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Part 2&3  A time when you received money as a gift答案及解析_雅思口语练习「新东方雅思官方网校」

The time that stands out the most when I received money was last year, in fact. You see last year was my first ever birthday away from home! Yes, honestly it was. You see I'm in my first year of university in Beijing, and all my other birthdays I was in my hometown with my family, with the exception of this last one in June. So, this last birthday I felt a little bit down to be honest. I have some good new university friends, admittedly, but I felt a little bit awkward celebrating my birthday with them. Anyway, I went out for a meal with them, and paid for a really nice Thai restaurant near to campus – I thought it would be a nice change to have a Thai meal, and recently I’ve been thinking a lot about tropical places and beaches and these kind of “holiday dreams”, so I decided to invite my new group of friends to a Thai meal. It was lovely, and they even had a small traditional band that played music on a little stage as we ate. Anyway, during the meal I received a flurry of text messages on WeChat, from my mother, my auntie, my uncle and some cousins in my hometown, and each one sent me a ‘red packet’ of money and a really nice greeting for my birthday. I was so pleased because the meal was really expensive, for me anyway, and also it meant I could be a bit more generous and order some more wine, some interesting desserts, and take my friends out for drinks in a cool bar after the meal – as well, of course, as investing in some clothes and other useful things for my university life. So, I felt very touched by the generosity of my family and it really did help me, and enabled me to offer my new friends a special night out. It’s nice to be in a position to be generous like that. I felt really good on several levels, although I did miss my family, and it was my first birthday without them.

It has become increasingly popular over the past ten years to use digital forms of payment. I’d say it has really taken off in the past five years, really. The first I remember in my country was WeChat pay, where you connected your social media account to your bank card, and then you could pay in stores by scanning a code, or transfer money to a friend. Soon after came Alipay and some other international forms of payment. These got really popular very quickly in my country, and meant that people found it much more convenient and easier than using cash. Before that you could swipe or scan your bank card, but for some reason this was not nearly as popular as the phone app payment systems which seem to be the norm these days. It’s just so quick and easy.

Children start to realise the value of money when their parents decide it’s a good time to teach them. And this depends on the family, and their attitude to money. It’s important for some people more than others. Some families believe in giving children everything, and therefore kids grow up without a real concept of how money is earned and how one works to make money. Other children, who perhaps grow up in less affluent families, tend to be educated more about the value of money from a younger age, as they are less likely to be spoilt. It depends both on a family’s economic situation and the family attitude towards money and teaching children about money.


Absolutely, teaching children to save money is both good and crucial. Think of it as giving them a head start on adulting. When kids learn to save early, they start understanding the value of money, the importance of budgeting, and the power of setting financial goals. This knowledge can help them steer clear of debt and make savvy financial decisions as they grow up. Plus, it fosters a sense of responsibility and patience. When they save up for something special, they learn about hard work and delayed gratification—skills that are golden for life.

Rewarding children with money can be a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it's a great way to teach them about earning and the value of hard work. When kids receive money for chores or good grades, they start to grasp that effort and achievement come with rewards. It's also a practical way to introduce them to saving and budgeting. However, there's a flip side. If not managed carefully, it could lead to kids expecting payment for every little thing, rather than understanding the joy of contributing to the family or community just because. The key is balance—using money as one of several forms of reward can be effective without sending the wrong message.

Credit cards come with their own set of perks and pitfalls. On the plus side, they're super convenient—you don't have to lug around cash, and they're accepted pretty much everywhere. They also provide a safety net in emergencies and can help build your credit score if you use them wisely. Many cards come with sweet rewards like cash back, travel points, or discounts.
But there are downsides too. It's easy to overspend with a credit card because it doesn't feel like real money in the moment. High-interest rates can lead to serious debt if you're not careful. Missing payments can tank your credit score. And let's not forget the risk of fraud and identity theft, though many card companies offer protection against this.

Yes, the rise of digital payments is a big win in many ways. It's super convenient—you can pay for things quickly with just a tap on your phone. It cuts down on the need to carry cash, which can be lost or stolen. Digital payments often come with nifty features like spending trackers, which can help with budgeting. They can also be more secure than traditional methods, thanks to encryption and fraud detection systems.
However, there are a few potential downsides. Not everyone is tech-savvy or has access to the necessary technology, which can create a gap. There's also the risk of cyber-attacks and data breaches. But overall, the convenience, speed, and added security make digital payments a positive development for most people.