每次劍橋真題集出版多多少少會引起一番轟動，這次劍15的出版也不例外。
不知目前打開這篇文章的你是接觸過雅思的考生還是雅思小白？如果是後者，我就先簡單介紹一下劍橋真題集。它是雅思主辦方之一劍橋考試委員會出版的，到目前已出版15本。除了第一本據說是模擬題，其它2-15冊都是真題。這15本跟劍橋的《官方指南》一起就是雅思備考的權威資料。建議考生不要濫用真題，尤其比較新的11-15最好留到考前1個月內。當然這只是針對聽力和閱讀版塊，口語和寫作的複習還是要參考歷年的考題題庫。
接下來我們來看一下劍15中的四篇大作文。其實這次的收錄比較具有科學性，因為話題各不相同，問題類型也各不相同。（考生備考時也要遵循這個原則，儘可能練習不同話題和問題類型的題目，以免在考場上遇到冷僻的題目而發揮失常）
Test 1
In some countries, owning a home rather than renting one is very important for people.
Why might this be the case?
Do you think this is a positive or negative situation?
Test 2
In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement.
Test 3
Some people say that advertising is extremely successful at persuading us to buy things. Other people think that advertising is so common that we no longer pay attention to it.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Test 4
In some cultures, children are often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message?
從話題類型來看，Test1是社會類的，Test2是科技替代類（紙媒與電子閱讀的比較），Test3是廣告類，Test4是抽象話題與教育的結合。第二篇和第三篇是高頻話題，第一篇對低齡考生不太友好，第四篇比較抽象較難拓展。
從問題類型來看，Test1是組合問題，原因+利弊討論，Test2是給觀點並論證，Test3是討論雙邊觀點並給出自己觀點，Test4是利弊討論。一個題目由兩個問題構成是比較好寫的，因為每個問題都無需深入探討。Test2是單個問題，就需要深入討論。Test3這種雙邊討論類的對寫作技巧要求較高。Test4要求我們分別討論優點和缺點，也是比較簡單。
綜合起來看，四篇文章難度基本一致，可能最後一篇稍難。
在雅思題庫量巨大的情況下，除了平日裡需要積累素材，更需要鍛鍊的能力是通過題目本身去延伸自己的思路，這樣就不容易寫偏題。我們來看看每個題目裡藏著哪些有助於拓展思路的小秘密。
Test 1：In some countries, owninga home rather than renting one is very important for people. Why might this be the case? Do you think this is a positive or negative situation?
Test1裡提到了owning a home和renting a home，雖然重點是前者，但是後者也必須提及，否則TR部分要扣分，因為沒有滿足address each part這個要求。兩個對立面出現在題目中，提示我們完全可以採用對比論證。另外，千萬別忘了some countries這個背景詞，為什麼不是for some people？說明「認為買房比租房重要」這種觀點可能有其社會背景，在其他國家可能就不是這種情況。那麼我們就可以從社會角度和個人角度切入。我們基本上會對本國情況比較熟悉，不妨就討論在中國的情況。在我這個年齡，我首先想到的是學區房的重要性。
Test 2：In the future, nobodywill buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement.
本題中出現了兩個絕對詞：nobody和everything。做過雅思閱讀TFNG的同學可能記得，出現絕對詞的句子基本上不可能是True。同樣，在寫作中，出現絕對詞的地方基本上都值得反駁。例如，未來所有內容都能被免費讀到嗎？如果是這樣，內容創作者還有動力繼續創作嗎？至少目前，有些微信公眾號發的文章都開始收費了。再看nobody這個詞。人群中的老人和小孩也需要電子閱讀嗎？他們沒有買書訂報的需求嗎？再說，貧困地區的人們閱讀也要靠網絡解決嗎？這些都是值得思考的。
還要注意的是題目中有個because，提示題幹部分是由因和果兩部分構成（A導致B），寫作中都需提及。A成立嗎？A如果成立的話，是否一定會導致B？A如果不成立B是否自然就不成立了？還有其他原因導致B的成立或不成立嗎？這些邏輯我們需要理清楚。其實雅思寫作要求就250詞，講不了很深很透徹的邏輯。但是平日我們訓練自己的時候最好按照高標準（TR和CC9分的標準），一方面，這兩個標準跟英語語言能力關係不是很大，所有人都要努力去爭取。另一方面，我們基本上永遠也達不到自己定的目標，不妨目標定的高一點。
Test 3：Somepeoplesay that advertising is extremely successful at persuading us to buy things. Otherpeople think that advertising is so common that we no longer pay attention to it. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
這題中，兩個截然相反的觀點出現了，看起來似乎要選擇其一去支持（這當然是可以的）。但每種觀點都是基於事實這樣一個前提。這就需要我們去替這些觀點去想出一些前提。那麼我們可以從people和advertising兩個詞入手。目前提到advertising你會想到什麼？是傳統的平面廣告和電視廣告嗎？還是瀏覽網頁時的各種惱人的彈窗？還是刷手機時無意中刷到低價的拼多多廣告？你會點進去看嗎？還是電影中的各種植入廣告？網紅直播帶貨是廣告嗎？如果以上都是，那麼它們產生的效果對人群一樣嗎？再來看人群，什麼樣的人對廣告比較敏感？你的偶像做廣告時你會購買嗎？低價的促銷廣告對什麼樣的人群會產生影響？其實，我們只要多注意題目中的一些「上義詞」，將它們進行分類細化，往往能提供很多思路。
Test 4：In some cultures, childrenare often told that they can achieve anything if they try hard enough. What are the advantages and disadvantages of giving children this message?
這一題中又出現了一個絕對詞anything。大家都知道，不努力是不行的，但努力了未必取得好的結果。所以achieve anything就與現實情況相違背了。對於抽象的話題，不宜空講理由，可以舉例或給出事實情況。例如，小到外形限制大到社會偏見社會階層的限制都可能給一些人的努力加上一個天花板。當然，這一點只能是作為優缺點的理由來用。另外我們可以看一下主體children有什麼特點？與大人相比，孩子可塑性很強，一開始灌輸正確的理念對他們的價值觀形成很有幫助，但是同時他們也是脆弱的，一旦面對失敗是否能調整心態呢？這些都是值得思考的。
其實，在寫雅思作文時，學會提問是很重要的技能，也是培養批判性思維的觀點。
接下來，附上test1的一篇範文供大家參考。
With increased population mobility attributable to accelerated urbanization and globalization, it is common for people to change their living places more than once by renting houses. However, owning a home is still valued in some countries, especially in my country, China. This can be explained from social and personal angles.
China is a country where hukou (household registration) system invariably plays a crucial part in one’s life. Its importance reaches a peak when people consider sending their children to a reputable school, which admits students largely on the basis of their registered permanent residence, i.e. where their own house is located. Therefore, many people rush to buy houses located near famous schools.
In addition, house ownership provides a sense of security and ease, which is inherent in Chinese people’s nature. Having a house to call their own can surely relieve their pressure especially after a day’s tiring work, and they can decorate the home in whatever way they like. By contrast, living in a rented house, people may have to put up with what the house is like, or worse, deal with old furniture or house appliances which frequently break down.
Despite the above mentioned reasons for owning a home, I think it is a negative trend if all people live for house ownership. My strong argument is that housing prices in cities, particularly first-tier cities, are really exorbitant. A common couple may have to work for decades to afford a livable flat in Shanghai in the suburbs. With money being the major goal in career, people may have to sacrifice their health, their time with family or even their passion for dreams, which, I believe, are more important for one’s wellbeing. Secondly, with globalization, people are no longer restricted in one place in terms of education and work. Thus, renting a house may be a feasible choice. In this way, they can save the complex procedures of buying and selling a house.
In summary, it is true that owning a house matters for some and brings many advantages, but it is far from beneficial for everyone to struggle to have a one.