GOVERNMENT

Should wealthy nations be required to share their wealth among poorer nations by
providing such things as food and education? Or is it the responsibility of the
governments of poorer nations to look after their citizens themselves?

What should a government do for a country to become successful?

Should money be spent on space exploration?

Should rich countries forgive all debts for poor countries?

Does foreign aid help donor countries more than the recipients?

Should rich countries pay more for environmental damage?

Most high level jobs are done by men. Should the government encourage a certain
percentage of these jobs to be reserved for women?

Should developing countries concentrate on improving industrial skills or should they

promote education first?

Safety standards are important when building people's homes. Who should be
responsible for enforcing strict building codes - the government or the people who build
the homes?

Discuss the advantage and disadvantage of giving international aid to poor countries.

Should criminals be punished with lengthy jail terms or re-educated and rehabilitated
using community service programs for instance, before being reintroduced to society?

In most countries disabled people are not catered for adequately, e.g. buildings are often
inappropriately designed. Governments rely too heavily on charities and voluntary
organizations to provide assistance and funding. What further measures could be taken
to assist disabled people?

In your opinion should government intervene in the rights of the individual with regard
to family planning?

The best way to reduce the number of traffic accidents is to make all young drivers
complete a safe driving education course before being licensed to drive.

MODERN SOCIETY

Nowadays doctors can become very rich. Maybe they should not focus on profitable
activities such as plastic surgery or looking after rich patients and concentrate more on
patients health, no matter how rich they are?

Does travel help to promote understanding and communication between countries?

In your opinion what factors contribute to a good movie?

Are famous people treated unfairly by the media ? Should they be given more privacy,
or is the price of their fame an invasion into their private lives?

Is animal testing necessary?

Some businesses now say that no one can smoke cigarettes in any of their offices. Some
governments have banned smoking in all public places. Do you agree or disagree? Give
reasons.

To what extent is the use of animals in scientific research acceptable?

Human beings do not need to eat meat in order to maintain good health because they
can get all their food needs from meatless products and meatless substances. A
vegetarian diet is as healthy as a diet containing meat. Argue for or against the opinion
above.

Forests are the lungs of the earth. Destruction of the world's forests amounts to death of
the world we currently know. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Are our zoos cruel to wild animals? Discuss.

Zoos are sometimes seen as necessary but not poor alternatives to a natural
environment. Discuss some of the arguments for and/or against keeping animals in
zoos.

To what extent will migration from the developing world to the developed world
become a social and political issue in the 21st century?

In Britain, when someone gets old, they often go to live in a home with other old people
where there are nurses to look after them. Sometimes the government has to pay for this
care. Who should be responsible for our old people? Give reasons.

The first car appeared on British roads in 1888. By the year 2000 there may be as many
as 29 million vehicles on British roads. Alternative forms of transport should be
encouraged and international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. What do
you think?

The best way to reduce the number of traffic accidents is to make all young drivers
complete a safe driving education course before being licensed to drive.

News editors decide what to broadcast on TV and what to print in newspapers. What
factors do you think influence their decisions? Have we become used to bad news?
Would it be better if more good news was reported?

TV: could you be without it? Discuss.

To what extent will migration from the developing world to the developed world
become a social and political issue in the 21st century?

The mass media, including TV, radio and newspapers, have great influence in shaping
people's ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give
reasons for your answer.

Tourism is becoming increasingly important as a source of revenue to many countries

but its disadvantages should not be overlooked. What are some of the problems of
tourism?

The mass media, including TV, radio and newspapers, have great influence in shaping
people's ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree this statement? Give reasons for
your answer

TECHNOLOGY
Does modern technology make life more convenient, or was life better when technology
was simpler?

Will modern technology, such as the internet ever replace the book or the written word
as the main source of information?

We are becoming increasingly dependent on computers. They are used in businesses,

hospitals, crime detection and even to fly planes. What things will they be used for in
future?.Is this dependence on computers a good thing or should we be more suspicious
of their benefits?Use specific details and examples in your answer.

In what ways has information technology changed work and working practices in the
past 10 years?

Technology is making communication easier in today's world, but at the expense of

personal contact as many people choose to work at home in front of a computer screen.
What dangers are there for a society which depends on computer screens rather than
face-to-face contact for its main means of communication?

Will the Internet bring people of the world closer together?

The first car appeared on British roads in 1888. By the year 2000 there may be as many
as 29 million vehicles on British roads. Alternative forms of transport should be
encouraged and international laws introduced to control car ownership and use. What do
you think?

The mass media, including TV, radio and newspapers, have great influence in shaping
people's ideas. To what extent do you agree or disagree this statement? Give reasons for
your answer.
EMPLOYMENT

Should retirement be compulsory at 65 years of age?

Telecommuting' refers to workers doing their jobs from home for part of each week and
communicating with their office using computer technology. Telecommuting is growing
in many countries and is expected to be common for most office workers in the coming
decades. How do you think society will be affected by the growth of telecommuting?

In some countries the average worker is obliged to retire at the age of 50, while in others
people can work until they are 65 or 70. Until what age do you think people should be
encouraged to remain in paid employment? Give reasons for your answer.

ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

To what extent should economic planning be influenced by the need of environmental

conservation?

Damage of the environment is an inevitable consequence of worldwide improvements

in the standard of living. Discuss.

The rising levels of congestion and air pollution found in most of the world cities can be
attributed directly to the rapidly increasing number of private cars in use. In order to
reverse this decline in the quality of life in cities, attempts must be made to encourage
people to use their cars less and public transport more. Discuss possible ways to
encourage the use of public transport.

The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace. Nuclear power provides cheap
and clean energy. The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages.
Do you agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer.

EDUCATION

Education is the single most important factor in the development of a country. Do you
agree?

What are factors which are related to academic success in high-school students?

Do the benefits of study abroad justify the difficulties? What advice would you offer to
a prospective student?

The idea of going overseas for university study is an exciting prospect for many people.
But while it may offer some advantages, it is probably better to stay home because of
the difficulties a student inevitably encounters living and studying in a different culture.
To what extent do you agree or disagree this statement? Give reasons for your answer.

Education is recognized as vital to the future of any society in today's world.

Governments throughout the world should make education compulsory for all children
between the ages of 5 and 15. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this
statement?

Foreign language instruction should begin in kindergarten. Discuss.

Should sports classes be sacrificed in High School so students can concentrate on

academic subjects?

To what extent should universities function as training grounds for employment?

To what extent should university courses be geared to the economic needs of society?

Should children be taught sex education in schools?

Computers can translate all kinds of languages well. Do our children need to learn more
languages in the future?

Are zoos necessary for education?

PARENTS & CHILDREN

Children should never be educated at home by their parents. Do you agree or disagree?

Children learn best by observing behavior of adults and copying it. To what extent do
you agree or disagree with this statement?

GENDER ISSUES - ESSAY TOPICS

To what extent has the traditional male role changed in the last 20 years?

Many people believe that women make better parents than men and that this is why they
have the greater role in raising children in most societies. Others claim that men are just
as good as women at parenting Write an essay expressing your point of view. Give
reasons for your answe

voc
Graduate
To complete a first university degree successfully

I graduated from the University of Salford in 2009.

My graduation ceremony was in 2009.

Curriculum

The group of subjects studied in a school, college, etc.

Schools must ensure they have an excellent curriculum.

Qualification

An official record showing that you have finished a training course or have the necessary skills,
etc

Good qualifications are really important if you want to get a well-paid job.

I am qualified to teach English.

Coursework

Regular work done by students as part of a course, but assessed independently of formal
exams.

The coursework on my degree was really difficult.

Co-educational

When male and female students are taught together in the same school or college rather than
separately
Co-educational schools prepare students for their future better than single-sex schools.

Cheat

To behave in a dishonest way in order to get what you want

He did really well in his exams but he cheated. He copied from a friend.

Cheating on exams is not recommended.

Literacy

The ability to read and write.

Literacy rates have declined considerably in Western countries over the last decade.

However, most children are literate.

Illiterate

Unable to read and write

Many children in the poorest countries are illiterate.

Primary (elementary) Education

First years of formal education from around age 5 to 11.

A good primary education is crucial for a child's development.

Secondary Education

Education during the time as a teenager.

I loved it at my secondary school as I had so many friends.

Higher (tertiary) Education

Non-compulsory education after finishing school, such as university, as well as vocational

education and training at colleges.

60% of children now go into higher education after they finish school.

Concentrate

To direct your attention or your efforts towards a particular activity, subject or problem

It is difficult to concentrate on my work if there is a lot of noise.

I keep losing concentration due to the noise.

Crime Vocabulary

Legislation

A law or set of laws suggested by a government and made official by a parliament.

There needs to be changes to crime-related legislation.

Deter

To make someone less enthusiastic about doing something by threatening bad results if they
do it.

Tougher prison sentences may be a deterrent to other would-be offenders.

Offender

Someone who is guilty of a crime.

Prison should not be used for first-time offenders.

Punish

To cause someone who has done something wrong or committed a crime to suffer, by hurting
them, forcing them to pay money, sending them to prison, etc

Those responsible for serious crimes must be punished.

Prevention

When you stop something from happening or stop someone from doing something.

The government should focus on the prevention of crime rather than introducing harsher
prison sentences.

Commit

To do something illegal or something that is considered wrong.

People who commit serious crimes should be given lengthy (long) prison sentences.
Criminal

A person who commits a crime.

Criminals who commit violent crimes should not be given probation.

Probation

A period of time when a criminal must behave well and not commit any more crimes in order
to avoid being sent to prison.

Probation is a good way to reduce prison overcrowding, but it must only be used for those who
have committed minor crimes.

Rehabilitate

To return someone or something to a good or healthy condition, state or way of living.

It is important to rehabilitate criminals while they are in prison otherwise they may re-offend
(commit a crime again) when they are released from prison.
Guilt

Having done something wrong or committed a crime.

If jurors (the members of a jury) find a defendant guilty, then that person must be punished.

Jury

A group of people chosen to decide in a court of law if someone is guilty of a crime or not.

To ensure fairness in a criminal trial, there must be a jury.

Convict

To decide officially in a court of law that someone is guilty of a crime.

He has been convicted of arson (starting a fire intentionally to damage something) two times
now.

Fine
Being made to pay money for breaking the law.

Motorists should be given a fine if they are caught speeding.

Imprisonment

Being put in prison.

Murderers are usually given life imprisonment.

Community Service

Work that people do to help other people without payment, and which young criminals whose
crime was not serious enough for them to be put in prison are sometimes ordered to do.

Community service is a good alternative to prison for minor offences.

Justice

Fairness in the way people are dealt with.

Those who commit assaults must be imprisoned because the victims want justice.

Victim

Someone who has suffered because of the actions of someone else.

The victims of crime often need help and support to recover from their bad experience.
aberration

(n.) something that differs from the norm (In 1974, Poland won the World Cup, but the
success turned out to be an aberration, and Poland have not won a World Cup since).

abhor

(v.) to hate, detest (Because he always wound up getting hit in the head when he tried to
play cricket, Marcin began to abhor the sport).

acquiesce

(v.) to agree without protesting (Though Mr. Pospieszny wanted to stay outside and work in
his garage, when his wife told him that he had better come in to dinner, he acquiesced to her
demands.)

alacrity

(n.) eagerness, speed (For some reason, Simon loved to help his girlfriend whenever he
could, so when his girlfriend asked him to set the table he did so with alacrity.)

amiable

(adj.) friendly (An amiable fellow, Neil got along with just about everyone.)

appease

(v.) to calm, satisfy (When Jerry cries, his mother gives him chocolate to appease him.)

arcane
 (adj.) obscure, secret, known only by a few (The professor is an expert in arcane Kashubian
literature.)

avarice

(n.) excessive greed (The banker’s avarice led him to amass an enormous personal fortune.)

brazen

(adj.) excessively bold, brash, clear and obvious (Critics condemned the writer’s brazen
attempt to plagiarise Frankow-Czerwonko’s work.)

brusque

(adj.) short, abrupt, dismissive (Simon’s brusque manner sometimes offends his colleagues.)

cajole

(v.) to urge, coax (Magda's friends cajoled her into drinking too much.)

callous

(adj.) harsh, cold, unfeeling (The murderer’s callous lack of remorse shocked the jury.)

candor

(n.) honesty, frankness (We were surprised by the candor of the politician’s speech because
she is usually rather evasive.)

chide

(v.) to voice disapproval (Hania chided Gregory for his vulgar habits and sloppy appearance.)
circumspect

(adj.) cautious (Though I promised Marta’s father I would bring her home promptly by
midnight, it would have been more circumspect not to have specified a time.)

clandestine

(adj.) secret (Announcing to her boyfriend that she was going to the library, Maria actually
went to meet George for a clandestine liaison.)

coerce

(v.) to make somebody do something by force or threat (The court decided that David
Beckham did not have to honor the contract because he had been coerced into signing it.)

coherent

(adj.) logically consistent, intelligible (William could not figure out what Harold had seen
because he was too distraught to deliver a coherent statement.)

complacency

(n.) self-satisfied ignorance of danger (Simon tried to shock his friends out of their
complacency by painting a frightening picture of what might happen to them.)

confidant

(n.) a person entrusted with secrets (Shortly after we met, he became my chief confidant.)

connive

(v.) to plot, scheme (She connived to get me to give up my plans to start up a new business.)
cumulative

(adj.) increasing, building upon itself (The cumulative effect of hours spent using the World
English website was a vast improvement in his vocabulary and general level of English.)

debase

(v.) to lower the quality or esteem of something (The large raise that he gave himself
debased his motives for running the charity.)

decry

(v.) to criticize openly (Andrzej Lepper, the leader of the Polish Self Defence party decried
the appaling state of Polish roads.)

deferential

(adj.) showing respect for another’s authority (Donata is always excessively deferential to
any kind of authority figure.)

demure

(adj.) quiet, modest, reserved (Though everyone else at the party was dancing and going
crazy, she remained demure.)

deride

(v.) to laugh at mockingly, scorn (The native speaker often derided the other teacher’s
accent.)

despot
 (n.) one who has total power and rules brutally (The despot issued a death sentence for
anyone who disobeyed his laws.)

diligent

(adj.) showing care in doing one’s work (The diligent researcher made sure to double check
her measurements.)

elated

(adj.) overjoyed, thrilled (When he found out he had won the lottery, the postman was
elated.)

eloquent

(adj.) expressive, articulate, moving (The best man gave such an eloquent speech that most
guests were crying.)

embezzle

(v.) to steal money by falsifying records (The accountant was fired for embezzling €10,000 of
the company’s funds.)

empathy

(n.) sensitivity to another’s feelings as if they were one’s own (I feel such empathy for my
dog when she’s upset so am I!)

enmity

(n.) ill will, hatred, hostility (John and Scott have clearly not forgiven each other, because the
enmity between them is obvious to anyone in their presence.)

erudite
 (adj.) learned (My English teacher is such an erudite scholar that he has translated some of
the most difficult and abstruse Old English poetry.)

extol

(v.) to praise, revere (Kamila extolled the virtues of a vegetarian diet to her meat-loving
boyfriend.)

fabricate

(v.) to make up, invent (When I arrived an hour late to class, I fabricated some excuse about
my car breaking down on the way to work.)

feral

(adj.) wild, savage (That beast looks so feral that I would fear being alone with it.)

flabbergasted

(adj.) astounded (Whenever I read an Agatha Christie mystery novel, I am always

flabbergasted when I learn the identity of the murderer.)

forsake

(v.) to give up, renounce (I won't forsake my conservative principles.)

fractious

(adj.) troublesome or irritable (Although the child insisted he wasn’t tired, his fractious
behaviour - especially his decision to crush his jam sandwiches all over the floor - convinced
everyone present that it was time to put him to bed.)
furtive

(adj.) secretive, sly (Claudia’s placement of her drugs in her sock drawer was not as furtive as
she thought, as the sock drawer is the first place most parents look.)

gluttony

(n.) overindulgence in food or drink (Helen’s fried chicken tastes so divine, I don’t know how
anyone can call gluttony a sin.)

gratuitous

(adj.) uncalled for, unwarranted (Every evening the guy at the fish and chip shop gives me a
gratuitous helping of vinegar.)

haughty

(adj.) disdainfully proud (The superstar’s haughty dismissal of her co-stars will backfire on
her someday.)

hypocrisy

(n.) pretending to believe what one does not (Once the politician began passing legislation
that contradicted his campaign promises, his hypocrisy became apparent.)

impeccable

(adj.) exemplary, flawless (If your grades were as impeccable as your brother’s, then you too
would receive a car for a graduation present.)

impertinent

(adj.) rude, insolent (Most of your comments are so impertinent that I don’t wish to dignify
them with an answer.)
implacable

(adj.) incapable of being appeased or mitigated (Watch out: once you shun Grandmother’s
cooking, she is totally implacable.)

impudent

(adj.) casually rude, insolent, impertinent (The impudent young woman looked her teacher
up and down and told him he was hot.)

incisive

(adj.) clear, sharp, direct (The discussion wasn’t going anywhere until her incisive comment
allowed everyone to see what the true issues were.)

indolent

(adj.) lazy (Why should my indolent children, who can’t even pick themselves up off the sofa
to pour their own juice, be rewarded with a trip to Burger King?)

inept

(adj.) not suitable or capable, unqualified (She proved how inept she was when she forgot
two orders and spilled a pint of cider in a customer’s lap.)

infamy

(n.) notoriety, extreme ill repute (The infamy of his crime will not lessen as time passes.)

inhibit
 (v.) to prevent, restrain, stop (When I told you I needed the car last night, I certainly never
meant to inhibit you from going out.)

innate

(adj.) inborn, native, inherent (His incredible athletic talent is innate, he never trains, lifts
weights, or practices.)

insatiable

(adj.) incapable of being satisfied (My insatiable appetite for blondes was a real problem on
my recent holiday in Japan!)

insular

(adj.) separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off (Because of the sensitive nature of
their jobs, those who work for MI5 must remain insular and generally only spend time with
each other.)

intrepid

(adj.) brave in the face of danger (After scaling a live volcano prior to its eruption, the
explorer was praised for his intrepid attitude.)

inveterate

(adj.) stubbornly established by habit (I’m the first to admit that I’m an inveterate cider
drinker—I drink four pints a day.)

jubilant

(adj.) extremely joyful, happy (The crowd was jubilant when the firefighter carried the
woman from the flaming building.)
knell

(n.) the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death (Echoing throughout our village, the
funeral knell made the grey day even more grim.)

lithe

(adj.) graceful, flexible, supple (Although the dancers were all outstanding, Joanna’s control
of her lithe body was particularly impressive.)

lurid

(adj.) ghastly, sensational (Barry’s story, in which he described a character torturing his
neighbour's tortoise, was judged too lurid to be published on the English Library's website.)

maverick

(n.) an independent, nonconformist person (John is a real maverick and always does things
his own way.)

maxim

(n.) a common saying expressing a principle of conduct (Ms. Stone’s etiquette maxims are
both entertaining and instructional.)

meticulous

(adj.) extremely careful with details (The ornate needlework in the bride’s gown was a
product of meticulous handiwork.)

modicum
 (n.) a small amount of something (Refusing to display even a modicum of sensitivity, Magda
announced her boss’s affair to the entire office.)

morose

(adj.) gloomy or sullen (David’s morose nature made him very unpleasant to talk to.)

myriad

(adj.) consisting of a very great number (It was difficult to decide what to do on Saturday
night because the city presented us with myriad possibilities for fun.)

nadir

(n.) the lowest point of something (My day was boring, but the nadir came when my new car
was stolen.)

nominal

(adj.) trifling, insignificant (Because he was moving the following week and needed to get rid
of his furniture more than he needed money, Kim sold everything for a nominal price.)

novice

(n.) a beginner, someone without training or experience (Because we were all novices at
archery, our instructor decided to begin with the basics

nuance

(n.) a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression (The nuances of the poem were not
obvious to the casual reader, but the teacher was able to point them out.)

oblivious
 (adj.) lacking consciousness or awareness of something (Oblivious to the burning smell
emanating from the kitchen, my father did not notice that the rolls in the oven were burned
until much too late.)

obsequious

(adj.) excessively compliant or submissive (Donald acted like Susan’s servant, obeying her
every request in an obsequious manner.)

obtuse

(adj.) lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect (Political opponents warned that the prime
minister’s obtuse approach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war.)

panacea

(n.) a remedy for all ills or difficulties (Doctors wish there was a single panacea for every
disease, but sadly there is not.)

parody

(n.) a satirical imitation (A hush fell over the classroom when the teacher returned to find
Magdalena acting out a parody of his teaching style.)

penchant

(n.) a tendency, partiality, preference (Fiona’s dinner parties quickly became monotonous on
account of her penchant for Indian dishes.)

perusal

(n.) a careful examination, review (The actor agreed to accept the role after a three-month
perusal of the movie script.)
plethora

(n.) an abundance, excess (The wedding banquet included a plethora of oysters piled almost
three feet high.)

predilection

(n.) a preference or inclination for something (James has a predilection for eating toad in the
whole with tomato ketchup.)

quaint

(adj.) charmingly old-fashioned (Mary was delighted by the quaint bonnets she saw in
Romania.)

rash

(adj.) hasty, incautious (It’s best to think things over calmly and thoroughly, rather than
make rash decisions.)

refurbish

(v.) to restore, clean up (After being refurbished the old Triumph motorcycle commanded
the handsome price of $6000.)

repudiate

(v.) to reject, refuse to accept (Tom made a strong case for an extension of his curfew, but
his mother repudiated it with a few biting words.)

rife
 (adj.) abundant (Surprisingly, the teacher’s writing was rife with spelling errors.)

salient

(adj.) significant, conspicuous (One of the salient differences between Alison and Helen is
that Alison is a couple of kilos heavier.)

serendipity

(n.) luck, finding good things without looking for them (In an amazing bit of serendipity,
penniless Mark found a $50 bill on the back seat of the bus.)

staid

(adj.) sedate, serious, self-restrained (The staid butler never changed his expression no
matter what happened.)

superfluous

(adj.) exceeding what is necessary (Samantha had already won the campaign so her constant
flattery of others was superfluous.)

sycophant

(n.) one who flatters for self-gain (Some see the people in the cabinet as the Prime Minister’s
closest advisors, but others see them as sycophants.)

taciturn

(adj.) not inclined to talk (Though Magda never seems to stop talking, her brother is quite
taciturn.)

truculent
 (adj.) ready to fight, cruel (This club doesn’t really attract the dangerous types, so why was
that bouncer being so truculent?)

umbrage

(n.) resentment, offence (He called me a lily-livered coward, and I took umbrage at the
insult.)

venerable

(adj.) deserving of respect because of age or achievement (The venerable High Court judge
had made several key rulings in landmark cases throughout the years.)

vex

(v.) to confuse or annoy (My boyfriend vexes me by pinching my bottom for hours on end.)

vociferous

(adj.) loud, boisterous (I’m tired of his vociferous whining so I’m breaking up with him.)

wanton

(adj.) undisciplined, lewd, lustful (Joanna’s wanton demeanor often made the frat guys next
door very excited.)

zenith

(n.) the highest point, culminating point (I was too nice to tell Emily that she had reached the
absolute zenith of her career with that one top 10 hit of hers.)