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I found this Question in a student book and I can't understand why not "What is a typical home there?"

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    Like means that you are asking for the characteristics of a typical house. Without like your question is more ambiguous; are you asking about price?
    – MikeJRamsey56
    Commented Sep 28, 2018 at 19:40
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    Have you looked up what "like" means in a dictionary? On this site users are expected to research their problem, and post a question only if their research fails to resolve their confusion. You might also do a search for "usage of like" on our sibling site English Language Learners.
    – Chappo Hasn't Forgotten
    Commented Sep 28, 2018 at 23:46

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Like is, in this case, asking for the characteristics of a typical home - is it big, is it warm, is it a house or a flat (apartment), what sort of decoration does it have? It allows for impressions, subtler answers, and for an answer that includes several options.

Without the like, the question is asking for a definition of a typical home. It is a very factual question.

The difference is subtle, but noticeable. If you were trying to get an idea of what a place was like, for personal reasons or out of interest, people tend to use like, in my experience. If you are trying to get a more academic understanding, you would be more likely to not use like.

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