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- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOPIC ENGLISH 1 : 1.Talk about where you have travelled. Last weekend, my uncle invited my family to Ha Long, one of the most famous sea resort in Vietnam. It is really a wonderful place to go for a holiday. There are many interest places you can visit in Halong: Thien Cung cave, Dau Go cave, Trong Mai stone, Tuan Chau island, CatBa island. .. On day 1 we visited caves . In Thien Cung , I was very surprise at a long well -preserved cave. At there you can see different shape of stones caused by the erosion of water for thousands years. Amazingly, some of them really like being carved by human. one like a mother with her little child, another like a big lion … . The colour light installed there even made me felt that I was walking on paradise. One day 2 we went to Tuan Chau Island. The scenery was extremely beautiful. Both the sea and the sky were blue ,the sand was golden and so soft. On the beach, there were full of people and umbrellas. Some were sunbathing, some were swimming, and some were surfing in the sea. I also saw many children building castles in the sand amusingly .oh I almost forget saying about sea foods on the island which were very delicious. We not only bought but also caught them by ourselves. The feeling when I caught a big fish and scrap was really exciting .besides, the hotel was very comfortable, local people were very friendly and helpful. It is indeed an unforgettable trip. Halong will always be my first choice for holidays. 2. Give advice to someone who wants to learn English. Learning a language is a challenging. It requires lots of patience and hard working. However it is a great benefit to know another language especially English, the most world-wide language these days. Before you start learning, it is a good idea to think carefully about what you need or want English for. Differences purposes of learning English lead to different method of teaching and learning. For example, English for academics purposes very differ from business purposes. Speaking and listening may be the most difficult skill to master. English people speak very quickly with variety of accents. So English learners should attend English classes and if a language laboratory is available, use it as much as possible. You also should take every opportunity to meet and speak with native English speaking people. To learn reading and writing, it is advisable for every beginner to have a good dictionary and grammar book. Each language has its own style. In order to drill writing skills and enrich your vocabulary, you should try to read as much as possible: books, newspaper, magazines…. But the most important thing you need is to practise regularly. It is possible to forget 80% of what you have learnt within 24 hours if you don’t review. So you need organize your time efficiently for learning. Spending 20 minutes everyday for learning is much better than you learn continuously for 4 hours but just once a week. It is also good to make English more attractive through leaning famous English songs and films. Remember “practice makes perfect” ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 1
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Talk about something that you afraid of? Each people have their own fear. Many people afraid of something which are normal to others like spider, snake, height, blood… To me, I always afraid of being old. When you getting older, your skin will wrinkle, you will lose all of your hair and teeth. Your appearance will be terrible. Along with them is lot of diseases such as far sighted, Alzheimer , heart attack… it is so boring when you are ill and have to depend on other people ,lying in one place all day and doing nothing. In addition, it is the fear of lonely when the children live far away, busy with their own businesses and only visit their parents on some special days. The worst thing of being old is that death becomes reality. You have to witness your friends and relatives pass by and wait for your turn. I can’t imagine when one day I will leave the world. Whether my body will be buried or fired and where my spirit will go? Ohh I’m so scared. 4.What makes you happy Well it hard to say . You know, happiness is the most difficult thing to define. Maybe I’m happy when I come back my hometown and visiting my family. I’m now too busy so I can’t visit them regularly about once a month. Each time I come home, my parents and I talk a lot. I tell them about my study, my life at university. They tell me events in my neighbour, my hometown and news about my relatives. Sometimes they give me valuable advices. Then I will go shopping with my mother or do the gardening with my father. I also will visit my grandparents and friends. During the time I stay at home my mother often prepare a lot of foods of course, all of them are my favourite food. No matter what I have grown, with them I am always a little child. I’m so happy when living in a tender loving care of my parents. I also feel happy when I get something that I really desire to. Something that costs me a lot of time, energy and effort. For example, when i passed my university entrance examination, i have sense of satisfing and victory......... 5. What would you do if you had a million dollar? It would be a big surprise if I had a million dollar. A huge amount of money, right? It will be a chance to make all of my dreams come true. Of course, money can’t buy everything yet with money, life will be more comfortable and pleasant. Well, first of all, I will divide my money into 4 portions. One portion I will give to my parents. My family is not very rich if I should not say very poor. Although my parents have been working very hard, they can’t earn enough money to support for our living, especially for my study at university. We often live in debt. It is really terrible. My parents rarely have new clothes, they often buy second-hand one because it is very cheap and they have never go on for holiday. I ‘m always grateful to them for all things they have done and even sacrificed for me. With the small amount of money, I wish my parents will live better and happier. I will keep 2 portions to do all things I have been dreamed about. Travelling all over the world: Paris, New York, London, Sydney, Hollywood, Venice, Tokyo, and Seoul…. And visiting Seven Wonders of the World, you know. Maybe after travelling I’ll take further study in computing in Australia. I‘ll also invest some money in real estate because I want my mo ney to mult iply (sinh so i nay no) The last portion I want to devote for charity for poor and homeless people. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 2
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think it is a right thing if you share your luck to somebody who is not. Hopefully, I will use my money wisely and never regret for that. 6. How to keep fit Well, keeping fit is really necessary. When you are fit and healthy you will find you look better and feel better, have more energy and self-confidence. To keep fit, firstly, you should have a proper diet. To get enough vitamins and minerals, you need eat variety of foods. However trying to eat less fat food such as meat or diary products. Eating many vegetables as you like, drinking and eating as much as water and fruit as possible. Secondly, you should taking physical exercise regularly. Bodies are made to move, it is not designed for sitting around in front of the TV or reading magazine. Keeping fit doesn’t mean you have to be a super-athlete and even a little exercise can give you a lot of fun. People who take regular exercise are usually more relaxed and more alert than people who sit around all day. Swimming is the best, total exercise because it works out your whole body. Walking in the early morning and just before sleeping is the simplest way but can be very effective. It helps warm up your body gently and realize stress after a hard-working day. It is advisable to take up sports like football, table tennis, volleyball or badminton and so on. Lastly, you also should keep a healthy life style: sleep well, avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, be optimistic in thinking… So, keeping fit and you will have more time to enjoy life. 7. Some things you like and don’t like about being a student Being a student is a great opportunity for everyone. However there are some difficulties when you are a student. Being a student means you are preparing for a good career. Job market these days is so competitive. Therefore I think with a qualification from a university or college, I will have a chance to find a job with high salary and promotion. Besides, being a student give me a way to have new experiences. This often means having opportunity to meet people different from those in my hometown. In addition, I can expand my knowledge in subjects that I interested in like Japanese and dancing… On the other hand, because this is the first time I live far away from my family, there is something that I dislike about being a student The first thing that I don’t like about being a student is that I have suffered from homesickness. I missed my parents and old friends so much. Moreover it is hard to get on with things in a strange place. It was so good when your mom cooked for you, made your bed. Your dad took you to school and when class finished, you returned your room and made yourself completely comfortable. But become a student implies that you will live in a dormitory or you ‘’ll rent an apartment. Usually you have to take care of dirty dishes, messy rooms, and cooking. This mean you have to learn many new things like how to cook several dishes… Another problem of being a student is money. You have to learn how ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 3
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- to survive with the limited amount of money from our parents. There are hundreds of things you want to buy: computers, cell phone, fashion clothes. Many events need spending money like friend birthdays, some special days like valentine, women’ s day… if you do not consider it carefully you will soon run out of money and find it hard to live . I will never forget the time when I’m a student. . It maybe somewhat difficulties but this make I learn how to live my life better and how to appreciate what I have, like my parents and my belongings. Besides, I get to appreciate the things I achieve during my life because I learn that my goals are not achieved easily, but that cost a lot of work and effort. In conclusion, being a student is great. 8. Your favourite movie ( cai nay mot bai em viet, mot bai lay o trong sach IELTS ). 8.1 - Well, “The Mummy Returns” is my most favourite film. Although I saw it three moths ago but I still remember it quite clearly. It isn’t a serious film or anything. It’s meant to be light- hearted ( vui ve ) and funny. It tells the story of an ancient Egyptian priest who is accidentally brought back to life and wants to raise his army from the dead. The army and the priest have supernatural powers and they will be able to rule the world. To raise his army and rule the world the priest needs a special bracelet ( /‘breislit/ - vong tay) which will allow him to control the Scorpion King- I didn’t really understand that bit. But a small boy, the child of some archaeologists ( nha khao co) puts it on. The priest kidnaps the boy and takes him to Egypt and the boy’s parents go after him to rescue him and save the world. They travel to an oasis in the middle of the Egyptian desert and fight lots of supernatural enemies then the boy’s father fights the priest and saves his son and saves the world. Actually it is more complicated than that but the story isn’t serious. I enjoy it because it is have lots of humorous as well as frighten situations . The special effects is good and there are some funny characters. The actors were good and the make-up and special effects to show the Mummy coming back to life is excellent. 8.2 - Last summer I was given and DVD film on my seventeen birthday namely “50 first dates”. It is always my favourite film. Although I have seen it twice, I will never get bored if I see it again. It is about a love story. There is a guy working in a sea park, actually I forget his name because it is quite strange. With him love are games. Each week, he dates with different girls. But one day, he suddenly met Luci in a café and fall in love with her. Unfortunately, Luci have an incurable disease. She has a problem in her brain because of an accident a year ago. She forgets everything she has done when she wakes up. Everyday with her is the same day just before the accident. So although one day the guy makes friend with her and then they have a lot of memories, the following day the guy become totally strange to her. So the guy have a plan .he make a record explain what happened to her and each day he make friend with her in different ways. That why the film has its name: “50 first dates”. Of course, like most love stories, the film has a happy ending. The two main characters get married and live happy together. What I like most about the film is its moving (cam dong) and meaning full story. It helps us rely on the power of love. The film was made in Hawaii so the scenery is wonderful and romantic. And the two main actor and actress performed naturally as if it was their own story. There are also a lot of humorous scenes that make me laugh a lot. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 4
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. The member in your family It’s actually quite hard for me to choose just one member of my family as I feel close to all of them. But I get on well with my elder sister X, so I will talk about her. My sister is a postgraduate in a medicine university. She have a thick dark hair, and brown eyes. She has a kind face and when you meet her, the first thing you notice is her lovely, warm smile. Although she is 8 years older than I am but we are very similar in personality. We are both outgoing and quite noisy. And we enjoy the same things... The same books, same music and films, especially we both fascinate in computer and playing games. In my opinion, that is very important in a relationship, to have things in common. With me she is extremely generous, forgiving me all my mistakes and troubles I made for her. She is the sort of person you can always go to if you have a problem and can rely on. I’m so frond of having a sister like her in my life. 10.Talk about dificulties in leaving and taking a telephone message. - Good everning everyone, today I’m very happy to be here to talk with you about some way of dificulities leaving and taking a telephone message. If it is the first time you talk with foreigner by telephone, please keep in mind some way as below. - Vietnamese always fills very dificult when they are speaking by telephone with foreigner. Because of some our listening skill and voice are not good, we are loss calm before we talk to them so the result is nothing we can hear from them. In some case, their voice is not clear and they speak too fast, So we want to leaving and taking a telephone message it’s very hard for us. - To make good this weakness, firstly you must trust on yourself and keep yourself calm down when you talk with foreigner. Try to best yourself to talk clearly and fluently to them and hear what they said. 11.Describe a product you know well? What you can say to persuade customers to buy the pro duct? - Good morning everybody, today I’m very happy to be here to talk with you a famous product which evryone know too. I would like to introduce to you about chocolate. Chocolate is a special sweet, It is made 100% from butter and cacao with traditional experiences and secrets of creating characteristic scents. Chocolates are made by profesional skill workers with control of production process closest, terms of production and in the best of preservation. Some of famous chocolate’s brand name in the world are in Swiss and Belgium. - In case, I was a sale i would like to deal with some points of chocolate as below. - Firstly, you can choose chocolate for the first gifts of special days, as birthday, Women’s day, Valentine day or present from your business …. For example: On your friends’s birth day you can choose chocolate for a gift, if she is your girl-friend you will get double love from her. If you get maried, it is easier than for you. Your wife and children will be pleased with you if they are given. Chocolate is made in a lot of beautiful and special figures that you can choose it. - Seconly, the use of chocolate not only hobby but also one of the most wonderful remedy. The scientists demostrated that seventy five percent of fat in chocolate are useful for the health. We could be decreased cholesterol. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 5
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Its price is not so expensive for everyone, it always compete with each other gifts. - In the last, I guarantee with you that what I say is true. That is my idea, thanks for your pay attention and hope you have a nice day. 12.What are the advantages and disadvantages of TV? (Những ưu điểm và nhược điểm của truyền hình là gì?) What would you do after a hard day at school and you want to entertaining. It simple, just turn on your TV. Music channel, comedy channel or cartoon channel... is your choice, just pick a channel. And not only entertaining, TV can also help you update the news from all over the world in the end of the day. When you bore you can go anywhere you like: Paris, New York, London just pick travel channel. As you can see TV have many advantages but you still can deny it have a disadvantage. Now you have about 30 channel with you favorite program and you don't want to miss. And you end up spend all day long to watch TV, and you forget to do other thing. Like hang out with your friend, sea everything with your own eye, or just forget to focus study for the exam. You can control your life, you are the boss, so you should find the best way to rise your TV, so it only have advantages. Lợi ích và tác hại của TV Bạn sẽ làm gì sau 1 ngày học tập vất vả ở trường và bạn muốn giải trí. Thật đơn giản, chỉ cần bật tivi lên. Kênh âm nhạc, hài kịch, phim hoạt hình... là sự lựa chọn của bạn, chỉ cần bật 1 kênh. Không chỉ giải trí, tivi còn giúp bạn cập nhật những tin tức từ khắp nơi trên thế giới vào cuối mỗi ngày. Khi bạn chán bạn có thể đi khắp nơi bạn thích: Paris, New York, London… chỉ cần chọn kênh du lịch. Bạn có thể thấy nhiều lợi ích của tivi nhưng bạn kô thể phủ nhận những tác hại của nó. Bây giờ bạn có khoảng 30 kênh với những chương trình yêu thích của bạn và bạn kô muốn bỏ lỡ chúng. Bạn xem tivi cả ngày mà quên làm những thứ khác. Như thể là đi chơi với bạn bè, ngắm nhìn mọi vật với con mắt của bạn, hoặc chỉ cần quên xem để tập trung học tập cho kỳ thi... B ạn có thể kiểm soát cuộc sống của mình, bạn là ông chủ, vì vậy bạn nên tìm ra cách tốt nhất để sử dụng tivi của mình để nó chỉ có những mặt tốt. 13.The traffic problems in our city and how to solve them? (Vấn đề giao thông trong thành phố của chúng ta & làm thế nào để giải quyết chúng?) After finish my study, I go back home at 5 pm. And all I can see is people with diffrent vehicle: motorbike, car, bicycle... I really hate rush hour, but what can I do traffic jam always is a major problem in the city. And until now I still can find a solution to fix this problem. The population is increasing so the vehicle is increasing. But the road is still tiny for a huge amount of vehicle. It not enough space for every one, and then you have it, traffic jam. In this state the only thing we can do now is encourage people using public vehicle instead of personal vehicle. The authority should open a private road for the public vehicle and then people will using a public vehicle. And slowly we can fix this problem. Vấn đề giao thông trong thành phố Sau khi học xong, tôi về nhà lúc 5h chiều. Tất cả những gì tôi thấy là mọi ng` với đủ các loại phương tiện giao thông: ô tô, xe máy, xe đạp… Tôi thực sự ghét giờ cao điểm, nhưng tôi có thể làm đk gì, ách tắc giao thông luôn là vấn đề lớn trong ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 6
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- thành phố. Mãi tới bây giờ mà tôi vẫn ko tìm ra giải pháp nào đê giải quyết vấn đề này. Dân số tăng vì thế phương tiện giao thông cũng tăng. Nhưng đường thì vẫn thế cho một lượng lớn phương tiện kô đủ chỗ cho mọi ng` và như vậy là ách tắc giao thông. Trong trạng thái này, việc duy nhất chúng ta có thể làm bây giờ là khuyến khích mọi ng` sử dụng phương tiện giao thông công cộng thay vì phương tiện cá nhân. Chính quyền nên mở những con đường riêng cho phương tiện giao thông công cộng và sau đó mọi người sẽ sử dụng chúng. Và dần dần chúng ta có thể khắc phục vấn đề. 14.The advantages and disadvantages of working at the part time job while studying at a university? (Những thuận lợi & bất lợi của công việc bán thời gian trong khi học tại 1 trường đại học?) When you studing in the university you have a small allowance every month from your family. And you can survive after one month, of course. But you need more money in order to buy present or flower for you girlfriend. Buy birthday present for your friend and other thing. So you must have a part time job to earn money, not much but it all your. And not only you have money but also you have more social experience when you fully enter the social network after you find a job. You can meet new people, you can make friend... But if you don spent you time right between studying or working then your part-time job is not good as it used to be. Just always remind yourself studing is more important than working, you must have a best result after the exam. Or else you should quit. Lợi ích và tác hại của công việc làm thêm Khi bạn học tập ở Đại học bạn nhận đk sự trợ cấp nhỏ từ gia đình. Dĩ nhiên, bạn có thể sống sau 1 tháng. Nhưng bạn cần tiền để mua quà, hoa cho bạn gái, mua quà sinh nhật cho bạn bè và những thứ khác. Vì thế bạn cần 1 công việc để kiếm tiền, không nhiều nhưng nó giúp ích tới bạn. Bạn ko chỉ có tiền mà bạn có kinh nghiệm xã hội sau khi bạn đã hoàn toàn bước vào cuộc sống. Bạn có thể gặp mọi ng`, có nhiều bạn bè… Nhưng nếu bạn kô quản lý tốt thời gian giữa việc học và làm thì công việc của bạn sẽ kô tốt như nó đã từng. Luôn luôn nhớ rằng công việc học của bạn là quan trọng hơn đi làm thêm, bạn phải có một kết quả tốt nhất sau kỳ thi hoặc là bạn nên thôi học. 15. environment is bring polluted day by day reasons? (Môi trường chúng ta ô nhiễm từng ngày, lý do?) Our environment is polluted every single day. Air, water, soil... everything is polluted. For example, air polluted because it is the most important thing for us, no air no breath. Everytime we burn gasoline it release a huge amount of CO2 and it not friendly with our atmosphere. But with no gasoline we can operate our vehicle, all the factory will be shut down because the don't have energy to operate the machine. But we still have another way, we just have to find a new source of energy more friendly with the environment. We can use solar energy, wind energy and convert to the electricity. This energy is easy to get, easy to convert maybe it unstable but we still can use this energy. All we have to do is find a source of energy that don't destroy our environment everytime we use it. Môi trường bị ô nhiễm Môi trường của chúng ta bị ô nhiễm mỗi ngày. Kô khí, nước, đất… mọi thứ đều bị ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 7
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ô nhiễm. Ví dụ, kô khí ô nhiễm, nó l à thứ quan trọng nhất đối với chúng ta, kô có kô khí thì ko thể thở. Mỗi khi chúng ta đốt xăng, nó sẽ thải ra một lượng lớn CO2 và khí này kô thân thiện với môi trường. Nhưng nếu kô có xăng, phương tiện sẽ kô thể hoạt động đk. Tất cả nhà máy sẽ bị đóng của vì kô có năng lượng để vận hành máy móc. Nhưng chúng ta vẫn có những cách khác. Chúng ta phải tìm ra những nguồn năng lượng mới thân thiện hơn với môi trường. Chúng ta có thể sử dụng năng lượng mặt trời, năng lượng gió và chuyển nó thành điện. … Tất cả chúng ta phải làm là tìm một nguồn năng lượng không phá hủy môi trường mọi lúc khi sử dụng nó. 16.Which do you thing is more valuable, health or wealth? (Bạn nghĩ điều gì giá trị hơn, sức khỏe & sự giàu có?) Health and wealth, both of them is very important so it very hard to choose. But I think health is more important, with health I can do anything, I can go anywhere. I can find a job to earn money and maybe I can be a billionaire and then I have both of them health and wealth, impossible? No, I think it possible. Maybe some of you think wealth is the most important, but you are wrong. Of course wealth is important but is not everything. Just imagine how do you live with wealth and without health. Your lungs have problem, your liver have problem, your heart, your stomach and even your brain. You spend all day in the hospital, you have breakfast with drug, you have lunch with drug, you have dinner with drug. So next time if some one ask you what is more important between wealth and health, you know the answer. Tiền bạc và sức khỏe Tiền bạc và sức khỏe, cả 2 thứ đều rất quan trọng vì thế thật khó để chọn lựa. Nhưng tôi nghĩ rằng sức khỏe quan trọng hơn, có sức khỏe tôi có thể làm bất cứ điều gì, tôi có thể đi bất cứ nơi nào. Tôi có thể tìm 1 công việc để kiếm t iền, có lẽ tôi sẽ trở thành 1 tỷ phú và sau đó tôi sẽ có cả tiền bạc và sức khỏe. Không thể ư? Không, tôi nghĩ là có thể. Có thể bạn nghĩ rằng tiền bạc là quan trọng hơn, nhưng tôi nghĩ bạn đã sai. Dĩ nhiên, tiền bạc là quan trọng nhưng nó không phải là tất cả. Chỉ cần hình dung rằng bạn sẽ sống ntn với sự giàu có mà sức khỏe kô tốt. Phổi của bạn có vấn đề, gan của bạn có vấn đề, tim bạn, dạ dày của bạn và thậm chí cả bộ não của bạn. Bạn phải ở cả ngày trong bệnh viện, bữa ăn sáng của bạn là thuốc, bữa trưa của bạn là thuốc, bữa tối của bạn cũng là thuốc. Vì thế lần tới nếu có ai hỏi bạn rằng tiền bạc và sức khỏe cái gì quan trọng hơn thì bạn biết câu trả lời của mình rồi đấy. 17.Why do the young people prefer living in the big city? (Tại sao những người trẻ tuổi thích sống ở những thành phố lớn?) The big city always is the heaven for the young people. The big city have everything the young people need, you can find everything in the mall, supermarket and convinient store. This is the thing that country side don't have, country side is like the old man and the big city like a teenager. And the big city have a exciting night life, every time sun down the city is light up with the light from the park, building, street... You can work, study in the morning and relax, hang out with your friend when the nigh fall. You can go to the cinema, go to the park or shopping. A exciting life are waiting in the big city. So the young people really love the big city. And when they get older they will want to move to the country side, but it doesn't matter. Like myself, when you were young you always ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 8
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- prefer living in the big city, who don't? 18.There is no place like home? (Không có nơi nào như quê nhà?) You can go around the world but you will never find a place like home. It is where you were born, where you lived with your family. And you had the memory with your home and this memory is unreplaceable so you just have one and only home. It belong to your family. Maybe your moved and start the new life. It alright, your home is not just your house, you can sale your house but you still have the soul of the house, it is your family, this is your home. This is where you belong. Some people always want to go back home before the die, it not because they want to spend they last day with the house they were born. No, they just want to spend they last day with they family, because family is really unreplaceable. You'll be in they heart as they'll be in your heart, from now and until they pass away. There is really no place like home, your family is your one and truly home. TEST 21 Describe your first day at school as a child That morning my mother woke me up earlier than usual. She urged me to get dressed and take breakfast quickly then tenderly took me to school. On the way to school I met other children of my age accompanied by their parents to school. The nearer I came to the school gate, the more nervous I became. Suddenly a strange feeling of fear and worry seized my heart when I saw the majestic elementary school in front of me and I felt like crying when my mother said good bye to me and put some coins into my pocket. Never before had I been forced to separate from my beloved mother! But when I saw old pupils laughing and talking merrily I regained my composure. After the droll of a drum, we were instructed to stand in line to salute the colours and then go into our classes. A young and mild-looking teacher greeted us at the door. And in a gentle voice, he taught us the first lesson that we never forget! TEST 22 Your favourite hobby My hobby is reading books. I inherited a valuable collection of books from my deceased father and up till now my cultural treasures have been preserved carefully. Reading books broadens my mind improves my knowledge. They help me distinguish the bad from the good and prevent me from doing wrong. Reading books brings me minutes of happiness and pleasures. I have found a source of consolation and encouragement in books when I am in despair. They're my true companions indeed. How relieved and comforted I feel when I can find in good books good teachers and friends! Instead of indulging myself in futile entertainments, I often absorbed in reading interesting books which always have miracles to soothe my sorrows and hardships and reveal to me strange and new horizons. TEST 23 Which season of the year do you like best? Why? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 9
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I was born in Northern Vietnam, where there are four clear seasons: Spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Each season has its own charms and attractions. For example, spring is the season which offers beautiful flowers and warm weather; summer is the season of nice holidays when we can enjoy lots of outdoor activities such as picnicking, camping, swimming, fishing etc... Autumn is so beautiful with its ideal weather while winter can give us such delight as gathering by a fire to chat or tell each other funny stories. As far as I am concerned, I like autumn best because of the following reasons: During autumn, which lasts more or less from late July to early October, it is sunny most of the time. The Autumnal sun is often splendid, dying nature yellow. The weather is also ideal because it is not too cold or too hot. Then the coldish northwesterly wind, which blows gently, thrills everyone with the breath of autumn. The leaves of the trees turning yellow or red put a gorgeous coat of colours on nature. Autumn is such a wonderful season that many poems and songs have been composed to sing the praises of the season. Autumn is also a season which reminds me of my first day at school, when my mother took me by the hand and led me to school for the first time. Last but not least, autumn is the time when I can enjoy my favourite fruit and dish which are the Japanese persimmons and the green rice flakes. These are found only in autumn. TEST 24 Smoking damages our health (Smoking is harmful to our health) Over the last thirty years, thanks to the efforts of various branches of science and technology, research has proved that smoking damages health and shortens man's life- span. According to a diagram released by the World's Health Organization (WHO), the number of people who die of diseases connected to smoking is increasing more and more. The more science and technology learn, the more damage caused by smoking is discovered. Therefore, it seems that we can never put a final stop to the list of harm caused by smoking. First of all, smoking brings about the decline of our memory because each cigarette we smoke destroys 15,000 cerebral cells. Smoking is considered the number one cause of cardiovascular trouble, pneumonia, lung cancer etc... The main offending agents are carbon monoxide and nicotine in the smoke. These cancers - causing agents are also the ones which cause pharyngeal cancer. The toxic effects of smoke make the smoker's voice hoarse. Additionally, the visible effect is that the tobacco or opium tar sticks to the teeth, and causes them to become dark or dirty-yellow, diminishing our good looks and charm. In conclusion, I would like to quote our well-known scholar "Le Quy Don" as saying some hundred years ago that smoking was like taking a toxic drug, the smoke of which wasted our health and diminished our life-span; yet, few people heeded his sage advice. TEST 25 Describe your best friend and tell why you like him/her Of all my friends, Thanh Hoa is my best friend since we enjoy each other's company ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 10
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- so much that we'll miss each other greatly if we don't meet at least once a week. Thanh Hoa is twenty-two years old but everyone thinks she looks much younger. She's not so pretty but she's charming. She has a fair complexion that makes her look very healthy; here eyes are clear and expressive. She is a very reliable, mature girl with a great sense of humour. She is very "down-to- earth" and is often shy. She has been with me in both good and bad times to either rejoice over something with me or to comfort me. She has a strong personality with crystal clear view of "right and wrong". She's an honest, a loyal and a warm humanitarian. Some people wonder how we can become such good friends because she is so quiet and I'm very energetic and outgoing. I think (that) the idiom "opposites attract" is the answer. TEST 26 Why is it necessary to learn English? English is the international language of business. In order to discuss our country's products and services with other people as well as to entice investment from foreign lands, we must do so in English. To communicate our thoughts and ideas to other cultures, the best tool is English. Communication is our link to the outside world and, in turn, our chance at economic growth. Most leading countries in the world either speak English or have English as their second language. There are the countries that have the resources, technology and knowledge to help us grow. We are also invited to learn so much from English speakers. We can experience the foods of Ireland, the natural resources of Canada, the monuments of the U.S., the desert 'areas of Australia or the best fishing ports in New Zealand, just by talking with, these citizens. We, in turn, can also express our feelings and interests about Vietnam. The sharing of this kind of information is a bridge to long term friendships with people from all over the world. TEST 27 The benefits of sports and physical exercises Nobody can deny the benefits of sports and physical exercises. In fact, such sports as: swimming, jogging, jumping, playing tennis, football, basket - ball, volley - ball, skating, skiing etc bring us a well - proportioned body. When we practise a certain sport, our muscles are developed; blood circulates easily in blood vessels therefore we'll have a good appetite and a sound sleep As for me, my favourite sport is jogging in the morning and playing tennis in the afternoon. By practicing these sports regularly I always feel fit and never get sick. Health is much more precious than money. We can't lead a happy life if we are continually tortured by diseases. Try to keep a clear mind in a healthy body and get accustomed to regular practice of certain sports, we'll feel life worth living. TEST 28 Describe the countryside in the morning As usual, when the first cock crows break the complete silence of the country, every activity of a new day begins: The villagers start getting up; buffalo tenders are calling each other to drive their cattle to the fields. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 11
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Smoke from the cottages is rising and spreading in the fresh air, mingling with the veil of morning mist. A few hours later, in the west, a bright, fresh and newly-bathed sun is looming gradually from the hedge of green bamboos. The dew drops on the grass and golden rice ears by the roadside are as resplendent as precious stones. Suddenly a lark flies up and sings gaily, followed by thousands of his companions. A fresh breeze comes on, the yellow rice fields begin to move and the pure air is redolent of soft fragrance. The scenery becomes livelier as groups of farmers are rushing, to their fields talking and laughing merrily, ready to resume work of a new day. TEST 29 Why are good books considered good teachers and friends? When I read a book, I am swept away into my own little world discovering new things and imagining places only I can see. It is a private dialogue between the author and me. There is no one to criticize or question me. I can read the book at my own speed and savour it every moment. Books offer us the world. We can learn about history, geography, famous and interesting people and different countries. It is the cheapest form of travel that I know! I love to read a variety of authors and learn about new ideas and ways of expression. I also try to read a variety of books, from romance to biographies and everything in between. I especially like adventure stories because it is in here that I can really put my imagination to work! There is such a vast amount of information available in books. From the early ages to our recent years we can continue to learn about a variety of topics and interests. School textbooks offer us the basics for learning how to learn-from math to science, from language to arts. Recently, my father and brother were interested in building a new table and chairs for our family's dinning room. Neither one of them is a carpenter. So how did they do it, your might ask? They bought a book that showed them how! A good book truly merits respect whether it is a "how-to" book, a good novel or a school textbook. TEST 30 You tell a foreigner about Vietnam, your beloved homeland Vietnam is a long, narrow strip of land in the shape of a letter "S". We, Vietnamese, compare our country to the shape of a dragon with the long narrow regions of the Centre forming the slender body, and the regions of the North forming the head, mane and front legs. Vietnam has a total territory of 332.000 square kilometers, and a coastline which meanders along the immense Pacific Ocean. Being of a peace-loving nature the Vietnamese people nevertheless know how to react vigorously against adversities to defend their homeland. Fiercely protective of their independence and sovereignty for 2.000 years, they are also welcoming foreigners who come as their guests. Most visitors who come to Vietnam are overwhelmed by the sublime beauty of the country's natural setting. The Red River Delta in the North, the Mekong River Delta in the South and almost the entire coastal strip are a patchwork of green rice fields (paddy-fields) tended from draw to dusk by peasants in conical hats. Visitors will also have the opportunity to experience the energetic and purposeful performance in revitalizing the Vietnamese economy by the Vietnamese. They will have their senses thrilled by all the sights, tastes and smells of a society born of over a century between an ancient civilization and the ways of the West. Despite the ravages of war in the past, the Vietnamese people are now determined to ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 12
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- rebuild their homeland, making it many times as rich and magnificent as it used to be following Uncle Ho's teaching. TEST 31 I like to go shopping at a supermarket. Why? I like to go shopping at a supermarket because of the following reasons: The supermarket is large, comfortable and conveniently-located. It takes me only a few minutes to walk there from my house. I usually don't have much time for shopping, so I have to buy things according to a plan, or from a shopping list. At this supermarket I can buy exactly what I need very quickly because everything is placed on open shelves. All I have to do is (to) choose whatever I want and take it to the check-out counter. Apart from that, I don't have to bargain over prices before buying, yet. I'm never afraid of being overcharged for anything. Goods are sold at fixed prices and the supermarket guarantees the things we buy. Should the items become faulty, the supermarket will either have them replaced or repaired for free. TEST 32 The birthday present you bought for your mother I always have a difficult time choosing original birthday presents. My imagination never seems to go beyond ties, handkerchiefs or pairs of socks. But strangely enough, it didn't take me long to decide on my mother's birthday present. For the first time in my life I had a good idea - I would buy her a gas stove which I thought would make her happy. As a housekeeper of a large family, my mother had to toil hard over her bulk of housework. Among her household tasks was the cooking, which took a lot of her time. The cooking was done by means of burning firewood or compressed coal, which usually emitted a lot of smoke. This was affecting my mother's health. With a gas stove she could save a lot of her time as well as her health. Since I bought her this gas-stove, my mother has had some free time to relax and her health has improved a lot. I felt very happy that the birthday present I bought for my mother was of great service to her. TEST 33 Describe New Year celebrations in your country Every year towards the middle of the twelfth lunar month everybody is eager to welcome New Year. They all have their houses whitewashed and decorated beautifully. They buy new clothes for their children and get everything ready for Tet. On the thirtieth night of the twelfth lunar month when the clock strikes 12, the New Year actually takes place of the old one. All houses are well-lighted and they're busy making offerings to their ancestors. Children, in their new clothes, wish longevity to their grandparents, parents and are looking forward to receiving some money put in small red envelopes. On New Year’s Days, the Vietnamese usually eat square and cylindrical glutinous rice cakes and water-melons or crack water-melon seeds and enjoy some special foods. On these days they often pay visit to each other and wish each other a Happy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 13
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- New Year. During New year's Days they avoid talking nonsense and often go to churches, pagodas and temples to pray for a lucky and Prosperous New year. Vietnamese Tet lasts about a fortnight after that they're ready to resume work as usual. TEST 34 Describe the advantages of living in the country and the disadvantages of living in the city. Although I've spent most of my life in the city, I always prefer to live in the country rather than in the city. First, living in the country we can enjoy fresh and pure air all year round whereas the city atmosphere is seriously polluted. Second, we can live a safe and peace full life in the country while townsfolk are often obsessed with sudden deaths caused by careless drivers and fool hardy motorcyclists. Third, nothing can be compared with beautiful sceneries at dusk and at dawn in the country side. They help us relax wonderfully after a hard day's work while the debaucheries in prostitute houses in beer shops and dancing-halls are ruining townspeople's body and soul. Four, nowadays, with the extensive electricity network, country life isn't less comfortable and civilized than town life. In a word, we can enjoy the clean atmosphere, the closeness to nature and the gentle pace of living in the country whereas the city life with its evil influences spoils and poisons townsfolk's minds. TEST 35 Describe your English teacher My English teacher is Miss Loan. She's of medium height, about twenty five of age. She's fairly pretty with her oval-shaped face, straight nose, large forehead and bright eyes. Though young and attractive in appearance she's dignified and virtuous. She's known to be a teacher of considerable ability. Her method of teaching differs somewhat with that of our former teacher. Instead of explaining fully every new lesson beforehand she just gives us assignments and let us work out ourselves. Thus her methods of teaching correspond to all of us and help us become active in our English learning. When teaching, she particularly pays close attention to English accent and pronunciation. She often makes us pronounce an English word several times until it's pronounced correctly and accurately. She always encourages us in our English study and thanks to her devotion to teaching us, we have been making a rapid progress. Everyone in our class is now talking about our new English teacher who deserves our love and respect. TEST 36 Describe the career you have chosen, and the reasons for your choice The choice of a career is of the utmost importance. It determines one's whole life. As for me, after careful consideration, I want to become a construction engineer. In our country, after long years of atrocious war, many houses, villages, bridges and roads were destroyed by bombing They all need to be repaired or rebuilt. After graduation, I'll contribute my part to the reconstruction of my war torn country into ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 14
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- one of the most modern and powerful countries in the world. How happy I feel when I am able to turn slum areas into blocks of high buildings, to bring happiness and joys to my poor compatriots! How proud and delighted I am to build high-ways, bridges and factories for my city dwellers by the sweat of my brow' TEST 37 Describe your native village and state your reasons why you love it Although my village is small, it's very beautiful and lovely. My village is divided into 4 hamlets which are directed and supervised by heads of hamlet who are m charge of and responsible for the activities of their hamlet. In the middle of the village stands an ancient pagoda where the villagers gather to make offerings to the God of Agriculture on the 15th day of the first lunar month. On the left flows peacefully a blue and clear river where I used to take a swim on hot days when I was young. Almost the houses in my village are built on high ground to avail floods in the rainy season. The villagers live chiefly on agriculture. All year round they cling to their soil, thinking of the best ways to force their soil to produce more food and vegetables to their families. They get rich owing to their creative work and industriousness. The harvest time is the merriest and busiest season of the year. How I love my native village! It's in this nice and lovely place that I was born and have grown up and spent wonderful days of my childhood. It's the cradle, the paradise of my whole life! TEST 38 Write about a holiday you took. Give details. My friend and I recently went on a four-day holiday to Nha Trang. It was wonderful to escape the air and noise of Ho Chi Minh City. We took the night train and we were gently lulled to sleep by the sound of the train and the pleasant night air. We arrived in Nha Trang early the next morning and checked into the Grand Hotel which is very near to the beach, restaurants and nightlife. The hotel offered all kinds of accommodation-from first class to economy. The staff was friendly and extremely helpful to us. They recommended a few tours which we took and we were not disappointed with. On the beach we ate fresh seafood such as boiled crabs, grilled lobsters and sanguine oysters. Nha Trang was clean and quiet, making our holiday very peaceful, restful and unforgettable. TEST 39 Tell about the pollution in our city and how to solve it The pollution of air, water and land in our city with such pollutants as smoke, industrial and household waste is getting worse and worse. It has reached intolerable levels. The-amount of carbon monoxide (CO) of the air now far exceeds the accepted limit. As a result of this, the health of every citizen here is being jeopardized alarmingly. To solve the problem of pollution I think the government should relocate the factories outside the city limits and penalize people for littering, especially for relieving themselves in the streets. I also think there should be stronger controls on vehicles emitting pollutants. Apart from these measures, the government should establish more ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 15
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- factories to recycle garbage, which is probably the best way of disposing of household waste. Then the masses should be mobilized to tidy up their houses and the streets where they live, to grow trees and plants into forests to preserve their environment. Only then can the pollution be diminished. TEST 40 How do you spend an evening when it rains? Evening is the time when I've finished a day of hard work and deserve a good rest. I usually go out either to see a film or visit my friends to discuss current events and inquire about each other's school work. However, I'd rather not go out but stay (at) home when it rains. When at home, the first thing I'd like to do is to put everything in my study room in order. Then I invite my next-door neighbour to come over with his chessboard for a couple of chess games. This helps settle me down until dinner time. Sometimes I want to be alone in my room to read funny stories, listen to good music or simply to the sound of the rain beating on the outside. Once in a while my grandfather will contribute his share to these indoor activities of mine by telling me and my younger brothers and sisters stories about well-known characters in our national history. We all like to hear about these famous people's good works in literature, good deeds in cultural and social activities, and especially feats of war. In spite of all the things I try to do to while away my time when it's impossible for me to go out in the evening because of the rain. I always find it dull. So I think I should embark on an indoor hobby to occupy myself on such evening as these. TEST 41 Do you like to live in an old house or in a modern flat? I live in an old house, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I wouldn't want to live in a modern flat at all. Let me tell you why. Our old houses are very solidly built and will weather big storms. The walls are thicker than those of a modern flat, and this keeps out the summer heat. Also, our roof is tiled, and I like to climb up inside the house and listen to the sound of the rain beating on the outside. Also, old houses seem friendlier than new ones. The sharp edges are worn smooth, making everything more comfortable to me. Old houses are bigger too, with extra rooms for everything, and this makes our houses more fun to play in. Then, too, our old houses often have a nice big yard around it, and that makes a good place to play in, and also a place to keep my pet dog. If I lived in a flat, I couldn't have a pet. So now you can see why I am so happy to live in a big, old house. TEST 42 Suppose you are living away from home in a foreign land. Write a short letter to your parents, telling them about your feelings and impressions. Dear Mom and Dad, By this time I am well-adjusted to living away from home. Living in another country is the only way to become acquainted with what the people are really like, it is only by becoming very good friends with some of the American students here at school ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 16
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- that I have gained lots of insights into their way of life. Even though the countryside looks very different here and the weather changes to great extremes, from winter cold and snow to summer sun and heat, I find that people are the same everywhere. Everyone has friends. Everyone is concerned about living in peace with his fellowmen, but sometimes this is hard to see clearly. All men have love for their country and a need to do satisfying work. And everyone needs to have a home of his own and to raise his own family. I am learning a lot by being here for so long. I am learning about life through living here, and not just from studying at the university. However, studying is what I must do right now. So until I write again, I remain your loving son. TEST 43 Relate a sad happening in your life. I have lost several valuable things during my life and have been unhappy but I have never felt as sorrowful as I have of late-after learning that I had just lost a dear friend (whom) I had known for so many years. One morning when I was studying my lesson, I received a telegram. I opened it and read the sad news-my friend had been killed in a car accident. I was shocked and could not believe the words in the message. Just last week we saw each other at a party and chatted happily about everything. Could it be that we would never meet again? I took the telegram, read it over and over again, hoping that I had misread it or that it had been an error. But the more I read, the more my doubts were dispelled. It must be true. I was so sad that I couldn't do anything. Suddenly tears dimmed my eyes. I remembered studying with him and the good times we had gone swimming together. Then, I recalled his sincerity and faithfulness. We seemed to understand and relate with each other almost as if we had been identical twins. I felt very close to him. I also knew how deeply I would miss him, realizing acutely that a good friend is a precious treasure. It is painful to think that I have lost one person who understood, comforted and brought so much joy to my life. I know I will always remember him but hope that time will help (to) lighten my grief and loss. TEST 44 What benefits can traveling (travelling) bring to you? To supplement what we learn from books and teachers, schools usually organize trips for students. Many students considered the planned trips as social outings designed for pleasure only. They don't realize all the knowledge and benefits they can derive from travel. In reality these trips can bring about so many physical, social and mental benefits. Let's describe these benefits in details. In some of our travels we have an opportunity to live amongst nature, to inhale clean air and fresh breeze. We also have opportunities to take long walks, to run, to jump and climb freely so that we can develop physically healthy bodies. On such trips our appetite improves and we sleep soundly. In addition, we gain a lot of social and mental benefits from our trips. Travels and outings provide students with opportunities to be joyful and friendly, and so escape from everyday routines. They give us a chanc9e to become better -acquainted and ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 17
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- socialize with others. From these contacts, we learn how to relate to people, exchange ideas and gain friends. Our trips provide us with association with nature, give us time to relax, meditate and to enjoy games out-of-doors (outdoors). Living with others in groups helps us (to) form good habits such as sharing consideration for others, resourcefulness and friendliness. Moreover, travels and outings will help to develop our knowledge and supplement what we learn from books and teachers. The lessons on Geography, History and Science will be more meaningful to us, enriched through true-to-life observations and experiences. Through travels we can also learn about our beautiful country, the historical relics, the places of interest, the rich resources of our country, the progress that has taken place and the improvements that need to be made. As a result, we turn to know and love our country more. In conclusion, trips are usually beneficial to us. However, to gain the most from our outings we should learn to observe carefully and put in practice rules of good social behavior. We should also learn how to enjoy nature and respect its numerous beautiful offerings. If we keep in mind and practice (practise) all of the points involved in travelling successfully, we can benefit greatly from these experiences. TEST 45 Write a letter to a foreign friend of your introducing him (or her) one aspect of the Vietnamese culture. Dear John, I am very happy as I write this letter to you today because this is a happy time of the year in Vietnam. It is the time of Tet, our New Year. Later I will write to tell you about some other aspects of our Vietnamese culture, but now let me just tell you about this special holiday, Tet. "Tet" is the start of our lunar year. It does not fall on the same date as your New Year - January 1", but we usually celebrate it somewhere from January 15th to February 28th. At this time of the year, the shops are busy, especially those in the Central Market where gaily-wrapped sweets and other goodies fill the shelves. Many people come to buy and the shops are very crowded. Everyone likes to wear new clothes to start the New Year. Then too, gifts must be bought for all relatives, especially for grandparents. Some streets are lined with pretty flowers and big watermelons are for on sale along others. From what I have read and heard, it is similar to your Christmas. "Tet" is a favorite holiday of most Vietnamese people. The culture and traditions of "Tet" have been passed on to us for so many generations. Before and during "Tet" we observe these customs and traditions. In my next letter I will tell you more about some of the special customs we observe during this time. May I close by wishing you "Cung Chuc Tan Xuan", our words for "Happy New Year". Your friend, TEST 46 You have just arrived to visit a foreign country. Write to your parents announcing that you have arrived safely and ask them to send something to you. Dear Mother and Father, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 18
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This letter is to let you know that I have arrived safely in Singapore. My first impressions are that Singapore is a beautiful country and that I am going to enjoy my stay here very much. Everything is so clean and beautiful and very well-organized. The airport is very large and modern and I could see that they have just completed the modernization. The people working there were friendly, courteous and very helpful. They made me feel very welcome to their city. The taxi from the airport downtown was readily available and very inexpensive. My hotel is a new modern one with every convenience. The tourist bulletin that I found in my room suggests to me so many different things that I might like to see and do, so I am sure that I will be busy every minute. Unfortunately, I forgot the shopping list that I had made out before I came here. As you know, many of my friends asked me to buy something for them. I can not possibly remember everything, so would you please send the list to me. I miss both of you and wish that you were here with me. Don't worry about me because this is a very secure and safe place. I will write again in a few days. Your loving son, TEST 47 Relate an accident you've witnessed Last week my next-door neighbor was cooking dinner when there was a telephone call. She rushed out of the kitchen to answer the telephone but forgot to turn off the - gas-stove. The telephone conversation lasted for quite a long time. When she finished the conversation and got back to the kitchen, she found the gas- stove was on fire. Frightened out of her wits, she threw water over the fire. However, the fire did not die out but got bigger and bigger instead, causing her to burn herself. She then shouted for help. Her husband, who was busy making furniture outside in the yard, burst into the kitchen, and placed a large wet piece of cloth over the fire. The fire immediately went out. He then put a bandage over his wife's burns. We should be very careful while cooking and should learn how to deal with fire. TEST 48 Tell about your indoor hobby and why you enjoy it. Experience has taught me a valuable lesson, which is that I should have an indoor hobby to occupy myself in my spare-time; otherwise I might spend my leisure-time on entertaining games which are either mindless or wasteful. After careful consideration I decided to start stamp collection since I regard postage stamps as objects of interest and value. For stamps to be accepted for use as postage, stamps undergo screening steps, and only those stamps which excelled the others in meanings, in artistic skills, and aesthetic designs will be selected. So a stamp is really a cultural trait of the country which issues it. What could be more interesting than having in my hand such a masterpiece? Stamps teach lessons on geography and history. I, of course, will have to look up from dictionaries or other books to discover more about the origin of stamps. This will broaden my geographical and historical knowledge more and more. Then, too, collecting stamps is quite a relaxing activity. I can well imagine how a new beautiful stamp, whether, it is a domestic or overseas one, could make, me happy ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 19
- TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- watching it for hours on end. So my hobby can help me relax. All in all, stamp collecting further stimulates my creative and intellectual growth, which makes me never feel guilty about wasting time. TEST 49 In not more than 100 words write a letter of three paragraphs inviting a friend to spend a weekend with your family at your home in the country. Dear Phu, I'm writing you this letter to invite you to spend some days with my family in the country. Your final term examinations have just been over and you must have studied hard. To get rid of the stress from school activities, come to my country to relax for some days. My family and I have made some arrangements for your arrival. Now it's the harvest time in my country. We'll have a lot of interesting things to do if you like the farm work. In the morning we'll take part in the harvest. In the afternoon we'll take a swim in the river or go fishing on nearby ponds. Hurry up Phu, lots of nice surprise are waiting for you! Cordially yours, Trung Tran Viet Trung TEST 50 Describe a day spent by the river or by the sea. Summer comes together with its extreme heat and nobody can resist the temptation to spend their holiday at the seaside. Last week, in order to escape from the suffocating atmosphere of a crowded city, my friends and I decided to go to Vung Tau beach. When we got to the seaside, the beach had already been crammed with holiday makers. They were either sunbathing on the beach or swimming in the river. After walking along the beach for a short time, we all took off our clothes and put on our swimming costumes. We dived into the water and let ourselves drift along on the waves. Swimming brought us a good appetite. We enjoyed some sea foods and then took a quick nap after lunch. In the afternoon we strolled along the beach, inhaling in rapture the fresh sea air and took lots of photographs. A holiday at the seaside helped us get rid of all worries and trouble and gave us health and enthusiasm to resume work again. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nguyễn Ngọc Toàn – Phone : 0977260895 – E-mail : nntoan.tt@gmail.com 20