Round 1. Learning & Intelligence

• Do you have any educational goals at the moment? Would you like to study anything new in the future?
• What are effective learning techniques that help you to excel?
• Do you usually accomplish enough at the end of the day? Why?
• Do you try to achieve peak productivity? If so, how? If not why?
• What helps you to be effective: planning, physical exercise, a healthy diet, or an orderly space? Anything else?
• There are different types of intelligence. Which of these types are important for work, studies, or leisure pursuits (free-time activities)?

— Spatial (relating to space) intelligence: you are good at spatial judgment
— Bodily-kinesthetic: physical movement, body control
— Musical: rhythm and music
— Linguistic intelligence: words, language, writing
— Logical, mathematical skills: analyzing problems, mathematical operations
— Interpersonal intelligence: understanding and relating to others
— Intrapersonal intelligence: introspection and self-reflection (observation of one's own mental and emotional processes)
— Naturalistic intelligence: seeing patterns and relationships in nature

• In which areas are you most and least intelligent?

Round 2. Culture

• How has modern culture changed over the past decades?
• What are the positive and negative sides of the following trends:

— the boom of "amateur" content (made by non-professionals)
— corporations and global brands are engaging in social activism
— communities are moving online

• What kind of literary works do you prefer reading: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, critical theory?
• Are you keen on modern music or any musical forms of art?
• What dining experience will you never forget for the rest of your life?
• Which type of entertainment do you like most? For example, pubs, bars, nightclubs, parties, live music, concerts, cabarets, theatre, cinemas.
• Is Moscow nightlife vibrant? (energetic, dynamic)
• What venues in Moscow do you like? (the place where something happens) What places do you frequent yourself? (visit very often)
• Have you ever been a night owl? (a person who is habitually active or wakeful at night.)
• Do you know about entertainment in other countries? Have you attended any events abroad?

Round 3. Philosophical Questions

• What do you contribute back (вносить вклад) to society?
• How replaceable (заменяемый) are you?
• Where do you think is the most worthwhile (стоящий) place to find meaning in life? Work, family, hobby, art, or something else?
• What is the biggest waste (пустая трата) of human potential?
• Is humanity heading (направляется) in the right or wrong direction?
• What is the best path to find truth; science, math, art, philosophy, or something else?
• What in life is truly objective and not subjective?
• If you are highly intelligent, is it more likely that you'll be more, or less happy?
• Without religion would people become more, less, or be equally morally corrupt (испорченный)?
• Are people ethically obligated (обязаны) to improve themselves?
• What causes the most harm in the world, but is completely avoidable (можно избежать)?

Round 4. Travel & World

• What's the best "hidden gem"(a great place but few people may know about it) in your city?
• If you could fly anywhere for free, where would you go?
• What's the coolest road trip you've ever been on?
• Where's the last place you traveled? What did you do there?
• Do you prefer action-packed vacations or relaxing on the beach?
• What's the next trip you have planned?
• If you could take a year-long paid sabbatical (творческий отпуск), what would you do?
• If you were in charge of picking the eighth wonder of the world, what would you choose?
• If you ever decide to relocate to another country, which country would it be?
• How do you compare your own country with the ones you have visited? Or, what are the most striking (разительный) cultural differences?
• Have you ever faced any trouble in a foreign country? Can you share your experience?
• Do you like to confine yourself (ограничиться) to famous cities or go off the beaten path (проторенная дорожка) when traveling abroad?
• What is one thing about the world you would like to change overnight (быстро)?