English Recordings

Topic_Clothes

Are clothes and clothing fashions important to you? (Why/Why not?)
No, clothes and fashions are not really important to me. I tend to wear clothes that are comfortable and practical rather than fashionable.

What different clothes do you wear for different situations?
Well, I have to dress quite formally for work, so I wear a shirt and trousers. At home I prefer to wear jeans and a T-shirt, and on special occasions I might wear a suit.

Do you wear different styles of clothes now compared to 10 years ago?
No, not really, because I don’t follow fashion. I think I have dressed in a similar way for the last 10 years.

Do you think the clothes we wear say something about who we are?
Yes, they probably do. Some people are really careful about what they wear because they want to be seen as stylish. Other people wear clothes that show wealth or status, such as clothes by famous designers.

Topic_Communication

How do you usually keep in touch with members of your family?
I mostly keep in touch with my family by phone, and I’ve started using the Internet to make video calls. I also try to visit members of my family in person as often as I can.

Do you prefer to speak to people by phone or by writing emails?
It depends on the situation. I use email and text messages to communicate with friends, but my parents prefer it if I phone them.

Do you ever write letters by hand? (Why/Why not?)
No, I don’t write letters by hand because it’s so much easier to send an email that will arrive immediately.

Is there anything you dislike about mobile phones?
Well, I don’t like listening to other people’s conversations in public places, and I don’t like it when someone’s phone rings in the cinema or during a lesson.

Topic_History

What do you think we can learn by studying events of the past?
I think we can learn a lot by studying history. Just as individual people learn from their mistakes, societies can learn from the mistakes made by previous governments or leaders. For example, from what I’ve read in the newspapers, many economists are looking back to the time of the Great Depression, around 80 years ago, in order to understand the financial crisis that is currently affecting many countries around the world. Even if we don’t always learn from mistakes, I think it’s fascinating to study history because it gives us an insight into who we are and where we come from.

What important events do you think might take place in the future?
It’s really difficult to predict what will happen in the future; most of the big, historic events of the past would have been impossible to foresee. For example, I don’t think that anyone living 100 years ago could have imagined that people would one day walk on the moon! If I had to guess what might happen in the future, I’d like to think that scientists will invent cures for diseases like cancer, and we’ll all live longer.

“During the summer holidays, we decided to go to London with my family for one week.
We arrived at the beginning of August at the airport and a taxi drove us to the hotel directly. It’s good because it was really fast, but a bit expensive.
The hotel was fine and the room was big so it was a good place to stay. However, the neighbours were a little bit noisy and we could hear them from time to time.
We had time to do many things in London in one week but some things were better than others.
What we enjoyed about London was the city center. It’s really beautiful and you have many things to do, you don’t even need a car ! We saw the famous House of Parliament with Big Ben, we went to see the house of the Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street, we saw Buckingham Palace and the famous English guards and we saw the London Eye but we did not do it.
However, some things in London are annoying. In fact, we didn’t know it but life is really expensive ! You cannot eat so much in restaurant or buy little things because it will cost you too much ! Also, people in London are a bit rude, but I suppose it’s the same in all capital cities.
But it was a really good trip; it was very interesting and we met some very nice people. I really think everyone should go to London at least once in their life, just to experience it ! Perhaps I’ll even go there again ! “

Topic: There is a popular expression that claims that ‘the clothes make the man.’ This suggests that the clothes a person wears directly influences how that person behaves and is treated by others?

Do you agree or disagree with this idea?

Model essay 2:

An old adage states you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Yet people do this every day; they put on a cover and judge others by theirs. This is because clothes create a first impression for others, while providing a first image of them.

This suggests that clothes do more than just protect the body from the elements. They can also signal a person’s membership in a particular group; or ‘announce’ the person’s status, financially or socially; or convey a person’s attitude toward things, including him/herself. To illustrate, one can look at gang members or religious followers. Gangs often wear colors to differentiate themselves from other gangs. Mormon males who go on missions often wear plain white shirts and black pants. In terms of status, a wealthy man might wear a high-end suit from Hugo Boss, or a woman may prefer brands like Gucci. Those who wear jeans and t-shirts might be said to be carefree, or careless, depending on whom you ask.

This implies that the clothes one wears daily are the result of careful deliberation. A man chooses a suit because he wants to appear successful, and will likely act as such. A woman will wear expensive shoes to be taller or just more fashionable, and will thus walk with her head held high. There may be other reasons for doing this, but these too will have their purpose. The person who wears jeans, for example, will likely wear slacks when he goes to a job interview, or to meet his girlfriend’s parents. He will, moreover, act differently because the situation calls for it.

With this in mind, we may conclude that clothes do in fact influence people’s decisions and behavior and that they tells others how to approach people and, consequently, how to behave toward them.

Topic: There is a popular expression that claims that ‘the clothes make the man.’ This suggests that the clothes a person wears directly influences how that person behaves and is treated by others?

Do you agree or disagree with this idea?

Model essay 1:

There is an old adage that says you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. However, when it comes to clothes, that is precisely what people do every day; they create a cover for themselves and judge others by theirs. This is because one’s clothes are the first impression a person can make on people, and likewise, the clothes worn by others are the first image a person has of them.

This suggests that, beyond the obvious role of protecting the body from the elements, clothes serve other purposes as well: they can identify a person as a member of a particular group; they can ‘announce’ to the world a person’s status, financially or socially; and they can convey a person’s attitude toward many things, including him or herself. To illustrate these functions one can begin by looking at gang members or those who subscribe to a religious institution. Gangs often wear colors to differentiate themselves from other gangs. Mormon males who go on missions often wear plain white shirts and black pants. In terms of one’s place, a wealthy man might wear a high-end suit from Hugo Boss, or a woman may prefer designer brands like Gucci. Those who constantly wear jeans and t-shirts might be said to be carefree, or simply careless, depending on whom you ask.

It can therefore be inferred that the clothes one puts on every day are the result of careful deliberation. A man may choose to put on a suit because he wants to be seen as successful or powerful, and he will likely act the part as best he can. A woman will wear luxury brand high-heeled shoes because she wants to be taller or just more fashionable, and will thus walk with her head held high. There may be other reasons for this, of course, but these too will have their purpose. The young man who wears jeans and t-shirts, for example, will likely wear slacks and a polo shirt when he goes to a job interview, or to meet his girlfriend’s parents for the first time. He will, moreover, act differently because the situation calls for it.

With all this in mind, it may be concluded that clothes do in fact influence people’s decision making and behavior, and that they offer a signal to others. This signal tells those people how to approach people, and consequently, how to behave toward them.

India is best country

It happened that a Dog had got a piece of meat and was carrying it home in his mouth to eat it in peace. Now on his way home he had to cross a plank lying across a running brook. As he crossed, he looked down and saw his own shadow reflected in the water beneath. Thinking it was another dog with another piece of meat, he made up his mind to have that also. So he made a snap at the shadow in the water, but as he opened his mouth the piece of meat fell out, dropped into the water and was never seen more. Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.

Topic: These days, many people continue to work long after the standard retirement age of 65. While for some this is a necessity, for others it is a choice they make.
Why do you think some people continue to work after 65?
Should companies be encouraged to hire elderly staff members?

Model essay:

The modern work life has changed dramatically over the past few decades, with many people now working well past the traditional retirement age of 65. While many have no choice but to continue working, others simply do so to keep busy. This essay will illustrate how a longer life expectancy has much to do with this phenomenon and propose that companies ought to help make this golden age easier for those who need it most.

Average life expectancy has increased in most of the world’s developed nations, to somewhere in the late 70s or early 80s. This suggests that at 65, people still have many years to live and pay for the cost of living. Consequently, many people simply cannot afford to retire at 65 because they have not saved up enough money to last them those extra years. Some also need to help their children who cannot find sufficient work in an overcrowded job market. Alternatively, those who have put aside sufficient money to retire often realize after a period of leisurely living that they do not have enough to occupy their time and are bored; many thus return to the workforce as a hobby.

This leads to the question of what companies ought to do with elderly applicants. Some people worry that if older workers hold on to their jobs, the younger generations will lack positions to fill and rising unemployment will be a problem. However, companies have a great opportunity here to satisfy both ends of the age spectrum. They can hire older workers and have them train and mentor the younger generations, thus benefitting both generations. Governments should also incentivize companies to hire elderly workers, but to prioritize the work according to those who need it while asking those who are there to pass the time to accept part-time, or even voluntary roles.

To sum up, people are working longer these days because of need and desire. Companies should utilize this information to help both the older and younger generations adapt and help each other.

Topic: Many of today’s professional athletes earn much higher salaries than other professionals, even doctors and lawyers. Some people feel that this sends a wrong message to children, who should be encouraged to study hard and aim for more meaningful careers.

Do you agree with this position, or do you feel that athletes contribute to the well-being of a society?

Model essay:

A career as a doctor or lawyer is considered very noble and philanthropic, yet there is no reason to think that athletes offer society any less value for their work. Whereas some parents would like their kids to focus on academic subjects at school, I believe that athletes have much to teach children; things like discipline, perseverance, and following one’s dream are not things that can be learned in books. Moreover, athletes provide society with entertainment, a sense of local pride, and even cultural significance.

School is doubtless a place where children can develop their skills and gain knowledge for the future. At the same time, it is a place where kids can, and should be encouraged to, cultivate their overall characters. Sports goes a long way in doing this. Children who join a school team, like a baseball or soccer team, can learn social skills such as fair play, a shared responsibility, and selfless participation. They can also learn the value of defeat, which will prepare them for the real world of adulthood. Athletes, therefore, especially those who earn high salaries as a result of their strong efforts, can be great role models for young people who will understand that the road to a successful career, whether in sports or medicine, starts with determination and hard work.

Moreover, society wants its best performers to lead the way for the next generations. Athletes do this no less than the professionals who work for the greater good of humanity, and thus deserve their high salaries. Sports stars do this by demonstrating their skills at games, by using their fame to raise awareness of social ills, and by presenting to the world the power of their culture when representing their cities or nations at competitions. Furthermore, athletes allow a local fan base to rally behind them, to cheer for them when they might have little else to cheer about. Life does not happen only in classrooms and offices. It happens on the streets as well, where people want to be entertained and to feel that they belong to something greater than themselves.

In the final analysis, athletes do contribute to the well-being of society and have much to teach young people who look up to them. As such, they rightfully earn their salaries and should be admired just as much as any professional in any field.