4. On which occasions are there large crowds of people in your city?
Weekends are always busy in the city center. People meet their friends downtown to go
shopping. The streets are packed, and traffic gets congested. It happens on a weekly basis. But it is
even worse for the big festivals, such as the Lantern Festival that takes place two weeks after
Spring Festival. Everyone goes to the central square of the city to appreciate illuminated lanterns
hanging from the trees and in the windows of the main buildings. Last year, just before Christmas,
people went shopping in the city center because the department stores offered tempting sales, and
the streets were absolutely chockablock (=squeezed = jammed) with people.
5. What are the possible problems of having large numbers of people at public
events?
Well, a lot of things could happen when large crowds of people get together like that. First, a
lot of pickpockets (= thieves) might take advantage of the situation to steal wallets, purses and
mobile phones from the pedestrians (= walkers). Every year after Spring Festival, we always read
about the great number of thieves that were arrested by the police. It is very important for the
police force to provide security in the streets. Some people might get mad (= angry), or even
violent during big events. In addition, if there are (way) too many people in the streets, people
could get pushed or even crushed. It might well be dangerous for children as well.
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A Childhood Song You Remember
Tell me about a childhood song you remember.
You should say:
what the song was and where you first heard it
whether it was a popular song
who sang it to you
and explain your feelings when you heard this song.
• A nursery rhyme: extremely famous
• When & where did you learn it?
• Lyrics are meaningful.
• Melody is simple but gentle (or lively).
• Why is singing important for children?
Let me tell you about one of the most famous nursery rhymes in China: "
世上只有妈妈好
(Shishang Zhiyou Mama Hao)". It is a song about children's love for their mothers, and the title
translates into English as "A Song of a Loving Mother".
It is a song that every single child has learned and sung in kindergarten. The song actually
comes from a popular Taiwanese movie that came out in the late 1980s. The movie depicts (=
describes) the difficulties of a pregnant woman who comes from a destitute (= impoverished)
background. The movie was a success, and the plot was so poignant (= touching) that everyone
who watched the film cried and cried. Even my father wept. The song is just like the film: it's
moving.
The lyrics emphasize how important a mother's love is to a child. It says that if a child is
deprived of the mother's attention, he will suffer. In addition, the children who sing this song
highlight the fact that having a mother is the most precious gift for a child because mothers are
reliable, considerate, loving and optimistic.
It's a touching and delicate song and the melody is extremely soft and gentle. The lyrics are
simple and very catchy. Everyone can easily remember the words and sing.
Teachers in day-care centers and kindergartens often teach the nursery rhyme to young pupils.
I remember singing it as a first-year student in elementary school. It has become common for
children to show their affection to their mothers by singing it whenever it's possible, especially on
Mother's Day.
Do you want me to sing it to you?
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