英语考试Cat | 雅思口语写作加油站 - 节目列表

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Describe a kind of food you eat on a special occasion You should say: • What the occasion is • What the food is • How it is made or where it comes from • Why it is special to you I'd like to talk about a special food that my family always has for the Spring Festival, our most important traditional holiday. This specialty is smoked spicy pork sausages. It's a really well‑known local delicacy from my home province, Sichuan. Making these sausages is quite a process. We use pork that's roughly ninety percent lean and ten percent fat. When I was little, adults would mince the meat by hand, mincing by machine was unheard of. Then we mix into the mince whopping amounts of different spices. Almost everyone from where I come from goes for that classic spicy‑numbing chili flavor. Next, we stuff the seasoned meat into cleaned pork intestines. Subsequently, the sausages are smoked continuously for around half a month. To prepare them for serving, we boil them in water. Once they are cooked through, let cool, and slice-up the sausage fairly thinly., and it's great just by itself or even as an ingredient in any dish that calls for sausage. For me, these smoked sausages are more than just tasty food. Preparing them is a big winter tradition in rural parts of Sichuan. Every household gets busy making sausages ahead of Spring Festival. The air is thick with the aroma of smoked pork, and when I was a child, it was hard not to salivate waiting to eat them around the table. It's one of the most fun childhood memories for me. And even now, I have them at home in the freezer. * local delicacy 当地特色美食 * quite a process 工序相当繁琐 * lean 瘦肉 * mince 剁碎；肉末 * unheard of 闻所未闻 * whopping amounts 大量 * goes for 偏爱 * chili flavor 辣椒风味 * seasoned meat 调味好的肉馅 * pork intestines 猪肠 * subsequently 随后 * To prepare them for serving 准备上桌食用时 * cooked through 煮熟 * let cool 放凉 * slice‑up 切片 * great just by itself 单吃就很美味 * an ingredient 食材 * calls for 需要 * rural parts of 乡村地区 * household 家家户户 * gets busy 忙活起来 * thick with 弥漫着 * aroma 香气 * salivate 流口水 * childhood memories 童年回忆 * freezer 冷冻柜 加拿大Mac老师的一对一雅思课 400 元/小时。包括： * 课前测评 * 线上实时课程 * 配套资料 * 作业批改 * 录播内容 * 全程一对一答疑指导 * 知识星球1年会员（里面有Mac多年来整理的备考资料） 帮助大家少走弯路，更快、更稳拿到目标分数。 往期学生评价。 课程咨询请加微信：EnglishCat996，请备注：雅思课。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Describe a book or film that involves animals. You should say: what the book/film is called what kinds of animals appear in it what the story is about and explain why you like this book or film. I'd like to talk about an animated film that's full of animal characters, and its name is Zootopia. There's a huge variety of creatures featured in this movie, covering both predators and prey. To start with, the two lead roles are Judy, a young rabbit, and her loyal best friend Nick, a witty fox. Her boss at the police station is an ox, and there's plenty of other species throughout the movie: elephants, famously slow sloths, polar bears, and a graceful gazelle, just to name a few. The movie is about Judy, a small-town rabbit whose lifelong dream is to become a police officer in the big city of Zootopia. Back in her town, everyone around her laughs at her dream, since rabbits have never worked as cops before. But she refuses to give up, passes all the tough training, and finally lands a police post. Later, she stumbles upon a mysterious missing-animal case and teams up with the witty fox, Nick, to solve it. Together they uncover a conspiracy that creates conflict between predators and prey, and in the end, they fix the division and bring peace back to Zootopia. The main reason I enjoyed this film is how relatable Judy's journey feels to me. She doesn't come from a privileged background; no one in her family has connections to give her an easy shortcut. Yet she never lets other people's prejudice or self-doubt stop her from pursuing what she dreams to do, and of course, admirably, for doing what she thinks is right. * an animated film 一部动画电影 * a huge variety of 各种各样的 * featured in 在…… 中出现 * predators 肉食动物 * prey 草食动物；猎物 * lead roles 主角 * loyal 忠诚 * witty 机智风趣 * species 物种 * slow sloths 行动迟缓的树懒 * polar bears 北极熊 * graceful gazelle 优雅的瞪羚 * just to name a few 仅举几例 * lifelong dream 毕生的梦想 * cops 警察 * refuses to give up 拒绝放弃 * tough training 严苛的训练 * lands a police post 成功得到警察岗位 * stumbles upon 偶然发现 * missing‑animal case 动物失踪案 * teams up with 与…… 联手合作 * uncover a conspiracy 揭露一场阴谋 * creates conflict between 在…… 之间制造矛盾 * the division 隔阂；分歧 * bring peace back to 为…… 重新带来和平 * relatable 共鸣 * journey 人生经历；历程 * a privileged background 优越的出身 * connections 人脉；关系 * an easy shortcut 捷径 * prejudice 偏见 * self‑doubt 自我怀疑 * pursuing what she dreams to do 追逐自己的梦想 * admirably 令人钦佩 加拿大Mac老师的一对一雅思课 400 元/小时。包括： * 课前测评 * 线上实时课程 * 配套资料 * 作业批改 * 录播内容 * 全程一对一答疑指导 * 知识星球1年会员（里面有Mac多年来整理的备考资料） 帮助大家少走弯路，更快、更稳拿到目标分数。 往期学生评价。 课程咨询请加微信：EnglishCat996，请备注：雅思课。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Describe something you bought that cost more than you expected You should say: • What the item was • When and where you bought it • Why it cost more than you had expected • And explain how you felt about spending that much money and whether you think it was worth it I'd like to talk about a takeaway pizza I bought that ended up costing way more than I'd planned for when I was in the US. First off, the item itself was just a regular to-go pizza. The menu listed the pie at 29 US dollars. But then the restaurant automatically added a mandatory 20 percent tip, which worked out to 5.8 dollars. Altogether, I paid 34.8 dollars for the pizza. It happened when I was in downtown Charleston, and that was back in April this year. I was walking in the city center that morning looking for lunch, so I popped into a local pizzeria. I knew downtown Charleston is a pricey east-coast US city, so I braced myself for slightly higher food prices. Even so, I was caught off guard by just how overpriced it was. The pizza was small for its nearly 30-dollar pricetag. What annoyed me most though, was the compulsory service charge. This was takeaway. Anyway, I placed my order at the cashier, left, and returned half an hour later to bring it to my car. There was no table service, no server checking on me, nothing that justified a 20 percent tip. That surcharge felt like a rip-off. To make matters worse, I’d parked my car in a parking lot a few blocks away while waiting for the food, and parking set me back another 12 dollars on top of everything else. By the time I added up every expense, the whole experience blew my original budget out of the water. I definitely do not think it was worth the total cost. The food tasted fine, but the unnecessary takeaway tipping fee and expensive parking piled up into a ridiculous bill. * a takeaway 外卖 * ended up 到头来 * costing way more 花费远超预期 * automatically added 自动加收 * mandatory 强制 * worked out to 算下来是 * popped into 顺道走进 * pizzeria 披萨店 * pricey 物价高 * braced myself for 做好心理准备 * caught off guard 猝不及防 * overpriced 定价过高 * pricetag 标价 * compulsory service charge 强制性服务费 * placed my order 下单 * at the cashier 在收银台 * justified 合理化 * surcharge 附加收费 * rip‑off 宰客 * To make matters worse 更糟的是 * set me back 使我花费 * on top of everything else 除此之外 * blew my original budget out of the water 彻底超出我原本的预算 * unnecessary 没必要 * tipping fee 小费 * piled up 累积 * ridiculous bill 离谱的账单 加拿大Mac老师的一对一雅思课 400 元/小时。包括： * 课前测评 * 线上实时课程 * 配套资料 * 作业批改 * 录播内容 * 全程一对一答疑指导 * 知识星球1年会员（里面有Mac多年来整理的备考资料） 帮助大家少走弯路，更快、更稳拿到目标分数。 往期学生评价。 课程咨询请加微信：EnglishCat996，请备注：雅思课。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Describe a gift you gave to a friend You should say: When it happened What gift it was Who you gave it to And explain why you chose that gift I'd like to talk about a little gift I bestowed upon my closest friend just last week. It's a tiny ocean-blue car model, sleek and detailed, and I picked that specific shade of blue for a really meaningful reason. I gave this present to my best friend, who has just finished his master's degree and is officially graduating this month. Blue's always been his favorite color, so choosing this colour was a no-brainer when I was shopping for something to celebrate his big milestone. The main reason I settled on a miniature car stems from all the good times we've had together. He's obsessed with driving. Whenever he travels overseas, he'll always rent a car and head off on week-long road trips to explore new places. Back in the day, he actually owned his own car, but he sold it a few years ago. Now, whenever he feels like going for a drive, he still rents a car—and when I was in Singapore, he almost always invited me to tag along. We explored some hidden gems of Singapore and those drives were some of my best memories from studying in Singapore. This is exactly why this little car model struck me as the ideal gift. It wasn't costly, but when I handed it to him, he told me he loved it and that it brought back childhood memories. Hearing that made me genuinely glad, knowing I had picked a present that brought joy to my best friend. * bestowed upon 赠予 * shade of blue 蓝色色调 * meaningful reason 富有意义的缘由 * a no-brainer 轻而易举的事 * milestone 里程碑 * miniature car 汽车模型 / 微型小车 * stems from 源于 * the good times 美好时光 * obsessed with 痴迷于 * travels overseas 海外出行 * head off 出发 * road trips 公路旅行 * Back in the day 从前 * to tag along 一同前往 * hidden gems 小众好去处 * my best memories from 在…… 期间最珍贵的回忆 * struck me as the ideal gift 我觉得这是完美的礼物 * costly 昂贵的 * childhood memories 儿时回忆 加拿大Mac老师的一对一雅思课 400 元/小时。包括： * 课前测评 * 线上实时课程 * 配套资料 * 作业批改 * 录播内容 * 全程一对一答疑指导 * 知识星球1年会员（里面有Mac多年来整理的备考资料） 帮助大家少走弯路，更快、更稳拿到目标分数。 往期学生评价。 课程咨询请加微信：EnglishCat996，请备注：雅思课。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Describe a sports match you watched live (not on TV). You should say: * When it happened * What you watched * Who you were with * How you felt about it Two years ago in June, I headed to a huge stadium in Texas to watch a professional league baseball game. From what I recall, it was Kansas versus Texas, and the venue was absolutely packed with thousands of hyped-up supporters. The whole atmosphere was electric—every single person around me was roaring and cheering their hearts out for the Texas team. Giant digital screens hung all around the stands too, constantly playing clips to rev-up the spectators and egg us on to shout even louder. I barely knew the ins and outs of baseball back then. Luckily, my friend, who's a huge baseball fan, walked me through the basic rules as the match unfolded, so I sort of had a play-by-play explanation of what was going on. This was my very first time ever watching a sports game live in a stadium, so the whole experience was eye-opening to say the least. And it wasn't just the game itself that stuck with me. Between innings, there were upbeat cheerleading routines performed, lighthearted and funny adverts played across those massive screens, and stalls selling all kinds of tasty snacks and cold drinks. I grabbed a few treats, like a hotdog and slushy, and took them back to my seat and then ate and drank while the next half of the game played on. It really was an incredible time. Overall, it's one of the best experiences I've ever had. I got to soak up that raw, buzzing energy that only live sporting events can deliver—something you'd never get from simply watching on television. * headed to 前往 * a professional league baseball game 职业棒球联赛赛事 * From what I recall 依我回忆 * the venue 场馆 * packed with 挤满 * hyped-up supporters 热情高涨的球迷 * The whole atmosphere was electric 全场气氛热烈亢奋 * every single person 每一个人 * cheering their hearts out 全力呐喊助威 * Giant digital screens 巨型电子大屏 * the stands 看台 * rev-up 调动情绪 * the spectators 观众 * egg us on 鼓动我们（大声欢呼） * the ins and outs 完整细节、来龙去脉 * walked me through 逐条细致讲解 * sort of had 算是得到了 * a play-by-play explanation 逐回合实时讲解 * what was going on 现场正在发生的战况 * very first time ever 生平第一次 * was eye-opening to say the least 至少可以说大开眼界 * stuck with me 令我记忆犹新 * cheerleading routines 啦啦队表演 * played across 在…… 上播放 * all kinds of tasty snacks 各式各样美味小吃 * grabbed a few 买了一些 * played on 继续进行 * an incredible time 一段超棒的经历 * I’ve ever had 我曾拥有过的 * soak up 沉浸感受 * buzzing energy 热烈沸腾的氛围 * can deliver 能够带来 * you’d never get from 你从…… 永远体会不到 加拿大Mac老师的一对一雅思课 400 元/小时。包括： * 课前测评 * 线上实时课程 * 配套资料 * 作业批改 * 录播内容 * 全程一对一答疑指导 * 知识星球1年会员（里面有Mac多年来整理的备考资料） 帮助大家少走弯路，更快、更稳拿到目标分数。 往期学生评价。 课程咨询请加微信：EnglishCat996，请备注：雅思课。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Why Good School English Does Not Automatically Mean a High IELTS Score Most Chinese students spend many years studying English. They memorize thousands of words, learn complicated grammar rules, complete endless reading comprehension exercises, and often achieve excellent results in their school examinations. Yet many of these same students are surprised, even shocked, when they take the IELTS examination for the first time. Some receive a score of 5.5 when they expected a 7. Others believe that because they consistently score highly in school English, achieving Band 7 or even Band 7.5 in IELTS should be relatively straightforward. Unfortunately, this is one of the most common misunderstandings surrounding IELTS. The simple truth is this: IELTS is not simply another English examination. It measures something very different. 全文文字点这里。 加拿大Mac老师的一对一雅思课 400 元/小时。包括： * 课前测评 * 线上实时课程 * 配套资料 * 作业批改 * 录播内容 * 全程一对一答疑指导 * 知识星球1年会员（里面有Mac多年来整理的备考资料） 帮助大家少走弯路，更快、更稳拿到目标分数。 往期学生评价。 课程咨询请加微信：EnglishCat996，请备注：雅思课。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 1. Do you laugh at jokes a lot? Absolutely, I'm such an easy laugh actually, even silly one-liners can crack me up instantly. In fact, when I was studying in Singapore, I even set up something called the SG Bus Uncle app, which provides live bus times, but also shot little jokes to my phone. It would definitely give me a quick chuckle or lift my spirits when waiting for the bus. * an easy laugh 笑点很低 * silly one-liners 简短搞笑的段子 * crack me up 把我逗得开怀大笑 * set up 设置 * live bus times 公交车实时到站时间 * shot little jokes 推送简短笑话 * a quick chuckle 会心一笑 * lift my spirits 提振心情 2. Can you tell jokes well? You'd think with the number of jokes I listen to, but honestly, I'm terrible at telling jokes. I ruin the joke by laughing even before delivering the punch-line. I'll start giggling uncontrollably halfway through. The person I'm telling the joke to usually just rolls their eyes and asks, "What's the funny part?" So, no, I'm lousy at joke telling. * You'd think with 按理说 * telling jokes 讲笑话 * delivering the punch-line 说出笑点 * giggling uncontrollably 控制不住地发笑 * halfway through 讲到一半 * rolls their eyes 翻个白眼 * I'm lousy at 不擅长、很不拿手 3. Do you think laughing is important? One hundred percent, I truly believe laughter is vital for everyone's mental wellbeing. Back where I'm from, we even have a well-known old saying, "Laughter keeps you young.” It basically means staying cheerful and having a good laugh regularly keeps stress levels down and stops daily worries from weighing on your mind. * One hundred percent 完全同意；百分百赞同 * truly believe 由衷认为 * vital for 对…… 至关重要 * mental wellbeing 心理健康 * staying cheerful 保持乐观开朗 * having a good laugh 开怀大笑 * keeps stress levels down 降低压力 * daily worries 烦心事 * from weighing on your mind 压在心头 4. What kinds of funny shows are popular in your country? Stand-up comedy specials have gained massive traction over the past few years, that's for sure. Loads of local comics share funny stories about daily troubles and unique cultural quirks, and their jokes feel really relatable to ordinary viewers. Many of these shows are streamed online, so they're easy for people to watch anytime. * Stand-up comedy 脱口秀 * gained massive traction 收获大量热度、爆火 * that's for sure 毋庸置疑 * Loads of 许许多多 * daily troubles 生活琐事、日常烦恼 * cultural quirks 文化趣事 * feel really relatable 很有共鸣 * streamed online 线上流媒体播出、网络上线 加拿大Mac老师的一对一雅思课 400 元/小时。包括： * 课前测评 * 线上实时课程 * 配套资料 * 作业批改 * 录播内容 * 全程一对一答疑指导 * 知识星球1年会员（里面有Mac多年来整理的备考资料） 帮助大家少走弯路，更快、更稳拿到目标分数。 往期学生评价。 课程咨询请加微信：EnglishCat996，请备注：雅思课。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 发音系列第6期，全文文字点这里。 你可以试着把今天的单词和句子反复跟读练习，有拿不准的单词，欢迎在评论区留言交流。 加拿大Mac老师的一对一雅思课 400 元/小时。包括： * 课前测评 * 线上实时课程 * 配套资料 * 作业批改 * 录播内容 * 全程一对一答疑指导 * 知识星球1年会员（里面有Mac多年来整理的备考资料） 帮助大家少走弯路，更快、更稳拿到目标分数。 往期学生评价。 课程咨询请加微信：EnglishCat996，请备注：雅思课。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Describe an occasion when you were not allowed to use your mobile phone. You should say: When it was Where it was Why you were not allowed to use your mobile phone And how you felt about it The most recent occasion I was banned from using my mobile phone was just this morning, when I sat the IELTS test in this very building. For anyone unfamiliar, IELTS stands for the International English Language Testing System, a globally recognized proficiency exam for non-native English speakers like those from China, Japan and South Korea, who need it to meet the language entry requirements for overseas university applications. Before I could enter the exam hall, invigilators instructed me to leave my smartphone in a secure locker downstairs, with no exceptions permitted to keep it on my person at any point during the whole test session. This ban comes down to anti-cheating regulations because smartphones have access to search engines, translation tools and messaging functions, so having one in the exam room could lead to malpractice. Personally, I think this restriction is justifiable. It levels the playing field for every candidate, making sure all test-takers are assessed purely on their own language ability. By the end of the exam, I found it quite refreshing to be fully focused on the tasks without digital distractions. * The most recent occasion 最近一次经历 * banned from 被禁止 * unfamiliar 不了解的 * stands for 代表；缩写为 * globally recognized 全球公认的 * non-native English speakers 非英语母语者 * meet the language entry requirements 满足语言入学要求 * overseas university applications 海外大学申请 * the exam hall 考场 * invigilators 监考人员 * secure locker 储物柜 * with no exceptions permitted 无一例外 * keep it on my person 随身携带 * at any point 在任何时段 * during the whole test session 整场考试期间 * This ban 这项禁令 * comes down to 归根结底是 * anti-cheating regulations 反作弊规定 * access to 可使用；能访问 * search engines 搜索引擎 * messaging functions 通讯功能 * malpractice 违规作弊行为 * levels the playing field 营造公平竞争环境 * every candidate 每一位考生 * language ability 语言能力 * quite refreshing 十分清爽；让人身心舒畅 * digital distractions 电子设备带来的干扰 加拿大Mac老师的一对一雅思课 400 元/小时。包括： * 课前测评 * 线上实时课程 * 配套资料 * 作业批改 * 录播内容 * 全程一对一答疑指导 * 知识星球1年会员（里面有Mac多年来整理的备考资料） 帮助大家少走弯路，更快、更稳拿到目标分数。 往期学生评价。 课程咨询请加微信：EnglishCat996，请备注：雅思课。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Do you think employers are responsible for training their employees? Sure, of course. I mean, ideally, the new hire should already know the basics of their job, but I firmly believe employers bear the responsibility for orientating and training their employees about the company’s overall structure, culture, and strategy, and the particular job’s responsibilities should also be communicated to the new hire. This is particularly important for new hires who are new to the industry that the company operates in. New employees might have theoretical knowledge but lack practical know-how specific to the company's operations. Training helps them acclimate to the company culture, understand work processes, and hone their skills to meet job requirements more effectively. * bear the responsibility：承担责任 * new hires：新员工 * new to the industry：初入行业 * certain expertise：一定的专业知识 * practical know - how：实际操作知识 * acclimate to：适应 * hone their skills：磨练技能 * 易错单词发音： * acclimate：[ˈækləmeɪt] * expertise：[ˌekspɜːˈtiːz] How important is training in different industries? I think it varies industry to industry, but overall, it can be crucial. For example, in the service industry, training is paramount as it equips employees with the skills to communicate effectively with customers and provide top-notch service. Understanding customer needs, handling complaints gracefully, and creating a positive customer experience are all skills that can be honed through training. In the medical field, however, training is far more important, as it’s a matter of life and death. And I think cutting edge industries always require employees to keep up with the latest trends, for example in the tech industry, where things evolve at a breakneck pace, it’s essential. So, as I said, I think it’s extremely important that employees are trained properly. * incredibly crucial：极其重要 * service industry：服务业 * paramount：至关重要的 * creating a positive customer experience：创造积极的客户体验 * medical knowledge：医学知识 * evolve at a breakneck pace：以极快的速度发展 * competitive：有竞争力的 * 易错单词发音： * paramount：[ˈpærəmaʊnt] Should companies focus more on training for older or younger employees? Well, I'm guessing that it varies depending on the industry, but generally, more focus is placed on younger employees I would think. Younger employees usually lack work experience, which can be a hurdle in performing their jobs effectively. They're also more receptive to learning new things, as their minds are often more malleable at this stage. In contrast, older employees may already have a solid foundation in their work. However, this doesn't mean older employees should be overlooked. In some industries, like those with rapid technological advancements, older employees may also need training to keep up. * varies depending on：因…… 而异 * lack work experience：缺乏工作经验 * hurdle：障碍 * more receptive to learning：更乐于学习 * more malleable：更具可塑性 * solid foundation：坚实的基础 * rapid technological advancements：快速的技术进步 * 易错单词发音： * malleable：[ˈmæliəbl] * receptive：[rɪˈseptɪv] Is it common for people in your country to pursue higher education later in life? It's definitely not the norm to pursue higher education later in life in my country. Usually, people complete their education in one go. In fact, in my country it's quite common to see individuals with a Master's degree entering the workforce for the first time. This is perhaps due to the traditional educational system and career-building approach. Once people start working, they tend to focus on their jobs and career development rather than going back to school for further education. With AI, however, perhaps older adults will begin rethinking this idea and return to school for further training. * complete their education in one go：一次性完成教育 * entering the workforce：进入职场 * lifelong learning：终身学习 加拿大Mac老师的一对一雅思课 400 元/小时。包括： * 课前测评 * 线上实时课程 * 配套资料 * 作业批改 * 录播内容 * 全程一对一答疑指导 * 知识星球1年会员（里面有Mac多年来整理的备考资料） 帮助大家少走弯路，更快、更稳拿到目标分数。 往期学生评价。 课程咨询请加微信：EnglishCat996，请备注：雅思课。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 1. Do you wear a watch? Yes, I do. It's a small, round green Swarovski watch, which I received as a graduation gift for my graduation from the National University of Singapore last summer. I wear it whenever I go out, and I've grown used to checking the time on this watch rather than my phone. * a graduation gift 毕业礼物 * have grown used to 已经习惯 2. Have you ever got a watch as a gift? Yes, as I just mentioned, the watch I'm wearing is exactly the gift. It has a minimalist design, which is totally my style. The dial is green with two gold hands, and there are no numbers on it. The back of the watch is engraved with my name and graduation year. It's actually the first watch I've ever received as a gift, and it's quite a precious one. Every time I put it on, which is daily, it always reminds me of the person who gave it to me. * a minimalist design 简约的设计 * dial 表盘 * hands 指针 * engraved with 刻有 * precious 珍贵的 3. Why do some people wear expensive watches? Nowadays, wearing a watch is no longer mainly about telling the time, since smartphones are extremely ubiquitous. So, for many people, wearing an expensive watch is more about displaying their social standing, financial status, or taste and style. It's kind of a status symbol I think, something to make them stand out more. * telling the time 看时间 * ubiquitous 随处可见 * displaying their social standing 彰显社会地位 * financial status 经济实力 * taste and style 品味和风格 * a status symbol 身份象征 * stand out 脱颖而出 4. Do you think it is important to wear a watch? Not really, to be honest. The primary function of a watch is to tell the time, but this role has been replaced by smartphones. So, unless you already own a watch and genuinely enjoy wearing it, I don't see much point in wearing one these days. I'd say it's more of a personal choice of style than something important. * The primary function of …… 的主要功能 * replaced by 被…… 取代 * don't see much point in 觉得…… 没多大意义 加拿大Mac老师的一对一雅思课 400 元/小时。包括： * 课前测评 * 线上实时课程 * 配套资料 * 作业批改 * 录播内容 * 全程一对一答疑指导 * 知识星球1年会员（里面有Mac多年来整理的备考资料） 帮助大家少走弯路，更快、更稳拿到目标分数。 往期学生评价。 课程咨询请加微信：EnglishCat996，请备注：雅思课。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 1. Do you own a bicycle? Yes, I do. It's a light-blue bicycle I picked up from a vintage bike shop on the outskirts of Guangzhou several years ago. It's got rather small wheels, which suits me perfectly since I’m not particularly tall. Over the years, I've explored pretty much every nook and cranny of my neighborhood on this bike, especially on weekends. I also used to cycle to work during the summer months, and I absolutely loved both the gentle exercise and the lovely scenery along the way, but to be honest, I haven't ridden it much lately. * picked up from 从……淘来 * on the outskirts of 在……的郊区 * several years ago 几年前 * suits me perfectly 非常适合我 * pretty much every nook and cranny 几乎每一个犄角旮旯；各个角落 * on weekends 在周末 * during the summer months 在夏季的几个月里 * gentle exercise 舒缓的运动 * lovely scenery 秀美的风景 * along the way 沿途 2. When was the last time you went cycling? Oh, it was actually last month. I was staying in a small coastal town on the eastern seaboard of the US, and since I didn't have a car, bicycling became my primary mode of transport for getting around locally. I'd often ride down to the grocery store just a short distance away, or head over to the community library. Sometimes I'd even feel a bit more adventurous and cycle all the way into the town centre. * a small coastal town 一座小型滨海小镇 * on the eastern seaboard 在东海岸 * primary mode of transport 主要交通方式 * getting around locally 在当地出行 * ride down to 骑车前往 * head over to the community library 去往社区图书馆 * feel a bit more adventurous 想要多一点冒险体验 * all the way into 一路骑到 3. Is cycling dangerous in your country? It really depends on where you choose to cycle. In major cities, it can be quite risky. You definitely need to wear a helmet and stay alert because bike lanes are often shared with hundreds of electric scooters, which can be unpredictable and increase the risk of accidents. By contrast, cycling in rural areas is far safer, with much lighter traffic. That said, you still have to stay mindful of potential hazards. * in major cities 在大城市里 * quite risky 风险很高 * wear a helmet 佩戴头盔 * stay alert 保持警惕 * bike lanes are often shared with 自行车道常常和……共用 * electric scooters 电动踏板车 * increase the risk of accidents 提升事故发生的风险 * rural areas 乡村地区 * lighter traffic 车流更少 * stay mindful of 留意；当心 * potential hazards 潜在危险 4. Would you ever take a long cycling trip? Honestly, I don't think I would. The longest I've ever cycled continuously is around three hours. While I did enjoy the exercise and the sense of freedom it gave, it required a great deal of stamina and endurance, especially going uphill. So, I don't feel physically ready for a long-distance cycling journey, and I'm not sure I have the patience either. Having said that, the idea does sound quite appealing, so I wouldn't rule it out entirely in the future. * cycled continuously 不间断骑行 * the sense of freedom 自由的感觉 * required a great deal of stamina and endurance 需要极强的体力与耐力 * going uphill 爬坡 * physically ready 身体条件达标 * a long-distance cycling journey 长途骑行旅程 * have the patience 拥有足够耐心 * rule it out 完全排除 加拿大Mac老师的一对一雅思课 400 元/小时。包括： * 课前测评 * 线上实时课程 * 配套资料 * 作业批改 * 录播内容 * 全程一对一答疑指导 * 知识星球1年会员（里面有Mac多年来整理的备考资料） 帮助大家少走弯路，更快、更稳拿到目标分数。 往期学生评价。 课程咨询请加微信：EnglishCat996，或直接扫下面的二维码，请备注：雅思课。