PART 1 JAN-APR 2012

Do you (know how to) drive a car?
(Similar to above) Do you have a driver's license? (Why?/Why not?) (U.S. = a "driving license")
(Possible question, if you do not yet have a driver's license) Do you plan to get a driver's license? (Why? When?)
(If you already have a driver's license) Why did you want to get a driver's license?
When did you get your driver's license?
(Possible question) How did you get your driver's license? *
(Possible question) Was it easy to get your driver's license? *
Do you think it's important to get (or, to have) a driver's license?
(Similar to above) Do you think it's necessary to learn to drive?

The questions below were used previously when this topic was in Part 1 but have not yet been reported this time. It is possible that one or two of these questions is in use now.

Driving Skills / Safety

Do you think it's important to pay attention to safety when driving?
Do you think it's important (for everyone who drives) to drive well?
(Similar to above) How important do you think it is for drivers to have good driving skills?
What advice would you give people about safe driving?

Age

Do you think children should be allowed to drive a car (= to get a driver's license)? (Why?/Why not?)
The question above might be this: Do you think all young people should learn how to drive? *
What do you think is the most suitable (minimum) age for a young person to get a driver's license?
(Similar to above) At what age do you think young people should be allowed to get a driver's license?
(Similar to above) In the future, when you have a child, at what age will you allow him or her to get a driver's license?

High School Driving Classes

Do high schools in your country have driving classes? (Why?/Why not?)
(Similar to above) Did (or, do) you have driving classes at high school? (Why?/Why not?)
Do you think it's important to have driving classes at school?
(Similar to above) Do you think it would be a good idea to have driving classes at school?

17. Dancing

See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 10. Dance

Do you like dancing?
When was the last time you danced?
(Similar to above) When was the last time you went dancing (出去跳舞)?
(Similar to above) When was the last time you went to a party where people danced?
Where can we see people dancing?
(Similar to above) What are some of the various places where we can see people dancing?
When (or, on what occasions) do people in your country dance?
Do you like to watch dance performances?
(Similar to above) How do you feel when you watch dance performances on TV?
When was the last time you watched a dance performance?
Have you ever learned to dance?
Why do some people learn dancing?
Why do you think some (or, many) people like dancing?
Is dancing important to young people?
Why do young people like dancing?
(Similar to above) Do you think there are any advantages for young people to go dancing?
(Similar to above) Do you think it's good for children (or, young people) to learn to dance?
Did you like dancing when you were a child?
What do you think about dancing for old people?

18. Holidays

Notes:

The meaning of holiday here could be either (or, both) 'public holiday' (节日, similar to 'festival') and 'vacation' from school or work, (假期). But, of course, very few people travel away from home during a one-day public holiday.

Possibly one or more of these questions is in the form using "would", such as, "If you had a holiday, how would you choose to travel?" or, "Who would you travel with?"

When you have a holiday, what do you usually do?
Do you like to travel when you have a holiday?
(Possibly the question above is this) Have you ever traveled away from your home when you had a holiday? (If yes, where?)
Who do you usually go with? (Or: Who did you go with?)
Do you go to the same place every year?
How do you plan your holidays?
If you were on holiday (now), what would you do?
(Similar to above, but different) What would you like to do in your next holiday?
If you had a holiday, where would you choose to go?
Would you prefer to go to just one place or several places?
Who would you choose to go with?

19. The Internet

Do you use the internet (very much)? *
When was the first time you used the internet?
(Similar to above) How long have you been using the internet?
Is the internet very important (or, useful) to you?
Do think you can (or, could) live without the internet?
(Similar to above) Do you think you could live or work as well as you do now if you didn't use the internet?
Do you often (or, do you ever) buy things on the internet?
What can you (= people) learn from the internet?
Do you think information on the internet is very reliable?

20. Mobile Phones

Do you have a mobile phone (= a cell phone)? *
(Similar to above) Do you use a cell phone?
Is your cell phone important (or, useful) for you in your daily life?
What do you use it for?
When do you use it?
How often do you use it?
When did you get it?
(Similar to above) When did you get your first mobile phone?
How did you get your first mobile phone?
How did you feel when you got your first mobile phone?
Have mobile phones developed (or changed) in the past few years?
What feature (or, function) of your cell phone do you like the best?
Is there anything you dislike about using cell phones?
Have you ever had any problems using your your mobile phone while traveling?
Do you mostly use your mobile phone to call people or to send text messages?
(Similar to above) Do you prefer to use your mobile phone to call people or to send text messages?
Who do you usually call/send text messages to?
Do you think you will be using your mobile phone more often (than you use it now) in the future?
How do you think mobile phones will develop (or change) in the future?

21. Sport & Exercise

Make sure you know the differences between "sport" and "exercise".

It is possible that in some of the questions below, the word "sport" should be the word, "exercise".

Do you like sport?
Did you play any sport when you were a child?

What sports do young people (or, children) like to do?

(Similar to above) What sports do you think are suitable for children to play?

(Possible question) Do old people and young people like to do (or, play) the same sports?

What sports do old people like to do?
How much time do you have for exercise?
Do you do any exercise to keep fit or healthy?
(Possibly if you say "No" to the question above) Do you plan to do any exercise in the future?
Is there any sport that you have never played that you would like to try (or, to learn)?
(Possibly the above question is this) Is there any form of exercise that you would like to try in the future?
Do you think everybody should do some exercise? (Why?)
Do you think exercise is beneficial for older people?
What do you think are the benefits of exercise?

22. Swimming

Do you know how to swim? (= Can you swim?)
(If you know how to swim) How (or when) did you learn to swim?
Do you prefer to swim in the sea or in a swimming pool?
Do many people in your country like to go swimming?
(Similar to above) Is swimming very popular in your country?
How do (or, how can) children learn to swim?
Do you think it's good to have compulsory swimming lessons for children? (See Note)
What do you think are the benefits of learning to (or, knowing how to) swim?
(Not the same as above) What do you think are the benefits of swimming?

23. Climate

Make sure you know the difference in meaning between "season" and "weather". "Climate" can be considered to be "long-term weather".

Previously, this topic was labeled as "Weather and Seasons" but I now believe the word "climate" is used in most questions.

See some notes on language to use to describe climate.

What's the climate usually like in your country (or, your hometown)?
(If you are doing the test away from your home country) How is the weather here different to the weather in your home country?
(Possibly) Would you say the climate in your hometown is suitable for working (or studying)?
Would you like to move to a place with different climate?
(Possibly) What sort of climate do you like the most? (See note)
What season do you like best?
What do you do in that season?
What season (or climate) do you think is most suitable for work and/or study?
Has the climate in your country (or, hometown) changed much in the past few years?
Do you prefer a hot or a cold climate?
Have you ever been to a country with a climate that is very different to your hometown?
Do you (usually) pay attention to the weather forecasts?
(Similar to above) Do you think it's important to pay attention to the weather forecasts?

24. Names

Who gave you your name?
Does your name have any particular (or, special) meaning?
Do you like your name?
Would you like to change your name?
(Similar to above) Have you ever considered changing your name?
Is it easy to change your name in your country?
(Similar to above) In your country, are there any problems that could occur if someone changed their name?
Who usually names babies in your country?
Do you have any special traditions about naming children?
(Similar to above) What do people consider when they are giving a baby a name in your country?

25. Languages

See Notes

What foreign languages have you studied (or, learned)?
(Similar to above) How many languages can you speak?
Why did you choose to study that language?
How did you learn that language?
(Similar to above) How did you learn (to speak) English? See Note
How long have you been learning that language (or, learning English)?
Would you say it's a difficult language to learn? (Why?) See Note
(Similar to above) Compared to other languages, would you say English is difficult? (Why?/Why not?)
(Similar to above) Is that language hard for you?
(Similar to above but different) Would you say it's difficult to learn a second language?
(Similar to above but different) What difficulties do people have when they try to learn another language?
How do you practice your English?
How do you study English?
Do people in your country have many chances to practice oral English?
Do you think it's important to know more than one language?
What do you think the benefits would be if a person mastered a foreign language?
If you had the chance, would you be willing to learn another language?
(Similar to above) What other language would you like to learn, (if you had the opportunity)? (Why?)
(Similar to above) Would you like to learn another language in the future? (If yes, what language.)
What do you think is the fastest way to learn a language?

26. Noise

Also see All Part 1 Questions 26. Noise

See Note on the meaning and usage of the word, "noise".

Are you ever bothered by noise?

Where can you hear loud noise?

(Similar to above) Where are some noisy places that you have been to? (Unclear)

(Similar to above) Do you think there's too much noise in modern society?

(Possibly the question above is this) What noisy places are there in your hometown (or, where you are living)?

Do you think there is more noise in people's lives today than in the past?

(Similar to above) Do you think there is more noise in cities today than there was in the past?

Do you think that cities will become noisier in the future?

What sounds do you like?

What sounds do you dislike?

(Possibly the two questions above are combined) Are there any particular sounds that you like or dislike?

What sounds remind you of your childhood?

27. Outdoor Activities N

What outdoor activities did you do when you were a child?

(Similar to above) What sorts of outdoor games did you play when you were a child?

Do you like outdoor activities?
What outdoor activities do you (most) like to do?
What outdoor sports do you like?
(Similar to above, but different) What kinds of outdoor activities do you do in your everyday life?
How often do you do that?
Do people in your country prefer to spend time indoors or outdoors? (See Note)
What (types of) outdoor activities are popular in your country?
Do you think people in your country have enough time to spend on outdoor activities?
(Similar to above) Do you think people in your country have enough time to spend on outdoor exercise?

28. Schools

Notes:

For the question about 'your first school', it would be acceptable to talk about kindergarten (if you can remember much about it) and if you did learn things there. However, some Westerners don't think of kindergarten as an example of a "school". Instead, they think of it as more like a "day care centre" or a "pre-school centre".

How many schools have you attended?
(Similar to above) What different types of schools have you been to?
Which school did you like the most? (Why?)
How did you go to (or, travel to) (that) school?

What were the good things about that school?

(Similar to above) What did you like most about it?

What was the first school you attended?
(Similar to above) Do you remember the first school you attended?
Where was it?

Was it far from your home?

Did you like it?
Would you say it was a good school?
Would you send your child to that school today?
Did your parents choose your secondary school (= high school) for you?
(Similar to above) Did you parents let you choose your secondary school (= high school)?

29. Television

Do you like watching television?
(Similar to above) Do you watch much television?
How much television do you watch?
(Similar to above) How often do you watch TV?
What kinds of programs do you like to watch?
(Possibly) What's your favourite TV program? (Why?)
Do you prefer to watch TV alone or with others (or with friends/family)? (Why?)
Do you feel you watch too much TV?
Did you like to watch TV when you were a child? (If yes, include what kinds of programs you liked to watch.)
Do you think you watched too much TV when you were a child?

30. Weekends

Make sure you know the difference in meaning between "a weekend" and "a holiday".

How do you usually spend your weekends?

In your country, do men and women usually do the same kinds of things on weekends (or, in their free time)?

When do you spend time with your family?
What do you usually do on weekends? (See Note)
What did you do last weekend?
What do other people in your hometown (or, in your country) usually do on weekends?
What are you going to do next weekend? (See Note)
(Similar to above) What do you plan to do next weekend?
(Similar to above) What do you think you might do next weekend?
(Similar to above) Do you think it's important to plan your weekends?
Do you think it is important to make the most of your weekend?
(Similar to above) Do you think it is important to do something on the weekends that is different to what you do during the week?
Is there anything new that you would like to do on weekends? N
(For working people) Do you like working on weekends? N
Do you feel that weekends now are more important to you than when you were a child?
(Similar to above, but different) Do you feel that weekends now are more enjoyable for you than when you were a child?

31. Photography

Make sure you know how to pronounce "photography", "photographer" and "photographic".

Do you like taking photographs?
How often do you take photographs?
When (or, in what situations) do you take photographs? (Why?)
(Similar to above) What do you like to photograph?
Do you prefer to take pictures of scenery or of people?
Is taking photographs very popular in your country? (Why?/Why not?)
What kinds of photographs do you most like to look at?
Which do you think is better to send to someone, a postcard that has a photograph on it, or a photograph you took yourself?
(Similar to above) When traveling, do you prefer to buy postcards or take your own photographs?

32. Visitors N

How often do you have visitors?

Do you prefer to be the host or to be invited over to other people’s homes?

(Similar to above) Do you like to invite your friends to your home? (Why?/Why not?)

What do you do when visitors come?

Do people in your country (generally/usually) meet each other indoors or outdoors?

(Possibly the question above is this) Do people in your country (generally/usually) meet each other in their homes or away from their homes?

When you have a party, do you usually go out or have the party at someone's home?

33. Letters & Emails

Do you prefer to write emails or write letters?
How often do you send emails?
(If you are working) Do you use emails much in your job?
When you write a letter, do you prefer to write it on a computer or on paper? (Probably meaning: on a computer and then print it)
(Similar to above, but different) Do you prefer to write letters by hand or to write emails?
Do you keep emails after you read them?
Do you keep the letters you receive? N
(Similar to above) Do you think keeping letters is a good habit?
Which do you think you will be writing more (of) in the future, letters or emails? (Why?)

Old Questions (some of which are probably still being used)

Do you write many letters or emails?
Do you prefer to write letters by hand or to use a computer?
Which do you more often write, emails or letters?
How often do you write an email or a letter?
What are the differences between emails and letters?
(Similar to above) Which do you prefer to receive, an email or a letter?
What do you usually write about?
Who do you usually write to?
Is it hard to think of what to write?
What kind(s) of letter/email do you think is (are) the hardest to write?
(Similar to above) What topics do you think (are) the hardest to write about?
How do you feel when you receive a letter or email?
What kinds of emails (or letters) do you receive that make you feel happy (or, "excited"?
Do you think people will still write letters in the future?

34. Neighbours

See Note

Do you know your neighbours?
Do you like your neighbours?
What do you think of your neighbours?
How often do you see (or talk to) your neighbours?
(Similar to above) When do you meet your neighbours?

Does you think it's important for a person to have a good relationship with their neighbours?

(Similar to above) Do you think it's important to be a good neighbour?

In what ways can neighbours help each other?
Have you ever asked a neighbour for help?
(Similar to above) Have your neighbours ever given you any help?
How do your neighbours help you?
What sorts of problems (conflicts) can people have with their neighbours?
Would you prefer to have young people as your neighbours, or old people?
(Similar to above but slightly different) Do you prefer to have young people as your neighbours, or old people?

35. Meeting New People

See also the questions used Jan-Apr 2011 and Sep-Dec 2010

Do you like meeting new people? (Why?)
Where do you usually meet new people?
Where did you meet new people when you were a child?

*****************************************************************************