More and more people today are moving away from where their friends and family live.

Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?

Some feel that cities should be designed to be beautiful while others feel their functionality is more important.

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Many people feel that media coverage has become increasingly biased today.

Why is this? What can be done to fix this problem?

The shortage of housing in big cities can cause severe consequences. Only government action can solve this problem.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Overpopulation is the world’s most serious environmental problem.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Many young people today spend too much time following the latest fashion trends in areas such as clothing and technology.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In some places, old age is valued, while in other cultures youth is considered more important.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Young people are often under the strong influence of peer pressure.

Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Government should make more efforts to promote alternative sources of energy.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

The majority of news is bad news such as wars famines accidents and crime.

Why do you think that is? Do you think the news should be a balance of both good and bad news?

In many countries, plastic shopping bags are the main source of rubbish. They cause water and land pollution, and so they should be banned.

To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Some people say that now is the best time in history to be living.

What is your opinion about this? What other time in history would be interesting to live in?

Many people today put personal information online for the needs of daily lives (e.g., shopping, banking, and social network).

Is it a positive or negative development?

People living in the twenty-first century generally have a better quality of life than people who lived in the previous centuries.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many cities replace farmlands and parks with houses.

Is it positive or negative?

The shortage of housing in big cities can cause severe consequences, and only government action can solve the problem.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In the modern world, it is no longer necessary to use animals for food or animal products, such as clothing and medicines.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

In the past, people ate local, in-season food, but now, people tend to consume out-of-season food from different parts of the world.

Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

More and more people are using computers and electric devices to access information, therefore there is no need for printed books, magazines, and newspapers.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many people like to wear fashionable clothes.

Why do you think this is the case? Is this a good or a bad thing?

Should students be allowed to choose which classes they take, or should they be required to take the same classes as everyone else?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach to education? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Many governments think that economic progress is their most important goal. Some people, however, think that other types of progress are equally important for a country.

Discuss both views and give your own opinions.

Some people believe that unpaid community services should be a compulsory part of high school (for example, working for a charity, improving the neighbourhood or teaching sports for younger children). 

To what extent do you agree or disagree?