WRITING:

Education
1. Question: Some people think that children should begin their education at a very
early age. Some think they should begin at least 7 years old.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
2. Question: Some people think that sending criminals to prison is not effective.
Education and job training should be used instead.
Do you agree or disagree?
3. Question: Some people think movies should only be for entertainment. Others think
that they should also have educational values.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
4. Some people say that art subjects such as painting or drawing should not be made
compulsory for high school students. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
5. Education of young people is highly prioritized in many countries. However,
educating adults who cannot write or read is even more important and governments
should spend more money on this. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

TOPIC 2: WORK

Practice questions

1. Question: Many employers find that their new employees lack sufficient
interpersonal skills such as lack of ability to work with colleagues as a team.
What are the causes? Can you suggest some possible solutions?
2. Question: The world of work is rapidly changing and employees cannot depend on
having the same job or the same working conditions for life.
Why is it the case? Can you suggest some ways to prepare people to work in the
future?
3. Question: In most successful companies, some people think that communication
between employers and workers is the most important factor, other people say that
other factors are more important.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
4. Question: More and more people are now moving away from an agricultural
background to cities for work.
What will be the consequences of this? What solution can you offer?
5. Question: Many people find it hard to balance their work with other parts of their
lives.
What are the reasons for this? How can this problem be overcome?
6. Some people believe that young people should choose the jobs that they want, but other
people think they should be more realistic and think more about their future. Discuss
both views and give your own opinion.
7. Many people go to university for academic study. More people should be encouraged to
do vocational training because there is a lack of qualified workers such as electricians and
plumbers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

TOPIC 3: HEALTH

Practice questions

1. Question: It is more important to spend public money on promoting a healthy

lifestyle in order to prevent illness than to spend it on treatment of people who are
already ill.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2. Question: The number of people who are at risk of serious health problems due to
being overweight is increasing.
What is the reason for the growth of overweight people in society?
How can this problem be solved?
3. Question: Some people think that public health in a country can be improved by the
government making laws regarding nutritious food. Others, however, think that
health is a matter of personal choice and responsibility.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
4. Question: Healthcare should not be provided for free regardless of a person’s
income. The health of a person is in their own hands and they should, therefore, be
held accountable for that.
Do you agree with this opinion?
5. Question: The increase in food production owes much to fertilizers and better
machinery. Some people think that it has a negative impact on human health and
community. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
6. An increasing number of people choosing to have cosmetic surgery in order to improve
their appearance. Why do people have operations to change the way they look? Do you
think this is positive or negative development?
7. More and more people are becoming seriously overweight. Some people think a
solution can be to increase the price of fattening foods. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?

TOPIC 4: ENVIRONMENT

Practice questions

1. Question: Nowadays, people have little awareness of the importance of the natural
world.
What are the reasons and how can people learn more about the natural world?
2. Question: The increase in the production of consumer goods results in damage to
the natural environment.
What are the causes of this? What can be done to solve this problem?
3. Question: Some people think that zoos are all cruel and should be closed down.
Others however believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals. Discuss
both opinions and give your own opinion.
4. Question: Human activities have negative effects on plant and animal species. Some
people think it is too late to do anything about this problem. Others believe that
effective measures can be taken to improve this situation.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
5. Question: It is often said that governments spend too much money to protect
wildlife, while there are other problems that are more important.
Do you agree or disagree?
6. Question: The best way to solve the world’s environmental problems is to increase
the cost of fuel for cars and other vehicles.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

TOPIC 5: BUSINESS

Practice questions

1. Question: Some people think that big companies should provide sports and social
facilities for the local community. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2. Question: The expansion of multinational companies and increase in globalization
produce positive effects for everyone.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
3. Question: In some countries, small town-centre shops are going out of business
because people tend to drive to large out-of-town stores. As a result, people without
cars have limited access to out-of-town stores, and it may result in an increase in the
use of cars.
Do you think the disadvantages of this change outweigh its advantages?
4. Question: Many employers find that their new employees lack sufficient
interpersonal skills such as lack of ability to work with colleagues as a team.
What are the causes? Can you suggest some possible solutions?
5. Question: Large businesses have big budgets for marketing and promotion and as a
result, people gravitate towards buying their products.
What problems does this cause? What could be done to encourage people to buy
local products?

TOPIC 6: ENTERTAINMENT

Practice questions

1. Question: These days, a great number of children prefer spending time on computer
games rather than on sports.
Why is it? Is it a positive or negative development?
2. Question: Pop stars earn much more than classical music performers. Some people
think this is fully justified while others think it is unfair.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
3. Question: Films were produced by big companies in the past, but today people are
able to make a film.
Is this a negative or positive development?
4. Question: Some people think sports games are important for society, while others
believe they should be taken as leisure activities. Discuss both views and give your
opinion.
5. Question: Many young people do not spend their holidays and weekends doing
outdoor activities like hiking and climbing in natural environments. Why? How can
they be encouraged to go out?

TOPIC 7: LANGUAGE

Practice questions

1. Question: A few languages are increasingly spoken in different countries, while

the use of others is rapidly declining.
Is it a positive or negative development?
2. Question: The development of tourism contributed to English becoming the most
prominent language in the world. Some people think this will lead to English
becoming the only language to be spoken legally.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of learning one language in the
world?
3. Question: As computers translate quickly and accurately, learning foreign
languages is a waste of time.
To what extent do you agree?
4. Question: Some people think governments should spend money on measures to
save languages with few speakers from dying out completely. Others think this
is a waste of financial resources. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

TOPIC 8: TECHNOLOGY

Practice questions

1. Question: Some people believe that technology causes more problems for modern
society than it solves.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2. Question: More and more people no longer read newspapers or watch TV
programs to get news. They get news about the world through the Internet.
Is this a positive or negative development?
3. Question: Some people think the increasing use of technology in the workplace is
good for young people's prospects of gaining a job and harder for old people. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
4. Question: Today, advanced science and technology have made great changes to
people’s lives, but artists are still highly valued such as musicians, painters and
writers. What can the arts tell us about life that science and technology cannot?
5. Question: Online shopping is replacing shopping in stores. Do you think it is a
positive or negative development?
6. Question: Some people think that with the increasing use of mobile phones and
computers, people lose the ability to communicate face to face. To what extent do
you agree or disagree?
7. The use of mobile phones is as antisocial as smoking. Smoking is banned in certain
places so mobile phones should be banned like smoking. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?

TOPIC 9: SOCIAL ISSUES

Practice questions

1. Question: In many countries, imprisonment is the most common solution to crimes.

However, some people believe that better education will be a more effective
solution.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2. Question: In many nations, people in huge cities either live alone or in small family
units, instead of in large, extended family groups.
Is this a positive or negative trend?
3. Question: The use of mobile phones is as antisocial as smoking. Smoking is banned
in certain places so mobile phones should be banned like smoking.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
4. Question: Most people have forgotten the meaning behind traditional and religious
festivals; during festival periods, people nowadays only want to enjoy themselves.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
5. Question: Many countries aim to improve their living standard by economic
development, but some important social values are lost as a result.
Do you think the advantages of economic development outweigh the disadvantages?
6. Question: Some people say economic growth is the only way to end world poverty
and hunger, while others say economic growth is damaging the environment and
must stop. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
7. Some think most crime is the result of circumstances e.g. poverty and other social
problems. Other believe that most crime is caused by people who are bad by nature.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion
8. Politicians should take more responsibility for preventing and solving global
environmental problems, because individuals can do very little.
Do you agree or disagree?
9. The best way for a government to prepare for the future is to invest resources in its young
people. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
TOPIC 10: GOVERNMENT

Practice questions

1. Question: Some people feel that there is too much emphasis on getting an
education, and that the government should spend money on leisure time activities
for young people too. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
2. Question: A government has a responsibility to its citizens to ensure their safety.
Therefore, some people think that the government should increase spending on
defense but spend less on social benefits. To what extent do you agree?
3. Question: Some people think that the government should give money to creative
people, such as artists and musicians. To what extent do you agree?
4. Question: Some people think the government should pay for health care and
education, but there is no agreement about whether it is the government’s
responsibility. What is your opinion?
5. Question: Accommodation and transport problems are increasing in many large
cities. Businesses are encouraged to move to rural areas. Do the advantages
outweigh the disadvantages?

TOPIC 11: ADVERTISING

Practice questions

1. Question: Nowadays there are many television advertisements aimed at children.

What effects do they have on children? Should TV advertising be controlled?
2. Question: People are surrounded by many kinds of advertising which can influence
their life. Do the positive effects of this trend outweigh negative effects?
3. Question: Many companies sponsor sports as a way to advertise themselves. Some
people think this is good for the world of sports, while others think there are
disadvantages of this. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
4. Question: Some people say that what children watch on TV influences their
behaviour while others say the amount of time children spend watching Tv
influences their behavior. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

TOPIC 12: DIFFICULT QUESTIONS

Practice questions

1. Question: Scientists believe that by studying the behaviour of 3-year-old children,

people can predict if that child can become a criminal in the future.
To what extent is crime a product of human nature? Is it possible to stop children
from growing to be a criminal?
2. Question: Some feel that schools should be mixed with both girls and boys
attending. Others feel the genders ought to be separated.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
3. Question: In recent years, there has been growing interest in the relationship
between equality and personal achievement. Some people believe that individuals
can achieve more in egalitarian societies. Others believe that high levels of personal
achievement are possible only if individuals are free to succeed or fail according to
their individual merits. What is your view of the relationship between equality and
personal success?
4. Question: Research into new types of medicines and treatments are essential for
improving health and dealing with diseases. Who do you think should fund these
researches: private companies, individuals or governments?