UNIT 1- LIFE STORIES

A. VOCABULARY
1. talented /'tælənɪd/ (adj.): có tài năng, có khiếu.
Ex: The kids at this school are all exceptionally talented in some way.
2. accomplished /ə'kɒmplɪʃt/ (adj.) (+ at/in): có đầy đủ tài năng, hoàn hảo, được giáo dục.
Ex: He came to New York in 1976, already accomplished in English.
3. pioneer /ˌpaɪə'nɪə(r)/ (n.): người tiên phong, người đi đầu
4. be widely/ internationally recognized: được công nhận rộng rãi, được thế giới công nhận.
5. dedication /ˌdɛdɪ'keɪʃən/ (n.) (+ to): sự cống hiến
Ex: There was no doubting Luke's dedication to the campaign.
6. be dedicated to V-ing/ noun phrase: tận tụy, tận tâm
7. respectable /rɪs'pɛktəbl/ (adj.): đáng kính trọng, đúng đắn
8. respectful /ris'pektful/ (adj): lễ phép, bày tỏ sự kính trọng, tôn kính (mô tả hành động, sự việc)
9. distinguished /dɪs'tɪŋgwɪʃt/ (adj.): ưu tú, xuất sắc, lỗi lạc
10. generosity /ˌdʒɛnə'rɒsɪti/ (n.): sự hào phóng
11. inspiration /ˌɪnspə'reɪʃən/ (n.): sự truyền cảm hứng, cảm hứng
12. strategist /'strætɪdʒɪst/ (n): nhà chiến lược
13. popularity /ˌpɒpjʊ'lærɪti/ (n.): sự nổi tiếng, tính phổ biến
14. influential /ˌɪnflʊ'ɛnʃəl/ (adj.): có ảnh hưởng, có thế lực
15. recognition /ˌrɛkəg'nɪʃən/ (n.): sự công nhận, sự được công nhận, thừa nhận
16. to win/ receive/ meet with recognition from the public: được mọi người thừa nhận
17. achieve /ə'tʃi:v/ (v) : giành được, đạt được
=> achievement /ə'tʃi:vmənt/ (n.): thành tựu, sự giành được, sự hoàn thành
18. controversial /ˌkɒntrə'vɜ:ʃəl/ (adj.): gây tranh cãi
19. racial segregation /'reɪʃəl ˌsɛgrɪ' geɪʃən/: sự phân biệt chủng tộc
20. reach one's full potential: đạt được tiềm năng tối đa
21. a stroke of luck: một dịp may bất ngờ
22. reputation /ˌrɛpju(:)'teɪʃən/ (n.): danh tiếng, tiếng tăm
23. figure /'fɪgə/ (n.): nhân vật, biểu tượng
24. resort to (v.): dùng đến
25. take something/ somebody for granted: coi ai/ cái gì là hiển nhiên, sẵn có
26. at the expense of: phải trả giá bằng
27. be committed to: tận tụy, bị giam giữ
28. be devoted to: tận tâm, cống hiến cho
29. distinctive /dɪs'tɪŋktɪv/ (adj.): đặc biệt, xuất sắc
30. epitome /ɪ'pɪtəmi/ (n.): tấm gương hoàn hảo, hình mẫu hoàn hảo
31. representative /ˌrɛprɪ'zɛntətɪv/ (n.): đại diện, hình mẫu
32. celebrated /'sɛlɪbreɪtɪd/ (adj.): nổi tiếng, trứ danh, lừng danh
33. exceptional /ɪk'sɛpʃənl/ (adj): khác thường, đặc biệt, ngoại lệ, hiếm có
34. extraordinary /ɪks'trɔ:dnri/ (adj): lạ thường, đặc biệt
35. remarkable /rɪ'mɑ:kəbl/ (adj.): xuất sắc, đặc biệt, đáng chú ý
36. spectacular /spɛk'tækjʊlə/ (adj.): đẹp mắt, ngoạn mục, thu hút sự chú ý
37. profound /prə'faʊnd/ (adj.): phức tạp, sâu sắc
B. GRAMMAR
I. Mạo từ: A/AN/THE
Có 2 loại mạo từ: mạo từ không xác định (Indefinite article: a, an) và mạo từ xác định (Denfinite article: the).
1. Cách dùng mạo từ không xác định (Indefinite article): “a” và “an”.
• Dùng “a” hoặc “an” trước một danh từ số ít đếm được. Chúng có nghĩa là một. Chúng được dùng trong
câu có tính khái quát hoặc đề cập đến một chủ thể chưa được đề cập từ trước.
Ex: - A ball is round (nghĩa chung, khái quát, chỉ tất cả các quả bóng): Quả bóng hình tròn.
- He has seen a girl (chúng ta không biết cô gái nào, chưa được đề cập trước đó): Anh ấy vừa mới gặp
một cô gái.
a. Dùng "an” trước:
- Mạo từ "an" được dùng trước các từ bắt đầu bằng nguyên âm (trong cách phát âm, chứ không phải
trong cách viết). Bao gồm:
- Các từ bắt đầu bằng các nguyên âm “a, e, i, o”. Ví dụ: an apple (một quả táo), an orange (một quả cam).
- Một số từ bắt đầu bằng “u”: Ví dụ: an umbrella (một cái ô)
- Một số từ bắt đầu bằng “h” câm: Ví dụ: an hour (một tiếng)
- Các từ mở đầu bằng một chữ viết tắt: an S.O.S/ an M.P
b. Dùng "a" trước:
- Dùng “a” trước các từ bắt đầu bằng một phụ âm. Chúng bao gồm các chữ cái còn lại và một số trường
hợp bắt đầu bằng "u, y, h".
Ex: A house (một ngôi nhà), a year (một năm), a uniform (một bộ đồng phục)...
- Đứng trước một danh từ mở đầu bằng "uni..." và "eu" phải dùng "a": Ví dụ: a university (trường đại
học), a union (tổ chức), a culogy (lời ca ngợi).
- Dùng trong các thành ngữ chỉ số lượng nhất định như: a lot of/ a great deal of/ a couple/ a dozen.
Ex: I want to buy a dozen eggs. (Tôi muốn mua 1 tả trứng.)
- Dùng trước những số đếm nhất định thường là hàng ngàn, hàng trăm như: a/ one hundred - a/ one
thousand.
Ex: My school has a thousand students. (Trường của tôi có một nghìn học sinh.)
- Dùng trước “half” (một nửa) khi nó theo sau một đơn vị nguyên vẹn: a kilo hay a half, hay khi nó đi
ghép với một danh từ khác để chỉ nửa phần (khi viết có dấu gạch nối): a half - share, a half - holiday
(ngày lễ chỉ nghỉ nửa ngày).
Ex: My mother bought a half kilo of apples. (Mẹ tôi mua nửa cân táo.)
- Dùng với các đơn vị phân số như : 1/3 ( a/ one third), 1/5 (a/ one fifth), 1/4 (a quarter)
Ex: I get up at a quarter past six. (Tôi thức dậy lúc 6 giờ 15 phút.)
- Dùng trong các thành ngữ chỉ giá cả, tốc độ, tỉ lệ: a dollar, a kilometer, an hour, 4 times a day...
Ex: John goes to work four times a week. (John đi làm 4 lần 1 tuần.)
2. Cách dùng mạo từ xác định (Denfinite article) “the”
• Dùng “the” trước một danh từ đã được xác định cụ thể về mặt tính chất, đặc điểm, vị trí hoặc đã được
đề cập đến trước đó, hoặc những khái niệm phổ thông, ai cũng biết.
Ex: - The man next to Lin is my friend. (Trong câu này cả người nói và người nghe đều biết đó là
người đàn ông nào). Người đàn ông bên cạnh Lin là bạn của tôi.
- The sun is big. (Mặt trời chỉ có một). Mặt trời rất lớn.
• Với danh từ không đếm được, dùng “the” nếu nói đến một vật cụ thể, không dùng “the” nếu nói chung.
Ex: - Chili is very hot. (Chỉ các loại ớt nói chung). Ớt rất cay.
- The chili on the table has been bought. (Cụ thể là ớt ở trên bàn) Ớt ở trên bàn vừa mới được
mua.
• Với danh từ đếm được số nhiều, khi chúng có nghĩa đại diện chung cho một lớp các vật cùng loại thì
cũng không dùng "the".
Ex: Students should do homework before going to school. (Học sinh nói chung)
Học sinh nên làm bài tập về nhà trước khi đến trường.
3. Những trường hợp không dùng mạo từ
Trước tên quốc gia, châu lục, tên núi, hồ, đường phố Europe;vi:Châu Âu, France, Wall Street,
(Ngoại trừ những nước theo chế độ Liên bang – gồm Sword Lake
nhiều bang (state)

Khi danh từ không đếm được hoặc danh từ số nhiều I like dogs.
dùng theo nghĩa chung chung, không chỉ riêng trường Oranges are good for health.
hợp nào

Trước danh từ trừu tượng, trừ khi danh từ đó chỉ một Men fear death.
trường hợp cá biệt The death of his father made him completely
hopeless.

Ta không dùng “the” sau tính từ sở hữu hoặc sau My friend, không phải “my the friend”
danh từ ở dạng sở hữu cách The man’s wife không phải “the wife of the
man”

Không dùng “the” trước tên gọi các bữa ăn hay tước They invited some close friends to
hiệu dinner. (Họ đã mời vài người bạn thân đến
ăn tối.)
Nhưng: The wedding dinner was amazing
(Bữa tiệc cưới thật tuyệt vời.)
 Ta nói: President Obama (Tổng thống
Obama, Chancellor Angela Merkel (Thủ
tướng Angela Merkel..)

Không dùng “the” trong các trường hợp nhắc đến Come by car/ by bus (Đến bằng xe ô tô,
danh từ với nghĩa chung chung khác như chơi thể bằng xe buýt)
thao, các mùa trong năm hay phương tiện đi lại In spring/ in Autumn (trong mùa xuân,mùa
thu), from beginning to end (từ đầu tới cuối),
from left to right (từ trái qua phải)
To play golf/chess/cards (chơi golf, đánh cờ,
đánh bài)
Go to bed/hospital/church/work/prison/
school (đi ngủ/ đi nằm viện/ đi nhà thờ/ đi
làm/ học/ đi tù)
II. Review THE SIMPLE PAST & PAST CONTINUOUS.
1. Simple past (Quá khứ đơn)
a. Với động từ "to be":
(+) S + was/ were + O
(-) S + wasn't/ weren't + O
(?) Was/ were (not) + S + O?
b. Với động từ “to do”:
(+) S + Ved + O
(-) S + didn't + V + O
(?) Did (not) + S + V + O?
Uses (Cách sử dụng)
• Diễn tả hành động đã xảy ra và chấm dứt hoàn toàn trong quá khứ.
Ex: - I saw a movie yesterday.
- Last year, I traveled to Japan.
• Diễn tà một chuỗi các hành động liên tiếp xảy ra trong quá khứ.
Ex: - I finished work, walked to the beach and found a nice place to swim.
- Did you add flour, pour the milk and then add the eggs?
c. Adverds (Trạng ngữ nhận biết)
• Yesterday, ago, upon a time, in 1945 (in a specific year in the past....), last...
d. Một số lưu ý đối với thi quá khứ đơn:
• Quy tắc thêm “ed” với động từ thường: Hầu hết động từ được thêm "ed" để biến thành động từ dạng
quá khứ.
Ex: work - worked, visit - visited
• Một vài động từ kết thúc bằng phụ âm "y" thì biến "y" thành "i" rồi thêm "ed" để biến thành dạng
động từ quá khứ.
Ex: study - studied, carry - carried
• Một vài động từ có dạng 1:1:1 (1 phụ âm + 1 nguyên âm + 1 phụ âm) thì ta gấp đôi phụ âm cuối rồi
thêm "ed".
Ex: plan - planned, fit - fitted
* Cách phát âm đối với động từ có đuôi “ed”:
Đúng nhất: Theo phiên âm quốc tế, khi -ED đứng sau các âm sau sẽ được phát âm như sau:
Phát âm của -ED Các âm trước -ED
/ɪd/ /t/ /d/
/t/ /k/ /f/ /p/ /ʃ/ /tʃ/ /s/ /t/ /θ/
/d/ Các nguyên âm và phụ âm còn lại
Mẹo vặt: (Không đúng 100%): Theo hình vị tự:
Phát âm của -ED Các âm trước -ED
/ɪd/ t d
/t/ P x ce f ch sh *gh s *th ph k
/d/ Các nguyên âm và phụ âm còn lại
Ex:
/ɪd/ wanted, needed, demanded, suggested, mended, hated, visited, …
/t/ walked, liked, stopped, raped, washed, watched, laughed, sentenced, rated, breathed, stated,
looked, cooked, sniffed, missed, mixed....
/d/ played, studied, changed, matched, decreed, ....
Note:
• Khi *th phát âm là /θ/ thì -ed mới phát âm là /t/ như breathed, ...
• Khi *th phát âm là /ð/ thì -ed có phát âm là /d/ như bathed, ...
• Khi *gh phát âm là /f/ thi -ed phát âm là /t/ như laughed, coughed, ....
• Khi *gh là âm câm thi -ed phát âm là /d/ như ploughed, ...
• Nguyên âm + s + ED thì -ed thường được phát âm là /d/ như praised, chased, raised....
Ngoại lệ:
- Một số tỉnh từ sau có cách phát âm của -ed là /ɪd/: naked /'neɪkɪd/, learned /'lə:nɪd/, aged /eɪdʒɪd/, beloved
/bɪ'lʌvɪd/, blessed /'blesɪd/, crooked /'krʊkɪd/, ragged /'ræɡɪd/, sacred /'seɪkrɪd/, wretched /'retʃɪd/,...
- Phần ngoại lệ: Có một chữ có -ed tận cùng được phát âm là /əd/. Chữ đó là hundred /'hʌndrəd/
2. Past continuous (Quá khứ tiếp diễn)
a. Form (+) S + was/ were + V-ing +O
(-) S + wasn't/ weren't + V-ing + O
(?) Was/ were (not) + S + V-ing + O?
b. Uses (Cách sử dụng)
• Diễn tả hành động đang xảy ra tại 1 thời điểm xác định trong quá khứ.
Ex: I was sleeping at 12 o'clock last night.
• Diễn tả một hành động đang xảy ra thì một hành động khác xen vào hành động đang xảy ra dùng
QKTD; hành động xen vào dùng QKĐ. Ex: I was studying when he came in.
• Diễn tả nhiều hành động xảy ra đồng thời trong quá khứ (đi với while).
Ex: Yesterday evening, my mother was cooking while my father was reading books.
c. Advs (Trạng ngữ nhận biết)
At .... (specific time)
From ... to... last night yesterday, one year ago ...
At this/ that time / At ….. moment
Past simple While/ When Past continuous
Past continuous
d. Những động từ không chia ở các thì tiếp diễn:
Một số động từ chỉ cảm xúc (like, love...) hay (know, believe, want) không được chia các thì tiếp diễn (kể
cả hiện tại tiếp diễn hay quá khứ tiếp diễn).
Verbs of thinking believe, doubt, guess, imagine, know, realize, suppose, understand.
Verbs of the senses hear, smell, sound, taste.
Verbs of possession belong to have (meaning possess), own, possess.
Verbs of emotion dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, regret, want, wish.
Verbs of appearance appear, seem.
Others contain, depend on, include, involve, mean, measure, weigh, require.
Ex: Jane was being at my house when you arrived.
Jane was at my house when you arrived.
PRACTICE EXERCISES
1. Write the words in the correct order.
1. I/ the bus/ caught/ yesterday/ to work/.
 ______________________________
2. it was raining/because/ didn't/ she/ for a walk/ go/.
 ______________________________
3. I got/TV/ when/ watching/ my/ brother/ was/ home/.
 ______________________________
4. break/your arm/you/how/did/?
 ______________________________
5. last summer/ in a beautiful village/ spent/ we/.
 ______________________________
6. last night/ Sally/ what/ was/ wearing/ at the party/?
 ______________________________
7. a loud party/ while/ my neighbors/I/ were having/ to study,/ was trying/.
 ______________________________
8. you/ to the cinema/ last night/ did/ go/?
 ______________________________
2. Put the verbs in the brackets in the correct tense, past simple or past continuous. Use the passive
form if necessary.
1. I used my time well while I (wait) _______ for the train - I wrote some emails.
2. I (not/work) _______ when my boss walked in my office. I was on Facebook.
3. I saw a car crash when I (wait) _______ for the taxi.
4. Tom (have) _______ long hair and a beard when he was at university.
5. It started raining while I (drive) _______ to work. 6. What (you/do) _______ this time last year?
7. I (not/call) _______ you at 10 o'clock as arranged because I was having a meeting.
8. I (stiIl/sleep) _______ when my husband left for work this morning.
9. When she heard the phone ring, she _______ (stop) reading to answer it.
10. My mother _______ (read), so she didn't see me walking past.
11. When the accident happened, thousands of people _______ (pass) through the airport.
12. I _______ (have) English lessons every week from the age of four onwards.
13. They decided to leave the beach because it _______ (get) dark and they wanted to get home while
there was still some light.
14. Kate already _______ (think) of leaving university before she failed her first year exams?
15. Since your house had a pool, you _______ (swim) every day?
16. The disaster _______ (attract) hundreds of people from the country to the city.
17. Sorry I couldn't come on Monday, I _______ (work) on my project.
18. The national park _______ (create) to protect wildlife.
19. When I (arrive) _________________ at this house, he still (sleep) ____________________.
20. The light (go) __________________ out while we (have) ____________ dinner.
21. Bill (have) _______________ breakfast when I (stop) ________________ at this house this morning.
22. She (wash) _____________ up when Tam (arrive) ___________ at this house.
23. As we (cross) ______________ the Street, we (see) _______________ an accident.
24. Tom (see) ______________ a serious accident while he (stand) ___________ at the bus stop.
25. The children (play) _____________ football when their mother (come) ___________back home.
26. The bell (ring) ___________________ while Tom (take) ____________________ a bath.
27. He (sit) _____________________ in a car when I (see) ____________________ him.
28. We (clean) ________________ the house when she (come) _________________ yesterday.
29. Last night, while I was doing my homework, Hoa (1. call) _______. She said she (2. call) _______ me
on her cell phone from her biology classroom. I asked her if she (3. wait) _______ for class, but she said
that the professor was at the front of the hall lecturing while she (4. talk) _______ to me. I couldn't
believe she (5. make) _______ a phone call during the lecture. I asked what was going on.
She said her biology professor was so boring that several of the students (6. sleep, actually) _______ in
class. Some of the students (7. talk) _______ about their plans for the weekend and the student next to her
(8. draw) _______ a picture of a horse. When Hoa (9. tell) _______ me she was not satisfied with the
class, I (10. mention) _______ that my biology professor was quite good and (11. suggest) _______ that
she switch to my class.
While we were talking, I (12. hear) _______ her professor yell, "Miss, are you making a phone call?"
Suddenly, the line went dead. I (13. hang) _______ up the phone and went to the kitchen to make dinner.
As I (14. cut) _______ vegetables for a salad, the phone rang once again. It (15. be) _______ Hoa, but
this time she wasn't sitting in class.
3. Fill in the blank with the suitable article: a, an, the or x (no article).
1. Are you coming to _______ party next Sunday? 2. I bought _______ new TV set yesterday.
3. I think _______ man over there is very ill. He can't stand on his feet.
4. I watched _______ video you had sent me. 5. She was wearing _______ ugly dress when she met him.
6. I am crazy about reading _______ history books. 7. She is _______ beautiful girl.
8. Do you want to go to _______ cinema where we first met? 9. He is _______ engineer.
10. He thinks that _______ love is what will save us all.
11. I like _______ blue T-shirt over there better than _______ red one.
12. Their car does 150 miles hour. 13. Where's _______ USB drive I lent you last week?
14. Do you still live in _______ Ho Chi Minh City?
15. Is your mother working in_______old office building?
16. Tim's father works as _______ electrician. 17. The tomatoes are 99 pence _______ kilo.
18. What do you usually have for _______ breakfast? 19. Mike has _______ terrible headache.
20. After this tour you have _______ whole afternoon free to explore the city.
21. They are ______ brave girls. 22. _______ farmhouses in my village were rather poor.
23. He told me _______ story of his life. 24. This is _______ good example.
25. _______ roof of ______ house was on fire. 26. We are _____ students.
27. Those were _______ interesting books. 28. Look at _______ top of that tree.
29. _______ frame of that picture is broken. 30. John has become _______ driver.
31. It was _______ very long way to go. 32. We stopped at _______ door of his hut.
33. _____ cover of my English book is green.
34. _______ last days of my stay in London were the most interesting.
35. This _______ exception. 36. _______ banks of _______ river were very steep.
37. What's _______ longest river in _______ world? Is it _______ Amazon or _______ Nile? I'm terrible
at _______ geography.
38. In 1824, Louis Braille developed _______ system of writing for _______ blind. Quickly, _______
system, known as "Braille" after _______ inventor, spread from _______ France to dozens of _______
countries.
39. Because she did not speak _______ English, she had _______ little chance of advancing her career, so
she applied for _______ year-long English course at _______ Cambridge University.
40. Tim loves islands. He has been to _______ Cuba, _______ Bali, _______ Bahamas, and _______
Philippines. And _______ next year, he wants to go to _______ Madagascar.
41. Jenifer always says that _______ patience is _______ virtue, but she is _______ least patient person
I've ever met. Don't you think that's _______ little ironic?
42. Every year, _______ Smiths go camping in _______ Yellowstone National Park. But _______ next
year, they are going to visit Mr. Smith's mother in _______ South instead.
43. Wow, _____ cheese is getting so expensive! Look, that cheese costs more than $50 _______ pound.
44. He made his first attempt to engage in sporting activities four years ago with _________ support of his family.
45. He was _______ most talented football player that our school had produced in years. His talent for
_________ football was great.
46. He did ________ Black Mountain hike with his friends, but had to check his blood glucose levels
every four hours.
47. Do you know Professor Phan Huy Le whose great achievement was his books on _____ history of
Viet Nam in _____ 19th century?
48. ______ following year, he took part in Melbourne Sunset run to raise funds for ________ orphanage.
49. He wishes to straighten up and lead ________ respectable life. He would like to be socially acceptable
due to his good behavior.
50. He had to brake hard to avoid hitting _________ truck in front.
51. Doing things with generosity will give us _____ true happiness. _____ more we give away, _____
happier we are.
52. His career as ______ journalist was full of distinguished achievements. He was _______ respected
and admired journalist.
53. Five years ago, when Edward was 35 years old, he was diagnosed with __________ diabetes.
54. I just received a postcard from (1) _______ Smiths, a family I met last year. It made me start thinking:
When was (2) _______ last time I actually sent (3) _______ letter or (4) _______ postcard to someone?
It's strange, (5) _______ postal service has been part of (6) _______ daily life for (7) _______ centuries.
And suddenly, within (8) _______ single generation, (9) _______ postal system is on its way to becoming
(10) _______ thing of (11) _____ past. These days, (12) _______ few people send (13) _______ letters.
Today, (14) ______ email is (15) _____ far more common way to communicate with (16) _______
friends and (17) _______ family. It's also (18) ______ faster and cheaper way to communicate. When I
send (19) ____email to (20) _______ friend in (21) distant country, (22) _______ friend will receive
(23)_______ email almost immediately. What's more, I have the ability to attach (24) _______
photograph, (25) _______ video, or (26) _______ MP3. And I don't even have to buy (27) _______
expensive stamp. But (28) _______ world is changing quickly. In (29) _______ decade or two, we might
all be using (30) _______ totally different kind of technology to communicate.
4. Choose the correct words in the box to complete the sentences.
widely related master inequality
movement accomplished pioneer increasingly
1. Hughes is one of the most ___________________ writers in American 20 literary history?
2. Albert Einstein was essentially all ___________________ to science meanwhile Leonardo Da Vinci
was a _______________________ at art, architecture, invention, and several other areas.
3. Han Mac Tu was part of the new poetic ___________________ in Vietnam at the beginning of the 20th
century.
4. Han Mac Tu is considered a ___________________ of romantic poetry in Vietnam.
5. During his time at University, Nelson Mandela became ___________________ aware of the racial
__________________ and injustice faced by non-white people.
6. Steve Jobs is ___________________ recognized as a pioneer in the field of microcomputer revolution.
5. Give the correct form of the words in the following sentences.
1. He was the most ___________________ football player that our school had produced in years His
talent for football was great. (TALENT)
2. Do you know Professor Phan Huy Le whose great ______________________ was his books on
the history of Vietnam in the 19th century? (ACHIEVE)
3. He wishes to straighten up and lead a ________________________ life. (RESPECT)
4. His career as a journalist was full of __________________________ achievements. He was a
respected and admired journalist. (DISTINGUISH)
5. To be successful takes hard work and ________________________. (DEDICATE)
6. Doing things with ________________________ will give us true happiness. The more we give
away, the happier we are. (GENEROUS)
7. Tran Hung Dao was a great ________________________ to lure the enemy to enter deeply into his
land, then attacked to destroy them. (STRATEGY)
8. Mother Teresa was a living saint who offered a great example and ________________________ to
the world. (INSPIRE)
9. Zuckerberg was forced to shut his website down, but its immense ____________________ and
controversy had made him consider its future potential. (POPULAR)
10. As the principal founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates is one of the most ________________________
and richest people on the planet. (INFLUENCE)
11. If Presley was considered a ________________________ and a rebellious figure, it just made
him more popular with young listeners. (CONTROVERSY)
12. Stephen William Hawking got more ________________________ for his research and
discoveries through his print and TV interviews. (RECOGNINZE)
6. Choose the best answer to complete the following sentences.
1. You'll get ____ shock if you touch ____ live wire with that screwdriver.
A. an/ the B. x/ the C. a/ a D. an/ the
2. Mr. Smith is ____ old customer and ____ honest man.
A. An/ the B. the/ an C. an/ an D. the/ the
3. I first met her four years ago when we ____ at a middle school.
A. had been studying B. are studying C. have been studying D. were studying
4. ____ youngest boy has just started going to ____ school.
A. a/ x B. x/ the C. an/ x D. the/ x
5. Do you go to ____ prison to visit him?
A. the B. a C. x D. an
6. At first, Microsoft had ____ hyphen in the name "Micro-soft", ____ combination of microcomputer
and ____ software.
A. a - the - a B. a - a - X C. the - the - X D. X - a - the
7. Last night at this time, they ____ the same thing. She ____ and he ____ the newspaper.
A. are doing/ is cooking/ is reading B. were doing/ was cooking/ was reading
C. was doing/ has cooked/ is reading D. had done/ was cooking/ read
8. As I .................... the glass, it suddenly ...................... into two pieces.
A. cut/ broke B. was cutting/ broke
C. cut/ was breaking D. was cutting/ had broken
9. A burglar .................. into the house while we ................... television.
A. broke/ were watching B. broke/ watched C. had broken/ watched D. broke/ had watched
10. It was midnight. Outside it ........................... very hard.
A. rains B. rained C. had rained D. was raining
11. I lay down on_________ground and looked up at __________ sky.
A. a - a B. a - the C. the - a D. the - the
12. “I watch a film in Spanish. I understood_________ story, but ______ actors spoke very fast so it was
hard to understand.”
A. the - the B. a - Ø C. a - the D. the - Ø
13. “Did you have________nice holiday?” - “Yes, it was __________best holiday I’ve ever had.”
A. a - a B. a - the C. the - a D. the - the
14. He spent part of______afternoon telling them ______ news he could not tell them by ___telephone.
A. the - the - Ø B. an - Ø - the C. an - the - the D. the - Ø - the
15. Eight o’clock is________good time to phone Nick: he’s always at home in __________ evening.
A. Ø - the B. a - the C. a-Ø D. a - an
16. Does it take__________long time to get to____________city centre?
A. Ø - the B. a - a C. a - the D. the - the
17. What do you think of___________public transport in__________Ha Noi?
A. Ø - Ø B. a - a C. a - Ø D. the - Ø
18. Parking is very difficult in_______city centre, so my father always go there by ________ bus.
A. the – Ø B. the - the C. a - a D. a - Ø
19. There isn’t ________airport near where I live.____ ______nearest airport is 70 miles away.
A. an - A B. an - The C. the - A D. the - The
20. David is__________sailor. He spends most of his life at __________sea.
A. Ø - a B. a- Ø C. a - a D. a - the
7. Correct the following sentences, adding articles where necessary.
1. Do English drink tea or coffee for breakfast?
2. We returned from two-week holiday in Philippines and Indonesia.
3. During the rush hour in Hanoi, it's more convenient to travel by motorbike than to take taxi.
4. We had great time in USA last summer.
5. Tim decided to become soldier so that he could fight for his country.