پیش بینی سوالات اسپیکینگ حال حاضر
May to August Speaking Questions

• How do you feel about getting older?
• What do you think is the best age to learn to drive?
• Do you think we should treat people of different ages in the same way (or, in different ways)?

• Have you ever been to an art gallery?
• (Similar to above) Do you often go to art galleries?
• Do you like going to art galleries?
• Do you think it would be exciting (or, interesting) to be an artist?
• Have you ever had any art classes?
• Are there any paintings on the walls of your home?
• (Possibly the question above is this) Are there any pictures on the walls of your bedroom?
• (Possibly) Do you think people should put paintings (or, pictures) on the walls of their home?

• Does your hometown have beautiful views/scenery?
• Do you like to stay in (or, visit) places with beautiful views when you are traveling?
• How would you like to live in a house with beautiful scenery?
• (Similar to above) Would you like to live in a house with beautiful scenery?
• (Possible question) What is the view like when you look out the window of your room at home? *
• Why do you think people often take pictures of beautiful scenery?
• Can you suggest why many people use their mobile phone to take pictures of beautiful views?
• (Possible question) Can you explain why some people ask for a room with a good view when they stay at a hotel?

This topic might be called, "Cakes".

• Do you like having (eating) dessert?
• (Possibly the question above is this) Do you like eating cake(s)?
• Have you ever made any cakes (or, a cake)?
• In your culture (or country), do people usually eat dessert at the end of (or, after) dinner?
• Are there any sweet foods that are famous in your country?
• In your culture, do people eat cakes during festivals?

• Do you often drink water?
• (Alternative to above) How often do you drink water?
• What kind of water do you drink?
• (Alternative to above) Is there any particular type of water that you drink?
• Do you prefer to drink bottled water, or tap water ?

Vocabulary:

• to “keep hydrated” = to “keep my body hydrated”; to “keep myself hydrated”
• body fluid
• Good for the skin (the complexion), especially if you drink water before bed.
• Sweat = perspiration
• To re-hydrate myself
• To cleanse the body
• A litre of water, a cup of water, a glass of water
• Possible impurities in tap water – rust; heavy metals esp. lead (Pb); bacteria; fluoride (added to water to kill bacteria and to strengthen teeth but many people feel it is a poison); other chemicals especially if the water is from a river or a lake.
• Potable (= “drinkable” but we don’t usually say or write, “drinkable”). For example, clean water is potable.
• Distilled water
• Spring water
• Rain water, a water tank
• A reservoir
• A water catchment area
• Ground water (=  water from underground)
• A water dispensing machine
• A water purifier (sometimes attached to taps, usually including a filter.)
• To boil water, to kill bacteria (= to sterilize the water)
• a culture (tradition) of drinking hot / warm water
• Bottled water – usually sold in 500 or 600 ml plastic bottles but also sold in larger containers that can be delivered to your home or office.

• Where can you (or, we, or one) see fish?
• Do you like eating fish?
• Can you suggest why (some) people go fishing?

• When you were a child, did you enjoy learning (about) history?
• Have you ever been to a museum to learn about history?
• Have you ever watched movies related to history?
• When was the last time you read a book about history?
• Do you think history is important?
• (Somewhat different to above) Do you think it's important to know about (or, learn about) history?

• Are there many (different types of) insects around where you live?
• How do you like insects?
• (Similar to above) How do you feel about insects?
• Is there any insect that you particularly dislike?
• Do you think insects are useful?

Vocabulary:

Some common examples of (species of) insects are –

• Flies (e.g., house flies, blowflies, fruit flies, horse flies, sand flies . . . )  House flies and blowflies can spread disease, especially if they land on people’s food or eating utensils.  Fruit flies can destroy or severely damage fruit crops if they ‘infect’ the crops in large numbers.

• Mosquitos   Some mosquitos spread dangerous diseases such as Malaria & Dengue Fever. The “qu” is pronounced as “k” –

• Ants   Some types of ants live in the walls of old buildings and are attracted to very small scraps of food in your kitchen if you don’t keep the kitchen clean. Ants can be annoying when you have a picnic, outside.

• Bees (honey bees)  Bees don’t “bite”, they “sting”.Wasps & Hornets (dangerous – their sting can kill a person)

• Cockroaches   Usually in old buildings, especially in your kitchen if you live in an old building; not common in relatively new apartments especially in high-rise apartment buildings.

• Termites (white ants)   They eat wood and can do serious damage to the wooden foundations of houses etc., or even to your wooden furniture.

• Crickets & cicadas   Crickets live in holes in the ground and make chirping sounds at night.  ()

Cicadas live in trees and can also make a loud chirping sound, but a much less pleasant sound (or, “call” or “song”) to that of crickets. The birds find it unpleasant and this helps protect the cicadas. )

• Beetles & weevils
• Ladybirds (= ‘Ladybugs’ esp. in the U.S.)  "The favourite children’s bug!"

• Do you like to laugh? (Do you like laughing?)
• When was the last time you laughed? (Why?)
• Do you like watching funny TV shows?
• Do you like to make people laugh?
• (Similar to above) Would you say you are good at making others laugh?
• Do you think it's important for friends to have the same sense of humour?
• (Possibly the above Q is this)  Do you think it's important for friends to laugh together?

Main Question

• Do you often use numbers to do something?
• Are you good at memorizing numbers?
• Can you memorize phone numbers?
• (Possibly the question above is this) Do you usually memorize phone numbers?
• Do you have a favourite number?
• Would you say you are good at using numbers (= good at maths/ good at arithmetic)?
• Would you like to have a  job dealing with numbers?

Previous Questions

• In your country, do any numbers have special meaning?
• How do numbers help your life?
• (Are there any numbers or dates that you think are (especially) important to remember?
• What important numbers have you memorized?
• How often do you need to memorize a number?
• How do you remember a number (or, numbers)?
• Which do you think are easier to remember, names or numbers?
• Which do you think are easier to memorize, names or numbers?

• Do you often go to a park?
• What do you do there?
• Do many people in your country go to parks?
• Did you (ever) play in a park (or, parks) when you were a child?
• What do they do there?
• Do you prefer going to natural parks or amusement parks?

This seems to be a topic that has never been used before.

Main Questions:

• Would you say you are a patient person?
• Do you think you are more patient now than when you were younger?
• When (on what occasions) are you impatient?
• (Possible question) Are you patient in your work or study? 
• (Possible question) Do you think people should be patient?
• Can you explain why some people are not very patient?
• How do you feel when other people are impatient?
• Can you give any examples of work (or jobs) that require patience?
• Would you say young people are more patient than older people?
• Do you think you will be more patient in the future?

Possible Questions:

• What do you usually do when you're waiting for a bus or a train?
• What do you think "patience" is?
• Do you think patience is important?
• (Possibly) Do you think being patient is an important part of being polite?
• Would you say you are a patient person?
• What do you think are the benefits of being patient?
• Have you ever lost your patience?
• What do you become impatient about?
• What do you do when you become impatient?
• Are people in your country generally very patient?
• What causes some people in your country to become impatient?
• (Similar to above) What do people in your country become impatient about?
• When someone is late in your country, are other people usually patient, or angry?
• Can you suggest why people in some countries are more patient than people in other countries?
• (Similar to above) Why are people in some countries more patient than people in other countries?

• What do you usually use for writing, a pen, or a pencil?
• (Similar to above) Which do you prefer to use for writing, a pen or a pencil?
• When was the last time you bought some pens or pencils (or, a pen or pencil)?
• If someone gave you some pens/pencils as a gift, how would you feel?
• (Similar to above)  How would you feel if someone gave you a pen as a gift?
• Would you ever give a pen (or pencils) to someone as a gift?

Since this topic would have been used until the end of January, 2020, it is very possible that it has mistakenly been reported as being in use in May.

• Do you like perfume?
• Do you use perfume?
• Do you have a favourite perfume?
• What does perfume mean to you?
• (Similar to above) Do you think it's important to use perfume?
• Have you ever given perfume as a gift?
• Would you ever give perfume as a gift?

Some vocabulary:

• fragrance, fragrant
• cologne (= Eau de Cologne, French for “Water from Cologne”) Nowadays, this is best known as a fragrance/a deodorant/an after-shave lotion for men
• (especially for men) – unnecessary; "not very masculine"; "I prefer to have a natural body odour"
• the scent of flowers (a flower), the aroma of sweet spices, a hint of flowers, a hint of spices / fragrant fruit
• to smell nice, to smell attractive,
• alluring
• a fresh, clean smell (fragrance), a beautiful smell/fragrance
• a luxury gift
• a dab of perfume on my  . . . wrists, neck, . . .
• a spray, to spray
•  . . . among my cosmetics
• my signature scent
• different perfumes for different seasons
• under-arm deodorant  (for both men and women)
• a luxury that I can’t afford at the moment

Do you like running?

Where do usually go (for) running?

How often do you go running for exercise?

Have you ever run a long distance?

Do you like watching running races on TV?

Do you think it’s important to study science?

Do you think people should study science?

• How much sleep do you usually get (or, have or need) every day?
• Have your sleeping habits changed since you were young(er)?
• What time do you usually go to bed?
• Do you think old people need as much sleep as young people?
• Do you like to read before you fall asleep?
• Do you (usually) take a nap in the middle of the day?
• Do you ever sleep late?
• What are some reasons why people (or, you) get up early?

Some vocabulary:

• about eight hours a day
• to “hit the sack” (colloquial)
• my bedtime
• a “night owl”
• a “morning person”
• to “recharge the batteries” (or battery)
• “put my head down on my desk”
• A “cat nap” = a nap for just a few minutes
• To/a snooze
• old people – You can say you’re not sure or you can talk about your grandmother who used to live with you.
• insomnia
• importance of sleep – mood, alertness (ability to concentrate), general health, attractiveness, . . .

• Do you like to spend time by yourself?
• When was the last time you spent time alone?
• What do you usually do when you spend time by yourself?

• Are there many street markets in your country?
• What do they sell?
• Do people in your country prefer to shop at a street market, or in a shopping mall?
• What are the difference between what street markets and supermarkets sell?
• (Different to above) What are the difference between street markets and supermarkets?

• How often do you take a break at work?
• What do you usually do when you take a break from working? 
• Do you prefer to take one long break, or several short breaks?
• Why (do you think) you need to take breaks?
• Note:
• "Having a break" = Taking a break"

1. Do you think it's necessary to see other planets?
2. What would you do if you had that opportunity?
3. When was the last time you went travelling?
4. Do you like to travel in the outer space?
5. Do you like travelling by air?

• Do you like water sports?   
• Are any water sports that are popular in your country?
• Did you do any water sports when you were young?
• Is there any water sport that you would like to try?

Vocabulary:

These are mainly recreational sports, although some of them are competitive sometimes, such as surfing contest. 

• surfing

-         surfboard riding

-         body surfing

• sailing

-         one-man, small sailboats

-         ocean-going yachting

• sailboarding
• water skiing
• jet-skiing
• scuba diving
• canoeing / kayaking
• fishing

-         with a line

-         with a fishing rod

• scuba diving
• snorkelling
• N.B. I suggest not including “swimming” as a recreational water sport. It is a competitive water sport at the Olympic Games etc.

Do you live in a house or a flat?

What kind of building do you live in?

Do you like your current accommodation?

Are there many (or, any) markets near your home?

Are there many public facilities near your home?

Have you lived there for a long time?

What do you do at home?

How long have you lived there?

What's your favourite room?

What kind of places would you like to live in (in the future)?

Which do you (or, would you) prefer living in, a house or a flat?

Main Questions

• Where are you living (where do you live) at the moment?
• Have you lived there for a long time?
• Do you like it?
• (Similar to above) Do you like the environment around where you are living?
• Are there good facilities in your area, such as shops?
• What are some of the most popular (recreational) activities that people do in your community?
• Where do people in your community usually gather for social activities?
• Are there many people living around you?
• What do you like about the area around where you live?
• Is there anything you dislike about your city/local area?
• Where do you like to go to in your area?
• Who do you live with?
• Do you know the people (or, many people) living around you (living nearby)?
• Do you have many friends there?
• Are you planning to move to another area to live?
• What changes have you seen in this area (since you have been living there)?
• What changes (= what improvements) would you like to see in this area?
• (Different to above) What changes are you expecting (to see) in this area?

Possible Other Questions

• Is that far from here (the test centre)?
• Please describe the area you live in.
• Would you say it's a good place to live?
• Is this place famous for anything?
• Are there any interesting places near (or, in) this area?

YOUR WORK OR STUDY

Do you work or are you a student?

WORK

:Main Questions

• What work (or job) do you do?
• Do you enjoy that work?
• Why did you choose to do that type of work (or,/that job)?
• Would you recommend this job to other people? Do you like your job?
• What do you do in this job?
• What do you find interesting about your work?
• (Similar to above) What's the most interesting part of your work?
• What are your responsibilities at work?
• Where do you work? 
• What is your work environment like? 
• How much (how many hours) do you work every week (or, every day)? 
• Are you satisfied with the place where you work? 
• Would you say that's a good place to work? 
• Would you like to change the place where you work?  
• (The question above might be this) Would you like to make (or see) any changes to the place where you work?
• (Similar to above) How do you think your workplace could be improved?
• What's the most important part of your work? 
• Do you do anything that especially helps you in your work? 
• How do you think you could improve your efficiency at work? 
• What work do you plan to do in the future?
• What’s your dream job like?
• (Similar to above) What is (or, would be) your ideal job?
• Have you (ever) changed your job? 
• Do you prefer to work in the morning(s), or the afternoon(s)?
• Do you prefer to take long breaks from work, or short breaks? 
• How do you take a break during your working hours?

:Possible Other Questions

• Is that what you wanted to do when you were a child?
• Do you work part-time, or full-time?
• What do you do in that job? (= What are your responsibilities in that job?)
• What does that company do?
• How long have you been working?
• What did you do to get your first job?  *
• Did you enjoy your first day at work?
• (Similar to above) How did you feel on your first day at work?
• Are you friends with the people you work with with?
• (Similar) Have you made many (or any) friends at work?
• Do you think it's important to be friends with the people you work with?
• What time of the day do you work the best?
• (Similar to above) Do you work better in the morning, or in the afternoon?
• Did you have any training for this job?
• Would you like to have some (or, more) training in the future?
• Will you always do this job? ( = Will you continue to do this job / this type of work?)

STUDY 

Main Questions:

• What subject are you studying?
• Why did you choose to study that?
• Do you like it (your subject)?
• What do you do/learn in this subject?
• What's the most enjoyable part of your studies? 
• Is it (your subject) interesting?
• Would you say your studies (or, your subject) is what you expected it to be? 
• What's your favourite subject? (for high school stds)
• (Similar to above) What classes do you like the most?
• Do you like to study? (= Do you like studying?) 
• How much study do you do every week?   
• What would you say is the most important part of your studies? 
• Where do you usually study?  
• (Possible question) Where did you do your studying yesterday? 
• Do you do anything that especially helps you to study? 
• How do you think you could improve your efficiency as a student?  
• What school/university do (or, did) you study at? (= Where do you study?)
• Do you like your school / university?  
• What do you like most about your school / university? 
• Why did you choose to study at that school/university?
• How do you think your school/university could be improved? 
• Would you like to change your school (or university)?  
• What will you do (or, what do you plan to do) after you graduate from university / finish secondary school?
• Do you prefer strict teachers, or fun teachers?
• Do you like your teachers and classmates?
• Who do you think are the more important in a school, the students or the teachers?
• Would you say that communication is important when/for studying?
• Do you prefer to study in the morning or in the afternoon?

Possible Other Questions:

• Do you think it (your subject) will be helpful for you in the future?
• Is that a popular choice among your friends?
• Do you plan to (or, will you) continue your studies in the future?
• Do you plan to (or, will you) continue studying this subject?
• Have you made many (or any) friends at school/university?

Describe a band or singer who you like.

               You should say:

                              what style of songs they sing / music they play

                              when you listen to them

                              where you listen to them

                and explain why you like this band or singer.

Part 3

• What other music or bands do you like?
• Why do you think people listen to music?
• Would you like to sing or play a musical instrument yourself?

Music in Your Country

• What kinds of music are popular in your country?
• What kinds of music do you think will be popular in the future?
• Do you think people like different kinds of music at different stages of their lives?
• Is folk music still very popular in your country?

Singing

• Are you good at singing?
• Do you think people need to learn how to sing (or is it a natural skill)?
• (Similar to above) Do you think some people have a natural talent for singing, or do you think ordinary people can also sing (= can sing as well?
• (Similar to above) Do you think everyone can sing?
• Do you think women are better singers than men?
• What would you say are the benefits of singing?

    Professional Singers

• Do singers make lots of money?
• Would you say that popular singers are also good (or, among the best) singers?
• What do you think makes a singer attractive to people?
• What do you think of the current "boy bands"?
• What influences do singers have on people?
• Do you think people will still be singing songs for money in the future?

    Songs

• Why do you think some songs become popular while other songs are not often heard?
• What do you think makes (or causes) a song to become popular?

Describe a beautiful view of the sky you looked at (either at night/or in the daytime).

               You should say:

 when you looked at the sky

 where you (were when you) looked at it

 who you were with

 and explain why you felt it was beautiful.

Part 3

The Stars and Planets

• Can you explain why some people study the sky?
• (Similar to above) Why do you think some scientists study (or, do research about) the  stars and planets? 
• Do you prefer to look at stars, or planets?  
• Do you think it’s necessary for children to learn about the stars and/or planets?
• Can you suggest why some people enjoy going to the cinema to watch films related to the stars or planets?
• How much influence do you think the stars and planets have on people’s lives?

Version A

Describe a bicycle tour that you would like to take.

               You should say:

 where you would go

 who you would like to go with

 what you would like to (see and) do on the tour

 and explain why you would like to take (go on) this tour.

Version B

Describe a bicycle tour that you took.

                You should say：

                            where you went

                            who you were with

                            what you did

                 And explain whether you enjoyed it.

Describe a challenging thing you have done.

      You should say:

            what you did

            when you did it

            why you did it

            how you handled this challenge

      and explain why you though it was challenging.              .

Part 3

Challenges

• Do you think children today face many challenges?
• What are some examples of things that are challenging for children?
• Do you think parents should give their children challenging things to do?
• What kinds of thing do you think are challenging for old people to do than for young people?

Version A

Describe a toy you got in your childhood.

               You should say:

 What it was

 When you got it

 How you got it

 and explain how you felt about it.

              .

Version B

Describe a toy you enjoyed playing with in your childhood.

               You should say:

 What it was

 When you got it

 How you played with it

 and explain why you enjoyed playing with it.

Notes

• We say, "play with a toy", not "play a toy".
• Version B is probably the most likely wording.

Part 3

Toys

• In what ways are toys today different to those of the past?
• Which do you think are better, traditional toys or modern ones?
• What do you think children can learn from (playing with) toys?
• Do you think children actually need to have toys? (If so, what kinds of toys?)
• What kinds of toys would you say are best for children to play with?
• Do you think some parents give toys to their children as a substitute for spending time with their children?

Children's Play

• What benefits do you think children get from play(ing)?
• What do you think are the benefits for children who play with other kids?
• (Similar to above) How do you think children benefit by playing with other children?
• Do you think children should play outside?
• What are the benefits of children playing outside?
• What can they learn from playing outside?

Advertising Aimed at Children

• How do think advertisements influence children?
• (Similar to above) What kinds of influence do you think advertisements have on (young) children?
• Do you think advertising aimed at children is a good thing?
• In your opinion, should advertising aimed at kids be prohibited (= banned)?

Describe a place you remember well that was full of colour(s).

               You should say:

 where it was

 when you went there

 what it looked like

 and explain how you felt about the place.           .

Part 3

People's Colour Preferences

• Which colours do you think are most liked by people and which are least liked?
• Why do you think people have these preferences?
• Do you think (people's choices in) colours show their personalities?
• Can you suggest why some people like to wear clothes in bright colours?
• Do you think men and women prefer different colours?
• What colour do people in your country prefer for decorating their homes?
• Do you think men and women choose different colours when decorating their homes? 
• What influences do you think colours have on people’s moods?
• Do you think the colour of foods (such as cakes, or fruits) influences people choices on which ones to buy?

Other Uses of Colour

• Do you think (colourful) pictures in a book help people to read it?
• Do you think it is appropriate to wear brightly coloured clothes if you work in an office (in a business setting)?

• Can you think of any other ways that colours are used besides decoration or for clothes?

Describe an interesting conversation you had with someone/you didn’t know.

               You should say:

 When and where you had the conversation

 Who you had the conversation with

 What you talked about

 And explain why you think it was interesting

Part 3

Meeting Someone For the First Time - possibly that topic and this topic are really one and the same.

Conversations

• Do you think there are any differences between males and females when they converse with people?
• In your country, who are more interested in talking about children?
• Are there any benefits of having phone conversations as opposed to face-to-face conversations in real life?
• If you had a piece of bad news, would you prefer telling others this news face-to-face, or on the phone?

Speaking in Public to a Group (or an audience)

• Some people are afraid of giving a public presentation. Why do you think this is the case?
• Would you say it’s important to include diagrams, pictures and so on when giving a presentation?
• What kinds of public speakers do you like (best)?
• Do you think it's essential for a public speaker to include some humor in what they say?

Describe a crowded place you’ve been to

               You should say:

                            when you went there

                            where the place is (or, was)

                            who you went there with

                and explain how you felt about the place.  

Part 3

Crowded Places in General

• Do you think people enjoy going to crowded places? 
• Do you think the traffic situation today is more serious than in the past?        
• How do you think people should deal with traffic congestion?        
• Where (or what) would you say is the most crowded place in your city?           
• What do you suggest the governments could do to solve the problem of crowding (and/or traffic congestion)?       

City Life

• Would you say it's important for a city to have amusement (and/or recreational) facilities?           
• Why do you think people choose to live in big cities (despite the problems)?
• How do you think cities overseas are different to those in your country?
• Would you say urban planning is important?

Describe a trip that was delayed for some reason.

               You should say:

where you were going

why it was delayed

what you did

and explain how you felt about the delay.

Version B

Describe a time when the weather prevented you from doing something.

               You should say:

what your plan was (or, plans were)

what weather you were hoping for (or expecting)

what happened

and explain how you felt when you had to change your plans

Part 3

Traveling (Transport)

(These questions are mainly about rather long-distance trips.)

• Do you like to travel?
• How often do you go on a trip?
• What mode of transport do you use?
• What kinds of transportation are popular (or, common) in your country?
• How would you say transport today is different to what it was a few decades ago?
• What changes in transportation would you like to see in the future?
• What effects do you think transport has on the environment?
• Do you prefer using your own car, or public transport?
• Would you say traveling is important?

Tourism

• Do you think more people will be visiting beautiful places in the future?
• In general, would you say tourism is a positive, or a negative development?

The Weather

• Do people in your country enjoy talking about the weather, as a small chat, when they meet each other?
• What types of weather do people (in your country) prefer, cold or hot weather?
• What kinds of people care most about the weather?
• Would you say weather forecasts are usually accurate?

Describe a change that could improve your local area.

               You should say:  

                            what the change is ( or it would be )

                            how this change could be made

                            what problems are causing the need for this change   

   and explain how this change would improve your local area.

Notes

• The word, "neighbourhood" might be used instead of "local area".

Part 3

Socializing With Neighbours

• Do you think it's important for people to socialize with their neighbors?
• How do people socialize with their neighbors?

Describe a family member you spend a lot of time with.

or

Describe the family member you spend the most time with.

               You should say:

                            who this person is  

                            what you usually do together

                            what kind of person he/she is

                and explain why you spend the most time with him/her. 

Part 3

Family Life in Your Country

• In your country, how many generations are usually living under one roof today?
• What are the benefits, and drawbacks of a family of several generation living together?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of strong family relationships?
• What are some of the differences between the advice (or help) that friends give compared to what families give?
• Do parents have equal responsibilities in taking care of their children?
• Which do you think is more important, the support from one's family, or the support from one's friends?
• When taking care of a baby (or young child), what do you think are the differences between a father and a mother?
• Do you think there's any difference between what mothers and fathers teach their children?

Describe a film you would like to recommend to your friends.

               You should say:

 what the film is (name)

 how you first found out about (learned about/heard about) about the film

 where you watched it

 and explain why you would like to share it with your friends.

Part 3

Films

• What kinds of films are popular in your country? 
• (Similar to above)  What kinds of films are popular among the younger generations in your country? 
• Do young people/and old people like to watch the same kinds of films?
• Do you think the way people watch movies today has changed, compared to how they watched them in the past?
• In the future, do you think there will be fewer people choosing to watch films?
• Do you think cinemas will (or, might) disappear in the future?
• Do you think people prefer watching films in a cinema, or at home?
• Would you say watching movies is a good way to relax?

The Film Industry / Film Stars

• Are there many famous/successful film actors in your country?
• What do you think an actor has to do, to become famous?
• (Different to above) What do you think is the key for an actor to become successful?
• Do you think they (the stars) are paid too much? 
• (Similar to above) Do you feel it's fair for movie stars to make so much money? 
• Do you think it's necessary for film makers to hire famous movie stars to be in (or, star in) their films?
• Why do you think movie stars’ personal lives are exposed to the public?
• Do you think people are interested in celebrity gossip?
• (Similar to above) Can you suggest why many people are so interested in everything about their favourite actors? 
• Do they think film stars should behave in a good (or, in an exemplary or a perfect) way in their private lives?
• (Similar to above but different( Do they think film stars have to  behave in a good (or, in an exemplary or a perfect) way in their private lives?
• How does movie production help a country?

• Would you say that film makers (or, film producers) are rich?

Describe a film you would like to share with your friends.

               You should say:

 What the film is (name)

 How you first found out about (learned about/heard about) about the film

 Where you watched it

 And explain why you would like to share it with your friends.

              .

Part 3

Films

• What kinds of films are popular in your country?
• Do young people/and old people like to watch the same kinds of films?
• In the future, do you think there will be fewer people choosing to watch films?
• Do you think cinemas will (or, might) disappear in the future?
• Do you think people prefer watching films in a cinema, or at home?

The Film Industry / Film Stars

• Do you feel it's fair for movie stars to make so much money?
• Do you think it's necessary for film makers to hire famous movie stars to be in (or, star in) their films?
• Why do you think movie stars’ personal lives are exposed to the public?
• Do you think people are interested in celebrity gossip?
• Do they think film stars should behave in a good (or, in an exemplary or a perfect) way in their private lives?
• (Similar to above but different( Do they think film stars have to  behave in a good (or, in an exemplary or a perfect) way in their private lives?
• How does movie production help a country?
• Would you say that film makers (or, film producers) are rich?

Describe a foreign country or culture you would like to know more about.

               You should say:

 what country or culture

 where it is

 how you know about it

 and explain why you would like to know more about it.

Part 3

Other Countries and Cultures

• What do you think is the best way to learn about a foreign (country or) culture?
• What do you think are some of the main problems people face when they work in a foreign country?
• Some people say that reading a book about another country or culture is the best way to learn about it. Do you agree?

Describe ....................

               You should say:

 ..................

 .................

 .................

 and explain .......................

Describe a gift you took a long to choose.

               You should say:

 What it was

 Who it was for

 How this person felt about your gift

 And explain why you spent a lot of time choosing the gift.

Part 3

Gifts

• In your country, why do people give gifts to others?
• (Similar to above) In your country, on what occasions do people give gifts to others?
• What are some examples of the most common (or, popular) gifts that people give others in your country?
• Do you think the value of a gift is important?
• Are there any gifts that people like to receive but are not very practical (useful)?
• Do you think people prefer receiving practical gifts, or other kinds of gifts?
• Do young and old people generally give the same kinds of gifts to others?
• Do men and women have different attitudes towards gifts?
• Can you explain why chocolates are such a popular gift?
• On what occasions do people give chocolates as a gift?

Describe a goal you set for yourself. *

               You should say:

 what the goal was

 why you set this goal

 what other people were involved with your goal *

   and explain whether you reached your goal or not.

Part 3

Goals

• What are your goals, (besides what you just spoke about)?
• What (kinds of, types of, are some examples of the) goals that people typically set for themselves?
• Can you explain why people set goals for themselves?
• Do you think most people have a main goal in life?
• Do you think it's good to have goals in life?
• Do you think people of different ages set (or, have) the same goals?
• Do you think many people achieve their goals?
• How hard do you think it is to keep trying to achieve one's goals?
• Do you think failing to achieve a goal is a serious matter?
• What do you suggest people could (or, should) do to help them achieve their goals?

Describe a house or apartment you would like to live in.

               You should say:

                            where it is / Where it would be

                            what you would (like to) do there

                            who you would (like to) live there with

                and explain why you would like to live in this place.

Part 3

Homes in Your Country

• What type of houses do people in your country live in?
• (Slightly different to above) What type of houses do people in your country prefer to live in?
• What do people consider when they choose a place to live in?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in an old house?
• Is living in a new house always better than living in an old house?

Old Buildings

• Do you think preserving historical buildings is important?

Describe a job (a type of work) you would not like to do.

               You should say:  

                            what the job is

                            how you know about it

                            whether it is an easy or difficult job

               and explain why you would not like to do it.

Part 3

Work

• Which do you think is more important about a job, the income one gets, or the amount of interest that one has in the work?
• (Similar to above) Which do you think is more important about a job, the income you get, or how you feel about the job?
• Do you think there are many well-paid jobs that are not very interesting?
• Do you think the quality of being hard-working is something people are born with, or can it be developed?
• Can you suggest how people could do their work better?
• Would you ever move to work and live in another city?
• Is it common in your country for people to move to other cities because of work?
• How do you think the work that a person does affects them psychologically?

High Technology

• In what areas (or, sectors of the economy) is science and technology most used?
• How do you think AI (artificial intelligence) will affect people’s work?
• That technology will make some people lose their jobs. How do you think this problem should be handled?

Choosing a Job or Career

• What kinds of work (or jobs) do young people usually not want to do?
• When young people choose their jobs, which do you think is usually more important, the salary or their interest in the work?
• What would you say are the important factors to consider when choosing a career?
• What usually happens if there is a disagreement between parents and their children in choosing a job (or career)?

Describe a leisure activity you enjoy doing with your family.

               You should say:

 what activity

 when you do it

 where you do it

   and explain why you enjoy it.

Describe a team that you are or were a member of 

               You should say:

 what team

 why you joined this team

 your role in the team (what you do/did in the team              

               and explain how you feel/felt about this team 

Part 3

Teams and Teamwork

• In a team, which do you think is more important, to pursue individual development or to achieve team targets?
• Do you think it’s important (or, necessary) for children to join teams in order to learn to cooperate with others?
• Do you think disagreements among team members have a great influence on the teamwork?
• Can you give any examples of international teamwork?

Competition

• Do you think competition is a good thing?
• Do you think people can make friends with their competitors?

Children and Teamwork

• Do you think children who have siblings are better at teamwork?
• Can you suggest how teamwork could be cultivated in classes at school?
• Can you give any examples of teamwork among children?

Describe a memorable holiday you had.

               You should say:

 when and where you went

 who you went with

 what you did there

 and explain why it was memorable.

Part 3

Holidays

• Would you say you have enough holidays?

Tourism

• What are the most popular tourist destinations in your country?
• Can you suggest how a government could encourage more tourists to visit a country?
• Would you say tourism development bring more benefits than drawbacks?
• Do you think tourism ever damages the environment of a place?
• Do you think eco-tourism is a good idea?
• Do many people from your country travel to places that have eco-tourism?
• Can you explain why some people like to spend their holidays in the country(side)?

 A) Describe anewbuilding you would like to visit.

or B) Describe a newpublicbuilding you would like to visit.

or C) Describea buildingyou would like to visit.

               You should say:

 where it is

 when it was built

 what it looks like

 how you know about it *

 and explain why you would like to visit it.

Part 3

(Public) Buildings in Your Country

• What types of buildings are there in your hometown?
• What kinds of public buildings are there in your country (or hometown)?
• (Similar to above) What are some examples of buildings that are used by the public (i.e., not private homes)?
• Which cities have the most modern buildings in your country?
• (Possible question) What kinds of cities have modern buildings?
• What do you think is the most representative building in (or, of) you country?
• Which do you think is more important for a building, the exterior appearance or the interior facilities?
• Which do you think is more important for a building, the exterior appearance or the location of the building?
• There are lots of skyscrapers in many countries. What are they used for?
• Do you think it's a good thing (a good idea) to have skyscrapers?
• (Similar to above) Why do we have skyscrapers?
• Do you think the design of buildings (e.g., their shape and structure) will change in the future?
• What shaped building would you prefer to live in, a round one or a triangular one?

Old & New Buildings

• In general, do you prefer old or new buildings?
• Do you think it’s necessary to rebuild old buildings?
• Should the government build more new buildings, or should they preserve more historical buildings?
• Do you think if the new buildings in a city should be consistent with, or distinct from the current ones in appearance?
• How important do you think old (or, historic) buildings are in attracting tourists to a certain location?
• (Similar to above) What role do you think old (or, historic) buildings play in attracting tourists to a certain location?

People's Homes

• Would you say people (in your country) prefer living in new houses, or old ones?

Describe a performance you enjoyed watching. 

    You should say:

         what the performance was

         when and where you watched the performance

         who was performing (or, who performed)

   and explain why you enjoyed the performance.

Different Types of Performances

• What do you think is the difference between watching a live performance and watching it on TV?
• How do you think watching a dance performance or a stage play influences children?

Traditional Performances

• Do you prefer to attend pop concerts or traditional performances?
• (Similar to above) Would you prefer to attend a pop concert or a traditional performances?
• Do you think traditional performances are important?

Describe a person who is often in the news, and who you would like to meet.

               You should say:

                            who this person is

                            how you know him/her

                            why he/she is often in the news

               and explain why you would like to meet him/her.

Part 3

Famous People

• What kinds of people are usually in the news in your country?
• Why are famous people often on the news?
• Do foreigners ever (or, often) appear in the news in your country?
• (Similar to above) Is there much news in your country about foreigners?
• Can you explain why many companies use celebrities for advertising their products?
• How can famous people have an influence on children and young people?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of being famous?
• How can they encourage people to do good things?
• Can they (help to) solve global problems?
• Why do people want to know facts about famous people?

The News (in Your Country)

• Do you like reading the news?
• Do you think the contents of newspapers are always reliable (or, trustworthy)?
• (Similar to above) Do you think the news reports (or, news articles, or news stories) are always true (or accurate)?
• Would you say the news in your country is mostly about positive news, or negative news?
• Do you think it’s important for people to watch foreign news?
• What are the differences between news in the past (e.g., 20 years ago) and news now?
• Would you say the quality of the news today is better than it was in the past?
• How does the way people receive news differ from 20 years ago？
• What would you say are the differences between receiving the news by text (= in writing) as compared to receiving it in the form of video?
• Do you think old people and young people are all interested in the same kinds of news?
• Which do you think is more important, international or national news?

Describe a person who taught you something important.

               You should say:

                            who this person was

                            what they taught you

                             how they taught it to you

                and explain why you think what they taught is important.

Part 3

Teachers

• What would you say are the most important qualities that a good teacher should have?

Children's Education

• Can you suggest how we could (or, can)  make children more interested in learning (or, study)?
• Who would you say is more important to the education of a child, the parents or teachers?
• Do you think it's easier to learn new things when you're young?
• When do you think is the best time for children to start learning English?
• What do you think is the best age for children to start going to school?

Learning New Things

• What (do you think) are the main skills that a person needs in order to be a good learner?
• What are the differences in attitude between the elderly and the young towards fresh things in society, such as new ideas and new things?
• In what ways can people be encouraged to accept new ideas and things (= to accept innovation)?
• Who do you think are better at learning new things, young people or old people?
• (Similar to above, but a little different) Who do you think are better at learning new things, children or adults?
• Which do you think is more efficient, to study in class, or to study by yourself?
• Do you think the government should encourage high school students (or high school graduates) to go to university? (if yes, how, if no, why not?)
• (Different to above) Do you think the government should encourage ALL high school students (or high school graduates) to go to university?
• How do you think modern technology has affected (or, changed) the way students today study?

Describe a person you know who usually travels by plane.

               You should say:

 who the person is

 what the person does (job/student etc.)

 how this person feels about flying

 and explain why they (= he or she) usually travels by plane.

Part 3

Aeroplanes

• Do you like travelling on planes?
• What are the differences between travelling on aeroplanes (airplanes) and on trains or other forms of transport such as long-distance buses?
• Can you explain why people travel by plane?
• Would you prefer to buy a cheaper (Economy Class) plane ticket or a more expensive but also more comfortable (First Class) ticket?
• What do you think are the effects of aeroplanes on the environment?

Airports

• What would you say are the advantages and disadvantages if an airport is far away from a city centre?
• (Similar to above) What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of living near an airport?
• Would you like to work at an airport?

Other Forms of Long-Distance Transport

• Do you know if any trains in your country can take you to another country?
• Have you travelled on this train?
• Some people enjoy spending time on train a train trip, and once they arrive at the destination, they return back (immediately). What do you think of doing that?

Describe ....................

               You should say:

 ..................

 .................

 .................

 and explain .......................

Describe a picture or photograph in your home.

               You should say:

 what is in the picture or photograph

 how long you have had it (= when you took the photo or got the picture)

 where it is in your home

 and explain how you feel about it.

Part 3

Painting and Drawing

• Do you think it’s useful for school children to have painting lessons in primary school or high school?
• (Similar to above) Do you think children in your country should learn to paint and/or to draw?
• Do you think there are any benefits for adults to learn to paint or draw?
• What (do you think) are the (most) famous (or most successful) artists drawing (or, painting) today?
• (Possible question) What do you think an artist could draw/paint in order to become famous (or successful) today?

Photographs

• What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of taking photos using a mobile phone?
• (Similar to above) What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of having a camera on a mobile phone?

Cameras

• How would you compare modern cameras (or, today's cameras) with those of the past?
• Do you think people will still be buying cameras in the future?
• How do you think cameras will (or, might) develop in the future?

Describe a place, (not your home), that is good for reading and writing.

               You should say:

 where the place is

 how often you go there

 what you do there

 and explain why you think it is good for reading and writing. 

Possible follow-up questions:

• Have you told your friends about this place?

Part 3

Note the exact definitions of words such as "read", "study" and "learn". "Reading" and "studying" are not always the same.

Places to Read and Write

• Apart from a library, where do people (or, students) in your country go when they want to read books? 
• What do you think are the good and bad points about studying at home?
• What are the differences between reading books at home, and in a library?
• Some people think that a public park is a great place to study. Can you suggest why?
• Do you think many people choose to go to a forest or a riverside to read and write? (Why?/Why not?)
• What factors should people consider when selecting a place to read (and write)?

The Value of Books / Reading

• What do you think are the benefits of reading?
• Do you think reading is a good habit for children to have?
• Do you think people get more information from reading books, or from watching videos? 
• (Similar to above) Do you think people can learn more by reading books, or by watching videos?
• Do you think there are things that we can only learn from books?

Literacy

• Which do you think is more important, reading or writing?
• Can you suggest why people need to have good writing skills?
• In your country, at what age do most people start to learn to write and write?
• What would you say is the best age to start learning to read (and write)?
• Can you think of any possible problems that some children might face when they start to learn to read?
• How long do you think it takes for a child to learn to be literate?
  • Would you say that people become better at reading as they grow older?
  • (Similar to above) Would you say that adults are better at reading than children?

Describe ....................

               You should say:

 ..................

 .................

 .................

 and explain .......................

Notes

• It is very likely that this topic does not exist. Instead, it might be  An Unusual Holiday

Version A - past tense

Describe a place where you spent (or, had) a good time with your friends

               You should say:

 where it was

 when you went there

 what you did together

 and explain why you had a good time there.

Version B - present tense

Describe a place where you (go to) spend a good time with your friends

               You should say:

 where it is

 when you go there

 what you do together

 and explain why you have a good time there.

Part 3

Friends

• Do you prefer to be (or, spend time) with a close friend, or do things in a group?
• (Similar to above) Do you think people generally prefer being with a large group of people, or with just a few friends?
• Do people in your country spend more time with their family or their friends?
• What are the main differences between spending time with family and spending time with friends?
• Would you say it’s important to spend time with friends?
• What do friends do when they are together?
• Do you think science and technology improves the relationships between people?

Social Skills / Socializing

• Would you say that it's important for people to socialize with others?
• Many people say that human beings are born with social skills. Do you agree?
• Would you say children naturally have social skills?
• How do people (in your country) usually socialize with others?
• What kind of social skills do people need when they are with other people?
• Can you suggest how an introverted person could become more sociable when they are with other people?

Modern Lifestyles

• Can you suggest why people nowadays (seem to) lead such a busy life?
• How do you think the use of modern (communications) technology is affecting people's social lives (compared to the days before this technology was in use)?
• How do you think people's work-life balance has changed in recent years?

Describe a polluted place you have seen.

               You should say:

 where it was

 how it was polluted

 how it was polluted

 and explain how you felt about it.

Notes

• It could be something as simple as a laneway or street that was polluted by rubbish (garbage). But better examples are polluted rivers, lakes, beaches, old factory sites (soil pollution) or a city or place with heavy air pollution.

Describe a well-known product from your hometown, region or country *.

               You should say:

 what it is

 where people can buy it

 who usually buys it

 and explain why it is well-know (or, popular).

Part 3

Products, especially Traditional Products From Your Country

• Do some products mainly come from only some parts of your country?

• (Similar to above) Are some parts of your country famous for any particular product(s)?

• Can you suggest why people usually favour food products that come from the regions (or the country) where they live?

• Besides the example you just spoke about (in Part 2), can you think of any traditional products in your country?

• Would you say traditional products that are made in your country today are the same quality as the products that were produced in historical times?

• (Similar to above) Would you say traditional products in your country today are of high quality?

• What would you say are the differences between traditional products (or objects) and modern ones that serve the same purpose? For example, how are modern clothes in your country different to traditional clothes from your country?

• (Similar to above) Which do you think are better, traditional products or the modern products that have replaced them?

• Do you think it's important for (some) people to learn how to make traditional products in schools and/or in the home?

• Do you think traditions should be (or, need to be) protected? 

   

  Inventions

  • What would you say are some of the most popular (or, important) inventions in the world?
  • Can you explain what makes an invention popular?
  • What do you think are the advantages, and disadvantages of having new inventions?

  International Trade

  • Do you think international trade is important? *
  • What are some examples of what your country mainly imports and what it mainly imports?

Describe a school that you attended during your childhood.

               You should say:

 what it looked like

 what teachers you liked

 what you learned at the school

   and explain what you remember most about the school.

Part 3

Schools in Your Country

• What type of schools are there in your country?
• Can everyone afford to go to private schools?
• How has the education system in your country changed in recent years (or, the past 2 or 3 decades)?
• (Similar to above) What are the main differences in the education system now compared to the past?

Teachers

• Do you think school teachers are strict enough today?
• Do you think teachers should be serious?
• Nowadays, teachers have become friendlier than they were in the past. Do you think that’s a good thing?
• Do you think "fun" teachers are more helpful?
• What kinds of preparation do you think teachers might need to do before teaching a class?
• Do you think teachers need to be trained in a professional way?

Computers at School

• Do you think school students nowadays like using computers?
• Which do you use more, the internet or the library?

School Students

• Do you think school students today study harder than previous generations (did)?

Describe ....................

               You should say:

 ..................

 .................

 .................

 and explain .......................

Describe one of the happiest (or most special) days in your life.

               You should say:

 when it was

 where you were

 what happened (or, what you did) that day

 and explain why it was such a happy (or special) day for you.

Part 3

Happiness

• How would you describe the meaning of the word, "happiness"?
• Would you say that people (in your country) are generally happier today than people were 20 or 30 years ago?
• Do you have any suggestions on how people could become happier?
• Do you think money plays a part in the happiness that people experience?
• Do you think it's possible to be happy all the time?
• How can (or, do) people make others happy?

Memory

• What are some examples of memories from childhood that many (or most) people have?
• Can you suggest why most people can remember only a few things from when they were kids?
• Do you think photos help to bring back childhood memories?
• What are some ways that people today use to preserve memories?
• Do you think photos are a good way to help people preserve memories (or, keep past events in a person's memory)?
• What do you think would happen if history was incorrectly recorded?
• Do you think technology can help people to remember information?
• What are the best ways to remember information, in your opinion?
• How do you think people could (or, can) improve their memory?

Celebrating Important Days

• How do people in your country celebrate 'big days' (important events)?
• Do they spend a lot of money on these celebrations?
• Do people spend a lot of money celebrating (their own or their friends') birthdays?
• In your opinion, is it necessary to spend money in order to make friends (or, maintain a friendship)?

Goals

• Do you think most people have a main goal in life?
• Do you think it's good to have goals in life?
• What are your goals?
• How hard is it to keep trying to achieve your goals or ideas?
• Do you think failing to achieve a goal is a serious matter?

Describe ....................

               You should say:

 ..................

 .................

 .................

 and explain .......................

Describe a successful small business that you know about.

               You should say:

                                what business (or, company) it is

                                what this business does (or, produces)

                                how you know about this business

              and explain why you think this company is successful.

    Part3: 

Success in Business

• In general, what factors do you think determine whether a small company will become successful or not?      

• Can you suggest why some businesses become successful while others do not?

• What qualities are required to become a company leader (or, CEO or, manager)?      

Types of Companies

• What types of (or what are some examples of) industries/businesses are there in your hometown?

• Can you explain why certain industries tend to be located in some areas (parts of your country) and not in other places?

• Do you think companies should be private or state owned? (or what’s the difference between private companies and state-owned companies?)         

• Are there any differences between the industrial structure of your country today compared to the past? 

• How do you  think a manufacturing company could (or should) innovate (and stay competitive in the market)?

• Do you think high technology plays an important role in a company’s development?       

• What do you think of charitable organizations?

Working in a Company

• Which do you think is better, to start your own business or to work for others?

Describe a talk or speech that you attended.

               You should say:

 where it was

 who spoke

 what the topic was

 and explain what you thought of the talk or speech.

Describe a time when someone apologized to you.

       You should say:

              when this happened

              what you were doing (or, what happened)

              who apologized to you

       and explain why they apologized to you.

Part 3

Apologizing

• Do you think it's good to apologize?

• In what situations do you think people need to (or, should) apologize?

• What kinds of people are most likely to say sorry?

• What do you think of those people who don't apology very often?

• Can you suggest why some people never apologize?

• Do you usually apologize when you make a mistake?

• Do you think you can you tell (or detect) if someone apologizes without meaning it?

• What has more meaning to you, someone's apologetic words or someone's actions?

Moods

• Can you explain how one person's mood can affect others?

Selfishness

• Can you suggest why some people are selfish?

• Do you think everyone should be more considerate of others (more than we are today)?

• How do people learn to be considerate of others?

Describe a time when you were bored when you were with other people.

               You should say:

 When and where it was

 What you were doing

 Who you were with

 And explain why you were bored.

Part 3

Boredom

• Are you the kind of person who easily gets (feels) bored?
• Can you explain why people get bored?
• (Similar to above) What do you think are the causes of boredom?
• Do you think boredom can be useful sometimes?
• Why do you think people are less interested in reading books nowadays (than they were in the past)?
• Some people say that it’s hard to feel bored in modern society, Do you agree with that?
• Would you say modern technology is making people’s lives more interesting?

Boredom in the Workplace

• Why do you think some people feel bored at their work?
• (Similar to above) Why do you think some work makes people feel bored?
• Can you give any examples of boring work?
• (Similar to above) Why do some people do work that is boring?
• Do you think all the boring jobs will be done by robots in the future?
• (Similar to above) Do you think all the boring jobs will be replaced by high technology in the future?

Vocabulary:

• to bore someone
• be bored
• boring ("I'm boring" = I bore other people. = I make other people feel bored. !!)
• monotonous, monotony
• repetitive, repetitious
• tiresome, tedious
• dull, dry, unimaginative (e.g., a speech, a lesson, a book, an essay, a lesson)
• not new, lacking in novelty, unoriginal
• unchallenging, to master a task (requires a person to pay attention to what they are doing), learning something new
• unstimulating, mental stimulation
• uninteresting, lacking in interest
• uninterested, to lack interest in something, to have a lack of interest in something
• to arouse a person's interest, to capture one's attention
• to yawn
• "ho mum" (an expression)
• humdrum
• to wait
• nothing to do
• Something to occupy one's mind
• People who are bored are possibly lacking in curiosity.
• Some people who constantly or frequently feel bored lack drive, or motivation.
• Introverted (introspective) people are possibly less likely to become bored than extroverts because they are more used to generating their own thoughts.
• "I'm too busy to be bored."

Describe a time when you helped someone.

               You should say:

 who you helped

 what you did

 why you helped them

   and explain how (you think) they benefited from your help.

Part 3

Helping Others in Dangerous Situations

• Can you think of any situations when someone, or some people, need help but this situation could be (or, is) dangerous for the person offering to help (or, giving help)?
• In general, what precautions, to protect their own safety, do you think people need to take when offering to help others?
• How important do you think it is to help others even when it is dangerous to do so?
• Would you say it's better to ensure one's own safety by not offering to help (or, trying to help) when the situation is dangerous?

Helping Children

• What are some examples of situations when a child needs help?
• How do you think parents can help their children with homework?
• Do you think that, in general, younger people and older people help children in different ways?

Giving Advice

• Can you explain why children should take advice from their parents?
• Would you agree that sometimes parents can take advice from their children?
• What do you think are the pros and cons of taking the advice of others, compared to making one's own (independent) decisions?

Describe a time when you lost something

               You should say:

 when it was

 what you lost

 whether you found it again

 and explain how you felt when you first discovered you had lost it. *

                or

and describe how you felt when you found it.

Part 3

Losing and Finding Things

• What sorts of things do people most commonly (or, most often) lose?
• Can you suggest why people sometimes lose (or, forget where they put) things?
• Do you have any suggestions on how they could avoid losing (or forgetting where they put) things?
• What do you think is the best thing to do if you find something that doesn't belong to you?
• (Similar to above) If you saw something on the ground that someone had dropped, would you pick it up?
• Do you think it's right (or, OK) to keep something that someone has lost and that you have found?
• In this modern world people tend to forget their traditional culture. What are the reasons for that, in your opinion?
• In all civilizations, theatrical plays and movies about finding treasure or gold have always been popular. Can you suggest what makes this theme so popular?

Describe a trip you took by public transport.

               You should say:

                        when it happened 

                        what means of transport you took

                        what you did during the trip

                and explain how you felt about the trip.

              .

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Possible follow-up questions:

• Do you often take public transport?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  

Part 3

• What are the different forms of (means of) transport that people can use in your country?
• Can you suggest why some people travel by bus and not by air?
• Why do you think more and more people prefer to travel by plane?
• Do you think the cost of travelling is reasonable in your country?
• What kinds of obstacles do you think some local governments have to face when they develop transportation infrastructure?
• What are some examples of (possible) problems that people have when they travel?
• Do you think traffic jams would be reduced if people could travel on public transport for free?
• How do you think transportation might change in the future?

Describe a TV program you enjoyed watching during your childhood (or, when you were a child).

               You should say:

 what kind of program it was

 what it was about

 when you watched it

   and explain why you enjoyed watching the program.

Part 3

• Nowadays, what kinds of TV programs do young people enjoy watching?

Describe a uniform you have worn, (such as a school or company uniform).

          You should say:

                 what it looked like            

                 when and where you needed to wear this uniform

                 who paid for this uniform

         and explain how you felt about that uniform. 

                    or

        and explain why you wore that uniform.

Part 3

School Uniforms

• Why do school students wear a school uniform?
• Do university students ever wear uniforms?
• Why don’t teachers wear the same uniforms as their students?
• Do you think they should? *
• In your country, do schools provide similar uniforms to their students?
• Are there any schools in China that allows students to wear their own clothes?
• What would you say are the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a school uniform?

Other Kinds of Uniforms

• What are some examples of occupations that require people to wear a uniform?
• Why do these people wear uniforms?
• Do you (personally) feel (or think) that uniforms are important?
• What would you say are the advantages and disadvantages of wearing a uniform?

The Clothes that People Wear

• Do you think people wear clothes that represent (or reflect) their personality?
• Do you think women’s clothes show more variety than men’s clothes?
• What color clothes do you think would catch people’s attention the most?
• Do you think the fashion industry (the clothing industry) influences the style of clothes that young people wear?
• Would you say young people are influenced by the style of clothes that their peers (their friends / other young people) are wearing?

Describe a time you celebrated an achievement (of yours).

               You should say:

 when you celebrated it

 what your achievement was

 how you celebrated it

 and explain how you felt when you celebrated the achievement.

Notes

• In the first line, even if the words, "of yours" are not included, it does mean your achievement, not someone else's.
• It could be an achievement that that you jointly made, with others, as a member of  group.
• Although people do celebrate achievements (wins) when the football team etc. that they support wins a match, it's not a suitable example in the Part 2 because you did not contribute to the achievement, even if you feel the team, or sports cub is a group that you are a member of.

Part 3

Celebrating Important Days

• What are some of the major reasons why people celebrate?
• How do people in your country celebrate 'big days' (important events)?
• How do people celebrate weddings in your country?
• Do they spend a lot of money on these celebrations?
• Do people spend a lot of money celebrating (their own or their friends') birthdays?
• In your opinion, is it necessary to spend money in order to make friends (or, maintain a friendship)?
• Do you think it’s necessary to spend a lot of money on holding a party?
• Do people in your country spend much money celebrating birthdays?
• Do people in your country usually go out to celebrate traditional festivals with others?

Family Celebrations

• How do people in your country celebrate family events?
• Do you think that's very different from other countries?
• Can you explain why people in most countries celebrate some form of 'National Day'?
• Do children and adults celebrate their birthdays the same way?
• (Similar to above) Are birthday celebrations for children the same as those for adults?

Celebrating Achievements of Sports Teams (or clubs)

• Can you explain why sports fan celebrate when their favourite team wins a game?
• Do you think it’s important for sports fans to celebrate when their favourite team wins?
• Which do you think is more difficult, to compete in a team sport, or to compete in an individual sport?
• Would you say most people prefer to win as a member of  a team, or win in a sport where people compete individually?
• (Similar to above) Which do you think is more important, personal achievements or achievements as a team?

Goals

• Do you think most people have a main goal in life?
• Do you think it's good to have goals in life?
• What are your goals?
• How hard is it to keep trying to achieve your goals or ideas?
• Do you think failing to achieve a goal is a serious matter?

Describe an article you read in a magazine or on the Internet that could help people improve their health.

       You should say:

                when you read it 

                where you read it  (or, how you read it)

                what it was about               

       and explain why (you think) it could improve people’s health.

Possible follow-up questions:

• Do you often read that kind of magazine / website?

Part 3

Being Healthy

• What sorts of things do some people do today to try to maintain good health?
• Are there any differences between the way old people and young people try to stay healthy?
• How do you think people could become more healthier?
• Do you think people in the future will be doing more exercise and eat healthier than they are today?
• Would you like to learn how to swim?
• Do schools in your country have any special activities to enhance the fitness of students?

         .

Describe an educational trip you went on in your school days.

        You should say

                        where you went

                        who you went with

                        what you saw (or did) there *      

         and explain what you learned on that trip.

part3

Educational Trips

• Do school children in your country often go on school excursions (or, educational trips organized by the school)?
• Where do they go?
• (Similar to above) Did you ever go (or, how often did you go) on school excursions (or educational trips) when you were at school?
• Did you enjoy those trips?
• What did you learn?
• How useful do you think such trips are? (= What are the benefits of such trips?)  
• (Similar to above) Do you think educational trips really do help promote learning?
• How would you compare what children learn on educational trips (school excursions) to what they learn in the classroom?
• What do you think is (or, should be) the role of the teacher during a school excursion?
• What is the value for the children of going on such excursions with a teacher as opposed to going there with their parents, or going there alone?
• What do you think are the benefits of overseas educational trips?

School Excursions

• Do schools in Iran ever organize educational trips for students, for example, a visit to a museum?
• Do you think school excursions (educational trips) are important (or, useful)?
• Do you think children really do (or can) learn something from an educational trip? (How?)
• What are some suitable places for school students to go for an educational visit?
• In general, what attributes are necessary for an ideal school excursion?
• Do you think there is any difference between the places boys would prefer to visit and the places where girls would prefer to visit?
• What do you think are the benefits (advantages) of taking children to visit places where they can learn something?
• What role do you think the teacher should play on these school excursions?
• (Similar to above) Do you think the teacher is more important than the things the students can see on a school excursion?
• In general, do you think children learn better (or, learn more) inside the classroom or outside the classroom?
• What are some examples of places where parents could take their children for an 'educational visit'?

Describe a meal (or dinner) that you especially enjoyed. *

               You should say:

 where it was (and when)

 what you ate

 who you were with

   and explain why you enjoyed it so much.

Part 3

Special Meals

• What do you think are the differences between eating normal meals at home and going out to eat a special meal?
• Do you have any idea why, when world leaders gather for special meeting they also have a special meal (a banquet) together?
• Can you explain why food is such an important part of observing special occasions?

National / Traditional Foods

• Why do you think different countries have different national dishes (or, different national cuisines)? Do you think it's important for people today to continue practicing the traditional food (or, culinary) customs from their culture?

Describe a time when you were excited. 

                    or

Describe an exciting experience you have had.

                   or

Describe an exciting event in your life (or an exciting event you experienced). 

     You should say:

             when it was

             where you were

             who you were with

    and explain why it was exciting for you.

Part 3

Celebrations and Events

• What are some of the major events that people in your country celebrate (every year)?
• Do people in your country usually go out to celebrate traditional festivals with others?
• What community events (or, celebrations) do you have in your country?
• What do you think are the benefits from these events (or celebrations)?
• Can you suggest why some companies sponsor (or, hold) these events, for example sports events?
• Do you think it’s necessary to spend a lot of money on holding a party?
• Do people in your country spend much money celebrating birthdays?

Describe a skill you recently learned that you think is important.

               You should say:

 what it is

 when you use it

 how easy or difficult it was to learn

   and explain why you think it is important.

Part 3

Skills

• Do you think that the skills that were important in the past are still important today?
• Do you think teamwork and communicative skills are important?
• What skills do you think are important in business?
• What would you say are some of the most important skills that one needs to have in order to be successful?
• What skills do you think will be most important in the future?

Describe an important a text message you received.

    You should say:

         who sent the message

         what was in the message

         why the person sent the message

    and explain why the message was important to you.

Part 3

Communication

• Have the ways that people communicate changed much in the recent few decades?
• Can you suggest why some people don’t like using text messages?
• (Similar to above) Why do some people prefer to make phone calls instead of texting (sending text messages)?
• (The reverse of the above question) Can you explain why some people prefer to send text messages (on their phones) instead of making phone calls?
• What do you think are some of the main differences between communicating by writing, and communicating by speaking?
• Do you think scientific (or technological) development has any negative influence on communication?

Describe an indoor game you played when you were a child.

               You should say:

 what the game was

 who you played it with

 how you played it

 and explain why you played that game.

Part 3

Games in Your Country

• What other types of indoor games do you know?
• What are (some of) the most popular indoor games in your country?
• Which do you think are better, indoor or outdoor games?

Children's Games

• What games do children play today?
• Are those the same as the games kids used to play in the past?
• What can they learn from games?
• Do you think it’s necessary for children’s games to be competitive?
• Do you think it's good that children play games on their smartphones or tablets?
• Which do you think are better for children, indoor games or outdoor games?

Describe an insect you hate.

               You should say:

 ..................

 .................

 .................

   and explain what features of it you hate.

Describe an interesting animal you have seen.

               You should say:

                              what it looked like

                              where the animal was

                              what happened

               and explain why you think the animal was interesting.

Possible follow-up questions:

• Do you often see wild animals?

Part 3

Animals in Your Country

• What kinds of animals can be commonly seen in cities? How about in the  countryside?
• Some people say that animals in the countryside cause more problems than those in cities. Do you agree?
• How do animals cause problems to humans?
• (Similar to above) What are some examples of problems that animals sometimes cause for humans?
• Do you think animals will still be important (or, as important as they are today) in the future?
• Do you think animal’s lives are as important as those for human beings?
• Do you like to watch TV programs about animals?
• Can you suggest why nowadays more and more people are choosing to become vegetarians? 

Pets

• What can a pet bring to a person’s life?
• Do you think there are any difficulties to keeping a pet?
• Do you think keeping animals as pets in the city is good for them (the animals)?

Working Animals

• What jobs do some animals do that can help people?
• In your country, do people ever use horses as a kind of tool?

Describe an item of clothing you enjoy wearing.

               You should say:

 what it is

 where you usually wear it

 when / how you got it

 when you last wore it

 and explain why you enjoy wearing it.

Part 3

Dress Style / Fashion

• Do you follow fashion trends?
• Do you like all the fashion trends?
• Which would you prefer to wear, fashionable clothes or comfortable clothes?
• Can you suggest why fashions change?
• How do you think the fashion industry influences (or, creates) trends in fashion?
• What’s the difference between the dress style of young people and that of old people?
• Do you wear different clothes in different seasons?
• Do people living in different parts of your country wear clothes that are different from the the clothes of people in other parts of the country?
• On what occasions do people in your country wear formal clothes?

Uniforms

• Can you explain why some companies require their employees to wear uniforms?
• What do you think are the benefits of wearing a uniform at school?
• Do you think students like to wear uniforms?

Version A

Describe a situation when you received some useful advice.

                You should say:

what the situation was

who gave you the advice

what the advice was

              and explain how this advice was useful to you.

Version B

Describe a time when you gave some advice to someone.

                You should say:

what the situation was

who you gave the advice to

what the advice was

              and explain how this advice was useful to this person.

Possible follow-up questions:

• Do you often get advice from older people?
• (That question might be) Do you often get advice from other people?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Part 3

Giving Advice

• Do you often get advice from older people?
• (That question might be) Do you often get advice from other people?
• Do you like giving advice to others?
• Why (do you think) many people don't follow good advice?

Parental Advice

• What kinds of (= what are some examples of) advice that parents in your country give to their children?
• Do parents give any advice about making friends?
• Whose advice do you think is most helpful (or, useful), advice from parents, or advice from friends?

Professional Advice-Givers

• What are some examples of people who give advice as (part of) their work?
• How do these experts give advice to others?

Describe ....................

               You should say:

 ..................

 .................

 .................

 and explain .......................

Describe an unusual holiday you had.

               You should say:

 when and where you went

 who you went with

 what you did there

 and explain why it was unusual

Part 3

• Would you say you have enough holidays?
• Can you suggest why some people like to spend their holidays in the country(side)?
• Would you say tourism development bring more benefits, or more drawbacks?

Describe an occasion when you met an interesting person for the first time.

               You should say:

 who this person was

 when and where you met them

 what you did or talked about

 and explain why you think this person was interesting.

Part 3

Public Speaking

• Can you suggest why many people lack confidence when they have to give a public presentation, such as at work?

Making Friends

• In your country, how do people make new friends nowadays?
• Has this changed, (compared to a few decades ago)?
• Do you think it's more important to meet (or make) new friends, or to maintain your relationships with your current friends?
• How do you judge whether people on social media websites or apps are telling  the truth?
• how to make friends with them?

The Workplace

• What do you suggest could be done to encourage employees to do their work?
• How do you think a person could  make friends with both their supervisor and and their colleagues?

Describe a time when you couldn't (= were not allowed to) use your mobile phone.

            You should say:

where it was

what you were doing at this time (what the situation was)

when it was

            and explain why you were not able to (or, allowed to) use your mobile phone. 

                                                            or

            and explain how you felt when you were not able to (or, allowed to) use your mobile phone. 

Part 3

Mobile Phones

• Do you think there should be regulations on the use of mobile phones?
• What do you think of primary school students owning a mobile phone?
• What (minimum) age do you think is appropriate for owning a cell phone?

Describe an occasion when you did not tell someone the (complete) truth.

               You should say:

 who this person was

 what you told them

 what you did not tell

 and explain why you didn't tell the full truth.

Part 3

Lies

• What do you think are some of the reasons why children sometimes tell a lie?
• In what ways do you think the lies that children tell are different to the lies that adults tell?
• Do you think children lie more often than adults?

Telling Lies

• Do you ever tell lies?
• Would you say most people tell lies from time to time?
• Do you think people around you lie too much?
• In what situations do people tell lies?
• (Similar to above) Why do some people tell lies instead of telling the truth?
• Do you think that lying is good?
• If a good person tell a lie, would you still say that person is good?
• Do you think people always need to (or, should) tell others the truth when they think the truth is private information?
• How would you feel if a friend told you a lie? *
• In what situations do children or young people tell lies to their parents?
• Do you think it's important to teach children to be honest?
• Besides simply being told to be honest by their parents or teachers, can you suggest how children could be taught the value (or importance of) honesty?
• How can someone lie convincingly?  *
• Do you think good liars need to have a good memory?
• Are there situations when people tell lies with good intentions?   ("white lies")
• Do you think such well-intentioned lies can ever have negative effects?
• (Similar to above) If you told someone a lie about how good their clothes looked, do you think that could possibly lead to a negative result?
• Can you explain why people sometimes tell lies like that?

Describe a time when the weather prevented you from doing something.

               You should say:

what your plan was (or, plans were)

what weather you were hoping for (or expecting)

what happened

and explain how you felt when you had to change your plans.

Part 3

• Do people in your country enjoy talking about the weather, as a small chat, when they meet each other?
• What types of weather do people (in your country) prefer, cold or hot weather?
• What kinds of people care most about the weather?
• Would you say weather forecasts are usually accurate?

Describe a person you know who is good at their (= his or her) job

               You should say:

 who the person is

 where the person works

 what the person does

 and explain why you think this person is good at their job.

Notes

"Why you think this person is good at their job" can be interpreted in two ways: a) explain how you think this person became so good or, b) explain what it is about the way this person works that causes you to think they do their job well. Meaning b) is the best thing to talk about although you can include a little of a) as well.

Part 3

Skills

• What do you think are some of the important skills that a manager needs to have?
• Are any of those skills taught at schools in your country?
• (Possible follow-up question) Do you think schools should teach these skills?

Adapting to Change

• Can you suggest how people and companies can adapt to change?
• Can you give an example of a company that failed by not adapting to change, or succeeded at adapting to change?
• How do you adapt to change?
• Would you say you are a quick learner?

Version A

Describe something you bought that was hard to use at first. *

               You should say:

 what it was

 why you bought it *

 how you use it *

   and explain why it was hard to use at first.

Version B

Describe a situation when something in your home broke or stopped working. *

               You should say:

 what it was

 what you used it for *

 what happened *

   and explain how you felt when it stopped working. *

Version C

Describe something you bought but hardly use. *

               You should say:

 what it is

 what it is used for *

 why you bought it *

   and explain why you hardly use it. *

Part 3

Buy & Using New Things

• Do you often buy new things?
• Do you think old people have difficulties using some things that young people can easily use?
• What type of products are difficult to use at first?

Consumerism

• Do you think it is necessary to follow fashion and use the latest products?
• Would you say that advertisements are useful in selling products?
• Would you say that advertising makes people buy more news things than they would if there was no advertising?
• Do you think advertising fools people?

Second-Hand Goods

• Why do you think some people buy second-hand products?
• Can you suggest why people sell second-hand goods by advertising them on the internet?

Describe something exciting that you did.

or

Describe an exciting experience you have had. 

     You should say:

             when you did it

             where you were when you did it

             who you did it with

    and explain why it was exciting for you.

Part 3

Celebrations

• Do you think it’s necessary to spend a lot of money on holding a party?
• Do people in your country spend much money celebrating birthdays?
• Do people in your country usually go out to celebrate traditional festivals with others?

Describe something useful you borrowed from someone.

               You should say:

 what it was

 who you borrowed it from

 why you borrowed it

 and explain why it was useful to you.

Part 3

Borrowing in Your Country

• Who do people in your country more often borrow from, their family or their friends?
• How long do people usually keep the things that they have borrowed before they return them?
• Do you think borrowing ever leads to disputes between people?
• Do you think there are any differences between borrowing money from family members and borrowing it from friends?
• Before you borrow something (such as a pen), do you think it's always necessary to ask permission?
• What are some suitable questions to ask when you want to borrow something?
• Which do you think is better, to borrow books from a library, or to buy good-quality second-hand books?

Describe a small business you would lik

Describe a small business you would like to start.

               You should say:

 what it is

 how much money you would need

 how many people you would need

 and explain why you would like to start a small business.

Version A

Describe something you would like to stop eating.

               You should say:

 what it is

 when and where you eat it

 where you buy it

 how much of it you eat  or how often you eat it

 and explain why you would like to stop eating it.

Version B

Describe something that you have stopped eating

                You should say：

                                what is it

                                why you like it

                                where do you buy it from

                and explain how you stopped eating it

Describe a situation when you felt tired but (you) had to stay awake.

               You should say:

 When it happened

 Where it happened

 What you did   (or, what you were doing)

 And explain why you had to stay awake.

              .

Part 3

Staying Awake When Tired

• Can you give any more examples of situations when people are likely to become tired but need to stay awake?
• What kinds of people need to keep awake when they are tired?
• What kinds of people stay awake even when they are tired (and want to sleep)?
• What are some ways that people use to keep (themselves) awake?

The Stress of Modern Life

• Would you say that doing a large number of things (being very busy) is a good thing?
• Do you think school students in your country spend too much time on their studies?
• Do you think they get enough sleep?
• Do you think the use of social media is increasing people’s stress?

Describe an occasion when you wore your best clothes (or, clothing)

               You should say:

 when it was

 what you wore

 what they looked like

 and explain why you wore your best clothes.

Part 3

• Do you think people really need to dress formally in the workplace?
• Why do some people like to wear traditional clothes?
• Do you think traditional clothes will disappear in the future?
• Do you think people change the style of clothes they wear as they get older?