Directions: Talk on the following topic for at least 3 minutes. Be sure to make your point clear and supporting details adequate. You should also be ready to answer any questions raised by the examiners during your talk. You need to have your name and registration number recorded. Start your talk with “My name is ...” “My registration number is ...”

Read the following passages:

Shenzhen Metro has come under fire after a report by Southern Metropolis Daily said on July 6 that it would set up VIP compartments on the new Subway Line 11, which is under construction, to meet the needs of affluent commuters. At a cost of twice the regular fare, passengers would be able to ride in a VIP carriage with guaranteed seats and special luggage racks for larger bags.

Chen Qi, deputy manager of the operating company of Shenzhen Metro, dismissed the report of VIP services amid a public outcry, but confirmed that there will be "special compartments" for Subway Line 11. "Trains for that line will have eight compartments instead of six, so we plan to make two compartments special, on which we won't sell standing tickets. This is to meet the demands of high-end customers," he said.

Questions for reference:

1.       Is it ok for you to pay double to have a seat on the train?

2.       What’re the pros and cons of VIP seats?

Answer for reference

It's OK for me to pay double to have a seat on the train. This kind of service has already been applied in Hong Kong. It's understandable to provide various options for people to choose from, including VIP tickets. It's people's own choice. Public transportation costs taxpayers money, but as an enterprise, it also needs to make a profit. And people have different needs for being served, like some might drive a Rolls Royce while some drive a Chery.

It's good for people who aren't feeling well, pregnant women and people like that. And the real rich people seldom take the subway, at least during rush hour. During non-rush hour, the subway is actually comfortable. After all, it's necessary to take concrete actions to solve the overcrowding problem. Paying more money to get higher quality of service is reasonable. In my opinion, it is better for the government to introduce VIP seats into its metro system to meet passengers' different demands after it solves the severe congestion problems first and improves public transport capacity.