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 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Do you like singing? Yes, I do, especially when I’m relaxed or in a good mood, and usually, on most occasions, when I’m by myself. Back when I was a child, I was one of the most singing-loving creatures in the village. I learned catchy songs from the CDs at home and practiced them at the top of my lungs whenever I was outside in nature. Oh, I also taught my sisters and neighbors some of the songs I learned at school or from the CDs, and to this day, I still enjoy singing. * in a good mood 心情好 * singing-loving creatures 爱唱歌的人 * catchy songs 朗朗上口的歌 * outside in nature 在大自然里 [图片] Have you ever learned how to sing? Not properly, no. I’ve never taken any professional singing lessons but back in my elementary and junior high school days, we did have music lessons once a week where we were either taught a song, or as the case may be in most cases, told to do homework from other subjects. I learned to sing mostly by imitating those songs I heard on CDs or the old-style cassettes. * professional singing lessons 专业的歌唱课 * imitate 模仿 * old-style 老式的 * cassettes 磁带 [图片] Whom do you want to sing for? These days I only sing for myself when I’m by myself at home. Gone are the days of singing at the top of my lungs in the hills because living in a high-rise in the city doesn’t allow for that ‘noise’, lest I become the ‘crazy’ woman of the neighborhood. * gone are the days of ……的日子一去不复返 * high-rise 高楼 [图片] Do you think singing can bring happiness to people? Yes, definitely and that’s why music is such a giant industry! Singing allows people to release their emotions, whatever they might be, sadness, anger, or excitement. Happiness is a natural feeling that comes to us when we sing and that’s probably why people always sing during family or friend get-togethers, especially in China what with KTV and the like. * giant 巨大的 * release 释放 * and the like 等等

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Why do people rarely use cash now? I think this definitely stems from two prime causes. First, the advancement of banking technology has erased the necessity to withdraw money from an ATM and go to the bank, always a time-consuming process and second, I think simply because we have the smartphone, which I suppose is related to the first reason, but for the first I mean more about Internet banking, whereas with the second reason, I think for consumers, the smartphone has revolutionized the way we think about money. Connected with this new way of paying, convenience definitely plays a major factor, as we can buy things easily without having to even be physically present, so, cash has, in essence, become obsolete. * the advancement of 发展；进步 * erased 移除；抹掉 * withdraw money from an ATM 从自动取款机上取钱 * time-consuming process 耗时的过程 * revolutionized the way 革新了……的方式 * convenience 便利 * plays a major factor 是主要因素 * in essence 本质上 * obsolete 淘汰的；过时的 [图片] When do children begin to comprehend the value of money? I’m not sure. I guess it depends on the maturity level of individual kids and perhaps how the parents educate their kids, but generally, I think children start to form the idea of the value of money not long after they are capable of following their parents on their various grocery shopping trips. And in China, also after realizing the value of the much-vaunted and sought-after red envelope at Chinese New Year. When a kid realizes that the red notes in a red envelope can help the child buy candy or toys, then the value of money is definitely realized. So, how old is that? Perhaps at the age of 4 or 5? * maturity level 成熟度 * educate 教育 * capable of 能够 * grocery shopping trips 购物 * much-vaunted 大肆宣扬的；备受吹捧的 * sought-after 很吃香的 [图片] Should parents reward children with money? Yes and no. I mean, rewarding kids with money is a double-edged sword as it can help youngsters to establish their understanding of the value of money; however, if children are rewarded in monetary form whenever positive deeds are performed, they are likely to get the impression that everything can be exchanged for money, which I think is not a healthy worldview, I’m afraid. Thus, I believe parents should compensate children with money only for something they’ve worked really hard on and incentivize them with non-monetary items on other occasions, instead of solely relying on money to motivate their young. [图片] Is it necessary to teach children to save money? Yes, absolutely. In fact, it should be one of the first lessons taught to kids. Saving money is a life skill, for instance, it keeps ‘rainy days’ at bay, and savings help us to weather the ‘financially-down’ days in life; a proper and well-executed saving plan also enables us to purchase or pay for big-ticket items such as education, buying a house, or a car, something that’s extremely difficult to find money for in a short period time without saving ahead of time. As such, I think money-saving is one of the essential life lessons parents should teach their kids. * a life skill 生活技能 * keep...at bay 拜托……的烦恼 * to weather 经受住 * well-executed 实施得当 * big-ticket items 大的开销 * essential 必需的 * life lessons 人生功课

What do you usually do on your birthday? When my birthday comes around these days, one thing I’ll definitely do is reward myself with a new book – a type of self-appointed ceremony. Other than that, I’ll either celebrate it at one of my favorite restaurants and on most occasions, that would be a Sichuan restaurant, or cook a nice dinner at home. No fancy birthday cakes because they are not really my cup of tea, plus they contain too much sugar and calories. Oh, my family will also call me on video and we’ll chat for about half an hour or more, sometimes even an hour, and when it ends, I’ll find a virtual red envelope sent to my WeChat from all my family members. * reward myself with 奖励自己…… * self-appointed 自封的 * ceremony 仪式 * not really my cup of tea 不是我的菜 * virtual 虚拟的 [图片] What did you do on your birthday when you were young? Back when I was a kid, I anticipated my birthday one or even two months before it because it was one of the very few occasions that I’d actually have a very nice homemade dinner cooked by my parents. Usually, the main dish would be dumplings with pork filling. No birthday cakes of course because we couldn’t afford one and strangely, no gifts. My parents and my sisters and I would chat over the tasty food and stories of our childhood were shared. I guess it’s the best gift for birthdays – that family members get together and have a good time. * one of the very few occasions 极少数场合 * homemade 自制的；家里做的 * main dish 主菜 * tasty food 美食；可口的食物 [图片] Do you think it is important for you to celebrate your birthday? Well, these days I feel my birthday is like any other day of the year. If not for my family, sometimes I’d even forget all about it. I guess it’s because part of me just doesn’t want to grow old. * like any other day of the year 跟一年里其它时候一样 [图片] Whose birthday do you think is the most important to celebrate in China? I’m not sure but I guess it would probably be the oldest person in the family, for example, the grandfather, I mean, especially if they are getting up there in years, such as turning 80. I think turning such an age is a big deal, so I think most families will have a big celebration for one’s 80th, and perhaps also for kids when turning 18, as it’s sort of a watershed moment for becoming an adult, or at least a mature child. I know there are some parts of China, like in Canton, that also make a big fuss about a baby turning 1 month old: I think it’s called a red egg party. So, I guess those are some of the significant ages that are considered important birthdays in my country. * getting up there in years 上了年纪 * is a big deal 是大事 * celebration 庆祝 * watershed moment 分水岭 * make a big fuss about 大张旗鼓 * significant 重要的 * are considered 被认为是 [图片]

What transportation do you use the most? I take the metro the most because the subway system in Guangzhou is super-convenient. It stretches in all directions of the city and it even reaches Foshan, the adjacent city! I take the metro to work, to go shopping, and to the airport if I have a flight or to pick up a friend. The metro ticket is pretty inexpensive and so it’s affordable for everyone, and besides that, it’s clean and safe and that’s another reason why I use it. * subway system 地铁系统 * super-convenient 超级方便 * stretch 延申 * in all directions 四面八方 * adjacent 相邻的 * inexpensive 便宜的；实惠的 * affordable 负担的起的 [Image] How is the subway system developing in your country? Well, I actually think China’s subway system development is amazing. I have seen videos of other countries’ metro systems, and they kinda look like a nightmare. But China’s systems, in so many cities, are extensive, clean, safe and cheap. I think they’re a marvel of engineering. The general trend is that they are building more lines connecting city centers to outlying districts while simultaneously designing and constructing lines to shorten the distance between certain spots. For example, Guangzhou’s sprawling metro system now allows commuting between different districts that before was a time-consuming journey, as now they have more lines and stations that more directly connect districts and there’re even express trains. I really believe, again for example in Guangzhou, that it has released a great deal of economic potential that previously was locked away in remote satellite communities, but now, even a young, and one might say, relatively poor person, now has easy access to the city, which I think is great, so yeah, I have to say China’s subway development is incredible. * nightmare 噩梦 * extensive 广大的；广阔的 * a marvel of engineering 工程奇迹 * time-consuming 耗时的 * express trains 快车 * release 释放 * a great deal of 大量的 * economic potential 经济潜力 * locked away 锁着 * satellite communities 卫星城 [Image] What can be improved in public transportation? Honestly, I can’t think of anything I would change, except for perhaps the subway running later at night as many lines close around 11 pm, but I don't go out late at night anyway, so that doesn't affect me. Is public transportation popular in China? Hmmm, I’d have to say yes, simply because there are so many people. I mean, I think many people usually do a lot of things in China, like even one percent of the population is a very large number of people, but when it comes to public transportation, I’d have to say that generally speaking, millions upon millions of people take public transportation, and unlike, say, Japan, where people are literally squeezed into the subway cars like sardines, that the subway, even during rush hour, minus a few particular lines in some cities, are still fairly comfortable to ride in. It sure beats driving cost-wise, and as I’ve mentioned, it has several favorable aspects, such as safety, cleanliness, etcetera. If a city in China has a subway system, you can guarantee that if a person doesn't have a car but lives relatively close to a subway station, they’ll take the subway. It's a hassle-free way of commuting to work and into the city. * millions upon millions of 千千万万的 * literally 字面意义上 * squeezed into the subway cars like sardines 像沙丁鱼一样挤在地铁上 * beats 战胜 * cost-wise 在价格方面 * etcetera 等等 * hassle-free 省事儿的 [Image]

Do you prefer buying things from big companies or small businesses? It depends on what I purchase. When I procure home appliances like a washing machine, a fridge, or an oven, I head to a big brand shop. I also prefer household names when buying expensive items such as a laptop. For grocery shopping, however, I tend to visit local private shops and because of this, I’m acquainted with a lot of the owners of local businesses at the local wet market. * purchase 购买 * procure 购买 * home appliances 家电 * head to 去；前往 * big brand 大品牌 * household names 名牌；家喻户晓的名字 * acquainted with 熟悉 [Image] Do you know many small businesses? As I mentioned, I know quite a few of the local meat and vegetable market stall owners at the wet market that is opposite to where I live. I know quite a few because I frequent a number of vegetable stalls, meat stands, fruit shops, dry goods shops, and a fresh chicken outlet. I know them and they all know me and my preferences. The thing about small businesses is the human connection between the business owner and the customers, and once you find the right one, you can feel assured that their product is good. Also, downstairs from where I live, there are a number of neighborhood shops whose owners I’m familiar with. * market stall 市场摊位 * frequent 经常光顾 * a number of 几个 * outlet 专营店 * preferences 喜好 [Image] Have you ever thought about starting your own business? Not only have I considered it, I actually started doing a small online business a few years back. These days, if you have an idea, work hard, and get online, and don’t give up, if you do these things, then there’s a good chance you can have some success with it I think. [Image] Have you ever worked in small businesses? Yes, I work for my own small business and because of this, I know the ups and downs a small business can face. It demands a lot of time, attention to detail, patience, and the ability to handle pressure. I also worked at a large company before and things there were more organized and training sessions were constantly offered and I could always seek help from my supervisors. In comparison though, a small business owner needs to deal with everything, so you’re constantly learning but without the formal training sessions. * ups and downs 起伏 * attention to detail 注意细节 * patience 耐心 * handle pressure 处理压力 * training sessions 培训 * deal with 处理 [Image]

Where and how can we get to know people from different cultures? Off the top of my head, there are a few ways to meet people from other cultures, I think. I guess one of the most obvious ways would be, providing we have enough time and money, to travel. In this way, we can quickly gain first-hand experience in exploring a foreign area and the local inhabitants, their language, their traditions, and their unique lifestyle. Another way I guess is through social media platforms. People from all over the world are connected to some type of social media channel, and so by using such platforms, we can encounter and chat with those from different cultural backgrounds. This is much more affordable of course for most people. A third way is to attend cultural or language-related events, for instance, events organized by a local language exchange group. But there are, of course, other ways, such as going to where foreigners hang out, and also to work for a company that hires foreign employees. In fact, I’d say there are numerous ways. * gain first-hand experience 获得一手经历 * local inhabitants 当地居民 * unique 独特的 * social media platforms 社媒平台 * encounter 遇到 * affordable 负担得起的 * -related 与……相关的 * hang out 闲逛 [图片] What are the advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity? Hmmm, let me see, well, I guess the advantage of this type of diversity is that it can help accelerate innovation and creativity, especially in the art and entertainment sectors. Compared with monoculture, a society peppered with a variety of ethnicities and cultures tends to be able to view challenges and solve problems, perhaps, from more perspectives. This diversity, however, can also be a recipe for conflict. Unlike its monoculture counterpart, where people speak the same language and share similar traditions, and have a universal understanding and even a collective mindset, cultural diversity is bound to, at some point, I think, to erupt into conflict, for instance, in religious beliefs and in social rights, or between local inhabitants and the different and perhaps radical views of foreigners. Diversity with limits can be positive I think, but unchecked, I think it’s a recipe for disaster. * accelerate innovation 加速创新 * creativity 创意 * monoculture 单一文化 * peperred with 充斥着 * a variety of 多种多样的 * enthnicities 民族 * counterpart 对应的事物 * have a universal understanding 普遍的/相似的理解 * a collective mindset 集体心理 * erupt into 爆发 * conflict 冲突 * radical views 激进的观点 * unchecked 放任；不加约束 * a recipe for 导致 * disaster 灾难 [图片] How can traditional cultures and other cultures co-exist? I’m not quite sure what ‘other cultures’ refer to here, but if you mean non-traditional cultures, then I’m not sure if in fact that they can co-exist except with a shaky understanding that without tolerance and compromise, things could become unstable. In many societies these days, I think traditional cultures are being elbowed out of the way to make way for some new way of thinking for new groups of people. I think it actually takes a top-down approach to ensure traditional culture continues to exist, for without that direction, traditional culture it seems doomed to extinction, at least that’s how I read it. * a shaky understanding 模棱两可的理解 * tolerance 容忍 * compromise 妥协 * unstable 不稳定 * elbowed out of the way 被挤走 * make way for 给……腾出空间 * top-down approach 从上至下的方式 * doomed to 注定 * extinction 灭绝 [图片] Which Chinese traditions are disappearing? Interesting question. Personally, I think festival-relevant traditions are gradually fading away. For instance, Spring Festival, the most important festival here in China, seems to me to be gradually lacking the atmosphere of the Chinese New Year I remember, and year by year something seems different. Some families and some of the younger generations don’t even bother to cook at home on the eve of the Chinese New Year, and instead celebrate it in a restaurant. Another phenomenon I’ve noticed is that local dialects are disappearing. Youngsters are taught in Mandarin and they communicate with their peers in Mandarin as well, and it doesn’t really matter where their parents are originally from. Consequently, I think it’s only a matter of time before some dialects disappear, and in doing so, will result in some traditions being lost. It's the price we pay I guess for ‘development’. * -relevant 和……相关的 * fading away 逐渐淡出 * don't even bother to 甚至懒得…… * phenomenon 现象 * local dialects 方言 [图片]

Do you like modern art or traditional art? Oh, I have to say, I’m not an art person, so I really have very little knowledge about this subject, but from what I know, for instance in China, traditional art is like watercolor painting that usually depicts trees, mountains, clouds, and also, horses, which symbolize success, so you know, I do like it but I wouldn’t go out and buy one. Also, calligraphy is a traditional art, where the object of the art is to make the characters as beautiful but as stylish as possible, I think. I did have a calligraphy class once and I did like it, but it was quite time-consuming, though I do like the art form. For modern art though, sometimes I have no idea what the point is, or the purpose, especially some pictures that I’ve seen from, for example, the Tate gallery in London. Some of the stuff is just bizarre, and doesn’t even appear to be art. So from what I know, I don’t like modern art. * art person 喜爱艺术的人 * watercolor painting 水彩画 * depicts 展现；描画 * symbolize 象征 * calligraphy 书法 * characters 汉字 * stylish 雅致的 * time-consuming 耗时的 * art form 艺术形式 * bizarre 怪诞的；古怪的 [Image] Do you want to be an artist? There was a brief period of time in my childhood when I enjoyed drawing the human face but that quickly came to an end with the ever-increasing load of Chinese and math homework that I had to do. These days, I adore reading more than anything else, so no, I’m not inclined to become an artist, but who knows, maybe one day I’ll write a book. * quickly came to an end 很快结束了 * ever-increasing 越来越多的 * adore 很喜欢 * inclined to 容易；倾向于 [Image] Do you like visiting art galleries? Again, no, I don’t. I might have a look around if I happen to bump into one. I mean, visiting art exhibitions and appreciating art pieces is simply not something I’m into. * bump into 遇见；撞上 * appreciate 欣赏 [Image] Do you like art? Half and half I suppose. I mean, art is a wide subject, like writing is an art, music is an art, and for that matter even dancing is an art. But if you mean things like painting or sculpting, well, when encountering an interesting piece of art, for instance, a painting, I might go online and find out more information about its origin, the background of the artist and the painting, and what it’s trying to convey, but generally, art is not something that I’d spend much time on unless you include books, which I also consider a type of art if it’s a novel. * a piece of art 一件艺术品 * sculpting 雕塑 * encounter 偶遇 * origin 来源 * background 背景 * convey 传达 * a novel 一部小说 [Image]

What does it feel like the next morning if you stay up late? It depends. If I burn the midnight oil, I’ll usually feel exhausted and kinda spaced out and find it extremely difficult to keep my eyes open in the morning, and my brain will have morning fog. But sometimes, strangely enough, I actually might feel even more energetic. I remember there were nights when I had to work until 3 in the morning and wake up around 7 because the next day was a global conference or something like that and still get through the day without yawning, but I find, to be honest, that these days I really need a nap if I go to bed past, say, 12:30. * burn the midnight oil 熬夜 * feel exhausted 感到筋疲力尽 * keep my eyes open 睁开眼睛 * morning fog 晨雾 * global conference 全球会议 * get through the day 度过一天 * yawning 打呵欠 * a nap 午觉 [图片] Did you stay up late when you were a kid? Rarely. I stayed up only on the eve of Chinese New Year, waiting for the arrival of the New Year together with my family. Other than that, I also stayed up during the last few nights of the summer vacation, trying to complete the insane amount of homework that I’d been procrastinating about since Day 1 of the vacation. But those are the only times I can remember when I stayed up late. * summer vacation 暑假 * insane amount of 不计其数的 * procrastinate 拖延 [图片] What do you usually do when you stay up late? Well, it’s funny, but I used to go to bed very early, but these days I’ve turned into a night owl, so I have developed a night routine: doing work, reading, and watching videos, and I guess that’s because I sort of discovered that I’m so much more efficient in the evenings. Sometimes I actually stay up too late, usually when I can’t put a book down. * a night owl 夜猫子 * can't put a book down 沉迷阅读 [图片] Do you often stay up late? Admittedly, yes. I know it’s a horrible habit, but I can’t help it. It’s usually around 1 o’clock by the time I’m in bed these days. I teach, write, and read in the evenings and before you know it, it’s like half-past midnight. However, I do have the luxury to sleep in these days, but still, I think it’s not good. I want to change this, and start doing morning exercise again, which I used to do. * a horrible habit 很糟糕的习惯 * can't help it 真没办法 * by the time 到……的时候 * before you know it 不知不觉 * have the luxury 可以……；有时间…… * sleep in 睡懒觉

What did you do last weekend? Last weekend? Actually, I was quite busy. Other than reading a book called Whispers of the Dead, teaching for a few hours on both Saturday and Sunday, and writing an article, I went grocery shopping and then I also cooked dinner on both days. Actually, that’s sort of a normal weekend for me. * cook dinner 做晚餐 * normal 正常的；常规的 [图片] Do you like weekends? Yeah, absolutely. For most people, the weekend is spent relaxing and sleeping in, and then perhaps going on an outing, or going shopping, but for me, it’s actually spent working, grocery shopping, reading, and writing. Sort of boring perhaps, but for me, it’s part of my routine. My weekdays are actually a little more flexible, so in that way, I’m kind of lucky. * spent relaxing 用来放松 * sleeping in 睡懒觉 * going on an outing 郊游 * grocery shopping 购买日常用品 * part of 是……的一部分 * routine 常规；惯例 * flexible 灵活的 [图片] Do you make plans for your weekends? Yeah, I do, but as I mentioned, I sort of have a standardized routine, but of course, there are always things to be done, so I make time for those things and plan times for certain things that need to be accomplished, rather than being willy-nilly and aimless. * standardized 标准化的 * make time for 留时间给…… * need to be accomplished 需要完成 * willy-nilly 拖延的；乱糟糟的 * aimless 没有目的 [图片] What do you usually do on weekends? Well, as mentioned before, my weekends usually entail reading, writing, teaching, cooking, and grocery shopping. In saying that, however, my favorite thing to do on weekends is reading beside my living room window on a sunny day. * entail 包含 * beside 在……旁边

Who should pay for the preservation of historic buildings? I think it’s primarily the government’s responsibility to fund the preservation of historic buildings because these buildings are considered state-owned properties and are managed by the local authorities, and conversely, if there’s any revenue generated from opening the place up for tourism, it goes to them as well, therefore, they should be the ones that pay for the maintenance of buildings of historical importance. * to fund 提供资金 * state-owned properties 国有资产 * managed by 由……管理 * local authorities 当地政府 * revenue generated from 产生营收 * the maintenance of 保养和维护 * historical importance 历史重要性 [图片] Who should be responsible for protecting historic buildings? In this sense, I think it is everybody’s responsibility as they are part of the cultural heritage, for which we all belong to, so, subsequently, the government, private entities, and regular citizens should all have some obligation to protect historic buildings, and I think this can even go as far as the public donating money to certain organizations that help with the upkeep of some of these buildings. So, from the government side, they can fund, manage, and maintain such spots, but for us regular folk, we can help by not damaging these buildings, for instance, by not defacing the walls or damaging any part of the structure. * cultural heritage 文化遗传 * private entities 私人机构 * regular citizens 普通公民 * donating money 捐款 * the upkeep of 保养 * regular folk 普通人 * defacing 损伤外貌 [图片] Is it difficult to protect and preserve historic buildings? I’m not quite sure, but I would have to imagine that they are, yes, as most of these buildings were constructed with stone and wood at least one hundred or even hundreds, or maybe even thousands of years ago, and even though they’ve survived throughout the ages, they are more vulnerable than modern concrete structures from the elements. Other than the buildings themselves, many historic drawings are found in some of these structures, making it even more challenging to protect and preserve them. As a result, preserving buildings of historic importance demands efforts in both monetary form and in expertise, so, come to think of it, I believe it’s probably quite a monumental task to fund, manage, preserve, maintain, and protect these historical sites. * constructed 建造 * stone and wood 石头和木料 * survived 存活 * throughout the ages 千秋万代；在过去的岁月里 * vulnerable 脆弱的 * modern 现代的 * concrete structures 混凝土结构 * historic drawings 历史图案 * challenging 挑战的 * in monetary form 钱财的形式 * expertise 专业知识/技能 * a monumental task 艰巨的任务 [图片] What are the differences between learning history from books and videos? Hmmm, that’s an interesting question, but I think the differences lie in two aspects in my opinion. One huge contrast is, of course, the degree of interest. Compared with books, videos are equipped with visual and sound effects, and therefore, for many people, make them more engaging. On the other hand, and especially if one actually has some sort of interest in history, then books are probably more fascinating as they can contain details that one probably won’t come across in a short video. So I would say those are two of the main differences, one is visual and perhaps ‘fun’, one can say, and the other is more detailed and allows one to have moments of clarity, or perhaps, realizations about the past. * degree of interest 感兴趣的程度 * equipped with 含有 * sound effects 音效 * engaging 吸引人的 * interest in 对……的兴趣 * fascinating 迷人的 * come across 遇到 * moments of clarity 清醒的时刻 * realizations 领会；领悟 [图片]

Is there anything you want to change about your school? Yes, and on the top of my list is changing the schedule. I wish we didn’t have to start school so early. I’m not an early riser, so getting to the classroom always feels like a slog for me. And the other is of course homework. I surely wish we had less of that! Hmm, thirdly would be having the ability to take some electives that are not part of my major or set curriculum, so like for instance, I would be interested in taking a psychology course, but it’s totally unconnected, so it’s next to impossible to get in, at least in my school. * an early riser 起得早的人 * feels like 就像 * a slog 一段时间的艰苦工作（或努力） * electives 选修课 * set curriculum 固定的课表 * psychology 心理学 [图片] What are the differences between your school and other schools? I think there are two main differences, one is equipment and the other, the teaching quality. In terms of the facilities, my school could have more decent dormitories, and in my opinion, lacks laboratory equipment, especially the latest tech. And when it comes to the ‘soft’ side, I mean staff-wise, a big difference is the lack of highly experienced instructors. So, comparing my current school with others, I’d say those are some of the main differences. * equipment 设备 * facilities 设施 * decent 像样的；不错的 * laboratory 实验室 * -wise ……方面 * the lack of 缺乏 * instructors 讲师 [图片] Do you like your current learning atmosphere? Yes, I do. Despite the deficiencies, I still think it’s pretty good. Currently, I learn by myself, as I’m sort of taking a sabbatical from school, and so I can set my own learning goals, schedule, and learn at my own pace. Along with my textbooks, I do research online and I actually enjoy reading and checking out information online when necessary and once in a while, I’ll stretch my legs or gaze at the trees outside. Anyway, I’m pretty fortunate at the moment, but in saying that, and despite what I just said, even at my school I enjoy it, the learning environment, because most of my classmates are pretty good and luckily, my teachers are also not too bad, overall. * deficiencies 缺陷 * taking a sabbatical 休假 * learn at my own pace 按自己的进度学习 * textbooks 教材 * do research online 在网上进行研究 * checking out 找到 * stretch my legs 伸伸腿 * gaze at 凝望；注视 [图片] Do you go to a good school? Not bad, I guess. I live in a tier 2 city, and my school is one of the best ones in the city, so even though it may also be a tier 2 type of school, overall, I can’t grumble. Is it perfect? Not by a long shot, but I enjoy my time there. * a tier 2 city 一个二线城市 * I can't grumble. 不能发牢骚 * by a long shot 在很大程度上

How do people in your country usually respond to noises? Haha, well, I think the word I would use is ‘indifferent’. But maybe that’s the wrong word. Perhaps the way people respond to noise here is one of tolerance. A high threshold for noise; people don't seem to notice the noise around them, be it construction noise, crying kids, or traffic noise. And even if people do, they opt for ignoring it. For instance, the passengers on a coach won’t do anything or say anything towards the parent of a kid crying his head off. The reason behind this is something in our culture I think – minding your own business is saving yourself the trouble. Anyway, I would say for the most part, indifference is how most people react to the cacophony of noises in my country. * indifferent 漠不关心的 * tolerance 忍耐；容忍 * a high threshold for 高阈值 * opt for 选择 * ignore 忽视 * mind your own business 不管闲事 * save yourself the trouble 不惹麻烦 * the cacophony of noises 嘈杂的噪音 [Image] Which is exposed to more noise, the city or the countryside? I think urban areas get much more noise because there’s always a lot going on in cities – construction, traffic, home decorations, kids, babies crying, and so on. The countryside, on the other hand, is much more peaceful. Instead of all types of noises from all types of machines and traffic, one hears the sounds of nature, birds, frogs, and the like. Once in a while, some guy will start up a machine or whatnot, but generally, in the countryside, life is slower and the only real noise is the conversations emanating from the elders gathering. * urban areas 城镇地区 * the sounds of nature 大自然的声音 * and the like 等等 * whatnot （由于拿不准而不指名）某种东西 * emanating from 来源于 [Image] What kinds of noises are there in your life? In my daily life, hmmm, number one has to be the traffic out front of the apartment. I really notice it when there’s like a national holiday festival, like Spring Festival, when the road falls silent. Then you notice how peaceful everything is. Also, since the second half of last year, I’ve been forced to listen to the heart-wrenching noise from a home decoration project in my building – noises ranging from knocking down the walls, and all types of drilling, to hammering. It usually starts at 9 in the morning and doesn’t stop until 12:30, then starts again at 2 and goes on till 6-ish. I remember there was one period when the noise was too much to bear, I had to go for a walk every day for about 40 minutes. I couldn’t do anything at all if I stayed home! But lately it’s gotten much better. Downstairs in the evening, another noise is from the kids playing. I don’t mind that so much, the sound of laughter isn’t a bad thing. * falls silent 安静下来 * heart-wrenching 揪心揪肺的 * home decoration 装修 * drilling 钻孔声 * hammering 敲击声 * 6-ish 6点左右 * the sound of laughter 笑声 [Image] Do you think it’s good for children to make noise? I think it’s natural for kids to make noise when they’re playing and enjoying themselves. However, children should be taught to be quiet in enclosed public places such as a library, a train, or a museum because noise can affect others in such shared spaces. To keep quiet is a form of respecting each other, but as I just mentioned about the kids where I live, outside they can be loud, but that’s what kids do. It would be weird if there weren’t any sounds from children. * enclosed 封闭的 * public places 公共场所 * shared spaces 共享空间 * that's what kids do 小孩就是那样的 * weird 奇怪 [Image]