1.

0 COLORS
2.0 ANIMALS & PETS
3.0 BEAUTY AND PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS
4.0 CRIME & PUNISHMENT
5.0 FAME
6.0 EDUCATION
7.0 THE ENVIRONMENT
8.0 FASHION
9.0 MALE & FEMALE ROLES
10.0 MARRIAGE
11.0 THE MEDIA
12.0 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
13.0 MARTIAL ARTS
14.0 MOVIE
15.0 EARTHQUAKES
16.0 ENGLISH LITERATURE
17.0 ENTERTAINEMENT
18.0 POLLUTION
19.0 SOCIETY
20.0 SPORT
21.0 TRADITIONS
22.0 TRANSPORT
23.0 TRAVEL
24.0 VIOLENCE
25.0 WORK
26.0 YOUTH & OLD AGE
27.0 ACCIDENTS AT HOME
28.0 ADOPTION
29.0 AIRPLANES
30.0 ANNOYING THINGS
31.0 ART
32.0 BEHAVIOR
33.0 CHARITY
34.0 CHILDREN
35.0 CITIES
36.0 CLOTHES & FASHION
37.0 FASHION STEREOTYPES
38.0 GHOSTS
39.0 SUPERSTITIONS
40.0 PSYCHICS, FORTUNETELLERS AND KNOWING THE FUTURE
41.0 THE UNEXPLAINED
42.0 UFOs
43.0 ALIENS
44.0 FEARS
45.0 COMICS
46.0 COMPUTER
 2

47.0 CONFLICT
48.0 CRIME
49.0 CULTURE
50.0 DEATH
51.0 DIET
52.0 DISASTER
53.0 PREPARATIONS FOR A DISASTER
54.0 DISCRIMINATION
55.0 DREAMS
56.0 DRUGS
57.0 PERSONALITY
58.0 POLICE
59.0 MONEY
60.0 MOTIVATION
 3

1.0 COLORS
1.1 What's your favorite color?
1.2 Has your favorite color changed, as you've grown older?
1.3 Do you have a color that you hate?
1.4 Do you think colors affect your mood?
1.5 What's a "black and white" matter?
1.6 What does it mean to "see red"?
1.7 What does it mean to "feel blue"?
1.8 What does it mean to "be yellow"?
1.9 What's a "black tie affair"?
1.10 What does it mean to be "blacklisted"?
1.11 What does it mean to be "the black sheep in the family"?
1.12 What's the best color for a car?
1.13 What's the best color for a house?
1.14 What's the color for passion?
1.15 What's the color for hatred?
1.16 What's the color for happiness?
1.17 What's the color for sadness?
1.18 What's the color for anger?
1.19 What's the color for death?
1.20 What's the color for jealousy?
1.21 What is the color of envy?
1.22 What's the color for cowardice
 4

2.0 ANIMALS & PETS

2.1 Are there animal rights groups where you live?
2.2 What kind of animals do humans ride?
2.3 Are you afraid of snakes?
2.4 Are you frightened of spiders?
2.5 Are your pet(s) healthy?
2.6 Can you name some endangered species?
2.7 Can you ride a horse?
2.8 Do you consider yourself an animal lover?
2.9 Do you ever go bird watching?
2.10 Do you ever talk to your pet? If so, what do you say?
2.11 Do you have a cat?
2.12 Do you have a dog? If so, what's your dog's name?
2.13 Do you have any pets?
2.14 Do you know anyone who has a horse?
2.15 Do you know anyone who keeps their dog in their house?
2.16 Do you know someone who owns an unusual pet?
2.17 Do you love your pet?
2.18 Do you prefer dogs or cats?
2.19 Do you talk to your pet sometimes?
2.20 Do you think it is acceptable to test cosmetics on animals?
2.21 How do you feel about the use of animals for medical research?
 5

3.0 BEAUTY AND PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS

3.1 Who do you think is the most beautiful person in your country?
3.2 Who do you think is the most beautiful person alive today?
3.3 Who was the most beautiful person in history?
3.3 Who is the most attractive in your family?
3.5 Does beauty affect one's success in life?
3.6 Is it better to be physically attractive or intelligent?
3.7 Is it better to be physically attractive or wealthy?
3.8 Is beauty related to power?
3.9 Do people spend too much time and money on beauty?
3.10 How much time should be spent on making yourself look better each day?
3.11 Who would you say is beautiful that others maybe wouldn't?
3.12 Do you think people should have cosmetic surgery to enhance their looks?
3.13 If so what is the minimum age when someone should have plastic surgery?
3.13 How popular is plastic surgery in your country?
3.15 What is the most popular feature for cosmetic alteration?
3.16 Do you think self-esteem affects beauty?
3.17 Do you think beauty affects self-esteem?
3.18 How important is beauty in your daily life?
3.19 Have you ever noticed anyone ever feeling pressured to be more beautiful?
3.20 What do you think of the proverb, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder?"
3.21 Do you have any proverbs or idioms from your country about beauty?
3.22 What are some beauty tips that you could share?
3.23 How do you define beauty, using your own words?
3.23 Would you ever date someone who was not conventionally attractive?
3.25 What makes one person more attractive than another?
3.26 Do you think people from different countries than you see attractive the same
way?
3.27 Is there someone famous that is considered beautiful, that you think is not?
 6

4.0 CRIME & PUNISHMENT

4.1 Should the death penalty exist as a punishment for murder or terrorism?
4.2 Should the main purpose of prison be punishment or rehabilitation?
4.3 What is the best way to deal with juvenile crime such as joy-riding, vandalism
and graffiti?
4.4 Is it ever right for political activists to break the law?
4.5 How strict should the law be with people who drink and drive?
4.6 Which is the more serious problem in your country - tax evasion or social
security fraud?
4.7 Should the law respect the rights of homeless people to squat in unoccupied
property or shop doorways?
4.8 Should smoking cannabis be a criminal offence?
 7

5.0 FAME
5.1 Have you ever seen a celebrity in person? What did you do?
5.2 Which celebrity would you like to meet?
5.3 What would you do if you could spend a day with this person?
5.4 Do you think famous people have the right to have a private life?
5.5 Do you think it's moral to sell your private life to the media?
5.6 Do you approve of people who become famous as a consequence of appearing
again and again in the media and not because of having an artistic career?
5.7 What do you think of the paparazzi?
5.8 Why do you think there is such a high demand for gossip magazines and gossip
TV programs?
5.5 What are the pros and cons of being a celebrity?
5.10 What do you think of fans and fan-clubs?
5.11 Did you have any heroes when you were a teenager?
5.12 Why do you think adolescents need to have heroes?
 8

6.0 EDUCATION
6.1 Would you prefer to send your child to a mixed or single sex school?
6.2 Is day school always a better alternative to boarding school?
6.3 Should rich people be permitted to buy educational advantages by sending their
children to private schools or should all schools be run by the state?
6.4 Should corporal punishment be permitted in schools?
6.5 Do you think the teacher should assign seats to students?
6.6 What kind of classroom setting is the best for you?
6.7 What are five things you like about your classroom?
6.8 What are five things you don't like about your classroom?
6.9 What are five things you would like to change in your classroom?
6.6 Do you enjoy changing classrooms for different classes?
6.11 What is the ideal seating plan or arrangement in a classroom?
6.12 Is there any air-conditioning in your classroom?
6.12 Is your classroom a nice place to study?
6.14 Do you like the location of your desk in your classroom?
 9

7.0 THE ENVIRONMENT

7.1 Does the environment belong principally to the human race?
7.2 Do your consumption habits destroy the habitats of other species?
7.3 Do you think that developers should be permitted to build big hotels and tourist
complexes in the most beautiful places in your country?
7.4 Should the private motorist be made to pay more heavily through higher road
tax, petrol prices, parking fees and motorway tolls?
7.5 Should cars be banned from city, town and village centers?
7.6 Are you for or against nuclear power?
7.7 Does your country need stricter laws to punish noisy neighbors or discos, which
play loud music late at night?
7.8 Are your country’s seas, rivers and / or lakes clean to swim in?
7.9 What government and private campaigns are there in your country to protect
and improve the environment? Are these campaigns motivated by concern for
the lives and habitats of species other than our own?
 10

8.0 FASHION
8.1 Have you ever bought something because it was fashionable? If so, what?
8.2 Does the fashion industry exist mainly to persuade people to spend money on
things they do not really need?
8.3 Is fashion selfish in a world where many people have not got what they need?
8.4 Do you think fashion models should be used to sell products such as cars?
8.5 Some fashion models refuse to advertise products involving animal cruelty such
as cosmetics and fur coats. Would you buy such products?
8.6 Would you like to be a fashion model if you were offered the opportunity?
8.7 Is your country famous for any fashion products? Which ones? How are they
marketed?
8.8 Which countries have the best and worst fashions in clothes?
8.9 Which products advertised on TV in Britain/USA/Australia and in your country
represent (a) women’s fashion (b) men’s fashion?
 11

9.0 MALE & FEMALE ROLES

9.1 In your country, do women have equal opportunities in the work-place e.g. the
same pay and promotion opportunities as men?
9.2 Is it easy for women to continue their careers after taking time off work to start
a family?
9.3 Do companies provide day care?
9.4 Do parents and teachers in your country encourage girls and boys to grow up
differently?
9.5 Do they play with the same toys?
9.6 Do they receive the same education at school and university?
9.7 Do you think women and men should perform the same or different roles?
9.8 Are men usually the breadwinners and women usually the homemakers in your
country?
9.9 Are there any "women’s or men’s rights" groups in your country?
 12

10.0 MARRIAGE
10.1 Are you for or against trial marriages i.e. living together outside marriage to test
your compatibility?
10.2 Do you think that marriage should be for life?
10.3 Should divorce be made easier or more difficult?
10.4 Why do you think that the divorce rate has become so high in Taiwan and many
other countries?
10.5 Is it better to marry someone of the same educational, social, cultural and racial
background?
10.6 Is it better to marry someone of approximately the same age?
10.7 Should the man be older than the woman?
10.8 How important is the religious aspect of marriage to you?
10.9 Should it be legal to marry more than one partner at the same time?
10.10 Should it be legal to marry someone of the same sex?
 13

11.0 THE MEDIA

11.1 Do reporters and photographers respect the private lives of famous people in
your country?
11.2 How much freedom should the press be allowed by law?
11.3 Is the media in your country mainly owned by a few large monopolies?
11.4 Should the law allow ownership of several newspapers or TV channels?
11.5 Is there a bias towards any particular political party or interest group in your
country’s media?
11.6 Should governments act to control the Internet or should it be uncensored?
11.7 Have you ever used the Internet? What did you use it for?
 14

12.0 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

12.1 Is science is more important than religion in today’s world?
12.2 What do you think are the main dangers of scientific advances?
12.3 What laws do you think we need to protect societies from these dangers?
12.4 Have computers changed society for the better or for the worse?
12.5 Are you computer literate? Which software applications do you know?
12.6 Did you have lessons in Science and Technology at school? Were they well
taught?
12.7 Would you prefer your child to study Arts or Science subjects?
12.8 Do you think Science will (a) end the world (b) save the world or (c) do
neither?
12.9 Are most scientists in your country working on defense assignments or on non-
military projects?
12.10 Which invention would you most like to have invented?
12.11 Are there more men scientists than women scientists in your country? If so,
why?
 15

13.0 MARTIAL ARTS

13.1 Have you ever studied a martial art?
13.2 Can you name any Japanese/Chinese/Korean martial arts?
13.3 Which martial art is best in your opinion? Why?
13.4 Do you like fighting?
13.5 Do you often fight?
13.6 Have you ever been in a fight? Did you win?
13.7 Do you think it’s useful to study martial arts?
13.8 Who is your favorite kung fu movie actor/actress?
13.9 Do you like Hong Kong kung fu movies?
13.10 What is your favorite kung fu movie?
13.11 Do you know anything about martial arts history? What?
13.12 Do you think it’s important to preserve tradition in martial arts?
13.13 How many different kinds of kung fu have you heard of?
13.14 Do you know how to use any traditional weapons?
13.15 Which traditional weapon do you think is the coolest?
13.16 How does kung fu/tae kwon do/Aikido compare to western boxing?
13.17 Do you ever watch martial arts on TV?
13.18 Do you know any good martial arts websites?
13.19 Are there any martial arts schools in your area?
13.20 What's the difference between traditional kung fu and modern wushu?
13.21 What age is best to start training in martial arts?
13.22 At what age do you think it is best to begin training in martial arts?
13.23 How much should you train?
13.24 Do you know of any interesting training methods?
13.25 Do you know the names of the different kicks/punches/stances?
13.26 Which martial art uniform do you like best?
13.27 What are belts and sashes for?
13.28 What are forms or katas for?
13.29 What's your favorite fighting technique?
13.30 What's the most important thing in a fight?
13.31 What's the coolest kung fu animal style?
13.32 What do you think "the art of fighting without fighting" (Bruce Lee) means?
 16

14.0 MOVIE
14.1 What is your all-time favorite movie?
14.2 What is your favorite movie?
14.3 Are there any kinds of movies you dislike?
14.4 If so, what kinds?
14.5 Why do you dislike them?
14.6 Do you like to watch horror movies?
14.7 Do you prefer fiction or nonfiction books? How about movies?
14.8 Do you usually watch movies at home or at a movie theater?
14.9 Have you ever seen the same movie more than once?
14.10 If yes, name it (or them).
14.11 Have you ever seen ___? (Insert the name of a movie.)
14.12 How often do you go to movies?
14.13 How often do you rent videos?
14.14 If a book has been made into a movie, which do you prefer to do first, see the
movie or read the book? Why?
14.15 What do you think of people who talk during movies at a movie theater?
14.16 What is the worst movie you've ever seen?
14.17 What's the best movie you've ever seen?
14.18 Which do you like better, action movies or comedy movies?
14.19 What movie star would you most like to meet?
14.20 Who is your favorite actor or actress?
14.21 What do you think of reality shows?
14.22 Do you think that films can be educational?
14.23 Is there a movie you could watch over and over again?
14.24 Who's your favorite director?
14.25 See any good movies lately?
14.26 How much does it cost to see a movie in your country?
14.27 Do you usually rent DVD's or videos when you rent movies?
 17

15.0 EARTHQUAKES
15.1 Have you ever experienced an earthquake?
15.2 When was the last earthquake that you remember?
15.3 Has your house been damaged by an earthquake?
15.4 What preparations should you make before the earthquake hits?
15.5 What happens during an earthquake?
15.6 Were you frightened the first time you experience an earthquake?
15.7 What areas of the world have many earthquakes?
15.8 What preparations should you make before the earthquake hits?
15.9 What kind of injuries are caused by earthquakes?
15.10 How do you treat these injuries?
15.11 What frightens people most after an earthquake?
15.12 How can you prepare for a possible earthquake?
15.13 How can you deal with posttraumatic stress resulting from an earthquake?
15.14 Where is the best place to go during an earthquake?
15.15 Is it possible to know in advance that an earthquake is coming?
15.16 What kind of strange phenomenon occurred just prior to the Great Hanshin
earthquake in Kobe, Japan?
15.17 Is an earthquake always followed by a tsunami?
15.18 What causes a tsunami after an earthquake?
15.19 How do you measure earthquakes?
15.20 Is your home built to withstand earthquakes?
15.21 Where in your house would you hide if there were an earthquake?
15.22 What causes aftershocks?
15.23 Do you live in an area that has earthquakes?
15.24 Are you afraid to be living in an earthquake prone place?
15.25 Have you thought about moving?
 18

16.0 ENGLISH LITERATURE

16.1 How many English authors can you name?
16.2 How many of Shakespeare's plays can you name?
16.3 Have you read a translation of any English books in your language?
16.4 Have you ever read an English translation of a book originally written in your
language?
16.5 What sort of books do you enjoy reading?
16.6 Do you prefer fiction or non-fiction?
16.7 What is your favorite book?
16.8 Who is your favorite writer?
16.9 Have you ever read a book and then seen a film of that book?
16.10 Did you read books when you were a child?
16.11 Do you like science-fiction books?
16.12 Do you like love stories?
16.13 Do you like historical stories?
16.14 Has seeing a film ever made you read the book it was based on?
16.15 Do you know any American writers?
16.16 How many books by Charles Dickens can you name?
16.17 Who are the most famous writers in your country?
16.18 How many books do you read per year?
16.19 What makes a 'classic' book?
16.20 How do you believe literature can help you to get familiar with a culture?
16.21 Do you think that books are a thing of the past?
16.22 What are some of the main differences between a novel and a short story?
16.23 How many books do you read per week?
16.24 About how many books do you have in your house?
16.25 Do you have a library card?
16.26 Are you a member of any public library?
16.27 Do you prefer reading books or short stories?
16.28 Who is your favorite character from literature?
16.29 Do you like to write your own short stories?
16.30 Do you keep a journal?
16.31 What sort of books do you enjoy reading?
16.32 Which book have you read recently?
16.33 Do you give books to your friends as a present?
16.34 If so, what was the last book you gave?
16.35 Why did you choose that book?
16.36 Some people say that "books are best friends". Is that true for you?
16.37 Do you have your own library? If so, does that mean you like books?
16.38 Some people don't read books or read very rarely, Why?
16.39 Are book prices too high to buy in your hometown?
16.40 What about authors? Are you selective about authors?
16.41 Who is your favorite author?
16.42 What is your favorite "quote"?
16.43 What literature course did you like best in college?
 19

17.0 ENTERTAINEMENT
17.1 Do you like to watch cartoons?
17.2 What did you watch on TV yesterday?
17.3 What is one of your favorite TV shows?
17.4 Do you listen to classical music? Why or why not?
17.5 Have you ever been to a play? If so, when was the last time?
17.6 Have you ever been to Disneyland?
17.7 Have you ever been to the theater?
17.8 Have you ever hosted a party?
17.9 Have you ever tried water skiing?
17.10 Have you ever used a slot machine?
17.11 How far in advance do you begin planning a vacation?
17.12 How often do you go to parties?
17.13 How often do you read comic books?
17.14 How often do you visit museums? When was the last time?
17.15 Is gambling legal where you live?
17.16 Should books be censored?
17.17 Do you often go drinking? Where? Who with? How often?
17.18 Should movies be rated? Explain.
17.19 What are some forms of gambling people do in your country?
17.20 What are some games that you don't like to play? Why?
17.21 What are some good books that you have read?
17.22 What are some of the good movies you have seen?
17.23 What are some of the most popular amusement parks in your country?
17.24 What are some things you can do without spending a cent?
17.25 What computer games have you played?
17.26 What do you do in your spare time?
17.27 What do you like to do on a night out?
17.28 What do you think of soccer? (baseball, hang gliding, ...)
17.29 What games are popular in your country? Why are they popular?
17.30 What is your favorite game? Why?
17.31 What is your favorite holiday? Why?
17.32 What kind of music do you like?
17.33 What kind of things do you like to read?
17.34 What singer would you most like to meet?
17.35 What was the last book you read?
17.36 What's the most popular holiday in your country?
17.38 What's your favorite magazine? (What are some of your favorite magazines?)
17.39 When do you usually listen to the radio?
17.40 Where do you usually read?
17.41 Who are some of the famous actors and musicians in your country?
17.42 Who are some of your favorite actors and actresses?
17.43 Who do you think is the funniest comedian?
17.44 Who is the most popular entertainer in your country?
17.45 Who is your favorite author?
 20

18.0 POLLUTION
18.1 Are there litter laws where you live? If so, what is the penalty for littering?
18.2 Do you think cars should be banned from city centers?
18.3 Do you think people should recycle newspapers? Why or why not?
18.4 Do you think there are lessons to learn from nature?
18.5 How has the world changed since you were a child? (technology, values,
environment, health)
18.6 How often is garbage collected in your neighborhood?
18.7 If humans are really intelligent and not simply manipulated by their genes like
any other animal, why can't they do anything about overpopulation?
18.8 What are some things that can be recycled?
18.9 What are some things that your community is doing to help the?
18.10 What are some things, which you recycle?
18.11 What are some types of pollution?
18.12 What are some ways that you can reduce pollution in this country?
18.13 What can you do to help prevent pollution?
18.14 What can you do to make this world a better place?
18.15 What do you think of people who smoke cigarettes indoors?
18.16 Which is more important, increasing people's standard of living, or protecting
the environment?
18.17 Think of a situation in your area involving this issue.
18.18 Which side would you choose?
18.19 Who do you think is more responsible for pollution, individual people or the
government? Explain.
18.20 What is the most important issue facing the environment today?
18.21 Do you know about any anti-pollution programs in your community?
18.22 What about programs in your native country?
18.23 Do you usually drink bottled water? Why or Why not?
18.24 If you could choose one alternative energy source to develop which one would
you choose? Why?
18.25 Are companies more or less environmentally responsible now than they were in
the past? Why do you think that is?
18.26 Do you think recycling is an important community service?
18.27 Do you recycle?
18.28 Who should pay for the costs associated with renewable energy?
18.29 Should we make the development of renewable energy sources an economic
priority?
18.30 What are some ways energy is wasted?
18.31 What types of energy are popular in your native country?
18.32 What is the main problem with renewable energy sources?
18.33 What can large cities do to improve their air quality?
18.34 How can we protect the environment and at the same time improve people's
standard of living?
 21

19.0 SOCIETY
19.1 At what age should a son or daughter be permitted to leave home?
19.2 Should young people be allowed to buy contraceptives as soon as they reach
puberty?
19.3 Should the age of consent be the same for both gays and heterosexuals?
19.4 Should gays and heterosexuals have the same right to join the armed forces?
19.5 Should abortion be available to women on demand?
19.6 Should euthanasia be available to people in great pain that want to die?
19.7 Is it possible to pass effective laws against racism?
19.8 Do you have a vision of a better society? What changes would you make?
19.9 Do you think genetic engineering should be used to create good citizens?
19.10 What do you think are the characteristics of a good member of society?
 22

20.0 SPORT
20.1 Which is more important in sport - winning or taking part? Are you a good
loser?
20.2 Should we always try to keep politics out of sport?
20.3 What are the most important events in the sporting calendar in your country?
20.4 Which of these events do you enjoy most? Why?
20.5 Is it easy to take part in sport in your country? Which sports do you do and how
often do you take part?
20.6 Who are your sporting heroes and heroines? Why do you admire them?
20.7 Do you think that boxing is a true sport?
20.8 Should boxing be included in the Olympic Games?
20.9 Should boxing be made illegal?
20.10 Which is your favorite sport to watch?
20.11 What do you think are the qualities of a good team or a true champion in that
sport?
20.12 Do people in your country do enough sport or do they prefer to watch TV and
play computer games?
20.13 How could you encourage lazy people to do more sport?
 23

21.0 TRADITIONS
21.1 Do children in your country learn traditional songs that their grandparents also
know?
21.2 What are these songs about?
21.3 What instruments are used to play these songs?
21.4 Does your country have any traditional dances for special ceremonies at
different times of the year?
21.5 What customs do you think should no longer be practice?
21.6 What customs do you practice?
21.7 What are your favorite customs?
21.8 What customs do you think should be revised?
21.9 What customs (from elsewhere) do you think should be included in our culture?
21.10 Describe the dances and the traditional dance costumes.
 24

22.0 TRANSPORT
22.1 Which is your favorite means of private transport?
22.2 Do you drive a car? When did you learn to drive? What make of car do you
drive?
22.3 What skills do you need to practice to pass the driving test in your country?
22.4 Did you pass your test first time? What do you find most difficult about
driving?
22.5 How do you usually travel to work or college in your country?
22.6 How did you get from your home in your country to your host mother’s house?
22.7 Are you in favor of more road building to create more space for the private
motorist in your country?
22.8 Do you think that more cycle lanes are needed in your own town or city? What
would be some of the problems in providing more facilities for cyclists?
22.9 Do you think that more freight should be sent by rail? Why are companies
reluctant to send their goods this way?
22.10 What needs to be done to change their minds?
22.11 What transport do you think we’ll be using in 50 years time?
 25

23.0 TRAVEL
23.1 How many countries have you visited and which is your favorite country apart
from your own?
23.2 Explain why?
23.3 Would you like to live permanently in another country?
23.4 Why or why not?
23.5 Which is the longest journey you have ever made?
23.6 How did you travel?
23.7 What events do you remember on the way?
23.8 Which is your favorite journey for beautiful scenery?
23.9 Describe what there is to see.
23.10 Which capital city is your favorite? How do you like to spend your time there?
23.11 Do you enjoy touring - travelling from place to place? Describe one of your
itineraries?
23.12 Do you suffer from travel sickness or anxiety in cars boats or planes?
23.13 If so, what do you do to overcome these problems?
23.14 Do you buy travel insurance before going to visit other countries?
23.15 What worries would make you take out insurance?
23.16 Imagine you are an explorer and have the opportunity to make a big journey.
23.17 Which continent would you visit?
23.18 Where would you go?
23.19 What would you hope to see?
23.20 Is organized travel the best way of learning about the world?
 26

24.0 VIOLENCE
24.1 "There should be strict censorship of films and news bulletins on television to
prevent children from copying violent incidents." Do you agree?
24.2 "Children’s cartoons such as Tom & Jerry and Popeye teach children the wrong
lessons." Do you agree?
24.3 "Combat sports such as boxing where the aim is to injure your opponent should
be banned and should certainly not be part of the Olympic Games." Do you
agree?
24.4 "Products such as pornographic videos and rap music which give expression to
violence against women should be withdrawn from sale." Do you agree?
24.5 "In most countries, military training which prepares people for violence against
an enemy, should be replaced by schemes to serve the community." Do you
agree?
24.6 "Nobody should be permitted to own a hand gun for a hobby." What do you
think?
24.7 "Combat knives should be made illegal." Do you agree?
24.8 "Parents should not buy toy guns or war toys for their children." Do you agree?
24.9 "Corporal punishment should not be used either at school or in the home."
24.10 Do you agree?
 27

25.0 WORK
25.1 What ratio of work to leisure would be your ideal? Answer using percentages.
25.2 Are the people in your country famous for working hard or for having a good
social life?
25.3 What jobs would you most and least like to do?
25.4 What jobs have you done in your life and what did you like and dislike about
them?
25.5 Which age groups are worst affected by unemployment in your country?
25.6 Should people who have never worked before be entitled to unemployment
benefit?
25.7 What are the causes of unemployment and how is the problem solved in your
country?
25.8 Do women in your country have equality of job opportunities?
25.10 Are they paid as well as men?
25.11 Are there many migrant workers in your country? If so, what kind of jobs do
they do?
25.12 What are their working conditions like?
25.13 Do people leave your country to find work in other countries? Where do they
go?
25.14 What sort of jobs do they get? Are they made welcome?
25.15 Do workers in your country pay a lot of income tax to the government?
25.16 Do people with large salaries pay a much higher rate of tax than other workers?
25.17 Do you think they should?
25.18 Do you think that every worker should have the right to join a Trade Union?
25.19 Do you think that every worker, (including doctors, nurses, teachers, the police,
ambulance crews and fire fighters), should have the right to go on strike?
 28

26.0 YOUTH & OLD AGE

26.1 Are young people generally more selfish than their parents and grandparents?
26.2 Should adults try to teach young people lessons, such as the dangers of drinking
too much, taking drugs or contracting the HIV virus, or should they leave them
alone to find out about these things themselves?
26.3 What do you think is the best age to be? Explain your opinion.
26.4 Most countries give young people rights as they reach a certain age. For
example, Americans can legally vote and join the military at 18 but can’t drink
until they are 21. Does your country have similar laws?
26.5 Do you think that any of the age limits need changing?
26.6 Should young people have to do some form of military or community service
by law?
26.7 Should people of between 60 and 65 be obliged to retire from their jobs in order
to make way for younger workers?
26.8 Are there many things that the old can teach the young or are they hopelessly
out of touch by the time they reach a certain age?
26.9 In most countries, compulsory education is targeted at 5 - 16 year olds. Would
it be better to offer it to pensioners who want to learn rather than young people
who prefer not to be in school?
26.10 In Russia, China and many other countries, there is a tradition of choosing
leaders who are advanced in years.
26.11 Do you think that older people make better leaders?
26.12 Many elderly people have disabilities that limit their mobility. Do buses, shops
and public buildings in your country provide easy access for the disabled or are
your towns and cities designed mainly for the young and able-bodied?
26.13 Should the elderly be expected to pay for residential care out of their own
savings or should appropriate accommodation and nursing be provided by the
tax payer?
 29

27.0 ACCIDENTS AT HOME

27.1 What is the most dangerous thing in your home? How can it be made less
dangerous?
27.2 What is the most dangerous thing in your home for a child? How can it be made
less dangerous?
27.3 What is the most dangerous thing in your home for an elderly person? How can
it be made less dangerous?
27.4 What dangers can be found in the kitchen that can cause accidents?
27.5 What can be done to prevent kitchen accidents?
27.6 What can a parent do to childproof a kitchen?
27.7 What dangers can be found in bathrooms that can cause accidents?
27.8 What can be done to prevent bathroom accidents?
27.9 What can a parent do to childproof a bathroom?
27.10 What dangers can be found outside the home in the yard that can cause
accidents?
27.11 What can be done to prevent yard accidents?
27.12 What can a parent do to childproof the yard?
27.13 What other dangers can be found in a home in bedrooms, laundry rooms,
garages, and living areas?
27.14 What can be done throughout the house to prevent accidents?
27.15 What can a parent do to childproof the different rooms of the home?
 30

28.0 ADOPTION
28.1 What is adoption?
28.2 Do you know anyone who was adopted as a child?
28.3 Do you know anyone who has adopted a child?
28.4 What are some of the reasons people choose to adopt?
28.5 What is the difference between domestic and international adoption?
28.6 What are the views of adoption in your country?
28.8 How would someone interested in adopting a child go about doing so?
28.9 Where do children available for adoption come from?
28.10 What happens to children that are not adopted?
28.11 How do you go about adopting a child?
28.12 Would you want to adopt a boy or a girl? Why?
28.13 Do you think brothers and sisters should be separated in adoptions?
28.14 Are adoptions common in your country?
28.15 What are some organizations that help with adoptions?
28.16 Should you tell the child that he or she was adopted? If so at what age? Or
when?
28.17 Should adopted children have the right to know their biological parents?
28.18 Should families with birth children also adopt?
28.19 Is the real parent the birth parent or the adoptive parent?
28.20 Should adoptions be between children and families of the same race and or
culture?
28.21 How or should the adoptive parents maintain the adopted child's cultural
identify?
28.22 In your country are the legal rights of an adoptive child different from that of a
birth child?
28.23 Why don't more people adopt a child?
28.24 What makes a family, genetics or environment?
28.25 Do you support an open adoption policy where the birth parents can choose to
be involved in the child's life?
28.26 Do you believe there is discrimination within the adoption organizations?
28.27 Do you think a person should be able to adopt a child of a different race?
28.28 Should a gay or lesbian couple be allowed to adopt a child?
28.29 Should there be an age restriction for the adoptive parents?
28.30 Should a single man or woman be able to adopt a child?
28.31 If you were to find out that you were adopted and not really from the country
where you are a citizen, which nationality would you hope would be your true
mother country?
28.32 When is the right time for a child to be told that he/she was adopted?
 31

29.0 AIRPLANES
29.1 How old were you when you went on your first flight? Where did you go?
29.2 Do you like to travel by airplane?
29.3 What was the longest flight you have ever taken?
29.4 What seat do you prefer: window, center or aisle?
29.5 What are three things you're supposed to do before the flight takes off?
29.6 What do you like to do during the flight?
29.7 Does the plane provide anything to do to pass the time?
29.8 What are some movies you remember seeing on the plane?
29.9 What do you do when you experience turbulence?
29.10 Have you ever met anyone or established any relationships during a flight?
29.11 What should be done with obese people who practically take up two seats?
29.12 Can you sleep during the flight?
29.13 Have you ever seen a female pilot? Why do you think that most pilots are men?
29.14 Would you like to be a flight attendant? What are the benefits and /or
downfalls?
29.15 Are most flight attendants female? Is being a flight attendant considered a good
job in your country? What do you think are the qualifications?
29.16 Are planes really safer than cars? (A British study shows that flying is 176
times safer than walking, 15 times safer than driving and 300 times safer than a
motorbike.)
 32

30.0 ANNOYING THINGS

30.1 What annoys you about living where you live now?
30.2 What annoys you about taking trains to work?
30.3 What annoys you about driving a car?
30.4 What annoys you most about living at home with your family?
30.5 Do you think you have habits that annoy other people?
30.6 Does it annoy you when people kiss in public?
30.7 Do you get annoyed when someone cuts in front of you when you are waiting
in line?
30.8 What are some new pet peeves you have as a result of recent technology (i.e.
cell phone use)?
30.9 What annoying habits does your best friend have?
30.10 Does smoking bother you?
30.11 Do you get annoyed when other people display bad manners? Give some
examples.
30.12 What is the most annoying thing for you?
30.13 Do you annoy people with some of your habits?
30.14 What is something that your parents do that annoys you?
30.15 Can annoying someone be a good thing?
30.16 If something is annoying you, what do you usually do?
30.17 What are some things that annoy you that don't annoy your best friend?
30.18 How do you change annoying habits
30.19 What are some things that car drivers do that annoy you?
30.20 Can you think of some things children do that annoy adults around them?
30.21 What does pet peeve mean?
30.22 What is your pet peeve?
30.23 Does it annoy you when people don't use the right punctuation?
30.24 What kind of people annoy you?
30.25 Who is the most annoying person you know? Why?
30.26 How do you inform someone they are being annoying
30.27 Do you think other people find you annoying? Why?
30.28 Who is the most annoying celebrity? Why?
 33

31.0 ART
31.1 Are you a good painter?
31.2 Can you draw pictures well?
31.3 Do you believe what art critics say?
31.4 Do you consider yourself a good artist?
31.5 Do you enjoy your art class at school?
31.6 Do you like modern art?
31.7 Do you like paintings?
31.8 Do you like sketching?
31.9 Do you like to visit art museums?
31.10 Do you like woodcarving?
31.11 Do you prefer using watercolors or oil paint?
31.12 Do you think it is proper to call nude paintings art?
31.13 Do you think music and dancing are forms of art?
31.14 Do you think of cartoons and comics as art?
31.15 Do you visit museums when you go to another city?
31.16 Have you ever been to any famous art museums?
31.17 Have you ever visited an art museum?
31.18 What art form do you like best?
31.19 What art museums have you visited?
31.20 Which did you like the best? Why?
31.21 Which did you like the least? Why?
31.22 What famous painters do you know? What are they famous for?
31.23 What is art?
31.24 What is the longest time that you have spent on a painting?
31.25 What is your favorite art web site?
31.26 What would life be like without art?
31.27 When was the last time you went to an art museum?
31.28 Who are some famous artists in your country?
31.29 Who is a famous potter in your country?
31.30 Who is the most famous artist in your country? What kind of art does he do?
31.31 Who is your favorite painter?
31.32 Do you enjoy taking photographs?
31.33 What things do you like to photograph?
31.34 Do you consider photography an art form?
31.35 Why do artist like to draw women's figures?
31.36 Why do you enjoy art?
31.37 Why is art important?
31.38 Why do people become professional artists?
31.39 Have you ever participated in any art competitions?
31.40 Have you ever been jealous of someone else's artwork?
31.41 Do you find Picasso's work astonishing or weird?
31.42 Do you have a favorite painting?
31.43 If so, what is it?
31.44 Why do you like it?
 34

32.0 BEHAVIOR
32.1 What is good behavior?
32.2 What is bad behavior?
32.3 What should you do with a child who has very bad behavior?
32.4 Should some parent give medicine to their children to calm them down?
32.5 What is the right behavior to use in a restaurant? At school? At a party?
32.6 Would you teach your child to "hit back" at school if somebody hits them?
32.7 Can bad behavior lead to crime?
32.8 How should we punish children who commit crimes?
32.9 Should parents be held responsible for their children's behavior?
 35

33.0 CHARITY
33.1 Do you give money to registered charities? (e.g. Red Cross, World Wildlife
Fund, Green Peace)
33.2 Can you name some other registered charities?
33.3 Do you think having large charity organizations is a good idea? Why or why
not?
33.4 What are some of the good points?
33.5 What are some of the bad points?
33.6 Do you think that locally run charity organizations are more effective?
33.7 Are there any charities in (your town/city)?
33.8 How about in (your country)?
33.9 What are they?
33.10 Do you give money to beggars or homeless people? Why or why not?
33.11 If you give money to beggars or homeless people, about how much do you
give?
33.12 How do you know if a beggar is a real beggar?
33.13 Do you think beggars should work in gangs or on their own? Would you offer a
beggar any job you had to be done at home? Would you offer a beggar a job to
help you around you house?
33.14 Would you rather give money to beggars or buskers? (Buskers are people who
entertain you on the street for money, e.g. musicians)
33.15 Would you rather give money to beggars who have a disability, older beggars,
beggars with babies or child beggars? Why?
33.16 Do you think it's acceptable for children to work late at night selling flowers
and singing?
33.17 Do you think these children need to be out doing this, or are they just earning
extra money?
33.18 What do you think will happen to these children in the future? Do they have a
future?
33.19 Do you think there should be more help for beggars, homeless and poor people
in (your town/city)? How about in (your country)?
33.20 Do you think (your town/city) should make a place for beggars and homeless
people to go, like a homeless shelter?
33.21 Do you think it would reduce the amount of beggars and homeless people on
the street?
33.22 Do you think it would encourage people to be lazy?
33.23 What are some reasons that these people would not want to use such a shelter?
33.24 If (your town/city) was to have a homeless shelter, who should run this place?
 36

34.0 CHILDREN
34.1 Were there many children in your family?
34.2 How many children do you have? How many would you like to have?
34.3 Do you enjoy being around children?
34.4 When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
34.5 What are the positive or negative things about being a child?
34.6 Do you think that children are different today from the time when you were
child? Or from 50 years ago? 100 years ago?
34.7 What is most annoying or amazing thing about children?
34.8 What is the most important thing that we need to teach children?
34.9 Do you think that children are naturally good? Why or why not?
34.10 What were some important experiences that you had when you were child that
shaped you as a person?
34.11 Why do you think children commit violent crimes?
34.12 Do you think children are more violent today than they used to be? Why?
 37

35.0 CITIES
35.1 Why you like living in the city?
35.2 What are some of the advantages of living in a city?
35.3 What are some of the disadvantages of living in a city?
35.4 Do you know the neighbors who live near you?
35.5 What's your favorite city? Why?
35.6 What city do you live in?
35.7 What part of this city do you like the best?
35.8 Can you describe the city?
35.9 What aspects of life in the city would you complain about?
35.10 What do you think should be done to improve living condition in cities?
35.11 What are some differences between living in the city and living in the country?
35.12 What size city is best to live in? Why?
 38

36.0 CLOTHES & FASHION

36.1 About how much money do you spend on clothes a year?
36.2 Do you like shopping for new clothes?
36.3 Do you often buy new clothes?
36.4 Do you prefer to go shopping or just browse? Why?
36.5 Do you think men should be allowed to wear skirts?
36.6 What piece of clothing do you spend your money on the most? Why?
36.7 Do you read fashion magazines?
36.8 Do you sometimes wear a hat?
36.9 Do you think it is important to wear fashionable clothes?
36.10 Do you think it is important to be in fashion?
36.11 Do you wear jewelry?
36.12 If so, what kind of jewelry do you wear?
36.13 How often do you wear jewelry?
36.14 Do you wear the same color clothes now that you wore ten years ago?
36.15 Do you wear the same size clothes this year as you wore last year?
36.16 Do you think people feel different when they wear different clothes?
36.17 Have you ever made your own clothes?
36.18 If so, what did you make?
36.19 Do you often make your own clothes?
36.20 How many pairs of gloves do you have?
36.21 What are some of the strangest fashions you have seen?
36.22 What colors do you think look good on you?
36.23 What colors do you think look good on your mother?
36.22 What did you wear yesterday?
36.24 What do you think of body piercing?
36.25 Do you have pierced ears?
36.26 Do you know anyone with a pierced nose?
36.27 Would you ever pierce your tongue?
36.28 What do you think of people who dye their hair green?
36.29 What do you think of women who wear high heel shoes?
36.30 Do you think high heel shoes are bad for a person's health?
36.31 What fashions that you see today do you think will be out of fashion within two
years?
36.32 What is your shoe size?
36.33 What kind of clothes is in fashion now?
36.34 What kind of clothes do you usually wear?
36.35 What's the most expensive piece of clothing you have ever bought?
36.36 What's your favorite color for shoes?
36.37 When was the last time you got dressed up?
36.38 How often do you get dressed up?
36.39 Do you like to get dressed up?
36.40 Where are some good stores to buy clothes in this area?
36.41 Where do you usually buy clothes?
 39

37.0 FASHION STEREOTYPES

37.1 What would you think of a women who cut off all her hair and went around
bald as a fashion statement?
37.2 What do you think of a man who is bald for fashion's sake?
37.3 What do you think of women who wear short mini-skirts?
37.4 Do you think that the clothes we wear reflect what is inside us?
37.5 What do you think of people whom always and only wear black?
37.6 What do you think of people with tattoos?
37.7 Do you have a tattoo?
37.8 Do you know someone with a tattoo?
37.9 What do you think of people with body piercing?
37.10 Do you have pierced ears?
37.11 Would you pierce other parts of your body?
37.12 What would you think of a high school student who always wore very
conservative clothes?
37.13 What type of clothing do you wear when you are angry and you want to express
yourself?
37.14 What colors do you choose to wear when you are happy?
37.15 Would you dress the same as you do in your country if you went to America for
a visit?
37.16 Do you dress the same when you are depressed as you do when you are very
happy?
37.17 In what ways do you dress differently?
37.18 If you went out with a group of high school friends, would you dress differently
then if you went out with your grandmother and her friends?
37.19 In what ways does your Grandmother dress differently then you?
37.20 When you get old do you think you will dress like your grandmother or
grandfather?
37.21 Would you ever wear dreadlocks?
37.22 What do you think of the people who wear them?
37.23 Have you ever worn your hair braided in small braids?
37.24 Did anyone look at you differently because of it?
37.25 Would you ever wear contacts to change your eye color?
37.26 What is the difference in the people who choose to wear contacts and the
people who choose to wear glasses?
37.27 What do you think about women who don't wear earrings?
37.28 What do you think about men who wear earrings?
37.29 What do you think of women who do?
37.30 Is it possible for women to wear too much make-up?
37.31 When is a person wearing too much make-up?
37.32 What do you think of men who wear make-up?
37.33 Is it possible to be beautiful without wearing any make-up, earrings or other
accessories?
37.34 Do fashionable clothes really change the way a person looks?
 40

38.0 GHOSTS
38.1 Do you believe in ghosts?
38.2 Do you believe that dead people come back to life as ghosts?
38.3 Would you talk to a ghost?
38.4 Do you know anyone who has said that they have seen a ghost?
38.5 Have you ever come in contact with a ghost? (Have you ever seen a ghost?)
38.6 If one of your friends told you they had seen a ghost, would you believe
him/her? Why/Why not?
38.7 What is the scariest ghost story you know?
38.8 Is there an area where you live (park, house, etc.) that is known to be haunted?
If so, what is the story or legend that makes people believe this area is haunted?
Have you ever visited this place?
38.9 Do you believe that houses can be haunted? Have you ever been to one?
38.10 Do you believe that houses have ghosts in them sometimes?
38.11 Were you ever touched or physically harmed by a ghost or "spirit"? If so, how?
38.12 If you were a ghost who and where would you haunt?
38.13 How do you know if a ghost is near you?
38.14 If you don't believe in ghosts, then what have you heard other people say?
38.15 If you don't believe in ghost, tell why?
38.16 If you don't believe in ghost, and you actually have seen one, what were your
reactions?
38.17 Have you ever felt that you knew a ghost that you saw?
 41

39.0 SUPERSTITIONS
39.1 Do you think that there is truth behind superstitions?
39.2 Do you walk under ladders?
39.3 What are some superstitions in your country?
39.4 What are some things that are considered unlucky?
39.5 What are some things that are considered lucky?
39.6 What numbers are considered to be lucky and unlucky in your country?
39.7 A four-leaf clover is often considered lucky. What are some other things that
are considered lucky?
39.8 Do you have a lucky number?
 42

40.0 PSYCHICS, FORTUNETELLERS AND KNOWING THE FUTURE

40.1 Have you ever gone to a psychic?
40.2 If so, what were you told?
40.3 Did you believe it?
40.4 Why do some people consult psychics before doing important things?
40.5 Do you know anyone that has ever been to a psychic?
40.6 Why do some people need fortunetellers?
40.7 How do people predict the future in your country?
40.8 Do you believe in horoscopes?
40.9 Do you read your horoscope? If so, do you believe it?
40.10 Do you think that dreams come true?
40.11 Do you think that dreams can help us solve our problems?
40.12 Have you ever had a dream come true? / Have you ever had a dream that later
came true?
40.13 Do you think that some people can predict the future?
40.14 What is your blood type?
40.15 Do you believe that you can tell a lot about a person from his/her blood type?
40.16 Do you believe that blood types can tell what a person's personality is?
40.17 Is the belief in UFOs, aliens, physic powers, etc, growing because belief in
religion is dying?
 43

41.0 THE UNEXPLAINED

41.1 Has anything ever happened to you that you cannot explain?
41.2 Do you believe that there are many things in our universe that cannot be
explained? Give examples.
41.3 Do you believe that you are from another planet?
41.4 Do you believe you have supernatural powers there?
41.5 Have you ever tried to contact another planet?
41.6 Did you succeed?
41.7 Do you believe in reincarnation?
41.8 Have you ever felt that you knew someone the first time you met him or her?
41.9 Have you ever visited a foreign country or city for the first time and found that
you knew exactly where things were?
41.10 Have you ever looked in the mirror and 'seen' a different face?
41.11 What do you think a spirit would look like?
41.12 Is the belief in UFOs, aliens, physic powers, etc, growing because the belief in
religion is dying?
41.13 Do you believe in ESP?
41.14 How can a person know what kind of ESP abilities he/she has?
41.15 What do you think are some ways of developing these abilities?
41.16
 44

42.0 UFOs
42.1 Do you believe in UFOs?
42.2 Do you know anyone who has said that they have seen a UFO?
42.3 Have you ever seen a UFO?
42.4 Do you know anyone who says that they have?
42.5 If you saw a UFO but were alone and had no proof would you tell anyone?
Who?
42.6 Do you think that UFOs from other planets visit Earth?
42.7 What would you do if you were taken aboard a UFO?
42.8 Do you believe there is life on other planets?
42.9 Have you ever seen an ET?
42.10 Do you know anyone who says that they have?
 45

43.0 ALIENS
43.1 Do you believe in aliens?
43.2 Do you think that you are an alien?
43.3 Do you think aliens are monsters?
43.4 If you saw an alien what do you would do?
43.5 Have you ever seen an alien?
43.6 Has anyone ever told you that he or she has seen an alien?
 46

44.0 FEARS
44.1 Are there any parts of the city where you live which you are afraid to visit after
dark? Where? Why?
44.2 Are there certain weather conditions that scare people? What are they? Why do
people become scared?
44.3 Are you afraid of flying?
44.4 Are you afraid to fly in an airplane?
44.5 Are you afraid of ghosts?
44.6 Are you afraid of giving a speech in public?
44.7 Does it scare you to speak in public?
44.8 Are you afraid of going to the dentist?
44.9 Are you afraid of heights?
44.10 Are you afraid of scary movies?
44.11 Are you afraid of the dark?
44.12 Are you afraid to die? Why?
44.13 Are you afraid of getting old? Why?
44.14 Are there any numbers that people are afraid of in your culture?
44.15 Do you fear certain insects/animals? Why?
44.16 Do you know anyone with a phobia?
44.17 Do you like horror movies?
44.18 Do you think young children should be allowed to watch horror movies?
44.19 How do you react when you see something frightening?
44.20 Is there any person you are afraid of?
44.21 Were you afraid of the dark as a child?
44.22 Were you afraid on your first day of school here in the United States? How do
you feel now?
44.23 What animal do you think is the scariest?
44.24 What animal scares you the most?
44.25 What are some things which many people are afraid of? Why are they afraid of
them?
44.26 What is the scariest movie you have ever seen?
44.27 What is your biggest fear in life? Are you afraid that it might come true?
44.28 What kinds of things make you nervous?
44.29 What was the most frightening experience you've had?
44.30 When you were a child, what things were you afraid of?
44.31 Do you ever have nightmares (bad dreams)?
44.32 What are they about?
44.33 How often do you have nightmares?
44.34 Have you ever seen any TV shows where people face their fears for money
(Fear Factor, etc.)?
44.35 Would you ever face one of your fears for money?
44.36 Do you find this kind of show interesting to watch?
44.37 What is your biggest fear?
44.38 Have you overcome any of your fears?
44.39 Are you afraid of being ill? What disease are you most afraid of? Why?
 47

45.0 COMICS
45.1 Do you like comics?
45.2 Do you like American comic books?
45.3 Do you like comics from other countries?
45.4 Do you like fantasy comics?
45.5 Do you like funny comics?
45.6 Do you like realistic comics?
45.7 What do you like about comics?
45.8 What comics do you like?
45.9 What comics do you love?
45.10 What comics do you hate?
45.11 Do you play any video games based on comic books?
45.12 Have you read any anime?
45.13 Have you read any Japanese manga?
45.14 Have you read any comics in English?
45.15 How are comics different from one country to another?
45.16 How are comic books different in this country from those in your country?
45.17 How have comics changed over time?
45.18 How many comics do you read a week?
45.19 How much time do you spend reading comics?
45.20 How often do you read comics?
45.21 How often do you read comics in English?
45.22 Should comics have a rating system like the movies (G, PG, and R)?
45.23 What comics have you read in English?
45.24 What can you learn from comics?
45.25 What is more important to you, the story or the pictures?
45.26 What is the best comic book you've ever read?
45.27 What type of comic appeals to girls?
45.28 What types appeal to boys?
45.29 What types appeal to adults?
45.30 What was the last comic book you read?
45.31 Can you remember the first comic book you read?
45.32 Where do you usually read comic books?
45.33 Who do you think reads comic books?
 48

46.0 COMPUTER
46.1 Are you computer literate?
46.2 Are you connected to the Internet?
46.3 Do you access the Internet with your computer?
46.4 Can you access the Internet from your home?
46.5 What is your favorite "news" site?
46.6 What Internet sites do you visit regularly?
46.7 Can your mother and father use a computer?
46.8 Do you have a computer?
46.9 Do you have a computer at work and at home?
46.10 Do you have a laptop or a desktop computer? Do you have both?
46.11 Do you use your computer when you do homework for school?
46.12 Have you ever studied English using your computer?
46.13 How many times have you upgraded your computer?
46.14 How powerful is your computer?
46.15 What company made your computer?
46.16 What kind of computer do you have?
46.17 What size is your computer screen?
46.18 What do you think is the best size to have?
46.19 Where do you use your computer?
46.20 Where in your room is your computer?
46.21 Why did you buy your computer?
46.22 Do you have a digital camera?
46.23 Do you send photos by e-mail?
46.24 What kind of pictures do you take with your digital camera?
46.25 Do you have a scanner?
46.26 What kind of scanner do you have?
46.27 Do you have a web page?
46.28 What's the URL?
46.29 When did you start it?
46.30 How much time did it take to make?
46.31 How much time do you spend keeping it updated?
46.32 Do you know any computer programming languages?
46.33 How many computer programming languages do you know?
46.34 Which languages do you know?
46.35 Which language do you use the most often?
46.36 Do you read computer magazines?
46.37 Which computer magazines do you read?
46.38 Do you use a computer?
46.39 Are you good at using a computer?
46.40 Are you still using your first computer?
46.41 Did you learn to use a computer in high school?
46.42 Do you know how to type well?
46.43 How often do you use a computer?
46.44 What are some of your favorite computer games?
 49

47.0 CONFLICT
47.1 What is conflict?
47.2 When you see the word "conflict", what do you think of?
47.3 What causes conflict?
47.4 Is conflict inevitable?
47.5 Is conflict always negative?
47.6 How can conflicts be resolved?
47.7 What would you consider to be a constructive approach to conflict?
47.8 What would you consider to be a destructive approach to conflict?
47.9 Does there have to be a winner and a loser of a conflict?
47.10 What happens to people who are involved in conflicts?
47.11 What conflicts are going on around the world?
47.12 What conflicts exist in your life?
47.13 How do you deal with conflicts?
47.14 Can violent conflicts be solved with violence?
47.15 How can the world be peaceful when other countries are not trying to bring
peace?
 50

48.0 CRIME
48.1 Are some parts of this city considered more dangerous than others? Which
parts?
48.2 Are there any places you are afraid to visit because of the high crime rate? If so,
where?
48.3 Are there problems with drugs where you live?
48.4 Are you apprehensive about walking outside after dark?
48.5 Do you always lock your house? How about your car?
48.6 Do you believe that public executions would deter crime? If so, how?
48.7 Do you drink and drive?
48.8 Do you know anyone who has been mugged?
48.9 Do you know someone who has been a victim of a violent crime?
48.10 Do you think abortion is a crime?
48.11 Do you think gun control is a good idea? Explain.
48.12 Do you think people who use illegal drugs should be put in jail?
48.13 Do you think police TV dramas are realistic?
48.14 Do you think policeman should be allowed to carry guns?
48.15 Do you think that capital punishment is a good idea? Why or why not?
48.16 Do you think that punishment for violent crimes should be the same for
juveniles and adults? Why/why not?
48.17 Do you think that the death penalty would prevent crime in your country? Why
(not)?
48.18 Do you think that the legalization of narcotics would decrease the crime rate?
48.19 Do you think there are any legal drugs that should be illegal?
48.20 Do you think there is a link between drugs and crime?
48.21 Do you think prostitution is a crime?
48.22 Do you think there will be more or less crime in the future?
48.23 Do you think your country is a safe place to live? Why or why not?
48.24 Do you walk alone at night in your home city?
48.25 Does prison help rehabilitate criminals? (Should it?)
48.26 Have you ever been the victim of a crime? How about others in your family?
48.27 Have you ever done anything illegal? If so, what did you do?
48.28 Have you ever had anything stolen?
48.29 Have you ever had something stolen from you?
48.30 Have you ever seen a crime?
48.31 Have you ever witnessed a crime?
48.32 Have you ever stolen anything?
48.33 How can you prevent things from being stolen?
48.34 How can you avoid having things stolen from you?
48.35 If a person steals a loaf of bread because he needs to feed his starving family,
should he be punished?
48.36 Is child abuse a problem in your country?
48.37 Is drunk driving a crime where you live? If so, what is the punishment?
48.38 Is it ever O.K. to break the law? If so, when?
 51

49.0 CULTURE
49.1 What are some things that define a culture? For example, music, language, ...
49.2 What do you think is interesting about your culture?
49.3 Do you know much about your own culture?
49.4 When people from other countries think about your culture, what do they
usually think of?
49.5 In your culture is it polite to be straightforward and direct when you talk to
someone?
49.6 To whom is it OK and to who is it not OK?
49.7 What has surprised you when you've met people from other countries?
49.8 Have you looked at Internet pages from a different culture? If so, how were
they different from those of your own culture?
49.9 What do you like about your culture?
49.10 What don't you like about your culture?
49.11 How do young people in your culture behave differently from older people?
49.12 How do young people in your culture behave differently from people in this
culture?
49.13 Are there many people of different cultures in your country? Are you friends
with any?
49.14 Have you ever felt confused by the actions of someone from another culture?
49.15 If so, tell me about it.
49.16 How are your language teachers who are not from your country different from
your other teachers?
49.17 How are they the same?
49.18 Who in your culture do you admire most?
49.19 What your culture are you most proud about?
49.20 Why do you think culture is important?
49.21 If you could change one thing about your culture, what would it be?
49.22 Would you ever consider marrying or dating someone from another culture?
49.23 Would you ever consider living permanently in a country other than your home
country? Why or why not?
49.24 What does it mean to be polite in your culture?
49.25 What is considered rude in your culture?
49.26 Is there anything in this culture that is considered rude that may not be
considered rude in your culture?
49.27 If a group of people just came to your country from overseas, what advice
would you give them?
49.28 What other cultures have you met people from?
49.29 What do you think is important when visiting another culture?
49.30 Do you think, "when in Rome, do as the Romans do" is always good advice?
Why or why not?
49.31 Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you had to "do as the Romans
do"?
49.32 What culture besides your own do you admire and why?
 52

50.0 DEATH
50. Are "Living Wills" available where you live?
50. Are there special rites or ceremonies performed when a person dies?
50. Are you afraid of death?
50. Do you believe in life after death?
50. Do you often think of death?
50. Do you think that there is anything worth dying for?
50. Do you want to know the date of your death? Why or why not?
50. How do you cope with the death of someone special?
50. Is organ donation/transplants an option where you live?
50. Is physician-assisted suicide an option in your country?
50. Is the death of a loved one considered a joyful or a sorrowful occasion?
50. Is there any person you would die for in order to save? Who is it?
50. What are some ways which you can help a family which has just experienced
the death of a family member.
50. What are your beliefs pertaining to a person's soul once they have died?
50. What do you think of suicide?
50. What do you think would happen if there were no death for human beings?
50. What do you think would happen if people never died?
50. What happens to a person's remains after death? (cremation, burial, etc.)
50. What is the mourning process?
50. Where do we go when we die?
50. Would you consider physician-assisted suicide if you were suffering a painful
dying experience?
50. Would you want your cremated remains to be part of a fireworks show? It's
possible - a San Francisco area company will do it for you.
50. Who do you think would mourn for you after your death?
50. If you were on death row, what would you request for your last meal?
50. If you could choose how you were going to die, what would you choose your
death to be?
50. What do you think of cryogenics?
50. Would you like to have your body frozen, so that you could be thawed out and
brought back to life sometime in the future?
50. Do you think it will ever be possible?
50. Why are so many people afraid of death, when it is unavoidable?
50. What would happen if you died?
50. On account of your beliefs or some other reason, do you look forward to dying?
50. Have you ever had to put a pet to sleep?
50. Do you believe that you will be born again?
50. What should you say to someone who has lost a loved one?
50. Why is facing death a difficult experience?
50. How does a person cope with death of a friend or loved one?
50. What are some reactions to death of a friend?
50. Have you known someone who had an extended sickness before death?
 53

51.0 DIET
51.1 Have you ever been on a diet?
51.2 How do you know if you are fat?
51.3 What is the best way to diet?
51.4 Do you think dieting can be dangerous?
51.5 Do you think fiber is important in your diet?
51.6 What kind of fiber is the best when you are trying to loose weight?
51.7 Do you think protein is important in a balanced diet?
51.8 What is a good source of protein?
51.9 Do you think people who are fat can be happy?
51.10 Do you think people are in general gaining weight or loosing weight?
51.11 Have you ever been on a diet?
51.12 What kind of diet would you recommend to your friend?
51.13 What kind of diet would recommended for an older person (40's) and a younger
person (teens)?
51.14 What is the difference between diet and a healthy diet?
 54

52.0 DISASTER
52.1 How can you help after a natural disaster?
52.2 If you could volunteer to help after a natural disaster, what could you do?
52.3 Have you ever volunteered to help in a disaster?
52.4 Do you think the Internet can be helpful in a disaster?
52.5 Could the Internet be used for bad purposes in a disaster?
52.6 Have you ever given money to a charity?
52.7 How do you decide what charity to give to?
52.8 Are you willing to donate money to help victims of a natural disaster in your
country? How much?
52.9 Are you willing to donate money to help victims of a natural disaster in other
countries? How much?
52.10 How much money should your government give to help victims of natural
disasters in your country and how much to help people living in other
countries?
52.11 What is the Japanese word for disaster?
52.12 What is a disaster?
52.13 Have you ever been in a disaster?
52.14 What are some different kinds of disasters?
52.15 What kind of disasters are common in your country?
52.16 What is the difference between a typhoon and a hurricane?
52.17 What is the difference between a tornado and a hurricane?
52.18 What is disaster insurance?
52.19 Do most people have it?
52.20 Are there ways we can prepare ourselves in advance to cope with disasters?
52.21 How are businesses affected by disasters?
52.22 How are families affected by disasters?
52.23 How are the problems solved after a disaster?
52.24 If you had the power to stop a natural disaster that has happened in the past,
which would you choose? Why?
52.25 What is the difference between natural disasters and man-made disasters?
52.26 Can you name a few of each type?
52.27 Where do these usually often occur?
 55

53.0 PREPARATIONS FOR A DISASTER

53.1 What can you do to prepare in advance for a disaster?
53.2 How much warning time do people normally have to prepare for typhoons,
hurricanes, and earthquakes?
53.3 How much warning time do people normally have for tsunamis?
53.4 What sorts of preparations would you make if a typhoon was going to hit your
area?
53.5 Why do people leave when a typhoon is coming?
53.6 What has your family done in the past to prepare for a disaster?
53.7 Do you have extra food and water in your house?
53.8 Do you have an electric generator in your house?
53.9 What are some essential things you need in your house in order to be prepared
for a disaster?
53.10 Do you have food and water in your car?
53.11 How can you help your pet prepare for a disaster?
53.12 Do you know where the evacuation area is in your area?
53.13 What happens during an earthquake? How long does an earthquake usually
last?
53.14 What happens during a tsunami?
53.15 What happens during a typhoon?
53.16 How can you prevent injury?
53.17 Where are some dangerous places to be in your house?
53.18 Where are some safe places to be in your house?
53.19 What could you say to someone who is frightened?
53.20 What are some problems people have right after a natural disaster?
53.21 What are some things you should do as soon as possible?
53.22 How can you get food, water, and ice if the power in your area is off?
53.23 How can you travel without electricity or gasoline?
53.24 What are some short-term problems people might have after a disaster?
53.25 What are some long-term problems people might have after a disaster?
53.26 What are some health problems that might arise after a disaster?
53.27 Who should you contact to let them know you are safe?
 56

54.0 DISCRIMINATION
54.1 What are some forms of discrimination?
54.2 Have you ever been discriminated against?
54.3 How do people fight discrimination?
54.4 Why do you think discrimination exists?
54.5 Have you ever discriminated against some race?
54.6 What could you do to reduce discrimination?
54.7 Do some countries discriminate against race more than other countries?
54.8 Have you ever discriminated against the English-speaking population of your
school?
54.9 What would you do to cope with discrimination?
54.10 Has the discrimination level changed for you, after you moved to another
country?
54.11 Have your close friends or family ever been discriminated against?
54.12 If so, did you do anything to stop it?
54.13 Have you ever been discriminated against because of your sex?
54.14 Have you ever been discriminated against because of your education level?
54.15 Why do people discriminate?
54.16 Mention different forms of discrimination.
54.17 Have you ever experienced discrimination?
54.18 What should be done to stop discrimination?
54.19 Are males and females equal?
54.20 Do you know anybody who has fought for equal rights?
54.21 Are you a member of any humanitarian organization?
54.22 What will happen in the future?
54.23 Would you let your child marry a person with a different skin color?
54.24 Would you let your child marry a person with a different religion?
54.25 Why do men earn more than women?
54.26 Do you have any prejudices?
54.27 Would you adopt a child from a different culture?
54.28 Why do we treat people differently?
54.29 Why do white people think of themselves as superior?
54.30 Should it be illegal to publish racial information?
54.31 Is it OK to discriminate against gay people? Why or why not?
54.32 If you thought your son or daughter was gay, what would you do?
54.33 Do you know any gay people?
54.34 How are gay people treated in your country?
54.35 Should gay couples be allowed to marry?
54.36 Should gay people have equal rights? Why or why not?
 57

55.0 DREAMS
55.1 Do you usually remember your dreams? Why/ Why not? Describe some of
them.
55.2 What was your nicest dream that you can remember?
55.3 Talk about the most recent dream you can remember that you have had in the
past.
55.4 Talk about a recurring dream that you have had in the past.
55.5 How do you interpret a dream? Do you use your intuition/imagination to
understand it?
55.6 Do you usually read books on dream interpretation? What is your opinion on it?
55.7 Do you generally have pleasant dreams or nightmares?
55.8 Have you ever had nightmares? What were they like?
55.9 What's the worst nightmare you've ever had?
55.10 What is "prophecy"?
55.11 Have you ever had or heard of a dream that foretold the future?
55.12 Did you know that Abraham Lincoln supposedly foresaw his own assassination
in a dream? What do you think about it?
55.13 Have you ever dreamed about dead people? Is it a good signal? Why/Why not?
55.14 Have you ever dreamt about dead friends or relatives? How was it? How did
you feel?
55.15 There is a movie called "The Cell" with Jennifer Lopez - It is about dreams -
Have you ever watched this film? Would you like to see it? Why/Why not?
55.16 Are dream messages sent from our unconscious, predictions of the future, or the
brain's way of cleaning out information?
55.17 Some people say that dreaming about losing money means that you will receive
it. Have you ever heard this? What other sayings about dreams do you know?
55.18 Do your dreams ever affect your moods? Explain.
55.19 Have you ever woken up from a dream "in a cold sweat"?
55.20 Do you believe that dreams can sometimes predict the future?
55.21 Has anyone told you if you have walked or talked in your sleep?
55.22 When you were a child, what was your dream for the future? Has it changed?
55.23 Do you remember what you dream about in your sleep?
55.24 What is your dream for the future?
55.25 Have your dreams for your future changed?
55.26 Do you tell people about your dreams?
55.27 Do you think you can achieve your dreams?
55.28 If you had lots of money what would you do with it?
55.29 Do you think that having a lot of money can make you happy?
55.30 Do you think that having dreams and aspirations is a waste of time?
 58

56.0 DRUGS
56.1 Do you think alcohol is a drug?
56.2 What is alcoholism?
56.3 Do you know of any alcoholics?
56.4 How do you stop being an alcoholic?
56.5 Do you know how much alcohol is in beer?
56.6 Do you know how much alcohol is in whiskey?
56.7 What are some of the characteristics of drunken people?
56.8 Is alcohol addictive?
56.9 What about tea, coffee, and chocolate?
56.10 Should marijuana be illegal?
56.11 Do you think marijuana should be legal or illegal?
56.12 Support your opinion with facts.
56.13 Why do you think marijuana is illegal?
56.14 Is marijuana grown in your country?
56.15 What are some ways drug users use marijuana?
56.16 Do you think tobacco companies would like to sell marijuana?
56.17 Why do you think that tobacco is a legal drug?
56.18 Are any of your friends addicted to tobacco?
56.19 What are the different ways to use tobacco?
56.20 Do you know anyone who smokes a pipe?
56.21 What is the difference between pipe tobacco and cigarette tobacco?
56.22 What do you think about chewing tobacco?
56.23 Is there any difference between "soft" drugs such as marijuana and "hard" drugs
like crack, heroin, cocaine etc?
56.24 Is ecstasy a soft or a hard drug?
56.25 Should there be punishments for dealing drugs?
56.26 Should there be punishments for using drugs?
56.27 Should drug dealers get the death penalty?
56.28 If heroin were legal, would there be less crime? For example, burglary and
robbery.
56.29 Are some people more easily addicted to drugs than others?
56.30 Do some people have addictive personalities?
56.31 If you are addicted to drugs, what should you do?
56.32 What else can people become addicted to?
56.33 Do you know how much illegal drugs cost?
56.34 Do you think it is easy to buy illegal drugs where you live?
56.35 Which is worse, a peaceful drug addict or a violent non-addict?
56.36 Should pregnant women be arrested for child abuse if they use drugs when they
are pregnant which may affect the baby?
56.37 Should women be prevented legally from drinking any alcohol or smoking
when pregnant?
56.38 Do you think it is a good idea to have safe, legal injecting rooms for
intravenous drug users, where they can use clean equipment and sterile water?
 59

57.0 PERSONALITY
57.1 What are some characteristics of your personality?
57.2 What makes you happy?
57.3 What are some things that make you angry?
57.4 Are you happy with your personality?
57.5 Would you like to be different?
57.6 Are you a determined person? Are you a stubborn person?
57.7 Are you shy? In which occasions are you shy?
57.8 Do you consider yourself selfish? Why?
57.9 Is your personality suited to your job?
57.10 In what way has your personality changed? Why has it changed?
57.11 If you could change any aspect of your personality, what would it be?
 60

58.0 POLICE
58.1 Do you have any friends who are policemen?
58.2 How do the police help you?
58.3 Are you afraid of the police?
58.4 What are some situations when you would call the police?
58.5 Can you think of some situations when you wouldn't want to call the police?
58.6 Can you describe the police uniform of the policemen in your country?
58.7 What do you think about police in your country?
58.8 Are they effective?
58.9 Do you trust them?
 61

59.0 MONEY
59.1 About how much do you usually spend each day?
59.2 Are you a price conscious shopper?
59.3 Are you good at saving money?
59.4 Are you saving money to buy something?
59.5 Do banks pay a higher percent of interest here or in your country?
59.6 Do you compare prices at different stores when you shop?
59.7 Do you enjoy shopping?
59.8 Do you ever buy second-hand things? ("used things")
59.9 Do you ever give money to charity?
59.10 Do you gamble?
59.11 Do you give tips at a restaurant in your country? How about to taxi drivers?
59.12 Do you haggle when you shop?
59.13 Do you have a credit card?
59.14 Do you have a credit card? If so, do you have more than one?
59.15 Do you have more than one bank account?
59.16 Do you have to pay a sales tax in your country?
59.17 Do you invest in the stock market?
59.18 Do you often put money in the bank?
59.19 Do you sometimes buy things that you don't need?
59.20 Do you sometimes give money to charities?
59.21 Do you think that money can buy love?
59.22 Do your parents give you an allowance?
59.23 Have you ever been in debt? (Have you ever owed money to people?)
59.24 Have you ever bought a lottery ticket?
59.25 Have you ever found any money? If so, what did you do with it?
59.26 Have you ever given money to a beggar?
59.27 Have you ever given money to a homeless person?
59.28 Have you ever had any money stolen from you?
59.29 How important is money to you?
59.30 How many different kinds of coins are there in your country? What are they?
59.31 How much did you spend last week?
59.32 How much did you spend yesterday?
59.33 How much do you have to spend to eat a good meal at a restaurant in your
country?
59.34 How much do you spend on food each week?
59.35 How much do you think it costs to fly to Guam?
59.36 How much do you think it costs to stay at a hotel in London?
59.37 How much do you usually spend each month on entertainment?
59.38 How much do you usually spend each month on food?
59.39 How much do you usually spend each month on transportation?
59.40 How much does it cost to get a haircut in your country?
59.41 How much does it cost to ride a bus in your country?
59.42 How much is a liter of gasoline in your country?
59.43 How much money did you make on your first job?
 62

60.0 MOTIVATION
60.1 Have you ever tried to lose weight?
60.2 What motivated you to start a diet?
60.3 Is it important to motivate children?
60.4 How do you motivate children?
60.5 Can some people destroy your motivation?
60.6 What is something a boss can do to motivate his workers?
60.7 How are you best motivated?
60.8 How do you motivate your friends?
60.9 Have you ever tried to quit smoking?