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(Speaking Champion Book) Updated 16 Topics PDF
(Speaking Champion Book) Updated 16 Topics PDF
TOPIC 1: MUSIC
Part 2:
Describe a place you know where people go to listen to music (such as a theatre or
a music hall).
I have to say that I am a huge fan of live music performances, and among all the
places that offer great music experiences, I wouldn’t hesitate to go for this special
one in my description. It’s “Tranquil café”, which is only a few minutes’ walk from
my workplace and I drop by this café almost every week.
Well, as the name says it all, it’s quite a cozy and ambient place, which particularly
caters to music lovers. Although this place, located in a small alley in the Old
Quarters, is elusive to many, it still appeals to a huge number of patrons weekdays
and weekends alike. Take Wednesday for example, when the music night is open to
all, hordes of audience go up on stage and perform their favorite songs,
accompanied by one or two guitarists. At the weekends, it usually offers songs
composed by Trinh Cong Son and performed by professional singers. Speaking of
Trinh Cong Son, he is a legendary Vietnamese songwriter, who left in his legacy many
pieces of immortal songs.
I guess the comfortable, intimate atmosphere is what makes every mini concert in
this café so magnetizing to the audiences. You know, it was invariably a full house,
at least for every single time I have been there. Like other people, I dig the feeling of
immersing myself in the dim light with good music. I think it’s a great way of
unwinding after some nerve-racking time at work.
Part 3
1. Do you think children should listen to music?
Yes, totally, coming into contact with music from an early age/during formative
years can provide abundant benefits. Indeed, it has been proven that music exerts a
positive effect on the children’s cognitive development, and the impact starts as
early as prenatal phase. I guess that’s why many mothers-to-be listen to Mozart
music during their pregnancy, when the babies they carry are no more than little
fetuses. Also, listening to music is a fun way for children to let off a little stress, all
the while learning about the world around them. This is done through singing along
songs, whose lyrics often carry many layers of meaning, and therefore promotes
subconscious learning in children.
4. Should people be charged a small fee when they access to music in any
websites?
Definitely, music shouldn’t be free commodity or else, just like with every other
public goods, people would take it for granted. At the same time, it raises the
awareness of listeners of the hardworking composers and singers, who deserve to
be given credit to, so that they would give birth to more outstanding pieces (of
music) and performances in the future. After all, the music industry has served
unprecedented purpose of altering their customer’s emotions and nurturing their
soul, which makes it a valuable asset to human beings and we should all appreciate
it.
In this age of advanced technology: trong thời đại công nghệ phát triển như hiện
nay
To be overshadowed: bị lu mờ
All the rage: phổ biến, thịnh hành
Fade: mờ nhạt, kém phổ biến
Not in the least bit: không một chút nào cả
A conical hat: mũ hình nón, cái nón
As = because
An age-old symbol: biểu tượng lâu đời
To bring about: đem lại, gây ra (hậu quả hoặc lợi ích)
To come into existence: bắt đầu tồn tại
Hand-made product: sản phẩm làm thủ công bằng tay
Skillful craftsman: nghệ nhân có tay nghề
Handicraft village: làng nghề thủ công
To make frames: tạo khuôn
Merchant: nhà buôn, thương gia
A means of protection: đồ bảo vệ
As time goes by,…: Thời gian trôi qua,…
To embody the femininity and charm: thể hiện sự nữ tính và duyên dáng
To cease to do sth: ngừng, không còn làm gì
In place of sth: instead of sth
One-of-a-kind (adj): độc nhất
To jump at the opportunity: tận dụng cơ hội
Part 3
1. What are different types of traditional products?
Being an agricultural country, Vietnam has long been known for various types of
traditional agrarian products such as rice, coffee, pepper and the like. Among these,
I would say that rice is the most typical traditional product in Vietnam – sometimes
known as a ‘rice country’. Thanks to favorable weather patterns, rice is grown
across our country and can be harvested during several seasons per year. Another
product that rivals rice in production and popularity is coffee, with millions of tons of
coffee exported overseas every year.
Agrarian product: nông sản
And the/such like: vân vân
that takes place every year raises awareness among the young about famous legend
associated as well as its origin.
To preserve traditional festival: bảo tồn lễ hội truyền thống
The identity of a country: bản sắc dân tộc
To go hand in hand with sth: gắn liền chặt chẽ với cái gì
To stir up national pride: nâng cao lòng tự hào dân tộc
To translate into sth: chuyển hóa thành cái gì
Legend: truyền thuyết
TOPIC 3: BUSINESS
Part 2
Describe a successful businessman you know/ admire
You should say
Who is the person
How you know this person
How she/he became successful
And explain why you consider him/her as a successful business person
From his look, one could tell straight away that he’s a brilliant guy, and his
impeccable/flawless academic performance (when we were) at school is a
testament to that impression/belief. And so, his career success came as no surprise
to me. Speaking of our schooling, when we were senior students, he used to confide
to me his cherished dream to be his own boss and his drawing up of a business plan
to realize that dream. And as it turned out, this entrepreneurial friend of mine
eventually succeeds in running his own business in selling cosmetic products for
men.
The primary reason why I consider him (as) a successful businessman is that he has
been one of the pioneers in Vietnam who is bold/audacious enough to take
initiatives in selling cosmetics for men, disregarding the traditional female-oriented
nature of this market. And to top it off, he set up his business from scratch, ranging
from doing product and market research, transforming the notion of men using
cosmetics, to establishing the distribution channels to the whole country. All of these
efforts lead to a resounding/roaring success for his business after three years of
operation, and he is about to persuade well-known actors and singers to endorse his
brand in order to gain credibility and in turns attract more sales.
Indeed, Joe’s exemplary courage has motivated many of our classmates, myself
included, to constantly strive for better career prospects/upward mobility. If Joe
could do it, then so could we. “The sky is the limit” – that’s what Joe’s success has
taught us.
1. Do businessmen have to keep working hard even when they are already
successful?
My answer would be a big Yes. Success in business doesn’t come easy, and contrary
to popular belief, it’s more of a process than a destination. Simply put, it takes
perpetual/continuous efforts to keep one’s business in the pink for complacency
would jeopardize success. As for businessmen, if and only if they never cease to
make endeavors in their everyday business operation can they drum up business
and boost their sales figures, especially in the face of the fierce/cut-throat
competition in this day and age. Otherwise, their companies would risk going under
sooner or later.
2. What are the differences between being your own boss and working for others?
3. What personal qualities are needed to open and run your own business?
The first thing that comes to my mind is that you must be a risk taker, that is, you
should have the will/nerve to go it alone and to shoulder the blame should things
go wrong. This is exceedingly important as you would be subject to multiple risks in
the course of setting up a business, possibly with no one by your side to ‘weather
the storm’ with you, so to speak. Equally important is the demanding amount of
knowledge associated with business law and marketing, the
understanding/comprehension which is the norm for any aspiring entrepreneur. In
other words, you have to be well aware of the legislation in your line of business
and to have the ability to strategize your business plans to act accordingly.
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of delaying the retirement age in
Vietnam?
Extending the retirement age could be a good policy, as it may add
manpower/human resources to the respective country’s workforce, and thereby
relieving the pressure/strain on insufficient labour to meet the ever-growing needs.
Also, an expanded labour force can contribute a great deal to facilitate a more
abundant welfare system for the pensioners. On the downside though, this policy
may bode ill for the elderly’s physical and mental fitness as they still have to work
past the current retirement age, an age at which strenuous and mentally taxing
labour can take a heavy toll on their well-being.
TOPIC 4 LETTER/EMAIL
Part 2
Describe an important letter you’ve received.
You should say:
Who wrote this letter
When did he/she write it
What this letter was about
And explain what this letter means to you
The first time I received a letter happened almost 10 years ago, when I was in fourth
grade. On that10th birthday of mine, my mother passed me a long letter with a
delicious box of chocolate attached to it.
When I first came across the letter, I was taken aback by such a meaningful gift filled
with affection. Turned out it was from my mom, who wanted to congratulate me on
entering a new chapter of my life. In my mom’s words, my decade of life with her,
including all of our precious memories together, was what she treasured the most
and she just wanted to let me in on it. The first half of the letter was an account of
the most memorable moments we had together, ranging from the first time when I
said “Mama”, me crying on her shoulder upon receiving poor grades at school, to us
fishing together in the frigid winter. In retrospect, I am so blessed to have an
attentive and caring mother like her at such a tender age.
The other half of the letter was a message that she wanted me to take to heart into
my future journey. It was about staying fearless and being myself no matter what
came in my way, and upholding my integrity and my kind-heartedness even when
the going got tough. A point she highlighted was that I should never lose these
fundamental qualities to anything. Being a ten- year-old kid at the time, I could
already feel the love and the strong belief she reserved for me.
Later on in my life, my mother went on to write me a dozen more letters on my
birthdays, and so far she remains the only one ever doing so. The letter writing part
has become such a tradition for us that every time when my birthday is around the
corner, her letter is what I await the most.
to be taken aback by sth: bị ngạc nhiên bởi cái gì
to enter a new chapter: bước sang một chương mới
to treasure the most: trân trọng nhất
to let sbd in on sth: (inf) cho ai biết một điều bí mật
frigid winter: mùa đông lạnh
Part 3
1. Do you prefer to write letters or emails?
It depends actually. Emails are what I deal with on a daily basis, and therefore are
what I am much more familiar with. This is due in large part to the convenience that
they have to offer, especially in the context of business. However, for some other
circumstances that are not work-related, written letters can be far more appealing.
A prime example of this is Valentine Day, on which a nicely handwritten letter is
undoubtedly better than an average email, content of the letter aside.
on a daily basis: hàng ngày
be due in large part to sth: phần lớn là vì cái gì
the context of business: bối cảnh kinh doanh, công việc
work-related: liên quan đến công việc
appealing: hấp dẫn
A prime example: Một ví dụ điển hình
a nicely handwritten letter: bức thư viết bằng tay chữ viết đẹp
undoubtedly: chắc chắn
reason, when parents wish to leave their children a message, it would be a much
better option (for them) to put together a handwritten letter, so that the chance of
the children actually getting the message from the mail would significantly go up.
Furthermore, I am not sure if it’s just me, but emails can bring up the image of
formality, which would be appropriate in a working environment rather than as a
tool to communicate to children.
to favor doing sth over doing sth: thích làm gì hơn làm gì
That is to say Nói rõ hơn là
to have the habit of có thói quen
to bring up sth mang đến
as a tool to communicate như một công cụ để giao tiếp
TOPIC 5: SHOPPING
Part 2:
Describe a product you bought and felt happy.
You should say:
What it was
Where you bought it
What it was for/ how it was used
And explain why it made you happy
Like/similar to many other girls, I also have an endless enthusiasm for shopping. And
among the dozens of items I’ve bought so far, I wouldn’t hesitate to go for the Leave-
in Conditioner as my best buy.
It all happened a few months back when my new styling started taking a toll on my
hair, rendering it coarse. That urged me to look for a special product to restore my
shining smooth hair. When I went online to browse for a suitable treatment, there
were hundreds of different products for damaged hair coming from various
international brands. Yet it came to my attention that a great many of those could
be damaging to my scalp, and so after taking my health benefit into consideration, I
decided to narrow my searching scope down to natural and organic products. That’s
when I saw the rave reviews from tons of online articles for a Leave-in Conditioner
produced and distributed by Artnaturals- a famous company in the USA. Well, you
can probably guess what happened next; I dug into my savings to buy it without a
second thought.
Brown in colour and highlighted with white letters wrapped around the bottle, the
eye-catching packaging of the Hair Conditioner was rather elegant. What adds to my
customer satisfaction even more was the product’s user-friendliness, which came as
a great relief to me as I don’t usually have much time to meticulously work out how
to use new lines of product. All I need to do after rinsing my shampoo and towel-
drying my hair is to pump the conditioner twice on my hand and apply it evenly to
my hair. The argan oil from the product smells so pleasant and appealing to me. But
it doesn’t stop there, what actually makes it my all-time favourite purchase is indeed
its therapeutic formula, which allows my damaged dry hair to be restored and even
transformed into silky smooth brilliance. Until now, I still believe that it’s been one
of my wisest decisions to purchase such an amazing product.
endless enthusiasm: sự nhiệt huyết, niềm yêu thích vô tận
Leave-in Conditioner: dầu xả khô (để lại trên tóc mà không xả đi với nước sau khi
dùng)
best buy: sự lựa chọn tốt nhất
to take a toll on: gây hại đến
to urge (v): thúc đẩy
shining smooth hair: tóc suôn mượt óng ả
to browse for: tìm kiếm
damaged hair: tóc hư tổn
a great many of : rất nhiều
scalp: da đầu
to narrow my searching scope down to: thu hẹp phạm vi tìm kiếm xuống còn
rave reviews: lời khen có cánh
to dig into my savings (dig – dug – dug): dùng số tiền tiết kiệm được
without a second thought: (mà) không cần nghĩ ngợi
to be highlighted with: được tô điểm, nhấn nhá với
eye-catching packaging: bao bì bắt mắt
user-friendliness: sự thân thiện, dễ sử dụng
to come as a great relief to me: làm tôi cảm thấy nhẹ nhõm
meticulously: một cách tỉ mẩn
new lines of product: các dòng sản phẩm mới
to rinse my shampoo: rửa trôi dầu gội đi
towel-dry: làm khô với khăn
to pump: ấn ra (từ vòi)
evenly: đều
argan oil: dầu argan
therapeutic formula: công thức trị liệu
to be restored: được phục hồi
silky smooth brilliance: óng ả mượt mà
Part 3:
1. What are the differences between online shopping and shopping in the real
malls?
Well, I guess a marked distinction lies in the hands-on experiences that in-store
shopping can offer their customers. That is to say, people would get to see products
on display in their actual size and touch them or even give them a try before making
any purchasing decisions. Products/merchandise displayed in virtual stores, by
contrast, may appear in glamorous images online, but often end up disappointing
the buyers upon delivery because they are not (as) good as advertised. However, on
the upside, online shopping can save purchasers a great deal of commute time and
also offers them much better deals than shopping in a physical store.
marked distinction: sự khác biệt rõ rệt
hands-on experiences: những trải nghiệm thực tế
in-store shopping: mua sắm ở cửa hàng
to get to do sth: có cơ hội được làm gì
on display: được trưng bày
to make any purchasing decisions: đưa ra quyết định mua hàng
virtual store: cửa hàng trên mạng
glamorous: hào nhoáng
to end up V-ing: cuối cùng lại làm sao
purchaser: người mua hàng
commute time: thời gian đi lại
to offer them much better deals: cung cấp nhiều điều kiện mua hàng tốt hơn
physical store: cửa hàng thực (không phải trên mạng)
2. What are the factors do people pay attention to when they are buying things?
Unlike in the past when most people would look for the most affordable
products that satisfy their most basic/fundamental needs, customers these days, to
whom price presents less of a concern , tend to make the goods’ quality a priority.
This is understandable as the citizens’ much higher standard of living allows them to
afford more expensive stuff. Another desirable factor of sought-after products is
the flashy product presentation. With a great variety of brands and types displayed
on the shelves, the ones with more attractive packages are likely to win over
customers.
to satisfy the most basic/fundamental needs: thỏa mãn được những nhu cầu cơ
bản nhất
to make the goods’ quality a priority: đặt chất lượng sản phẩm lên làm ưu tiên
sought-after products: những sản phẩm được săn đón, đắt hàng
flashy product presentation: sự trình bày hào nhoáng, đẹp mắt của sản phẩm
to win over customers: được sự hài lòng, ủng hộ của khách hàng
3. Are there any differences between men and women when they buy things?
Why?
Yes, definitely, there’s a world of difference between them. While women see
shopping as a means of entertainment, men are hardwired to shop only when the
situation calls for it. Indeed, a link has been established between women’s
patronizing stores and their overall sense of satisfaction/gratification. The more
women can acquire luxury stuff, the better off their mental state becomes.
Men, on the other hand, are more realistic as most of them head to a shop only
when they’ve already set their sights on their desired item. Another striking
distinction is males are not as picky as their counterparts in their selection of items.
In other words, women can take hours and hours to cherry-pick the products they
buy by taking a handful of things into consideration like the price, brand and
appearance.
there’s a world of difference between them: có rất nhiều điều khác biệt
giữa họ·
when the situation calls for it: khi nào cần
to patronize sth: là khách quen (của cửa hàng, nhà hàng,…)
sense of satisfaction/gratification: cảm giác hài lòng
the better off their mental state becomes: tinh thần sẽ càng tốt hơn, vui vẻ
hơn
to set their sights on their desired item: nhắm được sản phẩm mong muốn
picky (adj): kén chọn
to cherry-pick (v): chọn kỹ lưỡng
to take a handful of things into consideration: xem xét nhiều thứ
Topic 6: FURNITURE
Part 2: Describe a piece of furniture.
You should say:
What the furniture is
Where it is
What does it look like (What it is made of)
And explain why you are (still) using it.
Honestly, I’m no furniture aficionado, so this question presents a bit of a challenge
for me. But if I have to choose one, then I think it’s going to be the nightstand my
brother gave me as a present for my 18th birthday.
While my brother was on a business trip overseas, he purchased it at IKEA, an
internationally renowned furniture supplier. Coming from IKEA, it comes as no
surprise that it is a fabulous-looking piece, with nicely balanced colors. The
mainstream color is mild black, but in different hues. Specifically, the 3 front
drawers come in 3 different/distinct shades of black, which highlight/bring out the
color of a small yet bright mirror attached to the top edge. All of these manners of
presentation/color mixings make the nightstand a perfect match with my pecan
brown drape and my auburn bed sheet, which altogether give off an elegant and
pleasant vibe for the whole room. Also, it’s one of my favorite items not just for its
appearance but also because of its functionality. The drawers are the perfect place
for me to stuff/store away my bits and bobs in, so that whenever I want to get hold
of something, they save me tons of time rummaging around the room looking for
things. On top of that, the top of the nightstand offers a perfect spot to put the night
light, candles and cups on, so it comes in really handy.
It’s been 4 years now, and although it’s pretty worn out with lots of scratches
around the edges, I’m far from replacing it with a new one. This is because the
nightstand holds a sentimental value for me. It was assembled by my brother
himself, and I can still remember the afternoon chitchat and bickering between me
and my brother about how to put the pieces together.
So all in all, that’s the story of my lovely nightstand, and I’m going to keep using it as
long as I can.
furniture aficionado: người yêu thích nội thất
sth presents (a bit of) a challenge: khá khó khăn, thử thách
nightstand (n): bàn đầu giường
internationally renowned: nổi tiếng quốc tế
the mainstream color: màu chủ đạo
Part 3:
1. Which do you think are better? Old things or new things?
Well, call me old-fashioned and all, but I’ve always preferred a little dated items over
new things. I guess it’s because those old things are often associated with specific
memories, so each old object itself tells a story of the time and the context around it.
Take the nightstand my brother gave me years ago for example, it has taken from a
great deal of wear and tear, but I want to hang on to it as long as I can, as it holds
quite a sentimental value to me. And I guess this applies to a bunch of my other
possessions, I mostly keep them for old time’s sake and cherish them more than
other shiny brand new stuff.
dated items : những đồ cũ
to be associated with: liên quan tới/ liên hệ tới
wear and tear: nhiều vết xước, cũ (kết quả của việc sử dụng nhiều)
to hang on to sth: giữ lấy cái gì, không bán hay cho đi
sth holds a sentimental value to sbd: cái gì đó chứa đựng giá trị về mặt tình
cảm đối với ai
2. How do people decide what furniture to buy for their home or office?
I think most of us would have to take the design as well as the price into
consideration in choosing the most proper piece of furniture. The design of that
particular piece of furniture, be it the color or the size, must go well with other
fixtures and fittings in the room, so that the room as a whole can give off a
harmonious vibe and accommodate its dweller. And as for the cost (as far as the
cost is concerned), determining your price range is a must, because you wouldn’t
want to go for something that your budget can’t quite stretch to.
To take sth into consideration: xem xét cái gì
proper: phù hợp, đúng đắn
to go well with sth: phù hợp với cái gì
fixtures and fittings: các nội thất nói chung, đồ đạc
to give off a harmonious vibe: tạo ra không khí hài hòa
dweller: người ở
to go for sth: chọn, ở đây dịch là mua
one’s budget can’t quite stretch to sth: không đủ tiền mua cái gì
4. Are there any differences between furniture women like and those men like?
Why?
I don’t mean to give a catch-all answer, but from what I can see from my mom and
dad, women and men seem to show different tastes when it comes to furniture
shopping. My mom always goes for colorful, intricate designs, so I guess women
tend to care about the presentation more. Men, like my dad, on the other hand, are
generally more practical, so they are more convinced with the utilitarian ones.
To give a catch-all answer: đưa một câu trả lời chung chung
intricate design: thiết kế chi tiết, tinh tế
practical: thực tế
utilitarian: thuộc về tính ứng dụng, thực tế (hơn là để trang trí)
Topic 7: Rules
Part 2: Describe a rule you agree or disagree with
You should say
What it was
How others thought about this rule
Have you ever violated this rule
And explain why you like this rule
It’s safe to say that Vietnam is a lawful country with its sophisticated system of
legislation, but to single out one that I advocate the most, I wouldn’t hesitate to go
for the one that makes drunk driving illegal/incriminates drunk driving.
According to the law, drivers are not allowed to get behind the wheel when they are
intoxicated. Even when the alcohol concentration of the implicated driver indicates
a merely tipsy level, the person caught in the act would be subject to a heavy fine
and have his driver’s license suspended or completely revoked.
I can’t agree more with this rule as it’s a win-win for everyone/all parties involved.
Being aware that it is illegal to drive under the influence, all drivers would think
twice before getting in a car while intoxicated, and thereby feel disinclined to
jeopardize their own lives. At the same time, it could put a stop to all the collateral
damage resulting from these fatal road accidents, as wasted drivers often drag
passers-by or pedestrians down with them.
In fact, the law has succeeded in saving thousands of lives as the death toll of car
accidents caused by drunk drivers has been proven to plunge soon after the
enforcement of the law.
With regards to/Turning now to the public opinion on the law against drunk driving,
the vast majority seem to be on board with the idea, regardless of the strict
punishments. This is an indication that the public awareness of the dire
consequences associated with DUI is rising, which is a good sign.
It could be that every decent citizen hopes for lower number of traffic-related
casualties, which mean a tragedy for many victims’ families.
sophisticated system of legislation: hệ thống luật phức tạp, tinh vi
advocate the most: ủng hộ nhất
incriminate drunk driving ~ make drunk driving illegal
get behind the wheel: ngồi vào vị trí, ghế người lái xe
drive under the influence/ drive while intoxicated/DUI: lái xe khi đang say
alcohol concentration: nồng độ cồn
Part 3:
1. Do you think children should be forced to wear school uniforms?
Definitely yes. The gap in social background between students at school is clearly
demonstrated by the clothes that they put on, which could be an evidence of
differing social classes. And therefore, uniforms as a compulsory regulation would
exert a positive effect on students with an underprivileged background by
empowering them not to shy away from their social conditions, and accordingly
helps them to put more concentration on their study at school. Also, the scene of
students wearing their school uniforms seems to be pleasing to the eye, creating a
wonderful view for school.
the gap in social background: sự chênh lệch trong gia cảnh, vị thế xã hội
a compulsory regulation: qui định bắt buộc
exert a positive effect on sbd: tác động tích cực lên ai
an underprivileged background: gia cảnh thiếu thốn, khó khăn
empower them not to shy away from their social conditions: để họ không
phải xấu hổ vì vị thế xã hội của mình
be pleasing to the eye: đẹp mắt
create a wonderful view for school: tạo nên một khung cảnh tuyệt vời cho
ngôi trường
2. Why do schools make rules?
At school, rules and regulations are made to regulate students’ behavior, subjecting
them to follow a certain code of conduct, the violations of which would result in the
punishments of their wrongdoings. This would enable them to be aware of the
consequences of their actions, which would deter them from repeatedly breaking
the rule or committing misdemeanors. Since most students are at an
impressionable age at which their personality is shaped, laws and the associated
deterrents are critical in making them law-abiding citizens in the future.
regulate students’ behavior: điều chỉnh hành vi của học sinh
follow a certain code of conduct: tuân theo bộ qui tắc ứng xử nhất định
the punishment of one’s wrongdoing [formal]: hình phạt cho hành vi sai
deter sb from doing sth: dọa để ai đó không làm gì
(commit) misdemeanors [formal]: (thực hiện) hành vi sai trái, không chấp
nhận được
at an impressionable age: ở độ tuổi dễ bị ảnh hưởng
deterrent: sự đe dọa
law-abiding citizen: công dân tuân thủ pháp luật
Part 3:
1. Do you think there are differences between men and women when they work out?
Well, when it comes to keeping fit and working out, men and women are apples and
oranges/as different as chalk and cheese. The first and also the most stark contrast lies
in the incentive for working out between the sexes. For men in general, working out is
often regarded as a fun yet competitive activity, plus it's something that they’re
naturally inclined to do without questioning why. For women, however, fitness is all
about keeping in shape. They do it for the simple reason that it helps them look better
in the eyes of the opposite sex. The second distinction has to do with their preferable
means of exercising. Most men prefer athletic-based activities that require more brute
force than, say, body coordination and dexterity. Women, on the other hand, tend to
stay away from combat sports and favour more delicate ones, like aerobics or circuit
training.
Apples and oranges/as different as chalk and cheese : hoàn toàn khác nhau,
kiểu không thể đem ra so sánh được
The most stark contrast: sự đối lập rõ ràng nhất
Be naturally inclined to do sth: có thiên hướng tự nhiên làm cái gì
Keep in shape: giữ dáng
Have to do with sth: có liên quan đến cái gì
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Athletic-based activities (N): hoạt động thể thao liên quan nhiều đến vận động,
chạy nhảy
Brute force (n): sức lực, sức mạnh thể chất (thường để đối lập với sức mạnh
tinh thần)
Dexterity: sự khéo léo
Tend to do sth: có xu hướng làm gì
Combat sports (v): những môn thể thao đối kháng
Circuit training: thể dục liên hoàn
Physically demanding sports: những môn thể thao đòi hỏi thể lực
The exception, not the norm: là ngoại lệ, không phải phổ biến
For the most part: phần lớn
Strain (v) oneself physically: căng cơ, bắt cơ thể làm việc quá sức
Take a brisk walk: đi bộ nhanh
Football pitch: sân bóng
Catch on: trở nên phổ biến
Moderate breath pacing: nhịp thở vừa phải, điều độ
Augment [formal] (their suppleness) (v): tăng (sự dẻo dai)
strolling around, are sometimes also a truly great stress outlet. As well as sports,
taking a short getaway holiday is also a nice idea for escapism/to escape from daily
stress. What I usually do is traveling with a small group of my close friends during
weekends to some unspoiled or remote areas. Going backpacking to these
untouched regions of the world can help me to unwind, chill out and sometimes find
the solution to troubles I’ve been scrambling to deal with.
Relieve stress: giảm stress
Go a long way: rất tốt, rất thành công
Bring sb peace of mind: mang lại sự thư thái đầu óc
Overwhelming stress: căng thẳng quá mức
Do away with sth: loại trừ, loại bỏ
Stroll (v): đi dạo, đi tản bộ
Stress outlet (n): sự giải thoát khỏi stress
Take a short getaway holiday: đi nghỉ ngắn ngày
Escape from daily stress: giải thoát khỏi stress hàng ngày
Unspoiled or remote areas (n): những vùng nguyên sơ, xa xôi hẻo lánh
Unwind, chill out (v): thư giãn
Scramble to do sth: cố gắng đạt được cái gì một cách khó khăn, vắt chân lên
cổ làm gì đó, tất bật
make a point of: đảm bảo làm điều gì vì nó quan trọng hoặc cần thiết
offer sb the chance: cho ai đó cơ hội
intimate nickname/pet name: tên thân mật
set foot in: đặt chân lên
fit in: hòa nhập
prompt sb to do sth: thúc đẩy ai làm gì, gây ra điều gì
mingle with: hòa nhập, làm thân với mọi người
get on like a house on fire: rất hợp nhau
have so many things in common: có nhiều điểm chung
have a thirst for adventure: có khao khát khám phá
go on road trips: đi những chuyến đi du lịch xa thường bằng xe ô tô
mesmerizing beauty: vẻ đẹp quyến rũ, say đắm
be given away: được tiết lộ bởi
invite sb over: mời ai đến nhà
exotic and mouth-watering: lạ và ngon miệng
insist on: nằng nặc đòi
get the ideas across: truyền đạt được ý tưởng đến nhau
Granted,…,but…: phải thừa nhận rằng,…., tuy vậy…
burst into laughter: phá ra cười
our relationship and mutual understanding grew with each day gone by:
càng ngày càng hiểu nhau hơn, mối quan hệ của chúng tôi tốt hơn lên khi
mỗi ngày trôi qua
Part 3:
1. Do you see many foreigners in Vietnam?
Yes, as far as I know, Vietnam is quite popular with people of different nationalities,
be it tourists or expatriates. You would easily encounter travelers wandering
around the streets in, say, the Old Quarters in Hanoi, where they could explore the
rich culture and traditions of Hanoians, a term we Vietnamese coin for people who
are native to/who reside in the city. Besides, there has been an increasing number of
local to international businesses run by expats. It is, hence, easier than ever before
to taste an exotic dish cooked by a foreign chef or study with a Western teacher at
an English center.
4. Are there any problems that people may have when they travel or live in a
foreign country?
Numerous problems or inconveniences can arise that people might have to face
(with), following their visit or migration to/settling down in another country. Of
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these, the most ‘universal’ one is usually known as “the culture shock”, which mainly
comes from the striking distinctions in ways of life between nations/across the
world. So you may find, for instance, a perfectly fine gesture in one country alien or
offensive in another. Equally troublesome to visitors or foreign dwellers is the (issue
of) language barrier. No matter how/it doesn’t matter how well you’ve armed
yourself with the country of destination’s language, it’s likely that certain unfamiliar
situations may still cause great misunderstandings and confusion to the new
settlers. However, it is always possible to appear friendly/ approachable and open-
minded to call for help from those around you.
inconvenience: sự bất tiện, phiền phức
arise: phát sinh
settle down in: ổn định tại đâu
universal: phổ biến, đúng mọi lúc mọi nơi
culture shock: sốc văn hóa (do sự khác biệt chưa được chuẩn bị trước)
striking distinction: sự khác biệt rõ nét
alien: kỳ lạ
way of life: lối sống
rude or offensive: thô lỗ hoặc xúc phạm
dweller: người cư ngụ, sống ở 1 nơi nào đó
language barrier: rào cản ngôn ngữ
arm oneself with: trang bị bản thân với
misunderstanding and confusion: sự hiểu lầm và bối rối
appear: tỏ ra
call for help: nhờ giúp đỡ
Topic 10 Teaching
Part 2: Describe an experience you taught somebody something
When and where it happened
Whom you taught
What you taught him/her
And explain how you/the person felt about it
Truth be told, I’m not as intelligible/articulate as I’d like to be, and so I often
struggle with offering instructions to others. This awareness keeps me from
routinely spreading my knowledge to others, but off the top of my head, there came
a time when I successfully guided my father to use Facebook.
My father used to be a technophobe who was not that receptive/open-minded to
the latest technology. But when my sister studied abroad, the desire to stay in touch
with his beloved daughter left my father no choice but to turn to me for instructions
on using Facebook.
As you probably know, the two most commonly used gadgets for Facebook access
these days are the laptop and the smartphone. The former is, in my opinion, more
user-friendly for the digitally illiterate, making it an ideal choice for starters like my
dad. My old man, however, disregarded my advice and insisted on using the
smartphone instead. As expected, he had a hard time figuring out the functions of
the virtual keyboard, which was understandable since it was his first encounter to
such a hi-tech gadget. It took some doing before he could familiarize himself with
the feature well enough to move on to browsing Facebook notifications and
chatting online on Facebook Messenger. While we were at it, I tried my best to give
various demonstrations slowly and accurately so that he could keep up. After a
while, things started to clear up, and my father eventually managed to get the hang
of it. Exhausted as I might be, I felt it was really worth my while upon seeing the
look of happiness/delight on my dad’s face (It had been weeks since he last got
updated on what was going on in my sister’s life). From that point onwards, he has
turned to show a strong preference for newly released technological devices in his
daily life for the range of benefits they offer.
Truth be told,: Sự thật là,
intelligible/articulate (adj): dễ hiểu, rõ ràng
to struggle with doing sth: gặp khó khăn khi làm gì
off the top of my head: không suy nghĩ trước, không cân nhắc (điều được
nói ra)
there came a time when…: có một thời điểm khi…
purportedly devour new concepts at a rate comparable to that of their juniors, but
the core issue lies in their hit-and-miss ability to retrieve those memories. This has
to do with the ageing process of their brain, which poses serious obstacles in
retaining and activating the knowledge acquired. What makes matters worse is that
the senior ones show a tendency to be set in their ways and inflexible in their
thinking, thus many would find the thought of being taught by younger ones hurtful
to their pride. Accordingly, it can be the disinclination to cooperate of the elderly
that makes instructing them a challenging task.
Contrary to popular belief: Khác với những gì mọi người thường nghĩ
to get in the way of doing sth: ngăn cản ai làm gì
not be so much st1 as st2: dùng để nói nghiêng về điều thứ 2 nhiều hơn là
điều thứ 1
slow acquisition of knowledge: sự tiếp thu kiến thức chậm
‘senior moments’: (cách nói hài hước) sự đãng trí ở người già
Purportedly [Formal]: được cho là đúng(nhưng có thể sai)
to devour new concepts: tiếp thu những khái niệm mới
hit-and-miss (adj): chập chờn, không ổn định
to retrieve the memories: khôi phục trí nhớ
to have to do with sth: liên quan đến cái gì
to pose serious obstacles in doing sth: đưa ra thách thức khó khăn khi làm gì
to retain the knowledge: nhớ được kiến thức
What makes matters worse is…: Tồi tệ hơn nữa là…
to be set in one’s ways: cố định không có đổi mới, từ chối bất kì sự thay đổi
nào
hurtful to one’s pride: tổn thương đến lòng tự ái, tự trọng
disinclination: sự miễn cưỡng, bất đắc dĩ làm gì, sự không thích, không sẵn
lòng làm gì
Growing up in the capital of Vietnam, where concrete jungles and traffic occupy the
streets, I hardly have a chance to see a garden. This experience is exclusively
available on my visits to the countryside, the first and also the most memorable of
which was back in 2005. Being a nine-year-old kid at the time, I insisted on my mom
bringing me along on her trip to visit our grandparents, who owned the largest
garden I had ever seen in my entire life. The garden was so large that my sister and I
could actually play hide and seek in it. Back in the days, my great grandparents were
farmers who used the garden to grow their produce.
On the entry, there stood a huge tree which might have been a hundred years old.
The tree, which towered over everything else, looked like it was guarding the whole
garden. Walking past “guardian tree”, you should see a giant green carpet laid out in
front of you. Made up of vegetables, grass, and other seedlings, this natural carpet
was the highlight of the whole garden, which never failed to mesmerize a nature
lover like me. Running alongside this fabulous-looking carpet were the sophisticated
floral patterns, which were actually formed by rose plants. The fragrance given off
by the rose plants was an addition to my overall experience. Truth be told, the first
thing on my list every single time I pay a visit to my great grandparents is rushing to
this natural wonder, as it gives me a sense of pure peace and cheerful relaxation
after days of hard work at school.
This might sound a bit like an overstatement (to you), but having been in our family
for generations, the garden has become a really sacred place for us. Whenever my
family and I take a walk in the garden, we feel as if our late beloved great
grandparents were there with us to.
Concrete jungles Nơi có những tòa nhà cao tầng bê tông cốt
thép san sát, ít cây cối
To occupy Chiếm
Exclusively Duy nhất
To insist on sbd doing sth Nài nỉ, nằng nặc đòi ai làm gì
Part 3:
1. What measures should be taken to deal with noise in public places?
Noise pollution has been all-pervading to city-dwellers, causing policymakers to
devise a number of measures in response. Based on empirical evidence, the most
effective countermeasure (to combat noise pollution) is to impose a fine on making
noise in public places proportional to the volume and damage caused. For example,
many restaurants or boutiques (located in residential areas) that are found to abuse
disruptive noise to attract customers’ attention have abolished the practice in the
presence of a financial penalty. Although many may think that this is too harsh a
countermeasure, it is noteworthy that the damage caused by noise is not to be
taken lightly.
All-pervading Tràn ngập khắp nơi, quá phổ biến
City-dweller Cư dân thành phố
Policymaker Nhà hoạch định chính sách
To devise a measure Tìm ra giải pháp
In response Để đối phó
Empirical evidence Bằng chứng thực nghiệm
Countermeasure Giải pháp đối phó
To combat Chiến đấu, giải quyết
To impose a fine on sth Áp dụng một mức phạt vào cái gì
Proportional to Tỷ lệ thuận với
Boutique Cửa hàng nhỏ bán quần áo, giày dép, nữ
trang…
To abuse Lạm dụng
Disruptive noise Tiếng ồn gây rối
To attract customers’ attention Thu hút sự chú ý của khách hàng
To abolish Bỏ
Practice Thói quen, hành động được lặp đi lặp lại
Financial penalty Hình phạt tài chính
Not to be taken lightly Không nên xem nhẹ
Part 3:
1. Do you think advertisements on TV should be banned?
A big yes, actually. Nothing presents as much a nuisance as commercial breaks
during a film or drama, because they just spoil the flow of the whole show or series.
To make matters worse, you have no other choice than to sit through them until the
show resumes. For these reasons, it’d make sense for broadcasters to restrict or
even prohibit commercials altogether on TV.
a nuisance: sự phiền toái
commercial break: khoảng nghỉ để chiếu quảng cáo
to bombard sbd: tấn công ai đó bằng việc đưa quá nhiều thông tin
trait: đặc tính
underpinning message: thông điệp tiềm ẩn
to revolve around sth: xoay quanh cái gì
sth on offer: cái gì đấy được bày bán
to be delicately delivered: được truyền tải một cách tinh tế
veteran marketer: nhà marketer gạo cội (giỏi, nhiều kinh nghiệm trong một
lĩnh vực)
to appeal to the customers’ emotion: đánh vào tình cảm/cảm xúc người
mua
subconsciously/subliminally: một cách vô thức
cut-throat competition: sự cạnh tranh khốc liệt
subtle approach: cách tiếp cận tinh tế ý nhị
advertising gimmicks: chiêu trò quảng cáo
to allure sbd with sth: lôi cuốn, cám dỗ ai bằng cái gì
exaggerated claim: những lời tuyên bố phóng đại
to be hell-bent on doing sth: quyết tâm làm gì dù biết kết quả có thể tệ, cố
đấm ăn xôi
testimonial: sự kiểm chứng, chứng nhận về chất lượng của một sản phẩm
sau khi sử dụng
to gain a foothold in the market: tạo một chỗ đứng trên thị trường
to be more inclined to do sth: có xu hướng làm gì hơn
to take sth at face value: thừa nhận cái gì theo giá trị bề ngoài của nó
Topic 13 Education
PART 2
Describe an area of subject you studied that you are interested in, such as medicine,
physics or mathematics
You should say
What branch of science it is
When you studied it
How you studied it
And explain why you are interested in it
Well, I started to learn Chemistry in the middle of my junior high school, eighth
grade if I’m not mistaken, and surprising as it may sound, Chemistry was not that
tricky. There were two chemistry sessions running simultaneously each week, which
split equally into one for theory and the other for practice. To be honest, my friends
and I didn’t feel drawn to the former class since we were inundated with a plethora
of abstract theories, not to mention the strictly by-the-book delivery of knowledge
from our teacher that failed to attract our attention. Having to sit through such a
lesson made me space out in class. However, it was a world of difference when it
came to the practice class. In the laboratory, we were grouped together to carry out
experiments to find out the reactions of different chemicals and elements, and it
was these “aha” moments upon figuring out how it worked that really intrigued me.
My flawless performance on this course was the icing on the cake. I guess you could
say that part of my interest in this subject could be attributed to my ability to
constantly end the course with flying colors. That added incentive for me to always
strive for the best, and one testimony was my second-to-none results in three
consecutive semesters.
And I guess that I’ve got off to a good start with science thanks to chemistry.
PART 3
1. Did you like science classes when you were young?
Well, yes and no. The primary aspect that made me grow fond of these mind-
boggling lessons is the relentless attempt to provide an explanation for how
seemingly inexplicable events came to be. To illustrate, in one of my science classes
back in high school, I was enlightened about the so-called “butterfly effect”, which
was based on the phenomenon that the flap of a butterfly’s wing could set off a
typhoon. Such an insight really piqued my curiosity as I am one with an inquisitive
nature. Most of the lessons, however, were carried out in classroom settings and
were heavily theory-based. It followed that chances to apply what we had learned
were hard to come by.
Mind-boggling [Informal] (adj): quá khó để có thể hiểu được, quá khó để có
thể tưởng tượng ra
Relentless (adj): không ngừng nghỉ
seemingly inexplicable events: những sự kiện có vẻ như không thể giải thích
được
To be enlightened about sth: được khai sáng, được biết đến cái gì
The so-called + Noun: cái được gọi là
To set off: gây ra
To pique sb’s curiosity: khơi gợi trí tò mò
Inquisitive nature: Bản chất tò mò, ham học hỏi
To carry out a survey/lesson/research: thực hiện, tổ chức một khảo sát/buổi
dạy/nghiên cứu
Classroom setting: Bối cảnh lớp học
Heavily theory-based: nặng tính lý thuyết
It follows that… : vì thế
I think both classes should be made mandatory for schoolchildren at an early stage.
One possible justification for this is that every child has a flair for a certain thing, be
it the artistic domain or the scientific sphere. Compelling them to try their hands at
both areas would allow children a chance to explore themselves and uncover their
potentials. A better self-awareness would then enable children to know what they
are more cut out for, so that they can have a proper orientation for the future.
Perhaps as significant as this is the fact that a broad spectrum of classes are likely to
contribute to a more well-rounded development of children.
Mandatory: bắt buộc
justification for (doing) sth: lý do cho (việc làm) cái gì
To have a flair for st: có năng kiếu về
be it… or…: dù là… hay là…
Sphere: lĩnh vực
To compel sb to do sth: bắt ai đó làm gì
To try one’s hands at st: thử, làm cái gì lần đầu tiên
To explore oneself: khám phá bản thân
To uncover one’s potentials: khám phá tiềm năng
To enable sb to do sth: cho phép ai làm gì
To be cut out for sth: phù hợp với cái gì, có khả năng cần thiết để làm gì
proper orientation for the future: định hướng đúng đắn cho tương lai
As significant as this is: điều quan trọng không kém là
A broad spectrum of sth: sự đa dạng
A well-rounded development: sự phát triển toàn diện
to prompt sb to do st: hối thúc ai làm gì, khiến ai quyết định làm gì
(to) embark on: bắt đầu 1 chuyện gì (thường là mới mẻ, khó khăn)
(to) come to the harsh realization that…: nhận ra một cách cay đắng rằng
(to) envision myself doing years down the road: mường tượng ra bản thân
mình trong vòng những năm tới
(to) dawn on sb that…: chợt nhận ra rằng…
(to) turn out to be sth: hóa ra là
true calling: nghề nghiệp đích thực dành cho mình
an all-consuming passion: một niềm đam mê choán hết thời gian và năng lượng
(to) take a leap of faith: đánh liều tin (thường vào những điều khó tin)
(to) put one’s name down: đăng ký
(to) be showered with congratulations: được chúc mừng rất nhiều
gloriously happy: cực kỳ hạnh phúc
sought after (adj): đáng mơ ước của nhiều người (vì nó rất tốt hoặc khó đạt
được)
(to) come up/(to) be brought up in the conversation: được mang ra để nói trong
cuộc hội thoại
awestruck (adj): bị ấn tượng đặc biệt bởi điều gì
(to) pay sb a compliment: khen
(to) be taken aback: bị bất ngờ
(to) improve by leaps and bounds: cải thiện, tiến bộ nhanh, nhảy vọt
novice (n): lính mới, người mới, ít kinh nghiệm
(to) throw sb a surprising party: tổ chức cho ai đó một bữa tiệc bất ngờ
(to) give sbd a toast: nâng ly chúc mừng ai
blessing: lời chúc phước lành
ecstatic (adj): vui sướng
not so much st1 as st2: dùng để nói nghiêng về điều thứ 2 nhiều hơn là điều thứ
1
hard work pays off: sự chăm chỉ được đền đáp, thành công
(to) keep at sth: cố gắng tiếp tục làm việc mình đang làm
(to) pursue a teaching career: theo đuổi sự nghiệp giảng dạy
One’s dream job: công việc trong mơ
Part 3:
1. What does encouragement do to help people?
Having uplifting words of encouragement at the right time can boost people’s self-
confidence and empower them to overcome hardships. As a matter of fact,
encouragements, if properly done, are a proven tool to fuel people to believe more
in themselves and hence, be more bound and determined to work towards their
goal. Besides, when people are down in the dumps, then hearing the consolation
and comforting words from a friend can lift them out of the bad mood and,
hopefully, have a more positive outlook on the situation.
uplifting (adj): làm tâm trạng phấn khởi, đem lại nhiều hi vọng
to boost people’s self-confidence: giúp mọi người tự tin hơn
to empower them to overcome hardships: truyền sức mạnh cho họ vượt qua
khó khăn
to fuel people to do sth: tạo động lực cho mọi người làm gì
to be bound and determined: rất quyết tâm làm gì
to be down in the dumps: buồn chán, thất vọng
consolation: sự an ủi
lift sb out of the bad mood: giúp ai đó đỡ tâm trạng
to have a more positive outlook on sth: có cái nhìn lạc quan hơn về...
On the upside >< on the downside: về mặt tốt >< về mặt xấu
an endless pool of knowledge: nguồn kiến thức vô hạn
comprehensive: toàn diện
easily accessible: có thể dễ dàng tiếp cận
That is (to say): nghĩa là
to do a search for information: tìm kiếm thông tin
in a matter of seconds: chỉ trong vài giây
misleading information: thông tin gây nhiễu
to grab users’ attention: thu hút sự chú ý của người sử dụng
to feed sth (information) to sbd: cung cấp (thông tin) cho ai
fake or unreliable content: nội dung thông tin giả hoặc không đáng tin cậy
It has been a great help (to students) actually. Perhaps the most
noticeable/conspicuous benefit is the easily accessible online courses offered to
students/them. These programs provide students, especially rural ones, with golden
opportunities to get access to sessions that are designed by reputable professors,
disregarding geographical distances or boundaries. Better still, thanks to online
courses, students could now adjust their pace of self-study to suit/match their
current level, which may not be the case in face-to-face classes.
to be a great help to sbd: giúp đỡ được ai nhiều
noticeable/conspicuous benefit: lợi ích đáng kể/dễ thấy
easily accessible: có thể tiếp cận một cách dễ dàng
golden opportunity: cơ hội vàng, cơ hội quí giá
to get access to sth: tiếp cận với
reputable: có danh tiếng tốt
disregarding geographical distances or boundaries: bất kể khoảng cách hay
ranh giới địa lý
Better still: tốt hơn nữa
to adjust the pace of self-study: điều chỉnh tốc độ tự học
to suit/match one’s current level: hợp với trình độ hiện tại
face-to-face classes: các lớp học trực tiếp (không phải học từ xa)
It might be a bit too early for an undergraduate like me to fancy having a house of
my own, but given that I have to describe an ideal home, I think I would
picture/envisage a small cottage on the outskirts of Hanoi.
A lovely little cottage, ideally with an accompaniment of a small garden, would
make/constitute just the perfect thing/shelter for me. In terms of its layout, the
cottage of my dream would have two bedrooms, with each one decorated and
furnished in a vintage style, just to give off a nice nostalgic vibe. This vibe would be
further brought with a white coating of paint and wooden stick-out balconies to
plant some bonsai trees. Speaking of trees, the aisles leading to the cottage would
be filled with flower bushes to add a colorful touch to the house.
My wish to settle in a suburban cottage has to do with my soft spot for pets, kittens
and puppies specifically/to be exact. Having always wanted to surround myself with
lots/packs of cats and dogs, I find it troublesome to rear/raise them in the city where
my neighbors have little tolerance for my pet companions. Besides, few houses in
the city can offer enough space for cats and dogs to have fun running around, and
my budget wouldn’t stretch to cover those that do (have enough room) anyway. As
such, I would trade it all to realize my dream of owning such an ideal abode in the
years to come.
Part 3:
1. For most Vietnamese people, what is an ideal house?
I don’t mean to overgeneralize, but I suppose the majority of Vietnamese dream of
living in apartments fully equipped/furnished with all the mod cons like
dishwashers, robot vacuum cleaner and the likes. The reason for this might be that
people nowadays are probably too drained after work to come home to piles of dirty
dishes, greasy floors and other trivial concerns that call for manual labor. With the
help of labor-saving facilities, however, they would be able to perform all these
house chores at ease, making sure that there’s some comfort and convenience to
come of it.
to be fully equipped/furnished with sth: được trang bị đầy đủ bởi cái gì
all the mod cons: all the modern convenience: mọi tiện nghi
to be drained: bị kiệt sức
piles of sth: đống gì đó
greasy: đầy dầu mỡ
trivial concerns: những lo lắng nhỏ, không quan trọng
sth call for sth: cái gì yêu cầu cái gì