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1
What are the advantages of teaching children to play musical instruments? What is the best age to teach children a musical instrument? What should be the role of music in education? Which school subjects get priority and more respect than others, and why?
2
Every day we hear of more violence at sports events because fans become enraged when their team loses. Don’t you think that the most effective way to control such incidents would be to teach people how to handle defeat?
3
Psychologists agree on the point that parents are less strict with later children than with their first child, or that first-born children are under more pressure to do well at school. Do you like your position in your family (the first child, a middle child, the youngest child, the only child)? Would you prefer to be in a different position? If so, why?
4
The local council will soon decide whether our town will have a new sports centre or a new entertainment centre. Express your opinion telling us which one should be built. Give your reasons and say what you would like the centre to offer.
5
How has fast food changed in your country? How is your country’s fast food different from other countries’ fast food? Can you think of any healthy fast food? How would you define “fast food”?
6
Speak about your free-time activities. What interesting experiences have you had? What do your own hobbies tell people about your personality?
7
Animals should be treated with the same respect as humans. Which animals do people keep as pets in your country? Why? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Do you think it is right to spend money on keeping pets when so many people in the world live in poverty?
8
Choose one or two examples of games or video games. What are their rules? What kinds of games are popular now? What makes a good game? Are games good for you or bad for you? Why or why not?
9
Your friend is overweight. Try to persuade him/her that healthy eating is very important. Tell us what kinds of food are popular with young people in your country.
10
What is it ‘cool’ to wear these days in your country if you are a young person? When you buy something new to wear, do you care what other people think? What do you think of people who are always changing their image (e.g. through a new hairstyle, different clothes or tattoos)?
11
‘For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned.’ Are you an organized person or not? Do you like to plan carefully in advance or do you prefer to be more spontaneous? Do you have any friends or relatives who are very different from you in this respect? Does this ever cause problems?
12
Celebrities should be allowed to keep their private lives private, without the invasion of the media. Express your ideas about this subject.
13
Living in a foreign country cannot be better than living in your own. Do you agree? Express your ideas about this subject.
14
Think of memorable celebration you’ve taken part in. Who took part and what happened? How would you describe the occasion (moving, funny, exhilarating)? Give reasons.
15
What is your favorite holiday and why? Talk about your best memory from a holiday. What do you typically do on your favorite holiday? Whom do you spend time with on your favorite holiday?
16
The media has both harmful and beneficial effects. Do you agree? Express your ideas about this subject.
17
Describe the place you would like to visit at some time in the future and explain why it appeals to you.
18
Television often has a harmful effect on children. What can be done to prevent television programmes having a negative influence on children?
19
A lot of opportunities are available for young people nowadays. Is it true that today’s young people are spoilt by having too much given to them?
20
Think about three professions that are the most important for today’s society. What qualifications, personal qualities, work experience, etc. would you need in order to get one of these jobs? Which jobs do you think are the most and least prestigious? Why?