890.  A Street Market  (May 2018)   (Probably no longer used)

Note 1

Once again, it is necessary to define "children" and "young people".

"Children" are between the ages of about 3 and 12.

When English speakers say, "young people" they usually mean people aged between about 13 and 25 or even 30.

There are a minority of English speakers who think of, "young people" as all people aged under about 20 or 25, including children but since children, teenagers and young adults are different in so many important ways, this broad definition is not very useful.

Note 2

Of course, "learning something" from a friend when you are 10 years old or 5 years old does not necessarily mean to learn a skill or a new piece of information. As well as learning a new word from another kid, children can "learn" an attitude, a behaviour, a good habit, or a bad habit from another child without even knowing that a learning process is taking place,

Note 3

Is it good for a child to have a multi-cultural friend?

This question might be asked using the word, "cross-cultural" instead of "multi-cultural". Or: " ... for a child to have a friend from a different culture?"

Note 4

What do you think is the difference between fixing something and buying a new one?

Strictly speaking, "fixing something" means "fixing it yourself". But that question can be interpreted to also mean, "fixing something or getting someone to fix it". If your computer needs fixing, most of us have to get a computer expert to fix it. When you "get something done", someone else does it. For example, "I got my car washed this morning" means, "I paid for someone to wash my car". 

The question might be asked using the words, "What do you think is the difference between having (or, getting) something fixed, and buying a new one?"

Note 5

Can you think of any things that people replace very often, even every day sometimes?

Note that the word, "replace" does not always mean to throw something away and get a new one. Sometimes, it just means to "change", like changing your socks.

Most of us change our underpants and socks every day. And many people, especially working women, change their clothes every day. Some people change their garbage bin liner every day (= they take out their garbage every day and put a new bag in the garbage bin to hold the  garbage).

You can also change your habits of doing things. For example, changing the place where you buy your lunch every day if you work in the city and there are many nearby places to go to for lunch.

You can even change your girlfriend or boyfriend, for a "new" one.

Note 6

Who do you think wants new things more, children or old people?

"children" = under 13 years old

"old people" = people over about 60 or 65.

"older people" = somewhat old, compared to you, such as your parents

"middle aged people" = people aged from about 35 to 60.

If you give a second-hand wooden toy truck to a 5-yr-old kid, do you think he will ask for a new one instead? Do you think a 4 year-old girl would ask for a new doll if you gave her one that was 50 years old?

Note 7

There is European classical music, such as Mozart and Beethoven, but there is also the classical music from your country. That classical music from your country is more or less the traditional music, especially when it is known by most people in the country and especially when it is rather "high class" or music that the more educated, middle classes have always liked.

Note 8

Of course you can and probably should show the examiner that you know words such as "violin" and "piano".  But it is also very suitable to tell the examiner that some people in your country learn instruments that are from your country, instruments that don't have an English name. For example, the erhu (二胡), for Chinese people. The examiners will be interested to learn about these instruments. You should not be afraid to use the name of the instrument in your own language but immediately try to communicate what kind of instrument it is, in English. Using body language to show how it is played will help. For the erhu, you could describe it as a two-stringed instrument that is played with a bow. ("Bow" is pronounced like "know").

Note 9

Of course, the word "pop" in "pop music" is a short form of "popular". But pop music is mostly just popular among young people.

Note 10

This is 秧歌 dancing. Although this is called, "square dancing" or "plaza dancing" in English. I suggest not calling it "square dancing" because, in English, "square dancing" refers to a completely different kind of dancing, where people exchange partners by moving among the dancers who are standing in a square-shaped pattern. The Chinese "square dancing" refers to dancing in the town square. If you want to call it "square dancing" then you should try to explain why the word. "square" is used in the English name. You will get a few points if you can do this. You don't need to show that you are aware of the "square dancing" that exists in the West.

Note 11

For many questions about what you think the future might be, the internet (or computers) can be part of your answer. For example, "How do you think shopping will change in the future?" Answer: "I think most people will probably be doing most of their shopping online . . . . ."

Note 12

Can you suggest why some people like to buy things alone, and why other people like to go shopping with others?

There are situations when it is simpler, and faster, to go shopping alone. This often depends on what you are buying. Many females tend to like having a female friend with them when they are buying clothes.

The question has been reported as similar to the words above. But what people "like to" do, and what they actually do, are not always the same. It is possible that the question is as follows, without the words, "like to": Can you suggest why some people (usually) buy things alone, and why other people (tend to) go shopping with others?

Obviously some people usually go shopping alone because they have no friends, or because they have nobody suitable to go shopping with! As well as that, most men (especially if they are unmarried) prefer to go shopping alone, especially for everyday things like groceries and even clothes.