?
Why do so many people like to take photographs (as a hobby)?
? Some people don't like taking photographs. Can you make any guesses about why? ? What are the occasions when people take photographs?
? Why do some people invade the privacy of celebrities by taking photographs of these celebrities? ? Do you think news photographs are an important part of newspaper stories?
? Do you think photographs are important in understanding (or representing or recording) history? Technology and Photographs
? Compare old cameras with those in use today.
? How has photography (or, photographic technology) changed over the past few decades? ? Compare the photos that you take with those that professional photographers take. ? Some people prefer to take still photographs while others prefer to take videos. Why? Photographs as Art
? Compare a typical family photograph and an artistic photograph. ? Do many Chinese people visit photograph exhibitions?
? Compare painting pictures and taking photographs (as art forms).
? Which leaves a deeper impression on people, a picture or a written description of some event or scene
A Successful Company
Describe a (small) company in your hometown that you think is successful. You should say:
the name of this company
what this company produces (or does) how you know this company
and explain why you think this company is successful.
Organizations
? In general, how do you think businesses become successful?
? What types of companies (or, businesses) are most successful in your hometown? ? Why do you think some companies are more successful than others?
? Which would you prefer to do, be an employee or a manager of a company? ? Which work do you think is easier, being an employee or being a manager? Finding Jobs
? Is it hard to find work in China today?
? Would you like to do shift work, for example, working during the night in a 24-hour convenience store? ? How do you think doing that kind of work impacts a person's (personal & family) life? ? Do you think there are any advantages from working at night? ? Would you like to work in a factory?
? Compare working in a factory and working in an office. ? What kind of work do people do in your hometown? ? Why are these factories on the edge of the city?
? Besides companies, what are some of the common types of organization in China? ? Do you think small businesses have much impact on the world?
21
A Lifestyle Change to Improve Your Health
Describe a change you would like to make to your lifestyle in order to improve your health You should say:
what change you would like to make how you would make this change how difficult you think it would be
and explain why you think this change would improve your health (or fitness)
Healthy Living
? Have there been any changes in the past few years (e.g., 20 to 50 years) concerning people's health habits? ? Is there much difference between men and women when it comes to the question of having a healthy
lifestyle?
People's Knowledge about Healthy Living
? Where can people get information about what is a healthy lifestyle? ? How can children and young people learn about good health habits?
? Do you think schools should have some classes on the topic of health (or, a healthy lifestyle)?
? Do you think the government (or, the community) has a responsibility to provide facilities that people can
use to help them maintain good health?
? How can the government help people make healthy lifestyle decisions?
An Educational Program
Describe an educational TV program that you like to watch You should say:
the name of the program what type of program it is what contents it has
and explain what you learn from this program.
Television Tastes
? What types of TV programs do you like?
? In general, what types of TV programs are most popular in China? ? Have TV programs changed in the past few years? (If yes, how?) Educational Television
? Do you think there should be more educational TV programs?
? How do you think television will develop (or change) in the future? The Effects and Influence of Television
? In your opinion, how does watching TV influence people?
? What do you think are the benefits, and the drawbacks, of watching television? ? What do you think can be the result if a person watches too much TV? TV Celebrities
? Do you want to be a TV celebrity (or, \
? Do you think it's good that TV celebrities are often role models for young people? ? In your opinion, what qualities does someone need to have to become a TV celebrity? ? Many TV stars have an income that is very high. Do you think this is reasonable?
22
A Useful Website
Describe a useful website that you like to visit. (Or, that you have visited) You should say:
what he contents of the website are (or, were) how and when you first found this website how often you go to this website
and explain why you think this website is (or, was) useful.
The Different Types of Internet Users
? Is the internet used very much by people in China?
? What (different) things do these (different kinds of) people use the internet for?
? What (kinds of) people don't use the internet and what are the disadvantages that these people suffer
because they don't use the internet?
Old people and the internet
? Do old people access (= go onto = use) the internet very much? (Why not?) ? How do you think these difficulties for old people could be overcome? ? Do you think it is useful to teach old people how to use the internet? The Importance of the Internet
? What are some of the most popular websites in China? ? What are the good points about the internet? ? Do you think the internet is important?
? What is the value (the usefulness) of the internet for society? ? Do you think the internet is playing a role in changing the world? The Bad Points about the Internet
? Does the internet have any bad points? and some of the bad points about the internet? ? In your opinion, is there anything negative about the internet? The Development of the Internet in Your Country
? How do you think the internet might develop in the future? ? How do you think the internet will change society in the future?
An Interesting News
Describe an interesting news story that you read or heard about recently. You should say:
what this news was how you got this news
who was involved in this news
and explain why you think (or, thought) it was interesting.
The News Media in Your Country
? How do people in your country usually get their news? ? Why do people read newspapers?
? Who prefers to read newspapers in your country, old people or young people? ? Do people in your country prefer local news or international news?
? Do you think governments should be able to control what news is in the media?
23
What do you think the future of the news media will be like?
? Do you think the usage of satellite news transmission will mean the end of newspapers?
?
Something Expensive You Bought
Describe something expensive you bought. You should say:
what it was
how long you saved for it where you bought it
and explain why you wanted to buy it.
Saving Money
? Do you think it's easy to save money?
? Do you think it's better to spend money or to save money? (Why?)
? What about children? Do you think children should learn how to save money? Spending Money
? What sorts of things do young people buy (or, like to buy)?
? Do you think people are more materialistic today than they used to be? ? Why do some (young) people buy things that they don't really need? The Effect of Advertising
? Do you think advertising has much effect on people's shopping behaviour? ? Do you think advertising can have bad effects on children?
? Do you think parents should always buy something whenever their children want it? Shopping
? Do you like shopping?
? Is there much difference between shopping in the city and shopping in a small place (such as a village or
town)?
? Is there much difference between the attitudes of people towards shopping in big cities and in rural areas? ? How do you think shopping will change in the future?
Something You Would Like to Learn More About
Describe something that you are interested in and would like to learn more about. You should say
what it is
when you first became interested in it how you would learn it
and explain why you would like to learn more about this topic.
Learning
? Do you think that there is a lot to learn nowadays? ? Is it important to learn new things?
? What qualities do people who like learning have? ? Who do you think learns easier, adults or children?
? Who do you think is more receptive to learning, adults or children? ? How important do you think childhood education is? Adult Education
24
Do you think adult education is important?
? So, why do people go to work and stop learning things after they graduate from university? ? Who do you think should pay for this education?
? What facilities are there in your hometown for adults (working people) to continue learning? ? Do you think governments should support adult education? Information
? In your opinion, what has the greater influence on a child's development, his or her family or other things? ?
? What are the main sources of knowledge or information that are available today? ? Is this different to the past?
? What do you think is the most convenient way to get information?
? Do you think that government should provide free public libraries for the people? ? Do you think information that we find on the internet is reliable?
A Childhood Song
Describe a song or melody that you remember from your childhood. You should say:
where you (first) heard this song or melody how old you were when you first heard it what the song (or melody) was about
and explain how you felt (or feel now) when you heard (or hear) this song.
Music in Your Society
? What's your favourite type of music?
? Do your parents also like that kind of music?
? Compare the music that young people like to listen to with the music that older people like to listen to. ? Compare classical music and modern music.
? Compare the music that people of different age groups like. ? Do you think people's tastes in music change as they get older? ? What do old people like to listen to?
? Has music in China changed much in the past 30 years or so?
? Do you think people in different countries listen to different music? Why? ? Compare Western and Chinese music.
? Has Chinese music been influenced by Western music?
? Is there any relationship between people’s culture and the kind of music they listen to?
? Why do you think Western popular music has such a big influence throughout the whole world? The Uses of Music
? What are the different places where people can listen to music?
? Nowadays, a lot of shops play background music in their shops. Can you suggest why they do that?
? What do you think of the background music that is often played in department stores or shopping malls? ? Why do you think these places play that kind of music?
? Some people think the music played in shopping malls is annoying. What do you think? ? Do you agree that music can sometimes be considered to be noise pollution?
25