ielts-yasi.englishlab.net

Updated Aug. 3, 2011

 

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

Page 60

 

296.  A Successful Person (Sept. 4, 2010)  (Probably no longer used)

297.  An Advertisement (Sept. 4, 2010)  (Probably no longer used)

298.  A Gift You Gave (4) (Sept. 4, 2010)    (Probably no longer used)

299.  A Small Thing to Protect the Environment (Sept. 4, 2010)  (Probably no longer used)

300.  A Broken Piece of Equipment  (Sept. 4, 2010)  (Probably no longer used)

 

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

* = my guess at a question

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296.  A Successful Person (Sept. 4, 2010)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a person you know who you think is successful. *

                You should say:

who he or she is (or, who they are)

what they did (or, what they do)

how you know this person (or, how you know about this person) *

and explain why you think he or she is successful *

 

Notes

  • I think the first line includes the words, "you know". This means someone who you know personally, someone you have spoken to. Even if the first line doesn't say that, it would be safest to prepare for this. [In English, when we say, "I know Yao Ming" it can mean either, a) "I know him personally" or, b) "I know about Yao Ming" = "I know of Yao Ming".]

  • Also see Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

  • Would you like to be as successful as him/her?

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 77,  Someone Who Does Something Well and Part 3 for Topic 271.

The Nature of Success

  • What do think the word, "success" means? FQ

  • (Similar to above) What does "success" mean to you? FQ

  • Why do people want to be successful? FQ

  • How do you think success can be measured (or judged; or confirmed)? FQ

  • (Similar to above) Do you think a rich person is the same as a "successful" person? FQ

  • (Similar to above) Do you think it's only associated with material success ( = money)? FQ

  • Do you think the criteria for (defining or judging) success might change in the future?

  • Do you think everyone who works hard will become a "success"?

Career versus Family Life

  • Why do some parents pressure their children to gain success?

  • Which do you think is more important, success in one's career or a happy family life?

  • Do you think career success can ever cause problems in one's personal life? (See Note)

  • Do you think it's important to have a balance between one's career and one's family life (or, personal life)?

  • How do you think a person could achieve a balance between (spending time on) success in their career and a happy family life? FQx2

Role Models

  • Why do you think people are interested in successful people?

  • (Similar to above) Why do you think people like to follow (be like, emulate) successful people?

  • What kinds of achievement are most admired in your country?

  • What kinds of personality (or, character) are most admired by people in your country?

  • Do you think it's important for children (and young people) to have role models?

  • Do young people and older people generally have the same role models? (See Note)

  • If someone has a role model who is from another country, do you think that affects their attitudes towards that country?

Celebrities/Famous People

  • What kinds of people are (or become) famous? FQ

  • (Similar to above) How (or why) do some people become famous?

  • Why do people idolize (or, why are people especially interested in/or, why are people so concerned about) these famous people? FQx2 

  • Do you think that celebrities are happy?

  • Do you think that celebrities deserve to have their privacy? FQ (See Note)

  • How could a famous person (help) protect (or, maintain) their privacy?

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297.  An Advertisement (Sept. 4, 2010)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe an advertisement that you think is successful. *

                You should say:

what is advertised

what the advertisement contains (the contents of this advertisement) *

what kinds of people would be (or, are) interested in (or attracted to) this advertisement

and explain why you think this advertisement works well.

 

 

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also Part 3 for Topic 65, Topic 121, Topic 170 and Topic 190.

The Nature of Advertising

Influence of Advertising on the Environment

Celebrities in Advertisements Frequent Sub-Topic

Good-Looking People in Advertisements

Children and Advertising

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298.  A Gift You Gave (4) (Sept. 4, 2010)    (Probably no longer used)

Describe a gift you gave to someone. *

                You should say:

what the gift was

who you gave it to

why you gave it

and explain whether this person liked the gift or not.

 

                         

Notes

  • Possibly the wording is, "Describe a gift you gave to a friend or a family member". But this is not confirmed. It might just say, "a gift you gave to someone" If that is the case, talking about a gift you gave to a family member is suitable. However, whenever a Part 2 specifies only the word, "friend" (and does not say, "friend or family member"), I suggest you never talk about a family member. If you use a family member as an example of a "friend", many examiners will think you are speaking a prepared (or memorized) answer.

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Possible follow-up questions:

  • Do you often give gifts?

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Part 3

See also Part 3 of Topic 221, Topic 233, Topic 160, Topic 85 and Topic 54

Gift Giving in Your Country

Choosing a Gift

Buying Gifts (esp. online)

Money and Gifts

Charity

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299. A Small Thing to Protect the Environment (Sept. 4, 2010)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a small thing that you, as an individual, could do to help the environment.

                You should say:

what it would be

why you want to help the environment *

how you know about this *

how difficult or easy it would be *

and explain how you think this would help the environment. *

                        or

and explain how you would do it. *

 

     

Notes

  • The wording means, "Describe something that you don't do now, but that you could do, if you decided to do something to help the environment."

  • Someone has reported that the topic is, "Describe something that you usually do to help the environment." This is quite different to what is written above. I suggest you prepare for both possibilities.

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also Part 3 for Topic 111 and Topic 180

See here for some notes on my personal opinion concerning the idea that carbon dioxide (CO2) is a dangerous pollutant that is causing global warming, which will become catastrophic in the future if humans continue to add carbon dioxide to the environment. I believe sulpher dioxide (SO2) is a much more dangerous pollutant. (Also spelt as "sulfur dioxide".) It is true that burning carbon-based fossil fuels produces pollution but I believe it is the other products of this burning (besides the CO2) , i.e., the particulates and the sulpher dioxide that are dangerous to our health. But, there are no "right" and "wrong" answers in this test - it's just a test of your English ability!

See also internet links here and some vocabulary here.

Environmental Problems

  • Do you think the environment today is different to the environment in the past? (E.g., 20 to 50 years ago or even 100 years ago.)

  • Do you think humans have damaged (or, are damaging) the environment?

  • In what ways do you think humans have harmed (or, are harming) the environment? FQ

  • What are the different kinds of pollution that exist in our environment?

  • Who do you think should bear most of the responsibility for improving the environment, government or individuals?

  • (Similar to above) Who is responsible for (causing) pollution of the environment? How did they cause this pollution? FQ

  • Is the (your) government in your country doing anything to try to improve the environment?

  • Can you give any other examples of how people (or governments) could improve the environment?

  • Do you feel protecting the environment should be a personal thing or should it be an issue that is best handled by the government?

  • Do you think you are doing enough to protect the environment?

  • Have you ever been involved with (group) activities to protect the environment?

  • Do you think people's attitudes towards protecting the environment will change in the future (e.g., 10 to 30 years)?

  • What do you think companies could do to improve the environment?

Wildlife (See Note)

   

Some examiners are using some of the questions from Topic 244 about the protection of wild animals.

  • In what ways do you think humans have harmed (or, are harming) the earth's wildlife?

  • Do you think the survival of some forms of wildlife is threatened?

  • Do you think we need to (or, should) protect wildlife?

  • Are wild animals protected (by law) in your country?

  • (Similar to above) Is wildlife protected (by law) in your country?

  • (Similar to above) What do people in your country do to protect wildlife?

  • What do you think the government should do to help protect wildlife? FQ

  • (Similar to above) What laws do you think should exist to protect wildlife? FQ

  • Are the attitudes of young people today towards this question different to attitudes in the past?

  • Do you think we humans will eventually be able to live in harmony with the wildlife ( = not cause the extinction of some wildlife)?

People's Lifestyles and the Environment

Environmental Awareness

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300.  A Broken Thing at Home  (Sept. 4, 2010)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe an occasion when something at home broke down or stopped working. *

                You should say:

what the equipment was

how badly it was broken (Or: how it was broken) *

how this affected your life

and explain how you handled this situation. *

                    or

and explain how you felt about this situation. *

 

Notes

  • Previously I wrote that the first line says, "Describe an occasion when a piece of equipment at home broke down or stopped working." I now believe it is more likely that the word "equipment" is not used but the best example of something breaking down is a piece of equipment. It is possible (but not certain) that the wording is, "Describe an occasion when a home appliance broke down or stopped working." "Home appliances" are electrically powered pieces of equipment and machines. If it just says, "piece of equipment", you don't have to choose electrical equipment.

  • Possibly it says, "at home or school".

  • I don't think a broken light bulb would be suitable but who knows, maybe it would be accepted by the examiner as a suitable example of equipment (but not an example of a home appliance).

  • See vocabulary lists here and here.

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Possible follow-up questions:

  • Have you ever repaired anything at home?

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Part 3

The Quality of Products

Second-hand Goods

Buying Things Online Frequent sub-topic

Broken Things

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