ESL Conversation Questions – Earthquakes

A2 Level (Elementary)

1. What is an earthquake?
2. Have you ever felt an earthquake? Where were you?
3. What should you do during an earthquake?
4. Can we predict earthquakes? Why or why not?
5. Why do earthquakes happen?
6. What are ‘tectonic plates’?
7. What does ‘epicenter’ mean?
8. What is the difference between a small and a big earthquake?
9. Are earthquakes common in your country?
10. What can people do to stay safe in earthquakes?
11. Do you know any stories about earthquakes?
12. What should you have in an emergency kit for earthquakes?
13. How do buildings survive earthquakes?
14. What is a ‘seismic wave’?
15. Can animals sense earthquakes?
16. What would you do if an earthquake happened right now?
17. Are there earthquake drills in schools in your country?
18. What are the effects of earthquakes on nature?
19. How do people help each other after an earthquake?
20. Would you like to learn more about earthquakes? Why?

B1 Level (Intermediate)

1. How do earthquakes impact the environment?
2. Can technology help in predicting earthquakes?
3. What are some common myths about earthquakes?
4. How does the infrastructure in cities cope with earthquakes?
5. Discuss the role of emergency services during an earthquake.
6. How does the media report on earthquakes?
7. What are the long-term effects of a major earthquake?
8. How do tectonic plates cause earthquakes?
9. Compare earthquakes with other natural disasters.
10. How should a country prepare for earthquakes?
11. Discuss the psychological impact of earthquakes on individuals.
12. What are some historical earthquakes you know of?
13. How important is community support after an earthquake?
14. Discuss the importance of building codes in earthquake-prone areas.
15. What role do scientists play in understanding earthquakes?
16. How can schools educate students about earthquake safety?
17. What are the economic impacts of earthquakes?
18. How do you think earthquake prediction will evolve?
19. Discuss the importance of international aid after a big earthquake.
20. How do earthquakes affect wildlife?

B2 Level (Upper Intermediate)

1. Evaluate the effectiveness of current earthquake prediction methods.
2. Discuss the ethical considerations in earthquake reporting.
3. How do urban planning and architecture consider earthquake risks?
4. Compare the response to earthquakes in different countries.
5. Analyze the impact of earthquakes on global economies.
6. Discuss the challenges in providing aid after a major earthquake.
7. How do seismic waves help in understanding the Earth’s interior?
8. Debate the role of government vs. personal responsibility in earthquake preparedness.
9. Discuss how cultural beliefs influence perceptions of earthquakes.
10. Analyze the role of technology in earthquake rescue operations.
11. What are the challenges in rebuilding after a major earthquake?
12. How do human activities potentially influence seismic activities?
13. Discuss the impact of earthquakes on historical landmarks.
14. Evaluate the role of education in reducing earthquake hazards.
15. How do media representations of earthquakes differ globally?
16. Analyze the role of insurance in mitigating earthquake damages.
17. Discuss the future of earthquake-resistant construction.
18. How do international relations affect earthquake relief efforts?
19. What are the psychological effects of living in earthquake-prone areas?
20. Debate whether earthquake risks are adequately communicated to the public.

C1 Level (Advanced)

1. Critique the current global strategies for earthquake risk reduction.
2. Discuss the implications of earthquake forecasting on public policy.
3. Analyze the interplay between human settlement patterns and earthquake risks.
4. Evaluate the role of non-governmental organizations in post-earthquake recovery.
5. Examine the influence of cultural narratives on earthquake preparedness.
6. Discuss the challenges in maintaining heritage sites in earthquake zones.
7. Analyze the impact of media sensationalism on public perception of earthquakes.
8. Evaluate the effectiveness of international cooperation in earthquake science.
9. Discuss the ethical considerations in evacuating earthquake-prone areas.
10. Examine the role of advanced technologies in earthquake detection and response.

C2 Level (Proficiency)

1. Debate the adequacy of international legal frameworks in addressing earthquake disasters.
2. Analyze the socio-political impacts of earthquakes on nation-states.
3. Critically assess the evolution of earthquake engineering and its future challenges.
4. Examine the relationship between climate change and seismic activity.
5. Discuss the philosophical implications of natural disasters like earthquakes.
6. Evaluate the role of predictive analytics in earthquake risk management.
7. Analyze the long-term environmental consequences of large-scale earthquakes.
8. Debate the ethical dimensions of resource allocation in earthquake-prone regions.
9. Examine the impact of urbanization on earthquake vulnerability.
10. Critically evaluate the role of media in shaping public attitudes towards earthquake preparedness.