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The house in the cerulean sea - TJ Klune

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Best YA Sci-Fi Books: Must-Reads for Teens & Adults

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Explore new worlds, meet unforgettable characters, and ponder the future of humanity with these YA sci-fi books.

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12 Science Fiction Books For Adults - Paulina’s Favorites

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Looking for science fiction books for adults? These sci fi fantasy books for adults deliver mind-bending plots and unforgettable characters. #ScienceFictionBooksForAdults

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Units: 7-8-9-11-12-14-15-16-18-28-30-31

Units to study: 37-48-50-51-53-55

Optional: 36-44-45-56-57

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Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, conference, huddle, and training rooms, as well as executive offices and classrooms. Founded in 2011, Zoom helps businesses and organizations bring their teams together in a frictionless environment to get more done.

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All good! Great job!

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11.2 -> 2) holds; 5) he is open to offers

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Check this video, and write down sentences using the vocabulary from the multiple-choice activity. How many words can help you with this task?

I would recommend watching the second half.

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How to handle cross-cultural differences in business | Maria Pastorelli | TEDxNYUShanghai

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Login to your Evernote account to access your notes, tasks, and more.

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Corrections:

deeply ashamed

highly controversial

utterly stupid

highly successful

ridiculously easy

deeply concerned

Correct answers:

ridiculously cheap

bitterly disappointing

strongly/deeply/bitterly opposed

utterly ridiculous

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Wordwall - Crea mejores lecciones de forma más rápida

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Completar la frase - Una actividad “cloze” en la que se arrastran y sueltan palabras en espacios en blanco dentro de un texto.

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We need to make all necessary arrangements for the Congress in Buenos Aires.

make room for

We also need to make room for the materials that we're presenting.

make room in your agendas?

We'll have to make some room in our agendas in advance.

make a success of

We need to make a success of this congress, because it's the last one of the year.

it's the last in the year

make a habit of

Don't make a habit of copying and pasting the same message in every conversation / in every interaction

it will be a disaster/ an accident waiting to happen

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Table of Contents

Intro

What Is the Gig Economy?

20 Essential Gig Economy Statistics

Gig Economy Statististics for Those Who Choose This Type of Work and Are Happy With It

Gig Economy Statistics-Employers' Perspective

Gig Economy Stats-Gig Workers by Necessity

Gig Economy Stats-Impact of Technology

Gig Economy Statistics-Developing Economies

Key Takeaway

About Zety's Editorial Process

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With the total nonfarm payroll employment falling by 20.5 million in April, as well as the unemployment rate rising to close to 15% percent, many Americans will be forced to take on new means of making a living.

In a post-pandemic world, many job seekers will look towards the gig economy for answers.

That's why we dug into some of the most compelling research on the gig economy to show you the magnitude of this phenomenon, the shape it's in, as well as current and future trends.

Gig Economy Definition

Gig economy statistics show a free market system where organizations and independent workers engage in short-term work arrangements. BLS data suggest that in 2017 the US gig economy had 55 million participants. It's estimated that 36% of US workers take part in the gig economy and 33% of companies extensively use gig workers.

The word "gig" refers to the transient nature of the job itself.

Gig Economy Examples

The gig economy definition encompasses all sorts of contingent work arrangements, for example:

Freelancers

Consultants

Independent contractors and professionals

Temps (temporary contract workers)

The gig economy is not a new phenomenon-freelancers have been around for a while. So have consultants, temps, and so on. The reason why the gig economy has been under scrutiny for the past couple of years is that technology has lowered barriers to entry so much that "gigs" have become easily accessible to an unprecedented number of people.

What was perceived as a side hustle only a couple of years ago, turned into a trillion-dollar industry with millions of participants.

Because of the very technology that made all this possible, it became increasingly hard to clearly classify what counts as part of the gig economy and what doesn't.

What's more, studies vary so much in terms of their design that many arrive at conflicting conclusions. Just like in the case of the Contingent Worker Supplement from the BLS and the study conducted by Alan Krueger of Princeton University and Larry Katz of Harvard University-with the latter saying that the gig economy is rapidly growing and the former that it's slowly shrinking.

So-

Let's get in sync on the definitions first.

Say gig economy and people will think of:

Uber/Lyft drivers

TaskRabbit workers

Airbnb landlords

Online marketplace sellers

Volunteers

Artists

But the list should also include:

On-call workers

Multiple job holders

Contingent and part-time workers

Highly skilled contractors

Seasonal workers

Consultants

And many others

Gig economy participants sometimes treat their gigs as their main source of income, and sometimes as a secondary one. Some of them are highly skilled and this mode of work is their choice, some are unskilled and have no alternatives.

The statistics we present below come from multiple independent studies and cover all aspects of the gig economy to show what it looks like from several points of view.

Since the sheer variety of gig economy participants is huge, each study falls back on different terminology to refer to them:
MBO Partners distinguishes several types of so-called independents.
A full-time independent denotes a person working over 15 hours a week who chose this particular mode of work and doesn't plan on altering it in the foreseeable future.

Part-time independent refers to those who regularly work less than 15 hours a week and treat their gigs as a way to supplement their usually insufficient monthly income.

Occasional independents encompassess those who do independent work sporadically, but at least once a month.

None of these terms, however, indicates the type of work performed by the person. So, a full-time independent could refer to a freelance management consultant just as much as to an Uber driver, independent artist, or a home-grown carpenter who sells their work via Etsy.

McKinsey report, for example, uses different nomenclature and the term primary independent earner refers to someone who earns their primary living from independent work.

As a general remark, the terminology used in studies indicates where the bulk of a person's income comes from rather than what kind of job the person does.

57.3 million people freelance in the U.S. It's estimated that by 2027 there will be 86.5 million freelancers. (Upwork)

36% of U.S. workers participate in the gig economy through either their primary or secondary jobs. (Gallup)

For 53% of gig workers aged 18-34, their work in the gig economy is their primary source of income. (Edison Research)

Gig employees are more likely to be young, with 38% of 18-34-year-olds being part of the gig economy. (Edison Research)

Overall, it's estimated that the independent workforce is larger than previously recognized: some 20 to 30 percent of the working-age population in the United States and the EU-15 countries are engaged in some form of independent earning today. (McKinsey)

Gig economy workers are projected to account for more than $1.4 trillion of the total US income in 2018. (PYMNTS)

55% of gig workers also maintain full-time or regular jobs. (PYMNTS)

1 in 6 workers in traditional jobs would like to become a primary independent earner. (McKinsey)

For 44% of gig workers, their work in the gig economy is their primary source of income. (Edison Research)

20 Essential Gig Economy Statistics

75.7% would not quit their gigs for a full-time job. (PYMNTS)

The stats aggregated below illustrate the overall size of the gig economy:

64% of gig workers say they are doing their preferred type of work. (Gallup)

60% of gig-dependent workers lack alternative employment because they don't want or need one. (PYMNTS)

37% of full-time Independents are aged 21-38. (MBO Partners)

44% of full-time independents find work via word of mouth, with social media (12%) and online commerce marketplaces (like eBay, Etsy, or Airbnb) a distant second or third. (MBO Partners)

Only 4% of full-time independents identify online job platforms that match buyers and sellers of services as their top method of finding a job. (MBO Partners)

79% of full-time independents said they were happier working on their own than at a traditional job. (MBO Partners)

19% say the main reason they have a gig job is to make extra money or cover day-to-day expenses. (PYMNTS)

In 2017, the total share of the labor force working in nonstandard arrangements was 10.1%, down from 10.9% in 2005. (Economic Policy Institute)

The largest number of gig workers (14%) find gigs in arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media followed by sales and related (10%.) (PYMNTS)

An additional 3% to 10% of workers in mature economies and more than 30% in some developing countries reported using gig platforms as a secondary source of income. (BCG Henderson)

Deloitte's latest millennial study found that 64% of full-time workers want to do "side hustles" to make extra money. (Deloitte)

In 2018, the number of occasional independents jumped 16.4% to 14.9 million from 12.9 million in 2017; their ranks have risen 42% from 10.5 million in 2016. (MBO Partners)

1 out of 5 full-time independents has customers outside the U.S. (MBO Partners)

The number of contingent employees will increase worldwide. In the US alone, contingent workers will exceed 40% of the workforce by 2020. (INTUIT)
About 40% of the American workforce now makes at least 40% of their income via gig work. (PYMNTS)
Between 2013 and 2017, earnings fell by 53% in the transportation sector and grew by 69% in the leasing sector. (JPMorgan Chase)

Compared with workers overall, electronically mediated workers were more likely to be in the prime-working-age category (25 to 54) and less likely to be in the oldest age category (55 and over.) (BLS)

62% of executives say external workforce enables them to improve the company's overall financial performance. (SAP Fieldglass)

33% of organizations report extensively using alternative arrangements for IT, 25% for operations, 15% for marketing, and 15% for research and development. (Deloitte)

Gig workers are mainly employed by businesses (53%.) (PYMNTS)

Gig Economy Statististics for Those Who Choose This Type of Work and Are Happy With It

As mentioned before, for some, gigs are voluntary, for others, not.

Out of those doing gig work as their primary source of income, 58% would have difficulty handling the unexpected expense of $400, compared to 44% of those doing gig work to supplement their income. (Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2018)

80% of gig employees whose gig work is the primary source of income say that an unexpected expense of $1,000 would be difficult to pay. (Edison Research)

45% of those who rely on gig work as their primary source of income have an Anxiety Index Score over 50, compared to only 24% of those employed but not in the gig economy. (Edison Research)

Full-time freelancers dip into savings more often (63% at least once per month versus 20% of full-time non-freelancers.) (Upwork)

The numbers presented in this section focus entirely on those who chose this mode of life and don't consider changing it anytime soon.

People who actively chose their working style reported greater satisfaction than those who felt forced by circumstance. (McKinsey)

41% of gig workers say they were hired because they have unique skills to complete an ad hoc project. (PYMNTS)

When asked to define their preferred future employment, around 45% chose remaining independent and adding clients as needed to increase their income, compared with only around 20% who preferred finding a full-time salaried position. (BCG Henderson)
The top three priorities across all types of voluntary gig economy workers are: spending time on more meaningful and interesting tasks, being self-employed, and fitting full-time work more flexibly around private needs. As a result, they also reported higher happiness and satisfaction levels with their work than people in traditional full-time employment, despite the fact that they were more likely to work more than 45 or even 60 hours a week, and to earn slightly lower salaries. (BCG Henderson)
63% of freelancers think that having a diversified portfolio of clients is more secure than one employer and have an average of 4.5 clients per month. (Upwork)

The number of high-earning independents-those who report earning $100,000 or more and likely work in highly skilled fields-keeps growing. In 2018 there were 3.3 million of them, which is about 21% of all full-time independents. (MBO Partners)

Gig Economy Statistics-Employers' Perspective

The gig economy makes it easier for companies to access top talent. This is advantageous for both parties-

Companies economize on employee benefits and office overheads while cooperating with the human resources they need (and, most likely, lack in-house) on a specific project. On the other hand, freelancers can add another company to their portfolio thus building their credibility and brand.

Roughly 40% of executives worldwide expect freelance workers to account for an increased share of their organization's workforce over the coming five years. And 50% agree that corporate adoption of gig platforms would be a significant or highly significant trend. (BCG Henderson)

The external workforce is critical for sourcing hard-to-find skills. Nearly three-quarters of executives cite the importance of gig workers in sourcing skills that are in scarce supply, with 91% saying this will be the case in three years' time. (SAP Fieldglass)

15% of independent workers have used a digital platform to earn and these platforms have grown rapidly in the past few years. (McKinsey)

Gig Economy Stats-Gig Workers by Necessity

Those who sell goods are most likely to use digital platforms-in this case, by listing on e-commerce marketplaces such as eBay and Etsy. (McKinsey)

Between 25 and 40% of those who earn independently by leasing assets use digital platforms such as HomeAway, Airbnb, or VRBO. (McKinsey)

The gig economy has many faces. For some, it's not so much a choice as the only way to make ends meet.

Now-

Online Platform Economy has continued to grow. Between 2013 and 2018, transportation platforms have grown to dominate in terms of both the number of participants and total transaction volume. (JPMorgan Chase)

Most participants in the Online Platform Economy are active in just a few months out of the year. (JPMorgan Chase)

Among those who generated earnings through transportation platforms at any point in a year, 58% had earnings in just three or fewer months of that year. In the other sectors (non-transport industry, selling, and leasing), engagement was even more sporadic, with less than 20% of participants generating earnings in more than half the year. (JPMorgan Chase)

Online platform earnings represent a major source of income (54%) for families during the months when they participate. However, platforms are not replacing traditional sources of family income. Among those who have participated in the Online Platform Economy at any point in a year, average platform earnings represent roughly 20% of total observed take-home income in any month of that year. (JPMorgan Chase)

Workers whose main job was in the transportation and utilities industry were more likely to do in-person work, and those in professional and business services and in information were more likely to do online work. (BLS)

The Online Platform Economy is growing but there's no evidence that it is replacing traditional sources of income for most families. Even if platform work could in principle represent the "future of work," most participants are not putting it to the type of use that would usher in that future. (JPMorgan Chase)

Even though work arrangements within gig economy are notorious for not giving people the security some of them need, it's thanks to the gig economy itself that they are able to make any money at all. Well, every cloud has a silver lining.

Gig Economy Stats for App-Based Drivers

One particularly prominent group of gig workers consists of app-based drivers-Uber and Lyft. Here's a look at some statistics for this group:

The Uber driver W-2 equivalent hourly wage is roughly at the 10th percentile of all wage and salary workers' wages, meaning Uber drivers earn less than what 90% of workers earn. (Economic Policy Institute)
Half of New York City's app-based drivers support children and provide the bulk of their family's income. 40% of drivers have incomes so low they qualify for Medicaid and another 16% have no health insurance; 18% qualify for federal supplemental nutrition assistance (nearly twice the rate for New York City workers overall). (New School and the University of California Berkeley Report)
The app companies have been able to expand their workforce by drawing principally immigrants without a four-year college degree who face restricted labor market opportunities. (New School and the University of California Berkeley Report)

60 to 65% of New York app drivers are full-time, without another job, and about 80% acquired a car to earn a living by driving. (New School and the University of California Berkeley Report)

Uber drivers earn the equivalent of $9.21 in hourly wages-less than what is earned by 90 percent of all other wage and salary earners, and below the minimum wage in 13 of the 20 major urban markets where Uber operates. (Economic Policy Institute)

About 16% of all drivers have no health insurance coverage. (New School and the University of California Berkeley Report)

For the Uber drivers working 50 hours a week or longer, real before-expense hourly earnings fell about 30% between 2014 and 2017. (New School and the University of California Berkeley Report)
Uber aims for public valuation of up to $100 billion. (Wall Street Journal)
This final stat is particularly interesting in the light of the ones that come before. Uber may have grown to be the largest ridesharing company in the world but its business model is easy to replicate and it has no real competitive advantage or unique assets.

In fact, surveys reveal that about 70% of drivers work for both Uber and Lyft. So, it seems like Uber's business model is entirely dependent on large numbers of people who have no good reason to feel attached to the company-either because of the type of contract or competitive wages. No wonder there are voices saying that such an astronomical Uber's IPO valuation makes no sense.

Gig Economy Stats-Impact of Technology

As we've already established, the gig economy isn't a new phenomenon. The thing is, though, that thanks to the recent technological boom it has become accessible to a large number of people.

The stats below show the extent to which modern technology influenced this industry:

Platforms for offering services, such as Uber, TaskRabbit, and Upwork, were used by only 6% of independent earners in the United States and the EU-15 (McKinsey)

69% of gig workers aged 18-24 use the Internet in their job hunts, but only 42% of those aged 64+ do the same. (PYMNTS)
Traditional contingent staffing firms make up the core of the market but online talent networks are growing quickly and it's estimated they now manage over $2 billion in outsourced activity, employing hundreds of millions of people in every geography of the world. (Deloitte)
Freelancers are finding more work online-71% say the amount of work they obtained online increased this year (up 5 points since 2016). (Upwork)
59.1% of gig workers use digital marketplaces to find new opportunities (PYMNTS)
Gig Economy Statistics-Developing Economies

Undeniably, the spreading of the gig economy is a worldwide phenomenon and the number of participants is significant in almost any country in the world.

Although the stats below focus entirely on the Indian market, they reflect a larger trend characteristic of the other developing economies.

As many as 72% of all gig projects were in large corporates and professional service firms in 2018-19 compared with 52% two years back. (The Economic Times India)

Delhi added 560,600 people to its gig economy in the six months to 31 March, an 88% jump from 298,000 people in first half of FY19. The gig economy, led by food delivery firms Swiggy and Zomato, and ride hailing firms Uber and Ola, thrives largely unregulated, even as drivers and delivery boys work with little job security and few benefits. (Livemint)
The gig economy in India with respect to workers not getting any social security, insurance, etc. is an extension of India's informal labour, which has been prevalent for a long time and has remained unregulated. (Livemint)
70% of employer's used gig workers at least once or twice for solving organisational issues in 2018. (The Economic Times India)

2019 report by NobleHouse, a platform that connects businesses with skilled human resources talent, found that 73% of its respondents wanted to opt for freelance work over a conventional full-time job. (QZ)

A 2017 EY study on the "Future of Jobs in India" found that 24% of the world's gig workers come from India. (QZ)

India is home to the second largest market of freelance professionals (about 15 million) who constitute about 40% of total freelance jobs offered worldwide. (ICRIER Future of Work in the Digital Era: Potential and Challenges for Online Freelancing and Microwork in India)

An analysis of online occupations in India measured by the online labour index projects reveals that software development and technology have the highest share, followed by the creative and media sector. (EY)
India is emerging as the third largest online labor market. Online Labour Index survey 2016 shows that India-based employers represented 5.9% of all projects/tasks posting for online 39 labor of which 45% were for software development and technology projects. This trend suggests the changing nature of employment in the IT-BPM sector. This trend was reaffirmed as 45% of the survey respondents viewed new ways of working such as freelancing as an important megatrend shaping the industry. (EY)
With more and more participants, the gig economy has significantly changed the contemporary business landscape-to the point where new legislation had to be introduced to regulate it.

Even though it's notoriously hard to measure, it draws more and more people, becomes increasingly accessible worldwide, and creates new opportunities for employers to attract and cooperate with top talent on crucial projects that call for highly specialized skill sets.

For many gig economy participants, the gigs they do allow them to supplement their monthly income. However, there are some who make their primary living out of the gigs-this group consists of highly skilled professionals who cooperate with various businesses. Finally, the gig economy also comprises people who have families to support and no other option to make a living.

About Zety's Editorial Process

This article has been reviewed by our editorial team to make sure it follows Zety's editorial guidelines. We're committed to sharing our expertise and giving you trustworthy career advice tailored to your needs. High-quality content is what brings over 40 million readers to our site every year. But we don't stop there. Our team conducts original research to understand the job market better, and we pride ourselves on being quoted by top universities and prime media outlets from around the world.

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Gig Economy: Definition, Statistics & Trends [2024 Update]

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The gig economy statistics for 2024 grouped into easily navigable categories. Learn what the gig economy is & explore stats for US and international markets.

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October 28th - Managing a discussion and sharing ideas - Part II

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October 28th - Managing a discussion and sharing ideas - Part II

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October 21st - Managing a discussion and sharing ideas

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October 21st - Managing a discussion and sharing ideas

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We spent it at my sister's house, with my mother. It was a really good moment. I hadn't seen either my mom or my sister in a month. It's quite impossible at the moment to arrange a get together.

It's busy the whole year, but the busyness increases with the hot weather

it's difficult to get there in less than an hour. It's easier for me to get there rather than having them over.

A bus was out of order in the middle of the highway and behind it a long line of cars and vehicles.

It was heavily congested.

he was repeating to me

face serious competition / they are attracted to more prestigious // increase the initial package we're offering. / interruptions in salaries: // there seems to be a feeling - interrupted by Rachel

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Only after I set everything in order could I go to bed, turn on the TV, watch for a bit and sleep

I'm not as petty or obsessed over where to put a pencil, for example. But overall, I can't leave the washing up unfinished/pending.

sleep like a log

to be out like a light

we had to sort groceries, set the place ready, clean up, and do some house work

My family would normally leave at 5pm, because they live quite far and they don't want to catch the highway at rush hour

windscreen

wiper

it was expected to rain during the day

the forecast announced rain in the afternoon

My agenda is overfilled

overbooked

too much hustle for such a short trip

it's not proper rest

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Exercise 2 Practice File Unit 2

-maintain an advantage over: stay ahead (of)/ stay ahead of the game / stay ahead of the competition

-defend yourself against: stand up to (detailed analysis, scrutiny)

-think of: come up with (new ideas, solutions to help)

-do something actively: get out there and do it! / get out there and ask customers directly

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I had been studying at this institute for many years, told them I took the TOEFL this year, and I really don't want to relive the same experience once again.

Pearson (Language learning company)

I could study with regularity // create consistency

I was one of many people who started taking classes online

I was partaking one of the pilot courses

It was a milestone in my studies.

He longed for that / he yearns for recognition

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October 7th - Collocations with "make" and similar verbs // intensifying and softening adverbs

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October 7th - Collocations with "make" and similar verbs // intensifying and softening adverbs

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September 30th - Collocations with "make"

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September 30th - Collocations with "make"

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September 25th - Intensifying and softening adverbs

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September 25th - Intensifying and softening adverbs

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September 20th - Dealing with conflict (communication issues)

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September 20th - Dealing with conflict (communication issues)

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It doesn't happen on a regular basis

It would be more difficult if these kind of cases happened at night, when I'm cooking, or preparing my bag for the following day or doing housework.

I'm not online/ on call

It's not a normal thing to occur at night. Maybe a doctor has a moment to revise all the stuff in their bag, and maybe that is the sole moment they have to check in with me.

On Saturdays, I'd normally be relaxed at home, having all the time for them.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/

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September 2nd - Body metaphors in collocations

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September 2nd - Body metaphors in collocations

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August 26th - Business Result: Persuasive language - Expressing doubt/concern - Dismissing options 

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August 26th - Business Result: Persuasive language - Expressing doubt/concern - Dismissing options 

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August 28th - Formal and informal collocations 

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August 28th - Formal and informal collocations 

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Exercises 3.3 / 3.4 / 3.5 on the second page from this pdf

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Exercises 3.3 / 3.4 / 3.5 on the second page from this pdf

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let in
If you let someone in, you allow them to come into a place, usually by opening the door for them.

light up
To light something up means to shine light on or in it, so that it is bright and easy to see.

look for
If you look for something or someone, you try to find them.

pick up
If you pick something or someone up, you lift them up from a surface.

put back
If you put something back somewhere, you put it in the place it was in before it was moved.

put down
If you put down someone or something that you are holding or carrying, you put them on the floor or on

put in
If you put something in or put one thing in another, you put one thing inside another thing.

put together
If you put together an object or its parts, you join its parts to each other so that it can be used.

put up
If you put something up, you move it to a higher position.

take away
If you take something away from a place or position, you remove it from a place and put it somewhere else.

take back
When you take something back, you take it to the place where you were before or where it was before.

take into
If you take someone or something into a place, you go with them there.

throw at
If you throw an object at someone or something, you try to hit them with the object by throwing it.

throw away
If you throw something away, you get rid of it because you no longer want or need it.

throw in
If you throw something in or throw it in something, you casually put or drop it into something such as a container or mixture.

turn off
If you turn off a device or machine, you make it stop working using its controls. If it turns off, it stops working.

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Phrasal Verbs Exercises (No.1) | C1 Advanced (CAE) | engxam.com

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An essay is the first part of the writing and it is obligatory. The question always has a discursive focus. Discursive writing is a style used in academic writing and it requires the high level of language competence.

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Model Answer 1:
I have always thought of myself as a good team player, and I have learnt it by playing different roles in different kinds of teams in the past. Today, I would like to share my experience as a team member of one of those teams.

I had this experience, as a team member, when I was attending my high school, and when I was a member of my high school debate team. By the way, apart from me, 3 other members of my high school were included in that debate team. Even though we were not of the same age, we managed to build up a good rapport among ourselves since we all knew about our roles and responsibilities in the team. Besides, we all knew our strengths and weaknesses as far as our individual contribution to the debate was concerned.

Now regarding my roles in the team - the captain of the debate team assigned me mainly to note down the critical and important points, discussed by the opposition debate team, for the purpose of refuting their arguments. Apart from that, I was also assigned to summarise my team’s case by listing different important points of all of my team members, including my points as well as that of my captain. Finally, I was also responsible for assisting my team captain in finding out the bad or controversial facts of the opposition debate team so that he could order the facts of our team in sequence in order to support the theme of our debate.

Well, being a team of that debate team has helped me greatly in my professional life by making me calm and confident during adverse conditions. Besides, it also has helped me learn how to separate facts from fiction without being biased. Needless to say, being a member of the debate team has also helped me become a reasonably confident public speaker. Finally, becoming a debate team member in the past has also taught me how to coordinate nicely with each other in a team setting without imposing my views on the other team members.

Model Answer 2:

Oh, that's a great topic, and I feel fortunate to be allowed to talk about an experience when I was a member of a team. Today, I'd like to share an experience from my university days when I was a member of an academic research team. This team comprised diverse individuals with distinct expertise, all working towards a common goal.

Our team was a research unit within the university's environmental science department. Comprising researchers, postgraduate students, and even a few undergraduates like myself, the team aimed to investigate the impact of urbanization on local biodiversity. The team's diversity was its strength, as it brought together individuals with backgrounds in biology, ecology, geography, and environmental policy.

As an undergraduate member, my role was primarily to assist in data collection, literature reviews, and basic analysis. While I didn't possess the depth of knowledge that some senior researchers had, my fresh perspective and enthusiasm injected a sense of curiosity into the team. I actively participated in field surveys, and data entry, and collaborated on research papers under the guidance of more experienced team members.

Being part of this research team was immensely beneficial for my academic and professional growth. I had the opportunity to learn from seasoned researchers, gaining practical insights into the intricacies of environmental research. Collaborating on projects and publications expanded my knowledge base and refined my research skills. Moreover, the experience allowed me to build a professional network that proved invaluable when pursuing further studies and career opportunities.

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for example, for instance

such as, like

as a matter of fact

in fact, actually

First of all,

First and foremost

In the first place

Firstly, To start with

In the second place, Secondly

And last but not least

Finally

in conclusion

in general

to sum up

to conclude

in short

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TED-Ed: Would you pass the wallet test? | TED Talk

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Picture this: you’re working a shift in a hotel lobby when someone approaches the front desk. They found a lost wallet around the corner, but they’re in a rush and don’t have time to follow up. Looking at the wallet you see it contains a key, grocery list, about $13, and three business cards you assume belong to the wallet’s owner. So, what do you do? Dig into the infamous lost wallet experiment. [Directed by Maryna Buchynska, and action creative agency, narrated by Jack Cutmore-Scott, music by Jan Willem de With].

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Just to fill you in on some background,...

I'll return to this point later.

I've divided my talk up into 3 sections. First of all... After that... I'll conclude with some comments...

I'd like to start with...

One of the key points will be...

So, the opposite of commuting, really.

It is expected / It is anticipated/ing... I

t's going to be about...

I don't know if you're familiar with this term... to put it another way, ...

we need to ask ourselves: is this a good thing? and for whom?

Moving on now to look at how...

One of the possible consequences will be... I'll suggest to explain what I mean by... so for example...

turning to the next point...,

As I said earlier, it's predicted that...

I'll say more about X in a moment...

just to digress for a second...

It points to the fact that...

The flip side to all this... however,...

this brings me to the last point.

The focus seems to be on... to make a distinct choice...

we anticipate that this trend will only increase...

and this is my main point...

to sum up, it would be wise to consider.... will surely become a key priority...

I'll be happy to take any questions now.

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Anjali Sud and Stephanie Mehta: How great leaders take on uncertainty | TED Talk

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In a constantly changing world, it’s impossible for leaders to provide employees with the assurance they want, says Vimeo CEO Anjali Sud. Her solution: lead with humanity and flexibility. In conversation with veteran journalist Stephanie Mehta, Sud discusses her experience connecting remote employees worldwide, addressing burnout and adapting company practices for the needs of the next generation. Hear her vision for the future of work and ideas on how to be a leader that empowers others.

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If I had to choose an ideal job, I strongly believe it would be as a tourist guide because I enjoy traveling around the world and I like to visit a lot of places. Also, I consider I have good skills i...

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May 13th - Integrated speaking task - summarizing ideas

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May 13th - Integrated speaking task - summarizing ideas

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The most significant characteristic of any population is its age-sex structure, defined as the proportion of people of each gender in each different age group.

The age-sex structure determines the potential for reproduction, and therefore population growth, based on the balance of males and females of child-bearing age within a population. Thus, the age-sex structure has social policy implications.

For instance, a population with a high proportion of elderly citizens needs to consider its government-funded pension schemes and health care systems carefully.

Conversely, a demographic with a greater percentage of young children should ensure that its educational funding and child welfare policies are implemented efficaciously.

Accordingly, as the composition of a population changes over time, the government may need to re-evaluate its funding priorities

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Templates for Writing Task 2 / Adding a comment on the professor's post

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Templates for Writing Task 2 / Adding a comment on the professor's post

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This is a challenging topic, but I think that [respond directly to the question].

I strongly agree with [student]’s idea that [mention one point made by the student].

I’d add that [expand on the point with your own idea].

While [other student] raised the relevant point that [mention one point made by the other student], he/she didn’t mention that [challenge that point].

For example [elaborate on your challenge with your own ideas].

While I appreciate the points mentioned by both STUDENT 1 and STUDENT 2, I think that…

[elaborate on your idea for a few sentences]

Remember that [elaborate on your point], so [elaborate on your point].

Some people may feel that [mention a potential challenge], but [respond to this challenge].

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May 27th - How great leaders take on uncertainty

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May 27th - How great leaders take on uncertainty

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SPEAKING “Libraries should be replaced by digital texts.” Explain whether you agree or disagree with the mentioned statement. Then give specific details in your argument.

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SPEAKING “Libraries should be replaced by digital texts.” Explain whether you agree or disagree with the mentioned statement. Then give specific details in your argument.

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SPEAKING - “Teenagers should not be allowed to watch movies with violence and sex.” Do you agree or disagree with the statement? Make sure that you give specific reasons + supporting details in your argument.

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SPEAKING - “Teenagers should not be allowed to watch movies with violence and sex.” Do you agree or disagree with the statement? Make sure that you give specific reasons + supporting details in your argument.

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SPEAKING - Explain whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: “Politicians should only be allowed to serve one term of 2-4 years.” Then give specific details in your argument….

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SPEAKING - Explain whether you agree or disagree with the following statement: “Politicians should only be allowed to serve one term of 2-4 years.” Then give specific details in your argument….

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Speaking Task 1 / A “Nowadays, some people use extreme methods, including surgery, to change their appearance. They do this because they think it will make them look more attractive to others. Do you think this is a good idea? Support your answer with details and examples.”

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Speaking Task 1 / A “Nowadays, some people use extreme methods, including surgery, to change their appearance. They do this because they think it will make them look more attractive to others. Do you think this is a good idea? Support your answer with details and examples.”

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Speaking Task 1/B “Some teachers encourage their students to work alone on projects and compete with each other. Other teachers encourage them to collaborate and work in groups. Which approach do you think is better?”

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Speaking Task 1/B “Some teachers encourage their students to work alone on projects and compete with each other. Other teachers encourage them to collaborate and work in groups. Which approach do you think is better?”

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TOEFLIBTee | Improve Your TOEFL Score Online

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1. Describe a place you have never been to but like to go someday.

I would prefer to go to a seashore town someday. When I was a child, the sea I watched on TV gave me a nice memory, since then I have a desire to go to the seashore some day. I consider the life near the seashore is comfortable, for the sky there is blue and always full of sunshine, seabirds are singing and the ocean breeze is blowing. I'm willing to swim in the sea or just lie on the beach for a rest, which I could never enjoy in metropolis. Moreover, I could taste sea food such as lobsters and crabs. Therefore, if I can go to a seashore town someday, it must be a wonderful memory in my life.

2. If your friends from other country are going to visit your country, where do you suggest them to go?

I would like them to go to a seashore town in my country. I believe they can't find seashore as wonderful as the seashore I want them to go. The life near the seashore is comfortable, for the sky there is blue and always full of sunshine, seabirds are singing and the ocean breeze is blowing. They can swim in the sea and lie on the beach for a rest, which they could never enjoy in their country. Moreover, they could taste sea food that only produce in that seashore such as local lobsters, crabs and fish. So if they can go to a seashore town someday, it must be a good memory in their life.

3. Features of cafe or restaurant you like

Well, I prefer a cafe or a restaurant that is quiet and clean. First of all, a quiet place is good for me to enjoy a comfortable meal and I won't be bothered by a noisy surrounding. And I am able to have a conversation or a talk with friends if it is quiet near by, that we won't have to shout to each other. Second, a clean place to eat could make me have a good appetite and I could eat more when the tables and plates are clean. I consider a clean restaurant can be also excellent in making food. So in conclusion, I like a restaurant or a cafe has the features of clean and quiet.

4. Keep or not the old building in the city?

I' hold the opinion that we should keep most of the old buildings in the city.

I admit that some of the old buildings are a bit dilapidated right now. But the issue is bigger than that. If we destroy the old buildings, we will be destroying an important piece of the history. The buildings many experienced many events and famous celebrities might live in it. They are the memory of the things in the past. And it wouldn't be all that difficult to fix them up either. However, there are some old buildings which have less value could be torn down for the city development.

5. Describe a place you often go to.

The place I usually go to is a seashore park in my city. When I was a child,

my parents always bring me there and I had a lot of enjoyments. Then I grew up, but I still consider it a wonderful place. The life near the seashore is really comfortable, for the sky there is blue and always full of sunshine, seabirds are singing and the ocean breeze is blowing. I swam in the sea and lie on the beach for a rest. Moreover, I tasted sea food such as lobsters, crabs, and fish there. The moment I have at sea shore is really impressive, and because of this, I would like to go there.

6. Describe a room or other area.

Well, one of my important places is my room. First of all, I have a lot of enjoyment in my room. I enjoy using the computer in my room. I have a lot of fun playing computer games and chat online with my e-pals. I also read magazines and other publics and sometimes cut down the pictures on them to the wall, these make my room a place full of enjoyment. Second, I study and read books. These make me more knowledgeable and experienced. So you see, I obtain enjoyment and gain ability in my room. Basing on these factors I say that I enjoy the time spend in my room and I like it so much.

7. Important gift, why important?

An important gift I have ever received is a Nike basketball from my parents on my 16 years old birthday. The gift is important to me because I really like playing basketball and I never have a high-quality basketball before. So after I receive this gift, I always bring it to sports stadiums and play with teammates. It has a high quality that we have played it for such long time and not only I and also my friends obtained a lot of enjoyment. Furthermore, it is important because I get to know that my parents are always thinking of what I like to do, and this really makes me moved and I gain a lot of power to study better and repay them.

8. Describe one of your challenging experiences.

One of my challenging experiences is to prepare for the TOEFL test. I am a high school student and I find TOEFL test is lot more difficult than the text in my school, so it is really a challenge for me. Some times I try to recite a hundred words in a day. Sometimes I read long articles and just don't know what they are talking about. However, when facing with these difficulties, I never give up. What I have done is to keep reciting words and read more articles in order to have a better understanding of them. After a month, I find that I have improved my ability in English, and I am more confident now facing TOEFL test.

9. Describe any of your work

I took a group of pictures that has shown the huge change in my city Beijing. Our city is going to hold the 2008 Olympic Games and because of this, the city is changing big day by day. Therefore, I use my camera and took a group of pictures, the group has 8 pictures, I called them "8 aspects of Beijing change", I took pictures in parks, in sport stadiums, in my community and other places, through the 8 aspect to show the huge change of Beijing, and show our harmonious daily life. I always show them to my teachers and friends, and I am really proud of this work.

10. Describe the most impressive moment in your life

The most impressive moment in my life is my going to a seashore town before. When I was a child, the sea I watched on TV gave me a nice memory, since then I have a desire to go to the seashore some day. I went there after few years, the life near the seashore is really comfortable, for the sky there is blue and always full of sunshine, seabirds are singing and the ocean breeze is blowing. I swam in the sea and lie on the beach for a rest, which I could never enjoy in big cities. Moreover, I tasted sea food such as lobsters, crabs and fish there. So I consider the moment I have at sea shore is really impressive.

11. Describe Your Ways to Acquire Knowledge.

Sample Answer 1:

I am willing to get information though the internet. First, I think getting news from the internet is an easy way, what we need to do is just move the mouse, which means we don't need to go out to buy the newspaper. Second, internet can provide us news faster, when an event take place somewhere in the world, the news webs could provide the news quickly, which unlike newspapers, they have to print out and then sell to us. Third, using internet to get the information is also benefit to our environment, because it doesn't need papers and ink, so fewer trees with by cut down and fewer rivers will be polluted.

Sample Answer 2:

I consider getting information through the internet is the best way to learn more knowledge. First of all, I think getting news from the internet is easy, what we need to do is just move the mouse and type the letters, which means we don't need to go out. This makes me very efficient in getting information. Second, the internet can provide us a large amount of information, for there are so many websites and they don't need to worry about paper use, so they will write many things, and I can obtain much knowledge. Therefore, using the internet I can learn more knowledge.

12. Do you prefer to only visit the destination or enjoy the beautiful scenery on the way?

Well, I prefer also enjoying the view on our way. First of all, I think my purpose to travel is to enjoy the beautiful scenery, whatever at the destination or on the way, so we should also spend time of the scenery on the way if they are beautiful and worth to see. Second, we could make our trip full of surprise, because we can't predict whether there is beautiful scenery on the way, and if we find some place wonderful on our way, it must be a huge surprise to me, and it must be better than only go to the destination. All in all, I prefer also enjoying the view on our way.

13. Choose profession that need you study independently or profession require you to work as a group?

I prefer choosing a profession that requires me to work as a group. First of all, I believe work as a group can give birth to excellent idea and solutions because more people are thinking on a project, more people are doing on the project, this can make a project work out better and advance. Second, I believe working as a group can make us more efficient, and we can solve the problem faster and easier. More over, we can solve more problems. So based on these factors I draw a conclusion that a profession which needs working as a group is better.

14.Would you choose passion over money?

Well, as for me, I would like to choose a major by interest. First of all, we may have more knowledge on the major we are interested in, and this makes us easier to learn the major and we can have a better understanding. Second, choose a major we interested in will let us gain more power to study and work on it, we are more willing to spend time on it, and we can increase our ability more and faster. This is a benefit to our study career as well as working career. And it will lead us to an enjoyable life. So...

15. What kind of invention changed your life most recently?

I believe that the invention changed my life most is internet. First of all, I am able to read a lot of information on the internet, this help me to know more about our world and things happened, which makes us always keep in touch with the outside world. Second, I can use internet to search for what I want, and this would help me solve the problems and find the solutions quickly. Third, internet provides enjoyment, through the internet I'm able to chat with relatives or even strangers, and I could play internet games. So I believe the internet is making the biggest changed the way I live.

16. Which of the following study method do you prefer?(online courses or traditional classroom)

For me, I am willing to take online courses instead of being in traditional classroom. First of all, if we study online then we won't have to go to school, this is really convenient especially when it is raining or snowing outside. What is more, if we study online, the pressure of public traffic given by student will be lower, other citizens will spend less time on road, thus the city will be more efficient. Third, online courses won't be limit by teachers which means teacher in other cities are able to teach us, and we can enjoy a high quality of education.

17. Describe a painting you have seen before. Why do you like it or dislike it?

I have seen a painting that has shown the athletes training in a basketball gymnasium. Our city is going to hold the Olympic Games in August and because of this, the athletes are training hard in order to compete in the Olympic Games. The painting is actually showing the daily exercise of the basketball athletes. It shows a scene in the national basketball training center, the players are having a match. Through the painting I have seen Yaoming, a player I prefer most, the painting drew him vividly and it is even like a true Yaoming, so I really like the painting.

18. What kind of friends do you like?

I think character friends should have is humor. Because humorous friends bring us good mood and harmonious atmospheres so we can have a good condition to study. Then we might give birth to great ideas and solutions. I think a friend should also be outgoing. Because outgoing friends can communicate with me in a better way, through this I can become more outgoing, and I am able to increase my ability to communicate with others. This is really important when we work. I don't think a friend should have characteristics as I do because our different characters make us be able to learn from each other, and gain our ability.

19. What do you like to read in your free time?

I would like to read magazines during my leisure time. First of all, magazines have high quality printed paper; the pictures on the paper are vivid, I enjoy looking these pictures. I even cut down some of them I like and put them in my book. It is so amazing. Second, the magazines always provide beautiful posters to their readers, I received two posters, one is Yaoming's picture and the other one is Jordan's. I like poster very much so I like the magazines very much. Also, the information provided in the magazines is interesting and comprehensive; I can know a lot of things though it. So I like reading magazines.

20. Do you like to live with roommates or live alone?

Well, for me, I would like to live with roommates. First of all, we are able to help each other both on the study and our daily life, so we will have fewer difficulties, and through this, we gain our relationship, so we can have more good friends. Also, my roommates can always communicate with me, through this I can become more outgoing, and I am able to increase my ability to communicate with others. This is really important when we work. And my roommates could have different characteristics, because of our different characters, we are able to learn from each other, and gain our ability.

21 Someone focuses on one job throughout his life; others like to change from one job to the other. Which one do you think is better, why?

I consider people should change their job in a different age. First of all, changing the job through life will make us more experienced and knowledgeable for we are able to study things in different aspects and communicate with people in different fields. Basing on this I consider people should sometimes change their job. Second, changing the job will make us less tired. For instance, when we are young, we could work like a sells manager; it brings a lot of income but also needs much energy. So when we are old, we may not work in a perfect condition, then we could change a job.

22. Is Life easier or harder than our grandparents'?

I deeply agree that our life is easier than our grandparents'. First of all, we are able to enjoy the convenience brought by the internet. We can use the internet to learn knowledge, get a variety of information from outside world. What is more, we can enjoy many online entertainments such as chat and internet game. These are the things our grandparents can't-do in their period. Second, we are able to travel to foreign countries easier via airplanes or even private cars. Unlike our grandparents, it's a lot more difficult for them to travel abroad since the personal vehicles were not highly developed in their period. So basing on this I say that our life is easier than our grandparents'.

23. Do you agree that childhood is the happiest (or precious) time in life?

Yes, I deeply agree that childhood is the happiest time in life. First, childhood provides no pressure which we have to face after grown up. When I was a child, I had little pressure as I have now. For instance, I rarely worried about exams when I was a kid, but now exams really give me a lot of pressure. Second, a child often has much time to develop his or her own hobbies. For example, I possessed more time to develop my own interests, such as painting and singing. However, I hardly have time to do what I want to do now. So in conclusion, I think childhood is the happiest time in life.

24. Is the university education really important or not?

As far as I am concerned, the university education is really significant for a person. First of all, the knowledge we learn in U is the most difficult through our study career, so it is vital for us to increase our ability in thinking, talking and studying. These abilities are quite essential for us when we work. Second, U education is the advanced form of education, it needs us to communicate, to corporate, these are the things we can't learn deeply in primary school and high school. So if we don't join the U education, we will lose opportunities to develop, I consider this is really a huge regret.

25. Describe one of your favorite song or one of your favorite movie.

One of the songs I like is "we are the champion". I like it because I won a running competition after I listened to it. But this is not the only reason. I like it because I always feel energetic after listening, and I can do better on playing basketball or other sports events. Also, I like the lyric; it tells me never give up. When I am frustrate and upset, I will listen to the song, then I feel a strong emotion in my body, and I won't be upset anymore. The song really helps me to be positive, so l like it.

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25 TOEFL Speaking Practice Topics With Sample Answers | TOEFLIBTee

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I would prefer to go to a seashore town someday. When I was a child, the sea I watched on TV gave me a nice memory, since then I have a desire to go to the seashore some day.

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April 10th - Speaking (integrated) task - Exam Drill

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April 10th - Speaking (integrated) task - Exam Drill

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March 27th - Writing & Speaking strategies: organizing the skeleton of the text

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March 27th - Writing & Speaking strategies: organizing the skeleton of the text

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March 6th - Reading Practice: strategies by elimination (wrong/slightly correct/not mentioned/correct answer). 

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March 6th - Reading Practice: strategies by elimination (wrong/slightly correct/not mentioned/correct answer). 

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Monday 11th / Drill nº2 page 54 in the pdf/249 from the book

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Monday 11th / Drill nº2 page 54 in the pdf/249 from the book

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March 4th / Reading Practice / Strategies Vocabulary & scanning for information

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March 4th / Reading Practice / Strategies Vocabulary & scanning for information

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February 21st / Listening Task / Lecture on Sylvia Plath

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February 21st / Listening Task / Lecture on Sylvia Plath

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February 21st - Listening TOEFL practice: What about conversations and lectures? Listening on looking for specific information/ listening goals.

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February 21st - Listening TOEFL practice: What about conversations and lectures? Listening on looking for specific information/ listening goals.

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February 19th / Listening Part / Conversation

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February 19th / Listening Part / Conversation

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February19th -  Listen to the conversation and take notes about: 1) the students' questions/confusions; 2) the answers they offer to the problem or to the questions; 3) how they feel at the end of the audio

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February19th -  Listen to the conversation and take notes about: 1) the students' questions/confusions; 2) the answers they offer to the problem or to the questions; 3) how they feel at the end of the audio

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February19th -  Listen to the conversation and take notes about: 1) the students' questions/confusions; 2) the answers they offer to the problem or to the questions; 3) how they feel at the end of the audio

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February19th -  Listen to the conversation and take notes about: 1) the students' questions/confusions; 2) the answers they offer to the problem or to the questions; 3) how they feel at the end of the audio

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3 lectures

2 conversations

5-6 questions each time

LECTURES

a) find out one important detail during the first minute

b) specify the main idea (teacher explains at least two ways to approach the topic).

c) What the teacher wants students to know. There will always be something specific, something that the professor wants students to leave with class with, a highlight on the topic of the lesson.

CONVERSATION

a) the student's confusion/inquiry/issue

b) the teacher's/tutor/campus worker answers

c) the student's final insight or feelings about the solutions provided.

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First of all, I do agree with Claire and Kelly´s opinion. In my point of view, If the government wanted to attract me to the rural area, first, they also give benefits related with accommodation and low taxes. Also, it is really important to have access to public transportation to go to the city. In this way, I could live in the peace of the rural and enjoy some time going to the city, visiting museums or going to a good restaurant.

under / from my point of view

they should

spend leisure time

bad - good - pretty - nice

remarkable

Overall, to finish off, Finally

As a conclusion

Essentially, in essence,

Saving commuting time

to commute

commuting

the commute to work (noun)

By saving commuting time,

I could find a good balance between the rural and the urban landscapes or sites