A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels

ChatGPT的新变化:便宜的也有广告
ChatGPT's Cheap Plans Now Show Ads — A Classroom Talk on OpenAI's Change
About this story
A simple story about ChatGPT's cheapest plans showing ads and what that means for students using OpenAI. HSK 1 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 1 Chinese listening episode that runs about 6 minutes. The full Mandarin script is shown with tap-for-pinyin and a line-by-line English translation, so you can listen and read at once — comprehensible input in the sense of Stephen Krashen's i+1 theory. It teaches 12 key vocabulary words such as 便宜、对不起、我们 and walks through 5 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 4 difficulty levels — use the level selector above to find the version that is challenging but still understandable for you.
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原文Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.
English transcript reference
Speaking of new things in computers, let's talk about this today.
We all use computers.
We all use phones.
Computers have many things inside them.
Phones also have many things inside them.
I have a friend.
His name is Xiao Ming.
Xiao Ming is a student.
He is very young.
He doesn't have a lot of money.
Xiao Ming likes to study.
He studies at home.
He studies at school.
On Xiao Ming's desk, there is a computer.
He sits in a chair.
He looks at the computer.
This computer is very smart.
Xiao Ming can ask the computer questions.
Xiao Ming asks: "What is an apple?" (continued)
The computer says: "An apple is a fruit."
Xiao Ming asks: "What's the weather like today?" (continued)
The computer says: "Today is very hot." (continued)
Xiao Ming is very happy.
Because the computer is very smart.
The computer knows many things.
Before, the computer only answered questions.
The computer only had words inside.
There was nothing else.
But now, things have changed.
Today, Xiao Ming looks at the computer.
Xiao Ming asks: "I want to buy clothes." (continued)
The computer answered.
The computer says: "You can go to a store." (continued)
But below the computer's answer, there was something extra.
It was a few words.
It was the name of a store.
It was a link.
The computer wanted Xiao Ming to look at this store.
The computer wanted Xiao Ming to buy things.
What is this?
This is an "advertisement."
An advertisement is something from a store.
The store gives money to the computer.
The computer makes you look at the store.
Xiao Ming thought this was very strange.
Before, there were no advertisements.
Why are there advertisements now?
Because Xiao Ming didn't pay money.
Xiao Ming uses this computer for free.
He didn't give the computer company money.
He paid zero dollars.
The computer company says: "If you don't pay, you have to see advertisements." (continued)
This is fair.
The store paid money, so you see the store.
Xiao Ming has another friend.
His name is Xiao Qiang.
Xiao Qiang has a little money.
Xiao Qiang doesn't want to see advertisements.
Xiao Qiang gives the computer company money.
How much money did he give?
He gave eight dollars.
Eight dollars a month.
Eight dollars is not a lot.
But it's not a little either.
Xiao Qiang thinks: "I paid money."
"I won't see advertisements." (continued)
Xiao Qiang opens the computer.
Xiao Qiang asks questions.
But what did Xiao Qiang see?
He still saw advertisements.
Below the computer's answer, there was still a store name.
Xiao Qiang is not happy.
Xiao Qiang says: "Why?"
"I paid money."
The computer company says: "Sorry." (continued)
The computer company says: "Eight dollars is too little." (continued)
Eight dollars is the cheapest option.
So people who pay eight dollars also have to see advertisements.
This is the same as people who don't pay.
Then, who doesn't see advertisements?
My teacher doesn't see advertisements.
He is Teacher Zhang.
Teacher Zhang has a lot of money.
Teacher Zhang paid twenty dollars.
Twenty dollars is more than eight dollars.
Teacher Zhang looks at the computer.
The computer only has answers.
The computer has no stores.
The computer has no advertisements.
Because Teacher Zhang paid a lot of money.
So, do you want to not see advertisements?
You have to pay a lot of money.
Only paying a little money doesn't work.
Xiao Ming says: "I don't have money."
"But I don't want to see advertisements." (continued)
Is there a way?
There is one way.
The computer says: "You can choose not to see advertisements."
"But there is one condition."
"You can choose not to see the store names."
"But you can't ask as many questions."
"Before, you could ask one hundred questions."
"Now, you can only ask fifty questions."
"If you talk less, you won't see advertisements."
"If you talk more, you have to see advertisements."
This is also fair.
Xiao Ming is worried.
Xiao Ming thinks: "Does the store know who I am?" (continued)
Does the store know Xiao Ming's name?
Does the store know where Xiao Ming lives?
The computer says: "No." (continued)
This is safe.
The store doesn't know your name.
The store doesn't know what you said.
The store only knows: "Oh, someone looked." (continued)
The store only knows this much.
So Xiao Ming doesn't need to worry.
There's one more thing.
Xiao Ming sometimes gets sick.
If Xiao Ming gets sick, he asks the computer.
He asks: "I don't feel well."
"Which hospital should I go to?" (continued)
At this time, are there advertisements?
No.
At this time, there are no advertisements.
The computer knows that being sick is important.
When you're sick, you don't see stores.
Also, do children see advertisements?
No.
If you are under eighteen years old, you don't see advertisements.
The computer protects children.
This is how computers are now.
What is this story about?
This story is about ChatGPT.
ChatGPT is a very smart software.
Many people are using ChatGPT.
Before, ChatGPT was very clean.
Now, ChatGPT has advertisements.
This is the latest news.
If you use the free ChatGPT, you will see advertisements.
The advertisements are "sponsored links."
If you pay eight dollars, you will also see advertisements.
Only if you pay twenty dollars, there are no advertisements.
This is a decision by the company OpenAI.
They started doing this this week.
If you see a store name below the computer's answer, don't be surprised.
This is the new ChatGPT.
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇Costing little money; inexpensive. The opposite of 'expensive' (guì).
HSK 1. I'm sorry.
HSK 1. we; us.
HSK 1. they; them.
HSK 1. what.
HSK 1. today.
A notice or announcement promoting a product or service. In this context, it refers to the store names shown by the computer.
To obtain something without paying money. Literally means 'exempt from fee'.
A clickable connection on a computer or internet page.
Describes someone or something having quick intelligence.
Impartial; treating everyone equally according to the rules.
To feel anxious or concerned about something.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法Place + 有 + Object
This pattern expresses existence, meaning 'There is/are [Object] in/at [Place]'.
小明的桌子上有一个电脑。
电脑里有很多东西。
电脑下面还是有商店的名字。
A + 比 + B + Adjective
Used to make comparisons, meaning 'A is more [Adjective] than B'.
二十块钱比八块钱多。
Subject + 让 + Person + Verb
The causative verb 让 (ràng) means 'to let' or 'to make' someone do something.
电脑让小明看这个商店。
电脑想让小明买东西。
电脑让你看商店。
如果……(就)……
A conditional pattern meaning 'If..., (then)...'. The word '就' is often implied or used in the second clause.
如果小明生病了,他问电脑。
如果你用免费的 ChatGPT,你会看见广告。
不满十八岁,不看广告。
只有……才……
A pattern indicating a unique condition: 'Only if... then...'. '只有' introduces the only condition, and '才' introduces the result.
只有给二十块钱,才没有广告。
Proper Nouns
专有名词Sources
来源Free account
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