Part 1: Answer & Discussion

=> Discussion: follow-up questions (WH-) & Techniques

+ Big picture: Popularity & Current trends
+ Example: Personal example (past experience)
+ Two-side: Pros >< Cons
+ Conditions: It depends (on …)
1. Do you like planting trees? (Have you ever planted a tree?)
- Answer: I’m not much of a tree-grower/ of a person with a green thumb.
Having said that, it’s not like I’ve never planted anything before.
- Discussion: In fact, when I was in high school, I was assigned a task by my
biology teacher in which I had to grow bean sprouts out of a bottle cut in
half. It was really an eye-opening experience, because I got to see for the
time how a plant germinates, and I was thrilled.
2. Do you like living in a place with many trees?
- Answer: Definitely, I’m really into nature, and a place that is close to/
surrounded by nature would bring about lots of perks.
- Discussion: First, the atmosphere would be fresh. Unlike living in the city,
where it’s only concrete jungles, and you’d be vulnerable to/ prone to
respiratory diseases (~ you’d have trouble breathing). On top of that,
dwelling in a place with lots of lush trees would be therapeutic, because
you’d be sheltered from noise pollution, air pollution and all other problems
seen in the city.
3. Did you ever climb a tree when you’re a kid?
- Answer: I was born and raised in the countryside (~ a rural town), so as a
kid, I got to see nature up-close, and trees were a lot in the neighborhood =>
So, I used to climb trees with my childhood friends many times.
- Discussion: At first, climbing a tree seemed risky/ adventurous/ iffy,
because when I looked at the branches, they appeared to be brittle. But as
soon as I got up a few feet, I got a lot more confident, and it’s like I’m totally
free. And as I got up to the top, the view was worth the effort.
4. Have you ever seen a wild animal?
- Answer: In fact, I have, and it was on an occasion when I traveled with my
posse to Australia. And while we’re there, we hit the local nature reserve/
zoo/ safari site/ conservation site.
- Discussion: (describe a wild animal)
+ Kangaroo: I got to see kangaroos for the first time in my life => I got
the opportunity to feed them behind the bars/ they’re cute with their
little pouch, and they’re carrying the little brood inside that pouch/
they could stand upright on their hind-legs, thanks to their giant tail
as a prod => I was also allowed to caress them, only under close
supervision from the staff, because some among them are known to
be aggressive.
+ Panda: It’s funny how some among them could snooze on a high
branch, and some among them roll around like giant balls. Their
favorite snacks are sugarcanes/ bamboo shoots. The staff allow
visitors to pet them, and their fur is thick and warm, I was on cloud
nine as I did so.
 + Leopard: They’re held captive (~ kept) in cages/ caged for the
visitors’ sake => they’re looking impressive with all the strides, their
paws look like they could tear people in half in just a blink of an eye,
their fangs/ claws are razor-sharp. All in all, they look formidable
and majestic => it’s necessary that they be tamed, or else it would be
dangerous.
Part 2: Nature-related aspects
1. Describe a place full of trash
Intro: The ongoing environmental issues are rampant/ worrying more than ever. Hanoi has
long been considered as one of the top ten most polluted cities over the world, so places full
of trash are many here. And one among them that first comes to mind/ springs to mind is
[the YEN SO park]
Context: At the time, since we’d finished a very nerve-racking exam season, we, me and
my classmates, decided to hit the park, to chillax and, you know, just to blow off some
steam. And oh boy, when we arrived at the park, it was a real let-down.
The Scene: the scenery/ landscape was horrific:
- The trees are all shriveled, seeming like it’s been a while since they’re last watered,
the leaves have all been stripped down.
- The lake nearby was no longer a lake, because the water reeks of foul smells.
There’s heaps of trash down there.
=> [All in all]: We were filled with disgust.
So?: We decided to bring the matter to the manager of the park. But to our
disappointment, the staff couldn’t care less, and they’re so irresponsible when they told
us to mind our own business. Tomorrow coming back, it’s gonna be the same, so it’s
pointless to deal with the matter.
2. Describe a park/ an outing with your friends
Intro: Since I’ve been living in the city for a while, I’m all surrounded by concrete jungles,
and green spaces/ patches are a rare sight. So, the park that immediately springs to mind
is [the Lenin park]
Context: The last time I paid the park a visit was just last week. It was when I’d just finished
an important project at work, and I was in desperate need of some steam-blower/
recreation. So, me and a couple of buddies at work decided to hit the park, so we could
immerse ourselves in nature, so to speak.
What’s in the park?
- The walking path/ trekking path is cobblestoned, which is quaint and somehow it
fills me with enjoyment/ joie de vivre.
- The stone benches are dotted around the park, and they’re actually donations from
the public. Nearby, there’s a range of hawkers/ food stands selling cheap-and-
cheerful foodstuffs.
- Speaking of the nature here, the trees are lush, and they’re neatly trimmed by the
staff, and they’re doing a really good job. The lake nearby is like a giant mirror, the
water is crystal clear, and they’re organizing boats for visitors to participate in duck-
pedaling, which is often for couples.
- On the playground, not only are there amusement arcades for kids, but also some
training equipment for the elderly.
=> To sum up, it was a real blast, not only because of the natural surroundings but also
because of the company that I was with.
 3. Describe a tree
Intro: I’ve been living in the city for a really long time, and as you may know, the city is
nothing but high-rises, apartment buildings => it’s coated by the concrete jungle. That’s
why trees in the city are scarce. But it’s not like I’ve never seen a tree up-close, and what
appears off the top of my head is [this tree] we call “Bang”
Context: To be honest, I don’t know the word in English, so bear with me, but it’s a part of
many children’s childhood/ upbringing. In Hanoi, there’s a range of locations where you
could get a full view of it, like Hoan Kiem lake, which is a landmark of the city.
Appearance: Looking from afar, it seems like a giant umbrella, with its foliage thick and
densely branched. As a kid, we used to play hide-and-seek around the tree; Sometimes,
we also took shelter under the tree, so it brings back many fond memories whenever
talking about it.
Functions: Besides, the tree serves a wide range of functions:
- First, the trunk is sturdy and thick, which is the material to make into lots of
furniture. Pieces of furniture made out of the tree are selling like hot cakes.
- On top of that, the roots are believed to have medicinal properties, which could be
ground into powder and apply to your injuries. It heals like magic.
- Plus, the shoots are edible, they’re actually delicious cooking ingredients, I
personally am a big fan of soups cooked with these.
- The leaves are versatile => mostly, they’re used as wrappers to preserve food.
- The fruits are a real treat for children. I remember as a kid, I used to climb branches
up-top to pluck as many of these as possible. The real trick is: you’d need to crack
the core in half, so as to extract (~ take out) the inside, which is edible and tasty.
=> The tree is really something; Personally speaking, I would always hold it near and dear
to my heart.