IELTS Speaking Part 1: Gifts

1.        Do you prefer receiving gifts or giving gifts?

I’d say I actually prefer giving gifts, because it’s just a really nice feeling to give something to someone! And the kind of feel-good factor I get from giving a gift tends to last longer than the excitement of receiving one.

feel-good factor              －        良好的感觉

last longer                                   －        持续更久

2.        What kinds of gifts do you like to receive?

Um… let me see. Well first of all, I really like receiving books because I absolutely love reading, and I can never have enough books! And um, what other kinds of gifts do I like? Um,… oh yeah, chocolate! That’s another thing that I like receiving, cos I’m a bit of a chocoholic.

oh yeah                                                   －        啊对了！

I’m a bit of a chocoholic                        －        我算是个巧克力狂

3.        How often do you buy gifts for others?

I don’t know really, but I suppose probably on average about once or twice a month, something like that. Because I’d say at least once a month, one of my friends has a birthday, and I normally get something small for them.

On average                                             －        平均

Something like that                     －        差不多这个样子

Get                                                                      =          buy买 (口语)

4.        Do you like to give expensive gifts?

No, not really. You know, I’m still just a student, so I don’t have all that much money to splash out on gifts for people. And another thing is if I did get something expensive for a friend, they would probably feel the need to get something similarly expensive for me in return, and I wouldn’t want that. And besides, I don’t really think it’s all that important how much money you spend on a gift, because it’s the thought that counts.

splash out                                                                                               －        花大笔钱

in return                                                                                      －        回报

I don’t really think it’s all that important －        我觉得没有那么的重要

it’s the thought that counts                                             －        礼轻情意重

5.        What kinds of gifts are popular in your country?

Well thinking about it, I’d say money is definitely the most popular gift in China, cos I mean, it’s given on so many different occasions here. I’m not sure why, but it’s probably the practicality and convenience of giving money, as well as the tradition of giving it, that make it such a popular gift. And I’d say some other commonly-given things would be fruit and local specialities, that kind of stuff.

practicality                                  －        实用性

Local specialities           －        当地特产 (美式英语: specialties)

that kind of stuff             －        类似于这样的东西

6.        Why do people give gifts to each other?

I suppose it could be for a number of reasons, of which probably the main one would be that it shows that you care about the person you’re giving the gift to, and that you value the relationship you have with them. But as well as this, it could just be cos it’s the customary thing to do on certain occasions, and so some people might simply feel obliged to give something, rather than do it out of the goodness of their heart, if you know what I mean!

Value                                                                                           －        珍惜

Customary                                                                                  －        通常下；是一种习惯

feel obliged                                                                                 －        感到必须得

out of the goodness of their heart                      －        出于好心

if you know what I mean                                      －        如果你懂我的意思

7.        What kinds of gifts did you receive in your childhood?

I think it was mainly just toys, you know, so pretty much the same as every other child really. For example, I remember getting lego sets, teddy bears, transformers, that kind of stuff. Oh yeah, and occasionally some money!

pretty much the same as every other child                    －        跟别的孩子差不多一样

8.        When do people give gifts in your country?

I guess the most common occasions would be at festivals, especially the Spring Festival, when adults will give red envelopes with money in to children. So it’s a great time of year for children! And other times would be when being invited to any special event, such as a wedding or birthday party.

Audio录音:

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