More and more people nowadays visit well-known places to take photographs of themselves, without looking at the place.
Why do you think this is happening?
Is it a positive or a negative trend?
Some consumers are increasingly choosing to buy goods that are produced in their local area, rather than imported goods.
What are the reasons for this?
Is this a positive or a negative trend?
It is sometimes possible to pay somebody to do things you don’t want to do, or don’t have time to do, for example, household chores or looking after children.
Is this a good way of providing work for others?
Should people do these things themselves?
In some countries, the average weight of people is increasing and their levels of health and fitness are decreasing.
What do you think are the causes of these problems?
What measures could be taken to solve them?
Nowadays famous people are photographed by professional photographers everywhere they go. Some people say this is good thing because the public are interested in their lives. Other people think that photographers are wrong to follow famous people.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Some people think that hosting an international sports event is good for the country. While some people think it is bad.
Discuss both views and state your opinion.
In recent years some countries have experienced very rapid economic development. This has resulted in much higher standards of living in urban areas but not in the countryside. This situation may bring some problems for the country as a whole.
What are these problems? How might they be reduced?
In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decided to do this.
In many countries today the retirement age from work has been raised.
Do the advantages of raising the retirement age outweigh the disadvantages?
Some people think it’s better to choose friends who always have the same opinions as them. Other people believe it’s good to have friends who sometimes disagree with them.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.