Part 2

Describe a time when you were afraid of something.

You should say:

when and where it was

what you were afraid of

why you were afraid

and explain how you felt about it.

Model Answer 1:

Being afraid of something, I believe, is a natural response of a human being to avoid danger. We are fearful of different things as our ancestors were fearful in the time immemorial, or even in the time when we thought we have conquered darkness and lurking dangers just around the corner. But, we, as human, are always frightened of the unknown, just the way I was, like a billion others around the world, during the rigid and unprecedented lockdown period when Covid-19 was declared a global pandemic.

It was around March 2020 when the lockdown, which was pretty much like a curfew, was imposed nation-wide to stop the spread of the Coronavirus which was responsible for the death of so many people around the world.

The first two weeks were tough but doable considering the changing circumstances and our perceptions of new normalcy. But after a couple of weeks, when the number of people who were tested positive soared rapidly and the death-toll kept on increasing, I felt very intimidated and afraid. The news of some neighbors being infected by this yet incurable virus that can often be fatal made the situation worse. I panicked, and the psychological pressure was just too much to bear.

I was anxious about the uncertainty of the situation, about my parents who were both over 60, about the fear of being contacted and then infected by the Coronavirus and the tough economic pressure that was mounting on me. This was perhaps the only time when I felt completely trapped and clueless for so many weeks and being able to do nothing about it. It was such a situation that is comparable only to our worst nightmares.

Model Answer 2:

Well, I think everyone has at least experienced one scary event in their life, be it an accident or a natural disaster, and I am no exception. When I was just knee-high to a grasshopper, I was scared to death by, I think, an extra-terrestrial thing.

I still remember vividly that happened at night when I was at home alone. My parents and little sister had gone to another town to join a relative’s party, while I had to stay at home to do the homework. You know, my village at that time was just a run-down area surrounded by bamboos and the foliage of many types of trees that often frightened me whenever I thought of them. While I was doing my homework, suddenly, something white in color jumped out of the trees right in front of me and in just a few seconds, I suffered a blackout.

When I woke up, I saw the worrying faces of my parents and my sister, and nowhere could I find the thing that scared me. I talked to my parents about that thing, but they did not believe it, and thought that due to study burdens,I had illusionsor it was just a dream. Even though I was not sure what it exactly was, I believed it was real.

Even till now, it was still a terrifying experience to me, I am not so afraid of it anymore. I think that in this world, there are many mysticaland unexplained things existing beyond human perception.

Part 3  Follow-Up Questions

1. Is it OK to frighten others?

I don’t think it is okay to frighten others because sometimes it might cause harm to others. For example, if we frighten old people, it could have severe consequences, like causing a heart attack or something. Children might also get scared and as a result they may get difficult to be comforted.

2. How do people usually get frightened?

It varies from person to person. Some people are frightened because they see something fearful. Some other people get afraid when they have done

something wrong, and they don’t want to be caught. And some others become scared when they do not want to make mistakes in their lives and they want to be perfect.

3. Are Chinese people easily scared?

I think Chinese people are like people in other nations, they may jump out of skin when something terrible or shocking happens. For example, some may be scared to death if they catch the sight of something like a ghost at night. As for me, looking at or being around some reptiles without legs such as snakes or worms always make my blood run cold.

4. Do children like to scare others?

Yes, children love to scare others. When they are playing ‘Hide and Seek’ they want to startle their playmates. Children are innocent and not so strong, and they feel they are very powerful when they scare others. So it is OK for them to scare others, it is fun for them and it builds their confidence.

5. Why are some people more likely to be scared?

It is easy to scare some people because they lack confidence. Moreover, there might be some others who have had bitter experiences in their life, so they feel scared at small incidents.

Besides, some people are too obsessed with horrible things such as ghosts or monsters since they’ve watched too many horror films. Others may be chicken- hearted and their heart misses a beat when they get so scared.

6. What should people do when they feel scared?

Well, honestly, I think you should scream when you feel extremely scared because if there is somebody who is trying to intimidate or harm you, if you raise your voice, the nearest person who can help you will run to your aid. Secondly, if it is nothing serious, remain calm. My mother says you should always remember God the Almighty whenever you are scared. Last but not least, you can always share your fears and worries with someone you trust, and in this way the person you trust, be it your relative or a friend, can help put your fears to rest.

7. Is fear a good thing or a bad thing?

Fear can be healthy. It is programmed into your nervous system, and gives you the survival instincts you need to keep yourself safe from danger.

Fear is unhealthy when it makes you more cautious than you really need to be to stay safe, and when it prevents you from doing things     you would otherwise enjoy.