2005年至今的雅思议论文写作真题（更新到日）
以下是2005年到最近的雅思议论文写作真题库，持续更新中。
People need news nowadays, but some people doubt that the news
reported by the journalists is true. To what extent do you believe
in journalists? What qualities do you think a journalist should
Some people say students should be organized into groups to
study. Others argue students should be made to study alone. What is
your opinion?
Crimes committed by young people are increasing in major cities
throughout the world. Discuss the causes and how to solve this
Modern technology, such as fertilizers and machinery, can
provide us with cheap food. However, it also has negative effects
on people’s health. What is your opinion?
Leisure is a growing industry. People no longer entertain
themselves as they used to because the use of modern technology has
made them less creative. To what extent do you agree or
People can go to shop, bank, and work with computers. But the
danger is that people are getting isolated and losing some social
skills. To what extent do you agree with this opinion?
Some people think visitors to other countries should imitate
local customs and behavior. Some people disagree with the opinion,
arguing that the host country should welcome cultural difference.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Education is of vital importance to the development of
individuals and well-beings of societies. What should education
consist of to fulfill these functions?
Some people think that cultural traditions may be destroyed when
they are used as money-making attractions aimed at tourists. Others
believe that it is the only way to help traditions to remain in the
world. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Pressure on school and university students is increasing and
students are pushed to work hard when they are young. Do you think
it is a positive or negative development?
Many people argue that in order to improve educational quality,
high school students are encouraged to make comments or even
criticism on their teachers. Others think it will lead to loss of
respect and discipline in the classroom. Discuss both views and
give your opinion.
The advantages brought about the spread of English as a global
language will outweigh the disadvantages. Do you agree or disagree
with this opinion?
Some school leavers go to travel or work for a period of time
instead of going directly to university. Discuss disadvantages and
advantages for their studies.
People are optimistic about the 21st century and many of them
think it is a good opportunity to find positive changes in future.
How do you think of their optimism? What would you like to change
in the 21st century?
University has put the training needed in workplace in its
education. But many people argue university should teach for its
own sake regardless of what employers might ask. What is your
opinion on this issue?
Modern buildings have changed the appearance of cities and
towns. Some people argue we should build all buildings in
traditional styles to protect the cultural identity. To what extent
do you agree or disagree?
Sending criminals to prison is not the effective method to deal
with them. Education and job training should be used instead. To
what extent do you agree or disagree？
Some people think that news media have become much more
influential in people's lives today and that this is a negative
development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think the government should pay for health care and
education, but others believe it is not the government’s
responsibility. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Many people work at home using modern technology today. Some
people think only workers benefit from it, not the employers. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
The media should not report details of crimes to the public. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many people say that we have developed into a “throw-away
society”, because we are filling up our environment with so many
plastic bags and rubbish that we cannot fully dispose of. To what
extent do you agree with this opinion and what measures can you
recommend to solve this problem?
Many scientists believe that now we can study the behavior of a
three-year-old child to see whether they will grow up to be
criminals. To what extent do you think the human nature produces
crimes? And how can we prevent children from growing up to be
criminals?
Some people suggest when people move to a new country they
should accept the new culture as their own. Others believe they
should keep their own culture. What is your opinion?
Children who are brought up in families which do not have a
great amount of money are better prepared to deal with the problems
of adult life than children who are brought up by wealthy parents.
To what extent do you agree or disagree？
The only way to improve the safety in our roads is to give much
stricter punishment for driving offences. To what extent do you
agree or disagree？
Some people argue that animals should not be used in experiments
while others hold a supportive view. Discuss both views and give
your own opinion.
Modern cities have good conditions in education and medicine.
Some people say that all new teachers and doctors should be sent to
rural areas to improve the local conditions. Others say people
should go where they like. Discuss both views and give your
The speeding up of life in areas such as travel and
communications is negatively affecting the society at every level
--- individual, national and global. To what extent do you agree or
Some people say that the increasing business and cultural
contact between countries has positive effects. Others say it would
lead to the loss of national identities. Discuss both views and
give your opinion.
The international trade has made it possible for many goods to
be transported to other countries, such as dairy products. Some
people think it is not good because of the long distance. Do you
think whether the benefits overweigh the drawbacks?
Advertising encourages consumers to buy in quantity rather than
promoting quality. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Public libraries should only provide books and should not waste
their limited money on expensive hi-tech media such as software,
video, or DVD. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Far too little has been done to prevent animals and plants from
dying out. People today have noticed this problem, but few actions
are taken. Why do you think people do little about it, and what do
you suggest to solve this problem?
Many people believe that scientific research should be carried
out and controlled by governments rather than private companies. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
The purpose of a building is more important than looking
beautiful. Architects should not worry about designing a building
as works of art. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
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?
There are social, medical, and technical problems associated
with the use of mobile phones. What forms do they take? Do you
agree that the problems outweigh the benefits of the mobile
At present, science has been developing at a high speed, but
people still have a high opinion of artists. What can the arts tell
us of the life that science cannot?
In many countries, the proportion of older people is steadily
increasing. Does this trend have more positive or negative effects
on the society?
Some people believe that air travel should be restricted because
it causes serious pollution and uses up the world's fuel resources.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
More and more measures to improve the security in the urban area
have been introduced because of the increased crime. Do the
benefits of the measures outweigh the drawbacks?
In many countries, more and more young people are leaving school
and unable to find jobs after graduation. What problems do you
think youth unemployment will cause to the individual and the
society? Give reasons and make some suggestions.
Some people think that teachers should be responsible for
teaching students how to judge right and wrong and how to behave
well. Some say that teachers should only teach students about
academic subjects. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Long distance flight uses more fuel than cars and brings
pollution to the environment. We should discourage non-essential
flight rather than limit the use of cars. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
Space travel to the moon is considered as “a step of mankind.”
But some people think that space travel has made little difference
on people’s lives today. To what extent do you agree or
Some people consider that history is of little or no use to us.
Others believe that studying history helps us to know the present.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that national sports teams and individual men
and women who represent their country should be financially
supported by the government. However others argue that they should
be funded by non-government sources (e.g. business, companies).
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
The shortage of housing in big cities can cause severe
consequences, and only government action can solve the problem. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
Do the problems brought about from international travel outweigh
the advantages?
Some people believe that the use of animals for experimentation
purposes is cruel. However, others think it is necessary for the
development of science. Discuss both views and give your own
Some people prefer to provide help or support directly to the
local community. Others prefer to give money to national or
international charitable organizations. Discuss both views and give
your own opinion.
The best way to solve the world’s environmental problems is to
increase the cost of fuel. To what extent do you agree or
Some people think that students benefit from going to private
others feel that private secondary schools have
a negative effect on society as a whole. Discuss both views and
give your opinion.
In many countries, insufficient respect is shown to older
people. What are the reasons and what problems does it cause to the
It is better for students to live with their parents at home
rather than in school. To what extent do you agree or disagree with
this opinion?
Some people think that the earlier technology has changed our
life more than the recent technology. To what extent do you agree
or disagree?
Some people think museums should be enjoyable places to attract
and entertain young people. Others think the purpose of museums is
to educate, not to entertain. Discuss both views and give your own
When you learn a language, you should also learn the cultures
and lifestyles of this country. To what extent do you agree or
Multi-cultural societies, which are a mixture of different
ethnic people, bring more benefits than drawbacks to a country. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
There are many advertisements directed at children, such as
snacks, toys, and other goods. Parents argue that children are
under pressure. Advertisers claim that the advertisements provide
useful information. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people think that the government should decide the subject
for students to study in university. Others believe that students
should be allowed to apply for the subject they prefer. Discuss
both views and give your opinion.
It is suggested that all the young adults should be required to
undertake a period of unpaid work helping people in the community.
Does this bring more benefits or more drawbacks to young adults and
the community?
Some people think that the main purpose of schools is to teach
children to be a good citizen or worker rather than to benefit them
as individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Countries are much more interesting and develop more quickly
when their population includes a mixture of different nationalities
and cultures. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
As most people spend a majority part of their adult life in
work, job satisfaction is an important part of individual
well-being. What are the factors that contribute to the job
satisfaction? How realistic is the expectation of job satisfaction
of all workers?
Some people think that good health is the basic need of every
human and it is not right for the medical care services to be run
by profit-making companies. Do the disadvantages of private health
care outweigh its advantages?
Should international news be included into secondary school
subjects or is it a waste of time? Give your opinion.
Exposure to international media, such as TV, film and magazine,
has a significant impact on the local culture. What do you think
the impact has been? Do you agree that the advantages outweigh the
disadvantages?
Throughout history, male leaders often led our societies to be
full of violence and conflict. If women governed the world, our
society would be more peaceful. To what extent do you agree or
disagree with this opinion?
More and more modern buildings change the character and
appearance of the cities and towns. Some people think that we
should build all new buildings in the traditional style to protect
cultural identities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that personal happiness is directly related to
economic success. Others believe that happiness depends on other
factors. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
The world of work is changing rapidly. Working conditions today
are not the same as before and people no longer rely on taking one
job for life. Discuss the possible causes of these changes and give
your suggestions on how people should prepare for work in the
University has put the training needed in workplace in its
education. But many people argue university should teach for its
own sake regardless of what employers might ask. What is your
opinion on this issue?
Some people think the government should pay for health care and
education, but others believe it is not the government’s
responsibility. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Individuals can do nothing to improve environment. Only
governments and large companies can make a difference. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
Maintaining public libraries is a waste of money since computer
technology can replace their functions. To what extent do you agree
or disagree?
Some people argue that teaching children of different abilities
together benefits all of them. Others believe that intelligent
children should be taught separately and given special treatment.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
With the increasing use of mobile phones and computers, people
are no longer writing letters now. Some people think the
traditional skill of writing letters will disappear. To what extent
do you agree or disagree? How do you think about the importance of
writing letters?
Traditional arts civilized a nation. Do you think government
should subsidize musicians, artists, actors or drama companies?
What should the government do?
It is now possible to perform everyday tasks, such as banking,
shopping, as well as business transactions without meeting people
face to face. What are the possible effects it may bring on the
individual and the society as a whole?
Society would benefit from the ban on all forms of advertising
because it may serve no useful purpose, and can even be damaging.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Consumers are influenced by advertising to a great extent. In
what ways do you think people are influenced and what measures
should be taken to regulate advertising?
Air transport is increasingly used to export fruit and
vegetables to some countries where they cannot be grown or are out
of season. Some people believe that this is good, while others
think this is not justified. What is your opinion?
Some people believe that some unpaid community service should be
a compulsory part of high school program (e.g. working in a
charity, improving the relationship of neighborhood or teaching
sports to children). To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Computer is more and more important to education. Discuss in
which areas computer is more important and in which areas teachers
are more important.
Nowadays many developing countries are increasingly expanding
their tourist industries. Why is the case? Is it a positive or
negative development?
Some people prefer to provide help or support directly to the
local community. Others prefer to give money to national or
international charitable organizations. Discuss both views and give
your own opinion.
In many countries traditional foods are replaced by
international fast foods. This is having a negative effect on
families and societies. To what extent do you agree or
In some countries, schools aim to provide a general education
across a range of subjects, while in other countries, children
focus on a narrow range of subjects related to a particular career.
For today’s world, which system is more appropriate?
Lectures were used in the past as an old way of teaching a large
number of students. As new technology is now available for
education, some people suggest that there is no justification for
lectures. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Our planet is facing many problems in the world. The good
relationship between different countries would become more
important than ever before. To what extent do you agree or
The range and quality of food have been changed by the advances
in science and technology. Some people think that the food has been
improved, while others do not think so. Discuss both views and give
your opinion.
Should we invent a new language for people from different
countries to use for international communication? Do you think
there are more benefits or more problems with it?
Some people say that it is the responsibility for the
individuals to save money for their own care when they retire. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
The unlimited use of cars may cause many problems. What are
those problems? In order to reduce these problems, should people be
discouraged from using cars?
Higher education is funded in several ways: all costs of higher
education are pa all costs are paid by the
all costs are paid by students with a government loan
which must be repaid after graduation. What are the benefits of
these ways and which one is the best?
Nowadays, some employers think formal academic qualifications
are more important than life experiences or personal qualities when
looking for an employee. Why is it the case? Is it a positive or
negative development?
Some people believe it is better for children to begin to learn
a foreign language at primary school than secondary school. Do you
think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Some people think the only purpose of prison is to punish
crimes. Others think it has other functions. Discuss both views and
give your opinion.
Governments should pay the course fees for everyone who wants to
study at university. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Nowadays, people are encouraged to throw away and replace the
goods that are not the latest models or latest fashion. Do the
disadvantages of a throw-away society overweigh the advantages?
Advertising aimed at children has lots of negative effects on
children and should be banned. To what extent do you agree or
Some people think that giving aids to poorer countries has more
negative impacts than positive ones. To what extent do you agree or
We are now living in a throw-away society. What are the causes
and what problems it may cause?
Some people believe that the main aim of university education is
to help graduates find better jobs, while others think that
university education has much wider benefits for individuals and
society. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Many species of plants and animals are declining in the world.
Give possible reasons and offer solutions.
More images of disasters and violence are shown on TV news
programs. Discuss the reasons and what are the effects on the
individual and the society?
Some people think it is good for children to spend time on TV,
video, and computer games. Others believe that TV, video and
computer games have negative effects on children’s development.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people think the best way to reduce crime is to give longer
prison sentence. Others, however, think there are better
alternative ways to reduce crime. Discuss both views and give your
The old generations often hold traditional ideas about the
correct way of life, thinking and behavior. However, some people
think that these ideas are not helpful for young people to prepare
for modern life. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In countries (where there is high unemployment) most pupils
should be offered on there is no point in
offering secondary education to those who will have no hope of
finding a job. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that we can use animals in any way for the
benefits of human beings. Others disagree. Discuss both views and
give your opinion.
Now big cities have many problems. What are these problems? Do
you think the government should encourage city residents to move to
small cities and towns?
“Tomorrow is the most important thing in life.” How important is
it for individuals and countries to think for future rather than
focusing on the present?
In some countries, it is possible to buy a wide variety of foods
which have been transported from all over the world. To what extent
do the benefits of this development outweigh the drawbacks?
Most countries spend much money on education, as they start to
realize the importance of education. Which two subjects do you
think are the most important and which one is the least
important?
Subjects: Literature, Sports, Mathematics, Economy, Physics,
History, Music, Geography, Philosophy, Foreign languages
The number of cars keeps increasing, and road systems should be
expanded. Some people think the government should cover all the
costs. Others believe the users should pay for it. Discuss both
views and give your opinion.
People should look after their health as a duty to the society
they live in rather than only for their own personal benefit. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that it is the responsibility of the
government of a country to ensure a healthy lifestyle for its
people, while others believe that individuals should be free to
make decisions for their lifestyles. Discuss both views and give
your opinion.
Long distance flight uses more fuel than cars and brings
pollution to the environment. We should discourage non-essential
flight rather than limit the use of cars. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
More and more people are busy with work and do not have enough
time to spend with their families and friends. Why does this
happen? What are the effects on family and society as a whole?
Figures show that some countries have an ever increasing
proportion of the population who are aged 15 or younger. What do
you think the current and future effects of this may be for those
countries?
Teachers used to convey information, but now with wide resources
of information, there is no role for teachers to play in modern
education. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Children can learn effectively by watching television. They
should be encouraged to watch television regularly both in school
and at home. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
The high sales of popular consumer goods reflect the power of
the advertising but not the real need of the whole society in which
they sell. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement?
Some people think that the fittest and strongest individual and
team can achieve success in sports, while others believe that
success depends on mental attitude. Discuss both views and give
your opinion.
Some people think that university students should only study one
special subject. Others think that universities should encourage
students to study a range of subjects in addition to a special
area. Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
Many people think that cheap air travel should be encouraged
because it gives ordinary people the freedom to travel further.
However, others think that this leads to environmental problem, and
so air travel should be more expensive in order to discourage
people from having it. Discuss both sides and give your own
Some people think that children should obey rules and do what
their parents and teachers want them to do. Others believe that
children controlled very much are not well-prepared for their adult
lives. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Mobile phones and the Internet are very useful for old people.
However, this section of population is the fewer users of mobile
phones and the Internet. In what ways can mobile phones and the
Internet be useful to the old people? How can the old people be
encouraged to use this new technology?
Some people believe that theoretical subjects (such as
mathematics, philosophy and economics) should not be taught in
universities because universities should focus on practical
subjects (such as marketing, computer programming, and accounting).
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people support the development in agriculture such as
factory farming and scientific creation of new types of fruits and
vegetables. Others oppose this view and support other developments.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people think that in modern society individuals are
becoming more dependent on each other. But others say that
individuals are becoming more independent. Discuss both these views
and give your own opinion.
Some people think international cooperation has brought benefits
to world environmental protection, while others believe more
benefits have been brought to international business. Discuss both
views and give your own opinion.
In some countries, the governments encourage industries and
businesses to move out from large cities to regional areas. Do you
think that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Detailed descriptions of crimes are often given in the newspaper
or on TV. Some people think it has bad consequences on the society
and so should be restricted. To what extent do you agree or
Some people think that international travel makes them
prejudiced rather than broad-minded. Give reasons why people fail
to benefit from travel and how to improve the understanding of
countries you visit.
Some people believe that students should study in groups. Others
think that they should study alone. What are the benefits of
studying in groups and studying alone? Which way is more
effective?
Once children start school, teachers have more influence on
their intellectual and social development than parents do. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe that it is important to protect the
environment, but they make no efforts on it. Why is it so? What
actions should be taken to protect the environment?
Sending criminals to prison is not the effective method to deal
with them. Education and job training should be used instead. To
what extent do you agree or disagree？
Poor students or students who come from rural areas often find
it difficult to have access to university education. Some people
think universities should make it especially easy for them to
study. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Society is based on rules and laws. It could not function if
individuals were free to do whatever they wanted. To what extent do
you agree or disagree？
Many people can now study at home through distance-learning
programs via Internet or television. But some people say this kind
of education can not be compared to attending a college. What is
your opinion?
Economic progress is one way to measure the success of a
country. Some people believe there are other factors. What other
factors should be considered? Which one do you think is more
important than the others?
Fashion has become more and more important when people choose
clothes. Why? Do you think it is a positive or negative
development?
More and more people choose to work at home and students study
from home as the development of computer technology makes it more
convenient and cheaper. Do you think it is a positive or negative
development?
International travel has become much cheaper, and there are more
and more tourists. Do the advantages of the increased tourism
outweigh the disadvantages?
Some people think modern games can help children to develop a
wide range of skills, but others argue that traditional games can
be much better for developing such skills. What is your
In a global economy, many goods, including what we use on a
daily basis, are transported from other counties in a long
distance. To what extent do you think its benefits exceed its
drawbacks?
Memorization of information by frequent repetition (rote
learning) plays a role in many education systems. Does the
usefulness outweigh the limitations?
Some people believe that a country can benefit a lot from
university education. Others believe that sending a large number of
young students to go to university leads to unemployment. Discuss
both views and give your opinions.
Nowadays, many charities and organizations have to publicize
their activities by giving a name to a particular day, such as
National Children's day for encouraging treatment of children,
National Non-smoking Day for encouraging people to give up smoking.
Why do these charities and organizations do so? How effective can
these special days be?
Some people believe that a range of technology available has
increased the gap between rich people and poor people, but others
believe it has opposite effects. Discuss both views and give your
Students at school and university learn far more from lessons
with their teachers than other sources (for example, Internet and
television). To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Now because of the improved technology in communication and
transport, people in some countries can choose to live and work
anywhere they want. Do the advantages outweigh the
disadvantages?
Rich countries often give financial aid to poor countries, but
it does not solve poverty, so rich countries should give other
types of help to the poor countries rather than the financial aid.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Developments in science and technology have caused environmental
problems. Some people say that a simpler way of life will protect
the environment, while others believe that science and technology
can solve environmental problems. Discuss both views and give your
Some people believe that environmental problems are too big for
individuals to deal with, while others think that the problems
cannot be solved unless individuals take some actions. Discuss both
views and give your opinion.
Some people believe that the best way to improve public health
is to increase the number of public sports facilities. Others
believe that it has little effects and need other measures. Discuss
both views and give your opinion.
Newspapers have become an enormous influence on people’s ideas
and opinions. Why is the case? Is it a positive or negative
development?
Many people think that music plays an important role in society.
Others, however, believe that music is simply a form of
entertainment for individuals. Discuss both views and give your
More and more students are choosing to study in another country
for higher education. Do the benefits outweigh the drawbacks?
The government should spend money on promoting a healthy
lifestyle to prevent illness rather than on the treatment of people
who are already ill. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Nowadays people live in the society where consumer goods are
relatively cheaper to buy. Do you think its advantages outweigh its
disadvantages?
If a product is good or if it meets people’s needs, people will
buy it. Therefore, advertising is unnecessary and nothing more than
a form of entertainment. To what extent do you agree or
Some people think that computers and the internet are important
for children’s study, but others think that students can learn more
effectively in schools and with teachers. Discuss both these views
and give your own opinion.
Some people think museums should be enjoyable places to attract
and entertain young people. Others think the purpose of museums is
to educate, not to entertain. Discuss both sides and give your own
Some people believe that teenagers should concentrate on all
school subjects, while others say that students should focus on the
subject that they are best at or that they find interesting.
Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
People who read books have developed more imagination and
language skills than those who watch TV. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
A hundred years ago, people thought that the human race was
steadily improving in every area of life. Now it seems this is not
certain in that situation. In which areas do you think we have made
important progress nowadays? In which areas do you think we still
need to make progress?
Fossil fuels (e.g. coal, oil and natural gas) are the main
sources of energy in many countries. However, in some countries,
the use of alternative sources of energy (e.g. wind power and solar
power) is encouraged. Is this a positive or negative
development?
After criminals are set free, some of them continue to commit
crimes. Why do you think this is the case? Provide solutions.
Some people think that all school students should learn a
foreign language. Others think that a student should not be
required to learn a foreign language if he or she does not have the
talent for it. Discuss both these views and give your own
Some people think that developing countries need financial help
from international organizations. Others think that it is practical
aid and advice that is needed. Discuss these views and give your
own opinion.
The government should finance scientific research rather than
less useful research. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Companies and individuals, instead of the government, should pay
for the clean up of the pollution they have produced. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
People are optimistic about the 21st century and many of them
think it is a good opportunity to find positive changes in future.
How do you think of their optimism? What would you like to change
in the 21st century?
Nowadays sending children to boarding schools is becoming
increasingly popular. What are the reasons? Do you think it is a
positive development?
The development of technology changes the way people interact
with each other. In what ways does technology affect the types of
relationships people make? Is it a positive or negative
development?
The subjects and lesson contents are decided by the authorities
such as the central government. Some people argue that teachers
should make the decision. To what extent do you agree or
Some people believe that news media is becoming more and more
influential in people’s lives and that it is a negative
development. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In the past, people used to travel to see the difference from
their home country. However, the sceneries in places around the
world seem similar nowadays. What are the causes of these
similarities? Do you think that the advantages of this similarity
outweigh the disadvantages?
Some people think that a large proportion of young people should
however, others think that we should encourage
them to become car mechanics, builders etc to meet the needs of the
community. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Caring for children is probably the most important thing of the
society. It is suggested that all mothers and fathers should be
required to take childcare training courses. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
Some people think that lawbreakers should be sent to prison.
However, others think that better talents among those should be
made to work. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
In some countries some school leavers are choosing to work or
travel for a period of time between finishing high school and
attending university. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for
their decision.
Family has a great influence in children’s development. However,
the outside influences play a bigger part in children’s life. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
An increase in the production of consumer goods results in the
damage to the natural environment. Why is the case? What can we do
to solve this problem?
Some people think the function of university education is to
prepare students for employment, but others believe university
education can offer many other functions. Discuss both these views
and give your own opinion.
The environmental problem in the world cannot be solved by
ordinary people, and governments and large companies should be
responsible for this problem. To what extent do you agree or
The rate of crime committed by teenagers is increasing
throughout the world. Discuss the possible reasons and give
suggestions on how to solve the problem.
Some people say that professional workers such as doctors,
nurses and teachers make greater contribution. So they should be
paid more than those sport and entertainment persons. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that introducing new technology can improve
people's quality of life in the developing countries. However,
others believe that free education should be offered. Discuss both
views and give your own opinion.
Individuals and countries cannot help everyone who needs help in
the world, so we should be only concerned about our own communities
and countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people tend to take temporary jobs, for they have the time
to do other things. Do the advantages outweigh the
disadvantages?
Nowadays, people always throw the old things away when they buy
new things. Some people claim that the broken things should be
repaired and used again. What factors cause this phenomenon? What
effects the phenomenon leads to?
Recently some people can work from home using modern technology.
Some think this only benefits the workers, but not the employers.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Crime is a problem all over the world and there is nothing to do
to prevent it. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe that charity organizations should give aid
to those in greatest need, wherever they live. Other people believe
that charity organizations should concentrate on the people in
their own country. Discuss both views and give your own
In today's world, it is private companies rather than
governments who pay for and carry out most scientific research. Do
advantages outweigh disadvantages?
The gap between the rich and the poor is becoming wider. The
rich is richer and the poor is even poorer. Discuss what problem
could this situation cause and what measures should be taken to
address them.
There is a general increase of anti-social behavior and a lack
of respect to others. What do you think are the causes of this?
What solutions can you suggest?
Air travel only benefits the richest people. The majority of
people receive no advantages from the development of air travel. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that politicians have the greatest influence
on the world. Other people, however, believe that scientists have
the greatest influence. Discuss both views and give your
Many countries aim to improve living standard by economic
development, but some important social values are lost as a result.
Do you think the advantages of economic development outweigh the
disadvantages?
Some people hold that technological progress in the last 100
years has brought negative effects on the society. To what extent
do you agree or disagree?
People’s life expectancy is longer than before. What are the
possible effects of longer living on individuals and the
Some people think that zoos are cruel and all the zoos should be
closed. However, others think zoos are useful to protect rare
animals. Discuss both these views and give your opinion.
Machines are more and more used in modern society. Do you think
the negative influences outweigh the positive ones on individual
and society?
Studies suggest that children spend more and more time on
watching TV than they did in the past and spend less time on doing
active or creative things. Why do you think this is the case? What
measures can be used to solve the problem?
Some people think that the recent increase in cheap air travel
has brought many benefits, but others believe that this development
has drawbacks for the environment and world’s resources. Discuss
both these views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that men and women have different qualities
and so some jobs are suitable for men and some jobs are suitable
for women. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that governments should act to change the way
individuals live, while others believe that they should choose the
way themselves. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
It is suggested that everyone should have their own car, TV and
fridge. Do you think the disadvantages of this development
overweigh the advantages?
Schools should teach children academic subjects which will be
useful in their future careers. Subjects such as music and sports
are not useful. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many people use distance-learning programs (study material post,
TV, Internet…) to study at home, but others think it can not bring
the benefits as much as attending college or university. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that children should obey the rules that
parents and teachers want them to do. Others think that less
control will help children deal with adult life. Discuss both these
views and give your opinion.
Many young people today leave school with a negative attitude
towards learning. Why do you think this is happening? What can be
done to encourage a positive attitude to learning in young
Students from poor families and rural areas often find it
difficult to get access to university education, so people think
universities should make it especially easy for students from these
backgrounds to study at. To what extent do you agree or
Air travel and telecommunications help make the world have more
contact. To what extent do you agree that societies benefit from
increased contact and closer relationships brought about by
international tourism and business?
An increasing number of people frequently changed their jobs or
places of residence in their lives. Is it a passive or negative
development?
Some people think that international travel makes them
prejudiced rather than broad-minded. Give reasons why people fail
to benefit from traveling and how to improve the understanding of
countries you visit.
Some people think that younger people are not suitable for
important positions in governments of countries. Others argue that
younger people have new ideas in these positions. Discuss both
these views and give your opinion.
Some people think adults should learn practical skills by
themselves, while others think they should learn from teachers.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
The movement of people from agricultural areas to cities to work
can cause serious problems in both places. What are the serious
problems and how to solve these problems?
University students should pay all the cost of their studies
because university education benefits the students themselves
rather than the society as a whole. To what extent do you agree or
In many parts of the world, the incidence of crimes for young
people is increasing. Why is this case happening? How should
children or teenagers be punished?
Major cities in the world are growing fast, along with their
problems. What are the problems that young people living in cities
are facing with due to the continued growth of cities? What are the
reasons and how to solve the problems?
Nowadays, many charities and organizations have to publicize
their activities by giving a name to a particular day, such as
National Children's day for encouraging treatment of children,
National Non-smoking Day for encouraging people to give up smoking.
Why do these charities and organizations do so? How effective can
these special days be?
City planners have located schools, homes, shops, offices in
specific areas which may be widely separated from each other. Do
you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Anyone can use a mobile phone to answer the work call and home
call at any place or 7 days a week. Do you think this development
brings us more positive effects or negative effects on both
individuals and the society?
Some people think it is necessary to use animals for testing
medicines intended for human use. Others, however, think it is
cruel to do that. Discuss both these views and give you own
A report indicated that many children between 7 and 11 spend too
much time watching television or playing video games. How does the
problem affect the children, their families and the society? What
measures can be taken to control it?
Some countries have introduced a law to limit working hours for
employees. How can this law be introduced? Do you think it is a
positive or negative development?
In some countries, it is illegal for employers to reject someone
applying for a job for his or her age. What do you think about it?
Is this a positive or negative development?
Some people think that pollution and damage of environment are
resulting from a country’s developing and becoming richer, and this
is hard to be avoided. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that by paying taxes they have made enough
contribution to their society. Others think there are more
responsibilities than paying taxes. Discuss both these views and
give your opinion.
Some parents need to spend time on reading or telling stories to
children, while others think children can read through a variety of
sources, such as book, TV and Internet by themselves. Discuss both
these views and give your own opinion.
Everybody should stay in school until 18. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
Some people think people have benefited from modern
communication technology, while others think some people have not
benefited at all. To what extent do you agree or
In some countries, small town-centre shops are out of business
because people are driving to large out-of-town stores. As a
result, people without cars have limited access to shops, and so
more and more people buy cars. Do you think the disadvantages of
this development outweigh the advantages?
Public museums and art galleries are not needed because people
could see historical objects and works by using computers. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
Scientists say that junk food is harmful to people's health. Some
say the way to ask people to eat less fast food is to educate them,
while others say education does not work. Discuss both sides and
give your own opinion.
Young people are often influenced in their behaviours and
situations by others in the same age. This
is&called “peer pressure". Do the disadvantages
outweigh the advantages?
Some people think typical teaching of a teacher and students in the
class will not exist by the year 2050. Do you agree or
Some people think that robots are very important to human’s future
development, while others think they are dangerous and have
negative effects on society. Discuss both views and give your
Nowadays, some workplaces tend to employ equal numbers of men and
women workers. Do you think it is a positive or negative
development?
Nowadays some individuals behave in an anti-society way, such as
committing a crime. In general, it is the society to blame. What
causes the anti-social behaviours of individuals? Who should be
responsible for dealing with it?
Some people think that it is necessary to travel abroad to learn
about other countries, while other people think that it is not
necessary to travel abroad because all the information can be seen
on TV and the Internet. Discuss both views and give your
Tourism is an excellent way to develop a country, but it can
also cause harm. How can countries ensure that tourism benefits the
development.
Some people think that creative artists should be supported
financially by the government of their county, while others believe
that they should find financial support from other sources instead.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people believe that women should play an equal role as men in
a country’s police force or military force, such as the army, while
others think women are not suitable for these kinds of jobs.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some people suggest that a country should try to produce all the
food for its population and import as little food as possible. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think governments should spend money on measures to
save languages with few speakers from dying out completely. Others
think this is a waste of financial resources. Discuss both views
and give your opinion.
Some think that children should start school as early as
possible, while others believe that they should start school at the
age of seven.Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Competitiveness is a positive quality for people in most
societies. How does competitiveness affect individuals? Is it a
positive or negative trend?
Around the world, more adults can work from home and more
children can study from home as computer technologies become
cheaper and more accessible. Do you think it is a positive or
negative development?
Many people think cheap air travel should be encouraged because
it gives ordinary people freedom to travel
further.& However, others think this leads to
environmental problem, so air travel should be more expensive in
order to discourage people from having it. Discuss the both sides
and give your own opinion.
Many people think it is very important to protect the
environment but they make no effort to do it themselves. Why do you
think it is the case? What actions can be done to suggest
individuals protect the environment?
Some people think that too much money has been spent looking
after and repairing old buildings, so we should knock down old
buildings and build modern ones instead. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
Some people think foreign visitors should be charged more than
local people when they visit the cultural and historical
attractions in a country. To what extent do you agree or
Environmental problems are too big for individual countries and
individual persons to address. In other words, we have reached the
stage where the only way to protect the environment is at an
international level. To what extent do you agree or disagree with
this opinion?
Individual greed and selfishness has been the basis of the
modern society. Some people think that we must return to the older
and more traditional values of respect for the family and the local
community in order to create a better world to live in. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
The government should control the amount of violence in films
and on television in order to decrease the violent crimes in
society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think that teachers should be responsible for
teaching students to judge what is right and wrong so that they can
behave well. Others say that teachers should only teach students
academic subjects. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Nowadays, we rely on news for our knowledge, but we are
uncertain about the truth of these news. Should we believe
journalists? What qualities should a good journalist or
correspondent have?
Some people think governments should focus the spending only on
public services rather than wasting money on arts (music, printing,
etc.). To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Traditional food is being replaced by international fast foods.
This has negative effects on family and society. To what extent do
you agree or disagree?
We are surrounded by all kinds of advertising, which is having
an increasing influence on our lives. Do the positive effects of
advertising outweigh its negative effects?
Many animal species in the world are becoming extinct nowadays.
Some people say that countries and individuals should protect these
animals from dying out, while others say we should concentrate more
on problems of human beings. Discuss both views and give your
Today, advanced science and technology have made great changes to
people’s life, but artists such as musicians, painters and writers
are still highly valued. What can arts tell us about life that
science and technology cannot?
In schools and universities, girls tend to choose arts subjects,
while boys choose science subjects. What is the reason? Should the
trend be changed?
Some people think government should ban dangerous sports, while
others think it is people's freedom to do whatever sports
activities they choose. Discuss both views and give your
Some people think that the main purpose of schools is to turn
children into good citizens and workers, rather to benefit them as
individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe that if a police force carries guns, it can
encourage a higher level of violence. To what extent do you agree
or disagree?
Higher education can be funded in several ways including the
following three: 1. All costs are paid by the
government.& 2. All costs are paid by the student.
3. All costs are paid by the student using loans from the
government that must be repaid after graduation.&
Discuss the benefits of each option. Which is the best one?
All over the world, people watch foreign film much more than
locally produced films. Why? Should the government provide
financial support to local film industries?
Some people think the qualities a person needs to become successful
in today's world cannot be learned at a university or similar
academic institution. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Nowadays a growing amount of advertising aims at children. Some
people think this have negative effects on children and should be
banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some children find some subjects such as mathematic and philosophy
too difficult to learn, so some people argue that those subjects
should be optional rather than compulsory. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
The best way for a country to prepare for the future is to invest
more resources in its young people. How true do you think of it?
What is the best way to invest resources?
In many countries, the proportion of older people is steadily
increasing. Does this trend have more positive or negative effects
on the society?
Some people think that Olympic Games are an exciting event and
can promote the communication between&different
countries, while others think it is a waste of money. Discuss both
views and give your own opinion.
Anyone can post information on the Internet. Some people think
most of what we read on the Internet is inaccurate. To what extent
do you agree or disagree?
Films and computer games containing violence are popular. Some
people say they have negative effect on society and should be
banned. Others say they are just harmless relaxation. Discuss both
views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that the government should invest more money
in teaching science than other subjects for the progress of the
country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people claim that newspaper is the best way to get latest
information because it has more influence than other forms of
media. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think job satisfaction is more important than job
security, while others believe that having a permanent job is
better than enjoying the job. Discuss both views and give your own
With the rapid economic development, people living in developed
and developing countries both have become richer than before. But
studies show that people in developing countries feel happier than
before, while those in developed countries do not. Discuss the
reasons and lessons we can learn from it.&
Today food travels thousands of miles from the farm to the
consumers. What are the reasons? Is it a positive or a negative
Human activities have negative effects on plants and animal
species. Some people think that it is too late to do anything about
this problem. Other people believe that effective measures can be
taken to improve this situation. Discuss both views and give your
More and more people are interested in finding out their family
history. Why has this happened? Is this a positive or negative
development?
Some people think developing countries should invite foreign
companies to open branches, offices and factories to promote their
economies. Others say that they should keep the foreign companies
out and depend more on their own local companies. Describe both
views and give your opinion.
Some people believe that governments should make investment in
building public libraries in every town, while others think it is a
waste of money because we have access to information via Internet.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that social skills are as important as
academic qualifications. To what extent do you agree or
Most of the urgent problems can only be solved with
international cooperation.& To what extent do you
agree or disagree？
Some people think that young people should follow traditions of
their society, and others think young people should be free to
behave as they will. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
The spread of multinational companies and resulting increase of
globalization produces positive effects for everyone. To what
extent to you agree or disagree?
Some people think the technology makes life complex, so we
should make the life simpler without using the technology. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
Nowadays，full-time university students tend to focus on their
studying. Some people think it is essential for university students
to be involved in other activities. To what extent do you agree or
disagree？
In the future，there will be a higher proportion of older people
than younger people. Is it a positive or negative development?
News media are important in modern society. Why are they so
important? Are their influences generally positive or negative?
countries&old&people&are
highly valued, while in some cultures young
people&are highly valued. Discuss both views and
give your opinion.
Do you think how important it is for people to want success in
life ? Is ambition a positive or negative characteristic?
Nowadays, there is a trend that reports of media focus on
problems and emergencies rather than positive developments. Some
people think it is harmful to individuals and to society. To what
extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people think planning future is a waste of time and people
should focus on the present. To what extent do you agree or
In modern world, it is no longer necessary to use animals for
food or use animal products, for instance, clothing and medicines.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Nowadays consumers are faced with the advertisements from
competitive companies. To what extent do you agree that consumers
are influenced by advertisements? What measures should be taken to
protect them?
In most countries，prison is an effective solution for the
problem of crime. Some people think it is a more effective solution
to provide a better education. To what extent do you agree or
disagree？
The increase in food production owes much to fertilizers and
better machinery, but some people think that it has a negative
impact on human health and community. To what extent do you agree
or disagree?
Some people believe that the government should support the funds
for the arts, while some other people suggest that the money should
be used for public health and education. Discuss both views and
give your opinion.
Some people think news have no connection to people's lives, so
then it is a waste of time to read the news in the newspaper and
watch television news programs. To what extent do you agree or
2012 年6月14日
Many people believe that scientific research should be carried
out and controlled by the government rather than private companies.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
An increasing number of people do not know their neighbors, and
there is no longer a sense of community.
What do you think are the causes of this situation? What
solutions can you suggest?
Some visitors are interested in other countries' culture and
tradition. How can visitors learn it？Why are other visitors not
interested in it？
Advertisements encourage consumers to buy in quantity rather
than in quality. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
It is better for students to live away from home while studying
at university than living with parents. To what extent do you agree
or disagree?
In most cities and towns, the high volumes of road traffic have
become a problem. What are the causes and what actions could be
taken to solve the problem？
Some people believe arts such as painting and music cannot
directly improve the quality of people's lives so that government
money should be spent on other things. To what extent do you agree
or disagree?
In many countries, there are 24 -hour TV programs. Is it a
positive or negative development?
Nowadays, mobile phones and internet have become increasingly
important in people’s social life. What are the advantages and
disadvantages of this?
A large number of young people cannot find jobs after they leave
school. What problems will youth unemployment cause in individual
and for society? What measures should be taken to reduce the level
of unemployment among young people？
In some countries, museums charge people for admission, while in
some other countries, people are admitted into museums free of
charge. Do you think the advantages of charging admission outweigh
its disadvantages?
Many countries spend a lot of money preparing competitors to
take part in major sports competitions such as the Olympics,
football world cup etc. Some people think that it would be better
to spend this money to encourage children to take part in sports in
a young age. To what extent do you agree or disagree？
Some people believe that everyone has the right to receive
university education，so the government should make it free to all
people regardless of their financial background. To what extent do
you agree or disagree?
Since money for postgraduate research is limited, some people
think financial support from the government should be only provided
for scientific research rather than the research for less useful
subjects. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
In some countries, young people are not only richer but also
safer and healthier than ever before. However, they are less happy.
What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you
Some people think personal happiness is closely related to
economic success, while others believe that it depends on other
factors. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Many countries now have people from different cultures and
ethnic groups. What is the reason for this? Is it a positive or
negative development?
It has become easier and more affordable for people to visit
other countries. Is it a positive or negative development?
Some people think that advertising discourage us from being
different individuals, as all people want to do the same and look
the same. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Some people believe more actions can be done to prevent crime,
while others think that little can be done. What is your
We have three important parts of education reading, writing and
Math. Some people think every child will benefit from a fourth
skill added to the list: computer skills. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?
In the past, people used to travel abroad to look many
differences from their home country. Nowadays, cities throughout
the world are becoming more and more similar. What are the
reasons？Is this a positive or negative development？
With the increasing use of mobile phones and computers, fewer
people are writing letters. Some people think that the traditional
skill of writing letters will disappear completely. To what extent
do you agree or disagree? How do you think letter-writing is
important?
More and more companies are allowing employees to work from
home. Do you think this is a positive or negative development?
Nowadays, people always throw old things away and buy new
things, whereas in the past, old things were repaired and used
again. What factors cause this phenomenon? What effects does the
phenomenon lead to?&
In some countries around the world men and women are having
babies late in }