【雅思口語】八大魔鬼話題之五：成功
成功，是雅思口語考試卡片題四類（人物、地點、物品、事件）常考題型中的事件題，又被稱作經歷題。該題的難點在於較爲抽象，難以選材。如果能將“成功”具體化，其難度則大大降低。考生往往把成功二字想得過於高大顯赫，總結自己似乎一直經歷平平，並沒有明顯起伏，於是敗下陣來，舉足無措。殊不知，其實成功的理解可以有多方面，對於該話題的回答也可以靈活多樣。
一、話題準備
成功可包括兩種：1、他人公認的成功，如學業或工作方面的成就。2、自己認爲的成功，這個就靈活了，可以是個人任何一個計劃、目標或願望的實現。
先看前一種，我們將其細化，可以是由於德、智、體、美、勞任意一方面的突出表現，獲得了相應的獎勵。以智、體、美爲例，可以選擇的話題如下：
智：
某次考試拿了第一，奪得榮譽（如果你是尖子生）；
某次考試進步飛躍，獲得表揚（如果你是普通生）；
某場大型比賽取得成果（演講，作文，數理化競賽等）；
體：
某次校級（甚至市級、省級）運動會奪得名次；
某場籃球/足球/乒乓球/羽毛球/網球/游泳等比賽（可以是非正式的，小集體內部的）取得名次；
某節體育課測驗（長短跑、球類、體操類）進步明顯；
美：
某次校級（市級、省級）才藝大賽奪得名次（個人成功）；
某次組織班集體參加的比賽獲得名次（集體成功）；
以上都是針對學生時代的話題，當然也可以稍作修改，變成工作中的成功案例。智方面就是工作表現，一次獲得晉升的經歷，或是自己的成功創業故事，體和美可以是公司組織的體育或才藝競賽活動。
再看後一種，可以把a success(一次成功)看作是successfully did sth（成功地做成了某事），那麼難題便迎刃而解。如果思路夠寬，還有意外的收穫，準備成功的話題可以爲其他話題儲備素材，可謂一石二鳥。建議如下：
成功戒菸/戒酒/戒遊戲/減肥/克服羞澀（近似於a change in life）
成功指導或幫助別人戒菸/戒酒/戒遊戲/減肥/克服羞澀（素材可用於人物題的故事插入）
成功地維權（素材可用於物品題，something you bought but you were not happy with，講買的東西有質量問題，不滿意，要求索賠，最終成功）
成功地脫險（近似於an unforgettable event）
成功地網上交友（素材可用於科技類話題）
成功地與病魔抗爭（素材可用於a change in life, a happy moment, a piece of good news）
二、真題示範
分析：該題要求描述過去的一次成功經歷，以上所述話題準備的內容均適用，注意時態的正確選用，講清楚成功的來龍去脈即可。
Sample Response：
Well, what has been the big success that makes me proud of in my life? It definitely goes to my weight loss story.
I grew up as an overweight kid. I was always tired and had very little energy to do anything. I was depressed and became a person with low self-esteem. As I got older, I knew I had to make some changes.
So I made a weight loss plan when I was in junior high school, adhering to it and couldn’t be happier when I found it worked after two years’ trying. The plan was actually quite simple, eat less and exercise more. I went on a very strict nutritional regimen. I cut out all empty calories from my diet (fast food, sweets, soda, etc.) and really focused on only eating clean nutrient dense foods. On top of that, I went jogging every morning, be it chilly winter or hot summer.
The changes were incredible; I lost ten kilograms within two years. What’s most important is, I am healthier than ever before. I feel much more athletic now. I have an overall sense of well being that I never experienced when I was heavier. I have so much more energy and I sleep better also.
I feel especially flatted when others can hardly believe I was a much bigger girl. It was really a success.
分析：該題與上題的區別在於時態上的限定。話題依然適用，只不過用不上過去式，更多的是條件句和虛擬語氣的使用。
Sample Response：
Well, I’ve always had this dream that one day I could be a successful businesswoman. I mean, start my own business and become the boss of my own.
I am totally aware of the difficulty that I will encounter in the process. Lacking capital is the biggest headache. Without money, you can’t hire, you can’t pay yourself, and you can barely eat. But if I started to do it, I would hang in there until I succeed. I believe refusing to give up is a spirit needed when chasing one’s dream. It gives you the kind of strength to conquer. Another challenge might be how to balance work and life. It is not easy for a woman to run a successful business, largely due to the fact that women, more often than not, share a larger responsibility in taking care of the family. But I don’t see that’s a problem as long as you keep everything organized and under control.
The reason why I wanna be a self-supported boss is simple: I am tired of working for others. It would be great to run a business in my own way.
So I am gonna keep my dream in mind and try the best I can to make it come true. As I always tell myself, “Never spend a day off without doing anything that can make your dream comes true.”
希望大家能夠對成功類的話題有充分的準備，在雅思口語考試中輕鬆應對。
