Common IELTS Questions & Related Vocabulary (Speaking & Writing) - Part 7

Part 3. :
- Why do you think some people who died long time ago are still famous today?
- What are some advantages of being famous?
- What kinds of people are famous in your country? Why?
- Many teenagers worship stars today. Do you think it is right or wrong? Why?
- Is ‘celebrity effect’ a positive or a negative phenomenon in your opinion?
- How can famous people handle gossip?
- How can celebrities contribute to the society?
- Some famous people earn a lot of money without doing much work. What’s your opinion on that?
- What kinds of people usually become celebrities in your country? Why?
- What kinds of people could become celebrities in the past? Why?
- Do you think media focus too much on famous people? Why/why not?
- Why are so many people interested in celebrities’ private lives?
- Is bad publicity also beneficial to celebrities? In what way?
- Why do you think some people really want to become famous?
- We live in the celebrity culture today. Do you think some people simply become celebrities overnight because the society needs them?
- How does celebrity worship influence societies?
- How does being famous affect a person’s family?
- Do you think everyone would like to be famous? Why/why not?
- Can a person become famous without having any special talents? Why/why not?
- Are celebrities important to a society? Why/why not?
- Why do young people often copy famous people?
- How are celebrities responsible for their societies?
- How can celebrities be involved in raising a country’s profile?
- Which sports are popular in your country? Why?
- Which sports do people like to watch in your country? Why?
- Do you think most people enjoy being a part of sports competitions? Why/why not?
- Should children do sports? Why/why not?
- Who is the most successful sportsperson in your country? Why?
- What qualities do people need to become champions?
- How is technology becoming more crucial to sports?
- Do you think sportspeople are generally paid too much? Why/why not?
- Why do you think some sports are more internationally recognized than others?
- How should big sports events be funded? Why?
- How can fame influence a celebrity’s child?
- How do you think people feel when their fame ends?
- Does every society need celebrities? Why?
- What are some reasons for which foreigners come to your country?
- Can a person become famous without having any special talents?
- Why do you think some people stay famous for many years while others are forgotten after a short while?
- What are the main advantages of being famous?
- What are the main disadvantages of being famous?
- Does being famous mean being powerful? Why/why not?
- Do you think that young people copy famous people? Why/why not? Is it good or bad?
- How can celebrities use their fame to help other people?
- Should celebrities be involved in solving world problems? Why/why not?
- How can a country benefit from having international stars?
- Do you think celebrities should endorse products? Why/why not?
- Do you think that star’s nationality matters? Why/why not?
- Do you think that people will become more famous internationally in the future? Why/why not?
- a good neighbour/something a stranger did sth to help you/something you did to help your neighbour/your neighbourhood

Vocab :

1. a sense of belonging (phr.) = a feeling that one is a part of a certain place

2. harmonious /hɑː(r)ˈməʊniəs/ (adj.) = friendly and peaceful

3. a busybody /ˈbɪziˌbɒdi/ (n.) = someone who is very interested in other people’s private lives and activities and tries to get involved in them in a way that is annoying

4. a close-knit community /ˌkləʊs ˈnɪt/ (phr.) = consisting of people who do a lot of activities together and look after one another

5. a sense of alienation /ˌeɪliəˈneɪʃ(ə)n/ (phr.) = the feeling that you do not belong in a particular society, place, or group

6. an occupant /ˈɒkjʊpənt/ (n.) = someone who uses a room, building, area of land, seat, bed, or other place during a period of time

7. to live next door to sb (phr.) = to live in the building, room next to yours or next to another

8. to move in (v.) = to start living in a different house or flat

9. to break the ice (phr.) = to do or say sth that makes people feel less shy or nervous in a social situation

10. to get along (v.) = to like each other and to be friendly to each other

11. to have sth in common with sb (phr.) = to have the same features as sb else

12. to help sb out (v.) = to help sb in a difficult situation

13. to lock sb out (v.) = to prevent someone from coming into a room or building by locking the door

14. to keep sb company (phr.) = to spend time with sb so that they will not feel lonely

15. to lend sb a hand (phr.) = to help sb

16. disruptive /dɪsˈrʌptɪv/ (adj.) = causing difficulties

17. vicinity /vəˈsɪnəti/ (n.) = the area near a particular place

18. purlieus /ˈpɜː(r)ljuːz/ (n.) = the outer areas of a place

19. a quiet nabe /ˈneɪb/ (phr.) = a quiet neighbourhood

20. the hood /hʊd/ (n.) = the neighbourhood where you live in a city or town

21. loud music blasting out (phr.) = continuous noise made by loud music

22. to do sth at an unearthly hour /ʌnˈɜː(r)θli/ (phr.) = to do sth at a time of day, especially very early, that is not a reasonable time to speak to or to see sb

Part 3. :
- Do you think people know their neighbours like they used to? Why?
- What qualities make a person a good neighbour? Why?
- What neighbourhood, in your opinion, is the best one for a child to grow up in? Why?
- Are neighbourhoods depicted on TV real?
- What facilities are necessary for a good neighbourhood? Why?
- How can neighbours build stronger relationships? Why?
- Why do you think people feel attached to the area where they grew up?
- Is it easy or difficult to establish a sense of identity with a new place? Why?
- Do you have many minorities in your country?
- Do you think differences in clothes and customs should be preserved? Why/why not?
- What kinds of problems might occur where people come from different ethnic groups?
- Do people prefer to listen to/read local news or national news? Why?
- Which aspects of life should be governed nationally and which locally? Why?
- How can people help their neighbours? Why?
- Is it important for people to help their neighbours? Why/why not?
- What are some advantages of neighbours helping each other?
- Why do you think some people, despite having a chance, don’t want to help their neighbours?
- How are modern neighbourhoods in the city different from the past?
- Do people living in cities know their neighbours? Why/why not?
- Can a large city feel lonely? Why/why not?
- How can modern people get more involved into their community lives?
- Do many people in your country volunteer? Why/why not?
- What are some ways of volunteering in your country? Why?
- How do people volunteer abroad?
- Should the government support volunteer organisations? Why/why not?
- How can the government support volunteer organisations? Why?
- Can a volunteer benefit in any way from helping others? How?
- What are some common ways neighbours help each other?
- Do younger people willingly help older people in their neighbourhood today?
- What kinds of problems can occur among neighbours? How can they be solved?
- Do people contribute to their local communities in your culture?
- How can individuals improve their local communities?
- How can one volunteer in a local community?
- Why do some people decide to volunteer to help others and others do not?
- Do you think that everyone should experience some volunteer work before his or her actual employment? Why/why not?
- Do people in your country generally respect others? Why/why not?
- Is modern society less concerned with the needs of other people? Why/why not?
- Do you think tourists are always respectful towards locals? Why/why not?
- How can international organizations promote cooperation between countries? In what ways?
- a good parent

Vocab :

1. to go above and beyond (phr.) = to do more than necessary for sb

2. a carrot and stick method (phr.) = a mixture of promises and threats to persuade sb to do sth

3. to take after sb (v.) = to look or behave like an older relative

4. sth runs in the family (phr.) = if a skill or talent runs in the family, it means all family member have it

5. to follow in sb’s footsteps (phr.) = to do the same work or achieve the same success as someone else before you

6. to turn a blind eye to sth (phr.) = to pretend you do not notice something, because you should do something about it but you do not want to

7. to be a chip off the old block (phr.) = to look or behave like one of your parents

8. under the same roof (phr.) = in the same home

9. to put sb in a straitjacket /ˈstreɪtˌdʒækɪt/ (phr.) = to restrict sb’s freedom

10. the responsibility for sth falls on sb (phr.) = sb is accountable for sth

11. to shirk one’s responsibilities for sth /ʃɜː(r)k/ (phr.) = to avoid accepting responsibility for sth

12. to fulfil one’s responsibilities /fʊlˈfɪl/ (phr.) = to do what you must do

13. to deny sb the freedom to do sth (phr.) = to not allow sb to do sth

14. there is no substitute for sth/sb /ˈsʌbstɪˌtjuːt/ (phr.) = used for saying that nothing else is good or useful enough to replace something

15. to cause friction between… and… /ˈfrɪkʃ(ə)n/ (phr.) = to cause disagreement

16. conflicts arise /əˈraɪz/ (phr.) = conflicts begin

17. core values (phr.) = the most important beliefs of a person or group

18. unspoken rules (phr.) = rules not expressed in words, usually because other people already understand

19. to be hereditary /həˈredət(ə)ri/ (adj.) = passed from a parent to a child

20. to be estranged from sb /ɪˈstreɪndʒd/ (adj.) = not seeing sb very often, especially because of having fought with them

21. an empty nester /ˌempti ˈnestə(r)/ (n.) = a parent whose children are adults and have left their parents’ home

22. a family bond (phr.) = a relationship one has with family members

23. the sense of obligation /ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃ(ə)n/ (phr.) = the feeling of duty

24. to take sth for granted (phr.) = to expect something always to happen or exist in a particular way, and to not think about any possible problems or difficulties

25. to be grateful to sb /ˈɡreɪtf(ə)l/ (adj.) = feeling that you want to thank someone because they have given you something or have done something for you

26. charity begins at home (phr.) = used for saying that you should look after yourself, your own family, friends, or country before you start helping other people

27. to feel homesick /ˈhəʊmˌsɪk/ (phr.) = feeling sad and alone because you are far from home

28. to have fond recollections of sth /fɒndˌrekəˈlekʃ(ə)nz/ (phr.) = to have warm memories of sth

29. love and devotion /dɪˈvəʊʃ(ə)n/ (phr.) = love and admiration or loyalty

30. to love, honour and cherish sb /ˈɒnə(r)/ (phr.) = to love, respect and appreciate sb

31. child-rearing /rɪərɪŋ/ (n.) = the process of bringing up a child or children

32. maternal instinct /məˈtɜː(r)n(ə)l ˈɪnstɪŋkt/ (phr.) = the bond between a mother and her child

33. nurturing instinct /ˈnɜː(r)tʃərɪŋ/ (phr.) = an ability to care for a young child

34. the generation gap (n.) = the difference in opinions or behaviour between older and younger people which often causes problems between them

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

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

37. like chalk and cheese (phr.) = very different from each other

38. to reprimand sb in private /ˈreprɪˌmɑːnd/ (phr.) = to tell sb in a serious way but in private that sth they have done is wrong

39. a creature of habit (phr.) = someone who likes to do the same thing at the same time every day

40. to go to great length to hold the family together (phr.) = to try in a very determined way to keep the family relationship strong

41. a shoulder to cry on (phr.) = someone who listens to you with sympathy when you talk about your problems

42. to give sb a helping hand (phr.) = to help sb

Part 3. :
- Are children close with their parents in your culture? Why/why not?
- Do you think it’s good for children to be close with their parents? Why/why not?
- What do children usually do with their dads?
- What do children usually do with their mums? Why?
- Can everyone be a good parent? Why/why not?
- Can a person learn how to be parent? Why/why not?
- How do parents influence their children?
- How does a loss of a parent affect a child’s development? Why?
- At what age do people in your country usually decide to have a baby? Why?
- Are parents respected in your culture?
- What conflicts often occur between parents and their children? Why?
- Do you think parents will stop being their children’s role models in the future? Why/why not?
- a good student you know

Vocab :

1. to be good with figures /ˈfɪɡə(r)z/ (phr.) = to be good at counting and calculating, usually good at Maths

2. to have an eye for detail (phr.) = to be able to spot little things easily

3. to induce cramming /ɪnˈdjuːs/ (phr.) = to cause sb study hard in order to learn a lot in a short time

4. well-rounded (adj.) = including a good balance of various subjects

5. to slack off (v.) = to take things easy

6. conscientious /ˌkɒnʃiˈenʃəs/ (adj.) = working hard and careful to do things well

7. sedulous /ˈsedjʊləs/ (adj.) = showing continued hard work, effort and determination

8. meticulous /mɪˈtɪkjʊləs/ (adj.) = very thorough and with careful attention to detail

9. studious /ˈstjuːdiəs/ (adj.) = tending to study and read a lot

10. diligent /ˈdɪlɪdʒ(ə)nt/ (adj.) = working very hard and very carefully

11. unflagging /ʌnˈflæɡɪŋ/ (adj.) = not changing or becoming weaker

12. with your nose to the grindstone /ˈɡraɪndˌstəʊn/ (phr.) = working very hard

13. punctual /ˈpʌŋktʃuəl/ (adj.) = arriving at the time agreed on

14. sb always meets deadlines /ˈdedˌlaɪnz/ (phr.) = sb always finishes a task by the date it was agreed on

Part 3. :
- What kind of a student is considered a good one in your culture? Why?
- Can a student be good at all subjects?
- What does it take to be a good student, hard work or talent? Why?
- Is the idea of a good student always related to good grades? Why/why not?
- Is it important to study well in your country? Why/why not?
- How can good studies help students in their adult life? Why?
- Are bad students treated worse in your country? Why/why not?
- How important is education in your country? Why?
- Do you think more people care about education today than in the past? Why/why not?
- Does success in education guarantee success in life? Why/why not?
- a historical figure

Vocab :

1. a bygone era /ˈbaɪɡɒn ˈɪərə/ (phr.) = a period of time in the past

2. to break the traditional view (phr.) = to change the stereotype

3. to pursue individuality /pə(r)ˈsjuː/ (phr.) = to seek strong personality

4. legendary /ˈledʒ(ə)nd(ə)ri/ (adj.) = very famous or well known for a long time

5. a hero /ˈhɪərəʊ/ (n.) = someone who has done something brave, for example saving a person’s life or risking their own life

6. an anti-hero (n.) = a main character in a story who does not have the qualities that a hero usually has, such as being morally good

7. infamous /ˈɪnfəməs/ (adj.) = well known for something bad

8. a brave man/woman /breɪv/ (phr.) = a heroic man/woman

9. a man/woman of courage /ˈkʌrɪdʒ/ (phr.) = a man/woman with the ability to do something that you know is right or good, even though it is dangerous, frightening, or very difficult

10. lion-hearted /ˌlaɪən ˈhɑː(r)tɪd/ (adj.) = brave and determined

11. a conqueror /ˈkɒŋkərə(r)/ (n.) = someone who has taken control of land or people by force

12. a liberator /ˈlɪbəreɪtə/ (n.) = a person who frees people from sth/sb controlling them

13. to emancipate /ɪˈmænsɪpeɪt/ (v.) = to give freedom and rights to someone

14. a Good Samaritan /səˈmærɪt(ə)n/ (n.) = a person who helps someone they do not know who is in trouble

15. to engage in a fight for freedom (phr.) = to get involved in activities that lead to freedom

16. to crusade /kruːˈseɪd/ (v.) = to work hard for a long time to achieve something that you strongly believe is morally right

Part 3. :
- What historical figures are popular in your country? Why?
- Are historical figures always a good example to follow? Why/why not?
- What Western historical figures do people in your country know about?
- How did people become famous in the past? Why?
- What current celebrities do you think next generations will remember? Why?
- Why does history remember some people and forget the others?
- Can we learn anything from history? What?
- How do stories about historical figures survive till now?
- Are young people in your country generally interested in history? Why/why not?
- a popular actor (domestic/international)/a comic actor popular in your country/an artist/an entertainer you admire

Vocab :

1. an outstanding performance /aʊtˈstændɪŋ/ (phr.) = an extremely impressive performance

2. to be on the edge of your seat (phr.) = to be very excited and interested in sth because you want to know what happens next

3. an overnight success (phr.) = sth has become famous very quickly but usually fame doesn’t last too long

4. a consummate actor/actress /kənˈsʌmət/(phr.) = an actor/actress showing great skill at acting

5. cinematography /ˌsɪnəməˈtɒɡrəfi/ (n.) = the job or skill of making films

6. overrated /ˌəʊvəˈreɪtɪd/ (adj.) = not as good as people say

7. far-fetched /ˌfɑː(r) ˈfetʃt/ (adj.) = impossible to believe

8. risqué /ˈrɪskeɪ/ (adj.) = slightly immoral and likely to shock some people

9. moving /ˈmuːvɪŋ/ (adj.) = making you feel strong emotion, esp. pity or sadness

10. memorable /ˈmem(ə)rəb(ə)l/ (adj.) = you remember it long after

11. to be panned /pænd/ (adj.) = to be very negatively criticized

12. to be universally lauded /lɔːdɪd/ (phr.) = to be highly praised

13. up-and-coming (adj.) = likely to become very famous or successful

14. to be miscast /ˌmɪsˈkɑːst/ (phr.) = wrong person for the role

15. an encore /ˈɒŋkɔː(r)/ (n.) = call from the audience to repeat the performance

16. a standing ovation /əʊˈveɪʃ(ə)n/ (phr.) = the audience stood up and applauded

Part 3. :
- Why are some actors more popular than others in your country?
- Do you think many youngsters try to copy the behaviour of famous actors? Is that good or bad? Why?
- Do you think actors are paid too much for their work? Why/why not?
- What is the most popular kind of entertainment for children in your country? Why?
- Do all children like to visit a circus? Why/why not?
- Is circus popular in your country? Why/why not?
- Do you think that children’s entertainment must always be educational? Why/why not?
- Do men and women like the same type of entertainment? Why/why not?
- Are computer games popular in your country?
- Which age group likes to play computer games most? Why?
- Do you think all entertainment in the future will be related to technology? Why/why not?
- a singer/band you like listening to/popular in your country

Vocab :

1. to keep a low profile /ˈprəʊfaɪl/ (phr.) = to try to stop people from noticing you

2. glamorous /ˈɡlæmərəs/ (adj.) = attractive, rich and famous

3. a debut album /ˈdeɪbjuː ˈælbəm/ (n.) = a first collection of several songs recorded on a CD or as an MP3. file etc.

4. to top the chart (phr.) = to go to the top of a hit list

5. to be musically-inclined /ɪnˈklaɪnd/ (adj.) = extremely interested in music

6. sb can’t carry a tune (phr.) = sb can’t sing musical notes correctly

7. to be tone deaf (adj.) = to be unable to sing a tune correctly because you cannot hear the difference between musical notes

8. a pop chart (n.) = a record chart that is ranking recorded music according to popularity

9. to be just another flash in the pan (phr.) = to be popular just for a very short time

10. a smash hit /smæʃ/ (n.) = a song that is extremely successful

11. to have what it takes (phr.) = to have the necessary qualities for success

12. to love the sound of someone’s voice (phr.) = to adore sb’s voice

13. a songster/songstress (n.) = male/female: a person who sings and/or writes songs skilfully

14. a diva /ˈdiːvə/ (n.) = a famous female singer of popular music

15. a songbird /ˈsɒŋˌbɜː(r)d/ (n.) = a bird that makes a beautiful sound or a female singer

16. heartwarming /ˈhɑː(r)tˌwɔː(r)mɪŋ/ (adj.) = making you feel happy, usually because other people are being kind

17. emotive /ɪˈməʊtɪv/ (adj.) = causing strong feelings

Part 3. :
- Where do people in your country go to listen to music? Why?
- Are concerts popular in your country? Why/why not?
- What are some advantages of listening to live music?
- What are some disadvantages of listening to live music?
- Has technology influenced the way people listen to music? If so, how?
- Do you learn about music when you go to school in your country? Why/why not?
- Why do some people decide to learn how to play a musical instrument?
- Should everyone play a musical instrument? Why/why not?
- What is the best age to start learning how to play a musical instrument? Why?
- Can everyone become good at playing a musical instrument? What does it depend on?
- Is music an important part of your culture? Why/why not?
- Why do think people often feel patriotic when listening to their national anthem?
- Does your culture have a lot of traditional music?
- Do you think traditional music might be replaced by modern music in the future? Why/why not?
- What types of singers are popular in your country today? Why?
- Do you think everyone can learn how to sing well? Why/why not?
- How can a good singing voice be helpful in life?
- Why do some songs become successful while others don’t?
- What qualities does a song need to become a hit?
- Do you think today’s music industry is more into making money than making good music? Why/why not?
- How do you think will music change in the future?
- How does technology affect the way music is made?
- Why do we need music?
- Does the society need music? Why/why not?
- Is it important to teach children about a country’s traditional music? Why/why not?
- Should everyone appreciate music? Why/why not?
- Do you think governments should fund music teaching? Why/why not?
- Should the government fund the development of music? Why/why not?
- a successful person you know/your boss/(someone you know who is) a good leader

Vocab :

1. enormous persuasive skills /pə(r)ˈsweɪsɪv/ (phr.) = skills that help one make people agree to do or believe what they want them to

2. to work well under pressure (phr.) = to handle work pressure well

3. a good communicator /kəˈmjuːnɪˌkeɪtə(r)/ (phr.) = a person who is understood well

4. to climb the career ladder /kəˈrɪə(r) cˈlædə(r)/ (phr.) = to get promoted

5. to be ahead of your time (phr.) = to be innovative and radical by the standards of the time

6. to be labour-intensive (adj.) = a labour-intensive industry or process needs a lot of people to do the work

7. to be self-reliant /rɪˈlaɪənt/ (adj.) = able to do things for yourself and not depend on other people

8. to be self-sufficient /səˈfɪʃ(ə)nt/ (adj.) = able to provide everything that you need by yourself, without help from other people

9. to be a self-made man/woman (phr.) = a person who was born poor or otherwise disadvantaged, but who achieved great economic or moral success thanks to their own hard work and ingenuity

10. to show initiative /ɪˈnɪʃətɪv/ (phr.) = to show that you are able to decide in an independent way what to do and when to do it

11. to do sth of one’s own accord /əˈkɔː(r)d/ (phr.) = to do something without being asked, forced, or helped by someone else

12. to be tenacious /təˈneɪʃəs/ (adj.) = a tenacious person is very determined and is not willing to stop when they are trying to achieve something

13. perseverance /ˌpɜː(r)sɪˈvɪərəns/ (n.) = a determined attitude that makes you continue trying to achieve something difficult

14. a go-getter /ˌɡəʊ ˈɡetə(r)/ (n.) = someone who is determined to succeed and who works hard to achieve this

15. to go from rags to riches (phr.) = used for describing a situation in which someone who has been very poor becomes very rich

16. to be under someone’s thumb (phr.) = to be completely controlled by someone else

17. to have a finger in every pie (phr.) = to be involved in a lot of different things

18. to throw your weight around (phr.) = to use your authority to tell other people what to do in a rude and unpleasant way

Part 3. :
- What kind of a person can make a good boss? Why?
- Who makes better bosses, men or women? Why?
- What problems do bosses face every day? Why?
- What is success?
- In which areas of life can people become successful? Why?
- How can a person achieve success? Why?
- Is being successful important in your culture? Why/why not?
- How does success change people?
- Can successful people have real friends? Why/why not?
- Do you think the concept of success will change in the future? Why/why not?
- Does everyone yearn success? Why/why not?
- What are the main advantages of being someone’s boss? Why?
- In a typical family, who is usually the leader? Why?
- Do you think the head of the family might be woman in the future? Why/why not?
- Do you think it is easy to make decisions for the whole family? Why/why not?
- What kind of decisions do family leaders need to make?
- Who is generally better at making decisions, men or women? Why?
- What kind of a person can make a good manager? Why?
- Do you think managers should make their decisions by themselves or should they involve their employees? Why?
- Who is more important for a company’s success, good managers or good workers? Why?
- Do you think it is fair for managers to make a lot more money than workers? Why/why not?
- What makes a good leader? Why?
- Why do you think some people want to be leaders in the first place?
- Do you think everyone wants to be a leader? Why/why not?
- Can a person learn how to be a good leader? Why/why not? If so, how?
- a teenager you know/a child you know

Vocab :

1. to act out (v.) = to express your thoughts or feelings through your words or behaviour

2. antisocial behaviour /ˌæntiˈsəʊʃ(ə)l/ (phr.) = used when sb is not interested in meeting other people or not enjoying friendly relationships with them

3. to be well-behaved /ˌwel bɪˈheɪvd/ (adj.) = a well-behaved child or animal behaves in a way that is polite or gentle and does not upset people

4. adolescence /ˌædəˈles(ə)ns/ (n.) = the period of your life when you change from being a child to being a young adult

5. a healthy outlook on life (phr.) = a good attitude towards life

6. a well-adjusted adult /ˌwel əˈdʒʌstɪd/ (phr.) = an adult that is mentally strong and able to deal with problems without becoming very upset

7. to drop out of school (phr.) = to leave school before you have finished what you intended to do

8. to skip school /skɪp/ (phr.) = to avoid going to school

9. to come of age (phr.) = to reach the age when you are legally an adult

10. to feel inhibited /ɪnˈhɪbɪtɪd/ (phr.) = to feel too embarrassed or not confident enough to do sth

11. to be the black sheep of the family (phr.) = to not be approved of by the other members of the family

12. obedient /əˈbiːdiənt/ (adj.) = doing what a person, law, or rule says that you must do

13. disobedient /ˌdɪsəˈbiːdiənt/ (adj.) = deliberately doing the opposite of what someone in authority has told you to do, or deliberately not obeying rules

14. unruly /ʌnˈruːli/ (adj.) = very difficult to control

15. to be cheeky to sb /ˈtʃiːki/ (adj.) = behaving in a way that does not show respect, especially towards someone who is older or more important

16. a childish prank /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ præŋk/ (phr.) = a silly trick that you play on sb to surprise them

17. to nurture /ˈnɜː(r)tʃə(r)/ (v.) = to provide the care and attention necessary for a young child to grow and develop

18. to have an impact on sth /ˈɪmpækt/ (phr.) = to have an influence on sth

19. peer pressure (n.) = the influence that other people of your own age or social class have on the way you behave or dress

20. a broken home (phr.) = a family where the parents are divorced or do not live together, and the children suffer as a result

21. permissive /pə(r)ˈmɪsɪv/ (adj.) = allowing someone a large amount of freedom to behave as they choose

22. rebellious /rɪˈbeljəs/ (adj.) = opposing authority or accepted ways of doing things

23. to run wild (phr.) = to grow without discipline

24. authoritarian /ɔːˌθɒrɪˈteəriən/ (adj.) = controlling everything and forcing people to obey strict rules and laws

25. a detrimental effect on sth/sb /ˌdetrɪˈment(ə)l/ (phr.) = a harmful or damaging influence on sth/sb

26. to pull your weight (phr.) = to do your fair share of work

27. messy /ˈmesi/ (adj.) = very untidy or dirty

28. to nag /næɡ/ (v.) = to frequently ask someone to do something that they do not want to do

29. fuss /fʌs/ (n.) = a lot of unnecessary worry or excitement about something

30. to lay down rules (phr.) = to state the rules clearly

31. to dent sb’s trust /dent/ (phr.) = to diminish sb’s trust

32. trivial worries /ˈtrɪviəl/ (phr.) = worries that are not very important or serious

33. to keep things in perspective /pə(r)ˈspektɪv/ (phr.) = to judge things in a sensible way

34. to articulate how you feel /ɑː(r)ˈtɪkjʊleɪt/ (phr.) = to express feelings clearly and effectively

35. as good as gold (phr.) = extremely well behaved

36. a middle-child syndrome /ˈsɪnˌdrəʊm/ (phr.) = a set of feelings related to being a middle-child

37. to put sb on a pedestal /ˈpedɪst(ə)l/ (phr.) = to admire or love someone so much that you believe they have no faults

38. to lavish sth on sb /ˈlævɪʃ/ (v.) = to give sb a lot of sth

Part 3. :
- Did you enjoy your teenage years in your country? Why/why not?
- When do teenagers become adults in your country? Why?
- Do teenagers behave the same way as children? Why/why not?
- Do teenagers in your country respect older people? Why/why not?
- Do you think young people today have a more enjoyable life than in the past? Why/why not?
- Do schools in your country prepare young people well for their future responsibilities as adults? Why/why not?
- Should young people be given more responsibilities at a younger age? Why/why not?
- What are some main problems teenagers have? Why?
- What problems can teenagers with too much money and freedom cause?
- Who influences society more: older people or younger people? Why?
- Do you think that influence of younger and older people might change in the future? If so, how?
- a travel companion you enjoyed your journey with/an adventurous person you know

Vocab :

1. a party animal (n.) = sb who enjoys going to lots of parties

2. to be good company (phr.) = sb who people enjoy spending time with

3. to stick together (v.) = to remain close together and support one another

4. there’s safety in numbers (proverb) = being in a group of people makes you feel more confident or secure about taking action

5. to offer moral support (phr.) = to offer support or help, the effect of which is psychological rather than physical

6. a great way to bond (phr.) = a great way to strengthen a relationship with sb

7. to come closer together (phr.) = to make a relationship stronger

8. to share hairy moments /ˈheəri/ (phr.) = to share moments that are difficult or dangerous

9. a live wire /ˌlaɪv ˈwaɪə(r)/ (n.) = a person who has a lot of energy and is interesting to be with

10. a bright spark (phr.) = someone who is clever or who has a clever idea

11. full of beans (phr.) = very lively and full of energy

12. to stick your neck out (phr.) = to take a risk by saying or doing sth that could be wrong or could make other people react angrily

13. to play it safe (phr.) = to avoid taking any risks

14. it is down to the psychological make-up of a person (phr.) = sth depends on a person’s character

15. a sensation seeker se (phr.) = sb who always looks for excitement

16. to be at risk from sth (phr.) = to be in a situation in which sth unpleasant or dangerous could happen to you

17. to take a chance on a long shot (phr.) = to do sth even though it involves risk and even if it is not likely to be successful

Part 3. :
- Is it better to travel alone or with other people? Why?
- What kind of a person can make a good travel companion? Why?
- Do people in your country travel a lot? Why/why not?
- Do you think people will travel more in the future? Why/why not?
- Who is more adventurous: young people or older people? Why?
- What qualities does a person need to have to be adventurous?
- Why are some people not scared of anything?
- Do adventurous people travel more? Why/why not?
- What are some examples of adventures people can take on in your country?
- Are adventurous TV programmes popular in your country? Why/why not?
- Are travel programmes popular in your country? Why/why not?
- an intelligent person

Vocab :

1. multilingual /ˌmʌltiˈlɪŋɡwəl/ (adj.) = able to speak several different languages well

2. college-educated (adj.) = sb who went and graduated from college

3. to be gifted/talented /ˈɡɪftɪd/ˈtæləntɪd/ (adj.) = to have an impressive natural ability

4. to be bilingual /baɪˈlɪŋɡwəl/ (adj.) = sb who is able to speak two languages extremely well

5. a smart alec (n.) = sb who behaves in an annoying way by trying to show how clever they are

6. to be monolingual /ˌmɒnəʊˈlɪŋɡwəl/ (adj.) = speaking, writing or using only one language

7. a Renaissance man/woman /rɪˈneɪs(ə)ns/ (phr.) = a man/woman who knows a lot about many different subjects and has many practical skills and abilities

8. to be versatile /ˈvɜː(r)sətaɪl/ (adj.) = having a wide range of different skills and abilities

9. a prodigy /ˈprɒdədʒi/ (n.) = a young person who has a natural ability to do sth extremely well

10. to know sth backwards/inside out (phr.) = to be very familiar with sth

11. a self-taught person (phr.) = sb who learnt a skill by themselves

12. as bright as a button (phr.) = very clever

13. quick-witted /ˌkwɪk ˈwɪtɪd/ (adj.) = able to think of good ideas or good answers quickly

14. a genius /ˈdʒiːniəs/ (n.) = sb who is much more intelligent or skilful than other people

15. a mastermind /ˈmɑːstə(r)ˌmaɪnd/ (n.) = someone who plans a difficult or complicated operation

16. a great intellect /ˈɪntəlekt/ (phr.) = sb who is extremely intelligent

17. a brainiac /ˈbreɪnɪak/ (n.) = sb who is exceptionally clever

18. an egghead /ˈeɡˌhed/ (n.) = someone who has a lot of knowledge and intelligence and is only interested in academic subjects

Part 3. :
- Do you often meet intelligent people?
- In what ways can a teacher sparkle students’ interest in learning?
- What qualities does a teacher need to be considered a good teacher?
- Who should be more involved in developing children’s intelligence: their parents or teachers? Why?
- Have you ever met a genius?
- Do you think that being highly intelligent makes a person lonely and unhappy? Why/why not?
- Are geniuses selfish? Why/why not?
- Who decides whether a person can be called a genius or not?
- Do you think that modern society focuses too much on intelligence? Why/why not?
- Can technology increase someone’s intelligence? Why/why not?
- Do you think human intelligence has limits? Why/why not?
- an old person you admire/respect/have met/you like spending time with/something you like doing with the elderly

Vocab :

1. conventional /kənˈvenʃ(ə)nəl/ (adj.) = sb who follows the usual and accepted opinions and ways of behaving, especially without questioning them

2. vigorous /ˈvɪɡ(ə)rəs/ (adj.) = full of energy, enthusiasm, or determination

3. a granny flat /ˈɡræni ˌflæt/ (n.) = a set of rooms for an elderly person, connected to a relative’s house

4. to be out of touch with sth (phr.) = to no longer have recent knowledge or information about sth

5. to be fond of /fɒnd/ (v.) = to like sb/sth a lot

6. hale and hearty /heɪl ænd ˈhɑː(r)ti/ (phr.) = strong and healthy

7. as fit as a fiddle /ˈfɪd(ə)l/ (phr.) = very fit

8. a bonding mechanism /ˈmekəˌnɪz(ə)m/ (phr.) = a way to bond with sb

9. to keep sb company (phr.) = to spend time with sb

10. to wear your heart on your sleeve (phr.) = to make your feelings obvious to other people

11. to be getting on (a bit) (phr.) = fairly old

12. hard of hearing /ˈhɪərɪŋ/ (adj.) = unable to hear well

13. sb lives life to the fullest (phr.) = sb lives and enjoys life as much as possible

14. inner strength (phr.) = the strength sb has inside of themselves

15. to radiate cheerfulness /ˈreɪdieɪt ˈtʃɪə(r)f(ə)lnəs/ (phr.) = to show happiness in your expression or behaviour

16. a deep-rooted sense of respect (phr.) = a strong (because you felt it for a long time) feeling of admiration

17. to be held in high regard (phr.) = to be admired or respected very much

18. tai chi /ˌtaɪ ˈtʃiː/ (n.) = a Chinese activity that involves doing very slow physical exercises to make your mind relax and improve your body’s balance

19. as a form of (phr.) = as a way of

20. to remain active /rɪˈmeɪn/ (phr.) = to stay active even at the old age

21. considerate /kənˈsɪd(ə)rət/ (adj.) = thinking about the feelings and needs of other people

22. early in her/his life (phr.) = in sb’s young age

23. to teach sb an invaluable lesson /ɪnˈvæljuəb(ə)l/ (phr.) = to teach sb something extremely useful

24. a senior /ˈsiːniə(r)/ (n.) = older

25. to have the final say (phr.) = to have the responsibility for making a decision, although others can give their opinions first

26. you can’t teach an old dog new tricks (phr.) = used for saying that it is very difficult to make someone do something in a new way when they have been doing it their own way for a long time

Part 3. :
- Are older people generally respected in your country? Why/why not?
- How can old people be useful to their families?
- What can young people learn from the elderly?
- Is it good for grandparents to raise their grandchildren? Why/why not?
- Can older people learn anything from the youngsters? If so, what?
- Do you think young people today pay enough attention to the elderly people? Why/why not?
- With whom do older people usually live in your country?
- What kind of a person can be a good caretaker of an old person? Why?
- Should older people always live with their families? Why/why not?
- Who should pay for elderly care? Why?
- How can older people be helpful to society by still working?
- Is it good or bad for a country to have a set retirement age? Why?
- At what age do people in your country retire?
- What is the condition of society where the majority are the elderly?
- Does your country have a pension system for the elderly? If so, is it enough for them to live on their own? Why/why not?
- What are the advantages of being old?
- What are the main disadvantages of being old?
- Do old people have better lives now than in the past? Why/why not?
- Do you think that the lives of the older people might improve in the future? Why/why not?
- When is a person considered old in your culture?
- Why do you think there is often a generation gap between the old and the young?
- What is the retirement age in your country?
- Why do you think some employers do not want to hire older people?
- How can older people contribute to the country’s politics?
- What do people like to do together as a family in your country? Why?
- Should families spend time together outdoors? Why/why not?
- What are some of the advantages children can enjoy when both parents work outside the house?
- Do people get their moral values only from their family members? Why/why not?
- With whom do we spend most time in our lives? Why?
- Should a person spend time with different people or similar ones? Why?
- Is time spent alone needed? What for?
- How should workers behave towards their employers? Why?
- How should managers treat their employees? Why?
- Do you think our behaviour adapts to the people we are with? Why/why not?
- Do you think people’s behaviour changes if they meet someone rich or famous? Why/why not? If so, how?
- What relationships are the most important in our lives? Why?
- Which relationships shape our personality? Why?
- Why do you think some people are loners while others are very sociable?
- Do you think that a relationship can only be successful if two people’s characters are similar? Why/why not?
- What personality traits are generally difficult to deal with? Why?
- How can technology benefit older people?
- What benefits can a company gain through employing older people? Why?
- What aspects of contemporary life are difficult for the elderly to accept? Why?
- someone who you think is handsome/beautiful

Vocab :

1. to be very arty /ˈɑː(r)ti/ (adj.) = showing a great interest in art, but in a way that may not be sincere

2. stunning /ˈstʌnɪŋ/ (adj.) = very impressive or beautiful

3. shoulder-length hair (phr.) = hair that end by one’s shoulders

4. chubby cheeks /ˈtʃʌbi/ (phr.) = cheeks that are slightly fat but in a cute way

5. ginger hair /ˈdʒɪndʒə(r)/ (phr.) = orange-brown hair

6. freckles /ˈfrek(ə)lz/ (n.) = small brown spots on sb’s skin

7. beauty is only skin-deep (proverb) = a pleasing appearance is not a guide to character

8. alluring /əˈlʊərɪŋ/ (adj.) = attractive in an exciting way

9. glamorous /ˈɡlæmərəs/ (adj.) = attractive and interesting in an exciting and unusual way

10. bewitching /bɪˈwɪtʃɪŋ/ (adj.) = very attractive

11. exquisite /ɪkˈskwɪzɪt/ (adj.) = extremely beautiful and delicate

12. magnificent /mæɡˈnɪfɪs(ə)nt/ (adj.) = very impressive and beautiful, good or skilful

13. drop-dead gorgeous /ˈɡɔː(r)dʒəs/ (adj.) = extremely attractive

14. hunky /ˈhʌŋki/ (adj.) = physically strong and sexually attractive

Part 3. :
- Are the clothes people wear important in your culture? Why/why not?
- Can the clothes make somebody more beautiful or handsome? Why? How?
- Do companies need to use beautiful models to sell clothes? Why/why not?
- How can being beautiful be helpful in life?
- Is being beautiful always a good thing? When would it not be so good? Why?
- Why do you think people appreciate beauty in nature so much?
- Which landscapes do people consider beautiful? Why?
- Can a city be beautiful? If so, how?
- What can describe natural beauty better, words or pictures? Why?
- Do you think society is generally too obsessed with physical beauty today?
- Have the perceptions of beauty been the same over the years? Why/why not?
- Which is more important, physical or inner beauty? Why?
- Should people conform to the mass vision of beauty? Why/why not?
- What do some contemporary people do to become more beautiful? Why?
- someone you know who has an interesting job/an unusual job you would like to do/a job that is important in your country

Vocab :

1. a team player (n.) = sb who works well with other people as part of a group

2. to work non-stop (phr.) = to work all the time

3. a glass ceiling /ˈsiːlɪŋ/ (n.) = an unfair system that prevents some people, especially women, from reaching the most senior positions in a company or organization

4. to discriminate against sb /dɪˈskrɪmɪneɪt/ (v.) = to treat sb unfairly because of their religion, race or other personal features

5. a pecking order /ˈpekɪŋ ˌɔː(r)də(r)/ (n.) = a system where some people have the right to get promotions before others

6. atypical /ˌeɪˈtɪpɪk(ə)l/ (adj.) = not usual or typical

7. unorthodox /ʌnˈɔː(r)θədɒks/ (adj.) = not following the usual rules or beliefs of your religion, society etc.

8. peculiar /pɪˈkjuːliə(r)/ (adj.) = strange, often in an unpleasant way

9. a workaholic /ˌwɜː(r)kəˈhɒlɪk/ (n.) = someone who spends most of their time working and has little interest in other things

10. a devout employee /dɪˈvaʊtˌemplɔɪˈiː/ (phr.) = a very enthusiastic worker

Part 3. :
- What types of jobs do young people in your country like to choose? Why?
- How do people in your country choose their jobs?
- In what ways are large companies different from small companies?
- Why do some people prefer to work in small companies?
- Do men and women in your country enjoy the same types of jobs? Why/why not?
- What makes people decide to do a certain job? What factors?
- Can young people in your country get any advice about their future jobs? If so, where from?
- Do many students in your country have part-time jobs? If so, what kind?
- Is it good for a student to have a part-time job? Why/why not?
- Do students have any practical subjects at universities in your country?
- What is the unemployment rate in your country?
- Does your government support the unemployed?
- Should the government support the unemployed? Why/why not?
- What is the retirement age in your country? Is it the same for men and women?
- Do pensioners have enough financial support to lead a decent life? Why/why not?
- Are working conditions in your country generally good?
- Does the government control working conditions in your country? If so, how?
- What factors do people base their decision of a particular job on?
- Which one do you think is more useful today, experience or formal study? Why?
- Do people often change jobs in your country? Why/why not?
- Do people in your country care if they like the job they have? Why/why not?
- Is job satisfaction necessary? Why/why not?
- Why do some people need to have a balance between work, family and their social life?
- How does globalisation affect job market in your country?
- What are some disadvantages of working in a foreign country?
- What kinds of jobs do you think might disappear in the future? Why?
- Is it easy or difficult to choose one’s career? Why?
- How important are qualifications to land a good job today? Why?
- Do any companies pay their workers to get further qualified? Why/why not?
- Would many people in your country be willing to relocate to another country for work? Why/why not?
- How does the fact that some people relocate for work influence their family life?
- Do you think people will change careers more often in the future? Why/why not?
- At what age can people legally start a full-time job in your country? Is it too early, too late or right about time? Why?
- Is it easy to find a good job in your country? Why?
- Do you think that working conditions have improved over the years? Why/why not?
- Do you think schools prepare students well for their future working life? Why/why not?
- What skills do current employers look for in their workers? Why?
- Do you think everyone should graduate from a university? Why/why not?
- How can a large number of university-educated people contribute to the society?
- Why do you think people are after some jobs but not so interested in others?
- What are some downsides of putting work before family? Why?
- How will migration affect work in your country in the future? Why?
- What social changes are significant to the job market? Why?
- someone you know who is good at cooking

Vocab :

1. to be all fingers and thumbs (phr.) = to be unable to do a small difficult job because you cannot control your fingers well enough

2. cooking utensils /juːˈtens(ə)lz/ (phr.) = sth that you use for cooking

3. to have cookouts /ˈkʊkˌaʊts/ (phr.) = to have an informal meal eaten outside with food usually cooked over a fire or on a barbecue

4. to burn sth to a crisp /krɪsp/ (phr.) = to burn sth completely

5. the best thing since sliced bread (phr.) = a person or thing that someone thinks is excellent or likes very much

6. to chop sth up /tʃɒp/ (v.) = to cut food into pieces

7. cuisine /kwɪˈziːn/ (n.) = a particular style of cooking food, especially the style of a particular country or region

8. a cordon bleu cook /ˌkɔː(r)dɒЮ ˈblɜː/ (phr.) = a cook that shows the highest standard of quality in his/her cooking

9. to fix some food (phr.) = to cook sth

10. to rustle up /ˈrʌs(ə)l/ (v.) = to quickly produce something such as a meal using whatever is available

11. a palatable dish /ˈpælətəb(ə)l/ (phr.) = a dish that tastes good

12. finger-licking (adj.) = delicious

13. sth melts in your mouth (phr.) = sth tastes very good

Part 3. :
- Do people in your country cook at home a lot? Why/why not?
- Did people cook more in the past? Why/why not?
- Is it important for families to have meals together? Why/why not?
- Do you think people might cook less in the future? Why/why not?
- Is the food in school canteens in your country tasty? Why/why not?
- Do you think boys also need to learn how to cook? Why/why not?
- Do you think everyone should learn how to cook? Why/why not?
- Should children learn how food is produced? Why/why not?
- Do schools in your country pay attention to providing enough nutrition to students? Why/why not?
- Do people discuss healthy food? Why/why not?
- Should an individual be concerned about how healthy today’s food is? Why/why not?
- What kinds of information should the food industry provide to consumers about the food they buy? Why?
- Are there any rules or regulations regarding food safety in your country? Why/why not? Should there be? What kind?
- your best friend

Vocab :

1. to carry sb’s burden (phr.) = to share something difficult that happened to sb else

2. common values (phr.) = similar principles

3. a heart-to-heart talk (phr.) = a very private conversation between two people, usually concerning their personal feelings

4. a web pal (n.) = a friend you only know online

5. soulmates /ˈsəʊlˌmeɪts/ (n.) = people who feel close to each other in spirit and understand each other deeply

6. a lifelong companion (phr.) = friend who was with you all your life

7. inseparable /ɪnˈsep(ə)rəb(ə)l/ (adj.) = very close

8. a bosom pal /ˈbʊz(ə)m/ (phr.) = a very close friend

9. sb is after your own heart (phr.) = someone who has the same opinions as you on a particular subject

10. a kindred spirit /ˈkɪndrəd/ (phr.) = someone who likes or cares about the same things as you do

11. to bury the hatchet /ˈhætʃɪt/ (phr.) = to become friendly with someone again after a disagreement

12. to keep one’s word (phr.) = to do what one has promised

13. mutual trust /ˈmjuːtʃuəl/ (phr.) = trust which is felt both ways

14. to socialize with sb /ˈsəʊʃəlaɪz/ (v.) = to spend time with other people socially, for example at a party

15. to get along with (v.) = to like each other and be friendly to each other

16. A is the complete opposite of B (phr.) = A is entirely different from B

17. to be on the same wavelength /ˈweɪvˌleŋθ/ (phr.) = to understand the way that another person thinks because you often have the same ideas and opinions as they do

18. to not see eye to eye with sb (phr.) = to not agree with sb or to not have the same opinion as them

19. a fair-weather friend (phr.) = someone who only wants to be your friend when things are going well for you

20. to stab sb in the back (phr.) = to do something bad that is not loyal to someone who trusts you

21. to console sb at times of sorrow /kənˈsəʊl/ (phr.) = to try to make sb feel better when they are unhappy

22. joys and sorrows (phr.) = happy and unhappy times

23. to confide in sb /kənˈfaɪd/ (v.) = to tell sb a secret or discuss your private feelings with them

24. innermost thoughts /ˈɪnə(r)ˌməʊst/ (phr.) = most personal and private thoughts

25. to suppress your feelings /səˈpres/ (phr.) = to stop yourself from feeling emotions

26. vulnerable /ˈvʌln(ə)rəb(ə)l/ (adj.) = someone who is vulnerable is weak or easy to hurt physically or mentally

27. pent up emotions /ˌpent ˈʌp/ (phr.) = pent up emotions are strong feelings, for example anger, that you do not express so that they gradually become more difficult to control

28. to stick up for sb (v.) = to speak in support of a person or an idea, belief, or plan, especially when no one else will

29. through thick and thin (phr.) = under all circumstances, no matter how difficult

30. birds of a feather flock together (phr.) = used for saying that people of a similar type tend to support and agree with each other

Part 3. :
- Why do we need friends?
- How do people make friends in your country?
- Do you think that parents should be concerned about the friends their children have? Why/why not?
- Is it easy to make friends in your country? Why/why not?
- What is the best way to make friends?
- Which do you think is better: a friend you have had from childhood or a friend from your adulthood? Why?
- Why do you think so many people make friends online today?
- Is it safe to establish friendships online? Why/why not?
- Is it wise to tell all our secrets to friends? Why/why not?
- What is the best way to communicate with friends?
- Why do you think some friends drift apart?
- your colleague/classmate/a polite person

Vocab :

1. average Joe (phr.) = for males: a very average person

2. plain Jane (phr.) = for females: a very average person

3. sb is my opposite number (phr.) = has the same job as me

4. a good rapport /ræˈpɔː(r)/ (phr.) = a good relationship/communication

5. to be someone’s peer /pɪə(r)/ (n.) = to be of the same age as another person

6. to talk shop (phr.) = to talk about work

7. sb has an attitude problem (phr.) = sb’s behaviour is strange and causing disagreements with others

8. to be an eager beaver /ˈiːɡə(r) ˈbiːvə(r)/ (n.) = sb who is extremely enthusiastic and enjoys working extremely hard

9. to be an indicator of ability /ˈɪndɪˌkeɪtə(r)/ (phr.) = to show ability

10. interpersonal skills /ˌɪntə(r)ˈpɜː(r)s(ə)nəl/ (phr.) = skills involving relationships between people

11. to be forward-looking /ˈfɔː(r)wə(r)d ˌlʊkɪŋ/ (adj.) = looking at the future in a positive way and happy to try new ideas and methods

12. a wet blanket (n.) = someone who spoils other people’s fun by being negative and complaining

13. quick-witted /ˌkwɪk ˈwɪtɪd/ (adj.) = able to think of good ideas or good answers quickly

14. shrewd /ʃruːd/ (adj.) = able to judge people and situations very well and to make good decisions

15. ruthless /ˈruːθləs/ (adj.) = willing to make other people suffer so that you can achieve your aims

16. to come across as (phr.) = if someone or something comes across in a particular way, you have a particular opinion of them when you meet them or see them

17. pushy /ˈpʊʃi/ (adj.) = extremely determined to get what you want, even if it annoys other people

18. to strike sb as sth (phr.) = to make someone have a particular opinion or feeling

19. conscientious /ˌkɒnʃiˈenʃəs/ (adj.) = working hard and careful to do things well

20. charisma /kəˈrɪzmə/ (n.) = a strong personal quality that makes other people like you and be attracted to you

21. assertive /əˈsɜː(r)tɪv/ (adj.) = behaving in a confident way in which you are quick to express your opinions and feelings

22. to get up your nose (phr.) = to annoy you a lot

Part 3. :
- Do you make friends with your classmates in your country? Why/why not?
- Do people usually stay in touch after they’ve graduated from school? Why/why not?
- Is it important to make friends with classmates? Why/why not?
- What kind of people are more likeable? Why?
- Do people cooperate with their colleagues? Why/why not?
- Is it important to get along with our colleagues? Why/why not?
- Are people in your country generally polite? Why/why not?
- Is it easier to make friends with polite people? Why/why not?
- Should we make friends with people similar to us or different from us?
- What can disagreements with others teach us?
- your favourite teacher/a good teacher that influenced you/someone who taught you a useful skill

Vocab :

1. to promote equality /prəˈməʊt ɪˈkwɒləti/ (phr.) = to support the state of being equal, especially in having the same rights, status and opportunities

2. a disruptive student /dɪsˈrʌptɪv/ (phr.) = a student causing interruptions in class

3. to put theory into practice (phr.) = to use what you’ve learnt in reality

4. first-hand experience /ˌfɜː(r)stˈhænd/ (phr.) = experience obtained directly from sb who is involved in sth

5. to kindle someone’s interest in sth /ˈkɪnd(ə)l/ (phr.) = to start a strong interest in sth

6. to inspire sb /ɪnˈspaɪə(r)/ (v.) = to give sb the enthusiasm to do or create sth

7. to build a close rapport between /ræˈpɔː(r)/ (phr.) = to build a strong relationship between

8. a mediocre teacher tells, a good teacher explains and a great teacher inspires’/ˌmiːdiˈəʊkə(r)/ (quotation)

9. strict /strɪkt/ (adj.) = someone who is strict has definite rules that they expect people to obey completely

10. lenient /ˈliːniənt/ (adj.) = if a person or system is lenient, they punish someone less severely than they could

11. to have a lasting impact on sb (phr.) = to have a long-term influence on sb

12. to be grateful to sb /ˈɡreɪtf(ə)l/ (adj.) = feeling that you want to thank someone because they have given you something or have done something for you

13. to sparkle a passion for sth /ˈspɑː(r)k(ə)l/ (phr.) = to light a love for sth

14. to credit sb for /ˈkredɪt/ (v.) = to admit sb’s contribution to sth

15. the best teacher of the year (phr.) = a title given to one teacher at a school every year, chosen via students votes usually

Part 3. :
- Why do some people like to be teachers?
- What qualities a good teacher should have? Why?
- What difficulties do teachers need to confront today?
- Should children be punished at school? If so, how?
- Do you think one day teachers can be replaced by computers? Why/why not?
- Are there any problems with education in your country? What are they?
- How can education in your country be improved? Why?
- Do you think single-sex school are a good idea? Why/why not?
- Are there many private schools in your country?
- What’s the main difference between a public and a private school in your country?
- When should children go to school? Why?
- Do you think it is good to assign a lot of homework to children? Why/why not?
- your role model/a person you wanted to be similar to when you were growing up

Vocab :

1. at someone’s beck and call (phr.) = available to do things for another person whenever they want

2. to set a good example (phr.) = to make a good model to follow

3. to meet someone’s expectations /ˌekspekˈteɪʃ(ə)nz/ (phr.) = to rise up to sb’s belief in you

4. to fall short of someone’s expectation (phr.) = to not to rise up to sb’s belief in you

5. to be someone’s mentor /ˈmentɔː(r)/ (phr.) = to be an experienced person who helps sb who has less experience, especially in their job

6. to take sb under your wing (phr.) = to look after sb, especially if you are older or more experienced

7. to set the benchmark for sth /ˈbentʃˌmɑː(r)k/ (phr.) = to set a standard for sth

8. to be sb’s source of inspiration (phr.) = to be very inspirational to sb

9. approachable nature /əˈprəʊtʃəb(ə)l/ (phr.) = with friendly personality and easy to talk to

10. to be the backbone and guiding light of sb /ˈbækˌbəʊn/ (phr.) = to make sb strong and show them a right way to do things

11. characteristics of a hero (phr.) = features of a hero

12. selfless /ˈselfləs/ (adj.) = caring about other people’s needs and problems more than your own

13. philanthropy /fɪˈlænθrəpi/ (n.) = the belief that you should help people, especially by giving money to those who need it

14. for the common good (phr.) = for the benefit of everyone

15. humble /ˈhʌmb(ə)l/ (adj.) = not proud and not thinking that you are better than other people

Part 3. :
- How do famous people influence children? Why?
- What kinds of famous people do children like in your country? Why?
- Do you think famous people should always set a good example for children? Why/why not?
- Is it ethically acceptable for companies to use celebrities to advertise children’s products? Why/why not?
- Is growing up in your country a nice experience? Why/why not?
- How is growing up today different from growing up twenty years ago? Why?
- Do you think most children in your country are independent from their parents? Why/why not?
- How independent should children be from their parents? Why?
- How can parents teach their children to become more independent? Why?
- At what age do children in your country become adults? Why?
- What are the most important needs of children? Why?
- Do you think child welfare in your country is good? Why/why not?
- Is it easy to be a parent? Why/why not?
- In your opinion, should parents be trained how to bring up their children? Why/why not?
- How could the government promote the importance of child welfare?
- your favourite writer/a famous writer

Vocab :

1. sb’s legacy lives on /ˈleɡəsi/ (phr.) = sth that sb has achieved continues even after their death

2. sb has a large following (phr.) = to have a large group of people who support or admire the work or ideas of a particular person or organization

3. an autobiography /ˌɔːtəʊbaɪˈɒɡrəfi/ (n.) = a book about your life that you write yourself

4. a biography /baɪˈɒɡrəfi/ (n.) = a book that someone writes about someone else’s life

5. posthumously acclaimed /ˈpɒstjʊməsli əˈkleɪmd/ (adj.) = publicly written and talked about in an admiring way after one’s death

6. an author /ˈɔːθə(r)/ (n.) = someone who writes books, articles etc, especially as their job

7. a wordsmith /ˈwɜ ːdsmɪθ/ (n.) = a skilled used of words

8. a scribbler /ˈskrɪblə(r)/ (n.) = a writer, especially one who is considered not to be very good

9. prominent /ˈprɒmɪnənt/ (adj.) = important and well known

10. to have one’s name in lights (phr.) = to be vey famous

11. enthralling /ɪnˈθrɔːlɪŋ/ (adj.) = so exciting that you give it all your attention

12. creativity /ˌkriːeɪˈtɪvəti/ (n.) = the ability to create new ideas or things using your imagination

13. visionary /ˈvɪʒən(ə)ri/ (adj.) = original and showing a lot of imagination

14. innovative /ˈɪnəveɪtɪv/ (adj.) = new, original and advanced

Part 3. :
- What kind of people can be good writers? Why?
- What skills does a person need to write interestingly? Why?
- Who is the most famous writer in your country?
- What foreign writers are famous in your country? Why?
- Is it easy to write a book? Why/why not?
- Why do people read books?
- Are writers paid enough for their work? Why/why not?
- Can a person learn how to write well?
- How long does it take to write a good book? Why?
- Do publishers get too much money from book sales? Why/why not?
- Do you think people will write and publish more books in the future? Why/why not?