SPEECH TOPICS

Describe a typical dish from your country You should say: - What it looks like - What it tastes like - When people usually eat it And say if you like it or not and why Talk about a job you have done or would like to do in the future You should say: -Why you chose that job - What the good things about that job are - What the difficulties of doing that job are And describe how it is different to other jobs Describe your typical day when you are working or studying You should say: - What things you do - How long you spend doing those things - What the most difficult thing you have to do is And say if you usually enjoy those days or not, and why Describe an animal that lives in the wild in your country. You should say: -What it looks like -What its habits are -How it interacts with people And say if you think there will be more or less of this animal in the future and why Describe a TV programme that you like You should say: -What kind of programme it is - What you like about it - How you first became interested in that programme And say how that programme is different from other TV programmes that you like Talk about something you are reading at the moment or have read recently

You should say: - How and why you got it - How long you have been reading it - If you would like to read something else by the same writer And say what kind of person might like to read the same thing Describe an ecological problem in your country: You should say: - What the problem is - Why it happens - How it can be solved And say if you think it will be solved in the near future or not, and why

EXAM TOPICS

Beautiful Places

Vocabulary

1. breathtaking 2. serene3. heaven on earth 4. scenic 5. environment 6. luxury7. paradise 8. picturesque 9. retreat10. hidden treasures

Part 2Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.

You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a beautiful place to visit in your country.You should say:

where it is how to get there what there is to do when you are there

and explain why you recommend this place.

Part 3Attitudes to tourism

4 Why do you think people like to travel to different places in their free time?

4 How do you see tourism changing in your country in the future?

Conserving the countryside In what ways is the countryside in danger in your country?

Historic buildings and monuments

3Why are historic buildings and monuments important to a city?3 Is it better to keep old buildings, or build new modern ones?

Family

Vocabulary

1. Close-knit 2. Immediate [family]3. Genealogy 4. Family tree5. Relations 6. Black sheep [of the family] 7. Run[s] in the family 8. Distant relatives 9. Matriarch and patriarch 10.Guardian

Part 2Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe the person in your family who you most admire.You should say:

what their relationship is to you what they have done in their life what they do now

and explain why you admire them so much.

Part 3

Attitudes to family

4 In what ways have families in your country changed in the last 10 years?

4 Should husbands and wives have different roles within the family? Why (not)?

Family responsibilities5 What responsibilities do parents have towards their children and

children towards their parents?

3 How do you plan to raise your family?

Family comparisons 6 How are American families and Chinese families different and similar?

6How was your upbringing different from your grandparents?

Shopping

Vocabulary

1. thrift store 2. coupon3. shopping spree4. Black Friday 5. boutique 6. browsing 7. window shopping8. rip-off

9. discount 10. recommended retail price [RRP]

Part 2Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.

You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe your favorite shop.You should say:

where it is what things it sells what sort of people are its customers

and explain why you like the shop so much.

Part 3Things to buy

What typical things can visitors to your country buy? What are some of the most expensive and the least expensive things

you can buy in your country?

Money3 How do Chinese people compare to American people in terms of the

way we spend and save money?

3 Do you think that people are happier if they have money? Why (not)?

Shopping3 What can shops do to make shopping more pleasant for their

customers?

Name some shops in your country and describe them. Eating and food

Vocabulary

1. carbohydrates 2. diet 3. digest 4. healthy 5. appetite 6. Drive-thru [window] 7. famished 8. overweight9. recipe 10. food pyramid

Part 2Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.

You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a special occasion when you had a really enjoyable meal.You should say:

what the occasion was

who was at the meal what you ate

and explain why the meal was so enjoyable.

Part 3Attitudes to food

What do you think a healthy diet consists of and what does it mean to be healthy?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of fast food?

Food Education Do you think children should be taught about healthy diets and

cooking at school? Why (not)?3 Do you think your country does a good job of educating people

on food and healthy living? Why or why not?

Food Comparison

6How has food changed in your country over the last 50 years? How will it change in 50 years from now?

4 How is your diet different from American diet? What are the benefits of each?

Travelling

Vocabulary

1. vagabond

2. overnight bag 3. [youth] hostel 4. cruise ship 5. reservation 6. set-off7. hitch-hike 8. camping 9. excursion 10.guidebook

Part 2Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.

You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a memorable journey you have made.You should say:

where you were going how you were travelling why you were making the journey

and explain what made the journey so memorable.

Part 3Travelling and learning

3 What do people learn from travelling?

4 Do you think the growth of international tourism is a good thing? Why (not)?

Tourism and culture

4How has tourism changed the way people in your country live?

How should tourists behave when they visit your country?

Ways of travelling

4What do you think is the best way for a tourist to travel if they want to learn about your country?

5What kind of information can you find in a guidebook? Is it useful, why or why not?

School

Vocabulary

1. thesis2. lecture3. instruct4. participate5. cheat6. counselor7. bare minimum 8. plagiarism 9. term

Part 2Take one minute to prepare a talk on the following subject.

Take notes if you like and remember to include reasons and examples.

You should then speak for between one and two minutes.

Describe a school which you went to.You should say:

when you went there how many people studied there how long you spent there

and explain what you liked and disliked about it.

Part 3Attitudes to education

4What are the differences and similarities between public and private education in your country?

3 Is a good education more important to a boy or a girl? Why?

The focus of education

4How well do you think schools prepare young people for working life?

4What does education in your country focus on, and how do schools reinforce this focus?

Education comparison

6How has education changed in your country in the last ten years?

6How does education in your country compare to American education?