1.5.
Question Type 4: ― Types of‖ Question
Another common type of questions in Part One is ― types of‖ questions.
For example:
― Tell me about the different types of public transport in your country‖.
The most common problem with these questions is shown in the following answer:
― In my city there are many types of public transport, for example, buses, taxis
motorcycle taxis, trains, planes, ferries and mini-buses.‖
In this answer, the candidate lists seven types of public transport. However, the
answer is 100% content and there is no evidence of native-speaker style language. Some
candidates may believe that get one mark for every type of transport that they list but this
is not true.
One reason for this answer is that in spoken Chinese it is quite common to give
these ― list‖ style answers.
A good answer to these questions should be structured and developed in the
following way.
Begin with an opening phrase:
Well actually...
Of course, you know...
Sure, obviously...
Of course, it goes without saying...
Ok, certainly...
Then use one of the following:
... there’s quite a mixed variety of...
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... there’s quite a wide range of...
... there’s quite an extensive diversity of...
... there’s quite a diverse mixture of...
... there’s a fairly broad range of...
So the opening line might be
:
― Of course, it goes without saying that there’s quite a mixed variety of public
transport in my city.‖
Now use the following structure to intro duce the first type:
But I guess the most +
adj
... would probably be...
However, I suppose the most+
adj
... could possibly be...
Though I think the most +
adj
... would potentially be...
Yet I imagine the most +
adj
... may well be...
Still, I suspect that the most+
adj
... could perhaps be...
In these structures you will need to select an adjective which fits the
question. Here are some possible adjective suggestions:
common
commonplace
influential
popular
frequent
prevalent
fashionable
trendy
notorious
famous
well-known
crucial
widely-used
widely-known
prominent
important
significant
widespread
standard
conventional
celebrated
hip
with-it
commonly-used
usual
customary
common-known
current
fashionable
notably
best-selling
up-to-date
renowned
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So the first sentence could be:
― Of course, it goes without saying that there’s quite a mixed variety of public
transportin my city. Though I think the most commonly- used would potentially be buses.‖
Now use a phrase to add a detail:
The thing with buses is that...
I assume buses are so +
adj
because...
The point I want to add about buses is that...
And what you have to realise with buses is that
And the explanation for this could be that...
And the basis of this is that...
So the first part of the answer could be:
― Of course, it goes without saying that there’s quite a mixed variety of public
transport in my city. Though I think the most common-used would potentially be buses.
And the explanation for this could be that they are so cheap and reliable. In fact the
average bus fare in my city is about one yuan for a single journey.
Notice that the detail sentence doesn’t repeat word ―buses‖, instead it uses the
pronoun ―they‖ (some answers will need it).
Also notice that the detail sentence uses a linking word ―in fact‖ to make a complex
structure.
Now use a linking phrase to introduce a second type
:
Besides (buses), ...
As well as (buses), ...
In addition to (buses), ...
Another kind of (public transport) would be...
Another form of (public transport) worth mentioning could be...
A second variety of (public transport) would be something like...
A subsequent category would be something like...
So the next part of the answer might be:
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―As well as buses, a second variety of public transport would be something like
taxis‖
Add a linking phrase to develop the second type:
And the main characteristic of (taxis) is that ...
And the unique aspect of (taxis) is that ...
And the exceptional aspect with (taxis) is that ...
Add the detail with a linking word to form a complex sentence:
― As well as buses, a second variety of public transport would be something like
taxis. And one exceptional aspect of (taxis) is that ... they are certainly quickest way to get
around town. So of you’re in hurry then taxis are the best bet (= the best choice).
Now you need to add a vague end line
:
And of course there’s the usual things like...
And obviously you can also find things like...
Likewise, as might be expected, there are things like...
And naturally, there are things like...
So the final sentence might be:
―Likewise, as might be expected, there’s things like ferries, motorcycle taxis and
trains although these are not as widely-used as the first two that I mentioned.‖
So the finished structure might look something like:
―Of course, It goes without saying there’s quite an extensive diversity of....(topic)
Still, I suspect that the most +
adj
could perhaps be ... (type 1) And what you have to
realise with...( type1) is that... In fact/ so/ but/ because ...(detail)
Another form of ....(topic) worth mentioning could be... (type 2) And the main
characteristic of ...(type 2) is that ...(detail) (+ linking word/ complex structure)
An naturally, there’s things like (type2 or 3 other types)‖
Use the complete model structure to answer the following question:
Tell me about the type of sports that are popular in your country?
What kinds of restaurants are popular in your country?
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What types of shop can be found in your local area?
What types of things do people collect in your country?
What hobbies are common in your country?
What types of TV programmes are popular in your country?
Now design your own structure using the language option provided in this
section.
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