Unit 3: MUSIC

A. PHONETICS
I. Choose the odd one out, then read the rest of the words aloud.
1. A. moment B. content C. parent D. talent
2. A. latest B. contest C. request D. suggest
3. A. debate B. commemorate C. certificate D. educate
4. A. current B. moment C. talent D. comment
5. A. protest B. arrest C. establish D. nest
II. Read the following sentences aloud, and write the words with the sounds /est/, /ənt/, or /eɪt/ into the
correct line.
1. They will launch the contests, and cooperate with the City’s Cultural House to look for talented artists.
2. The Voice Kids, with the passionate nature of The Voice, offers a lifetime opportunity for talented children
to develop the talent from beginning to end.
3. One of the ways the Eurovision Song Contest is different from others is that all the contestants have the same
chance to show their best talents.
4. Up to 8 participants were allowed on stage in Junior Eurovision Song Contest until 2008, but lately 6 singers
from different nations.
5. Cao Van Lau Awards are given to talented musicians and composers who have got best achievements and
made great contributions to the development of ‘Cai Luong’ and ‘Vong Co’.
/est/: _________________________________________________________________________
/ənt/: ________________________________________________________________________
/eɪt/: _________________________________________________________________________
B. VOCABULARY & GRAMMAR
I. Match a type of Vietnamese traditional music (A-J) with its description (1-10), writing the answer in
each blank.
A. Xoan singing F. Quan Ho singing
B. Hat Then G. Southern Amateur Traditional Music
C. Hat Xam H. Tuong
D. Hat Van (Hat Chau Van) I. Ca Tru
E. Vietnamese Lullaby Songs J. Vi-Giam folk music
1. _________________________________
It is a practice that brings people together and evokes their lifestyle and work on the land and rivers of the
Mekong Delta region. It is often played in special celebrations. It is also played at night by the local people
after a long and tiring day at work. It was recognized as the World Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO
in 2013.
2. _________________________________
It is a traditional folk art which combines trance singing and dancing, a religious form of art used for extolling
the merits of beneficent deities or deified national heroes.
3. _________________________________
It is a very rich and beautiful musical storehouse of our people, which has a very long lasting history. During
all its existence, successive creations have unceasingly changed the type of the folk song. It was recognized
as the World Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2009.
4. _________________________________
 It is a repartee sung while working. It reflects the work, cultural lives and feelings of the residents in the
central coastal provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh. It was recognized as the World Intangible Cultural Heritage
by UNESCO in 2014.
5. _________________________________
It is religious epics of long poems, performed by the Highland Tay and Nung minority groups. Those songs
tell the story of the path to paradise to ask the Jade Emperor to settle troubles for the head of household.
6. _________________________________
It is also called Hat Boi in the South, It is a kind of drama of the national theater. It came into being over five
hundred years ago, reflecting the rich and special culture of Vietnam.
7. _________________________________
It was also called “Hat A Dao” or “Hat Noi” (literally songs of the women singers). Originally, attractive
young singers entertained men in a relaxed environment, sometimes serving drinks and snacks. Men might
have visited a “Hat A Dao” inn with friends to celebrate a successful business deal or the birth of a son. It was
recognized as the World Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2009.
8. _________________________________
It is a folk cultural product of Phu Tho Province. People sing it in communal houses of the villages in spring.
UNESCO recognized it as the World Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2012.
9. _________________________________
A sort of folk music is often heard in Vietnam, especially in the countryside. They are used not only to lull
small children to go to sleep but also to express human feelings such as homesickness, wife missing her
husband, etc.
10. _________________________________
It is the song of the blind artists, and it has existed since the Tran Dynasty in the 13th century.
II. Match a type of music with its definition, writing the answer in each blank. There are two groups: I-10 corresponding
to A-J, and 11-20 corresponding to K-T.
A. blues F. hard rock
B. classical music G. heavy metal
C. country music H. hip hop
D. disco I. jazz
E. folk music J. pop music
1. _________________________________
a type of popular music based on the traditional music of the southern US, usually containing singing, guitars,
and violins
2. _________________________________
traditional music from a particular country, region, or community, especially music developed by people who
were not professional musicians
3. _________________________________
a type of loud rock music that developed in the 1970s, played on drums and electric guitars
4. _________________________________
a type of music, usually played on electronic instruments, that is popular with many people because it consists
of short songs with a strong beat and simple tunes that are easy to remember
5. _________________________________
music written according to standard European forms or structures by people such as Mozart and Beethoven
6. _________________________________
It is the second type born from African traditional music. It is believed to have started after the Civil War,
when the black people were free to travel and seek employment.
7. _________________________________
 a type of music that developed among African-American musicians using rap and samples (= short pieces of
recorded music or sound) that are repeated and combined with musical instruments
8. _________________________________
a type of slow and sad music that developed from the songs of black slaves in the southern US
9. _________________________________
a type of music with a strong beat that is easy to dance to, popular especially in the 1970s
10. _________________________________
a type of rock music that is loud and has a strong beat
K. raga P. rock ‘n! roll
L. rap Q. soul music
M. reggae R. swing
N. R&B (Rhythm and Blues) S. techno
O. rock music T. world music
11. _________________________________
a type of popular music that African American musicians developed from blues and jazz
12. _________________________________
a type of music that was popular in the 1950s and combined simple blues structures played on guitars with
strong regular beats
13. _________________________________
popular music which has been influenced by the music of traditional cultures
14. _________________________________
a type of African-American music that developed in the 1960s, combining R&B with pop, rock ’n’ roll, and
gospel styles. It usually has a strong beat and places emphasis on singing
15. _________________________________
a way of talking using rhythm and rhyme, usually over a strong musical beat
16. _________________________________
a type of music that is a mixture of early rock ’n’ roll and traditional country music
17. _________________________________
a type of popular music that developed in the 1980s from reggae and uses a singing style similar to rap
18. _________________________________
a type of dance music that developed in the 1980s, consisting of hard repeated beats, heavy drum sounds, and
funk influences
19. _________________________________
a type of music that developed in Jamaica in the 1960s with songs about social and political subjects and
heavy bass sounds
20. _________________________________
a type of jazz dance music that was popular in the 1930s and 1940s, played by large groups of musicians and
combining simple tunes with more complicated improvisation

III. Choose the correct words to complete the text.

James Blunt biography
James Blunt was in the army for four and a half years before he left and (1. signed/ made)
a music contract. He plays the guitar and the piano, he also (2. writes/ makes) a lot of his
own lyrics and music. He (3. sent/ released) his first album Back to Bedlam in 2005. It has been
sold more than three million copies. His single You're Beautiful (4. went/ made) to the top of
the charts and stayed there for six weeks. He also became the first UK artist since Elton John to reach number 1
in the US. He (5. won/ had) two awards at the 2006 Brit Awards for ‘Best British Male’.

IV. Complete the text with the appropriate words from the box.

sweet modest emotional good professional

talented confident high passionate successful

As a child My Tam was (1) about singing and left her hometown, Da Nang, for Ho Chi Minh
City to learn vocal music at Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory in 1997. People realized that she was a(n) (2)
singer when she got the bronze medal at the “Asian Music Festival”
held in Shanghai at the end of 2000. She started her (3)
singing career in 2001 when she was 20 years old and has since won millions of
hearts with her (4) and distinctive voice. She is not only a (5)
singer, but also a musician who has composed her own hits such as
Toc Nau Moi Tram (Brown Hair and Purple Lips), Hoa Mi Toc Nau (Brown-haired
Nightingale), Uoc Gi (Wish), Hat Voi Dong Song (Sing with the River), etc.
Later in 2004, My Tam was the only Vietnamese singer to participate in the “Asia Song Festival” in Seoul,
Korea, and she was very (6) in herself to perform in front of the Korean crowds.
Considered as “V-Pop Queen”, My Tam has won three Viet Nam’s Devotion Awards, 11 titles “Most
Favourite Singer”, and three titles “The Face of the Year” of the Blue Way Music Awards.
Her fans think that My Tam is a great singer with a (7) voice and (8)
personality, but she is very (9) in her daily life. She works seriously to give (10)
quality music product. She is beloved for doing a lot of charity activities.

V. Complete the passage with the correct forms of the words in brackets.
Shakira - A Star In Two Worlds
Shakira, who was born in Columbia, is one of the best pop stars to come from Latin America. She had an (1.
interest) childhood. Her mother was Colombian and her father was Lebanese, so she
listened to a lot of different styles of music. As a result, her own music is very (2. origin)
. Shakira is also (3. usual) because she records songs both in Spanish
and English. Her first album Magia was released in 1991. It wasn’t as (4. success)
as she hoped, so she changed careers for a while and took a part in Colombia’s biggest TV
soap opera. This made her (5. fame) and sales of her second album were
much better. The album sold millions of copies in Latin America, Spain, and the USA. Since
then, Shakira has become an international star.

VI. Use to-infinitives or bare infinitives to complete the following sentences.

1. The Vietnamese authorities decided files on “Don ca tai tu Nam bo” to UNESCO.
(submit)
2. In “Hat Gheo”, the boy and girl look at each other because they would like their feelings during
the performance. (express)
3. With an oar, the actor of “Tuong” try the viewers the boat fast sailing, wavering due to
waves, making the viewers feel as though they were on the boat. (show)
4. This type of acting in Tuong makes the actors their individuality and transform themselves
into the characters of the play. (give up)
5. 21st Century Fox decided “American Idol” after the last season of 2016. (cancel)
6. Aguilera’s hit single “Genie in a Bottle” made her a Grammy Award for Best New Artist. (get)
7. Aguilera continued , and in 1990, she earned the second place in the TV programme “Star
Search”. (perform)
8. Adele has planned her new album after the success of “Hello” and “25”. (release)
9. Vietnamese viewers expect foreign-origin reality shows a “breath of fresh air” to TV
channels. (bring)
10. TV viewers could see the contestants of the Vietnam’s Next Top Model confidently on the
catwalk. (perform)

VII. Fill in each blank with ONE suitable word.

Dan Bau - the monochord of Viet Nam
It is said by many that the first Dan Bau was made in 1770, (1) many scholars have thought it
th
originated in the 8 century. A popular legend of its beginning tells that a blind woman played it in the market to
earn a (2) for her family while her husband was at war. Whether this tale is based on facts or
not, it is true that the Dan Bau has historically been played by blind (3) .
The word “monochord” means “one string”. In the monochord, a (4)
string is stretched over a sound box. The string is fixed at both ends while a
movable bridge alters pitches. Originally, the Dan Bau was made of four parts: a
bamboo tube, a wooden rod, a coconut shell half, and a silk string. The (5)
was tied on one end to the rod, which is perpendicularly attached to the bamboo.
The coconut shell was attached to the rod, serving as a resonator.
The Dan Bau is a musical (6) that touches our (7) . Its music has the power and charm
from the emotion attraction of love songs (8) on this instrument.

VIII. Complete the sentences, using the coordinating conjunctions from the box.
and or but so
1. Traditional musical forms are often performed on contemporary stages, “Don ca tai tu Nam
bo” is presented at homes of the local people.
2. Professor Nguyen Vinh Bao, a master of “Don ca tai tu Nam bo”, had great emotions wish
to share them with the public.
3. Both the father and grandfather of Beethoven were professional singers, musicianship was in
the family.
4. Later on, Beethoven became an assistant organist, also played viola for a famous orchestra.
5. My mum and dad hate my long, dyed hair strange clothes I’m in a band
I need to look cool!

IX. Combine each pair of sentences, using the correct coordinating conjunctions.
1. Cheo tells tales of chiefs, heroes and lovely maidens. It offers a mix of romance, tragedy and comedy.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
2. A Cheo play could be put on stage in a large theater. It could also be performed successfully on one or two
bed mats spread in the middle of a communal house.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. The props of a Cheo play are simple. There is a close interchange between the performers and the spectators.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
4. On the stage of Tuong, the scene may be the officials at the royal court. The scene may be two generals with
some soldiers fighting in battle.
 __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Trong Hieu, the champion of Vietnam Idol 2015, tried his luck at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest. He didn’t
succeed.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

C. READING
I. Read the passage about telephone songs and the artists, and then answer the questions.
Telephone Songs
The first telephone song appeared in 1899 and was called Hello My Baby. In the song, a man phones his
girlfriend every morning to talk to her. But first he has to speak to the operator and he has to talk very loudly
because the line is so bad. Phone calls appeared in a lot of pop songs in the 20th century, like Stevie Wonder’s I
Just Called to Say I Love You in 1984. The famous American soul singer’s song was number one in several
countries, like the USA, Britain, Germany and Italy and won an Oscar for Best Original Song in 1985.
In the last few years, phone songs have been about mobile phone calls. The
most famous is Lady Gaga’s Telephone. A woman is dancing at a club when her
boyfriend calls. ‘I can’t hear you and I’m busy,’ she says. The boyfriend rings again
and again but the woman doesn’t answer because she is dancing and having fun.
What will pop songs be about in the future? There will probably be more songs
about social networking, like New Friend Request by Gym Class Heroes. But they will still be about love!
1. What problems does the man in the first song have?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Who does he talk to first?
__________________________________________________________________________
3. Where did Stevie Wonder’s song do well?
__________________________________________________________________________
4. What type of music is it?
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Why does the woman in Lady Gaga’s song not answer the phone?
__________________________________________________________________________
II. Read the passage carefully, and do the tasks that follow.
The Voice
“The Voice” is a two-time Emmy Award winning, the number one series on NBC, featuring the country’s
best unknown artists and four of the biggest names in music as coaches.
The show’s innovative format features five stages of competition: the first begins with the blind auditions,
followed by the battle rounds, the knockouts, the live playoffs and finally, the live performance shows.
During the blind auditions, the decisions from the musician coaches are
based solely on voice and not on looks. The coaches hear the artists
perform, but they don’t get to see them - thanks to rotating chairs. If more than
one coach pushes his/her button, the power then shifts to the artists to
choose which coach they want to work with. If no coach pushes his/her
button, the artist is eliminated from the competition.
Once the teams are set, the battle is on. Coaches dedicate themselves to developing their teams of artists,
giving them advice and sharing the secrets of their success, along with help from their celebrity advisers. During
the battle rounds, the coaches pit two of their own team members against each other to sing the same song together
in front of a studio audience. After the vocal battle, the coach must choose which of his/her singers will advance
to the next round of competition, while the losing artist is available to be stolen by another coach. Each coach has
two steals available during the battle rounds.
At the end of the battles, only the strongest members of each coach’s roster remain and proceed to the
knockout rounds. Here, the artists are paired against a teammate once more, but this time, they select their own
songs to perform individually, while their direct competitor watches and waits. They are competing for their
coach's confidence and decision to take them to the live shows.
In the live playoff rounds, the Top 20 artists compete to secure a spot in the live shows. Artists perform live,
and Americans vote to save their two favorite artists from each team. The coaches then save one remaining artist
to complete their roster. The remaining contestants move on to the final phase of the competition, the live shows.
In the final live-performance phase of the competition, the Top 12 artists compete each week against each
other during a live broadcast. The television audience votes to save their favorite artists. In the end, one is named
“The Voice” and receives the grand prize of a recording contract.
Task 1: Find the words or expressions in the text which have the following meanings.
1. short performances by a singer to find out he/she is good enough __________________
to be in a show
2. acts of taking a member from another group to ours __________________
3. a competition in which the winner of each game goes on to the __________________
next part but the loser plays no more games
4. a game between two teams or contestants who have equal scores __________________
to decide the winner
5. a list of people’s names, often with the jobs they have been given __________________
to do
Task 2: Read the passage again, and answer the questions below.
6. What is the format of The Voice?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
7. When is the artist able to choose the coach during the blind auditions?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
8. What do the coaches do to prepare for the battle rounds?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
9. What should the contestants do to succeed in the battle rounds?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
10. What is the role of the audiences in the playoff rounds and the final live-performance phase of the
competition?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

D. SPEAKING
I. Complete the conversation, using the sentences (A-F) given. There is an extra one.
A. And I’ve got a good singing voice, too.
B. What do you want to play?
C. You have to practise and rehearse all the time.
D. I like lots of different kinds of music.
 E. I have been listening to pop music for years.
F. But you have to be talented to be in a band.
Tim: I think it’s really cool to be in a band.
Becky: I don’t. I think it’s really hard work. (1) ____________________________________
I don’t think you have time for going out.
Tim: I disagree with that. When you’re in a band, you go out all the time. I want to start a band.
Becky: (2) _________________________________________________________________
In my opinion, you’re not a talented musician.
Tim: You’re right, but I can learn.
Becky: (3) _________________________________________________________________
Tim: I really like the guitar but I don’t know how to play it.
Becky: I do.(4)______________________________________________________________
Tim: Really? Great - you can be in my band. What sort of music do you like?
Becky: (5) _________________________________________________________________
Tim: Me too.
Becky: But I’m not really into hip hop or rap.
II. Complete the interview between Thu Huong, the reporter, and Sharon Pereira - Vietnam Idol’s
executive producer about the second season, using the responses (A-E) given. There is one extra.
A. I was very touched by some of the difficult life experiences the top 10 have gone through.
B. I believe Vietnam Idol has a faithful audience who are keen to follow the journey of an ordinary person
who becomes a star.
C. In the near future, I will be the managing director of a game show with a new format.
D. We had more than 15,000 people attend the auditions which is three times more than last year.
E. I enjoy working with young people. They are full of enthusiasm and promise.
F. I’ve been in Viet Nam since July 2008 and I’m impressed by the people and the unique culture of Viet
Nam.

Thu Huong: How long have you been in Viet Nam? What made you come and work here?
Sharon: (1) ______________________________________________________________
Thu Huong: You’re known as a very experienced media practitioner, with 15 years working in the industry.
Why did you choose youth to be your target audience? And why Vietnam Idol?
Sharon: (2) ______________________________________________________________ .
Vietnam Idol is a good opportunity to discover new talent and find an inspiring person for the
youth of Viet Nam.
Thu Huong: A reality show is still a new concept for a majority of Vietnamese, so there isn’t much interaction
between the audience and the show. But after spending over six months on Vietnam Idol, a show
which has managed to gain public attention, what do you think of the status now of such shows?
Sharon: Reality shows have managed to capture the imagination of the Vietnamese audience. (3) .
As reality shows become more popular, I believe this audience will increase.
Thu Huong: Could you share the most memorable and the most difficult experiences related to your work on
the programme?
Sharon: (4) ______________________________________________________________ .
They spoke of their families, hopes and dreams. It was difficult to say goodbye to someone every
Friday.
Thu Huong: Do you think the second season of Vietnam Idol has been a success? What makes the programme
unique from other countries’ versions?
Sharon: I think this season of Vietnam Idol has been successful in several ways. (5) ____
_________________________________________________________________ .
The defining factor of Vietnam Idol, other than the music, are the people in the show. They bring
the unique blend of Vietnamese culture to life.
Thu Huong: Thank you very much for the interview, Sharon.
Sharon: You’re welcome.
III. Rearrange the sentences in order to make a meaningful conversation about “The X Factor”, writing
the answers (A-J) in each blank.
1. ____ A. Scott: It started in 2004 by the record company executive, Simon Cowell.
2. ____ B. Scott: That’s right, Nam. The mentors play an important role. Each week, live on a Saturday
night, all contestants perform one or two songs based on a weekly theme. By the final, the
judges no longer decide who must go home and the results are entirely determined by the
public vote.
3. ____ C. Nam: I have just watched a TV show of “The X Factor”, but I only get a little bit information
about it. It’s very awesome, Scott?
4. ____ D. Scott: In that case, the head judge - Cowell or later Gary Barlow - has the deciding vote.
5. ____ E. Scott: There are several rounds of judging before the final stage and the final decision is left to a
public vote. The four judges sit behind a desk equipped with large red buzzers. If the judges
do not like the act, they press their buzzer and an ‘X’ is displayed above their name. If an
act gets a full-house of Xs, they must stop performing and take some heavy criticism from
the panel.
6. ____ F. Nam: It’s really a very popular reality music competition. When did it start, Scott?
7. ____ G. Nam: And the next round of judging is called “bootcamp” in four categories - “Boys”, “Girls”,
“Groups” and “Over 25s”. Each category is then assigned to a judge, who takes contestants
to the last stage before the live final with the help of their potential mentor and a celebrity
guest.
8. ____ H. Nam: I like him a lot. He has worked with a panel of 3 or 4 judges that decide who will reach the
live final stage.
9. ____ I. Scott: Certainly, Nam. The X Factor competitions take place in over 40 countries, including the
UK, the USA, Australia, Italy, Russia, and so on.
10. ____ J. Nam: What will happen if there is a tied vote? It didn’t happen in the show I watched.

E. WRITING
Write complete sentences of the biography of Luu Huu Phuoc, using the words/ phrases given in their
correct forms. You can add some more necessary words, but you have to use all the words given.
1. Luu Huu Phuoc (1921 - 1989)/ born/ Can Tho/ the Mekong Delta.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
2. He/ study/ Ha Noi/ and/ serve/ the army/ the anti-French and American resistance
wars.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
3. The musician/ leader/ youth’s movement/ and/ always have/ a tendency/ associate/ his music/ his political
tasks.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
4. He/ hold/ important positions/ including/ Head of the Music and Dance Department at the Ministry of
Information and Culture/ Deputy Secretary-General of the Association of Vietnamese Musicians/ Director of
the Music Research Institute.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Friends/ remember/ him/ a simple, friendly and kind-hearted musician/ leader.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
6. He/ write and compose/ many famous songs/ such as: Bach Dang Giang (Bach Dang River), Tieng goi thanh
nien (The call for the youth), Giai phong mien Nam (Liberating the South). Hon tu si (Martyr’s soul), Hoi
nghi Dien Hong (Dien Hong Congress), Thanh nien hanh khuc (March of the Youths), Len dang (Let’s go),
Bai ca giai phong quan (Song of Liberation Army), Thanh nien san sang (Youth to be ready), Tien ve Sai
Gon (Heading for Sai Gon) etc.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
7. He/ also write/ children songs/ the occasional opera.
__________________________________________________________________________
8. Luu Huu Phuoc/ considered/ musician/ most popular Vietnamese Revolutionary songs.
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