话题卡

　　Describe a small business that you would like to own.

　　You should say:

　　what this business would be

　　how you would start/open this business

　　how you would run this business

　　and explain why you would like to run this kind of business.

　　答案

　　What this business would be

　　I want to open a small business. It will be a place for kids to go after school, a kind of childchare centre in the neighborhood. My town desperately needs a place like this.

　　How you would start/open this business

　　Honestly, I have no idea how to go about it. But common sense tells me that he key to starting a successful business is to develop a business plan and then get financial support. But unlike other businesses, this caregiver business would be a non-profit organization. So I would contact some local non-profit organizations and talk with them to see if they can help me in any way.

　　How you would run this business

　　There will be food, video games, pinball, and a dance floor. I will also have tutors there to help with homework and stuff. The business would operate on a menbership scheme, I mean those who want to join have to register and pay a small fee first.

　　and explain why you would like to run this kind of business.

　　I would like to start this business because first of all, there’s great demand around my neighborhood. A typical school day in China normally ends at 4p.m. but the working hours for most parents is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The centre will be a good place to the child to stay until their parents come to pick them up after work. Also I just love kids and seeing them grow. One of my friends works as a kindergarten teacher. She said that it was so much fun to work with children.They are cute, and very trusting....it is trulely a very promising and worthwhile career--very rewarding as well....

第三部分

　　1.What kinds of small business are most popular in China?

　　One of the popular small businesses here in China is to set up an online business. You can sell anything from clothes to antiques to used furniture. The investment cost is much lower and you could work anytime and anywhere if you have the internet connection. The process could also be fully automated as the technology is there.

　　2.Why do some people open their own business?

　　The benefits are pretty obvious, such as 'being you own boss' and not having to answer to someone for everything you do. Your time is you own, though you will probably find having your own business takes far more of your time than if you were working a 'job'.

　　3.What challenges and difficulties do people face when they try to have a successful small business?

　　There is the initial startup cost, but the biggest challenge is getting the public to believe in you and the quality of your product or service. Another challenge is proper use of your time. You can be very successful spending your time doing the right things, but most of us are not successful because we don't know which things to focus on and in what order.

　　4.What do you think is the most important factor when choosing a job or career?

　　It depends on the individual circumstances. Interest is definitely important, however as you get older you will really see money plays a large factor. For example, if you have a family to support, pay becomes more important than the other factors. But for university graduates, the opportunity to learn and grow weighs more than things like salary or hours.

　　5.Do you think it is good to change your job frequently?

　　I don't’ think it’s a good idea to make a general statement of saying it’s good or it’s bad. As an employer, I think that a person who changes jobs frequently is unstable and not good for the team. I think a person who stays at the same job forever is fearful or unmotivated. I like to see people who change to find a better fit or for career advancement.