? ? ? ? ? ? ? What sports do people play in your country? What benefits do people get from this sport?
Which do you think is better, team sports or individual sports? What benefits do people get from playing team sports?
In general, how would you describe the atmosphere in a stadium when a sporting competition is being held? Why do you think people like to cheer when they are watching a sports competition?
What's the difference between watching a sporting competition, such as a football game, in a stadium and watching it on TV?
? Why do you think so many countries like to host the Olympic Games?
An Important Celebration
Describe an important celebration (in your culture). You should say:
when this celebration is held
who attends this celebration (or, who is involved in this celebration) what people do during this celebration and explain why this celebration is important.
Celebrations
? Do you think celebrations are important?
? How important do you think it is to observe traditional celebrations? ? How do people in your culture learn about traditional celebrations?
? Are celebrations today different to the (traditional) celebrations in the past?
? Do you think that, today, there's too much emphasis on making money from celebrations? Traditional Culture
? How much do young people in China know about traditional culture? ? How do young people in your country learn about traditional culture? The \
? Do you think \
A Time When You Were Late
Describe an important occasion when you were late. You should say:
when this happened
what occasion you were late for
why you were late (Or, how you explained your lateness) and explain the result of your being late.
The Causes of Lateness
? What do you think is the main reason why some people are late for something?
? Do you think people are often late because of the daily rush hour, when everybody is going to work or
school at the same time?
? Can you suggest any ways to ease the problems caused by of the daily? ? Do you think many people tell lies as excuses for being late?
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And do you think these lies are serious or can they be forgiven? ? Are there any occasions when it doesn't matter if you're late? The Concept of Time
? In your country, what do people think about the concept of time? ? Do you believe this thinking could be changed?
?
An Outdoor Activity
Describe an outdoor activity that you like doing (or do regularly). You should say:
what this activity is where you do it
when you do it (or, how often you do it) and explain why you like it.
Outdoor Activities
? How do people (in your country) feel about outdoor activities? ? What are the benefits of doing outdoor activities?
? Are there any differences between what young people do outdoors and what old people do? ? Who do you think spends more time outdoors, young people or old(er) people? ? What are some examples of open-air transport that people use in your country? Outdoor Work
? What are some examples of work that people do outdoors?
? Compare the advantages and disadvantages of working indoors and working outdoors?
? Is there any difference between the city and the countryside in the number of people who work indoors and
the number of people who work outdoors?
Something Naughty You Did
Describe something naughty you did when you were a child. You should say:
what you did
when this happened who was with you why you did it
and explain what happened after that.
Naughty Children
? What sorts of things do children do that are considered to be \? Do you think naughty children should stop (or, change) their behaviour?
? Do you think it's natural for children to stop doing everything that their parents think is naughty? ? Do you think children should always obey (or listen to) their parents? Growing Up
? When do you think people can be said to have \
? At what age do you think children (or young people) become adults?
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What's your understanding of the word, \
? What are some of the main differences between children and adults?
?
A Happy Childhood Memory
Describe a happy event from your childhood that you remember well You should say:
what the event was
when and where it happened
who participated in this event
and explain why you remember this event so well.
Memories of the Past
? What sorts of things do you think people are most likely to remember from the past?
? Many (old or older) people feel that their childhood was the happiest (or, the best) time of their lives? Can
you suggest why they might feel that way?
? Do you think people's memories of their childhood are always accurate?
? Some people like to keep things (such as a toy) from their childhood. Can you suggest why these people do
that?
Traditions
? Many young people are not very interested in traditions or in doing things the traditional way. Why do you
think they are like that?
? Do you think traditions (including traditional ways of life) are important to preserve?
? How do you suggest young people's interest in traditions (in their traditional culture) could be stimulated? History
? What do you think are some good ways to learn history? ? What do you think is the best way to learn history?
A Visit to a Friend or Family Member
Describe a visit you recently made (for example, to a friend or family member) You should say:
who this person was why you visited them where you visited them
and explain how you passed the time together.
Hospitality
? What's the difference between being invited to visit and visiting someone of your own accord? ? Do you think it's important to visit other people? ? How do Chinese people welcome guests?
? How do you think you could make a visitor 'feel at home'?
? If you traveled to visit someone, how would you like them to treat you?
? When you have guests, do you think it is better to eat at home or to go to a restaurant? ? How important is the living room in a person's house when guests visit? ? Why do people offer food and drink to visitors?
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Would you say the new generation today is less formal than previous generations on the question of how to treat guests?
Visiting Customs in Your Country
? How do people in China welcome visitors to their homes?
? In China, when someone is a guest in another person's house, in what ways should he or she express their
respect to the host?
? Should the guest offer help to the host?
? In China, when you have visitors, do you usually eat at home or outside the home? ? How do people entertain guests at home?
? In China, what do people generally do when they visit each other? ? What do they talk about?
? Do people in China treat different kinds of visitors in different ways?
? Is there much difference between having relatives visit and having friends visit?
? A Walk
Describe a place where you often walk. You should say:
where and when you walk what you see on this walk who you walk with and explain why you walk.
Walking and health
? Do many people in China go for walks?
? How do you think walking is beneficial to health? ? Are there any disadvantages to walking?
? Do you think that playing sport is better for your health than walking? Do you think people in the past
walked more than people today, or less?
? What is the relationship between people’s standard of living and the amount of walking they do?
? Compare the amount of walking that rural people, such as farmers do with the amount of walking that city
people do.
? Would you say that it's easy for city people, living in a world of skyscrapers and concrete, to go for a walk? ? In China, do many city people go to rural areas in order to go for a walk and have a picnic?
? City people spend more time riding in cars or other vehicles, rather than walking. What do you think are
some of the results of this lifestyle?
? How do you think the government could encourage people to walk more? ? Can you think of any examples where people walk a lot while doing their jobs?
A Day Off
Describe what you would do if you had a day off, free from work or study. You should say:
where you would go what you would do there who you would go with
and explain how you think you would feel at the end of this day.
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Working Hours
? In your country, how many hours do most people work per week? ? Do you think people (today) work longer hours than they used to? ? Do they have any days off (days free from work)?
? Does the government in your country have a law stating how much free time employees must have per
week?
? Do you think it's good to have such a law?
? Do people ever ask their employers for extra time off work? ? What are the reasons for asking this?
? Do you think these reasons are always true?
Something Unusual or Interesting You Did Recently
You should say:
what it was
who was with you why you did it.
and explain why you think it was unusual or interesting.
Work/Leisure Time
? How do people in China spend their leisure time, for example, after school, after work or on weekends? ? What kinds of things do families in China do together in their leisure time? ? Would you say that people have enough leisure time today?
? How do you think science and technology has changed people's lives in China in the past few years? ? Has the amount of leisure time that people have (in China) changed in recent years?
? Compare the way men spend their leisure time and the way women spend their leisure time. ? Do men have more free time than women?
? Compare the role of women in society today to their role several generations age. ? Do men and women have equal status in China today? Children and Free Time
? How do children in China spend their leisure time?
? Do you think that children spend their leisure time effectively or do they often waste their time? ? Do you think parents in China should spend more of their leisure time with their children?
? What are some examples of 'the leisure industry'? Is this is an important part of the economy in China? ? How do you think the leisure industry will develop in China over the next few years?
A Family Event
Describe an enjoyable family event that you attended. You should say:
where and when this event took place
what you did (or, what happened at this event)
who was there at this event (or, who participated in this event) and explain why this event was enjoyable.
Weddings
? Have you ever been to a wedding celebration? ? What happens at a wedding celebration in China?
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