Ready for C1 p 23. High-level Nouns. Speaking

 

Economic & Business Context

1. In times of economic uncertainty, should companies conceal their disappointment about quarterly results to maintain investor confidence, or is there greater value in transparency? What are the ramifications of each approach?

2. How can organizations foster a culture where employees feel comfortable expressing their dissatisfaction with management decisions without fearing retaliation? What is the importance of creating such an environment?

3. When there's a notable discrepancy between a company's public commitments and its actual practices, who should take responsibility for addressing this gap?

Social & Environmental Issues

4. Do you believe there's a lack of compatibility between rapid economic growth and environmental sustainability, or can we reach a consensus on how to balance both priorities?

5. What do you think are the consequences of the proliferation of social media platforms on young people's mental health? Should tech companies be held accountable for their negligence in addressing these issues?

6. How can governments encourage greater adherence to environmental regulations without stifling innovation? Is the viability of purely voluntary commitments realistic?

Workplace & Professional Development

7. When leaders show a considerable improvement in their communication style, what typically drives this change? Discuss the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership positions.

8. In your experience, what represents the biggest impediment to career advancement in most organizations? How can individuals overcome their inability to navigate office politics effectively?

9. Should managers express their strong disapproval of employees who consistently miss deadlines, or is coaching a more effective approach? What's the consequence of being too lenient versus too strict?

Technology & Innovation

10. There's ongoing contention about whether artificial intelligence represents the prospect of unprecedented progress or poses existential risks. Where do you stand on this debate?

11. Do you think the inadequacy of current data privacy laws has contributed to a downturn in public trust in technology companies? What suggestions would you make for reform?

12. Some argue that the simplicity of user interfaces has come at the cost of originality in design. Do you agree? What's been lost in the pursuit of streamlined experiences?

Education & Policy

13. What would your proposal be for addressing the reduction in funding for arts education? How can schools maintain their commitment to providing well-rounded education despite budget constraints?

14. Is there sufficient awareness of the long-term consequences of educational inequality? Who should take responsibility for ensuring equal access to quality education?

15. Some educators' failure to adapt to digital learning tools represents a significant challenge. What assurances can be provided to help them embrace technological change without causing embarrassment?

Critical Thinking & Debate

16. When making a controversial assertion, what's the balance between confidence and acknowledging uncertainty? How does this relate to the prevalence of misinformation in public discourse?

17. Discuss the fluctuation in public opinion on major political issues. What factors contribute to these shifts, and should policymakers respond immediately to every change?

18. If you could make one request to improve democratic participation, what would it be? Consider the ramifications of low voter turnout in modern democracies.

Sample Answer

Question: There's ongoing contention about whether artificial intelligence represents the prospect of unprecedented progress or poses existential risks. Where do you stand on this debate?

Sample Answer:

I believe this debate suffers from a lack of compatibility between the two extremes being presented. Rather than viewing AI as purely beneficial or catastrophic, I think we need to reach a consensus on a more nuanced position that acknowledges both the viability of transformative benefits and the legitimate concerns about potential harms.

On one hand, I can't express my strong disapproval of the optimistic view entirely, because there's already been a considerable improvement in healthcare diagnostics, scientific research, and accessibility tools thanks to AI. The importance of these advances shouldn't be understated—they represent genuine progress in addressing human challenges. However, my main contention with unbridled techno-optimism is its failure to adequately address the immediate risks we're already witnessing, such as the proliferation of deepfakes and misinformation.

What truly causes me to express my dissatisfaction with the current trajectory is the inadequacy of existing regulatory frameworks. There's a notable discrepancy between the pace of AI development and our governmental adherence to safety protocols. This represents a significant impediment to responsible innovation. The negligence shown by some tech companies in rushing products to market without sufficient testing has serious ramifications—we're already seeing consequences of biased algorithms in hiring, lending, and criminal justice.

My proposal would be to establish international standards that ensure commitment to ethical AI development without stifling innovation entirely. This isn't just a suggestion; it's an urgent request for coordinated action. We need assurances from developers that they're taking responsibility for the systems they create, including their inability to predict all outcomes.

Rather than conceal our disappointment about AI's shortcomings or deny the prospect of its benefits, we should maintain awareness of both possibilities. The simplicity of framing this as a binary choice—progress versus doom—lacks originality and prevents productive dialogue. The real challenge is managing the fluctuation in public opinion while building robust safeguards that don't result in a downturn in innovation. Ultimately, the prevalence of fear-mongering on both sides only creates embarrassment for serious researchers trying to navigate this complex terrain responsibly.