ielts-yasi.englishlab.net                                                                                                       

Updated Dec. 11, 2007

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions 

Page 7　

31.    A Character From a Childhood Story   (May 20, 2006)   (Probably no longer used)

32.    A Trip  (July 8, 2006)  (Probably no longer used)

33.    A Photograph That You Like  (Probably no longer used)

34.    The Oldest Person You Know (Probably no longer used)

35.    A Building In Your School Or University  (Probably no longer used)

RETURN TO PART 2 TOPIC INDEX

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31. A Character From a Childhood Story   (May 20, 2006)   (Probably no longer used)

        Describe a character from a story you read or heard in your childhood.

                            You should say:

                                           who the character was

                                           what the character looked like 

                                           what the character did in the story 

                             and explain what influence this character had on you. *

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Part 3

Fictional Characters

• Do modern children like _____? (the character you talked about)
• Do parents read stories to their children in China? FQ
• In China, what kind of stories do children read or do their parents tell them? (Love stories?)
• Compare the importance of children's stories today and children's stories in the past.
• Do high school (middle school) students like the same kinds of stories as young children?
• What can children learn from stories? [How can children benefit from stories?] FQx2
• Do you think children believe that these stories (i.e., fairy tales) are true? = Can children tell the difference between real and fictional stories? FQx2
• Do adults believe these stories to be true? (Why not?)
• How do you think these stories influence children?
• Compare the reading materials that adults like with the reading materials that children like.
• Compare the characters in stories that children like with story characters that adults like?
• How do you think these characters influence children?
• Why do adults like certain TV or movie stars? (What do they like about these people?) FQ
• Do you think the roles these actors play are the same as their real lives?
• Are little children influenced more by characters in stories (e.g., fairy tales) or by people in real life? 
• Who influenced you the most when you were a child?
• What story characters were popular when you were a child?
• What kinds of characters in stories do children admire most? FQ
• Do girls and boys like the same kind of heroes in stories, films etc?
• Why do you think people sometimes idealize characters in stories? (Check in dictionary for differences between 'idolize' and 'idealize')
• Why do people (children?) idolize characters in stories? (idolize characters = treat these characters as heroes)
• What do you think are the differences between 'an idol' (a hero?) and 'a character'?

Children & TV programs

• In China, what kinds of TV programs do children like? FQ
• Why do you think children like cartoons so much?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of cartoons for children? (= Positive effects & negative effects)
• Do you think that children can distinguish between good and bad TV programs? = Do children know what programs are bad for them?
• What kinds of characters do children like in films and in TV programs?
• Why do animal stars in films and TV programs become famous?
• Compare reading books and watching TV.
• In what ways do you think films can influence society?

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32. A Trip   (July 8, 2006)

Note:  Previously, this website listed two similar but different topics, #32 A planned trip and #58 A place you would like to travel to. It is very unlikely that there are, in fact, two different topics  –  the topic is one of these two choices. What is the difference between them? The first one refers to a concrete plan (or strong hope). 

However, in the second one, the words "a place you would like to travel to" could simply refer to a dream or fantasy or a place that "would be nice to visit, if I had the opportunity" such as Paris or Rome but which you are not actively planning to visit. Very importantly, if your answer to the second one is about "a place that would be nice to visit, if I had the opportunity", then you must use 'would' in your answer, not 'will'.

Version A: A planned trip 

        Describe a trip you plan to take (in the near future).

                            You should say:

                                           where you plan to go 

                                           who you plan to go with 

                                           how you plan to travel

                            and explain what you plan to see and do on this trip. *

  Version B: A place you would like to travel to

        Describe a place that you would like to travel to.

               You should say:

                               where you would like to go

                               how you would go there

                               who you would go with 

                               (when you would like to go there. *)                          

                and explain why you would like to go to this place.

                (or, and explain what you would like to do there.)

Notes:  

• 'Travel' can mean travelling either within China or overseas.

• Version A refers to a real plan, hope or desire you have. Version B could also refer to those things and could also refer to a fantasy. For example, "I'd like to travel to the moon." 

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Part 3

Travel

• Would you prefer (do you prefer) to travel with your parents or with some friends? (Why?) 

• What are the differences between traveling alone and traveling in a group? FQ

• Do Chinese people prefer to travel in groups or individually? (Why?)

• Would you prefer (do you prefer) to travel alone or with a friend? (Why?) FQ

• (Similar to above) What are the advantages and disadvantages of traveling with a travel companion? FQ

• What are the qualities of a good travel companion? FQ

• If you were going to go on a trip, who would you most like to go with? (Why?)

• Who would you most dislike going with? (why?)

• What are some possible problems that a person might have while travelling? (Either within China or overseas.) FQ

• Do older people (e.g., your parents' or your grandparents' generations) like travelling?

• What forms of transport do most Chinese use for long distance traveling within China?

• For long distance trips, what do you think will be the most common (or, most popular) forms of transport in the future - bus, train or plane (or other)? (Include reasons for your choices.)

Travel Destinations

• What are the benefits of travelling to new places? FQ

• If you had the choice, where would you like to travel to? (Why?)

• What are some of the best (or, most popular) travel destinations in China?  FQ

• Which places (countries) are Chinese people most interested in visiting? (Why?) FQ

• How have attitudes about international travel changed in China in the past 20 years?

• Do you think the government should encourage people to make trips overseas? ( = Wouldn't the money be better spent on domestic tourism?)  FQ

• Compare the types of travel destinations that people your age choose and the destinations that people your parents' age choose.

Tourism

• Is tourism an important industry in China? *
• How can people benefit from visiting new places? FQ
• When many people visit a particular place, what effects can that have on this place? FQ
• (As above) What are the advantages and disadvantages of heavy tourism to a certain place? FQ
• What difficulties might a foreigner have while travelling as a tourist in China? FQ
• Compare tourism today in China to, say, thirty years ago. *
• How do you think tourism in China will change in the future? *

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33. A Photograph That You Like   (Probably no longer used)

        Describe a photograph that you like.

                            You should say:

                                           when it was taken

                                           who took it 

                                           what is in the photograph 

                            and explain why you like it. (or, why it is important to you)

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Part 3

Photography

• Do you like to take photographs? (Why?/Why not?)

• What is the purpose of taking photographs?

• When do people take photographs?

• Where do people take photographs?

• What kinds of photos do Chinese people most like to take?

• Compare photos taken by professional photographers and typical family photos.

• How has photography changed in recent years in China?

• How do you think photography will change in the future?

• What role do photographs play in the news media?

• What kind of person would make a good professional photographer? *

Photographs and history

• What do you think is the value of historical photographs?

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34. The Oldest Person You Know (Probably no longer used)

        Describe the oldest person that you know.

                            You should say:

                                           who this person is 

                                           how old they are (= how old he or she is) 

                                           how you know this person

                            and explain what kind of person he or she is. *

                                                        or

                                  explain what kind of life this person has now. *

                                                        or

                                  explain what this person does every day. *

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Possible follow-up question:

• When did you last see this person?

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Part 3

Old people in China

• How do you think you will spend your old age?

• How do you think modern technology has affected the way old people live in China today?

• In China, what is the attitude towards old people? FQ

• Why do you think we should respect old people?

• Would you like to live with an old person? (Why?/Why not?)

• What do old people in China do in their retirement years?

• Do old people in China today have different living situations compared to old people many years ago?

• Do old people in China live happy lives?

• What changes do you think will take place in the future regarding old people's lives in China?

• Do older men like to do the same things as older women?

• Have there been any changes in the past few years in the roles of men and women in society?

• Who do you think should take responsibility for looking after old people? FQ

• Should they live with their children or is it better for them to live in special old people’s homes?

• Do old people in China have any special problems that younger people do not have?

• (As above) What are the main problems facing old people in China today? FQ

• What should family members do for elderly parents/grandparents? FQ

• In what ways can young people help old people? FQ

• Today, (and in the future), there are more and more old people compared to the past. How has this (will this) changed life in China?

• (Similar to above) How will the changes in family structure in China today (i.e., one child or even married couples with no children) affect the way elderly parents and grandparents will be treated in in the future?

Other possible questions

• What are some of the differences in attitude towards life between young people and old people in China? *

• What are some of the main problems facing old people in China today? *

• What is the attitude of the Chinese government towards old people? *

• Do old people in China have a lot of influence on their children's & grandchildren's lives? *

• In China, when important family decisions are being discussed, are the opinions of  old members of the family considered important?

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35.  A Building In Your School Or University   (Probably no longer used)

        Describe a building in your school or university.

                            You should say:

                                           where it is 

                                           what it looks like *

                                           what it is used for *

                            and explain what facilities it has.

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Part 3

School Facilities

['Facilities' can mean, a) a place, usually with special equipment, used for a particular purpose; or, b) equipment, for example, a photo-copier, washing machine, telephone, air-conditioning, TV, or a computer.]

• Compare the facilities that rural schools have with the facilities that city schools have.

• How do you think these different facilities (in rural and city schools) might affect the children in these different schools?

• Compare the ideal school facilities for, say, 5-year-old children and ideal facilities for teenagers.

• Compare the buildings and facilities in a primary school (or a high school) with the buildings and facilities in a university.

• Do you think it's important for schools to provide accommodation for students? 

• Do you think that children in primary schools need to have playgrounds? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do you think that school sports facilities should be open to the general public when the school is not using them?

• How do you think school facilities could be improved in China?

• How do you think school facilities will change in the future?

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