Part 1
Giám khảo
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Thí sinh
Yes, when I was in the elementary school my dad bought a bike for me.
Giám khảo
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Thí sinh
Yes, bicycle is very common in Taiwan. We have a new bike that everybody can rent it and ride it on the street.
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Điểm: 72.0Gợi ý: Be more natural and concise, correct small grammar issues, and add one specific supporting detail. Start with a clear topic sentence, then give a brief detail using a linking word. Avoid unnecessary words like “the” before school here.
Ví dụ: Yes — I had a bike when I was at elementary school. For example, my dad bought me a bright red bike with training wheels, and I practiced every weekend until I could ride on my own.
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Điểm: 78.0Gợi ý: Use plural and natural phrasing, give a specific example and use a linking word to connect ideas. Mention where or how they’re used to make the answer more informative.
Ví dụ: Yes, bicycles are very popular in Taiwan. For example, many cities have public bike-sharing systems, so people can easily rent bikes for commuting or sightseeing, which makes cycling a common daily choice.
× Yes, when I was in the elementary school my dad bought a bike for me.
✓ Yes, when I was in elementary school my dad bought a bike for me.
The definite article 'the' before 'elementary school' is unnecessary in this context. In English, we often say 'in elementary school' (no article) when referring to the period of schooling in general. Suggestion: omit 'the' in similar contexts (in middle school, in high school).
× Yes, bicycle is very common in Taiwan.
✓ Yes, bicycles are very common in Taiwan.
The noun 'bicycle' should be plural ('bicycles') when referring to bicycles in general, and the verb must agree with the plural subject, so use 'are' rather than 'is'. Suggestion: use plural nouns when speaking about general, countable items (e.g., 'cars are common').
× We have a new bike that everybody can rent it and ride it on the street.
✓ We have a new bike-sharing system that everybody can rent and use on the streets.
The original sentence has a redundancy ('that' clause plus 'it') and an awkward noun choice. Also 'ride it on the street' is less natural than 'use on the streets'. The corrected version removes redundancy (do not use both 'that' and a direct object pronoun for the same noun) and clarifies meaning by using 'bike-sharing system' if referring to public rental bikes. Suggestion: avoid repeating the object; choose precise nouns and use plural 'streets' for general locations.