September 25, 2025

🔹 A / OF / CAN 138. It's a present. [itsa•prezənt] 139. You need a break. [yoo•needa•breik] 140. Give him a chance. [givvima•chans] 141. Let's get a new pair of shoes. lets•gedda•noo•perrəv•shooz] [les•gedda•noo•perra•shooz] 142. Can I have a Coke, please? [knnai•havva•kouk•pleez] 143. Is that a computer? [iz•thadda•kmpyooder] 145. It's the top of the line. [its•th’toppa•thə•lain] 146. It's a state-of-the-art printer. [itsa•steidətheeyart•printer] 147. As a matter of fact... [azza•madderra•fakt] 148. Get out of here. [geddowduv•heer] 149. Practice all of the time. [praktis•alluv•th’taim] 150. Today’s the first of May. [tuhdayz•th’ferstv•mei] 151. What’s the name of that movie? [whats•th’neiməv•tha•moovee] 152. That’s the best of all! [thats•thə•bes•tə•vah•lə•vəm]

Daily Life in a Chinese Village In many parts of China, life in small villages is very different from the fast pace of the big cities. Villagers often live close to nature and follow routines that have changed little over the years. Morning Work The day usually begins early. Before the sun rises, farmers go out to the fields to check on their crops. Rice, wheat, corn, and vegetables are the most common. Some families also keep chickens, pigs, or goats. Women may prepare breakfast, often noodles, steamed buns, or porridge, while older people care for the grandchildren. Midday Routine By late morning, the village becomes busy. Some people sell vegetables or fruit at the local market. Others work in small workshops making clothes, repairing tools, or producing handmade goods. Children walk to the village school, which is usually small but very important to the community. At lunchtime, families often return home to share a meal together, with rice as the main dish. Afternoon Activities In the afternoon, farmers continue working in the fields, especially during planting or harvest season. Some villagers may go to nearby towns to sell produce or buy supplies. Women often gather to wash clothes at the river or chat while preparing food. Children help with simple chores, such as feeding animals or collecting firewood. Evening Rest As the sun sets, life slows down. Families eat dinner together, usually with rice, vegetables, tofu, or fish if they live near rivers. After dinner, villagers enjoy simple social activities. Some people play cards or mahjong, others take walks, and many just sit outside talking with neighbors. In summer, outdoor movies are sometimes shown in the village square. Balance of Old and New While traditional farming life continues, many young people have left villages to work in cities. They often send money home to support their parents and children. Mobile phones and television connect even small villages to the outside world. Still, the rhythm of daily life in a Chinese village remains strongly tied to the land, the seasons, and family traditions.

Alex: Life these days feels like a gift. Sam: True. You need a break sometimes, or you get too tired. Alex: And give him a chance—my coworker says new technology makes life easier, but I feel it makes me busier. Sam: I understand. Let’s get a new pair of shoes and go for a walk one day. Walking helps me slow down. Alex: That sounds good. Can I have a Coke, please? I need something to wake me up. Sam: Sure. Is that a computer in your bag? It looks so small. Alex: Yes. It’s the top of the line. It works very fast, but new models come out every year. Sam: I know. I need a printer. It’s a state-of-the-art printer or nothing these days, because my old one is broken. Alex: As a matter of fact, I bought one last week. It can print, scan, and even send files. Sam: Get out of here! Really? Printers can do so much now. Alex: Yes, but you must practice all of the time to understand all the new technology. Sam: Exactly. Today’s the first of May, and I feel the year is already going too fast. Alex: What’s the name of that movie about people in a future city where life never slows down? Sam: I know it. That’s the best of all examples of how modern life feels today. Alex: Yes. Maybe the best thing we can do is learn to slow down ourselves. ---

Why do people move from villages to cities? Which life do you prefer? Why?

Key Vocabulary: construction worker – a person who builds buildings, roads, etc. entrepreneur – someone who starts a business. prepaid phone card – a card with credit you pay for before making calls. factory manager – the person who controls and organizes a factory. motivated – having strong reason or desire to work hard. literacy rate – the percentage of people who can read and write. standard of living – how comfortable and wealthy people are. materialistic – wanting money and possessions. Question: What do you think life in a Chinese factory town is like?

A Better Life? A conversation about fast-changing life in China Q: How does a factory town begin? A: A Chinese factory town always starts in the same way: at first almost everyone is a construction worker. Most of them are men who come from the countryside. Soon, entrepreneurs arrive and begin selling meat, fruit, and vegetables at street stalls. Later, when the town develops, the same businessmen open small shops and start selling construction materials. Q: What comes next? A: As the town grows, cellphone companies arrive. They sell prepaid phone cards so workers can call their families in the villages. When the factories begin production, young women arrive because managers prefer to hire them, believing they are more hard-working. After the women come, clothes shops and shoe shops open. Later, public services appear, such as buses. Q: What does it feel like to be there? A: The energy of these towns is amazing: brave entrepreneurs, fast-working builders, and young people far from home. Past problems combined with new opportunities have created a very motivated population. China has 1.3 billion people, and 72% are between 16 and 64 years old. More and more people live in towns instead of villages—about 10 million move to the cities every year. Experts think that by 2030, 60% of China’s people will live in cities. Q: What kind of life do people want? A: In recent years, most Chinese people have seen their standard of living improve. Literacy is now over 90%, and schools are successful. The next step is higher education, since many want better training. Factory towns are full of private courses—English, typing, or technical skills. One young man I met could not read or write when he left his village. Now he works in a factory and spends a quarter of his wages on training. Another young man is studying Arabic so he can work as a translator for buyers from the Middle East. People also dream of a more materialistic life, like in the West. The new factory towns were built to make products for the world, but now workers want to enjoy these products for themselves too.

🌾 Collocations (common word pairings) rural life – life in the countryside Many young people leave rural life to find jobs in the city. back-breaking work – very difficult, physical labor Farming can be back-breaking work during harvest season. traditional way of life – old customs and habits Even with mobile phones, the villagers continue their traditional way of life. strong sense of community – people help and care for each other A strong sense of community makes village life warm and supportive. seasonal work – work connected to planting or harvesting seasons Farmers often depend on seasonal work for their income. 🌱 Idioms make ends meet – to have just enough money to live Many families in the village work hard to make ends meet. down to earth – simple, practical, realistic The villagers are very down to earth and value honesty. the grass is always greener (on the other side) – thinking life elsewhere is better Some villagers move to the city, but soon realize the grass is not always greener.