Part 1
Giám khảo
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Thí sinh
I did but I think it was when I was 12 and it was a very cheap one.
Giám khảo
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Thí sinh
They are, especially in Berlin where bike lanes are really good infrastructure within the city. They tend to be well wide as well and people tend to use it pretty often as well, which is good. I think the thing that's lacking in Germany it's the helmet culture though.
Did you have a bike when you were a child?
Điểm: 74.0Gợi ý: Answer directly, then add one specific detail if you can. The phrase “I think it was when I was 12” is unclear because it sounds as if the bike, rather than your ownership of it, was 12. Say “I got it when I was 12.” You could also replace “a very cheap one” with a more natural description, such as “a very inexpensive bike.”
Ví dụ: Yes, I had a bike as a child. I got it when I was about 12, and it was a very inexpensive one, but it was good enough for riding around my neighborhood.
Do you think bikes are popular in your country?
Điểm: 62.0Gợi ý: Your answer gives a relevant example, but it would be clearer and more natural with more accurate phrasing and less repetition. Say “the bike lanes are well developed” rather than “bike lanes are really good infrastructure,” and use “wide” rather than “well wide.” Since “bikes” is plural, use “them,” not “it.” Avoid repeating “tend to” and “as well,” and correct the final clause to “what Germany lacks is a strong helmet culture.”
Ví dụ: Yes, bikes are quite popular in Germany, especially in Berlin, where the bike lanes are well developed and often wide. Many people use them to get around the city. However, I think Germany could have a stronger helmet-wearing culture.
× They tend to be well wide as well.
✓ They tend to be very wide as well.
Well is an adverb that usually describes how an action is performed. To modify the adjective wide, use very. Alternatively, you could say quite wide.
× People tend to use it pretty often as well.
✓ People tend to use them pretty often as well.
The pronoun refers to bikes, which is plural, so use the plural pronoun them rather than it. Check that a pronoun agrees in number with the noun it refers to.
× I think the thing that's lacking in Germany it's the helmet culture though.
✓ I think the thing that's lacking in Germany is helmet culture, though.
The sentence has two finite verbs, that's and it's, in the same clause structure. Use is as the linking verb after the subject the thing that's lacking, and remove it's. You can also say I think helmet culture is what Germany lacks, though.