Common IELTS Questions & Related Vocabulary (Speaking & Writing) - Part 1

Part 3:
- Do many people go to the cinema in your country? Why/why not?
- Is there a rating system for cinema in your country? If so, how does it work?
- What is the general trend of your national films? Why?
- Do you think fewer people go to the cinema today, compared with the past? Why/why not?
- Is it good to watch a foreign film in its original language? Why/why not?
- How important are actors for the success of the film?
- Does casting a star guarantee the success of the film? Why/why not?
- Why do you think people like different films at different stages in their lives?
- Which do you think will be more popular in the future, going out or staying at home to watch a film? Why?
- Do you think that thanks to modern technology films produced now are better? Why/why not?
- Is children’s behaviour affected by the images from films? Why/why not?
- How do films and books generally influence society? Why?
- Are historical films always truthful? Why/why not?
- Should films depicting historical events rewrite history? Why/why not?
- How do you think cinematography will develop in the future? Why?
- What kinds of books do people in your country like to read? Why?
- What sorts of books are usually bestsellers in your country? Why?
- Do people in your country often buy second hand books? Why/why not?
- Do you think books might be substituted by e-books in the future? Why/why not?
- How are e-readers harmful?
- Why do we read books generally?
- Is reading a good hobby? Why/why not?
- Why does reading as a hobby suit people of all ages?
- Can we learn anything from reading fiction? If so, what?
- How can parents encourage children to read more? Why?
- What qualities does a person need to become a good writer? Why?
- Why do some writers become successful and others don’t? What does it depend on?
- Why, in your opinion, some authors can only become famous after their death?
- Can authors bring social change? How?
- Who’s the most successful author in your country? Why?
- Who’s the most popular foreign writer in your country? Why?
- What kinds of books do children like to read in your country? Why?
- Should parents teach their children how to read before they start school? Why/why not?
- What are main benefits of reading? Why?
- Do men and women like the same kinds of books? Why?
- Why do you think some books become popular internationally? What does it depend on?
- Which is more relaxing, reading a book or watching TV? Why?
- Is reading a book a challenging pastime? Why/why not?
- Are there any famous book adaptations in the cinema at the moment? Why/why not?
- Do you think in the future people will only grab a book for pleasure and not for knowledge? Why/why not?
- Do people in your country prefer to watch a film at home or in the cinema? Why?
- What are some common things people do today in the their spare time at home?
- Do you think it is possible for most free time activities in the future to involve computers? Why/why not?
- What types of public entertainment are there available for young people in your country?
- Are places of entertainment important? Why/why not?
- Are there any places of entertainment in the countryside in your country? Why/why not? Should there be? What kind?
- How can entertainment influence education in a good way?
- Are there any rules regulating forms of entertainment on TV today? Why/why not? Should there be?
- Do you think international films and TV shows may influence one’s culture in a negative way? Why/why not?
- Do people in your country like to watch English movies? Why/why not?
- Is it easy to watch films in English in your country? Why?
- Is watching films in English a good way to improve the language? Why/why not?
- Is watching a film in English the same as reading a book in English? Why/why not?
- What other foreign films (apart from English-speaking ones) are popular in your country? Why?
- Do you think daily life depicted in foreign movies is close to reality? Why/why not?
- Can we learn anything about life in another country by watching films from foreign countries? If so, what? Why/why not?
- Do we still need to travel? Is watching a foreign film enough? Why/why not?
- Is the film industry strong in your country? Why/why not?
- Why do you think cinema has become such a popular form of art?
- What does a film need to be successful? Why?
- Do you think that money invested in film production could be used in a better way? If so, how?
- In what ways are books beneficial for children?
- Whose responsibility is it to teach children how to read? Parents or teachers? Why?
- Do you think we read more or less than our predecessors? Why?
- Do you think paper books might disappear one day? Why/why not?
- Do you think the next generation will cherish books? Why/why not?
- How many people in your society cannot read?
- What problems might illiterate people face in life?
- Do you think people should be generally encouraged to read more? Why/why not?
- a book/film about the future/a film/book based on facts/about a real person or event

Vocab:

1. a touching story /ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/ (phr.) = a story that is making you feel emotional

2. a nail-biting moment (phr.) = a moment that makes you very excited

3. suspenseful /səˈspensf(ə)l/ (adj.) = (a story, film) keeps you wanting to know what will happen next

4. a sob-story (n.) = a story that evokes sympathy

5. evocative scenes /ɪˈvɒkətɪv/ (phr.) = scenes which arouse memories or images

6. the ending slays me /sleɪz/ (phr.) = impresses someone, especially by making them laugh

7. an intriguing plot /ɪnˈtriːɡɪŋ/ (phr.) = a very interesting plot, especially because of being strange or mysterious

8. a multisensory experience /mʌlti ˈsensəri/ (phr.) = relating to many senses

9. soulless /ˈsəʊlləs/ (adj.) = not at all interesting or attractive

10. memoirs /ˈmemˌwɑː(r)/ (n.) = written record of a person’s own life

11. lightweight /ˈlaɪtˌweɪt/ (adj.) = not complex

12. a bedtime reading (phr.) = nice to read in bed

13. heavy going (phr.) = difficult to read or understand

14. a lugubrious setting /ləˈɡuːbriəs/ (phr.) = a rather dark and gloomy setting

15. a page-turner (n.) = a very interesting and engaging story

16. an enigmatic tale /ˌenɪɡˈmætɪk/ (phr.) = a mysterious story

17. a wry humour /raɪ/ (phr.) = a humour in the face of a bad situation

18. an idealized portrayal of /aɪˈdɪəlaɪz pɔː(r)ˈtreɪəl/ (phr) = an exaggerated description of

19. graphic /ˈɡræfɪk/ (adj.) = giving a lot of detail

20. tenable /ˈtenəb(ə)l/ (adj.) = reasonable with evidence to support it

Part 3:
- What kinds of real events or people are films/books often based on? Why?
- Can we learn anything about history from such films/books? Why/why not?
- Do you think that everything in such movies/books is always true? Why/why not?
- Is it important that facts match reality? Why/why not?
- Does a film need famous actors to be successful? Why/why not?
- What factors contribute to the success of a film/book? Why?
- Why do some actors become famous all over the world?
- Do you think it is possible that in the future computer-generated characters will replace humans? Why/why not?
- Can a film/book affect public opinion? If so, in what way?
- Should there be an age restriction for some films/books? Why/why not?
- Have you seen many movies that made you think?
- Is the main aim of a book to make the reader think? Why/why not?
- Do you think in the future most leisure activities will involve electronic products? Why/why not? Is that good or bad?
- Why are books and films about the future so popular?
- Can people learn anything from watching movies/reading books about the future? Why/why not?
- Do you think that what’s depicted in such books/movies may really happen in the future? Why/why not?
- In your opinion, which modern invention has been the most helpful to us so far? Why?
- Do you think in the future we will have robots to help around the house? Why/why not?
- Would it be good to have robots to do housework? Why/why not?
- How can the latest technological inventions improve our daily life, in areas like travel or shopping? Why?
- Should world leaders be concerned with planning for the world’s future? Why/why not?
- Are people generally optimistic or pessimistic about the future? Why?
- Do you believe there are other living cultures on other planets? Why/why not?
- a childhood toy you loved/was important to you in your childhood

Vocab:

1. a puppet /ˈpʌpɪt/ (n.) = a small model of a person or animal that you can move by pulling wires or strings, or by putting your hand inside it

2. a loyal friend /ˈlɔɪəl/ (phr.) = a friend willing to support you even in difficult times

3. handmade (adj.) = made by a person, instead of by a machine

4. to accompany sb /əˈkʌmp(ə)ni/ (v.) = to go with someone

5. to feel on the top of the world (phr.) = to be in a very good mood because things are going well for you

6. worn out (adj.) = too old or damaged to use any longer

7. a toy car (n.) = a toy in a form of a small car

8. soft (adj.) = not harsh

9. squeaky /ˈskwiːki/ (adj.) = making a short high noise

10. to play hide-and-seek (phr.) = to play a children’s game in which one player lets the other players hide, and then tries to find them

11. to chase each other /tʃeɪs/ (phr.) = to follow someone quickly in order to catch them

12. a game of… (n.)

13. a teddy bear (n.)

14. to cuddle /ˈkʌd(ə)l/ (v.) = to put your arms round sth/sb and hold them close to show that you like or love them

15. a little pet shop playset (phr.)

16. a Barbie doll /ˈbɑː(r)bi/ (n.)

Part 3:
- Do you think every child has a favourite toy in their childhood? Why/why not?
- Do boys and girls like the same types of toys? Why/why not?
- What kinds of toys do children like to play with now? Why?
- What kinds of toys did children like to play with in the past? Why?
- Why do you think some children enjoy playing with everyday household objects?
- Do you think parents buy their children too many toys? Why/why not?
- What should adults take into consideration when they are buying a toy for a child? Why?
- In your opinion, should children be allowed to choose their toys in a shop? Why/why not?
- Do you think some parents might buy their children too many toys in order to make up for a lack of time?
- Do you think the toy industry will develop in the future? Why/why not?
- Is there any connection between toys in shops and children’s film? Why?
- Do you think every toy should be educational? Why/why not?
- Do you think toy manufacturers should be responsible for educational value in their toys? Why/why not?
- What do you think of advertisements targeting children? Why?
- Do advertisements create new consumers out of children? Is it moral? Why/why not?
- Is it important to teach children to share their toys? Why/why not?
- How can toys help children’s mental development?
- How can toys help children’s physical development?
- How do electronic toys affect children negatively? In what ways?
- Do you think that boys and girls must play with different toys? Why/why not?
- What can parents learn about their children by observing the way they play with their toys?
- How can creativity be facilitated in an early childhood?
- a domestic product you think is good/a product made in your region

Vocab:

1. mass production (n.) = the process of producing large quantities of goods by using machines

2. a commodity /kəˈmɒdəti/ (n.) = something that can be bought and sold

3. merchandise /ˈmɜː(r)tʃ(ə)ndaɪz/ (n.) = goods that people buy and sell

4. service-oriented /ˈsɜː(r)vɪs ˈɔːrientɪd/ (adj.) = mainly concerned with meeting customers’ needs

5. reliable /rɪˈlaɪəb(ə)l/ (adj.) = can be trusted

6. produced in + place (adj.)

7. the cost of labour /ˈleɪbə(r)/ (phr.) = the cost of the workers in a particular company

8. aspects of production (phr.) = features of production

9. to be exported /ɪkˈspɔː(r)tɪd/ (v.) = (of a product) to be sent to another country so that it can be sold there

10. to launch a product /lɔːntʃ/ (phr.) = to start selling a product to the public

11. sales figures (n.) = sales numbers

12. to do market research (phr.) = to collect information about what products people like to buy

13. stiff competition (phr.) = severe competitors

14. to drum up some business (phr.) = to try to make people buy something from you

Part 3. :
- Do different regions in your country produce different products? Why/why not?
- What are some popular food products from different parts of? Why?
- Is it important for a particular region to have its own products? Why/why not?
- Do people in your country like foreign products? If so, what kind? Why?
- What are some popular foreign products in your country? Why?
- Why do you think some brands become so successful while others don’t? What does it depend on?
- Is it good or bad for the same product to be sold in different countries? Why?
- What in your opinion is the greatest invention of our times? Why?
- Why do you think only a few chosen inventions become internationally famous?
- Can inventions contribute to the world problems? How?
- a family business/small business/successful business you know

Vocab :

1. a niche market /niːʃ ˈmɑː(r)kɪt/ (n.) = the part of an industry that sells a particular type of product or service to the small number of customers who want it

2. to run a business (phr.) = to have a business

3. cost-cutting (n.) = actions takes to reduce the costs of a business

4. to try the hard sell (phr.) = to attempt to sell sth by being very forceful

5. brand loyalty (n.) = confidence in the particular make and a tendency always to choose it

6. to strike while the iron is hot (phr.) = to take advantage of an opportunity before the situation changes

7. up and running (phr.) = working effectively

8. a golden opportunity (n.) = a very good chance to achieve something

9. the black market (n.) = an illegal trade

10. to stay within the budget /ˈbʌdʒɪt/ (phr.) = do not exceed money available to spend

11. to mount a challenge /maʊnt/ (phr.) = to prepare for a challenge

12. a shareholder /ˈʃeə(r)ˌhəʊldə(r)/ (n.) = sb who own shares in a company

13. a dividend /ˈdɪvɪdend/ (n.) = a share of the profits of a company, paid once or twice a year to the people who own the company’s shares

14. to clinch the deal /klɪntʃ/ (phr.) = to manage to win a deal

15. mergers and acquisitions /ˈmɜː(r)dʒə(r)z ændˌækwɪˈzɪʃ(ə)nz/ (n.) = the department in a company that is responsible for taking over other businesses

16. to go under (v.) = to fail completely and stop operating

17. an investor/ɪnˈvestə(r)/ (n.) = a person that invests money

18. to underpin sth /ˌʌndə(r)ˈpɪn/ (v.) = to be an important basic part of something, allowing it to succeed

19. a budget /ˈbʌdʒɪt/ (n.) = the amount of money an organization has to spend on something

20. a surplus /ˈsɜː(r)pləs/ (n.) = more of something than necessary

21. an emergency fund for contingencies /kənˈtɪndʒ(ə)nsiz/ (phr.) = a certain amount of money kept for something bad that might happen in the future

22. a shortfall /ˈʃɔː(r)tˌfɔːl/ (n.) = the amount of money a business lacks

23. a deficit /ˈdefəsɪt/ (n.) = the difference between the amount of money or goods that a business has and the amount that it has spent

24. to economize /ɪˈkɒnəmaɪz/ (v.) = to save money

25. to make cutbacks (v.) = to save money

26. thriving /ˈθraɪvɪŋ/ (adj.) = very successful

Part 3. :
- What kind of person can make a good businessperson? Why?
- What are some advantages of working for a family business?
- What are some disadvantages of working for a family business?
- Do you think that when it comes to working for a family business, drawbacks outweigh benefits? Why/why not?
- Why do some family businesses fail?
- Why do people start their own businesses in the first place?
- Can women be as good at business as men? Why/why not?
- What types of businesses are there in your country?
- In your opinion, is it better to work for a large or small business? Why?
- What are some reasons for small businesses to often fail in the first year?
- Which businesses will be most prosperous in the future? Why?
- Does your country do a lot of business with other countries? Why/why not?
- What is good about a company exporting goods?
- What is bad about a company exporting products?
- Do you think the government should regulate how many foreign products are imported into your country? Why/why not?
- How do multinational companies influence local markets?
- a (family) photograph that means a lot to you/a photograph someone took of you/you took of someone

Vocab :

1. to capture the moment /ˈkæptʃə(r)/ (phr.) = to record the moment

2. from the right angle (phr.) = (photo) taken well

3. a memorable moment /ˈmem(ə)rəb(ə)l/ (phr.) = a moment hard to forget

4. of great sentimental value to me /ˌsentɪˈment(ə)l/ (phr.) = (photo) precious to me

5. the camera loves (whom) (phr.) = this person always look good in photos

6. photogenic /ˌfəʊtəʊˈdʒenɪk/ (adj.) = looks good in photographs

7. a snapshot /ˈsnæpˌʃɒt/ (n.) = a photograph taken without the use of professional equipment

8. a single lens reflex camera /ˈriːfleks/ (n.) = a camera in which the lens that forms the image on the film also provide the image in the viewfinder

9. a digital camera /ˈdɪdʒɪt(ə)l/ (n.) = a camera that records and stores digital images

10. framing /ˈfreɪmɪŋ/ (n.) = the way of placing an object or a person in the photograph

11. a point-and-shoot camera (n.) = an automatic camera which, when it is pointed at a subject and the shutter release is pressed, will take a properly exposed and focused photo

12. a memento /məˈmentəʊ/ (n.) = sth that you keep to remind you of a particular person, place or experience

13. camera-shy (adj.) = sb not willing to have their photograph taken

14. a scrapbook /ˈskræpˌbʊk/ (n.) = a book in which you save pictures, articles or other material

15. to treasure sth /ˈtreʒə(r)/ (v.) = to look after sth very carefully because it is valuable to you

16. to act natural /ˈnætʃ(ə)rəl/ (phr.) = to act normal (photo – not pose)

17. to develop a photo (phr.) = to make a photograph

18. a photo shop (n.) = a place where one can develop or take photographs

19. to touch a photo up with a computer programme (phr.) = e.g. to photoshop a photo

20. to remove all reflections (phr.) = to make the photograph clearer and better

21. an online photo album (phr.) = a photo album online where one can keep and share photos with friends

22. to have a box of old photos lying around (phr.) = to collect old photos in a box

23. a photo blog (n.) = a blog in which the postings are mainly in the form of photographs

Part 3. :
- Why do you think people like to show their photos to friends and family?
- Do you think people who take large numbers of photos while travelling miss out on sth? Why/why not?
- Are photos better than postcards? Why/why not?
- For what occasions would people hire a professional photographer? Why?
- Are family photographs important in your culture? Why/why not?
- Are photos a good way to keep record of family life/person’s life? Why/why not?
- Are photographs often used in adverts? Why/why not?
- How do photos influence the way news is reported?
- Can photographs help us remember history? Why/why not?
- Why is there always a photo of a writer on their book?
- Why is there always a photo of a singer on their CD?
- What is a good photograph? Why?
- What are some main differences between a good photo and a good painting?
- Do you think the way we take photos might change in the future? How?
- Is it better to use a professional camera or a smart phone to take photos? Why?
- Why are some photographs famous?
- What kinds of skills does a person need to become a good photographer?
- Do you think that digital cameras made photography more popular? Why?
- How can photos help children learn?
- With such advanced technology, can we still trust what we see in the photographs? Why/why not?
- Do you think learning might be more visual in the future than it is now? Why/why not?
- Does every mobile phone need a camera? Why/why not?
- Which one is better: printed photos or photos on a computer screen? Why?
- Do you think people might stop developing photos in the future and keep only their digital versions? Why/why not?
- How are photos usually used in the media? Why? Is it good or bad?
- Can anyone take a good photo? Why/why not?
- What do people pay more attention to in the magazines: articles or photographs? Why?
- Do you think it is easier or more difficult to take photos now, compared with the past? Why?
- Can photos completely replace paintings in the future? Why/why not?
- a foreign language (not English) you would like to learn in the future

Vocab :

1. a window to a greater world (phr.) = something that gives one a broader perspective of the world

2. a lingua franca /ˌlɪŋɡwə ˈfræŋkə/ (n.) = a language that people use to communicate when they have different first languages

3. a single international language (n.) = one language being spoken in all countries

4. to preserve the individuality of cultures (phr.) = to keep different cultures unchanged

5. bilingual /baɪˈlɪŋɡwəl/ (adj.) = someone who speaks two languages extremely well

6. monolingual /ˌmɒnəʊˈlɪŋɡwəl/ (adj.) = someone who uses only one language

7. to get a grasp of sth /ɡrɑːsp/ (phr.) = to comprehend sth

8. the alphabet /ˈælfəˌbet/ (n.) = a set of letters in a particular order that are used for writing a language

9. the Cyrillic alphabet /səˈrɪlɪk/ (n.) = the alphabet used to write Russian and some Central European languages

10. a syllable /ˈsɪləb(ə)l/ (n.) = a word or apart of a word that has only one vowel sound

11. hard tones (phr.) = tones that need to follow a certain intonation pattern

12. to step inside the context of a culture (phr.) = to begin to understand a culture

13. paramount /ˈpærəmaʊnt/ (adj.) = more important than other things

14. to be competent in a language /ˈkɒmpɪtənt/ (phr.) = to be good enough in a language but not especially good

15. to bridge the gap between cultures (phr.) = to bring cultures closer together

16. to converse about sth /kənˈvɜː(r)s/ (v.) = to talk about

17. to compose a plan /kəmˈpəʊz/ (phr.) = to make a plan

18. to push yourself (phr.) = to force yourself

19. an interpreter /ɪnˈtɜː(r)prɪtə(r)/ (n.) = a spoken translator

20. a mother tongue (n.) = a native language

21. Language shapes the way we think and determines what we can think about. (phr.)

22. a pictogram /ˈpɪktəɡræm/ (n.) = a character representing a picture

23. an ideogram /ˈɪdiəɡræm/ (n.) = a character representing an idea

Part 3. :
- What foreign languages are common in your country among students? Why?
- Do you think everyone should learn at least one foreign language? Why/why not?
- Why are some languages more popular than others?
- Why are some people better at learning languages than others? What does it depend on?
- Are foreign language lessons fun in your country? Why/why not?
- Which language is considered an international language? Why?
- Do you think your native language can become a new international language in the future? Why/why not?
- What’s good about having an international language? Why?
- What are some cons of having one main language? Why?
- How closely is language related to culture? Why?
- Has your language been influenced by other languages? Which ones? Why?
- Can a person really know a culture without knowing its language? Why?
- How important is language to cultural identity? Why?
- a game you like to play/used to play/an indoor game you enjoyed playing in your childhood

Vocab :

1. time flies (phr.) = time seems to be passing very quickly

2. in retrospect,… /ˈretrəʊˌspekt/ (phr.) = considering something that happened in the past, using knowledge or information that you did not have at that time

3. with hindsight /ˈhaɪn(d)ˌsaɪt/ (phr.) = understanding of a situation or event only after it has happened

4. to bond with (v.) = to develop feelings of love, friendship towards other people

5. to activate brain cells /ˈæktɪveɪt/ (phr.) = to make the brain cells start working

6. to get addicted to /əˈdɪktɪd/ (phr.) = to enjoy a particular activity very much and spend as much time as you can doing it

7. hide-and-seek (n.) = a children’s game in which one player lets the other players hide and then tries to find them

8. to count to a number (phr.) = to count from 0 to e.g. 100

9. to find someone hiding (phr.)

10. the searcher (n.) = a child in hide-and-seek game that counts and looks for others

11. to ride on my father’s back (phr.) = a game where a child sits on the father’s back and the father pretends to be a horse

12. making house (phr.) = a game where children pretend to have an imaginary house

13. noisy (adj.) = loud

14. an amusement park (n.) = a place where people pay money to go on rides and play games to win prizes

15. an arcade /ɑː(r)ˈkeɪd/ (n.) = a place where you can play computer games, play on slot machines etc.

16. everyone’s a winner (phr.) = a concept in which nobody actually wins or loses a game

17. to blow bubbles (phr.) = to play a game where a child blows balls made of soap

18. to throw a ball around (phr.) = to play with a ball

19. sophisticated games /səˈfɪstɪˌkeɪtɪd/ (phr.) = difficult games

20. a board game (n.) = an indoor game played on a board, often with pieces that are moved around it

21. chess (n.)

22. Monopoly /məˈnɒpəli/ (n.) = a board game which uses fake money to buy properties

23. hopscotch /ˈhɒpˌskɒtʃ/ (n.) = a children’s game that involves jumping on a set of squares that you draw on the ground

24. to draw grids /ɡrɪd/ (phr.) = to draw squares on the ground (for hopscotch)

25. to hop into each square (phr.) = to jump into each square

26. to hop on one foot (phr.)

27. to play marbles /ˈmɑː(r)b(ə)lz/ (phr.) = a game played by children in which they roll small coloured glass balls called marbles on the ground

28. to flick the marbles /flɪk/ (phr.) = to move the marbles suddenly and quickly

29. to scatter the marbles/ˈskætə(r)/ (phr.) = to throw the marbles

30. to play charades /ʃəˈrɑːdz/ (phr.) = a game in which players guess a word or phrase from pantomimed clues

Part 3. :
- Why do you think some people prefer indoor activities?
- What are some disadvantages of indoor activities?
- What kinds of games do children like to play today? Why?
- What kind of games did children enjoy in the past? Why?
- Is it important for children to play games outside? Why/why not?
- Do children still play games outside today? Why/why not?
- Do you think that playing games is beneficial to children’s imagination? Why/why not?
- Can children learn anything through playing games? If so, what?
- Should all games children play be educational? Why/why not?
- Is it good for children to get competitive while playing games? Why/why not?
- Should everyone be competitive? Why/why not?
- Are people naturally competitive or do they become competitive? Why?
- Is it good if colleagues are competitive? Why/why not?
- What problems might occur in a workplace if workers get too competitive? Why?
- Do you think that all successful people must be competitive? Why/why not?
- Is it possible to achieve success without being competitive? Why/why not?
- Do you think young people play too many games today? Why/why not?
- What types of games can make you easily addicted? Why?
- a good habit a friend has you’d like to develop

Vocab :

1. self-discipline /self ˈdɪsəplɪn/ (n.) = the ability to control your behaviour so that you do what you should do

2. as is someone’s wont /wəʊnt/ (phr.) = a habit of doing a particular thing

3. be in the habit of doing sth (phr.)

4. to adopt a habit /əˈdɒpt/ (phr.) = to decide to start a habit

5. to drain sb’s batteries (phr.) = to me sb very tired

6. a motivation boost /buːst/ (phr.) = an increase in motivation

7. the flow of motivation comes to a stop (phr.) = there is no more motivation to do sth

8. a sustainable habit /səˈsteɪnəb(ə)l/ (phr.) = a permanent habit

9. to form achievable goals (phr.)

10. to acquire a habit (phr.) = to start a habit

11. to be a person of habit (phr.) = have a lot of habits and stick to them

12. to break the habit (phr.) = to stop a habit (usually a bad one)

Part 3. :
- Is it easy to change a bad habit? Why/why not?
- What bad habits do people usually have?
- What are some methods to change bad habits? Why?
- What good habits should children learn? Why?
- How can parents teach their children some good habits?
- In what ways do children pick up bad habits? Why?
- Is it easier to change a bad habit when we are younger or older? Why?
- Is daily routine beneficial? How?
- How can people set their daily routine?
- How can people make sure they follow their daily routine?
- Do you think that a daily routine makes life dull? Why?
- Does a daily routine kill creativity? Why/why not?
- What are main social customs in your country? Why?
- Why do you think social customs vary from culture to culture?
- Should all countries have fixed social customs? Why/why not?
- Does a society need customs? Why/why not?
- Who sets social customs? Why?
- How does globalisation affect social customs? Why?
- a good/bad law in your country/a rule you agreed/disagreed with

Vocab :

1. a regulation /ˌreɡjʊˈleɪʃ(ə)n/ (n.) = an official rule that controls the way that things are done

2. to prohibit /prəʊˈhɪbɪt/ (v.) = to forbid

3. red tape (n.) = documents, rules or processes that cause delays

4. to put sth into practice (phr.) = to apply sth

5. to forbid /fə(r)ˈbɪd/ (v.) = to ban

6. to do sth by the book (phr.) = to follow the rules

7. well-enforced /wel ɪnˈfɔː(r)st/ (adj.) = strongly limited

8. ignored /ɪɡˈnɔː(r)d/ (adj.) = not followed (law)

9. to prevent from /prɪˈvent/ (v.) = to stop from happening

10. to cut corners (phr.) = to undertake sth in what appears to be the easiest, quickest or cheapest way, especially by omitting to do sth important

11. a catch-22. situation /ˌkætʃ twentiˈtuː ˌsɪtʃueɪʃ(ə)n/ (n.) = a set of problems that is impossible to escape from because each problem must be solved first before you can solve any of the others

12. a free-for-all (n.) = an uncontrolled situation in which people are competing with each other to gain as much as they can for themselves

13. to pass new legislation /ˌledʒɪˈsleɪʃ(ə)n/ (phr.) = to pass a new law

14. to uphold an ordered society (phr.) = to make sure the society follows rules a lives in peace and order

15. to curb lawless behaviour /kɜː(r)b/ (phr.) = to control behaviour against the law

16. to be tempted into… /temptɪd/ (phr.) = to really want to do or have sth, esp. sth that is not good for you

17. juvenile delinquency /ˈdʒuːvənaɪl dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi/ (n.) = crime among young people

18. the legal age (n.) = the age at which a person takes on the rights and responsibilities of an adult

19. a disciplinary action /ˈdɪsəˌplɪnəri/ (n.) = an action which main purpose is to enforce discipline

20. a random crime (n.) = without a conscious decision

21. to be suspicious /səˈspɪʃəs/ (adj.) = to believe that sb has probably done sth wrong

22. to deter sb from doing sth /dɪˈtɜː(r)/ (v.) = to make sb decide not to do sth

23. to aid and abet sb /eɪd ænd əˈbet/ (phr.) = to help sb to commit a crime

24. a convict /ˈkɒnvɪkt/ (n.) = sb who is in prison because they have committed a crime

25. to bring sb to justice (phr.) = to arrest sb for a crime and ensure that they are tired in court

26. a legal proceeding /ˈliːɡ(ə)l prəˈsiːdɪŋ/ (n.) = an activity that seeks to invoke the power of a tribunal in order to enforce a law

27. crime prevention (n.) = an attempt to reduce and deter crime and criminals

28. brutality /bruːˈtæləti/ (n.) = extreme violence

29. to fall victim to sth /ˈvɪktɪm/ (phr.) = to become a victim

30. an online fraud /frɔːd/ (n.) = a crime in which the perpetrator develops a scheme using one or more elements of the Internet to deprive a person of property or money

31. to stand trial /ˈtraɪəl/ (phr.) = to be tried in a court of law

32. a repeat offender /əˈfendə(r)/ (n.) = a person who has committed a crime many times

33. to rehabilitate /ˌriːəˈbɪlɪteɪt/ (v.) = to help a criminal to return to a healthy, independent and useful life

34. to regulate and oversee /ˈreɡjʊleɪt ænd ˌəʊvə(r)ˈsiː/ (phr.) = to control and supervise

35. to impose a ban on sth (phr.) = to forbid sth

36. to abolish sth /əˈbɒlɪʃ/ (v.) = to officially get rid of a law, system or practice

37. to implement sth /ˈɪmplɪˌment/ (v.) = to make sth start to work and be used

38. to translate sth into action (phr.) = to put sth into practice

39. to take draconian measures to do sth /drəˈkəʊniənˈmeʒə(r)z/ (phr.) = to take strict action

40. government’s laxity in sth /ˈlæksəti/ (phr.) = government’s neglect

41. to formulate a policy /ˈfɔː(r)mjʊleɪt/ (phr.) = to make a policy

42. law and order (n.) = safe and peaceful conditions in society that result when people obey the law

43. too harsh /hɑː(r)ʃ/ (adj.) = too severe

44. anarchy and chaos /ˈænə(r)ki ændˈkeɪɒs/ (phr.) = when people are behaving in a way that ignores normal rules and laws and are unable to be controlled

45. a minor offence /əˈfens/ (n.) = a crime that is not very serious

46. a downright unfair law (phr.) = an extremely unfair law

47. to get fined /faɪnd/ (v.) = to be made pay an amount of money as punishment for breaking the law

48. to be arrested (v.) = to be taken to prison

49. to be sent to gaol (Br)/jail (Am) /dʒeɪl/ (phr.)

50. a minor infringement /ɪnˈfrɪndʒment/ (phr.) = a petty crime

51. to exercise authority in unjust ways (phr.) = to have some illegal dealings

Part 3. :
- Is it important to have rules at school? Why/why not?
- Should children at different ages have the same rules? Why/why not?
- Do you think that students should be involved in creating rules? Is that the case in your country? Why/why not?
- Do students in your country usually follow rules? Why/why not?
- Do you have any rules in schools that you consider unnecessary?
- Is it important to have rules at work? Why/why not?
- What are the most common workplace rules in your country?
- Do employees usually obey those rules? Why/why not?
- Should there be any rules specifying the number of hours people can work? Why/why not? If so, how many hours weekly would be a good choice?
- Is there a dress code in most companies in your country? Is it good or bad?
- What disadvantages can too many rules bring? Why?
- What are some family rules in your country? Why?
- Do you think that older people and younger people can easily follow the same set of rules? Why/why not?
- Is it possible to avoid generation gap when it comes to obeying rules? If so, how?
- Should governments have a say in a way parents bring up their children? Why/why not?
- What are some common punishment systems for breaking the rules in your country?
- Who usually sets the rules in your country? Why?
- Do you think your country has too many rules? Why/why not?
- Do we need law? What for?
- Why do you think law is so powerful?
- Does your country have any laws that differ from other countries? What are they?
- What do you think should be done in your country to make people follow the law more closely?
- Do you think it is important to have international law? Why/why not?
- Which jobs in your country need to work closely with the law?
- Is being a police officer a job career in your country? Why/why not?
- What kind of person can make a good policeman or policewoman? Why?
- Is being a lawyer a good career in your country? Why/why not?
- What kind of person can make a good lawyer? Why?
- Does your society follow law? Why/why not?
- In which situation would you think breaking the law is okay? Why?
- In which situations is international law indispensable? Why?
- Who establishes international law? Why?
- What problems can occur when international law is set? Why?
- Do you think in the future local laws might give way to international law? Why/why not?
- an environmental problem

Vocab :

1. to enact laws on environmental protection /ɪnˈækt/ (phr.) = to make a proposal into a law

2. to increase public awareness of (phr.) = to make people more conscious of

3. noise pollution (n.) = harmful or annoying levels of noise, as from industries, airplanes etc.

4. sewage /ˈsuːɪdʒ/ (n.) = waste substances removed from houses and other buildings by a system of large underground pipes called sewers

5. shrinking habitats (phr.) = places where animals live and breed which are decreasing in size

6. carbon dioxide emissions (phr.) = carbon dioxide gas from factories, cars, etc.

7. population growth exerts severe pressure on finite resources /ˈfaɪnaɪt/ (phr.) = resources existing only in limited amounts

8. the worst case scenario /səˈnɑːriəʊ/ (phr.) = the worst possibility for the future

9. pristine environment /ˈprɪstiːn/ (phr.) = perfectly clean, unspoilt area

10. organic /ɔː(r)ˈɡænɪk/ (adj.) = without chemicals

11. herbicides /ˈhɜː(r)bɪsaɪd/ (n.) = chemicals used for killing weeds

12. global warming (n.) = the slow increase in the temperature of the Earth caused partly by the greenhouse effect increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

13. a recurring problem /rɪˈkɜːrɪŋ/ (phr.) = a problem happening again and again

14. an enduring solution /ɪnˈdjʊərɪŋ/ (phr.) = a solution that can last for a long time

15. a vicious circle /ˈvɪʃəs ˈsɜː(r)k(ə)l/ (n.) = a process in which the existence of a problem causes other problems, and this makes the original problem worse

16. to dispose of sth /dɪˈspəʊz/ (v.) = to get rid of something

17. an adverse effect /ˈædvɜː(r)s ɪˈfekt/ (phr.) = a negative influence

18. a non-biodegradable material /nɒnˌbaɪəʊdɪˈɡreɪdəb(ə)l/ (phr.) = a material that cannot be separated into very small parts by bacteria so that they are not harmful to the environment

19. a reusable material (phr.) = a material that can be used again

20. to use sth wastefully (phr.) = not to care how something is used

21. the biosphere /ˈbaɪəʊˌsfɪə(r)/ (n.) = the parts of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere where plant and animal life can exist

22. an endangered species /ɪnˈdeɪndʒə(r)d ˈspiːʃiːz/ (n.) = a species of animal or plant that is seriously at risk of extinction

23. a dynamic equilibrium /daɪˈnæmɪk ˌiːkwɪˈlɪbriəm/ (n.) = a state of balance between continuing processes

24. the ozone layer /ˈəʊzəʊn ˈleɪə(r)/ (n.) = a layer of ozone in the Earth’s atmosphere that protects the Earth from the heat of the sun

25. the atmosphere /ˈætməsˌfɪə(r)/ (n.) = the air round the Earth or round another planet

26. to cause irreversible damage /ˌɪrɪˈvɜː(r)səb(ə)l/ (phr.) = to cause damage that cannot be brought back

27. the greenhouse effect /ˈɡriːnˌhaʊs ɪˈfekt/ (n.)

28. car emissions /ɪˈmɪʃ(ə)nz/ (n.) = a gas from cars that goes into the air

29. exhaust fumes /ɪɡˈzɔːst fjuːm/ (n.)

30. respiratory diseases /ˈresp(ə)rət(ə)ri/ (n.) = diseases relating to breathing

31. soil erosion /sɔɪl ɪˈrəʊʒ(ə)n/ (n.) = the process of soil being gradually damaged by water

32. desertification /dɪˌzɜː(r)tɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/ (n.) = the process by which fertile land become desert

33. groundwater contamination /ˈɡraʊndˌwɔːtə(r) kənˌtæmɪnˈneɪʃ(ə)n/ (phr.) = dirty or polluted groundwater

34. sea water desalination /ˌdiːsælɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/ (n.) = the process of removing salt from sea water so that the water can be used

35. chemical fertiliser /ˈfɜː(r)təˌlaɪzə(r)/ (n.) = a natural or chemical substance added to soil in order to help plants grow

36. acid rain /ˈæsɪd/ (n.) = rain containing a high level of acid that can damage the environment

37. to be saturated with /ˈsætʃəˌreɪtɪd/ (v.) = has much of a solid substance as possible mixed in it as part of the liquid

38. to upset the ecosystem (phr.) = to unbalance the ecosystem

39. to redress the ecological bala nce /rɪˈdres/ (phr.) = to improve the ecological balance

40. industrial waste /ɪnˈdʌstriəl weɪst/ (n.) = waste produced by industrial activity

41. at the expense of sth /ɪkˈspens/ (phr.) = if one thing exists or happens at the expense of another, the second thing suffers or is not done properly because of the first

42. a natural disaster /ˈnætʃ(ə)rəl dɪˈzɑːstə(r)/ (n.) = a natural event such as a flood, earthquake or hurricane

43. an ecological degradation /ˌiːkəˈlɒdʒɪk(ə)l ˌdeɡrəˈdeɪʃ(ə)n/ (n.) = the process of the ecosystem changing into a worse condition

44. oil shortage /ɔɪl ˈʃɔː(r)tɪdʒ/ (n.) = the lack of oil supply in the world

45. to be in short supply (phr.) = available only in small quantities, so that there is not enough

46. fossil fuel /ˈfɒsəl ˌfjuːəl/ (n.) = a fuel such as coal or oil, made from decayed material from animals or plants that lived many thousands of years ago

47. solar energy /ˈsəʊlə(r)/ (n.) = energy that uses the power of the Sun’s light and heat to produce electricity

48. wind energy (n.) = electrical energy obtained from harnessing the wind with windmills or wind turbines

49. light pollution (n.) = brightening of the night sky caused by street lights and other man-made sources

50. to be a nuisance /ˈnjuːs(ə)ns/ (phr.) = to be annoying and a continuing problem

51. to be plagued with /pleɪɡd/ (phr.) = to be troubled or distressed by

52. a rapid industrialization /ˈræpɪd ɪndʌstriəlaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n/ (n.) = a quick development of industries on a wide scale

53. an integrated solution (n.) = a complete solution

54. major contributors to (phr.) = main reasons for

55. to be conscious of your surroundings /ˈkɒnʃəs/ (phr.) = to be aware of your environment

56. human interference with the environment (phr.) = people’s involvement in the environment

57. ozone depletion /ˈəʊzəʊn dɪˈpliːʃ(ə)n/ (n.) = the reduction of ozone layer

58. the destruction of marine life /məˈriːn/ (phr.) = the destruction of what is living in the sea

Part 3.
- What problems with the environment does your country have? Why?
- What measures are being taken to solve these problems? Why?
- What can individuals do help the environment? Why?
- What can the government do to help the environment? Why?
- Is it important for children to learn about the environment? Why/why not?
- Do you study about the environment at school in your country? Why/why not?
- What’s the best way to learn about the environment? Why?
- What will be the biggest environmental problem in the world in the future? Why?
- How is global warming affecting the weather? Why?
- How does the environment influence the way we feel? Why?
- Should countries cooperate on solving global environmental issues? Why/why not?
- What international campaign could help raise the awareness of the environment? Why?
- in important invention before the age of computer

Vocab :

1. to come into existence /ɪɡˈzɪst(ə)ns/ (v.) = to begin existing

2. epoch-making /ˈiːpɒk ˈmeɪkɪŋ/ (adj.) = having an important effect on the future

3. an indispensable part of our lives /ˌɪndɪˈspensəb(ə)l/ (phr.) = a necessary part of our lives

4. to break new ground (phr.) = to do sth innovative

5. to welcome sth with open arms (phr.) = to welcome sth warmly

6. a contraption /kənˈtræpʃ(ə)n/ (n.) = a device that appears strange or unnecessarily complicated, and often badly made or unsafe

7. a brainchild /ˈbreɪnˌtʃaɪld/ (n.) = a clever system, organization or plan that sb thinks of and develops

8. a technological breakthrough /ˌteknəˈlɒdʒɪk(ə)l ˈbreɪkθruː/ (n.) = a discovery in technology

9. to revolutionize lives /ˌrevəˈluːʃəˌnaɪz/ (phr.) = to completely change the way something is done

10. influential /ˌɪnfluˈenʃ(ə)l/ (adj.) = powerful

11. a digital native /ˈdɪdʒɪt(ə)l ˈneɪtɪv/ (n.) = a person born or brought up during the age of digital technology and therefore familiar with computers and the Internet from an early age

12. labour-saving /ˈleɪbə(r) ˈseɪvɪŋ/ (adj.) = designed to reduce the amount of work needed to complete a task

13. outdated /ˌaʊtˈdeɪtɪd/ (adj.) = old and not fashionable

14. an appliance /əˈplaɪəns/ (n.) = a machine or piece of equipment that you have in your home

Part 3. :
- How did people live without computers?
- What were some commonly used items before computers took over? Why?
- Can we live without computers today? Why/why not?
- Why is it so easy to get addicted to a computer?
- Can computers still be useful without the Internet access? If so, how?
- Can computers become obsolete in the future? Why/why not?
- What kind of skills does a person need to be a good inventor? Why?
- Should inventors be responsible for how their work is used? Why/why not?
- Is it easy for older people to use computers? Why/why not?
- a great achievement of yours/a situation when you received congratulations

Vocab :

1. rewarding /rɪˈwɔː(r)dɪŋ/ (adj.) = giving you satisfaction, pleasure or profit

2. an aspiration /ˌæspɪˈreɪʃ(ə)n/ (n.) = an ambition

3. to pay sb a compliment /ˈkɒmplɪmənt/ (phr.) = to politely congratulate or praise sb for something

4. to give praise /preɪz/ (v.) = to express warm approval or admiration of

5. to show praise on sb (phr.) = to express warm approval or admiration of

6. to win plaudits /ˈplɔːdɪts/ (phr.) = to get positive comments

7. sth is in the bag (phr.) = (of something desirable) as good as secured

8. to be in with a chance of doing sth (phr.) = the possibility that sth will happen

9. You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. /ˈɒmlət/ (proverb) = nothing is completely one-sided

10. an outstanding success (phr.) = a great triumph /ˈtraɪʌmf/

11. an extraordinary accomplishment (phr.) = a big success

12. a golden opportunity (n.) = a very good chance to do or achieve sth

13. to seize the opportunity /siːz/ (phr.) = to make the most of a chance you have

14. don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched (proverb) = don’t be too confident in anticipating success or good fortune before it is certain

15. by trial and error (phr.) = by experimenting with various methods of doing sth until one finds the most successful one

16. sth worked like a dream (phr.) = sth was completely successful

17. to make full preparation (phr.) = to prepare well

18. to pass sth with flying colours (phr.) = to pass sth with distinction

Part 3. :
- What dreams do young people in your country have? Why?
- What dreams do older people have? Why?
- Is it easy to achieve dreams? Why/why not?
- Can a person learn anything from not being able to achieve their dream? Why/why not?
- Why do people fail at achieving their dreams?
- When do people usually congratulate each other? Why?
- How do people in your culture congratulate each other?
- What kinds of achievements are the biggest in your country? Why?
- Does everyone want to achieve something? Why/why not?
- Who is considered the most successful person in your country? Why?
- Does success always bring happiness? Why/why not?
- a group you would like to belong to/belong to/something you did in a group

Vocab :

1. to join a club (phr.) = to become a member of a club

2. diverse /daɪˈvɜː(r)s/ (adj.) = including people from many different cultures or races

3. to hold parties for members (phr.) = to organize parties for club members

4. people from all walks of life (phr.) = people from different parts of society

5. a social creature /ˈsəʊʃ(ə)l ˈkriːtʃə(r)/ (n.) = a communal being

6. no man is an island /ˈaɪlənd/ (phr.) = everyone is connected to their surroundings and other people

7. gregarious /ɡrɪˈɡeəriəs/ (adj.) = sb who enjoys being with others

8. to participate fully in /pɑː(r)ˈtɪsɪpeɪt/ (phr.) = to take part in

9. to become a member of (phr.) = to join sth

10. to be affiliated with /əˈfɪlieɪtɪd/ (v.) = to be connected to

11. to be allied to /ˈælaɪd/ (v.) = to work with

12. aristocratic /ˌærɪstəˈkrætɪk/ (adj.) = belonging to the aristocracy

13. omnifarious (adj.) = relating to all sorts or varieties

14. a fan club (n.) = an organization for people who like a particular famous actor, singer, player etc. very much

15. a pantheon /ˈpænθiən/ (n.) = all the famous people connected with a particular activity, for example a sport or the film industry

Part 3. :
- Is it important for children to interact with others? Why/why not?
- What things do children like to do with adults? Why?
- How can children learn how to interact with other people?
- Do you think girls and boys should play together more often? Why/why not?
- How important is interaction in a workplace? Why?
- Do you think every group needs a leader to work well? Why/why not?
- For what reasons don’t some groups work well together?
- What kind of work is better done alone? Why?
- What contributes to the success of teamwork?
- With whom do we need to interact in a society? Why?
- Why do you think people want to be parts of groups? What does it give them?
- Can group behaviour influence the behaviour of an individual? Why/why not? If so, in what ways?
- Do you think our individual choices are often in conflict with the best interest of the society? Why/why not?
- a handmade gift you made for someone/received/a special gift you received/gave to someone/you got in your childhood/a handicraft you made

Vocab :

1. paper-cutting (n.) = the art of cutting paper designs

2. embroidery /ɪmˈbrɔɪdəri/ (n.) = a design of coloured stitches on cloth

3. knitting /ˈnɪtɪŋ/ (n.) = the activity of knitting things

4. root carving /ˈruːtˈkɑː(r)vɪŋ/ (n.) = a traditional Chinese art form, consisting of carving and polishing tree roots into various artistic creations

5. wood carving /ˈwʊdˈkɑː(r)vɪŋ/ (n.)

6. to develop creative thinking (phr.)

7. artistic /ɑː(r)ˈtɪstɪk/ (adj.) = relating to any form of art

8. folk /fəʊk/ (adj.) = folk art, traditions or stories were developed by people in a particular region and have become traditional there

9. calligraphy /kəˈlɪɡrəfi/ (n.) = beautiful writing done using special pens or brushes

10. decorative /ˈdek(ə)rətɪv/ (adj.) = intended to look attractive rather than be useful

11. an ornament /ˈɔː(r)nəmənt/ (n.) = a small attractive object used for decoration

12. priceless /ˈpraɪsləs/ (adj.) = very valuable

13. engraving /ɪnˈɡreɪvɪŋ/ (n.) = a picture made by cutting a design into a metal plate, putting ink on it, and pressing it onto paper

14. pottery /ˈpɒtəri/ (n.) = objects such as plates and cups that are made out of clay and baked in an oven so that they become hard

15. a potter’s wheel /ˈpɒtə(r)z wiːl/ (n.) = a horizontal revolving disk on which wet clay in shaped into pots or other round ceramic objects

16. jewellery making (n.) = the process of making necklaces, bracelets, rings, pendants and other types of jewellery

17. glass painting (n.) = painting on a glass surface

18. sewing /ˈsəʊɪŋ/ (n.) = work that is being sewn

19. crochet /ˈkrəʊʃeɪ/ (n.) = a handicraft in which yarn is made up into a patterned fabric by lopping yarn with a hooked needle

20. lace-making /leɪs/ (n.) = the activity of making lace

21. weaving /wiːvɪŋ/ (n.) = forming a fabric by interlacing long threads passing in one direction with others at a right angle to them

22. the heart can’t be priced (phr.) = warm thoughts behind an action are the most important

23. it is a thought that counts (phr.) = not the present, but the thought is significant

24. spontaneous /spɒnˈteɪniəs/ (adj.) = without being planned

25. keeping hold of it ever since (phr.) = not having lost something

26. tight-fisted /ˌtaɪt ˈfɪstɪd/ (adj.) = not generous with money

27. to be thankful for sth /ˈθæŋkf(ə)l/ (phr.) = to be grateful for sth

28. a recipient /rɪˈsɪpiənt/ (n.) = sb who receives sth

29. hard-and-fast rules of gift giving (phr.) = fixed and not able to be changed

30. corny /ˈkɔː(r)ni/ (adj.) = used so much that seem silly

Part 3. :
- How much money should people spend on a gift? Why?
- Do people in your country often give flowers as gifts? When?
- In your culture, is it good or bad to open a gift in front of the person that gave it to you? Why?
- Do people in your country often give money? Why/why not?
- On what occasions do people exchange gifts? Why?
- What factors should people consider when choosing a gift?
- Is it better to give someone a homemade gift or one bought in a shop?
- How do people feel when they receive homemade gifts? Why?
- What homemade gifts are popular in your country? Why?
- Who do you think appreciates gifts more, children or adults? Why?
- Can people get pleasure from giving gifts? Why?
- How much do advertisements influence people’s gifts choices? Why?
- Do you think that some festivals are so commercialised today because of the need for gifts? Why/why not?
- Do you think that sometimes the pressure of gifts contributes to excessive consumption? How?
- What kinds of gifts do children like to receive today? Why?
- Do boys and girls like the same or different types of gifts? Why?
- What should be taken into consideration when choosing a gift for a child? Why?
- For what occasions do children in your country receive gifts?
- Are gifts important in your culture? Why/why not?
- Do gifts in your culture always need to be expensive? Why/why not?
- What kinds of gifts do business people exchange? Why?
- Do you think people offer gifts to their family members to substitute the lack of time they spend together? Why/why not?
- Do some parents give their kids too much? Does it spoil them? Why/why not?
- How can children be encouraged to give gifts to others? Why?
- How does materialistic society affect the future of a country? Why?
- Do you think handmade gifts take too much time? Why/why not?
- Is it easy to make something valuable by hand? Why/why not?
- Do you think most people prefer to receive handmade gifts to the ones bought in a shop? Why/why not?
- Can making something help develop one’s creativity? Why/why not?
- Do you think girls enjoy making things more than boys? Why/why not?
- In your opinion, is it important for schools to teach creative subjects? Why/why not?
- Can playing computer games affect one’s creativity in a positive way? Why/why not?
- Can a person benefit anyhow from creating something? Why/why not?
- Do you think that some companies use the word ‘handmade’ only to improve their sales? Why/why not?
- How can creative people contribute to the society?
- a happy marriage/relationship

Vocab :

1. a nuclear family /ˈnjuːkliə(r)/ (n.) = a couple and their dependent children, regarded as a basic social unit

2. to enjoy family harmony (phr.)

3. to fall in love at first sight (phr.) = on first seeing or meeting sb

4. a breadwinner /ˈbredˌwɪnə(r)/ (n.) = the person who earns the money to support a family

5. a homemaker /ˈhəʊmˌmeɪkə(r)/ (n.) = sb who cooks, cleans and washes clothes for their family as their main job

6. compatible /kəmˈpætəb(ə)l/ (adj.) = likely to have a good relationship because of being similar

7. to be someone’s type (phr.) = to be someone with the particular qualities that you find attractive

8. to think the world of someone (phr.) = to have a very high regard for sb

9. to stick together (phr.) = to remain united

10. to drift apart (v.) = if two people drift apart, their relationship gradually ends

11. an obligation /ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n/ (n.) = sth one must do for legal or moral reasons

12. a better half (n.) = a spouse

13. eternal love /ɪˈtɜː(r)n(ə)l/ (n.) = long lasting love

14. to adore sb (v.) = to worship sb

15. an undying love /ʌnˈdaɪɪŋ/ (phr.) = never ending love

16. an inseparable couple /ɪnˈsep(ə)rəb(ə)l ˈkʌp(ə)l/ (phr.) = a couple in a very close relationship spending all their time together

17. a henpecked husband /ˈhenˌpekt/ (n.) = a husband who is criticized and given orders all the time by a wife

18. a trophy wife /ˈtrəʊfi/ (n.) = a young and attractive wife regarded as a status symbol for an older man

19. ecstatic /ɪkˈstætɪk/ (adj.) = extremely happy

20. jubilant /ˈdʒuːbɪlənt/ (adj.) = extremely happy because sth good has happened

21. a bond /bɒnd/ (n.) = a relationship

22. ups and downs (n.) = a succession of both good and bad experiences

23. to appreciate sb /əˈpriːʃiˌeɪt/ (v.) = to recognize the good or special person

24. to make a sacrifice (phr.) = to give up sth important for the sake of others

25. to meet sb halfway (phr.) = to make a compromise with sb

26. to be made for each other (phr.) = to be a perfect match (as a couple)

27. to drive a wedge between people /wedʒ/ (phr.) = to cause disagreement between people

28. to clear the air (phr.) = to clarify an angry or tense situation by frank discussion

29. to store up problems (phr.) = to bottle up negative feelings

30. to go through a rough patch /ˈrʌf ˈpætʃ/ (phr.) = to go through a period of difficulties

31. to live in each other’s pockets (phr.) = to be closely involved with sb