IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions -Family Living Situations

Family Living Situations Family Size and Household Living Arrangements • In China today, what what is the structure of the typical family (= the typical household)? FQ • Have there been any changes in families in China in the past 20 or 30 years? • Do you think these changes are changes for the better or changes for the worse? * • In what ways you think the number of people in a family (a household) affects the family? Do you think China's "One Child Policy" pleases everybody? • What you think are some of the advantages and disadvantages of big families (i.e., many children) as opposed to small families? FQ • In China, are there any differences between family living arrangements (households) in the cities and in the countryside? Old Family Members (grandparents) • Do people in China like to have three generations of their family all living together? See Note • How many generations live in your family home? • What are some of the pros and cons of three generations living together (i.e., a household including grandparents)? FQx2 • (Similar to above) What you think are some of the advantages and possible disadvantages of having children, parents and grandparents all living together? FQx2 • What you think are some differences between children being brought up by their grandparents and being brought up by their parents? • Do you think old people should go out to work in order to support themselves financially? • Do you think that people are (or, should be) responsible for looking after their parents when the parents are old? • (Similar to above) Whose responsibility you think it should be (or, is) to (financially) look after old people - the government's responsibility or the family's? FQ • Do you think the government have a system for for (financially) looking after old people? • How much you think people should be responsible for (the welfare of) their own parents? FQ • Do you think it's a good idea to put old family members in a nursing home when they become very old? • Family Relationships • Do you think family relationships are important? FQ • (Similar to above) Do you think people should maintain a close relationship with members of their family? (Why?) FQ • In general, what families in China together at home? • Which you think is the more important, family or friends? FQx2 • Do you agree that all members of a family (except for babies & very young children) have certain responsibilities towards the other members of the family? (If so, what are these responsibilities?) • Do you prefer to (try to) "bring up your parents" (养养养 ) or you prefer that they bring you up? • How you think support from friends and support from parents are different? FQ • In what ways family members (in China) support each other? * • Do you think people today spend more time with their family than they used to (about 30 years ago), or less time? FQ • What are the advantages and possible disadvantages of living in a (very) close-knit family? FQ • What are some of the advantages and possible disadvantages of young people living at home with their parents right up until the time they get married? • Do you think your parents should make decisions for you? • Do you think young people (or, children) should respect their parents? (Why?) • (Similar to above) How important is it for young people (or, children) to respect their parents? • Would you agree that each person in a family has certain responsibilities towards the other members of the family? • What responsibilities young people (and/or children) have towards their parents? FQ • What are some examples of stress (or pressure) that can threaten family relationships? (E.g., husband and wife working in different cities because of economic necessity) • How can the "generation gap" be reduced? • Do you feel that you will be friends with the other members of your family for a long time? • Do you think modern technology such as computers and the cell-phones play a positive role in family relationships? Male and Female Family Roles • • • • In a marriage, who you think should carry most of the responsibility for the family, the husband or the wife? In typical Chinese families, who is the dominant person, the mother or the father? FQ (Similar to above) In typical Chinese families, who is the the head of the family? FQ (Similar to above) In typical Chinese families, who is the most important person, the mother or the father? FQ Do you think this has changed at all in recent years? • In a family, you think it's important that the men and women have set (= clearly defined) roles to play? • (Similar to above) Do you think (married) men and women should have set roles in the family? • In the typical family (in China) who takes on (= is responsible for) most of the family-related responsibilities? • In the typical family (in China), what is the role of the man and what is the role of the woman? (State the roles; and compare/contrast) FQ • Ideally, what roles you think men and women should play in a family? FQ • (Similar to above) What responsibilities you think men and women should (or, do) have in a family? • How should a married couple decide who does what work in the home? * • Do different groups in society have different ideas about the division of labour between (married) men and women? Taking Care of Children at Home Frequent Topic • Do you think women who have young children should stay at home and take care of the children or should they have the freedom to take a job outside the home, the same as men? • Do you think this situation will change at all in the future? • Who is more likely to think that "a woman's place is in the home", men or women? (Why?) FQ • (Similar to above) Do men and women have the same opinions about who should stay at home and look after the children? FQ • In recent years, has the role of fathers changed much in Chinese families, compared to many years ago? • To what extent you think (married) men should such activities as childrearing, doing the housework, cooking and shopping for groceries? • Do you think that when a couple has a young child, the responsibility for looking after the child should be shared equally? • Do men and women generally take care of children in the same way? • Do you think women are better suited to looking after children than men? • Helping Others • • • • • • • • Would you say it's easy for people to get along with others? (Similar to above but different) Would you say it's easy for people to form relationships with others? (In general), you think neighbours are important (to people)? (Why?/Why not?) Do you think it's important for neighbours to help each other? Do you think there's much difference between giving and receiving help in the family and between friends? Do people feel the same about helping family members and helping friends? What's the difference between help from family members (or, from parents) and help from friends? FQ Which you think is better? • • • • • Do young people in China today usually ask (or, prefer to ask) their parents for help or their friends? (Similar to above) Do children in China today usually ask (or, prefer to ask) their parents for help or their friends? In the future, you think people will be co-operating more with each other than they today or will people be doing things more independently than today? How you personally feel about working with other people? How you think you could contribute to your community? ******************************************************* *************** 192 A Course You Would Like to Study (Jan 10, 2009) Not Confirmed as a Part Topic Describe a course you would like to study, if you had time * You should say: what (kind of) course it is (or, would be) * where you would this course * how you would study it * how easy or difficult you think it would be * and explain how you would benefit from studying this course Notes • See Note about this topic possibly being Topic 154 • • This is a 假养养养养 Also see Notes -Possible follow-up questions: • Do you think you really will study this course? * • Are there many schools in China that have that course? * -Part Teachers • • • • • Do you think teachers are useful (or, necessary; or, important)? (Why?/Why not?) Do you need teachers to help you learn? What (personal) qualities you think teachers should have? FQx2 (Similar to above) What are the qualities of a good teacher? FQx2 (Similar to above) What kind of person would make a good teacher? FQx2 • Do you think there's much difference between (the skills of), say, language teachers and sports teachers? (How are they similar and how are they different?) FQx2 The Value of Different Kinds of Courses Elective Courses (= non-major classes [courses]) • What are the most popular courses (= subjects; majors) for people to study today (at university or other tertiary educational institutes) in China? FQx2 • Do you think it would be good if schools (universities) only had that course? • Do you think elective courses (elective subjects) in high school or university are very useful? • What are some examples of good (= useful) elective courses? • Do you think humanities subjects (arts subjects) such as history and music are important? Practical Experience (or Practical Courses) versus Theoretical Courses • How you think universities could help students to find work after they graduate? • In general you feel that university courses should focus on giving people knowledge, just for the value of knowledge, or should they focus on training people for work? FQ • Which you think is more useful (or, important), studying a course in a classroom or getting practical work experience? (Why?) FQx2 • (Similar to above) When companies hire people, you think they should pay more attention to the job applicant's study record or the job applicant's work experience? FQ • Do you think schools (and universities) should include more opportunities for gaining practical experience? (Why? How? / Why not?) Refresher Courses • How useful (or, how important) you think refresher courses are, (for example, going to a class to learn how to use the most recent computer software even though you took a similar course 10 years previously)? (Hint: The speed of technological development means that refresher courses will be increasingly important in the future.) ******************************************************* *************** 193 A Piece of Good News (Jan 10, 2009) Describe a piece of good news that you received by phone * You should say: what the news was where you were when you received this news who gave you this news * and explain why you felt this was good news * or and explain what you did after you received this good news * See Notes • The card might say, "mobile phone" but it probably just says "phone", giving the opportunity for those without a mobile phone to answer But of course, the main idea here is the mobile phone • If the card says something like, "who gave you this news" then it seems that both a text message and a spoken message would be suitable • I don't think the card says this but, if it says something like, "who phoned you" then it can only be a spoken message • If it says, "who sent you" then only a text message would be suitable • Don't forget to use the past tense and to say when, even if the card does not tell you to say when -Possible follow-up questions: • -Part Telephones • • • • • • • • • • • • Do you think telephones are important for communication? Do people in China use telephones (including cell-phones) very much? (Give examples of the uses of telephones) FQx2 Does everyone in China use a telephone? Which people in China use more, cells phone or fixed line phones? FQx2 Which you think is better, cell-phones or fixed line phones? (Why?) FQx2 (Similar to above) Why are cell-phones (= mobile phones) so popular? What changes has the introduction of cell-phones brought to people's lives (or, to society)? FQ (Similar to above) How have cell-phones changed people's lives? FQ Do you think people like listening to other people's cell-phone conversations in public places? Some people don't like telephones (both cell-phones and fixed line phones) Can you suggest some reasons why they feel that way? Who you think prefer to use telephones, old people or young people? Why you think girls like using telephones (or, cell-phones) more than boys? Communication Methods/Tools • • • How have communication methods in China changed in the past 20 or 30 years? FQx2 Compare the benefits and shortcomings of using different communication methods (or, tools) such as face-to-face communication, letters, emails and phones * Compare (the advantages & disadvantages of using) emails as opposed to cellphones (= mobile phones) as a means of communication • • • • • • Compare (the advantages & disadvantages of using) emails as opposed to (handwritten) letters as a means of communication FQ What impact have new communication technologies such as mobile phones and the internet had on people's work lives and on their personal lives? FQ See Note With the increasing use of computers for communication, what you think the eventual result will be? FQ (Similar to above) With the increasing use of computers for communication, you think people's handwriting skills will suffer as a result? Do you think the skill of handwriting might one day disappear? How you think people will be communicating with each other in the future (e.g., 30 years from now)? ******************************************************* *************** 194 A Future Change (Jan 10, 2009) Describe a change you would like to make to your life in the future You should say: what change you would like to make when you would like to make this change * how easy or difficult you think this change might be (or, how you would make this change happen) and explain why you would like to make this change Notes • Concentrate on talking about one particular change, not several different changes because, almost certainly, the card says "a change" not, "some changes" Of course, one change will lead to other changes and you could mention them, but try to focus on a single change -Possible follow-up questions: • -Part See also all the past Part questions for "Change" topics in Part 2: Topic #47, Topic #92, Topic #148 People's feelings about Change • • Do you think changes that occur in a person's life are important to that person? How you feel about change? • • • • • • • • • • Some people like change while others don't Can you suggest why these two groups of people feel this way? FQ (Similar to above) In general, what kind of people (or, which groups of people) like change? FQ Why they like change? FQ And what kind of people (or, which groups of people) don't like change? (Why?) FQ How does change bring difficulties to some people? (Similar to above) What are some negative effects of change? Who you think likes change more, young people or old(er) people? Why? Who you think likes change more, children or adults? Why? Do you think change affects children and old people the same way? How can people have more control over the changes that occur in their lives? Personal Change Changing Oneself • What are some examples of changes that people choose to make to their lives (or to themselves)? • What are some personal changes that occur only over quite a long time? • Why adults find it harder to change (to make changes to themselves) than children? FQ • (Similar to above) Why you think it is difficult for people in general to change (to make changes to themselves)? FQ Changes that Happen to People • And can you give any examples of changes that just happen to people, not really changes that people choose to make? • What changes take place when a child becomes an adult? • What are some things about a person that never change? Changes In Society What are some of the major changes that have taken place in Chinese society in the past 20 or 30 years? • If you were the government, what changes would you bring about in society? • What's the difference between "change" and "progress"? • In the past 20 or 30 years, have there been any changes in family life (or, the family structure) in China? FQ • Do you think these are all changes for the better or are some of them changes for the worse? • How you think changes in technology (electronic technology) have affected people's everyday lives? • What changes you think the internet has brought to society? • Have there been any changes in the natural environment (e.g., the weather)? • Can you think of anything that hasn't changed since ancient times? Educational Changes Frequent Topic • Has education in China changed much in the past 20 or 30 years? FQ • • • • • • What you think are the results of those changes? Do you think the educational system in China needs any changes? (What changes? Why?/Why not?) FQ (Similar to above) What changes would you like to see in the educational system (in your country)? FQ (If those changes came about [= happened],) what you think the results of those changes would be? See Note How you think education in China will, in fact, change over the next 20 or 30 years? ******************************************************* *************** 195 Your Favourite Part of Your Hometown (Jan 10, 2009) Describe your favourite part of your hometown You should say: where it is how often you go there what you there and explain why that is your favourite part of town Note • The wording might not use the word, "favourite" It might just say: "Describe a part of your hometown that you like to go to." -Possible follow-up questions: • -Part City versus Rural Living • • • • • Compare (the differences between) living in a city and living in a rural environment What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a city and in a rural environment? Compare the differences between people's homes in cities and in the countryside Which you think is the better place to live, in a city or in the countryside? (Why?) FQ Nowadays, many people move to live either in the city or the countryside What you think are (some of) the reasons why people make these moves? • • • • • What is the trend in China - are people moving into the cities from the countryside or are they moving into the countryside from the cities? (Why?) In the future, you think (more) people will move out of the cities into rural areas? Why (many) people today move from rural to urban areas? FQ What you think the government could to improve the living situation in the countryside? What city would you prefer to live in? (Why?) Essential Facilities in a Town or City • • • • • • • • • • • • What would you say are the essential facilities (or, the important facilities) and services that people need in their town or city? FQ (Similar to above) What important (or essential) facilities and services does your hometown have? FQ What kind of entertainment facilities are there in your hometown? (Similar to above) What kind of entertainment facilities you think are essential for a town or city? What facilities are there for the welfare of old people in the community? (Similar to above) What you think are essential facilities in a community for old people? What you think are the essential educational facilities that a community (a town or city) should have? Do you think libraries are an important facility in the community? Compare the services and facilities that are available in the cities of China and in the countryside (small towns and villages) How you think the facilities in your hometown could be improved? Who should be responsible for providing these services and facilities (the government, private businesses, individual citizens)? FQ (Perhaps the question above is:) Who is responsible for providing these services and facilities (the government, private businesses, individual citizens)? FQ ******************************************************* *************** IELTS Part and Part Topics and Questions Page 40 196 197 198 199 200 A Childhood Activity (February 7, 2009) A Person who Visited your Home (Mar 7, 2009) ( Not in China ) A Conversation You Had (May 9, 2009) An Electrical/Electronic Product (May 9, 2009) A Film (4) (May 9, 2009) RETURN TO PART TOPIC INDEX Describe a recent event that made you feel happy You should say: what the event was when and where it happened who participated in this event what you saw or did * and explain why this event was so enjoyable * or and explain why you remember this event so well * Notes • • This topic looks very similar to the previously used Topic # 181 So I have copied Topic 181, both Part and Part 3, to here and given it a new number (I think the 'Version B' in Topic 181 is the one being used now.) But I did not copy the Part topic of 'History' because I think that, before, it was possibly a mistake to include that sub-topic with Topic 181 All Part questions reported after May 9, 2009 will be written at the end of the Part shown below, under the heading, "Questions Reported After May 9, 2009" After a few months, it might become clear if the Part being used now is different to the previously used Part 3, or exactly the same So far, it looks like some of the new Part questions are a little different to the previous ones Possible follow-up questions: • Do you often that? (Do you often what you just spoke about?) • Do you often talk about this topic? • Did your parents or friends also enjoy this event? Part See also the Part questions for Topic #74, 'A Happy Childhood Memory' Happiness & Happy Events The Nature of Happiness • What you think 'happiness' is? • There is a theory that some people are born with a more optimistic personality than others, with the result that they are happier throughout their lives What you think of that theory? The Sources of Happiness • What are some things that make you happy? • (Similar to above) What are some things that make people happy? Do you think entertainment can make people feel (genuinely) happy? • Do you think artistic activities can make people happy? (Why?/Why not?) • Do you think people who have more talent are happier than others? (Why?/Why not?) FQ • (Similar to above) Do you think people feel happier when they are good at something? (Why?) FQ • Do you think money makes people happy? FQx2 • Are the things (or, the events) that make people happy today the same as several decades ago? FQ The Importance of Family for Happiness • Why people feel happy when they are with members of their family? FQ • In general, what you think makes a happy family? FQ • What are some (other) examples of family activities that make people feel happy? FQx2 Happy People • What kind of people you think are most likely to be happy? (describe qualities of people) • Do you think some people are born with a more happy disposition that others? • Why some people (seem to) stay happy even in difficult circumstances? • How you think a person can make you feel that you and he or she will get along with each other? Ages Differences and Happiness • Do you think there is any relationship between a person's age and their happiness? (Why?/Why not?) FQ • What are the times in a person's life when they are most happy and what are the times when people are most unhappy? • Do you think children today are happy? • Some people say the happiest time in people's lives is the period when they are at school? Do you agree? FQ • What kinds of people are most likely to feel that the past was happier (for them) than the present? • Do young people and old(er) people find happiness from the same things? (Compare the two.) FQ • Do you think old people are very happy? • When you are old(er), what kinds of things you think will bring you happiness? FQ Happiness in Society • Do you think people were happier in the past than they are now? FQx2 • Do you think there is any relationship between government and the happiness of the citizens? • What could the government to help increase the overall happiness of people? FQ • Memories Forgetting and Remembering Happy & Sad Events from the Past • Some people say they have forgotten important things from the past Do you think this is possible? • Do you think it is possible to choose what to remember and what to forget? • What kinds of events people have the strongest memory of? • What times in a person's life are most worth remembering? • Do you think your (present) time at university is worth remembering? • Do you think people mostly remember sad events or happy events? (Why?) FQ • How can people benefit from recalling sad events? (See Note) • What can a person if he or she wants to forget something but cannot forget it? The Accuracy of Happy and Sad Memories • Sometimes, people replace memories of real events with their own versions of the event What you think of this? FQ • (Similar to above) Do you think that what most people remember about the past is accurate, compared to what really happened? FQ • Have you ever imagined that something happened when, in fact, it did not happen? • Compare the memories that older people have with the memories that young people have about childhood experiences? (See Note) • Quite often, old(er) people say the happiest time in their life was when they were young Why you think they say that? • (Similar to above) Quite often, old(er) people talk about "the good old days" What you think they mean? • (Similar to above) Quite often, people who are working say that the happiest time of their life was when they were a student Why you think they say that? FQ The Value of Recording Events - Diaries • Why some people keep diaries? (Or: Why some people like recording their experiences on paper?) FQ • What kinds of people like to keep a diary of their life experiences? (See Note ) • Do you think writing one's experiences in a diary is important? • Do you think the older generation should pass on their life experiences to the next generation by recording these experiences in a diary? • (Similar to above) Do you think it's important for old people to pass on their memories (of their experiences) to young people? (Why?/Why not?) FQ ################################################### Questions Reported After May 9, 2009 The Nature of Happiness • • • • What you think is, "true happiness"? (Similar to above) How would you define the word, "happiness"? Do you think people's understanding of the meaning of happiness today is different to people's ideas in the past? Do you think money can (or, does) make people happy? • Some people pay attention to their own happiness Would you say they are being selfish to that? Childhood Memories • • Do you think there is any different between men and women when they recall happy memories from their childhood? Do you think all of one's childhood experiences are recorded in the brain? ******************************************************* *************** ... *************** IELTS Part and Part Topics and Questions Page 41 20 1 A Job (May 9, 20 09) 20 2 20 3 20 4 20 5 A Leisure Activity (May 9, 20 09) A Newspaper or Magazine Article (May 9, 20 09) A Party (Apr 25 20 09)... *************** IELTS Part and Part Topics and Questions Page 42 206 20 7 20 8 20 9 21 0 An Unplanned Travel Experience (May 9, 20 09) A Place with a Lot of Water (2) (May 9, 20 09) A Science Lesson (May 9, 20 09)... ******************************************************* *************** IELTS Part and Part Topics and Questions Page 40 196 197 198 199 20 0 A Childhood Activity (February 7, 20 09) A Person who Visited your Home (Mar 7, 20 09) ( Not in China )