Speaking

Part 1

第一部分： 考官会介绍自己并确认考生身份，然后打开录音机或录音笔，报出考试名称、时间、地点等考试信息。考官接下来会围绕考生的学习、工作、住宿或其他相关话题展开提问。

话题举例

★ Paying bills

1 What kinds of bills do you have to pay?

Well, as an adult living in China, I have to pay a bunch of bills to keep my life going smoothly. For example, I need to take care of my rent, my utility bills for electricity, gas, and water, my phone and internet bills and transportation fees. These bills are super important to keep me living comfortably and keep my credit score in good shape.

2 How do you usually pay your bills – in cash or by another method? [Why?]

Well, I'm a big fan of using auto deduction to pay my bills, as it avoids all the hassle of manual bill paying. So, the money is just deducted from my bank account or Alipay account directly. One thing I like about using it is that it really helps with budgeting, as payment amount is more predictable. But I still need to keep track of account balances to get rid of overdraft fees or other issues.

3 Have you ever forgotten to pay a bill? [Why/Why not?]

As I said, I've been using automatic bill deduction for a while, so I haven't forgotten to pay a bill in recent years. It's a really helpful tool because it automatically pays bills on a regular basis without me having to do it myself. This way, I don't have to worry about late fees or damaging my credit score from missed payments.

4 Is there anything you could do to make your bills cheaper? [Why/Why not?]

Yeah, there are definitely ways to make bills cheaper. I could try to reduce my energy consumption by unplugging electronics, using energy-efficient home appliances, and adjusting temperature settings. And for mobile phone and Internet bills, I could consider switching to a cheaper plan. But then again, some bills like rent and insurance are fixed, so there's not much I can do to lower those costs.

Part 2

第二部分： 考官给考生一张话题卡（Cue card），考生有1分钟准备时间，并可以做笔记（考官会给考生笔和纸），之后考生要作1~2分钟的陈述。考生讲完后，考官会就考生阐述的内容提一两个相关问题，由考生作简要回答。

话题卡说明

本题要描述一款自己曾经学习制作的食物或者饮品。描述的重点是学习食物制作的过程以及自己的感受。建议在描述的时候增加和食物以及食物制作相关的话题词汇。此外，在描述如何学习食物制作的时候可以根据个人的经历进行个性化的展开。

重点词句

Part 3

第三部分： 双向讨论（4~5分钟）。考官与考生围绕由第二部分引申出来的一些比较抽象的话题进行讨论。第三部分的话题是对第二部分话题卡内容的深化和拓展。

话题举例

★ Young people and cooking

1 What kinds of things can children learn to cook?

Well, children can learn to cook a whole range of dishes, from quick and easy snacks like sandwiches and fruit salads to more complex meals like dumplings, stir-fried vegetables and soups. They can also whip up a batch of cookies, cakes or other desserts if they're feeling fancy. Generally speaking, the key is to start with simple recipes and gradually move up to more complex ones as they build their skills and confidence in the kitchen. Apart from that, children can broaden their culinary knowledge by exploring other cuisines, such as Western or Japanese.

2 Do you think it is important for children to learn to cook?

Absolutely, in my opinion, it's essential for children to learn how to cook. It not only teaches them practical life skills but also helps them develop a better understanding and appreciation of food. Plus, cooking teaches children to be patient, organized, and responsible as they learn to plan, shop for and prepare meals on their own. Additionally, cooking can be a fun and rewarding experience for children, as it allows them to express their creativity, experiment with flavours and textures, and take pride in their culinary creations. Lastly, cooking can bring families together, as parents and children can bond over the preparation and enjoyment of meals.

3 Do you think young people should learn to cook at home or at school?

Honestly, I believe that young people should learn to cook both at home and at school. Cooking at home can be a great way for kids to connect with their families, pass down traditional recipes, and learn about their cultural heritage. Plus, it can be a more relaxed and personal environment that encourages experimentation and creativity. On the other hand, cooking at school can provide a more structured and educational experience that exposes children to new recipes, techniques, and cuisines. It can also help them develop their teamwork and communication skills, as they work alongside their classmates to prepare meals. So, I think it's important for children to have access to both settings.

★Working as a chef

1 How enjoyable do you think it would be to work as a professional chef?

Well, being a professional chef can be really enjoyable if you love cooking and are passionate about food. But let's not forget that it's also a very demanding and stressful job that requires a lot of hard work, long hours and creativity. For example, you have to stand for long hours, carry heavy pots and pans and work in a hot and sometimes cramped environment. On top of that, working as a chef means that you are often judged by peers, critics and customers, which can be a source of stress and anxiety. In a nutshell, it can be a remarkable and rewarding career, but it's not for everyone.

2 What skills does a person need to be a great chef?

To become a great chef, you need a combination of technical skills, creativity, and a passion for cooking. Firstly, a chef must have strong basic cooking techniques, like chopping, grilling, and baking. They also need to have a deep understanding of ingredients and how to use them to create unique and flavorful dishes. But in my view, it's creativity that really sets a chef apart. They need to be able to develop new recipes, experiment with ingredients, and present their dishes in a way that's visually appealing. And finally, passion is an essential ingredient for success in the culinary world. I mean, cooking can be hard work and requires long hours, so chefs need to truly love what they do to excel in this profession.

3 How much influence do celebrity / TV chefs have on what ordinary people cook?

Well, I think they have a big impact on people's cooking habits. For a start, they bring new recipes and techniques to the table and make cooking exciting and approachable. People love their personalities and expertise, and often look to them for guidance on what ingredients, tools, and cookware to use. Another point is they do popularize certain food trends like avocado toast and kale salads. But it's worth noting that not everyone can whip up the fancy dishes we see on TV. So, while celebrity chefs can inspire and teach us a lot, ultimately, it's up to us to decide what we want to cook and how we want to do it.