Follow-up Questions
Basic答 + 原因 + 例子。
- Follow-up formula: answer directly, then 'because' with a reason, then 'For instance'.
- Respond in the first sentence; never repeat the question or circle around it.
- Personal examples persuade: link answers to your subjects, life or Hong Kong.
文體小知識：Answer examiner.
§Text Passage
1Examiner: Thank you for your introduction, Chloe. Now I have some follow-up questions. You said you enjoy reading. Can you expand on that a little, so that we can know more about your reading habits? Chloe: Yes, of course. I mainly read science fiction because it helps me imagine what the future may look like, and I usually read for half an hour before I sleep.
2Examiner: What is the reason you chose science fiction rather than other kinds of books? Chloe: These stories connect with what I learn in Physics, so reading always feels relevant to my daily life. For instance, I recently read about space elevators, and a week later our teacher explained the same idea in class. Examiner: Can you give us an example of a book that impressed you? Chloe: Certainly. Last month I read a novel about a city where robots look after the elderly, and it made me think about Hong Kong's ageing population.
3Examiner: Very good. Finally, could you tell us briefly how reading has changed you? Chloe: To answer briefly, reading has widened my vocabulary and made me a more confident speaker in English lessons. Examiner: One last question — do you think students today read too little, and why? Chloe: I am afraid I do, mainly because short videos are easier and shorter. But a novel waits patiently, and I believe anyone can fall in love with it once they find the right book. Thank you for your questions.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Examiner: Thank you for your introduction, Chloe.
考官：Chloe，謝謝你的自我介紹。
Now I have some follow-up questions.
現在我有幾個追問問題。
You said you enjoy reading.
你說你喜歡閱讀。
Can you expand on that a little, so that we can know more about your reading habits?
可不可以就此再講多一點，讓我們了解多些你的閱讀習慣？
Chloe: Yes, of course.
Chloe：當然可以。
I mainly read science fiction because it helps me imagine what the future may look like, and I usually read for half an hour before I sleep.
我主要看科幻小說，因為它幫我想像未來的樣子，我通常睡覺前看半小時。
Examiner: What is the reason you chose science fiction rather than other kinds of books?
考官：你選科幻小說而不選其他類型的書，原因是什麼？
Chloe: These stories connect with what I learn in Physics, so reading always feels relevant to my daily life.
Chloe：這些故事與我在物理科學到的東西有關連，所以閱讀對我而言常常都很貼近生活。
For instance, I recently read about space elevators, and a week later our teacher explained the same idea in class.
例如，我最近看到關於太空電梯的東西，一個星期之後老師上課就講了同一個概念。
Examiner: Can you give us an example of a book that impressed you?
考官：可不可以舉一個令你印象深刻的書的例子？
Chloe: Certainly.
Chloe：當然可以。
Last month I read a novel about a city where robots look after the elderly, and it made me think about Hong Kong's ageing population.
上個月我看了一本小說，講一個由機械人照顧長者的城市，看完令我想起香港的人口老化問題。
Examiner: Very good.
考官：非常好。
Finally, could you tell us briefly how reading has changed you?
最後，可不可以簡單說說閱讀怎樣改變了你？
Chloe: To answer briefly, reading has widened my vocabulary and made me a more confident speaker in English lessons.
Chloe：簡單來說，閱讀擴闊了我的詞彙量，令我在英文堂上發言更有自信。
Examiner: One last question — do you think students today read too little, and why?
考官：最後一條問題——你覺得現在的學生是不是看太少書？為什麼？
Chloe: I am afraid I do, mainly because short videos are easier and shorter.
Chloe：恐怕是，主要因為短片又易看又短。
But a novel waits patiently, and I believe anyone can fall in love with it once they find the right book.
但小說會耐心地等着你，我相信只要找到對的書，任何人都會愛上閱讀。
Thank you for your questions.
謝謝你的提問。
1Summary 重點摘要
答 + 原因 + 例子。
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Extra question.
Examiner.
Expand.
Example.
Why.
Short.
Sure.
相關。
3Step by step Steps
- DirectAnswer in the first sentence. Example: Chloe says I mainly read science fiction — no circling, no repeating the question; the first sentence is already the answer.
- ExtendThen extend: a because for the reason and a For instance for the example. Example: These stories connect with what I learn in Physics… For instance, I recently read about space elevators, and a week later our teacher explained the same idea in class.
- TimeTwenty to thirty seconds per answer is enough. Example: for broad questions Chloe narrows with To answer briefly — two or three focused sentences beat a long ramble.
- TipNever answer with a bare yes/no. Example: asked Do students read too little?, Chloe does not stop at yes — she says I am afraid I do, mainly because short videos are easier and shorter: stance plus reason.
- Personal examplesThe more personal the example, the better. Example: a novel about a city where robots look after the elderly… it made me think about Hong Kong's ageing population — a book linked to a social issue shows depth.
- Closing lineFinish with a memorable line. Example: But a novel waits patiently, and I believe anyone can fall in love with it once they find the right book — one image-rich sentence the examiner will remember.
- Formula recapThe follow-up formula: answer directly → because + reason → For instance + example → (optional) a golden closing line. Twenty to thirty seconds each, and the first sentence always answers.
5Worked example Example
Chloe models the 'answer, reason, example' formula through four follow-up questions. Break down each answer and identify the techniques worth copying.
- Step 1: She answers directly first: 'I mainly read science fiction' — no waffle, then 'because' plus a habit detail (half an hour before sleep).
- Step 2: Her example is specific and personal: the space elevator connects to her Physics lesson, making the answer persuasive.
- Step 3: The robot novel example reaches further — it links to Hong Kong's ageing population, showing depth of thought.
- Step 4: Asked how reading changed her, she narrows the scope with 'To answer briefly' — wider vocabulary, more confidence speaking English.
- Step 5: Her last answer takes a stance ('I am afraid I do'), gives a reason (short videos are easier) and closes with the image 'a novel waits patiently'.
- Answer: Chloe demonstrates the answer-reason-example formula in every reply. She responds immediately with a direct statement — 'I mainly read science fiction' — then adds 'because' and a concrete habit. Her 'For instance' examples do double duty: the space elevator ties reading to her Physics class, and the robot novel connects to Hong Kong's ageing population, proving she thinks beyond the page. When the question broadens, 'To answer briefly' keeps her reply tight; when asked for a judgement, she commits ('I am afraid I do'), explains why short videos win, and ends with a memorable image — 'a novel waits patiently'. Around twenty to thirty seconds per answer, never a bare yes or no: exactly what examiners want.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1Answer?
Q2Long or short?
Q3Example?
Q4Don't know?
Q5Tone?
Q6Relevant?
8Recap Recap
- Follow-up formula: answer directly, then 'because' with a reason, then 'For instance'.
- Respond in the first sentence; never repeat the question or circle around it.
- Personal examples persuade: link answers to your subjects, life or Hong Kong.
- For broad questions, narrow with 'To answer briefly'; twenty to thirty seconds is enough.
- Commit to a stance with 'I am afraid I do' — fence-sitting earns nothing.