ielts-yasi.englishlab.net

Travelling Differences

• In general, do you think people like traveling? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think everyone likes traveling? FQ

• Why do you think so many people like traveling?

• What are some of the characteristics of these people who (especially) like to travel? FQ See Note

• And why do you think some people don't like travelling? FQ

• (Similar to above) And why do you think some people are not very interested in travelling?

• How does travel affect different (types of) people in different ways?

• What are some of the different reasons why people travel from one place to another? FQ

• In what ways is a business trip different to a holiday trip? FQx2

• Do you think it's possible to do both, on the one trip?

• What do you think is the relationship between (international) business trips and international co-operation? FQ

• (Similar to above) How do you think international business travel can result in enhanced international co-operation? FQ

• What different types of people go on holiday trips? See Note

• If you were traveling with a friend, (or friends), what qualities would you like them to have?

• Some people prefer to go on guided tours when they travel while others prefer to travel individually. Which do you think is better?

• Society is composed of different kinds of people. Can you give some examples of how different kinds of people differ in the ways they take a (holiday) trip?

• (Similar to above) How do you think the personality of a person affects the choices they make when they go on a trip? FQ

• What are the different means of transport that a person can choose from when traveling?

• Why do different people choose different forms of transport?

• In what ways does a person's wealth affect the quality of that person's traveling experience? 

• What benefits do people of different ages get from travelling? FQ

• (Similar to above) Who do you think learns more from travelling, old people or young people? FQ

• Do you think it's a good idea to use a credit card when travelling?

• Some people like to take a lot of things with them when they travel and other people prefer to take as little as possible. Why do you think we have this difference?

Changes in Traveling

• How do you think traveling today is different to what it was several decades ago?

• In 20 or 30 years, how do you think traveling will be different to what it is today?

Tourism

• Do you think tourism (the tourist industry) is very important?

• What benefits does tourism (the tourist industry) bring to society?

• Are there any problems that sometimes arise as a result of tourism?

• What do you think the government could do to address these problems?

• How do you think we can balance the economic benefits of tourism with the environmental damage that is done by tourism?

• What effects do you think international travel has on the different countries involved?

• How has international travel changed in the past 20 or 30 years?

• What impact do you think tourism can (or does) have on a place (a tourist spot)? FQ

• What impact do you think (international) tourism has on the culture of the country that tourists go to?

• Do you think tourism (to foreign places) has any affect on the culture of the tourists themselves?

• What do you think are some of the benefits that result when different countries co-operate with each other?

• Can you suggest some things that people should and should not do when they travel to a foreign country as tourists?

• What do you think are the qualities of a good hotel?

• Do you think the media has much effect on tourism? FQ

• Some think it's not necessary to go to tourist places now that we can see these places on the internet. Do you agree?

• (Similar to above) Would you agree that you can learn more about a place by going there rather than by reading about the place in books or seeing it on TV?

Modern Technology and (Business) Travel

• In what ways do you think modern technology has changed people's traveling experiences, compared to a few decades ago?

• (Similar to above) In what ways do you think modern technology has changed business travel, compared to a few decades ago? FQx2

• Do you think the internet has had an effect on people's traveling behaviour today? 

• Do you think 'video conferencing' (webcams), via the internet, will one day more or less replace face-to-face meetings between people? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think modern technology might one day mean there will be no need for business trips? FQ

• If you were going on a trip, what essential modern technology would you take with you, and why?

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207.  A Place with a Lot of Water (2)  (May 9, 2009) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a place near a lot of water that you enjoyed visiting. 

               You should say:

                               where this place was 

                               what you did at this place

                               why (& when) you went there

                               who you went there with

               and explain why you liked this place. 

See also, Notes

• See note about the number of points on the card.

• So far, it seems that this Part 2 is exactly the same as Topic # 140. So I have copied Topic # 140 to here. 

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Possible follow-up questions:

•  Did you take any photographs of that trip?

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Part 3

The Part 3 for Topic #140 is copied below, just in case the same questions are being used. Questions from May 9 onwards, (including  questions that are the same as before) will be added in the section below called, "Questions Reported after May 9". So far, it seems that the same Part 3 questions are being used again.

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Previous Part 3 Questions

How People Use Places With a Lot of Water

Living Near Water

• Why do people like places with a lot of water? FQx2  See Note

• (Similar to above) Why do so many people like to live or work close to water? FQx2 

• (Similar to above) Why are so many cities built near places with water?

• Why do you think  is the ocean so important to people who live near it?

• What are some of the things that people can do when they live near (or visit) the ocean?

• What are some differences between seeing a place such as a waterfall or the ocean on TV and actually visiting that place?

• Do you think people get mostly emotional (or, mental) benefits from living near water or physical benefits? Difficult question

Water Sports

   A scuba diver

• (Besides swimming), can you think of any examples of water sports? See Note

• What are some differences between swimming and these sports? 

• What are some differences between swimming in a swimming pool and swimming in the sea?

Children and Swimming

• Why do you think children (like to play in) places with water?

• Do you think it's important for children to learn how to swim?

• What do you think are the advantages of learning to swim at an early age?

• Do you think it's best for a child to be taught to swim by a parent or by someone else?

• Do you think schools should teach children how to swim? FQ

Water Usage

See internet links HERE

• Do people in China use a lot of water? 

• What do they use it for?

• What are the main ways that water is used in the home? 

• Is the way people use water today (= people's habits of use) the same as the way people used water, say, 50 years ago? FQx2

The Water Shortage

• Do you think the scarcity of water is a global problem or is a more local problem?

• What are the reasons for water shortages in (parts of ) China? (Hints: population expansion; wastage; greater use of water in industry e.g., steel production; droughts; pollution of rivers ...)

• What would you suggest we do to overcome the problem of water shortage?

• How do you think the problem of a shortage of water will be tackled in the future?

• Do you think climate change (global warming) will cause problems with people's water supply? See Note

• How can we make sure that the world's people have enough clean drinking water in the future? 

Wasting/Conserving Water

  Saving water

• Do you think people use more water today than they did before (e.g., 20 or 50 years ago)? FQ

• Can you think of examples of behaviour (or habits) that result in a waste of water?

• Do you think it's important to try to save (conserve) water? (Why?) FQ

• Do people in China try to save water? (If yes, how?)

• How can people save water?

• Do you think it's necessary to control the amount of water that people use? (Why?/Why not?) FQ

• What measures do you think could be used to control people's water usage?

• Do you know how water can be (or, is) recycled? Difficult question

• Does everybody in your country have clean water available?

• Would you say that access to clean drinking water is a human right?

Water Resources

See internet links HERE

• In general what role does water play in life? (Hint: Water is essential for all forms of life!)

• What is the importance of having sources of fresh water? (= drinking water) See Note

• What water resources do you think are most important?

• (Similar to above) What water resources do you think are most important for protection and conservation?

• What measures do you suggest the government could do to protect these resources?

• Do you think the protection of water resources should be a national concern or an international one? *

• Do you think access to water resources is sometimes an international concern? * See Note

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Questions Reported after May 9, 2009

(These seem very similar to the questions above)

Water Resources

• Do you think water is important? FQ

• Does China have many places with water?

• (Similar to above) Please give me some information about China's water resources.

• Do you think there is enough fresh water (= non-sea water; drinkable water) in the world for the needs of all the world's people?

Water Usage

• Compare the ways that water is used in urban environments with the ways it is used in rural environments.

• Which location do you think uses more water, the cities or the rural areas? FQ

• What do you think is the difference between water for industrial usage and water for domestic usage?

• Do you think water use will increase in the future, or not? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think there will be a greater demand for water in the future? FQ

• Do you think the conservation of water is important?

• What are some ways that we (or, people) can (help to) conserve water?

• Would you say that people in China are aware of the various problems connected with water?

• How can (or, could) people be made more aware of these problems?  FQ

• (Similar to above) How can people be made more aware of the need to conserve water?

• Do you think increasing the cost of water will help conserve water? FQ

Water Pollution / Waste Water

• Is the water in China usually clean? FQ

• What happens to the waste water (the sewage) in your city?

• What can (or, what does) the government do to help protect water recourses from pollution?

• What can people (individuals) do to help protect water recourses from pollution?

Drinking Water

• (Similar to above) Is there much clean water available in China? FQ

• (Similar to above) In general, do people in China have enough clean drinking water?  FQx2

• (Similar to above) In general, do people in China have easy access to clean drinking water?  FQx2

• What is the importance of having clean drinking water available?

• How can people get clean drinking water?

• Is there much difference between water for drinking in the cities and water for drinking in rural areas?

• Is the government doing anything to try to make sure that water is clean?

• If a certain place doesn't have clean drinking water, what solutions do you suggest for solving this problem?

• Do you think the answer is to simply use more water purification technology?

Enjoying the Water / Enjoying Places with Water

• In general, where do Chinese people like to go for a holiday (a vacation)?

• Do many people choose to go to a place (for a holiday or for recreation) that has a lot of water? (Why?/Why not?) FQ

• Why do people in China like to go to places such as Hainan Island for a holiday? FQx2

• Why do many people enjoy going to a/the beach?

• (Similar to above) Why do many people like to have a seaside holiday?

• What "fun" activities can people do at places where there is water? See Notes

• When people go to these places that have water, do you think it's important for them to know how to swim?

• Do you like swimming?

• What do you think are the benefits of teaching children to swim? FQ
• Do you think it's easier to learn to swim when you are an adult or when you're a child?
• Do you think primary school children should have swimming lessons as part of their schooling?
• When people are learning to swim, what do you think is the most important thing to pay attention to?
• Do people in China like water sports?
• (Similar to above) In addition to swimming, what are some other ways that people "have fun" (or, enjoy themselves) at places where there is water.
• Almost everyone likes to have fun in water. Why do you think this is the case?

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208.  A Science Lesson  (May 9, 2009) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a science lesson that you had in school or university (such as biology, chemistry or physics). *

            You should say:

                          when you attended this lesson

                          where you attended this lesson

                          what you learned (and what branch of science it was)

             and explain how you learned it (= how it was taught). *

                                    or

            and explain what happened in the lesson. *

Notes

• (Note inserted August 8, 2013) I now believe that the wording above was possibly a mistake – I now believe that the words "science lesson" should have been, "science subject".

• See note about the number of points on the card.

• Also see Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See Internet links to the topic of science

Science and Technology in Society

• In general, what is the role of science and technology in society today?

• Do you think science is very important?

• In what areas is science and technology most important today?

• Do you think people today are more aware of science than they used to be, in the past?

• What would you say is the most important branch of science today?

• What do you think is (was) the greatest scientific discovery (or advancement) of the 21st century? FQ

• What's your impression of the speed of scientific and technological development today?

• How have science and technology contributed to China's (recent) development?

• What effects does rapid technological change have on people in society? FQ

• Do you think people are getting stressed due to the fast pace of modern technology?

• Can you think of any examples of (advanced) technology that are not good for society (or, not good for humanity)? FQ

• In the future, how do you think science and technology will develop?

In the Home

• What are some examples of modern technology in the home?

• Why do so many people use the internet?

• What are the benefits of using the internet?

• Do you think there is any possible harm from using the internet?

• Can you give me any examples in the home, of the practical application of biological or chemical science? See Note

In Schools

• Why do schools and universities use modern technology?

• What are some examples of modern technology used in classrooms today?

• What are these technologies used for?

• Do you think modern technology should be used in classrooms at school?

Studying Science

See also similar questions in Topic 199

• Do you think it's good for (high) schools to have (or, to offer the choice of) science classes? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's important for (high) schools to have (or, to offer the choice of) science classes? FQ

• How do people learn science in school? (What methods/activities)

• What do you think are the differences between studying science and studying arts subjects? ("Arts" and "art" are not the same here. "The Arts" = "The Humanities" = the non-science subjects.)

• In general, what science do (high school) students learn at school?

• (Similar to above) In general, what are the contents of high school science courses?

• Have you ever studied any of the natural sciences in school?

• What did you learn in those natural science classes?

• Do you think science classes in school are interesting for most students?

• How do you suggest these lessons could be made more interesting?

Children Learning about Science

• What age do you think is most suitable age for school students to begin studying science?

• Do you think it's suitable to start teaching science to very young children? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's better for children to start studying science at an early age (e.g., 5 to 10) or when they are a bit older (e.g., over 12)?

• If you were teaching science to primary school children, how would you do it?

• Do you think that, sometimes, it might be dangerous for young children to study science? (Give examples)

• Can you think of any examples of children learning about science outside of the classroom? (i.e., not at school) FQx2

• (Similar to above) Can you think of any ways, aside from school, that children learn about science? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Can you think of any ways, aside from reading books, that children learn about science? FQx2

Boys and Girls Studying Science  Frequent Topic

• On average, in the whole world, more males than females study science in high schools and at universities. Why do you think more males than females study science? FQ

• Do you think boys are better at studying science than girls?

• What subjects do girls prefer to study?

• Do you think males are, by nature more suited to studying science than females or do you think it's a result of culture? *

• Can you suggest any ways that a school could use to encourage more girls to study science?

Scientific Research

• Do you think progress in scientific research is important?

• What does research in such fields as medical science, outer space and the environment contribute to society?

• In your opinion, what areas of science most need researching at the moment?

• (Similar to above) In your opinion, what is the most important area of scientific research? FQ

• Can you give me an example of a famous scientist (and what breakthrough he or she made)?

• What future discoveries do you think might be made by scientific research?

• What do you think about research into genes and cloning?

Govt. Research versus Private Company Research

• What areas of science are being researched the most nowadays?

• Who do you think should finance (= pay for) scientific research, government or private companies? FQx2

• Do you think the government should spend more money on scientific research?

• What kinds of scientific research do you think are more suitable for government institutes to do and what kinds do you think are more suitable for private companies to do? (First answer the general question, then include some specific examples.)

• What area (type) of government-paid scientific research do you think is most needed in China right now?

• What areas of scientific research do you think would contribute most to China's development right now?

• Do you think government should control all scientific research?

The Sharing of New Scientific Knowledge (derived from research)

• Do you think new scientific knowledge should be freely shared (or, made available for others, including the public) or are there situations when it is suitable to not share new scientific knowledge? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think the results of scientific research should always be made public?

• What do you think are some of the benefits of scientists freely making their raw research data available to the public (or, available to other scientists)? See Note

• Do you think scientists ever cheat (commit fraud) when they do their research?

• How do you think this cheating could be prevented?

• Do you think that different countries should share the knowledge they gain from scientific research? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think that different countries should explore outer space together and share the costs, their knowledge and experiences or should they do it separately?

 
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209.  An Exciting Sport  (May 9, 2009) (Probably no longer used)

Describe an exciting sport that you know about.

            You should say:

                          what the sport is

                          how you know about this sport

                          how easy it is to play this sport

             and explain what it was about this sport that makes it exciting (for you).

                       

Notes

• See note about the number of points on the card.

• For this part: "where you saw (or took part in) this activity" it should be ok to say you saw it on TV, in a film or on the internet. Don't say you "saw it" in a magazine because photographs in a magazine don't move and so you didn't really see it. Be careful of using the 'Wingsuit' video (in the internet links, below) as your example because you don't want the examiner to realize that you have seen this website, yasi-kouyu.com.cn.

• On January 30, someone wrote that their topic was, "Describe a common sport and explain why it is popular". This might be a sign that the wording for this topic has changed! On the other hand, this poster might have made a mistake.

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Do you think more people will want to play that sport in the future?

• Is that sport popular where you live?

• Do you have any friends who play that sport?

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Part 3

Extreme Sports

See internet links

See some vocabulary about adventurous people

See also the Part 3 questions on the topic, "An Adventurous Person".

• Can you give some examples of what is called, 'extreme sports' or sports that are quite dangerous (and often rather difficult to do)? FQ

• Are extreme sports popular in your country?

• What are the major differences between 'extreme sports' and ordinary sports?

• What do you think of these activities?

• Why do you think some people strongly dislike these activities and others like them very much?

• Do you think people should be encouraged to try some of these extreme sports?

• If you were a parent, would you allow your child to engage in one of these extreme sports?

• Do you like (or, would you like) to do a rather dangerous sporting activity?

• Why do you think some people like to do these dangerous activities? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Why do you think some people like to do dangerous things as a form of exercise or sport? FQ

• What qualities do people need to do these dangerous sports? (Both physical and mental qualities) FQ

• (Similar to above) What kinds of people (including or especially, what personality types) like to do these extreme sports? FQ

• (Similar to above) Some people think that those who do extreme sports are crazy. What do you think?

• Do you think children should be encouraged to participate in extreme sports?

• If someone was injured while participating in an extreme sporting activity, who should take responsibility for the medical costs (and other costs that result from the injury)  – the government, insurance companies or the individual himself?

• Do you think (some of) these dangerous activities should be banned?

• (Similar to above) Do you think the government should restrict (or, ban) some of these extreme sports? FQx2

• If you had the opportunity to give some advice to the people who participate in these dangerous sports, what would you say?

• What are some ways people can (or, could) protect themselves when they do dangerous sporting activities? FQ

• (Similar to above) Can you suggest any ways to reduce the danger of doing some of these extreme activities? FQ

Professional Sport

• Some people don't treat sport as just a leisure activity but as a way to make a living. What do you think of this attitude?

• What are the differences between sport as a career and sport as a hobby?

• Do you want to be a professional athlete? (See Note for a similar question.)

• (Similar to above) Would you like to be a professional athlete? (See Note for a similar question.)

• What do you think are the most important attributes (qualities) that a professional athlete needs to have?

• What do you think are some differences between professional athletes and amateur athletes ("weekend athletes" or "recreational athletes")?

• Do you think exceptional sporting ability is more the result of practice (or, training) or is it more the result of some innate (inborn) ability (or, talent)? FQx2

• What relationship does professional sport have with the advertising industry?

• Why do some professional athletes become celebrities?

• Do you think it's good to use famous sports stars to attract people's attention in advertisements?

• Why do you think some professional athletes have such high social status?

• Do you think most professional athletes do that work for money or because of their love for the sport?

• Do you think they should receive (or, deserve to receive) so much money? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's fair that some professional athletes receive such high income while other professional people who study hard at university for many years don't receive such a high income?

• Some professional athletes have an extremely high income. What's your opinion of this? FQ

Sport in Your Country

Sport in Society

• What are the most popular sports in your country?

• How important is sport? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think sports (and games) are important? FQ

• Why do many people like sport?

• In general, what impact does sport have on your society?

• (Similar to above) How much of an impact does sport have on your society?

• Does sport ever affect the amount of time that people spend with their family?

• What impact do sports have on children?

• Do you think children should do sport at school?

• Who likes sport more, men or women?

Sports on TV

• What sports (or, types of sport) are (most often) shown on TV in your country? FQx2

• Is there a variety of sports shown on TV in your country?

• Do men and women feel the same about watching sport on TV?

• Do men and women like to watch the same kinds of sport on TV?

• Do you think it's more interesting to watch a sport that your country is good at?

• Do you think there is too much sport shown on TV? FQx2 See Note

• (Similar to above) Do you think there are too many sports events being held?

• Do you think it's important for people watching a sport on TV to have the feeling that they are participating in that sport?

• Do you think watching athletes on TV can encourage (or, encourages) people to take up those sports? FQ

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210.  Someone Who Gave You Important Help  (May 9, 2009 (Probably no longer used)

Describe an occasion when someone gave you important help in a difficult situation.

                     You should say:

                               what occasion it was

                               who helped you

                               how they (= he or she) helped you

and explain how/why this help was important to you.

                            or

and explain what important effect this help had on your life.

Notes

• See note about the number of points on the card.

• It seems that this topic requires you to include a specific, difficult situation, at a specific time. Don't just talk about some (general) help that someone gave you, over an extended period of time.

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Have you ever told this story to other people?

• Have other people also helped you?

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Part 3

Help in General

• In general, why do you think some people help others?

• Do you think it's important to help others?

Help for Young and Old People  Frequent Topic

Young People

• In what ways (in what areas/in what situations) do young people need help? FQx2

• (Similar to above) What problems do many young people have? FQ

• (Similar to above) What help do you think young people most often need? FQ

• Do many young people have bad habits that they need help fighting against? (Hint: internet addiction)

• How can they be helped to break these bad habits?

• What are the causes of the problems that young people have today?

• Why do you think there is a need for this kind of help?

• (Similar to above) Who usually gives young people help? FQ

• (Similar to above) Where can young people go to get help? FQ

• (Similar to above) Who do young people usually turn to when they want help? (Why?) FQ

• Who do you think is most suitable for helping young people (with their problems)?

• Besides their parents, who do you think is suitable for helping these young people who have problems?

• Do you think schools should have a specially trained person, such as a psychologist, to help students who need help? FQ

• In what ways can (or, do) friends help each other?

• Do you think teachers are suitable for giving help to young people?

• Who do you think young people should ask for help, their parents or their teachers?

• Do you think the media can be used to help young people?

• Do you think young people can find help on the internet?

Old People

• And in what ways do old people need help? FQx2

• Why do old people need help in these areas? (I.e., why can't they do these things for themselves, without help from others?)

• How are the lives of old people today different to the lives of old people several decades ago?

• What help do you think elderly people most often need?

• Do you think it's important for old people to receive the help they need?

• Who usually gives old people help when they receive help? FQx2

• Has the way old people are helped today different to the way it was in the past? FQx2

• Who do you think can help old people the most?

• Who do you think should help old people, their families or the government? FQx2

• If the children of some old people live far from their parents, who can take care of the parents?

• In your country, are there any special public facilities for helping old people?

• Do you think nursing homes (old people's homes) are a good way to take care of old people?

• Can you imagine what your life would be like if you were old? See Note

• (Similar to above but different!!) Can you imagine what your life will be like when you are old? See Note

• In the future, do you think there will be any changes in the way old people are helped? FQx2

• Do you think it would be a good idea for young people to help old people (more than they do now)?

• If young people helped old people, what effects do you think this would have on the young people?

• (Similar to above) If young people helped old people, how do you think the young people would feel about themselves?

Comparing Help for Young and Old People

• Do old people and young people find the help they need in the same ways? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Please compare the differences between the help that old people receive and the help that young people receive. FQx2

• (Similar to above) How (or, where) do these two different groups (young and old) find the help they need? FQ

• Do you think the way old people in society are given help when they need it today has changed at all, compared to the past?  FQx2

• On the subject of help for old people, how do you think young people today could improve their attitudes and behaviour towards old people? (= In what areas are they lacking?)

• Nowadays old people are often in need of help. Years ago the younger generations spent more time doing that. Why has it changed?

• In what ways do you think young people could help old people more?

Helping Others in the Community

Charity/Volunteer Work

• Besides your friends and family, are there any other people who you give help to? FQ

• Why do some people willingly offer (volunteer) to help others who need help, such as old people? FQ

• (Similar to above) Why do (you think) some people volunteer to help others? FQ

• (Similar to above) Why do some people do charitable (or, volunteer) work? FQ

• In China, do many people donate money to charitable organizations?

• Do you think people today are more selfish than people were in the past? FQ

Local (not international) Organizations that Provide Help

• In the community around us, what people are there who need help?

• How can they be helped?

• What local organizations (e.g., government agencies) are there in your country that provide help to people?

• How does the government help people in the community who need help?

• Has the help that your government gives its citizens changed in the past few decades? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think that the help that government gives people is better now that it was in past years?

• What are some examples of people in the community who receive government help? FQ

• Do you think that everybody in the community who needs help can get the help they need from either the government or from their family? *

• Can you think of any ways to improve the help that people in the community get?

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