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Updated Nov. 16, 2008

IELTS Part 2 and Part 3 Topics and Questions

Page 34

166.  Someone Who is Good at Cooking   (Sept. 6, 2008)

167.  A Work of Art (2)  (Sept. 6, 2008)

168.  A Stage in Your Life you Enjoyed (2) (Sept. 6, 2008)  

169.  An Educational Trip  (Sept. 6, 2008)  

170.  Something You Want to Buy  (Sept. 6, 2008)  

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

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166.  Someone Who is Good at Cooking  (Sept. 6, 2008)

        Describe someone you know who is good at cooking.

            You should say:

                          who this person is

                          how you know him or her

                          what kinds of food they cook 

     and explain why you think this person is so good at cooking. 

                                 

See Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Do other people also think he/she is a good cook?

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Part 3

Food and Eating Places

Food Preferences

• What kind of food do Chinese people like? 

• Why do they like those foods?

• What kinds of food do you like? (Why?)

Eating Places

• Do people today cook at home as much as they used to, several decades ago? (Why?/Why not?)

• What do you think is the most important meal of the day? (Why?)

• Nowadays, many people don't eat at home (or, don't eat together as a family) as much as they used to. What do you think is the importance of a family eating together? FQx2

• In the future, do you think families will be eating together more than they do now, or less? FQx2

Learning to Cook (at School)

• Do you think it's important to know how to cook?

• Do you think children should be taught how to cook at home?

• Do you think it's a good idea to have cooking classes in school? FQ

• Do you think it's suitable for boys to learn cooking?

• How do you think young children (e.g., 8 to 12 year-olds) would react to (would be affected by) cooking lessons in school?

• (Similar to above) What effects (or results) do you think would result from having cooking classes in school?

Nutrition & Food Safety

Food Safety

• How important do you think food safety is?  FQ

• (Similar to above) Would you say that safe and healthy food is important? 

• In your opinion, are the vegetables that people in China eat, safe?

• Do you think the government has a responsibility to ensure that the agricultural produce people buy is safe to eat?

• Do you think having laws is enough to ensure that agricultural produce is safe?  (Hints: a) government inspectors and, b) law enforcement)

Nutrition

• What's your opinion of (American style) fast food?

• In general, do people in China pay a lot of attention to the nutrition of the food they eat?

• Do you think people should pay attention to nutrition?

• Do you think good nutrition is important for children?

• What's your opinion of the food in your school/university cafeteria?

• How do you think the food in your school/university cafeteria could be improved?

• Do you think schools have a responsibility to ensure that the food they provide is healthy and  nutritious? (Why?)

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167.  A Work of Art (2) (Sept. 6, 2008)

        Describe a sculpture or other work of art that you have seen.

            You should say:

                          when you first saw this work of art   

                          where you saw it 

                          what it looked like           

 and explain your feelings about this work of art when you saw it. 

Notes

• Possibly the wording is, "Describe a sculpture or other work of art that you have seen and that you liked."

• Also see Notes

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Possible follow-up questions:

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See also The Part 3 questions for Topic #11,  Topic #108 (on traditions & culture) and Topic #118 (on handicrafts)

Part 3

Tastes for Art in China

• What are the most popular types of art in China? FQ

• (Similar to above) What kinds of art do people in China generally like? FQ

• Do young people and older people have the same tastes in art? FQ

• What kinds of art do young people prefer? FQ

Art Galleries

• Why do many people go to art galleries?

• Do young people (like to) go to art galleries or art exhibitions?

• Do you ever visit art galleries?

Artists

• Do you think it's possible for everyone (or, anyone) to become an artist?

• Many artists make very little money from their work. Do you think the government should financially support these artists?

• Do you think government should invest money in promoting art in society?

• There are a number of cities in the world which have works of art (sculptures or statues or other works of art) displayed in a prominent public place and the cities have paid the artists a lot of money for these works of art. What do you think of this?

The Role of Art in Society

• Do you think art plays an important role in society? (Why?/Why not?)

• (Similar to above) What is the value ( = the importance) of art for society? FQ

• What are the differences between modern art in China and traditional Chinese art?

• Would you say the design of a car is a kind of art?

Art and Children

• What benefits are there for a child to be exposed to art from an early age?

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168.  A Stage in Your Life you Enjoyed (2) (Sept. 6, 2008)  

         Describe an important stage of your life.   *            

                You should say:

                                how old you were  *

                                where you were living at the time  *

                                what you were doing during this stage   *

                and explain why you think this was an important stage of your life.  *

Notes

• So far, very little information is available on the wording of this topic.  

• The wording might be, "Describe the most enjoyable stage of your life." or, "Describe the most memorable stage of your life.". You should choose a past stage of your life (or possibly your present stage of life), not a future stage of your life.

• The Part 3 questions are very similar to those for Topic # 75, 'A Stage of Your Life' (January 20, 2007). This new topic might be Topic # 75, returning to the test exactly the same as before!  See the Notes I wrote for Topic #75.

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Do you think there will be more changes, later? * (unclear)

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Part 3

The Legal Age for Certain Activities

• In China, what is the legal age of adulthood? (I.e., At what age does one become an adult, according to the law?)

• What sorts of things can people do when they reach this legal age of adulthood?

• Since young people seem to be maturing faster than before, do you think it is now necessary (or, will be necessary) to change this legal age for reaching adulthood?

• What is the minimum age for getting married in China?

• Do you think there are any benefits from delaying marriage (i.e., from getting married later rather than early?)

Reaching Certain Age 'Milestones'

• In China, what birthdays, representing reaching a new stage of life, are especially celebrated?

• (Similar to above) In Chinese culture, what are some of the important life events (of individuals) that are celebrated?

• How do you think people can best prepare themselves (or be prepared) for the next stage in their lives?

Old People

• What is the social status of old people in Chinese society?

• In what ways does the government in China (try to) ensure the welfare of old people?

• How do you think people can best prepare themselves for retirement?

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169.  An Educational Trip  (Sept. 6, 2008)  

Describe an educational visit that you went on when you were in school.

            You should say:

                          who went with you

                          where you went

                          what you did there       

            and explain what you learned on this trip.

Notes

• The wording might be, 'an educational trip' rather than, 'an educational visit'.

• This is called, "a school excursion". This activity is not common in Chinese schools. Examples of school excursions are trips to: unique natural places, farms (excursion for city kids), botanical gardens, museums, historical sites, exhibitions, performances such as plays or concerts, ...

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Possible follow-up questions:

• Did you friends go with you on that trip?

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Part 3

School Excursions

• What are some suitable places for school students to go for an educational visit? FQ

• What do you think are the benefits (advantages) of taking children to visit places where they can learn something? FQx2

• Do you think school excursions (educational trips) are important?

• Do you think really do (or can) learn something from an educational trip? (How?)

• What role do you think the teacher should play on these school excursions? FQ

• (Similar to above) Do you think the teacher is more important than the things the students can see on a school excursion?

• What are some examples of places where parents could take their children for an 'educational visit'?

Studying at Home

• In general, what do you think are the advantages and disadvantages for a person to study at home instead of attending a school or university?

The Value of School

• Do you think it's important for people to get an education? (Why?)

• Can you think of any other ways for children to learn, besides classroom instruction? FQ

• Can you think of any outdoor activities in which children can learn something?

• What can they learn from these activities?

• How had education in China changed in the last few decades?

• Do you think education should be free?

• Do you think schools are really necessary for getting an education?

• How do you think schools will change in the future? 

• Do you think more people will study at home in the future?

Children Studying at Home

[The words, "study at home" can have two meanings: a) Not attend school but instead stay at home and learn things there from books and from the parents acting as teachers, and b) Do school work at home = do homework in the evenings and on weekends but attend school during the day. Most of these questions seem to refer to meaning 'a'.]

• Do you think children can study at home?

• In the home, how do you think parents can help their children learn?

• What are some things that parents could provide for their children to encourage learning at home?

• Do you think children in poverty stricken areas  (i.e., with poor school facilities or none at all) could benefit from studying at home? 

• Do you think modern technology could help these children study at home? (Hint: internet & television)

Adults Studying at Home

• Do you think it's necessary for adults do any any study?

• Do you think it's possible for an adult to study at home, for example, for a degree? * (Hint: internet)

• For adults, what are (or, what would be) the advantages from studying at home?

Further Education

• Do you think adults should (ever) continue studying after they start working?

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170.  Something You Want to Buy  (Sept. 6, 2008)  

Describe something special you want to buy in the future.

            You should say:

                          (what it is *)

                          what it looks like *

                          how long you have wanted to buy it

                          who you want to buy it for *

             and explain why this thing is important to you. 

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Possible follow-up questions:

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Part 3

Shopping

• Do you like shopping?

• How often do you go shopping?

• Do you think shopping is a good way to pass the time?

• Some people say shopping is a waste of time. What's your view on this?

• Which do you think is better, shopping on your own or with another person?

• In general, how are men and women different when it comes to shopping?

Advertising

• Do you think advertising plays a very big role in determining what people buy?

• In China nowadays, what things are being advertised quite a lot? (Hint: luxury goods such as cars)

• What are the different way that products or services are advertised?

• Which do you think is the most effective form of advertising?

• What do you think is the function (or, purpose) of advertising?

• (Similar to above) To be successful, what do you think is the most important quality that an advertisement needs to have?

• What do you think are the good and the bad points about advertisements?

• Do you think some advertising can have negative effects on children?

Consumerism

• Do you think it's good (for the national economy) if more people buy more things?

• In the future, what sorts of changes do you think we will see in the things people buy? 

• Do you think there will be any changes to the way people buy things in the future?

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