Topic speaking1 Test 21

TEST 21Describe your first day at school as a childThat morning my mother woke me up earlier than usual. She urged me to get dressed and take breakfast quickly then tenderly took me to school. On the way to school I met other children of my age accompanied by their parents to school.The nearer I came to the school gate, the more nervous I became. Suddenly a strange feeling of fear and worry seized my heart when I saw the majestic elementary school in front of me and I felt like crying when my mother said good bye to me and put some coins into my pocket. Never before had I been forced to separate from my beloved mother But when I saw old pupils laughing and talking merrily I regained my composure.After the droll of a drum, we were instructed to stand in line to salute the colours and then go into our classes. A young and mildlooking teacher greeted us at the door. And in a gentle voice, he taught us the first lesson that we never forget

TEST 21

Describe your first day at school as a child

That morning my mother woke me up earlier than usual She urged

me to get dressed and take breakfast quickly then tenderly took me toschool On the way to school I met other children of my age

accompanied by their parents to school

The nearer I came to the school gate, the more nervous I became Suddenly a strange feeling of fear and worry seized my heart when I saw the majestic elementary school in front of me and I felt like cryingwhen my mother said good bye to me and put some coins into my pocket Never before had I been forced to separate from my beloved mother! But when I saw old pupils laughing and talking merrily I

regained my composure

After the droll of a drum, we were instructed to stand in line to salute the colours and then go into our classes A young and mild-looking teacher greeted us at the door And in a gentle voice, he taught us thefirst lesson that we never forget!

TEST 22

Your favourite hobby

My hobby is reading books I inherited a valuable collection of books from my deceased father and up till now my cultural treasures have been preserved carefully

Reading books broadens my mind improves my knowledge They help

me distinguish the bad from the good and prevent me from doing wrong

Reading books brings me minutes of happiness and pleasures I have found a source of consolation and encouragement in books when I am

in despair They're my true companions indeed How relieved and comforted I feel when I can find in good books good teachers and friends!

Instead of indulging myself in futile entertainments, I often absorbed

in reading interesting books which always have miracles to soothe my sorrows and hardships and reveal to me strange and new horizons

TEST 23

Which season of the year do you like best? Why?

I was born in Northern Vietnam, where there are four clear seasons: Spring, summer, autumn, and winter Each season has its own charmsand attractions For example, spring is the season which offers

beautiful flowers and warm weather; summer is the season of nice holidays when we can enjoy lots of outdoor activities such as

picnicking, camping, swimming, fishing etc Autumn is so beautiful with its ideal weather while winter can give us such delight as

gathering by a fire to chat or tell each other funny stories As far as I

am concerned, I like autumn best because of the following reasons:During autumn, which lasts more or less from late July to early

October, it is sunny most of the time The Autumnal sun is often

splendid, dying nature yellow The weather is also ideal because it is not too cold or too hot Then the coldish northwesterly wind, which blows gently, thrills everyone with the breath of autumn The leaves ofthe trees turning yellow or red put a gorgeous coat of colours on

nature Autumn is such a wonderful season that many poems and songs have been composed to sing the praises of the season Autumn

is also a season which reminds me of my first day at school, when my mother took me by the hand and led me to school for the first time.Last but not least, autumn is the time when I can enjoy my favourite fruit and dish which are the Japanese persimmons and the green rice flakes These are found only in autumn

TEST 24

Smoking damages our health

(Smoking is harmful to our health)

Over the last thirty years, thanks to the efforts of various branches of science and technology, research has proved that smoking damages health and shortens man's life-span

According to a diagram released by the World's Health Organization (WHO), the number of people who die of diseases connected to

smoking is increasing more and more The more science and

technology learn, the more damage caused by smoking is discovered Therefore, it seems that we can never put a final stop to the list of harm caused by smoking

First of all, smoking brings about the decline of our memory because each cigarette we smoke destroys 15,000 cerebral cells

Smoking is considered the number one cause of cardiovascular

trouble, pneumonia, lung cancer etc The main offending agents are carbon monoxide and nicotine in the smoke These cancers - causing agents are also the ones which cause pharyngeal cancer The toxic effects of smoke make the smoker's voice hoarse Additionally, the visible effect is that the tobacco or opium tar sticks to the teeth, and causes them to become dark or dirty-yellow, diminishing our good looks and charm

In conclusion, I would like to quote our well-known scholar "Le Quy Don" as saying some hundred years ago that smoking was like taking

a toxic drug, the smoke of which wasted our health and diminished ourlife-span; yet, few people heeded his sage advice

TEST 25

Describe your best friend and tell why you like him/her

Of all my friends, Thanh Hoa is my best friend since we enjoy each other's company so much that we'll miss each other greatly if we don'tmeet at least once a week Thanh Hoa is twenty-two years old but everyone thinks she looks much younger She's not so pretty but she'scharming She has a fair complexion that makes her look very healthy;here eyes are clear and expressive

She is a very reliable, mature girl with a great sense of humour She isvery "down-to-earth" and is often shy She has been with me in both good and bad times to either rejoice over something with me or to comfort me She has a strong personality with crystal clear view of

"right and wrong" She's an honest, a loyal and a warm humanitarian Some people wonder how we can become such good friends because she is so quiet and I'm very energetic and outgoing I think (that) the idiom "opposites attract" is the answer

TEST 26

Why is it necessary to learn English?

English is the international language of business In order to discuss our country's products and services with other people as well as to entice investment from foreign lands, we must do so in English To communicate our thoughts and ideas to other cultures, the best tool is English Communication is our link to the outside world and, in turn, our chance at economic growth Most leading countries in the world either speak English or have English as their second language There are the countries that have the resources, technology and knowledge

to help us grow

We are also invited to learn so much from English speakers We can experience the foods of Ireland, the natural resources of Canada, the monuments of the U.S., the desert 'areas of Australia or the best

fishing ports in New Zealand, just by talking with, these citizens We,

in turn, can also express our feelings and interests about Vietnam Thesharing of this kind of information is a bridge to long term friendships with people from all over the world

TEST 27

The benefits of sports and physical exercises

Nobody can deny the benefits of sports and physical exercises

In fact, such sports as: swimming, jogging, jumping, playing tennis, football, basket - ball, volley - ball, skating, skiing etc bring us a well - proportioned body

When we practise a certain sport, our muscles are developed; blood circulates easily in blood vessels therefore we'll have a good appetite and a sound sleep

As for me, my favourite sport is jogging in the morning and playing tennis in the afternoon By practicing these sports regularly I always feel fit and never get sick

Health is much more precious than money We can't lead a happy life

if we are continually tortured by diseases

Try to keep a clear mind in a healthy body and get accustomed to regular practice of certain sports, we'll feel life worth living

TEST 28

Describe the countryside in the morning

As usual, when the first cock crows break the complete silence of the country, every activity of a new day begins: The villagers start getting up; buffalo tenders are calling each other to drive their cattle to the fields

Smoke from the cottages is rising and spreading in the fresh air,

mingling with the veil of morning mist A few hours later, in the west,

a bright, fresh and newly-bathed sun is looming gradually from the hedge of green bamboos The dew drops on the grass and golden rice ears by the roadside are as resplendent as precious stones Suddenly alark flies up and sings gaily, followed by thousands of his companions

A fresh breeze comes on, the yellow rice fields begin to move and the pure air is redolent of soft fragrance The scenery becomes livelier as groups of farmers are rushing, to their fields talking and laughing

merrily, ready to resume work of a new day

TEST 29

Why are good books considered good teachers and friends?

When I read a book, I am swept away into my own little world

discovering new things and imagining places only I can see It is a private dialogue between the author and me There is no one to

criticize or question me I can read the book at my own speed and savour it every moment Books offer us the world We can learn about history, geography, famous and interesting people and different

countries It is the cheapest form of travel that I know! I love to read avariety of authors and learn about new ideas and ways of expression Ialso try to read a variety of books, from romance to biographies and everything in between I especially like adventure stories because it is

in here that I can really put my imagination to work! There is such a vast amount of information available in books From the early ages to our recent years we can continue to learn about a variety of topics andinterests School textbooks offer us the basics for learning how to

learn-from math to science, from language to arts Recently, my fatherand brother were interested in building a new table and chairs for our family's dinning room Neither one of them is a carpenter So how did they do it, your might ask? They bought a book that showed them how! A good book truly merits respect whether it is a "how-to" book, agood novel or a school textbook.

TEST 30

You tell a foreigner about Vietnam, your beloved homeland

Vietnam is a long, narrow strip of land in the shape of a letter "S" We,Vietnamese, compare our country to the shape of a dragon with the long narrow regions of the Centre forming the slender body, and the regions of the North forming the head, mane and front legs Vietnam has a total territory of 332.000 square kilometers, and a coastline which meanders along the immense Pacific Ocean

Being of a peace-loving nature the Vietnamese people nevertheless know how to react vigorously against adversities to defend their

homeland Fiercely protective of their independence and sovereignty for 2.000 years, they are also welcoming foreigners who come as theirguests

Most visitors who come to Vietnam are overwhelmed by the sublime beauty of the country's natural setting The Red River Delta in the North, the Mekong River Delta in the South and almost the entire

coastal strip are a patchwork of green rice fields (paddy-fields) tended from draw to dusk by peasants in conical hats Visitors will also have the opportunity to experience the energetic and purposeful

performance in revitalizing the Vietnamese economy by the

Vietnamese They will have their senses thrilled by all the sights,

tastes and smells of a society born of over a century between an

ancient civilization and the ways of the West

Despite the ravages of war in the past, the Vietnamese people are nowdetermined to rebuild their homeland, making it many times as rich and magnificent as it used to be following Uncle Ho's teaching

TEST 41

Do you like to live in an old house or in a modern flat?

I live in an old house, and I wouldn't have it any other way I wouldn't

want to live in a modern flat at all Let me tell you why.

Our old houses are very solidly built and will weather big storms The walls are thicker than those of a modern flat, and this keeps out the summer heat Also, our roof is tiled, and I like to climb up inside the house and listen to the sound of the rain beating on the outside

Also, old houses seem friendlier than new ones The sharp edges are worn smooth, making everything more comfortable to me Old houses are bigger too, with extra rooms for everything, and this makes our houses more fun to play in

Then, too, our old houses often have a nice big yard around it, and that makes a good place to play in, and also a place to keep my pet dog If I lived in a flat, I couldn't have a pet So now you can see why

I am so happy to live in a big, old house

TEST 42

Suppose you are living away from home in a foreign land.

Write a short letter to your parents, telling them about your feelings and impressions.

Dear Mom and Dad,

By this time I am well-adjusted to living away from home Living in another country is the only way to become acquainted with what the people are really like, it is only by becoming very good friends with some of the American students here at school that I have gained lots

of insights into their way of life

Even though the countryside looks very different here and the weatherchanges to great extremes, from winter cold and snow to summer sun and heat, I find that people are the same everywhere Everyone has friends Everyone is concerned about living in peace with his

fellowmen, but sometimes this is hard to see clearly All men have lovefor their country and a need to do satisfying work And everyone

needs to have a home of his own and to raise his own family

I am learning a lot by being here for so long I am learning about life through living here, and not just from studying at the university

However, studying is what I must do right now So until I write again,

I remain your loving son

TEST 43

Relate a sad happening in your life.

I have lost several valuable things during my life and have been

unhappy but I have never felt as sorrowful as I have of late-after

learning that I had just lost a dear friend (whom) I had known for so many years

One morning when I was studying my lesson, I received a telegram I opened it and read the sad news-my friend had been killed in a car accident I was shocked and could not believe the words in the

message Just last week we saw each other at a party and chatted happily about everything Could it be that we would never meet again?

I took the telegram, read it over and over again, hoping that I had misread it or that it had been an error

But the more I read, the more my doubts were dispelled It must be true I was so sad that I couldn't do anything Suddenly tears dimmed

my eyes I remembered studying with him and the good times we had gone swimming together Then, I recalled his sincerity and

faithfulness We seemed to understand and relate with each other almost as if we had been identical twins I felt very close to him I alsoknew how deeply I would miss him, realizing acutely that a good friend

is a precious treasure It is painful to think that I have lost one person who understood, comforted and brought so much joy to my life I know I will always remember him but hope that time will help (to) lighten my grief and loss

TEST 44

What benefits can traveling (travelling) bring to you?

To supplement what we learn from books and teachers, schools

usually organize trips for students Many students considered the

planned trips as social outings designed for pleasure only They don't realize all the knowledge and benefits they can derive from travel

In reality these trips can bring about so many physical, social and mental benefits Let's describe these benefits in details

In some of our travels we have an opportunity to live amongst nature,

to inhale clean air and fresh breeze We also have opportunities to

take long walks, to run, to jump and climb freely so that we can

develop physically healthy bodies On such trips our appetite improves and we sleep soundly

In addition, we gain a lot of social and mental benefits from our trips Travels and outings provide students with opportunities to be joyful and friendly, and so escape from everyday routines They give us a chanc9e to become better -acquainted and socialize with others From these contacts, we learn how to relate to people, exchange ideas and gain friends Our trips provide us with association with nature, give us time to relax, meditate and to enjoy games out-of-doors (outdoors) Living with others in groups helps us (to) form good habits such as sharing consideration for others, resourcefulness and friendliness Moreover, travels and outings will help to develop our knowledge and supplement what we learn from books and teachers The lessons on Geography, History and Science will be more meaningful to us,

enriched through true-to-life observations and experiences Through travels we can also learn about our beautiful country, the historical relics, the places of interest, the rich resources of our country, the progress that has taken place and the improvements that need to be made As a result, we turn to know and love our country more

In conclusion, trips are usually beneficial to us However, to gain the most from our outings we should learn to observe carefully and put in practice rules of good social behavior We should also learn how to enjoy nature and respect its numerous beautiful offerings If we keep

in mind and practice (practise) all of the points involved in travelling successfully, we can benefit greatly from these experiences

Vietnamese culture, but now let me just tell you about this special holiday, Tet

"Tet" is the start of our lunar year It does not fall on the same date as

your New Year - January 1", but we usually celebrate it somewhere from January 15th to February 28th At this time of the year, the

shops are busy, especially those in the Central Market where wrapped sweets and other goodies fill the shelves Many people come

gaily-to buy and the shops are very crowded

Everyone likes to wear new clothes to start the New Year Then too, gifts must be bought for all relatives, especially for grandparents Some streets are lined with pretty flowers and big watermelons are for

on sale along others From what I have read and heard, it is similar to your Christmas

"Tet" is a favorite holiday of most Vietnamese people The culture and traditions of "Tet" have been passed on to us for so many generations.Before and during "Tet" we observe these customs and traditions

In my next letter I will tell you more about some of the special

customs we observe during this time

May I close by wishing you "Cung Chuc Tan Xuan", our words for

"Happy New Year"

Dear Mother and Father,

This letter is to let you know that I have arrived safely in Singapore

My first impressions are that Singapore is a beautiful country and that

I am going to enjoy my stay here very much

Everything is so clean and beautiful and very well-organized The

airport is very large and modern and I could see that they have just completed the modernization The people working there were friendly, courteous and very helpful They made me feel very welcome to their city The taxi from the airport downtown was readily available and very inexpensive

My hotel is a new modern one with every convenience The tourist bulletin that I found in my room suggests to me so many different things that I might like to see and do, so I am sure that I will be busy every minute

Unfortunately, I forgot the shopping list that I had made out before I came here As you know, many of my friends asked me to buy

something for them I can not possibly remember everything, so wouldyou please send the list to me

I miss both of you and wish that you were here with me Don't worry about me because this is a very secure and safe place I will write again in a few days

Your loving son,

TEST 47

Relate an accident you've witnessed

Last week my next-door neighbor was cooking dinner when there was

a telephone call She rushed out of the kitchen to answer the

telephone but forgot to turn off the -gas-stove The telephone

conversation lasted for quite a long time

When she finished the conversation and got back to the kitchen, she found the gas-stove was on fire Frightened out of her wits, she threw water over the fire However, the fire did not die out but got bigger and bigger instead, causing her to burn herself She then shouted for help Her husband, who was busy making furniture outside in the yard,burst into the kitchen, and placed a large wet piece of cloth over the fire The fire immediately went out He then put a bandage over his wife's burns

We should be very careful while cooking and should learn how to deal with fire

TEST 48

Tell about your indoor hobby and why you enjoy it

Experience has taught me a valuable lesson, which is that I should have an indoor hobby to occupy myself in my spare-time; otherwise I might spend my leisure-time on entertaining games which are either mindless or wasteful After careful consideration I decided to start stamp collection since I regard postage stamps as objects of interest

and value For stamps to be accepted for use as postage, stamps

undergo screening steps, and only those stamps which excelled the others in meanings, in artistic skills, and aesthetic designs will be

selected So a stamp is really a cultural trait of the country which

issues it

What could be more interesting than having in my hand such a

masterpiece?

Stamps teach lessons on geography and history I, of course, will have

to look up from dictionaries or other books to discover more about the origin of stamps This will broaden my geographical and historical knowledge more and more

Then, too, collecting stamps is quite a relaxing activity I can well imagine how a new beautiful stamp, whether, it is a domestic or

overseas one, could make, me happy watching it for hours on end So

my hobby can help me relax

All in all, stamp collecting further stimulates my creative and

intellectual growth, which makes me never feel guilty about wasting time

TEST 49

In not more than 100 words write a letter of three paragraphs inviting a friend to spend a weekend with your family at your home in the country

fishing on nearby ponds Hurry up Phu, lots of nice surprise are waitingfor you!

Cordially yours,

Trung

Tran Vi§t Trung

TEST 50

Describe a day spent by the river or by the sea.

Summer comes together with its extreme heat and nobody can resist the temptation to spend their holiday at the seaside

Last week, in order to escape from the suffocating atmosphere of a crowded city, my friends and I decided to go to Vung Tau beach When

we got to the seaside, the beach had already been crammed with holiday makers They were either sunbathing on the beach or

swimming in the river After walking along the beach for a short time,

we all took off our clothes and put on our swimming costumes We dived into the water and let ourselves drift along on the waves

Swimming brought us a good appetite We enjoyed some sea foods and then took a quick nap after lunch

In the afternoon we strolled along the beach, inhaling in rapture the fresh sea air and took lots of photographs

A holiday at the seaside helped us get rid of all worries and trouble and gave us health and enthusiasm to resume work again

TEST 31

I like to go shopping at a supermarket Why?

I like to go shopping at a supermarket because of the following

reasons:

The supermarket is large, comfortable and conveniently-located It takes me only a few minutes to walk there from my house I usually don't have much time for shopping, so I have to buy things according

to a plan, or from a shopping list At this supermarket I can buy

exactly what I need very quickly because everything is placed on open shelves All I have to do is (to) choose whatever I want and take it to the check-out counter

Apart from that, I don't have to bargain over prices before buying, yet.I'm never afraid of being overcharged for anything Goods are sold at fixed prices and the supermarket guarantees the things we buy

Should the items become faulty, the supermarket will either have

them replaced or repaired for free.

TEST 32

The birthday present you bought for your mother

I always have a difficult time choosing original birthday presents My imagination never seems to go beyond ties, handkerchiefs or pairs of socks But strangely enough, it didn't take me long to decide on my mother's birthday present For the first time in my life I had a good idea - I would buy her a gas stove which I thought would make her happy

As a housekeeper of a large family, my mother had to toil hard over her bulk of housework Among her household tasks was the cooking, which took a lot of her time The cooking was done by means of

burning firewood or compressed coal, which usually emitted a lot of smoke This was affecting my mother's health With a gas stove she could save a lot of her time as well as her health

Since I bought her this gas-stove, my mother has had some free time

to relax and her health has improved a lot I felt very happy that the birthday present I bought for my mother was of great service to her

TEST 33

Describe New Year celebrations in your country

Every year towards the middle of the twelfth lunar month everybody iseager to welcome New Year

They all have their houses whitewashed and decorated beautifully They buy new clothes for their children and get everything ready for Tet

On the thirtieth night of the twelfth lunar month when the clock strikes

12, the New Year actually takes place of the old one All houses are well-lighted and they're busy making offerings to their ancestors

Children, in their new clothes, wish longevity to their grandparents, parents and are looking forward to receiving some money put in small red envelopes

On New Year’s Days, the Vietnamese usually eat square and cylindricalglutinous rice cakes and water-melons or crack water-melon seeds and

enjoy some special foods On these days they often pay visit to each other and wish each other a Happy New Year During New year's Days they avoid talking nonsense and often go to churches, pagodas and temples to pray for a lucky and Prosperous New year.

Vietnamese Tet lasts about a fortnight after that they're ready to

resume work as usual

TEST 34

Describe the advantages of living in the country and the

disadvantages of living in the city.

Although I've spent most of my life in the city, I always prefer to live

in the country rather than in the city

First, living in the country we can enjoy fresh and pure air all year round whereas the city atmosphere is seriously polluted

Second, we can live a safe and peace full life in the country while

townsfolk are often obsessed with sudden deaths caused by careless drivers and fool hardy motorcyclists

Third, nothing can be compared with beautiful sceneries at dusk and atdawn in the country side They help us relax wonderfully after a hard day's work while the debaucheries in prostitute houses in beer shops and dancing-halls are ruining townspeople's body and soul

Four, nowadays, with the extensive electricity network, country life isn't less comfortable and civilized than town life

In a word, we can enjoy the clean atmosphere, the closeness to natureand the gentle pace of living in the country whereas the city life with its evil influences spoils and poisons townsfolk's minds

TEST 35

Describe your English teacher

My English teacher is Miss Loan She's of medium height, about twentyfive of age She's fairly pretty with her oval-shaped face, straight nose,large forehead and bright eyes Though young and attractive in

appearance she's dignified and virtuous

She's known to be a teacher of considerable ability Her method of teaching differs somewhat with that of our former teacher Instead of explaining fully every new lesson beforehand she just gives us

assignments and let us work out ourselves Thus her methods of

teaching correspond to all of us and help us become active in our

English learning

When teaching, she particularly pays close attention to English accent and pronunciation She often makes us pronounce an English word several times until it's pronounced correctly and accurately She

always encourages us in our English study and thanks to her devotion

to teaching us, we have been making a rapid progress

Everyone in our class is now talking about our new English teacher who deserves our love and respect

In our country, after long years of atrocious war, many houses,

villages, bridges and roads were destroyed by bombing They all need

to be repaired or rebuilt After graduation, I'll contribute my part to the reconstruction of my war torn country into one of the most modernand powerful countries in the world

How happy I feel when I am able to turn slum areas into blocks of highbuildings, to bring happiness and joys to my poor compatriots!

How proud and delighted I am to build high-ways, bridges and

factories for my city dwellers by the sweat of my brow'

[b]TEST 37

Describe your native village and state your reasons why you love it[/b]Although my village is small, it's very beautiful and lovely

My village is divided into 4 hamlets which are directed and supervised

by heads of hamlet who are m charge of and responsible for the

activities of their hamlet