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RETURN TO PART 2 TOPIC INDEX

FQ = frequent question = a question that has frequently been reported = a question that is probably in the examiner's question book

* = a question that I am guessing might be in the test.

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266.  Recent Changes to your Hometown   (May, 2010)   (Probably no longer used)

        Describe an area of your hometown that has recently changed quite quickly.*

You should say:

what part of your hometown has changed

what it used to be like *

what changes have been (or, were) made

what caused this change

an explain how you feel about these changes.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

Changes to Cities: The Impact on the Residents

• (If doing the test away from your home country, e.g., Australia) -  How are cities in Australia different to cities in your home country?

• In general, what are some of the reasons why changes occur to cities?

• What effects do (or can) changes to a city have on people's lives?

• Are these changes always beneficial to everyone?

• Who benefits most (and who benefits least) from these changes?

• How do young people feel about changes to their hometown?

• Do you think some people can cope with these changes better than others? (Who? How? Why?) FQ

• (Similar to above) Does everyone like changes to their hometown? FQ

• Do young people and old people feel the same about these changes?

• What are the most important needs of people when they live in a city?

The Decision-Making Process Concerning Changes to Cities (and Towns)

• In your country, who decides what changes are to be made to a city (or town)?

• Do you think government should consult  the views of the people before these changes are carried out? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think government should respect the views of the people when these changes are proposed? FQ

• How do (or, how could) the government find out the opinions of the public on questions of changes to a city?

• Should people have the right to ask for changes when they are dissatisfied with something about their city?

Population Changes in Cities

• What effects does a fast-growing population have on a city?

• (Similar to above) What effects does a fast-growing population in a country have on the cities in that country?

• (Similar to above) What problems are caused when many people move to the cities (from the countryside) in a short time?

• What do you suggest could be done about these problems?

• In some countries, many people are trying to move from the country-side to the cities. How do you think this should be (or could be) managed in order to minimize the bad effects of this on the cities?

• Where do children in big cities go to play?

• Was that (children's play locations) the same in the past?

Changes to People

• What are some differences between young people in the past and at present?

• Among people, what differences in attitudes are there about change?

• What kinds of people like change and what kinds of people dislike change?

• When governments make changes to society, who usually benefits the most?

Changes in Government Policy

• In your country, how do changes in government policy come about? ("come about" = "happen" = "occur")

Traditions

• Do you think the traditions in your country (or culture) are changing (or, have changed)?

• Do you think traditions should be preserved, unchanged, or is there some value in changing traditions?

• What do you think is the value of traditions?

• Do you think old people think about traditions (or, value traditions) more than young people do?

• How will you teach your (cultural) traditions to your children?

• (Similar to above) If you had children, how would you teach them your (cultural) traditions?

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267.  A Person you Helped (3)  (May, 2010)  (Probably no longer used)  (Moved to #279 on Mar. 6, 2011) 

               Describe a time when you helped someone.

                     You should say:

                               who you helped

                               how you helped them

                               why you helped them (or, why he or she needed help)

and explain how you felt when/after you helped this person.

    

Notes

• This topic was moved to #279 on March 6, 2011. From now on, it will be updated at #279, not here here, at #267.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See Topic #279.

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268.  A Piece of Equipment (2)  (May, 2010)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a useful piece of equipment (not a computer) that you use at home.

              You should say

                               how you got it (or, who bought it)

                               what you use it for 

                               how often you use it                                                    

               and explain why you think this thing is useful.    

See Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also: Part 3 questions for Topic 51 and Topic 149

Modern Equipment, Tools and Devices

At Work / In Industry

• How do you think modern technology has changed the way we work, (compared to the past)? FQ

• (Similar to above) What changes to the office environment has modern technology brought us?

• What (do you think) are the results of these changes on companies and on employees?

• What are the benefits and possible bad points about some of the modern equipment that is used in workplaces today?

• Do you think equipment at work improves the efficiency of employees?

• Is it possible that modern equipment in the office could sometimes increase the work we do, instead of decreasing it?

• Does any modern equipment at work help to improve the work environment? (health)

• Do you think that operating equipment at work can ever have some bad effects on the body?

• Do you think it's important for employees (in industry) to be trained to use the equipment at work? FQ (Hint: safety, e.g., in factories)

• What future changes do you think we will see concerning equipment at work?

In the Home

See here for home electrical appliances and here for non-electrical equipment in the home.

• What are some of the different examples of modern (electrical) equipment that people use in the home today?

• Which of those do you think is the most important?

• Are there any of those that you think are not very important (= not really necessary)? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think that all of those items really save people's time? FQx2

• Why do people have these things if they are not really necessary?

• (Similar to above) What are some examples of modern equipment that you think are necessary for people to have in their homes? FQ

• Many years ago, people didn't have this modern equipment in the home. How did they manage?

• What do you think are the benefits of using modern equipment and devices (in the home)? FQ

• Are there any disadvantages from using modern equipment so much in the home? FQ (See note)

• (Similar to above) What are the advantages and (possible) disadvantages of using advanced technology nowadays?

• Do you think that the use of so much labour-saving equipment in the home tends to make people lazy?

• Do you think using modern electrical equipment affects people's health in any way? (Hint: less physical work)

• Do you think that people in some countries rely too much on modern equipment?

• How do you think the use of modern communication equipment has affected people's interpersonal communication skills?

• (Similar to above) How do you think the use of modern communication equipment will affect people's interpersonal communication skills?

Old People and Their Use of Equipment in the Home (Frequent sub-topic)

• Besides the equipment that you use at home, what other equipment is there in your home?

• Do you think there are advantages for old people to use electrical equipment in the home?

• Do elderly people use advanced equipment?

• (Similar to above) Do elderly people like to buy newer equipment?

• Do you agree that older people have difficulties in using (advanced) modern equipment? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think elderly people find it easy to use (advanced) modern equipment? FQx2

• How can we help elderly people to use these modern devices? FQx2

The Development of Modern Technology * (Unconfirmed sub-topic)

• How would you describe current trends in the development of technology? *

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269.  A Computer Skill   (May, 2010)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe something new you have learned to do on computers (e.g., printing a photo). *

You should say:

what you learned

when you learned it

how you learned it

who helped you

and explain how you have benefited from learning this. *

                         or

and explain how useful you think this skill is. *

Notes

• It seems that many people report the word "new" is in the wording. That might be true but it is redundant - if you learn something, it is new by definition (definition of the word, "learn"). So, just describe something you learned to do on the computer.

• Possibly the wording is, "Describe something you learned (from or by) using computers" or, "Describe a skill you learned (from or by) using computers". It seems that the wording here asks you to describe something that you learned how to do, not simply some theoretical knowledge you gained from using the computer.

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Was it very difficult to learn to do that? *

• Do you think you have mastered the computer now?

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Part 3

• How important are computers in daily life today?

• Are you very good at using computers?

Computers in the Workplace

• What effects do you think the introduction of computers has had on the workplace (or, on industry)?

• How are computers used in the workplace?

• (Similar to above) In what ways are computers useful at work?

Students Using Computers

• Do you think students use computers more for entertainment or for study purposes?

Computers in the Home

• What do people who have a computer at home do with their computers?

• How are computers used for entertainment?

• Do people do the same things at work on their computers that they do at home?

• What do you think are the benefits of using computers (at home)? FQx2

• Are there any (possible) disadvantages from using computers at home? *

• Do you think that people who are very sociable use computers very much? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think the increasing use of computers is making people less sociable? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think people are spending too much time on their computers? FQx2

• Do different people all do the same sorts of things on the computer (at home)? FQ

• Does everyone use (have) a computer at home?

• Do you think it would be a good idea if the government supplied every household with a computer? FQx2

• Do you think the next generation (about 30 years in the future) will use computers the same way as we do today?

• (Not the same as above) When do you think the next generation of computers will appear and what do you think these computers will be like?

Old People and Computers

• Are there any differences in computer usage between young people and old(er) people? FQ

• Why don't old people use computers very much?

• Would you say it's easy to (learn to) use a computer?

Children and Computer Usage

• How does learning to use a computer at school benefit people after they leave (= graduate from) school?

• Please compare writing by hand and writing on a computer. FQ

• Many children are now learning to use computers. Do you think they still need to learn handwriting? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you think the popularity of the use of computers will cause people's handwriting skills to suffer? FQx2

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270.  A Type of Music that is Popular in your Country (May, 2010)   (Probably no longer used)

Describe a type of music that is popular in your country.

You should say:

what type of music it is

where people listen to (or, can hear) it

on what occasions people hear this music

what types of people usually like this type of music *

and explain why you it is popular. *

Notes

• * =  a guess.

• Some of the major types of music are listed here.

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Do you like that music yourself?

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 186, Topic 136 and Topic 81.

People's Musical Preferences

• What is the importance of music in people's lives?

• Do you think that music adds something to people's lives?

• What's your favourite style of music?

• What are the differences between the music old(er) people like and the music young people like? FQx2

• Why do you think older people have different tastes in music to young people?

• How (or why) do you think people's preferences in music change with age? (Note: It may not be true that people's tastes in music change very much as they grow older!)

• What do you think are some of the reasons why a particular type of music becomes popular?

• Why does some music stay popular for a long time while other music stays popular only for a short time?

• Why do you think traditional music is gradually becoming less popular while modern pop music is becoming more and more popular?

• Why do you think songs about love and friendship are so popular?

• In what ways is foreign music (or, Western music) different to music in your country?

• (Similar to above) In what ways is foreign music (or, Western music) different to traditional music in your country?

• Do you think traditional music will eventually disappear in your country?

• How can a person know what music is (of) high quality (and what music isn't (of) very high quality)?

The Effects of Music on People

• How does music affect people's mood?

• Do you think music can affect people's decisions when they are shopping?

• Do you think aggressive music has an effect on people? (If yes, what effect?)

The Music Industry

• Do you think music can become commercialized? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think the music industry is a very big industry? FQ

• Is there a lot of money in the music business? (Why?/How?)

• Do you think that's good?

• Is the internet having any effect on the music industry? FQx2

• What do you think of downloading music from the internet free of charge? ... Do you think this will (or could) have an effect on the music industry? FQx2

• What do you suggest the government (or the music industry) could (or, should) do about this problem?

Being a Pop Singer or Musician  FQ

• Would you like to work in the music industry?

• Many young people go through a stage when they dream of being a being a pop singer or a musician. Why do you think they have this dream (or, this ambition or, this fantasy)? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Why do many young people feel that it would be good to work in the music industry? FQ

• Do you think it's reasonable to say that since you love music, you would like to make it your profession?

• (Possible question) What musical instrument would you like to (learn to) play? *

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