ielts-yasi.englishlab.net  

Updated Dec. 24, 2009

Part 1 Topics and Questions

For The IELTS Speaking Tests in Mainland China, Sept. 5 - Dec. 20, 2009

For my predictions for Part 1 for January to April, 2010, see here.

For the actual list of reported and almost certain Part 1 topics and questions for January to April, 2010, see here.

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Below are the topics that have been reported as used in Mainland China since September 5, 2009. Note that not all of the actual questions below have been reported since Sep. 5 but these are the questions that have been reported when these same topics were used in the past year. It is obvious that certain "sets" of questions are used repeatedly, so many or most of the questions below are the questions being used right now.

In addition to the topics and questions shown below, there is also the possibility that any of the topics that have been used within the past year will be used in this September to December period. Therefore, to be extra sure that you are prepared for Part 1 and if you have time after first studying this page, I suggest you also study all the other topics that were used in Part 1 in the past year, in addition to the topics shown on this page. These other topics can be found here: Part 1 for September - December 2008,  Part 1 for January - April 2009,  Part 1 for May - August 2009.

See here for more important notes on these Part 1 questions.

"C" = a question that has been confirmed as in use now. Questions without a "C" might also be in use now.

"N" = a new topic or a new question.

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Summary of Part 1 Topics

0.  The four standard introductory questions.  (Not really part of Part 1)

1.   Your Work or Your Studies 

2.     Your Home (Your Accommodation)  

3.  Your Hometown 

One of the three topics above is a compulsory topic and you will be asked about 4 questions on this topic. You will then be asked questions on two of the topics from below. (Again, about 4 questions per topic).  

4.  Driving

5.  Advertisements

6.  Fruits and Vegetables

7.  Travelling

8.  Reading

9.  Friends

10.  Art

11.  Daily Routine

12.  Plans and Goals

13.  Television

14.  Sport (and Exercise)

15.  News

16.  Parties

17.  Visitors

18.  Swimming

19.  Shopping 

20.  Emails and Letters 

21.  Going Out 

22.  Food and Cooking  

23.  Gifts 

24.  Leisure Time 

25.  Computers  N

26.  Flowers  N

27.  Birthdays

28.  The Internet

29.  Music

30.  Holidays

31.  Bicycles

32.  Weekends

33.  Clothes

34.  Time N

35.  Weather  N

36.  Films N

37.  Neighbours  N

38.  Magazines and Newspapers N

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1. Your Work or Your Studies

• Do you work or are you a student? C

1a) Your Work

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 1b. Your Work

 General Description of Your Job

• What job (or, what work) do you do? C

• Why did you choose that job (or, that kind of work)? C

• (Similar to above) Why did you choose to do that kind of work?

• Did you want to do that kind of work when you were very young?

• How long have you been working? (Or: How long have you been doing this job?)

• What does your company do?

• What do you do (in a typical day) at work?  

• (Similar to above) What are the main tasks that you do at work? C

• (Similar to above) What are your (main) responsibilities at work?

• Is your job related to what you studied in university? N

Feelings about the Job    

• How do you feel about your job (or, your work)?

• (Similar to above) Do you like your job (or, your work)?  

• (Similar to above) Do you like your current job?

• (Similar to above) How do you like your current job?

• (Similar to above) Is your job (or, your work) very important to you? N

• What's the best thing about your job? N

• Do you think your job is good for (or, suitable for) a woman? N

• Do you prefer your life now, as a working person, to the life you had as a student? 

• Do you think your (school or) university education prepared you well for the work you are doing now?

• Would you say it's an easy job? C

• What's the most difficult part of your job?

• Would you recommend this job to other people? (Answer using 'would', not 'will'.)

• Would you like to change your job? See Note

• What jobs are most popular (among young people) in your country? N

Working with Others    

• Do you need to work with (= co-operate with) other people at work? (teamwork question)

• Do you like working with them?  

• (Similar to above) Do you prefer working alone or with others (or, in a group)? (Why?) C

• What do you do with your colleagues (workmates)?   (If answering you prefer to work with others.)

• How (well) do you get along with your colleagues?  

• Do you do anything with your colleagues after work?  

Work Tools, Equipment     

• What tools or equipment do you use in your work? (Include information about how useful it is/they are.)

• Is it/are they very helpful to you?

• (Similar to above) Would you say it's/they're very useful?

• (Similar to above) How useful would you say it is/they are?

• Do you use computers in your work? * 

• What do you use them for? * 

Training at Work  C

"On-the-job" training is training at work, while you work. No-one has reported that these words were actually used. "Training" could be special classes at work or at some school. This is not really "on-the-job" training.

• Did you have to do any kind of training in order to perform your current work?

• (Similar to above) Have you received any training at work? C

• Would you like to receive more training in the future?  (This question possibly asked if you say "Yes" to the first question.)

• Would you like to receive some training (in the future)? C (This question possibly asked if you say "No" to the first question.)

• Do you think you will (need to) receive any training in the future?  * (Unclear if this is a real question.)  C

• What kinds of future training do you think you will need in the future? C

Future     

• What are your work plans for the future?  

• Are you planning to change your job? See Note

• What would influence you to change your job?

• What job (or, work) would you like to do (in the future)? N

• (Similar to above) What would be the ideal job for you? N

• In the future, what changes do you think will take place in your industry?

• (Similar to above) What possible changes in the future might affect your job (or, your work)? N

• Possibly the question above is: In the future, what changes do you think will take place in the typical workplace?

• Why are you taking the IELTS test?

1b) Your Studies

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 1a. Your Studies

Note: For high school students or recent high school graduates who have not yet started university, the word "school" or the words, "high school" or "secondary school" will be used instead of "university". If you are no longer a student now and have not yet started to work, the questions will be about the last time you were a student, either high school or university, and the questions will be asked in the past tense.

General Description of Your Studies

• What subject(s) are you studying? C

• Why did you choose that subject? C

• (For high school) Why did you choose those subjects? C

• Is that a popular subject in China?

• What are the most popular subjects (= university degree courses) in China? N

• Did you want to study that when you were younger?

School/University    

• What school (or university) do you go to?  C

• How is your school (or university)?  C

• Which is the best university in your country (or, city)? N

Liking/Disliking Your Studies     

• How do you feel about your studies/your subject/your subjects?

• (Similar to above) How do you like your subject? C

• (Similar to above) Do you like your subject? (= your major = your subjects if a high school student)

• (Similar to above) How do you feel about your course?

• What do you like most about your subject?

• (For university students) What are your favourite classes/courses/subjects at university?  C (Unclear which word is used)

• (For high school students) What's your favourite subject at school? C (Don't say P.E. – that's not really a subject that people study.)

Easy and Difficult    

• Do you think that's a difficult subject to study? C

• What's the most difficult part of your course?

• (Possible question for high school students or graduates) Are (or, were) your subjects at school very difficult?

• (Possible question for high school students or graduates) Which subjects at school do you (or, did you) find difficult and which do you (or, did you) find easy?

Interesting   

• What's the most interesting part of your course (your subject)? C

• For you, what's the most interesting part (or subject or class) of your course? 

• (For high school) What's the most interesting of your subjects at school?

Specific Course Content   

• What (specific things) do you learn in your course (in your studies)?

• (For high school students) What do you learn in _________ (the examiner chooses one of your classes)?

• How do students in your course learn this subject? C See Note

• (Similar to above) How do you learn this subject? C

• Are there any particular skills that you learn in your studies?   

• (Unconfirmed question) Is there anything else you would like to study (if you had the opportunity)?

• (Unconfirmed question) In a typical day, what do you do in the classroom? 

Study Efficiency    

• How do you think you could improve your study efficiency? N (Not confirmed as a real question)

Length of Time as a Student     

• When did you start this course and when will you finish it? 

• (Similar to above) How long have you been doing this course?

• (Similar to above, for high school students) How many years have you spent in school?  

• (Possible question) What year are you in at school/university? * See Note  

Life as a Student    

• Tell me about your student life. (= Tell me about your life as a student)

• Do you like university life? 

• (Similar to above) How do you like university life? ( = How do you feel about life at university?)

• (Similar to above) What part of university life do you like best? (Why?)

• In addition to gaining knowledge, what other ways have you benefited from your school/university experience?   

• In your free time, do you do anything with your classmates?

Study Tools, Equipment, Facilities     

• What "study tools" (or equipment) do you use?  C See Note  

• Do you think these tools are useful?  

• What facilities are there at your school/university to help you in your studies? 

• Do you use computers in your studies? 

• What do you use them for?

Studying with Others

• Do you prefer studying independently ( = studying alone) or with others (or, in a group)? (Why?)  C See Note

• What do you do with your classmates?  (If answering that you prefer to study with others.)

Future    

• Do you think the things you are studying now in school/university will prepare you well for your future work? C

• (Similar to above) Do you think your current studies are relevant to what you want want to do after your graduate? N

• What are your future work plans? (after you graduate)

• (Similar to above) What do you plan (or, do you want) to do after you finish your course? C

• (Similar to above) What work would you like to do after you finish your studies?

• How difficult do you think it will be to achieve your career goal? N

• (Similar to above) Do you think it will be easy to achieve your goal? C

• Why do you want to do that kind of work? N

• (If finished studies) Have you applied for a job yet? N

• Do you think what you are studying now is very useful (or, relevant or, important) for this type of work? N

• What jobs are most popular (among young people) in your country? N

• When you start working, do you think you will prefer that to being a student?  

• Why are you taking the IELTS test? 

• What are your future study plans? C

• Is there much competition to get that kind of work? N

2.     Your Home (Your Accommodation) 

      See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 2. Your Home (Your Accommodation)

• How are the rooms in your house decorated? (Or, How is your house decorated? Or, What decorations do you have in your house?)  

C

• What's your favourite room in your home?  (Why?) C

• (Similar to above) What part of your home do you like best?) (Why?) C

• What do you do in this room? (= What is this room used for? = What is the function of this room?)

• How have you decorated this room? C

• How do you think this room could be improved? C

• (The question above is possibly this:) How do you think your home could be improved? Or: Is there anything about your room (or, your home) you would like to improve? See Note

On the Walls      

• Is there anything on the walls of your home (or, your room/this room)?  C See Note  

View Through Your Window      

• What can you see when you look out the window of your room (or, the windows of your home)? C

Surroundings / The Location of your Home      

• What is the environment like around your flat/house?

• What facilities does that location offer?

• Are the transport facilities to (or near) your home very good? C

• (Similar to above) Is it easy to travel to and from your home?

C

• Would you say it's a good place to live? N

• (Similar to above) Would you recommend that as a good place (a good location) to live?

Moving

• What could possibly cause you to move to live in a different place?

3.  Your Hometown 

     Notes:

    - Your 'hometown' is the place where you grew up, not necessarily the place where you were born.

    - Sometimes the questions below are used not for your hometown but for the place where you are living now, even if the word, "hometown" is used in a question below.

    - Several questions here are similar because there is more than one set of questions for the topic, "Your Hometown"

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 3. Your Hometown  

 The Place

• Where do you come from?  C

• Where do you live at the moment?  C

• Where is your hometown? (Or, what part of China do you come from?)

• (Similar to above) Whereabouts is your hometown? 

General Information about the Place

• What's that place like? C

• What kind of place is your hometown (or, the place your are living in now)? C

• (Similar to above) Tell me something about your hometown.  

Size / Countryside or City

• Is that a big city or a small town (or, a village in the countryside)? C

• (Similar to above) How big is that place? *

• Do you prefer to live in a big city or in the countryside? C

• (Similar to above) Would you prefer to live in a big city or in the countryside?

• (For you,) what benefits are there from living in a big city?

Your Feelings about the Place

• Why did you choose to live here/there? (If not living in your hometown)

• Do you like _____? (The place you are living in now / your hometown) (Why?/Why not?)

• Is there anything you don't like about your hometown? N See Note

• What would you say is the best thing about the place where you're living?  See Note

• (Similar to above) What's the most satisfying thing about this place?

• What's the most interesting thing about your hometown/where you're living now? C

• Do you like living here/there? N

• (Similar to above) Would you say that's a good place to live? N

• (Similar to above) Would you recommend that place to others (as a good place to live)? N

Past Tense or Present Perfect Tense

• How long have you been living there/here?

• Has your hometown changed much in the past few years? (e.g. the past 10 to 50 years)

• Compared to the past, would you say your hometown today is more suitable for living in, or less suitable?

Future Plans

• Do you plan to live there/here for a long time?  C

• (Similar to above) How long do you intend to continue living there/here? N

• (Similar to above) Have you ever thought about moving to live somewhere else? (Why?/Why not?) N

• (Similar to above) Do you think you'll always live there? C

• (Similar to above) Do you plan to continue living there (or, here) in the future? C

• (Similar to above) Do you think you will change the place where you are living? C

• What city would you like to live in (in the future)? N  

Transportation in Your Hometown or Where you are Living Now

• What's the traffic situation like in your hometown (or, where you are living now)? C

• (Similar to above) Is transportation very convenient in your hometown? C

• (Similar to above) Is transportation very convenient around where you live? C

4.  Driving

    See Also 'All Part 1 Questions' 39. Transport

Transportation Where you Live (or, in your hometown)

• What forms of transportation do you have where you live (in your hometown)?

• (Similar to above) How is the transportation where you live (in your hometown)?

• (Similar to above) What's the transportation like where you live (in your hometown)? C

• (Similar to above) How convenient is the transportation where you live (or, in your hometown)? C

• Do you often use public transportation? N

Having/Driving a Car

• Do you have a car?

• (Similar to above) Do you (ever / usually) drive a car?

• (Similar to above) Do you often drive a car? (Why?/Why not?)

Driver's License

For the words, "get (or have) a driver's license" the words, "know how to drive" or "learn to drive" might be used.

• Do you (know how to) drive a car?  C

• (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? (When?)

• 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? C

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's necessary to learn to drive? C

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?  C

• (Similar to above) How important do you think it is for drivers to have good driving skills?  C

• What advice would you give people about safe driving? N

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? C

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? C

• (Similar to above) Do you think it would be a good idea to have driving classes at school? C

5.  Advertisements

    See Note about pronunciation    

    See also Part 3, Topics #170 & #190

• Are there many advertisements in your country? C 

• (Similar to above) Is there much advertising in your country?

• Why do you think there are so many advertisements now? C

• How do you feel about advertisements? 

• (Similar to above) Do you like advertisements? 

• (Similar to above) Do you think there are too many advertisements? (in society/on TV/in magazines and newspapers/on the street)

• What kind of advertisement do you like the most? C

• (Similar to above) What kinds of advertisements do you find most interesting?

• Do advertisements (ever) influence your choice about what to buy? 

• (Similar to above) Have you ever bought anything after seeing (or hearing) an advertisement? C

• (Similar to above) Do advertisements have much influence on people's lives? C

• Where can we see (or, what are the various places where we can) advertisements? 

• Do you prefer advertisements on TV or those in magazines? C

• (Similar to above) What are the differences between advertisements on TV and those in magazines?

• What do you think is the purpose of advertisements (or, advertising)? 

• Do you think advertising plays a very important role in today's world?

• What do you think about the developments in advertising in China today?

6.  Fruits and Vegetables

See Notes 

• Do you like to eat fruit(s) and vegetables? C

• (Similar to above) Do you often eat fruit(s) and vegetables? C

• (Similar to above) Do you eat fruit and vegetables every day? C

• How often do you eat fruits and vegetables?

• (Possible, unconfirmed question) What's the difference between fruit and vegetables?

• What fruit(s) (and /or vegetables) do you especially like to eat?

• Did you like to eat fruit and vegetables when you were a child? C  See Note

• Generally speaking, do children like to eat fruits and vegetables?

• What fruit and vegetables did you like to eat when you were a child? C

• (Possible question) Do you like the same fruits and vegetables today as you did when you were a child? *

• Where do you (or, where can you) buy fruit and vegetables near where you live? C

• Is it easy (or, convenient) to buy fruit and vegetables where you live? C

• Do you think people should eat more fruits and vegetables?

• Do you think it's (really) necessary to eat fruits and vegetables?

• (Similar to above) How important is it to eat fruit and vegetables?

• (Similar to above) What are the benefits of eating fresh fruit (or, fresh fruits and vegetables)? 

• How much fruit and vegetables do you think a person needs to stay healthy?

• What are the benefits for children from eating fruits and vegetables?

• (In China,) is there much difference between the fruits and vegetables that people eat today and what they used to eat in the past?

7.  Travelling

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 40. Travel

Almost certainly, this means long distance travelling, not travelling (commuting) to work or school in your city or town. 

The emphasis of this topic seems to be on tourism, although the word "travel" can apply to simply going somewhere, not necessarily as a tourist. For example, you might sometimes make long trips to go from your hometown to another city where you attend university.   

See Note on word usage.    

• Do you like travelling?  C

• (Similar to above) Do you like long distance travelling? 

• Do you prefer traveling alone or with friends? N

• Do you prefer traveling with just one or two friends or with many friends? N

• What are some places that you have traveled to? C

• What was the last place you traveled to?

• How often do you return to your hometown? (If not living at home now)

• Which city (or place) that you have been to did you like the most? (Why?) C

• Which country would you like to travel to (in the future)? C

• What makes a place attractive for visitors (or, tourists)?

• What places in China are (or, would be) attractive for foreigners to travel to? 

• (Similar to above but note the wording) What places in China would you recommend (or suggest) foreigners travel to?

• (Similar to above but note the wording) What places in China would you recommend (or suggest) people visit? (People, not specifically foreigners) C

• Why do you think traveling is so popular nowadays?

8.  Reading

    See Also 'All Part 1 Questions' 32. Reading

• Do you like reading?

• What (sorts of books) do you like to read?

• (Possible question) What sorts of things do you most often (or, usually) read?  C See Note

• How much time (each day) do you spend reading? C

• (Similar to above) How often do you read? C

• Where do you usually do your reading? C

• Did you like reading when you were a child? C

• (Similar to above) Did you read much when you were a child?

• What did you (like to) read when you were a child? C

• What are the differences between what you read (and how you read) today, compared to when you were a child? C

• What books (or, what things) have you read recently? C

• What's the most recent book you've read? *

9.  Friends

    See Also 'All Part 1 Questions' 16. Friends   

• Do you have many (close) friends? N

• How often do you meet with your friends? C

• What do you with your friends?

• If you had the opportunity, would you spend more time with your friends? N

• Are most of your friends from school (or university) or from outside school (or university)?

• (Similar to above) Are most of your friends from your work or are they not connected with your work?

• Where do you usually meet (= spent time with) your friends? C

• Do you prefer to meet your friends at home or away from your home? C

• (Similar to above) Do you prefer your friends visit you (at your home) or do you prefer to visit them (at their homes)? C

• Do you like making friends with (a lot of) people? See Note

• Do you think friendship is important? 

• (Similar to above) Is friendship important to you?

• How do you keep in contact with your friends?

10.  Art

    See Also 'All Part 1 Questions' 49. Art

    and See Also 'All Part 1 Questions' 11. Drawing and Painting

Note: For some questions it is unclear whether the word, "painting", "drawing" or "art" is used.

• What are your hobbies?

• Do you like drawing / painting? (Why / Why not?) C

• (Similar to above) How do you feel about painting (or, paintings)?

• Have you ever taken a class in drawing or painting?

• When you were a child, did you have art classes at school? C

• (Similar to above) Did you learn to draw or paint when you were a child?

• Have you kept any of your drawings or paintings (from when you were a child)? 

• Do you think children should learn drawing / painting (from a young age)?

• (Similar to above) Do you think children should have art classes in school? C

• (Similar to above) Do you think it’s necessary to teach children to draw? C

• Do you think art is necessary (or, important) in society?

• Why do you think people buy paintings? C

• Why do you think people like to have a painting (or other artwork) in their homes?

• (Similar to above) Why do you think people like to put paintings (or other artwork) on the walls of their homes? C

• Do you ever buy paintings (or, have you ever bought a painting)? C

• (Similar to above) Would you consider buying a painting yourself?

• (Similar to above) Would you (ever) buy a painting?

11.  Daily Routine

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 9. Daily Routine

• What do you do in a typical day (at work or at school/university)?

• What time do you usually get up?

• What do you usually do after you get up (or, in the morning)? C

• (Similar to above) What's the first thing you usually do after you get up (or, in the morning)?

• What's your favourite time of (or, part of) the day? C

• What do you usually do at that time? (Or: What are you usually doing at that time?) 

• What's your favourite day of the week? * N

• Is you life now the same as it was before? 

• (Similar to above) How is your life (or, your daily routine) today different to what it was when you were a child? C

• (Similar to above) Has your life recently changed in any way? 

• What changes would you like to make to your daily routine (or, to your life) in the future?

• (Similar to above) If you could change one thing about your daily routine, what would it be? 

• (Similar to above) If you could change your daily routine, what changes would you make? C

12.  Plans and Goals

(This topic is possibly part of the 'Work/Studies' topic.)

• Please summarize your plans for the near future. 

• When do you plan to start that? 

• How do you intend to achieve that? 

• When you go abroad, do you plan to live in the countryside or a big city? (Why?) 

• Do you plan to spend many years overseas? 

• After you go abroad, do you plan to join any clubs? 

13.  Television

    See Also 'All Part 1 Questions' 38. Television and Radio       

• Do you often watch television (TV)?  C

• (Similar to above) Do you like watching television?

• Do you prefer reading a newspaper (or reading a magazine) or watching TV? C

• How much time (per day/per week etc.) do you spend watching television?

• What programs do you like to watch?  C

• (Similar to above) What programs do you usually watch?  C

• (Similar to above) What types of programs do you like to watch?

• When you were a child, did you (used to) watch more television than you do now, or less? 

• (Similar to above) How are your television-watching habits now different to (or, different from) when you were a child? 

• Possibly the question above is: How has television changed since you were a child?

• Do you ever watch programs from other countries?  C

• Do you think watching TV is an important part of people's lives? N

• What benefits can people get from watching foreign TV programs? 

• Do you think watching TV can help students in their studies (in their education)? 

• Has watching TV (ever) helped you in your work?

• Is there any difference between different people when they watch TV?

14. Sport (and Exercise) 

       See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 35. Sport and Exercise

In the questions below, the word "sport" might be replaced by the word, "exercise" for some questions.

• What kind(s) of physical exercise do you do to keep fit? C

• How often do you do that? N

• Do you use any equipment for this exercise (or sport)?

• Do you like (to play/to do) any sports? (What sport?) C

• What sports are most popular with young people today?

• (Similar to above) What sports are most popular in your country?

• Do you participate in any sports with your friends?

• Do children in China play much sport (or do much exercise)? N

• Is children's sport (or exercise) very important in China?

• What kinds of exercise do you think are most suitable for children?

• Did you (or, do you) take part in any (organized) sport in school?

• (Similar to above) Do you (or did you) do any regular physical exercise at school?

• What sports facilities did you (or do you) have in your high school? C

• (Similar to above) In China, what sports activities do students do at school?

• Do you think it's important to have P.E. classes (or sports classes) at school? (Why?/Why not?) C

• What are the benefits of exercise (or sport)?

• (Similar to above) Do you think physical activity is important? (Why?/Why not?)

• (Similar to above) Do you think physical activity is important (or, necessary) for children? (Why?/Why not?) C

• Are there any sports facilities near where you live? (for the public to use) C See Note

• In the future, what sports would you like to play (or, take part in / or learn)?   C See Note

15.  News

    See also 'All Part 1 Questions' 25. Newspapers

• Are you very interested in the news?

• (Similar to above) Do you like to keep up with the latest news?  

• (Similar to above) Do you like to follow the news?

• Why do you want to know the latest news?

• How important is it to you to get the news every day? C 

• What sort of news are you most interested in? C

• (Similar to above) What types of news do you like?  

• How do you usually find this news?

• (Similar to above) How do you usually get your news?

• Which do you think is more important, domestic (or, local) news or international news?

• Would you say the news affects your life very much?  

• (Similar to above) How do you think that being aware of the news can affect a person's life?

• Do you (often/ever) read newspapers?  

• (Possible question) When did you start to read newspapers? *

• Do you think newspapers are important?  

• Besides newspapers, what are some other ways people get news? C  

• Who is more interested in the news (or, interested in reading newspapers), older people or younger people? (Why?) (Note: for this question, some people report the question as "children" and "old people".)

• Are old(er) people and young people interested in the same (kinds of) news? (Why?/Why not?) C

• Do you think children like (= are interested in) the news? (Why?/Why not?)    

Note: "Old people" = people over 60 or 65 years old. "Older people" = "not young people" = people over 30 or 35 years old, including old people.  

16.  Parties

    See also ALL PART 1 QUESTIONS 56. Parties

     Party animals

        See Note

        See Note 2 (About the term, "party animal")

• Do you like (to go to) parties? (Why?/Why not?) C

• Do you often go to parties? C

• (Similar to above) How often do you go to parties?

• Do you usually have these parties at home or at school?

• Do most Chinese people like parties? (Why?/Why not?)

• Is there anything you dislike about parties?

• (Similar to above) Why do some people dislike parties?

• Do you prefer family parties or parties with friends?

• When you go to a party, what do you usually do?  

• Do friends often come to your home for a gathering (a 'get together')?

• When friends gather together (to celebrate something) do they do the same things that family groups do?  

• Who do you think enjoys parties more, old(er) people or young people?

• In China, do old(er) people and young people do the same sorts of things when they get together on social occasions?

• Do you think family gatherings and friends gathering together are important?

• (Similar to above) What do you think are the benefits of parties?

17.  Visitors

    See also ALL PART 1 QUESTIONS 57. Visitors

18.  Swimming

    See also ALL PART 1 QUESTIONS 58. Swimming 

• Is swimming very popular in China? C

• Can you (or, do you) swim? C

• Did you learn to swim when you were a child?

• When did you learn to swim? 

• (Similar to above) How old were you when you learned to swim?

• Who taught you to swim? C

• Who taught you to swim? C

• How did you learn to swim? C

• Do you like swimming? C

• Have you ever tried to learn to swim? 

• Where do (or can) people go swimming in your hometown (or, near your home)?  

• (Similar to above) Where do you go swimming?

• Why do many people like swimming?

• Do you think it's important to know how to swim? C

• What do you think are the benefits of swimming (or, the benefits of knowing how to swim)? C

• Do you think swimming should be taught in school? N

19.  Shopping

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 34. Shopping

• Do you like (going) shopping? (Why?/Why not?) C

• How often do you go shopping?

• Do you prefer shopping alone or with others? C

• Do you prefer to go shopping with family members or with friends?

• What time of the day do you prefer to go shopping? C

• (Similar to above) When do you prefer to go shopping?

• What (kinds of) things do you usually buy?

• When was the last time you went shopping? C

• What was the most recent thing you bought (for yourself)? C

• Do you prefer to buy things in small shops or in big supermarkets and department stores? C

• (Similar to above) What are the pros and cons of buying things in big shops compared to buying things in small shops?

• Is there anything you dislike about (going) shopping? C

• (Similar to above) What kinds of shopping do you dislike?

• (Similar to above) What thing(s) do you least like buying?

20.  Emails and Letters 

See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 22. Letters & Emails

Writing in General

• At work or in your studies, do you often write things?

• (Similar to above) Do you write everyday? N

• What do you usually write?

• Do you usually write by hand or write using the computer (or a typewriter or word-processor)?  

• (Similar to above) Do you prefer to write by hand or write using the computer (or, using a keyboard)?  C  

• Nowadays, how do most people write things? 

• Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting? C

• (Similar to above) Do you think emails might one day replace handwritten letters? N  

• When do children begin to write in your country?  

• When did you start to learn how to write? N 

• How did you learn to write? N

• Do you think handwriting is very important (nowadays)?  C

• What impression does a person's handwriting have on other people? N

• How can children today improve (or, practice) their handwriting? C  

What You Most Often Write          

• Do you like to write letters?

• (Similar to above) Do you often write letters or emails?

• (Similar to above) How often do you write letters or emails?

• (Similar to above) Do you often write letters? C

• (Similar to above) Do you often write emails?

• Which do you prefer to write, emails or letters? N

• Who do you write to? C

• What do you write about? N

• When was the last time you used your email (or, wrote an email)?

• When was the last time you wrote a letter?

• When was the last time you wrote an email? C

• (Similar to above) Who do you receive letters / emails from? 

Why or What You Write

• On what occasions do you write letters / emails?

• What types of emails / letters do you mainly write, (business or personal)?

Difficulties

• What sorts of letters (or emails) do you think are the most difficult to write?

• (Similar to above) What sorts of letters or emails are the most difficult to respond to?

• Which do you think is harder to write, business letters or personal letters?

Comparisons

• What are the differences between email and letters?

• Which do you prefer, letters or emails? (Why?)

• Which do you think is easier to write, a letter or an email? 

• What are the advantages of emails, (compared to letters)?

• Do you think there are any (possible) negative points about emails? N

• Do you prefer to receive a phone call or a letter? 

• Which do you prefer, to write a letter, write an email or make a phone call?

21.  Going Out  (出去玩儿)  

This topic is possibly part of the 'Leisure Time' topic.

See Note on the usage of the word, "play".

• Do you often go out (with friends)? C 

• Do you like going out with your friends?   

• (Similar to above) How often do you go out with your friends? C

• What do you do when you go out?

• Where do you go when you go out? C

• Do you prefer to go out with a large group of friends or just a few friends?

• (Similar to above) Do you prefer to go out with just one friend or with a group of friends? C  

• When was the last time you went out with your friends (or, a friend)? (Include what you did.) C

• In China (or, in your hometown), what do people usually do when they go out? C

• In China (or, in your hometown), when people go out, do they usually (or, do they prefer to) do things alone or do things with others?

22.  Food and Cooking

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 15. Food and Cooking

• Who usually does the cooking in your family (or, in your home)? C

• What's your favourite dish? *

(This question might be: "What's your favorite meal of the day?" See Note Or it might be the question, "What's your favourite food?" It might be, "What dish do you cook best?" or, "What's your favourite dish?" if you say you do some cooking.)

• Would you like to try any food that you have never eaten before? N

• Do you usually eat at home or do you usually eat away from home (= "eat out")?

• Do you know how to make (prepare) a meal?

• (Similar to above) Do you like cooking?

• (Similar to above) Do you know how to cook?

• (Similar to above) Do you (ever) do any cooking at home? (Why?/Why not?)

• How well do you cook?

• (Similar to above) How good are you at cooking?

• What do you (like to) cook?

• (Similar to above) What dish do you cook best?

• When you were young, did you learn how to cook/make a meal (= how to prepare food)?

• (Similar to above) Did you learn how to cook when you were younger? C

• How did you learn to cook?

• Have you ever thought about learning how to cook?  

• Do you think everyone should learn how to cook? 

• Do you think it would be useful to teach cooking in school? C

• Do you think university students should know how to cook?  N

23.  Gifts 

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 19. Gifts  

        See Note on the word, "send"

• Do people in China like to give gifts (to other people)?

• On what occasions do people in China give gifts?  C

• What kinds of things do people (in China) give each other as gifts?

• Do you and your friends or family members give each other gifts? 

• (Similar to above) Do you often buy gifts for friends or family members? 

• What sorts of gifts do you give to your friends? 

• (Similar to above) What sorts of gifts have you given to your friends? 

• Have your friends ever given you gifts?

• Do you think it's difficult to choose what gifts to give people?  C

• Do you think gift-giving is very important? N

• Would you say it's necessary to buy expensive gifts for people? C

• Have you ever given a gift that you made yourself?

24.  Leisure Time 

        See Note about pronunciation

        See also ALL PART 1 QUESTIONS 21. Leisure Time and Relaxing       

• What do you do in your free time? C

• (Similar to above) Do you have any hobbies or interests?

• (Similar to above) What are your hobbies or interests?

• Do you often do things with others in a group (or, with your friends)? C

• Do you prefer to do things in a family group or a group of friends?

• What do you do with your friends in your leisure time?

• Do you prefer to go out with your friends or to invite them to your home? C

• Do you and your family often get together for a family gathering (家庭聚会)? 

• What do you do at these family gatherings?

• What kinds of leisure time activities are popular with young people today?

• Do older people like to do the same activities?

• Do you think modern people like to get together with others?

25.  Computers  N

Possibly this is not a new topic but is, in fact, The 'Internet' topic. Many people use the word "computer" when they should use the words, "the internet". However, more than one person has reported questions about computer games. These are new questions. If there is no new topic called, "Computers", the questions about computer games would then belong to another topic, possibly "Leisure Time".

    See also All Part 1 Questions 8. Computers

• Do you use computers very much?

• When did you start using computers?

• What was your impression (or feeling) when you used a computer the first time? N

• What do you use computers for?

• What do you think are the benefits of (using) a computer? N

• Do you think a computer can give you better access to knowledge? N

• Do you play computer games? N

• How often do you play computer games? N

• What do you do when your computer has problems? N

26.  Flowers  N

(This is not really a 'new' topic since it was used in 2006 & 2007. It is "newly re-introduced into the test".)

    See also All Part 1 Questions 14. Flowers

    See Note on the word, "send"

• Do you like flowers? C

• Do you think flowers are important?

• (Similar to above) Are flowers important in your culture?  C

• On what occasions are flowers important?

• (Similar to above) On what occasions do people give flowers to other people?  C

• Do you ever give flowers to other people? (If yes, who and why?)

• When do you give flowers to people?

• Where do you buy these flowers?

• (Similar to above) Where do (can) people buy flowers?

• When was the last time you gave flowers to someone? C

• (Similar to above) When was the last time you bought flowers? C

• Do you like to have flowers in your home?  C

• Do you (ever) grow flowers at home? (Give details)  C

• (Similar to above) Have you ever grown flowers at home? (Give details)  C

• Do many people in your country grow flowers at home? C

27.  Birthdays

• Do people in China celebrate birthdays?

• (Similar to above) Are people's birthdays very important in China?

• Which birthdays are especially important in China (in Chinese culture)? N

• Possibly the above question is: Are birthdays important to you?

• How do people in China celebrate birthdays? C

• (Similar to above) Do people in China do anything special to celebrate birthdays?  

• (Similar to above) Nowadays, how do young people in China celebrate their birthday?

• Do people in China have birthday parties?  

• How do you like to celebrate your birthday?

• What did you do on your last birthday? C See note

• Do you think it's important for people to celebrate birthdays?  

• Possibly the above question is this: Do you think it's important to remember people's birthdays?

• Do you think it's important to give a special gift to someone on their birthday?

• Are birthdays more important for children or for adults?  

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's more important for children to celebrate birthdays than adults?

• (Similar to above) What are the differences between birthdays for children and birthdays for adults? C

28.  The Internet

See also the Part 3 questions for Part 2 Topic # 114.

See note on the usage of the word, "internet".   

Your Internet Usage

• Do you ever use the internet? (= access the internet = go onto the internet = log onto the internet)  

• How (or, where) do you go onto the internet?  (At school? At home? At an internet cafe?)  

• What do you do on the internet? C

• Have you ever bought anything on the internet?

First Time     

• When did you first learn about the internet? (= learn about the existence of the internet)

• When did you start using (or first learn to use) the internet? C

• How did you learn to use the internet?

• Where did you learn to use the internet? 

Good and Bad   

• Do you think the internet is a good thing? C  

• Is there anything that's not so good about (or, on) the internet?

• What are the good and bad points about the internet?  

• Similar to above) Is there anything you don't like about the internet?

• Do you think the use of the internet needs to be controlled?  

• Do you think the internet makes people lazy? N (Not confirmed as a question)

The Impact of the Internet   

• In general, what impact does the internet have on people's lives?  

• (Similar to above) How has the internet changed people's lives? 

• (Similar to above) How has the internet changed your life? C See Note 

• (Similar to above) What impact has the internet had on you? C See Note 

People's Usage of the Internet, in general   

• Is the internet very popular in China?

• What kinds of people (= what groups or what categories of people or people in what types of work) most often use the internet? C

• (Similar to above) What kinds of people most often use the internet for work? C

• Similar to above) What age group of people most often use the internet? C

• How can people best make use of the internet?

Learning + the Internet   

• (Unclear question) What do you think is the best way to learn about (or learn how to use) the internet? *

• How can people learn things on the internet?

• (Possible question) What is the best way people can learn from the internet? * (= What is best way to use this tool for learning.)

• What sorts of things can (or, do) people learn on the internet?

• What do you think are the benefits of "e-learning"? (= studying online)

29.  Music

See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 24. Music 

• Do you often listen to music? C

• What's your favourite type of music?

• (Similar to above) What kind of music do you like? For example, do you like light music?

• How do you feel when you listen to this music?

• When did you start listening to this type of music?

• Is music very important to people in China?

• (Similar to above) What role does music play in the cultural life of people (or, of society)?

• How does music affect (or influence) people?  

• Did you often listen to music when you were a child? (If yes, give details.)

• What are some differences between the music you listened to as a child and the music you listen to now?

Musical Instruments   

• Do you like music? N

• Do you play any musical instruments? N

• (Similar to above) Do you know how to play any musical instruments? N

• (Similar to above) Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument (at school)?

• Do you think it's important to learn to play a musical instrument? N

• What musical instrument would you like to learn (if you had the time or the chance to learn one)? N

• What advantages do you think there are for a child to learn (to play) a musical instrument? (= to study music)

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's important (for a child) to learn to play a musical instrument?

• (Similar to above) Why do some parents want their children to learn (to play) a musical instrument?

• What musical instrument do children in China most often learn? N

• Do you think schools should teach children how to play a musical instrument? N

30.  Holidays

Here, the meaning of 'holidays' or 'holiday' is: 假期 = "vacation".

• Do you (ever) have holidays from your work/from your studies?

• When do you have holidays?

• What do you usually (like to) do in your holidays?

• How important are holidays to you?

• What did you do in your last holidays?

• Is there anything you dislike doing during holidays? C

• How do people in China spend their holidays?  

• Do you think it's important for people to have holidays?   See Note

• Do you think we have enough holiday time (or should people's holidays be longer)? C

• (Similar to above) Do you think people in China need more holidays (vacation time)? C

• Do you think it's reasonable for an employer to ask his or her employees to work in their free time? (休息时间)  

• (If working) Do you get paid during your holidays? 

31.  Bicycles

   See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 4. Bicycles

• Do you ever ride a bicycle? C

• (Similar to above) Do you like riding a bicycle?

• What do you use a bicycle for?  C

• Would you say it's difficult to learn to ride a bicycle?  C

• Did you learn to ride a bicycle when you were a child?

• How old were you when you learned to ride a bicycle? C

• Do children also ride bicycles in your country?

• Why do children enjoy riding bicycles? C

• Are bicycles common (or popular) in China? (or, in your hometown) C

• (Similar to above) Do many people ride bicycles in China?

• (Similar to above) Are there many bicycles in your country?

• What are the reasons why people ride bicycles?

• What would you say are the advantages of bicycles over cars? C

• (Similar to above) What are the advantages (or, benefits) of riding a bicycle? 

• (Similar to above) What are the benefits for children to ride a bicycle?

• Would you say it's safe to ride a bicycle in the city (or, in China)?

• Would you say bicycles are suitable for people of all ages? C

• Has the number of bicycle riders in China changed much in the past few years? C

• Would you say it's still suitable to ride a bicycle in today's society?

• Besides bicycles, what other means of transport do people often use (in your country)?

• Do you think the number of people using bicycles (in your hometown/country) will change in the future?

32.  Weekends

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 42. Weekends

• What do you like to do on weekends? C

• Are weekends important to people?

• (Similar to above) Are weekends important to you?  See Note

• Are your weekends today more interesting (or, more enjoyable/more fun) than your weekends were when you were a child? N

• What are you going to (planning to) do next weekend? N

• What do people in China do on the weekends? See Note

• Do children (or, young people) today spend their weekends differently to children (or, young people) in the past? N

• Do you think people should be asked to work on weekends?

• Is it important for people to have weekends off? N

• Do you think people should be paid more money if they work on weekends (or public holidays)? See Note

• Do you think working people need to rest on weekends?

• Which weekend day do you like more, Saturday or Sunday?

• What do you usually do on that day?

33.  Clothes

         See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 6. Clothes

• Do you like shopping for clothes?  N

• (Similar to above) Is shopping for clothes important to you? N

• When was the last time you went shopping for clothes? N

• Do you think men and women think the same about clothes?  N

• What kinds of (or, style of) clothes do you like to wear (or, buy)? N

• Do you like to try on clothes before you buy them? (Why?/Why not?)  N

• For you, is the colour of the clothes very important when you are shopping for clothes? N

• Are you very interested in fashion (or, clothes fashions)? N

• Where do you think you can buy the most fashionable clothes? N

34.  Time  N       

        See some vocabulary

        See also these Part 3 questions.

• Do you (usually) wear a watch (a wrist watch)? (Why?) N

• Where did you get your watch? N

• Do you think time is very important? (Why?) N

• (Similar to above) Is time very important to you? (Why?) N

• Are you ever late for anything? N

• (Similar to above) Have you ever been late for anything? N

• Do you think it's important to be on time? *

• Do you feel that time moves fast or slowly?  N

• When does time seem to move fast and when does it seem to move slowly?  N

• What did you do last week? N

• If you could go back in time, would would you do (i.e., what would you do differently)?  N

35.  Weather  N

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 41. Weather

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 46. Seasons

• What's the weather like today?  N

• What's the weather (usually) like in your hometown?  N

• (Similar to above) What is the typical weather in your country?

• What's your favourite season? (Why?)  N

• (Similar to above, but different) What's your favourite weather? (Why?)  N

• Do you like snow? (Why?)  N

• Do you watch the weather forecasts?  N

• Does the weather ever affect what you do?  N

• (Similar to above) Does the weather ever affect you? (If yes, how?) N

36.  Films  N

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 13. Films

• Do you like to watch films? N

• What types of films do you like and what types of films do you dislike? N

• (Similar to above) Are there any types of films that you dislike?

• What kinds of films did you like to watch when you were a child? N

• Do you prefer to watch films at home or in a cinema? (Why?) N

37.  Neighbours  N

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS - Your Neighbours

        See Note

• What do you think of your neighbours? N

• How often do you talk to your neighbours? N

• (Similar to above) When do you meet your neighbours? N

• What sorts of problems (conflicts) can people have with their neighbours? N

• In what ways can neighbours help each other? N

38.  Magazines and Newspapers N

• Do you like reading magazines and newspapers? N

• Which do you prefer reading, magazines or newspapers? N

• What parts of a newspaper do you prefer to read? N

• (Similar to above) What parts of a newspaper do you read first?

• What kinds of articles do you like to read?  N

• Have you ever read a foreign newspaper (or magazine)? N

• Do you think reading foreign magazines and newspapers can help you learn a new language? N

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