Part 1
Giám khảo
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Thí sinh
No, I didn't uh, when I was younger my brother had to bicycles and my parents wanted to give one of them to me. But I have tried cycling once or twice and uh, I realized that it's not something I enjoy doing so that's why I have never asked my parents for a bike.
Giám khảo
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Thí sinh
It's not as popular as in some European countries due to the fact that Russian climate is really cold and, uh, people can't use, uh, bicycles as, uh, a type of transport during the year. But uh, also there is a lack of facilities, which also restricts people from using bicycles in towns.
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Điểm: 72.0Gợi ý: Answer directly, then explain your reason in a more natural and concise way. Correct “had to bicycles” to “had two bicycles,” and use “I tried cycling” when describing a past experience. Reduce fillers such as “uh,” and connect your ideas smoothly with a linking phrase such as “However.”
Ví dụ: No, I didn’t have a bike as a child. My brother had two, and my parents offered to give one to me. However, after trying cycling once or twice, I realized I didn’t enjoy it, so I never asked for one.
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Điểm: 78.0Gợi ý: Your answer gives a clear comparison and relevant reasons. Make the wording more concise by replacing “due to the fact that” with “because,” and say “the Russian climate” or “Russia’s climate.” Clarify that bikes are difficult to use as transport year-round, and reduce fillers. You could also name a specific facility, such as bike lanes.
Ví dụ: Bikes aren’t as popular in Russia as they are in some European countries. One reason is that the winters are very cold, so cycling isn’t practical all year round. Also, many towns lack proper bike lanes, which makes people less likely to use bicycles for transport.
× When I was younger my brother had to bicycles and my parents wanted to give one of them to me.
✓ When I was younger, my brother had two bicycles, and my parents wanted to give one of them to me.
Use the number determiner two before the plural count noun bicycles. To is not a determiner and cannot express the number of bicycles. Check that you use two, meaning the number, rather than to, which is usually a preposition or part of an infinitive.
× It's not as popular as in some European countries due to the fact that Russian climate is really cold and, uh, people can't use, uh, bicycles as, uh, a type of transport during the year.
✓ It's not as popular as in some European countries due to the fact that the Russian climate is really cold and people can't use bicycles as a type of transport during the year.
Use the before Russian climate when referring to the climate of Russia as a specific, identifiable climate. When speaking, also aim to avoid unnecessary filler words so your explanation sounds clearer.