雅思IELTS詞彙：科技
科技相關的問題貫穿整個考試：Part 1常問到手機、App或你花多少時間上網，Part 2的題卡（cue card）包括一項實用的科技產品，或你常用的網站或App，Part 3則延伸到科技如何影響社會、工作和童年的更廣泛辯論。同樣的內容也會在Writing（寫作）Task 2再度出現，科技是最常出題的作文主題之一。
在Lexical Resource（詞彙資源）方面，考官會留意考生描述科技時，能否用上「good」、「useful」和「convenient」以外的說法。「prone to glitches」、「a digital footprint」和「streamline a process」這類詞語搭配，展現對主題真正的掌控；而正確且節制使用的慣用語，例如「a double-edged sword」、「at the touch of a button」，則能在不顯得刻意的情況下展現詞彙廣度。
主要的錯誤有三個：把好幾個含糊的形容詞疊在一起，而不是挑一個精準的詞語搭配；幾乎每個句子都用「technology」這個名詞，而不變換成「devices」、「apps」或「tools」；以及用了一個戲劇化的慣用語，卻和自己對裝置或App想表達的重點不吻合。
這個主題會出現在哪裡
- Part 1關於你自己生活的暖身題目，例如「Do you use a smartphone every day?」，下方還有另外4題。
- Part 2針對題卡進行1～2分鐘的個人陳述，例如Describe a piece of technology you find useful, Describe a website or app you use often。
- Part 3較抽象的追問，也是精準用語最重要的地方，例如「Has technology made people more or less connected to each other?」。
- Writing Task 2關於「科技」的作文題目，同樣會獎勵這些片語：你能說出口的詞語搭配，就能寫進作文。
與其說…不如說…
想法相同，用詞更精準。左欄是大多數考生最先想到的說法；右欄是考官聽起來更精準的說法。
| 常見說法 | 更好的說法 |
|---|---|
| use the internet | go online更簡短、更自然的口語替代說法 |
| a good app | a user-friendly app說出具體的特質，而不是籠統的形容詞 |
| technology is very useful | technology has become indispensable精準的形容詞取代籠統的強調詞 |
| it broke | it stopped working描述裝置故障更自然、更具體的說法 |
| check my phone a lot | be glued to my phone生動點出過度使用的慣用片語 |
| technology helps communication | technology has revolutionised communication比單純動詞更有力、更精準的動詞 |
| get information quickly | access information at the touch of a button考官認可、比較少見的自然慣用語 |
| computers make mistakes | technology is prone to glitches精準的詞語搭配，取代含糊的陳述 |
依分數分類的片語
每個片語都附上意思，以及一個你實際說得出口的句子。請學整個句子，而不是只學單獨的單字。
Band 6：基本片語
清楚、正確、常見。用這些就能撐起整個回答，而且聽起來不像背好的。
-
use a smartphone
詞語搭配操作能上網的手機
I use a smartphone for almost everything these days.
-
surf the internet
片語動詞隨意瀏覽網站
I like to surf the internet whenever I have some spare time.
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send an email
詞語搭配撰寫並寄出電子郵件
I need to send an email to my teacher tonight.
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download an app
詞語搭配把程式安裝到裝置上
I want to download an app that helps me practise vocabulary.
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charge your phone
詞語搭配為手機電池充電
You should always charge your phone before a long trip.
-
a fast internet connection
詞語搭配速度很快的網路連線
I need a fast internet connection to work from home.
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take a photo
詞語搭配用相機或手機拍下影像
I always take a photo before I forget what a place looked like.
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watch videos online
詞語搭配透過網路觀看影片內容
In the evening, I usually watch videos online instead of watching television.
-
a useful device
詞語搭配對日常生活有幫助的科技產品
My laptop is honestly a useful device for almost everything I do.
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connect to Wi-Fi
詞語搭配把裝置連上無線網路
The first thing I do at a cafe is connect to Wi-Fi.
Band 7：詞語搭配
天生就會放在一起的詞。從這裡開始，詞彙就會拉開Band 6和Band 7的差距。
-
be glued to my phone
慣用語一直過度地盯著手機看
I try not to be glued to my phone during meals.
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revolutionise the way we communicate
詞語搭配徹底改變人與人互動的方式
Smartphones really did revolutionise the way we communicate with family abroad.
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at the touch of a button
慣用語立刻，且幾乎不費力
You can book a flight at the touch of a button now.
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prone to glitches
詞語搭配容易出現小的技術故障
The app is great, but it's still prone to glitches sometimes.
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keep up with new technology
片語動詞持續掌握最新的科技發展
It's genuinely hard to keep up with new technology these days.
-
a digital footprint
詞語搭配一個人在網路上留下的資訊痕跡
Everything you post online becomes part of a digital footprint.
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switch off from technology
片語動詞刻意暫時不使用裝置
I try to switch off from technology at the weekend.
-
streamline a process
詞語搭配讓工作更簡單、更有效率
The new system was designed to streamline a process that used to take hours.
-
a game-changer
慣用語大幅改變做事方式的事物
That app was a game-changer for how I organise my studying.
-
information overload
詞語搭配一次要處理的資訊太多
Scrolling through the news sometimes feels like pure information overload.
-
tech-savvy
單字熟悉並擅長使用科技
My grandmother is surprisingly tech-savvy for her age.
-
outdated technology
詞語搭配老舊而不再有效的科技
The office still runs on outdated technology that constantly crashes.
Band 8：精準用語
精準，而且常常是慣用語。只在真正合適的地方用，不要當成裝飾。
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a double-edged sword
慣用語同時有明顯好處和明顯風險的事物
Social media is a double-edged sword for teenagers.
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bells and whistles
慣用語並非絕對必要的額外吸睛功能
I don't need all the bells and whistles, just something reliable.
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cutting-edge
單字極為先進、採用最新概念的
The lab was full of genuinely cutting-edge equipment.
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a slippery slope
慣用語很可能導致更糟問題的局面
Giving young children unlimited screen time can be a slippery slope.
-
at our fingertips
慣用語輕易、立即就能取得
Information that used to take days to find is now at our fingertips.
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obsolete
單字因為有更新的東西取代而不再使用
That old piece of software became completely obsolete almost overnight.
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a Pandora's box
慣用語引發許多意想不到的新問題的行動
Some experts think generative tools have opened a Pandora's box for education.
-
seamlessly integrated
詞語搭配順暢結合，各部分運作毫無阻礙
The new features feel seamlessly integrated into the app I already use.
自我測驗
從上方例句中挑出8個句子，並把片語拿掉。選出適合填入空格的片語：按1～4或直接點選。
第1題，共8題
大聲說出來練習
只讀過的片語還不是你的。大聲回答這些題目，數一數上方的片語中有多少是你實際用得上的。
Part 1題目
- Do you use a smartphone every day?
- What piece of technology could you not live without?
- Do you prefer reading on paper or on a screen?
- How much time do you spend online each day?
- Do you find it easy to learn how to use new devices?
Part 3題目
- Has technology made people more or less connected to each other?
- Do you think children should be given smartphones at a young age?
- Should governments regulate how much data technology companies collect?
- Is society becoming too dependent on technology?
- Do you think artificial intelligence will replace many jobs in the future?
常見問題
談科技時一定要用「obsolete」這類字，才顯得程度高嗎？
不用。「prone to glitches」這類精準又自然的詞語搭配，通常比用得彆扭的罕見單字更能打動考官。
「tech-savvy」在考試中太不正式嗎？
不會，它是口語英文裡很普通、廣泛使用的字，很自然地適用於Speaking（口說）中談科技的回答。
談手機和App時，怎麼避免聽起來重複？
事先建立一小組多樣的詞語搭配和慣用語，這樣你就不必每個句子都靠「good」和「useful」。