1.

Damage to the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide

improvements in the standard of living. Discuss.
2. Are famous people treated unfairly by the media? Should they be given more
privacy, or is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives?
3. Are our zoos cruel to wild animals?
4. Are women better parents than men?
5. Are zoos necessary for education?
6. Children learn best by observing the behavior of adults and copying it. Do you
agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
7. Children should never be educated at home by their parents. What is your opinion?
Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
8. Computers can translate all kinds of languages well. Do our children need to learn
more languages in the future?
9. Damage to the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide
improvements in the standard of living. Discuss.
10. Discuss some of the arguments for and against keeping animals in zoos.
11. Discuss the advantage and disadvantage of giving international aid to poor
countries.
12. Do the benefits of study abroad justify the difficulties?
13. Do we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more good news was
reported?
14. Does foreign aid helps donor countries more than the recipients?
15. Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life better when
technology was simpler?
16. Does travel help to promote understanding and communication between countries?
17. Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country. Do
you agree?
18. Foreign language instruction should begin in kindergarten. Do you agree or
disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to develop your essay.
19. The destruction of the world’s forests is inevitable as our need for land and food
grows. Do you agree?
20. Human beings do not need to eat meat in order to maintain good health because
they can get all their food needs from meatless products and meatless substances.
A vegetarian diet is as healthy as a diet containing meat. What is your opinion?
21. If children behave badly, should their parents accept responsibility and also be
punished?
22. In many countries, when someone gets old, they often go to live in a home with
other old people where there are nurses to look after them. Sometimes
 governments pay for this care. Who should be responsible for our old people? Give
reasons. Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.
23. In some countries the average worker is obliged to retire at the age of 50, while in
others people can work until they are 65 or 70. Until what age do you think people
should be encouraged to remain in paid employment? Give reasons for your
answer.
24. In what ways has information technology changed work and working practices in
the past 10 years?
25. In your opinion should government intervene in the rights of the individual with
regard to family planning?
26. In your opinion what factors contribute to a good movie?
27. Is animal testing necessary?
28. Many people believe that women make better parents than men and that this is
why they have the greater role in raising children in most societies. Others claim
that men are just as good as women at parenting. Write an essay expressing your
point of view. Give reasons for your answer.
29. Many students choose to attend schools or universities outside their home
countries. Why do some students study abroad? Use specific reasons and details to
explain your answer.
30. Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain
percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women?
31. News editors decide what to broadcast on TV and what to print in newspapers.
What factors do you think influence their decisions?
32. Nowadays doctors can become very rich. Maybe they should not focus on profitable
activities such as plastic surgery or looking after rich patients and concentrate
more on patients’ health, no matter how rich they are?
33. Safety standards are important when building people's homes. Who should be
responsible for enforcing strict building codes – the government or the people who
build the homes?
34. Should criminals be punished with lengthy jail terms or should they be re-educated,
using community service programs for instance, before being reintroduced to
society?
35. Should developing countries concentrate on improving industrial skills or should
they promote education first?
36. Should money be spent on space exploration?
37. Should retirement be compulsory at 65 years of age?
38. Should rich countries forgive all debts for poor countries?
39. Should rich countries pay more for environmental damage?
40. Should sports classes be dropped in secondary school so students can concentrate
on academic subjects?
41. Should the same laws which prohibit the sale and consumption of heroin be applied
to tobacco?
42. Should wealthy nations be required to share their wealth among poorer nations by
providing such things as food and education? Or is it a responsibility of the
governments of poorer nations to look after their citizens themselves?
43. Should wealthy nations be required to share their wealth among poorer nations?
44. Technology is making communication easier in todays world, but at the expense of
personal contact as many people choose to work at home in front of a computer
screen. What dangers are there for a society which depends on computer screens
rather than face-to-face contact for its main means of communication?
45. Telecommuting refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week
and communicating with their office using computer technology. How do you think
society will be affected by the growth of telecommuting?
46. The best way to reduce the number of traffic accidents is to make all young drivers
complete a safe driving education course before being licensed to drive. What do
you think?
47. Alternative forms of transport should be encouraged and international laws
introduced to control car ownership and use. What do you think?
48. We know the environmental damage that cars cause in developed countries. Should
there be limits on car ownership in developing countries?
49. The idea of going overseas for university study is an exciting prospect for many
people. But while it may offer some advantages, it is probably better to stay home
because of the difficulties a student inevitably encounters living and studying in a
different culture. Do you agree or disagree?
50. The mass media, including TV, radio and newspapers, have great influence in
shaping people's ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement? Give reasons for your answer.
51. The rising levels of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world cities
can be attributed directly to the rapidly increasing number of private cars in use. In
order to reverse this decline in the quality of life in cities, attempts must be made
to encourage people to use their cars less and public transport more. Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
52. Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy. The benefits of nuclear
technology far overweigh the disadvantages. Do you agree or disagree? Give
reasons for your answer.
53. To what extent has the traditional male role changed in the last 20 years?
54. To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?
55. To what extent should economic planning be influenced by the need of
environmental conservation?
56. To what extent should universities function as training grounds for employment?
57. To what extent should university courses be geared to the economic needs of
society?
58. To what extent will migration from the developing world to the developed world
become a social and political issue in the 21st century? Use specific reasons to
support your answer.
59. Tourism is becoming increasingly important as a source of revenue to many
countries but its disadvantages should not be overlooked. What are some of the
problems of tourism?
60. TV: could you be without it? Discuss.
61. We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in
businesses, hospitals, crime detection and even to fly planes. What things will they
be used for in future? Is this dependence on computers a good thing or should we
be more suspicious of their benefits? Use specific details and examples in your
answer.
62. What are factors which are related to academic success in high-school students?
63. What should a government do for a country to become successful?
64. Will modern technology such as the internet ever replace the book or the written
word as the main source of information?
65. Will the Internet bring people of the world closer together?
66. Zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but not poor alternatives to a natural
environment. Discuss some of the arguments for and/or against keeping animals in
zoos.