Today, the quality of life in large cities is decreasing.

Discuss the causes and

solutions.
Some people think that all children should learn geography in school.

However,

some others think that learning subjects more relevant to life is more important. (Do
you agree or disagree? Give your opinion.)
Many governments in the world spend large amounts of money on art which helps
to develop quality in peoples life. However, governments should spend money on
other things rather than art. Do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion.
The development of tourism contributed to English becoming the most prominent
language in the world. Some people think this will lead to English becoming the only
language to be spoken globally. What are the advantages and disadvantages to
having one language in the world?
Many offenders commit more crimes after serving the first punishment. Why is this
happening, and what measures can be taken to tackle this problem?
Some people think that money is one of the most essential factors in promoting
happiness.
Do you think people can be happy without much money?
What other factors contribute towards happiness?
Art is considered an important part of a society

as well as an expression of its

culture. Do you think it is important for children to be taught art? Do you think
children should be encouraged to focus on art rather than other subjects?
Many people believe that social networking sites (such as Facebook) have had a
huge negative impact on both individuals and society. To what extend do you agree?
Completing university education is thought by some to be the best way to get a
good job. On the other hand, other people think that getting experience and
developing soft skills is more important.

Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

Even though developing countries receive financial aid, poverty is still a problem.
Some people believe that in order to eliminate poverty in developing countries
other forms of aid are needed.
To what extent do you agree or disagree? And suggest what other form of aid could
be offered.
Some people think that only staff who worked in a company for a long time should
be promoted to a higher position. What's your opinion?
As computers are being used more and more in education, there will be soon no role
for teachers in the classroom.

The growing number of overweight people is putting a strain on the health care
system in an effort to deal with the health issues involved. Some people think that
the best way to deal with this problem is to introduce more physical education
lessons in the school curriculum. To what extent do you agree or disagree? give
clear opinion to fulfill the Task Response criterion
In some parts of the world it is becoming popular to research the history of one's
own family. Why might people want to do this? Is it a positive or negative
development?

The crime rate among teenagers has increased dramatically in many countries.
Discuss some possible reasons for this increase and suggest solutions.
Some people believe the aim of university education is to help graduates get better
jobs. Others believe there are much wider benefits of university education for both
individuals and society.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Blood sports have become a hot topic for debate in recent years. As society
develops it is increasingly seen as an uncivilized activity and cruel to the helpless

animals that are killed. All blood sports should be banned. Discuss the main
arguments for this statement and give your own opinion.
Science and technology have helped the world make many advances. The Arts,
such as painting, theatre and dance, to name just three examples, however, are
also valuable.
What things do the Arts provide to the world that Science and Technology do not?
According to a recent study, the more time people use the Internet, the less time
they spend with real human beings. Some people say that instead of seeing the
Internet as a way of opening up new communication possibilities worldwide, we
should be concerned about the effect this is having on social interaction.
How far do you agree with this opinion?
Unemployment has become an increasing problem in the recent past.
What factors contribute to an increase in unemployment and what steps can be
taken to solve the problem?
Some people think children in secondary school should study international news as
part of the curriculum. Others think that this would be a waste of time as there are
already too many subjects for children to concentrate on.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that young children should be allowed to do paid work, while
others think that this should be illegal.
Discuss both opinions and give your opinion.
Currently there is a trend towards the use of alternative forms of medicine.
However, at best these methods are ineffective, and at worst they may be
dangerous. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
The percentage of overweight children in western society has increased by almost
20% in the last ten years.
Discuss the causes and effects of this disturbing trend.

'Telecommuting' refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week
and communicating with their office using computer technology. Telecommuting is
growing in many countries and is expected to be common for most office workers in
the coming decades. How do you think society will be affected by the growth of
telecommuting?
It is inevitable that as technology advances, traditional cultures will be lost. It seems
that we cannot have these two things together.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
There are many types of music in the world today. Why do we need music? Is the
traditional music of a country more important and should it be preserved or is
international music that is heard everywhere nowadays more useful to a society?
Many old buildings protected by law are part of a nations history. Some people
think they should be knocked down and replaced by news ones.
How important is it to maintain old buildings?
Should history stand in the way of progress?
Education is not a luxury, but a basic human right and as such should be free for
everyone irrespective of personal wealth.
Do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that children's free time must include educational activities
otherwise they will waste their time.
What is your opinion?
Formal examinations are the only effective way to assess a student's performance.
Continual assessment such as course work and projects is not a satisfactory way to
do this.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

In order to solve traffic problems, governments should tax private car owners
heavily and use the money to improve public transportation.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution?
Global warming is one of the most serious issues that the world is facing today.
What are the causes of global warming and what measures can governments and
individuals take to tackle the issue?
Developed countries have created many environmental problems in the World,
particularly in their contribution to global warming.
What can be done to reduce the dangers of global warming?
Logging of the rain forests is a serious problem and it may lead to the extinction of
animal life and human life. Discuss.
To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?
We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in
businesses, hospitals, crime detection and even to fly planes. What things will they
be used for in the future? Is this dependence on computers a good thing or should
we be more suspicious of their benefits?
In what ways has information technology changed work and working practices in
the past 10 years?
A growing number of people feel that animals should not be exploited by people and
that they should have the same rights as humans, while others argue that humans
must employ animals to satisfy their various needs, including uses for food and
research. Discuss the arguments in favour of both these positions and state your
own position on the issue.
Examine the arguments in favour of and against animal experiments, and come to a
conclusion on this issue. (Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant
examples from your own experience or knowledge.)

Forests are the lungs of the earth. Destruction of the world's forests amounts to
death of the world we currently know. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The idea of going overseas for university study is an exciting prospect for many
people. But while it may offer some advantages, it is probably better to stay home
because of the difficulties a student inevitably encounters living and studying in a
different culture. To what extent do you agree or disagree this statement?
Zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but not poor alternatives to a natural
environment. Discuss some of the arguments for and/or against keeping animals in
zoos.
Many countries are currently witnessing an increase in criminal activity among
young people. Discuss reasons for this phenomenon and suggest ways to deal with
the problem.
Advances in technology and automation have reduced the need for manual labour.
Therefore, working hours should be reduced.
The rising levels of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world cities can
be attributed directly to the rapidly increasing number of private cars in use. In
order to reverse this decline in the quality of life in cities, attempts must be made to
encourage people to use their cars less and public transport more. Discuss possible
ways to encourage the use of public transport.
Do the benefits of study abroad justify the difficulties? What advice would you offer
to a prospective student?
Fresh water has always been a limited resource in some parts of the world. Today,
however, growing worldwide demand has made this a global problem. What are the
causes of the increased demand and what measure could governments and
individuals take to respond to this problem?

As global trade increases, many goods including those we use on a daily basis are
produced in other countries and transported long distances. Do the benefits of the
trend outweigh the drawback?
Some people feel that animals should have the same rights as humans, but others
think they are not as equal or intelligent as us so should not have the same rights.
Discuss both opinions and give your opinion.
Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Identify one or two
serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these
problems.
Unemployment has become an increasing problem in the recent past. What factors
contribute to an increase in unemployment and what steps can be taken to solve
the problem?
Some people think that young children should be allowed to do paid work, while
others think that this should be illegal. Discuss both opinions and give your opinion.
As global trade increases, many goods including those we use on a daily basis are
produced in other countries and transported long distances.
Do the benefits of this trend outweigh the drawbacks?
Due to the increase in global trade, many of the goods that we consume every day
are made in a different country and then transported over a long distance in order
to reach us. In my opinion, this trend has more disadvantages than advantages.
Eating a balanced diet is the most important factor for a healthy life.
To what extent do you agree?
Do the dangers derived from the use of chemicals in food production and
preservation outweigh the advantages?

Many of the medical problems that people are experiencing in today's world are due
to the fact that we have a very sedentary lifestyle.
To what extent to you agree?
Stress is now a major problem in many countries around the world.
What are some of the factors in modern society that cause this stress, and how can
we reduce it?
Some of the methods used in advertising are unethical and unacceptable in todays
society.
To what extent do you agree with this view?
Are famous people treated unfairly by the media? Should they be given more
privacy, or is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives?
These days, we are seeing an increasing amount of violence on television, and this
is having a negative impact on children's behaviour.
Do you agree or disagree?
Nowadays, families are not as close as in the past and a lot of people have become
used to this.
Explain the reasons for this and discuss any possible effects it may have on society.
Smokers have rights too, so they should be allowed to smoke in public places.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Smoking not only harms the smoker, but also those who are nearby. Therefore,
smoking should be banned in public places.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison
sentences. Others, however, believe there are better alternative ways of reducing
crime.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

View a model answer for this question

Levels of youth crime are increasing rapidly in most cities around the world.
What are the reasons for this, and suggest some solutions.
View a model answer for this question
There is an increasing trend around the world to have a small family rather than a
large family.
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of having a small family rather
than a large family?
Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems.
Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and
individuals can tackle these problems.
In the last 20 years there have been significant developments in the field of
information technology (IT), for example the World Wide Web and communication by
email. However, future developments in IT are likely to have more negative effects
than positive.
To what extent do you agree with this view?
View a model answer for this question
People use computers when they work or go banking, but some argue that it will
make people isolated and decrease their social skills.
To what extent do you agree with this viewpoint?
Some people think that computers are more of a hindrance than a help in today's
society. Others believe that they are such indispensable tools that they would not be
able to live or work without them.
Discuss both opinions and give your opinion.
Nowadays many people have access to computers on a wide basis and a large
number of children play computer games.

What are the negative and positive impacts of playing computer games and what
can be done to minimize the bad effects?
Do you think that modern technology, such as the internet and computers will ever
replace the book or the written word as the main source of information?
Genetic engineering is an important issue in modern society. Some people think that
it will improve people's lives in many ways. Others feel that it may be a threat to life
on earth.
Discuss both opinions and give your opinion?
As people live longer and longer, the idea of cloning human beings in order to
provide spare parts is becoming a reality. The idea horrifies most people, yet it is no
longer mere science fiction.
To what extent do you agree with such a procedure?
Have you any reservations?