Topic 9: BUILDINGS

PART 1
Question 1. Are you living in a house or a flat?
I have been living in a house with my parents for ages, on a bustling (nhộn nhịp) street, to
be more specific 18 years. I’d say that my house is relatively spacious. It’s kinda well-
furnished (trang bị nội thất đầy đủ) and well- equipped.

Question 2. What do you see from the windows?

From the window of my bedroom, I have a view of a garden of my family. It brings me a
green look with plants and flowerbeds. It’s literally chill out when enjoying such a view.

Question 3. Is there anything from your house you want to change?

Actually, I am living on a bustling street as I told you, so the pace of life (nhịp sống) is very
noisy. If I had a chance, I would like to move to a quieter place in coming time where I can
live in a clutter-free environment.

PART 2 – DESCRIBE A BUILDING

What: To be honest, I am not really fond of building, architecture or the like. However, the
first thing about buildings that springs to my mind is Bitexco Tower. It is one of the stunning
symbols of Ho Chi Minh city, and it has gained a reputation for one the tallest skyscrapers
around Asia.

When + Where: If my memory serves me right, I first went there 2 years ago, and it left a
very strong impression in my mind. Bitexco Tower is located on a bustling street – Dong
Khoi street, Ho Chi Minh city.

How: I have no idea about architecture, to be completely honest with you. I just tell you
some descriptions about it. It was erected in the shape of Lotus- a national flower of
Vietnam, and it has a state- of –the- art design. What strikes me the most is that the helipad
was built on the 50th floor of this high building, and if you want to catch breathtaking views
at night, you can drop by (ghé qua) the coffee house on 52th floor of this building. It never
lets you down for the beauty it offers.

Why: There are some reasons why I mention Bitexco Tower. First, I suppose it is a must-
travel place for everyone, not only for its unique beauty but also for its recreational
purposes (cho mục đích giải trí). Bitexco Tower is famous for the largest commercial
center around Ho Chi Minh where you can satisfy your shopping demands, especially if
you always set your heart (khao khát) on hunting high-end (đồ hiệu) items. Second, if you
are a real sucker for photography, don't ever miss this place.

PART 3
Question 1. How does the climate of a place affect the kind of buildings that are built
there?
Ôi, câu này khó thật sự, lý do đó là tôi không sõi lắm về các chủ đề biến đổi khí hậu cũng
như kiến trúc xây dựng. Với kiến thức hạn hẹp thì tôi cho là nếu khí hậu nóng, thì các nhà
xây dựng sẽ xây dựng các tòa nhà để giữ mát nhất có thể. Nhưng nếu bạn ở vùng khí hậu
lạnh thì bạn có thể tìm thấy lớp cách nhiệt kép trên cửa sổ, hoặc những ngôi nhà sẽ được
xây dựng để giữ nhiệt càng nhiều càng tốt. Nó khá phổ biến khi nhìn thấy một ngôi nhà với
một loạt các hiên trong một khí hậu nóng. Và có lẽ mỗi phòng sẽ có một lỗ cho một lỗ thông
gió điều hòa. Nhưng khí hậu lạnh hơn rất có thể sẽ có hệ thống sưởi trung tâm.

Oh, ain’t this a real puzzle? I am not all that proficient (rành rẽ) in the topic of climate
change as well as architecture design. With the somewhat limited knowledge of mine, if the
climate is hot, then the builders will construct the buildings to stay as cool as possible. But if
you are in a cold climate then you might find double insulation on the windows, or the
houses will be built to retain heat as much as possible. It’s quite common to see a house
with a bunch of open verandas in a hot climate. And probably every room will have a hole for
an air conditioning vent. But colder climates will most likely have central heating.

Question 2. In your opinion, should cities have many high-rise buildings or traditional
houses?
Tôi nghĩ là nên. Các thành phố nên tập trung xây dựng các tòa nhà cao tầng vì tình trạng
thiếu đất càng ngày càng trở nên nghiêm trọng. Đối mặt với tình trạng đó, các tòa nhà cao
tầng sẽ cung cấp đủ chỗ ở cho dân cư trong thành thị. Ngoài ra, khuyến khích xây dựng các
tòa nhà cao tầng thay vì toà nhà truyền thống sẽ giúp tiết kiệm được rất nhiều đất công
cộng, mở đường cho các tòa nhà công cộng như bệnh viện, trường học, công ty, nhà máy
mọc lên để phục vụ cho các cuộc sống người dân.

I think that skyscrapers are inevitable (ko thể thiếu) in the cities due to the increasing
shortage of living space. To cope with (=deal with) such conditions, they need to build
high-risers to accommodate all the inhabitants (=residents) (ng dân). In addition,
promoting high-rise buildings will free a lot of land for public facilities like hospitals, schools,
office buildings and factories to address the needs of the people.
habit: thói quen
habitat: mt sống

TOPIC: 10 MUSIC

PART 1
Question 1. Do you often sing?
• You know, singing is not my forte, but sometimes, I often sing along to music and do
some shuffling sometimes. It is hilarious for myself but I get into it.
• Yes, singing is my kinda thing. When I was a child, I was harboring a dream to become
a famous singer like Taylor Swift. I think it is sweet but I gave up that dream for other
stuff.

Question 2. Where do you listen to music?

Everywhere, at home, streaming music on the websites or my Mp3 player. On the move (khi
đang trên đường) – listening to music makes my commute (quãng đường đi làm) less boring
– sometimes, I hit to the concert to enjoy the golden voices.

Question 3. Can you play musical instruments?

• Oh, actually no. I have tried several times, but I think I do not have a knack for it. It is out of
question. But I am really into listening to guitar or piano sounds.
• Actually I can play guitar, but I am only a novice. In the future, I try to play more to hone my
skills (trau dồi kỹ năng)

PART 2 – DESCRIBE YOUR FAVORITE SONG

What: Today I’m going to talk about my favorite song that I listen over and over again.
Who: The song is called Give It To Me – which is performed by Son Tung MTP. To tell you
the truth, he is a prominent (nổi tiếng) singer with a great vocal in Vietnam. His music is
always all the rage and it is usually played in all sorts of nightclubs and café. If Son Tung
MTP is an endorser for any products, it’s gonna sell like a hot cake.

When: If my memory serves me right, when the song was released to the public several
months ago, it hit the world by a storm (làm chấn động).

How: I am addicted to this song by its catchy melody and lyrics. I sing along to the music all
the time, on the move, in the bathroom, and in my bedroom. When I listen the
song, I also do some shuffling, I mean, I move my body to the music. It is really a blast!

Why: The reason why I prefer it to other songs is the lyrics. You know, the song tells a story
about sad love with heart-wrenching stories, and it really touches my heart. Now I am
trying to play this song with my guitar skills, but to be honest, I am just a novice (nghiệp dư).

PART 3
Question 1. What might be the best age to start learning to play a musical instrument?
Theo quan điểm của tôi bắt đầu học khi bạn còn trẻ là lựa chọn tốt nhất, càng sớm càng tốt.
Tâm trí của trẻ em rất ấn tượng với mọi thứ khi chúng còn nhỏ, chúng lưu giữ thông tin và
thấm mọi thứ nhanh như một miếng bọt biển. Vì vậy, Họ có thể phát triển các kỹ năng âm
nhạc của mình và xem liệu rằng chúng/ bọn trẻ có tài năng về nó không. Nếu bạn bắt đầu
học sau này trong cuộc sống, có lẽ sẽ khó khăn hơn để tìm thời gian để học và thực hành.

• In my view starting to learn when you are young is the best option, you know the younger,
the better. Children's minds are so impressionable when they are young, they retain
information and soak it up like a sponge. Therefore, they can develop their musical skills and
see if they have a talent for it. If you start learning later in life, it will probably be more difficult
to find the time, to have lessons and to practice.

Question 2. What do old people like to listen to?

Họ thích âm nhạc truyền thống và đôi khi là cổ điển. Tôi không nghĩ họ thích nghe những
bài hát pop hay bất cứ điều gì “bốp chát” quá, có thể họ nghe radio nhưng có gì đó thư giãn
hơn. Chẳng hạn, bà tôi thích nghe một đài phát thanh có một chương trình hỗn hợp gồm
các câu chuyện, các cuộc phỏng vấn, các vở kịch và nhạc cổ điển.

• They like to listen to traditional music and sometimes classical. I don't think they like to
listen to pop songs or anything heavy, maybe they listen to the radio but something that is
more relaxing. For instance, my grandma like to listen to a radio station that has a mixed
programme of stories, interviews, plays and classical music.