16. What do you think of the 3 Gorges project?
I think there are two sides to this issue. On the one hand it will probably provide a lot of needed electrical energy. I mean take the area of Chongqing. It's a growing city but it's hampered by a lack of energy and it needs to be able to feed more electrical energy to some of the poorer provinces to the west of it, particularly Tibet. Also I think it will make navigation easier along the Changjiang river and that will be good for our industries.
On the other hand, I think it creates some hardships for those people living in that region, since they must be relocated and they are giving up the area that they have lived in for so long. Also, we must be very careful to make sure there is no environmental damage since there is a lot of precious life that depends on the river.
17. What do you think of the Olympic Games? Are they necessary for the world?
A From my point of view, the Olympics are very good because they allow nations to come together and bring their best athletes together to compete. I mean if you have international competitions in special- events that's OK, but they can't take the place of the Olympics. The Olympics also does a lot for the pride of the place that hosts it and it makes the place very exciting. I am looking forward very much to the Olympics in the 2008. I think it will help out the economy immensely. For example, there will be a lot of people who can make extra income from souvenirs and as interpreters.
B I don't like the Olympics. As far as I'm concerned they are a waste of time and money. There is just too much nationalism and pressure on the athletes. For example in the last winter Olympics you had countries threatening to boycott them or pull out for all kinds of reasons, and you had some unethical judging going on. I think also that they have become too commercialised and that they've been taken over by big companies.
18. What do you think of the popularity of English in China?
Well it's quite natural don't you think? I mean the world is getting closer and closer and I think it's natural that the world begins to use a common language. Well, that means that if you want to do well in business you should at least know a little English. Take the Internet for example. I mean, there are lots of Chinese websites, but as far as I'm concerned, you can get a much better range of knowledge if you can understand English. Some of the best industries in the future will involve international trade so if you are reasonably good at English you will be in demand. So the popularity of English is really for practical reasons. You can get a better job and you can probably have more opportunities.
19. What do you think of school uniforms?
I personally think they are a good thing. I mean it's fine for other countries to let their children have a lot of freedom with their clothing but I think that it only creates problems in many other places. I mean I read somewhere that there is a lot of bullying that takes place in North American schools and that some kids are laughed at because too often their clothes are shabby. Another thing I think you have to understand is that we stress more harmony and unity among our students. It's important for students to have this sense of unity or otherwise our nation will fall apart.
20. Should children be punished in school?
In my opinion children should be punished but not too often. I think the best way to deal with children is to guide them through their mistakes and to try to help them see their own errors. I mean, punishment should be used, but only when the children believe that they can get away with something that they shouldn't do. Punishments also cannot be the only way a child learns not to do something or otherwise he or she will only act out of fear of consequences without knowing whether it's truly right or wrong. For example, if a boy passes notes in class and is only punished, he may stop it only as long as the teacher is around. But when he comes to another class with a teacher who's not as strict, he might start doing it a gain. He hasn't realized why it's not the right thing to do.
Opinions On The Meaning Of Various Aspects
21. What does friendship mean to you?
Well, that's a tough issue, let me think. I think it means almost everything to me except perhaps my family. Friendship, in my mind, means having people who you know will help you if you are ever in trouble. I think it's also people who you feel you can actually tell things to and they will listen. Friends are people who you don't need to be so polite to when you're asking them to go somewhere - you can just phone them up and tell them "let's go somewhere" and you know they'll probably go. They are also people who have the same kind of sense of humour when you speak with them so that you will just laugh and laugh together.
22. What does happiness mean to you?
Well, it's a big topic. To me it means you live a carefree life, though I think it's impossible to be always carefree. That's why many people think of their childhood as being their time of true happiness because it was a time when they had little to worry about. Also, I think having a lot of very good friends is part of being very happy. It makes me happy to have some close friends who have a lot in common with me. I think happiness will double when it's shared with friends. Finally, I think happiness is knowing that you are useful, and knowing that you can help people when they need it. I feel happy to be able to help other people. I think it's pleasant to feel needed.
23. What's your definition of a natural beauty?
I think it's a place that shows something unique about nature, something that reminds you of a picture or art. I think it's a place that is not spoiled by human beings and it should be a place that gives you some view that extends beyond just a certain range. As an example, a great mountain or area that you can see hills all around are natural beauties. I also think that colour is a key thing as well. If you have some bright natural colours, this really helps to make a place look nicer in my opinion. Sometimes it's also a place that has a lot of peaceful patterns to it. For example, a place by the sea has a nice pattern of cliffs and ocean waves. I think this adds to the charm of a place.
24. What's your definition of a hobby?
In my mind, a hobby should be any activity that you like to do more than once. I think it should involve some skill but it doesn't have to be anything complicated. The main thing is that it shouldn't usually mean a competition in my view. I mean you could say that a sport is a hobby but I think of it as more of an activity. A hobby is something that requires you own self-development. For example, stamp collecting our painting could be a hobby because it's something you do for your own interest rather than for competitive purposes.
25. What is your definition of a perfect holiday?
A perfect holiday probably doesn't exist but I tend to think that it means a holiday where you are so moved by the place that you go to that you form an instant attachment to the place. It's a place that is in a beautiful area and it's a place that you don't feel rushed to see. Also, you can explore and do many things on your own without having to follow the plans of someone else. Also, I think Jt must be a holiday that allows you to learn something about another place, and that learning -experience will hopefully be with you for the rest of your life.
26. What do clothes mean to you?
I think they are a way of showing respect to the people that you have to meet everyday. If you dress too sloppily or cheaply I think you are essentially saying that you really don't care about others and that is a bad thing. To me clothes are a kind of presentation to the world and the clothes you wear are a kind of way that you present your character. If you present it with clothes that really don't match or have something unique to offer, you are not letting yourself have the best image that you can possibly have.
27. What do you think education really means?
What does education really mean? Well, it's difficult to say but I think that essentially anything that you are able to improve your understanding. It may be a skill or it may be some information to learn. I think it's also important to include any wisdom or moral lesson that can be learned. I think it's dangerous to concentrate too much on just skills because education to me also means something that gives you a way to shape your behaviour. For example if a student is very good at mathematics but has poor social skills he may use his skills to create some terrible weapons, rather than use them for peaceful purposes.
28. What is your definition of globalisation?
Well, I'm no expert on this but I suppose that it means the whole trade that takes place within the rules that are set by trade organizations rather than by individual governments. I think it also means that people do business from country to country almost as easily as they do business within their own country. It seems that this word has a negative meaning for many. I guess it's because it means that big countries have less restrictions and less scrutiny. But I think it can have a good meaning if there are proper rules for business and those rules are not just set by large businesses.
29. What do you think 'real love' means?
That's a difficult topic. I mean I don't know that much about this topic, but I suppose that it means that you would do everything you could for a person-even give up your life. I think real love is more than just passion. It must be a feeling that this person is so important to you that you would sacrifice everything you could for this person's well being.
30. What is your definition of a useful skill?
Well, let me think...1 suppose that it's something that you can directly apply once you have the chance. It must mean that you are able to do it better when given the chance than you could before. When you do it you feel you are more skilful and the time you take is faster and the quality that you have when you do it is much better. A good example of a useful skill is English because when I talk with a foreigner I can immediately test out my new skills in the language.
Stating your standards
