Page 19

ielts-yasi.englishlab.net

Updated July 15, 2008

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

Page 19

91. A Person You Enjoy Talking With (May 19, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

92. A Recent Change (May 19, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

93. Something You Lost (May 19, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

94. A Way to Relax (May 19, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

95. Favourite Weather (May 19, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

RETURN TO PART 2 TOPIC INDEX

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91. A Person You Enjoy Talking With (May 19, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a person you enjoy talking with.

You should say:

how often you speak with this person (or, how long you usually spend talking to each other)

when you usually talk with him/her

what topics you usually speak about

and explain why you enjoy speaking to them (= him or her).

Note

It is possible, but I think unlikely, that this topic uses the past tense, not the present tense.

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Possible follow-up questions:

Do other people like talking with him/her?

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Part 3

Friendship

Are you most happy spending time with friends or with your family?
What kinds of people do you like to make friends with?
(Similar to above) What are some of the qualities of people who are well-liked by others?
How can one (or, how do people) make new friendships?
How can people maintain long-term friendships?
(Similar to above) What are the factors that determine how long a friendship lasts?
Which do you think is more important, friends or family?
Do you think school friends can become life-long friends?

Communication Skills (= Language Skills & Human Relations Skills)

What kinds of people do you like communicating with? FQ
Do you think communication is important? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think communication skills are important? FQ
Is good communication important in the workplace? (In what ways is it important?)
What do you think are some important skills that people need to know in order to communicate well with other people? FQx2
(Similar to above) What are some examples of 'good communications skills'? FQx2 See NOTE
(Similar to above) In the communication process, what is the most important factor? FQx2 See NOTE
In the communication process, the two parties need to continually make adjustments to the way they communicate. Can you give any examples of this? See NOTE
How do you know if someone has good communications skills or not?
Do you think people can learn new communication skills or are communications skills inborn? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you a person can become a good communicator with special training? (How?) FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think people can improve their communication skills or change their bad communication skills? FQ
What are some ways that a person can learn to improve their communication skills?
What about people who have been shy from a young age - do you think they can learn to improve their communication ability? FQ
How would you teach communications skills to a shy child?
Some people say that unborn babies already start to learn how to talk while they are inside their mother's belly. What do you think?
How can a child learn good communications skills? FQ
(Similar to above) What do you think are the most important communication skills to teach children? FQ
Are these skills taught in schools in your country?
What communication skills do you think will be most important in the near future? (e.g., In the next 10 to 30 years.)
Compare the differences when two adults speak to each other and when an adult and child speak with each other.
Compare the way adults communicate with the way children communicate? FQ DIFFICULT QUESTION See NOTE
Do adults speak to children in the same way that they speak to other adults? (Why?/Why not?)
What are the benefits (and disadvantages) of an adult speaking to a child as if speaking to an adult?
Can you think of any jobs where communication skills are especially important? (Include why so important for these jobs.) FQx2 See NOTE
(Similar to above) What are some examples of jobs where people need to be good talkers? FQ
How do you think modern science and technology has changed the ways people communicate with each other?

Non-Human Communication

Compare the differences between how animals communicate with each other and how humans communicate. FQx2 See NOTE
Do you think there are ways that people can 'talk to' or at least communicate with animals?
If you had to choose, would you prefer to be an animal or a robot?
What sorts of things would an ideal robot be able to do?
In the future, do you think robots will one day equal or even surpass human intelligence?
Do you think robots (or computers) will one day be able to talk just like humans?
Do you think that people and robots will be able to communicate emotions (to each other) in the future? FQx2
How do you think robots will influence society in the future?
Do you think mechanical pets will one day take the place of real pets?

Language Learning

Who can learn a language faster, children or adults? (Why? Compare adults & children as language learners.) FQX2
How do children learn to speak their mother tongue? *
Can you think of any good ways to help a child learn a foreign language? (Hint: games)
(Similar to above) If you were teaching a child a foreign language, how would you do it?
Why do people learn their first language (their mother tongue) faster than learning a second language?
What are the best ways to learn a foreign language?
Why do you want to ( = why did you decide to) learn English?
Do you think language is important for the development of national identity or national cohesion? See NOTE

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92. A Recent Change (May 19, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a recent change that changed your life in a good way. (For example, a new job, a new school or a new friend).

You should say:

what the change was

(when and where this change happened)

what caused this change

what the result of this change was

and explain how you felt about this change when it happened.

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Possible follow-up questions:

Did your family support your decision? *
Were your parents pleased with this change?

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Part 3

See also the part 3 questions for Topic #47, Page 10.

The Effects of Change on People

For working people: Did the change you just talked about affect your work in any way?
Do you like change? (Why?/Why not?)
Are you willing to make personal changes, such as change things about your personal habits and attitudes?
(Similar to above) Do you want to make personal changes, such as change things about your personal habits and attitudes?
How can people make changes to (improvements to) their everyday lives? DIFFICULT QUESTION
Do you think change is good in people's lives?
Are older people willing to (or, do they want to) make such personal changes in their lives?
Why do some people like change and others dislike it?
What are some of the advantages and some of the disadvantages of making changes to one's life?
Why are old people generally unwilling to make changes in their life? (Including changes in their attitudes)
Why do some young people not like change?
Do you think experiencing change is good for children? FQ
Do you think frequent change such as frequent changes of where one lives, is good for children?
How could a parent (or teacher) help a child be prepared to cope with future change? FQ
Which kind of educational style is better for children - a strict education or an easy-going learning environment? (Why?)
Is it good for children to try new activities? (Hint: New activities stimulate the brain & encourage creativity/self confidence in tacking challenges)
What sorts of things do children in China do after school?
If a child has time for extra-curricula (= after school) activities, how should a parent or teacher help the child to do this?
Do you think there are any advantages to having the parents help the child with his or her after-school activities? FQ
Do you think parents should choose for children what the children do after school?

Major Life Changes : Moving House and Changing Jobs

What are some of the factors leading to (or causes/or examples of) change in people's lives?

Moving House

Do people in China change where they live very often? (Why?/Why not?)
Why do many people move to live in different places?
What are some possible problems that people have when they move?
What are some of the positive and some of the negative results of going overseas to study?
Compare the impact of moving on children and on adults.
(Similar to above) If a Chinese family moves overseas, who do you think will adapt better to the new environment, the adults or the child(ren)?
How can parents help their child get used to a new environment? For example, if the child is shy and not good at making new friends, how can parents help the child?
What are some advantages and some disadvantages of living your whole life in one place?

Changing Jobs

What do you think of working for one company all your life?
Nowadays, do people need to change their jobs very often? (Why?)
Are they willing to change their jobs? (Or is changing jobs a matter of necessity, not choice?)
In your opinion, is it a good thing to change jobs often?
What are some of the possible risks of changing jobs frequently?
What are some of the advantages and some of the disadvantages of changing one's job? (This question means changing one's employer, not changing one's career. But you could talk about changing one's career, as well.)
What kinds of people change jobs often?

Social Change

Do you think society is changing fast?
Do you think change and development are always the same thing?
What do you think is causing these changes? *
In general, do you think the influence of foreign cultures is strong enough to change (the people in) a country?
Has the computer (or, the internet) changed your life very much?
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of rapid social change.
In general, do Chinese people like change? (Do they like any changes to their lives?)
Why (or, how) do you think cities need to change?

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93. Something You Lost (May 19, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a time when you lost something.

You should say:

what you lost

when and where and you lost it

what you were doing at the time

and explain how you felt after you lost it.

See NOTES

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Possible follow-up questions:

Did you get another one? *
Do you often lose things? *

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Part 3

Losing Possessions

What are some of the ways that people lose things? FQ
(Similar to above) In what situations is it easiest for people to lose things? FQ See NOTE
(Similar to above) Why (or, how) do people lose things? FQ See NOTE
What kinds of things do people most often lose? FQ
Who more easily loses things, children or adults? (Why?)
How do people manage when they lose something important?
(Similar to above) What do people do when they lose something?
In China, how do other people (family, friends, colleagues, strangers) react when someone loses something?
What are some things that people can do to minimize the chances of losing things?
How can a person organize his or her possessions in order to minimize losing (misplacing) things? See NOTE
Have you ever found anything that someone had lost?
What would you do if you found something (of value) that someone had lost? FQ (Use "would", not "will" in your answer.)
Why/how would you try to find the owner?
Why should you do that?

Protecting Your Property (against theft)

How can people protect their property (such as their house or car) against thieves? FQ See NOTE
(Similar to above) How can theft be reduced? FQ See NOTE
(Similar to above) What do you think the government should do about the problem of some people stealing?
(Similar to above) How can overall law and order be improved in China?
How do the police catch thieves in China?
How should thieves be punished?
Do you think it's a good idea to use hi-tech equipment (such as video cameras) to monitor people so the police can know if anyone steals anything?
In China, have there been any changes in the number of crimes committed or the types of crimes committed in the last few years? FQ See NOTE
(Similar to above) In China, have there been any changes in the number of thefts committed in the last few years? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think there is more theft (or, more crime) (in China or in your city) than there used to be? (Why?/Why not?) FQx2
Would you say China is a safe place to live?
Why do some people steal things? FQ See NOTE
Do you think very poor people should be helped more so they won't need to steal?
Have you personally been the victim of theft or do you just know about this from TV and newspapers?
Do poor people and wealthy (rich) people protect their possessions in the same way?

Possessions and Personal Property

Have people's attitudes towards personal property changed in the last few years (last few decades) in China? FQ
Do people have more possessions than before? (Yes, they do. Say why - a higher standard of living. See HERE)
Do you think it's a good thing that people have more possessions than before? (Why?)
Some people like to but expensive things while other people prefer to but cheap things. Why is this so?
Do people from different social classes (different levels of wealth) have the same attitudes towards (their) possessions? FQ DIFFICULT QUESTION
Do wealthy people and poor people have the same attitudes towards the topic of 'wealth'?
Do old people and young people have the same ideas about the (monetary) value of things? FQ
Do old people in China buy many things?

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94. A Way to Relax (May 19, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a way to relax that you find effective. *

You should say:

what you do (or, how you relax) *

(when you usually do this *)

where you usually do it

who is usually with you at this place

and explain why this is relaxing for you.

See Note

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

Relaxing

For the relaxation method you just described, how long do you spend doing it?
Is it important for people to relax? FQ
(Similar to above) Why do people need to relax? FQ
What are the benefits of relaxing? FQ
In modern society, do you think it is easy to relax?
Besides what you said in Part 2, what are some other ways that other people use to relax?
(Similar to above) What do your friends do to relax?
(Similar to above) What are some of the more modern ways to relax?
(Similar to above) How do people in cities relax?
Do you think this is a healthy way to relax?
Are there any differences between the way foreign students relax and Chinese students?
Why do many young people choose modern methods to relax rather than more traditional methods?
Are there any differences to the way students in China relax, compared to the way students overseas relax?
Some people think they must have a specific time and a specific environment in order to relax. Do you think it's necessary to have these in order to relax?
Some people think that doing nothing is the same as relaxing. What do you think? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think doing nothing is a good way to relax? FQ
Compare how men relax with how women relax.
Compare how young people relax with how older people relax. FQ
Are there any differences to the ways people relax compared to, say, 20 or 50 years ago? FQx2
Are there more places to relax in your hometown than there used to be many years ago?
How do you think the ways people use to relax will possibly change in the future. FQ
In the future, do you think people will have more time than now to relax, or less time? FQ
Do you think that, in the future, robots and other hi-tech equipment will allow people to have more time to relax?
Why is it sometimes difficult to relax? FQ
How can people manage their lives so that there is a reasonable balance between work and rest?
In the future, what do you think will be the problems people will have that will make it more difficult for them to relax? (Hints: overcrowding; lack of privacy; instability resulting from global problems such as war, overpopulation & environmental degradation) FQ

Recreation & Entertainment (=Leisure) Facilities

Does your hometown have any facilities that people can use for relaxing? (Hint: parks/cinemas/KTV/sports facilities ...)
What are the most popular entertainment facilities in your hometown?
Some people spend a lot of money on entertainment (or, on relaxing). Do you think this is reasonable?

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95. Favourite Weather (May 19, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

Describe your favourite weather.

You should say:

what kind of weather it is

when this weather usually occurs *

what you usually do during this weather

and explain how this weather affects you (your feelings = your mood). *

and explain why you like this type of weather. *

Note

Although 'weather' and 'season' are related, they are not the same thing. For example, it is incorrect to say your favourite weather is 'summer'.

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Possible follow-up questions:

Do your parents also like this type of weather? (Or, do other people in your family also like that weather best?)

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic #25, Page 5.

The Weather in Your Country

Why don't you like autumn?
What kind of weather (or what season) do the other members of your family like best?
What's the weather usually like in your hometown? FQ
(Similar to above) Compare the typical weather in your hometown with the weather here (in the test place).
What do you think about today's weather?
Have you ever been to a place that has a climate that is very different to your hometown? (If yes, what place; how is it different?)
Is the weather in China the same for all parts of the country?
(Similar to above) What kinds of weather do different parts of China have?
How does weather (or the climate of a place) affect people's moods? FQx2
(Similar to above) How does the weather affect you? (Possibly this means not just affecting your mood but your life in general)
Do people in China like to chat about the weather?
Why are people interested in the weather? FQ
(Similar to above) What different types of people are interested in the weather? (Hint: people who work outside such as farmers, fishermen, construction workers; tourists & people who are traveling; people who spend time outside for exercise or leisure ...) FQx2
Are the people around you very interested in the weather?
Does the place where a person lives affect that person's interest in the weather? (Hint: Country & city people; people who live in the desert compared to people who live where it rains a lot; etc.)
Do you think the usual weather in a place can affect the personalities of the people who live there?
How does weather (or the climate of a place) affect the kinds of clothes people wear?
How does weather (or the climate of a place) affect the kinds of buildings that this place has? FQ
(Similar to above) What climate (or weather) goes with what kinds of houses? FQ
(Same as above) What do you think is the relationship between the climate of a place and the kinds of houses that people there live in? FQx2
(Similar to above) Compare the types of buildings (or houses) in hot, tropical parts of the world (or China) with those in cold parts of the world (or China). FQx2 (Hint: Think of traditional differences between buildings in different parts of China - modern buildings sometimes are the same or similar from Harbin to Sanya.) DIFFICULT QUESTION
How does weather (or the climate of a place) affect the kinds of activities that people do? (E.g., different kinds of sport) FQx2
(Similar to above) Is there any difference about you (i.e., how you feel & what you do) in different types of weather?
How do the sports that people do change with the different seasons?

Extreme Weather

What are some examples of extreme weather in China?
In China, when there are instances of extreme weather that result in damage to homes or danger to people, what does the government do to help?
What would you do if you were caught in a flood (or tsunami)?

Climate Change

Have there been any climate changes in China recently?
What are the reasons for these changes?
What can we do about this problem? FQ

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