A Person You Know Who Did Something Difficult and Was Successful

Part 3 追问

这些是考官在该题卡之后提出的讨论题，已编写范文的题目附有参考答案。

1. 1. What types of businesses are successful in your country?

   2026年9–12月
   查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比

   6.5 分

   The 6.5 answer lists categories with the plain connector 'too' used three times and simple vocabulary like 'do well' and 'a big part of', ending in a direct summary sentence.6.5分的答案用平实的连接词“too”重复了三次来列举类别,并使用像“do well”和“a big part of”这样简单的词汇,以一句直白的总结句收尾。

   Food and drink businesses do well first, always. The corner near my apartment has been a pharmacy, then a phone repair shop, and now it's a milk-tea place with a queue, so that tells you where the money goes. Apart from that, anything for the growing middle class does well too, like private clinics, English centres, and real estate. Manufacturing for export is a big part of the economy too, especially electronics and clothes. Technology companies that do work for foreign clients, like my own studio, have grown quickly. These businesses usually meet an obvious need that people already have.

   查看中文翻译

   餐饮生意永远是最先做起来的。我公寓附近那个街角,先是开过药店,后来又变成手机维修店,现在成了一家要排队的奶茶店,这就说明钱都流向了哪里。除此之外,任何面向不断壮大的中产阶级的生意也都做得不错,比如私立诊所、英语培训中心,还有房地产。出口制造业也是经济的重要组成部分,尤其是电子产品和服装。像我自己的工作室这样,为国外客户服务的科技公司也发展得很快。这些生意通常满足的都是人们已经存在的、显而易见的需求。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“Food and drink businesses do well first, always.” — A short, direct opening claim with no elaboration attached. A band 7 answer would more likely fold the reasoning or example directly into this same sentence instead of leaving it bare.一个简短、直接的开头论断,没有附带任何详细说明。7分水平的答案更可能把理由或例子直接融入这同一个句子中,而不是让它显得空洞。
   • GRA“The corner near my apartment has been a pharmacy, then a phone repair shop, and now it's a milk-tea place with a queue, so that tells you where the money goes.” — A list of three shops joined with commas and 'then', followed by a simple 'so' clause, a fairly basic way of building a sentence. A 7.5 answer would likely compress this list into a tighter, punchier structure.一个用逗号和“then”连接的、由三家店铺构成的列表,后面跟着一个简单的“so”分句,是一种相当基础的造句方式。7.5分的答案很可能会把这份列表压缩成一个更紧凑、更有力的结构。
   • LR“does well too” — A very general, plain verb phrase repeated across the answer. A higher band answer would likely vary this with more specific words, such as 'thrives' or 'booms', instead of reusing 'do well'.一个非常笼统、平实的动词短语,在整篇答案中反复出现。更高分的答案很可能会用更具体的词来做出变化,比如“thrives”或“booms”,而不是反复使用“do well”。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer opens with the compact fronted phrase 'Food and drink, first and always', and closes with the reflective observation 'What these share is...', showing more developed reasoning than the flatter band 6.5 list.7.0分的答案以紧凑的前置短语“Food and drink, first and always”开头,并以反思性的观察“What these share is...”收尾,比6.5分那种更平淡的列表展现出更成熟的推理。

   Food and drink, first and always - the corner near my apartment has been a pharmacy, then a phone repair shop, and is now a milk-tea place with a queue, which tells you where the money goes. Beyond that, anything serving the growing middle class does reasonably well: private clinics, English centres, real estate, motorbike dealers. Manufacturing for export is a big engine nationally, especially electronics and garments. Technology firms doing outsourced work for foreign clients, like my own studio, have grown quickly too. What these share is that they meet an obvious, daily need or ride a wave of rising incomes.

   查看中文翻译

   餐饮永远是最先做起来的——我公寓附近那个街角,先是开过药店,后来又变成手机维修店,现在成了一家要排队的奶茶店,这就说明钱都流向了哪里。除此之外,任何服务于不断壮大的中产阶级的生意都做得相当不错:私立诊所、英语培训中心、房地产、摩托车经销商。出口制造业是全国性的重要引擎,尤其是电子产品和服装。像我自己的工作室这样,为国外客户做外包业务的科技公司也发展得很快。这些生意的共同点在于,它们要么满足了一个显而易见的日常需求,要么就是搭上了收入增长的这股浪潮。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“Food and drink, first and always - the corner near my apartment has been a pharmacy, then a phone repair shop, and is now a milk-tea place with a queue, which tells you where the money goes.” — A fronted noun phrase opens the sentence instead of a full subject-verb clause, and a 'which' clause replaces the plainer 'so' clause used at band 6.5, showing more grammatical range.一个前置的名词短语开启了这句话,而不是一个完整的主谓分句,而一个“which”分句取代了6.5分使用的更平实的“so”分句,展现出更大的语法广度。
   • LR“ride a wave of rising incomes” — A more vivid, natural collocation than the plainer 'do well too' phrasing repeated at band 6.5, showing deliberate word choice, though not yet the most distinctive vocabulary a 7.5 answer would use.一个比6.5分反复使用的更平实的“do well too”更生动、更自然的搭配,展现出刻意的用词选择,但还没有达到7.5分答案会使用的那种最独特的词汇。
   • FC“What these share is that they meet an obvious, daily need or ride a wave of rising incomes.” — A reflective closing sentence that draws a general pattern out of the list, typical of band 7.0's mild elaboration beyond the flatter listing style of band 6.5.一个反思性的结尾句,从列表中提炼出一个普遍的模式,是7.0分在6.5分那种更平淡的列举风格之上,进行轻度阐发的典型特征。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer adds the sharp final line 'Businesses selling things people don't yet know they want tend to struggle here', a compact evaluative twist that gives the answer a more finished, deliberate close than band 7.0's ending.7.5分的答案加上了犀利的结尾句“Businesses selling things people don't yet know they want tend to struggle here”,这是一个紧凑的评价性转折,比7.0分的结尾赋予这篇答案更完整、更刻意的收尾。

   Food and drink, first and always - the corner near my apartment has been a pharmacy, then a phone repair shop, and is now a milk-tea place with a queue, which tells you where the money goes. Beyond that, anything serving the growing middle class does well: private clinics, English centres, real estate, motorbike dealers. Manufacturing for export is the big engine nationally, especially electronics and garments. Technology firms doing outsourced work for foreign clients, like my own studio, have grown quickly. What these share is that they meet an obvious, daily need or ride a wave of rising incomes. Businesses selling things people don't yet know they want tend to struggle here.

   查看中文翻译

   餐饮永远是最先做起来的——我公寓附近那个街角,先是开过药店,后来又变成手机维修店,现在成了一家要排队的奶茶店,这就说明钱都流向了哪里。除此之外,任何服务于不断壮大的中产阶级的生意都做得不错:私立诊所、英语培训中心、房地产、摩托车经销商。出口制造业是全国性的那个大引擎,尤其是电子产品和服装。像我自己的工作室这样,为国外客户做外包业务的科技公司发展得很快。这些生意的共同点在于,它们要么满足了一个显而易见的日常需求,要么就是搭上了收入增长的这股浪潮。而那些卖人们自己都还不知道自己想要的东西的生意,在这里往往举步维艰。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“Businesses selling things people don't yet know they want tend to struggle here.” — A short, punchy closing sentence that adds a contrasting final observation rather than simply restating the pattern, a more polished, deliberate finish than the reflective but self-contained ending at band 7.0.一个简短、有力的结尾句,加上了一个形成对比的最终观察,而不是仅仅重述模式,比7.0分那种反思性但自成一体的结尾更精致、更刻意。
   • LR“Manufacturing for export is the big engine nationally” — The definite article 'the' before 'big engine' gives the metaphor slightly more authority and precision than the indefinite 'a big engine' phrasing used at band 7.0, a small but deliberate lexical choice.“big engine”前的定冠词“the”,比7.0分使用的不定冠词“a big engine”为这个隐喻多了一丝权威感和精确度,是一个虽小但刻意的词汇选择。
   • GRA“Businesses selling things people don't yet know they want tend to struggle here” — A compact subject-heavy sentence, 'businesses selling X', packs the whole argument into a single clause rather than a separate explanatory sentence, a more economical construction than the equivalent idea would take at lower bands.一个以主语为核心的紧凑句子,“businesses selling X”,把整个论证塞进了一个单独的分句里,而不是一个独立的解释性句子,比低分答案表达同样想法时更经济的构造。

2. 2. How easy is it to start a successful business?

   2026年9–12月
   查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比

   6.5 分

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct 'starting easy, succeeding hard' opinion with one personal example, using the plain connector 'but' three times and simple vocabulary like 'a different matter' and 'hard parts'.6.5分的答案给出了一个直接的“开始容易,成功难”的观点,配上一个个人例子,三次使用平实的连接词“but”,以及像“a different matter”和“hard parts”这样简单的词汇。

   Starting is easy, but succeeding is a different matter. In Vietnam you can open a food stall in a week with almost no paperwork, which is why every street has several of them. My uncle's first restaurant in Hue closed after eight months, but the second one, which he opened using everything he had learned from the first, is still open fifteen years later. The hard parts are money, since most new businesses fail because they run out of cash before customers arrive, and competition, since anything that works gets copied. So starting is easy, but surviving is much harder.

   查看中文翻译

   开始很容易,但成功却是另一回事。在越南,你可以在一周内几乎不用什么手续就开一个小吃摊,这也是为什么每条街都有好几家这样的摊子。我叔叔在顺化开的第一家餐厅八个月后就关了,但第二家——他把从第一家学到的一切都用上了——十五年后依然还开着。难的地方在于钱,因为大多数新企业倒闭都是因为客人还没来钱就先花光了;还有竞争,因为但凡有效的模式都会被人抄袭。所以开始很容易,但活下去要难得多。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“My uncle's first restaurant in Hue closed after eight months, but the second one, which he opened using everything he had learned from the first, is still open fifteen years later.” — A main clause with an inserted 'which' clause and a second main clause joined by 'but', a fairly basic way of packing detail into one sentence. A band 7.5 answer would likely compress this comparison further.一个插入了“which”分句的主句,再加上一个用“but”连接的第二个主句,是一种相当基础的方式,把细节塞进一个句子里。7.5分水平的答案很可能会把这个比较进一步压缩。
   • LR“a different matter” — A plain, general phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more specific or idiomatic word, such as calling it 'another matter entirely', to sharpen the same contrast.一个平实、笼统的短语。更高分的答案很可能会用一个更具体或更地道的词,比如称之为“another matter entirely”,来让同样的对比更犀利。
   • FC“So starting is easy, but surviving is much harder.” — A short, flat closing sentence that repeats the opening idea almost word for word. A higher band would more likely vary the phrasing and add a further, sharper point rather than circling back to the same words.一个简短、平淡的结尾句,几乎逐字重复了开头的想法。更高分的答案更可能变换措辞,并加上一个更进一步、更犀利的观点,而不是绕回同样的字词。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer uses the semicolon-linked opener 'Starting is easy; succeeding is another matter' and adds the extra reflective sentence about needing 'a genuine edge', giving more developed reasoning than band 6.5.7.0分的答案用分号连接的开头“Starting is easy; succeeding is another matter”,并加上了关于需要“a genuine edge”的额外反思句,比6.5分展现出更成熟的推理。

   Starting is easy; succeeding is another matter. In Vietnam you can open a food stall in a week with almost no paperwork, which is why every street has ten of them. My uncle's first restaurant in Hue closed within eight months, and the second, which he opened with everything he'd learnt from the first, is still going fifteen years later. The hard parts are cash - most new businesses die because money runs out before customers arrive - and competition, since whatever works gets copied by next month. Success needs either a genuine edge or simply outlasting everyone else. So it's easy to start, quite hard to survive, and rare to thrive.

   查看中文翻译

   开始很容易;成功却是另一回事。在越南,你可以在一周内几乎不用什么手续就开一个小吃摊,这也是为什么每条街都有十家这样的摊子。我叔叔在顺化开的第一家餐厅八个月内就关了,而第二家——他把从第一家学到的一切都用上了——十五年后依然还在开。难的地方在于现金——大多数新企业倒闭都是因为客人还没来钱就先花光了——还有竞争,因为但凡有效的东西下个月就会被抄袭。成功需要的要么是真正的优势,要么就是单纯地比所有人都撑得久。所以开始很容易,活下去相当难,而真正兴旺起来更是难得一见。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“Starting is easy; succeeding is another matter.” — A semicolon joins two balanced independent clauses in a tight parallel structure, a more sophisticated construction than the 'but' coordination used for the same contrast at band 6.5.一个分号把两个平衡的独立分句连接在一个紧凑的对仗结构里,比6.5分对同样的对比使用的“but”并列结构更高明。
   • LR“Success needs either a genuine edge or simply outlasting everyone else.” — A more precise, idiomatic collocation ('a genuine edge') than the plainer vocabulary used at band 6.5, though not yet as vivid as the phrasing a 7.5 answer would choose.一个比6.5分使用的更平实的词汇更精确、更地道的搭配(“a genuine edge”),但还没有7.5分答案会选择的措辞那么生动。
   • FC“So it's easy to start, quite hard to survive, and rare to thrive.” — A three-part parallel closing structure gives a more developed, rhythmic final point than the two-part 'easy...but harder' sentence used at band 6.5.一个三部分的对仗结尾结构,比6.5分使用的两部分“easy...but harder”句子展现出更成熟、更有节奏感的收尾观点。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer opens with the compact 'the easy half...the real test' pairing and closes with the colon-led 'So: easy to start, hard to survive, rare to thrive', a tighter rhythm than band 7.0's fuller closing sentence.7.5分的答案以紧凑的“the easy half...the real test”对仗开头,并以冒号引出的“So: easy to start, hard to survive, rare to thrive”收尾,比7.0分更完整的结尾句节奏更紧凑。

   Starting is the easy half; surviving is the real test. In Vietnam a food stall goes up in a week with barely any paperwork, which is why every street is lined with ten of them. My uncle's first restaurant in Hue folded within eight months; the second, opened on everything he'd learnt from the wreckage of the first, is still running fifteen years on. The hard parts are cash - most new businesses die waiting for customers who arrive too late - and competition, since anything that works gets copied within the month. Success takes either a genuine edge or simply outlasting everyone else. So: easy to start, hard to survive, rare to thrive.

   查看中文翻译

   开始只是简单的那一半;活下来才是真正的考验。在越南,一个小吃摊一周内就能支起来,几乎不用什么手续,这也是为什么每条街都排满了十来家这样的摊子。我叔叔在顺化开的第一家餐厅八个月内就倒闭了;第二家——建立在第一家的废墟上学到的一切经验之上——十五年后的今天依然在正常经营。难的地方在于现金——大多数新企业都是在等待迟迟不来的客人时死掉的——还有竞争,因为但凡有效的东西一个月内就会被抄袭。成功需要的要么是真正的优势,要么就是单纯地比所有人都撑得久。所以说:开始容易,活下去难,真正兴旺更是难得一见。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“the second, opened on everything he'd learnt from the wreckage of the first, is still running fifteen years on” — A participial phrase ('opened on...') carries the whole clause without its own subject or finite verb, a more compact construction than a full relative clause, and the extended image 'wreckage of the first' packs extra meaning into the same space.一个分词短语(“opened on...”)承载了整个分句,没有自己的主语或限定动词,比完整的定语从句更紧凑,而延伸的意象“wreckage of the first”则在同样的空间里塞进了额外的含义。
   • LR“most new businesses die waiting for customers who arrive too late” — The image of businesses dying 'waiting for customers who arrive too late' is more vivid and specific than the plainer 'die because money runs out before customers arrive' phrasing at band 7.0, giving the cause a sharper, almost narrative quality.“企业死于等待迟迟不来的客人”这个意象,比7.0分更平实的“die because money runs out before customers arrive”更生动、更具体,让这个原因带上了一种更犀利、近乎叙事性的质感。
   • FC“So: easy to start, hard to survive, rare to thrive.” — A colon replaces the connective 'it's' used at band 7.0, compressing the three-part rhythm into the tightest possible frame, a more economical and punchy closing line.一个冒号取代了7.0分使用的连接词“it's”,把三部分的节奏压缩进了最紧凑的框架里,是一个更经济、更有力的收尾句。

3. 3. Is making money the most important thing for a business?

   2026年9–12月
   查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比

   6.5 分

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct 'necessary, not most important' opinion with one example, using the plain connector 'but' three times and simple vocabulary like 'push customers and staff away'.6.5分的答案给出了一个直接的“必要,但不是最重要”的观点,配上一个例子,三次使用平实的连接词“but”,以及像“push customers and staff away”这样简单的词汇。

   It's necessary, but not the most important thing, if that makes sense. My studio once turned down a well-paid gambling app because nobody wanted our name on it, and the money would have been useful, but it still wasn't worth it. Without profit a business can't survive, so money is like oxygen. But businesses I admire care about something else - making a product people are glad exists, keeping staff for years, being proud of the work. The money follows. Businesses that only care about profit tend to push customers and staff away, which is actually bad for profit too.

   查看中文翻译

   钱是必要的,但不是最重要的东西,如果这么说说得通的话。我的工作室曾经拒绝过一个报酬很高的赌博类App项目,因为没有人想让我们的名字跟这个项目扯上关系,那笔钱本来会很有用,但还是不值得。没有利润,企业就没法生存,所以钱就像氧气一样。但我欣赏的企业在乎的是别的东西——做出一个人们庆幸它存在的产品,让员工留任多年,为自己的作品感到骄傲。钱自然会跟着来。那些只在乎利润的企业,往往会把客户和员工都推走,而这其实对利润本身也不好。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“My studio once turned down a well-paid gambling app because nobody wanted our name on it, and the money would have been useful, but it still wasn't worth it.” — Three clauses joined with 'because', 'and' and 'but', a fairly basic way of stacking ideas in one sentence. A band 7 answer would more likely use a dash to separate the reflection from the main claim instead.三个分句用“because”、“and”和“but”连接起来,是一种相当基础的方式,把想法堆叠在一个句子里。7分水平的答案更可能改用破折号把反思和主要论断分开。
   • LR“money is like oxygen” — A simple, direct comparison. A higher band answer would likely extend or sharpen this image further, rather than leaving it as a single plain sentence.一个简单、直接的比较。更高分的答案很可能会把这个意象进一步延伸或打磨得更犀利,而不是让它停留在一个平实的单句里。
   • FC“Businesses that only care about profit tend to push customers and staff away, which is actually bad for profit too.” — A flat closing sentence stating the irony directly. A 7.5 answer would more likely mark this irony explicitly with a word like 'ironically' for a sharper, more self-aware finish.一个平淡的结尾句,直接陈述了这个反讽之处。7.5分的答案更可能用像“ironically”这样的词明确标示出这种反讽,以求一个更犀利、更具自我意识的收尾。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer sharpens the opening with the more precise 'the necessary thing, not the most important one', and upgrades 'push away' to the more vivid 'squeeze...until both leave', showing more developed vocabulary than band 6.5.7.0分的答案用更精确的“the necessary thing, not the most important one”让开头更犀利,并把“push away”升级为更生动的“squeeze...until both leave”,比6.5分展现出更成熟的词汇。

   It's the necessary thing, not the most important one, if that distinction makes sense. My studio once turned down a very well-paid gambling app because nobody wanted our name on it - the money would have been useful and it still wasn't worth it. Without profit a business dies, so money is the oxygen. But the businesses I admire are organised around something else: making a product people are glad exists, keeping staff for years, being proud of the work. The money follows from that more often than not. Businesses that put profit first tend to squeeze customers and employees until both leave, which is bad for profit in the end.

   查看中文翻译

   钱是必要的东西,不是最重要的那个,如果这个区分说得通的话。我的工作室曾经拒绝过一个报酬非常高的赌博类App项目,因为没有人想让我们的名字跟这个项目扯上关系——那笔钱本来会很有用,但还是不值得。没有利润,企业就会死掉,所以钱就是氧气。但我欣赏的企业是围绕别的东西组织起来的:做出一个人们庆幸它存在的产品,让员工留任多年,为自己的作品感到骄傲。钱往往会随之而来。那些把利润放在第一位的企业,往往会不断挤压客户和员工,直到两者都离开,而这最终对利润本身也不好。

   为什么是这个分数

   • LR“squeeze customers and employees until both leave” — A more vivid, precise verb choice ('squeeze') than the plainer 'push customers and staff away' phrasing used at band 6.5, capturing a slower, more deliberate process.一个比6.5分使用的更平实的“push customers and staff away”更生动、更精确的动词选择(“squeeze”),捕捉到了一个更缓慢、更刻意的过程。
   • GRA“the money would have been useful and it still wasn't worth it” — A dash separates the reflection from the main clause, and the two ideas are joined smoothly with 'and', a more polished construction than the three-clause chain a band 6.5 answer used for the same content.一个破折号把反思和主句分开,而两个想法用“and”顺畅地连接在一起,比6.5分答案对同样内容使用的三分句链条更精致。
   • FC“It's the necessary thing, not the most important one, if that distinction makes sense” — The phrase 'if that distinction makes sense' adds a small reflective, conversational check typical of band 7.0, a nuance a band 6.5 answer would more likely leave out.短语“if that distinction makes sense”加上了一个小小的、反思性的、口语化的自我核实,是7.0分的典型特征,而6.5分的答案更可能省略这种细腻之处。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer upgrades 'for years' to the more precise 'for decades', and adds the explicit marker 'ironically' to the closing observation, giving a sharper, more self-aware finish than the plainer band 7.0 ending.7.5分的答案把“for years”升级为更精确的“for decades”,并在结尾观察中加上了明确的标记词“ironically”,比7.0分更平实的结尾展现出更犀利、更具自我意识的收尾。

   It's the necessary thing, not the most important one, if that distinction makes sense. My studio once turned down a very well-paid gambling app because nobody wanted our name on it - the money would have been useful and it still wasn't worth it. Without profit a business dies, so money is the oxygen. But the businesses I admire are organised around something else: making a product people are glad exists, keeping staff for decades, being proud of the work. The money follows from that more often than not. Businesses that put profit first tend to squeeze customers and employees until both leave, which, ironically, is bad for profit.

   查看中文翻译

   钱是必要的东西,不是最重要的那个,如果这个区分说得通的话。我的工作室曾经拒绝过一个报酬非常高的赌博类App项目,因为没有人想让我们的名字跟这个项目扯上关系——那笔钱本来会很有用,但还是不值得。没有利润,企业就会死掉,所以钱就是氧气。但我欣赏的企业是围绕别的东西组织起来的:做出一个人们庆幸它存在的产品,让员工留任数十年,为自己的作品感到骄傲。钱往往会随之而来。那些把利润放在第一位的企业,往往会不断挤压客户和员工,直到两者都离开,而讽刺的是,这最终对利润本身也不好。

   为什么是这个分数

   • LR“keeping staff for decades” — The more specific time frame 'decades' replaces the vaguer 'for years' phrasing used at band 7.0, a small but deliberate precision typical of the more exact vocabulary expected at band 7.5.更具体的时间跨度“decades”取代了7.0分使用的更模糊的“for years”,是一个虽小但刻意的精确度提升,是7.5分所期望具备的更精确词汇的典型特征。
   • GRA“which, ironically, is bad for profit” — The evaluative word 'ironically' is inserted mid-clause, set off by commas, rather than left implicit as at band 7.0, a more compact and pointed way of flagging the irony directly within the sentence.评价性的词“ironically”被用逗号隔开,插入分句中间,而不是像7.0分那样留给读者自己领会,是一种更紧凑、更直接的方式,在句子内部直接标示出这种反讽。
   • FC“making a product people are glad exists, keeping staff for decades, being proud of the work” — A tight list of three parallel gerund phrases with no connecting words between them gives the sentence a punchier, more deliberate rhythm than a version padded with 'and' throughout.一份紧凑的、由三个并列动名词短语构成的列表,彼此之间没有任何连接词,比一个通篇用“and”填充的版本展现出更有力、更刻意的节奏。

4. 4. Why are some people more successful than other people?

   2026年9–12月
   查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比

   6.5 分

   The 6.5 answer gives two main reasons and one example, using the plain connector 'also' twice and simple vocabulary like 'a big role' and 'never get to knock on'.6.5分的答案给出了两个主要理由和一个例子,两次使用平实的连接词“also”,以及像“a big role”和“never get to knock on”这样简单的词汇。

   Talent matters less than people think, and finishing matters more. Two classmates of mine in Hanoi had similar ability - one released lots of imperfect projects and now runs his own studio, while the other kept polishing everything and released almost nothing. Luck also plays a big role, like being in the right city or having supportive parents, and successful people forget how much that helped. Persistence, being willing to look foolish, and asking for help separate people more than intelligence does. Success also builds on itself, since one small win opens doors that others never get to knock on.

   查看中文翻译

   天赋的作用没有人们想的那么大,而“做完”的作用更大。我在河内的两位同学能力差不多——一个发布了很多不完美的项目,现在有了自己的工作室,而另一个则不停地打磨一切,几乎什么都没发布出来。运气也起了很大作用,比如身处一座合适的城市,或者有支持自己的父母,而成功的人往往会忘记这些帮了自己多大的忙。坚持、愿意显得笨拙,以及主动求助,这些比智力更能把人区分开来。成功也会自我累积,因为一次小小的胜利会打开一些别人永远没机会敲响的大门。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“one released lots of imperfect projects and now runs his own studio, while the other kept polishing everything and released almost nothing” — A long clause pair joined by 'while', a fairly basic contrastive structure. A band 7 answer would more likely trim this comparison into two shorter, punchier parallel phrases.一对用“while”连接的长分句,是一种相当基础的对比结构。7分水平的答案更可能把这个比较修剪成两个更短、更有力的并列短语。
   • LR“a big role” — A plain, general phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more specific word to describe the size of luck's influence rather than the everyday 'a big role'.一个平实、笼统的短语。更高分的答案很可能会用一个更具体的词来描述运气影响力的大小,而不是日常的“a big role”。
   • FC“Success also builds on itself, since one small win opens doors that others never get to knock on.” — A flat closing sentence stating the idea directly with 'since'. A 7.5 answer would more likely compress this into a shorter, more vivid metaphor instead of a fuller explanatory clause.一个平淡的结尾句,用“since”直接陈述了这个想法。7.5分的答案更可能把它压缩成一个更短、更生动的隐喻,而不是一个更完整的解释性分句。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer replaces the 'while' clause with a tighter semicolon structure, and upgrades 'builds on itself' to the more precise verb 'compounds', showing sharper, more deliberate vocabulary than band 6.5.7.0分的答案把“while”分句替换成了更紧凑的分号结构,并把“builds on itself”升级为更精确的动词“compounds”,比6.5分展现出更犀利、更刻意的词汇。

   Talent matters less than people think, and finishing matters more. Two classmates of mine in Hanoi had roughly equal ability; one released ugly, imperfect projects constantly and now runs a studio, the other polished everything endlessly and released almost nothing. Luck plays a big role too - being in the right city, having parents who could support a risky first year - and people who succeed tend to underestimate that. Persistence, the willingness to look foolish, and the habit of asking for help seem to separate people more than intelligence does. And success compounds: the first small win opens doors that the second person never gets to knock on.

   查看中文翻译

   天赋的作用没有人们想的那么大,而“做完”的作用更大。我在河内的两位同学能力大致相当;一个不停地发布粗糙、不完美的项目,现在开了一家工作室,另一个则无休止地打磨一切,几乎什么都没发布出来。运气也起了很大作用——身处一座合适的城市,或者父母能支持自己冒险闯荡的第一年——而成功的人往往会低估这一点的影响。坚持、愿意显得笨拙,以及主动求助的习惯,这些似乎比智力更能把人区分开来。而且成功会不断累积复利:第一次小小的胜利,会打开一些第二个人永远没机会敲响的大门。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“Two classmates of mine in Hanoi had roughly equal ability; one released ugly, imperfect projects constantly and now runs a studio, the other polished everything endlessly and released almost nothing.” — A semicolon joins two balanced parallel clauses without a connecting word, a tighter, more sophisticated structure than the 'while'-joined sentence used for the same contrast at band 6.5.一个分号把两个平衡的并列分句连接起来,不需要连接词,比6.5分对同样对比使用的“while”连接句更紧凑、更高明。
   • LR“And success compounds” — A more precise, formal verb ('compounds') than the plainer 'builds on itself' phrasing used at band 6.5, borrowing a term with a specific, mathematical sense of accumulating advantage.一个比6.5分使用的更平实的“builds on itself”更精确、更正式的动词(“compounds”),借用了一个具有特定数学含义的词,表示优势的累积。
   • FC“being in the right city, having parents who could support a risky first year” — Two examples are listed as a compact dash-separated pair rather than joined with 'like' and 'or', a small stylistic tightening typical of band 7.0's more economical phrasing.两个例子被列成了一对用破折号隔开的紧凑组合,而不是用“like”和“or”连接,是7.0分更经济措辞典型的一个小小的文体收紧。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer drops the 'and' between the two classmates' fates for a punchier dash-led contrast, and closes with the vivid verb 'pries open' in place of band 7.0's plainer 'opens', a more deliberate, image-based finish.7.5分的答案去掉了两位同学命运之间的“and”,换成更有力的破折号对比,并以生动的动词“pries open”(撬开)取代7.0分更平实的“opens”来收尾,是一个更刻意、更具画面感的结局。

   Talent counts for less than people assume; finishing counts for more. Two classmates of mine in Hanoi were roughly matched in ability - one shipped ugly, imperfect projects on a loop and now runs his own studio, the other polished endlessly and shipped almost nothing. Luck plays its part too, being in the right city, having parents who could bankroll a risky first year, and the people who make it tend to write that part out of the story. Persistence, a willingness to look foolish, and the habit of asking for help seem to separate people more than raw intelligence ever does. And success compounds: that first small win pries open doors the second person never even gets to knock on.

   查看中文翻译

   天赋的分量没有人们以为的那么重;而“做完”的分量更重。我在河内的两位同学能力不相上下——一个不停循环地推出粗糙、不完美的项目,现在有了自己的工作室,另一个则无休止地打磨,几乎什么都没推出来。运气也占有一席之地——身处一座合适的城市,或者父母能资助自己冒险闯荡的第一年——而那些成功的人往往会把这部分从自己的故事里删掉。坚持、愿意显得笨拙,以及主动求助的习惯,这些似乎比纯粹的智力更能把人区分开来。而且成功会不断累积复利:第一次小小的胜利,会撬开一些第二个人甚至根本没机会敲响的大门。

   为什么是这个分数

   • LR“the people who make it tend to write that part out of the story” — The idiom 'write...out of the story' is a vivid, less-common way of describing how survivors downplay luck, more distinctive than the plainer 'tend to underestimate that' phrasing used at band 7.0.习语“write...out of the story”(把……从故事里删掉)是一种生动、不那么常见的方式,用来描述幸存者如何淡化运气的作用,比7.0分使用的更平实的“tend to underestimate that”更有特色。
   • GRA“one shipped ugly, imperfect projects on a loop and now runs his own studio, the other polished endlessly and shipped almost nothing” — The two classmates' fates are set side by side with a comma instead of 'while', a tighter parallel construction than the semicolon-and-conjunction structure used at band 7.0 for the same contrast.两位同学的命运被用逗号并排放在一起,而不是用“while”,比7.0分对同样对比使用的“分号+连接词”结构更紧凑、更对仗。
   • FC“that first small win pries open doors the second person never even gets to knock on” — The verb 'pries open' is more forceful and specific than the plainer 'opens' used in the equivalent closing line at band 7.0, giving the final metaphor a sharper, more deliberate edge.动词“pries open”比7.0分对应结尾句使用的更平实的“opens”更有力、更具体,让最后这个隐喻多了一分犀利、刻意的锋芒。

5. 5. Is being successful at work necessary for a successful life?

   2026年9–12月
   查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比

   6.5 分

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct 'no' opinion with one personal example and one contrast, using the plain connector 'but' once and simple vocabulary like 'empty lives' and 'rich ones'.6.5分的答案给出了一个直接的“不是”的观点,配上一个个人例子和一个对比,使用了一次平实的连接词“but”,以及像“empty lives”和“rich ones”这样简单的词汇。

   No, even though our culture wants us to believe it is. My grandmother never had a job with a title - she raised five children, ran a market stall, and keeps the family together - and by any measure that matters, she has one of the most successful lives I know. Work success is one path to respect and security, and for many it's a source of meaning. But plenty with great careers have empty lives, and plenty with ordinary jobs have rich ones. I'd say a successful life needs something you're good at and someone who's glad you exist.

   查看中文翻译

   不是的,尽管我们的文化想让我们相信是这样。我奶奶从来没有过什么带头衔的工作——她养大了五个孩子,经营着一个市场摊位,还把一大家子人凝聚在一起——按照任何真正重要的标准来衡量,她的人生都是我所知道的最成功的人生之一。工作上的成功是通往尊重和安全感的一条路径,对很多人来说也是意义的来源。但很多事业辉煌的人生活却是空虚的,而很多做着普通工作的人生活却很充实。我想说,成功的人生需要一样自己擅长的东西,还需要一个因为你的存在而感到高兴的人。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“My grandmother never had a job with a title - she raised five children, ran a market stall, and keeps the family together - and by any measure that matters, she has one of the most successful lives I know.” — A long sentence built from several clauses joined mainly with dashes and 'and', a fairly direct way of stacking detail. A band 7.5 answer would more likely tighten this into a punchier, more compact structure.一个由几个分句构成的长句,主要用破折号和“and”连接,是一种相当直接的方式来堆叠细节。7.5分水平的答案更可能把它收紧成一个更有力、更紧凑的结构。
   • LR“empty lives” — A plain, general phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more distinctive or idiomatic word, such as 'hollow', to describe the same idea more vividly.一个平实、笼统的短语。更高分的答案很可能会用一个更有特色或更地道的词,比如“hollow”,来更生动地描述同样的想法。
   • FC“I'd say a successful life needs something you're good at and someone who's glad you exist.” — A short, direct closing sentence stating the conclusion plainly. A 7.5 answer would more likely add a final twist, pointing out that neither condition has to happen at work.一个简短、直接的结尾句,平实地陈述了结论。7.5分的答案更可能加上一个最后的转折,指出这两个条件都不一定要在工作中实现。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer upgrades 'empty lives' to the more precise 'hollow lives', and extends the closing sentence with 'though neither has to happen at work', giving a fuller, more developed final point than band 6.5.7.0分的答案把“empty lives”升级为更精确的“hollow lives”,并用“though neither has to happen at work”延伸了结尾句,比6.5分展现出更完整、更成熟的收尾观点。

   No, though our culture badly wants us to believe it is. My grandmother never held a job with a title - she raised five children, kept a market stall, and holds the whole extended family together - and by any measure that matters she has one of the most successful lives I know. Work success is one route to respect and security, and for many people it's a genuine source of meaning. But plenty of people with brilliant careers have hollow lives, and plenty with ordinary jobs have rich ones. I'd say a successful life needs something you're good at and someone who's glad you exist, though neither has to happen at work.

   查看中文翻译

   不是的,尽管我们的文化极力想让我们相信是这样。我奶奶从来没有过什么带头衔的工作——她养大了五个孩子,经营着一个市场摊位,还把整个大家族凝聚在一起——按照任何真正重要的标准来衡量,她的人生都是我所知道的最成功的人生之一。工作上的成功是通往尊重和安全感的一条路径,对很多人来说也是真正意义的来源。但很多事业辉煌的人生活却是空洞的,而很多做着普通工作的人生活却很充实。我想说,成功的人生需要一样自己擅长的东西,还需要一个因为你的存在而感到高兴的人,尽管这两样都不一定要在工作中实现。

   为什么是这个分数

   • LR“plenty of people with brilliant careers have hollow lives” — A more vivid, precise adjective ('hollow') than the plainer 'empty lives' phrasing used at band 6.5, giving the contrast a sharper, more distinctive edge.一个比6.5分使用的更平实的“empty lives”更生动、更精确的形容词(“hollow”),让这个对比多了一分犀利、更具特色的锋芒。
   • GRA“I'd say a successful life needs something you're good at and someone who's glad you exist, though neither has to happen at work” — A 'though' clause is added onto the closing sentence to qualify the claim further, a more developed structure than the simpler final sentence a band 6.5 answer used to close the same idea.一个“though”分句被加到了结尾句上,进一步限定这个论断,比6.5分答案用来收尾同样想法的更简单的最后一句展现出更成熟的结构。
   • FC“Work success is one route to respect and security, and for many people it's a genuine source of meaning” — The phrase 'a genuine source of meaning' adds a reflective concession before the main counterargument, a small nuance typical of band 7.0's mild elaboration.短语“a genuine source of meaning”在主要的反驳论点之前,加上了一个反思性的让步,是7.0分轻度阐发典型的一个细腻之处。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer upgrades 'one of the most successful lives' to the more absolute, punchier 'the most successful life of anyone I know', and closes with 'neither of those has to happen at work', a compact final twist sharper than band 7.0's ending.7.5分的答案把“one of the most successful lives”升级为更绝对、更有力的“the most successful life of anyone I know”,并以“neither of those has to happen at work”收尾,是一个比7.0分结尾更犀利的紧凑转折。

   No, though our culture badly wants us to believe it is. My grandmother never held a job with a title - she raised five children, kept a market stall, and holds the whole extended family together - and by any measure that matters she has the most successful life of anyone I know. Work success is one route to respect and security, and for many people it's a genuine source of meaning. But plenty of people with brilliant careers have hollow lives, and plenty with ordinary jobs have rich ones. I'd say a successful life needs something you're good at and someone who's glad you exist, and neither of those has to happen at work.

   查看中文翻译

   不是的,尽管我们的文化极力想让我们相信是这样。我奶奶从来没有过什么带头衔的工作——她养大了五个孩子,经营着一个市场摊位,还把整个大家族凝聚在一起——按照任何真正重要的标准来衡量,她的人生是我所认识的人当中最成功的人生。工作上的成功是通往尊重和安全感的一条路径,对很多人来说也是真正意义的来源。但很多事业辉煌的人生活却是空洞的,而很多做着普通工作的人生活却很充实。我想说,成功的人生需要一样自己擅长的东西,还需要一个因为你的存在而感到高兴的人,而这两样东西都不一定要在工作中实现。

   为什么是这个分数

   • LR“she has the most successful life of anyone I know” — The absolute superlative claim ('the most successful life of anyone I know') is bolder and more idiomatic than the hedged 'one of the most successful lives I know' phrasing at band 7.0, showing more confident, precise word choice.这个绝对最高级的论断(“the most successful life of anyone I know”)比7.0分那种带有保留意味的“one of the most successful lives I know”更大胆、更地道,展现出更自信、更精确的用词选择。
   • GRA“and neither of those has to happen at work” — The pronoun 'those' compactly refers back to both conditions named in the previous clause, a more economical construction than repeating or restating them, characteristic of band 7.5's tighter grammar.代词“those”紧凑地回指前一分句中提到的两个条件,比重复或重述它们更经济,是7.5分更紧凑语法的典型特征。
   • FC“But plenty of people with brilliant careers have hollow lives, and plenty with ordinary jobs have rich ones.” — A tight, symmetrical two-part contrast lands the counterargument in one balanced sentence, giving the point a more polished, deliberate rhythm than a looser equivalent would.一个紧凑、对称的两部分对比,把反驳论点落在了一个平衡的句子里,比一个更松散的对应版本展现出更精致、更刻意的节奏。

6. 6. Does having a positive attitude always bring financial success?

   2026年9–12月
   查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比

   6.5 分

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct 'no, not always' opinion with one example, using the plain connector 'but' once and simple vocabulary like 'even seen' and 'what actually works'.6.5分的答案给出了一个直接的“不,不总是这样”的观点,配上一个例子,使用了一次平实的连接词“but”,以及像“even seen”和“what actually works”这样简单的词汇。

   No, not always. I once met a very cheerful café owner near my office who greeted every customer like an old friend, and he still went bankrupt within a year because the coffee was bad and the rent was high. Attitude does help, since optimistic people keep going after setbacks and are nicer to work with, which can bring opportunities. But it can't replace a good product, good numbers, and some luck. I've even seen positive thinking become a way of avoiding problems instead of solving them. A positive attitude combined with a realistic one is probably what actually works.

   查看中文翻译

   不一定,不总是这样。我曾经认识一位在我办公室附近开咖啡馆的老板,他非常开朗,对每一位客人都像对待老朋友一样热情,可他还是在一年之内就破产了,因为咖啡不好喝,租金又高。态度确实有帮助,因为乐观的人在遭遇挫折后依然会继续前进,而且更让人愿意与之共事,这能带来机会。但它无法替代一个好产品、好的账目数字,以及一些运气。我甚至见过积极思维变成了一种逃避问题、而不是解决问题的方式。一种积极的态度,再结合一种现实的态度,这大概才是真正管用的东西。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“I once met a very cheerful café owner near my office who greeted every customer like an old friend, and he still went bankrupt within a year because the coffee was bad and the rent was high.” — A long sentence built with 'who', 'and' and 'because', a fairly basic way of stacking clauses. A band 7 answer would likely split this differently for a tighter, more dramatic effect.一个用“who”、“and”和“because”构建的长句,是一种相当基础的堆叠分句的方式。7分水平的答案很可能会用不同的方式拆分它,以求更紧凑、更有戏剧性的效果。
   • LR“become a way of avoiding problems instead of solving them” — A plain, functional phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more vivid or idiomatic way to describe positive thinking used as a form of avoidance.一个平实、功能性的短语。更高分的答案很可能会用一种更生动或更地道的方式,来描述被当作逃避手段的积极思维。
   • FC“A positive attitude combined with a realistic one is probably what actually works.” — A short, flat closing sentence stating the conclusion directly. A 7.5 answer would more likely phrase this same conclusion as a punchier, more compressed final line.一个简短、平淡的结尾句,直接陈述了结论。7.5分的答案更可能把同样的结论表达成一个更有力、更凝练的收尾句。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer opens with the idiomatic 'and "always" is doing a lot of work in that question' and closes with the more compact 'the combination that actually pays', showing sharper phrasing than the plainer band 6.5 sentences.7.0分的答案以地道的“and ‘always’ is doing a lot of work in that question”开头,并以更紧凑的“the combination that actually pays”收尾,比6.5分更平实的句子展现出更犀利的措辞。

   Not always, no - and 'always' is doing a lot of work in that question. The most relentlessly cheerful business owner I've ever met ran a café near my office, greeted every customer like a long-lost friend, and went bankrupt within a year because the coffee was bad and the rent was high. Attitude helps: optimists keep going after setbacks and are nicer to work with, which brings opportunities. But it's no substitute for a good product, sound numbers and luck. If anything, I've seen positive thinking become a way of not looking at problems. A positive attitude plus a realistic one is the combination that actually pays.

   查看中文翻译

   不总是这样,不——而且这个问题里的“always”(总是)可大有文章。我见过的最坚持不懈的乐观生意人,在我办公室附近开了一家咖啡馆,对每一位客人都像对待失散多年的老友一样热情,结果一年之内就破产了,因为咖啡不好喝,租金又高。态度确实有帮助:乐观的人在遭遇挫折后依然会继续前进,而且更让人愿意与之共事,这能带来机会。但它无法替代一个好产品、扎实的账目数字,以及运气。如果说有什么区别的话,我见过积极思维变成了一种不去正视问题的方式。一种积极的态度加上一种现实的态度,这才是真正有回报的组合。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“and 'always' is doing a lot of work in that question” — An idiomatic phrase ('doing a lot of work') is used to comment on the question itself, a more reflective, self-aware opening than the flatter 'is really the key word' phrasing at band 6.5.一个地道的短语(“doing a lot of work”)被用来评论问题本身,比6.5分更平淡的“is really the key word”展现出更具反思性、更有自我意识的开头。
   • LR“If anything, I've seen positive thinking become a way of not looking at problems” — The phrase 'a way of not looking at problems' is more precise and slightly ironic than the plainer 'a way of avoiding problems instead of solving them' phrasing used at band 6.5.短语“a way of not looking at problems”比6.5分使用的更平实的“a way of avoiding problems instead of solving them”更精确,也带有一丝反讽意味。
   • GRA“Attitude helps: optimists keep going after setbacks and are nicer to work with, which brings opportunities.” — A colon introduces the explanation directly, followed by a 'which' clause, a more compact and varied structure than the fuller 'since' clause a band 6.5 answer used for the same content.一个冒号直接引出解释,后面跟着一个“which”分句,比6.5分答案对同样内容使用的更完整的“since”分句展现出更紧凑、更多变的结构。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer uses the vivid verb 'curdle' for positive thinking turning sour, and the participial closing 'done in by bad coffee and worse rent', showing more compressed, image-based grammar than the fuller band 7.0 sentences.7.5分的答案用生动的动词“curdle”(变质、变酸)来形容积极思维走向反面,并用分词结构收尾“done in by bad coffee and worse rent”,比7.0分更完整的句子展现出更凝练、更具画面感的语法。

   Always, no - that word is doing a lot of heavy lifting in the question. The most relentlessly cheerful business owner I've ever met ran a café near my office, greeted every customer like a long-lost friend, and was bankrupt within the year, done in by bad coffee and worse rent. Attitude does help: optimists keep going after setbacks and are simply nicer to work with, which tends to open doors. But it's no substitute for a decent product, sound numbers, and a slice of luck. If anything, I've watched positive thinking curdle into a way of refusing to look at problems at all. Attitude paired with realism is the combination that actually pays off.

   查看中文翻译

   “总是”,不——这个词在这个问题里可承担了不少重活。我见过的最坚持不懈的乐观生意人,在我办公室附近开了一家咖啡馆,对每一位客人都像对待失散多年的老友一样热情,结果不到一年就破产了,毁在了难喝的咖啡和更糟糕的租金上。态度确实有帮助:乐观的人在遭遇挫折后依然会继续前进,而且更单纯地让人愿意与之共事,这往往能打开一些机会之门。但它无法替代一个像样的产品、扎实的账目数字,以及一点点运气。如果说有什么区别的话,我曾眼看着积极思维变质,变成了一种彻底拒绝正视问题的方式。态度配上现实主义,这才是真正有回报的组合。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“was bankrupt within the year, done in by bad coffee and worse rent” — A participial phrase ('done in by...') replaces the fuller 'because the coffee was bad and the rent was high' clause used at band 7.0, a more compact and flexible way of attaching the cause.一个分词短语(“done in by...”)取代了7.0分使用的更完整的“because the coffee was bad and the rent was high”分句,是一种更紧凑、更灵活的方式来附加原因。
   • LR“I've watched positive thinking curdle into a way of refusing to look at problems” — The verb 'curdle', borrowed from describing milk turning sour, is a vivid, less-common metaphor for optimism souring into denial, more distinctive than the plainer 'become a way of not looking at problems' phrasing at band 7.0.动词“curdle”借用自形容牛奶变酸的说法,是一个生动、不那么常见的隐喻,用来形容乐观变质成为逃避现实,比7.0分更平实的“become a way of not looking at problems”更有特色。
   • FC“Attitude paired with realism is the combination that actually pays off” — The phrase 'paired with' replaces the plainer 'plus' used at band 7.0, and 'pays off' extends the closing pun slightly further, giving the final line a marginally more polished, idiomatic finish.短语“paired with”取代了7.0分使用的更平实的“plus”,而“pays off”则把结尾的双关又推进了一点,让最后这句话多了一丝更精致、更地道的收尾感。

7. 7. Why is fame seen as a desirable form of success by many people?

   2026年9–12月
   查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比

   6.5 分

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct 'because' reason with one example and two extra points, using the plain connector 'also' once and simple vocabulary like 'never feeling lonely' and 'turn off'.6.5分的答案给出了一个直接的“because”理由,配上一个例子和两个额外的观点,使用了一次平实的连接词“also”,以及像“never feeling lonely”和“turn off”这样简单的词汇。

   Because it's the type of success everyone can see. A classmate of mine once had an app covered in the press, and within a week people who had ignored him for years started treating him like an expert, even though nothing about his skill had changed, only how visible he was. Fame promises everything else at once - money, respect, being chosen, never feeling lonely. And it looks easy from the outside, especially since people can become known from a bedroom. What people don't see is that fame is attention, not admiration, and attention is something you can't turn off.

   查看中文翻译

   因为这是一种人人都能看得见的成功。我的一位同学有一次做的App被媒体报道了,一周之内,那些多年来都无视他的人开始把他当专家一样对待,尽管他的能力其实什么都没变,变的只是他的曝光度。名气一下子承诺了其他一切——金钱、尊重、被选中,还有永不孤单。而且从外面看,它显得很容易获得,尤其是因为现在人们可以坐在卧室里就出名。人们看不到的是,名气其实是关注,而不是敬佩,而关注这种东西是没有开关可以关掉的。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“A classmate of mine once had an app covered in the press, and within a week people who had ignored him for years started treating him like an expert, even though nothing about his skill had changed, only how visible he was.” — A long sentence built from 'and', 'who' and 'even though' clauses stacked together, a fairly basic way of packing in detail. A band 7 answer would more likely split this into two tighter sentences.一个由“and”、“who”和“even though”分句堆叠构建起来的长句,是一种相当基础的塞进细节的方式。7分水平的答案更可能把它拆成两个更紧凑的句子。
   • LR“everything else at once” — A plain, general phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more precise or vivid word to describe fame promising several things simultaneously.一个平实、笼统的短语。更高分的答案很可能会用一个更精确或更生动的词,来描述名气同时承诺好几样东西这件事。
   • FC“What people don't see is that fame is attention, not admiration, and attention is something you can't turn off.” — A flat closing sentence stating the distinction directly. A 7.5 answer would more likely add a final reflective remark acknowledging how hard this truth is to learn from a distance.一个平淡的结尾句,直接陈述了这个区分。7.5分的答案更可能加上一句最后的反思性话语,承认从远处很难领会到这个真相。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer replaces the 'even though' clause with a compact dash-led contrast ('nothing about his skill had changed, only his visibility'), and lists the promised forms of success in a tight colon-led list, showing more economical phrasing than band 6.5.7.0分的答案用一个紧凑的、由破折号引出的对比(“nothing about his skill had changed, only his visibility”)取代了“even though”分句,并用一个紧凑的、由冒号引出的列表列出了名气所承诺的各种成功形式,比6.5分展现出更经济的措辞。

   Because it's the form of success that everyone can see. A classmate of mine had an app covered in the press once, and within a week people who'd ignored him for years were treating him as an expert - nothing about his skill had changed, only his visibility. Fame also seems to promise all the other forms at once: money, respect, being chosen, never being lonely. And it looks easy from the outside, especially now that people can become known from a bedroom. What people don't see is that fame is attention, not admiration, and attention is something you can't switch off.

   查看中文翻译

   因为这是一种人人都能看得见的成功形式。我的一位同学曾经有一次做的App被媒体报道了,一周之内,那些多年来都无视他的人开始把他当专家一样对待——他的能力其实什么都没变,变的只是他的曝光度。名气似乎还一下子承诺了其他所有形式的成功:金钱、尊重、被选中、永不孤单。而且从外面看,它显得很容易获得,尤其是现在人们可以坐在卧室里就出名。人们看不到的是,名气其实是关注,而不是敬佩,而关注这种东西是没有开关可以切换掉的。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“within a week people who'd ignored him for years were treating him as an expert - nothing about his skill had changed, only his visibility” — A dash introduces a compact contrastive clause in place of the fuller 'even though...only how visible he was' construction used at band 6.5, a more economical and polished structure.一个破折号引出了一个紧凑的对比分句,取代了6.5分使用的更完整的“even though...only how visible he was”结构,是一种更经济、更精致的结构。
   • LR“Fame also seems to promise all the other forms at once” — The phrase 'all the other forms' is more precise than the vaguer 'everything else' phrasing at band 6.5, treating fame as one category among several named kinds of success.短语“all the other forms”比6.5分更模糊的“everything else”更精确,把名气当作与几个被点名的成功类型并列的一个类别来对待。
   • FC“money, respect, being chosen, never being lonely” — A tight, comma-separated list with no connecting words gives this line a punchier rhythm than a fuller list joined with 'and', a small stylistic choice typical of band 7.0.一份紧凑的、用逗号分隔、没有连接词的列表,比一个用“and”连接的更完整的列表展现出更有力的节奏,是7.0分典型的一个小小的文体选择。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer adds the short, reflective final sentence 'But you have to be quite close to it to learn that', a compact closing twist that acknowledges the limits of outside observation, sharper than band 7.0's ending.7.5分的答案加上了一句简短的、反思性的结尾句“But you have to be quite close to it to learn that”,这是一个紧凑的收尾转折,承认了旁观者观察的局限性,比7.0分的结尾更犀利。

   Because it's the form of success that everyone can see. A classmate of mine had an app covered in the press once, and within a week people who'd ignored him for years were treating him as an expert - nothing about his skill had changed, only his visibility. Fame also seems to promise all the other forms at once: money, respect, being chosen, never being lonely. And it looks easy from the outside, especially now that people can become known from a bedroom. What people don't see is that fame is attention, not admiration, and attention is something you can't switch off. But you have to be quite close to it to learn that.

   查看中文翻译

   因为这是一种人人都能看得见的成功形式。我的一位同学曾经有一次做的App被媒体报道了,一周之内,那些多年来都无视他的人开始把他当专家一样对待——他的能力其实什么都没变,变的只是他的曝光度。名气似乎还一下子承诺了其他所有形式的成功:金钱、尊重、被选中、永不孤单。而且从外面看,它显得很容易获得,尤其是现在人们可以坐在卧室里就出名。人们看不到的是,名气其实是关注,而不是敬佩,而关注这种东西是没有开关可以切换掉的。但你得离它相当近,才能明白这一点。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“But you have to be quite close to it to learn that.” — A short, understated final sentence adds a reflective twist about the limits of knowing this from outside, giving the answer a more deliberate, self-aware close than the flatter ending at band 7.0.一句简短、含蓄的结尾句,加上了一个关于“旁观者认知局限”的反思性转折,比7.0分那种更平淡的结尾赋予了这篇答案更刻意、更具自我意识的收尾。
   • LR“attention is something you can't switch off” — The verb 'switch off', evoking a device, is a vivid, concrete metaphor for describing an abstract state, more distinctive than a plainer verb like 'stop' or 'end'.动词“switch off”让人联想到一个设备,是一个生动、具体的隐喻,用来描述一种抽象的状态,比“stop”或“end”这样更平实的动词更有特色。
   • GRA“especially now that people can become known from a bedroom” — The compact prepositional phrase 'from a bedroom' stands in for a fuller explanation of internet fame, an economical, image-based construction rather than a longer explanatory clause.紧凑的介词短语“from a bedroom”代替了对“网络成名”这件事更完整的解释,是一种经济的、依靠画面感的构造,而不是一个更长的解释性分句。

8. 8. Why are some successful people unhappy with their lives?

   2026年9–12月
   查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比

   6.5 分

   The 6.5 answer gives one main reason with one example and two extra points, using the plain connector 'also' once and simple vocabulary like 'moving' and 'find nobody there'.6.5分的答案给出了一个主要理由,配上一个例子和两个额外的观点,使用了一次平实的连接词“also”,以及像“moving”和“find nobody there”这样简单的词汇。

   Often because they aimed at a target instead of a life. A former boss of mine achieved every professional goal he'd set for himself over ten years, and when I met him again after he'd sold the company, he told me he had no idea what to do with a Sunday. Success is built by giving things up - relationships, health, curiosity - and the cost shows up later. There's the problem of goals moving, since each achievement feels normal within a month. And some chase their parents' idea of success, and reach it only to find nobody there.

   查看中文翻译

   通常是因为他们瞄准的是一个目标,而不是一种生活。我以前的一位老板,十年间实现了他给自己设定的每一个事业目标,后来他把公司卖掉了,我再见到他时,他告诉我他完全不知道该拿一个周日怎么办。成功是靠放弃一些东西建立起来的——人际关系、健康、好奇心——而代价会在后来才显现出来。还有一个“目标在移动”的问题,因为每一次成就在一个月之内就会变得稀松平常。也有些人追逐的是父母心目中的成功标准,等真正达到时,却发现那里根本没有人在等他们。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“A former boss of mine achieved every professional goal he'd set for himself over ten years, and when I met him again after he'd sold the company, he told me he had no idea what to do with a Sunday.” — A long sentence built with 'and' and 'when' clauses stacked together, a fairly direct way of packing in the whole anecdote. A band 7.5 answer would likely trim this into a tighter, more compressed structure.一个用“and”和“when”分句堆叠构建起来的长句,是一种相当直接的方式来塞进整段轶事。7.5分水平的答案很可能会把它修剪成一个更紧凑、更凝练的结构。
   • LR“the problem of goals moving” — A plain, general phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more specific or idiomatic term, such as 'moving goalposts', to describe the same phenomenon.一个平实、笼统的短语。更高分的答案很可能会用一个更具体或更地道的术语,比如“moving goalposts”,来描述同样的现象。
   • FC“and reach it only to find nobody there” — A short, plain closing image. A 7.5 answer would more likely sharpen this final phrase into a more vivid or unexpected word choice for a stronger emotional close.一个简短、平实的结尾意象。7.5分的答案更可能把这个最后的短语打磨得更生动或更出人意料,以求一个更强烈的情感收尾。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer upgrades 'giving things up' to the more precise 'sacrificing', and 'goals moving' to the idiomatic 'moving goalposts', showing sharper, more distinctive vocabulary than band 6.5.7.0分的答案把“giving things up”升级为更精确的“sacrificing”,把“goals moving”升级为地道的“moving goalposts”,比6.5分展现出更犀利、更有特色的词汇。

   Often because they aimed at a target instead of a life. A former boss of mine hit every professional goal he'd set himself for a decade, and when I ran into him after he'd sold the company, he told me he had no idea what to do with a Sunday. Success tends to be built by sacrificing things - relationships, health, curiosity - and the bill arrives later. There's also the problem of moving goalposts: each achievement feels ordinary within a month. And some people were chasing their parents' definition of success rather than their own, and reach it only to find nobody home.

   查看中文翻译

   通常是因为他们瞄准的是一个目标,而不是一种生活。我以前的一位老板,十年间实现了他给自己设定的每一个事业目标,后来他把公司卖了,我偶然碰见他时,他告诉我他完全不知道该拿一个周日怎么办。成功往往是靠牺牲一些东西建立起来的——人际关系、健康、好奇心——而账单会在后来才寄到。还有一个“目标线不断移动”的问题:每一次成就在一个月之内就会变得稀松平常。也有些人追逐的其实是父母对成功的定义,而不是他们自己的,等真正达到时,却发现家里空无一人。

   为什么是这个分数

   • LR“the problem of moving goalposts” — A precise, idiomatic phrase ('moving goalposts') replacing the vaguer 'goals moving' description used at band 6.5, naming the phenomenon with an established figure of speech.一个精确、地道的短语(“moving goalposts”)取代了6.5分使用的更模糊的“goals moving”描述,用一个约定俗成的修辞法给这个现象命了名。
   • GRA“Success tends to be built by sacrificing things - relationships, health, curiosity - and the bill arrives later.” — A dash-separated list is dropped directly into the sentence, followed by a compact metaphorical clause ('the bill arrives later'), a more economical structure than the fuller sentence a band 6.5 answer used for the same idea.一份用破折号隔开的列表被直接放进了句子里,后面跟着一个紧凑的隐喻性分句(“the bill arrives later”),比6.5分答案对同样想法使用的更完整的句子更经济。
   • FC“and reach it only to find nobody home” — The idiom 'nobody home' gives the closing image a sharper, more evocative finish than the plainer 'find nobody there' phrasing used at band 6.5.习语“nobody home”(家里没人/心不在焉)比6.5分使用的更平实的“find nobody there”为结尾意象增添了更犀利、更有感染力的收尾。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer adds the compact closing line 'Happiness seems to need something success can't supply, which is enough', a compressed final abstraction that gives the answer a more philosophical, deliberate finish than band 7.0's ending.7.5分的答案加上了紧凑的结尾句“Happiness seems to need something success can't supply, which is enough”,这是一个凝练的最终抽象总结,比7.0分的结尾赋予了这篇答案更哲学化、更刻意的收尾。

   Often because they aimed at a target instead of a life. A former boss of mine hit every professional goal he'd set himself for a decade, and when I ran into him after he'd sold the company, he told me he had no idea what to do with a Sunday. Success tends to be built by sacrificing things - relationships, health, curiosity - and the bill arrives later. There's also the problem of moving goalposts: each achievement feels ordinary within a month. And some people were chasing their parents' definition of success rather than their own, and reach it only to find nobody home. Happiness seems to need something success can't supply, which is enough.

   查看中文翻译

   通常是因为他们瞄准的是一个目标,而不是一种生活。我以前的一位老板,十年间实现了他给自己设定的每一个事业目标,后来他把公司卖了,我偶然碰见他时,他告诉我他完全不知道该拿一个周日怎么办。成功往往是靠牺牲一些东西建立起来的——人际关系、健康、好奇心——而账单会在后来才寄到。还有一个“目标线不断移动”的问题:每一次成就在一个月之内就会变得稀松平常。也有些人追逐的其实是父母对成功的定义,而不是他们自己的,等真正达到时,却发现家里空无一人。幸福似乎需要一种成功无法提供的东西,而这一点本身就已经说明了一切。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“Happiness seems to need something success can't supply, which is enough.” — A final abstract, aphoristic sentence closes the answer with a generalising reflection rather than stopping at the last concrete example, giving it a more deliberate, essay-like finish typical of band 7.5.一个最终的抽象、格言式的句子,以一个概括性的反思结束了这篇答案,而不是停在最后一个具体的例子上,赋予了它7.5分典型的更刻意、更像论说文的收尾。
   • GRA“which is enough” — A minimal, verbless tag closes the final sentence rather than a fuller explanatory clause, a highly compressed construction that trusts the reader to fill in the meaning, characteristic of band 7.5's flexible grammar.一个极简、没有动词的标签式短语结束了最后一句话,而不是一个更完整的解释性分句,这是一种高度凝练的构造,信任读者自己去补全意思,是7.5分灵活语法的特征。
   • LR“something success can't supply” — The precise verb 'supply' treats happiness and success as comparable resources, a more distinctive and deliberate word choice than a plainer verb like 'give' or 'bring'.精确的动词“supply”把幸福和成功当作可以相互比较的资源来对待,比“give”或“bring”这样更平实的动词展现出更有特色、更刻意的用词选择。

9. 9. Is it impossible to feel successful without contributing to the good of society?

   2026年9–12月
   查看这道题的6.5 / 7.0 / 7.5三档对比

   6.5 分

   The 6.5 answer gives a direct 'not impossible' opinion with one example and one contrast, using the plain connector 'but' twice and simple vocabulary like 'a bit empty' and 'keep feeling that way'.6.5分的答案给出了一个直接的“不是不可能”的观点,配上一个例子和一个对比,使用了两次平实的连接词“but”,以及像“a bit empty”和“keep feeling that way”这样简单的词汇。

   Not impossible, I think, but harder than people expect. A friend of mine restores old motorbikes in his garage just for his own enjoyment, doesn't contribute anything to anyone, and seems completely happy - so private success clearly exists. But most people, once their needs are met, start looking for ways to matter to someone else, and success that helps nobody starts to feel a bit empty. In a culture like mine, where family and community are central, feeling successful automatically involves others. So it's possible to feel successful alone, but not many people manage to keep feeling that way.

   查看中文翻译

   我觉得不是不可能,但比人们想象的要难。我有一位朋友在自家车库里修复老式摩托车,纯粹是为了自己的乐趣,不对任何人有任何贡献,看起来却完全很开心——所以私人化的成功显然是存在的。但大多数人,一旦自己的需求得到满足,就会开始寻找方法让自己对别人有意义,而一种对任何人都没有帮助的成功,开始会让人感到有点空虚。在像我们这样以家庭和社区为中心的文化里,感受到成功自然而然就会牵扯到别人。所以一个人也可能感受到成功,但能一直保持这种感觉的人并不多。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“A friend of mine restores old motorbikes in his garage just for his own enjoyment, doesn't contribute anything to anyone, and seems completely happy - so private success clearly exists.” — A list of three verb phrases joined with commas and 'and', followed by a 'so' clause, a fairly basic way of building a long sentence. A band 7 answer would more likely tighten this into a punchier structure.一个由逗号和“and”连接的、由三个动词短语构成的列表,后面跟着一个“so”分句,是一种相当基础的构建长句的方式。7分水平的答案更可能把它收紧成一个更有力的结构。
   • LR“starts to feel a bit empty” — A plain, general phrase. A higher band answer would likely use a more precise or vivid word, such as 'weightless', to describe the same feeling more distinctively.一个平实、笼统的短语。更高分的答案很可能会用一个更精确或更生动的词,比如“weightless”,更有特色地描述同样的感觉。
   • FC“So it's possible to feel successful alone, but not many people manage to keep feeling that way.” — A flat closing sentence stating the conclusion directly with 'but'. A 7.5 answer would more likely phrase this final point more compactly, without repeating the word 'feel' twice.一个平淡的结尾句,用“but”直接陈述了结论。7.5分的答案更可能把这个最后的观点表达得更紧凑,不会重复使用“feel”这个词两次。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer upgrades 'a bit empty' to the more precise 'weightless', and replaces the closing 'but' with a semicolon-linked structure, giving a more sophisticated final contrast than band 6.5.7.0分的答案把“a bit empty”升级为更精确的“weightless”,并用分号连接的结构取代了结尾的“but”,比6.5分展现出更高明的最终对比。

   Not impossible, I think, but it's harder than people expect. A friend of mine restores old motorbikes in his garage purely for his own pleasure, contributes nothing to anyone, and seems completely fulfilled - so private success clearly exists. But I've noticed that most people, once their own needs are met, start looking for a way to matter to someone else, and success that helps nobody begins to feel weightless. In a culture like mine, where family and community are central, feeling successful automatically involves others. So it's possible to feel successful alone; it's just that few people manage to stay feeling that way.

   查看中文翻译

   我觉得不是不可能,但确实比人们想象的要难。我有一位朋友在自家车库里修复老式摩托车,纯粹是为了自己的享受,对任何人都没有任何贡献,看起来却完全感到满足——所以私人化的成功显然是存在的。但我注意到,大多数人,一旦自己的需求得到满足,就会开始寻找方法让自己对别人有意义,而一种对任何人都没有帮助的成功,开始会让人感到一种失重般的空虚。在像我们这样以家庭和社区为中心的文化里,感受到成功自然而然就会牵扯到别人。所以一个人也可能感受到成功;只不过能一直保持这种感觉的人很少。

   为什么是这个分数

   • LR“success that helps nobody begins to feel weightless” — A more vivid, precise adjective ('weightless') than the plainer 'a bit empty' phrasing used at band 6.5, giving the idea a more distinctive, almost physical quality.一个比6.5分使用的更平实的“a bit empty”更生动、更精确的形容词(“weightless”),让这个想法多了一种更有特色、近乎身体感官的质感。
   • GRA“So it's possible to feel successful alone; it's just that few people manage to stay feeling that way.” — A semicolon links two balanced clauses instead of the plain 'but' coordination used at band 6.5, a more sophisticated way of closing the contrast.一个分号连接了两个平衡的分句,而不是像6.5分那样使用平实的“but”并列,是一种更高明的方式来收尾这个对比。
   • FC“most people, once their own needs are met, start looking for a way to matter to someone else” — The inserted 'once their own needs are met' clause adds a reflective condition to the claim, a small elaborative touch typical of band 7.0 that a band 6.5 answer would more likely state as a flatter fact.插入的“once their own needs are met”分句为这个论断增添了一个反思性的条件,是7.0分典型的一个小小的阐发点缀,而6.5分的答案更可能把它陈述为一个更平淡的事实。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer uses the idiomatic 'drags other people into the picture' and the inserted aside 'in practice', showing more precise, flexible phrasing than the fuller band 7.0 sentences.7.5分的答案用了地道的“drags other people into the picture”,以及插入语“in practice”,比7.0分更完整的句子展现出更精确、更灵活的措辞。

   Not impossible, I'd say, though harder than it sounds. A friend of mine restores old motorbikes in his garage purely for his own pleasure, contributes nothing to anyone else, and seems entirely fulfilled by it - private success plainly exists. But most people, I've noticed, once their own needs are covered, start hunting for some way to matter to somebody else, and success that helps nobody begins to feel weightless before long. In a culture like mine, where family and community sit at the centre of everything, feeling successful almost inevitably drags other people into the picture. So it's possible to feel successful alone; very few people, in practice, manage to keep feeling that way for long.

   查看中文翻译

   我想说,不是不可能,不过比听起来要难。我有一位朋友在自家车库里修复老式摩托车,纯粹是为了自己的享受,对任何其他人都没有任何贡献,看起来却因此完全感到满足——私人化的成功显然是存在的。但我注意到,大多数人,一旦自己的需求得到满足,就会开始寻觅某种方法让自己对别人有意义,而一种对任何人都没有帮助的成功,不用多久就会开始让人感到一种失重般的空虚。在像我们这样以家庭和社区为一切核心的文化里,感受到成功几乎不可避免地会把别人也牵扯进这幅图景里。所以一个人也可能感受到成功;但实际上,能一直保持这种感觉很久的人少之又少。

   为什么是这个分数

   • GRA“once their own needs are covered, start hunting for some way to matter to somebody else” — The verb 'hunting' replaces the plainer 'looking' used at band 7.0, and 'covered' replaces 'met', small but deliberate upgrades that give the clause a slightly more vivid, active feel.动词“hunting”取代了7.0分使用的更平实的“looking”,“covered”取代了“met”,这些虽小但刻意的升级,让这个分句多了一分更生动、更主动的感觉。
   • LR“feeling successful almost inevitably drags other people into the picture” — The idiom 'drags...into the picture' is a vivid, less-common way of describing involvement, more distinctive than the plainer 'automatically involves others' phrasing used at band 7.0.习语“drags...into the picture”是一种生动、不那么常见的方式,用来描述“牵扯进来”这件事,比7.0分使用的更平实的“automatically involves others”更有特色。
   • FC“very few people, in practice, manage to keep feeling that way for long” — The inserted aside 'in practice' is placed mid-clause rather than left out, a more flexible position than band 7.0's plainer 'it's just that' framing, giving the closing line a slightly more considered, precise finish.插入语“in practice”被放在分句中间,而不是被省略,比7.0分更平实的“it's just that”框架更灵活,让结尾句多了一分更经过斟酌、更精确的收尾感。