Speaking Comprehension Test for 9th Form Students
1. What kind of holiday-maker are you? Would you like to go on a school trip to the Carpathians? Why? What conditions would make your trip exciting? What should you do before setting out on your trip?
2. What makes a perfect holiday? Which place on earth would you like to go to? Why? What things can go wrong on holiday? Does a day trip or a long journey have more pros than cons?
3. How does weather affect people’s moods? What are some of the problems caused by bad weather? What weather conditions are typical of your country? Has any part of your country ever been a disaster area? Why?
4. What should someone keep in mind when choosing a career? Would you be interested in a teaching career? Why/Why not? Do you think students get enough help from their school in order to choose a suitable career? Which would be an ideal career for you? Why?
5. Do you think keeping animals in captivity is justified? Why/Why not? Why are some animals in danger of becoming extinct? Do you know of any organizations which campaign for the protection of animals? What can you personally do to ensure animal rights?
6. Some schools require all students to wear a uniform at school. Other schools allow students to wear whatever they want. Which policy do you think is better and why? Is wearing casual clothes or a suit and a shirt more your style? Which other school rules do you think might be questioned?
7. Are there any advantages of being an only child in a family. Do you have brothers or sisters? Are there any disadvantages if there are a lot of children in a family? Would you like to have a child adopted in your family?
8. Is money the most important thing in life? What would you do with one million hryvnias won in a lottery? Would you like to give most of your money to charity? Why/Why not? What work of art would you like to buy having a large sum of money?
9. You have a choice between living in one city for the rest of your life or moving to a new city every three years. Which style of life would you choose? What are some of the reasons for this choice? If you could choose which city or cities you would live in, where would you live? Why?
10. What are the reasons for people to study foreign languages? What word or phrase do you think is the most important to know when travelling in a foreign country? Why? What is the biggest challenge for a traveller who does not speak a local language? How do people communicate when they don’t speak each other’s language?
11. Do you think computer games are bad for a child’s development? Why? What are the advantages and disadvantages of playing computer games? Do you think parents should limit the amount of time their children play on computer? What do you usually use a computer for?
12. Do you think that global warming is caused by the actions of humans? Are you convinced that global warming is a serious problem? Why? Can we say that weather conditions typical of four seasons are the same as they were fifty years ago?
13. A foreign visitor has only one day to spend in your country. Where should this visitor go on that day? What dishes should he or she eat? What souvenirs should the visitor take back to his or her country? What season would you advise the visitor to come to Ukraine in?
14. What toys did you play with being a small child? What magical creatures did you believe in as a child? Who told you these creatures weren’t real, and what was your reaction? Is it good for children to believe in magical creatures? Why or why not?
15. If you could be a famous musician, what instrument would you play? What genre of music would you play? What kind of audience would you write your music for? What singer or music band is your favourite one? Why?
16. Would you like to be in possession of a time machine that allows you to travel ONLY back in time? What period of history would you travel to? What would you do there? If you could take one thing for the people from the past century what would it be?
17. In your opinion, why are more and more schools requiring uniforms? What effects do uniforms have on students, teachers, and education? Why do people in certain professions have to wear uniforms? Is this a good or bad thing and why?
18. What do you think are the best reasons to play sports? What can we learn from playing sports, either in a team or individually? What life lessons have you learned from playing sports? If you could take up any sport, what would it be?
19. Talk about a holiday that is celebrated in another country. What are the most important or interesting parts of this holiday? Is the holiday celebrated in Ukraine as well? What holiday unites the peoples of Europe?
20. Some school subjects are considered more important than others. Which do you think they are, and how do students benefit from taking these classes? Do you think that physical education and art are of any importance to the young generation? Why or why not? What new subjects would you like to have introduced at your school?
The Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine
Stage Ii National Students Olympiad in the English Language
Writing Comprehension Test
For 9th Form Students
Directions:
In this test you will select from three writing tasks. Choose the one that you feel you are most capable to write about. You will then begin writing your essay on the pages provided. When you are finished close your papers, lay down your pen and wait for us to collect your test materials.