Bộ đoán đề speaking IELTS part 3 winter 2016

BỘ ĐỀ IELTS SPEAKING PART 3 WINTER 2016
Tổng hợp bởi Mysheo
Everyday Decisions
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What are some of the typical, everyday decisions that people have to make?
Besides your example from Part 2, what other difficult decisions are many people faced with at
times in their lives?

How to Make a Decision
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Do you prefer to shop at many different shops or just a few?
Do you prefer to shop in big shops or in small ones?
How do you (or, people) decide which one to shop at? ?
When buying clothes, do you prefer to go to a shop with a wide selection of choices, or to a shop
that has a small number of choices?
How do you (or, people) decide what clothes to wear?

Can you explain what makes a decision a "difficult" decision?
In general, do you think it's easier to make a decision when you have few choices, or many
choices?
Do you think teachers should help students make decisions?
What (sorts of) factors do people consider when they make decisions?
How​ can one choose what is the most important factor when making a decision?
Can you suggest why people sometimes make a quick decision?
(Unreported but possible question) How can someone know that they have made the right
decision? *
In the future, do you think people will find it easier to make decisions than they do today, or will
they find it harder?

Decisions Throughout Life
What do you think are the most important decisions that people have to make in their lifetimes?
● Do you think children and adults usually have the same decisions to make?
● (Similar to above) Do you think children and adults have the same choices in life?
● Who do you think has a harder time making decisions, children or adults?
● (Similar to above) Do you think the decisions that children make are more difficult (for them)
than the decisions that adults have to make?
● Do you think children should make their own decisions, or should they follow the advice of
adults?
● (Similar to above) Do you think parents should make decisions for their children?
● What sorts of decisions do young people have to make?
● Do you think parents can help young people decide what subject to study at university?
● What decisions about the future do people have to make?
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What skills are necessary when making decisions?
How can people improve their decision-making skills?
How do you think computers will change the way people make decisions?
Do parents in your country allow their children to make important decisions about the
future?
Do you think that parents should make important decisions for the children?
How can older people help young people make their own decisions wisely?
What do you think of the qualities of a good leader or a good decision-maker?
Do you think it is important for parents to encourage the development of leadership abilities in
their children?
In what ways can parents encourage their children develop leadership abilities?

Pollution in Your Country
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Besides your example from Part 2, what other examples of pollution are there in your hometown
(or your country/ or around where you live)?
What are the reasons for (or the sources of) these kinds of pollution?
How do suggest this problem should be tackled?
In general, would you say there is more (rubbish and) pollution today than several decades ago?
Do you think pollution near or alongside waterways is very important?
Can you suggest why some people do things such as throw rubbish into a lake?
What can we do to reduce pollution?
Do you think we should start by educating the locals about protecting the environment?
What should the government do?
(Similar to above) How much do you think government is responsible for doing something about
pollution, and how much do you think it is an individual responsibility for everyone?
What would you say are the responsibilities of individuals for protecting the environment?
What do you think is the relationship between pollution and the economy?
Is there any pollution problem (or, environmental problem) that is world-wide?
Do you think the pollution situation in your country will change in the future?
Do you think the pollution situation will get worse in the future, or better?

Perceptions about Pollution
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In general, would you say that people in your country are concerned about the environment?
Do you think different people have different perceptions about (or, of) pollution?
(Similar to above) Do you think different people have a different understanding of the word,
"pollution"?
Can you explain why some people are concerned about pollution while others are not?
Can you suggest why some people are not interested in (the topic of) protecting the environment?
Why do some people think they can do nothing to protect the environment?
Would you say that children and young people today are more aware of pollution than the older
generations?


Shopping
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Do you like shopping?
(If you do the test away from your home country) Is there much difference between shopping in
your home country and in this country?
What are some of the various ways that people buy things?
Do you like shopping in shopping malls?
Do you prefer to go shopping in shopping malls or in small shops around your home?
Can you explain why so many people choose to do their shopping in big shops such as big
supermarkets and department stores?
How does that compare with the ways people bought things in the past?
How (or, where) do most people in your country buy things?
What would you say are the major differences between online shopping and shopping in typical
shops?
Can you explain why online shopping is so popular today?
Why are goods online generally cheaper than those in typical shops?
What would you do if you were disappointed with something you had bought on the internet?
What effect do you think this is having (or, will have) on the typical shops that people used before
the internet age?
Do you think online shopping tends to make people lazy?
Do you think online shopping will (eventually) replace shopping in real shops?

How often do people in your country go shopping?
When do people usually go shopping?
Do you think people spend too much time on shopping?
Would you say that, in general, people like shopping?
Who usually enjoys shopping more, males or females?
Who usually does more shopping, men or women?
Do you know anyone who could be described as a "shopaholic"?
Have you ever had a bad shopping experience?
What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of using a credit card when buying
things, as opposed to paying cash?

The Quality and Price of Products
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Which is more important to you, the price of a product, or the quality?
Do you think there is a relationship between the brand of a product and the quality of that
product?
Do you think expensive products are always high in quality?
What makes a product a "high quality" product?
Do you agree that companies have a responsibility to advise customers on the quality of the
products they sell?
How do you (or, how can a person) compare prices?

In your country, is bargaining very common when shopping?
Why (or, when) do some people bargain?
Can you suggest why most Westerners don't like to bargain?


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Can you explain why some places have cheaper prices than other places? *
How can (or, how do) people find out the lowest prices for goods (products)?
(Similar to above) How can (or, how do) people ​buy​ the cheapest-priced goods (products)?
Do people in your country ever buy second-hand good? (If yes, what?)

Marketing
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Nowadays some people buy things they don’t need. Can you suggest why that is?
Why are some shopping centres in your country crowded?
Why do some people like to buy expensive things (= luxury products)?
What do you think are the advantages and the disadvantages of buying luxury products?
Do you think marketing is important?

How does marketing help?
What types of marketing are there?
Do you think all products need to be marketed (need marketing)?

Generational Differences
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In your view, what is "an old person"?
How do you know when you are looking at an old person? For example, do all old people have
white hair?
Do you think there an increasing proportion of old people in the population today, compared to

the past, or a decreasing proportion?
What would you say are the main differences between "young people" and "old people"?
Do you think the media today is more focused on young people, or on old people?
Do you think young people would have difficulty living with old people?
Do you think young people and old people have difficulty communicating with each other?
Do you think there is such a thing as, "the generation gap"?
How is this generation gap formed?
In what ways is the thinking of young people and that of old people different?
Which group do you think spends more money shopping, old people or young people?
What sources of income do old people in your country have?
In general do young people in your country respect old people?
Do you think the young people and older people (or, old people) can learn anything (or, learn
much) from each other?
Do most old people know how to use modern electronic products?
Can you suggest why many elderly people are not interested in learning how to use modern
technology such as using the internet?
What do you think young people ​can learn from older people (or, old people)?
What do you think young people ​should learn from older people (or, old people)?
Why do young people sometimes ask older people about the past?
Can you explain why young people ask older people for advice?

The Lives of Elderly People Today
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What sorts of things do old people like to do with their time?
(Similar to above) What sorts of ​leisure activities​ do old people like to do?
Do elderly men and elderly women like to do the same things?

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Do you think old people today do different activities than old people did in the past?
If you were an old person, what would you do with your time?
Do old people like to go on long trips?
What sorts of outdoor activities do old people like to do?

Do they like to do outdoor exercise (or sports)?
Do they use any particular exercise equipment?
Do they prefer to watch films at home, or in a cinema?
How would you compare the lives of old people in your country with the lives of old people in
other countries?
Would you say that old people today have better lives (e.g. better living conditions; happier lives)
than old people had in the past?
Do you think old people in the past were more optimistic than old people are today?
In what ways do you think the lives of old people today could be improved?
How do you think young people could help old people?
In many parts of the world, people are living longer than they did in the past. Can you suggest
why that is happening?
Would you say modern technology has improved the lives of old people, compared to the past?
Do you think old people need to know how to use modern technology?
In your country, how are the medical costs of old people paid?
In your country, is there much media coverage of elderly people?
In general, what is the attitude towards old people expressed in the media?
Do you think there are benefits for some old people to delay retirement?
Many old people talk about the "good old days". What do you think they mean? *
Do you think old people only remember the good things from their past?
(Similar to above) Many old people feel their life was better when they were younger. Why do
you think they feel that way?
(Similar to above) Why do you think (old) people tend to remember the good things from the past
and tend to forget what was not so good?
When old people talk about their past to their grandchildren, do you think they always speak
accurately?

Television in General​ (in your country)
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How often do you watch TV?
Do you think you will be watching more TV in the future than you do now, or less?
Do you think people watch too much TV? *
What kinds of TV programs are popular in your country?
Have people's preferences in TV programs changed much in the past few decades?
Can you suggest (or, explain) why people like to watch television?
Can you suggest why some people choose not to watch TV?
Can you think of anything about (watching) television that's not good?
Do people generally watch TV alone, or with others?
What effects do you think television has on family relations?


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How important do you think it is for a family to watch TV together?
How does that benefit a family?
Do you think a family watching television together leads to stronger family ties?
Which is better for a family to watch together, TV on the internet, or TV on a traditional TV set?,
What about watching a debate on TV? Do you think that always promotes harmony in a family?
Do you think it's good for a family to watch TV while they are having a meal together?
What do people generally do at home when they are not watching TV?
What did people in families do before the age of television?
Do young people today spend more time watching TV, or using the internet?
Please compare watching television on a device such as a smart-phone and watching it on a
traditional TV set.
In the future, do you think television will continue to exist as it is now, or will we see some
changes?

Television and Education
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Which do you think is more ​fun​, watching TV or reading?
(Most likely the question above is really this) Which do you think is more ​interesting​, watching
TV or reading?
Which do you think has more ​educational value​, watching TV or reading?
Which do you think has more educational value for children, using a computer, or watching TV?
Do school children learn about (or, learn to use) computers in school?
What relationship do you think television and education have with each other? *
Do you think school children should watch TV in the classroom (or, at school)?
Do you think TV could be used as an educational tool? *
Do teachers in your country ever use television in the classroom?
Which do you think is better as an educational tool in a classroom, a television, or a computer (+
projection screen)?
In the future, what role do you think multimedia (including television) will play in education?
Do you think these multimedia will one day replace the books that are used for education today
(i.e., textbooks)?

Television and Children
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What types of TV programs do children like to watch?
In your opinion, do children get more benefits than harm from watching TV, (or more harm than
good)?
Do you think it's good for school children to watch TV at home?
What influence do you think (watching) TV has on a child's education?
Do you think children watch too much TV?

Friendship in General
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How do people in your country make friends these days?
Do you think you can trust friends who you make on the internet?
Do you think it's easy to become friends with someone?
Can you suggest why some people find it hard to maintain (or, keep) friendships?
Would you say some people have more ability to make friends than other people?


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What kinds of personality do people have who can make friends easily?
Which do you think is better, to have many friends or just one to two close friends?
Which is more important (to you), friends or family?
What do you think are the differences between a friendship and a family relationship?
Which do you think is more important, (a friendship with) your neighbours or (with) your
relatives?
How do people choose who to be friends with?
Which do you think is more important (or, better), a friend who is useful to you, or a friend who
you simply enjoy being with?
Would you prefer to make friends with someone who is similar to you, or someone who is quite
different to you?
What do you think are the advantages of having a close friend (a good friend)?
What are the advantages for students, or for working people, in having friends at their study
places or at work?
What would you say are the qualities (or characteristics) of a good friend?
Do you think co-operation is important in a friendship?
Do you think it's important for mothers of babies or young children to have friends?
In what ways do you think having an outgoing personality helps people in their studies, or at
work?
In general, how do you think a person could get along with someone who they don't like, for
example, in the workplace?

Friendship and Gender
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Do you think friendships between males are generally the same as friendships between females?
(Similar to above) would you say there is much difference between men’s friendships and that of
women?
Which group, males or females, tend to have longer-lasting friendships?
Do males generally make friends with other males the same way that females make friends with
other females?
What do you think are the differences between a male friend and a female friend?
What do you think are the differences between a non-romantic friendship with a member of the
opposite sex, and a romantic relationship?

Friendships Between Unequals
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Do you think it's necessary (or, important) for people to become friends with the people they
work with?
Do you think it's possible for an employee and his or her supervisor (or, manager or boss) at work
to become friends?
Do you think it's possible for a student and his or her teacher to become friends?
Do you think such friendships could have both negative and positive results?

Friendships Between Nations
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Do you think modern methods of communication are influencing international relations?

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How do you think sporting and cultural relations between countries can promote friendship
between these countries?
What are the benefits for nations from holding or attending an event such as the Olympic Games?
(Similar to above)​ ​What affects do international events such as the Olympic Games have on
people?

Families in Your Country
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What do you understand the word, "family" to mean?
(Similar to above) What does the word, "family" mean?
In your country, what family members typically live together in one home?
Is it common for an extended family to live under one roof in your country?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
In your country, do most people usually live in the same city as their family members?
In your country, what is the traditional model of a family?
In your country, what people most commonly live together as a family today?
Do you think the number of children in a family should be limited, for example, limited to two
children?
In your country, who is usually the most important member of a family?
Who is usually the head (the leader) of the family?
Do you think this will stay the same in the future?
Would you say that, in most families, there is gender equality between the mother and father (or,
wife and husband)?
Would you say the status of men in your country today is different to the way it was in the past?
In a traditional family in your country, does every family member have an equal right to speak?
(Similar to above) In a traditional family in your country, is the opinion of every family member
given equal weight?
Do you think this will change in the future?
What do you think are the advantages (and possible disadvantages) of having close family ties?
Do you think the popular media has changed the way people think about family?
In what way do digital devices influence family relationships?

Grandparents
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What role do grandparents traditionally have in families?
In your country, do most children grow up with their grandparents living in the same house?
(Similar to above) Do grandparents usually live with their grandchildren?
Are grandparents today considered to be important family members in your country? What role
do grandparents play in family life in your country?
Are grandparents (or, old people) today given the same respect (or, enjoy the same status) as they
used to be given, or has it changed?
What are the advantages (and possible disadvantages) of grandparents living with the family?
Can (or, do) grandparents help with bringing up their grandchildren?

Parents


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In your country, what are the roles of the mother and the father in a family?
(Similar to above) In your country, what are the different responsibilities of the mother and the

father in a family?
Would you say that most parents in your country are good parents?
What makes a good parent?
(Similar to above) What personal qualities do parents need to have?
How can a person learn to become a good parent ?
Do you think it's easier today to raise children than it was in the past?
Would you say that parents in your country have different attitudes towards their sons, and
towards their daughters?
What do you suggest parents should (or, could) do in order to avoid having their child grow up to
be selfish (or spoiled)?

Sport and Exercise in Your Country
What sports are most popular in your country?
● (Similar to above) What sport is most popular in your country?
● Do you think media plays an important role in the popularity of sports?
● (For Chinese candidates) Can you explain why table tennis (or, ping pong) is so popular in
China?
● Is there any sports in your country that was the most popular years ago but isn't the most popular
today?
● Do boys and girls like the same sports?
● Who plays these sports?
● Can you explain why some people like to play a sport?
● Would you say sport is important?
● Which do you think is better
, as a spectator, to attend an outdoor sports match or to attend a match held in an indoor stadium (or a
gym)?
● Do you like to go to sports matches that have very large crowds of spectators?
● Which do you think is better
, to play a sport outdoors or to play a sport in an indoor stadium (or gym)?
● Which do you think is more important, study or sport?

● What do you think are the benefits of playing a sport?
● What do you think are the differences (or advantages and disadvantages) of team sports as
opposed to individual sports?
● What do you think are the differences (or advantages and disadvantages) of competitive sports as
opposed to non-competitive sports?
● What do you think are the benefits of doing exercise?
● Do you think exercise is important for good health?
● What forms of exercise do you think are best for losing weight?
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Do you do much exercise?
● Which do you think is better
, to exercise outdoors or to exercise in a gym?
● Is it expensive to use a gym?
● Do you think elderly people also need to do regular exercise?
● Do you think governments (local and ​/​ or national) should invest more in sports?
● Can you suggest why some people spend a lot of money on sport?
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Children and Sport
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Did you do (or, play) any sports when you were a child?
Did you enjoy it?
Do you think children today do enough exercise?
(Similar to above) Do you think children should play more sport than they do now?
(Similar to above) Do you think school students today spend enough time on sport and exercise?
Are there any significant benefits to playing sports?
(Possibly) Do you think children need to play sport, or would it be good enough for them just to
do exercise? *
Can you suggest how students could be encouraged to play more sport?
Do you think children should be taught sports in schools?
Do you think ​small​ children should play sport?
Which do you think is better for children, individual sports or team sports?
Which sports are the best for children, indoor or outdoor ones?
If you had children, what sport would you like your them to do?
Do you think children should be encouraged to be competitive?
Do you think that a child who is a member of a sports team that never wins can be negatively
affected by that?

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694. ​A Photograph of You​ ​(Jan. 2016)

Describe a photo of yourself that you took
You should say:

when you took this photo
how this photograph was taken
where the photo was taken
and explain how you feel (or felt) about this photo. *

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Part 3
Personal Photography
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Do you like to take photos?
Do people in your country like taking photos?


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Why do people take (or, like taking) photographs?
On what occasions do people take photographs?
What do young people like to photograph?
What would you say are the main differences between taking photos today, and taking photos in
the past?
Are people today taking more photos than they did in the past?
(Different to above) Are more people today taking photos than in the past?
In your country, what do people usually take photos of (= take pictures of)?
Who do you think likes taking photos more, men or women?
Do you prefer to take photos of natural scenery, or photos of people?
On what occasions do people take photos of their family or friends?
Do you prefer to take photos of natural scenery, or photos of yourself?
If you want to be in a photo, do you prefer to ask someone to take the photo, or to use a
self-timer?

Do you often take a photo of yourself?
Do you think taking photos is important?
What are the benefits of having photographs?
Do you think photographs can ever be used to harm people?
Do you think (some) people today are spending too much time taking photographs?
(Similar to above) Do you think people today are overly dependant on photos (as a way to record
their lives)?
Some tourists spend most of their time taking photos when they visit places, with the result that
they spend less time actually enjoying and exploring these places. Which do you prefer, to take
many photos when you are a tourist, or to take fewer photos and spend more time experiencing
these places?
How do people save their photos (when they use a camera)?
Why do people store (keep) their photographs?
Why do people store (keep) some photographs and delete other photos?
Can you suggest why some people save some photos that are not good quality?
How do you keep (or save) your photographs?
Some people don't like taking photos. Can you suggest why?
Some people don't like to have their photo taken (= to be in a photo). Can you suggest why?
Do you think photos (or, taking photos) can help students (with their study)?
Do you think people need to learn how to take a photograph from a book?
(Similar to above) What role do you think books play in teaching people about photography (or,
teaching people how to take good photos)?
Some people post their photos online for others to see. Do you think they should post ugly photos
online?

The Uses of Photographs
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Do you think photography is important?
What are the different purposes (uses) of photographs?
What types of photos make the strongest impression on you?
Can you suggest why photographs are often used in advertising?


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Why do you think the news media often shows powerful photographs of events?

Photographic Technology
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What are the differences between how people take photos today and how it was done in the past?
What has been the effect of these differences?
Do you think it's easier to take photos today than it was in the past?
Why do many people like to use their cell phone for taking photos?
Can you suggest why some people prefer to use traditional cameras to take photos?
Which do you prefer, taking pictures with a camera or taking pictures with a mobile phone?
(Similar to above) How (what method) do you prefer for taking photographs?

Which do you think is more convenient to use for taking pictures, a cell phone or a digital
camera?
Is it always necessary to print photos in order to view them?
Do you ever use software to change your photos?

Children and Toys in Your Country
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What kinds of toys do kids in your country usually play with (or, have)?
(Similar to above) What kinds of toys do kids in your country like to play with today?

Do you think preferences for toys change with age?
What are the differences between children's toys today and those of the past?
Do you think toys were better in the past than they are today, (or are the toys today better)?
Do you think toys are just for play or do they also have educational value?
(Similar to above) Which do you think are better, toys that provide fun for children, or
educational toys?
Would you say a toy gun is educational?
How do you compare children playing with toys, and children playing games on an ipad or a
similar electronic device?
What are the benefits of parents playing with toys along with their children?
What can children learn by playing with toys with their parents?
Some parents don't spend much time with their child but, instead buy the child a toy as a way to
show their love. Do you think this is good enough?
Can you explain why children often have a favourite toy?
Do you think children learn any good habits from playing with toys?
How do children play with their toys when they are with other kids?
What benefits do you think children can gain by playing with their toys with other kids, for
example, kids from other families?
Do boys and girls generally play with the same types of toys?
Can you explain why boys usually prefer toys such as toy cars or toy weapons while girls prefer
dolls or toy household items?
Are there any toys that young people (such as teenagers) like to play with?
Do you think the topic of "toys" is an important topic?
If you were going to give a toy to a child, what toy would you choose to give them?


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What sorts of toys do you think will be most popular in the future?

Collecting Toys
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Do you think it's good for children to collect toys?
Can you suggest why children like to collect toys?
What (types of) toys do some children like to ​collect​?
How do some companies encourage children to collect these toys?
(A bit different to above) Why do some companies encourage children to collect these toys?
Can you suggest why some adults collect certain toys?

The Marketing of Toys
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Can you suggest what attracts a child to a toy?
How does the media attract children towards a certain toy?
Do parents in your country prefer to buy expensive toys, or cheap ones?
Do you think it's good for parents to buy expensive toys for their children?
Do you think some parents spend too much money on toys for their children (or child)?
How can a parent decide what is a suitable amount of money to spend on a toy?

Animals in Your Country
Do you like animals?
● What species of animal do people in your country like the most?
● (Similar to above) Is there one animal that is a favourite animal among people in your country?
● Do people in your country like birds?
● What animals are most common around where you live?
● What are the differences between the animals in the countryside and those in the cities?
● Do you think animals today are more important ​for (or, to) people​ than they were in the past?
● (Slightly different to above) Do you think animals today are more important ​in human society
than they were in the past?
● Would you say animals are more important in the countryside than in the cities?
● Do you think cities are suitable places for raising animals?
● What would you say are the purposes of animals in daily life?
● Would you say that raising (or, keeping) animals today is different to the way it was in the past?
● What animals are raised on farms?
● What animals do some people use as work animals?
● Are animals today used for work as much as they were in the past?
● Can you think of any examples of work animals being replaced by technology?
● In the future, do you think most work animals will have been replaced by technology?
● Are animals still used much in your country for transportation?
● Besides strong animals, are any other animals used in society to help people?
● What are the various roles that dogs play in society?
● (Similar to above) What are some examples of working dogs?
● In your country, how much do you think people's attitudes about animals have changed in the past
few decades?
Animals in General​ ​(The Welfare of Animals)
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Do you think it's important that some animals become extinct?
What do you think could be done to prevent an animal from becoming extinct?
What are the results of an animal becoming extinct?
Sometimes people at beaches get killed by sharks. Do you think sharks should be protected?
What's your opinion about animal testing? ?
(Similar to above) Do you agree with using animals in medical experimentation?
What do you think are the pros and cons of keeping animals in zoos?
Can you suggest why some people become vegetarians?

Pets
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What animals do people in your country most commonly keep as pets?
Do people in your country generally prefer to have a pet dog, or a pet cat?
Why do some people not want to have a pet?
What do you think are the pros and cons of having a pet?
(Similar to above) What are the benefits of having a pet?
Do you think there are benefits for elderly people to have a pet?
What problems are involved with having a pet?
How should a person keep a pet?
Do you think it's suitable to have a pet if you live in a big city?
Do you think it's suitable to have a pet if you live in an apartment?
Do you think cities are suitable places for having a large pet?
Which would you prefer to have, an electronic pet or a real pet?

Who People Eat With
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Do you eat with your friends regularly?
Do you often eat with older people?
(Similar to above) Do you like to have dinner with older people?
How important do you think it is for members of a family to eat together?
(Similar to above) What do you think are the benefits of having a family eat together?
(Similar to above) Are family meals important to you?
What do you think are the benefits of having three generations of a family eating together?
If your child was with you at the dinner party, do you think he/she would bother you?
What do you think are the benefits of having different types of people eating together?
Why do some people not always eat with their family?
(Similar to above) Can you suggest why people today are eating less with their families than they
did in the past?
What do you think are (or, will be) the results of this? *
Do school students in your country usually eat with their fellow students?
Who do you prefer to eat with, your friends or your parents?
How often do people in your country eat with their (work) colleagues or with their fellow
students?


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Do you think people today are eating meals with non-family members more often than in the
past?
What do you think has caused this change?
Are there any special times in your country when people eat together?

Where People Eat Their Meals

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Do you (or, do people in your country) generally prefer to eat at home or eat out?
How often do people in your country eat out?
In what ways would you say eating at home and eating in restaurants are different?
(Similar to above) What do you think are the advantages and the disadvantages of eating at home,
compared to eating in restaurants?
Do you think people today are eating in restaurant more often than they did in the past?
What do you think has caused this change?
When people are celebrating a traditional holiday or a personal celebration, do they usually eat at
home, or in a restaurant?

Food
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Do you think the food that people are eating today is different to the food that people were eating
several decades ago?
Can you suggest why some people continue to eat unhealthy foods even when they know these
foods are unhealthy?
Do young people and old(er) people in your country have different eating (or, food) habits?
How does the food that children eat influence them (their development)?
Do you think the food is an important part of the culture of a country?
Can you explain why people eating together is usually an important part of celebrating a special
event?
Do people (in your country) usually eat any special or different foods when they have a party or
celebration?
Do people in your country eat certain foods during traditional holidays?
On special occasions such as weddings, people spend a lot of money on food. Why do you think
they do that?
Do you think some people spend too much money on food for these occasions?

Types of Clothing and Clothing for Different Occasions​ ​(especially formal vrs casual clothing)
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Can you explain why people wear different types of clothes at different times (or, on different
occasions)? ​FQx2
What are the different types of clothes that people wear for different types of occasions (and at
different types of places)? ​FQx2
(Similar to above) Do people generally wear the same clothes at home as they do at work? ​FQx2

Why do people change their clothes (e.g., after work)? ​FQ
(Similar to above) Why do people not wear the same clothes at home and at work? ​FQx2
Do you think it is good to wear the same clothes at home as you do at work?
(Possibly) Do you think it ​would be​ good to wear the same clothes at home and at work? *


In your country, people in what jobs generally wear a suit to work?
● What would you say are the advantages and disadvantages of wearing these different types of
clothes?
● What would you say are the benefits of "dressing up"?
● On what occasions do people generally wear formal clothes?
​Judging Others by Their Clothes
● Do you think people pay attention to the clothes that others are wearing? ​FQ
● Do you think people tend to judge others by the clothes they wear? ​FQ
● How would others react if someone wore unsuitable clothes?
● What would you think if you saw someone wearing dirty clothes?
● Would you say that the clothes someone wears shows (reflects) their personality?
● What types of people generally choose to wear sportswear as their leisure clothing?
​Fashion
● What types of people tend to be most fashion-conscious in their choice of clothes?
● What fashions in clothes are popular (or trendy) at the moment in your country? *
● What's your opinion of the fashion in clothes in your country at the moment?
● Where do people in your country buy their clothes?
● Who do you think mostly buys designer clothes?
● Do you think it depends on the age of the person?
● Who mostly wears trendy clothes, young people or older people? ​FQ
● Why do you you think older people are less interested in (following) fashion? ​FQ
● Do you think the internet is important in the clothing industry today?
● What do you think is the "fashion centre" of the world?
● (Similar to above, for Asian people) Where do you think the fashion centre of Asia is?

● What do you think are the benefits to a country of having its own clothing industry?
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Clothes for School and Work
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Do you (or, did you) like to wear a uniform at school?
● Would you say (older) school students like wearing a school uniform? ​FQx2
● Do you think school uniforms look good (are attractive)?
● Do you think schoolchildren ​should​ wear a uniform at school?
● (Similar to above) What do you think are the advantages and the disadvantages of wearing a
uniform at school? ​FQx2
​Work
● In what ways do work clothes differ from typical leisure wear?
● Can you suggest why some people wear casual clothes at work?
● Do certain clothes represent certain jobs (or types of work)?
● For example, what does a policeman's uniform represent?
● Why do some big companies require their workers, such as factory workers, to wear a uniform at
work?​ FQx2
● Do you think this is a good idea?
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(Similar to above) What do you think are the advantages and the disadvantages of wearing a

uniform at work? ​FQx2
Would you like to wear a uniform at work?
Do you think wearing overalls at work is a good idea? *
What kinds of workers wear overalls? * See ​Note 4

Clothes in Different Parts of the World / Traditional Clothes
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Why do people in different countries sometimes wear distinctive types of clothing?​ FQx2
(Similar to above) Can you suggest why people in different countries wear different styles of
clothes?​ FQx2
What does the traditional clothing in your country look like? *
Do you think the traditional dress (= clothing) of people in your country is beautiful?
Do people in your country wear traditional clothes very often?
When do they wear traditional clothes?
Why don't they wear traditional clothes all the time?
Do you think all the people of the world might one day be wearing the same kinds of clothes?​ FQ
With globalization, people today have more choices but some people continue to wear the
traditional clothes of their country. Can you suggest why?
Why do people in different parts of some countries (e.g., north and south) often wear different

types of clothes?
Is there any type of clothing that people in your country would feel strange wearing?

Attitudes and Feelings About the Weather
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How do you feel about the weather? ​FQ
(Similar to above) Do you care much about the weather and the seasons? ​FQ
How do people in your country generally feel about the weather?
What kind of weather do people in your country prefer? ​FQx2
Do people in your country talk about the weather very much?
(Similar to above) Do people in your country care much about the weather? ​FQ
(Similar to above) In general, do people in your country keep an eye on the weather? ​FQ
How do people cope with different types of weather?
How can people know what the weather will be like tomorrow?

In general, do people in your country pay attention to the weather forecasts? ​FQx2
Which people (or, what types of people) do you think pay more attention to the weather forecasts
than other people? ​FQx2
How do people get the weather forecasts? ​FQx2
Are weather forecasts in your country usually accurate? ​FQ
Do you think it's difficult for scientists (meteorologists) to forecast the weather?
Do you think young people have the same feelings (or, attitudes, or ​ideas​, or knowledge) about
the weather and the seasons as old(er) people?
Would you say that "climate change" has affected your country?

"Climate Change"


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Do you think your government needs to do more about "climate change"? (See Note 6 on Page
133)

The Weather and the Seasons in Your Country
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What's the weather usually like in your hometown?
Is the weather generally the same in the north and the south (or, in different parts) of your
country? ​FQ

How do you think weather influences people's lifestyles?
Do people generally do the same kinds of things in different seasons? ​FQ
(Similar to above) What different activities do people do in different seasons? ​FQx2
Do people do different sports in different seasons? ​FQ
Do people change their activities as a result of changes in the weather?

The Influence of the Weather & Seasons on Work
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In general, how does (or, how can) the weather influence the activities of people?
Who do you think is generally more interested in the weather forecasts, city people or people in
the countryside?
Can you think of some examples of how the weather can have an impact on people doing certain
jobs? ​FQx2
(Similar to above) What are some types of work in which workers especially pay attention to
(changes in) the weather? ​FQx2

Goals / Dreams
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(Referring to your Part 2 answer) Do you think people in others countries also have that goal?
Do you think it's important for people to have dreams​/​goals​?​ ​FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think ​young​ people ​should have a goal (or, goals)? ​FQ
(Similar to above) Why do people set goals for themselves? ​FQ
What are some typical goals that young people in your country have? ​FQx2
Do you think people should talk to others about their goals?
Which do you think is more important, the process of working hard towards a goal, or the
achievement of the goal? ​FQx2
(Similar to above) Which do you think is more rewarding, working towards a goal, or achieving
it? ​FQ
In your country, what goals do young people generally have?
In general. what are the differences between the goals that males have and those that females
have?
At what age do you think is the most suitable time for people to set their major goals for their
life?
Do you think people's goals change as they grow older, for example, when they are in their
thirties or forties? ​FQ
For those people who don't have any goals, where could they get some suggestions for goals to
have?
Do you think parents have a lot of influence on the goals that their children have?


For young people. which do you think is a better source of suggestions for goals, their friends,

their parents or their teachers? ​FQ
● Who do you think helps (or, can help) young people more to set a goal, their parents or their
teachers?
● Why do you think many young people do not listen to the advice of their parents?
● When did you start having goals for yourself?
● What kinds of problems do people have in achieving their goals?
● Can you suggest how they could overcome these problems?
● What (or, how) would you feel if you couldn’t achieve a goal?
​Dreams
See ​Note 5
● Do you think it’s important to have realistic goals?
● What kinds of goals are not realistic?
● Would you say there's much difference between a "goal" and a "dream"? *
● (Similar to above) What would you say is the difference between a "dream" and a realistic goal?
FQ
● Do you think it's good to have a dream, or is it bad?
● What sorts of dreams do young people in your country have?
● Do you think everyone ​should have a dream? ​FQ
● Do you think (young) people ​should have a dream? ​FQ
● If one's dream is to difficult to achieve, what do you suggest they should do?
● Would you agree that some young people just have dreams because it gives them pleasure?
● Do you think there are any disadvantages in having dreams? ​FQ
● Do you think many people continue striving to reach a goal even after they realize it is
unrealistic?
● How do you think a dream can be turned into reality?
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Ambition
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Do you think a person needs to have self-confidence in order to be ambitious?
Do you think ambitious people are born with self-confidence, or confident because they are
ambitious?
Would you say everyone is ambitious?
Would society be better if there were fewer ambitious people? ​FQ
(Similar to above) Do you think our society needs ambitious people or is it better without them?
FQ
What do you think is the relationship between society’s growth and ambition?

Children and Goals
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Do you think it's good for parents to set (or, choose) goals for their children? ​FQ
At what age do you think a person is first capable of formulating their own goals for their future?
FQ
Do boys and girls usually have the same gaols, or different goals?


Apologizing in Your Country
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Do people in your country often apologise? ​FQx2
In what situations do they apologise? ​FQ
(Similar to above) What are some examples of things that people apologise for? ​FQ
How do people apologize?
Do you think it's important to say sorry?
In what situations should people apologize immediately?
Who apologises more, young people or old (or older) people?
What is the purpose of apologizing? ​FQ
Are there different ways to apologize?
Do you think giving a gift along with an apology makes the apology more sincere?
Have you ever found it hard to accept an apology from someone?
Do you think some people are insincere when they apologize?
Some people think that insincere apologies are selfish. What do you think they mean?

Do you think people's actions are more important than what they say?
Can you suggest why some people find it difficult to say sorry? ​FQ
(Similar to above) Can you suggest why some people dislike saying sorry? ​FQ
Do you think fewer people apologize today than in the past?
What environment can influence how much a person apologizes (or, how important people think
it is to apologize)?
Which situation is more common in your country, subordinate people apologizing to their
superiors, or the reverse?
(For non-Western candidates) In your country, is the way that people apologise the same as in the
West? ​FQ

Children and Apologizing
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Can you suggest why very young children rarely or never apologise?
Why are (some) children selfish?
Why should children be taught to be considerate of others?
Whose responsibility do you think it is to teach children about apologising, the parents or school
teachers?

Caring About the Feelings of Others
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Do you think people should take care not to hurt the feelings of others?
In general, who do you think is more considerate of the feelings of others, makes or females?
Do you think some people are born with more compassion than other people?
What are some examples of things that people should pay attention to if they want to avoid
hurting the feelings of others?
Some people are always worried about whether their behaviour (including their words) might
affect others. What's your view on this?
(Similar to above) Some people are always watching what they say, especially their opinions,
because they worry about ​offending​ (or hurting) others. What's your view on this?

Reading (especially reading fiction) in Your Country


How often do people in your country read a novel?
● In what ways does reading (or, reading novels) affect society? ​FQ
● In your country, what types of books are the most famous?
● What kinds of novels (or fiction) do people in your country like to read? ​FQx2
● Do you think men and women like to read the same kinds of fiction?
● Can you suggest why some people like reading novels (as opposed to other types of books)? ​FQ
● For you, what qualities define a novel as "a good novel"?
● Do people in your country often read foreign novels?
● Are mystery novels very popular in your country?
● Can you suggest why some people like to read mystery (or, detective) novels? ​FQx2
● Which do you think is better, a mystery novel, or a mystery film (or TV program)? What kinds of
novels do old people like to read?
● What kinds of novels do young people in your country like to read? ​FQ
● (Possibly the question above is this) What are the reading habits of young people in your country?
● What kinds of novels (or, fiction) do you think are the most relaxing to read?
● In your country, do parents often express an opinion about what novels their children should or

should not read?
● What influence do (or can) novels have on society?
● Would you say there are differences between novels written in your country and those written in
the West?
Films Based on Novels​ ​ ​Frequent sub-topic
● Do you think that the novels (or, books) that people read and the films that they watch are
similar? (similar in type, or topic, or as forms of entertainment) ​FQ
● What sorts of novels are most often made into films? ​FQx2
● (Similar to above) In your opinion. what kinds of novels are most suited to being adapted into a
film? ​FQ
● In what ways do you think reading a novel is different to watching a film based in that novel?
FQ
● Do you think most people watch a film based on a novel for the same reason that people read the
novel?
● Which do you think is more interesting, a novel or a film adaptation of the same novel?
● In what ways do you think films based on novels are different to the novels? ​FQ
● How do you imagine a novel can be adapted into a film?
● Can you suggest why films based on a novel are popular?
● Can you suggest why detective (or mystery) films are so popular? ​FQ
● What makes a successful film, in your opinion?
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How People Read
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Do you prefer to read books (or, novels) on paper, or in an electronic form (e-books, e.g.,
Kindle)? ​FQx2
(Similar to above)​ ​What are the differences between reading a book on paper and reading it in an

electronic form? ​FQx2
Which of those do you prefer?


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What kinds of people are most likely to read e-books?

Stories
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What kinds of stories do children like?
What do you think are the benefits for children of listening to or reading stories?
Would you say you are a good storyteller?

Local News
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Are there many local newspapers in your city (or town)?
Do you (or people in your country) generally prefer local news, or international news? ​FQx2

(Similar to above) Which do you think is more important, local news or international (= world)
news? ​FQx2
(Different to above) Which news are people in your country more interested in, local news or
national​ news? ​FQx2
Do you think people in one locality, such as a city, are interested in the local news from another
locality or city?
Do people get local news from the internet?
How do you think a community benefits from local news? ​FQ
Do you think local news can help people keep a sense of local identity?
If you wanted to be in the local news, how would you do it?

Ways of Getting News
How do people in your country get the news? ​FQ
Which way of getting the news is best, in your opinion?
● (Similar to above) Which do you think is better for getting the news, newspapers or the internet?
FQ
● How do people in your country get ​local​ news?
● Has there been any changes in the past few decades in how people get the news?
● In your community, do people generally get their local news from TV or from newspapers?
● In your community, do people generally get their local news from newspapers or from the
internet?
● Is it easy (or convenient) for people in your country to get the news on the internet?
● How often do people in your country buy a newspaper these days?
● Do you think newspapers will disappear one day?
● Do you (or, do people in your country) prefer to watch the news on domestic (= national or local)
TV channels, or on international news TV channels (such as CNN & the BBC)?
● Are children very interested in the news?
● (The question above might really be this) Are ​young people​ very interested in the news?
Communities​ ​(frequent sub-topic)
● Can you suggest why some people are interested in doing community work?

● And why do some people not like doing that kind of work?
● Who do you think tends to do community work more, old people or young people?
● What do you think motivates people to engage in community work?
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Would you say there are more groups doing community work than there were 20 or 30 years ago,
or fewer of these groups?
Would you say people in local communities today are closer to each other than before, or not?
FQx2
(Similar to above) Would you say local communities today are stronger than before, or not? ​FQ
Would you say that the use of mobile phones tends to cause people to be estranged from each
other?
Can you suggest why some people want to be a part of a community, and why other people do not
care about taht?

Studying a Foreign Language in Your Country
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Do many people in your country learn a foreign language?
Besides English, what other foreign languages do some people in your country study? ​FQ
Which people in your country learn (or, study) a foreign language?
Can you explain why people learn foreign languages? ​FQx2
Why did you start to learn English?
Do you think it's really useful (or, important) to study a foreign language? ​FQ
(Similar to above) What would you say are the benefits of learning a foreign language? ​FQx2
It what situations is it an advantage to have studied (or, to know) a foreign language?
Do you think learning a second language has benefits for a person's brain?
Would you say that knowing (or, studying) another language is more likely to help your use of
your mother tongue, or to harm you use of it?

Do you think more people are learning languages well (= learning them to a high level) today
than in the past?
Do you think learning a foreign language in your home country is the same as learning it abroad?
Would you say it's easy to learn a foreign language?
What are the main difficulties that people have when they learn a language?
How important would you say it is to be interested in the language one is studying?
Which do you think is more important, learning to speak a language or learning to write it? ​FQx2
(Different to above) Which do you think is more ​difficult​, learning to speak a language or
learning to write it? ​FQx2
Which is easier (or more useful), learning to speak a language or learning to write it?
What do you think are the differences between learning to read a foreign language, and learning
to write it?
Some people only learn to speak a foreign language without learning how to read and write it. Do
you think that's a good idea?
Can you suggest why some people learn a language faster than other people?
Do you think it is better to learn a language as an adult or to learn it as a child?
What age do you think is best for a person to begin to learn a new language? ​FQx2
Some people say that primary school is the best time to start learning a new language. Do you
agree?

Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages


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How are foreign languages taught (at school) in your country?
Do you think this is the best way to teach a language?
Can you suggest any modern methods of teaching a language that you think should be included in
schools in your country?
Why do some school students find their language classes to be boring?
How do you think teachers could make language classes at school more successful (or, more
interesting)? ​FQx2
(Similar to above) How do you think language classes at school could be improved? ​FQx2
How do you think teaching a language to little kids is different to teaching a foreign language to
teenagers or adults?
What difficulties can children face when studying a foreign language?
Would you say it's a good idea for children to play games using a foreign language in language
classes?

Foreign Languages & International Relations
See earlier topics under "International Languages" (or similar) for other likely questions in this sub-topic,
e.g., "In the future, which language do you think will be the dominant language in the world?"
● In the English-speaking countries, most people never learn a foreign language. Do you think that's
a bad thing?
● Do you think promoting the study of foreign languages is important in international relations?
● What do you think is the most ​appropriate​ foreign language for people in your country to learn
today?
● Do you think it's important that minority languages be preserved (or, saved)? ​FQ

Helping in General
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Do you like helping others?
Has anyone ever given help to you?
Can you explain why people like to help others? ​FQ
Would you say that people in your country are generally willing to help others?
Do you think children should be taught to help others?
How do people in your country help each other?
Are people in your country generally willing to lend money?
How would you describe people who like to, or frequently help others?
Who do you think are more likely to help others, men or women?
Are there any people in your country who do volunteer work? (What work? Why?)

Helping Within the Family
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In general. how do family members help each other? ​FQ
(Similar to above) What can family members do to help other members of the family (or, the

family as a whole)? ​FQ
In your country, in what ways do parents help their children? ​FQx2
How would you compare that to the way friends help each other? ​FQ
Do you think parents ​should help their children?
How do you think parents are affected by the need to help their children?


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(Similar to above) How do you imagine parents feel about helping their children?
Do you think parents helping their children can sometimes not be a good thing? ​FQ
Do you think some parents do too much to help their children?
What effect might it have on the children if the parents give them too much help?
Do you give much help to other members of your family?
(Probable, unreported question) Which do you think is more important, helping members of one's
family or helping others, such as one's friends? *

The Helping Professions
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What are some examples of jobs in which people help others? ​FQ
(Similar to above) What are some examples of jobs which help the community? ​FQ
What are some examples of people who ​are helped​ by those doing these jobs?
(Similar to above) What kinds of people are helped by people doing these jobs?
Would you say that all public servants (civil servants) help people in the community?
Why do you think there are more females than males in the helping professions, for example,
more female teachers than male teachers? ​FQ
Would you say that, in general, people who help others as a job are well-paid?
Do you think they should be paid more than what they are paid today?
Do you think the salary of civil servants is reasonable?
(Similar to above) Would you say that public servants are well-paid?
(Possible question) Do you think public servants ​should be well-paid?) *
Are there any people in your country who help others in their community, even without pay?
Why do you think some people would do this work for free?

　

Work in Your Country
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What jobs are most ​popular​ (among young people) in your country today? ​FQx2
(Not really the same as above) What jobs are most ​in demand​ in your country right now?
What jobs do you think are the least popular choice in your country?
Can you explain why people work? ​FQ
(Similar to above) What do you think are the motivations for people to (go to) work? ​FQ
Do you think work is equally important for both men and women? *
(Related to above) Which is more important for (or, to) a woman, marriage or work? *
Do you think people tend to become more interested in their work as they become older?
What do you think are the differences between work in your country and work in the West?
What jobs do you think are most suitable for older people? (e.g., 45 and older)
What would you say are the advantages and disadvantages of doing shiftwork (working in shifts)?
What do you think are the advantages of flexitime?
How do you think work will (or might) change in the future? *
Do you think there will be new types of jobs in the future?
Do you think more people will be working from home in the future? ​FQ
What do you think are the pros and cons of working from home? ​FQ
Would you like to work abroad?

Choosing a Career