Describe an interesting tradition in your country
• What the tradition is
• When do you celebrate it
• How you celebrate it
• and explain why it is interesting

回答示例

• India is rich in culture and tradition
• The tradition I’m going to talk about today is saying ‘namastey’
• We celebrate this tradition every day, in fact several times a day.
• This is our way of greeting each other
• We do it by folding our hands, palms facing each other, fingers pointing towards the ceiling, thumbs pointing towards the chest and this is accompanied by a slight bow.
• This tradition is interesting because this is the biggest export of our traditions to the western culture.
• When I say namastey, I mean to say that I am your humble servant.
• It creates and aura of respect which is far more than saying hello or shaking hands
• It is said that the human body is composed of immense energy.
• We can turn it into a positive or negative energy
• Then we shake hands we transfer positive as well as negative energy
• But when we fold hands, we transfer only positive energy.
• When we greet another person with namastey we have no physical contact
• Because of this the other person cannot be affected negatively
• Whenever anyone comes to our house we always say Namastey
• No wonder this word has been adopted by all the English language dictionaries.

考官后续提问

1. Why is it important to protect traditions?
It is important to protect traditions because they are part of our identity and they bind us to our roots. As it is, in today’s global era, cultural traditions are being diluted under the influence of western culture, so it has become all the more important to protect traditions. Otherwise we will be totally cut-off from our roots.

2. What’s the most important tradition in your country?
India has a rich cultural and traditional background. It is difficult to pinpoint one. But, I think the most important tradition in our country is treating a guest like a God. We call it ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’. Whenever anyone comes to our house, we greet him with folded hands – palms facing each other, fingers pointing towards the ceiling, thumbs pointing towards the chest. It is accompanied by a slight bow, and say Namaste or Namaskar, which means ‘I am your humble servant’.

3. What kinds of traditions have disappeared in your country?
Many traditions are fading away, and some have disappeared altogether. People have started wearing jeans and T-shirts instead of traditional suits and saris. They eat global food, such as pizza and burger and not the traditional paratha.

4. Why should children learn about traditions?
Children should learn about traditions, because these traditions will bind them to their roots. Otherwise they will be totally cut-off from their origins and will be lost in the global world of today. They will be just nobody in a big crowd.

5. What can governments do to protect traditions?
They can organise cultural shows and encourage traditional singers and dancers to promote their art. Governments can fund them so that they don’t give up their talent.