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The Study of History

• Do you like history?

• How important would you say the study of history is? *

• (Similar to above) How relevant would you say history is to our life today?

• (Similar to above) Why is history studied at school and at university?

• How do scholars who study history get their information about this subject?

• Do you think students are more interested in modern history or ancient history?  (See Note)

• How do school students in your country learn history at school?

• What do school students in your country learn in history classes at school? FQ

• (Similar to above) What topics do students study in history classes in your country? FQ

• Who are some of the important people in the history of your country?

• (Similar to above) How do you feel about learning (or, studying) history?

• What do you think is the value of (benefits of) learning history? FQx2

• (Similar to above) What lessons can we learn by studying history? FQ

• Do you think people completely understand (what happened in) historical events?

• Which do you think is more important (or, more relevant), to study modern history or ancient history?

• Which do you prefer to read about, national history (the history of your country) or international history?

• Do you think we can benefit from knowing about mistakes that people have made in the past?

• Some people feel the study of history is boring or difficult?. Why do you think they feel this way? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Some school students don't like history classes. Why do you think they feel this way? FQx2

• Do you agree with them? FQ

• Can you suggest how the study of history in school could be made more interesting for students who think it's boring?  FQx2

• (Similar to above) How could school teachers make history classes more interesting for these people? FQx2

• Do you think future historians will study us (= society today)?

• What do you think they might say about us?

Museums and Historical Sites

• What are some examples of historical sites and historical buildings in your country? FQ

• Why do some people choose to visit history museums? FQ

• (Similar to above) Can you suggest why people like to see old things? FQ

• Does your country have many historical sites?

• Can you give me some examples of these historical sites?

• How are these historic sites used?

• Do you think these sites should be protected? FQ

• Does the government protect these sites very well?

• Do you think it's worth the money to maintain historical sites?

• Are these historical sites mainly used for tourism, or for study by historians (and archeologists)?

• Can you suggest why tourists go to these places?

• Do you think some of these sites should not be open to tourists?

• How important is it to have history museums?

• (Similar to above) What do you think is the role of history museums?

• How could more visitors be attracted to these museums?

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Part 3

(Judging by the large number of reported questions, I think examiners are sometimes using book-related questions for this Part 3 that they remember from previous Part 3 questions about books.)

People's Reading Preferences

• Do people in your country like to read?

• What are some of the different types of materials that people in your country read? FQ

• What types of reading materials (or, books) are popular in your country?  FQ

• Which do you think is more important (or better), reading books or reading articles on the internet?

• Do you think it's important to read books that have been written recently?

• What do you like to read?

• Why do many people like reading magazines?

• What do you think are some differences between reading a newspaper and reading a book?

• (Possibly) What do you think are some differences between reading a magazine and reading a book?

• What are some of the different reasons why people read books?

• What are the best-selling types of books in your country? FQ

• What do you think might be the best-selling books in the future?

• Are motivational books very popular?

• What benefits do people get from reading? FQx2

• Do you think reading can be fun?

• What benefits do people get from reading for pleasure (or, leisure)? FQ

• Why do different people have different preferences in reading materials?

        Women's Reading Preferences Frequent Sub-topic

• Do men and women (or, males and females) tend to read the same types of books? FQ

• Why do women like those books (the examples you said)?

• Many women like to read romance novels. What's your opinion of that?

        Books for Different Age Groups

• Do young people like to read books? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Who do you think reads books more, young people or old(er) people? FQx2

• What types of book do you prefer to read?

• What are the main differences between adults' books and children's books?

• What are the differences between young people's reading habits and old people's reading habits? FQ

• Who do you think reads more, young people or old people?

• What benefits do elderly people get from reading?

• Do you think people's reading habits have changed in the past few decades?

Books

• How are books today different to books in the past?

        Electronic Books Frequent Sub-topic

• How are electronic books and paper books different? FQ

• What are the advantages of electronic books?

• What do you think will be the future of e-books? FQ

• Do you think electronic books will become more and more popular?

• What are the advantages and possible disadvantages of e-books?

• Do you think electronic books might one day replace paper books? FQx2

• Do you think old people should read e-books?     

        Books about History / Books Set in the Past and Historical Accuracy

• Do you think novels that are set in the past should be historically realistic (or, accurate)?

• In your estimation, why do most films about history not portray history very accurately?

• Do you think it's important for children to read historically accurate books?

        Books and TV

• Many people prefer to watch TV rather than read. What do you think are the differences between those people who prefer to watch TV and those who prefer to read?

• Which do you think is better for people, to watch TV or read?

        Books and Films

• Some films are based upon a book. How accurately do you think these films portray what the book says?

• What do you think are the main differences between a book, and a film that is based upon that book?

• Do you think these films always accurately portray what the book says?

• Can you suggest why most of these films change the book in some ways?

        Second-hand Books

• Have you ever bought a used book? (Why?)

• Is it very common for people to buy second-hand books in your country? FQ

• Who usually buys used books, and why do they buy them?  FQ

• Where do they buy these books?

        Borrowed books / Libraries

• What are the pros and cons of borrowing a book to read?

• What books do people (or, you) usually borrow from libraries?

• Why do people borrow books from libraries?

• How do people learn to use a library?

        Foreign Books

• Do most people prefer to read books from their own countries or books from overseas?

• What are some of the main differences between foreign books and books from your (or, one's) own country?

• What benefits do people get from reading foreign books?       

Reading and Children

("Children" are people between the ages of about 4 and 12.)

• What types of books do you  think are most suitable for children?

• (Similar to above) What types of books do children like most?  FQ

• How can a parent encourage their child to develop the habit of reading? FQx2

• (Similar to above) How can a parent encourage their child to develop an interest in books? FQx2

• Do you think pre-school children should read books? (Hint: Of course, they can't "read" but they can look at the pictures.)

• (Similar to above, but different) Do you think pre-school children should look at books?

• Do you think it's a good idea to read to pre-school children? FQ

• What types of books would you choose to read to your child, if you had a young child?  (An older child can read for himself or herself.)

• Do you think the reading habits of children today are different to those of children in the past?

• Do you think this situation will become better, or worse?

• Which is more difficult for a child to do, watch TV or read a book?

• Do you think fantasy novels such as Harry Potter are suitable for children to read?

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Part 3

See also any similar questions in the Part 3 of the following topics: 41, 213 & 274

Radio

Note: Radio programs that are re-transmitted over the internet (or available as podcasts on the internet) are still radio programs.

• Would you still listen to that program if you were charged for listening to it? (= if you had to pay to listen to it)

• How often do you listen to the radio?

• What types of radio programs do you like best?

• Which do you think is better, listening to the radio or watching TV? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Which do you prefer, listening to the radio or watching TV? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Which is more popular in your country, listening to the radio or watching TV? FQx2

• What would you say are radio's strong points and it's weak points?

• As a source of news, which do you think is better, radio or TV?

• Do you think radio and TV provide the same forms of entertainment?

• Is there any type of content that is more suitable for radio than TV?

• Do you think it's really necessary to have radio today?

• Do you think the radio can be (or, will be) replaced with some new type of technology?

• Do you think that radio broadcasting will one day disappear because of the popularity of TV (and the internet)?

• What types of people mostly listen to the radio?

• (Similar to above) What types of people do you think radio is best suited for?

• Would you say that radio is more suited to old people rather than young people?

• What qualities and skills do you think radio announcers should have? FQx2

• (Similar to above but a little different) What qualities and skills do you think radio radio program hosts should have? FQx2

The Impact of Radio on Society

• How has radio affected society?

• Considering the history of radio (about 100 yrs), how do you think it has changed people's lives (or, changed society)?

• What are the pros and cons of only having national radio programs, compared to having local radio programs? FQx2

• (Similar to above) Do you prefer to listen to national radio programs or local radio programs? FQx2

• What sorts of issues are discussed on local radio stations?

• How safe would you say it is to share personal views on the radio?

• Do you think the government should build more local radio stations?  (See Note)

• How do local people (e.g., in a province, county, city or a town) benefit from local radio stations? FQ

• How important is it for a country to have a national radio station (or, national radio programs)?

Advertising on the Radio

• Which do you think is better for advertising, radio or TV?

• How are advertisements done on the radio?

• What are the major differences between TV advertisements and radio advertisements?

• Do you think radio is more suitable than TV for advertising some products or services?

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Part 3

Note: Make sure you know the difference between "funny" and "fun".

Very importantly, see also the Part 3 questions for Topic 404. That topic might have originally been this Topic 494! (But I never read reports of the words "film" or "TV program" being connected to the wording of that Part 2.)

Humour

• Do you think parents need to teach their children to laugh?

• What types of people are good at telling jokes?

• Can you suggest why people laugh?

• (Similar to above) Can you suggest why people think something is funny?

• Why do you think some people laugh more than others?

• Do you think kids laugh more than adults? FQx2

• Do you think children find the same things funny as adults? FQ

• (Similar to above) Are there any differences between the humour of children and that of adults?

• Do men and women (or, males and females) have the same sense of humour?

• (Similar to above) Do men and women (or, males and females) find the same things to be funny?

• What do teenagers think is funny?

• Do you think people should laugh more often?

• Do you think people today laugh more than people did in the past (e.g. 20 to 50 years ago)?

• Do you think there is any relationship between laughing and health?

• Do you think laughing is good for the health?  FQ

• What do you think of the idea of including humour in school lessons?

• Do you think having a sense of humour is important in  inter-personal relationships?

• What types of people are good at telling jokes? FQ

• (Similar to above) Can you suggest why some people are better than other at telling jokes? FQ

Cross-Cultural Humour

• Do you think a comedy film or TV program from one country can be appreciated by people in a different country?

• Is it possible to enjoy a comedy from another country if you don't know the culture of that country?

• Would you say that we can learn something about another culture by observing what people in that culture laugh at?

• Do you think it is possible to insult the people from another culture or country by the use of humour (or, comedy films, comedy TV programs)? (Hint: Borat - not funny)

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