148. A Recent Change (2)
Describe a recent change in your life (that changed your life in a good way). (For example, a new
job or a new school).*
You should say:
what the change was
what caused this change
how you benefited from this change
and explain how you feel about this change.Notes
• It is possible that this topic is still being used but I don't think so because it hasn't been
reported, even once, for many tests.
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Possible follow-up questions:
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Part 3
See also the Part 3 questions for Topic #92 and Topic # 47.
Change in One's Life
• Do you like change in your life? (Why?/Why not?)
• Do you think change is important in life?
• Why do you think some people try to resist change in their lives?
• What kinds of people are more likely to resist change?
• And what kinds of people do you think are more likely to embrace change?
• Do you think it's good for people to sometimes change their job? (Why?/Why not?)
• What do you think are some of the problems that can occur when someone changes their
work (or, job)?
• Do you think it's a good idea sometimes for people to changed their career, for example, to
change from being a reporter to being a doctor? (= Do you think this is ever a good idea? =

and explain why you think this thing is so useful.*
or
and explain what influence this equipment has on your life. *Notes
• Most people just report that their topic was "Equipment", not specifically "Electrical
equipment". That is, the topic probably allows you to include a piece of equipment that
doesn't use electricity. But to be safe, it is probably best to prepare to talk about electrical
equipment.
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Possible follow-up questions:
• Are they (that thing you just spoke about) very expensive (= dear) for the average person to
buy? (Be careful: Usually the plural is used when speaking in general.)
• Do your friends also use this thing? *
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Part 3
See also: Part 3 questions for Topic #51 'A Piece of Electrical Equipment'.
Electrical Appliances in the Home
• What electrical appliances do you (or people in China) have at home? See Vocab. list Also
see Note
• What do people use these appliances for (= what work do people do, using these
appliances)?
• What benefits do people get from using these things?
• Do you think these things are important?
• Why do modern people use so many electrical appliances (work tools) in the home?
• What electrical appliances (or, electrical equipment) that people use in the home or office
have made it easier for people to work or study?

• Do you think modern inventions are becoming simpler than before or more complex?
• Would you say computers are 'user-friendly'?
• (Besides the computer), what do you think has been the most important invention of
mankind? (Perhaps the computer is allowable as an answer - the question is unclear.)
• What would you say is the best invention in your family home?
• What skills and knowledge do you think people need to be an inventor?
• How do you feel about modern science and technology? For example, do we really need to
be continuously presented with new products and new inventions?
• Do you think it's good that new inventions are appearing so often (or, so quickly) (in the
shops or, in society)?
• Why do you think we are constantly being urged to buy new products?
• What are some of the major products that China produces? *
• What are some of the major products that are produced in your part of China?
• Compare these products with similar products produced overseas.
• If you were the manager of a company that had produced a new invention, how would you
promote it?
• If a new invention were going to be used by many people, what kind of testing of this
product do you think would be necessary? (Hint: health & safety checks - give examples)
• In what ways do you think technology will develop in the next, say, 20 or 30 years?
• Do you think there will be any negative effects resulting from future technology?
• What conditions will be necessary to encourage the future development of technology in
China?
• If you were the leader of China, what would you do to promote the development of
technology in China?
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An Organization
Describe a large organization that you know about. (For example - a place (where people work)
such as a company, a factory or a government organization). *
You should say

organizations?
• Why are so many people willing to accept a job in a small organization?
Shift Work
• Why do some jobs require employees to work both day and night?
• Can you give some examples of jobs where people have to work during the night?
• Why do some companies work 24 hours a day while others don't?
• Why do some people choose to do this kind of work?
• Why are (some) shops open in the night (or, in the evenings)?
• Would you like to do shift work, for example, working during the night in a 24-hour
convenience store?
• Why do some people shop at these 24-hour convenience stores?
• Do you think employees should be given the choice of whether or not to do shift work?
• How do you think doing that kind of work impacts a person's (personal & family) life?
• Do you think there are any advantages from working at night?
• Why do you think some people like working at night?
Factory Work/Company Management
• Would you like to work in a factory?
• Compare working in a factory and working in an office (= doing 'white-collar' work).
• Compare mental work and physical work.
• Which do most people prefer, to work in a factory or to have a white-collar job?
• If you were the managing a factory to make some product, how would you organize it?
• When managing an organization such as a company, what do you think are the most
important things to pay attention to?
Industries
Types of Industries in Your Hometown
• What kind of work do people do in your hometown?
• Around where you live, what (different) kinds of companies (or, employers) are there?
• Are these industries (or, these factories or these companies) all the same size?
• How have these service industries (or all industries, in general) developed in the recent few
decades?

151. Some Interesting News (2) (May 10, 2008) Possibly Still in Use
152. A Good Law (May 10, 2008) Possibly Still in Use
153. A Performance (May 10, 2008) (Probably no longer used)
154. Something You Would Like to Learn (May 10, 2008) (Probably no longer
used)
155. A Tourist Attraction (May 10, 2008) (Probably no longer used)

RETURN TO PART 2 TOPIC INDEX
FQ = frequent question = a question that has frequently been reported = a question that is probably
in the examiner's question book
* = I am not sure of the words here.
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151. Some Interesting News (2)
Describe an interesting news story you recently read in a newspaper or saw on TV.
You should say
when you read or saw this news *
where it happened
how you got this news
what the contents of this news story were
what people were mentioned in this news report
and explain how (or why) this story was interesting to you.
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Possible follow-up questions:
• Do people in China like interesting news stories?
• Have you talked about this news story with other people?
• Have you seen this story in other places?
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• Do you think there is any value in reading old newspapers (such as 70-year-old newspapers
in the public library)?
Choices of News Media
• Do people in China generally prefer to get their news from newspapers, TV or the radio?
• Which news do you think is better - TV news or news on the radio? (Compare them)
• (Possibly the above question is simply:) Do people in China prefer to watch TV or listen to
the radio? (Why?)
• Do you think TV makes (or can make) the news more interesting than the radio (or
newspapers)?
• What are some differences between newspapers and magazines? (Possibly the question is
referring to news content or possibly it is just a general question.)
• How are modern news media and the old forms of news media different? (Compare them)
• Do many people get their news from the internet?
• Do you think the news from the internet and the news from newspapers is the same?
• Would you say the quality of news reporting is the same on TV, in newspapers and on the
internet? (Compare them)
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of getting news from the internet (i.e., the
internet news services)?
• What effects do you think the internet is having on the news that is available to people?
• How do you think the future will develop - do you think people will more and more use the
internet for getting their news or will they continue to read newspapers (or get their news
from TV)? (Compare the two that are used & talk about advantages of internet news)
• Do you think the internet might one day replace the other news media, such as newspapers,
TV & radio as the main way people get their news?
"Infotainment"
• Some people say that news reports, especially on TV, are changing more and more into a
form of entertainment. Do you agree?
• Do you think it's a good thing to make news more "entertaining"?
• Do you think the news programs on TV should be more entertaining? (I.e., do you think
these programs are rather boring at the moment?)

• Do you think journalist have much effect (on influence) on what average people think?
• How do you think journalists (or, reporters) can (or do) influence people?
• Do you think journalists help shape people's attitudes (and interests) or do you think they
simply reflect the attitudes (and interests) that the readers already have?
Television
• Do people in China prefer to watch TV or listen to the radio? (Why? Compare them.)
• Are there any differences between the ways people in the cities and people in the
countryside watch TV and listen to the radio?
• When do people usually watch TV and listen to the radio?
• Do you watch TV very often?
• What kinds of people do you think watch TV a lot?
• Would you describe watching a lot of TV as a hobby or as a problem?
• In the future, do you think the internet will replace TV as our main source of entertainment?
• Television stations often use different ways to try to increase their ratings (their viewing
audience). Can you think of any examples of this?
• Do you think these ways of increasing ratings are reasonable?

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A Good Law
Describe a good law in your country.
You should say
what the law is
how you first learned about this law
who benefits from this law (or, who is affected by this law)
and explain why you think this is a good law. *Notes
• "*" = a guessed question

• What do you think of China's 'One Child Policy'? Is it a good law in your opinion?
• What is the difference between a (government) policy and a law?
The Nature of Laws
• Do you think all laws are fair?
• In many cultures there are stories (legends) about people who 'rob from the rich to give to
the poor'. Do you think it's suitable to tell this kind of story to children?
• Do you think it's morally right to have a death penalty?
Abiding by the Law
• In general, would you say Chinese people like having laws?
• How successful do you think the laws are in your country? (successful in achieving the aim
of the laws)
• Do you think most people in China abide by the law? (Why?/Why not?)
• Would you say the number of crimes committed in China has increased or, instead, has
decreased in the last few years (e.g., 20 years)?
• Can you suggest any ways to solve the problem of people breaking the law (that you just
mentioned)?
• Do you think it's important for people to obey laws?
• What benefits are there for society when people obey the law?
• What are some ways that people can be encouraged to obey the law?
• What are some ways that we could reduce the number of violations of the law?
• Can you give any examples of what is illegal in China?
• What are some examples of crimes?
• Why do you think some people break the law?
• What kinds of people commit crimes?
• Many people think that an occasional, minor breach of the law is ok. What do you think?
• Do you think there are ever any circumstances when it's alright to break the law (or, to
ignore the law)?
• What kinds of crime are "understandable"?
• Do you think it's a crime if somebody accidentally breaks the law?
• Under what circumstances can a person who has committed a crime escape punishment?

• Why do we have defense lawyers for people who are arrested and taken to court?
• Do police officers and lawyers have the same social status in China?
• Who do people respect more, the police or lawyers?
• Why do you think some people want to work as lawyers?
• What personal qualities (& skills) does a person need to be a lawyer?
International Law
• Do you think it is possible to have international laws?
• What areas would/should international laws cover?
• In what situations (or, areas of activity) do you think international law is most important?
• Do you think international law is useful/effective/necessary?
• What are the benefits of having international laws?
• Can you think of any examples of international law?
• Do you think we need to have international laws in order to help protect the environment?
• What effects does international law have on the behaviour of people/governments?
• How effective do you think international law is in regulating (controlling) the behaviour of
people/governments?