Precise climate vocabulary, not vague terms
The exam rewards the exact term, not a vague catch-all. Key terms (full list in the note): 全球变暖 (quánqiú biànnuǎn, global warming), 温室气体 (wēnshì qìtǐ, greenhouse gas), 冰川融化 (bīngchuān rónghuà, glacier melting), 海平面上升 (hǎipíngmiàn shàngshēng, sea level rise), 极端天气 (jíduān tiānqì, extreme weather). Use the precise noun, not "天气不好" or a blanket "污染". Example: 全球变暖的问题越来越严重。(Quánqiú biànnuǎn de wèntí yuè lái yuè yánzhòng.) -- Global warming is more and more serious.
Link cause and consequence: 因为…所以…, 导致
Name a precise cause and its consequence with the right connective. 因为……所以…… (yīnwèi…suǒyǐ…) links a direct cause and result: 因为工厂排放太多温室气体，所以气温不断上升。(Yīnwèi gōngchǎng páifàng tài duō wēnshì qìtǐ, suǒyǐ qìwēn búduàn shàngshēng.) -- Because factories emit too much greenhouse gas, temperatures keep rising. 导致 (dǎozhì, to lead to) is more formal: 使用太多塑料会导致严重污染。(Shǐyòng tài duō sùliào huì dǎozhì yánzhòng wūrǎn.) -- Using too much plastic leads to serious pollution.
Concrete solutions with 应该/可以 + 越来越
Propose a SPECIFIC action with 应该 (yīnggāi, should) or 可以 (kěyǐ, can), not a vague "we must protect the environment": 我们应该多骑自行车，少开车。(Wǒmen yīnggāi duō qí zìxíngchē, shǎo kāichē.) -- We should cycle more and drive less. 越来越 (yuè lái yuè, more and more) describes a trend: 极端天气越来越常见，这跟全球变暖有关系。(Jíduān tiānqì yuè lái yuè chángjiàn, zhè gēn quánqiú biànnuǎn yǒu guānxi.) -- Extreme weather is more and more common, and this relates to global warming.
Drawn from real examiner reports.
REASON for warming vs a RESULT of it
Asked 全球变暖的原因是什么？, weaker candidates give a consequence, not a cause. Weak: 全球变暖导致冰川融化。(a RESULT, not a reason.) Strong: 全球变暖的原因是工厂排放了太多温室气体。(Quánqiú biànnuǎn de yuányīn shì gōngchǎng páifàng le tài duō wēnshì qìtǐ.) -- ...factories emit too much greenhouse gas. Check whether a question asks for a CAUSE or a CONSEQUENCE.
Reason vs result -- s23 Q13; s22 Q11
Copying the passage, not re-expressing
Asked what a passage says about a measure, weaker candidates copy a whole sentence -- with irrelevant clauses -- instead of the precise point. Select and re-express: 工厂安装了新设备来减少污染。(Gōngchǎng ānzhuāng le xīn shèbèi lái jiǎnshǎo wūrǎn.) -- The factory installed new equipment to cut pollution. A copied answer with extra or wrong material can invalidate a correct point.
Lifting vs re-expressing -- s22 Q9/Q13/Q14; s23 Q9/Q12
很/非常 inside a 比 comparison
A 比 comparison must NOT carry an intensifier like 很 or 非常 before the adjective. Weak: 太阳能比煤炭很环保。(很 cannot sit between 比 and the adjective.) Strong: 太阳能比煤炭环保得多。(Tàiyángnéng bǐ méitàn huánbǎo de duō.) -- Solar energy is much more eco-friendly than coal. Show degree with 得多/一点/更, never 很/非常 before the adjective.
Comparatives (G5); precision in simple structures -- s22 Q10; s23 Q10; s23 Ex2e
Writing pinyin in the Paper 1 writing
In the Paper 1 writing (Ex4/Ex5) candidates are reminded NOT to use pinyin -- only characters are credited, so writing 全球变暖 as "quánqiú biànnuǎn" earns nothing. Pinyin is tolerated only as a substitute for a character in the LISTENING answers, where it must be unambiguous. If unsure of a character, choose a simpler word you can write correctly rather than using pinyin.
Do not use pinyin in the writing paper -- s22 & s23 Ex4
气候 vs 汽车: the 气/汽 homophone
气 (qì, air/climate) and 汽 (qì, steam/vehicle, as in 汽车 car) share the same pinyin and tone but mean different things; a wrong character changes the meaning and loses the mark. Weak: 汽候变化影响很大。Strong: 气候变化影响很大。(Qìhòu biànhuà yǐngxiǎng hěn dà.) -- Climate change has a big impact. Watch same-pinyin, near-form pairs when writing.
Character accuracy, same-pinyin confusions -- s22 & s23 Listening
Extra material cancelling a correct point
Answers should be short, precise and on target. If an Examiner has to pick the correct answer out of a longer response, the mark is not given, and extra or contradictory material can cancel a correct point. Do not add a hedged second reason "just in case". Give one precise cause, one consequence and one clear solution, then stop -- rather than listing everything you know.
Imprecision / answering more than asked -- s22 & s23 Key messages
了 marks change of state, not past tense
了 (le) here marks a CHANGE OF STATE (not-warmer to warmer), not an English past-tense toggle, and it clashes with a habitual marker like 每年都 (měi nián dōu, every year). Weak: 地球每年都变暖了。Strong: 地球这些年变暖了不少。(Dìqiú zhèxiē nián biànnuǎn le bùshǎo.) -- The earth has warmed up quite a bit in recent years. Use 了 for a completed change; use 越来越 for an ongoing trend.
Aspect not tense (G3) -- general FL trap
Ex4 note: cover 3 bullets, characters only
For the functional note/email (Ex4, 100-120 characters): name ONE specific action (减少使用塑料), give ONE genuine reason you care, and invite the reader to a specific activity. Cover every bullet, match a friendly register, and write in characters ONLY -- no pinyin.
Ex5: develop both sides, add your view
For the extended article or debate (individual vs government responsibility): plan for-and-against with connectives, name a cause and consequence with 因为……所以/导致, keep 比 clean, then give a justified conclusion, not a restatement of the prompt.
Get simple sentences exactly right first
Even strong candidates drop marks on imprecise simple structures. Write complete SVO sentences before reaching for complex language -- an incomplete sentence with incomplete meaning is not credited. Finish every clause before building 因为……所以…… chains.
Listening: short answers, one tick only
In listening, grasp the question word (how/why/when) and keep answers short -- surplus material can void a correct answer. In gap-fill, read around the gap and match the required word class. In the MCQ tick exactly ONE box -- two ticks void the mark.
This topic (Area C: The World, C6) covers climate change and global warming, their causes and consequences, saving energy, and protecting the environment, including opinions and solutions. It appears in reading and listening (passages about environmental measures or a factory's actions), functional + extended writing (a note about an eco-friendly action, an article weighing individual versus government responsibility), and the speaking presentation/conversation. Remember: in the writing paper, write in characters only -- no pinyin.
Climate and environmental problems 气候与环境问题 (qìhòu yǔ huánjìng wèntí)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 环境 | huánjìng | environment |
| 气候变化 | qìhòu biànhuà | climate change |
| 全球变暖 | quánqiú biànnuǎn | global warming |
| 污染 | wūrǎn | pollution |
| 温室气体 | wēnshì qìtǐ | greenhouse gas |
| 二氧化碳 | èryǎnghuàtàn | carbon dioxide |
| 冰川融化 | bīngchuān rónghuà | glacier melting |
| 海平面上升 | hǎipíngmiàn shàngshēng | sea level rise |
| 极端天气 | jíduān tiānqì | extreme weather |
| 自然灾害 | zìrán zāihài | natural disaster |
Actions and solutions 行动与解决办法 (xíngdòng yǔ jiějué bànfǎ)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 节能 | jiénéng | to save energy |
| 节约用水 | jiéyuē yòngshuǐ | to save water |
| 可再生能源 | kězàishēng néngyuán | renewable energy |
| 太阳能 | tàiyángnéng | solar energy |
| 风能 | fēngnéng | wind energy |
| 回收 | huíshōu | to recycle |
| 垃圾分类 | lājī fēnlèi | to sort rubbish |
| 减少 | jiǎnshǎo | to reduce |
| 公共交通 | gōnggòng jiāotōng | public transport |
| 可持续发展 | kěchíxù fāzhǎn | sustainable development |
Useful adjectives and phrases 常用形容词与短语
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 环保 | huánbǎo | environmentally friendly |
| 严重 | yánzhòng | serious |
| 一次性 | yícìxìng | disposable, single-use |
| 负责任 | fù zérèn | responsible |
| 塑料制品 | sùliào zhìpǐn | plastic product |
| 环保袋 | huánbǎo dài | reusable bag |
pollution
用中文写出四种环境问题和两种解决办法的名称，并标出拼音。
Level-of-response questions with model answers and mark scheme rubrics.
你们学校的环保社正在举办「无塑料周」活动。请给你的同学王明写一张便条，邀请他一起参加。请在便条里写清楚以下三点：（1）你打算做什么具体的行动来减少使用塑料；（2）你为什么关心这个环保话题（说出一个具体的原因）；（3）邀请他和你一起参加一项具体的活动。请用中文（汉字）书写，约100-120字，注意便条的格式和给同学写便条的语气。（8分）
你们学校的校刊正在征稿，主题是「应对气候变化，个人的责任更大，还是政府的责任更大？」。请写一篇文章，谈谈个人行动和政府政策各自的优点和局限，并说出你自己的看法和建议。请用中文（汉字）书写，约250-300字，注意文章的格式与语气，用连接词把观点展开，不要只是重复题目里的说法。（22分）
这是一组口语综合对话练习题（Component 3 General Conversation 风格），话题是「环境保护与全球变暖」。请就下面的问题展开讨论，表达并解释自己的观点，并尽量谈及正反两方面（把话题当作一个有争议的问题成熟地讨论，而不只是列出事实）：
（1）你平时会做哪些保护环境的事情？为什么？ （2）你认为全球变暖最主要的原因是什么？ （3）有人说个人的力量太小，无法真正解决气候变化的问题，你同意吗？为什么？ （4）你觉得政府应该采取哪些政策来应对气候变化？ （5）你认为未来人们的生活方式会有什么变化？这对环境会有什么影响？（20分）
