Opinion + reason on an event (不但…而且)
At Higher tier a bare fact scores little — add an OPINION and a REASON. Frame it with 我觉得 (wǒ juéde — I think) + adjective, then justify with 因为 (yīnwèi — because): 我觉得奥运会很有意义,因为它让不同国家的人聚在一起。(Wǒ juéde Àoyùnhuì hěn yǒu yìyì, yīnwèi tā ràng bùtóng guójiā de rén jù zài yìqǐ.) — the Olympics bring different countries together. Strengthen with 不但……而且…… (not only…but also). The measure word for a match or concert is 场 (chǎng): 一场比赛, 一场演唱会.
过 (experience) vs 了 (completed event)
Use 过 (guo) for an EXPERIENCE — something done at least once: 我看过一场世界杯的比赛。(Wǒ kàn guo yì chǎng Shìjièbēi de bǐsài.) — I have watched a World Cup match. Use 了 (le) for a single COMPLETED event or change of state: 昨天我们的队赢了!(Zuótiān wǒmen de duì yíng le!) — Yesterday our team won! For a past HABIT use neither: 我小时候常常看足球比赛。Useful verbs: 参加 (take part in), 举办 (hold), 支持 (support).
Campaigns: 为了 (purpose) + 通过 (means)
State a PURPOSE with 为了 (wèile — in order to) at the front: 为了帮助山区的孩子,很多志愿者参加了这次活动。(Wèile bāngzhù shānqū de háizi, hěn duō zhìyuànzhě cānjiā le zhè cì huódòng.) — To help children in mountain areas, many volunteers took part. State the MEANS with 通过 (tōngguò — through): 通过这次活动,我们筹到了很多钱。Close with a future intention and a reason: 以后我还想再参加,因为帮助别人让我很快乐。Key words: 慈善 (charity), 捐钱 (donate), 志愿者 (volunteer).
Drawn from real examiner reports.
Giving facts with no opinion
✗ giving only a bare fact — 这是一个音乐节 (this is a music festival) — with no opinion, which caps the mark at Higher tier. ✓ add an opinion with a reason: 我觉得这场音乐节很热闹,因为有很多歌手表演。(Wǒ juéde zhè chǎng yīnyuèjié hěn rènao, yīnwèi yǒu hěn duō gēshǒu biǎoyǎn.) Theme-5 cards are the weakest area precisely because answers stop at description — always attach 我觉得……因为…….
Grounded in the edexcel-1cn0 digest: Theme-5 picture cards on issues/events around the world were the weakest area and need stronger opinion vocabulary (June 2024 1CN0/2H).
Not knowing the people-nouns (歌手, 观众)
Global-issue cards need a few exact people-nouns, and going silent because you cannot name them sinks the answer. Learn 歌手 (gēshǒu — singer), 乐队 (yuèduì — band), 运动员 (yùndòngyuán — athlete), 观众 (guānzhòng — spectators), 记者 (jìzhě — journalist), 志愿者 (zhìyuànzhě — volunteer). You may be asked to give 记者 or 歌手 in English on a reading paper, so learn them both ways.
Grounded in the edexcel-1cn0 digest: on the international music-festival reading candidates could not give journalist (记者) or singer (歌手) in English (June 2024 1CN0/3H).
Future question answered in the present
✗ answering 我常常上网看比赛 (present habit) when the task asks 以后你打算怎么支持公益活动?(how will you support good causes in future?). ✓ use a future signal: 以后我打算每年参加一次慈善活动,也想捐一点钱。(Yǐhòu wǒ dǎsuàn měi nián cānjiā yí cì císhàn huódòng, yě xiǎng juān yìdiǎn qián.) Signal the future with 会 / 打算 / 想 / 以后; do not let a present habit stand in for it.
Grounded in the edexcel-1cn0 digest: candidates answered how you WILL use social media in future in the present about phones/internet (June 2023 1CN0/4H).
Wrong measure word for an event (场)
The measure word for a match, concert or performance is 场 (chǎng), not the default 个: ✗ 一个比赛、一个演唱会 ✓ 一场比赛 (yì chǎng bǐsài), 一场演唱会 (yì chǎng yǎnchànghuì). Chinese has no plural ending, so number + correct 量词 + noun is the only way to show quantity: 三场音乐会 (sān chǎng yīnyuèhuì — three concerts). Learn 场 with the event noun.
Inferred from general FL-Chinese knowledge: number + correct 量词 + noun is compulsory and a wrong or omitted measure word is a stock error (general FL trap).
很 inside a 比 comparison
In a 比 comparison never insert 很 before the adjective: ✗ 这场比赛比那场很好看 ✓ 这场比赛比那场好看。(Zhè chǎng bǐsài bǐ nà chǎng hǎokàn.) — This match is better to watch than that one. To add degree use 一点 or 得多, not 很: 今年的音乐节比去年热闹得多。(Jīnnián de yīnyuèjié bǐ qùnián rènao de duō.) — This year's festival is much livelier than last year's. Dropping the comparison also cost marks.
Grounded in the edexcel-1cn0 digest: in a 比 comparison 很 must not be inserted, and dropping the comparison/degree word cost marks (degree-word loss June 2023 1CN0/3H).
Mark the exact number, one answer per mark
On events reading and listening, obey the rubric exactly. A choose-three item needs exactly three ticks — picking one or two loses marks, and over-marking has marks deducted. For a one-mark written answer give ONE response, no slash or bracket: only the text before a slash / counts, and info in ( ) is ignored. Read how many answers are wanted before you write.
Grounded in the edexcel-1cn0 digest cross-cutting notes: multi-select items require exactly the stated number of ticks and over-marking has marks deducted; give one response per mark, with only the text before a slash counting (June 2023 1CN0/1H; June 2024 1CN0/3H).
过 and 了 are NOT interchangeable
过 (guo) marks an EXPERIENCE — something happened at least once: 我看过世界杯。(Wǒ kàn guo Shìjièbēi.) 了 (le) marks a single COMPLETED event or a change of state: 昨天我看了那场比赛。(Zuótiān wǒ kàn le nà chǎng bǐsài.) So 我去过中国 (I have been to China) is not the same as 我去了中国 (I went to China). Decide whether you mean an experience (过) or a completed occasion (了) before choosing.
Four-step routine for an event task
For an event or campaign task: NAME it and the people (一场慈善音乐会; 歌手 / 观众); DESCRIBE it with a measure word and a detail (很多观众来看比赛); give an OPINION with a reason (我觉得……很有意义,因为……); cover the TIME FRAMES with 过 / 了 / 以后. Then check you gave an OPINION, not just facts.
Always attach an opinion, not just facts
Theme-5 cards reward opinions, so never stop at description. After naming what you see, add 我觉得……很……,因为…… and, if you can, strengthen it with 不但……而且……. Example: 我觉得这样的活动很有意义,因为不但能帮助别人,而且能让大家更团结。A justified opinion is what lifts the band.
Use 场 and the right aspect marker
Two precision habits win easy marks on this theme: use 场 for the event (一场比赛, 一场演唱会, 三场音乐会), and pick the aspect marker deliberately — 过 for an experience (我看过世界杯), 了 for a completed event (去年我们赢了). Choosing between 过 and 了 correctly signals your time frame clearly.
Answer the exact facet, especially the future
Read which facet the task asks and answer only that. If it asks about the FUTURE (以后你会怎么做), use 会 / 以后 / 打算, not a present habit; if it asks what the money is FOR, give the purpose, not the amount. Matching the exact facet is worth more than extra, off-target detail.
This topic (Theme T5: International & Global Dimension, T5.1) covers three high-frequency areas: international sporting events (the Olympics, the World Cup, matches), international music events (concerts, music festivals, singers and bands) and campaigns and good causes (charity events, fundraising, volunteering). The examiners flag Theme 5 as the weakest area in the Speaking picture-based task, so the key is a strong opinion vocabulary. At Higher tier you must give and justify opinions and move across past, present and future time frames.
Sports events 体育活动 (tǐyù huódòng)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 奥运会 | Àoyùnhuì | the Olympic Games |
| 世界杯 | Shìjièbēi | the World Cup |
| 比赛 | bǐsài | match, competition |
| 运动员 | yùndòngyuán | athlete |
| 队 | duì | team |
| 赢 / 输 | yíng / shū | to win / to lose |
| 观众 | guānzhòng | spectators, audience |
| 举办 | jǔbàn | to hold, to stage |
| 门票 | ménpiào | (entrance) ticket |
| 加油 | jiāyóu | come on! cheer on |
Music events 音乐活动 (yīnyuè huódòng)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 音乐节 | yīnyuèjié | music festival |
| 演唱会 | yǎnchànghuì | (pop) concert |
| 音乐会 | yīnyuèhuì | concert |
| 歌手 | gēshǒu | singer |
| 乐队 | yuèduì | band |
| 表演 / 演出 | biǎoyǎn / yǎnchū | to perform / performance |
| 舞台 | wǔtái | stage |
| 粉丝 | fěnsī | fan(s) |
| 热闹 | rènao | lively, bustling |
Campaigns & good causes 公益与慈善 (gōngyì yǔ císhàn)
| 汉字 | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 公益活动 | gōngyì huódòng | public-welfare event |
| 慈善 | císhàn | charity |
| 捐钱 / 捐款 | juān qián / juānkuǎn | to donate money / donation |
| 筹款 | chóukuǎn | to raise funds |
| 志愿者 | zhìyuànzhě | volunteer |
| 支持 | zhīchí | to support |
| 宣传 | xuānchuán | to promote, to publicise |
| 有意义 | yǒu yìyì | meaningful |
| 记者 | jìzhě | journalist, reporter |
match / competition -- say it in Chinese with pinyin and use it in a short sentence
用中文写出四个和「国际活动」有关的词或短语(体育、音乐或公益都可以,例如"世界杯"),并标出拼音。
Level-of-response questions with model answers and mark scheme rubrics.
你们学校这个周末要举办一场慈善音乐会,你想请你的朋友小明一起去。请给小明写一条短信,内容要写清楚以下几点:(1)是什么活动,什么时候、在哪里举办;(2)门票的钱会用来做什么(为什么这个活动有意义);(3)问小明想不想跟你一起去。请用中文(汉字)书写,约80-90字,语气要友好、自然。(8分)
你们学校的中文杂志正在征集关于「让世界团结起来」的文章。请写一篇文章,谈谈一次让人们聚在一起的活动(体育比赛、音乐节或公益活动都可以),内容包括:(1)这是什么活动,你参加过或看过吗(用过去时间);(2)活动上发生了什么,你有什么感受和看法,为什么;(3)你觉得这样的活动对世界有什么好处,以后你还想不想参加,为什么。请用中文(汉字)书写,约130-150字,用连接词把内容展开,并给出你自己的观点和理由。(16分)
这是一道口语看图说话(picture-based task)。请你先用中文描述下面这张照片,然后回答关于「音乐和体育活动」的问题。你应该:(1)描述照片上你看到了什么(地点、人物、他们在做什么);(2)说说你对参加大型音乐或体育活动的看法,并给出理由;(3)说一次你参加过或看过的活动(用过去时间);(4)说以后你想不想再参加这样的活动,为什么。(约24分)