Describe something you own that you want to replace

這張題卡的準備方式

這張題卡（cue card）檢驗你能不能用夠具體的細節描述一件日常物品，讓人覺得真實，也檢驗你能不能談一個小小的抱怨，而不變成一場牢騷大會。具體、有感官細節的描述，例如品牌、材質、顏色、這件東西老化的樣子，比「it’s old and broken」這類籠統的說法更能得分。

最容易的切入點是小而不起眼的東西：背包、耳機、床墊、水壺。不要選昂貴或特殊、得臨場編造細節的物品。一個你從求學時期就背著的磨損背包，比一輛你並沒有的車，能提供更真實的素材。

用前20秒左右說明這是什麼東西、你用了多久，回答的中段說明它具體出了什麼問題，最後一段說明你會用什麼取代它、為什麼。這最後的部分同時也是你對最後那一行「and explain」的回答，所以不要漏掉。

讓回答更出色的詞彙

這些片語用母語人士的自然說法描述磨損、更換和價值，不必一直重複「old」和「broken」。

1分鐘準備計畫

在1分鐘的準備時間裡，可以寫下：

• item: canvas backpack, navy, university logo
• how long: bought four years ago, first term of university
• what’s wrong: zip sticks, strap frayed, no longer waterproof
• replace with: similar size, sturdier zip, maybe leather this time

範例回答

以下是這張題卡完整回答的一種寫法，用來示範結構和程度，不是要你照背。請把它當作結構的範本，而不是要逐字照抄的稿子。

I would like to talk about my old backpack, which I bought in my first term of university, so I have had it for around four years now. It is a plain navy canvas bag with the university’s logo stitched onto the front pocket, and honestly, it has been through a lot with me — lectures, weekend trips, even a rainy hike I probably should not have taken it on. The trouble is, it is really showing its age at this point. The main zip sticks halfway most of the time, one of the shoulder straps has frayed so badly that I am half expecting it to snap, and it is definitely no longer waterproof, which is a problem given how often it rains where I live. I have thought about getting it repaired, but a cobbler I spoke to said fixing the zip properly would be almost as expensive as a new bag, so it would honestly be a false economy to bother. If I replaced it, I would probably go for something a similar size but with a sturdier, more reliable zip, and maybe leather instead of canvas this time, since it tends to hold up better against the weather. I am a little attached to this one, though, so I have been putting off actually buying a replacement.

這張題卡的常見錯誤

• 描述一件你並沒有的東西，還編造不合理的細節，考官一追問就會露餡。
• 一直抱怨這件東西，卻始終沒有回答最後一行：你會用什麼來取代它。
• 全程只用「old」和「broken」，而不是更具體的磨損描述詞彙。
• 整個回答都在講這件東西的來歷，結果時間不夠說明它現在實際出了什麼問題。