SÁCH SPEAKING 3 PARTS 2020 BẢN MỚI NHẤT BY NGOCBACH

Make a name for oneself trở nên nổi tiếng [idiom] become famous and respected by a lot of people Example: By the time he was thirty-five, he had made a name for himself as a successful

Table of Contents

PART 1 6

1 Home/ Accommodation 6

2 Study 9

3 Work 12

4 Change 14

5 Clothes 16

6 Furniture 17

7 Making Lists 18

8 Eating out 19

9 Picnic 20

10 Recycle 21

11 Sport 22

12 Text Message 25

13 Weekends 27

14 Price 28

15 In a hurry 28

16 Discussion 29

17 Tidy 30

18 Conversation with A Stranger 31

19 Humour 32

20 Success 33

21 Judgement 34

22 Sleep 34

23 Animal 37

24 Cooking 40

25 Age 40

26 Fish 41

27 Joke and comedies 43

28 Insects 44

29 Newspaper & magazine 45

30 Concentration 46

31 Handwriting 47

32 Transportation 49

33 Shopping 51

34 Newspaper & magazine 52

PART 2 + 3 53

1 Describe an occasion you wore your best clothes You should say: 53

2 Describe a film you would like to share with your friends You should say: 57

3 Describe a time when you missed an appointment You should say: 61

4 Describe a foreign country (culture) you want to know more about You should say: 65

5 Describe a successful small company that you know 68

6 Describe a piece of important news you got through a text message 72

7 Describe a water sports you would like to try in the future 76

8 Describe a place where you read and write (not your home) 78

9 Describe a city you have visited and want to come back 82

( => tham khảo đề Describe a city you once went to with your family) 82

10 Describe a time you won a prize 86

11 Describe a conversation topic that you were not interested in 88

12 Describe a successful family business 92

13 Describe a time you made a mistake and how you deal with it 95

14 Describe a person who you think is very open 100

15 Describe a time you took a risk, you thought that bad things would happen but still took it because you believed it would have a positive outcome 104

16 Describe a journey that you went on by car You should say: 108

17 Describe a friend you lost contact with and started contacting again 109

18 Describe a mobile app on the phone that you use 111

19 Describe an event you experienced but you didn’t like the music played there 114

20 Describe a volunteer experience you have had You should say: 116

22 Describe a time when you were surprised to meet a friend You should say: 118

23 Describe a time when you first met someone You should say: 122

24 Describe something you did which was a waste of time You should say: 125

25 Describe a project you worked on in your school/college or office You should say: 129

26 Describe something difficult you would like to succeed in doing You should say: 132

27 Describe a place you visited that has been affected by pollution 134

28 Describe a person who is always full of energy You should say: 139

29 Describe a photo you have taken 142

30 Describe a noisy place that annoys you 145

31 Describe a sentence or a few words from a poem or a song you like You should say: 150

32 Describe a job you would like to do in a foreign country for a short time 152

33 Describe a good decision made recently by you or someone you know 154

34 Describe a thing you once forgot to do You should say: 159

35 Describe a friend who is a good leader You should say: 162

36 Describe an occasion you helped your family member 166

37 Describe an activity you attend occasionally which is a bit expensive 170

38 Describe an enjoyable dinner you had with friends You should say: 176

39 Describe a time when you saw a child behave badly in public You should say: 179

40 Describe an occasion you got lost that you didn’t know 183

42 Describe something you enjoyed doing with a group of people 184

43 Describe a film or TV program that made you laugh 188

44 Describe an interesting tradition in your country 193

48 Describe a time when you were scared by an animal You should say: 194

49 Describe an area of science (physics, biology, psychology, etc.) that interests you 196

50 Describe an ambition that you have had for a long time You should say: 200

51 Describe a time when you first talked in a foreign language You should say: 203

5 KÊNH CHÍNH THỨC DUY NHẤT CỦA

THẦY NGỌC BÁCH IELTS

Hiện tại, thầy Ngọc Bách chỉ sử dụng duy nhất 5 kênh sau, không có kênh nào khác

1 Website ngocbach.com: www.ngocbach.com

2 Page Tuhocielts8.0 (460k thành viên)

Hiện tại, rất nhiều trang bán sách & tài liệu fake lấy tên IELTS Ngoc Bach Các bạn

chỉ nên liên lạc với 5 ĐỊA CHỈ DUY NHẤT này để đăng ký học và mua các sách từ

thầy Ngọc Bách để đảm bảo là sách và tài liệu chất lượng và luôn cập nhật nhất nhé Chúc các bạn học tốt !

IELTS Ngoc Bach

PART 1

What kind of housing/accommodation do you live in?

I live in a terraced house that has a living room, a kitchen, three bed rooms, two bathrooms and a lovely back garden It’s not really a spacious house, but it’s just right for me and my family

Who do you live with?

I live with my parents and my siblings We always get on well with each other and have a lot of fun

How long have you lived there?

I’ve lived there since I was a child, until I graduated from high school and moved to the city

to enroll at university, where I lived in a student dormitory during the semester

(If you answer you haven't lived there long)

What’s the difference between where you are living now and where you have lived in the past?

Living in a dorm with other roommates is totally different from living in my own house

My current residential area is quite small and it’s very noisy because there are a lot of people there and I don’t have my own space Conversely, when I was living at home, I had my own spacious room and it made me feel comfortable

Do you plan to live there for a long time?

To be honest, I intend to buy an apartment in an urban area after I graduate from university

I can decorate and design my ideal home with whatever facilities I want

Which room does your family spend most of the time in?

It’s definitely the kitchen Not only lunch or dinner time but all our family reunions take place in the kitchen where all the family members get together to eat tasty meals, and chat

to each other – it’s a really harmonious atmosphere

Are the transport facilities to your home very good?

To be honest, most of the transport facilities to my place are not very modern The bus service from my work place to home is irregular and usually overcrowded

Do you prefer living in a house or a flat?

I prefer living in a house to a flat because I value my privacy and need my own space Owning an independent house, I can plan and design a house layout to suit myself Moreover,

I can modify a house according to the size of the family

Please describe the room you live in

My current room is actually more like a bedsit It is a multi – purpose room, I use it to sleep and study as well It is painted in pink, that’s my favorite color with a bed, a cupboard and desk It’s not really spacious but it’s just right for me

What part of your home do you like the most ?

I prefer my bedroom most due to its convenience and privacy Because of my stressful work

I want to be in a quiet place and concentrate on my work In my own room, I’m never disturbed by anyone else

Moreover, in my own space I can do whatever I want without bothering others

Spacious (adjective): (rộng rãi) (of a room or building) large and with plenty of space for people to move around in

Ex: The hotel rooms are spacious and comfortable

Sibling(s) (noun): (anh/ chị em) a brother or sister

Ex: The younger children were badly treated by older siblings

Get on well with sb (phrasal verb): (hòa hợp với ai đó) to have a friendly relationship with somebody

Ex: She and her sister have never really got on well with each other

Dormitory (noun): (kí túc xá) a room for several people to sleep in, especially in a school or other institution

Ex: I’ve lived there since I was a child, until I graduated high school and moved to the city to enroll in university where I lived in a dormitory

Residential area (noun): (nơi ở) (of an area of a town) suitable for living in; consisting of houses rather than factories or offices

Ex: It was not safe to locate the chemicals factory in a residential area

Urban area (noun): (vùng thành thị) connected with a town or city

Ex:Pollution has reached disturbingly high levels in some urban areas

Reunion (noun): (tụ họp, xum họp) a social occasion or party attended by a group of people who have not seen each other for a long time

Ex: The College has an annual reunion for former students

Harmonious (adjective): (ấm cúng, yên bình) friendly, peaceful and without any disagreement

Ex: It is important to have harmonious relations between the country's ethnic groups Irregular (adjective): not happening at the arranged time intervals

Ex: His irregular attendance at school resulted in his failure in the final exams

Overcrowded (adjective): with too many people or things in it

Ex: The train was so overcrowded this evening that I was unable to find an empty seat Privacy (noun): being alone and not disturbed by other people

Ex: I read the letter in the privacy of my own room

Suit oneself (verb): to do exactly what you like/want

Ex: Everyone had a different opinion about what colour to paint my room, so in the end I decided to just suit myself

Modify (verb): (sửa đổi, thay đổi) to change something slightly, especially in order to make

it more suitable for a particular purpose

Ex: We found it cheaper to modify the existing equipment rather than buy new

Bedsit (noun): (phòng vừa để ngủ vừa để học, tiếp khách) a room that a person rents and uses for both living and sleeping in

Ex: He lives in a tiny student bedsit used for both sleeping and studying

Multi-purpose (adjective): (đa chức năng) having many different uses

Ex: This room is multi-purpose – we use it for meetings, interviews and taking breaks

Describe your education

I started primary school when I was 7 5 years later, I went to secondary school at 12 Then

at 16, I made it to a high school for gifted students in my hometown In my country,

highschool education lasts 3 years, then I went onto higher education at the Foreign Trade

University where I’m currently studying economics

What is your area of specialization?

Well, my major is External Economics I have mastered the basics of economics and

socio-economics, combined with business knowledge mainly related to the import and export business

Why did you choose to study that major?

I think it would help to fulfill my dream of introducing my country’s agricultural products

to the world Vietnamese goods have a real potential, but they still struggle to make a name for themselves, you know

Do you like your major? (Why?/Why not?)

Yes, of course Studying economics, especially external economics is interesting and

practical It helps me to keep up with current affairs and it improves my analytical and

problem-solving skills as well

What kind of school did you go to as a child?

As a child, I attended a public elementary school It’s quite a big school in my hometown

which provides both high quality education and a supportive environment, so I think I was quite lucky

What was your favourite subject as a child?

Well, I used to be very passionate about drawing when I was a little girl It was fun to work with brushes and colors, you know, as it was the time when I could indulge in my own

creative world

Do you think your country has an effective education system?

To be honest, I don’t think so Our system has somehow become unduly stressful, does not

promote creativity and the ability to be critical due to the fact that our society still cares way

too much about grades and schools consequently focuses on an exam-driven curriculum,

which I find quite impractical

(Possibly) Are you looking forward to working?

Absolutely! It’s great to join the workforce, especially when I can do the job I love Not only will it pay the bills, but it’ll also give me the joy of making a contribution It’s hard to

be happy and fulfilled without working, you know

VOCABULARY

Higher education (chương trình đại học) [n] post-18 learning that take places at universities

Example: According to a research, nearly 50 percent of Vietnamese students in U.S higher education are studying either business or engineering, with business-related majors making

up 38 percent of all enrollments in 2012/13

Master (tinh thông, nắm vững) [v] learn how to do sowmthing well

Example: She lived in Italy for several years but never quite mastered the language

Make a name for oneself ( trở nên nổi tiếng) [idiom] become famous and respected by a lot of people

Example: By the time he was thirty-five, he had made a name for himself as a successful railway contractor

Keep up with (cập nhật thông tin về cái gì) [idiom] be aware of

Example: Even though he's been travelling, he's kept up with what's going on back home

Analytical (thuộc về phân tích) [adj] using analysis or logical reasoning

Example: Analytical skills are essential in the workplace to ensure necessary problem

solving occurs to keep productivity and other areas of the workforce functioning smoothly Elementary school (trường tiểu học) [n] primary school, school for children between 7-11 years old (in Vietnam)

Example: It’s essential that children at the official entry age for elementary school attend

Example: Many parents believe that exam-driven curriculum can change their kid’s

attitude towards school in profoundly negative ways

Pay the bills (trang trải cuộc sống) [ idioms] provide enough income to sustain one’s lifestyle

Example: Being a dentist isn’t so glamorous, but it pays the bills

What do you do?

I’m currently working as a graphic designer for a fashion magazine for youngsters

What are your responsibilities?

Well I’m mainly responsible for designing the cover of the magazine I normally work with the concept team to make sure that the final product will both attract the potential buyer’s

attention and express the theme of the magazine

Why did you choose to do that type of work (or, that job)?

I guess it’s because of my artistic passion The process of creating beautiful things is somehow intriguing to me, so I chose to be a graphic designer, which combines both art

and technology It’s quite interesting, you know

Is there some other kind of work you would rather do?

Well, if possible, I’d like to be a freelance writer Actually I’m a big fan of action movies, and I also care about healthy living, so, I’d love to write about these topics and share my stories with people of the same interest

Describe the company or organization you work for

My company is not huge, it’s just a small art designoffice, but is definitely an inspirational

workplace with a young, creative, and extremely passionate team We work on the basis of

mutual understanding and respect for each other, so it’s kind of an ideal environment for me

Do you enjoy your work?

Most of the time It’s rewarding to co-work on projects with amazing people in an open and supportive environment to bring out an art production that will ultimately give me a sense

of satisfaction and pride

What do you like about your job?

Well, the perk of being a graphic designer is that you’ll surround yourself with inspiring

images everyday My daily working life involves seeking out inspiration in all sorts of places, researching incredible illustrations and graphics, and creating them too It’s great, I think

What do you dislike about your job

What I don’t like about this job is that our personal taste in design varies, and normally I’ll

have to do a thousand edits to get the final product that meets the demand of my boss while still * relating / staying faithful to /remaining trueto the initial concept

* conform means ‘to behave according to the usual standards of behaviour that are expected

by a group or society’ – this does not relate to things like ‘concepts’

(Possibly)Do you miss being a student?

Sometimes, when I’m burdened with heavy workloads or the pressure of everyday life, I recall the memories of being a student We were all carefree and innocent back then It’s a

precious time that I cherish

VOCABULARY

theme (đề tài,chủ đề) [n] the main subject of a talk, book, film, etc

Example: The father-daughter relationship is a recurring theme in her novels

Intriguing ( hấp dẫn, gợi thích thú) [adj] very interesting because of being unusual or mysterious

Example: The Huns are intriguing not only because of their notoriously hawkish

history, but also because of their place as middlemen between Mongol and Turkic ethnicity

On the basis of (trên cơ sở) [idiom] base on

Example: Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age or disability is not allowed

Rewarding (bổ ích, đáng làm) [adj] giving pleasure, satisfation

Example: The most rewarding aspect of living forever is you have unlimited time to perfect

your abilities and accumulate wealth

Ultimately (cuối cùng thì, rút cục) [adv] at the end of a process, period of time, etc

Example: Everything will ultimately depend on what is said at the meeting with

the directors next week

Perk ( đặc quyền, thù lao thêm) [n] an advantage or something extra that you are given because of your job

Example: A company car and a mobile phone are some of the perks that come with the

job

Conform (to sth) (tuân theo) [v] obey the rule or reach the necessary stated standard

Example: Before buying the baby's car seat, make sure that it conforms to

the official safetystandards

Cherish (yêu mến, coi trọng) [v] keep hopes, memories in your mind because they are important to you and bring you pleasure

Example: I cherish the memories of the time we spent together

4 Change

Have you changed a lot since your childhood?

Of course, yes I am now more knowledgeable and more mature I’ve become more aware

of others and their struggles and circumstances, and therefore I’ve become significantly more liberal-minded than I was I respect and appreciate my parents more, and understand

their love and their struggles on a much deeper level There are a lot of changes in my lifestyle also, for example, when I was a child, I didn’t care for housework, but now I have been forced to do housework throughout adult life, and I have actually come to enjoy it to

an extent

What do you plan to change next year?

I think every passing year is a mirror that holds our actions and their consequences This year has taught me a lot and next year I would like myself to be more knowledgeable so

that I can go higher in my career I'll also try to be more considerate towards my parents

You know, as a person grows up they start realizing what their parents did for them all those times

Do you like changes? Why?

To some extent, I do like changes You know, changes are mandatory With every stage in

a person’s life comes change These changes can be any type physically, mentally,

emotionally and these are essential because with every change a person grows and

becomes better

Vocabulary

She's very knowledgeable about Vietnam literature

2 Aware (of): (adj) knowing that something exists, or having knowledge or experience

of a particular thing

I suddenly become aware of him looking at me

3 Liberal-minded (adj) espouring liberal views and policies

She was open and liberal-minded on many subjects

4 Considerate (toward) (adj) pays attention to the needs, wishes, or feelings of other

people

He's the most charming, most considerate man I've ever known

5 Clothes

What's your favorite color of clothes?

I like most colors, but my most favorite colors to wear are black and white because these

two colors are classic and versatile, and they are easy to match with other accessories What kind of clothes do you never wear?

Well I could come up with some, for example T-shirts with large brand signs I don’t like clothes that a lot of people wear I also wouldn’t wear clothes made from nylon fabric to protect the environment

What kind of clothes do you usually wear?

Well it depends on the weather for me In summer, I like to wear ripped jeans or short shorts and a shirt or crop top with a light jacket But in winter, I would wear an oversized hoodie on top of a shirt

Do you wear the same style of clothes on weekdays and weekends?

No I don’t I have two sections in my wardrobe While one section of clothes is reserved

for weekday wear that includes formal office wear, the weekend wear constitutes casual

and party clothes

Vocabulary

1 Constitutes (verb) to be or be considered as something:

Her refusal to sell the house constituted a major blow to our plans

2 versatile (adj) able to change easily from one activity to another or able to be used

for many different purposes

She’s a very versatile young actor

6 Furniture

Do you have a lot of furniture in your home?

Well I do not have much I pursue the minimal style so my house is just equipped with basic furniture including essential items such as: a television and coffee table for the living room, pull-out bed for my bedroom, basic pots and pans for cooking in the kitchen;

essential toiletries; a trash can and some cleaning supplies

Is there anyone who bought furniture for you?

Yes, my parents You know, I am still a student, so my parents support me a lot in

purchasing essential items for my living I am so blessed by having such a caring mother and father

What kind of furniture would you like to buy?

Well I love investing in storage solutions for my workplace at home because I would like

to get my work space organized, thus helping to improve my concentration and

productivity

Which furniture do you like best in your home?

My most favorite furniture item in my home is the portable locker cabinet I bought last

year, which is well-designed and made from high quality wood It has become a great asset

in storing my work-related documents at home and preventing anybody from touching them or interfering with my work

Vocabulary:

1 Concentration (noun) the ability to think carefully about something you are doing

and nothing else

I find that yoga improves my concentration a lot

2 Asset (noun) a useful or valuable quality, skill, or person

She’ll be the asset for the team

7 Making Lists

Do you make a list when you shop?

Yes, I do Every time I go the super market, I make a shopping list so that I can focus on the stuff I really need, thus saving a lot of my time and energy

Do you make a list for your work? (Does it work?)

Not all the time It depends on if my schedule is busy or not For example, I always make

my to-do list work for November and December because at that time I have exams

Therefore, I make a to-do list to get organized and help me focus on the most urgent things

I have to get done first By doing this, I can get things done faster and more productively

Why don't some people like making lists?

Well some of my friends never make to-do lists because they find it does not work for

them They get so overwhelmed just by looking at all the things they need to do and they

feel that they are continuously adding to their list but not reducing it

Do you prefer making a list on paper or mobile phone?

I prefer using a digital to-do list because it is extremely convenient It gives me the liberty

to change and update my lists conveniently Additionally, I can add tags to activities that

need attention as a priority I can also have a daily set of tasks that repeat themselves and I

can move tasks, up and down, depending on their sequence

Vocabulary:

1 Overwhelmed (adj) to cause someone to feel sudden strong emotion

She was overwhelmed by the feelings of remorse for what she has done

2 Priority (noun) something that is very important and must be dealt with before other

things

We need to establish a new set of priorities

8 Eating out

Do you like eating out?

Well I don’t enjoy eating out much It sounds attractive until you have to eat out a lot It gets really expensive, especially if I go to places that cook well Since restaurant food is

engineered more for a splurge than as part of a daily diet, it's difficult to eat the way I

want to over an extended period of eating out At the present, I really only eat out when I

have a specific craving for something I haven't eaten in a very long time

How often do you eat out?

As I said previously, I only eat out when I have a specific craving for something I haven't eaten in a very long time or when my friends invite me out for dinner sometimes

Do you prefer eating out to eating at home?

I always go for home cooked meals Restaurant food of course tastes good but you cannot

be sure of the quality and hygiene Also restaurant chefs add a lot of taste enhancers,

colours and other synthetic additives Therefore, for the sake of food safety, I prefer eating

at home

Vocabulary

1 Splurge (noun) an occasion when someone spends a lot of money buying something

expensive

If you can afford the spurge, go for it

2 Craving for (verb) a strong feeling of wanting something

Christina has a craving for Chocolate

3 Synthetic (adj) Synthetic products are made from artificial substances, often

copying a natural product

Even the hair is synthetic

9 Picnic

Did you go on a picnic when you were a child?

Well, I'd say I did I remember when I was about ten years old, my family members often gathered together and had picnics in the backyard of my uncle’s house It was a large and beautiful backyard surrounded with flowers and big trees Those were one of the most

memorable moments in my childhood

How often do you go on a picnic now?

Well at the moment I rarely go on a picnic Instead, my family and I go on a short holiday

at the weekend once a month It may be a trip to a mountainous area or the beach around 50-100kms from Hanoi

Where do you go on a picnic? Why?

I think a park or forest with beautiful green surroundings is the ideal green spot to host a picnic because it will give you plenty of space to invite a lot of people and keep you

entertained with fun games after enjoying your picnic dishes

Vocabulary

1 Memorable (adj) likely to be remembered or worth remembering

High school is the most memorable time of my life

10 Recycle

Do you recycle now? Why?

Yes, I do I recycle on a daily basis I separate the garbage in my house into paper, plastic, glass then take it to the recycling bin which is available in my condominium complex Along with this, I reuse items as often as possible For example, by cleaning glass jars and

small pots, I can use them as small containers to store odds and ends I also turn old

clothes into other textile items such as cushion covers or teapot cozies I believe that people need to recycle as much rubbish as they can to save the planet’s resources

Did you recycle when you were a kid?

Sadly, no! When I was a child, I was not taught to be aware of the importance of The

Three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle In my country, the division of garbage into organic versus non-organic, or paper/can & bottle/glass/waste categories hardly exists As there

is no strict legal system in Vietnam, many families just throw away all they consider waste

in the same bags

Will you recycle in the future?

Yes, of course I will As now I am aware of the importance of protecting the environment,

I will try my best to reduce, reuse and recycle as much as possible However, in my

country, not everyone recycles I hope that in the future, legal and economic

solutions will be carried out to heighten public awareness, improve the effectiveness of plastics collection and design policies for recycling activities

What kind of things do you recycle?

Well some common materials that I recycle are plastic, paper, glass, and metals such

as aluminium and steel

Aluminium noun /ˌæl.jəˈmɪn.i.əm/: Al a chemical element that is a light, coloured metal, used especially for making cooking equipment and aircraft parts: nhôm

silver-Example: We take all our aluminium cans for recycling (Chúng tôi lấy tất cả các lon nhôm

của chúng tôi để tái chế.)

Vocabulary:

1 Odds and ends (noun) various things of different types, usually small and not

important, or of little value

There are still a few odds and ends to bring over the new house

2 Heighten (sb’s) awareness (of sth) make people realize something more clearly

Employees in this company are using a heightened awareness of work flow

11 Sport

Do you often do physical exercise?

(Answer) Yes, I do, and on a regular basis, (Give reason for your answer) though I wouldn’t

say that I’m a gym junkie, I have to say that I put great emphasis on getting into shape and always spare at least 3-4 days to work out at the gym

How do you do exercise?

(Answer) Personally, I alternate between hitting the gym or taking gentle exercise at home (Give reason for your answer) On days when I have more free time, I like to exert myself

by running on treadmills and lifting weights at the fitness centre, while on busier days, a simple morning jog or yoga at home would do

Do you have any plans for exercise in the future?

(Answer) Actually, I do have some in my mind right now (Give reason for your answer)

Firstly, I’m considering taking up a sport, something like boxing, but only for leisure and not competitively Additionally, I plan to maintain my current fitness regime in order not to

be out of condition

Do young people in your country like to do exercise?

(Answer) I suppose yes (Give reason for your answer) Being fit rather than being skinny is

a mindset that is recently catching on in Vietnam Therefore, many young people are trying

to incorporate physical activities into their daily routine as well as adopting healthy eating habits to achieve their dream figure

Vocabulary

Từ vựng chủ đề Sports and Exercise

1 to get into shape

Meaning: to become fit

Example: If people have a sedentary lifestyle, they must do regular exercise to get into shape

2 to work out at the gym

Meaning: to train the body by physical exercise at the gym

Example: As part of a healthy lifestyle, people of all ages should work out at the gym on a

regular basis

3 to take gentle exercise

Meaning: to do exercise which is not physically demanding or tiring

Example: Even the elderly can keep fit by taking gentle exercise, like jogging or simply a

walk in the park

4 to exert oneself

Meaning: to make a big physical effort to do something

Example: I believe that sports professionals deserve high salaries because constant hard

training is necessary, so that they can exert themselves to the limit when they compete

5 to take up sport/to take up exercise

Meaning: to start doing a sport, to start doing exercise

Example: Governments should provide sports facilities to encourage more people to take

up sport

6 to be out of condition

Meaning: to be physically unfit

Example: One of the causes of obesity is that many people are out of condition and fail to

exercise regularly

Từ vựng chủ đề Health

1 a fitness regime

Meaning: a method or routine of taking regular exercise

Example: Even elderly people can adopt a fitness regime by taking light exercise such as walking or jogging

2 healthy eating habits

Meaning: eating healthy food at regular times of the day

Example: Health education involves teaching people about healthy eating habits, such as

regular mealtimes and eating fruit and vegetables every day

Other vocabulary

1 to alternate - between something and something (thay đổi luôn phiên giữa cái gì và cái

gì) [verb]

Meaning: To switch between two different people or things

Example: His marks this year have alternated between excellent and very poor

2 to catch on (trở nên thịnh hành, phổ biến) [phrasal verb]

Meaning: to become pupular

Example: Leather jackets are really catching on these days

3 skinny (gầy gò) [adjective]

Meaning: very thin and weak

Example: When I was a child, I had skinny arms and legs

12 Text Message

Do you text someone if they don’t answer your phone?

It depends I often send a message if it’s an essential issue that they need to know In case of

an emergency, I’ll try to make another phone call instead of texting And if my call is just

about some daily stuff such as seeing a movie, eating out or if I just want to have a chat,

then I just text and wait for a reply

Is there any occasion when texting someone is better than calling them?

Oh, yes It might be when I’m informed beforehand that they will attend a formal event For example, my mother or father usually ask me not to phone them the following morning if they have something important, like a company meeting Because I already know about it,

I’ll just send them text messages if I need to get in touch with them about something

Have you ever had difficulty replying?

Well, that would be when my phone account runs out of money – I may sometimes forget to

top it up Another case may be when my battery is used up and needs charging It’s even

worse when both of them happen at the same time and somehow I foolishly leave my charger

at home

How often do you send text messages?

Daily, or hourly We now have so many user-friendly applications on smartphones and other social networking sites that make texting much easier than ever before Of course, these applications also support calling, yet to be honest, I’m more into sending texts than

making a call

Các từ thuộc chủ đề Communication:

to be user-friendly

Meaning: to be easy to use, without a need for advanced skills

Example: One feature of modern communications technology is that, in general, it is friendly

user-Dịch đại ý

To be user-friendly: thân thiện với người dùng

Nghĩa: dễ sử dụng, không cần kỹ năng cao

Ví dụ: Một trong những đặc điểm chung của công nghệ giao tiếp hiện đại là chúng khá thân thiện với người dùng

2 social networking sites

Meaning: a website on which you communicate with people who share your interests

Example: Young people today waste too much time on social networking sites such as

Facebook or Twitter

Dịch đại ý

Social networking sites: mạng xã hội

Nghĩa: trang web nơi bạn giao lưu với mọi người và có thể chia sẻ những vấn đề bạn quan tâm

Ví dụ: Người trẻ hiện nay thường lãng phí quá nhiều thời gian vào các trang mạng xã hội như Facebook hay Twitter

Các từ khác:

1 to get in touch with sb [expression]:

Meaning: to communicate with somebody, especially by writing to them or calling them

Example: I’m trying to get in touch with John – do you have his number?

2 to top up [phrasal verb]:

Meaning:to increase the amount of something to the level that you need

Example: I have no more credit left on my mobile phone, so I will top it up today

3 to be into sth [expression]: (enthusiastic or interested in): thích cái gì

E.g Jackie’s really into classical music - he listens to it all the time

13 Weekends

What do you usually do on weekends?

Well literally anything I’m supposed to do chores on Saturday and it takes me hours to

do one On Sunday, I usually schedule a meeting with my friends We mostly just eat out,

drink craft beers and play board games, but we occasionally watch a movie or go to an event in the city

Would you say weekends are important to us?

Yes, I could say, that weekends are really important Weekends give us the chance to improve on ourselves as people rather than always improving our professional skills, to spend time with friends and family, and to plan a weekend trip in a nearby place Thanks to weekends, we are more relaxed and productive when we go back to work

Do you often go to the cinema on weekends?

I probably only go once every two or three months because I have less time now than I did when I was a student, and when I do have free time, I usually want to hang out

with my friends and have a chat, rather than sit down and watch films

Vocabulary:

1 Take (time) to do something: to spend enough time to do something well or

carefully

It took her two hours to travel from Hanoi to Phu Tho

2 Hang out with (phrasal verb) to spend a lot of time in a place or with someone

They spent the whole Saturday hanging out by the lake

14 Price

Have you reduced your spending recently?

Yes, I have Recently I’ve tried to reduce my spending by minimizing the money spent on

clothing, footwear, reducing electricity use, eating at home, clearing out unwanted stuff and only buying the essentials

Do you compare prices?

Yes, I do I always compare prices before shopping I think comparing prices is essential

before making a purchase because it helps consumers find great deals on the same item or

find similar items at discounted prices, thus saving me a substantial amount of money

Vocabulary:

1 Minimize (verb) to reduce something to least possible level or amount

We have to minimize the risk of infection

2 Make a purchase (phrasal verb) to buy something

A house is the most expensive purchase that most people ever make

15 In a hurry

When was the last time you did something in a hurry?

The last time I was in a hurry was the time I rushed to work one morning because I woke

up late The night before that I had a birthday party with friends till midnight so the

exhaustion after that led me to oversleep in the morning

What kind of things would you never do in a hurry?

Well, I think I would never finish work for my customers in a hurry, otherwise it would cause lots of errors that might lead to a terrible loss for them That is not acceptable

Do you like to finish things quickly?

No, I don’t stand finishing things too soon because I would probably make mistakes

without careful and considerate work

Vocabulary:

1 Oversleep (verb) to sleep for longer than you intended to and so wake up late

I went to school late yesterday because I overslept again

2 Considerate (adj) kind and helpful

It is very considerate of you to prepare all this for me

16 Discussion

What do you like to talk about?

Well my favorite topic to discuss is the movies that I have watched and liked with minded people as long as possible There are instances where a friend from the film

like-industry and I were talking about a favorite scene in a movie for like an hour

Do you change your opinions frequently?

No, for me, changing my opinion takes time It depends on the circumstances also If I am absolutely sure of the reliability of the new information received, I would change my

previous opinion In the course of maturation and getting some experience, my views on life and opinions might also change

Vocabulary:

1 Like-minded (adj) (of people) share the same opinions, ideas, or interests:

She opens a workshop about rural tourism for like-minded people

17 Tidy

Are you a tidy person?

Definitely I love seeing my things organized I often try to clean my home and work

space on a daily basis

Are all of your family members tidy?

Yes Especially my mom, she is obsessed with cleaning She’s always trying to keep everything neat and spotless That’s why she sometimes complains about my brother

throwing his dirty clothes everywhere

Are you tidier at home or at work/ (school)?

At work (school) definitely I think it’s totally fine to create a mess in my own room but it would be unacceptable to throw stuff in public places In fact, I’ve never forgotten to clean

up my desk before leaving work/ school

Vocabulary:

1 On a daily basis: everyday

Restaurant just open almost on a daily basis

2 Obsessed (with) (adj) unable to stop thinking about something; too interested in or

worried about something

Nowadays people are so obsessed with money

18 Conversation with A Stranger

Is it hard to strike up a conversation with a stranger?

No I think striking up a conversation with strangers is not too hard Sometimes you just

need to start with a smile, and comment on something unique about them like an item of jewelry, an unusual shirt, or even a tattoo For example, you could initiate a conversation with a person by saying: "Wow, that is a beautiful pendant, what kind of stone is that?"

Do you normally carry on a conversation with strangers?

Well I rarely carry on a conversation with strangers unless it is a person I find attractive, is someone I want to become good friends with, or someone who may be able to introduce

me to new and interesting people

Are you afraid of being evaluated when you meet someone for the first time?

Yes sometimes, especially when I am really into that person While talking to him/ her I might find myself in a state of analysis, and fear that I may be saying something that will

make them go away

Vocabulary:

1 Strike up something (phrasal verb) to create or establish a relationship or

conversation with someone

He struck up a relationship with a singer soon

2 Go away (phrasal verb) to leave a place / to disappear

It was weeks before the bruises went away

19 Humour

Do you like being close to a person who has a good sense of humor?

Yes, I like being around humorous people People who make us laugh generally deliver a comfortable and friendly feeling into our heart In addition, humor is also a sign of

common interest If someone makes me laugh, I know that I have something in common with that person, so it is a bonding feature

What type of programmes do you find funny on TV?

Well I would go for romantic comedies when it comes to television The main reason why I’m a big fan of this type is that I really adore the happy endings of those movies It gives

me hope After finishing those movies, I come back to reality and hope that I can find someone who makes me feel just how I felt while watching these movies Warm and filled with so much love

Which types of programmes are most popular in your country?

I think it depends on different tastes The young love watching sport programmes or some reality shows while for people who have grown up a little bit, they prefer drama For

example, my mother has a strong liking for Korean dramas

What kinds of things make you laugh?

I think there are many different kinds of things that make me laugh: a joke, something silly, something stupid, a funny conversation with friends, or sometimes just ridiculous things that you see happen in everyday life

Vocabulary:

1 Have a strong liking for: like something very much

Try to develop a strong liking for books, and read all types of them

20 Success

Is it important to succeed for the first time? Why?

No, I think it is fine to fail for the first time I can't say that I love it when I fail, but it

would be much more gratifying to succeed after multiple times making mistakes and

fixing each of them That said, the failures only make the successes sweeter, and the learning process much more valuable

What factors lead to success?

In my opinion, the key factor which leads to success is persistence Walt Disney went

bankrupt after a company he began in Kansas City, Missouri failed Henry Ford's first five businesses failed before he popularized the assembly line You know, successful people don't quit

Vocabulary:

1 Gratifying (adj) pleasing and satisfying

It must be very satisfying to see all students become successful

2 Persistence (noun) the fact that someone or something persists

His persistence has helped the group to receive the medal

21 Judgement

Do you often judge anyone?

Yes, I do Actually, we all judge people all of the time It's part of our perception and it’s not necessarily a bad thing We look at someone and then make a snap judgement based on any information readily available like their clothes, appearance, the way they carry

themselves, etc These are quick and easy frameworks that help us navigate social

interactions

How do you feel when someone hates you?

It doesn't feel good for sure The feeling of being hated or ignored is as painful as an

infected wound which reminds you again and again that you are a bad person The first thing that comes to one’s mind when being hated is: What have I done to deserve this?

Vocabulary:

1 Social interactions (adj) the processes by which we act and react to those around us

The most common forms of social interaction are exchange, competition, conflict,

cooperation, and accommodation

22 Sleep

How long should people sleep for the benefit of their health? Why?

(Answer) I’m not too sure, but according to what I have read, around 8 hours of sleep per

day would be optimal (Give reason for your answer) This is said to be the perfect amount

of time for people to rejuvenate and recharge their minds and bodies If people constantly sleep a lot more than this recommended amount of time, they are more likely to be prone to obesity, which will certainly carry serious health risks

Do you think that the old should sleep more than the young? Why?

(Answer) No, I don’t think that should be the case (Give reason for your answer) I believe

that the amount of time people spend resting should correlate with how much they exert themselves during the day Usually, young people spend more of their energy on physical

activities so it’s more reasonable for the young to sleep more than the elderly

What do you do to improve sleeping quality?

(Answer) There are several measures that can be taken to assure a quality sleep (Give reason

for your answer) First, I make sure that I work out at the gym or take gentle exercise as I usually find myself drifting to sleep faster and sleep more soundly after I have taken regular exercise during the daytime In addition, I find that some soothing music and comfy

pillows are really helpful in ensuring a good night’s sleep

Do you think it's effective?

(Answer) Yes, from my personal experience, the solutions I mentioned have proved to be

quite effective (Give reason for your answer) When I’m drained after a long day or I’ve done a hardcore work-out at the fitness centre, I am often sore all over and crave for some rest Then, nothing is more satisfying than to crash out at night, falling asleep while listening

to slow and relaxing melodies

Vocabulary

Từ vựng chủ đề Health

1 to be prone to obesity (expression)

Meaning: to be likely to become fat in an unhealthy way

Example: Children who are addicted to watching television, instead of playing outdoor

games, are more prone to obesity

2 to carry health risks (expression)

Meaning: to have effects which could be bad for one’s health

Example: Smoking and drinking alchohol are potentially dangerous habits, because they

carry serious health risks

3 to take regular exercise (expression)

Meaning: to do some physical activity on a regular basis

Example: Authorities should encourage people of all ages to take regular exercise by

providing facilities in each community

Từ vựng chủ đề Sports and exercise

1 to exert oneself (reflexive verb)

Meaning: to make a big physical effort to do something

Example: I believe that sports professionals deserve high salaries, because constant hard

training is necessary so that they can exert themselves to the limit when they compete

2 to work out at the gym (expression)

Meaning: to train the body by physical exercise at the gym

Example: As part of a healthy lifestyle, people of all ages should work out at the gym on

a regular basis

3 to take gentle exercise (expression)

Meaning:to do exercise which is not physically demanding or tiring

Example: Even the elderly can keep fit by taking gentle exercise, like jogging or even a walk in the park

Other vocabulary:

1 optimal (tối ưu) [adjective]

Meaning: best; most likely to bring success or advantage

Example: The optimal temperature for the development of larvae is in the range 18–26˚C

2 to rejuvenate (làm trẻ lại, khỏe lại) [verb]

Meaning: to make somebody/something look or feel younger, more lively or more modern

Example: Special creams can be used to rejuvenate the skin

3 to sleep soundly (ngủ ngon lành, yên lành)

Meaning: if you sleep soundly, you sleep very well and very deeply

Example: The baby was sleeping soundly after listening to his mother’s lullaby

4 soothing (dịu dàng, êm ái) [adjective]

Meaning: making somebody who is anxious, upset, etc feel calmer/ making a tense or painful part of your body feel more comfortable

Example: The soothing voice of the singer made everyone in the audience feel relaxed

5 drained (kiệt sức, mệt mỏi) [adjective]

Meaning: very tired and without energy

Example: The death of her father left her emotionally drained

6 crave for something (thèm cái gì) [phrasal verb]

Meaning: to have a very strong desire for something

Example: Pregnant women can occasionally crave for weird food

7 to crash out [phrasal verb]

Meaning: to throw yourself down to sleep in an exhausted state

Example: After the late-night party at my house, several of my friends crashed out on the

floor

23 Animal

1 Have you ever kept pets?

(Answer) Yes, I used to have one

(Give a reason for your answer) My father got a dog for me when I was 5 Yet, I remember

he was so aggressive that we rarely played with him He was kept only for guarding the house Later on, when he started recognizing us, he allowed us to approach him I remember

my sister actually felt attached to him a great deal, so when he died, it was a true shock for

her

2 Do you like to go to the zoo?

(Answer) Actually, I don't like going to the zoo

(Give a reason for your answer) It is so sad to see the miserable animals sitting, running

about sadly in their cage, hoping for some scraps from the visitors They don't deserve it

But on the other side, some of them will live in danger if they are allowed to live in their natural environment

3 Have you ever seen any wild animals before?

(Answer) Honestly, not even once in person but of course plenty of times on TV through

National Geographic TV shows

(Give a reason for your answer) In my twenty years of existence, I still haven’t seen one

real wild animal before with my naked eyes Some of the amazing wild animals that I’ve seen on television are zebras, gorillas, giraffes, coyotes, hedgehogs, otters, and lions I really

don’t get a chance to visit any zoos in this country

4 What wild animal do you like the most?

(Answer) Actually, I do not have any particular kinds of wild animal that I like

(Give a reason for your answer) If I have to pick one, I prefer to choose elephants They

look different from any other animal you’ve ever seen, they have a trunk, tusks and they’re

massive in size They are closely related to the extinct mammoth and that is why elephants

are so unique Besides, in comparison with other kinds of animals, they are much more

intelligent

Vocabulary:

aggressive [adj]: behaving in an angry and violent way towards another person: hung hăng

Eg: If I criticize him, he gets aggressive and starts shouting

approach [v]: to come nearer to something or someone: tiếp cận, lại gần

Eg: Under no circumstances should you approach the man

(be) attached to [adj]: to like someone or something very much: gắn kết

Eg: Steve really gets attached to his cats

miserable [adj]: very unhappy: đau khổ

Eg: She's miserable living on her own

deserve [v]: to have earned or to be given something because of the way you have behaved

or the qualities you have: xứng đáng

Eg: After all that hard work, you deserve a holiday

with the naked eyes [expression]: without using any special device for making images

larger: với mắt thường

Eg: We live miles away, but on a clear night, you can see the city skyscrapers with the naked eye

coyote [n]: a small wild animal like a dog that lives in North America: chó sói

Eg: Chickens need protection from predators such as coyotes, foxes, and owls

particular [adj]: special, or this and not any other: đặc biệt

Eg: In the light of recent incidents, we are asking our customers to take particular care of their personal belongings

massive [adj]: very large in size, amount, or number: to lớn

Eg: If the drought continues, deaths will occur on a massive scale

in comparison with [expression]: when compared with sth: khi được so sánh với

Eg: The paintings he made later pale in comparison with his earlier work

24 Cooking

Who taught you how to cook? Do you like cooking?

My mother is the person who inspires me a lot when it comes to cooking because she always

makes mouthwateringly delicious dishes I also enjoy cooking Whenever I have free time,

I always don my apron and make traditional dishes as a way to reduce stress

Is it difficult to cook?

I don’t think so It mostly depends on how passionate you are about it The more you cook, the more delicious your dishes are

Do you want to learn how to cook?

 Absolutely! I’ve always been curious about different cuisines, and it would be great to have a person who shares my interests and could teach me more about it

VD: It is a fact that Vietnam has one of the best cuisines in the world

- Share my interests (expression): Có cùng sở thích

VD: I really like travelling I’m looking for a person who shares my interests

25 Age

1 What do you think is the best age to learn driving?