雅思口语解析：An antique or something old

　　Describe an antique or something old your family has kept for a long time.

　　You should say:

　　What it is

　　How your family first got this thing

　　How long your family has had it

　　And explain why it is important for your family

　　思路解析：

　　What it is?

　　an antique or something old可以选择说a family photo, a painting, an old watch,a piece of silverware, a bracelet, a ring, an old book等都可以。然后描述物品的外形特征(如size, color, shape等),在讲述特征时也可以加入一些评论或是感受就更好了。

　　How you family first got it?

　　这个问题在回答的时候首先要特别注意时态，从got就知道这个问题应该使用一般过去时，这个问题可以通过讲述一个故事展开,这样会更生动有趣。以一个old dress为例讲一讲怎么通过讲故事展开这个问题。

　　Actually, it was my grandmother who bought this dress for my mother as a wedding gift. You know, at that time, a fancy wedding dress was rare. My mother was the first child to get married in her family, so her wedding was really significant. My grandmother asked her friends in Shenzhen to help her buy this dress. It took quite a long time to get this dress and cost her an arm and a leg.

　　How long your family has had it?

　　这个问题在回答的时候也要特别注意时态，主要的时态应该用现在完成时“have/has+动词过去分词”的形式。以an old book为例，我们看看如何使用现在完成时回答这个问题：

　　This book would be more than 70 or 80 years old and we have kept it on the shelf for the last 20 years.

　　Why it is important to your family?

　　最应展开的问题，可以围绕以下几点：

　　My grandfather passed it down to me so it has a strong sentimental value to me.

　　It often reminds me of my grandmother who used to…

　　It is a kind of memento and something to remember my grandmother by.

　　They are the only tangible belongings that convey my grandfather's reminiscences.

　　Though they don't have their material values but they are priceless to our family.

　　As an heirloom, it can teach me a great deal about my family history and traditions.

　　Sample Answer:

　　An old thing my family has kept a long time is an antique bracelet. It is green and made of natural jade. My family got this bracelet from my great-grandmother who gave it to my grandmother when she got married. Then my grandmother passed it down to my mother on her wedding day.

　　I guess we have kept this bracelet for about 50 years. It is actually the oldest stuff in my home. My mother often keeps it very carefully in the drawer of her dressing table. She only wears it on some important occasions, like attending a formal party or something. She thinks it really matches her dresses and makes her look elegant.

　　When it comes to why it is important to my family, the most important reason is that as it is passed down from my great-grandmother, it provides a tangible link between family members. Actually we all regard it as an heirloom and really cherish it. The emotional connection family members have with the heirloom is what makes it valuable. Thus, due to it sentimental value, it is really precious for my family. Another reason is that as I have mentioned, it is made of natural jade. You know, in Chinese culture, jade symbolizes good luck, health, happiness and safety. So this bracelet is considered as a lucky charm for my family. We believe that it can protect us and give us good health.

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