你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 8 Steps to Help You Write the "Discuss & Opinion" Essay 01:30 What is a "Discuss & Opinion" essay? 02:22 Step 1: Identify the question or assigned task 02:49 Step 2: Identify the discussion sides, the argument, and the main discussion points 03:40 Step 3: Brainstorm and write ideas for BOTH SIDES 04:15 Step 4: Decide on your opinion (if required) 04:40 Step 5: Formulate body structure 05:28 Step 6: Introduction 06:30 Step 7: Formulate and write body 1 and body 2 07:38 Step 8: Conclusion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 🐱🐱🐱🐱 00:10 Are you an ambitious person? I'd say to some degree, yes, but I'm not the type to dedicate myself totally to just one ambition, in other words, I enjoy achieving any goal that I have set out to reach. So in that way, I think I can consider myself ambitious. The idea of settling for a so-called "iron rice bowl" job, where the trajectory of one's working life is, to some extent, pre-determined and with a job that lacks excitement, well, it simply isn't my cup of tea. So in that way, I guess I'm ambitious in the way of wanting to fulfill my wishes and dreams, so it means I work hard, but I do also like just relaxing and reading and just enjoying the view so to speak, you know, taking time to smell the roses. * to some degree：在某种程度上 * not the type to：不是那种……的人 * dedicate myself totally to：全身心投入到…… * ambition：抱负；志向；野心 * achieving any goal that I have set out to reach：实现立下的任何目标 * ambitious：有抱负的 * the idea of：……的想法 * settling for：勉强接受；将就 * iron-rice-bowl job：铁饭碗工作 * the trajectory of：……的轨迹 * pre-determined：预先决定的 * my cup of tea：合我心意 * fulfill my wishes：实现我的愿望 * enjoying the view：享受当下的状态/惬意时光 * taking time to smell the roses：享受生活中的美好时刻 01:07 What are your ambitions in life? Hmmm, I think first and foremost, I would have to say that I want to satisfy my desire to travel. I want to continually travel to new countries. I'm always eager to explore more cultures across the globe, learning more about different cultures and ways of living. And I think the second is that I'm determined to further my education overseas as I think studying in a different academic environment can expose me to new ideas and new ways of thinking. And I guess lastly is that I aspire to engage in work that I'm passionate about. * first and foremost：首先 * satisfy my desire to：满足……的愿望 * eager to：渴望 * across the globe：世界各地 * ways of living：生活方式 * determined to：决心 * further my education：继续深造 * overseas：在海外 * academic environment：学术环境 * expose myself to new ideas：接触到新的想法 * new ways of thinking：新的思维方式 * aspire to：渴望；追求 * engage in：从事；参与 * passionate about：对……充满热情 [Image] 01:54 Have you ever achieved your ambitions? I'm happy to say, yes, I have. I can say my first ambition was to learn English. I think I've worked really hard to improve my English, and I know I still have a long way to go, but I wanted to learn because it's interesting to know how other people in another language communicate. Also, before I mentioned about further education, and recently, I feel proud to say, I successfully obtained a master's degree from a top-ranking university in Singapore. I can say that this experience was a realization of a lifelong dream, a lifelong ambition. * worked really hard to improve：非常努力地去提高 * still have a long way to go：还有很长的路要走 * communicate：交流；沟通 * further education：深造 * feel proud：感到自豪 * obtained：获得 * a top-ranking university：一所顶尖大学 * a realization of a lifelong dream：实现了一生的梦想 02:40 Are you the kind of person who sticks to your dreams? I'd say so. In fact, my friends often comment on my perseverance. Once I set a goal, regardless of how seemingly unattainable it may appear initially, I approach it steadfastly. I break down the goal into smaller, manageable steps and create a plan to achieve each one. Of course, along the way, there are numerous obstacles, but I do my best to view them as opportunities for growth rather than a reason to give up. * comment on：对……发表评论；评价 * perseverance：毅力；坚持不懈；不屈不挠的精神 * once I set a goal：一旦我设定了一个目标 * regardless of：不管；无论 * unattainable：无法达到的；难以获得的 * appear initially：最初看起来；一开始显得 * approach...steadfastly：坚定地处理……；坚定不移地对待…… * break down...into smaller, manageable steps：把……分解成更小的、可处理的步骤 * create a plan：制定一个计划 * numerous obstacles：众多的障碍；无数的困难 * do my best：尽我最大的努力 * view them as opportunities for growth：把它们视为成长的机会 * rather than：而不是 * a reason to give up：放弃的理由 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 🐱🐱🐱🐱 00:07 Are traditional handicrafts important to tourism? Yes, traditional handicrafts play a significant role in tourism, especially in heritage or cultural destinations, in fact, "tourist destinations". They can often be one of the main attractions for visitors as they reflect the local culture and traditions of the area. For example, in ancient towns, tourists might see artisans weaving baskets, carving wood, or making pottery, providing a first-hand experience of the local lifestyle. In this way, handicrafts enrich tourism by offering cultural depth and memorable experiences. * traditional handicrafts：传统手工艺品 * play a significant role in：在…… 中发挥重要作用 * heritage：遗产；传统 * cultural destinations：文化旅游目的地 * main attractions：主要景点；主要吸引人之处 * reflect the local culture：反映当地文化 * ancient towns：古镇 * weaving baskets：编篮子 * carving wood：木雕 * first-hand experience：亲身体验 * enrich：丰富 * cultural depth：文化深度 * memorable：难忘的 [Image] 00:55 Why do many children like to make things by hand? Well, I guess it's because children are naturally curious and love trying new things. By creating something themselves, they explore how things are made and better understand the world around them. For instance, when children build crafts like paper airplanes or clay models, they're engaging with their creativity, the creative part of their brain and mind, and it's fun to do. I never had this type of toy when I was a kid, but this is why LEGO is so popular. You can make whatever you want, it's pretty cool for kids, I think. This type of activity not only satisfies their curiosity but also helps them develop important skills like eye-hand coordination, problem-solving and using their imagination. * naturally curious：天生好奇 * explore how things are made：探索事物是如何制作的 * better understand the world around them：更好地理解他们周围的世界 * build crafts：制作手工艺品 * paper airplanes：纸飞机 * clay models：黏土模型 * engaging with：参与；激发 * it's pretty cool：这相当酷 * this type of activity：这类活动 * satisfies their curiosity：满足他们的好奇心 * develop important skills：培养重要技能 * eye-hand coordination：手眼协调能力 * problem-solving：解决问题（能力） * imagination：想象力 [Image] 01:53 Is it reasonable to charge a high price for handmade things? Yeah, I think so, at least a higher price than a factory-produced item, but of course, there are handmade things that might be a little more on the expensive side. For example, if the item requires a lot of time, effort, and skill to create, such as intricate embroidery, then a higher price is surely justified. I mean, handmade items often have a unique artistic value and require craftsmanship, both of which mass-produced goods lack, making them worth the cost. Therefore, I do think it's reasonable to value handmade work highly, as long as the price reflects the effort and skill involved. * a higher price than：比……更高的价格 * a factory - produced item：工厂生产的产品 * handmade things：手工制品 * on the expensive side：偏贵 * requires：需要 * intricate embroidery：复杂的刺绣 * is surely justified：肯定是合理的 * a unique artistic value：独特的艺术价值 * craftsmanship：工艺技巧；手艺 * mass-produced goods：大批量生产的商品 * worth the cost：物有所值 * value...highly：高度重视；给予……很高的价值 * reflects：反映；体现 * the effort and skill involved：所投入的精力和技能 [Image] 02:49 How does modern technology change the handicraft industry? Oh, that's a difficult question. I actually don't know "how" off the top of my head, but I guess it has brought both improvements and challenges to the handicraft industry. It's kinda like where does "craftmanship" end and "machine made" begin? On the one hand, I think it can enhance efficiency by providing better tools, such as laser cutters or design software, which allow artisans to create high-quality products. But, for example, in digital embroidery, where digital embroidery machines can replicate complex designs with precision, so even though the artwork may have been original, it is, nevertheless, still a mass-produced item. So overall, I think technology can help modernize craftsmanship, but at the same time, it also threatens the very survival of traditional handmade workmanship practices, so it certainly is a double-edged sword no doubt. * improvements：改进；提升 * it's kinda like：有点像 * where does "craftsmanship" end and "machine made" begin：手工艺的界限在哪，机器制造又从何开始（难以界定手工艺与机器制造的界限） * enhance efficiency：提高效率 * laser cutters：激光切割机 * design software：设计软件 * artisans：工匠；手艺人 * high-quality products：高质量产品 * digital embroidery：数码刺绣 * replicate complex designs with precision：精确复制复杂图案 * modernize craftsmanship：使手工艺现代化 * threatens the very survival of：威胁到……的生存 * workmanship practices：手工技艺实践 * a double-edged sword：一把双刃剑 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 (P9-P141) (2) 54个Part 3话题语料 (P142-274) (3) 36个Part 2话题语料 (P275-347) (4) 雅思口语高分tips (P348-364) (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 (P365-407) 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 🐱🐱🐱🐱 我是英语考试Cat的Chief打杂Officer：Lauren。 今天和你聊一聊我在国内是怎么提升英语口语的。 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 (P9-P141) (2) 54个Part 3话题语料 (P142-274) (3) 36个Part 2话题语料 (P275-347) (4) 雅思口语高分tips (P348-364) (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 (P365-407) 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 🐱🐱🐱🐱 我是英语考试Cat的Chief打杂Officer：Lauren。 这一期我以这个表格题为例，来分析怎么写雅思表格类的小作文。 The following table gives statistics showing the aspects of quality of life in five countries. Table: The Quality of Life in Five Countries ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 (P9-P141) (2) 54个Part 3话题语料 (P142-274) (3) 36个Part 2话题语料 (P275-347) (4) 雅思口语高分tips (P348-364) (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 (P365-407) 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 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Describe a person who likes to make things by hand (e.g. toys, furniture) You should say: * Who this person is * What he/she makes * Why he/she likes to make things by hand * And explain how you feel about the person [Image] I’d like to talk about a young girl I met at a shopping mall who enjoys making handcrafted products. I stumbled upon her stall during a visit I made to the mall, and what caught my attention immediately was the colorful, handmade accessories displayed, in fact, they kinda covered the whole booth, so, at first, I hadn’t even noticed her sitting behind the stall because her creations were so eye-catching! She makes and sells a variety of items, all handcrafted with yarn, including headbands, small handbags, and an assortment of delicate flowers. Actually, I even bought a cat-shaped hair clip from her, which was so adorable I couldn’t resist. You could tell that she injects a great deal of effort and creativity into every piece, so each one had its own unique charm. While I didn’t ask her directly, I think she must really enjoy what she does. Her stall was packed with her handmade creations, which seemed to reflect her passion. It takes patience and dedication to make such intricate things by hand, and I could sense her pride in displaying them. I complimented her on her artwork and we spoke a bit. I truly admire her for her talent and imagination. Her dexterity and ability to bring these ideas to life are amazing, I think. Personally, I’ve always wished I could do something similar, like making flowers out of yarn, but I’ve got two left thumbs. * Handcrafted products - 手工制作的产品 * Stall - 小摊位 * What caught my attention immediately - 立刻吸引我注意的是 * Handmade accessories - 手工饰品 * Eye-catching - 引人注目 * A variety of items - 各种各样的物品 * Handcrafted with yarn - 用毛线手工制作的 * Headbands - 发带 * An assortment of - 各式各样的 * Adorable - 可爱的 * Resist - 抵挡住 * You could tell that - 看得出来 * Injects - 注入 * A great deal of effort - 大量的努力 * Ask her directly - 直接问她 * Enjoy what she does - 热爱她所做的事情 * Handmade creations - 手工作品 * Reflect her passion - 反映出她的热情 * It takes patience and dedication to - 这需要耐心和投入去…… * Intricate - 精致复杂 * By hand - 手工 * Sense her pride in - 感觉到她对……的自豪 * Complimented her on her... - 称赞她的…… * Spoke a bit - 聊了一会儿 * Truly admire her for her... - 真心佩服她的…… * Imagination - 想象力 * Dexterity - 灵巧 * Bring these ideas to life - 将这些想法付诸实践 * Got two left thumbs - 笨手笨脚 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 (P9-P141) (2) 54个Part 3话题语料 (P142-274) (3) 36个Part 2话题语料 (P275-347) (4) 雅思口语高分tips (P348-364) (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 (P365-407) 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 🐱🐱🐱🐱 00:10 Do you like perfume? Yes, I do. Some perfumes smell really fragrant, and they can be fun to explore. In fact, my friends and I have this little ritual whenever we happen to walk into a Miniso store—we sniff different perfumes together. We hold the tester sticks up to each other's noses, try to guess the names, and end up laughing at the funny guesses. It's a simple way to enjoy perfumes and share a good laugh. * Fragrant - 芳香 * Ritual - 习惯性活动，小仪式 * Happen to - 碰巧 * Sniff - 嗅，闻 * Tester sticks - 试香棒 * Guess - 猜 * End up laughing - 最后忍不住大笑 * Share a good laugh - 一起开心地笑 00:39 Do you use perfume? I do, but only on special occasions like parties or events, or when I’m in a particularly good mood. On regular days, I rarely wear perfume, mostly because I don’t feel the need for it or I just don’t bother. I see perfume as more of an accessory rather than something essential for everyday life. When I do wear it, I enjoy the subtle confidence boost it gives me, but I also think it’s perfectly fine to go without it most of the time. * On special occasions - 在特殊场合 * In a particularly good mood - 心情特别好的时候 * Wear perfume - 喷香水 * Feel the need for it - 觉得有这个必要 * Don't bother - 懒得 * An accessory - 一种配饰 * Essential - 必需品 * Everyday life - 日常生活 * Subtle - 微妙的 * confidence boost - 信心提升 * It's perfectly fine to - 完全没问题... / ...是完全可以的 [Image] 01:11 Where do you spray perfume? For me, I usually spray it once into the air in front of me and then walk through it. That’s my go-to method for applying perfume as it distributes the scent evenly without being too overwhelming. Sometimes, I’ll also spray a small amount on my wrists or pulse points—those areas where the blood vessels are closer to the skin, like the neck or inner wrists. * Spray - 喷洒 * My go-to method - 我的惯用方法 / 我的首选方法 * Applying perfume - 喷香水 * Distributes the scent evenly - 香味分布均匀 * Overwhelming - 过于浓烈 * Wrists - 手腕 * Pulse points - 脉搏点 * Blood vessels - 血管 01:40 Do you send perfume to others as a gift? Yeah, but only to people I know very well, because choosing the wrong perfume can sometimes backfire I think. I remember though one time I gifted a small bottle of perfume to a close friend, and it turned out she really appreciated it. I think that's the only time I've given perfume as a gift. For me, perfume is a very personal item, so if I do give perfume, I'd prefer to gift it only when I'm confident about the recipient’s taste. * Backfire - 适得其反 * Gifted - 赠送了 * A close friend - 一位好友 * Really appreciated it - 非常感激 / 非常喜欢 * Personal item - 私人物品 * Recipient - 接收者，收礼的人 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 (P9-P141) (2) 54个Part 3话题语料 (P142-274) (3) 36个Part 2话题语料 (P275-347) (4) 雅思口语高分tips (P348-364) (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 (P365-407) 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 🐱🐱🐱🐱 00:10 Who should people ask for advice on big issues, family members or friends? That’s an interesting question. I believe the answer really depends on the nature of the issue and the expertise or experience of the people you’re consulting. For example, if someone is trying to decide on a major for university, they might turn to both family members or friends who have attended college and can offer insights into the fields of study, job opportunities, and overall experiences. Alternatively, if someone is going through a tough breakup, a close friend might be the better person to turn to, as they are likely to empathize and offer support without judgment. Ultimately though, whether to seek advice from family members or friends, I think, depends on the specific nature of the issue and the type of guidance required. [Image] 01:08 Do you think the advice parents give their children is always good? Well, I'd say it really depends on the nature of the advice and the stage of a child's life. When children are young and lack life experience or decision-making skills, parental advice is usually positive and beneficial as parents' guidance helps kids address basic challenges and develop a sense of right and wrong; However, as children grow older and become more independent, parents' advice might not always align with the realities of the child's life. Take choosing a major for university, for instance, a situation for which many parents, especially in China, often push their children toward traditional fields like teacher-training programs or accounting for daughters and civil engineering or IT for sons, but while these may have been secure options in the past, industries evolve, and what once offered stability may no longer be the best choice for a child's future, especially in this day and age when AI is becoming ubiquitous. Hence, while parents' advice often comes from a place of the heart and experience, it's not always applicable, particularly as children grow older, and so, all things considered, I think it’s important for children to balance their parents' guidance with their own research and judgment to make more informed choices. [Image] 02:48 Why do some people like to ask others for advice on almost everything? Hmm, I think one reason is that it can stem from their upbringing—specifically, if decisions were consistently made for them while growing up. When people are accustomed to relying on others for decisions, they may struggle to trust their own judgment. For instance, if their parents or guardians chose everything for them, from the clothes they wore to the jobs they pursued, they might feel uncertain when faced with choices on their own. No matter what the case though, I would say the deep-seated reason is a lack of confidence, so, whether this sort of decision-making dependence is due to micro-managing parents or is due to some other reason, such as a fear of being wrong, no matter, I think it comes down to a lack of confidence. [Image] 03:52 Do people often ask advice from professional people, like a lawyer? Well, I think many people do seek professional advice, but I don’t think it's often and I think only as a last resort, I mean, after asking friends and family about a problem or some legal issue and still being unsure how to proceed, then I think consulting a professional is generally going to be the next logical step. Take for example, the general field of investing. I would say most people who become interested in investing will talk to both family and friends, but later on, they may find themselves concerned about the market, or concerned about their next financial endeavour, and so might talk to a market specialist, such as at the bank or a financial investment firm. So, while professionals like lawyers certainly provide valuable advice, and no doubt people need such advice, I think, first, most will talk to their peers and family members, but if the informal advice proves inadequate or the issue becomes too complex to handle, then people will consult a professional. Overall though, I think for most people it is not often, and perhaps for most, the necessity to seek professional advice will only occur just a few times in their life. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 (P9-P141) (2) 54个Part 3话题语料 (P142-274) (3) 36个Part 2话题语料 (P275-347) (4) 雅思口语高分tips (P348-364) (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 (P365-407) 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 🐱🐱🐱🐱 00:09 Do you like teamwork? Yeah, sure, absolutely. I’m fully aware that I can’t do everything on my own, nor am I an expert in every field. Teamwork not only helps to complete projects more efficiently, but also opens my mind to new perspectives. Mind you, in saying that, I also like to work alone as I feel a sense of satisfaction during and after completing a task, but as for teamwork, I think it’s interesting how people can approach the same issue with entirely different viewpoints, and I consider that variety of thinking highly enriching. * fully aware that - 完全清楚 * on my own - 独立/独自 * new perspectives - 新视角 * approach the same issue with entirely different viewpoints - 用完全不同的角度看待/处理同一个问题 * variety - 多样性 * enriching - 具有启发性 00:48 Have you teamed up with someone else before? Sure, I've worked in teams multiple times before, but one memorable experience was a group project this semester in one of my courses. I was part of a team of four, and it turned out to be one of the most rewarding collaborative experiences I've ever had. From the very first week, we organized ourselves efficiently by setting up a group chat and creating a shared document to brainstorm and structure our ideas. We decided to go for a panel discussion format instead of a traditional one-way presentation, which made the session more engaging and interactive for our audience. Anyway, this experience taught me how effective teamwork relies on clear communication, shared effort, and mutual encouragement. It's an experience I'll always value as a reminder of how great teamwork can be. * memorable experience - 难忘的经历 * group project - 小组项目 * semester - 学期 * turned out to be - 结果 / 最终成为 * rewarding collaborative experiences - 有收获的合作经历 * set up a group chat - 建群聊 * create a shared document - 创建共享文档 * brainstorm - 头脑风暴 * structure our ideas - 梳理我们的想法 * a panel discussion format - 小组讨论形式 * engaging - 吸引人的 * interactive - 互动 * audience - 观众 * relies on - 依赖 * clear communication - 清晰的沟通 * shared effort - 共同努力 * mutual encouragement - 相互鼓励 * value - 重视 * a reminder of - 提醒 [Image] 01:52 What do you learn from working in a team? As I mentioned earlier, one of the biggest lessons is learning to see things from different perspectives. Each person has their own way of analyzing and approaching problems, which challenges me to think outside the box. Additionally, I’ve learned a lot about work styles. For example, during the group project I just mentioned, I saw how some teammates preferred to plan meticulously from the start, while others were more flexible and adapted along the way. This taught me how to collaborate effectively despite different approaches. Communication and adaptability were the key takeaways for me. * analyzing - 分析 * challenges - 挑战 * think outside the box - 打破常规思维 * work styles - 工作方式 * flexible - 灵活的 * adapted along the way - 在过程中逐渐调整 * the key takeaways - 主要收获 02:40 What do you dislike about teamwork? While I generally enjoy teamwork, certain aspects of it can be quite frustrating. One of the main issues is when teammates lack enthusiasm or fail to contribute equally. It creates an imbalance in the workload and makes the project feel unfair. Additionally, I find it difficult to work with people who have a condescending attitude—those who insist that their way is the only right way. For example, in one project I participated in, a teammate dismissed others’ suggestions repeatedly, insisting on their ideas without considering alternatives, and failed to show up at the group meetings on time. This "my way or the highway" approach not only stifled creativity but also caused unnecessary tension within the group. Overall, these situations make teamwork less enjoyable, but I’ve learned that open communication and setting expectations early can help address some of these challenges. * certain aspects - 某些方面 * quite frustrating - 相当令人沮丧 * a condescending attitude - 居高临下的态度 * their way is the only right way - 他们的方式是唯一正确的方式 * dismissed - 无视 * repeatedly - 反复 * insisting on - 坚持 * without considering alternatives - 不考虑其他选择 * failed to show up - 没有按时出席 * my way or the highway - 要不听我的，要不走人 * stifled creativity - 扼杀创造力 * unnecessary tension - 不必要的紧张关系 * setting expectations - 确立期望 * help address some of these challenges - 帮助解决这些挑战 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 这两天我又更新了雅思口语书，看了一下字数，居然有111124字！ 内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (P9-P141) (2) 54个Part 3话题语料 (P142-274) (3) 36个Part 2话题语料 (P275-347) (4) 雅思口语高分tips (P348-364) (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 (P365-407) 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 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Is it better to have a lot of friends than just a few friends? Well, I think it really depends on the person’s personality as to whether it's “better” to have a lot of friends or just a few. I mean, for example, many people prefer to have a small group of close friends they can confide in and rely on during difficult times. These relationships tend to be more meaningful and offer emotional depth, which I think is essential for mental well-being. However, some individuals, particularly extroverts, enjoy maintaining a wide network of friends as it allows for more diverse interactions and opportunities for social engagement. For instance, an extroverted person might thrive in large gatherings, gaining energy and joy from interacting with many people, while an introvert might feel overwhelmed in such situations and prefer one-on-one connections. The choice between having many friends or a few close ones ultimately depends on what enriches the individual’s social and emotional life, but in my opinion, quality outweighs quantity. [Image] Would having just a few friends limit your horizons? For me personally, yes, it would. Having only a few friends would definitely restrict my exposure to new ideas or opportunities. So, I guess I would have to say that for most people, this would generally be true as well, since it would limit having contact with other perspectives. If your friends have varied experiences, interests, and perspectives, they can introduce you to a range of ideas and opportunities, often more deeply than a wider but shallower network. For example, a person with one friend who is a scientist and another who is a musician can gain insights into two completely different worlds. In contrast, friends who share similar jobs or lifestyles may offer and receive very limited new perspectives. Therefore, in that sense, I think having just a few friends can limit one’s horizons, and that having a larger and more diverse group of friends would help expand and enlarge one’s perspectives. [Image] Why do old friends lose touch with each other? I think one of the main reasons friends often lose touch is because life takes people in different directions, including location, in their ideas, and their pursuits. As we move through various stages in life, such as starting a career, moving to a new city, or raising a family, our priorities shift and our social environments change. These changes naturally make it harder to maintain old connections, even if the bond was strong at one point. For example, many people lose contact with their school friends when they move on to higher education or begin working. Their daily routines no longer align, and new friendships often form around shared activities or goals in these new environments. While it’s possible to stay in touch with effort, these natural transitions often mean that old friendships fade as new ones take their place, which is a normal part of life’s evolution I think. [Image] Why do people need to make new friends? Interesting question. I guess it’s actually more about circumstances rather than “need” because as people move through life, they will find they have commonalities with others, and that to adapt to changes in life and growing socially and emotionally, they’ll be compelled to make new friendships. As individuals enter new environments—such as starting a job, moving to a different place, or joining a hobby group—they meet new people who share their current interests and experiences. These connections help them integrate into their surroundings and learn new perspectives. For instance, someone starting a new job in a foreign country might make friends with colleagues or locals to better understand the culture and feel a sense of belonging. Additionally, meeting new friends who have different backgrounds can broaden one’s worldview and make life more enriching. Forming new friendships, hence, becomes an essential aspect of navigating life’s transitions and helps us to socially interact in new situations. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 这两天我又更新了雅思口语书，看了一下字数，居然有111124字！ 内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (P9-P141) (2) 54个Part 3话题语料 (P142-274) (3) 36个Part 2话题语料 (P275-347) (4) 雅思口语高分tips (P348-364) (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 (P365-407) 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 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Do you enjoy watching interesting and funny movies? Absolutely, I’m a huge fan of comedies! They never fail to make me laugh out loud and give me a much-needed break from my daily grind. Comedy is definitely my go-to genre whenever I’m in the mood for a movie. I also really enjoy watching talk shows; their humor is often sarcastic and hilariously relatable, which adds a unique twist that I find entertaining. * comedies - 喜剧 * laugh out loud - 大笑 * a much-needed 很需要的 * break - 放松 * daily grind - 日常琐事 * go-to - 首选 * genre - 类型 * in the mood for - 有心情去做 * sarcastic - 讽刺的 * hilariously relatable - 让人发笑并感同身受 * a unique twist - 大反转 * entertaining - 有趣的 Do you think you are a funny person? Well, my friends seem to think so! They often tell me I have a good sense of humor and that I’m pretty good at making them laugh. I love sharing jokes and sometimes doing impressions when I’m with my closest friends—it’s so rewarding to see them burst into laughter. I even collect jokes and share them whenever I get the chance because seeing others laugh brings me a lot of joy too. * a good sense of humor - 良好的幽默感 * doing impressions - 模仿（他人说话或行为） * rewarding - 值得 * burst into laughter - 爆笑 * get the chance - 有机会 [Image] Do you always laugh at funny things? I’d say so! I mean, who doesn’t enjoy a good laugh? Whether it’s a funny movie, a clever joke, or a witty talk show, there’s just something about humor that’s so uplifting. It’s probably why talk shows are so popular; they provide a bit of lightheartedness in a world that can be quite challenging. Funny moments really make life a little easier to navigate. * a good laugh - 开怀大笑 * witty - 机智 * lightheartedness - 轻松愉快 * challenging - 有挑战性的 * navigating - 应对 When was the last time you laughed? Just yesterday actually! I was watching an episode of a talk show by Ronnie Chieng. He’s a Malaysian-born Chinese comedian who’s now doing shows in the U.S., and he has this amazing way of observing life and different cultures. His humor is sharp and insightful, and he connects everyday situations in such a clever way—it’s impossible not to laugh! * comedian - 喜剧演员 * observing - 观察 * everyday situations - 日常情境 * clever - 巧妙/聪明 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 顺便打个广告： 这两天我又更新了雅思口语书，看了一下字数，居然有111124字！ 内容梗概： (1) 78个Part 1话题语料 (P9-P141) (2) 54个Part 3话题语料 (P142-274) (3) 36个Part 2话题语料 (P275-347) (4) 雅思口语高分tips (P348-364) (5) 雅思口语高分词汇表达 (P365-407) 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。

Welcome to the final episode of this year's podcast! 🐱🐱🐱🐱 As we wrap up 2024, we hope it's been a fruitful year for you. You've worked hard, so give yourself a well-deserved pat on the back. In this episode, we're sharing some practical tips to help you improve your IELTS speaking and writing. Enjoy :) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 比起听力和阅读，雅思写作和口语对很多同学来说，更难。 要不没有观点，不知道说/写什么； 要不词汇量不太够，没办法用英语表达自己的观点。 所以，我近期在【英语考试Cat】的知识星球上发布了23篇文章，组成了一个专栏： 雅思写作口语考前急救指南 它是一个“雅思写作口语观点库+高分表达”系列，欢迎加入我的知识星球： 雅思写作口语考前急救指南

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Did you have a bike when you were young? No, I never actually owned a bike, though I always longed for one. Back then, I imagined having a bike would be a gateway to freedom not just for its convenience but also because it seemed to symbolize independence. With a bike, I could have ventured much farther than I could on foot, broadening my “radius of life,” so to speak, but alas, I didn’t have one. It was something I dreamed of but never got the chance to experience. * longed for - 渴望 * imagine - 想象 * a gateway to - 通向……的门 * symbolize independence - 象征独立 * ventured - 探索 * on foot - 步行 * broadening - 扩大 * radius - 范围 * so to speak - 可以这么说 * never got the chance to experience - 从未有机会体验 Do you have a bike now? Yes, I do! I bought a blue bike from a small bike store run by an elderly gentleman in Guangzhou. Ever since then, cycling has been my go-to mode of transport. I use to ride it to work every day, and on weekends, and I loved exploring nearby areas, relishing the freedom and sense of discovery that came with it. I really miss that part of my routine and look forward to doing it again someday. * run by - 经营 * go-to mode of transport - 首选交通方式 * relishing - 享受 * sense of discovery - 探索的感觉 * look forward to - 期待 [图片] Do you often ride a bike now? No, not really, not since I came to Singapore to study. I see shared bikes around, but I haven't tried one yet. In comparison to Guangzhou, I feel like Singapore might be less bike-friendly, especially given the tropical climate, which can make cycling rather uncomfortable. * tropical climate - 热带气候 Are bikes popular in your country? Hmm, I’d say bikes aren’t as popular as they were just a few years back. These days, there’s been a noticeable shift towards scooters, particularly in urban areas. Sidewalks are now filled with e-bikes, especially during rush hours in major cities. A few years ago, shared bikes were almost everywhere, but that trend seems to have waned in favor of scooters. * a noticeable shift towards - 明显转向 * scooters - 电驴 * urban areas - 市区 * e-bikes - 电动自行车 * waned - 衰退 * in favor of - 更倾向于，取而代之的是 欢迎朋友们加入我的【知识星球】 加入「英语考试Cat」的知识星球，你将获得： 等等。 注意：星球不含雅思作文批改服务。 388元/年，如不适合，加入后3天内可无理由退款。 🐱已经加入知识星球的朋友，记得下载「知识星球」APP，这样可以及时受到更新提醒，不会错过干货内容。 要是觉得App占内存，就微信下拉，打开「知识星球」小程序，也可看到干货内容。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 我是英语考试Cat的Chief打杂Officer：Lauren。 这一期我以澳洲11月30日的雅思小作文真题为例，来分析怎么写混合图表类型的雅思小作文。 这是题目： The charts below show the distribution of the world's water and the usage of water in three countries. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant. 欢迎朋友们加入我的【知识星球】 加入「英语考试Cat」的知识星球，你将获得： 等等。 注意：星球不含雅思作文批改服务。 388元/年，如不适合，加入后3天内可无理由退款。 🐱已经加入知识星球的朋友，记得下载「知识星球」APP，这样可以及时受到更新提醒，不会错过干货内容。 要是觉得App占内存，就微信下拉，打开「知识星球」小程序，也可看到干货内容。

你好呀，欢迎收听：英语考试Cat 🐱🐱🐱🐱 Are the roads and streets in the area where you live busy? Yes, for sure. In the area I reside, there is an avenue that is basically the main thoroughfare into the district I live in. So that means there is a constant flow of traffic both day and night, especially big trucks. Additionally, the neighborhood has a few shopping malls, markets, and a large metro station nearby, along with many hi-tech firms located in the district, so, overall, it’s a very lively and busy area, meaning busy roads. * Reside – 居住 * Main thoroughfare – 主干道 * A constant flow of traffic – 持续不断的车流 * Both day and night – 昼夜不停 * Neighborhood – 街区/社区 * High-tech firms – 高科技公司 * Located in – 位于 [图片] How do people cross the road in the city where you live? I think for the most part, people cross the road using a crosswalk, or as in my case, a footbridge. I have one directly in front of my home in fact, a very nice one with lights and funky architecture. Many of the footbridges I’ve noticed, are roofed, so they offer protection from the sun and rain. Besides crosswalks and bridges, there are also underground pedestrian walkways, particularly in areas that have a highway running through it. * Crosswalk – 人行横道 * Footbridge – 人行天桥 * Funky architecture – 新奇的建筑风格 * Roofed – 带顶棚 * Offer protection from – 提供保护以免受...（阳光雨水等）的影响 * Underground pedestrian walkways – 地下人行通道 [图片] How is the condition of the roads in your city? Overall, I’d say excellent. They are meticulously maintained, with hardly any potholes or cracks visible, but what I love even more is that on the verge or areas adjacent to the roads, and even at intersections and in the central divider between each direction, are decorated with beautifully manicured gardens of flowers and shrubs. I think that’s a really special characteristic of Guangzhou. In addition, the roads tend to be very clean, and you rarely see litter along the way. So generally, the conditions of the roads are very good. * Meticulously maintained – 精心维护的 * Potholes – 坑洼 * Visible – 可见 * The verge – 路边 * Adjacent to – 靠近 * Intersections – 交叉路口 * The central divider – 中央隔离带 * Beautifully manicured gardens – 精心修剪的花园 * Litter – 垃圾 [图片] Do you think the roads in your city need improvement? I think nothing can be perfect, and that goes for infrastructure too, so sure, there is always room for improvement. For me, I think the main area of improvement could be e-bike-only dedicated paths. E-bikes are silent when they’re in motion, and they sort of cohabitate with both automobiles and pedestrians. But I think this also has something to do with e-bike culture, so it’s not just an infrastructure issue. Other than that, maybe some traffic lights could be replaced with roundabouts, but not sure if that would help with the flow of traffic or not. Overall, though, I think the road system in my city is already excellent. * Infrastructure – 基础设施 * Room for improvement – 改进的空间 * Area of improvement – 改进的领域 * Dedicated paths – 专用通道 * Sort of – 某种程度上 * Cohabitate with – 与...共存 * Roundabouts – 环岛