你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 彩蛋: 这期我家有3只猫"出镜"了 🐱🐱🐱能猜出是哪三只吗? 1. What do you usually shop for? I mostly shop for daily necessities and a few things for my cats, so products like groceries, books, clothes, plus cat food and litter. For groceries, I prefer the local supermarket for packaged stuff and the fresh-food market for fresh veggies and meat since the produce there is fresher. But for things like books and clothes, I always buy those online. They're often cheaper than in physical retail stores, and the best part is they get delivered right to my door, so no need to carry heavy bags around. * mostly 主要地；通常 * daily necessities 日常必需品 * products 产品；物品 * groceries 食品杂货 * cat litter 猫砂 * packaged stuff 包装好的商品 * fresh-food market 生鲜市场 * fresh veggies 新鲜蔬菜 * produce 农产品 * physical retail stores 实体零售店 * delivered right to my door 直接送到家门口 2. Do you often go to malls? I guess so, at least once a week. There are two malls really close to where I live, both around four floors, though the one that is closest is half the size. Both have everything though: restaurants, clothing stores, home appliance shops, cinemas, and even supermarkets. Sometimes when I go, I just go to have a look, window shopping, plus I like the vibe, or vibrancy of the place. Malls have this busy, lively atmosphere that's nice to be around, even if I'm just meeting a friend for coffee. * half the size 一半大小 * home appliance shops 家电专卖店 * go to have a look 去看看 * window shopping 橱窗购物；逛而不买 * plus 而且；另外 * the vibe 氛围 * vibrancy 活力 * lively atmosphere 热闹的氛围 3. Do you shop online a lot? I do, actually, yes. Like I mentioned earlier, I get books, clothes, and most importantly, cat supplies online. Cat food and litter are things I need to restock regularly, so buying them online makes way more sense, especially as they can be heavy. They're also way cheaper than in stores, and like I said, I don't have to haul them home. Door-to-door service is great, and saves me so much hassle. * restock regularly 定期补货 * makes way more sense 合理得多 * haul 拖/运 * Door-to-door service 送货上门服务 * saves me so much hassle 省去很多麻烦 4. How common are shopping centers in your country? In cities, they're absolutely ubiquitous. Despite online shopping, people still like going to malls, especially as they have, as I mentioned earlier, everything including restaurants and cinemas, so pretty much every community or neighborhood has some sort of shopping center or plaza or mall. Also, I think for many families, going to the mall on weekends is basically a ritual: they'll shop a little, eat together, maybe watch a movie. Young people also love hanging out there to meet up with friends, go window shopping, or to just chill. * ubiquitous 随处可见 * online shopping 网购 * so pretty much every 所以几乎每个 * neighborhood 街区 * some sort of 某种 * plaza 广场 * basically a ritual 基本上是一种惯例 * hanging out 闲逛；泡（在某地） * chill 放松 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 欢迎朋友们加入我的【知识星球】 里面有10万字的雅思口语书，内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (2) 55个Part 3话题语料 (3) 40个Part 2话题语料 (4) 雅思口语高分tips (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 这本口语书是PDF的，放在了我的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有雅思听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。 星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 What motivates people to volunteer and help others in their community? Hmmm, well, I guess people are motivated to volunteer mainly by a sense of altruism and personal fulfillment. I think these individuals believe in contributing to the greater good and using their time and effort to make a positive impact, and I think that makes a person feel good inside. In other words, they feel a deep satisfaction from helping those in need, support or help, and in turn, I would assume this even brings a sense of purpose or meaning, but I think there are others who feel a love for people generally, and that it is their nature to help. So I guess at least a couple of different elements that motivate people to do it. * are motivated to：有做……的动机 * sense of altruism：利他主义精神 * personal fulfillment：个人成就感 * the greater good：公共利益 * make a positive impact：产生积极影响 * feel a deep satisfaction：感到深深的满足 * those in need：有需要的人 * a sense of purpose：使命感 * it is their nature to help：乐于助人是他们的本性 What are the benefits of volunteering for both the individual and the community? Well, I think the benefits are similar or the same as I just mentioned, namely feeling a deep satisfaction, might bring a sense of meaning, and for some, they simply have a big love for others. As for the community, it creates a positive and supportive atmosphere, moving away from a "each-man-for-himself" mindset. When neighbors volunteer together at community events, it strengthens social bonds, supporting the idea that collective action fosters unity. Overall, volunteering enriches both individuals' lives and the community's social fabric I think. * are similar：相似 * a sense of meaning：意义感 * a positive and supportive atmosphere：积极且互助的氛围 * a "each-man-for-himself" mindset：“各自为战、自私自利” 的心态 * strengthens social bonds：加强社会联系；巩固社交纽带 * collective action 集体行动 * fosters unity：促进团结 * enriches both individuals' lives 丰富个人生活 * social fabric：可理解为社会结构、社会关系网 How can volunteering and helping others be integrated into schools and workplaces? That’s a tough question to answer. I’m really not sure except to say that I think schools can send students at different times to help seniors or help with some local event by assisting those in need, things like that, and I know from my own experience and from talking to others, that, for example, in our high-school, we had a program like this. So I think organizing programs like blood donation, old-age home visits, and beach clean-ups can effectively engage students. These activities not only teach students about social responsibility but also allow them to apply their skills in real-world settings, and I believe they also have an educational element to them as they provide real-world examples of how each person can make a real difference to others’lives. * seniors：老年人 * assisting：协助 * those in need：有需要的人 * program：项目 * blood donation：献血 * old-age home visits：养老院探访 * beach clean-ups：海滩清理 * engage：吸引参与；让…… 参与进来 * social responsibility：社会责任 * apply their skills：运用他们的技能 * real - world settings：真实环境 * educational element：教育元素 Do you think it is the responsibility of individuals or governments to provide support to those in need? Overall, I'd say that the responsibility should mostly be shouldered by the authorities since they have the resources and power to implement systemic solutions, such as social welfare policies and public assistance programs. However, in saying that, individuals, groups and communities should also help in sharing this responsibility since, in my opinion, everything is connected. I mean, what we see in front of us has, in some way, an effect on all of us, so instead of ignoring a problem, I think individuals can also make a difference by simply reaching out and helping others, even if that help seems useless. The effect it can have on the recipient, that feeling of being at least noticed by others, can go a long way in helping that person or even demographic. So I think it’s the responsibility of all, actually. * responsibility should mostly be shouldered：责任应主要由…… 承担 * implement：实施 * systemic solutions：系统性解决方案 * social welfare policies：社会福利政策 * public assistance programs：公共援助项目 * individuals：个人 * ignoring a problem：忽视问题 * make a difference：产生影响；发挥作用 * reaching out：主动伸出援手 * the recipient：受助者；接受者 * go a long way：大有帮助；作用很大 * demographic：特定人群 (此处指某类受助人群) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 欢迎朋友们加入我的【知识星球】 里面有10万字的雅思口语书，内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (2) 55个Part 3话题语料 (3) 40个Part 2话题语料 (4) 雅思口语高分tips (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 这本口语书是PDF的，放在了我的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有雅思听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。 星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 1. Are you a creative person? I guess I'd say yes; my creativity mainly shows up when I'm working with words. I really dislike dull, formulaic writing, so whenever I have to put something down on paper, whether it's a work report or a personal note, I always try to spice it up a bit, like using a more vivid phrase or adding a small, relatable example to make it less tedious. I also love creative writing, like short stories or even just little poems; it feels like a fun way to turn random thoughts floating in my head into something concrete and engaging. * creativity 创造力；创意 * dull 枯燥的；乏味的 * formulaic 公式化的；刻板的 * put something down on paper 把东西写下来 * work report 工作报告 * personal note 个人笔记 * spice it up 让它更有趣 * vivid phrase 生动的短语 * relatable example 相关的例子 * tedious 单调乏味的；冗长的 * creative writing 创意写作 * short stories 短篇小说 * little poems 小诗 * random thoughts 随机的想法 * concrete 具体的；实在的 * engaging 引人入胜的；有吸引力 2. What did you learn about creativity at school? Back in college, most of our classes had a lot of group discussions, and that's actually where I picked up a lot about creativity. When you're talking to classmates from different majors—some into design, some into engineering, some into literature—you hear totally different perspectives on the same topic. For example, once we had to brainstorm ideas for a campus event: a design student thought about visual themes first, while a business major focused on how to get more people to join. That taught me creativity isn't just about "being original"; it's also about combining different ways of thinking and doing things to come up with better solutions. * group discussions：小组讨论 * picked up：学到；掌握 * different majors：不同专业 * design：设计 * engineering：工程 * literature：文学 * totally different perspectives：完全不同的视角 * brainstorm ideas：头脑风暴 * campus event：校园活动 * visual themes：视觉主题 * business major：商科专业 * focused on：专注于；聚焦于 * being original：原创性；独特性 * combining different ways of thinking：结合不同的思维方式 * doing things：做事方式 * come up with better solutions：想出更好的解决方案 3. Does anyone in your family have a good imagination? Definitely my mom's younger brother, my uncle. When we were kids, all of us cousins would beg him to tell stories every time we visited. He was amazing at it: he never just read from books; he made up little tales on the spot, and he was so good at building suspense. Like, he'd pause right when the main character was about to find a secret, or use super descriptive words: he'd say things like "the door creaked so slowly you could hear every wood grain rub together"...that made us lean in, waiting to hear what happened next. We'd stay hooked the whole time, never wanting the story to end. * beg：恳求；央求 * tell stories：讲故事 * made up little tales：编小故事 * on the spot：即兴；当场 * building suspense：制造悬念 * pause：停顿 * main character：主角 * secret：秘密 * descriptive words：描述性词汇 * creaked：（门）吱呀作响 * wood grain：木纹 * rub together：摩擦 * lean in：倾身靠近 * hooked：着迷的；入迷的 4. Are people in your country generally very creative? Well, in China, there are a lot of all different types of people, simply because there are so many people, so I'd say, yes, there are. You can see it in so many little things, even in things like technology, AI or renewable energy, where people are coming up with new solutions for big problems. But even in everyday life, many people are creative. Just look at shopping platforms: you’ll find all kinds of unique products or services, like custom hand-drawn phone cases, or in the creative hobbies people have. It's almost like "nothing is impossible if you can think of it". So, indeed, I think people here are really good at turning a fun idea into something useful or interesting. * all different types of people：各种各样的人 * renewable energy：可再生能源 * coming up with new solutions：想出新的解决方案 * everyday life：日常生活 * shopping platforms：购物平台 * all kinds of unique products or services：各种各样独特的产品或服务 * custom hand-drawn phone cases：定制手绘手机壳 * creative hobbies：创意爱好 * nothing is impossible if you can think of it：只有想不到，没有做不到 * turning a fun idea into something useful or interesting：把有趣的想法变成有用或有趣的事物 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 欢迎朋友们加入我的【知识星球】 里面有10万字的雅思口语书，内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (2) 55个Part 3话题语料 (3) 40个Part 2话题语料 (4) 雅思口语高分tips (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 这本口语书是PDF的，放在了我的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有雅思听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。 星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Show Notes 超字数了，需要查看重点词汇中英对照的朋友，请点这里。 When do people in your country usually retire? I think this mostly depends on the type of job someone has, though there's a general baseline, but this baseline is gradually shifting to be later in recent years. Basically, right now, it depends on gender and type of job, but the retirement ages are between 55 and 60 years old, but I think in the future, this will change to 60 to 65 years old, and I guess this is because we have an aging society. I know that, for example, professionals in formal sectors usually retire at a set age that's slightly lower for women than for men, and this has been a long-standing general guideline. In contrast, people in rural areas who work in farming or local, unstructured labor often don't "retire" in the traditional sense. So while formal jobs have a usual retirement age of between 55 and 60, which is now gradually trending later, informal and rural work often has no fixed "retirement", so it varies based on job type. What are the reasons that people do not retire? I guess there would be two main reasons, one being out of necessity and the other being out of love, or passion for the job, or in other words, boredom if they didn't continue to work. For most, not retiring boils down to still relying on or wanting a steady income, but for others, work is less about money and more about staying mentally active, feeling useful, or continuing to do something they're passionate about. Many people without substantial savings or a robust pension, for example, might want or need to keep earning. On the other hand, skilled professionals like doctors or engineers often delay retirement because their work lets them apply their expertise or interact with others. So non-retirement typically stems from either financial necessity or a desire to keep engaging with meaningful work. Will retirement ages keep getting later? Oh, I really don't know. So many different things are happening now, such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, plus an aging population plus economic uncertainties, and then there's things like improved healthcare, so there are so many things to consider. Overall, though, I guess the trend is that people will continue to work longer, perhaps even well into their 70's, but who knows? Given longer lifespans, pension system pressures, and the value of experienced workers, it's reasonable to expect retirement ages will keep inching up later and later. What do retired people do in your country? Haha, that's a good question, but I know in my neighborhood, they play cards, sit around chatting, playing mahjong, and taking care of the grandchildren. In fact, I would say in my country, retired people keep themselves pretty busy, at least that's my perception. So I would say a lot of their activities are community or family-focused, as retirement often frees up time to prioritize relationships and leisure. For example, you can often see group activities in public spaces are very common: you'll often see retired people gathering in parks to dance, play board games or cards, or simply chat. Also, it's common for grandparents to care for the young children of the home. So overall, retired life here is usually busy with meaningful activities, making it a period of life focused on connection with family, friends, community and enjoyment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 欢迎朋友们加入我的【知识星球】 里面有10万字的雅思口语书，内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (2) 55个Part 3话题语料 (3) 40个Part 2话题语料 (4) 雅思口语高分tips (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 这本口语书是PDF的，放在了我的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有雅思听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。 星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Can you believe Golden Week's already over? I feel like I just packed my suitcase yesterday, but here I am, back to "reality," still replaying bits of my trip in my head. This year, I did something a little different: I traveled solo. I spent the whole 8 days in a few U.S. states, and half of that time was in San Francisco. Traveling alone, especially in a place where you don't know anyone, really forces you to step up. There's no one to rely on but yourself, your wits, and…well, your English, especially when you're in an English-speaking country. And I realized, once again, that the fastest way to learn a language isn't reciting 20 words a day (though that does help for some people in certain ways). It's using it, messily, awkwardly, unapologetically. Just speak it, even when you're not sure. Because when you need to order food or drinks, ask for directions, or chat with someone? That's when the words stick. Today, I want to share a memorable phrase I picked up in a Starbucks. Just a little background: I'm a creature of habit. 99% of the time I walk into a Starbucks, I order the same thing: an iced mocha. When I'm overseas, I usually say something like,“Good morning, can I get an iced mocha, small, with cream please?" Most of the time, they nod, I pay, and I get my drink in minutes. No confusion at all. This time, though, I was in the Financial District in SF after lunch. The shop was a bit slow, no crowds. I ordered my usual,“Can I get an iced mocha, small, with cream please?" And the barista—super friendly, by the way—looked up and repeated it back,“Iced mocha with whipping cream?” "Whipping cream." That phrase stopped me for a second. I knew "cream," but not "whipping cream." I just nodded and said, "Yes, that's right,”but as I waited for my drink, I kept thinking: What does "whipping" mean in this context? Later, back in my room, I looked it up. Turns out, "whipping" here is an adjective. It describes a type of cream that's thick enough to be "whipped", you know, beaten with a mixer until it's fluffy, like the stuff you put on top of pies. So "whipping cream" is that light, airy cream, not the runny kind you might pour in your coffee. And the word comes from "whip". "Whip" is a noun and a verb. You "whip" the cream to make it fluffy. It makes sense, right? In hindsight, it's a small word, but hearing it in that specific context, needing to understand it to make sure I got my drink right, made it stick way better than if I'd just seen it in a textbook. That's the thing about language: the words you learn when you have to: when you're ordering coffee, asking for help, or laughing at a joke, those are the ones that stay with you. Why? Because you're not just memorizing a word, you're learning it with the context that gives it meaning. You know when to use it, how it fits into a real conversation, and even what it feels like to hear it in a natural setting. That context turns a random word into something meaningful. So that's one of my big takeaways from San Francisco:"whipping cream"…and the power of learning words through context. I hate to repeat myself, but it's worth saying again: if you want to get better at speaking English, whether for IELTS or just casual chats, use it. Don't wait until you know "enough" words. Order that coffee, ask that stranger for directions, fumble through a conversation. It'll probably be messy, but that mess is how you learn. And it's such an effective way to learn because every time you speak, you're not just practicing words, you're building context around them. You'll remember that phrase or sentence structure later because you can link it to a real moment. That context makes the language stick. That's all for today's episode. I'll be sharing more little lessons from the road later on. Until then, keep practicing! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 欢迎朋友们加入我的【知识星球】 里面有10万字的雅思口语书，内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (2) 55个Part 3话题语料 (3) 40个Part 2话题语料 (4) 雅思口语高分tips (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 这本口语书是PDF的，放在了我的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有雅思听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。 星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Show Notes 超字数了，需要查看重点词汇中英对照的朋友，请点这里。 Does your country have a lot of forests? It really depends on which part of the country you're talking about, but overall, I'd say yes, we do. For example, there are thick forests in the southwest and some mountainous areas in the west, but the eastern parts tends to have less as there are more cities. Places like Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guangxi provinces have jungles and thick forests, as do other provinces such as Hunan and Anhui. So while some regions are pretty bare of forests, the areas that do have them are often large and dense enough that, as a whole, I'd say our country has a lot of forestry resources. What threats are posed by deforestation? I'd say that there are two main problems stemming from deforestation, the first being desertification and the second is habitat destruction. Desertification not only erodes the soil and turns the area into a desert, it also affects the weather, something we can see in the north. Without trees, when it rains a lot, there's nothing to soak up the water, so floods also happen more often. And when it's dry, there's no moisture from trees to keep the area cool, so droughts become worse. Animals of course are also greatly affected, either forcing them to migrate or possibly even causing the extinction of species. Basically, deforestation breaks the balance of the whole ecosystem we rely on. It's not just a "forest problem"—it affects almost every part of our eco and biospheres. Are there alternatives to cutting down forests? I guess so. I know that one of the ways is to use only certified wood from certified growers. And I would imagine the other method is to recycle wood, you know, make it into composite wood products. Besides those two approaches, I think we can also look for substitute materials. But anyway, for certified wood, it can be used for furniture or paper, and for recycling, I often see discarded wood which eventually will probably be tossed into a landfill or burnt, but there's no reason why it can't be recycled through a chipping and composite process In the end, I think the key point is though, we don't actually have to choose between developing and keeping forests, since with a bit of planning, we can get what we need without destroying huge swathes of natural forests. What can the average citizen do to help combat this situation? Regular people might not be able to stop big logging projects on their own, but there are small, simple things we can all do that add up to make a real difference. Most of these things are about making smarter choices when we buy products, helping to protect existing forests, and telling other people why forests matter, since when more people care, companies and governments are more likely to act. For example, when we buy things like paper or furniture, we can look for labels that say the product was made with plantation wood. Ultimately, I think it’s about awareness. The more aware we are of our own choices, the less demand there will be for such materials. So, I think combating deforestation isn't just the authorities' job; it's something everyone can contribute to. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 欢迎朋友们加入我的【知识星球】 里面有10万字的雅思口语书，内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (2) 55个Part 3话题语料 (3) 40个Part 2话题语料 (4) 雅思口语高分tips (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 这本口语书是PDF的，放在了我的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有雅思听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。 星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Show Notes 超字数了，需要查看重点词汇中英对照的朋友，请点这里。 Is it common in your country for people to move a lot? Yeah, I'd say so, especially for people to move from less developed areas to places with more opportunities. Most of these moves are driven by wanting better jobs, better education for kids, or easier access to resources like healthcare. And it’s not random; people tend to head toward areas where life feels more stable or where they can build a better future. A lot of people from small towns or rural areas in inland provinces, for instance, move to the capital city of their province since those cities usually have more factories, bigger companies, or better schools. Others might even move further, like from western parts of the country to coastal areas. So while not everyone moves, it’s definitely a common trend. People mostly move to chase better opportunities, and that makes sense for anyone wanting to improve their life. Do most people in your country live in cities? Actually, I'm not sure, but if I had to say, I'd guess that it's about 50/50 as there are still plenty of people living in rural areas; however, the younger generation is more likely to be in, or move to, a city. The older generation, our parents or grandparents, often remain in the countryside because that’s where their homes are, where they've worked for their whole lives, and where their communities are. Most young people I know from high school, however, are in big cities like Beijing or Guangzhou, with some studying at universities, others getting jobs in finance or education, which are harder to find in small towns. Cities also have modern facilities like shopping malls and museums, both of which are important to the younger generation. So overall, I'd say the numbers of people in cities is growing, but the split between rural and urban is predominately based on demographics, which seems to be fairly evenly split between the elderly and young. Why do some people like to live in the same place their whole lives? Hmm, let me think about that. Well, I guess there are probably two main reasons, the first is that they are happy and comfortable where they are and I guess the second reason is they don’t have a strong enough reason, or the ability, to move. For the ones who choose to stay, it's usually about attachment to their community, their home, or the life they've built. For others, it might be that moving feels too risky or impractical, like if they have family to care for, or if they don’t need to move for work or school. To move is actually a big hassle, what with the packing, the cost, the resettling in, etcetera, so that puts many off I think if there isn't a strong enough reason to move or if they are fairly content where they are presently situated. So it's not so much about being "afraid of change", rather, it's more about either loving the life they have, or having practical reasons that make moving hard. For those people, staying in the same place isn't a compromise, it's simply the best choice for them. Is it important to travel a lot? Personally speaking, yes, I think it is. I mean, it certainly is an individual choice, but I think travelling broadens one's horizons no doubt. Whether it is important to travel a lot though, I'm not too sure what 'a lot' means, but despite that, I think the more experience one has about travelling, the better. Travelling is not just about "having fun" I think, as I believe it can also help you reshape your perspective, understand different ways of living and that type of thing, so, the more you travel, the more open your mind becomes, I think. Even just travelling in one's own country can open your eyes to different ways of life. I know many that have travelled to Tibet or Yunnan, and they always comment on the local dialect and different traditions people have. So, the more you do, the more you learn. So every trip, long or short, I think can teach you something new, and that's why I think travelling is important. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 欢迎朋友们加入我的【知识星球】 里面有10万字的雅思口语书，内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (2) 55个Part 3话题语料 (3) 40个Part 2话题语料 (4) 雅思口语高分tips (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 这本口语书是PDF的，放在了我的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有雅思听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。 星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Show Notes 超字数了，需要查看重点词汇中英对照的朋友，请点这里。 Are meetings common for most businesses in your country? Yes, I'd say they're ubiquitous! No matter how big or small they are, seems everybody attends meetings. They're seen as a key way to share information, align work processes, and solve problems together. Different types of businesses might have meetings for different reasons, but you'd be hard-pressed to find a company that doesn't hold them regularly. Most of my peers, doesn't matter if they work in a large or small company, often mention they spend a few hours a week in meetings. From what I can tell, it's something anybody who works in an office will experience at least once a week, but I also know that even in factories, workers will also have meetings probably once a week, too. So I reckon meetings are a standard part of how most businesses operate. They're just seen as a necessary way to keep everyone on the same page. Are meetings a waste of time? It's a funny question because I know most people, including myself, often think or say that, but honestly, at the end of the day, I think meetings are an important way to keep teams aligned with the overall direction of a project or a company. I think the point is whether the meeting manager, the chairperson of the meeting, is organized or not. If they aren't organized or if the meeting is lacking a firm agenda, then it tends to be a waste of time. However, if the meeting has a clear theme, the chairperson is in control, and no one wastes time pontificating, then they can be useful. For example, I've heard colleagues complain about "update meetings" where everyone just lists what they did that week—no one asks questions, no problems get solved, and it could've been summed up in an email. These meetings definitely feel like a waste of time. But then there are meetings that actually move things forward: like a project kickoff meeting where everyone agrees on what needs to be done, who's in charge, and when the deadlines are set for. So meetings aren't inherently a waste, they're only a waste if they're poorly planned. When they have a clear point and stay focused, they're actually a good way to get things done. How could meetings be made more efficient? It's a good question! This is something many employees talk about actually. I think the main suggestion is that goals are set clearly so everyone knows why they're there, additionally, managing time so the meeting doesn't drag on, and finally making sure everyone leaves knowing what to do next. For example, first, the chairperson should set a clear agenda before the meeting and send it to everyone. Then, the chairperson should effectively lead the meeting and keep track of time, and if a topic starts to veer off topic, they can say, "Let's discuss this more later" so the meeting doesn't fall behind schedule. And at the end, I also think there should be a sum up of the key decisions and assign next steps. It's really about being intentional...small things like an agenda, a timekeeper, and clear next steps can turn a messy, slow meeting into an efficient one. How has technology changed the way people hold meetings? I think mostly by making them more flexible and saving time, especially for teams that aren't in the same place. Before, most meetings had to be in person, which meant traveling or scheduling around everyone's location. Now, technology lets people meet from anywhere, and it also makes sharing information during meetings easier. Using tools like Zoom mean teams in different locations can meet without anyone traveling. Technology also lets people share screens during meetings, so if someone's talking about a report or a design, they can show it to everyone right away. Overall, technology has made meetings more convenient and less time-consuming. It’s not that in-person meetings are gone, but now people have more options, and that makes it easier to collaborate, no matter where everyone is. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 欢迎朋友们加入我的【知识星球】 里面有10万字的雅思口语书，内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (2) 55个Part 3话题语料 (3) 40个Part 2话题语料 (4) 雅思口语高分tips (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 这本口语书是PDF的，放在了我的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有雅思听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。 星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Why do people commit crimes? Oh, that's a tough question. I think the reasons vary, but I'd say the number one reason is poverty. When you need something, whether it's food or clothes or something else and you don't have the money to buy it, it makes theft and robbing far more tempting. I think another reason is outside influences, whether from media, like movies, or even from one's peers. Young people especially are impressionable, so the more they hear and see crimes being committed, it is bound to have an influence on their minds. For example, I've heard about teenagers getting involved in small crimes, like bullying or shoplifting because their friends are doing it. They might want to fit in, or they see something cool online, like pranks that cross into illegal territory, and don't realize how serious it is. So, all in all, I think crime rarely has a single cause, perhaps another is even that it, the cause, is hardwired or socialized, but I think generally, it's a mix of influences, pressure, and poor judgment. How can criminals be rehabilitated? I'm really not sure about this. I guess for younger offenders, rehabilitating them might include building the skills and mindset necessary to operate in society, but the older a criminal is, it probably means they have been committing crime for a long time, but were never caught, so by the time they are, it might be too late to change their thinking. For non-violent crimes though, I think the main focus should be on addressing why they committed the crime in the first place, whether that's a lack of education, no job skills, or even emotional issues. If you can't fix the root causes, then they are more likely to go back to crime. So, as far as I'm concerned, I think poverty is one of the main causes of crime. Before there used to be a huge problem of stealing and pickpocketing and that type of thing, but now, with society becoming more well-off and people having more money, crime has been greatly reduced. So, while rehab isn't easy, I think it can work when it's focused on "helping, not just punishing." It's about giving people the tools to make better choices. 由于字数限制，这次没办法放重点词汇的中英对照，如需查看，请点击：英语考试Cat公众号。 What is the purpose of punishment? I think punishment has a few key purposes. It's not just to "punish" someone for what they did, but also to protect others and stop future crime. It's more about fairness and prevention than just being revengeful. First, it's about justice for the person who was harmed. If someone steals or hurts another person, punishment shows that their actions have consequences. Second, it protects society: putting a dangerous criminal behind bars keeps them from hurting more people. And third, it's a warning, both to the criminal so they don't do it again if they get released and to others so they think twice before breaking the law. For example, if someone is punished for assault, it sends a message to everyone that hurting others isn't okay, and that if you do it, you'll face consequences. So punishment isn't just about "getting even". It's about keeping people safe, teaching a lesson, and making sure everyone understands that breaking the rules has consequences. Are punishment and revenge the same? No, they're definitely not the same: punishment is about fairness and rules, while revenge is more about anger or getting even for something that hurt you. The key difference is who's in control and what the goal is. Punishment is usually carried out by the law and follows clear rules, and it's not random, and the goal is to protect society or rehabilitate the criminal. Revenge, though, is personal: someone acts out of anger, and they might not care about rules or who else gets hurt. If someone steals your phone, for example, and the police catch them, the punishment might be prison. That's not revenge; it's the law making sure the thief faces consequences, and maybe learns not to steal again. But if you saw the thief and decided to "get back" at them, that's revenge, which is an emotional way of behaving. So the big difference is that punishment is about order and fairness, while revenge is about personal anger. That's why we have laws to handle crime, instead of letting people take matters into their own hands. 由于字数限制，这次没办法放重点词汇的中英对照，如需查看，请点击：英语考试Cat公众号。 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 欢迎朋友们加入我的【知识星球】 里面有10万字的雅思口语书，内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (2) 55个Part 3话题语料 (3) 40个Part 2话题语料 (4) 雅思口语高分tips (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 这本口语书是PDF的，放在了我的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有雅思听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。 星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Today, I want to share a recent flight experience—one that helped me figure out a useful mindset for IELTS Speaking Part 1. Here's what happened ~ 点击这里查看原文。 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 欢迎朋友们加入英语考试Cat的【知识星球】 里面有10万字的雅思口语书，内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (2) 55个Part 3话题语料 (3) 40个Part 2话题语料 (4) 雅思口语高分tips (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 这本口语书是PDF的，放在了我的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有雅思听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。 星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Did you do many chores as a child? Yes, definitely. As a kid, I took on quite a few domestic duties around the house and even helped with farmwork since I grew up on a farm. I started cooking at an early age, in fact, so early that I could barely reach the stove at first! On top of that, I did the dishes, washed clothes in a basin, swept the floor and the yard outside. When market days came around, I also helped sell our fresh vegetables. Basically, I did whatever I could to lend a hand at home; there wasn't much I shied away from if it meant helping out the family. - took on quite a few domestic duties：承担不少家务事 - at an early age：在很小的时候 - barely reach the stove：几乎够不到灶台 - On top of that：除此之外 - basin：盆 - came around：到的时候 - lend a hand：帮忙 - shied away from：回避 What chores do you typically do now? These days, I cook most of my meals, wash the dishes right after eating to avoid them piling up, and take care of my cats, feeding them and cleaning their litter box every day. I also do the laundry once a week, and I'll iron my clothes for work. As for cleaning the room, I tidy up once in a while to keep things from getting too messy...just daily upkeep stuff. - piling up：堆积 - cleaning their litter box：清理猫砂盆 - do the laundry：洗衣服 - tidy up once in a while：偶尔整理 - daily upkeep stuff：日常维护的活儿 Are there any chores you dislike doing? Absolutely. I hate sweeping and mopping. I usually put it off until I can't stand how messy it gets! The main reason the floor becomes dirty is because of my own hair and of course the cat fur. When I sweep, I hate having to pick out all the loose hairs that wrap around the broom. That said, I've found a way to make it bearable: I'll play my favorite music through a speaker while I roll up my sleeves to do a proper cleaning of the room. This way, I actually enjoy the process a little bit. - sweeping and mopping：扫地和拖地 - put it off：推迟；拖延 - messy：脏乱；凌乱 - cat fur：猫毛 - pick out：挑出 - wrap around the broom：缠绕在扫帚上 - make it bearable：让它变得可以忍受 - roll up my sleeves：卷起袖子 - do a proper cleaning：进行一次彻底的清洁 - a little bit：一点儿；稍微 Do men or women do more chores in your country? I'd say women still do more chores in most households here, there's no doubt about that. Whether it's a family in the city or the countryside, women are usually the ones handling most of the daily household tasks. They cook the meals, keep the house clean, do the grocery shopping, and look after the kids. Even though more men are helping out now than before, the majority of chores still fall to women in a typical family setup I think. - in most households：在大多数家庭中 - there's no doubt about that：毫无疑问 - handling：处理 - do the grocery shopping：采购食品杂货 - look after：照料 - Even though：即使；尽管 - the majority of：……的大多数 - fall to：落到……身上 - a typical family setup：典型的家庭 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 最近没更新，是因为Lauren 这段时间在布达佩斯出差，行程紧凑就暂时耽误了更新。先跟大家说声抱歉～分享几张布达佩斯的照片，一起云打卡这座城！Have a great weekend! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 欢迎朋友们加入我的【知识星球】 里面有10万字的雅思口语书，内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (2) 55个Part 3话题语料 (3) 40个Part 2话题语料 (4) 雅思口语高分tips (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 这本口语书是PDF的，放在了我的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有雅思听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。 星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 今天来聊聊怎么写雅思大作文的introduction。 播客文稿点这里。 Mac的雅思范文专辑点这里。 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 欢迎朋友们加入我的【知识星球】 里面有10万字的雅思口语书，内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (2) 55个Part 3话题语料 (3) 40个Part 2话题语料 (4) 雅思口语高分tips (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 这本口语书是PDF的，放在了我的知识星球，星球里除了这本书，还有雅思听说读写、语法基础知识等内容。 星球目前的价格是388元/年，欢迎加入。如不适合，星球可以3天无理由退款，付的款会原路返还给你。