‘Television is doing irreparable harm’

‘Yes, but what did we use to do before there was television?’ How often we hear statements like this! Television hasn’t been with us all that long, but we are already beginning to forget what the world was like without it. Before we admitted the one-eyed monster into our homes, we never found 5 it difficult to occupy our spare time. We used to enjoy civilized pleasures. For instance, we used to have hobbies, we used to entertain our friends and be entertained by them, we used to go outside for our amusements to theatres, cinemas, restaurants and sporting events. We even used to read books and listen to music and broadcast talks occasionally. All that belongs 10 to the past. Now all our free time is regulated by the ‘goggle box’. We rush home or gulp down our meals to be in time for this or that programme. We have even given up sitting at table and having a leisurely evening meal, exchanging the news of the day. A sandwich and a glass of beer will do — anything, providing it doesn’t interfere with the programme. The monster 15 demands and obtains absolute silence and attention. If any member of the family dares to open his mouth during a programme, he is quickly silenced.

Whole generations are growing up addicted to the telly. food is left uneaten, homework

undone and sleep is lost. The telly is a universal pacifier. It is now standard practice for

mother to keep the children quiet

20 by putting them in the living-room and turning on the set. It doesn’t matter that the children

will watch rubbishy commercials or spectacles of sadism and violence — so long as they

are quiet.

There is a limit to the amount of creative talent available in the world. Every day, television consumes vast quantities of creative work. That is 25 why most of the programmes are so bad: it is impossible to keep pace with the demand and maintain high standards as well. When millions watch the same programmes, the whole world becomes a village, and society is reduced to the conditions which obtain in pre-literate communities. We become utterly dependent on the two most primitive media of communi 30 cation: pictures and the spoken word.

Television  encourages  passive  enjoyment.  We  become  content   with  second—hand experiences. It is so easy to sit in our armchairs watching others working. Little by little, television cuts us off from the real world. We get so lazy, we choose to spend a fine day in semi-darkness, glued to 35 our sets, rather than go out into the world itself. Television may be a splendid medium of communication, but it prevents us from communicating with each other. We only become aware how totally irrelevant television is to real living when we spend a holiday by the sea or in the mountains, far away from civilization. In quiet, natural surroundings, we 40 quickly discover how little we miss the hypnotic tyranny of King Telly.

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If you smoke and you still don’t believe that there’s a definite link between smoking and bronchial troubles, heart disease and lung cancer, then you are certainly deceiving yourself. No one will accuse you of hypocrisy. Let us just say that you are suffering from a bad case of wishful thinking.

     This needn’t make you too uncomfortable because you are in good company. Whenever the subject of smoking and health is raised, the governments of most countries hear no evil, see no evil and smell no evil. Admittedly, a few governments have taken timid measures. In Britain, for instance, cigarette advertising has been banned on television. The

   conscience of the nation is appeased, while the population continues to puff its way to smoky, cancerous death.

You don’t have to look very far to find out why the official reactions to medical findings have been so luke-warm. The answer is simply money. Tobacco is a wonderful commodity to tax. It’s almost like a tax on our

   daily bread. In tax revenue alone, the government of Britain collects enough from smokers to pay for its entire educational facilities. So while the authorities point out ever so discreetly that smoking may, conceivably, be harmful, it doesn’t do to shout too loudly about it.

This is surely the most short-sighted policy you could imagine. While 20 money is eagerly collected in vast sums with one hand, it is paid out in

increasingly vaster sums with the other. Enormous amounts are spent on cancer research and on efforts to cure people suffering from the disease. Countless valuable lives are lost. In the long run, there is no doubt that everybody would be much better-off if smoking were banned altogether.

  Of course, we are not ready for such drastic action. But if the governments of the world were honestly concerned about the welfare of their peoples, you’d think they’d conduct aggressive anti-smoking campaigns. Far from it! The tobacco industry is allowed to spend staggering sums on advertising. Its advertising is as insidious as it is dishonest. We are never

  shown pictures of real smokers coughing up their lungs early in the morning. That would never do. The advertisements always depict virile, clean-shaven young men. They suggest it is manly to smoke, even positively healthy! Smoking is associated with the great open-air life, with beautiful girls, true love and togetherness. What utter nonsense!

   For a start, governments could begin by banning all cigarette and tobacco advertising and should then conduct anti-smoking advertising campaigns of their own. Smoking should be banned in all public places like theatres, cinemas and restaurants. Great efforts should be made to inform young people especially of the dire consequences of taking up the

   habit. A horrific warning — say, a picture of a death’s head — should be included in every packet of cigarettes that is sold. As individuals we are certainly weak, but if governments acted honestly and courageously, they could protect us from ourselves.

:: موضوعات مرتبط: Topics، Speaking، American. File. 2. C، American. File. 2. D، American. File. 3. A، American. File. 3. B، American. File. 3. C، American. File. 3. D، American. File. 3. E، American. File. 4. A، American. File. 4. B، American. File. 4. C، American. File. 4. D، American. File. 4. E، American. File. 4. F، American. File. 4. G، Ready For FCE، FCE Result، Ready For CAE، CAE Result، ،

Conversation Questions
Accidents at Home

• What is the most dangerous thing in your home? How can your home be made less dangerous?
• What is the most dangerous thing in your home for a child? How can it be made less dangerous?
• What is the most dangerous thing in your home for an elderly person? How can it be made less dangerous?
• What dangers can be found in the kitchen that can cause accidents?
• What can be done to prevent kitchen accidents?
• What can a parent do to childproof a kitchen?
• What dangers can be found in bathrooms that can cause accidents?
• What can be done to prevent bathroom accidents?
• What can a parent do to childproof a bathroom?
• What dangers can be found outside the home in the yard that can cause accidents?
• What can be done to prevent yard accidents?
• What can a parent do to childproof the yard?
• What other dangers can be found in a home in bedrooms, laundry rooms, garages, and living areas?
• What can be done throughout the house to prevent accidents?
• What can a parent do to childproof the different rooms of the home?
• Where at home would you put your first aid kit?
• What would you have in it?
• Where are these items found in a house, why could they be dangerous, to whom could they be dangerous, and what could someone do to lessen the danger they present?
• hot pan/pot
• hot curling iron
• knife
• window
• iron
• medicines
• gasoline
• pool
• insecticides
• natural gas
• balcony
• toilets
• staircase
• stove/oven
• stool/ladder
• yard tools
• fireplace
• cellar /attic
• bathtub
• bad dog
• tall pieces of furniture
• swing set / playground
• very clean glass sliding door
• electronic equipment
• cleaning supplies
• lake/retention pond
• loose carpet on slippery tile floor
• glass table or sharp edged table
• hairdryer
• bric-a-brac
• What do you need to do if...
• you cut your finger preparing food?
• you fall down and can not move a limb?
• your child drinks a poisonous liquid? (discuss syrup of ipecac)
• the toilet is flooding the bathroom?
• a pan on the stove is on fire?
• a neighbor's dog is growling at you?
• our child falls off a chair and is bleeding?
• What is the phone number for the police?
• How do you call an ambulance?
• What is the phone number for poison control?

 

 

Conversation Questions
Adoption

• What is adoption?
• Do you know anyone who was adopted as a child?
• Do you know anyone who has adopted a child?
• What are some of the reasons people choose to adopt?
• What is the difference between domestic and international adoption?
• What are the views of adoption in your country?
• How would someone interested in adopting a child go about doing so?
• Where do children available for adoption come from?
• What happens to children that are not adopted?
• How do you go about adopting a child?
• Would you want to adopt a boy or a girl? Why?
• Do you think brothers and sisters should be separated in adoptions?
• Are adoptions common in your country?
• What are some organizations that help with adoptions?
• Should you tell the child that he or she was adopted? If so at what age? Or when?
• Should adopted children have the right to know their biological parents?
• Should families with birth children also adopt?
• Is the real parent the birth parent or the adoptive parent?
• Should adoptions be between children and families of the same race and or culture?
• How or should the adoptive parents maintain the adopted child's cultural identify?
• In your country are the legal rights of an adoptive child different from that of a birth child?
• What are the legal consequences of adopting a child from a different race or country?
• Why don't more people adopt children?
• What makes a family, genetics or environment?
• Do you support an open adoption policy where the birth parents can choose to be involved in the child's life?
• Do you believe there is discrimination within the adoption organizations?
• Do you think a person should be able to adopt a child of a different race?
• Should a gay or lesbian couple be allowed to adopt a child?
• Should there be an age restriction for the adoptive parents?
• Should a single man or woman be able to adopt a child?
• If you were to find out that you were adopted and not really from the country where you are a citizen, which nationality would you hope would be your true mother country? Why?
• When is the right time for a child to be told that he/she was adopted?
• Do you think it is preferable to adopt or to use artificial reproduction technology?
• Would you agree to an open adoption or closed adoption? Why?
• What is an open adoption?
• Would you want to find your birth family? Why or why not?
• Should prospective parents in adoption cases be required to do a parenting course?
• Are there any risks when adopting a child?
• Do you think biological parents should always have a right to keep their identity secret from the children they give up for adoption? Why or why not?
• Do you think people who have been adopted should always have the right to find out who their birth-parents are?
• How would you feel if a child you had adopted wanted to search for his or her birth parents?
• Do you think that adopted children should feel especially loved and wanted?
• Should people be allowed to adopt children of a different race and/or culture?
• What are some good points and bad points of this kind of adoption?
• How would you feel if you found out you were adopted?
• What would you do?
• Do you it is preferable to adopt or to use artificial reproduction technology?
• If you had a choice, would you want to be adopted?
• Should people be allowed to adopt children of a different race and/or culture? What are some good points and bad points of this kind of adoption?
• How would you feel if you found out you were adopted? What would you do?

 

 

Conversation Questions
Advertising

• What is the most shocking advertisement you have seen?
• What is the funniest advertisement you have seen? Describe it.
• What makes an ad memorable?
• What are the different types of advertising? (Eg. TV)
• What types of companies choose each type?
• Do you buy products because of advertising?
• Do you find advertising persuasive?
• Why do you buy one product over another?
• Should advertisers be allowed to advertise to children?
• Should alcohol or tobacco companies be allowed to advertise? Why or why not?
• What do you think of celebrity endorsements?
• Which celebrities advertise which products?
• Do favorite or annoying celebrities make you want or not want to buy a product?
• Should there be advertisement-free zones?
• Is there truth in advertising?
• What kind of advertisements attract your attention?
• Why is it necessary to advertise?
• Do you think advertising should be allowed to interrupt TV or radio programs? What are the alternatives?
• What is the best way to advertise to children? Adults? Seniors? etc..
• Do you think advertising is too expensive?
• What are some effective adverts you have seen lately (on TV, newspaper, etc)?
• What are some ineffective adverts you have seen lately?
• Can you remember an advertising campaign that caught your attention?
• What are the different methods of advertising?
• What is the most popular way of advertising?
• Do you think that the Internet and cable/satellite TV have become more important than national TV for advertising products?
• What do you think is the best way of discovering the tastes and interests of teenage consumers?
• Can TV advertising be a force for good?
• How easy do you think it is to influence children with advertising?
• Do you agree with anti-consumerism organizations that the child will have watched 350,000 commercials by the time she graduates from high school?
• Do you think the government has he right to ban advertising for junk food and soda during children's TV programs. What do you think about this? Why do you think they made this decision?
• Do political parties in (country) use TV advertising? If so, should they?
• When out walking or shopping in the city, do you accept advertising fliers or free samples that are offered to you?
• What forms of advertising are there?
• What would make an advertisement more interesting?
• Can you buy something and get something for free in your country?
• Do people use coupons where you live?
• What is the most advertised product in your country?
• What is the best form of advertising?
• What gets you interested in an advertisement?
• Describe an advertisement that you have seen or heard on the TV or radio. What was it about? How long did the commercial last? Did it make you want to buy the product?
• What is the funniest commercial that you have seen? Describe it.
• What differences can you notice between commercials from 10 or 15 years ago and commercials today?
• Do you think ads influence the choices you make when you buy clothes?
• Do you often buy a particular brand when you buy clothes?
• Why do you buy this brand?
• Does it give status to wear particular brands like Nike or Lacoste?
• Do you sometimes want very expensive things which you or your parents can't afford?
• Do you think ads influence the choices you make when you or your parents buy food?
• What brand is the ketchup you or your parents buy?
• Is it always the same brand? Why do you prefer this brand?
• What brand is the toothpaste you or your parents buy?
• Can you name three different ways of advertising? (For example, different media)
• Do you think there are too many ads in television? Why/why not?
• Do you know why some channels have ads and others not? If you do know explain.
• Do you think there are too many ads in magazines? Why/why not?
• Do you think there are too many ads in newspapers? Why/why not?
• Think of an ad you think is good or funny and tell about it.
• What kinds of ads do you like and why? What makes a good ad?
• Do you think children or young people are easier to influence through ads compared to adults?
• Do you think it's ok to show ads aimed at children on television? Why/ why not?
• When you watch TV, how much attention do you pay to the advertisements?
• Which advertisements do you like most and which least? Why?
• How would you advertise something you wanted to sell?
• What are the harmful and the beneficial effects of advertising?
• Do you think that ads create a desire for more and more material possessions?
• Do you think that commercials on TV are annoying because they interrupt programs or do you think that many ads are more amusing that the programs on TV?
• Do you think advertising is too expensive? What are the different methods of advertising?

 

 

 

Conversation Questions
Advice

1. I want to quit smoking. What should I do?
2. I won 100,000 dollars and I don't know how to spend it. What should I do?
3. I gained a lot of weight in last few years. I want to lose at least 10kg. What should I do?
4. I have just lost my job. I haven't told my husband/wife yet. How should I tell him/her?
5. I found a wallet which had 2,000 dollars in it. How should I spend it?
6. My son doesn't want to go to school. He says that his teacher and all other students hate him. What should I do?
7. My child wakes up very often in the middle of the night. He sleeps usually during the day. I haven't had any good sleep for weeks. What should I do?
8. I have a headache. What should I do?
9. I hate working. What should I do?
10. I feel sad. What should I do?
11. I want to protect the environment but I don't know how. What should I do?
12. I am always late. What should I do?
13. I keep losing my credit card. What should I do?
14. I have a red nose. What should I do?
15. I am new in this city. I would love to meet some people. What should I do?
16. I want to get rich quickly. What should I do?
17. I need a car but I don't have enough money. What should I do?
18. I want to be a cool man. What should I do?
19. My girlfriend left me. I feel depressed. What should I do?
20. My husband doesn't help me with house chores. What should I do?
21. Have you ever self-published something? What are some good ways to publish your writing independently?
22. If you have a lot of things to get done in one week, how do you manage? What advice would you give someone who is very busy?
23. My girlfriend/boyfriend is seeing another man/woman. I saw a message in his/her mobile phone. What should I do?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conversation Questions
Age: Youth & Old Age

• Are young people generally more selfish than their parents and grandparents?
• Does age make you more aware of and caring for others?
• Should adults try to teach young people lessons, such as the dangers of drinking too much, taking drugs or catch the AIDS virus, or should they leave them alone to find out about these things themselves?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches?
• What do you think is the best age to be?
• Explain your opinion.
• Most countries give young people rights as they reach a certain age. For example, British people can legally make love or fight for their country at the age of 16; they can drink, vote and drive a car when they are 18.
• Do you think that any of the age limits need changing?
• Some people think you should give something to society before you have the right to join it.
• Should young people have to do some form of military or community service by law?
• Should people of between 50 and 55 be forced to retire from their jobs in order to make way for younger workers?
• If people are still able to (and want to) work, should they have to retire when the reach a certain age?
• Explain your opinion.
• In most countries the legal retirement age for men is five years older than for women, even though women live longer than men on average.
• Why do you think this is?
• Is this fair, or should it be changed?
• Are there many things that the old can teach the young or are they hopelessly out of touch by the time they reach a certain age?
• What things were you taught by your older family members?
• How have they been useful to you in your life?
• In most countries, compulsory education is targeted at five to sixteen year olds.
• Would it be better to offer it to pensioners who want to learn rather than young people who prefer not to be in school? Explain your opinion.
• In Russia, China and many other countries, there is a tradition of choosing leaders who are quite advanced in years.
• Do you think that older people make better leaders? Explain your opinion.
• One of Britain's best-ever leaders was William Pitt, who became Prime Minister when he was 24 and remained in power for 18 years.
• Could this ever happen in your country? Why/why not?
• Many elderly people have disabilities which limit their mobility.
• Do buses, shops and public buildings in your country provide easy access for the disabled or are your towns and cities designed mainly for the young and able-bodied? Why is this?
• Should the elderly be expected to pay for residential care out of their own savings or should appropriate accommodation and nursing be provided by the tax payer? Explain your opinion.
• Some people say that men age better than women, and remain attractive longer. Do you agree? Explain your opinion.
• Some people say that men never grow up, they just get bigger. Do you agree? Explain your opinion.
• Some people say that young women are usually two to three years more mature than young men. Do you agree? Explain your opinion.
• In most countries women live an average of five to six years longer than men. Why do you think this is?
• In some countries having children is considered a way of "investing in the future", and young people are expected to give money to their parents when they get a job, and then to care for them when they retire.
• What are the good points and what are the bad points about this system?
• Many countries are facing the problem of an "aging population", i.e. there will soon be more old people than young people.
• What problems will this cause?
• What can be done to prepare for them?
• What do you think is the ideal age for each of these stages of your life: (Explain your opinion.)
• What age do you want to live to?
• How do you feel about your parents growing older?
• If your parents could no longer care for themselves, would you let them live with you or put them in a nursing home?
• Are you afraid of getting old?
• What is your ideal old age to live to?
• Do you prefer to live in the retirement home or live with young people?
• Should parents continue to finance their children after the children are 18?
• Where do you wish to live when you are old?
• Where do you see yourself when you are 70 years old?
• Should older people spend their money on themselves, or save it for their children to have after they die?
• Where do you wish to live when you are old?
• What advice would you give to an older person who wants to feel young?
• Some people say that youth is a state of mind, do you agree?

Conversation Questions
Airplanes

• How old were you when you went on your first flight?
• Where did you go?
• Do you like to travel by airplane?
• What was the longest flight you have ever taken?
• What seat do you prefer: window, center or aisle?
• What are three things you're supposed to do before the flight takes off?
• What do you like to do during the flight?
• Does the plane provide anything to do to pass the time?
• What are some movies you remember seeing on the plane?
• What do you do when you experience turbulence?
• Have you ever met anyone or established any relationships during a flight?
• What should be done with obese people who practically take up two seats?
• Can you sleep during the flight?
• Have you ever seen a female pilot?
• Why do you think that most pilots are men?
• Would you like to be a flight attendant?
• What are the benefits and /or downfalls?
• Are most flight attendants female?
• Is being a flight attendant considered a good job in your country?

What do you think are the qualifications?

• Are planes really safer than cars? ( A British study shows that flying is 176 times safer than walking, 15 times safer than driving and 300 times safer than a motorbike.)
• Would you rather have a younger, more beautiful/handsome flight attendant or an older, more experienced one?
• What are the advantages of traveling by airplane?
• What are the disadvantages?
• Do you know someone who is afraid of flying in an airplane?
• What questions should you ask when buying airplane tickets?
• What is a group rate?
• What is a charter flight?
• What arrangements should you make for pick-up at the airport?
• What things can you see in an airport?
• What questions do they ask you when you check-in at the airport?
• What questions do they ask you when going through immigration and customs at the airport?
• Have you ever seen an airplane crash?
• Have you ever seen terrorists on the plane?
• Have you ever met an annoying person during a flight?
• Have you ever had an accident during a flight?
• Have you ever work as a flight attendant?
• Do you only fly one airline?
• Do you think budget airlines are safe?
• Do you like to fly? Why or why not?
• What is the smallest airplane you have ever been on? How small was it?
• Do you prefer to fly in big planes or small planes? Why?
• Would you like to learn how to fly? Why or why not?
• Do you think being a pilot is a good job? Why or why not?
• Have you ever gone sky-diving? Why or why not?
• Have you or someone you know ever been in a plane crash?
• What would you do if you were on a plane that was crashing?
• Do you like to watch movies or TV about airplane crashes? Why or why not?
• Do you enjoy the foods on airplane?
• What arrangements should you make for pick-up at the airport?
• What things do you see in an airport?
• What questions do they ask when you check-in at the airport?
• What questions do they ask when going through immigration/customs at the airport?
• How much baggage do you take with you?
• What items should not be included in your hand baggage?
• What documents do you need for international travel?
• What airline do you prefer using?
• How was the service on your last flight?
• Do you like airline food?
• Would you pay money for airline food?
• Do you enjoy talking with strangers on an airplane?
• Do you enjoy takeoff / landing?
• What are some airplane disaster movies?
• Why do you think they are popular?
• How do the pilot and the co-pilot navigate their planes?
• What is a boarding pass?
• When do you pay for airport tax?
• Where can you hang your coats after boarding an airplane? 5. What do you do when you get blocked ears during take off / landing?
• What do you do before take off / landing?
• Where can you smoke while traveling by plane?
• What do you do when you need a flight attendant's assistance?
• How can passengers reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis?

Conversation Questions
Amusement Parks

• Have you ever visited an amusement park?
• If so, what was it called?
• Where was it?
• What has been the best amusement park you have ever visited? Why?
• What was your favorite ride or activity? Why?
• What was your worst ride or activity? Why?
• Was it expensive?
• If you were to recommend an amusement park, which one would you recommend and why?
• What rides or activities would you recommend?
• How regularly do you visit amusement parks?
• Can you think of an amusement park ride or activity that would be both enjoyable and popular?
• Are you afraid of going on scary amusement park rides?
• Do you know of anybody who hurt themselves or died at an amusement park?
• Even though you may have been terrified by a particular ride, would you go on it again?
• What are some famous amusement parks near where you live?
• Have you been to them?
• How much does it cost to enter?
• What rides is this amusement park famous for?
• Do you have any plans to go to an amusement park in the near future?

•  

Conversation Questions
Anger

• What causes anger?
• Are there different types of anger?
• What are various ways people respond to anger?
• Is anger ever justified? If so, how can we determine whether it is?
• Is anger ever a good thing? If so, when? Why?
• Is anger ever a bad thing? If so, when? Why?
• Are there better and worse ways to respond to one's own anger?
• How do you decide what to do when you get angry?
• Do you think men and women show their angry differently?
• What makes you angry?
• When was the last time you got angry?
• Tell us about it.
• What do you usually do when you get angry?
• What are the situations that make you angry?
• What are the physical effects of getting angry? (e.g blood pressure...)
• Is getting angry an effective way of dealing with problems?

 

 

Conversation Questions
Animals & Pets

Selected Questions

• Do you have a pet?
• How old is it?
• Where did you get it from?
• Who takes care of it?
• What does it look like (color, breed, etc.)?
• What do you feed it?
• Do you play with it?
• What is it's name? How did you choose this name?
• Does it know any tricks or understand any words?
• If you don't have a pet, why not?
• Would you ever consider getting a pet?
• Did you grow up with pets in your home?
• What are the pros and cons of keeping a pet?
• What is the best pet to own?
• What are some animals that live in your country?
• Are there animal rights groups where you live?
• Are you afraid of snakes? What is the biggest snake you have seen? Are there any poisonous snakes in your country?
• Are you frightened of spiders? What do you do if you see one?
• Can you name some endangered species?
• Have you ever ridden a horse?
• Are there birds or squirrels in your neighborhood?
• Do you know someone who owns an unusual pet?
• Do you think it is acceptable to test cosmetics on animals?
• How do you feel about the use of animals for medical research?
• Do you think it is okay to eat meat? Do you know any vegetarians?
• Is there any kind of meat you would not eat?
• What kind of meats have you eaten?
• Have you ever been to a zoo?
• Are there laws about hunting in your country?
• What do you think of hunting? Would you eat an animal that you killed yourself?
• Do you think it's okay to free animals that have been in captivity all their lives? Why or why not?
• Do you think people should buy and wear fur coats?
• Do you think that animals dream?
• Have you ever been bitten by a dog? Have you been stung by a bee?
• Have you ever been to a farm? What animals did you see there?
• Have you ever been to a horse race?
• Have you ever eaten rabbit meat? Have you eaten octopus?
• Have you ever seen a dog that helps people, such as one to assist a blind person or a policeman?
• If so, what did you notice about the dog?
• How do you think that dog was trained?
• What animals do you think are cute?
• What animals do you think are ugly?
• What can children learn by having a pet?
• What is the largest animal you have ever seen?
• Why do some people not like pets?
• What can people learn from animals?
• Does feeding an animal bring you happiness?
• If you saw a stranger drowning, and you also saw your pet drowning, and you could only save one, who would you save? What would most people choose?
• Can people be too attached to their pets?
• Do you think animals have souls?

More Questions

• Do you think it is right to keep wild animals in captivity all there life
• Is it morally right to spend a lot of money on pets, rather than helping people in need?
• Why are pets, not people used for medical research?
• What is your favorite animal?
• Have you ever had a pet?
• What kind of pet would you like to have in the future?
• Have you ever been to the zoo? What animals did you see there?
• Have you ever been on a farm? What animals did you see there?
• Do you ever bird watch?
• Do you think people should wear fur coats?
• Should animals be kept in a zoo?
• Do you know any endangered species?
• Do you consider yourself an animal lover?
• Do bats help people?
• What animal is liked to be petted?
• Do you think the most important thing by which psychopaths can be recognized is their attitude toward animals? Explain why.
• Do you think it is a good pattern in general to judge people by their attitude toward animals? Explain why.
• What kind of animals do humans ride?
• Are you afraid of snakes?
• Are you frightened of spiders?
• Are your pet(s) healthy?
• Can you ride a horse?
• Do you ever go bird watching?
• Do you ever talk to your pet? If so, what do you say?
• Do you have a cat?
• Do you have a dog? If so, what's your dog's name?
• Do you have any pets?
• If not, would you like to have a pet?
• Have you ever had a pet?
• Do you know anyone who has a horse?
• Do you know anyone who keeps their dog in their house?
• Do you love your pet?
• Do you prefer dogs or cats?
• Do you talk to your pet sometimes?
• Do you think it is acceptable to test cosmetics on animals?
• How do you feel about the use of animals for medical research?
• Do you think it is okay to eat meat?
• Is there any kind of meat you would not eat?
• Do you think it is right to keep wild animals in a zoo?
• Do you think that animals dream?
• Do your pets have special behavior problems?
• How do you deal with those problems?
• Have you ever been bitten by a dog?
• Have you ever been bitten by a snake?
• Have you ever been to a farm?
• Have you ever been to a zoo? What animals did you see there?
• Have you ever eaten rabbit meat?
• Have you ever gambled on a horse race?
• Have you ever given your pet a bath?
• Have you ever had a pet? / Have you ever had any pets?
• Have you ever ridden a horse? How about a camel?
• Have you ever seen a bullfight?
• Have you ever seen a dog race?
• Have you ever seen a dog that helps people, such as one to help a blind person?
• If so, what did you notice about the dog?
• How do you think that dog was trained?
• Have you ever seen a "therapy dog?"
• How long do you think a dog can live without food?
• How many birds do you know that can't fly?
• How many legs does a spider have? How about a squid?
• How many national animal preserves do you have in your country?
• Are there any animal preserves around here?
• How many pets have you had?
• How many pets have you raised and what are they?
• How many zoos have you been to?
• How much does it cost to keep your pet?
• If you could be an animal, what would you (choose to) be? Why?
• If you don't keep pets, please explain why?
• Is is right to keep animals in a zoo?
• Is it harmful for a dog to travel in cabin on a airline under the seat where your carry-on bags go?
• Pets are considered to be a burden to most of the city dwellers. To what extent do you agree?
• Some people think that people shouldn't wear animal furs. Do you agree? Why or why not?
• Think of some people you know. Which animals do they resemble?
• What animal do you think is the funniest?
• What animal do you think is the strangest-looking?
• What animal do you think makes the best pet? Why?
• What animal would you like to be? (Which animal...?)
• What animals are symbols of your country?
• What animals are you afraid of? (...scared of?)
• What animals do you think are cute?
• What animal do you think is the cutest?
• What animals do you think are scary?
• What animals do you think is the most dangerous?
• What are some popular pets?
• What are the most popular pets in your country?
• What are the pros and cons of keeping a pet?
• (Why are there so many people who are willing to sacrifice their time and money to raise a pet?)
• What can children learn by having a pet?

What are some things a child can learn by having a pet?

• What do you think of animals being raised in captivity?
• What is one of your favorite animals?
• Why do you like it?
• Do you have one for a pet?
• What is the difference between a pet and a wild animal?
• What is the most unusual pet you have ever seen?
• What is your favorite animal?
• Why is it your favorite animal?
• Would you like keep it as your pet, why or why not?
• What joy does your pet bring you?
• Are you the one who takes care of it every day?
• How do you take care of it? If you don't take care of it, who does?
• What kind of animal would you like to be?
• Do bats make good pets?
• What animals like to be petted?
• What kind of dog do you have?
• What kind of master would you like to have if you were a pet?
• What particular animals have become famous in your country for some special skill or accomplishment?
• What wild animals can you see around here?
• When was the last time you went to a zoo?
• Where is the nearest zoo to your house?
• How often do you visit that zoo?
• When was the last time you went there?
• How much does it cost to get in?
• Why do people have pets? / Why do people keep pets?
• Would you recommend that others keep pets similar to yours?
• Should we feed our pets unhealthy but tasty treats?
• What's more important, their health or their happiness?
• In your opinion, why do some people like to have unusual pets?
• Do you think dogs should be banned or muzzled?
• Would you want to see aggressive dogs muzzled or banned?
• In your country, what kind of dog laws are there? If dogs are man's best friend, as the saying goes, is banning dogs a friendly act?
• What is a safari?
• Would you go on a safari?
• Have you ever hurt an animal?
• Was it intentional or unintentional?
• Do you know of any websites for people that want to keep animals as pets?
• How about websites for people who are against animal rights?
• Do you think keeping an animal as a pet is a violation of that animal's rights?
• Do you know any animals that you think are being treated badly or unfairly?
• If so, how do you think you can help?
• What do you think would animals say about humans if they could make a documentary movie about humans?
• What is a breed?
• What breeds can you name?
• What does AKC stand for?
• What is a standard for a dog breed?
• What is dog intelligence?
• Which dog breed do you think is the most intelligent and which the dumbest?
• What is the role of an Alpha dog in a pack?
• Do you think it is a good pattern in general to judge people by their attitude toward animals? Explain why.
• Do bats help people?

 

Conversation Questions
Annoying Things

• What annoys you about living where you live now?
• What annoys you about taking trains to work?
• What annoys you about driving a car?
• What annoys you most about living at home with your family?
• Do you think you have habits that annoy other people?
• Does it annoy you when people kiss in public?
• Do you get annoyed when someone cuts in front of you when you are waiting in line?
• What are some new pet peeves you have as a result of recent technology (i.e. cell phone use)?
• What annoying habits does your best friend have?
• Does smoking bother you?
• Do you get annoyed when other people display bad manners? Give some examples.
• What is the most annoying thing for you?
• What is the most annoying thing about your partner?
• Do you annoy people with some of your habits?
• What is something that your parents do that annoy you?
• Can annoying someone be a good thing?
• If something is annoying you, what do you usually do?
• What are some things that annoy you that don't annoy your best friend?
• How do you change annoying habits
• What are some things that car drivers do that annoy you?
• Can you think of some things children do that annoy adults around them?
• What does pet peeve mean?
• What is your pet peeve?
• Does it annoy you when people don't use the right punctuation?
• What kind of people annoy you?
• Who is the most annoying person you know? Why?
• How do you inform someone they are being annoying
• Do you think other people find you annoying? Why?
• Who is the most annoying celebrity? Why?
• Which is more annoying, being caught in the rain without an umbrella, or finding out you don't have enough money to pay for something you really need?
• Is there anything about your teacher that annoys you? What will you do about it?
• Does it annoy you when people don't use the right punctuation?
• Do you think it is annoying if people can't or don't speak your language?
• Which is more annoying, being caught in the rain without an umbrella, or finding out you don't have enough money to pay for something you really need?
• Why do people get annoyed?
• Do bandaids on ladies feet annoy you?
• What's the most annoying thing about your partner?
• What's the most annoying catchphrase or cliche you can think of?
• Is it worse to be ignorant or annoying?
• What annoys you about yourself?
• What do people do on the subway that annoys you?
• What do people do on the bus that annoys you?
• What do people do on the street that annoys you?
• Does it annoy you when people snore?

 

Conversation Questions
Arguing

• Do you feel bad after you have an argument?
• What are some reason why people argue?
• What does your family argue about?
• How do you avoid arguments?
• Do you think it is best to argue or just walk away? Shy?
• Do you get along with argumentative people?
• Are you passionate about your beliefs?
• Do you ever try to impose your beliefs on others?
• Do you at times enjoy "playing the devil's advocate" (debating for the fun of it)?
• Do you get along argumentative people?
• Are you passionate about your beliefs?
• Would you describe yourself as an argumentative person?
• What other adjectives would you associate with an argumentative person?
• In your opinion is being argumentative a positive trait or a flaw?
• Are you easily persuaded in an argument?
• Do you ever try to impose your beliefs on others?
• Do you at times enjoy "playing the devil's advocate" (debating for the fun of it)?
• Have you ever taken part in a debate? Did you have to defend an opinion that wasn't your own? If so, was it easy? Did it make you re-evaluate your own views?
• How do you feel when someone disagrees with everything you have to say?
• Do have a "butinski"in your family? Do you tend to but in?
• At work do you often voice your opinions on controversial issues? If so, what kind of reception do get?
• Do you steer clear of some touchy topics or do you get a kick out of provoking others?
• How do you feel when you have a hunch someone's not paying attention to what you have to say? Do you raise your voice? Do you get nasty?
• How do you grab someone's attention when you're making a point? What can you do to lose it?
• Are hand gestures useful in an argument?
• Do you think it's disrespectful to argue with your elders?
• Do you often feel patronized in an argument?
• What do you say when someone is being condescending?

 

Conversation Questions
Art

• Are you a good painter?
• Can you draw pictures well?
• Do you believe what art critics say?
• Do you consider yourself a good artist?
• Do you enjoy your art class at school?
• Do you like modern art?
• Do you like paintings?
• Do you like sketching?
• Do you like to visit art museums?
• Do you like wood carving?
• Do you prefer using water colors or oil paint?
• Do you think it is proper to call nude paintings art?
• Do you think music and dancing are forms of art?
• Do you think of cartoons and comics as art?
• Do you visit museums when you go to another city?
• Have you ever been to any famous art museums?
• Have you ever visited an art museum?
• What art form do you like best?
• What art museums have you visited?
• Which did you like the best? Why?
• Which did you like the least? Why?
• What famous painters do you know? What are they famous for?
• What is art?
• What is the longest time that you have spend on a painting?
• What is your favorite art web site?
• What would life be like without art?
• When was the last time you went to an art museum?
• Who are some famous artists in your country?
• Who is a famous potter in your country?
• Who is the most famous artist in your country? What kind of art does he do?
• Who is your favorite painter?
• Do you enjoy taking photographs?
• What things do you like to photograph?
• Do you consider photography an art form?
• Why do artist like to draw women's figures?
• Why do you enjoy art?
• Why is art important?
• Why do people become professional artists?
• Have you ever participated in any art competitions?
• Have you ever been jealous of someone else's artwork?
• Do you find Picasso's work astonishing or weird?
• Do you have a favorite painting?
• If so, what is it?
• Why do you like it?
• Do other people ever compliment your artwork?
• Do you have a sketchbook?
• If so, how often do you use it?
• What kind of sketches do you make?
• Do you feel proud after finishing a work of art?
• Do you think graffiti is art?

Do you agree with this statement? Graffiti is a form of art; a form of expressing one's mind.

• Do you like to doodle?
• What kinds of doodles do you make?
• Where and when do you doodle?
• Have you ever gone to an exhibition?
• Do you know any art galleries? Are there any in the place where you live?
• Were you interested in art when you were young?
• In your opinion, is design an important part of culture?
• Can you tell me the name of a fashion designer you know?
• Is design a great importance in your daily life?
• The famous artist and designer William Morris said that you should not have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful'. Discuss.
• Do you know any art gallery? Is there any in the place where you live?
• Were you interested in art some years ago? and now?
• Have you studied any pictorial movement?
• Has design a great importance in your daily life
• Is your work figurative or abstract?
• What is your medium of choice?
• What influences your work?
• If you could buy a great work of art, what would it be? (style, title, artist's name...)
• Do you think performance art should be considered art?
• What do you think of shock art?
• Have you ever seen performance art?
• Have you ever seen shock art?
• Does art imitate life?
• Are movies a form of art?

Conversation Questions
The Art of Conversation

• What makes it easy to talk to someone?
• What traits do you look for in a conversation partner?
• Tell about your favorite types of conversations to have?
• What do you talk about?
• How do you know the other person?
• Who is the best conversationalist that you have ever met?
• Why are they such a great conversationalist?
• Have you ever had a great conversation with a complete stranger?
• What made it so great?
• What did you talk about?
• Where were you?
• What is your role in a conversation?
• Do you dominate?
• Do you subordinate?
• What percent of a conversation do you spend talking?
• Have you ever tried to consciously change your conversational style?
• What did you change?
• What are some good habits you have in conversation?
• What are some bad traits you have in conversations?
• Who communicates better: men or women?
• What makes their style better?
• What makes it worse?
• Do you like to flirt?
• How do you flirt?
• What do you say?
• On a scale of 1-10, how do you rate your conversational skill with the opposite sex? Explain.
• How do conversations between men and women differ?
• Do you like to argue?
• What do you like to argue about?
• Do you always want to be right?
• What types of arguments do you hate to lose?
• What topics should you avoid when talking to a stranger?
• To a Swiss person?
• To a Japanese?
• To an American?
• What topics are taboos for your culture?
• What topics are taboo for you personally?
• Why do people like to learn bad words in another language?
• What do people do that drives you crazy in a conversation?
• How do you feel about talking on the phone? Why?
• Do you think that some conversations are easier to have on the phone? <ul
• Face to face? </ul
•  
• What types of conversations, and why?

• What are some topics that you can't stand to talk about? Why?
• Do you have better conversations when you are drinking?
• Have you ever said something to someone that you wish you hadn't said?
• What was it? Explain.
• If you could relive any conversation of your life, what would it be? Why? Explain.
• How do you feel about being frank? Explain.
• How do you feel about blunt people?
• In your experience, which country's people are the easiest to talk to? Explain.
• Which country's people are difficult to talk to? Explain.
• If you could have the voice of any famous person, whose voice would you want? Why?
• How do you feel about conversations with people older than yourself?
• Some people like to talk about things, and some people like to do things.
• If you could have a conversation with any famous living person, who would you talk to?
• If you could have a conversation with a famous deceased person, who would you talk to?
• Do you like to eavesdrop on other people's conversations?
• If you had to choose, would you rather marry a partner who is handsome/beautiful and sexy, but who is a terrible conversationalist, or a partner who is a wonderful conversationalist, but who is less-attractive-than-average? Explain.
• What was a difficult conversation you had to have in your life?
• Would you like to be a salesman, a teacher, a reporter?
• Would you like to have a career that requires you to talk to a lot of people? Why?
• How can you improve your conversation skills? Explain.

• How do your conversations change after you have been drinking?

• Is there such a thing as being too honest? Explain.

• Are there any older people who you have conversations with regularly?
• Who are they?

• What kind of person are you? Explain.

• What would you talk about?
• Why would you want to talk about that? Explain.

• What would you talk about, and why?

• What kind of questions do you like to overhear? Where do you listen?
• Have you ever spied on anyone?
• Have you ever recorded a phone call or conversation? Why?
• Would you ever do it? Explain.

• How did it turn out?
• What made it hard? Explain.

• Which career?

Conversation Questions
Bags and Purses

• Do you always carry a bag or purse?
• What do you have in your bag or purse?
• How heavy is your bag or purse? Have you lost it before?
• Has it been stolen?
• What do you usually carry with you?
• What things do you use every day?
• What things are important to carry with you?
• Do you always carry a bank card?
• Do you always carry money?
• How much money do you usually carry on you?
• Do men carry billfolds in your country?
• Do women carry a purse or handbag in your country?
• Is it a custom in your country for men to carry or hold the woman's purse or bag?
• Will guys hold their wife's and/or girlfriend's purse or bag where you live?
• Do men carry bags or purses in your country
• What if you see a guy carrying a purse or woman's bag, would you think he is gay?
• What do you think a president would carry on their person?
• What are essential (necessary) items to take with you when you leave the house?

Conversation Questions
Baseball

• Have you ever played baseball?
• Do you know the rules of baseball?
• Do you like baseball?
• Are you interested in baseball?
• How many players are on a baseball team?
• What position do you think is the most difficult?
• Who is your favorite baseball player? Why do you like him?
• Does baseball look like a fun game to you?
• What qualities do you think of baseball player needs to be good?
• Do they have professional baseball teams in your country?
• How much does it cost to watch a professional baseball game?
• Would you rather watch baseball at a stadium or on television?
• What is your favorite baseball team? Why?
• Do you follow professional baseball?
• Are there any baseball players from your country playing in the USA?
• Do you think baseball will ever be a worldwide sport like soccer?
• What are the differences between baseball in America and baseball in your country?
• How much does it cost to attend a pro game in your country?
• What kinds of food are sold at baseball stadiums in your country?
• Does your country have a minor league?
• Do you think young players aspire to be a pro in their home country or make it to the American Major Leagues?
• Are there recreational baseball teams in your country?
• Do children have easy access to baseball in your country?
• Do people play softball in your country?
• Are there women's baseball teams in your country?
• Do you consider baseball to be a slow game?
• Do you think the playoffs are more exciting than the regular season?
• Do you think baseball will ever be a worldwide sport like soccer?
• How does a kid make it to the pros?

Conversation Questions
Basketball

Related: Baseball, Bullfighting, Sports

• Are you interested in basketball?
• How many players are on a basketball team?
• What are the positions on a basketball team?
• How long is a basketball game?
• Who is your favorite basketball player?
• Why are basketball player usually tall?
• Can short people be good basketball players?
• Have you ever played basketball? How was it?
• Do you follow professional basketball?
• Have you ever been to a professional basketball game?
• Are there any basketball players from your country in the NBA?
• Describe the abilities that a good basketball player must have.
• What is needed to play basketball with your friends?
• What basketball teams do you follow? What is interesting about this team to you?
• What are the skills of your favorite basketball players?
• What is the difference between a basketball team and a basketball league?
• Who is number one star player now in the NBA? Do you like his style of playing? Why?
• Which parts of the body can players play the ball with?
• How many people can play in a game of basketball?
• When the ball goes out of bounds what happens?
• When the ball stuck between the ring and backboard, what happens?
• When a team scores a goal where is the ball placed for a restart?
• Which sports uses a court to play a game on?
• Which sports uses a field to play a game on?
• Who invented the indoor game which we call it basketball?
• In which years did James Naismith invent basketball?
• What nickname do Americans give to the ring of basketball?
• When the ball goes out of bounds, what should the referee do?
• When the violation occurs, what should a referee do?
• What is the height of the basket?
• Who was known as the greatest player in the world?
• In which city did the first basketball game play in 1891?

Conversation Questions
Beach

• When was the last time you went to the beach? Where did you go?
• What do people do at the beach?
• Can you swim?
• When did you learn to swim?
• Who taught you to swim?
• What kind of swimming suit do you wear?
• Have you ever been night-swimming?
• Are there any problems with jellyfish, sharks or stonefish at your local beach?
• Have you ever played sports on the beach?
• Which sports have you played
• ? How are they different from non-beach versions of the sport?
• Have you ever collected seashells?
• Can you describe a shell that you have collected?
• What did you do with the shells that you collected?
• What sort of animals live at the beach?
• Have you ever been fishing on the beach?
• What did you catch?
• What did you use as bait?
• What is the "tide"?
• Why is there a tide?
• What is a "rip tide"?
• Have you ever been on a sail boat or a row boat?
• Have you ever used a surf board or body board?
• Do you like to suntan?
• Do you think sunblock is important?
• Have you ever been to a famous beach?
• What do you wear to the beach?
• How do you keep your wallet safe while you are swimming?
• Is erosion a problem at your local beach?
• Is pollution a problem at your local beach?
• Should people be able to own a beach or part of a beach?
• Why is beachfront land so expensive?
• Why do so many people want to live there?
• Would you like to live there?
• What are some dangers of living on beachfront property
• Do you prefer a calm sea or do you prefer big waves?
• Should dogs be allowed on the beach?
• Should dogs have to be kept on leashes at the beach?
• Should cars be allowed on the beach?
• What do you think of people who swim in the nude?
• Is there a nude beach near where you live?
• What do you think about nude beaches?
• Would you ever want to swim in the nude?
• Have you ever gone to a nude beach?
• What do you think of topless swimming?
• Which is your favorite beach?
• Are there life guards at the beaches in your country?
• Do you think that people should be allowed to drink beer or other drinks with alcohol on the beach?

Conversation Questions
Beauty and Physical Attractiveness

• Who do you think is the most beautiful person in your country?
• Who do you think is the most beautiful person alive today?
• Who was the most beautiful person in history?
• Who is the most attractive in your family?
• Does beauty affect one's success in life?
• Is it better to be physically attractive or intelligent?
• Is it better to be physically attractive or wealthy?
• Is beauty related to power?
• Can you think of anyone who is in a position of power that is not physically attractive?
• Do people spend too much time and money on beauty?
• How much time should be spent on making yourself look better each day?
• Who would you say is beautiful that others maybe wouldn't?
• Do you think people should have cosmetic surgery to enhance their looks?
• If so what is the minimum age when someone should have plastic surgery?
• How popular is plastic surgery in your country?
• What is the most popular feature for cosmetic alteration?
• Do you think self-esteem affects beauty?
• Do you think beauty affects self-esteem?
• How important is beauty in your daily life?
• Have you ever noticed anyone ever feeling pressured to be more beautiful?
• What do you think of the proverb, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder?"
• Do you have any proverbs or idioms from your country that relate to beauty?
• What do you think "beauty is skin deep" means?
• What are some beauty tips that you could share?
• Do you think people with many tattoos can be beautiful?
• How many tattoos are too many?
• Would you ever get a tattoo?
• Do you have a tattoo?
• Do you think people with many piercings can be beautiful?
• What kind of body piercing, if any, do you feel are acceptable?
• What kind of piercing, if any, do you feel are unacceptable?
• What personality trait is the most important for inner beauty?
• How do you define beauty, using your own words?
• Would you ever date someone who was not conventionally attractive?
• What makes one person more attractive than another?
• Do you think people from different countries than you see attractive the same way?
• Is there someone famous that is considered beautiful, that you think is not?
• Are beauty pageants good or bad?
• Should children be entered into beauty pageants?
• Do you think one gender or group worries more about beauty than another?
• Would you want your children to be beautiful or talented?
• What are some of the drawbacks of being beautiful?
• What do you think about plastic surgery?
• Would you ever have plastic surgery?
• If so, what would you change?
• What do you think of celebrities who get plastic surgery?
• Do you think it's necessary to have plastic surgery if you are famous in order to be successful?
• Do you think skin color affects whether a person is regarded as beautiful or not?
• Do you think that fairer skin makes you more beautiful?
• What are some advantages of being beautiful?
• What makes someone beautiful in your country?
• What differs between that idea and the American idea of beauty?
• What do you think "beauty is skin deep" means?
• How many different adjectives can you think of to describe a beautiful woman or a handsome man

What do these English expressions mean?

• Pretty is as pretty does.
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
• Beauty is only skin deep.
• What you see is what you get.

 

 

Conversation Questions
Behavior

Related: Manners

• What is good behavior? What is bad behavior?
• Were you well-behaved as a child?
• Why do some children seem naturally well-mannered, while others seem difficult?
• Were you a well-behaved child?
• How do you raise well-behaved children?
• What influences you to make good choices?
• Have you ever not tolerated someone's behavior?
• Is there any behavior that you would not find acceptable?
• What are some examples of bad behavior?
• What is he worst behavior you have seen?
• Would you teach your child to "hit back" at school if somebody hit him?
• How can we teach our children good behavior? Are words or example more important?
• Are you influenced by what you see on TV? Or by what you read?
• Do friends influence you?
• Can you influence your friends?
• Is it important to surround yourself with good people?
• How can friends have a bad influence on you?
• Can music influence your behavior?
• Is it important to only watch wholesome TV shows and only read good books?
• How has the media affected society? Has TV made society better or worse?
• How does religion influence people's behavior?
• Do you care what other people think of you?
• Do you care about the private behavior of a politician?
• Can you judge a politician by how he behaves toward his family?
• Do you give up your private life when you become a politician?
• Should people behave differently with friends than with family? Do you treat people who are close to you better than strangers, or vice versa?
• Does the behavior of well-known people, such as celebrities and politicians, affect how average people behave?
• Does economic status affect people's behavior? For example, are people more generous if they have more money?
• Who do you admire? Do you try to be like this person (or people)?
• Are there historical figures you admire?
• Who is affected by your behavior?
• In what ways have the choices of others affected you?
• Does your happiness depend on the behavior of others?
• Should you always be on your best behavior?
• Will we be judged for our behavior? Do you believe in a God who punishes bad people and rewards good people?
• Does it always pay to be good?
• How do you act when you are happy? Do you like being around happy people?
• Should people act on their feelings? If you are in a bad mood, can people around you tell?
• Do you believe we have a moral obligation to act happy, even if we do not feel happy?
• Is it possible to change one's behavior?
• Have you changed anything about your behavior?
• Have you started good habits?
• Have you broken bad habits?
• What are some ways to change your behavior?
• Do you set goals to improve yourself?
• What behaviors are expected from children towards their parents?
• Do the clothes you wear affect your behavior? Should school teachers wear casual clothes?
• What behaviors are expected from university and college students?
• Should corporal punishment be illegal?
• Are bad people bad because of circumstances or choices? What about good people?
• Do you think there is such a thing as an evil person, or just a sick person?
• Can bad behavior lead to crime?
• Should parents be held responsible for their children's behavior?
• What would you do if you saw somebody else's child behaving badly in public?
• Should some parent give medicine to their children to calm them down?
• Can you think of a behavior that is 'good' behavior in one culture and a 'bad' behavior in another culture?
• How would you behave in a hospital?
• What is the strangest thing you have ever done?
• Should children be punished in public?
• What kind of punishment do you think is the most effective ?
• What does "misbehavior" mean?
• What can we do to prevent or discourage it
• Is there a behavior considered a 'good' behavior in one culture and a 'bad'
• behavior in another culture? If yes, give examples.
• Can we teach our children good behavior?
• How can we teach our children good behavior?
• How do children acquire good behavior?
• What would you do if your child behaves badly in public?
• What would you do if you saw somebody else's child behaves badly in public?
• Would you spank (To slap on the buttocks with a flat object or with the open hand, as for punishment) your child for bad behavior?
• What would you do if you saw somebody spanking their child behaves for bad behavior?
• What should you do with a child who has very bad behavior?
• Would you teach your child to "hit back" at school if somebody hits them?
• How should we punish children who commit crimes?
• What behavior is not acceptable among friends?
• How should movie stars behave in public?
• Is it OK to show negative types of behavior when you are angry?
• What behaviors make you feel good?
• What behaviors make you feel angry?
• Should children be encouraged to ask questions in class?
• How can teachers stop "bullying" at school?
• Have you ever got embarrassed by your friend's/girlfriend's/husband's misbehavior?
• What is the right behavior to use in a job interview?
• How should you behave when you see someone you don't like?
• What is good behavior?
• What is the right behavior to use in a restaurant?
• At school?
• At a party?
• Can you think of a behavior that is 'good' behavior in one culture and a 'bad' behavior in another culture?
• Can we teach our children good behavior?
• How can we teach our children good behavior?
• How do children acquire good behavior?
• Would you spank your child for bad behavior?
• What would you do if you saw somebody spanking their child for bad behavior?
• Is it acceptable for parents to spank their children?

Conversation Questions
Birthdays

• How are birthdays celebrated in your country?
• What are some birthday traditions you know of from other countries?
• How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
• What is your best birthday memory?
• What is your worst birthday memory?
• Have you ever had a surprise birthday party for yourself or someone else?
• What is the best birthday gift you have ever received?
• What is the worst birthday gift you have ever received?
• What are some things you like to do for your birthday?
• When is your birthday?
• Did your parents give you birthday parties when you were a child?
• In your opinion, What is the best time of year to have a birthday?
• How do people you know celebrate turning 40?
• Do you think getting older (40, 50, 60) is depressing for people, or a happy occasion?
• What do you think is the best age?
• Do you like going to work on your birthday?
• Did you like going to school on your birthday when you were a child?
• Have you ever had a surprise party?
• Whose birthday do you always remember?
• Among your close friends and relatives, whose birthday is coming up next?
• About how many birthday gifts or cards do you send or give to people each year?
• Have you ever forgotten someone's birthday that you should have remembered?
• Do you know any famous people's birthdays? (Are any the same as yours?)
• Do you know of any big events that happened the year you were born?
• What is the best birthday gift you have ever received?
• What is the best birthday gift you have ever given?
• What is the worst birthday gift you have ever received?
• What is the worst birthday gift you have ever given?
• If you are in your teen years, tell how old you will be in twenty years time and say whether you look forward to that age or does it scare you.
• If you could celebrate your own birthday the way you wanted, what would you do?
• Where would you like to go?
• How many people would you invite?
• Would you rather celebrate your birthday with just your relatives or just your friends?
• Do you remember what gifts you received on your last birthday?
• What would you like to get most for your birthday this year?
• Is the cost of a present important to you?
• What kind of gift do you usually prepare for your friend's birthday?
• Your mother's?
• What about for other family members?
• Which is a better present, a well-chosen gift or money?
• Are birthdays really important?
• How do you celebrate your birthday?

Conversation Questions
Body Language

• Why do you think body language is important?
• How do you use body language in your daily life?
• How does body language help you to communicate?
• How does your native culture use body language? What kind of body language do you use at school? What are some examples of body language that boys use? Women? Boys? Girls? Children?
• What actions are threatening?
• What actions are friendly?
• What actions are not allowed?
• What "new" body language have you seen since coming to your new country? did those actions confuse you?
• How does eye contact differ from your native country to your new one?
• How can you misinterpret someone's body language?
• Do you try to use body language when you communicate in English?

Conversation Questions
Books and Reading

• What is your favorite story?
• Who is your favorite author?
• Who is your favorite character?
• What is your favorite genre?
• Action
• Mystery
• Suspence
• Detective
• Science Fiction
• Children's books
• War
• Non-fiction
• Travel books
• Self-help books
• History
• Biography
• Autobiography
• Gothic
• Classic Literature
• Modern Literature
• What is the longest book you have ever read?
• How long did it take you to read it?
• Have you ever belonged to a book club?
• What books did you read?
• What is the funniest book you have ever read?
• The saddest?
• The strangest?
• How many books have you read in your life?
• Is there a time in your life when you read all the time?
• How many hours do you spend reading in a week?
• Have you ever been to a book signing or met an author?
• Do you have any ideas for a story for you to write?
• Do you read books based on recommendations?
• What are some of the books that were recommended to you?
• Were you ever given a bad recommendation?
• Did it change your opinion of the person who recommended the book?
• What books have you recommended for other people?
• How often do you go to the library?
• How many books do you check out at a time?
• How do you choose the books you are going to read?
• How important is the cover of the book.
• Do you watch the movie that came from a book?
• Most people say the book is better than the movie. Is this true for you?
• Did you enjoy reading books in school?
• What was your favorite book growing up?
• Is there a book that you have read more than once?
• What was the title?
• How many times did you read it?
• Is there a book you just couldn't finish?
• What was the title?
• What is your favorite time of day for reading?
• Where is your favorite place to read?
• Do you listen to music while you read?
• Do you often read book before go to bed?
• What factors are important to you when choosing a book to read?
• Reviews?
• A Recommendation from a friend?
• The front cover?
• What was the last book that you read?
• What is your favorite book of all time?
• Have you ever read a book and then watched the movie? Which was better? Why?
• Who is the most famous writer from your country?
• Have you read any of their books?
• Do you think that they are overrated?
• What genre of book do you enjoy most?
• Have you ever tried to read a book in English?
• Do you think that it is more valuable to read a book than to watch television?
• Have you ever lent books to your friends and never got them back?
• Do you think that the internet and television will eventually make books obsolete?

 

Conversation Questions
Bullfighting

Related: Baseball, Basketball, Sports

• Have you ever seen bullfighting?
• Which countries are famous for bullfighting?
• Can you explain what happens at a bullfight?
• Why do some people find bullfighting a wonderful spectacle?
• Why do some people call bullfighting cruel?
• What happens the bulls after they killed?
• Can women be bullfighters?
• If you don't want to ban bullfighting, would you impose restrictions on who watches this kind of sport?
• Do you know anything about "bull-running" in Pamplona, Spain?- would you like to take part in this? Why?/ Why not?
• Would you ban bullfighting in Spain?
• Do you think bullfights, cockfights, dogfights, fish fights and the likes should be banned? Why?
• How do you gamble on bullfighting?

 

:: موضوعات مرتبط: Topics، Speaking، ،

    In the name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful
    To the Youth in Europe and North America,

    The recent events in France and similar ones in some other Western countries have convinced me to directly talk to you about them. I am addressing you, [the youth], not because I overlook your parents, rather it is because the future of your nations and countries will be in your hands; and also I find that the sense of quest for truth is more vigorous and attentive in your hearts.

    I don’t address your politicians and statesmen either in this writing because I believe that they have consciously separated the route of politics from the path of righteousness and truth.

    I would like to talk to you about Islam, particularly the image that is presented to you as Islam. Many attempts have been made over the past two decades, almost since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, to place this great religion in the seat of a horrifying enemy. The provocation of a feeling of horror and hatred and its utilization has unfortunately a long record in the political history of the West.

    Here, I don’t want to deal with the different phobias with which the Western nations have thus far been indoctrinated. A cursory review of recent critical studies of history would bring home to you the fact that the Western governments’ insincere and hypocritical treatment of other nations and cultures has been censured in new historiographies.

    The histories of the United States and Europe are ashamed of slavery, embarrassed by the colonial period and chagrined at the oppression of people of color and non-Christians. Your researchers and historians are deeply ashamed of the bloodsheds wrought in the name of religion between the Catholics and Protestants or in the name of nationality and ethnicity during the First and Second World Wars. This approach is admirable.

    By mentioning a fraction of this long list, I don’t want to reproach history; rather I would like you to ask your intellectuals as to why the public conscience in the West awakens and comes to its senses after a delay of several decades or centuries. Why should the revision of collective conscience apply to the distant past and not to the current problems? Why is it that attempts are made to prevent public awareness regarding an important issue such as the treatment of Islamic culture and thought?

    You know well that humiliation and spreading hatred and illusionary fear of the “other” have been the common base of all those oppressive profiteers. Now, I would like you to ask yourself why the old policy of spreading “phobia” and hatred has targeted Islam and Muslims with an unprecedented intensity. Why does the power structure in the world want Islamic thought to be marginalized and remain latent? What concepts and values in Islam disturb the programs of the super powers and what interests are safeguarded in the shadow of distorting the image of Islam? Hence, my first request is: Study and research the incentives behind this widespread tarnishing of the image of Islam.

    My second request is that in reaction to the flood of prejudgments and disinformation campaigns, try to gain a direct and firsthand knowledge of this religion. The right logic requires that you understand the nature and essence of what they are frightening you about and want you to keep away from.

    I don’t insist that you accept my reading or any other reading of Islam. What I want to say is: Don’t allow this dynamic and effective reality in today’s world to be introduced to you through resentments and prejudices. Don’t allow them to hypocritically introduce their own recruited terrorists as representatives of Islam.

    Receive knowledge of Islam from its primary and original sources. Gain information about Islam through the Qur’an and the life of its great Prophet. I would like to ask you whether you have directly read the Qur’an of the Muslims. Have you studied the teachings of the Prophet of Islam and his humane, ethical doctrines? Have you ever received the message of Islam from any sources other than the media?

    Have you ever asked yourself how and on the basis of which values has Islam established the greatest scientific and intellectual civilization of the world and raised the most distinguished scientists and intellectuals throughout several centuries?

    I would like you not to allow the derogatory and offensive image-buildings to create an emotional gulf between you and the reality, taking away the possibility of an impartial judgment from you. Today, the communication media have removed the geographical borders. Hence, don’t allow them to besiege you within fabricated and mental borders.

    Although no one can individually fill the created gaps, each one of you can construct a bridge of thought and fairness over the gaps to illuminate yourself and your surrounding environment. While this preplanned challenge between Islam and you, the youth, is undesirable, it can raise new questions in your curious and inquiring minds. Attempts to find answers to these questions will provide you with an appropriate opportunity to discover new truths.

    Therefore, don’t miss the opportunity to gain proper, correct and unbiased understanding of Islam so that hopefully, due to your sense of responsibility toward the truth, future generations would write the history of this current interaction between Islam and the West with a clearer conscience and lesser resentment.
    Seyyed Ali Khamenei
    21st Jan. 2015

:: موضوعات مرتبط: Topics، Speaking، ،

 

If you smoke and you still don’t believe that there’s a definite link between smoking and b_ronchial troubles, heart disease and lung cancer, then you are certainly deceiving yourself. No one will accuse you of hypocrisy. Let us just say that you are suffering from a bad case of wishful thinking.

     This needn’t make you too uncomfortable because you are in good company. Whenever the subject of smoking and health is raised, the governments of most countries hear no evil, see no evil and smell no evil. Admittedly, a few governments have taken timid measures. In Britain, for instance, cigarette advertising has been banned on television. The

   conscience of the nation is appeased, while the population continues to puff its way to smoky, cancerous death.

You don’t have to look very far to find out why the official reactions to medical findings have been so luke-warm. The answer is simply money. Tobacco is a wonderful commodity to tax. It’s almost like a tax on our

   daily bread. In tax revenue alone, the government of Britain collects enough from smokers to pay for its entire educational facilities. So while the authorities point out ever so discreetly that smoking may, conceivably, be harmful, it doesn’t do to shout too loudly about it.

This is surely the most short-sighted policy you could imagine. While 20 money is eagerly collected in vast sums with one hand, it is paid out in

increasingly vaster sums with the other. Enormous amounts are spent on cancer research and on efforts to cure people suffering from the disease. Countless valuable lives are lost. In the long run, there is no doubt that everybody would be much better-off if smoking were banned altogether.

  Of course, we are not ready for such drastic action. But if the governments of the world were honestly concerned about the welfare of their peoples, you’d think they’d conduct aggressive anti-smoking campaigns. Far from it! The tobacco industry is allowed to spend staggering sums on advertising. Its advertising is as insidious as it is dishonest. We are never

  shown pictures of real smokers coughing up their lungs early in the morning. That would never do. The advertisements always depict virile, clean-shaven young men. They suggest it is manly to smoke, even positively healthy! Smoking is associated with the great open-air life, with beautiful girls, true love and togetherness. What utter nonsense!

   For a start, governments could begin by banning all cigarette and tobacco advertising and should then conduct anti-smoking advertising campaigns of their own. Smoking should be banned in all public places like theatres, cinemas and restaurants. Great efforts should be made to inform young people especially of the dire consequences of taking up the

   habit. A horrific warning — say, a picture of a death’s head — should be included in every packet of cigarettes that is sold. As individuals we are certainly weak, but if governments acted honestly and courageously, they could protect us from ourselves.

:: موضوعات مرتبط: Topics، Speaking، ،

‘It’s high time men ceased to regard women as second-class citizens’

    This is supposed to be an enlightened age, but you wouldn’t think so if you could hear what the average man thinks of the average woman. Women won their independence years ago. After a long, bitter struggle, they now enjoy the same educational opportunities as men in most parts of ‘the world. They have proved repeatedly that they are equal and often superior to men in almost every field. The hard-fought battle for recognition has been won, but it is by no means over. It is men, not women who still carry on the sex war because their attitude remains basically hostile. Even in the most progressive societies, women continue to be regarded as second-rate citizens. To hear some men talk, you’d think that women belonged to a different species!

On the surface, the comments made by men about women’s abilities seem light-hearted. The same tired jokes about women drivers are repeated day in, day out. This apparent light-heartedness does not conceal the real contempt that men feel for women. However much men sneer at women, their claims to superiority are not borne out by statistics. Let’s consider the matter of driving, for instance. We all know that women cause far fewer accidents than men. They are too conscientious and responsible to drive like maniacs. But this is a minor quibble. Women have succeeded in any job you care to name. As politicians, soldiers, doctors, factory-hands, university professors, farmers, company directors, lawyers, bus-conductors, scientists and presidents of countries they have often put men to shame. And we must remember that they frequently succeed brilliantly in all these fields in addition to bearing and rearing children. Yet men go on maintaining the fiction that there are many jobs women can’t do. Top-level political negotiation between countries, business and banking are almost entirely controlled by men, who jealously guard their so-called ‘rights’. Even in otherwise enlightened places like Switzerland women haven’t even been given the vote. This situation is preposterous! The arguments that men put forward to exclude women from these fields are all too familiar. Women, they say, are unreliable and irrational. They depend too little on cool reasoning and too much on intuition and instinct to arrive at decisions. They are not even capable of thinking clearly. Yet when women prove their abilities, men refuse to acknowledge them and give them their due. So much for a man’s ability to think clearly!

The truth is that men cling to their supremacy because of their basic inferiority complex. They shun real competition. They know in their hearts that women are superior and they are afraid of being beaten at their own game. One of the most important tasks in the world is to achieve peace between the nations. You can be sure that if women were allowed to sit round the conference table, they would succeed brilliantly, as they always do, where men have failed for centuries. Some things are too important to be left to men!

:: موضوعات مرتبط: Topics، Speaking، ،