例二：描述一个你敬佩的人

话题卡：Describe someone you know who is a good leader.

You should say:

  • who this person is
  • how you know this person
  • what this person does
  • and explain why you think this person is a good leader.

地道答案：

"Okay, right then. The person who immediately springs to mind when I think about leadership is actually my former boss, Sarah. I mean, she wasn't just a boss; she was more like a mentor, you know?

So, I worked under her for about three years at a marketing agency. And honestly, it was probably the most productive and positive experience I've had in a job.

Now, in terms of what she did... well, she was the head of our creative department. Basically, her job was to come up with big ideas and make sure all of us were on the same page.

But what really made her stand out was... her attitude. Like, she never just ordered us around. Instead, she'd always say, 'What do you guys think?' She was brilliant at listening. And if you made a mistake, she wouldn't get angry. She'd just sit down with you and say, 'Okay, no big deal. Let's see what we can learn from this.'

You know, she had this way of making you feel capable and valued. Plus, she always gave credit where credit was due – like, if our team did well, she'd make sure everyone upstairs knew about it.

So yeah, I guess the main reason she was such a good leader was because she led with respect rather than fear. She built a team that really got along with each other and was super motivated. I really look up to her and I try to emulate her style in my own work nowadays."

地道元素解析与中文对照：

英文地道元素 中文解释与对照
Okay, right then. 好了，那么。 (自然的开场，给自己一秒思考时间)
immediately springs to mind 立马想到 (比 I think of 生动得多)
is actually 其实是 (软化语气，显得自然)
I mean 我的意思是 (用于解释或补充)
wasn't just... was more like... 不只是...更像... (地道的对比结构)
you know? 你懂吧？ (寻求共鸣，增加互动感)
So 所以/然后呢 (最自然的故事推进词)
And honestly 而且说实话 (表达真诚感受)
probably 可能 (避免绝对化，更显真实)
Now, in terms of... 那么，说到... (比 Regarding... 更地道)
well 嗯 (万能填充词，用于开始回答一个点)
Basically 基本上 (用于概括)
come up with, make sure, on the same page 想出，确保，想法一致 (全是高频词组动词/短语)
But what really made her stand out was... 但真正让她脱颖而出的是... (经典强调句型)
Like 比如说 (用于举例，非常口语)
Instead 而是 (转折，比 however 更自然)
'What do you guys think?' "你们怎么看？" (直接引语，让故事活起来)
was brilliant at 特别擅长 (比 was good at 更富感情)
'Okay, no big deal. Let's see...' "没事儿，问题不大。我们看看..." (地道直接引语)
You know 你知道 (另一个寻求共鸣的填充词)
had this way of... 有这样一种方式... (地道表达)
feel 感觉 (用简单动词表达感受)
Plus 再加上 (比 furthermore 好一百倍)
gave credit where credit was due 功劳该给谁就给谁 (地道习语)
upstairs 上面的领导 (形象、地道的词)
So yeah, I guess 所以是的，我觉得 (自然收尾，总结观点)
was such a... 是一个如此... (加强语气)
with... rather than... 用...而不是... (地道对比)
got along with 相处融洽 (词组动词)
look up to 敬仰 (词组动词，比 admire 更口语)
nowadays 现如今 (常用时间副词)

例三：描述一件有用的电子产品

话题卡：Describe a useful electronic device you own.

You should say:

  • what it is
  • how you got it
  • what you use it for
  • and explain why it is so useful to you.

地道答案：

"Alright, the electronic device I simply can't live without has got to be my smartphone. It's just a standard iPhone, nothing too fancy, but man, it's useful.

I've had it for about two years now. I finally splashed out and bought it myself after my old one literally fell into a river. That's a whole other story, though! Anyway...

As for what I use it for... well, where do I even begin? First off, obviously, for staying in touch with people. I'm constantly checking my messages, catching up on social media, and video-calling my family back home. It's a lifesaver.

But besides that, it's also my everything device. Like, I use it for getting directions pretty much everywhere. I'd be totally lost without Google Maps! Plus, I'm really into photography, so the camera comes in handy all the time. Oh, and I pretty much use it for absolutely everything – listening to podcasts while I'm commuting, setting reminders, you name it.

So, why is it so useful? I suppose it's because it puts the whole world right in my pocket. It's like my personal assistant, my map, my camera, and my connection to my friends and family, all rolled into one. It just makes my life so much easier and a lot more fun. I'd be pretty stuck without it!"

地道元素解析与中文对照：

英文地道元素 中文解释与对照
Alright 好的 (另一个随意的开场)
I simply can't live without 我简直离不开 (夸张，表达强烈依赖)
has got to be 肯定是 (表示非常确定)
It's just... 它就是... (表示"只不过是"，轻描淡写)
nothing too fancy 没什么太花哨的 (地道短语)
man 哥们/天哪 (感叹词，表达强烈情绪)
I've had it for... 我拥有它已经... (完成时态表达持续状态，很自然)
splashed out 斥巨资/花了一大笔钱 (非常地道的词组)
literally 真的 (口语中常用来强调，虽然有时用法不严谨)
That's a whole other story 那又是另一回事了 (常用短语，表示不想展开)
Anyway... 反正吧... (把话题拉回来)
As for... 至于... (转换话题点的自然方式)
where do I even begin? 我都从哪说起呢？ (修辞问句，表示内容太多)
First off 首先 (first 的口语变体)
constantly 不停地 (比 often 程度更强)
checking, catching up on 查看，刷刷（朋友圈） (动名词描述日常行为)
lifesaver 救星 (比喻，非常生动)
But besides that 但除此之外 (自然过渡)
Like 比如 (举例)
getting directions 找路 (比 navigating 更简单直接)
pretty much 几乎 (万能软化语气副词)
I'd be totally lost without... 没有...我完全会迷路 (虚拟语气，强调重要性)
comes in handy 派上用场 (经典地道短语)
all the time 一直
Oh, and 哦，还有 (突然想起补充某事)
you name it 你能说出来的它都有 (习语，表示"等等一切")
I suppose 我想 (比 I think 更委婉)
puts... right in my pocket 把...直接放我口袋里 (形象比喻)
all rolled into one 所有这些都集中在一个里面 (地道表达)
It just... 它就是... (强调)
so much, a lot 如此多地，很多 (加强语气)
I'd be pretty stuck without it! 没有它我会很抓瞎！ (stuck 是口语中"陷入困境"的完美表达)

例四：描述一次重要的旅行

话题卡：Describe an important journey that was delayed.

You should say:

  • what the journey was
  • why it was important
  • how it was delayed
  • and explain how you felt about the experience.

地道答案：

"Right, so I'm going to talk about a flight I took to go to a really important job interview a couple of years ago. It was a huge deal for me at the time.

The thing is, this interview was for my dream job in Shanghai. I'd been looking for a chance like this for ages. So, naturally, I was incredibly nervous and desperate for everything to go smoothly.

But, as you can probably guess, it didn't exactly go to plan. I got to the airport nice and early, but then we heard an announcement saying our flight was delayed due to bad weather. First, it was just an hour. Then, another hour. And then, another. It was a total nightmare.

I was freaking out! I remember constantly checking the time, calling the airline, and pacing up and down the departure lounge. I even tried to explain my situation to the staff, but there was nothing they could do. I felt so helpless and frustrated.

In the end, the delay was over three hours. I ended up missing the interview completely. I was absolutely gutted – you know, that sinking feeling when something you've set your heart on just falls through.

Looking back, though, it wasn't the end of the world. I managed to email them and explain what happened. They were pretty understanding and even gave me another interview the following week! So, all's well that ends well, I suppose. But at that moment, it felt like a complete disaster."

地道元素解析与中文对照：

英文地道元素 中文解释与对照
Right, so 好的，那么 (经典开场)
a huge deal 一件大事 (比 very important 更地道)
at the time 在当时
The thing is,... 问题是,... (引出核心信息或矛盾)
dream job 梦想的工作
I'd been looking for... 我过去一直在找... (过去完成进行时，自然表达持续状态)
naturally 自然 (副词，让语气更流畅)
incredibly, desperate 极其地， desperate (表达强烈情感)
smoothly 顺利
But, as you can probably guess 但，正如你大概能猜到的 (与考官互动)
didn't exactly... 并没有真的... (委婉的否定，带点幽默)
nice and early 早早地 (nice and + adj. 表示"很...")
but then 但接着 (叙述转折)
saying 说 (现在分词作伴随状语，口语中常用)
due to 由于 (比 because of 稍正式一点，但常用)
First,... Then,... And then,... 先...然后...然后再... (描述连续事件最自然的方式)
a total nightmare 一场彻头彻尾的噩梦 (夸张，表达极度糟糕)
freaking out 急疯了 (非常地道的词组)
I remember constantly... 我记得我不停地... (remember + ing 回忆过去画面)
pacing up and down 来回踱步 (形象生动)
there was nothing they could do 他们也无能为力 (地道句式)
so... and... 如此...和... (表达并列的强烈情绪)
In the end 最终
ended up missing 最终错过了 (end up doing 表示最终结果)
completely 完全地
absolutely gutted 伤心欲绝 (gutted 是英式口语中表示极度失望的极品好词)
that sinking feeling 那种沉重的心情 (比喻，人人都懂)
set your heart on 一心想要 (地道短语)
falls through 落空 (词组动词)
Looking back 回头看 (引出反思)
it wasn't the end of the world 也不是世界末日 (习语，表示没那么糟)
managed to 设法做到了 (比 could 更能体现努力)
pretty 挺 (副词，表示"相当")
all's well that ends well 结果好就一切都好 (谚语，完美收尾)
at that moment 在那一刻
it felt like... 感觉就像... (描述感受)