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1. People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example,
new experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge). Why do you think
people attend college or university? Use specific reasons and examples to support
your answer.
2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best
teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
3. Nowadays, food has become easier to prepare. Has this change improved the
way people live? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
4. It has been said, "Not everything that is learned is contained in books."
Compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained
from books. In your opinion, which source is more important? Why?
5. A company has announced that it wishes to build a large factory near your
community. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this new influence on your
community. Do you support or oppose the factory? Explain your position.
6. If you could change one important thing about your hometown, what would
you change? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
7. How do movies or television influence people's behavior? Use reasons and
specific examples to support your answer.
8. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television has
destroyed communication among friends and family. Use specific reasons and
examples to support your opinion.
9. Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city.
Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support
your answer.
10.“When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with
success.” Do you agree or disagree with the quotation above? Use specific reasons and
examples to explain your position.
11.Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Universities should give
the same amount of money to their students' sports activities as they give to their
university libraries. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
12. Many people visit museums when they travel to new places. Why do you
think people visit museums? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
13.Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people prefer to
prepare and eat food at home. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples
to support your answer.
14. Some people believe that university students should be required to attend
classes. Others believe that going to classes should be optional for students. Which
point of view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to explain your
answer.
15.Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities
of a good neighbor? Use specific details and examples in your answer.
16. It has recently been announced that a new restaurant may be built in your
neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and
details to support your answer.
17.Some people think that they can learn better by themselves than with a teacher.
Others think that it is always better to have a teacher. Which do you prefer? Use specific
reasons to develop your essay.
18. What are some important qualities of a good supervisor (boss)? Use specific
details and examples to explain why these qualities are important.
19. Should governments spend more money on improving roads and highways,
or should governments spend more money on improving public transportation (buses,
trains, subways)? Why? Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.
20. It is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big city. Do you
agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to develop your essay.
21. In general, people are living longer now. Discuss the causes of this
phenomenon. Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.
22. We all work or will work in our jobs with many different kinds of people. In
your opinion, what are some important characteristics of a co- worker (someone you
work closely with)? Use reasons and specific examples to explain why these
characteristics are important.
23. In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do you
think this is a good idea? Support your opinion by using specific reasons and details.
24. A person you know is planning to move to your town or city. What do you
think this person would like and dislike about living in your town or city? Why? Use
specific reasons and details to develop your essay.
25.It has recently been announced that a large shopping center may be built in your
neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and
details to support your answer.
26. It has recently been announced that a new movie theater may be built in your
neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and
details to support your answer.
27. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People should
sometimes do things that they do not enjoy doing. Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.
28. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television,
newspapers, magazines, and other media pay too much attention to the personal
lives of famous people such as public figures and celebrities. Use specific reasons
and details to explain your opinion.
29. Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human
activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is
your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
30. It has recently been announced that a new high school may be built in your
community. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and
details in your answer.
31. Some people spend their entire lives in one place. Others move a number of
times throughout their lives, looking for a better job, house, community, or even
climate. Which do you prefer: staying in one place or moving in search of another
place? Use reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.
32. Is it better to enjoy your money when you earn it or is it better to save your
money for some time in the future? Use specific reasons and examples to support
your opinion.
33. You have received a gift of money. The money is enough to buy either a
piece of jewelry you like or tickets to a concert you want to attend. Which would you
buy? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
34. Businesses should hire employees for their entire lives. Do you agree or
disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
35. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Attending a live
performance (for example, a play, concert, or sporting event) is more enjoyable than
watching the same event on television. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your opinion.
36. Choose one of the following transportation vehicles and explain why you think
it has changed people's lives. O automobiles O bicycles O airplanes Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
37. Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good? Use specific reasons
and examples to support your answer.
38. Learning about the past has no value for those of us living in the present. Do
you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
39. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? With the help of
technology, students nowadays can learn more information and learn it more quickly.
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
40. The expression "Never, never give up" means to keep trying and never stop
working for your goals. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
41. Some people think that human needs for farmland, housing, and industry are
more important than saving land for endangered animals. Do you agree or disagree
with this point of view? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
42. What is a very important skill a person should learn in order to be successful
in the world today? Choose one skill and use specific reasons and examples to
support your choice.
43. Why do you think some people are attracted to dangerous sports or other
dangerous activities? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
44. Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to travel
alone. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
choice.
45. Some people prefer to get up early in the morning and start the day's work.
Others prefer to get up later in the day and work until late at night. Which do you
prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
46. What are the important qualities of a good son or daughter? Have these
qualities changed or remained the same over time in your culture? Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
47. Some people prefer to work for a large company. Others prefer to work for a
small company. Which would you prefer? Use specific reasons and details to support
your choice.
48. People work because they need money to live. What are some other reasons
that people work? Discuss one or more of these reasons. Use specific examples and
details to support your answer.
49. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face
communication is better than other types of communication, such as letters, email, or
telephone calls. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
50. Some people like to do only what they already do well. Other people prefer to
try new things and take risks. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your choice.
51. Some people believe that success in life comes from taking risks or chances.
Others believe that success results from careful planning. In your opinion, what does
success come from? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
52. What change would make your hometown more appealing to people your
age? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
53. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The most important
aspect of a job is the money a person earns. Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
54. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? One should never
judge a person by external appearances. Use specific reasons and details to support
your answer.
55. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A person should
never make an important decision alone. Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
56. A company is going to give some money either to support the arts or to
protect the environment. Which do you think the company should choose? Use
specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
57. Some movies are serious, designed to make the audience think. Other
movies are designed primarily to amuse and entertain. Which type of movie do you
prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
58. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Businesses should
do anything they can to make a profit. Use specific reasons and examples to support
your position.
59. Some people are always in a hurry to go places and get things done. Other
people prefer to take their time and live life at a slower pace. Which do you prefer?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
60. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Games are as
important for adults as they are for children. Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
61. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents or other adult
relatives should make important decisions for their older (15 to 18 year-old) teenage
children. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
62. What do you want most in a friend - someone who is intelligent, or someone
who has a sense of humor, or someone who is reliable? Which one of these
characteristics is most important to you? Use reasons and specific examples to
explain your choice.
63. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Most experiences in
our lives that seemed difficult at the time become valuable lessons for the future. Use
reasons and specific examples to support our answer.
64. Some people prefer to work for themselves or own a business. Others prefer
to work for an employer. Would you rather be self-employed, work for someone else,
or own a business? Use specific reasons to explain your choice.
65. Should a city try to preserve its old, historic buildings or destroy them and
replace them with modern buildings? Use specific reasons and examples to support
your opinion.
66. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Classmates are a
more important influence than parents on a child's success in school. Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
67. If you were an employer, which kind of worker would you prefer to hire: an
inexperienced worker at a lower salary or an experienced worker at a higher salary?
Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
68. Many teachers assign homework to students every day. Do you think that
daily homework is necessary for students? Use specific reasons and details to
support your answer.
69. If you could study a subject that you have never had the opportunity to study,
what would you choose? Explain your choice, using specific reasons and details.
70. Some people think that the automobile has improved modern life. Others
think that the automobile has caused serious problems. What is your opinion? Use
specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
71. Which would you choose: a high-paying job with long hours that would give
you little time with family and friends or a lower-paying job with shorter hours that
would give you more time with family and friends? Explain your choice, using specific
reasons and details.
72. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Grades (marks)
encourage students to learn. Use specific reasons and examples to support your
opinion.
73. Some people say that computers have made life easier and more convenient.
Other people say that computers have made life more complex and stressful. What is
your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
74. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The best way to
travel is in a group led by a tour guide. Use specific reasons and examples to support
your answer.
75. Some universities require students to take classes in many subjects. Other
universities require students to specialize in one subject. Which is better? Use
specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
76. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should
begin learning a foreign language as soon as they start school. Use specific reasons
and examples to support your position.
77. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Boys and girls should
attend separate schools. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
78. Is it more important to be able to work with a group of people on a team or to
work independently? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
79. Your city has decided to build a statue or monument to honor a famous
person in your country. Who would you choose? Use reasons and specific examples
to support your choice.
80. Describe a custom from your country that you would like people from other
countries to adopt. Explain your choice, using specific reasons and examples.
81. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Technology has
made the world a better place to live. Use specific reasons and examples to support
your opinion.
82. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Advertising can tell
you a lot about a country. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
83. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Modern technology is
creating a single world culture. Use specific reasons and examples to support your
opinion.
84. Some people say that the Internet provides people with a lot of valuable
information. Others think access to so much information creates problems. Which
view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
85. A foreign visitor has only one day to spend in your country. Where should this
visitor go on that day? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.
86. If you could go back to some time and place in the past, when and where
would you go? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.
87. What discovery in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in
your country? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
88. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Telephones and
email have made communication between people less personal. Use specific
reasons and examples to support your opinion.
89. If you could travel back in time to meet a famous person from history, what
person would you like to meet? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
choice.
90. If you could meet a famous entertainer or athlete, who would that be, and
why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
91. If you could ask a famous person one question, what would you ask? Why?
Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
92. Some people prefer to live in places that have the same weather or climate
all year long. Others like to live in areas where the weather changes several times a
year. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
choice.
93. Many students have to live with roommates while going to school or university.
What are some of the important qualities of a good roommate? Use specific reasons
and examples to explain why these qualities are
important.
94. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Dancing plays an
important role in a culture. Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
95. Some people think governments should spend as much money as possible
exploring outer space (for example, traveling to the Moon and to other planets). Other
people disagree and think governments should spend this money for our basic needs
on Earth. Which of these two opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and
details to support your answer.
96. People have different ways of escaping the stress and difficulties of modern
life. Some read; some exercise; others work in their gardens. What do you think are
the best ways of reducing stress? Use specific details and examples in your answer.
97. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Teachers should be
paid according to how much their students learn. Give specific reasons and examples
to support your opinion.
98. If you were asked to send one thing representing your country to an
international exhibition, what would you choose? Why? Use specific reasons and
details to explain your choice.
99. You have been told that dormitory rooms at your university must be shared by
two students. Would you rather have the university assign a student to share a room
with you, or would you rather choose your own roommate? Use specific reasons and
details to explain your answer.
100.Some people think that governments should spend as much money as possible
on developing or buying computer technology. Other people disagree and think that this
money should be spent on more basic needs. Which one of these opinions do you agree
with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.
101.Some people like doing