Sample Questions

Listening and Speaking 5

1. Do you think you focus more on “the big picture” and general idea or details? Would
you say that you are more “right-brained” or “left-brained”, according to the ideas in
Listening 1 unit 1? (see page 10)

2. Which effect of a stroke would upset you more, the loss of the ability to speak or the
loss of your past memories? Why? (see page 10)

3. In the 21st century, do you think it is better for a child like Helen Keller to have a private
tutor at home or learn in a school setting? (see page 18)

4. What message do you think Helen Keller wants readers to get from her descriptions of
her childhood before and after she met her teacher? (see page 18)

5. What similar feelings might the elderly, Helen Keller, and Jill Bolte Taylor have in
common about the way others treat them? (see page 18)

6. How does language affect who you are? Briefly narrate your own story about language-
related difficulties.

7. Linda Stuart says that one of the benefits of voluntourism is that it’s an “eye-opening
experience” and it helps people see that it’s “not us versus them, but it’s us all
together.” What does she mean by that? Do you agree? (see page 37)

8. In what ways has this interview been successful or unsuccessful in motivating you to
take a volunteer vacation? (see page 37)
9. Think of a place in the world that could benefit from the contributions of volunteer
tourists. What kind of work could people do there? How could it be fun? (see page 37)

10. How popular do you think voluntourism has become in recent years? Had you ever
heard of this travel opportunity before? Which country would you like to visit as a
volunteer tourist but not as a traditional tourist? Why? (see page 37)

11. What should teachers be more concerned about: whether students are interested and
excited about what they need to learn or whether they are learning as much
information as possible about the subject? (see page 45)

12. Would you rather work on a science project or do volunteer work? Which type of trip do
you think would be more fun? (see page 54)

13. Listening 1 unit 3 mainly describes how animals use camouflage to hide from predators.
In what ways do you think predators can use camouflage to their advantage? (see page
66)

14. In what way can people camouflage themselves to blend in with their environment?
What are some advantages to looking like other people? What are some disadvantages
(see page 66)

15. For what reasons might a person want to stand out in his or her environment, or look
different from other people? (see page 66)

16. The lecturer presents three examples of deception in warfare. Which do you think was
the most successful in catching the enemy off guard? (see page 73)

17. Who should determine prices of luxury commodities (such as coffee or chocolate)? Who
should determine the prices of necessaties (such as vegetables)? What might happen if
 farmers were allowed to charge as much as they wanted for their products? (see page
95)

18. Who should pay for the global aid following a natural disaster, such as a tsunami or the
destruction following an oil spill? (see page 101)

19. Can volunteers and businesses do enough to make a difference in global problems, or is
it necessary for governments to step in and help more? (see page 102)

20. What kinds of local or national problems would you be willing to volunteer time to? (see
page 102)