5001 QUESTIONS FOR HOURS OF CONVERSATION

5001 Questions for Hours of Conversation Roman Christopher Roskowinski Animals "Time will come when men will look on the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men." Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) Hardworking (40) Have you ever seen a dog guiding a blind person? How does it help? How you think it is trained? Do you know about dogs that are trained to help people in wheelchairs? How long you think it takes to train a dog for that? Do you think other animals can render the same kind of service? What dogs are used as police dogs? Do you know any story about a dog that was a hero? What think about using animals for medical research? Do you think the animals suffer? If animals weren't used for medical research, how would experiments be performed? Do you think animals dream in their sleep? Do you think they have souls? Do you think it's right to test cosmetics on animals? What other tests are performed on animals? Do you agree with this? Do you think it's OK to keep wild animals in a zoo? Is it a way to preserve them from extinction? Are they always treated well? What's your opinion about animals in circuses? Are they treated better or worse than in a zoo? Would you go to a circus that featured animals? Are there animals' rights groups where you live? How they protest against using animals for experiments? What are some organizations that protect animals? How they finance their projects? Do you know any websites for people who want to adopt animals as pets? Are there laws that protect animals in your country? What's your opinion about people wearing animal fur? What's the reason that people still insist on wearing them? Is anything being done to stop it? Do you think that animals that have been kept in captivity all their lives should be freed? Where could they be freed? How could they adapt to wildlife again? Do you think having a pet is a violation of an animal's rights? What you think of people who abandon pets? Do you think it's okay to eat meat? Is there any kind of meat you wouldn't eat? What animals have become famous? What did they to become famous? Having Fun (30) Have you ever ridden a horse? How about a camel? Have you ever ridden any (other) animal? When was the last time you went to a zoo? Where was it? Is it the nearest to your home? How much does it cost to get in? How often you go there? What animals did you like best? How many different zoos have you been too? Which one did you like the best? Do you think it's right to keep animals in zoos? What's a safari? Have you ever been on a safari? Would you like to go on one (again)? Have you ever been to a farm? What animals were there? Did you feed any of them? Have you ever drunk milk straight from a cow? Are there horse races in your country? Have you ever been to one? What you think about betting on horses? Are there any kinds of animal races in your country? What animals are used in the race? Do people bet on them? Where are there animal fights? Do the animals sometimes "fight to death"? Have you ever seen a bullfight? In what countries are bullfights common? Are you for or against bullfights? Pets (60) Do you have a pet? (If yes) What pet you have? What kind is it? How old is it? What's its name? Do you ever talk to your pet? What you say? Do you love your pet? What was the best moment with your pet? What was the worst moment with your pet? How often you give your pet a bath or shower? Is your pet healthy? Has your pet been properly vaccinated? What joy does your pet bring you? Do only you take care of it? How much you spend on your pet? What kind of personality does your pet have? Does it have a behavior problem? (If no) Would you like to have a pet? What pet would you like to have? What would you name it? What would you feed it? Where would you take it? What kinds of people prefer dogs? Are all dogs good with children? Which are the best? Which are not recommended for children? Are dogs good companions for old people? What kinds of people prefer cats? Can you play with a cat like a dog? What cats that dogs don't? Are cats better for old people than dogs? What pets shouldn't be kept inside? What are some unusual pets in your country? Do you know anyone who has one? Would you like to have one? Do you prefer cats or dogs? Do more people dislike dogs or cats? Have you ever been bitten by a dog? What are some popular pets in your country? What animals can you see around here in their natural habitat? Do you know anyone who has a pet horse? What's the best pet in your opinion? What are the pros and cons of keeping a pet? What special care pets demand? What can children learn by having a pet? Do you think some people spend too much money on pets? Do some people prefer pets to children? Do you know anybody like this? Do you know anyone who has a wild animal as a pet? Is any special permit necessary to have one? What different kind of care they need? Have you ever washed a dog? (if yes) Where did you wash it? Did you use hot or cold water? Did you use soap or shampoo? Did the dog traditionally shake itself? Did you get wet? (if no) Would you like to that? Do you think it would be an interesting experience? Other (30) What's your favorite animal? What animal you think is the scariest? Where's its natural habitat? What other animals are you afraid of? What's the funniest animal in your opinion? What funny things does it do? What's the strangest animal you know? Is it stranger than a camel? What's the cutest animal in your opinion? Are young animals as cute as adult ones? What's the ugliest animal you’ve seen? Is it uglier than a bat? What animals are dangerous? What's the largest animal on Earth? Do you know what the smallest animal on Earth is? Are you afraid of snakes? Have you ever seen one face to face? What you think of spiders? Do you know how many legs a spider has? How many lives they say a cat has? How many birds you know that can't fly? If you were a bird in your country, would you fly south for the winter? What animal is your country's symbol? How was it chosen? Do you think it really represents your country? Have you ever hurt an animal? How are animals transported by plane? Do some people treat animals better than humans? What you think of that? Do you think that if an animal is suffering it should be "put to sleep"? Art "This most valuable of arts, the art of living." Cicero (106-43 B.C) Painting (30) Have you ever made a painting? (if yes) What did you paint? Did it come out nice? What did you with the painting? (if no) Haven't you ever made a painting at school? What would you paint if you were a painter? Do you think you would be famous? Have you ever used watercolors? How about oil paint? Do you know how to draw? What kinds of drawings you know how to make? Do you prefer to draw people, animals or scenery? What kinds of paintings you like? What paintings you have at home? Are they the originals? What you think of nude painting? What's the difference between nude painting and pornography? Who are some famous painters in your country? Have you ever seen their work? What they paint about? Do you like to sketch? Do you have a sketchbook? What you think of graffiti? Do you think it's real art? What does the "artist" want to express? Where can you usually see graffiti? Do you approve this form of expression? Should those who that be punished? Should there be specific places for doing that? What graffiti would you like to make? Dance (10) Do you consider dance an art? What's the most beautiful kind of dance in your opinion? What you think of dancing to rap or funk music? Is that art? Do you know any names of classical ballet dancers? Are there many famous ones in your country? What you think of tap-dancing? Have you ever tried to tap-dance? Do you know anyone who tap-dances? How long you think it takes to learn how to tap-dance? Museums (10) When was the last time you went to a museum? What museum was it? Where's that museum? What art did you see? Are there many museums in your city? Do you usually visit them? What's the most visited museum in your city? What can you see there? What's the most famous museum in the world? How about in your country? Theater (20) When was the last time you went to the theater? What play did you watch? Did you enjoy it? What was it about? Is it common to go to the theater in your city? Did you have any problems on your last vacation? How did you resolve them? Did you have any bad experiences? What was your most difficult situation? How long was your last vacation? Did you spend more or less than you had planned? How would you rate it from to 10? Would you go there again? What was the best vacation you have ever had? What was the worst? What was the most interesting thing that you did during the vacation? Did your last vacation meet your expectations? What was the weather like? Had you checked the weather forecast before traveling? Would you recommend that place to your friends? Where would you recommend them to stay? What would you tell them to there? What would you tell them to avoid? Is that a good place for children? What was the longest vacation you've ever had? Going Abroad (20) What must you before you are able to travel abroad? Have you ever traveled abroad? (if yes) What countries did you visit? What was the food like? Did you miss your home food? What did you learn about the culture? Were the things expensive? (if no) Which countries in South America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East would you like to visit? Which countries would you never like to visit? Would you rather visit another country or travel within your own country? Did something funny ever happen to you because of a foreign custom? Have you ever been in a difficult situation because of a local custom? (if yes) What happened? How did you manage to solve the problem? Will you know how to avoid this situation in the future? (if no) What should you know about the local customs before traveling abroad? Do you know anyone who had serious problems because of this? Which country would you choose to live in for the rest of your life? Do many tourists visit your country? Where most of them come from? Other (20) When you visit relatives, you prefer to stay at their place or in a hotel? Do you rent a car or depend on them to get around? Do you like to travel with children? What are some problems we can have when traveling with children? What are popular places for tourists in your country? Which ones have you been to? Which ones would you recommend? Have you ever gotten lost while traveling? Is it normal for people to get lost? What can you to not get lost? Have you ever gone camping? What are five things you can't forget to take when camping? Have you ever slept in a tent? Have you ever slept in a cave? What you to spend time on a long bus/car/plane trip? (ask about one at a time) What games can you play? What are some benefits of traveling? What you if the weather is bad when you travel? Do you seek a hotel with lots of things to or just a good bed and shower? Does the type of vacation and place reflect one's status? Work, Work, Work "When work is a pleasure, life is a joy When work is a duty, life is slavery." Maxim Gorky (1868-1936) First Job (10) How old are people when they get their first job? How old were you? What was your first job? Who was your boss? Did you like him/her? What were your responsibilities? Have you ever had a part-time job? Compare a part-time job and a full-time job Is it difficult to get the first job? Are there any governmental programs to help with that? Your Job (50) What's your position? Do you like your job? How long have you worked there? Describe a typical day at work Describe some of the people that you work with What are your responsibilities? Do you consider yourself ambitious? Is being ambitious a positive or a negative quality? Are you a workaholic? How many days a week you work? How many hours a day you work? Do you work on a fixed schedule or flexible hours? Have you ever worked overtime? How often you work overtime? Do you get paid for that? Is there any kind of additional pay for working overtime? Do you ever work on Sundays? Do you ever work on holidays? When would you have to work on a Sunday? Do you have many meetings at work? What are they usually about? Do you have many reports to fill in? Do you have other paperwork? Do you use a computer every day? Tell me about your boss Do you like him/her? What's the best thing about him/her? What's the worst thing? Do you get along well with your boss? Are there more men or women bosses in your country? Are women bosses better? Is your company well administrated? What about your department? Do you work in a safe place? What safety measures does your company take? Is there a fire brigade? Have you ever been promoted? How many times have you been promoted? When was the last time? Did you receive a raise as well? What criterion does you company use for promotions? Do you agree with that policy? How long intend to continue at your present job? What you intend to after that? Do you travel a lot for your job? (if yes) Where you travel? How long you usually stay there? (if no) Would you like to need to travel? Wouldn't you get bored? Isn't it bad to "live out of a suitcase"? Professions (40) What are common jobs for men? How about, for women? What jobs men and women equally have? What you think of having the same job for 20 or 30 years? What are the advantages and disadvantages? How long is "too much time" to work at the same place? Do you know what an undertaker is? Would you ever work as one? Do you think women would be good undertakers? What you think of a farmer's job? Would you like to work on a farm? What daily tasks would you have? Describe a secretary's responsibilities Is it the secretary who knows most about the company? Does a truck driver have a hard job? Is the salary good? How does he/she get paid? Are there many women truck drivers? What's the most glamorous job in your opinion? What job would you never accept? What's the most boring job? And the most interesting? Which one is most fun? What's the best? And the worst? If you didn't have your job, what would you like to do? Would you choose a different profession if you could? What influenced you to choose your profession? What's your dream job? What you have to to get it? Do children dream of being athletes, firemen or singers? What else they dream about being? What did you want to be when you were a child? Do you think professional athletes work hard? Who pays their salaries? What jobs are most stressful? What jobs are least stressful? What jobs can children have? Is the salary lower? What laws are there against child labor? Retirement (10) How old are people when they retire? How many years must they work? When you intend to retire? What you want to after you retire? How long have you been planning that? Do you think people over 65 should be obligated to retire? Do some people continue working after they retire? Don't you think that takes jobs from younger people? What retirement plans are there in your country? Do you have one? Other (40) Do women stop working after they get married in your country? Which is more important, to have a good salary or to enjoy your job? Have you ever considered a job in the military? Do you think there's any problem with women in the military? Should women be paid the same as men? Does your mother, father, brother or sister work? (ask about one at a time) What does he/she do? Does he/she like his/her job? How have labor laws changed in the past years? How about working conditions? If you quitted your job, what would you do? Do you think that if you have your own business, you don't have a boss? Is it easy to find a job in your city? What kind of job is the easiest to find? Which is the most difficult? Do old people have problems finding jobs? How old is too old? Is experience valued in your country? Have you ever worked as a volunteer? What you think of volunteer work? What kind of volunteer work is common in your country? Would you rather be a doctor or a businessman? How about a professional athlete or a singer? How about a lawyer or a banker? Is it better to work indoors or outdoors? What professions perform each? Do people usually say how much money they make? Who knows how much you make? How many years people usually stay at the same company? How many times people usually change jobs? Is it common for people to change careers? Do you know anybody who started as a production worker and became a director? What would you if you arrived at work tomorrow and were fired? How would you break the news to your family? Is your résumé always ready? What criterion companies use when they have to dismiss employees? Do you agree with that criterion? How important is ergonomics at the workplace? Have you ever had a problem with that? Do labor laws protect more the employer or the employee? Would "It's useless to ask 'what if?' about the past, but very wise to ask it about the future." Roman Saying What bird would you choose to be? What man or woman would you choose to be for 24 hours? What would you if a classmate asked you for the answer to a question during an exam? What would you if someone's underwear were showing? How would you tell somebody his/her zipper were open? What would you if someone told you? What would you if you bumped your car into another car from behind at a red light? And if you bumped another car in a parking lot and nobody saw? And if someone bumped into yours? What crime would you choose to if you could get away with it? What would you if you were invisible for one day? What would you if you found an empty suitcase on the street? And if the suitcase had $1,000,000 in it? And if it had a dead body in it? And if it had drugs inside? What candy would you like to be? What would you with a 25-hour day? How about a 30-hour day? What would you if you suddenly came across a lion in a forest? What would you if you had only 24 hours to live? How about if you had a week? How about a year? What circus artist would you like to be? Would you ever go to the movies alone? What would you tell the whole world if it were listening? When would you travel to if you had a time machine? Would you want to come back? When would you go to if you had to stay there? Would you report a robbery if you saw one? Would you tell anybody if aliens abducted you? What problems would you have if you had to always tell the truth? Would you eat rat meat if you were starving? How about a cockroach? What would you have on your farm if you had to live off it? Would you divorce your husband/wife if your favorite celebrity wanted to marry you? Which would you choose, a wonderful one-year romantic relationship or a so-so relationship forever? What would you if you had Siamese twins and had to choose one to live? Which would you choose for the rest of your life, love and no money or money and no love? Would you ever consider working in a slaughterhouse? Which would you choose to lose, your sight or your hearing? Which would you prefer to receive, great wisdom, great wealth or great health? Would you ever donate a kidney or any other organ? Would you ever sell an organ of yours? How would you choose to be executed if you received capital punishment? What celebrity would you choose to date? What would you talk about? What one food would you choose to eat for the rest of your life? What would you if you knew a nuclear bomb was going to explode in your city? What one question would you ask God? What planet would you choose to live on? What would you change in your spouse, parent or friend? What would you change about yourself? What two foreign languages would you like to speak? Would you ever throw a pie in someone's face? What would you if you woke up a man/woman? Where would you like to live for the rest of your life? Whose thoughts would you like to hear? Where would go for a one-week vacation? And for a one-month vacation? What would your three wishes be to a genie in a bottle? Which century would you choose to live in? What would you say to a graduating class? Would you witchcraft against someone? Would you like to go to the moon? What would you like to- forget? Where would you like to have been born? What would you buy for $1,000,000? What kind of criminal would you be? What would you never in front of your children? How would you transmit your message if you were God? What three things would you take to a deserted island? What would you say to the President of the United States? What toy would you choose to be? What would you if your cell phone fell into a dirty toilet bowl? What would you change as the leader of your country? What three things would you save from your house if it were on fire? Under what conditions would you consider adopting a child? Would you tell him/her he/she had been adopted? Would you ever consider giving your child up for adoption? Would you ever cheat on your husband/wife? Where in Africa would you like to move? What plastic surgery would like to do? Would you disobey your boss if he/she asked you to something illegal? Would you ever donate blood? What monster would you like to be? What would you if you discovered your husband/wife had spent 10 years in prison? Would you drive at night with only one headlight working? Would you like to have a job feeding animals at a zoo? When would you wear a wig? What would you never in public? How much money would it take for you to that? Would you consider going to a nudist camp? When would you lie to your children? And to your husband/wife? Would you marry someone your parents didn't approve? Would you ever paint your living room black? For $1,000,000, for how long would you not wash or clean yourself? What would you if you saw a coworker stealing from your company? Would you the same if his/her family were starving? What plant would you choose to be? Would you ever pick up a hitchhiker? Would you ever hitchhike? Would you slap someone in the face for offending you? Would you ever smoke in a no-smoking area? When would you spank your child? What would you if you were immortal? Would you bet $100 on a 50% chance to win $500? What would you change in the world? Would you ever "take a bullet" for someone? What would you think if someone said he/she could prove God didn't exist? Would you ever walk home alone at night? Who would you like to have been born? Would you ever eat a live insect? How much money would you accept to eat one? Would you ever consider killing yourself? When would you say "yes" even meaning "no"? Would you ever pretend to be someone just to get something you wanted? What would you if you saw "your lucky numbers" were first prize on a lottery, but you hadn't bet? What would you if you were driving and saw you had forgotten your driver's license at home? What famous person would you like to meet? Have you ever tripped and hurt yourself? What would you if in you found a wallet with $1,000, but without documents? And if there were documents? What would you if you fell asleep on a bus and passed your bus stop? Would you give up your life to become Santa Claus? Would you ever drive your car with a flat tire? How would you spend your time if you didn't have to sleep? What article would you write for a newspaper? How about for a magazine? What would you if you had to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair? How long would it take to write complete answers to the 5,001 questions in this book? The End [...]... way of achieving immortality? Do you know any stories about immortality? What's your religious belief about immortality? When will you be ready to die? Suicide (20) What do you think of suicide? Do you think that there is anything worth dying for? Would you really die for anyone? (if yes) Whom would you die for? Would you die for your country? (if no) Whom would you never die for? What do you think of. .. with babies touch you more? Do you feel sorry for the baby? Can you always believe in their stories? What do you think about children begging? Don't you just think they're just working for their lazy parents? Have you ever offered food instead of money? How about work instead of money? When children work late at night selling something, is that a form of begging? Is that acceptable? Do you sometimes... think some people don't have a soul? What are good things we can do for our soul? Who do you think would mourn for you after your death? Would you like to watch your funeral? (if yes) What would you want to observe? Death Itself (20) Are you afraid of death? What are the worst kinds of deaths? How would you like to die? Do you often think of death? Do you want to know the day you'll die? Would it change... a night at the White House? (official residence of the US President) How about having to live there? Have you ever told a white lie? (a lie that brings no serious consequences) In what kind of situation would you tell one? Do you think white meat is healthy? (poultry, fish, etc.) How often do you eat it? What dishes have egg whites as an ingredient? (the colorless part of an egg) Do you know how to... been a blue-collar worker? (production worker) Is it possible for one to reach the board of directors? Do you always try to do blue-ribbon work? (highest quality) Are people always recognized for that? What is something you do once in a blue moon? (very rarely) Would you do it more often if you could? How do you react to things that happen out of the blue? (suddenly and unexpectedly) Give me an example... would you never die for? What do you think of people who die for religious beliefs? What are the reasons for dying for something? When a person has a terminal sickness, do you think he/she has the right to choose to die? Is doctor-assisted suicide an option in your country? Would you consider this for yourself if you were suffering? How about for someone in your family? What if science were studying a... need to sell or they are just earning extra money? Do they have a future by doing this? Is performing on the street another way of begging? Do you stop to watch or do you just give money? If you don't like their performance, do you give money anyway? Would you rather give money to beggars or to street performers? In what other situations do you give money? Do you ever give money to charity? How much... used for growing plants) Would you like to have one at home? Do you think you have a green thumb? (great skills at gardening) What jobs require a green thumb? Have you ever gotten a black eye? (an injured eye} How would you disguise a black eye if you had to go to work or school? Do you always drink black coffee? (without milk) What's the best coffee you have ever drunk? What are the main causes of blackheads?... black coffee? (without milk) What's the best coffee you have ever drunk? What are the main causes of blackheads? (kind of acne) How can we get rid of them? Do you have a blacklist? (list of undesirable people) Do you think you're on anyone's blacklist? Have you ever been blackmailed? (forced to pay to keep a secret) Is blackmail a crime in your country? What's sold on the black market in your country?... (nothing is as bad as it seems) Give me an example of this kind of situation Do you ever get yellow? (scared) In what situation does that happen? Other (40) What does white remind you of? How about the other colors? (ask about one at a time) What's your favorite color? Have you ever changed your favorite color? Do you hate any color? Do you choose the color of the clothes you want to wear? Do you choose ... black coffee? (without milk) What's the best coffee you have ever drunk? What are the main causes of blackheads? (kind of acne) How can we get rid of them? Do you have a blacklist? (list of undesirable... Suicide (20) What you think of suicide? Do you think that there is anything worth dying for? Would you really die for anyone? (if yes) Whom would you die for? Would you die for your country? (if no)... for your country? (if no) Whom would you never die for? What you think of people who die for religious beliefs? What are the reasons for dying for something? When a person has a terminal sickness,