IELTS SPEAKING AND WRITING TEST TOPIC 16 Rich and poor world -Different generation Modern life –city –country living Section 1: Modern life - stress –city life 1. Would you prefer to live in the city or the countryside? Why? 2. In Vietnam, in what ways are city and country people different? 3. If you could choose, where would you prefer to bring up your children, in the countryside or a city? Why? 4. Where is Vietnamese culture stronger, in the country or the city? Can you give some examples? 5. Modern life: - Describe some elements of your life which you consider to be modern. - Compare the life of young adults today with previous generations. - justify or otherwise a major change that has occurred in the last ten years. 6. Country and city life: - what are some of the advantages of living in the country? - What are some of the advantages of living in the city? - Would you prefer to live in the countryside or the city? Why? - Is one safer? Healthier? - Are country and city people different? In what ways? - In your country where is the culture stronger, in the city or the country? Give examples. - How does housing in your country compare between the country and the city? - Would you prefer to live in the city or in the countryside and why? 7. Describe a city you have visited which has impressed you. You should say: - where is it situated. - Why you vistied it. - What you liked about it 8. City and country life. - Would you prefer to live in the city or the countryside? Why/Why not? - In Vietnam, in what ways are city and country people different? - If you could choose, where would you prefer to bring up your children? In the countryside or the city? Why/why not? - Where is Vietnamese culture stronger, in the country or the city? Can you give me some examples? 9. What, in your opinion, are the main problems facing modern industrial society? - increase in crime and violence. - Environmental problems. - Broad gap between rich and poor world. - Contagious disease infected throughout the world. - Overpopulation - Unemployment 10. What, in your opinion, can be done to improve modern cities? 11. Would you prefer to live in a traditional house or in a modern apartment building? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice. - Why traditional house? - Traditional design: spaceful, warm and inviting. - Have the kind of beautiful woods that were used years ago. It’s something that can’t be copied. - More space for different rooms. - Why not traditional house? - Not all the plumbing works. - The roof is going to leaf. - The windows are not properly sealed. - Kitchen appliances are in working order. - Things will break down or need replacement, simply because of age. - Why modern apartment? - Modern apartment is going to be in much better shape: - All the plumbing works. - The roof isn’t going to leaf. - The windows are properly sealed. - Kitchen appliances are in working order. - Everything new and perfect. - Why not modern apartment? - Modern design: empty and sterile and not very inviting. - All the rooms and windows of the same size or a box design. A modern apartment usually comes in one size and shape. 12. Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your - Why small town? - Friendly community - Superior security. - Why not small town? - Poor public transportation. Need to possess a private car to ensure a comfortable living. - Slow space - Poor entertainment facility: life is boring. - Little different of people. - Why big city? - A choice of taking public transportation: cheaper. - Adapt with a variety of situation: finding a new route to work or trying a new restaurant. - Variety of cultural activities available: a wide assortment of theatre, music and dance performances. - Diversity of people: different races, religions, abilities, and interests. - Why not big city? - Transportation: heavy traffic, expensive parking. - Unfriendly community. - Unsafe security. 13. Generally, the gap between the urban rich and the rural poor is increasing. What in your opinion can be done to improve this situation in your society? - raising income tax: use for rural development. - Raise salary for people working in rural area. - Urbanization. - Diversify the working sectors in rural. 14. What are the major problems associated with living in large cities? - Crime and violence. - Transportation - Overcrowded density. - Complex situations. - Polluted air and water. - Unfriendly community. 15. People have different ways of escaping the stress and difficulties of modern life. Some read; some exercise; others work in their gardens. What do you think are the best ways of reducing stress? Use specific details and examples in your answer. – 69. What causes stress? - Study hard. - Work hard. - Involved in trouble. What stress causes? - headache. - Inefficient performance in work. - Heart disease. - Affect personality: angry, impatient. - Affect relationship with others. What can we do to reduce stress? - Identify the cause. Tackle it: change the way, ask for help, find way to struggle. - Keep body healthy: eat nutritious food, avoid junk food; do exercise. - Keep spirit happy: good relationship with friends, family, colleagues. Section 2: Rich and poor world 1. The economic globalisation will bring about greater benefits for developed countries than for developing ones as the former countries enjoy comparative advantages in technology and managerial skills over the latter ones. Discuss. 2.To what extent will migration from the developing world to the developed world become a social and political issue in the 21st century? 3. Developed countries have no responsibility to help the developing nations. 4.Should wealthy nations be required to share their wealth among poorer nations by providing such things as food and education? Or is it a responsibility of the governments of poorer nations to look after their citizens themselves? How to share? - Lending money. - Providing equipment, facility. - Transfer technology. - Financial aid for education. Why should? - Helping poor countries can bring economic benefits for both sides - Poor: technology, facility, qualified human resource. - Rich: larger market, cheap labour force. - social benefits: - reduce migration from developing to developed countries: better living standard. - Reduce international crime: bridge the gap between rich and poor world. - A humanitarian action: - Provide food for hungry people. - Clear illiteracy. Why shouldn’t? - poorer nations are less reliant, more dependent. 5. As most foreign aid often benefits the donor more than the receiver, developing countries should refuse to repay their debts. Preparation and practice –150 -169. In what way does foreign aid benefit the donor? - get the interest. - Banks making the loans maje two or three times the money lent after the interest payments are taken into account. In what way does foreign aid benefit the receiver? - build the infrastructure neccesary for development. - Develop projects that help them more self –reliant. Is there any disadvantages? - Many countries have spent most of their income repaying the interest on foreign debts . - Even, some have borrowed more money to pay back the interest - Fact: borrowed money often to be used to make quick profits for developers or to line the pockets of corrupt official. - Countries that get caught in this debt spiral, had no chance of paying back the initial money borrowed. -> as most donor countries were already repaid both in terms of money and in terms of economic interest, it is morally right for developing countries to refuse to pay back foreign loans. 6. "The best way to help developing countries is to give them financial aid." Write an essay either agreeing or disagreeing with this statement. Suggest alternatives to this policy. (Develop one side of an issue well) 7. Discuss the advantage and disadvantage of giving international Aid to poor countries. Section 3: Different generation 8. Youth culture began in America in the 1950s. - The second WW was over. - Rock and roll had just begun. - TV was becoming popular. - Young people had more money than ever before and they want to have fun. - Since the days of James Dean and Elvis Presley, youth culture has come a long wa. Also, thanks to the electronic medi, it’s become completely international. The youth industry isn’t all about pop and fashion, though. It’s about issues and problems, too. These days, teenagers all over the world are interested in the environment, peace and famine. Then there’s the drug crisis – a serious problem that involves millions of young people directly -> teenager culture: pop and politics, fashion and famine. 8. Every generation of people is different in important ways. How is your generation different from your parents’ generation? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer. 9. Young people are said to have lost many of the traditional values of the older generations. Do you agree? 10. Every generation of people is different in important ways. How is your generation different from your parents’ generation? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer. 11. Learning about the past has no value for those of us living in the present. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. 12. What discovery in the last 100 years has been most beneficial for people in your country? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice. 13.To what extent has the traditional male role changed in the last 20 years? . IELTS SPEAKING AND WRITING TEST TOPIC 16 Rich and poor world -Different generation Modern life –city –country living Section. are in working order. - Everything new and perfect. - Why not modern apartment? - Modern design: empty and sterile and not very inviting. - All the rooms and windows of the same size or a box. Crime and violence. - Transportation - Overcrowded density. - Complex situations. - Polluted air and water. - Unfriendly community. 15. People have different ways of escaping the stress and difficulties