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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

* = my guess at a question

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456.  A Seaside Leisure Activity  (Sep. 1, 2012)  (Probably no longer used)

Describe a sport or leisure activity that you would like to do at, or near the ocean. *

You should say:

        what activity it is (or, would be)

        who you would like to do it with *

        how easy or difficult it would be to do this

and explain why you would like to do this activity at the seaside. *

Notes

• The word, "sea" might be used instead of "ocean".

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic 407.

(The questions below have been added to the Part 3 questions of Topic 407.)

Activities Near or on the Ocean

• Why do you think the seaside is such a popular tourist destination?

• What are some more examples of activities that people can do at the seaside? FQ

• As a place to spend some leisure time, do you think the beach or the seaside is more suitable for children or for adults? FQ

• (Similar to above) Who do you think enjoys the beach more, children or adults? FQ

• Do you think children and adults do the same types of things when they go to a beach? FQx2

• What do you think are the benefits of doing recreational activities or sports at a beach (or near the ocean)?

• Do you think there are benefits from doing these thinks at the seaside that you cannot get by doing the same things on the shore of a freshwater lake or river?

• Do you think there are any health benefits from doing recreational activities at the beach?

Marine Life

• Do you think that human activity is posing a threat to the oceans of the world?

• Do you know of any examples of how some types of marine life are threatened by human activity?

• Do you think it's important for us to protect these threatened forms of marine life?

Ocean Travel & Transportation

• What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of traveling on the ocean?

• (Similar to above, but different) What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of shipping goods across the ocean?

• In the future, do you think the oceans will be used more for transportation than they are now, or used less?

Working On or Near the Sea

• What are some jobs (types of work) that people do near or on the ocean?

• Why do you think some people like to have a job near or on the sea?

• What are some of the jobs, or work, that people do (on or)  near the ocean?

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Part 3

Choosing A Career

Attitudes Towards One's Job

• Why do some people like their job while others don't like their job?

• How important do you think it is to like one's job?

• Do you think a person's relationships with his or her workmates (colleagues) can affect how they feel about their job?

• In your future job, what sort of relationship would you like to have with the people you work with?

• Which do you think is more important, the people you work with or being interested in your work?

• Do you think sometimes people are doing the wrong job, or in a profession that they dislike?

• Why do people sometimes lose interest in (or, come to dislike) their job? FQx2

• Why do people sometimes become bored with their job?  FQx2

• What do you think an employer (or boss, or supervisor) could do to make a job more interesting if it is boring to an employee (or, to the workers)?

• What are the some of main reasons why some employees don't do their job very well (= a poor performance at work)?

• How do you think these people could improve their job performance?

• What do you think employers (or supervisors) can do to help motivate their employees to perform better at work, besides giving them a pay raise? FQ

• In general, how do you think an employer (or boss, or supervisor) should treat his or her employees?

• What changes do you think would improve the way working is done (or, structured) today?

• (Similar to above)  In general, do you think the way people work today could be improved? (Hints: work hours; job sharing; flexitime, working from home etc.)

    Changing Jobs Frequent sub-topic

        "Change jobs" usually means "change one's employer" or "change one's company",  not change one's career or profession, although it could have that second meaning at times.

• In your country, if someone doesn't like their job, do they usually continue doing that job or do they usually try to find another job?

• If someone is bored in their job, is it easy for them to change to a different job?

• Do you think it's good to change jobs frequently? FQ

• Do you think it's easy for middle-aged people to change jobs?

• What's the retirement age in your country?

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Part 3

Farming

The word, "farming" is a broader term than "agriculture" - it includes growing crops but it also includes "pig farming", raising chickens, raising dairy cows etc.  The word "agriculture" focuses more on growing crops. Some, but possibly not all, questions here seem to about growing crops.

• Is agriculture (or, farming) very important in your country? FQ

• How important is agriculture for the economy of your country?

• What crops are grown?

• (Similar to above, but different) What types of farming do you have in your country?

• Would you like to be a farmer? FQ

• If you had a farm, how would you sell your produce?

• What difficulties do you think you would have if you had your own farm?

• What difficulties are faced by farmers?  FQ

• Would you like to grow any particular plant? (Not necessarily as a farmer.)

• Do you have any plants growing at home?

• (Similar to above) Have you ever grown any plants?

• Do you like to eat home-grown food, (such as tomatoes or fruit)?

• Do you think it's a good idea for people to grow some of their own food at home, if possible? FQ

• How do you think farming might change in the future? FQ

• What do city people in your country think of farmers?

• There's a world-wide trend of rural people moving into cities. What do you think of that?

• Do you think enough young people in the future will still be interested in becoming farmers?

• How do you think more young people could be encouraged to become farmers?

• Do you think people can make money by growing and selling organic food?

Protecting Nature

• Do you think it's important to protect the natural environment, such as lakes and forests?

• Some people think that protecting nature is not the job of individuals. Do you agree with that?

• What should governments do to protect nature?

• What can the average person do to protect nature? FQ

• Is it more important to protect nature now than it was in the past?

Food Security

• Would you say that people in your country have enough food?

• (Similar to above) Would you say your country has enough food?

• Does your country grow most of the food that is consumed in your country? *

• In the future, do you think that more people might be growing some of their own food at home?

• Do you think that would be a good idea?

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions at Topic 12,  Your Childhood Room and Topic 307, Your Childhood Room.

Some people are confused about the two different words, "room" (房间) and "house" (房子). It looks like both words are being used in different topics in Part 3. "Home" simply means, "the place where you live"; it might be a tent!

Rooms

• At home, do you like other people coming into your room?

• Why do young people who are still living at home with their parents want to have their own bedroom?  FQ

• Do you think everyone really needs to have their own (bed)room?

• What about little kids sharing a room with their grandparent(s) - do you think that is good?

• At what age do you think a child should have his or her own room, if possible?

• Most people have their own room at home but at university many people have to live in dormitories, sharing one room with other students. How do these students adapt to this new situation?

• After you graduate, will you prefer to live alone?

• What kinds of people in your country usually live alone?

• Do most people in your country prefer to have a small bedroom or a big one? FQ

• (Similar to above, but different)  Do most people in your country prefer to have small rooms in their home, or big rooms? FQ   (Not all rooms are bedrooms)

• What do you think is the most important attribute of a room (in a home)?

• How can a room be made a pleasant place to be? FQ

• How can a room be decorated, to make it a pleasant place to be in?

Houses

• Do most people in country prefer to live in a big house or a small one? FQ

• Is a big house a status symbol in your country?

• Which would you prefer to live in?

• Is there much difference between people's homes in the countryside and people's homes in the city?

• How can a home be made a pleasant place to live?

• Why do you think there are so many differences between houses in different countries?

Offices

• Do you think the appearance of a building or a company office is important? FQ

• Do customers care about the appearance of an office (or a commercial premises)?

• (Similar to above) Does the appearance of an office have an effect on customers? (Why?)

• (Similar to above) Does the appearance of the reception area (or reception desk) have an effect on customers? (Why?) FQx2

• Do you think the size of an office has an effect on the work performance of the people who work there?

• Would you prefer to work in an open office, with the other office employees, or in a separate room?

• Some office workers like to personalize their workspace or office by displaying family photos etc. Do you think this is a good idea?

• Do you think it is possible to overdo this personalization of one's workspace?

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Part 3

Shopping for Clothes

• Is there any difference between men and women when it comes to the question of shopping for clothes?  FQx2

• Which do you think is better, shopping for clothes with a friend or shopping for clothes alone?  FQx2

• Do you think of shopping for clothes as a kind of entertainment? (A question for the girls)

• Do many people in your country buy clothes online?

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of buying clothes online?

• If you have a disagreement with the online seller, how can this disagreement be settled?

Different Styles of Clothes

There is a difference between "old fashioned clothes" and "traditional clothes". Traditional clothes are part of your culture and have a history of hundreds of years. The term, "old fashioned clothes" could be used when describing the clothes that your grandfather used to wear, or even what your parents wore years ago, if that style of clothing is no longer in fashion.

• What types of clothes do students and other young people usually (like to) wear?

• People wear different clothes on different occasions. Can you give me some examples of that?

• What clothes do office workers wear in your country?

• What impression do these clothes have on (other) people?

• Is there a difference between men and women office workers' clothing?

• (Similar to above) Is the formal clothing for men and women different in your country? FQ

• (If doing the test away from your home country) Is there any difference between formal clothing here and in your country?

• Which do you prefer?

• Do you think old-fashioned clothing will ever be popular again? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do you think that will benefit tailors and clothes designers?

• When do people in your country wear traditional clothes?

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