Devices + their fixed verbs: 打电话/发短信/上网
Combine device nouns (手机 shǒujī -- mobile phone, 电脑 diànnǎo -- computer, 平板电脑 píngbǎn diànnǎo -- tablet, 网络 wǎngluò -- the internet) with the correct action verb: 打电话 (dǎ diànhuà -- make a call), 发短信 (fā duǎnxìn -- send a text), 上网 (shàngwǎng -- go online). They are not interchangeable. 例：我每天用手机跟朋友保持联系。(Wǒ měitiān yòng shǒujī gēn péngyou bǎochí liánxì.) — I use my phone every day to keep in touch with friends.
Tech for study; 了 for a completed action
For study/work contexts learn 网课 (wǎngkè -- online class), 远程学习 (yuǎnchéng xuéxí -- distance learning) and 查资料 (chá zīliào -- look up information). For a completed past action add 了 after the verb: 上个星期，我们上了网课，用电脑跟老师交流。(Shàng ge xīngqī, wǒmen shàngle wǎngkè, yòng diànnǎo gēn lǎoshī jiāoliú.) — Last week we had online classes, talking with the teacher on a computer. Do not add 了 to a habitual action marked by 每天/常常.
Specific advantage or drawback, justified
A bare statement that technology 有优点/有缺点 (has advantages/disadvantages) earns little credit -- name ONE specific point and justify it. 例：手机最大的优点是可以随时跟家人保持联系。(Shǒujī zuì dà de yōudiǎn shì kěyǐ suíshí gēn jiārén bǎochí liánxì.) — The biggest advantage of a phone is keeping in touch with family any time. Weigh both sides with 虽然……，但是……：虽然网上购物很方便，但是也有安全问题。(Although online shopping is convenient, there are also safety issues.)
Drawn from real examiner reports.
Bare 有很多优点 with no benefit named
A benefit question needs an actual, named benefit, not a claim that benefits exist. ✗ 科技有很多优点。(restates the question, names nothing) ✓ 科技最大的优点是，我可以用视频通话跟国外的家人保持联系。(Kējì zuì dà de yōudiǎn shì, wǒ kěyǐ yòng shìpín tōnghuà gēn guówài de jiārén bǎochí liánxì.) — The biggest advantage of technology is that I can use video calls to keep in touch with family abroad.
"Many benefits" bare-restatement failure (s22 Q3a; s23 P41/42/43)
了 on a habitual tech sentence
了 marks completion or a change of state, not tense in general, and does not belong with 每天/常常. ✗ 我每天都用了电脑。(了 wrongly added to a habitual action) ✓ 我每天都用电脑。(Wǒ měitiān dōu yòng diànnǎo.) — I use a computer every day. But keep 了 on a genuinely completed action: 昨天我下载了一个新的应用程序。(Zuótiān wǒ xiàzàile yí gè xīn de yìngyòng chéngxù.) — Yesterday I downloaded a new app.
了 aspect-marker misuse is the most-documented 0547 grammar error, both sittings (s22, s23)
English/pinyin tech word mid-sentence
Technology vocabulary must be written in Chinese characters -- an English or pinyin word scores no credit, even when understandable. ✗ 我昨天下载了一个new app。(English word inserted) ✓ 我昨天下载了一个新的应用程序。(Wǒ zuótiān xiàzàile yí gè xīn de yìngyòng chéngxù.) — Yesterday I downloaded a new app. Use 应用程序/软件 (app/software), 网络 (internet), 上网 (go online), never the English term.
Pinyin/English used instead of characters scores zero for that content, every paper both sittings (s22 Q1; s23 Q1/Q2)
Mixing up the fixed device verbs
Each communication action has a fixed verb-object pair -- they cannot be swapped. ✗ 上电话 / 打短信 / 发网 (all wrong pairings) ✓ 打电话 (dǎ diànhuà -- make a call), 发短信 (fā duǎnxìn -- send a text), 上网 (shàngwǎng -- go online). Learn each verb with its object as one chunk, and add 查资料 (chá zīliào -- look up information), not a made-up alternative verb.
Fixed verb-object collocation is a structural FL trap, not separately cited (general FL trap)
Using only 虽然 or only 但是
虽然 and 但是 are a matched pair -- keep both when weighing two sides, and do not over-rely on a single connective across a whole answer. ✗ 虽然网上购物很方便，也有安全问题。(但是 dropped) ✓ 虽然网上购物很方便，但是也有安全问题。(Suīrán wǎngshàng gòuwù hěn fāngbiàn, dànshì yě yǒu ānquán wèntí.) — Although online shopping is convenient, there are also safety issues. Vary connectives to lift the Range mark.
Mismatched connective pairing and over-reliance on one connective cap the Range mark (s23 P42 Q3)
"Many advantages" alone is not an answer
Asserting technology "has many advantages/disadvantages" does not answer the question. ✗ 科技有很多优点，也有很多缺点。(names nothing specific) ✓ Name a SPECIFIC point: 科技最大的缺点是让人沉迷手机游戏，浪费学习时间。(Kējì zuì dà de quēdiǎn shì ràng rén chénmí shǒujī yóuxì, làngfèi xuéxí shíjiān.) — The biggest drawback is addiction to phone games, wasting study time. Name the point, not just claim it exists.
Fixed verb per device; write in characters
Name the device(s)/app(s) you use with the fixed verb each collocates with (打电话/发短信/上网/查资料), and write every technology term in Chinese characters -- never substitute an English or pinyin word for a device, app or internet term, or that content scores zero.
One advantage AND one drawback, justified
For an advantages/disadvantages task, name ONE specific advantage and ONE specific disadvantage rather than a bare 有优点/有缺点 statement, each justified with 因为. If a past action is described, add 了 for a completed action, never for a habitual one marked by 每天/常常.
Listen for the later clause; explain WHY
In Listening, the answer is often in a LATER clause, not the first device or activity mentioned. In Reading, answer with a precise phrase, not a whole-sentence lift. In Speaking, explain WHY the technology matters to you, not just WHAT you use.
This topic (Area D: The World of Work, D3) covers mobile phones, computers and the internet, ways people communicate now, using technology for work and study, and giving opinions on the advantages and disadvantages of technology. It appears in listening and reading (comprehension about how someone uses technology), functional and extended writing (a message describing your technology use, an article weighing advantages and disadvantages), and the speaking role play and topic conversation (talking about apps/devices, and giving a justified opinion).
Devices and connecting 设备与联网 (shèbèi yǔ liánwǎng)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 手机 | shǒujī | mobile phone |
| 电脑 | diànnǎo | computer |
| 平板电脑 | píngbǎn diànnǎo | tablet |
| 网络 | wǎngluò | the internet, network |
| 上网 | shàngwǎng | to go online |
| 屏幕 | píngmù | screen |
| 键盘 | jiànpán | keyboard |
| 密码 | mìmǎ | password |
| 软件 | ruǎnjiàn | software |
Communicating and studying online 网上交流与学习 (wǎngshàng jiāoliú yǔ xuéxí)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 打电话 | dǎ diànhuà | to make a phone call |
| 发短信 | fā duǎnxìn | to send a text message |
| 发电子邮件 | fā diànzǐ yóujiàn | to send an email |
| 视频通话 | shìpín tōnghuà | video call |
| 社交媒体 | shèjiāo méitǐ | social media |
| 网课 | wǎngkè | online class |
| 远程学习 | yuǎnchéng xuéxí | distance learning |
| 查资料 | chá zīliào | to look up information |
| 下载 | xiàzài | to download |
| 网上购物 | wǎngshàng gòuwù | online shopping |
Opinions: advantages and disadvantages 看法：优点与缺点 (kànfǎ: yōudiǎn yǔ quēdiǎn)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 优点 | yōudiǎn | advantage |
| 缺点 | quēdiǎn | disadvantage |
| 方便 | fāngbiàn | convenient |
| 效率 | xiàolǜ | efficiency |
| 沉迷 | chénmí | addicted, obsessed |
| 浪费时间 | làngfèi shíjiān | to waste time |
| 隐私 | yǐnsī | privacy |
| 网络安全 | wǎngluò ānquán | online safety, cybersecurity |
the internet, network
用中文写出四个和科技/通讯有关的名词（例如设备、软件），并标出拼音。
Level-of-response questions with model answers and mark scheme rubrics.
你正在给一位中国笔友写电子邮件，谈谈你怎样使用科技学习。邮件里要写清楚以下几点：（1）你用什么设备和软件学习（比如手机、电脑、网课）；（2）举一个具体例子说明科技怎样帮助你学习（不要只写"很有帮助"）；（3）说说你是否注意保护自己的密码或隐私，并说明理由。请用中文（汉字）书写，约80-90字，注意邮件的语气比较随意，不需要很长的问候语。（8分）
你们学校的校刊正在征稿，主题是「科技给我们的交流方式带来了什么改变？」有人认为科技让沟通更方便，也有人担心科技让人们减少了面对面的交流。请写一篇文章，谈谈你的看法，并具体说明科技给你的交流方式带来的一个优点和一个缺点。请用中文（汉字）书写，约130-150字，注意用连接词把观点展开，不要只写"科技有很多优点"而不举出具体例子。（16分）
