Page 21

ielts-yasi.englishlab.net

Updated Aug. 31, 2008

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

Page 21

101. A Newspaper You Like to Read (June 2, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

102. An Ideal Park (June 2, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

103. A Person Who Took Care of You in Your Childhood (June 2, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

104. A Person Who Likes to Help Others (June 2, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

105. An Important Letter You Received (2) (June 9, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

RETURN TO PART 2 TOPIC INDEX

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101. A Newspaper You Like to Read (June 2, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a newspaper (in your own language) you like to read.

You should say:

what the newspaper's name is *

what the contents of the newspaper are (what sections it has)

when or how often it is printed/published

how long you usually spend reading this newspaper

explain what sections of the newspaper are most interesting to you.

See Note

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Possible follow-up questions:

Do your friends also (like to) read this newspaper? (Or, Do you ever share your newspaper with your friends?)
Is this a popular newspaper in China? *

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Part 3

See also the Part 3 questions for Topic #46, 'Some Recent News'

Newspapers and Magazines

Do people in China like reading newspapers?
What different kinds of newspapers are there in China? FQ
Have you ever read an English language newspaper from overseas? *
How do you think newspapers in your country compare to newspapers in Western countries? DIFFICULT QUESTION See NOTE
Compare the differences and similarities of newspapers and magazines.
Do you think newspapers are important for people?
Why do think newspapers are important for people?
Why do people like reading the newspaper?
What is the benefit of (the purpose of) newspapers having photographs accompanying news stories? FQ
Which do you think is more important in a newspaper, the photographs or the written words?
What kinds of things (books/newspapers/magazines) do young people read in China?
What are the benefits of reading?
How do you think newspapers of the future will be different to those of today?
Some people say that some newspaper content is exaggerated. What do you think?
(Similar to above) Do you think the internet will replace newspapers in the future? FQ
How does the media influence people?
How has the (news) media changed in the past few years? (E.g., the past few decades)
What are some other ways that newspapers are useful? (Hint: Example - wrapping garbage)
In China, do you see any particular trends in the way newspapers are developing?
What are some of the methods that newspapers use to increase their readership?

News

How do most people in China get their news nowadays? FQ
(Similar to above) What are the different ways that people use to get their news? FQ
Why do you think young people prefer to get their news from the internet while older people prefer to get their news from newspapers?
Compare newspapers and the internet as sources of news. FQx2
Compare newspapers and television as sources of news. FQ
Which news medium is the most accurate, newspapers, TV or the internet? (Why?)
How important is it to see news in pictures on television?
How does the news influence people? (or, influence society) FQ
Do you like to read stories about celebrities in the newspaper?
(Similar to above) How do you feel about newspaper stories about celebrities such as film stars? (Do you think this is really news?)
Sometimes, a news article is presented in an exaggerated or distorted way. How does this exaggeration or distortion occur?
What do you think of news stories that are false, that is, news stories that do not tell you the truth? FQ
What can be done about the problem of such false news? FQ
Some people say that the internet has a lot of false news stories. Do you agree?
Do you think good news and bad news are equally important?
How has the news media changed or developed in China in the past few years (e.g., 20 or 50 years)? FQ
How do you think people will be getting their news 20 or 30 years in the future? FQ
Do you think newspapers will continue to be important in the future? (... in light of the development of other media, especially the internet.)

Journalists *

(Note: This sub-topic has not yet been reported for topic #101 but it is a common sub-topic when news and newspapers are being discussed.)

Why do people want to become journalists? *
What are the qualities of a good newspaper journalist? *
What are the responsibilities of journalists towards society?

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102. An Ideal Park (June 2, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

Describe the perfect park for a city.

You should say:

where it would be located in the city

what (facilities) it would have ( = what would be in the park)

what people would do in the park (or, what people would be able to do)

and explain why you think this would be the best kind of park for a city.*

See important NOTES

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Possible follow-up questions:

Have you ever seen a park like that? *

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Part 3

The Functions of Parks

How do you feel about parks? See NOTE
What kinds of people most often go to parks? FQ
What are the functions of city parks? FQ
(Similar to above) What do people do when they go to parks? FQ
Do you also do any of these activities in parks? (Do you ever join in these activities?)
Are there many parks in (the centre of) your hometown?
What improvements could be made to these parks?
Do you think it's better to have parks in the middle of the city or to have them on the edge of the city or even just outside the city? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you thinks parks should be in cities (or towns) or in the countryside (or on the outskirts of cities and towns)?
Are there enough parks for your hometown's needs?
Are there other places in your city that are similar to parks?
Do these parks have adequate facilities for your hometown's needs?
What do you think is the most important thing a park in a city should have?
(Similar to above) What do you think is the most important quality of a good park in a city?
What role does greenery (trees, grass etc.) play in a city?
Why do many people prefer to go to a park instead of to the city square?
How do parks affect people's feeling about a town or city?
Do you think that parks are important for people?
How have parks in China changed in the past few years?
Which is better, to have a park that is beautiful or a park that is functional (= well-used)? FQ See NOTE
(Similar to above) Do you think it's more important for public parks to be beautiful or functional? FQ
Why are there fences around parks?
Should people pay to use parks? (Why?/Why not?)
How should parks be paid for?
(Similar to above) Who should pay for public parks, the government or local citizens? FQ (or the users of the parks?)
What personal qualities and skills are needed to work as a park maintenance worker (e.g., a gardener)?

The Cultural Role of Parks in a Community

Do you think that the park you just described should have any cultural facilities? (If yes, what?) See NOTE
What role do parks play in the life of a community? See NOTE
Does a park represent the culture or the history of the place where it is located? See NOTE
(Similar to above) Can a park represent the culture or the history of the place where it is located?
(Similar to above) Should a park represent the culture or the history of the place where it is located?
(Similar to above) Are parks good places for representing the history of a place? (Why?/Why not?)
Do you think it is suitable to hold events such as concerts in parks? FQ
Are there any possible disadvantages to doing that?
If you want to understand the history of a place, do you think it is necessary to visit parks in that place?
Do tourists (visitors) to a city usually visit the parks in that city?

Parks in the Countryside

What are some differences between parks in cities and those in the countryside? See NOTE
What is the value (= the usefulness) of these parks? [See above.]
What effect do national parks have on the economy of a country? FQ (Hints: tourism, employment)
What are some differences between parks in the centre of cities and those that are on the edge of cities?
Whose responsibility is it (or, should it be) to take care of the trees and wildlife in a country - is it the government's responsibility or the responsibility of each individual?

Family Gardens

Does your family have its own garden? *
What kinds of things do (you think) people do in their family gardens?

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103. A Person Who Took Care of You in Your Childhood (June 2, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a person who took care of you when you were a child.

You should say:

when (or, for how long) this person took care of you

what you and this person did together *

how this person treated you (or encouraged you) *

and explain what kind of person he or she is/was. *

Notes

'Look after' = 'take care of'

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Possible follow-up questions:

Are you still in contact with him/her? *
Did this person take care of any other people in your family? *

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Part 3

Raising Children in China

Note: Be prepared to talk about China's 'One Child Policy'.

In China, who generally looks after children?
Are there any differences today in the way children are brought up, compared to years ago? FQ
If both parents are working, who looks after the children when the parents are at work? FQ
(Similar to above) If both parents are working and they have a baby, who looks after the baby when the parents are at work? FQ
Which do you think is better, parents taking care of children or grandparents doing it? FQ
Do you think grandparents have a responsibility to help take care of their grandchildren? FQ
Do you think that if the grandparents take care of a child the result might be that the child's relationship with the parents will be weakened? FQ
Besides being convenient for parents who are working, are there any advantages of having the grandparents look after a child? FQ
In what ways are old people very good for looking after young children and in what ways are old people not very suitable for doing that?
What do you think are the advantages of having both the mother and the father share in the raising of their children?
Do you think it's a good idea to, 'let the television take care of the children'? FQ
Do you think it's good for children to spend a lot of time on the computer?
In the future, what changes do you think there might be in the way people take care of children?
What are the benefits and the disadvantages of China's One Child Policy?
Are children in China very independent?

Factors that Influence the Development of Young People & Children

How did this person (in your Part 2 answer) affect the way you grew up?
(Similar to above) What did you learn from this person?
Have you, yourself, ever taken care of a child or a baby? FQ
What are some of the main influences that can affect how a child develops? FQ
Do you think parents should be children's models (for how to think and act)?
Do present-day children & young people face challenges today that young people didn't face in the past?
What are present-day kids interested in?
Do hi-tech entertainment things such as electronic game machines and computer games affect children's development very much? FQ
(Similar to above) What role does science and technology play in children's development today? FQ See NOTE
What are some of the good and some of the bad influences that effect young people at about the age of 14 or 15? FQ
What do you think are the most important things for parents to pay attention to when bringing up children?
What do you think is the biggest challenge when bringing up a child?
If you had a child, how would you bring him/her up? FQ
Do you think you will be a good mother/ a good father? FQ
Do you think you will ever (or, you might) attend a class to learn more about how to be a good parent? FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think it's a good idea to attend a class to learn how to be a good parent? FQ

Children at School (Pre-School & Primary School)

Do you think it's better for parents to look after (or, to educate) a child until he or she begins school, or do you think a kindergarten can look after (or, educate) a child better?
How important is pre-school education? FQ
How are children educated in China? FQ
What are the advantages of children attending kindergarten?
What do you think children should learn in kindergarten?
How do you think present-day preschool education is different to that of years ago? FQ
Which is better for preschool children - to start studying or to play?
What do you think is the most suitable age for children to start school? FQ
What do you think children should learn in (primary) school?
How do you think school in the future (say, 20 or 30 years in the future) will be different to school today? FQ
In the future, do you think computers will be important in early childhood education? FQ
Do you think it's good for children to spend a lot of time using computers and being on the internet?

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104. A Person Who Likes to Help Others (June 2, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

Describe a person you know who likes to help others (or, who often helps others).

You should say: (3 of the items below are probably on the task card)

who this person is

how you know them (= him or her)

when you knew or when you first met this person

where this person lives

what kind of person he or she is *

and explain why this person (likes to help) helps others. *

and explain how this person helps others. *

See NOTE

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Possible follow-up questions:

Are you still in contact with this person? *
Do many people know him/her?

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Part 3

People Who Help Others

Do modern people like helping others?
Do you often help others? (Or, Do you like to help others?) FQ
Do you ever help your neighbours? (How?) FQ
Why do you think some people often help others (while other people don't often help others)? FQ
(Similar to above) Why do some people not like to help others? FQ
What are some examples of jobs where people help others a lot? * See NOTE
What personal qualities do these 'helpers' need to have, compared to average people? *
In China, are there many organizations that exist for the purpose of helping people in need?
What organizations are their in your city (or, Chinese cities) for helping people?
Do you think it's a government's responsibility to help people?
What are some differences between 'government social services' and private charitable organizations? *

Community Spirit

See NOTE

In China, do people living in the same neighbourhood or same community help each other?
What are some ways that neighbors can help each other? FQ
In what ways does the arrangement of people's houses affect the amount of community spirit that exists in a particular neighborhood?
Do you think community spirit has increased (or improved) compared to years ago, or has it decreased? (Why?) FQx2 See NOTE
(Similar to above) Nowadays, do neighbours help each other more, or less than they used to do years ago? (Why?) FQx2
(Similar to above) Do neighbours communicate with each other as much as they used to, many years ago? FQx2 See NOTE
(Similar to above) Do neighbours today have the same kinds of relationship with each other that they used to have many years ago? FQx2
Do you think that TV and the internet have now become more important than knowing your neighbours?
What are the benefits of people mutually helping each other?
Does your neighbourhood have any facilities to allow people to help each other?
What (kinds of) people in society need special help (at times)? FQx2
Who should help these people? FQx2 See NOTE
Do you think the government should pay special people to be helpers or should people in society voluntarily help each other?
What are some examples of help, or services, that you think the government should provide for people?
What kinds of people volunteer to do work for their communities (or country or even overseas)?
What kinds of people are best suited to working as volunteers? FQ

Neighbours

How well do you know your neighbours?
Are you willing to help other people?
Do you help your neighbours? (How?) FQ
Do you have good relations with your neighbours?
How can people have good relations with their neighbours?
What do you think are the advantages of having good relations with one's neighbours?
What do you think is the best way to communicate with neighbours? (Why?) See NOTE

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105. An Important Letter You Received (2) (June 9, 2007) (Probably no longer used)

Describe an important letter that you received.

            You should say:

                        who wrote it

                        when you received it

                        what the letter was about

                        (how you felt about the letter)


            and explain why it was important.

See NOTE

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Possible follow-up questions:

Do you still have this letter? *
Do you often write letters to your family and relatives? *

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Part 3

Handwritten Letters

Do you often write letters to your family and relatives?
Do people today write letters by hand as much as they used to do many years ago? See NOTE
How do people feel when they receive a handwritten letter as opposed to an email or a typewritten letter?
When do people usually write letters by hand? FQ
(Similar to above) When are handwritten letters most suitable? FQ
What can we learn from looking at handwritten letters that are hundreds of years old? FQ
(Similar to above) How are old letters important in the study of history? FQ
(Similar to above) What is the value of reading letters that famous people in history have written? (= What can we learn from such letters?) FQ See NOTE
Is the handwriting of children today as good as it was many years ago? FQ
Can people develop friendships by writing to each other? (Hint: pen friends)

Letters in the Business World

Are letters (not necessarily handwritten ones) important when doing business? (Why?)
What skills are needed to write good business letters? FQ
Compare the strengths and weaknesses of letters with those of phone calls when doing business. FQ
What are the differences between business letters and personal letters?

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