托福獨立口語的萬能理由

　　作為萬能理由的第一條，expand one's horizons 絕對是不二之選。究其本意，單數(shù)的horizon 是“地平線、海平線”的意思，但復(fù)數(shù)的horizons 卻指人們的“眼界、視野”，其英文注釋為：The limit of your ideas, knowledge and experience. 略舉一例：World history is a course of study that will broaden your horizons.

　　先看一個具體話題：

　　Should the government help to build more museums and theaters?

　　Yes, I think the government should help to build more recreational facilities.

　　Enrich citizens' cultural life

　　expand young people's horizons

　　have a place to go for fun on weekends

　　art exhibitions can improve public taste

　　再來看一個抽象話題：Describe the most important decision in your life. 面對此類抽象話題，最佳策略是將其具體化，變成一個日常生活話題，然后套用 我們的萬能理由。

　　請看思路：

　　I think I made the most important decision in my life by choosing to go to an overseas university after graduation from high school in China.

　　而其中的一條主干理由就是：

　　It would broaden my horizons. 比如: Broaden my horizons

　　made friends with people from different backgrounds

　　travelled a lot around Europe and North America

　　visited various museums and historical places

　　作為主干理由的 broaden my horizons，之下又 made friends, travelled a lot, visited various museums 等三條分支理由，思路極易展開。

　　萬能理由之二： Learn

　　我們可以 learn skills, 也可以 learn lessons 或從某個experience 里面去learn，成為某種learning experience.

　　很多情況下，knowledge 和 skills 是不分家的：比如Which of the following has more influence on you: newspaper, TV or teacher? 媒體類的newspaper 或TV 固然好講，但teacher 無疑是最佳的選擇，因為teacher 直接跟learning 掛鉤：

　　Teachers have more influence on me.

　　Pass on me knowledge and skills:

　　attending class is the only effective way of learning

　　knowledge not found in textbooks can be acquired

　　learn practical skills in addition to academic knowledge

　　類似的解題思路還體現(xiàn)在：

　　People who attend college will be more successful in career than those who don't.

　　顯然，這是必須同意的命題：

　　Yes, it is generally true that attending college can increase the chance of career success.

　　Learn a lot of vital skills and gain knowledge:

　　academic knowledge helps to lay a solid foundation

　　reading and writing skills are vital to career success

　　having good presentation skills ensures promotion

　　三條分支理由中比較好的表達有：

　　lay a solid foundation, be vital to career success, ensure promotion. 分支理由越詳細越好。Learn 作為萬能理由我們可以正反面的充分論述觀點，十分實用的論點。

　　萬能理由之三：Money, finance & economy

　　很多話題都可以從經(jīng)濟的角度入手來回答。先來一道經(jīng)典例題：The most important decision in your life.

　　思路如下：

　　Going to an overseas university

　　Achieve my independence

　　started to live on my own

　　learned a lot of practical skills such as cooking

　　became financially independent through a part-time job

　　如果我們選擇 going to an overseas university作為答案， 其中的一條主干理由就是 achieve my independence， 而在所有的independence 之中，financial independence 無疑是最直接、最現(xiàn)成、最有說服力的一種。簡單說，就是通過在國外打工，earn money and make a living.

　　有些題目屬于一眼就看穿思路的，如：Living alone vs. sharing rooms with other people.

　　Sharing rooms with other people is a better choice.

　　Sharing rooms is more affordable:

　　rental fee is relatively high for an average student

　　sharing rooms can ease their financial burden

　　other living expenses can also be shared

　　在這個回答中，我們可以學(xué)習(xí)到很多跟錢相關(guān)的表達方式：affordable, rental fee, ease financial burden. 說穿了就是save money, reduce costs 的意思。