1) Speak about differences between 2 sexes. What 3 categories of differences Dr. John Gray
mention in his book “Men are from Mars, women are from Venus?” Are men and women really
different? Prove your point of view.
2) Life in the city is more dangerous than life in the countryside. What safety methods are used in
your own country? What other measures can be taken to make our cities safer?
3) The word “taste” has 2 basic meanings. What are they? Decide which restaurant you are going
to visit. Give the arguments of your choice.
4) Speak about listening to other people’s conversation. How do we call such kind of listening?
Speak about the last conversation you eardropped on?
5) Lucky charms vary from country to country. What charms do you know? Speak about your lucky
charm. What would you do if you won one million dollars?
6) 5 senses. Name them. Which do you think the most important to you in your life? Why? Have
you ever lost the use of your senses temporarily? Which of your senses is especially well
developed?
7) Pet psychology. Speak about your pet. What’s the most unusual pet you ‘ve heard of? Why do
you think people keep such animals? What useful functions do the pet’s sense?
8) Have you been abroad? Did you have the eating experience abroad? Did you like the food in the
countries you visited? What national food would you like to taste? Why?
9) The history of computer. What role does the computer play in your everyday life? Do you use email or the Internet? What do you use them for? Do you think computer will be the same in 10
years’ tme?
10) Future worlds. Can you make any predictions about the state of the world in the end of the 21st
century? Choose one of the following topics to discuss in depth: a) Work and Industry; b) Health
and society; c) Leisure time and holiday; d) Education and upbringing.
11) Describe the system of higher education in the USA. Speak about the admission incquerences to
the colleges and universities, 3 types of schools of higher learning, the peculiarities of the
curricula, etc. How does Russian system of higher education differ from American?
12) Describe the USA court system. Speak about the dual court system, the 3 levels of courts, the
jurisdiction of the trial court and of the common court, probate, domestic relation in a juvenile
matters. What are the dates of state and federal courts of appeals state supreme court and the
US supreme Court?
13) Speak about the court system in the US. Describe the legal procedure in civil and criminal cases
and its participants. Try to specify different kinds of offences and the peculiarities of sentences
which are used in the US courts.
14) Can you remember all the first books you had? It is good for children to read fanciful stories
which are a form the harsh realities of life? Should they be encouraged to read more serious
stuff as “sound preparation for life”? There is some evidence to suggest that the concentration
of children today is greatly reduced compared with that of similar children 20 years ago. Do you
agree with the view that unwillingness to tackle printed texts that offer a challenge through
length and complexity has worked its way through schools into universities?
15) Describe your favourite library of the 21st century as you imagine it. Speak about different
sections in detail. Why did Alexander Herzen call public libraries “a feast of ideas for which all
are invited”? Taking into account the text written by him in 1972 say how the modern libraries
differ from those of the old days.
16) Music like a language is a living moving thing. Speak about other Russian music of the 18th and
19th centuries or about a contemporary music in Russia or in the world. What kinds of music do
you like? Is there any kind of music that you can’t “stand”? Who is your favourite
composer/singer? Why do you like him/her? What is the purpose of music in your opinion? How
does and how will the technological age through radio, television and video influence the world
of music?