Part 1
Giám khảo
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Thí sinh
Yeah, I had it back when I was a child.
Giám khảo
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Thí sinh
Yes, bikes are very popular in my country, you know, alone in Punjab, Honda sells about one hundred fifty thousand bikes per month. So that is a huge number. And since cars are very expensive here, people tend to buy more motorcycles and bikes rather than
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Điểm: 55.0Gợi ý: Answer directly and avoid repetition. “Back when I was a child” repeats the meaning of “when I was a child,” and “it” is less natural than “one” when referring to a bike in general. Add one specific supporting detail, such as when you used it or who gave it to you.
Ví dụ: Yes, I had a bike when I was a child. My parents bought me one when I was about eight, and I used to ride it around my neighborhood every evening.
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Điểm: 62.0Gợi ý: The answer gives a clear opinion, a relevant statistic, and a reason, but it ends abruptly and the phrase “alone in Punjab” is unnatural; say “in Punjab alone.” Also, use a more precise expression such as “motorcycles” instead of contrasting “motorcycles and bikes,” and complete the comparison after “rather than.” Use linking words naturally and keep the response to no more than five complete sentences.
Ví dụ: Yes, bikes are extremely popular in my country. In Punjab alone, Honda sells around 150,000 motorcycles every month, which shows how widespread they are. Since cars are relatively expensive, many people choose motorcycles instead because they are more affordable and convenient for commuting.
× Yes, bikes are very popular in my country, you know, alone in Punjab, Honda sells about one hundred fifty thousand bikes per month.
✓ Yes, bikes are very popular in my country. You know, in Punjab alone, Honda sells about one hundred fifty thousand bikes per month.
The adverb alone should be placed after the prepositional phrase in Punjab because it modifies the location and means that Punjab, by itself, has this sales figure. The original placement, alone in Punjab, is grammatically awkward. Also, separating the two independent clauses with a full stop makes the sentence clearer.