When we think of expensive liquids, quality champagne or French perfumes come to mind. You might be surprised to discover that printer ink is one of the world’s costliest liquids. A survey from the U.K. consumer watchdog “Which?” revealed that some printer ink that is sold by tech companies is pricier than many champagnes. It reported that printer ink from printer makers can be up to 286% more expensive than alternative ink from companies that do not make printers. The watchdog said that some branded printer ink can cost as much as $846 a litre. A consumer rights expert from Which? said: “Printer ink shouldn’t cost more than a bottle of high-end champagne or Chanel No 5.”
Some people take trips by themselves. Others take trips with groups of people. Which kind of trip do you prefer and why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your preference.
STEP 1 |Before you start(1)|Listen to the dialogue. Then, answer the questions to get some ideas about the subject.
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W: What are you going to do for your spring break vacation, Henry?
M: I haven’t made any plans yet.
W: There’s a group from our dorm going skiing in Vermont.
M: Sounds good. Who’s going?
W: Let’s see, I think ten people. David, Alan, Joe, Steve,Tom …
M: Tom? No way. I’m not going anywhere with him.
W: Why not?
M: He’s cheap and never wants to spend his money. Besides, he can never make up his mind about anything. Anyway, in a group that size, there’s bound to be a problem.
W: Maybe you’re right. So what are you going to do?
He doesn’t want to go because of Tom’s character and because the group is too big.
Yes, he enjoys skiing because he said it sounded like a good idea.
STEP 2 |Before you start(2) | Now listen to the lecture. Then, answer the questions to get some ideas about the subject.
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Tourism is big business all over the world. The package trip with a tour group is the most popular way to travel for the elderly, with almost 85% of tour group travelers being 50 years and older. Many hotels give discounts of up to 20% for large groups. On the other hand, for young travelers, backpacking remains popular, especially in Europe. Some travel alone while others go with friends, but young travelers almost never join tour groups. In a recent survey, the main reasons for not joining tour groups were the cost and desire to have a flexible schedule. However, young travelers, especially women, are advised to travel with others to avoid dangers.
1 Which two groups of people does the lecturer compare?
STEP 5 | Compare 比較 | Listen to a sample response, and compare it with yours.
解答例 A by myself
Of the two options, I would choose to travel alone than in a group. Firstly, by traveling alone, I can decide where to go and what to do. I don’t have to agree to do something just to make others happy. Also, I can be more flexible and change my mind. My trip can be more exciting and interesting than it would be if I had to follow a tour group’s set schedule. Secondly, I may not get along with the other people I’m traveling with. Everyone has different personalities. Some are lazy or cheap, and others can never make up their minds. If we have an argument, it could ruin the trip or even our friendship. So, I prefer to travel alone.
解答例 B with groups
I’d rather travel in a group than alone. To begin with, traveling in a group is safer than traveling alone. If I were alone, I might have some problems, yet no one could help me, especially in a foreign country where I don’t speak the language. If I’m with a tour group, the leader almost always speaks the local language. In addition, traveling with a group can give you and your travel partners man shared experiences and lots of good memories from the trip. Since it’s more interesting to travel with others, you can get memories from your trip that will last a lifetime. That is why I prefer traveling with a group of people.
Germany’s leader has expressed her fears about climate change after visiting the devastation caused by the severe flooding in Europe. Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was horrified by the destruction across swathes of her country. She visited some of the hardest-hit areas in Germany and listened to accounts of the disaster from local residents. She told reporters: “It’s shocking. I can pretty much say that the German language does not have words to describe the destruction that has been wreaked.” Ms Merkel said the world had to escalate its efforts to tackle the climate crisis. She said: “We must hurry. We have to be faster in the fight against climate change.”
The UK is considering several measures to help people eat more healthily. The government asked a food expert to come up with some ideas. The expert is Henry Dimbleby, the founder of a chain of restaurants. Mr Dimbleby created the National Food Strategy and presented it to the UK government earlier this week. The strategy included two main ideas. One is a tax on food containing salt and sugar, which the media have called a “snack tax”. The second idea is to give vegetables to poorer people for free. Mr Dimbleby warned that what we eat, and how it is produced, is doing “terrible damage” to the environment and to our health. Poor diet leads to 64,000 deaths a year in England and puts great pressure on hospitals.
❶ They help me stay focused on what I am studying.
❷ They help me gain a wider perspective on the subject.
STEP 3 |Response 解答| Make your response using the above information.
Example : I like studying in groups better than studying alone. First, when I am in a group, everyone can correct one another when we make mistakes. Second, we can explain the things that we do well to others. So, if I am good at something but some other members are not, I can explain it to them to help them understand.
Your Response _________________________________________________
STEP 4 | Compare 比較 | Listen to a sample response, and compare it with yours.
To tell the truth, I really prefer studying in groups. As a matter of fact, I often have trouble focusing when I study alone. But, when I study in a group, I can focus much better. And another thing is that if you study in a group, you can hear more opinions about the subject at hand. So the group helps me gain a wider perspective on the issue I am studying.
Climate scientists have warned that many parts of the world will experience more extreme heat. The experts are from Copernicus, the European Union’s Earth Observation Programme. Its meteorologists analysed world temperatures from satellites, aircraft, weather stations and other databases from around the world. The scientists reported that their figures indicated a high likelihood of an escalation in extreme temperatures. They said: “It was the second warmest June on record for Europe….Heatwave conditions persisted over western North America, where many temperature records were broken. Arctic Siberia also experienced high temperatures.”
The Black Swimming Association is up in arms over a ban on the use of a swim cap at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. FINA, the body that regulates international swimming, has rejected an application from the brand SOUL CAP. Its product is a cap that accommodates diverse hairstyles and hair types. The company wants the cap certified for competition swimming. It wants to help swimmers with afros, braids, dreadlocks, hair extensions, weaves, and thick and curly hair. FINA said it would not permit the Soul Cap because swimmers have never used a cap “of such size and configuration” before. FINA stated it would not be permitted because “it didn’t fit the natural form of the head”.
New research has revealed that toxic workplaces can be hazardous to mental health. The year-long study is from the University of South Australia. Researchers found that full-time workers who work for companies or organizations that do not prioritise employees’ mental health are three times more likely to suffer from depression. The researchers examined the adverse effect of “toxic” environments on health. Elements of a toxic workplace included poor management practices, bullying, and a failure to consider mental health issues. The researchers indicated that if employees are unhappy at work, mistreated or burnt out, their productivity will suffer and absenteeism will increase.
