雅思口语模拟答案

这是一个关于科技、商业道德、消费者行为、法律法规和用户体验等话题的雅思口语模拟答案，特别围绕文章中“暗模式 (Dark Patterns)”这一主题展开讨论。

Part 1: General Questions

A brief introduction to Part 1.

Examiner: Do you often shop online?

Candidate: Yes, I often shop online. It’s incredibly convenient, especially with the wide range of products available. However, the article's discussion about "dark patterns" really resonates with my online experience. I've frequently encountered those subtle nudges, like "the button to turn down an offer that says something like: 'Yes, I would like to miss out on the bargain of the century.'" These design choices, while sometimes effective for businesses in the short term, can make the online shopping experience a bit frustrating. But overall, the convenience still outweighs these minor annoyances for me.

Part 2: Cue Card

A brief introduction to Part 2.

Examiner: Describe a negative online experience you've had. You should say:

• • What happened.
• • When and where it happened.
• • How it made you feel.
• • And explain what you think could have been done to prevent it.

Candidate: I'd like to talk about a negative online experience I had recently while trying to cancel a free trial for a streaming service. This happened a few months ago, after I’d signed up for a promotional offer. The company used what the article calls a "cancellation journey so byzantine that people forget what it was they were trying to do."

When I tried to cancel, I couldn't find a straightforward "cancel subscription" button. Instead, I was led through multiple screens. First, it asked me if I was sure, then it offered me a discounted rate to stay, then it prompted me to re-enter my password, and finally, it presented a survey about why I was leaving. Each step was designed to be a hurdle, taking up a lot of my time and mental effort. It was a classic example of "making it hard for customers to extricate themselves from contracts."

This experience made me feel incredibly frustrated and, frankly, manipulated. I felt as if the company was intentionally trying to wear me down, hoping I'd just give up and let the subscription auto-renew. It left me with a very negative impression of the brand, eroding any trust I had initially placed in them.

To prevent this, I think companies need to adopt more ethical design principles and bosses need to "wake up to dark patterns." The article suggests that "lawmakers from Brussels to California to London have cracked down on dark patterns," and that companies like Amazon have faced huge settlements for similar practices. Making cancellation as easy as signing up, or offering trials that "automatically expired" rather than auto-renewing, would be far more consumer-friendly. Ultimately, firms should realize that "egregious attempts to manipulate them into buying things" can "hurt their firms’ long-term interests" by damaging customer loyalty and reputation. Companies should prioritize clear, honest interfaces over deceptive tactics.

Part 3: Discussion

A brief introduction to Part 3.

Examiner: The article discusses "dark patterns" in digital design. Do you think businesses should be allowed to use these manipulative techniques to increase sales?

Candidate: Absolutely not. While I understand that businesses operate to make a profit, there's a clear line between persuasive marketing and manipulative tactics. "Dark patterns" like making cancellation "unreasonably hard" or using countdown clocks to create false urgency fall squarely into the latter. The article points out that these practices "nudge or manipulate consumers into making choices they otherwise wouldn't." This undermines consumer autonomy and trust, which are fundamental to a healthy market.

Moreover, as the article highlights, there's a "rising tide of regulation and litigation" against these practices, with bodies like the Federal Trade Commission imposing significant penalties. This shows that governments and consumer protection agencies are increasingly recognizing the harm caused by such designs. In the long run, businesses that engage in these "egregious attempts to manipulate" their customers often "hurt their firms’ long-term interests" through reputational damage and legal issues. Ethical business practices should always prioritize transparency and respect for the consumer.

Examiner: How can consumers protect themselves from "dark patterns" and other deceptive online practices?

Candidate: Protecting oneself from "dark patterns" requires a combination of awareness and proactive steps. Firstly, consumer education is crucial. Understanding what "dark patterns" are—like the "roach motels" of difficult cancellations or the "countdown clocks" implying scarcity—helps people identify them. Being aware that companies often use these techniques can make you more vigilant when navigating websites.

Secondly, always read the terms and conditions carefully, especially for free trials or subscriptions, to understand the auto-renewal policies. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Thirdly, utilize independent reviews and consumer advocacy groups. These organizations often highlight companies that use deceptive practices. Lastly, if you encounter an particularly egregious "dark pattern," reporting it to consumer protection agencies can contribute to the "rising tide of regulation and litigation" that ultimately pushes businesses towards more ethical designs. It's about being a savvy digital citizen and not letting companies take advantage of your decision-making process.

核心词汇

• • dark patterns: (n.) 暗模式（数字设计中诱导或操纵用户的界面）。
• • nudge or manipulate consumers: (phr.) 推动或操纵消费者。
• • the button to turn down an offer that says something like: 'Yes, I would like to miss out on the bargain of the century.': (phr.) 拒绝优惠的按钮，其文字暗示你会错过百年一遇的便宜货。
• • cancellation journey so byzantine that people forget what it was they were trying to do: (phr.) 退订流程过于复杂，以至于人们忘记了他们最初想做的事情。
• • making it hard for customers to extricate themselves from contracts: (phr.) 让顾客难以摆脱合同。
• • wake up to dark patterns: (phr.) 警醒暗模式。
• • lawmakers from Brussels to California to London have cracked down on dark patterns: (phr.) 从布鲁塞尔到加利福尼亚再到伦敦的立法者都已严厉打击暗模式。
• • unreasonably hard: (phr.) 不合理地困难。
• • hurt their firms’ long-term interests: (phr.) 损害公司长期利益。
• • egregious attempts to manipulate: (phr.) 恶劣的操纵尝试。
• • roach motels: (phr.) 蟑螂旅馆（指容易进入但难以离开的系统）。
• • countdown clocks: (phr.) 倒计时钟（营造紧迫感）。
• • consumer education: (phr.) 消费者教育。
• • too good to be true: (idiom) 好得不像真的。
• • rising tide of regulation and litigation: (phr.) 日益增加的监管和诉讼浪潮。
• • savvy digital citizen: (phr.) 精明的数字公民。