<transcription id=0102 disno=01021199040106>
<participant interlocutor=1 speaker=3> </participant>
<speaker sp1=female sp2=male sp3=female> </speaker>
<interlocutor interlocutor=female> </interlocutor>
<spall> Good afternoon. </spall>
<interlocutor> Could you please tell me your name and the number of your admission ticket? Your name and your number. </interlocutor>
<sp1> My name is ***, my number is...... zero one zero two double one double nine double zero seven two. </sp1>
<interlocutor> Thanks. Your name? </interlocutor>
<sp2> My name is ***, and my number is zero one zero two double [Mb] one double [Mb] nine double [Mb] zero eight and zero. </sp2>
<interlocutor> Yes, your name and your number? </interlocutor>
<sp3> My name is ***, my number is zero one zero two double one double nine double zero eighty-two. </sp3>
<interlocutor> Thank you. Now, would you please briefly introduce yourselves to each other, remember you should not mention the name of your university, please? </interlocutor>
<sp1> Er good afternoon, everybody, so glad to meet you on such a sunny day, although we cannot feel any sunshine here. My name is ***, I came to Beijing two years ago from Chengdu for my university and for my dreams. My major is finance, I take it because I I consider it essential essential to the economy and also a good way to keep in touch with tomorrow. My most [Wo-er] unforgetful experience during the past two years is when I was still a freshman. </sp1>
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<interlocutor> OK </interlocutor>
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<sp1> I represented my university to take part in a national English debate competition. </sp1>
<interlocutor> OK, thanks. Your turn, please? </interlocutor>
<sp2> My name is ***, and I'm from Henan province. And now I'm a sophomore and my major is international finance. As for my hobbies, I like playing basketball and table tennis and sometimes I will listen to the music or take part in some in er extracurricular activities, I used to be a member of my department's [P2t-er] students' union, and now I just quit it because I think it's it's a little waste some time. </sp2>
<interlocutor> OK, OK, now your turn please? </interlocutor>
<sp3> Hello, everyone, my name is *** and I am a sophomore this year. And my major although my major is electronic engineering but my favorite is English, so I want to be a English teacher as my future job. I I like music, watching TV in my spare time and I also like go to several kinds of activities. That's all. </sp3>
<interlocutor> OK, OK, now that we know each other we can do some group work, first of all, I'd like to ask each of you to say something about festivals, ***? </interlocutor>
<sp1> about? </sp1>
<interlocutor> What western festivals are there, can you say something about them? </interlocutor>
<sp1> Erm there're several western festivals, for example, er Christmas, Halloween and April fool's day and I think they are very interesting. For nowadays more and more Chinese people they also have western festivals, er for fun and also because erm we learn more about western country and western culture as well. Er erm as for me, I I think we should erm we should... we should have the we should attend we can have Chinese and western festivals for the same time, but we we don't precious [Ms] the Chinese festivals like our elders now. </sp1>
<interlocuter> OK, ***, is Christmas an important festival in China? </interlocutor>
<sp2> Before it was not but now, I think espe- in particular for most college students it's ??? you know [Wow-au] important, because now in the college there are much more foreigners than before, so you know [Wow-au] when you communicate with some foreigners you have to you know [Wo-au] take part in the holidays of their own, and then you know [Wow-au] there will be some combination between two cultures. So I think Christmas [Pa-r] now, especially in college, is pretty important. </sp2>
<interlocutor> OK, ***, which is your favorite festival? </interlocutor>
<sp3> My favorite festival is April first, April's day. </sp3>
<interlocutor> Why? </interlocutor>
<sp3> Why? Because it's humorous and it's a funny day and on that day you can chat with the person, for example, your teacher, your parents, your grandparents and so on, they will not blame you. And mm you can you can joke with with the classmates and with the children and they will not blame you too, and everyone is happy that day. </sp3>
<interlocutor> Now, let's move on to something more specific. The topic for our discussion today is about eastern and western festivals. Each of you will be given a picture showing two festivals, I'd like you to talk about these two festivals and say something about how they are celebrated. You will have one minute to prepare and each of you will have one and a half minutes to give your presentation. Don't worry if I interrupt you when time is up. Now here are your pictures. </interlocutor>
<sp2> May I ask a question? This is the Chinese one or foreign one? </sp2>
<interlocutor> The picture. </interlocutor>
<interlocutor> Now, ***, would you please begin? And *** and ***, please put your pictures aside and listen to what she has to say. </interlocutor>
<sp1> Er here are two pictures showing how Spring Festival and Christmas are ce- celebrated. In my opinion these are two of the most important festival in eastern and western countries. And in the left picture is the Spring Festival, although the weather is very cold but the atmosphere is rather hot, people have family get- get-together and they are laughing and chatting with each other and having a good meal. The children there is happy too, because he is playing the fireworks and crackers [Wer-i] [Pr-t]. And in the in the right picture is the Christmas and all the things are covered with white snow and chris- Christmas music is playing everywhere, there're fireworks in the blue sky and Christmas Father is coming with his [Mh] with his gifts. Er there are many Christmas trees wi- with many gifts on it, and Christmas does not is not only a festival but has a meaning of giving and receiving, and everybody is having a re- relaxed when the year is over and enjoy the family and with hi- their friends. </sp1>
<interlocutor> Now, ***, it's your turn. </interlocutor>
<sp2> OK, my two holidays is Middle Autumn [P2u-r] Festival in Chinese and New Year's day in foreign countries. In our Mid-autumn Festival is one of the most important festival in China [Pa-r], because it means a lot [Wo-au], it means a family reunion, on that day our family members we reunited together and we'll have moon cakes and we will sit around the table and see the moon, so it's a great moment for each family. And for as for the another festival, it's the New Year's day, although in America, New Year's day just following the Christmas [Pa-r], but it it is still important and especially for young men. After a whole year work, they will relax [Wa-e] and they will enjoy life, and they will play together, and you know se- setting out, fire [Wi-e] crackers, and dance on the on the street. So that's also a very pr- pretty important festival, although it is not as important as Christmas. So in my opinion, for both eastern and western festivals, although their form are different, but think [Mk] their meaning their goals are the same, because for our human being when we have a pretty hard work, we all we always want to relax, so festival is a pretty good way for us to relax. </sp2>
<interlocutor> Time is up, now it's your turn, ***. </interlocutor>
<sp3> Oh I will talk about two festivals, dragon boat festival is one of China's traditional festivals and April fool's day is one [Wn-l] of western festivals. Dragon boat festival is wer- were originally set up for Qu Yuan, mm one fa- one famous poe- poet in Chinese in in favor [Wv-w] of his in praise of his loyalty to his country. On that day we can eat one Chinese traditional food called Zongzi, and we can see very exciting dragl- dragon boat dragon boat competition. In the competition boys are active, and they drive and compete with [Ww-v] each others to won the prize. And next I will tell about April fool's day, when talking about this this festival, everyone is relaxed. Le- let me tell you a story about Tom. </sp3>
<interlocutor> Sorry, time is up. </interlocutor>
<sp3> Erm I'm sorry. </sp3>
<interlocutor> OK, right, now we all have some idea of different festivals, I'd like you to discuss this topic further and see if you can agree on which festivals is most popular with young people in China and why. During the discussion you may argue with each other and ask each other questions to clarify a point. You will have about four and a half minutes for the discussion, your performance will be judged according to your contribution to the discussion. Remember during the discussion you should try to come to an agreement on which festivals are most popular with young people in China, please give your reasons. </interlocutor>
<sp2> First of all, I think Valentine [S3], it means in Chinese it means Qingrenjie is a most popular one among Chinese young people. Why, because you know [Wow-au] in the development and opening of China [Pa-r] more and more young people are begin you know a little westernized, they learn a lot from the western countries. And before, chi- chi- China didn't emphasize [S3] too much importance on the education of sex, so people are a little shy and a little controversial. And now with we beco- as we become more and more open, we we began realize that it's pretty important to have communication. </sp2>
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<interlocutor> Discuss. </interlocutor>
</interrupted>
<sp2> Yes? OK. </sp2>
<interlocutor> Discuss with each other. </interlocutor>
<sp3> I'm sorry, I won't agree with you, I think Christmas [Pa-r] day is becoming more and more popular among Chinese people. </sp3>
<sp1> I agree with you, because Christmas day is at the end of the year, and we people are all very tired and want to have want to have a time to relax themselves, and to see the past and to think something about the future. And there is a very strong atmosphere of Christmas in among the young people, they send each other gifts and also best wishes to each other. </sp1>
<sp3> Above all, it can be celebrated by all young people, not lovers [Wv-w], Valentine's day is often, I think is always for lovers, and for most </sp3>
<interrupted>
<sp1> Other people are very sad I think. </sp1>
</interrupted>
<sp2> I agree with this and I also have this feeling, and I have a friend [Md] who is an American and this year especially in the Christmas I wanna give some him some gifts, and last year I also gave ? my foreign teachers ? Christmas we also gave to each other between our classmates. I think it is important although... maybe I just consider it is as important as Valentine's, anyhow it is important, I can't deny, I agree. </sp2>
<sp3> I think Valentine's day is a special day, but not [Mt] the most popular er festival, and have you noticed the thousands of Christmas cards and Christmas presents [Mt] during that festival? </sp3>
<sp1> Also Christmas is for everybody and Valentine's day for for lovers, for young lovers especially. </sp1>
<sp3> Yeah. </sp3>
<sp1> And people Christmas means receiving and giving love to each other, to show to give our best wishes and also to memorize the past years. </sp1>
<sp3> And with the influence of the young people, many older older peoples and many older ones are also fall in love with this festival, I think, and they also acce- accept the Christmas presents by the young people very gladly. </sp3>
<sp2> Anyhow I think Christmas give us [Wu-a:] a great chance in order to celebra- to relax ourselves. And and for many Chinese people they work pretty hard and in China there are just summer holiday and Spring Festival, and that's not enough for us to relax. And I think Christmas give us a good chance between the two holidays. And for especially for college students, they are work pretty hard and they are not able to relax, so I think Christmas is very important [M2t] in in Chinese college students. </sp2>
<sp1> It's true that the the celebration for Christmas is becoming more and more important, and outside hotels there are many Christmas trees and people send Christmas cards and Christmas gifts to each other, and college students they sing they sing all kinds of Christmas songs with each other and it's such a lovely day I guess, I think. </sp1>
<sp2> Yeah, this year I made a metal tree, a metal Christmas tree and I want to send him to my American friend, I think yes it's a great moment when he when he received my gift and that I think thi- this year's Christmas may be the one of the best moment in my life. </sp2>
<sp3> So you agree with us [Pu-r]? </sp3>
<sp2> Yeah. </sp2>
<sp1> One last point is that for college students, you know tha- tha- that the examination is coming just after the Christmas day, and it's the last chance for them to relax them and then get prepared for the examination. </sp1>
<interlocutor> All right, that's the end for the discussion, now I'd like to ask you just one last question on the topic of festivals eastern and western. ***, will you feel offended or amused if your friend play a joke on you on April fool's day? </interlocutor>
<sp2> Now I don't think so. ???? </sp2>
<interrupted>
<interlocutor> Offended or amused? </interlocutor>
</interrupted>
<sp2> I was amused, I was amused </sp2>
<sp3> Interested? </sp3>
<sp2> Yes, I'm interested. </sp2>
<sp1> Interesting. </sp1>
<interlocutor> Why? </interlocutor>
<sp2> Why? It's just sort of life, sometimes you should be made made fun of. If you are always seri- serious, too super serious, your life will be pretty boring. So you you should have some time to relax and to be made fun of. </sp2>
<interlocutor> OK, ***, do you think the celebration of western festivals should be encouraged in China? </interlocutor>
<sp1> Er well, I think so, I think it should be encouraged, because erm we should, especially as a young generation, we should know more about the foreign countries and foreign cultures as to develop China and Chinese Chinese economy. And nowadays China has entry entered WTO, and many challenge and many chances are in front of us. And one festival is one of the important part of the western cultures, if we know more about the festivals and if we celebrate the custo- the the festivals, we will know more about the the cultures, and we will communicate more with the western countries and western people. And at at the same time, we should not forget our own traditional festival. </sp1>
<interlocutor> OK, ***, which festival do you think children like most? </interlocutor>
<sp3> Children's day of course. </sp3>
<interlocutor> Why? </interlocutor>
<sp3> On that day, because first of all most important is that belongs the children themselves, and parents will give them parents uh give them presents, and also at school usually at school children at the same age they will celebrate in their own way, for example, they give performances and erm exchange presents and so on. I think children is the future of our country and mm they can enjoy their their happy life on that day. And later other festivals is is also important but for children their own hol- festival is most... For example, you will ask what is the most important festival for old people or for for mothers, for fathers, I think they will they will [Ww-v] answer mother's day or father's day, because it belongs to themselves. </sp3>
<interlocutor> OK, that's the end of the test, thank you, everybody. </interlocutor>
<spall> Thank you. </spall>
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