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 play video games? No, video games aren't really my cup of tea. Instead, I much prefer engaging in activities that allow me to explore my interests, for instance, reading, leisurely walks, spending time with my cats, and blogging. These are some of the things I find myself doing when I have downtime or a break. Video games simply don't appeal to me; they're not even on my radar. Conversely, many of my friends are avid gamers, and occasionally, they gather just to play video games. While it's not my first choice to spend my pastime, I appreciate the social aspect that video games bring to their lives. * my cup of tea 我喜欢的东西 * engage in 参与；从事 * activities 活动 * leisurely walks 散步 * blogging 写博客 * downtime 休息 * avid gamers 游戏达人 * social aspect 社交方面 [图片] Would you watch others play video games? No, absolutely not. As I mentioned earlier, video games aren't part of my leisure activities. Being a non-gamer, I’m not familiar with gaming terms and the strategies needed to progress to the next levels in games. During my childhood, however, there was a brief period when I played video games with my sisters, and I must admit, it became quite addictive. Our late-night gaming sessions led to a fair share of scoldings from our parents due to the disruptive sounds and our passionate and angry shouting. However, those were different times, and currently, neither playing nor observing video games holds much appeal for me. * strategies 策略 * a brief period 一小段时间 * addictive 上瘾 * gaming sessions 游戏环节 * scoldings 责备 * disruptive 破坏性的 * passionate 激烈的 * observe 观察 * holds much appeal for me 有吸引力 [图片] Do you think people spend too much time playing video games? For sure, yes, I do. I think that people tend to spend an excessive amount of time playing video games. A noticeable trend I've observed is the prevalence of young individuals engaged in gaming while commuting, often with headphones on and their smartphones in both hands. While it may offer an effective way to pass the commute, I believe this practice is ultimately unhealthy. Prolonged screen exposure can have a detrimental effect on one’s eyesight. Moreover, immersing oneself in the virtual world may lead to a gradual disconnection from the physical, slashing opportunities for meaningful social engagement, and subsequently, hindering their natural curiosity. * spend an excessive amount of time 花大量时间 * a noticeable trend 一个显而易见的趋势 * the prevalence of 盛行 * commute 通勤 * an effective way 一个有效的方法 * ultimately 最终；终究 * prolonged 长期的 * screen exposure 看屏幕的时间 * a detrimental effect 不好的影响 * immerse 沉浸于 * virtual world 虚拟世界 * disconnection from 与……失联 * slash 削减 * meaningful 有意义的 * social engagement 社交 * hinder 阻碍 * natural curiosity 天生的好奇心 [图片] Do you prefer playing video games alone or with others? Since I don’t play, I have no preference. However, recalling the brief gaming phase during my childhood, I have fond memories of playing video games with my siblings. Those experiences were highlighted by occasional angry yelling over failures and enthusiastic celebrations of victories. In that context, I would say I lean towards enjoying gaming more when shared with others. The camaraderie and shared excitement made those moments particularly enjoyable. * recall 回忆；回响起 * fond memories 美好的回忆 * siblings 兄弟姐妹 * highlight 突出 * occasional 偶尔的 * camaraderie 友情；情谊 * particularly 尤其 欢迎朋友们加入我们的【知识星球】 价格：388元/年。 如不适合，加入后3天内无理由退款。 [图片]

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 When you were a child, did you usually sit on the floor? No, and actually, I don’t quite remember if I sat on the floor at all, but I guess I didn’t because sitting on the floor was the number one ‘no-no’ thing to do in my home. My mom was always too occupied with all types of housework and farm work to spare time for laundry, and I think that’s why sitting on the floor was frowned upon … it simply meant more work for my mom. I recollect sitting on the bed most of the time or at the small dining table in what you might call the main room. * number one 'no-no' thing to do 最不能做的事 * to spare time for 抽时间…… * frowned upon 不满；皱眉 [图片] Do you feel sleepy when you are sitting down for a long time? It depends on what I’m doing while sitting down. If I just sit in a quiet place and read a book I enjoy, I won’t feel drowsy until I put the book down, but if I sit down without doing anything, I could probably fall asleep after just a short while. * drowsy 昏昏欲睡 [图片] Do you always sit down for a long time? Unfortunately, I do. Back when I was working in an office, I basically had to spend most of the day sitting in front of my laptop and I stood up only to attend meetings and take a short break once a while. Now that I’m working from home, I’m sitting relatively less because I have a stand-up desk and I constantly walk about the apartment to do some housework or make myself a drink, or that type of thing. * basically 基本上 * relatively less 相对更少 * a stand-up desk 站立式桌子 * constantly 不时；不断 [图片] Where is your favorite place to sit? My favorite place to sit is the cozy corner in the living room of my apartment where I have a desk facing a big window, a chair in front of the desk, and a lamp and a bookcase on the right side of the desk. During the day time I have a nice view of the greenery outside and in the evening, as I said, it’s quite cozy. In fact, I love this little corner so much that I spend most of my time sitting there. * cozy corner 温馨的角落 * lamp 台灯 * greenery 绿植；绿荫 欢迎朋友们加入我们的【知识星球】 价格：388元/年。 如不适合，加入后3天内无理由退款。 [图片]

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Describe an important river in your country. You should say: * Where it is located * How big/long it is * What it looks like * And explain why it is important [图片] An important river in my country is Zhujiang, or in English, the Pearl River. It’s an extensive river system located in south China. I think it starts from Yunnan, a Southwest province, and then passes through Guizhou, Guangxi, and then Guangdong Province, from where it feeds into the South China Sea. I’m not sure how long it is, but I guess it’s at least 2,000 kilometers in length. The Pearl River system is pretty vast and on its last stretch before flowing into the sea, a huge delta in Canton has developed and includes many estuaries, some of which are used for deep-water ships, and it’s been one of the country’s richest and fastest-growing zones for hundreds of years. This area is actually called the Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region, covering Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Macao, Hong Kong, Dongguan, Foshan, and so on, which are some of the country’s most prosperous cities. The Pear River is extremely important for quite a few factors. First, it serves as an important drinking water resource for cities and towns along its banks. Second, being the longest river in south China, it has been an essential channel for transporting cargo and passengers for thousands of years, and besides that, it was part of the maritime Silk Road route. And lastly, as I mentioned just now, the Pearl River Delta Metropolitan Region, which sits along the last stretch of the Pearl River before it feeds into the South China Sea, is an international economic hub. A great amount of goods are manufactured and exported from here and in recent years, this region has evolved into a high-tech zone specializing in robots, artificial intelligence, and so on. So that’s an important river in my country – Zhujiang, or the Pearl River. * extensive 庞大的 * feeds into 注入 * in length 在长度上 * vast 巨大的 * last stretch 最后一段 * delta 三角洲 * estuary 河口；入海口 * deep-water ships 深水船舶 * serves as 作为 * essential 核心的 * maritime 海上的 * exported from 出口 * evolved into 发展成为 * high-tech zone 高科技区 * specializing in 专门从事 欢迎朋友们加入我们的【知识星球】 价格：388元/年。 如不适合，加入后3天内无理由退款。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 What practical skills can young people teach old people? Hmm, need to think about that. Well, these days, I think young people can impart a range of skills to older generations. Because younger people are equipped with technological proficiency, they are able to guide seniors through the intricacies of modern technology. This includes teaching them the nuances of sending messages and making video or audio calls through social media platforms like WeChat. Moreover, this younger demographic can extend their expertise to cover everyday household activities, such as operating a washing machine and an electric oven, and even a robotic sweeping machine, making it easier for seniors in terms of domestic chores. Beyond technological and household skills, I think young people, if they are patient, can help those elderly that have difficulty reading or are even illiterate, especially those in the countryside, as they grapple with such challenges. By spending a little bit of time to help teach some of the basics, at least seniors could be empowered, even a little, to engage with written information. * proficiency 熟练 * intricacy 复杂性；错综复杂 * demographic 人口；同类群体 * expertise 专长；专门知识 * robotic sweeping machine 扫地机器人 * illiterate 不识字的 * grapple with 尽力解决 * empower 赋能；赋予 [图片] How can young people teach old people skills? Well, I think when it comes to actually teaching the elderly new skills, a traditional instructional approach centered on verbal communication might not yield the most effective results. Older learners tend to benefit more from a hands-on, experiential method. This involves physically demonstrating the steps and simplifying processes to easily digestible stages. Take for example training an old person on how to use a dishwasher, whereby I think we can guide them through the functionality of a dishwasher by sequentially explaining each button's purpose. To further solidify the learning experience, younger individuals can craft informative guides enriched with illustrations, pictures, or videos. These visual aids can serve as a tangible reference, aiding in better comprehension and retention. The overarching principle here is to prioritize a practical and visual teaching strategy, ensuring that the learning process is not just about relaying information verbally but actively demonstrating and engaging the older learners in the educational journey. * traditional 传统的 * instructional approach 教学方法 * verbal communication 口头交流 * yield 产出；产生 * hands-on 亲身实践；实际操作 * experiential method 实验方法 * physically demonstrating 亲自示范 * digestible 易消化的；易理解的 * functionality 功能 * sequentially 按顺序 * explain 解释 * solidify 巩固 * craft 精心制作 * enriched with 充满 * visual aids 视觉辅助工具 * tangible 有形的；实际的 * retention 保持；记忆 * the overarching principle 首要原则 * prioritize 优先考虑 [图片] Do you think “showing” is a better way than “telling” in education? Absolutely. As I just mentioned, using a hands-on method whereby the old person, in this case, the trainee, is able to see clearly how something is done. This can be done physically, and also a video can be made to help with the learning process. Conversely, traditional educational methods, which primarily rely on verbal communication and information, often result in one-way interactions that can lead to the trainee’s disinterest. In stark contrast, adopting a "showing" approach can facilitate a more engaging learning experience. There's a well-known saying that encapsulates this sentiment: "Tell me and I will forget; involve me and I will understand." This adage captures the essence of the effectiveness of interactive and visual teaching methods in enhancing comprehension and retention. * trainee 接受培训者 * primarily 主要 * rely on 依赖 * interaction 交互 * disinterest 不感兴趣 * facilitate 促进 * engaging 愉快的 * learning experience 学习经历 * a well-known saying 众所周知的谚语 * encapsulate 概括 * adage 谚语 * capture 抓住 * the essence of ……的精髓 * interactive 互动的；互相配合的 [图片] Do people in your country like to watch videos to learn something? For sure. The prevalence of learning through videos in my country is remarkable I think, in fact, the online training community is massive in China, and it seems everybody is learning one thing or another. I would also add that this trend has transcended age boundaries, with both the young and older generations actively engaging with online educational video content. Among the youth, online tutorial videos are a go-to resource for acquiring skills ranging from cooking techniques to coding skills. Simultaneously, the older generation, particularly females, have embraced the convenience of instructional dance videos as a means to learn and practice new dance forms. The ubiquity of educational videos signifies a transformative shift in how knowledge is acquired, fostering a culture where individuals from all walks of life turn to digital platforms for diverse learning opportunities. 欢迎朋友们加入我们的【知识星球】 价格：388元/年。 如不适合，加入后3天内无理由退款。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Describe a time when you taught a friend/relative something * You should say: * Who you taught * What/how you taught * What the result was * And explain how you felt about the experience [图片] **Standard Phrase **Words showing Cohesion (C&C) An experience I remember teaching a close friend was two years ago. It was my best friend, Mei, who was grappling with challenges in English pronunciation. She had a keen interest in improving her language skills, particularly in achieving a more authentic American accent. In our teaching sessions, I adopted a comprehensive approach. I started by breaking down the basics of English pronunciation, introducing her to phonetic symbols, and sharing various tips and tricks to enhance her pronunciation. It was crucial to create a comfortable learning environment, so we focused on practical exercises that made the learning process enjoyable. I remember laughing a lot! The results were gratifying. She demonstrated exceptional dedication, practicing rigorously, and I was there to provide guidance and give constructive feedback. Over time, her English pronunciation showed remarkable improvement, reflecting her commitment and the effectiveness of our collaborative efforts. Personally, the experience was incredibly rewarding. Being actively involved in someone's learning journey and witnessing tangible progress was fulfilling. It not only highlighted my ability to teach, but also emphasized the impact that supportive and tailored guidance can have on an individual's skill development. This encounter with a hands-on teaching method gave me a sense of accomplishment, confirming that I possess the capability to effectively impart knowledge to those around me. * grapple with 尽力解决 * have a keen interest in 对……有浓厚的兴趣 * authentic 地道的 * teaching sessions 教学环节 * adopt 采取 * a comprehensive approach 全面的办法；综合的方案 * break down 分解 * the basics of ……的基础知识 * phonetic symbols 音标 * tips 技巧 * enhance 增强；提升 * practical exercises 实践练习 * gratifying 令人高兴的；让人满意的 * demonstrate 展示 * exceptional 优秀的；卓越的 * dedication 尽心尽力 * rigorously 严格地 * provide guidance 提供指导 * give constructive feedback 提供建设性的反馈 * remarkable improvement 显著提升 * commitment 投入 * collaborative 合作的；协同的 * incredibly rewarding 非常值得 * actively involved in 积极投入 * witness 目睹 * tangible progress 肉眼可见的进步 * emphasize 强调 * supportive 支持的；给与帮助的 * tailored guidance 专门指导 * encounter with 遇到 * hands-on 亲身实践的；上手的 * a sense of accomplishment 成就感 * possess the capability to 拥有……的能力 * impart knowledge 传授知识 欢迎朋友们加入我们的【知识星球】 价格：388元/年。 如不适合，加入后3天内无理由退款。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 What are the advantages and disadvantages of eating in restaurants? I think there’s at least a couple for both. One of the benefits from dining at a restaurant is that it's fast and convenient, and secondly, it makes a break from cooking at home. Also, with restaurants, one has a diverse range of choices from which to choose, and that can cater to different tastes, and of course, saves one from the hassle of doing dishes. Another thing that comes to mind is the social aspect of dining out, which allows people to socialize with acquaintances, friends and family. On the contrary, the cost, I believe, is considerably higher than cooking at home. Second is that some people may find the atmosphere to be noisy or the place crowded, affecting their overall dining experience. Moreover, the reliance on restaurant meals may contribute to eating unhealthily due to hidden additives like MSG and calories and the like. * dine at a restaurant 出去吃饭 * a break from 休息 * a diverse range of 多种多样的 * different tastes 不同的口味 * save one from the hassle of 省去……的麻烦 * dine out 出去吃饭 * considerably higher than 比……高得多 * atmosphere 气氛 * reliance on 依赖 * additives 添加剂 * MSG 味精 [图片] What fast food is there in your country? In my country, fast food options abound. International chains like KFC and McDonald's offer a variety of items, but predominantly centered around chicken and fries. Subway is another common choice, but nowhere near as busy as the big fast-food chains, and specializes in sandwiches. While Pizza Hut is also ever-present, it may not be as fast as expected, so actually, come to think of it, I’m not sure if we classify it as fast food or not. We also have Chinese versions of the fast-food giants I mentioned, and there are local pizza fast-food joints too. I guess we can say there is also traditional Chinese fast food, like the bowls of hot pot, noodles, soups etcetera, one can buy on the street, but in a way, for me anyway, when I think of fast food, I usually think ‘fast food’ being synonymous with Western food, as in being an element of Western food. * abound 有很多 * international chains 国际连锁 * center around 围绕 * specialize in 专做 * ever-present 永远都在 * classify...as 把……归为 * joints 场所 * synonymous with 是……的代名词 [图片] Why do some people choose to eat out instead of ordering takeout? I think there’s a variety of reasons why people opt to dine out instead of ordering takeout. Primarily, I would say, it's about the ambiance. Restaurants provide a distinct atmosphere which ordering takeout can’t replicate. Whether it's a romantic date, a gathering with coworkers, or a celebration with friends, the social aspect is crucial. Young people often choose popular restaurants like Haidilao, a famous hotpot chain, for birthday celebrations, where they enjoy not just the food, but also the entertaining noodle performances, dances, and the vibrant atmosphere. Moreover, the convenience of restaurants located in or near malls adds an extra layer of enjoyment, allowing people to combine dining with leisure activities like shopping or taking an after-dinner stroll. * opt to 选择 * replicate 复制 * crucial 至关重要的 * vibrant 有活力的；朝气蓬勃的 * add an extra layer of 添加一层…… * leisure 闲暇的；悠闲的 * after-dinner stroll 饭后散步 [图片] Do people in your country socialize in restaurants? Haha, in fact, I would say the Chinese are renowned internationally for being great restaurant socializers. Socializing in restaurants is deeply ingrained in our culture. Beyond merely serving as a space to eat, restaurants play a pivotal role in hosting a myriad of significant events. From weddings, with their jubilant celebrations, to birthday parties where friends and family gather to celebrate. But I would say most of all, that, for the majority, they eat in restaurants, whether cheap and in a poor area, or in the best restaurants, to socialize, and in fact, we could even say it is almost tied with eating. * renowned 知名的 * socializers 社交爱好者 * socialize 社交 * deeply ingrained in 根深蒂固；扎根于 * play a pivotal role in 在……中发挥着重要的作用 * a myriad of 大量的 * tied with 与……是捆绑的 欢迎朋友们加入我们的【知识星球】 价格：388元/年。 如不适合，加入后3天内无理由退款。 [图片]

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Describe a time when you saw a lot of people smiling. You should say: * Where you were * What the people were doing * Why they were smiling * And explain your feelings about this situation. A moment I can recall that brought immense joy and smiles to thousands of people was on August 9th of this year when I went to Gardens by the Bay with a few of my classmates in Singapore, surrounded by a diverse crowd, predominantly Singaporeans. The atmosphere was stimulating as everyone came together to celebrate Singapore's National Day. People of all ages, from kids to adults and seniors, were gathered for this grand event. There were so many people that we could hardly find a place to lay down our picnic blanket on the rooftop of a huge building. There were supersonic fighter jets flying through the sky. And there were also two fighter jets slowly gliding through the sky, proudly carrying the Singapore flag. The sense of pride was palpable, and the collective joy on everyone's faces was truly heartwarming. As night fell, the real spectacle began. We all watched in awe as a magnificent display of fireworks illuminated the sky. The beauty of the moment wasn't just in the dazzling lights but in the unity of the people. I could see the genuine smiles on faces, and it wasn't just about the spectacular show; it was a celebration of their country, a moment of shared pride and identity. What struck me the most was the inclusivity of the event. It wasn't limited to Singaporeans; foreigners like myself were also welcome to join in the event. It felt like more than just a display; it was a collective expression of love for their country. Personally, I was touched by the event. Being physically present rather than watching it on TV made it a participatory experience. It wasn't just about witnessing the celebration; it was about becoming a part of it. The contagious joy and pride I felt that day made it an unforgettable celebration. * diverse 多样化的 * predominantly 主要是；以……为主 * stimulating 振奋人心；很有意思 * people of all ages 各年龄段的人 * could hardly find 几乎找不到 * supersonic 超音速的 * glide 滑过 * palpable 明显的 * heartwarming 感人的 * spectacle 精彩的表演 * in awe 震撼；敬畏 * illuminated the sky 点亮天空 * dazzling lights 让人眼花缭乱的灯光 * the unity of ……的团结 * genuine 真诚的 * spectacular 壮观的；精彩的 * shared 共同的 * inclusivity 包容 * collective 集体的；共有的 * participatory 允许所以成员参与；参与性 * contagious 有感染力的 欢迎朋友们加入我们的【知识星球】 价格：388元/年。 如不适合，加入后3天内无理由退款。 [图片]

好久不见！欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 What sports can help keep people healthy? I think all types of sports can help people maintain their health, but some of the best sports are those that focus on cardio, such as jogging, playing squash, basketball, tennis, swimming, and the like. All sports in some way help us to move our body so that’s why a lot of people, after sitting in an office or a classroom for hours, go jogging or play a sport as it helps shake off the sedentary position many of us find ourselves in every day working in an office or sitting at a desk. * maintain their health 保持健康 * cardio 有氧运动 * playing squash 打壁球 * shake off 摆脱 * sedentary 久坐的 [Image] Are there health classes in your school? Well, I guess it depends on what you mean by ‘health classes’, but certainly all schools incorporate PE classes into their curriculum. For example, back in my school days, every week we had one or two physical education classes where we were taught sports and knowledge about health, for instance, what makes a healthy diet and how to protect our eyesight. They were fun, and for most of us, it was the class we looked forward to every week. * incorporate 包含 * curriculum 课表 * physical education 体育课 * look forward to 期待 [Image] What is your favorite sport? I don’t really have a favorite sport because I’m the type of person who, unfortunately, have poor eye-hand coordination, not to mention two left feet, and as a result, I’m not good at any type of sport. Hence, I’ve developed a dislike for most sports. I do enjoy long walks though, as well as bicycling, and sometimes, I go for long walks and can walk for hours without losing my breath. * poor eye-hand coordination 手眼不协调 * two left feet 笨手笨脚 * without losing my breath 不会上气不接下气 [Image] How do you keep healthy? As I just mentioned, I’m not a sports person, rather long walks tend to be my cup of tea and that’s what I do to keep healthy. I sit for hours every day because of the nature of my work and also because I like reading, so kind of a static sedentary lifestyle. I like to go bicycling in the morning though, and sometimes in the evening, I go for a walk. * my cup of tea 我喜欢的东西 * the nature of ……的性质 * static sedentary lifestyle 久坐的生活方式 欢迎朋友们加入我们的【知识星球】 价格：388元/年。 如不适合，加入后3天内无理由退款。

你好呀，欢迎收听英语考试Cat🐱🐱🐱🐱 很多备考雅思口语的小伙伴，很关心自己的英语发音。这一期教你让英语发音突飞猛进的方法。 我的方法很简单，就4个词： 停顿、重读、不读、连读 接下来，我详细解释这4个词的含义，并附带练习的句子。 第1个词： 1. 停顿 我刻意把“停顿”放到最前面，因为其它3个方法，都是以停顿为前提的。 当一句话比较长的时候，我们可以按意思，把句子分成几个小块，每个小块就是一个意群，意群和意群之间稍微停顿即可，这样就会显得很有节奏，也方便听众抓取关键信息。 我截取了乔布斯在斯坦福大学演讲的几句话，来举例。 I am honored to be with you today / at your commencement / from one of the finest universities / in the world. 单独看任何一个意群，它的意思是完整的: * I am honored to be with you today * at your commencement * from one of the finest universities * in the world 当然，你可以不用划分这么多意群，具体划多少，看自己的肺活量吧，哈哈。 同理，接下来这几句话，我们在朗读之前，先在纸上、屏幕上，或脑子里划分意群： Truth be told, this is the closest I’ve ever gotten / to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you / three stories from my life. The first story is about / connecting the dots. I dropped out of Reed College / after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in / for another 18 months or so / before I really quit. 了解意群后，我们来看第2个词： 2. 重（zhong）读 一句话里比较重要的词（多为实词），比如名词、动词、形容词、副词，或你想强调的词，读重一点。 举例： I am honored to be with you today / at your commencement / from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I’ve ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That’s it. No big deal. Just three stories. The first story is about connecting the dots. 目前为止，我们学习了意群和重读，现在来看第3个词： 3. 不读 我就不用高深的术语了（对，说的就是“失去爆破”）。 大前提：在同一个意群的、两个相邻的词。当前一个词的词尾为： k/g/t/d/p/b这些音，后一个词的开头为辅音，那么，前一个词词尾的/k/g/t/d/p/d等辅音，不用发出来。 如果你实在不知道什么是辅音，那就看后一个词的开头，是不是辅音字母（除了A/E/I/O/U，其它英语字母都为辅音字母）。 有一点得注意，前一个词词尾的辅音，虽然不用读出来，但最好顿半秒，把位置还是要给人家留出来。 举例： honored to at your want to big deal just three first story the first six months but then 第4个词： 4. 连读 大前提：在同一个意群的、两个相邻的词。 当前一个词为辅音结尾，后一个词为元音开头，这个时候，可以把两个词连起来读。 举例： one of this is that's it out of 小提示：t的左右两边都是元音字母的时候，发音可以浊化成/d/。 stayed around as a drop-in did I drop out 现在，我们一起练习读这几句话。 * ' 表示这个词要重读 * 下划线表示连读 * / 表示停顿 * 横线表示不读、顿半秒 I am 'honored to be with you today / at your 'commencement / from one of the 'finest 'universities in the world. I 'never graduated from college. 'Truth be told, this is the 'closest I’ve ever gotten / to a 'college graduation. 'Today / I want to tell you 'three stories from my life. That’s it. 'No big deal. Just 'three stories. The 'first story is about / 'connecting the dots. I 'dropped out of 'Reed College / after the 'first '6 months, but then 'stayed around as a 'drop-in / for 'another '18 'months or so / before I 'really quit. So 'why did I drop out? 总结一下，让英语发音突飞猛进的方法，就八个字： 停顿、重读、不读、连读 下次看到任何英语句子，都先停下来，每句话都做4种标记，再朗读。 下次开口讲英语，也刻意训练“停顿、重读、不读、连读”，长此以往，你的发音就会嗖嗖嗖，提上去。 希望对你有帮助。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Do you usually buy coffee in a coffee shop? Yes, I do. Usually, I walk to a coffee shop, and in most cases, that's Starbucks, to get a cup of ice Mocha. I don't really order coffee online, and in fact, I've never done that, especially after moving to Singapore. For me, a cup of coffee deserves a special trip, walking to the shop, and sipping it there, forms part of the 'coffee experience'. That's why a majority of coffee shops offer a relaxing ambiance I think, with nice music, lighting, comfortable tables and chairs– these 'frills', so to speak, add to the coffee experience. * deserve 值得 * sip 抿 * experience 体验 * a majority of 大多数 * ambiance 氛围 [图片] When was the last time you had a cup of coffee? Well,I had a cup of coffee earlier this afternoon. Getting an ice Mocha on a sunny day has become a routine for me. Perhaps it's psychological, but I feel more productive with a cup of coffee on my table and feel it's conducive to my reading or working. I guess it gives me my caffeine and sugar fix. * routine 惯例 * psychological 心理（作用） * feel more productive 感觉更高效 * conductive 有益 * caffeine 咖啡因 * sugar fix 补充糖分 [图片] Do you prefer to use tea or coffee to serve your guests? It depends on what type of guests I'm serving. Since most of my guests are my own age –millennials – we much prefer bubble tea to coffee or tea these days. When my friends come over, one of the things we most like to do together is order bubble tea online and sometimes it can be a time-consuming process because there are basically hundreds of options to choose from! If, however, my guests are older, then tea is the best choice. And there are some very nice green teas in my kitchen cabinet for this very purpose. However, in saying that, if I have a dinner party, after dinner, we may make some coffee. * * millennials 千禧一代 * bubble tea 奶茶 * time-consuming 耗时的 * options 选择 [图片] Dopeople like tea and coffee nowadays? Again, it really depends on what type of demographics we are talking about. But generally, older people prefer tea to coffee. In fact, a lot of them, especially those not living in big cities, have probably never tried coffee before and are hesitant to try it. Tea seems to be the favorite beverage for this demographic. The younger generation, on the other hand, drink coffee more. And as I mentioned, the trappings of today’s cafés make it ideal for friends. * demographics 群体 * hesitant 犹豫 * beverage 饮料 * ideal 理想的

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Do you like chatting with friends? Absolutely. I chat with my friends a lot in my free time. We gossip, make weekend plans, and talk about such things as brunch or dinner places, that sort of thing. Yesterday a few friends first chatted online and then met up to shop for presents and talked about throwing a surprise birthday party for a mutual friend. * gossip 八卦 * weekend plans 周末计划 * met up 见面 * throwing a surprise birthday party 举办惊喜生日派对 * mutual friend 共同的朋友 [图片] What do you usually chat about with friends? We chat about almost everything. We talk about our school projects, our various courses, the best places to shop, our weekend plans, and other more mundane things, like about our days…what made or screwed up our day, and that sort of thing. Sometimes we talk about current events or heavier subjects, but rarely. * mundane 世俗的；平常的 * screw up 搞砸 * current events 时事 * heavier subjects 沉重的话题 [图片] Do you prefer to communicate face-to-face or via social media? Though chatting online is more convenient, I much prefer to communicate with friends in person because sometimes words cannot convey our emotions one hundred percent. I feel more connected with a friend when we meet and chat and hang out together. Also, without meeting up and spending time together, a new friend, or an acquaintance, will simply remain forever an acquaintance, or just someone I know, and not really a true friend. * in person 当面 * convey 传达；传递 * acquaintance 熟人 * a true friend 真正的朋友 [图片] Do you prefer to chat with a group of people or with only one friend? I think it depends on my state of mind and the particular occasion. There are times when I’m in the mood to hang out with only one friend and have a deep conversation. When I’m with a group of people, I can get a little timid sometimes and most likely won’t talk much, especially when I don’t know the group members well. Conversely, I can become much more animated in a group conversation when everyone knows everyone else. * state of mind 思想状态 * in the mood 心情好；在状态 * a deep conversation 深度交流 * animated 活跃

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Why are some meeting places better than others? I guess it’s because some places have a nicer ambiance, for example, a nice café down the road or a pleasant park. These places are usually quieter and friends can chat without being interrupted. Noisy places, on the other hand, are less desirable places to meet I think because it’s difficult to have a conversation without kinda yelling. So, places that are quieter are better. * ambiance 气氛；氛围 * with being interrupted 不被打扰 [图片] Are there any differences between your favorite meeting places in the present and those from your childhood? Yeah, sure. Back when I was a kid, I used to meet my friends at their home. For us, that was a way of showing friendship, inviting friends over. We would visit each other’s home and help with the farm work. These days, me and my friends usually meet in a restaurant and after the meal, take a walk in the park or go to a café and chat. * inviting friends over 邀朋友到家 [图片] Do you think there are some places that are more suitable for meeting with others? It depends on who one is meeting. If they’re meeting with family members, a restaurant is probably the best option. If they are meeting important clients, an office meeting room is more suitable. And I guess when meeting a classmate, then places like the school library or exercise courts are better, and for meeting with friends, as I said, a quiet place is best. * the best option 最好的选择 [图片] Where are your favorite places to meet with people? As I mentioned, I prefer to meet friends in a restaurant that we both like. We can order some nice food and drinks and just chat over the meal. I think it’s a very pleasant thing to do. * chat over the meal 边吃饭边聊天 [图片]