一 全球化及影响

1. Increasing travels between countries enable people to learn different cultures or to increase tension between  people from different countries？

2. When international media (including movies, fashion shows, advertisements and other TV programmes) convey the same messages to the global audience, people argue that the expansion of international media has negative impacts on cultural diversity. What is your opinion?

3. There is a disagreement on the impact of increased business and culture contact between countries on a country’s identity. What is your opinion?

4. Some people argue that immigrants should adopt local culture when immigrating to a new country. An alternative view is that they can adopt to a new environment by establishing a minority community. Discuss these two views and give your opinion.

5. The advantages of the spread of English as a global language will continue to outweigh its disadvantages. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

6. Aircrafts have been increasingly used to transport fruits and vegetables to some countries where such plants hardly grow or out of season. Some people consider it a good trend, but some people oppose it. Discuss both view and give your opinion.

二 政府投资

1. Millions of dollars are spend on space research every year. Some people argue that money should be spent on improving living standards on Earth. Do you agree or disagree?

2. Some people argue that the government should spend money on public service and facilities, but on the arts. On you agree or disagree？

3. Some people argue that the government should spend money only on medical care and education but on theatres or sport stadiums. Do you agree or disagree?

4. The advocates of international aid believe that countries have a moral obligation to help each other, while the opponents consider it unnecessary, because money is misspent by the governments that receive it. Discuss these two points of view and give your opinion.

5. Some people think the government should pay for health care and education, but there is no agreement about whether it is the government’s responsibility. What is your opinion?

6. It is widely accepted that people who have post-school qualifications earn a higher salary than those less educated do. University students should, therefore, pay all the full cost incurred over the course of obtaining a college education. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

7. Only government action can solve housing shortages in gig cities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

三 科技发展与生活

1. There are social, medical and technical problems associated with the use of mobile phones. What from do these problems take? Do problems of using mobile phones outweigh the benefits?

2. Do you agree that modern technology has given us more leisure time than before?

3. Earlier technological development brought more changes to the life of ordinary people than recent technological development do. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

4. It is said that the fast pace of lour everyday life, as a direct result of the rapid development of telecommunications technology and travel industry, has negative effects on individuals and the globe. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

5. Many people are optimistic about the 21^st century and scientists to make positive changes to the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree with their optimism? What changes would you like to see in the new century?

6. Many employees may work at home with modern technology. Some people claim that it benefits only workers, but not employers. Do you agree or disagree?

7. The leisure industry is growing rapidly. The active role of modern technology in people’s leisure lives nowadays has made them less creative. Do you agree or disagree?

8. Many people think that public libraries should only provide books and should not waste their money on expensive hi-tech media, such as softwares, DVDs or videos. Do you agree or disagree?

9. It seems that with the increase in use of mobile phones and computers, fewer people prefer to write letters. Will the skill of writing disappear completely?

四 文化与保护

1. People in many countries do not wear their traditional costume. Some argue that they would forget their history and tradition. Do you agree or disagree?

2. People think that old buildings should be knocked down and give way to the new buildings. Do you agree or disagree? how important are old buildings to us?

3. Some people believe that new buildings should be build in traditional styles. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

4. It is more important for a building to serve its purposes than to look beautiful. Architects do not need to worry about whether it is a real work of art. Do you agree or disagree?

5. Do you think a museum is to educate or entertain people?

五 生活方式和社会观念

1. People tend to work longer hours nowadays. Working long hours has a negative effect on themselves, their families and the society, so working hours should be restricted. Do you agree or disagree?

2. What is the difference between traditional food and fact food?

3. As most people spend a major part of adult life at the place of work, job satisfaction is an important part of individual well-being. What are the factors that contribute to job satisfaction? Are all the expectations for job satisfaction realistic?

4. Some people think that changing jobs periodically is good. What is your opinion?

5. What are the factors that cause stress and how to cope with stress?

6. Fashion is difficult to follow, and some people argue that we should not follow it. They think that we should dress what we like and feel comfortable. Do you agree or disagree?

7. Discuss the reasons why people define happiness differently and how to obtain happiness?

8. Some people think that telling the truth is not always essential. It is necessary to tell lies sometimes. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

9. Today, people are getting greedy and selfish. Some people argue that we should go back to the old days, and shoe respect for family and community, so that we can make the world a better place to live in. to what extent do you agree or disagree?

六 艺术

1. Creative artists should be given freedom to express their ideas through words, pictures, music film. Some people nevertheless think that the government should restrict artists freedom of expression. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

2. The advance of science and technology has a significant impact on people, but the role of artists is also important, such as musicians, painters and writers. What can the arts tell us about like that science cannot?

七 媒体信息

1. The government should control the amount of violence in films and on television in order to control violent crimes in society. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this action?

2. Some people suggest that there should be restriction on a detailed description of crime on the newspapers and on television.

3. We can get knowledge from news, but some people think we cannot trust journalists. What do you think? What qualities do you think a successful journalist should have?

4. People think that the news media has influenced people’s lives nowadays and it is a negative development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

八 广告

1. There are many advertisements directed at children. Parents argue that children are misled, while advertisers consider advertising a source of useful information. What is your opinion?

2. Do the positive affects outweigh negative effects, when advertising gains in popularity?

3. Some people argue that advertising is discouraging people from being different individuals, and makes people to be or seen to be the same. Do you agree or disagree?

4. The high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of advertising but not the real need of the society where such products are sold. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

5. Advertising encourages customers to buy in quantity not on quality. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

九 环境问题

1. Some industrialized countries have serious environmental problems. The damage to the environment is an inevitable result when a country tends to improve the standard of living. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

2. Environmental problems are serious in many countries. It means that the only possible way to protect the environment is at an international level. To what extent do you agree or disagree on this hypothesis?

3. Some people believe that air travel should be restricted because it causes serious pollution and will use up the world’s resources. Do you agree or disagree?

4. It is said that the best way to solve the world’s environmental problems is to increase the price of fuel. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

5. Water resources around the word are falling deficient. Analyse the possible reasons and provide your suggestions.

6. Many people believe that the human society has developed into a throwaway society, which is filled with plastic bag and rubbish. What are the causes and solutions?

7. Food can be produced much more cheaply today because of improved fertilizers and better machinery. However, some of the methods used to do this may be dangerous to human health and may have negative effects on local communities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

十 动物

1. Some people hold that we should spend money and time on the protection of wild animals while others suggest that the money should be spent on populations living in the poorest areas of the world. What is your opinion?

2. Some people strongly oppose animal experimentation, believing that it causes pain to animals, while some other people consider it necessary. What is your opinion?

3. Far too little has been done to prevent animals and plants from dying out, although people have noticed this problem for a long time. Why have people failed to improve this situation? What are your suggestions?

4. Some people think that killing animals for food is cruel, but others claim that animals are a necessary part of died. What’s your opinion?

5. Discuss the arguments for and against raising pets.

十一 城乡差距和城市化

1.      Good facilities can be found in cities but not in the countryside. Therefore, new doctors and teachers should be sent to be sent to the countryside. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

2.      Some findings have revealed that cities around the world are growing large. Could you outline the possible causes and predict consequences?

十二 预防犯罪

1.      The only way to improve road safely is to impose severe punishment for driving offences. Do you agree or disagree?

2.      Police in Britain do not carry guns. Some people believe that unarmed police are unable to protect citizens, but some suggest that arming the police will lead to a surge in violence in society. Discuss those two views.

3.      Do you think it is better to send criminals to jail to let them receive education or job training?

4.      Many people are afraid of leaving their houses because of the spend of crimes. Some think that more actions can be taken to prevent crime from occurring, but others think little can be done. What is your opinion?

5.      There are more and more effective security measures in large cities to reduce the crime. Does this endeavour bring more benefits than problems?

十三 弱势群体

1.      With the ageing of society, we are now beginning to see a growing interest further abolishment of mandatory retirement. Do you think that mandatory retirement is obsolete or should be sustained?

2.      In many countries, the population of older people is increasing steadily. Do you think it is positive or negative change to the society?

3.      currently more and more people respect elders and become convinced that older people should live with their families, which is in contrast to the view that older people should live at a nursing home. What is your opinion?

4.      in many countries, women join the army as men do. However, some people argue that the army solely needs males. What is your opinion?

5.      Gender imbalance has long been a general phenomenon not only in the labour market but also in formal education. Some analysts argue that it is impossible to eliminate the underpresentation of women in some subjects in the university. Do you agree or disagree.

6.      Throughout the history, male leaders often made the society more violent and conflicting, if women governed the world, the world would be more peaceful. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

十四 体育

1.      Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of playing sports and participating in physical exercises.

2.      Some people believe that national sports teams and individual athletes who represent their country should be financially supported by the government. Some people think that they should be funded by non-government groups (e. g. business sponsorship). What your opinion?

3.      Do you think that international sports events like the Olympic Games would continue or gradually lose their momentum?

十五 教育方法和教育内容

1.      Wearing uniforms is popular in schools, but some people argue that it might cause damage to children’s individuality. What is your opinion?

2.      Some people think that children should learn to compete, but others think that they should be taught to cooperate with others. What’s your opinion?

3.      Some people believe that educating children altogether will benefit them. Others think intelligent children should be taught separately and given special courses. Discuss those two views.

4.      Some people who have been successful in the society do not attribute their success to the theoretical knowledge they learned at university. What is your opinion in the factors contributing to one’s achievement?

5.      It is generally believed that education is of vital importance to individual development and the well-being of societies. What should education consist of to fulfill these functions?

6.      Nowadays, some universities offer graduate students skills that assist them to find employment, but some people believe that the main function of university should be to access knowledge for its sake. What is your opinion?

7.      Some people think teachers should be responsible for teaching students to judge right and wrong and to behave well. Some say that teachers should only teach students about academic subjects. Discuss both view and give your opinion.

8.      Education used to be a short period of training, but today, people treat it like a lifelong practice. Do you agree or disagree?

9.      Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad.

10.  Some people argue that learning a second language involves learning the culture of the country where this language is spoken (including lifestyles). What is your opinion?

11.  Some people argue history is of little or no use to us. Others believe that studying history gives many benefits. Discuss those view and give your own opinion?

12.  Do you think middle school students should study international news as a subject?

十六 儿童教育

1.      Opinions divide concerning what plays a more important role in people’s personality development, nature or nurture. What is your opinion?

2.      Do you think parents should be punished if their five year-old child commits a crime? From what age should children be held responsible for their own behaviours?

3.      Some scientists believe that studying the behaviour of 3-year-old children can predict their criminality. To what extent do you think a crime is a product of human nature or is it possible to stop children from growing up to be criminals?

4.      Computers do not help children learn more affectively. On the contrary, the use of computers has a negative effect on children’s physical and mental development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

5.      In modern society, some people argue that schools become unnecessary as children can study at home via the Internet. Do you argue or disagree？

6.      The computer is widely used in education and people think that teachers will not play important roles in the classroom. To what extent do you agree?

7.      Although it is generally prohibited, corporal punishment persists in many families. Do you think corporal punishment is an acceptable way to regulate children’s behaviours?

8.      It is not uncommon that children are required to obey the rule of their parents and teachers. Some people are worried that too much control over children will not prepare them well for their adult life. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.

9.      The children who grow up in a family short of money are more capable of dealing with problems in adult life than children who are brought up by wealthy parents. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

10.  One’s character traits are strongly influenced by place he or she grew up. Discuss the impacts of an urban environment and those of a rural environment on a child’s character development.

十七 中学教育

1.      Do you think it is good to push students to study hard in their youth?

2.      Some people argue that it is good for children to stay away from their families and go to a boarding school. Others suggest that children live with their families and attend a day school. What is you opinion?

3.      People tend to believe that all young adults should undertake a period of unpaid work for the good of the community. Do you agree or disagree?

4.      Some people think that students benefit greatly from going to private secondary schools. But assert that private secondary schools have a negative impact on the young generation and the society alike. Discuss both views.

5.      Some people believe that students who graduate from high school should have one year’s time to obtain work experience before going to university. Do you agree or disagree?

6.      In order to improve the quality of education, high school students should be encouraged to evaluate and criticize their teachers, but others think it will result in loss of respect and discipline in classroom. What is your opinion?

7.      Schools should teach children the academic subjects which have a close relationship their future careers, so other subjects like music and sports are not important. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

8.      Today, more school leavers are unable to find jobs. Discuss the causes of rising unemployment among young adults and suggest any solutions.

9.      In recent years, the proportion of the crimes committed by youngsters is on the rise. Discuss causes to this problem and suggest solutions.

10.  What are the benefits of requiring young people to serve the army? Does participation in community work qualify as an alternative?

十八 大学教育

1.      Many people join distance-learning programmes (study material, post, TV, Internet) and study at home, but some people think that it cannot bring the same benefit as attending colleges or universities does. Do you agree or disagree?