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1. Do you like to be alone?

2. What do you like to do when you are alone?
3. Do you like to spend time with your friends or just stay at home on your own?
4. When was the last time you were being alone?
Yes, Id like to stay alone for some period of time if I have to do something without interruption. But if I have spare
time, I would prefer stay with my friends to enjoy the free time.
I really enjoy being alone in the weekend morning, reading some books and playing computer games. During that
time, I can do something I am interested in, and dont have to think about how to brace for the coming problems.
Well, if I were to choose between the two, I will probably go with hanging out with my close friends because you
need to be sociable in the society and friendship really adds spice to my life; whereas, you know, spending too much
being alone is really boring and terrible.
The last time I stayed alone at home was when my wife went on business trip with my child for several days, so I
was living, eating, sleeping at home with myself. Its quite quiet so I can do something at ease.
1. When was the last time you did something in a hurry?
2. Do you like to finish things quickly?
3. What kinds of things will you never do in a hurry?
4. Why do people make mistakes more easily when they are in a hurry?
Actually, if I remember accurately I went to the airport to take a business trip in the morning last year. But I got up
late and I got stuck in the traffic tram on my way to airport. So I ran as fast as possible to get to the airport. It was
such a rush.
No, I dont stand finishing things too soon because it would probably make mistakes without careful and considerate
work.
Well, I think I would never finish the work for my clients in a hurry, otherwise there would cause lots of errors that
would lead to terrible loss to my clients. That is not acceptable.
From my own perspective, there are a couple of factors that contribute to the mistake-making during the rush. On
the top of my mind, lacking of long-term consideration is the thing that contributes to the mistake that people make
when theyre in a hurry.
Examiner: Do you enjoy buying clothes?
Pedro: I used to yes like most young people I was a bit of a slave to fashion and Id always have to buy that
must-have shirt or pair of shoes Im not so bothered now though I wouldnt feel comfortable wearing
something old fashioned but Im not as bothered as I used to be about what I wear
Examiner: What kind of clothes do you like to wear?
Marco: I prefer casual clothes actually I hate getting dressed up for special occasions personally I think its
possible to look good in a pair of jeans but thats my opinion I dont think my wife would call me a fashion
icon thats for sure

Examiner: Are there many clothes shops where you live?

Sylvia: Yes there are lots in my town apart from the big chain stores weve got a couple of really nice shops
that sell vintage clothes old clothes but in a classic style that never really go out of fashion I love going
there
1. Would you like to live in the countryside in the future?
2. What do people living in the countryside like to do?
3. What are the benefits of living in rural areas?
4. Whats the difference between living in the city and living in the countryside?
Well, yes, I really love to live in the countryside if possible in the future because I find that life in the rural areas are
less stressful and people are more relaxed, friendly and family-oriented, whereas people in the cities are just like
ants.
Its kind of hard to say but people that I know around me tend to enjoy the breathtaking sceneries, space and other
amazing places such as forests, lakes or mountains; but maybe for others, they just want to grow crops and feed
animals for their living.
I feel that there are many benefits of living in the countryside. For example, the cost of living is stunningly low,
including groceries, food, water bill, property taxes. Almost everything is less expensive than the same ones in the
city. Besides, the life in countryside is more peaceful because there are simply less distractions. For instance, there
arent cars going by constantly. I can just buckle down and focus on what I need to accomplish.
Well, between the two, living in a city brings people really convenience since there are various living facilities in the
city, for example, people can easily get access to the shopping malls, medicine clinics, schools and entertaining; on
the contrary, living in the countryside can enjoy the fresh and quality air, because the air is not polluted during the
industrialization.
1. Do you write many letters or emails?
2. Who do you usually write to?
3. Do you prefer to write letters by hand or to use a computer?
4. How often do you write an email or a letter?
5. What are the differences between emails and letters?
6. Is it hard to think of what to write?
7. What kinds of letter/email do you think is the hardest to write?
8. How do you feel when you receive a letter or email?
9. What sorts of letters or emails are the most difficult to reply to?
10. What kinds of emails (or letters) do you receive that make you feel excited?
11. Which do you prefer to make a phone call or write an email?
12. Do you think people will still write letters in the future?
13. How do you communicate with others at work by emails or is it more convenient to communicate face-toface?
Yes, I almost write emails for my clients as part of my job on a daily basis. There are many things I have to write,
for example, I usually write end user training for my clients to teach them how to use the system, or I write the
development guide for my technical staffs to tell them how to code.

If I were to choose between the two, Ill probably go with writing things with a computer. I believe that in the age of
fast living and a culture of convenience, writing things with computers can bring people convenience and efficiency.
Whereas, hand writing is really time consuming and hard to share.
Well, between the two, a letter is printed or handwritten on actual paper and sent through the mail while an email is
typed on a computer, tablet or smart phone and sent electronically. While emails have become a more popular way
of communication for individuals and businesses, traditional letters still have a place in todays modern, techoriented society.
Normally it seems like a daily routine for me to write emails to my clients about how to use the system; but if they
complain to me about the poor user experience, I sometimes really find myself getting stuck in explaining to comfort
them.
I would be feeling both honoured and excited to receive a letter or email from other because the sender has spent
time writing it. Especially when someone writes to me to appreciate me or compliment me about my responsible
work.
Well, if I were to choose between the two, I will probably go with writing an email because I can have plenty of time
thinking about how to express my opinion correctly and clearly, besides, the whole conversation can be tracked in
the mail list; whereas, you know, making a telephone call usually leads to misunderstanding because sometimes it is
not very accurate and obscure.
I believe that as a major method of communication between people, letter writing has a vast and interesting history;
besides, handwritten letters are personal. They show the receiver that someone has spent time and effort in
communicating with them. They are a way of connecting two people that cannot be achieved through the impersonal
use of texts or instant messages. Therefore, I feel that the handwriting letters are irreplaceable in the future.
1. Do you like to watch films?
2. Do you prefer foreign films or Chinese films?
3. How often do you go to a cinema or watch a movie?
4. Do Chinese people like to go to a cinema to watch a film?
5. What kinds of movies do you like best?
6. What was the first film that you watched?
Im really into watching films because some films are very entertaining and provoking. I sometimes go to cinema
with my friends and family to enjoy our leisure time in the weekends.
Well, if I were to choose between the two, I will probably go with the foreign films, especially the Hollywood films
because most of them are well-acted, with lots of charismatic celebrities and always are enormous box-office hit;
whereas you know, the Chinese films are almost low-budget, so they are not as attractive as their American
counterparts.
I go to cinema to watch movies from time to time. Normally if Im not busy with my work, Ill check out the movies
to see whether there are any movies that attract me; but if I have lots of things on my hands, Ill probably focus on
my work.
Its kind of hard to say but people that I know around me tend to like watching movies in the cinema, but maybe for
others, they just prefer stay at home and watch TV programmes.

As for me, I like the drama films the best because sometimes they just tell simple but warm and heartfelt stories with
provoking endings, which would touch on my deepest emotions.
The first film that I watched was the The Lion King many years ago in the cinema with my parents. What I can
remember now is the terrific animation and the amazing soundtrack. I particularly liked the song Can You Feel the
Love Tonight that I knew it was produced by Elton John later. And Id learned lessons from this movies. It was
about living up to our responsibilities, no matter how hard it is.
1. Do you often write things?
2. Do you write everyday?
3. What do you usually write?
4. Do you like writing to people?
5. How often do you send e-mails?
6. What are your main reasons for using e-mails?
7. Do you like to send e-mails?
8. Do you usually write by hand or write using a computer?
9. Nowadays, how do most people write things?
10. Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting?
11. When do children begin to write in your country?
12. How did you learn to write?
13. Do you think handwriting is very important (nowadays)?
14. How can children today improve (or, practice) their handwriting?
15. What impression does a persons handwriting have on other people?
Yes, I almost write documentaries for my clients as part of my job on a daily basis. There are many things I have to
write, for example, I usually write end user training for my clients to teach them how to use the system, or I write
the development guide for my technical staffs to tell them how to code.
Yes, Im really into communicating with my clients in emails. I send emails to them almost on a daily basis in my
office, discussing business, guiding them how to use the system and solving the problems. I feel like sending emails
because I can trace the communication by mail list, which is much more useful than telephone.
If I were to choose between the two, Ill probably go with writing things with a computer. I believe that in the age of
fast living and a culture of convenience, writing things with computers can bring people convenience and efficiency.
Whereas, hand writing is really time consuming and hard to share.
Well, there are so many people in my country, its really hard to say, probably most people write something with
computers, for example, people like to write blogs to share their feelings with friends on the internet, but personally
speaking, I dont think that writing without pens can be called writing.
In China, children usually learn to write in elementary school. They firstly learn the basic elements of the Chinese
characters, then the simple characters, and finally the complicated ones. They will have to do a lot of writing
practises to remember them. The more they practise, the better they write.
Yes, I feel that handwriting can allow people to get more opportunities because if you have a decent handwriting,
people will admire you and you are considered to be both well-educated and literate.

1. How often do you like to hang out with friends?

2. Who do you usually like to hang out with?
3. Where do you like to go when you hang out with your friends?
4. Do you like to go out with a big group or just few friends?
I hang out with my friends to somewhere from time to time. Normally if we have lots of time in the weekends, we
will go to the cinema to watch movies with our kids to have a good time; but if we dont have plenty of time, well
just have dinner together in a restaurant.
Usually Id like to hang out with one of my close friends. Actually we live in the same community so we can meet
frequently. Besides, both of our kids are in the same class in the kindergarten, so wed like to take them to the park
or playground together.
Well, that depends. We sometimes go to the restaurants to enjoy the tasty food if someone finds a
decent place; and if we have plenty of time, wed like to plan a hike or camp in the nearby forest park to enjoy the
natural life. That would be a very memorable experience.
Well, if I were to choose between the two, I will probably go with hanging out with a big group people because I
feel that I am an extrovert, I like to meet different people to know about different kinds of life and make myself
more sociable; whereas, you know, with few people around, it would be hard to find something interesting to do,
such as travelling, hiking, etc.
1. Do you like (to learn about) history?
2. What historical event do you find most interesting?
3. Do you think history is important?
4. Do you like to watch programmes on TV about history?
5. Do you think you can really learn history from films and TV programmes?
6. Do you think the internet is a good place to learn about history?
7. Can you name a person from history who you would like to learn more about?
8. Why would you like to learn more about him/her?
Yes, I am a big fan of reading historical stories. When I was a little boy, I always took some historical books from
my fathers bookshelf and read the historical events. I feel that history not only can cultivate my mental
development, but also give me a better picture of human society.
Personally I am fond of the Battle of Red Cliffs happened in the early period of Three Kingdoms, which was a
decisive battle at the end of the Han Dynasty. It was also the typical battle in Chinese history renowned for the fewer
and weaker defeating the more and stronger.
Yes, the main factor is that like our native language, history forms a cultural identity and keeps a unique record of
country, and also we can learn the experiences from history to correct our current actions.
Yes, I enjoy watching some documentaries about history on TV because I can see a lot of video materials that can
not bee seen in the textbooks. I always watch them at home during my time off with my son to learn something
about history.
I dont feel that watching the current TV series can make you be aware of the history, you know, TV programmes
are more engaging than books, however the true historical events in most of the TV series have been distorted by the

producers to cater for the audience. Its really shame as the young people will misunderstand the history by these
irresponsible productions.
Yes. History is full of debates so you can find both of the two sides of opinion online which will help you be aware
of the true facts and think critically. I always google some engaging historical materials about the Song Dynasty, for
example, to know about the truth.
The people Id like to learn about is Wu Chengen, the author of A Journey to the West. He combined the folk tales
and his own imagination to write the great fairy story in the 16th century. I want to know about his personality as
much as possible and I believe that his imagination is what is lack of nowadays.
1. What kind of housing/accommodation do you live in?
2. Do you live in a house or a flat?
3. Who do you live with?
4. How long have you lived there?
5. Do you plan to live there for a long time?
6. (If you answer you havent lived there long) Whats the difference between where you are living now and where
you have lived in the past?
7. Can you describe the place where you live?
8. Which room does your family spend most of the time in?
9. What do you usually do in your house/flat/room?
10. Are the transport facilities to your home very good?
11. Do you prefer living in the house or a flat?
12. Please describe the room you live in?
13. What part of your home do you like the most?
I live in the pretty spacious apartment in Beijing. I live in the 8th floor of a high-rise, and it covers a little more than
120 square metres. It is a fairly nice place. My apartment has six rooms one living room, one kitchen, two
bathrooms and another two bedrooms. All of them are well-decorated and furnished. There is a big bookshelf beside
my kids room so that my boy can easily get books to read. In addition, we have a big balcony beside the dining
table so that we can enjoying eating dinner and having tea there.
My family spend most of our time in the living room. Wed like to sit around a set of comfortable sofa there and chat
with each other or watch TV. But when I am free, I would prefer to read the story books to my son.
I live with my wife and my kid. My apartment is pretty big so there is enough space for everyone. We rented the
apartment four years ago. And my kid is in the kindergarten near my home, so we wont intend to move around in
the future.
We sometimes go out by car because it is not convenient to take a taxi in that area, and it needs nearly 30 minutes
walk to the nearest subway station. So generally speaking, it is not good to go out without cars.
1. Whats (the name of) your hometown (again)?
2. Is that a big city or a small town?
3. Please describe your hometown a little.
4. How long have you been living there?
5. Do you like your hometown?
6. Do you like living there?

7. What do you like (most) about your hometown?

8. Is there anything you dislike about it?
9. Do you think you will continue living there for a long time?
Well, my hometown is the city of Huangshan, which is a small and quiet place. It is surrounded by the mountains so
that it is a pretty nice place to live. The weather there is quite pleasant all year round, even in winter the
temperatures are quite mild.
Although Huangshan is developing a lot recently, and expanding every year, it is still a traditional town as the new
architectures are built in the old-fashioned way. I think that as the tourist city, it should preserve its own
characteristic to attract the tourists. In addition, the food there is excellent. You can digest a lot of local snacks that
can not be tasted elsewhere. In sum, I believe my hometown is definitely worth a visit.
I was born and raised there. I only moved out when I went to university in 2002. So I had lived there for about 19
years.
Well, my hometown earns a high reputation for its Huangshan Mountain which attracts floods of tourists every year
around the globe. It is renowned for its graceful pines, unusual rocks, cloud sea and hot springs. I have been there
for two times. I was really attracted by its magnificent natural scenery.
1. When did you start learning maths?
2. Do you like maths?
3. Who taught you maths?
4. Whos your favorite teacher so far?
5. Is maths difficult for your to learn?
6. Do you like to use a calculator?
I firstly started to learn maths when I was in the first grade in primary school. I was about seven years old then.
To be honest, I disliked maths at all because there were always too many abstract formulas I had to remember. You
know, I was not good at memorising things, so I often used the incorrect formula in the exams, and made lots of
mistakes and got low marks as a result.
My maths teacher was an elderly woman. She was very kind and patient, but she always tended to be demanding
with us, she seemed like making the simple theory very complicated. And she liked leaving endless homework to us.
Yes, Im afraid that I wasnt quick at fingers. And I was also bored with these abstract formulas and found it hard to
pick the appropriate ones to solve the maths problems in exams.
No, actually we were not allowed to use the calculator in class or exam because we were asked to calculate the
results with pencil and paper. Therefore Im not used to use the calculator now.
1. What do you remember to do every day?
2. What helps people to remember things?
3. Why do old people forget about things easily?
4. Have you ever forgotten something important?

Well, there are many things I have to remember to do every day. For example, after getting up in the morning, I need
to take some simple physical exercises like doing some crunches and push-ups. Besides, another important thing that
I should keep in mind is to teach my son to read the traditional Chinese poems in the evening.
Well, its kind of hard to say but people I know around me use the to-do-list apps in their mobile phones to help
them remember what to do next; but maybe for others, they may probably write the urgent things down in the
notebooks.
Well, I guess its quite normal that people are more and more forgetful when they are becoming ageing. Apart from
some negative emotional factors like stress and depression, elderly people are easier to forget things because of their
normal ageing.
Oh yes, I nearly forgot the birthday of a woman I liked last time. I once asked her what her birthday was, and told
her I would send her a gift, but I just unbelievably forgot it until the evening that day. Fortunately I asked her out to
dinner to celebrate with her.
1. Do you often like to listen to music?
2. When do you listen to music?
3. How much time do you spend listening to music every day?
4. What kinds of music do you like to listen to?
5. Whats your favorite kind of music?
6. How often do you listen to that type of music?
7. When did you start listening to this type of music?
8. Where do you listen to it?
9. How do you feel when you listen to this music?
10. Do you like listening to songs?
11. Have you ever been to a musical performance?
12. Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument?
13. Is music an important subject at school in China?
14. Did you often listen to music when you were a child?(If yes, give details.)
15. What kinds of music are most popular in China?
Yes, I am a big fan of music all these years. I sometimes listen to music before sleeping at night for one hour and
when I am driving, which will both help me relax. I am very fond of pop music from Taiwan and Hong Kong, and I
also frequently listen to some American pop singers, like the Backstreet Boys. I can feel the energy when I hear the
tune.
Personally, I am interested in the traditional instrumental music, like erhu, mixed with pianos and guitars. I always
get time to listen to these music during the weekends. It is an impressive combination that can give you a both
nostalgic and modern feelings. I firstly encountered this type of music when I was driving and listening to the radio
five years ago, I forgot the name, but the tune sounded really amazing.
Oh, yes, I saw a pop singer performance several years ago. It was a really memorable night as the live performances
were very exciting. I remembered that after the song, when the singer talked to the audience, everyone cheered and
clapped crazily. It made me feel so cool being there.
Unfortunately, I had not learned to play any type of musical instrument when I was a little boy. I remembered that in
schools, teachers always told us to put all energy into studying and preparing exams. The music lessons, along with

physical exercises and paintings, were not so important as the schools claimed to be. I really felt pity when I grew
up.
I didnt get enough time to listen to music because I had to give all time to study. That was my biggest pity during
my childhood, so when I got to the university, what I firstly did was to buy me a new mp3 player.
I believe currently in China, the most popular music is pop music. There are many famous pop singers now,
releasing numerous albums every year, and they are always trendy for a period of time.
1. Are you very interested in the news?
2. Why do you want to know the latest news?
3. How important is it to you to get the news every day?
4. What sort of news are you most interested in?
5. How do you usually find this news?
6. Do you prefer to read newspapers or watch TV to get your news?
7. Do you ever get your news from the internet?
8. Do you (often/ever) read newspapers?
9. What sections of the newspaper do you usually read?
10. Do you think newspapers are important?
11. Besides newspapers, what are some other ways people get news?
12. How important do you think the news is?
13. Which do you think is more important, domestic news or international news?
14. Would you say the news affects your life very much?
15. Are old people and young people interested in the same news? (Why?/Why not?)
Yes, Im really fond of getting news from various sources because I just want to make myself better informed about
the world.
Its very important for me to know what happened in the domestic and international events.
Im more interested in foreign cultures. I like to learn about their religions, customs, and the foods they eat.
Occasionally, foreign news interests me, too. I really like reading scientific related news.
Normally I read news from TV news programmes, which are very convenient and updated; but if Im too busy to
watch TV, Ill read news from the Internet in my mobile phone.
Well, if I have free time at home, Id like to watch the news and editorials in the TV with my family; whereas you
know, it takes time for the newspaper to publish so the news are always not so updated.
Yes, its very convenient for me to get news from internet such as mobile phone. The news apps usually send me the
most urgent notifications to me so it keeps me posted.
Not very often. Newspaper always take time to get published so that they are not so updated. Besides, I have to go to
the kiosks and spend money to buy newspapers. Its quite troublesome.
I always read news in the politics section because Im interested in political events happened in the domestic and
abroad.

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Yes, newspapers are very important in current society because they are still the most important medium for
understanding the world. They deliver the most urgent and valuable news to the audience so that readers can know
what happens in the current world.
Well, besides newspapers, people can get news by many other sources, such as TV programmes, radio, and Internet,
which can all cater for the different kinds of people.
I believe news is very critically important because without regular access to news, most people would be unaware of
the various events taking place, both locally and around the world, that have an impact on their lives.
I believe that domestic news is more important than international ones because its closer to home, and affects me
more.
News very much effects my life. If the news is bad, for example, which much of it is at present, considering the
economic downturn etc., then I start to feel depressed about losing my job and how Im going to pay the bills.
No, I guess old people are interested in different kinds of news from young people, such as political news, etc,
because they have a greater interest in protecting their benefit programmes, from medicare to social security;
whereas young person might be interested in the latest teen fashion, sports events.
1. Do you often read newspapers?
2. Which do you prefer reading, magazines or newspapers?
3. What kinds of newspapers (or magazines) do you usually read?
4. How old were you when you first started to read newspapers?
5. Do you think its important to read newspapers? (Why?/Why not?)
6. Why do you think people read newspapers?
7. What different types of newspapers are there in China?
8. Do you care about the news?
9. Is the news important to you?
10. What kinds of news do Chinese people read in newspapers?
11. Do you prefer to read about domestic (or local) news or international news? (Why?)
12. What are some methods that newspapers use to attract readers?
13. What influence do you think newspapers have on society?
14. Do you think the internet is a good way to get news?
Not very often. Newspaper always take time to get published so that they are not so updated. Besides, I have to go to
the kiosks and spend money to buy newspapers. Its quite troublesome.
Well, if I were to choose between the two, Ill probably go for reading magazines in my spare time because they are
well printed and always have in-depth reporting on some particular events; whereas, you know, newspapers always
report the same news as the Internet, so they now seem to be not so indispensable.
Im more interested in newspapers about foreign cultures. I like to learn about their religions, customs, and the foods
they eat. Occasionally, foreign news interests me, too. I really like reading scientific related news.
I got the habit of reading newspapers when I was in high school, 18 years old maybe. The library in my school had
several kinds of newspapers and magazines so that as long as I had free time, Id like to go to read some news about
the latest political events, sports and fashion news.

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Yes, I feel that its very important for me and other people to know what happened in the domestic and international
events.
Its kind of hard to say but people that I know around me tend to read the political news because they are interested
in what happens in the domestic country and abroad, but maybe for others, they just care more about the sports and
fashion events.
Well, if I were to choose between the two, Ill probably go with reading domestic news because they are closer to
home, and affects me more; whereas, you know, international news sometimes have nothing to do with my daily
life, so I just read the headlines.
Well, I feel that newspaper agents always try to use the bold headings, attractive advertisements, and insights in the
article to get the readers attention.
Well, I guess that newspapers have a great influence on society. Newspapers keep them informed about economy,
political activities, science, and education. Besides, it gives a true and correct picture of the society, country.
Moreover, they also help us to educate people about their rights and duties.
Yes, getting news from internet is a regular source now because its very convenient for me to get news from
internet such as mobile phone. The news apps in my mobile phone usually send me the most urgent notifications to
me so it keeps me posted.
1. Do you like to take photographs? (Why?)
2. Do you prefer to take photos yourself or to have other people take photos? (Why?)
3. How long have you liked taking photographs?
4. How (Why) did you become interested in photography?
5. How often do you take photographs?
6. In what situations do you take photographs?
7. What kind of photos do you like to take?
8. Do you prefer to take pictures of people or of scenery?
9. Who do you take photos of?
10. How do you keep your photos?
11. Do you keep your photographs on your computer?
12. Are there any photos on the walls of your home?
13. Do you frame (of have you framed) any of your photos? (If yes, which?&why?)
14. Do you prefer to send postcards to people or to send photos that you took yourself? (Why?)
Yes, I am a big fan of photography in my spare time. I always travel around to the stunning natural scenery with my
camera. I have been in the habit of it for almost 8 years. The main factor is that I can capture the precious moment in
my life, such as the graduation ceremony, or the sweet moment with my girlfriend, and also I believe the
photography will cultivate my mental development.
If I were to choose between the two, Ill probably go with taking photos of others because I feel that different people
have different characteristic, so the photos will be distinguishing. Whereas, I barely take a selfie because it will
make me embarrassed.

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Normally, Ill probably go with the scenery to take photos because I really enjoy the marvelous natural scenery such
as the seashore, sunset and twilight, but if I take my son travelling around, Ill take photos of him to capture his
happiness.
I store my photos both in my computer disk and Internet for backup. And besides I have a photography website
running for 4 years, keeping all my premium photos there.
Yes, I used to print some photos of my kid to hang them in his room, which can help us memorize the warm moment
we had together.
Well, if I were to choose between the two, Ill probably go with my own photos because they are unique and seeing
a lot of comments from friends is really a pleasant thing. Whereas postcards are not as meaningful as photos taken
by myself.
1. Do you like reading books? Why or why not?
2. What (kinds of) books do you like to read?
3. Did you read much when you were a child?
4. What (kinds of) books did you like reading when you were a child?
5. Do (young) children like reading books?
6. For children, what do you think are the benefits of reading?
7. What do you think are the benefits of reading to children?
Yes, Im really into reading because I believe that reading can be both entertaining and educational. Reading
broadens my knowledge by opening up the whole world to me. While Im reading, I can be visiting another country
or a different time period, or traveling through space. I can find out how people solve problems or think up new
ideas.
Oh, its a tough question, or it should be more of what books I dont read. I have a really open mind to books and
what genre they are. Classic literature, novel, autobiography, historical storywhatever.
Yes, I remember when I was a kid, Id like to take some historical books from my fathers bookshelf, and read the
historical stories, which were really entertaining and educational to me. As a result, Im very familiar with our
Chinese ancient history.
Its kind of hard to say but young children that I know around me tend to read fairy tales to cultivate their mental
development, but maybe for others, they just want to watch TV and play toys.
I believe if you want your children to be smart, they have to acquire a love for reading, which has numerous
benefits. Reading opens the door to childs early academic success, imparts a love of learning and leads to higher
grades in every subject. Besides, reading can help children Improve linguistic skills in the form of a richer
vocabulary, correct grammar, and more articulate oral communication. On top of that, books teach child about
relationships, situations, personalities, and what is good and what is bad in the world he lives in.
1. Do you like to watch the sky?
2. What is the sky like at night in your hometown?
3. Do you like to watch stars?
4. Have you ever taken a course about stars?

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5. Is it important to study stars?

6. Whats your favorite star?
Yes, I am really into watching the sky especially at night to count the countless stars when I was a kid. I remember I
sometimes laid down in the grass for hours to watch the shining stars when in summer because I was fond of
imaging the folk stories about the stars.
Well, as my hometown is a tourism city and there is no any industrial pollution, the sky is always clean and clear,
and I can see the stunning night sky with countless and glittering stars and sometimes even the galaxy. But
unfortunately in a metropolis like Beijing light pollution makes the night sky invisible.
No, I have never been in any sorts of courses about stars because actually there was no such courses in the schools
or university. But fortunately my grandmother once sent me an encyclopedia about nature in which there were loads
of stories about stars, I got the most of the knowledge about stars from it.
Yes, I believe that astronomy has always had a significant impact on our world view as it can help open our eyes,
give context to our place in the cosmos and that can definitely reshape how we see the world.
My favorite star constellation is Orion. Its very easy to spot on winter nights. Firstly, it has a huge red giant star,
which may explode any time soon. Besides, it has a massive blue star which is very young. On top of that it also has
a big nebula where new stars are being born so it has everything!
1. How many hours do you sleep every day?
2. Is it necessary to take a nap every day?
3. Do old people sleep a lot? Why?
4. How to have a good sleep?
5. Do you like to get up early in the morning?
6. Can you sleep well if you are in a noisy environment?
Usually I sleep for seven to eight hours every day in order to let my body relax. But if I want to do something very
important at night, I could only sleep for less than four hours.
Yes, I believe that after having lunch at noon, its beneficial for body to take a nap, half of hour would be enough, to
brace for the tasks in the afternoon.
Yes, I guess the elderly people do need to sleep more. I believe the reason is that after years of working, stress and
the natural process breaks down peoples body until all they want to do is sleep, consequently, their bodies take
longer to recharge the batteries.
I believe you have to follow several rules to get a good sleep regularly. Firstly, go to bed at the same time every
night. Choose a time when you normally feel tired, so that you dont toss and turn. Besides, make sure your bed is
comfortable so that you can stretch and turn in bed comfortably. As well as that, stay away from big meals at night
or try to make dinnertime earlier in the evening, and avoid heavy, rich foods before bed.
Yes, getting up early in the morning is really beneficial for health, because I can enjoy the fresh air in the morning;
besides, I have plenty of time in the morning so that I can do some physical exercises liking running and jogging; as
well as that, I can prepare a good dinner for the family.

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Well, Im afraid I cant fall asleep in the noisy place like barking dogs, loud neighbors and city traffic because I used
to sleep quietly from childhood. So sometimes I envy someone who grows accustomed to environmental noise and
can sleep well in whatever place.
1. What kinds of snacks do you like to eat?
2. Is it healthy to eat snacks?
3. Do your parents allow you to eat snacks?
4. What was the most popular snack when you were young?
5. What kinds of snacks do children in your country like to eat nowadays?
Well, as for me, I like eating the hard-boiled eggs the most because they are very easy to cook and I wont feel
hungry in the office after eating them at break.
I believe that if youre really hungry, its perfectly fine to have some snacks but if people just eat junk food between
meals, then its really unhealthy.
Yes, actually most of the snacks in my house are bought by my parents, because they wish me to eat them if Im
hungry between meals.
When I was a boy, I felt that the salty snacks with scallion were very popular among the children because I thought
that we ate too much candy so our parents didnt intend to give us any other sweet food.
Well, nowadays, I feel that children like to eat lots of almonds because they have special flavor and the parents
believe almonds are a great source of protein and healthy fat that is satisfying.
1. Do you like to watch sports on TV?
2. Do you play any sports?
3. Do you have a favorite sports star?
4. Whats the most popular sports in China?
5. What kind of sports would you like to try in the future?
6. Have you ever tried any dangerous sports?
Yes, Im really into watching sports on TV because it entertains me a lot. Besides, I like seeing other people do the
things that I cant do and wish I could do.
Yes, I sometimes play football with my friends in the garden during the weekends morning to get some exercises.
I feel that my favorite sports star is Messi who is a forward in Barcelona. He is the perfect blend of speed, strength,
skill and toughness. He is also an icon in the modern football.
I guess the most popular spectator sport in China is basketball. Basketball is also played by many young people,
mainly boys, for basketball courts are easy to find and it doesnt require specific facility or expensive equipment
other than a basket and a ball.
Well, I guess what Ill try in the future is the tennis because it can help me build my strength and improve my
flexibility and balance. Besides, tennis is social, its a sport I can enjoy with friends if I play regularly.

15

Oh, no, though my life is quite a bit boring, Im too scared to do any extreme sports because I dont think I have
enough guts to put myself in the difficult situations.
1. Do you have a favorite teacher?
2. Why do you like the teacher?
3. How does (did) this teacher help you?
4. Do you think you could be a teacher?
5. Would you like to be a teacher?
My favorite teacher was my physics teacher whose name was Mr. Zhang in my middle school. He was the most
influential teacher I had ever had. He told us a lot of physical background knowledge to encourage and motivate us
because physics was quite complicated for us. I still remembered that he frequently gave us articulate speeches that
the physics was the gymnastics for the brain, which inspired my enthusiasm to learn it well.
I dont think I am suitable to be a teacher. I am not a patient man and cannot bear to repeat the same things
frequently. Teachers job is really boring to me, you have to make your explanations as easy as possible for students
to fully understand. It is a challenging job, I am afraid I cannot do it.
1. Do you text someone if he doesnt answer your phone?
2. Is there any chance when texting someone is better than calling him?
3. Have you ever had difficulty replying?
4. How often do you send text messages?
Yes, when my friends cant answer my phone, I will text him to let him know and wait for his reply.
I believe when the person answering the phone is having a conference or in a cinema, its better to text him instead
of having a telephone call.
Yes, I remember when I have to refuse some requests of friends, I have to think carefully about how to reply for a
long time.
I almost send text messages on a daily basis. I always text my friends and family to greet, chat and make a travelling
plan.
1. How often do you use your mobile phone?
2. Can you describe your mobile phone?
3. What was your first mobile phone?
4. Would you buy a new one in the future?
5. How has your mobile phone changed your life?
Well, obviously I use my mobile phone on a daily basis. I always use it to get in touch with my family and friends,
besides; I play games in my mobile phone when I have nothing to do at home in the day time.
Currently Im using iPhone 4s. Though it was quite expensive, it came with lots of exciting features and apps. The
screen response is perfect and the thumb print works 100% of the time and is really convenient to get into the phone.
Besides, the camera is awesome too, and does not have the delay so I can always capture the stunning moment.

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My first mobile phone was the Nokia bar phone in 2004. It was quite expensive then because I was a university
student and didnt have much money. I got a part-time job to earn the money and bought it in a shopping mall.
Fortunately the mobile phone turned out to be well worth what I had done then.
Yes, my 4s is relatively outdated, so I just want to update to the latest iPhone 6 in the near future. It has a larger
screen so I believe it would be much more comfortable to read news or type text messages to my friends on it.
Oh, the mobile phone definitely has changed my life dramatically. Probably the most interesting change is that the
mobile phone has freed me from the constraints of space. For example, it is no longer necessary to meet my friends
to apologize if Im late to a meeting. I just make a telephone call. I think my life is fully mobile.
1. Are you good at organizing time?
2. How do you usually organize time?
3. Do you think planning is important for time management?
4. Why do you think some people pay to learn time management?
5. Do you think children should learn to manage time?
6. Why do some people find it hard to follow their plans?
7. How would you teach your children time management?
8. Do old people and young people manage time in a similar way?
No, Im not good at organizing time. Though I know that taking the time to organize makes my work and study
more effective, I always find that the only thing that drives me is deadline.
Well, normally Ill list the tasks in hand in the morning, and do them in a row in the daytime; but if there is
something really emergency, Ill put priority on it.
Yes, I feel that planning is the start point of time management. Once you have plan what to do and when in the first
place and then stick to it, then you will have time to do them and achieve your goal.
Well, I guess thats probably because time management is a systematic course that contains several skills and
techniques so that you need a teacher to understand them closely and follow them in your own practices.
Yes, I believe that time management is a life-long job and the younger you learn it, the more benefits you will get. It
helps children to prioritize, plan and pace their tasks and is a communication tool between home and school.
Well, the reason why difficult to follow plans is probably people are distracted with their surroundings. If you
notice, most people set all these plans and goals usually at night, before sleep, or when all is quiet. Then a lot of
people end up getting distracted and veer off course during the day.
I believe there are several steps to help children time management. Firstly, I should be a role model. Unorganized,
chaotic parents usually have unorganized, chaotic children. Therefore, I should demonstrate with my behavior, how
a child can be a successful time manager. Besides, help them make a hierarchy of priorities they can use as a master
checklist to make better time management decisions. For example: prioritize the following values: family, school,
personal development, community and friends. Finally, provide children with the necessary tools they need to
succeed. Alarm clocks, wrist watches and personal calendars, for example, can help them focus on necessary
activities.

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Well, between the two, old people would like to put more time on leisure activities as they are retired from working
position, and have plenty of time to do what they like at ease. For example, they will probably spend more time in
the nearby garden, or travel around. On the contrary, young people will definitely put priority on work, therefore,
their time management would be more work-oriented, and other things, like family time and social activities would
sometimes give way to work.
1. Whats the most popular means of transportation in your hometown?
2. How often do you take buses?
3. Can you compare the advantages of planes and trains?
4. Is driving to work popular in your country?
5. Do you think people will drive more in the future?
6. Would you ride bikes to work in the future?
7. What will become the most popular means of transportation in China?
8. Do you prefer public transportation or private transportation?
Well, I guess people in my hometown always ride bike to go work or somewhere else because my hometown is a
small town and its very convenient to go out by bike.
I barely go out by bus because I have my own car now, so I always go somewhere by car.
Well, between the two, travelling by planes is relatively very fast, for example, it just takes three hours for me to go
between Beijing and Shanghai which covers distance of 1500 kilometers; on the contrary, travelling by trains is an
increasingly cost-effective alternative to planes, particularly if Im going a relatively short distance.
Yes, people that I know around me tend to go to work by car because its very convenient to drive, but I believe that
maybe for others, they just take buses to office because its cheap and always on time.
Yes, I believe that as people earn more money and lead a better life, they will tend to buy cars for their families, and
apparently drive cars to offices.
Oh no, its impossible to ride bike to work because you know, Beijing is a big city, I always drive about 20
kilometers to office, so Ill be late if I ride bike.
I believe private transportation will be the most popular means of transportation in my country because as people get
richer in the following years, people will tend to buy cars for their families and business for various purposes, and
obviously China has already become the biggest vehicles market in the world.
Well, if I were to choose between the two, Ill probably go to work by my own car because apparently its much
more comfortable than in the crowned bus or subway.
1. Do you like trees?
2. Are there any important trees in your country?
3. Is there a forest near your hometown?
4. Would you like to live in a place that has a lot of trees?
5. Where can one find trees (or forests) in your country?
6. Do you think places with trees attract more visitors than places with few trees?
7. Did you ever climb trees when you were a child?
8. Have you ever planted a tree?

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9. Do you think more people should plant trees?

10. Do you think we should plant more trees?
11. Do you think trees are important?
12. What would you say are the benefits of having trees?
13. Do you think we need to protect trees?
Yes, I am a tree lover because trees let me breath better, without them I couldnt survive any longer.
There are many important trees in my country. The use of bamboo, for example, can be ranged from furniture
making to building construction. Besides, the weeping willow trees symbolize the new hope in ancient China,
therefore, there are many poem complimenting them.
Yes. Its just the world-renowned Huangshan Mountain with various kinds of trees living there, the most famous one
are pine trees.
Yes, Im really into getting close to nature cos I believe its the most healthy and natural way of living. Although its
unreasonable to have such lifestyle in Beijing now, I still hold that dream in my life.
I guess trees can be easily seen in my country. If you are in cities, there are always many sycamore trees along the
streets; or if you are in the suburb areas, you will see forests in various sizes.
Well, yes. Obviously places with lots of trees are more shady, cooler, more humid and much less windy, therefore,
people will feel more comfortable and more likely to get close to nature.
Yes, of course. There are many trees in my community when I was a kid, I always climbed trees to get higher or to
seek the birds eggs.
Yes, once. I remembered when my middle school once organized hiking in a mountainous area, we planted several
saplings in the forest, and I guess they have grown up into big trees already.
Yes, I believe more trees should be planted both in and outside the cities because they can absorb the pollutant gases
and provide enough oxygen; besides, tree can save water and prevent soil erosion. Therefore, trees are critically
important to keep our eco-system balanced. We are supposed to not only plant more trees, but protect the existing
ones.
1. Whats your favorite vegetable and fruit?
2. How often do you eat fruits?
3. Are there any special fruits in your hometown?
4. Should we eat vegetables every day?
My top three are broccoli, celery and grape because all of them are both nutritious and delicious. Also, I want to give
mushrooms an honorable mention as they are one of my favorite things to cook with, although they are a fungus.
I think I eat fruits at home on a daily basis. I always buy a lots of different fruits in the shopping mall in the
weekends for my whole family.
Oh yes, there are loquat trees everywhere in my hometown. Loquat is very sweet and has lots of nutrition and can
become medicine.

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Yes, we do. We really need to eat vegetables everyday because you simply cannot find another food group that is as
perfectly matched to our everyday human needs as vegetables. There are various protein, fiber and vitamin that
cannot be found in other food like meat.
1. How do you usually spend your weekends?
2. In your country, do men and women usually do the same kind of things on weekends?
3. When do you spend time with your family?
4. What do you usually do on weekends?
5. What did you do last weekend?
6. What do other people in your hometown usually do on weekends?
7. What are you going to do next weekend?
8. Is there anything new that youd like to do on weekends?
9. Do you like working on weekends?
10. Do you think employees should have to work on weekends?
11. Do you feel that weekends now are more important to you than when you were a child?
Normally Ill go out to some stunning natural sceneries to let off steam with my family or friends on weekends; but
if its not sunny, Ill stay at home for the whole weekend. Mostly I just use the internet to kill time.
I guess some men play sports while women may just do housework. So men may probably do things to their own
interest, by contrast, women spend more time for their families.
I always spends the whole weekends with my family. I barely work on weekends.
Last weekend, I took my son to the Beijing Botanic Garden to go around to see the various plants. Besides we went
into the greenhouse exhibition of plants which is very remarkable.
Well, there are so many people in my hometown, its really hard to say, probably most people tend to stay at home to
enjoy the family time, but personally speaking, I guess there are not much entertaining facilities in my small
hometown for people to go.
Next week, I plan to go to do some shopping because as the Spring Festival is just around the corner, I need to go to
some super markets to prepare some food and other groceries; besides, I have to buy some new clothes for my
family for the coming new year, its an old Chinese tradition.
Yes, actually Ive been thinking about going to the gym on Saturdays. I have to do some exercise, Im so out of
shape now!
Absolutely no! Thats crazy. I have to relax no matter what. Weekends are not for work!!!
If I were an employee, I would think this is a horrible idea. Employees are human, we all deserve to have some offwork time.
Yes, the main factor is that after five-day of hard work, I really need some leisure time to let off steam, or travel
around to experience the stunning natural scenery. Whereas, when I was a kid, I had plenty of time to play, every
day was almost the same.

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1. Do you like to collect anything?

2. How much time do you spend on your collection?
3. Would you keep your collection in the future?
4. Why do people keep old things?
5. What kinds of things do Chinese people like to collect?
Im really into collecting toy cars, especially when I was a kid. You know at that time, although my parents didnt
get much money to buy me toy cars, I still got a number of them in my bedroom.
Actually I always play these toy cars with my son on a daily basis. As he is a big fan of cars, so I often squeeze some
time out of my busy day to play with him.
Yes, definitely. That is because now I collect various kinds of toy cars for my son, which has already been one of his
hobbies. I really intend to buy new ones for him to enrich his collections.
I guess the reason why people to collect varies, you know some people collect the antiques might be because they
think all these things will be more valuable in the future. While others on the other hand, collect just because they
like the old-fashioned stuff and want to keep them together.
Its kind of hard to say but people I know around me tend to keep books or photographs because it can help cultivate
their mental development, but maybe for others, they probably tend to collect some ancient furniture or jewelry
because they believe the return of these investments is expected to be enormous.