Speaking June 11

Describe a place you visited and enjoyed in the countryside

Answer

Well, one of the most memorable countryside trips I’ve ever taken was to Meijiawu, a little tea village about twenty kilometres west of Hangzhou. Actually, a few classmates and I decided to escape the city over a long weekend, so we booked a rustic homestay right on a working tea farm.

When we arrived, I mean, the first thing that struck me was the sight of those perfect, emerald-green terraces stretching up the hillsides. We spent the afternoon learning how to pluck the tender tea buds—farmers showed us the proper technique, which is trickier than it looks. Come to think of it, I’d never appreciated how much skill goes into each leaf. Later, we gathered in a wooden pavilion to sample freshly brewed Longjing tea, chatting about everything from our coursework to future travel plans.

The next morning, we got up before sunrise and hiked to the top terrace. Believe it or not, watching the mist weave through the rows of tea bushes as the sun rose was utterly enchanting. Frankly, it felt like stepping into another world—so peaceful and timeless. At the end of the day, that trip left me feeling completely recharged and more balanced, and I’ve found it much easier to dive back into my studies with renewed energy.

Well, one of the most memorable countryside trips I’ve ever taken was to Meijiawu, a little tea village about twenty kilometres west of Hangzhou. /wel/ /wʌn/ /ɒv/ /ðə/ /məʊst/ /ˈmem.ər.ə.bəl/ /ˈkʌn.tri.saɪd/ /trɪps/ /aɪv/ /ˈev.ə/ /ˈteɪ.kən/ /wɒz/ /tuː/ /meɪˈdʒiːəwuː/ /ə/ /ˈlɪt.əl/ /tiː/ /ˈvɪl.ɪdʒ/ /əˈbaʊt/ /ˈtwɛn.ti/ /kɪˈlɒm.ɪ.təz/ /wɛst/ /ɒv/ /hæŋˈdʒəʊ/

Actually, a few classmates and I decided to escape the city over a long weekend, so we booked a rustic homestay right on a working tea farm. /ˈæk.tʃu.ə.li/ /ə/ /fjuː/ /ˈklɑːs.meɪts/ /ænd/ /aɪ/ /dɪˈsaɪ.dɪd/ /tuː/ /ɪsˈkeɪp/ /ðə/ /ˈsɪt.i/ /ˈəʊ.və/ /ə/ /lɒŋ/ /ˈwiːk.end/, /səʊ/ /wiː/ /bʊkt/ /ə/ /ˈrʌs.tɪk/ /ˈhəʊmˌsteɪ/ /raɪt/ /ɒn/ /ə/ /ˈwɜː.kɪŋ/ /tiː/ /fɑːm/

When we arrived, I mean, the first thing that struck me was the sight of those perfect, emerald-green terraces stretching up the hillsides. /wɛn/ /wiː/ /əˈraɪvd/, /aɪ/ /miːn/, /ðə/ /fɜːst/ /θɪŋ/ /ðæt/ /strʌk/ /miː/ /wɒz/ /ðə/ /saɪt/ /ɒv/ /ðəʊz/ /ˈpɜː.fɪkt/, /ˈemərəld-ɡriːn/ /ˈterəsɪz/ /ˈstretʃɪŋ/ /ʌp/ /ðə/ /ˈhɪlˌsaɪdz/

We spent the afternoon learning how to pluck the tender tea buds—farmers showed us the proper technique, which is trickier than it looks. /wiː/ /spɛnt/ /ðiː/ /ˌɑːf.təˈnuːn/ /ˈlɜː.nɪŋ/ /haʊ/ /tuː/ /plʌk/ /ðə/ /ˈtendə(r)/ /tiː/ /bʌdz/ — /ˈfɑː.məz/ /ʃəʊd/ /əs/ /ðə/ /ˈprɒp.ə/ /tɛkˈniːk/, /wɪʧ/ /ɪz/ /ˈtrɪk.i.ə/ /ðæn/ /ɪt/ /lʊks/

Come to think of it, I’d never appreciated how much skill goes into each leaf. /kʌm/ /tuː/ /θɪŋk/ /ɒv/ /ɪt/, /aɪd/ /ˈnɛv.ə/ /əˈpriː.ʃi.eɪ.tɪd/ /haʊ/ /mʌʧ/ /skɪl/ /ɡəʊz/ /ˈɪn.tuː/ /iːtʃ/ /liːf/

Later, we gathered in a wooden pavilion to sample freshly brewed Longjing tea, chatting about everything from our coursework to future travel plans. /ˈleɪ.tə/, /wiː/ /ˈɡæð.əd/ /ɪn/ /ə/ /ˈwʊd.ən/ /pəˈvɪl.jən/ /tuː/ /ˈsɑːm.pəl/ /ˈfrɛʃ.li/ /bruːd/ /ˈlɒŋ.dʒɪŋ/ /tiː/, /ˈtʃæt.ɪŋ/ /əˈbaʊt/ /ˈɛv.ri.θɪŋ/ /frɒm/ /aʊə/ /ˈkɔːs.wɜːk/ /tuː/ /ˈfjuː.tʃə/ /ˈtræv.əl/ /plænz/

The next morning, we got up before sunrise and hiked to the top terrace. /ðə/ /nɛkst/ /ˈmɔː.nɪŋ/, /wiː/ /ɡɒt/ /ʌp/ /bɪˈfɔː/ /ˈsʌn.raɪz/ /ænd/ /haɪkt/ /tuː/ /ðə/ /tɒp/ /ˈterəs/

Believe it or not, watching the mist weave through the rows of tea bushes as the sun rose was utterly enchanting. /bɪˈliːv/ /ɪt/ /ɔː/ /nɒt/, /ˈwɒtʃ.ɪŋ/ /ðə/ /mɪst/ /wiːv/ /θruː/ /ðə/ /rəʊz/ /ɒv/ /tiː/ /ˈbʊʃ.ɪz/ /əz/ /ðə/ /sʌn/ /rəʊz/ /wɒz/ /ˈʌt.ə.li/ /ɪnˈtʃɑːn.tɪŋ/

Frankly, it felt like stepping into another world—so peaceful and timeless. /ˈfræŋ.kli/, /ɪt/ /felt/ /laɪk/ /ˈstɛp.ɪŋ/ /ˈɪn.tuː/ /əˈnʌð.ə/ /wɜːld/ — /səʊ/ /ˈpiːs.fəl/ /ænd/ /ˈtaɪm.ləs/

At the end of the day, that trip left me feeling completely recharged and more balanced, and I’ve found it much easier to dive back into my studies with renewed energy. /æt/ /ðə/ /end/ /ɒv/ /ðə/ /deɪ/, /ðæt/ /trɪp/ /left/ /miː/ /ˈfiː.lɪŋ/ /kəmˈpliːt.li/ /riːˈʧɑːʤd/ /ænd/ /mɔː/ /ˈbæl.ənst/, /ænd/ /aɪv/ /faʊnd/ /ɪt/ /mʌtʃ/ /ˈiː.zi.ə/ /tuː/ /daɪv/ /bæk/ /ˈɪn.tuː/ /maɪ/ /ˈstʌd.iz/ /wɪð/ /rɪˈnjuːd/ /ˈɛn.ə.dʒi/

part3

Where do people like to visit in the countryside?

Well, I guess most folks head straight for the classic scenic spots—like rolling hills, crystal-clear lakes, or lush rice terraces. For example, in many regions people flock to view sunrise over misty mountains or rent a small boat on a quiet lake. Come to think of it, these natural landscapes offer that instant sense of escape from city noise that everyone’s craving.

Well, I guess most folks head straight for the classic scenic spots — like rolling hills, crystal-clear lakes, or lush rice terraces. /wel/ /aɪ/ /ɡes/ /məʊst/ /fəʊks/ /hɛd/ /streɪt/ /fɔː/ /ðə/ /ˈklæs.ɪk/ /ˈsiː.nɪk/ /spɒts/ — /laɪk/ /ˈrəʊ.lɪŋ/ /hɪlz/, /ˈkrɪs.təl-ˈklɪə/ /leɪks/, /ɔː/ /lʌʃ/ /raɪs/ /ˈtɛr.əs.ɪz/

For example, in many regions people flock to view sunrise over misty mountains or rent a small boat on a quiet lake. /fɔː/ /ɪɡˈzɑːm.pəl/, /ɪn/ /ˈmɛ.ni/ /ˈriː.dʒənz/ /ˈpiː.pl̩/ /flɒk/ /tuː/ /vjuː/ /ˈsʌn.raɪz/ /ˈəʊ.və/ /ˈmɪs.ti/ /ˈmaʊn.tɪnz/ /ɔː/ /rɛnt/ /ə/ /smɔːl/ /bəʊt/ /ɒn/ /ə/ /ˈkwaɪ.ət/ /leɪk/

Come to think of it, these natural landscapes offer that instant sense of escape from city noise that everyone’s craving. /kʌm/ /tuː/ /θɪŋk/ /ɒv/ /ɪt/, /ðiːz/ /ˈnæʧ.rəl/ /ˈlænd.skeɪps/ /ˈɒf.ə/ /ðæt/ /ˈɪn.stənt/ /sens/ /ɒv/ /ɪsˈkeɪp/ /frɒm/ /ˈsɪt.i/ /nɔɪz/ /ðæt/ /ˈɛv.ri.wʌnz/ /ˈkreɪ.vɪŋ/

What are the consequences of the decrease of population in the countryside?

Well, when people leave rural areas, there aren’t enough residents to keep local businesses afloat. Shops, cafés, even small clinics often shut down because there simply aren’t enough customers. I guess that forces the remaining villagers to travel farther for basic services, which is both time-consuming and expensive. Over time, local governments may cut funding for schools or public transport, creating a downward spiral that makes the countryside even less livable.

Well, when people leave rural areas, there aren’t enough residents to keep local businesses afloat. /wel/ /wɛn/ /ˈpiː.pəl/ /liːv/ /ˈrʊə.rəl/ /ˈeə.ri.əz/, /ðeə/ /ɑːnt/ /ɪˈnʌf/ /ˈrɛz.ɪ.dənts/ /tuː/ /kiːp/ /ˈləʊ.kəl/ /ˈbɪz.nəs.ɪz/ /əˈfləʊt/

Shops, cafés, even small clinics often shut down because there simply aren’t enough customers. /ʃɒps/, /ˈkæ.feɪz/, /ˈiː.vən/ /smɔːl/ /ˈklɪn.ɪks/ /ˈɒf.ən/ /ʃʌt/ /daʊn/ /bɪˈkɒz/ /ðeə/ /ˈsɪm.pli/ /ɑːnt/ /ɪˈnʌf/ /ˈkʌs.tə.məz/

I guess that forces the remaining villagers to travel farther for basic services, which is both time-consuming and expensive. /aɪ/ /ɡes/ /ðæt/ /ˈfɔː.sɪz/ /ðə/ /rɪˈmeɪ.nɪŋ/ /ˈvɪl.ə.dʒəz/ /tuː/ /ˈtræv.əl/ /ˈfɑː.ðə/ /fə/ /ˈbeɪ.sɪk/ /ˈsɜː.vɪs.ɪz/, /wɪʧ/ /ɪz/ /bəʊθ/ /ˈtaɪm.kənˌsjuː.mɪŋ/ /ænd/ /ɪkˈspɛn.sɪv/

Over time, local governments may cut funding for schools or public transport, creating a downward spiral that makes the countryside even less livable. /ˈəʊ.və taɪm/, /ˈləʊ.kəl/ /ˈɡʌv.ən.mənts/ /meɪ/ /kʌt/ /ˈfʌn.dɪŋ/ /fə/ /skuːlz/ /ɔː/ /ˈpʌb.lɪk/ /ˈtræn.spɔːt/, /kriˈeɪ.tɪŋ/ /ə/ /ˈdaʊn.wəːd/ /ˈspaɪ.rəl/ /ðæt/ /meɪks/ /ðə/ /ˈkʌn.tri.saɪd/ /ˈiː.vən/ /lɛs/ /ˈlɪv.ə.bəl/