Speaking Nov 24

Describe a person you know who loves to grow plants (e.g. vegetables/ fruits/flowers etc.)

[!NOTE] You should say:
Who this person is
What he/she grows
Where he/she grows those vegetables/fruits
And explain why he/she enjoys this activity

Let me see… a close friend in my lab, Tom, is almost obsessive—in a good way—about growing plants. We share a graduate dorm in Beijing, and he’s converted our south-facing balcony into a compact hydroponic rack. He grows basil, cherry tomatoes, and butterhead lettuce, and on the lower shelf he propagates succulents in perlite. I first paid attention during lockdowns when he measured pH and nutrient concentration as carefully as we measure laser alignment.

He enjoys it for two reasons. First, it’s design thinking in miniature: he tunes the pump cycle, airflow, and LED height, then evaluates outcomes. Second, it creates community. On Fridays he gives away pesto and extra seedlings; that small act, I must say, improves the mood of the whole corridor.

As a physics student, I’m drawn to the controlled variables. I learned from him to set falsifiable micro-goals—for instance, “Does a 16/8 light cycle outperform 12/12 for lettuce mass?”—instead of vague intentions. If I want to develop the same habit, I’ll start with three containers and a fixed logbook, because, in other words, scope discipline prevents hobby fatigue. Now that I think about it, the real payoff isn’t only fresh herbs; it’s resilience and sustained attention, which translate directly into research.

Let me see… a close friend in my lab, Tom, is almost obsessive—in a good way—about growing plants.
/let miː siː eɪ kləʊs frend ɪn maɪ læb tɒm ɪz ˈɔːl.məʊst əbˈses.ɪv ɪn eɪ ɡʊd weɪ əˈbaʊt ˈɡrəʊ.ɪŋ plɑːnts/

We share a graduate dorm in Beijing, and he’s converted our south-facing balcony into a compact hydroponic rack.
/wiː ʃeə eɪ ˈɡrædʒ.u.ət dɔːm ɪn ˌbeɪˈdʒɪŋ ænd hiːz kənˈvɜː.tɪd aʊə saʊθ ˈfeɪ.sɪŋ ˈbæl.kə.ni ˈɪn.tuː eɪ ˈkɒm.pækt ˌhaɪ.drəˈpɒn.ɪk ræk/

He grows basil, cherry tomatoes, and butterhead lettuce, and on the lower shelf he propagates succulents in perlite.
/hiː ɡrəʊz ˈbæz.ɪl ˈtʃer.i təˈmɑː.təʊz ænd ˈbʌt.ə.hed ˈlet.ɪs ænd ɒn ðiː ˈləʊ.ər ʃelf hiː ˈprɒp.ə.ɡeɪts ˈsʌk.jə.lənts ɪn ˈpɜː.laɪt/

I first paid attention during lockdowns when he measured pH and nutrient concentration as carefully as we measure laser alignment.
/aɪ fɜːst peɪd əˈten.ʃən ˈdʒʊə.rɪŋ ˈlɒk.daʊnz wen hiː ˈmeʒ.əd ˌpiːˈeɪtʃ ænd ˈnjuː.tri.ənt ˌkɒn.sənˈtreɪ.ʃən æz ˈkeə.fəl.i æz wiː ˈmeʒ.ər ˈleɪ.zər əˈlaɪn.mənt/

He enjoys it for two reasons.
/hiː ɪnˈdʒɔɪz ɪt fɔː tuː ˈriː.zənz/

First, it’s design thinking in miniature: he tunes the pump cycle, airflow, and LED height, then evaluates outcomes.
/fɜːst ɪts dɪˈzaɪn ˈθɪŋ.kɪŋ ɪn ˈmɪnɪtʃə(r) hiː tjuːnz ðiː pʌmp ˈsaɪ.kəl ˈeə.fləʊ ænd ˌel.iːˈdiː haɪt ðen ɪˈvæl.ju.eɪts ˈaʊt.kʌmz/

Second, it creates community.
/ˈsek.ənd ɪt kriˈeɪts kəˈmjuː.nə.ti/

On Fridays he gives away pesto and extra seedlings; that small act, I must say, improves the mood of the whole corridor.
/ɒn ˈfraɪ.deɪz hiː ɡɪvz əˈweɪ ˈpes.təʊ ænd ˈek.strə ˈsiːd.lɪŋz ðæt smɔːl ækt aɪ mʌst seɪ ɪmˈpruːvz ðiː muːd ɒv ðiː həʊl ˈkɒr.ɪ.dɔː/

As a physics student, I’m drawn to the controlled variables.
/æz eɪ ˈfɪz.ɪks ˈstjuː.dənt aɪm drɔːn tuː ðiː kənˈtrəʊld ˈveə.ri.ə.bəlz/

I learned from him to set falsifiable micro-goals—for instance, “Does a 16/8 light cycle outperform 12/12 for lettuce mass?”—instead of vague intentions.
/aɪ lɜːnd frɒm hɪm tuː set ˌfɔːl.sɪˈfaɪ.ə.bəl ˈmaɪ.krəʊ ɡəʊlz fɔː ˈɪn.stəns dʌz eɪ ˌsɪkˈstiːn eɪt laɪt ˈsaɪ.kəl ˌaʊt.pəˈfɔːm twelv twelv fɔː ˈlet.ɪs mæs ɪnˈsted ɒv veɪɡ ɪnˈten.ʃənz/

If I want to develop the same habit, I’ll start with three containers and a fixed logbook, because, in other words, scope discipline prevents hobby fatigue.
/ɪf aɪ wɒnt tuː dɪˈvel.əp ðiː seɪm ˈhæb.ɪt aɪl stɑːt wɪð θriː kənˈteɪ.nəz ænd eɪ fɪkst ˈlɒɡ.bʊk bɪˈkɒz ɪn ˈʌð.ər wɜːdz skəʊp ˈdɪs.ə.plɪn prɪˈvents ˈhɒb.i fəˈtiːɡ/

Now that I think about it, the real payoff isn’t only fresh herbs; it’s resilience and sustained attention, which translate directly into research.
/naʊ ðæt aɪ θɪŋk əˈbaʊt ɪt ðiː rɪəl ˈpeɪ.ɒf ˈɪz.ənt ˈəʊn.li freʃ hɜːbz ɪts rɪˈzɪl.i.əns ænd səˈsteɪnd əˈten.ʃən wɪtʃ trænzˈleɪt dɪˈrekt.li ˈɪn.tuː rɪˈsɜːtʃ/

part 3

What do you think of being a farmer?

Well, I think being a farmer today is knowledge-intensive work, not just manual labour. With precision agriculture, growers read sensor data, manage irrigation algorithms, and make decisions under climate variability and price volatility. From a physics angle, I’m fascinated by remote sensing—you know, multispectral indices can forecast yield better than gut feeling. That said, margins are thin, and without better market access and a fairer value chain, the profession can feel precarious. I suppose the right direction is to treat farmers as data-literate professionals and support them with extension services and risk-sharing mechanisms. At the end of the day, it’s a strategic occupation—food security depends on their expertise—so it deserves more recognition and, frankly, more investment.

Well, I think being a farmer today is knowledge-intensive work, not just manual labour.
/wel aɪ θɪŋk ˈbiː.ɪŋ eɪ ˈfɑː.mə təˈdeɪ ɪz ˈnɒl.ɪdʒ ɪnˈten.sɪv wɜːk nɒt dʒʌst ˈmæn.ju.əl ˈleɪ.bə/

With precision agriculture, growers read sensor data, manage irrigation algorithms, and make decisions under climate variability and price volatility.
/wɪð prɪˈsɪʒ.ən ˈæɡ.rɪ.kʌl.tʃə ˈɡrəʊ.əz riːd ˈsen.sə ˈdeɪ.tə ˈmæn.ɪdʒ ˌɪr.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən ˈæl.ɡə.rɪð.əmz ænd meɪk dɪˈsɪʒ.ənz ˈʌn.də ˈklaɪ.mət ˌveə.ri.əˈbɪl.ə.ti ænd praɪs ˌvɒl.əˈtɪl.ə.ti/

From a physics angle, I’m fascinated by remote sensing—you know, multispectral indices can forecast yield better than gut feeling.
/frɒm eɪ ˈfɪz.ɪks ˈæŋ.ɡl aɪm ˈfæs.ɪ.neɪ.tɪd baɪ rɪˈməʊt ˈsen.sɪŋ juː nəʊ ˌmʌl.tɪˈspek.trəl ˈɪn.dɪ.siːz kæn ˈfɔː.kɑːst jiːld ˈbet.ə ðæn ɡʌt ˈfiː.lɪŋ/

That said, margins are thin, and without better market access and a fairer value chain, the profession can feel precarious.
/ðæt sed ˈmɑː.dʒɪnz ɑː θɪn ænd wɪˈðaʊt ˈbet.ə ˈmɑː.kɪt ˈæk.ses ænd eɪ ˈfeə.rə ˈvæl.juː tʃeɪn ðiː prəˈfeʃ.ən kæn fiːl prɪˈkeə.ri.əs/

I suppose the right direction is to treat farmers as data-literate professionals and support them with extension services and risk-sharing mechanisms.
/aɪ səˈpəʊz ðiː raɪt dɪˈrek.ʃən ɪz tuː triːt ˈfɑː.məz æz ˈdeɪ.tə ˈlɪt.ər.ət prəˈfeʃ.ən.əlz ænd səˈpɔːt ðem wɪð ɪkˈsten.ʃən ˈsɜː.vɪ.sɪz ænd rɪsk ˈʃeə.rɪŋ ˈmek.ə.nɪ.zəmz/

At the end of the day, it’s a strategic occupation—food security depends on their expertise—so it deserves more recognition and, frankly, more investment.
/æt ðiː end ɒv ðiː deɪ ɪts eɪ strəˈtiː.dʒɪk ˌɒk.jʊˈpeɪ.ʃən fuːd sɪˈkjʊə.rɪ.ti dɪˈpendz ɒn ðeə ˌek.spəˈtiːz səʊ ɪt dɪˈzɜːvz mɔː ˌrek.əɡˈnɪʃ.ən ænd ˈfræŋ.kli mɔː ɪnˈvest.mənt/

Are there many people growing their own vegetables now?

Well, I’d say it depends on where you live. In rural areas, it’s still quite common for families to cultivate a small plot and grow basic vegetables, so household self-sufficiency is almost part of the lifestyle. In cities, I think more people are interested in balcony gardening because of concerns about food safety and pesticides, but only a minority really commit to it, mainly due to limited space and a heavy workload. Among my classmates, a few people grow herbs or chillies on the windowsill, but it’s more of a hobby than a serious source of food. So, basically, there is a growing awareness of sustainable living, but practical constraints mean the scale is still relatively modest.

Well, I’d say it depends on where you live.
/wel aɪd seɪ ɪt dɪˈpendz ɒn weə juː lɪv/

In rural areas, it’s still quite common for families to cultivate a small plot and grow basic vegetables, so household self-sufficiency is almost part of the lifestyle.
/ɪn ˈrʊə.rəl ˈeə.ri.əz ɪts stɪl kwaɪt ˈkɒm.ən fɔː ˈfæm.əl.iz tuː ˈkʌl.tɪ.veɪt eɪ smɔːl plɒt ænd ɡrəʊ ˈbeɪ.sɪk ˈvedʒ.tə.bəlz səʊ ˈhaʊs.həʊld ˌself.səˈfɪʃ.ən.si ɪz ˈɔːl.məʊst pɑːt ɒv ðə ˈlaɪf.staɪl/

In cities, I think more people are interested in balcony gardening because of concerns about food safety and pesticides, but only a minority really commit to it, mainly due to limited space and a heavy workload.
/ɪn ˈsɪt.iz aɪ θɪŋk mɔː ˈpiː.pəl ɑː ˈɪn.trə.stɪd ɪn ˈbæl.kə.ni ˈɡɑː.dən.ɪŋ bɪˈkɒz ɒv kənˈsɜːnz əˈbaʊt fuːd ˈseɪf.ti ænd ˈpes.tɪ.saɪdz bʌt ˈəʊn.li eɪ maɪˈnɒr.ə.ti ˈrɪə.li kəˈmɪt tuː ɪt ˈmeɪn.li djuː tuː ˈlɪm.ɪ.tɪd speɪs ænd eɪ ˈhev.i ˈwɜːk.ləʊd/

Among my classmates, a few people grow herbs or chillies on the windowsill, but it’s more of a hobby than a serious source of food.
/əˈmʌŋ maɪ ˈklɑːs.meɪts eɪ fjuː ˈpiː.pəl ɡrəʊ hɜːbz ɔː ˈtʃɪl.iz ɒn ðə ˈwɪn.dəʊ.sɪl bʌt ɪts mɔː ɒv eɪ ˈhɒb.i ðæn eɪ ˈsɪə.ri.əs sɔːs ɒv fuːd/

So, basically, there is a growing awareness of sustainable living, but practical constraints mean the scale is still relatively modest.
/səʊ ˈbeɪ.sɪ.kəl.i ðeə ɪz eɪ ˈɡrəʊ.ɪŋ əˈweə.nəs ɒv səˈsteɪ.nə.bəl ˈlɪv.ɪŋ bʌt ˈpræk.tɪ.kəl kənˈstreɪnts miːn ðə skeɪl ɪz stɪl ˈrel.ə.tɪv.li ˈmɒd.ɪst/

Do you think it is good to let kids know how to plant?

Well, I definitely think it’s beneficial. When children learn how to plant, they don’t just memorise facts about biology; they observe things like growth, soil quality and sunlight in a very concrete way. In a sense, it’s an early form of scientific inquiry: they make a hypothesis, change one factor, and see what happens. As a physics student, I feel this kind of hands-on experience really strengthens curiosity, observation skills and even problem-solving ability.

You know, nowadays a lot of learning is very exam-oriented and abstract, so giving kids a chance to interact with living things can balance that. At the end of the day, teaching them how to plant is a simple way to make science feel tangible and relevant.

Well, I definitely think it’s beneficial.
/wel aɪ ˈdef.ɪ.nət.li θɪŋk ɪts ˌben.ɪˈfɪʃ.əl/

When children learn how to plant, they don’t just memorise facts about biology; they observe things like growth, soil quality and sunlight in a very concrete way.
/wen ˈtʃɪl.drən lɜːn haʊ tuː plɑːnt ðeɪ dəʊnt dʒʌst ˈmem.ə.raɪz fækts əˈbaʊt baɪˈɒl.ə.dʒi ðeɪ əbˈzɜːv θɪŋz laɪk ɡrəʊθ sɔɪl ˈkwɒl.ə.ti ænd ˈsʌn.laɪt ɪn eɪ ˈver.i ˈkɒŋ.kriːt weɪ/

In a sense, it’s an early form of scientific inquiry: they make a hypothesis, change one factor, and see what happens.
/ɪn eɪ sens ɪts æn ˈɜː.li fɔːm ɒv ˌsaɪənˈtɪf.ɪk ɪnˈkwaɪə.ri ðeɪ meɪk eɪ haɪˈpɒθ.ə.sɪs tʃeɪndʒ wʌn ˈfæk.tə ænd siː wɒt ˈhæp.ənz/

As a physics student, I feel this kind of hands-on experience really strengthens curiosity, observation skills and even problem-solving ability.
/æz eɪ ˈfɪz.ɪks ˈstjuː.dənt aɪ fiːl ðɪs kaɪnd ɒv ˌhændzˈɒn ɪkˈspɪə.ri.əns ˈrɪə.li ˈstreŋk.θənz ˌkjʊə.riˈɒs.ə.ti ˌɒb.zəˈveɪ.ʃən skɪlz ænd ˈiː.vən ˈprɒb.ləmˌsɒlv.ɪŋ əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

You know, nowadays a lot of learning is very exam-oriented and abstract, so giving kids a chance to interact with living things can balance that.
/juː nəʊ ˈnaʊ.ə.deɪz eɪ lɒt ɒv ˈlɜː.nɪŋ ɪz ˈver.i ɪɡˈzæm ˈɔː.ri.en.tɪd ænd ˈæb.strækt səʊ ˈɡɪv.ɪŋ kɪdz eɪ tʃɑːns tuː ˌɪn.təˈrækt wɪð ˈlɪv.ɪŋ θɪŋz kæn ˈbæl.əns ðæt/

At the end of the day, teaching them how to plant is a simple way to make science feel tangible and relevant.
/æt ðiː end ɒv ðə deɪ ˈtiː.tʃɪŋ ðem haʊ tuː plɑːnt ɪz eɪ ˈsɪm.pəl weɪ tuː meɪk ˈsaɪ.əns fiːl ˈtæn.dʒə.bəl ænd ˈrel.ə.vənt/

What are the differences between traditional and modern agriculture?

Well, I think the most obvious difference lies in technology and labour intensity. Traditional agriculture relies heavily on manual work and simple tools, so productivity is relatively low and farmers are very vulnerable to climate variability. Modern agriculture, by contrast, tends to be highly mechanised, with tractors, harvesters and even drones being used to manage huge areas of land.

In addition, modern farms make extensive use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and high-yield crop varieties, which can significantly increase output per hectare. At the end of the day, traditional agriculture is more about subsistence and local markets, whereas modern agriculture usually aims at large-scale commercial production and supplying long, complex value chains.

Well, I think the most obvious difference lies in technology and labour intensity.
/wel aɪ θɪŋk ðə məʊst ˈɒb.vi.əs ˈdɪf.ər.əns laɪz ɪn tekˈnɒl.ə.dʒi ænd ˈleɪ.bə ɪnˈten.sə.ti/

Traditional agriculture relies heavily on manual work and simple tools, so productivity is relatively low and farmers are very vulnerable to climate variability.
/trəˈdɪʃ.ən.əl ˈæɡ.rɪ.kʌl.tʃər rɪˈlaɪz ˈhev.əl.i ɒn ˈmæn.ju.əl wɜːk ænd ˈsɪm.pəl tuːlz səʊ ˌprɒd.ʌkˈtɪv.ə.ti ɪz ˈrel.ə.tɪv.li ləʊ ænd ˈfɑː.məz ɑː ˈver.i ˈvʌl.nər.ə.bəl tuː ˈklaɪ.mət ˌveə.ri.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

Modern agriculture, by contrast, tends to be highly mechanised, with tractors, harvesters and even drones being used to manage huge areas of land.
/ˈmɒd.ən ˈæɡ.rɪ.kʌl.tʃər baɪ ˈkɒn.trɑːst tendz tuː biː ˈhaɪ.li ˈmek.ə.naɪzd wɪð ˈtræk.təz ˈhɑː.vɪ.stəz ænd ˈiː.vən drəʊnz ˈbiː.ɪŋ juːzd tuː ˈmæn.ɪdʒ hjuːdʒ ˈeə.ri.əz ɒv lænd/

In addition, modern farms make extensive use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides and high-yield crop varieties, which can significantly increase output per hectare.
/ɪn əˈdɪʃ.ən ˈmɒd.ən fɑːmz meɪk ɪkˈsten.sɪv juːs ɒv ˈkem.ɪ.kəl ˈfɜː.tɪ.laɪ.zəz ˈpes.tɪ.saɪdz ænd haɪ jiːld krɒp vəˈraɪ.ə.tiz wɪtʃ kæn sɪɡˈnɪf.ɪ.kənt.li ɪnˈkriːs ˈaʊt.pʊt pɜː ˈhek.teə/

At the end of the day, traditional agriculture is more about subsistence and local markets, whereas modern agriculture usually aims at large-scale commercial production and supplying long, complex value chains.
/æt ðiː end ɒv ðə deɪ trəˈdɪʃ.ən.əl ˈæɡ.rɪ.kʌl.tʃər ɪz mɔːr əˈbaʊt səbˈsɪs.təns ænd ˈləʊ.kəl ˈmɑː.kɪts ˌweərˈæz ˈmɒd.ən ˈæɡ.rɪ.kʌl.tʃər ˈjuː.ʒu.ə.li eɪmz æt lɑːdʒ skeɪl kəˈmɜː.ʃəl prəˈdʌk.ʃən ænd səˈplaɪ.ɪŋ lɒŋ ˈkɒm.pleks ˈvæl.juː tʃeɪnz/

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