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201
| Some people think it is more important to spend public money on promoting healthy lifestyle in order to prevent illness than to spend it on the treatment for people who are already ill. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
202
| Nowadays people live in the society where consumer goods are cheaper to buy. Do you think its advantages outweigh disadvantages? |
|
203
| Caring for children is an important thing of the society. It is suggested that all mothers and fathers should be required to take childcare training courses. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
204
| Crime is a problem all over the world and there is nothing that can be done to prevent it. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
205
| The cost of air flights has reduced sharply nowadays. Do you think it is a positive or a negative development, give your reasons. |
|
206
| Individuals should not be allowed to carry guns. Do you agree or disagree. |
|
207
| Advances in technology and automation have reduced the need for manual labour. Therefore working hours should be reduced. To what extent do you agree? |
|
208
| Some people believe that teenagers should concentrate on all school subjects. But, others believe that teenagers should focus on the subject that they are best at or that they find the most interest. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. |
|
209
| If a product is good or it meets people needs, people will buy it. So advertising is unnecessary and no more than an entertainment. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
210
| Some people argue that companies and private individuals, rather than governments, should pay the bill of pollution. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
211
| The subjects and lesson contents are decided by the authorities such as the government. Some people argue that teachers should make the choice. Do you agree or disagree? |
|
212
| Some people think that computers and the Internet are more important for a child’s education than going to school. But others believe that schools and teachers are essential for children to learn effectively. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. |
|
213
| The food travels thousands of miles from farm to consumer. Some people think it would be better to our environment and economy if people only ate local produced food. What extend does the advantage outweigh disadvantage? |
|
214
| Report research suggests that majority of criminals who were sent to prison would commit crimes when set free. What do you think of this case? What to be done to solve this problem? |
|
215
| Money for postgraduate research is limited. Some people think that financial support from governments should be only provided for scientific research rather than research for less useful subjects. Do you agree or disagree? |
|
216
| Some people think that students should go to college for further education. However, some others claim that students should go to learn the skills such as fixing cars or construction. What is your opinion? |
|
217
| Television has changed the quality of life for the ordinary person. Do you agree or disagree? |
|
218
| Some believe that those who are not talented in language learning should not be required to learn a foreign language. Do you think school should require students to learn a foreign language? |
|
219
| A hundred years ago, people think that human race is steadily improving in every area of life. Now it seems this is not certain in that situation. In which areas do you think we have made important progress nowadays? In which areas do you think we still need to make progress? |
|
220
| Nowadays sending children to boarding school (either in other countries or in their own countries) is becoming increasingly popular. Why is it? Is it a positive development? |
|
221
| The development of technology changes the way people connect with each other. In which way the development of technology change the types of relationships that people make? It has positive or negative effect on the relationships? |
|
222
| Some people tend to take temporary jobs (they only work for few month of year), for they have time to do other things. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? |
|
223
| Many people go abroad to travel to see what other countries look like. However, the places all around the world are looking more and more similar. What do you think is the cause of this similarity? Do you think the advantages of this effect outweigh the shortages of it? |
|
224
| Some people think that family life and parents have great influence on children’s development, while others consider that external influence plays a more important role in children’s life, discuss both views and give your own opinion. |
|
225
| Individuals and countries cannot help everyone who needs help in the world, so they should only be concerned about their own communities and countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
226
| The environment problems facing today’s world are so great that there is little ordinary people can do to improve the situation. Government and large companies should be responsible for reducing the amount of damage being done to the environment. To what extend do you agree or disagree? |
|
227
| Some people say that professional workers such as doctors, nurses and teachers who make greater contribution to the society should be paid more than those people in the field of sports and entertainment. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
228
| Some people think that introducing new technology can improve people’s quality of life in the developing countries. However, others believe that free education should be offered. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. |
|
229
| Nowadays, people always throw the old things away when they buy new things, some people claim that the broken things should be repaired and used again. What factors cause this phenomenon? What effects the phenomenon leads to? |
|
230
| An increase in production of consumer goods results in damage of the natural environment. What are the causes and possible solutions? |
|
231
| Young people are often influenced in their behaviours and situations by others in the same age. This is called “peer pressure”. Do the disadvantages outweigh the advantages |
|
232
| Some people think parents should read or tell stories to children, while others think parents need not do that, as children can read books, watch TV or movies by themselves. Discuss both views and give your opinion. |
|
233
| Some people think typical teaching of a teacher and students in the class will not exist by the year 2050. Do you agree or disagree? |
|
234
| Individual greed and selfishness has been the basis of the modern society. Some people think that we must return to the older and more traditional values of respect for the family and the local community in order to create a better world to live in. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
235
| Some people think foreign visitors should be charged more than local people when they visit the cultural and historical attractions in a country. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
236
| Some think that children should start school as early as possible, while others believe that they should start school at the age of seven. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. |
|
237
| Environmental problems are too big for individual countries and individual persons to address. In other words, we have reached the stage where the only way to protect the environment is at an international level. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? |
|
238
| In most of the societies, the role of mother and father differs. What are the causes of this difference? What will be the parental roles in future? |
|
239
| Some people believe that women should play an equal role as men in a country’s police force or military force, such as the army, while others think women are not suitable for these kinds of jobs. Discuss both views and give your opinion. |
|
240
| Some people think that men and women have different qualities. Therefore, some certain jobs are suitable for men and some jobs are suitable for women. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
241
| Air travel can only benefit the richest people in the world. Ordinary people can get no advantage with the development of air travel. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
242
| Some people think that politicians have the greatest influence on the world. Other people, however, believe that scientists have the greatest influence. Discuss both of views and give your opinion. |
|
243
| The gap between the rich and the poor is becoming wider, the rich richer, and the poor even poorer. What problems can the situation cause and give the solutions? |
|
244
| Many people believe that today there is a general increase in anti-social behaviour and lack of respect for others. What might have caused this situation? How to improve it? |
|
245
| Most countries want to improve standard of living through economic development, however, others think social value is lost as a result. Do you think the advantages of economic development outweigh the disadvantages? |
|
246
| A report indicated that many children between 7 and 11 spend too much time watching television and/or play video games. How does the problem affect the children, their families and society? What measures can be taken to control it? |
|
247
| Studies suggest that children spend more time watching TV than they did in the past and spend less on doing active or creative things. Why do you think it is the case? What measures and methods can be used to tackle with it? |
|
248
| It has been suggested that everyone in the world want to own a car, a TV and a fridge. Do you think disadvantage of such a development outweigh advantages? |
|
249
| Technological progress in the past century has its negative effect, despite its remarkable contribution. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
250
| In today’s society, more and more work is done by machines. Do you think the positive effects of the development overweigh the negative effects on individuals and society? |
|
251
| Many people who leave school hold a negative attitude towards learning. Why does this happen? How to solve the problem? |
|
252
| An increasing number of people change their career and place of residence several times during their life time. Is this a positive or negative development? |
|
253
| Nowadays more and more young people hold the important positions in the government. Some people think that it is a good thing while others argue that it is not suitable. Discuss both these views and give your opinion. |
|
254
| Some people think it is not necessary for adults to receive education in class. Self-study is a good way for them to study more effectively. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
255
| The movement of people from agricultural areas to cities to work can cause serious problems in both places. What are the serious problems and what measures can be taken to solve this problem? |
|
256
| The major cities in the world are growing fast, as well as their problems. What are the problems that young people living in cities are facing with? Give solutions to these problems. |
|
257
| 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? |
|
258
| In many cities, planners tend to arrange shops, schools, offices, and homes in specific areas and separate them from each other. Do you think the advantages of this policy outweigh the disadvantages? |
|
259
| Mobile phones have made life easier: anyone can use a mobile phone to answer/make work calls or home calls at any place 7 days a week. Do you think this development has more positive effects or negative effects on the individual and society? |
|
260
| Some countries have introduced a law to limit working hours for employees. Why is this law introduced? Do you think it is a positive or a negative development? |
|
261
| In some countries, it is illegal for companies to reject job applicant for their age. Is this a positive or negative development? |
|
262
| Pollution and other environmental problems are resulting from a country’s developing and becoming richer. Some think this cannot be avoided. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
263
| Scientists say that junk food is harmful to people’s health. Some say the way to ask people to eat less fast food is to educate them, while others say education does not work. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion. |
|
264
| Some people have benefited from modern communications technology, but some people have not benefited from it at all. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
265
| Some people think that robots are very important to human’s future development, while others think they are dangerous and have negative effects on society. Discuss both views and give your opinion. |
|
266
| Nowadays, some workplaces tend to employ equal numbers of men and women workers. Do you think it is a positive or negative development? |
|
267
| Nowadays some individuals behave in an anti-society way, such as committing a crime. In general, it is the society to blame. What causes the anti-social behaviours of individuals? Who should be responsible for dealing with it? |
|
268
| Some people think that it is necessary to travel abroad to learn about other countries, while other people think that it is not necessary to travel abroad because all the information can be seen on TV and the Internet. Discuss both views and give your opinion. |
|
269
| Tourism is an excellent way to develop a country, but it can also cause harm. How can countries ensure that tourism benefits the development. |
|
270
| 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. |
|
271
| In several years many languages die out. Some say it is not important because if we speak fewer languages life would be easier. Do you agree or disagree? |
|
272
| Competitiveness is a positive quality for people in most societies. How does competitiveness affect individuals? Is it a positive or negative trend? |
|
273
| The government should control the amount of violence in films and on television in order to decrease the violent crimes in society. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
274
| Some people think that too much money has been spent looking after and repairing old buildings, so we should knock down old buildings and build modern ones instead. To what extent do you agree or disagree?\ |
|
275
| Research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our personality and development than any experiences we may have in our life |
|
276
| Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women? |
|
277
| In the past people wore their traditional clothes and followed their culture. These days most people wear similar clothes and therefore look very similar to one another. Do you think this is a positive or a negative development? |
|
278
| People find it very difficult to speak in public or to give a presentation before an audience. Do you think public speaking skill is really important? Give reasons. Some people say public speaking should be taught at school. Do you agree or disagree? |
|
279
| Many old cities around the world are going through a major process of modernization. What are the advantages and disadvantages of modernization? |
|
280
| According to those in the travel business, the nature of the average ‘holiday’ is changing. Rather than seeking a relaxing break in a far-away place, people now want excitement on their holidays and are keen to participate in unusual and challenging activities. Do you agree or disagree? |
|
281
| Some people enjoy change, and they look forward to new experiences. Others like their lives to stay the same, and they do not change their usual habits.
Compare these two approaches to life. Which approach do you prefer? Explain why? |
|
282
| Would you prefer to live in a traditional house or in a modern apartment building? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice. |
|
283
| Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Children should be required to help with household tasks as soon as they are able to do so.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. |
|
284
| The number of overweight children in developed countries is increasing. Some people think this is due to problems such as the growing number of fast food outlets. Others believe that parents are to blame for not looking after their children’s health.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with these views?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
|
285
| Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television has destroyed communication among friends and family. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
|
286
| Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A person should never make an important decision alone. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
|
287
| Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things that we really do not need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives.
Which viewpoint do you agree with?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
|
288
| Should a city try to preserve its old, historic buildings or destroy them and replace them with modern buildings? What is your viewpoint on this issue?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. |
|
289
| People have different job expectations for jobs. Some people prefer to do the same job for the same company, whereas others prefer to change jobs frequently.
Write about the advantages and disadvantages of each viewpoint? |
|
290
| Business organizations should hire employees for their entire lives. Do you agree or disagree?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. |
|
291
| Fashion trends are difficult to follow these days and it’s widely believed that they primarily exist just to sell clothes. Some people believe that we shouldn’t follow them and that we should dress in what we like and feel comfortable in.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? |
|
292
| In some countries, marriages are arranged by the parents but in other cases, people choose their own marriage partner. Discuss both systems and state which one do you think is better.
Give reasons and relevant examples for your answer. |
|
293
| Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Children should begin learning a foreign language as soon as they start school.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. |
|
294
| People who have original ideas are of much greater value to society than those who are simply able to copy the ideas of others well. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement. |
|
295
| Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Watching television is bad for children. You should write at least 250 words. |
|
296
| What discovery in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in your country?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice. |
|
297
| Traffic and housing problems in major cities could be solved by moving large companies and factories and their employees to the countryside. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should write at least 250 words. |
|
298
| A person you know is planning to move to your town or city. What do you think this person would like and dislike about living in your town or city?
Give details and reasons for your answer. |
|
299
| Scientists and the news media are presenting ever more evidence of climate change. Governments cannot be expected to solve this problem. It is the responsibility of individuals to change their lifestyle to prevent further damage.
What are your views? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
|
300
| Research indicates that the characteristics we are born with have much more influence on our personality and development than any experiences we may have in our life. Which do you consider to be the major influence?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
|
301
| As the world becomes technologically advanced, computers are replacing more and more jobs. Describe some job positions that may be lost because of computers, and discuss at least one problem that may result.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
|
302
| Some people say the Government should not put money into building theaters and sports stadiums; they should spend more money on medical care and education.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? |
|
303
| Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Classmates are a more important influence than parents on a child’s success in school.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. |
|
304
| We all work or will work in our jobs with many different kinds of people. In your opinion, what are some important characteristics of a co-worker (someone you work closely with)?
Use reasons and specific examples to explain why these characteristics are important. |
|
305
| Nowadays, education overseas has become more accessible and growing numbers of people send their offspring to study in other countries. However, this trend has its detractors.
Do you agree or disagree with the above statement? |
|
306
| A foreign visitor has only one day to spend in your country. Where should this visitor go on that day? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice. |
|
307
| Some people think that universities should not provide so much theoretical knowledge but give more practical training throughout their courses.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? |
|
308
| Some people prefer to work for a large company. Others prefer to work for a small company. Which one would you prefer? Use specific reasons to support your choice. |
|
309
| It is widely believed that children of different levels of intelligence should be taught together, while others think that more intelligent children should be taught separately.
Discuss and present your own opinion. Which one do your support? |
|
310
| You have the opportunity to visit a foreign country for two weeks. Which country would you like to visit? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice. |
|
311
| The costs of medical health care are increasing all the time. Governments are finding it difficult to balance the health care budget. Should citizens be totally responsible for their own health costs and take out private health insurance, or is it better to have a comprehensive health care system which provides free health services for all? Discuss your viewpoint on this issue.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
|
312
| When people need to complain about a product or poor service, some prefer to complain in writing and others prefer to complain in person. Which way do you prefer?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
|
313
| Some people think that it is important to have a single language as an international official language. Others think that it will make it difficult to identify countries and would cause a loss of culture.
What are your opinions on this?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
|
314
| It is generally agreed that society benefits from the work of its members. Compare the contributions of artists to society with the contributions of scientists to society. Which type of contribution do you think is valued more by your society? Give specific reasons to support your answer and mention relevant examples to support your answer. |
|
315
| All education (primary, secondary and further education) should be free to all people and paid and managed by the government. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? |
|
316
| As computers are being used more and more in education, there will be soon no role for teachers in the classroom. Do you agree or disagree? |
|
317
| Television has had a significant influence on the culture of many societies. To what extent would you say that television has positively or negatively affected the cultural development of your society?
Use your own knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence. |
|
318
| Financial education should be a mandatory component of the school program.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
|
319
| The age of Information Technology has taken a lot of people by surprise. While it has become a way of life for some, others know very little about it and may be unlikely to learn. Eventually, we will have a polarized society and this will lead to serious social problems.
To what extent do you agree with this statement? |
|
320
| If you could study a subject that you have never had the opportunity to study, what would you choose?
Explain your choice, using specific reasons and details. You should write at least 250 words. |
|
321
| Some people think that a sense of competition in children should be encouraged. Others believe that children who are taught to co-operate rather than compete become more useful adults.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words. |
|
322
| When people move to another country, some of them decide to follow the customs of the new country. Others prefer to keep their own customs. Compare these two choices. Which one do you prefer?
Support your answer with specific details.
You should write at least 250 words.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
|
323
| There are many different types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the traditional music of a country more important than the International music that is heard everywhere nowadays? |
|
324
| Wild animals have no use in the 21st century and trying to preserve animals now is just wastage of money. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? |
|
325
| The Art should be better funded by the government but there must be more control over where the money goes. Discuss your viewpoint on this topic. |
|
326
| Animals should not be used for the benefit of human beings unless there is evidence that the animals do not suffer in any way.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? |
|
327
| Governments around the world are spending billions in support of space programs. This money would be better spent on research into improvements in human health.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? |
|
328
| Children today are too dependent on computers and electronic entertainment. It would be better for them to be outside playing sports and taking part in more traditional past times than spending all day indoors.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement? |
|
329
| Today the high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of advertising and not the real needs of the society in which they are sold.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. |
|
330
| When choosing a job, the salary is the most important consideration for many. Others, however, prefer different other aspects of a job over the salary they earn.
In your opinion what are the most important aspects of a job? |
|
331
| Nowadays plastic money replacements such as credit and debit cards are extremely popular, even more than banknotes and coins. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this. |
|
332
| Some people say that in our modern age it is unnecessary to teach children about the skills of handwriting. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
333
| A country becomes more interesting and develops more quickly when its population includes a mixture of nationalities. To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
334
| The only way to reduce the amount of traffic in cities today is by reducing the need for people to travel from home to work, shopping and education.
To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
335
| Museums and art galleries should concentrate on local works rather than showing the cultures or artworks from other countries.
To what extent do you agree or disagree? |
|
336
| Cricket has become more popular than the national sports in many subcontinental countries. What do you think the reason behind this? |
|
337
| Some people think that studying history is a waste of time while others think it is essential to learn history. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. |
|
338
| Many people believe that university students should study a full range of subjects, instead of some specific subjects. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this viewpoint? |
|
339
| Many people join distance-learning programmes (study material, post, TV, Internet) and study at home, but some people think that it cannot bring the same benefit as attending colleges or universities does. Do you agree or disagree? |
|
340
| People’s lives are becoming increasing stressful nowadays and there are many reasons behind this. Many people relate this to the technological advancement while others say that high living costs and competitions are the main reasons for this stressful life we have. In your opinion what are the reasons behind this? What can be done to solve this problem?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. Write at least 250 words. |
|
341
| In many countries, the proportion of older people is steadily increasing. Does this trend have more positive or negative effects on the society? |
