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.

# 61

A university plans to develop a new research center in your country. Some people want a center for business research. Other people want a center for research in agriculture (farming). Which of these two kinds of research centers do you recommend for your country? Give reasons for your recommendation.

# 62

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? There is nothing that young people can teach older people. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

# 63

How do movies or television influence people’s behavior? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer.

# 64

Music tells us something about a culture. What does the music of your country reveal about the culture of your country? Use reasons and specific examples to support your answer.

# 65

It has recently been announced that a new movie theater may be built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

# 66

Is it better for children to participate in team sports or individual sports? Why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 67

A company has announced that it wishes to build a large factory near your community. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this new influence on your community. Do you support or oppose the factory?

# 68

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Television has destroyed communication among friends and family. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

# 69

In some countries people are no longer allowed to smoke in many public places and office buildings. Do you think this is a good law or a bad law? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

# 70

Imagine that you have received some land to use as you wish. How would you use this land? Use specific details to explain your answer.

# 71

Many parts of the world are losing important natural resources, such as forests, animals, or clean water. Choose one resource that is disappearing and explain why it needs to be saved. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

# 72

When people move to another country, some of them decide to follow the customs of the new country. Others prefer to keep their own customs. Compare these two choices. Which one do you prefer? Support your answer with specific details.

# 73

Decisions can be made quickly, or they can be made after careful thought. Read and think about the following statement: The decisions that people make quickly are always wrong. Do you agree or disagree with the statement? Use reasons and examples to support your opinion.

# 74

Someone who was considered an educated person in the past (for example, in your parents' or grandparents' generation) would not be considered an educated person today. Do you agree or disagree?. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 75

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is more important for students to study history and literature than it is for them to study science and mathematics. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

# 76

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? All students should be required to study art and music in high school. Give specific reasons to support you opinion.

# 77

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is better to make the wrong decision than to make no decision at all. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

# 78

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Reading fiction (such as novels and short stories) is more enjoyable than watching movies. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

# 79

Some people think we should spend as much money as possible exploring outer space (for example, traveling to the moon and to other planets). Other people disagree and think we should spend this money for our basic needs on Earth. Which of these two opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

# 80

English is quickly becoming the world language. Some people think this is good. Others think it is not good. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of English as the world language. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 81

What is one of the most important decisions you have made? Why was this decision important? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

# 82

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

When people succeed, it is because of hard work; luck has nothing to do with success. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 83

Some people think that governments should spend as much money as possible on developing or buying computer technology. Other people disagree and think that this money should be spent on more basic needs. Which one of these opinions do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

# 84

It is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big city. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to develop your essay.

# 85

In general, people are living longer now. Discuss the causes of this phenomenon. Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

# 86

In general, people are living longer now. How will this change affect the society? Use specific details and examples to develop your essay.

# 87

Choose a building that has special meaning for you. Explain why this building is important to you. Support your explanation with specific details.

# 88

We all work or will work in our jobs with many different kinds of people. In your opinion, what are some important characteristics of a co-worker (someone you work closely with)? Use reasons and specific examples to explain why these characteristics are important.

# 89

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Sometimes it is better not to tell the truth. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

# 90

In some countries, teenagers have jobs while they are still students. Do you think this is a good idea? Support your opinion by using specific reasons and details.

# 91

A person you know is planning to move to your town or city. What do you think this person would like and dislike about living in your town or city? Why? Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

# 92

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

Private companies should spend more money to clean up pollution in the environment. Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

# 93

In the future, students may have the choice of studying at home by using technology such as computers or television or of studying at traditional schools. Which would you prefer? Use reasons and specific details to explain your choice.

# 94

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

You can leam just as much bу losing as you can by winning. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 95

When famous people such as actors, athletes, and rock stars give their opinions, many people listen. Do you think we should pay attention to these opinions? Give specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 96

When people need to complain about a product or poor service, some prefer to complain in writing and others prefer to complain in person. Which way do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 97

People remember special gifts or presents that they have received. Why? Give specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 98

Some famous athletes and entertainers earn millions of dollars every year. Do you think these people deserve such high salaries? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

# 99

Your school has enough money to purchase either computers for students or books for the library. Which should your school choose to buy — computers or books? Use specific reasons and examples to support your recommendation.

# 100

If you could know something about the future, what would you choose to know about and why? Give reasons and details to support your choice.

# 101

People listen to music for different reasons and at different times. Why is music important to many people? Give specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

# 102

When students move to a new school, they sometimes face problems. How can schools help these students with their problems? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

# 103

Every generation of people is different in important ways. How is your generation different from your parents' generation? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer.

# 104

You have the opportunity to visit a foreign country for two weeks. Which country would you like to visit? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

# 105

You want to persuade someone to study your native language. What reasons would you give? Support your answer with specific details.

# 106

You have been asked to suggest improvements to a park that you have visited. This might be a city park, a regional park, or a national park. What improvements would you make? Why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your recommendations.

# 107

If you were asked to send one thing representing your country to an international exhibition, what would you choose? Why? Use specific reasons and details to explain your choice.

# 108

There are many different kinds of advertising (on the radio, on television, in newspapers, in magazines, and on billboards). In your opinion, which one of these kinds of advertising is the most effective? Why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 109

Many people have a close relationship with their pets. These people treat their birds, cats, or other animals as members of their family. In your opinion, are such relationships good? Why or why not? Use specific reasons and examples to support vour answer.

# 110

A friend of yours has received some money and plans to use all of it either to go on a vacation or buy a car. Your friend has asked you for advice. Compare your friend's two choices and explain which one you think your friend should choose. Use specific reasons and details to support your choice.

# 111

Advertising helps to sell products. Describe the qualities of an effective advertisement. Use specific details and examples to support your answer.

# 112

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? A sense of humor can sometimes be helpful in difficult situations. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 113

Some people think that they can learn better by themselves than with a teacher. Others think that it is always better to have a teacher. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons to develop vour essay.

# 114

What are some important qualities of a good supervisor (boss)? Use specific details and examples to explain why these qualities are important.

# 115

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Teachers should be paid according to how much their students learn. Give specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

# 116

Should governments spend more money on improving roads and highways, or should governments spend more money on improving public transportation (buses, trains, subways)? Why? Use specific reasons and details to develop your essay.

# 117

Choose one of the following careers (three choices will be presented in the actual test) and explain why it is important to society.

• accountant actor
• airplane pilot architect
• computer programmer dentist
• farmer lawyer
• tour guide

Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

# 118

It has recently been announced that a shopping center may be built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

# 119

It is generally agreed that society benefits from the work of its members. Compare the contributions of artists to society with the contributions of scientists. Which type of contribution do you think is valued more by your society? Give specific reasons to support your answer.

# 120

Many people visit museums when they travel to new places. Why do you think people visit museums? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 121

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

High schools should allow students to study the courses that students want to study. Use specific reasons and examples to support vour opinion.

# 122

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

It is better to be a member of a group than to be the leader of a group. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 123

Some people prefer to plan activities for their free time very carefully. Others choose not to make any plans at all for their free time. Compare the benefits of planning free time activities with the benefits of not making plans. Which do you prefer — planning or not planning for your leisure time? Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice.

# 124

Schools should ask students to evaluate their teachers. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 125

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

People are never satisfied with what they have; they always want something more or something different. Use specific reasons to support your answer.

# 126

Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things we really do not need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives. Which viewpoint do you agree with? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 127

You have enough money to purchase either a house or a business. Which would you choose to buy? Give specific reasons to explain your choice.

# 128

Some students prefer to study alone. Others prefer to study with a group of students. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 129

Some people like doing work by hand. Others prefer using machines. Which do you prefer? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

# 130

It is sometimes said that borrowing money from a friend can harm or damage the friendship. Do you agree? Why or why not? Use reasons and specific examples to explain your answer.

# 131

It has recently been announced that a new restaurant may be built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support vour answer.

# 132

It has recently been announced that a new high school may be built in your neighborhood. Do you support or oppose this plan? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

# 133

You have been told that dormitory rooms at your university must be shared by two students. Would you rather have the university assign a student to share a room with you, or would you rather choose your own roommate? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer.

Примечание:

Новый информационный бюллетень TOEFL (Computer-Based Testing) на 2000-2001 гг. представляет список 155 тем сочинений, сходных по содержанию с темами 1999-2000 гг.