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Scroll down to view the Simplified Chinese version (向下滚动查看简体中文版本)   Western Painting vs. Eastern Painting East meets West. Let's take a look at these two paintings here. Do you think these two paintings are from the same background? Well, it's pretty obvious that they are not. The painting on the right, an example of an Eastern painting, is from Asia. And the painting on the left, a Western painting, is from Europe. Eastern and Western paintings have different characteristics. Let's find out more about them. Western paintings use a wide range of colors filling the whole canvas. In addition, light and perspective are used to make a three-dimensional illusion, which makes the paintings look more realistic. Also, images and colors fill an entire canvas without leaving any empty space. On the other hand, this painting shows some characteristics of Eastern paintings. Eastern paintings simplify color schemes and make lines simple and graceful. They also use more empty space than images. They aren't meant to show realistic images. Instead, they idealize them. Do you know that some Western-style painters have been influenced by these Eastern painting techniques? Toulouse-Lautrec, a famous European painter, was one of them. His masterpiece, At the Moulin Rouge, The Dance, is very much Western-styled. It presents people and the background elaborately and realistically with a wide range of colors. However, this painting, also created by Toulouse-Lautrec, was inspired by Japanese prints. It is gracefully composed using simple lines. Look at these two paintings. Can you see their differences? Can you see the influence of Eastern-style painting? Simplified Chinese version 西方绘画与东方绘画 东方与西方相遇。让我们来看看这两幅画。你认为这两幅画来自同一个背景吗？很明显，它们不是。右边的画是东方绘画的例子，来自亚洲。左边的画是西方绘画，来自欧洲。东方和西方绘画有不同的特点。让我们来进一步了解它们。西方绘画使用各种各样的颜色填满整个画布。此外，光线和透视用于制造三维幻觉，使绘画看起来更逼真。而且，图像和颜色填满整个画布，不留任何空白。另一方面，这幅画展示了东方绘画的一些特点。东方绘画简化了配色方案，使线条简洁优美。它们还使用了比图像更多的空白。它们不是为了展示现实的图像。相反，它们将它们理想化。你知道一些西方风格的画家受到了这些东方绘画技巧的影响吗？著名的欧洲画家图卢兹-罗特列克就是其中之一。他的代表作《红磨坊之舞》带有浓厚的西式风格，人物和背景都描绘得细致逼真，色彩丰富。然而，这幅同样出自图卢兹·罗特列克之手的画作，却受到日本版画的启发，用简单的线条勾勒出优美的线条。看看这两幅画，你能看出它们的区别吗？你能看出东方绘画的影响吗？ References (optional) Links 【Art & Design English- 02】What is Art For? Discussion Questions (Art) How great is your interest in art? What’s the best art gallery you’ve been to? Do you like modern art? What do you think of installation art? Do you ever think a lot of art is not really art? Do you have a favorite artist? What kind of art do you like – paintings, sculpture, ceramics, etc.? What is art? Does art change the way you think or feel? Do you think anyone can be an artist or do you need a special talent? Do you think all children should study art at school? Do you think children should learn the history of art? Do you think a painting can really be worth a million (or more) dollars? Do you think today’s artists are as good as those from hundreds of years ago? What was the last painting/poster/piece of art you bought? Why did you buy it? Describe the pieces of artwork in your house. What kind of art is your country famous for? What kind of life do you think an artist’s is? Do you have any artistic talents? How would the world be different without artists? Discussion Questions (Design) How would you define design? How do you know if something is designed well? Do you think design is important? Why? Have you ever designed anything? What are some well-designed products? What are some poorly designed products? Are there any designers you admire? Have you done any interior design in your home? What are some examples of good design that you appreciate? Why? How does design influence our daily experiences and interactions with products and environments? Can you think of any iconic designs or designers that have made a significant impact on society? What are some key principles or elements of design? How does cultural and historical context influence design aesthetics? Can you describe a design project or process that you have been involved in or observed? How does user experience (UX) design contribute to the functionality and usability of products and services? What role does sustainability play in design? Share examples of environmentally conscious design practices. How can design be used to solve social and humanitarian challenges? What are some current trends in design that you find interesting? How does technology influence the field of design? Discuss the impact of digital tools and software. Can you think of any examples of design that have sparked controversy or provoked discussions? How can design be inclusive and accessible to people with diverse abilities and backgrounds? Can you share any examples of designs that evoke specific emotions or create a particular atmosphere? How does design differ across various disciplines, such as graphic design, industrial design, or interior design? What are some ethical considerations in design? Discuss the responsibility of designers towards users and society. Can you think of any design failures or instances where poor design affected the user experience? What lessons can be learned from them? How can design thinking be applied beyond traditional design fields to problem-solving and innovation? What skills and qualities do you think are essential for a successful career in design? How has technology influenced the field of graphic design in recent years? Can you think of any examples of design that successfully blend form and function? Explain why they are effective. How does cultural diversity influence design aesthetics and the portrayal of different cultures in design? What are some key considerations in designing user interfaces for mobile applications? Can you describe a design project that aims to address sustainability or environmental issues? How does typography contribute to the overall design and message of printed materials? What are some effective ways to gather user feedback during the design process? How can color psychology be utilized in design to evoke specific emotions or convey certain messages? Can you think of any examples where design played a crucial role in shaping a company’s brand identity? What are the main differences between designing for print media and designing for digital media? How can design be used to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities? Can you describe a design trend that you find intriguing? Why do you think it has gained popularity? How does packaging design influence consumer perception and purchasing decisions? What ethical considerations should designers keep in mind when creating advertisements or marketing materials? How has social media influenced the field of design and the way designers showcase their work? Can you think of any innovative design solutions that have improved people’s lives in developing countries? What are some challenges in designing for virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) experiences? How does design impact the gaming industry, particularly in terms of user interface and user experience? Can you describe a famous architectural design that has become an iconic landmark? What makes it significant? How do cultural symbols and icons influence design choices, especially in international contexts? Discussion Questions (Art Culture) How often do you go to art museums? Do you consider yourself to be artistic? What do you think about modern art paintings? How many forms of art can you name? What is your favorite form of art? Is graffiti art? Why or why not? What is the most famous statue in your country? Who is your favorite artist? Why do you like them so much? Do you think that art is important to society? Why? Have you ever tried drawing, painting, sculpting, or something else artistic? What is the most famous painting in your country? What is traditional art like in your culture? What country do you think is the most creative? Why is art so expensive? Do you think it should be more, or less, expensive? Do you have any artistic friends? What kinds of art do they create?

Animation Basics: The optical illusion of motion Take a series of still, sequential images. Let's look at them one by one. Faster. Now, let's remove the gaps, and go faster still. Wait for it......bam! Motion! Why is that? Intellectually, we know we're just looking at a series of still images, but when we see them change fast enough, they produce the optical illusion of appearing as a single, persistent image that's gradually changing form and position. This effect is the basis for all motion picture technology, from our LED screens of today to their 20th-century cathode ray forebearers, from cinematic film projection to the novelty toy, even, it's been suggested, all the way back to the Stone Age when humans began painting on cave walls. This phenomenon of perceiving apparent motion in successive images is due to a characteristic of human perception historically referred to as "persistence of vision." The term is attributed to the English-Swiss physicist Peter Mark Roget, who, in the early 19th century, used it to describe a particular defect of the eye that resulted in a moving object appearing to be still when it reached a certain speed. Not long after, the term was applied to describe the opposite, the apparent motion of still images, by Belgian physicist Joseph Plateau, inventor of the phenakistoscope. He defined persistence of vision as the result of successive afterimages, which were retained and then combined in the retina, making us believe that what we were seeing was a single object in motion. This explanation was widely accepted in the decades to follow and up through the turn of the 20th century when some began to question what was physiologically going on. In 1912, German psychologist Max Wertheimer outlined the basic primary stages of apparent motion using simple optical illusions. These experiments led him to conclude the phenomenon was due to processes that lie behind the retina. In 1915, Hugo Munsterberg, a German-American pioneer in applied psychology, also suggested that the apparent motion of successive images is not due to their being retained in the eye, but is superadded by the action of the mind. In the century to follow, experiments by physiologists have pretty much confirmed their conclusions. As it relates to the illusion of motion pictures, the persistence of vision has less to do with vision itself than how it's interpreted in the brain. Research has shown that different aspects of what the eye sees, like form, color, depth, and motion, are transmitted to different areas of the visual cortex via different pathways from the retina. It's the continuous interaction of various computations in the visual cortex that stitch those different aspects together and culminate in the perception. Our brains are constantly working, synchronizing what we see, hear, smell, and touch into meaningful experiences in the moment-to-moment flow of the present. So, in order to create the illusion of motion in successive images, we need to get the timing of our intervals close to the speed at which our brains process the present. So, how fast is the present happening according to our brains? Well, we can get an idea by measuring how fast the images need to be changing for the illusion to work. Let's see if we can figure it out by repeating our experiment. Here's the sequence presented at a rate of one frame per two seconds with one second of black in between. At this rate of change with the blank space separating the images, there's no real motion perceptible. As we lessen the duration of blank space, a slight change in position becomes more apparent, and you start to get an inkling of a sense of motion between the disparate frames. One frame per second, two frames per second, four frames per second. Now we're starting to get a feeling of motion, but it's really not very smooth. We're still aware of the fact that we're looking at separate images. Let's speed up, eight frames per second, twelve frames per second. It looks like we're about there. At twenty-four frames per second, the motion looks even smoother. This is standard full-speed. So, the point at which we lose awareness of the intervals and begin to see apparent motion seems to kick in at around eight to twelve frames per second. This is in the neighborhood of what science has determined to be the general threshold of our awareness of seeing separate images. Generally speaking, we begin to lose that awareness at intervals of around 100 milliseconds per image, which is equal to a frame rate of around ten frames per second. As the frame rate increases, we lose awareness of the intervals completely and are all the more convinced of the reality of the illusion.
References (optional) Links 【Art & Design English- 01】What is Art? 【Art & Design English- 02】What is Art For? Discussion Questions (Art) How great is your interest in art? What’s the best art gallery you’ve been to? Do you like modern art? What do you think of installation art? Do you ever think a lot of art is not really art? Do you have a favorite artist? What kind of art do you like – paintings, sculpture, ceramics, etc.? What is art? Does art change the way you think or feel? Do you think anyone can be an artist or do you need a special talent? Do you think all children should study art at school? Do you think children should learn the history of art? Do you think a painting can really be worth a million (or more) dollars? Do you think today’s artists are as good as those from hundreds of years ago? What was the last painting/poster/piece of art you bought? Why did you buy it? Describe the pieces of artwork in your house. What kind of art is your country famous for? What kind of life do you think an artist’s is? Do you have any artistic talents? How would the world be different without artists? Discussion Questions (Design) How would you define design? How do you know if something is designed well? Do you think design is important? Why? Have you ever designed anything? What are some well-designed products? What are some poorly designed products? Are there any designers you admire? Have you done any interior design in your home? What are some examples of good design that you appreciate? Why? How does design influence our daily experiences and interactions with products and environments? Can you think of any iconic designs or designers that have made a significant impact on society? What are some key principles or elements of design? How does cultural and historical context influence design aesthetics? Can you describe a design project or process that you have been involved in or observed? How does user experience (UX) design contribute to the functionality and usability of products and services? What role does sustainability play in design? Share examples of environmentally conscious design practices. How can design be used to solve social and humanitarian challenges? What are some current trends in design that you find interesting? How does technology influence the field of design? Discuss the impact of digital tools and software. Can you think of any examples of design that have sparked controversy or provoked discussions? How can design be inclusive and accessible to people with diverse abilities and backgrounds? Can you share any examples of designs that evoke specific emotions or create a particular atmosphere? How does design differ across various disciplines, such as graphic design, industrial design, or interior design? What are some ethical considerations in design? Discuss the responsibility of designers towards users and society. Can you think of any design failures or instances where poor design affected the user experience? What lessons can be learned from them? How can design thinking be applied beyond traditional design fields to problem-solving and innovation? What skills and qualities do you think are essential for a successful career in design? How has technology influenced the field of graphic design in recent years? Can you think of any examples of design that successfully blend form and function? Explain why they are effective. How does cultural diversity influence design aesthetics and the portrayal of different cultures in design? What are some key considerations in designing user interfaces for mobile applications? Can you describe a design project that aims to address sustainability or environmental issues? How does typography contribute to the overall design and message of printed materials? What are some effective ways to gather user feedback during the design process? How can color psychology be utilized in design to evoke specific emotions or convey certain messages? Can you think of any examples where design played a crucial role in shaping a company’s brand identity? What are the main differences between designing for print media and designing for digital media? How can design be used to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities? Can you describe a design trend that you find intriguing? Why do you think it has gained popularity? How does packaging design influence consumer perception and purchasing decisions? What ethical considerations should designers keep in mind when creating advertisements or marketing materials? How has social media influenced the field of design and the way designers showcase their work? Can you think of any innovative design solutions that have improved people’s lives in developing countries? What are some challenges in designing for virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) experiences? How does design impact the gaming industry, particularly in terms of user interface and user experience? Can you describe a famous architectural design that has become an iconic landmark? What makes it significant? How do cultural symbols and icons influence design choices, especially in international contexts? Discussion Questions (Art Culture) How often do you go to art museums? Do you consider yourself to be artistic? What do you think about modern art paintings? How many forms of art can you name? What is your favorite form of art? Is graffiti art? Why or why not? What is the most famous statue in your country? Who is your favorite artist? Why do you like them so much? Do you think that art is important to society? Why? Have you ever tried drawing, painting, sculpting, or something else artistic? What is the most famous painting in your country? What is traditional art like in your culture? What country do you think is the most creative? Why is art so expensive? Do you think it should be more, or less, expensive? Do you have any artistic friends? What kinds of art do they create?

Scroll down to view the Simplified Chinese version (向下滚动查看简体中文版本)   Wedding Traditions Around The World Cultures throughout the world have their own unique ideas on how to say, "I do." We're taking you around the globe to show you how people celebrate their big day. The dollar dance, also known as the money or apron dance, is a tradition associated with countries all over, including Poland, Hungary, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Mexico. These videos feature a Mexican-American wedding and a Mexican-Filipino wedding. Money is tossed, handed, or pinned onto the couple while different guests take turns dancing with the newlyweds. The money is a great way to help with a little extra financial support and to let them know you wish them a life of prosperity. Jumping the broom refers to a wedding tradition in which a couple literally jumps over a broom. There's a misconception that it began during slavery in the United States, but it originated in Ghana and is still practiced there. The broom holds spiritual value and symbolizes the sweeping away of evils and past wrongs. Today, some African American couples include it in their ceremony as a tribute to tradition. In Greece, the koumbaro is similar to the best man. On the morning of the wedding, they help the groom prepare for the ceremony by helping them shave and get ready. It's a practice that signifies trust between close friends. In the days before the wedding, one or both of the fiancés are taken by their friends and family and covered in various substances like soot, feathers, food, and more. The tradition started as a way to ward off danger from supernatural forces. After being covered up, they're paraded around town while their friends make plenty of noise and make a scene for all to see. The Chinese tea ceremony is a wedding tradition that bonds two families together. While kneeling, the couple serves tea to their parents. Traditionally, the couple serves the groom's parents and elders in order of seniority, followed by the bride's family. This serves as a formal introduction, to show respect, and to express gratitude. In return, the couple usually receives lucky red envelopes with money or jewelry. In this pre-wedding ritual, turmeric paste is rubbed onto the couple's skin by friends and family. In India, turmeric can signify a lot of things, including purity, fertility, and good health. The paste also gives the couple a nice glow for their big day. The ceremony is usually accompanied by traditional songs and dances and is supposed to ease nerves. This German tradition has guests smashing porcelain before the wedding to wish the couple luck in their married life. The couple is responsible for cleaning up the shards to symbolize teamwork. The more shards of broken dishes, the better the luck the couple will have.
Simplified Chinese version 世界各地的婚礼传统是什么样的 世界各地的文化对于如何说“我愿意”都有自己独特的想法。 我们将带您环游世界，向您展示人们如何庆祝他们的大喜之日。 美元舞，也称为金钱舞或围裙舞， 是与波兰、匈牙利、尼日利亚、菲律宾和墨西哥等国家相关的传统。 这些视频展示了墨西哥裔美国人的婚礼和墨西哥裔菲律宾人的婚礼。 当不同的客人轮流与新婚夫妇跳舞时，钱被抛、递或钉在新婚夫妇身上。 金钱是一种很好的方式，可以提供一点额外的经济支持，并让他们知道你希望他们生活富足。 跳扫帚是指婚礼传统，其中一对夫妇实际上跳过一把扫帚。 有一种误解认为它始于美国的奴隶制时期，但它起源于加纳，至今仍在那里实行。 扫帚具有精神价值，象征着扫除邪恶和过去错误。 如今，一些非裔美国夫妇将其纳入婚礼仪式，以纪念传统。 在希腊，koumbaro 类似于伴郎。 在婚礼当天早上，他们帮助新郎准备婚礼仪式，帮他们刮胡子和准备。 这是一种象征亲密朋友之间信任的做法。 在婚礼前几天， 未婚夫或未婚妻中的一人会被他们的朋友和家人带走，身上会覆盖各种物质，如烟灰、羽毛、食物等。 这一传统最初是为了抵御超自然力量的威胁。 被覆盖后，他们会被带到镇上游行，而他们的朋友们会大吵大闹，让所有人都看到。 中国茶道是一种将两个家庭联系在一起的婚礼传统。 新人跪下时，向父母敬茶。 传统上，新人按资历顺序向新郎的父母和长辈敬茶，然后是新娘的家人。 这是一种正式的介绍，以表示尊重和感激。 作为回报，这对夫妇通常会收到装有钱或珠宝的红包。 在这个婚前仪式中，亲朋好友会将姜黄糊涂抹在这对夫妇的皮肤上。 在印度，姜黄可以象征很多东西，包括纯洁、生育和健康。 这种糊状物还能让这对夫妇在大喜之日容光焕发。 婚礼通常伴随着传统的歌舞，据说可以缓解紧张情绪。 根据德国的传统，宾客们会在婚礼前砸碎瓷器，祝愿这对夫妇婚姻幸福。 这对夫妇负责清理碎片，以象征团队合作。 破碎的盘子碎片越多，这对夫妇的运气就越好。 References (optional) Links 42 Fascinating Wedding Traditions From Around the World 15 Unusual Wedding Traditions From Across The World 11 wedding superstitions and traditions explained Top 10 Common Wedding Superstitions We got married on Friday 13th - in a cemetery 【Lifestyle English -13】Why Bother With Marriage? Discussion Questions (Weddings) (1) What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘weddings’?
(2) Are weddings important?
(3) What kind of weddings do you think are best?
(4) Do you wish you could go to more weddings?
(5) Why do many people, not like weddings?
(6) Do you think it’s easy or difficult to plan your own wedding?
(7) What’s the best and worst wedding you’ve ever been to?
(8) What are the best and worst things about weddings?
(9) Do you think weddings in other countries are better than those in your country?
(10) Do you think your wedding is the happiest day of your life? (11) Do you like weddings?
(12) What kind of wedding would you like (have liked)?
(13) Which celebrity wedding would you really like to go to?
(14) What do you think of royal weddings?
(15) What do people get married in your culture promise each other at a wedding?
(16) In your country, do people have to invite people they don’t like to their wedding?
(17) What is the best part of a wedding: the ceremony, the vows, or the reception?
(18) Do you think that one day, weddings will become a thing of the past?
(19) What do you think of alternative weddings such as underwater weddings or weddings on the wing of a flying airplane?
(20) What three adjectives would you use to describe weddings?

Scroll down to view the Simplified Chinese version (向下滚动查看简体中文版本) Autumn Leaf Viewing In Japan Just as how the Japanese enjoy viewing cherry blossoms in the spring, the changing color of the Autumn leaves, known as Koyo, is an event that draws crowds all across Japan. Today we’re in Kyushu’s least touristy prefecture, Saga, at Kunenan, a historical Japanese residence that only opens its doors to the public for 9 days in November, to allow visitors to enjoy the autumn foliage. The Kunen-an residence was originally owned by a wealthy businessman in the early 1900s and gets its name from the fact that it took 9 years to build the majestic garden that draws visitors, even to this day. Now, Saga Prefecture owns and preserves the land, citing it as an important cultural asset to Saga Prefecture. Visitors are welcome to roam the garden of the residence and take a look inside the traditional structure, admiring the sturdy construction of the straw-thatched roof, the mud walls, and the bamboo lattices. All while enjoying the rich natural colors of the autumn garden. The site is so well preserved that walking through it, you almost feel as if you’ve been transported back in time, or you’re on a movie set of some kind. Either way, it feels absolutely surreal to be there in person. The tradition of autumn leaf viewing dates back to the Heian period, over 1000 years ago, when the nobles would go on excursions to the mountains, and gather colored leaves. Now, autumn leaf viewing is an event enjoyed by families, friends, and couples, with popular sites often holding fall festivals to coincide with the changing colors. Shrines and temples are often popular places to visit as well, the beautiful nature is often interpreted as a sign that the gods at the shrine are showing their presence. I always took the autumn leaves for granted when I lived in Canada, funny considering our flag is the red maple leaf. One of the things I love about Japan is its sensitivity to the changing seasons and its appreciation for nature. Learning to appreciate nature’s beauty helped me recognize the natural beauty in my home country as well. Another popular way to enjoy the changing autumn leaves in Japan is by illumination after dark. During the peak color-changing season, some shrines and temples will light up the autumn leaves, creating allowing them to glow vividly against the night sky. We decided to visit Daikouzenji, in Saga Prefecture, a shrine where visitors can light spiritual candles and pray for the safety of their home and loved ones. Daikouzenji is built on a hill, making it a prime spot for autumn leaf viewing. It’s also home to a luscious botanical garden, all of which is illuminated by bright lights after sundown, creating a romantic and whimsical atmosphere that’s very popular with couples. A popular fall festival dish, and one I wholeheartedly recommend, is zenzai. A sweet red bean soup, with chewy balls of mochi rice cake in it. Fall is not a busy season for tourism in Japan, so flights are usually much cheaper during this time of year, but if you time your trip right, you will be rewarded with some of the most gorgeous scenery Japan has to offer.
Simplified Chinese version 日本的秋叶观赏 就像日本人在春天欣赏樱花一样，秋叶变色（称为红叶）是日本各地吸引人群的活动。 今天，我们来到了九州岛最不受欢迎的县佐贺县，九年庵是一座历史悠久的日本住宅，仅在 11 月向公众开放 9 天，让游客欣赏秋叶。 九年庵最初由一位富商于 20 世纪初拥有，它的名字源于花了 9 年时间建造的宏伟花园，至今仍吸引着游客。 现在，佐贺县拥有并保护着这片土地，称其为佐贺县的重要文化资产。 游客可以漫步在住宅的花园中，参观传统建筑内部，欣赏坚固的茅草屋顶、泥墙和竹格子。 同时，您还可以欣赏秋天花园中丰富的自然色彩。 这个地方保存得非常好，走在其中，您几乎会感觉自己回到了过去，或者置身于某种电影场景中。 无论如何，亲临现场感觉绝对超现实。 赏秋叶的传统可以追溯到 1000 多年前的平安时代，当时贵族们会去山上远足，采集彩色的树叶。 现在，赏秋叶是家庭、朋友和情侣享受的活动，热门景点经常举办秋季节日来配合色彩的变化。 神社和寺庙通常也是受欢迎的游览地点，美丽的自然风光通常被解释为神社的神灵正在展示他们的存在的标志。 当我住在加拿大时，我总是把秋叶视为理所当然，有趣的是，我们的国旗是红色的枫叶。 我喜欢日本的一件事是它对季节变化的敏感和对自然的欣赏。 学会欣赏大自然之美也让我认识到了祖国的自然之美。 在日本欣赏秋叶变幻的另一种流行方式是天黑后点亮灯光。 在秋叶变色的高峰期，一些神社和寺庙会点亮秋叶，让它们在夜空中闪闪发光。 我们决定去佐贺县的大光禅寺，游客可以在那里点燃精神蜡烛，为家人和亲人的安全祈祷。 大光禅寺建在山上，是观赏秋叶的最佳地点。 这里还有一个郁郁葱葱的植物园，日落后，所有的植物园都被明亮的灯光照亮，营造出一种浪漫而奇妙的氛围，深受情侣的欢迎。 一种流行的秋季节日菜肴，也是我全心全意推荐的菜肴，是善哉。 一种甜甜的红豆汤，里面有嚼劲十足的年糕球。 秋季不是日本的旅游旺季，因此这段时间的机票通常要便宜得多，但如果您安排好旅行时间，您将欣赏到日本最美丽的风景。
Top 10 Autumn Color Spots in Japan Discussion Questions (Autumn/ Fall) 1 – What are 5 words that you would use to describe fall/autumn? 2 – In which months of the year is the fall or autumn season in your country? 3 – How is the weather during fall different from other seasons of the year? 4 – What is something that you look forward to about fall? What happens at this time? 5 – Are there dead leaves around your home during fall? How do they get cleaned up? 6 – What is something interesting about animals that happens during the fall? 7 – Does your country celebrate Halloween or any other special days in this season? 8 – Is there anything that you dislike about fall? Why does it bother you? 9 – What are your plans for this coming fall? Do you want to travel to any places? 10 – Are there any special smells or scents that remind you of fall? Where are they from? 11 – What are the temperatures like during fall in your country? Is it comfortable outside? 12 – Do you like to get out in nature in the fall? Where do you go and what do you do there? 13 – What clothing do you usually wear in this season? What footwear do you wear? 14 – Which fruits and vegetables are in season at this time of the year in your country? 15 – What is your favorite way to spend weekends in the fall? How often do you get to do this? 16 – Are there any food or drinks that you look forward to enjoying in this season? 17 – What is something that a lot of people do in the fall in your hometown? Why? 18 – Does your schedule change or do you have a different daily routine in the fall? How? 19 – Can you think of a happy fall memory? Who were you with and what happened? 20 – If you had to describe fall with a sentence, what would that sentence be? 21 – What colors do you usually see around your home in fall? What makes these colors? 22 – Do you watch a lot of television during fall? What are some things you like to watch? 23 – What activities do you think that children enjoy doing the most in fall? Why? 24 – Do you do anything in fall to prepare for the coming winter? Why do you do this? 25 – What is something that you hope to do this fall that you have never done before?

Scroll down to view the Simplified Chinese version (向下滚动查看简体中文版本)  Faberge Eggs - Jewels of the Russian Crown Do-it-yourself easter eggs are one thing, the decorative eggs Elizabeth Palmer is about to show us are something else, entirely! Easter eggs don't come more drop-dead opulent than this. Peter Carl Faberge's jeweled masterpieces were designed for the Russian Tzars to give to their wives and mothers. A royal riff on a much humbler easter tradition of ordinary folk giving each other colored hen eggs. Sarah Faberge is the master craftsman's great-granddaughter. This first egg was made in 1885. It's a beautiful enamel, inside that is a golden yolk, inside that is a golden chicken. Many of the eggs crack open to reveal exquisite surprises. The Faberge's enamel is very deep, it is just absolutely perfect. Faberge made more than just eggs as Andrei Roznikov, a London art dealer showed me. His collection includes cigarette cases, a barometer, and other masterpieces. Tell me a little bit about this curious object, it's like you pour a little bit of water and it's a stamp moistener, so you don't have to lick it. In 1917, the communist revolution swept the Russian monarchy away and Faberge fled to Switzerland where he died in 1920. Incredibly 46 of the just over 50 eggs he made for the Tsars survived often touring in exhibitions. Today the major egg collections are in the Kremlin and the Faberge Museum in St. Petersburg. Together worth hundreds of millions of dollars, they're now icons of popular culture. A superb green gold imperial easter egg by Carl Faberge. They showed up in the Bond film Octopussy. There are 12 Faberge eggs in his vault each worth a small fortune, and in a 2006 episode of The Simpsons Marge's friends are plotting to steal the eggs. In real life, counterfeiters like to forge them. Search for Faberge Egg on eBay and you'll see hundreds of what you might call Fauxbergé. Andre Rouznikov made huge waves in the art world when he alleged that some of the imperial eggs in a recent show at the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, were fakes. When I saw the catalog, I was just absolutely blown away. A russian collector he says had loaned the phonies to the hermitage to drive up their values. The experts sided with Rouznikov and the hermitage moved the alleged fakes to a special section marked questionable authenticity. By the middle of the 20th century, Faberge was no longer synonymous with fabulous. Remember this, a cosmetic firm bought the name in the 1950s and turned it into a brand. It was sold and resold and bought and made everything from Brute, Cologne, to face cream, to Barbie dolls. Enter Gemfields, a company that mines precious stones with a plan to take Faberge back to its roots. Painting with colored stones and diamonds and different colored goals weaving different colored golds and different materials to create objects of beauty. There are show stoppers like the ruby-encrusted hibiscus bracelet, but central to the collection is the Faberge signature. We relaunched the eggs and egg pendants and we've carried on building since then, but of course, you can't say egg without Faberge and Faberge without eggs. A symbol as much now as it was back in imperial Russia, of life, hope, and rebirth. Simplified Chinese version 自己动手制作的复活节彩蛋是一回事，而伊丽莎白·帕尔默即将向我们展示的装饰彩蛋则完全是另一回事！ 没有比这更华丽的复活节彩蛋了。 彼得·卡尔·法贝热的珠宝杰作是为俄罗斯沙皇设计的，送给他们的妻子和母亲。 这是皇家对普通人互赠彩色鸡蛋这一更朴素的复活节传统的改编。 莎拉·法贝热是这位工匠大师的曾孙女。 这第一枚彩蛋是在 1885 年制作的。 这是美丽的珐琅，里面是金色的蛋黄，里面是一只金色的小鸡。 许多鸡蛋裂开后会露出精美的惊喜。 法贝热的珐琅非常深，简直完美无缺。 伦敦艺术品经销商安德烈·罗兹尼科夫向我展示了法贝热制作的不仅仅是彩蛋。 他的收藏品包括香烟盒、气压计和其他杰作。 告诉我一些关于这个奇怪物品的信息，它就像你倒了一点水一样，是一种邮票润湿剂，所以你不必舔它。 1917 年，共产主义革命推翻了俄国君主制，法贝热逃往瑞士，并于 1920 年在那里去世。 令人难以置信的是，他为沙皇制作的 50 多枚彩蛋中有 46 枚在巡回展览中幸存下来。 如今，主要的彩蛋收藏在克里姆林宫和圣彼得堡的法贝热博物馆。 它们总价值数亿美元，如今已成为流行文化的象征。 卡尔·法贝热制作的精美绿金帝国复活节彩蛋。 它们出现在邦德电影《八爪女》中。 他的保险库里有 12 枚法贝热彩蛋，每枚都价值不菲，在 2006 年的《辛普森一家》中，玛吉的朋友们密谋偷走这些彩蛋。 在现实生活中，造假者喜欢伪造它们。 在 ebay 上搜索“法贝热彩蛋”，你会看到数百个你可能称之为“Fauxbergé”的彩蛋。 安德烈·鲁兹尼科夫 (Andre Rouznikov) 声称，最近在圣彼得堡艾尔米塔什博物馆举办的一场展览中，一些皇室彩蛋是假货，这在艺术界引起了巨大轰动。 当我看到目录时，我完全被震惊了。 他说，一位俄罗斯收藏家把这些赝品借给了艾尔米塔什博物馆，以提高它们的价值。 专家们站在鲁兹尼科夫一边，艾尔米塔什博物馆把所谓的赝品移到了一个标有“真伪可疑”的特殊区域。 到 20 世纪中叶，法贝热不再是神话的代名词。 请记住，一家化妆品公司在 20 世纪 50 年代买下了这个名字，并将其打造成一个品牌。 它被出售、转售，并购买和制造了从 Brute、古龙水到面霜、芭比娃娃等各种产品。 进入 Gemfields，这是一家开采珍贵宝石的公司，计划让法贝热重回其根源。 用彩色宝石和钻石以及不同颜色的靶子进行绘画，编织不同颜色的金子和不同的材料来创造美丽的物品。 有像镶嵌红宝石的芙蓉手镯这样的亮点，但该系列的核心是法贝热的标志。 我们重新推出了鸡蛋和鸡蛋吊坠，从那时起我们就一直在打造，但当然，你不能说没有法贝热的鸡蛋，也不能说没有鸡蛋的法贝热。 现在它就像在沙皇俄国一样，象征着生命、希望和重生。 Reference (optional) Links
12 Fabulous Fabergé Eggs — choose your favorite   Eggcellent Art: Egg Symbolism in Art History Discussion Questions (Eggs) (1) Do you like eating eggs? (2) How often do you eat eggs? (3) What’s your favorite way of cooking eggs? (4) Have you ever eaten raw eggs? (5) What’s the difference between white and brown eggs? (6) What kind of meals do you cook with eggs? (7) Do you like to know which poultry farm the eggs you buy come from? (8) Do you think eggs are good value for money? (9) What do you know about the nutritional value of eggs? (10) Are there any interesting customs in your country using eggs? (11) Do you prefer soft or hard-boiled eggs? (12) Have you had eggs from birds other than chickens? (13) What does the expression “to have egg on your face” mean? Have you ever had egg on your face? (14) Do you worry about diseases you can get from eggs? (15) Do you prefer the egg white or the yolk? (16) What are you like at breaking eggs when you cook? (17) Do you usually buy free-range eggs or those from battery chickens? (18) Have you ever wanted to throw an egg at someone? (19) What have you eaten in the past few days that contained eggs? (20) What would your life be like without eggs?

【聽力(Listening)】 結構: 4部分，40題，約30分鐘（加10分鐘抄寫答案）。 Part 1：日常對話（2人）。 Part 2：獨白（生活情境）。 Part 3：學術討論（2-4人）。 Part 4：學術講座（獨白）。 題型：選擇、填空、配對、表格、地圖等。 高分技巧: 預讀題目，標記關鍵詞。 專注同義詞替換。 熟悉各種口音（英、澳、美）。 練習速記關鍵資訊。 檢查拼寫與格式（數字、日期）。 Structure : 4 sections, 40 questions, ~30 minutes (+10 minutes for answer transfer). Part 1: Casual conversation (2 people). Part 2: Monologue (daily life). Part 3: Academic discussion (2-4 people). Part 4: Academic lecture (monologue). Question types : Multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, tables, maps. High-Score Tips : Pre-read questions, highlight keywords. Watch for synonyms. Familiarize yourself with accents (British, Australian, American). Practice quick note-taking. Check spelling and format (numbers, dates). IELTS General Training  (listen and read) Listening Test Practice Exercise: IELTS Listening Practice Tests Links Online IELTS Listening Test Practice IELTS Listening Practice IELTS Practice & Tips IELTS Listening Tips FAQ Podcasts Listening Tips Listening Practice: Lessons & Tips 25 Tips Understand the context  – it helps you to listen if you know what kind of conversation is taking place so you can picture it in your head. So look through each section in the time you are given and make sure you have an idea of who is speaking to who and what the context is. Predict the answers  - you should also try and get an idea of what kind of information you are listening out for. For example, in section one you often have to listen for names, numbers and addresses. Have a look at the questions in the time you are given and work out what needs to go in the space. A name? Number? An address? You are more likely to catch it then when the answer arises.  Use a minute to look through each section  – you are given 30 seconds at the end of each section to check your answers. You are then told to turn over and look at the next section for 30 seconds. Although some IELTS listening tips will tell you to check what you have written, there is little you can check for the previous section as you can’t hear the listening again. So instead, turn straight to the next section. You will then have one minute (instead of 30 seconds) to look through the next section! This is time better spent. Careful with question order  – often you have a table to complete, and sometimes a diagram or chart. The questions will not necessarily go from left to right, so check the progression carefully otherwise you will get lost and confused. Look at two questions at once  – there are two reasons for doing this. Firstly, some questions may have the answers close together in one sentence so you could miss one if you only look at one question at a time. Also, it is possible that you will miss an answer – if you are just looking at one, you may not know that you missed it. If you are also looking at the next, you’ll see that it has moved on. Move on if you miss an answer  – if you do realise you have missed an answer, quickly forget about it and concentrate on the next ones. There is nothing you can do, and you can also guess when you transfer your answers to the answer sheet at the end (if doing the paper-based test). The same applies if you realise you missed two or three answers. Don’t panic and just move on as there is nothing you can do. A few questions missed may not necessarily affect your band score.  Watch others if you’re completely lost  – this only applies to the paper-based test, but if you completely lose where you are, then watch when the other candidates turn over their exam papers. You’ll know then that you are back in the right place. Look out for paraphrasing  – remember that what you hear will most likely not be exactly the same as is written on the exam paper as that would be too easy. The question and the question stems use such things as synonyms so you must listen carefully for these. Ignore words you don’t know  – don’t worry or panic if you hear a word that you do not know. It may not be necessary to know it anyway, or you can take a guess. Underline or highlight key words  – when you look through the questions first, particularly in the more difficult parts 3 and 4, underline key words (such as names, places and dates) in the question stems to help you hear the answer. In the computer-based test you have the option to highlight words. Remember though, as explained above, synonyms are often used. Take care with spelling and grammar  – your answer will be marked wrong if it is spelt incorrectly or the grammar does not fit. So in the paper-based test when you transfer your answers at the end, double check these. The sentence on the exam paper may help you with the grammar – does it fit grammatically? Should it be a verb, noun, adjective? Use British or American spelling  – this is what is says on the official IELTS website: "IELTS recognises both British and American English in terms of spelling, grammar and choice of words” . So you can use either in your answers. Don’t worry about what you write on the question booklet  – in paper-based practice tests, it is common to see students rubbing or crossing things out on the exam paper. Remember that nobody sees or marks what you write here - it just gets thrown away. You need to be listening. So just write down what you hear then move on and if you have made any notes on the question booklet that's fine, just leave them. When you transfer the answers at the end to the answer sheet, you can make sure you have the correct spelling. Read the instructions carefully  – an IELTS listening tip that is an important tip for any part of the test is to always read the instructions carefully. They will tell you how many words to use. If it asks for no more than two words and you use three, it will be wrong. And you must only put in the words asked for. For example, if there is a gap of “at …… pm” and you write “at 5pm” on the answer sheet, it will be wrong. You should only write what is missing i.e. “5”. Use upper or lower case letters  – a question often asked is whether you can use upper case letters. This is what it says on the official British Council Website: “You may write your answers in lower case or capital letters”.  So you can write all your answers in capital letters if you like. This statement from the British Council suggests, therefore, that you will not be penalised if you write ‘paris’ for example, instead of ‘Paris’ because it says you can use lower case letters. Or you could write 'PARIS'. Get used to different accents, but especially the British accent  – a good IELTS listening tip is to be prepared to hear all accents as you may hear Australian, American, Canadian, New Zealand and a mix of European countries. However, although there are a mix of accents in the test, the majority tend to be British (unlike TOEFL which tends to be American). So make sure you are used to the British accent. Practice the pronunciation of letters and numbers  – often words are spelt out in the test by a speaker and numbers are read out, so make sure you can recognise how different letters and numbers sound in different accents, not just words.  Careful with what you write down  – speakers in the test will often give an answer but then correct themselves. So the first answer that looks right may actually be wrong. You can check out a lesson on this  here . Don’t leave answers blank  – you will not get penalised for writing the wrong answer (as opposed to nothing if you are not sure what it is) so guess if that is possible. Transfer your answers to the answer sheet carefully  – in the paper-based test, if you put correct answers in the wrong place on the answer sheet it will be wrong, so make sure you put the answer in the correct place. It is easy to do this if you leave an answer blank on the exam sheet. You may then fill that one in with the wrong answer when you transfer them across. So put in a guess for any you do not know and leave no blanks.  Check your answers  - make sure you recheck your spelling and grammar too when you transfer your answers at the end in the paper-based test. Listen very carefully  - listen very very carefully throughout the test. Zone in and focus. Don’t be distracted by anything around you, and don’t panic if you think you have missed any answers or that you are getting them wrong. All this will do is distract you from listening. Practice listening  – of all the IELTS listening tips, this is one of the most important! Make sure you practice listening as much as you can. You can practice with sample IELTS listening tests but you should also expose yourself to as much English as you can. Target it at the level you are currently at. There is no point in listening to BBC World or TED talks if you don’t understand any of it. Find resources on the internet that suit your level and gradually increase difficulty. And don’t worry if they are not exams or specifically for IELTS, any kind of listening helps. Try to make listening fun and listen to things you like. You can move on to more difficult things as you improve.  Listen to lectures   – remember that the last part is a lecture, so practice listening to lectures and taking notes. Lectures often follow certain patterns, such as an introduction to tell you the topic and main points, and they have sign-posts to tell you if they are comparing e.g. "although", or moving onto a new main point e.g. “Now I’ll discuss….”. So listening to lectures will help you with this section. You can find lectures online if you do a search. TED lectures may be useful as they provide a transcription so you can check your notes.  Learn to listen and write together  – practicing your listening skills is important, but remember in the test you have to write and listen. So you should practice this too. One way to do this is with practice tests but you can also try listening to audios and taking notes at the same time. This will improve your ability to do both skills at the same time. Full Practice Listening Test One   you can input your answers onto the question sheet in the same way as the test  Section 1-4    Full Practice Listening Test Two Section One  - Booking a Hotel Section Two  - Volunteering Abroad Section Three  - A Media Studies Course Section Four  - History of Indian Railways Full Practice Listening Test Three Section One  - Bus Tour of London Section Two  - A Talk on Pandas Section Three  - A Business Studies Course Section Four  - Behaviour of Dolphins Full Practice Listening Test Four Section One  - Host Family Application Section Two  - Soccer Club Meeting Section Three  - A Business Case Study Section Four  - Library Talk FULL IELTS Listening Test The listening test in IELTS can be divided into four parts one of which is a conversation between two people. The conversations are mostly based on social settings. Take a test to know the type of conversation and how well you fair in it. Topic: Urban landscape
Find exercise: Listening > 2 People > Urban landscape Accademic Listening https://ieltstutorials.online/sample-questions/cue-card https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/ielts-speaking-samples.html
50 Recent IELTS Speaking Topics for Parts 2 and 3 for IELTS 2025
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IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors  - Speaking Assessment Criteria What is the IELTS Speaking test?   Four Skills   33 interview questions for students (with sample answers)   Interviewers usually ask these questions for students to learn about their basic knowledge and abilities. They also ask these questions to get a better understanding of your interests, attitude, and personality. Some common general questions include: Can you tell us about yourself? How did you learn about our organization/ university? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses, and how do you overcome them? Why did you choose your school? What motivates you? How do you believe you can contribute to our growth? Where do you see yourself in the next five years? Can you tell us why you think you're the best fit for this role? Do you have any questions for us?
Experience and Background The interviewer may ask questions about your background and experience to understand your responsibilities in previous roles and how you handled them. They also ask these questions to envision you in the role and determine whether you fit their company culture. Below are examples of these questions: Tell us something about your field of study. Which academic accomplishment are you most proud of? Do you have prior experience in this role? Do you have any academic goals you hope to achieve before you graduate? What are they? What skills and experience do you hope to gain in this job? Do you have plans to further your education? Do you participate in any extracurricular activities? What are they? What do you wish you knew before choosing this career path? What steps have you taken for your professional growth and development? Do you think your education helped to prepare you for this role? In what way?
In-depth Questions Interviewers ask in-depth questions to get detailed information about your behaviour or abilities. These questions usually relate directly to the role and give the interviewer an idea of how well you'd perform. Examples of in-depth questions include: Can you give an example of a time you applied your leadership skills at work? How do you work under pressure? How do you handle stress? Do you prefer working alone or with a team? Why? Tell us about a time you exceeded your expectations. Have you ever missed a deadline? Why and what was the result? Describe how you organise your schedule and prioritise your tasks. Have you ever managed multiple tasks simultaneously? How did you handle them? How do you manage two projects that are due at the same time? How do you intend to make an impact in this role?
Discussion Questions (Tests) (1) What images spring to mind when you hear the word ‘test’? (2) Do you get nervous when you take tests? (3) Are there any kinds of tests that you love? (4) Do you follow any special routines before you take a test? (5) What test has made you most nervous? (6) What do you think about while you wait for the result of a test? (7) Have you ever cheated on a test? (8) Have you ever taken an IQ test? (9) Do you think testing is useful or a waste of time? (10) Do you think your test scores reflect your true ability and intelligence? (11) Do you like taking tests? (12) Are you good at taking tests? (13) What was the last English test that you took like? (14) Have you ever had a blood test? (15) Would you be more nervous before your driving test, a blood test or an English test? (16) What’s the best way to prepare for a test? (17) What medical tests have you had? (18) What was the worst test you ever took? (19) Are there too many tests in school? (20) How do you feel when you fail a test?

【寫作 (Writing)】 結構: 2任務，60分鐘。 Task 1（20分鐘，150字）：圖表/流程描述（學術組）或書信（培訓組）。 Task 2（40分鐘，250字）：議論文/問題解決。 高分技巧: Task 1：清晰描述趨勢/比較數據；書信注意語氣。 Task 2：明確論點，結構清晰（引言、主體、結論）。 使用多樣句型與高級詞彙。 留5分鐘檢查語法與拼寫。 練習常見題型（如原因、解決方案）。 Structure : 2 tasks, 60 minutes. Task 1 (20 minutes, 150 words): Charts/process (Academic) or letter (General Training). Task 2 (40 minutes, 250 words): Essay (argument/problem-solution). High-Score Tips : Task 1: Clearly describe trends/compare data; use appropriate tone for letters. Task 2: Clear thesis, structured (intro, body, conclusion). Use varied sentence structures and advanced vocabulary. Reserve 5 minutes to check grammar/spelling. Practice common topics (causes, solutions). 【 閱讀 Reading  】 結構: 3篇文章，40題，60分鐘。 學術組：學術文章；培訓組：廣告、指南等。 題型：選擇、配對、填空、判斷（T/F/NG）、標題配對。 高分技巧: 快速掃讀（skimming）找主旨。 精讀（scanning）定位答案。 管理時間，每篇20分鐘。 注意同義詞與改述。 先易後難，跳過卡題。 Structure : 3 passages, 40 questions, 60 minutes. Academic: Scholarly articles; General Training: Ads, guides. Question types: Multiple choice, matching, fill-in-the-blank, T/F/NG, heading matching. High-Score Tips : Skim for main ideas. Scan for specific answers. Manage time: 20 minutes per passage. Note synonyms and paraphrasing. Skip tough questions, tackle easier ones first. Essay Many countries spend a large amount of money after various researchers. Some people believe that it a waste of money because there are many poor people who do not have enough money to buy their meals. What notion do you support and why? Example Answer A quest for something new that could comfort mankind is the central idea behind every type of research undertaken. It serves the purpose for the greater good, albeit such ambitious plans get confronted by some people across the world. They believe this investment should rather be used on eradicating poverty. Researching on life-saving drugs and life-comforting devices is an essential element behind the whopping investment made by corporations and government. When positives of research are compared with negatives, they certainly outweigh the disagreements. For example, the life expectancy was nearly 30 years around two centuries back. Anybody who contracted certain diseases such as jaundice, malaria, flu, and dengue fever to name a few died because we did not have the effective remedy. Now scenario has completely changed. Scientists by means of research and sheer perseverance have gifted us several preventive measures and vaccines to shield our body. Today, the life expectancy has reached nearly 65 years and it is estimated to touch 90 years in near future by virtue of medical research. The opposite is also true in some cases. The world bank reports that over two billion people on the earth earn less than $2 a day. This means that they do not have enough livelihoods to appease the hunger. It is horrible to witness thousands of people starve every day and little is done to address their distress. It is also true that sometimes billions of dollars are spent in researching a potato. To recapitulate, both the points of views have strong merits and it is difficult to find a middle ground for this issue. Research on various things has saved many lives undoubtedly. At the same time, people are starving and dying of disease because they are unable to afford the cost. Hence, it is an ethical dilemma, and only solution to this issue is to spend proportionally considering the gravity of seriousness of the subject being researched. Essay
In schools, your and final exam performance is taken into consideration for student?s ability. But some students do not do well in a final exam though they are brilliant. Is it a correct process to assess a student's ability? Do you agree or disagree? Example Answer Schools have implemented a formal testing system at the end of the year as a tool to assess student?s ability. Some students do not keep up with the pressure of exam that by resulting in underperformance. This system is that some students- though they are brilliant- having an exam phobia. They get nervous and it impacts the performance greatly. Owing to this mental paralysis, they are unable to perform well. A Student learns the several important skills through his studies all your long and judging him in the three-hour exam is simply unfair. Another downside factor of this process is that some students are not psychologically prepared for the formal exam. On the contrary, they outperform if their course is packed with practical learning or on-job-training. A classic example is a study pattern adopted by trade based courses. The final assessment is focused on how students participate practically. For example, a plumber's skills are assessed based on how he fits a tap- a leak-proof one-somewhere during his course or apprenticeship. Agreed, in some fields of study, schools must evaluate a student?s ability by means of formal exam assessment. To quote an instance, medicine based courses make students prepare and learn academic knowledge for a final exam assessment. If they fail, they need to retake the course. In conclusion, except few courses based on academic knowledge, the student's ability should be assessed on how we performed practically over the whole period of study rather than a two- or three-hour exam at the end of the year. Essay Speaking more than one language is important these days. Hence, children should start learning a second language during their school time. Do you agree or disagree? Example Answer Increasing globalisation has made people travel beyond the country for leisure, study and business objectives. A person armed with the fluency of the second language about his native language surely has an edge over others. There are many person advantages when a person learns a second or third language as a child. Ostensibly, a child is at his best when he is very young as far as second language learning is concerned. Once the child grows older, unarguably his faculties start decaying because he is besieged with too many tasks to perform. Furthermore, when the child grows, he grows with multiple external concerns like working, pursuing interests, doing household chores, and attending to family priorities. This leaves him with a scanty amount of time to focus on learning a new language. While at a younger age, he is able to retain learning of new language with finesse and put into practice efficiently. The child excels in pronouncing words and sounds if it is taught at school level with proper coaching. Irrefutably, the benefits of the second language are enormous. Familiarization of the second language helps the person converse with people from other provinces and countries. This makes them more marketable, and chances of getting absorbed in employment are high if the join a corporation that is spread in other countries later on. However, an argument can be made that extra concentration on other languages may weaken the learning of the native language. In some cases, children remain confused in both primary and secondary language and that may result in losing command of both languages. But this can be fixed by means of separate and specific classes for each language. In conclusion, the benefits of the second language are remarkably useful and therefore, it should be promoted at the school level. Essay
Zoos are meant for entertainment at the cost of animals? right to roam around without restrictions. Therefore, zoos should be banned. Discuss. Example Answer T here has been a growing concern among various schools of thoughts that zoos are a primitive idea. Technological advancement has definitely facilitated the society to know and see other species that have been living with us on the earth over centuries. Over the years, there has been a notion that zoos allow people and children to see animals in the traditional cages. If zoos were not in existence, people would need to go to their natural habitats to behold them. However, this argument gets cancelled owing to the technological advancement. These days, people have an option to view them on TV and computer screens in high definition videos. Agreed, the live fun part is missing in this process but it is harmless at the same time. This argument is supported by the recent declining trend of visitors to zoos now. Moreover, animals' right was not prominent ever before. There have been many cases where zoos have been unable to take a proper care of captive animals. Animals sometimes die of malnutrition, and brutality committed by zookeepers. On top of it, under captivity animals are under immense pressure because they are born to roam around in open areas and natural habitats. It is against their natural instinct. They are simply jailed for no crime committed by them. There is no harm if endangered species are kept in zoos for some time until their population grows to the acceptable numbers. But in that case even, it is wise to build wildlife parks than caged enclosures. In a nutshell, technology advancement has evidently replaced the idea of building zoos now. Zoos require compelling reasons and advantages if they were to be built or to continue in this modern world. IELTS Writing Course Overview Parts 1 & 2 Writing Overview, Bar Chart Examples & Exercises Line Graph Examples & Exercises Pie Chart Examples & Exercises Table Examples & Exercises Process Diagram Examples & Exercises Map Examples & Exercises Combo Examples & Exercises & Review Essay Overview & Example Breakdown Agree/ Disagree: Examples & Exercises Advantages and Disadvantages: Examples & Exercises Discussion & Problem & Solution: Examples & Exercises Two-Part/ Double/ Direct: Examples & Exercises Review, Q&A Task 2 Essay Writing Format: Words: 250+ Time: 40mins Structure: Introduction & Thesis Body Conclusion Marking Criteria Task Achievement – appropriate response to the task Coherence & Cohesion   – the ability to present a well-structured essay Lexical Resource   – the ability to use a range of appropriate vocabulary  and to use  it correctly Grammatical Range & Accuracy   – the ability to use grammar correctly and to use a range of grammar forms (tenses: past, present, future) Each carries 25% of the marks. Paragraph Structure 5 Main Types of Essay Questions: Categorising Task 2 essay questions makes it easier to see how certain essay question types require certain responses  to ensure the question is fully answered.  Type Summary Opinion Essay  (Agree/Disagree) Advantages and Disadvantages Essay Discussion Essay  (Discuss Both Views ) Problem and Solution Essay  (Causes and Solutions or Causes and Effects) Double Question Essay  (Direct Question Essay or Two-Part Question ) Quick Summary Table Type Key Instruction Words Main Focus Opinion To what extent do you agree or disagree? State & defend your view Advantages & Disadvantages What are the advantages and disadvantages? Pros and cons (sometimes outweigh) Discussion Discuss both views and give your opinion Cover both sides + your opinion Problem & Solution What are the causes / problems and solutions? Identify issues + suggest fixes Double / Direct Question Why…? / What effects…? / Is it positive…? Answer both (or all) questions directly These five categories cover almost every  Task 2 question you will see in the IELTS exam. Some questions can slightly overlap (for example, a “causes and solutions” question is usually treated as a Problem & Solution type), but the approach remains similar. Tip : Always identify the question type in the first 1–2 minutes because the essay structure changes slightly for each type. Types & Structures Opinion Essay  (also called Agree/Disagree  Essay) You are asked to state your opinion and support it . Typical wording: “To what extent do you agree or disagree?” You must clearly say whether you agree, disagree, or partially agree , and explain why. Structure Introduction Sentence 1- Paraphrase Question Sentence 2- Thesis Statement Sentence 3- Outline Statement Supporting Body Paragraph 1 Sentence 1- Topic Sentence Sentence 2/3- Explain Topic Sentence Sentence 3/4- Example Sentence 5- Concession Sentence (optional) Supporting Body Paragraph 2 Sentence 1- Topic Sentence Sentence 2/3- Explain Topic Sentence Sentence 3/4- Example Sentence 5- Concession Sentence (optional) Conclusion Sentence 1 - Summary Sentence 2 - Reiteration of your opinion, prediction or recommendation Advantages and Disadvantages Essay You must discuss the positive and negative aspects of a situation or trend. Typical wording:  “What are the advantages and disadvantages…?”  or “Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?” Some versions require you to say which side is stronger. Structures Discuss the advantages and disadvantages Introduction Sentence 1- Paraphrase question Sentence 2- Outline sentence Supporting Paragraph 1  (Advantages) Sentence 3- Topic sentence (2 Advantages) Sentence 4- Explain first advantage Sentence 5- Explain second advantage Sentence 6- Example of second advantage Supporting Paragraph 2 (Disadvantages) Sentence 6- Topic sentence (2 Disadvantages) Sentence 7- Explain first disadvantage Sentence 8- Explain second disadvantage Sentence 9- Example of second disadvantage Conclusion Sentence 9- Summary of main points Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages? Introduction Sentence 1- Paraphrase question Sentence 2- Thesis statement (state which one outweighs the other) Sentence 3- Outline sentence Main Body Paragraph 1 ( Stronger Side) Sentence 4- Topic Sentence Sentence 5- Explain why it is strong Sentence 6- Example Sentence 7- Topic Sentence Sentence 8- Explain why it is strong Sentence 9- Example Main Body Paragraph 2 ( Weaker Side) Sentence 10- Topic Sentence Sentence 11- Explain why it is not strong Sentence 12- Example Conclusion Sentence 13- Summary of main points and restate position. Discussion Essay  (also called Discuss Both Views  Essay) You are given two opposing views and must discuss both sides . Typical wording:  “Discuss both views and give your own opinion.” You need to present both views fairly and usually state your personal opinion as well. Structure Introduction 1- Paraphrase question and/or state both viewpoints. 2- Thesis Statement 3- Outline Sentence Main Body Paragraph 1 1- State first viewpoint 2- Discuss first viewpoint 3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint 4- Example to support your view Main Body Paragraph 2 1- State second viewpoint 2- Discuss second viewpoint 3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint 4- Example to support your view Conclusion  Sentence 1- Summary Sentence 2- State which one is better or more important Problem and Solution Essay  (also includes
Causes & Effect
Cause & Solutions  or
Causes, Pros & Cons ) You identify problems/causes and propose solutions or discuss effects. Typical wording: “What are the causes of this problem and what solutions can you suggest?”  or “What problems does this cause and how can they be solved?” Structure Introduction 1- Paraphrase Question 2- Outline Sentence Main Body Paragraph 1 1- State Problems 2- Explain First Problem 3- Explain Second Problem 4- Example of Second Problem Main Body Paragraph 2 1- State Solutions 2- Explain First Solution 3- Explain Second Solution 4- Example of Second Solution Conclusion  1- Summary Double Question Essay  (also called Direct Question  or Two-Part Question  Essay) You are asked two (or sometimes three) specific direct questions . Typical wording:  “Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?” You must answer both  questions clearly and in separate paragraphs. Structure Introduction  1- Paraphrase Question 2- Outline Sentence (mention both questions) Main Body Paragraph 1 1- Answer first question directly 2- Explain why 3- Further explain 4- Example Main Body Paragraph 2 1- Answer second question directly 2- Explain why 3- Further explain 4- Example Conclusion 1- Summary Probability of Appearing on the Test (General estimation) Parts of an Essay: Structure Summary Intro Write a sentence (or two) introducing the topic and giving some background facts about it ( paraphrasing the question ) Tell the reader what you are going to be writing about ( thesis statement ) Thesis statement: what will be in the essay , your opinion  if the question asks you for this. Body 2 focus questions for body paragraphs: Topic + controlling idea ( two main ideas) Conclusion Use a concluding phrase Restate the thesis statement in different words Give some personal opinions, hopes, fears, or recommendations about the future IELTS Discussion Essay Breakdown Typical Question Words Discuss both points of view and give your opinion. Example Question  Technology is being used more and more in education. Some people say that this is a positive trend, while others argue that it is leading to negative consequences. Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own opinion. Introduction 1- Paraphrase question and/or state both viewpoints. 2- Thesis Statement 3- Outline Sentence Main Body Paragraph 1 1- State first viewpoint 2- Discuss first viewpoint 3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint 4- Example to support your view Main Body Paragraph 2 1- State second viewpoint 2- Discuss second viewpoint 3- Reason why you agree or disagree with viewpoint 4- Example to support your view Conclusion  Sentence 1- Summary Sentence 2- State which one is better or more important Sample Answer There is an ever-increasing use of technology, such as tablets and laptops, in the classroom. It is often argued that this is a positive development, whilst others disagree and think it will lead to adverse ramifications. This essay agrees that an increase in technology is beneficial to students and teachers. The Internet has provided students with access to more information than ever before. This has allowed learners to research and learn about any subject at the touch of a button. It is therefore agreed that technology is a very worthwhile tool for education. Wikipedia is a prime example, where students can type in any keyword and gain access to in-depth knowledge quickly and easily. However, many disagree and feel that technology deprives people of real human interaction. Human interaction teaches people valuable skills such as discourse, debate and empathy. Without these soft skills, many people find it difficult to become successful in work and their personal lives. Despite this, human interaction is still possible through the internet, and this essay disagrees that technology should be dismissed for this reason. For instance, Skype and Facebook allow people to interact in ways that were never before possible. While the benefits of technology, particularly the internet, allow students to tap into limitless sources of information, some still feel that people should be wary of this new phenomenon and not allow it to curb face-to-face interaction. However, as long as we carefully consider the importance of human interaction in education, the educational benefits are clearly positive. Case Study Case study example - how to write a Task 2 discussion essay Step-by-Step Guide Review Discussion Essay  (the “Discuss both views and give your own opinion” type). Step 1: Understand the Question (2–3 minutes) Read the question carefully. Identify the two opposing views. Note the instruction: “Discuss both sides/views and give your own opinion.” Underline key words (e.g., technology in education, positive trend vs negative consequences). Tip : Do not start writing immediately. Misunderstanding the question is the most common reason for losing marks in Task Achievement. Step 2: Decide Your Opinion (1 minute) Choose which side you mostly agree with (or a balanced view). You can agree with View 1, View 2, or say both have merits, but one is stronger. Decide this early — your opinion must appear clearly in the introduction and be developed later. Step 3: Plan Your Essay (5–7 minutes) Recommended 4-paragraph structure (most examiners prefer this for clarity): Introduction  (40–50 words) Body Paragraph 1  — Discuss the first view Body Paragraph 2  — Discuss the second view Conclusion  — Summarise + restate your opinion Alternative popular structure (also Band 9 friendly) : Introduction Body 1: First view Body 2: Second view + your opinion (combined) Conclusion Quick Planning Method : Paraphrase the topic Note 1–2 reasons + example for View 1 Note 1–2 reasons + example for View 2 Note 1–2 reasons why you hold your opinion Aim for 270–290 words  total. Step 4: Write the Introduction (5 minutes) Structure: Sentence 1: Paraphrase the question (use synonyms, change word order). Sentence 2: State both views briefly and give your opinion + outline. Example  (Technology in education topic): The integration of technology into education has increased significantly in recent years. While some people believe this development brings clear benefits, others argue it has harmful effects. In my opinion , although there are drawbacks, the advantages of using technology in the classroom outweigh the disadvantages. Step 5: Body Paragraph 1 (1st View) (8–10 minutes) Topic sentence: Clearly introduce the first view. Explain why some people hold this view (1–2 reasons). Give a specific example. Develop the idea (consequences or results). Useful language : Some people argue that… It is often claimed that… This is because… For instance / A good example is… Step 6: Body Paragraph 2 (2nd View + Your Opinion) (8–10 minutes) Topic sentence for the opposing view. Explain and exemplify the second view. Then transition to your opinion: “However, I believe…” or “Nevertheless, from my perspective…” Develop your own reasons with explanations and examples. This is where many candidates lose marks — make sure your opinion is developed, not just stated. Step 7: Conclusion (3–4 minutes) Summarise the two views briefly. Restate your opinion clearly (using different words). End with a final thought or recommendation (optional but impressive). Do not  introduce new ideas here. Step 8: Check Your Essay (2–3 minutes) Word count (minimum 250, ideal 270+) Clear paragraphing Opinion is visible in the introduction, body, and conclusion Both views are discussed equally and fairly Grammar range (mix of complex sentences) Vocabulary accuracy and variety No repetition of the same words/phrases Recommended Timing (Total 40 minutes) Analyse + Plan: 8–10 minutes Write: 25–27 minutes Check: 3–5 minutes Common Mistakes to Avoid Not discussing both  views equally Hiding or delaying your opinion until the conclusion Writing a separate paragraph only for your opinion (better to integrate it) Giving too many undeveloped ideas instead of 1–2 well-explained ones Copying words from the question (poor paraphrasing) Weak topic sentences or no clear paragraph structure Quick Template You Can Memorise Introduction : Paraphrase + Both views + My opinion Body 1 : Some people believe… (explain + example) Body 2 : Others argue… However, I believe… (explain your view + example) Conclusion : In conclusion, although… I firmly believe that… Step-by-Step Example Question: Technology is being used more and more in education. Some people say that this is a positive trend, while others argue that it is leading to negative consequences. Discuss both sides of this argument and then give your own opinion. Step 1: Understand the Question Two views: – View 1: Positive trend (benefits) – View 2: Negative consequences (drawbacks) Instruction: Discuss both sides  + give your own opinion . Step 2: Decide Your Opinion I will take this position: The advantages outweigh the disadvantages , but technology should be used carefully and balanced with traditional methods. Step 3: Quick Plan (What I planned in my mind) Introduction : Paraphrase + state both views + my opinion (advantages are greater). Body 1 : Positive side – access to information, personalised learning, engagement (example: online resources & Wikipedia). Body 2 : Negative side – reduced human interaction, distractions, soft skills (example: lack of empathy/debate). Then → counter with my opinion: problems can be managed. Conclusion : Summarise + restate opinion clearly. Step 4–7: Full Model Essay (Using the Exact Structure) Technology is being used more and more in education. Some people say that this is a positive trend, while others argue that it is leading to negative consequences. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The use of technology in education has increased dramatically over the past decade, with digital tools such as laptops, tablets, and online platforms now playing a central role in many classrooms. While some people welcome this development as a positive trend, others believe it brings harmful consequences. In my view , although there are valid concerns, the benefits of technology in education clearly outweigh the drawbacks when used responsibly. On the one hand, technology offers students unprecedented access to information and learning resources . The Internet allows learners to research any topic instantly, explore subjects in greater depth, and study at their own pace. Interactive apps and multimedia materials can also make lessons more engaging and cater to different learning styles. For instance , platforms like Wikipedia and educational websites enable students to gain detailed knowledge within seconds, which was impossible with traditional textbooks alone. As a result , self-directed learning becomes far more effective. On the other hand, critics argue that excessive use of technology can lead to negative outcomes, particularly the reduction of real human interaction . Face-to-face communication is essential for developing important soft skills such as discussion, debate, and empathy. Without these, young people may struggle in future workplaces and personal relationships . Moreover, constant exposure to screens can cause distractions and shorten attention spans . Despite these concerns , I believe such problems can be effectively managed . Teachers can combine digital tools with traditional classroom activities, and video conferencing platforms like Zoom or Microsoft Teams actually allow new forms of interaction that were not possible before. In conclusion , while the growing use of technology in education does present certain risks , its advantages in terms of access to knowledge and flexible learning are far more significant . As long as educators maintain a balanced approach , technology will continue to enhance rather than harm the learning experience. (Word count: 278 ) Why This Essay Would Score Band 8.5–9.0 Clear position from the introduction and maintained throughout. Both views are discussed equally and developed with explanations + examples. My opinion is integrated naturally (especially in Body 2 and conclusion). Excellent coherence (good topic sentences and linking). Wide range of vocabulary and grammar. IELTS Problem & Solution Essay Breakdown Typical Question Words  Problem and solution. Cause and solution. Example Question  Students are becoming more and more reliant on technology. What are some of the problems associated with reliance on computers, and what are some of the possible solutions ? Introduction 1- Paraphrase Question 2- Outline Sentence Main Body Paragraph 1 1- State Problems 2- Explain First Problem 3- Explain Second Problem 4- Example of Second Problem Main Body Paragraph 2 1- State Solutions 2- Explain First Solution 3- Explain Second Solution 4- Example of Second Solution Conclusion  1- Summary Sample Answers Example 1 In recent years, students have become increasingly dependent on computers and digital technology for their studies. While technology offers many benefits, this heavy reliance has created several significant problems that need to be addressed. One major issue is the decline in critical thinking and problem-solving skills. When students can instantly search for answers online or use AI tools to complete assignments, they often avoid the mental effort required to analyse information deeply or solve problems independently. This can lead to superficial learning and poor retention of knowledge. Another serious problem is reduced physical and mental well-being. Excessive screen time is linked to poor posture, eye strain, headaches, and decreased attention spans. Furthermore, over-reliance on technology makes students vulnerable when technical failures occur, such as internet outages or device malfunctions, which can completely disrupt their learning process. To tackle these issues, several practical solutions can be implemented. Firstly, educational institutions should promote a balanced approach by encouraging traditional study methods alongside technology. For example, teachers could assign handwritten essays, group discussions, and problem-solving tasks without digital aids on a regular basis. Secondly, schools should integrate digital literacy and time-management programmes into the curriculum to help students use technology more responsibly and mindfully. Finally, parents and teachers must model healthy technology habits and set clear boundaries on screen time to protect students’ physical and cognitive development. In conclusion, although computers are valuable educational tools, excessive dependence on them can harm students’ learning abilities and health. By combining traditional learning methods with responsible technology use and proper guidance, both educators and families can help students develop a healthier and more balanced relationship with digital devices. (Word count: 268) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Example 2 Learners are becoming increasingly dependent on technology, such as the Internet and mobile devices. This essay believes the main problems associated with dependence on computers are the lack of original thought and copying original work from others, and suggests critical thinking classes and writing analysis software as the most viable solutions. The principal problems with over-reliance on technology are people being unable to think for themselves and plagiarism. With access to so much information, students often rely on other people’s opinions instead of forming their own. As well as this, they often use search engines to answer a question and copy the text from a website rather than thinking about the question. This practice is prohibited in schools and universities and stunts students’ intellectual development because they will never truly think for themselves, which is what university is supposed to be for. For example, many teachers complain that students copy web pages straight from Wikipedia word for word rather than giving a reasoned answer to their questions. Solutions to these worrying problems are special classes to focus on critical thinking, and teachers using anti-plagiarism software to detect copying. If teachers create situations where students have to infer meaning and express opinions based on a small amount of information, this will ensure that students have an opportunity to develop these skills. Also, if students know that their assignments are being checked for plagiarism, this will be enough to deter them from doing so. For instance, many universities already use this kind of software to scan coursework for plagiarism, and it could be extended to include all homework by learners in both secondary and tertiary education. In conclusion, the main problems with the overuse of technology in education are the lack of original thought and plagiarism. These can be solved through special classes that teach students analytical skills and plagiarism detection software. Case Study Case study example lesson Example: Major Cities Growth Problems & Solutions The major cities in the world are growing fast, as well as their problems. What are the problems that young people living in cities are facing with? Give solutions to these problems. As major cities around the world expand rapidly, young people face several serious challenges. This essay will examine the main problems and suggest possible solutions. One of the biggest issues is the high cost of living, especially the lack of affordable housing. Rising demand and limited space have caused rents and property prices to increase sharply. Consequently, many young people, including students and early-career workers, struggle to find suitable accommodation. They are often forced to live in overcrowded flats, share small rooms, or endure long commutes from distant suburbs, leading to fatigue and reduced quality of life. Another major problem is the intense competition and pressure. Cities offer the best education and job opportunities, attracting ambitious young people from everywhere. However, this creates a highly competitive environment where individuals feel constant pressure to succeed. The fast-paced lifestyle and long working hours frequently result in stress, anxiety, and depression. In addition, environmental problems such as air pollution, noise, and overcrowding harm both physical and mental health. Many young people also feel socially isolated despite living in crowded cities, as busy urban routines make it difficult to form meaningful relationships. To address these issues , governments should prioritise building more affordable housing and introduce rent controls. Improving public transport would reduce commuting times, while expanding mental health services and creating more green spaces and community centres would help young residents manage stress and improve well-being. In conclusion , although urban growth brings opportunities, it also creates significant challenges for young people. By investing in affordable housing, better infrastructure, and support services, cities can become more liveable and sustainable for the younger generation. (Word count: 274) Types of Essay Questions with Example Answers Agree  / Disagree Type Questions In these types of questions, you are given one opinion, and you then have to state the extent to which you agree or disagree with that opinion: Advertising Some of the methods used in advertising are unethical and unacceptable in today’s society. To what extent do you agree with this view? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge.   250+ words. Advertising Plan Options 1. Agree 100% 2. Disagree 100% 3. Partly agree Focus Reasons: World is dominated by advertisementsIntrusive advertisements on all media Example: ads on phone without consent Constantly being encouraged to buy products or services Pressure and influence on families, particularly children Controversial advertising of tobacco products and alcohol Example Answer The world that we live in today is dominated by advertising . Adverts are on television, on the World Wide Web, in the street and even on our mobile phones. However, many of the strategies used  to sell a product or service can be considered immoral or unacceptable . This essay outlines why I agree with the statement: Some of the methods used in advertising are unethical and unacceptable in today’s society. To begin with, the fact that we cannot escape from advertising  is a significant cause for complaint. Constant images and signs wherever we look can be very intrusive and irritating  at times. Take, for example , advertising on the mobile phone. With the latest technology, mobile companies are now able to send advertising messages via SMS to consumers' phones whenever they choose or not. Although we expect adverts in numerous situations, it now seems that there are very few places we can actually avoid them. A further aspect of advertising that I would consider unethical is the way that it encourages or pressurises people to buy products they may not need or cannot afford . Children and young people in particular are influenced by adverts showing the latest toys, clothing or music, and this can put enormous pressure on the parents to buy these products. In addition, the advertising of tobacco products and alcohol has long been a controversial issue, but cigarette adverts have only recently been banned in many countries. It is quite possible that alcohol adverts encourage excessive consumption and underage drinking, yet restrictions have not been placed on this type of advertising in the same way as smoking.  It is certainly true to say that advertising is an everyday feature  of our lives. Therefore, people are constantly being encouraged to buy products or services that might be too expensive, unnecessary or even unhealthy. In conclusion, many aspects of advertising do appear to be morally wrong and are not acceptable in today's society. (296 words) Review This essay for IELTS is well organized as there are five clear paragraphs, each containing ideas that are relevant, well expressed, and related to the topic.  Focusing on the language and structures in particular, the essay starts with an appropriate introductory sentence. Linking words are used accurately ( However, In addition, Therefore ). Phrases that signal opinions are evident ( A further aspect of advertising that I would consider unethical . ..) backed up by reasons (... encourages people to buy products they may not need or cannot afford ) and examples ( Children and young people in particular, are influenced by adverts ). In general, many other useful phrases are used, indicating a good control of language ( It is quite possible ...  Many people consider . ..  It is certainly true to say .. .). Alternative Medicine Spending on the Arts Human Cloning Social Interaction & the Internet Airline Tax Free University Education Scientific Research Banning Smoking Employing Older People Vegetarianism Paying Taxes   Examinations or Formal Assessment  Multinational Organisations and Culture Internet vs Newspapers Technology Development   Dying of Languages Animal Extinction Truth in Relationships Role of Schools Return of Historical Artefacts Happiness and Income Inequality Using Local Resources vs Importing Discuss Two-Opinion Type Questions In this essay question type, you are given two opinions, and you have to discuss both of these and then give your own view: University Education Some people believe the aim of university education is to help graduates get better jobs. Others believe there are many wider benefits of university education for both individuals and society. Discuss both views and give your opinion. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge. 250+ words. University Education Plan In this essay, two  opposing opinions  need to be discussed. This is the first opinion: The aim of university education is to help graduates get better jobs. This is the second opinion: There are much wider benefits of university education for both individuals and society. As the prompt suggests, you MUST talk about both sides  of the issue and include your opinion . Example Answer These days, more and more people are making the choice to go to university. While some people are of the opinion that the only purpose of a university education is to  improve job prospects , others think that society and the individual benefit in much broader ways . It is certainly true that one of the main aims of a university  is to secure a better job . The majority of people want to improve their future career prospects , and attending university is one of the best ways to do this, as it increases a person's marketable skills and attractiveness to potential employers. In addition, further education is very expensive for many people, so most would not consider it if it did not provide them with a more secure future and a higher standard of living. Thus, job prospects are very important. However, there are other benefits for individuals and society . Firstly , the  independence of living away from home  is a benefit because it helps the students develop better social skills  and improve as a person. A case in point is that many students will have to leave their families, live in halls of residence and meet new friends. As a result, their maturity and confidence will grow , enabling them to live more fulfilling lives. Secondly , society will gain from the contribution that the graduates can make to the economy . We are living in a very competitive world, so countries need educated people in order to compete and prosper. Therefore, I believe  that although the main aim of university education is to get a good job , there are clearly further benefits . If we continue to promote and encourage university attendance, it will lead to a better future for individuals and society. Review The writer in this IELTS writing example has a clear thesis  in the second sentence of the introduction, establishing that two sides of this issue will be discussed: While some people are of the opinion...others think that... Looking at the structure , the topic sentences make it clear when the first opinion is being discussed: It is certainly true that one of the main aims of university is to secure a better job. And when the writer is moving onto the next opinion However, there are other benefits for individuals and society. Connectors ( To begin... Also... Firstly... Secondly ) are used well to introduce each new supporting idea. Further connectors ( For example...A case in point is that...As a result... ) are used to expand on these ideas. Finally, the writer has demonstrated that they are able to use complex sentence structures ( While...that...in order to...as... ), and has discussed both views and combined this with his/her opinion, thus ensuring the question has been answered. Reducing Crime Animal Rights Child Development Diet & Health Childcare Donating Money to Charity Closing Zoos    Becoming Independent   Formal and Informal Education   Influence of Scientists and Politicians Sources for Stories Searching for Extraterrestrial Life International Cooperation Recruitment and Selection Building New Homes in the Countryside Cause Type Questions - Causes & Effects: There are a variety of cause-type essay questions. In these, you first have to give the reasons why something has happened, in other words, the causes, but then discuss a different aspect of it, such as the effects, solutions or the extent to which it is a positive or negative development: Child Obesity The percentage of overweight children in Western society has increased by almost 20% in the last ten years. Discuss the causes and effects of this disturbing trend. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge. 250+ words. Child Obesity Plan This causes and effects model essay is about  obesity in children. You specifically have to talk about the  causes  (reasons) of the increase in overweight children, and explain the  effects  (results) of this. This particular essay is organized as follows Body 1: Cause 1 - Effect Body 2: Cause 2 - Effect OR Body 1: Causes Body 2: Effects Example Answer Over the last ten years, Western societies have seen close to a 20% rise in the number of children who are overweight. This essay will discuss some reasons why  this has occurred and examine the consequences  of this worrying trend. The main cause of this problem is a poor diet . Over the last decade, there has been a prolific increase in the number of fast food  restaurants. For example , on nearly every high street there is a McDonald’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut. The food in these places has been proven to be very unhealthy, and much of the advertising is targeted at children , thus ensuring that they constitute the bulk of the customers of these establishments. However, it is not only due to eating out, but also the type of diet many children have at home . A lot of food consumed is processed food , especially with regard to ready-made meals , which are a quick and easy option for parents who are working hard. Furthermore, many children live sedentary lives in front of a computer instead of playing outside. Online gaming, social media and online streaming have replaced most other children's free-time activities. The combination of a more sedentary lifestyle and a poor diet has contributed to childhood obesity in Western society. The effects of this have been and will continue to be very serious. There has been a large increase in health-related diseases amongst children, especially diabetes . This debilitating illness means a child has to be injected with insulin for the rest of their life. Not only this, but very overweight children often experience bullying from other children, which may affect their mental health . The negative stigma of being overweight may also affect self-esteem . To sum up , it is evident that there are several causes of obesity  amongst children, and a variety of negative effects. Society must ensure steps are taken to prevent this problem from deteriorating further. Review - TBD Skin Whitening Creams Family Size Having Children Later in Life Time Away from Family Cause Type Questions - Causes and Solutions: There are a variety of cause-type essay questions. In these, you first have to give the reasons why something has happened, in other words, the causes, but then discuss a different aspect of it, such as the effects, solutions or the extent to which it is a positive or negative development: Youth Crime Levels of youth crime are increasing rapidly in most cities around the world. What are the reasons for this, and suggest some solutions . Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge. 250 words.   Youth Crime Plan 2 Focus Questions Examples: 1) Why has teenage crime increased? 2) What can be done about it ? Answer Over the last few decades, many cities around the world have seen alarming increases in the levels of youth crime. This essay will discuss the reasons for this and provide some possible solutions. The first reason is connected with the family . In order for a child to grow up in a balanced way, it is very important that he or she is nurtured well by his or her parents. However, these days, it is often the case that children are neglected. This may be because of the fact that many parents in cities now both have to work, so they are often not around to give their children support when needed. Another factor is the increasing levels of poverty around the world . We have seen with globalization the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer, and this inevitably means that those who are poorer will have to resort to illegal means to get what others have. Of course, this will include the children in the poorer families. However, there are ways to tackle such problems.   Firstly , one of the ways to combat the problem is to have stricter punishments . Although, as discussed above, it can be outside factors that lead to crime, it is still important to have severe punishments to deter teenagers from crime. All too often, because they are young, the courts are too lenient. Parents also have to take more responsibility  for their children’s actions. They too should be punished if their children commit a crime. To sum up , several factors have led to increases in youth crime, but measures are available to tackle this problem. (267 words) Review The topic of youth crime is clearly stated in the general statement of the introduction, and the thesis tells the reader that reasons and solutions will be discussed. It is organized well, with reasons for youth crime discussed in the first body paragraph and solutions in the next. Each paragraph has two ideas, and they are clearly signalled and well supported.There are some good complex structures (In order for…, often the case that…, means that…,)  and some good examples of topic-related vocabulary (nurtured…, neglected…, illegal…, severe punishments…, deter…, commit crime…). Global Warming Stress Paying Attention in Class International Travel & Prejudice  Museums & Historical Places Disappearance of Traditions Communication Between Generations Cause Type Questions - Causes, Pros & Cons: There are a variety of cause-type essay questions. In these, you first have to give the reasons why something has happened, in other words, the causes, but then discuss a different aspect of it, such as the effects, solutions or the extent to which it is a positive or negative development: Family Closeness Nowadays, families are not as close as in the past and a lot of people have become used to this. Why is this happening? Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the drawbacks? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge. 250 words.   Family Closeness Plan/ Notes This is an IELTS family values essay, centered around the belief that families are not as close as in the past. If you look at the question carefully, you will see that there are two tasks. Firstly, you have to explain why (give  reasons ) families are not so close. The second task is to state whether you think this more of a  negative  or  positive  trend. So this essay is a mix of causes, advantages  and disadvantages . Be careful in noting that it is partly an opinion essay  as you have to give your opinion as to whether the advantages outweigh (i.e. more advantages) the disadvantages. Answer There has been a trend over recent decades for families to become less close than they were in the past, and this situation is largely accepted in society. This essay will discuss the reasons for this and examine the benefits and drawbacks of this development. One of the first reasons for a decline in the closeness of families is connected to the busy lifestyles that we now lead. Most people are having to work longer hours, and often both parents work, so they simply do not have as much time to spend with each other as they did in the past. Another factor is the materialistic and consumer-driven culture we now live in, which has led to less value being placed on family relationships. Modern technology also means that people are more interested in their online life than interacting with their family in their free time. It could be argued that this has benefits. If people are not so close with their family, they are free to pursue their own dreams and aspirations, and to focus on improving their own lifestyle. However, I believe that there are far more negative outcomes. The most important factors leading to a fulfilled and happy life are emotional security and comfort. Without these we are in danger of feeling lost. It is a difficult world we live in and we need the support of people close to us to cope with modern life. We are seeing a rise in mental health problems in many countries and this may well be a factor in this. To conclude, busy modern lifestyles, changing cultural values and modern technology are causing families to become less close. We should try to halt this trend as it has more negative than positive outcomes. (294 Words) Review This family values essay would merit a high IELTS score. The essay is organized clearly . The introduction introduces the topic, and the thesis clearly sets out the contents of the essay. Each body paragraph has a clear central idea  - the first paragraph is about the reasons,  and the second paragraph examines the advantages and disadvantages . This paragraph also makes it clear that the writer believes the drawbacks outweigh the benefits . It would also be possible to have presented a separate body paragraph, each with the advantages and disadvantages, but you would need to be careful not to write too much and possibly run out of time. The conclusion then summarises the main points  made in the essay and again clarifies the opinion . Living Alone Rural to Urban Migration Problems & Solutions Type Questions In this type of question, instead of discussing the causes of a problem, you need to discuss the problems related to a particular issue in society, and then suggest what can be done to solve these problems: Overpopulation Overpopulation of urban areas has led to numerous problems. Identify one or two serious ones and suggest ways that governments and individuals can tackle these problems. Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge. 250 words.   Overpopulation Plan/ Notes This model essay is about  overpopulation in cities . You specifically have to talk about the  problems  of overpopulation, and suggest some  solutions  to this problem. Note that this question specifically asks you what governments  and individuals  can do. Note that this overpopulation essay question specifically asks you what governments  and individuals  can do. You MUST, therefore, write about what both of these can do in order to fully answer the question. Note as well that you must talk about  serious  problems. The easiest way to organize a problems and solutions essay is as follows: Body 1:  Problems Body 2:  Solutions In this essay, a separate paragraph has been written about government and individual solutions, so it is organized as follows: Body 1:  Problems Body 2:  Solutions - Government Body 3:  Solutions - Individuals Example Answer Many countries of the world are currently experiencing problems caused by rapidly growing populations in urban areas, and both governments and individuals have a duty to find ways to overcome these problems. Overpopulation can lead to overcrowding and poor-quality housing in many large cities. Poorly heated or damp housing could cause significant health problems, resulting in illness, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. Another serious consequence of overcrowding is a rising crime rate, as poor living conditions may lead young people in particular to take desperate measures and turn to crime or drugs. In terms of solutions, I believe the government should be largely responsible. Firstly, it is vital that the state provides essential housing and healthcare for all its citizens. Secondly, setting up community projects to help foster more community spirit and help keep young people off the street is a good idea. For example, youth clubs or evening classes for teenagers would keep them occupied. Finally, more effective policing of inner-city areas would also be beneficial. Naturally, individuals should also try to address these problems. One way is to put pressure on the government to ensure they tackle the problems by, for instance, forming action groups to lobby the government and request intervention and adequate funding. They could also form Neighbourhood Watch areas to try and help reduce the high levels of crime. Therefore, it is clear that the problems caused by overpopulation in urban areas are very serious. Yet if governments and individuals share a collective responsibility, then it may well become possible to offer some solutions. (260 words) Review TBC Competing for Jobs   Professionals Immigrating Advantage & Disadvantages Type Questions In this type of question, you are asked to discuss the positive and negative sides of a particular topic. You will usually be asked this in the context of giving an opinion ( e.g. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? Is it a positive or negative development? ): Traffic Problems In order to solve traffic problems, governments should tax private car owners heavily and use the money to improve public transportation. What are the advantages and disadvantages of such a solution? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge. 250 words.   Traffic Problems Plan/ Notes This is a traffic problems/congestion essay, and the specific topic is the taxing of car drivers in order to reduce these problems. You are asked to discuss the  advantages  and  disadvantages  of introducing such a policy to tackle the issue. This question is very clear, and it does not specifically ask you for an opinion.  You just need to look at both sides of the issue. The logical way to answer it would be to discuss each side in a different paragraph. Example:Paragraph 1: DisadvantagesParagraph 2: Advantages Example Answer Traffic congestion in many cities around the world is severe. One possible solution to this problem is to impose heavy taxes on car drivers and use this money to make public transport better. This essay will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of such a measure. One of the first benefits  of such a measure is that the heavy taxes would discourage car owners  from using their cars because it would become very expensive to drive. This would mean that they would begin to make use of public transport instead , thus reducing traffic problems and pollution  as well. Another benefit  would be to improve public transport . It is often the case that public transport in cities is very poor. For example , we often see old buses and trains that people would rather not use. High taxes would generate enough money to modernise public transport , and possibly build or expand the rail network. Nevertheless , there are drawbacks   to such a solution. Firstly , this would be a heavy burden on the car drivers . At present, taxes are already high  for most people, so further taxes would mean less money to spend in the local economy for people who may have no choice but to drive every day. In addition , this type of tax would likely be set at a fixed amount . This would mean that it would hit less-income earners harder , whilst the rich could likely afford it. It is therefore not a fair tax. To conclude , this solution could improve  the current situation to reduce traffic congestion, but there are advantages and disadvantages to introducing such a policy. (267 Words) Review The topic is clearly stated in the general statement of the introduction, and the thesis tells the reader that advantages and disadvantages will be discussed. The traffic problems essay is organised well, with the advantages of such a solution in the first body paragraph and the disadvantages in the next. Each paragraph has two ideas, and they are well signalled and supported. There are some good uses of tenses to show the writer is discussing the unreal future, i.e. something that has not happened ( would discourage car owners..., would be a heavy burden..., ). Food Additives Computer Games Age Discrimination at Work   Children using Tablets and Computers   Cell Phones, Internet, & Communication   Working from Home  Eating Locally grown Produce   Oil and Gas Essay   Peer Pressure on Young People Online Fraud Decreasing House Sizes 'Hybrid' Types of Essay Question There are sometimes questions that don't fit easily into a particular category as above. I've called these 'hybrid', as they are of mixed character, are composed of different elements from other types of essay, or are perhaps just worded differently.  Protecting Old Buildings Many old buildings protected by law are part of a nation’s history. Some people think they should be knocked down and replaced by news ones. How important is it to maintain old buildings? Should history stand in the way of progress? Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own experience or knowledge. 250 words.   Protecting Old Buildings Plan/ Notes This model essay is about  old buildings  and whether they should be protected or not. It is quite a difficult question, so you will need to brainstorm your ideas carefully. Breaking the Question Down It is basically an opinion essay, as you have to give your opinion on protecting old buildings. However, it does not ask you whether you agree or disagree. There are two parts  to this essay question so you must answer both . 1) How important is it to protect old buildings? For the first part you have to decide which opinion you have: Yes, it's very important - reasons why; OR No, it's unimportant - reasons why 2) Should history stand in the way of progress? In this part, you need to give your opinion on whether you think history is so important it should take priority over a country's progress. Answer Most nations around the world have at least some, or possibly many, old buildings such as temples, churches and houses in their cities, villages and surrounding areas which have historical significance. In my opinion, it is very important to maintain these, but this does not mean progress should stop. Preserving certain old buildings is important for several reasons. Firstly, these structures provide an insight into the history of our countries, showing us how people many centuries ago lived their lives. Without them, we could only learn by books, and it would undoubtedly be sad if this were the only way to see them. Many of these buildings are also very beautiful. Take for example the many religious buildings such as churches and temples that we see around the world. Not only this, but on a more practical level, many of these buildings provide important income to a country as many tourists visit them in great numbers. However, this certainly does not mean that modernization should be discouraged. I believe that old buildings can be protected in tandem with progress. For example, in many circumstances we see old historic buildings being renovated whilst maintaining their original character, and being used for modern purposes. Also, in no way does history hinder progress, and in fact it is the opposite. By studying and learning about our history, we understand more about the world we live in, and this helps us to build a better future. To conclude, I believe that it is very important to protect and preserve old buildings as we can learn about our history as can others from other countries. Such knowledge can also help us to understand how to modernise our countries in the best way. (287 Words) Review TBD Animal Testing Fear of Crime Communication Technology Influence of Children's Friends   Student Sample Essays: References 99 Questions for Critical Thinking Skills Development in IELTS Critical Thinking Question Sample Coherency and Cohesion: Using Transitions One way to improve coherence in your writing is to use transition words. This lesson teaches you how.  Pronouns Your writing must be coherent, and this IELTS practice lesson shows you how pronouns can help you to do this Improving Coherency and Cohesion Learn some simple strategies to improve the coherence and cohesion of your essays. Substitution Learn how to use substitution in IELTS to improve your cohesion and quality of writing. Style and Tone: Personal Pronouns in Essays How to use personal pronouns such as 'I', 'our' and 'we' in IELTS essays. These IELTS essay writings have been categorised in a way that makes it easy for you to see how certain essay question types require you to provide certain responses to ensure the question is fully answered.  Assessment of your ability to understand and interpret written English in academic and general contexts. Our IELTS reading sample questions will help you understand the types of questions asked in the IELTS Academic Reading module. Exercises have a given time limit every time you practice. Topic: Raising the Mary Rose Reading > Academic > P2 > Raising the Mary Rose Accademic Reading Writing Task 1 Writing Task 2 https://ieltstutorials.online/sample-questions/cue-card https://www.ieltsbuddy.com/ielts-speaking-samples.html
50 Recent IELTS Speaking Topics for Parts 2 and 3 for IELTS 2025
https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-speaking-part-1-topics/ IELTS Speaking Sample Questions with Answers for IELTS Speaking Part 3 https://www.ieltsjacky.com/ielts-speaking.html https://ieltsmaterial.com/50-ielts-speaking-part-2-3-topics-2020-with-model-answers/ https://ieltsliz.com/ielts-speaking-free-lessons-essential-tips/ https://takeielts.britishcouncil.org/take-ielts/prepare/free-ielts-english-practice-tests/speaking https://ielts-up.com/speaking/ielts-speaking-test.html https://leapscholar.com/exams/ielts/practice-test/speaking/part-1 https://ielts.org/take-a-test/preparation-resources
IELTS Speaking Band Descriptors  - Speaking Assessment Criteria What is the IELTS Speaking test?   Four Skills   33 interview questions for students (with sample answers)   Interviewers usually ask these questions for students to learn about their basic knowledge and abilities. They also ask these questions to get a better understanding of your interests, attitude, and personality. Some common general questions include: Can you tell us about yourself? How did you learn about our organization/ university? What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses, and how do you overcome them? Why did you choose your school? What motivates you? How do you believe you can contribute to our growth? Where do you see yourself in the next five years? Can you tell us why you think you're the best fit for this role? Do you have any questions for us?
Experience and Background The interviewer may ask questions about your background and experience to understand your responsibilities in previous roles and how you handled them. They also ask these questions to envision you in the role and determine whether you fit their company culture. Below are examples of these questions: Tell us something about your field of study. Which academic accomplishment are you most proud of? Do you have prior experience in this role? Do you have any academic goals you hope to achieve before you graduate? What are they? What skills and experience do you hope to gain in this job? Do you have plans to further your education? Do you participate in any extracurricular activities? What are they? What do you wish you knew before choosing this career path? What steps have you taken for your professional growth and development? Do you think your education helped to prepare you for this role? In what way?
In-depth Questions Interviewers ask in-depth questions to get detailed information about your behaviour or abilities. These questions usually relate directly to the role and give the interviewer an idea of how well you'd perform. Examples of in-depth questions include: Can you give an example of a time you applied your leadership skills at work? How do you work under pressure? How do you handle stress? Do you prefer working alone or with a team? Why? Tell us about a time you exceeded your expectations. Have you ever missed a deadline? Why and what was the result? Describe how you organise your schedule and prioritise your tasks. Have you ever managed multiple tasks simultaneously? How did you handle them? How do you manage two projects that are due at the same time? How do you intend to make an impact in this role?
Discussion Questions (Tests) (1) What images spring to mind when you hear the word ‘test’? (2) Do you get nervous when you take tests? (3) Are there any kinds of tests that you love? (4) Do you follow any special routines before you take a test? (5) What test has made you most nervous? (6) What do you think about while you wait for the result of a test? (7) Have you ever cheated on a test? (8) Have you ever taken an IQ test? (9) Do you think testing is useful or a waste of time? (10) Do you think your test scores reflect your true ability and intelligence? (11) Do you like taking tests? (12) Are you good at taking tests? (13) What was the last English test that you took like? (14) Have you ever had a blood test? (15) Would you be more nervous before your driving test, a blood test or an English test? (16) What’s the best way to prepare for a test? (17) What medical tests have you had? (18) What was the worst test you ever took? (19) Are there too many tests in school? (20) How do you feel when you fail a test?

Top 10 Most Beautiful Places in The World Earth's unparalleled beauty truly knows no end welcome to watchmojo.com and today we're counting down our picks for another top 10 most beautiful places in the world. For this list, we're taking a look at more gorgeous locations throughout the natural world. Number 10: Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile This National Park has no shortage of remarkable landmarks. It hosts several attractive lakes including the Pahoe, Dickson, and Gray. Speaking of which, the Grey Glacier is just one of several ice giants bound to leave your jaw agape. The area is a hiker or mountain climber's dream, and the highlight by far is the Torres del Paine. Comprised of three granite peaks, these columns stretch 8,000 feet vertically from a glacial lake. With so much to see, there's not a bad vantage point to be found. The park is also home to some majestic wildlife with deer, foxes, and Guanacos roaming free, only adding to the beauty. Number 9: Namib Desert, Namibia, Africa When people think of lovely scenery, deserts typically aren't the first landscapes that leap to mind. The Namib is a barren beauty however, with splendor in its sandy simplicity. Extending over 1,200 miles, Namib naturally translates to vast place. The trek through this coastal desert may be long, but the breathtaking sights make every step worth it. Southern Namib is perhaps best known for its sand seas comprised of enormous dunes that vary in color. These dunes are wonders to behold, attracting geologists who wish to better understand their unusual nature. The land is also one of the most significant places for diamond mining although the Namib itself is the true diamond in the rough. Number 8: Valensole Plateau, Provence, France If purple is your favorite color consider booking a trip to Provence during the summertime. With the blooming season taking place between June and August, this area is rich with eye-popping flowers. For tourists wishing to stroll through the lavender fields, a particular hot spot is the Valensole Plateau. In addition to the various lavender festivals, you'll also want to drop by Sénanque Abbey, an ideal place for a picnic where the flowers make an already picturesque spot even more dazzling. Above all else, it reminds us to take a break and smell the lavender. Number 7: Redwood National Park, California, USA The Redwood National and state parks are best known for their towering trees which skyrocket into the foggy heavens above. Home of the planet's tallest tree species, this forest will leave hikers and campers feeling as if they've been shrunk down to the size of ants. As mighty and even intimidating as the coast redwood might be, it's also an endangered flora. These California parks have managed to preserve 45 percent of the remaining old-growth redwood forests. The relative rarity of these trees further contributes to their inspiring nature. The redwoods aren't the only reason to visit either, as the prairie, grasslands, rivers, and misty atmosphere, draw in numerous awestruck spectators. Number 6: Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK The second you hear that name you might picture a landscape right out of a fairy tale, and this magical Scottish Island does not disappoint with its grand hills and bodies of water that practically call out to visitors. Those who enjoy walking and climbing will notably be drawn to the Cuillin mountain range which consists of 15 peaks that reach beyond 3,000 feet. Scottish mountaineer Malcolm Slessor cheekily summed up the area best, saying that it quote, sticks out of the west coast of northern Scotland like a lobster's claw ready to snap.
Number 5: Rainbow Mountains, Zhangye Danxia, China The Zhangye National Geo Park looks like something out of a surreal painting. Even a Skittles commercial showcasing distinctive rock formations created over thousands of years through the effects of rain and wind. With various stripes of colors spreading across the land, it's as if a rainbow is reflecting onto the earth. It's also drawing comparisons to a layer cake, serving up some of the most appetizing sights on the planet's menu. It's actually hard to believe these multicolored mountains are real but you can trust your eyes. Number 4: Bora Bora, French Polynesia If you're looking for a romantic honeymoon spot or just a relaxing place to get away, you can't go wrong with Bora Bora. Located in the Pacific Ocean, this group of French Polynesian islands has virtually everything we associate with paradise including palm trees, green mountains, sandy beaches, and vibrant coral reefs. With a sparkling Lagoon surrounding the main island and an extinct volcano at the heart of it all, the whole area is as pretty as a postcard. While numerous resorts have sprouted up throughout Bora Bora, they fortunately haven't taken away from the land's natural beauty which overflows with tropical tranquility. Number 3: Ashikaga Flower Park, Ashikaga, Japan Draped in the color violet, Ashikaga Flower Park competes with the aforementioned lavender fields for purple supremacy. This flower park not only consists of the country's oldest Wisteria but the largest as well. Still standing at almost 150 years old, one particular Wisteria tree covers thousands of feet. While Wisteria is the park's most prominent plant, it's not the only species of flower on display. Throughout the year, visitors are treated to a variety of different floral displays that change with the seasons. Between this flower park and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Japan simply blooms with extraordinary plant life. Number 2: Santorini, Greece From an architectural perspective, Santorini is one of the most striking islands you'll ever visit, with terraced whitewashed houses sprinkled throughout. If you took all the man-made structures out of the mix, it still would be a natural Nirvana unlike any other. With luxurious beaches and charming trails, the island provides the perfect backdrop for activities like sailing, hiking, and horseback riding. What makes Santorini's calming scenery and sentiments so interesting, is that the island's archipelago was the site of the Minoan volcanic eruption of the 17th century, which left behind a volcanic crater. From this devastating disaster though, one of Earth's most stunning locales would go on to change and thrive. Number 1: Lofoten, Nordland, Norway If you're looking for a natural environment to paint, Lofoten is easily one of the most gorgeous sights that could possibly inspire your empty canvas. Whether you prefer climbing up the stunning mountain peak of Higravtindan, biking down a trail, or going for a surf in one of the archipelago's many bays, Lofoten has a scenic activity for everybody. Visitors can even attempt to gaze up into the night sky to try and catch a glimpse of the famed Northern Lights. As awe-inspiring as this Arctic destination can be, Lofoten is ultimately a humble slice of heaven that invites visitors to bask in its welcoming grandeur. References (optional) Travel Photographer of the Year: Lyrical landscapes win awards Top 10 MUST-SEE Travel Destinations Around The World | Travel Video Discussion Questions (Travel) (1) What do you like most about traveling? (2) What is the purpose of travel for you? (3) What different kinds of traveling are there? (4) What’s the best place you’ve ever been to? (5) Would you like to go traveling for a few years non-stop? (6) What are the good and bad things about traveling? (7) Where do you want to travel to before you die ( your travel bucket list )? (8) Would you ever consider a digital nomad 'travel blogger' lifestyle? (9) Lin Yutang said: " No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow ." Do you agree? (10) Elizabeth Drew said: " Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation. " What does this mean? Do you agree? (11) What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘ travel ’?(12) Are you a traveler? (13) Is travel an education? (14) Would you like to travel in space or to the moon? (15) Would you like to work in the travel industry? (16) What are the pros and cons of traveling first class and backpacking? (17) Is travel helping the world? (18) What would make you wiser – traveling around the world for ten years or reading 10,000 books? (19) Mason Cooley said: "Travelers never think that they are the foreigners."  Do you agree? (20) St. Augustine said: "The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."  What does this mean? Do you agree?

Top 10 Most Beautiful Places in The World Earth's unparalleled beauty truly knows no end welcome to watchmojo.com and today we're counting down our picks for another top 10 most beautiful places in the world. For this list, we're taking a look at more gorgeous locations throughout the natural world. Number 10: Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile This National Park has no shortage of remarkable landmarks. It hosts several attractive lakes including the Pahoe, Dickson, and Gray. Speaking of which, the Grey Glacier is just one of several ice giants bound to leave your jaw agape. The area is a hiker or mountain climber's dream, and the highlight by far is the Torres del Paine. Comprised of three granite peaks, these columns stretch 8,000 feet vertically from a glacial lake. With so much to see, there's not a bad vantage point to be found. The park is also home to some majestic wildlife with deer, foxes, and Guanacos roaming free, only adding to the beauty. Number 9: Namib Desert, Namibia, Africa When people think of lovely scenery, deserts typically aren't the first landscapes that leap to mind. The Namib is a barren beauty however, with splendor in its sandy simplicity. Extending over 1,200 miles, Namib naturally translates to vast place. The trek through this coastal desert may be long, but the breathtaking sights make every step worth it. Southern Namib is perhaps best known for its sand seas comprised of enormous dunes that vary in color. These dunes are wonders to behold, attracting geologists who wish to better understand their unusual nature. The land is also one of the most significant places for diamond mining although the Namib itself is the true diamond in the rough. Number 8: Valensole Plateau, Provence, France If purple is your favorite color consider booking a trip to Provence during the summertime. With the blooming season taking place between June and August, this area is rich with eye-popping flowers. For tourists wishing to stroll through the lavender fields, a particular hot spot is the Valensole Plateau. In addition to the various lavender festivals, you'll also want to drop by Sénanque Abbey, an ideal place for a picnic where the flowers make an already picturesque spot even more dazzling. Above all else, it reminds us to take a break and smell the lavender. Number 7: Redwood National Park, California, USA The Redwood National and state parks are best known for their towering trees which skyrocket into the foggy heavens above. Home of the planet's tallest tree species, this forest will leave hikers and campers feeling as if they've been shrunk down to the size of ants. As mighty and even intimidating as the coast redwood might be, it's also an endangered flora. These California parks have managed to preserve 45 percent of the remaining old-growth redwood forests. The relative rarity of these trees further contributes to their inspiring nature. The redwoods aren't the only reason to visit either, as the prairie, grasslands, rivers, and misty atmosphere, draw in numerous awestruck spectators. Number 6: Isle of Skye, Scotland, UK The second you hear that name you might picture a landscape right out of a fairy tale, and this magical Scottish Island does not disappoint with its grand hills and bodies of water that practically call out to visitors. Those who enjoy walking and climbing will notably be drawn to the Cuillin mountain range which consists of 15 peaks that reach beyond 3,000 feet. Scottish mountaineer Malcolm Slessor cheekily summed up the area best, saying that it quote, sticks out of the west coast of northern Scotland like a lobster's claw ready to snap.
Number 5: Rainbow Mountains, Zhangye Danxia, China The Zhangye National Geo Park looks like something out of a surreal painting. Even a Skittles commercial showcasing distinctive rock formations created over thousands of years through the effects of rain and wind. With various stripes of colors spreading across the land, it's as if a rainbow is reflecting onto the earth. It's also drawing comparisons to a layer cake, serving up some of the most appetizing sights on the planet's menu. It's actually hard to believe these multicolored mountains are real but you can trust your eyes. Number 4: Bora Bora, French Polynesia If you're looking for a romantic honeymoon spot or just a relaxing place to get away, you can't go wrong with Bora Bora. Located in the Pacific Ocean, this group of French Polynesian islands has virtually everything we associate with paradise including palm trees, green mountains, sandy beaches, and vibrant coral reefs. With a sparkling Lagoon surrounding the main island and an extinct volcano at the heart of it all, the whole area is as pretty as a postcard. While numerous resorts have sprouted up throughout Bora Bora, they fortunately haven't taken away from the land's natural beauty which overflows with tropical tranquility. Number 3: Ashikaga Flower Park, Ashikaga, Japan Draped in the color violet, Ashikaga Flower Park competes with the aforementioned lavender fields for purple supremacy. This flower park not only consists of the country's oldest Wisteria but the largest as well. Still standing at almost 150 years old, one particular Wisteria tree covers thousands of feet. While Wisteria is the park's most prominent plant, it's not the only species of flower on display. Throughout the year, visitors are treated to a variety of different floral displays that change with the seasons. Between this flower park and Arashiyama Bamboo Forest, Japan simply blooms with extraordinary plant life. Number 2: Santorini, Greece From an architectural perspective, Santorini is one of the most striking islands you'll ever visit, with terraced whitewashed houses sprinkled throughout. If you took all the man-made structures out of the mix, it still would be a natural Nirvana unlike any other. With luxurious beaches and charming trails, the island provides the perfect backdrop for activities like sailing, hiking, and horseback riding. What makes Santorini's calming scenery and sentiments so interesting, is that the island's archipelago was the site of the Minoan volcanic eruption of the 17th century, which left behind a volcanic crater. From this devastating disaster though, one of Earth's most stunning locales would go on to change and thrive. Number 1: Lofoten, Nordland, Norway If you're looking for a natural environment to paint, Lofoten is easily one of the most gorgeous sights that could possibly inspire your empty canvas. Whether you prefer climbing up the stunning mountain peak of Higravtindan, biking down a trail, or going for a surf in one of the archipelago's many bays, Lofoten has a scenic activity for everybody. Visitors can even attempt to gaze up into the night sky to try and catch a glimpse of the famed Northern Lights. As awe-inspiring as this Arctic destination can be, Lofoten is ultimately a humble slice of heaven that invites visitors to bask in its welcoming grandeur. References (optional) Travel Photographer of the Year: Lyrical landscapes win awards Top 10 MUST-SEE Travel Destinations Around The World | Travel Video Discussion Questions (Travel) (1) What do you like most about traveling? (2) What is the purpose of travel for you? (3) What different kinds of traveling are there? (4) What’s the best place you’ve ever been to? (5) Would you like to go traveling for a few years non-stop? (6) What are the good and bad things about traveling? (7) Where do you want to travel to before you die ( your travel bucket list )? (8) Would you ever consider a digital nomad 'travel blogger' lifestyle? (9) Lin Yutang said: " No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow ." Do you agree? (10) Elizabeth Drew said: " Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation. " What does this mean? Do you agree? (11) What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘ travel ’?(12) Are you a traveler? (13) Is travel an education? (14) Would you like to travel in space or to the moon? (15) Would you like to work in the travel industry? (16) What are the pros and cons of traveling first class and backpacking? (17) Is travel helping the world? (18) What would make you wiser – traveling around the world for ten years or reading 10,000 books? (19) Mason Cooley said: "Travelers never think that they are the foreigners."  Do you agree? (20) St. Augustine said: "The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page."  What does this mean? Do you agree?

Scroll down to view the Simplified Chinese version (向下滚动查看简体中文版本)  Japan's Hadaka Matsuri Festival The first time I came to Japan, Jun told me about a festival called Hadaka Matsuri, or the Naked Festival. My initial thoughts were “ What the heck? ” And I didn’t exactly understand it. But the day of the festival, hearing the chants of WASSHOI echoing throughout the neighbourhood as hundreds of men paraded past our house, it was impossible for me not to get swept up in the excitement, even though I didn’t know exactly what was happening. The next day I was able to talk to someone who had spent years participating in and planning parts of the festival, and he graciously spent his time teaching me the story and meaning behind the tradition. The more I learned, the more I fell in love with the festival, and now I want to share with you what it’s really about, so you can understand it, too.
There are naked festivals all across Japan and each has its own story. This is the story of the Konomiya shrine . Men from cities and shrines across the Owari area will form groups according to their region, and before the festival, they’ll produce giant stacks of mochi as well as a naoizasa , which is a long pole made of bamboo, tied to which are the wishes of people from their city. On the day of the festival, they’ll parade the naoizasa through the Konomiya shrine, an act called hounou . Visitors watching from the sidelines will try to touch the men and receive strips of cloth called naoigire , for good luck .
This year, some super awesome obasans helped me get three! It’s called the Naked Festival, but there’s actually only one man who is completely naked. He is the shin-otoko , or literally man of god . His entire body is shaved of hair, and he spends three days before the festival purifying himself with a diet of rice, takuwan, and hot water. He plays the role of a sacrifice, absorbing the bad luck and ills of every man who can touch him.
On the day of the festival, he has to walk through 10,000 men wearing fundoshi to get to the entrance of the shrine, called the naoiden . The hadaka men will be frantically pushing and shoving in the hopes of touching the shin-otoko, so that they can transfer their bad luck to him. As you might expect, this can be incredibly dangerous. The shin-otoko will be bruised and battered by the end of the festival. To help protect him from being crushed, he has guardians. There will be three men surrounding him. Additionally, there are two smaller shrines nearby Konomiya responsible for his protection: Koike and Shoumeiji.
These men, called teoketai , will run laps ahead of the shin-otoko to a well in the shrine’s grounds. They pass buckets of water back and splash them on the shin-otoko and the crowd that surrounds him, which serves several purposes. First , it cools down and lubricates the men to prevent injuries. Second , the water is thrown from the direction of the naoiden toward the men surrounding the shin otoko, with the intention of stalling them momentarily so that the shin otoko can advance toward the shrine.
On average it takes about an hour for the shin-otoko to reach the naoiden. The shrine officials awaiting his arrival will attempt to grab onto the exhausted, beaten shin-otoko, still fighting the crowd of thousands of men. It’s so difficult to reach him that they’ll tie themselves with a lifeline and jump into the crowd. Everyone is wishing for the shin-otoko to make it so badly that this final, climactic event is filled with emotion and tension, and the moment he’s finally lifted through the naoiden, the almost 200,000 festival attendees erupt into cheer.
But his duties don’t end here, and at midnight he’ll face more challenges before he can finally rest. There’s much more to this story that I can’t fit into one video. The festival is a TON of fun, so I highly recommend checking it out if you’re ever in Nagoya around this time! Simplified Chinese version 日本的裸祭 我第一次来日本时，Jun 告诉我一个叫做裸祭的节日。我最初的想法是“这是什么鬼？”而且我并不完全理解它。但是在节日当天，听到数百名男子游行经过我们家时，整个街区都回荡着 WASSHOI 的歌声，尽管我不知道到底发生了什么，但我还是无法不被这种兴奋所感染。第二天，我与一位多年来一直参与和策划这个节日部分活动的人交谈，他慷慨地花时间教我这个传统背后的故事和意义。我学得越多，就越爱上这个节日，现在我想和你分享它的真正含义，这样你也能理解它。日本各地都有裸体节日，每个节日都有自己的故事。这是 Konomiya 神社的故事。来自尾张地区各个城市和神社的男士们会根据所在地区组成小组，在节日前，他们会制作巨大的年糕和直笠，直笠是一根用竹子制成的长杆，上面系着来自他们城市的人们的愿望。节日当天，他们会在木宫神社游行直笠，这一行为被称为“hounou”。在一旁观看的游客会试图触摸这些男士，并收到被称为“naoigire”的布条，以求好运。今年，一些超级棒的欧巴桑帮我拿到了三条！这个节日被称为裸祭，但实际上只有一个男人是完全赤裸的。他就是神男，字面意思是神人。他全身的毛发都被剃光，在节日前三天，他会用米饭、菓子和热水来净化自己。他扮演着祭祀的角色，吸收每个能触碰他的男人的厄运和病痛。祭祀当天，他必须穿过 10,000 名身着袈裟的男子，才能到达神社的入口，即所谓的“内殿”。这些男子会疯狂地推搡，希望触碰神男，这样他们就能将自己的厄运转移到他身上。正如你所预料的，这可能非常危险。祭祀结束时，神男将伤痕累累。为了保护他不被压伤，他有守护者。将有三个人围绕着他。此外，在木宫附近还有两个较小的神社负责保护他：小池神社和昭明寺神社。这些被称为手杖队的男子会跑在神男前面，到神社庭院内的一口井里。他们将一桶桶水递回来，泼在神男和围绕着他的人群身上，这样做有几个目的。首先，水可以降温并润滑人们，防止他们受伤。其次，水从内殿方向泼向围绕着新男的人们，目的是暂时阻滞他们，以便新男能够向神社前进。新男平均需要大约一个小时才能到达内殿。等待他到来的神社官员将试图抓住筋疲力尽、被打败的新男，他仍在与成千上万的男子搏斗。要抓住他太难了，他们会用救生索绑住自己，跳进人群中。每个人都非常希望新男能成功，以至于这场最后的高潮充满了情感和紧张，当他终于被抬出内殿的那一刻，近 20 万名节日参与者欢呼雀跃。但他的职责并没有就此结束，午夜时分，他将面临更多挑战，然后才能最终休息。这个故事还有很多内容，我无法在一个视频中讲完。这个节日非常有趣，所以如果你这段时间去名古屋的话，我强烈建议你去看看！ References (optional) Every six years, trees go down, and pillars go up (honoring the tree god) April 9. The tradition, based on a 1,200-year-old ritual, is the Onbashira Festival.
The Roots of Onbashira For hundreds of years, people in the Suwa region have cut trees in the forest and carried them to a shrine to rebuild that shrine. Hence the name Onbashira, coming from “hashira” which means pillar in Japanese. The festival with deep cultural and Shinto roots also honors the tree gods. For the Yamadashi phase of the festival, the four best trees for pillars are cut down and then ridden into town. Riding the log down a hill (kiotoshi) or across a river (kawagoshi) is probably what the festival is most well-known for, but both activities can be dangerous. In the past, many people were injured and sometimes, sadly, there were fatalities too. The Satobiki phase is when the logs are brought to the shrines and erected. It takes place in May, after the Yamadashi portion of the festival.
Links 11 Festivals in Japan Japan naked festival: Women join Hadaka Matsuri for first time Onbashira Festival: Japan’s Most Dangerous Matsuri Discussion Questions (Japan) (1) What images spring to mind when you hear the country Japan? (2) What are the good things and bad things about Japan? (3) What is Japan famous for? (4) What do you know about Japanese history? (5) What images of Japan do you have that are beautiful and mysterious? (6) What do you think about Japanese technology? (7) What has Japan given to the world? (8) Would you like to visit Japan, or live there? (9) What do you know about the geography of Japan? (10) Who are the most famous Japanese people you know? (11) How different is Japan from other Asian countries?
(12) What do you know about Japanese culture?
(13) Why isn’t Japan one of the top tourist destinations in the world?
(14) What do you think Japan will be like 50 years from now?
(15) Does your country have good relations with Japan?
(16) What do you think about Japanese fashion, music, movies, and manga ?
(17) What is your idea of a typical Japanese person?
(18) What things about Japan do you think Japanese people are proud of?
(19) What do you know about Japanese food?
(20) What would you like to ask a Japanese person about Japan?

Scroll down to view the Simplified Chinese version (向下滚动查看简体中文版本)   Do you know where Mardi Gras began? Mardi Gras is a Christian holiday and popular cultural phenomenon that dates back thousands of years to pagan spring and fertility rites. Also known as Carnival or Carnaval, it’s celebrated in many countries around the world—mainly those with large Roman Catholic populations—on the day before the religious season of Lent begins. Brazil, Venice, and New Orleans play host to some of the holiday’s most famous public festivities, drawing thousands of tourists and revelers every year. When is Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras is traditionally celebrated on “Fat Tuesday,” the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. In many areas, however, Mardi Gras has evolved into a week-long festival. What Is Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras is a tradition that dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, including the raucous Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Lupercalia. When Christianity arrived in Rome, religious leaders decided to incorporate these popular local traditions into the new faith, an easier task than abolishing them altogether. As a result, the excess and debauchery of the Mardi Gras season became a prelude to Lent, the 40 days of fasting and penance between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. Along with Christianity, Mardi Gras spread from Rome to other European countries, including France, Germany, Spain, and England. What Does Mardi Gras Mean? Mardi is the French word for Tuesday, and Gras means “fat.” In France, the day before Ash Wednesday came to be known as Mardi Gras, or “Fat Tuesday.” Traditionally, in the days leading up to Lent, merrymakers would binge on all the rich, fatty foods—meat, eggs, milk, lard, and cheese—that remained in their homes, in anticipation of several weeks of eating only fish and different types of fasting. The word carnival , another common name for the pre-Lenten festivities, also derives from this feasting tradition: in Medieval Latin, carnelevarium means to take away or remove meat, from the Latin carnem for meat. New Orleans Mardi Gras The first American Mardi Gras took place on March 3, 1699, when French explorers Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville and Sieur de Bienville landed near present-day New Orleans , Louisiana . They held a small celebration and dubbed their landing spot Point du Mardi Gras. In the decades that followed, New Orleans and other French settlements began marking the holiday with street parties, masked balls, and lavish dinners. When the Spanish took control of New Orleans, however, they abolished these rowdy rituals , and the bans remained in force until Louisiana became a U.S. state in 1812. On Mardi Gras in 1827, a group of students donned colorful costumes and danced through the streets of New Orleans, emulating the revelry they’d observed while visiting Paris. Ten years later, the first recorded New Orleans Mardi Gras parade took place, a tradition that continues to this day. In 1857, a secret society of New Orleans businessmen called the Mistick Krewe of Comus organized a torch-lit Mardi Gras procession with marching bands and rolling floats, setting the tone for future public celebrations in the city. Mardi Gras Around the World Across the globe, pre-Lenten festivals continue to take place in many countries with significant Roman Catholic populations. Brazil’s weeklong Carnival festivities feature a vibrant amalgam of European, African, and native traditions. In Canada, Quebec City hosts the giant Quebec Winter Carnival. In Italy, tourists flock to Venice’s Carnevale, which dates back to the 13th century and is famous for its masquerade balls. Known as Karneval, Fastnacht, or Fasching, the German celebration includes parades, costume balls, and a tradition that empowers women to cut off men’s ties. For Denmark’s Fastevlan, children dress up and gather candy in a similar manner to Halloween —although the parallel ends when they ritually flog their parents on Easter Sunday morning. Simplified Chinese version 你知道狂欢节是哪里起源的吗？狂欢节是一个基督教节日和流行文化现象，可以追溯到数千年前异教徒的春天和生育仪式。狂欢节也被称为嘉年华或狂欢节，世界上许多国家都会庆祝它，主要是那些拥有大量罗马天主教人口的国家，时间是在大斋期开始的前一天。巴西、威尼斯和新奥尔良是这个节日最著名的一些公共庆祝活动的举办地，每年吸引成千上万的游客和狂欢者。狂欢节是什么时候？狂欢节传统上是在“忏悔星期二”庆祝，即圣灰星期三和大斋期开始前的星期二。然而，在许多地区，狂欢节已经演变成为期一周的节日。什么是狂欢节？狂欢节是一个传统，可以追溯到数千年前异教徒庆祝春天和生育的传统，包括喧闹的罗马节日农神节和牧神节。当基督教传入罗马时，宗教领袖决定将这些当地流行的传统融入新信仰，这比完全废除它们更容易。结果，狂欢节季节的放荡和荒唐成为大斋节的前奏，大斋节是圣灰星期三和复活节星期日之间 40 天的斋戒和忏悔。随着基督教的传入，狂欢节从罗马传播到其他欧洲国家，包括法国、德国、西班牙和英国。狂欢节是什么意思？ Mardi 是法语中星期二的意思，Gras 的意思是“肥胖”。在法国，圣灰星期三的前一天被称为狂欢节，或“肥胖星期二”。传统上，在大斋节前几天，狂欢者会大吃家里剩下的所有油腻的食物——肉、蛋、牛奶、猪油和奶酪，以应对接下来几周只吃鱼和不同类型的斋戒。狂欢节（carnival）是另一个常用的四旬斋前庆祝活动的名称，它也源于这种宴会传统：在中世纪拉丁语中，carnelevarium 的意思是拿走或移走肉，而拉丁语中的 carnem 则表示肉。新奥尔良狂欢节 第一个美国狂欢节发生在 1699 年 3 月 3 日，当时法国探险家 Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville 和 Sieur de Bienville 在今路易斯安那州新奥尔良附近登陆。他们举行了一个小型庆祝活动，把登陆点命名为 Point du Mardi Gras。在随后的几十年里，新奥尔良和其他法国定居点开始以街头派对、化装舞会和奢华晚宴来庆祝这个节日。然而，当西班牙人控制新奥尔良时，他们废除了这些喧闹的仪式，禁令一直有效，直到 1812 年路易斯安那州成为美国的一个州。1827 年的狂欢节上，一群学生穿上色彩鲜艳的服装，在新奥尔良街头跳舞，模仿他们在巴黎看到的狂欢场面。十年后，第一次有记录的新奥尔良狂欢节游行举行，这一传统一直延续到今天。1857 年，新奥尔良商人的一个秘密社团“Mistick Krewe of Comus”组织了火炬游行，有游行乐队和滚动彩车，为该市未来的公共庆祝活动定下了基调。世界各地的狂欢节在全球范围内，许多拥有大量罗马天主教徒的国家继续举行大斋期前节日。巴西为期一周的狂欢节融合了欧洲、非洲和本土传统，充满活力。在加拿大，魁北克市举办盛大的魁北克冬季狂欢节。在意大利，游客蜂拥而至威尼斯的狂欢节，该狂欢节可追溯到 13 世纪，以化装舞会而闻名。德国的狂欢节被称为 Karneval、Fastnacht 或 Fasching，包括游行、化装舞会，以及赋予妇女权力剪断男人领带的传统。在丹麦的 Fastevlan 狂欢节上，孩子们会打扮起来，收集糖果，方式与万圣节相似——尽管这种相似性在复活节星期天早上以仪式性的方式鞭打父母时结束。 References (optional) 9 Things You May Not Know About Mardi Gras 1. Mardi Gras and Carnival are the same celebrations.
Though Mardi Gras technically refers only to Fat Tuesday, the Mardi Gras season actually begins on Epiphany, a Christian holiday celebrated on January 6 that is otherwise known as Three Kings Day or the Twelfth Day of Christmas. In Brazil and many other countries, this period between Epiphany and Fat Tuesday is known as Carnival. Whichever name you prefer to use, the revelries of Mardi Gras last until midnight tonight, when Ash Wednesday ushers in 40 days of Lent.
2. Mardi Gras may or may not have pagan roots.
A popular theory holds that Mardi Gras’ origins lie in ancient pagan celebrations of spring and fertility, such as Saturnalia and Lupercalia. Some experts contend, however, that Mardi Gras-type festivities popped up solely as a result of the Catholic Church’s discouragement of intercourse and meat during Lent. Church reformers may have helped to propagate the pagan rumors, these experts say, in the hope of dissuading pre-Lenten hedonism.
3. New Orleans did not host the first North American Mardi Gras.
Mardi Gras is believed to have arrived in North America on March 3, 1699, when the French-Canadian explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville camped about 60 miles downriver from the future site of New Orleans. Knowing it was Fat Tuesday back in France, Iberville named the spot Point du Mardi Gras and held a small gala. A few years later, French soldiers and settlers feasted and wore masks as part of Mardi Gras festivities in the newly founded city of Mobile (present-day Alabama). To this day, Mobile claims to have the oldest annual Mardi Gras celebration in the United States.
4. Mardi Gras in New Orleans survived early efforts at suppression.
Mardi Gras got going in New Orleans soon after the city’s founding in 1718. The Spanish, who ruled the Big Easy from 1762 to 1800, apparently cracked down on certain Mardi Gras rituals (though documentation from that period is scarce). U.S. authorities did much the same after taking control in 1803, banning both masked balls and public disguises. Nonetheless, they eventually accepted the festival’s existence. The first recorded Mardi Gras street parade in New Orleans took place in 1837, by which time the city had transformed from a small backwater into a major metropolis. Twenty years later, six men organized a secret society called the Mistick Krewe of Comus. By holding a parade with the theme of “The Demon Actors in Milton’s Paradise Lost,” along with a lavish grand ball, Comus reversed the declining popularity of Mardi Gras and helped establish New Orleans as its clear epicenter in the United States. This year, more than 1 million visitors are expected to attend.
5. Other secret societies quickly followed Comus’ lead.
In 1872 the Krewe of Rex and the Knights of Momus began paying for parades and balls of their own. They were followed a decade later by the Krewe of Proteus. Since these early societies were exclusively male and white, women and blacks formed their own groups, such as Les Mysterieuses and the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure Club. Dozens of krewes of all types have proliferated since then, including the science fiction-themed Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus, whose name is a hybrid of the “Star Wars” character and the Roman god of wine. Despite being less than three years old, this krewe convinced Peter Mayhew, the actor who played Chewbacca in the movies, to ride in its parade last month atop a Millennium Falcon float and alongside a mascot called Bar2D2.
6. Some krewes refused to racially integrate.
Racial exclusion has not been limited to the distant past. In 1992, after an acrimonious debate, the New Orleans City Council passed an ordinance that prohibited krewes from discriminating on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. Rex pledged to immediately integrate, but Comus, Momus, and Proteus chose to stop parading rather than open up their ranks to blacks. Comus has not yet returned to the streets, Momus spun off into the Knights of Chaos and Proteus came back in 2000 after signing the non-discrimination pledge.
7. Mardi Gras occasionally gets canceled.
Since Comus ushered in the modern era of Mardi Gras in 1857, the New Orleans festivities have been canceled about a dozen times. Most of those cancellations came during the Civil War, World War I, and World War II, though revelers also stayed home during an 1870s yellow fever outbreak. The last time it was called off completely was in 1945. A scaled-down version even took place in 2006, just months after Hurricane Katrina flooded the Gulf Coast and killed over 1,800 people.
8. The Super Bowl interrupted the 2013 parade schedule.
New Orleans hosted both the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras in February 2013, a potentially overwhelming combination that some called “Super Gras.” In an effort at crowd control, the city expanded its 12-day parade season so that no one would be marching on February 3, when the San Francisco 49ers battled the Baltimore Ravens. January 28-31 and February 4-5 likewise were kept free of parades. In a similar attempt at preventing mayhem, official parades have been banned from the narrow, tourist-filled streets of the city’s French Quarter since the 1970s.
9. King Cake is only eaten during Mardi Gras.
Available only during the Mardi Gras season, king cake is typically made with brioche dough. Braided and laced with cinnamon, the dough is then glazed with purple, green, and gold sugar or covered in icing in those same Mardi Gras colors. What really sets king cake apart from other desserts, however, is the small plastic baby hidden inside. Whoever finds the baby in his or her slice must buy the next cake or perhaps host the next party. 10 BEST CARNIVAL PARTIES in the WORLD It's that time of year again Carnival, known as Mardi Gras here in the States. Carnival was originally a pagan festival, then a Catholic one, and today, it's mostly an excuse to party before Lent. Here are our top 10 places to catch Carnival around the world.

Number 10: Dusseldorf or Cologne in Germany. The two towns are very close to each other in the Rhineland, and they're one of Germany's oldest Carnival celebrations and one of the biggest parties in Germany. As it's Germany, there is a ton of beer. If you're in Dusseldorf, make sure you do not miss out on the drag queen beauty contest, it is a sight you will never forget.

Number 9: Quebec City Winter Carnival This is not your typical warm carnival. It's in Canada in the winter and it's freezing, but it's a super good time. The whole point is to embrace winter and to bring people outside. It takes place in Quebec City, which is a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site right on the Saint Lawrence River. They have these crazy ice canoe races. People supposedly go swimming in the river and then there's a weird Bonhomme guy that everybody is totally crazy about.

Number 8: Barbados This beautiful little island in the Caribbean is not to miss. In the Caribbean, many places celebrate Carnival in the summer. This dates back to the times of slavery where it was celebrated after the sugar cane was harvested. It's one of the most fun and wild celebrations in the Caribbean, and it's not to be missed.

Number 7: Notting Hill Carnival in London. London is not a place you expect to have Carnival, but there's a huge Afro-Caribbean community that came, mostly from Jamaica back in the '60s, and they have a rocking party.

Number 6: Cadiz in Andalucía, Southern Spain. Cadiz is famous for bands of musicians who play satirical songs that lampoon politicians and celebrities. It's a really fun time with tons of sherry wine because it's produced locally and Andalusians do everything in style.

Number 5: Trinidad and Tobago. This island nation made up of two islands, of Trinidad and Tobago has a huge Carnival celebration, and its capital is Port of Spain. Notable fact: the steel drum was invented here. The music Calipso is also from these islands, and generally, they have one of the biggest parties in the Caribbean. It takes place 40 days before Easter like the rest of the world.

Number 4: Venice. Venice is the original masquerade. For their Carnival, they get dressed up super elegant, fancy balls, and they wear these crazy masks. It's a very unique Carnival; it's unlike anything else in the world, but you have to receive an invitation to all these parties, so it's not as welcoming it's a bit more exclusive.

Number 3: Tenerife and the Canary Islands. Spain parties more than anywhere else in Europe, and everyone in Spain agrees that the biggest party for Carnival is in Tenerife. The Canary Islands are warm; they're off the coast of Africa. So if you're in Europe this winter, it is a great place to escape for a big long weekend.

Number 2: New Orleans, Louisiana This is referred to as Mardi Gras, which is French for Fat Tuesday, and they celebrate it particularly in the French Quarter. For locals, it's a family celebration centered around parades where big floats with a bunch of decorations on them are on display. Everyone is singing, lots of music. It is the oldest Carnival celebration in the United States.

Number 1: Brazil. Rio De Janiero The best celebration in the world for Carnival takes place in Rio. Brazilians are beautiful and rarely wear clothes anyway, so during Carnival, it's even crazier with hundreds of thousands of people descending on Rio to celebrate Carnival. Rio gets super crowded....that's the only downside. So if you want a more mellow alternative, consider going to Olinda in the Northeastern state of Brazil. It's a beautiful colonial town where they have big paper mache giants and it's a little bit less crowded but still a great time. Those are our top 10 Carnivals in the world. Pancake Day UK Style | British Traditions Yes we are back in my kitchen and that's good because today we're learning all about Pancake Day, but what exactly is Pancake Day?

Meaning of Pancake Day Pancake day is basically a day when we eat pancakes to use up the food before fasting ( explained later ). It always falls on a Tuesday and was originally called Shrove Tuesday. It comes before Ash Wednesday . Now the date each year changes but it will always come forty-seven days before Easter. Lent starts on Ash Wednesday and its observance lasts for 40 days (excluding Sundays). This spans 46-47 days, mirroring the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness before starting his Christian ministry. At the end of Lent is Easter. It all stems from Christian traditions . Originally known as Shrove Tuesday that name comes from the word ' Shrive' which means to take absolution (confessing and forgiving) for your sins by doing penance (repenting - to sacrifice something) .

What happens on Pancake Day? Around this time of year, you would be called to give a confession. "Please forgive me I've done terrible things" or "Please forgive me for I have sinned" Then once you've confessed you're given absolution which means that you are basically forgiven , but you do have to do penance. Penance is where you punish yourself. The punishment is what is known as Lent . This is 40 days of fasting. So before the penance begins, before Lent takes place, the best thing to do is to get rid of all the naughty fatty foods from the cupboard, clear out the cupboards and the fridge so you can do your penance without being tempted and that's where Shrove Tuesday, pancake day comes into play. So your pancakes are basically a way to get rid of things like butter, eggs, milk, sugar, and all the nice rich sweet, and fatty foods. In America, pancake day is called Mardi Gras which is French for Fat Tuesday.

How to make pancakes? We need 200 grams of plain flour,
350 to 400 milliliters of milk
or you can do half milk and half water for a lighter pancake. You need two large eggs
which will be lightly whisked with
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
and then you can add a pinch of salt
and you'll also need vegetable oil for frying .
Ok, I'm ready to start cooking, my ingredients are ready, and the first thing I need is my flour. Now we're supposed to put the flour in a bowl and make a well in the middle of the bowl so basically, you just make a hole in the middle of the flour, then we pour in the milk . Then add the eggs, and I take my whisk and I'm going to try to mix the egg and milk together first by doing little stirs and then I'll make it bigger to try and incorporate the flour . We keep mixing until we have a smooth batter now we add a tablespoon of oil then you take a crepe pan or an omelet pan is what I'm going to use just a small frying-type pan with a nonstick bottom. You're going to take a tissue dip it into the oil, kitchen roll ideally, and then wipe the oil onto the base of the pan then we're going to heat the pan over medium heat for one minute . Then pour the batter into the pan and cook for around 30 to 40 seconds on a hot pan. Check if it's cooked, then flip it over to cook the other side using a spatula and cook for 30 to 40 seconds. Now there are many ways to enjoy a pancake both sweet and savory. The most common topping is sugar and lemon juice . Some people will opt for chocolate spreads such as (Nutella) and chopped bananas. If you opt for the savory option, then you can add cheese, ham, and tomato . Anything you like really , the whole point of pancakes is to just use up what you've got in the house in the fridge and in the cupboards. Right, I'm ready for that pancake now, Happy Pancake Day!

What is your favorite pancake?
What topping could you add to a pancake from your fridge or kitchen?
What do you think of the idea of fasting or Lent?
What would you sacrifice for 40 days? Lent Links 10 things most people will (try) to give up 30 Things To Give up for Lent Ash Wednesday 【Culture English - 09】Venetian Masks | Carnival of Venice 【Mix English -13】Easter Culture & Traditions

Pancakes 18 of the Weirdest Pancake Recipes
Five Pancake Day Traditions from Around the World Ashbourne Shrovetide Football Thousands gather as ancient Royal Shrovetide Football match begins Discussion Questions (Mardi Gras) 1.    What does Mardi Gras literally mean? 2.    What is the name of the 40-day period leading up to Easter? 3.    Historically speaking, how was the last "normal" day before this period spent? 4.    Nowadays, when do the Mardi Gras celebrations start? 5.    What is the name of the delicacy specific to this holiday season?. Where is the big carnival held? 7.    What are the season's traditional colors? 8.    What is the name of the special beer people drink in New Orleans? 9.   Who organizes the processions? 10.  What are "throws"?

Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Scroll down to view the Simplified Chinese version (向下滚动查看简体中文版本)   Taiwan's Lantern Festival - Pingxi Hundreds of lanterns rise into the night sky. This is the Pingxi Lantern Festival. A modern take on a centuries-old tradition that attracts huge crowds to the small
mountain community in New Taipei City. The festival is held 14 days into the Chinese New Year. Of all the lanterns this year, the spotlight was on four in particular, and
they were hard to miss. Sky Lantern expert HuMingHsu designed the lanterns with one each representing Taiwan, the world, a dragon, and a tiger. The New Taipei Mayor says together they symbolize that all is well with Taiwan and the world. This year was the first time such large lanterns were released the lanterns did fly but not so steadily. Two of the lanterns collided in the air with one bursting into flames and falling from the sky. There were no reports of injuries or damage but similar past events have raised safety concerns. People also questioned the environmental impact of the lanterns landing in these surrounding mountains. Taipei City also kicked off its Lantern Festival in a bid to be more eco-friendly. The festival made its main 10-meter-tall Dragon Lantern out of parts of last year's centerpiece. The Lantern Festival is a major event in Taiwan marking the end of the Lunar New Year festivities. With celebrations continuing into next weekend there's still time to see it for yourself. Simplified Chinese version 台湾元宵节 - 平溪 数百盏灯笼升上夜空。这就是平溪元宵节。这是对百年传统的现代诠释，吸引了大批人群来到新北市这个小山区社区。该节日在农历新年的第 14 天举行。今年的所有灯笼中，四盏特别引人注目，很难错过。天灯专家许虎明设计了这些灯笼，分别代表台湾、世界、龙和老虎。新北市长说，它们合在一起象征着台湾和世界一切安好。今年是第一次放飞如此大的灯笼，灯笼确实飞了起来，但不太稳定。两个灯笼在空中相撞，一个突然起火并从空中坠落。没有人员伤亡或损坏的报告，但过去类似的事件引发了安全问题。人们还质疑灯笼降落在周围山脉对环境的影响。台北市也开始举办元宵节，力求更加环保。今年灯会的主角是 10 米高的龙灯，由去年灯饰的部件制成。灯会是台湾的一项重要活动，标志着农历新年庆祝活动的结束。庆祝活动将持续到下周末，您仍有时间亲眼看看。 References (optional) 9 Facts About Chinese Lantern Festival Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the 1st month on the Lunar Calendar. The Lantern Festival officially marks the last day of the Lunar New Year celebration. And just like the New Year, it is one of the most celebrated holidays across Asia. In this video, I will talk about the history and list out some traditions you may or may not have heard of about the Lantern Festival.

No. 1: Origin The original purpose of this festival was to worship and celebrate great enlightened beings. In Taoist terminology, the 15th day of the 1st month is considered the birthday of a great Taoist Deity and it was called Shang Yuan Festival meaning Upper Yuan Festival. The lighting tradition was first established more than 2,000 years ago when Emperor Wu of Han lit lanterns in his palace to worship the Taoist Deity. By the Eastern Han Dynasty, Buddhism arrived in China. Emperor Ming of Han ordered to light lanterns on the 15th to show respect to the Buddha’s teachings. And this time, it was not limited to the imperial palace and temples. The emperor asked all citizens to light and hang lanterns. From this point on, lighting lanterns became popular among common people and eventually developed into a grand celebration on January 15th of the Lunar calendar.

No. 2: Display As the Lantern Festival got larger and larger in scale, more and more forms of entertainment became available. People would organize large events of lantern displays that include large colorful lanterns in a variety of shapes. It’s usually accompanied by the classic dragon dance, various acrobatic performances, stalls selling lanterns and other hand-made items, and various food carts. This painting from the Ming Dynasty depicts the scene where street performers were invited to the palace for the royal family to join in on the fun.

No. 3: Riddles Riddles have a long history in China. Attaching riddles to lanterns, however, was believed to be first developed during the Song Dynasty. Small strips of cloth were attached to the lantern body. Whoever could solve the riddle would get a small prize, sometimes even the lantern itself! It’s a fun challenging activity. It’s also a way for both riddle-makers and riddle-guessers to show off their wits. So here’s one for you to try:
Use the 10 letters A C D E H I J L N P to spell out the names of four countries.
Each name must be five letters long, and the four countries must be neighbors.
Think about it, and let’s find out the answer at the end.

No. 4: Rice Balls Glutinous rice balls were first developed in the Song Dynasty and later became a must-have food item during the Lantern Festival. I love it so much though that I just eat it all year round. It has two different names Yuan Xiao and Tang Yuan depending on how it’s made. If it’s made like a dumpling by wrapping the filling inside, then it’s called Tang Yuan. Yuan Xiao on the other hand is made by rolling the filling in glutinous rice flour. This holiday is actually most commonly known as Yuan Xiao Jie in Chinese, meaning Yuan Xiao Festival.

No. 5: Gazing Yuan Xiao Jie marks the first full moon of the new lunar year so it makes sense for people to admire the moon on this day. A full moon is round, therefore it also symbolizes a reunion with family. Chinese scholars love to write poems on this occasion as well.

No. 6: Rope Jumping Rope jumping was a popular activity for kids and women during the Lantern Festival, especially during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

No. 7: Walking Across Bridges This is a unique tradition for ladies. They didn’t get to step out of the house very often in ancient times. But on this day, everyone from little girls to grandmas would all go out and walk across a bridge or multiple bridges. This was believed to help get rid of all illnesses in the coming year. According to ancient texts from the Ming Dynasty, ladies would wear white tops when crossing the bridge. Later on, the bridge walking tradition was expanded to climbing mountains and walking on the street, and even walking on the ice in the Northern regions.

No. 8: Touching Door Studs This is another tradition for ancient ladies, but it was done in secret at first. Ming Dynasty ladies believed touching the studs on Palace doors would grant them their wish of getting a son. By the Qing Dynasty, it was not a secret anymore, ladies would line up to touch the door studs. And today, tourists in Beijing all take photos while touching those door studs. It might have originated from this tradition.

No. 9: Stealing Vegetables This one seems a bit odd, right? It actually came from the Jurchen tribe. During the Jin and Yuan Dynasties, they would allow 3 days of open stealing and not punish anyone for it. Unmarried girls and boys did it in hopes of a decent spouse. Married ladies did it in hopes of a son. Of course, it shouldn’t be practiced anymore today.
As promised, the answer to the lantern riddle from earlier is:
China, Japan, Nepal, and India. I hope you learned a lot about the Lantern Festival in this video.
What’s your favorite part of this holiday? Pingxi Everything you need to know about Pingxi Lantern Festival
Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival in Taipei A Brief History of the Taiwan Lantern Festival 【Scenic Spot】Timing of Summer Pingxi Lantern Festival celebration unveiled!
Beipu Township’s Bamboo Torch Ritual on Lantern Festival Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival ( 鹽水蜂巢煙花節 ) Happy New Year and welcome to the Yanshui Festival of firecrackers. This is one of the three world’s most famous folk celebrations. It is one of the most important festivals in Taiwan.
Legend has it that in the 11th Year of Emperor Guangsyu (1885), after 25 years of an outbreak of Cholera, people moved out and the local economy was in recession. Businessmen in Yanshui decided to have a procession of the God, 'Guan-Di' for his blessing. This happened from January 13th to 15th, when Guan Yu became a god. Over these 3 days, fireworks were set off to celebrate. After “cleaning” the sulfur and smog, the whole town was protected and Yanshui returned to peace. People in Yanshui owed the peace to Guan-Di and in order to thank him for his blessing, the procession of Guan-Di is organized by setting off firecrackers. The tradition continues today as the Beehive firecrackers in Yanshui during the Lantern Festival. It has been running for over 200 years. Around 2000 Yanshui Beehive Fireworks are planned by the government as a large event in coordination with historical and tourism activities to restore historical streets. On June 27, 2008, the event was ranked as a " Taiwanese Cultural Folk Heritage ”. Yanshui Beehive Firecrackers Festival is now known across the world. Many international tourists come for the celebration to watch beehive firecrackers in Yanshui, Tainan in southern Taiwan.
How are a large number of beehive fireworks prepared? Setting off “Beehive fireworks” is nicknamed by people in Yanshui as “ setting off bees. ” Our firecrackers, when being shot, make a sound like bees, we call them beehive firecrackers. When you set them off, you see fire, so we changed the Chinese character to the one with the form of fire. The official name should be “ cong phang phau - 較正式的稱呼是「蹌蜂炮」 ” meaning fireworks fly out like bees from the beehive.
When preparing, we use a wood stick or angled iron to make the base ( beehive ), and then layers are constructed with wire mesh according to size. Firecrackers are inserted into the wire mesh to form dual, four-directional, six-directional, or even eight-directional projection angles. Yanshui Beehive Fireworks is an important folk event in Tainan, a ritual for local people to pray for blessings. To experience the beehive fireworks event, it's advisable to wear padded clothing and avoid nylon fabric. You are advised to wear sneakers, two pairs of socks, and two pairs of pants. Jeans will be a better choice. Make sure your cuffs are closed with rubber bands to prevent any stray rockets from entering. A pair of cotton gloves with ribbed cuffs, a cotton zip jacket, a full-face helmet, and towels worn inside around the neck and outside around the helmet. Thousands of fireworks are set off in the whole Yanshui Township. Fireworks fly everywhere from big streets to small alleys and hit or fly close by people. People at the site said it’s very exciting. Many friends from Taiwan and other countries visit here. This is like no other feeling or no other experience in Taiwan. This is truly one of the most exhilarating experiences that you’re going to find anywhere in the world, never mind here in Taiwan. In addition to Beehive Fireworks, Yanshui has historic streets and tourist destinations that are definitely worth visiting.
Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival begins in Tainan

Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival's name is derived from fireworks flying out like bees from the beehive. The noise from the fireworks is supposed to remove ailments from your body by scaring them off. Turtle Longevity Festival Giant Rice Turtles on Display at Penghu Temple Ahead of Lantern Festival Penghu temples prepare ‘turtles’ for Lantern Festival Links Top 10 Lantern Festivals Around the World Festivals of Light Around the World Top 10 Best Light Festivals In The World Virtual Lantern Flying 15 taboos to dodge during Lantern Festival Shining Taichung - Central Taiwan Lantern Festival Discussion Questions (Lantern Festival) What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'lantern festival'? What is the meaning of the Chinese Lantern Festival? What was the last festival you went to? How important is the Lantern Festival? What traditional food is associated with the Lantern Festival? What happens at a lantern festival event? Have you ever made a lantern? Are there pollution issues with this festival? Why are messages written on lanterns? What messages would you write on a lantern? What is the attraction of the Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival? Which countries celebrate the Lantern Festival?