Aiming at promoting world peace and enhance the friendship among people of the world, the Modern Olympic Games have a history of over 100 years. There are the Winter and Summer Olympic Games. They are held every four years. Last Summer Olympics was held in Athens in 2004, and in 2008, the Summer Olympics will be held in Beijing! 32. On hobbies and interests
From Monday until Friday most people are busy working or studying, but in the evenings and off weekends they are free to relax and enjoy themselves. Some watch television or go to the movies; others participate in sports. It depends on individual interests. There are many different ways to spend our spare time.
Almost everyone has some kind of hobby. It may be anything from collecting stamps to making model airplanes. Some hobbies are worth a lot of money; others are valuable only to their owners.
That?s what a hobby means, I guess. It is something we like to do in our spare time simply for the fun of it. The value in money is not important, but the pleasure it gives us is. 33. How do you think of living in the city?
I think the distinctive feature of city life is convenience. First, there are many public places of entertainment, such as parks, cinemas, exhibitions, nightclubs and so on. And there are also quite a number of schools, universities and scientific research institutions which provide good education. Taxis, buses, trolley buses, subways, ferries can quickly take people anyplace in the city. And third, shops and department stores are well stocked with goods of all kinds high in quality and low in price. Anywhere living in the city you will never feel bored and empty. However a coin has two sides. The main problems in the city are over-population, traffic jams, pollution, aging problem and indifferent relationship between neighbors. 34. How do you think of living in the country?
I like the rural scenery in the country. First, it is close to outdoors, the air being fresh and pure. Second, it is free from the noise and air pollution and traffic jam of the city. Third gardening and fishing here are pleasant pastimes. Your day begins with the first cockcrow and ends with the red sunset. Life in the country is quiet and comfortable.
35. What kinds of public transportation facilities can you use in the city? And What should the local government and each member of society do to solve the problem caused by too many traffic jams in the city?
There are lots kinds of public transportation facilities in the city, like taxi, bus, trolley bus, subway, even ferry in some cities.
Well, I think there are five ways for us to solve the traffic jams in the city. First, we should enlarge the main roads and build more overpasses. Second, the government should issue strict traffic regulations and try best to popularize the regulations. Third, persuade people observe traffic regulations and not to cross the street when the red light is on. Forth, enhance the quality of public transportation facilities and encourage citizens to make full of them instead of private cars when they go out. Fifth, give training to drivers and strictly controlling the situation of driving without license.
36. Which is more reliable as a source of information, newspaper, TV, radio or the Internet? Why?
I still think, the traditional media is more reliable, though the Internet, or the modern media has the advantage of high speed, large volume, and easy access. Anyone with good computer skills can use the media to give the information in their favor or they believe to be true.
Well, I believe the Internet is more reliable, because there are very strict restrictions or censorship on the traditional media, so you get good news most of the time and not enough objective reports of what is going on. 37. Piracy is a serious problem in China, especially in the field of publication. What’s your opinion?
Well, it is true that piracy is very serious now. Books are printed before they are officially published and film copies are sold before they are officially released, thus, causing heavy loss for the publisher and the national revenue. Moreover, it's a serious violation of the property law in China. The Chinese government has done a lot of work to crack down piracy, for example, education, stiffer sentencing, precautions, etc. but many people simply ignore all these and have a go due to the huge profit. On the other hand, there's a group of people who like to get pirate copies with cheap price. I think the government should also punish those people who like to get fake copies. Meanwhile DVD or VCD player producers should produce those sets incompatible with fake copies.
38. Can you name some advantages and disadvantages of print media versus aural media?
The print media, or newspapers and magazines, are readily available at a relatively low cost. You can read them whenever you like by whatever methods you prefer. You can save them for a more careful reading later. And you can share them with other people. The print media have some disadvantages, too. For example, there is a cost you have to pay even though it is considered to be low. Compared to the radio, newspapers and magazines are usually a little late in reporting the latest news. When you read a newspaper or magazine, you may only do one thing at a time, that is, reading. That is not efficient enough for the fast-paced modern life. Speaking of the aural media, the information and entertainment provided by the radio are free except for the cost you pay for the radio receiver itself. In addition, there are many other good things about the radio. You can carry it easily and use it wherever you are. You can do other things at the same time while you listen to the radio. You can interact (交流) with the host or other audience on certain shows. And you get faster news reports from the radio than from the newspapers. The only disadvantage of the radio I can think of is that it is not very convenient to save the information it provides and hard to repeat it. 39. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet?
The Internet, as a useful tool, has a long list of advantages. To name a few, it provides information on a very wide range of subjects; it offers entertainment of different kinds -- from games to music to movies; it enables people to communicate with one another conveniently and efficiently; and it serves as a new channel for business -- from advertising, shopping to banking and investing. Teachers and students may also benefit from the Internet as a medium for education, which makes knowledge available to people throughout the world.
Like everything else, the Internet also has some disadvantages. One bad thing is that it's so convenient and attractive that it tends to consume too much of the users' time as they keep doing one thing after another on the Internet. This may keep young students away from their schoolwork and other activities, and hinder them from learning proper social skills.
40. Do you believe in the saying “Clothes make the man”? Why or why not?
--- Yes, I do. There is some truth in the saying. Clothes can create an image for the person who wears them. They send a message about a person?s taste, values, personality, status, and so on. On a more practical level, clothes may also help make a person look better and feel better.
--- No, I don?t. The function of clothes is to cover the human body and keep the body warm, nothing more. I find those people snobbish or stupid who judge others only by the clothes they wear.
41. How do you think of the traffic in the city you live? How to deal with the traffic jams in the city?
I don?t think the traffic condition is bad in Haikou expect when it is during the rush hour. Most of roads that are large enough and relatively fewer vehicles than those in other large cities offer citizens a much comfortable traffic condition. But when it rains, all is in mess. For the road will be full of water and serious traffic jams even traffic accidents will be caused.
As for the traffic jams in the city, there are fours ways to deal with them. First, more highways are in need of building. Second, strict traffic regulations are in need of issuing. Third, more training are given to drivers. Forth, we need to persuade people to observe traffic regulations and not to cross the street when the red light is on. If the four ways can work well, I?m sure the traffic jams in the city can be solved effectively. 42. On invention
The 20th century was an age of great inventions and discoveries, which revolutionized human life. The invention and popularization of the computer dramatically changed almost every aspect of people?s life and work. The invention of television and other appliances., such the VCD, DVD, hi-fi, Walkman, MP3 and MP4, offers human beings more and better visual and audio enjoyments. There is no denying that we live much better than before. However, a double-edged sword of good and evil has hung over human technology for the beginning. We are more and more aware that some scientific or technological advances, though useful, may have unpleasant side effects. The small machine, the Walkman, is no exception. It is, on the one hand, a handy personal stereo that can accompany us wherever we go, but on the other, it may damage our hearing and even
bring risks to our lives if used inappropriately.
43. Say something about the golden weeks in China
The GW (Golden Week) once became a peak consuming week and brought “gold” to many tourist destinations. However, GW has been steadily losing its glitter for more and more Chinese people, since it was first introduced on National Day 1999. Even for business, GW does not ensure long-term commercial prosperity, as \ often results in a consumption slump afterward.
Though the number of travelers during the period has increased, little room for further growth remains. In fact, not everyone affords vacation traveling. While the positive effects of GW have begun to fade, its negative side manifests itself in recent years. Trains, airports and sightseeing spots get overcrowded, and accommodation in tourist areas are booked out well in advance. There are too many people almost everywhere. Even in the toilet, people have to wait in a long queue. Moreover, the sudden rush of visitors swarming into scenic spots at the same time causes damage and environmental stress. All these resulted in people's disfavor with the current GW. More and more people are tired of the crush of crowds on public transportation and at popular tourism spots, and they prefer a short visit to a nearby park, a temple fair, and a special show or watching exciting sports events as good alternatives.
Some people refuse to be tired and poor after GW. They would rather turn GW into a Copper Week, killing lots of free time by doing whatever they like. Even staying at home, people can enjoy GW in quite different ways, being extremely idle and relaxing or exceptionally busy. Some may desire a Sleeping Week to get much needed sleep, when others work hard for those things being put off, read many books, play mahjong, surf the Internet and watch TV till late night. Surely it is not bad if you can get a little “gold” back through overtime work in the first three days of GW (public holidays) that are well paid (three times standard rate). Remember, family reunion shines GW best of all!
44. How do you arrange your holidays?
During the holidays, I like doing things that would get me closer to the nature such as climbing mountains, camping, and so on. But I don?t like places crowded with people. I also prefer going abroad for my holidays because I can see a lot of interesting things which are different from ours. And if I am lucky enough, I can make some foreign friends on the trip and improve my English, too.
If I have longer holidays, say, the National Day or the Labor?s Day holidays, I usually spend the first few days going out with friends/ classmates for some fun/ a picnic/ traveling/ going to the seaside and enjoy the beautiful scenery. And then I would spend the last two or few days staying at home/ in the dorm sleeping/ reading some books to bring me back from the holiday and get ready for my study/ work. 45. Which festival do you like best? Why?
I like the Spring Festival most among various traditional festivals in China as it is the biggest and most exciting festival for Chinese. I like the Spring Festival also because I can eat a lot of delicious food and do a lot of interesting thing. For me, setting off fireworks at night is the most enjoyable thing during the festival. The whole sky would be filled with wonderful colors. But I don?t enjoy visiting relatives with my parents, for it?s so tiring and boring.
The Spring Festival is the most important festival for the Chinese people and is when all family members get together, just like Christmas in the West. All people living away from home go back, becoming the busiest time for transportation systems of about half a month from the Spring Festival. Airports, railway stations and long-distance bus stations are crowded with home returnees.
People attach great importance to Spring Festival Eve. At that time, all family members eat dinner together. The meal is more luxurious than usual. Dishes such as chicken, fish and bean curd cannot be excluded, for in Chinese, they mean auspiciousness, abundance and richness. After the dinner, the whole family will sit together, chatting and watching TV. In recent years, the Spring Festival party broadcast on China Central Television Station (CCTV) is essential entertainment for the Chinese both at home and abroad. And each family will stay
up to see the New Year in.
46. Are customs and old rituals of traditional Chinese festivals well reserved?
Well, I think Current customs to observe traditional Chinese festivals get more and more simplified and the old rituals are gradually gone. For some people, festivals only mean the symbolic foods, such as wrapped glutinous rice for the Dragon Boat Festival or moon cake for the Mid-Autumn Festival. The growing popularity of Western holidays in China might be one reason for the weakening cultural elements in China's traditional holidays. Another important reason I think is that many festivals, considered important days on China's lunar calendar, such as Lunar New Year's Eve and Mid-Autumn Day, are not public holidays, and relevant folk customs are not well observed, especially in cities, as people have to work. 47. How do you look at the popularity of some western festivals in China?
A: In recent years, western holidays are welcomed by most of the Chinese people. I think this kind of popularity has many advantages. First, through celebrates the western holiday, we may better promote the western culture exchange. We can also learn some western cultures. For example on Thanksgiving, people celebrate the harvest by preparing a large meal. And this helps us to know westerners better. B: I think the popularity of the western festivals in China isn't suitable. Western and Eastern has different culture, and different culture created one?s own festival. They came together and know each other really and closely only in modern times. Now, more and more Chinese young people talk about western and accept their festivals, this may say possibly they will forget where they are and what nationalities they are. foreign festivals are popular mainly among the younger generation while the seniors show little interests to them. As I have previously stated, the young people today are growing in the atmosphere of well acceptance of foreign cultures and increasing tolerance toward foreign festivals. They enjoy happily sending greeting cards at Christmas, DIY chocolate to their beloved ones on valentine?s day, make jokes on April fool?s day and hug their parents on Mother?s day and Father?s day. To them, foreign festivals enrich their lives, giving them more occasions to have fun and appreciate love.
While, on the other hand, the older generation show quiet indifferent attitudes toward foreign festivals. They still prefer traditional Chinese festivals, during which the gathering of family is still greatly emphasized. They regard the young people?s craze about Christmas and Valentine?s Day as deceived by business? tricks. The money spent on gifts and flowers are, in their eyes, nothing but waste. 48. Will Christmas Replace the Spring Festival?
Christmas arouses increasing attention year by year in China. Christmas cards become popular with students. People hold Christmas parties and exchange Christmas gifts. A lot or TV and radio programs about Christmas are on. Meanwhile the Spring Festival is less appealing to youngsters. Thus some people wonder whether Christmas will replace the Spring Festival.
This worry is fairly unnecessary. Why? One reason lies that Christmas only affects Christians, college students and joint-venture (workers. Another reason is that Christmas is mostly celebrated in cities. Few people in countryside show extreme interest in this exotic festival. By contrast, the Spring Festival is the most influential traditional festival in every family.
I think, it is natural that with increasing exchanges with the West, a lot of Western holidays have been gradually introduced into China. For us Chinese we should never neglect or even discard our own traditional festivals. For centuries Chinese have observed this traditional holiday to welcome the beginning of a new year. And we will treasure the Spring Festival forever. 49. Can you tell me about Chinese food? Yes, but it's a difficult question. You see, there is no such simple thing as so-called \Chinese food\a territory as large and a history as long and complex as China's, it is inevitable that distinct regional differences in cuisine have evolved over the centuries. China's long history, vast territory and extensive contact with other nations and cultures have given birth to the distinctive Chinese culinary art. As you know, the nearly endless
variety of natural ingredients and methods of preparation employed in Chinese cuisine stand out unequaled in the world. I suppose that may very well account for the universal popularity of Chinese restaurants and Chinese cooking overseas.
It is generally accepted that we have four principal culinary regions: Shandong, Sichuan, Canton and Yangzhou, with Fujian-Taiwan most commonly listed as a fifth. But these designations are not hard and fast geographical boundaries. Well, Beijing food, for instance, falls within the realm of Shangdong cooking, but includes some Sichuan dishes and Mongolian-influenced specialties. The cuisine of the entire densely-populated Yangtze River delta area, including Wuxi, Suzhou, Shanghai and Hangzhou dishes, falls under the category of Yangzhou cuisine.
50. Can you just briefly tell me how you think Chinese food is different from that of other countries?
Well, I 'm afraid I don't know much about how people in other countries cook as I have never been abroad. But as far as the cooking techniques are concerned, Chinese people tend to use stir-fry or quick-fry method while people from other countries like to have their vegetables or meat either steamed or boiled. Another difference is that they use cheese a lot while many Chinese people find it too greasy. Another very obvious difference is that Chinese people like to have their beef well done while people from other countries may like it rare or medium. You can also find some difference in the ingredients people have in China where they eat things like chicken or duck wings, necks, feet, intestines or liver, while other people find them disgusting.
51. Has the diet or eating habit of the Chinese changed in the last 30 or 40 years, or is it still much the same?
Yes, our diet habit has changed a lot like with almost everything else. We go to the Western restaurant or ethnic restaurants to taste some exotic food now and then. As we have more varieties to choose from, many young people often go to the Western fast food places. There is actually a fast food craze in China. Another change we can find is that people have changed the traditional diet habit such as the age long practice of eating a big feast with pork, beef, mutton, fish, etc. during the holidays or festivals. Now they prefer to keep a balanced diet, eating green food free of pollution, pay more attention to nutrition, protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins or the quality of food rather than quantity. They have also changed their way of cooking, from deep-frying to stir-frying or just eat it raw as they know some vitamins can be lost as a result of cooking and yet a regular daily intake of vitamins is necessary. What is worth mentioning is that people nowadays can prepare, at home, those dishes that were once thought to be luxury ones instead of just having simple rice and vegetable dishes as they used to do.
52. Describe the type of food you like best.
I really don't know which type of food I should talk about as I like many different dishes. Now we have many different alternatives to choose from: various ethnic foods, nutritionally-balanced health food, and convenient and delicious fast food, in addition to traditional home-cooked meals. If asked to choose, I think I like Sichuan food better, as you know, the hot and spicy food, very tasty. 53. Do you like the climate of the city where you live? Why or why not?
Yes. I do. It is very pleasant in Hainan all the year round. I can enjoy the sunshine for most of the time. After raining, the air is very clean and fresh. The most important thing is that trees are green all the time. I love green very much for it stands for life and hope. It is fascinating to do some reading or exercises under the coconut palm trees. It is tropical climate so that I can enjoy lots of fruits: mango, banana, pineapple, longan, and lychee. All of these are my favorite fruits.
Though the average temperature here in summer is about 30 degrees Centigrade and it is quite hot under the sun, usually too shiny at noon, it is very breezy under the shade. People try to avoid going outside in the streets during the daytime. They keep staying inside the house and manage to cool themselves off. Therefore, people would like to go shopping or get together for tea or beer after the sunset. And nightlife is quite colorful here in Hainan.
英语口语练习话题精编
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