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Updated July 3, 2008 

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

Page 17

81.    Art or Music   (February 10, 2007)  (Probably no longer used)

82.    A New or Exciting Activity   (May 12, 2007)  (Probably no longer used)

83.    An Interesting Old Person   (May 12, 2007)  (Probably no longer used)

84.    A Place for Swimming  (May 12, 2007)  (Probably no longer used)

85.    A Gift  (May 12, 2007)  (Probably no longer used)

RETURN TO PART 2 TOPIC INDEX

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81.    Art or Music    (February 10, 2007)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a piece of (= a work of) art or music that you like.

You should say:

what it is

what it looks like or sounds like

when you first saw or heard it

               and explain why you like this work of art or music.

Notes

• Here, 'art' means painting, drawing, calligraphy, sculpture, statues, porcelain, design, etc. It is probably not suitable to use literature, acting or dance as examples of art here, even though they are forms of art. Common examples of art in China could include those stone lions and statues of Mao Zedong that can be seen at many places in China. (The picture of Mao at the entrance to the Forbidden City in Tiananmen Square, Beijing would be a good example to use.)
• Suitable possible varieties of music are: Beijing Opera, Chinese folk songs & music, pop music, children's songs, heavy metal rock music, country & western music, blues, rhythm & blues, classical European music such as the works of Beethoven or Mozart, etc.
• Don't forget, the task is to speak about one specific work of art or music, not just a particular type of art or music. 
• See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 11.
• If you choose to talk about a song, it is ok (!) to sing a few words of the song in order to help communicate the description the song. But don't spend too much time singing the song - this is a speaking test, not a singing competition!

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Do you think this kind of art/music should be encouraged in China?

• Do you think you will always like this kind of art/music?

• Does music inspire you?

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Part 3

The Place of Art and Music in Society

• Does music often inspire you?

• Are there many artists and musicians in China?

• What kinds of music do Chinese people like? FQ

• What kinds of art do Chinese people like? FQ

• (Similar to above) What kinds of music/art do people in your hometown like?

• What kinds of art do Chinese people have in their homes?

• Are there any differences between the tastes in art and music of young people and old people? 

• (As above) Do people's tastes in music change as they become older? (How?)

• How much influence do art and music have in China?

• (As above) How important is art and music to people in China?

• What are the benefits to society of having artists and musicians? FQ

• (Similar to above) How is art and music useful to society?

• (Similar to above) What benefits do people get from art and music? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do people such as doctors, teachers and policemen contribute more to society than artists? FQ

• Does the Chinese government encourage the development of the arts? How? FQ

• Do you think it is important for the government to promote the arts?

• What are some of the differences between Chinese art and music and western art and music?

• Do you think it's important for people who know traditional Chinese art forms to pass their knowledge down to their children? Is this still happening?

• How has music changed in the past few years (e.g., 20 to 50 years)? *

• How do you think music (art) will change in the future? 

The Benefits of Art and Music for Children

• How much art and music is taught in school in China? 

• Do you think more art and music will be taught in schools in the future, or less? FQ

• What benefits are there from encouraging art and music in pre-school classes or at home before a child starts school?

• (Similar to above) How do children benefit from being taught art and music? FQ

Artistic and Musical Ability

• Do you think that artistic or musical ability is something that people are born with or is it possible to teach this ability to people? (= Can anyone learn to be an artist or a musician?)

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82.    A New or Exciting Activity   (May 12, 2007)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe an activity you did that was new or exciting. 

You should say:

when you did it 

where you were when you did it 

who you did it with * 

               and explain why this activity was new or exciting for you. *

See Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

New & Exciting Activities

• Some people think that it's good to experience new things, such as exploring new places. Do you agree?

• (Similar to above) What are the benefits of having new experiences?

• Do you think it is important to have a willingness (or the ability) to attempt new things?

• What are some of the difficulties a person might have when they try something new? FQ

• What do you think would be the result if someone never experienced anything new?

• Are you willing to experience new things? (Are you willing to try new activities?) What activities? FQ

• Why do people generally like new (and exciting) experiences? FQ

• (Similar to above) Why do humans have an urge to explore new places? FQ

• What type of people like to try new (and exciting) activities? FQ

• (Similar to above) What qualities does one need in order to be an explorer? FQ

• How do you think living in a completely new and different place (e.g., overseas) can influence a person?

• Why do people feel sometimes excited when they experience something new?

• Why do some people use a diary to record an exciting, new experience?

• Do old(er) people and children have the same feelings about new/exciting experiences (or things)?

• Why do some people dislike experiencing new things? FQ

• Do you think it's better to have new experiences when you are young or when you are older? FQ

• Do you think young people can handle new experiences and new activities better than old people? FQ

• In China, besides learning new things in school, what opportunities do children have to experience new activities?

• Do you think it's better to do new things alone or with other people? FQ

• (Similar to above) When doing new things, do you think it's more important to co-operate with others or do it alone? FQ

• Do you think it's important for children to have the opportunity to experience extra-curricula activities such as learning to play a musical instrument? (Why?/Why not?)

• Have you learned any new skills recently?

• Do you think it's useful for old people to learn new things and participate in new activities?

• Do you think it's too difficult for old people to learn to do new things?

Adventurous/Risky Activities

• What is your opinion about (people who do) dangerous activities such as bungey jumping? FQ

• Can you give some (other) examples of adventurous or risky activities?  FQ

• Do you like to do 'extreme sports'?

• Why do some people like to do exciting but dangerous things?  FQ

• Do any businesspeople do adventurous or risky things in business? FQ (Hints: venture capitalism; entrepreneurial spirit. There is a certain amount of risk-taking when opening a new business - one can lose all the initial capital if the business fails.)

• What qualities do people need (or have) in order to engage in adventurous (or risky) activities?  FQ

• Would you like to try any particular exciting and new but rather risky activity? (If yes, what?)

• Do young people and older people have the same attitudes towards adventurous activities? (Compare)  FQ

• Who is more suited for trying adventurous or risky activities, young people or older people?

• If someone doing an risky activity such as mountain climbing has an accident or becomes lost, who should pay for helping this person, the government? Or should this person pay for it himself?  FQ

• (Similar to above) If somebody got lost while travelling in or exploring a remote part of the world, or if they needed some other type of help, who should pay for this help? (The government of that place? The government of the country where the explorer/tourist comes from? Or the explorer/tourist him or herself?) FQ

The Development of People's Abilities/Learning New Things

• How do you think a baby develops its intelligence? Difficult question

• How do you think a baby comes into contact with new things and new experiences?

• What do babies learn when they are about 2 or three years old? FQ (Or: What kinds of things do young children learn?)

• Do adults and children learn new things (new skills) in the same way? (Compare the two.) FQ

• Can you think of any abilities, skills or habits that are important for children to learn at a young age? (Hints: social skills such as sharing toys with others; learning to read;  ...)

• What are the advantages of children experiencing (or learning) new things?

• Compare the things that children today must learn with what children had to learn many years ago.

• How do you think people can improve their own abilities, for example, in areas such as mathematics or language?

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83.    An Interesting Old Person   (May 12, 2007)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe an interesting old person who you know. (or, an interesting old person you met or spoke to recently)

You should say:

what this person looks like 

what sort of person he or she is 

when & where you met this person (or, how you met this person) 

               and explain is/what was interesting about this person.

Notes

• Someone you 'know' is someone who you personally know, i.e., someone you have spoken to, not someone who you have only seen on TV or read about in the newspaper.                         

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Do other people also think he/she is interesting?

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Part 3

See Notes 

Old People in China

• Do you often meet old people?

• At what age are people considered to be 'old' in China?

• What is life like for typical old people in China today? FQ

• How would you define an 'old' person? (= At what age do people start to become 'old'?)

• Compare the lives of old people in China today with how old people lived 30 or 50 years ago.  FQ

• Has life improved for old people (during these years)? (How?)  FQ

• How do you think old people will be living in the future, say, 20 or 30 years from now? (Talk about possible & probable changes.) FQ

• Do you think old people will be happier in the future than they are now?

• Do you think people will be living longer in the future? (Hint: Advances in medical science)

• Do you think there should be a set age (= a fixed age) for retirement? FQ

• How do you think society can enhance the quality of life for old people?

• What kinds of government services ( = welfare services) are available for old people in China today?

• Why is there a need for these welfare programs?

Attitudes Towards Old People in China

• How do people in China feel about old people? (What are the typical Chinese attitudes towards old people?)  FQ

• Do you think old people are still useful to society?

• What are the main differences between 'old people' and 'young people'?

• In your country, what standards do people use to judge old people and young people?

• Do you think old people should be respected?

• Do you think we should respect old people just because they are old?

• Do you feel in a panic about growing older? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's good to become old? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's good to grow older? FQ

• Do old people in China like being called 'old people'?

• What are the advantages and the disadvantages of being old? FQx2

• Older people have more experience in the workplace than young people. So, do companies in China prefer to hire these older people or young people?

• Why are some companies unwilling to hire old(er) people? (E.g., over 45 years old) FQ

• Do old people and young people have difficulty communicating with each other?

• Why do old(er) people sometimes disagree with the ideas of young people?

• (Similar to above) Some old people cannot get used to the lifestyles of young people. Why do you think this is so?

• Do you think there is a generation gap between old and young people in China? (If yes, what are the causes of this?)

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84.    A Place for Swimming  (May 12, 2007)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a place (near where you live) where people go to swim.

You should say:

where this place is 

what this place looks like (what things/facilities this place has)

what kinds of people go there

               and explain why people choose to go to this place (instead of other places)*

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Have you been there yourself? *

• Do you think swimming is a suitable activity for the whole year?

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Part 3

Sports in China

• Is sport (or keeping fit by exercising) very important to you?

• Do most people in China play some sport or engage in physical exercise such as swimming?

• Why do you think it is good to exercise? 

• Do you think it is necessary for children to engage in sporting activities? 

• What sport(s) are most popular in China?

• Who usually plays that sport?

• How are (national) sports teams selected? FQ

Sports Facilities

Notes for this topic:

It seems that many examiners ask for your opinion on what government should and shouldn't do. Be prepared to express an opinion on this general topic and be able to give reasons for your opinions.

• What are the benefits of having facilities such as public swimming pools?

• Some people think that the government shouldn't spend a lot of money on big, expensive sports facilities because there are more pressing needs in society. What do you think?  FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think it is one of the responsibilities of government to provide sports facilities for the public? (Why?/Why not?)

• Why do people prefer to go to one particular sports facility, instead of going to several different ones? (For example, one particular basketball court, one particular swimming pool, one particular gym etc.)

• Do you think public sports facilities should be free for the public to use or should people have to pay to use them?  FQ

• Compare the public swimming facilities in China with public facilities for other sports.

• In China, how popular is swimming compared to other sports?

• How much does it cost to buy a swimming pool ticket in China?  FQ

• Do you think this is too much?  FQ

• Do you think the government should do something to decrease the price of swimming pool tickets?  FQ

• Which people in society should be able to enter a swimming pool for a reduced price? 

Swimming in China

• What equipment do you need for swimming? *

• What are some of the benefits of swimming?  FQ

• Do many people in your hometown go swimming? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do most people in China know how to swim?

• Do you think it's important to know how to swim? (Hint: Swimming is a skill that could save your life if you fell into deep water!)

• What do you think is the best age to learn to swim?

• Who teaches children how to swim in China?  FQ

• What kind of person would be a good swimming instructor ( = teacher)?  FQ

• (Similar to above) What qualities should a good swimming instructor have?  FQ

• Who do you think should teach children how to swim - swimming instructors or the parents of each child (or a friend)?

• (As above) Who do you think are better suited to teach children how to swim - swimming instructors or the parents of each child?

• If you were a father, how would you teach your child to swim?  Notice the similarity to this question (Topic #100 ): "If you were teaching a child how to play a new game, how would you do it?" For both of these questions, you should say "I would" not "I will".  See HERE.

• Do you think schools should include swimming lessons for children? 

• Do you think swimming lessons should be free?

• Do you think people should have to pay to use public swimming pools?

• What kinds of swimming competitions are there in China?

• How is the Chinese national swimming team chosen?

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85.    A Gift  (May 12, 2007)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a gift that you recently gave to another person.

You should say:

what the gift was

who you gave it to 

why you chose this particular gift

               and explain whether this person liked this present or not. (= explain how much the person liked the gift.)

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also Part 3 for Topic # 54

Gift-giving in General

• Besides special occasions such as birthdays and festivals, what are some other reasons why people give presents to others?

• Compare self-made (homemade) gifts and gifts that you can buy in a shop.

• Which of these do you think is better? (Why?)

• Is it difficult to choose presents for people? ( = How do people choose gifts?)

• Do advertisements influence people's choices when they are buying gifts?  FQ

• What would be a suitable gift when saying goodbye to someone after a visit? (Hint: photos or video of your visit.)

• Why do you think some people give an excessive number of gifts to other people (or to one particular person)?

• What are the personal qualities of a person who is a willing and enthusiastic gift-giver?

• Who (do you think) gets more pleasure, the gift giver or the gift receiver? (Why?) FQ

Gift-giving Customs in China

• What are some of the gift-giving customs in China?

• On what occasions do people give gifts to others? FQ

• Do people give gifts on traditional festivals?

• Do you think people in China should give presents on western festivals such as Christmas?

• Can people in China learn anything from western festivals?

Children's Gifts

• When (at what times of the year) do children receive presents in China?

• Are there any specials gifts that children receive at these special times?

• Besides children, do other people get gifts at these times?

• Do you think children enjoy receiving presents more than adults do?

• Compare the differences (and similarities) between gifts for children and gifts for adults.

• What kinds of gifts do children in China usually get? FQ

• What benefits do children get from these gifts?

• What factors do (should) people consider when choosing gifts to give to (young) children? (Hint: safety) FQ

• Do you think toys have any educational value? FQ

• Is it important to give 'educational toys' to children? FQ

• Do you think gifts for children that are bought in shops are always better than homemade gifts?

• Do you think adults should choose what gifts to give to children or should children be allowed to choose the gifts they are to receive?

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