2015年公共英语四级口语练习

Are there any taboos in China? Can you give us some examples?

Yes. China is a country with a long history, during which a lot of taboos have come into being. Here are some examples. Don’t say any unpleasant words during festivals, especially the word "death", old people are particularly unhappy when hearing that.

Don’t wear white clothes if you’re going to attend a wedding. Nor should you bring white flowers.

You should also avoid white clothes during the Spring Festival, red is the best colour.

Don’t send others clocks as gifts, for they have a funeral connotation. Don’t share a pear with your friends, relatives of family members. Don’t give couples or lovers umbrellas as presents. Both pears and umbrellas suggest "parting".

这位考生在回答问题时虽然没有使用明显的列举法，但几个排比性质的don’t...，don’t...，仍然卓有成效地起到了列举法的作用，听来仍是条理清晰，表述充实。