2.

Government Spending:

 In many countries, the government spends a large amount of money on the arts. Some people
agree with this. However, others think the government should spend more on healthcare and
education. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

 The government should invest in teaching science subjects rather than other subjects for a
country’s development and progress. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

 Some people say that when deciding how taxes should be spent, governments should
prioritise health care. Other people believe that there are more important priorities for
taxpayers' money. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

3. Social Values and Lifestyle:

 Some people think young people should follow the traditions of their society. Others think
that they should be free to behave as individuals. Discuss both these views and give your own
opinion.

 The differences between countries are becoming less obvious. Today, people everywhere
watch the same movies, follow the same fashion, and see the same brands, advertisements,
and TV shows. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

 People believe that they should be able to keep all the money they earn and should not pay
tax to the state. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

 Some people think that living in big cities is bad for people’s health. To what extent do you
agree or disagree with this statement?

 Countries with a long average working time are more economically successful, but they are
also likely to suffer from negative social consequences. To what extent do you agree or
disagree with this statement?

 Most countries aim to improve their standard of living through economic development, but
many important social values can be lost as a result. Do the advantages of economic
development outweigh the disadvantages?

 Many countries have the same shops and products. Some consider it a positive development,
whereas others consider it negative. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

 Some people think that in modern society individuals are becoming more dependent on each
other, while others say that individuals are becoming more independent of each other.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

 People living in the 21st century have a better quality of life than the previous centuries. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?

4. Education and Work:

 Full-time students spend a lot of time studying, but some people say that they should be
involved in other activities too. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
  Nowadays, not enough students choose science subjects in university in many countries. Why
is this? What are the effects on society?

 Employers should give their staff at least a 4-week holiday a year to help employees perform
better in their jobs. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

 Despite better access to education, many adults today still cannot read or write. In what ways
are they disadvantaged? What can governments do to help them?

 Large companies should pay higher salaries to CEOs and executives compared to other
workers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

 Some employers are giving increased importance to employing people with good social skills
in addition to good qualifications. Do you agree or disagree that social skills are as important
as good qualifications for success in a job?

 People who decide on a career path early in their lives and keep to it are more likely to have a
satisfying working life than those who change jobs frequently. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?

 It is a good idea for people to continue working in their old age if it is possible for them to do
so. Do you agree or disagree?

5. Technology and Modern Life:

 Fewer and fewer people today write by hand using a pen, pencil or brush. What are the
reasons for this? Is the decline in writing by hand a positive or negative development?

 It is predicted that with the development of technology, people in the 21st century will have
much more free time. To what extent has the prediction come true?

 Many people around the world use social media to keep in touch with other people and get
the news. Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

 Fewer and fewer people today write by hand using a pen, pencil or brush. What are the
reasons for this? Is the decline in writing by hand a positive or negative development?

 The use of mobile phones is as antisocial as smoking. Smoking is banned in certain places so
mobile phones should be banned like smoking. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

 Space travel has been possible for some time and some people claim that space tourism could
be developed in the future. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

6. Sports and Leisure:

 Some countries achieve international success by building specialised facilities to train top
athletes instead of providing sports facilities that everyone can use. Is it a positive or negative
development?

 All large companies should provide sports and community facilities to the local community. To
what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
  Many people believe that watching a live performance is more enjoyable than watching the
same event on television. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

 Many people believe that watching a live performance is more enjoyable than watching the
same event on television. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

7. Environment and Health:

 Nowadays people use bicycles less as a form of transport. Why is this the case? What can we
do to encourage people to use bicycles more?

 Some people say that to prevent illness and disease, governments should focus more on
reducing environmental pollution and housing problems. To what extent do you agree or
disagree?

 More and more people are becoming seriously overweight. Some people suggest that the
solution to this problem is to increase the price of fattening foods. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?

 It is a natural process that animal species such as dinosaurs become extinct. There is no
reason for people to prevent this from happening. Do you agree or disagree?

8. Aging and Family:

 In some countries today, many people decide to have their first child when they are older.
What are the reasons? Do you think the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

 In many countries today the retirement age from work has been raised. Do the advantages of
raising the retirement age outweigh the disadvantages?

9. Other:

 In many parts of the world, some famous people are considered ‘role models', and they are
having an increasing influence on the young. Is this a positive or negative development?

 Research indicates that nowadays some consumers are much less influenced by advertising
than in the past. What do you think are the reasons for this? Do you think this is a positive or
negative development?

 Some people think that it is a good thing for senior management positions to have much
higher salaries than other workers in a company. To what extent do you agree or disagree?