Do you agree or disagree with the following statements? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
62>News media are important in modern society. Why are they important? Are their influences generally positive or negative?
61>In some cultures the old age is highly valued, while in some other cultures youth is highly valued.
60>Ambition is an important characteristic of people. How important is it for people to make success? Is it a positive or negative characteristic for success?
59>A tendency of news reported in the media about problems and emergencies rather than positive development is more harmful to the individual and to society.
58>Some people think that it is a waste of time planning for the future, and we should focus on the present.
57>Humans should not use animals as sources of food, clothing and medicine.
56>There are a higher proportion of older people than younger people. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
55>Full-time university students need to spend a lot of time on studying, but it is essential for students to get involved in other activities.
54>Some people think that the development of technology makes people's life more complex, so we should make life simpler without using technology.
53>The spread of multinational companies and resulting increase of globalization produce positive effects for everyone.
52>Some people think that young people should follow the traditions of their society. Others think that they should be free to behave as individuals.
51>Some people are giving more importance to employing people with good social skills, in addition to good qualifications.
50>Some people think that the government should build public libraries in every town. Others believe it is a waste of money because we can get information via the internet at home.
49>Some people think that developing countries should invite foreign companies to open offices and factories, and others think that developing countries should keep them out and help local companies.
48>Some people think that it is necessary to travel abroad to learn about other countries, while other people think that it is not necessary to travel abroad because all the information can be seen on TV and the Internet. Discuss both views.
47>Tourism is an excellent way to develop a country, but it also causes harm. How can countries ensure that tourism benefits the development?
46>Some think that creative artists should be supported financially by the government of their country, while others believe that they should find financial support from other sources instead. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
45>Some people suggest that a country should try to produce all the food for its population and import as little as possible. To what extend do you agree or disagree?
44>Some people think governments should spend money on measures to save languages with a few speakers from dying out completely. Others think this is a waste of financial resources.
43>Some people think that too much money has been spent looking after and repairing old buildings, so we should knock down old buildings and build modern ones instead.
42>Some people think foreign visitors should be charged more than local people when they visit the cultural and historical attractions in a country.
41>Traditional food is being replaced by international fast foods. This has negative effects on family and society.
40>Today, advanced science and technology have made great changes to people's life, but artists such as musicians, painters and writers are still highly valued. What can arts tell us about life that science and technology cannot?
39>Today, food travels thousands of miles from farms to the consumers. Why is this? Is it a positive or negative trend?
38>Some think that children should start school as early as possible, while others believe that they should start school at the age of seven.
37>Some people think that teachers should be responsible for teaching students to judge what is right and wrong so that they can behave well. Others say that teachers only teach students academic subjects.
36>In schools and universities, girls tend to choose arts subjects, while boys choose science subjects. What is the reason? Should the trend be changed?
35>Some people think that the main purpose of schools is to turn children into good citizens and workers, rather than to benefit them as individuals.
34>Higher education can be funded in several ways, including the following three: 1. All costs are paid by the government. 2. All costs are paid by the students. 3. All costs are paid by the students using loans from the government that must be repaid after graduation. Discuss the benefits of each option. Which is the best one?
33>Some people think that the qualities a person needs to become successful in today's world cannot be learned at a university or similar academic institution.
32>Some children find some subjects such as mathematics and philosophy too difficult to learn, so some people argue that those subjects should be optional rather than compulsory.
31>The best way for a country to prepare for the future is to invest more resources in its young people. How true do you think of it? What is the best way to invest resources?
30>The government should control the amount of violence in films and on television in order to decrease the violent crimes in society.
29>Nowadays, we rely on news for our knowledge, but we are uncertain about the truth of these news. Should we believe journalists? What qualities should should a good journalist or correspondent have?
28>We are surrounded by all kinds of advertising which is having an increasing influence on our lives. Do the positive effects of advertising outweigh its negative effects?
27>Anyone can post information on the Internet. Some people say that most of what this is inaccurate.
26>Nowadays, a growing number of advertising aims at children. Some think that this will have negative effects on children and should be banned.
25>Nowadays, films and computer games containing violence are popular. Some people think that those films and games have negative effects on society and should be banned, while others think that they are just harmless relaxation.
24>Some people think newspaper is the most effective way to get the latest information because it has more influence than other forms of media.
23>Many people think cheap air travel should be encouraged because it gives ordinary people freedom to travel further. However, others think this leads to environmental problems, so air travel should be more expensive in order to discourage people from traveling.
22>Many people think it is very important to protect the environment but they make no effect to do it themselves. Why do you think it is the case? What actions can be done to suggest that individuals protect the environment?
21>Environmental problems are too big for individual countries and individual persons to address. In other words, we have reached the stage where the only way to protect the environment at an international level.
20>Many animal species in the world are becoming extinct nowadays. Some people say that countries and individuals should protect these animals from dying out, while others say we should concentrate more on problems of human beings.
19>Human activities have negative effects on plant and animal species. Some people think it is too late to do anything about this problem. Others believe that effective measures can be taken to improve this situation.
18>Some people think governments should focus the spending only on public services rather than wasting money on arts such as music, painting, etc.
17>Some people think the government should ban dangerous sports, while others think it is people's freedom to do whatever sports they choose.
16>All over the world, people watch foreign films much more than locally produced films. Why? Should the government provide financial support to local film industries?
15>Holding Olympic Games is an excising event. Some people think it has positive effects while others argue it is a waste of money.
14>Some people think that the government should invest more money in teaching science than other subjects to make progress.
13>Nowadays, some workplaces tend to employ equal numbers of men and women. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
12>Some people believe that women should play an equal role as men in a country's police force or military force, such as the army, while others think women are not suitable for these kinds of jobs.
11>In many countries, the proportion of older people is steadily increasing. Does this trend have more positive or negative effects on the society?
10>It becomes more popular to find out the history of one's family. What are the reasons for people to do this? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
9>Competiveness is a positive quality for people in most societies. How does competiveness affect individuals? Is it a positive or negative trend?
8>Individual greed and selfishness have been the basis of the modern society. Some people think we must return to the older and more traditional values of respect for the family and the local community in order to create a better world to live in.
7>People in developing countries feel happier than before, while people in developed countries feel not so happy as they used to be. Why do you think is it? What lessons can we learn from it?
6>Some people think robots are very important to humans' future development, while others think that they are dangerous and have negative effects on society.
5>Around the world, more adults can work from home and more children can study from home as computer technologies become cheaper and more accessible. Do you think it is a positive or negative development?
4>Some people think job satisfaction ius more importrant than job security.
3>Some people think sports games are important for society, while others believe they should be taken as leisure activities.
2>Nowadays some individuals behave in an anti-social way, such as committing a crime. In general, it is the society to blame. What causes the anti-social behaviors of individuals? Who should be responsible for dealing with it?
1>Some people believe that if a police officer carries guns, it can encourage a higher level of violence.