5個萬能理由，教你回答託福獨立口語題
作為萬能理由的第一條，expand one's horizons 絕對是不二之選。究其本意，單數的horizon 是「地平線、海平線」的意思，但複數的horizons 卻指人們的「眼界、視野」，其英文注釋為：The limit of your ideas, knowledge and experience. 略舉一例：World history is a course of study that will broaden your horizons.
先看一個具體話題：
Should the government help to build more museums and theaters?
Yes, I think the government should help to build more recreational facilities.
Enrich citizens' cultural life
expand young people's horizons
have a place to go for fun on weekends
art exhibitions can improve public taste
再來看一個抽象話題：Describe the most important decision in your life. 面對此類抽象話題，最佳策略是將其具體化，變成一個日常生活話題，然後套用 我們的萬能理由。
請看思路：
I think I made the most important decision in my life by choosing to go to an overseas university after graduation from high school in China.
而其中的一條主幹理由就是：
It would broaden my horizons. 比如: Broaden my horizons
made friends with people from different backgrounds
travelled a lot around Europe and North America
visited various museums and historical places
作為主幹理由的 broaden my horizons，之下又 made friends, travelled a lot, visited various museums 等三條分支理由，思路極易展開。
萬能理由之二： Learn
我們可以 learn skills, 也可以 learn lessons 或從某個experience 裡面去learn，成為某種learning experience.
很多情況下，knowledge 和 skills 是不分家的：比如Which of the following has more influence on you: newspaper, TV or teacher? 媒體類的newspaper 或TV 固然好講，但teacher 無疑是最佳的選擇，因為teacher 直接跟learning 掛鈎：
Teachers have more influence on me.
Pass on me knowledge and skills:
attending class is the only effective way of learning
knowledge not found in textbooks can be acquired
learn practical skills in addition to academic knowledge
類似的解題思路還體現在：
People who attend college will be more successful in career than those who don't.
顯然，這是必須同意的命題：
Yes, it is generally true that attending college can increase the chance of career success.
Learn a lot of vital skills and gain knowledge:
academic knowledge helps to lay a solid foundation
reading and writing skills are vital to career success
having good presentation skills ensures promotion
三條分支理由中比較好的表達有：
lay a solid foundation, be vital to career success, ensure promotion. 分支理由越詳細越好。Learn 作為萬能理由我們可以正反面的充分論述觀點，十分實用的論點。
萬能理由之三：
Money, finance & economy
很多話題都可以從經濟的角度入手來回答。先來一道經典例題：The most important decision in your life.
思路如下：
Going to an overseas university
Achieve my independence
started to live on my own
learned a lot of practical skills such as cooking
became financially independent through a part-time job
如果我們選擇 going to an overseas university作為答案， 其中的一條主幹理由就是 achieve my independence， 而在所有的independence 之中，financial independence 無疑是最直接、最現成、最有說服力的一種。簡單說，就是通過在國外打工，earn money and make a living.
有些題目屬於一眼就看穿思路的，如：Living alone vs. sharing rooms with other people.
Sharing rooms with other people is a better choice.
Sharing rooms is more affordable:
rental fee is relatively high for an average student
sharing rooms can ease their financial burden
other living expenses can also be shared
在這個回答中，我們可以學習到很多跟錢相關的表達方式：affordable, rental fee, ease financial burden. 說穿了就是save money, reduce costs 的意思。
萬能理由之四：
Relax, enjoy & have fun!
第四條萬能理由，主要是跟「快樂」、「幸福」、「休閒」、「放鬆」有關，關鍵詞除了標題中的 relax, enjoy, have fun 之外，還有happy, pleasure, joy, satisfaction, recreation 等等。
中國考生比較容易忽視這個理由，可能是與我們平時缺乏「快樂教育」有關，但在西方人眼裡，沒什麼東西比快樂更重要的了。因此，如果我們在口語拓展中經常運用這一「快樂」思路，就跟英文思維不謀而合啦！
我們從一道簡單的題目開始：What do you do in your spare time?
業餘時間當然是快樂時光咯，請看詳細的答題思路，如下：
Well, I'd like to do various sports and recreational activities in my spare time.
I enjoy a lot of sports:
doing sports regularly is good for my health
sports games such as basketball are fun
I can make a lot of new friends this way
Recreation is important for me:
outdoor activities such as hiking are very relaxing
I can have a better balance between work and leisure
it is one of the best ways to improve my quality of life
If you have a chance to choose your job freely, what kind of job will you choose? 我們選擇一個job satisfaction 比較高的職業吧：
I will choose a teaching job, probably teaching in a university.
Teaching gives me a lot of satisfaction:
sharing knowledge with students is very enjoyable
happy to see students grow academically and personally
students often express their gratitude
萬能理由之五：
Let's get emotional …
從同義詞和詞性延伸的角度來說，我們還可以用feeling, mood, emotional 等關鍵詞進行替換，而如果構成詞組，則一般會用emotional support, emotional need, emotional bond, emotional problems 等。
其實生活、工作、學習中的很多問題都跟emotion有直接或間接的關係，如果我們把這些理由點挖掘出來，可以形成一個強大的答題體系。而其中最基本的一個維度是把所有的emotion 分成positive 和negative 兩大類。舉個簡單的例子，pride, enthusiasm, calmness是積極情感，而loneliness, isolation, depression則為消極情感。
先看一個積極情緒：Describe a social celebration or political event in your culture.
National Holiday celebrations
A time to celebrate across the country:
there are parties, fireworks shows and gala performances
the purpose is to celebrate the birth of a new country
nationwide celebrations boost our national pride
該回答選擇了National Holiday（ 國慶） 作為話題，通過celebrations來boost our nationalpride，而該思路還可以運用在international sports competitions 中：某國的運動員獲勝了，該國民眾的national pride 就提升了。
相比之下，消極情緒會佔的比例更多：Do you prefer to live alone or share rooms with other people?
Sharing rooms with other people is a better choice.
Having a roommate is fun:
share personal stories and secrets
a good companion can relieve loneliness
a great opportunity to develop interpersonal skills
5個萬能理由，教你回答託福獨立口語題