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Table of Contents
PART 1.................................................................................................................................. 6
1. Home/ Accommodation ............................................................................................................... 6
2. Study ............................................................................................................................................. 9
3. Work ........................................................................................................................................... 12
4. Change ........................................................................................................................................ 14
5. Clothes ........................................................................................................................................ 16
6. Furniture .................................................................................................................................... 17
7. Making Lists ............................................................................................................................... 18
8. Eating out ................................................................................................................................... 19
9. Picnic ........................................................................................................................................... 20
10. Recycle ...................................................................................................................................... 21
11. Sport .......................................................................................................................................... 22
12. Text Message ............................................................................................................................ 25
13. Weekends .................................................................................................................................. 27
14. Price .......................................................................................................................................... 28
15. In a hurry.................................................................................................................................. 28
16. Discussion ................................................................................................................................. 29
17. Tidy ........................................................................................................................................... 30
18. Conversation with A Stranger ................................................................................................ 31
19. Humour ..................................................................................................................................... 32
20. Success ...................................................................................................................................... 33
21. Judgement................................................................................................................................. 34
22. Sleep .......................................................................................................................................... 34
23. Animal ....................................................................................................................................... 37
24. Cooking ..................................................................................................................................... 40
25. Age ............................................................................................................................................. 40
26. Fish ............................................................................................................................................ 41
27. Joke and comedies ................................................................................................................... 43
28. Insects........................................................................................................................................ 44
29. Newspaper & magazine ........................................................................................................... 45
30. Concentration ........................................................................................................................... 46
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31. Handwriting ............................................................................................................................. 47
32. Transportation ......................................................................................................................... 49
33. Shopping ................................................................................................................................... 51
34. Newspaper & magazine ........................................................................................................... 52
PART 2 + 3 ......................................................................................................................... 53
1. Describe an occasion you wore your best clothes. You should say: ...................................... 53
2. Describe a film you would like to share with your friends. You should say:........................ 57
3. Describe a time when you missed an appointment. You should say: .................................... 61
4. Describe a foreign country (culture) you want to know more about. You should say: ....... 65
5. Describe a successful small company that you know .............................................................. 68
6. Describe a piece of important news you got through a text message .................................... 72
7. Describe a water sports you would like to try in the future ................................................... 76
8. Describe a place where you read and write (not your home)................................................. 78
9. Describe a city you have visited and want to come back ........................................................ 82
( => tham khảo đề Describe a city you once went to with your family) .................................... 82
10. Describe a time you won a prize ............................................................................................. 86
11. Describe a conversation topic that you were not interested in............................................. 88
12. Describe a successful family business. .................................................................................... 92
13. Describe a time you made a mistake and how you deal with it ........................................... 95
14. Describe a person who you think is very open .................................................................... 100
15. Describe a time you took a risk, you thought that bad things would happen but still took it
because you believed it would have a positive outcome........................................................... 104
16. Describe a journey that you went on by car. You should say: ........................................... 108
17. Describe a friend you lost contact with and started contacting again............................... 109
18. Describe a mobile app on the phone that you use ............................................................... 111
19. Describe an event you experienced but you didn’t like the music played there ............... 114
20. Describe a volunteer experience you have had. You should say: ...................................... 116
22. Describe a time when you were surprised to meet a friend. You should say: .................. 118
23. Describe a time when you first met someone. You should say: ......................................... 122
24. Describe something you did which was a waste of time. You should say: ........................ 125
25. Describe a project you worked on in your school/college or office. You should say: ...... 129
26. Describe something difficult you would like to succeed in doing. You should say: ......... 132
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27. Describe a place you visited that has been affected by pollution ....................................... 134
28. Describe a person who is always full of energy. You should say: ...................................... 139
29. Describe a photo you have taken .......................................................................................... 142
30. Describe a noisy place that annoys you ................................................................................ 145
31. Describe a sentence or a few words from a poem or a song you like. You should say: ... 150
32. Describe a job you would like to do in a foreign country for a short time ....................... 152
33. Describe a good decision made recently by you or someone you know. ........................... 154
34. Describe a thing you once forgot to do. You should say:.................................................... 159
35. Describe a friend who is a good leader. You should say: ................................................... 162
36. Describe an occasion you helped your family member ...................................................... 166
37. Describe an activity you attend occasionally which is a bit expensive .............................. 170
38. Describe an enjoyable dinner you had with friends. You should say: .............................. 176
39. Describe a time when you saw a child behave badly in public. You should say: ............. 179
40. Describe an occasion you got lost that you didn’t know ..................................................... 183
42. Describe something you enjoyed doing with a group of people ......................................... 184
43. Describe a film or TV program that made you laugh ........................................................ 188
44. Describe an interesting tradition in your country............................................................... 193
48. Describe a time when you were scared by an animal. You should say: ............................ 194
49. Describe an area of science (physics, biology, psychology, etc.) that interests you .......... 196
50. Describe an ambition that you have had for a long time. You should say: ...................... 200
51. Describe a time when you first talked in a foreign language. You should say: ................ 203
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5 KÊNH CHÍNH THỨC DUY NHẤT CỦA
THẦY NGỌC BÁCH IELTS
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IELTS Ngoc Bach
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PART 1
1. Home/ Accommodation
What kind of housing/accommodation do you live in?
I live in a terraced house that has a living room, a kitchen, three bed rooms, two bathrooms
and a lovely back garden. It’s not really a spacious house, but it’s just right for me and my
family.
Who do you live with?
I live with my parents and my siblings. We always get on well with each other and have a
lot of fun.
How long have you lived there?
I’ve lived there since I was a child, until I graduated from high school and moved to the city
to enroll at university, where I lived in a student dormitory during the semester.
(If you answer you haven't lived there long)
What’s the difference between where you are living now and where you have lived in
the past?
Living in a dorm with other roommates is totally different from living in my own house.
My current residential area is quite small and it’s very noisy because there are a lot of people
there and I don’t have my own space. Conversely, when I was living at home, I had my own
spacious room and it made me feel comfortable.
Do you plan to live there for a long time?
To be honest, I intend to buy an apartment in an urban area after I graduate from university.
I can decorate and design my ideal home with whatever facilities I want.
Which room does your family spend most of the time in?
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It’s definitely the kitchen. Not only lunch or dinner time but all our family reunions take
place in the kitchen where all the family members get together to eat tasty meals, and chat
to each other – it’s a really harmonious atmosphere.
Are the transport facilities to your home very good?
To be honest, most of the transport facilities to my place are not very modern. The bus service
from my work place to home is irregular and usually overcrowded.
Do you prefer living in a house or a flat?
I prefer living in a house to a flat because I value my privacy and need my own space.
Owning an independent house, I can plan and design a house layout to suit myself. Moreover,
I can modify a house according to the size of the family.
Please describe the room you live in.
My current room is actually more like a bedsit. It is a multi – purpose room, I use it to sleep
and study as well. It is painted in pink, that’s my favorite color with a bed, a cupboard and
desk. It’s not really spacious but it’s just right for me.
What part of your home do you like the most ?
I prefer my bedroom most due to its convenience and privacy. Because of my stressful work
I want to be in a quiet place and concentrate on my work. In my own room, I’m never
disturbed by anyone else.
Moreover, in my own space I can do whatever I want without bothering others.
VOCABULARY
Terraced house (noun): (ngôi nhà trong dãy nhà cùng kiểu) a house connected on both sides
by other properties
Ex: In England, most people seem to live in terraced houses with lovely back gardens.
Back garden (noun phrase): (vườn ở phía sau nhà) a garden at the rear of the house.
Ex: I live in a terraced house that has a living room, a kitchen, three bed rooms, two
bathrooms and a lovely back garden.
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Spacious (adjective): (rộng rãi) (of a room or building) large and with plenty of space for
people to move around in
Ex: The hotel rooms are spacious and comfortable.
Sibling(s) (noun): (anh/ chị em) a brother or sister
Ex: The younger children were badly treated by older siblings.
Get on well with sb (phrasal verb): (hòa hợp với ai đó) to have a friendly relationship with
somebody
Ex: She and her sister have never really got on well with each other.
Dormitory (noun): (kí túc xá) a room for several people to sleep in, especially in a school or
other institution
Ex: I’ve lived there since I was a child, until I graduated high school and moved to the
city to enroll in university where I lived in a dormitory.
Residential area (noun): (nơi ở) (of an area of a town) suitable for living in; consisting of
houses rather than factories or offices
Ex: It was not safe to locate the chemicals factory in a residential area.
Urban area (noun): (vùng thành thị) connected with a town or city
Ex:Pollution has reached disturbingly high levels in some urban areas.
Reunion (noun): (tụ họp, xum họp) a social occasion or party attended by a group of people
who have not seen each other for a long time
Ex: The College has an annual reunion for former students.
Harmonious (adjective): (ấm cúng, yên bình) friendly, peaceful and without any
disagreement
Ex: It is important to have harmonious relations between the country's ethnic groups.
Irregular (adjective): not happening at the arranged time intervals
Ex: His irregular attendance at school resulted in his failure in the final exams.
Overcrowded (adjective): with too many people or things in it
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Ex: The train was so overcrowded this evening that I was unable to find an empty seat.
Privacy (noun): being alone and not disturbed by other people
Ex: I read the letter in the privacy of my own room.
Suit oneself (verb): to do exactly what you like/want
Ex: Everyone had a different opinion about what colour to paint my room, so in the end I
decided to just suit myself.
Modify (verb): (sửa đổi, thay đổi) to change something slightly, especially in order to make
it more suitable for a particular purpose
Ex: We found it cheaper to modify the existing equipment rather than buy new.
Bedsit (noun): (phòng vừa để ngủ vừa để học, tiếp khách) a room that a person rents and
uses for both living and sleeping in
Ex: He lives in a tiny student bedsit used for both sleeping and studying.
Multi-purpose (adjective): (đa chức năng) having many different uses
Ex: This room is multi-purpose – we use it for meetings, interviews and taking breaks.
2. Study
Describe your education
I started primary school when I was 7. 5 years later, I went to secondary school at 12. Then
at 16, I made it to a high school for gifted students in my hometown. In my country,
highschool education lasts 3 years, then I went onto higher education at the Foreign Trade
University where I’m currently studying economics.
What is your area of specialization?
Well, my major is External Economics. I have mastered the basics of economics and socio-
economics, combined with business knowledge mainly related to the import and export
business.
Why did you choose to study that major?
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I think it would help to fulfill my dream of introducing my country’s agricultural products
to the world. Vietnamese goods have a real potential, but they still struggle to make a name
for themselves, you know.
Do you like your major? (Why?/Why not?)
Yes, of course. Studying economics, especially external economics is interesting and

practical. It helps me to keep up with current affairs and it improves my analytical and
problem-solving skills as well.
What kind of school did you go to as a child?
As a child, I attended a public elementary school. It’s quite a big school in my hometown
which provides both high quality education and a supportive environment, so I think I was
quite lucky.
What was your favourite subject as a child?
Well, I used to be very passionate about drawing when I was a little girl. It was fun to work
with brushes and colors, you know, as it was the time when I could indulge in my own
creative world.
Do you think your country has an effective education system?
To be honest, I don’t think so. Our system has somehow become unduly stressful, does not
promote creativity and the ability to be critical due to the fact that our society still cares way
too much about grades and schools consequently focuses on an exam-driven curriculum,
which I find quite impractical.
(Possibly) Are you looking forward to working?
Absolutely! It’s great to join the workforce, especially when I can do the job I love. Not
only will it pay the bills, but it’ll also give me the joy of making a contribution. It’s hard to
be happy and fulfilled without working, you know.
VOCABULARY
Higher education (chương trình đại học) [n] post-18 learning that take places at universities
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Example: According to a research, nearly 50 percent of Vietnamese students in U.S. higher
education are studying either business or engineering, with business-related majors making
up 38 percent of all enrollments in 2012/13
Master (tinh thông, nắm vững) [v] learn how to do sowmthing well
Example: She lived in Italy for several years but never quite mastered the language.
Make a name for oneself ( trở nên nổi tiếng) [idiom] become famous and respected by a
lot of people
Example: By the time he was thirty-five, he had made a name for himself as a successful
railway contractor
Keep up with (cập nhật thông tin về cái gì) [idiom] be aware of
Example: Even though he's been travelling, he's kept up with what's going on back home
Analytical (thuộc về phân tích) [adj] using analysis or logical reasoning
Example: Analytical skills are essential in the workplace to ensure necessary problem
solving occurs to keep productivity and other areas of the workforce functioning smoothly
Elementary school (trường tiểu học) [n] primary school, school for children between 7-11
years old (in Vietnam)
Example: It’s essential that children at the official entry age for elementary school attend
classes fully.
Unduly (quá mức, không chính đáng ) [adj] excessively/ to a level that more than is
necessary, acceptable, or reasonable
Example:
For every new parents, the decision about whether to vaccinate his or herchild has been un
duly stressful
Exam-driven curriculum (chương trình học để phục vụ cho các kỳ thi) [expression] the
courses taught a school, college, which focus on teaching what will be on the exam
Example: Many parents believe that exam-driven curriculum can change their kid’s
attitude towards school in profoundly negative ways.
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Pay the bills (trang trải cuộc sống) [ idioms] provide enough income to sustain one’s lifestyle
Example: Being a dentist isn’t so glamorous, but it pays the bills.
3. Work
What do you do?
I’m currently working as a graphic designer for a fashion magazine for youngsters
What are your responsibilities?
Well I’m mainly responsible for designing the cover of the magazine. I normally work with
the concept team to make sure that the final product will both attract the potential buyer’s
attention and express the theme of the magazine.
Why did you choose to do that type of work (or, that job)?
I guess it’s because of my artistic passion. The process of creating beautiful things is
somehow intriguing to me, so I chose to be a graphic designer, which combines both art
and technology. It’s quite interesting, you know.
Is there some other kind of work you would rather do?
Well, if possible, I’d like to be a freelance writer. Actually I’m a big fan of action movies,
and I also care about healthy living, so, I’d love to write about these topics and share my
stories with people of the same interest.
Describe the company or organization you work for
My company is not huge, it’s just a small art designoffice, but is definitely an inspirational
workplace with a young, creative, and extremely passionate team. We work on the basis of
mutual understanding and respect for each other, so it’s kind of an ideal environment for me.
Do you enjoy your work?
Most of the time. It’s rewarding to co-work on projects with amazing people in an open and
supportive environment to bring out an art production that will ultimately give me a sense
of satisfaction and pride.
What do you like about your job?
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Well, the perk of being a graphic designer is that you’ll surround yourself with inspiring
images everyday. My daily working life involves seeking out inspiration in all sorts of
places, researching incredible illustrations and graphics, and creating them too. It’s great, I
think.
What do you dislike about your job
What I don’t like about this job is that our personal taste in design varies, and normally I’ll
have to do a thousand edits to get the final product that meets the demand of my boss while
still * relating / staying faithful to /remaining trueto the initial concept.
* conform means ‘to behave according to the usual standards of behaviour that are expected
by a group or society’ – this does not relate to things like ‘concepts’.
(Possibly)Do you miss being a student?
Sometimes, when I’m burdened with heavy workloads or the pressure of everyday life, I
recall the memories of being a student. We were all carefree and innocent back then. It’s a
precious time that I cherish.
VOCABULARY
theme (đề tài,chủ đề) [n] the main subject of a talk, book, film, etc
Example: The father-daughter relationship is a recurring theme in her novels.
Intriguing ( hấp dẫn, gợi thích thú) [adj] very interesting because of being unusual or
mysterious
Example: The Huns are intriguing not only because of their notoriously hawkish
history, but also because of their place as middlemen between Mongol and Turkic
ethnicity
On the basis of (trên cơ sở) [idiom] base on
Example: Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age or disability is not allowed.
Rewarding (bổ ích, đáng làm) [adj] giving pleasure, satisfation
Example: The most rewarding aspect of living forever is you have unlimited time to perfect
your abilities and accumulate wealth.
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Ultimately (cuối cùng thì, rút cục) [adv] at the end of a process, period of time, etc.
Example: Everything will ultimately depend on what is said at the meeting with
the directors next week.
Perk ( đặc quyền, thù lao thêm) [n] an advantage or something extra that you are given
because of your job
Example: A company car and a mobile phone are some of the perks that come with the
job.
Conform (to sth) (tuân theo) [v] obey the rule or reach the necessary stated standard
Example: Before buying the baby's car seat, make sure that it conforms to
the official safetystandards.
Cherish (yêu mến, coi trọng) [v] keep hopes, memories in your mind because they are
important to you and bring you pleasure
Example: I cherish the memories of the time we spent together.
4. Change
Have you changed a lot since your childhood?
Of course, yes. I am now more knowledgeable and more mature. I’ve become more aware
of others and their struggles and circumstances, and therefore I’ve become significantly
more liberal-minded than I was. I respect and appreciate my parents more, and understand
their love and their struggles on a much deeper level. There are a lot of changes in my
lifestyle also, for example, when I was a child, I didn’t care for housework, but now I have
been forced to do housework throughout adult life, and I have actually come to enjoy it to
an extent.
What do you plan to change next year?
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I think every passing year is a mirror that holds our actions and their consequences. This
year has taught me a lot and next year I would like myself to be more knowledgeable so
that I can go higher in my career. I'll also try to be more considerate towards my parents.
You know, as a person grows up they start realizing what their parents did for them all
those times.
Do you like changes? Why?
To some extent, I do like changes. You know, changes are mandatory. With every stage in
a person’s life comes change. These changes can be any type physically, mentally,
emotionally and these are essential because with every change a person grows and
becomes better.
Vocabulary
1. Knowledgeable (adj) knowing a lot:

She's very knowledgeable about Vietnam literature.
2. Aware (of): (adj) knowing that something exists, or having knowledge or experience
of a particular thing.
I suddenly become aware of him looking at me.
3. Liberal-minded (adj) espouring liberal views and policies

She was open and liberal-minded on many subjects.
4. Considerate (toward) (adj) pays attention to the needs, wishes, or feelings of other
people.
He's the most charming, most considerate man I've ever known.
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5. Clothes
What's your favorite color of clothes?
I like most colors, but my most favorite colors to wear are black and white because these
two colors are classic and versatile, and they are easy to match with other accessories.
What kind of clothes do you never wear?
Well I could come up with some, for example T-shirts with large brand signs. I don’t like
clothes that a lot of people wear. I also wouldn’t wear clothes made from nylon fabric to
protect the environment.
What kind of clothes do you usually wear?
Well it depends on the weather for me. In summer, I like to wear ripped jeans or short
shorts and a shirt or crop top with a light jacket. But in winter, I would wear an oversized
hoodie on top of a shirt.
Do you wear the same style of clothes on weekdays and weekends?
No. I don’t. I have two sections in my wardrobe. While one section of clothes is reserved
for weekday wear that includes formal office wear, the weekend wear constitutes casual
and party clothes.
Vocabulary
1. Constitutes (verb) to be or be considered as something:

Her refusal to sell the house constituted a major blow to our plans
2. versatile (adj) able to change easily from one activity to another or able to be used
for many different purposes.
She’s a very versatile young actor.
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6. Furniture
Do you have a lot of furniture in your home?
Well I do not have much. I pursue the minimal style so my house is just equipped with
basic furniture including essential items such as: a television and coffee table for the living
room, pull-out bed for my bedroom, basic pots and pans for cooking in the kitchen;
essential toiletries; a trash can and some cleaning supplies.
Is there anyone who bought furniture for you?
Yes, my parents. You know, I am still a student, so my parents support me a lot in

purchasing essential items for my living. I am so blessed by having such a caring mother
and father.
What kind of furniture would you like to buy?
Well I love investing in storage solutions for my workplace at home because I would like
to get my work space organized, thus helping to improve my concentration and
productivity.
Which furniture do you like best in your home?
My most favorite furniture item in my home is the portable locker cabinet I bought last
year, which is well-designed and made from high quality wood. It has become a great asset
in storing my work-related documents at home and preventing anybody from touching
them or interfering with my work.
Vocabulary:
1. Concentration (noun) the ability to think carefully about something you are doing
and nothing else
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I find that yoga improves my concentration a lot.
2. Asset (noun) a useful or valuable quality, skill, or person.

She’ll be the asset for the team
7. Making Lists
Do you make a list when you shop?
Yes, I do. Every time I go the super market, I make a shopping list so that I can focus on
the stuff I really need, thus saving a lot of my time and energy.
Do you make a list for your work? (Does it work?)
Not all the time. It depends on if my schedule is busy or not. For example, I always make
my to-do list work for November and December because at that time I have exams.
Therefore, I make a to-do list to get organized and help me focus on the most urgent things
I have to get done first. By doing this, I can get things done faster and more productively.
Why don't some people like making lists?
Well some of my friends never make to-do lists because they find it does not work for
them. They get so overwhelmed just by looking at all the things they need to do and they
feel that they are continuously adding to their list but not reducing it.
Do you prefer making a list on paper or mobile phone?
I prefer using a digital to-do list because it is extremely convenient. It gives me the liberty
to change and update my lists conveniently. Additionally, I can add tags to activities that
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need attention as a priority. I can also have a daily set of tasks that repeat themselves and I
can move tasks, up and down, depending on their sequence.
Vocabulary:
1. Overwhelmed (adj) to cause someone to feel sudden strong emotion

She was overwhelmed by the feelings of remorse for what she has done
2. Priority (noun) something that is very important and must be dealt with before other
things
We need to establish a new set of priorities.
8. Eating out
Do you like eating out?
Well I don’t enjoy eating out much. It sounds attractive until you have to eat out a lot. It
gets really expensive, especially if I go to places that cook well. Since restaurant food is
engineered more for a splurge than as part of a daily diet, it's difficult to eat the way I
want to over an extended period of eating out. At the present, I really only eat out when I
have a specific craving for something I haven't eaten in a very long time.
How often do you eat out?
As I said previously, I only eat out when I have a specific craving for something I haven't
eaten in a very long time or when my friends invite me out for dinner sometimes.
Do you prefer eating out to eating at home?
I always go for home cooked meals. Restaurant food of course tastes good but you cannot
be sure of the quality and hygiene. Also restaurant chefs add a lot of taste enhancers,
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colours and other synthetic additives. Therefore, for the sake of food safety, I prefer eating
at home.
Vocabulary
1. Splurge (noun) an occasion when someone spends a lot of money buying something
expensive
If you can afford the spurge, go for it.
2. Craving for (verb) a strong feeling of wanting something

Christina has a craving for Chocolate.
3. Synthetic (adj) Synthetic products are made from artificial substances, often
copying a natural product.
Even the hair is synthetic
9. Picnic
Did you go on a picnic when you were a child?
Well, I'd say I did. I remember when I was about ten years old, my family members often
gathered together and had picnics in the backyard of my uncle’s house. It was a large and
beautiful backyard surrounded with flowers and big trees. Those were one of the most
memorable moments in my childhood.
How often do you go on a picnic now?
Well at the moment I rarely go on a picnic. Instead, my family and I go on a short holiday
at the weekend once a month. It may be a trip to a mountainous area or the beach around
50-100kms from Hanoi.
Where do you go on a picnic? Why?
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I think a park or forest with beautiful green surroundings is the ideal green spot to host a
picnic because it will give you plenty of space to invite a lot of people and keep you
entertained with fun games after enjoying your picnic dishes.
Vocabulary
1. Memorable (adj) likely to be remembered or worth remembering

High school is the most memorable time of my life.
10. Recycle
Do you recycle now? Why?
Yes, I do. I recycle on a daily basis. I separate the garbage in my house into paper, plastic,
glass then take it to the recycling bin which is available in my condominium complex.
Along with this, I reuse items as often as possible. For example, by cleaning glass jars and
small pots, I can use them as small containers to store odds and ends. I also turn old
clothes into other textile items such as cushion covers or teapot cozies. I believe that
people need to recycle as much rubbish as they can to save the planet’s resources.
Did you recycle when you were a kid?
Sadly, no! When I was a child, I was not taught to be aware of the importance of The
Three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. In my country, the division of garbage into organic
versus non-organic, or paper/can & bottle/glass/waste categories hardly exists. As there
is no strict legal system in Vietnam, many families just throw away all they consider waste
in the same bags.
Will you recycle in the future?
Yes, of course I will. As now I am aware of the importance of protecting the environment,
I will try my best to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible. However, in my
country, not everyone recycles. I hope that in the future, legal and economic
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solutions will be carried out to heighten public awareness, improve the effectiveness of
plastics collection and design policies for recycling activities.
What kind of things do you recycle?
Well some common materials that I recycle are plastic, paper, glass, and metals such
as aluminium and steel.
Aluminium noun /ˌæl.jəˈmɪn.i.əm/: Al a chemical element that is a light, silver-

coloured metal, used especially for making cooking equipment and aircraft parts: nhôm
Example: We take all our aluminium cans for recycling. (Chúng tôi lấy tất cả các lon nhôm
của chúng tôi để tái chế.)
Vocabulary:
1. Odds and ends (noun) various things of different types, usually small and not
important, or of little value.
There are still a few odds and ends to bring over the new house.
2. Heighten (sb’s) awareness (of sth) make people realize something more clearly
Employees in this company are using a heightened awareness of work flow.
11. Sport
Do you often do physical exercise?

(Answer) Yes, I do, and on a regular basis, (Give reason for your answer) though I wouldn’t
say that I’m a gym junkie, I have to say that I put great emphasis on getting into shape and
always spare at least 3-4 days to work out at the gym.
How do you do exercise?
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(Answer) Personally, I alternate between hitting the gym or taking gentle exercise at home.
(Give reason for your answer) On days when I have more free time, I like to exert myself
by running on treadmills and lifting weights at the fitness centre, while on busier days, a
simple morning jog or yoga at home would do.
Do you have any plans for exercise in the future?

(Answer) Actually, I do have some in my mind right now. (Give reason for your answer)
Firstly, I’m considering taking up a sport, something like boxing, but only for leisure and
not competitively. Additionally, I plan to maintain my current fitness regime in order not to
be out of condition.
Do young people in your country like to do exercise?

(Answer) I suppose yes. (Give reason for your answer) Being fit rather than being skinny is
a mindset that is recently catching on in Vietnam. Therefore, many young people are trying
to incorporate physical activities into their daily routine as well as adopting healthy eating
habits to achieve their dream figure.
Vocabulary
Từ vựng chủ đề Sports and Exercise
1. to get into shape
Meaning: to become fit
Example: If people have a sedentary lifestyle, they must do regular exercise to get into
shape.
2. to work out at the gym
Meaning: to train the body by physical exercise at the gym
Example: As part of a healthy lifestyle, people of all ages should work out at the gym on a
regular basis.
3. to take gentle exercise
Meaning: to do exercise which is not physically demanding or tiring
Example: Even the elderly can keep fit by taking gentle exercise, like jogging or simply a
walk in the park.
4. to exert oneself
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Meaning: to make a big physical effort to do something
Example: I believe that sports professionals deserve high salaries because constant hard
training is necessary, so that they can exert themselves to the limit when they compete.
5. to take up sport/to take up exercise
Meaning: to start doing a sport, to start doing exercise
Example: Governments should provide sports facilities to encourage more people to take
up sport.
6. to be out of condition
Meaning: to be physically unfit
Example: One of the causes of obesity is that many people are out of condition and fail to
exercise regularly.
Từ vựng chủ đề Health

1. a fitness regime
Meaning: a method or routine of taking regular exercise
Example: Even elderly people can adopt a fitness regime by taking light exercise such as
walking or jogging.
2. healthy eating habits
Meaning: eating healthy food at regular times of the day
Example: Health education involves teaching people about healthy eating habits, such as
regular mealtimes and eating fruit and vegetables every day.
Other vocabulary
1. to alternate - between something and something (thay đổi luôn phiên giữa cái gì và cái
gì) [verb]
Meaning: To switch between two different people or things.
Example: His marks this year have alternated between excellent and very poor.
2. to catch on (trở nên thịnh hành, phổ biến) [phrasal verb]
Meaning: to become pupular
Example: Leather jackets are really catching on these days.
3. skinny (gầy gò) [adjective]
Meaning: very thin and weak
Example: When I was a child, I had skinny arms and legs.
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12. Text Message
Do you text someone if they don’t answer your phone?
It depends. I often send a message if it’s an essential issue that they need to know. In case of
an emergency, I’ll try to make another phone call instead of texting. And if my call is just
about some daily stuff such as seeing a movie, eating out or if I just want to have a chat,
then I just text and wait for a reply.
Is there any occasion when texting someone is better than calling them?
Oh, yes. It might be when I’m informed beforehand that they will attend a formal event. For
example, my mother or father usually ask me not to phone them the following morning if
they have something important, like a company meeting. Because I already know about it,
I’ll just send them text messages if I need to get in touch with them about something.
Have you ever had difficulty replying?
Well, that would be when my phone account runs out of money – I may sometimes forget to
top it up. Another case may be when my battery is used up and needs charging. It’s even
worse when both of them happen at the same time and somehow I foolishly leave my charger
at home.
How often do you send text messages?
Daily, or hourly. We now have so many user-friendly applications on smartphones and

other social networking sites that make texting much easier than ever before. Of course,
these applications also support calling, yet to be honest, I’m more into sending texts than
making a call.
Các từ thuộc chủ đề Communication:
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to be user-friendly
Meaning: to be easy to use, without a need for advanced skills
Example: One feature of modern communications technology is that, in general, it is user-

friendly.
Dịch đại ý
To be user-friendly: thân thiện với người dùng
Nghĩa: dễ sử dụng, không cần kỹ năng cao
Ví dụ: Một trong những đặc điểm chung của công nghệ giao tiếp hiện đại là chúng khá
thân thiện với người dùng.
2. social networking sites
Meaning: a website on which you communicate with people who share your interests
Example: Young people today waste too much time on social networking sites such as
Facebook or Twitter
Dịch đại ý
Social networking sites: mạng xã hội
Nghĩa: trang web nơi bạn giao lưu với mọi người và có thể chia sẻ những vấn đề bạn quan
tâm
Ví dụ: Người trẻ hiện nay thường lãng phí quá nhiều thời gian vào các trang mạng xã hội
như Facebook hay Twitter.
Các từ khác:
1. to get in touch with sb [expression]:
Meaning: to communicate with somebody, especially by writing to them or calling them
Example: I’m trying to get in touch with John – do you have his number?
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2. to top up [phrasal verb]:
Meaning:to increase the amount of something to the level that you need
Example: I have no more credit left on my mobile phone, so I will top it up today.
3. to be into sth [expression]: (enthusiastic or interested in): thích cái gì
E.g. Jackie’s really into classical music - he listens to it all the time.
13. Weekends
What do you usually do on weekends?
Well literally anything. I’m supposed to do chores on Saturday and it takes me hours to
do one. On Sunday, I usually schedule a meeting with my friends. We mostly just eat out,
drink craft beers and play board games, but we occasionally watch a movie or go to an
event in the city.
Would you say weekends are important to us?
Yes, I could say, that weekends are really important. Weekends give us the chance to
improve on ourselves as people rather than always improving our professional skills, to
spend time with friends and family, and to plan a weekend trip in a nearby place. Thanks to
weekends, we are more relaxed and productive when we go back to work.
Do you often go to the cinema on weekends?
I probably only go once every two or three months because I have less time now than I
did when I was a student, and when I do have free time, I usually want to hang out
with my friends and have a chat, rather than sit down and watch films.
Vocabulary:
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1. Take (time) to do something: to spend enough time to do something well or
carefully
It took her two hours to travel from Hanoi to Phu Tho
2. Hang out with (phrasal verb) to spend a lot of time in a place or with someone
They spent the whole Saturday hanging out by the lake
14. Price
Have you reduced your spending recently?
Yes, I have. Recently I’ve tried to reduce my spending by minimizing the money spent on
clothing, footwear, reducing electricity use, eating at home, clearing out unwanted stuff
and only buying the essentials.
Do you compare prices?
Yes, I do. I always compare prices before shopping. I think comparing prices is essential
before making a purchase because it helps consumers find great deals on the same item or
find similar items at discounted prices, thus saving me a substantial amount of money.
Vocabulary:
1. Minimize (verb) to reduce something to least possible level or amount

We have to minimize the risk of infection
2. Make a purchase (phrasal verb) to buy something

A house is the most expensive purchase that most people ever make
15. In a hurry
When was the last time you did something in a hurry?
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The last time I was in a hurry was the time I rushed to work one morning because I woke
up late. The night before that I had a birthday party with friends till midnight so the
exhaustion after that led me to oversleep in the morning.
What kind of things would you never do in a hurry?
Well, I think I would never finish work for my customers in a hurry, otherwise it would
cause lots of errors that might lead to a terrible loss for them. That is not acceptable.
Do you like to finish things quickly?
No, I don’t stand finishing things too soon because I would probably make mistakes
without careful and considerate work.
Vocabulary:
1. Oversleep (verb) to sleep for longer than you intended to and so wake up late
I went to school late yesterday because I overslept again
2. Considerate (adj) kind and helpful

It is very considerate of you to prepare all this for me
16. Discussion
What do you like to talk about?
Well my favorite topic to discuss is the movies that I have watched and liked with like-
minded people as long as possible. There are instances where a friend from the film
industry and I were talking about a favorite scene in a movie for like an hour.
Do you change your opinions frequently?
No, for me, changing my opinion takes time. It depends on the circumstances also. If I am
absolutely sure of the reliability of the new information received, I would change my
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previous opinion. In the course of maturation and getting some experience, my views on
life and opinions might also change.
Vocabulary:
1. Like-minded (adj) (of people) share the same opinions, ideas, or interests:
She opens a workshop about rural tourism for like-minded people
17. Tidy
Are you a tidy person?
Definitely. I love seeing my things organized. I often try to clean my home and work
space on a daily basis.
Are all of your family members tidy?
Yes. Especially my mom, she is obsessed with cleaning. She’s always trying to keep
everything neat and spotless. That’s why she sometimes complains about my brother
throwing his dirty clothes everywhere.
Are you tidier at home or at work/ (school)?
At work (school) definitely. I think it’s totally fine to create a mess in my own room but it
would be unacceptable to throw stuff in public places. In fact, I’ve never forgotten to clean
up my desk before leaving work/ school.
Vocabulary:
1. On a daily basis: everyday

Restaurant just open almost on a daily basis
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2. Obsessed (with) (adj) unable to stop thinking about something; too interested in or
worried about something
Nowadays people are so obsessed with money
18. Conversation with A Stranger
Is it hard to strike up a conversation with a stranger?
No. I think striking up a conversation with strangers is not too hard. Sometimes you just
need to start with a smile, and comment on something unique about them like an item of
jewelry, an unusual shirt, or even a tattoo. For example, you could initiate a conversation
with a person by saying: "Wow, that is a beautiful pendant, what kind of stone is that?"
Do you normally carry on a conversation with strangers?
Well I rarely carry on a conversation with strangers unless it is a person I find attractive, is
someone I want to become good friends with, or someone who may be able to introduce
me to new and interesting people.
Are you afraid of being evaluated when you meet someone for the first time?
Yes sometimes, especially when I am really into that person. While talking to him/ her I
might find myself in a state of analysis, and fear that I may be saying something that will
make them go away.
Vocabulary:
1. Strike up something (phrasal verb) to create or establish a relationship or

conversation with someone.
He struck up a relationship with a singer soon.
2. Go away (phrasal verb) to leave a place / to disappear
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It was weeks before the bruises went away
19. Humour
Do you like being close to a person who has a good sense of humor?
Yes, I like being around humorous people. People who make us laugh generally deliver a
comfortable and friendly feeling into our heart. In addition, humor is also a sign of
common interest. If someone makes me laugh, I know that I have something in common
with that person, so it is a bonding feature.
What type of programmes do you find funny on TV?
Well I would go for romantic comedies when it comes to television. The main reason why
I’m a big fan of this type is that I really adore the happy endings of those movies. It gives
me hope. After finishing those movies, I come back to reality and hope that I can find
someone who makes me feel just how I felt while watching these movies. Warm and filled
with so much love.
Which types of programmes are most popular in your country?
I think it depends on different tastes. The young love watching sport programmes or some
reality shows while for people who have grown up a little bit, they prefer drama. For
example, my mother has a strong liking for Korean dramas.
What kinds of things make you laugh?
I think there are many different kinds of things that make me laugh: a joke, something
silly, something stupid, a funny conversation with friends, or sometimes just ridiculous
things that you see happen in everyday life.
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Vocabulary:
1. Have a strong liking for: like something very much

Try to develop a strong liking for books, and read all types of them
20. Success
Is it important to succeed for the first time? Why?
No, I think it is fine to fail for the first time. I can't say that I love it when I fail, but it
would be much more gratifying to succeed after multiple times making mistakes and
fixing each of them. That said, the failures only make the successes sweeter, and the
learning process much more valuable.
What factors lead to success?
In my opinion, the key factor which leads to success is persistence. Walt Disney went
bankrupt after a company he began in Kansas City, Missouri failed. Henry Ford's first five
businesses failed before he popularized the assembly line. You know, successful people
don't quit.
Vocabulary:
1. Gratifying (adj) pleasing and satisfying

It must be very satisfying to see all students become successful
2. Persistence (noun) the fact that someone or something persists

His persistence has helped the group to receive the medal.
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21. Judgement
Do you often judge anyone?
Yes, I do. Actually, we all judge people all of the time. It's part of our perception and it’s
not necessarily a bad thing. We look at someone and then make a snap judgement based on
any information readily available like their clothes, appearance, the way they carry
themselves, etc. These are quick and easy frameworks that help us navigate social
interactions.
How do you feel when someone hates you?
It doesn't feel good for sure. The feeling of being hated or ignored is as painful as an
infected wound which reminds you again and again that you are a bad person. The first
thing that comes to one’s mind when being hated is: What have I done to deserve this?
Vocabulary:
1. Social interactions (adj) the processes by which we act and react to those around us
The most common forms of social interaction are exchange, competition, conflict,
cooperation, and accommodation.
22. Sleep
How long should people sleep for the benefit of their health? Why?
(Answer) I’m not too sure, but according to what I have read, around 8 hours of sleep per
day would be optimal. (Give reason for your answer) This is said to be the perfect amount
of time for people to rejuvenate and recharge their minds and bodies. If people constantly
sleep a lot more than this recommended amount of time, they are more likely to be prone to
obesity, which will certainly carry serious health risks.
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Do you think that the old should sleep more than the young? Why?
(Answer) No, I don’t think that should be the case. (Give reason for your answer) I believe
that the amount of time people spend resting should correlate with how much they exert
themselves during the day. Usually, young people spend more of their energy on physical
activities so it’s more reasonable for the young to sleep more than the elderly.
What do you do to improve sleeping quality?
(Answer) There are several measures that can be taken to assure a quality sleep. (Give reason
for your answer) First, I make sure that I work out at the gym or take gentle exercise as I
usually find myself drifting to sleep faster and sleep more soundly after I have taken
regular exercise during the daytime. In addition, I find that some soothing music and comfy
pillows are really helpful in ensuring a good night’s sleep.
Do you think it's effective?
(Answer) Yes, from my personal experience, the solutions I mentioned have proved to be
quite effective. (Give reason for your answer) When I’m drained after a long day or I’ve
done a hardcore work-out at the fitness centre, I am often sore all over and crave for some
rest. Then, nothing is more satisfying than to crash out at night, falling asleep while listening
to slow and relaxing melodies.
Vocabulary
Từ vựng chủ đề Health
1. to be prone to obesity (expression)
Meaning: to be likely to become fat in an unhealthy way
Example: Children who are addicted to watching television, instead of playing outdoor
games, are more prone to obesity.
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2. to carry health risks (expression)
Meaning: to have effects which could be bad for one’s health
Example: Smoking and drinking alchohol are potentially dangerous habits, because they
carry serious health risks.
3. to take regular exercise (expression)
Meaning: to do some physical activity on a regular basis
Example: Authorities should encourage people of all ages to take regular exercise by
providing facilities in each community.
Từ vựng chủ đề Sports and exercise
1. to exert oneself (reflexive verb)

Meaning: to make a big physical effort to do something
Example: I believe that sports professionals deserve high salaries, because constant hard
training is necessary so that they can exert themselves to the limit when they compete.
2. to work out at the gym (expression)
Meaning: to train the body by physical exercise at the gym
Example: As part of a healthy lifestyle, people of all ages should work out at the gym on
a regular basis.
3. to take gentle exercise (expression)
Meaning:to do exercise which is not physically demanding or tiring
Example: Even the elderly can keep fit by taking gentle exercise, like jogging or even a
walk in the park.
Other vocabulary:
1. optimal (tối ưu) [adjective]
Meaning: best; most likely to bring success or advantage
Example: The optimal temperature for the development of larvae is in the range 18–26˚C.
2. to rejuvenate (làm trẻ lại, khỏe lại) [verb]
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Meaning: to make somebody/something look or feel younger, more lively or more modern
Example: Special creams can be used to rejuvenate the skin.
3. to sleep soundly (ngủ ngon lành, yên lành)
Meaning: if you sleep soundly, you sleep very well and very deeply
Example: The baby was sleeping soundly after listening to his mother’s lullaby.
4. soothing (dịu dàng, êm ái) [adjective]
Meaning: making somebody who is anxious, upset, etc. feel calmer/ making a tense or
painful part of your body feel more comfortable
Example: The soothing voice of the singer made everyone in the audience feel relaxed.
5. drained (kiệt sức, mệt mỏi) [adjective]
Meaning: very tired and without energy
Example: The death of her father left her emotionally drained.
6. crave for something (thèm cái gì) [phrasal verb]
Meaning: to have a very strong desire for something
Example: Pregnant women can occasionally crave for weird food.
7. to crash out [phrasal verb]
Meaning: to throw yourself down to sleep in an exhausted state
Example: After the late-night party at my house, several of my friends crashed out on the
floor.
23. Animal
1. Have you ever kept pets?
(Answer) Yes, I used to have one.
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(Give a reason for your answer) My father got a dog for me when I was 5. Yet, I remember
he was so aggressive that we rarely played with him. He was kept only for guarding the
house. Later on, when he started recognizing us, he allowed us to approach him. I remember
my sister actually felt attached to him a great deal, so when he died, it was a true shock for
her.
2. Do you like to go to the zoo?
(Answer) Actually, I don't like going to the zoo.
(Give a reason for your answer) It is so sad to see the miserable animals sitting, running
about sadly in their cage, hoping for some scraps from the visitors. They don't deserve it.
But on the other side, some of them will live in danger if they are allowed to live in their
natural environment.
3. Have you ever seen any wild animals before?
(Answer) Honestly, not even once in person but of course plenty of times on TV through
National Geographic TV shows.
(Give a reason for your answer) In my twenty years of existence, I still haven’t seen one
real wild animal before with my naked eyes. Some of the amazing wild animals that I’ve
seen on television are zebras, gorillas, giraffes, coyotes, hedgehogs, otters, and lions. I really
don’t get a chance to visit any zoos in this country.
4. What wild animal do you like the most?
(Answer) Actually, I do not have any particular kinds of wild animal that I like.
(Give a reason for your answer) If I have to pick one, I prefer to choose elephants. They
look different from any other animal you’ve ever seen, they have a trunk, tusks and they’re
massive in size. They are closely related to the extinct mammoth and that is why elephants
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are so unique. Besides, in comparison with other kinds of animals, they are much more
intelligent.
Vocabulary:
aggressive [adj]: behaving in an angry and violent way towards another person: hung hăng
Eg: If I criticize him, he gets aggressive and starts shouting.
approach [v]: to come nearer to something or someone: tiếp cận, lại gần
Eg: Under no circumstances should you approach the man.
(be) attached to [adj]: to like someone or something very much: gắn kết
Eg: Steve really gets attached to his cats.
miserable [adj]: very unhappy: đau khổ
Eg: She's miserable living on her own.
deserve [v]: to have earned or to be given something because of the way you have behaved
or the qualities you have: xứng đáng
Eg: After all that hard work, you deserve a holiday.
with the naked eyes [expression]: without using any special device for making images
larger: với mắt thường
Eg: We live miles away, but on a clear night, you can see the city skyscrapers with the naked
eye.
coyote [n]: a small wild animal like a dog that lives in North America: chó sói
Eg: Chickens need protection from predators such as coyotes, foxes, and owls.
particular [adj]: special, or this and not any other: đặc biệt
Eg: In the light of recent incidents, we are asking our customers to take particular care of
their personal belongings.
massive [adj]: very large in size, amount, or number: to lớn
Eg: If the drought continues, deaths will occur on a massive scale.
in comparison with [expression]: when compared with sth: khi được so sánh với
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Eg: The paintings he made later pale in comparison with his earlier work.
24. Cooking
Who taught you how to cook? Do you like cooking?
My mother is the person who inspires me a lot when it comes to cooking because she always
makes mouthwateringly delicious dishes. I also enjoy cooking. Whenever I have free time,
I always don my apron and make traditional dishes as a way to reduce stress.
Is it difficult to cook?
I don’t think so. It mostly depends on how passionate you are about it. The more you cook,
the more delicious your dishes are.
Do you want to learn how to cook?
 Absolutely! I’ve always been curious about different cuisines, and it would be great to
have a person who shares my interests and could teach me more about it.
VOCABULARY HIGHLIGHTS:
- To make my mouth watering (expression): Chảy nước miếng (ý nói về đồ ăn ngon)
VD: This dish really makes my mouth watering.
- Apron (noun): Tạp dề.
VD: You should get an apron so that your clothes don’t get dirty.
- Cuisine (noun): Nền ẩm thực.
VD: It is a fact that Vietnam has one of the best cuisines in the world.
- Share my interests (expression): Có cùng sở thích.
VD: I really like travelling. I’m looking for a person who shares my interests.
25. Age
1. What do you think is the best age to learn driving?
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 In my opinion, 18 is the perfect age to start learning driving. I believe that when people
turn 18, they have already become full-grown adults and no longer need their parents to
pick them up.
2. How do you feel about getting older?
 Well, I think that when people grow older, they may have more serious concerns to worry
about, such as finding a job or paying monthly bills.
3. Should we treat people of different ages in the same way?
 Well, I believe that people should be treated fairly and equally regardless of their age.
This could create fairness in society and everyone would respect others’ values.
- Full-grown (adjective): trưởng thành.
Ex: A full-grown giraffe is 5.5 m tall.
- Pick someone up (verb): Đón ai đó.
Ex: Hey, can you come and pick me up? I don’t have a car to drive.
- Equally (adverb): 1 cách công bằng.
Ex: All employees should be treated equally regardless their backgrounds.
- Fairness (noun): sự công bằng.
Ex: He had a real sense of fairness and hated injustice.
26. Fish
1. Why do people go fishing?
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 I think that many people consider going fishing a leisure activity, which helps them
escape from the hustle and bustle of city life and contemplate nature.
2. Do you like eating fish?
 I must say that I am a fish eater. Eating fish is believed to provide nutrition and calcium
to support our bodies.
3. Where can you see fish?
 Well, fish can be easily found in any rivers, ponds and oceans. In addition, an estuary
might also be an ideal place to see fish.
- Leisure activity (noun): hoạt động giải trí, thư giãn.
Ex: I have many leisure activities in my free time, such as listening to music or cooking.
- Hustle and bustle (noun): sự bận rộn, tấp nập.
Ex: I think I prefer the tranquil atmosphere in the countryside to the hustle and bustle of
metropolitan cities.
- Contemplate (verb): Chiêm ngưỡng, suy ngẫm.
Ex: This is the perfect spot to contemplate the sunset.
- Nutrition (noun): Chất dinh dưỡng.
Ex: Athletes need to eat healthy food to provide sufficient nutrition to support their bodies .
- Pond (noun): Ao.
Ex: There is a small pond near my house; many kids usually go there to swim during
summertime.
- Estuary (noun): Cửa sông.
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Ex: An estuary is the wide part of a river where it joins the sea.
27. Joke and comedies

1. Are you good at telling jokes?
 I think so. My friends usually say that I have a good sense of humor. It's a nice feeling
when you can make someone laugh because you can see that you've made them happy
2. Do your friends like to tell jokes?
 Well, I guess that my friends are those who enjoy telling jokes. We do not take it too
seriously, so telling jokes sometimes helps us break the ice.
3. Do you like to watch comedies?
 Definitely. Watching comedy movies helps relieve stress after a hard-working day and
discover the subliminal messages.
4. Have you ever watched a live show?
 Yes. Our school organized a live concert last year and all students were invited to come
without charge. Needless to say, it was such an unforgettable experience to see famous
singers performing in person.
- Sense of humor (noun): khiếu hài hước.
Ex: You had a great sense of humor: we had many good laughs together.
- Take something too seriously: Xem cái gì/ việc gì quá nghiêm trọng, quan trọng.
Ex: He takes his religious faith seriously.
- In person: trực tiếp.
Ex: You must apply for the license in person.
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28. Insects
1. How do you like insects?
 Not really, I would say. Just hearing the word insect gives me chills and thinking about
those cockroaches, beetles, wasps, is hair-raising. I can’t stand those kinds of insects.
2. Are there many different insects where you live?
 Well, my house has a big yard and we plant many trees; therefore, butterflies and
dragonflies can be easily found in our home.
3. Do you think insects are useful?
 Yes, they are, I think every living organism in this world has its purpose. They all
contribute to the beauty of environment and humans.
- Give someone chills (verb): làm ai đó ớn lạnh.
Ex: The way he looked at me gave me chills
- Cannot stand with something (verb): không thể chịu được cái gì đó.
Ex: I cannot stand with noisy surroundings
- Dragonfly (noun): châu chấu.
Ex: After a rain, you can easily see many dragonflies flying around our garden.
- Organism (noun): sinh vật.
Ex: Amoebae and bacteria are single-celled organisms.
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29. Newspaper & magazine
1. Do you prefer to read a newspaper or magazine?
 I think I would choose magazines. The way magazines display information looks really
appealing to me. Moreover, they always have in-depth articles to broaden my horizons
about specific fields such as education or science.
2. Do you prefer to read news online or in a newspaper?
 I’ll probably go with reading news online. Electronic newspapers are updated
frequently, which means I can keep abreast of new information immediately compared to
obsolete traditional newspapers.
- Display (verb): trình bày, chưng ra.
Ex: The exhibition displays many exotic items which draw a lot of attention of people.
- In-depth (adjective): chuyên sâu.
Ex: He has an in-depth knowledge about marketing so I am sure you can count on him.
- Broaden one’s horizons (verb): mở mang kiến thức cho ai đó.
Ex: Travelling abroad helps me broaden my horizons about different customs, culture.
- Electronic newspaper (noun): báo điện tử.
Ex: There are more people reading electronic newspapers than printed newspapers.
- Keep abreast of something (verb): cập nhật cái gì đó
Ex: Please keep me abreast of any change in his condition
- Obsolete (adjective): Lạc hậu, lỗi thời.
Ex: These T-shirts are so obsolete. You should buy new ones.
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30. Concentration
1. What do you need to be focused?
(Answer) Well, I think there are certain ways that keep myself always fixated on a task.
(Give a reason for your answer) I would normally set aside a specific time and place and
request to be left alone for a period of time. Another alternative for me is to seek out a quiet
location where I know I will be able to work undisturbed.
2. What might distract you when you are trying to stay focused?
(Answer) Well, there are many things.
(Give a reason for your answer) I sometimes abandon a task because I am disturbed by
either a noise or sound, or other thoughts creeping into my mind suddenly.
3. What do you do to help you concentrate?
(Answer) Whenever my work requires complete concentration, I played the finger

gyroscope for about 5 minutes to be mentally well-prepared to undertake the task.
(Give a reason for your answer) All you need to do when playing this toy is holding the
spinner in one hand and the other hand spinning rapidly using small continuous strikes with
indefinite practice. What really amazes me is that it keeps rotating for a long time and
seems to go on non-stop. All my vision is captivated by this little instrument.
4. Is it difficult for you to stay focused on something?
(Answer) For a very long period of time, I suffered great concentration issues and was not
able to focus on one thing for a long period of time.
(Give a reason for your answer) Until now, my focus capacity has become sharper as I
have been trying different ways to concentrate on my important work. The key here is to
prioritize and carry out your task in order with absolute commitment.
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Vocabulary:
1. fixate [v]: to think about something too much and find it difficult to stop: suy
nghĩ cố định
Eg: High achievers sometimes fixate on their own flaws.
2. alternative [n]: an alternative plan or method is one that you can use if you do not
want to use another one: phương án thay thế
Eg: The opposition parties have so far failed to set out an alternative strategy.
3. abandon [v]: to leave a place, thing, or person, usually for ever: rời bỏ, bỏ mặc
Eg: By the time the rebel troops arrived, the village had already been abandoned.
4. indefinite [adj]: not exact, not clear, or without clear limits: vô định
Eg: The project has been postponed for an indefinite period.
5. rotate [v]: to turn or cause something to turn in a circle, especially around a fixed
point: quay vòng
Eg: The satellite slowly rotates as it circles the earth.
6. captivate [v]: to hold the attention of someone by being extremely interesting,
exciting, pleasant, or attractive: quyến rũ, thu hút
Eg: With her beauty and charm, she captivated film audiences everywhere.
7. concentration issues [expression]: problems related to one’s concentration: vấn đề
tập trung
Eg: Tiredness and emotional stress can cause concentration issues in most people
8. capacity [n]: someone's ability to do a particular thing: năng lực
Eg: She has a great capacity for hard work.
9. prioritize [v]: to decide which of a group of things are the most important so that you
can deal with them first: ưu tiên
Eg: You must learn to prioritize your work.
10. commitment [n]: a promise or firm decision to do something: sự cam kết
Eg: Players must make a commitment to play for a full season.
31. Handwriting
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1. Do you often write things?
(Answer) Absolutely yes.
(Explain) Writing is one of the things that I love doing in my leisure time. I practice writing
every day to sharpen my language and writing skills as well as relieve stress after a
hardworking day.
2. Do you prefer to write by hand or write using computer?
(Answer) It depends.
(explain) When writing about everyday things or practicing for the IELTS test, I’d rather
write by hand. I only use a computer to write academic reports.
3. Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting?
(Answer) I don’t think so.
(Explain) It’s true that the computer has been doing a good job in helping people to write.
However, I don’t think that it will totally replace the traditional way of writing as there will
be no computers to rely on in urgent cases.
4. When do children begin to write in your country?
(Answer) Vietnamese kids start learning to write at the age of around 5 to 6, (explain) which
is considered quite early by some European experts. But Vietnamese kids know how to do
it well actually.
Vocabulary:
1. To sharpen a skill: cải thiện kĩ năng.
 To sharpen my communication skills, I participate in a lot of extra-curricular

activities.
Để cải thiện kĩ năng giao tiếp, tôi tham gia rất nhiều hoạt động ngoại khóa
2. To rely on: dựa vào.
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 I don’t think we should always rely on theories in books because there are many
unexpected situations which cannot be solved by them in real life.
32. Transportation
1) What's the most popular means of transportation in your hometown?

The most common vehicle in my hometown is the motorbike. As I’ve read in a current
newspaper, most Vietnamese adults have their own motorbikes. Moreover, I can easily catch
sight of motorbikes whenever I go outside.
a. How often do you take buses?

I take buses to go to school at least twice a day as I haven’t got my own vehicle yet. I also
usually use buses to visit my relatives or friends’ homes.
b. Can you compare the advantages of planes and trains?

Obviously, airplanes and trains have their own particular benefits for passengers. Regarding
planes, they have been the fastest means of passenger transport invented so far. They enable
people to travel all around the world in the shortest possible time.
The biggest advantage of trains is their impressive safety record. Accidents are rare, and so
people can feel relaxed and just sit back and admire the views from their comfortable seats.
c. Is driving to work popular in your country?

Yes. I’m pretty sure that private cars and motorbikes are the two most popular vehicles in
my country. Therefore, it is obvious that there are a large number of people who tend to drive
to work.
d. Do you think people will drive more in the future?

Yes, I think so. There will be more drivers on the roads in the future due to the convenience
of motoring and the affordable prices of cars.
e. Would you ride bikes to work in the future?

Yes. As I’m a young person, I like to do energetic activities to help me keep fit, so I will
give priority to a job that is within cycling distance of my home.
f. What will become the most popular means of transportation in Vietnam?
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Personally, I think the prevalence of motorbikes will continue to dominate in Vietnam due
to their advantages, namely they are great for getting around quickly, they are easy to park
and economical to run.
g. Do you prefer public transportation or private transportation?

Although owning a private vehicle has various advantages, I prefer using public
transportation in order to economize as well as to help protect the environment.
VOCABULARY
 Catch sight of (expression): to see something only for a moment

Ex: I caught sight of someone with red hair, so I knew that it was you.
 Safety record (noun): details of how many accidents a company has had
Ex: With no accidents in the last 5 years, this airline has a good safety record.
 Admire (verb): to look at something and think that it is attractive/impressive
Ex: We stood for a few moments, admiring the beautiful view.
 Motoring (noun): the activity of driving a car
Ex: She’s planning a motoring holiday in France next year.
 Affordable (adjective): cheap enough for people to be able to buy
Ex: This type of car is affordable for people who have a low income.
 Give priority to (expression): deal with something first, because you think it is more
important than other things
Ex: This month I must give priority to revision for the exam, so I have taken some time off
work.
 Prevalence (noun): the fact of being very common at a particular time or in a
particular place
Ex: There is a worrying increase in the prevalence of smoking among young people.
 Dominate (verb): to be the largest, highest or most obvious thing in a place
Ex: The skyline is dominated by smoking factory chimneys.
 Get around (phrasal verb): to move from place to place
Ex: Getting around in this city is hard, because there is too much traffic.
 Park (verb): to leave a vehicle that you are driving in a particular place for a period
of time
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Ex: I parked my car in front of the supermarket while I did my shopping.
 Economical (adjective): providing good value in relation to the amount of money
spent
Ex: Buy a small car – it will be more economical to run.
 Run (verb): to own and use a car or other vehicle
Ex: On my low salary, I can’t afford to run a car.
 Economize (verb): to use less money than you normally use
Ex: In winter, don’t economize on heating – it is more important to keep warm.
33. Shopping
- Do you like going shopping?
Answer: Absolutely. I often go around shopping malls and try on different clothes. It is one
of my most enjoyable pastimes which lift my spirits.
- Do you shop online?
Answer: Very often. Since I am totally packed with my heavy workload, browsing for stuff
on the Internet gives me a sense of comfort and convenience thanks to its diversity in product
and price.
- Does shopping take you a lot of time?
Answer: Yes. I do not usually go out to shop because of my hectic schedule; therefore, it
could take me a whole morning buying personal essentials.
- What is the best part about shopping?
Answer: I think the most interesting part about shopping, especially when you go to street
markets, is that you can haggle with sellers. Nothing makes me happier than scoring some
great deals at the markets.
1. Try on (verb): Thử (quần áo).
Example: Try on those shoes. I think it will look perfect on you.
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2. Pastime (noun): Thú tiêu khiển.
Example: Hockey is Canada’s national pastime.
3. Lift one’s spirits (verb): Làm cho ai đó hết buồn.
Example: He used his incredible sense of humor to lift my spirits.
4. Browse for something (verb): Tìm kiếm cái gì đó.
Example: He used his incredible sense of humour to lift my spirits.
5. Diversity (noun): Sự đa dạng.
Example: She teaches the students to have respect for different races and appreciate the
diversity of other cultures.
6. Essentials (noun): Vật dụng cần thiết.
Example: Because I live in a remote village; I regard my car as an essential.
7. Haggle (verb): Trả giá, mặc cả.
Example: It's traditional that you haggle over/about the price of things in the market.
8. Score a great deal: Mua được cái gì đó với giá hời.
Example: I just a scored a great deal at the grocery store thanks to the coupon you gave me.
34. Newspaper & magazine
1. Do you prefer to read a newspaper or magazine?
 I think I would choose magazines. The way magazines display information looks really
appealing to me. Moreover, they always have in-depth articles to broaden my horizons
about specific fields such as education or science.
2. Do you prefer to read news online or in a newspaper?
 I’ll probably go with reading news online. Electronic newspapers are updated
frequently, which means I can keep abreast of new information immediately compared to
obsolete traditional newspapers.
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- Display (verb): trình bày, chưng ra.
Ex: The exhibition displays many exotic items which draw a lot of attention of people.
- In-depth (adjective): chuyên sâu.
Ex: He has an in-depth knowledge about marketing so I am sure you can count on him.
- Broaden one’s horizons (verb): mở mang kiến thức cho ai đó.
Ex: Travelling abroad helps me broaden my horizons about different customs, culture.
- Electronic newspaper (noun): báo điện tử.
Ex: There are more people reading electronic newspapers than printed newspapers.
- Keep abreast of something (verb): cập nhật cái gì đó
Ex: Please keep me abreast of any change in his condition
- Obsolete (adjective): Lạc hậu, lỗi thời.
Ex: These T-shirts are so obsolete. You should buy new ones.
PART 2 + 3
1. Describe an occasion you wore your best clothes. You should say:
- when it was
- what you wore
- what it looked like
- and explain why you wore it
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(when it was) Majoring in tourism, I have to always keep in mind that I should appear
debonair in chic yet formal outfits whenever I go to school. Well, I first wore my best outfit
on Vietnamese teachers’ day last year, when I was still a freshman. As the purpose of the
day was to give thanks to Vietnamese teachers and to celebrate the 60-year development of
my school, everyone was asked to put on their formal uniform for the celebration. Being a
student of a university that has numerous overseas students, especially those from Korea,
who are well-known for their outstanding fashion, I had the chance to learn a lot of from
them.
(what you wore) I had to comply with the dress code which required participants to wear a
white ironed shirt along with black trousers as well as black or brown leather shoes. Anyone
who broke the dress code would be denied admission. That being said, I believe that my
uniform is the best item in my wardrobe.
(what it looked like) It is just basically a white shirt with long black pants. However, these
are all branded clothes as my white shirt is made by Lacoste and long black pants are from
Zara. They are just mid-range clothes but they do a pretty good job at transforming me into
another person who looks super professional.
(and why you wore it) As I’ve mentioned, it was compulsory for me to wear formal clothes
to the Vietnamese teachers’ day celebration. Actually, that very day made me realise that I
truly look best in those clothes. Since that day, I decided to revamp my image, first by
wearing formal clothes to school more often, next by avoiding wearing shorts to school. The
change has come as a surprise to a great number of people, especially to those who have
not seen me in ages. Because of this, I owe my faculty a debt of gratitude for giving me
the incentive to look better and to be more professional.
1. To keep something in mind (phrase): luôn luôn nhớ rằng.

Example: Of course, repair work is expensive and you have to keep that in mind.
Đương nhiên, việc sửa chữa rất tốn kém và bạn luôn luôn phải biết điều đó.
2. Debonair (adj): sang trọng, quý phái.
Example: a debonair young man
một người đàn ông trẻ và sang trọng.
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3. Chic (adj): hợp thời trang.
Example: I like your haircut - it's very chic.
Tôi rất thích kiểu tóc của bạn, nó rất hợp thời trang.
4. To put on (clothes) (phrase): mặc quần áo.
Example: He put on his jacket.

Anh ấy mặc cái áo khoác.
5. To comply (v): tuân theo.
Example: There are serious penalties for failure to comply with the regulations.
Sẽ có hình phạt nghiêm khắc cho những trường hợp không tuân theo quy định.
6. To revamp (v): thay đổi (vì cái tốt hơn)
Example: We revamped the management system, but the business is doing no better than it
was before.
Chúng tôi đã thay đổi hệ thống quản lý, nhưng công việc dường như cũng không tiến triển
tốt hơn trước.
7. To come as a/no surprise (idiom): gây bất ngờ/không gây bớt ngờ.
Example:
If you didn't study for that test at all, your failing grade should come as no surprise.
Nếu bạn không học bài, thì việc thi rớt sẽ không bất ngờ xíu nào.
8. To owe someone a debt of gratitude (idiom): nợ một ân huệ.
We owe you a debt of gratitude for all you have done for us.
Chúng tôi nợ bạn một ân huệ vì những gì bạn đã làm cho chúng tôi.
9. Branded (adj): có thương hiệu
Example: Most supermarkets sell branded goods such as Heinz ketchup or

Kellogg's cornflakes.
Đa số các siêu thị đều bán những hàng có thương hiệu như tương cà Heinz hay bánh ngô
Kellogg’s.
PART 3:
1. Do you think people need to wear formally in workplaces?
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It depends on the kind of work that they are in. Most of the time, I would say that it is
necessary for people to be formally dressed because this makes them look significantly more
professional, which is also a way to show respect to their clients. However, there are some
exceptions. In particular, those working in a creative job such as design or art do not need to
wear formally most of the time.
2. Why do some people like to wear traditional clothes?
Cultural preservation, I guess. The idea of wearing traditional clothes, ao dai, has never
sprung to my mind honestly. My professor is well-known for wearing ao dai to work nearly
every day, which arouses many students’ curiosity. He says that he does this in
remembrance of his late father who told him to make a lot of effort to preserve the fading
Vietnamese culture.
3. Will traditional clothes disappear in the future?
I do not think traditional clothes of many countries will disappear in the future, not least
Asian economic powerhouses such as China, Korea or Japan. These countries are renowned
for their cultures, which are similar to each other yet unique in their own ways, and are
pouring huge amounts of money and effort into not only preserving their own cultures,
national costumes especially, but also spreading them to many parts of the world. I believe
they are step by step achieving this goal.
4. Do old people change their style of dress?
Only a small percentage of old people change their style of dress. They only change the
clothes they wear at home, as many are already switching from traditional clothes to simple
a outfit which gives them a greater sense of comfort. In terms of the outfit they wear to
church or temple, their style has not witnessed much of a change as traditional clothes remain
the most popular.
Vocabulary
1. Spring someone’s mind (idiom): đập vào đầu ai đó.

Example: Say the word "Australia" and
a vision of beaches and blue seas immediately springs to mind.
Mỗi khi ai đó nói về Australia là hình ảnh của biển và đại dương xanh lại đập vô đầu tôi.
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2. Arouse someone’s curiosity (phrase): làm ai đó tò mò
Example: Their curiosity was aroused by his strange behaviour.

Sự tò mò của họ bị kích thích bởi cách hành xử lạ lùng của anh ấy.
3. In remembrance of (phrase): để tưởng nhớ
Example: A church service was held in remembrance of the victims.

Một buổi lễ cầu nguyện được tổ chức để tưởng nhớ những nhạn nân.
4. Powerhouse (v): cường quốc
Example: Germany is an economic powerhouse.

Đức là một cường quốc kinh tế.
5. Renowned (adj): nổi tiếng
Example: The region is renowned for its natural beauty.

Vùng này rất nổi tiếng vì vẻ đẹp tự nhiên của nó.
6. Sense of comfort (phrase): cảm giác thoải mái
Example: For these respondents, the course clearly delivered a greatly

increased sense of comfort and confidence.
Những người trả lời câu hỏi này cho rằng khóa học đã giúp họ có một cảm giác thoải mái và
tự tin hơn hẳn.
2. Describe a film you would like to share with your friends. You should say:
When you watched it
Where you watched it
Whether you like it or not
And why you want to share it with friends
(When you watched it) A great number of movies have been released recently, but the one
that has really caught on is The Incredibles 2, which I am going to talk about today. The
production of the movie came as a huge surprise as it would never cross anyone’s mind
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that a sequel to a movie can be brought out after 14 years since the release of the first part.
I watched this movie quite a long time ago, in 2018.
(Where you watched it) I watched the movie and knew The Incredibles 2 by chance when
my friend and I got stuck in Diamond Plaza due to a storm and we made up our minds to
watch a movie while waiting for the storm to stop churning. My friend, John, opted for The
Incredibles 2. After watching the movie, I fell in love with it and figured out why the movie
had been all the rage.
(Where you like it or not) Of course, I really like it. The message that is conveyed by the
film is just very meaningful. I believe that the movie is beyond battles and beautiful graphics.
Every single battle tells a meaningful story which can only be fully comprehended after
watching the film.
(Why you want to share it with friends) I would like to share it with my friends due to
many reasons. First of all, The Incredibles, both 1 and 2, are not just all about battles and
fighting but they do tell meaningful stories from Brad Bird. As can be seen, the family is
close-knit and the members support each other a lot. Also, a discerning viewer will spot that
the value of women is upheld in the film. A lot has changed since the Incredibles 1 when
Bob played the main role. In this film, Helen, a woman, plays the most vital role in
confronting rivals and putting a stop to devils. So I love the movie due to its colourful
animation as well as its meaningful stories.
Vocabulary
1. Catch on (phrasal verb): trở nên phổ biến
Why did the electronic gadget catch on so fast?
Tại sao cái thiết bị điện tử này lại trở trên phổ biến quá nhanh như thế?
2. To come as a/no surprise (idiom): gây bất ngờ/không gây bớt ngờ.
Nếu bạn không học bài, thì việc thi rớt sẽ không bất ngờ xíu nào.
3. Cross someone’s mind (phrase): suy nghĩ.
It crossed my mind yesterday that you must be short of staff.
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Hôm qua tôi suy nghĩ là bạn ắt hẳn đang thiếu nhân viên.
4. Sequel (n): phần tiếp theo
I'm reading the sequel to "Gone with the Wind".
Tôi đang đọc phần tiếp theo của “Cuốn theo chiều gió”.
5. Make up one’s mind (phrase): quyết định.
I haven't made up my mind where to go yet.
Tôi chưa quyết định được là sẽ đi đâu hết.
6. Churn (v): chuyển động một cách mạnh
The water was churning and the boat was rocking.
Dòng nước đang chuyển động rất mạnh và con thuyền đang rung lắc.
7. Opt (n): chọn lựa
Instead of a soft drink, she opted for water.
Thay vì chọn nước ngọt, cô ấy chọn nước suôi.
8. To be all the rage (idiom): rất phổ biến
In China, Mercedes-Benz cars are all the rage among the moneyed elite.
Ở Trung Quốc, xe Mercedes-Benz rất phổ biến ở giới thượng lưu nhiều tiền.
9. Put a stop to something (phrase): làm cái gì đó dừng lại
He used to smoke in bed when I first got to know him, but I soon put a stop to that!
Anh ấy từng hút thuốc trên giường khi tôi mới quen anh ấy, nhưng tôi đã làm cái đó dừng
lại sớm sau đó.
PART 3:
1. What films are popular?
Horror and action films are the most popular kinds of films in the world right now.
Blockbusters such as The Conjuring, Fast and Furious, Annabelle have a buzz about them
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and make people excited for their sequels. Earnings from these two kinds can be equivalent
to 20% of a small country’s economy.
2. What kind of film do young people like to watch?
Since the majority of cinema goers are young, the most popular films are also horror and
action films. However, youngsters tend to prefer action films to horror ones because not
everyone watches horror films as they may become obsessed by the films. Apart from these
two kinds, young people also show interest in sci-fi and comedy.
3. Do fewer people choose to watch moves in cinema than people did in the past?
I don’t think so. Box office ticket sales have yet to show any sign of slowing down and a
large number of cinemas are opened on an annual basis. Technology and Netflix are
emerging as the main competitors to traditional cinemas. Yet, the cinema continues to hold
a strong foothold and is yet to lose ground to these competitors.
4. Do you think cinemas will disappear in the future?
Everything in this world will come to an end one day. And I believe cinemas are not an
exception. No one knows what will happen in the future and no one can control it either.
Technology is developing at such a fast pace, so are the alternatives to cinemas. However,
cinemas will not disappear in the foreseeable future, but they will perish at some point down
the road.
1. Blockbuster (n): bom tấn
We all felt the movie was a potential blockbuster.
Chúng tôi đều cảm thấy rằng cái phim này hứa hẹn sẽ là một bom tấn.
2. Sequel (n): phần tiếp theo
I'm reading the sequel to "Gone with the Wind".
Tôi đang đọc phần tiếp theo của “Cuốn theo chiều gió”.
3. Equivalent to something (phrase): bằng với.
Is $50 equivalent to about £30?
50 ô Mỹ có bằng 30 bảng Anh không?
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4. Sign (n): dấu hiệu
Billy's work at school has shown signs of improvement this year.
Việc học của Billy đã có dấu hiệu tiến triển trong năm nay.
5. Gain a strong foothold in something (phrase): chiếm được một chỗ đứng chắc trong một
cái gì đó.
In buying their business, the company gains a major foothold in

a market it considers critical to the future of the industry.
6. Lose ground (phrase): thua thiệt
Do you agree that left-wing politics are losing ground among the working classes?
Bạn có đồng ý là bên cánh tả đang trở đang thua thiệt trong tầng lớp công nhân không?
7. Down the road (phrase): trong tương lai.
Lots of things will have changed a few years down the road
Rất nhiều thứ sẽ thay đổi trong vài năm nữa trong tương lai.
3. Describe a time when you missed an appointment. You should say:
When it was
Who you made it with
Why you missed it
And how you felt about it
(When it was) Today, I’d like to share with you a time that I missed an appointment. This
occasion occurred some months ago when I applied for a position at Park Hyatt Hotel and
received an interview offer from the recruitment team. The interview was due to take place
at 3 pm on a day in September. However, I arrived at the interview venue at around 3.30 pm,
which was 30 minutes late. Because of this, my application was rejected directly right at the
entrance.
(Who you made it with) It was my teammates and I that were late for the interview. We
were interested in the opening for banquet servers as we majored in hospitality
management, which also included the banquet department. To our surprise, we all received
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an interview offer from the recruitment team just some days after the deadline for the first
round of applications.
(Why you missed it) Everyone was supposed to be at the venue around 10 minutes prior to
the interview time. My presence at 3.30 pm, which was attributable to certain factors, was
way too late. I underestimated the amount of time it would take to commute from my place
to the interview venue, which was approximately 20 kms in length and took around one
hour travelling by bus. However, I boarded the bus for the interview at 2 pm and reached
the venue at slightly over 3.30 pm.
(And how you felt about it) When realising that we couldn’t make it to the site in time, I
was on edge hoping that they would allow me to participate in the interview. I felt a lot of
contrition for being late and making my friends late with me. This was the first time ever I
had been late to such an important occasion and felt so guilty and bad about myself.
However, that was probably one of the biggest lessons I’d learnt in my life. It also made me
realise that I should not underestimate anything because it may cost me money or even a
career ahead and try to ward off any recurrences in the future.
1. Take place (phrase): diễn ra
The concert takes place next Thursday.
Buổi hòa nhạc sẽ diễn ra vào thứ năm tuần sau.
2. Prior (adjective): trước khi
the weeks prior to her death
những tuần trước khi cô ấy qua đời.
3. Attributable (adjective): bị gây ra bởi …
Do you think that these higher-than-average temperatures are

attributable to global warming?
Bạn có nghĩ là việc nhiệt độ cao hơn bình thường bị gây ra bởi hiện tượng nóng lên toàn cầu
không?
4. In length (phrase): chiều dài
The boat is ten metres in length.
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Cái thuyền này dài 10 mét.
5. Board (v): bước lên tàu/xe/máy bay
At London airport she boarded a plane to Australia.
Tại sân bay London, cô ấy bước lên máy bay để đi Úc.
6. to be on edge (phrase): lo lắng
Is something wrong? You seem a bit on edge this morning.
Có gì đó không ổn hả? Bạn trông có vẻ lo lắng sáng nay.
7. Contrition (n): sự cảm thấy hối lỗi
He feels no contrition for what he did.
Anh ấy chẳng cảm thấy hối lỗi vì những gì anh ấy đã làm.
8. To ward off (phrase): tránh
He used his umbrella to ward off the fierce sun.
Anh ấy sử dụng cây dù để tránh nắng gắt.
PART 3:
1. Is it important to have a daily plan?
Absolutely yes! A daily plan is a prerequisite for an efficient day. It is not necessary for a
person to make a schedule with a time and to-do-things list though. They only need to list
things that are important and need to be done as soon as possible and incorporate them into
different time slots in a day. That’s it. Sometimes, this list can be altered depending on the
progress of their work. But most of the time, it can help people keep track of their work and
prevent them from missing an appointment for anything that is crucial.
2. What kind of things people need to plan carefully?
When it comes to detailed planning, different small tasks and assignments should be given
priority. For example, it is imperative that a part-time essay corrector who must correct up
to 30 essays per day sketch a schedule out. In that draft, he’ll evaluate the amount of time
needed for one essay and breaks before coming up with a complete schedule for a day.
3. Is there anything that cannot be planned?
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A big fat yes! There are actually many unexpected situations that may get in the way of a
schedule, and these unexpected situations are unforeseeable and unplannable for. Of course,
people should dedicate a small part of their schedules to such situations but that is all they
can do as these situations may cost them more time than planned, or sometimes they just
cannot be tackled at all.
4. Do you think it is important to have a work life balance?
Striking a work life balance is a prerequisite for a happy life. Perhaps money can buy
happiness in certain circumstances, but if you spend all of your time working or thinking
about work then it’s more than likely that it won’t. Worse still, the stress caused from such
a lifestyle can lead to other physical issues like high blood pressure and heart disease. It’s
just not worth it. If your life revolves around work, then you lose a lot of the other positive
dimensions that make you attractive to employers (and other people).
Vocabulary:
1. Prerequisite (n): điều kiện tiên quyết
Public support is a prerequisite for/to the success of this project.
Sự ủng hộ của công chúng là điều kiện tiên quyết cho sự thành công của dự án này.
2. Incorporate (v): đưa vào
Suggestions from the survey have been incorporated into/in the final design.
Những gợi ý từ khảo sát đã được đưa vào bản thiết kế cuối cùng.
3. Keep track of sth (phrase): theo dõi cái gì đó
My sister has had so many different jobs, it's hard for me to keep track (of what she's
doing).
Chị gái tôi có rất nhiều công việc khác nhau, rất khó để tôi theo dõi cô ấy đang làm gì.
4. Sketch out something (phrase): phác thảo ra cái gì đó
She sketched out the plan in a few brief sentences.
Cô ấy phác thảo ra kế hoặc trong một số câu ngắn.
5. Get in the way (phrase): chắn ngang đường.
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She had a job which never got in the way of her leisure interests.
Cô ấy có một công việc mà không chắn ngang những sở thích của cô ấy.
6. To strike a balance (phrase): Đạt được sự cân bằng
We must strike a balance between reckless spending and penny-pinching
Chúng ta phải đặt được sự cân bằng giữa chi tiêu nhiều và keo kiệt.
7. To revolve (v): xoay quanh
The earth revolves around the sun.
Trái Đất quay quanh mặt Trời.
4. Describe a foreign country (culture) you want to know more about. You should say:
What it is
Where it is
How you know it
And why you want to know more about it
(What it is) Although I have travelled to Singapore up to 10 times and spent an accumulated
number of 4 months there, I am still eager to learn even more about its culture, especially
the Peranakan culture. I am sure that a lot of tourists in Singapore or Malaysia crave for
Peranakan food, sometimes called Nyonya food.
(Where it is) The Peranakan can be found in the Chinese majority regions in Malaysia,
such as Penang and Melaka, and Singapore. Sometimes they are also called the Straits
Chinese, which is a term that refers to the progeny of Chinese immigrants settling along the
Straits of Melaka. The flag carriers of both countries have used the traditional Peranakan
female outfit as their official uniform for years. Singapore Girls, who are stewardesses of
Singapore Airlines, continue to introduce the Peranakan heritage to the world.
(How you know it) While I was looking for some food in a food court, I stumbled upon a
Nyonya stall and asked my friend what Nyonya was. Luckily, my friend was a major in
humanities, so he was able to tell me about Nyonya food as well as the Peranakan culture.
We had a very good talk.
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(And why you want to know more about it) Actually, I set about researching about the
Peranakan culture right after I returned home from my 10th Singapore trip. As the Peranakan
culture is an indispensable part of the history of Singapore, learning about it also helps me
broaden my horizons about this tiny city-state. Moreover, knowing more about the
Peranakan will also help me to acquire knowledge about not only the Chinese tradition, but
also the Malay one, since the Peranakan is a hybrid of these two cultures.
Vocabulary
1. Majority (adj): đa số
Example: Penang is the only Chinese majority state in Malaysia.
Penang là bang duy nhất có đa số dân là người gốc Hoa trong toàn Malaysia.
2. Progeny (n): hậu duệ
Example: His numerous progeny are scattered all over the country.
Hậu duệ đông đảo của ông ấy dàn trải khắp quốc gia.
3. Flag carrier (n): hãng hàng không quốc gia
Example: Korean Air is the flag carrier of South Korea.
Korean Air là hãng hàng không quốc gia của Hàn Quốc.
4. Set about (phrasal verb): bắt đầu
Example: I have no idea how to set about changing a tyre on a car.
Tôi không biết cách để bắt đầu thay lốp xe từ đâu.
5. Indispensable (a): không thể tách rời
Example: This book is an indispensable resource for researchers.
Cuốn sách này là một tài nguyên không thể tái rời của những nhà nghiên cứu.
6. Broaden someone’s horizons (phrase): mở rộng tầm mắt
Example: Travelling certainly broadens your horizons.
Đi du lịch chắc chắn giúp bạn mở rộng tầm mắt.
7. Hybrid (n): hỗn hợp
Example: His work is an interesting hybrid of popular and classical music.
Bản nhạc của anh ấy là một hỗn hợp khá đặc biệt giữa nhạc pop và cổ điển.
PART 3:
1. What do you think is the best way to learn a foreign culture?
I would say the best way to learn a foreign culture is reading and travelling. It is very hard
for me to pick one as these two approaches complement each other. It is suggested that
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travellers should find information about a culture before their journey. During the trip, they
are encouraged to participate in the local lifestyle and steer clear of tourist traps as much as
possible in order to immerse themselves in the culture. After returning home, reading up on
more advanced knowledge about that culture is encouraged as not only will it help them
consolidate the knowledge acquired, but also help them draw even more inspiration from
that culture.
2. What do you think is the biggest problem in working in a foreign country?
Culture shock and the language barrier are the most challenging obstacles that a newcomer
has to deal with when working in a foreign country. It seems like the foreign language they
learn back home is hardly enough for real-life conversations due to the fast-paced change in
the number of new trendy words and slang. Also, a person who does not equip themselves
with essential knowledge about the culture of their destination is predisposed to giving up
and returning home before they are able to adjust themselves to the way of life there.
3. Some people say that reading is the best way to know about a culture, do you agree?
As mentioned above, I would say that reading alone is not the best way to know about a
culture. Knowledge acquired will soon fade away if a person is unable to apply it to his real
life. Thus, reading has to go hand in hand with travelling or a cultural exchange experience
if a person desires to explore a new culture.
Vocabulary
1. Complement (v): bổ sung
Example: Strawberries and cream complement each other perfectly.
Dâu tây và kem bổ sung cho nhau một cách hoàn hảo.
2. To steer clear of (phrase): tránh xa.
Example: Steer clear of the boss today—he's yelling at everyone he sees.
Hôm nay nhớ tránh xa ông chủ – ông ấy la rầy mọi người mà ông gặp.
3. Immerse oneself in sth (phrase): đắm chìm (vào cái gì đó)
Example: She got some books out of the library and immersed herself
in Jewish history and culture
Cô ấy lấy vài cuốn sách ra khỏi thư viện và đắm chìm vào lịch sử và văn hóa Do Thái.
4. Consolidate (v): củng cố

Example: The success of their major product consolidated the firm's position in the market.
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Sự thành công của sản phẩm chính đã giúp củng cố vị trí của công ty này trên thị trường.
5. To draw inspiration from sth (phrase): có cảm hứng từ cái gì đó
Example: The movement draws much of its inspiration from the Greek philosophers.
Phong trào này được lấy cảm hứng chủ yếu từ các nhà triết học Hy Lạp.
6. Language barrier (n): rào cản ngôn ngữ
Example: The language barrier and an unfamiliar foreign bureaucracy can provide
obstacles to achieving immediate understanding and a good working relationship.
Rào cản ngôn ngữ và một bộ máy quan liêu xa lạ có thể là những trở ngại để đạt được sự
kiến thức sớm và một mối quan hệ làm việc tốt.
7. Be predisposed to sth (phrase): có xu hướng gì đó
Example: Researchers have discovered that the children of

these patients are genetically predisposed to cancer.
Các nhà nghiên cứu phát hiện trẻ em của những vị phụ huynh này có xu hướng bị ung thư
theo di truyền.
8. Adjust to sth (phrase): làm quen với cái gì đó
Example: Her eyes slowly adjusted to the dark.

Mắt của anh dấy dần làm quen với bóng tối.
9. Go hand in hand with sth (phrase): đi liền với với cái gì đó
Example: Prosperity goes hand in hand with investment.

Sự thịnh vượng đi liền với sự đầu tư.
5. Describe a successful small company that you know

You should say
 What it is
 How you knew about it
 How it became successful
 And explain how you felt about it
(what it is) the term entrepreneur has been all the rage recently as thousands of successful
start-ups deliver motivational speeches to inspire entrepreneurship. Among different kinds
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of small start-ups, Trinh homestay, located in the Mekong Delta, has emerged as one of the
most successful ones in the prime age of tourism in Vietnam.
(how you knew about it) As AirBnB, an app which supports homestays, has succeeded in
running marketing campaigns and offering lots of deals for both customers and homeowners,
it is regarded as an ideal alternative to traditional hotels, which will cost customers an arm
and a leg. Facebook and Instagram have been flooded with thousands of posts about AirBnB
services and some months ago, I stumbled on Trinh homestay.
(how it became succesful) An article on CNN cast a spotlight on Trinh homestay, helping
her homestay gain independence from AirBnB. First, Trinh homestay was just like millions
of other homestays on AirBnB, however, Trinh’s creativity and ardour for the Vietnamese
culture lifted her first homestay out of AirBnB as Trinh homestay expanded. Trinh has built
many homestays in other provinces in the Mekong Delta.
(and explain how you felt about it) I believe that Trinh homestay, albeit operated on a
small scale, should be an exemplifier of the importance of creativity as well as a profound
knowledge of the local culture. Also, her success can be attributed to the fact that she alone
has built a small niche business that caters for culture enthusiasts and ran her business on
her own during the first days of Trinh Homestay. Other homestays in Vietnam should follow
this model using the cultural traits of their own regions to apply to their own homestays,
creating an atmosphere that represents the local region’s culture right in the place where
tourists stay.
Vocabulary from business:
1. Entrepreneur (n): khởi nghiệp
Example: He’s an entrepreneur who made his money in computer software.
Anh ấy là một nhà khởi nghiệp mà tự làm ra tiền từ phần mềm máy tính.
2. Niche business (n): một doanh nghiệp phục vụ một thị trường cụ thể (doanh nghiệp
ngách)
Example: It’s a small niche business that runs courses in how to cook.
Nó là một doanh nghiệp ngách mà có những lớp dạy nấu ăn.
3. To run business (phrase): điều hành một công ty
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Example: He runs a dry cleaning business.
Anh ấy điều hành một công ty giặt khô.
Other vocabulary:
Example: In China, Mercedes-Benz cars are all the rage among the moneyed elite.
2. To cost someone an arm and a leg (idiom): rất mắc
Example: I'd love to buy a Porsche, but they cost an arm and a leg.
Tôi muốn mua một chiếc xe Porsche nhưng nó rất mắc.
Mọt cộng đồng người nước ngoài đã sống ở đó.
4. To stumble across/on (phrase): vô tình thấy cái gì đó.
Example: Look at what I stumbled across/on at the flea market!
Hãy nhìn coi mình thấy cái gì ở ngoài chợ trời nè!
Anh ấy cho thuê nhà dài hạn.
5. To cast spotlight on something (phrase): làm cái gì đó được nổi tiếng
Example: New high-res cameras cast a spotlight on fiery Popocatepetl volcano near Mexico
City.
Các máy ảnh độ phân giải cao mới làm núi lửa Popocatepetl gần Mexico City trở nên nổi
tiếng.
6. Exemplifier (n): ví dụ
Example: Singapore is an exemplifier for the ability to prevail of a small country.
Singapore là một ví dụ điển hình cho khả năng thành công của một quốc gia nhỏ.
Part 3
1. Which do you prefer, family firms or non-family ones?
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I prefer non-family businesses because they tend to be more professional and organised.
Meanwhile family firms are significantly less professional as employees in this kind of
business are not trained in a standard way.
2. What are important factors in making a company successful?
The most important factor which springs to my mind is the human. While it’s undeniable
that technology plays an integral role in delivering success to a company, it is the human
that has the control over technology and operates it.
3. What kinds of qualities should a successful businessman have?
Common sense, of course. This is a quality which everyone should have, not only successful
businessmen. Moreover, a successful businessman should also be able to formulate
visionary policies and strategies.
4. What emerging industries do you know?
To the best of my knowledge, some emerging industries are tourism and beauty. Vietnam’s
tourism industry has been expanding at a double-digit rate, at least 10% for the past 5 years.
Meanwhile the beauty industry is also growing very fast as the consumption of cosmetics is
growing 5% per year.
Vocabulary:
1. to spring to mind (phrase): nảy ra trong đầu
Example: Say the word "Australia" and

a vision of beaches and blue seas immediately springs to mind.
Chỉ cần nói chữ Australia là một ý nghĩ về biển xanh lập tức nảy ra trong đầu
2. to have control over something (phrase): kiểm soát
Example: She doesn't have any control over that child - it's embarrassing.
Cô ta chẳng thể kiểm soát được đứa trẻ đó, thật là xấu hổ.
3. common sense (phrase): sự biết điều, suy nghĩ cơ bản
Example: Common sense and creativity are the essential qualities we need in an employee.
Sự biết điều và sự sáng tạo là hai thứ quan trọng mà chúng tôi cần ở một nhân viên.
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4. visionary (adj): có tầm nhìn
Example: A visionary thinking
Một suy nghĩ có tầm nhìn
5. to formulate a policy (phrase): tạo ra chính sách
Example: The government has just formulated a policy which requires all foreign
passengers to have a health certificate when entering the country.
Chính phủ vừa tạo ra chính sác bắt buộc tất cả các vị khách từ nước ngoài phải có giấy khám
sức khỏe khi tới nước họ.
6. double-digit (adj): hai số.
Example: The Asian tigers have seen a double-digit growth in the past decades.
Những con rồng châu Á đang phát triển ít nhất 2 số (vd: >=10%) trong những thập niên qua.
6. Describe a piece of important news you got through a text message

You should say:
 What it was
 When you got it
 Who you got it from
 And how you felt about it
(What it was) I believe that everyone must have received news via a text message at some
point in their life, I’m not an exception. Several months ago, I applied to become a part-time
essay corrector at an English centre. The application process was comprised of up to 4 steps.
After all the previous steps, the result was displayed via email. However, the final result
from recruitment was informed via text message, which came as a great surprise to me.
(When you got it) This text message was received some months ago as I’ve said. It was on
a Friday late afternoon, after I had hopped on a bus departing for my own hometown from
Ho Chi Minh city.
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(Who you got it from) Until now, I have no clue exactly who was the person that sent the
text message to me as there was no name stated in the message. However, I can guess that it
was the TA supervisor that sent the message to me.
(And how you felt about it) Upon receiving the message, I felt over the moon since I was
desperate for money. My trip to Korea cost me an arm and a leg while I also had to pay
tuition fees and cover different living expenditures. Thus, no words could describe how
happy I was when receiving the information that I had been selected for the job.
Vocabulary:
1. To be comprised of something (phrase): được cấu thành bởi
Example: The class is comprised mainly of Italian and French students.
Lớp học này được cấu thành bởi đa số học sinh Ý và Pháp.
2. To come as a surprise to someone (phrase): đến một cách bất ngờ với ai đó
Example: The decision came as a great surprise to us all.
Quyết định này đến một cách bất ngờ với tất cả chúng tôi.
3. To hop on (phrasal verb): trèo lên / lên xe
Example: I hopped on my bike and took off for the park.
Tôi leo lên xe và chạy đến công viên.
4. To depart for (phrase): khởi hành tới đâu đó
Example: When does your plane depart for San Francisco?
Khi nào thì máy bay của bạn khởi thành đến San Francisco?
5. To have no clue/don’t have a clue (phrase): không biết
Example: Who invented algebra?" "I don't have a clue."
“Ai là người đã sáng lập ra số học?” “Tôi không biết”
6. To be/feel over the moon (idiom): rất vui sướng
Example: I've been over the moon ever since I got engaged—
I just can't stop looking at my ring!
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Tôi cảm thấy rất vui sướng thì khi đính hôn – Tôi chẳng thể ngừng nhìn vào chiếc nhẫn.
7. Desperate (adj): khao khát
Example: They are desperate for help.
Họ khao khát sự giúp đỡ.
8. To cost (someone) an arm and a leg (idiom): tốn rất nhiều tiền
Example: The repair work cost an arm and a leg.
Công việc sửa chữa tốn rất nhiều tiền.
Part 3
1. Do you think traditional letters are a good way to send messages?
They remain important in some formal cases. For example, it is essential that a nationally
important announcement has a hard copy other than a soft copy. However, I do not think that
traditional letters are an efficient way to carry out daily communication as it takes a very
long amount of time for snail mails to be delivered.
2. Why do people make phone calls instead of sending messages when there is
something important?
Personally, this question sometimes leaves me scratching my head. But to the best of my
experience, I can say that phone calls give one a chance to offer information to receivers, so
that information can be understood easily. Meanwhile, people usually get confused when
they have to text many messages.
3. Are phone calls more polite than text messages?
I do not think so. They are equally polite. The difference is that they are used in different
circumstances, depending on the amount of information that needs to be delivered. For
example, short bursts of information can be sent via text messages, but large amounts of
information need delivering by phone calls.
4. Does technological development have a negative impact on communication

among people?
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It depends. If people are able to make proper use of technology without abusing it, it will
be beneficial for people’s communication. By contrast, an over-reliance on technology may
be detrimental to people’s face to face communication skills.
Vocabulary:
1. Carry out (phrasal verb): thực hiện
Example: Our soldiers carried out a successful attack last night.
Quân đội của chúng đôi đã thực hiện một cuộc tấn công thành công tối qua.
2. Snail mail (n): thư gửi tay qua bưu điện
Example: We agreed the deal online, but we'll have to wait for snail mail to get
the paperwork.
Chúng tôi đã thỏa thuận được online, nhưng phải chờ thư gửi qua bưu điện để có giấy tờ.
3. To scratch someone’s head (phrase): suy nghĩ rất nhiều
Example: A lot of people must be scratching their heads about which way to vote.
Rất nhiều người phải suy nghĩ rất nhiều về cách bỏ phiếu.
4. To make use of something (phrase): sử dụng cái gì đó
Example: We might as well make use of the hotel's facilities.
Chúng tôi cũng có thể sử dụng các tiện nghi của khách sạn.
5. Over-reliance on sth (phrase): sự quá phụ thuộc vào cái gì đó
Example: The region's over-reliance on tourism is unwise.
Sự phụ thuộc quá nhiều vào du lịch của vùng này là không khôn ngoan.
6. Detrimental to something (phrase): có hại với cái gì đó
Example: Their decision could be detrimental to the future of the company.
Quyết định của họ có thể gây bất lợi cho tương lai của công ty.
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7. Describe a water sports you would like to try in the future
You should say:
- What it is
- Where you would like to try it
-Why you would like to try it
(What it is)
Swimming is a healthy and motivational sport. I think swimming can endear itself to many
people because water-related activities always deliver a sense of excitement and
refreshment. During the hot weather, immersing yourself in the cold water is irresistible.
For me, I have been swimming since I was 7, but I have to admit that I’m not quite an active
person in the water. The reason is that I used to confront a lot of difficulties in preserving
my stamina and also in holding my breath in the water.
(Where you would like to try it)
Next summer, I am planning to swim at large beaches or in the sea in my coastal city.
Swimming in the sea is such a pleasurable experience. I heard from many of my friends
that it provides more thrills than swimming in an enclosed swimming pool. They said could
swim over considerably longer distance without bumping into each other. Hearing the
illustrations, the desire to swim was so intense that I am dying to be in the sea as soon as
possible. In fact, I will have a summer vacation in Nha Trang and Vung Tau with my family
so that I can fulfil my desire.
(Why you would like to try it)
Well, I want to swim in the sea or sea beach for several reasons. First of all, it would be a
completely new and somehow adventurous experience for me. Moreover, I heard that the
sea water is all the more beneficial for health to some extent. Besides, I have read recently
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that swimming in the sea is also calming and meditative, as the sound of your breathing and
the water rushing by helps you focus inward and drown out all other distractions.
Vocabulary:
11. motivational [adj]: encouraging, making people want to do sth: có tính động
lực cao
Eg: To m ost cont enders, this i nt ense competi ti on i s real l y m ot ivati onal.
12. (to) endear [v]: sb/sth/ yourself to sb else: make sb/sth like you: khiến ai đó yêu
thích
Eg: The teacher’s kindness endears himself to most of his pupils.
13. refreshment [n]: the fact of making sb feel stronger or less tired or hot: sự làm cho
sảng khoái
Eg: Minh is trying to find a place for rest and refreshment.
14. irresistible [adj]: so strong that it cannot be stopped or resisted: không thể cưỡng lại
được
Eg: As a matter of fact, Linh’s arguments were irresistible.
15. stamina [n]: the physical or mental strength that enables you to do sth difficult for a
long period of time: sức bền
Eg: It takes a lot of stamina to run a marathon.
16. pleasurable [adj]: enjoyable: vui vẻ
Eg: The hotels were not so good, but on the whole the trip was a pleasurable
experience.
17. intense [adj]: extreme and forceful or (of a feeling) very strong: mãnh liệt
Eg: He suddenly felt an intense pain in his back.
18. adventurous [adj]: exciting and often dangerous: mạo hiểm
Eg: Instead of staying in the hotel all the time, we wanted to go out and be adventurous.
19. meditative [adj]: involving meditation (= giving your attention to one thing as a
religious activity or to relax): thiền định
Eg: She closed her eyes and went into a meditative trance.
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20. distraction (n): something that prevents someone from giving their attention to
something else: chuyện gây xao nhãng
Eg: You can turn the television off if you find it a distraction.
8. Describe a place where you read and write (not your home)
=> Tham khảo bài viết: Describe a quiet place.
Where it is
How often you visit there
What you do there
And explain the reason why you like or dislike the place.
To me, quiet places mean libraries. But I’m not going to describe the library at my university
as I still haven’t visited it yet. The one I’m going to describe is the library at my high school
in Haiduong City.
My school is very large and it consists of four big blocks named A, B, C, and D. The library
occupies a small space on the highest floor in block D, and it’s perhaps just about three or
nearly four times as large as a normal classroom. There’s a room used to store books and
another for students to read books and self-study.
I spent most of my time in the library when I was in grade 10. The next two years were filled
completely with competitions and extracurricular activities so I couldn’t go to the library as
often as before. I had my own favorite spot in the self-study section; it was the cubicle on
the outermost row that is near the window, and whenever I visited the library to study or to
read some borrowed books, I would choose that spot without hesitation. I even wrote some
words or symbols that I liked on the table; don’t know whether they’re still there now though.
I specifically chose this library to describe because it’s really quiet, compared with some
other libraries in Haiduong City that I’ve been to. It was really suitable for studying, and
some even went there to sleep! I had a great time self-studying in this library back then, I
seriously would re-visit it if I ever had a chance.
Vocabulary:
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 Cubicle [noun] (buồng làm việc kín nhỏ, cách các buồng khác bằng vách ngăn) a
partially enclosed workspace in an office which is separated from neighboring workspaces
by partitions
e.g. He was in a cubicle of his own, and he could see at least a hundred more cubicles in this
room alone.
 Outermost [adjective] (ngoài cùng, cách xa trung tâm nhất) at the greatest distance
from the center
e.g. The city centre is Zone 1 and the outermost suburbs are Zone 6.
 Occupy [verb] (chiếm) fill or take up (a space or time)
e.g. Every parking space was occupied here; you would have to park somewhere else.
 Without hesitation [phrase] -If you say that someone does something without
hesitation , you are emphasizing that they do it immediately and willingly.
e.g. The great majority of strikers would return to work without hesitation if they were
offered a better deal.
 Specifically [adverb] (đặc biệt) for a particular purpose
e.g. These picture books were created specifically for children.
Part 3
What are the places that are free of noise?
With such a frantic pace of life in this day and age, noises are omnipresent. However, there
are still places that are free of noise. They are locations related to religion, like churches,
pagodas or shrines, where noise is strictly prohibited. People who are in need of absolute
silence and intense concentration can also go to the library or bookstore. Additionally, there
are certain restrictions on noise in hospitals and clinics. Besides, rural areas are places to
escape from the noise of traffic and crowds, which gives residents a sense of tranquility.
What are the causes of noises?
Factors of noise are manifold, many of which originate from humans and objects. Numerous
places are associated with noise, such as busy streets and construction sites. Places of
entertainment say, cafes, bars, and amusement parks, also use noise to attract people. The
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more people want to interact and communicate, the more substantial the amount of noise
generated. Therefore, some people regard noise as an effective way to alleviate our stresses
and strains in life.
What are the impacts of noise on people?
Whether caused unintentionally or deliberately, excessive levels of noise invariably exert

adverse influences on those exposed to it. Firstly, those affected by noise caused by others
may be unable to relax and take a proper rest. Secondly, noise could greatly diminish our
concentration and memory. Last but not least, long-term noise is said to pose serious health
hazards. For example, constant exposure to high pitched noise can result in auditory
problems, and in the worst scenario, hearing loss. As we all know, hearing-impaired
individuals are very likely to experience difficulty in life.
VOCABULARY:
frantic [adjective]: done quickly and with a lot of activity, but not well organized:
cuồng loạn
Eg: The hot el made franti c preparat ions for the unexpect ed arri val of t he
P resi dent .
omnipresent [adjective]: everywhere: có mặt khắp mọi nơi
Eg: Mobile phones are omnipresent in this day and age.
(to) prohibit [verb]: to stop sb/sth from doing sth: to stop sth from being done or used by law
: nghiêm cấm
Eg: The policy prohibits students from smoking in schools.
intense [adjective]: very great, very strong : mãnh liệt, hết mức
Eg: The President is under intense pressure to resign.
Restriction [noun]: a rule or law that limits what you can do : giới hạn
Eg: The government has agreed to ease restrictions on press freedom.
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tranquility [noun]: the state of being quiet and peaceful: sự yên bình
Eg: I dream of the tranquility of lying on a deserted beach.
manifold [adjective]: many, of many different types: rất nhiều, đa dạng
Eg: The possibilities of genetic engineering are manifold.
(to) originate [verb]: start from : xuất phát từ:
Eg: The disease is thought to have originated in the tropics.
characteristic [adjective]: of sth: very typical of sth: đặc trưng của
Eg: The characteristic street markets of Vietnam are popular with tourists .
associate [verb]: if one thing is associated with another, they are connected because they
happen together (liên hệ, có liên quan tới)
Eg: Heart disease is associated with the dangers of smoking.
substantial [adjective]: large in amount, value or importance: đáng kể
Eg: There have been substantial changes since his arrival.
(to) generate [verb]: to produce or create sth: sản sinh ra, tạo ra
Eg: The proposal has generat ed a lot of i nt erest .
effective [adjective]: producing successful results: hiệu quả
Eg: Aspirin is a simple but highly effective treatment.
(to) alleviate [verb]: to make sth less severe: làm dịu đi
Eg: A number of measures were taken to alleviate the problem of drought.
stresses and strains [expression]: difficulties and problems : sự căng thẳng
Eg: You will learn to cope with the stresses and strains of public life.
deliberately [adverb]: done in a way that was planned : một cách cố ý
Eg: She has been deliberately ignoring him all day.
excessive [adjective]: greater than what seems reasonable or appropriate: quá độ
Eg: They complained about the excessive noise coming from the flat above.
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invariably [adverb]: always (in a negative way): luôn luôn
Eg: It invariably rains these days, which is really frustrating.
adverse [adjective]: negative or unpleasant: tiêu cự
Eg: Lack of money will have an adverse effect on our research program.
expose [verb]: to put sb/sth in a situation where they are not protected from something
harmful or unpleasant
Eg: Small babies should not be exposed to strong sunlight – it will harm them.
(to) diminish [verb]: make sth weaker, smaller: làm giảm
Eg: I don’t want to diminish the importance of their contribution.
hazard [noun]: a thing that can be dangerous or cause damage : sự nguy hiểm
Eg: Everybody is aware of the hazards of smoking.
Exposure [noun]: the state of being in a place or situation where there is no protection from
sth unpleasant or harmful: sự hứng chịu
Eg: Exposure to too much sunlight is not good for our health.
hearing-impaired [adjective]: having problems or implications of hearing : thính giác bị suy

giảm
Eg: Hearing-impaired people can have special audio devices on their TVs and computers
9. Describe a city you have visited and want to come back

( => tham khảo đề Describe a city you once went to with your family)
You should say:
- What the city was
- Why you went there
- What the city was like
- And explain how you felt about it
(What the city was)
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Last month, my family decided to travel to Tokyo to enjoy our summer vacation to the
fullest. Tokyo is Japan's capital and the world's most populous metropolis. Today, Tokyo
has become one of the world’s most active major cities, home to cutting-edge technology,
information, culture, and fashion, as well as a high level of public safety.
(Why you went there)
Visiting Tokyo has always been one of my biggest travel dreams. This is a modern, fast-
paced city that still embraces its traditional roots. Even though the city is large, there’s a
sense of cleanliness and order about Tokyo that makes it extremely accessible to visitors,
and keeps it consistently rated by Conde Nast as one of the best cities in the world.
(What the city was like)
There are many things to talk about the once in a life time experience in Tokyo. Perhaps best
of all is its structure: lacking a clearly marked center, it’s made up of a patchwork of
different neighborhoods, each distinct in identity and atmosphere. In the city of Tokyo there
is a wide spectrum of places to visit, from the very distinguished Imperial Palace, home of
the Emperor and past shogunates, the legendary Tokyo Tower, and Tokyo Sky Tree, the
new landmark of Tokyo. It's of little surprise, then, that the subway is also impeccably clean,
on time and easy to navigate. Commuters wait in line to board it.
(And explain how you felt about it)
“Animated" is perhaps the best word to describe Tokyo. Well, from my experience, the city
is challenging and enlightening, and the locals' incredible hospitality makes navigating
through it all feel safe and comfortable. I am so impressed with the civility and orderliness
of people here.
Vocabulary:
21. populous [adj]: a populous country, area, or place has a lot of people living in
it: đông dân
Eg: Chi na is t he worl d's m ost populous count r y.
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22. cutting-edge [adj]: very modern and with all the newest features: tiên tiến
Eg: This is an ambitious book, which aims to pull together cutting -edge research in
formal semantics, lexical aspect, and event structure.
23. embrace [v]: to accept something with great interest or enthusiasm: đón nhận
Eg: He has wholeheartedly embraced life in south Louisiana.
24. consistently [adv]: in a way that does not change: một cách nhất quán
Eg: The president has consistently denied the rumours.
25. patchwork [n]: a mixture of different things: sự chắp vá
Eg: We looked out of the aircraft window down onto the patchwork of fields below.
26. legendary [adj]: very famous and admired or spoken about: huyền thoại
Eg: He became editor of the legendary Irish journal "The Bell".
27. navigate [v]: to direct the way that a ship, aircraft, etc. will travel, or to find a
direction across, along, or over an area of water or land, often by using a map: định
vị phương hướng
Eg: Sailors have special equipment to help them navigate.
28. enlightening [adj]: giving you more information and understanding of
something: giúp khai sáng
Eg: That was a very enlightening programme.
29. hospitality [n]: the act of being friendly and welcoming to guests and visitors: sự hiếu
khách
Eg: The local people showed me great hospitality.
30. civility [n]: politeness or a polite remark: sự lịch sự
Eg: She greeted them with civility, but not much warmth.
PART 3: CITIES
1. What kind of city do you like?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Personally, cities that have favorable living
conditions and breathtaking landscapes hold great appeal to me. (Explain your reason or
reasons) As I see it, most cities nowadays are occupied with skyscrapers and subways, which
come at the expense of greenery and air quality. That is to say, I still prefer living in
metropolitan areas for the sake of my job prospects.
2. What are the advantages of living in the city?
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(Give a direct answer to the question) The convenience of city life is a point in its favor.
You have everything within easy access. Another excellent perk of living in the city is the
sheer amount of education, career, and volunteer opportunities available. (Give an example
(often a personal example)) Whether you’re trying to earn a bachelor’s degree, graduate
degree, seeking full-time employment in your field, or just looking for somewhere to lend a
helping hand in your free time – city life presents a chance to learn, grow, develop, and
serve in whatever manner you wish. (Explain the opposite or alternative) Obviously, it is
true that a city brings more exposure and connects people to the world in comparison to a
rural life.
3. Why do many people nowadays prefer living in the suburbs?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, I assume that suburban residents enjoy more
easily accessible green space. (Explain your reason or reasons) Most suburban homes are
surrounded by some form of green space giving people living in these houses the opportunity
to see and interact with nature. (Give an example (often a personal example)) For outdoor
lovers, the suburbs offer much more nature, trails and parks to enjoy. Many communities
even have their own hike and bike trails for neighborhood residents.
Vocabulary:
31. favorable [adj]: making something more likely to be successful: thuận lợi
Eg: The book received highly favorable reviews.
32. breathtaking [adj]: very beautiful or surprising: đẹp, ngoạn mục

Eg: The scene was one of breathtaking beauty.
33. at the expense of [expression]: if you do one thing at the expense of another, doing
the first thing harms the second thing: gây bất lợi, gây hại cho cái gì
Eg: He spent a lot of time at work, at the expense of his marriage.
34. for the sake of [expression]: in order to help or please someone: vì quyền lợi của
Eg: He begged her to stay for the sake of the children.
35. perk [n]: an advantage, such as money or a car, that you are given because of your
job: lợi ích
Eg: A mobile phone is one of the perks of the job.
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36. lend a helping hand [expression]: to do something that helps a company or person:
giúp đỡ ai
Eg: The Federal Reserve is expected to lend a hand by continuing to cut interest rates
forcefully.
37. exposure [n]: a situation in which someone experiences something or is affected by it
because they are in a particular situation or place: sự tiếp xúc
Eg: Many young children now have exposure to computers in the home.
38. assume [v]: to accept something as true without question or proof: cho rằng
Eg: We can’t assume (that) he’s innocent simply because he says he is.
39. accessible [adj]: easy to find or reach: dễ tiếp cận
Eg: Information such as this is freely accessible to the public.
40. interact [v]: to communicate with or react to: tương tác
Eg: Dominique's teacher says that she interacts well with the other children.
10. Describe a time you won a prize
You should say:
What it was
What you had to do to win it
How many other competitors were there
and explain how you felt after winning it.
(What it was)
Today I’m going to describe a time I won a prize. My participation in a chess competition
brought me one of most resounding triumphs in my student life and I am going to tell you
about this event and the award I won. The competition was held in my college in Vietnam
around three years ago. The chess competition was arranged, marking the annual sports
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events. Though several other contests were included in this event, I picked chess for my love
and passion for the game. I would like to thank you for letting me talk about it.
(What you had to do to win it)
Well, to ultimately get to the top, I had to compete and outwit my competitors at several
stages to win the competition. The first stage of the competition began in the morning and
ended by noon. The final completion was held after lunch and ended in the evening. I got a
break when I tried to reshape my ideas and start again with determination and perseverance
to become the champion the next day. Back then, fighting competitors with outstanding
talents and skills was extremely difficult. In fact, they were highly intelligent and expert in
playing chess.
(How many other competitors were there)
Among the other competition, chess was relatively less favored by the competitors. I think
the sluggish nature of the game demotivated enthusiastic young individuals to take up this
sport. I remember there were eight players altogether in the entire competition. Each of the
players was skilled and knew how to manipulate the game. The capacity to influence the
thoughts of rivals was truly amazing.
(and explain how you felt after winning it)
A blanket of joy surrounded me after winning a prize in the chess competition. I defeated
the former champion and became the new champion of the inter-department chess
championship of our college. I underwent huge stress during the two days of participation
in the competition. To be frank, I was greatly inspired by the prize and my confidence also
boosted substantially.
To illustrate the prize was insignificant compared to the achievement. The real reward was
in the glory of the title, not the money or the trophy. However, I still have the trophy and I
used the prize money, which was 500 euros, to buy some books and gifts for my parents and
my young sister.
Vocabulary:
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1. resounding [adj]: very great: vang dội
Eg: The plan was a resounding success/failure.
2. outwit [v]: to obtain an advantage over someone by being more intelligent; to

outsmart: dung mưu trí đối đầu
Eg: It i s i mpossi bl e t o negoti at e i f one side feel s that the ot her si de is
t r yi ng t o out wi t them .
3. determination [n]: the quality that makes you continue trying to do sth : quyết tâm
Eg: He fought the illness with courage and determination.
4. perseverance[n]: the effort to overcome difficulties and obstacles: sự kiên trì,bền bỉ

Eg: They showed great perseverance in the face of difficulties
5. relatively [adv]: in comparison with other similar things or with what you expect:
tương đối
Eg: A few states across the country have remained in relatively good shape.
6. sluggish [adj]: moving, acting, or working with less than usual speed or energy: chậm
chạp
Eg: A heavy lunch makes me sluggish in the afternoon.
7. manipulate [v]: to influence or control someone to your advantage, often without that
person knowing it: điều khiển, thao túng
Eg: Her success is partly due to her ability to manipulate the media.
8. undergo [v]: to experience something that is unpleasant or something that involves a
change: trải qua
Eg: She underwent an operation on a tumour in her left lung last year.
11. Describe a conversation topic that you were not interested in
You should say
When you had the conversation
Who you talked with and what the topic was
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And explain why you were not interested
(When you had the conversation)
Well, conversations are part and parcel of people’s life. Being an extrovert, I have great
communication skills and I like to meet new people and have a conversation with them.
However, there are some occasions when I get bored while having a conversation with
others. Today, I would like to talk about one such situation which happened a year ago.
(Who you talked with and what the topic was)
In retrospect, it was a matter of a year ago when I went to my friend’s house to celebrate his
birthday party. After cutting the cake, we all sat on the table and enjoyed the meal. Then one
of the friends started talking about his efforts to find a job for the past few months and his
hopelessness about his career prospects. Soon, the topic turned towards unemployment. It
seemed that everybody was particularly interested in that topic and was eager to showcase
their perspectives. Some focused on the causes of unemployment while others suggested
many solutions for this nerve-racking issue.
(And explain why you were not interested)
Well, for such a happy occasion and reunion, I’d rather we had talked about other gripping,
or at least less serious topics. Moreover, the majority of my friends blamed the government
for such a high rate of joblessness and cut-throat competition in the job market nowadays,
but forgot to suggest solutions for individuals themselves to improve their employability.
As school curriculums usually show negligence for vocational, entrepreneurial training,
graduates themselves need to equip themselves with abundant work experience and life
skills to meet the demand of enterprises.
Vocabulary
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41. part and parcel [expression]: to be a feature of something, especially a feature that
cannot be avoided: moojt phần tất yếu
Eg: Being recognized in the street is part and parcel of being a celebrity.
42. extrovert [n]: an energetic person who enjoys being with other people: người hướng
ngoại s
Eg: On the positive side, extroverts are often described as talkative, sociable, action-oriented,
enthusiastic, friendly, and out-going.
43. career prospect [n]: the probability or chance for future success in a profession: triển
vọng nghề nghiệp
Eg: The training awards can improve career prospects for trainees and apprentices.
44. perspective [n]: a particular way of considering something: quan điểm
Eg: Her attitude lends a fresh perspective to the subject.
45. nerve-racking [adj]: something that is nerve-racking is difficult to do and
causes a lot of worry for the person involved in it: làm căng thẳng
46. gripping [adj]: something that is gripping is so interesting or exciting that it holds
your attention completely: thú vị
Eg: I found the book so gripping that I couldn't put it down.
47. cut-throat [adj]: competing in a strong and unfair way, without considering any harm
caused to others: quyết liệt
Eg: Scrapping of price fixing legislation led to a cut-throat battle for supermarket customers.
48. employability [n]: the quality of being suitable for paid work: khả năng được
tuyển dụng
Eg: A new study ranked the world's top universities based on the employability of
their graduates.
49. negligence [n]: the failure to give sb/sth enough care or attention: sự lơ đãng, thờ ơ
Eg: The accident was caused by his negligence on the part of the driver.
50. equip [v]: to provide a person or a place with objects that are necessary for a particular
purpose: trang bị
Eg: All the police officers were equipped with shields to defend themselves against the
rioters.
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PART 3: CONVERSATION
4. What topics do young people in Viet Nam talk about?

(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, Vietnamese youngsters have numerous topics
to chat about, ranging from schoolwork to relationships and future careers. (Explain your
reason or reasons) Specifically, the most frequent topics among teenagers under 18 years
old are homework and friendships. Among young people between 18 and 22, topics such as
sex, university life and the obstacles they have to encounter on their transition to adulthood
become prominent.
5. What's the difference between the topics popular now and those in the past?
(Give a direct answer to the question) I personally don’t think the topics nowadays are too
different from those in the past (Explain your reason or reasons) If there are any, it would
be the more frequent appearance of environment- related issues in our conversations
nowadays, due to their substantially devastating impacts on the society.
6. How do you know if others are not interested in your conversation?
(Give a direct answer to the question) It’s quite easy to detect such indifference. (Explain
your reason or reasons) If you are doing all the talking, and asking all the questions, and
don’t see any effort by them to continue the conversation, that’s a sign that they aren’t
interested in making conversation. When someone is even remotely interested in chatting
with you, you can tell by their facial expressions and body languages when they're talking
to you.
7. What's the influence of modern technology, such as the internet and e-mails, on
our communication?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Suffice to say, the powerful influences of technology
in our everyday life are omnipresent. (Explain your reason or reasons) Communication,
and the exchange of ideas have become faster, easier, and more efficient due to advances in
technology. Cell phones, social networking websites, e-mail, and instant messaging are
examples of technology which facilitate communication and improve efficiency in our
work. Although the usage of technology may have both positive and negative impacts on
our life, this also depends on how we use and implement it.
Vocabulary:
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1. (to) range [v]: from sth to sth: to include a variety of different things: phân dạng từ
Eg: She has had a number of different jobs, ranging from chef to teacher.
2. (to) encounter [v]: with sth/sb: to experience sth, especially sth unpleasant or
difficult: đối mặt với
Eg: We encountered a number of obstacles in the first week at work.
3. transition [n]: a change from one form or type to another, or the process by which
this happens: sự dịch chuyển
Eg: There will be an interim government to oversee the transition to democracy
4. devastating [adj]: causing a lot of damage or destruction: gây đau khổ
Eg: If the bomb had exploded in the main shopping area, it would have been devastating.
5. indifference [n]: lack of interest, concern, or sympathy: sự thờ ơ
Eg: When you feel indifference for something, you neither like it nor dislike it.
6. remotely [adv]: in the slightest degree: không hề
Eg: He had never been remotely jealous.
7. suffice it to say [expression]: it is enough to say: có thể nói rằng
Eg: Suffice (it) to say, Mike won't be going to Tina's birthday party after what he said about
her to her boss.
8. omnipresent [adj]: everywhere: có mặt khắp mọi nơi
9. facilitate [v]: to make something possible or easier: tạo điều kiện
Eg: The current structure does not facilitate efficient work flow.
10. implement [v]: to start using a plan or system: triển khai thực hiện
Eg: The changes to the national health system will be implemented next year.
12. Describe a successful family business.
You should say:

- what this family business is
- how you know about it
- who the customers of this family business are
- and explain why you think it is successful
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(what this family business is) The term entrepreneur has been all the rage recently as
thousands of successful start-ups deliver motivational speeches to inspire entrepreneurship.
Among all the different kinds of businesses in operation today, homestay agencies and
websites have emerged as one of the most successful types. To me, this is not surprising,
given that we are living in the prime age of tourism. I would say that homestay is a kind of
family business because the homeowner makes profits from letting tourists stay at their
house during their vacation.
(how you know about it) I stumbled across AirBnB, an app that supports homestays,
some months ago, after seeing one of their thousands of marketing posts on Facebook and
Instagram. AirBnB offers lots of deals for both customers and homeowners, which is why
many people think it is as an ideal alternative to traditional hotels, which often cost
customers an arm and a leg.
(who the customers of this family business are) Apparently, tourists make up the main
part of AirBnB’s customer base. On my last journey to Bali, Indonesia, my group of 6
hired a big villa on AirBnB for only 50 dollars per day. Also, expats use it to look for and
hire a room which is on lease.
(and explain why you think it is successful) Homestay, particularly AirBnB, is expected
to overtake traditional hotels as the most used form of hospitality. There are 2 main
reasons for this. Firstly, compared to traditional hotels, homestay is a lot more competitive
in terms of price. I was worried that my villa in Bali would fall short of my expectations
because of its low price, but when we arrived we were all blown away by the stunning
views and the villa’s architecture. Another great thing about AirBnB is that local
homeowners can be really helpful when it comes to exploration. They can act as a free
guide for tourists, whereas in traditional hotels, guests have to pay extra for private tours.
1. Entrepreneur (n): khởi nghiệp

Example: He’s an entrepreneur who made his money in computer software.
Anh ấy là một nhà khởi nghiệp mà tự làm ra tiền từ phần mềm máy tính.
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Example: In China, Mercedes-Benz cars are all the rage among the moneyed elite.
3. To cost someone an arm and a leg (idiom): rất mắc
Example: I'd love to buy a Porsche, but they cost an arm and a leg.
Tôi muốn mua một chiếc xe Porsche nhưng nó rất mắc.
4. Expat (n): người nước ngoài sống hoặc làm việc ở một nước khác.
Example: A large community of expats has settled there.
Mọt cộng đồng người nước ngoài đã sống ở đó.
5. To be on lease (phrase): đang được cho thuê.
Example: He has the house on a long lease.
Anh ấy cho thuê nhà dài hạn.
6. Hospitality (n): dịch vụ khách sạn.
Example: We offer high-quality training for people working in hospitality, leisure,
and tourism.
Chúng tôi có các khóa đào tạo cao cấp cho những người làm trong dịch vụ du lịch và lữ
hành.
7. To fall short of someone’s expectation (phrase): chưa đạt được đến những gì được mong
đợi
Example: August car sales fell short of the industry's expectations.
Doanh thu tháng 8 của xe hơi chưa đạt được mong đợi của ngành.
8. To blow someone away (phrase): làm ai đó bất ngờ vì rất tốt.
Example: Winning first prize and a full scholarship blew her away.
Việc chiến thắng giải nhất và chiếm luôn học bổng toàn phần đã làm cô ấy rất bất ngờ.
PART 3:
1. Do you think globalisation is a positive development?
From the perspective of economics, education and tourism, globalisation is apparently a

positive development. It is instrumental in boosting free trading among countries as well
as foreign investments into a developing country. From the perspective of cultures, this
may be a negative development because it is believed to cause a corrosion of culture.
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of family business?
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Regarding the pros, families which run their own business receive the whole profit they
make before tax. Also, the freedom is also another advantage that those running family
business have. However, doing business on our own seems a bit risky as the likelihood of
family business going bankrupt is higher than that of prestigious firms.
3. Do people in your country like to work for big companies or small ones?
We believe that the bigger the companies, the more prestigious they are. As a result,
many people are attracted by the prestige of working for a top companies, especially
multinational ones like the British Council or Unilever, and work for them in order to have
higher salaries.
1. Instrumental in (adj): có sức ảnh hưởng
Example: She was instrumental in bringing about the prison reform act.
Cô ấy có ảnh hưởng lớn đến việc cải cách nhà tù.
2. Corrosion (n): lụi tàn/gặm mòn.
Example: These alloys protect against corrosion.
Những hợp chất này được sử dụng để tránh sự ăn mòn.
3. To go bankrupt (phrase): bị phá sản.
Example: He went bankrupt after only a year in business.
Anh ấy bị phá sản chỉ sau một năm lập nghiệp.
4. Prestigious (adj): uy tín.
Example: a prestigious university
Một đại học danh tiếng
13. Describe a time you made a mistake and how you deal with it
You should say:
What the mistake was
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When, where you made it
And how do you deal with it
(What the mistake was)
Making a mistake is quite natural for human beings. In fact, everyone makes mistakes. I also
did so, while preparing for cooking. This was quite a hilarious accident when I put salt
instead of powdered sugar into the rice pudding which was supposed to be for our guests.
(When, where you made it)
It was about 3 years ago but I still remember the occasion vividly. It was when my aunt and
uncle from Korea visited our house. To treat them properly, my mother carefully made some
scrumptious snacks, main courses and fancy desserts for them. I was also there running
some errands for my mother, but she did most of the work honestly. My mother had
seasoned everything except the rice pudding. When she was putting it on the gas stove, her
phone rang and she went to the room to pick it up. She instructed me to put four table spoons
of sugar into the rice pudding.
(And how do you deal with it)
Then, I quickly rushed to the kitchen and saw a glass jar with white powder on the shelf and
poured four table spoons of it into the rice pudding without hesitation. Needless to say,
afterwards, all of us felt something was up when tasting the dessert. I admitted my mistake
and said sorry to the whole family for ruining the dessert. I felt extremely responsible as my
mother had taken the trouble to cook the whole dinner, but due to my carelessness, the
dessert became almost inedible.
Vocabulary:
51. hilarious [adj]: extremely funny and causing a lot of laughter: khôi hài
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Eg: Daniell's evaluation of the many twentieth-century translations is sometimes hilarious.
52. vividly [adv]: in a way that is very clear, powerful, and detailed in your mind:
một cách sống động
Eg: Research suggested that people can vividly recall events that never happened.
53. scrumptious [adj]: tasting extremely good; delicious: thịnh soạn
Eg: The scrumptious recipes at the end are a fine addition to the captivating
conclusion.
54. run errands [expression]: to go out to buy or do something: giúp việc sai lặt vặt
Eg: After school he runs errands for his father.
55. instruct [v]: to order or tell someone to do something, especially in a formal way:
hướng dẫn
Eg: The police have been instructed to patrol the building and surrounding area.
56. without hesitation [expression]: if you say that someone does something without
hesitation, you are emphasizing that they do it immediately and willingly.: không do dự
Eg: The great majority of players would, of course, sign the contract without hesitation.
57. take the trouble to [expression]: to make an effort to do something: bỏ công làm gì
Eg: Your father took the trouble to cook this delicious meal, and now you are going to sit
down and eat it!
58. inedible [adj]: not suitable as food: không ăn được
Eg: The potato plant produces inedible fruit that looks like green tomatoes.
PART 3: MISTAKES
8. What do parents do when children make mistakes at home?

(Give a direct answer to the question) When children make mistakes at home, parents
should be patient and responsive. (Explain your reason or reasons) Depending on the
situation and circumstances, some parents may react to their child's setback by comforting
their child. Others may focus on what the child did wrong or worry that their child is not
doing well. From my experience, parents should, above all, reassure their child that they
always have their back and that they'll be there for them to talk to about their feelings and
thoughts about any mistake they make.
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9. What are the differences between making mistakes at home and outside your
house?
(Give a direct answer to the question) It’s a matter of the consequences, I guess. (Explain
your reason or reasons) At home, you can recognize the small-scale mistakes and find ways
to rectify them. However, for the unfavorable conditions happening outside your house, it
will be all the more challenging to cope with.
10. What do people normally talk about someone’s mistakes?
(Give a direct answer to the question) I assume people usually talk about their mistakes
more than those of others. (Explain your reason or reasons) If they mention somebody
else’s blunders, they may focus on the lessons to learn and offer sensible approaches to
prevent further relapse for that person.
11. What should teachers do when students make mistakes?
(Give a direct answer to the question) This is important, because almost all students will
make multiple mistakes. (Explain your reason or reasons) Teachers should see these
mistakes as a source of understanding for their pupils. When students are mindful of
incorrect solution concepts while working on a problem, they are able to deal with the
problem at a much deeper level. Also, teachers should not just correct a mistake but make
sure that students recognize and understand the reason for the mistake.
12. What can people learn from mistakes?
(Give a direct answer to the question) No one is immune to making mistakes – we are
human, after all. (Explain your reason or reasons) From the mistakes, we can realize what
matters and what does not. Falling short of our expectations in attempting something, we
have more compassion for ourselves and others and pace ourselves better.
13. Can mistakes help people to be more successful?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Yes, of course. (Explain your reason or reasons)
As long as you are constantly growing as a person and improving on your actions, you are
striving towards achieving success. Mistakes are bound to happen. But if you learn from
them, you are on your way to becoming a success.
14. How to avoid making mistakes?
(Give a direct answer to the question) To avoid mistakes, one should give full attention to
what one is doing. (Explain your reason or reasons) Besides, as distractions make you
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prone to mistakes and lower your productivity, it is better to spend intensive amounts of
time on one task and avoid making mistakes as much as possible.
Vocabulary:
59. setback [n]: something that happens that delays or prevents a process from
developing: sự trở ngại
Eg: There has been a slight/temporary setback in our plans.
60. reassure [v]: to comfort someone and stop that person from worrying: trấn an,
làm cho yên lòng
Eg: Her smil e di dn’t reassure m e.

61. small-scale [adj]: small, especially when compared to other things like it: quy mô nhỏ
Eg: The house is like a small-scale castle.
62. all the more [expression]: even more than before: càng
Eg: Several publishers rejected her book, but that just made her all the more determined.
63. blunder [n]: a big mistake, especially one resulting from a lack of care or
thought: lỗi lầm
Eg: His failure to respond immediately to the accusations was a major political
blunder.
64. mindful of [adj]: giving attention (to): lưu ý
Eg: Mindful of the poor road conditions, she drove slowly.
65. falling short of [expression]: to be less than the amount or standard that is needed or
that you want: không đạt tới
Eg: He would sack any of his staff who fell short of his high standards.
66. be bound to [expression]: certain or extremely likely to happen: chắc chắn sẽ
Eg: The hunt for a house has been a gigantic part of my life for the last year so I'm
bound to feel as if there's something missing.
67. productivity [n]: the rate at which a person, company, or country does useful
work: năng suất
Eg: A pleasant working environment increases productivity.
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68. intensive [adj]: involving a lot of work or activity done in a short time: tập trung,
chuyên sâu
Eg: These are highly intensive courses for business and professional people.
14. Describe a person who you think is very open
You should say:
Who this person is and how you knew this person
Why you think this person is very open
And explain how you feel about this person
(Who this person is and how you knew this person)
Well, it’s not common for us to find someone frank and genuinely sincere in such a
materialistic world. Here, I would like to talk about my sister, whom I regard as a very
straightforward and outgoing person. My daily interaction with my sister has allowed me
to experience her straightforward nature many times.
(Why you think this person is very open)
Most of the time, she doesn’t hide her thoughts and feelings, but rather openly expresses
them. For example, I recently made a cake. She found it unbearably sweet and when I asked
for her opinion, she openly gave me the blatant truth that she didn’t like it. And she isn’t
like that with us family members only, but others also. She speaks her mind and sometimes
people get offended due to this too.
(And explain how you feel about this person)
I think the more people get to know her, the more they understand that she is just being
straightforward and her intention is to help, not to insult. Over the years, I have found that
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more and more friends appreciate her for her candor. Her direct nature is intertwined with
the fact that many of our relatives and neighbors come and confide in her. They know she
will speak her mind. I think it requires a lot of courage for a person to be open and direct. I
care too much about other people’s feelings and as a result, sometimes I lie or make promises
I can’t keep. I really wish I could be more open like my sister.
Vocabulary:
69. materialistic [adj]: believing that having money and possessions is the most
important thing in life: vật chất
Eg: Highly materialistic people believe that owning and buying things are necessary
means to achieve important life goal.
70. straightforward [adj]: honest and without unnecessary politeness: thẳng thắn
Eg: She’s a straightforward, no-nonsense teacher.

71. unbearably [adv]: in a way that is too painful or unpleasant for you to continue to
experience: một cách không thể chịu được
Eg: The sun was almost unbearably hot today.
72. blatant [adj]: very obvious and intentional, when this is a bad thing: phũ
phàng
Eg: The whole episode was a blatant attempt to gain publicity.
73. offend [v]: to make someone upset or angry: xúc phạm
Eg: I think she was offended that she hadn't been invited to the party.
74. candor [n]: the quality of being honest and telling the truth, especially about
a difficult or embarrassing subject: sự trung thực
Eg: "We really don't know what to do about it," she said with surprising candor.
75. (to be) intertwined with sth/sb[v]: be very closely connected with sb/sth: liên hệ
chặt chẽ
Eg: Sleep deprivation is intertwined with your stress.
76. confide [v]: to tell something secret or personal to someone who you trust not to tell
anyone else: tâm sự
Eg: As sisters, they have always confided in each other.
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77. set in one’s ways [expression]: to do the same things every day and to not want to
change those habits: bảo thủ, không thay đổi
Eg: As people get older, they often become set in their ways.
PART 3: PEOPLE
15. Is it difficult or Vietnamese people to express their feelings?

(Give a direct answer to the question) The Vietnamese are very discreet and rarely show
their emotions, whether it is happiness, anger or fear. (Explain your reason or reasons)
Besides, they also expect the same attitude and amount of self-control from the people they
interact with, such as a colleague or even their superior. (Give an example) For example,
Vietnamese are still quite reserved when it comes to showing affection for the opposite sex.
16. Who do you think talk more? Children or grown-ups?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, I think the answer depends. (Explain your
reason or reasons) Some youngsters have a strong desire to communicate to establish
relationships with others, while adults mostly speak within their working environments.
17. What’s the difference between males and females in terms of expressing their
feelings?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Men more accurately expressing anger, contempt
and happiness, while women more accurately express fear and happiness. (Explain the
opposite or alternative) Despite common portrayals, women are not universally expressive
and men are not consistently stoic. Instead, the intensity of the reaction is likely to depend
not only on the sex of the individual but also on the specific emotional state.
18. Why do you think people these days are not as open as those in the past?
(Give a direct answer to the question) I think there are reasons for the refusal to be open
for today’s people. (Explain your reason or reasons) They have become more cautious
when interacting with others to be wise enough to handle practical matters; exercise good
judgment or common sense. Being well-informed of and constantly updated with disturbing
news about rampant dangers in society, people have also become less open to things and
other people.
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Vocabulary:
78. discreet [adj]: careful not to cause embarrassment or attract too much attention,
especially by keeping something secret: thận trọng
Eg: The family made discreet enquiries about his background.
79. superior [n]: a person or group of people who are higher in rank or social position
than others: cấp trên
Eg: I will pass your complaint on to my superiors.
80. when it comes to [expression]: as for something; speaking about something khi
xét đến, nhắc đến cái gì
Eg: When it com es to fi shing, John i s an ex pert .
81. establish [v]: to start having a relationship with, or communicating with another
person, company, country, or organization: thiết lập
Eg: There is a strong need to establish effective communication links between staff, parents,
pupils, and external bodies.
82. contempt [n]: a strong feeling of disliking and having no respect for someone or
something: sự khinh bỉ
Eg: They were bullies, and they showed contempt for everyone and everything.
83. stoic [adj]: determined not to complain or show your feelings, especially when
something bad happens to you: chịu đựng nghịch cảnh
Eg: He is somewhat stoic as he speaks of his past.
84. intensity [n]: the quality of being extreme in strength or force: cường độ
Eg: Simone sings with emotional intensity.
85. disturbing [adj]: making you feel worried or upset: gây buồn phiền
Eg: The article described the latest crime figures as "disturbing".
86. rampant [adj]: (of something bad) getting worse quickly and in an uncontrolled way:
đầy rẫy, nhiều
Eg: Rampant inflation means that our wage increases will soon become worth nothing.
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15. Describe a time you took a risk, you thought that bad things would happen but
still took it because you believed it would have a positive outcome
You should say:
- What bad things were
- When you took a risk
-And explain why it had positive results
(What bad things were)
We all take risks in our life. Sometimes we realize we are taking a risk, and sometimes we
don’t even realize that we are taking a risk. Here, I would like to talk about a situation when
I took a risk and it had a positive result. I have a pet dog, Sony, who I take for a walk in the
evening in the park every day. Meanwhile, our neighbors have a German shepherd, Mark,
which is very aggressive. Everyone in our street is extremely apprehensive of that dog as
it is quite ill-mannered. Moreover, my neighbor even has their dog leashed all the time.
(When you took risks)
One day, as I was walking in the street with Sony, Mark escaped and came running towards
us. Sony ran to the other side and her leash slipped from my hand. I knew I had to act quickly
and save Sony, otherwise, the consequence would be really devastating. I came between
that dog and Sony. In that one second, I could imagine myself being bitten in several places
with blood oozing out from all of them. It was a big risk, but at that moment the safety of
my dear Sony was the most important thing for me. When I came between Sony and Mark,
I said Mark’s name in a stern voice and told him to sit.
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(And explain why it had positive results)
Surprisingly, he sat still and started wagging his tail. I heaved a sigh of relief. In the
meantime, my brother had come out and Sony was safe in his arms. I felt so happy that I was
able to save Sony. So, this was the risk I took which had a positive result.
Vocabulary:
87. aggressive [adj]: using strong, forceful methods esp. to sell or persuade: hung hăng
Eg: The company mounted an aggressive marketing campaign.
88. apprehensive [adj]: feeling worried about something that you are going to do or that
is going to happen: lo sợ
Eg: I'm very apprehensive about tomorrow's meeting.
89. ill-mannered [adj]: not behaving well or politely in social situations: x ấu tính
Eg: This ill-mannered boy must receive a more proper education.
90. leash [n]: a strap, chain, etc., fastened to a dog or other animal, esp. at its
collar, in order to lead or control it: dây xích
Eg: Dogs must be kept on a leash in this park.
91. devastating [adj]: causing a lot of damage or destruction: gây đau khổ
Eg: If the bomb had exploded in the main shopping area, it would have been devastating.
92. ooze [v]: to flow slowly out of something through a small opening, or to slowly
produce a thick sticky liquid: ùa ra
Eg: Blood was still oozing out of the wound.
93. stern [adj]: severe, or showing disapproval: nghiêm nghị
Eg: Journalists received a stern warning not to go anywhere near the battleship.
94. relief [n]: a feeling of happiness that something unpleasant has not happened or has
ended: sự yên tâm
Eg: After the exam, I felt an incredible sense of relief.
PART 3: TAKE RISKS
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19. Who usually take risks, why?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, the answer largely depends one’s temperament
and inclination. (Explain your reason or reasons) Men are willing to take more risks in
finances. But women take more social risks—a category that includes things like starting a
new career in your mid-thirties or speaking your mind about an unpopular issue in a meeting
at work. It seems that this difference is because men and women perceive risks differently.
Differences in how boys and girls encounter the world as they’re growing up may make
them more comfortable with different kinds of risks.
20. Why do young people take risks more often than the elderly?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Teens are more likely to take risks and act daring than
adults, because most of the time, they are more accepting of consequences that are unknown
and ambiguous. (Explain your reason or reasons) Besides, people often believe that teens
engage in risky behaviors because they are not very good at evaluating risk, as compared to
their older counterparts.
21. Should we read about dangerous situations, why?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Yes, we should. (Explain your reason or reasons)
Being well-informed of dangerous situations helps us improve our reactions to unexpected
things. (Explain the opposite or alternative) Thinking about how you would react if you
found yourself in a threatening, dangerous situation can help you make good choices if you
should end up in a real incident.
22. What should parents give advice for children to avoid taking risks?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, I personally don’t think they should. (Explain
your reason or reasons) Although it can be stressful for parents, adolescence and risk-taking
go hand in hand. This is because teens need to explore their own limits and abilities, as well
as the boundaries parents set. By empowering children in their self-management, trusting
them to make decisions around risk and allowing them to push themselves to that point of
risk and danger, parents are enabling them to practice their risk assessment skills consistently
and therefore to have an unflinching attitude towards obstacles in life.
Vocabulary:
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95. temperament [n]: a person’s or an animal’s nature as shown in the way they behave
or react to situations or people : tính khí
Eg: Phuong is a dreamer and a romantic by temperament.
96. inclination [n]: a tendency to do sth: khuynh hướng, bản năng
Eg: There is an inclination to treat geography as a less important subject.
97. perceive [v]: to come to an opinion about something, or have a belief about
something: nhận thức về
Eg: How do the French perceive the British?
98. (to) encounter [v]: with sth/sb: to experience sth, especially sth unpleasant or
difficult: đối mặt với
Eg: We encountered a number of obstacles in the first week at work.
99. ambiguous [adj]: having or expressing more than one possible meaning, sometimes
intentionally: mơ hồ
Eg: His reply to my question was somewhat ambiguous.
100. evaluate [v]: to judge or calculate the quality, importance, amount, or value of
something: đánh giá
Eg: It's impossible to evaluate these results without knowing more about the
research methods employed.
101. end up [v]: to finally be in a particular place or situation: kết thúc ở
Eg: They're travelling across Europe by train and are planning to end up in Moscow.
102. go hand in hand [expression]: of two things, to be closely related or to go together
well; see hand in hand.: phù hợp với nhau
Eg: Engineering and design go hand in hand.
103. empower [v]: make (someone) stronger and more confident, especially in
controlling their life and claiming their rights: truyền sức mạnh
Eg: Movements to empower the poor are becoming more popular.
104. unflinching [adj]: not frightened of or not trying to avoid something dangerous or
unpleasant: không chùn bước
Eg: It is a brave and unflinching account of prison life.
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16. Describe a journey that you went on by car. You should say:
⁃ When it was
⁃ Where you went
⁃ Who you were with
⁃ And how you felt about the journey.
(When it was) I would like to talk about one of the worst car journeys of mine. I went on
this car journey a while ago, one year to be precise, during my trip to Bali, Indonesia.
(Where you went) Due to the long distance between tourist attractions in Bali, we had to
rely on car rental services offered there. One service lasted 8 hours, any extra hour would
cost an additional 20 dollars. When working on the itinerary, I did factor traffic jams in,
for which Bali was famous. Yet, my trip from Denpasar to Ubud lasted up to 10 hours
because of a traffic jam, although I had decided to drop some sites.
(Who you were with) Luckily, I was travelling with other 6 cousins, which eased the
burden placed on me. They were also relatively surprised that the traffic in Bali was that
horrible.
(How you felt about the journey) I nearly died in the car because my bladder was full of
urine but the car seemed not to be moving. In general, I still dread to think of commuting
around Bali by car.
1. Rental (n): sự thuê mướn
Property rental is quite expensive here.
Thuê nhà ở khá mắc ở đây.
2. Work on (phrase): làm/luyện tập cái gì đó
His dancing technique is good, but he needs to work on his stamina.
Kĩ thuật nhảy của anh ấy khá ổn, nhưng cần phải luyện tập thêm sức chịu đựng.
3. Drop (v): bỏ
I'm going to drop yoga and do aerobics instead.
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Tôi sẽ bỏ tập yoga và tập aerobics thay vì yoga.
4. Factor something in (phrase): tính cái gì (vào cái gì đó)
People are earning more, but when inflation is factored in, they are no better off.
Con người đang làm ra nhiều tiền hơn, nhưng khi tính lạm phát vào, thì cũng chả tốt hơn gì.
17. Describe a friend you lost contact with and started contacting again
You should say:
Who he or she is and how you got in contact?
What he or she is like?
And explain how you felt about it?
(Who he or she is and how you got in contact)
A few weeks ago, I surprisingly bumped into one of my high school friends, Quang, who I
had not heard from for years. It was a Saturday evening, I was jogging on my way home
from the park. It is a part of my routine life to go for a stroll to recharge myself after
demanding working hours. Quang called my name and I was completely shocked because I
never expected to see him again after hearing the news about him studying abroard in the
U.S. He told me that he came back to Vietnam for the summer holiday. We decided to go to
a nearby cafe so that we could talk longer and share some updates with each other.
(What he or she is like?)
Since high-school, Quang has been outstanding in academics and sports as well. When we
were in school, he was the captain of the football team. In studies, he was always among the
top four-five students. Despite all this, he was very modest, and still he is very modest. It
was such fun talking to him. Quang told me that he picked information technology as his
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major in college because he thought it would benefit his career prospects with higher
chances of internship or an enviable salary in the U.S. He was quite overwhelmed with
such a different culture initially, yet adapted to it over time. Actually, I was a little bit
surprised that he went against his parents’ will to study abroad, as his mom always expected
him to be a dedicated doctor. At the same time, I shared some of my university stories with
him, so that he could understand better about the normal life of a Vietnamese student.
(And explain how you felt about it?)
I think it was a bittersweet feeling getting in touch with him after so long. It was an
interesting experience to get to know more about him and his changes over the course of 3
years in such an advanced environment like the US. Unlike his reserved image in the past,
Quang tended to exude more confidence. He realized that discovering more about the
cultures and customs of different nations gives him a fresh perspective of the world. His
studying tips and hands-on experience were also informative and applicable. Even though
we may have changed during the time we hadn’t seen each other, I could still feel the
attachment and respect between us.
Vocabulary:
1. bump into [expression]: to meet someone you know when you have not
planned to meet them: tình cờ gặp ai
Eg: W e bum ped i nt o Am y when we were i n t own l ast week.
2. go for a stroll [expression]: to walk somewhere in a slow, relaxed way for

enjoyment: đi dạo
Eg: It was a really pretty afternoon, so we went for a stroll and then sat at an
outdoor café for an hour or two.
3. career prospect [n]: the probability or chance for future success in a profession:
triển vọng nghề nghiệp
Eg: The training awards can improve career prospects for trainees and apprentices.
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4. internship [n]: a period of time during which someone works for a company or
organization in order to get experience of a particular type of work: giai đoạn thử việc
Eg: Jane has a summer internship at a local TV station.
5. enviable [adj]: (esp. of a quality or advantage) causing you to wish that you also
possessed it; desirable: đáng mơ ước, ngưỡng mộ
Eg: She has an enviable ability to work under pressure.
6. overwhelmed [adj]: to be "overwhelmed" means to get so much of something
that it becomes a problem: bị choáng ngợp
Eg: We are overwhelmed with data from every quarter, and our capacity to filter
fact from fraud is limited.
7. reserved [adj]: reserved people do not often talk about or show their feelings
or thoughts: dè dặt
Eg: Marcus is more reserved than his brother.
8. exude [v]: if you exude love, confidence, pain, etc., you show that you have a lot of
that feeling: toát ra
Eg: She just exudes confidence and captivates everyone in the room.
9. perspective [n]: a particular way of considering something: quan điểm
Eg: Her attitude lends a fresh perspective to the subject.
10. attachment [n]: a feeling of love or strong connection to someone or something: sự
gắn bó
Eg: At university I formed a strong attachment to one of my tutors.
18. Describe a mobile app on the phone that you use
You should say:
What the app is?
When, where you found it?
How you use it?
and how you feel about it?
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(What the app is?)
I’m going to describe Google Maps, a reliable mapping service providing location
information through satellite imagery. Its website works in almost any web browser or
through mobile applications on platforms like iOS and Android. Google Maps is an
incredibly versatile tool that makes it quick and easy for users to find their way from point
A to point B - whether that's a quick jaunt down the street or a transcontinental trip.
(When, where you found it?)
I was suggested by a friend to use this amazing app when I told her that I felt pissed off
because I had got lost several times during the time I studied abroad and had to commute a
lot. I just downloaded it from the AppStore and have been using it until now.
(How you use it?)
Google Maps is available on both computers and mobile devices. One of the first things you
should do with Google Maps is save your home and work addresses. When using the Maps
feature, just clicking on a particular point allows you to know just how far it is to your
current location and how long it takes to get there. Often, Google Maps will offer you more
than one route from the starting point you choose to your destination. For each route, it will
display an estimated time for the trip and a short description of the route. This will help you
plan your travels and organize your schedule.
(and how you feel about it?)
The efficiency brought about by this online tool cannot be denied as it has the ability to
check possible routes and landmarks for faster travel time. This can make your journey easier
and help locate businesses, venues and private addresses that users are not familiar with.
Actually, Google Maps offers you a lot more features than directions. Google Maps street
view helps with the researching process by allowing prospective customers to take a virtual
tour before visiting a business. The potentials of this app are just endless.
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Vocabulary:
1. versatile [adj]: able to change easily from one activity to another or able to be
used for many different purposes: đa năng
Eg: This jacket is very versatile - you can dress it up for the evening.
2. transcontinental [adj]: crossing a continent: xuyên lục địa
Eg: The transcontinental railway goes from New York to San Francisco.
17. (be) pissed off [adj]: very annoyed; angry: bực tức
Eg: He'd kept me waiting for an hour so I was pissed off to start with.
3. available [adj]: able to be bought or used: có sẵn
Eg: Our autumn catalogue is now available from our usual stockists.
4. particular [adj]: special, or this and not any other: đặc biệt
Eg: She wanted a particular type of cactus.
5. display [v]: to arrange something or a collection of things so that it can be seen by the
public: trưng bày
Eg: Family photographs were displayed on the wall.
6. venue [n]: the place where a public event or meeting happens: chỗ hội họp
Eg: The stadium has been specifically designed as a venue for World Cup matches.
7. familiar [adj]: easy to recognize because of being seen, met, heard, etc. before:
quen thuộc
Eg: The house looked strangely familiar, though she knew she'd never been there
before.
8. prospective [adj]: people who are expected to buy something, employ someone,
become parents, etc.: có triển vọng, trong tương lai
Eg: We've had three sets of prospective buyers looking at the house.
9. virtual [adj]: something that is virtual can be done or seen using a computer and
therefore without going anywhere or talking to anyone: như thật
Eg: Click here to take a virtual tour of homes we have for sale.
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19. Describe an event you experienced but you didn’t like the music played there
You should say:
When you went there
Who you went there with
Why you went there
And how you felt about it
(When you went there)
Well, when receiving this speaking topic, the very experience that springs to my mind first
is the concert I attended three years ago. It was the concert of Madonna, an American singer,
songwriter, actress, author, and record executive. Having been referred to as the "Queen of
Pop" since the 1980s, she is regarded as one of the most impactful figures in popular culture.
Madonna is noted for her continual reinvention and versatility in music production,
songwriting, and visual presentation.
(Who you went there with)
I went there with my closest friend, Jennie. At that time, we were studying for a Masters
Degree in London in the same university, and when we heard that Modonna would come to
London for this concert, we planned to watch it without hesitation. It was quite
cumbersome to book the tickets as the concert was so longed for, but we managed
eventually.
(Why you went there)
Since this was supposed to be a lifetime experience, I thought I had to go at any cost. For a
long time, Madonna’ s works, which incorporate social, political, sexual, and religious
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themes, have generated both critical acclaim and controversy, so I wanted to enjoy it live,
at least once in my life. However, falling short of my expectations, the concert was really
disappointing from many aspects.
(And how you felt about it)
Well, what made me feel quite disheartened is the fact that Madonna did not sing live for
most of the concert. It was probably 90% lip synced in favor of dancing or sexual
performance art. I get it that probably many of the fans preferred that to her pure standing
and singing. I could totally tolerate and enjoy the performance art, but when I pay for a
ticket for something billed as a “concert” I expect live performance. I’d prefer a bad live
performance to perfect lip syncing.
Vocabulary:
10. spring to mind [expression]: to come quickly into your mind: hiện ra trong tâm trí
Eg: Say the word "Australia" and a vision of beaches and blue seas immediately springs to
mind.
18. (to) refer to as sth [v]: think of, regard, or classify under a subsuming principle or
with a general group or in relation to another: nhắc đến như là
Eg: This plant can be referred to a known species
11. versatility [n]: the quality of being versatile (= able to change easily or to be
used for different purposes): sự linh hoạt
Eg: I have chosen these recipes to show the versatility of vegetables.
12. without hesitation [expression]: if you say that someone does something without
hesitation, you are emphasizing that they do it immediately and willingly.: không do dự
Eg: The great majority of players would, of course, sign the contract without hesitation.
13. cumbersome [adj]: difficult to do or manage and taking a lot of time and effort:
nhọn nhằn, khó khăn
Eg: Critics say that the process for amending the Constitution is cumbersome, but
others defend it.
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14. incorporate [v]: to include something within something else: kết hợp
Eg: Mobile phones incorporate features of desktop computers, personal digital
assistants, and landlines.
15. acclaim [n]: public approval and praise: sự nán dương
Eg: Despite the critical acclaim, the novel did not sell well.
16. falling short of [expression]: to be less than the amount or standard that is needed or
that you want: không đạt tới
Eg: He would sack any of his staff who fell short of his high standards.
19. dishearten [v]: to make a person lose confidence, hope, and energy: làm nản lòng
Eg: She was very disheartened by the results of the test.
17. tolerate [v]: to bear something unpleasant or annoying, or to keep going despite
difficulties: chịu đựng, tha thứ
Eg: Athletes often have to tolerate a lot of pain.
20. Describe a volunteer experience you have had. You should say:
- When it was
- What you did
- Who was with you
- And explain why it was memorable.
(When it was) Today, I would like to talk about one of the most memorable days ever
in my life. It is the day that I was accepted to participate in an outreach programme in
which I had the chance to deliver lessons for the first time as well as go through what
a construction worker had to. I was chosen as one of the Vietnamese volunteers in
charge of interpreting as well as helping Singaporean students prepare their lessons
prior to class. The programme lasted from 25th November to 5th December.
(What you did) This is also the day on which we started to prepare for the community
service programme which was carried out in Ben Tre province. Prior to the
programme, the participants held many activities to raise funds which catered for the
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trip as well as the school. During the programme, our responsibilities consisted of
teaching English, cooking and constructing.
(Who was with you) On the day when I received the offer letter, I was alone at my
house. However, during the programme, I worked with more than 30 students from
Temasek Junior College, along with their teachers and 4 other Vietnamese volunteers.
We were divided into 4 groups, which would take different responsibilities in rotation.
Everyone was bouncing off the walls waiting for the first day of work. However, as
the programme intensified, some students showed signs of exhaustion but never
swerved an inch from their duty.
(And explain why it was memorable) This was the first time I had been accepted to
participate in such an outreach activity. What turned out was far beyond what I had
expected. Everyone was so outgoing and hardworking, especially my teammates.
Another reason why this occasion was quite exciting to me was that the students who
always asked for our autograph couldn’t be any more excited about us as our arrival in
their classroom always caused a stir.
1. Deliver a lesson (phrase): giảng bài
Example: You should pay attention to the teacher when she delivers the lesson.
Bạn cần phải tập trung mỗi khi cô giảng bài.
2. Go through (phrase): trải nghiệm/trải qua
Example: She’s been going through a difficult time since her brother’s illness.
Cô ấy đang trả qua một thời gian khó khăn từ khi anh cô ấy lâm bệnh.
3. Cater (v): phục vụ/cung cấp
Example: I'm catering for twelve on Sunday - the whole family is coming.
Tôi sẽ phục vụ cho 12 người vào ngày Chủ Nhật – cả gia đình sẽ đến.
4. In rotation (phrase): theo lượt
Example: There are ten employees and they do the various jobs in rotation.
Có mười nhân viên, và họ sẽ làm các công việc các nhau theo lượt.
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5. Bounce off the walls (idiom): rất hăng hái
Example: Danny can't wait to start his new job. He's bouncing off the walls.
Danny không thể chờ đợi được nữa. Anh ấy thực sự rất hăng hái bắt đầu công việc mới.
6. Swerve an inch from sb’s duty (phrase): bỏ qua nhiệm vụ
Example: They work really hard and seem not to swerve an inch from their duty.
Họ làm việc rất chăm chỉ và dường như không bao giờ bỏ qua nhiệm vụ của mình.
7. Cause a stir (idiom): tạo ra nhiều sự quan tâm
Example: The scandal caused quite a stir at the time.
Vụ lùm xùm tạo ra nhiều sự quan tâm vào thời điểm đó
22. Describe a time when you were surprised to meet a friend. You should say:
- when this happened
- who this person was
- what you did together on that day
- and explain why it was a surprise to meet this person
(When this happened) I would like to talk about a time when I bumped into one of my
primary school friends at an international conference held in one of the most famous luxury
hotels in Singapore – Raffles Hotel. I attended this conference two years ago with some other
university friends. Out of the blue, I spotted someone who looked pretty much familiar. Her
name was on the tip of my tongue. I quickly realised it was Jane, my primary school
classmate.
(Who this person was) She is a person who always appears resplendent in stunning dresses
in parties and is always the hub of attraction and the star of the show. With her long curly
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hair and her beautiful voice, she looks like a true diva. Jane, as always, was the most
prominent one in the party with her red evening gown, which left me astonished at first
sight.
(What you did together on that day) It just so happened that Jane and I were in the same
group for activities for the event and we quickly recognised each other. Then we talked about
our lives and headed for an afternoon tea session at The Fullerton Hotel, which is another
renowned hotel in Singapore.
(And explain why it was a surprise to meet this person) Jane was so different from what
she looked like and how she was in primary school. Back then, she was just an average
student who struggled a lot just to gain the GPA required to move up one class. No one
would ever expect her to go places. Her intelligence demonstrated by her participation in
this conference came as a huge surprise to me.
Vocabulary:
1. Bump into someone (phrasal verb): tình cờ gặp ai
We bumped into Amy when we were in town last week.
Chúng tôi tình cờ gặp Amy khi đang ở trong nội thành tuần trước.
2. To be on the tip of one’s tongue (idiom): nhớ mang máng.
Her name is on the tip of my tongue
Tôi nhớ mang máng tên của cô ấy
3. The star of the show (phrase): trung tâm của sự chú ý.
Estella looked resplendent in her gold silk gown in the party, which made her become the
star of the show.
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Estella trông thực sự lộng lẫy với bộ đầm dạ hội tại buổi tiệc, khiến cho cô ấy trở thành trung
tâm của mọi sự chú ý.
4. At first sight (phrase): nhìn thoáng qua
At first sight, there didn’t appear to be much damage.
Nhìn thoáng qua thì không có nhiều hư hại lắm.
5. To go places (idiom): thành công
They said that the group was clearly going places.
Họ nói rằng nhóm nhạc này sẽ trở nên thành công.
6. To come as a/no surprise (phrase): đến 1 cách (không) bất ngờ.
Nếu bạn không học hành đàng hoàng thì việc nhận điểm kém là không bất ngờ xíu nào.
Part 3:
1. What is the benefit when someone has a date with you but they arrive late?
Well, I can’t think of anything other than the fact that we will have more time to prepare
better for the date. If the person is late, one will have more time to list out topics to talk
about, and especially, find the way to ask why that person is late. This will also allow us to
know whether that person is a man or a woman of deep sincerity and that she or he deserves
our time or not.
2. What will happen when someone has an appointment with you but they cancel
it?
There will be two cases. First, it will be totally fine if that person informs me of the
cancellation at least 6 hours prior to the time of the appointment. However, if a person just
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remains silent and simply does not turn up for the appointment, I will feel strongly
disrespected and will never talk to that person again.
3. Do you think it’s strange to meet friends online?
Due to the fast-paced development of social media, especially dating apps, meeting a friend
whom we’ve got to know online is no longer strange. This was out of the question
previously though. Nowadays, people spend less and less time interacting with others in real
life due to their huge workloads, and would rather talk to a random guy or girl they see on
social media before proceeding to real-life relationships or friendships.
4. Why do people have few friends?
Some people prefer to be in a small social circle rather than a large one for some reasons.
They only feel secure when confiding in those whom they truly know. Nature is partly at
play. These people are naturally shy and introverted. Nurture is as well; not being popular
in high school or work makes them grow comfortable spending time, and doing things, by
themselves.
5. Which is more important, new friends or old friends?
From my own personal perspective, old friends are more important. I prefer to stick to the
same squad to expanding my social circle as it is very hard to build trust, which is the most
important factor in a friendship. Old friends are the ones in whom I feel comfortable
confiding. Therefore, I try my best to maintain the trust that has been built in my current
friendship instead of making a lot of effort to start the whole trust building process all over
again.
Vocabulary:
1. Sincerity (n): sự thành thật
The priest was a man of deep sincerity.
Vị linh mục này là một người có long chân thật sâu sắc.
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2. Prior to (adv): trước
Passengers may board the plane twenty minutes prior to (= before) departure.
Hành khách có thể lên máy bay 20 phút trước giờ khởi hành.
3. To turn up (phrasal verb): có mặt.
More than 100 guests were invited to the party but only a half of them turn up.
Hơn 100 người được mời tới bữa tiệc nhưng chỉ một nửa có mặt.
4. To be out of the question (idiom): không thể xảy ra
A pay rise is out of the question.
Tăng lương là một việc không thể xảy ra.
5. To proceed to (phrasal verb): tiến đến
If the evidence stands, the case will proceed to trial.
Nếu có bằng chứng, vụ án sẽ tiến đến bước xét xử.
6. To be at play (phrase): gây ra cái gì đó
It's a complicated matter with several important issues at play.
Đây là một vấn đề phức tạp bị gây ra bởi nhiều trở ngại quan trọng.
23. Describe a time when you first met someone. You should say:
- Who that person was
- Where you met him/her
- What you talked about
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- How you felt about it
(Who this person is) Today, I would like to share with you about a time I first met one of
my best Singaporean friends - Wenxin. She’s a 17-year old Singaporean student who studies
3 core subjects: Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. However, an abiding passion for
environmental science gave her the incentive to take Geography along with the
aforementioned 3 subjects in preparation for her entrance exam for the School of Design and
Environment of the National University of Singapore.
(Where you met him/her) We were on the same trip called Temasek Overseas Outreach
Programme in order to teach English to the children and helped concrete a school yard in
Ben Tre province, Vietnam. Wenxin and I were in the same group, which meant that we
joined hands to prepare and deliver the lessons.
(What you talked about) Our first talk took place when we stopped over at a rest stop en
route to Ben Tre from Ho Chi Minh city. We talked a lot about school stuff since we were
both students. Hardly would I expect an Asian student to study Geography as it is not deemed
a promising subject like Maths or Science, therefore it really did come as a surprise to me
that she turned out to be a Geography student.
(How you felt about it) Never will I forget that first meeting of mine with Wenxin because
I found out I had a lot more things in common than expected. Also, she was one of the
most outgoing and friendly people I’d ever met.
1. Abiding (adj): vĩnh cửu
My abiding memory is of him in the garden.
Kỷ niệm vĩnh cửu của tôi là hình ảnh anh ấy trong khu vườn.
2. Join hands (phrase): cùng chung làm việc gì đó
This folk dance begins with everyone joining hands to form a circle.
3. En route to (phrase): trên đường tới
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He stopped in Turkey en route to Geneva.
Anh ấy dừng lại ở Thổ Nhĩ Kì trên đường tới Geneva.
4. To come as a/no surprise (phrase): (không) gây bất ngờ
The news will come as no surprise to his colleagues.
Cái tin này sẽ không gây bất ngờ với đồng nghiệp anh ấy.
5. To have things in common (phrase): có chung cái gì đó
We don't really have much in common.
Chúng tôi không có nhiều điểm chung
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24. Describe something you did which was a waste of time. You should say:
- What the thing was
- When you did it
- How you did it
- And explain why it was a waste of time
(What the thing was) Recently, I have just realised that all of the effort I put in learning
Japanese, French and German at the same time just went down the drain as no matter how
much I tried, I could not acquire those languages effectively. However, when I dropped all
these languages and started all over again, placing my focus on Mandarin alone, it came to
my realisation that I was not bad at learning languages, and that I should only learn one
language at a time.
(When you did it) I was lucky to be able to gain a high degree of proficiency in the English
language after learning it for only 2 years. When Duolingo, an application teaching foreign
languages, went viral some years ago, I was interested in the idea of learning new languages
for free and enrolled in three different courses, including Japanese, French and German.
(How you did it) I spent 3 hours every evening learning these languages. Moreover, I made
use of my own circle of international friends from these three countries to put knowledge
earned into practice. However, after one year of following this method, I could not use
those languages at all.
(And explain why it was a waste of time) After reading thoroughly some research on
foreign language acquisition, I experienced an epiphany that one cannot acquire a language
successfully if he is not totally focused on it. I believe that I should have just focused on
learning one language at a time so that I would not waste too much time and effort on those
languages.
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Vocabulary:
1. To go down the drain (idiom): đổ sông đổ biển
When the project was scrapped, all our efforts went down the drain.
Khi dự án bị từ chối, tất cả công sức của chúng tôi đều đổ sông đổ biển.
2. To acquire a high degree of proficiency of a language (phrase): có khả năng sử dụng

ngôn ngữ tốt
He taught himself to carve to a high degree of proficiency.
Anh ấy tự học ngôn ngữ tới một trình độ khá cao.
3. To go viral (phrase): phổ biến/thịnh hành.
Within days the film clip went viral.
Trong một vài ngày, cái clip lan truyền một cách phổ biến.
4. To put something into practice/action (phrase): đưa cái gì đó vào hiện thực.
Our plans aren’t quite ready to be put into action.
Các kế hoạch của chúng tôi chưa sẵn sàng để được đưa vào hiện thực.
5. Acquisition (n): sự tiếp thu
Language acquisition starts at a very young age.
Sự tiếp thu ngôn ngữ bắt đầu từ khi còn rất nhỏ.
6. Epiphany (n): sự khai sáng
She had an epiphany and realized it was time to leave her job and become a full-time artist.
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Cô ấy được khai sáng và chợt nhật ra đã đến lúc phải rời công việc này và trở thành một
nghệ sĩ toàn thời gian.
Part 3:
1. Do you think time is very important?
There is a Vietnamese proverb that “Time is gold”, however, I believe the value of gold is
nowhere near that of time as time is a thing that can never be retrieved, while gold can be
retrieved if it gets lost. Once time is wasted, we may also have missed the boat. Time is
such a priceless resource that no one should ever take it for granted.
2. How do you feel when you are late?
As a person who always tries to be punctual, I feel guilty when being late. Being late is a
sign of disrespect to those who wait for us as we indirectly make them waste their time.
3. Do you think it is important to be on time?
Punctuality is of paramount importance to me. It demonstrates my respect to other people’s

time and in turn, they will also try to respect my time and me also. Moreover, punctuality is
pivotal to the enhancement of productivity.
4. When does time seem to move fast and when does it seem to move slowly?
Most of the time, people have a feeling that time moves fast when they are occupied with
things to do, and that it moves at a snail’s pace when they have nothing to do. From another
perspective, the pace of time also depends on people’s mood. When they feel happy doing
something, such as going on a date, they will feel that time moves pretty fast. By contrast, if
they are forced to do something they do not like, they will feel that time does not move at
all.
Vocabulary:
1. Nowhere wear (phrase): còn lâu
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The operation had already been going on for eight hours, and it was nowhere near finished.
Việc hoạt động đã diễn ra được 8 tiếng, nhưng vẫn còn lâu mới hoàn thành.
2. To miss the boat (idiom): lỡ cơ hội
I meant to send her a birthday card, but I missed the boat – her birthday was last week.
Tôi định gửi cô ấy tấm thiệp sinh nhật, nhưng tôi lỡ cơ hội mất rồi vì sinh nhật cô ấy đã diễn
ra vào tuần trước.
3. Take something for granted (idiom): coi gì đó là điều hiển nhiên (không trân trọng)
It’s easy to take your parents for granted.
Rất dễ để chúng ta coi cha mẹ mình là điều hiển nhiên (không trân trọng họ)
4. Disrespect (n): thiếu tôn trọng
She apologized for not responding to the letter and said she had meant no disrespect.
Cô ấy xin lỗi vì không trả lời lá thư và nói rằng cô ấy không có ý thiếu tôn trọng.
5. Pivotal (adj): cực kì quan trọng.
She played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement.
Cô ấy đóng vai trò cực kì quan trọng trong hoạt động đòi quyền công dân.
6. At a snail’s pace (idiom): rất chậm.
The roads were full of traffic and we were travelling at a snail's pace for two hours.
Những con đường bị kẹt cứng và chúng tôi phải di chuyển rất chậm trong vòng 2 giờ.
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25. Describe a project you worked on in your school/college or office. You should say:
- What the project was

- Who else was involved in it
- How long it took to be completed
- And explain what you learned from this project
(What the project was) As a final year university student, I have done a lot of projects. But
the biggest, and most difficult, project of my college life so far is the mid-term quality
management project which required us to use the Eight Disciplines (8D) to resolve a certain
problem in the hospitality industry.
(Who else was involved in it) Our group was comprised of up to 10 members. The majority
of them had already worked with me before. Thus, I thought we would complete the project
with ease. However, things did not go as expected as the issue which needed resolving
turned out to be very challenging for such inexperienced students like us.
(How long it took to be completed) As the case was assigned to us 2 weeks prior to the
Lunar New Year, we planned to get it done before the festival so that we could enjoy the
festival without being concerned about any deadlines. However, the issue turned out way
more difficult than we had expected. What we found most difficult was identifying the root
cause of the problem. We could not reach a consensus on what the root cause was, which
provoked some arguments among the members. But in the end, we managed to finish the
project 2 weeks after the Lunar New Year.
(And explain what you learned from this project) I learnt a great deal from the project.
First, I learnt the way to solve a problem by identifying its root cause. Second, as a leader, I
managed to resolve the arguments between the team members, which was something I had
never dreamed of before.
Vocabulary:
1. With ease (phrase): một cách dễ dàng.
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She defeated her opponent with ease.
Cô ấy đánh bại đối thủ một cách dễ dàng.
2. Turn out (phrase): thành ra
The truth turned out to be stranger than we had expected.
Sự thật thành ra lạ hơn so với những gì chúng tôi dự đoán.
3. Reach a consensus on sth (phrase): thỏa thuận được về cái gì đó.
Could we reach a consensus on this matter? Let's take a vote.
Liệu chúng ta có thể thỏa thuận chung được về vấn đề này không? Hãy bầu chọn đi.
4. Root cause (n): nguyên nhân gốc rễ
In the 1980s, it was recognized that the over-use of insecticides was the root cause of
outbreaks.
Trong những năm 1980, người ta nhận ra rằng việc lạm dụng thuốc diệt côn cùng là nguyên
nhân gốc rễ của dịch bệnh.
Part 3:
1. What kinds of activities do adults and children participate in together?
There are a wide range of activities that both adults and children take part in together. In my
opinion, a picnic is an amazing way to get the whole family together. No matter how old you
are, you will surely enjoy the beauty of the outdoors, some great grilled food, and endless
fun outdoor activities.
2. In your opinion, why in some cases is teamwork less effective than personal work?
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Teamwork will be doomed to flatly fail if the team is led by a leader that lacks visionary
ideas and never plans for the long term. Also, if the team is comprised of irresponsible
individuals, teamwork will also be less effective. From another perspective, teamwork may
end up in failure if the scale of the task itself is too small for the participation of many people
in it.
3. What personalities do team members need to make their team successful?
Without a doubt, team members’ awareness of their responsibility stands out as the key
factor in the success of a team. Moreover, in order for teamwork to be successful, a team
needs a visionary leader who is meticulous and knows what it takes for their team to prevail.
Vocabulary:
1. To be doomed to do something (phrase): chắc chắn xảy ra (nói về cái xấu)
Are we doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past?
Liệu lúc ta có chắc chắn sẽ lặp lại những lỗi lầm trong quá khứ không?
2. Visionary (adj): có tầm nhìn xa
She has long been recognized as a visionary leader in the green technology sector.
Cô ấy lâu nay đã được công nhận là một lãnh đạo có tầm nhìn xa trong lĩnh vực công nghệ
xanh.
3. Stand out (phrasal verb): nổi bật
We had lots of good applicants for the job, but one stood out from the rest.
Chúng tôi có rất nhiều ứng viên tốt cho công việc, nhưng một người trong số họ đã nổi bật
hơn.
4. Meticulous (adj): tỉ mỉ
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She was meticulous about keeping her expense receipts properly filed.
Cô ấy rất tỉ mỉ trong việc giữ hóa đơn chi tiêu của cô ấy trong các file.
5. Prevail (v): thành công
I am sure that common sense will prevail in the end.
Tôi chắc rằng sẽ thường sẽ thành công.
26. Describe something difficult you would like to succeed in doing. You should say:
What it is
Why you have this dream
Why it is difficult
How you would like to prepare for it
And explain why you would like to be successful in doing it
(What it is) Everyone has a dream in their lives. Sometimes, a dream is within your reach,
but sometimes, it seems infeasible to be achieved. I’ve been nurturing a dream of working
for UNESCO in the future, which seems to be very challenging for a person who comes from
a rural area like me.
(Why you have this dream) As a culture enthusiast, I can see that a lot of countries,
especially small countries, around the world are voicing concern over the loss of their
national identities in the midst of globalisation. Thus, my participation in UNESCO would
help put the preservation of those endangered cultures high on UNESCO’s agenda.
(Why it is difficult) It is never simple for any person, even very outstanding ones with such
academic excellence, to be admitted to UNESCO. Their criteria and requirements are rarely
met by any mediocre person. And their recruitment process is also complicated and requires
a person to participate in a lot of research and possess a profound knowledge of cultures
around the world.
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(How you would like to prepare for it) Since I’m still in my college years, I’ll strive to
acquire a large amount of knowledge about cultures around the world as well as learn about
the cultural preservation projects of UNESCO. Second, I’m using my free time to participate
in community projects that aim at reviving traditional Vietnamese cultural traits among the
youth.
(And explain why you would like to be successful in doing it) As mentioned above, I’ve
always dreamed of protecting the cultures of countries around the world. It would be very
boring to live in a world without cultural diversity. Cultures are one of the two main sources
of tourism, along side nature tourism resource. Thus, travelling would become significantly
less interesting without cultural diversity.
1. Infeasible (Adj): không thể
That you pass the exam without revision is infeasible.
Việc bạn được điểm cao trong kì thi mà không phải ôn bàn là điều không thể.
2. To voice concern over/about (phrase): lên tiếng quan ngại.
A number of parents have voiced concern over their children’s safety.
Một số bậc cha mẹ đã lên tiếng quan ngại về sự an toàn của con họ.
3. In the mist of something (phrase): giữa cái gì đó
The country is in the midst of an economic crisis.
Quốc gia này đang ở giữa một cuộc khủng hoảng kinh tế.
4. Mediocre (adj): bình thường
Parents don't want their children going to mediocre schools.
Các bậc phụ huy thường không muốn con cái họ học ở những thường bình thường.
5. Strive (v): nỗ lực
Mr Roe has expectations that he must now strive to live up to.
Ông Roe có những mong muốn to lớn mà ông ấy phải nỗ lực phấn đấu để có được từ bây
giờ.
6. Revive (v): làm sống lại
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Traditional skills are being revived.
Những kĩ năng truyền thống đã được làm sống lại.
27. Describe a place you visited that has been affected by pollution
You should say:
Where it is and when you visited this place
What kinds of pollution you saw there
And explain how this place was affected
(Where it is and when you visited this place)
Today, I would like to talk about the capital city of Vietnam- Hanoi, where the ancient and
proudly preserved Vietnamese culture is felt most keenly by visitors, and progress wrestles
with tradition in different districts of the city. Hanoi is a capital of thousand years of
civilization with ancient relics, and a peaceful life. I visited this city last year with a lot of
anticipation for the trip, which turned out far from enjoyable, due to the massive level of
pollution I witnessed there.
(What kinds of pollution you saw there)
Hanoi is developing at a rapid rate, economically. Understandably, the low quality of air in
Hanoi is caused by construction, a growing number of cars and motorcycles and heavy
industry, including steel works, cement factories and coal-fired plants. At the time of my
trip, unfortunately, Ha Noi’s air quality remained at “very unhealthy” levels, placing the
capital at the top of the world’s most air polluted cities list. For most periods of the day, the
sky is hazy. Only in the evening, did air quality slightly improve but remained at an
unhealthy level, with a visible dense haze engulfing the entire city.
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(And explain how this place was affected)
Needless to say, such dangerous pollution appreciably exerts adverse impacts on people
life. In terms of health, the current level of air pollution is not only causing acute respiratory
diseases, but also worsening the situation for those with chronic diseases. Due to the toxic
air quality here, children, seniors and individuals with respiratory and heart diseases have to
avoid sustained and high-intensity outdoor exercise, which presents them with lots of
discomfort. Many locals have voiced their concern, urging the city to take action before the
city’s environment becomes irreparably damaged, instead of offering excuses for
worsening air pollution.
Other vocabulary:
11. civilization [n]: the stage of human social and cultural development and organization
that is considered most advanced: nền văn minh
Eg: They equated the railroad with progress and civilization
9. anticipation [n]: a feeling of excitement about something that is going to
happen in the near future: sự mong chờ
Eg: As with most pleasures, it's not so much the experience itself as t he anticipation
that is enjoyable.
10. far from [expression]: not at all: không hề
Eg: We were far from disappointed when they told us they couldn't come to visit.
12. hazy [adj]: Hazy air or weather is not clear, especially because of heat: mù sương
Eg: Daniel is extremely sensitive to hazy weather.
11. engulf [v]: to surround and cover something or someone completely: bao phủ, nhấn
chìm
Eg: Floodwaters engulfed midwestern farmlands.
12. needless to say [expression]: of course: dĩ nhiên, tất nhiên
Eg: Needless to say, he'll be off work for a while.
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13. appreciably [adv]: considerably: đáng kể
Eg: The risk of infection is appreciably higher among children.
14. chronic [adj]: (esp. of a disease or something bad) continuing for a long time:
kinh niên
Eg: M r. George is resi gni ng because of chroni c heart disease.
15. discomfort [n]: the feeling of not being comfortable, either from a physical
cause or from a situation, or something that causes this feeling: sự khó chịu
Eg: It ’s cl ear that bot h parti es have som e deg ree of discom fort wit h t he
i dea.
16. irreparably [adv]: impossible to repair or make right again: không thể chữa lại
Eg: The ship has been irreparably damaged.
PART 3: LITTERING
24. Why people throw waste material on roads?

(Give a direct answer to the question) There are many reasons for this nuisance. For people
daring to dispose of garbage in the wrong way. (Explain your reason or reasons) For the
most part, people dare to throw garbage on roads because there is no strict warning or
punishment for such wrongdoings. The second reason is because they do it from
carelessness, and a total lack of respect for their fellow humans, the local environment and
the creatures who ... (Explain the opposite or alternative) Third, there is no awareness
among the public especially the public in remote areas about the exact way of disposing
garbage.
25. How can the government encourage people to keep their city clean?
(Give a direct answer to the question) The government and all residents, in my opinion,
should make a concerted effort to preserve the cleanliness of the city. (Explain your reason
or reasons) Authorities should make the public aware of the importance of cleanliness and
should tell them the after effects of not keeping it clean. Besides, the government should
implement more regulations with regard to environmental issues. (Give an example (often
a personal example)) For example, spitting, and throwing waste in public places should be
made an offence.
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26. What do you think: is it a good idea or bad idea to establish limited factories in a
city?
(Give a direct answer to the question) From my perspective, the further factories are located
from the city, the better the overall quality of the environment. (Explain your reason or
reasons) Firstly, industrial plants always produce emissions, which do harm to individuals'
physical health. Some research institutes have proved that those living close to the industrial
zone within ten kilometers have a much higher risk of getting cancers. Secondly, factories
take up vast areas of land while their land use efficiency is much lower. (Explain the
opposite or alternative) Admittedly, relocating industries will have some positive impacts
but industries will have to cope with a number of factors in less developed areas such as
shortage of quality labor, lack of public transport, inadequate infrastructure.
27. Whenever you visit this place, do you throw litter on-Road?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Of course I wouldn’t. (Explain your reason or
reasons) Throwing garbage all over the place, especially on the road directly, will not only
dirty our surroundings and pollute the environment, making it very unhygienic, but also
cause bad odors and encourage the infestation of cockroaches, flies and other insects. There
are various diseases caused due to the poor maintenance of hygienic conditions.
Vocabulary from Town and City:
 public transport
Meaning: public vehicles such as buses and trains that operate at regular times on fixed route
Example: This city offers an excellent system of public transport.
Other vocabularies:
1. nuisance [n]: a situation that is annoying or causes troubles or problems: sự phiền

phức
Eg: It’s a nuisance to be stuck in the traffic jam for hours on end.
2. disposal [n]: the act of getting rid of something: sự thải bỏ
Eg: The safe disposal of nuclear waste is a major problem
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3. a concerted effort [expression]: done or performed together or in cooperation: nỗ lực
chung
Eg: Although a number of such investigations have been undertaken, to date no concerted
effort has been made to consolidate the results
4. implement [v]: to start using a plan or system: triển khai thực hiện
Eg: The changes to the national health system will be implemented next year.
5. offence [n]: an illegal act; a crime: hành động bất hợp pháp
Eg: It is a criminal offence to mislead customers about the price of an item.

6. efficiency [n]: the good use of time and energy in a way that does not waste
any: tính hiệu quả
Eg: What is so impressive about their society is the efficiency of the public services.
7. cope with [v]: deal effectively with something difficult: giải quyết
Eg: We highly regard his ability to cope with stress.
8. unhygienic [adj]: not clean, in a way that may cause disease: mất vệ sinh
Eg: People in this city suffer from unhygienic conditions and a lack of clean water.
9. infestation [n]: a large number of animals and insects that carry disease, that are
present where they are not wanted: sự phá hoại
Eg: This disease is caused by infestations of mites in the skin.
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28. Describe a person who is always full of energy. You should say:
- Who she/he is
- What she/he does
- Why she/he is full of energy
- And explain how you feel about this person
(Who she/he is) I have got the chance to meet Jia Jing, a student of one of the most
prestigious universities in the world – Nanyang Technological University. He a person who
is full of effervescence and never seems to be down in the dumps. Jia Jing is also one of the
best leaders I’ve ever got to encounter so far.
(What she/he does) Jia Jing is such an indomitable leader who was able to communicate
effectively with me as well as his Singaporean fellows. When teaching, he injected his
enthusiasm into the English class he was in charge of, which created an incentive for the
students to participate in his class regularly. Also, during construction, Jia Jing never
swerved an inch from his own duty while keeping an eye on other volunteers to make sure
they adhered to the safety procedures.
(Why she/he is full of energy) Jia Jing is a kind of person who shows up in class and the
construction site bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, every day, like clockwork. Meanwhile, as
a close friend, I also know that he never fails to get his workouts in. He never fails to make
everyone burst into laughter during the briefing every evening with his outstanding sense
of humour.
(And explain how you feel about this person) Jia Jing is a person to whom I look up and
whose habits I adopt to make myself more energetic and dynamic. He is a dream boy of
many people out there to be honest. Whenever I am with him, I always feel his positive
influence on me.
Vocabulary
1. Encounter (v): gặp gỡ/biết đến
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She was the most remarkable woman he had ever encountered.
Cô ấy là người nổi bật nhất mà anh ấy từng biết đến/gặp được.
2. Indomitable (a): kiên cường
The indomitable Mrs Furlong said she would continue to fight for justice.
Bà Furlong kiên cường nói rằng bà sẽ tiếp tục đấu tranh cho công lý.
3. Inject (verb): đưa vào cái gì đó
I tried to inject a little humour into the meeting.
Tôi cố gắng đưa vào cuộc họp một chút hài hước.
4. Incentive (n): khích lệ
These kids have no incentive to learn.
Những đứa trẻ này không có sự khích lệ để học.
They work really hard and seem not to swerve an inch from their duty.
6. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed (idiom): vui vẻ, hồ hởi
He always leaps out of bed bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Anh ấy luôn bước ra khỏi giường một cách vui vẻ và hồ hởi.
7. Like clockwork (idiom): đúng giờ, trôi chảy
Since the recent improvements to the service, the buses are running like clockwork.
Từ khi có sự nâng cấp trong dịch dịch, xe buýt đang chạy rất đúng giờ.
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8. Burst into laughter (phrase): phá cười
We burst into laughter when the comedy began.
Chúng tôi phá lên cười khi vở kịch bắt đầu.
Part 3:
1. What kind of jobs requires much energy?
Most manual jobs require physical strength, I believe. For example, construction workers
need to work in heat and have to carry heavy items, which requires them to be full of energy,
otherwise they would collapse easily.
2. Do you think manual work will all be done by machines in the future?
The answer is unequivocal, yes. Due to the fast-paced development of automation, manual
work will be taken over by machines in the future. Indeed, Changi Airport’s newest terminal
has achieved manpower savings of up to 20% thanks to automation. This number is expected
to continue to grow when technology continues to develop.
3. Do you think manual workers will earn more in the future?
I think that the need for manual workers will be eradicated in the future, let alone an increase
in their earnings. It is very apparent that the income of manual workers has decreased in
recent years when companies try to cut as much expenditure as they can to increase profit.
Vocabulary:
1. Fast-paced (adj): nhanh chóng.
It is a myth that all older people struggle with the fast-

paced evolution of information technology.
Thật hoang đường khi nói tất cả mọi người lớn tuổi đều thấy khó khăn với sự tiến hóa nhanh
chóng của công nghệ thông tin.
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2. To take over (phrasal verb): tiếp quản
The firm has been taken over by one of its main competitors.
Công ty này đã được tiếp quản bởi một trong những đối thủ chính của nó.
29. Describe a photo you have taken
You should say:

Where you took it
When you took the photo
What/ who is in this photo
Explain how you felt about it
(Where you took it)
I’m going to describe a photograph I have taken myself, from which I derive a lot of
pleasure. Actually, photography is one of my greatest hobbies, and I always carry my
camera in case I have a chance to set foot in new places. As part of my family trip to a
breathtaking beach in Bali, Indonesia, I took this outstanding photo.
(When you took the photo)
Well, I took the photo at the very moment of sunset on the beach, which was actually quite
incidental. At first, I intended to take a nice picture of the beach or the surrounding areas
during my stroll, but when I beheld the spectacular view of the setting sun, I knew I had to
capture this precious moment at any cost.
(What/ who is in this photo)
The picture shows that the sun was going down while some birds were flying in the sky.
Interestingly, the mighty bright sun took the shape of a large fire ball and its reddish ray
seemed to cover the entire world. The sunset view was in great harmony with the natural
landscape, giving a sense of peace and tranquility for those who witnessed it. The color
tone, the composition and the surrounding environment were perfect. At that very moment,
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the scenery in the picture was like a totally different world, which was just like the way
you’d imagine heaven.
(Explain how you felt about it)
When I captured the photo, I felt completely at ease and immersed in the beauty of nature.
Actually, I have never seen such a beautiful sunset before, as I always had to spend my
entire evening in the office with a huge workload. I also realize that our usual hectic
lifestyles hardly allow people to enjoy the aesthetic qualities of nature, which is a pity.
The photo was in fact the greatest experience I treasured after the trip, and the sight that
day is still one of my vivid memories.
Vocabulary:
Các từ thuộc chủ đề Art
1. the aesthetic qualities of something
Meaning: the qualities related to beauty and appreciating the beauty of something.
Example: One advantage of studying the arts is that students learn to appreciate the
aesthetic qualities of paintings, literature and music.
Vocabulary:
 derive pleasure from doing sth [expression]: have pleasure, joy from doing sth: có được
hài lòng khi làm gì
Eg: Minh derives a great deal of pleasure from gardening everyday.
 set foot in/on sth [expression]: visit sth: đi đến nơi nào đó
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Eg: It was the first time I had set foot on French soil.
 breathtaking [adjective]: extremely exciting, beautiful, or surprising: cực kì đẹp
Eg: The view from the top of the mountain is breathtaking.
 behold [verb]: to see or look at someone or something: ngắm nhìn
Eg: The new bridge is an incredible sight to behold.
 at any cost [expression]: no matter what dangers or difficulties are involved: bằng mọi giá
Eg: In the end, we realized we had to fight the lawsuit at any cost.
 mighty [adjective]: very large, powerful, or important: hùng vĩ
Eg: All the members in the group was all amazed by the mighty mountain that we were
about to climb.
 reddish [adj]: slightly red in colour: hơi đỏ
Eg: Nicky's got reddish-blond hair.
 in harmony with [expression]: to be in a situation in which people are peaceful and agree
with each other, or when things seem right or suitable together: hòa thuận
Eg: We must ensure that tourism develops in harmony with the environment.
 tranquility [noun]: the state of being calm and peaceful and without noise, violence,
worry, etc.: sự yên bình, thanh bình
Eg: The tranquility of the forest helps me relax and forget all the burdens in life.
 (feel/ be) at ease [expression]: feel relaxed: cảm thấy thoải mái, dễ chịu
Eg: Jessie felt completely at ease when being with her family.
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 workload [noun]: the amount of work to be done, especially by a particular person or
machine in a period of time: khối lượng công việc
Eg: Students do find that their workload increases throughout the course.
 treasure [verb]: to have or keep something that you love and is very valuable to you
Eg: I will always treasure the memory of my first visit to Paris.
 a vivid memory [expression]: memory that produces very clear pictures in your mind: kí
ức sống động
Eg: Until now, Jane still has vivid memories about her first love.
30. Describe a noisy place that annoys you
You should say:
What place it is
When it is
Why it is noisy
And explain whether you think it will be quieter and why
(What place it is)
Today I’m going to describe a noisy place that annoys me. It is Tokyo- Japan's capital, which
is a dream destination for avid travelers. It is universally known that megacities like New
York, Beijing, and Tokyo are known for being exceptionally noisy and crowded, yet they
still attract a great number of tourists.
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(When it is)
Last month, my family decided to choose Tokyo to as our holiday destination. Tokyo is
Japan's capital and the world's most populous metropolis. Today, Tokyo has become one of
the world’s most active major cities, home to cutting-edge technology, information, culture,
and fashion, as well as a high level of public safety.
(Why it is noisy)
The entire city is filled with loudspeakers, construction activities, commercial activities, and
factories. Therefore, it was too noisy sometimes for me, a person who prefers a sense of
tranquility. The most crowded place must be Shibuya crossing, the biggest and busiest
crossing in Tokyo, where sometimes 1000 or more people cross the intersection at once.
My family also experienced Tokyo’s crowded trains during rush hour once, and the
commotion was so bothersome.
(And explain whether you think it will be quieter and why)
Well, actually, Japan in my eyes is quite a peaceful country, so the chaos in Tokyo made me
feel totally overwhelmed. Given a chance, I would like to discover some quieter places in
Tokyo to truly unwind in one of the busiest places in the world. I’m sure there are a lot of
spots like that hidden in this modern, cosmopolitan megacity.
Vocabulary from Holiday:
 holiday destination
Meaning: where you go for a holiday
Example: Many tourists have chosen Da Nang city as their holiday destination since 2015.
Other vocabularies:
17. avid [adj]: extremely eager or interested: ham mê

Eg: Steve is an avid runner and cross-country skier.
18. exceptionally [adv]: far beyond what is usual in magnitude or degree: một cách
khác thường
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Eg: The weather was exceptionally mild for the time of the year
19. cutting-edge [adj]: very modern and with all the newest features: tiên tiến
Eg: This is an ambitious book, which aims to pull together cutting -edge research in
formal semantics, lexical aspect, and event structure.
20. populous [adj]: a populous country, area, or place has a lot of people living in
it: đông dân
Eg: Chi na is t he worl d's m ost populous count r y.
21. tranquility [n]: the quality or state of being tranquil; calm.: sự yên bình
Eg: The tranquility of the forest helps me relax.
22. intersection [n]: a point or line common to lines or surfaces that intersect: ngã tư
Eg: If you remember back to an economics class you might have taken, much time was spent
on the intersection of lines in those graphs.
23. commotion [n]: a state of confused and noisy disturbance: sự hỗn độn
Eg: There was a lot of commotion at the bar last night.
24. overwhelmed [adj]: to be "overwhelmed" means to get so much of something
that it becomes a problem: bị choáng ngợp
Eg: We are overwhelmed with data from every quarter, and our capacity to filter
fact from fraud is limited.
25. unwind [v]: to relax after a period of work or anxiety: thư giãn
Eg: I’m just going to watch some TV and unwind.
26. megacity [n]: a megacity is a very large city, typically with a population in
excess of 10 million people: siêu đô thị
Eg: C urrent l y, t here are 37 m egaci ti es in t he world.
PART 3: NOISE
28. Do you think it is necessary to have laws on the use of mobile phones? Why do
you think some people like noisy places?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, I think this approach is necessary to a certain
extent. (Explain your reason or reasons) From my perspective, cell phone usage should be
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restricted in public places for the sake of the surrounding people. (Give an example) For
example, in a nice restaurant, it would be rude to answer your phone and talk to the other
person because it would interrupt other peoples' dates or dinners or get-togethers. Or in
places like the library, movies and especially in the class while listening to the lecture, it can
be very disruptive when someone next to you starts using their cell phone.
29. Why do you think some people like noisy places?
(Give a direct answer to the question) We choose to expose ourselves to noisy things, such
as loud music at nightclubs because loud sounds make us feel excited, socialize more and
can reduce conflict (Explain your reason or reasons) It has been scientifically proved that
loud music is linked to causing a positive emotional state of mind, such as enthusiasm and
happiness. The more people want to interact and communicate, the more substantial the
amount of noise generated. Therefore, noise is usually regarded as an effective way to
alleviate our stresses and strains in life.
30. What harm does noise pollution bring?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Whether caused unintentionally or deliberately,
excessive levels of noise invariably exert adverse influences on the sufferers. (Explain your
reason or reasons) Firstly, those affected by other’s noise may be unable to relax and take
a proper rest. Secondly, noise could greatly diminish our concentration and memory. Last
but not least, long-term noises are said to pose serious health’s hazards. (Give an example)
For example, constant exposure to a high pitch noise can result in auditory problems, and in
the worst case scenario, hearing loss. As we all know, hearing-impaired individuals are
very likely to experience difficulty in life.
31. How to reduce the harm of noise?
(Give a direct answer to the question) With such a frantic pace of life in this day and age,
noises are omnipresent. However, as the world is becoming more modern, people have
found ways to deal with the problem of noise. (Explain your reason or reasons) Scientists
have invented walls and windows that can block out the noise, which allows individuals to
focus on their work without being disturbed. Therefore, the problem of noise can be reduced
and there is no need for people to keep quiet.
Vocabulary:
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13. for the sake of [expression]: in order to help or bring advantage to someone: vì
lợi ích của
Eg: If you do something for the sake of something, you do it for that purpose or in
order to achieve that result.
27. substantial [adj]: large in amount, value or importance: đáng kể
Eg: There are substantial changes since his arrival.
28. stresses and strains [expression]: difficulties and problems : sự căng thẳng
Eg: You will learn to cope with the stresses and strains of public life.
29. deliberately [adv]: done in a way that was planned : một cách cố ý
Eg: She has been deliberately ignoring him all day.
30. excessive [adj]: greater than what seems reasonable or appropriate: quá độ
Eg: They complained about the noise coming from the upstairs flat.
31. (to) diminish [v]: make sth weaker, smaller: làm giảm
Eg: I don’t want to diminish the importance of their contribution.
32. hazard [n]: a thing that can be dangerous or cause damage : sự nguy hiểm
Eg: Everybody is aware of the hazards of smoking.
33. hearing-impaired [adj]: having problems or implications of hearing : thính giác bị
suy giảm
Eg: Hearing-impaired children were treated carefully yesterday.
34. frantic [adj]: done quickly and with a lot of activity, but not well organized:
cuồng loạn
Eg: Hi s frant i c l i fest yl es separat ed him from ot hers.
35. omnipresent [adj]: everywhere: có mặt khắp mọi nơi

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31. Describe a sentence or a few words from a poem or a song you like. You should say:
 What it is
 How you knew this poem/song
 Why you like this poem/song
 And explain how you feel about the sentences or those words.
(What it is) Today, I would like to share with you one sentence in my most favourite song.
It is “You raise me up”. Yes, it is also the title of the song. And this sentence is repeated
many times in its chorus.
(How you knew this poem/song) “You raise me up” is an incredible song written by Josh
Groban, published in 2001. However, it was not until Westlife, whose songs were in vogue
in the early 2000s, covered this song that it went viral around the world. One of my
classmates in grade 7 sang this song over and over again, which at first really got on my
nerves. However, after he finally stopped singing the song, I was curious about it and looked
for it on the Internet. And I realized that the song conveyed such a meaningful message.
This song can be interpreted in many different ways, but personally, I would definitely refer
from “you” as my parents.
(Why you like this poem/song) I like this song because it conveys such a meaningful
message. For me, this song is about my parents. Without exaggeration, I never wished for
different parents, ever. Even in my teens when others found nothing but faults in their
parents, I could find none. They raised me to be honorable, trustworthy and forthright, to
champion the downtrodden, to face desperate need with a level head.
(And explain how you feel about that sentences or those words) Whenever I listen to this
song, especially the sentence “You raise me up”, I really cannot help bursting into tears
when reminiscing about how my parents give up their own dreams, hobbies, time just to give
me a fulfilling life. Also, it reminds me of my responsibility to be grateful to my own parents.
Vocabulary:
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1. In vogue (phrase): thời thượng/phổ biến.
The short dress is very much in vogue this spring.
Đầm ngắn rất thời thượng/phổ biến trong mùa xuân
2. To get on my nerves (idiom): làm tôi bực mình.
Her snoring when sleeping really gets on my nerves.
Tôi rất bực mình vì cô ấy hay ngáy khi ngủ.
3. To interpret (v): hiểu (theo một cách nào đó)
A jury should not interpret the silence of a defendant as a sign of guilt.
Bồi thẩm đoàn không nên hiểu sự im lặng của bị cáo là một dấu hiệu của tội lỗi.
4. Exaggeration (n): phóng đại, nói lố, quá lời
It would be no exaggeration to say that her work has saved lives.
Sẽ không quá lời khi nói rằng công việc của cô ấy đã cứu sống nhiều người.
5. Forthright (adj): thẳng thắn.
I admire her forthright way of dealing with people.
Tôi rất ngưỡng mộ cách đối xử thẳng thắn với người khác của cô ấy.
6. Downtrodden (adj): bị áp bức
His mother was old, badly dressed and obviously downtrodden.
Mẹ của anh ấy đã già, ăn mặc xấu xí và bị áp bức một cách rõ ràng.
7. Level (adj): bình tĩnh
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In a level voice, he ordered the soldiers to aim and fire.
Với một nét giọng bình tĩnh, anh ta ra hiệu bộ đôi nhắm địch và bắn.
Part 3:
1. Do you think children are interested in learning songs and poems?
It’s an undeniable fact that everyone loves music, including kids. Most of the children I know
would love to take a break from a stressful science class by participating in a music class.
Meanwhile, children are less likely to be interested in reciting poems as most of them
consider this activity boring.
Vocabulary:
1. To recite (v): đọc thuộc lòng/trả bài
He was nervous about reciting in front of the class.
Anh ấy khá lo lắng khi phải trả bài trước cả lớp
32. Describe a job you would like to do in a foreign country for a short time. You should
say:
 Where you want to work

 What the job is
 How you can have the job
 And explain why you want that job in that country
(Where you want to work) While many people from developing countries want to make
their American dream come true, my dream country is Singapore, a tiny, land-constrained
city-state. Singapore has always been my most favourite country although I’ve visited many
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countries around the world. It is the hub of the headquarters of many big countries in the
world, offering lots of well-paid job opportunities.
(What the job is) Majoring in hospitality, I would love to apply to one of the top-tier hotels
in Singapore, including St. Regis, The Fullerton, and Raffles Hotel. Due to my interest in
communicating and helping others, I think I would end up being a front desk clerk. Hotel
front desk associate responsibilities include registering guests, managing reservations and
providing information about rooms, rates and amenities.
(How you can have the job) I have acquired the essentials of hotel and restaurant
management. As a member of the International Exchange Club of my university, I have had
the chance to meet and participate in cultural exchange activities with students from
countries around the world. Such participation in those activities has helped sharpen my
social skills, including communication and problem-solving skills, which, I believe, are the
must-have competencies of a front desk receptionist and will help me land the job.
(And explain why you want that job in that country) As Singapore is one of the most
developed countries in the world, endowed with a lot of talents in Asia and home to
headquarters of a large number of corporations, it can offer me many chances to improve
myself and expand my social circle with outstanding individuals. Also, I am familiar with
Singapore, its culture and people thanks to my Singaporean friend network and my previous
visits to this tiny city-state.
Vocabulary:
1. Hub (noun): trung tâm
The City of London is the hub of the UK's financial world.
Thành phố London là trung tâm tài tính của Vương Quốc Anh.
2. Top-tier (adj): hàng đầu
The nation's top-tier business schools exceeded their expected sales growth this year.
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Những trường kinh doanh hàng đầu quốc gia này đã vượt được mục tiêu tăng trưởng trong
năm nay.
3. Front desk clerk (n): nhân viên lễ tân
Front desk clerks are the representatives of the whole hotel.
Nhân viên lễ tân là đại diện cho toàn bộ khách sạn.
4. Essential (n): thứ căn bản
When we go on holiday, we only take the bare essentials.
Khi đi du lịch, chúng tôi chỉ mang những thứ cơ bản cần thiết.
5. To sharpen (v): mài giũa
Sharpening your computer skills can help you find higher-paid work.
Mãi giũa kĩ năng máy tính có thể giúp bạn tìm việc lương cao hơn.
6. Competency (n): kĩ năng cần thiết cho công việc
Managerial competencies
Kĩ năng quản lí
7. To be endowed with something (idiom): có cái gì đó
Some lucky people are endowed with both brains and beauty.
Một số người may mắn có cả trí thông minh và sắc đẹp.
33. Describe a good decision made recently by you or someone you know.
You should say:
Who made the decision
Why you or they made the decision
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What happened later
And explain why it was a good decision
Today I am going to talk about the time I was faced with a difficult choice between two
majors in two different universities.
During one’s lifetime, people have no choice but to make several tough decisions, one of
which is opting for the right place to study tertiary education, since it will affect one’s job
prospects as well as working environment. While some of my fellow students were greatly
influenced by parental involvement in their decision-making process, my family believed
I had already entered adult life and let me make up my own mind.
There were two options open to me at that time, and I was in a dilemma. The first one was
studying economics at a top-tier institution. The latter was becoming a trainee teacher with
a view to fulfiling my chosen career aspiration. In the end, I determined to pursue my dream
because only by doing the job I take great delight in, would I be able to find job satisfaction.
After a few months studying, I realised that I had made a wise choice. My lecturers’
dedication is an inspiration to me, and it encourages me to tailor teaching styles to suit
different types of students and to adopt continuous assessment rather than only formal
examinations. Not only does this decision help me to become knowledgeable about the field
I enjoy, but it also shapes my personality. What I mean here is that I have become a more
responsible and gentle person and I have improved a lot of skills like interpersonal skills and
teamwork. If I had not chosen the major which I love, I would have fallen behind withmy
studies or dropped out of college like some of my friends.
I am glad that I have chosen to follow my dream job and I certainly don’t regret the decision
I’ve made.
Vocabulary
Từ vựng trong chủ đề Education
1. tertiary education/higher education

Meaning: education at college or university level
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Example: Some school leavers prefer to start work rather than enter tertiaryeducation.
Tertiary education/higher education: học đại học
Nghĩa: việc học ở cấp đại học
2. top-tier institutions
Meaning: leading or prestigious educational institutions
Example: The government has pumped huge amounts of money into a select group of top-
tier institutions in recent years.
Top-tier institutions: các trường danh tiếng
Nghĩa: các tổ chức giáo dục hàng đầu/ danh tiếng
3. to tailor teaching styles/ strategies
Meaning: to make or prepare teaching styles following particular instructions
Example: When faced with classes of students with different levels of ability, teachers should
tailor their teaching strategies to deal with this challenge.
4. continuous assessment
Meaning: giving students marks for course work or projects, rather than formal exams
Example: Many students prefer continuous assessment because they consider that exams
are unfair and too stressful.
Continuous assessment: đánh giá liên tục, thường xuyên
Nghĩa: cho học sinh điểm dựa trên điểm bài tập hay dự án nhóm, thay vì các kì thi chính
thức
5. a formal examination
Meaning: a test conducted under strict, regulated conditions
Example: Entrance to university usually involves achieving required grades in a formal
examination, such as IELTS.
A formal examination: kì thi chính thức
Nghĩa: một kì thi được xây dựng với các quy định khắt khe
6. fall behind with your studies
Meaning: to improve more slowly in studying than other people so that you fail to learn the
course material at the necessary speed
Example: Irregular attendance at classes is one of reasons why some students fall behind
with their studies.
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To fall behind with your studies: học đuối
Nghĩa: chậm tiến bộ trong việc học hơn người khác nên bạn không theo kịp việc học ở tiến
độ cần thiết
7. to drop out of college
Meaning: to leave college or university without finishing your studies
Example: A number of students drop out of college when faced with the pressure of formal
exams.
To drop out of college: bỏ học
Nghĩa: bỏ ngang việc học, ra trường mà không hoàn thành chương trình họ
Từ vựng trong chủ đề Family and Children

1. parental involvement
Meaning: the act or process of parents taking part in their children’s activities.
Example: Parental involvement allows parents to monitor school and classroom activities,
and to coordinate their efforts with teachers to encourage acceptable classroom behavior and
ensure that the child completes schoolwork.
Parental involvement: sự can thiệp/ tham gia của cha mẹ
Nghĩa: việc cha mẹ tham gia vào các hoạt động của con cái
2. to enter adult life
Meaning:the stage when adolescents are almost old enough to be legally independent of their
parents
Example: Parents who have devoted time and thought to raising and educating their children
have given them a good prepartion to enter adult life.
To enter adult life: bước vào thế giới người lớn
Nghĩa: giai đoạn khi thanh niên đủ tuổi được tự lập
Từ vựng trong chủ đề Work

1. job prospects
Meaning: the chances of being successful and having more opportunities at work
Example: People with qualifications and experience usually have the best job prospects.
Job prospects: triển vọng công việc
Nghĩa: cơ hội để thành công và có nhiều cơ hội hơn trong công việc
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2. working environment
Meaning: the conditions that you work in
Example: If work is to be enjoyable, then a friendly working environment is essential.
Working environment: môi trường làm việc
Nghĩa: điều kiện làm việc
3. job satisfaction
Meaning: the good feeling that you get when you have a job that you enjoy
Example: A high salary is not necessarily the most important factor in job satisfaction.
Job satisfaction: sự hài lòng trong công việc
Nghĩa: cảm giác hạnh phúc khi được làm công việc mà bạn thấy vui vẻ
Từ vựng trong chủ đề Space Exploration

1. to be an inspiration to
Meaning: to make somebody excited about something, especially thinking of the future
Example: The images of the first men on the moon were an inspiration to people, and made
them more hopeful about the future.
To be an inspiration to: là nguồn cảm hứng cho
Nghĩa: khiến ai đó hưng phấn vì điều gì, đặc biệt là khi nghĩ về tương lai
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34. Describe a thing you once forgot to do. You should say:
- What it was
- When you forgot it
- Why you forgot it
- And explain how you felt about this experience
(What it was) I’m a forgetful person who puts their stuff all over the place. Over the years,
I have forgotten to do numerous things. Only a minority of those lost things have found
their way back to me, and the rest has disappeared forever. There was a time I thought I
would lose my Macbook Pro 16’, which cost a small fortune, forever.
(When I forgot it) Well, I had just owned the Macbook Pro for 3 months by the time I
thought I would lose it forever. It was on a busy day when I rushed to the café just to buy a
cup of milk tea before heading home for an online interview with Deloitte. It was in
December to be exact, and I was teetering on the verge of being late for the interview.
(Why you forgot it) As mentioned, I’m pretty absent-minded. I went to a café and I left it
right on the table. After that, I went to the toilet and headed straight to the car park and drove
home without remembering leaving my laptop in the café.
(And explain how you felt about this experience) I would say that I was so scared as Ho
Chi Minh city is notorious for its higher crime rate compared to the nation’s average.
However, when realising that my laptop was unattended for nearly 30 minutes without
getting stolen by anyone, I felt over the moon and swore that I would never leave it
unattended in public places like that again in the future.
Vocabulary:
1. All over the place (idiom): khắp mọi nơi
There were dirty dishes and clothes all over the place.
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Áo quần và đĩa dơ vương vãi khắp mọi nơi.
2. To find your way (phrase): tìm tới chỗ nào đó
I had a map but I still couldn't find my way back to the hotel.
Tôi có cái bản đồ nhưng vẫn không thể tìm lại đường về khách sạn.
3. To cost a small fortune (idiom): rất mắc
The cars on this list won't cost a fortune to insure.
Việc đăng kí bảo hiểm cho những chiếc xe này không mắc lắm đâu.
4. All of a sudden (phrase): rất nhanh
It seemed to happen all of a sudden - I felt dizzy and I just collapsed.
Nó có vẻ đã xảy ra một cách rất nhanh – tự dưng tôi liền cảm thấy choáng váng và xỉu ngay.
5. To teeter on the verge/brink of sth (phrase): trên bờ vực cái gì đó.
What we are seeing now is a country teetering on the brink of civil war.
Tất cả những gì chúng tôi đang thấy là một quốc gia trên bờ vực nội chiến.
6. To be over the Moon (idiom): rất hạnh phúc/hài lòng
She was over the moon about/with her new bike.
Cô ấy rất hạnh phúc/hài lòng với chiếc xe đạp mới toanh của mình.
Part 3:
1. How can we strengthen our memory?
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Scientists suggest us to give our brains a workout. Memory, like muscular strength, requires
you to “use it or lose it.” The more you work out your brain, the better you’ll be able to
process and remember information. While mental exercise is important for brain health, that
doesn’t mean you never need to break a sweat. This means we should also exercise on a
regular basis to keep our brains sharp.
2. What kind of people might easily forget things?
People can easily forget things if their own living environment is full of clutter. They tend
to throw things here and there and have an unorganised lifestyle, which makes them absent-
minded. Also, it is likely for people whose days are so jam packed full of tasks to forget
things as they are always in a rush and their workloads leave them no time to check
everything carefully before they head out.
3. What kind of things do people often forget?
People often forget things that they use less, in other words, those which are less important
to them. For example, they more likely to forget a bottle of shampoo than their passport
when heading to the airport. Also, small things can be easily forgotten. People oftentimes
misplace their keys and spend lots of time finding them when they need them.
Vocabulary:
1. To break a sweat (phrase): đổ công sức
She didn't break a sweat becoming the district attorney.
Cô ấy không cần đổ quá nhiều công sức để trở thành luật sư cấp quận.
2. Sharp (adj): nhạy bén
He may be old but he's still as sharp as a tack.
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Dù ông ấy có thể già, nhưng ông ấy vẫn rất nhạy bén.
3. Clutter (n): lộn xộn
Sorry about the clutter in the kitchen.
Xin lỗi vì sự lộn xộn trong phòng bếp.
4. To be in a rush (phrase): đang vội vã
Everyone seemed to be in a rush.
Mọi người trông như đã vội vã.
5. Head out (phrasal verb): ra ngoài
Attention, everyone: we're heading out at 10 AM.
Mọi người vui long chú ý, chúng ta sẽ bắt đầu ra ngoài lúc 10 giờ sáng.
35. Describe a friend who is a good leader. You should say:

Who this person is
How you know this person
How this person behaves
And why you think this person is a good leader
(Who this person is) I have had the chance to meet Jia Jing, a student of one of the most
prestigious universities in the world – Nanyang Technological University, who I think is one
of the best leaders I’ve ever got to encounter so far.
(How you know this person) I met Jia Jing in an outreach programme in Vietnam. He was
in the same group as me, meaning that we worked together a lot. We were mainly in charge
of teaching activities.
(How this person behaves) Jia Jing was such an indomitable leader who was able to
communicate effectively with me as well as his Singaporean fellows, even when faced with
such challenges. There was a time Jia Jing led an English lesson which received quite a lot
of negative feedback from the students. He remained surprisingly calm and gathered
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everyone in the team in an attempt to come up with a solution instead of pouring scorn on
the team that devised the lesson plan. Also, during construction, Jia Jing never swerved an
inch from his own duty while keeping an eye on other volunteers to make sure they adhered
to the safety procedures.
(And why you think this person is a good leader) Back to the lesson plan, Jia Jing finally
himself came up with an idea that made the students happy and no adjective describing his
and his team’s effort will suffice. I cannot be any more appreciative of what Jia Jing did to
boost the efficiency of the class. Never would I forget that night in which we had to revisit
the lesson plan and discuss the right direction in vain, literally without a clue what would
happen next. It turned out that our effort paid dividends as the next team followed our
direction and were able to nail it! Without his effort, wise direction and outstanding
communication and problem-solving skills, we would have made such a real mess.
Vocabulary
9. Encounter (v): gặp gỡ/biết đến
Example: She was the most remarkable woman he had ever known.
Cô ấy là người nổi bật nhất mà anh ấy từng biết đến/gặp được.
10. Indomitable (a): kiên cường
Example: The indomitable Mrs Furlong said she would continue to fight for justice.
Bà Furlong kiên cường nói rằng bà sẽ tiếp tục đấu tranh cho công lý.
11. Pour scorn on something (phrase): chỉ trích cái gì đó
Example: Critics of the president have been pouring scorn on the plan ever since it was
first proposed.
Những nhà phê bình của tổng thống chỉ trích gay gắt về kế hoạch ngay từ khi nó được đề
xuất lần đầu tiên.
12. Devise (v): đưa ra
Example: He set about devising a plan to revive the automaker

and improve its profitability.
Anh đặt ra một kế hoạch để hồi sinh nhà sản xuất ô tô và nâng cao lợi nhuận của nó.
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Example: They work really hard and seem not to swerve an inch from their duty.
14. In vain (n): trong vô vọng
Example: They tried in vain to persuade her to go.

Họ nỗ lực thuyết phục cô ấy đi cùng trong vô vọng.
15. Pay dividends (phrase): có lợi
Example: Exercising regularly will pay dividends in the end.

Tập thể dục thường xuyên sẽ có lợi về sau này.
16. Nail it (phrase): thành công
Example: Good luck on your performance today, Jimmy. I hope you’ll nail it!
Chúc may mắn với màn biểu diễn ngày hôm nay, Jimmy. Tôi hi vọng bạn sẽ thành công!
PART 3:
1. Who is the head of family in your culture?
The father is the head of family in my culture. He is also the main breadwinner in a family.
However, it is worth noting the extent to which it was women that had the strongest influence
in Vietnamese families thousands of years ago before Chinese culture, which underestimated
the role of women in the family, spilled over into Vietnam, transforming them into the less
influential members of families compared to men.
2. Are men better at decision making in a family?
I would say that men and women today have the same opportunities to pursue education,
thus both of them are equally competent at making decisions. It is their knowledge and
experience in their own favourite or chosen fields that make them better at making decisions
than the other gender. For example, women are better at making housekeeping-related
decisions than men, while men outperform women when it comes to the electronic sphere,
such as the decision to buy a new device.
3. Do you think this (more men than women are leaders) will change in the future?
Absolutely yes. It is very clear that the leaders of some of the economic powerhouses such
as Germany, New Zealand or Finland are female, and that females are gaining a strong
foothold in the governments of many countries. The growth of female leaders around the
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world has yet to show any signs of stagnation. The fact that female leaders will outnumber
males is a foregone conclusion.
4. Should a leader discuss with team members when making decisions?
It is imperative for a leader to discuss with team members when making decisions, especially
at seminal moments. I believe that a leader should only exercise such a right to make a
decision without the agreement of other team members when push comes to the shove.
Team members are at a leader’s beck and call, so they know him or her most and should
give him/ her the best advice before making any decision that may influence the whole world.
Vocabulary:
1. Spill over (phrasal verb): tràn vào
Example: The conflict threatens to spill over into neighboring regions.
Cuộc xung đột có nguy cơ tràn sang các nước lân cận.
2. Competent at something: có khả năng làm việc gì đó tốt.

Example: I wouldn't say he was brilliant but he is competent at his job.
Tôi sẽ không nói là anh ấy quá xuất sắc nhưng anh ấy thực sự có khả năng làm việc tốt.
3. Gain a strong foothold in something (phrase): chiếm được một chỗ đứng chắc trong một
cái gì đó.
Example: In buying their business, the company gains a major foothold in

a market it considers critical to the future of the industry.
Bằng việc mua lại kinh doanh của họ, công ty đã chiếm được một chỗ đứng chắc trong thị
trường mà họ xem quan trọng với tương lai của họ.
4. Stagnation (n): sự đình trệ

Example: Despite more than 10 years of economic stagnation,
the unemployment rate remains low
Mặc dù kinh tế trì trệ hơn 10 năm, tỷ lệ thất nghiệp vẫn thấp.
5. Foregone conclusion (n): kết thúc có thể đoán được từ trước.
Example: The result of the election seems to be a foregone conclusion.
Kết quả của cuộc bầu cử dường như là một thứ có thể đoán được từ trước.
6. Seminal (adj): có ảnh hưởng
Example: He played a seminal role in the formation of the association.
Ông ấy đóng vai trò ảnh hưởng nhất trong quá trình hình thành hiệp hội này.
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7. When/if push comes to the shove (idiom): khi đến đường cùng (không còn lựa chọn nào
khác)
Example: If push comes to shove, we can always sell the car.
Khi đến đường cùng, không còn lựa chọn nào khác, chúng ta cần phải bán xe.
8. To be at someone’s beck and call (idiom): sẵn sàng giúp đỡ ai đó (là cánh tay phải của ai
đó)
Example: She was confined to a wheelchair but had a private nurse at her beck and call.
Mặc dù cô ấy phải ngồi xe lăn nhưng luôn có y tá là cánh tay phải của cô ấy.
36. Describe an occasion you helped your family member
You should say:
- When it was and who asked you for help
- How you helped
- And how you felt about it
(When it was and who asked you for help)
Today, I would like to talk about a time I helped my younger sister by giving her advice on
her career path. It was just 4 years ago, when she completed her university graduation and
had to decide what she wanted to do in her life. At that time, I had been working for 5 years
and accumulated certain experience, so my sister decided to consult me. Back then, she was
at a crossroads between choosing to study abroad for higher education or to start working
full-time with her bachelor’s degree. She wanted an option which would provide her a
prospective future.
(How you helped)
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On receiving her question, I talked to her a lot to find out what she really enjoyed doing
long-term. Eventually, I advised her to strive to achieve a fully-funded scholarship for a
Master’s degree instead of working straight after graduation. I told her to do so because I
believed that a master's degree can open many career doors for young people, including
advancement opportunities, and higher salaries. Taking a master's degree overseas would
challenge her to step out of her comfort zone and at the same time cultivate her
perseverance. She eventually trusted me and followed my advice.
(And how you felt about it)
After helping my younger sister, I felt extremely relieved to be there when she needed me
the most and sailed her through such a challenging phase in life. Fortunately, everything
went well and my sister had a whale of time studying abroad. She even earned an
internship from her favorite company afterwards.
Vocabulary:
36. accumulate [v]: to collect a large number of things over a long period of time:
chất lũy
Eg: As people accumulate more wealth, they tend to spend a greater proportion of
their incomes.
37. at a crossroads [expression]: to be at a stage in your life when you have to make a
very important decision: đến bước ngoặc, đến bước quyết định
Eg: After earning her degree, I'm at a crossroads.
38. prospective [adj]: competing in a strong and unfair way, without considering any
harm caused to others: quyết liệt
Eg: Scrapping of price fixing legislation led to a cut-throat battle for supermarket customers.
39. fully-funded [expression]: fully funded means everything is paid for: được tài
trợ toàn diện
Eg: Full y Funded Scholarships m ean t he S chol arshi p whi ch covers your
whol e stud y, t ravel and li vi ng cost.
40. advancement [n]: the development or improvement of something: sự thăng tiến
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Eg: All she was interested in was the advancement of her own career.
41. comfort zone [expression]: a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which
your ability and determination are not being tested: vùng an toàn
Eg: Rock climbing pushes many people beyond their comfort zone.
42. perseverance [n]: the effort to overcome difficulties and obstacles: sự kiên trì,bền bỉ
Eg: They showed great perseverance in the face of difficulties
43. relieved [adj]: happy that something unpleasant has not happened or has ended:
nhẹ nhõm
Eg: I'm so relieved to find you - I thought you'd already gone.
44. have a whale of time [expression]: to enjoy yourself very much: cảm thấy vui vẻ
Eg: We had a whale of time at the meeting yesterday.
45. internship [n]: a period of time during which someone works for a company or
organization in order to get experience of a particular type of work: giai đoạn thử việc
Eg: Jane has a summer internship at a local TV station.
PART 3: CHILDREN HELP PARENTS
34. What can children help parents with?

(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, I think there are a lot of things children can
help their parents with, especially in terms of household chores. (Explain your reason or
reasons) Children can tidy up their own rooms or do their own laundry and help parents with
the grocery shopping. Besides, they could partly assist their parents in meal preparation and
serving, under supervision.
35. What are the benefits of children helping their parents?
(Give a direct answer to the question) The benefits are manifold. (Explain your reason or
reasons) First, assigning children regular chores teaches them responsibility. Gradually, the
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kids may also take pride in being considered mature enough to take care of themselves.
(Give an example (often a personal example)) Laundry, cooking and budgeting are just
some of the skills the kids will need once they finally move out. These are also things that
schools do not fully teach, making learning them at home even more important.
36. Should parents reward their children when they help others?
(Give a direct answer to the question) They should, to a certain extent. (Explain your
reason or reasons) Rewarding positive behavior, such as helping those in need, reinforces
and encourages children to repeat the same behavior. The child will learn to do the things or
demonstrate the behavior for which he receives positive feedback and avoid behavior that
generates no rewards. Despite offering rewards, moms and dads should properly ensure
that their children help others out of kindness, not out of reward.
37. Do parents help children because they need their children to help them when they
are old?
(Give a direct answer to the question) I don’t assume so. (Explain your reason or reasons)
They take care of their children purely out of love and nothing can compare to parental
affection. Some parents see their children as a “complete version of themselves”, thus loving
their children more than their own lives and are willing to make sacrifices for the kids. It is
indeed the responsibility and duty of children to take care of their parents when they get old.
Vocabulary:
14. supervision [n]: the act or work of supervising or state of being supervised: sự giám
sát
Eg: The firm’s accounts are under the personal supervision of the manager
15. manifold [adj]: many and of several different types: đa dạng, nhiều
Eg: Despite her manifold faults, she was a strong leader.
16. take pride in [expression]: to feel pride about: tự hào về

Eg: You should take more pride in (=care more for) your appearance.
46. generate [v]: to produce or create sth: sản sinh ra, tạo ra
Eg: The proposal has generat ed a lot of i nt erest .
17. properly [adv]: correctly, or in a satisfactory way: một cách phù hợp
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Eg: I'm not properly dressed for this kind of weather.
47. assume [v]: to accept something to be true without question or proof: cho rằng
Eg: I assumed (that) you knew each other because you went to the same school.
18. affection [n]: the feeling of liking or loving sth/sb very much: tình yêu thương
Eg: Children nowadays need a lot of attention and affection.
48. sacrifice[n]: the fact of giving up sth important or valuable to you to get or to give it
to sb else: sự hi sinh
Eg: His parents make sacrifices so that he could have a good education.
37. Describe an activity you attend occasionally which is a bit expensive
You should say:
What it is
Where you do it
Who you do it with
And explain why it is expensive
(What it is)
Today, I’m going to describe an activity I attend occasionally which is a bit expensive. It is
scuba diving. Scuba diving is one of the most thrilling and unique experiences you can have
anywhere in the world. Fortunately, I don't have to travel very far to experience this
remarkable sense of weightlessness and the unparalleled thrill of breathing underwater, as
I live quite close to a coastal city. Having a go at this dangerous sport from time to time also
allows me to get out of my comfort zone.
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(Where you do it)
Sometimes, my family visit the city of Nha Trang to experience scuba diving. Nha Trang is
the scuba diving hub in Vietnam, about an hour’s flight from Ho Chi Minh City. Boasting
more than 20 dive operators, Nha Trang is a popular place for budding divers looking to get
certified in its calm and friendly waters. The water temperature here is typically balmy,
which makes it all the more an ideal choice for our family.
(Who you do it with)
All members in my family do this sport together, yet only once in a while. Every summer,
we visit our favorite Nha Trang’s resort to enjoy the sea food there and enjoy scuba diving.
Divers are catered for with a dive center and resort infrastructure and best of all, the experts
in this center always provide their guests with excellent training and whole-hearted
instructions.
(And explain why it is expensive)
It's no secret; scuba diving is a relatively expensive sport. Generally speaking, most dive
shops also require the participant to purchase their own mask, snorkel, and fins so make sure
you have some spare cash stashed away for that. However, I think it still worth your while
to experience this amazing sport at times. It’s the sheer majesty and serenity of the ocean
offered through scuba diving that appeals to me. The moment you leap off the boat, you’re
submerged into a different world, an utterly silent, often eerie world, with no idea what
you’re going to find.
Vocabulary:
49. unparalleled [adj]: better than all others : không thể sánh bằng
Eg: He had a t al ent unparall el ed b y an y ot her polit i ci an i n this count r y.
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50. comfort zone [expression]: a situation in which you feel comfortable and in which
your ability and determination are not being tested: vùng an toàn
Eg: Rock climbing pushes many people beyond their comfort zone.
51. budding [adj]: beginning to develop or show signs of future success in a particular
area: chớm nở
Eg: While still at school she was clearly a budding genius.
52. balmy [adj]: (of the weather) pleasantly warm.: dễ chịu
Eg: The exhibition was held in the balmy days of late summer.
53. all the more [expression]: even more than before: càng
Eg: Several publishers rejected her book, but that just made her all the more determined.
54. once in a while [expression]: sometimes, but not regularly: thỉnh thoảng
Eg: You meet some really interesting people every once in a while.
55. whole-hearted [adj]: completely enthusiastic: hết lòng
Eg: The minister has pledged his wholehearted support for the plans.
56. relatively [adv]: in comparison with other similar things or with what you expect:
tương đối
Eg: A few states across the country have remained in relatively good shape.
57. worth one’s while [expression]: important, useful, or satisfying enough to be worth
the effort you make: xứng công
Eg: It would be worth your while to see if you can still get tickets to the show.
58. majesty [n]: if something has majesty, it causes admiration and respect for its
beauty: vẻ uy nghi
Eg: This music has majesty, power, and passion.
PART 3: BUYING THINGS
38. What things very expensive but people would like to buy?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Nowadays, some consumers are trying to display
their wealth and financial success by buying and showing off expensive things. (Explain
your reason or reasons) I would say the majority would fancy quite pricey technological
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devices such as phones and laptops, and want to constantly update them. For others,
especially girls, high-end cosmetics and brand name clothing hold an endless appeal, which
justifies the increasing popularity of the beauty industry.
39. The differences between women and men in buying things?
(Give a direct answer to the question) When it comes to shopping, the two sexes differ in
their perspectives, motives, rationales, and actions. (Explain your reason or reasons) While
women prefer the hunt, guys want a quick and effortless process. Women are okay buying
five different sizes and returning four, guys don’t – guys don’t want to try on five different
sizes to get the right fit, they want the right fit right-away. This is why so many guys are
incredibly brand-loyal, once they find a brand that fits they tend to stick to it. Guys find
returns a complete hassle and you can see why the typical online shopping model can be
frustrating for your typical guy.
40. Why women want to be beautiful?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, their beauty would partly serve different
purposes in their life. (Explain your reason or reasons) For most women, looks matter
appreciably. It's certainly not fair but the undeniable truth, established beyond any doubt by
dozens of reputable studies, is that attractive people do better in life. They are better paid,
educated, respected, trusted and, surprisingly, smarter than their plainer counterparts.
Therefore, women want to be physically attractive to get these advantages.
41. Can money help them to be more beautiful?
(Give a direct answer to the question) It does to a certain extent. (Explain your reason or
reasons) With more money, you can dress better and that impacts how people perceive you.
Most often, rich women are not subjected to physical elements like sun, heat, hard labor;
hence, their skin tone will be fine and they will have a more balanced diet. Being rich also
gives them mental soundness, this in turn gives them happiness and confidence which will
make women more attractive.
42. Does everyone want to be rich?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, not everyone but most people want to become
rich, as they think that money achieves many things. (Explain your reason or reasons) There
are people who never bother about money, like saints, yogis. The zeal to earn money will
come from basic needs in life, as humans will try to secure food, house, daily expenditure,
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transportation etc. Trying for more than required leads a human to earn more money and
changes their ideology to become rich.
Vocabulary:
19. display [v]: to show a feeling: thể hiện

Eg: My grandfather disapproved of displaying emotion in public.
20. high-end [adj]: intended for people who want very good quality products and
who do not mind how much they cost: tiêu chuẩn cao
Eg: High-end video equipment always has unique appeal to young men.
21. justify [v]: to give or to be a good reason for: chứng minh
Eg: We are duty bound to justify how we spend our funds.
22. when it comes to [expression]: as for something; speaking about something khi
xét đến, nhắc đến cái gì
Eg: When it com es to fi shing, John i s an ex pert .
23. hassle [n]: (a situation causing) difficulty or trouble.: việc rắc rối
Eg: They faced interminable legal hassles if they wanted to claim compensation.
24. appreciably [adv]: considerably: đáng kể

Eg: The risk of infection is appreciably higher among children.
25. counterpart [n]: a person or thing that has the same position or purpose as another
person or thing in a different place or organization: đối tác
Eg: Why should women in top managerial positions earn less than their male counterparts?
26. soundness [n]: the fact of being in good condition: sự khỏe mạnh
Eg: With her own wonderful health and soundness, she could not think of mere illness as
the cause of his trouble.
27. secure [v]: to obtain something, sometimes with difficulty: đảm bảo
Eg: She managed to secure a loan from the bank.
28. ideology [n]: a set of beliefs or principles, especially one on which a political system,
party, or organization is based: hệ tư tưởng
Eg: The people are caught between two opposing ideologies.
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38. Describe an enjoyable dinner you had with friends. You should say:
 When it was
 What you ate
 Who you were with
 And explain why you enjoyed it
(When it was) Today, I would like to talk about one of the most memorable dinners I’ve
ever had in my life. That was my first date with my current husband which took place 10
years ago. I was extremely nervous as he didn’t want me to know any information about the
restaurant. He picked me up at my house and drove to the restaurant without saying a word
about it. To my surprise, he took me to the Opera Restaurant, which is under the
management of Park Hyatt Hotel - one of the few world-renowned hotels in Vietnam. As
I recall, it was on a Sunday evening and the sky was illuminated by the gorgeous sunset
glow.
(What you ate) Upon our arrival at the restaurant, we were given a warm welcome by the
staff as they directed us to our reserved table. The dinner was comprised of 5 dishes, starting
with some salad and white wine. The main course was Spaghetti Bolognese, which is the
most popular kind of spaghetti in the world. The sauce was made from ripe tomatoes grown
in Da Lat, a hub of fruit and vegetable in Vietnam, and Australian beef. The meal ended
with one of the best tiramisus I’ve ever had in my life. The cake was tender, the cream was
thick enough and mouthwatering. The recipe balances the bitterness of the chocolate with
the sweetness of the cream. No words can describe how delicious the tiramisu was.
(Who you were with) We had such a romantic dinner with the atmosphere filled with
classical live music played by a professional pianist and a violinist. It was also my first time
that my husband and I had gone to such a luxurious restaurant. We were blown away by
such high-quality food and service offered by the Opera Restaurant.
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(And explain why you enjoyed it) This is one of the most memorable dinners I’ve ever had
in my whole life. The food was just out of this world and the service of the Opera was
unparalleled. The dinner was just more than food. It was also the atmosphere and the
happiness that made it so special.
Vocabulary
1. To someone’s surprise (phrase): ai đó ngạc nhiên
To my surprise the door was unlocked.
Tôi khá nhạc nhiên vì cánh cửa không khóa.
2. Under someone’s management (phrase): dưới sự quản lý của ai đó
The club prospered under Ferguson's management.
Câu lạc bộ này đạt sự thịnh vượng dưới sự quản lý của Ferguson.
3. World-renowned (adj): nổi tiếng toàn thế giới
He is a world-renowned expert on food safety.
Anh ấy là một chuyên gia an toàn thực phẩm nổi tiếng toàn thế giới.
4. Main course (n): món chính
I had salmon for my main course.
Tôi ăn cá hồi trong món chính.
5. Hub (n): trung tâm The City of London is the hub of the UK's financial world.
Thành phố London là trung tâm tài chính của Vương quốc Anh.
6. Mouthwatering (adj): ngon chảy nước miếngLook at those mouthwatering desserts.
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Hãy nhìn những món tráng miệng ngon đến chảy nước miếng kìa.
7. To blow someone away (phrase): làm ai đó bất ngờ vì rất tốt.
Winning first prize and a full scholarship blew her away.
Việc chiến thắng giải nhất và chiếm luôn học bổng toàn phần đã làm cô ấy rất bất ngờ.
8. Out of this world (idiom): tuyệt vời.
What a restaurant - the food was out of this world!
Nhà hàng này quá xuất sắc – đồ ăn của nó thực sự tuyệt vời!
9. Unparalleled (adj): vô đối/không thể so sánh
They enjoyed success on a scale unparalleled by any previous rock band.
Họ thành công một cách vô đối, tất cả những ban nhạc rock trước kia không tài nào so sánh
được.
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39. Describe a time when you saw a child behave badly in public. You should say:
- Where it was
- What the child were doing
- How others reacted to it
- And explain how you felt about it
(Where it was) Today, I would love to tell you about a child that left me astonished because
of the way she treated her own mother. This “child” was already in her 30s indeed, while her
mother was 88 years old. I came across the video of this elderly woman being heavily
bullied and aggressively hit by her own 30-year-old daughter on the internet just some days
ago.
(What the child were doing) She pushed and shoved her mother, but then she used a metal
bucket to forcefully hit different parts of her body, especially her head. The elderly mom
didn't actually think she was going to do it and believed her daughter was going to come to
her senses, she was not going to do this to her. This appeared very clearly in the video as
the elderly woman seemed to be astonished and shocked by what was happening, which left
her totally speechless and defenceless. She took the mother’s clothes from her closet, tore
them, and threw them out of the house, all over the corridor outside.
(How others reacted to it) The video has been viral on the Internet for days, provoking an
outcry in society and raising the alarm about domestic violence that has been experienced
by many families around the world. Many people poured scorn on this woman for being so
ungrateful and for attacking her own mother. The problem seemed to cool down a bit before
the death of the elderly woman some days ago. The Internet was once more flooded with
articles about this situation.
(And explain how you felt about it) Honestly seeing this video made me totally shocked
and at a loss for words. It’s hard to believe a person may hit her own mother, who may have
risked her own life giving birth and nurtured her daughter. But somehow, seeing this video
also reminds me of my responsibility to be grateful to my own parents who were always
willing to give up something so that I can have a fulfilling life.
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Vocabulary:
1. Astonished (adj): ngạc nhiên
They looked astonished when I announced I was pregnant.
Họ trông rất ngạc nhiên khi tôi báo rằng tôi có thai.
2. To come across (phrasal verb): vô tình gặp ai đó/thấy cái gì đó
He came across some old love letters.
Anh ấy vô tình thấy lại những bức thư tình đã cũ.
3. To come to someone’s senses (idiom): tỉnh táo lại
Eventually the world will come to its senses and get rid of them.
Cuối cùng thì thế giới cũng sẽ trở nên tỉnh táo lại và loại bỏ chúng.
4. To provoke (v): châm ngòi

5. Outcry (n): sự phẫn nộ
The prospect of increased prices has already provoked an outcry.
Viễn cảnh tăng giá đã châm ngòi sự phẫn nộ.
6. To raise the alarm (idiom): rung lên hồi chuông cảnh tỉnh
A local doctor was the first to raise the alarm about this latest virus.
Một vị bác sĩ địa phương là người đầu tiên rung lên hồi chuông cảnh tỉnh về chủng virus mới
nhất.
7. To be at a loss (idiom): cạn lời, không biết nói gì
It was unlike him to be at a loss for words.
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Nó không giống như là anh ta không nói nên lời.
Part 3:
1. What bad behaviour do children usually have?
There are certain child behavioral problems that are common at one point or another. But
most popular problems are lying, and disrespectful behavior. There are some reasons why
kids lie: to avoid getting in trouble, and to feel better about themselves. Name-calling,
throwing things, and mocking you are just a few of the common behavior problems that
show disrespect.
2. How should parents stop their children from behaving badly in public?
Parents should give their child an immediate consequence for any act of aggression. Take
away a privilege and use restitution to help your child make amends if they have hurt
someone. Also, they should let their children know that stomping, screaming, or throwing
themselves to the floor won't get them what they want. It's also important to show them better
and more effective ways to express their needs and get those needs met.
3. Are parents these days stricter than those in the past?
I personally do not think parents have become stricter. By contrast, due to their participation
on social networking sites, which are used by mainly young people, they have developed a
better mutual understanding with their children and have become much more open-minded
and accepting. For example, tattoos used to be a taboo in most East Asian countries,
including Vietnam, and children were strictly banned from getting a tattoo. But now, even
some mothers want some beautiful ink on their skin.
4. Whose influence on children is more important, friends’ or parents’?
Parents matter more to their own children than anybody or anything else in their lives. Too
many parents underestimate the influence and impact they have on their tweens’ and teens’
lives. However, whether parents or peers have more influence depends on the age of the
child. Starting as early as age 12--and for some kids at least by 14--friends definitely have
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more influence than parents. Kids want to do what their friends are doing, whether it’s good
or bad.
Vocabulary:
1. To mock (verb): chế giễu
They were mocking him because he kept falling off his bike.
Họ chế giễu anh ta vì anh ấy liên tục té xe.
2. Aggression (n): hiếu chiến
We regard the presence of troops on our border as an act of aggression.
Chúng tôi xem sự hiện diện của quân đội trên biên giới của chúng tôi là một hành động hiếu
chiến.
3. Make amends (phrase): hối lỗi
She tried to make amends by inviting him out to dinner.
Cô ấy muốn hối lỗi bằng cách mời anh ấy đi ăn tối.
4. Accepting (adj): cởi mở
I feel truly safe here. The people are very accepting and non-judgmental.
Tôi cảm thấy ở đây thực sự an toàn. Con người ở đây rất cởi mở và không phán xét.
5. Taboo (n): điều cấm kị
In this society there is a taboo on/against any sort of public display of affection.
Thể hiện tình cảm nơi công cộng là một việc cấm kị trong xã hội này
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40. Describe an occasion you got lost that you didn’t know
You should say:
When and where you got lost
and explain why you got lost
(When and where you got lost)
I am going to talk about an incident that happened to me, which I never forget. On a trip
organized to Bach Ma national park for all students in my high school three years ago, with
a view to raising students’ awareness of the importance of protecting the environment, I got
lost and could hardly find directions to get back to the class.
(and explain why you got lost)
In retrospect, climbing the mountain was great fun, although I was a little scared at first,
apprehensive to be exact. I still remember the route to reach the mountain peak was in twist
and turns, so students in my class almost felt the terminal point was approaching but it
was endless. I got a little exhausted and had to lean against a tree. My friends encouraged
me to hold on, take deep breath and only think about the mountain peak to continue to climb.
We were up at the furthest point as the sun was starting to set. Too enthralled by the
spectacular natural scenery, I decided to go a bit further from our original reaching point to
take pictures and forgot the time until it began to turn dark. Suddenly, I realized that I was
alone and I could not see any of my classmates. Actually, I was truly scared at that very
moment. Luckily, before I totally lost my bearings, I tried my uttermost to find the trail
again by using the digital map on my mobile device to position, and managed to make it
back after about two and a half hours, by which time it was full night. I’m glad that I did
overcome my fears then to find the way back.
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Vocabulary
1. with a view to [expression]: with an intention to do sth: với mục đích làm gì đó
Eg: The politician reveals the truth with a view to gaining more faith from the public
2. apprehensive [adj]: feeling worried about something that you are going to do or that
is going to happen: lo sợ
Eg: I'm very apprehensive about tomorrow's meeting.
3. twist and turns [expression]: curves and frequent changes of direction: những chỗ
quanh co khúc khuỷu
Eg: The road through the mountains has many twists and turns.
4. approach [v]: to come near or nearer to something or someone in space, time, quality,
or amount: sắp đến
Eg: We could just see the train approaching in the distance.
5. (be) enthralled by sth [adj]: be attracted to sth that is so interesting, beautiful : bị mê
hoặc, cuốn hút
Eg: The child watched, completely enthralled by bright moving images.
6. lose one’s bearings [expression]: if you lose your bearings, you do not know
where you are: bị lạc, mất phương hướng
Eg: They lost their bearings in the dark.
7. tried one’s uttermost [expression]: to do something as well as you can by
making a great effort: cố gắng hết sức
Eg: She t ri ed her utm ost to fi ni sh on tim e.
8. overcome [v]: to defeat or succeed in controlling or dealing with something: vượt
qua
Eg: Eventually she managed to overcome her shyness in class.
42. Describe something you enjoyed doing with a group of people
You should say:
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What it was
Where you did it and who you did it with
And explain why you think it was enjoyable
(What it was)
Today, I’m going to describe one activity I enjoy doing with my group of close friends,
which is yoga. Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines
which originated in ancient India. Yoga uses breathing techniques, exercise and meditation.
It helps to improve health and happiness. While some deem yoga as just another fad and
associate it with new age mysticism, others vouch for how amazing this form of exercise
feels.
(Where you did it and who you did it with)
We took up yoga a year ago and have been practicing it together in the sports center since
then. The yoga club in this center is in the vicinity of my neighborhood, so my friends
usually gather at my house before coming there. At that time, after completing our first year
in university, we all felt exhausted because of the demanding workload and continuous
exams. Most of us could not do physical activities on a frequent basis. I had to endure a
lot of bodily discomforts, such as intense backaches and headaches. Then we decided to do
something less exhausting than hitting the gym and eventually enrolled in a yoga club.
(And explain why you think it was enjoyable)
Well, doing something beneficial with your close friends is such a rewarding experience.
Yoga as a practice has countless benefits that positively affect you both physically and
mentally. When you practice yoga regularly, the blood circulation in the body is enhanced.
After adopting yoga for a month, we all felt more invigorated and flexible. Yoga relaxes
our mind so completely to work on unnecessary tensions, thus facilitating better sleep. Most
importantly, doing this together gives us a tremendous incentive to maintain this good habit
in the long term.
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Vocabulary:
59. meditation [n]: the act of giving your attention to only one thing, either as a
religious activity or as a way of becoming calm and relaxed: sự thiền
Eg: She practices meditation every day to maintain good health.
60. associate [v]: to connect someone or something in your mind with someone or
something else: liên hệ, liên tưởng
Eg: Most people associate this brand with good quality.
61. in the vicinity of [expression]: in the area that is close to (a place): ở lân cận
Eg: He lives in the general vicinity of the school.
62. discomfort [n]: a feeling of being uncomfortable physically or mentally, or something
that causes this: sự không thoải mái
Eg: You may feel a little discomfort for a few days after the operation.
63. on a frequent basis [adj]: frequently: một cách thường xuyên
Eg: Slightly over a third said they took their children to libraries on a frequent basis.
64. hit the gym [expression]: to go to the gym: tập gym
Eg: Tran has hit the gym 4 times a week since last year.
65. rewarding [adj]: giving a reward, especially by making you feel satisfied that you
have done something important or useful, or done something well: xứng đáng
66. invigorating [adj]: making you feel healthier, less tired, and more energetic: tiếp them
sinh lực
Eg: These yoga postures are invigorating and good for balance.
67. facilitate [v]: to make something possible or easier: tạo điều kiện
Eg: The new ramp will facilitate the entry of wheelchairs.
68. incentive[n]: sth that encourages you to do sth : sự khích lệ, cổ vũ
Eg: There is no incentive to continue doing this project.
PART 3: GROUP ACTIVITIES
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43. What kinds of job need people to work in a team?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Nowadays, most professions will necessitate
teamwork in one way or another. (Give an example (often a personal example)) The field
of market research is one example. As a market researcher, you’d get to work in teams with
sales, marketing, and product design to analyze large data pools for studies and to drive
business initiatives in a variety of industries including pharmaceuticals, software, and
consumer products. Besides, working in information technology also involves working with
clients or other teams within the organization or business.
44. What can parents do with their children to make them happy?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, parents should be a companion for their kids.
(Explain your reason or reasons) No matter how busy they are, the most important thing is
to build a strong relationship with kids, as this would increase the sense of togetherness.
Most importantly, showing love in a proper way is also crucial. Showing love and affection
decreases the likelihood of psychological and behavioral problems and makes the child more
resilient to stress.
45. How can children improve their social skills?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Firstly, children should be taught how to be assertive
when they talk to people. Besides, empathy is another important basic of social skills.
(Explain your reason or reasons) If children have a better understanding of how others feel,
they are much more likely to feel connected to other people and form positive bonds.
46. What are the benefits of boys and girls playing together?
(Give a direct answer to the question) There are a lot of compelling benefits when boys and
girls play together (Explain your reason or reasons) First, this can help kids work together
more effectively later in life. They learn coping skills from being exposed to and
compromising with others who play differently. Besides, if there's no separation between
activities, both boys and girls will feel more confident to explore the things they're drawn to,
regardless of the gender the activity might've originally been associated with.
Vocabulary:
69. necessitate [v]:to make sth necessary: làm cho cần thiết, đòi hỏi
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Eg: Increased traffic necessitates the broadening of this road.
70. initiative [n]: a new attempt to achieve a goal or solve a problem, or a new method for
doing this: sang kiến
Eg: The defense secretary announced a major initiative to upgrade our military preparedness.
71. companion [n]: someone or something you spend a lot of time with or travel with, or
a friend who lives with you: bạn đồng hành
Eg: The dog has been her constant companion these past ten years.
72. togetherness [n]: the state of being close to another person or other people.: sự gắn
kết
Eg: The sense of family togetherness was strong in the past.
73. resilient [adj]: able to improve quickly after being hurt or being ill: kiên cường
Eg: Life is hard there, but the people are resilient.
74. assertive [adj]: having or showing a confident and forceful personality: tự tin
Eg: I've had to train myself to be more assertive at work
75. empathy [n]: the ability to understand and share the feelings of another: sự đồng cảm
Eg: He loves children and has a certain empathy with them.
76. compelling [adj]: evoking interest, attention, or admiration in a powerfully

irresistible way: hấp dẫn, thú vị
Eg: She gave a compelling and intensely dramatic performance.
77. compromise [v]: to agree to give up something you want if the other side, which has
different opinions from yours, gives up something it wants: thỏa hiệp
Eg: Republicans were refusing to compromise on health-care legislation.
78. regardless of [expression]: irrespective of: bất kể
Eg: W e recrui t all quali fi ed em pl oyees regardl ess of race.
43. Describe a film or TV program that made you laugh
You should say:

What it was
How often you watched it
What it was about
And explain why it could make you laugh
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(What it was) I’ve found the TV program Mr. Bean funny. Albeit set in the UK, the
sitcom expanded to reach other countries, including Vietnam, my home country. The
drama series went viral in Vietnam in the early 2010s when dozens of people watched and
imitated Mr. Bean’s oafish behaviour.
(How often you watched it) The series was aired every Sunday afternoon on the Disney
channel, and I don’t think I missed a single episode.
(What it was about) The central plot revolves around Mr. Bean, a neurotic Brit. Each
episode of Mr. Bean tells a totally different story, unlike a normal drama series that uses
one main story that gives birth to many other smaller and less important ones. Based on a
character originally developed by Atkinson while he was studying for his master's degree
at Oxford University, the series follows the exploits of Mr. Bean, described by Atkinson as
"a child in a grown man's body," in solving problems presented by everyday tasks, and
often causing disruption in the process.
(And explain why it could make you laugh) The awkward and crazy behavior of Mr.
Bean makes me laugh. In one episodes that split my sides, Mr. Bean designed an oafish
hairstyle for a kid when the hairdresser was away. It was even more hilarious when the
kid’s mom went back to complain, and Mr. Bean hid in a corner. Mr. Bean is one of my
favorite sitcoms so far. I still sometimes watch it to relieve stress.
1. Albeit (conjuction) = although: mặc dù.
Example: The evening was very pleasant, albeit a little quiet.
Buổi tối hôm ấy khá thoải mái, mặc dù hơi im lắng.
2. Sitcom = situation comedy (n): hài kịch dựa trên tình huống.
Example: Mr. Bean is a British sitcom created by Rowan Atikinson and Richard Curtis.
Mr. Bean là một bộ phim hài theo tình huống được sản xuất bởi Rowan Atikinson và
Richard Curtis.
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3. To go viral (v): rất thịnh hành.
Example: Within days the film clip went viral.
Trong vòng mấy ngày, video clip đã rất thịnh hành.
4. Oafish (adj): lạ lạ, ngộ ngộ.
Example: Being a country bumpkin from Newfounland, Jake is often teased for his oafish
clothes and hair.
Là một người vụng về quê mùa, Jake thường bị chọc vì anh ấy mặc đồ và để tóc khá ngộ.
5. To revolve (v): xoay quanh
Example: The earth revolves around the sun.
Trái Đất quay quanh mặt Trời.
6. Neurotic (a): bị thần kinh/bị mát.
Example: neurotic behaviour/tendencies
Tính cách ngộ ngộ mát mát.
7. To split someone’s sides (idiom): cười bể bụng.
Example: Your jokes are perfect for your speech tonight. You'll have them splitting their
sides!
Những bản tấu hài của bạn sẽ hoàn hảo cho buổi tối hôm nay. Bạn sẽ làm mọi người cười
bể bụng.
PART 3: ADULTS-CHILDREN
Do you think adults are likely to be happier than children?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Honestly, I don’t think so. (Explain your reason or
reasons) Given the enormous social and domestic responsibilities most adults have to
shoulder, it would be hard for them to be as joyful and carefree as children. (Give an
example (often a personal example)) While young adults concern themselves with career
prospects, the need to balance between different relationships exhausts the middle-aged.
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(Explain the opposite or alternative) Yet, irrespective of age, one’s cheerful disposition
largely depends on his or her attitude to life.
Is laughing beneficial to children, how about old people?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Scientifically, laughing does wonders to a human’s
well-being (Explain your reason or reasons) Children laugh to exhibit their emotions as
well as to interact with others. For older people, laughter is just as necessary, if not an
inevitable aspect. (Give an example (often a personal example)) A genuine laugh would
help one to let off steam and momentarily forget about the stresses and strains of
adulthood. (Explain the opposite or alternative) Without laughter, our spiritual life would
be unimaginable.
What kinds of things do Vietnamese people do to be happy?
(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, this answer may vary from person to person,
even for those in the same age group. (Give an example) I guess the majority would take
pleasure from hanging out with friends or immersing themselves in hobbies and
entertaining activities. (Explain the opposite or alternative) Some, in the meantime,
associate their happiness with materialistic and career-related goals, so they may work to
be happy.
Why do children like to laugh?
(Give a direct answer to the question) As I have put it, for kids, laughter is the most
spontaneous means of emotional expression (Explain your reason or reasons) The
younger people are, the more easily they laugh, as there is always a joyful element in the
eyes of innocent minds. (Explain the opposite or alternative) Besides, a child may view
laughter as a way to integrate into social groups.
What do you do when you feel sad?
(Give a direct answer to the question) When I feel low, I will treat myself to things I
adore (Give an example (often a personal example)) They can be quality time with family
members or a luxurious dinner at a Korean restaurant. (Explain your reason or reasons)
When I cannot change the situation, I change my attitude towards it, and I think doing
justice to my interests is quite effective, at least for now.
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Vocabulary:
exhaust [v]: to make someone extremely tired: làm ai kiệt sức
Eg: Billy's heart was so weak that just climbing a few steps exhausted him.
irrespective of [expression]: without considering; not needing to allow for: không kể đến,
không xét đến
Eg: The legislation must be applied irrespective of someone's ethnic origins.
disposition [n]: the particular type of character that a person naturally has: tính khí
Eg: She is of a nervous disposition.
do wonders to [expression]: to cause improvements or have a very good effect: có lợi cho
Eg: Getting the job did wonders for her self-confidence.
exhibit [v]: to show something, esp. a quality, by your behavior: thể hiện, bộc lộ
Eg: Jane did not exhibit a sense of submissiveness.
genuine [adj]: If something is genuine, it is real and exactly what it appears to be: thật,
chân thật
Eg: He has demonstrated a genuine interest in the project.
unimaginable [adj]: Something that is unimaginable is difficult to imagine because it is

so bad, good, big, etc.: không thể tưởng tượng được
Eg: The situation was explosive to an unimaginable degree.
associate [v]: to connect someone or something in your mind with someone or something
else: liên hệ
Eg: Most people associate this brand with good quality.
spontaneous [adj]: happening or done in a natural, often sudden way, without any
planning or without being forced: tự nhiên, không gượng gạo
Eg: His jokes seemed spontaneous, but were in fact carefully prepared beforehand.
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integrate into [v]: to mix with and join society or a group of people, often changing to suit
their way of life, habits, and customs: hòa nhập
Eg: It's very difficult to integrate yourself into a society whose culture is so different from
your own.
luxurious [adj]: very comfortable and expensive: xa xỉ
Eg: We spent a luxurious weekend at a country hotel.
do justice to [expression]: to treat someone or something in a way that is fair and shows
their or its true qualities: đối xử công bằng với
Eg: This postcard doesn't do justice to the wonderful scenery.
44. Describe an interesting tradition in your country
You should say 
What it is 
How do the people in your country follow this tradition? 
And explain how you personally feel about this tradition
If you ask me about an interesting tradition in Vietnam, I will definitely talk about the
traditional new year event of my country. It’s called Tet Holiday, which is also known as
Lunar New Year in Vietnam.
Lunar New Year is the most important celebration in Vietnamese culture, marking the arrival
of spring based on the Lunar calendar, a lunisolar calendar. Tet takes place from the first day
of the first month of the Lunar calendar (around late January or early February) until at least
the third day.
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Traditionally, Vietnamese prepare for Tet by cooking special holiday foods and cleaning
their house. There are a lot of customs practiced during Tet such as visiting friends or
relatives’ houses on the first day of the new year, ancestral worship, wishing New Year’s
greetings, giving lucky money to children and elderly people and opening a shop.
Vietnamese people usually return to their families during Tet. Some return to worship at the
family altar or visit the graves of their ancestors in their homeland.
Whenever this holiday comes, I feel a strong sense of belonging because it reminds me of
how diverse our culture can be with different rituals and food. I really love Tet.
Vocabulary:
5. Worship (verb) to have or show a strong feeling of respect and admiration for God or
a god
We only worship one god
6. Rituals (noun) a set of fixed actions and sometimes words performed regularly,
especially as part of a ceremony.
My morning ritual includes reading the newspaper while I drink my coffee.
48. Describe a time when you were scared by an animal. You should say:
- What animal it was
- When and where it happened
- What the animal did
- And explain why you were scared
(What animal it was) I cannot forget the time when I jumped out of my skin when seeing a
cockroach fly for the first time. Indeed, I have a cockroach phobia, which is one of the most
common phobias in the world.
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(When and where it happened) I still remember the time a cockroach flew into the hair of
a colleague. This was a full-sized specimen. This very moment when I had seen a cockroach
fly for the first time happened when I was doing my internship at JW Marriott Singapore
some years ago. I couldn’t believe such a prestigious hotel had this kind of disgusting animal.
(What the animal did) The creature twitched furiously to free all of its six, spindly legs
and oily wings. It had tangled itself in her shoulder-length tresses. Everyone around her,
including me, released a staccato scream, ran around the room for fear that this disgusting
filthy animal may fly into them. To my horror and surprise, my colleague finally fished it
out of her hair with her bare hands and flung it into a nearby drain.
(And explain why you were scared) I was stunned because I hadn’t known a cockroach
could ever fly. Moreover, I have been scared of this animal since I was born so it is very
understandable that I was scared out of my wits when seeing it fly.
Vocabulary
1. To twitch (v): co giật

Example: She saw his mouth twitch into a little smile that disappeared almost at once.
Cô ấy thấy miệng anh ta co lên chuẩn bị cười nhưng trở lại bình thường ngay sau đó.
2. Filthy (adj): dơ bẩn

Example: The whole house is absolutely filthy.
Cả căn nhà đều vô cùng dơ bẩn.
3. To someone’s horror (phrase): trong sự hoảng hốt của ai đó

Example: To my horror, he lost his footing and fell to the bottom of the stairs.
Anh ấy trượt chân và té xuống cuối lầu trong sự hoảng hốt của tôi.
4. To fish sth out (phrasal verb): lấy cái gì ra

Example: He fished out a coin from his pocket.
Anh ấy lấy một đồng xu ra từ túi.
5. To stun (v): làm ai đó sốc

Example: News of the disaster stunned people throughout the world.
Tin tức về thảm họa làm sốc toàn bộ thế giới.
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6. To frighten/scare someone out of their wits (phrase): làm ai đó rất sợ hãi
Example: That strange noise during the night scared me out of my wits.
Âm thanh kì lạ đó trong đêm tối làm tôi vô cùng sợ hãi.
49. Describe an area of science (physics, biology, psychology, etc.) that interests you.
You should say:
- What it is
- When you knew it
- How you learned it
- And explain why you are interested
(What it is) My only favourite area of science is geography. Geography is a mixture of
natural science and humanities, which makes it so special. I am still trying my best to learn
Geography more so as to improve my knowledge about natural phenomena and about the
global happenings.
(When you knew it) As a child, I was exposed to some fators that later contributed to my
love for Geography. Back then, I was extremely interested in watching the weather forecast
every evening after the daily news on a national channel, VTV3, at 7.00pm.
(How you learnt it) I only realised that I had a deep passion for Geography when I was in
grade 3 as I could not stop looking at the globe and learning by heart the names of countries
and their capitals. Also, I tried to remember flags of some influential countries in the world.
Then, when I proceeded to grade 7, I passed geography with flying colors and continuously
topped my Geography class. I also had a hobby of reading news that covered global
happenings, which was instrumental in broadening my horizons about population
Geography.
(And explain why you are interested) I really cannot explain why I am interested in
Geography. My love for it developed from literally no known reasons. I would say that my
passion for Geography is a result of me being exposed to so many Geography-related factors
such as news, and weather forecasts during my formative years.
Vocabulary
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1. To learn by heart (phrase): học thuộc lòng
Example: My father can still recite the poems he learned by heart at school.
Bố tôi vẫn có thể đọc những vầng thơ mà bố học thuộc lòng lúc còn ở trường.
2. With flying colours (idiom): điểm cao

Example: She passed the exam with flying colors.
Cô ấy vượt qua kì thi với số điểm cao
3. To top (v): đứng đầu

Example: The song topped the charts
Bài nhạc này đã đứng đầu các bảng xếp hạng.
4. Instrumental (adj): rất quan trọng
Example: She was instrumental in bringing about the prison reform act.
Cô ấy đóng vai trò vô cùng quan trọng trong chiến dịch đổi mới nhà tù.
5. To broaden someone’s horizons (phrase): mở rộng tầm mắt

Example: Travelling certainly broadens your horizons.
Đi du lịch chắc chắn giúp bạn mở rộng tầm mắt.
6. Formative (adj): nền tảng
Example: She spent her formative years in Africa.
Cô ấy dành những năm tháng nền tảng sống ở châu Phi.
Part 3
1. What is the best invention in the past one hundred years?

There have been some inventions that have changed our lives almost overnight in the past
100 years. However, I believe that the world wide web is the most impactful invention of
humankind. It breaks down geographical barriers and is a prerequisite for today’s
globalisation and prosperity in the world.
2. What’s the influence of science on human life?
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Science affects us all, every day of the year, from the moment we wake up, all day long, and
through the night. To make it clear how deeply science is interwoven with our lives, just try
imagining a day without scientific progress. We would have no electricity to power our
computers and smartphones and keep the lights on. Also, the medicines that have saved
millions of lives are also a result of scientific progress.
3. What can individuals do for scientific research?

While some people hold the opinion that scientific research is the responsibility of only
scientists, I believe it is the responsibility of everyone. Individuals can play their role in such
research by participating in their own projects such as being samples for research.
4. What influence can international cooperation in science bring about?

Cooperation between countries around the world is instrumental in the development of
science and technology. A country’s ability is limited to a certain extent, which is the reason
why it must cooperate with others to achieve the desired result.
Vocabulary
1. Overnight (adv): rất nhanh

Example: She became a star overnight.
Cô ấy trở nên một ngôi sao một cách rất nhanh.
2. Prerequisite (n): điều kiện tiên quyết

Example: Public support is a prerequisite for/to the success of this project.
Sự ủng hộ của cộng đồng là điều kiện tiên quyết cho sự thành công của dự án này.
3. To interwave (v): đan xen

Example: He interweaves traditional songs with contemporary music.
Anh ấy đan xen các bài hát truyền thống với nhạc hiện đại.
4. Sample (v): mẫu

Example: A random sample of voters.
Một mẫu cử tri ngẫu nhiên.
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50. Describe an ambition that you have had for a long time. You should say:
- What it is
- How you know about that ambition
- What you have done for it
- And explain why you have this ambition
(What it is) I have nurtured the dream of winning Miss Universe since I was a young 6-year
old girl. Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by
the American-based Miss Universe Organization. It airs in more than 190 countries
worldwide and seen by more than half a billion people annually. Along with Miss
World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, Miss Universe is one of the Big Four
international beauty pageants.
(How you know about it) Miss Universe is relatively popular here in Vietnam since
Vietnam had the honour to host Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang, which was also the time
when I first heard of this beauty pageant. Also in that year, Vietnam made it into the top 8
of the competition, which was its best result before being eclipsed by H’Hen Nie, who set a
new milestone for Vietnam’s performance at Miss Universe by making it into the top 5 in
2018.
(What you have done for it) I am now a 19-year-old girl majoring in International Business
at the Foreign Trade University, which is deemed the source of all beauties in Vietnam as a
considerable proportion of Vietnamese beauty pageant titleholders come from my
university. I would make use of this chance to expand my social circle with my predecessors
who have gone far at beauty pageants to learn from them. Also, I would go to great lengths
to improve my weight.
(And explain why you have this ambition) All beauties clinching the Miss Universe title
have proved influential in their service to the community as well as gaining them a certain
position in the fashion industry. I would like to win the competition so that I can voice my
concern over the lack of education in mountainous areas in Vietnam and in other countries
in the world as well as use the money to set up a charity foundation for education. H’Hen
Nie has proved that education is the easiest way which people can choose to lift themselves
out of poverty.
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1. To air (v): chiếu
Example: The interview with the president will air tomorrow morning.
Buổi phỏng vấn với tổng thống sẽ được chiếu vào sáng ngày mai.
2. To eclipse (v): vượt mặt
Example: The economy has eclipsed all other issues during this election campaign.
Vấn đề về kinh tế đã vượt mặt mọi vấn đề khác trong chiến dịch tranh cử này.
3. To set a milestone (phrase): lập cột mốc
Example: In Monday mornings, we would set milestones for the week.
Trong các buổi sáng thứ hai, chúng tôi sẽ lập cột mốc cần có cho tuần mới.
4. Deem (v): cho là/xem là
Example: The area has now been deemed safe.
Khoanh vùng này đã được cho là an toàn.
5. Titleholder (n): người chiến thắng/nhà vô địch
Example: The Olympic and World titleholder.
Nhà vô địch Olympic và thế giới
6. To expand someone’s social circle (phrase): mở rộng mối quan hệ xã hội
Example: In order to expand your social circle, you will need to become the master of the
art of socialising
Để mở rộng mối quan hệ, bạn cần trở thành một bậc thầy trong việc giao tiếp xã hội.
7. To go to great lengths (phrase): làm bất cứ điều gì.
Example: He'll go to any lengths to get what he wants.
Anh ấy sẽ làm bất cứ điều gì để đạt được những gì anh ấy muốn
8. Voice concern over something (phrase): lên tiếng về vấn đề gì
Example: Many people have voiced concern over the proposed changes in the law.
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Rất nhiều người đã lên tiếng về những thay đổi dự trù trong Luật/
9. Lift oneself out of poverty (phrase): kéo ai đó ra khỏi cảnh nghèo
Example: Sustained economic growth is the single most

powerful means of lifting people out of poverty.
Tăng trưởng kinh tế bền vững là cách quy nhất để kéo người dân ra khỏi cảnh nghèo.
Part 3
1. What kinds of ambitions do people have?

Different people have different ambitions. But the majority of people want to have a stable
source of income to maintain an acceptable living standard. Some others who are even more
ambitious will strive themselves to make their way to the top.
2. Why should parents encourage children to have ambitions?

Encouraging children to have ambitions allows them to know what they’re doing so that they
can identify their dreams and follow the right way to achieve them. Research suggests that
encouraging children to develop an ambitious mindset is strongly associated with successful
children, as those raised in this way are more likely to thrive academically, socially, and are
less likely to take unhealthy risks as teens.
3. Should parents interfere with children’s ambitions?

This depends. If children are down to earth and have practical ambitions, parents should
not interfere with their ambitions. By contrast, if children overestimate their capabilities and
have seemingly impossible ambitions, it is imperative that parents give their children
valuable pieces of advice so that they can have more practical ambitions.
4. Is there any difference between children’s ambitions and those of grown-ups?

Absolutely yes. There are many differences between children’s ambitions and those of
grown-ups indeed. While children simply want to have beautiful clothes, academic brilliance
and excellent academic results, adults seek wealth while hoping they will also have time to
recharge their batteries by going on luxurious trips.
Vocabulary
1. To strive (v): cố gắng
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Example: Mr Roe has kindled expectations that he must now strive to live up to.
Ông Roe đã đặt ra những mong đợi mà ngay bây giờ ông ấy phải cố gắng để thực hiện.
2. The top (v): đỉnh cao
Example: He worked hard and quickly reached the top of his profession.
Ông ấy làm việc chăm chỉ, và nhanh chóng đạt đến đỉnh cao của sự nghiệp.
3. To thrive (v): phát đạt
Example: His business thrived in the years before the war.
Doanh nghiệp của ông ấy phát đạt trong những năm trước chiến tranh.
4. Down-to-earth (Adj): thực tế
Example: The players like the coach because he’s down-to-earth and honest with them.
Các cầu thủ thích vị HLV vì ông ấy là người thực tế và trung thực với họ.
5. Recharge your batteries (idiom): nghỉ ngơi một thời gian để nạp lại năng lượng
Example: She took a trip to the South of France to recharge her batteries.
Cô ấy đi du lịch đến miền Nam nước Pháp nghỉ ngơi một thời gian để nạp lại năng lượng.
51. Describe a time when you first talked in a foreign language. You should say:
 Where you were
 Who you were with
 What you talked about
 And explain how you felt about it
(Where you were) Well, I have been learning English for more than 7 years, but the time
when I first applied it to my life is still imprinted on my memory. This happened when I
was chosen to deliver an opening speech as a representative of the delegation from Vietnam
in an exchange programme at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
(Who you were with) I, a representative of the Vietnamese delegation, and Jia Jing, a
representative on the Singapore side, met each other backstage before our opening speech.
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We made some small talk with each other and Jia Jing was very surprised and could not
believe it was the first time I had used English in my real life.
(What you talked about) Our talk mainly revolved around how Jia Jing and I were chosen
to be in this programme as we tried not to cross the line as we had just got to know each
other. Also, because my degree of proficiency in the language was still relatively low, and I
was not accustomed to Jia Jing’s Singaporean accent, the conversation lasted only around 5
minutes.
(And explain how you felt about it) It was such an exciting experience to be honest, albeit
a bit weird. Although our conversation was not that long, we built up a good friendship that
lasts till now. Since that maiden attempt to speak English to a native speaker, I have been
investing a large amount of time into improving it so as to communicate with my
international friends smoothly.
Vocabulary
1. To imprint (v): ghi dấu
That look of grief would be imprinted on her mind forever.
Ánh nhìn giận dữ đó sẽ ghi dấu trong tâm trí cô ta mãi mãi.
2. Delegation (n): đoàn đại biểu
The delegation from Spain has/have arrived for a month.
Đoàn đại biểu từ Tây Ban Nha đã đến ở khoảng 1 tháng.
3. Small talk (n): chuyện xã giao
I don't enjoy parties where I have to make small talk with complete strangers.
Tôi không thích những bữa tiệc mà tôi phải nói chuyện xã giao với những người hoàn toàn
xa lạ.
4. To cross the line (phrase): vượt quá giới hạn
This time, you've really crossed the line.
Lần này thì bạn đã thực sự vượt quá giới hạn rồi.
5. To build up (phrasal verb): xây dựng nên
It took her ten years to build up her publishing business.
Cô ấy phải dành ra 10 năm để xây dựng nên công việc kinh doanh báo chí của mình.
6. Maiden (adj): lần đầu
The first hydrogen-powered airplane will make its maiden flight this year.
Máy bay đầu tiên sử dụng năng lượng hydro sẽ bay chuyến bay đầu tiên trong năm nay.
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7. Attempt (n): sự cố gắng
He made no attempt to be sociable.
Anh ấy không có cố gắng để trở nên hòa đồng hơn.
Part 3
1. At what age should children start learning a foreign language?
I believe children should embark on learning a second language as soon as they reach 6 or 7
years of age. During the first few years of their life, a child is able to learn a foreign language
almost effortlessly and accent free. It won’t overwhelm them, so as a parent it is unnecessary
to be concerned about it.
2. Which skill is more important, speaking or writing?
If a person wants to climb their career ladder, they will have to master both skills to make
their way to the top. From another perspective, if a person just wants to have an acceptable
living standard that can tide them over for a short period of time, speaking is definitely more
important than writing as it is used very frequently in daily life.
3. Does a person still need to learn other languages if he or she is good at English?
In light of globalisation, the more languages people can speak, the more chances they have.
China and the whole Asia are developing at such a fast pace and some Asian countries are
emerging as economic powerhouses such as India, South Korea and Singapore, which has
encouraged many English native speakers to learn Asian languages.
4. Do you think minority languages will disappear?
It is sad to accept the truth that minority languages will disappear and give way to more
popular languages. This works in the same way for Vietnamese people born in other
countries in which Vietnamese is not widely spoken. They tend to speak the first language
of that country and become unable to speak Vietnamese. This is the reason why hundreds of
languages are teetering on the brink of extinction.
Vocabulary
1. To teeter on the verge/brink of sth (phrase): trên bờ vực cái gì đó.
What we are seeing now is a country teetering on the brink of civil war.
Tất cả những gì chúng tôi đang thấy là một quốc gia trên bờ vực nội chiến.
2. Powerhouse (n): cường quốc
Germany is an economic powerhouse.
Đức là một cường quốc kinh tế.
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3. To tide someone over (phrasal verb): cung cấp một lượng (thường là tiền) để sống
tạm
Can you lend me some money to tide me over till next month?
Bạn có thể cho tôi mượn một số tiền để tôi sống tới đầu tháng sau không?
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Chúc các bạn học tốt !

What kind of housing/accommodation do you live in?

Who do you live with?

How long have you lived there?

(If you answer you haven't lived there long)

Do you plan to live there for a long time?

Are the transport facilities to your home very good?

Do you prefer living in a house or a flat?

Please describe the room you live in.

What part of your home do you like the most ?

Moreover, in my own space I can do whatever I want without bothering others.

Ex: The hotel rooms are spacious and comfortable.

Sibling(s) (noun): (anh/ chị em) a brother or sister

Ex: The younger children were badly treated by older siblings.

Ex:Pollution has reached disturbingly high levels in some urban areas.

Ex: The College has an annual reunion for former students.

Irregular (adjective): not happening at the arranged time intervals

Overcrowded (adjective): with too many people or things in it

Privacy (noun): being alone and not disturbed by other people

Ex: I read the letter in the privacy of my own room.

Suit oneself (verb): to do exactly what you like/want

Multi-purpose (adjective): (đa chức năng) having many different uses

Describe your education

What is your area of specialization?

Why did you choose to study that major?

Do you like your major? (Why?/Why not?)

Yes, of course. Studying economics, especially external economics is interesting and

What kind of school did you go to as a child?

What was your favourite subject as a child?

Do you think your country has an effective education system?

(Possibly) Are you looking forward to working?

Analytical (thuộc về phân tích) [adj] using analysis or logical reasoning

Example: Being a dentist isn’t so glamorous, but it pays the bills.

What do you do?

What are your responsibilities?

Is there some other kind of work you would rather do?

Describe the company or organization you work for

Do you enjoy your work?

What do you like about your job?

What do you dislike about your job

(Possibly)Do you miss being a student?

Example: The father-daughter relationship is a recurring theme in her novels.

On the basis of (trên cơ sở) [idiom] base on

Rewarding (bổ ích, đáng làm) [adj] giving pleasure, satisfation

Example: I cherish the memories of the time we spent together.

Have you changed a lot since your childhood?

What do you plan to change next year?

Do you like changes? Why?

1. Knowledgeable (adj) knowing a lot:

3. Liberal-minded (adj) espouring liberal views and policies

What's your favorite color of clothes?

What kind of clothes do you never wear?

What kind of clothes do you usually wear?

Do you wear the same style of clothes on weekdays and weekends?

1. Constitutes (verb) to be or be considered as something:

Do you have a lot of furniture in your home?

Is there anyone who bought furniture for you?

Yes, my parents. You know, I am still a student, so my parents support me a lot in