Speaking Comprehension Test
for 11th Form Students
1. Imagine that you have been chosen to serve as king
or queen for a year. What would you do during the year of your rule?
* What rules or
laws would you create, repeal or change?
* Some people
believe that power corrupts or changes those who wield it. How do you think
being king or queen would change you?
* What qualities
make a king or queen good? Do you think you have such qualities?
2. James Baldwin said, “The most dangerous creation of
society is the man who has nothing to lose.” Do you agree or disagree with this
quote?
* How might a
person with nothing to lose be dangerous?
* What things that
are important to a person affect their behavior? How?
* How do things
that are important to you affect your behavior?
3. Antiheroes, or main characters in literature, film,
or television that lack the traditional traits of archetypal heroes, have
proven to be popular leading characters recently. Some examples of antiheroes
include Dr. House, Dexter Morgan, Jay Gatsby. What traits do you think make a
traditional hero? What traits make an antihero?
* Do you prefer a
traditional hero or an antihero? Why?
* What is so
appealing about antiheroes to audiences in general?
* What does a
preference for antiheroes over traditional heroes say about a society?
4. The Internet and television have made that world a
much smaller place, and virtually everybody is aware of pop culture icons like
Paris Hilton and Lady Gaga.
* Is it
important to keep up with pop culture? Why or why not?
* If you stopped paying attention to pop culture how would your life be
different?
* How does pop culture create similar interests in people throughout the
world, regardless of nationality?
5. In today’s world, taking care of
your body has become very important as more and more people choose not to
smoke, exercise regularly, and are very careful about the types of food they
put in their body. Becoming a vegetarian is an increasingly popular lifestyle
decision all over the world.
* What is the effect of consuming meat on our
bodies?
* What is the effect of consuming meat on the environment? *
What are challenges of being a vegetarian in Ukraine? How do Ukrainians
typically view vegetarians?
6. How would you explain diversity to a person who has
lived in a homogenous society where everyone looks the same?
* What examples can you give to explain this? *
Is it important to live in a place where there is diversity?
* How does living in a society influence a person’s worldview?
7. Standardized tests, such as the IQ test, have been
used to measure individual’s intelligence. Do you think such tests can ever
accurately measure all of the aspects of an individual’s intelligence? Why or
why not?
* If you had a
chance to take a test that would assign you a numerical representation of your
intellect, would you take it? Why or why not?
* In your opinion,
what qualities constitute intelligence?
* Do you think
that intelligence is the most important quality in an individual? Why or why
not? Which other qualities may or may not be equal to or more important than
intelligence?
8. Multimedia has become extremely advanced within the
last decade. What is your view on media in the 21st century?
* Is it good that people can have access to almost anything through the
Internet? Why or why not?
* In your opinion,
what are the benefits of the advances in media?
* What do you imagine media will be like by the year 2025?
9. In today’s world, taking care of
your body has become very important as more and more people choose not to smoke,
exercise regularly, and are very careful about the types of food they put in
their body. Becoming a vegetarian is an increasingly popular lifestyle decision
all over the world.
* What is the effect of consuming meat on our
bodies?
* What is the effect of consuming meat on the environment?
*
What are challenges of being a vegetarian in Ukraine? How do Ukrainians
typically view vegetarians?
10. The writer Oscar Wilde once said, “When I was young I
thought that money was the most important thing in life; now that I am old I
know that it is.” However the artist Marc Chagall said, “Work isn’t to make
money; you work to justify life.”
* Do you think it
is more important to have a job that makes you happy or a job in which you earn
much money?
* What might be
the advantages of a well-paid but unsatisfying job? What might be the
advantages of satisfying but poorly-paid job?
* Do you believe
that work should be a primary focus of a person’s life? Why or why not?
11. Parents often have certain expectations of their
children regarding their education, career and life choices.
* Do you think it is more
important to listen to your parents or follow your heart?
* How do parental expectations affect the lives of children?
* What
societal factors shape parental expectations?
12. Journalism is a vital and challenging
profession.
* Why is
journalism important?
* If you were a journalist, what kind of news stories would you enjoy
reporting about?
* Who would be the first person you would interview and why?
13. Globalization describes the process by which
regional economies, societies and cultures connect through communication,
transportation, and trade. This process has sped up greatly over the last two
decades. *
What advances in communication caused globalization to speed up? *
What roles have travelling played in the globalization of world economies?
* How can globalization positively affect different countries? How can
it negatively affect them?
14. Websites, magazines and television shows are free to
say almost anything about celebrities and public figures – even if it’s not
true. *
Is this practice fair?
*
Why is the public so fascinated with the private details of famous people’s
lives?
* Would you agree to trade privacy for fame? Explain your reasons.
15. Social networking websites like Vkontakte and
Facebook are incredibly popular, but some are concerned that young people are
being too free with their personal information.
* What information about yourself are you comfortable with sharing on
the Internet?
* Do you think people are being careless about their private lives?
* What are the possible effects, good or bad, of so much online sharing?
16. Stereotypes are generalized descriptions that are
said to be true about all members of a certain group.
* Are stereotypes good or bad? Give
examples.
*
How do they arise and where do they come from?
* How can they influence people?
17. Gael Attal once said that, “A ship is safe in the
harbor, but that is not what ships are built for”. What do you think this quote
means?
* Do you agree
with this statement? Why or why not?
* Describe a time
in your life when you took a risk? Do you regret taking that risk, why or why
not?
* What do you
think is more dangerous: a life lived without taking any risks or a life
comprised mainly of risk-taking? Why?
18. Most
scientists argue that we live in a dangerous time of climate change.
* Why should all people be concerned about the environment?
*
How can humans undo the damage they've done to the Earth?
* What are people doing in your town or village to help the
environment?
19. William Shakespeare wrote plays in
England about 400 years ago, but his writing is still read all around the world
today. Which contemporary writer do you think will still be famous 400 years
from now? Why?
* What form do you
think literature will take in future?
* Do you think
people will still read Shakespeare’s plays 400 years from now? Why or why not?
* What do you
think makes a writer’s work timeless?
20. The invention of the Internet is one of the most
revolutionary inventions of the past century.
* How has the
Internet affected your life?
*
What impact does it have on the lives of the people around you?
* What do you think life would be like without the Internet?
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