TOEFL Writing Topics (Part I)
В этом приложении мы представляем
список тем сочинений из информационного
справочника TOEFL за 1999-2000 гг. (TOEFL Information Bulletin for
Computer-Based Testing). В наших уроках мы приводили примеры
со ссылкой на конкретные темы экзаменационных
сочинений, поэтому публикуемые в этом приложении
темы имеют соответствующую нумерацию.
# 1
When choosing a place to live, what do you consider most important:
location, size, style, number of rooms, types of rooms, or other features? Use reasons and
specific examples to support your answer.
# 2
Films can tell us a lot about the country in which they were made. What
have you learned about a country from watching its movies? Use specific examples and
details to support your response.
# 3
Because of developments in communication and transportation, countries
are becoming more and more alike. How is your country becoming more similar to other
places in the world? Use specific examples and details to support your answer.
# 4
People attend colleges or universities for many different reasons (for
example, new experiences, career preparation, increased knowledge). Why do you think
people attend colleges? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
# 5
If you could change one important thing about your hometown, what would
you change? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
# 6
It you could invent something new, what product would you develop? Use
specific details to explain why this invention is needed.
# 7
Some people say that physical exercise should be a required part of
every school day. Other people believe that students should spend the whole school day on
academic studies. Which opinion do you agree with? Give reasons to support your answer.
# 8
Some people prefer to eat at food stands or restaurants. Other people
prefer to prepare and eat food at home. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.
# 9
Some high schools require all students to wear school uniforms. Other
high schools permit students to decide what to wear to school. Which of these two school
policies do you think is better? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
opinion.
# 10
If you could make one important change in a school that you attended,
what change would you make? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.
# 11
Your school has received a gift of money. What do you think is the best
way for your school to spend this money? Use specific reasons and details to support your
choice.
# 12
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 more important? Why?
# 13
Some people believe that the best way of learning about life is by
listening to the advice of family and friends. Other people believe that the best way of
learning about life is through personal experience. Compare the advantages of these two
different ways of learning about life. Which do you think is preferable? Use specific
examples to support your preference.
# 14
Some people believe that university students should be required to
attend classes. Others believe that going to classes should be optional for students.
Which point of view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to explain your
answer.
# 15
Some people enjoy change, and they look forward to new experiences.
Others like their lives to stay the same, and they do not change their usual habits.
Compare these two approaches to life. Which approach do you prefer? Explain why.
# 16
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Playing a game is fun only when you win. Use specific reasons and
examples to support your answer.
# 17
Some people prefer to spend time with one or two close friends. Others
choose to spend time with a large number of friends. Compare the advantages of each
choice. Which of these two ways of spending time do you prefer? Give reasons to support
your answer.
# 18
Effective advertising sells products. Describe an advertisement and
explain why it is effective. Use specific details to support your answer.
# 19
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Playing games teaches us about life. Use specific reasons and examples
to support your answer.
# 20
Some people think that the family is the most important influence on
young adults. Other people think that friends are the most important influence on young
adults. Which view do you agree with? Use examples to support your position.
# 21
Some people choose friends who are different from themselves. Others
choose friends who are similar to themselves. Compare the advantages of having friends who
are different from you with the advantages of having friends who are similar to you. Which
kind of friend do you prefer for yourself? Why?
# 22
Neighbors are the people who live near us. In your opinion, what are
the qualities of a good neighbor? Use specific details and examples in your answer.
# 23
The twentieth century has seen great change. In your opinion, what is one
change that should be remembered about this century? Give specific reasons and details to
explain your choice.
# 24
Some people believe that a college or university education should be
available to all students. Others believe that higher education should be available only
to good students. Discuss these views. Which view do you agree with? Explain why.
# 25
The government has announced that it plans to build a new university.
Some people think that your community would be a good place to locate the
university. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a new university in
your community. Use specific details in your discussion.
# 26
Think of the most important class you have ever taken. Why did you
enjoy this class so much? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.
# 27
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Universities
should give the same amount of money to their students' sports activities as they give to
their university libraries. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
# 28
Some people think that children should begin their formal education at
a very early age and should spend most of their time on school studies. Others believe
that young children should spend most of their time playing. Compare these two views.
Which view do you agree with? Why?
# 29
Some people prefer to spend most of their time alone. Others like to be
with friends most of the time. Do you prefer to spend your time alone or with friends?
Give reasons to support your answer.
# 30
Which activity is most important?
- reducing pollution in your neighborhood
- helping a child learn to read
- visiting an elderly person regularly
Explain your choice using reasons and details.
# 31
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People should
read only those books that are about real events, real people, and established
facts. Use specific reasons and details to support your opinion.
# 32
You need to travel from your home to a place 40 miles. (64 kilometers)
away. Compare the different kinds of transportation you could use. Tell which method of
travel you would choose. Give specific reasons for your choice.
# 33
Some people prefer to spend their free time outdoors. Other people
prefer to spend their leisure time indoors. Would you prefer to be outside or would you
prefer to be inside for your leisure activities? Use specific reasons and examples to
support your choice.
# 34
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Books are not needed any more because people can read information on
computers. Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.
# 35
Some people believe that students should be given one long vacation
each year. Others believe that students should have several short vacations throughout the
year. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
choice.
# 36
Students at universities often have a choice of places to live. They
may choose to live in university dormitories, or they may choose to live in apartments in
the community. Compare the advantages of living in university housing with the advantages
of living in an apartment in the community. Which would you prefer? Give reasons for your
preference.
# 37
What do you consider to be the most important room in a house? Why is
this room more important to you than any other room? Use specific reasons and examples to
support your opinion.
# 38
Would you prefer to live in a traditional house or in a modern
apartment building? Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.
# 39
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
A person's childhood years (the time from birth to 12 years of age) are
the most important years of a person's life. Use specific reasons and examples to support
your answer.
# 40
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
People should sometimes do things that they do not enjoy doing. Use
specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
# 41
Your country is going to build a new national university. What academic
area should be the main focus of this university? Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
# 42
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Parents are the best teachers. Use specific reasons and examples to
support your answer.
# 43
In the twentieth century, food has become easier to prepare. Has this
change improved the way people live? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
answer.
# 44
Your community has enough money to hire one new employee. Which one of
the following (three choices will be presented in the actual test) should your community
hire?
- a community health worker
- a counselor
- an emergency medical technician
- a firefighter
- a judge
- a landscaper
- a police officer
- a recreation center director
- a teacher
Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.
# 45
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television,
newspapers, magazines, and other media pay too much attention to the personal lives of
famous people such as public figures and celebrities. Use specific reasons and details to
explain your opinion.
# 46
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
Children should be required to help with household tasks as soon as
they are able to do so. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
# 47
Some young children spend a great amount of their time practicing
sports. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this. Use specific reasons and
examples in your answer.
# 48
Some people believe that the Earth is being harmed (damaged) by human
activity. Others feel that human activity makes the Earth a better place to live. What is
your opinion? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.
# 49
A gift (such as a soccer ball, a camera, or an animal) can contribute
to a child's development. What gift would you give to help a child develop? Why? Use
reasons and specific examples to support your choice.
# 50
Some people pay money for the things they want or need. Other people
trade products or goods for what they need. Compare the advantages of these two ways of
obtaining things. Which way do you prefer? Explain why.
# 51
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
People are never too old to attend college or university. Use specific
reasons and examples to support your answer.
# 52
Read and think about the following statement:
Only people who earn a lot of money are successful. Do you agree or
disagree with this definition of success? Use specific reasons and examples to support
your opinion.
# 53
Read and think about the following statement: People behave differently
when they wear different clothes. Do you agree that different clothes influence the way
people behave? Use specific examples to support your answer.
# 54
What is the most important animal in your country? Why is this animal
important? Use reasons and specific details to explain your answer.
# 55
clothes or furniture) can be made by hand or by
machine. Which do you prefer — items made by hand or items made by machine? Use reasons
and specific examples to explain your choice.
# 56
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?
A zoo has no useful purpose. Use specific reasons and details to
support your answer.
# 57
Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a
big city. Which place would you prefer to live in? Use specific reasons and details to
support your answer.
# 58
Entertainers such as actors, singers, and comedians contribute as much
to society as professionals such as doctors, engineers, and teachers. Do you agree or
disagree? Use reasons and specific examples to support your opinion.
# 59
People learn in different ways. Some people learn by doing things;
other people learn by reading about things; others learn by listening to people talk about
things. Which of these methods of learning is best for you? Use specific examples to
support your choice.
# 60
Some people trust their first impressions about a person's character
because they believe these judgments are generally correct. Other people do not judge a
person's character quickly because they believe first impressions are often wrong. Compare
these two attitudes. Which attitude do you agree with? Support your choice with specific
examples.
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