NGUYEN TRAI – BD – HIGH 

SCHOOL       IMPROVING EXERCISE – E10

UNIT 1: MY FAMILY LIFE
LANGUAGE FOCUS
Phonetics
Consonant clusters /tr/, /kr/ and /br/: trash, create, breakfast ...
Grammar
Review: the present simple Vs the present continuous
I am thinking about grandmother. We hardly ever visit her. Let's visit her tomorrow.
Why are you smelling the food? Do you think it has gone off?
Vocabulary
Words to talk about household chores and roles in the family: homemaker, nurture, lay the table...
PRACTICE TEST UNIT 1
I. PHONETICS
1. Find the word which has a different sound in the part underlined.
1. A. homemaker B. family C. grateful D. table
2. A. nursing B. nurture C. turn D. future
3. A. society B. sociable C. groceries D. finance
4. A. heavy B. breadwinner C. cleaning D. breakfast
5. A. laundry B.iron C. ingredient D. cream
6. A. brothers B. cousins C. works D. areas
7. A. neighbors B. friends C. relatives D. photographs
2. Choose the word which has a different stress pattern from the others.
8. A. breadwinner B.homemaker C. washing-up D. equally
9. A. routine B. laundry C. household D. finance
10. A. enormous B. extended C. ungrateful D. elderly
11. A. vulnerable B. psychologist C. society D. responsible
12. A.grocery B. enormous C. consumption D. financial
II. GRAMMAR
1. Complete the sentences using the Present Simple or the Present Continuous.
13. I (leave) _________ home at 7 o'clock every morning.
14. She (works) _____ in the Sales Department in London, but at the moment she (do) ____ a training course in
Bristol. Is doing
15. Linda (cleans) __________ her house every weekend.
16. He (tries) _________very hard in every game that he (plays) __________.
17. Excuse me. I think that you (are sitting) ____________ in my seat.
18. (you, listen) ___do you listen__________ to the radio very often?
19. Don't talk to me now. I (write) _______am writring_______ an important letter.
20. Why (they, drive) _____are they driving_________ on the left in Britain?
21. It usually (rain) _______rains______here a lot, but it (not rain) ________isn’t raining_______now.
22. What are you doing? - I (bake) ______am baking_________a cake at the moment
23. A: What ____are you doing____! (you/ do)?
B: I ____am writing____ (write) to my parents. I ___write_____ (write) to them every weekend.
24. A: Look, it ____is snowing____ (snow).
B: It’s beautiful! This is the first time I’ve ever seen snow. It ____doesn’t snow____ (not snow) in my
country.
25. A: Oh, that’s Adrian. He’s new here.
B: Really? Where ____does he live____ (he/ live)? _do you know_______ (you/ know)?
A: Yes. He ____lives____ (live) in Milan, but now he___is staying_____ (stay) with his aunt on Shirley
Road.
26. A: What time ____do you usually finsish____ (you/ usually/ finish) work?
B: Normally I ___finish___ (finish) work at five o’clock, but this week I ____am working____ (work)until
six to earn a bit more money.
27. A: How ____do you travel____ (you/ travel) to work?
B: I haven’t got a car at the moment, so I __am going___ (go) to work on the bus this week. Usually I
____drive____ (drive) to work.
28. A: I think we’re going the wrong way.
B: I don’t think so. The sun ____rises____ (rise) in the east, remember. It’s behind us, so we
___travel_____ (travel) west.
29. A: (you/ look) __are you looking______ for someone?
B: Yes, I ___am_needing____ (need) to speak to Neil. Is he in?
A: Yes, but I ____think____ (think) he’s busy. He ___is talking_____ (talk) to the boss at the moment.
30. A: I want (want) a new computer. I am saving (save) up to buy one.
B: But computers ____cost____ (cost) so much money. What’s wrong with the one we’ve got?
A: It ____is getting____ (get) out of date now.
31. A: Your new dress ____looks____ (look) very nice.
B: Thank you. The trouble is it ________ (not/ fit) properly. I ________ (not/ know) why I bought
them, really.
32. A: What ____are you doing____ (you/ do)?
B: I ____am tasting____ (taste) the sauce. It ____tastes____ (taste) too salty.

2. Fill in with the Present Simple or the Present Continuous

33. A: I ___think_____ (think) about visiting Jane this afternoon.
B: I wouldn’t bother. I ____think____ (think) she’s away on holiday.
34. A: Mr. Jones ___is having_____ (have) a telephone message from his wife.
B: Can it wait? He ___is having_____ (have) a business meeting and I don’t want to disturb him.
35. A: The police ____still look____ (still/ look) for fingerprints.
B: It ____look____ (look) as if they won’t find the criminal.
36. A: Why ____are you tasting____ (you/ taste) the soup? Is there any wrong with it?
B: Yes, it ___tastes_____ (taste) too sweet. I think you’ve used sugar instead of salt.
37. A: Why ___are you see_____ (you/see) the baby’s forehead, Mum?
B: I think she’s got a temperature. She ___feels_____ (feel) rather hot.
38. A: I ____see____ (see) my boss about a pay rise this afternoon.
B: I ____see____ (see). That’s why you’re wearing a suit and tie.
39. A: Why ___are you smell_____ (you/ smell) the inside of your car?
B: Because it ___smell_____ (smell) of petrol and I want to check for leaks.

III. VOCABULARY
1. Fill in each blank with the correct word/phrase from the box.
breadwinner heavy lifting iron chores responsibilities
share nurture homemaker groceries laundry

40. If your partner has agreed to buy the __ heavy lifting ______, you might plan the week’s meals and make the
shopping list.
41. As a housewife, she stays at home and __ nurture__ her children. She takes care of them, feeds them and
protects them to develop.
42. Past studies have shown that couples who __ share ______ household chores report feeling happier overall.
43. Couples who share _____ chores___ at home are happier overall.
44. It takes a housewife a lot of time to ____ laundry____ clothes for the household.
45. I have watched my husband and children take over much of my role as a ________.
46. The husband replaced the light bulbs while the wife did the ____ groceries ____.
47. Nowadays in nuclear families, homemaker and ____ iron ____ roles have evolved into something that
makes it impossible to define exactly.
48. Many couples find that they look at the division of _____ responsibilities ___ differently.
49. Men and boys do most of the _____ breadwinner ___ in the family
2. Word form: Give the correct form of the words in brackets:
50. To be fair, we need to divide the tasks .................. 55. Her ....... to the company is enormous.
EQUAL CONTRIBUTE
51. My mom and dad are checking the ......................... 56. In order to maintain peace, we should not
for their gold wedding anniversary. PREPARE be ........... of each other. CRITICIZE
52. Heavylifting is an action which requires................ 57. I want to see the very cute and lovely children
strength. PHYSIC at .......... school. NURSE
53. It is good for them as individuals and good for all 58. Mary and her husband always join hands
the ............ within the family. RELATE in ............ their daughters. EDUCATE
54. ................ say that a lot of young people are not 59. A person will be considered ..................... if he or
aware of these advantages. PSYCHOLOGY she does not take good care of his or her parents.
GRATE

3. Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
60. Do you have to do ________?
A. the mess B. your bed C. the washing-up D. the cook
61. My mother ________ the responsibility for running the household.
A. holds B. takes C. runs D. bears
62. We share the house with our grandparents and our uncle’s family. It is a(n) _________family.
A. nuclear B.extended C. crowded D. multi-generation
63. Are you free on Sunday evening? I’d like to ________ to the cinema?
A. ask you B. ask out you C.ask you out D. ask you away
64. My mother is very good at ________ her time between work and family.
A. leaving B.splitting C. sharing D. taking
65. When a couple can ________ chores in a way that both spouses feel satisfied with the outcome, they are
showing mutual respect for one another.
A. cut B. run C. take D. divide
66. The children, all three, have done__________, mopped, dusted, helped on the house and in the yard
A. laundry B. clothes C. groceries D. rubbish
67. My responsibility is to wash the dishes and ________the rubbish.
A. take up B. get out C. get up D. take out
68. The father typically works outside the home while the mother is ________domestic duties such as
homemaking and raising children
A. suitable for B. capable of C.responsible for D. aware of
69. When both our parents go on business, our next-door neighbours come and ________ with the cooking
A. help out B. help us out C. help out us D. help us in
70. A healthy_______ between work and play ensures that everyone has a chance to enjoy their lives.
A. balance B. equality C. share D. control
71. One of the ways we ________ our teenager’s needs as parents is by giving them attention.
A. watch B. solve C. share D.meet

Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each
of the following questions
72. We always split the housework equally - my mom cooks, my dad cleans the house and I do the washing-up.
A. join B. break C. share D. pick up
73. We’re surprised to hear that his musical talent was nurtured by their loving parents when he was a child.
A. abandoned B. limited C. fostered D. restricted
74. In spite of poverty, we manage to raise our children properly.
A. give up B. go up C. make up D. bring up
75. In the 20th century, most of the traditional attitudes to remarriage are changing.
A. conventional B. contemporary C.latest D. new
Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of
the following questions.
76. From my point of view, parental divorce can cause lasting negative consequences for children.
A. beginning of a marriage B. the situation of not marrying
C.single person D. ending of a marriage
77. It is important to create a daily routine so as to improve your work-life balance today.
A. a situation in which two or more things are not treated the same
B. a state that things are of equal weight or force
C. a state that things are of importance
D. a situation that things change frequently in amount
78. Ms. Lan taught her children to keep their rooms neat and tidy when they were four.
A. ordered and untidy B. messy and arranged C. messy and dirty D. clean and undusted

IV. READING
1. Choose the word or phrase among A, B, C or D that best fits the blank space in the following passage.
Working Mothers
In the United States today, more than half of mothers with young children work, compared to about one third
(79)_____1970s. Women have been moving into the workforce not only for career (80)_____but also for the
income.
In many families today, mothers continue to work because they have careers that they have spent years
(81)______.Some women (82)_____to work soon after (83)_____ birth because they know that most employers
are not sympathetic to working mothers who wish to take time off to be with their young children.
Some people still think that a “good mother” is one who (84)_____work to stay home with her children.
However, no scientific evidence says children are harmed when their mothers work. A child who is emotionally
well adjusted, well loved, and well cared for will thrive regardless of (85)_____the mother works outside the
home.
In most families with working mothers, each person (86)_____a more active role in the household. The children
tend to (87)_____one another and help in other ways. The father as a (88) _____is more likely to help with
household chores and child rearing. These positive outcomes are most likely when the working mother feels
valued and supported by family, friends, and coworkers.
79. A. in B. in the C. at D. at the
80. A. enjoy B. satisfy C. satisfaction D. pleasant
81. A. develop B. to develop C. developing D. developed
82. A.return B. turn C. happen again D. exchange
83. A. producing B. making C. taking D.giving
84. A. gives up B. stop C. end D. puts up
85. A. where B. when C. how D.whether
86. A. plays B. does C. makes D. takes
87. A. look at B. look after C. look for D. look up
88. A. bread B. breadwinning C. breadstick D. breadwinner

2. Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answer.

Building positive family relationships
The ordinary, everyday things that families do together can help build strong relationships with teenagers.
Regular family meals are' a great chance for everyone to chat about their day, or about interesting things that are
going on or coming up. If parents encourage everyone to have a say, no one will feel they’re being put on the
spot to talk. Also, many families find that meals are more enjoyable when the TV isn’t turned on! We should
all take turns choosing outdoor activities for our families. A relaxing holiday or weekend away together as a
family can also build togetherness.
One-on-one time with the child gives the parents the chance to stay connected and enjoy each other’s
company. It can also be a chance to share thoughts and feelings.
Parents should celebrate the child’s accomplishments, share his disappointments, and I show interest in his
hobbies. Sometimes it’s just a matter of showing up to watch the child play sport or music, or giving him a lift
to extracurricular activities.
Family traditions, routines and rituals can help parents and their children set aside regular dates and special
times. For example, we might have a movie night together, a favorite meal or cooking session on a particular
night, a family games afternoon or an evening walk together.
Agreed household responsibilities give kids of all ages the sense that they’re making an important
contribution to family life. These could be things like chores, shopping or helping older or younger members of
the family.
89. Regular family meals are a great chance for everyone_______
A. to have an opportunity share their daily activities.
B. to talk about TV programmers during the meal.
C. to have the spot to talk about .
D. to talk about interesting things that are coming soon.
90. The following things are true about outdoor activities for our families EXCEPT______________
A. all family members try to find out suitable activities.
B. they should be held on holidays or at weekends.
C. they offer a chance to share secret thoughts and feelings.
D. they offer the pleasant feeling of being united.
91. Parents can show their attention to their child by all these things EXCEPT________
A. watching the child play sport or music. B. giving him a lift to extracurricular activities.
C. having a movie night together. D. setting aside regular dates to do housework.
92. Children who share household chores with their parents will________
A. enjoy each other’s company.
B. make the family life better.
C. be given a chance to do extracurricular activities.
D. have a family games afternoon or an evening walk together.
93. The main idea of the passage is________
A. to give advice on staying connected and enjoying each other’s company.
B. how to share household chores between family members.
C. to offer pieces of advice to improve family relationships.
D. the important role of family traditions, routines and rituals.

V. WRITING
1. Find and correct mistakes
94. As the air is rising, it becomes cooler and the water vapor inside it changes into droplets of water.
A B C D
95. From the graphs, we can see that the number of employees employed by this firm increase each year.
A B C D
96.My father drives me to school every morning, but this week I go by bus.
A B C D
97. People feel secure when they know that their physical needs are being made and that they are protected and
safe from harm. A B C
D
98. Each family member need to develop certain traits and skills and then practice being a strong and supportive
A B C
member of the family.
D
2. Write complete sentences using the words/ phrases given in their correct forms. You can add some
more necessary words, but you have to use all the words given.
99. Family members/ divide/ household chores/ based/ who/ better/ doing them.
Family members divide household chores based on who is better at doing them
100. For example/ the wife/ cook/ dinner/ and then/ the husband/ clean/ kitchen
For example, the wife cooks dinner and then the husband cleans the kitchen
101.We also/ divide chores/ based/ consideration/ love
We also divide chores based on consideration and love.
102. The one/ who/ arrive/ home earlier/ cook the meal/ and the others/ lay/ table/ or do/ washing up.
The one who arrives home earlier cooks the meal and the others lay the table or do the washing up
103. Parents/ train/ children/ help with housework/ and/ most cases/ they/ willing/ give a hand.
Parents train their children to help with housework and in most cases, they're willing to give a hand
104. Family rules / important / teach children values / respect for themselves and others. 
Family rules are important. They teach children values and respect for themselves and others.

105. Family rules / help / raise children / run a household / easier and smoother.
Family rules help raise children and run a household easier and smoother.

106. My mother / definitely a traditional stay-at-home woman / offer / us / great love and a strict upbringing.
My mother is definitely a traditional stay-at-home woman, who offers us great love and a strict upbringing.

107. everyone in my family / do the share / household chores.

Everyone in my family has to do the share of household chores.
108. We / not allow / go out in the evening / make / finish all homework / go to bed.
We are not allowed to go out in the evening so we are made to finish all homework before going to bed.
3. Rewrite the following sentences without changing their meaning, using the given words.
109. It's a long time since he last called me.
He hasn't called me since the last time
110. When did he get the job
How long ago did he get a job?
111. I advise you to book a table in advance.
If I were you, I would book a table in advance
112. I don't want to tell them the secret.
I would rather not tell them the secret
113. It is the duty of young people to take care of their elderly parents
Young people are taking care of elderly parents
114. We wanted to get good seats so we arrived early.
In order to get good seats, we arrived early
115. It took her nearly an hour to do the crossword.
She spent nearly an hour doing the crossword
116. The policeman made him confess after three days.
He was made to confess after three days

The end