12口语考试题目

1. Why do people get angry/depressed? How to control such negative feelings?

People feel blue for a variety of reasons. They feel depressed after failing an exam or losing a job. They feel grief when someone dear to them, for example a close family member, passes away. Suffering from a serious disease with little hope of a complete recovery, one may feel dejected.

To control such negative feelings, you can study or work. Your mood might improve if you keep yourself busy and try to achieve goals. And if staying busy doesn’t help, you can just wait for the sadness to go away. It is said that time heals all wounds. Finally, you might find solace in realizing. Your situation is not the worst. You can also choose to look at the bright side of things because every cloud has a silver lining.

Positive attitude, listening to the music, traveling, sleeping, yoga, eating, talk to friends, go to see the doc, doing sports, singing, etc.

2. What do you know of plastic surgery? Do you think beauty can be bought? Give your

reasons.

—There are quite a few disadvantages to have plastic surgeries. I have heard of a lot of reports about the side effects of plastic surgeries and surgery accidents. We should not attempt to change our physical appearance by cosmetic means, which may bring unexpected disasters in the future.

Some beautifying methods, if not properly applied, have dangerous side effects. People who receive botox injections to move wrinkles may eventually ruin their skin. Some surgical operations that are intended to make single-fold eyelids double fold actually make them multi-folded. Such reports are everywhere. What’s worse, some institutions do not have the qualifications to make such surgical operations and this increases the possibilities of accidents. So be careful when you intend to have a plastic surgery.

I think beauty can not be bought. For I believe one’s inner beauty or qualities like honesty, faithfulness, diligence and sense of humor are important than one’s appearance. One’s beauty lies in his/her inner heart. Beauty in natural state, people have different idea of beauty,

----Everyone seems to want to look younger, be thinner, have a whiter smile or just be more beautiful. This is a fad. If I don’t follow the fashion, I will not look good in people’s eyes. Through plastic surgery people can reach their ideal image.

I think people should do whatever they want to look good. If changing my appearance makes me feel better about myself, why shouldn’t I have a try?

It’s human’s right to search for beauty, human nature, you will be more welcomed and more confident, have good first impression when interview, competitive in job market, certain occupations’ need.

3. Can you name some natural disasters? Choose one to talk about its causes and effects. Earthquake, flood, drought, forest fire, tsunami, snowstorm, blizzard, hailstorm, hurricane, typhoon, tornado, landslide, volcanic eruption, cyclone, firestorm, mudslide, waterspout, twister, heat wave, sand/dust storm, acid rain, greenhouse effect, etc.

A flood follows too much rain or water in a location, and could be the result of many different conditions. Floods can be caused by heavy rainfall from a storm, including thunderstorms, rapid melting of large amounts of snow, or rivers which swell from too much precipitation upstream, causing widespread damage to areas downstream. Another possible cause of a flood is the

bursting of man-made dams.

A flood can inundate a vast area, destroying crops and buildings. If people do not escape in good time, they are drowned. Following the flood, there is crop failure, which may lead to widespread famine. If many people die in the flooding, their bodies, if not treated quickly, may give rise to an epidemic.

4. Suppose you were a boss, what kind of employees would you hire? What would you do to

make them work efficiently?

Skilled at work, specialized, professional, efficient, responsible, good at communicating with others, love the job, have/ can develop good relationships with others, diligent, hard-working, profitable/can make profit for the company, cooperation, willing to keep studying by oneself or from others, can express oneself well, modest, loyal to the company, experienced, honest, education background, work experience, willing to contribute to the company, high-spirit, creative, business skill, cope with emergency,

Always communicating with the employees, care for them/ their life, notice their changes in feeling, etc. in time, appreciate their strengths, get to know their difficulties in work and try to help them with your experience and knowledge, accept their useful/constructive advices/suggestions, have good performance---raise salary, praise them, have poor performance/make mistakes----criticism, punishment, make rules about…, create a relaxed/serious atmosphere, task-oriented, time-oriented, trust and encourage them, build up a fair and free environment for every employee, sometimes add new blood to the company/hire new person to stimulate them, give them special training before they officially start the work.

5. Why are some employees fired/laid off/hopping jobs? What do you think are the elements

for a successful career?

Fired: if employees do not observe company or department rules, they are likely to be fired. Any boss will be angry if employees are late for work or use the company phone to talk with friends. A boss dislikes people who do not work hard, gossip a lot or read the newspaper over a cup of tea for hours. Even if one works hard, the boss may not be satisfied if one does not work with high efficiency. After all, company profits come from employee achievements. Even though you’ve made significant personal contributions to the company, if you do not get along well with your colleagues, you may impede the company’s productivity. After all, most jobs require teamwork nowadays. Usually the boss places a high value on employee loyalty. Disloyal employees may sell the company’s secrets and ruin it overnight. When the company is in financial difficulty and downsizing, the first to be dismissed will be those who have some of the above-mentioned problems.

Laid off: when the company has fewer customer orders, when there are layoffs in similar companies, or an economic recession, bankruptcy, downsizing, overstaffed,

Hopping jobs: do not satisfy the present company’s scale/ salary/ working hour (too long, not suit for myself)/ location (too far from home, transportation inconvenient) / the present position, want a promotion, do not get along well with the colleagues/boss, poor work environment, have better opportunity in other company.

The elements for a successful career: objective elements—good relationship with boss/ colleagues, good teamwork, the company develop well, good education background, experience, skill, competence; subjective elements--- stick to the goal and work hard on it.

6. Describe some superstitions in English–speaking countries. Why do you think people have

good luck or bad luck? Give examples to illustrate your point.

English-speaking nations have a number of superstitions. For example, people believe 13 to be an unlucky number, and do not want to live on the 13th floor or in room 13. They say “knock on wood” or “touch wood” to avoid bad luck. To wish somebody good luck, they may say “I’ll cross my fingers for you.” Superstitious people avoid walking under a ladder or opening an umbrella in doors. When they see a black cat run across their path, they think it’s a bad omen. Some people may hang a horseshoe over their door to ward off bad luck. If they happen to drop a mirror, they worry that they will have seven years’ bad luck. To ensure good luck, they may carry a charm of some kind, such as a lucky rabbit’s foot! 1) Acts supposed to be unlucky

Lighting three cigarettes with one match. Many people believe that lighting cigarettes for three persons from one match will bring bad luck. This superstition may have come from

among soldiers during World War Ⅰ. At night, a match that stayed lit long enough to light three cigarettes provided a target for the enemy.

Walking under a ladder. Some people believe that it is unlucky to walk under a ladder. Different reasons have been given to this superstition. One of them is that people have this believe because a ladder was used to take down Jesus from the cross. But this is not mentioned in the Bible. Maybe the most sensible reason is, when a person walks under a ladder, it may fall on him or her, or a hammer or a bucket of paint may fall on his or her head.

Spilling salt. Since ancient times salt has been highly valued because it can be used to preserve food, help wound to heal, and make food tasty. At one time salt was regarded as being almost as valuable as gold, and soldiers, officials, and working people in Greece and Rome received all or part of their pay in salt. So spilling such a valuable thing has been regarded as a sigh that something unlucky is going to happen. Some people believe that if a person has spilled salt, he or she may cancel the bad luck by throwing a pinch of salt over the left shoulder.

2). Acts supposed to be lucky

Touch wood. The English tough wood for luck; American prefer to knock wood for the purpose. Some people believe this superstition reflects the early Christian worship for the wooden cross on which Jesus put to death. Touching or knocking wood is a sigh of connecting with the cross. Others give a different explanation. They say during the Middle Ages when a person who ran away from something could find protection in a church, touching the wooden doors of the church would mean that he or she was safe. Still another explanation is that people used to believe that the god who lived in oak trees would punish boasters, and so knocking on wood is a way of apologizing to him after one has boasted.

Carrying a newborn baby upstairs. Many people believe a newborn baby must be carried upstairs before being carried downstairs. In this way, the child will be assured of rising in the world and having success.

Giving a purse with money in it. It is the custom that when a purse or wallet is giving as a gift, it has money in it. The giver wants to make sure the purse or wallet will always contain money.

I think People have good luck or bad luck due to their attitude of life. (refer to model 2 speaking out unit 6) due to the misunderstanding of the nature or ignorance of people or undeveloped science. It is a matter of probability. Add the examples to your idea.

双人

Make up a dialogue on the following topics, using at least three useful expressions given in the Section of Speaking-Out in each unit: 1. Happiness/anger/depression

A: you look furious. What happened?

B: nothing. I’d rather not talk about it. Just don’t ask.

A: come on. You shouldn’t keep your feelings to yourself. You need to let off some steam. So, talk to me.

B: all right. This morning I went to a shop to buy a digital camera. I only need an ordinary one. It is enough for my tours in the summer vacation. But they persuaded me to buy a professional camera, which cost three times as much.

A: but you were willing to pay for it. Anyway, it must work better.

B: you see, I know next to nothing about photography. So they simply tricked me into buying an expensive one.

A: no wonder you’re livid with rage. I’d be mad too if I were robbed like that. What are you going to do?

B: I already went back to them and asked to exchange it for a cheaper one. A: what did they say?

B: oh, they were rude. They insisted that they hadn’t encouraged me to buy a professional camera, and that I bought it myself. A: sounds like you got a raw deal!

B: what’s worse, as I was leaving, I heard them say, “that guy looks broke. He shouldn’t have bought any camera.” When I heard that, I almost hit the roof. A: don’t let it get to you. Better ignore their rude remarks. B: I agree. I did manage to keep my cool.

A: well, the best thing you can do is to file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Agency. If they talk to the shop, maybe they will give you a refund. B: sounds too good to be true. 2. Cosmetic surgery

Sample one

A: What do you think of cosmetic procedures? B: You mean liposuction or botox injection?

A: I don’t know exactly what they are. I have just heard of having one’s teeth straightened or have one-fold eyelids become double-folded.

B: It’s quite common for people to have such surgeries now. Cosmetic surgeries are some of the most popular medical procedures in the country and the popularity is still growing. A: Why are so many people interested in such surgeries?

B: Everyone seems to want to brighten up his appearance — look younger, be thinner, have a whiter smile or just be more beautiful so that they stay attractive and be more competitive in the job market.

A: By the way, what are liposuction and botox injection?

B: They are both cosmetic surgeries. Liposuction is a medical operation to remove fat from a part of someone’s body and botox injection is injecting botox into someone’s face to make the muscles relax and the skin look smoother and younger. A: It sounds scary to me. Do you like to have a liposuction?

B: No. I have never thought about having such a surgery. I will never try any cosmetic surgeries such as face lifts, nose jobs, fat injections, laser resurfacing, etc. I am happy with the way I am. Natural beauty from within is the real beauty.

A: I can’t agree more. I have never worried about the wrinkles around my eyes. Becoming old is just a law in nature. No one can change it. Elderly people are beautiful if their river of life has been through plains, mountains and jungle, running its course as it should. There is no need to resort to any procedures. Sample two

A: Hi, John, nice to see you here.

B: Hi, sorry, your name escapes me momentarily. A: Oh, I’m Sally. Don’t you recognize me?

B: Now I see, you’re Sally! You have changed beyond recognition! A: I had cosmetic surgery.

B: I’m confused! I thought you were good-looking before.

A: My nose was rather flat. The bridge of my nose wasn’t high enough. So I got my nose fixed.

B: Yeah, my single-folded eyelids have become double-folded. A: What else did you do?

B: I also had my teeth straightened. I felt uncomfortable about my uneven teeth whenever I smiled. Now I think I have a better smile. A: Why did you have so much surgery?

B: I believe a better physical appearance will help me land a better job.

A: Nonsense. Most employers are more interested in your practical ability than your looks. 3. A kind of natural disaster

A: Maggie, I’ve just read a fire destroyed much of the forest on Dayu Mountain in Hong Kong the other day.

B: I’ve heard that too. The local government sent firefighters and even helicopters to try to put out the fire. But I think they shouldn’t have tried.

A: You mean, they should have just let the forests burn? How can they stand idly by and watch people’s homes go up in flames?

B: Some experts argue that forest fires are a phase in the cycle of nature, and we shouldn’t interfere. Except, of course, to save lives.

A: It seems wrong to allow fires to burn up good timber. What a waste that would be! You see, the fire-hit area extends nearly 4000 square meters.

B: But that is nature’s way of cleaning up the debris that collects on the forest floor and creating space for new growth.

A: That may be true, but it still seems wrong to just let fires burn. They destroy not only timber, but many rare butterflies living there.

B: Anyway, there have been verdant forests for millions of years without man’s help in

combating fires.

A: You may be correct, but I still think it’s wrong not to put out forest fires. If too many trees are destroyed, the very existence of human beings is threatened.

4. Company Management

A: Hello, Jenny of Mokia Mobile.

B: Hello, this is Dick, your mobile phone battery supplier.

A: Hi, Dick. Glad to hear from you again, what’s on your mind?

B: We’ve produced a new battery that is inexpensive, but powerful. It can last a long time. A: We’ve already got a good selection. What’s so special about your new product?

B: Well, could you arrange for me to meet your boss Linda? Then I’ll go into details. A: OK, when can you come?

B: I was hoping to get together with Linda this week, if possible. I want to get going on this right away.

A: Let me check her timetable… Yes, she’s completely free Thursday. B: Why not meet at about ten in the morning at your office?

A: Sounds good. Let me say it again: We’ll look forward to seeing you at ten on Thursday. B: I’m sure it’ll be a rewarding meeting. Thank you. Good bye. A: Bye. [Later.]

A: Hello. Is Dick there, please? B: Hello. Dick speaking.

A: Hi, Dick, this is Jenny. Something unexpected has come up. I’m afraid we have to postpone the meeting with you on Thursday.

B: That’s disappointing. When can we meet?

A: Linda has to put the meeting off until sometime on Friday. Will that suit you? B: I’m afraid I can’t go on Friday. I’ll be flying to another city on business. A: Then could you come after five on Thursday? B: Certainly. Can we make it five thirty then?

A: Five thirty’s perfect. Linda will be waiting for you at five thirty on Thursday. B: OK. Great! Thanks! Bye! 5. Job-hopping

A: Excuse me, Mr. Atkin, do you have a minute to spare?

B: The question suggests something serious, Pamela. What’s up?

A: Well, uh… thank you very much for offering me a permanent job. But now I’ve received a notice of admission to a master’s degree program in my university. I’m afraid I have to leave.

B: Oh, what a pity. You did an excellent job here, and everyone likes you.

A: I really enjoyed working here. But further studies will give me more opportunities to grow professionally.

B: Your skills in software development are almost irreplaceable here. Would you stay if I promote you to the department head and give you a raise in pay?

A: Thank you very much indeed, and I do appreciate the golden opportunity. But I really need to acquire more knowledge while I’m young. With a Master’s degree in my hands, I’ll be more competitive in the future.

B: In that case, I won’t keep you, Pamela. I just want to tell you that I’m sad you’ll be leaving us. You run this place with clockwork efficiency, you know. We’ll all miss you a lot. A: I hope this one-month notice will give you time to hire and train a replacement.

B: Thanks for the notice, Pamela. Assistants like you are rare. I guess we’d better start looking as soon as possible.

A: With your approval, I’ll post notices today and interview applicants for you.

B: That would be great. Schedule them in as you see fit. Pamela, without you, things here will be different.

A: Thank you for your kind words. If you have any problems, please feel free to call me. 6. Superstition

A: Eliza, do you know why people say “keep your fingers crossed” when they want to wish others good luck?

B: It sounds a bit of funny. As far as I know, it has a lot to do with an ancient Christian belief. A: Uh, go on.

B: In the Christian belief “making the sign of the cross” would keep away evil spirits and bad luck.

A: I see. When you think about the cross, the sign of Christianity, that belief seems to make some sense.

B: That’s true. That’s why children often cross their fingers when they tell a small lie. They want to keep bad luck away, or to avoid being punished.

A: Sounds interesting. So, I’ll cross my fingers for you before you take the final examination. B: Thank you.

A: But those who don’t understand this superstition might be puzzled.

B: With increasing communications among nations, more and more people can understand it now.