A
1
Both men and women spend a lot of time and money on fashion in an attempt to keep up with the latest trends. ● Does beauty affect one’s success in life? ● Do you think the standard of beauty is the same in Ukraine as in America? ● Is there more pressure on women than on men to be beautiful?
2
"Don’t judge a book by its cover" is a popular English idiom. • Do you think that too much attention is paid to appearance? • What value does our culture place on appearances? • How far do you agree that clothes and appearance are not important in judging a person?
3
Many people disagree about the secret of having a healthy body. • Different food diets, exercise routines and vitamins are just some of the things that are recommended. • What do you think are the keys to a healthy lifestyle and a long life? Why?
4
Environmental issues regularly get into the news. • What is the situation in your immediate neighbourhood? • What can be done to make our planet a better place to live? • What do you personally do to protect the environment?
5
“Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages”, Thomas A. Edison. Do animals have rights like human beings? • Some fashion models refuse to advertise products involving animal cruelty such as cosmetics and fur coats. Would you buy such products? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
6
Henry David Thoreau said, “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals”. ● What is your biggest goal in life? How do you plan to achieve that goal? ● What are your “short-term” and “long-term” goals? ● Once you have finally achieved your life goal, what will you do then?
7
The author Lemony Snicket said, “Just because something is traditional is no reason to do it, of course.” ● Are traditions important in today’s society? ● Do you think it is better for cultures to stick to their traditions, or to change and become more modern? ● Does your culture have strong traditions? Does your family follow them?
8
In many countries, students learning English as a foreign language spend a great deal of time leaning about Great Britain. ● Do you believe that country studies are important to language development? Why or why not? ● How closely do you think a language is connected with the culture and history of those who speak it? Would it be possible to become fluent in a language while knowing nothing about the country and people who speak that language? Why or why not?
9
Ukraine is a nation made up of different traditions and cultural styles. • Describe these differences briefly to a person who knows little of Ukraine’s diversity. • What traditions are you most proud of? • Please describe them and explain why they are important to you.
10
Bullying has always been a problem in school but now acts of cyber-bullying, or harassment, take place on the Internet. It deeply affects teens and can lead to serious consequences. • In your opinion, who is responsible for addressing the issue of cyber-bullying, parents or school? • If so, in what ways can they do this? • Explain some ways that students can more safely communicate through the Internet. How can a community combat this phenomenon?
11
A teenager’s life can often be more difficult than the parents suspect. ● What real problems do teenagers face today? ● Comment on the generational gaps between you and your parents. ● Do you feel that teenagers need to show more respect to older generations? Why?
12
“A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu. • What does this quote mean to you? Do you agree with it? • Describe a memorable journey that you took with your family or friends. • How has technology changed the ways we travel, and what we do as we travel?
13
Zoos are places where animals are collected for study and education. The first zoo was created by the Egyptians in 3500 BC! But many people think that keeping animals in zoos is not right, and that it is cruel to keep animals in cages. • What do you think of zoos? Have you ever visited a zoo, petting farm or animal preserve? • What are the positive and negative aspects of zoos? • Do you think that it is cruel to keep animals in zoos? Why or why not?
14
Urbanization is the process of people moving into the city, causing it to grow and expand. Cities all over the world are getting bigger and more crowded. • Do you think it is better to live in the city or in the country? Why? • Is it a good thing for so many people to move into the city? What are some positive or negative effects? • If you could live in any place, in any city or any country, where would you live? Why?
15
Social networking websites like Facebook or Instagram are incredibly popular, but some are concerned that young people are being too free with their personal information. ● What information about yourself are you comfortable sharing on the Internet? ● Do you think people are being careless about their private lives? ● What are the possible effects, good or bad, of so much online sharing?
16
Are you a shopaholic? Where do you usually do your shopping? • Do you ever shop online? • Do you buy environmentally-friendly products? • Do you shop at charity shops?
17
Imagine that you are given enough money to start your own business. • What type of business would you choose to open, and how would you call it? • What would you need to open your own business in terms of space, employees, and supplies? • How would you advertise your new business?
18
A person you know is planning to visit your town or city. • During what season would you recommend him or her to visit it, and why? • What do you think this person would like and dislike about spending time in your town or city? Why? • What areas of interest would you show her or him first?
19
You want to cook something special for your parents. • What would you choose to cook and why? Is it your favourite dish? • What are its ingredients? What equipment and utensils do you need to cook it? • What can make this dish especially tasty?
20
People today may think that humankind has seen everything. Yet, there are still a lot of unknown things about the ocean and outer space. • Do you think it is more important to devote resources to exploring the ocean or outer space? • How would we benefit from exploring this realm? • What do you hope we will discover in the next ten years?