ielts-yasi.englishlab.net

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Places to Travel To

• Do you travel a lot?

• Do you think people travel more nowadays than they did one or two generations ago?

• Are there any special (or, interesting) places that many people visit in your country? FQx2

• Why do people go to these places? FQ

• Can you suggest reasons why some places are special to some people (but not special for everyone)?

• In general, what types of places do people in your country prefer to visit (as tourists)?

• What places in your country would you recommend foreign visitors visit?

• Why do some people like to visit cities? FQ

• What do you think are the differences between visiting a place and seeing it on TV?  FQx2

• (Similar to above) How do you think the scenery that people see when they travel is different to seeing it on TV? FQx2

• Which do you prefer to do, to see a place on TV or visit it personally?

• Which would you prefer to do, to see a place on TV or visit it personally?

• Do people in your country like to travel abroad?

• How can people benefit from travelling?

• (Not really the same as above) Do you think that people should visit different places to their hometown / home country?

• Do you prefer to travel on your own or with your family?

• Do you prefer to visit popular places or less well-known places?

• Do you think travelling is suitable for children, or should parents travel without their children?

• Do young people and old people generally like to go the same kinds of places?

• Would you like to travel to outer space?

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659.  Something You Forgot  (Sep, 2015)  (Probably no longer used)

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Note 1

Except for the two questions shown, nobody has yet reported any questions about the environment but such questions seem highly likely. The most likely question is, "What sorts of environmental problems are there in your country?"

Don't forget that pollution (air, water & soil pollution) is not the only environmental problem. There is also: i) preservation of endangered species ii) preservation of natural resources such as forests, wetlands, oceanic fish stocks etc., iii) desertification and reclaiming deserts, iv) disposal of human waste materials and garbage, v) soil erosion, vi) soil salinity etc.

My personal opinions on (the unproven theory of) "man-made global warming" and the idea that carbon dioxide (CO2) is a "pollutant" are outlined here. But don't spend too much time reading about this one topic. And be careful how you speak or write about this topic in the IELTS test because, for some examiners, it is truly a new kind of religion for them! I suggest you speak and write objectively, stating what "some people believe" but keeping your personal opinion to yourself on this topic.

Note 2

Don't forget, reading, writing and doing (basic) arithmetic are skills. They might be called "academic skills" but they are essential for living in modern society.

Then there are the so-called "social skills", such as learning to co-operate with others, make friends, communicate with others etc.

And, of course, basic skills on looking after oneself such as how to tie shoe laces and dress oneself.

Note 3

In the West, the traditional situation has long been that boys have a woodworking or metalworking class in junior high school while girls have a "Home Economics" class, which is mainly about cooking and sewing. When I was at school, the boys also had the choice of doing a Technical Drawing class in which they learned the elementary skills of draughting (drafting).  In addition to that, in the U.S., many senior high schools have a class in which the students learn to drive a car and some schools have a class called "Workshop" in which the students learn how to maintain their cars and, to some extent, do minor repairs on the cars. I doubt that any schools would actually restrict girls from taking a woodworking, metalworking, or workshop class, or restrict boys from taking a Home Economics class.

Of course, many high schools all over the world today have a Computing class in which both boys and girls learn how to use a computer.

Note 4

The wording of the question, "What do (or, can)  people do to help them remember things?" is rather broad or general. It can be interpreted to mean "remember things that they study, in order to prepare for exams". Alternatively, it can mean, "remember to do something today". The examiner might ask you a general question like that in order to allow you to choose either meaning.

Note 5

This question was not reported as "primary school pupils" or "primary school students". The word, "pupil" is more suitable for children (i.e., people between the ages of about 4 and 12), while "student" could refer to high school and university students or even mature age people who are learning something. Therefore, your answer would depend on the exact words used in the question. The same person reported this question and the question, "What work skills do you think working people need to have?" so it seems more likely that it is "high school and university students" in contrast with working people.

Note 6

This question was used previously for other topics related to laws and rules.

Note 7

"Enhance" is a better word to use than "improve". To "enhance one's memory"  means, "to help one's memory" rather than improve one's memory itself. 

Note 8

This question might include the expression, "puppy love", which is the immature feeling of being in love that teenagers feel. Some people think that school uniforms minimize the sexual attractiveness of girls, and also eliminate any competition among the girls to dress attractively for the boys.

Aside from the question of school uniforms, many candidates in China will say that one school rule in high school is a prohibition on forming romantic relationships with other students, i.e., having boyfriends or girlfriends at school is not allowed.