MALLS AND SHOPPING CENTRES

Since few years back, we are seeing that malls and Shopping Centres are being more and more
successful ways of purchasing in our lifestyle. They are huge buildings which are built on the
outskirts or commercial areas of our cities. There, you can buy absolutely everything. A great
variety of stores are there, in the same place, shops like: supermarkets, clothing stores, shoe
shops (and so on) There, you can find a wide range of products, but specially you can pick up
bargains because there are usually a lot of sales.
All products are well laid out, their window displays are very attractive, sometimes there are a
pleasant music, a wide range of products, prices are clearly marked.Everything is thought to
customers spend their money, and come back for their following shopping.
Some years ago, people used to buy in the little shops. People have everything at the doors of their
houses. But now, many of Corner shops have closed. Local shops could not compete with these
malls. And now, people do their shopping in this big shopping centres where they buy for the week,
for a longer period.
Besides, you can have a lot of facilities to make you have your shopping easier. They become a
leisure centre. You can find cinemas, restaurants. you can spend and enjoy all the day there,
having a lunch, watching a movie, taking a coffee. It is very common to see entire families
spending the day there. It is considered as an outing. It is very important to have a free parking lot
there. Besides, normally, these places also have a special place where you can leave your children
attended by childminders while you do all your shopping, have sport facilities like ski slopes (and
so on).
Malls are becoming in a successful way of spending your spare time. But, on the other hand, we are
creating consumer societies. The most important advantage is that these malls create employments.
But, in Todays consumer society, malls and shopping centres are appearing as a fashionable way of
shopping, and something, like unique to spend your free time, and these way of thinking can be
dangerous.

TOPIC 7: FRIENDSHIP AND DATING

POSSIBLE QUESTIONS YOU CAN HOPE IN YOUR SPEAKING ABOUT THIS TOPIC:
How have the ways of staying in touch with people and dating changed during the last
years?
Which way of staying in touch with your friends do you prefer?
What are the advantages or disadvantages of each of these options?
ANSWER
Nowadays, the way of meeting people has changed a lot. With the impact of social networks,
online methods to meet new people have increased and got much more fashionable than other
traditional ways as meeting people in a bar or at work. Having a social life is very important in
peoples lives because it can make you be happier.
Either friendship or between partners, we are generally attracted to people who are similar to us,
fairly similar in education, intelligence and what we think matters in life. Besides, Couples usually
share religious and beliefs and are about the same age. Sometimes, starting to make friends and as a
result the couples relationship gets stronger. So that, you can feel attracted to each other, and begin
to go out.
Today, the internet is one of the most popular ways for people to get dates. Social networks are a
helpful tool to meet new people. There are a lot of relationships that have started online. It is a easy
way, because you can speak with unknown people at home, you can express your feelings more
easily online and get to know each other more quickly. On the other hand, you can lie more easily,
and you can read peoples misleading profiles in a dating site. You should be aware of having
reasonable expectations when you chat to speak though social networks.
On the other hand, there are a wide range of posibilities of meet people, for example, in blind dates,
speed dates.. Finding a partner has always been complicated proceess. In recent years speed
dating has become popular all around the world. It means that a single person have exactly 3
minutes to decide if the person they are talking to, could be your perfect people. Everything
involves in a quick conversation. Internet is a good option for people that cant have a social life.
The traditional offline methods are much more effective because you talk to other person face to
face, and it is much more trustful.
The most important thing in a relationship is Trust and you can be available in awful situations.
Keeping in touch with your friends is very necessary, even when your friend live far away from
you. You should be supportive when your friends feel upset or get down. So that, its very likely to
have a lot of friends.
Having a good social life is very necessary in our life. If you tend o be self-sufficient and not need
many friends, you can end up alone and that is not a good option for your life.
(Nota: El topic en general es muy extenso, no estn abarcados todos los puntos en la redaccin del
speaking. Por eso, en el brainstorming (glogs/imagen) hay ms ideas no tratadas en la respuesta, que
se nombran con el fin de dar ms ideas y no quedarse en blanco)

TOPIC 9: CRIME
What do you think are the main causes of crime in your country?
Do you have any other suggestions for reducing crime in your local area?
Do you think the police should carry guns?
Do you think the death penalty is a valid form of punishment?
Nowadays, Crime is a everydays problem for citizens, and causes insecurity and sorrows. There are
a lot of kinds of crime, such as: kidnapping, murders, smuggling, forgers, arson, carjacking and so
on In my country, due to the bad economical situation which we live at the moment,
shoplifting, burglaries and drug dealing are being increased more and more than ever before. Its
thought to be caused by unemployment, poverty, social exclusion problems.. which are suffering
our society. On the other hand, murders are not common in my country, but, one of the main causes
of murder in Spain is Domestic Violence. Some men develop criminal tendencies because of
numerous frustrations, and they accuse their wives or companions of their problems. they can
become real monsters.
As individual we all can try to help other people not to be robbed or assaulted. Its advisable that if
you see someone who are being assaulted, dont interphere, simply call the police. You could be
injured, you try to help and keep the calm as far as possible. Besides, other measure could be that
there would be more police in our streets, in order to keep an eye on us.
Crime represents a threat to the welfare society and it must be abolished. But, criminals cannot be
reformed until they are apprehended and brought to Justice. Phicologists and specialists are
responsible for the welfare of criminal and carry them to live a good life in the future. Only those
who commit the most serious crimes are punished severely. On the other hand, they have to fulfill
their sentences and pay for all the guilt completely. Criminals must stay all the time they have to
pay for their actions in Jail, it means that they cannot come out earlier.
Community Service is the best punishment for young people who commit a minor offence. It is
aimed to persuade teenagers not to reoffend. Criminal youngsters are punished with suitable
punishments, like cleaning the streets, take care eldery people, paint white street walls and so on.
So that, they have a enriching experience and they can realize there can be helpful for the Society.
As for the Death penalty, I personally believe that under any circunstances, it has to accepted in any
case. It is an eyesore, which has to be abolished. Criminals have to pay for their actions in prison.
Nowadays, its a controversial topic, but in a civilised country it cannot be take into account.

TOPIC 12: ENVIRONMENT

Possible questions in the exam:

Do you ever worry about the environment? Are you self-conscious about the environment?
What are the biggest environmental problems in the world?
Is there a problem with clean water in your country? If so, why is there a problem?
What can governments do to save our environment?
What can individual do to help the enviroment? Give reasons.

Nowadays, our natural environment is suffering more and more the terrible human impact. At the
moment, there are a lot of environmental problems, like desforestation, the destruction of the ozone
layer, acid rain, the greenhouse effect, pollution in the air with traffic humes, and harmful chemicals
which are released into the atmosphere, pollution in the rivers and oceans with illegal effluents,
sewage spills, industrial waste, drinking water is being contamined due to river pollution. (and so
on).
All this take parts of a terrible situation and involves awful drawbacks in our planet. The destruction
of the rainforest carries many animals are wiped out, fish supplies are depleted through overfishing,
pollution is very harmful for us, besides, there are methods of electricity generation (which emit
greenhouse gases), and contribute to global warming.
Our governments have to improve their natural measures. It is important to support alternative
source of power, like solar stations, wind power These one should be easy to live and work with,
safe, practical, cheap and clean. On top of that, they are higly productive and friendly with the
planet. Besides, our goverments should have stricker laws and hard punishments for illegal hunting,
encourage countries to control the number of trees are cut down, reduce gases emitted from
factories (and so on)
On the other hand, we all have to be aware about this problem, and contribute to conserve our
planet, like: switch off the lights, ride a bicycle, insulate our houses, use public transport, use less
petrol and electricity, save on water, recycle our rubbish .. In this way, we all can contribute to
conservate our environment and wildlife.
Our environment affects all of us. We share the same planet. We all have to be aware of the
necessity of improve our natural world. The environmental organizations play an important role, but
we all can do a little effort in being much more ecological.
(*Nota: El tema de Environment es un poco lioso. No hace falta estudiarse conceptos muy
especficos ni ser un especialista en la materia. Slo llevar las ideas claras y adems que esas ideas
sean muy sencillas. No hace falta entrar en mucha materia).