Women and the family

Gender Some people believe in the traditional idea that the womans place is in the home, while others say that idea is outdated and that women should play an increasingly important role in the workplace of the future. What is your opinion?

The family

The education a child receives at home from having parents who are positive role models is more important than the academic education a child receives at school. To what extent do you agree or disagree? In many countries there has been an increase in social problems involving teenagers in recent years. Many people believe that this is due to modern lifestyles because parents spend more and more time at work and have less time to supervise their children. To what extent do you believe this is true? People are now living longer than ever before and many old people are unable to look after themselves. Some people believe that it is the responsibility of families to look after the elderly, while others say governments should provide retirement homes for them where they can be looked after properly. Discuss. Modern lifestyles mean that many parents have little time for their children. Many children do not get as much attention from their parents as children did in the past. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Some people believe that the government should ban dangerous sporting activities while others think that people have the freedom do whatever sports they choose. Discuss both views and give your own opinion It is commonly thought that it is healthy for adults to maintain an outside interest in order to relax or stay fit. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of 3 of the following sports and pastimes: *tennis *walking *visiting museums *reading *joining a club *going to a gym Many people want their country to host an international sporting event. Others believe that international sporting events bring more problems than benefits. Discuss both views and include your opinion, supported by examples. Some people believe that competitive sports have a positive effect on childrens education, while others believe there is no place for such sports in schools. Discuss both points of view and give your own opinion. In many countries people working in sport and entertainment earn much more money than professionals like doctors, nurses and teachers. Why do you think this happens in some societies and do you consider it is good or bad?

Sport and leisure

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Employment and money essay questions

Some people think that teenagers should do unpaid work to help society because this will help them to be better individuals and also improve the society as a whole. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this proposal? Nowadays many jobs are more stressful and the working day is longer. What are the reasons for this? What can employers do to help employees? Some people think that only staff who worked in a company for a long time should be promoted

to a higher position. Whats your opinion? In many countries people working in sport and entertainment earn much more money than professionals like doctors, nurses and teachers. Why do you think this happens in some societies and do you consider it is good or bad? Unemployment is one of the most serious problems facing developed nations today. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of reducing the working week to thirty five hours Some people argue that the government should give every unemployed person a mobile phone and should make sure they have access to the Internet. They believe this is the best way of using public money to reduce the problem of unemployment. To what extent do you agree or disagree? In many countries, children are engaged in some kind of paid work. Some people regard this as completely wrong, while others consider it as valuable work experience, important for learning and taking responsibilities. Discuss. Many people decide on a career path early in their lives and keep to it. This, they argue, leads to a more satisfying working life. To what extent do you agree with this view? What other things can people do in order to have a satisfying working life? Newspapers and books are outdated. Why do some people believe this? What is your opinion? Consumers are faced with increasing numbers of advertisements from competing companies. To what extent do you think are consumers influenced by advertisements? What measures can be taken to protect them? News editors decide what to broadcast on television and what to print in newspapers. What factors do you think influence these decisions? Do we become used to bad news? Would it be better if more good news was reported? Discuss. Some people believe that the media, such as the press, TV and Internet should be more strictly controlled. Others feel that controls should be loosened to give people freer access to information.To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Media and advertising

In cities and towns all over the world the high volume of traffic is a problem. What are the causes of this and what actions can be taken to solve this problem? : It is said that travel broadens the mind. What can we learn by travelling to other countries? Should we first explore our own countries? Discuss. In many countries tourism is a major part of the economy, but it also causes environmental damage and ruins the places it exploits. It is argued that tourists should pay an additional tax to compensate for this damage. Do you agree? In the modern world car ownership is regarded as a right. However, some argue that governments should try to reduce the number of cars on the road by improving public transport, as the growing number of cars on the road causes traffic congestion and pollution. Discuss Young drivers are careless and overconfident, and too many are killed in accidents. To eliminate this problem, we could teach children the skills of safe driving while they are at school. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Travel and transport

Science and technology

Television has had a significant influence on the culture of many societies. To what extent would you say that television has positively or negatively affected the cultural development of your society? When a country develops its technology, the traditional skills and ways of life die out. It is pointless to try and keep them alive. To what extent do you agree or disagree? We are becoming increasingly dependent on computer technology. It is used in business, crime detection and even to fly planes. What will it be used for in future? Is this dependence on technology a good thing or should we be suspicious of its benefits?

Telecommuting refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week and
communicating with their office using computer technology. Telecommuting is growing in many countries and is expected to be common for most office workers in the coming decades. How do you think society will be affected by the growth of telecommuting? In the future, we will have more and more leisure time as machines replace many of the tasks we do at home and work. Discuss the benefits this will bring and also the problem it will cause. We live today in an electronic information age. It is easier to be connected by technology yet many people seem no closer to feeling happy in their lives. In what extent do you agree or disagree. Advances in science and technology and other areas of society in the last 100 years have transformed the way we live as well as postponing the day we die. There is no better time to be alive than now. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion? Space exploration requires vast sums of money. Is the amount of money spent on space research justifiable? Could the money be better spent? The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy. The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer. Some people say that the Internet is making the world smaller by bringing people together. To what extent do you agree that the internet is making it easier for people to communicate with one another?

Education
Subjects such as Art, Sport and Music are being dropped from the school curriculum for subjects such as Information Technology. Many people children suffer as a result of these changes. To what extent would you support or reject the idea of moving these subjects from school curriculum? Everyone should stay in school until the age of 18. To what extent do you agree or disagree? In the past lectures were the traditional method of teaching large numbers of students. Nowadays new technology is increasingly being used to teach students. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this new approach? Some people believe that exams are an inappropriate way of measuring students performance and should be replaced by continuous assessment. Do you agree or disagree with this view? Some people argue that universities should provide students with more practical training for their future career. Should university education be more vocational or academic. Discuss In many countries schools have severe problems with student behaviour. What do you think are the causes of this? What solutions can you suggest? Many universities charge higher fees for foreign students. Why do they do this? Do you believe that it is fair?

Most university graduates earn more money than less well educated people. Some people argue that this means they should pay the full cost of their education. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Nothing is more important to a countrys future than education. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Government
Business and finance
It some countries people pay different rates of tax depending on their salary, in other countries everyone pays the same rate. Which do you believe is the best system? Many people judge success solely by money and material possessions. However, success can be achieved or measured in other ways. Discuss.

Politics

A government has various duties to its citizens, but limited resources. Should defence spending take up a significant proportion of the national budget? Discuss. One of the most pressing problems facing the world today is overpopulation. What policies do you believe governments should adopt to address the causes and effects of this problem? Future plans which is to design prisons for learning and working, with bigger cells containing computers that will enable study and communication, have been criticized for trying to turn prisons into holiday camps and wasting taxpayers money. To what extent do you agree or disagre

Todays food travels thousands of miles before it reaches customers. Why is this? Is this a positive or negative trend? One of the major problems facing the world today is the growing number of refugees. The developed nations in the world should tackle this problem by taking in more refugees. To what extent do you agree with this opinion? If poorer nations are to develop they will need to invest in health and education. They often do not have the resources to achieve this, so is it the duty of richer nations to provide assistance in these areas? Explain your answer with reasons and examples. More and more qualified people are moving from poor to rich countries to fill vacancies in specialist areas like engineering, computing and medicine. Some people believe that by encouraging the movement of such people, rich countries are stealing from poor countries. Others feel that this is only part of the natural movement of workers around the world. Give your opinion. Differences between countries become less evident each year. Nowadays, all over the world people share the same fashions, advertising, brands, eating habits and TV channels. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this? Most countries spend a large amount of money in weapons to defend themselves though they are not at war. They should spend money to help the citizens in poor and disadvantaged countries. Discuss.

Globalisation

The best way to solve the worlds environmental problems is to increase the cost of fuel. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Environment and housing

Some people prefer to live in a house, while others think that there are more advantages living in an apartment. In recent years, farming practice has changed to include methods such as factory farming and the use of technology to improve crops. Some people believe these developments are necessary, while others regard them as dangerous and advocate a return to more traditional farming methods. Discuss both points of view and give your own opinion. In many countries there is a shortage of housing due to a growing population. Some people argue that new towns should be built in the countryside, others argue for the regeneration of cities. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the building new towns in the countryside? The world is consuming natural resources faster than they can be renewed. Therefore, it is important that products are made to last. Governments should discourage people from constantly buying more up to date or fashionable products. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Recent research shows that the consumption of junk food is a major factor in poor diet and this is detrimental to health. Some people believe that better health education is the answer to this problem but others disagree. What is your opinion?

Health

Prevention is better than cure. Out of a countrys health budget, a large proportion should be
diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventative measures. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Most developed countries spend a large proportion of their heath budgets on expensive medical technology and procedures. This money should be spent instead on health education to keep people well. To what extent do you agree or disagree? The quality of health care a person receives should not depend on the size of their bank balance. The government is responsible for providing a high level of heath care for all its citizens. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Currently there is a trend towards the use of alternative forms of medicine. However, at best these methods are ineffective, and at worst they may be dangerous. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Language and culture

Language and Culture
Many historic buildings are being destroyed or replaced. What are the reasons for this? What should be done to preserve these buildings? Should museums and art galleries be free of charge for the general public, or should a charge, even a voluntary charge, be levied for admittance? Discuss this issue, and give your opinion. Several languages die every year and English is becoming used more and more as a world language. Many people feel this is a positive trend and that a world with fewer languages promotes harmony and understanding between people. Analyze both sides of this argument and provide your opinion. Arts, music and entertainment Advances in science and technology have made great changes to lives of ordinary people, but artists such as musicians, painters and writers are still highly valued. What can the arts tell us about life that science and technology cannot? In recent years, people watch more movies from overseas? What are the reasons for this? Should the government give financial support to local cinema to produce local films?

Music is one of the most important art forms. What is its significance in the world today? Do you believe that more modern forms of music have superseded the more traditional forms of music? One of the functions of art is to challenge the establishment. There should therefore be no restrictions in the form of censorship on artists. To what extent do you agree or disagree? It is more important for the government to invest in projects that benefit the whole community such as welfare programmes and infrastructure improvements than for it to subsidise activities and institutions for the arts such as museums and art galleries as these will only benefit a minority. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Some people argue that the amount of violence shown in films and on television has led to an increase in violent crimes in society. Do you agree with this argument? Should the government control what is shown on television and in the cinema? Some people say that young people today do not make good use of their leisure time and that they spend too much time inside watching television and playing video games and that they should rather spend more time outside engaging in physical activities. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Crime and law

Without capital punishment (the death penalty) our lives are less secure and crimes of violent increase. Capital punishment is essential to control violence in society. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Tobacco and alcohol are drugs that cause addition and health problems. Should they be made illegal? Or should all drugs be legalized? Crime is nearly always related to the environment in which it occurs. For this reason, international laws and international law courts are unrealistic and will not succeed in reducing crime levels in different countries. Discuss. The only way to cut the crime rate is build more prisons and make prison sentences longer. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

May 2013

Some people think that humans can use animals in any way for their own benefit. Others, however, believe that people should not use animals in the wrong way. Discuss both this views and give your opinion. May 2013 In many countries big cities become very crowded. What are the causes and solutions for this problem, in your opinion? May 2013 In many countries, the quality of life in the large cities is worsening. What possibly can cause this problem? What measures can be taken to resolve it? May 2013 In many countries, the quality of life in the large cities is worsening. What possibly can cause this problem? What measures can be taken to resolve it? May 2013 Nowadays big cities in many countries become overcrowded. Why? Give some reasons and solutions for this problem. May 2013 The advantages and disadvantages of computers and TV for the mental development of children. April 2013 Some people think that men and women have different qualities, which is why men are suitable for some types of jobs and women for different types of jobs. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? April 2013 Animals are used by humans for profit in many ways. However, some people dont agree with this use of animals. Discuss both views and express your own opinion. April 2013 In some countries boarding schools are getting more popular. Is it a positive or negative development? What are the reasons behind it?

April 2013 Some say that children should spend more time working on school projects from an early age, others believe that young children should spend more time playing and have less stress at school. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. Use examples from your experience. April 2013 Saving money is a good habit for an individual after retirement. Do you agree or disagree? April 2013 These days more emphasis is being placed on university education. Vocational training is not encouraged, and thus there are few qualified tradespeople. To which extent do you agree or disagree?

April 2013 In the past people believed that the human race was steadily making progress in all areas of life; nowadays there is less certainty that it is so. In what areas do you think the most important progress has been made so far? In what areas more needs to be done? March 2013 Some people think that technological progress has affected their lives. To what extent do agree or disagree with the statement? March 2013 Sport today is turning into a business, with many companies involved and ever growing prize money for the sportsmen. Do you think its a positive or negative development? March 2013 These days many countries are facing different problems, so it is better that each country concentrates on solving its own problems, instead of cooperating with other countries. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? March 2013 Some people believe that study is important to success, others say there is no relation between study and success. Discuss both views. Give your own opinion based on your experience. March 2013 Some parents feel that students should focus on all subjects equally. Others believe that students should concentrate more on the subjects they are interested in. Do you agree or disagree? February 2013 Subjects at schools are selected by authorities such as the central government (not by the teachers). Some say that these subjects should be chosen by teachers. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons and examples. February 2013 Professional workers like doctors, nurses and teachers make a greater contribution to society and so should be paid more than sports and entertainment personalities. To what extent do you agree or disagree? February 2013 Some say all offenders should be sent to prison, other argue that there are better alternatives such as community work for those who commit minor crimes. Discuss both views and give your opinion. February 2013 Some people focus too much on products and brands that they buy/use. Do you think this behavior has more advantages than disadvantages? February 2013

Some say that students should concentrate only on the subjects that they like. Others suggest that they should focus on all school subjects. Discuss both views and give your opinion. February 2013 Nowadays there is no need for museums and art galleries any more. Since everything is accessible through internet, people can find any historic facts there. Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons and examples from your personal knowledge. February 2013 TV watching is argued to be detrimental to children development, but some argue that it could bring positive effects as well. Do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion. January 2013 Some say that if anyone would be given a choice between not working and working most of the time, they would choose not to work. Do you agree or disagree? January 2013 Some people work only for a few months a year and take the rest of the time off to do whatever they like. To what extent do the advantages of this arrangement outweigh the disadvantages? January 2013 Most countries develop their economies to improve living standards. Some people are afraid that it will cause degradation of important social values. Do you think the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages? January 2013 These days parents are more concerned with their childrens up-bringing than before. Child-care training course for parents can be the best way to update their parenting skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your opinion and support it with examples where possible.