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.

How to Care for Your Ears?

    Ears not only let us hear, but they also paly a role in maintaining our balance, which is vital to our ability to function in daily life. Yet, we ignore them. We can't even see our ears, except in a mirror. We take it for granted what they do for us day in and day out—until we notice something worng, such as when an earache strikes or when we start having to ask people to repeat what they say. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

◆Clean your ear with a washcloth—covered finger only.

    Never put anything inside your ear canal, including cotton swabs (药签). {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

◆Leave earwax(耳垢) alone.

    Wax is your ear's way of eliminating （消除）anything foreign that gets into the ear canal. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} If you find you have too much earwax, use a few drops of earwax remover（去除剂）in the canal. After a few minutes, wash the ear with warm water.

◆Avoid noisy places.

    Rock concerts and construction sites are just a few places that frequently have noise levels that can damage

hearing.Any place where you have to shout to be heard should be avoided.

◆{#blank#}4{#/blank#}

    Be careful not to play MP3 too loud, especially if using earphone.

◆Be careful with illness and medications.

    Respiratory illnesses should be treated to avoid their spread to the ears. Certain medications can damage hearing, so follow the directions carefully before taking them.

    See your doctor if you suffer from sudden hearing loss or hear noises in your head. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A．Most people don't need to clean wax out of their ears.

B．In such case, go to see a doctor as soon as possible.

C．These can be symptoms of a serious illness which needs to be treated.

D．This article will show you how to care for your ears.

E．Turn the volume down.

F．Avoid using earphones while listening to MP3.

G．Your ear canal is very narrow, and a swab can damage it.

    A volunteering vacation can be a meaningful way to spend your time off, but to make the trip satisfying both for you and the cause you are supporting, several factors need to be considered. Here is some advice on planning the ideal vacation:

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} There are hundreds of causes to volunteer for, and finding one close to your heart will lead to a more worthwhile trip. Possibilities include wildlife conservation, education, environmental protection, health and nutrition. Also, consider any personal and professional skills that you can contribute. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Choose your destination and setting. Your volunteering trip will be more enjoyable if you use it to reach a favorite destination. If Southeast Asia is on your mind, helping with tree-planting programs in Bali would benefit the environment and let you appreciate the scenic island. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Is volunteering outdoors in a hot or snowy climate appealing, or do you prefer being in an air-conditioned office?

    Ask the right questions. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Be aware that most volunteering programs require a weeklong commitment. Ask other questions like: How many hours of work per day is required? Are there days off? Will you be working individually or as part of a team? And what are the goals of your efforts? {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Ask if the cost includes only accommodations or meals and transportation too.

A. Figure out your cause.

B. Find a well-respected organization.

C. And think about the surroundings you want.

D. Your duty there is to help, as well as to rest and relax.

E. The more you know about your trip, the more successful it will be.

F. Despite the word “volunteer”, these vacations usually cost you some money.

G. If you're a doctor, for example, working at a health clinic could be an ideal fit.

    In the world nothing is more important than health. If people took away our money, houses, cars, or even our clothes, we could still survive. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Then how can we keep healthy?

    First of all, we should eat healthily. I usually avoid eating food high in fat, like French fries or cookies, which are junk food. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} I only eat little meat. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} It helps us build a strong body. Regular exercise is an important part of keeping me healthy. In addition, I think friends are an important part of one's health. {#blank#}4{#/blank#}I always feel better when I am with friends than when I am alone. When I am with my friends, I always laugh. Laughing is also an important part of health. It is good to stay with my friends.

    By eating properly and exercising regularly, I can keep my body at a proper weight and keep healthy. By spending time with my friends, I can keep my mind as well as my body happy. These things sound easy to do, but not many people can manage them. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. But if our health were taken away, we could surely die.

B. Some people appear fat because they often eat too much.

C. I think a strong will is necessary if we want to keep fit.

D. Many studies show that people with few friends often get sick.

E. There are some people who like staying alone, but they keep healthy.

F. What's more, taking exercise is very important.

G. I eat a lot of vegetables and fresh fruits which are full of vitamins.

    Many countries have traditional dishes, made with special ingredients and prepared in a certain way. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}, and when tourists visit, these are the foods they want to try. But why are some foods more popular than others in certain areas?

Traditional ingredients

    Typical recipes (菜谱) are usually made with native plant and animal products. For example, Korean dishes often include rice and soybeans because both plants are native to East Asia and grow well in hot, wet areas. In contrast, wheat grows well in drier areas, like the Middle East, where bread is a common staple food.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}, whereas inland cuisines tend to use more meat from farm animals.

    Food preservation

    Local cuisines often depend on how people traditionally prepared food for storage. In warm weather, meat and fish can go off quickly, so they must be cooked right away or preserved for later. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}, for that reason, modern Norwegian cuisine includes many smoked foods.

    Cooking techniques

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. In China, people often fry food in a deep metal pan or steam it in a basket over hot water. In Morocco, people cook traditional dishes in a special pot called a tajine. And some local dishes aren't cooked at all.

    Imported (进口的) ingredients

    Sometimes local cuisines include ingredients that originally came from another place. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}, while many Russian dishes are made with potatoes. However, all of these ingredients were brought to Europe from South America in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. But now they are common around the world.

A. Seafood is often a key ingredient in coastal areas

B. There is a danger that local food traditions will be lost

C. Many different cooking techniques are used around the world

D. For example, Italian dishes often include tomatoes and peppers

E. These local dishes can become symbols of a place and its culture

F. Nowadays, we can buy food products from all around the world

G. In Norway, the Vikings used to "cure" meat and fish by smoking them over a fire

    It is now possible to watch live sport on television on any day of the week, and the present amount of reporting will undoubtedly increase further in years to come. This is certainly having an influence on the live sports events themselves, and there are both benefits and shortcomings to this.

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} For one thing, with digital broadcasting, there are now many more TV channels than there were even ten years ago. Moreover, sport has become an important form of entertainment, attracting both men and women.

    What are the benefits of this televised sport? {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Large football clubs benefit financially (财政上) from TV income and the top players can be well paid. Less popular sports also receive money that can be used in training and advertising. What's more, there is a health benefit to some of the population. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    However, there will be some disadvantages if so much sport is on television. Considering football again, many small clubs have suffered financial losses recently, as they cannot compete with the large ones. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Fewer people watch live matches nowadays, preferring to watch from the comfort of their living room. And ticket prices have risen greatly.

    In a word, watching live sport on television has both good and bad effects. Televised sport has created many chances and benefited certain people and clubs very much. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}