托福访谈题：课外阅读

I recently read a book of short stories about families living near a railway station. My cousin lent it to me during the holiday. I liked the small details, such as neighbours sharing food and children waiting for a late train. The language was not difficult, so I could read one story before bed. I usually stop reading books when I become busy, but this one was easy to continue because each story felt complete on its own.

• lent it to me · 用 lent 说明书是别人借给自己的
• on its own · 说每篇能独立读完，解释为何容易坚持

My cousin lent me a collection of stories about a railway station, and I ended up carrying it around for two weeks. I normally lose patience with long descriptions, but these stories made ordinary details feel important: a shopkeeper waiting for a late train, or a family saving a seat at dinner. Each story was short enough to finish between classes, yet I kept thinking about the characters afterwards. That balance made me return to it. I wasn't reading to collect useful facts or improve a grade. I simply wanted more time in a place that felt both unfamiliar and recognizable.

• short enough to finish between classes · 说课间就能读完一篇，篇幅怎样合适更清楚
• kept thinking about the characters afterwards · 说读完还想着人物，写出这本书留下的影响

I prefer a printed book when I am reading for pleasure. I already use my laptop for lectures and assignments, so paper gives my eyes a different kind of break. I also like seeing how far I have read. Last month, I carried a small novel on the bus and found it easier to stay with the story. On earlier bus rides, phone messages often interrupted my reading. Printed books are heavier, but for a short journey I do not mind that.

• stay with the story · 说能一直跟着故事读，解释纸书的好处
• I do not mind that · 说自己能接受这个缺点，偏好更真实

For pleasure, I'd usually choose paper. Most of my coursework involves a screen, and opening a physical book marks a change in the kind of attention I'm giving something. Leaving my phone in my bag matters more than any feature of paper. When I read a novel on my phone, a message often pulls me away just as the story becomes interesting. I do appreciate digital books when I'm traveling with limited luggage or need to enlarge the text. But if I'm sitting by a window without practical restrictions, I'd rather have one object that only does what I came to do.

• marks a change · 说拿起纸书就换了状态，解释它为什么有帮助
• pulls me away · 说消息会把注意力拉走，打断阅读的感觉更鲜活

I disagree because not every useful activity needs to teach a direct skill. Reading fiction helps me relax, and it sometimes makes me think about other people's choices. I read a story about a student hiding a failure from his parents, and I understood why he felt afraid. That did not teach me how to use a machine, but it gave me something to discuss with friends. I still read practical books, but I do not think fiction is wasted time.

• not every useful activity · 用 not every 反对把有用的事说得太窄
• other people's choices · 说小说帮你理解别人的选择，解释阅读的价值

I disagree with the assumption behind it. Practical skills matter, but I don't judge all my free time by whether it produces an immediately usable result. I recently read a story about a student who concealed an exam failure from his family. I didn't approve of every decision he made, but following his thoughts made the situation less simple than it first appeared. That isn't a skill I can put on a certificate, yet it changed a conversation I later had with a friend. I'd still make room for practical reading; I just wouldn't use it as the only standard.

• the assumption behind it · 先指出对方想法的前提，反驳更有针对性
• less simple than it first appeared · 说事情比初看复杂，写出阅读后的理解变化

I think they should keep a small budget for this. Free online material is useful, but it can be hard to choose something good from so many options. A library shelf with novels, biographies, and staff suggestions would make starting easier. I found my last book because it was displayed near the entrance. Students should also be allowed to suggest titles. The university does not need every popular book, but a changing collection could encourage us to read beyond our subjects.

• keep a small budget · 说留一小笔预算，建议考虑了经费
• read beyond our subjects · 用 beyond 说读书可以超出自己的专业

Yes, if the collection is chosen and refreshed thoughtfully. A small display near our library entrance introduced me to a biography I would never have searched for on my own. That kind of guidance is part of the value. I'd rather see a varied, changing collection with student recommendations than shelves full of books nobody notices. The budget could also include digital loans for students who commute or need larger text. It wouldn't have to compete with essential academic resources on a huge scale; a modest service could make leisure reading feel like a normal part of university life.

• chosen and refreshed thoughtfully · 说选书和换新都要用心，补充经费该怎么花
• make leisure reading feel like a normal part · 说让休闲阅读变成日常，解释图书馆能帮什么忙