Question1 Question 2 Question 3

If there are a limited What are some of the What are the advantages of
number of jobs available important things a having your own business
who should be given candidate should find out rather than working for
WORK priority, young people or before accepting a job? someone else?
older people with more
experience?

Vocabulary  to take early  holiday  a heavy workload:

retirement: to entitlement: the to have a lot of
retire early (retire: number of days work to do
to reach an age holiday allowed  to meet a deadline:
when you are  sick leave: time to finish a job by an
allowed to stop allowed off work agreed time
working for a when sick  to run your own
living)  maternity leave: business: see ‘to be
 part-time: time off work your own boss’
working less than given to a woman  job satisfaction: the
full-time about to have a feeling of enjoying
baby a job

Eg A few years ago older you’d need to know about unfortunately being an
 employees would your area of employee at the moment is
often take early responsibility … and your very stressful … people
retirement or go salary of course and then have very heavy
onto part-time contracts  there are things workloads, under pressure
but now jobs are so like holiday to meet
scarce entitlement … maternit deadlines … running
y or paternity leave what your own business isn’t
the situation is easy.
regarding sick leave 
TOWN AND What are the advantages In your experience are What are some of the
CITY of living in a city or big city centres usually challenges facing towns
town? attractive places? and cities?

Vocabulary  shopping malls:  multi-story car  to close down: to

large indoor parks: car parks on stop doing business
shopping centres several floors  out of town
 local facilities:  office block: a shopping
local buildings or large building that centre/retail park:
services serving contains offices large shopping
the public  poor housing: centres outside of
 in the suburbs: housing that is not the town or city
the outer area of in good condition  traffic congestion:
large towns and heavy traffic
cities where making it difficult
people live to move around a
town or city

Eg it’s having access to local Some can be yes … I suppose traffic

facilities really … local especially those with a congestion is a major
 shops as well as access to historical interest … but problem … and the growth
larger shopping malls in sometimes they’re full of in out-of-town
the city centre and if ugly office supermarkets and retail
you’re well-off you can blocks … multi-story parks mean lots of town
afford to live in the car parks … and centre shops are closing
suburbs away from the residents living in poor down … plus a shortage of
busy traffic … housing… it depends on good quality housing … I
the city doesn’t it? think these are the major
challenges …

TECHNOLOGY What do you think are What kind of Do computers make it

the important things technological much easier to study?
people need to learn developments have made
when they start using the biggest impact on our
computers? lives?
Vocabulary  to back up files:  wifi hotspot: a  to bookmark a
to make a copy of public place where webpage: to mark a
files in case of a you can access the webpage for future
computer problem Internet reference
 to enter a web  wireless network:  to cut and paste: to
address: to type a network where move text or images
the address of a users can access from one place in a
website into the the Internet document to another
address bar of without the use of place
your browser fixed cables
 Internet security:  to go online: to
Internet safety start using the
 to navigate a Internet
website: to find  intranet: a
your way around a network of
website connected
computers within
an organisation
 that is not
accessible by
unauthorised
visitors

Eg Well … there are things In my lifetime it has to be  wifi hotspot: a

like how to use the the Internet of course but public place where
Internet  … how to enter I also think wifi has made you can access the
a web address … how to a huge difference to how Internet
navigate websites … we interact with the  wireless network: a
that kind of thing but it’s Internet … wireless network where
also important to know networks at home and users can access the
how to back up your public wifi Internet without the
files in case your hotspots mean we can go use of fixed cables
computer crashes … and online easily … access  to go online: to start
all about Internet our mail … log into our using the Internet
security work intranet and  intranet: a network
basically be connected of connected
wherever we are computers within an
organisation that is
not accessible by
unauthorised
visitors

SPORT Should people be Why do some people Which sports do

encouraged more to take enjoy participating in you think are best
up sport? sport more than others? for people who
aren’t used to
physical activity ?
Vocabulary  an athletics  to be out of  strenuous exercise:
meeting: an event condition: to not exercise that needs a
where various be physically fit lot of physical effort
 athletics sports are  a personal best: to  a brisk walk: a fast
held achieve the best walk
personal result so
far in a sport
 to set a record: to
achieve the best
result in a sport

Eg I think young people That’s a good question … Well … I think people like
should be given the I suppose some people this should
chance to discover which are more concerned about avoid strenuous
sport they might like … their health … they can’t exercise so things
watching sport is stand the thought like circuit training are
sometimes a good way to of being out of definitely out of the
get people started … not condition … other people question … maybe just
on TV but actually might be driven to excel doing a brisk walk every
getting out … take … they want to set day … or swimming is
athletics for example … records or get personal always a good way to get
they could go to an bests … started …
athletics meeting …
there are so many
different sports on show
one might interest them
…

RELATIONSHI Do you think marriage is What do you think is the Is it important to keep in
P still as important as ever? ideal time to get married? contact with our friends
when we’re in a
relationship?
Vocabulary  to break up: to  to tie the knot: to  a healthy
 end a romantic get married relationship: a
relationship  to fall head over good, positive
 to work at a heels in love: to relationship
relationship: to start to love  to lose touch with:
try to maintain a someone a lot to not see or hear
positive from someone any
relationship with longer
someone  to drift apart: to
 to have ups and become less close to
downs: to have someone
good and bad time

Eg Yes … it certainly is in Personally … I think you Absolutely … it’s so easy

my country … I think the should wait until you’ve to drift apart from your
problem for some people found yourself first … friends when you fall in
is a lack of commitment decided if you want a love … but I think both
… all relationships have career … perhaps do partners should try not to
their ups and downs …. some travelling … you lose touch with their
but some people prefer should do this friends  … that’s the best
to break up rather before tying the knot … way to have a healthy
than working at the although if you fall head relationship with your
relationship. over heels in love plans partner.
like these can easily be
forgotten.

PHYSICAL Is it important to dress Do people worry too Is attractiveness a quality

APPEARANCE well whenever we go much about their worthwhile aiming for?
out? appearance as they get
older?
Vocabulary  disheveled hair:  to go grey: to have  slender figure: a
untidy hair hair that is turning figue that is tall and
 to dress up to the grey slim
 nines: to dress  to grow old  to be good looking:
very smartly or gracefully: to act to be attractive
glamorously in a way that
 scruffy: dressed embraces the fact make up: cosmetics
untidily you are getting
 to get done up: to older
dress smartly  to be hard of
hearing: to find it
difficult to hear
 to lose one’s
figure: to have a
figure that has lost
its toned shape

Eg It depends where you’re I’m sure they do … yes I’d like to say no … it
going … I know some … but it happens to all of shouldn’t matter what we
people get done up just us doesn’t it … we all go look like in terms of our
to go to the shops … but grey eventually and physical appearance … but
I don’t see the point … get hard of hearing … unfortunately it seems
you shouldn’t go out we start to lose our women especially are
looking scruffy with dish figure … that’s why taken more seriously if
eveled hair but I really plastic surgery is so they are good
don’t see the point popular … personally I looking with a slender
in getting dressed up to think we just need to figure with perfect make
the nines unless you’re grow old gracefully and up and so on …
going somewhere special not worry too much about
… how we look …

PERSONALLIT Which personal qualities Which characteristics do Which personality types do

Y do you think we most you think are the least you think are less likely to
want to pass on to our appealing in a person? suffer from stress or
children? anxiety?
Vocabulary  self-assured:  narrow minded:  quick-tempered: to
confident opposite of ‘broad- become angry
 self-centred: minded’ (see quickly
thinks only of above)  thick-skinned:  not
oneself  two-faced: not easily affected by
 self-confident: honest or sincere. criticism
believes in one’s Will say one thing  fair-minded: to treat
own ability or to someone to their people equally
knowledge face and another  trustworthy: can be
when they are not trusted
present.

Eg I certainly would want Well … people who are Probably people who
my children to be self- very narrow-minded are are thick-skinned … who
confident and self- difficult to get on with … don’t let people or
assured … I really it’s nice when someone is problems affect them too
believe that people who open to other people’s much … and if you
feel good about opinion and willing to are fair-minded you’ll be
themselves are in a good think about their own less likely to overreact to
position to face what life views … and people who situations or be quick-
has to offer them … and are two-faced can be a tempered …
I’d hope they wouldn’t little irritating …
be self-centred … but relationships are built on
remembered to think trust and without honesty
about others … there’s not much left …

MUSIC Is the Internet a good or Should music be treated Where do people usually
bad thing for the music as seriously as subjects enjoy listening to music?
industry? like maths or sciences at
school?
Vocabulary  musical talent:  to read music: to  to go on tour: to go
skilled at music understand and on a planned series
 to download follow written of performances
tracks: to obtain musical notes around a region or
music from the  to play by ear: to country
Internet play without  background music:
reading the music that is played
musical notes while something
else is happening
 adoring fans:
people who love a
particular band or
singer
 to have a great
voice: to sing well
 to be/sing out of
tune: to not be in
harmony/to sing the
wrong notes

Eg On the one hand it’s good I think it should … I In lots of ways or places …
for marketing don’t think it should be as background
new musical talent or taught in a boring way … music when they are doing
particular bands but it’s I mean making something else … at
so easy to share children read music … concerts when a band goes
and download tracks for but I do think they should on tour … or in clubs or
free I think it is costing be encouraged to play discos …
the industry a lot of instruments and to play
money … things by ear perhaps …
to keep the lessons fun …
HOLIDAY What do you think has How do people tend to People sometimes say
led to the growth in the choose a destination? flying is the most
tourist industry? glamorous form of travel.
Do you agree?

Vocabulary  far-off  holiday brochure:  passport control:

destination: a glossy the place where
somewhere a long publication with your passport is
way away details of holiday checked
 all-in packages  departure lounge:
package/package  travel agent: a where you wait for
holiday: a holiday shop that your flight to be
where you specialises in called
purchase the travel booking holidays  check-in desk: the
and place at the airport
accommodation where you register
together for your flight and
 charter-flight: a deposit your
cheaper form of luggage
flying than a
scheduled flight

Eg It’s much easier and The Internet is a great I’m not so sure really …
affordable to travel now source of information and flying can be quite boring
… nowadays you can get high street travel … queuing up at
cheap charter-flights or  agents are still very the check-in desk …
all-in packages … to popular … that’s where I going through passport
somewhere near or to a like to go to get holiday control … sitting for ages
far-off destination. brochures for the place in the departure
I’m interested in. lounge … then the flight
itself can be quite
uncomfortable … no …
 I’m not sure I agree.

HEALTH What costs are involved In your experience are Do women pay more
when you are ill in your people too quick to take attention to their health
country? time off work when than men?
they’re ill?

Vocabulary  to go private: to  a runny nose: a  GP: General

choose to be nose that has Practitioner (family
treated by liquid coming out doctor)
commercial of it  to make an
healthcare rather  to make a speedy appointment: to
than by services recovery: to arrange a time to
offered by the recover quickly see the doctor
state from an illness  a chesty cough: a
 prescription  to phone in sick: cough caused by
charges: money to call work to congestion around
the patient pays explain you won’t the lungs
for be attending work  a check-up: a
medicine authorise due to illness physical
d by a doctor examination by a
doctor
 to be a bit off
colour: to feel a
little ill

Eg Well … people have to Yes .. I’ve got friends I think so yes … women
pay prescription who have a day off work are more likely to see
charges which can be if they wake up with their GP for a check-up if
quite expensive … but a runny nose … and in they’re concerned about
fortunately general most cases they seem to something … men tend to
healthcare is free … make a speedy avoid facing up to any
 unless you want to go recovery after health problems they have
private of course and they’ve phoned in … my dad always seems to
then  you can pay a sick … have a very chesty
fortune for your cough but refuses to go
treatment … to make an
appointment to see the
doctor …

FOOD How can we encourage Do you think people Do you think cooking is a
people to eat more enjoy their food as much pleasure or a chore for
healthily? as they should? people who have busy
lives?
Vocabulary  to eat a balanced  a quick snack: to  to tuck into: to eat
diet: to eat the eat a small amount something with
correct types and of food between pleasure
amounts of food meals  to follow a recipe:
 processed food:  to be dying of to cook a meal
commercially hunger: using instructions
prepared food an exaggerated wa  to bolt something
bought for y of saying you are down: to eat
convenience hungry something very
quickly
 to play with your
food: to push food
around the plate to
avoid eating it

Eg I think the best approach I don’t know really … I Well … whether

is to have everything in suppose it’s true that you follow a recipe of
moderation … processed people will often eat a make something up as you
food won’t kill you if quick snack because go along … I think
you only eat it they’re bored not because cooking is a very creative
 occasionally … but they’re dying of process … and cooking for
people should also be hunger … and often they other people is a particular
encouraged to eat a just bolt it down and pleasure … there’s nothing
balanced diet… try to don’t savour it … so yes more satisfying than seeing
cook fresh ingredients at … perhaps we could take people you love tucking
home a few times a week more time over our food into something you’ve
… … cooked yourself …

FASHION&CL What factors do you What kind of things Is it possible to look good
OTHES think affect the clothes determine what is in without spending lots of
we choose to wear? fashion and what we money on clothes?
should be wearing?

Vocabulary  to be on trend: to  fashion house: a  to mix and match:

be very company that sells to wear different
fashionable (usually styles or items of
 to dress for the expensive) new clothing that aren’t
occasion: to wear styles in clothes part of a set outfit
clothes suitable  fashion show: an  hand-me-downs:
for a particular event where clothes that are
event modals show off passed down from
the latest in older brothers or
fashion designs sisters to their
 on the catwalk: younger siblings
the stage that  to have an eye for
modals walk along (fashion): to be a
to show off the good judge of
latest fashions  fashionable: in
fashion
 the height of
fashion: very
 fashionable

Eg It depends … where we I suppose the big fashion I’m sure it is … yes … I

are or where we’re going houses and fashion suppose it’s about having
is a big factor … if you shows must have an an eye for what looks
are going out to a club or effect but the clothes you good … knowing how to
party you’re going to see on the catwalk don’t mix and match different
dress for the always reflect what items of clothing that go
occasion … and then normal people wear … so well together … I think
there are those who think I suppose it will be things you can pick up great
it’s important to look like like what singers are bargains in charity shops
they’re on trend … wearing in videos or … sometimes for
they’ll want to wear the models are wearing in youngsters even hand-me-
latest fashions … there magazines … that kind of downs can look good …
are lots of factors really thing …
…

EDUCATION What qualities do you What are the advantages Do all children get equal
think a good teacher has? of studying on a distance opportunities in education?
learning course?
Vocabulary  to give feedback:  tuition fees: the  boarding school: a
to offer guidance money paid for a school where pupils
on a student’s course of study live during term
work  face-to-face time
 subject specialist: classes: as  public schools:
a teacher who has opposed to exclusive
a great deal of distance learning independent schools
knowledge about the traditional way in the UK
the subject they of studying in a
teach classroom with
 colleagues and a
teacher
 to fall behind with
your studies: to
progress less
quickly than others

Eg They should be It’s a more flexible way In my country I think it is

patient … they should of studying especially if quite equal but in the UK
be subject you have a job … tuition I’ve heard that most people
specialists and be able to fees are usually who go to the top
explain the subject cheaper … but you have universities have studied
clearly … they to be very motivated … at public schools … you
should give and I would imagine have to be very rich to
feedback quickly … for more people fall behind study in a school like that
example not hang on to with their … they’re
essay for ages like some studies compared to usually boarding
of my teachers … face-to-face classes … schools as well so the fees
are enormous …

BUSINESS Why do some people What are some of the What are some of things
decide to set up their own dangers involved in you have to do when
business? starting a business? running your own business
that might not appeal to
everyone?

Vocabulary  to win a contract:  to go under: (see  to take out a loan:

when a business ‘to go bust’) to borrow money
gets legally-  to do market  to lay someone off:
binding work with research: to do when a company
an individual or research into what ends an employee’s
company
  to launch a potential contract of
product: to start customers would employment
selling and or wouldn’t buy  to cold call: to make
promoting a new  stiff competition: a sales call to
product strong competition someone without
 sales figures: a from other asking them for
report of the companies in the permission first
income a company same area of work  to drum up
generates through business: to try to
sales of products get customers
or services

Eg I suppose it’s the idea of Well … obviously you Personally i don’t like
being in control of your need to have a good idea being in debt so taking out
own destiny … or of … some people say you a business loan wouldn’t
believing in a product or need to do  market suit me at all … and I
service idea you may research beforehand so know a lot of companies
have … plus it must be you know what the do cold calling to try
very exciting market wants … if you and drum up business …
… launching don’t do this you that’s something I’d hate to
products …winning could go under … and if do … and laying people
contracts … and seeing it is a good idea the off if the business gets into
your sales chances are someone else trouble … that would be
figures improving must is doing the same thing so horrible …
be wonderful you could end up
facing stiff
competition …

BOOK AND Is reading as pleasurable Do you think bookshops Statistics show that visits
FILMS in digital format? will survive the digital to the cinema are up
revolution? despite the availability of
DVDs and online
 downloads. Why do you
think this might be?

Vocabulary  an e-book: a  to flick through:  to go on general

digital book to look quickly release: when a film
 an e-reader: a through a book can be seen by the
device for reading  to get a good/bad general public
e-books review: to receive  on the big screen:
 paperback: a book positive or at the cinema
with a flexible negative feedback  an action movie: a
cover (see film with fast
‘hardback’ above) moving scenes,
 hardback: a book often containing
with a rigid cover violence
(see ‘paperback’  to see a film: to see
below) a film at the cinema
(see ‘watch a film’
below)
 to watch a film: to
watch a film on TV
(see ‘to see a film’
above)
 a blockbuster: a
film that is a big
commercial success
 a classic: of the
highest quality

Eg Personally I prefer I think so … at least I I think it’s the whole

reading hope so … I love flicking experience that the cinema
a paperback or hardbac through books in a offers … going out to see a
k … especially if I’m bookshop … online film when it goes on
reading a classic which I shopping is useful … general release … and
 don’t think feels right as finding out on Amazon if seeing it on the big
an e-book … but I can a book you want has got screen is more exciting
see it can be good for a good review … maybe than watching the film at
others … my getting one that is home on TV … especially
grandmother has an e- difficult to find … but I if it’s an action movie …
reader and she loves the still love the experience and watching it with others
way you can enlarge the of being in a bookshop makes it even more special
text … … …

ACCOMONDA Is it better to own your What options are What are some of the
TION own home or to rent? available to young pleasures involved in
couples looking for making a home for
accommodation in your ourselves?
country?

Vocabulary  to take out a  to pay rent in  to do up a property:

mortgage: to advance: weekly to repair an old
borrow a large or monthly rent building
amount of money, paid at the  house-hunting:
paid back over beginning of the looking for a
several years, in week or month property to live in
order to buy a  fully-furnished: a
house rented property
 property market: with all furniture
the buying and included
selling of land or  first-time buyer:
buildings someone buying a
 to own your own property for the
home: to have first time,
bought the especially when
property you live taking out a loan
in (mortgage)
 rented  rented
 accommodation: accommodation:
property owned by property owned by
someone else and someone else and
for which a person for which a person
pays a fixed pays a fixed
amount to live in amount to live in

Eg I think both have their If they want to buy their I suppose it starts
advantages … living own home it isn’t easy with house-hunting …
in rented for first-time buyers … finding your ideal home …
accommodation isn’t mortgages are hard to get some people enjoydoing
necessarily a bad thing so most people live with up an old property …
… you don’t have a huge their parents or in rented giving a property that’s old
debt like you do when accommodation … but and tired a new lease of
you take out a that can also be very life … others like making
mortgage but I suppose expensive … you often wherever they live feel like
the property have to pay rent in home with some home
market offers you an advance … and if the comforts …
investment for the future accommodation
… I’m sure that’s why isn’t fully furnished you
most people prefer to have the expense of
own their own home … buying furniture …