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Suspicious Fire Investigation Interview
Fire Investigator (speaking English) and Shop Owner (speaking Mandarin) talk through “Suspicious Fire Investigation Interview”. You interpret both ways — English into Mandarin, and Mandarin into English — one segment at a time, exactly as in the CCL test.
Practise this dialogue with AI marking →Read it first if you like, then practise it cold: the recording plays one segment, you interpret, the next segment plays. Marking shows, segment by segment, what you kept, left out or changed.
Full transcript with model answers
Under each segment: a model interpretation, the information points an examiner checks, and the easiest thing to miss. Try the segment yourself first, then open it. The model is one good way to say it; other wordings that keep every point score just as well.
Good morning, I'm Detective Senior Constable Harris from NSW Police. I'm investigating the fire at your shop last night, and I need to ask you a few questions.
Model answer and marking points
早上好，我是新南威尔士州警察局的高级警员哈里斯侦探。我正在调查昨晚您店里发生的那场火灾，需要向您问几个问题。
What an examiner checks here:
- Detective Senior Constable Harris
- NSW Police
- investigating the fire at your shop
- fire was last night
- needs to ask a few questions
Easy to miss: Keep the full rank 'Detective Senior Constable' and 'NSW Police'; don't shorten to just 'police officer'.
早上好，警官。昨晚我接到邻居电话说店里着火了，我当时不在现场，真的很害怕。
Model answer and marking points
Good morning, officer. Last night I got a phone call from a neighbour saying the shop was on fire. I wasn't there at the time, and I was really frightened.
What an examiner checks here:
- got a phone call from a neighbour
- last night
- the shop was on fire
- speaker was not at the scene
- speaker was really scared
Easy to miss: '我当时不在现场' is a negation; the speaker was NOT there at the time.
I understand this is distressing, but I need accurate details. Can you tell me exactly what time you left the shop yesterday evening?
Model answer and marking points
我理解这件事让您很难受，但我需要准确的细节。您能告诉我，昨天傍晚您到底是几点离开店里的吗？
What an examiner checks here:
- understands this is distressing
- but needs accurate details
- question: exactly what time did you leave the shop
- yesterday evening
Easy to miss: Keep 'exactly' and the question form; it's asking for a precise time, not just whether they left.
我大概晚上七点半锁门离开的，店里所有电器都关掉了，煤气也检查过，没有留下任何隐患。
Model answer and marking points
I locked up and left at about 7:30 in the evening. All the electrical appliances in the shop were switched off, and I'd checked the gas too. I didn't leave any hazards behind.
What an examiner checks here:
- left at about 7:30pm
- locked the door
- all electrical appliances switched off
- gas was checked
- no hazards left behind
Easy to miss: '大概' means approximately 7:30, not exactly; and the hazards statement is a negation.
Thank you. Did anyone else have access to the shop after 7:30pm that night, such as staff or a cleaner?
Model answer and marking points
谢谢。那天晚上七点半之后，还有没有其他人能进店里，比如员工或者清洁工？
What an examiner checks here:
- question: did anyone else have access to the shop
- after 7:30pm that night
- examples: staff or a cleaner
Easy to miss: Keep 'after 7:30pm' and both examples (staff and cleaner); don't drop the time boundary.
只有我和一个清洁工有钥匙，但他昨天请假了，没有来店里，所以我不知道是谁进过店。
Model answer and marking points
Only the cleaner and I have keys, but he took the day off yesterday and didn't come to the shop, so I don't know who went in.
What an examiner checks here:
- only speaker and one cleaner have keys
- cleaner took leave yesterday
- cleaner did not come to the shop
- speaker doesn't know who entered the shop
Easy to miss: Two negations: the cleaner did NOT come in, and the speaker does NOT know who entered.
Fire and Rescue NSW found signs of accelerant near the back door. Do you know anything about that, or who might have used it?
Model answer and marking points
新南威尔士州消防救援局在后门附近发现了助燃剂的痕迹。您知道这件事吗？或者知道可能是谁用的？
What an examiner checks here:
- Fire and Rescue NSW
- found signs of accelerant
- near the back door
- question: do you know anything about that
- question: who might have used it
Easy to miss: 'Accelerant' is 助燃剂 (fire accelerant), not simply 'fuel' or 'petrol'; and it's the back door, not the front.
什么？我完全不知道这件事，我从来没有在店里存放过任何易燃液体，这太奇怪了。
Model answer and marking points
What? I know absolutely nothing about this. I have never stored any flammable liquids in the shop. This is really strange.
What an examiner checks here:
- speaker knows nothing about it
- never stored any flammable liquids
- in the shop
- finds it very strange
Easy to miss: Keep the strength of '完全不知道' and '从来没有' (never); don't soften to 'I don't think so'.
If you're not involved, that's completely fine, but we still need to review your insurance claim history as part of this investigation.
Model answer and marking points
如果您跟这件事没有关系，那完全没有问题，但作为调查的一部分，我们还是需要查看您的保险索赔记录。
What an examiner checks here:
- if you're not involved, that's completely fine
- but still need to review
- insurance claim history
- as part of the investigation
Easy to miss: Keep the conditional 'if you're not involved'; don't turn it into an accusation or an acquittal.
可以，我完全配合调查，我的保险单存在电脑里，我现在就可以给你打印一份复印件。
Model answer and marking points
Yes, I'll cooperate fully with the investigation. My insurance policy is saved on my computer, and I can print you a copy right now.
What an examiner checks here:
- agrees to cooperate fully
- insurance policy stored on computer
- can print a copy
- right now
Easy to miss: It's the insurance policy (保险单), not the claim; and 'right now' must be kept.
That would help a lot. We'll also check the CCTV footage from the shopping centre over the next three business days.
Model answer and marking points
那会很有帮助。另外，接下来三个工作日内，我们还会查看购物中心的监控录像。
What an examiner checks here:
- that would help a lot
- will also check CCTV footage
- from the shopping centre
- over the next three business days
Easy to miss: 'Three business days' is 三个工作日, not three calendar days.
太好了，这样我就放心多了，我一直担心大家怀疑是我自己纵火，现在有监控录像能证明我的清白，谢谢。
Model answer and marking points
That's great, that's a real relief. I've been worried the whole time that people would suspect I set fire to the shop myself. Now the CCTV footage can prove my innocence. Thank you.
What an examiner checks here:
- speaker feels much relieved
- has been worried people suspect self-arson
- CCTV footage can prove innocence
- thanks the officer
Easy to miss: '纵火' is arson, deliberately setting the fire; keep that the fear is of being suspected of doing it themselves.
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Practice dialogue written to the CCL specification (two speakers, segments of 35 words or fewer, about 300 words). It is a practice text, not a NAATI test paper, and the AI score is this site's estimate, not a NAATI result. All Mandarin dialogues · All languages