TH YEAR

 

 

1. Children brought up on an early diet of television, video, and computer games are reluctant readers. Do you agree?

 

2. How far do you agree with the view that the examination system is intrinsically flawed and arbitrary? What form of assessment is more efficient and reliable: exams or continuous assessment of the students’ knowledge? What do you think about independent testing for secondary school graduates?

 

3. The pros and cons of written and oral examinations. Should the examination system be improved or abolished altogether? Do standardized tests facilitate or stifle creativity?

 

4. Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one. Malcolm Forbes, US publisher.

5. The pros and cons of online education and home schooling. Think about socialization, quality of education, parent-child relationship, and financial aspects.

 

6. Technology has advanced in leaps and bounds over the last few decades, but has it really made our lives easier? It is generally believed that it is equally capable of enhancing or endangering social progress. Discuss the downside of the technological revolution.

 

7. Entertainment is something that distracts us from the routine of daily life. It makes us for the time being forget our cares. Sir Herbert Read, British poet and critic

 

8. Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. Henry Grunwald, US writer and diplomat

 

9. The cult of celebrity in modern society. The downside of fame. How do you feel about the paparazzi? Do you think that being a celebrity means that your life must be constantly under scrutiny? Why do many believe that the idea of responsibility is central to being a celebrity?

 

10. Glass ceiling – reality or myth? Are there jobs intrinsically unsuitable for women? Discuss the concept of gender equality at work. How has the world changed in terms of gender equality (inequality)?

 

11. How do movies and television influence people’s values and beliefs? Since certain media messages are believed to be harmful, would you agree that the mass media and TV, in particular, might have an adverse effect on moral standards? Do violence, pornography, etc. in the media affect the behavior of people?

 

12. The four pillars of wisdom that support journalistic endeavors are: lies, stupidity, money-grubbing, and ethical irresponsibility. Marlon Brando

 

13. Punishment is always a two-edged sword.

 

14. How real is climate change? Is skepticism justified? What challenges does it pose for humanity?

 

15. The fundamental dilemma remains – in a tolerant society, should we tolerate intolerance? It is natural to develop prejudices. It is noble to rise above them.

 

16. There is never a problem child, there are only problem parents.

 

17. There are two types of education. One should teach us how to make a living, and the other how to live. Does having a degree not have its perks?

 

18. The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate. (Joseph Priestley, British political theorist)

 

19. Advertising shamelessly exploits people’s gullibility and promotes excessive consumerism. How far do you agree with it?

 

20. Classical music and popular music: the genuine and the spurious. Does classical music still matter?

 

21. People are destroying various ecosystems, totally oblivious to the impact of their behavior. Why has the protection of the environment proved to be an uphill struggle?

 

22. The very essence of romance is uncertainty. Oscar Wilde

 

23. The role of royalty in the life of the British Society.

 

24. Sports do not build character. They reveal it. (Heywood Hale Brown)

 

25. Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed. (Martin Luther King)

 

26. What constitutes quality leisure time, in your view? What is your preferred way of ‘letting your hair down’?

 

27. School bullying and peer harassment. The growing epidemic of online bullying. Suggest possible ways of tackling the problem.

 

28. Does traveling always expand people’s horizons? In what ways can it help a person develop? When does it fail to do so?

 

29. Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom.

 

30. Many of us go through life with an array of uncompleted tasks, nibbling at our conscience. How serious, in your opinion, is the problem of procrastination? To what extent can it adversely impact your academic performance? How important do you think discipline is in your daily life?

 

31. The world’s challenges of the modern day: drug trafficking, sexual exploitation of women and children, forced labor, organs removal and trafficking, etc. How do different governments tackle these problems?

 

32. The problem of terrorism. How can humanity combat terrorism effectively?

 

33. Starting your own business can be an intimidating prospect, but it’s certainly worth the effort. How far do you agree with this view? How important is a good business climate /environment? Is Ukraine an easy place to do business in? Why /Why not?

 

34. Prisons are often dubbed as a double-edged sword, yielding both good and bad. Why do you think that is?

 

35. Are you well-versed in current events and world politics? Do you think it is important for a modern individual to keep abreast of what’s going on?

 

36. One can only give an unbiased opinion about things that do not interest one, which is no doubt the reason why an unbiased opinion is always valueless. The man who sees both sides of a question is a man who sees absolutely nothing. (Oscar Wilde).

 

37. Do you think Ukraine will overcome the problems that plague it today? What has to happen for the country to start a gradual renewal process and set off on the road to peace and prosperity?

 

38. From rags to riches. There is a million ways to make money and a billion ways to lose it. Share examples of business successes/tragedies. Why are some people driven to make more money than they could ever use?

39. Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe.

Nobody pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.… Sir Winston Churchill

 

40. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Parents are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

 

41. It has been said: “Not everything that is learned is contained in books”. Compare and contrast knowledge gained from experience with knowledge gained from books. In your opinion, which source is the more important? Why?

 

42. “When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with success”. How far do you agree with this view?

 

43. In general people are living longer now. Discuss the causes of the ongoing increase in life expectancy. What are the effects of longer life spans?

44. Comment on the statement “Better pass boldly into that other world, in the full glory of some passion, than fade and wither dismally with age”(as based on "The Dead" by James Joyce).

45. Comment on the statement “More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn’t read”(Oscar Wilde).

 

46. What is a very important skill a person should learn in order to be successful in the world today? Choose one skill and use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

 

47. Learning about the past has no value for those of us living in the present. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

 

48. People have different ways of escaping the stress and difficulties of modern life. What do you think are the best ways of reducing stress?

 

49. Famous discoveries and inventions that changed the world. Which of them do you think are overrated? And which can never be overestimated?

 

50. The system of university education in Ukraine. What parts of it would you like to see changed? Share your own experience of the Ukrainian university system.

 

51. Drug and substance abuse: How serious a problem is it in Ukraine, in general, and in Lviv, in particular? How do Western countries handle the problem?

 

52. How do you spot and understand bias, prejudice and stereotypes in modern printed and electronic media texts?

 

53. Specify the role media technologies and the Internet play in modern language education.

 

54. Tapping the potential of TED talks: Ideas and language used by TED presenters as a powerful teaching resource.

 

55. Comment on the statement “What seem to us bitter trials are often blessings in disguise”(Oscar Wilde).

56. Comment on the statement “Ignorance is like a delicate exotic fruit; touch it and the bloom is gone” (Oscar Wilde). How important is it to be always knowledgeable? What are the adverse effects of ignorance on society?

57. The problem of the generations gap has been raised many a time in the world literatures, for example in “The Road from Colonus” by E.M.Forster. What do you think about its social significance? Are there any bridges that one can think of?