the American Rock'n Roll artist who committed suicide-he's wildly popular here.
I think I like this music because it's a safe way for me to hear expressions of different complex emotions. Pop music in my opinion is just too shallow, and I can't stand those vain, over-groomed singers who have no other themes except struggling with feelings of love. I mean, for me, rock does that too, but it's not the only thing in life.
[38]
Describe an instrument that you enjoy listening to.
You should say:
What instrument it is
How long you have listened to it.
What the general features of the instrument are (i.e.
And explain why you enjoy listening to it (or playing it) so much.
Well, I like listening to a lot of different instruments; it's really hard to choose one. The instrument I want to choose are bells. You might not normally think of bells as an instrument, but they are a traditional form of music for us. I first became interested in bell music after I visited the Great Bell temple in Beijing and I visited a gift shop there. I learned about an incredible excavation of ancient bells. In fact they unearthed a whole scale of bells form the ground and rediscovered the ways to play them. It's really an ancient form of music. So I listened to the sounds the bells created and it was incredible. The music had such a powerful effect over me that I bought the cassette. I have been listening to this bell music now for about 3 years. I may not play it as much as say pop music, but I would say it's my favourite music just to relax or to listen to as background music as I'm doing something else.
The music is a bit slower, since each note has to have some time for the sound to come out, and the notes are played in small combinations of two or three notes at a time. You cannot of course play it as quickly as a piano or flute, but you can get a few bell sounds going at the same time, so long as the notes don't clash. The key issue with playing these bells is harmony.
I like listening to them because the music often sounds so sad. The sound is so penetrating that each note seems to go through your ears, and as you are listening you can just imagine the incredible effort that goes into playing these great instruments. I think such music is a true representation of beauty that we achieve through struggle.
[39]
Describe your habits for going out to eat.
You should say:
How often you like to go to restaurants
Which people you most enjoy going to restaurants with What your favourite dishes and restaurants are
And explain why you like these dishes and restaurants so much.
I think this is good topic for me because I'm always eating out. The truth is that I don't like doing too much cooking so I need to get out quite often-maybe twice a week. Generally Friday, since I don't work on Saturdays so I can just relax.
I usually go out with my wife, but sometimes with a group of people from work. To tell you the truth, I try to avoid the dinner parties that have lines of beer bottles and rice wine because I know the conversations will just get sillier and sillier. I'd prefer not to pay too much, since it's generally not worth it and you are paying for the ambience more than the food quality.
My favourite dishes are seafood dishes, and I don't like my food to be so spicy. I prefer Cantonese-style dishes, which emphasize lighter seasoning and mixed vegetables. The best places to find these kinds of dishes are in specialty Cantonese restaurants, because if you try to get people to cook it up north, you may find yourself quite disappointed with the way they cook it.
The reason I like these kinds of restaurants is because I'm originally from Guangzhou, so I've never really changed my eating habits. In fact, I still clean all my glasses with tea before I'll even drink out of a cup. Seafood dishes and restaurants are a little more' expensive but the food is nutritious, and there're so many different ways that Cantonese people cook food.
You know, beyond just the food, I think it's also important to have good service. Sometimes you
will find in some of these really big restaurants the waiters and waitresses are so busy that they have no time to serve you well. I like restaurants that have waiters and waitresses who come to you even before you need them. For instance, one good example is the tea. A good restaurant will have waiters and waitresses that are continually checking your tea supply and filling it up.
[40]
Describe a hobby which you enjoy participating in.
What the hobby involves
How you got started with it
What special skills it requires
And explain the effect or impact it has on you.
Ok, well I have to say that my hobby is really about telling jokes. You know some people wouldn't call that a hobby because we think it's just an everyday thing. But I try to collect as many jokes as I can. The hobby involves part reading and part listening. Sometimes telling jokes involves listening to one joke and expanding it to another situation. There are jokes that involve word play; others just involve a surprising punch line. You need to keep a record and draw from that record whenever ,You can.
I got started with it when I worked as a computer teacher. Each day I would bring in a joke to tell the students, and I would say it at the beginning of the class, to try and encourage them to come on time. The main thing is you have to know that the skill is not just telling the joke itself but the expressions you use and the building of suspense.
Most people just think of a joke as being the punch line. No way-the best part of a joke is the process of telling it. You have to have a good memory for the process of a joke. Because jokes are easy to forget. You need to tell them almost right away to someone else once you've learned them, and you should always try to repeat them in a different, more expressive way.
The impact it has on me is that essentially it makes it easier to tell people serious things. I guess you could say it is a bit of a paradox that the things people take most seriously are the things you tell them in a joke. So it has improved my public speaking enormously.
Narration of experiences
[41]
Tell the interviewer about your first day at work, or in a class. You should say:
What happened when you immediately arrived
What you did that day
Your impressions of your workplace, boss and your colleagues
And say how you felt at the end of the day.
Well, I will tell you right from the start that my first day at work was a scary experience for me, because I was so nervous and scared that I couldn't perform. You see, the job that I was hired to do, namely an editor, was really not my specially. I had received no specific training, and I was worried that they would quickly discover that I had no practical experience in this job. What made things rather scary was that I arrived late. I just couldn't find the place. I left quite early, but the building that I presumed it was located in was actually not the right building. So I spent about three quarters of an hour going up and down the lift of another building that I thought it was in. When I arrived late, I had to search for the boss because he was not in the office. I felt so embarrassed that I just sort of stood there watching everyone work.
When the boss finally came back he seemed rather amused that I looked so nervous, and that I was so apologetic about being late. He said that everyone is late for their job the first day because the address is so confusing. I was shown an office, and I was given stacks of the back issues of the magazines, and was told to use these old issues to write a report on the general patterns of the magazine outline and layout. I was surprised I was given this assignment because I just expected that he would tell me all about the layout, not actually let me find out for myself. So throughout the day I just poured through all these magazines and tried to find out the patterns and staple types of articles. Each issue was different, but there seemed to be many similarities too.
As I watched the other colleagues work, I realized that this was an organisation that didn't fool around. People knew what they were supposed to do and everyone seemed to work well by him or herself. The boss placed a lot of trust in people to work independently. After a few hours during the end of break time I had people approach me and ask me about myself. I found the people quite funny and cheerful. They were especially interested in my level of English because they said that their boss had told them that my English skills were quite good.
I submitted my report about the magazine, and I felt that at the end of the day this was the kind of organisation I could become very accustomed to working for. I realized also that the purpose of having to submit a report was so I would use my own judgment about the paper, and also prepare me for ideas about how I might improve the paper. So at the end of the day I felt quite lucky that I was in the right job.
[42]
Describe a time when you felt very happy.
You should say:
What happened that made you so happy.
Why you felt so happy.
And explain how the event affected you afterwards. (i.e. what did you learn from it?)
The happiest time of my life was last year when I was accepted into Tsinghua University. I had just finished my exam, and I was watching TV. I really thought I had not passed. I was quite depressed and decided to forget it. Then one day my mother came in with the mail. I told my mother I didn't want to look at the letter. So she opened it up herself. She told me I had passed and had been accepted, but I didn't believe her. She pretended to hide her joy while I pretended to hide my tears. The next day I phoned all my friends.
I guess the reason I felt so happy was because I really wanted to make my mother proud, and I knew I could do it, but was so disappointed after the exam that I thought I would surely fail. So when I found out that I'd passed, I felt this immediate burst of relief.
Usually, when I am not very loud or boisterous and this was no exception.
From then on I never tried to predict my outcome and now I just work hard and let fate be my guide. I realize that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. But if you work hard you can always be sure you tried your best and that you have nothing to worry about.
[43]
Talk about a favourite class that you took in school.
You should say:
When you took the class
What the subject was
And explain why it was your favourite and what you think you learned.
My favourite class that I took was a class I took about five years ago. The class was on International Trade and Marketing for an International Market. I was a second-year student at university and I was eager to begin to specialize in my field. You see at that time I had all these ideas about how I could get rich by selling Chinese-made products to the west. You know, I think there are a lot of people who have the same dream that I did. My thinking was that what I could sell wasn't available in the west, so international marketing would just be about telling the world about it, and then waiting for the money to come in.
Inthis course we had a professor who was not only knowledgeable from a theoretical standpoint, he also had a lot of practical knowledge, since he used to work for a Chinese company who sold products in America. He lived in America and supervised the efforts of the marketing department, so he had a rich knowledge of the kinds of things that can go wrong when you're trying to market to people from a different market. He told us how some Chinese executives would choose certain clients over others only because they were willing to make advance payments, but that in fact the clients who wanted better .credit terms were actually more profitable clients. He said it was natural for executives to favor clients who paid early in China, but that in the west where credit was the norm most clients thought it quite normal to pay over long periods of time. He said that some clients took advantage of this mindset to try and squeeze lower prices out of his company.
The style was completely anecdotal. By that I mean he just told stories. He tried to organise these stories as they related to the theory, and they tended to make sense from a practical way of looking at the issues. He also gave us a lot of humorous examples of cultural differences along the way. But he also told us that people are people wherever they come from, and he even told us how he exported products to places like Rwanda and how similar they were to us in many respects.
It was my favourite because it taught me what issues to think about before setting up any international trade. More than just knowledge it also helped me to understand the issue of culture better, and this was very relevant to me since I am planning to go overseas soon.
[44]
Try to recall a lucky day that you had either at school or at work. You should say:
Where you were
When it happened
What occurred to make it a lucky day and how you responded
And explain how the day made you feel.
Well, first of all I should say that I don't really believe in luck, but there are some days that seem to go a bit better than others. On the other hand, there are some days when things go so amazingly well that you wonder why all days can't go that way. Such a day occurred about four years ago.
I was having fun at a Miao Hui, which is simply a carnival held during Spring Festival. A group of us were wandering around all the amusement and a few of us were trying our luck in different games. Well, one of them was one of those ring-tossing games. There were five of us, and each of my friends tossed this ring a few times and couldn't land it over any of the pins. I picked up one of
the rings and closed my eyes and threw. I wasn't expecting anything to land and sure enough it did. In fact I threw it three times and it landed, so I walked out of there with 3 big panda toy bears. Well, if that wasn't enough, I also went outside the carnival later and bought a lottery ticket that they issue every year. I won 500 RMB. I couldn't believe it.
Well besides putting me in shock, I got a bit worried. I'll tell you why. First, when you have a lucky day you have to think that there's probably an equally unlucky day waiting for you. I believe in balances, and if you have such lucky day then you had better be prepared for something bad in the future. That's why I prefer getting my rewards through my hard work rather than my luck, so I would never want to go gambling.
[45]
Try to recall an act of kindness that made a deep impression on you.
You should say:
Who the kind person was
What the kind person did
How you responded to the kindness
And explain how his/her kindness affected you.
Well, this is going to shock you, but I actually came across a person who was so kind that she was willing to give up a sum of money that many people could live on for about a year. I really don't know who this kind person was; I never really got a chance to get to know this person. She was a stranger.
My father had given me 50,000 RMB to continue my studies, and I was carrying it around in my purse. It was in a stuffed envelope and it was placed in my purse. I went into a snack restaurant and put my purse down beside me. The snack bar waitress asked me for the bill in advance so some small change and I guess as I was looking for something I accidentally knocked the envelope out of my purse. I didn't realise I had done this. About a half an hour later, I was travelling in the bus and I checked my purse and realized my money was gone. I went back to the snack bar but obviously no one had given it back, so I just left my telephone number. Well, this made me shake with fear. My father wasn't rich and he had sacrificed a lot to give me this kind of money. I went back to my dormitory and just cried and cried. Then I got a telephone call form the snack bar and they said that someone had found the money but wouldn't give it to them until I showed up and claimed it. So I rushed over. They said that a lady had found the 50,000RMB and wanted to give it to me but she didn't trust the waitresses to do it so she would just wait in the bar. I demanded to know who it was, but they just said it was somebody in the restaurant-they didn't want to say whom. So then they gave it to me and not a single note was missing. I took it and couldn't even thank the lady who gave it back, because she didn't want to identify herself. You see the snack bar was crowded, and there were many people sitting and eating alone. It could have been about 10 different people.
So I just accepted it and, amazingly, when I got home I cried even more than I did the first time. I just felt like I'd been spared something close to death, and I was angry with myself for being so foolish. I was no longer a victim but a lucky fool.
I think this person did more than just return my money. She also restored my faith in human nature. She made me realize the potential of human kindness, and that kindness is a quality we should never give up for any amount of money.
[46]
Describe a film you enjoyed a lot.
You should say:
When and where you saw it
Why you saw it
What the story was about (briefly) And explain the effect the film had on you.
Ok, a popular movie I have watched is called Raise the Red Lanterns. Basically, it's a tragedy, and I first saw the movie in 1989, about two years after it was released. I saw it on video, and I watched it with a group of my friends.
I first saw this movie because a friend of mine said it was very artistic and even kind of eerie. Since I like those kinds of films, I decided to see it. I remember how fascinated I was with the film.
Well, basically it was about a young bride who becomes a concubine and finds out that there are a lot of inner politics going on among the concubines, and she gets caught up in it and even accidentally causes the death of one of the wives. She tries to fight against it all, and as she does, things just seem to get worse and worse. She finds out that there is one concubine in particular who is behind most of her problems.
The story deals with the whole theme of repression and its effect on people. Mainly it's about how repression can drive some people to cruelty and madness.
I think the impact this story had on me was it taught me that there are situations that are so bad for people that the best thing to do is either get out or be swallowed up by it. After seeing this movie, I decided to quit my job and do what I really wanted because I realized that my job would only drive me crazy if I continued with it.
[47]
Describe a story you read in school that you will never forget. You should say:
When you read it
Why you read it
What the story was about (briefly)
And explain the effect the story had on you.
My favourite story is The Rickshaw Boy. I read this story about five years ago, and I liked it so much that I read it perhaps three more times. The author of this story is the famous Lao She, and this book is so famous that it has been translated into many languages, including English.
Basically, the story is about the living conditions of rickshaw drivers in Beijing. It's kind of a social critique of the way people were during that time. The story is a bit complex, so I won't go through the plot but you do get a sense of the injustice and hardships suffered by people before liberation. The main character. is a man who had many dreams and ambitions as a youth, but lost them along the way. His life is thus a kind of struggle for survival and a challenge to reconcile his lost ambitions.
I like this story best because it's full of sympathy for ordinarily folk. Sometimes I feel we need to take a closer look at the conditions of people in our lives. You know, I guess you could say I came from a wealthier side of society, and it's so easy to ignore the conditions of people who are not so lucky as yourself. Also, this book reminds us how far our society has progressed. We still have rickshaw drivers and poor folk, but not nearly as many as during the time Lao She was writing. People's lives are better now, but we haven't yet reached the ideal state yet, so we had better look after each other and treat each other as brothers and sisters.
[48]
Describe a holiday or festival or ceremony from your country. You should say:
When it is celebrated
Why it is celebrated
How it is celebrated
And explain how you feel about the holiday or festival.
I have been asked to talk about a popular festival, so I'd like to tell you all about Spring Festival. The festival is basically a celebration of the new year and a farewell to the old year. According to the lunar calendar, Chinese New Year should start sometime in early February or late January. It is celebrated just to usher in a new year and to get rid of the demons from the older generation. I don't know the history of the New Year Festival that well. I only know that it is a festival that has basically been celebrated in a very similar way for hundreds of years, and that it mixes a bit of religion, superstition and festivity of the new season. I do know that it used to be celebrated a lot in the streets with a big parade and two dragons chasing a ball. We still do that now, but not as much; mostly you will find that at the Miao Hui carnivals.
People celebrate it by decorating their house with various emblems and also by getting together, having a big dinner, and giving hongbao, which actually means "red packets" . You see, in our Spring Festival we don't give presents. Instead, a married couple will give a single relative or friend a red packet with money in it. As for the dinner, it can vary-there's no dinner that we have to eat. In the west, I know you usually eat turkey. But in Beijing most people eat dumplings, and part of the fun is just sitting around and making them. Together with all our family members, we often sit around and gamble by playing cards or Mahjong, which is a very famous type of game with chips, played a bit like Bridge, but of course much different. On the second day, we often go around and visit friends.
Another way people celebrate Spring Festival is by dressing up in new clothes, and we often go out and attend what we call Miao Hui, which are simply outdoor carnivals, which basically sell a lot of things, and they hold a few events like Chinese opera.
I think that the reason Spring Festival is so popular is because a lot of our economy is planned around it. I mean even though we do think of January as the beginning of the year officially, many think of Spring Festival as the real beginning of the financial year. Also, because the holiday stretches for 15 days, it gives many people a chance to reunite with their family for the longest period of the year. In that sense you could say that it is like Christmas in the west.
[49]
Describe a skill you learned which was difficult but you succeeded in learning.
You should say:
What the skill was
How long you took to learn it
How you learned it (i.e. the process)
I'm a business student, and I'm currently doing a lot of case studies and assignments which my professor expects me to hand in, and they don't allow us to hand in things which are handwritten. I bought myself a computer a year ago, and after three months I found that my typing skills were just too poor; in fact, I was wasting most of my time just typing things in. So I decided to take a three-week typing course.
The course was open to everyone and it was offered at a private, business skills school. I was very worried when I took the class that I'd be the only man in the class, but it turned out that there were 2 other men, although they registered with their wives. The instructor was quite young-a secretary who could type up to 110 words a minute. She types about as fast as some people play the piano.
Basically, the main trick was having faith in your ability to type without looking at the keys. So, the instructor would call out individual letters, and we had to quickly hit them without looking down. Actually we used a keyboard without letters in the beginning, because the temptation was too great to look anyways.
After the course I was able to type at about 30 words per minute-not enough to get me a job as a secretary, but enough to make my assignments go a lot faster. I felt very proud to increase my speed ,and I felt the skill was very useful to learn. By typing faster I was able to spend more time on the actual work of studying information and putting more work into my overall analysis.
[50]
Describe your best day when you were at school. You should say:
When it occurred
What happened on that day
How you reacted
And explain why you consider it your best day.
I was trying to think of my best day. You know, my life at school seems so long ago. I can remember an occasion when I won first prize in a singing contest, and I think that had to have been my best day at school. The competition was held outside the school, and we had a stage set up for each of us to sing. The sound quality was not very good since it was an outdoor competition, but I suppose that might have acted in my favour, since I really don't think I am that good of a singer. But anyway, I can remember feeling on stage as nervous as anything, and just closing my eyes and letting myself sort of float in my imagination. I imagined this was my profession, and I thought of myself as a famous person-but I can't remember who it was, it was so long ago. Anyways, after the song was finished I remember people were giving me quite a good applause.
When my name was announced as the winner I felt like flying again. You know,' it was something that meant so much to me just to be on stage, but to actually also land first prize was something else. Now that I think back however, I probably won more because I had good relations with the judges. They were all teachers who quite liked me, but anyways I won't forget the feeling.
I consider it my best day because it was the first time I had ever won something and from that day on I really believed I could be the top at anything if I tried hard, and even my grades started to improve after that competition.
Instructional Cards
[51]
Describe how to use a piece of equipment from home.
You should say:
What it is
Where it can be bought
What you need to do to use it successfully
And explain what important things to remember while using it.
The piece of equipment that I would like to talk about is a computer. Well, these days you can buy a computer anywhere. A computer is not difficult to get, but it is important to get the right one.
Anyways, when you finally get it, the first thing you should do is to make sure it's plugged in.
Then you should press the power button and this will boot up the system. When you see the menu you should move the mouse or arrow key to start. After clicking start, you will see program. Click the program you want and then you will be able to use it. When you are finished, you should press the" X "button, which really means close. It will ask you if you want to save it. Say" yes" or "no", and you will return to the main menu. Finally, press start and shut down to end your process.
A few things to remember. First, don't panic if you hit the wrong button-you can always undo the action. Second, you can use different programs at the same time. Don't forget to close them all when you've finished. One more thing: It's important to save your work regularly and put it in a file where you can retrieve quickly.
[52]
Describe how to make something.
You should say:
What it is
What you need to prepare to make it
What the steps are
And explain what important skills you need to do it well.
I want to teach you how to make a cloth puppet, which I leaned a long time ago when I was a student at meddle school. All you need to prepare is some sharp scissors, and about five socks of different colours. Just use some old socks that you don't need any more. Also, you will need a needle and thread.
The first thing you need to do is create the arms You cut holes in the places you want to sew arms, and then you cut a long, thin rectangle in the cloth, which is then made into a tube and sewed onto the puppet holes. Then you cut a hole in the top and begin designing a head by cutting out a large piece of cloth and just squeezing it together and then covering it with another piece of cloth. Sew it onto the top and you are basically fished, except of course that you need to decorate the puppet with eyes, ears, a nose and you might want to give your puppet some clothes.
The main skill to concentrate on is just cutting the holes to the exact measurement and making sure your cuts are smooth. Your sewing skill must be adequate. You have to be patient. I think you also need a bit of imagination and visual foresight for your decorations to bring them to life
[53]
Describe how to apply to a foreign country.
You should say:
What the initial steps are
What you should include in your application Details of the application process
And explain if you think this process is complicated.
First, you look up the address or e-mail address of a university from a library or the Internet. You would be best to get the e-mail address because it's much faster and you can send out the same message to each of them. Then you write or send an e-mail to the school and get an application form. Just request any forms you need, and they will send them to you either by regular mail or by e-mail. A lot of them are sending forms out bye-mail, so be prepared to state which option you would prefer them to send them to you with.
When you receive your application you have to read it carefully. If you don't understand some of
the requirements then make sure you ask someone who can read the application form clearly. Fill in the application form and attach the additional requirements that they have. After that, you send it in with a copy of your school records and some letters of recommendation from your former teachers. The university may require you to take the TOEFL test if you're planning to go to America, and for some schools, especially those in the Commonwealth countries, you may have to take IELTS. Finally, you just wait for the letter of acceptance from the university.
I don't think the process is very complicated, and the chance of getting accepted into the university is quite good. I think the trickier and more complicated part is the student visa application, because you have to be very careful when you go through the process.
[54]
Tell your interviewer how to learn your favourite sport. You should say:
What sport it is
What some of its rules are
The steps to learning how to play
And explain what skills are needed to play it well.
Well, I picked a sport that I think is pretty easy to explain. I don't really know if you'd call it a sport or not. Anyways, I chose bowling. Bowling is a sport that just requires you to roll a ball along the floor and to knock over some targets. Those targets are called bowling pins. There are either 5 or 10 pins lined up about 20 meters in front of you. You just need to knock them all down by rolling the balls down the aisle. If you can't knock them all down then you can receive some points for ones you do knock down. The rules are not complicated. You can't step over the line when you roll the ball down the aisle, and you can't throw the ball. That's about it. The scoring system is done automatically these days. When I was young we had to manually calculate it, but nowadays it's easy.
I think the skill in bowling is really in how you practice your stroke when you release the ball. The balls can be influenced by the slightest spin, so you have to give just the right little flick of the wrist when you release it. It's not just a matter of keeping your arm straight as many people assume. So the best thing to do is just keep practicing and experimenting with different ways to throw the ball. If you just keep leaving it to luck, you will not improve, but if you try different ways of releasing the ball you will inevitably find a consistent style. Also, you need to know how to hold the ball. If you always cup the ball, you wont be able to create the kind of spin that knocks down balls efficiently.
[55]
Tell the interviewer how to do well at your favourite hobby or activity.
You should say:
How to begin it
What skills are required
How to get better at it quickly
And explain why it is a good hobby to learn.
Well, my favourite hobby is shopping! Now I know you must be thinking this is not really a hobby but to me it is. I mean, it's interesting and it takes skills to do it well. So I'm going to tell you how to shop properly.
To begin, you need time. You may need some money or you may not, depending on what your intention is. You need to be able to understand the retail profession, and understand that not everything that seems like good quality is good quality. Price may give you some clue, but the key to shopping is getting something of high quality at a low price. First, I always try to go to shops where the business is not too good. It must be a place where the store is good and they carry good products, but perhaps it's just not in a popular location, or perhaps they have some problems with advertising. Its good to find a store that is in a reasonably competitive area, so they know you can just walk to the next store if you have to. Small stores are usually a bit cheaper and you can usually bargain. You need to be a bit of an actor when you shop and just check out the prices of many different types. You also need to be nice to the sales staff, because they often deal with so many pushy and rude people that they feel more generous when they come across a more polite person. You also need to show them that you know about the product and ask a few questions about the features. You want to tell them that there are products that have more features or are superior, but you are willing to consider this one if the price is right. That way you are putting the pressure on them.
To get better at this you have to do a lot of it and try different strategies. You need to be yourself and not take anything personally. After all, it's always possible to get a better deal somewhere else, but if you manage to get a reasonable deal, then you can feel satisfied that you've achieved something. Don't act arrogantly just because you are the customer. People are human and they may want your money, but not at the expense of their face or pride.
I think it's a good skill to learn because in life you have to learn to do business and still keep good relations with others, so it's important to do shopping well. Also you can obviously save a lot of money.
[56]
Describe the process of obtaining a job in your country. You should say:
What the first step should be
How to get the interview
How to behave in the interview
And explain what to do after the interview.
Ok, I've been asked to tell you the steps to find a job in my country. Nowadays, for graduates, most people look for a job on the Internet. More and more companies are putting their job vacancies on the Internet. It also makes it easier for people to search for job openings in the least amount of time. But there are also vacancies advertised in the newspapers. Candidates can send it their resume either through the Internet or by post, depending on the requirements of the advertisement. This is the first step.
How to get an interview? Well, it will depend on whether the company is impressed with the resume and calls the candidate up for an interview. Nowadays, most companies indicate that they do. not entertain calls requesting interviews. So candidates will have to wait patiently. There is nothing they can do here except wait.
If you're called in for an interview, I'd say this is the crucial part. You should present yourself well because a first impression is very important. Sometimes, it will determine whether you get the job. You have to come prepared for a range of possible questions and be knowledgeable in your field. It's getting more and more competitive, so do take this stage seriously.
After the interview, I think it is polite to send in a thank: you letter to the interviewer. Not only will this show the sincerity of the candidate, but also it will leave a good impression for the interviewer. That's all.
[57]
Tell the interview how best to travel in your country.
You should say:
When the best time to go would be
What he / she should see
And include what regulations, customs or manners he/she should obey.
I think the best way to travel really depends on the kind of person you are, so it's a bit tough to tell you one best way. This is the way I think you'll gain the most out of China.
The best time to go is definitely not during Spring Festival. Now, I know a lot of you foreigners would like to see how China is during this time, but I think you're crazy to travel here during any of the holiday periods. Remember, there're a billion people here, and when even a tiny percentage of us decide to travel, that can still mean thousands of tourists at any given place you come across. If I had to recommend a time, I would probably say fall or spring during non-holiday times. You can probably get some more discounts on your domestic flights and your hotels.
What should you see? Well, that depends on what you like. If you like natural, mountainous areas that are not too rugged but are interesting, and also give you a bit of history, then I recommend you travel to the three famous mountains, Taishan, Huang Shan and Hua Shan. You might also what to explore Kunming, Guilin and Wulingyuan.
If you like rivers, then you will want to take in the Yellow River, and if you travel along the Yangtze River from Chongqing to Wuhan you can see the famous three gorges.
If you like history, don't miss Beijing, Nanjing, and, of course, the Great Wall. If you like beaches, go to Hainan, Qingdao or Dalian. If you like shopping I would probably recommend you stay away from the big cities and just stick to smaller towns that don't get too many tourists.
Bring almost nothing with you except an open mind and a good Chinese phrasebook. Keep your passport in a secure location, and you should have a contact number in China just in case you run into difficulties.
As for customs, one thing that you should understand is that its normal for us to bargain, and so you need to bargain wherever you go. Do not accept the first price out of pity or convenience. Also, remember the important aspect of face. If you make someone lose face out of anger, you can expect that person to want revenge or do nothing to help you out. When you are in tourist locations, you need to be careful not to get talked into anything, especially when it comes to you giving money for something.
[58]
Describe how to make a type of food, dish or snack.
You should say:
What the food, dish or snack is
What you need to make it
How you make it
And explain what is important to remember while making it.
Ok, I want to explain how to make a sandwich. You know, sandwiches are getting more and more popular here in China and they are so easy to make.
I am going to talk with you about how to make a basic sandwich called a tuna fish sandwich, which means it's made from tuna.
First, you should make sure that you have all the right tomatoes, onions, and meat. The important thing is to try and cut it up beforehand. Get it ready and have it in place so that there are no delays when you add everything together. The next thing you should do is add mayonnaise or butter to your bread. After doing so, you may need to add the ingredients together, and the trick is to add just enough to make it into a hardy sandwich, but not too much so that it will be dropping down onto your plate. I think: it's also important that you cut it properly, because if you try to cut it too roughly then it is not as appealing.
One thing to remember is to make sure that the tomatoes are fresh. Also, don't cut the slices too big because this will make the tuna too loose inside your sandwich. The mayonnaise that you add is quite high in fat, so if you are at all concerned about this issue, you shouldn't add too much. Finally, tuna fish is actually quite salty if you get it form a can, and the mayonnaise usually has a bit of salt as well, so probably you won't need to add any more salt.
[59]
Describe how to use a communication tool.
You should say:
What the communication tool is
What you should do at first
What steps you should follow to use it
And explain what you should remember to do and not to do.
The tool I will give you instructions about is the mobile phone. I will just assume that you've never used one before.
The first thing you should do is turn it on and check the battery level, and then the volume level. Well, see if it has enough battery. Wait for it to register. What I mean by register is that the picture screen should come up and then the main menu. You see, a mobile phone is really like a computer, so it needs its main menu before you start hitting any buttons. When you feel it is registered, dial the number. Remember that you need to key in 010 if you are phoning a home number, but if not, that is to say the number is also another mobile phone number, then key in the number directly. Check to see that the number you dialed is the same one you intended to dial. It will appear on the mobile phone screen. After that press the green button and wait. Finally, after finishing your conversation, press the red button.
When you are talking, you need to put the phone close to your ear. You should also adjust the volume, but that you can do even before the call. Also, make sure that you put it on lock, but we do that after we hang it up Remember to hang up the phone and recharge it.
[60]
Describe how to best study English.
You should say:
What you need to purchase before you start
When and where the best time to study is
What steps you should go through
And explain what the most important things to remember are.
Well, I've been asked to talk about how to study English. Well, I'm not sure I'm the best one to talk about this topic since I am just a learner myself, but I will try to give some suggestions based on my own experience.
I advise you first to know what your goals are and your budget. I don't advise you to go out and spend so much on English books and other things until you know clearly what you want to learn and for what purpose. I mean, if its just conversational English you want to learn, then concentrate on getting communication-style resources. But if you are more interested in studying for a test like this one then it may be best to focus on the types of topics you may be asked. I think you should explore all the various options first. Some my be quite cheap-for example, listening to CRI or English television is free of charge, while other options are more expensive-for example, taking an intensive course at a language school.
My own opinion is that you should probably study English in the morning or in the early evening. In other words, try to study it when you first get up because you'll feel more alert at that time. Trying to study English in the afternoon is like trying to drink a beer in the morning. Somehow it just doesn't seem to fit.
When you do get what resources you need, I advise you to begin with a good sound base in English. One regret I have in learning English is that I never developed this sound base. I developed a visual base first, and then later had to develop my listening and pronunciation. I would work primarily on listening at first. I wouldn't force you to speak too early because the experience will be too frustrating, as I found out. Once you do build up your listening, start talking and writing, and then finally do a lot of reading, which will help your English a lot at the latter stages.
I think it's important to remember that we don't learn language in any linear way. Also, it is not so simple to say, "the more words you remember the more you can produce." There is a relationship between memory and language, but it is not the only aspect. Creativity and experience using it are equally as important.
Dream or Imagination Cards
[61]
Describe an object you would like to own.
You should say:
What it is
Where you can get it
What you would use it for
And explain why you would choose this object over others.
The object I would like to buy would be a robot. You see, I'm not a lazy person, but it has been a dream of mine for so long. To be frank, I have no idea where you could purchase a robot, but I have an idea you would probably have to find someone who is a technical genius to make one for you.
What would I use it for. Well, for starters, I would like one to teach me English. The robot should have an authentic English voice with a native accent, and it should have the ability to correct my mistakes as I make them. It should also be able to react to my statements and be able to ask me many questions. I think the English robot would also be able to tell me what level I am, and give me an idea form day to day whether my level is increasing.
I would also use it for housework. I mean, as I said before, I'm not lazy, but why should I do it if! can sit back and have a robot do it for me. For example, washing. This is something a robot could be programmed to do.
I chose this object over others because a robot is something that you can do new things with each day. Most things you buy you can only use for one basic purpose. Also, if I learn English through this robot, you can say that the money that I spend on this robot is substantially less than the money I spend on course books and private tutors.
[62]
Describe your dream school/ university/company.
You should say:
Where and when you would study
What would you study
What special features it has (i.e. describe it)
And explain why this would be a good place to study or work.
A dream university I would like to talk about would be a university like one of those Ivy League schools in Britain or American like Harvard, Stanford, Oxford or Cambridge.
I would study there when I was about 30 because I think it is too stressful when you're very young.
I would study English literature, because I love reading the translated versions. You might say to me that it would be too difficult to compete with all those fluent classmates. Plus, the students are in such a tough major. Well, it's true that it would probably be impossible, but that's why it's just a dream.
The special feature would be... well, there would be a tutor to follow me to each class and help me all the way through my classes. And professors would be good friends with this tutor so I could visit the professor regularly and chat with them about English stories. That would certainly be a dream of mine.
I think this place would be a good place to study because future employers would instantly recognize how tough it was and they would marvel at my achievement. So I could almost handpick any job I really wanted. Also, imagine what pride it would be to say that I graduated from a top American university and did well studying literature from their country.
[63]
Describe a job you would like to do or have.
You should say:
What job it would be
Where you would like to work
What some conditions of the job would be (e.g. salary,
hours, holidays)
A dream job I would like to have would be a professional shopper. This job would involve me working for various companies as a free-lance shopper. I would go to various places and then pretend that I was shopping for certain things. I would record what the staff said to me in a secret tape-recorder. I would then write up a report about the service I received and determine what things I was impressed with and didn't like so much. Then I would be paid very handsomely for the report.
I would like to be able to create my own hours for this job, and I would like to have all my transportation paid for, and I would like all the normal benefits to apply like health insurance and pensions.
I think I would like this kind of job because, well ... I love shopping. I mean, I can shop all day without getting tired, so I imagine that this job would be a piece of cake. Plus, I think this kind of job is useful because it lets the companies know either their service towards customers is good or not, and if they know what areas they need to improve then they can go out and make these improvements. So I think the service I am doing for society is a good one and can lead to better service quality and perhaps increased salaries. Also, I have a feeling I could make big money with this job.
[64]
Describe a dream restaurant you would like eat at. You should say:
What the restaurant would look like inside
What special service you would like to see
And explain why it would be a dream restaurant.
Ok, well, a dream restaurant might be something like this. First, for food, the restaurant must have a variety of dishes and these dishes would be separated by region. For example, if you wanted to eat dishes from Sichuan, there would be a special menu and chef from that region. Or if you wanted to eat Cantonese style, they'd give you a special menu.
I like a restaurant that has a theme in its atmosphere. It should be clean and be decorated with many things to look at. I prefer it if the restaurant has a place to store your belongings. I think service is important. My dream restaurant would have waiters and waitresses who have special skills like pouring tea and are experts at juggling plates and cutlery. They should always be checking on your table to see if things are ok, like your teacup. And there should be very clean aquarium tanks for the seafood that is to be served. The table should have a very nice enamel base, because I prefer tables without tablecloths. Prices... well... they'd be reasonable.
I guess the reason this is my dream is because it fits all the ideal expectations and wishes I have always had for a restaurant. Every restaurant I go to has some weaknesses in one of these areas, so my dream is for it to be perfect in every area.
[65]
Describe a skill or language you would like to learn.
You should say:
What the skill or language would be
Where you would like the lessons
What style you would like the teacher to have
And explain why such a skill would be so important in your life.
A skill I would like to learn would be English. I would like the lessons to be in mY, home and the lessons would be on face-to-face communication skills. I would like teacher to just let me speak, bringing up topics which are interesting. I hope he could work on my pronunciation of individual words and sentences.
Also, I need a tutor who would force me to learn many words and expressions in English. Perhaps give me a test in each class. I hope he would also have made special textbooks for me to study. I would like this tutor to be strict, but I don't want the tutor to discourage me, so I hope that he's skilled at the art of encouragement and motivation.
This skill is so obviously important to me because it means everything to my career, and there's no doubt that being fluent would make my opportunities grow. Besides that, I would feel satisfaction being fluent in English, almost as if I had reached heaven.
[66]
Describe a person you would like to meet.
You should say:
Who it would be
Where you would like to see him! her What you would like to say or do together And explain why you chose this person
A person I would really like to meet would be somebody like Justice Bao. I know it's impossible, but I would like to meet him at his living quarters in the Forbidden Palace.
I'd like to just discuss the principles of justice and laws and try to learn his style of solving a case. I would ask him how he managed to bring so much justice working under such a corrupt and weak emperor. I would like to ask him what his favourite case was. I wonder if there are any of the people that he put to death that he felt sorry for. Also, I would like to tell him about current conditions, and perhaps he might be fascinated wit the way modem life is. Hopefully, I could convince him to travel into the future and be a judge in modem China.
I choose this person because he represents the ideal for our society and a model for all young people. No one can corrupt him, and we know that if we were all like him our society would be magnificent. Justice Bao is incorruptible and this means that he puts his own self-interests aside and lets the principles of fairness and justice prevail.
[67]
Describe a type of entertainment that you would like to see. You should say:
What the entertainment is
Where you would need to go to see it
What the features of this entertainment are
The entertainment I would like to see is a Broadway play, like those famous ones from New York. I've heard that The Phantom of the Opera is a famous one that is well worth seeing. Well, I guess I might need to go all the way to America to see one, but I have a feeling that there will one day be a grand performance in Beijing. Why not? You don't need that much English to be able to enjoy it, and Beijing certainly has the facilities. Perhaps it will come soon.
The basic features of these plays are incredible voices-I mean to sing like they do is not easy, and I know many famous signers and actors from America have tried but failed. Also they need to be graceful in their actions and decent at acting. These kinds of plays are usually visually very stunning, I mean a lot goes into making the setting wonderful. I heard for example that in The Phantom of the Opera there is a giant chandelier that comes crashing onto the stage, but that it is actually just a technical stunt.
I think the reason I would like to see this is because I prefer seeing acting live and on stage. Also, I love singing, and I think if I were to see such a play it would stick in my mind for quite some time.
[68]
Describe a change you would like to make to your job or studies.
You should say:
What would you choose to change
Why you choose it
How would you go about changing it
And describe what problems you might have changing it.
I work in an express mail company, and I'm a marketing executive. I've been working for a few years and there is one thing I would like to change about my job. I'd like to have a chance to play music while I work. You see, we are forbidden to play music while working, but quite frankly I think I work much better with a bit of music playing.
How to change it? Well, there would have to be a new policy allowing the use of music in the office and we would all be provided with walkmans and earphones. If there was a message we could be told through a signal, either through the Walkman itself or maybe by some flashing red button. We would have to have some policy about the volume-obviously we couldn't allow the volume to be too high. I guess we could have some soft background music in the office for those people who did not want a Walkman on at the time.
Problems changing it? Well, I think the biggest one is convincing the boss to be more open minded about it, because he really think that it distracts people from concentrating, but I think that music is actually one of those things that can actually make you do more routine activities faster, because you are not as likely to start dreaming about other things. Also, I guess you'd need to see whether it is possible to still communicate with each other in the same way. We would have to do everything we could to avoid possible problems.
[69]
Talk about a place you'd like to go to. Use your imagination more than your knowledge to describe it.
You should talk about:
Location
The landscape of it
The weather there
This may seem funny, but the place I would like to visit would be Mars.
Well, as for its location, I only know that it is the closest planet to the Earth, and it is the most similar to Earth. Although Mars is the fourth closest planet to the sun, it is still much colder than the Earth. No one has been to Mars, but we do have some information on Mars. Like the satellites pictures showed that Mars has lots of craters, and scientists speculate that perhaps Mars used to be like Earth billions of years ago. But again, no one can know for sure unless someone has actually been there and stayed there for a long time. I think there is more to Mars than what the scientists believe. I believe there is life on Mars. Perhaps the definition of life on Mars is different from Earth. It could be that the life there does not need oxygen, but other kinds of gases. I would imagine that life may not be active, because Mars has been hit by meteorites and the surface has been very much bombarded. So I presume the life that still exist would not be like life on Earth.
I have no idea what the weather would be like, but I can presume it would be very cold, since Mars is much further from the sun than Earth.
As for its special features, I think if one stands on the surface of Mars, we can see the whole universe clearer than on the earth. And perhaps it's a million times more beautiful than earth. I hope one day we can have more exploration on Mars and solve the mystery.
[70]
Describe a sporting event that you would like to see live. You should say:
Where you like or expect to see it
What the sport would be
Who you would expect to see participating
And explain why you would like to see this event.
INSTRUCTIONS
Please read the topic carefully. You will be asked to talk about it for I to 2 minutes. You have one minute to think about what you're going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.
The event that I would like to see is the Olympic finals of basketball. My chance to see it will be during the 2008 Olympic games. Of course, I can't know which teams would be involved, but I have a feeling it would probably be between America and China. After all, the NBA just keeps producing more and more talented basketball athletes from America. However, C4ina would have the advantage of having everyone in China cheering wildly for the Chinese national dream.
It would be my dream to see some stunning upset where China wins in basketball in some close match that thrills everyone right to the very end. I hope I could see all the greats in basketball, even Michael Jordan if he's still not too old to play. I would expect that the Chinese basketball team would be a group of people who have had lots of practice and worked together in harmony as a team. You see, it might be hard to compete with those very dazzling athletes from the NBA, but I think we might be able to beat them if we could work more closely as a team and just be perfect with our long jump shots.
I would like to see this event because, first, I like basketball. It's my favourite game and I watch the NBA regularly. The second reason is that I would be with all my countrymen together cheering for my team. And you know, since the Chinese team would be the underdog, there would not be that much pressure on them. Another big reason is that I would like some of the rather showoff NBA players to get the shock of their life by being outplayed by another team. I saw them play in the last Olympics, and I thought they just seemed too over-confident.
