oral TOEIC questions

Your Family
Introduce yourself and your family
Who do you live with?
What do they do?
What kind of things do you usually do together?
Who do you spend the most time with?
Do you have a favourite relative? Describe him/ her.
Do you look like anybody in your family?
Do (or did) you have to share your room with a brother or sister?
Your friends
Introduce yourself briefly (name, age, occupation or studies).
Talk about your best friend. Include two or more of the following points:
How did you meet your best friend? How long have you known each other?
How often do you see your friends?
What do you usually do when you are with them?
What qualities are important in a good friend?
Do you consider yourself a good friend?
Do you think it is easier now to have good friends than in the past?

Your house
Introduce yourself briefly (name, age, occupation or studies).
Talk about the place where you live. Include two or more of the following points:
Do you live in a house or a flat? Describe it.
How long have lived there?
What is your favourite place in the house/flat?
Would you like to change anything about it?
Do you know your neighbours? Do you get on well with them?
Your job / studies
Introduce yourself briefly (name, age, occupation or studies).
If you are a student talk about your studies/ If you are working talk about your present job.
Include two or more of the following points:

Do you like your studies / job? Why (not)?
What is your favourite subject? What is the best thing about your job?
Would you like to change anything about your studies/ job?
What are your classmates / colleagues like? Do you get on well with them?


Your favourite thing
Introduce yourself briefly (name, age, occupation or studies).
Talk about your favourite personal possession. What is it?
How long have you had it?
Was it a present? If so, who gave it to you? If not, how did you get it?
Why is it special to you?
Are there any other objects that are important to you?
Would it be easy to replace if it got lost?

A wonderful holiday
Introduce yourself briefly (name, age, occupation or studies).
Talk about an unforgettable holiday you’ve had.
Where/when/how/ did you go?
How long /where did you stay?
What did you do there?
What was the best/worst thing about it?
Did you have a good time? Did you buy any souvenirs?
The city/ town/village where I live
Introduce yourself briefly (name, age, occupation or studies).
Talk about the place where you live. Include two or more of the following points:
Where is it located? How big is it?
What’s it like? What’s the weather like?
What’s the best/ worst thing about it?
What’s it famous for?

Do you like living there? How long have you lived there?
Would you lke to leve somewhere else? Where?
Things you hate
Introduce yourself briefly (name, age, occupation or studies).
Talk about what you really dislike. Include two or more of the following points:
Is there anything you really hate? Why?.
When did you realise you didn’t like it at all?
Is it something most people dislike too?
What other things don’t you like?
Are there any bands, actors/ actresses, sportspeople, TV programmes that you detest? Why?
Is there anything you don’t like eating or drinking? Why?
Are there any items of clothing or designer clothes that you would never wear? Why?


My best friend
Introduce yourself briefly (name, age, occupation or studies).
Talk about your best friend.
Where/when did you meet him/ her?
How old is (s)he? What does (s)he do?
What does (s)he look like? What is (s)he like?
What does (s)he like doing in his/her free time?
Why is (s)he special to you? What things do you have in common?
How often do you see each other?
My favourite relative
Introduce yourself briefly (name, age, occupation or studies).
Talk about things your favourite family member. Include two or more of the following points:
Who is this person?How old is (s)he?
What does (s)he do?What does (s)he look like?
What is (s)he like?
What does (s)he like doing in his/her free time?

Why is (s)he special to you?
What things do you have in common?
Do you look like him/ her?
Is there anything you would change about him/ her?
Last weekend
Introduce yourself briefly (name, age, occupation or studies).
Talk about what you did last weekend.
Was it a typical weekend? Why (not)?
What time did you get up?What did you have to eat and drink?
What things did you do?
Did you go to bed early/ late? Why?
How did you spend Saturday and Sunday evening?
Did you have a good time?
The future
Introduce yourself briefly (name, age, occupation or studies).
Talk about what you expect to achieve in the next five years.
If you are working at the moment, do you think you’ll have the same job? Why (not)?
If you are a student, do you think you’ll find a job easily when you finish your studies? Why
(not)?
What about your personal life? Do you think there will be any important changes?
What things do you need to do for your studies/ job to be successful?
Do you expect to travel anywhere interesting? Where?
Do you think you’ll have a new house/ car/ computer…?


Animals & Pets
Are cats better pets than dogs or are dogs better pets than cats? Why?
If you could be any animal in the world, what would you be and why?
Do you think it's morally acceptable for scientists to do genetic experiments on animals? Why
or why not? What about other types of medical research?

Do you have any pets? If so, tell about them.
What's the most interesting animal you've ever eaten?
What wild animals do you find most interesting? Why?
If you could observe an extinct animal for an afternoon, which one would you choose and why?
Would you like to go on an African safari? Why or why not?
How are humans like other animals? How are they different?
What pets are most popular in your country?
How many different pets have you had over your lifetime? Which was your favorite?
Can pets become part of a human family? What was your first pet and how did you get it?
How can pets help people emotionally?


Socializing & Friendship

Who was the last friend that you met? How
did you meet them?

How did your parents meet?

Describe a perfect night spent with friends.

Describe your best friend from when you
were a child.

How are your family members also your
friends? Tell about one person.

When did you last go out with friends? What
did you do?

How often do you go to a bar? Who do you
usually go with?

When you're with a group are you outgoing
or quiet? Why do you think this is?

What do groups of friends usually do when
they go out together on weekend nights in
your country?

Do you usually hang out with a few close
friends or many different people?

How do you think your social habits would be
different if you had grown up in the U.S.?

How much do you socialize with people from
work? What do you usually do?

How many friends have you kept from
childhood? Tell about them.

In your language, is there more than one
word for friend? If so, how are these words
different?

How do you think that the way people


Are there things that people do for fun in

other countries that you would like to see
more of in your country?

socialize changes when they drink alcohol?

Tell about the last party you went to.

In your opinion, how do humans socialize
differently from other animals? How about
the same?

Who's your best friend? How did you meet
him or her?

How are the social habits of people who live
in the countryside different from people who
live in cities?

On average, how long are you usually
friends with someone?

Would you rather watch TV alone or with
other people? How about going to the
movies?

Conversation Questions: Work

What's your ideal job? Why?

How has technology changed business? Do

you think it's created more work or less?

Is it typical for men and women to have the
same jobs in your counrty?

Would you prefer to have an easy routine job
or a job in which you made a lot of decisions?

Do you think office romances can be
successful? Why or why not? Do you know
of any couples who have met at work?

Do people usually work for one company for a
long time in your country or is it common for
people to change jobs every few years? Why
do you think people in the US change jobs so
often?

Describe the first job you had for money.
Would you prefer to work four ten-hour days


or five eight hour ones?

In your opinion, which jobs are most
prestigious? Why?

How do people address each other at work in
your counrty? How do you address your
boss? Your co-workers? What do you think

of the idea that at most offices in the US
nearly everyone goes by their first names?

What three things are most important for you
in a job? Why?

Do women usually work after they get married
in your country?

Would you like a job that involved a lot of
travel? Why or why not? Have you ever
known anyone with one of these jobs? Tell
about them.

Who in your family or among our friends has
the most interesting job? What about the
most boring?

If you could own your own business, what
would it be?

How important are clothes at work? How does
your job determine what you wear in your
country?

Conversation Questions: Travel

How many countries have you been to?

Describe the best trip you ever took. Where did

you go? Who did you travel with? What did you
do?

Where did you spend your last vacation? What
did you do?

Describe the worst trip you ever took. Where did
you go? What made it a bad trip?

When you were a child, did your family take
trips? Would you always go to the same place or
different places?

What three countries would you most like to
visit? Why?

When you are travelling, do you try to speak the
local language?

Do you prefer winter vacations or summer
vacations? Why?

Have you ever taken a package tour? If so, tell
about this experience?

Would you like to take a cruise? Why or why
not?

What type of accommodations do you usually
stay in when you travel?

Have you ever hitchhiked? If so, where were you
and how was this experience?


Where will you go on your next vacation?

What three countries would you least like to
visit? Why?

Conversation Questions: Food

What's your favorite dessert? How often do
you eat it?

Do you think you have a generally healthy
diet? What have you eaten so far today?

If you could only eat three meals for the rest of
your life, what would they be?

If you visited countries where people ate the
following foods, would you try any of them:
monkey, snake, dog, insects? Why or why
not?

What's the last meal you cooked for yourself?
How do you make it?

What's a big holiday in your country? What

foods do people typically eat on this holiday?

Describe an everyday meal from your country
and tell how to prepare it.

What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
Where were you? Why did you eat it? Would
you eat it again?

What foods do you think are most romantic?
Why are they romantic?

What foods do you eat when you feel sick or
depressed?

In your opinion, which countries have the best
cuisine? The worst? Why?

Do you think a vegetaian diet is better than a
diet that includes meat? Why or why not?

When did you last go a nice restaurant? What
did you order?

When you are eating dinner at a friend's
house, do you ever ask for seconds? Do you
accept seconds if they're offered?

What is your opinion of American food? Have
you tried any regional American cooking?

Are there any foods that you would not eat as a


child that you now like? Why do you think this
is?

The Environment & You

Do you turn off the water when you brush
your teeth?

How often do you use public transit? How
often do you drive?

Does your community offer a recycling
program? Do you think recycling is an
important service for communities to
provide?

How often do you throw gum wrappers,
cigarette butts, etc. onto the street? Who
usually cleans this up in your community?

What types of energy are popular in your
country? For example, coal, gas, nuclear
power. What does your house or apartment
use?

What temperature do you usually keep your

house at?

When you travel, do you usually drink bottled
water? Why or why not? What about when
you're at home?

In your opinion, what can cities like Sao
Paulo and Los Angeles do to improve their air
quality?

How are products packaged in your country?
For example, how do you usually buy milk,
electronic equipment and clothing?

Do you think companies are more or less
environmentally responsible now than they
were in the past?

Tell about one thing you do to help the
environment.

How often do you turn off the lights when you
leave the room?

Houses & Architecture


Do you think that old buildings are more
beautiful than new ones? Why or why not?

What's your favorite room in the house?
Why?

Describe a well-known building in your
hometown.

Tell about the last time you visited a famous
building or monument. What was it? How
did it look?

How important are monuments (like Big Ben
or the Statue of Liberty) in defining a nation?

When was the house/apartment you now live
in built? How do you think it has changed
since then?

Describe your dream house.

Describe a building you dislike. Why don't
you like it?

Describe your house or apartment. How
many rooms does it have? How many
bathrooms? Who lives there?

What was the last improvement you made to
your house or apartment? Tell about it.

Would you prefer to own a single family

house or an apartment? Why?

What city's architecture has impressed you
the most?

How do you think ancient civilizations (for
example, the Egyptians, Mayans, and
Greeks) constructed large buildings?

What do you know about American houses?
How are they different from houses in your
country?

Converation Questions: Art

Have you ever seen an opera? Have you
ever been to the symphony? If so, tell about
it.

Tell about the last time you visited a
museum. What did you see? Who did you go
with?

When eating out, what’s more important to


How much does your country’s government
support funding for the arts? How important
is this expense?

you: the way the food looks or tastes? Why?

Do you own any original art work? How did
you acquire it?

When you visit another city, do you go to art
museums? What’s the most famous art
museum you’ve ever been to?

What is traditional art from your country like?
How much do you know about it?

What’s your most creative pastime? For
example, do you like to paint, draw, or take
photographs?

Do you consider moving-making an art form? What’s a famous building in your country?
Why or why not?
Why is it famous?

Who is your favorite artist? Describe their
work.

Do you own any books about art? How often
do you look at them?

Conversation Questions: Shopping
What was the last thing you bought for
yourself? Where did you buy it? Why did you
buy it?

Do you enjoy shopping? How often do you go
shopping? How much time do you spend each
time you go?

What was the last thing you bought for
someone else? Where did you buy it? Why
did you buy it?

When you buy something, do you read the
label? Why or why not?

What's your favorite place to shop? Why?

Are you a price conscious shopper? What is
your opinion of discount stores?

Have you ever been to an outlet store? If you
have, where was it and what did you think? If
not, would you like to shop at one? Why or
why not?

What stores have you shopped at in
___________? What store did you like best
and what store did you like least? Why?


Are thrift stores popular in your country? Do
you enjoy shopping at thrift stores?

How important is good customer service when
you are shopping?

Do you compare prices at different stores when
you shop?

How important is it for you to be up to date with
the latest fashions?

Is it important for you to own designer clothes?
Why or why why not?

What kind of clothes do you like best? Do you
have a favorite type of fabric? Are a lot of your
clothes one color or pattern?

Conversation Questions: Movies

Who is your favorite actor? Who is your favorite
actress? Do you ever wish that they were together
in real life?

Describe the best movie set you have ever seen. If
you could live on that set, would you? If not, what
movie set would be your dream house?

What kinds of movie costumes do you like best?
Have you ever worn a costume?

What is the worst movie you have ever seen? Why

was it so bad? What would have made it better?

Did you ever imagine becoming an actor/actress?
Who would you want to be your leading
man/woman?

Do you watch the Academy Awards? Do you ever
wish you could go to an awards show and dress up
in a fancy dress? Have you ever been to one?

Do you read movie reviews? Do you usually agree
with the reviewers' opinions?

Do you think movie stars should be paid millions of
dollars? Do you think they are more or less
entertaining than sports stars?

What is the best movie of all time? Why is it so
good?

What is your favorite line or scene from a movie?
What about it makes you remember it so well or like
it so much?

Which actor or actress do you think is the most
overrated in Hollywood today? Which is the most
underrated?

What movie do you wish they would release on the
big screen again? What movie would you most like

to own on video?

Are videos or DVDs popular in your country? How
do people see most movies, at the theater/cinema
or at home?

How have TV, cable and the Internet changed the
movie industry?

Conversation Questions: Food


What's your favorite dessert? How often do
you eat it?

Do you think you have a generally healthy
diet? What have you eaten so far today?

If you could only eat three meals for the rest of
your life, what would they be?

If you visited countries where people ate the
following foods, would you try any of them:
monkey, snake, dog, insects? Why or why
not?

What's the last meal you cooked for yourself?
How do you make it?

What's a big holiday in your country? What

foods do people typically eat on this holiday?

Describe an everyday meal from your country
and tell how to prepare it.

What's the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
Where were you? Why did you eat it? Would
you eat it again?

What foods do you think are most romantic?
Why are they romantic?

What foods do you eat when you feel sick or
depressed?

In your opinion, which countries have the best
cuisine? The worst? Why?

Do you think a vegetaian diet is better than a
diet that includes meat? Why or why not?

When did you last go a nice restaurant? What
did you order?

When you are eating dinner at a friend's
house, do you ever ask for seconds? Do you
accept seconds if they're offered?

What is your opinion of American food? Have
you tried any regional American cooking?

Are there any foods that you would not eat as a
child that you now like? Why do you think this
is?

Conversation Questions: Entertainment
What do you usually do on the weekends? What did you do last weekend? Do you have plans
for this weekend? What kind of music do you like? Is there any kind of music that you can't
stand? What types of music do people listen to in your country? Is there any type of music that


you can only hear in your country? How popular is live music in your country? When was the
last time you went to a concert or live show? How many different movie genres can you name?
Which is your favorite? Least favorite? What's the last movie you saw? When did you see it?
What was it about? Did you like it? Which American movies have been popular in your
country? How often do you visit museums? When was the last time you went to a museum?
What do you do for entertainment when you're on vacation that you don't usually do? Do you
like to gamble? When was the last time you were in a casino? Did you win or did you lose?
When was the last time you went to a play? What about an opera, a symphony, or a ballet?
How much do you like to dance? When was the last time you went dancing? Did you enjoy
yourself? How often do you drink? What's your favorite drink? Where do you usually drink it?
How often do you go to parties? Have you ever hosted a party? What was it like? What's the
worst party you've ever been to? What made it bad? Would you rather go to a bar, a party, or a
nightclub? Why? How often do you eat in a restaurant? What's the best restaurant you've ever
been to? What's the best cheap restaurant you've ever been to? Do you have a favorite bar or
cafe? Why do you like it?
Conversation Questions: Entertainment
What do you usually do on the weekends? What did you do last weekend? Do you have plans
for this weekend?
What kind of music do you like? Is there any kind of music that you can't stand? What types of

music do people listen to in your country?
Is there any type of music that you can only hear in your country?
How popular is live music in your country? When was the last time you went to a concert or live
show? How many different movie genres can you name? Which is your favorite? Least
favorite?
What's the last movie you saw? When did you see it? What was it about? Did you like it?
Which American movies have been popular in your country?
How often do you visit museums? When was the last time you went to a museum?
What do you do for entertainment when you're on vacation that you don't usually do?
Do you like to gamble? When was the last time you were in a casino? Did you win or did you
lose? When was the last time you went to a play? What about an opera, a symphony, or a
ballet? How much do you like to dance? When was the last time you went dancing? Did you
enjoy yourself? How often do you drink? What's your favorite drink? Where do you usually
drink it? How often do you go to parties? Have you ever hosted a party? What was it like?
What's the worst party you've ever been to? What made it bad? Would you rather go to a bar, a
party, or a nightclub? Why? How often do you eat in a restaurant? What's the best restaurant
you've ever been to? What's the best cheap restaurant you've ever been to? Do you have a
favorite bar or cafe? Why do you like it

Conversation Questions: Movies

Who is your favorite actor? Who is your favorite
actress? Do you ever wish that they were together
in real life?

Describe the best movie set you have ever seen. If
you could live on that set, would you? If not, what
movie set would be your dream house?

What kinds of movie costumes do you like best?

Have you ever worn a costume?

What is the worst movie you have ever seen? Why
was it so bad? What would have made it better?


Did you ever imagine becoming an actor/actress?
Who would you want to be your leading
man/woman?

Do you watch the Academy Awards? Do you ever
wish you could go to an awards show and dress up
in a fancy dress? Have you ever been to one?

Do you read movie reviews? Do you usually agree
with the reviewers' opinions?

Do you think movie stars should be paid millions of
dollars? Do you think they are more or less
entertaining than sports stars?

What is the best movie of all time? Why is it so
good?

What is your favorite line or scene from a movie?
What about it makes you remember it so well or like
it so much?

Which actor or actress do you think is the most
overrated in Hollywood today? Which is the most

underrated?

What movie do you wish they would release on the
big screen again? What movie would you most like
to own on video?

Are videos or DVDs popular in your country? How
do people see most movies, at the theater/cinema
or at home?

How have TV, cable and the Internet changed the
movie industry?

Technology

Would you consider dating someone you had
met over the Internet? Why or why not?

Do you have an e-mail account? What do you
use it for? How often do you check it?

What invention do you think has had the
greatest impact on society? Why?

What do you think the world will be like a
hundred years from now?

Do you think that people will ever visit Mars?
How about live there?

In what ways has technology improved our
lives? In what ways has it made life worse?

Imagine that you could only use ONE of the
following: a computer, a telephone, or a car.
Which one would you use and why?

How has the Internet changed the way you
live?

Are there some things that never should have
been invented? What are they and why?

Do computers save time or do they just make
us waste more time?

How has technology effected the way we fight


How "real" will virtual reality become?

wars? Do you think it makes war more or less
humane?

If you had the possibility to only work from your
house via computer, would you do it and why?

How much of a risk are computer viruses?

Are cell phones popular in your country? Do

you own one? If so, what do you use it for and
why?

Which of the following do you own: a VCR, a
DVD player. a microwave oven, a computer, a
cell phone, and an electronic dictionary?
Which do you use most often?

Science & Medicine

Who is the most famous scientist from your
country? What did he/she do?

In what ways has science had a negative
impact on society?

Do you like studying science? Why or why
not?
How do you feel about cloning? Do you
think it's ethical for scientist to clone
animals? What about human organs?
How has science influenced the way
detectives investigate crimes?

What's your favorite branch of science? (For
example, biology, physics, astronomy.)

How have you personally benefitted from
developments in modern medicine?

What scientist do you respect the most and
why?

In what ways has science most advanced
society?

What do you think about evolution and other
theories of natural selection?

What natural disasters occur in your
country? Explain why they happen.

In your opinion, what's the greatest medical
advancement of the past century? Why?

Do you think there is life on other planets? If
so, how close is it and what does it look like?

Do you know how your computer works? If
so, explain how.

What do you think will be the greatest
medical breakthrough in the next ten years?

If you could contribute something to science
or medicine, what would you do and why?


In your opinion what has been the most
important scientific discovery ever? Why?

How has science helped people to have
children? What do you think of this?

How would society be different if scientists
hadn't discovered and developed electricity?

When do you think scientists will develop a
cure for AIDS?

Politics & Government

How are government officials chosen in your
country? Do you think this method is fair?

In your opinion, how much should
governments contribute to university
education?

How interested are you in politics?

What type of information--if any--do you think
a government should keep from its citizens?

How much does a politician's personal life
What do you think is the most important
effect their ability to do their job? Why do you
political issue right now? Why is it important? think the media pays a lot of attention to
politicians' personal lives?

Tell about an important political event in your
country's recent history.

Why do you think the US government doesn't
do more about guns?

What do you think of American politics?

Tell about a political person you admire.

How successful do you think the European
Union has been/will be?

Is military service required in your country?
Do you think it's a good idea?

Do you think it's important for a country to


have a strong military? Why or why not?

What do you think of President GW Bush?

Have you ever been to a political
demonstration or rally? If so, tell about it.

Why do you think there aren't more women in
politics? Do you think people pay more
attention to female politicians than male
ones?

What can governments do about poverty?

The US has one lawyer for every ten people.
Why do you think this is?

Conversation Questions: The Media
How often do you read the paper or watch the
news on TV? How important is it for you to
keep up with current events?

In your opinion, what has been the single
biggest news item from this past year? How
did the media cover this event?

Do you think that news reporting has gotten
better, gotten worse, or stayed the same over
your lifetime?

Do you think a politician's private life is
newsworthy? Why or why not?

Are there certain things journalists shouldn't
report on? Why?

How do you feel about censorship? Are there
times when the news should be censored?

Who owns the newspapers and TV stations in
your country? Do you think this has an effect

on the news that you hear?

Do you think that the media covers too much
bad news and not enough good news? What
was the last "good news" story you heard?

How has technology effected the way that we
receive news?

Have you (or anyone you know) ever been in
the newspaper/on TV? If so, what for?

Do you think that most newspapers print what's
really important, or what will make them sell
more newspapers? What about TV news?

Why are people so interested in the private
lives of celebrities?

Do you think that the media is objective? Why
or why not?

What's happening in the news right now, both
in your country and abroad? Where did you
hear about it?

Conversation Questions: Music


How popular is live music in your country?

When was the last time you went to a concert
or live show?

What kind of music do you like? Is there any
kind of music that you can't stand?

What types of music do people listen to in your
country? Is there any type of music that you
can only hear in your country?

Do you play a musical instrument? What
instrument? Did you take lessons?

How many CDs do you own? What kind of
music do you have the most of?

Do you listen to music on the radio? How
often? Do you have a favorite station? Why do
you like this station?

What musician would you most like to meet?
Why?

Do you prefer music in English or in your own
language? Why?

Why do you think English language music is so
popular? Can a band be a worldwide hit if they
don't sing in English?

Do you like to sing? Have you ever sung
karakoe?

Do you ever like to listen to loud music?
When?

Do you listen more to words or lyrics? How is
this different in your native language and in
other languages?

Do you think CDs will ever become obsolete?
What will replace them?

How has your opinion of good music changed
over your lifetime? Is there anything you liked
years ago that you would not like now?

Return to Teaching
Conversation
Space & Space Travel

When do you think people will visit Mars?
What do you think they will find there?

Have you ever used a telescope? What did
you look at?

If you could take a vacation to the moon,
would you? Why or why not?

Do you wish on stars?

Have you ever seen any of the following
movies: ET, Alien, Star Wars? Which one is
your favorite? Why?

Would you like to be an astronaut? Why or
why not?


What will make the new international space
station successful? Why?

A group of stars is called a constellation.
Some examples are Orion, the Big Dipper,
and Cassiopeia. What are the names of
some constellations in your language? How
did they get these names?

Do you think governments spend too much
money on space programs? Why or why
not?

Do you think people will ever communicate
with intelligent aliens? Why or why not?

What do satellites do? How would our lives
be different without them?

What can we learn about the earth from

studying other planets?

Have you ever taken an astronomy course?
If so, tell about something you learned. If
not, would you like to?

Can you name the planets in English? Try.

Crime and Justice

Do you always lock your house? What about
your car?

How have science and technology changed
what crimes are committed? How about the
way we solve them?

Do you think that men and women are punished Should users of illegal drugs be put in jail? Why
the same for the same crimes? Why or why
or why not? What about the people who sell
not? How should it be?
them?

Do you think it's possible to prevent certain
kinds of crimes? If so, which ones and how?

Why do you think that there have been so many
school shootings at high schools in the United
States?

How much does the media cover crime in your


What do you think are reasonable penalties for
people who commit environmental crimes*?
*environmental crimes--for example, killing an country? Do you think that they should spend
endangered animal, being responsible for a
less time or more time on it?
major industrial accident like Chernobyl or
Bhopal, polluting a river, etc.

Have you (or anyone you know) been the victim
What do you think of the death penalty?
of a crime? What happened?

Have you ever done anything illegal? Tell
about it if you want to.

In your opinion, what causes a person to
become a criminal? Can society change this?

Which crimes do you think will increase in the
21st century? What about decrease?

How serious of an offense is white collar
crime*? How should white collar criminals be
punished?
*white collar crime--for example, stealing money
from your company/embezzlement

Are there any places where you are afraid to
walk alone after dark? Where are they and
why?

Is beating your wife a crime in your country? If
so, what happens to a man who beats his wife?
What about a woman who beats her husband?

Adventure

If you could go back to another time and
place, what time and place would you
choose and why?

Do you have any tatoos? If so, tell about
how you got them. If not, would you ever
consider getting a tatoo? Why or why not?

Who's the most adventurous person in your
family? Describe what they do.

If you were offered a trip on the space
shuttle, would you go? Why or why not?

Have you ever picked up a hitchhiker? If so
tell about it.

How much is life an adventure?

Tell about a road trip that you've taken.

Have you ever tried any of the following:
bungee jumping, snowboarding, parachuting,
hanggliding? If so, tell about it.

When you visit other countries, do you go as
a tourist or a traveler?

Tell about an adventure you've had on public
transit.

Would you want to climb Mt. Everest? Why
or why not?

Have you ever moved to a place far from
your family and friends? If so, where did you
go and why?

Do you consider yourself an adventurous
person? Why or why not?

What's the most exciting thing you've ever
done? Tell about it.

How has your idea of adventure changed
with age?

Do you think that adreniline is addictive?
Why or why not?

What's your favorite adventure story, movie,
or book? Tell about it.

What countries (other than your own) would
you like to live in? Why?

Conversation Questions: The Paranormal
Have you ever been to see a fortune teller or
psychic? If so, do you think it was worth the
money?

Do you believe in ghosts? What are they?
Have you ever seen or felt one?

What numbers are lucky in your country?
Unlucky? Do you have a lucky number?
Unlucky?

Do you know of any haunted places? Have you
ever been to one of them?


What do you for good luck? Do you think it
works?

Have you (or anyone you know) ever had a
dream that later came true?

What sign are you? Do you think your

personality reflects this?

Do you read your horoscope? If so, how
seriously do you take it?

Do you believe in ESP? Can some people
know what other people are thinking or feeling?

Have you (or anyone you've heard of) ever had
an out of body experience? Do you believe
there are people who can see things hidden
from view?

What do you know about Nostradamus? Do
you think that some people can predict the
future?

Do you think that UFOs carry visitors from
another planet?

How do people predict fortunes in your
country? What do you think of these ways?

Has anything ever happened to you that you
cannot explain? What other things exist in the
world that cannot be explained?

Conversation Questions: Drugs and Medicine

Do most people in your country prefer traditional

medicine, modern medicine, or a combination of
the two?

Do you think that teas and natural herbs can be
just as effective or more effective for treating
certain illness than modern medicine?

Do you think there are any legal drugs that
should be illegal? What about illegal ones that
should be legal?

What type of treatment would you recommend
to a person who has the flu?

Do you have to pay for medicine in your
country? What about other types of heath
care?

Do you feel uncomfortable using medicine from
a foreign country?

Should doctors be allowed to prescribe a lethal
dose of medicine to patients who want to end
their lives?

Do you consider alcohol a drug? Do you drink?

Should doctors be allowed to prescribe
marijuana? If so, to whom and for what

Do you think men are more likely to use illegal
drugs than women? Why or why not? What
about legal ones?


reasons?

Have you heard any stories of faith healers? If
so, tell about one.

Why do you think so many famous people use
drugs?

What should happen to a person who is caught
using illegal drugs? What about selling them?

What would you recommend to treat a
hangover?

Can a person become addicted to prescription
drugs? Which ones? Are there any illegal drugs
that a person can't become addicted to?

Why do you think it takes so long for certain
prescription drugs to become available in the
US?

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