ANIMAL RIGHTS
Discussion questions
1. Many vegetarians believe that factory farming is a cruel and
unnecessary
practice and that our diets would be healthier if we ate less meat.
Do you agree?
2. Animal rights protesters argue that the export of live animals for
slaughter is uncivilized and should be prohibited under international
law. Do you agree?
3. "Keeping animals in zoos and circuses to entertain human-beings is
selfish and inhumane." Do you agree?
4. Bullfighting, fox-hunting and whale-hunting are part of some
countries traditions. Do you think that Spain, England and Japan
have a right to continue these traditions?
5. "The British spend far too much money on household pets. They
would do better to have fewer cats and dogs and to use the money to
help poor and hungry people." What do you think?
6. Would you ever wear a fur coat?
7. Is it right to use animals for medical research or to test cosmetics?
ALTERNATIVE BELIEFS
1. Do you think there is intelligent life on other planets?
2. Some people claim to have seen UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects)
such as flying saucers. Do you believe them?
3. What is your opinion of people who say that they can communicate
with spirits? Have you ever taken part in a seance?
4. Do you know anybody with psychic powers or extra sensory
perception?
5. Do you believe in telepathy? Is there another person in the world
with whom you have a special understanding?
6. Would you ever visit an astrologer for a forecast of how your life
will run in the future?
7. What does your star sign tell you about your personality and your
compatibility with other people?
8. Do you believe in other forms of fortune-telling such as
palmistry?
tarot cards?
reading teacups?
_CRIME & PUNISHMENT
Discussion questions:______ask and answer
1. Should the death penalty exist as a punishment for murder or
terrorism?
2. Should the main purpose of prison be punishment or
rehabilitation?
3. What is the best way to deal with juvenile crime such as
joy-riding?
vandalism?
graffiti?
4. Is it ever right for political activists to break the law?
5. How strict should the law be with people who drink and drive?
6. Which is the more serious problem in your country - tax evasion or
social security fraud?
7. Should the police have the right to stop and search you in the
street without a warrant?
8. Should the law respect the rights of homeless people to squat in
unoccupied property or shop doorways?
9. Should smoking cannabis be a criminal offence?
CULTURAL DIFFERENCES
Discussion questions:______ask and answer
1. "Cultural differences cause problems. It is better for people to stay
in
their own countries rather than to migrate to other ones." Do you
agree?
2. Would you prefer to live in a monoculture or a multi-racial society?
Why?
3. "It is better to study major international languages like English
rather than
to spend time on minority languages for the sake of regional identity."
Do you agree?
4. "Governments should give regions in their countries more
autonomy
so that they can protect and enjoy their own cultures rather than
serving
the centralized policies of the capital city." Do you agree?
5. Is it better to marry someone of the same cultural background?
6. "Religion as a school subject should include all the major world
religions - not only the majority religion in the country concerned."
Do you agree?
7. How do you think "British Culture" differs from "N. American
Culture"?
How do these cultures differ from the culture of your own country?
ECONOMICS
Discussion questions:______ask and answer
1. "Low tax, Laissez-Faire, economies are better than ones with large
public sectors." Do you agree?
2. "It is better to be within large economic unions like the European
Community rather than outside them." Do you agree?
3. "Governments should legislate to prevent monopolies becoming
too
powerful." Do you agree?
4. "Free trade policies are always better than protectionist ones."
5. "Governments should not subsidize enterprises which are
unprofitable."
6. "Countries should try to become self-sufficient in food and basic
necessities." Do you agree?
7. "Giving financial incentives to companies which locate themselves
in
underdeveloped regions is a waste of public money. It is better to let
them set up where they want to be." Do you agree?
8. "Introducing the minimum wage will encourage foreign investors to
take their enterprises elsewhere."
EDUCATION
Discussion questions:______ask and answer
1. Would you prefer to send your child to a mixed or single sex
school?
2. Is day school always a better alternative to boarding school?
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?
4. Do you prefer a system where children are put in fast and slow
streams
or is it better to create mixed ability classes?
5. Should corporal punishment be permitted in schools?
6. Which system do you favour for measuring childrens progress final examinations or continuous assessment?
7. Do the "three Rs" (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic) make up the
most
important part of the school curriculum
Downtown
1.
2.
3.
4.
Where does Kim live?
In an apartment downtown.
In an apartment in the suburbs.
What does she complain about?
There is much crime.
There is a lot of traffic.
What does Dan complain about?
Nothing ever really happens where he lives.
It is not really quiet where he lives.
What does Kim suggest Dan?
To trade places one weekend.
To move downtown.
On holiday
1.
2.
3.
4.
Where did Celia go?
She visited two cities in Europe.
She visited two cities in the United States.
How long was she away?
For about three weeks.
For more than three weeks.
What was the weather like in Chicago?
It snowed very much.
It was terrific.
What was the best thing about her trip?
Nashville.
Chicago.
House
1.
Why does Barbara think she's in the wrong house?
2.
Why does she think the house is weird?
3.
Why does the caretaker come?
What was astonishing about the man who built the house?
Why was he hanged?
How did they catch him, do you think?
Why has this house a caretaker?
Is the pirate's house a Georgian house?
Why does the caretaker laugh?