《剑七》终于粉墨登场。《剑七》所有题目共同的解题关键字是:平衡。《剑七》带来的好消息是:比《剑六》简单。《剑七》带来的坏消息是:形式大于内容。结论:理解了形式,才能做好内容。
  
  《剑七》口语题目的普遍特点
  
  一、 考查考生的抽象思维和对价值观的思考。如题例:
  
  Laughing
  What kinds of thing make you laugh?
  Do you like making other people laugh? Why or why not?
  Do you think it’s important for people to laugh? Why or why not?
  Is laughing the same as feeling happy, do you think? Why or why not?
  
  此关于“笑”的话题考察了考生对于欢乐、开心的各方面理解。与之属于一类的、近年来出现过的价值观话题有Happiness, Success, Change等。做好这类题目,考生必须要对人生有自己的感悟,建议考生们准备一个人生励志故事,最好一波三折,在情节演变过程中加入一些能体现考生自身英文功底的高级表达,故事的最终结果能够皆大欢喜,而且该经历的选择必须符合该经历对考生人生具有指导意义。然后将该故事套入此类型的题目中,考官应该会有不错的反响。
  
  二、部分题目朝写作题型靠拢。《剑七》中典型的题目有:
  
  Ideas and education:
  Some people think that education should be about memorizing the important ideas of the past. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
  
  这道题的出法容易令人联想起雅思写作题的出题风格。笔者认为这是《剑七》带来的一个重要启示,即日后雅思口语和写作题的风格会愈趋愈近。建议考生提高效率,将写作题库和口语整合起来准备。
  
  《剑七》中的口语题材分类以及解决方案
  
  题型分类1:开放式命题
  
  1. 开放式命题定义
  

  笔者把一部分题目归为“开放式命题”,就是考生一听这些题会觉得答案应该会非常丰富,绝不是只有一种趋向。比如:
 
  • Do you prefer to contact different people in different ways?
  • What kinds of thing make you laugh?
  • Is laughing the same as feeling happy, do you think?
  • What is more difficult: having new ideas or putting them into practice? Which is more important for a successful company?
  • Some people think that competition leads to a better performance from sports stars. Others think it just makes players feel insecure. What is your opinion?
  
  这些题目乍看应该就会使大部分考生觉得答案有很多种可能。
  
  2. 开放式命题解决方案
  
  此类题的解题内容可属仁者见仁,智者见智。这样反而在解题思路上考生就要注意避免答案极端化,千万不要回答地很片面,而应回答地平衡和全面,以体现考生思维的严谨,内容的贴切。要做到这一点,需要准备很多经典名句。建议考生多背一些中译英和英文的名言,而这些名言的内容尽量能够有助于表现出事物的多样性和事物的平衡感。
  
  比如中文中有句名言叫做:“不管白猫黑猫,抓到老鼠就是好猫”。这句话英文怎么说呢?其实考生随便怎么翻,只要意思清楚,考官一般能够接受。如翻成“Whether a white cat or a black cat, a good cat catches mice”。当然,英文中也有相关的名言,比如“Every road leads to Rome.”这两句话的意思其实一样。那么,如果我们还要再想一句意思上和上述两句相关的paraphrasing呢?我脑海中出现了这样一句:“Everyone has his or her Hamlet in the mind.”这三句话在意思上都能体现事物的多样性。下面以Hamlet这句为例,我们来看看怎么将其变化出不错的答案来。
  
  比如题目为What kinds of thing make you laugh?

  范文:
  Well, this is a very interesting question. As far as I know, different things can make different people laugh. Just as the saying goes, “Everyone has his or her Hamlet in the mind”. Actually to my mind, many things can make me laugh, so it’s really harsh for me to generalize some certain things. However, if I have to say something about this, I would say on the top, as we all know, funny stories or things can make people laugh, for me the same. In addition, encouragement from my parents and friends can make me laugh and give me courage. Furthermore, success in career and happy love can make me laugh out loud, of course. In summary, at least there are three things that make me laugh.
  
  题型分类2:科技发展推动生活习惯变化
  
  1. 科技题的考试范围和内容
  
  • computer, the Internet and chatting tools online such as QQ, ICQ, MSN, Google Talk, Yahoo Messenger, Skype, UC, Fetion
  • PSP, PS3, mp3, mp4, e-dictionaries
  • means of transportation: mopeds, light rails, metros, maglev
  • household appliances such as the microwave oven, the fridge, the dish washer, the washing machine and the vacuum cleaner (They have dramatically promoted our efficiency.)
  • high-tech crimes: the Internet crimes – hackers, the Matrix (Reloaded)
  
  2. 科技类题目解决方案
  
  根据笔者对《剑七》的研究以及对近年来雅思口语中科技题内容的分析,发现科技类题目的出题范围主要涵盖上述五大内容。一是电脑和网络对人类带来的影响,以及网络给沟通带来的便捷和问题。考生应该掌握主要的聊天工具。二是最新便捷手提掌上电脑类产品,比如PSP等,考生应该学会描述它们给生活带来的便捷。三是科技发展为交通工具带来的进步,考生应该掌握新型交通工具的名称以及优缺点。四是家用电器的名称以及各自的优缺点。五是高科技带来的负面效应即高科技犯罪这一块内容,尤其是高科技犯罪中最恶性的犯罪——网络犯罪。建议考生对于网络犯罪问题对社会带来的危害能够进行描述分析,并能给出例子,比如电影《黑客帝国》的大概内容,黑客的基本说法等。
  
  下面笔者将以《剑七》中的几道经典科技题给出大概解题思路,希望广大考生能窥一斑见全豹,以一当十地应对日后可能会遇到的科技题目。
  
  • Do you find it easy to keep in contact with friends and family?
  这个可以直接把各种聊天工具进行罗列。
  • In your country, did people in the past keep in contact in the same ways as they do today?
  同上。
  • What changes would improve the way you travel to work/college?
  以轨道交通为首的工具有很多,可以简单罗列。
  • How have these machines benefited people? Are there any negative effects of using them?
  这个问题的前面还有一个问题:即家用电器有哪些?然后引出这样问题。那么对于考生来说,直接说问题的两面性是逻辑辩证的。优点是他们能带来便捷,缺点是他们会使人产生依赖性lead to dependence.
  • How have developments in technology affected employment in your country?
  电脑的普及对于招工有明显的影响。因为现在几乎所有单位都要求员工能使用Microsoft Office software。如果不会基本就在看简历的时候被out了。因此这道题和电脑、网络等有着密不可分的关系。
  
  题型分类3:传统文化的影响
  
  1. 传统文化在雅思口试中的考点
  
  • Culture shock: eastern and western
  • Time shock: past and present
  
  考官一般会从以上两方面对于一些富有中国特色的行为和考生展开讨论。例如:

  Question No. 1:What are the main reasons why people organise family parties in your country?
  Question No. 2:In some places people spend a lot of money on parties that celebrate special family events. Is this ever true in your country? Do you think this is a good trend or a bad trend?
  
  2. 关于中国传统文化题的解决方案
  
  首先笔者谈谈Culture shock类题目。当考生被问到中国人在各种场景中的行为模式时,考官的期待是听到考生谈到东西方文化差异产生的部分行为差异。以Question No. 1为例,考官的期待是考生对于中国文化中人们开派对的原因,而不是简单地回答原因和西方一致就可以搪塞的过去的。所以这道题的启发是,我们是否能够将中国人的“吃”文化,和西方人的“玩”文化在派对这个场景、雅思口试这个场合中,彰显出来。范文如下:
  
  Wow, actually I believe in China maybe the biggest reason why people hold parties is that they want to celebrate a wedding or a birthday. However, I would say that when we hold parties we generally hold feasts cuz Chinese people prefer to eat a lot instead of playing in the parties. And sometimes we also throw farewell parties to give our relatives or friends a great send-off to another country. In conclusion, I feel that we have at least two reasons for this.
  
  其次笔者将分析Time shock类题目,如上题Question No.2。这是中国文化传统行为在不同时代表现差异的题目。有时候考官会先描述一种任何时代都有可能发生的普遍(中国)文化现象,比如像No.2中谈到的花钱庆祝家庭活动的行为,然后问在将来是否仍将如此,或者在中国这个做法过去和现在有什么不同?此类题目建议考生始终围绕优缺点、辩证思想去展开,无论在过去、现在,还是将来,这种文化现象都是双刃剑。这样考生能够顺利避开因为分析不同时代的独特性带来的解题困扰,而直接论述这一现象在任何时代具有的普遍优劣性。范文如下:
  
  Well, I believe this is also true in China, yet I don’t think it’s totally a good or bad trend cuz actually, “for every plus there is a minus”, so as for this, maybe in the future it’ll still exist, but it’ll always have its merits and defects. On one hand, big celebrations are exciting. However, they can also be a huge reason for loss of money, and even would break us if we over-consume. All in all, we need to careful when we make our cost plans.
  
  题型分类4:工作
  
  1. “面经题”考法
  
  《剑七》对于工作的关注是秉承了之前六册的一贯风格。雅思口语真题中始终会出现一块领域是关于工作的,而且很多内容和工作面试中的所谓的“面经”完全一致。这对很多不仅要参加雅思口试,同样要参加国外大学,或者企业面试的考生来说是一举两得的。那么“面经”是什么呢?面经就是面试时可能会问到的问题以及一般处理方式。《剑七》中的面经包括:工作中的成就和收获,工作中的困难以及工作中的体验。具体题目如下:
  
  Describe an idea you had for improving something at work or college.
  You should say:
  When and where you had your idea
  What your idea was
  Who you told about your idea
  And explain why you thought your idea would make an improvement.
  
  这道题也是很多MBA学校在录取考生是会看的一道题目。在以往的真题中,笔者注意到“面经”题还真不少呢!而且一般都是第二部分的题目。相似度高、经典的类似题目包括:

  • Describe a project you have ever taken part in.
  • Describe a success.
  • Describe a change in your life.
  
  2. “面经题”解决方案
  
  对于这类题目的做法,建议考生通过准备一个工作中的故事,代入题目当中进行做题。当然,从故事的取材角度来说,应该是对考生有进步意义、令人难忘的工作经历。
  
  题型分类5:Do you agree or disagree型
  
  1. Agree or disagree题定义
  
  • Some people think that education should be about memorising the important ideas of the past. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
  • Some people think that technology has brought more stress than benefits to employed people nowadays. Would you agree or disagree? Why?
  
  一般此类题目先陈述一种现象,然后问考生是否同意,为什么。和写作题风格无限趋近。
  
  2. Agree or disagree题解决方案
  
  这一类题目趋近于写作题,同时又比较新颖,做题思路很鲜明。建议考生在做这类题时走“平衡”路线,先肯定对方,再增加不能完全同意考官的内容。因为这种题目在出题思路上都是先陈述完整观点的一部分,然后问考生是否同意?无论考生是否同意,都会流于片面。所以走“平衡”路线,同意考官的同时,在补上这个话题的另一面,在回答问题时就会显得非常全面、圆满了。
 
  例如第一题可这样作答:Well, this is a very interesting question to be frank with you. I guess I can partially agree with you cuz we really should memorize many things in our study. However, sometimes memory is not the only essential thing cuz we also need to use our creativity and logic in study in order to make it more efficient and effective. So I’m afraid I can’t totally agree with you.   
  
  题型分类6:专业导向型问题
  
  1. 专业导向型问题的考点
  
  当然,专业导向型问题的名称应该已经彰显出其特点——考专业领域知识。还好考的不多。《剑七》虽然在难度上专业导向型题目少了,但是仍然不乏此类题需要考生事先进行关注的。比如:

  • How do you think teachers could help students to develop and share their own ideas?
  • Why do you think some school teachers use competitions as class activities?
  • Do you think it is a good thing to give prizes to children who do well at school? Why?

  这三个问题都是与教育和老师相关的。这类题目涉及教育学的一些理论和方法,一般考生很难有比较理想的答案。
  
  2. 专业导向型问题解决方案
  
  建议考生能做到在“机经”中对此类题目进行遴选,并在考试前准备一些相关的专业内容。以上述三道题为例,笔者给出一些解题思路,以便考生熟悉答题方向。第一题可以用课堂互动(class interaction)来解决。第二题可以用激发潜能(tap their potential)来解释。第三题则要区分物质激励(material incentives)和精神激励(spiritual incentives)对学生可能产生的影响。  
  
  本文总结了《剑七》的六大特色,它是我们至少未来一年内的考试风向标。建议广大考生能吸取本文精华,更有针对性地进行复习,以取得最好的效果。祝大家考试顺利,英语进步!

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