What is the most effective way to resolve a disagreement between friends? Explain your answer.
解决朋友间分歧最有效的方法是什么？

Many superficial friendships end up being shelved after an argument because there isn’t enough depth to warrant all the trouble it takes to smooth over the disagreement. Unfortunately, even when the friendship reaches a deeper level, conflict continues to happen and can break apart a relationship. How can this be avoided?


First and foremost, when you have a falling out with a good friend, try to gain an understanding of each other’s perspective. To help understand why a disagreement started, it may be beneficial to ask questions about each other’s point of view. It is important to make sure that when you are listening to the other person’s perspective, you are actually listening and not adding your opinion. You will have the opportunity to tell your side in due time.


Also, it is important to avoid adding unnecessary drama. These things never help fix a problem and ultimately bring more hurt to all involved. Things like yelling, name calling, threatening to cut off the friendship, and personal attacks should be avoided at all costs. If it comes to that, walk away, breathe, step back and allow some time before you try again.


Last but not the least, agree to disagree. Resolving a conflict should not be seen as a contest to see who won or who was right or wrong. Even after taking steps to resolve a conflict, you still might not be able to agree. If you want to keep the relationship, it is okay to agree to disagree on an issue.


笔记
Outline
There are a few things we could do
R1: get other’s perspective去了解对方的观点
R2: never add unnecessary drama 避免添加不必要的闹剧
R3: agree to disagree 求同存异
Vocabulary
superficial 表面的；肤浅的
warrant 根据；证明
due time 适当的时候
drama 闹剧
being shelved：被搁置起来


enough depth to warrant all the trouble it takes to smooth over the disagreement：这里指友谊的深度不足以平稳的度过这次分歧


falling out：争吵


each other’s perspective：从别人的观点，这是口语和写作里面经常用到的短语

感谢楼主分享

Very good，thank you for sharing~

Describe an occasion in your country where people give gifts to each other. Also describe a typical present to receive.
描述你国家人们互相赠送礼物的场合，并且描述一下人们通常会收到的礼物

In Chinese society, gifts are given for lots of occasions, including birthdays, official business meetings and other special events. Red envelopes are the most popular choice when giving a gift.

A red envelope is simply a long, narrow, red envelope with money in it. Traditional red envelopes are often decorated with gold Chinese characters like happiness and wealth. Variations of the red envelope include red envelopes with cartoon characters. Some red envelopes are from stores and companies that contain coupons and gift certificates inside. Unlike a Western greeting card, red envelopes given at Chinese New Year are typically left unsigned.

Red envelopes are handed out to younger generations by relatives, close neighbors and friends during Chinese New Year. As with Chinese New Year, the amount of money is relative to your relationship to the recipient. As with weddings, the closer your relationship to the bride and groom, the more money is expected. Immediate family like parents and siblings give more money than casual friends.

笔记
Outline
Lots of occasions and the typical gift is red envelope. 很多场合都会交换礼物，通常会互赠红包
R1: the shape and look of a red envelope 红包的样貌
R2: rules of red envelope giving 给红包的规矩


Vocabulary
occasion 机会 场合
variation 变化
coupon 优惠券
hand out 分发
the closer…..the more…..越近。。。越多。。。
sibling 兄弟姊妹
casual 随便的 非正式的

Describe a present you have given to someone. Explain why you think it was a good present.
描述你送给别人的礼物。解释为什么你认为它很重要。

笔记
The gift I recently gave to my younger sister is the one I would like to talk about. I gave her a smartphone, which is a big deal for many reasons.

First, I felt an inexplicable pleasure when I saw her bewildered face as she opened the gift. She had been longing to own a smartphone for months. After receiving it from me, she hugged me. She was so happy, but not just because she loved the gift. She was proud of me for knowing what she wanted most.

Second, the cell phone was expensive and I had to save up for the last 7 months to gift her it. I already knew that a smartphone is what she wanted and she would not buy it for herself. So, every time I thought about the moment she would open it, I felt excited.


Notes:

1. Outline
给了我妹妹手机
R1: I love her face when she received the phone 妹妹收到礼物的表情展示了她的激动
R2: the phone is too expensive, its a gift that she would not buy herself 手机很贵她不会自己买的

2. Vocabulary
bewildered 使人困惑的；令人产生混乱的 这里指当收到礼物是惊讶开心迷惑的混合复杂表情

Some people like to plan their free time. Others like to spend their free time without any plan. Which do you prefer? Explain why.
有些人喜欢计划他们的空闲时间。其他人无计划地度过他们的空闲时间。你更喜欢哪种？解释为什么。

I think we should plan our free time. Here are the reasons why.


Firstly, time is limited. Everyone gets the same amount of time each day, so it’s therefore important to make the most of your free time. Time management leads to higher productivity and a life of greater discipline. Time management will improve every aspect of your life.


Secondly, if we plan specific things that we actually want to do, rather than procrastinating, surfing the web or watching TV, we can spend our time on more fulfilling activities, such as sharing experiences with friends. So, why is free time management important? Well, because it makes you happier, more successful and less stressed.


References
http://lifehacker.com/plan-out-your-free...
https://www.appointment-plus.com/articl...

It is a fact that every individual spend his free time differently, as a group of people choose to spend their leisure time without any plan at all, while others prefer to spend it with agenda and schedule. But I prefer to the latter arrangement.
Firstly, by doing some preparation, they already have the agenda for the day on what to do, what to see and how will they travel to those places, therefore they could visit more attractive and unique places during their holiday time. Secondly, a planned holiday would definitely save more budgets. People who planned their holiday time could book airline tickets and accommodations from an earlier period. As a result, they get cheaper prices for aeroplane tickets and the hotel's room rate as well. So, I personally choose to have a planned holiday time, as I could see more attractive places during that time and save more money.

One of your friends is going to move to a new city and this friend is nervous to communicating with others. What suggestion would you give this friend?

My suggestion is to engage in some sport to make as many friends as possible. First, this friend doesn’t need to open conversation with others, so it is going to be easier for him. It is natural to communicate during basketball, football or any kinds of team sports. Since the communication just happens, the friend may not be nervous about it.
Then, if the sports friends are hospitable, they would invite my friend to other activities like party or dinner. When my friend blends in, the rest of the story would be automatic. He or she would form the circle of friends and not be lonely any more.

Point: engage in some sports
Structure:
natural for my friend to communicate in team sports
Hospitable sports friends help to form new circle
Expression
Open conversation with others和别人尬聊
Blend in 融入
Circle of friends朋友圈

Describe the person you admire the most. Please provide details and examples.
描述一个你最钦佩的人。

David Cameron, the former PM of Britain, impressed me with his eloquence and his contributions to his country.


He and his ministers have made bigger deficit cuts than Margaret Thatcher ever made, and he made those cuts while protecting health and education budgets. Nearly every cut he made has been opposed by the Labour opposition. Britain is slowly on its way back to fiscal sanity and, if oil prices and the Eurozone provide a fairer economic agreement during the next parliament, Britain might just return to surplus.


Another of his major achievements was making gay marriage legal in Britain. Public opinion is moving at lightning speed towards homosexual equality and, although very controversial in this parliament, David Cameron will almost certainly look back on his decision to introduce same sex marriage with great pride. And, like most reforms that have delivered equality for gay and lesbian people, public opposition rapidly fades after they have been introduced.


笔记
Outline
David Cameron impresses me the most 戴维卡梅伦给我的印象最深
R1: improved UK’s economy 改善了英国的经济
R2: making gay marriage legal 在英国使同性恋婚姻合法化


Vocabulary
eloquence 流利的口才 雄辩
deficit 赤字
budget 预算，预算费
fiscal sanity 财政健全
parliament 议会 国会
surplus 盈余
pride 自豪 骄傲