1. Why should dangerous sports be allowed?
personal choice
safety
money
How important is it to have a sense of
humour?
health
time and place
relationships
What makes a place particularly memorable?
personal experiences
people
atmosphere
How much do people respect authority
nowadays?
different societies
changing times
influences
What helps people to deal with difficult
situations?
personality
support
age
In what ways has life become more or less
dangerous?
technology
health
social values

2. Are there more benefits or drawbacks
to living in a city nowadays?
jobs
transport
accommodation
What are the implications of scientific
research today?
career opportunities
commercial interests
moral issues
How important is the printed book in
the twenty-first century?
technological alternatives
practical advantages
educational issues
How has life changed in the past hundred
years?
work
education
family life
What changes do you foresee in the future?
accommodation
fashion
transport
Is it better to conform or be different
from your peers?
fashion
relationships
leisure pursuits

3. What makes people laugh in your country?
popular comedians
comedy films
other people’s misfortunes
How do we decide what people should be
paid for their jobs?
competition
expertise and ability
as motivation
How do we learn the difference between
right and wrong?
people
education
experience
In what ways are people influenced during
their teenage years?
fashions
career plans
peer groups
Why do people say the world is getting
smaller?
accessing information
travel opportunities
international business
In what ways have our ideas of right and
wrong changed?
science and technology
media
sport

4. How far is it true that travel broadens
the mind?
for tourists
for workers
for the host country
In what ways can we best understand the
history of our country?
books
people
places
How should schools help to prepare young
people for the world of work?
areas of knowledge
realistic expectations
personal qualities
What are the effects of technological
development on our lives?
work
health
leisure
What’s better – to be self employed or to
be an employee?
the purpose of work
freedom and responsibility
technology
What makes someone a good learner?
different ages
interest
role of teacher

5. What does successful communication
between people depend on?
circumstances
relationships
use of language
Why do many older people say that the past
was better?
education
social values
pace of life
What are the attractions and drawbacks of
being a teacher?
working with people
working conditions
sharing knowledge
What makes a language develop and change?
different uses
different generations
different fashions
How has technology helped, or not helped,
communication?
convenience
dependence
cost
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the
different forms of mass media?
news
education
entertainment

6. What role does music play in our lives?
social role of music
entertainment and relaxation
fashion and culture
What role do museums have in modern
society?
education
preservation
research
Is it fair to keep wild animals in zoos?
animal welfare
educational role of zoos
preservation of endangered species
Is it right to try and prevent the economic
development of remote parts of the world?
ecological considerations
rights of local people
opportunities for doing research
What is the role of competitive sport in
modern society?
motivation and rewards
commerical considerations
international competitions
Should public services such as health and
education be run according to business
principles?
need to use scarce resources wisely
quality of services vs. cost of services
private enterprise vs. government spending

7. What changes do you expect to see in
eating habits in the future?
fast food
vegetarianism
food safety
How will technology affect work in the
future?
working from home
unemployment
shorter working week
How far do you agree that friends are more
important than family?
having problems
facing problems
finding models
What makes people laugh?
cultural background
visual or verbal
changing attitudes
How easy is it to remember new information?
topic
circumstances
quantity
What is it that makes people powerful?
personal circumstances
knowledge
personality

8. What are the qualities of a good employee?
reliability
resourcefulness
personality
How has the nature of work changed for
many people in recent years?
working hours
job security
technological change
What are your views on doctors and the
medical profession?
keeping your teeth healthy and dentists
the quality of health care in your community
alternative medicine (acupuncture, homeopathy)
How easy is it for parents and children to
understand each other?
generation gap
financial problems
education and careers
What are the advantages and disadvantages
of 24-hour shopping?
customers
sales staff
profits
How far do you agree that rehabilitation
is more effective than punishment?
feelings of victims
effect on criminals
effect on society

9. What do you think people can do most
easily to improve the environment?
financial constraints
time constraints
family constraints
What changes should be made to people’s
lifestyles to safeguard our planet’s future?
individual/governmental responsibility
trade/workplace
transport/energy
How far do the benefits of being involved in
sport outweigh the disadvantages?
types of involvement
types of sport
social issues
Do you agree that the strongest influence
on our health is our mind?
lifestyle
money
people
What do you think is the ideal environment
to encourage a child’s development?
physical
mental
financial
How would you define success in the
modern world?
relationships
opportunities
finances

10. When a new product is launched, what
things make it a success?
advertising
price and packaging
product quality
What should a shop or supermarket do to
ensure customer satisfaction?
staff attitudes
prices
range of products
In what ways are we exposed to fewer dangers
than previous generations?
new technology
medical breakthroughs
rules and regulations
What risks do people face in the modern
world?
travelling
environmental problems
crime
How are patterns of family life changing?
work
extended family
divorce
How is the role of family in society
changing?
childcare
mobility of the workforce
single people

11. What effects has TV had on our lives?
access to information
family relationships
outside activities
Should there be controls over what we
watch on TV?
parental control
censorship
freedom of choice
How is the role of work in our lives changing?
demography
technology
health
To what extent does a successful career
depend on a good education?
aptitude
qualifications
economic conditions
Would the world be a better place if eveyone
was forced to speak the same language?
ease of communication
educational implications
which language?
Is English the best language for international
communications?
present role of English
linguistic drawbacks of English
cultural objections to English

12. Why do some music and film stars become enduring celebrities whilst others fade into obscurity?
natural talent
good career management
abilty to get media attention
To what extent does advertising influence
the purchasing decisions of young people?
images in the media
branding and lifestyles
information about products
Why do celebrities in the film and music
industries often seem to have unhappy private
lives?
pressures of the job
lifestyle
the role of the media
Why are some forms of marketing more
effective than others?
target age group
nature of the product
new and established products
It’s a small world and it’s getting smaller
every day. Do you agree with this comment?
language barriers
role of international companies
development of technology
To what extent do you think modern life is
more stressful than life was hundreds of years
ago?
work and leisure
speed of communications
social pressures

13. To what extent are people responsible for their own health?
hereditary influences
environmental influences
lifestyle and habits
Which jobs do you think are the most
difficult to do?
most difficult aspects
how people doing them are generally regarded
importance of the jobs to society
To what extent are people healthier nowadays
than a hundred years ago?
diet
infectious diseases
physical activity
Can it ever be justifiable to tell a lie?
circumstances in which it most often happens
kinds of things people say in those circumstances
good/bad results
What kinds of people are the most dishonest?
jobs that involve lying
effects on society/message given
how much people believe them
Do some people get paid much more/less
than they deserve?
overpaid/underpaid jobs
reasons why overpaid/underpaid
what the jobs really involve

14. What makes a product a best seller?
advertising
peer pressure
design
Why is music important to people around
the world?
traditions
entertainment
emotions
When is it preferable to be in a quiet place or
a noisy place?
age
activity
time of day
How much are people’s ideas affected by
what they see on the TV?
popular comedians
documentaries
politicians and other famous people ? ?