Speaking Olympiad 2014

Form 9
1. There is a proverb in English that says: "You are what you eat".
. What does this saying mean to you?
. How much thought do you give to the food you eat?
. What do you think of fast food restaurants?
2. Some pupils are proud of their school and really enjoy staying there, while
others don't like it and would prefer to study somewhere else.
. What are the qualities of a good school in your opinion?
. What must the teachers be like?
. What kind of pupils do you like?
3. There are thousands of different professions in the world.
. What jobs are extremely important to the well-being of society?
. How might the world be different if these jobs didn't exist?
. Is it difficult to choose the job which is best for you?
4. Imagine that you are given an opportunity to write a book and to have it
published.
. What would you write about? What would its title be?
. What genre of the book do you find the most interesting? Why?
. Whom would you address you book? Who would be its first reader?
5. Some people say that winning is the most important part of playing a sport.
. Do you agree that people go in for sports to win?
. What are some other reasons why people go in for sports?
. How important do you think sports are in the development of a person's
character?
6. You have just won 10,000 dollars, and have decided to take a trip around
the world.
• Explain the choice of the countries you will visit.
• Why are they important for you to see?
• Who would you take with you to see the world?
7. Think about who your role model is.
• Explain how you have come to know this person.
• Describe this person's character. Why do you admire these character traits?
• In what ways would you have to change your own lifestyle in order to become
more like this person?
8. You are about to leave on a journey to another country for a year. You have
enough room in your bag to bring three mementos: two that represent Ukraine
and one that represents your family and will remind you of home.
• What objects do you choose?
• Explain how each of these objects represents Ukraine.
• Explain what the importance of the third item is, and how it reminds you of
home and your family.
 9. What bad habits have you observed in people?
• What bad habits are most difficult to get rid of?
• What bad habits do your friends have? Which of them do you find most annoying?
• Have you had any experience of getting rid of a bad habit?
10. You are going on a trip to another city by yourself. You can choose to go
to Rome, Paris or New York.
• Which city would you go to? Why?
• How would you get around? Would you try out the public transportation, or would
you walk?
• What three cites do you think are the most important to see?
11. Tell us about the greatest teacher you have ever had.
• Why did you choose him or her?
• How did he or she influence your life?
• How can you use what he or she taught you to help others?
12.Many people believe that there is a strong connection between the mind
and the body, and one can not have a sound mind without a healthy body.
• Do you agree with this statement?
• What is the best way to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
• How do you believe this statement translates into your everyday life?
13. You meet a friend whom you haven't seen for several years.
• Tell him/her about the events in your family and in your school that have
happened since you last saw him/her.
• Tell your friend how your goals have changed. What do you want to become?
• Invite your friend to an event that is coming up in the near future where he/she can see
some of your other old friends.
14. One of your friends wants to do some volunteer work during one of your
school breaks.

• Suggest an activity that he/she could do.

• Explain the importance of the service provided by this activity.
• Decide whether or not you want to help out. Explain why you made your decision.
15. If you could become a character from any book or play that you have read,
who would that character be?
• Why would you choose this character?
• How would you act differently than the character acted?
• In what time period does this character live? How would you adjust to living in
this time period?
16. You are one of the first tourists on the moon, and you are sending a message
back to your friends and family.
• What do you say to the people close to you?
• What do you say to the newspapers?
• What do you see on the moon? What are the tourist attractions there?
17. You have a chance to change one historical event.
• What event would you want to change and why?
• What would the effects of this change be immediately after the event?
• What would the long-term effects be?
18. A pen pal from the United States decides to visit you in Ukraine.
• How can you help him or her prepare for this trip?
• What Ukrainian dishes will you make to give your friend a taste of Ukrainian food?
• Where will you take him or her in your town? What other towns would you like to visit
with your friend?
19. To what age do you hope to live?
• What do you want to achieve?
• How will you ensure that the knowledge and experience that you've gained
will be passed on to future generations?
• How do you want people to remember you?
20. You are just about to release a film about your life.
• What actor/actress will play the leading part in the film?
• What events of your life will be highlighted in your film?
• Will the film end happily? What will the ending be?
21. What role does technology play in our society?
• How do you define technology?
• How has technology improved our lives? How has technology made our lives worse?
Give examples.
• Would you rather live in a world with everything entirely dependent on technology or
without any technology whatsoever?
22. How important are experiences, such as traveling or meeting people from
different cultures, in our education?
• What do they teach you?
• What do you feel has been your most important experience so far in your life?
• Is there anything you wish you had done, but didn't? What is it? Why didn't you do it?
23. What is the purpose of education in our society?
• Do you feel that the system we have in place is fulfilling that purpose?
• What could be done to improve the system?
• What do you think the educational system does well?
24. What do you think it means to truly live every day to its fullest?
• Do you believe that you live every day to its fullest?
• Do you think that most people truly live every day to its fullest?
• Why do you think that some people don't live every day to its fullest?
25. How much difference can one person make?
• When have you known one person to make a significant difference?
• How can a person working alone be effective?
• When have you exercised your beliefs in the face of opposition? Have you ever
felt afraid to act because you felt you were alone?
26.Imagine that you are asked to plan a summer camp for pupils in your town
or city.
• What kind of camp would you organize?
• What types of lessons and activities would you include?
• What about the schedule?
27. Your friend has recently been feeling unwell. S/he is coughing and sneezing
and s/he has got a fever.

• What would you advise him/her to do?

• What do you think is the problem?
• Why do these symptoms make you think so?
28.There are many ways of being a leader.
• What are some necessary characteristics of a good leader?
• Why is being or having a leader important?
• Can anyone be a leader?
29.Learning a language is a long and sometimes frustrating process. Although
for some people it is actually quite simple and they learn it quickly.
• Are you one of these people?
• What would you advise those who have trouble learning it?
• Is being a good listener important in learning a language?
30. Do you believe that the majority of young people in Ukraine prefer
watching TV to reading?

What benefits, if any, does reading provide that watching TV does not?

What are the positive and negative aspects of getting information from TV?
31. The history of Ukraine is long and glorious. Tell us something about your
favourite period in Ukrainian history.

• Why do you like this period more than others?

• Why should others know about that period of history?
• What does history teach us? Are lessons of history important in the school
curriculum?
32. Learning is a long-life process.

 What are the ways people continue to learn when they leave schooling?
 What things are worth learning?
 Do you know someone who you think has stopped learning? Why do you think so?
 33. Extreme sports such as skydiving, mountain climbing, bungee jumping
and the like being very popular are also very dangerous.

o What is so appealing about these sports that people risk their lives to do them?

o What kind of people are keen on dangerous sports? Are you one of them?

o What are pros and cons of dangerous sports?

34.Conditions in our city are getting worse every day. The traffic is awful and
the streets are full of litter.

 Give your suggestions how we can make it a cleaner, healthier place to live and work
in.
 What steps must be taken to improve air quality?
 What efforts should be made to deal with the problem of litter?
35. Imagine working as a tour guide.

• Do you get many foreign tourists? Where do they come from?

• What do they come to see?
• What are the most popular places?

36. Have you ever travelled abroad? Describe the places you have visited.

 What did you see/do there? What were the people like?
 What made this place attractive for tourists?
 Which place in you country is a perfect holiday destination?
37. Imagine that you are asked to plan a summer camp for pupils in your town
or city.

•What kind of camp would you organize?

•What types of lessons and activities would you include?
• What would make it attractive for pupils?

38. Leadership is an important part of any cooperation. There are many ways
of being a leader.
• What are some necessary features of a good leader?
• Why is being or having a leader important?
• Can anyone be a leader? Can you?

39. If you could pick a place to live, where would you choose?
• How would you explain your choice?
• What makes this place appealing?
• What, in your view, needs to be changed to make Lviv and Ukraine ideal or almost
 ideal, to live in?
40. Should children be always brought up by their own parents?

• What is your attitude to adoption and surrogate parenting?

• What do you think of the problems foster parents and adopted children can face?
• Should an adopted child know his/her biological mother?

41. Do you believe in the saying "You are what you wear"?

• Compare the kind of clothes you are wearing now to the ones you consider your Sunday
best.
• How do you think style and personality interact?
• What would you wear for different occasions?
42. Compare the roles which a father and a mother play in raising a child.

 Why is it important for a child to have both parents?

 What do you think is your parent's role in shaping up your personality?
 Will you raise your children in the same way your parents brought you up?

Speaking Olympiad 2014

 Form 10

1. The National Lottery creates a millionaire every week in Britain.

• What would you do if you won a big sum of money?

• Do the huge amounts of money affect the lives of people who have won it?
• What suggestions would you give to someone who has won a lot of money?

2. Imagine working as a tour guide.

• Do you get many foreign tourists? Where do they come from?

• What do they come to see?
• What are the most popular places?
3. Suppose you were asked to send one thing to represent your country at an international
exhibition.

• What would you choose?

• Why would you choose this thing?
• How would you explain your choice?
4. Your American friend is going to visit you in Ukraine.

How can you help him prepare for this trip?

•
Where would you take him in your town? What other towns would
•
you like to visit?
• What would you warn him/her about?
5. You have just won 10,000 dollars, and have decided to take a trip around the world.

• Explain the choice of the countries you will visit.

• Why are they important for you to see?
• Who would you take with you to see the world?
6. Describe the ideal day-off you would like to have .

• What place of the world appeals to you?

• What activities do you find enjoyable?
• Whom will you spend the day with?
7. Think about who your role model is.

• Explain how you have come to know this person.

• Describe this person's character. Why do you admire these character traits?
• In what ways would you have to change your own lifestyle in order to become more
like this person?
8. You are about to leave on a journey to another country for a year. You have enough room
in your bag to bring three mementos: two that represent Ukraine and one that represents
your family and will remind you of home.

• What objects do you choose?

• Explain how each of these objects represents Ukraine
• Explain what the importance of the third item is, and how it reminds you of home and
your family.

9. You have been put on the Ukrainian Board of English Education.

• Decide what topics you think are important for learning English.
• What topics are boring and are not worth learning? Explain your choice.
• Convince the other board members that you are correct in your topic choice.
10. You are going on a trip to another city by yourself. You can choose to go to Rome, Paris
or New York.
o Which city would you go to? Why?
o How do you get around? Do you try out the public transportation, or do you go
on foot?
o What three cites do you think are the most important to see?

11.Tell us about the greatest teacher you have ever had.

• Why did you choose him or her?

• How did he or she influence your life?
• How can you use what he or she taught you to help others?
12. Many people believe that there is a strong connection between the mind and the body,
and one can not have a sound mind without a healthy body.

• Do you agree with this statement?

• What is the best way to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
• How do you believe this statement translates into your everyday life?
13. Do you agree or disagree with the idea that all students should be required to study art
or music in high school. Give specific reasons to support your opinion.

 What art or what kind of music would you choose? Why?

 What is the role of art in the society?
 What is the place of art and music in your life?
14. Imagine that you are asked to plan a summer camp for pupils in your town or city.

 What kind of camp would you organize?

 What types of lessons and activities would you include?
 What would make it attractive for pupils?
15. Leadership is an important part of any cooperation. There are many ways of being a leader.

 What are some necessary features of a good leader?

 Why is being or having a leader important?
 Can anyone be a leader? Can you?
16. Learning a language is a long and sometimes frustrating process. Although for some
people it is actually quite simple and they learn it quickly.

 Are you one of these people?

 What would you advise those who have trouble learning it?
 Could you give some useful tips how to learn languages effectively?

17. Do you believe that the majority of young people in Ukraine prefer watching TV to
reading?

 What benefits, if any, does reading provide that watching TV does not?
 What are the positive and negative aspects of getting information from TV?
 What are the disadvantages of television?
18. Films tell us a lot about the country in which they were made.

• What have you learned about a certain country from watching its movie/-s?
• What details are used to describe the country?
• What films about Ukraine would you recommend?
19. Compare the roles which a father and a mother play in raising a child.

• Why is it important for a child to have both parents?

• What do you think is your parent's role in shaping up your personality?
• Will you raise your children in the same way your parents brought you up?
20. If you could pick a place to live, where would you choose?

• How would you explain your choice?

• What makes this place appealing?
• What, in your view, needs to be changed to make Lviv and Ukraine ideal or almost ideal, to
live in?
21. Has the mobile phone changed your life?

• In what ways is this change being felt?

• Do you get more things done, run more errands etc. now that you have a cell
phone?
• If there are disadvantages to using a cell phone, what are they?
22. Imagine that you are asked to plan a summer camp for pupils in your town or city.

• What kind of camp would you organize?

• What types of lessons and activities would you include?
• What about the schedule?
23. Your friend has been feeling unwell recently. S/he is coughing and sneezing and s/he
has got a fever.

• What would you advise him/her to do?

• What do you think is the problem?
• Why do these symptoms make you think so?
24. There are many things that make a leader.

• What are some essential characteristics of a good leader?

• Why is being or having a leader important?
• Can just about anyone be a leader?
25. You meet a friend whom you haven 't seen for several years.

• Tell him/her about the events in your school and in your family that
have happened since you last seen each other.
• Tell your friend how your goals have changed. What do you want to
become?
• Invite your friend to an event that is coming up in the near future.
26. Imagine that you are in a hurry and you can't catch your bus in time.

• Criticize the traffic problems in your home town/city.

• Suggest some ways of improving the situation.
• What would you do to make transport more ecological?

27. Imagine yourself being the headmaster of your school.

• Speak about the problems of bringing up young generation.

• What new subjects (activities) would you introduce in your school?
• What other changes would you make to make school life more interesting?
28.1magine that you are in a hurry and you can't catch your bus in time.

• Criticize the traffic problems in your home town/city.

• Suggest some ways of improving the situation.
• What would you do to make transport more ecological?
29.They say "There is no bad weather - there are bad clothes".
o Give your arguments in favour of weather and seasons?
o Which is your favorite season?
o What kind of weather do you prefer?
30.The average American spends five hours a week listening to music.

•What about you? How important is music in your life?

•How do you think music and personality interact?
• What is your favorite kind of music?
• Suggest some ways of improving the situation.
• What would you do to make transport more ecological?
31. Suppose you were asked to send one thing representing your country to an international
exhibition.

• What would you choose?

• Why would you choose this thing?
• How will you substantiate your choice?
32. Do you believe in the saying "You are what you wear"?

• Compare the kind of clothes you are wearing now to the ones you consider your Sunday best.
• How do you think style and personality interact?
• What would you wear for different occasions?
33. Describe advantages and disadvantages of living in a flat, a private house, a hostel.

• What types of accommodation seem the most attractive and the least convenient to you? Why?
• What factors should be considered when buying or renting accommodation?
• Describe the place you live in (location, exposure, plan, furniture, decoration, gadgetry).

Speaking Olympiad 2014

 Form 11

1. People like having pet animals at home. What type of animal makes an ideal
pet?

• Should people have wild animals as pets?

• Would you ever consider buying animal on the Internet?
• What are the reasons against keeping animals at home?

2. It is the year of 2020. Where would you find yourself professionally,

socially and emotionally?
o What would you like to have accomplished?
o Describe the steps you are going to take to reach your goals?
o Where would you like to be living? Why?
3. The world is changing and new trends occur frequently.

• Which job areas have become the most important in the last twenty
years?
• What jobs will be popular in the next twenty years?
• Does this affect your decision-making process for your future carrier?

4. Your local council has decided to build a new youth centre — a club where
young people can meet and spend their free time.
• What facilities would you like to see in a youth club?
• How popular would a youth center like this be?
• How do young people usually spend free time in your town?

5. Learning a language is a long and sometimes frustrating process. Although

for some people it is quite simple and they learn it quickly. Are you one of these
people?
o How much work do you put i n t o learning a language?
o What advice can you give to someone who is having trouble
learning languages?

6. The local council has decided to improve the lives of the residents in the
place where you live. Decide what you would choose to build on the land so
that all the residents benefit in some way.
 I s it better to live in the city or country? Why ?
 In what ways would you improve the area where you live?
 How could you teach people about the benefits of keeping the
environment clean?
 7. You are about to go on the expedition to the jungle. Discuss with your partner
which three items would be absolutely necessary to take with you and the reasons
why.

 Would you ever go on such an expedition? Why? Why not?

 In what other ways do people choose to experience adventure?
 What time of holidays do you think people will be having in a hundred year's time?

8. Football is liked all over the world.

o What makes this game so enjoyable?
o What ways is football violent? Talk about any violent incidents you have seen
or heard about.
o What are the negatives sides of sport?

9. Give your arguments for and against the ideas that the old and the young should
live under the same roof.
 What is your opinion?
 Do you agree or disagree? How would the young and the old benefit from it?
 Give reasons to support your opinion.

10. Technology is advancing at an alarming rate. Personal Computers, the Internet

now make it possible to work and play from the comfort of their homes.
 What is the positive role of the Internet from the educational, economic and social
point of view?
 Can you think of any opposite points of view?

11. Many people believe that there is a deep connection between the mind
and the body and one cannot have a sound mind without a healthy body.
• Do you agree with the statement?
• What is the best way of keeping a healthy body?
• How do you realize this idea in your everyday life?

12. You meet a friend whom you haven't seen for several years.
• Tell him/her about the events in your school and in your family that
have happened since you last seen each other.
• Tell your friend how your goals have changed. What do you want to
become?
• Invite your friend to an event that is coming up in the near future.
13. You are one of the first tourists on the moo n and you are sending a message
back to your friends and your family.
• What would you tell the people who are close to you?
• What would you say to the press?
• What could you see on the moon? What are the tourist attractions there?
14. You have the chance to change one historical event .

• What event do you want to change and why?

• What will the effects of this change be immediately
after the event?
• What will the long-term effects be?
15. You are to make a report on the role of technology in our society.
• How do you define technology?
• How has technology improved our lives?
• How has technology made our lives worse?

16. How important are experiences, such as traveling or meeting people from different
cultures in your education?
 Do you feel you would like to be more experienced?
 What do you feel has been your most important experience so far in your life?
 What kind of experience would you like to gain?

17. What is the purpose of education in our society?

 Do you feel that the system we have meets all requirements?
 What could be done to improve the system of education?
 What do you think is good in modern
educational system?

18. Compare the roles which a father and a mother play in raising a child.

• Why is it important for a child to have both parents?

• What do you think is your parent's role in shaping up your personality?
• Will you raise your children in the same way your parents brought you up?

19. Imagine that your luggage has been lost on your way from Lviv to Kyiv.
 Give a precise description of what you had in your suitcase and bags for
the police to identify your luggage when it is found.
 Where would you inquire about it?
 What would your first steps be?

20. You are going to start a new business. You have the money, you have the place
 and you have the employees .
 What kind of business would you do?
 What types of people would be interested in your product?
 How will you advertise this product? Give a sample advertisement
motto.
21. Do you believe in the proverb "When in Rome, do as the Romans do"?
 Explain situations when it is important to follow this advice. When it
is important to ignore it?
 When living in a different country is it important to forget your own
customs in order to follow local customs?

22. Your pen friend from the United States asks you how things have
changed in Ukraine since independence.
o What aspects of life have changed?
o What is the most positive change during this time?
o What is the most negative change during this time?

23. Imagine that you are a disc jockey and present the top five singers in a
radio programme.
• Which songs would you advertise?
• How would you advertise them?
• What news in the world of music would you introduce?

24. Describe the lives of two different people. One of them has a happy

life; the other's life is not so happy.

• What things does the first person do to make his life happy?
• What is it about the second person's life that makes it not very
happy?
• What would you advise him to change to improve the
situation?

25. Give arguments for or against the following statement:

"Money makes the world go round".
• Can you buy happiness?
• When has money made your life more difficult?
• Is it possible to be rich and to have morals? Explain your
point of view.
26. You can choose to have one supernatural ability or gift.
• What would you choose? Why? Will you use it to help others, for
personal gain or for both?
• How do you think others will treat you because of your gift?
27. You are a famous producer with enough money to make any film you want.
• What kind of film would you make and why?
• W h a t will your f i l m be about and who will be starring i n i t ?
• What would your first steps be?

28. What stereotypes do you think foreigners have about Ukraine?

• Do you feel these stereotypes are correct?
• Which of them are particularly harmful to the Ukrainian people?
• W h a t can you do to change these stereotypes?

29. You are going to take part i n a weeklong survival course in the mountains.

• What three things would you take along with you?

• Why do you think they are so important for your survival?
• What worries you most? What encourages you before t h e trip?

30. Do you believe in the saying "You are what you wear"?

• Compare the kind of clothes you are wearing now to the ones you consider
your Sunday best.
• How do you think style and personality interact?
• What would you wear for different occasions?

31. Imagine that you are a University graduate and would like to apply for the
post of an English teacher.
• What information is supposed to be put in your
application?
• What factors are important in your future job?
• What qualities are needed for people who work as teachers?

32. Think of the famous inventions that changed the world.

• Which of them do you think were the most important?

• Which of them were overrated?
• How do you benefit from these inventions?

33. Your American friend is going to visit you in Ukraine.

• How can you help him prepare for this trip?

• Where would you take him in your town? What other towns would
you like to visit?
• What would you warn him/her about?
34. If you could become a character from any book that you
have read, who would that character be?
• Why would you choose this character?
• In what period does this character live? How would you adjust to
living in this time period?
• What would you do differently than he did?

35. More and more people nowadays like going to extremes for a
challenge. Name some things that are already improving in Ukraine.
• Do you like extreme sports?
• What do you think is the best extreme sport ever?
• What causes extreme behavior?
•
36. What role does technology play in our society?

• How do you define technology?

• How has technology improved our lives? How has technology made our lives worse? Give
examples.
• Would you rather live in a world with everything entirely dependent on
technology or without any technology whatsoever?

37. How important are experiences, such as traveling or meeting people from different
cultures, in our education?

• Do you feel that there is enough experience in your education?

• What do you feel has been your most important experience so far in your life?
• Is there anything you wish you had done, but didn't? What is it? Why didn't you do it?

38. What is the purpose of education in our society?

• Do you feel that the system we have in place is fulfilling that purpose?
• What could be done to improve the system?
• What do you think the educational system does well?

39. What do you think it means to truly live every day to its fullest?
•Do you believe that you live every day to its fullest?
•Do you think that most people truly live every day to its fullest?
•Why do you think that some people don't live every day to its fullest?
40. How much difference can one person make?
 When have you known one person to make a significant difference?
 How can a person working alone be effective?
 When have you exercised your beliefs in the face of opposition? Have you ever felt afraid
to act because you felt you were alone?
41. Describe the best paradise place to visit.

• What is the best way of getting there?

• Describe the general atmosphere, things to see/do, local food.
• What makes the place to be ideal?

42. Think of the famous visionaries, inspirational people, and great minds that
were ahead of their time.

• Who would you like to meet and why?

• What advice do you think he/she would be likely to give you/today's
society?
• Can one person make a significant contribution to the history?

43. Learning languages is a process requiring time and effort. Is it better to study

at school or to have private lessons at home?

• Do you study better on your own or with other people? Why?

• What is the best age to start learning a foreign language? Why?
• What advice could you give to those who want to learn languages?
44. Describe advantages and disadvantages of living in a flat, a private house, a
hostel.

• What types of accommodation seem the most attractive and the least convenient to
you? Why?
• What factors should be considered when buying or renting accommodation?
• Describe the place you live in (location, exposure, plan, furniture, decoration,
gadgetry).

45. Describe the symptoms of a person who has the flu and a person who has food
poisoning.
 What can these illnesses be caused by?
 What treatments are usually recommended in these cases?
 Give a detailed account of a day when you were ill.