英语六级考试口语经典问答题：telephone

　　Unit5 telephone

　　1. How many kinds of phones are available today? What are they?

　　Today's telephones may be divided into two categories: fixed and mobile. Fixed phones are those installed (安装) at home, in the work place or in public places (pay phones). They are usually connected to a telephone line. Mobile phones include cellular phones or cell phones, car phones, phones installed on a plane, etc. They are not linked to a fixed phone line and, therefore, are wireless (无线的). Apart from (除去……之外) phones that transmit (传输) sound only, there are phones, both fixed and mobile, that transmit video signals (视频信号) along with sound. Such phones are called video phones.

　　2. What do "pager", "beeper", "cellular phone", "cell phone", "mobile phone" mean? Do you sometimes use them? How do they compare with the standard telephone?

　　A pager, or beeper, is a small electronic device that you carry or wear that makes a noise or shows a message to tell you that someone wants you to telephone them. A cellular phone, or cell phone for short, is a mobile phone that can be used anywhere you go as it operates by radio signals.

　　I have a pager. It helps me get messages. But it's only one-way communication. Compared to the mobile phones many of my friends and classmates are using, a pager looks rather out-dated. So I'm thinking of buying a mobile phone to keep up with the trend (潮流). A mobile phone is particularly useful to a student, you know. Unlike a standard telephone which you have to go to where it's installed to use, a mobile phone helps you stay in touch with your parents and friends wherever you are. Of course, you have to make sure the phone battery (电池) is okay.

　　3. What are good telephone manners?

　　To be brief, good telephone manners include answering calls promptly, speaking politely and clearly on the phone, listening attentively (专注地) and patiently, asking for, taking or giving messages appropriately, and hanging up lightly (轻轻地) and at the right time.