An Activity You Do Routinely but Think Is a Waste of Time

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 kinds of things do people have to do every day?

   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 opens with a plain general statement and lists categories with 'like', ending with a simple summary sentence using 'a mix of both types'.6.5分的回答以一个平实的总体性陈述开头，用'like'列出各个类别，以一句简单的总结句'a mix of both types'收尾。

   People have to do basic things every day like eating, travelling to work, and doing some kind of job or study. Besides that, there are usually small routine tasks too, like checking messages, tidying up, or cooking. For me, my daily routine includes a twenty-minute motorbike ride to the office, plus sketching some design ideas over coffee before work really starts. Some daily tasks feel meaningful, like actual design work, while others feel more like maintenance, things you just have to do to keep life running. I think most people's days are a mix of both types.

   查看中文翻译

   人们每天都得做一些基本的事，比如吃饭、通勤上班，还有做某种工作或学习。除此之外，通常还会有一些日常的小任务，比如查看消息、整理东西，或者做饭。就我而言，我的日常作息包括骑二十分钟摩托车去公司，还有在真正开始工作之前，一边喝咖啡一边画一些设计草稿。有些日常任务感觉挺有意义的，比如真正的设计工作，而另一些则更像是维持性的事，只是为了让生活正常运转下去必须做的事情。我觉得大多数人的一天，都是这两种类型的混合。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“Besides that, there are usually small routine tasks too” — This is a simple, direct way of adding a second category using 'besides'; a higher band would likely fold this transition into a colon or dash instead of a full separate sentence.这是用'besides'加入第二个类别的一种简单、直接的方式；更高分段可能会把这个过渡融进冒号或破折号，而不是单独成句。
   • LR“keep life running” — 'Keep life running' is a common, general phrase; a higher band might vary this with a more vivid collocation, such as 'keep life ticking over'.'Keep life running'是一个常见、笼统的短语；更高分段可能会用一个更生动的搭配来变换表达，比如'keep life ticking over'。
   • GRA“Some daily tasks feel meaningful, like actual design work, while others feel more like maintenance, things you just have to do to keep life running” — This long sentence links ideas mainly with commas and 'while', a fairly basic way of contrasting two categories rather than a more compact colon-based structure.这个长句主要用逗号和'while'连接各个想法，是一种相当基础的方式来对比两个类别，而不是更紧凑的、以冒号为基础的结构。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer adds the reflective tag 'I'd say' and uses a dash to introduce examples instead of 'like', showing slightly more natural, varied punctuation than 6.5.7.0分的回答加入了反思性的补充'I'd say'，并用破折号而不是'like'来引出例子，展现出比6.5分略微更自然、更多样化的标点用法。

   Basic things like eating, commuting, and some form of work or study take up most of everyone's day, I'd say. Beyond that, there's usually a string of small routine tasks — checking messages, tidying up, maybe preparing meals. For me, the daily routine includes about twenty minutes commuting by motorbike to the office, plus sketching a few design ideas over coffee before the workday officially starts. Some daily tasks feel genuinely meaningful, like actual design work, while others feel more like maintenance, things you have to do just to keep life running smoothly rather than because they're enjoyable. I think most people's days end up a mix of both, purposeful tasks and the smaller, repetitive ones.

   查看中文翻译

   我想说，像吃饭、通勤、还有某种形式的工作或学习这样的基本事务，占据了每个人一天中的大部分时间。除此之外，通常还有一连串的日常小任务——查看消息、整理东西，或许还要准备三餐。就我而言，日常作息包括骑摩托车通勤大约二十分钟到公司，还有在正式开始工作之前，一边喝咖啡一边画一些设计草稿。有些日常任务感觉真正有意义，比如真正的设计工作，而另一些则更像是维持性的事，是你必须做的，只是为了让生活顺利运转下去，而不是因为它们本身让人愉快。我觉得大多数人的一天，最终都是有目的的任务和那些较小、重复性任务的混合。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“take up most of everyone's day, I'd say” — Inserting the hedge 'I'd say' after the main claim, rather than at the very beginning, shows a more natural, conversational rhythm than the flatter opener typical of 6.5.把缓和语'I'd say'插入在主要论断之后，而不是放在最开头，比6.5分典型的更平淡的开头，展现出更自然、更接近口语的节奏。
   • LR“a string of small routine tasks” — 'A string of' is a more vivid collocation for a series of small things than the plain phrasing used at 6.5, 'small routine tasks too'.'A string of'是一个比6.5分用来表达一系列小事的平实措辞'small routine tasks too'更生动的搭配。
   • GRA“things you have to do just to keep life running smoothly rather than because they're enjoyable” — This clause uses 'rather than because' to contrast two motivations within one sentence, a more complex structure than the shorter, separated phrasing at 6.5.这个从句用'rather than because'在一句话中对比了两种动机，比6.5分中更短、分开表达的方式是更复杂的结构。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer opens with a dash-punctuated list acting almost as the subject, uses the vivid verb 'jostling', and closes with a colon-introduced final contrast rather than a flat summary sentence.7.5分的回答以一个用破折号标点的列表开头，几乎充当主语，用了生动的动词'jostling'，并以一个用冒号引出的最终对比收尾，而不是一句平淡的总结句。

   Basic things — eating, commuting, some form of work or study — swallow up most of everyone's day. Beyond that sits a string of small routine tasks: checking messages, tidying up, maybe preparing meals. My own routine includes about twenty minutes commuting by motorbike to the office, plus sketching a few design ideas over coffee before the workday properly starts. Some daily tasks feel genuinely purposeful, like actual design work, while others feel closer to maintenance — things done simply to keep life ticking over rather than because they're enjoyable. I'd say most people's days end up a blend of the two: the meaningful and the merely repetitive, jostling for the same few hours.

   查看中文翻译

   基本的事情——吃饭、通勤、某种形式的工作或学习——吞噬掉了每个人一天中的大部分时间。在这之外，还有一连串的日常小任务：查看消息、整理东西，或许准备三餐。我自己的日常作息包括骑摩托车通勤大约二十分钟到公司，还有在工作日真正开始之前，一边喝咖啡一边画一些设计草稿。有些日常任务感觉真正有目的，比如真正的设计工作，而另一些则更接近维持性的事——是为了让生活维持运转而做的，而不是因为它们本身让人愉快。我想说大多数人的一天，最终都是这两者的融合：有意义的和纯粹重复的，在同样有限的几个小时里互相争抢空间。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“Basic things — eating, commuting, some form of work or study — swallow up most of everyone's day” — Interrupting the subject with a dash-marked list before completing the verb is a compact, essay-like structure that a 6.5 or 7.0 answer, both of which state examples after the main clause, would be unlikely to attempt.用一个破折号标出的列表打断主语，之后再补完动词，这是一种紧凑、近乎论说文式的结构，6.5分或7.0分的回答——两者都是在主句之后才陈述例子——都不太可能尝试。
   • LR“jostling for the same few hours” — 'Jostling' used metaphorically for competing tasks is a vivid, less-common verb choice, more figurative than the plain phrasing used at the lower bands, such as 'a mix of both'.用'jostling'来比喻性地表达任务之间的争抢，是一个生动、不太常见的动词选择，比较低分段用的平实措辞（比如'a mix of both'）更具比喻色彩。
   • GRA“I'd say most people's days end up a blend of the two: the meaningful and the merely repetitive, jostling for the same few hours” — The colon introduces a compact appositive explanation followed by a present-participle phrase ('jostling...'), fusing two ideas into one flexible sentence rather than the separate, simpler sentence used at 6.5.冒号引出了一个简练的同位语式解释，后面跟着一个现在分词短语（'jostling...'），把两个想法融合进一个灵活的句子里，而不是6.5分中用的独立、更简单的句子。

2. 2. How important is it to have a daily routine?

   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 opens with a direct opinion ('I think it is quite important because...') and adds a concession with 'But', closing with a simple 'Overall, I think' summary.6.5分的回答以一个直接的观点开头（'I think it is quite important because...'），用'But'加入一个让步，以简单的'Overall, I think'总结句收尾。

   I think it is quite important because it removes the need to decide everything from the start every day. My morning routine of coffee and sketching before checking messages means I start work already feeling productive, instead of not knowing where to begin. Routines also give a feeling of stability, which is helpful during stressful times because part of the day feels predictable. But I think routines need some flexibility too, because being too strict can make sudden changes feel worse. Overall, I think having a loose routine is better than having no routine at all.

   查看中文翻译

   我觉得这相当重要，因为它省去了每天从头开始决定一切的必要。我早上的习惯是先喝咖啡、画草图，再查看消息，这意味着我开始工作时已经处于一种有成效的状态，而不是不知道该从哪里开始。习惯还能带来一种稳定感，这在压力大的时候很有帮助，因为一天中至少有一部分是可以预见的。但我觉得习惯也需要一些灵活性，因为过于死板会让突发的变化感觉更糟。总的来说，我觉得有一个松散的习惯，总比完全没有习惯要好。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“not knowing where to begin” — This is a plain, literal phrase; a higher band would likely use a more vivid, idiomatic verb such as 'scrambling to figure out where to begin'.这是一个平实、字面化的短语；更高分段可能会用一个更生动、地道的动词，比如'scrambling to figure out where to begin'。
   • LR“a feeling of stability” — 'A feeling of stability' is plain, everyday wording; a higher band might use a more precise phrase, such as 'a sense of stability'.'A feeling of stability'是平实、日常的措辞；更高分段可能会用一个更精准的短语，比如'a sense of stability'。
   • GRA“But I think routines need some flexibility too, because being too strict can make sudden changes feel worse” — This sentence gives a reason directly with 'because', a basic way of justifying a concession rather than a more layered structure with an inserted aside.这句话直接用'because'给出理由，是给出让步理由的一种基本方式，而不是用插入语构建出更有层次的结构。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer adds the concessive opener 'That said' and the vivid phrase 'productive headspace', giving more natural signposting and precision than the flatter 6.5 version.7.0分的回答加入了让步性的开头'That said'，以及生动的短语'productive headspace'，比更平淡的6.5分版本展现出更自然的信号引导和更精准的表达。

   I think it's genuinely important, mainly because it removes the mental effort of deciding everything from scratch every single day. Having a consistent morning routine, coffee and sketching before checking messages, means I start work already in a productive headspace rather than scrambling to figure out where to begin. Routines also create a sense of stability, which helps during stressful periods since at least part of the day feels predictable and under control. That said, I think routines need some flexibility built in, since being too rigid can make unexpected changes feel more disruptive than they need to be. Overall though, I'd say a loose routine benefits most people more than having none at all.

   查看中文翻译

   我觉得这确实很重要，主要是因为它省去了每天从头开始决定一切的脑力消耗。有一套固定的晨间习惯——喝咖啡、画草图，再查看消息——意味着我开始工作时已经处于一种有成效的心理状态，而不是手忙脚乱地想该从哪里下手。习惯也能带来一种稳定感，这在压力大的时候很有帮助，因为至少有一部分的一天感觉是可预见、可掌控的。话虽如此，我觉得习惯也需要内置一些灵活性，因为太死板会让意料之外的变化，感觉比它实际应有的破坏性更大。不过总的来说，我想说对大多数人而言，一个松散的习惯，比完全没有习惯要更有益处。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“rather than scrambling to figure out where to begin” — 'Scrambling' is a more vivid, precise verb for rushed effort than the plain phrase used at 6.5, 'not knowing where to begin'.'Scrambling'是一个比6.5分平实短语'not knowing where to begin'更生动、更精准的动词，用来表达匆忙的努力。
   • LR“a productive headspace” — 'Headspace' is a more specific, slightly informal-yet-precise noun for a mental state than the plain phrase used at 6.5, 'feeling productive'.'Headspace'是一个比6.5分平实短语'feeling productive'更具体、略带非正式却又精准的名词，用来描述一种心理状态。
   • GRA“That said, I think routines need some flexibility built in, since being too rigid can make unexpected changes feel more disruptive than they need to be” — This sentence combines the concessive opener 'That said' with a 'since' clause explaining the reason, showing more complex subordination than the simpler 'But... because' sentence at 6.5.这句话把让步性的开头'That said'和一个解释理由的'since'从句结合在一起，展现出比6.5分中更简单的'But... because'句子更复杂的从属结构。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer opens directly with the adjective phrase 'Genuinely important, I'd say' instead of a full sentence, uses the idiomatic phrase 'some give built into them', and closes with the compact 'On balance, though' aside.7.5分的回答直接以形容词短语'Genuinely important, I'd say'开头，而不是一个完整的句子，用了地道的短语'some give built into them'，并以简练的'On balance, though'插入语收尾。

   Genuinely important, I'd say, mainly because it spares you the mental effort of deciding everything from scratch every single day. A consistent morning routine — coffee and sketching before checking messages — means I start work already in a productive headspace rather than scrambling to figure out where to begin. Routines also lend a sense of stability, which matters most during stressful stretches, when at least part of the day still feels predictable and under control. That said, routines need some give built into them, since being too rigid can make an unexpected change feel far more disruptive than it needs to. On balance, though, a loose routine beats no routine at all for most people I know.

   查看中文翻译

   我想说，这确实很重要，主要是因为它省去了每天从头开始决定一切的脑力消耗。一套固定的晨间习惯——喝咖啡、画草图，再查看消息——意味着我开始工作时已经处于一种有成效的心理状态，而不是手忙脚乱地想该从哪里下手。习惯也能带来一种稳定感，这在压力最大的阶段最为重要，因为至少有一部分的一天仍然感觉是可预见、可掌控的。话虽如此，习惯也需要内置一些余地，因为太死板会让意料之外的变化，感觉比它实际应有的破坏性大得多。不过总的来说，对我认识的大多数人来说，一个松散的习惯，胜过完全没有习惯。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“Genuinely important, I'd say, mainly because it spares you the mental effort” — Opening with a bare adjective phrase before the main clause is a compact, essay-like structure that a 6.5 or 7.0 answer, both of which open with a full subject-verb sentence, would be unlikely to attempt.在主句之前用一个裸形容词短语开头，是一种紧凑、近乎论说文式的结构，6.5分或7.0分的回答——两者都以完整的主谓句开头——都不太可能尝试。
   • LR“routines need some give built into them” — 'Give' used as a noun meaning flexibility is a precise, idiomatic, less-common word choice, more sophisticated than the plain noun 'flexibility' used at the lower bands.'Give'作为名词使用，意思是灵活性，是一个精准、地道、不太常见的用词选择，比较低分段用的平实名词'flexibility'更为老到。
   • GRA“which matters most during stressful stretches, when at least part of the day still feels predictable and under control” — A relative clause ('which matters most...') followed by a nested 'when' clause packages two layers of explanation into one sentence, a more compact structure than the separated clauses used at 6.5.一个定语从句（'which matters most...'）后面跟着一个嵌套的'when'从句，把两层解释打包进了一个句子里，比6.5分中分开的从句是更紧凑的结构。

3. 3. How can people make everyday chores less boring?

   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 opens with 'I think pairing...' and lists three tips joined by 'also' and 'too', ending with a plain explanation using 'because'.6.5分的回答以'I think pairing...'开头，用'also'和'too'连接列出三个建议，以用'because'构成的平实解释收尾。

   I think pairing a boring task with something enjoyable usually helps, like listening to a podcast while ironing, which is honestly the only way I manage to finish it without getting annoyed. Turning chores into a small challenge, like timing how fast you can clean a room, can also make it feel less boring. Doing chores with someone else helps too, because talking distracts you from how repetitive the task is. I think chores feel boring because they only need just enough attention to stop you from thinking about anything else interesting.

   查看中文翻译

   我觉得把一件无聊的任务和一件愉快的事情结合起来，通常会有帮助，比如一边熨衣服一边听播客，老实说这是我能不觉得心烦地把衣服熨完的唯一办法。把家务变成一个小小的挑战，比如给自己计时看能多快打扫完一个房间，也能让它感觉没那么无聊。和别人一起做家务也有帮助，因为聊天能让你分心，不去想这件事有多重复。我觉得家务之所以让人觉得无聊，是因为它只需要刚好够用的注意力，让你没办法去想别的更有意思的事。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“without getting annoyed” — This is a plain, everyday phrase for frustration; a higher band would likely use a more vivid idiom, such as 'without losing my mind'.这是一个平实、日常的表达挫败感的短语；更高分段可能会用一个更生动的习语，比如'without losing my mind'。
   • LR“a small challenge” — 'A small challenge' is a general, common phrase; a higher band might specify this further with a more vivid, informal term such as 'mini-challenge'.'A small challenge'是一个笼统、常见的短语；更高分段可能会用一个更生动、更非正式的词进一步具体化，比如'mini-challenge'。
   • GRA“Doing chores with someone else helps too, because talking distracts you from how repetitive the task is” — This sentence gives a reason directly with 'because', a basic connector, rather than the more advanced 'since' clause used at higher bands.这句话直接用基本连接词'because'给出理由，而不是更高分段所用的更高级的'since'从句。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer drops the initial 'I think' for a more direct opening and adds a longer closing sentence that lists examples (music, a call, a podcast) inside a single flowing structure.7.0分的回答去掉了开头的'I think'，改用更直接的开场方式，并加了一个更长的结尾句，在一个流畅的结构中列出了例子（音乐、打电话、播客）。

   Pairing a boring task with something enjoyable usually helps, like listening to a podcast while ironing, which is honestly the only way I get through it without losing my mind. Turning chores into a small challenge, like timing how fast you can tidy a room, can also make them feel less tedious. Doing chores with someone else helps too, since conversation distracts from the repetitiveness of the task itself. I think the boredom mostly comes from chores requiring just enough attention to stop you thinking about anything else interesting, so anything that fills that gap, music, a call with a friend, or a podcast, tends to make the time pass faster.

   查看中文翻译

   把一件无聊的任务和一件愉快的事情结合起来，通常会有帮助，比如一边熨衣服一边听播客，老实说这是我能不发疯地把衣服熨完的唯一办法。把家务变成一个小小的挑战，比如给自己计时看能多快整理完一个房间，也能让它感觉没那么乏味。和别人一起做家务也有帮助，因为交谈能让你从这件事本身的重复性中分散注意力。我觉得这种无聊感主要来自家务只需要刚好够用的注意力，让你没办法去想别的更有意思的事，所以任何能填补那个空档的东西——音乐、和朋友打电话，或者播客——都往往能让时间过得快一些。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“which is honestly the only way I get through it without losing my mind” — 'Losing my mind' is a more vivid, idiomatic phrase for frustration than the plainer expression used at 6.5, 'without getting annoyed'.'Losing my mind'是一个比6.5分中更平淡的表达'without getting annoyed'更生动、更地道地表达挫败感的短语。
   • LR“the repetitiveness of the task itself” — 'Repetitiveness' is a more precise, abstract noun than the plainer description used at 6.5, 'how repetitive the task is'.'Repetitiveness'是一个比6.5分中更平淡的描述'how repetitive the task is'更精准、更抽象的名词。
   • GRA“so anything that fills that gap, music, a call with a friend, or a podcast, tends to make the time pass faster” — This sentence inserts a list of examples directly into the middle of the clause using commas, a more flexible, compact structure than the shorter, separated sentences used at 6.5.这句话用逗号直接在句子中间插入了一系列例子，比6.5分中更短、分开表达的句子是更灵活、更紧凑的结构。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer opens with a dash-marked personal aside, uses the vivid idiom 'losing the will to live', and closes with a dash-marked list embedded mid-sentence rather than a simple comma list.7.5分的回答以一个用破折号标出的个人插入语开头，用了地道的习语'losing the will to live'，并以句中嵌入的破折号列表收尾，而不是一个简单的逗号列表。

   Pairing a dull task with something enjoyable tends to help most — listening to a podcast while ironing, in my case, being pretty much the only way I get through it without losing the will to live. Turning a chore into a mini-challenge, timing how fast a room can be tidied, say, also makes the tedium feel more like a game. Doing chores alongside someone else helps too, since conversation crowds out the repetitiveness of the task itself. The boredom, I suspect, comes from chores demanding just enough attention to block out anything genuinely interesting, so whatever fills that narrow gap — music, a call with a friend, a podcast — tends to make the time slip by faster.

   查看中文翻译

   把一件枯燥的任务和一件愉快的事情结合起来，往往最有帮助——就我而言，一边熨衣服一边听播客，基本上是我能不厌世地把它熨完的唯一办法。把一件家务变成一个小挑战，比如说给自己计时看多快能收拾完一个房间，也会让这种乏味感觉更像是在玩游戏。和别人一起做家务也有帮助，因为交谈能挤走这件事本身的重复性。我猜，这种无聊感来自家务需要刚好够用的注意力，正好足以挡住任何真正有意思的事情，所以任何能填补那道窄窄空隙的东西——音乐、和朋友打电话、一段播客——都往往能让时间溜得更快一些。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“listening to a podcast while ironing, in my case, being pretty much the only way I get through it without losing the will to live” — A non-finite participial clause ('being pretty much the only way...') replaces a full relative clause, a more compact, flexible construction than the fuller 'which is' clause used at 6.5 and 7.0.一个非限定的分词从句（'being pretty much the only way...'）取代了一个完整的定语从句，比6.5分和7.0分中用的更完整的'which is'从句是更紧凑、更灵活的结构。
   • LR“losing the will to live” — This is a strongly idiomatic, hyperbolic phrase for extreme boredom, more vivid and less common than the plainer expressions used at the lower bands, such as 'losing my mind' or 'getting annoyed'.这是一个强烈的地道夸张说法，用来表达极度的无聊，比较低分段用的更平淡的表达（比如'losing my mind'或'getting annoyed'）更生动、更少见。
   • GRA“whatever fills that narrow gap — music, a call with a friend, a podcast — tends to make the time slip by faster” — A dash-marked list is inserted directly into the subject of the sentence before the verb 'tends', a more compact and visually structured way of embedding examples than the comma-list used at 7.0.一个用破折号标出的列表被直接插入到句子的主语部分，在动词'tends'之前，比7.0分中用的逗号列表是一种更紧凑、更具视觉结构感地嵌入例子的方式。

4. 4. What kinds of things make people feel stressed in everyday 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 lists four causes of stress one by one with the repeated phrase 'also cause(s) stress', ending in a simple 'I think it's usually' summary.6.5分的回答逐一列出了四种压力来源，反复使用短语'also cause(s) stress'，最后以简单的'I think it's usually'总结句收尾。

   Money worries are a big cause of stress for a lot of people, especially unexpected costs like a sudden repair bill. Work deadlines also cause a lot of stress, especially when several projects happen at the same time, which happens to me sometimes when two clients want changes in the same week. Commuting can also cause stress, especially in traffic that takes time away from relaxing. Problems with family, friends or colleagues add more stress too, because they stay in your mind even after the conversation is over. I think it's usually many small stresses together, not one big problem, that makes people feel worn out.

   查看中文翻译

   钱的问题是很多人压力的一个重要来源，尤其是像突然要修东西这样意料之外的花费。工作截止日期也会带来很大压力，尤其是好几个项目同时进行的时候，这种情况有时也会发生在我身上，比如两个客户在同一周都要改稿。通勤也可能带来压力，尤其是堵车会占用本该用来放松的时间。家人、朋友或同事之间的问题也会增加压力，因为哪怕对话已经结束了，它们还是会一直萦绕在脑海里。我觉得通常让人感到疲惫的，往往不是一个大问题，而是很多小压力叠加在一起。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“Commuting can also cause stress, especially in traffic that takes time away from relaxing” — Repeating the phrase 'also cause(s) stress' across several sentences is a simple, mechanical way of listing causes; a higher band would vary this wording across each point.在好几个句子中反复使用短语'also cause(s) stress'，是一种简单、机械化的列举方式；更高分段会在每一点上变换措辞。
   • LR“a big cause of stress” — 'A big cause of stress' is plain, everyday wording; a higher band might use a more idiomatic phrase, such as saying money worries 'top the list'.'A big cause of stress'是平实、日常的措辞；更高分段可能会用一个更地道的短语，比如说钱的问题'top the list'。
   • GRA“because they stay in your mind even after the conversation is over” — This clause gives a reason directly with 'because', a basic connector, rather than the more advanced 'since' clause used at higher bands for similar reasoning.这个从句直接用基本连接词'because'给出理由，而不是更高分段用来表达类似推理的更高级的'since'从句。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer varies its phrasing across the list ('a big one', 'cause plenty of stress too', 'a quiet source of daily stress') instead of repeating one fixed phrase, and closes with the more precise term 'accumulation'.7.0分的回答在列举时变换了措辞（'a big one'、'cause plenty of stress too'、'a quiet source of daily stress'），而不是重复一个固定短语，并以更精准的词'accumulation'收尾。

   Money worries are a big one for a lot of people, especially unexpected costs like a sudden repair bill. Work deadlines cause plenty of stress too, particularly when several projects land at once, which happens to me occasionally when two clients want revisions in the same week. Commuting can also be a quiet source of daily stress, especially in traffic that eats into time you'd rather spend relaxing. Relationship tensions, whether with family, friends or colleagues, add another layer that's harder to escape than practical problems, since they linger mentally even after the actual conversation ends. I think it's usually the accumulation of several smaller stresses together, rather than one huge issue, that wears people down most.

   查看中文翻译

   对很多人来说，钱的问题是一大来源，尤其是像突然要修东西这样意料之外的花费。工作截止日期也带来不少压力，尤其是好几个项目同时压过来的时候，这种情况偶尔也会发生在我身上，比如两个客户在同一周都要改稿。通勤也可能是日常压力的一个隐性来源，尤其是堵车会侵占本该用来放松的时间。人际关系的紧张，不管是和家人、朋友还是同事，都会增添另一层比实际问题更难摆脱的压力，因为哪怕对话已经结束了，它们还是会在心里久久不散。我觉得通常让人最疲惫的，往往是好几个较小压力的累积，而不是一个巨大的问题。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“Commuting can also be a quiet source of daily stress” — Describing commuting as 'a quiet source' varies the sentence pattern instead of repeating 'also cause stress', showing more lexical and structural variety than the repetitive listing at 6.5.把通勤描述为'a quiet source'，改变了句子模式，而不是重复'also cause stress'，比6.5分中重复性的列举展现出更多的词汇和结构变化。
   • LR“that wears people down most” — 'Wears people down' is a more vivid, idiomatic collocation for gradual exhaustion than the plainer phrase used at 6.5, 'makes people feel worn out'.'Wears people down'是一个比6.5分中更平淡的'makes people feel worn out'更生动、更地道地表达逐渐消耗的搭配。
   • GRA“Relationship tensions, whether with family, friends or colleagues, add another layer that's harder to escape than practical problems, since they linger mentally even after the actual conversation ends” — This long sentence combines an inserted 'whether' clause with a comparative clause and a 'since' clause, showing more grammatical range than the shorter, separate sentences used at 6.5.这个长句把一个插入的'whether'从句和一个比较从句以及一个'since'从句结合在一起，比6.5分中更短、分开的句子展现出更广的语法范围。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer opens with the idiom 'top the list', uses a reduced participial clause for the repair-bill example, and closes with a cleft sentence ('It's usually the accumulation... that quietly wears people down').7.5分的回答以习语'top the list'开头，用一个简化的分词从句来表达维修账单的例子，并以一个强调句（'It's usually the accumulation... that quietly wears people down'）收尾。

   Money worries top the list for a lot of people, especially the unexpected costs, a sudden repair bill being the classic example. Work deadlines pile on their own share too, particularly when several projects land at once, as happens to me occasionally when two clients want revisions in the same week. Commuting counts as a quieter, background source of stress, eating into time that would otherwise go toward relaxing. Relationship tensions — with family, friends or colleagues — add a stubborn extra layer, harder to shake off than practical problems since they linger mentally long after the actual conversation has ended. It's usually the accumulation of several smaller stresses, I'd argue, rather than any single huge issue, that quietly wears people down.

   查看中文翻译

   对很多人来说，钱的问题稳居压力来源榜首，尤其是那些意料之外的花费——一张突如其来的维修账单就是经典的例子。工作截止日期也会自己堆积出一份压力，尤其是好几个项目同时压过来的时候，就像两个客户在同一周都要改稿时我偶尔遇到的情况。通勤则算是一种更隐蔽、处于背景中的压力来源，一点点侵占着本该用来放松的时间。人际关系的紧张——不管是和家人、朋友还是同事——会添上一层顽固的额外压力，比实际问题更难甩掉，因为即便对话早已结束，它们还是会在心里久久萦绕。我想说，通常悄悄把人磨得筋疲力尽的，往往是好几个较小压力的累积，而不是任何一个单独的大问题。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“Money worries top the list for a lot of people” — 'Top the list' is a vivid, idiomatic way of saying something is the most common cause, more figurative than the plainer phrase used at the lower bands, such as 'a big cause of stress'.'Top the list'是一个生动、地道的说法，用来表示某件事是最常见的原因，比较低分段用的更平淡的短语（比如'a big cause of stress'）更具比喻色彩。
   • LR“a stubborn extra layer, harder to shake off than practical problems” — 'Shake off' is a vivid, idiomatic collocation for getting rid of something persistent, a more precise and less-common choice than the plainer phrase used at 6.5, 'stay in your mind'.'Shake off'是一个生动、地道的搭配，用来表达摆脱某种持续存在的东西，比6.5分中更平淡的短语'stay in your mind'是更精准、更少见的选择。
   • GRA“a sudden repair bill being the classic example” — A non-finite absolute clause ('a sudden repair bill being...') is attached to the sentence without a connecting word, a more compact, flexible construction than the fuller 'like a sudden repair bill' phrase used at the lower bands.一个非限定的独立结构（'a sudden repair bill being...'）不用连接词就附加在了句子上，比较低分段用的更完整的短语'like a sudden repair bill'是更紧凑、更灵活的结构。

5. 5. Do you think a certain amount of stress can be beneficial?

   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 opens with 'Yes, I think' and gives one personal example, closing with a plain comparison ('a bit like a tool') joined by 'so'.6.5分的回答以'Yes, I think'开头，给出一个个人例子，以一个用'so'连接的平实比喻（'a bit like a tool'）收尾。

   Yes, I think a moderate amount of stress can actually help. It keeps people focused and motivated to meet deadlines instead of leaving everything until the last minute. Before showing a design to a client, I usually feel a bit of nervous pressure, and that actually makes me pay more attention to the small details before the meeting. Without any stress at all, I think I would probably work more slowly and carelessly. But there is a limit, and once stress becomes constant, it stops being useful and starts to damage both work and health. So I think stress is a bit like a tool, useful in small amounts but harmful in large ones.

   查看中文翻译

   是的，我觉得适量的压力其实是有帮助的。它能让人保持专注和动力，及时完成截止日期的工作，而不是把所有事情都拖到最后一刻。在向客户展示设计之前，我通常会感到一点紧张的压力，而这确实会让我在开会之前更注意那些细节。要是完全没有压力，我觉得我大概会工作得更慢、更粗心。但这也是有限度的，一旦压力变得持续不断，它就不再有用，反而开始损害工作和健康。所以我觉得压力有点像一个工具，少量有用，大量有害。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“makes me pay more attention to the small details” — This is a plain, literal description; a higher band would likely use a more precise verb such as 'sharpens my attention to detail'.这是一个平实、字面化的描述；更高分段可能会用一个更精准的动词，比如'sharpens my attention to detail'。
   • LR“work more slowly and carelessly” — This is a simple, common adjective pair; a higher band might vary or intensify this description with a more vivid contrast.这是一对简单、常见的形容词；更高分段可能会用一个更生动的对比来变化或强化这个描述。
   • GRA“But there is a limit, and once stress becomes constant, it stops being useful and starts to damage both work and health” — This sentence links three ideas mainly with 'and', a fairly basic coordinating structure rather than a colon or semicolon-based structure showing sharper contrast.这句话主要用'and'连接三个想法，是一种相当基础的并列结构，而不是用冒号或分号来展现更鲜明的对比。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer uses the more precise verb 'sharpens' and the noun 'tipping point', showing a step up in lexical precision, and closes with 'genuinely harmful once it builds up beyond what someone can manage'.7.0分的回答用了更精准的动词'sharpens'和名词'tipping point'，展现出比6.5分更进一步的词汇精准度，并以'genuinely harmful once it builds up beyond what someone can manage'收尾。

   Yes, I think a moderate amount actually helps, it keeps people focused and motivated to meet deadlines rather than procrastinating endlessly. Before presenting a design to a client, I usually feel a bit of nervous pressure that actually sharpens my attention to detail in the final hours before the meeting. Without any stress at all, I suspect I'd probably work more slowly and carelessly. But there's clearly a tipping point, once stress becomes constant or overwhelming, it stops being useful and starts damaging both performance and health. So I'd say stress works a bit like a tool, helpful in controlled doses but genuinely harmful once it builds up beyond what someone can manage.

   查看中文翻译

   是的，我觉得适量的压力其实有帮助，它能让人保持专注和动力，及时完成截止日期，而不是没完没了地拖延。在向客户展示设计之前，我通常会感到一点紧张的压力，这确实会在开会前最后几个小时里让我对细节更加敏锐。要是完全没有压力，我猜我大概会工作得更慢、更粗心。但显然是有一个临界点的，一旦压力变得持续不断或者让人不堪重负，它就不再有用，反而开始损害表现和健康。所以我想说压力有点像一个工具，在可控的剂量下是有帮助的，但一旦累积超过一个人能承受的程度，就真的会变得有害。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“that actually sharpens my attention to detail in the final hours before the meeting” — 'Sharpens' is a more vivid, precise verb for improved focus than the plainer phrase used at 6.5, 'makes me pay more attention'.'Sharpens'是一个比6.5分中更平淡的短语'makes me pay more attention'更生动、更精准的动词，用来表达专注力的提升。
   • LR“there's clearly a tipping point” — 'Tipping point' is a precise, slightly technical collocation for the moment something changes from helpful to harmful, more specific than the plain phrase 'there is a limit' used at 6.5.'Tipping point'是一个精准、略带专业色彩的搭配，用来表达某件事从有益转为有害的那个转折点，比6.5分中平实的短语'there is a limit'更具体。
   • GRA“once stress becomes constant or overwhelming, it stops being useful and starts damaging both performance and health” — This sentence embeds a conditional 'once' clause before the main result, a more complex structure than the simpler 'and once... it stops' sequence at 6.5.这句话在主要结果之前嵌入了一个条件性的'once'从句，比6.5分中更简单的'and once... it stops'顺序是更复杂的结构。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer opens with a dash-marked hedge, uses the vivid imperative-conditional 'Strip out the stress entirely, and I suspect...', and closes with the precise verb 'eroding' plus a dash-marked extended tool metaphor.7.5分的回答以一个破折号标出的缓和语开头，用了生动的祈使加结果结构'Strip out the stress entirely, and I suspect...'，并以精准的动词'eroding'加上破折号标出的延伸工具隐喻收尾。

   Yes, a moderate dose genuinely helps, I'd say — it keeps people focused and motivated enough to meet deadlines rather than drifting into endless procrastination. Before presenting a design to a client, a little nervous pressure usually sharpens my attention to detail in the final hours beforehand, in a way calm alone never quite manages. Strip out the stress entirely, and I suspect I'd work more slowly and carelessly. But there's plainly a tipping point: once stress turns constant or overwhelming, it stops being useful and starts eroding both performance and health. Stress, in that sense, behaves rather like a tool — genuinely helpful in controlled doses, and quietly harmful the moment it outgrows what a person can manage.

   查看中文翻译

   是的，我想说适量的压力确实有帮助——它能让人保持足够的专注和动力去赶上截止日期，而不是陷入没完没了的拖延之中。在向客户展示设计之前，一点紧张的压力通常会在开会前最后几个小时里让我对细节更加敏锐，这是单靠平静永远达不到的效果。要是把压力完全抽掉，我猜我会工作得更慢、更粗心。但显然有一个临界点：一旦压力变得持续不断或者让人不堪重负，它就不再有用，反而开始侵蚀表现和健康。从这个意义上说，压力的表现方式颇有点像一个工具——在可控的剂量下确实有帮助，但一旦超出一个人能承受的程度，就会悄悄变得有害。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“Strip out the stress entirely, and I suspect I'd work more slowly and carelessly” — This imperative-plus-result construction ('Strip out X, and Y') compresses a conditional into one compact sentence, a more flexible structure than the plain 'Without any stress at all' phrase used at the lower bands.这个祈使加结果的结构（'Strip out X, and Y'）把一个条件句压缩进了一个简练的句子里，比较低分段用的平实短语'Without any stress at all'是更灵活的结构。
   • LR“it stops being useful and starts eroding both performance and health” — 'Eroding' is a precise, figurative verb for gradual damage, more vivid and less common than the plain verb 'damaging' used at 6.5 and 7.0.'Eroding'是一个精准、具比喻色彩的动词，用来表达逐渐的损害，比6.5分和7.0分用的平实动词'damaging'更生动、更少见。
   • GRA“Stress, in that sense, behaves rather like a tool — genuinely helpful in controlled doses, and quietly harmful the moment it outgrows what a person can manage” — This closing sentence uses a dash to attach a two-part appositive description onto the main clause, a more compact structure than the separate 'so' sentence used at 6.5 and 7.0 for the same comparison.这句结尾用破折号把一个两部分的同位语描述附加在主句上，比6.5分和7.0分用来表达同一比喻的独立'so'句子是更紧凑的结构。

6. 6. Which would reduce stress more, having more time or having more money?

   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 opens with 'Honestly, I think' and gives a direct comparison, closing with a very short, plain summary sentence ('it depends on which one a person needs more').6.5分的回答以'Honestly, I think'开头，给出一个直接的比较，以一句很短、平实的总结句（'it depends on which one a person needs more'）收尾。

   Honestly, I think more time would help me more than money at this point, because most of my stress comes from feeling rushed, not from not having enough money. Extra money can remove some stress, like worrying about a sudden expense, but it does not fix the feeling of never having free time to relax. But this really depends on a person's situation — for someone who is struggling to pay rent, money would obviously help reduce stress more than free time. So I think it depends on which one a person needs more.

   查看中文翻译

   老实说，我觉得就目前而言，更多的时间比更多的钱更能帮到我，因为我大部分的压力都来自感觉时间不够用，而不是因为钱不够。多余的钱能消除一部分压力，比如担心突发的开支，但它解决不了那种永远没有空闲时间放松的感觉。不过这真的要看一个人的具体情况——对一个正在为付房租发愁的人来说，钱显然比空闲时间更能减轻压力。所以我觉得这要看一个人更需要哪一样。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“feeling rushed” — This is a plain, everyday phrase for being under time pressure; a higher band would likely use a more precise or intensified expression, such as 'feeling perpetually rushed'.这是一个平实、日常的短语，用来表达时间压力；更高分段可能会用一个更精准或更强调的表达，比如'feeling perpetually rushed'。
   • LR“free time to relax” — 'Free time to relax' is a common, general phrase; a higher band might use a more idiomatic collocation, such as 'a spare moment to properly unwind'.'Free time to relax'是一个常见、笼统的短语；更高分段可能会用一个更地道的搭配，比如'a spare moment to properly unwind'。
   • GRA“So I think it depends on which one a person needs more” — This closing sentence gives a very short, plain conclusion, a basic way of ending the answer rather than a more developed, reflective final clause.这句结尾给出了一个很短、平实的结论，是结束回答的一种基本方式，而不是一个更充分、更具反思性的结尾从句。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer adds the concessive opener 'That said' and specifies the comparison further with 'in a person's specific circumstances', showing more precision than the vaguer 6.5 conclusion.7.0分的回答加入了让步性的开头'That said'，并用'in a person's specific circumstances'进一步具体化了这个比较，比6.5分较笼统的结论更精准。

   Honestly, I think more time would help me personally more than money at this point, since a lot of my stress comes from feeling rushed between work and everything else, rather than from not having enough to spend. Extra money can definitely remove certain stresses, like worrying about an emergency expense, but it doesn't fix the feeling of never having a spare moment to properly relax. That said, I think this really depends on someone's financial situation, for someone genuinely struggling to cover rent, money would obviously reduce stress far more than free time would. So I'd say it depends heavily on which resource feels more scarce in a person's specific circumstances.

   查看中文翻译

   老实说，我觉得就我个人目前的情况来说，更多的时间比更多的钱更能帮到我，因为我大部分的压力都来自在工作和其他一切事情之间感觉忙不过来，而不是因为没有足够的钱可以花。多余的钱确实能消除某些压力，比如担心一笔紧急开支，但它解决不了那种从来没有一点空闲时间真正放松一下的感觉。话虽如此，我觉得这真的要看一个人的经济状况——对一个真正在为付房租发愁的人来说，钱显然会比空闲时间更能减轻压力。所以我想说，这在很大程度上取决于对一个人具体处境来说，哪种资源感觉更稀缺。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“That said, I think this really depends on someone's financial situation” — The concessive opener 'That said' signals an active shift in the argument, more natural signposting than the plain 'But' used at 6.5.让步性的开头'That said'标示出论证中一个主动的转折，比6.5分用的平实'But'是更自然的信号引导。
   • LR“a spare moment to properly relax” — 'A spare moment' is a more vivid, natural collocation than the plainer phrase used at 6.5, 'free time to relax'.'A spare moment'是一个比6.5分中更平淡的短语'free time to relax'更生动、更自然的搭配。
   • GRA“for someone genuinely struggling to cover rent, money would obviously reduce stress far more than free time would” — The comparative structure 'far more than... would' at the end, with the verb 'would' repeated for emphasis, is a more controlled comparative construction than the simpler statement used at 6.5.句末的比较结构'far more than... would'，重复使用助动词'would'来加强语气，比6.5分用的更简单的陈述是更严谨的比较结构。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer opens with 'Honestly, more time would probably do more for me', uses the vivid phrase 'that nagging feeling', and closes with the more elaborate 'comes down, in the end, to whichever resource happens to feel scarcer'.7.5分的回答以'Honestly, more time would probably do more for me'开头，用了生动的短语'that nagging feeling'，并以更精细的'comes down, in the end, to whichever resource happens to feel scarcer'收尾。

   Honestly, more time would probably do more for me personally than money at this point, since most of my stress comes from feeling perpetually rushed rather than from any actual shortage of cash. Extra money certainly wipes out particular worries, an emergency expense, say, but it doesn't touch that nagging feeling of never having a spare moment to properly unwind. That said, this clearly hinges on someone's financial situation — for anyone genuinely struggling to cover rent, money would obviously ease stress far more than free time ever could. So I'd say it comes down, in the end, to whichever resource happens to feel scarcer in that particular person's life.

   查看中文翻译

   老实说，就目前而言，更多的时间大概会比钱更能帮到我，因为我大部分的压力来自那种永远匆匆忙忙的感觉，而不是任何实际的资金短缺。多余的钱确实能消除某些具体的担忧，比如说一笔紧急开支，但它触不到那种一直纠缠不休的感觉——从来没有一点空闲时间能真正放松下来。话虽如此，这显然要看一个人的经济状况——对一个真正在为付房租发愁的人来说，钱显然会比空闲时间更能缓解压力。所以我想说，归根结底，这取决于对那个特定的人来说，哪种资源恰好感觉更稀缺。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“that nagging feeling of never having a spare moment to properly unwind” — 'Nagging' used to describe a persistent feeling is a vivid, figurative adjective, more precise and less common than the plain phrase used at 6.5, 'the feeling of never having free time'.用来描述一种持续感受的'Nagging'是一个生动、具比喻色彩的形容词，比6.5分中平实的短语'the feeling of never having free time'更精准、更少见。
   • LR“an emergency expense, say” — The parenthetical 'say' used to introduce an example is a natural, economical way of offering an illustration, a more idiomatic device than the fuller 'like worrying about' phrase used at the lower bands.用插入语'say'来引出一个例子，是一种自然、简练的举例方式，比较低分段用的更完整的短语'like worrying about'是更地道的手法。
   • GRA“it comes down, in the end, to whichever resource happens to feel scarcer in that particular person's life” — A free relative clause ('whichever resource happens to feel scarcer...') replaces the fuller 'depends on which one' structure used at 6.5, compressing the idea into a more flexible, native-like construction.一个自由定语从句（'whichever resource happens to feel scarcer...'）取代了6.5分用的更完整的'depends on which one'结构，把这个想法压缩成了一个更灵活、更接近母语者的结构。

7. 7. How easy is it to maintain a balanced lifestyle?

   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 opens with 'Honestly, it is not very easy' and gives one personal example, ending with a simple 'so... but' summary sentence.6.5分的回答以'Honestly, it is not very easy'开头，给出一个个人例子，以一句用'so... but'构成的简单总结句收尾。

   Honestly, it is not very easy, at least not all the time. Work always seems to expand and fill whatever time you give it, especially with deadlines and client work in my job, so exercise or hobbies are usually the first things to get pushed aside when things get busy. I try to protect my weekend runs along My Khe Beach as something I never skip, but even that slips sometimes during really busy weeks. I think balance needs small adjustments all the time rather than one fixed routine, so it is possible for short periods, but keeping it up for months takes real effort.

   查看中文翻译

   老实说，这并不太容易，至少不是一直都容易。工作似乎总是会不断扩张，占满你给它的所有时间，尤其是在我的工作中，各种截止日期和客户项目源源不断，所以一忙起来，运动或爱好通常是最先被搁置的事情。我会尽量保护自己在美溪海滩的周末跑步，把它当作绝不能跳过的事，但即使这样，在特别忙的那几周，也偶尔会松懈掉。我觉得平衡需要不断做出小调整，而不是靠一套固定不变的作息，所以短期内是可以做到的，但要坚持好几个月，就真的需要花不少功夫了。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“the first things to get pushed aside” — This is a plain, literal phrase; a higher band would likely use a more vivid or idiomatic word, such as calling them 'the first casualties'.这是一个平实、字面化的短语；更高分段可能会用一个更生动或更地道的词，比如把它们称为'the first casualties'。
   • LR“something I never skip” — This is a plain, everyday description; a higher band might use a more precise, slightly formal term such as 'non-negotiable'.这是一个平实、日常的描述；更高分段可能会用一个更精准、略带正式色彩的词，比如'non-negotiable'。
   • GRA“so it is possible for short periods, but keeping it up for months takes real effort” — This closing sentence links two ideas with 'so... but', a basic contrast structure rather than a dash-marked concluding remark.这句结尾用'so... but'连接了两个想法，是一种基本的对比结构，而不是用破折号标出的结论。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer drops the subject pronoun for a more compact opener ('Honestly, not very easy') and uses the precise term 'non-negotiable', showing more natural spoken economy than the fuller 6.5 sentence.7.0分的回答去掉了主语代词，改用更紧凑的开头（'Honestly, not very easy'），并用了精准的词'non-negotiable'，比6.5分更完整的句子展现出更自然的口语经济性。

   Honestly, not very easy, at least not consistently. Work has a habit of expanding to fill whatever time you give it, especially with deadlines and client demands in my line of work, so exercise or hobbies often get pushed aside first when things get busy. I do try to protect my weekend runs along My Khe Beach as non-negotiable, but even that slips occasionally during particularly hectic weeks. I think balance requires constant small adjustments rather than one fixed routine, since work demands and personal energy both shift over time. So while it's achievable in short stretches, maintaining it consistently over months really does take deliberate, ongoing effort rather than happening naturally.

   查看中文翻译

   老实说，不太容易，至少不是一直都能做到。工作总有一种习惯，会扩张到占满你给它的所有时间，尤其是在我这行，各种截止日期和客户需求不断，所以一忙起来，运动或爱好往往是最先被搁到一边的事情。我确实会努力把美溪海滩的周末跑步当成不可动摇的事情，但即使这样，在特别忙碌的那几周，也偶尔会松懈。我觉得平衡需要持续不断的小调整，而不是靠一套固定不变的作息，因为工作需求和个人精力都会随时间变化。所以虽然短期内是可以做到的，但要在好几个月里持续保持平衡，确实需要有意识地不断付出努力，而不是自然而然就能发生的事。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“Honestly, not very easy, at least not consistently” — Dropping the subject 'it is' for a compact, elliptical opener is a more natural spoken structure than the fuller sentence used at 6.5, 'Honestly, it is not very easy'.去掉主语'it is'，改用简练、省略式的开头，比6.5分中更完整的句子'Honestly, it is not very easy'是更自然的口语结构。
   • LR“as non-negotiable” — 'Non-negotiable' is a precise, slightly formal adjective for something fixed and unchangeable, more specific than the plain phrase used at 6.5, 'something I never skip'.'Non-negotiable'是一个精准、略带正式色彩的形容词，用来表达某件固定不变的事，比6.5分中平实的短语'something I never skip'更具体。
   • GRA“So while it's achievable in short stretches, maintaining it consistently over months really does take deliberate, ongoing effort rather than happening naturally” — This closing sentence combines a concessive 'while' clause with a comparative 'rather than' ending, a more layered structure than the simpler 'so... but' sentence used at 6.5.这句结尾把一个让步性的'while'从句和一个比较性的'rather than'结尾结合在一起，比6.5分用的更简单的'so... but'句子是更有层次的结构。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer opens with the same elliptical structure as 7.0 but adds 'and certainly not consistently', uses the vivid phrase 'the first casualties', and closes with the dash-marked final remark 'it never quite happens on its own'.7.5分的回答开头和7.0分用了同样的省略结构，但加了'and certainly not consistently'，用了生动的短语'the first casualties'，并以破折号标出的结尾评论'it never quite happens on its own'收尾。

   Not very easy, honestly, and certainly not consistently. Work has a habit of expanding to swallow whatever time you hand it, especially with deadlines and client demands in my line of work, so exercise or hobbies are usually the first casualties once things get busy. I do try to keep my weekend runs along My Khe Beach non-negotiable, though even that slips occasionally during a particularly hectic week. Balance, I've come to think, needs constant small adjustments rather than one fixed routine, since both work demands and personal energy shift over time. So while it's perfectly achievable in short bursts, keeping it up consistently over months takes deliberate, ongoing effort — it never quite happens on its own.

   查看中文翻译

   老实说，不太容易，而且肯定不是一直都能做到。工作总有一种习惯，会扩张到吞掉你给它的所有时间，尤其是在我这行，各种截止日期和客户需求不断，所以一忙起来，运动或爱好通常是最先牺牲掉的东西。我确实会努力让美溪海滩的周末跑步成为不可动摇的事，虽然即使这样，在特别忙碌的一周里，也偶尔会松懈。平衡，我渐渐觉得，需要持续不断的小调整，而不是靠一套固定不变的作息，因为工作需求和个人精力都会随时间变化。所以虽然短期爆发式地做到是完全可行的，但要在好几个月里持续保持，确实需要有意识地不断付出努力——它从来不会自己就发生。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“exercise or hobbies are usually the first casualties once things get busy” — 'Casualties' used metaphorically for things sacrificed under pressure is a vivid, figurative noun, more precise and less common than the plainer phrase used at the lower bands, 'the first things to get pushed aside'.用'Casualties'来比喻在压力下被牺牲的东西，是一个生动、具比喻色彩的名词，比较低分段用的更平淡的短语'the first things to get pushed aside'更精准、更少见。
   • LR“Work has a habit of expanding to swallow whatever time you hand it” — 'Swallow' used metaphorically for consuming time entirely is a more vivid, precise verb than the plainer 'fill' used at 6.5 and 7.0.用'Swallow'来比喻完全占用时间，是一个比6.5分和7.0分用的更平淡的'fill'更生动、更精准的动词。
   • GRA“keeping it up consistently over months takes deliberate, ongoing effort — it never quite happens on its own” — A dash attaches a short, punchy final clause onto the end of the sentence instead of starting a new sentence, a more compact structure than the fuller 'rather than happening naturally' clause used at 7.0.一个破折号把一句简短、有力的结尾从句附加在句末，而不是另起一句，比7.0分用的更完整的'rather than happening naturally'从句是更紧凑的结构。

8. 8. Do you think many people might have the wrong priorities in 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 opens with 'I think it happens more than people realise' and gives one personal example, ending with a plain two-part 'not... it is more that' explanation.6.5分的回答以'I think it happens more than people realise'开头，给出一个个人例子，以一句平实的两段式'not... it is more that'解释收尾。

   I think it happens more than people realise, honestly, often without noticing until much later. It is easy to prioritise work or earning money because the progress feels measurable and immediate, while things like relationships or health get quietly ignored because the results are not obvious right away. I have caught myself skipping calls with my family in Hue because of deadlines, telling myself I would call back later, and then realising weeks had passed. I do not think people choose the wrong priorities on purpose, it is more that urgent things keep taking over from important ones unless someone makes an effort to protect time for what really matters.

   查看中文翻译

   老实说，我觉得这种情况发生的频率比人们意识到的要高，而且往往要过很久之后才会注意到。人们很容易优先考虑工作或赚钱，因为这方面的进展感觉是可以衡量、立竿见影的，而像人际关系或健康这样的事，却会因为结果不会马上显现出来，而被悄悄忽视。我曾经发现自己因为赶截止日期而不接顺化家人的电话，告诉自己等会儿再回，结果一回神发现好几周都过去了。我不觉得人们是故意选错了优先顺序，更多的情况是，除非有人特意花心思去守护属于真正重要事情的时间，否则紧急的事情就会不断挤占重要的事情。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“realising weeks had passed” — This is a plain, literal phrase for the passage of time; a higher band would likely use a more vivid verb, such as saying weeks had 'evaporated'.这是一个平实、字面化的短语，用来表达时间的流逝；更高分段可能会用一个更生动的动词，比如说好几周都'evaporated'（蒸发）了。
   • LR“get quietly ignored” — 'Ignored' is a common, general verb; a higher band would likely choose a more precise word, such as 'neglected', to describe the same idea.'Ignored'是一个常见、笼统的动词；更高分段可能会选用一个更精准的词，比如'neglected'，来表达同样的想法。
   • GRA“I do not think people choose the wrong priorities on purpose, it is more that urgent things keep taking over from important ones” — This sentence links two ideas with a comma before 'it is more that', a fairly loose connection rather than the semicolon-marked structure a higher band might use for the same contrast.这句话用一个逗号加'it is more that'连接了两个想法，是一种相当松散的连接方式，而不是更高分段可能会用来表达同一对比的分号标出的结构。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer uses the more precise verb 'neglected' and adds the adverb 'deliberately' to sharpen the claim about people's intentions, showing slightly more lexical precision than 6.5.7.0分的回答用了更精准的动词'neglected'，并加入了副词'deliberately'来使关于人们意图的论断更加尖锐，比6.5分展现出略微更高的词汇精准度。

   I think it happens more than people realise, honestly, often without them noticing until much later. It's easy to prioritise work or earning more money because progress there feels measurable and immediate, while things like relationships or health get quietly neglected since the consequences aren't obvious right away. I've caught myself skipping calls with my family in Hue because of deadlines, telling myself I'd call back later, and then realising weeks had passed. I don't think people usually choose wrong priorities deliberately, it's more that urgent things constantly crowd out important ones unless someone actively makes an effort to protect time for what actually matters most to them long-term.

   查看中文翻译

   老实说，我觉得这种情况发生的频率比人们意识到的要高，而且往往要过很久之后他们才会注意到。人们很容易优先考虑工作或多赚钱，因为在这方面的进展感觉是可以衡量、立竿见影的，而像人际关系或健康这样的事，却会因为后果不会马上显现出来，而被悄悄忽视。我曾经发现自己因为赶截止日期而不接顺化家人的电话，告诉自己等会儿再回，结果一回神发现好几周都过去了。我不觉得人们通常是故意选错了优先顺序，更多的情况是，紧急的事情会不断挤占重要的事情，除非有人主动花心思去守护那些对他们长远来说真正重要的时间。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“I don't think people usually choose wrong priorities deliberately” — Adding the precise adverb 'deliberately' sharpens the claim about intention more clearly than the plainer phrase used at 6.5, 'choose the wrong priorities on purpose'.加入精准的副词'deliberately'，比6.5分中更平淡的短语'choose the wrong priorities on purpose'，更清晰地磨砺了关于意图的论断。
   • LR“relationships or health get quietly neglected” — 'Neglected' is a more precise, slightly formal verb for being overlooked than the plainer verb 'ignored' used at 6.5.'Neglected'是一个比6.5分中平淡的动词'ignored'更精准、略带正式色彩的词，用来表达被忽视。
   • GRA“it's more that urgent things constantly crowd out important ones unless someone actively makes an effort to protect time for what actually matters most to them long-term” — This long closing sentence stacks a result clause with a conditional 'unless' clause and a final purpose phrase, showing more grammatical range than the shorter, separated sentences at 6.5.这个结尾长句把一个结果从句、一个条件性的'unless'从句和一个最后的目的短语叠加在一起，比6.5分中更短、分开的句子展现出更广的语法范围。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer opens with a fronted comparative phrase ('More often than people realise, I'd say'), uses the vivid verb 'evaporated', and closes with a semicolon-linked, near-aphoristic final sentence.7.5分的回答以一个前置的比较短语开头（'More often than people realise, I'd say'），用了生动的动词'evaporated'，并以一个用分号连接、近乎格言式的结尾句收尾。

   More often than people realise, I'd say, and usually without anyone noticing until much later. Work and earning tend to get prioritised because progress there is measurable and immediate, while relationships or health slip quietly down the list, since the cost of neglecting them isn't obvious right away. I've caught myself skipping calls home to family in Hue because of deadlines, telling myself I'd ring back later, only to realise weeks had somehow evaporated. Rarely does anyone choose the wrong priorities on purpose; it's more that the urgent keeps crowding out the important, unless someone actively guards time for whatever actually matters to them in the long run.

   查看中文翻译

   我想说，这种情况发生的频率比人们意识到的要高，而且通常要过很久之后才会有人注意到。工作和赚钱往往会被优先考虑，因为在这方面的进展是可以衡量、立竿见影的，而人际关系或健康则会在清单上悄悄往后滑，因为忽视它们的代价不会马上显现出来。我曾经发现自己因为赶截止日期而不接顺化家人的电话，告诉自己等会儿再打回去，结果一回神才发现好几周不知不觉就已经蒸发了。很少有人是故意选错优先顺序的；更多的情况是，紧急的事情会不断挤占重要的事情，除非有人主动去守护那些对他们长远来说真正重要的时间。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“More often than people realise, I'd say, and usually without anyone noticing until much later” — Fronting the comparative phrase before the main clause, rather than opening with 'I think it happens', is a more compact, essay-like structure than the fuller opener used at 6.5 and 7.0.把比较短语前置在主句之前，而不是以'I think it happens'开头，是一种比6.5分和7.0分用的更完整开头更紧凑、更接近论说文风格的结构。
   • LR“weeks had somehow evaporated” — 'Evaporated' used metaphorically for time disappearing is a vivid, less-common verb choice, more figurative than the plain phrase used at 6.5 and 7.0, 'weeks had passed'.用'Evaporated'来比喻时间的消逝，是一个生动、不太常见的动词选择，比6.5分和7.0分用的平实短语'weeks had passed'更具比喻色彩。
   • GRA“Rarely does anyone choose the wrong priorities on purpose; it's more that the urgent keeps crowding out the important” — Inverting the subject and verb after the negative adverb 'Rarely' ('Rarely does anyone...') is a more advanced, formal grammatical structure than the plain negative statement used at 6.5 and 7.0 for the same idea.在否定副词'Rarely'之后倒装主语和动词（'Rarely does anyone...'），是一个比6.5分和7.0分用来表达同一想法的平实否定句更高级、更正式的语法结构。

9. 9. Is it possible to achieve a balanced lifestyle today?

   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 opens with 'I think it is possible, but' and lists two supporting points with 'also', closing with a simple 'So even though' summary sentence.6.5分的回答以'I think it is possible, but'开头，用'also'列出两个支持性观点，以简单的'So even though'总结句收尾。

   I think it is possible, but it takes real, continuous effort rather than happening by itself, especially now that everyone is so connected through phones and constant notifications. Setting boundaries helps a lot, like I try not to check work messages after a certain time in the evening, even though it is tempting because my phone keeps buzzing with client notifications. Support from an employer also matters, because a workplace that respects personal time makes balance much easier than one that expects people to always be available. So even though modern life has more distractions than before, I do not think balance is impossible, it just needs more deliberate limits than it used to.

   查看中文翻译

   我觉得这是可能的，但需要真正、持续不断的努力，而不是自然而然就能发生的事，尤其是现在每个人都通过手机和不断的通知彼此紧密相连。设定界限会有很大帮助，比如我会尽量在晚上某个时间点之后不查看工作消息，尽管这确实很有诱惑力，因为我的手机一直在因为客户通知而震动。雇主的支持也很重要，因为一个尊重个人时间的职场，会比那种期望员工随时待命的职场，更容易实现平衡。所以尽管现代生活的干扰比以前更多，我并不觉得平衡是不可能实现的，只是需要比以前更刻意地设定限制。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“everyone is so connected” — This is a plain, general description; a higher band would likely use a more vivid or formal word, such as 'tethered', instead of 'connected'.这是一个平实、笼统的描述；更高分段可能会用一个更生动或更正式的词，比如'tethered'（被拴住），来代替'connected'。
   • LR“keeps buzzing with client notifications” — 'Keeps buzzing' is fairly plain phrasing; a higher band might integrate this detail differently, such as attaching it to a noun phrase rather than a separate clause.'Keeps buzzing'是相当平实的措辞；更高分段可能会用不同的方式来整合这个细节，比如把它附加在一个名词短语上，而不是单独成一个从句。
   • GRA“So even though modern life has more distractions than before, I do not think balance is impossible, it just needs more deliberate limits than it used to” — This closing sentence links three ideas mainly with commas and 'even though... but', a fairly loose structure rather than a dash-marked, more compact conclusion.这句结尾主要用逗号和'even though... but'连接了三个想法，是一种相当松散的结构，而不是用破折号标出的、更紧凑的结论。

   7.0 分

   The 7.0 answer replaces 'continuous' with the more natural collocation 'ongoing effort' and adds 'by default' as a more precise contrast term, showing a small step up in lexical precision from 6.5.7.0分的回答用更自然的搭配'ongoing effort'取代了'continuous'，并加入了'by default'作为一个更精准的对比词，比6.5分展现出词汇精准度的一个小小提升。

   I think it's possible, but it takes real, ongoing effort rather than happening by default, especially with how connected everyone is now through phones and constant notifications. Setting boundaries helps a lot, like I try not to check work messages after a certain hour in the evening, even though the temptation is always there since my phone buzzes constantly with client notifications. Support from an employer matters too, a workplace that respects personal time makes balance far more achievable than one that expects constant availability. So while modern life throws up more distractions and demands than before, I don't think balance is impossible, it just requires more deliberate boundaries than it probably used to.

   查看中文翻译

   我觉得这是可能的，但需要真正、持续的努力，而不是自然而然就能发生的事，尤其是考虑到现在每个人都通过手机和不断的通知彼此紧密相连。设定界限会有很大帮助，比如我会尽量在晚上某个时间点之后不查看工作消息，尽管诱惑一直都在，因为我的手机一直在因为客户通知而不断震动。雇主的支持也同样重要，一个尊重个人时间的职场，会比那种期望员工随时待命的职场，让平衡变得更容易实现得多。所以尽管现代生活带来了比以前更多的干扰和要求，我不觉得平衡是不可能实现的，它只是需要比以前可能所需要的更刻意的界限。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“rather than happening by default” — 'By default' is a more precise, slightly technical collocation for something happening automatically, more specific than the plainer phrase used at 6.5, 'happening by itself'.'By default'是一个更精准、略带专业色彩的搭配，用来表达自动发生的事，比6.5分中更平淡的短语'happening by itself'更具体。
   • LR“real, ongoing effort” — 'Ongoing effort' is a more natural, idiomatic collocation than the plainer phrase used at 6.5, 'continuous effort'.'Ongoing effort'是一个比6.5分中更平淡的短语'continuous effort'更自然、更地道的搭配。
   • GRA“So while modern life throws up more distractions and demands than before, I don't think balance is impossible, it just requires more deliberate boundaries than it probably used to” — This sentence uses 'while' to open a concessive clause before the main claim, a more integrated structure than the 'So even though... but' sequence used at 6.5.这句话用'while'在主要论断之前引出一个让步从句，比6.5分中用的'So even though... but'顺序是更融合的结构。

   7.5 分

   The 7.5 answer opens with a bare adjective ('Possible, I'd say'), uses the precise adjective 'tethered', and closes with a dash-marked final clause instead of the fuller closing sentence used at the lower bands.7.5分的回答以一个裸形容词开头（'Possible, I'd say'），用了精准的形容词'tethered'，并以一个破折号标出的结尾从句收尾，而不是较低分段用的更完整的结尾句。

   Possible, I'd say, but only with real, ongoing effort rather than anything that happens by default, especially given how tethered everyone now is to phones and constant notifications. Setting boundaries helps enormously — not checking work messages past a certain hour in the evening, say, even though the temptation never quite goes away with a phone buzzing constantly with client notifications. Employer support matters too; a workplace that genuinely respects personal time makes balance far more attainable than one that expects round-the-clock availability. So while modern life throws up more distractions and demands than it used to, I wouldn't call balance impossible — it simply demands more deliberate boundaries than it once did.

   查看中文翻译

   我想说是可能的，但只有付出真正、持续的努力才行，而不是任何自然而然就能发生的事，尤其考虑到现在每个人都和手机、不断的通知拴在了一起。设定界限帮助极大——比如说，在晚上某个时间点之后不查看工作消息，尽管手机一直在因为客户通知而震动，这种诱惑从来没有真正消失过。雇主的支持也很重要；一个真正尊重个人时间的职场，会让平衡比那种期望员工全天候随时待命的职场容易实现得多。所以尽管现代生活带来的干扰和要求比以前更多，我不会把平衡称为不可能——它只是比以前需要更刻意的界限而已。

   为什么是这个分数

   • FC“Possible, I'd say, but only with real, ongoing effort” — Opening with a single adjective before the main clause is a compact, essay-like structure that a 6.5 or 7.0 answer, both of which open with a fuller subject-verb sentence, would be unlikely to attempt.在主句之前用一个单独的形容词开头，是一种紧凑、近乎论说文式的结构，6.5分或7.0分的回答——两者都以更完整的主谓句开头——都不太可能尝试。
   • LR“how tethered everyone now is to phones and constant notifications” — 'Tethered' is a vivid, precise metaphor for being constantly attached to something, more figurative and less common than the plain phrase used at 6.5, 'so connected'.'Tethered'是一个生动、精准的隐喻，用来表达被持续拴在某样东西上，比6.5分中平实的短语'so connected'更具比喻色彩、更少见。
   • GRA“I wouldn't call balance impossible — it simply demands more deliberate boundaries than it once did” — A dash attaches a short, punchy final clause directly onto the main statement, a more compact structure than the fuller comma-linked closing sentence used at 6.5 and 7.0.一个破折号把一句简短、有力的结尾从句直接附加在主要陈述上，比6.5分和7.0分用的更完整的、用逗号连接的结尾句是更紧凑的结构。

10. 10. Why do people need daily routines?

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

    6.5 分

    Uses the plain conditional 'Without any routine, my days would...' and closes with a short 'Of course... but overall' pair, a simple concession-then-conclusion pattern.用了平实的条件句'Without any routine, my days would...'，并以简短的'Of course... but overall'这对让步加结论的模式收尾。

    I think people need daily routines because they give structure and reduce stress. Without any routine, my days would probably blur together, and I would forget things I need to do. For example, every morning before work, I make a strong cà phê sữa đá and sketch a couple of design ideas in Figma. It sounds simple, but this small ritual helps me feel ready for work, even when the day gets busy later. Of course, routines can get boring sometimes, but overall I think they make life run more smoothly.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得人们需要日常习惯，因为它们能带来条理，减少压力。要是没有任何习惯，我的日子大概会变得混成一团，很多该做的事也会忘记。比如说，每天上班前，我都会煮一杯浓浓的越南冰咖啡，然后在Figma里画几个设计草稿。听起来很简单，但这个小小的仪式能帮我进入工作状态，哪怕后面这一天变得很忙。当然，习惯有时候会让人觉得无聊，但总的来说，我觉得它们能让生活运转得更顺畅。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“For example, every morning before work, I make a strong cà phê sữa đá and sketch a couple of design ideas in Figma.” — The plain connector 'For example' opens the anecdote directly. The 7.5 answer drops this signpost and instead attaches the anecdote with 'for instance' mid-sentence, weaving it more smoothly into the surrounding argument.平实的连接词'For example'直接引出了这段轶事。7.5分的回答去掉了这个信号词，改用句中的'for instance'来接入这段轶事，把它更顺畅地编织进了周围的论证之中。
    • LR“this small ritual helps me feel ready for work” — 'Ritual' here is used fairly plainly. The 7.5 answer builds the same word into a more developed appositive phrase — 'a small ritual that eases me into work mode' — giving it a more precise function within the sentence.这里的'Ritual'用得相当平实。7.5分的回答把同一个词构建成一个更发展的同位语短语——'a small ritual that eases me into work mode'，让它在句子中承担了更精准的功能。
    • GRA“Of course, routines can get boring sometimes, but overall I think they make life run more smoothly.” — A single 'but' clause balances the concession and conclusion. The 7.5 answer extends a similar contrast across two full sentences with an added risk ('going through the motions'), building a longer chain of reasoning before reaching the same kind of conclusion.一个'but'从句平衡了让步和结论。7.5分的回答用两个完整的句子延伸了类似的对比，并加入了一个额外的风险（'going through the motions'），在得出同样的结论之前构建了更长的推理链条。

    7.0 分

    Adds the intensifier 'half the things' to the opening claim and uses 'To be fair' before the closing concession, a more hedged, conversational version of the same argument.在开头的论断中加入了强调语'half the things'，并在结尾的让步之前用了'To be fair'，是对同一论证更带缓和语气、更接近口语的版本。

    Honestly, I think people rely on routines because they bring structure and predictability to busy lives. Without some kind of routine, my days would probably just blur together, and I'd forget half the things I need to do. For example, every morning before heading to the office, I brew a strong cà phê sữa đá and sketch a couple of design ideas in Figma. It sounds simple, but this small ritual actually helps me ease into work mode, even when the day turns chaotic later. To be fair, routines can get a bit boring at times, but overall, I'd say they make life run more smoothly and reduce stress.

    查看中文翻译

    老实说，我觉得人们依赖习惯，是因为它们能给忙碌的生活带来条理和可预测性。要是没有某种习惯，我的日子大概就会混成一团，一半该做的事我都会忘记。比如说，每天早上出门去公司之前，我都会煮一杯浓浓的越南冰咖啡，然后在Figma里画几个设计草稿。听起来很简单，但这个小小的仪式其实能帮我慢慢进入工作状态，哪怕后面这一天变得一团糟。说句公道话，习惯有时候确实会让人觉得有点无聊，但总的来说，我想说它们能让生活运转得更顺畅，也能减少压力。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“To be fair, routines can get a bit boring at times, but overall, I'd say they make life run more smoothly and reduce stress.” — 'To be fair' frames the concession as a considered admission rather than a flat 'Of course', a slightly more natural spoken hedge than the 6.5 answer's version of the same closing move.'To be fair'把这个让步塑造成一种经过考虑的承认，而不是6.5分回答中同一收尾手法所用的平淡的'Of course'，语气略微更接近自然口语。
    • LR“ease into work mode” — This phrasal verb combination is a more natural, idiomatic way of describing a gradual transition than the 6.5 answer's plainer 'helps me feel ready for work'.这个短语动词组合，比6.5分回答中更平淡的'helps me feel ready for work'，是一种更自然、更地道地描述渐进过渡的方式。
    • GRA“Without some kind of routine, my days would probably just blur together, and I'd forget half the things I need to do.” — The conditional clause is extended with a coordinated result ('and I'd forget half the things'), a two-part consequence rather than the 6.5 answer's simpler single-clause version of the same idea.这个条件从句被扩展加入了一个并列的结果（'and I'd forget half the things'），是一个两部分的后果，而不是6.5分回答中同一想法更简单的单从句版本。

    7.5 分

    Closes with the compact evaluative phrase 'stress at a manageable distance', a small figurative flourish neither lower band reaches for in its final sentence.以简练的评价性短语'stress at a manageable distance'收尾，这是两个较低分段在结尾句中都没有触及的一处小小的比喻性点缀。

    I think people rely on routines mainly because they bring structure and predictability to lives that would otherwise blur together. Without some kind of routine, honestly, my days would run into each other, and I'd forget half the things I actually need to do. Every morning before heading to the office, for instance, I brew a strong cà phê sữa đá and sketch a couple of design ideas in Figma — a small ritual that eases me into work mode long before the day itself gets chaotic. Routines can get a little dull, admittedly, and there's a real risk of just going through the motions. But on balance, I'd say they do more good than harm, keeping life running smoothly and stress at a manageable distance.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得人们依赖习惯，主要是因为它们能给原本会混成一团的生活带来条理和可预测性。要是没有某种习惯，老实说，我的日子会一天接一天地糊在一起，一半该做的事我都会忘记。比如说，每天早上出门去公司之前，我都会煮一杯浓浓的越南冰咖啡，然后在Figma里画几个设计草稿——这是一个小小的仪式，能在这一天真正变得混乱之前，让我早早进入工作状态。习惯确实可能会让人觉得有点乏味，坦白说，也确实存在只是机械地走流程的风险。但总体权衡下来，我想说它们带来的好处大于坏处，能让生活运转顺畅，也能把压力控制在可管理的范围内。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“a small ritual that eases me into work mode long before the day itself gets chaotic” — The dash lets this appositive phrase extend the anecdote sentence directly, rather than starting a fresh sentence as both lower bands do with 'It sounds simple, but...'.破折号让这个同位语短语直接延伸了这段轶事所在的句子，而不是像两个较低分段那样用'It sounds simple, but...'另起一句。
    • LR“stress at a manageable distance” — This is a precise, slightly figurative closing image. Neither lower band reaches for anything this abstract, settling instead for the plainer 'reduce stress' at the very end of the sentence.这是一个精准、略带比喻色彩的结尾意象。两个较低分段都没有触及这种抽象程度，而是在句末满足于更平淡的'reduce stress'。
    • GRA“Routines can get a little dull, admittedly, and there's a real risk of just going through the motions.” — The inserted 'admittedly' plus a second coordinated clause about a further risk extends the concession over two ideas joined by 'and', a longer chain than the single 'but' clauses both lower bands use for the same concession.插入的'admittedly'加上第二个关于进一步风险的并列小句，把这个让步延伸成了两个用'and'连接的想法，比两个较低分段用来表达同一让步的单一'but'从句更长的一条链条。

11. 11. Why do some people dislike daily routines?

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

    6.5 分

    Uses the plain phrase 'stuck in a loop' and links the writer's own feeling with a simple 'since' clause, keeping the comparison between Thảo and the writer straightforward.用了平实的短语'stuck in a loop'，并用一个简单的'since'从句把作者自己的感受和Thảo的经历联系起来，让两者的对比保持直白。

    I think some people dislike routines because they feel repetitive or even a bit suffocating. For example, my friend Thảo used to complain about her old office job, where she did the same paperwork and attended similar meetings every day. She told me it made her feel stuck in a loop, and it drained her creativity. I can relate to that a little, since sticking to a rigid routine sometimes makes me feel less motivated too. On the other hand, some people find routines comforting, but for those who want variety, too much repetition can really get on their nerves.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得有些人不喜欢日常习惯，是因为它们感觉重复，甚至有点让人透不过气。比如说，我朋友Thảo以前总抱怨她之前那份办公室工作，每天都做同样的文书工作、参加差不多的会议。她告诉我，这让她感觉像困在一个循环里，也消磨了她的创造力。我对这一点有点感同身受，因为死板地遵循一成不变的作息，有时候也会让我觉得没什么动力。另一方面，有些人反而觉得习惯让人安心，但对那些渴望变化的人来说，过多的重复真的会让人很心烦。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“I can relate to that a little, since sticking to a rigid routine sometimes makes me feel less motivated too.” — 'I can relate to that' introduces the writer's own experience plainly after the anecdote. The 7.5 answer intensifies this into 'I can relate to that more than I'd like to admit', a more self-aware, idiomatic version of the same transition.'I can relate to that'在这段轶事之后，平实地引出了作者自己的经历。7.5分的回答把它强化为'I can relate to that more than I'd like to admit'，是一个更具自我意识、更地道的过渡方式。
    • LR“stuck in a loop” — This is already a reasonably natural idiom, used identically across all three bands — the real gap shows up around it: 6.5 states the cause plainly ('used to complain about her old office job'), while 7.5 intensifies it to 'used to complain endlessly', adding a more vivid adverb.这已经是一个相当自然的习语，在三个分段中用法几乎一样——真正的差距出现在它周围的措辞上：6.5分平实地陈述了原因（'used to complain about her old office job'），而7.5分把它强化为'used to complain endlessly'，加入了一个更生动的副词。
    • GRA“On the other hand, some people find routines comforting, but for those who want variety, too much repetition can really get on their nerves.” — A single 'but' clause carries the whole final contrast. The 7.5 answer splits a similar idea into two separate sentences, the second opening with 'But for anyone who craves variety', giving each half of the contrast its own sentence and more room to develop.一个'but'从句承载了整个最后的对比。7.5分的回答把类似的想法拆成了两个独立的句子，第二句以'But for anyone who craves variety'开头，让对比的每一半都有自己的句子和更多发展空间。

    7.0 分

    Adds the qualifying clause 'especially when there's no room to try something new' onto the writer's own admission, giving a reason rather than just stating the feeling.在作者自己的承认之后加了一个限定性从句'especially when there's no room to try something new'，给出了一个原因，而不只是单纯陈述感受。

    Honestly, I think some people dislike routines because they see them as repetitive, or even a bit suffocating. My friend Thảo, for instance, used to complain about her previous office job, where she did the same paperwork and attended similar meetings every single day. She told me it made her feel stuck in a loop, and it genuinely drained her creativity. To be fair, I can relate to that — sticking to a rigid routine sometimes makes me feel less motivated too, especially when there's no room to try something new. On the other hand, plenty of people find routines comforting, but for those who crave variety, too much repetition can really wear them down.

    查看中文翻译

    老实说，我觉得有些人不喜欢习惯，是因为他们觉得习惯是重复的，甚至有点让人透不过气。比如说，我朋友Thảo以前总抱怨她之前那份办公室工作，每天都做同样的文书工作、参加差不多的会议。她告诉我，这让她感觉像困在一个循环里，也真的消磨了她的创造力。说句公道话，我对这一点也有点感同身受——死板地遵循一成不变的作息，有时候也会让我觉得没什么动力，尤其是当完全没有空间去尝试新事物的时候。另一方面，很多人反而觉得习惯让人安心，但对那些渴望变化的人来说，过多的重复真的会让他们精疲力竭。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“To be fair, I can relate to that — sticking to a rigid routine sometimes makes me feel less motivated too” — 'To be fair' plus a dash-set-off admission is a more connected way of conceding a personal parallel than the 6.5 answer's plainer 'I can relate to that a little, since...' sentence.'To be fair'加上一个用破折号隔开的承认，比6.5分回答中更平淡的'I can relate to that a little, since...'句子，是一种更具连接感地承认个人相似之处的方式。
    • LR“genuinely drained her creativity” — The adverb 'genuinely' adds emphasis and conviction that the plainer 6.5 phrase 'drained her creativity' lacks on its own.副词'genuinely'增添了一种6.5分中平淡的短语'drained her creativity'本身所缺少的强调和确信感。
    • GRA“sticking to a rigid routine sometimes makes me feel less motivated too, especially when there's no room to try something new.” — The trailing 'especially when' clause adds a specific condition onto the general claim, a more developed piece of reasoning than the 6.5 answer's shorter version of the same sentence.句末的'especially when'从句在这个一般性论断上加入了一个具体的条件，比6.5分回答中更短的同一句版本是更充分发展的推理。

    7.5 分

    Opens with the reflective clause 'once the novelty wears off', framing the whole answer around a process rather than a fixed state, which neither lower band attempts.以反思性的从句'once the novelty wears off'开头，把整个回答的框架定位在一个过程上，而不是一个固定的状态，这是两个较低分段都没有尝试的。

    Honestly, I think it's because routines can feel repetitive, or even faintly suffocating, once the novelty wears off. My friend Thảo, for instance, used to complain endlessly about her previous office job, where the same paperwork and the same meetings recurred day after day. She told me it made her feel stuck in a loop, and it genuinely drained her creativity over time. I can relate to that more than I'd like to admit — a rigid routine, with no room to try something new, saps my motivation too. Plenty of people, admittedly, find routines comforting rather than confining. But for anyone who craves variety, that same repetition can start to wear distinctly thin.

    查看中文翻译

    老实说，我觉得这是因为一旦新鲜感褪去，习惯就会让人感觉重复，甚至隐隐有点让人透不过气。比如说，我朋友Thảo以前总没完没了地抱怨她之前那份办公室工作，同样的文书工作、同样的会议一天接一天地重复出现。她告诉我，这让她感觉像困在一个循环里，久而久之也真的消磨了她的创造力。我对这一点的感同身受，程度超出了我愿意承认的——一份死板的作息，没有一点空间去尝试新事物，也同样会消耗我的动力。不得不说，很多人反而觉得习惯是一种安慰，而不是束缚。但对那些渴望变化的人来说，同样的重复会开始变得让人明显厌烦。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“I can relate to that more than I'd like to admit — a rigid routine, with no room to try something new, saps my motivation too.” — The dash lets a self-aware admission ('more than I'd like to admit') lead directly into the explanation, a more reflective cohesive move than the 6.5 and 7.0 answers' plainer, more matter-of-fact versions of the same sentence.破折号让一个具自我意识的承认（'more than I'd like to admit'）直接引出解释，比6.5分和7.0分回答中更平淡、更就事论事的同一句版本是更具反思性的连贯手法。
    • LR“saps my motivation” — 'Saps' is a vivid, slightly literary verb for gradually draining energy. Both lower bands use the much plainer 'makes me feel less motivated' for the same idea.'Saps'是一个生动、略带文学色彩的动词，用来表达能量的逐渐流失。两个较低分段对同一想法都用了平淡得多的'makes me feel less motivated'。
    • GRA“Plenty of people, admittedly, find routines comforting rather than confining. But for anyone who craves variety, that same repetition can start to wear distinctly thin.” — Splitting the final contrast into two separate sentences, each with its own subject and structure, gives more room for the parallel adjectives 'comforting rather than confining' than the single 'but' clause both lower bands compress the same contrast into.把最后的对比拆成两个独立的句子，各自有自己的主语和结构，比起两个较低分段把同样的对比压缩进单一'but'从句，为并列的形容词'comforting rather than confining'留出了更多空间。

12. 12. What are some things people do regularly every day?

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

    6.5 分

    Introduces each new example with 'Then there's' or 'Personally', a straightforward list-building pattern repeated through the answer.用'Then there's'或'Personally'来引出每一个新的例子，是一种全篇重复使用的直白列举模式。

    I think people have quite a few daily routines, some useful and some less so. For example, it's very common to check phones first thing in the morning, scrolling through messages, email, or news almost automatically. Then there's the usual stuff, like making coffee, commuting, or maybe a quick workout. Personally, after my morning coffee, I always tidy my desk before starting work, even though it's honestly never messy. I guess these small habits help us feel ready for the day, but some, like endless scrolling, are probably more of a waste of time than a real need.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得人们有不少日常习惯，有些有用，有些用处不大。比如说，早上一睁眼就看手机是很常见的事，几乎是下意识地刷刷消息、邮件或新闻。然后还有一些常规操作，比如煮咖啡、通勤，或者做个简短的锻炼。就我个人而言，喝完晨间咖啡之后，我总会在开始工作前整理一下桌面，尽管说实话桌面从来都不乱。我猜这些小习惯能帮我们进入一天的状态，但有些习惯，比如没完没了地刷手机，大概更多是浪费时间，而不是真正的需要。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Then there's the usual stuff, like making coffee, commuting, or maybe a quick workout.” — 'Then there's' is a simple, repeated way to move to the next category. The 7.5 answer instead uses a bare dash ('Then there's the usual stuff — coffee, the commute...'), a more compressed transition needing no full connecting phrase.'Then there's'是一个简单、重复使用的方式，用来过渡到下一个类别。7.5分的回答改用了一个单独的破折号（'Then there's the usual stuff — coffee, the commute...'），是一种更压缩、不需要完整连接短语的过渡方式。
    • LR“a waste of time” — This is a plain, direct phrase. The 7.0 and 7.5 answers use the more specific, slightly figurative 'a time sink', a more vivid and precise collocation for the same idea.这是一个平实、直接的短语。7.0分和7.5分的回答都用了更具体、略带比喻色彩的'a time sink'，是表达同一想法时更生动、更精准的搭配。
    • GRA“Personally, after my morning coffee, I always tidy my desk before starting work, even though it's honestly never messy.” — A single 'even though' clause closes the sentence. The 7.5 answer extends a similar idea with 'since it's never actually messy in the first place', adding a further clarifying phrase onto the same basic structure.一个'even though'从句结束了这句话。7.5分的回答用'since it's never actually messy in the first place'延伸了类似的想法，在同样的基础结构上加了一个进一步的澄清短语。

    7.0 分

    Uses a dash instead of 'like' to launch the list of ordinary routines, and adds the phrase 'if there's time' as a small realistic qualifier neither the plainer version nor the anecdote itself needed.用破折号而不是'like'来引出普通习惯的列表，并加入了短语'if there's time'，作为一个较平实版本和这段轶事本身都不需要的小小现实化限定语。

    Honestly, I think there are quite a few routines people stick to every day, some productive and others less so. It's really common, for instance, for people to check their phones first thing in the morning, scrolling through messages, email, or news almost on autopilot. Then there's the usual stuff — making coffee, commuting to work, maybe a quick workout if there's time. Personally, after my morning coffee, I always end up tidying my desk before starting any work, which honestly feels unnecessary because it's never actually messy. I guess these small habits help us feel ready for the day, but some, like endless scrolling, are probably more of a time sink than a real need.

    查看中文翻译

    老实说，我觉得人们每天都会坚持不少习惯，有些是有成效的，有些则不然。比如说，很多人早上一睁眼就会看手机，几乎是下意识地刷刷消息、邮件或新闻，这真的很常见。然后还有一些常规操作——煮咖啡、通勤上班，如果有时间的话还会做个简短的锻炼。就我个人而言，喝完晨间咖啡之后，我总会在开始任何工作之前先整理一下桌面，说实话这感觉挺没必要的，因为桌面从来都不乱。我猜这些小习惯能帮我们进入一天的状态，但有些习惯，比如没完没了地刷手机，大概更像是在浪费时间，而不是真正的需要。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Then there's the usual stuff — making coffee, commuting to work, maybe a quick workout if there's time.” — The dash replaces the connector 'like' used at 6.5, letting the list follow directly without a linking word — a slightly more compressed, spoken-style transition.破折号取代了6.5分中使用的连接词'like'，让列表可以直接跟上而不需要连接词——这是一种略微更压缩、更接近口语风格的过渡方式。
    • LR“almost on autopilot” — 'On autopilot' is a vivid, idiomatic way of describing an unthinking habitual action, more figurative than the 6.5 answer's plainer 'almost automatically'.'On autopilot'是一个生动、地道的短语，用来描述一种不假思索的习惯性动作，比6.5分回答中更平淡的'almost automatically'更具比喻色彩。
    • GRA“which honestly feels unnecessary because it's never actually messy” — The relative clause 'which honestly feels unnecessary' attaches directly onto the main clause, giving the sentence one continuous chain of reasoning rather than a separate short sentence stating the same judgement.定语从句'which honestly feels unnecessary'直接附加在主句上，让这句话形成一条连续的推理链条，而不是另起一句短句来陈述同样的判断。

    7.5 分

    Closes with the generalising line 'Everyone... has their own mix of the helpful and the pointless', a summarising final sentence neither lower band adds after making the same point.以概括性的一句话'Everyone... has their own mix of the helpful and the pointless'收尾，这是两个较低分段在得出同样观点后都没有加上的总结性结尾句。

    I think there are quite a few routines people stick to daily, some genuinely useful and others little more than habit for habit's sake. It's common, for instance, for people to check their phones the moment they wake, scrolling through messages, email or news almost on autopilot. Then there's the usual stuff — coffee, the commute, maybe a quick workout if time allows. Personally, after my morning coffee, I always end up tidying my desk before starting any work, which honestly feels unnecessary since it's never actually messy in the first place. These small habits, I suppose, help us feel ready for the day, but some — endless scrolling especially — are probably more of a time sink than a genuine need. Everyone, I'd guess, has their own mix of the helpful and the pointless.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得人们每天都会坚持不少习惯，有些是真正有用的，有些则不过是为了习惯而习惯。比如说，人们一醒来就会看手机，几乎是下意识地刷刷消息、邮件或新闻，这挺常见的。然后还有一些常规操作——咖啡、通勤，如果时间允许的话还会做个简短的锻炼。就我个人而言，喝完晨间咖啡之后，我总会在开始任何工作之前先整理一下桌面，说实话这感觉挺没必要的，因为桌面本来就从来不乱。我想，这些小习惯能帮我们进入一天的状态，但有些习惯——尤其是没完没了地刷手机——大概更像是在吞噬时间，而不是真正的需要。我猜，每个人身上大概都有这样一份有用和无意义参半的组合吧。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Everyone, I'd guess, has their own mix of the helpful and the pointless.” — This closing generalisation, inserted after the main argument is already complete, is a cohesive extension neither lower band attempts — both stop at the observation about scrolling being a time sink.这个结尾的概括性总结，插入在主要论证已经完成之后，是一种两个较低分段都没有尝试的连贯性延伸——两者都止步于关于刷手机是浪费时间的那个观察。
    • LR“habit for habit's sake” — This is a compact, idiomatic phrase for doing something purely out of habit, with no other benefit. Neither lower band reaches for wording this economical, relying instead on the plainer 'some useful and some less so'.这是一个简练、地道的短语，用来表达纯粹出于习惯、没有其他好处的行为。两个较低分段都没有用到这么经济的措辞，而是依靠更平淡的'some useful and some less so'。
    • GRA“but some — endless scrolling especially — are probably more of a time sink than a genuine need” — The dash-set-off aside 'endless scrolling especially' interrupts the main clause to single out one example, a more flexible placement of emphasis than the plain 'like endless scrolling' phrase both lower bands use in the same position.用破折号隔开的插入语'endless scrolling especially'打断主句，专门点出一个例子，比两个较低分段在同一位置使用的平淡短语'like endless scrolling'，是一种更灵活的强调安排方式。

13. 13. Why do people keep doing the same things regularly?

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

    6.5 分

    States each idea in a short, separate sentence and closes with a plain 'so' clause, keeping the whole explanation in easy, linear steps.用简短、独立的句子陈述每个想法，并以平实的'so'从句收尾，让整个解释保持在简单、线性的步骤中。

    I think people keep the same routines mostly out of habit and comfort. Once something becomes automatic, you don't have to think about it, which makes daily life feel easier. For example, I always find myself scrolling through my Zalo groups every night before bed, even though I don't really need to check those messages that late. It isn't productive, it's just a way to wind down, and honestly it feels like a waste of time sometimes. But breaking out of that pattern takes real effort. Familiar routines give people a sense of stability, so they often keep doing them even without a strong reason.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得人们一直保持同样的习惯，大多是出于习惯和舒适感。一旦一件事变得下意识，你就不用去想它了，这会让日常生活感觉更轻松。比如说，我每天晚上睡觉前总会习惯性地刷一遍我的Zalo群组，尽管我其实并不需要在那么晚的时候查看那些消息。这并不是什么有成效的事，只是一种放松下来的方式，说实话有时候确实感觉挺浪费时间的。但要打破这种模式需要真正的努力。熟悉的习惯能给人一种稳定感，所以即使没有什么充分的理由，人们也常常会继续做下去。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“But breaking out of that pattern takes real effort.” — This short sentence marks a shift with a bare 'But'. The 7.5 answer instead uses 'though' inserted mid-sentence for the equivalent shift, a more compressed way of signalling the same contrast.这句短句用一个单独的'But'来标示转折。7.5分的回答则在句中插入'though'来实现同样的转折，是一种更压缩地表达同一对比的方式。
    • LR“a way to wind down” — This phrase is reused almost identically across all three bands, but the surrounding vocabulary shifts: 6.5 calls the habit 'a waste of time sometimes', while 7.5 softens this into 'a small, harmless waste of time', adding two extra precise adjectives.这个短语在三个分段中几乎一模一样地重复使用，但周围的词汇有所变化：6.5分把这个习惯称为'a waste of time sometimes'，而7.5分把它软化为'a small, harmless waste of time'，加入了两个更精准的形容词。
    • GRA“Familiar routines give people a sense of stability, so they often keep doing them even without a strong reason.” — A single 'so' clause draws the conclusion. The 7.5 answer expresses a similar idea with 'so even the unhelpful ones tend to persist unless something forces a change', replacing the generic 'without a strong reason' with a more specific conditional clause.一个'so'从句得出了结论。7.5分的回答用'so even the unhelpful ones tend to persist unless something forces a change'表达了类似的想法，把笼统的'without a strong reason'换成了一个更具体的条件从句。

    7.0 分

    Adds 'To be fair' before the closing generalisation, framing the conclusion as a considered concession rather than a flat statement.在结尾的概括性总结之前加入了'To be fair'，把结论塑造成一种经过考虑的让步，而不是平铺直叙的陈述。

    Honestly, I think people stick to the same routines mostly out of habit and comfort. Once something becomes automatic, you don't have to think about it, and that just makes daily life feel easier. For example, I always find myself scrolling through my Zalo groups every night before bed, even though I know I don't really need to check those messages at that hour. It's not productive — it's just a way to wind down, and honestly, it sometimes feels like a waste of time. But breaking out of that pattern takes real effort. To be fair, familiar routines give people a sense of stability, so even unhelpful ones often stick around unless there's a strong reason to stop.

    查看中文翻译

    老实说，我觉得人们坚持同样的习惯，大多是出于习惯和舒适感。一旦一件事变得下意识，你就不用去想它了，这自然会让日常生活感觉更轻松。比如说，我每天晚上睡觉前总会习惯性地刷一遍我的Zalo群组，尽管我知道自己其实并不需要在那么晚的时候查看那些消息。这并不是有成效的事——只是一种放松下来的方式，说实话，有时候确实感觉挺浪费时间的。但要打破这种模式需要真正的努力。说句公道话，熟悉的习惯能给人一种稳定感，所以即使是没什么用的习惯，通常也会一直延续下去，除非有充分的理由让人停下来。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“To be fair, familiar routines give people a sense of stability, so even unhelpful ones often stick around unless there's a strong reason to stop.” — 'To be fair' introduces the closing generalisation as weighed and considered, a cohesive move the 6.5 answer's plain 'Familiar routines give...' opener doesn't attempt.'To be fair'把结尾的概括性总结引出为经过权衡、考虑过的观点，这是6.5分回答中平实的开头'Familiar routines give...'没有尝试的连贯手法。
    • LR“even though I know I don't really need to check those messages at that hour” — The added phrase 'I know' makes the admission more self-aware than the 6.5 answer's plainer 'even though I don't really need to check those messages that late'.附加的短语'I know'比6.5分中更平淡的'even though I don't really need to check those messages that late'，让这个承认更具自我意识。
    • GRA“It's not productive — it's just a way to wind down, and honestly, it sometimes feels like a waste of time.” — The dash lets the sentence pivot from denial to explanation without a connector, then a further coordinated clause with 'and' extends it — a more layered structure than the 6.5 answer's comma-separated three-part version of the same sentence.破折号让句子从否认转向解释，不需要连接词，然后再用一个'and'连接的并列小句延伸它——比6.5分回答中用逗号隔开的三部分同一句版本更有层次的结构。

    7.5 分

    Uses the more forceful verb 'cling to' instead of the neutral 'keep' or 'stick to' both lower bands use, giving the opening claim a slightly sharper edge.用了更有力的动词'cling to'，取代了两个较低分段都用的中性词'keep'或'stick to'，让开头的论断带上了略微更犀利的锋芒。

    I think people cling to the same routines mostly out of habit and comfort — once something becomes automatic, you no longer have to think about it, and that alone makes daily life feel easier. I always find myself scrolling through my Zalo groups every night before bed, for instance, even though I know perfectly well I don't need to check those messages at that hour. It isn't productive; it's just a way to wind down, and honestly it sometimes feels like a small, harmless waste of time. Breaking out of that pattern, though, takes real effort. Familiar routines give people a sense of stability, so even the unhelpful ones tend to persist unless something forces a change.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得人们死守着同样的习惯，大多是出于习惯和舒适感——一旦一件事变得下意识，你就不再需要去想它了，光是这一点就会让日常生活感觉更轻松。比如说，我每天晚上睡觉前总会习惯性地刷一遍我的Zalo群组，尽管我心知肚明自己并不需要在那么晚的时候查看那些消息。这并不是有成效的事；只是一种放松下来的方式，说实话有时候确实感觉像是一种小小的、无伤大雅的时间浪费。不过要打破这种模式，确实需要真正的努力。熟悉的习惯能给人一种稳定感，所以即使是没什么用的习惯，也往往会一直延续下去，除非有什么力量迫使它改变。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Breaking out of that pattern, though, takes real effort.” — The trailing 'though' inserted mid-sentence achieves the same contrastive function as the 6.5 answer's opening 'But' or the 7.0 answer's separate sentence, but more compactly, without needing a full connector at the start.句中插入的'though'实现了和6.5分开头的'But'或7.0分独立句子同样的转折功能，但更简练，不需要句首完整的连接词。
    • LR“cling to” — 'Cling to' is a more vivid, almost physical verb for holding onto a habit than the neutral 'keep' or 'stick to' both lower bands use in the same opening position.'Cling to'是一个更生动、近乎带有身体感的动词，用来表达紧抓着一种习惯不放，比两个较低分段在同一开头位置用的中性词'keep'或'stick to'更有画面感。
    • GRA“It isn't productive; it's just a way to wind down, and honestly it sometimes feels like a small, harmless waste of time.” — The semicolon joins two independent clauses without a connector, then a further coordinated clause extends the sentence — the most compact version of this three-part idea across the three bands, compared to the comma-heavy 6.5 version or the dash-led 7.0 version.分号在没有连接词的情况下连接了两个独立小句，然后又用一个并列小句延伸了句子——这是这个三段式想法在三个分段中最紧凑的版本，相比之下6.5分版本逗号用得较多，7.0分版本则用了破折号引导。

14. 14. Why do some people stick to certain habits for a long time?

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

    6.5 分

    Tells the weather-app story in short, time-ordered sentences and closes with a separate sentence about people's worry, rather than folding it into the reasoning above.以简短、按时间顺序的句子讲述天气App的故事，并以一个关于人们担忧的独立句子收尾，而不是把它融进上面的推理之中。

    I think people stick to habits because they give a sense of stability, even if the habit isn't very useful. For example, I realised I check the weather app every morning, even though Da Nang's weather is usually predictable and rarely changes my plans. It just became part of my routine, right after making coffee. Honestly, it felt automatic, almost like muscle memory, and I kept doing it for over a year without really thinking about it. Habits like this are hard to break because they're familiar and need zero effort. People also worry that changing their routine might make the day feel a bit off.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得人们坚持某些习惯，是因为这些习惯能带来一种稳定感，即便这个习惯本身并不那么有用。比如说，我发现自己每天早上都会打开天气App查看，尽管岘港的天气通常都很好预测，很少会打乱我的计划。这不知不觉就成了我作息的一部分，就紧接在煮咖啡之后。老实说，感觉挺下意识的，几乎像是肌肉记忆一样，我这样做了一年多，都没怎么真正想过为什么。这类习惯很难改掉，因为它们既熟悉，又几乎不用费什么力气。人们也会担心，改变作息会让这一天感觉有点不对劲。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Honestly, it felt automatic, almost like muscle memory, and I kept doing it for over a year without really thinking about it.” — 'Honestly' opens this reflective sentence plainly. The 7.0 answer places a similar hedge mid-sentence instead ('It felt almost automatic, honestly, like muscle memory'), a more flexible position for the same hedge.'Honestly'平实地开启了这句反思。7.0分的回答则把一个类似的缓和语放在句中（'It felt almost automatic, honestly, like muscle memory'），这是同一缓和语更灵活的位置。
    • LR“need zero effort” — This is a plain, punchy phrase, used almost identically across bands — the real difference is in what surrounds it: 6.5 simply lists the reason, while 7.5 folds it into a longer sentence with 'precisely because', adding a stronger logical connector.这是一个平实、有力的短语，在各分段中几乎一模一样地使用——真正的区别在于它周围的内容：6.5分只是单纯列出原因，而7.5分用'precisely because'把它融进一个更长的句子，加入了一个更强的逻辑连接词。
    • GRA“People also worry that changing their routine might make the day feel a bit off.” — A short separate sentence closes the answer. The 7.5 answer instead fuses a similar idea onto the end of the previous sentence with 'and there's a quiet worry, I think, that...', avoiding a new sentence altogether.一句独立的短句结束了这个回答。7.5分的回答则用'and there's a quiet worry, I think, that...'把类似的想法融合进前一句话的末尾，完全避免了另起一句。

    7.0 分

    Uses the past perfect 'I'd been checking' to mark the habit as already established before the moment of realising it, a small grammatical refinement over the simple past.用过去完成时'I'd been checking'把这个习惯标记为在意识到它之前就已经确立了，比简单过去时略有语法上的提升。

    Honestly, I think a lot of people stick to habits mainly because they provide a sense of stability, even when those habits aren't especially useful. Not long ago, for instance, I realised I'd been checking the weather app every morning, even though Da Nang's weather is usually predictable and rarely changes my plans. It had just become part of my routine, right after making coffee. It felt almost automatic, honestly, like muscle memory, and I kept doing it for over a year without really thinking about it. To be fair, habits like that are hard to break because they're familiar and require zero effort. People also worry, I think, that changing a routine will make the day feel slightly off.

    查看中文翻译

    老实说，我觉得很多人坚持某些习惯，主要是因为这些习惯能带来一种稳定感，即便这些习惯并不算特别有用。比如说，不久前，我发现自己一直每天早上都在查看天气App，尽管岘港的天气通常都很好预测，很少会打乱我的计划。它已经不知不觉成了我作息的一部分，就紧接在煮咖啡之后。老实说，感觉几乎是下意识的，像是肌肉记忆一样，我这样做了一年多，都没怎么真正想过为什么。说句公道话，这类习惯很难改掉，因为它们既熟悉，又几乎不用费什么力气。我觉得人们也会担心，改变作息会让这一天感觉有点不对劲。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“To be fair, habits like that are hard to break because they're familiar and require zero effort.” — 'To be fair' introduces this generalisation as a considered point in the argument, a more connected move than the 6.5 answer's plain 'Habits like this are hard to break...' opener.'To be fair'把这个概括性总结引出为论证中一个经过考虑的观点，比6.5分回答中平实的开头'Habits like this are hard to break...'更有连贯感。
    • LR“require zero effort” — 'Require' is a slightly more formal, precise verb than the plainer 'need' used at 6.5 for the identical idea.'Require'是一个比6.5分中用来表达同一想法的更平淡的'need'略微更正式、更精准的动词。
    • GRA“Not long ago, for instance, I realised I'd been checking the weather app every morning, even though Da Nang's weather is usually predictable and rarely changes my plans.” — The past perfect 'I'd been checking' marks an ongoing habit that predates the moment of noticing it, a more precise tense choice than the 6.5 answer's simple past 'I realised I check'.过去完成时'I'd been checking'标示出一个在注意到它之前就已经持续存在的习惯，比6.5分回答中简单过去时'I realised I check'是更精准的时态选择。

    7.5 分

    Ends on the evaluative phrase 'leave the day feeling somehow incomplete', a more reflective closing image than the plainer 'feel a bit off' both lower bands use.以评价性短语'leave the day feeling somehow incomplete'收尾，比两个较低分段用的更平淡的'feel a bit off'是更具反思性的结尾意象。

    I think a lot of people stick to certain habits mainly because they offer a sense of stability, even when the habit itself isn't especially useful. Not long ago, for instance, I noticed I'd been checking the weather app every morning, even though Da Nang's weather is fairly predictable and rarely changes my plans — it had simply become part of my routine, right after making coffee. It felt almost automatic, like muscle memory, and I kept it up for over a year without ever really questioning it. Habits like that are hard to break precisely because they're familiar and require zero effort, and there's a quiet worry, I think, that dropping one will leave the day feeling somehow incomplete.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得很多人坚持某些习惯，主要是因为这些习惯能带来一种稳定感，即便这个习惯本身并不算特别有用。比如说，不久前，我注意到自己一直每天早上都在查看天气App，尽管岘港的天气相当好预测，很少会打乱我的计划——它就这样不知不觉成了我作息的一部分，紧接在煮咖啡之后。感觉几乎是下意识的，像是肌肉记忆一样，我坚持了一年多，从没真正质疑过它。这类习惯之所以难以改掉，正是因为它们熟悉、几乎不用费什么力气，而且我觉得心里还有一种隐隐的担忧，觉得一旦放弃某个习惯，这一天会莫名地感觉不完整。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“it had simply become part of my routine, right after making coffee. It felt almost automatic, like muscle memory, and I kept it up for over a year without ever really questioning it.” — The dash fuses the observation and its explanation into one continuous sentence before the next sentence develops it further, a tighter opening move than the 6.5 and 7.0 answers' separate short sentences for the same content.破折号把这个观察和它的解释融合进一个连续的句子，然后下一句再进一步展开——比6.5分和7.0分回答对同一内容用两个独立短句的方式，是一个更紧凑的开场手法。
    • LR“leave the day feeling somehow incomplete” — 'Incomplete' is a more precise, slightly abstract adjective than the plainer 'off' both lower bands use to describe the same vague discomfort.'Incomplete'是一个比两个较低分段用来描述同一种模糊不适感的更平淡的'off'更精准、略带抽象色彩的形容词。
    • GRA“Habits like that are hard to break precisely because they're familiar and require zero effort, and there's a quiet worry, I think, that dropping one will leave the day feeling somehow incomplete.” — Two coordinated clauses joined by 'and', the second containing its own inserted hedge ('I think') and a further 'that' clause, make this the longest and most internally layered version of the closing idea across the three bands.两个用'and'连接的并列小句，第二个还包含了自己插入的缓和语（'I think'）和一个进一步的'that'从句，让这个结尾想法在三个分段中呈现出最长、内部层次最丰富的版本。

15. 15. Will people continue doing something even when they know it is a waste of time?

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

    6.5 分

    Tells the puzzle-game story in time order with plain connectors ('Still... Eventually...'), ending on the anecdote itself rather than a separate closing generalisation.按时间顺序讲述拼图游戏的故事，用平实的连接词（'Still... Eventually...'），以轶事本身收尾，而不是另外加一个概括性的结尾。

    I think a lot of people keep doing things even when they know it's not productive, just out of habit. For example, last autumn I got into the routine of playing a puzzle game on my phone during my lunch break at the office. I knew it didn't really help me relax, and honestly I often felt more tired afterwards. Still, I kept doing it for weeks because it became almost automatic, my fingers just opened the app while I was eating. Eventually I switched to listening to music instead, which felt much better, but it took a while to break that pattern.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得很多人明知道一件事没有成效，还是会继续做，纯粹是出于习惯。比如说，去年秋天，我养成了在办公室午休时玩手机拼图游戏的习惯。我知道这其实并不能真正帮我放松，老实说，玩完之后我常常反而觉得更累。不过我还是坚持玩了好几周，因为这几乎变成了下意识的动作，我一边吃饭手指就自动打开了那个App。后来我改成听音乐了，感觉好多了，但要打破那个模式确实花了一段时间。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Eventually I switched to listening to music instead, which felt much better, but it took a while to break that pattern.” — 'Eventually' marks the resolution of the anecdote plainly. The 7.0 answer adds a further generalising sentence after this ('So yes, I'd say it's pretty common...'), a cohesive step the 6.5 answer doesn't take, stopping at the personal story alone.'Eventually'平实地标示出了这段轶事的结局。7.0分的回答在这之后又加了一句概括性的句子（'So yes, I'd say it's pretty common...'），这是6.5分回答没有采取的连贯性步骤，止步于个人故事本身。
    • LR“my fingers just opened the app while I was eating” — This is a vivid, concrete image, already fairly natural. The 7.5 answer intensifies it slightly to 'my fingers opened the app before I'd even decided to', adding a clause that makes the automatic quality even more pointed.这是一个生动、具体的意象，已经相当自然了。7.5分的回答把它稍微强化为'my fingers opened the app before I'd even decided to'，加了一个从句，让这种下意识的特质更加突出。
    • GRA“Still, I kept doing it for weeks because it became almost automatic, my fingers just opened the app while I was eating.” — A 'because' clause is extended with a comma-joined explanatory clause describing the automatic action. The 7.5 answer punctuates a similar idea with a dash instead of a comma, a subtly tighter way of attaching the same explanation.一个'because'从句用逗号连接了一个进一步的解释性从句，描述了那个下意识的动作。7.5分的回答用破折号而不是逗号来标点类似的想法，是一种略微更紧凑的方式来附加同样的解释。

    7.0 分

    Adds a final generalising sentence ('So yes, I'd say it's pretty common...') after the anecdote, explicitly connecting the personal story back to the general question being asked.在轶事之后加了一句最后的概括性句子（'So yes, I'd say it's pretty common...'），明确地把个人故事和所问的一般性问题重新连接起来。

    Honestly, I think a lot of people keep doing certain things even after realising they're not productive, just out of habit or comfort. Last autumn, for instance, I got into the routine of playing a puzzle game on my phone during my lunch break at the office. I knew it didn't really help me relax or recharge, and honestly, I'd often feel more tired afterwards. Still, I kept at it for weeks because it became almost automatic — my fingers just opened the app while I was eating. Eventually I switched to listening to music instead, which felt much better, though it took a while to break that pattern. So yes, I'd say it's pretty common for people to stick with time-wasting habits.

    查看中文翻译

    老实说，我觉得很多人即使意识到一件事没有成效，还是会继续做，纯粹是出于习惯或舒适感。比如说，去年秋天，我养成了在办公室午休时玩手机拼图游戏的习惯。我知道这其实并不能真正帮我放松或恢复精力，老实说，玩完之后我常常反而觉得更累。不过我还是坚持了好几周，因为这几乎变成了下意识的动作——我一边吃饭手指就自动打开了那个App。后来我改成听音乐了，感觉好多了，虽然要打破那个模式确实花了一段时间。所以是的，我想说人们坚持浪费时间的习惯，是相当常见的事。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“So yes, I'd say it's pretty common for people to stick with time-wasting habits.” — This closing sentence draws the anecdote back to the general question directly, a cohesive move the 6.5 answer skips, ending instead on the anecdote's resolution alone.这句结尾直接把轶事拉回到一般性问题，是6.5分回答跳过的一个连贯性手法，后者只以轶事的结局收尾。
    • LR“didn't really help me relax or recharge” — The added verb 'recharge' alongside 'relax' gives a more precise, two-part description of what the activity failed to do, compared to the 6.5 answer's single verb 'relax'.新增的动词'recharge'和'relax'搭配在一起，比6.5分回答中单一的动词'relax'，对这项活动未能达成的效果给出了更精准、两部分的描述。
    • GRA“Eventually I switched to listening to music instead, which felt much better, though it took a while to break that pattern.” — The subordinator 'though' replaces the 6.5 answer's 'but', a slightly more formal way of introducing the same concession within an otherwise identical sentence.从属连词'though'取代了6.5分回答中的'but'，在一个原本几乎一样的句子中，用一种略微更正式的方式引出同样的让步。

    7.5 分

    Closes with a colon-led aphorism — 'knowing something is pointless rarely stops people doing it anyway' — that generalises the whole anecdote in a single compact final clause.以一句用冒号引出的格言式总结收尾——'knowing something is pointless rarely stops people doing it anyway'——用一个简练的结尾从句概括了整段轶事。

    Honestly, yes — I think a lot of people carry on with things long after they know it isn't productive, purely out of habit. Last autumn, for instance, I fell into the routine of playing a puzzle game on my phone during my lunch break, knowing full well it didn't help me relax and, if anything, often left me more tired afterwards. Still, I kept at it for weeks, because by then it had become almost automatic — my fingers opened the app before I'd even decided to. Eventually I switched to music instead, which felt far better, though breaking that earlier pattern took some real effort. It's a fairly common pattern, I'd say: knowing something is pointless rarely stops people doing it anyway.

    查看中文翻译

    老实说，是的——我觉得很多人明明早就知道一件事没有成效，还是会继续做下去，纯粹是出于习惯。比如说，去年秋天，我陷入了在午休时玩手机拼图游戏的习惯，明明清楚这并不能帮我放松，甚至常常玩完之后反而更累。不过我还是坚持了好几周，因为到那时候，这几乎变成了下意识的动作——我的手指在我还没决定要玩之前就已经打开了那个App。后来我改成听音乐了，感觉好多了，虽然要打破之前那个模式确实费了些真功夫。我想这是一个相当常见的模式：明知道一件事毫无意义，也很少能真的阻止人们去做它。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“It's a fairly common pattern, I'd say: knowing something is pointless rarely stops people doing it anyway.” — The colon here promises a summarising generalisation and delivers it immediately, a tighter cohesive device than the 7.0 answer's separate 'So yes, I'd say...' sentence making a similar closing point.这里的冒号预告了一个概括性总结，并立刻兑现了这个承诺，比7.0分回答中用独立句子'So yes, I'd say...'来表达类似结尾观点的方式更紧凑、更具连贯感。
    • LR“my fingers opened the app before I'd even decided to” — This phrasing pushes the idea of automaticity further than either lower band, suggesting the action preceded conscious choice entirely — a more precise, slightly unsettling image than the plainer 'my fingers just opened the app while I was eating'.这种措辞把下意识的程度推得比两个较低分段都更远，暗示这个动作完全发生在有意识的选择之前——比平淡的'my fingers just opened the app while I was eating'是一个更精准、略带不安感的意象。
    • GRA“knowing full well it didn't help me relax and, if anything, often left me more tired afterwards” — The inserted phrase 'if anything' between commas adds a self-correcting escalation mid-clause, a more flexible piece of grammar than the plain coordinated 'and honestly, I'd often feel more tired afterwards' both lower bands use for the same idea.插入在两个逗号之间的短语'if anything'在小句中段加入了一层自我修正式的递进，比两个较低分段用来表达同一想法的平实并列句'and honestly, I'd often feel more tired afterwards'是一种更灵活的语法处理。

16. 16. What kinds of things make people feel pressured?

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

    6.5 分

    Builds the office anecdote through a chain of short, time-marked sentences, and closes with a plain 'But' sentence naming when the writer personally feels pressure most.6.5分的回答逐一列出了四种压力来源，反复使用短语'also cause(s) stress'，最后以简单的'I think it's usually'总结句收尾。

    I think people feel pressured mainly by expectations and time limits, from themselves and from others. For example, at my office last quarter, our team had overlapping deadlines from three different clients. I remember one day our manager called a meeting at 9AM because a client from Singapore had flagged urgent changes overnight, and everyone looked stressed. Situations like that, when you have constant updates, emails, and meetings, make it really hard to focus, and people feel like they're always racing the clock. Sometimes pressure also comes from wanting to meet your own standards, not just what others expect. But it's those packed, uncontrollable moments that I feel it most.

    查看中文翻译

    钱的问题是很多人压力的一个重要来源，尤其是像突然要修东西这样意料之外的花费。工作截止日期也会带来很大压力，尤其是好几个项目同时进行的时候，这种情况有时也会发生在我身上，比如两个客户在同一周都要改稿。通勤也可能带来压力，尤其是堵车会占用本该用来放松的时间。家人、朋友或同事之间的问题也会增加压力，因为哪怕对话已经结束了，它们还是会一直萦绕在脑海里。我觉得通常让人感到疲惫的，往往不是一个大问题，而是很多小压力叠加在一起。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“But it's those packed, uncontrollable moments that I feel it most.” — The bare connector 'But' marks the final personal point plainly. The 7.5 answer instead uses 'But personally,' to soften the same pivot, a small but deliberate hedge the 6.5 answer's flatter version skips.在好几个句子中反复使用短语'also cause(s) stress'，是一种简单、机械化的列举方式；更高分段会在每一点上变换措辞。
    • LR“racing the clock” — This idiom is used identically across the bands, but the surrounding description varies: the 6.5 answer describes the meeting plainly ('everyone looked stressed'), while the 7.5 answer intensifies it to 'everyone in the room looked genuinely rattled', a more vivid, specific word choice.'A big cause of stress'是平实、日常的措辞；更高分段可能会用一个更地道的短语，比如说钱的问题'top the list'。
    • GRA“Situations like that, when you have constant updates, emails, and meetings, make it really hard to focus, and people feel like they're always racing the clock.” — An inserted 'when' clause interrupts the main subject before the verb, followed by a coordinated 'and' clause. The 7.5 answer extends a similar sentence with the verb 'juggling' and adds a further coordinated clause about the outcome, a longer chain of reasoning.这个从句直接用基本连接词'because'给出理由，而不是更高分段用来表达类似推理的更高级的'since'从句。

    7.0 分

    Sets the three sources of pressure off between dashes ('constant updates, emails, and meetings all at once') rather than inside a 'when' clause, a more compressed way of listing the same causes.7.0分的回答在列举时变换了措辞（'a big one'、'cause plenty of stress too'、'a quiet source of daily stress'），而不是重复一个固定短语，并以更精准的词'accumulation'收尾。

    Honestly, I think people feel pressured mainly by a mix of expectations and time constraints, both from themselves and from others. There was a stretch last quarter at my office, for instance, when our team had overlapping deadlines from three different clients. I remember one day our manager called a 9AM meeting because the client from Singapore had flagged urgent changes overnight, and everyone looked genuinely stressed. That kind of situation — constant updates, emails, and meetings all at once — makes it really hard to focus, and people feel like they're always racing the clock. To be fair, sometimes pressure also comes from wanting to meet your own standards, not just other people's. But it's those packed, uncontrollable moments that get me most.

    查看中文翻译

    对很多人来说，钱的问题是一大来源，尤其是像突然要修东西这样意料之外的花费。工作截止日期也带来不少压力，尤其是好几个项目同时压过来的时候，这种情况偶尔也会发生在我身上，比如两个客户在同一周都要改稿。通勤也可能是日常压力的一个隐性来源，尤其是堵车会侵占本该用来放松的时间。人际关系的紧张，不管是和家人、朋友还是同事，都会增添另一层比实际问题更难摆脱的压力，因为哪怕对话已经结束了，它们还是会在心里久久不散。我觉得通常让人最疲惫的，往往是好几个较小压力的累积，而不是一个巨大的问题。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“To be fair, sometimes pressure also comes from wanting to meet your own standards, not just other people's.” — 'To be fair' introduces this additional cause as a considered point, a more connected move than the 6.5 answer's plainer 'Sometimes pressure also comes from...' opener with no hedge.把通勤描述为'a quiet source'，改变了句子模式，而不是重复'also cause stress'，比6.5分中重复性的列举展现出更多的词汇和结构变化。
    • LR“everyone looked genuinely stressed” — The adverb 'genuinely' adds a degree of conviction the plainer 6.5 phrase 'everyone looked stressed' lacks on its own.'Wears people down'是一个比6.5分中更平淡的'makes people feel worn out'更生动、更地道地表达逐渐消耗的搭配。
    • GRA“That kind of situation — constant updates, emails, and meetings all at once — makes it really hard to focus, and people feel like they're always racing the clock.” — The dash-set-off list replaces the 6.5 answer's embedded 'when' clause, a different but comparably complex way of inserting the same three-item list into the middle of the sentence.这个长句把一个插入的'whether'从句和一个比较从句以及一个'since'从句结合在一起，比6.5分中更短、分开的句子展现出更广的语法范围。

    7.5 分

    Closes with the extended, dash-set-off image 'where the schedule runs you rather than the other way round', a figurative elaboration neither lower band attempts in its final sentence.7.5分的回答以习语'top the list'开头，用一个简化的分词从句来表达维修账单的例子，并以一个强调句（'It's usually the accumulation... that quietly wears people down'）收尾。

    I think people feel pressured mainly by a mix of expectations and time constraints, both self-imposed and external. There was a stretch last quarter at my office, for instance, when our team had overlapping deadlines from three different clients, and I remember one particular 9AM meeting our manager called because the Singapore client had flagged urgent changes overnight — everyone in the room looked genuinely rattled. That kind of situation, juggling constant updates, emails and meetings all at once, makes it hard to focus, and leaves people feeling like they're permanently racing the clock. Pressure, admittedly, also comes from wanting to meet your own standards, not just everyone else's. But personally, it's those packed, uncontrollable stretches — where the schedule runs you rather than the other way round — that I feel it most acutely.

    查看中文翻译

    对很多人来说，钱的问题稳居压力来源榜首，尤其是那些意料之外的花费——一张突如其来的维修账单就是经典的例子。工作截止日期也会自己堆积出一份压力，尤其是好几个项目同时压过来的时候，就像两个客户在同一周都要改稿时我偶尔遇到的情况。通勤则算是一种更隐蔽、处于背景中的压力来源，一点点侵占着本该用来放松的时间。人际关系的紧张——不管是和家人、朋友还是同事——会添上一层顽固的额外压力，比实际问题更难甩掉，因为即便对话早已结束，它们还是会在心里久久萦绕。我想说，通常悄悄把人磨得筋疲力尽的，往往是好几个较小压力的累积，而不是任何一个单独的大问题。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“But personally, it's those packed, uncontrollable stretches — where the schedule runs you rather than the other way round — that I feel it most acutely.” — The dash-set-off clarifying clause extends the final point well beyond the 6.5 and 7.0 answers' shorter closing sentences, adding a figurative elaboration after the main claim is already complete.'Top the list'是一个生动、地道的说法，用来表示某件事是最常见的原因，比较低分段用的更平淡的短语（比如'a big cause of stress'）更具比喻色彩。
    • LR“the schedule runs you rather than the other way round” — This is a vivid, idiomatic reversal-of-control image that neither lower band attempts — both stop at the more literal 'racing the clock' without extending the metaphor further.'Shake off'是一个生动、地道的搭配，用来表达摆脱某种持续存在的东西，比6.5分中更平淡的短语'stay in your mind'是更精准、更少见的选择。
    • GRA“That kind of situation, juggling constant updates, emails and meetings all at once, makes it hard to focus, and leaves people feeling like they're permanently racing the clock.” — The participial phrase 'juggling constant updates, emails and meetings' is inserted between commas mid-sentence, a more flexible placement of description than the dash-set-off list in the 7.0 answer or the embedded 'when' clause in the 6.5 answer.一个非限定的独立结构（'a sudden repair bill being...'）不用连接词就附加在了句子上，比较低分段用的更完整的短语'like a sudden repair bill'是更紧凑、更灵活的结构。

17. 17. Do you think regular exercise can help people live longer?

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

    6.5 分

    Uses the plain contrastive 'but' twice in a row (about Mrs. Hoa's age, and about exercise not being a cure), a repeated simple connector rather than varied phrasing.连续两次用了平实的转折词'but'（一次关于Hoa阿姨的年龄，一次关于运动不是灵丹妙药），是重复使用简单连接词而不是变换表达方式。

    Yes, I definitely believe regular exercise can help people live longer. There's science behind it, but I've also seen it myself. For example, my neighbour Mrs. Hoa started going for morning walks along the Han River when she retired about three years ago. She's in her early seventies now, but she seems more energetic than some colleagues in their thirties, and she rarely gets sick. Of course, exercise isn't a magic cure, since people still need to eat well and manage stress. But from what I've seen, a steady routine like hers really seems to boost both health and mood, and probably adds years to a person's life.

    查看中文翻译

    是的，我确实相信规律运动能帮助人们活得更长久。这背后是有科学依据的，但我自己也亲眼见证过。比如说，我的邻居Hoa阿姨大约三年前退休后，开始沿着韩江晨练散步。她现在七十出头了，但看起来比一些三十多岁的同事更有活力，而且她很少生病。当然，运动不是灵丹妙药，因为人们还是需要好好吃饭、管理压力。但据我观察，像她这样坚持不懈的规律运动，确实能真正提升健康和心情，大概也能为一个人的寿命增添不少年头。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“For example, my neighbour Mrs. Hoa started going for morning walks along the Han River when she retired about three years ago.” — The plain connector 'For example' opens the anecdote directly. The 7.0 and 7.5 answers instead attach 'for instance' as an appositive after already naming Mrs. Hoa, integrating the signpost into the sentence rather than starting fresh with it.平实的连接词'For example'直接引出了这段轶事。7.0分和7.5分的回答则在已经提到Hoa阿姨的名字之后，把'for instance'作为同位语接上去，把这个信号词融入了句子本身，而不是重新另起一句。
    • LR“she seems more energetic than some colleagues in their thirties” — This comparison is plain but effective. The 7.5 answer sharpens it to 'more energetic than some colleagues half her age', replacing the specific age with a more vivid, proportional comparison.这个比较平实但有效。7.5分的回答把它磨得更精准，变成'more energetic than some colleagues half her age'，用一个更生动、按比例表达的对比取代了具体年龄。
    • GRA“Of course, exercise isn't a magic cure, since people still need to eat well and manage stress.” — A single 'since' clause explains the concession. The 7.5 answer expresses a similar idea even more compactly with 'since diet and stress management matter just as much', condensing two separate needs into one parallel noun phrase.一个'since'从句解释了这个让步。7.5分的回答用'since diet and stress management matter just as much'更加紧凑地表达了类似的想法，把两种独立的需求压缩进了一个并列的名词短语。

    7.0 分

    Fuses the opening claim and its justification into one sentence with a dash ('there's solid science behind it, but I've also seen the difference firsthand'), rather than splitting them into two separate sentences.用破折号把开头的论断和它的理由融合进一句话里（'there's solid science behind it, but I've also seen the difference firsthand'），而不是把它们拆成两句独立的句子。

    Yes, I definitely believe regular exercise can help people live longer — there's solid science behind it, but I've also seen the difference firsthand. My neighbour Mrs. Hoa, for instance, started going for brisk morning walks along the Han River when she retired, about three years ago. She's in her early seventies now, but honestly, she seems more energetic than some colleagues in their thirties — she rarely gets sick and always looks upbeat. To be fair, exercise isn't a magic cure, since people still need to eat well and manage stress too. But from what I've observed, having a steady routine like hers really does seem to boost both health and mood, and probably adds years to a person's life.

    查看中文翻译

    是的，我确实相信规律运动能帮助人们活得更长久——这背后是有扎实的科学依据的，但我自己也亲眼见证过这种差别。比如说，我的邻居Hoa阿姨大约三年前退休后，开始沿着韩江快步晨练散步。她现在七十出头了，但老实说，她看起来比一些三十多岁的同事更有活力——她很少生病，而且总是看起来精神饱满。说句公道话，运动不是灵丹妙药，因为人们还是需要好好吃饭、也要管理压力。但据我观察，拥有像她这样坚持不懈的规律运动，确实似乎能真正提升健康和心情，大概也能为一个人的寿命增添不少年头。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“To be fair, exercise isn't a magic cure, since people still need to eat well and manage stress too.” — 'To be fair' introduces the concession as a weighed admission, a more connected move than the 6.5 answer's plainer 'Of course, exercise isn't a magic cure...' opener.'To be fair'把这个让步引出为一个经过权衡的承认，比6.5分回答中更平淡的开头'Of course, exercise isn't a magic cure...'更有连贯感。
    • LR“she rarely gets sick and always looks upbeat” — 'Upbeat' is a more vivid, informal adjective than a plainer word like 'happy' or 'healthy', giving the description a touch more personality than the 6.5 answer's flatter version.'Upbeat'是一个比'happy'或'healthy'这类平实的词更生动、更非正式的形容词，比起6.5分回答更平淡的版本，让这段描述多了一点个性色彩。
    • GRA“Yes, I definitely believe regular exercise can help people live longer — there's solid science behind it, but I've also seen the difference firsthand.” — The dash fuses the opening claim directly to its two-part justification within one sentence, more integrated than the 6.5 answer's two separate short sentences making the same two points.破折号在同一句话中把开头的论断直接和它两部分的理由融合在一起，比6.5分回答用两个独立短句表达同样两个观点更加融合。

    7.5 分

    Closes with the idiomatic phrase 'into the bargain', a more figurative way of saying 'as an added benefit' than either lower band's plainer closing sentence.以地道的短语'into the bargain'收尾，比两个较低分段更平淡的结尾句，是一种更具比喻色彩地表达'附带好处'的方式。

    Yes, I genuinely believe regular exercise can help people live longer; there's solid science behind it, but I've also watched the difference play out firsthand. My neighbour Mrs. Hoa, for instance, took up brisk morning walks along the Han River the moment she retired, about three years ago, and she's in her early seventies now — yet she seems more energetic than some colleagues half her age, rarely gets sick, and always looks upbeat. Exercise obviously isn't a magic cure, since diet and stress management matter just as much. But from what I've observed, a steady routine like hers seems to boost both health and mood noticeably, and probably buys a person a few extra years into the bargain.

    查看中文翻译

    是的，我真心相信规律运动能帮助人们活得更长久；这背后是有扎实的科学依据的，但我也亲眼见证过这种差别是怎样一步步展现出来的。比如说，我的邻居Hoa阿姨大约三年前一退休，就立刻开始沿着韩江快步晨练——她现在七十出头了——但她看起来却比一些只有她一半年纪的同事更有活力，很少生病，而且总是看起来精神饱满。运动显然不是灵丹妙药，因为饮食和压力管理同样重要。但据我观察，像她这样坚持不懈的规律运动，似乎能明显提升健康和心情，而且很可能顺带为一个人的寿命额外增添几年。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“and she's in her early seventies now — yet she seems more energetic than some colleagues half her age, rarely gets sick, and always looks upbeat.” — The dash lets a contrastive clause follow directly from the age statement within the same sentence, a tighter cohesive move than the 6.5 and 7.0 answers' separate 'but' sentence making the same contrast.破折号让一个对比性从句直接跟在年龄陈述之后，在同一句话中呈现，比6.5分和7.0分回答用独立的'but'句子表达同样的对比更紧凑、更有连贯感。
    • LR“buys a person a few extra years into the bargain” — 'Into the bargain' is an idiomatic closing phrase meaning 'as a bonus', more figurative than either lower band's plainer 'adds years to a person's life'.'Into the bargain'是一个地道的结尾短语，意思是'作为额外的好处'，比两个较低分段更平淡的'adds years to a person's life'更具比喻色彩。
    • GRA“Yes, I genuinely believe regular exercise can help people live longer; there's solid science behind it, but I've also watched the difference play out firsthand.” — The semicolon joins the claim to its justification without a connector, a more compact structure than the 7.0 answer's dash-fused version or the 6.5 answer's two separate sentences making the same two points.分号在没有连接词的情况下把论断和它的理由连接起来，比7.0分回答用破折号融合的版本，或6.5分回答用两个独立句子表达同样两点，是一个更紧凑的结构。

18. 18. Why do some people enjoy extreme sports?

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

    6.5 分

    Lists Quân's sensory details plainly with commas ('the sound of the waterfall, the cold water, and his shaky legs'), a simple three-item list without much extra description.用逗号平实地列出了Quân的感官细节（'the sound of the waterfall, the cold water, and his shaky legs'），是一个没有太多额外描述的简单三项列表。

    I think some people are drawn to extreme sports because they want that rush of adrenaline and to push their own limits. For example, my colleague Quân spent his last vacation in Da Lat trying canyoning. He told me stepping off the first cliff was terrifying, but the sense of accomplishment afterwards was almost addictive. He described the sound of the waterfall, the cold water, and his shaky legs afterwards. I can see how those intense feelings make people feel alive in a way normal activities don't. Of course, it isn't for everyone, since some people just don't like taking risks and prefer calmer hobbies.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得有些人被极限运动吸引，是因为他们想要那种肾上腺素飙升的快感，也想突破自己的极限。比如说，我同事Quân上次休假去了大叻尝试溯溪。他告诉我，从第一个悬崖上踏出去那一刻真的很吓人，但之后那种成就感几乎让人上瘾。他描述了瀑布的声音、冰冷的水，还有事后双腿的颤抖。我能理解那种强烈的感受，是怎样让人以一种普通活动做不到的方式感觉自己活着。当然，这不是每个人都适合，因为有些人就是不喜欢冒险，更喜欢比较平静的爱好。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“For example, my colleague Quân spent his last vacation in Da Lat trying canyoning.” — The plain connector 'For example' opens the anecdote directly. The 7.0 and 7.5 answers instead attach 'for instance' as an appositive after naming Quân, integrating the signpost into the sentence rather than starting fresh with it.平实的连接词'For example'直接引出了这段轶事。7.0分和7.5分的回答则在提到Quân的名字之后，把'for instance'作为同位语接上去，把这个信号词融入了句子本身，而不是重新另起一句。
    • LR“make people feel alive in a way normal activities don't” — This is workable but fairly plain phrasing. The 7.5 answer extends a similar idea with 'in a way ordinary activities simply can't match', using the stronger verb 'match' instead of the flatter 'don't'.这是可以理解但相当平实的措辞。7.5分的回答用'in a way ordinary activities simply can't match'延伸了类似的想法，用更有力的动词'match'取代了较平淡的'don't'。
    • GRA“He described the sound of the waterfall, the cold water, and his shaky legs afterwards.” — A simple three-item list joined by commas and 'and'. The 7.0 and 7.5 answers extend this list with the added phrase 'once it was over' and a further clause about how the description sounded, giving the sentence more layers.一个用逗号和'and'连接的简单三项列表。7.0分和7.5分的回答用附加短语'once it was over'以及一句进一步关于描述听起来如何的从句，延伸了这个列表，让句子更有层次。

    7.0 分

    Adds the closing tag 'which I completely understand' after naming the alternative preference, a small personal endorsement neither the plainer version nor the anecdote itself includes.在提到那个替代性偏好之后，加了一句结尾的补充'which I completely understand'，这是一个平淡版本或轶事本身都没有的小小个人认可。

    Honestly, I think some people are really drawn to extreme sports because they crave that rush of adrenaline and want to push their own limits. My colleague Quân, for instance, spent his last vacation in Da Lat trying out canyoning. He told me stepping off the first cliff was terrifying, but the sense of accomplishment afterwards was almost addictive. He described the roar of the waterfall, the cold water, and the shaky feeling in his legs once it was over. I can see how those intense sensations make people feel alive in a way that ordinary activities just don't. Of course, it's not for everyone — some people simply don't enjoy taking risks, and prefer more relaxing hobbies instead, which I completely understand.

    查看中文翻译

    老实说，我觉得有些人真的很容易被极限运动吸引，是因为他们渴望那种肾上腺素飙升的快感，也想突破自己的极限。比如说，我同事Quân上次休假就去了大叻尝试溯溪。他告诉我，从第一个悬崖上踏出去那一刻真的很吓人，但之后那种成就感几乎让人上瘾。他描述了瀑布的轰鸣声、冰冷的水，还有结束之后双腿颤抖的感觉。我能理解那种强烈的感受，是怎样让人以一种普通活动根本做不到的方式感觉自己活着。当然，这不是每个人都适合——有些人就是单纯不喜欢冒险，更喜欢比较放松的爱好，这一点我完全理解。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“Of course, it's not for everyone — some people simply don't enjoy taking risks, and prefer more relaxing hobbies instead, which I completely understand.” — The trailing clause 'which I completely understand' extends the concession with a personal endorsement, a cohesive addition the 6.5 answer's shorter, flatter version of the same sentence doesn't include.句末的从句'which I completely understand'用个人认可延伸了这个让步，是一个连贯性的补充，6.5分回答中更短、更平淡的同一句版本没有包含。
    • LR“the roar of the waterfall” — 'Roar' is a more vivid, specific noun for the sound of a waterfall than the plainer 'sound' used at 6.5.'Roar'是一个比6.5分中用的平淡词'sound'更生动、更具体的名词，用来描述瀑布的声音。
    • GRA“He described the roar of the waterfall, the cold water, and the shaky feeling in his legs once it was over.” — The trailing time phrase 'once it was over' extends the list sentence with an additional clause, a small step up in complexity from the 6.5 answer's shorter version of the same list.句末的时间短语'once it was over'为这个列表句加了一个附加从句，比6.5分回答中同一列表的更短版本，在复杂度上是小小的一步提升。

    7.5 分

    Adds the reflective closing observation 'in a way that made the whole thing sound oddly compelling', commenting on how Quân told the story rather than just repeating what he said.加入了一句反思性的结尾观察'in a way that made the whole thing sound oddly compelling'，评论的是Quân讲述这个故事的方式，而不仅仅是重复他说的内容。

    I think some people are drawn to extreme sports because they crave that rush of adrenaline and the chance to push their own limits somewhere ordinary life never asks them to. My colleague Quân, for instance, spent his last vacation in Da Lat trying canyoning, and told me stepping off the first cliff was terrifying — yet the sense of accomplishment afterwards was almost addictive. He described the roar of the waterfall, the shock of the cold water, and the shaky feeling in his legs once it was over, in a way that made the whole thing sound oddly compelling. I can see how sensations that intense make people feel alive in a way ordinary activities simply can't match. It's clearly not for everyone, though — plenty just don't enjoy taking risks, and reach for calmer hobbies instead.

    查看中文翻译

    我觉得有些人被极限运动吸引，是因为他们渴望那种肾上腺素飙升的快感，以及一个能够突破自身极限的机会——这是日常生活从来不会要求他们去做的事。比如说，我同事Quân上次休假就去了大叻尝试溯溪，他告诉我，从第一个悬崖上踏出去那一刻真的很吓人——但之后那种成就感几乎让人上瘾。他描述了瀑布的轰鸣声、冰冷水流带来的震撼，还有结束之后双腿颤抖的感觉，讲述的方式让整件事听起来莫名地有种说不出的吸引力。我能理解那种强度的感受，是怎样让人以一种普通活动根本比不上的方式感觉自己活着。不过这显然不是每个人都适合——很多人就是单纯不喜欢冒险，宁愿选择更平静的爱好。

    为什么是这个分数

    • FC“in a way that made the whole thing sound oddly compelling” — This trailing clause reflects on how the story was told, not just what it contained — a cohesive layer of commentary neither lower band adds after listing the same sensory details.这个句末从句反思的是这个故事是如何被讲述的，而不仅仅是它包含了什么内容——这是两个较低分段在列出同样的感官细节之后都没有加上的一层连贯性评论。
    • LR“somewhere ordinary life never asks them to” — This is a precise, slightly abstract way of describing why extreme sports feel different from daily life, more figurative than either lower band's plainer 'push their own limits' with no further elaboration.这是一种精准、略带抽象色彩的方式，用来描述为什么极限运动感觉和日常生活不一样，比两个较低分段更平淡的'push their own limits'，没有进一步阐述，更具比喻色彩。
    • GRA“My colleague Quân, for instance, spent his last vacation in Da Lat trying canyoning, and told me stepping off the first cliff was terrifying — yet the sense of accomplishment afterwards was almost addictive.” — A coordinated 'and told me' clause is fused onto the anecdote sentence, then a dash introduces a contrastive 'yet' clause — a longer, more tightly chained sentence than the two separate sentences both lower bands use for the same anecdote.一个并列的'and told me'从句被融合进了这段轶事的句子里，然后一个破折号引出了一个对比性的'yet'从句——比两个较低分段用两个独立句子表达同一段轶事，是更长、连接更紧密的句子。