Surroundings / The Location of your Home      

• What is the environment like around your flat/house?

• What facilities does that location offer?

• Are the transport facilities to (or near) your home very good?

• (Similar to above) Is it easy to travel to and from your home?

• Would you say it's a good place to live?

• (Similar to above) Would you recommend that as a good place (a good location) to live?

3.  Your Hometown     

Notes:

    - Your 'hometown' is the place where you grew up, not necessarily the place where you were born.

    - Sometimes the questions below are used not for your hometown but for the place where you are living now, even if the word, "hometown" is used in a question below.

    - Several questions here are similar because there is more than one set of questions for the topic, "Your Hometown"

 See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 3. Your Hometown  

 The Place

• Where do you come from? 

• Where do you live at the moment? 

General Information about the Place

• What's that place like?

• What kind of place is your hometown (or, the place your are living in now)?

• (Similar to above) Tell me something about your hometown.  

Size / Countryside or City

• Is that a big city or a small town (or, a village in the countryside)?

• Do you prefer to live in a big city or in the countryside?

• (Similar to above) Would you prefer to live in a big city or in the countryside?

• (For you,) what benefits are there from living in a big city?

Your Feelings about the Place

• Why did you choose to live here/there? (If not living in your hometown)

• Do you like _____? (The place you are living in now / your hometown) (Why?/Why not?)

• Is there anything you don't like about your hometown?  See Note

• What would you say is the best thing about the place where you're living?  See Note

• (Similar to above) What's the most satisfying thing about this place?

• What's the most interesting thing about your hometown/where you're living now?

• Do you like living here/there?

• (Similar to above) Would you say that's a good place to live?

• (Similar to above) Would you recommend that place to others (as a good place to live)?

Past Tense or Present Perfect Tense

• How long have you been living there/here?

• Has your hometown changed much in the past few years? (e.g. the past 10 to 50 years)

• Compared to the past, would you say your hometown today is more suitable for living in, or less suitable?

Future Plans

• Do you plan to live there/here for a long time?  

• Have you ever thought about moving to live somewhere else? (Why?/Why not?)

• (Similar to above) Do you think you'll always live there?

• (Similar to above) Do you plan to continue living there (or, here) in the future?

• (Similar to above) Do you think you will change the place where you are living?

• What city would you like to live in (in the future)?  

Transportation in Your Hometown or Where you are Living Now

• What's the traffic situation like in your hometown (or, where you are living now)?

• (Similar to above) Is transportation very convenient in your hometown?

• (Similar to above) Is transportation very convenient around where you live?

4.  Transportation

See Also 'All Part 1 Questions' 39. Transport

Transportation Where you Live (or, in your hometown)

• What forms of transportation do you have where you live (in your hometown)?

• (Similar to above) What's the transportation like where you live (in your hometown)?

• (Similar to above) How convenient is the transportation where you live (or, in your hometown)?

• Do you often use public transportation?

Having/Driving a Car

• Do you (ever / usually) drive a car?

Driver's License

For the words, "get (or have) a driver's license" the words, "know how to drive" or "learn to drive" might be used.

• Do you (know how to) drive a car? 

• (Similar to above) Do you have a driver's license? (Why?/Why not?) (U.S. = a "driving license") 

• When did you get your driver's license? 

• Do you think it's important to get (or, to have) a driver's license?

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's necessary to learn to drive?

Driving Skills / Safety

• Do you think it's important to pay attention to safety when driving?

• Do you think it's important (for everyone who drives) to drive well? 

• (Similar to above) How important do you think it is for drivers to have good driving skills? 

• What advice would you give people about safe driving?

Age

• (Similar to above) In the future, when you have a child, at what age will you allow him or her to get a driver's license?

High School Driving Classes

• Do high schools in your country have driving classes? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do you think it's important to have driving classes at school?

• (Similar to above) Do you think it would be a good idea to have driving classes at school?

5.  Advertisements    

    See Note about pronunciation    

    See also Part 3, Topics #170 & #190

• Are there many advertisements in your country?

• (Similar to above) Is there much advertising in your country?

• Why do you think there are so many advertisements now?

• How do you feel about advertisements? 

• (Similar to above) Do you like advertisements? 

• (Similar to above) Do you think there are too many advertisements? (in society/on TV/in magazines and newspapers/on the street)

• What kind of advertisement do you like the most? 

• (Similar to above) What kinds of advertisements do you find most interesting?

• Do advertisements (ever) influence your choice about what to buy? 

• (Similar to above) Have you ever bought anything after seeing (or hearing) an advertisement?

• (Similar to above) Do advertisements have much influence on people's lives?

• Where can we see (or, what are the various places where we can) advertisements? 

• Do you prefer advertisements on TV or those in magazines?

• (Similar to above) What are the differences between advertisements on TV and those in magazines?

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

• Do you think advertising plays a very important role in today's world?

• What do you think about the developments in advertising in China today?

6.  Fruits and Vegetables

See Notes 

• Do you like to eat fruit(s) and vegetables?

• (Similar to above) Do you often eat fruit(s) and vegetables?

• (Similar to above) Do you eat fruit and vegetables every day?

• What fruit(s) (and /or vegetables) do you especially like to eat?

• Did you like to eat fruit and vegetables when you were a child? See Note

• Generally speaking, do children like to eat fruits and vegetables?

• What fruit and vegetables did you like to eat when you were a child? 

• (Possible question) When you were a child, did you like the same fruits and vegetables that you like now? *

• Is it easy (or, convenient) to buy fruit and vegetables where you live? 

• What are the benefits of eating fresh fruit (or, fresh fruits and vegetables)? 

• How much fruit and vegetables do you think a person needs to stay healthy?

• (In China,) is there much difference between the fruits and vegetables that people eat today and what they used to eat in the past?

7.  Travelling

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 40. Travel

Almost certainly, this means long distance travelling, not travelling (commuting) to work or school in your city or town. 

The emphasis of this topic seems to be on tourism, although the word "travel" can apply to simply going somewhere, not necessarily as a tourist. For example, you might sometimes make long trips to go from your hometown to another city where you attend university.   

See Note on word usage.    

• Do you like travelling? 

• (Similar to above) Do you like long distance travelling? 

• What are some places that you have traveled to?

• What was the last place you traveled to?

• How often do you return to your hometown? (If not living at home now)

• Which city (or place) that you have been to did you like the most? (Why?)

• Which country would you like to travel to (in the future)?

• What makes a place attractive for visitors (or, tourists)?

• What places in China are (or, would be) attractive for foreigners to travel to? 

• (Similar to above but note the wording) What places in China would you recommend (or suggest) foreigners travel to?

• (Similar to above but note the wording) What places in China would you recommend (or suggest) people visit? (People, not specifically foreigners)

• Why do you think traveling is so popular nowadays?

8.  Magazines and Newspapers

    See also 'All Part 1 Questions' 25. Newspapers

• Do you like reading magazines and newspapers?

• Which do you prefer reading, magazines or newspapers?

• What parts of a newspaper do you prefer to read?

• What kinds of articles do you like to read? 

• Have you ever read a foreign newspaper (or magazine)?

• Do you think reading foreign magazines and newspapers can help you learn a new language?

9.  Friends

    See Also 'All Part 1 Questions' 16. Friends   

• Do you have many (close) friends?

• How often do you meet with your friends?

• What do you with your friends?

• Are most of your friends from school (or university) or from outside school (or university)?

• (Similar to above) Are most of your friends from your work or are they not connected with your work?

• Where do you usually meet (= spent time with) your friends?

• Do you prefer to meet your friends at home or away from your home?

• (Similar to above) Do you prefer your friends visit you (at your home) or do you prefer to visit them (at their homes)?

• Do you like making friends with (a lot of) people? See Note

• Do you think friendship is important? 

• (Similar to above) Is friendship important to you?

• How do you keep in contact with your friends?

10.  Art

    See Also 'All Part 1 Questions' 49. Art

    and See Also 'All Part 1 Questions' 11. Drawing and Painting

    Note: For some questions it is unclear whether the word, "painting", "drawing" or "art" is used.

• Do you like drawing / painting? (Why / Why not?)

• (Similar to above) How do you feel about painting (or, paintings)?

• When you were a child, did you have art classes at school?

• (Similar to above) Did you learn to draw or paint when you were a child?

• Do you think children should have art classes in school?

• (Similar to above) Do you think it’s necessary to teach children to draw?

• Why do you think people buy paintings?

• Why do you think people like to have a painting (or other artwork) in their homes?

• (Similar to above) Why do you think people like to put paintings (or other artwork) on the walls of their homes?

• Do you ever buy paintings (or, have you ever bought a painting)?

• (Similar to above) Would you consider buying a painting yourself?

• (Similar to above) Would you (ever) buy a painting?

11.  Daily Routine

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 9. Daily Routine

• What time do you usually get up?

• What do you usually do after you get up (or, in the morning)?

• (Similar to above) What's the first thing you usually do after you get up (or, in the morning)?

• What's your favourite time of (or, part of) the day?

• What do you usually do at that time? (Or: What are you usually doing at that time?) 

• What's your favourite day of the week? *

• Is you life now the same as it was before? 

• (Similar to above) How is your life (or, your daily routine) today different to what it was when you were a child?

• (Similar to above) Has your life recently changed in any way? 

• What changes would you like to make to your daily routine (or, to your life) in the future?

• (Similar to above) If you could change one thing about your daily routine, what would it be? 

• (Similar to above) If you could change your daily routine, what changes would you make?

12.  Plans and Goals

(This topic is possibly part of the 'Work/Studies' topic.)

• Please summarize your plans for the near future. 

• When do you plan to start that? 

• How do you intend to achieve that? 

• When you go abroad, do you plan to live in the countryside or a big city? (Why?) 

• Do you plan to spend many years overseas? 

• After you go abroad, do you plan to join any clubs? 

13.  Parks & Public Gardens

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 28. Parks & Public Gardens

• Do you often go to a park or a (public) garden?
• How often do you go there?
• What do you do when you go there?
• What do other people do there?
• What do you think are the functions of parks and public gardens? (See NOTE)

14. Sport (and Exercise) 

     See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 35. Sport and Exercise

      In the questions below, the word "sport" might be replaced by the word, "exercise" for some questions.

• What kind(s) of physical exercise do you do to keep fit?

• Do you like (to play/to do) any sports? (What sport?)

• What sports are most popular with young people today?

• (Similar to above) What sports are most popular in your country?

• Do children in China play much sport (or do much exercise)?

• Is children's sport (or exercise) very important in China?

• What kinds of exercise do you think are most suitable for children?

• Did you (or, do you) take part in any (organized) sport in school?

• (Similar to above) Do you (or did you) do any regular physical exercise at school?

• What sports facilities did you (or do you) have in your high school?

• (Similar to above) In China, what sports activities do students do at school?

• Do you think it's important to have P.E. classes (or sports classes) at school? (Why?/Why not?)

• What are the benefits of exercise (or sport)?

• (Similar to above) Do you think physical activity is important? (Why?/Why not?)

• (Similar to above) Do you think physical activity is important for children? (Why?/Why not?)

• Are there any sports facilities near where you live? (for the public to use)  See Note

• In the future, what sports would you like to play (or, take part in / or learn)?  See Note

15.  News

    See also 'All Part 1 Questions' 25. Newspapers

• Are you very interested in the news?

• (Similar to above) Do you like to keep up with the latest news?  

• (Similar to above) Do you like to follow the news?

• Why do you want to know the latest news?

• How important is it to you to get the news every day?

• What sort of news are you most interested in?

• (Similar to above) What types of news do you like?  

• How do you usually find this news?

• (Similar to above) How do you usually get your news?

• Which do you think is more important, domestic (or, local) news or international news?

• Would you say the news affects your life very much?  

• (Similar to above) How do you think that being aware of the news can affect a person's life?

• Do you (often/ever) read newspapers?  

• (Possible question) When did you start to read newspapers? *

• Do you think newspapers are important?  

• Besides newspapers, what are some other ways people get news?   

• Who is more interested in the news (or, interested in reading newspapers), older people or younger people? (Why?) (Note: for this question, some people report the question as "children" and "old people".)

• Are old(er) people and young people interested in the same (kinds of) news? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do you think children like (= are interested in) the news? (Why?/Why not?)    

Note: "Old people" = people over 60 or 65 years old. "Older people" = "not young people" = people over 30 or 35 years old, including old people.  

16.  Parties

    See also ALL PART 1 QUESTIONS 56. Parties

     Party animals

      See Note

      See Note 2 (About the term, "party animal")

• Do you like (to go to) parties? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do you often go to parties?

• (Similar to above) How often do you go to parties?

• Do you usually have these parties at home or at school?

• Do most Chinese people like parties? (Why?/Why not?)

• Is there anything you dislike about parties?

• (Similar to above) Why do some people dislike parties?

• Do you prefer family parties or parties with friends?

• When you go to a party, what do you usually do?  

• Do friends often come to your home for a gathering (a 'get together')?

• When friends gather together (to celebrate something) do they do the same things that family groups do?  

• Who do you think enjoys parties more, old(er) people or young people?

• In China, do old(er) people and young people do the same sorts of things when they get together on social occasions?

• Do you think family gatherings and friends gathering together are important?

• (Similar to above) What do you think are the benefits of parties?

17.  Visitors

    See also ALL PART 1 QUESTIONS 57. Visitors

18.  Swimming

    See also ALL PART 1 QUESTIONS 58. Swimming

19.  Shopping

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 34. Shopping

• Do you like (going) shopping? (Why?/Why not?)

• Do you prefer shopping alone or with others?

• What time of the day do you prefer to go shopping?

• (Similar to above) When do you prefer to go shopping?

• When was the last time you went shopping?

• What was the most recent thing you bought (for yourself)?

• Do you prefer to buy things in small shops or in big supermarkets and department stores?

• (Similar to above) What are the pros and cons of buying things in big shops compared to buying things in small shops?

• Is there anything you dislike about (going) shopping?

• (Similar to above) What kinds of shopping do you dislike?

• (Similar to above) What thing(s) do you least like buying?

20.  Writing 

See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 22. Letters & Emails

Writing in General

• At work or in your studies, do you often write things?

• (Similar to above) Do you write everyday?

• What do you usually write?

• Do you usually write by hand or write using the computer (or a typewriter or word-processor)?  

• (Similar to above) Do you prefer to write by hand or write using the computer (or, using a keyboard)?  

• Nowadays, how do most people write things? 

• Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting?

• (Similar to above) Do you think emails might one day replace handwritten letters?

• When do children begin to write in your country?  

• When did you start to learn how to write?

• How did you learn to write?

• Do you think handwriting is very important (nowadays)?

• What impression does a person's handwriting have on other people?

• How can children today improve (or, practice) their handwriting?

What You Most Often Write          

• Do you like to write letters?

• (Similar to above) Do you often write letters or emails?

• (Similar to above) How often do you write letters or emails?

• (Similar to above) Do you often write letters?

• (Similar to above) Do you often write emails?

• Which do you prefer to write, emails or letters?

• Who do you write to?

• What do you write about?

• When was the last time you used your email (or, wrote an email)?

• When was the last time you wrote a letter?

• When was the last time you wrote an email?

• (Similar to above) Who do you receive letters / emails from? 

Comparisons

• What are the differences between email and letters?

• Which do you prefer, letters or emails? (Why?)

• Which do you think is easier to write, a letter or an email? 

• What are the advantages of emails, (compared to letters)?

• Do you think there are any (possible) negative points about emails?

• Do you prefer to receive a phone call or a letter? 

• Which do you prefer, to write a letter, write an email or make a phone call?

21.  Going Out  (出去玩儿)  

This topic is possibly part of the 'Leisure Time' topic.

See Note on the usage of the word, "play".

• Do you often go out (with friends)?  

• Do you like going out with your friends?   

• (Similar to above) How often do you go out with your friends?

• Do you prefer to go out with your friends or to invite them to your home?

• What do you do when you go out?

• Where do you go when you go out?

• Do you prefer to go out with a large group of friends or just a few friends?

• (Similar to above) Do you prefer to go out with just one friend or with a group of friends?  

• When was the last time you went out with your friends (or, a friend)? (Include what you did.)

• In China (or, in your hometown), what do people usually do when they go out?

22.  Neighbours 

See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS - Your Neighbours

See Note      

• What do you think of your neighbours?

• How often do you talk to your neighbours?

• (Similar to above) When do you meet your neighbours?

• What sorts of problems (conflicts) can people have with their neighbours?

• In what ways can neighbours help each other?

23.  Time 

See some vocabulary

See also these Part 3 questions.       

• Do you (usually) wear a watch (a wrist watch)? (Why?)

• Where did you get your watch?

• Do you think time is very important? (Why?)

• (Similar to above) Is time very important to you? (Why?)

• Are you ever late for anything?

• (Similar to above) Have you ever been late for anything?

• Do you think it's important to be on time? *

• Do you feel that time moves fast or slowly? 

• When does time seem to move fast and when does it seem to move slowly?

• What did you do last week?

• If you could go back in time, would would you do (i.e., what would you do differently)?

24.  Leisure Time 

See Note about pronunciation

See also ALL PART 1 QUESTIONS 21. Leisure Time and Relaxing 

• What do you do in your free time?

• (Similar to above) Do you have any hobbies or interests?

• (Similar to above) What are your hobbies or interests?

• Do you often do things with others in a group (or, with your friends)?

• Do you prefer to do things in a family group or a group of friends?

• What do you do with your friends in your leisure time?

• Do you and your family often get together for a family gathering (家庭聚会)? 

• What do you do at these family gatherings?

• What kinds of leisure time activities are popular with young people today?

• Do older people like to do the same activities?

• Do you think modern people like to get together with others?

25.  Computers  

    See also All Part 1 Questions 8. Computers

    See also All Part 1 Questions 51. The Internet

• Do you use computers very much?

• When did you start using computers?

• What was your impression (or feeling) when you used a computer the first time?

• What do you use computers for?

• What do you think are the benefits of (using) a computer?

• Do you think a computer can give you better access to knowledge?

• Do you play computer games?

• How often do you play computer games?

• What do you do when your computer has problems?

26.  Flowers  

    See also All Part 1 Questions 14. Flowers

    See Note on the word, "send"

• Do you like flowers?

• Are flowers important in your culture? 

• On what occasions are flowers important?

• (Similar to above) On what occasions do people give flowers to other people? 

• Do you ever give flowers to other people? (If yes, who and why?)

• When do you give flowers to people?

• Where do you buy these flowers?

• (Similar to above) Where do (can) people buy flowers?

• When was the last time you gave flowers to someone?

• (Similar to above) When was the last time you bought flowers?

• Do you like to have flowers in your home? 

• Do you (ever) grow flowers at home? (Give details) 

• (Similar to above) Have you ever grown flowers at home? (Give details) 

• Do many people in your country grow flowers at home?

27.  Weather 

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 41. Weather

        See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 46. Seasons

• What's the weather like today? 

• What's the weather (usually) like in your hometown? 

• (Similar to above) What is the typical weather in your country?

• What's your favourite season? (Why?) 

• (Similar to above, but different) What's your favourite weather? (Why?) 

• What sort of weather do you least like?

• Do you like snow? (Why?)

• Do you usually watch the weather forecasts?

• Does the weather ever affect what you do?

• (Similar to above) How does bad weather affect your life? (See NOTE)

• Do you think the weather can affect people's moods? (See NOTE)

• (If doing the test far from your hometown) Compare the weather in your hometown and the weather here. (See NOTE)
• In China, are there ever any problems caused by the weather? (= caused by extreme weather?)

28.  Films 

       See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 13. Films

• Do you like to watch films?

• What types of films do you like and what types of films do you dislike?

• (Similar to above) Are there any types of films that you dislike?

• What kinds of films did you like to watch when you were a child?

• Do you prefer to watch films at home or in a cinema? (Why?)

29.  Music

See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 24. Music 

Musical Instruments   

• Do you play any musical instruments?

• (Similar to above) Do you know how to play any musical instruments?

• (Similar to above) Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument (at school)?

• Do you think it's important to learn to play a musical instrument?

• What musical instrument would you like to learn (if you had the time or the chance to learn one)?

• What advantages do you think there are for a child to learn (to play) a musical instrument? (= to study music)

• (Similar to above) Do you think it's important (for a child) to learn to play a musical instrument?

• (Similar to above) Why do some parents want their children to learn (to play) a musical instrument?

• What musical instrument do children in China most often learn?

• Do you think schools should teach children how to play a musical instrument?

30.  Holidays

        See also All Part 1 Questions 59. Holidays

        Here, the meaning of 'holidays' or 'holiday' is: 假期 = "vacation".

• Do you (ever) have holidays from your work/from your studies?

• When do you have holidays?

• What do you usually (like to) do in your holidays?

• How important are holidays to you?

• What did you do in your last holidays?

• Is there anything you dislike doing during holidays?

• How do people in China spend their holidays?  

• Do you think it's important for people to have holidays? See Note

• Do you think we have enough holiday time (or should people's holidays be longer)?

• (Similar to above) Do you think people in China need more holidays (vacation time)?

• Do you think it's reasonable for an employer to ask his or her employees to work in their free time? (休息时间)  

• (If working) Do you get paid during your holidays? 

31.  Bicycles

   See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 4. Bicycles

• Do you ever ride a bicycle?

• (Similar to above) Do you like riding a bicycle?

• What do you use a bicycle for?  

• Would you say it's difficult to learn to ride a bicycle? 

• Did you learn to ride a bicycle when you were a child?

• How old were you when you learned to ride a bicycle?

• Do children also ride bicycles in your country?

• Why do children enjoy riding bicycles?

• Are bicycles common (or popular) in China? (or, in your hometown)

• (Similar to above) Do many people ride bicycles in China?

• (Similar to above) Are there many bicycles in your country?

• What are the reasons why people ride bicycles?

• What would you say are the advantages of bicycles over cars?

• (Similar to above) What are the advantages (or, benefits) of riding a bicycle? 

• (Similar to above) What are the benefits for children to ride a bicycle?

• Would you say it's safe to ride a bicycle in the city (or, in China)?

• Would you say bicycles are suitable for people of all ages?

• Has the number of bicycle riders in China changed much in the past few years?

• Would you say it's still suitable to ride a bicycle in today's society?

• Besides bicycles, what other means of transport do people often use (in your country)?

• Do you think the number of people using bicycles (in your hometown/country) will change in the future?

32.  Weekends

    See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 42. Weekends

• What do you like to do on weekends?

• Are weekends important to people?

• (Similar to above) Are weekends important to you?  See Note

• Are your weekends today more interesting (or, more enjoyable/more fun) than your weekends were when you were a child?

• What are you going to (planning to) do next weekend?

• What do people in China do on the weekends? See Note

• Do children (or, young people) today spend their weekends differently to children (or, young people) in the past?

• Do you think people should be asked to work on weekends?

• Is it important for people to have weekends off? 

• Do you think people should be paid more money if they work on weekends (or public holidays)? See Note

• Do you think working people need to rest on weekends?

• Which weekend day do you like more, Saturday or Sunday?

• What do you usually do on that day?

33.  Clothes

         See also ALL_PART_1_QUESTIONS 6. Clothes

• Do you like shopping for clothes?  

• (Similar to above) Is shopping for clothes important to you?

• When was the last time you went shopping for clothes?

• Do you think men and women think the same about clothes?  

• What kinds of (or, style of) clothes do you like to wear (or, buy)?

• Do you like to try on clothes before you buy them? (Why?/Why not?)  

• For you, is the colour of the clothes very important when you are shopping for clothes?

• Are you very interested in fashion (or, clothes fashions)?

• Where do you think you can buy the most fashionable clothes?

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