1.

People attend college or university for many different reasons (for example, new

experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge). Why do you think people attend

college or university? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents are the best teachers.

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

3. Nowadays, food has become easier to prepare. Has this change improved the way people

live? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

4. It has been said, “Not everything that is learned is contained in books.” Compare and

contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. In your

opinion, which source is more important? Why?

5. A company has announced that it wishes to build a large factory near your community.

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this new influence on your community. Do

you support or oppose the factory? Explain your position.

6. If you could change one important thing about your hometown, what would you change?

Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

7. How do movies or television influence people’s behavior? Use reasons and specific

examples to support your answer.

8. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television has destroyed

communication among friends and family. Use specific reasons and examples to support

your opinion.

9. Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which

place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

10. “When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with

success.” Do you agree or disagree with the quotation above? Use specific reasons and

examples to explain your position.

same amount of money to their students’ sports activities as they give to their university

libraries. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

12. Many people visit museums when they travel to new places. Why do you think people

visit museums? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

13. Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people prefer to prepare

and eat food at home. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support

your answer.

14. Some people believe that university students should be required to attend classes.

Others believe that going to classes should be optional for students. Which point of view do

you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

15. Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are the qualities of a

good neighbor? Use specific details and examples in your answer.

16. It has recently been announced that a new restaurant may be built in your

neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details

to support your answer.

17. Some people think that they can learn better by themselves than with a teacher.

Others think that it is always better to have a teacher. Which do you prefer? Use specific

reasons to develop your essay.

18. What are some important qualities of a good supervisor (boss)? Use specific details and

examples to explain why these qualities are important.

19. Should governments spend more money on improving roads and highways, or should

governments spend more money on improving public transportation (buses, trains,

subways)? Why? Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

20. It is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big city. Do you agree or

disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to develop your essay.

specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

22. We all work or will work in our jobs with many different kinds of people. In your

opinion, what are some important characteristics of a co-worker (someone you work closely

with)? Use reasons and specific examples to explain why these characteristics are

important.

23. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Sometimes it is better not to

tell the truth. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

24. In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do you think this

is a good idea? Support your opinion by using specific reasons and details.

25. A person you know is planning to move to your town or city. What do you think this

person would like and dislike about living in your town or city? Why? Use specific reasons

and details to develop your essay.

26. It has recently been announced that a large shopping center may be built in your

neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details

to support your answer.

27. It has recently been announced that a new movie theater may be built in your

neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details

to support your answer.

28. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People should sometimes do

things that they do not enjoy doing. Use specific reasons and examples to support your

answer.

29. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television, newspapers,

magazines, and other media pay too much attention to the personal lives of famous people

such as public figures and celebrities. Use specific reasons and details to explain your

opinion.
30. Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human activity.

Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is your

opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

31. It has recently been announced that a new high school may be built in your community.

Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details in your answer.

32. Some people spend their entire lives in one place. Others move a number of times

throughout their lives, looking for a better job, house, community, or even climate. Which

do you prefer: staying in one place or moving in search of another place? Use reasons and

specific examples to support your opinion.

33. Is it better to enjoy your money when you earn it or is it better to save your money for

some time in the future? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

34. You have received a gift of money. The money is enough to buy either a piece of

jewelry you like or tickets to a concert you want to attend. Which would you buy? Use

specific reasons and details to support your answer.

35. You must select a person to teach others to do a job. Which one of the following is the

most important for you to consider in making your selection?

 the person’s education

 the person’s work experience

 the quality of the person’s previous work

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

36. Businesses should hire employees for their entire lives. Do you agree or disagree? Use

specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

37. Countries, businesses, and schools are three areas that need good leaders. Choose one

of these three areas and describe the most important qualities of a leader in that area.

Explain why these qualities are important, using specific examples and details.
38. Choose one of the following transportation vehicles and explain why you think it has

changed people’s lives.

 Automobiles

 Bicycles

 Airplanes

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

39. Do you agree or disagree that progress is always good? Use specific reasons and

examples to support your answer.

40. Learning about the past has no value for those of us living in the present. Do you agree

or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

41. The expression “Never, never give up” means to keep trying and never stop working for

your goals. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Use specific reasons and

examples to support your answer.

42. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? With the help of technology,

students nowadays can learn more information and learn it more quickly. Use specific

reasons and examples to support your answer.

43. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Games are as important for

adults as they are for children. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

44. Awards and prizes are given for excellence in various fields. Do these awards and prizes

serve a useful purpose? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

45. Some people think that human needs for farmland, housing, and industry are more

important than saving land for endangered animals. Do you agree or disagree with this

point of view? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
46. What is a very important skill a person should learn in order to be successful in the

world today? Choose one skill and use specific reasons and examples to support your

choice.

47. Resolving problems between individuals or groups is important. What should be

considered or kept in mind in resolving problems between individuals or groups? Use

specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

48. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Self-confidence is the most

important factor for success in school or at work. Use specific reasons and examples to

support your opinion.

49. Why do you think some people are attracted to dangerous sports or other dangerous

activities? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

50. Which is more important for success: the natural ability you are born with or hard

work? Explain your opinion, using specific reasons and examples.

51. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents or other adult relatives

should make important decisions for their older (15 to 18 year-old) teenaged children. Use

specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

52. Some people like to travel with a companion. Other people prefer to travel alone. Which

do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

53. Some people prefer to get up early in the morning and start the day’s work. Others

prefer to get up later in the day and work until late at night. Which do you prefer? Use

specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

54. What are the important qualities of a good son or daughter? Have these qualities

changed or remained the same over time in your culture? Use specific reasons and

examples to support your answer.

55. Some people prefer to work for a large company. Others prefer to work for a small

company. Which would you prefer? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.
56. People work because they need money to live. What are some other reasons that

people work? Discuss one or more of these reasons. Use specific examples and details to

support your answer.

57. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Face-to-face communication is

better than other types of communication, such as letters, e-mail, or telephone calls. Use

specific reasons and details to support your answer.

58. Some people like to do only what they already do well. Other people prefer to try new

things and take risks. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support

your choice.

59. Some people believe that success in life comes from taking risks or chances. Others

believe that success results from careful planning. In your opinion, what does success come

from? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

60. What change would make your hometown more appealing to people your age? Use

specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.