Common public speaking problems

    The use of "I feel", "I think" and "maybe"

    In the question-and-answer session of the speaking competition, many contestants began their answers with uncertain expressions like "I feel", "I guess", "I hear", "maybe" and "perhaps".

    These words show that the person is only speaking from his or her point of view. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

    Work on keeping your answers brief and to the point, {#blank#}2{#/blank#} . Instead of the empty-sounding "I guess", using facts, together with a clear conclusion based on those facts, is far more likely to be popular with an audience.

    Using only one speaking style

    Don't stick to the same tone. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

    For example, when they spoke about their dreams, some sounded romantic. Others used humor. Very few used several different styles together. Try mixing more than one style, rather than just sticking with the same one.

    Irresponsible answers

    Public speaking is different from personal conversations. You're responsible for your words. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} So you should think twice before you talk. Don't be like the student who, when asked about his opinion on book piracy（盗版）, started by saying he supported it.

    Talking around the topic rather than directly answering it

    You should focus on one point and give a clear solution. The key is to work out what question is being asked. Is it asking you to discuss a certain topic or to present your own point of view?

    Use one or two arguments together and give a strong conclusion. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} 

A. It can be boring. Try to mix it up.

B. Even though you want to answer quickly, you don't want to sound foolish.

C. Also work on delivering them with calmness and confidence.

D. Deliberate gestures and affected（做作的）expressions of feelings are improper in a successful speech.

E. Remember that judges are not judging you on whether they agree, but on your ability to say what you think clearly.

F. This lacks the support of facts and seems not to be reliable for the judges and audience.

G. Confidence is extremely important in public speaking as it lets a speaker sound more convincing.

    Are you preparing any gifts for your friends now? {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, but choosing a proper gift can be a big headache, because it takes a lot of time and effort to think of the right gift for someone. Before you finish your list, keep these dos and don'ts in mind:

    Do put thought into your gift.

    If you like something, that doesn't mean that your friend is going to like it, too. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. Don't get him/her an ordinary gift, and reflect back on your previous conversations to see if he/ she talked about a certain gift he/she had been wanting to get.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

    Make sure the gift you're buying is appropriate for the person. For example, if you're buying a friend a gift, remember not to overspend or personalize it too much. Take a moment to think about how your relationship is with the person before getting him/her something.

    Do get a gift receipt (收据)

    If you're purchasing something for your friend, make sure you ask the salesperson to include a gift receipt. It's just a polite gesture, and you know your money won't go to waste.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}.

    Don't leave the price tag (标签) on.

    Make sure you don't leave the price tag on the gift and that you're giving a gift receipt and not the original bill.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}, and it's not important for him/her to know anyway.

A. Don't buy an inappropriate gift

B. Don't be afraid of spending money

C. Giving gifts has forever been so pleasant

D. Take some time to really think about what he/she likes

E. If your friend doesn't like the gift, he/she can just exchange it

F. Giving someone you care about a very special gift can be tough

G. It's not proper to let your friend know how much you spent on the gift

    Stress(压力) is a popular cause of major diseases affecting people worldwide. It is so common that people have begun to search for the best and easiest ways to reduce stress. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} 

    Exercise for a better life.

    Regular runners say that there is no better feeling than the one you get when you finish your daily run. Exercising is a good way for you to remove stress from your life. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} And it can also lift your mood. An additional benefit of exercising is that it keeps you fit and healthy!

    Organize it.

    Keeping your workplace and home organized is also a way for you to avoid stressful situations. Working in a messy(凌乱的) area keeps your brain thinking on several different things at the same time. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} 

    Manage your time wisely.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Sticking to(坚持) your schedule gives you focus and a goal to work on. It also helps you avoid missing out on deadlines which are a great source of stress. Managing your time wisely means managing your stress.

    In a word, we shouldn't let stress stop us living a normal and healthy life. Stress will naturally appear due to the modern way of life. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Don't let stress get the better of you and make you lead an unhappy life.

A. Avoid stressed people

B. Know what causes your stress.

C. Plan your day ahead and stick to it.

D. Here are some ways to say goodbye to stress.

E. Regular exercise gives you time to think things.

F. And it gets hard to focus on (思想集中) just one thing.

G. But just like fire, if we control stress it can't hurt us.

    Graduation is an extremely important time in one's life. Class members love to capture this special day in various photos. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, you can arrange them into a beautiful slideshow video to show your friends and classmates. Sometimes you can make them into an album and share it as a gift.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#}. You must have had a particular study group that you really bonded with. Consider getting a picture with the members directly. This can help you remember your professional connections and your most treasured group working experiences. Also, don't forget to bring in your extracurricular stuff. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, take a picture with mates with your instrument or holding a football to show your graduation day. You can add in some humor as well. Think of something humorous that you could throw into graduation photos, such as bringing in a silly hat or posing with your class members in a fun way. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}.Visit some of your favorite spots throughout the campus. If there was a green space that you frequented or even a particular landmark like a statue or hall, you could consider taking pictures there. Capturing areas where you felt most at ease will help you preserve that very spot in memory.

    Last, the most popular shot to capture is the moment you shake hands with your headmaster on stage while receiving a diploma. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}. It can help you remember how you were feeling on that day. It can also remind you of the proud sense of accomplishment for finishing part of your schooling.

A. He would be happy to show it off

B. As long as you like after-class activities

C. If you are in a band or play in a sports club

D. Preserving the memories from your graduation

E. This symbolizes the actual time when you graduate

F. Including extra personality can make you apart from others

G. Remember that your education was definitely a team effort

    Last summer over 12,000 fans were at Wembley Arena in London, shouting and cheering. Thousands more were watching online. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} It was esports, or competitive computer gaming.

    Millions of people in the UK play computer games for fun. Some of them have become professional gamers, playing games as their full-time job. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} They practice for ten or more hours a day, five or six days a week. They do exercises like typing something and trying to type it faster and faster. They also study videos of other players and plan ways to beat them.

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Are players athletes? Some say no. Esports players don't need to run, jump, throw or do big physical actions. At the moment, the UK government classifies esports as kinds of games, not as sports.

    But others say yes: esports are sports. Players do need some physical skills, especially hand-eye coordination, reflexes, accuracy and timing. If darts, snooker and shooting are classified as sports, then perhaps esports should be too.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}And they will be an official medal sport in the Asian Games starting from 2022. Next step: the Olympics?

    For many esports fans and players, though, the most important thing is that esports are growing in popularity and importance.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. But this wasn't a football, basketball or tennis match.

B. All like playing computer games.

C. It's not easy being a professional gamer, though.

D. But are esports really sports?

E. It is certain that esports will come into the 2024 Olympics.

F. In fact, China and South Korea do classify esports as sports.

G. If esports are not as important as sports now, they definitely will be in the near future.

    Perhaps you have heard the expression "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." So when you want to do business in France, you have to get to know French culture, make marketing plans, and run your business by local laws.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} The French take great pride in their language, so anyone who does not speak it may run the risk of being disrespected by his French colleagues or business partners. Also, another reason why learning French is important is that it is a great way to show every possible French business partner that you care and respect their country's culture and language.

    The first thing that you should do when meeting someone new is to shake his hand firmly and always look at the person in the eye. In social meetings with friends, kissing is common.

    Use first names only after being invited to. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} The French will sometimes introduce themselves using their surname first, followed by their first name.

    Dress well. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Your business clothing is a reflection of your success and social status. Always try to be tasteful and stylish. Women are advised to dress simply but elegantly. Wearing make­up is practiced widely by businesswomen.

    The French are passionate about food, so lunches are common in doing business in France, which usually consist of an appetizer, a main meal with wine, cheese, dessert and coffee, and normally take up to two hours. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Do not begin eating until the host says "bon appetite". Pass dishes to the left, keep wrists above the table and try to eat everything on the plate. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} This may suggest that you find the food tasteless. If eating in a restaurant, the person who makes an invitation always pays.