- •Card 1 Let’s talk about family.
- •What role does family play in each person’s life?
- •Card 2 Let’s talk about family traditions.
- •Card 3 Let’s talk about family relationships.
- •Card 4 Let’s talk about friendship and relationship with friends.
- •Card 5 Let’s talk about education.
- •Card 6 Let’s talk about studying at school.
- •Card 7 Let’s talk about school traditions.
- •Card 9 Let’s talk about life in the city and in the country.
- •Card 10 Let’s talk about different types of houses.
- •Card 11 Let’s talk about Belarusian national cuisine.
- •Card 12 Let’s talk about national cuisine of an English-speaking country.
- •Do you know anything about American cuisine?
- •Card 13 Let’s talk about shopping and money.
- •Card 14 Let’s talk about leisure time.
- •Card 15 Let’s talk about Belarusian customs and traditions.
- •Card 16 Let’s talk about customs and traditions of an English-speaking country.
- •Card 17 Let’s talk about modern means of communication.
- •What modern means of communication do you know?
- •Video conferences are often used by business people and scientists and they don’t need to travel to remote places.
- •Card 18 Let’s talk about a healthy way of life.
- •Card 19 Let’s talk about sport.
- •Card 20 Let’s talk about fashion.
- •Card 21 Let’s talk about travelling and tourism.
- •Card 22 Let’s talk about environment.
- •Card 23 Let’s talk about weather and climate.
- •Do you have a favourite season?
- •Card 24 Let’s talk about the Republic of Belarus.
- •Card 25 Let’s talk about Great Britain.
- •* Let’s talk about science
- •What scientific achievements do you find very important?
- •* Let’s talk about youth organizations
- •Today young people take an active part in the social life of the country. What youth organizations do you know?
- •What kind of appearance appeals to you?
EXAM_ISSUES_2014
EXAM TOPICS |
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* Science and technology * Youth and society * Appearance and Character |
Card 1 Let’s talk about family.
What role does family play in each person’s life?
Our family gives us an identity. It provides us with a moral, social and economic support. Nothing else but the family can be an emotional centre of people’s lives. Family gives us a sense of belonging and a sense of tradition. Family gives us strength and purpose ['pɜ:pəs]. The things we need most deeply in our life – love, communication, respect and good relationships – have their beginning in the family.
My parents (and my siblings) are all I have and they mean the world to me. They will always be ready to help me in hard times, and I can always go back home for comfort and advice.
Are you on good terms with your parents and grandparents?
On the whole I am on good terms with my parents though sometimes we do argue about fashion and hair style, household chores [ʧɔ:z] and getting ready for lessons. I think it happens in any family. The reason is lack of time for communication as both of my parents work. Nevertheless we do our best and try to avoid quarrels.
What will you ask your British friend about his/her family?
How many people are there in your family? Are you a close family? Do you like having weekends with your family? Do you ask your parents for advice if you need it? What relationships do you have with your grandparents?
What can you advise people who want to have a close and happy family?
If you want to have a close and happy family, you should learn to respect people around you, listen to their opinion. I think patience is very important when you communicate with any people especially with the close ones.
Why are there many single-parent families? How does the state help such families?
Nowadays the idea of the family itself is changing. There are changes in values and economics. These changes have made marriage less serious, child rearing more confusing and stable relationships more difficult. Sometimes the family becomes nothing more than "a group of people living together". That’s why divorce has become a common issue.
Some measures are taken by our state to protect children in single –parent families, to provide them with financial and moral support.
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Card 2 Let’s talk about family traditions.
What traditions do different families have?
Family traditions are things that families do together on a regular basis. These things can be patterns of behavior, enjoyable activities or a certain food that a family likes. They can be repeated daily, monthly or once a year. Sometimes traditions are just fun things to do.
Most families get together on special dates or celebrations. They watch their family movies and give presents to each other. Some have their funny or serious rituals.
Observing traditions creates good feelings and special moments to remember.
Are there any family traditions that your follow?
Yes, there are. Like any family in the whole world we celebrate our birthdays and have a New Year party. I like to get ready for such events – to buy presents, to decorate the house, to make a holiday dinner. And there is a special tradition in our family that I think is really unique. It’s…
What will you ask your British friend about his/her family traditions?
What do you enjoy doing at weekends? Do you have any special traditions for Christmas?
Do you like visiting your relatives? On what occasions do your extended family get together?
What traditions would you like to adopt for your family?
What can you advise people who want to have a good relationship with their close and distant relatives?
In my opinion the best thing to do in such a case is to start a new family tradition. It can be anything people like doing together and anything that makes people laugh. The main thing here is to find some reason and get together. And you will understand that you have much in common with your relatives.
They say that a good tradition is glue that unites the family. Do you agree with this?
Yes, I do. I think family traditions give every member of the family a stronger sense of belonging. Being a part of a family is more than living in the same home or having the same last name. It is about relationships and family ties. Since family traditions are something you do together, they strengthen the ties you have between each other.
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