1. I started using the internet when I was very young. I can’t remember the exact time, but it was before I turned 10. Back then, I already played games online, looked for cartoons to watch, and sometimes even used social media on the internet to chat with my classmates. 2. Now I attend online courses almost every day. Since I need to search for relevant study materials online every day—such as academic papers or data in specific fields—to help me write essays or prepare for the postgraduate entrance exam. Besides, I also surf the internet to watch daily shares or interesting things posted by others to relax myself. 3. The internet has indeed had a huge impact on people. On the positive side, it allows people to see a broader world, and anyone can share their opinions, which is beneficial for cultural exchange and cultural innovation. However, on the negative side, the internet always shows some perfect things, which can cause anxiety in people, erode their confidence, or lead to a negative self-perception. 4. I think I do have this problem sometimes. I’ve tried to cut down on my internet use, but I just can’t control myself at times. For example, sometimes I only want to search for some materials online, but after finding them, I get drawn to a certain video or news piece. Then I keep watching related content, and by the time I realize it, several hours have already passed. 5. I usually spend more time with my family—chatting with them to strengthen our bond and catch up on each other’s recent lives. Sometimes I choose to read books to improve my logical thinking and rational reasoning skills. Other times, I do exercise to relieve stress and build up my physical fitness. 6. I really love eating chocolate because it has an intense and strong flavor that’s incredibly appealing. Besides, its texture is amazing too—I can’t put it into words exactly, but I simply can’t resist chocolate, even though I know eating too much isn’t good for my health. 7. Actually, I don’t eat chocolate very often because I never take the initiative to buy it. I usually only have it when a friend gives me a piece, or when I’m a guest at someone’s house and they have it. Since I know eating too much makes it hard for me to control my weight, I probably have chocolate only about twice a month. 8. Yes, I loved chocolate so much when I was a kid, but my parents wouldn’t let me eat it. So I often hid the chocolate wrappers under the sofa after eating. Unfortunately, I got caught, so I was scolded and couldn’t have chocolate for months afterward. 9. I think so. Because chocolate is not only delicious, but also associated with many beautiful things. For example, it’s often linked to love—in our country, we usually think that giving someone a piece of chocolate means you have a crush on them, and it’s a way to express your affection. 10. My favorite is original flavor chocolate. There are various flavors of chocolate on the market now, like milk chocolate and strawberry chocolate—they’re more distinctive, but I still like the original one the most. Maybe it’s because that was the only flavor I had when I was a kid, so tasting it brings back my sweet childhood memories. 11. I think it’s a great idea. I’ve received chocolate as a birthday gift before, and I often give it to others too. Chocolate is a snack that almost everyone likes, so it’s suitable for people of all age groups. Besides, it’s not an expensive gift, so people usually won’t feel pressured to refuse it. 12. Yes, I really like making plans. Before every study session, I write down all the things I need to do that day, and I also carefully make a travel guide before going on a trip. I think this makes me more focused and efficient; moreover, when I clearly know what I need to do today, I feel more secure. Being able to complete my daily plan step by step also gives me a strong sense of accomplishment and makes me feel well-organized.

1. Yes, this is a habit of mine. Whenever I go to the supermarket, I always make a list. It helps me remember what I need to buy—every time I pick up an item, I check it off the list. This effectively prevents me from forgetting things I need, and it’s really helpful. 2. Yes, I make a list for my studies too. Before I start studying each day, I write down everything I need to learn. This helps me plan my time better, and once I know exactly what to do, I become more efficient and focused—it’s really useful. 3. I think there are two reasons. First, they find it too troublesome and even a waste of time—they’d rather start doing things directly than spend time making a list. Second, they want a more flexible schedule and don’t want a fixed plan to restrict their activities for the day. 4. Yes, I’ve always kept this habit. Every day, I write down the things I need to do in the notes app on my phone, and delete each item once I finish it. Before going to bed every night, I check the notes—only when all tasks are completed can I sleep peacefully. 5. I prefer making lists on my phone because it’s much more convenient. I can jot things down anytime and anywhere, and once I finish a task, I can just delete it right away. Unlike a paper list, I don’t have to carry it around with me all the time or need a pen to make marks on it. 6. I really enjoy singing because I think it’s a great way to relax. Especially when I’m taking a shower, I love listening to music and singing along. At that moment, I even feel my singing sounds really nice. After the shower, my mood becomes really good and all my stress is gone. 7. I haven’t learned singing systematically. I just sing for fun and have no professional skills. Maybe when I have time in the future, I’ll try to learn a musical instrument and then properly learn how to sing. 8. I prefer singing for my mom. I’m an introverted person, so I’m actually too shy to sing in front of others—most of the time, I just sing to myself while taking a shower. But my mom is my closest family member; she accepts all my good and bad sides, so I can sing boldly and freely in front of her, no matter how well I sing. 9. I think it works. The rhythm, beat, and tone of a song can all convey energy and positive emotions, which bring people good feelings. For example, when I'm in a bad mood, I'll listen to an upbeat song with a fast rhythm, and I'll feel better right away. 10. Yes, I won the second prize in an English competition a month ago. Actually, I only planned to work hard for the third prize, but I didn’t expect to be lucky enough to get the second prize. It really gave me a big surprise, as well as a strong sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. It made me realize that hard work always pays off. 11. I would feel extremely happy and proud. Moreover, this would greatly boost my confidence, suddenly giving me more motivation to strive and work hard for bigger goals. Anyway, it’s just pure joy—my heart feels sweeter than eating a piece of candy. 12. It was just a few days ago when I found out my younger brother got the first place in his class exam—I was so proud of him. So I excitedly praised him, encouraged him to keep working hard, and hoped he could maintain his current grades to get into one of China's top universities. 13. I think it’s quite necessary. Praise and encouragement can boost children’s self-confidence and give them more motivation to study. On the contrary, if you only criticize them without providing positive feedback, they will feel disappointed and frustrated. Over time, they will lose interest in studying. 14. Yes, all my teachers are kind and friendly. They often give students positive feedback to boost their interest in learning. When I was at school, every time I did well on my homework or got good grades in exams, my teachers would specifically praise me and encourage me to keep working hard for even better results next time.

1. Yes, I often spend time alone. Currently, I’m preparing for various exams, and studying alone helps me stay more focused and efficient. Moreover, I feel more relaxed when I’m by myself—I’m an introverted person, so prolonged social interactions make me feel quite stressed. 2. The last time I was alone, I was studying—specifically preparing for the postgraduate entrance exam. Back then, I was trying to understand those hard-to-comprehend sentences, memorize them, and at the same time figure out how to organize and present them in a structured way during the exam. This is basically what I do most often when I’m alone lately. 3. Yes, I really enjoy spending time alone. I find it peaceful—I can focus on my own things without being disturbed by others. During this time, whether I want to finish something efficiently, or relax by drawing or listening to music, I feel really happy and comfortable, compared to socializing with people. 4. I barely have any free time right now because I’m preparing for quite a few important exams, so I have a really tight schedule. Even spending an entire afternoon going out to eat or hang out with friends feels quite luxurious to me—my time is really limited, and these exams mean a lot to me. 5. In my free time, I love doing sports, especially hiking. Whenever I have a spare moment, I go hiking in the nature park near my home. First, it helps me relax—after hiking, I feel my stress vanish into nothing, and I get the motivation to keep studying again. Second, it helps me exercise; a healthy body is a prerequisite for studying and working well. Besides, it prevents us from getting sick and greatly improves our quality of life. 6. I think I have more time to rest on Sundays, because I treat the last day of every week as a day off. It allows me to readjust my state and get ready for a more focused week of studying ahead. So I usually choose to do some exercise on Sundays, or catch up with friends and go out to have fun to maintain our relationships. 7. Of course. After all, we’re not machines—we can’t work around the clock. Better rest paves the way for better progress. Only when we rest well can we maintain good physical and mental health, and only then can we truly unlock our potential, create more value, and push beyond our limits. 8. In fact, I almost never do this. I’m not good at cooking, and my dad is really skilled at it—so he often thinks I’m just getting in his way and would rather I not interfere with his cooking. Besides, I’ve been preparing for many exams lately, so I usually don’t have time to help out either. 9. When I was a kid, I did help with house cleaning. I often swept and mopped the floor, or cleaned the windows at home while my parents were at work. When they came back, they would praise me, and that made me feel really proud and accomplished. 10. Yes, I have breakfast at home every day. Sometimes it’s an egg, sometimes a glass of milk—simple as it is, I never skip it. I think it’s a good habit: it provides energy for our work in the morning, keeps us more focused and efficient, and it’s also good for our health, especially for protecting our stomach. 11. Yes, I really want to learn how to cook well. I’m a big food lover, so I hope I can make the dishes I like with my own hands. Moreover, I also want to share the food I cook with my family and friends—it brings me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, and I also want to do something helpful for my family. 12. I definitely keep my room clean and tidy. My mom has extremely high standards for household hygiene—she always keeps the house neat and clean, and sorts all items into their corresponding cabinets and drawers. That’s why our home is very organized. 13. Actually, I don’t like doing any housework. But if I have to choose, I prefer organizing things. Sorting items by category or color and putting them in order makes everything neat, which looks very satisfying to me—this process is actually quite stress-relieving. The housework I hate the most is washing dishes, because I really dislike the oil on the dishes that makes my hands greasy.

1. I live in a place with spring-like weather all year round. It never gets too hot here in summer, with temperatures usually around 25°C, and never too cold in winter, around 10°C. That’s why many people come here to escape the heat in summer or the cold in winter. In fact, my city is famous for its weather and is known as the "Spring City". 2. I prefer warm weather because I’m extremely sensitive to cold. When people my age are still wearing short sleeves, I already have to put on my jacket. On cold days, I don’t feel like doing anything and feel sleepy all day long. But when it’s warm, I feel energetic and have more motivation to get things done. 3. I prefer dry weather. Although dry weather isn’t great for the skin, I hate the humid feeling even more. On rainy days, I feel surrounded by moisture as soon as I step outside, and I can’t tell if the dampness on my body is sweat or mist. I really dislike this sticky sensation, so I definitely prefer dry weather—it makes me feel fresh, clean, and cool. 4. If I need to go out the next day, I’ll habitually check the weather forecast. Based on it, I’ll prepare the clothes I need to wear or take an umbrella with me. But if I’m just staying at home, I don’t care what the weather will be like the next day. I usually go out on weekends because I spend my weekdays reviewing at home, so I basically check the weather forecast twice a week, mostly on weekends. 5. I think the most obvious thing is that summers have become hotter. I remember that summers weren't this hot when I was a kid, but now sometimes the summer temperatures are unbearably high. In some places, the temperature even exceeds 40 degrees in summer. Besides, there are more extreme weather events. For example, there are more disasters such as typhoons and heavy rains than before. 6. Yes, I’m quite willing to. In fact, I’ve been to many cities with different climates. For example, my school is in Shanghai, which is a city that’s hot and humid in summer compared to my hometown. To be honest, I’m not used to the weather there. Having stayed there for three years has also made me cherish my hometown’s climate even more, which is warm and dry. 7. I think I really love writing. I often write about little daily things on my Moments, and I also have the habit of keeping a diary. I feel that writing allows me to reflect on myself in the present and leaves precious memories for my future self. 8. I like to write about things in my life, basically recording my daily experiences. I think this makes me focus more on living my own life and capture the small beautiful details in it. Besides, it helps me reflect, summarize and learn lessons. Finally, documenting these things makes it easier for me to recall those years in the future. 9. I think it might change. As my understanding deepens, I may no longer be satisfied with writing about superficial daily life. Instead, I’ll want to write more abstract argumentative essays focused on critical thinking or rational analysis—both to record my views and opinions, and to train my logical thinking skills. 10. I prefer typing. First, I think typing is faster than handwriting, and the output is much neater. Besides, typing is more convenient—I can write on my phone anytime and anywhere, and it’s also easier to correct mistakes if I make any. Most importantly, it’s effortless to save my work; even if I change my phone or computer, I can still continue writing on the new device. 11. I also take photos and record videos to document my life. Compared with words, they are more vivid and authentic. In photos, we can clearly see the shape and size of things, as well as people’s facial expressions and body movements; in videos, we can even hear the sounds of that moment, which gives us a stronger sense of immersion.

1. My favorite appliance at home is the air fryer. We bought it around last year, and since then, I’ve found it’s really friendly for people like me who aren’t good at cooking. It’s super easy to use—no need to stir-fry or keep an eye on the heat; you just put the food in. What’s more, its cooking method is great for people trying to lose weight, like me, because it doesn’t require much oil, but the food it makes is still delicious. 2. I think they’re really important. Washing dishes and sweeping the floor are almost daily chores that take up a lot of our time and energy. With these two appliances, we’ll have more free time to unwind, recharge, exercise, or explore more areas we’re interested in. So I believe these appliances greatly improve our quality of life. 3. Absolutely, it’s a habit of mine. When I first get a new appliance, I’m not familiar with it—I’m worried that improper use might lead to poor results or even damage the machine. So I’ll read the instruction manual carefully before using it, and sometimes I’ll also watch video tutorials to make sure I use it correctly and get the most out of all its functions. 4. It depends on the situation. I’m quite patient when communicating with people—for example, if I’m explaining something to someone and they don’t understand, I’ll patiently explain it to them a second time. But when I’m waiting in line or waiting for something, I get really impatient. I’ll check the time over and over again, and I feel really annoyed. 5. I think what makes me impatient is long waits. First, I see it as a waste of my time—I could have used that time to do other things, like reading an interesting book, exercising, or finishing my schoolwork. Second, the process is really boring. I usually have nothing to do during that time and can only wait aimlessly, which is really tough to get through. 6. I feel really annoyed and always try to find something fun on my phone to kill time. But at that moment, everything on my phone seems boring. In this situation, time feels like it’s passing so slowly—I think half an hour has gone by, but actually, only 5 minutes have passed. Anyway, that feeling is really terrible. 7. At first, I might still be quite patient and able to focus on the task. But after about an hour or two, I start to lose patience—I’ll keep wanting to find funny videos or games on my phone to kill time, or I’ll check the time nonstop. Even though only 5 minutes have passed, it feels as long as half an hour. Anyway, when I have to spend a long time on one thing, I feel really uncomfortable and annoyed. 8. No, I was even less patient when I was a kid. Now I know many good things take time to wait for, but I didn’t understand that back then. So every time I had to wait in line as a child, I felt really annoyed. Especially when queuing to leave school, I would keep thinking angrily: why on earth do we have to line up to go home? 9. I usually eat snacks while watching TV. I feel like I have to have something in my mouth when watching TV to make it more enjoyable—it’s already become a habit of mine. If I can’t find any tasty snacks, I don’t think the TV show is as fun to watch anymore. 10. Haha, that’s definitely not very healthy—I know that. Processed snacks usually contain more calories; sometimes eating a bag of potato chips is equivalent to the calories of a whole dinner, which can easily lead to weight gain. There are also some sugary drinks—consuming too many of them can cause tooth decay, and eating too much sugar is also bad for our eyes. 11. Yes, my studies really require me to be very patient. Learning is never something that happens overnight—take IELTS for example. We need to patiently build up our vocabulary and do relevant exercises over and over again to improve our accuracy rate. Without patience, it’s unrealistic to expect to master a language in just a few days. 12. I really ate a lot of snacks when I was a kid. It feels like a child’s nature—I don’t think there’s any kid who doesn’t love snacks. But back then, eating too many snacks made me often have a toothache, and I also caught colds and had fevers frequently. So as I grew more sensible, I gradually stopped eating so many snacks. 13. I prefer sweet and crispy snacks. Especially those with a strong, intensive flavor—like chocolate. And there are crispy ones, such as potato chips, which I mentioned before. I often can’t stop once I start eating them, because they’re really tempting to me.

1. I’ve been extremely busy over the past six months because I’m preparing for many exams—among which the postgraduate entrance exam and IELTS are the most important. But all exams matter a lot to me, so I have a pretty crazy schedule. I almost stay at my desk studying from morning till night. Besides, I’m a senior in college, so I’m also working on my graduation thesis. I often need to call my supervisor to discuss some related details. 2. Absolutely. When I was a kid, I had no stress at all. Every day, I only needed to think about how to eat well and have fun—no pressure, and I had full control over my time the whole day. But now, I’m under a lot of academic pressure. I have to think about and take responsibility for my future, so I’m busy with all kinds of exams or small trivial things all day long. 3. I think it’s okay. As a liberal arts student, I need to memorize a lot of knowledge about politics, history, and geography. For me, exams don’t just rely on logical thinking—they’re more about reciting some fixed knowledge. So after years of practice, my memory is pretty good. 4. From what I can recall, I don’t think I’ve ever done that. That’s because I’m used to writing down important things in my phone’s notes app, and I check my notes repeatedly every day—so I almost never forget anything important. 5. In daily life, I need to remember some important dates—like exam dates or the birthdays of key friends and family members. I have to keep these in mind because I don’t want to miss an exam or forget to send them my wishes. Besides, I also need to remember some phone numbers, mainly those of my family and close friends. This ensures I have someone to call for help in case of an emergency. 6. The method I use most often is writing it down in my phone’s notes app. That way, my phone will send me an automatic reminder when the date comes—it’s the simplest and most efficient way. Sometimes I also tell these things to my mom; she has a great memory, so she’ll definitely remind me.

1. The means of transportation I take most often is the subway. There’s a subway station right downstairs from my home, and it only takes about 2 minutes to walk there. The public transportation in my city is also very developed—basically, you can get to anywhere in the city by subway, and the fare isn’t expensive either. So overall, it’s the most convenient and cost-effective way to get around for me. 2. Actually, I often take public transport in both situations. In daily life, I usually choose public transport because it can take me anywhere I want to go. Besides, there are many subway stations and bus stops near my home, so it’s very convenient for me. When traveling, I also take public transport whenever possible—it’s more economical, and it’s usually easy to get to various scenic spots by public transport too. 3. Yes, most people in our country prefer public transportation. There are mainly three reasons for this. First, it’s more hassle-free. Unlike driving or cycling, where you have to figure out routes and pay attention to the surrounding environment, you can just sit on public transport and do your own things—like scrolling through your phone or replying to messages. Second, it’s very convenient. Many cities already have well-developed public transportation systems, so you can reach almost every corner of the city by public transport. Third, it’s more environmentally friendly. Reducing the use of private cars not only helps improve air quality but also saves energy. 4. Yes, when I was a kid, my grandma often took me by bus. She didn’t have a driver’s license, so we took the bus everywhere—whether it was going for a walk in the park, heading to school, or even buying daily necessities. Besides, private cars weren’t that popular back then, so most people relied on public transportation. 1. I’m absolutely certain about this. More and more people are recognizing the advantages of public transportation these days. Environmentally speaking, it cuts down on carbon dioxide emissions, which helps protect our environment, and also conserves energy resources like electricity, petrol, and other fuels. In terms of convenience, people no longer have to focus on operating a vehicle; instead, they can freely do whatever they want during the trip. As public transport systems keep improving in the future, it’s definitely true that more and more people will be willing to use them. 2. Exactly, in fact, I wrote a thank-you card to one of my university professors last month. That’s because September 10th, which fell last month, is Teachers’ Day in our country. I decided to send it to him mainly because his classes are incredibly engaging, and he always communicates with us in a kind, gentle tone, with warm eyes that make the interaction feel really comfortable. 3. I totally agree. We say "thank you" in so many situations because it’s a basic courtesy and good manners. For instance, we’ll say it when someone hands us something, steps aside to let us pass, or lends us something and helps us out. This small gesture really helps strengthen people’s bonds and creates a harmonious, pleasant living environment. 4. I usually say "thank you" when someone helps me. For example, if my classmate shares their study materials or study experience with me, I’ll express my gratitude to them. Or sometimes, if a stranger reminds me that I’ve dropped something, I’ll also say "thank you". I believe this is an important way to show humility and good manners. 5. I think the main benefit is that it helps us build more positive interpersonal relationships. If every act of help is met with a sincere "thank you", people will get along more harmoniously and be more willing to assist each other. On a personal level, those in need will find it easier to receive help. On a societal level, a tolerant and harmonious society can avoid more unnecessary conflicts and disputes.

1. I chose my English name myself, because my Chinese name is not that easy for foreign friends to pronounce. My English name mainly reflects my personality—I think the name "Xenia" stands for enthusiasm, warmth, kindness, and compassion. I might not fully have these qualities yet, but I hope I can become someone like that in the future. 2. I haven’t thought about this question yet—after all, I don’t even have a boyfriend, let alone a child to name. But I think I’ll choose some positive names for my kids. For example, names that symbolize strength, courage, and kindness. I believe a name is the best blessing parents can give their child. 3. No, they don’t. In my country, it’s uncommon for two people in the same family to have identical names. This is because it would be seen as disrespectful to others, and it could also cause a lot of unnecessary trouble—like calling the wrong person. However, name duplication is quite common in society, simply because China has such a large population. 4. I think there are still big differences. First, people in the past had a stronger sense of collectivism, so they liked to include characters related to the country or the collective in their names. But now, people pay more attention to expressing positive qualities, such as strength, courage, and kindness. Second, people in the past believed that giving a child an ordinary or even unpleasant name would help them grow up healthily, but now people are increasingly focusing on names that are easy to pronounce and sound nice. 5. I think names that incorporate traditional Chinese culture are quite popular. For example, names symbolizing bravery and strength are more popular among boys, while names representing beauty, gentleness, and kindness are more popular among girls. Generally speaking, names that embody traditional virtues are more in vogue. 6. No, I hardly ever do that. I am one hundred percent a morning person. As soon as night falls, I start to feel very sleepy—even if there’s a super interesting TV show or a fun game, I won’t be interested. All I want to do is sleep. Besides, my work and study efficiency drops sharply at night, so I usually don’t stay up late to study either. 7. When I was a kid, I actually loved staying up late. Back then, I had so much energy—even if it was already very late, I didn’t feel sleepy at all. Besides, I was really into watching TV as a child, and I’d always lose track of time once I started. Sometimes, when I finally came to my senses, I’d realize it was almost midnight. 8. I don’t stay up late easily. On the rare occasions I do, it’s usually because I’m rushing to meet a homework deadline. Sometimes my procrastination makes me put off doing some assignments, and by the time I realize they’re due soon, I have no choice but to stay up late to finish them. 9. If I stay up late, I’ll feel absolutely terrible the next day. First, I’ll be extremely sleepy—even if I’ve slept for 9 hours, I still feel weak and drowsy. Second, my mind will be foggy; I can’t help but zone out, and my efficiency and focus will be really poor. Overall, I’ll be totally exhausted, which is why I usually don’t stay up late. 10. I chose my English name by myself, because my Chinese name is not very easy for foreign friends to pronounce. My English name mainly reflects my personality—I think the name "Xenia" represents enthusiasm, warmth, kindness, and compassion. I may not fully have these qualities yet, but I hope I can grow into such a person in the future.（注：此条为重复提问的翻译，已按原始回复保留，若需剔除可告知）

1. It’s pretty much like the traditional custom. On my birthday, I’ll invite my family and friends to my place for a party. I’ll buy a big cake, we’ll have dinner together, and then I’ll happily receive everyone’s gifts and wishes. That’s more or less how it goes. 2. When I was little, my parents would buy me a huge cream cake, decorated with all kinds of small animals made from cream—like tigers and dogs. That’s because I’m a total animal lover. And on that day, I’d be allowed to get a relatively expensive gift, which was usually a toy or a nice piece of clothing. 3. It’s extremely important to me. It marks the day when I came into this world in a certain year in the past. So it’s the most special day of the year for me and definitely deserves to be valued. What’s more, I receive lots of wishes from family and friends on this day, which gives me a strong sense of belonging and happiness. 4. It’s a really interesting question—I’ve never thought about it before. I think it should be our President, because he has led our country toward prosperity and promoted the development of economy, politics, and culture. So his birthday deserves to be celebrated nationwide. But in reality, I don’t know when his birthday is. 5. I quite like geography—I think it’s a very rigorous science. It observes natural phenomena, such as weather or plants, to identify patterns, which helps people understand and transform nature. Additionally, geography also covers humanistic knowledge, so learning it can also help us better understand the unique features and customs of different places. 6. There’s no doubt about it—geography plays an indispensable role in our lives. First, we need geography for the development of nature. We have to explore and understand nature first before we can make rational use of its resources. Second, it also has a great impact on the planning and development of our cities. Learning geography helps us promote the urbanization process in a way that adapts to local conditions. 7. Hmm, yes, I studied geography in high school. Actually, I found it quite interesting because it teaches you to look at problems from a holistic perspective. For example, when talking about a natural place, you not only need to mention things like its land, organisms, and weather, but also pay attention to the impact humans have on it. It’s a very comprehensive and engaging subject. 8. Not really. Even though I like geography, my grades in this subject aren’t that great. That’s because geography requires not only a lot of professional knowledge but also a certain understanding of various places. Only in this way can you truly master the subject. But I feel like my knowledge scope still needs to be expanded, so becoming a geography teacher would be too challenging for me right now. 9. I think I will, as long as I have enough time. Because I find it a really interesting and meaningful thing to do. For one thing, learning about the geography of other countries allows me to see a bigger and more colorful world. For another, it can also expand my general knowledge, helping me show more respect and understanding when engaging in cross-cultural communication.

1. I message my friends almost every day because it’s become a total necessity in my life. Sometimes we use it to pass on information, like sharing study materials, and other times to keep our bond strong, such as chatting for fun. All in all, messaging is really common in our daily lives. 2. Absolutely, messaging each other is incredibly popular in my country—it’s used by both classmates and colleagues. For instance, classmates send messages to share interesting things, while colleagues use it to communicate and discuss project collaboration matters. It has already played a vital role in our lives. 3. Let me think. Hmm, I actually sent more messages when I was a kid. Back then, mobile phones had only been invented not long ago, so they felt really novel to me. I loved messaging my classmates to share fun stuff—it made me feel like the limits of time and space were broken. I could get in touch with my classmates anytime, anywhere. 4. It depends. If it’s an important and urgent message, I’ll definitely reply as soon as I see it. But for less important ones—like someone sharing a funny short video—I’ll wait until I have free time to get back. There are also messages I don’t want to reply to at all; I might even choose not to, such as when someone I’m not close to asks me to lend them money. 5. I’m not really a fan of flowers. For one thing, unlike animals, flowers don’t interact with people—they can only be placed somewhere for appreciation, which I find a bit boring. Besides, I think taking care of them is a hassle; I always forget to water them. Most importantly, there are sometimes insects on flowers, and I’m someone who’s really scared of insects. 6. That’s right—my mom is a big fan of flowers. She’s placed them in almost every corner of our house. She thinks they not only serve as decorations to fill the room with vitality, but also work to purify the air. What’s more, the fragrance of the flowers makes the whole house feel warmer and more comfortable. 7. That’s true. The climate where I live is perfectly suited for flower growth, and our terrain is quite diverse—so we have all kinds of flowers here. We even have the largest flower market in the country. You can spot flowers almost anywhere in this city, whether it’s by the roadside, in restaurants, or even along the highways. 8. Most of the time, I do. Even though I’m not particularly fond of flowers, I have to admit they’re really beautiful and add a lot of color to the city. So when I’m not too busy and spot some nice-looking flowers, I’ll take a photo to capture these little bits of beauty in life. 9. I think they do this quite often. Flowers always symbolize many beautiful wishes—for example, lilies stand for elegance, and the most common ones, roses, symbolize romance and love, which are perfect to give to one’s partner. Whether we’re visiting a sick person, attending a wedding, or going to a birthday party, we’re in the habit of giving some flowers as a gift.

When it comes to interesting elderly people I can really talk to, my maternal grandfather is the first person that comes to mind. He lives with me now because he's retired, and my family and I want to take care of him together. He's a man of very regular habits. He gets up at 7 o'clock every morning, eats breakfast, and then exercises at home for half an hour, so he's in really good shape. What makes his life interesting is mainly that he often reads fascinating books. In his free time, he likes to read about politics. Since we both share a great interest in political science, our most frequent topic of conversation is about various political concepts. For example, we once discussed how states are formed. I told him many of the ideas I'd read, such as the divine creation theory. But he told me that states emerged because of the development of productive forces and the rise of private ownership, which led to class differences and social contradictions. Therefore, a public authority was needed to manage these issues, and that public authority is the state. I really love chatting with him. On one hand, he has an extensive knowledge base and can talk about almost any topic. On the other hand, he's a very good communicator. Not only can he explain complex things clearly, but he's also very humorous and engaging. When it comes to people who work in a family business, my neighbor Alice is the first person that comes to mind. She's a very beautiful, tall, and slim girl. We grew up together and have been each other's best friends. Her family runs a convenience store downstairs, so whenever she has a holiday, she goes to help her family manage the store. It's a quite large convenience store; they sell almost everything—whether it's various fruits and vegetables or daily necessities like cups, lamps, towels, and so on. Alice's main job is to assist customers and introduce products. Her mom says she's too careless to be trusted with the checkout, but she's very good with words, so she's very popular and always manages to introduce products well. When she's selling, the business is always better than usual. Alice really likes working in the store. She says, on one hand, it helps her practice her social skills and improve her conflict-resolution abilities through practical experience, which will be a great help for her future job search. On the other hand, she simply loves the job itself because she enjoys chatting with all kinds of people all day and providing them with the most suitable products based on their needs. This gives her a strong sense of pride and satisfaction.

When it comes to people from different cultures, the first person I think of is my college classmate Alice. Alice is an exchange student from Australia, and we are in the same major, so we often have classes together. I met her because once in an open class, the whole classroom was full. I saw that there was only one seat left next to her, so I took the initiative to greet her and asked if the seat next to her was taken. She responded very enthusiastically and told me that no one was sitting there. After that open class, I invited her to eat in the cafeteria. While we were eating, we talked about Chinese food. I introduced her to the different characteristic dishes from various provinces, such as Shanghai's preference for sweet food and Yunnan's preference for spicy food. She found it very interesting after listening and said she would try them one by one in the future. We had a pleasant chat and naturally became friends. On one hand, I think she is a very kind and friendly person. When talking to her, she always smiles, uses very polite and kind words. Sometimes we communicate in English, but my English is not very fluent. She doesn't mind at all; instead, she listens to me patiently. On the other hand, I think she is a very impressive person. She not only masters her native Australian language but also is proficient in English. In fact, her Chinese is also very good—daily communication is completely fine, but she can't take academic exams in Chinese. Moreover, she told me that she has recently been teaching herself Russian, which makes me think she is really amazing. Overall, she is a very good friend of mine, a gentle person with great language talent. When it comes to people who love dressing up, the first person I think of is Alice. She's my childhood friend who grew up with me in the same neighborhood, and we've been neighbors for over ten years. I first met her when we were in primary school. Our community held a table tennis competition, and both of us made it to the final. In the end, she won and I lost, but she shared half of her prize—a big bag of snacks—with me. That made me think she was a very kind and friendly person, so we became best friends. Alice is someone who really loves fashion. Almost every time I see her, she's dressed beautifully. She's into the sporty style, often wearing athletic casual clothes that are both functional and comfortable, exuding youth and healthy vitality. Her go-to outfits are usually a sports jacket, yoga pants, and a pair of running shoes. She says she likes dressing this way for two main reasons. First, it's convenient for sports. Compared to dresses or high heels, this kind of outfit is less likely to cause her to trip, and it's much easier and more comfortable for walking and exercising. Second, she thinks it suits her personality. As an outgoing and active person, this style perfectly matches her character and behavior. When it comes to people who love planting, the first person I think of is my mom. She's absolutely obsessed with plants—whether they're vegetables, fruits, or flowers. We have a big balcony at home. It used to be empty, where we could freely do all kinds of exercises. But because my mom kept planting more and more plants, it's now so full that there's barely any room to walk. She loves all kinds of plants. For vegetables, she grows a lot of tomatoes, mint, and some leafy greens on the balcony. For fruits, she planted an apple tree in the garden downstairs, and we can pick apples every year. For decoration, she also has many flowers on her desk, like roses, chrysanthemums, and some beautiful ones whose names I can't remember. In short, with all the colors, our house is like a huge garden. There are many reasons why she loves planting. On one hand, she thinks growing plants at home can be a form of decoration, filling the whole house with warmth and vitality. On the other hand, she believes growing her own vegetables to eat is a great habit. Because it not only means she can eat healthy, pesticide-free vegetables, but also watching a vegetable grow from scratch over several months gives her a huge sense of accomplishment. Overall, I think she's a total plant lover.

When it comes to an English class that left a deep impression on me, the first thing that comes to mind is one from last semester. It was probably around this time last year. During that class, the teacher suddenly announced that towards the end of the lesson, some students would be asked to come to the front to give a short speech about what they had learned that day. As soon as I heard this, I felt really nervous. I was terrified of giving a speech in front of the whole class, mainly because I was afraid of saying something inappropriate and making a fool of myself. So, I paid extra attention that class. I tried my best to focus on what the teacher was saying, quickly took notes on the key points, and silently rehearsed in my mind how I would present what I'd learned. To my surprise, being so focused actually made the whole class more interesting. Because I was completely following the teacher's train of thought, I could see the overall structure of the lesson. This organized and logical framework of knowledge made me feel really engaged and even enjoyed it. Moreover, it was the first time I had taken notes in class properly. I realized that taking notes actually helped me grasp the key points of the lesson much better. Once I fully understood the teacher's objectives and the main points, the whole class became a very enjoyable experience. In the end, when class was almost over, the teacher happened to pick me to share what I had learned. I confidently and comprehensively summarized the lesson. The teacher praised me for doing a good job, which made me feel that this was not only an unforgettable class but also an extremely enjoyable one. I really learned a lot of useful study skills that day. 1. When it comes to an interesting and unusual building I want to visit, the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai is the first one that comes to mind. 2. As a landmark of Shanghai, the Oriental Pearl Tower stands at 468 meters tall. When it was first completed, it was the tallest building in Asia and the third-tallest tower in the world. 3. Its appearance is made up of 11 spheres of different sizes connected in a line. 4. There are mainly two reasons why I find it unusual and interesting. 5. The first reason is its architectural shape. The Oriental Pearl Tower is quite different from other buildings, which are usually rectangular prisms. Its circular design combines elements of traditional Chinese culture with modern technology—its great height reflects modernity, while the numerous circular structures embody the characteristics of traditional Chinese architecture. 6. The second reason is the diverse facilities inside the building. First of all, there is a large 360-degree observation deck at the top, where you can overlook the most prosperous areas of Shanghai. Besides, it also has a revolving restaurant that rotates once every two hours. I think dining at such a high altitude while enjoying the most bustling scenery would be an extremely novel experience. 7. So, as I just mentioned, since it is a unique and distinctive building, I really want to visit it. When it comes to my favorite singer, the first person that comes to mind is Meni. That's his stage name because he said he wants to make money through music. He's a Chinese singer who's been quite popular among young people lately, thanks to his distinctive songs and his funny, straightforward personality. I first became his fan about two or three years ago, after accidentally hearing one of his songs, and he's still my favorite singer today. I often listen to his music to relax after studying, and sometimes while I'm cooking dinner. His songs have a huge charm— the catchy rhythms and ethereal voice are simply a feast for the ears. He has achieved a lot so far; the biggest one is probably being the top singer in terms of play count on major domestic platforms, such as QQ Music and NetEase Cloud Music. I like him because I think he's a very creative singer. First of all, his music style is a hybrid, combining pop, rock, folk, hip-hop, and other elements. Even though he blends many styles, it doesn't feel strange at all— instead, it sounds uniquely good. Second, his melodies are very creative. Just listening to the sound, we can feel obvious emotional expression and a sense of imagery, with rich layers. Finally, his lyrics are very creative. At first listen, they seem simple and rhyming, but upon closer inspection, they are full of philosophical thoughts. So I think he's indeed a very talented singer, and I really like him.

1. When it comes to advertisements for famous products, the first thing that comes to mind is the OPPO mobile phone ad. I think I often saw this ad when I was in high school. Back then, it was everywhere—mainly on buses, bus stop billboards, and sometimes on TV too. From what I remember, I must have seen this ad four or five times a day, so it left a really deep impression on me. The product in the ad was an OPPO phone; I can't remember the exact model anymore, but I do recall one of its features: "Charge for 5 minutes, talk for 2 hours." I remember quite liking this ad at the time because we thought the way it was advertised was funny and interesting. It used an exaggerated comparison to show off the product's advantages. My classmates and I even used to joke about this ad, like saying "I'm so undisciplined—5 minutes of homework, 2 hours of gaming." Because this ad really brought us a lot of joy back then. Overall, I think this was a very successful ad because it directly showcased the phone's biggest feature. Moreover, it was simple and straightforward, highlighting the durability of the phone's battery by contrasting the short charging time with the long usage time. ​ 2. When it comes to second-hand item platforms, the first thing that comes to mind is a platform called Xianyu. It's a recently developed second-hand trading platform where anyone can freely buy and sell second-hand products. I know about this platform mainly because it has done a lot of promotion, placing a large number of ads on various social platforms. So I learned that if you have old mobile phones or unwanted items, you can sell them on this platform. Also, some of my friends use this platform sometimes, so they recommend it to me. For example, they put their expensive, relatively new but unwanted clothes or bags on this platform and can get a good income, then use that money to buy what they want. They sometimes even exchange their second-hand products with each other on this platform, such as some decorations or even furniture. As for what you can buy, this platform is actually quite versatile. At first, I thought it only sold second-hand products like furniture, some plants, or clothes and bags, but I didn't expect that sometimes it even sells second-hand movie tickets—meaning some people buy tickets but then can't go due to changed plans, so they sell the tickets at a low price. All these surprised me, and I actually quite like this platform. Because on the one hand, I think it reduces a lot of unnecessary waste. Many second-hand items are still in good working condition or appearance; if they are directly discarded in such cases, it causes unnecessary waste, which is not environmentally friendly. But such second-hand platforms successfully recycle them. On the other hand, I think it provides people with high-quality and affordable things. Because second-hand items are usually cheaper, so people can get what they want with less money, which is very useful for students like me who don't have much income.

1. When it comes to arguing with friends, the first thing that comes to mind is a debate I had with my friend Alice about whether we should "seize the day." Alice was my college classmate, and we were actually very good friends, but we often liked to debate abstract topics. Last year, we were discussing whether we should live for the moment. Alice thought that life is short, so we should live in the present and do whatever we want right away—there's no need to put things off because no one knows if tomorrow or an accident will come first. But in my opinion, we should prepare more for the future, learn to control our desires, and understand that we need to work hard before we can enjoy life. We argued about this for almost an hour, but neither of us could convince the other. Instead, both of us got really angry and stubborn. So we went back to our dormitories separately, still upset. But after returning to my dorm, I quickly calmed down. I realized that everyone has different backgrounds and experiences, so it's normal to have different opinions. What we need to do isn't to convince each other, but to try to understand each other—only then can friendship last. I felt really regretful and immediately went to apologize to Alice. She also expressed her own unhappiness and regret, and then we agreed that in the future, we would only exchange views and not let emotions affect our friendship. So we made up and became best friends again. ​ 2. When it comes to learning good habits from friends, the first thing that comes to mind is regular reflection. This is a good habit I learned from my good friend Alice. Alice is my neighbor and my childhood friend; we grew up together and are each other's best friends. When I was in high school, playing badminton was very popular in our school, but neither my good friend Alice nor I knew how to play. So we decided to learn how to play badminton together and then play it at school to exercise. At first, neither of us played very well, but after only a few days, I noticed that Alice had made obvious progress, while I was still playing badly. So I asked Alice the secret of her progress. She said that because she often summarized and reflected on her mistakes and tried not to make the same mistake next time, she improved. It was at this moment that I suddenly realized she had this good habit. I also wanted to quickly master this sport, so I learned her habit, and sure enough, my skills improved soon. After a few days, both of us learned to play badminton. It is very important to regularly summarize and reflect to adjust ourselves. First, it helps us turn experiences into lessons and avoid making the same mistakes next time. Second, it is beneficial to our long-term development, because only by often reflecting on our strengths and weaknesses can we go faster and farther.