今までに作成したSpeakingQ1Q2のすべての作文をまとめてみました。160作文もありました。ちりも積もればです。時間が余ったら、必ず Thanks for listening. Hope you have a great day. を入れること。時間がなければ、Thanks. だけでよい。印象が良くなります。
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1. A person who makes you laugh.
Al is an American and he is an authorized inspector of nuclear facilities. Every three years he comes to my company to perform an audit.
First, his sociable personality makes everyone including me laugh. For example, he shakes hands with me with a big smile saying “What’s up my brother? Great to see you again.”
Second, he inserts some dirty jokes during serous audit sessions. The other day he made a pretty nasty joke in front of us. I cannot disclose what he said, because my mom would wash my mouth with soap. Anyway, his jokes make me laugh very badly.
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2. Some prefer to stay, while others prefer to move to different places.
Admittedly, those who live in small villages have no choices buy to move to cities to find jobs because cities provide us with more employment opportunities. In fact, most of young people in my village have gone to cities, leaving only children and old people in the village.
Personally I prefer to move different locations to widen my perspectives. For example, I studied in the US for my undergraduate degree. These four years abroad significantly broadened viewpoints and positively affected my life thereafter.
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3. What did you learn in your childhood?
I learned two things, respect and tolerance.
First, my mom never told me to study but she always told me respect others around you. Respect for individual persons I think is the most basic ethical value requires us to acknowledge the fundamental equality of all people.
Second, my mom told me not to discriminate anybody simply because they are different from you. Tolerance of differences among individuals is another very critical value that we need to follow.
So, in my childhood, I learned respect and tolerance.
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4. Some people like to have a tight schedule while others prefer to have a lot of free time.
To some extent, I prefer to keep myself occupied. As I am a semi-retired person, I prefer to work two weeks each month, leaving the other two weeks to do my personal hobbies and spend time with my family. If I have no work at all, I get bored and also not to say that I lose my income.
However, I do not wish to virtually work myself to death like typical Japanese workers. I have seen many of my colleagues who worked too hard and never paid attention to their families, and ended up with divorces or serious mental and physical problems.
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5. Among mystery, science fiction, and biography, which do you like the least?
I personally do not like biographies of famous successful persons because they typically praise only favorable aspects of individuals. For example, I read a biography of Thomas Edison who was described as a person of perseverance. In the face of countless failures, he never gave up and finally invented a light bulb. To me, yes, he was a great inventor, but we should not forget that there are many people out there who are as diligent as Edison, but unfortunately never succeed in their attempts. (While every cloud has a silver lining, every cloud may develop into a heavy thunderstorm.) Am I too pessimistic?
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6. Do you like to travel with your family members?
I hate to travel with my family members, especially when travelling abroad. As my English is relatively better than the rest of my family members, I am always a sort of travel conductor. The worst part of this is that I have to listen to their complaints and take some actions. The other day, we were in a famous hotel in Singapore. First, my wife did not like the room, so that I had to contact the front desk to change our rooms. Second, my daughter did not like the steak she ordered, so that I had to explain a waiter to redo the dish. I usually get totally exhausted after two or three days of this babysitting.
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7. What kind of activity do you enjoy doing most at school?
I have a degree in nuclear engineering. The most enjoyable activity at the university was operating a research nuclear reactor. I particularly enjoyed this course because unlike other courses where we only learn theories from books, I was able to be see the nuclear physics theories working in action in front of my eyes. My favorite moment was to see the blue glowing of the reactor core when the reactor reached a high power level. The blue color was so vivid and mysterious that even today I clearly remember it.
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8. Artists and musicians are born and not taught.
Admittedly, some artists are born with talents and trained on their own very hard without teachers to become famous artists. However, these are rather exceptions. Take Midori, a famous violinist, for example. Yes. She was born with exceptional talents, but she trained very hard under the instruction of her mother first and later her teachers in music school. Without their instructions, she could not have become a successful violinist.
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9. What suggestions would you give to a friend who wants to improve his or her score in class?
I have several suggestions to improve his academic performance. First, he should join a study group, so that when he encounters a problem, others can help him. In addition, he should take advantage of office hours to ask questions to his instructors. Finally, I recommend him to study 30 minutes before and after each class, which I believe will help his understanding of the subject greatly, thus improving his academic performance.
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10. Some people like to purchase books from a book store while others like to borrow books from the library.
I prefer to borrow books from the library and make copies. This has two advantages. First, I can save many dollars by using a copy textbook. For example, I can make a copy for 10 dollars, while I have to pay at least 50 dollars for a new book. Second, as I write many highlights and markings on each page, making a copy is the best solution. If I leave many markings on a purchased book, the resale value at the university book store will be significantly reduced.
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11. It is beneficial for students to have computers at school.
For those students who cannot afford buying their own portable computers, having computers at school have several advantages. First, students can write reports at school instead of going home to use their parents’ computers. This can save a lot of time. Second, they can send or receive e-mails and read mails from instructors. Finally, they can easily perform literature search for their classes or papers.
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12. Would you keep on expressing your honest opinions, even if you know that they will not be approved by others?
I would definitely express my opinions for several reasons. First of all, everyone has the constitutional right to express his or her opinions. Second, groundbreaking technologies and innovations are often created from unique and sometimes unconventional ideas. In order to make innovations, one needs to think outside the box. Finally, even if your ideas are not accepted in the end, the process of presenting your opinions and having discussions with others is a great training for me to improve my professionalism.
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13. One of your friends wants to drop out of college. Do you think it is a good idea?
It depends on what professions he wishes to assume. First, if he wants to become a company employee, having a degree is definitely a great help. His likelihood of hitting a high salary position will greatly improve if he has a degree. So, I suggest him not to drop out. Second, if he wants to be an artist, having a degree has nothing to do with his future success as an artist. In this case, I may suggest him to go ahead and search for his new goal.
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14. In order to be successful, a person should study in the university.
It depends on what professions he or she wishes to assume. First, if he wants to become a company employee, having a degree is definitely a great help. His likelihood of hitting a high salary position will greatly improve if he has a degree. So, I suggest him to study in the university. Second, if he wants to be an artist, having a degree has nothing to do with his future success as an artist. In this case, I may suggest him to attend a music school as opposed to a university.
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15. One of your friends received a large amount of money and has asked you for advice on how to handle this money. What advice would you give?
It depends on his status. If he is a student, he should definitely save the money for his future education. If he is married and has two kids, again he should save for the education of his children. If he is retired and financially secured, I may advise him to consult a financial adviser to determine the best ways to invest the money. Finally, if he is already a rich man, I would advise him to donate the money to those who suffered the earthquake in Japan.
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16. People should dress according to the latest fashion.
As a man, I do not care too much about the latest fashion. Basically, I purchase all my clothing at a K-Mart or Wal-Mart. (A pair of jeans and a T-shirt are my routine style during warm seasons and a down jacket is added in the winter.) Although I have no interests in the fashion, I do pay attention to the latest technologies. For example, the other day I bought a rather expensive winter coat at an Eddie Bower. This coat is lined with high-tech insulating fibers that absorb sweat to generate extra heat. I tend to be lured to this kind of high-tech stuff.
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17. Are living standards of people today better than the past?
The living standards in my country have improved significantly in three areas. First, advances in medical technologies made it possible to cure diseases that were not curable in the past, resulting in an increased life expectancy. Second, advances in engineering enabled faster and reliable public transportation systems. Finally, higher incomes allowed people to purchase more goods and travel to foreign countries more easily
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18. Internet plays an important role in your life.
Indeed, internet made my life much easier in two areas. First, internet allows me to communicate with my family cheaply and easily. I used to spend a lot of money making long distance calls to my family as I traveled extensively. Now thanks to the Skype software, I can communicate with my family virtually free of charge. Second, with the help of internet, I can search for any information with greater ease. For example, I can look up the meaning of English words on the internet very quickly and easily.
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19. Talk about an organization you want to join and why.
I want to join an organization to support those who devastated by the earthquake and Tsunami. First, although I cannot donate a huge sum of money to the victims of the earthquake, I can donate my time and services to help those people. Second, as I plan to retire this year, I want to spend my remaining life to help those who are suffering. As God gave me a chance to live in this world, I feel obligated to help those suffering in the worst condition and suffering alone.
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20. Describe a change in your country.
The earthquake and Tsunami on March 11 2011 changed my country in two ways. First, it killed over 15000 people and left many more people without houses, businesses, money, loved ones, parents, and most of all hope. Second, it virtually terminated the Japanese nuclear program. Thus far only two reactors have resumed operation. The remaining twenty or so reactors have been shut down indefinitely.
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21. If you were studying in another country, would you prefer to live with a local family, or live alone, or with your friends?
It depends on how long I stay in a foreign country. If my stay is relatively a short time, like one month or so, I would prefer to stay with a local family. This is because I can learn the new language and culture from my host family. For example, when I participated in a 4 week summer Spanish program in Spain, I stayed in a host family, which was a great learning experience of the Spanish culture. In contrast, if I stay in a country for a long time, I would definitely live alone, because my privacy takes precedence over any other benefits of living with a local family or friends.
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22. If you were to become a volunteer at the school or in the community, what kind of volunteer would you do and why?
I would definitely take a volunteer position to lending a hand to those victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami for two reasons. First, my heart goes to those who were killed by this unprecedented natural disaster and those who have been left with no houses, no money, no relatives and friends and above all little hope to live the rest of their lives. Second, as I plan to retire soon, I want to spend my remaining life to help those who are suffering. As God gave me a chance to live in this world, I feel obligated to help those suffering in the worst condition and suffering alone.
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23. Do you agree or disagree with the statement: artists and musicians are important to our society.
I definitely agree with this argument that artists and musicians are important to our society for two reasons. First of all, music has been a very important part of my life. Music always helps me to relieve stresses and makes me happy. Whenever I am exhausted with my work, I listen to a piece of music which never fails to make me feel better. Second, music has inspired humans throughout the history. Take famous classical musicians like Mozart or Chopin, for example. They have been loved by many people over many centuries.
I think our society would survive without artists and musicians, but it would not thrive.
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24. Among the following three types of work, which would you like to enjoy doing the most? Helping children with communications problems, doing community work, growing plants in the garden,
I would enjoy growing plants in the garden most for two reasons. First of all, growing plants have been my family’s tradition over centuries. I have watched my grandmother and my parents working outside growing all kinds of plants. Although I live in a flat, I have some small pots of flowers and fruits in my balcony. Second, I can grow some organic vegetables and fruits on my own, so that I do not have to buy vegetables contaminated with pesticides. So, I would love to grow plants.
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25. Some people think students should study in the classroom while others believe that they should visit the museum or the zoo. Which do you prefer and why?
This depends on which subjects I study. For example, if I study mathematics or foreign languages, the best place to study would be in a classroom with a qualified teacher, a whiteboard, and a pointer. However, if I study subjects such as botany or zoology, I would prefer to visit a museum or a zoo, because I can actually see and touch plants and animals, which is more interesting than reading many pages of a textbook. In a nutshell, it relies on which subjects I study.
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26. Which do you think is more meaningful? A gift you made yourself or a gift which you bought from a shop.
A great gift does not have to come from a store or it does not have a big price tag. In fact, your hand-made gift would not only save a lot of money and but also have a better chance to impress the receiver of your gift because you have spent time and effort to make the gift. Last mother’s day, I gave a pot of red tulip that I had grown myself. It cost me virtually nothing, but my mom was very appreciative of the flower and told me that that was a priceless gift. So, I definitely think that a gift you made yourself is more meaningful.
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27. Which challenge in the list do you think is the most difficult for university students?
Being far away from families
Finding time to relax
Making new friends
As far as I am concerned, being away from my family was the most difficult challenge as a foreign student studying in America. I never felt more homesick than in my first week in America. First, when I arrived at a local airport, I realized that my baggage did not arrive. My dorm room was not available, so I had to stay in an old miserable motel for few days. To make the matter worse, I did not get along with my first roommate from Chicago. My first week in America was a nightmare and being away from home was my biggest challenge.
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28. Do you agree or disagree that assignments handed in after the deadline should receive a lower score?
It depends on the reasons for missing the deadline. If he or she had an unpredictable event beyond his or her control, I think exceptions shall be granted. For example, if a student gets flue, he should provide a medical document to the instructor to prove that he had flue. Based on this evidence, the instructor may opt not to deduct any points. Conversely, if he missed the deadline due to his procrastination, then there is no excuse and a certain points should be deducted.
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29. Is it a good idea to keep a pet such as a dog or a cat? What can you benefit from such an experience?
Keeping pets has both advantages and disadvantages. Admittedly, many people enjoy having pets. For example, a couple who do not have children may adopt pets and treat them as their own babies. Some people who live alone may keep pets as their companions. However, the down side of keeping pets is that they eventually pass away and give the owners a great sorrow. I used to have a white cat named Tama. When Tama died, I cried for many days. I thought I would never have another pet.
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30. Students start to plan their career before entering college, or should they do so until they have entered college and studied for a period of time?
It depends on individual students. Some students have very clear career goals way before entering colleges. These students are typically highly motivated and tend to excel in their academic performance. On the other hand, I think most students do not think about their future careers until they decide their college majors and take specialized courses. As for me, a professor in my college really inspired me to pursue an engineering profession.
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31. What suggestions would you give to a foreign friend who is coming to your country to study?
I would give two pieces of advice to my friend who is to study in my country. First, learn to speak some Japanese. Being able to speak the Japanese language would be a great asset. Many Japanese corporations have plants and offices around the world and they are desperately looking for those who can speak Japanese. Second, be aware of some cultural differences, for example, try to keep a low profile and get along with others. One old saying has it that the nail that sticks up gets hammered down.
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32. Do you prefer to be friends with the people who share the same opinion as you do or the people who do not hold the same opinion?
I do not mind at all having friends who have different opinions than mine. Actually I have many friends who always disagree with my opinions, but we have maintained great and long-term friendships. I feel it is intellectually stimulating to exchange our ideas and opinions on a subject. For example, my best friend has totally different political views from mine. When it is voting time, we always have different opinions as to which party we should be supporting. But these arguments are always purely logical and constructive from which both of us can learn and benefit.
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33. What personal quality do you admire most, creativity, courage or intelligence? Explain why? Please include details and examples in your response.
I admire courage most, because without courage, most people give up before achieving a success. Tradition has it, for example, that Thomas Edison made thousands of attempts to create a light bulb before he finally succeeded. In the face of countless failures, he had enough courage to continue. Yes, he was an extremely intelligent and creative man, but without his courage to overcome difficulties, he could not have materialized many of his inventions. So, I admire courage most.
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34. Some people prefer to listen to music while they are studying or working. Others prefer to stay in a quiet place while they are studying or working. Which way do you prefer and why?
It depends on what subjects I study. For example, when I study relatively easy subjects such as history or geography where no complicated calculations are involved, I always listen to my favorite music pieces, because listening to music relaxes me, keeps me awake, and improves my study performance. In contrast, when I study difficult subjects such as math and physics, where many calculations are required, listening to music only disturbs my concentration and deteriorates my performance. In a nutshell, it depends on which subjects I study.
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35. One of your friends has been offered a job in a town far away from home. Do you think your friend should take this job?
Suppose my friend is married, has two young children, and his wife does not want to move to a new location. I would not recommend him to take this job for two reasons. First, being away from home means he cannot spend quality time with his family. This long term separation may result in a divorce in the worst case.
Second, taking this job means more financial burden on his family because two living locations are always more costly than one location.
So, I do not recommend him to take this job.
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36. When they are studying to prepare for an exam, some students like to study with other people, while others like to study alone. Which do you prefer and why?
I definitely prefer to study with others. First, I can learn faster in a group than studying alone. For example, I have a weakness in math. When I encounter a difficult math problem I tend to struggle over it for many hours. Instead, I can ask a question to my group members and in one minute or so someone can help me to solve the problem. Second, I enjoy helping other students in a group. For instance, my strong subject is chemistry and I can help other students with almost any questions on chemistry.
So, I prefer studying in a group.
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37. College students should not be allowed to keep pets in their dormitories.
In my opinion, pets should not be allowed in dormitories for two reasons.
Some students in the same dorm may be allergic to certain pets. Or they do not want to be disturbed by noises and smells. For example, my roommate was allergic to cats and although I love keeping my cat, I could not bring my cat to the dorm. Second, college students are always on the go. They are busy with classes, meetings, sports, and parties. It is very difficult to find enough time to take care of pets. Besides, locking a pet in a small dorm room unattended is not fair to them.
So, pets should not be allowed in dormitories.
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38. If your friend wants to open a restaurant, what suggestions will you give him regarding food and location?
My main suggestion is to make a menu unique so that customers can differentiate the restaurant from others. There are so many restaurants out there and if the menu is just an ordinary one, customers will come once but they will not come back again. So, one of the keys to a success is having a menu that stands out in the crowd. As for the location, obviously it would be better to be situated in an area where many people gather. However, if the menu is unique, people will find the restaurant no matter where it is located.
So, my best suggestion is to make a unique menu.
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39. Students nowadays work harder in their study than students in the past.
I definitely agree with the statement that students now study harder. The competition among students today is much tougher than that of previous generations. According to a statistics, fifty years ago in my country, only ten percent of students received university education, while now more than 90 percent of students advance to universities. As a result, students today are forced to study harder to succeed in this highly competitive environment. (In addition, the recent recession in economy makes students study harder to get better employment opportunities.)
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40. What measure can you suggest to help improve the campus environment?
I will present two environmental measures that can be implemented. The first measure is to give out a free laundry rack to each student living on campus. This will reduce power consumption of electric dryers. The second suggestion is to give a free LED light bulb in exchange for 6 used regular bulbs. This will obviously help reduce the power consumption on campus. I think these are very effective means to improve the campus environment.
Other examples:
Green bike program: Each student can borrow a free bike.
Free compost:
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41. Some people play games for enjoyment. Others play games in order to win. Which do you prefer and why?
As far as I am concerned, I play games for fun and relaxation. I belong to a local volleyball team and we practice twice per week for just fun. As my job requires me to stay in my desk all day long, I feel pretty exhausted at the end of my work day. Practicing volleyball with my friends really relieves my stresses. In addition, after each practice session, we typically go out for a dinner or drinking which I really enjoy.
So I play games for fun.
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42. Talk about two singers who are popular in your country. Explain why they are popular and how they are different.
これは難しい。本番で出たら、まともに答えられないでしょう。
I would like to talk about two Japanese singers, Hikaru Utada and Misora Hibari, (both are very famous and influential singers in Japan but with distinct differences in terms of their musical style and audience.) Hikaru Utada, born and raised in America, is one of the most famous pop singers in Japan. She is immensely popular among young generations. In contrast, Misora Hibari is famous for her traditional folk songs. Although she passed away more than 20 years ago, she still enjoys great popularity among older generations born in the 40s and 50s.
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43. When they meet a problem, some people prefer to seek advice or help from people who are older than they are, while others prefer to seek advice or help from people of the same age. Which do you prefer?
It depends on what kinds of problems I face. If a problem is very personal, like breaking up with my girlfriend, I would not seek advice from my parents. Instead, I would discuss this with my friends of the same age, because they can more easily relate to my problem. In contrast, if the issue is more complicated and requires more skills and experience to resolve it, then I would turn to older people for their advice. For example, when selecting my future career, I would solicit advice from senior people.
Career: 発音に注意。かりーあ、（きゃりーあ ではない）
career
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44. The university dining hall is changing its food service to include more healthy food with lower calories. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of this change?
Obviously, for those who are trying to reduce their weight, it is a great advantage to be able to select low-calorie foods in the dining hall.
On the other hand, for those who are not on a diet, these low-calorie dishes mean they have less choices of regular dishes. In addition, more often than not, low calorie foods are not as tasty and filling as regular foods. The other day I had a tofu stake and it was not even close to a real stake. Actually I hated the taste and texture.
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45. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Watching sports programs on television is not a good use of time.
I disagree with this statement. Watching sports programs on TV has many advantages.
First, it's an opportunity to escape from the normal wear and tear of everyday life.
Second, it's also an opportunity to bond with other family members. Some of my best memories of spending time with my dad were watching the Chicago Bears play football on Sunday mornings. We didn't need to talk to each other. We communicated by yelling and cheering at the television.
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46. Among the following three professions, which do you respect the most: photographers, musicians and painters? Explain why.
I have to say that I admire photographers the most. While both musicians and painters can possibly perform in the comfort of their own homes or concert halls, photographers are required to go the sites of their interests, often very dangerous and harsh places such as warring zones and wild forests. In addition, some photographers must wait for a long time until a target shows up and have only a fraction of time to capture it. I admire their persistence.
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47. Which do you prefer, reading paper books or reading electronic books?
I definitely prefer to read electronic books for two reasons.
First, paper books are bulky and heavy and carrying more than 3 books for vacation would be a chore. In contrast, I can store hundreds of electronic books in a portable storage device. For example, my kindle book reader weighs less than a pound, and can store hundreds of e-books. Second, reading e-books contributes to preserving our environment. The number of trees to be cut down to make paper books will be dramatically reduced.
So, my choice is reading e-books.
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48. Describe two schools you have been to, and explain how they are different.
I attended two universities for my undergraduate degree. They are quite different from each other in terms of their location and student population.
University of Kentucky was situated in a relatively big city of Lexington. It offered extensive degree programs with the student body of 25000. The male to female ratio was just one to one. In contrast, University of Missouri Rolla was located in a farming community with approximately 5000 students, mostly majoring in engineering programs. The male to female ratio was unfortunately 9 to 1.
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49. Do you prefer to buy an electronic product as soon as it becomes available in the market or do you prefer to wait and buy it until it has been in the market for a while.
I prefer to purchase an electronic product after it has been in the market for a while.
First, I can save money. When a new product is introduced in the market, it is typically expensive. Later as other similar products are available, the prices tend to be lower.
Second, I can select a product among a large number of similar products. After a new product is launched, later similar products with more enhanced functions normally are available. For example, when the first Kindle reader was released, it was expensive with limited functions, while this year several new models with more advanced capabilities are available.
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50. If a high school is planning to organize after-school activity for its students, what kind of activity would you recommend and why?
これは難問。本番で絶対アイディアが出てこない。
I would recommend the school to organize a cooking program. This has two benefits. First, obviously, students can learn how to cook dishes. This will be a very beneficial opportunity for male students in particular, since most boys in my country do not learn cooking at home. Second, this program will help students to release their stresses. High school students in my country are always on the go. They are busy with classes, sports, and cramming schools. Cooking will be a great outlet for releasing their tension. So, I recommend a cooking program.
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51. Do you think that people will read fewer books in the future?
As far as paper books are concerned, they are destined to become either obsolete or extinct in the future for two reasons. First, electronic books, being cheaper and lighter, will replace paper books. I bought a Kindle book reader last year, and since then I have never bought one single paper book. Second, electronic books are greener to the environment. A large number of trees can be saved by using electronic books. So, I agree with this statement that people will read less paper books.
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52. Describe a tool or an object that you rely on often in your daily life. Explain why it is important to you. Include reasons and examples to support your response.
Among the many things I rely on in my daily life, my cell phone is certainly one of the most frequently used and also the most important. I consider my family and children are of prime importance to me. As my job requires me to travel extensively, my cell phone is a very important means to communicate with my family. Also, with my cell phone, I can make reservations for my hotels and trains very easily. I cannot imagine what my life will be like without my cell phone.
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53. Some people prefer to solve a challenge all by themselves. Others prefer to depend on other people’s help. Which do you prefer?
以前にやった、同年代の人、年上の人どちらにアドヴァイスを求めるか？の変形。
It depends on what kinds of challenge I face. If a problem is very personal, like breaking up with my girlfriend, it would be very embarrassing to discuss it with others. I will try to resolve on my own. In contrast, if the issue is more complicated and requires more skills and experience to resolve it, then I would turn to others for their advice. For example, when selecting my future career, I would solicit advice from senior people.
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54. Describe an activity you tried and enjoyed recently. Explain why it was enjoyable to you.
以前作っておいたあなたが好きな本は？の作文を活用。
I read a book titled "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking. I enjoyed reading this book because difficult concepts in astrophysics are presented by using easy to understand terms. Although I had no prior knowledge of astrophysics, I was able to understand clearly some of the most difficult concepts such as quantum physics, theory of relativity, worm holes, black holes, big bang, etc. I really enjoyed reading this book and I would always recommend it to my friends.
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55. Some people prefer to write diaries or take photos to record things they have experienced. Others do not. What is your opinion?
I definitely prefer to record my experience in diaries or photo albums for two reasons. First, by going through the pages of my photo albums, I can visually revisit the important moments of my life such as my first walking as a baby, my graduation, and my wedding, etc. Second, by reading my diaries, I can recollect my inner thoughts. It is interesting to realize that while photos show how my physical appearance has changed, my diaries suggests that my thoughts have not changed much over years.
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56. Which of the following do you think is the most important for a good work environment: good colleagues, flexible time, good leader.
All of these factors are essential to a good work environment, but if I had to choose one, being able to work flexibly would be my best preference for two reasons. First, I can travel to and from my office at non-peak hours. This means that I do not have to squeeze myself into crowded public transportation. So, I will not be tired when I get to my office or my house. Second, I can leave my office early in the afternoon so that I can pick up my kids, prepare dinner and spend quality time with my family.
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57. Cell phones have greatly improved people’s lives.
As far as I am concerned, my cell phone greatly improved my life in two ways. First, as my job requires me to travel extensively, my cell phone helps me to communicate with my family members. I usually talk with my wife and kids at least three times a day. Second, my cell-phone entertains me when I travel; I can listen to music, watch movies, surf the internet, book a hotel, read an electronic book, you name it. I cannot imagine what my life would be like without my cell phone.
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58. Talk about a subject that you think is important but you do not enjoy studying.
Math is a subject that falls into this category. I know math is important because it is used in other subjects such as physics, thermodynamics, and statistics, but I have never developed my affinity with math primarily because of one particular math teacher in high school. He punished us by hitting our heads with a bamboo sword if we could not solve a math problem on the black board. We all hated him. I lost my motivation, did not study, and had poor grades. This is why I still do not enjoy studying math even today.
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59. Watching a movie in a theatre and watching a movie at home, which do you prefer and why?
I definitely prefer to watch a movie at home for two reasons. First, it is much cheaper. It costs me 15 dollars to watch a movie in a theatre, while it costs me one dollar to rent a CD or it costs me nothing if I can download a movie from the internet. Second, I can eat my favorite potato chips and roasted peanuts while watching a movie at home. In a theatre, I am sure that other viewers would not appreciate the noise of my eating potato chips. So, I love watching a movie at home.
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60. Where do you like to go shopping?
My favorite place to shop is the basement floors of a department store, where variety of food stores such as delicatessens, bakeries, cake shops are located. First, there are many sample corners where I can eat samples of cakes, chocolates, and cookies. Virtually, you can make your stomach full for free of charge. Second, I can purchase food items from around the world. For example, the other day I bought a red wine from Chili, a cheese from France, and my all- time favorite beef jerky from America.
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61. Where do you like to go shopping for clothes?
My favorite place to shop my clothes is Woodfield Mall in Chicago. First, this mall has over 300 shops and restaurants and virtually there is nothing you cannot find there. If you want to buy high-priced designers’ clothing, almost all world famous brands such as Gucci, Shanel, and Prada are sold in the mall. In contrast, if you need just ordinary clothing, JCPenney and Sears would be right places to satisfy your shopping desire. In addition, after hours of shopping, you can have a relaxing foot massage or have a brunch at one of many restaurants in the mall.
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62. It is important to study the history of our ancestors.
I agree with this statement.
First, we should learn from human mistakes in the past so as not to repeat the same mistakes again. For example, the atomic bomb dropped in Hiroshima killed millions of innocent civilians. We should learn from this mistake not to repeat the same tragedy.
By the same token, we should learn from natural disasters in the past. For example, the recent earthquake in my country killed 15000 people. We should learn a lesson and take measures to minimize the impact of future earthquakes.
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63. What is a good way to make a new friend?
There are two ways to make a new friend. First, you can make new friends by travelling. To be specific, a few years ago I joined in a 7 day bus tour in Spain. I made friends with several persons on the tour and still corresponds with them even today.
Second, you can meet new friends by attending a school. To illustrate, I attended a 6 week intensive Spanish course. I became close to a German girl in the class and we still exchange e-mails frequently. These are two ways to make a new friend.
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64. What is most valuable person? Who is an influential person in your life?
I am fully convinced that my wife is the most valuable person for two reasons.
First, she is an extremely positive person (and makes me happy).
A few years ago, I was completely depressed after losing my job. She encouraged me by saying “Honey, every cloud has a silver lining.
In addition, she has a great sense of humor. She is always cracking jokes and makes me laugh. The other day, her joke was so funny that I could not help laughing for two minutes.
So, my wife is the most valuable peron.
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65. What kind of person is your best friend?
My best friend should have two attributes.
First, my friend should be a positive person.
A few years ago, I was completely depressed after losing my job. My friend encouraged me by saying “Do not worry. Every cloud has a silver lining.
In addition, my friend should have a sense of humor. To illustrate, my friend is always cracking jokes and makes me laugh. The other day, his joke was so funny that I could not help laughing for two minutes.
(All in all, my best friend should be a positive and humorous person.)
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66. Do you prefer teachers having discussions in their classes or lecture all of the time?
I believe that teachers should have discussions in their classes for two reasons.
First, discussions stimulate my thinking process (and make the lecture more interesting). To be specific, in a physics class, we discussed why the sky is blue. We debated for almost 30 minutes, and I really enjoyed this thinking process.
Second, through discussions, I can learn opinions of other students. For example, in a history class, we debated on the reasons for the decline of the Roman Empire. Other students suggested numerous theories, and I learned a great deal from them.
(So, teachers should have more discussions.)
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67. Do you take notes or do you listen closely to the professor?
I prefer to listen to the lecture closely than taking notes for two reasons.
First, as the speed of my note taking is so slow, I tend to lose important points of the lecture. For example, in a history class, I am busy taking notes of small details such as years, names, and places and I tend to miss the main points of the lecture.
Second, my comprehension is better when I listen to a lecture without taking notes. To be specific, in the TOEFL listening section, my score is always better when I concentrate on the dialogue without taking notes.
So, I prefer to listen closely to the lecture.
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68. Everyone does not need to attend college.
I agree with this assertion for two reasons.
First, unless you want to become a doctor, lawyer, or other specialists, college degrees are not mandatory. For example, my brother is an auto mechanic. He does not have a college degree, but he has been running his auto business extremely well.
Second, not everyone likes studying. For example, my uncle hated studying so much that he dropped out of the high school. He worked very hard in a construction company for 40 years, and just last month he was promoted to the president of the company.
So, I think not everyone needs to attend college.
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69. What kind of development would you like to see in your country?
I would like to see (the development of) more airports in my country for two reasons.
First, airports can provide us with easy accesses to other cities (domestically and internationally). To be specific, as I live in a remote island, it takes almost half a day to go to the nearest city by boat, while it would take only one hour by airplane.
In addition, airports can bring tourists to local sightseeing spots. To illustrate, as my island has many beautiful (and secluded) beaches, if one airport was constructed (on my island), it would definitely attract many tourists.
(All in all, I would like to see the development of more airports in my country.)
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70. What factor is important to maintaining a modern society?
I believe that airplanes play an important role in maintaining a modern society for two reasons.
First, airplanes can provide us with easy accesses to other cities (domestically and internationally). To be specific, as I live in a remote island, it takes almost half a day to go to the nearest city by boat, while it takes only one hour by airplane.
In addition, airplanes can bring tourists to local sightseeing spots. To illustrate, as my island has many beautiful (and secluded coral) beaches, airplanes bring many visitors to my island.
All in all, airplanes play an important role in maintaining our society.
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71. What aspect of your hometown makes you proud?
There are two aspects of my town that makes me proud.
First, I am proud of the old tradition of my hometown. To be specific, my hometown has many old temples and shrines. One particular temple called Zuiryuji temple was designated as a national treasure of Japan and has been attracting many tourists (from all over the world).
Second, I am proud of great nature. To illustrate, my hometown is famous for mountains, hot springs, and ski resorts. The magnificent autumn foliage of Mount Tateyama is breath-taking.
(All in all, the old tradition and great nature make my hometown very unique.)
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72. A high paying job or a satisfying job?
I prefer a satisfying job for two reasons.
First, a high paying job typically means many working hours and your family may not like it. For example, although my last job was financially lucrative, I had to work myself to death. My wife did not appreciate it and we almost had a divorce.
Second, some people select satisfying careers such as teaching and nursing, well aware that their careers will not be rewarded financially. My sister is a social worker and though her salary is not high, she is happy and proud of her job.
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73. Which would you prefer, a job that rewards with money or a job that rewards success with more authority?
I prefer a job that rewards with money for two reasons.
First, more authority typically means more working hours and your family may not like it. For example, although I was promoted last year, I had to work myself to death. My wife did not appreciate it and we almost had a divorce.
Second, more money can buy more goods and services. For example, my wife and I really enjoy travelling. With more money, we can enjoy more travelling. To me, my personal life is more important than my job promotion.
So, I prefer a job that rewards with more money.
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74. A large company or a small company?
I prefer a large company to a small company for two reasons.
First, large companies typically offer better salaries (and fringe benefits including better insurance and pension packages). If my memory serves me correct, the average income of large companies with more than 1000 employees is approximately 30% higher than that of smaller companies with less than 100 employees.
Second, large companies have offices around the world, so you have better chances of working in foreign offices. To illustrate, I worked at several foreign offices such as America, India, and Iran. This experience really widened my perspectives to other cultures.
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75. Who is a musician that you like?
I love Franz Liszt, a 19th-century Hungarian composer and pianist.
Specifically I love two of his piano solos.
First, I love Hungarian rhapsodies No.2 for its technical difficulties. This piece probably is one of the most technically demanding of all piano solos. I am always impressed when pianists perfectly preform this piece in spite of its difficulties.
Second, I like Hungarian Rhapsodies No.12 for its beautiful melody. List magically mixed a fast and capricious tempo with the background of a slow and solitary mood. (So, my favorite musician is Franz Liszt.)
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76. What is your favorite genre of music?
My favorite genre of music is classical music. In particular, I love two piano solos of Franz Liszt.
First, I love Hungarian rhapsody No.2 for its technical difficulties. This piece probably is one of the most technically demanding of all piano solos. I am always impressed when pianists perfectly preform this piece in spite of its difficulties.
Second, I like Hungarian Rhapsody No.12 for its beautiful melody. He magically mixed a fast and capricious tempo with the background of a slow and solitary mood. This piece is so relaxing that I feel completely refreshed after listening to this piece.
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77. Why do you listen to your favorite genre of music?
My favorite genre of music is classical music. In particular, I love two piano solos of Franz Liszt.
First, I love Hungarian rhapsody No.2 for its technical difficulties. This piece probably is one of the most technically demanding of all piano solos. I am always impressed when pianists perfectly preform this piece in spite of its difficulties.
Second, I like Hungarian Rhapsody No.12 for its beautiful melody. He magically mixed a fast and capricious tempo with the background of a slow and solitary mood. This piece is so relaxing that I feel completely refreshed after listening to this piece.
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78. Which is a better place to raise your children, a small town or a big city?
I think a small town is a better place to raise your children for two reasons.
First, small towns are typically safer. To be specific, small towns have lower crime rates, so that children can play outside by themselves without worrying about being kidnapped.
Second, people in small towns are like a big family. For example, I grew up in a small town and I knew pretty much everyone in my town. The whole town is like a big family and took care of me.
(So, a small town is a better place to raise your children.)
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79. Modern technology has made people’s lives too complex. Agree or disagree?
I disagree with this statement for two reasons.
First, airplanes made our lives easy. To be specific, as I live in a remote island, it takes almost half a day to go to the nearest city by boat, while it takes only one hour by airplane.
Second, the internet made our lives easy. To illustrate, thanks to the internet, I can make reservations for my trains, and send documents electronically. The internet definitely made my life easy.
So, I disagree with the statement.
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80. Teenagers cause many problems for their parents. Agree or disagree.
I agree with this statement for two reasons.
First, many teenagers get pregnant. According to a statistics, on average, 100 teenagers out of 1000 get pregnant in my country. One thirds of them choose abortions. Most of pregnant teenagers do not complete high school and end up on welfare.
Second, many teenagers are killed due to drunken driving. For example, if my memory serves me correct, drunk driving kills 10 teens every day in my country.
So, I agree with the statement that teenagers cause many problems for their parents.
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81. Do you like to study in groups?
I definitely prefer to study in a group. First, I can learn faster in a group than studying alone. For example, I have a weakness in math. When I encounter a difficult math problem I tend to struggle over it for hours. Instead, I can ask a question to my group members and someone can help me to solve the problem instantly. Second, I can develop communications skills. To illustrate, if I study alone, I do not speak to anyone. However, in a study group, I can learn how to interact with other students and exchange our ideas.
So, I prefer studying in a group.
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82. It is important to remember the past in order to learn from it. Agree or disagree?
I agree with this statement.
First, we should not forget human mistakes in the past so as not to repeat the same mistakes again. For example, atomic bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed millions of innocent civilians. We should learn from this mistake not to repeat the same tragedy.
By the same token, we should never forget natural disasters in the past. For example, the recent earthquake and subsequent Tsunami in my country killed 15000 people and left many more without houses, parents, money, and hope. We should learn a lesson and take measures to minimize the impact of future earthquakes.
(So, I agree that it is important to remember the past in order to learn from it.)
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83. Do you like to work on group projects?
I definitely like group projects for two reasons.
First, a group of people of multiple disciplines can perform much better than a single person. To be specific, a new car model can be created by a group of people with various fields such as design, fabrication, sales, and marketing. One single person cannot complete this task alone.
Second, a group project can teach you team working. To illustrate, if you do a project alone, you never speak to anyone. However, in a group project, you can learn how to interact with other students.
So, I like group projects.
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84. Where do you prefer to study?
I prefer to study in the university library for two reasons.
First, the library has all reference books. To be specific, as I am writing my thesis for a master degree, I need to be able access all reference books for my thesis.
Second, the library has all facilities to support my thesis writing. To illustrate, the library has individual study booths, where I can study without being disturbed by other students. In addition, it has computers, printers, and copiers to support my work.
So, I prefer to study in the university library.
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85. Which do you prefer to remember the past, keeping a diary or taking photographs?
I prefer to take photos for two reasons.
First, a picture is worth 1000 words. My hobby is gardening. When flower bloom, I take photos, and keep them in my album. Nothing can describe the beauty of flowers better than photos.
Second, I can show my photos to others. For example, I went to a Japanese restaurant and took pictures of my favorite dishes. I showed them to my colleagues and they clearly understood how sushi and sashimi look like.
So, I prefer to take photos.
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86. Do you prefer to learn about history by reading books or watching documentaries on TV?
I prefer to watch documentaries for two reasons.
First, a documentary can provide me with a concise summary of an historical event. For example, I watched a 60 minute TV program about the WWII and was able to obtain an comprehensive information about the WWII in one hour.
Second, visual and sound effects of a documentary gives me stronger impressions. I watched a documentary about Kamikaze suicidal attacks during the WWII. A short video of an airplane plunging into the enemy battleship left me a lasting impression.
So, I prefer to watch documentaries.
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87. Which food would you recommend to a visitor to your country?
I strongly recommend Kobe beef stake. Farmers implement two measures to make this meat extremely tender.
First, each cow drinks Japanese beer. They say this practice makes the beef softer.
Second, each cow receives daily massage while listening to classical music of Bach and Chopin. This makes the beef even tender, so that it will melt in your mouth.
Although the price is a little intimidating, it is well worth every penny spent.
So, I strongly recommend Kobe beef stake.
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88. Which do you prefer, playing sports for enjoyment or competition?
I prefer to play sports for enjoyment for two reasons.
First, I do not like too much emphasis on winning.
I used to play volleyball in high school. Our coach always pushed us to win. When we lost a game, he slapped our faces. I never liked this attitude.
Second, I need time to relax. As I have enough competition in my work place, I do not need another competition when I play sports. I play sports to relieve stresses.
So, I prefer to play sports for enjoyment.
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89. What is a food that many visitors to your country enjoy having?
I strongly recommend Kobe beef stake. Farmers implement two measures to make this meat extremely tender.
First, each cow drinks Japanese beer. They say this practice makes the beef softer.
Second, each cow receives daily massage while listening to classical music of Bach and Chopin. This makes the beef even tender, so that it will melt in your mouth.
Although the price is a little intimidating, it is well worth every penny spent.
So, I strongly recommend Kobe beef stake.
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90. Which ethnic food do you enjoy eating?
I love Japanese Kobe beef stake. Farmers implement two measures to make this meat extremely tender.
First, each cow drinks Japanese beer. They say this practice makes the beef softer.
Second, each cow receives daily massage while listening to classical music of Bach and Chopin. This makes the beef even tender, so that it will melt in your mouth.
Although the price is a little intimidating, it is well worth every penny spent.
So, I strongly recommend Kobe beef stake.
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91. What is more important for an athlete, physical ability or effort?
I believe that genetics, or physical ability is more important for an athlete, especially for a top athlete.
Tall and slender persons are likely to succeed in long distance running, while heavy muscular guys have better chances to win in weight lifting.
A slender Kenyan athlete is unlikely to become an Olympic heavy lifting champion, no matter how hard he trains himself.
For this reason, in my opinion, physical ability is more important for a top athlete.
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92. Which do you prefer, team sports or individual sports?
I prefer team sports for two reasons.
First, I can learn social skills. To be in a team, I need to know how to keep a healthy relationship with other teammates. Team sports will surely help me acquire social skills that are going to help me throughout my life.
Second, team sports are more fun. Twice a week, I participate in the company’s volleyball club. We basically crack jokes and have fun.
So, I prefer team sports.
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93. When you purchase clothes, where do you prefer to go?
I prefer to purchase my clothes at a shopping mall for two reasons.
First, the shopping mall near my house has at least twenty shops for clothing. If I do not find any particular item at a store, I can always go to other stores to search for it.
Second, I can do comparison-shopping at the shopping mall. To illustrate, last week I went shopping for a shirt. At one store, the price was 35 dollars. Then, I went to another store to find the same item for 25 dollars.
So, I prefer to purchase my clothes at a shopping mall.
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94. Which is better, reading the newspaper every day or once a week?
I believe that it is better to read a newspaper every day for two reasons.
First, I love to read my newspaper every day to know the result of baseball and football matches. I am a big fan of Chicago Bears and White Socks and really enjoy reading the articles especially when my teams win. In addition, it is fun to discuss this topic with my colleagues in the office.
Second, I need to keep up with economic news every day. As I invest some of my money on stocks, it is crucial for me to read newspaper every day to make a buy or sell decision on my stock.
So, I believe it is better to read newspapers daily.
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95. Where do you usually do your shopping?
I usually do my shopping at a local shopping mall for two reasons.
First, the shopping mall near my house has so many stores. If I do not find any particular item at a store, I can always go to other stores to find the item.
Second, I can do comparison-shopping at the shopping mall. To illustrate, last week I went shopping for a shirt. At one store, the price was 35 dollars. Then, I went to another store to find the same item for 25 dollars.
So, I usually do my shopping at the local shopping mall.
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96. What kind of a shopper are you?
I would characterize myself as a bargain shopper. I will present two examples.
First, I tend to go shopping when all goods are on sale. After-Christmas sales are my favorite ones, and I purchase tons of items in this period.
Second, as I have five kids and I cannot afford to buy high price items. For example, purchasing five pairs of Nike sneakers, each of which costs 100 bucks, is out of the question.
This is why I am a bargain shopper.
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97. It is important to be aware of current events in one’s country.
First, I love to read my newspaper every day to know the result of baseball and football matches. I am a big fan of Chicago Bears and White Socks and really enjoy reading the articles especially when my teams win. In addition, it is fun to discuss this topic with my colleagues in the office.
Second, I need to keep up with economic news every day. As I invest some of my money on stocks, it is crucial for me to read newspaper every day to make a buy or sell decision on my stock.
So, it is important to be aware of current events. -----------------------------------------------------
98. Young people do not know enough about current events these days.
I disagree with this statement and give two supporting examples.
First, my kids read newspaper every day to know the result of baseball and football matches. They are big fans of Chicago Bears and White Socks and really enjoy reading the articles especially when their teams win. I
Second, my kids try to keep up with economic news every day. As they invest some of their money on stocks, it is crucial for them to read newspaper every day to make a buy or sell decision on their stock.
For these reason, I believe that young people do know enough about current events.
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99. What are the necessary factors to having a good school?
I believe that supportive teachers and a good library are two important factors to a good school.
First, a good school must have caring and supportive teachers. To illustrate, Mr. Hashimoto, my English teacher in high school, was a very caring teacher. Thanks to his assistance, I won the first prize in a speech competition.
Second, a good school must have a good library. To be specific, the library of my university was open 24hours a day and 7 days a week. I virtually lived in the library for 6 months to write my master thesis.
In summary, supportive teachers and a good library are two important factors to a good school.
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100. Parents are the best teachers for children. Agree or disagree?
I believe that parents are the best teachers for children for two reasons.
First, it was my parents who taught me how to crawl, how to stand, how to walk and how to speak. Therefore, I have to agree that they were my best teachers in my childhood.
Second, my parents taught me many practical things. For example, my father taught me how to fix a flat tire, while my mother toughed me how to bake my favorite apple pies.
So, I am definitely convinced that my parents are the best teachers for me.
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101. What was the best aspect of the last school you attended?
The best aspect of my last school was operating a nuclear reactor.
I have a BS in the nuclear engineering. My university had a small experimental nuclear reactor. While I hated those theoretical nuclear physics courses, I really enjoyed one course to operate this reactor. As I pulled out the control rods, the reactor reached criticality and started the nuclear chain reaction. It was such an exciting experience for me.
Therefore, the best aspect of my last school was operating the nuclear reactor.
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102. What do you believe that schools in your country need to do in order to improve?
The average TOEFL iBT score of Japanese students is among the lowest in the world. Particularly, the average score of the speaking section is at the bottom of the spectrum. To improve this situation, I have one recommendation.
Schools should hire English teachers who have a minimum TOEFL score of 110. For example, in high school, I was very fortunate to have a teacher whose TOEFL score was 115. He taught all his classes in English and we were not allowed to speak any Japanese in his classes. Thanks to his instructions, I was able to improve my English significantly.
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103. Parents need to spend more time with their children.
I agree with this statement for two reasons.
First, Japanese men are too busy with their work and spend very little time with their children. According to a survey, on average, Japanese men spend only 49 minutes with their children every day.
In addition, many Japanese men in senior positions are working in offices far from their houses and they virtually never see their children. For example, my father was transferred to an office 500 miles from our house. Now I get to see him once every two months.
I wish he could spend more time with me.
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104. Parents should be involved in deciding where their children go to college.
I agree with this statement.
This is especially true of families with limited financial resources.
For example, my wife and I asked my daughter to attend a local state university, as we could not afford to send her to a private university in other states. We explained our financial situations to her, and she accepted our explanation.
So, when financial resources are limited, parents should be definitely involved in deciding where their children go to college.
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105. One of your friends is nervous about his or her work. What advice would you give your friend?
My friend was nervous about an upcoming presentation to the top management. First, I suggested her to practice the presentation at least 5 times before the meeting. Second, I told her to prepare answers to those anticipated questions from the top management. She followed my suggestions and successfully completed her presentation.
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106. Should children receive money or not for doing household chores?
I believe that children should receive money for doing household chores for two reasons.
First, children are more motivated to do chores when paid. For example, my chore was taking out the garbage cart and my mom gave me a dime. So, I was very glad to do this chore.
Second, children can learn how to manage money.
For example, I save every dime I got from my mom and bought her a small Christmas gift for her. She was very happy and I was happy, too.
So, I believe that children should receive money for doing household chores.
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107. How do you feel you could improve the quality of your work?
I have two suggestions to improve my work.
First, less working hours would improve the efficiency of my work. For example, like many Japanese workers, I virtually work myself to death and often I am too tired to perform my job. Less working hours would definitely improve my work efficiency.
Second, flexible working hours would improve my work.
For example, I can travel to and from my office in off-peak hours. This means I can avoid those crowded trains and I am not tired when I get to my office.
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108. Which factor is important in improving a workplace?
I have two suggestions to improve a workplace.
First, a massage service in the office would be a great help to reduce stresses. For example, my company has a small massage room on the same floor and it costs me only 10 dollars for one hour session.
Second, a day care center for babies in the office would be another great idea.
For example, many of my colleagues are mothers of small babies, and I am sure they would appreciate the day care service in the office. During a short break, they could breast feed their babies.
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109. Teenagers should have part-time job.
I agree with this statement for two reasons.
First, they realize how hard it is to earn money.
For example, my first part-time job was a waiter in a Chinese restaurant. I had to work very hard to earn 5 dollars per hour. Since then I have never wasted my money.
Second, they can learn how to interact with others.
For instance, in the same waiter job, I had to deal with many people including the restaurant manager, chef, and customers. This was a great learning experience.
So, I think teenagers should have part-time job.
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120. Some parents give their children a weekly allowance. Other parents give their children money whenever they ask for some. Which is better?
I prefer a weekly allowance for one reason.
First, children can learn how to manage money. For example, my allowance was 20 dollars per month. One time I spent all of them on a toy on the first day of a month. Later I asked my mom to give me more, but she refused. Since then I tried to manage my spending against my budget. This was a great lesson I learned in my childhood and made a big difference in my financial management today.
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121. Why is it good for a person to take a year off before entering college?
I have two reasons to support this.
First, one can save money for college education. For example, unfortunately my family had limited financial resources and could not afford to send me to college. I had to work for one year to earn money to continue my education.
Second, one can travel to other countries to broaden his or her perspectives. For example, I traveled through Asia and Africa. I met many poor children who could not go to school. I felt how fortunate I was and I was strongly motivated to study in college later.
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122. Do you prefer to take easy courses or difficult courses?
My answer is yes and no.
I love challenge. If I take only easy courses, I do not learn much. No venture, no gain. For example, in my senior year I took one advanced chemistry class. Though the subject was very difficult, I learned a great deal.
However, I have to maintain my GPA to be qualified for my scholarship. I love challenge, but if I take difficult courses, my GPA would suffer and I may end up with losing my scholarship. So I have no other choices but to take some easy courses to maintain my GPA.
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123. What would you like to do in your free time?
I would like to do two things.
First, as my job requires me to travel extensively, when I am home, I want to spend quality time with my wife and kids. Taking my wife to dinner and taking my kids to movies or baseball games are my favorite activities.
Second, as my wife is also a full time worker, when I am home, I want to do many house chores such as laundry, shopping groceries, helping kid’s homework, you name it.
My wife really appreciates my support.
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124. What is the best way for a person to improve his or her life?
これは難しい。あなたの人生をよくする方法は？
There are possibly two ways to improve my life.
First, I should reduce my work hours and spend more time with my family. I am a typical workaholic Japanese. I virtually work myself to death and pay almost no attention to my family. I need to change this or my wife will divorce me.
Second, I should reduce my weight. Mt doctor told me to reduce my weight at least by 50 pounds. He says that my diabetes is getting worse and if I do not control my weight, my legs have to be amputated.
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125. Which would you prefer to take, an art class or a music class?
難しい。なぜ音楽かと聞かれても。
I prefer to take a music class for two reasons.
First, singing is always an important part of my life. While walking to my primary school, I was singing my favorite cartoon songs. In high school, I belonged to a chorus club and we performed in a state competition.
Second, I enjoy listening to classical music. My favorite musician is Franz Liszt, a 19 century Hungarian pianist and composer. I love to listen to his famous piano solos, called Hungarian Rhapsodies.
So, I prefer to take a music class.
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126. It is a waste of time for university students to take courses in subjects other than their majors. Agree or disagree?
I agree with this statement for one reason.
I am not interested in other subjects. For example, I have an engineering degree. To graduate, I had to take some courses not related with my major, such as literature and history. As I had no interests in such subjects, I was completely bored in the classes. To be honest, it was a waste of time. You can lead a horse to water, but cannot make it drink. I should have taken more interesting subjects such as astronomy and biology, which are more closely related with my major.
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127. What was a recent story you heard or read on the news, and why was it interesting?
I read an article about a volleyball carried away by the Japanese Tsunami and found on a small island of Alaska. It is a miracle for two reasons.
First, the ball travelled over 4000 miles across the Pacific Ocean.
Second, a man on this Island found the ball and his Japanese wife identified a name written on the ball.
This ball has been returned to the owner, a 16-year-old Japanese girl living in the Tsunami devastated area. The girl was so happy to see the ball again.
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128. When you travel, do you spend most of your time on one spot or visit many places?
I prefer to stay in one place for two reasons.
First, I do not enjoy sightseeing. To be specific, when I go on a trip, I will stay at one place just to relax. If I visit many places, I get tired.
Second, it is cheaper to stay in one place. For example, when I traveled to Thailand, I stayed at a resort and it did not cost me a lot of money. In contrast, my friend visited many places and he spent twice as much money.
So, I prefer to stay in one place.
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129. Which part of the news interest you most?
I love to read miracle stories.
I read an article about a volleyball carried away by the Japanese Tsunami and found on a small island of Alaska. It is a miracle for two reasons.
First, the ball travelled over 4000 miles across the Pacific Ocean.
Second, a man on this Island found the ball and his Japanese wife identified a name written on the ball.
This ball has been returned to the owner, a 16-year-old Japanese girl living in the Tsunami devastated area. The girl was so happy to see the ball again.
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130. Which part of the news interest you most?
I love to read stories about space exploration.
For example, I read a story about a Japanese satellite called Hayabusa.
This satellite was launched in 2003. The plan was to travel to an asteroid, grab a sample, and return to the earth in 2007. On its return home, it experienced many technical glitches. But each time a problem arose, scientists managed to find a solution and finally it came home in 2011.
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131. What section of the newspaper do you most commonly read?
I love to read miracle stories.
I read an article about a volleyball carried away by the Japanese Tsunami and found on a small island of Alaska. It is a miracle for two reasons.
First, the ball travelled over 4000 miles across the Pacific Ocean.
Second, a man on this Island found the ball and his Japanese wife identified a name written on the ball.
This ball has been returned to the owner, a 16-year-old Japanese girl living in the Tsunami devastated area. The girl was so happy to see the ball again.
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132. Do you travel to places that you have been to before or new places?
I prefer to travel to places that I have been to for two reasons.
First, I know for sure I can relax and enjoy the place. To be specific, every year I visit Kawai island Hawaii. It has many beautiful beaches, not crowded, and I always have a wonderful time there.
In contrast, last year, I visited an island in the Philippines for the first time. The place was dirty, crowded, and I was so disappointed.
For these reason, I prefer to visit places that I have been to.
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133. What is the best way for parents to raise healthy children?
難しい。
The best way is for children to participate in sports for two reasons.
First, obviously playing sports make kids physically and mentally strong. For example, when I was young, I practiced Karate, which really helped me to develop a strong body and mind
Second, kids can learn social skills. I learned how to communicate with other kids, my coaches and other parents.
So, I think the best way for parents to raise healthy kids is letting them participate in sports.
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134. Construct a new building or preserve an old one?
Hi.
I believe we should construct a new building for two reasons.
First, many old buildings do not comply with the latest seismic requirements. For example, On March 11, 2011, a big earthquake hit the northeastern part of Japan. While many old buildings collapsed and killed so many people, new buildings withstood the earthquake.
Second, many old buildings do not meet the recent fire codes. To be specific, many old buildings are not equipped with sprinklers and fire extinguishing facilities.
So, I prefer to build a new building.
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135. What is the most necessary factor for living a healthy life?
I have two suggestions to myself.
First, I should reduce my work hours and spend more time with my family. I am a typical workaholic Japanese. I virtually work myself to death and pay almost no attention to my family. I need to change this or my wife will divorce me.
Second, I should reduce my weight. Mt doctor told me to reduce my weight at least by 50 pounds. He says that my diabetes is getting worse and if I do not control my weight, my legs have to be amputated.
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136. What aspect of your life do you need to change the most?
I need to change two things in my life.
First, I should reduce my work hours and spend more time with my family. I am a typical workaholic Japanese. I virtually work myself to death and pay almost no attention to my family. I need to change this or my wife will divorce me.
Second, I should reduce my weight. Mt doctor told me to reduce my weight at least by 50 pounds. He says that my diabetes is getting worse and if I do not control my weight, my legs have to be amputated.
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137. Agree or disagree?
There are not enough national parks in my country.
I agree. We need more national parks for two reasons.
First, more parks can protect pants and animals. To be specific, more national parks mean that we can reserve habitats for many natural species such as animals, birds, and fish.
Second, more parks can reduce the greenhouse effect. Specifically, more national parks mean more trees that can absorb carbon dioxide, thus reducing the greenhouse effect.
So, more national parks are needed.
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138. Houses or apartment buildings?
I prefer to live in an apartment for two reasons.
First, the purchase price of an apartment is much cheaper than buying a house in a big city. For example, I would have to pay two times the money if I purchased a house in the same neighborhood.
Second, the electric bill is much cheaper. My three-bed room apartment is so energy efficient that my electric bill is as low as 100 dollars per month, while my friend living in a three-bed room house pays 200 dollars per month.
For this reason, I prefer to stay in an apartment.
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139. What is most important item among all of those that you use?
My cell phone is the most important item.
First, I need to communicate closely with my family.
My job requires me to travel extensively. Thanks to my cell phone, I can talk to my family and send text messages anytime and anywhere.
Second, my cell phone is extremely useful in emergency situations, The other day I was caught in a traffic jam and had to change my flight reservation. With my cell phone, I was able to change the reservation so easily.
So, my cell phone is the most important item.
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140. Is it important to learn about your ancestors’ history?
As far as I am concerned, it is not important to learn about my ancestors’ history.
First of all, I do not know who my ancestors are. I was adopted by my foster parents when I was 3 years old. My foster parents will not tell me who are my real parents are. So, even if I want to learn about my ancestors, I cannot.
Second, I am not interested in learning. My foster parents took care of me so well. Actually, they are virtually my parents. So, I am not interested in learning who my ancestors are.
この質問の意味が、過去の歴史を学ぶことの重要性を意味しているのなら、
I agree with this statement.
First, we should learn from human mistakes in the past so as not to repeat the same mistakes again. For example, the atomic bomb dropped in Hiroshima killed millions of innocent civilians. We should learn from this mistake not to repeat the same tragedy.
By the same token, we should learn from natural disasters in the past. For example, the recent earthquake in my country killed 15000 people. We should learn a lesson and take measures to minimize the impact of future earthquakes.
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141. What is your favorite possession?
My favorite possession is my Kindle e-book reader for two reasons.
First, this device can store hundreds of e-books. Instead of carrying heavy books, I can put this device in my backpack for my vacation. It is as if I had my personal library with me wherever I go.
Second, this device can read the text to me. To be specific, while I am driving, I can enjoy listening to my favorite stories.
For these reason, my favorite possession is my Kindle e-book reader.
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142. What is your next major item you are planning to purchase?
I want to purchase a Toyota Prius, a hybrid car for two reasons.
First, it has a great gas mileage. While my old Ford pick-up truck runs only ten mile per gallon, the Prius gives me an amazing 50 miles per gallon. This will really save me a lot of dollars.
Second, it is really a quiet car. As electric motors are primarily used in a low speed range, it makes virtually no sounds when starting up the car. This makes my listening to music more enjoyable.
So, I cannot wait to drive my Toyota Prius.
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143. Young people are uninterested in history these days.
I agree with this statement and I hope they will be more interested in history for two reasons.
First, we should learn from human mistakes in the past so as not to repeat the same mistakes again. For example, the atomic bomb dropped in Hiroshima killed millions of innocent civilians. We should learn from this mistake not to repeat the same tragedy.
By the same token, we should learn from natural disasters in the past. For example, the recent earthquake in my country killed 15000 people. We should learn a lesson and take measures to minimize the impact of future earthquakes.
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144. Which characteristic do you admire the most in other people: creativity, intelligence or courage?
I admire courage the most, because without courage, most people give up before achieving a success. Tradition has it, for example, that Thomas Edison made thousands of attempts to create a light bulb before he finally succeeded. In the face of countless failures, he had enough courage to continue. Yes, he was an extremely intelligent and creative man, but without his courage to overcome difficulties, he could not have materialized many of his inventions. So, I admire courage the most.
I admire creativity the most.
First, those who have creativity can invent new technologies. For example, almost everything around us, cars, TVs, and internet services were invented by those who had creativity. Without their creative minds, our world today would be totally different.
Second, those who have creativity can produce various forms of arts, paintings, sculptures, novels, dances, and dramas. Our world would be very boring without all those artistic expressions.
So, I admire creativity the most.
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145. A person should carry his or her cell phone at all times.
I agree with this statement.
First, I can address emergency situations. For example, once I was caught in a traffic jam. Thanks to my cell phone, I was able to change my flight reservation and continue my travel.
Second, I can communicate with my family. As my job requires me to travel extensively, I need to talk to my family all the times.
So, I prefer to have my cell phone all the times.
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146. What is the best quality in a friend?
First, my friend should have a positive personality.
A few years ago, I was completely depressed after losing my job. My friend encouraged me by saying “Hey, every cloud has a silver lining.
Second, my friend should have a great sense of humor. My friend is always cracking jokes and makes me laugh. The other day, his joke was so funny that I could not help laughing for two minutes.
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147. Restaurants should ban diners from using their cell phones while they are at the tables.
I agree with this statement.
Nothing is more annoying than hearing someone talking on a cell phone in a nice peaceful restaurant.
The other day, I was having a romantic dinner with my girlfriend at a nice restaurant. A guy in the next table received a call on his cell phone. He should have stepped away from the area. Instead, he talked very loudly for the text ten minutes. This completely ruined our romantic dinner. For this reason, restaurants should ban diners from using cell phones.
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148. What was a good period in your life?
My childhood in elementary school was definitely a good period in my life.
This was the only period in my life where I was completely free from academic pressures. All I did was playing games and sports with my friends. Every day I go home, drop off my school bag at the door and run off again to play with my friends. My favorite was playing baseball with my friends until it was too dark to see the ball. I enjoyed every minute of it.
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149. When you have a problem, do you rely on others’ advice or your own ideas?
I definitely rely on others’ advice for two reasons.
First, others can analyze my problem more objectively. For example, when I have a problem, I may be emotionally involved, which may prevent me from making a right decision.
Second, others often have more experience than me. For example, my father often gives me advice. He has more experience than I have. I rely on his advice many times when I have problems.
So, I prefer to rely on others’ advice.
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150. Which period of your life was the most influential?
Hi.
The elementary school was the most influential period in my life for two reasons.
First, this period made my body strong. For example, my elementary school was 6 miles from my house, so I had to walk every day to my school. This really helped me build up my physical strength.
Second, this period made my mind strong. For example, in this period, I played baseball in a local club team. I learned discipline and teamwork.
So, the elementary school was the most influential period in my life.
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151. Which do you prefer to ask your professors questions in person or ask questions by email?
I definitely prefer to ask my professors questions in person for two reasons.
First, I can get my questions answered instantly. If I ask a question by email, the professor may be busy and may not respond to my email promptly.
Second, I can ask follow-up questions. Usually, when I ask a question, I have many follow-up questions, so meeting with the professor in person is very helpful.
So, I prefer to meet my professors in person.
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152. Which is more important learning from school or family?
Learning from school is more important for two reasons.
First, at school you can learn many subjects from many teachers. To be specific, you can learn subjects that your parents cannot teach.
Second, at school you can learn how to interact with others. For example, you can learn how to deal with your friends and teachers.
So, learning from school is more important.
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153. Some colleges require that students declare a major before they start their freshman year. Other colleges allow students to declare their major up to the end of their freshman year. Which policy do you think is better for freshmen and why?
I prefer to declare a major before entering a university.
First, you get motivated in studying. For example, if you major is in engineering, you would be highly motivated to study math, physics, and other engineering related subjects in the freshman year.
Second, you can possibly graduate sooner. If you do not know your major, you may take some courses that are not applicable to your major and waste your time.
So, I like declaring a major before entering college.
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154. Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which place would you place to live in?
I would prefer to live in a big city for two reasons.
First, big cities offer more restaurants and shops. For example, in Tokyo one can find restaurants of many nationalities. My favorite is a Vietnamese restaurant near my house and their noodles are very tasty.
Second, big cities offer more entertainment. For example, I can go to concerts of internationally famous musicians.
So, I prefer to live in a big city.
I prefer to live in a small town.
First, small towns are typically safer. To be specific, small towns have lower crime rates, so that children can play outside by themselves without worrying about being kidnapped.
Second, people in small towns are like a big family. For example, I grew up in a small town and I knew pretty much everyone in my town. The whole town is like a big family and took care of me.
So, I like to live in a small town.
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155. Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people prefer to prepare and eat food at home. Which do you prefer?
I prefer to go out to eat.
First, it can save time. To be specific, the time spent on shopping and cooking can be saved, and I can send the time for other pursuits. スペルに注意。Pursuit.
Second, I can taste a variety of interesting dishes from many countries. For example, I love to eat different kinds of Italian spaghettis with a variety of Italian wines.
So, I would rather go out to restaurants.
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156. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
I agree that parents are the best teachers
First, parents know us very well. To be specific, they know how to encourage our good characteristics and discourage our bad behaviors.
Second, parents can teach us everything. For example, I learned how to fix a flat tire from my dad and how to bake apple pies from my mom.
So, I think parents are the best teachers.
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157. Some people prefer to spend their free time outdoors. Other people prefer to spend their leisure time indoors.
I prefer spending my leisure time outdoors.
First, I like fresh air and sunlight. For example, my favorite pastime is to read a novel while sunbathing.
Second, I enjoy nature. For example, I love to walk in a wood because I can see trees, flowers, and birds. It is so relaxing.
So, I prefer spending my time outdoors.
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158. What is an interesting book you have not read yet?
以前作っておいたあなたが好きな本は？の作文を活用。
My friend recommended me to read "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking. My friend enjoyed reading this book because difficult concepts in astrophysics were presented by using easy to understand terms. Although he had no prior knowledge of astrophysics, he was able to understand clearly some of the most difficult concepts such as quantum physics, theory of relativity, worm holes, black holes, big bang, etc. He really enjoyed reading this book and strongly recommended me to read it.
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159. Do you prefer a friend who has the same thoughts or a friend who has different thoughts?
すでに同様な問題あり。
I do not mind at all having friends who have different opinions than mine. Actually I have many friends who always disagree with my opinions, but we have maintained great and long-term friendships. I feel it is intellectually stimulating to exchange our ideas and opinions on a subject. For example, my best friend has totally different political views from mine. When it is voting time, we always have different opinions as to which party we should be supporting. But these arguments are always purely logical and constructive from which both of us can learn and benefit.
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160. Describe what kind of group activity you want to participate.
以前やった問題の変形。
I would like to participate in a volunteer work to help those victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami for two reasons. First, my heart goes to those who were killed by this unprecedented natural disaster and those who were left with no houses, no money, no relatives and friends and above all no hope to live the rest of their lives. Second, as I plan to retire soon, I want to spend my remaining life to help those who are suffering. As God gave me a chance to live in this world, I feel obligated to help those suffering in the worst condition and suffering alone.
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161. Some people say that it is better for children to go on a field trip. Others say that it is better for them to study in classroom.
以前やった問題の変形。
This depends on which subjects they study. For example, if they study mathematics or foreign languages, the best place to study would be in a classroom with a qualified teacher, a whiteboard, and a pointer. However, if they study subjects such as botany or zoology, they should go on a field trip to a museum or a zoo, because they can actually see and touch plants and animals, which is more interesting than reading many pages of a textbook. In a nutshell, it relies on which subjects they study.
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162. What is something you tried hard but have never accomplished before?
新しい題材。
I tried to break 90 in my golf game but never accomplished it.
First, I changed my golf clubs many times. This did not work because every time I bought a new club, it messed up my swing and worsened my scores.
Second, I took lessons from a pro. This did not work, either, because he tried to drastically change my golf swing and I ended up with shooting my worst score.
In the end, none of these measures was instrumental to achieving my goal.
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