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Part 1 topics and questions for the Beijing test center (and other test centers in China) for January to April, 2006

Introduction

• These were the Part 1 topics and (some of) the questions that were used in most of China from January to April 2006.
• It is possible that these topics and questions were not used by some test centers in China from January to April 2006 because this set of topics and questions was used in Guangzhou and Shenzhen on the weekend of September 23, 24 2006. However, this does not mean for certain that Guangzhou and Shenzhen will continue to use these questions until the end of 2006.
• There should be only ten topics here. It is possible that the questions for 'City Life' were, in fact, included under one or more of the other topics.

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Summary of Part 1 Topics

1.       Hometown

2.       Your work/studies

(Note that either Topic 1 or Topic 2 is compulsory.)

3.       Collecting

4.       Weekends

5.       Flowers

6.       City Life

7.       Noise

8.       Transport

9.      Drawing (and painting)

10.   Family Life

11.   Foreign Languages

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1.       Hometown

• Where are you from?

• Are you from a city or village (countryside)?

• What do you like about your hometown?

• Is your hometown a good place for young people to live?

• Would you retire there when you are old?

• Do you still visit your hometown?

• How do you visit your hometown?

• Who do you visit in your hometown?

• Which place do you prefer, your hometown or the city where you are studying or working?

2.       Your work/studies

• Do you work or are you a student?  

       Your work (if working or usually work)

• What work do you do?

• Why did you choose that kind of work?

• Do you enjoy it? (Why?)

• Is there anything you don’t like about your job?

• Is your job a popular choice in China? (Why?)

• Tell me about your usual daily routine at work.  

      Your studies (if a student or never worked)

• What subject (major) are you studying?

• Why did you choose to study this?

• Do you like it?

• Is there anything about your subject you don’t like?

• Do many people in China choose to study this subject? (Why?)

• How long is your course? (How long do you have to spend studying this subject before you graduate?)

3.       Collecting

• Do you collect anything?

• Why do you collect ....(that/those things)?

• Is collecting a popular pastime in China?

• What items are considered collectibles in your country?

• Does anyone in your home collect anything?

• Do a lot of people in China collect things and what do they collect?

• What are the benefits of collecting? (= Why do people like collecting?)

4.       Weekends

• Are Saturdays and Sundays (= weekends) important to you?  

• How do you (usually) spend the weekend?

• Which do you prefer, Saturday or Sunday?

• Should people be working or resting on Saturdays and Sundays?

• Should people be paid overtime for working at the weekend?

• Do you know anyone who works at the weekend?

  5.       Flowers

• Do you like flowers? (Why?)

• What is your favorite flower?

• What are the occasions when people send or receive flowers?

• What flowers have special meaning in China?

6.       City Life

• Do you live in the city or the countryside?

• Is it good for young people to grow up in the city?

• Is your city a good place for young people to grow up?

• Have you ever been to the seaside?

• Do you often eat out (go to restaurants)?

• What food do you like?

7.       Noise

• Do you mind noises? (Do any noises bother you?)

• What type of noise do you come across in your daily life?

• Are there any sounds that you like?

• Are cities becoming noisier?

• What are some of the advantages of quiet places?

• Would you like to work in a noisy place? (Why?/Why not?)

8.       Transport

• What kinds of transport do you usually use?

• What’s your favourite form of transport? (Why?)

• What’s the traffic like in your hometown?

• How do you think the transport system could be improved?

9.     Drawing (and painting)

• Have you ever learned to draw?  

• Did you (like to) draw when you were a child?

• Do you draw now? (Why?)

• What do you think are some of the benefits of drawing, for both children and adults?

10.   Family Life

• Is family very important to you? (Why?)

• How much time do you spend with your family?

• If you were married, how many children would you choose to have? (Why?)  

11.   Foreign Languages

• If you had the opportunity to study another foreign language, which one would you choose? (Why?)

• What is the most difficult part about studying a foreign language?

• What is the value of knowing a foreign language?