ielts-yasi.englishlab.net

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

Family Living Situations

Family Size and Household Living Arrangements

• In China today, what what is the structure of the typical family (= the typical household)? FQ

• Have there been any changes in families in China in the past 20 or 30 years?

• Do you think these changes are changes for the better or changes for the worse? *

• In what ways do you think the number of people in a family (a household) affects the family?

• Do you think China's "One Child Policy" pleases everybody?

• What do you think are some of the advantages and disadvantages of big families (i.e., many children) as opposed to small families? FQ

• What are some of the problems that people can have when they have many children?

• In China, are there any differences between family living arrangements (households) in the cities and in the countryside?

Old Family Members (grandparents)

• Do people in China like to have three generations of their family all living together? See Note

• How many generations live in your family home?

• What are some of the pros and cons of three generations living together (i.e., a household including grandparents)? FQx2

• (Similar to above) What do you think are some of the advantages and possible disadvantages of having children, parents and grandparents all living together? FQx2

• What do you think are some differences between children being brought up by their grandparents and being brought up by their parents?

• Do you think old people should go out to work in order to support themselves financially?

• Do you think that people are (or, should be) responsible for looking after their parents when the parents are old?

• (Similar to above) Whose responsibility do you think it should be (or, is) to (financially) look after old people - the government's responsibility or the family's? FQx2

• Do you think the government should have a system for (financially) looking after old people?

• How much do you think people should be responsible for (the welfare of) their own parents? FQ

• Do you think it's a good idea to put old family members in a nursing home when they become very old?

• In your country, is retirement for men and women the same?

Family Relationships

• How do you feel about living with your family?

• Do you think family relationships are important?  FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think people should maintain a close relationship with members of their family? (Why?)  FQ

• What are the benefits of having good family relations?

• What factors influence the quality of the relationships within a family?

• How can people have a good relationship with the members of their family?

• Would you say you are an easy-going person?

• Some parents are too busy to spend much time with their children. What's your opinion of this situation?

• In general, what do families in China do together at home?

• Which do you think is the more important, family or friends? FQx2

• Do you agree that all members of a family (except for babies & very young children) have certain responsibilities towards the other members of the family? (If so, what are these responsibilities?)

• Do you prefer to (try to) "bring up your parents" (养父母 ) or do you prefer that they bring you up?

• How do you think support from friends and support from parents are different? FQ

• In what ways do family members (in China) support each other? *

• Do you think people today spend more time with their family than they used to (about 30 years ago), or less time? FQ

• What do you think are the causes of these changes? FQ

• What are the advantages and possible disadvantages of living in a (very) close-knit family? FQ

• What are some of the advantages and possible disadvantages of young people living at home with their parents right up until the time they get married?

• What kinds of things do you think parents should teach their children?

• Do you think your parents should make decisions for you?

• Do you think young people (or, children) should respect their parents? (Why?)

• (Similar to above) How important is it for young people (or, children) to respect their parents?

• Would you agree that each person in a family has certain responsibilities towards the other members of the family?

• What responsibilities do young people (and/or children) have towards their family? FQx2

• (Similar to above) What responsibilities do you think young people (and/or children) should have towards their family? FQ

• What are some examples of stress (or pressure) that can threaten family relationships? (E.g., husband and wife working in different cities because of economic necessity)

• How can the "generation gap" be reduced?

• Do you feel that you will be friends with the other members of your family for a long time?

• Do you think there is less, or more communication between family members today, compared to many years ago? FQ

• Do you think the relationship between members of families will change at all in the next few decades?

• Do you think modern technology such as computers and the cell-phones play a positive role in family relationships? 

Young People Living Away from the Family

• In China, do most young people (e.g. 20 to 30 yrs old) live at home or away from the family home?

• Why do some young people leave home?

• What do you think are the benefits of leaving home (the benefits of living way from home)?

• Do you think it's better for students to live at the family home or away from home?

Male and Female Family Roles

• After marriage, do you think the lifestyle changes for both men and women are the same?

• In a marriage, who do you think should carry most of the responsibility for the family, the husband or the wife?

• In typical Chinese families, who is the dominant person, the mother or the father? FQ

• (Similar to above) In typical Chinese families, who is the the head of the family? FQ

• (Similar to above) In typical Chinese families, who is the most important person, the mother or the father? FQ

• Do you think this has changed at all in recent years?

• In a family, do you think it's important that the men and women have set (= clearly defined) roles to play? 

• (Similar to above) Do you think (married) men and women should have set roles in the family?

• In the typical family (in China) who takes on (= is responsible for) most of the family-related responsibilities, the husband or the wife?

• In the typical family (in China), what is the role of the man and what is the role of the woman? (State the roles; and compare/contrast) FQ

• Ideally, what roles do you think men and women should play in a family? FQ

• (Similar to above) What responsibilities do you think men and women should (or, do) have in a family?

• How should a married couple decide who does what work in the home? *

• Do different groups in society have different ideas about the division of labour between (married) men and women?

Taking Care of Children at Home Frequent Topic

• Do you think women who have young children should stay at home and take care of the children or should they have the freedom to take a job outside the home, the same as men?

• Do you think this situation will change at all in the future?

• Who is more likely to think that "a woman's place is in the home", men or women? (Why?)  FQ

• (Similar to above) Do men and women have the same opinions about who should stay at home and look after the children?  FQ

• In recent years, has the role of fathers changed much in Chinese families, compared to many years ago?

• To what extent do you think (married) men should do such activities as child-rearing, doing the housework, cooking and shopping for groceries?

• Do you think that when a couple has a young child, the responsibility for looking after the child should be shared equally?

• Do men and women generally take care of children in the same way?

• Do you think women are better suited to looking after children than men?

Helping Others

• Would you say it's easy for people to get along with others?

• (Similar to above but different) Would you say it's easy for people to form relationships with others?

• (In general), do you think neighbours are important (to people)? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do you think it's important for neighbours to help each other?

• Do you think there's much difference between giving and receiving help in the family and between friends?

• Do people feel the same about helping family members and helping friends?

• What's the difference between help from family members (or, from parents) and help from friends? FQ

• Which do you think is better?

• Do young people in China today usually ask (or, prefer to ask) their parents for help or their friends?

• (Similar to above) Do children in China today usually ask (or, prefer to ask) their parents for help or their friends?

• In the future, do you think people will be co-operating more with each other than they do today or will people be doing things more independently than today?

• How do you personally feel about working with other people?

• How do you think you could contribute to your community?

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192.  A Course You Would Like to Do  (Jan. 10, 2009)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a course you would like to do (in the future), if you have time. *

            You should say:

                          what (kind of) course it is (or, would be) *

                          where you would do this course *

                          what you would learn in this course

                          how easy or difficult you think it would be

             and explain how you would benefit from taking this course. *

                                            or

            and explain why you would like to take this course. *

                       

Notes

• The wording might be, "when you have time" instead of, "if you have time". The two are more or less the same in meaning.

• Also, see Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

•  Do you think you really will do this course? *

• Are there many schools (or places) in China that have that course? *

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Part 3

Teachers

• Do you think teachers are useful (or, necessary; or, important)? (Why?/Why not?) FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's possible to study without teachers? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you need teachers to help you learn? FQx2

• What (personal) qualities do you think teachers should have? FQx2

• (Similar to above) What are the qualities of a good teacher? FQx2

• (Similar to above) What kind of person would make a good teacher? FQx2

• Do you think teachers and students should be friends with each other?

• Do you think that teachers who teach different subjects all need to have the same qualities and skills?

• Do you think there's much difference between (the skills of), say, language teachers and sports (P.E.) teachers? (How are they similar and how are they different?) FQx2

• Some people say teachers will be replaced in the future by computers. What do you think?

The Value of Different Kinds of Courses

Alternatives to Taking a Course

• Do you think school lessons and teachers are necessary for successful learning? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's possible to learn without a teacher? FQ

• Do you think it's necessary for people to get certificates and degrees (educational qualifications)?

• Besides taking a course, what other ways are there for people to learn things?

• Do you think people learn differently at different ages of their lives?

Narrow or Broad Education / The Value of Elective Courses (= non-major classes = non-major courses = non-major subjects)

• Do you think there are any courses (or, subjects) that don't contribute much to China's development?

• Do you think these courses should be eliminated from the universities?

• Which do you think is better for high school students: to study a broad range of subjects or to specialize in one or two particular areas? See Note

• Do you think schools should only teach skills for working or should they teach more than that? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think elective courses (elective subjects) in high school or university are very useful? FQ

• What are some examples of good (= useful or beneficial) elective courses?

• Do you think humanities subjects (arts subjects) such as history and music are important?

The Most Popular University Courses (majors) in your Country

• What are the most popular courses (= subjects; majors) that people study today (at university or other tertiary educational institutes) in China? (Why?) FQx2

• Possibly the question above is: What is the most popular course (= subject; major) that people study today (at university or other tertiary educational institutes) in China? (Why?) FQx2

• Have these (or, has this) always been the favourite choice of students in China?

• (Similar to above) How have the choices that Chinese students make on what to study changed over the past few decades? FQ

Practical Experience (or Practical Courses) versus Theoretical Courses

• What do you think are the most important courses in university? ("Course" = "class" or "course" = "degree course")

• How do you think universities could help students to find work after they graduate?

• Do you agree or disagree that universities should only have courses that prepare the students for jobs? FQx2

• (Similar to above) In general do you feel that university courses should focus on giving people knowledge, just for the value of knowledge, or should they focus on training people for work? FQx2

• Which do you think is more useful (or, important), studying a course in a classroom or getting practical work experience? (Why?) FQx2

• (Similar to above) When companies hire people, do you think they should (or, in fact do) pay more attention to the job applicant's study record or the job applicant's work experience? FQx2

• Do you think high schools and universities should include more opportunities for gaining practical experience? (Why? How? / Why not?) FQx2

Rural and City Courses

• How do you think courses in the city and courses in rural areas are different?

Continuing Education

• Consider people who are settled in their work and in their lives. Do you think education or learning should finish for them?

• Do you think learning should be a part of everyday life or should there be a time when people stop learning?

Continuing Education: Workplace Training

• When people in the workplace need some extra training or study, whose responsibility do you think it is, the employer's responsibility or the responsibility of the employees?

• Do you think there is a need for companies to train some people in the use of foreign languages?

Continuing Education: Refresher Courses and Re-training Courses

• What do you think are some differences between adult education and children's education?

• How useful (or, how important) do you think refresher courses are, (for example, going to a class to learn how to use the most recent computer software even though you took a similar course 10 years previously)? (Hint: The speed of technological development means that refresher courses will be increasingly important in the future.)

Continuing Education: Old (Retired) People and Learning

• What are some differences between old and young people learning (or studying) something?

The Internet and Education

• What do you think is the role played by the Internet in education nowadays?

• In the future, do you think the internet will become even more important in education? (Why?/How?)

Financing Schools and Universities

• How are schools and universities financed (= funded) in your country?

• Do you think this is the best way to pay for having schools and universities?

• How does the government fund education?

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193.  A Piece of Good News by Phone  (Jan. 10, 2009) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a piece of good news that you received by phone.

You should say:

               what the news was

               where you were when you received this news [Or: What you were doing when you received this news]

               who gave you this news

          and explain why you felt this was good news.

See Notes

• "Good news" can be 好消息 or 好新闻, or both.

• The card might say, "mobile phone" but it probably just says "phone", giving the opportunity for those without a mobile phone to answer. But of course, the main idea here is the mobile phone.

• If the card says something like, "who gave you this news" then it seems that both a text message and a spoken message would be suitable. 

• I don't think the card says this but, if it says something like, "who phoned you" then it can only be a spoken message. 

• If it says, "who sent you" then only a text message would be suitable.

• Don't forget to use the past tense and to say when, even if the card does not tell you to say when.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

Telephones

Note: Using the words, "cell phone" or the words, "mobile phone" are equally acceptable. The British tend to use "mobile phone" a bit more than "cell phone" and the Americans tend to use "cell phone" a bit more. Don't call it a, "hand phone".

• Do you think telephones are important for communication?

• Do people in China use telephones (including cell-phones) very much? (Give examples of the uses of telephones) FQx2 

• Does everyone in China use a telephone?

• Which do people in China use more, cells phone or fixed line phones (= landline phones)? FQx2

• Which do you think is better, cell phones or fixed line phones? (Why?) FQx2 

• (Similar to above) Why are cell phones (= mobile phones) so popular?

• How important do you think mobile phones are in modern society?

• What changes has the introduction of cell phones brought to people's lives (or, to society)? FQ

• (Similar to above) How have cell-phones changed people's lives? FQ

• Why do you think so many people use their cell phone in a public place, where other people can hear what they're saying?

• Do you think people like listening to other people's cell-phone conversations in public places?

• Some people don't like using cell phones very much. Can you suggest why? FQx2

• Do cell phones ever cause inconvenience to people?

• Some people don't like telephones (both cell-phones and fixed line phones). Can you suggest some reasons why they feel that way? FQx2

• Who do you think prefer to use a cell phone (or possibly, a telephone in general), old people or young people?

• Is there much difference in thinking concerning (the usage of) cell phones between old(er) people and young people? (Why?)

• Why do you think girls like using a cell phone (or possibly, telephones in general) more than boys?

Communication Methods/Tools

• Do you think communication is important in a relationship?

• Do you think people today communicate with others more than before?  FQ

• How have communication methods in China changed in the past 20 or 30 years?  FQx2

• What about family members; do you think they communicate more with each other than before, or less than before?

• What effects have modern communication tools had on society?

• Compare the benefits and shortcomings of using different communication methods (or, tools) such as face-to-face communication, letters, emails and phones.

• Compare face-to-face communication with telephone communication.

• As communications technology becomes more developed, do you think face-to-face communication might one day disappear?

• Compare fixed-line phones with cell phones as a means of communication.

• How do text messages (on a cell phone) compare to phone calls on a cell phone? Which do you think is the better means of communication?

• Compare (the advantages & disadvantages of using) emails as opposed to cell-phones (= mobile phones) as a means of communication. FQ

• (Similar to above) Using emails is very popular today. Which do you think is the more popular, using emails or using cell phones? FQ

• (Similar to above) If you could choose, would you choose to phone someone or send an email? FQ

• Compare (the advantages & disadvantages of using) emails as opposed to (hand-written) letters as a means of communication.  FQ

• What impact have modern communication technologies such as mobile phones and the internet had on people's work lives (and on their personal lives)?  FQx2  See Note

• With the increasing use of computers for communication, what do you think the eventual result might be?  FQ 

• Do you think there will be any shortcomings resulting from the future increased use of high-tech methods of communication?

• With the increasing use of computers for communication, do you think people's handwriting skills will suffer as a result?

• Do you think the skill of handwriting might one day (more or less) disappear? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think the use of handwritten letters might one day (more or less) disappear? FQx2

• Do you think there are times when a handwritten letter is preferable to an email?

• How do you think people will be communicating with each other in the future (e.g., 30 years from now)? FQx2

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194. A Future Change  (Jan. 10, 2009)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a change you would like to make to your life in the future.

            You should say:

                          what change you would like to make

                          when you would like to make this change

                          how easy or difficult you think this change might be 

                          (or, how you would make this change happen)

             and explain why you would like to make this change.

                                                

                  

Notes

• Concentrate on talking about one particular change, not several different changes because, almost certainly, the card says "a change" not, "some changes". Of course, one change will lead to other changes and you could mention them, but try to focus on a single change.

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Have you been thinking about making this change for a long time?

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Part 3

See also all the past Part 3 questions for "Change" topics in Part 2: Topic #47,  Topic #92,  Topic #148

People's Feelings about Change

• Do you think changes that occur in a person's life are important to that person?

• How do you feel about change?

• What do you think of people who don't like change in their lives?

• Some people like change while others don't. Can you suggest why these two groups of people feel this way?  FQ

• (Similar to above) In general, what kind of people (or, which groups of people) like change?  FQ

• Why do they like change?  FQ

• And what kind of people (or, which groups of people) don't like change?  (Why?) FQ

• How does change bring difficulties to some people?

• (Similar to above) What are some possible negative effects of change?

• Who do you think likes change more, young people or old(er) people? Why?

• What do young people want to change most when they become adults?

• Who do you think likes change more, children or adults? Why?

• Do you think change affects children and old people the same way?

Controllable and Uncontrollable Changes

• What changes can people control and what changes do we have no control over?

• How can people have more control over the changes that occur in their lives?

• What change(s) do you think is (are) inevitable in life?

Personal Change

Changing Oneself

• What are some examples of changes that (adult) people choose to make to their lives (or to themselves)? FQ

• Why do people sometimes want to make these changes? FQ

• What are some personal changes that occur only over quite a long time?

• Do you think it's easy for people to make changes in their lives (or, to make changes to themselves)?

• Why do adults find it harder to change than children? FQ

• (Similar to above) Why do you think it is difficult for people in general to make changes to their lives?  FQ

Changes at Different Times in People's Lives

• What are some of the typical changes that people experience in their lives? FQ

• What do you think is the most important change in people's lives?

• How (= in what ways) do people change when they move from being a child to a teenager? FQ

• How (= in what ways) do people change when they move from being a teenager to an adult? FQ

• How do people change when they enter university?

• What changes take place when a person becomes an adult?

• How do people change after they get married?

• What are some things about a person that never change? FQ

Changes In Society

• There are always changes from one generation to the next. Can you give any examples of that?

• Why do you think these generational changes occur?

• What are some of the major changes that have taken place in Chinese society in the past 20 or 30 years?

• If you were the government, what changes would you bring about in society?

• What's the difference between "change" and "progress"?

• In the past 20 or 30 years, have there been any changes in family life (or, the family structure) in China? FQ

• Do you think these are all changes for the better or are some of them changes for the worse?

• How do you think changes in technology (electronic technology) have affected people's everyday lives?

• What changes do you think the internet has brought to society?

• Have there been any changes in the natural environment (e.g., the weather)?

• Can you think of anything that hasn't changed since ancient times?

Educational Changes Frequent Topic

• Has education in China changed much in the past 20 or 30 years? FQ

• What do you think are the results of those changes?

• Do you think the educational system in China needs any changes? (What changes? Why?/Why not?) FQ

• (Similar to above) What changes would you like to see in the educational system (in your country)? FQ

• (If those changes came about [= happened],) what do you think the results of those changes would be? See Note 

• How do you think education in China will, in fact, change over the next 20 or 30 years?

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195.  Your Favourite Part of Your Hometown  (Jan. 10, 2009)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe your favourite part of your hometown.

            You should say:

                          where it is

                          how often you go there

                          what you do there

             and explain why that is your favourite part of town.

                       

See Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Have you been there recently? *

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Part 3

City versus Rural Living

• Why do people sometimes move to live in a different place?

• Compare (the differences between) living in a city and living in a rural environment.

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a city and in a rural environment?

• What are the benefits of living in the countryside?

• Compare the differences between people's homes in cities and in the countryside.

• Which do you think is the better place to live, a city or the countryside? (Why?) FQ

• What do you think the government could do to improve the living situation in the countryside?

• What sorts of problems do you think cities will face in the future?

• Do rural dwellers (people who live in the countryside) have much influence on city dwellers (people who live in the cities)?

• Do city people look down upon rural people?

• Is the educational level of rural people the same as that of city people?

Moving to Live in a Different Type of Place

• Nowadays, many people move to live either in the city or the countryside. What do you think are (some of) the reasons why people make these moves? 

• What is the trend in China - are people moving into the cities from the countryside or are they moving into the countryside from the cities? (Why?)

• Why do (many) people today move from rural to urban areas? FQ

• Do you think this trend will continue in the future? FQx2

• (Similar to above) In the future, do you think (more) people will move out of the cities into rural areas? FQx2 See Note

• What situations would cause some people to move out of the cities to live in the countryside?

• What types of people would be more likely to move from the cities to the countryside?

Your Preferences

• Would you prefer to live in a city or in a rural environment? (Why?)

• (Similar to above) Please compare the differences (such as the advantages and disadvantages) between living in the middle of a city and living on the outskirts (= the edge) of a city or in the suburbs of a city.

• What city would you prefer to live in? (Why?)

Essential Facilities in a Town or City

• As well as the place you just described (in Part 2), what other parts of your hometown are popular with people?

• You just described your favourite part of your hometown. Now I'd like to ask you, what part of your hometown do you think is the most important part of your hometown?

• What would you say are the essential facilities (or, the important facilities) and services that people need in their town or city? FQ

• (Similar to above) What important (or essential) facilities and services does your hometown have? FQ

• What kind of entertainment facilities are there in your hometown?

• (Similar to above) What kind of entertainment facilities do you think are essential for a town or city?

• What facilities are there for the welfare of old people in the community? FQ

• (Similar to above) What do you think are essential facilities in a community for old people? FQ

• Does your hometown have good medical facilities?

• What do you think are the essential educational facilities that a community (a town or city) should have?

• Do you think libraries are an important facility in the community?

• Compare the services and facilities that are available in the cities of China and in the countryside (small towns and villages).

• How do you think the facilities in your hometown could be improved? FQ

Who Should Provide Facilities

• Who should be responsible for providing these services and facilities (the government,  private businesses, the citizens)? FQ

• (Perhaps the question above is:) Who is responsible for providing these services and facilities (the government, private businesses, the citizens)? FQ

• Do you think people should have to pay to use recreational facilities that were built by the government?

• Do you think that private companies could provide some facilities more efficiently that government?

The Problems of Cities

• What are some of the typical problems that exist in cities?

• Who should be responsible for solving these problems?

• Do you think only the government should be responsible for solving these problems?

• (Similar to above) What can individual citizens do to help solve some of these problems?

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