'Telecommiuting' refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week and communicating with their office using computer technology. How do you think society will be affected by the growth of telecommuting?
In the future all cars, buses and trucks will be driverless. The only people travelling inside these vehicls will be passengers. Do you think the advantages of driverless vehicles outweight the disadvantages?
A friend of yours is coming to stay in your house for a week while you are away on holiday.
Write a letter to your friend to prepare them for their stay in your letter:
-- Give your friend information about the location of your house
-- Tell your friend what tasks you would like them to do each day
-- Explain what he/she can do and see in your area
You recently met an old friend while you were on a business trip to another city. Now you are planning another business trip to this city and would like to see your friend again.
Write a letter to this friend. In your letter
1. say why you enjoyed seeing him/her
2. give details of your plans for your next business trip to this city
3. suggest arrangments for seeing him/her again there
The rising levels of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world citie can be attributed directly to the rapidly increasing number of private cars in use. In order to reverse this decline in quality of life in cities, attempts must be made to encourage people to use their cars less and public transport more. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some parents think it is good to give their children mobile phones while others disagree. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people think that exams are a good way of assessing a student’s level. Other peopl e believe that they put unnecessary pressure on young learners and tell us very little about their actual ability. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
In some countries there are few controls over the design and construction of homes and other buildings, and owner can decide on the design of their houses. Do the advantages of this outweigh the drawbacks?
Many people today find it difficult to balance the demands of their work and personal life. What are the causes of this situation, and what can individuals and employers do to reduce the problem? You should give reasons for your answer, and include ideas and examples from your own knowledge and experience.
Write a letter to your friend in another country where you like to visit for the holidays. In your letter, you should:
• explain your travel plans
• describe the interesting places you plan to visit
• ask for suggestions for sightseeing options.
In many countries today, people in cities either live alone or in small family units, rather than in large, extended family group. Is this a positive or negative trend?
The cha! shows men and women pro"cient in a foreign language in several countries. Summarise the information by selecting and repo!ing the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Some people believe that it is the government's responsibility to provide care and financial to support people after they retire. Others, however, think that individuals themselves saving money in their own care when they are old. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some cities have vehicle- free days when private cars, trucks, and motorcycles are banned from the city center. public transportation like buses , taxis, and metros are advised. To what extend do you think the advantaged of the policy outweigh the disadvantages?
Some school leavers go traveling or work for a period of time instead of going directly to university. Do you think this has more advantages, or disadvantages on their study？
Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal. Some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Opinions differ as to whether the nat
There was a time when people only shopped out for necessity, but these days shopping seems to have become a new form of leisure activity, people don’t appreciate the value of money anywhere. To what extent do you agree with the view?
More and more people buy and use their own car. Do you think the advantages of this trend for individuals overweigh the disadvantages for environment?
Nowadays, many old buildings could be found in cities. Do you think the advantages of preserving old buildings outweigh the disadvantages?
In some countries the average weight of people os increasing and their levels of health and fitness are decreasing. What do you think are the causes of these problems and what measures could be taken to solve them?
The two tables illustrate the view of city dwellers being surveyed on six different sides of life in 1980 and 2010
In recent years more and more people are choosing to read e-book rather than paper books. Do the advantage of e-book outweigh their disadvantage?
You have received a job offer from a city where lives one of your childhood friend. Write a letter to him:
• Tell about this happy event in your life;
• Ask him for help finding accommodation;
• Ask him to advise the best ways to get prepared for the new life in that city
Some people believe that allowing children to make their own choices on everything matters is likely to result in a society of individual who only think about their own wishes. Other people believe that it is important for children to make decisions about matters that affect them. Discuss both the views and give your opinion.
Research indicates that children who start reading earlier in life perform better later on in their school studies. How important are early reading skills in a child's academic performance? What other preschool factors, in your opinion, influence a child's later academic achievements?
As most people spend a major part of their adult life at work, job satisfaction is an important element of individual wellbeing. What factors contribute to job satisfaction? How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction for all workers? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Many countries offer a free health care system to their citizens rather than relying on private health care. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of having a free system, and give your opinion.
Your local council is considering closing a sports and leisure centre that it runs, in order to save money.
Write a letter to the local council. In your letter
* give details of how you and your friends or family use the centre
* explain why the sports and leisure centre is important for the local community
* describe the possible effects on local people if the centre closes
You do NOT need to write any addresses.
Some people think that governments should do more to make their citizens eat a healthy diet. Others believe that individuals must take responsibility for their own diet and health. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people say that people should have a different amount of holidays according to their job. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Some people believe that longer holidays must be given to employees so that they do heir job better. To what extent do you agree?
You had some photos of your family taken by a professional photographer. Write a letter to the photographer. In your letter:
-Say that you liked their photos of your family
-Ask them to be your photographer at a special family event
-Give them the details of the event.
The rise of convenience foods has helped people keep up with the speed of the modern lifestyle. what are the advantages of this trend? do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
You live on the fourth floor of a five-storey building which is not equipped with an elevator
(lift). Write a letter to your neighbors and in your letter
• introduce yourself
• say what the problem is
• ask the neighbors to agree on the installation of an elevator.
The pie graphs below show the result of a survey of children's activities. The first graph shows the cultural and leisure activities that boys participate in, whereas the second graph shows the activities in which the girls participate. How to answer this task? Introduce the pie charts. Write what do they summarize. Write a general overview. Write in brief the main trends. Describe the first chart. Tell about the activities on the boys' chart and their popularity. Use linking structures and vocabulary to describe graphs. Describe the second chart. Tell about the activities on the girls' chart and their popularity. Use words from academic wordlist.
The table below gives information about the use of different modes of transport in Shanghai in 1996, and one possible projection (high motorization scenario) for their use in 2020.
Some people believe that school children should be made to wear a uniform. Others feel that children should be free to choose their own clothes. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of school uniforms.
Because of the global economy, many goods including what we use as daily basics produced by other counties have to be transported for a long distance. To what extent do the advantages oufweigh the disadvantages?
Nowadays, a growing number of people with health problems are trying alternative medicines and treatments instead of visiting their usual doctor. Do you think this is a positive or a negative development? Give your reason for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Surveillance cameras in banks, offices, shops and streets have been very successful in reducing crime in the workplace and public, but they are also took for their users to spy on people's private business. what problems do surveillance cameras create? what are the solutions?
Some people think that sports is very important for society. Others, however, argue that it is nothing more than a leisure activity. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion
The rise of social media has affected personal relationships and society as a whole. do the advantages of using social media for communicationn outweigh the disadvantages
Some people with a good education and experience in their field move abroad to work. Why do you think that is? What problems does it cause?
at the presen time, the population of some countries include a relatively larg number of young adults, compared with the number of older people. do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Some people think that children under 18 years old should receive full-time education. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
You live in a block of flats, your neighbor makes a lot of noise which has caused problems for you. Write a letter to your landlord.
In your letter, you should:
• explain the situation
• tell him/her how you are affected by this
• suggest what you want the landlord to do.
Nowadays it is common for people to get married and have children in their thirties rather than when they are younger. What problems are associated with this trend? What are some possible solutions?
The advantages of robots doing the basic serving functions in the entertainment, leisure and retail sectors of the economy outweigh the disadvantages. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
At the present time, the population of some countries includes a relatively large number of young adults compared with the number of older people. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Some people believe that children should spend all of their free time with their families. Others believe that this is unnecessary or even negative. Discuss the possible arguments on both sides, and say which side you personally support.