Giải các đề ielts speaking giữ lại quý 1 2023 by ngocbach

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GIẢI CÁC ĐỀ IELTS SPEAKING GIỮ LẠI QUÝ 1/2023 BY NGOCBACH

(Dùng cho kỳ thi IELTS Speaking từ tháng 11 đến quý 1/2023)

1 Describe a difficult decision you made that had a very good result

What the decision was

When you made your decision

How long it took to make the decision

And explain why it was difficult to make

(What the decision was) I was fortunate enough to not have to make lots of difficult

decisions in my life so far But there was one which I’d consider a dilemma and I was

reluctant to decide on It was my decision regarding what to study in university: whether

to pursue my childhood dream of fine art or to stick with English which is my strength

(When you made your decision) As high school students, we all had to decide what we

wanted for our life at some point during those years Some people were at a loss, luckily I

was not one of them as I already knew what I wanted and what my strength was However, they weren’t the same and thus my problem started there

(How long it took to make the decision) I didn’t really think about it in my first year of

high school, but the problem became clearer and clearer afterwards And it was not until

my final semester in high school was I able to make up my mind that I’d go with English

So, I’d say I spent two years thinking about it

(Why it was difficult) It was indeed a tough one I was torn between my dream and the

reality before my eyes: fine art was what I had always wanted to do, but there wasn’t much place for it in the market as far as I know, and the competition was intense; while English was not quite what I dreamed of, but it was more realistic and easier to get a job I ended

up studying English to make a living and chose to let art stay by my side as my ultimate

hobby I have no regrets regarding my choice, at least until now

1 Dilemma (n): tình trạng khó xử, lưỡng lự

The president is clearly in a dilemma about how to tackle the crisis

Tổng thống rõ ràng đang ở trong tình thế tiến thoái lưỡng nan về cách giải quyết cuộc khủng hoảng

2 Be at a loss (phrase): không biết nên nói gì / làm gì

I’m at a loss to explain what happened

Tôi không hiểu chuyện gì đã xảy ra

3 Make up one’s mind (phrase): quyết định (= decide)

I haven't made up my mind where to go yet

Tôi vẫn chưa quyết định sẽ đi đâu

4 Be torn between (phrase): giằng xé giữa 2 bên, khó để quyết định 1 trong 2 lựa

chọn

She’s torn between her loyalty and her desire to tell the truth

Cô ấy bị giằng xé giữa lòng trung thành và mong muốn nói ra sự thật

5 Make a living (phrase): kiếm sống

You can make a good living in sales if you have the right attitude

Bạn có thể kiếm nhiều tiền bằng việc bán hàng nếu bạn có thái độ tốt

Part 3:

1 What decisions do people usually make in their daily lives?

Our lives are basically us going around making decisions: what to eat, what to wear, where

to pursue higher education, where to work, whether to go to this place on holiday or not, etc Everything from big to small are decisions, and a great number of things we meet in our daily lives are the result of the decisions of one or another human being

2 Which is easier, making a decision by yourself or making a decision after group discussion?

Social interactions greatly affect the eventual outcome of a decision This can make deciding something even more difficult regardless of the person’s stance on the matter, as the decision then would involve some kind of peer pressure – the personal feelings of the

participants of said discussion On the other hand, making a decision by yourself can be challenging when you don’t have enough knowledge about such topics of discussion So I’d say none of them are easier or more difficult, we just have to use them both wisely

3 Why are many young people unwilling to follow their parents’ advice?

Being young and inexperienced, combined with the generation gap in both knowledge and lifestyles, most younger people would think that they know better than their parents If their

parents approached them with an imposing tone, they would tend to take the advice as the

parents saying “You cannot do this, but I can”, therefore triggering a rebel response from them

4 Why would middle-aged people tend to second-guess their own decisions?

As far as I know, middle-aged people have been through a lot more than younger people They have seen the world developing for a longer time, and their life experiences hence

are way more complicated It is natural that they tend to consider everything more

carefully, as they have more memories to reflect upon

1 Interaction (n): tương tác

There's not enough interaction between the management and the workers

Không có đủ sự tương tác giữa ban quản lý và người lao động

2 Stance (n): quan điểm

The doctor's stance on the issue of abortion is well known

Lập trường của bác sĩ về vấn đề phá thai ai cũng biết

3 Peer pressure (phrase): áp lực từ xã hội / những người xung quanh

There is tremendous peer pressure to wear fashionable clothes

Có áp lực lớn từ xã hội về việc mặc những trang phục thời thượng

4 Imposing (a): uy nghiêm, hùng vĩ

He was an imposing figure on stage

Anh ấy là một nhân vật hùng vĩ trên sân khấu

5 Complicated (a): phức tạp

I had to fill in this really complicated form

Tôi đã phải điền vào biểu mẫu vô cùng phức tạp này

2 Describe a time when someone asked you for your opinion

When she/he asked you

So, I’ll start by talking about the time a friend of mine asked for my opinion In fact, it was quite recently that we had a conversation, the details of which I still have in my mind I am

certain that she reached out to me for some advice in late April, before the big national holiday The conversation was definitely out of the blue because when we met up that

day for some work-date, I had only anticipated questions about how she could do well on

her assignments and the sort So, the conversation was something along the lines on how

to improve the functioning of the club that she was acting as the president of and that I

am also a member of too So, as she brought up the issue, I was all ears to her and after

she was all done, I started to offer my perspective on the issue

How she/he felt while listening to your opinion

As I commented, she was attentive to what I was saying She did pose some interesting

questions as I gave out my opinion I did some reading of her facial expressions, and I was certain that she breathed a sigh of relief as I constantly reassured her that everything

would quickly fall into its place, after kickstarting some transition processes

And explain why she/he needed your opinion

For sure, she sought my opinion because she was very wound up with the prospect of the

club, as she intended to assume another hat in another club and there was no one ready at

hand who could take up the position But I think it was largely because I was kind of more

of her senior and had more insight on how clubs in other schools actually worked My guess would be that my opinions would serve somehow as a reference that she could use

as she tried to figure out what to do and how to keep the spirit and the activity of the club

around in the upcoming semester after she left

1 reached out

cố gắng giao tiếp với ai đó

The new mayor is reaching out to inner city communities to involve them in his plans for the city

2 out of the blue

bất ngờ, không ngờ tới

One day, out of the blue, she announced that she was leaving

3 met up

gặp mặt

They suggested we meet up at Mustafa's

4 along the line

dựa trên một cái gì đó tương tự

I was thinking more along the lines of you going in there and claiming her

She's always bringing up her health problems

7 all ears to her

chờ nghe điều gì đó

I'm all ears - tell us what they had to say

8 breathe a sigh of relief

Thở phào nhẹ nhõm

We all breathed a sigh of relief when we heard that they were safe

9 quickly fall into its place

sẽ diễn ra tốt đẹp, không gặp vướng mắc; đâu sẽ vào đó

After a lot of work over the past few years, my career goals are beginning to fall into place

10 wound up

lo lắng, lo âu về một vấn đề nào đó

She gets pretty wound up before a game

11 take up

chiếm lấy, lắp đầy một vị trí nào đó

He will take up his post as the head of the civil courts at the end of next month

Part 3

1 Have you ever asked someone for his/her opinion?

I have asked a lot of people for their opinions In fact, it is something that I constantly do when I’m unclear about a matter that I’m facing For sure, as a student myself, I always let people, especially those who I don’t share the same major with, to read through my essays

and have their say on my writing By knowing where they stand on my essay, I can easily

identify whether I have made my points clear This is definitely something that is difficult

to point out if there is no outside voice on the matter, when personal biases cloud my

thinking Therefore, if there are issues, I can immediately correct them

2 Why do some people react impolitely when listening to someone’s story?

I think there are a lot of reasons why people react impolitely when listening to someone’s story Maybe, the listener doesn’t know how to react so their facial expressions after

hearing the story as they may not exactly align with what they feel like inside, so the

storyteller may consider this somewhat offensive Other times, because some people like

to tell their stories to seek not only advice but also understanding, the lack of sympathy or empathy from the listener is definitely considered impolite, if not rude to the storyteller

But I don’t think the listener is the only one to blame here If the story is really screwed

up then of course, people will react outrageously

1 have their say

có cơ hội được nói lên suy nghĩ của mình

We aren't going to make a decision until everyone here has had their say

2 Know where they stand on

Biết mình sẽ đứng ở vị trí / phương diện nào

When we've paid all our debts we'll know where we stand

Liên kết, ủng hộ ý kiến của ai, của một nhóm hay một vài ý kiến nào đó

The company has a commitment to align itself closely with specialty retailers

5 screwed up

làm một cái gì đó quá tệ, quá dở, làm be bét, làm hỏng chuyện

There's been a screw-up with our hotel reservation

3 Describe a place you have visited that you would recommend as a good place to live

(Where it is): During my trip to Singapore last year, I had an opportunity to visit the

Singapore Botanic Gardens, which impressed me with tons of different colors The gardens

are located quite far away from tourist traps, but very accessible by bus

(What it is like): Being the biggest botanic garden in Singapore, covering more than 74.000

square meters, it showcases Singapore’s biggest collection of flowers comprising hundreds

of species with a wide variety of colors, such as red, yellow, orange, pink, or even blue, and their shades The national flower of Singapore, which is the orchid, can be found easily

in this garden Moreover, the park’s entrance is also naturally decorated with colorful flowers

(What it is used for): Besides bringing a green environment to the city, which is always

humid around the year, the Botanic garden is also an ideal spot for not only foreign visitors

but also Singapore citizens to immerse themselves in natural beauty and get away from

it all after hard-working days You can easily see hordes of tourists going sightseeing or

leisure activities being taken place at this place, especially on the weekends

And explain why you remember it well

Well, I think the primary reason why the memories about this place are still vivid in my

mind is because it was the first time I have ever witnessed such a wide variety of colorful flowers in my life, although I have travelled to different countries The moment I entered

the garden, I was completely blown away by its beauty To be honest, it was a once in a

life time experience I hope that I will have opportunities to visit this garden again

Part 3 questions:

• Is color important for clothing?

➔ Yes, I do think that colors play a vital role in clothes since it shows how the clothes make us look and appear to other people Sometimes the colors of your outfits even express your feelings For example, when I’m not in a good mood, I will choose a black outfit It

will be dull if a person wears the same colors on a daily basis

• Should course books be colorful?

➔ Absolutely I believe that course books should be lively in order to help the

transmission of knowledge to readers be more effective Using illustrations helps to aid in learning and may be more effective than just describing something For example, kids are

usually in favor of books with colorful pictures rather than those with only words If course books include colorful contents, they will be more likely to be sold faster than other ones VOCABULARY FROM HOLIDAY:

• Tourist trap

Meaning: somewhere where too many tourists go

Example: There are a lot of people visiting Hoi An Ancient Town these days, which makes

this town become a tourist trap

Meaning: possible to approach, enter, or use

Example: The island is accessible only by ferry

• To get away from it all

Meaning: to take a holiday to escape a busy or stressful lifestyle

Example: Why don’t you get away from it all and have a weekend in the mountains?

• Hordes of tourist

Meaning: crowds of tourists

Example: During summer, we can see hordes of tourists in these islands

• To go sightseeing

Meaning: to look around the tourist sites

Example: Last year we went to London, and we spent most of the trip going sightseeing,

there was so much to see!

OTHER VOCABULARY:

Meaning: to show the best qualities or parts of something

Example: The main aim of the exhibition is to showcase British design

• Immerse oneself in something

Meaning: to become completely involved in something

Example: She got some books out of the library and immersed herself in Jewish history

Meaning: To be surprised so much

Example: Winning first prize and a full scholarship blew her away

• Once-in-a-lifetime

Meaning: An once-in-a-lifetime experience or opportunity is very special because you will probably only have it once

Example: A tour of Australia is a once-in-a-lifetime experience

Meaning: not interesting or exciting in any way

Example: I find his art rather dull and conventional

Meaning: full of energy and enthusiasm; interesting and exciting

Example: There was some lively discussion at the meeting

4 Describe an occasion when somebody said something positive about some work that you did

What work it was

And explain how you felt when hearing it

(Who it was) In 2019, I joined an outreach programme in which I had the chance to deliver lessons for the first time as a teacher I was chosen as one of the Vietnamese volunteers in

charge of interpreting as well as helping Singaporean students with their lessons prior to class The programme lasted from 25th November to 5th December 2010 During the

project, I was complimented by the facilitator on my ability to engage students into the

lessons

(What work it was) As we had to teach two classes comprised of two different age groups,

we struggled a lot in planning lessons since there was a big gap between the level of

English proficiency of the students in each class We received some negative feedback

from the students on our lesson plan as some wanted to play games while some others were interested in studying I came up with an idea of sticking pieces of paper around the walls

as children were required to find match a word with a photo depicting that word

(When she/he told you that) The morning after that, the children were pretty interested in

the game and the facilitator seemed to be pretty pleased with the result So, she complimented me on my idea in the daily briefing which took place that evening

(And explain how you felt when hearing it) That was the first time I’d worked with

foreigners I always felt that they were superior to me However, after this, I could be

pleased that I’m not behind my international peers That compliment really motivated me

to try better, instead of being complacent about my skills and knowledge

Vocabulary

1 Deliver a lesson (phrase): giảng bài

You should pay attention to the teacher when she delivers the lesson

2 Compliment (v): khen ngợi

I was just complimenting Robert on his wonderful food

3 Proficiency (n): sự thành thạo

A high level of oral proficiency in English

4 Superior to (adj): thượng đẳng

I can't stand Amanda - she's so superior

5 Complacent (a): chủ quan

We can't afford to become complacent about any of our products

1 Will you be affected when hearing a number of negative stories?

As a fresh graduate without too much experience in the world of work, I tend to be affected

by negative stories Office politics and gossip tend to exert a strong impact on my

behaviours There was a time when my bosses treated my colleagues unfairly Although

this issue was not really related to me, hearing my colleagues gossip behind my bosses’

back also made me develop unfriendly attitudes towards her Later on, the relationship

between me and my boss also deteriorated

2 How will you react when someone pays you a compliment?

First, I’ll show my appreciation for their compliment by thanking them Then, I tend to

ask them what I’ve done that they find good so as to develop myself even more Most of

the time, I will also ask them whether they have any constructive criticisms so that I can avoid such mistakes I do feel proud, of course! But I’m not an attention seeker who posts compliments on themself on social media so that others also know they’ve received compliments

3 Why is negative feedback as important as positive feedback at work?

While positive feedback lets people know what they’re good at so as to continue to do that,

a negative one allows people to know their mistakes so as to avoid repeating these in the future I know that most people don’t like to hear negative reviews, but they play a crucial role in self-development Without them, we’d continue to make mistakes, which leads to many bad consequences for ourselves and work

Vocabulary

1 Office politics (phrase): phe phái trong công ty

She seems good at handling office politics

1 Behind someone’s back (phrase): sau lưng ai đó

What do they say about me behind my back?

2 To show appreciation for sb (phrase): thể hiện sự biết ơn ai đó

Children rarely show any appreciation of/for what their parents do for them

5 Describe a time when you received money as a gift (birthday, wedding)

You should say:

− How did you get that money

Answer: In my life, I have had numerous gifts and presents and among them, the most

exciting and best gift was a sum of money I received when I was 18 years old After excelling at an English competition at the national level with flying colors, I was rewarded

2 million VND thanks to school policy I consider myself a competitive person; therefore,

I always try my best at every single English competition, so that I could get the money as

a gift for my effort and dedication

− Who gave it to you

Answer: It was the principal of my high school who gave the money to me To be honest,

I didn’t expect him to give us a lot of money since my school was on a tight budget dedicated to help unprivileged students The moment I heard the announcement from my head teacher, I was over the moon

− When you received it

Answer: The deputy headmaster was taking school assembly that day and my name and others were announced in a particular order I still remember walking on stage with pride and everyone gave us a really big round of applause Then, the principal showed up with certifications and envelopes with money inside them He gave each of us a warm hug and then shook our hands, and then we received the money from him While returning home, I found myself flying with joy I opened the envelope after returning home and showed it to

my mother and other relatives

− And explain why it was the best gift/ present you have ever received

Answer: As a student, that was a long unexpected gift that my principal gave me and till

now it’s the best gift I have ever received

VOCABULARY HIGHLIGHTS:

1 Flying colors (expression): Điểm số cao

Example: He made his parent proud by passing the test with flying colors

2 Dedication (noun): Sự cống hiến

Example: He dedicated his life to teaching English to children

3 On a tight budget (expression): Thắt chặt chi tiêu, tiết kiệm

Example: It is important that we travel on a tight budget

4 Unprivileged (adjective): Những người thiếu thốn về mặt vật chất

5 Over the moon (idiom): Hạnh phúc

Example: She was over the moon when her boyfriend came up with a ring

6 Deputy headmaster (noun): Phó Hiệu Trưởng

Example: She was assigned as the new Deputy Headmaster in our university

7 School assembly (noun): Lễ chào cờ

Example: Wearing Ao Dai on Monday is a must for female students since it’s a school assembly

8 A round of applause (expression): Vỗ tay

Example: We gave him a round of applause after making it to the finals

9 Flying with joy (expression): Ngập tràn trong niềm vui

Example: They found themselves flying with joy when their son got admitted to FTU

10 Showed up (verb): Xuất hiện

Example: He finally showed up at the very last minute

PART 3:

Is it important to teach children how to manage their pocket money?

Yes, I totally agree that children should be given financial education, including pocket

money management As children learn to spend or save wisely, they will likely become smart consumers in the future Plus, being taught about the value of money can promote a sense of appreciation and responsibility, which can prevent future overspending or even

running into debt

What do you think of the saying love of money is the root of all evil?

Personally, I disagree with that opinion There’s no problem with monetary aspirations,

such as becoming a billionaire or pursuing investment opportunities In fact, people with serious financial problems are statistically more likely to commit crimes than the wealthy

If we properly understand the role of money and learn to avoid manipulation and

temptation, we can avoid any wrongdoing

Is it important for children to have a right attitude towards money?

Definitely Many people say children are too young to learn about money, but I think having the right mindset about monetary issues early in life has multiple benefits Firstly,

it helps children appreciate what they have and avoid unreasonable demands Secondly,

children will likely be shielded from monetary temptation when they realize money is not their end goal This not only increases their own safety but also gives parents a sense of

security knowing their children are independent and wise spenders

In your country, do parents give children money for doing the housework?

It depends Some parents provide monetary reward for their children after they complete household chores as a way to educate them about financial issues Others, like mine, however, do not because doing housework is considered one of our responsibilities They apply other methods to teach lessons related to money, such as letting children go shopping when they have to decide what to buy with a limited amount of money

What kinds of occasions that require people to send money as gifts?

Weddings are a typical occasion when people send money as presents A traditional wedding party in Vietnam often includes inviting a large number of guests, many of which

may be distant relatives As a result, they may not know what the bride and groom really

desire, so gifting money is a practical way to congratulate the couple Apart from that,

people also send money to pay tribute at funerals This can also act as a means of support

for families in sorrow?

6 Describe a person you know who is from a different cultural background

You should say:

(Who he/she is) Since my passion for foreign languages was ignited, I have tried my best

to befriend as many people around the world as possible So, today I’m going to talk about

one of my best pen pals, whose name is Carmen

(Where he/she is from) Carmen was born in Spain but he started his career as a journalist

in the US after graduating from a well-known university with flying colours Although his

office is in Boston, he rarely stays put in one city for a fortnight

(How you knew him/her) Regarding our first rendezvous, it was during an online

gathering which was organized by my English centre 3 years ago where he was a guest

speaker To my surprise, I was really impressed by the way Carmen broke the ice with all

the strangers in the meeting To be honest, I must admit that he is the kind of person who never struggles in starting small talk with someone he meets for the first time After the online session was over, I got in touch with him and luckily he accepted to drop me a line whenever possible

(And explain how you feel about him/her) Since then, I have always considered him not

only my best friend but also my mentor because I can rely on him for suggestions, aid and

guidance What I mean is he supports me a lot when I feel under the weather or stressed

due to an intense school schedule He is also very enthusiastic when sharing with me many fascinating stories or exotic experiences of every destination he has visited This frequent

correspondence allows me to not only reduce my study-related stress but also broaden my horizons about places I might never set foot in

Vocabulary

1 Befriend with (v): kết bạn với ai đó

Example:

Shortly after my arrival at the new school, I befriended all of my classmates

Không lâu sau khi đến trường mới, tôi đã kết bạn được với tất cả các bạn cùng lớp

2 Stay put (idiom): ở yên tại chỗ

Example:

Just stay put with the suitcases while I go and find a cab

Cứ đứng yên ở đó với chỗ hành lý trong khi tôi đi tìm một chiếc taxi

3 Break the ice (idiom): phá tan bầu không khí ngượng ngùng

Someone suggested that we play a game to break the ice

Ai đó gợi ý rằng chúng ta nên chơi một trò chơi để phá tan bầu không khí ngượng ngùng

4 Under the weather (idiom): không khỏe

Example:

I’m feeling under the weather - I think I’m getting a cold

Tôi cảm thấy không khỏe - tôi nghĩ mình bị cảm lạnh rồi

5 Broaden someone’s horizons (idiom): mở rộng tầm hiểu biết

Example:

Travelling certainly broadens your horizon

Du lịch chắc chắn sẽ mở rộng tầm hiểu biết của bạn

Part 3

1 Where and how can we get to know people of different cultures better?

As a youngster with a desire to explore the world, I’m personally of the opinion that participating in international camps is a convenient means to get acquainted with representatives of all cultures around the globe What I mean is that such camps always

attract like-minded participants who are willing to share and get acquainted with any

customs however strange they are Indeed, if fully exploited, this friendly atmosphere will offer campers golden chances to get to know more friends from various cultures

2 What are the advantages and disadvantages of cultural diversity?

There is no doubt that cultural diversity has both pros and cons On the bright side, a

variety of viewpoints in the workplace can boost creativity and drive innovation as

employees with different backgrounds can put forward out-of-the-box ideas

Additionally, a culturally diverse working environment always requires faster adaptability,

so the development of each individual in the company will be a natural fruit However, an inevitable side-effect of cultural diversity is discrimination, which can pose a threat to less privileged communities Another challenge is the cultural barriers, language in particular, which can affect the efficiency of communication among multicultural colleagues or friends

3 How can traditional culture and other cultures coexist?

This is a controversial one; the position of local cultures when dealing with the arrival of exotic ones From my viewpoint, they can all develop harmoniously however disparate their characteristics are Firstly, coexistence can be realized by being open to cooperation which is built on shared values among communities In addition, people of one culture

should come to terms with other beliefs as such diversity in the world gives spice to life

and induces the revolution of all civilizations In short, through mutual support and understanding, diverse cultures can always progress in harmony

Vocabulary

1 like-minded (adjective): có cùng quan điểm

Example:

Membership of the club allows you to meet like-minded people

Trở thành thành viên của câu lạc bộ giúp bạn gặp được những người cùng chung quan điểm

2 pros and cons (idiom): ưu điểm và nhược điểm

Example:

Let’s hear all the pros and cons before we make a decision

Hãy cùng nghe mọi ưu và nhược điểm trước khi chúng ta đưa ra quyết định

3 put forward (phrase): đưa ra, trình bày

Example:

The proposals that you have put forward deserve serious consideration

Những đề nghị bạn vừa đưa ra cần được cân nhắc kỹ lưỡng

4 come to terms with (phrase): hiểu và chấp nhận

Example:

He made little effort to come to terms with his critics

Anh ấy hầu như không muốn chấp nhận những lời phê bình

7 Describe a disagreement you had with someone

You should say:

Who you had the disagreement with

Life would be tedious if everyone shared the same views on all topics I think there is nothing wrong with voicing disagreements, but we should try to resolve them peacefully

Many years ago, I had a quite heated exchange with Huy, one of my friends about our future

What the disagreement was

Huy is rather conservative and he insists that the reason why our country does not prosper

is brain drain I, on the other hand, believe that there is a lack of opportunities in Vietnam for youngsters and thus they can rightfully opt for foreign countries to study and start a

career

What happened

The disagreement took place when we discussed our future plans after graduating from high school Huy told me he was planning to join the armed forces while my plan was to settle abroad as soon as I completed my higher education This was the moment the debate

grew intense To my surprise, normally Huy is a placid person, but on this issue, he lost his cool I think we had an argument for about 1 hour At last, we both reached a consensus

on the idea that we had the right to choose what was best for our own future

And explain how you felt about it

That minor disagreement of course could not spoil our friendship and we often recall it

when having the chance to catch up with each other Obviously, differences in viewpoints

are inevitable, but the way we handle them can be decisive to the quality of relationships

Vocabulary

1 brain drain (noun): tình trạng chảy máu chất xám

Example:

Britain has suffered a huge brain drain in recent years

Nước Anh đang phải hứng chịu một đợt chảy máu chất xám lớn trong những năm gần đây

2 opt for (phrase0: lựa chọn

Example:

Mike opted for early retirement

Mike đã lựa chọn nghỉ hưu sớm

3 lose one’s cool (idiom): mất bình tĩnh và trở nên tức giận

Example

I lost my cool and shouted at them

Tôi đã mất bình tĩnh và hét lên với họ

4 catch up with (phrase): liên lạc với

Example:

She spends hours on the phone, catching up with old friends

Cô ấy dành hàng giờ nói chuyện điện thoại để liên lạc với những người bạn cũ

Part 3

1 What would you do if you disagree with someone?

When having disputes with anyone, instead of raising my voice to prove a point, I will

often leave and give myself some time to calm down This makes sure that I will not get

too emotional and give offence to others

2 How do we stop an argument from escalating into a fight?

Well, let’s face it, disagreements are an integral part of all relationships, and sometimes,

things can take a turn for a worse Therefore, to avoid unwanted scenarios, people should always stick to the issue they are discussing instead of taking it personally or driving the conversation in a different direction It is also highly recommended that the two sides agree

on a pause so they can reconsider their stance or figure out better arguments

3 Who do you think should teach children to respect their teacher?

It is believed that family is the very first school of every child Therefore, I am of the opinion that parents should be in charge of tutoring moral lessons to their children, like how to respect their teachers Indeed, such early education at home will ensure that children will put all they are taught into practice right at the moment they enter school

4 What disagreements do parents and children usually have?

There is no doubt that the generation gap shows up when family members get older As a result, disagreements usually arise between parents and their children on various topics such as schooling, lifestyle, future plan and so on Different generations have their own set

of attitudes towards aspects of life, so it comes as no surprise that family disputes can

take place on a frequent basis

Vocabulary:

1 raising my voice (idiom): nói to, hét to

Example:

I don’t want to have to raise my voice to you again

Tôi không muốn phải hét lên với bạn nữa

2 give offence (phrase): xúc phạm

Example:

I don’t mean to give offence as I was just stating my opinion

Tôi không có ý xúc phạm vì tôi chỉ muốn nêu ra quan điểm của mình thôi

3 let’s face it (idiom): hãy chấp nhận sự thật

Example

Let’s face it You won’t be able to achieve anything unless you work hard

Hãy chấp nhận sự thật đi Bạn sẽ không thể đạt được gì nếu bạn không làm việc chăm chỉ

4 it comes as no surprise (idiom): không có gì đáng ngạc nhiên

Example:

It came as no surprise to learn that they broke their promises

Không có gì đáng ngạc nhiên khi biết rằng họ đã thất hứa

8 Describe an outdoor activity you did in a new place recently

You should say:

What the activity is

I usually go out for a walk in the morning every day and play some outdoor games every now and then, but what I did last Saturday was something different That day, I went out

on my bicycle as part of my morning exercise When cycling past a park, I saw a group of cyclists discussing something enthusiastically, so I came closer After a few minutes, I found out that they were planning to ride round the city in 3 hours with their bicycle and they would start that in the next 30 minutes

Who invited you to participate in it

The team leader asked me to join them just when I was about to leave They said it was free so I started cycling with them through the major parts of the city

Whether you asked for help in the activity

Cycling for the whole 3-4 hours was not as easy as I expected but that was not a problem

I tried my best to finish the route all by myself, though other group members were willing

to give me a hand Before the roads got crowded, we managed to get back to the park and

I found that I was dead-tired, yet completely proud of myself

And explain what change you had in the activity

After that thrilling experience, I felt lucky to meet new friends from every walk of life

with the same hobby I was also very impressed by the beauty of my city, which I had never had a chance to appreciate during rush hours This is certainly an invaluable memory and

I will definitely join the group in their future gatherings

Vocabulary

1 every now and then (idiom): thỉnh thoảng

Example

We still get together for lunch every now and then

Chúng tôi sẽ thỉnh thoảng cùng nhau ăn trưa

2 give someone a hand (idiom): giúp đỡ ai đó

Example

Could you give me a hand with these suitcases?

Bạn có thể giúp tôi cầm hành lý không?

3 dead-tired (adjective): kiệt sức

After 10 hours working in the office, he came home dead-tired

Sau 10 tiếng làm việc ở văn phòng, anh ấy kiệt sức trở về nhà

4 every walks of life (idiom): đủ mọi thành phần, tầng lớp

Example

Members of the gym include lawyers, teachers, plumbers, and hairdressers - people from all walks of life

Thành viên của phòng tập thể hình có cả luật sư, giáo viên, thợ sửa ống nước và thợ cắt tóc

- những người từ đủ thành phần, tầng lớp trong xã hội

Part 3

1 What outdoor activities are popular in VietNam?

In my country, many people are fond of playing badminton, riding bicycles, and walking

in the mornings and afternoons Some sports that have been adopted from other cultures are also popular, such as basketball, especially among youngsters One outdoor activity that is enjoyed by all generations is volleyball It can be adjusted in various ways to suit the players’ sex and age without any impact on the health benefits

2 What are the differences between after-class activities done by middle and older children?

In Vietnam, it can obviously be observed that children in each age group will partake in different sets of activities after school although this gap is fading over time While middle schoolers enjoy skill-oriented experiences, their brothers and sisters are attending extra

classes to help them pass exams with flying colours Nevertheless, children in big cities

are now sadly under study pressure regardless of their age

3 Do you think it's better for people to change jobs when there are new chances?

I am certainly in favour of job hopping whenever the timing is right Firstly, if one

employee has outgrown his role in the company, it is be reasonable to look for more room

to prosper in a new position Also, people switch jobs with a view to gaining valuable experience It makes sense in the case that the company they are at is not advancing in technology or size and they feel static

4 Should young people try as many new activities as possible?

From my point of view, doing new things frequently will help the young broaden their horizons, so I am totally leaning towards this suggestion First, trying unfamiliar things helps them gain valuable experience, which will provide vital preparation for adulthood

Additionally, succeeding in something you have never done before will give you the chills

that can help to ease pain and stress

Vocabulary

1 fond of (adjective): yêu thích

Example:

She was very fond of horses

Cô ấy rất yêu thích những chú ngựa

2 with flying colours (idiom): rất thành công, với thành tích cao

Example:

They pass the university entrance exam with flying colours

Họ đã thành công đỗ kỳ thi tuyển sinh đại học với thành tích cao

3 job hopping (noun): nhảy việc

Example:

Many graduates view job hopping as a quick way to develop their career at the start Nhiều sinh viên mới tốt nghiệp xem nhảy việc là một cách nhanh chóng để phát triển sự nghiệp lúc sơ khởi

4 give the chills (idiom): gây phấn khích

Example:

The ending of the movie gives me the chills whenever I think about it

Cái kết của bộ phim làm tôi rất phấn khích mỗi khi nghĩ về nó

9 Describe a programme that you enjoyed very much (e.g on TV or the internet)

You should say:

What it was

How often you watched it

What it was about

And explain why it could make you laugh

(What it was) I’ve found the TV program Mr Bean funny Albeit set in the UK, the sitcom

expanded to reach other countries, including Vietnam, my home country The drama series

went viral in Vietnam in the early 2010s when dozens of people watched and imitated Mr

Bean’s oafish behaviour

(How often you watched it) The series was aired every Sunday afternoon on the Disney

channel, and I don’t think I missed a single episode

(What it was about) The central plot revolves around Mr Bean, a neurotic Brit Each

episode of Mr Bean tells a totally different story, unlike a normal drama series that uses one main story that gives birth to many other smaller and less important ones Based on a character originally developed by Atkinson while he was studying for his master's degree

at Oxford University, the series follows the exploits of Mr Bean, described by Atkinson

as "a child in a grown man's body," in solving problems presented by everyday tasks, and often causing disruption in the process

(And explain why it could make you laugh) The awkward and crazy behavior of Mr

Bean makes me laugh In one episodes that split my sides, Mr Bean designed an oafish

hairstyle for a kid when the hairdresser was away It was even more hilarious when the kid’s mom went back to complain, and Mr Bean hid in a corner Mr Bean is one of my favorite sitcoms so far I still sometimes watch it to relieve stress

1 Albeit (conjuction) = although: mặc dù

Example: The evening was very pleasant, albeit a little quiet

Buổi tối hôm ấy khá thoải mái, mặc dù hơi im lắng

2 Sitcom = situation comedy (n): hài kịch dựa trên tình huống

Example: Mr Bean is a British sitcom created by Rowan Atikinson and Richard Curtis

Mr Bean là một bộ phim hài theo tình huống được sản xuất bởi Rowan Atikinson và Richard Curtis

3 To go viral (v): rất thịnh hành

Example: Within days the film clip went viral

Trong vòng mấy ngày, video clip đã rất thịnh hành

4 Oafish (adj): lạ lạ, ngộ ngộ

Example: Being a country bumpkin from Newfounland, Jake is often teased for his oafish

clothes and hair

Là một người vụng về quê mùa, Jake thường bị chọc vì anh ấy mặc đồ và để tóc khá ngộ

5 To revolve (v): xoay quanh

Example: The earth revolves around the sun

Trái Đất quay quanh mặt Trời

6 Neurotic (a): bị thần kinh/bị mát

Example: neurotic behaviour/tendencies

Tính cách ngộ ngộ mát mát

7 To split someone’s sides (idiom): cười bể bụng

Example: Your jokes are perfect for your speech tonight You'll have them splitting their

(Give a direct answer to the question) Honestly, I don’t think so (Explain your reason

or reasons) Given the enormous social and domestic responsibilities most adults have to shoulder, it would be hard for them to be as joyful and carefree as children (Give an example (often a personal example)) While young adults concern themselves with career

prospects, the need to balance between different relationships exhausts the middle-aged

(Explain the opposite or alternative) Yet, irrespective of age, one’s cheerful disposition

largely depends on his or her attitude to life

Is laughing beneficial to children, how about old people?

(Give a direct answer to the question) Scientifically, laughing does wonders to a human’s well-being (Explain your reason or reasons) Children laugh to exhibit their emotions as

well as to interact with others For older people, laughter is just as necessary, if not an

inevitable aspect (Give an example (often a personal example)) A genuine laugh would

help one to let off steam and momentarily forget about the stresses and strains of adulthood

(Explain the opposite or alternative) Without laughter, our spiritual life would be

unimaginable

What kinds of things do Vietnamese people do to be happy?

(Give a direct answer to the question) Well, this answer may vary from person to person, even for those in the same age group (Give an example) I guess the majority would take

pleasure from hanging out with friends or immersing themselves in hobbies and

entertaining activities (Explain the opposite or alternative) Some, in the meantime,

associate their happiness with materialistic and career-related goals, so they may work to

be happy

Why do children like to laugh?

(Give a direct answer to the question) As I have put it, for kids, laughter is the most

spontaneous means of emotional expression (Explain your reason or reasons) The

younger people are, the more easily they laugh, as there is always a joyful element in the

eyes of innocent minds (Explain the opposite or alternative) Besides, a child may view

laughter as a way to integrate into social groups

What do you do when you feel sad?

(Give a direct answer to the question) When I feel low, I will treat myself to things I adore (Give an example (often a personal example)) They can be quality time with family members or a luxurious dinner at a Korean restaurant (Explain your reason or reasons)

When I cannot change the situation, I change my attitude towards it, and I think doing

justice to my interests is quite effective, at least for now

Vocabulary:

exhaust [v]: to make someone extremely tired: làm ai kiệt sức

E g : Billy's heart was so weak that just climbing a few steps exhausted him

irrespective of [expression]: without considering; not needing to allow for: không kể đến, không xét đến

Eg: The legislation must be applied irrespective of someone's ethnic origins

disposition [n]: the particular type of character that a person naturally has: tính khí

Eg: She is of a nervous disposition

do wonders to [expression]: to cause improvements or have a very good effect: có lợi cho

Eg: Getting the job did wonders for her self-confidence

exhibit [v]: to show something, esp a quality, by your behavior: thể hiện, bộc lộ

Eg: Jane did not exhibit a sense of submissiveness

genuine [adj]: If something is genuine, it is real and exactly what it appears to be: thật,

chân thật

Eg: He has demonstrated a genuine interest in the project

unimaginable [adj]: Something that is unimaginable is difficult to imagine because it is

so bad, good, big, etc.: không thể tưởng tượng được

Eg: The situation was explosive to an unimaginable degree

associate [v]: to connect someone or something in your mind with someone or something

else: liên hệ

Eg: Most people associate this brand with good quality

spontaneous [adj]: happening or done in a natural, often sudden way, without any planning

or without being forced: tự nhiên, không gượng gạo

Eg: His jokes seemed spontaneous, but were in fact carefully prepared beforehand

integrate into [v]: to mix with and join society or a group of people, often changing to suit

their way of life, habits, and customs: hòa nhập

Eg: It's very difficult to integrate yourself into a society whose culture is so different from your own

luxurious [adj]: very comfortable and expensive: xa xỉ

Eg: We spent a luxurious weekend at a country hotel

do justice to [expression]: to treat someone or something in a way that is fair and shows

their or its true qualities: đối xử công bằng với

Eg: This postcard doesn't do justice to the wonderful scenery

10 Describe a photo you took that you are proud of

You should say:

When you took it

I am going to talk about a photo of my family that I took two years ago This is a priceless possession to me and I would like to keep it with me for the rest of my life

Where you took it

I have seen it thousands of times and still, I look at it with indescribable delight The picture captured the memory of a very happy family when we went on holiday to My Khe beach

What is in this photo

In the picture, my parents were smiling cheerfully My father’s eyes were sparkling and

the corners of his eyes crinkled To tell the truth, it was very rare to see my father’s smile

as he has always kept a serious facial expression Needless to say, my mother was standing

next to him with warm happiness glowing on her face In the background, the sun looked like it was gradually receding into the waters below The sky was a blend of reds, oranges and yellows The water below was mirroring this effect The scene was breathtaking

And explain why you are proud of it

The reason I take pride in this photo is that it is the first time I have afforded a trip for my

family My parents have devoted their whole life to my brother and me, which has made it impossible for them to have a holiday Therefore, as soon as I managed to save enough

money, I booked a package tour in Da Nang in the summer for the whole family It will

always be a memorable relaxing time in our minds

Vocabulary

1 to tell the truth (phrase): thực sự

Example

To tell the truth, I forgot it was your birthday last week

Thực sự, tôi đã quên tuần trước là sinh nhật của bạn

2 needless to say (idiom): không cần phải nói

Example

Needless to say, he'll be off work for a while

Không cần phải nói, anh ấy sẽ nghỉ việc trong một thời gian

3 take pride in (phrase): tự hào

Example

If you don't take pride in your work, you're probably in the wrong job

Nếu bạn không tự hào về công việc của mình, bạn chắc đang làm sai việc

4 package tour (noun): chuyến du lịch trọn gói

Example

We bought a cheap package tour to Spain and stayed in a big hotel by the sea

Chúng tôi đặt một chuyến du lịch trọn gói giá rẻ đến Tây Ban Nha và ở trong một khách sạn lớn gần biển

Part 3

1 Why do some people like to record important things with photos?

There are several reasons why people prefer photographs to other means when it comes to

capturing invaluable moments In the first place, most people want to preserve vividly the important memories in their lives such as weddings, birthdays or even funerals of loved ones Moreover, I think there are times that we need to be reminded of these precious

memories, either to reflect upon our progress in life or to find the motivation to keep on trying and make ourselves better

2 What can people learn from historical photographs?

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words It is self-evident that old photos

play an irreplaceable role in visually revealing the events of the past To begin with, looking back over historical photos can give you an idea of how people enjoyed their lives in the absence of present day modern technology Furthermore, the intensity of wars is often skilfully illustrated by field photographers and displaying them will encourage the public

to further appreciate the value of peace

3 Is taking photos the best way to remember something?

Pictures can be a helpful assistant when there are lots of moments needing reminding Nevertheless, I am not fully convinced that it is the best option What I’m trying to say is that focusing on taking photos can make us neglect the little details as we are assigning the camera to remember them for us Additionally, when our brain is spared the task of capturing the moments, our memory will be seriously impaired and completely dependent

on electronic devices

4 Which is better, taking photos or keeping a diary?

From my own experience, both have their pros and cons that should be taken into consideration There is no doubt that using a camera is much faster than writing with a

pen However, giving yourself some time to reflect on past events and putting them down

in your own words are more meaningful and emotional

Vocabulary

1 when it comes to (idiom): khi nhắc đến

Example:

When it comes to playing chess, he’s the best I’ve ever known

Khi nhắc đến chơi cờ vua thì anh ấy là người chơi giỏi nhất mà tôi từng biết

2 as the saying goes (idiom): có câu nói rằng

Example:

As the saying goes, time heals all the wounds

Có câu nói rằng thời gian sẽ chữa lành mọi vết thương

3 self-evident (adjective): rõ ràng

Example:

Solutions which seem self-evident to humans are often beyond the grasp of computers Những giải pháp trông có vẻ rõ ràng với con người thì thường lại ngoài khả năng của máy tính

4 take into consideration (phrase): lưu tâm đến

Example:

You must take his illness into consideration before dismissing him

Cô phải lưu tâm đến bệnh tình của anh ấy trước khi sa thải

11 Describe a movie you watched recently and would like to watch again

• When you watched it

• Where you watched it

• Whether you like it or not

• And why you want to watch it again

(When you watched it) A great number of movies have been released recently, but the

one that has really caught on is The Incredibles 2, which I am going to talk about today The production of the movie came as a huge surprise as it would never cross anyone’s

mind that a sequel to a movie can be brought out after 14 years since the release of the

first part I watched this movie quite a long time ago, in 2018

(Where you watched it) I watched the movie and knew The Incredibles 2 by chance when

my friend and I got stuck in Diamond Plaza due to a storm and we made up our minds to watch a movie while waiting for the storm to stop churning My friend, John, opted for

The Incredibles 2 After watching the movie, I fell in love with it and figured out why the

movie had been all the rage

(Where you like it or not) Of course, I really like it The message that is conveyed by the

film is just very meaningful I believe that the movie is beyond battles and beautiful

graphics Every single battle tells a meaningful story which can only be fully comprehended after watching the film

• (And why you want to watch it again) I would like to watch the movie again due to many

reasons First of all, The Incredibles, both 1 and 2, are not just all about battles and fighting but they do tell meaningful stories from Brad Bird As can be seen, the family is close-knit and the members support each other a lot Also, a discerning viewer will spot that the value

of women is upheld in the film A lot has changed since the Incredibles 1 when Bob played the main role In this film, Helen, a woman, plays the most vital role in confronting rivals

and putting a stop to devils So I love the movie due to its colourful animation as well as its meaningful stories

Vocabulary

1 Catch on (phrasal verb): trở nên phổ biến

Why did the electronic gadget catch on so fast?

Tại sao cái thiết bị điện tử này lại trở trên phổ biến quá nhanh như thế?

2 To come as a/no surprise (idiom): gây bất ngờ/không gây bớt ngờ

If you didn't study for that test at all, your failing grade should come as no surprise

Nếu bạn không học bài, thì việc thi rớt sẽ không bất ngờ xíu nào

3 Cross someone’s mind (phrase): suy nghĩ

It crossed my mind yesterday that you must be short of staff

Hôm qua tôi suy nghĩ là bạn ắt hẳn đang thiếu nhân viên

4 Sequel (n): phần tiếp theo

I'm reading the sequel to "Gone with the Wind"

Tôi đang đọc phần tiếp theo của “Cuốn theo chiều gió”

5 Make up one’s mind (phrase): quyết định

I haven't made up my mind where to go yet

Tôi chưa quyết định được là sẽ đi đâu hết

6 Churn (v): chuyển động một cách mạnh

The water was churning and the boat was rocking

Dòng nước đang chuyển động rất mạnh và con thuyền đang rung lắc

7 Opt (n): chọn lựa

Instead of a soft drink, she opted for water

Thay vì chọn nước ngọt, cô ấy chọn nước suôi

8 To be all the rage (idiom): rất phổ biến

In China, Mercedes-Benz cars are all the rage among the moneyed elite

Ở Trung Quốc, xe Mercedes-Benz rất phổ biến ở giới thượng lưu nhiều tiền

9 Put a stop to something (phrase): làm cái gì đó dừng lại

He used to smoke in bed when I first got to know him, but I soon put a stop to that!

Anh ấy từng hút thuốc trên giường khi tôi mới quen anh ấy, nhưng tôi đã làm cái đó dừng lại sớm sau đó

PART 3:

1 What films are popular?

Horror and action films are the most popular kinds of films in the world right now

Blockbusters such as The Conjuring, Fast and Furious, Annabelle have a buzz about them

and make people excited for their sequels Earnings from these two kinds can be

equivalent to 20% of a small country’s economy

2 What kind of film do young people like to watch?

Since the majority of cinema goers are young, the most popular films are also horror and action films However, youngsters tend to prefer action films to horror ones because not

everyone watches horror films as they may become obsessed by the films Apart from these two kinds, young people also show interest in sci-fi and comedy

3 Do fewer people choose to watch moves in cinema than people did in the past?

I don’t think so Box office ticket sales have yet to show any sign of slowing down and a

large number of cinemas are opened on an annual basis Technology and Netflix are

emerging as the main competitors to traditional cinemas Yet, the cinema continues to hold

a strong foothold and is yet to lose ground to these competitors

4 Do you think cinemas will disappear in the future?

Everything in this world will come to an end one day And I believe cinemas are not an exception No one knows what will happen in the future and no one can control it either Technology is developing at such a fast pace, so are the alternatives to cinemas However, cinemas will not disappear in the foreseeable future, but they will perish at some point

down the road

1 Blockbuster (n): bom tấn

We all felt the movie was a potential blockbuster

Chúng tôi đều cảm thấy rằng cái phim này hứa hẹn sẽ là một bom tấn

2 Sequel (n): phần tiếp theo

I'm reading the sequel to "Gone with the Wind"

Tôi đang đọc phần tiếp theo của “Cuốn theo chiều gió”

3 Equivalent to something (phrase): bằng với

Is $50 equivalent to about £30?

50 ô Mỹ có bằng 30 bảng Anh không?

4 Sign (n): dấu hiệu

Billy's work at school has shown signs of improvement this year

Việc học của Billy đã có dấu hiệu tiến triển trong năm nay

5 Gain a strong foothold in something (phrase): chiếm được một chỗ đứng chắc trong một

cái gì đó

In buying their business, the company gains a major foothold in

a market it considers critical to the future of the industry

6 Lose ground (phrase): thua thiệt

Do you agree that left-wing politics are losing ground among the working classes?

Bạn có đồng ý là bên cánh tả đang trở đang thua thiệt trong tầng lớp công nhân không?

7 Down the road (phrase): trong tương lai

Lots of things will have changed a few years down the road

Rất nhiều thứ sẽ thay đổi trong vài năm nữa trong tương lai

?

12 Describe a friend from childhood who you remember very well

You should say:

Who he/she is

Childhood has its uniqueness and magic and sometimes childhood friends are unforgettable One such friend of mine was Minh who I still remember Our friendship lasted only for a year and after that, he moved to a different city with his parents

Where you met each other

Our first encounter took place on the very first day of secondary school I was late for

school due to bad traffic and I thought that all of the seats in the classroom were occupied

Thankfully, Miss Loan, my new teacher asked my name and gave me a hand Then, one of the boys was asking me to go over and sit beside him That boy was Minh

What you often did together

At lunchtime, I shared my food with him and talked about lots of things From that time onwards, we started sitting next to each other and our friendship began to flourish I also

found out that we had many hobbies in common At school, we were on the same football

and volleyball team In the afternoon, we made kites and flew them together near the

riverbank Furthermore, as amateur collectors, our pastime was to spend hours looking

for unique stamps in the library We became very close friends but after one year I heard that he would be moving to Da Nang as his father had been transferred there Since then, I have lost touch with him

And explain what made you like him/her

Although I no longer catch up with him, he has always been the treasure of my childhood

Minh is a kind-hearted and open-minded person, so he really made that one year a delightful period for me I really hope one day, I can contact him and keep our friendship forever

Vocabulary

1 occupied (adjective): có người sử dụng

Example

The bathroom at the back of the plane was occupied, so I waited

Nhà vệ sinh ở phía sau máy bay đã có người, nên tôi đã đợi

2 in common (phrase): điểm chung

Example

They have nothing in common – I don’t know why they’re getting married

Họ không có điểm chung gì - tôi không biết tại sao họ lại cưới nhau

3 Pastime (noun): sở thích

Example

Playing chess is his favourite pastime

Chơi cờ vua là sở thích của anh ấy

4 Treasure (noun): người quý giá và có ích

Example

I don't know what I'd have done without Lizzie when I was ill - she was an absolute treasure

Tôi không biết tôi sẽ làm được gì lúc bị bệnh nếu không có Lizzie - cô ấy thật sự giúp ích rất nhiều

2 What do you think of online social media?

From my viewpoint, social media in general is a double-edged sword To some people,

online social platforms are great at helping people connect each other regardless of distance and time On the other hand, some regard social media as the root of all modern evils as these sites are full of fake news, violence and cyberbullying

3 Do you think online social media will replace face-to-face communication?

Some state that online platforms will soon be the most popular rendezvous location for daily conversations However, in my opinion, that scenario is unlikely to happen Humans have a social nature so we are always looking for interactions with others, both verbal and non-verbal Therefore, virtual conversations can never replicate the intimacy of face-to-face talks

4 How important is childhood friendship to children?

Along with the family and school, it is undeniable that childhood friends play a vital role

in children’s early development What I mean is that learning to befriend others at a young age helps to build up the child’s ability to socialize Moreover, spending time with a group

of friends can certainly create countless precious childhood memories Recalling these

moments can help to cheer you up when you are blue and need emotional support

Thật đáng tiếc khi chúng ta không thể ở lại Boston lâu hơn

2 lose touch with (idiom): mất liên lạc

Example:

I lost touch with Katie after she moved to Canada

Tôi mất liên lạc với Katie sau khi cô ấy chuyển đến Canada

3 a double-edged sword (idiom): con dao hai lưỡi

Example:

The government’s program to boost exports is a double-edged sword because it has created

a local food shortage

Chương trình thúc đẩy xuất khẩu của chính phủ là một con dao hai lưỡi vì nó đang tạo ra một đợt thiếu lương thực cục bộ

4 cheer someone up (phrase): làm ai đó vui

Example:

She was sick so I sent her some flowers to cheer her up

Cô ấy bị bệnh nên tôi gửi một ít hoa để làm cô vui lên

13 Describe the home of someone you know well and that you often visit

You should say:

Whose home it is

My older sister, Lan, who is married to a doctor, lives in a large apartment and this is quite

an elegant apartment in my opinion Therefore, I would like to talk about this apartment which is located in the centre of Ho Chi Minh City

How often you go there

The apartment is on the third floor of a six-storied building It is only 20 minutes' walking distance from my school On average, I visit my sister and her husband twice a month

What it is like

Originally, my sister and her husband had wanted to buy a house in the suburb but they

changed their mind and settled down in the city centre The apartment is comparatively

spacious but it has a cosy atmosphere The rooms all have attached bathrooms and most of the furniture was bought from the most renowned and branded shops My sister had an

interior design diploma and she has put every effort to make her own house look beautiful

From a neutral point of view, I would say she is a talented interior designer as she has been quite successful in making the interior of her own house impressive The large wooden furniture, the modern and sophisticated design of most of the furniture and handpicked wall frames gives a rich impression to a guest who visits this apartment

And explain how you feel about the home

I like this apartment because it has got a lot of space, unlike many other apartments I have visited The rooms give complete privacy to the house members as they are not adjacent to each other The interior of the apartment is quite attractive Moreover, my sister, as an

interior designer has designed it perfectly The apartment gives me the impression of

beauty and comfort For these reasons, I love this apartment

She quickly settled down in her new house

Cô ấy nhanh chóng ổn định trong ngôi nhà mới của mình

3 put every effort to (phrase): cố gắng hết sức

Example

Make every effort to take care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally

Hãy cố hết sức để tự chăm sóc thể chất, tinh thần và cảm xúc của bản thân

4 give somebody the impression of something (phrase): khiến ai đó nghĩ về cái gì đó

Example

I didn’t want to give him the impression of the job

Tôi không muốn khiến anh ấy nghĩ về công việc

2 Do you prefer to live in the city or in the countryside?

The atmosphere in the countryside is preferable for me But it’s much easier to earn a living in big cities That’s why I’ve opted to stay in the city centre and work for a branch

of a multinational corporation However, I’ve made up my mind that once I can afford a house in the countryside, I will definitely settle down there

3 What safety risks are there in residential buildings in cities?

Although high-rise buildings are constructed in compliance with strict safety standards, there are still chances that some unwanted problems such as electricity failure, pipe leakage

or lift breakdowns occur in such crowded residences Among them, fire can be considered the most hazardous type of incident as it can inflict heavy damage on a large scale

4 Is it expensive to decorate a house or an apartment in the place where you live?

It really depends on the size of the house and the owner’s intentions to figure out the total

cost of decoration For some people with high incomes, it can cost an arm and a leg to

realize their dream house with luxurious furniture On the other hand, some with a small budget opt for more affordable decorative items

Vocabulary

1 earn a living (idiom): kiếm sống

Example: