Unit1 A: What’s your opinion about going back to your hometown during the National Day holiday week? B: I think we should go back to our hometown during the National Day holiday week.It’s an excellent opportunity for us to spend more time with our parents.A: I don’t think we should take a long trip home during the National Day holiday week.Of cause we mi our parents and would like to spend the holiday with them.But it’s also a good time for studying.B: Ok, you think that we should spend some of the time learning more and wait until the long school vacation to go home.To my mind, going home won’t interfere with our study.A: Why do you say so? If you don’t go home, you can have a plenty of time to study, but, if you go home, you won’t have so much time to study.B: I think we can certainly take some books with us and study in the company of our parents.A: Well, but what about the money? The trip home is costly.And it will be an extra burden for our parents.B: We can pay for the trip ourselves by taking part-time jobs instead of asking our parents to send us money for that.A: But we all know finding suitable part-time jobs is not easy.And the hard-earned money could be put to better use than the travelling expenses.And we can expre our love by another ways.B: Maybe you think the trip home waste money and time, but I think a visit is worth any letters or phone calls.Life is short and our parents are getting on in years.We should spend more time with them.
Unit 2 A: What’s your view about believing in the supernatural? B: I believe in the supernatural.A lot of strange things happen around us.And so far science hasn’t been able to provide answers to them.A: I don’t think there are mysterious forces at work when coincidences occur.Most coincidences are simply the result of pure chance.And some coincidences, unusual though they may be, can actually be explained.B: But for example, a friend of mine told me that he dreamed that his uncle had died and the death was confirmed by a phone call he received the next morning immediately after he woke up.Wasn’t that odd? A: I think it is just coincidence, not owing to the supernatural.B: It couldn’t be just a coincidence, I think.Maybe there are ghost or something else in the world, if not, how can we explain it? A: Maybe you think that was unbelievable.But take coincidental birth date for example, an experiment mentioned that there is a 50 per cent chance that at least two of them celebrate the same birth date.B: I used to think that is unusual, and I haven’t gueed that could be so common.But I think all the extraordinary phenomenon can be explain.A: This experiment proves that it is poible to calculate the probabilities of some seemingly improbable happenings.In real life, however, we tend to give coincidences a leer probabilities than they deserve.Unit 3
A: What do you think about giving first priority to economic status in choosing a spouse? B: I think it is very natural for people to give first priority to economic status in choosing a spouse.We all know how important money is.A: You may think money can bring everything they want, like a big apartment, a car, or a trip abroad.However, can these material things really ensure happine? B: But without money, we can hardly do anything.Lack of money in a marriage will cause problems to the couple.A: But I think a marriage should base on a deep love instead of material wealth.B: Even though the couple may have married for love being always hard-preed for money, love will soon be replaced by quarrels and endle worries over money matters.A: I think if the couples marry for love, they can work hard together and become rich.But if the marry for money, they will be unhappy.B: I don’t mean that love is not neceary, but money is more important.It is very important to first consider if your future spouse is able to share the responsibility of supporting a family.A: Marriage means two people to spend the whole life time together.So I think deep love is more important than money.
Unit 4
A: What do you think about feeling streed before job interviews? B: I think stre before a job is bad.If you’ve made the best of your school years to seek knowledge, if you’ve prepared your presentations well, there is no need for you to feel streed. A: I don’t think so.I think feel stre before job is very normal, thought we learn well or prepare well, we may still feel nervous.But it doesn’t matter, it may make us more energetic.B: Stre before a job interview can also bring you a negative effect.Life becomes very unpleasant, because you put enormous preure on yourself.
A: When we finish college we’ll have to face intense competition in the job market.We all want to give a presentation that demonstrates our abilities and our potentials before interviews.And that requires an alert mind to prepare it well.B: But with preure, you may find it hard to get to sleep, have no appetite for food, and are not in a mood for anything interesting.Eventually it will damage your health and interfere with your ability to perform well at the interview.A: I think you just mean that too much preure will have a negative effect on us.But my opinion is that a certain amount of stre is neceary to make us more energetic and therefore more productive.
B: I still suppose that the best policy is relaxed and face the interview confidently.Calm down and you will show your ability well to the interviewers.
A: Maybe you are right, but I still hold on my own views.A certain amount of stre can stimulate us and increase our level of alertne.
Unit5 A: I am not against voluntary work in general but I don’t think it is proper for college students to be volunteers for the preparation and day to day work of an international conference.B: I don’t think I can agree with your point of view.I’d like to be a volunteer for the international conference to be held soon in our region.This is an important meeting and many world leaders are going to be present.A: But it is not your busine.As a students, you main task is to study.When you go and do voluntary work for such a conference, you will have to mi claes, or fail to do your aignments.Eventully you will fall behind in your study.B: I know that I may have to mi some claes, but my teachers and my friends are all very supportive.I’m sure I’ll be able to make up for the lose time with their help.
A: but I think the government or the organizer of the conference should employ profeions to do the work, rather than asking students at college to volunteer.B: To make the conference succeful, a lot of work needs to be done and I’ll be only too glad to do something for my country.Meanwhile, I believe the voluntary work will enable me to put into pratice what I’ve learned at college and learn new things that I can not learn from books.
Unit 6 A: I don’t think it’s a good idea to create more parks in downtown areas.There areas should be reserved for busine.Which are the main sources of the government’s revenue.B: I don’t agree with you.I think develop parks in downtown areas will create a better environment, which is good for busine.A: Many received through taxation of busine can be used by the government to invest in various useful projects.But what can the green field produce? Nothing at all.B: No.As more and more people will be drawn to these areas, there will be more busine opportunities for shops, restaurants, hotel, and entertainment centers that line the busy streets of downtown areas.A: What’s more, to make way for the parks, stores, houses and buildings will have to be torn down, which will cause much inconvenience to the people who live there, not to mention the huge cost in relocating them.B: the green gra and trees provide a good view for us to enjoy, they will clean the air and reduce pollution.So our living conditions will be improved and our life will be happier and healthier.A:I don’t think people can keep their beauty long.I’m afraid they will soon be destroyed by people who do not cherish public property.
Unit 7
A: I admire the young man’s courage and his willingne to help others.But he really didn’t have to do that.It was not his job to save the people trapped in there.It was the job of the firefighters.B: Yes, we need to be careful in the face of danger but we mustn’t allow calculations of personal gain or lo to stand in the way of saving lives.A: it’s not wise for nonprofeionals to be involved in the rescue effort because they don’t have the training and proper equipment.And chances are high that they would not be of much practical helped would only risk their lives in vain.B: It is true that without training and proper equipment, nonprofeional may not be as efficient as trained rescue workers, but we value such people because of their responsibilities and a deep respect for human life.A: I’m not against heroism, but I do think you need to be very careful and consider the cost before you act.Unneceary risks are not worth taking.B: There are many examples of nonprofeionals succefully helping and saving other people, of which the story of Krimali, the heroine in the listening texts, in a case in point.
Topic 8 (Unit 8): A: Hello everyone.In the first place, I indicate my position:We should design products for those who have special physical needs.The first reason:One out of every ten people walking down the street is a person with some special needs.But everywhere they go,they come acro foods,tools or garments,etc.that are not designed for their use.This was quite a digital worth our attention.
B: I agree with you that we should pay more attention to those people who have special physical needs.But we can see the majority of people in the world are the healty people.What’s more,I think this is an important iue and that society as a whole should be responsible for looking after the welfare of these people.
A:On the other hand,it’s true that something has been done in recent years to meet the needs of these groups of people but it is not enough.I think more manufacturers should be involved in designing more products to satisfy the special needs of these people.
B:Of course,Our company will certainly do everything to satisfy their needs if we can.However,as a small company,we lack the financial and technological resources to design and produce products aimed at a relatively amll numver of customers.
A:In my opinion,The market is probably not so large,but if market research is efficiently carried out ,there will be sufficient rewards.The biggest reward,however,will come from knowing how much their efforts will mean to those with special needs.No longer will these people feel neglected and their lives will not be full of disappointments and frustrations.
B: I think rather differently.As a markets for special needs products are not large producing such products is rather risky.I’d like to piont out that the best way,I think,is for the central government to take action and aign certain state-owned enterprises to make such products.Backed by government funding,I’m sure they will be able to meet people’s special needs.
Topic 9 (Unit 9):
A: Hello everyone.In the first place, I indicate my position:I’m agree with the view that the global economy is harming our national culture.The first reason:I think the global economy is doing us more harm than good.It’s true that as a result of the increasing operations of foreign businees in China,Chinese consumers now have a much greater choice of goods.But,the sad fact is that many people,especially the young,have come to worship everything foreign.They drink Coca-Cola,eat Italian pizzas,wear Nike sneakers and watch Hollywood movies.The danger is they’ll gradually adopt western values and western ways of life and forget their own culture.
B:I don’t think I can agree with the view expreed above.Consumption of imported goods and adoption of some foreign practices does not mean we are losing our national identity.Culture is not a static,closed system and we don’t preserve our culture by closing the door to the outside world.It’s good thing that gobalization makes it poible for us to be exposed to different cultures in our home country.It enriches our lives and enables us to see and appreciate the beauty of cultural diversity.
A:I agree with you that it enrich our lives But what I said was Things like dating at an early age,going to all night parties,marrying in white,and having cereal for breakfast instead of porridge are not uncommon among the young,but they are not part of our national traditions.So what happens is our national culture is losing ground due to the influence of the global economy.
B:In my opion,we do not paively accept everything foreign and discard our own traditions.Instead we incorporate something from other cultures into our own traditions so that we become more than we are.For example,many young people choose to marry both in white and red.A bride wears a western-style wedding gown first and changes into a traditional Chinese gown later.This is proof that our life has become more colorful by our exposure to foreign cultures.
Topic 10 (Unit 10): A: Hello everyone.In the first place, I indicate my position:We should support and encourag teachers to bring humor into claroom teaching.The first reason:humor and laughter make us relaxed.If we are relaxed,we become more creative and can learn better.
B: I’m afraid I disagree.Learning is a serious thing.Teachers are there to teach,not to entertain.Jokes or humorous stories distract students’ attention from the subject of study and many negatively affect the learning proce.
A: I think rather differently.Teachers with a good sense of humor can keep their students interested even if the subject is difficult and dry.It’s torture to have to listen to a boring profeor lecture on and on about a boring topic.We can hardly concentrate in such a case.
B: I’d like to piont out that it’s true when a teacher inroduces a humorous story to illustrate a point,what often happens is that the students only recall the joke but forget all about what the joke was meant to illustrate.Humor may give the students a lot of fun but it may not help them learn.
A: I incline to take the opposite point of view.If a teacher explains a point in a humorous way,it not only helps us understand the point but also helps us remember it.Summing it up,I’d say humor should be encouraged because it enlivens the atmosphere and helps us learn better. B:Another disadvantage of encouraging the in corporation of humor in teaching is that it might affect our evaluation of a teacher’s performance.People like those who make them laugh.And students might think that a good teacher is one who tells interesting stories and give a high rating to such teachers.This is not fair to those teachers who do not,but who are neverthele well-qualified for the subjects they teach.
Unit 11
A: I would rather watch a film at home than at a cinema.。 Because it is more relaxing and comfortable.B: I don’t agree with you.In my opinion , watching a film at a cinema is much more enjoyable.A: At home ,you can move about whenever you want and you can eat or drink whatever you like while watching .You can also watching it in any posture.You can lie down in bed or sit on the floor.
B: Watching a film at home may be more relaxing but you will mi a lot so far as these are concerned .Because no TV screen can compare with the big screens in cinemas. A home TV set can in no way produce the same visual or audio effects.With films that excel in scenery and music , you will mi a tremendous lot .A: But at a cinema, you have to sit through a film in a darkened hall among a lot of strangers and talking is not allowed.B: As for the silence and darkne in a cinema ,I think they help you concentrate on what is happening on the screen.A: As we all know , a lot of fun of film watching comes from sharing the experience with others .You can discu among yourselves the acting of actors and actrees , or make guees about the poible ending of film, even laugh or cry loudly .B: I think ,you also can make a gue about the poible ending of film at a cinema .Doing too many things while watching a film can be distracting .If all you want is to talk or eat , why do you have to do them while watching a film ? A: Talking and eating while watching a film is a interesting and funny thing , isn’t it ? What’s more ,watching a film can save you money for tickets and time for traveling .B: Everybody knows that new films are only shown in cinemas .If you want to watch them at home , you’ll have to wait several months for their video ,VCD or DVD versions to be released .If all your friends talk about a new film they have seen and you don’t know anything about it ,you will feel left out ,don’t you ?
A: Well ,maybe . Coin has two sides.But for me ,I like to watch a film at home with my family .B: Yeah! You are right ,but I still insist on my opinion.
Unit12
A: As a parent ,I quite agree with the school’s decision—young students must go to school with their uniforms on .B: I’m a student , to be frank , I hate wearing school uniforms because I don’t want to feel dull and ordinary.A: In my opinion , wearing school uniforms can build a sense of the collective in children from early on .By wearing uniforms children will be very much aware that they belong to group and their behavior should be in the interest of their group .B: The style of school uniforms is very simple and rigid ,which can not reflect a person’s individual personality.Wearing school uniforms go against to cultivate the character and creative spirit of students.A: I don’t think the character and creative spirit of students can cultivate by their clotheres.Wearing uniforms can also effectively prevent students from going after brand names to satisfy their vanity .Some teenagers seen to be interested in outward appearance only , which is very harmful to their character building .B: Many school uniforms are made by school.And the quality of school uniforms is quite bad so that it is too uncomfortable to wear them .Wearing clothes I like can make me feel good and competent .Bad quality clothes ,which harm to people’s health, is not benefit for students’ study.A: In addition , wearing school uniforms can stop students from competing with each other in what they put on .The practice of keeping the Joneses will not have a change to harm the innocent minds of the young .And they will have more time to devote to their studies.
Topic 13 (Unit 13):
Debating: Arguments for or against space exploration A: ladies and gentlemen,I will stating my opinion first.Known as our Fourth Environment besides land, oceans, and the atmosphere, the outer space can affect our life in many ways.We all know, for example, how activities on the sun may have far-reaching influences on Earth\'s weather patterns.And one important task of space exploration is to study how this happens.B: I ’ m afraid i disagree your expreion.I don\'t think it is neceary to spend so much time and money on space exploration.Right now, there are much more preing problems on Earth waiting to be solved.And iues like the origin and the future of the universe are too far removed from our life to deserve so much attention.A: However,We are now able to get more accurate weather reports, especially forecasts of disastrous weather conditions, with the help of artificial satellites developed in space programs.And many technologies developed by NASA have improved the quality of our life.How can we say space exploration is far removed from our daily life? B: all right , but don ‘t you think it is better to focus on some realistic problems? For example, the oceans, covering more than 70% of Earth\'s surface, are still a great mystery to us.An exploration of the oceans would not only enable us to know more about our immediate environment but also open up more sources for food, energy and so on.Besides, many diseases such as cancer and AIDS have claimed an alarming number of lives, yet no sure cures have been found for them.A: that ’ s a good point.But Space exploration is also closely related to the development of many other scientific subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, and the origin of species.Breakthroughs in space exploration have opened up new areas of research for these subjects.Thus,if we should give up space exploration now, it would be a tremendous waste of time and money indeed.B: I don ’ t think so I believe that we should leave the universe alone for a while and turn our eyes to problems facing human beings on a daily basis.If so, we will be doing a great service to mankind.And space exploration can wait until advances in astronomy make it poible to find more definite answers. Topic 14 (Unit 14):
Debating: Arguments for or against a ban on genetic engineering A: ladies and gentlemen,I will stating my opinion first.Personally I think that genetic engineering, as the name suggests, involves modifying the genes of a living organism.One of its practices is inserting desirable genes into a crop so that it can resist pests or does not rot easily.But from what I have read about genetic engineering, I think the insertion of new genes into a living organism can be a risky busine.B: That can ’ t be true.As far as I ’ m concerned ,I don\'t think we should ban genetic engineering.Besides information technology, genetic engineering is probably the most important science of the 21st century.It\'s too early to say that its disadvantages outweigh its advantages.A: I agree with you partly.However, some companies are already applying this technology to produce foods to feed the world population.Many people are therefore concerned about the safety of such foods as there seems to be no sure way at present of knowing their overall, long-term effects on the health of those who eat them.B: I don ’ t think so.As we know, genetic engineering can help plants to grow bigger and faster.Some plants could be made to grow in salty water or very little water.This will be such good news for people in desert areas.We all know that the world population keeps increasing while farmland becomes le and le.Lack of water resources is now a preing iue.So is the feeding of a growing population.To these problems, genetic engineering offers poible answers.Why should we ban it? And how can we afford to ban it? A: I see we have different opinions.But what about the safety of people? I think more research needs to be done about genetic engineering.We mustn\'t wait until someone gets sick or even dies to put a ban on it.We should try to protect ourselves and pre strongly for an immediate ban on it, especially on the sale of genetically engineered foods.B: So do I.It\'s true that we don\'t have ample statistics to prove that genetically engineered foods are safe enough to eat.But this does not mean that they must be dangerous.Let me repeat what I said.Genetic engineering is a new science, and as a developing science, there are bound to be twists and turns ahead of it, but its prospects are bright. Topic 15 (Unit 15):
Debating: Arguments for or against the view that women face unequal treatment in getting promoted
A:Nowadays,it becomes more and more difficult for us to find job.B:That\'s true.And I think women face unequal treatment on their way to executive positions,women and men do not have equal opportunities.A:I don\'t think so.It\'s not entirely true.The chances are equal for both men and women.And there are quite a few outstanding women in leading positions in various organizations, including busine companies.B:Yeah.Some women have an inferiority complex (自卑情结) and have no ambition to get promoted to top positions.But if we stop to consider what has caused women to think like that, we will know how unfair it is.Ours is largely a male-dominated society.For centuries women have been taught to be modest端庄, paive被动, and obedient顺从.Therefore, many women lack confidence in themselves and believe they are only fit for leer jobs.If they are persuaded to think along those lines, they obviously stand no chance to get promoted to top positions.A:Many women seem to have little confidence in their own abilities.They seem to be persuaded that they are inferior to their male colleagues and have no ambition to become executive tops.Perhaps the responsibility of a higher position frightens them, so they simply give up.Perhaps they would like to stay in a le demanding job, which makes it easier for them to maintain a balance between their career and their family.
B:But some women do overcome this inferiority complex and go all out to compete with their male colleagues.The trouble with them is they have to face a mostly male selective body, and chances are they will not get promoted unle they are extremely outstanding.There are so many men of average capability promoted to high executive positions, for the mere fact that they are men.Can we say there is equal treatment for both men and women where promotion is concerned? A:I think maybe we can have a deep talk in an other day.
Topic 16(Unit 16):
Debating: Arguments for or against divorce as the solution to a lovele marriage
A: Divorce is the solution to a lovele marriage, do you agree? B: In my opinion, I support that divorce is the choice to a lovele marriage.What about you?Do you agree with me? A: OH…., I don’t agree with you.But I am glad to listen to your reasons.
B:I think marriage means that a couple love each other from the bottom of their each heart, so they get married beyond people’s wishes.
Marriage is sacred, and is pure.The marriage without love as the basic should be broken.A: I’m afraid i disagree.Marriage is not only means love, but also responsibility and kinship.We can’t be so selfish, that if we still have the children who need to be taken care of and should live in a whole family.There are so many problems in a long marriage, just the love can’t solve them.As the same principle, lovele can’t be the only reason to divorce.
B: As you known, getting along barely with others must be seen by the children, which will due to a bad effect to the children’s education.We should be honest to our family and be brave to handle the situation.By the way, divorce doesn’t mean having no contact with others any more.
A: Yes, it’s right, however, to be friends is very different from to be lovers.Compared with living together, living apart also have the opposite influence.According to our traditional belief, divorce must hurt so many people who are caring and loving you.B: Well, it’s the fact, but I still believe that we should be loyalty to our own feelings and try to get the real forever love.
