Part 1
Giám khảo
Are there tall buildings near your home?
Thí sinh
There isn't a tall building near my home because my hometown is like a county level city, but they are planning to build a tall building I guess because tall buildings are always a symbol of a place.
Giám khảo
Do you take photos of buildings?
Thí sinh
Yes, sometimes. Actually, most of the time I prefer to capture sceneries of, uh, nature. However, sometimes when I saw a building with wonderful styles or wonderful shape short shapes, I would shoot the bizarre design.
Giám khảo
Is there a building that you would like to visit?
Thí sinh
Actually not, because I hardly pay attention to buildings and buildings are not the important factor for me to plan on my trip. I also always pay more attention to the food, uh, maybe the culture and the natural scenery.
Giám khảo
Do you want to live in a tall building?
Thí sinh
Now if there is an alternative, I would prefer to live in a low rise house because I think this is a way that you get close to the land and the soil and sometimes you can plant flowers.
Are there tall buildings near your home?
Điểm: 67.0Gợi ý: Be more concise and use clearer phrasing. Start with a direct topic sentence, then give one or two specific supporting details using linking words. Avoid hedging words like "I guess" and overly long clauses.
Ví dụ: No, there aren't any tall buildings near my home because it's a small county-level city. However, the local government plans to build a high-rise commercial tower next year to attract businesses and modernize the area.
Do you take photos of buildings?
Điểm: 60.0Gợi ý: Reduce filler words and repetition, and choose precise vocabulary. Give one clear main idea and one specific example using a linking word to connect ideas.
Ví dụ: Yes, sometimes. I usually photograph natural landscapes, but when I see a building with an unusual shape or interesting architectural details, I take photos of it to study the design later.
Is there a building that you would like to visit?
Điểm: 66.0Gợi ý: Open with a direct answer and avoid repeating the noun unnecessarily. Provide one or two specific alternatives you care about, linked clearly to the main point.
Ví dụ: No, not really. I rarely plan trips around buildings; instead, I focus on trying local food and seeing natural scenery because those experiences matter more to me.
Do you want to live in a tall building?
Điểm: 72.0Gợi ý: Start with a clear, natural topic sentence and give one or two concise, specific reasons. Remove tentative phrases like "Now if there is an alternative." Use linking words to organize reasons.
Ví dụ: I would prefer to live in a low-rise house because it feels closer to the ground and gives me space to plant flowers and a small garden, which I enjoy.
× There isn't a tall building near my home because my hometown is like a county level city, but they are planning to build a tall building I guess because tall buildings are always a symbol of a place.
✓ There isn't a tall building near my home because my hometown is a county-level city, but they are planning to build one, I guess, because tall buildings are often seen as a symbol of a place.
Use of 'is like a county level city' is awkward; use 'is a county-level city' (adjective form). 'They are planning to build a tall building' is acceptable but repeating 'a tall building' is redundant; replace with 'one'. 'I guess' should be offset with commas. 'Always' is too strong; 'often seen as' is more natural. This corrects the 'there be' construction and improves clarity and register.
× Yes, sometimes. Actually, most of the time I prefer to capture sceneries of, uh, nature. However, sometimes when I saw a building with wonderful styles or wonderful shape short shapes, I would shoot the bizarre design.
✓ Yes, sometimes. Actually, most of the time I prefer to capture scenery in nature. However, sometimes when I see a building with a wonderful style or an interesting shape, I will photograph its unusual design.
'Sceneries' is incorrect: 'scenery' is an uncountable noun. 'Capture sceneries of nature' -> 'capture scenery in nature'. 'When I saw' mixes past with present habitual context; use present simple 'when I see'. 'Would shoot' implies conditional/past habitual; use 'will photograph' or 'I photograph' for general/habitual actions. 'Wonderful styles' and 'wonderful shape short shapes' are ungrammatical and redundant; use 'wonderful style' or 'an interesting shape.' 'Shoot' is colloquial for take photos; 'photograph' is more appropriate.
× Actually not, because I hardly pay attention to buildings and buildings are not the important factor for me to plan on my trip. I also always pay more attention to the food, uh, maybe the culture and the natural scenery.
✓ Not really, because I hardly pay attention to buildings and they are not an important factor when I plan a trip. I usually pay more attention to the food, and maybe the culture and the natural scenery.
'Actually not' is unnatural for this context; 'Not really' is more natural. Repeating 'buildings' is wordy; replace second occurrence with 'they'. 'The important factor' should be 'an important factor'. 'To plan on my trip' is incorrect preposition use; use 'when I plan a trip'. 'I also always pay more attention' is awkward order; 'I usually pay more attention' is clearer and matches habitual meaning.
× Now if there is an alternative, I would prefer to live in a low rise house because I think this is a way that you get close to the land and the soil and sometimes you can plant flowers.
✓ If there were an alternative, I would prefer to live in a low-rise house because I think it allows you to be closer to the land and sometimes you can plant flowers.
The conditional needs correction: 'Now if there is an alternative' mixes present with hypothetical. For a hypothetical preference, use past subjunctive 'If there were an alternative'. 'Low rise' should be hyphenated: 'low-rise'. 'This is a way that you get close to the land and the soil' is wordy and awkward; 'it allows you to be closer to the land' is clearer. 'The soil' is unnecessary. This fixes modal/conditional usage and improves clarity.