Pair an environment problem with a solution
Environment tasks reward naming a specific problem AND a specific solution, not just problem words. Core nouns: 污染 (wūrǎn -- pollution), 垃圾 (lājī -- rubbish), 回收 (huíshōu -- to recycle), 能源 (néngyuán -- energy). Frame: 现在……的问题是……，解决办法是…… Example: 现在空气污染的问题很严重，我觉得解决办法是多骑自行车，少开车。(Xiànzài kōngqì wūrǎn de wèntí hěn yánzhòng, wǒ juéde jiějué bànfǎ shì duō qí zìxíngchē, shǎo kāichē.) -- Air pollution is a very serious problem now, and the solution is to cycle more and drive less.
Give advice with 应该/不应该 + 因为
应该 (yīnggāi -- should) + verb states a recommended action; 不应该 + verb states what to avoid. Always add a reason with 因为 so the advice is justified, not a bare command. Example: 我们应该节约用水，因为世界上很多地方缺水。(Wǒmen yīnggāi jiéyuē yòng shuǐ, yīnwèi shìjiè shàng hěn duō dìfang quē shuǐ.) -- We should save water, because many places in the world lack water. 节约 collocates with 用水/用电/能源; 保护 collocates with 环境/地球.
Compare an amount of action with 比 + 多/少
When comparing HOW MUCH of an action (recycling more, using less plastic), use verb + 得 + 比 + 多/少, not an adjective comparison. Example: 现在很多人回收垃圾回收得比以前多，用塑料袋用得比以前少。(Xiànzài hěn duō rén huíshōu lājī huíshōu de bǐ yǐqián duō, yòng sùliào dài yòng de bǐ yǐqián shǎo.) -- Now many people recycle rubbish more than before, and use plastic bags less than before. Compare the amount (多/少 after the verb-得 complement), not the action itself.
Drawn from real examiner reports.
Confusing 节约 (save) with 保护 (protect)
节约 goes with a measurable resource used sparingly: 节约用水/节约能源/节约用电 (save water/energy/electricity). 保护 goes with something shielded from harm as a whole: 保护环境/保护地球/保护动物 (protect the environment/planet/animals). ✗ 我们应该保护用水。 ✗ 我们应该节约地球。 ✓ 我们应该节约用水，也应该保护地球。(Wǒmen yīnggāi jiéyuē yòng shuǐ, yě yīnggāi bǎohù dìqiú.) -- We should save water and also protect the planet.
general FL trap
Bare "环境问题有很多" names no problem
A bare claim that problems exist earns no credit -- the examiner needs the content. ✗ 环境污染的问题有很多。 ✓ 环境污染的问题有很多，比如空气污染让很多人生病。(Huánjìng wūrǎn de wèntí yǒu hěn duō, bǐrú kōngqì wūrǎn ràng hěn duō rén shēngbìng.) -- There are many pollution problems, for example air pollution makes many people ill. Follow a general claim with 比如 and a real, specific detail.
Digest Writing: the "there are many benefits/problems of X" bare template fails top-band Task Completion (s22 Q3(a); s23 41/42/43 Key Messages)
Dropping 了 on a completed past action
了 right after a verb marks that action as completed; without it a one-off past action reads as a habit or plan. ✗ 我上个星期回收垃圾，也少用塑料袋。(no 了 -- sounds habitual) ✓ 我上个星期回收了很多垃圾，也少用了塑料袋。(Wǒ shàng gè xīngqī huíshōule hěn duō lājī, yě shǎo yòngle sùliào dài.) -- Last week I recycled a lot of rubbish and used fewer plastic bags. A time word like 上个星期 forces 了 on the verb.
Digest grammar: 了/过/着 aspect misuse is the most documented grammar error -- a missed past-tense 了 where required, both sittings, every writing component (s22; s23)
Positive words where a problem is required
Environment vocabulary is newly introduced, and candidates answer with positive language when the task wants a NEGATIVE problem framing. ✗ describing 环境 as 很好/很美 when asked what the problem is. ✓ 现在……的问题很严重，比如空气污染 / 垃圾太多 / 河水很脏。(Xiànzài...de wèntí hěn yánzhòng.) -- The problem of ... is very serious now. Check whether the prompt asks for a problem, and frame it negatively.
Digest: environment/pollution vocabulary newly introduced; candidates answered with positive language when a negative/problem framing was required (s22 P41 Q3(b) Pollution option)
Bare adjective instead of 多/少 after 比
To compare how much of an action happens, put 多/少 after the verb-得 complement, not a bare adjective before it. ✗ 现在很多人用塑料袋比以前少。(bare adjective, no 得) ✓ 现在很多人用塑料袋用得比以前少。(Xiànzài hěn duō rén yòng sùliào dài yòng de bǐ yǐqián shǎo.) -- Now many people use plastic bags less than before. Repeat the verb with 得 and end in 多/少.
general FL trap
Vague restatement instead of the text cause
A cause/solution question wants the SPECIFIC detail from the passage, not a vague repeat or a personal assumption. ✗ 河水变脏了。(just repeats that the river got dirty) ✓ 因为工厂排放污水，河水变得越来越脏。(Yīnwèi gōngchǎng páifàng wūshuǐ, héshuǐ biàn de yuè lái yuè zāng.) -- Because factories discharge waste water, the river has got dirtier. Quote the exact cause the text gives.
Digest Reading: answer causes/solutions from the text with the specific detail, not a general assumption (s23 P21 Q10(d))
Thinking 保护环境 alone answers "what can we do"
保护环境 states the GOAL, not an ACTION. An examiner needs a concrete, doable action that achieves the goal. ✗ 我们应该保护环境。(goal only) ✓ 我们应该少开车，多骑自行车，这样可以保护环境。(Wǒmen yīnggāi shǎo kāichē, duō qí zìxíngchē, zhèyàng kěyǐ bǎohù huánjìng.) -- We should drive less and cycle more, which protects the environment. Always pair the goal with the concrete action.
Structure a global-issues answer
For a global-issues task: 1) name a SPECIFIC problem (现在……污染的问题很严重); 2) give a brief cause (因为很多人开车); 3) propose a solution with 应该/可以; 4) add a personal example with 了 (上个月我参加了……活动); 5) close with a justified opinion using 因为. Never stop at the problem.
Explain WHY, not just WHAT
In the topic conversation, candidates handle the factual WHAT but lose marks on the follow-up WHY. Do not just name a problem or action -- explain why it matters (因为对我们的将来不好) and what you have personally done, so the answer develops and justifies, not only states.
One negative word can flip the answer
A single negative or qualifying word flips the meaning, and problem-framing and improvement-framing sentences sound alike. Listen to the whole clause: whether the speaker says pollution IS or IS NOT a problem decides the answer -- do not judge from one echoed word.
This topic (Area E: The International World, E4) covers the environment, pollution and recycling, protecting the planet, saving energy and water, and simple global issues, together with opinions and solutions at foreign-language level. It appears in listening and reading (vocabulary, gist and detail about problems/solutions), functional and extended writing (an opinion message, an article on a global issue), and the speaking topic conversation about the international world.
Problems 问题 (wèntí)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 环境 | huánjìng | the environment |
| 污染 | wūrǎn | pollution, to pollute |
| 空气污染 | kōngqì wūrǎn | air pollution |
| 垃圾 | lājī | rubbish |
| 塑料袋 | sùliào dài | plastic bag |
| 全球变暖 | quánqiú biànnuǎn | global warming |
| 气候变化 | qìhòu biànhuà | climate change |
| 缺水 | quē shuǐ | to lack water, water shortage |
Solutions & actions 解决办法与行动 (jiějué bànfǎ yǔ xíngdòng)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 回收 | huíshōu | to recycle |
| 节约 | jiéyuē | to save, to economise (a resource) |
| 保护 | bǎohù | to protect (the environment/planet as a whole) |
| 能源 | néngyuán | energy |
| 节约用水／用电 | jiéyuē yòng shuǐ / yòng diàn | to save water / save electricity |
| 太阳能 | tàiyángnéng | solar energy |
| 骑自行车 | qí zìxíngchē | to ride a bicycle |
| 公共汽车 | gōnggòng qìchē | bus |
| 种树 | zhòng shù | to plant trees |
| 减少 | jiǎnshǎo | to reduce |
Opinions & global issues 看法与全球问题 (kànfǎ yǔ quánqiú wèntí)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 严重 | yánzhòng | serious |
| 重要 | zhòngyào | important |
| 解决办法 | jiějué bànfǎ | solution |
| 地球 | dìqiú | the (planet) Earth |
| 未来／将来 | wèilái / jiānglái | the future |
| 每个人 | měi gè rén | each/every person |
| 贫穷 | pínqióng | poverty |
| 挨饿 | ái è | to go hungry |
Collocation note: 节约 pairs with a measurable resource (用水/用电/能源); 保护 pairs with the whole environment/planet/animals (环境/地球/动物). Do not swap the two verbs.
pollution
用中文写出四个与环境或全球问题有关的词语（例如污染、垃圾、回收等），并标出拼音；再写出一个正确搭配「节约」的例子（例如「节约用水」）。
Level-of-response questions with model answers and mark scheme rubrics.
你们学校下个星期要举办一个环保活动。请给你的笔友写一条短信，介绍一下这个活动。短信里要写清楚以下几点：（1）活动的名称和时间；（2）你们要做什么（例如回收垃圾、种树等）；（3）你为什么想参加。请用中文（汉字）书写，约80-90字，注意短信的语气比较随意。（8分）
你们学校的校刊正在征稿，主题是「保护环境是谁的责任？」有人认为保护环境主要是政府的责任；也有人认为每个人的日常行为都很重要。请写一篇文章，谈谈你的看法，并举出一个你自己保护环境的具体例子。请用中文（汉字）书写，约130-150字，注意用连接词把观点展开，不要只是重复题目里的说法，也不要只写「环境问题有很多」而不说明具体是什么。（16分）
