Past Exam Questions: Practice for Success
2010
Option A
Political Polls: Many people are closely following the political polls during the final.
What would you propose to improve society if you were an influential politician?
Option B
Should Everest be closed? Everest has been described as the highest junkyard in the world.
Write about a trip you are organizing with a group of friends to spend a few days in the mountains. Give details of the programme of activities and what everybody should take for the excursion.
2011
Option A
Greening the Sahara: Surprisingly, the fertile fields of cauliflower and melons growing in a vast.
What can tourists do to protect the environment? Discuss.
Option B
The International Year of the Potato: The potato is currently a worldwide star.
How could the problem of hunger in the world be solved? Give your ideas.
2012
Option A
Make room for the robots: When world-famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma announced that he would be playing with the.
Would you like to have a humanoid robot in your home? Why or why not?
Option B
The Influenza Pandemic of 1918: The influenza pandemic of 1918-1919 killed more.
What do you do to look after yourself when you catch a cold or the flu?
September 2000
Rhinoceros Lake
Humour is not something exclusive to any particular culture or profession.
- A funny story you know.
- Is humour an important element in life?
September 2001
Burglars Move In For The Weekend
Gill Cox, a 58-year woman who took her first break.
- Should people stop going away during the weekends in order to prevent robberies? Discuss and give reasons.
- Your home has been robbed. Burglars went into your home while you were inside. Explain the experience.
September 2002
Beauty Over Youth
- Is physical appearance in a boy/girl friend more important for you than personal qualities?
- Do you think that studies like the one described in the text are useful? Discuss.
September 2003
Dragons
Of all the mythological creatures, few have captured the human.
- Have you ever read a book or seen a film about dragons? Tell the story.
- Why are dinosaurs so interesting today? Explain.
September 2004
What’s It Like to Be a Dog?
Do animals have rich emotional lives?
- Have you ever seen a film or read a book about an animal that showed its feelings? Explain.
- Do you think animals really have emotional lives like humans? Discuss.
September 2005
Amphibian Decline Serves As Global Warning
Nearly one in three species of frogs and toads in the world is.
- Do you think our planet is experiencing a climate change? Why?
- What could we do to reduce pollution in large cities?
September 2006
South American Wild Cats Find Hope in a Test Tube
Since time immemorial felines have been venerated in America.
- Describe what you can do at home and in your town to protect the environment.
- After this text on South American wild cats was published, many readers wrote to the editor of the paper, defending or disagreeing with spending money on saving animals in that region. Give your opinion on the topic.
September 2007
Not Without My Dog!
Mary Marcus of New York City takes her dog.
- Which is your favourite pet? Describe it and explain why you like it.
- Should public places like hotels and restaurants have strict regulations that limit access to pets? Discuss.
2008 (September)
Smart Shoes
A clever invention by a British student.
- Discuss the negative and the positive aspects of television.
- Do you think parents should control the number of hours their children watch TV? Explain.
2009 (September)
Solomon’s Real Mine Discovered?
In a discovery straight out of an Indiana Jones movie.
- Why are Indiana Jones movies so popular among young people? Give reasons.
- Is there anything in common between archaeologists and treasure-hunters? Do you think their lives are interesting? Discuss.