nopw-FORECAST QUÝ 2-FULL

FB: IELTS Speaking 8.
0 E-learn - FORECAST IELTS SPEAKING QUÝ 2 CHUẨN

ĐỀ QUÝ 2/2022 (THÁNG 5-6-7-8/2022)
TIÊU CHÍ CHẤM ĐIỂM IELTS SPEAKING
n
ar
le
E-
IELTS SPEAKING BAND DESCRIPTORS-VIETNAMESE VERSION
Fluency and Grammatical and
Band Lexical resource Pronunciation
coherence accuracy
0
-dùng từ vựng linh
-áp dụng được hầu
8.
hoạt để diễn đạt
-nói lưu loát, hiếm hết các tiêu chí
chính xác nghĩa
khi lặp từ hoặc tự -dùng nhiều cấu phát âm
muốn nói đến
ng
sửa lỗi; ngập ngừng trúc phức một cách -vận dụng tốt các
-dùng "uncommon
là do nội dung bài linh hoạt tiêu chí phát âm,
8 words" và các
nói chứ ko phải tìm -các câu hầu như hiếm khi mắc lỗi
"collocation" một
ki
từ vựng để nói ko có lỗi, hiếm khi -bài nói dễ hiểu,

cách thành thạo, ít
-triển khai bài nói có lỗi ngữ pháp giọng vùng miền ít
khi mắc lỗi
ea
mạch lạc và hợp lý ảnh hưởng đến

-paraphrase hiệu
phát âm
quả
-dùng một lượng từ
Sp
-nói chi tiết về các vựng linh hoạt để

chủ đề một cách thảo luận các chủ
-dùng nhiều cấu
mạch lạc đề
trúc phức nhưng
TS
-có thể thỉnh -dùng được

chưa được linh hoạt -vận dụng được các
thoảng ngập ngừng "uncommon words"
7 lắm tiêu chí phát âm
vì lặp từ hoặc tự và các "collocation"
-các câu hầu như giữa band 6 và 8
EL
sửa lỗi cụm từ tuy nhiên

ko có lỗi, đôi khi có 1
-dùng nhiều từ nối đôi lúc chưa chính
vài lỗi ngữ pháp
và từ mở đầu-kết xác
:I
thúc hơi linh hoạt -paraphrase hiệu

quả
Fb
-vận dụng được các

-nói đủ độ dài cho tiêu chí phát âm
-dùng câu đơn +
mỗi part, thỉnh -có đủ từ vựng để nhưng không hiệu
câu phức đúng ngữ
thoảng vẫn mắc lỗi nói về các chủ đề quả hoàn toàn
pháp nhưng chưa
vì lặp từ, tự sửa lỗi một cách đầy đủ -một vài tiêu chí
đa dạng cấu trúc
hoặc nói chậm chi tiết, dễ hiểu tuy phát âm áp dụng
6 -thường mắc lỗi ngữ
-dùng nhiều từ nối nhiên đôi khi từ khá tốt nhưng ko
pháp khi dùng câu
và từ mở đầu-kết chưa chính xác duy trì được lâu
phức nhưng ko ảnh
thúc nhưng không -paraphrase hiệu -nhìn chung phát
hưởng đến nghĩa
phải luôn luôn phù quả âm dễ hiểu cho
của câu
hợp toàn bài, tuy nhiên
đôi khi phát âm sai
FB: IELTS Speaking 8.0 E-learn - FORECAST IELTS SPEAKING QUÝ 2 CHUẨN
làm giảm sự rõ ràng
của từ
-duy trì mạch nói
nhưng có tự sửa lỗi,
lặp từ và/hoặc tốc -dùng được từ vựng
-dùng câu đơn gần
độ nói chậm về các chủ đề phổ
như chính xác hoàn
-sử dụng 1 hoặc vài biến và không phổ
toàn -vận dụng được các
cụm từ nối và các biến ở mức cơ bản
5 -có dùng câu phức tiêu chí phát âm
cụm mở đầu-kết -cố gắng
nhưng thường bị lỗi giữa band 4 và 6
thúc câu LẶP LẠI "paraphrase" nhưng
và có thể gây khó
n
NHIỀU LẦN chưa hiệu quả cho
hiểu
-câu đơn nói trôi toàn bộ bài nói
ar
chảy, khi dùng câu
phức thì ấp úng
le
-vận dụng được vài
-trả lời ngắt quãng
tiêu chí về phát âm
và trả lời chậm, lặp -trả lời được về chủ -dùng được một số
E-
-cố gắng kiểm soát
từ thường xuyên và đề phổ biến, dùng câu đơn chính xác
các khía cạnh phát
tự sửa lỗi sai nhiều từ khi nói về mặt ngữ pháp, ít
4 âm nhưng thường
-nối câu bằng về chủ đề ko phổ dùng câu phức
0
xuyên bị sai sót
những từ nối đơn biến -nhiều lỗi ngữ pháp
-sai phát âm nhiều
8.
giản và bài nói ko -ít khi "paraphrase" và gây khó hiểu
và gây khó hiểu cho
được mạch lạc
người nghe
ng
FRAME PART 1
PART 1: giám khảo sẽ hỏi bắt buộc hometown/home-decoration HOẶC study/work, và 2 chủ đề
ki
khác (trong 30 topics part 1)

Cách trả lời chung cho part 1: Connective, paraphrase câu hỏi+ idea 1, discourse markers (từ
ea
nối), idea 2.
Connectives: actually, to be honest, frankly speaking, to my mind, from my perspective,
absolutely yes/not, definitely yes/not,...
Sp
Discourse markers: but=yet=that said, plus=also=what’s more=additionally=furthermore=on top

of this
Grammar: past-present perfect-future
TS
For example: What kind of headphones do you wear?

Actually, I used to own wireless headphones several years ago, but they were broken. The
current ones I’m using were a birthday present from my father. It’s quite versatile and
EL
convenient. However, if I had a chance, I’d buy new ones which are more fashionable.
Paraphrase:
Like=I’m into, I’m big on, ………is my cup of tea, I’m keen on, I’m fond of
:I
dislike=I’m not really into, I can’t stand, I detest….

Fb
important=crucial, pivotal, is of paramount importance, significant, key,

comfortable=comfy
delicious: appetizing/scrumptious/tasty
favorite = go-to (adjective) My go-to color would definitely be yellow as…
because=as/since/due to the fact that/ coz
Pronunciation: I’m gonna, I gotta say that, shouldn’t, don’t, can’t…., I’ve, I’d like to….
BAN WORDS: HẠN CHẾ KHÔNG DÙNG những từ này trong phần thi speaking: good, bad, like,
dislike, important, comfortable, because (too common words), nowadays, in the past, relax,
interesting (những từ “too-common words như này khi nói trong speaking sẽ bị điểm thấp phần
voca)
FRAME PART 2
MỖI PROMPT trả lời tầm 2 câu
Off the top of my head, when it comes to…(paraphrase đề bài), I’m gonna talk about…..
PROMPT 1: To kick off, I’d tell you about (prompt 1)……(2 sentences, connectors)
PROMPT 2: Going on to my next point which is (prompt 2)…….
PROMPT 3: Moving forward onto the next question of (prompt 3)……..
PROMPT 4: Finally, if there’s time, I’d talk about ........
If……………………….., ……………………
n
EXAMPLE: A COURSE THAT IMPRESSED YOU
ar
Off the top of my head, when it comes to a course that left a very good impression on me, I’m
gonna talk about the online IELTS Speaking course.
le
To kick off, I’d talk about when the course was. To be honest, I registered/enrolled in that course
E-
just a week before the examination date. Actually, it just lasted one week.
Moving forward on to what I learnt from that course. Firstly, I had a few ideas about how the
test was and how my speaking test was scored. My very first speaking test was kinda terrible, so
0
my teacher had to give a lot of feedback for my performance. Then, after a few lessons of
8.
training, I saw a lot of improvements in my performance thanks to my teacher’s dedication.
Going onto the next point of what the teacher did for me. Firstly, she explained about IELTS
ng
speaking criteria and then she listened to all my recordings and corrected my mistakes
including: pro, gra, vo and flu.
ki
Finally, I’m gonna talk about my feelings about that course. Frankly speaking, it was such a
special course as/since/because in the old days, I stood little chance to speak English except
ea
for English classes at school, yet during the course period, I had opportunities to practice
speaking a lot . What’s more, through practicing, I saw the list of topic questions were quite
tricky but also intriguing.
Sp
FRAME PART 3
TYPE 1 - COMPARING
TS
Comparing Time:
EL
Nowadays — whereas / while — in the past
These days — whereas / while — back in the day

:I
Recently — whereas / while — in the old days

Fb
Today — whereas / while — back then
At the moment — whereas / while — before
Comparing Ages / Generations:
Kids these days — whereas / while — elderly people
Youngsters — whereas / while — the elderly
Kids / Teenagers — whereas / while — retirees / pensioners

The young generation — whereas / while — the older generation
Do young and older people use phones in the same way?
Sure, without a doubt, there is a range of potential distinctions here. But I would say the most
fundamental would be that youngsters use the phone for different purposes such as surfing
the internet, watching online movies or checking email. On the contrary, the elderly tend to use
the phone for only calling or texting. Moreover, a further distinction might be that the younger
generation spends most of their time on the phone, even more than 8 hours a day. While on the
other hand, it takes less time for the older generation to use it because they seem not to be
n
addicted to phones compared to young people.
ar
Are restaurants nowadays the same as restaurants in the past?
Well obviously, there are a variety of possible differences here. However, I guess that the most
le
significant would be that these days, the kind of food is more diversified ranging from
Vietnamese cuisine to the Western one. Whereas on the other hand, back in the day, there were
E-
only a few choices of food. On top of this, a second key distinction would be that at the
moment, restaurants are far more modern with top notch facilities. Conversely, they were quite
old-fashioned before.
0
8.
TYPE 2- PREDICTING
ng
in the future -in the not so distant future
- in years to come
ki
-in the foreseeable future

ea
-down the road

Sp
changes major changes related to/ with regard to this

TS
I think that I reckon that
I suppose that
EL
I’m sure that

:I
first of all Initially

Fb
To begin with
For one thing
First and foremost
predict I guess that
I’d predict that
I’d envisage that /ɪnˈvɪzɪdʒ/ (=imagine)

might we’ll have
we’ll most likely have
we’re going to have
we’ll soon have
we’ll probably have
n
we may be able to have
ar
le
FRAME 1: I reckon that in the not-so-distant future, we will witness some major changes related
to this. To begin with, I’d predict that we will most likely have…(idea 1) because….. For example,….
E-
As well as this, some people claim that we will probably start to see….as….And who knows, it
could even be possible that we’ll see the arrival of….(idea 3).
0
FRAME 2: Certainly, I’m sure that most people would agree that in years to come there will be a
8.
number of major changes related to this. Initially, I guess that we might begin to see …. At the
same time/on top of this, I suppose that we will soon have …And who knows, one day we may
even have….
ng
What will public transport be like in the future?
ki
I reckon that in the not-so-distant future, we will witness some major changes related to this. To
begin with, I’d predict that we will most likely have more public means of transport such as
ea
shuttle bus or tube train because its fare will be cheaper and it can carry lots of people on only
one mode of transport. As well as this, some people claim that we will probably start to see the
free bus for the poor and disabled people. And who knows, it could even be possible that we’ll
Sp
see the arrival of zero-emission buses running on solar energy.
TYPE 3- Why questions

TS
In my opinion -in my viewpoint

EL
-generally
-from my perspective
:I
Fb
I guess I would say that -I suppose I would say that
-I believe that
There are many reasons -factors (involved)
-motives (surrounding this idea)
-explanations (for this) /ˌekspləˈneɪʃnz/
-justifications (behind this) /ˌdʒʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃnz/

There are many There's probably a number of
There are obviously a number of
There are undoubtedly a variety of
Firstly Primarily,
To begin with,
n
First and foremost,
ar
The first reason The chief cause
le
The main basis
E-
As well as this At the same time
0
Additionally
8.
Along with this
ng
Besides this
The second reason a subsequent factor

ki
a subsequent incentive /ɪnˈsentɪv/

ea
a secondary motive /ˈməʊtɪv/

Sp
a further rationale /ˌræʃəˈnæl/
could be that… might be that since (bởi vì)

TS
might be due to the fact that

EL
FRAME 1: In my viewpoint, I suppose I would say that there are obviously a number of motives
surrounding this idea. Primarily, the chief cause would be because….. As well as this, a
subsequent factor might be because….
:I
FRAME 2: From my perspective, I guess I would say that there are undoubtedly a variety of
Fb
explanations for this. To begin with, the main basis would be because…….. Additionally, a further
rationale might be due to the fact that…….
Why do so many people want to be famous?
In my opinion, I guess I would have to say that there are probably a number of factors
involved. Primarily, one key motivation would be because they think they would be able to
make more money. As well as this, a subsequent incentive might be because they want to live
in a big house and drive an expensive car.

TYPE 4- ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES
Advantages Disadvantages
a few clear benefits few negative aspects
obvious merits some drawbacks
positive features a couple of shortcomings
n
favorable the most adverse feature
ar
beneficial This is an obvious weakness because
le
advantageous /ˌædvənˈteɪdʒəs/ This is a clear limitation because
E-
a (second) bonus an additional weak point maybe that
a (second) plus point a further handicap maybe that
0
8.
ng
What are the advantages of traveling by trains?
Well, I suppose that there are quite a few clear benefits, but I would probably say that for the
ki
most part, the one thing that really stands out is that trains are really cheap, especially for long
distance travel – you can travel from one side of China to the other for a few hundred yuan. I
ea
guess that another obvious plus point is that it is much faster than traveling by road – so you
can save time by traveling on trains. Along with this, a further merit is that you can sleep quite
comfortably on long train journeys.
Sp
What are the disadvantages of traveling by train?
I think it’s fair to say that there are a few negative aspects. I suppose the most unfavorable
TS
quality might be that trains are often overcrowded at certain times of the year. This is a clear
limitation because on a long journey you might not be able to find a seat which means you
have to stand up for hours. At the same time, another stumbling block might be that train
EL
tickets are sometimes difficult to buy, especially around Spring Festival, and this can be a
hassle because it means you can’t always travel on an actual day that you want to.
:I
TYPE 5: PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS

Fb
PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS
A lot of dangers/ A few hazards there are a number of actions that

could be taken
The most crucial predicament there are a few ways to tackle these
/prɪˈdɪkəmənt/ problems
One major worry/ One fundamental When dealing with the first problem,
concern it is the easiest way to work it out
would be to
This is clearly alarming because When dealing with the first problem,
it is the easiest way to work it out
would be to
n
And the principal upshot of this is Now taking into account the second
probably that (hậu quả, kết quả là…) challenge, the only way to get to the
ar
bottom of this
the dilemma would be to
le
E-
And the underlying repercussions of
this are that (hậu quả, kết quả là…)
/ˌriːpəˈkʌʃn/
0
8.
What problems are caused by the increase in the use of private cars?
It’s universally accepted that there are a few hazards involved with the increase in the use of
ng
private cars. Essentially, one fundamental concern is probably that it leads to an increase in
pollution. This fact is unmistakably perturbing because we are facing huge global pollution
problems at the moment. Additionally, another major cause for concern has to be the fact that
ki
cars consume huge amounts of our energy resources. And the underlying repercussions of this
are that we will soon be confronted with a global energy crisis.
ea
How could these problems be solved?

Sp
In my view, there are a number of actions that could be taken. When dealing with the first
problem, the easiest way to work it out would be to develop new technology for car engines
which do not cause serious air pollution, maybe some special kind of exhaust filter. Taking on
the second problem, the most successful way to confront this would be to invest heavily in
TS
research into alternative energy resources. In fact, I have heard that we have already produced
a car which runs on water.
EL
:I
Fb
ĐỀ THI THẬT IELTS THÁNG 5-6-7-8/2022

30 TOPICS PART 1
1. Work and studies (always in use)
n
Do you work or are you a student?
ar
What work do you do? What subjects are you studying?
le
Why did you choose that job?
Why did you choose to study that subject?
E-
What technology do you use at work?
What technology do you use when you study?
0
Do you like your job?
8.
Is there anything you dislike about your job?
ng
What do you like about your studies?
What do you dislike about your studies?

ki
What was your dream job when you were young?

ea
2. Hometown (always in use)

Please describe your hometown a little.
Sp
What is your town well-known for?
Do you like your hometown?
Do you know any famous people in your area?

TS
How long have you been living there?
Do you think you will continue living there for a long time?
EL
Would you like to live in the countryside in the future?
What is the difference between living in the countryside and the city?
:I
What do you like to do in the countryside?

Fb
What do people living in the countryside like to do?
How has your town changed over the last 20 years?
3. House and decoration (always in use)
What colour would you choose to paint the walls of your room?
What colour would you never use in your home?
Can you describe the place where you live?
What kind of housing accommodation do you live in?

What do you like about your flat?
Which room does your family spend most of the time in?
What can you see from the windows where you live?
Do you prefer living in a house or a flat?
What would you like to change in your flat?
What do you dislike about your flat?
4. Art (January-August 2022)
n
Do you like painting or drawing?
ar
What kinds of things do you like to draw?
le
Is it easy to learn how to draw?
What do you know about paintings?
E-
Have you learned drawing or painting?
Do you like visiting museums and art galleries?
0
8.
Do you often visit museums?
When was the last time you visited a museum?

ng
What did you learn from visiting museums and art galleries?
Which do you prefer to visit, museums or art galleries?

ki
5. Mirrors (January-August 2022)

ea
Do you usually take a mirror with you?
How often do you use a mirror?

Sp
Do you like looking at yourself in a mirror?
Do you use a mirror before buying clothing?

TS
What functions does a mirror have?
Do you think a mirror is a good decoration?

EL
Have you ever bought a mirror?
6. Dreams (January-August 2022)

:I
Do you remember your dreams when you wake up?

Fb
Do you think dreams will affect life?
Do you think dreams have special meanings?
Do you like hearing other people's dreams?
Do you share your dreams with others?
Do you want to learn more about dreams?
7. Emails/ letters (January-August 2022)
Do you write many letters or emails?

Is sending emails popular in your country?
Do you prefer to write letters by hand or to use a computer?
What are the differences between letters and emails?
What do you usually write about?
When would you send emails to others?
Who do you usually write to?
Is it hard to think of what to write?
n
What kind of letter or email do you think is the hardest to write?
ar
8. Sports (January-August 2022)
le
Do you like watching sports programs on TV?
E-
Who do you like to watch live sports games with?
Do you like to watch live sports games?
0
What is the difference between watching sports events at home and at the stadium?
8.
Do you like sport?
Do most people in your country like sports?

ng
What sports do you like?
What sports do people in your country like to play?

ki
What was your favourite sport when you were young?

ea
9. Taking photos (January-August 2022)
Do you like to take photographs?

Sp
What do you like to photograph?
How did you become interested in photography?

TS
How do you keep your photos?
Do you ever delete or, if on paper, throw away any of your photos?
EL
10. Cinemas (January-August 2022)
How often do you go to a cinema to watch a movie?

:I
Did you usually go to the cinema when you were a kid?

Fb
Do you like to watch movies alone or with your friends?
Do you like to go to the cinema with your friends?
What kinds of movies do you like best?
11. Street markets (January-August 2022)
Are there many street markets in your country?
What do people usually buy at street markets?
What is the difference between street markets and supermarkets?

Do you prefer shopping in a shopping mall or at a street market?
Do many people go to street markets in your country?
Do you like going to street markets?
12. Mobile phones (January-August 2022)
What was your first mobile phone?
How often do you use your mobile phone?
Do you use your mobile phone for texting or calls?
n
Can you describe your mobile phone?
ar
Will you buy a new mobile phone in the future?
le
How has your mobile phone changed your life?
E-
13. Time management (January-August 2022)
How do you usually organize and plan your time?
0
Is it easy to manage time for you?
8.
What is the hardest part about making plans?
What is the latest plan that you made?

ng
14. Websites (January-August 2022)
What kinds of websites do you often visit?

ki
What kinds of websites are popular in your country?

ea
What is your favourite website?
Are there any changes to the websites you often visit?

Sp
15. Losing and finding things (January-August 2022)
What will you do if you find something lost by others?

TS
Do you report to the police when finding some things lost by others? Why?
Have you ever lost things?
EL
Is it ok to keep an item that you found?
What things do people usually find?

:I
16. Daily routine (January-August 2022)

Fb
How do you organise your study time?
What is your daily study routine?
Do you ever change your plans?
Have you ever changed your routine?
What's your favourite time of the day?
Do you like to plan what you will do each day?
Please describe your typical daily routine
What do you usually do at this time of day?

Do you usually do the same things at the same time each day?
17. Cars (January-August 2022)
What is the farthest place you have travelled to by car?
Do you like to sit in front or back when travelling by car?
When do you travel by car?
18. Memory (January-August 2022)
Are you good at memorizing things?
n
Why do people often forget small things?
ar
How can you make sure you don't forget things?
le
19. Advertisements (May-December 2022)
E-
Do you watch ads from the beginning to the end?
Is there much advertising in your country?
0
What are the different places where we see advertisements?
8.
What advertising do you have in your country?
Do you like advertisements?

ng
What do you think is the purpose of advertising?
Do you share advertisements with others?

ki
Do you want to work in advertising in the future?

ea
20. Boring things (May-December 2022)
What things are boring to you?

Sp
What do you do when you feel bored?
What was the most boring thing you did when you were young?
Do you feel more bored than when you were young?
TS
Do you think school is boring?

EL
21. Watches (May-December 2022)
Do you like to wear watches?

:I
Do you think a watch is important for you?

Fb
Have you ever received a watch as a gift?
Why do people like expensive watches?
22. Computers (May-December 2022)
How often do you use a computer?
What do you usually use your computer for?
What kinds of computers are popular in your country?
Who taught you how to use a computer?
When was the first time you used a computer?

Do you think computers have changed your life?
In what conditions would it be difficult for you to use a computer?

What would your life be like without computers?
23. Old buildings (May-December 2022)
Should old buildings be preserved?
What aspect of culture do old buildings reflect?
How do old buildings affect the appearance of a place?
n
Have you ever seen some old buildings in the city?
ar
Do you prefer living in an old building or a modern house?
Are there any old buildings you want to see in the future? Why
le
24. Reading (May-December 2022)
E-
Do you like reading?
What books do you like to read?
0
What book did you read recently?
8.
What did you learn from it?
Have your reading habits changed since you were younger?

ng
What was your favourite book as a child?
25. Meeting places (May-December 2022)

ki
Where do you usually meet your friends?

ea
Do you think there are some places that are more suitable for meeting others?
Are there any differences between your favorite meeting places better than others?
Sp
26. Talents (May-December 2022)
Do you have a talent or something you are good at?

TS
Was it mastered recently or when you were young?

Do you think your talent can be useful for your future work? Why?
EL
Do you think anyone in your family has the same talent?

27. TV Programs (May-December 2022)(optional)
:I
What kinds of TV programs do you often watch ?

Fb
Do you think kids are watching too much television?

What are the impacts of watching TV programs on children?
What kinds of TV programs do you think should be broadcast more?
28. Sitting (May-December 2022)
Where is your favorite place to sit?

Do you always sit down for a long time?
Do you feel sleepy when you are sitting down?
When you were a kid, did you usually sit on the floor?
29. Evening time (May-December 2022)
Do you like the morning or evening?
What do you usually do in the evening?
What did you do in the evening when you were little? Why?
Are there any differences between what you do in the evening now and what you did in the
past?
30. Collecting things (May-December 2022)
Do you collect things?

Are there any things you keep from childhood?
n
Would you keep doing things for a long time? Why?
ar
Where do you usually keep things you need?
31. Science
le
Do you like science?
E-
Did you like science classes when you were young?
Do you think school children should have both science classes and art classes?
Do you think science is important to our society?
0
8.
II. VOCABULARY-IDEAS-SAMPLES BAND 7.0+
ng
1. Work and studies (always in use)
Do you work or are you a student?

ki
What work do you do? What subjects are you studying?

ea
Currently, I'm in my senior year of high school. And I'm graduating this year. Now I'm working
hard in order to get passing grades 'cause I'm planning to study abroad. I want to major in
Journalism 'cause I've always had a strong passion for writing, and I don't see myself doing
Sp
anything else. And there's a great two-year diploma Journalism program at Seneca college in
Canada. So if everything is ok, 9 months from now I'll be studying there. And hopefully not
online.
be in my senior year: học sinh năm cuối
TS
major in: học chuyên ngành

It's been a few years now since I started working full time. I work in Experiential Marketing and I
EL
absolutely love it because it's the type of job that really lets you utilize all of your talents. One
day you can be making a budget, and the next day you can be learning to use a drill because
you need to drill holes in the floor. It's very versatile. It's for people who don't want to be the same
:I
as the day before.

Fb
utilize=use
versatile (a): đa năng
Why did you choose that job?
Why did you choose to study that subject?
Well, I guess the primary reason why I decided to pursue a career in Finance was that I really
loved Math at school as I was always good at numbers. And because of this, I thought it was the
only possible choice I could make. So it wasn't a tough decision. And, thank God, I have never
regretted it.
be good at=be whiz at: giỏi về
tough decision:quyết định khó khăn
Back in the day when I was a high school student, I had an idea that I might like to do
something related to fashion, but my parents insisted on my choosing Accounting. Frankly, I
wish I hadn't listened to them as I don't really enjoy being an accountant.
back in the day=in the past
frankly = frankly speaking=to be honest = honestly
Do you like your job?
I do. Mainly because it's never boring. I've got lots of challenging tasks every day, which I really
like. In fact, the more challenging, the better. Of course, I usually spend a lot of time and energy,
and put a lot of effort in order to complete such tasks successfully, but the job satisfaction that
n
it gives me significantly outweighs the hours, the stress and the hard work. Among other things,
my remuneration is more than adequate, let alone all the perks that my employer provides. So,
ar
there's nothing to complain about, actually.
remuneration: tiền thù lao
le
adequate = sufficient (a) : đủ
Is there anything you dislike about your job?
E-
The only thing that I don't like is too much responsibility. Of course, when I chose this job, I knew
what I was getting into, but sometimes I can't help feeling envious of people who don't have to
0
make serious decisions and be responsible for the results of the whole company.
8.
Well, I hate that I often have to work against the clock to meet deadlines and it seems that I'll
never be able to escape this constant rat race. I feel this jam-packed schedule is robbing me of
my life.
ng
meet deadlines: kịp thời hạn
escape this constant rat race: thoát khỏi cảnh bon chen
ki
jam-packed schedule: lịch trình dày đặc

What do you like about your studies?
ea
I will probably sound a bit nerdy, but I'm happy that school provides me with an opportunity to
acquire knowledge about things I didn't know before. I guess that most subjects, we are taught,
Sp
will help us to succeed in the future. So, l never miss lessons and complete all the assignments
on time.
a bit nerdy: hơi không thích/chán
acquire knowledge about: đạt được kiến thức về
TS
What do you dislike about your studies?

Well, my pet hate is that the school curriculum doesn't take into account individual differences
EL
and capabilities of students. All of us are different, but we are supposed to study the same
subjects at the same pace. Also, I don't like the fact that our educational system relies heavily
on teamwork. Of course, I realize they're trying to teach us to collaborate, but I think it's unfair
:I
that everyone gets the same grade irrespective of how much each person has done.
Fb
my pet hate is: điều tôi ghét là (= I dislike/I can’t stand/I detest)
doesn't take into account: không xem xét
collaborate: hợp tác
irrespective of : bất kể, không kể đến, bất chấp
What was your dream job when you were young?
Oh, when I was younger, I wanted to either become a CEO of a big company or be
self-employed. I was really sure that this would bring me adequate remuneration and, as a
result, a sense of satisfaction. What is more, I understood that I was good at problem-solving
and managing people, could take on responsibility and work under pressure, which was very
important for pursuing such careers.
either…or: hoặc….hoặc
pursue such careers: theo đuổi những nghề như vậy
Have you changed your mind on your dream job?
Well, on the whole, 'no' as this is what I still dream about. However, now I realize that there are
quite a lot of things in this career which I didn't think about at a younger age, for example, the
fact that working under pressure is robbing people of their life, taking them from their families
and pushing them to participate in the rat race in order to get recognition and good money.
under pressure: dưới áp lực
get recognition: được công nhận
n
2. Hometown (always in use)
ar
Please describe your hometown a little.
Well, as it's a resort town, people from all over the country as well as from abroad come there to
have a rest, sunbathe, swim, breathe sea air and eat delicious seafood. At the height of the
le
season, usually in July, the city is packed with people. My hometown is famous for its rich
nightlife as well. Along the harbour there are some amazing nightclubs and bars for spending
E-
unforgettable nights out.
At the height of the season: vào mùa cao điểm
0
is packed with people: đông người
8.
My hometown has just about one hundred thousand people which is regarded as a small one.
But despite its small size, people have full access to the same facilities as a large city offers
such as department stores, schools, cafes, hospitals ... you name it. So I never feel trapped or
ng
limited in opportunities. There aren't many vehicles here, so it isn't noisy and polluted. What is
really important is that there are no traffic jams even during rush hours.
ki
is regarded as: được xem là

What is your town well-known for?
ea
I believe a wealth of history and culture is a primary source of attraction for tourists. People
come there to visit museums and many places of historic value such as X and Y. Every street is
steeped in history. As the city is very old, it consists of several parts. And walking around it, you
Sp
can experience a journey through civilizations.

a wealth of history and culture: giàu có về lịch sử và văn hóa
You see, as it's an industrial city, I'm afraid, there's nothing it can boast of. There are neither
TS
ancient buildings nor other places of interest that could possibly attract tourists. However, it is
in my city that the best shoes are produced.
EL
boast (v): khoe khoang

Do you like your hometown?
Yeah, I have a keen interest in it as it is never boring no matter what your interests. It's a large
:I
city, so you can easily find where to go and what to do. One thing I particularly like about it is
Fb
although it is vast, there are a thousand small and intimate places there such as peaceful
gardens and small friendly restaurants.
as=because=since: bởi vì
I have a keen interest in= I’m fond of = I’m into = I’m big on
Is that a big city or a small place?
I live in a huge sprawling city. No, to say 'huge' is to say nothing 'cause if you view the city from a
tall building, you get the feeling that it doesn't end. It's so big that it takes hours to go from one
side of the city to the other.
a huge sprawling city: thành phố rộng lớn
It's neither small nor big. Actually, it largely depends on what city you compare it with. I would
say it's big. enough to provide city dwellers with all necessary facilities, whereas it's nowhere
near as large as New York or Sydney, for example.
city dwellers: người dân
How long have you been living there?
Well, I've been living there since I was born. At times, I leave the city just for a while when I go on
holiday.
At times = sometimes
Do you think you will continue living there for a long time?
Well, I want to move to a larger city as soon as possible as living here is unlikely to give me a
chance to implement my goals and make all my dreams come true. I've tried to, but couldn't find
n
a decent opportunity locally. So, given half a chance, I'll try to start a new life in a different
ar
place.
want to = wanna
le
implement my goals: thực hiện các mục tiêu
make all my dreams come true: biến giấc mơ thành hiện thực
E-
Every time an opportunity to move to a different place turns up, I come to realise that I want to
be here above everywhere else as the city is rich in everything you could possibly desire. There
are lots of things to do and places to go.
0
turns up: xuất hiện
8.
opportunity = chance: cơ hội
No way will I stay here forever! To be honest, I've been planning to move to a new place for a
ng
long time and I am really fed up with the hustle and bustle of a large city. Living here is nothing
but the rat race. You know, live. I'm already on the verge of getting burnt out.
ki
be fed up with: chán với

the hustle and bustle of a large city: sự xô bồ của thành phố lớn
ea
nothing but: không có gì ngoài

the rat race: cuộc sống bon chen
Sp
on the verge of: trên bờ vực của

Would you like to live in the countryside in the future?
Oh no! Not until I retire! I'm only 25 and dreaming of a high-flying career, but I'm afraid that
TS
living in the countryside will leave my career in tatters. Besides, I'm a very active and sociable
person, so I think I will be bored to death being deprived of an active social life and abundance
of entertainment options a big city provides.
EL
leave my career in tatters: làm sự nghiệp đổ vỡ

be bored to death: chán đến chết
:I
being deprived of: bị tước đoạt

Fb
abundance of: nhiều, đa dạng

What do you like to do in the countryside?
What do people living in the countryside like to do?
There's generally not much to do in the countryside, especially in the winter, so I'm sure the
majority of young people like to chat with their friends online or play computer games. They
may also like to get together in order to play football, ride bicycles or explore the surroundings.
This is because if children are not glued to their devices, they usually have active pastimes. The
more adventurous, the better. Again, as the number of recreational facilities is severely limited
in the countryside, it seems to me that the most popular activity with adults is having barbeque
parties or just chatting with their neighbours over the fence.
are not glued to their devices: dính chặt vào các thiết bị
recreational facilities: cơ sở vật chất giải trí
What is the difference between living in the countryside and the city?
I guess that the most striking difference is that in the countryside there isn't much traffic even
during rush hours. Again, as there are fewer vehicles emitting exhaust fumes, rural areas are
nowhere near as polluted as urban ones. So the air is definitely fresher. This is why it's highly
likely that people living in the country live longer. However, there may be a number of people
who won't appreciate these benefits as there aren't many opportunities for professional growth
and the choice of facilities is limited.
difference = distinction
n
the most striking difference: sự khác biệt lớn nhất
emit exhaust fumes: thải khói
ar
professional growth: sự phát triển nghề nghiệp
How has your town changed over the last 20 years?
le
Oh, I would say it has undergone sweeping changes 'cause those who haven't been there for a
E-
long time can hardly recognise it. First of all, the general quality of the city landscape has
improved, so it's way more beautiful now. For instance, many ancient buildings have been
restored and modern ones have been erected. Therefore, it has turned into a remarkable
0
tourist attraction.
8.
undergone sweeping/tremendous changes: trải qua thay đổi lớn
'cause = ‘coz = because
ng
erect = build = construct: xây dựng
a remarkable tourist attraction: 1 địa điểm thu hút khách du lịch
Well, as far as I can see, the city has undergone tremendous changes as it has turned from a
ki
small peaceful town into a large bustling city. It's now approximately twice as large as it used to
be. So it means that now it can boast improved infrastructure, more places to visit and things to
ea
do as a lot of facilities have been made available for people. Overall, I'd say the city has
changed for the better, though there are still issues with public transport which is as inefficient
as it was many years ago.
Sp
inefficient (a): không đủ

3. House and decoration (always in use)
TS
What colour would you choose to paint the walls of your room?
I would rather choose blue for my bedroom as it is believed to guarantee the best night's sleep
by reducing heart pressure and heart rate. However, I would balance it with warm hues for
EL
furnishings and fabrics.

hues=colors
:I
furnishings and fabrics: đồ đạc và vải vóc

Fb
What colour would you never use in your home?

I would avoid stimulating colours, for instance, large splashes of red and yellow or sharp
contrasting colours such as black and white. This is because my bedroom should be a place of
peace and tranquility rather than a stimulating environment.
stimulating: kích thích
splashes: mảng/đốm màu
tranquility=peace: yên bình
I would advise against too much black as it will make me feel on the low side or even depressed.
Similarly, I would try to avoid red because I will never have deep sleep or possibly have trouble
falling asleep as it is not an easy bedroom colour to relax.
feel on the low side: cảm thấy buồn/ trầm cảm
deep sleep: ngủ sâu
Can you describe the place where you live?
What kind of housing accommodation do you live in?
My dwelling is a one-room minimalist-style flat. I guess if I buy one more piece of furniture, there
won't be enough room to swing a cat in my flat. There's a wardrobe with wall-to-wall and
floor-to-ceiling mirrored sliding doors. Were it not for this wardrobe, my room would have got
bogged down by clutter. Regrettably, this wardrobe has become a clutter hot spot itself, but all
the disarray is inside so nobody sees it. There is also a wall-mounted flat-screen TV and a bed.
not be enough room to swing a cat: không đủ chỗ, quá chật hẹp
n
mirrored sliding doors: cửa trượt có gương
ar
get bogged down by clutter: bị sa lầy/kẹt bởi sự lộn xộn
disarray: sự lộn xộn = clutter
le
a wall-mounted flat-screen TV: TV treo tường màn hình phẳng
What do you like about your flat? What I particularly like is that it reflects my personality, so I
E-
feel really comfortable being at home. Also, it gives me the feeling of stepping into a safe,
personal refuge.
reflects my personality: thể hiện tích cách của tôi
0
refuge: nơi trú ẩn, chỗ ở
8.
What can you see from the windows where you live?
Unfortunately, as I live in a huge industrial city, every time I look out of the window, I see nothing
ng
but concrete jungle.
concrete jungle: khu rừng bê tông (các tòa nhà bê tông-thành phố)
ki
As/since/because I live in a house, I have a very nice view of the river and forest from the
window. It's especially beautiful at dawn and at dusk.
ea
at dawn and at dusk: lúc bình minh và hoàng hôn

Do you prefer living in a house or a flat?
Sp
I would rather live in a house as I would be able to do almost anything I want without disturbing
other people. What I mean is when you live in a flat, even if you speak loudly, your neighbours
start complaining. But when you live in a house, you can listen to music, laugh, dance and, if
you do it with a reasonable amount of consideration, no one will even notice anything.
TS
disturb: làm phiền

consideration: cân nhắc, xem xét
EL
What would you like to change in your flat?

I would like to breathe more life into it by hanging some paintings on the walls or putting a
:I
potted plant on the window sill.

window sill: ngưỡng cửa sổ
Fb
4. Art
Do you like painting or drawing?
Oh, I really enjoy it. It is so relaxing. It always calms my mind and helps me forget my worries.
Plus, it's a great way to fight boredom. I often draw while waiting for someone or queuing.
fight boredom: chống lại sự nhàm chán
Oh, yeah, I do like it. Painting is a way of connecting with my inner self, something that always
gives me insights. Also, it's a way to communicate my thoughts, I mean express what I can't
express in words. And, of course, it's real fun which makes me happy and satisfied.
a way of connecting with my inner self: là cách kết nối với thế giới nội tâm của mình
I don't. I just can't do it, which makes me feel nervous and doesn't give me a chance to enjoy the
process.
give me a chance: có cơ hội
What kinds of things do you like to draw?
Well, I can't say I enjoy drawing something in particular. I like to draw everything I see. These can
be people, animals, flowers or foods. I just see someone or something that catches my
attention. I start drawing, and do it as long as it brings me joy.
catch my attention: thu hút sự chú ý của tôi
Is it easy to learn how to draw?
I'm sure it is, but only if you're positive and have the confidence and willingness to learn. One
n
more thing that makes it really easy, to my mind, is taking a drawing course... and, of course,
ar
practicing a lot.
willingness: sự sẵn lòng
le
What do you know about paintings?
Well, not too much and not too little, I would say. For example, I know that there are different
E-
painting styles and techniques, that paintings can be created on different supports, in other
words, different surfaces such as canvas, primed hardboard, wood or paper, and with different
brushes for different kinds of paint and to produce different kinds of lines. Also, I know that the
0
most common types of paint used by artists are acrylic, oil, water-mixable oil, watercolor and
8.
pastel, and that color theory is one of the fundamentals of painting, a guide to how colors
interact, complement or contrast with one another.
canvas: tranh sơn dầu
ng
primed hardboard: tranh gỗ
brush: cây cọ vẽ
ki
pastel: phấn màu

ea
fundamental: điều quan trọng

Have you learned drawing or painting?
Oh yes, I can say that I have as I took time to do it every single day in my childhood practicing
Sp
hard and never getting discouraged either from my parents or my Art teachers.
get discouraged: nản chí
Unfortunately, 'no', as I've never been creative or had enough perseverance for that. I've tried
TS
painting several times but failed to create something worthy. So, I can't say I've learned it.
perseverance = patience: tính kiên nhẫn, kiên trì
EL
Do you like visiting museums and art galleries?

Definitely, I do. I enjoy visiting museums and art galleries ‘coz they are a great way to spend
time with friends and family learning something new about different time periods and
:I
discussing thoughts and opinions with each other. What's more, museums make me think, which
Fb
I really like and art galleries clear my mind and boost my own creativity.
boost my own creativity: tăng sự sáng tạo
No, I don't. They are not my thing. There is nothing fun there and I can even say that in some
museums the atmosphere is funeral. Moreover, most of the objects are kept out of sight and the
artifacts on display are really boring.
not my thing: không phải sở thích của tôi
funeral: buồn thảm
artifact: món đồ, tạo tác
on display: trưng bày
Do you often visit museums?
Which do you prefer to visit, museums or art galleries?
Art galleries, I guess. I enjoy looking at paintings focusing on the play of color and light in works
of different artists. I also admire the beauty of statues carved in stone. One more point for art
galleries is that looking at the world through the eyes of different artists always clears my mind
and lets me have a good rest.
carved in stone: được khắc bằng đá
I think I enjoy visiting museums more than visiting art galleries 'cause I like history and science
more than art. I really enjoy handling, manipulating and examining artifacts and exhibits as well
as looking through documents such as peace treaties and land grants that shaped life in my
and other countries. So, yeah, I definitely prefer museums.
n
handle: sờ, mó
ar
manipulate: nắn, bóp
examine: kiểm tra
le
exhibit: đồ triển lãm
E-
peace treaties: các hiệp ước hòa bình
land grants: trợ cấp đất đai
5. Mirrors
0
Would you use mirrors to decorate your room?
8.
Well, I think I would as they would add character and a touch of elegance to it. Also, mirrors
would add light and depth to my room, which would visually enlarge the space and make the
ng
room look brighter. All things considered, mirrors would make my room look better in general,
so it would be a good idea to buy a few mirrors in the near future to make the room more
inviting.
ki
add character and a touch of elegance: tăng thêm cá tính và tạo cảm giác thanh lịch
add light and depth: tăng ánh sáng và chiều sâu
ea
enlarge the space: làm căn phòng rộng hơn

Do you usually take a mirror with you?
Sp
Oh yeah, I always take a purse mirror with me because it doesn't take up much space, it's small
and lightweight, but it helps me feel more confident during those precious moments when I
want to look and feel my best. What's more, it lets me take a quick glance at myself to check my
hair and makeup as often as I want regardless of where I am. So, it definitely brings
TS
convenience to my daily life and takes its rightful place in my handbag.

doesn't take up much space: không chiếm quá nhiều không gian
EL
during those precious moments: trong những khoảnh khắc quý giá
take a quick glance at: liếc nhìn
:I
regardless of: bất kể

Fb
How often do you use a mirror?

Do you like looking at yourself in a mirror?
Oh, I use a mirror almost every other minute. For instance, one of the first things I do in the
morning is look in the mirror. It is not because I enjoy looking at myself. It is just simply
unavoidable. I go to the bathroom, I look up, and there I am. So I always look in a mirror while
brushing my teeth, washing my face and brushing my hair. I also use it while I'm driving to see
what's happening around my car. I also look at myself while I'm working out in the gym to make
sure I do exercises correctly. It's also unavoidable when I'm in a locker room at a sports centre.
Actually, I always give a quick glance in a mirror if there's one nearby.
workout = exercise: tập thể dục
Do you use a mirror before buying clothing?
Well, frankly speaking, there's no point using changing room mirrors as most of them lie. For
example, they take a dress size off you. They make you look taller and thinner than you are. So
you look at yourself and think you've found the perfect dress as it looks fabulous. Then you get
home and look in your own mirror and discover it's actually a disaster.
changing room mirrors: gương ở phòng thử đồ
fabulous: tuyệt đẹp, vi diệu
disaster: thảm họa
What functions does a mirror have?
Do you think a mirror is a good decoration?
n
I believe its main function is to let you compare what you look like to what you think you should
ar
look like and make appropriate changes if necessary. For example, you may give a quick glance
in the mirror to check your hair and makeup, especially during those precious moments when
you want to look and feel your best. Also, some mirrors can really enhance decor and make a
le
room brighter and bigger-looking. Oh, I nearly forgot to say that mirrors are vital for safe
driving as they allow you to observe what is happening around your car. And it's really
E-
important to use side mirrors and a rear view one before you start to speed up, slow down,
change direction, turn or stop.
enhance decor: cải thiện phần trang trí
0
Have you ever bought a mirror?
8.
Sure. I bought a full length mirror to place on the floor in the entrance hall to look at myself
from head to toe before I leave home to make sure I look good. I bought one more mirror to
ng
hang on the wall in the bathroom so that I could look at myself while brushing my teeth or
doing my hair. And, of course, I bought several compact mirrors while travelling abroad as they
make wonderful gifts.
ki
from head to toe : từ đầu đến chân

ea
compact mirrors : gương nhỏ

6. Dreams
Do you remember your dreams when you wake up?
Sp
Oh, yeah, but only if they were so beautiful or bizarre that captured my attention, or if they
happened right before I woke up.
bizarre: chuyện quái dị
TS
capture/ draw my attention: thu hút sự chú ý

Oh, no. I remember none of my dreams when I wake up, to my regret. And even if I try to recall
EL
them, I usually fail.

recall: gợi nhớ
:I
Do you think dreams will affect life?

Do you think dreams have special meanings?
Fb
Well, I guess they will. Dreams can affect our behaviour and mood for the following day. They
can serve as a guide to our emotions that we sometimes can't express. They help us work
through stress, fear, anger, self doubt and guilt. So, yeah, they definitely have an influence on
our life, our health and even our relationships with other people.
serve as a guide: có giá trị như một sự hướng dẫn/ định hướng
guilt: tội lỗi
Do you like hearing other people's dreams?
Do you share your dreams with others?
Oh, yeah. I find it fascinating. It's really interesting for me to ferret other's dreams out as well as
get a deeper perspective of their personality. What's more, listening to other's dreams is often
enjoyable 'cause dreams can be pretty amusing at times.
ferret (v): khám phá /ˈferɪt/
get a deeper perspective : có 1 cái nhìn sâu hơn về
No, I find it pretty boring, maybe because I don't see any point in doing it. I'd rather listen to
other's plans and ideas about how to achieve success in life than waste my time hearing their
dreams.
Do you want to learn more about dreams?
Well, I'm not sure I would like to get deep knowledge of dreams, but I would definitely like to know
what dreams are and why we have them, what they mean, what purpose they serve and, of
n
course, if we can control them or not.
ar
purpose: mục đích
7. Emails
le
Do you write many letters?
How often do you write letters or emails?
E-
Is sending emails popular in your country?
A great many, actually. I write them almost all the time at work 'cause it's the fastest and easiest
0
tool for business communication both inside and outside the office.
8.
Almost none at all. I mainly text people or communicate with them on Skype, Viber or other
communication applications. Letters and emails are messages I write once in a blue moon.
once in a blue moon: hiếm khi
ng
I do it once in a blue moon actually. I prefer to text people or communicate with them on Skype,
Viber or other communication applications.
ki
Do you prefer to write letters by hand or to use a computer?

I like writing letters 'cause they are more personal and add a human touch to the relationship
ea
making every word count, but I mostly write emails because they are fast and save a lot of my
time in the decision making process.
Sp
human touch: tác động của con người

making every word count: làm cho từ ngữ có ý nghĩa
decision making process: quá trình đưa ra quyết định
TS
What are the differences between letters and emails?

I guess the main distinction between them is that letters are written by hand and emails are
EL
typed on a computer. What is more, letters require our undivided attention and show how much
we care while emails are easy to use and can be delivered around the world at once.
distinction = difference
:I
undivided attention: toàn tâm toàn ý

Fb
at once = immediately: ngay lập tức

What do you usually write about?
When would you send emails to others?
I generally write about something that occupies or moves me, about the changes that are
happening at work or in the country, about recent events. From time to time I also write about
something I don't have enough courage to say to face.
occupy: chiếm giữ, làm bận rộn
courage to say to face: dũng cảm để nói trước mặt
Who do you usually write to?
In my free time I usually write to my friends who live in other cities or countries. On weekdays I
maintain correspondence with my colleagues and business partners.
correspondence with: thư từ với
Is it hard to think of what to write?
For me it is, unfortunately. The first reason for that is my very poor imagination and the second
is the fact that it's hard for me to focus on writing to let ideas come.
No, it's as easy for me to come up with ideas of what to write about as experience in everyday
life ‘cause I always have what to share with others. So the moment I start writing, ideas come to
me easily.
come up with ideas: nảy ra ý tưởng
n
What kind of letter or email do you think is the hardest to write?
ar
I guess the hardest letters are the ones rejecting someone or stating that a family member or
close friend has died. It's also really hard to write the kind of letters and letters in which you say
goodbye to someone you don't want to leave.
le
8. Sports
E-
Do you like watching sports programs on TV?
Yeah, I love watching sports programs on TV 'cause it's a lot more comfortable than doing so at
a stadium. First of all, a cozy seat or couch is much better than a cheap plastic seat with
0
minimal legroom. And you're not standing in long lines for food and toilet like you do when you
8.
watch it at a stadium. Plus, you can watch a game with the sound off or turn down the volume if
you don't want to hear crowds cheering as well as stadium or arena music. What's more, I know
that some people go to the game and then watch it on TV after they get home because they
ng
feel they miss being there too much as there's no replay.
a cozy seat: chỗ ngồi ấm cúng
ki
legroom: chỗ để chân

arena music: nhạc đấu trường /əˈriːnə/
ea
Who do you like to watch live sports games with?

Do you like to watch live sports games?
Sp
Who do you like to watch live sports games with? Well, I enjoy watching live sports games with
my father and brother as it brings us closer to each other. Plus, we have a really good time
together with food, beverages and entertainment all in one place. And of course, it also makes
the game much more special for the three of us.
TS
beverage: đồ uống
What is the difference between watching sports events at home and at the stadium?
EL
Well, watching a game at home gives people more comfort as they don't have to queue for food
or toilets for hours, get cold if the weather is not really good and waste hours after the game to
:I
get out of the parking lots. Instead, they can enjoy the warmth of their home, the company of
their close friends and unlimited snack breaks during long timeouts and halftime. They can
Fb
also easily pause the game and not miss out on any of the action and, of course, replay the
episodes they want to see one more time. Watching a match at the stadium people get first
hand touch of the event and create long-lasting memories of a fun and entertaining
atmosphere created by a large number of fans. One more advantage they get being at the
stadium is a chance to focus on anything that catches their attention as they are not restricted
to a particular view of the camera, which is unfortunately impossible watching a game on TV.
Oh, and the last difference I see is the fact that going to the stadium can cost people quite a lot
of money, while enjoying the game at home is for free.
timeouts and halftime: hết giờ và giờ nghỉ giải lao
pause the game: dừng trò chơi
replay the episodes: tua/chiếu lại các tập
restricted : giới hạn
Do you like sport?
Oh yeah, I do as it's the only way for me to release stress and improve my general health. What's
more, it's my favorite way to make friends and enjoy social interaction. So, definitely yes!
release stress: giảm stress
social interaction: sự tương tác xã hội
Do most people in your country like sports?
Well, I guess yes as sport helps people stay in shape and in some cases even find a purpose in
life. Moreover, playing sports makes life more interesting and filled with positive emotions 'cause
n
sports communication brings fun into everyday routine. So, yeah, I am more than sure that
ar
most people in my country like it.
as = because
le
stay in shape: khỏe mạnh
What sports do you like?
E-
What was your favourite sport when you were young?
Did you do any sports when you were young?
0
Oh, I am really fond of playing tennis as it is one of the most dynamic sports requiring my total
8.
involvement. It encourages interaction, communication and just plain fun and is a great stress
reliever which makes it even more loveable.
dynamic: năng động
ng
What sports do people in your country like to play?
Oh, I would say all kinds of ball games. People in my country are fond of football because it has
ki
simple rules, can be played just with a ball almost anywhere, is very entertaining to watch and
play and very short which makes viewers actively involved in the game from the beginning to
ea
the end. There are also a lot of basketball and volleyball fans.
be fond of = like: thích
Sp
from the beginning to the end: từ đầu đến cuối

9. Taking photos:
Do you like to take photographs?
TS
What do you like to photograph?

I can safely say I have a passion for it. At some point of my life photography changed the way I
EL
see the world around me. What I mean is when I look at the world through my camera lens, I see
the details that, otherwise, would go unnoticed. Now I notice light, shapes, colours, textures,
people, buildings, trees, flowers... It's a great way to explore the world. Once you start noticing
details, you inevitably start to see how much beauty is all around you.
:I
I have a passion for = I like it

Fb
At some point of my life: vào một thời điểm nào đó trong cuộc đời của tôi
go unnoticed: bỏ qua
texture: kết cấu, cấu trúc
For me, photography is the best way to relieve stress. Once I start taking pictures, it's really hard
for me to stop. I really quickly get immersed in the process and completely forget about my
problems. The only thing I worry about is how to make a perfect shot.
relieve stress: giảm stress
Once: một khi
immersed in: đắm chìm vào
make a perfect shot: chụp 1 bức ảnh hoàn hảo
How did you become interested in photography?
Well, I fell in love with photography when I joined an interest group for travelling on Facebook.
Every day its members shared beautiful photographs of nature and exotic places which they
had been to. I was especially fascinated by micro images of flowers and insects and magnificent
seascapes at dusk. One day I asked myself why I couldn't take such beautiful pictures. So now
I'm a keen photographer.
exotic places: địa điểm kỳ thú
micro images: ảnh rất nhỏ
magnificent seascapes: cảnh biển tuyệt đẹp
n
at dusk: lúc hoàng hôn, chạng vạng
ar
How do you keep your photos?
Well, I usually store photos on my computer and there's a folder for each year and event. Also, I
have a backup copy of all my photos on an external hard drive. This way, even if my computer
le
suddenly crashes, or gets stolen, I will still have my photos safe and sound.
E-
external hard drive: ổ cứng gắn ngoài
crash: vỡ, bể
safe and sound: bình an vô sự
0
As I'm a technophile, I keep my photos in the cloud. The best thing about it is that they can be
8.
easily accessed from any device. Also, I don't have to spend any extra time or effort on doing so
as I've downloaded an app which synchronizes my phone with cloud storage and it is done
ng
automatically.
technophile: người mê công nghệ
synchronise: đồng bộ hóa /ˈsɪŋkrənaɪz/
ki
Do you ever delete or, if on paper, throw away any of your photos?
ea
Oh, it's better to ask me if there are any photos that I don't delete. Unfortunately I'm a
perfectionist, therefore I don't like less than perfect pictures. So if I see that a photo has poor
quality, I immediately delete it. Also, I don't like multiple photos of the same kind as nobody will
Sp
look at all of them unless they want to train their eyes to spot minor differences. I'm joking.
spot minor differences: chỉ ra điểm khác nhau rất nhỏ
10. Cinemas
TS
How often do you go to a cinema to watch a movie?

Well, I go to the cinema every time there is a new release. My friends call me a movie freak but I
EL
just enjoy watching films on the big screen and getting pulled into the sound and colour in a
way that can't be felt at home.
there is a new release: có 1 bộ phim mới ra
:I
a movie freak: người mê phim

Fb
getting pulled into: bị thu hút bởi

feel at home: cảm thấy tự nhiên như ở nhà
Do people in your country like to go to a cinema to watch a film?
I guess yes as there are always a lot of people at the cinema. Cinemas are in great demand as
they let people focus on the movie and not get distracted, which people value. What's more, it's a
good way to spend time out.
be in great demand: được nhiều người ưa chuộng
get distracted: bị sao nhãng
Do you like to watch movies alone or with your friends?
Do you like to go to the cinema with your friends?
Personally I like to watch films alone as I’ll get to watch exactly what I want. What's more, it's a
kind of the ultimate 'me time' with no conversations and other distractions.
ultimate = best: tốt nhất, tối ưu
'me time': thời gian cho bản thân
What kinds of movies do you like best?
Well, I guess action films for sure. They attract me with their non-stop motion, spectacular
rhythm and pacing. Another kind of movie that I like is drama. I think I like it so much because
of realistic characters, settings and life situations. And, of course, I cannot fail to mention
comedies. I like them for their light-hearted plots which amuse and provoke laughter.
n
non-stop motion: chuyển động không ngừng
ar
spectacular rhythm and pacing:nhịp độ và nhịp điệu hấp dẫn/đẹp mắt/ngoạn mục
drama: phim truyền hình
le
realistic characters, settings: bối cảnh và nhân vật có thật
light-hearted plots: cốt truyện mang tính giải trí
E-
amuse: vui, gây giải trí
provoke laughter: gây cười
0
11. Street markets
8.
Are there many street markets in your country?
Oh yeah, I'd say many as there is at least one street market in each neighbourhood in cities or
ng
towns and sometimes a couple of markets in every village. You see, street markets have always
been central to the cultural and economic history of my country. So, there are a lot of them
everywhere.
ki
a couple of = a few: một vài

central to: là yếu tố then chốt
ea
What do street markets sell?

What do people usually buy at street markets?
Sp
I think people usually go to street markets in order to buy foods like fruits, vegetables, meat and
fish, flowers, sweets, paintings and even antique stuff.
antique stuff: đồ cổ /ænˈtiːk/
TS
What is the difference between street markets and supermarkets?

Do you prefer shopping in a shopping mall or at a street market?
EL
Well, supermarkets are self-service stores while markets are places where sellers serve buyers.
One more difference is that supermarkets are indoor shops while street markets are located
outdoors. Also, the conditions inside supermarkets are more comfortable than those of the
:I
street markets, I mean that shops are always warm in winter and cool in summer. And the most
important difference, to my mind, is that produce at street markets is more fresh, and
Fb
sometimes more diverse, than that in supermarkets.

produce (uncountable noun): sản phẩm
diverse: đa dạng
Do many people go to street markets in your country?
Well, quite a few, actually. People like visiting street markets as there is always a variety of
products to everyone's liking and budget. What's more, the produce there is always fresh and
usually lasts longer than that from the supermarket.
liking: sự yêu thích
budget: ngân sách, túi tiền
Do you like going to street markets?
I do, but not very often. I don't really like crowded and noisy places, but at the same time I adore
buying fresh high-quality products. Oh, I also adore to bargain at the markets, so I'd rather say I
like visiting them than not.
high-quality product: sản phẩm chất lượng cao
bargain: trả giá /ˈbɑːɡən/
12. Mobile phones
What was your first mobile phone?
I got my first smartphone when I was 7 or 8. My parents gave me an iPhone 5S model for my
birthday. Simplicity is the best word to describe it. It was extremely thin and light. It had a big
n
screen with high resolution which was neither big nor small. It was smaller than that of iPhone
6S, but bigger than that of iPhone4. There were just four mechanical buttons. This model had a
ar
finger recognition system, so in most cases I used touch ID to activate different apps and
services, which was a wonderful feature for lazy people like me. To navigate, I used multiple taps
le
and drags. This smartphone had a user-friendly interface. I just loved it.
Simplicity: tính đơn giản
E-
high resolution: độ phân giải cao/ˌhaɪ rezəˈluːʃn/
mechanical button: nút cơ học
0
a finger recognition system: hệ thống nhận diện bằng ngón tay
8.
activate: khởi động, kích hoạt
feature: đặc điểm, đặc tính
ng
navigate: sử dụng, điều hướng
multiple taps and drags: kéo và nhấn nhiều lần
ki
a user-friendly interface: giao diện thân thiện với người dùng

Oh, I can't help smiling every time I recall my first mobile device. This was a cumbersome ugly
ea
device with a small black-and-white screen and a massive antenna. As far as I remember it was
Ericsson. What I remember well is that it took almost the whole night to charge, but the battery
life was like 2 or 3 hours. It was really primitive, but it was a status symbol at that time.
Sp
can't help smiling: không thể không cười

recall: nhớ lại
cumbersome: cồng kềnh /ˈkʌmbəsəm/
TS
massive antenna: cái ăng-ten to tướng /ænˈtenə/

charge: sạc (pin)
EL
primitive: cổ, nguyên sơ

a status symbol at that time: một biểu trưng của địa vị vào thời đó
:I
Oh, my first mobile phone made me the coolest girl in the class as I was lucky to have the latest
(at that time) model of Nokia. It had a color display and I was happy when it started ringing as I
Fb
had (like the majority of Nokia owners) a Nokia ring tone that everybody was crazy about. Now I
don't even understand why. And I have a lot of fond memories of playing Snake during breaks,
and everyone gathered around me and asked me to let them play for a while.
the latest model: mẫu mới nhất
a color display: màn hình màu
fond memories: kí ức đẹp
during breaks: trong suốt giờ giải lao
How often do you use your mobile phone?
Do you use your mobile phone for texting or calls?
Well, I guess all the time I am awake. I use it for making and receiving calls, texting my friends
and customers, getting and sharing news on social networks sites, checking my email messages
and even doing online banking. I also take photos with my phone and keep track of calendar
events. So yeah, almost all day long.
keep track of : theo dõi
Can you describe your mobile phone?
Recently I bought a Samsung Galaxy XX which I'd been dreaming of for a long time. I think it's an
excellent smartphone. What I mean is it's a typical smartphone by today's standards as it's a
touchscreen device which is thin and light, but it's obviously of much higher quality than many
other Android devices. I'm more than satisfied with the quality of photos and videos. The sound
is excellent too. So there's, actually, nothing to complain about.
n
a touchscreen device: thiết bị màn hình cảm ứng
ar
Will you buy a new mobile phone in the future?
Oh yeah, definitely I would. Just to be updated with technology and improve the functionality of
le
the phone. I am sure everyone would take a chance to get a significantly better phone at the
earliest opportunity, and I am not an exception.
E-
improve the functionality: cải thiện chức năng
I am not an exception: tôi không phải ngoại lệ
0
Well, I've just bought the phone I am using now and don't plan to buy a new one in the
8.
foreseeable future. But it's only till the moment it becomes outdated or stops working 'cause
then I will have to choose and buy a new phone.
in the foreseeable future: trong tương lai gần
ng
How has your mobile phone changed your life?
Oh, first of all, it has made my life much more convenient 'cause it provides me with an easy and
ki
fast way of communication, enabling me to do various tasks all at the same time and freeing
me from the constraints of space. What's more, it has given me a chance to enjoy social media
ea
on the go, which is really cool!

constraints of space: hạn chế về không gian
Sp
on the go: khi đang di chuyển, khi đang đi trên đường

13. Time management
How do you usually organize your time?
TS
Well, I start my day only after completing my time plan. The first thing I do is identify my
priorities and assign time to any activity or conversation important for my success. I try to stick
to the time boundaries by eliminating activities that waste my time and prevent me from
EL
staying focused.
complete my time plan: hoàn thành kế hoạch thời gian
:I
identify my priorities: xác định các việc ưu tiên

assign time: phân bổ thời gian
Fb
stick to the time boundaries: tuân theo/ bám vào các mốc thời gian
eliminate: lờ đi, loại trừ
prevent me from: ngăn tôi khỏi (làm việc gì)
Are you good at organising time?
I guess I am, because I always meet my deadlines. At the beginning of each week I make a list of
the tasks I need to accomplish, identify my priorities for a day and a week, peg a time limit to
each task and do my best to stick to these time boundaries by crossing things off the list as
they are completed and trying to speed up when I see that I am behind my schedule.
meet my deadlines: kịp thời hạn
accomplish: hoàn thành
peg a time limit: chốt giới hạn thời gian
do my best: làm hết sức
crossing things off the list: gạch bỏ ra khỏi danh sách
speed up: tăng tốc
behind my schedule: chậm kế hoạch
Are you good at organising time?
I'm afraid I'm not. I don't always meet my deadlines and procrastinate. I often fail to manage
distractions such as TV, emails, Facebook. Also, I sometimes take on too much 'cause I can't say
'no' to people.
n
procrastinate: trì hoãn /prəˈkræstɪneɪt/
ar
manage distractions: quản lý sự phân tâm/ sao nhãng
14. Websites
le
What kinds of websites do you often visit?
E-
Oh, I really often visit Gmail, an email website to check my email when I'm on my computer. Also, I
am a frequent visitor to social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok as they
help me stay up-to-date with news and current events, make social connections and find funny
0
and entertaining content.
8.
a frequent visitor : khách quen, khách hàng thường xuyên
stay up-to-date with news and current events: cập nhật tin tức và sự kiện hiện tại
ng
social connections: kết nối xã hội
entertaining content: nội dung giải trí
What kinds of websites are popular in your country?
ki
Well, undoubtedly, the most loved and preferred choice of websites in my country is social
ea
networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok as they are an epicenter of all kinds
of human activity, be it in the sphere of business, education or entertainment. Though, I should
also name shopping sites, business sites and educational sites among the most visited
Sp
websites in X.
an epicenter of all kinds of human activity: tiêu điểm của tất cả hoạt động của con người
/ˈepɪsentə(r)/
TS
What is your favourite website?

Oh, my favourite website (though it's also an app) is Instagram as it offers a flurry of benefits to
enjoy. This site is an inexhaustible source of breaking news and so a potent tool both for social
EL
interaction and business activity. I really love to fill up my free time with all the information I can
find there.
a flurry of benefits: một loạt các lợi ích
:I
inexhaustible source: nguồn vô tận

Fb
breaking news: tin sốt dẻo, tin nóng hổi

a potent tool: công cụ có uy lực
fill up my free time with: lấp đầy thời gian
Are there any changes to the websites you often visit?
Well, definitely, there are as the sites' web designs have evolved so much. What I've noticed is
that the images throughout the websites have become more visually appealing, and that a
fresh new layout for pages has made navigation, interaction and management easier than ever
before.
visually appealing: hấp dẫn trực quan
layout: thiết kế, bố trí, giao diện
15. Losing and finding things
What should people do if they find something?
Well, I guess, first of all, hand the item in at the location of finding or leave their contact details
at the place of find so that the owner may contact them. Also, I think people should put up a
notice near to where they found the item i.e. place an advert or posters on a community notice
board at the location of find as well as create a post on local social media pages such as
Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. One more thing I would recommend people to do in this case is
report found property to the police or if they find some documents, return them directly to the
issuing authority or provider.
hand in: nộp, giao
n
leave their contact detail: để lại thông tin liên lạc
ar
put up a notice: treo 1 tờ thông báo
Is it ok to keep an item that you found?
le
No. No way! How is that different from stealing? Whatever you find is a piece of property that
belongs to someone else. This means it's not yours. And, by definition, holding or possessing
E-
property that you know does not belong to you is stealing. So, even though you did not steal
the item by taking it directly from its owner, keeping an item that you found, and not trying to
return it, is a form of stealing. So, at first, it's illegal. You should turn over whatever you found to
0
the local police. Also, to my mind, it's morally wrong to take something that someone else lost.
8.
What if this person spent life savings to buy it? Or what if this item meant a lot to this person?
You can only keep it for some time if you are going to make a sincere effort to return it to the
rightful owner. Otherwise, as I've said before, you should hand it in to the police or lost and
ng
found.
by definition: theo định nghĩa
ki
a form of stealing: một dạng của trộm cắp

illegal: bất hợp pháp
ea
morally wrong: sai về mặt đạo đức

mean a lot : có ý nghĩa rất nhiều
Sp
make a sincere effort: nỗ lực một cách chân thành

rightful owner: chính chủ
lost and found: nơi nhận đồ mất
TS
What should people do to find what they lost?

Of course, what people should do in order to find a lost item very much depends on what they
EL
lost and where they lost it. But in most cases, all people need to do is determine the last time
they saw it, return to the place where they last saw it and repeat their way to the place where
they found it missing. If a person lost something in a public place, I guess they should ask
:I
people around if they saw the lost item, visit the lost-and-found office, if available, or inform the
police about the loss. If a person lost a phone, they should try to hunt it down using Google
Fb
maps, IMEI number or some app that will help them locate their device and lock it until they get
it back. If a person loses a key, the best thing to do first is to search the bag and pockets
thoroughly. At least, these are the things that usually work for me when I lose something.
determine: xác định /dɪˈtɜːmɪn/
inform the police : thông báo cho cảnh sát
lock: khóa
search the bag and pockets thoroughly: tìm trong túi áo quần và túi xách kĩ
these are the things that usually work for me: những điều này hiệu quả với tôi
What things do people usually find?
Well, I guess the ones other people usually lose. I mean keys, wallets, ID cards, cell phones,
sunglasses, laptops and other easily misplaced items often left in public places such as shops,
parks, sports centres, or on public transportation such as the bus or subway. I also know quite
a few cases when people found umbrellas, gloves, earrings and even lunch boxes and shopping
bags. So, you never know.
other easily misplaced items: những thứ dễ mất khác
What things do people often lose?
Well, I think that phones, keys and glasses top the list of the most commonly lost items. Running
second to them are battery chargers, stationery, wallets and documents, especially passports
and driver's licenses. Oh, and umbrellas as well. If we also talk about what people lose at home, I
am more than sure that the leader is a TV remote control, as I also lose it every now and then.
n
top the list: đầu danh sách
ar
the most commonly lost items: những đồ dễ thất lạc nhất
Running second: đứng thứ 2
le
stationery: văn phòng phẩm /ˈsteɪʃənri/
E-
driver's license: bằng lái xe
the leader: cái đầu tiên
every now and then = from time to time = occasionally: thỉnh thoảng
0
16. Daily routine
8.
How do you organise your study time?
First of all, I work out how much time I have available, and then I list all the subjects I need to
ng
study and the tasks in hand, work out priorities between them, set targets for each task and do
my best to stick to the timetable.
ki
work out how much time: tính ra bao nhiêu thời gian
in hand = under control: trong tầm tay, trong tầm kiểm soát
ea
work out priorities: đặt ra các ưu tiên

set target: lập mục tiêu
Sp
stick to the timetable: tuân theo thời gian biểu

Do you ever change your plans?
Have you ever changed your routine?
TS
Oh yes, I often change my plans when something goes wrong along the way and I feel I got
stuck in a rut. I also make changes when new opportunities arise and I see some better
EL
alternatives to the plans I had.

get stuck in a rut: mắc kẹt, sa lầy
new opportunities arise: cơ hội mới xuất hiện
:I
alternatives: các sự lựa chọn khác, các giải pháp thay thế
Fb
Oh no, almost never. I have an instinctive fear of the unknown. What is more, I am afraid to lose
something I have already achieved, so I always try to stick to my plans and timetable.
an instinctive fear of the unknown: bản năng sợ hãi về những điều chưa biết
What's your favourite time of the day?
Well, I really like mornings because they offer freshness and peacefulness as well as bring new
promises and possibilities. One more reason why I like mornings is the fact that I am more
productive at this time as I feel full of energy.
productive: có nhiều năng suất, hữu ích
Oh, I adore evenings as it's the only time of the day I can spend with my family and friends. What
is more, evenings let me enjoy everything I do as I don't have to hurry, which I value a lot.
hurry: gấp gáp, vội vã
Do you like to plan what you will do each day?
Oh yeah, I really enjoy planning my days as it makes my life more predictable and, as a result,
less stressful. It gives me the right direction, motivates me during the day and keeps me
disciplined. It also increases my efficiency and helps produce quality work.
predictable: có thể đoán được
less stressful: giảm stress
right direction: định hướng đúng
motivate: truyền động lực
n
keeps me disciplined: giữ cho tôi kỷ luật
ar
efficiency: sự hiệu quả
No way! Making plans is so time-consuming and stressful for me. What's more, plans restrict me
le
in many ways, making me feel the pressure of being in charge of unexpected twists, complexities
and pitfalls. I like to be flexible and go where the day takes me. Planning is not my cup of tea.
E-
time-consuming: tốn thời gian
in charge of : chịu trách nhiệm về
0
twist: sự thay đổi
8.
complexities and pitfalls: cạm bẫy và sự phức tạp
flexible: linh hoạt
ng
is not my cup of tea: không phải là sở thích của tôi
Please describe your typical daily routine
ki
Oh, I usually wake up at around 6 am, wash my face, brush my teeth, drink a glass of lemon
water and go for a run. I normally run for about 1 hour, then get back home, have a shower, get
ea
dressed, do my hair and put on make-up. Then I prepare and have my breakfast, and go to
work. At the office I usually work on a current project, have a couple of meetings and discuss
some work issues with my colleagues. After office hours, I have a short walk back home, make
Sp
and have my dinner, unwind a bit either watching TV or surfing the net, have a soothing bath
and go to bed. That's what my typical day is like.
put on make-up = wear make-up: trang điểm
TS
work issues: vấn đề công việc

unwind a bit: thư giãn một chút
EL
have a soothing bath: tắm nhẹ

Do you usually do the same things at the same time each day?
At least I try to. Doing so helps me manage my time, increases my efficiency and ensures timely
:I
completion and deliverable results, which is important for me.

Fb
deliverable result: kết quả có thể mang lại

Oh no. No two days are the same. It would be too boring for me. I like to be flexible in my daily
routine, try. something spontaneous and just go where the day takes me.
spontaneous: đồng thời
What do you want to change in your daily routine?
Well, I would really like to wake up later, work less, rest more and have enough time for hobbies
but it's unlikely to happen in the very near future.
work less, rest more: làm ít nghỉ ngơi nhiều
17. Cars
What type of car do you like?
I particularly like hatchbacks. This is the car type that best suits my needs and lifestyle right
now. First of all, I need to transport myself and my family as safely, comfortably, and cheaply as
possible. There's more than enough room for all of us. Plus, it's stylish enough.
hatchback: xe ô tô 4-5 chỗ ngồi
transport: chở, vận chuyển
Why do you like travelling by car?
Oh, I like travelling by car because it always means speed and comfort for me. For example, it
prevents me from worrying about my kids bothering other passengers or from deciding what
things we just can't take with us because of some baggage weight restrictions. Well, and one
n
more reason why I like travelling by car is because it is typically the cheapest way to travel
inside the country.
ar
speed and comfort: nhanh và thoải mái
baggage weight restrictions: giới hạn trọng lượng hành lý
le
What is the farthest place you have travelled to by car?
E-
Well, the farthest place l've travelled to by car was Paris. That drive took me across a few other
countries and in general lasted a few days. I was exhausted when we arrived in Paris but it was
definitely worth it.
0
exhausted: kiệt sức, mệt lử
8.
worth: xứng đáng
Do you like to sit in front or back when travelling by car?
ng
Well, if we travel during the day, I always choose the front seat as keeping my eyes on the road
prevents me from experiencing nausea while travelling. Though, I usually opt for a back seat if
we travel at night as it's more comfortable to nap in the back.
ki
nausea: buồn nôn /ˈnɔːziə/

ea
nap: ngủ, chợp mắt

When do you travel by car?
Well, I usually travel by car when it's the fastest or the only way to get to my destination. Or when
Sp
I want to travel at my own pace making stops whenever and wherever I want as well as changing
my plans as I go pulling off the road and seeing the sights.
at my own pace: di chuyển theo cách của tôi
TS
pull off the road: dừng lại bên đường

18. Memory
EL
Are you good at memorizing things?

Yes, I think I can say so. I have no difficulty in memorising information 'cause I use a number of
simple memorisation strategies. For example, I always try to review information just before I go
:I
to sleep 'cause it has been proven that our brain processes and stores information while we
Fb
sleep. Also, I'm an auditory learner, so for me the most effective way to memorise information is
by hearing it. So to memorise, say, a poem, I read it out loud to myself several times. Sometimes
I record it and then play it again and again.
memorisation strategies: các chiến lược ghi nhớ
an auditory learner: một người học thính giác
Why do people often forget small things?
Well, I guess because of insufficient focus, time and attention spent on them. People just don't
register small stuff in their memory in the first place and, as a result, easily forget it.
insufficient focus: ít tập trung
register small stuff in their memory: ghi lại những thứ nhỏ trong bộ nhớ
How can you make sure you don't forget things?
Oh, I think I can do it in a variety of ways. For instance, I can write all plans down on my to-do
list or put them on my calendar and then just check what I have already done and what I still
have to complete. I can also set reminders for things to do or try using some app like Evernote
or Slice Planner to remember everything I need. But the best thing I can do, to my mind, is
develop specific habits that will ensure that things don't slip between the cracks.
set reminders : đặt lời nhắc
don't slip between the cracks: đừng quên việc
19. Advertisements:
n
Do you watch ads from the beginning to the end?
ar
Oh no. Never. When I watch videos on YouTube, I always press the SKIP AD button as soon as it
appears on the screen. When I watch TV, I always switch to another TV channel during ad
breaks to avoid ads and go back to a channel when advertisements end. You see, if ads were
le
different every time, and if they were similar to those produced by Procter & Gamble or Nike, I
would definitely watch them from the beginning to the end. But it's just unbearable to watch the
E-
same ad every day 20 times per day.
switch to: chuyển sang
0
unbearable: không thể chịu đựng được
8.
Is there much advertising in your country?
What are the different places where we see advertisements?
ng
What advertising do you have in your country?
Is there much advertising in your country? Yeah, nowadays there seems to be no place beyond
the reach of advertising. Ads plaster urban areas, interrupt TV shows and constantly pop up on
ki
the screen of a computer or smartphone.

no place beyond the reach of advertising: không nơi nào ko có quảng cáo
ea
plaster=cover: bao phủ

pop up=appear/occur: xuất hiện
Sp
Is there much advertising in your country? Oh yeah, ads seem to be ubiquitous nowadays. They
simply chase me wherever I go, so it sometimes seems I can’t do anything without companies
trying to brainwash me.
TS
ubiquitous=prevalent=popular=common: phổ biến

chase: săn đuổi
EL
brainwash (v): tẩy não

What are the different places where we see advertisements? Oh, they seem to be plastering the
whole city. Even in the most unlikely locations... We cannot even go to a bathroom in a cafe
:I
without being bombarded by marketing messages.

Fb
bombard (v) tấn công tới tấp, lan tràn

What advertising do you have in your country? Nowadays, there are numerous ways that
companies use to target their audience. If you watch a football match, you are likely to see an
example of corporate sponsorship. I mean a logo of some company on each player's T-shirt.
There are also banner ads that clutter up the Internet. Finally, oftentimes you can see people
distributing leaflets. And, of course, there are hoardings that literally plaster cities.
corporate=company: công ty, tập đoàn
sponsorship (n): tài trợ
banner ads: quảng cáo bằng băng rôn
clutter up=full/fill: đầy rẫy, tràn lan
oftentimes =sometimes
leaflet: tờ rơi
hoardings: quảng cáo pa-nô
literally=mostly: gần như (để nhấn mạnh)
How do you feel about advertisements?
What kind of ads do you dislike?
Well, I hate ads as they've become simply unbearable. For example, there are magazines 200
pages long with only about 50, if that many, readable pages. I also hate it when I look for some
information on the Net and constantly come across the pages where the content exists just to
n
serve the marketing purposes or the most valuable information is buried under a heap of ads.
ar
bury (v) /ˈberi/: chôn vùi
a heap of : 1 đống
le
How do you feel about advertisements?
E-
I'm not opposed to ads in general, apart from those irritating hover over ones that start
playing a video and music, or even worse, the ones that open a new window. And you cannot
make them disappear no matter what you do.
0
be not opposed to: không phản đối
8.
irritating=annoying
ng
I don't really like ads, so I just try to tune out. You know, you get used to ads being all around
you and it's kind of like anything in your home, once it's been there for a while, you just stop
paying your attention to it.
ki
tune out=ignore: lờ đi
Do you like advertisements? Well, I happen to love advertising, as there's one really clever thing
ea
about it. I mean the adverts that appear based on your previous browsing history. So, even
though you are disturbed by them, at least, they show the stuff you are interested in.
Sp
previous=before: trước
I happen to=I appear to: dường như
Do you like advertisements on TV? I actually ignore advertisements as much as I can
TS
as/because they are nothing more than just an annoyance between plot twists in my favourite
TV shows and films, so I turn off the sound on TV during ads. I installed an AdB on my browser
because incessant pop-up ads used to distract my attention and slow down my surfing the Net,
EL
thus making it next to impossible to actually enjoy the content on the page.
annoyance: sự khó chịu
plot twists: khúc/đoạn hấp dẫn (trong phim)
:I
incessant: ko ngừng, ko ngớt, liên miên

Fb
distract my attention: làm mất tập trung

thus=so: vì vậy
next to impossible : gần như ko thể
content: nội dung
on the page: trên trang web
What do you think is the purpose of advertising?
Do you think advertising plays a very important role in today's world?
Why do you think companies advertise themselves or their products?
Why do you think companies advertise themselves or their products? Well, to promote new
products is one of the reasons why companies launch advertising campaigns. By informing
people about a product and highlighting its benefits, companies stimulate people's interest if
they manage to show that the product will address the needs of customers.
promote new products: quảng cáo sản phẩm
advertising campaigns: chiến dịch quảng cáo
inform: thông báo
highlight: làm nổi bật
stimulate: kích thích, thúc đẩy
address the needs of customers: đáp ứng nhu cầu của khách hàng
n
What do you think is the purpose of advertising? Were it not for advertising, companies wouldn't
ar
be able to boost their sales so easily. They reach their target audiences through different
channels and create a preference for a particular product.
le
Were it not for: nếu không phải là (đảo ngữ câu điều kiện loại 2)
boost their sales: tăng doanh số
E-
reach their target audiences: tiếp cận khách hàng mục tiêu
What do you think is the purpose of advertising? Well, competition is fierce, so you have to
0
always remind your customers that you are still there and ready to address their needs. More
importantly, advertising helps you to tell your customers why you are a better choice than your
8.
competitors. If companies don't advertise, customers will quickly forget about them and switch
to competing brands.
ng
fierce /fɪəs/: khắc nghiệt, khốc liệt, mạnh mẽ
competitor: đối thủ
ki
switch to=change to: chuyển sang

competing brand: nhãn hàng đối thủ
ea
Do you think advertising plays a very important role in today's world? Well, competition is fierce
nowadays and if competing companies advertised and you didn't, it would take you ages to
enhance sales and expand markets because no one would know that your products exist. Being
Sp
bombarded by advertisements of your rivals, customers won't bother spending time on finding
out whether your company has what to offer or not. They are likely to buy what they have
already seen advertised or what they see advertised on a regular basis.
TS
it would take you ages to: mất nhiều thời gian để

enhance sales: tăng doanh số
EL
expand markets: mở rộng thị trường

rival: đối thủ
bother: phiền
:I
on a regular basis: thường xuyên

Fb
20. Boring things

Well, to be honest, lots of things make me feel bored. But the ones that top the list are doing
chores, queuing, being stuck in traffic jams and filling in some documents.
doing chores: làm việc nhà
queuing: xếp hàng
being stuck in traffic jams: kẹt vì ùn tắc giao thông
filling in some documents: điền thông tin vào đơn
What do you do when you feel bored?
What do you do when you get bored?
Oh, I try to find something that will bring me pleasure like planning my next vacation, watching
a movie or just going for a walk. The main thing is to switch off.
bring me pleasure=make me happy: làm cho tôi vui
The main thing is to switch off: điều quan trọng là phải ngừng nghĩ về nó
Do you ever get bored?
Thank god, almost never. I can get bored only if I lack interest in something I do, do the same
thing over and over again or do nothing at all, which happens once in a blue moon.
n
lack interest to: không thích
ar
over and over again: lặp đi lặp lại nhiều lần
do nothing at all: không làm gì cả
le
happens once in a blue moon=rarely happens: hiếm khi xảy ra
E-
Do you feel more bored than when you were young?
Do you feel more bored than when you were young? Fortunately not as I have learnt how to deal
with boredom for years of my life. Being a teenager I just didn't have any experience in
0
combating this psychological state and so suffered from it more often. Now, the moment I start
8.
feeling bored, I do my best to switch off.
deal with boredom: xử lý sự buồn tẻ
ng
combat: chiến đấu, chống lại
this psychological state: tình trạng tâm lý này
do my best : làm hết sức
ki
21. Watches:
ea

Yeah, I wear watches because when I need to check the time it's quicker and much more polite
to look at my wrist rather than pull my phone out of a pocket, especially during an important
Sp
meeting or a date. Also, for me a wrist watch is more than a timekeeper. I'd say it's a piece of art
and a very stylish accessory. For example, my watch usually attracts more attention than any
item in my wardrobe.
TS
look at my wrist: nhìn vào cổ tay

pull my phone out of a pocket: lấy điện thoại ra khỏi túi
EL
wrist watch: đồng hồ đeo tay

more than a timekeeper: không chỉ là 1 cái để báo thời gian
a piece of art : 1 tác phẩm nghệ thuật
:I
a stylish accessory: phụ kiện thời trang

Fb
attracts more attention: thu hút sự chú ý hơn

wardrobe: tủ áo quần
No, I don't feel the necessity to have a watch on my wrist as I'm used to checking the time with
my phone.
necessity: sự cần thiết
be/get used to +V-ing: quen với
Have you ever received a watch as a gift?
Yeah. I have. Some years ago my boss gave me an expensive watch after I had been working at
the company for 5 years. This way he wanted to show how much he appreciated my work and
my being loyal to the company.
appreciate: đánh giá cao
loyal: sự trung thành
When I was a child , my parents gave me a watch on my birthday as/because I was learning to
tell time then, so I was dreaming of having my own watch and kept asking parents to buy it.
Yeah, some time ago my boyfriend gave me a watch for my birthday. He said that a watch on my
wrist would make me think of him all day round.
all day round: cả ngày
n
ar
Well, expensive watches are a status symbol and a symbol of success. So it's a great way to show
le
everybody how wealthy you are without saying a single word. For some people wearing an
expensive watch is as natural as breathing, whereas others like to buy expensive watches just to
E-
impress their business partners or attract women although they may not be rich enough to
afford such buys.
status symbol: biểu tượng của địa vị
0
wealthy=rich: giàu
8.
as natural as breathing: tự nhiên như hơi thở
impress: gây ấn tượng
ng
afford: có khả năng chi trả
buys=items=goods: hàng hóa, món hàng
ki
22. Computers
How often do you use a computer? Well, I guess I do it every waking hour because there is such
ea
a wide choice of what to use it for from storing, and calculating data to browsing the Internet
and socializing.
Sp
store (v): lưu trữ

calculate data: tính toán dữ liệu
browse the Internet: lướt web
TS
socialize: hòa nhập với xã hội

Well, I would say I work on my computer around the clock. I have business partners all over the
EL
world and I always keep in touch with them via email or skype. I also use a computer for
entertainment and finding necessary information and it's every spare minute of mine apart
from time for sleep.
:I
around the clock=24 hours: cả ngày cả đêm, liên tục

keep in touch with: giữ liên lạc với
Fb
via =through: thông qua

it's every spare minute of mine apart from time for sleep: mỗi 1 phút rảnh rỗi của tôi đều dùng
máy tính ngoại trừ lúc ngủ
What do you usually use your computer for? Well, I mainly use my PC for researching and
providing information concerning my work. But in my free time I also like to play games or watch
movies as well as use it for communication purposes.
concerning/regarding: liên quan đến
communication purposes: mục đích giao tiếp
I feel I mostly use a computer for browsing the Internet, playing music I like and socializing with
friends and colleagues. From time to time I also need my PC to create powerpoint
presentations.
From time to time=sometimes
What kinds of computers are popular in your country?
It seems to me that computers that are in high demand these days are laptops and tablet PCs. I
think it's because they are small, flexible and mobile and at the same time rather powerful.
be in high demand: có nhu cầu cao
mobile (adj): có thể di chuyển
at the same time=as well as=and: cũng như
n
I guess smartphones are the most popular portable computing devices in my country these
days. They attract people ‘cause they are always available, come equipped with the technology
ar
to connect with cellular networks and can do a little bit of everything from making phone calls
to sending business emails.
le
portable : có thể mang theo, xách tay
‘cause=because/as/since: bởi vì
E-
come equipped with : được trang bị
cellular networks: mạng di động
0
Who taught you how to use a computer?
8.
When was the first time you used a computer?
It was my dad who did it. I was around 3 or 4 years old when he taught me basic computer
ng
concepts. He used some really engaging software programs to enhance my learning experience
and desire to learn and he did it in such a way that I thought I was playing rather than learning
basic computer concepts: các khái niệm máy tính cơ bản
ki
engaging (a) = interesting = intriguing = captivating: hấp dẫn

ea
enhance=improve: cải thiện, tăng cường, làm tăng

desire=strong wish: mong muốn, khao khát
Do you think computers have changed your life?
Sp
Definitely they have. Thanks to computers I have completed a couple of online courses offered
by the world's best universities. What's more, they have helped me to keep in touch with people
from around the world using email, chatting and mobile phones.
TS
What's more=besides=plus=on top of this=also=additionally=in addition: bên cạnh đó, thêm vào
đó
EL
Surely, they have. They have done it by facilitating my and people's lives and creating effective
learning, production and medical care as well as relieving the severity of travelling difficulties.
facilitate (v): làm…thuận tiện, thuận lợi
:I
relieve: giảm
Fb
severity: sự nghiêm ngặt

23. Old buildings
Should old buildings be preserved?
I guess 'yes', especially if they are a symbol of architectural heritage. Such buildings usually
create a lasting imprint on the area they are in and provide an insight into the history of the
country. This draws attention to the country and provides important income attracting great
numbers of tourists.
architectural heritage: di sản kiến trúc
a lasting imprint: 1 dấu ấn lâu dài
provide an insight into : giúp nhìn nhận về - cung cấp thông tin về
How do people in your country feel about old buildings?
Well, I suppose the majority of my countrymen think that old buildings should be preserved
especially if important historicity is kept. I guess it happens so because such buildings have
intrinsic value and attract tourists to the area. Though, there is no doubt there are also people
in my country who are against preserving old buildings as they make a heritage site limited for
development, do not always fit in with the new buildings or can even be a threat to society.
preserve: bảo tồn, giữ gìn
historicity: tính lịch sử
intrinsic value: giá trị chân thực, giá trị nội tại
n
be against: phản đối, chống lại
ar
a heritage site: 1 di sản
a threat: 1 mối đe dọa
le
What aspect of culture do old buildings reflect?
What aspect of culture do old buildings reflect? I'd say that both old and new buildings reflect
E-
three most important aspects of culture. The first is the type of behavior of the people of the
time, for example, the speed of their life reflected in construction materials they used and
design of the buildings. The second is the art of the time. I mean a variety of forms common to
0
a particular historical period or the techniques builders of the time used. And the third aspect
8.
is religion, that is beliefs people had and reflected in the buildings they constructed.
reflect: phản ánh
ng
construction materials: vật liệu xây dựng
the art of the time: nghệ thuật của thời đại
technique: kỹ thuật, phương pháp
ki
religion: tôn giáo

ea
How do old buildings affect the appearance of a place?

How do old buildings affect the appearance of a place? Well, they add some inexplicable charm
to the area creating an attractive and mixed environment and making the place distinctive.
Sp
What is more, they create the context defining the style of the buildings around and completing
the skyline in accordance with them.
inexplicable charm: sự quyến rũ ko thể giải thích được
TS
distinctive: khác biệt, đặc biệt, nổi bật

context : bối cảnh, ngữ cảnh
EL
skyline: đường chân trời

in accordance with: phù hợp với
:I
24. Reading
Do you read a lot? I used to be an avid reader but recently the pleasure of reading has started
Fb
to fade . To be honest, the thing is that the older I get, the more difficult it is to find good books
that would make me mentally challenged. Many ideas aren't novel and when I read a book, I no
longer feel the suspense of watching a plot to unfold.
avid reader: 1 người mê đọc sách
the pleasure of reading has started to fade: niềm đam mê đọc sách đã phai nhạt
mentally challenge: thử thách trí óc
novel (a): mới lạ
suspense : hồi hộp, chờ đợi
plot: cốt truyện
unfold: mở ra
Do you like reading? Oh, I'm really passionate about books . If it weren't for them, I guess my life
would be boring in a sense. While I'm reading, I become so deeply immersed into a different
world that I feel almost like I'm experiencing it myself. Books offer hundreds of lands to explore,
the past and future to navigate, and of course an infinite number of lives to step into. I feel as
though I'm actually there with the characters.
in a sense: theo 1 cách nào đó
immersed into : đắm chìm vào
navigate=find: tìm ra
infinite number of lives: vô số cuộc sống
n
step into: bước vào
ar
as though: như thể
character: nhân vật
le
Do you like reading? I love reading so much that everybody considers me a lifelong bookworm .
I read a lot and fast. I consume several books per week and they serve different purposes in my
E-
life. They help me to get away from reality, broaden knowledge and even look at my life from a
different perspective.
get away from reality: thoát khỏi thực tại
0
broaden knowledge : mở mang kiến thức
8.
perspective: quan điểm, cách nhìn
What books do you like to read? Frankly speaking, it doesn't really matter what books to read
ng
provided that they blow my mind and leave me pensive long after I have finished reading. I also
like books that describe life situations that help me find solutions to my problems or learn some
lessons.
ki
provided that=as long as: miễn là

ea
blow my mind : hấp dẫn

leave me pensive: để lại những suy ngẫm
What books do you like to read? What I really like reading is stories that can't possibly happen.
Sp
For example, I love sci-fi novels that set out a brilliantly imaginative view of the future. I also
can't help loving books about traveling through space and time. I love reading because it helps
me to become smarter. When I read, I discover a lot of information on different topics which
usually comes really handy in any conversation.
TS
sci-fi novels: tiểu thuyết khoa học viễn tưởng

set out: đặt ra
EL
imaginative: tưởng tượng

can't help +V-ing: ko thể ko
:I
comes really handy: hữu ích = useful

Fb
What books do you like to read? I love when I get so lost in a book that everything is forgotten
except the world I just stepped into, then when I finally come back to reality it takes me a minute
to remember where I am and the time.
What book did you read recently? Recently I finished reading Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the
Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance because it was one of the most-cited books of
2015. In this book the author looks inside the extraordinary life of Elon Musk and tells us about
his incredible projects such as Tesla, PayPal, SpaceX and SolarCity. I would like to say it's one of
the most interesting and inspiring books I have ever read.
one of the most-cited books: một trong những sách được trích dẫn nhiều nhất
What did you learn from it? I guess the most valuable insight is that impossible is nothing. If
Elon Musk and other inventors had listened to people around them or if he had hesitated
whether to try or not, he wouldn't have launched his wonderful projects that benefit people
worldwide.
the most valuable insight: sự thấu hiểu/thông tin đáng giá nhất
hesitate: do dự
launch=release: phát hành, ra mắt
What did you learn from it? Believe it or not, this book helped me to get through a sticking point
in my life. After I had read it, I felt a relief and started looking at all my problems from a different
perspective. I mean I stopped worrying about things I couldn't change. You know, it was not until
I read this book that I realised that we should be grateful for whatever happens in our lives
n
because all these difficulties help us to become stronger and wiser.
get through a sticking point in my life: vượt qua 1 điểm “mắc kẹt” trong cuộc sống của tôi
ar
relief: sự khuây khỏa
not until: mãi cho đến khi
le
wise: khôn ngoan
E-
Have your reading habits changed since you were younger?
Back in the day when I was a child, I was all over the Goosebumps series. These books featured
children who found themselves in different scary situations. I remember I read every
0
Goosebump written. As they were really easy to read , I could read the whole book in one sitting.
8.
And I remember I enjoyed reading at night using a torch when I was supposed to be asleep. In
the dark they seemed particularly creepy.
ng
Back in the day=in the old days=in the past: trong quá khứ
feature=describe: mô tả
torch: đèn pin, ngọn đuốc
ki
in one sitting: liền một mạch (đọc sách)

ea
creepy: rùng mình, sởn gai ốc

I remember I borrowed a Harry Potter book from my classmate and it appeared to be a real
page-turner. I still consider it to be by far the best book ever.
Sp
a real page-turner: một quyển sách cực hay

Well, when I was a child, there were few books as captivating as the Chronicles of Narnia. I
remember I read it several times with pleasure.
TS
captivating: hấp dẫn, say đắm

25. Meeting places
EL
Where do you usually meet your friends?

Where do you usually meet your friends? Well, in all kinds of places where we can have a
:I
pleasant experience together like guestrooms, cinemas, live sporting events and restaurants, as
well as all those places where we can have a lot of fun, for instance, amusement parks or
Fb
karaoke clubs. Also, I often meet my friends in places where we can walk and do something
active together. I mean parks, embankments and even fitness centres. On special occasions, we
get together with friends in spa-centres, saunas or baths. In winter time, our most popular
places for friend gatherings are skating-rinks and pubs. In summer time we love meeting on
beaches and in countryside resorts.
pleasant : dễ chịu, thoải mái
guestroom: phòng ngủ dành cho khách
for instance=for example: ví dụ
amusement parks: khu vui chơi
embankments: bờ kè ven sông
saunas: phòng xông hơi
baths: nhà tắm hơi
skating-rinks: sân trượt băng
pubs: quán rượu
Do you think there are some places that are more suitable for meeting others?
Do you think there are some places that are more suitable for meeting others? Well, definitely,
there are as not all places are welcoming and accessible to everyone as well as not all places
help people feel safe and comfortable. What's more, in order to be suitable for a meeting, a
place must meet that very purpose of the meeting. For example, if I want to meet my friends and
n
chat with them, I'll opt for inviting them to my flat or a cafe with light background music. If I plan
to have a party, I'll definitely opt for a pub, a bar or a restaurant with live music or even disco. If
ar
I want to meet my colleagues or business partners and discuss some work issues, I'll probably
organise a meeting in my office or rent a meeting room somewhere.
le
accessible: có thể sử dụng được
purpose: mục đích
E-
opt for +N/V-ing=choose: chọn
live music: nhạc sống, nhạc trực tiếp
0
work issues: các vấn đề về công việc
8.
26. Talents
Do you have a talent or something you are good at? Well, all my relatives say that I'm a
ng
natural-born entrepreneur. And they all say that if I were a business person, I would make lots
and lots of money. So everyone says that it's a pity that I used this talent of mine only when I
was a kid. And probably they are right. As far as I remember, as a child, I came up with lots of
ki
quick and easy ways to make money almost every day. For example, I did a lot of garage sales.
When I ran out of junk from my parents' garage to sell, I asked my friends if we could organise
ea
garage sales at their houses. Also, I sold homemade lemonade in the summer and lots of other
things like this.
a natural-born entrepreneur: 1 doanh nhân bẩm sinh/từ khi mới sinh ra
Sp
it's a pity : thật là tiếc

garage sales: bán hàng đã qua sử dụng, bán đồ cũ
run out of: hết
TS
junk: đồ vụn, đồ cũ (sắt/giấy/báo…)

27. TV programs (optional)
EL
What kinds of TV programs do you often watch ?

Actually, I’m into watching comedy, it’s simply because it’s a way to laugh and to relieve my
:I
work-related stress. Besides, I’m also a big fan of reality shows. By watching them, I can get a
Fb
deep understanding of my idols.

Do you think kids are watching too much television?
Absolutely not. These days, kids have a tendency to stare at a computer screen instead of
watching TV as they can easily watch any of their go-to videos or movies without waiting for a
fixed time like on TV.
What are the impacts of watching TV programs on children?
From my perspective, watching too many TV shows brings about both negative and positive
effects on kids. On the one hand, it’s a way to broaden their horizons in a new world. In
contrast, on the other hand, kids will be addicted to TV and may be stubborn if they aren’t
allowed to watch their favorite channels.
What kinds of TV programs do you think should be broadcast more?
To my mind, those are educational should be shown more in years to come. First of all, viewers
can gain more knowledge by watching these programs. Also, weather forecast broadcasts
should be updated hours by hours on TV so people can be aware of the sudden inclement
weather all day round.
in years to come=in the future
28. Sitting
n
Where is your favourite place to sit?
ar
It's my new loveseat sofa in the kitchen. It's very soft and comfortable. This is where I sit back and
relax after a hard working day. Also, it's a comfy reading corner. It's big enough. It has low
armrests and thick, comfy cushions. The cushions are filled with memory foam that adapts to
le
the contours of your body, but they easily regain their shape when a person rises. The high
back provides comfortable support for my body and neck.
E-
comfy =comfortable
cushion: gối ôm
0
be filled with: chứa đầy
8.
memory foam: nhiều ký ức
contour: tình trạng
ng
regain their shape: lấy lại được hình dáng
29. Evening time
ki
Do you like the morning or the evening?

Well, I actually love both the morning and the evening but for different reasons. I love the
ea
morning for setting the tone for my day as well as for the newness and possibilities it offers. At
the same time, I always wait for the evening to unwind and reflect on my day or accomplish
overdue assignments when I'm still full of energy after a hard day at work.
Sp
setting the tone: tạo nên sắc thái

unwind=relax
accomplish=complete=finish: hoàn thành
TS
overdue assignments: bài tập quá hạn

What do you usually do in the evening?
EL
What do you usually do in the evening? Well, in the evening I really love to take a stroll in order
to exercise, get some fresh air and relax. Also, I always have dinner with my family in the evening
and then spend some time either taking a soothing bath or not doing anything at all except for
:I
reflecting on my day and trying to make some plans for the next day.
Fb
take a stroll=walk: đi tản bộ

30. Collecting things
Do you collect things?
Well, actually, I do as it is the collection of the things I love and value that brings back my happy
memories, connects me to some important periods of my life and gives me personal pleasure
and enjoyment. What’s more, it satisfies my natural hunting instinct and lets me enjoy the social
interaction with fellow collectors. I don’t spend all my money and free time on building out a
collection.
instinct: bản năng
fellow collectors: các bạn cùng sở thích sưu tầm
31. Science:
Do you like science?
Did you like science classes when you were young?
Of course I do. Science is what lets us make progress as a race, it is something never-ending
and so really addicting. It defines us, our world and our universe, allows us to know where things
come from and explains absolutely everything in life. This is why I adore it.
addicting (a): nghiện
adore = like = love
Oh no, I don't like it at all. It is full of math which I am not good at and requires repeated trial
n
and error, which I don't like. I think scientists are pessimistic and skeptical doubters, and I just
ar
don't want to be like them.
repeated trial and error: thử nghiệm và mắc lỗi liên tục
le
pessimistic (a): bi quan
skeptical doubters: những người hoài nghi
E-
No, I didn't. To my regret, science was taught poorly in my school, which just killed my interest in
it. Only many years on did I understand how important these classes could be but it was too
late.
0
Do you think school children should have both science classes and art classes?
8.
I'm sure that kids need to study both science and art because they are equally important for
kids' development. Science classes teach children about the way the world works and help kids
ng
create a hypothesis in their mind as well as form a healthy dose of skepticism while art classes
connect kids more deeply to the world opening them to new ways of seeing, promoting activity
in their brain and nurturing inventiveness that aids in the development of self esteem,
ki
self-discipline, cooperation and self motivation. So definitely both are important.

create a hypothesis: hình thành 1 giả thuyết
ea
form a healthy dose of skepticism: hình thành sự nghi ngờ

nurture inventiveness: nuôi dưỡng sự sáng tạo
Sp
Do you think science is important to our society?

No doubt it is. It is part of our daily lives. It is something that pushes back the boundaries
constraining our knowledge and transforms our world at an incredible pace. What is more,
TS
science allows us to define, investigate and try to understand the world we live in and how it
works as well as provides the potential for long-term benefit worldwide.
push back: đẩy lùi
EL
boundaries: ranh giới

at an incredible pace: với tốc độ không thể tin được
:I
long-term benefit: lợi ích lâu dài

Fb
PART 2 (50 topics)

TOPIC 1
Course that impressed you (topic for all test dates till 31 Prev | Next August 2022) Describe a
lesson that you remember well You should say:
when it was
where it was
what you did
what your teacher did
why it was special
Part 3 - 'Remembering things'
Many moons ago when I was a child I attended an English language course at a language
centre.
I'm convinced that one of the reasons why that course still remains in my memory is that our
teacher did her best to perfectly arrange everything. Although there was nothing unusual at all,
I vividly remember almost each class as our teacher created an unforgettable and pleasant
atmosphere.
A typical lesson consisted of several interconnected stages, each of which was filled with an
n
awesome activity, so there was no chance to get bored. I remember I did a lot of different things
with my groupmates. Firstly, the teacher carefully checked the homework assignment, which was
ar
an indispensable part of every lesson. It took quite a lot of time as we asked various questions.
The teacher answered all the questions, which helped me get a good understanding of the
le
grammar points we dealt with. After that we played fun educational games. As I love interacting
with people, I really enjoyed those oral activities. They were designed to be done together with
classmates so I greatly developed my communication skills. In addition, I enjoyed doing
E-
crossword puzzles, that's why when I was told to do that at the lesson, I was really glad. At the
end of the lesson, we got a challenging task which was to compose spooky stories in English. I
am fond of creative writing, so it was a real pleasure for me when I got that task. Then every
0
student read their story aloud. The teacher praised us from time to time, therefore our
8.
language confidence significantly increased, and I bet everybody was convinced that their story
was a masterpiece.
ng
To my mind, that lesson was special because I had a wonderful opportunity to develop my
communication and writing skills and got a good understanding of tricky grammatical
structures. Moreover, it's worth mentioning that it was only after this lesson that I started feeling
ki
an overwhelming desire to learn English. Every minute of the lesson was incredibly interesting
to me. In other words, the teacher aroused my interest in the English language.
ea
TOPIC 2
Gift you want to buy (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
Sp
Describe a gift you'd like to buy for your friend You should say:
what gift you want to buy
who you'd like to give it to
TS
why you'd to buy a gift

why you've chosen that gift
EL
part 3 - 'Gifts'
A few weeks ago, one of my close friends moved into a new apartment. So it's perfectly natural
:I
that she wants to present her new home to her friends, and for this, she's going to throw a
housewarming party next month.
Fb
When I received an invitation, my first thought was 'Oh my God. What gift shall I give her?' To me,
choosing the perfect gift is always a daunting task 'cause I hate giving something that will go
unappreciated. For me, it's really important to give a gift a person is dreaming of. But the
element of surprise is as important as the acceptance of the gift. That's why I never ask a gift
receiver about what they want or need directly. As a result, it usually takes time to find out what
a person wants and find the perfect gift for them.
Fortunately, this time my friend literally saved me when she created a wishlist using Google
Docs so that everyone can choose the gift of their choice and budget, but she won't see what
people are getting her ‘cause she set me as the owner of the spreadsheet. So she has no access
to her own document. And we'll be able to keep all activity a secret until she starts unwrapping
presents. So nothing will ruin the surprise. What's more, his system helps prevent the receipt of
duplicate or unwanted gifts and allows us, gift-givers, to figure out which stores have the items
she needs.
All I did was open the document, look through the whole list and choose the gift I liked the most.
And it was also the one that fitted my gift budget. I'm going to buy her a flatware set for 6. It's
quite expensive. She told me she'd added some pricey items to the list but she doesn't expect to
get them. Just imagine how surprised and delighted she will be when I give her the gift that she
expects the least.
TOPIC 3
Story you remember (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
Describe a story someone told you and you remember You should say:
n
what this story is about
ar
who told you this story
when you heard it
le
why you remember it part 3 - 'Stories'
E-
Last year in the winter my father was going to go outside wearing just slippers, trousers and a
jumper. I told him to put on his winter coat, boots and a hat as (because) I was afraid he would
freeze to death. He said he would be back in 5 minutes. And he told me a story about a man
who spent a whopping 20 hours lying paralyzed in snow outside his home and didn't even have
0
any frostbite. I was amazed to hear that. I asked how it was possible. And it appeared that the
8.
man was saved by his dog.
So, there was some man who decided to go outside for a moment, just like my father. He wasn't
ng
going to stay out in the cold for a long time, that's why he was wearing slippers, trousers and a
shirt. But he slipped and broke his neck. He couldn't stand up. He was lying in the snow
screaming for help, but nobody could hear him. Luckily, his dog came to him and started
ki
barking for help. She kept him warm for about 20 hours by lying on top of him. Also, she kept
him awake by licking his hands and face. If he had fallen asleep, he would have been doomed.
ea
The dog kept barking for help all night long. Thank God, she alerted the man's neighbour, who
called the emergency services, and the man was taken to hospital.
The story moved me, but when my father finished it I asked him to put on warm clothes because
Sp
we didn’t have a dog that would rescue him.

TOPIC 4
New place you visited (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
TS
Describe a new place that you visited You should say:

what place it was
EL
why you went there

what you did there
:I
how you felt about it

Fb
part 3 - 'New places'

Before the COVID-19 pandemic started, I visited Dubai Miracle Garden, the world's largest
natural flower park, for the first time in my life. I've never been someone who really loves flowers,
so I went there just because I wanted to make the most of my trip to the UAE and visit as many
popular places as possible. And I have never regretted going there. It is indeed a miracle
garden.
I had a good couple of hours wandering around the numerous decorations. There were millions
of flowers arranged in colourful arches and patterns. For example, the heart's passage was
totally gorgeous as was the flower covered full size aircraft. Also, there was a huge floral clock
made of real plants and flowers. There were giant cats, Disney characters, and a flower castle.
All of them were totally covered with flowers. You feel like you are in some kind of a fairyland.
I took pictures of flowers and flower displays until I totally ran out of storage space on my
phone. Then I just explored the park gasping in amazement every other minute. It's impressive
how much work was put in it. If I had to choose one word to describe this amazing place, it
would be 'magical'. It was the first and only time I saw so many colourful flowers. I saw the
colours I never knew existed. It was truly a feast for the eyes.
When I came home, I was so impressed that I set a picture taken there as the home screen on
my phone. So every time I unlock my device, I fondly recall my first (and only) visit to this
beautiful place full of colour.
TOPIC 5
Rule you don't like (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
n
Describe a rule that you don't like You should say:
ar
what it is
why you don't like it
le
what others feel about it whether you follow the rule
E-
part 3 - 'Rules'
What I really dislike is that some hotels don't allow guests to take any food from a hotel's
breakfast buffet and restaurants to eat later or to eat, say, on the beach or in the room.
0
Of course, if people were permitted to take as much food as they want, most hotels would go
8.
bankrupt 'cause in hotels that don't have such restrictions some people just bring several
containers and clean out the buffet, leaving nothing for the rest of the people in line. I think this
ng
is a bit over the top. So if all people acted like this, the rule would be justified.
But there are also many people like me. I would only grab just a few items for later 'cause I prefer
to relax with my coffee and breakfast in my room rather than in the breakfast room. I think there
ki
is nothing wrong with taking food from a hotel's breakfast room as long as it’s the same amount
as I would have taken if eating in the breakfast room. What's more, when you are staying at a
ea
hotel, you have paid for the buffet, so there is no difference if you eat a muffin and take another
to eat later, or if you eat the two muffins directly.
You know, although I don't think the rules should be obeyed just because they are the rules, I
Sp
never sneak food into my room. It's not that I'm such a law-abiding person, but I just don't do
this. I don't know why.
TOPIC 6
TS
Interesting city
Describe an interesting city You should say:
EL
what city it is
how you know it
:I
what it is famous for

Fb
why you think it is beautiful

part 3 - 'Cities, countryside, tourism'
Well, X is the city that I'm in love with. And because I was overwhelmed by its size and beauty, I
remember almost every minute that I spent there like it was just yesterday although I went there
2 years ago.
X is a bustling city, the capital of X. It's so large that if you view the city from a tall building, you
get the feeling that it doesn't end. And as I've just said it's by far the most beautiful city that I've
ever visited.
X is divided into two parts, the old town and the modern city, therefore there's an eclectic mix of
historic architecture and modern buildings that have bizarre shapes. What is really amazing is
that there are no ugly, cooker-cutter buildings in the modern part of the city. Due to a clever
use of materials, almost each building has its unique design. There are a lot of beautiful and
green zones, too.
I'm a keen walker so I explored the whole city on foot. And I really liked both parts of the city. For
example, while walking around its historic part, I leisurely explored historically significant
architecture, peaceful green spaces, and unique local attractions along the way. You can walk
for days and still have something new to see 'cause there are many places of cultural and
historical value, and there are countless routes that can be taken in different parts of the city.
Sometimes I just walked around the city having no destination in mind. I also visited the
observation deck. It's one of the most famous attractions there. I just couldn't miss the
opportunity to visit it although it was a bit pricey.So I walked, tried local food, visited famous
n
attractions and enjoyed the beauty around. It really did feel likely jumping from antiquity into
modern times all the time.I think X is a magical place.
ar
TOPIC 7
Long walk (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
le
Describe a long walk you had You should say:
E-
where it was
who you were with
0
why it was long
8.
how you felt about it part 3 - 'Leisure'
I'm gonna tell you about something that started as a 3-hour walking tour and turned into a
ng
day-long adventure walk around Z 'cause I got lost.
So, several years ago I spent my summer vacation in X. I lived in Y city and almost every day had
one-day bus trips to different places.
ki
One day I went to Z city, and had a walking tour of the city. At first, everything was ok. But at
some point, the guide started walking faster, and suddenly I realized I had lagged behind the
ea
rest of the group.

To my regret, my phone had died, so I could neither call the guide or use Google Maps. Then I
asked some passers-by for directions, but they were tourists, just like me. They just shrugged
Sp
their shoulders and apologized for not being able to help me. After that I decided to retrace my
way, but it appeared to be more difficult than it seemed as there were many winding and
narrow streets which looked exactly the same. So I ended up walking around in circles. I had no
idea how to get back to the bus. I understood that I would have to take a taxi to return to the
TS
hotel. So I stopped worrying about it, relaxed and continued exploring the city on foot. I guess I
walked more than 20000 steps on that day. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to document my record
EL
'cause my phone was dead.

TOPIC 8
Clothes as a gift (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
:I
Describe a piece of clothes that you received as a gift You should say:
Fb
when you received the clothes

what the piece of clothes was like
who gave it to you explain
how you feel about it part 3 - 'Clothes'
Oh, there's a crazy story behind my go-to pair of jeans. Once I saw cool jeans in a shop window
of a high-street shop and fell for them. However, I didn't dare to go and try them on because
everyone knows this shop is for people with deep pockets. Once my husband and I were passing
by this shop window. He noticed the way | looked at the jeans and asked me whether I wanted to
pop in and try them on. I tried to pretend not to be in the mood for shopping, but he insisted
and we entered the shop.
It was an amazing pair of skinny jeans, the ones you have to fight some to put on, but the
torment is forgotten as soon as you see yourself in the mirror. These were dark wash blue jeans
with sanding. One might think there was nothing special about them as they were stripped of
all details which could justify the price. There were neither zippers nor welts. But they elongated
the line of my legs and felt like a second skin. They were perfect because I could match them
with anything, be it formal, casual, street style or even corporate. I looked at the price tag,
understood they cost a fortune and made my husband quickly leave the shop.
However, I couldn't stop thinking about these jeans. One day I realised that I had to buy them no
matter what. Well, I borrowed 500 euros from my friend and couldn't wait to purchase them.
Much to my disappointment, when I came to the shop, I was told that the jeans had been sold a
n
few days before. I was upset, but I had to put up with this fact somehow. Gradually I stopped
thinking about them.
ar
Several weeks later, on my birthday I found a gift box near my bed. Guess what was inside!
Those jeans! It was my husband who bought them and prepared a surprise which definitely was
le
a success.
TOPIC 9
E-
Person you follow on social media (topic for all test dates till Prev Describe a person you follow
on social media
0
You should say:
8.
who this person is
how you know this person
ng
what this person posts on social media explain
why you follow this person part 3 - 'Social media'
ki
The person I've been following on Instagram for a while is Marina Mogilko. She is a YouTuber
with 2 million subscribers, Instagram influencer and entrepreneur. Her YouTube channel is
ea
dedicated to learning English. And, actually, this is how I found her.

One day I was looking for an accent reduction course on YouTube. I watched one of her videos,
then another one. They were really engaging. I just couldn't stop watching them. I found her
Sp
personal account on Instagram and started following her.

Her posts proved to be even more interesting than her videos because she wrote a lot about
her life in America, described her business strategies, and shared her insights with the
TS
audience. So I've been following her on Instagram for almost a year now. I still find her ideas
interesting, so I never miss her posts, especially those that she writes after attending some
events.
EL
I'm sure it is her ideas and beliefs that have helped her achieve the results I'm dreaming about.
So I try to apply some of these things to my life. Some of her ideas are totally different from
mine, thus, they made me look at things from a different perspective.
:I
For example, in one of her recent posts she said she started to say more noes than yeses. She
Fb
said this helps her focus on what's really important to her although there are lots of people who
say that we should seize every opportunity that we have. Another interesting idea of hers is not
to try to improve more than 2 spheres of your life at a time. Otherwise, you risk spending the
whole day digging deeper and deeper into all kinds of problems. As a result, you'll just have low
self-esteem and a bad mood. She also writes about difficulties she faces and what she does to
overcome them. She writes about her achievements. It's inspiring. For example, sometimes she
starts her post from 'This is how I did something, for example, started my own business at the
age of 21 and how you can too.
TOPIC 10
Skill you learned from older people
Describe a skill that you learned from older people You should say:
what skill it was
who you learned it from
how you did it how you feel about it
part 3 - 'Learning from others'
It is my father who taught me the most important life lessons and skills. And among many
things, he taught me to drive safely and confidently.
I went to a driving school. I passed my driving test, but I wasn't a confident driver. So my father
decided to teach me to drive like a pro. I liked the idea as I wanted to overcome my fear of
driving. But I didn't want to drive a stick. I was going to buy a car with an automatic
n
transmission, so I didn't understand why he wanted me to learn to drive a car with a manual
ar
transmission.
We had our driving sessions every weekend. I expected him to break down the process into a
series of steps. I thought we would first practice in a simulated environment and focus on
le
mastering one or two functions, say, steering and speed calibration. Although he would make
me repeat each step until I got it right before leading me headlong into 'real' traffic conditions.
E-
But my father has always been the 'sink or swim' type of a teacher. He took me on X Boulevard,
one of the busiest roads in the city. My spine stiffened, my eyes popped and my face turned red
like in the episode of 'Tom and Jerry' in which Tom gets his claws smashed by a hammer. I was
0
really scared. Moreover, my father was constantly yelling at me and giving instructions. I'm sure
8.
that Apollo astronauts received fewer comme from mission control than I did from my father. SC
can imagine... back in the day when I was 18, I didn't really appreciate the lessons. But his
ng
approach to teaching proved to be effective, and I overcame the fear of driving.
It was only when I learned to drive a car confidently that I understood what freedom was. Even
when I didn't have my own car, I could take my parents' vehicle and go somewhere without
ki
waiting for one of them to give me a lift. On many occasions it made getting around the city far
more comfortable than it used to be. Now that I have my own car, I think driving is an
ea
indispensable skill for me. It saves a lot of time as I don't have to catch the bus, wait for a taxi or
ask somebody to give me a lift and completely depend on them. I can stop or change the route
any time I want. I'm free to go wherever | need, especially to some places which are difficult to
Sp
get to by public transport, for example, out of town. What's more, I can take as much stuff with
me as I need without keeping an eye on it on a bus. I don't have fingers that are numb after
carrying my heavy bag day round. Also, I can transport a lot of stuff by hiring special
companies. I can say without any exaggeration that since I learned to drive my life has
TS
improved in countless ways.

TOPIC 11
EL
Place in the village you visited (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
Describe a place in the village you visited
:I
You should say:

what place it is
Fb
when you went there

what you did there
how you feel about it part 3 - 'Countryside'
Last summer I finally visited my grandparents who live in a quiet, picturesque village situated
on the bank of the river. During the pandemic, I was trying to stay away from grandparents in
order to reduce the risk of infection. I missed them very much. What's more, my grandpa said he
was more afraid to die of loneliness than of coronavirus.
So I decided to spend a couple of days in the village and kill two birds with one stone: spend
time with my grandparents and get away from the noises and bustle of the city.
My grandparents live in a beautiful, quaint house with a lovely garden all around dotted with
blooming orchids. Being there is like traveling back in time. Everything reminds me of my
carefree childhood: my toys ,oldCDs, my bicycle. It feels like you step into another world. All the
walls are still covered with old wallpaper. And my grandmother doesn't allow us to remove it. And
she refuses to get their house refurbished 'cause she wants to keep all their memories alive. She
says they both love their 50-year old chairs and armchairs, their old wooden table in the
kitchen, paintings, clay pots, old pictures, lots of things that they bought when they were young.
She's right. There's something special about this old house. It's a magical place. I really love
spending time there. So last summer I had a really good time there, as always. In the daytime, I
went fishing and just explored the countryside. In the evenings I enjoyed the sunset sitting in the
backyard of the house, sipping hot tea and munching buns with cinnamon baked by my
n
grandmother. I wish I could go there more often
TOPIC 12
ar
Thing you did to learn a language (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
Describe a thing you did to learn a language
le
You should say:
E-
what language you learned
what you did
0
how it helped you
8.
part 3 - 'Learning languages'
ng
A few years ago I realized that if I wanted to make further progress in English and sound more
like a native English speaker, I would somehow have to gain more exposure to the language
native English speakers would use every day. But I couldn't pack up and go to a country where
ki
English is spoken natively, so I knew I had to find a way to always get exposed to it at home.
ea
All my friends said I had to subscribe to Netflix and start watching series and TV shows in
English. And this is what I did. I remember I started with a TV series which I had already seen in
my own language. It was Friends. Who hasn't watched Friends? After that I always found what to
Sp
watch. First, I watched films and series in English with the subtitles in my own language, so I
could check the meaning of any vocabulary I didn't know easily. Later, I had the subtitles in
English ; paused if the characters spoke too quickly. When I started feeling more confident, I
watched each episode without subtitles. I used the 10 second 'back' button to try again and
TS
again to catch all the new words and conversational phrases. Then I played each scene again
and watched the scene with English subtitles on.Then I looked them up and watched the scene
AGAIN to see how these new words were used in the context. I watched each episode as many
EL
times as I needed to get used to the speed, pronunciation, and common expressions used. After
that, I always practiced SHADOWING, which I'm sure really helped improve my fluency. I tried to
repeat what they were saying at the same time. Again, I used my favorite ten second 'back'
:I
button to practice saying and repeating some short phrases a few times.
I believe watching Netflix series and TV shows helped me a lot as I learned the most current
Fb
version of a language, stuff that may not even exist in textbooks. I learned to speak naturally
and easily. And it helped me develop my listening skills. What's important is that it was never
boring.
TOPIC 13
Interesting song (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
Describe a song that means something special to you
You should say:
what this song is about
when you heard this song for the first time
how often you listen to this song
why it is special to you Part 3 - 'Music'
'I will survive' by Diana Ross is a song that is very personal to me. This is a story of a woman that
was abandoned by her beloved man. She really vividly describes what it feels like to have your
heart broken.
So when I heard this song for the first time (I was a teenager), it touched a nerve as I had just
broken up with my boyfriend (or girlfriend). My heart was broken, and I thought I would never
love again. She sang about exactly the same feelings that I experienced at that moment. She
was afraid, disappointed, frustrated and depressed. I remember I was crying the whole night,
but somehow this provided emotional relief. Also, in the song she states that although it hurts,
n
she will be strong and cope with this situation.
ar
I heard it on the radio first and liked it straightaway. Now this song isn't as popular as it was
years ago. But this doesn't make it less worth talking about. After that I downloaded it on my
le
computer, and I couldn't stop listening to it until I had learnt it by heart so that I could sing
along to the whole song.
E-
It is really difficult to overestimate what impact this song had on me. First of all, it made me
understand that whatever happens, life goes on. This insight helped me combat depression, let
go of negative emotions and look at my problems from a different perspective. I don't know
0
whether I would have got through a sticking point in my life as fast as I did if it hadn't been for
this song.
8.
Now I don't often listen to it as I don't do it deliberately. But, of course, sometimes I do if I
accidently hear it on the radio.
ng
TOPIC 14
Special cake you received (topic for all test dates till 31 August Prev | Next 2022) Describe an
ki
occasion when you received a special cake You should say:

what kind of cake it was
ea
when you had it

who gave it to you
Sp
why it was special part 3 - 'Food'

Several years ago my boyfriend messed up big time, and I was so angry with him that I didn't
even want to listen to his 'I am so sorry. Please forgive me.' He kept saying he would do anything
TS
to make me forgive him. And I decided to give him a punishment he deserved. My boyfriend
considered cooking to be a cruel form of punishment. I swear. He always said it was easier for
him to work all night long than to make an omelet, let alone some exquisite dishes like lasagna
EL
or soup.
So I said I would forgive him if he could make my favorite three-tier chocolate biscuit cake. And I
:I
told him I would sit and watch him cooking to make sure he didn't cheat.
He found a video recipe on the Internet and just followed all the instructions step by step. First,
Fb
he baked several cakes and made chocolate mousse. Then he assembled the cake, stacking the
layers on top of each other. Also, he experimented with cake decorations a bit (who would've
thought) and finally decided to make a chocolate lace collar around the bottom and middle
cakes. The cake looked gorgeous. The crumb was delicate and moist, the frosting was rich and
creamy and utterly chocolatey. It was filled with buttercream, fresh fruit, and nuts. He sprinkled
the top tier of the cake with chocolate curls and dusted it with confectioners sugar.
My jaw dropped to the floor. I just couldn't believe how he managed to do it for me.
TOPIC 15
Interesting discussion (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
Describe an interesting discussion you had with your friend
You should say:
what it was about
what opinions you and your friend had
why it was interesting
how you felt about it part 3 - 'Opinions and ideas, communication'
Recently my friend invited me to grab some coffee and catch up. One of the things he told me
was that he started thinking of investing his life savings in cryptocurrency. He said it was the
best time to invest 'cause the price of bitcoin and several other leading cryptocurrencies had
suffered huge falls in December, so the price of bitcoin plunged to about 40000 dollars, but
n
some analysts are predicting the price of bitcoin could hit 100000 dollars by the end of the next
ar
year. And there are a lot of new coins that he thinks will make a good investment as well. One
more reason why he said cryptocurrency could make a good investment is that everyone says
cryptocurrency is the future "currency of the internet' and ultimate store of wealth. What's more,
le
transactions are fast, digital, secure and worldwide, which allows the maintenance of records
without risk of data being pirated.
E-
Despite all this, it was obvious he couldn't make up his mind. I'm sure what I told him didn't help
him at all 'cause my knowledge of cryptocurrency is limited. All I could tell him was a couple of
stories of bitcoin millionaires and losses. For instance, I told him a sad story of some guy who
0
accidentally threw away 7500 bitcoins when he got rid of an old laptop hard drive. He bought
8.
them when they were worth 1 dollar. And they are worth over 200 million dollars today. He now
wants to dig up his local rubbish tip, hoping to find the old drive. Also, I told him that if I were
him, I wouldn't invest more than I can afford to lose, and that I wouldn't invest all my life savings.
ng
In my opinion, the discussion was really fruitful as it helped me form a balanced opinion on this
matter. And now I'm planning to invest a small amount of money in bitcoin in the near future.
But it seems to me my friend began to doubt even more
ki
TOPIC 16
ea
Person who contributes to the society (topic for all test dates till Prev | Next 31 August 2022)
Describe a person who contributes to the society
Sp
You should say:

who this person is
how you know the person
TS
how this person helps others

how you feel about what this person does part 3 is 'Jobs'
EL
I'm lucky to be surrounded by many altruistic people who put others before themselves, but the
person who deserves the highest praise is a young woman whose name is Diana. I once came
across her post on Facebook, which was shared by one of my friends, and I decided to donate
:I
to some cause she was raising money for. This is how I found out about her volunteer work.
Diana doesn't belong to any organisations. She thinks each of us can and should take initiative
Fb
to change what we feel is wrong in our society.

We've met several times in person and she told me how it all began. Initially, she found posts of
people asking for help, visited them in order to make sure they were not taking the money
under false pretences and donated money, food or clothes. She helped many people in need,
for example, families with many children, cancer patients and elderly people... all those who
needed both physical and emotional support... But as her individual resources were limited, she
decided to raise money and invite people to join her using Facebook.
Looking at her, you would never say that she single-handedly has raised a lot of money for
many good causes, be it helping the poor or the disabled. Not only does she help people, but
also makes attempts to protect the environment by organising community cleanups in different
districts of the city. And I guess there is one more really important thing she does by spreading
the information about the needy. She inspires people to do good and makes them pay
attention to problems our society faces. Otherwise, many of us would ignore the difficulties of
others, making tons of excuses such as a lack of time, problems at work and stuff like that. But
when people see that she takes care of her husband and children, goes to work like all of us,
they don't even dare to say that they would help if it weren't for something.
| doff my cap to her because I consider her contribution invaluable. I wish there were more
people like her, people who understand that it is we that form society, so it is we that need to
contribute towards its betterment.
TOPIC 17
Person you like to spend time with
n
Describe a person that you like to spend time with
ar
You should say:
who this person is
le
how you know this person
E-
what you like to do together
why you like to spend time with this person part 3 - 'Getting along with others'
0
The person I really enjoy spending time with is my. boyfriend Denis. You know, it's like every time I
8.
say 'Goodbye' to him, right after that I start looking forward to the next meeting. This is what, in
my opinion, shows how much I like being with him.
To tell the truth, if it hadn't been for his persistence, I wouldn't have even started communicating
ng
with him. So, how did it all begin? We met by accident. We went to the same fitness centre and
saw each other from time to time, but I didn't pay attention to him as he wasn't my type. Once
we had small talk at the reception and after that he befriended me on Facebook. Gradually we
ki
started communicating a lot and have become inseparable friends.

Everybody says we are a perfect match as, on one hand, we have a lot in common, on the other,
ea
we are really different and complement each other, so it is always interesting for us to be
together. We both like walking in the park. We can speak on the phone till morning as every hour
feels like a minute, and I don't realise how time flies when we are together. We often go to the
Sp
cinema or just stay at home to watch a good film together. He invites me to different cafes and
restaurants where we can taste new dishes and just chat. We discuss our plans for the future,
visualizing what life will be like when we get married. We like reading books and discussing them.
TS
When the weather is bad, we like playing board games such as backgammon or checkers at
home.
Actually, it doesn't really matter what we do as long as we are together. What I know for sure is if
EL
it were him, I would have missed out on so many things. For instance, I wouldn't have jumped
with a parachute or swum in a cold river. Whatever we do, we always have a good time, laugh
and enjoy each other.
:I
Fb
TOPIC 18
House or apartment you'd like to live in (topic for all test dates till Prev | Next 31 August 2022)
Describe a house or apartment you'd like to live in
You should say:
what kind of accommodation it will be
where it will be if it will be big or small
what it will look like part 3 - 'Accommodation'
Well, if you'd asked me to describe my dream house a few weeks ago, I would have had no
answer. But just several days ago I came across a video on YouTube that showed an
unbelievably cool rectangular modern house with a grass backyard and an in-ground pool.
When I saw it, my jaw dropped to the floor. I realized that this is the house of my dreams.
So, now I know that the house I'm dreaming of is a straight-lined white house made of concrete,
steel and glass or a rectangular cottage with a black glass facade, possibly with multiple decks.
Actually, it doesn't really matter whether it will be white or black. I just want it to be an ultra
modern geometric building, without a traditional roof, you got the idea.
It goes without saying that the interior of the house should match its exterior. I think it will be a
2 storey house with a wide open floor plan, high ceilings, a flying staircase and big
floor-to-ceiling windows that let a lot of natural light in. I'd like it to be either in a minimalist style
or with some characteristics of a loft style such as massive oak planks, concrete walls, marble
n
panels and some other elements made of natural stone glass and steel.
ar
What's more, there will definitely be remote control heating, lighting, and sound systems, floor
heating and cooling, and automatic blinds. Oh, and I nearly forgot one of the most important
things... There will be a surrounding sound system all through the house.
le
It will definitely be a big house as a small one won't include all the rooms and elements of
design that I want to have. I mean tall ceilings, lots of windows, spacious foyers, huge staircases,
E-
three or four garages, a kitchen and a dining room, a sun room, walk-in closets and 2 or 3
bedrooms complete with whirlpool tubs and separate showers, laundry rooms, media rooms
and a home office. And I think the best place for such a fantastic house would be in the heart of
0
London or New York, for example.
TOPIC 19
8.
ng
Something you received for free (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
Describe a product or service that you got for free
ki
You should say:

what it was
ea
how you got it

how you felt about it part 3 - 'Free things'
Sp
Just a few days ago I decided to have a quick bite to eat at McDonald's as I didn't have a lot of
time to have a meal at a cafe.
So I went to the McDrive and ordered a cheeseburger and small fries. I paid for my order at the
TS
first drive through window. And I expected to get my food as soon as I got to the second one as
McDonald's guarantees one-minute drive-through service. But no such luck.
EL
I was asked to drive forward, park the car and wait for my order. Well, after 5 minutes of waiting I
started getting nervous and decided to get their attention by beeping the car horn. After 10
minutes of waiting, I was going to go to the drive-through window and get a refund. And when I
:I
was about to get out of the car, I saw a girl with a takeout bag approaching my car.
She sincerely apologized for having kept me waiting for so long and awarded me with a free
Fb
food voucher on a future McDonald's visit.

Of course, I didn't jump for joy as I was nervous and afraid to be late for my appointment with a
doctor, But I was really pleased about it because I felt valued as a customer. No doubt I will be
back in the future.
TOPIC 20
Something that was broken in your home (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
Describe something that was broken in your home and then repaired You should say:
what it is
how it was broken
how it was repaired
how you felt about it part 3 - 'Repairing things'
There's a story I think I'll never forget. I was already in bed when I heard a strange noise coming
from the kitchen. I rushed there, opened the door and what I saw made me totally shocked.
Water was gushing out from the broken faucet.
Of course, it didn't happen unexpectedly. It was bound to happen sooner or later. First of all,
the faucet was old. And it should have been replaced, but we were always too busy to deal with
it. And we kept putting it off. What's more, we just ignored the harbingers of the impending
disaster. For example, a few days before this happened I noticed the faucet was dripping. I told
my husband about it, but he said there was absolutely nothing to worry about.
n
A few days later it became apparent that there was something to worry about. The worst thing
ar
was that it was almost midnight. So there was very little chance that we would find a 24-hour
emergency plumbing repair service. In any case, we had to deal with the problem urgently. What
le
we did immediately was turn off water at the main shutoff valve, which is at the water meter.
Thank God, it didn't take us much time to find it. That's all we could do ourselves. The next
morning | contacted a local plumbing repair service and scheduled a service call for plumbing
E-
repair 'cause fixing is not my husband's forte.
It was a nightmare, but I was feeling happy 'because we didn't flood our neighbours.
0
TOPIC 21
8.
Something you can't live without
Describe something you can't live without (not a computer or phone) You should say:
ng
what it is
how you use it
ki
how often you use it

how it helps you and why you can't live without it part 3 - 'New and old things'
ea
What I can't imagine my life without now is a vacuum cleaner. I use it every single day, sometimes
even twice a day. I'm not obsessed with cleanliness (though my husband says I am a clean freak),
Sp
but I hate to see dust, crumbs, cat's hair and other particles on the floor, on carpets and on the
furniture. I love my cat, but he sheds a ton of hair everywhere every day. It seems to me he drops
more fur than one would think is possible. And I've got a chair that gets particularly covered in
hair every day 'cause this is the place where my cat likes to chill. If I didn't vacuum every evening,
TS
there would be clumps of hair all over our clothes and everywhere. Plus, I like to walk around my
flat barefoot, but I hate when my feet get dirty and when dirt and other particles stick to my
feet. Again, the only way to prevent this from happening is to vacuum the floor carpets every
EL
day. I love my husband and kids, but hate to see little pieces of food, crackers and bread
crumbs on the floor 'cause they like eating in the living room and don't feel guilty about it.
:I
I'm happy that I have a really powerful vacuum cleaner which is specially designed for people
who keep pets. It's a canister model which has the motor and dust collector, and the vacuum
Fb
head connected to its main part by a flexible hose. It is a wheeled type and it has really high
suction power, so I don't have to put too much effort in order to clean all the surfaces. It's
compact and lightweight, therefore I don't have any difficulty using it.
So every evening I vacuum all the surfaces using different heads for different tasks. And I do it
even if I feel drained after a hard working day. If it weren't for this vacuum cleaner, the whole flat
would be covered in cat's hair, crumbs, dust, torn paper pieces and other particles, which would
really annoy me.
Without exaggeration, I'm really happy that humar once created this household device because
it saves a lot of my time, and I clean the whole flat relatively
TOPIC 22
Ambition you haven't achieved (topic for all test dates till 31 Prev | Next August 2022) Describe
an ambition you haven't achieved You should say:
what it is
why you haven't achieved it
what you did
how you felt about it part 3 - 'Ambitions'
Four years ago I was dreaming of setting up my own business - something that I could do while
working my daily job. I decided to use the dropshipping model. It's an online business model in
which you don't keep the products you sell in stock. When you sell a product, a manufacturer,
wholesaler, or another retailer ships the product directly to a customer.
n
So for me, it was the easiest way to start my own business. I was told I wouldn't have to stock
ar
products, order inventory in bulk, or physically fulfill the orders in any way. But I had to have
some capital to launch a website and invest at least a small amount of money in advertising.
le
However, the most important thing was to decide which product to sell. And this is what became
my biggest problem. I couldn't decide what to sell for too long. I spent a lion's share of time on
E-
doing market research to figure out what products or services would be in high demand. And
when I was about to start acting, there was an outbreak of coronavirus. Obviously, it wasn't the
best time to start a business. So I decided to put my plans on hold.
0
Of course, I felt down for a while, but then | remembered that there's always a second chance. I'll
8.
try again later.
TOPIC 23
ng
Person you met once and want to know more about (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
Describe a person you met only once and you want to know more about You should say:
ki
who this person is

how you met this person
ea
when you met this person

why you want to know more about this person
Sp
Last summer I decided to take a 5-day personal development course. I knew this would help me
not only to improve myself, but also to meet like-minded people and form lifelong friendships
with them. So, as I expected to have a chance to network with lots of such people. But one of
them seemed to be particularly interesting to me. This was a young lady named Helen.
TS
At the very beginning each of us presented a short story in order to introduce ourselves to
other group members. She said she was there because she was keen on Psychology. Also, from
EL
what other people knew about her I found out she was a successful businesswoman who owned
an online store which sold unusual handmade gifts all over the world. During breaks between
lectures she always disappeared and I didn't have an opportunity to talk to her in a relaxed
:I
atmosphere. I was really surprised to find out that during these breaks she always went to feed
her newborn baby who was looked after by her mother while she was studying.
Fb
I wish I'd had an opportunity to get to know her. And still want to get in touch with her in order
to know more. I'd like to find out how she manages to take care of her husband and children,
always look impeccable, and run a successful business. Another thing I want to know is what
makes her so energetic. I'd like to communicate with her to be like her because I really like that
she always looks on the bright side of life and she has qualities that are in short supply
nowadays. Those who know her well say she is industrious, ambitious, sinalominded,
knowledgeable, caring and risky. I admire people and want to surround myself with people like
her
TOPIC 24
Toy (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
Describe a toy that you liked when you were a child You should say:
what the toy was
who gave it to you
how you used this toy
how you felt when you got this toy part 3 - 'Toys, kids and ads'
I was a really spoiled kid, so there were tons of different toys competing for my attention, but my
all-time favourite was a teddy bear. When I was about 7, my dad came home with a giant box.
When I opened it, I saw a brown bear with a big head and black beady eyes staring at me. I
started leaping for joy because this toy had been on my wishlist for a long time and I begged
my parents for it. It was really cute and cuddly. The whole next day I was really busy choosing
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the best name for my fluffy furry friend. I'm afraid it wasn't original but | called my teddy Winnie,
after my favourite cartoon character Winnie-the-Pooh. It became my best buddy for many
ar
years.
Not that I didn't like spending time with my peers, but unlike my friends, Winnie was always by
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my side, sharing all the moments of my life. I dragged it around everywhere. Once I found out
that one eye was n. I tried to find it, but didn't succeed. I was really upset because I thought it
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wouldn't have happened if I had looked after Winnie more carefully. So my mom had to get a
replacement on the same evening.
Winnie and I spent a lot of time together. I fed it and talked to it. In the evenings I read stories to
0
my teddy bear. When it got sick, I treated it with pretend tea and honey. It is without doubt I took
8.
it to bed and it even had its own pillow. Probably it was Winnie that chased away bad dreams. I
also taught my bear to read and write, and it was a really assiduous student. Besides, my
Winnie must have been the most fashionable bear of all. In the summer it had on some shorts, a
ng
tee shirt, sandals, sunglasses, and a hat. When it was cold and wintry, I would put on a jacket,
sweater, boots, shoes, and a cute snowy hat! Winnie is much more than a toy, it is a symbol of
my childhood, so it is still with me, hibernating in one of my closets.
ki
TOPIC 25
ea
Happy event you organised (topic for all test dates till 31 August 2022)
Describe a time when you prepared for a happy event successfully
Sp
You should say:

what the event was
when and where it was say whether it was easy or difficult
TS
how you prepared part 3 - 'Organizing things'

I love different celebrations and parties, but not when I'm the person who is responsible for
EL
organising things. For me, the process of preparation is a chore to be endured. But at least
once a year I have to organise my birthday party.
I have a birthday in November. So as you understand, I went through the whole process just a
:I
couple of months ago. This time I started preparing a party one month before the date as I
didn't want to do everything at the last minute like I usually do.
Fb
First of all, I chose a date for the party. Thank God, I didn't need to make sure that most of my
friends were free because they know that I always celebrate my birthday on the same day as I
was born. It has been for many years, so they don't plan anything on the day. I planned to invite
quite a few guests, so obviously I couldn't invite them to my place as my dwelling is just a
one-room flat. For this reason, I booked a table at my favourite restaurant, I ordered food,
drinks and a birthday cake. I ordered big colourful balloons and prepared a basket of props
handy for people to use to take funny photos. You know, some funny hats and glasses. I
discussed a party_playlist.
To tell the truth, although it may seem that I didn't do a lot, the process was really tiring. First of
all, though I started well in advance, I was pressed for time. Secondly, I didn't want to spend a
fortune, so I had to choose everything carefully and compare prices in different places. And
sometimes it was difficult for me to make up my mind about some things such as what dishes to
choose, what colour balloons to order, such things. But the party was even better than I
expected.
TOPIC 26
Activity you did that didn't cost a lot (May - December 2022)
Describe an activity you did that didn't cost a lot You should say:
what you did
when you did it
who you were with
n
why it didn't cost a lot Part 3 - X
ar
Sample 1:
Last summer, when the national coronavirus lockdown came to an end, I said to my husband
le
(brother, friends, etc) that I was fed up with staying indoors almost all the time. He promised we
would spend the whole day out the next weekend. And we did. My husband suggested having a
E-
bike ride through the countryside. I agreed despite the fact that I hadn't ridden a bicycle since
childhood.
So we rented two bikes, which didn't cost a lot. And we went to our country house that is located
0
in a very picturesque area near the coniferous forest. Funnily enough, we only had barbeque
8.
parties in the garden there and had never explored the beautiful nature around. We took some
food because we didn't know if we would return fast or spend the whole day cycling. And we
took a navigator so as not to get lost somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
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At first, I was riding at a snail's pace. I was concentrating solely on balancing and steering, and,
of course, I didn't look around and couldn't appreciate the beautiful scenery. But it was fun. It
ki
was a bit like being a kid again. I soon got the hang of it and started riding confidently. There
were cows grazing in green fields, ducks hiding in the grass, beautiful wild flowers and
ea
butterflies. We often stopped to take photos and enjoy the stunning scenery.
In general, it wasn't a strenuous tour. Whenever we felt tired, we just wheeled our bikes.
In the evening we returned to our starting point and went home. This bike trip helped me
Sp
recharge my batteries, and it was real fun.

Sample 2:
Almost every weekend my friends and I meet at some cafe where we just eat, drink and chat.
TS
Usually we have fun. Last weekend, we did exactly the same, but we were feeling bored. We
realised that all of us wanted to do something more entertaining than just sitting around and
chatting. So, we decided to try an escape room, you know, a game in which a team of people is
EL
locked in a room. They must find clues and solve puzzles to complete a given mission and find
the key to escape. We googled and found one not far from where we were. We read a few
customer reviews. The people seemed to be satisfied with the experience, and we decided to go
:I
for it, too.

Fb
So, there were 4 of us. So it cost just about 5 dollars per person. We were kind of spies who
broke into someone's house to find some secret files. Frankly speaking, I don't remember the
storyline in detail, remember that we had one hour to escape the room to avoid being caught
and imprisoned.
The room, in which we were locked, was packed with different stuff such as books, maps,
fedoras, magnets, sticky notes, watches, old wigs, compasses, lamps, board games, playing
cards. The puzzles were really challenging and intriguing.
It was real fun. We were frantically searching for clues. Some of them involved solving riddles,
putting items in the correct order, or finding a set of objects hidden in the room. What I will
never forget is that there was a broken clock and for a long time we couldn't figure out that we
had to pay attention to the time it stopped on. By the way, it appeared to be the last clue. At
that moment, we even thought we would sink with the ship, but then one of us had a brainwave
and we survived at the last minute.
It was completely different from what we usually do together. And to tell the truth, I didn't expect
it to be so interesting.
TOPIC 27
Positive change in your life (May - December 2022)
Describe a positive (or recent) change in your life You should say:
what the change was
when it happened
n
how it happened
ar
why it was a positive change Part 3 for this cue card is 'X'
Last year I came to realize that the quality of my life would improve significantly if I started
leading a healthy lifestyle. What I did first was I read a lot of articles in magazines and
le
consulted a dietician because without professional help diets may do more harm than good.
The biggest challenge was to stop eating fast food. I started to choose carefully what I ate,
E-
when and what for. I became a frequent visitor of a gym and did exercises regularly. At least 3
times per week.
I've been living like this for more than a year now. I have to confess that this appeared to be
0
more difficult than I expected as, first of all, this requires discipline and time. For example,
8.
sometimes you don't want to go to the gym. You say to yourself that nothing will happen if you
skip one workout. But you understand that if you do it once, nothing will stop you from doing it
regularly. Secondly, when you eat fast food, you don't have to think at all. You take whatever you
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see in a shop just to make your stomach full. But if you start eating healthy food, you think
about its nutritional value, you count calories and try to choose fresh high-quality meat, fruit
and vegetables.
ki
In any case, all these efforts are worth changing the way you live. For instance, it was not until I
ea
started following a healthy diet and doing sport regularly that I began to lose weight naturally
without starving myself. As a result, I started looking slimmer and feeling better. What's more, I
became much more attractive for the opposite sex. Now I have many admirers who say that I'm
Sp
beautiful, and my photos get really many likes on social networks. My health has improved
significantly since I started taking the first steps towards changing my life. I have started feeling
more energetic than before. This has also helped me get better skin, so now I don't look as pale
as before. To sum up, the quality of my life has improved dramatically.
TS
TOPIC 28
Quiet place (May - December 2022)
EL
Describe a quiet place that you like to go to You should say:

what place it is how often you go there,
:I
when you go there

what you do there
Fb
why you like this place

Part 3 - 'Quiet places, noise'
Well, nowadays there's so much noise around that sometimes silence is a luxury I can no longer
afford. So time and again I go to some quiet places not to forget what 'silence' is. My favourite
one is a coniferous forest which is just a 20-minute drive from the city. This is a magical place
where quietness is almost tangible.
I like to walk, enjoying the air, the scents, and the vegetation. I usually move slowly, calmly, and
mindfully. The older I become, the more I appreciate each opportunity to take the time to walk
or sit and enjoy silence, especially when I feel that I'm on the verge of burnout. When it's warm, I
spread down a small carpet and sit under a pine tree, reading a book or just enjoying nature.
This is by far the best place where I can take a break from a constant stream of noises to
reboot my brain and unwind. Also, it is there that I can rid my mind of negative and
unnecessary thoughts, slow down, catch a deep breath, set my mind straight, think about my
life and focus on what I really want. If I'm feeling blue, a walk in the forest helps me to set myself
in the right mood. When I feel stressed and exhausted, it helps me to recharge my batteries.
I usually notice a huge difference in the way I feel before and after I go there, and this is
definitely what keeps me coming back for more.
TOPIC 29
Describe an occasion when you got stuck in a traffic jam
n
You should say:
where you went
ar
how often you do this
when you did this
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why you dislike it Part 3 - 'Public transport'
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Every day I hit the morning rush hour. I always sleep until the last minute, so I leave home when
congestion is at its height. Because of this, my daily commute which is nothing but a 40-minute
stop and go crawling. And on Monday it's particularly bad. As a consequence, I routinely sit in
0
about 40 minutes of bumper-to-bumper stop and go traffic every day. Last Monday wasn't an
8.
exception. Traffic moved very slowly, and there was no end in sight. The closer to the city centre,
the more slowly. This made me really nervous.
As a result, I was late for an important meeting. In fact, if only I could leave home just 15 minutes
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earlier, I would get to the office without any problems very fast. Normally it takes not more than
15 minutes. But I never manage to.
ki
Another thing that made me irritated, and it always does, was that I wasted a lot of time. What I
mean is when I'm stuck in a traffic jam, for example, because of a car accident, and don't move, I
ea
take my tablet and write letters or do other important things. But last time cars were crawling,
the only thing I could do was to scroll down my news feed on Facebook, which didn't improve my
productivity and didn't do any good to me.
Sp
Also, traffic congestion usually entails additional expenses. I've recently read that for every two
minutes a car is idling, it uses the same amount of fuel as a mile's drive.
What's more, it increases vehicle emissions, so every morning I blame myself for contributing to
environmental pollution, which I can avoid only if I stop getting to work by car, which is out of
TS
the question.
TOPIC 30
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Losing something (May - December 2022)

Describe a time when you lost something and then got it back
:I
You should say:

Fb
what it was
where you lost it
how you found it
how you felt part 3 - 'Losing things'
I'm a person who's forever losing something. And in most cases, I don't notice that some item is
missing for a long time... if ever... However, recently there was one case that I remember very well.
This is because I lost my smartphone, and it was a total disaster because I am not ashamed to
say that I can't survive even an hour without the device.
So, one day I returned home after a busy day and wanted to text one of my friends, but I
couldn't find my smartphone. At first, I didn't worry at all. I asked my mom to call my phone
'cause I was sure it was somewhere in my purse or in one of the pockets. What we heard was 'the
phone you dialed is not available at the moment'. This meant that locating my phone fast and
easily was out of the question. I thought the battery had gone flat, therefore it would just take a
little more time to find it. I searched high and low, but the search was without success. I realized
I'd lost it.
At that very moment I felt like my heart was coming to a complete stop. I started panicking. I
thought that someone would hack my phone password and get access to my photos and notes,
my accounts on social media, which was the last thing I wanted to have happened. I thought of
the potential consequences of my being out of contact for what might be several days. Among
other things, it was an expensive item, and I'd been saving for a long time to buy it.
The worst thing about it was that I had no idea where I lost it. What I remembered well was that I
n
called my friend after I left the office. This meant I didn't leave it in the workplace. So I
understood that I must have lost it either in the back seat of a taxi or in a changing room in a
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clothes store. To be honest, I thought I would never see my phone again. Much to my surprise, I
got it back.
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I returned to the shopping mall and asked around for the lost item. The shop assistant told me
she had found my phone in the dressing room. Then she asked me to name at least five people
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on the contact list of the phone to make sure it was mine. Of course, I did it. Then I got it back
and literally sighed with relief.
TOPIC 31
0
River or lake (May - December 2022)
8.
Describe an important river or lake in your country You should say:
what river it is
ng
what you know about it
why it is important
ki
Part 3 - 'Water activities, rivers, lakes'

ea
Without exaggeration, I can call India the land of rivers. And, in my opinion, by far the most
important one is the Ganges. It's the longest river in India which originates high in the
Himalayan Mountains, flows for about 3000 kilometres through the country and discharges into
Sp
the Bay of Bengal. The Ganges has a lot of tributaries, which I can't name. What I know for sure
is that it flows in 5 states of India and passes through a number of towns on its way to the Bay
of Bengal. As a result, the river has a myriad of uses in the regions it passes through.
First of all, it is the most sacred river in India. It is worshiped as the goddess Ganga Ma or
TS
Mother Ganges. There are large religious festivals that occur in the river throughout the year
where millions of people travel to the river to bathe, cleanse and purify their sins. Also, people
bring their dead to the river for cremation along its banks, and afterward their ashes are
EL
spread in the river. In some cases corpses are also thrown into the river.
The Ganges River provides livelihood for a large number of people in my country as most of the
:I
people living on its banks use the river for daily needs such as bathing and fishing. By the way,
its basin is the most heavily populated in the world with over 400 million people living there.
Fb
The river also plays an important role in the economy of my country as it provides irrigation
water for agriculture, and it is the backbone of the country's river transport system. I'm not
quite sure, but I think it's a source of electricity as well.
TOPIC 32
Competition (May - December 2022)
Describe a competition (music, sports, etc.) you would like to take part in
You should say:
what competition it is
what you would do in this competition
why you want to take part in it
part 3 - 'Competition, contests'
Well, there's one business idea that makes me get up every morning, and I really want to
implement it in the near future. But I don't have enough money for it 'cause it requires huge
investment. And this is a big problem as while I'm still thinking, someone else is acting. I want to
create a blockchain-powered educational marketplace. It will be like Coursera and eBay mixed
together. Both content creators and students will benefit from it because smart contracts that
are used by the blockchain technology will guarantee easy, fast, safe and commission-free
payments. And no one will have to control the whole system as the system will regulate itself. So
what I want is to take part in a startup battle and pitch my project to investors.
I've already done some research, and now I know more or less what I need to do to enter such a
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competition.
ar
At first, I have to submit an entry which is processed by a panel of judges. If they feel that angel
investors may take interest in the project, I move to the next stage. As a rule, finalists are
selected to pitch on stage or have one-to-one short meetings with potential investors. I'll have
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to prepare a detailed business plan, write a powerful pitch and prepare an investor offer 'cause
no one will invest a lot of money in the project if I cannot explain how exactly it will generate
E-
profit for investors.
I suppose such a competition will allow me to test my idea to see how viable it is. I will have a
chance to prove to everyone that my idea is worth implementing. In the best-case scenario, I will
0
attract investment to develop my project. Also, I'll get much needed PR coverage through local
8.
(national or international media. I really want to make a difference in the world and become as
famous as Steve Jobs or Elon Musk. And even if it all goes wrong, I'll get invaluable experience
in order to get better prepared next time and not to make the same mistakes. In any case, it will
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be a good opportunity to get my business idea evaluated by independent experts. And I'm sure
it will be a stepping stone to achieve something great in life.
TOPIC 33
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Interesting neighbour (May - December 2022)

ea
Describe an interesting neighbour You should say:

who this person is
Sp
how often you see him or her

how long you have known this neighbour
why you consider this person to be interesting
TS
Part 3 - 'Neighbours'
I live in a crowded high-rise building, and have neighbours next door, below and above. I guess,
EL
about a hundred people in total. So it's not surprising that most of them are nameless and
faceless to me. The only person who stands out is my next-door neighbour.
This is an elderly man whose name is John. He's been living next door ever since I can
:I
remember. So I can say I've known him since my childhood though for many years I just greeted
him politely and smiled. I was too young to appreciate an opportunity to communicate with
Fb
such a truly remarkable person.

Just imagine, now he is in his late 70s, but he seems to be more energetic than me and most of
my peers. He is literally a person of indomitable energy. John is retired. And if I were him, I would
sleep late, but he wakes up at 5 or 6 a.m. and always starts his day from morning exercises. He
goes jogging, I think, every day regardless of the weather and the season. I know about this
'cause when I go to work we often have small talk while waiting for an elevator because it usually
doesn't come for ages.
Another thing that draws people to him is that he will never say 'no' if you ask him to water your
flowers when you're away, keep an eye on your flat or feed your pets. I used to think he does it
not to feel lonely, but some time ago I understood that this is just because he is a really caring
and considerate person.
What's more, whatever happens, he looks on the bright side of life. Whenever I meet him, he is in
a good mood with a big smile on his face. He never complains about his life although my
parents told me that he'd got through a lot of challenges. I wish there were more people like him
TOPIC 34
Important event (May - December 2022)
Describe an important event that you celebrated You should say:
what event it was
when this happened
who was with you
n
how you feel about this event
ar
Part 3 - 'Festivals, important events'
I would say one of the most important events which I celebrated was my great grandfather's
le
anniversary. It was a couple of years ago. At that moment, of course, I didn't realise how
important that family gathering was. I understood it much later when my grandfather died. Just
E-
several weeks ago I was looking through the photos in a family album and recalled that event.
My great grandparents invited all the members of our family to their house in the village.
Frankly speaking, it was a few years ago, so I don't remember everything in detail. I guess much
0
of what I think I remember is a product of my imagination. Every time I recall this event, I see
8.
memories flooding across my mind like a kaleidoscope of pictures. For example, there was a lot
of food on the table though I don't really remember whether it was tasty or not. The guests were
talking and laughing all the time. Some of them were dancing, others were just sitting and
ng
eating non-stop. One more thing that I can't help remembering is there was a firework display at
night. Also, there were huge bouquets of beautiful flowers everywhere.
ki
Thank God there is a photo taken during this event which depicts the whole family. That was the
last family party when my great grandfather was alive.
ea
TOPIC 35
Healthy activity (May - December 2022)
Sp
Describe something you do to keep fit and healthy You should say:
what you do when and where you usually do it
how you do it
TS
how it helps you keep healthy

Part 3 - 'Keeping fit and healthy'
EL
In my opinion, by far the best way to maintain good health is to work out in the gym, which I do
every week, at least twice a week. Of course, I wish I could do it more frequently, but I just don't
have that much free time.
:I
What's important is that I always mix strength and cardio training. Strength training exercises
help me work out my muscles, increase metabolism and build stamina. So they generally make
Fb
me stronger. Cardio exercises help me burn calories, and therefore maintain a healthy weight.
To make the most of each workout session, I start it with a warm-up. This is usually a
combination of some light cardiovascular exercises and stretches, which helps me to prevent
the injury and prepare my body for more vigorous exercises.
If I have strength training, I sometimes perform exercises with free weights such as dumbbells or
medicine balls. To be honest, I used to think that weights were something for bodybuilders. But
now I realise that light lifting exercises are really good for anyone. Sometimes I use elasticized
bands or specialized machines. But in most cases, I do bodyweight exercises. I mean everyone's
all time favourites such as sit ups, squats, lunges and pull ups. For me, bodyweight exercises
are more difficult to do than weights, but my fitness instructor doesn't care about it and makes
me do several 25-rep sets of each exercise. When I have a cardio workout, I either swim or run
on a treadmill.
Then, at the end of each workout I do some stretching exercises again, which helps me keep a
heart rate and blood pressure from dropping rapidly.
TOPIC 36
Surprising thing (May - December 2022)
Describe something that surprised you You should say:
what it is how you found out about it
what you did
n
whether it made you happy
part 3 - 'Happiness'
ar
Just a couple of weeks ago, I was aimlessly scrolling down my news feed on Facebook when I
spotted a catchy headline stating that Israeli scientists may have discovered a cure for cancer.
le
This made me immediately click on the link.
What I read made me feel really enthusiastic about the future because nowadays cancer is a
E-
leading cause of death worldwide. For example, just in 2018, there were 17 million new cancer
cases and 9.5 million cancer deaths. What's more, treatment is super expensive and, in most
cases, ineffective.
0
So, according to the news article, a team of scientists has discovered the first complete cure for
8.
cancer. The treatment is a multi-target toxin which specifically kills cancer cells. Also, they say
that patients could likely stop treatment after a number of weeks and not need a drug cocktail
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throughout their lives.
The team has already concluded its first exploratory experiment on mice, and it had promising
results. The experiment showed inhibited human cancer cell growth and had no effect on
ki
healthy mice cells. So, the company will soon begin clinical trials that could be completed within
a few years and would make the treatment available in specific cases.
ea
Frankly speaking, I didn't expect such a discovery to happen in the not-too-distant future,
therefore I was truly impressed and suprised by this piece of news.
Sp
TOPIC 37
Traditional product (May - December 2022)
Describe a product from your area (such as a food or handicraft) You should say:
TS
what the product is

when you tried it for the first time
EL
where you can buy it

how it is produced
why it is popular
:I
part 3 - 'Traditional products'

Fb
As far as I know my country is famous for making such crafty things as ceramics. I mean
pottery, porcelain, and glasswork. In my country, virtually every household has ceramics of
various shapes and sizes, which are used for different purposes. For instance, as far back as I
can remember, my mother always used clay pots for cooking. I remember she would always say
'there is no healthy cooking without healthy cookware'. I really liked everything my mom cooked
in clay pots. She steamed veggies and stewed meat. The taste was truly exceptional.
So when an opportunity turned up, I went to the artisan village and bought a few pots for my
own family. By the way, it is these villages that are considered the best places where all this stuff
is produced and sold.
When I was there, I watched a kind of a performance. Craftsmen showed how they produced
different crafted items. But I'm afraid I can't go into detail about the production process as it
was quite a while ago. The only thing I remember is that clay was first dampened 'cause when
dampened, it behaves like plasticine. Then it was modeled, dried, and then fired. Of course, I
didn't see all the stages as this process is long and complicated. And I didn't have so much time
to wait for each stage to be completed. Anyway, we got a broad idea of what the process is like.
I really like ceramics for many reasons. If we talk about pottery, for example, it is healthy and
non-toxic. Glassware and porcelain make very good presents. And this list can be endless. It is
no wonder that ceramics have become a traditional product in my country.
TOPIC 38
Activity to concentrate (May - December 2022)
n
Describe something you do to keep yourself concentrated You should say:
what it is how often you do it
ar
when you started doing it
why it helped you concentrate part 3 - 'Concentration'
le
A couple of months ago I noticed that day by day I was getting more and more irritated 'cause I
E-
was unproductive at work just because I couldn't concentrate on the task I was doing. I felt I just
wasted my time doing nothing. I sometimes literally stared at the screen trying to collect my
thoughts. Plus, I got easily distracted. The main problem about it is that once you get
0
distracted, it takes about 20 minutes to return to our original task. I was stressed and
overworked.
8.
My friend recommended me to practice mindfulness meditation in the mornings. I'll explain
what it is. It's simply focusing completely on what you're doing.. slowing down, and observing all
ng
of the physical and emotional sensations that you are experiencing in that moment. This is the
skill that I really needed to master. She told me to sit still and focus on my breath, then
concentrate on the beating of my heart. The most important thing was not to pay any attention
ki
to anything else.
But I'm a very active person. So you can imagine... I was absolutely terrified at the thought of
ea
sitting still, even for a couple of minutes, let alone half an hour. At first, it was indeed a
nightmare. I couldn't get rid of the incessant chatter in my head. My thoughts were driving me
crazy. And therefore I couldn't slow down and make my mind relaxed. Plus, it was boring.
Sp
Despite this, I didn't give up and practiced it every morning. Gradually I got used to it and even
started enjoying the process. Just a week later I saw measurable improvements in attention
span. I saw that I could easily center the thoughts on what I did. Later I started directing
TS
focused attention towards my ordinary activities. For instance, I practiced mindfulness when I
ate. I took time to really chew my food and concentrate on its flavors and texture.
Now if I'm working on some task and feel that restless itch to go do something else, I try to bring
EL
my awareness to my body and my breath. After a few seconds of focusing on my breath, I'm
normally ready to get back to work.
:I
TOPIC 39
Invention (May - December 2022)
Fb
Describe an invention that changed the world for the better You should say:
what it is
how it changed the world
how popular it is
part 3 - 'Inventions'
To my mind, the greatest thing since sliced bread is a smartphone. Without exaggeration, I think
that smartphones have revolutionized humanity.
They allow us to do amazing things and interact with the world in ways we never thought were
possible. They can be used for making and receiving calls, texting friends, family and
colleagues, getting and sharing news on social networks sites, checking email messages and
even doing online banking. We also use them to take photos and keep track of calendar events.
For example, in the past, I used to depend too much on my home PC for doing tasks like
checking mails and browsing the web. Now that I have a smartphone, I no longer have to rush
to a computer to edit a document or check my email. So, first of all, this invention has made our
lives much easier providing us with an easy and fast way of communication, enabling us to do
various tasks all at the same time and freeing us from the constraints of space. The second
change brought by smartphones is that they have replaced many devices such as ebook
readers, MP3 players, or cameras. If you want, you can use them for listening to music or
watching a film. Also, there are apps for practically everything. They are quick to install and
easy to use. Thus, having a smartphone makes waiting not as boring as in the past.
n
So I'm more than sure it's difficult to overestimate the popularity of smartphones as wherever
you go, you see people that are literally glued to their devices. Now we just can't imagine our
ar
lives without these devices. For instance, I use mine all the time I am awake. I feel really weird if
my phone isn't within close proximity to me. I feel cut off from the world if the battery goes flat,
and I don't have an opportunity to recharge it immediately. To tell the truth, I kinda go into
le
convulsions when I can't keep up with my Facebook feed for some time. What is more, we are so
dependent on our smartphones that some of us even use them while driving even though
E-
everybody realises that they risk taking someone's life and ruining their own. I've read that
currently there are more than one billion smartphone users in the world. That's so impressive a
figure. And this means that smartphones are more popular than computers. All these examples
0
prove that the smartphone is by far the most significant invention ever.
8.
TOPIC 40
Being busy (May - December 2022)
ng
Describe a time when you were very busy You should say:
when this time was
ki
what you did at this time

how you arranged your time
ea
how you felt after this busy time was over

part 3 - 'Being busy'
Sp
Last month, to say that I was busy is to say nothing. I was like a hamster on a wheel trying to get
everything that I'd planned done.
It was an absolutely crazy time. I was working on several projects at the same time to cover for a
TS
colleague who was on holiday. I couldn't say 'no' because we usually cover for each other, and I
knew that I wouldn't be able to count on her in the future if I had refused to pick up her
workload. So I had to push myself beyond my limits to get all the work done. I had a constant
EL
flow of emails coming in. Also, I had to deal with customer requests and phone calls, let alone
my daily reports. Even when I came home after work, I couldn't relax because I had to walk the
dog and make sandwiches and tea not to collapse from hunger as I didn't even have time for
:I
lunch. Also, in the mornings I woke up at the last minute, so breakfast was out of question in
most cases.
Fb
To tell the truth, the only thing that literally saved me from burnout and overwork was my paper
planner called Slice Planner. This planner presents a work day as a diagram which looks like a
clock face. This diagram is divided into 12 sectors, like 12 hours. You have to shade the sector
representing some time slot if you plan to do something during that period of time. Although I
saw what fitted into my schedule and what didn't, I tried to do more work.
So, when this crazy time was over I was squeezed like a lemon as I had to work against the clock
to complete my project in time, so I didn't have days off during the whole month. At the same
time I felt relieved as i understood I could finally relax for some time. And, of course, I had a
sense of accomplishment as my project was a real success. I even got a bonus for it.
TOPIC 41 (May - December 2022)
Helping a child (May - December 2022)

Describe a time when you helped a child
You should say:
how you helped a child
why you helped them
when it was
part 3 - 'Volunteering, helping others'
Some years ago I taught my younger brother to tie shoelaces. I found my nephew crying over
n
his shoes 'cause he couldn't tie them. I wanted him to let me help him, but he didn't allow me to
tie his shoes 'cause he wanted to be independent and do everything himself. I remember myself
ar
when I was his age. So I decided to help him and teach him this skill.
I thought it would be a piece of cake as it takes no more than two seconds to do it. And we,
le
adults, do it automatically without thinking about it. I mean it's as natural as breathing. So I
thought I would show it once or perhaps twice and it would be done, but sometimes things don't
E-
go like we think they will. This was just the case. He couldn't repeat after me. So it turned out to
be one of the biggest challenges in my whole life.
My mom told me that this process could take up to a month of consistency and dedication
0
from both the teacher and child.
8.
I understood that, first of all, I myself had to learn how to teach somebody. So, I watched a
number of video tutorials which showed different ways to teach a child to tie shoelaces. After
that we started practising 5 minutes every day, and I broke down this complicated task into
ng
smaller steps in order not to overwhelm the child.
At first, we practised with his shoes off. I used laces of two different colours to help him
ki
differentiate one lace from the other. We started from learning to make a starting knot. I showed
him how to cross the left end of the lace over the right one, then wrap one end around the
ea
other, and pull both ends to complete the knot.

When he finally succeeded, we moved on to a more complicated task. I started teaching him to
make both ends into 'loops' that look like bunny ears, and then repeat all those steps that I've
Sp
already described. Every day we took one small step forward.

Everything was ok when we did it together, but when I asked him to do it himself, it was terrible. It
was as if he had never practised anything before. Several times | was on the verge of losing my
temper. But I didn't give up. It was a challenge for me. I wanted to see what I was capable of as a
TS
teacher. When it all was over and he managed to tie his first shoelaces singlehandedly, I had a
sense of satisfaction and relief.
EL
TOPIC 42
:I
Something you do to save time (May - December 2022)

Describe something you do to save time
Fb
You should say:

what it is
when you do it
how you feel when you do this how it helps you
part 3 - 'Time management'
Until recently, I thought the best way to save more time or to use time as efficiently as possible
to make lists of tasks for each day. I sorted these tasks by priority. But no matter what I did I
couldn't get all the work done. And I was really angry and frustrated.
So, now I know that creating a daily plan is enormously important. But it's also necessary to peg
a time limit to each task on the list. I used to work slowly just because I didn't control the time.
Sometimes I was trying to bring the result to perfection, which is pointless per se. Sometimes I
was distracted by emails, calls messages or Facebook. You know, you want to quickly check
something on Facebook or Instagram, but then you find yourself aimlessly scrolling the feed for
half an hour.
But now I understand that I have a limited period of time to complete some task. So I just don't
pay attention to the distractors and activities that waste my time. But it was easier said than
done. So I had to set some awards and punishments in order not to be tempted to text
someone or scroll the feed on Facebook. The main problem about it is that once you get
distracted, it takes about 20 minutes to return to our original task.
n
Now that I've managed to significantly increase my productivity, I can tell you that this method
worked for me well. And when I have a lot of tasks to complete, I no longer feel nervous as I know
ar
that I will complete all the tasks on the list. I feel calm and in control of what's going on.
TOPIC 43
le
Family member you want to work with (May - December 2022)
E-
Describe a family member you'd like to work with
You should say:
who this person is
0
8.
what kind of work you'd like to do
why you want to work with him or her
ng
how you feel about this person part 3 - 'Business, globalization, jobs'
Answers
I would be insanely happy if my younger brother became my business partner. Together we
ki
could start an online store, manufacturing business or pizza shop. We could open a restaurant.
Actually, we could start whatever business we want.
ea
The main reason why I want to go into business with him is that I'm sure he is able to build a
very successful company 'cause he's a natural-born entrepreneur. All our relatives say that if he
Sp
started a business, he would make lots and lots of money. And I want to be involved (LOL). As far
as I remember, as a child, he came up with lots of quick and easy ways to make money almost
every day. For example, he did a lot of garage sales. When he ran out of junk from our parents'
garage to sell, he asked his friends if they could organize garage sales at their houses. Also, he
TS
sold homemade lemonade in the summer. Once, and that's one of my favourite stories, he
figured out that he could invest, say, $3 into buying the whole pizza and then sell it by the slice.
So he was able to charge something like $4 or $5 for a pizza that cost him just $3. I consider
EL
him a genius. And I think these stories prove that he does have a business flair. So everyone
says that it's a pity that he used his talent only when he was a kid. What's more, he already has
extensive experience in sales, which is sometimes key to success in business. Also, we
:I
complement each other very well. We would engage in different activities and have different
responsibilities. So I believe there would be less reason to fight. Fir what's important is that we
Fb
know each other insic and I know I can trust him.
TOPIC 44
Hard decision (May - December 2022)

Describe a difficult decision that you once made
You should say:
what the decision was
how you made your decision
what the results of the decision were
why it was difficult to make
part 3 - 'Making decisions'
Answers
Several months ago it was the first time I had been caught in a real dilemma. I had to decide
whether I wanted to study abroad or locally. Once my parents and I were having dinner, when
suddenly they told me it was time to start thinking about my future and... (this is where the
nightmare began) that they were ready to pay for my education abroad if it was what I really
wanted to do. At first, I was on cloud nine, but then I started agonizing over the decision.
You can't even imagine how painful the process was. I asked my friends what they would do if
n
they were given such an opportunity. Needless to say, opinions differed wildly. Then I made a
list of pros and cons and analyzed all 'what-ifs' which threw me into doubt all the time. I also
ar
read a few articles about education abroad and found out what other students were saying
about their experience. I even tried to consider job prospects in different countries.
le
I struggled to make a decision because my future was at stake. And, of course, I was afraid to
suffer consequences of the wrong choice. It was difficult to imagine what living abroad would
E-
be like (taking into account the current situation regarding covid-19). Also, I knew I would have to
start my life from the very beginning. And to top it off, I realised I would have to leave my friends
and family behind.
0
After a great deal of thought I decided to seize this opportunity as it's better to regret what you
8.
have done than what you haven't. Now I'm planning to study in Canada. Of course, the
outcomes cannot be accurately predicted yet, but I hope I made the right decision. We'll see. I'm
still worried and fear disappointment but at the same time I'm looking forward to this change.
ng
TOPIC 45
Person famous in your country (May - December 2022)

ki
Describe a person famous in your country

ea
You should say:

who this person is
what this person has done or does
Sp
why this person is popular

how you feel about this person
part 3 - 'Popularity'
TS
One of the many popular people in my country is X (put someone's name here, for example, Bea
Alonzo, a Philipino social media influencer). She's a Philipino actress, Instagram influencer,
EL
vlogger, and lifestyle blogger. Bea makes videos and writes about her own life, experiences,
interests, or daily activities, for example, there's content about subjects like parenting, cooking,
fitness, beauty, college life, home decoration and everything else in between.
:I
You know, there are millions of lifestyle bloggers all over the world, so it's almost impossible to
create content somebody else hasn't shared yet, but she's really popular. And I think that it is
Fb
being authentic that helps her stand out from the crowd. Now many bloggers show only
carefully curated, beautifully lit and perfectly filtered moments and think that this will help them
connect with followers, but I think this strategy doesn't work. And she doesn't use it. She
managed to find her 'blend' of content. It's obvious that she enjoys blogging. I'm sure this helps
her keep her social media presence real. And this content resonates with many people. For
example, in her opinion, sometimes it's okay to post without a filter, or even post about
challenges and struggles. I really appreciate that.
And I am honestly impressed by her ability to create a personal brand, build an audience and
develop influence, open up to strangers, and stay popular for so long given the fact that a
niche of lifestyle blogging is over-saturated nowadays. I'm sure it's because she has never tried
to be just like other successful lifestyle bloggers. That's why I enjoy reading her posts and
watching her videos on YouTube.
TOPIC 46
Advice you got about work (May - December 2022)

Describe an occasion when someone gave you positive advice or suggestions about your work
You should say:
who this person is
what they said
how this advice affected you
how you felt about the advice part 3 - 'Encouraging people'
n
Until recently, I made lists of tasks for each day but was unable to complete them no matter
ar
how hard I tried. I tried to cope with this problem myself. For example, I sorted tasks by priority
and I avoided checking my emails or texting my friends, hoping that these strategies would
help. No matter what I did I couldn't get all the work done. And I was really angry with myself.
le
The turning point for me was realizing that didn't even want to start doing anything at all.
I was so upset that I complained about this situation to my colleague. I told him that I had
E-
already tried all the time management strategies, but nothing helped. He gave me a really
simple, yet efficient solution to my problem. He advised me to stop making to-do lists because I
planned much more than I could do. I saw the list and thought that I had to complete all the
0
tasks on the list. He told me that to-do lists don't work for visual thinkers like me and
8.
recommended me to start using a different approach to planning my day. At first, he drew a
circular diagram which looked like a clock face. Then he took my long to-do list and asked me to
estimate how much time each of the tasks would consume. So he transferred the tasks from my
ng
to-do list to this diagram. Every time he shaded a sector for the task. At some point, there were
no empty sectors on the first diagram. He drew the second one. And I realised that when I made
lists of things to do, it seemed to me I was obliged to do everything on the list by the end of the
ki
day. I realised that the problem was not about poor productivity, but my inability to make
realistic plans. He taught me to set achievable goals and avoid planning, too many things.
ea
I am convinced this was a clever solution because, first of all, it worked for me and helped me
solve my problem fast and efficiently. What's more, it didn't require me to put any extra efforts
Sp
into solving the problem. You know, it was like taking the most direct, yet congested, route
during rush hour versus driving through a series of alleyways to reach the same location.
TOPIC 47
TS
Using a cellphone to do something important (May - December 2022)

Describe a time when you used your cellphone to do something important
EL
You should say:

what happened
when it happened
:I
how important your cellphone was

Fb
how you felt about the experience part 3 - 'Mobile phones'

Answers
Once my smartphone literally protected me from losing all my money. So, once I realized the
debit card was missing. I was so shocked that I just didn't know what to do at first.
The last time I saw it, it was in the interior slip pocket of my handbag (or coat). I was sure
nobody could reach in my pocket and pull it out without me noticing it. So I thought it just fell
out of my pocket or I could have given it to a cashier and walked away without it. Anyway, I
understood it was missing. And I came to realize I wouldn't find it. I wasn't even going to try to
find it. Just didn't want to waste time.
To be honest, I started to panic. But I knew I had to hold myself together in order to deal with
this issue as quickly as possible and avoid losing money.
Then I understood that there was just one thing that would protect me from any unauthorized
charges. I had to contact my bank as quickly as possible in order to report the loss of the card
and cancel it. And this is what I did. But the experience wasn't as pleasant as I expected 'cause I
had to wait on hold for about 15 minutes. I was growing angry every minute 'cause every minute
of delay could potentially cost me a lot of money. Of course, in the end, I managed to cancel my
debit card and order a replacement one, but I was feeling frustrated although it all turned out
okay. But I should say that if it hadn't been for my smartphone, would have lost all my money.
TOPIC 48
Person you enjoyed talking with (May - December 2022)
n
Describe a person you enjoyed talking with You should say:
who this person is when you talked
ar
what you talked about
why you enjoyed talking to this person
le
part 3 - 'Meeting friends, communication'
E-
When I was a child, my mom would always say: 'Don't talk to strangers. It's very dangerous. Even
though I'm not a child any more, I still get a little nervous when someone I don't know tries to
strike up a conversation with me. For this reason, I don't generally engage in much conversation
0
with strangers.
8.
So the last time when I was sitting in the departure lounge at the airport, waiting for my flight, I
pulled out a tablet and was going to watch a movie or do my work, but no such luck. A young
man occupied the seat next to me as it was the only empty seat there.
ng
Several minutes later he started asking me some questions. At first, I pretended to be very busy
and answered his questions reluctantly. But he seemed so positive and sincere that I got talking
ki
to him.
We talked about travelling, work, hobbies. I mean, at first, we didn't discuss anything personal.
ea
Somehow our small talk turned into a heart-to-heart conversation about life and relationships.
I told him about the problems I had with my boyfriend. We'd had an on-off relationship for many
years. I was fed up with it, but didn't know what to do. I was really happy to get that off my chest.
Sp
We discussed my problems, we talked about love and relationships between men and women.
It was a really enjoyable conversation mostly because my new friend was sincere and really
open to a constructive dialogue and exchange of ideas.
TS
TOPIC 49
Opinion (May - December 2022)

EL
Describe a time you were asked to give your opinion

You should say:
:I
who asked you to give your opinion

what the situation was what opinion you had
Fb
what the result was

part 3 for this cue card is 'Opinions and ideas'
Just recently one of my close friend's decided to quit a job after an argument with some
colleague. What's more, he was determined to do this as soon as possible.
To be honest, I didn't want to interfere and tell my friend what I thought about his idea 'cause I
prefer to keep my opinions to myself. You know, people usually ask you what you think about
something, whether you would do something or not. And then they just get offended 'cause you
have different opinions, and they were asking you to express your opinion just because they
thought you would say something they wanted to hear. So giving opinions or advice just doesn't
work. Also, I'm sure people should make their own mistakes and learn their own lessons. But I
realized that this would impact his life significantly, so I just couldn't keep my mouth shut.
I advised my friend not to make emotional decisions. I said that I didn't think it was wise to quit
a job without another one lined up because this would entail uncertainty and having no income
for an indefinite period of time.
To my regret, my friend didn't listen to me as he is too stubborn to listen to anybody's advice. A
few days later, he resigned. And a few months after that he called me to borrow some money
because he was looking for a job.
TOPIC 50
Place you can recommend to live (May - December 2022)

Describe a place you visited (not your hometown) that you recommend others to live in You
n
should say:
ar
what place it is
when you went there
le
why you can recommend living there
part 3 - 'Cities, countryside, relocating'
E-
The place I'm gonna tell you is X. It's a huge and bustling city, the capital of X. It's so large that if
you view the city from a tall building, you get the feeling that it doesn't end. To be honest, I don't
mind going back and staying there for the rest of my life.
0
I remember no sooner had I arrived there than I felt that it was the place where I should have
8.
been born. And since that time I have never felt at home anywhere as much as I do in X. What's
amazing is that whoever comes there instantly feels comfortable too. So I think this is the place
ng
I can recommend people to move to.
Plus, there are a number of factors people consider important for life. And as far as I can tell
this city meets all these requirements. First of all, it's affordability, I mean housing expenses, the
ki
prices for consumable goods, the price of petrol, utility services, taxes and stuff like that. Other
things that matter are accessibility, appearance and amenities, that is the presence of the
ea
airport, train and bus stations, good transport links, a number of educational institutions, a
wide array of recreational facilities, shopping malls, parks and gardens and, of course,
hospitals. I would also add good employment opportunities and low crime rates to my priority
Sp
list, oh, and the climate as well. And you know, it has its emotional pull and its own character
that makes it instantly recognizable as 'that city'.
TS
EL
:I
Fb

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FB: IELTS Speaking 8.

0 E-learn - FORECAST IELTS SPEAKING QUÝ 2 CHUẨN

từ vựng để nói ko có lỗi, hiếm khi -bài nói dễ hiểu,

mạch lạc và hợp lý ảnh hưởng đến

-nói chi tiết về các vựng linh hoạt để

-có thể thỉnh -dùng được

sửa lỗi cụm từ tuy nhiên

thúc hơi linh hoạt -paraphrase hiệu

-vận dụng được các

khác (trong 30 topics part 1)

Discourse markers: but=yet=that said, plus=also=what’s more=additionally=furthermore=on top

For example: What kind of headphones do you wear?

dislike=I’m not really into, I can’t stand, I detest….

important=crucial, pivotal, is of paramount importance, significant, key,

PROMPT 2: Going on to my next point which is (prompt 2)…….

PROMPT 3: Moving forward onto the next question of (prompt 3)……..

PROMPT 4: Finally, if there’s time, I’d talk about ........

Nowadays — whereas / while — in the past

These days — whereas / while — back in the day

Recently — whereas / while — in the old days

Today — whereas / while — back then

At the moment — whereas / while — before

Comparing Ages / Generations:

Kids these days — whereas / while — elderly people

Youngsters — whereas / while — the elderly

Kids / Teenagers — whereas / while — retirees / pensioners

Do young and older people use phones in the same way?

-in the foreseeable future

-down the road

changes major changes related to/ with regard to this

I think that I reckon that

I’m sure that

first of all Initially

For one thing

First and foremost

predict I guess that

I’d predict that

I’d envisage that /ɪnˈvɪzɪdʒ/ (=imagine)

might we’ll have

we’ll most likely have

we’re going to have

we’ll soon have

we’ll probably have

see the arrival of zero-emission buses running on solar energy.

TYPE 3- Why questions

In my opinion -in my viewpoint

I guess I would say that -I suppose I would say that

There are many reasons -factors (involved)

-motives (surrounding this idea)

-explanations (for this) /ˌekspləˈneɪʃnz/

-justifications (behind this) /ˌdʒʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃnz/

There are many There's probably a number of

There are obviously a number of

There are undoubtedly a variety of

The second reason a subsequent factor

a subsequent incentive /ɪnˈsentɪv/

a secondary motive /ˈməʊtɪv/

a further rationale /ˌræʃəˈnæl/

could be that… might be that since (bởi vì)

might be due to the fact that

Why do so many people want to be famous?

in a big house and drive an expensive car.

a few clear benefits few negative aspects

obvious merits some drawbacks