Speaking

Part 1:
1.Home/ accommodation
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 ( tụ họp) 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.
2.Study
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 (chương trình đại học) 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 (trở nên nổi tiếng), 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 (quá
mức )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 (chương trình học để phục
vụ cho các kỳ thi), which I find quite impractical.
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.
3.Work
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 (thích thú) 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 (đặc quyền) 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 (yêu mến, coi trọng).
4.Weekend
What do other people in your hometown usually do on weekends?
Well, there are so many people in my hometown, it’s really hard to say,
probably most people tend to stay at home to enjoy the family time, but
personally speaking, I guess there are not much entertaining facilities in my
small hometown for people to go.
What will you do next weekend?
Well, I’ve already planned to visit my grandparents since I haven’t seen them
for several months now. And my grandma will turn 70 next month so I’d like to
celebrate her birthday in advance as I don’t know if my schedule will be
available on her birthday. I don’t want her to be dissapointed so I better see her
while my schedule is not tight (bận rộn) yet.
Did you do anything special last weekend?
Well, I decided to visit my grandparents since my final exam has just finished
and I haven’t seen them for several months. It’s a precious time that I cherish
and I think we enjoy each other’s company.
What do you usually do on weekends?
I love hangout with my friends as that’s the only time we can see one another
and spend a great time updating each other’s live. Most of the time we have a
tight schedule on weekdays. But unfortunately these days, we’ve decided to
minimize meeting out side just for safety purpose.
5.Mirrors
Do you like looking at yourself in the mirror? How often?
Yes,I like looking at my reflection in the mirror. At such times,I often think
about the ways to make myself smart and full of confidence in front of others.
And, I look in the mirror almost every day in the morning.  This is to make sure
that I don’t look like a mess going to my school.
Have you ever bought mirrors?
No, actually I’ve never had any need to buy one as long as it’s in good
condition. Also, because my house has enough mirrors already. However, I
am saving up to buy a decent one for my own bedroom.
Do you usually take a mirror with you?
Of course, I mean especially for girls like me. Because, I often have a habit
of double checking my appearance in the mirror before going anywhere to make
sure I have the best look possible
Would you use mirrors to decorate your room?
Absolutely yes! I mean, it’s terribly important when it comes to architectural
designs because it can make any space look much bigger.
6.Emails
Do you think sending emails will be more or less popular in the future?
Well, I personally think it’s will be more prevelant because we can use emails to
contact people who are staying far away from us right? Moreover, We can
receive notifications of special deals or interesting information through emails
by subscribing to any online channels that appeal to us.
How often do you write an email or a letter?
14.History
Do you like to learn about history?
Well I think history is an area of my interest. I love to learn about historical
figures and historical events. So learning history can give me a better
understanding of this.

 historical figure (n) nhân vật lịch sử

 historical event (n) sự kiện lịch sử
What historical event do you find interesting?
Well, I think this question is really putting me on the spot because
my recollections about historical events are pretty hazy. Having said that I think
the first event that spring to mind is probably Independence Day, which is the
biggest milestone in Vietnamese history. Because it marks the day when
Vietnam has become a sovereign state. I mean Vietnam is totally free
from French colonization.

 to put someone on the spot: khiến ai sững người

 hazy (adj) mơ hồ
 to spring to mind (=come to mind) nghĩ đến
 Independence Day (n) Ngày Quốc khánh
 sovereign (adj) có toàn quyền
 colonization (n) sự đô hộ
 milestone (n) dấu mốc, cột mốc
 recollection (n) trí nhớ
 patriotism (n) lòng yêu nước
Do you think history is important?
Definitely. History is the backbone of any society. Because it helps instil
in every citizen a sense of patriotism. And we can acquire a deeper
understanding formidable feats of our forefathers. When Vietnam is at war with
many powerful nations, we can know that against all the odds, the Vietnam
army triumphed.

 backbone (= foundation/bedrock/cornerstone) (nghĩa bóng) nền tảng

  to instil in sb: khắc sâu vào, in vào tâm trí ai
 formidable (adj) dữ dội
 against all odds: bất chấp mọi điều kiện nguy hiểm
 to triumph: dành chiến thắng
16.Handwriting
Which do you prefer, handwriting or typing?
I prefer to type because it is easier on my fingers and it is generally faster for me
if I want to write something very long like an essay or dissertation.
When do you prefer to write by hand?
Whenever I have to notice something down on paper, I tend to do it by hand
because it helps me remember it better than typing it on a computer
Is your handwriting easy to read?
As my style of handwriting is rather crude, I would say it is to read. I’m not very
good with cursive writing but if I was, I think it would be more difficult to read.
Do you think handwriting is important?
I think handwriting is important in an education context because in order for
children to be literate, they must learn how to read and write, especially by hand
so that they won’t lose those vital skills in the long run.
17.Headphones and Microphones
Do you use headphones?
Yes, I am in possession of many headphones and I sport them routinely. My
most prized headphone is the Sony XM4 which not only produces top-of-the-
class sound quality with dynamic highs and powerful lows but also is packed
full of smart features such as active noise cancellation. 

 in prossession of: sở hữu

 sport (v): mặc / cho lên người
 dynamic highs x powerful lows (n) âm cao âm trầm
What type of headphones do you use?
Oh, definitely wireless, Bluetooth headsets with a built-in mic. These features
guarantee ease of use as the headphones could sync seamlessly with other
devices while doing away with pesky physical details such as tangled wires or
easily lost external microphones. I could imagine how frustrated I would be
switching from my high-tech headphone to its wired counterparts.
  sync seamlessly with: kết nối, đồng bộ với
When would you use headphones?
Whenever I put on my favourite music tracks. I often hook my Sony
headphone up to my phone and open a music streaming app called Spotify.
Together they produce 360 reality audio as if I was inside a great concert hall.
Just yesterday I played some electronic dance music songs and the experience
was incomparable.

 Hook sth up to (phrasal v) : kết nối

In what conditions won’t you be using headphones?
One situation when I won’t be seen with my headphones on is when I’m
controlling vehicles on the road, as doing this could attract penalties as severe
as being barred from the road indefinitely. Another no-headphone circumstance
for me is when I’m travelling through dangerous neighbourhoods alone, which
otherwise could result in my being mugged and roughed up badly.

 Bar (v) ban from entering a place

 Rough sb up (v) treat sb violently

18.Shoes
Do you like buying shoes? How often?
Yes, I love purchasing footwear, especially sneakers or football cleats. I’ve
taken out a subscription to newsletters from world-famous sportswear brands
like Nike or Adidas just to stay on top of their latest fashion-forward items,
and I sift through them at least a couple of times per day. Just last week I
ordered a pair of Nike Air Max and had it delivered to my doorstep.

 footwear: giày dép

 stay on top of: ở vị trí đầu
 fashion-forward: thời trang hàng đầu
 sift: chọn lọc
 to my doorstep: tận nhà
Have you ever bought shoes online?
Yes but I’ve stopped doing it because I have lost confidence in online shopping
altogether. In my eyes now, online retailers are nothing
but unscrupulous characters, finessing customers by playing down products’
less desirable features. The result is that the actual product does not look
anything like advertised. like the Nike sneaker, I mentioned earlier which came
to my house with torn fabric and bleeding colour.

 unscrupulous: vô đạo đức

 finess sb: lấy lòng ai đó
 bleeding color: phai màu
How much money do you usually spend on shoes?
Only a small fraction, like 5-10% of my monthly income. The reason is that I
enjoy being a frugal shopper and saving money for contingency. Having said
that, I never compromise quality like buying refurbished shoes, and the way I
go about this is by either shopping from trusty local dealers or using vouchers.
Some of my dress shoes were actually bought this way and they saved me
hundreds of bucks.

 frugal shopper: người mua sắm tiết kiệm

 contingency: tiết kiệm
 refurbished shoes: giày tân trang
Which do you prefer, fashionable shoes or comfortable shoes?
I’d say the latter because I give precedence to functionality over aesthetics. In
fact, my favourite shoes item is a comfy pair of new balance with a memory
foam footbed. I love to slot my foot into it and mope around the house,
sometimes even crawling under the sheets with it on.

 mope around: đi quanh

 under the sheets: dưới tấm trải giường

19. Science
Do you like science?
To be frank with you, I’m not exactly a big fan of science ‘cause it’s always
been a closed book to me. Though I know it helps me to acquire an in-depth
understanding of the world, I always find it perplexing.

 a closed book: một đề tài, môn học khó

 acquire: có được
 an in-depth understanding of: một sự hiểu biết sâu rộng
 perplexing: phức tạp, rắc rối
When did you start to learn about science?
It was way back in the early part of my school years. I got to
study rudimentary maths, physics and biology. I was pretty good at them back
then, unlike now, when a math problem could give me a really hard
time solving it.

 rudimentary (a): cơ bản, thô sơ

 have a really hard time: gặp khó khăn việc gì
Which science subject is interesting to you?
Well, I have a keen interest in chemistry. Back when I was in secondary
school, I was infatuated with this subject ’cause I took enormous enjoyment
in watching all these chemical reactions and balancing chemical equations.

 have a keen interest in: quan tâm đến, thích

 infatuated with: say mê với
 take enormous enjoyment with: thấy vui khi làm gì
What kinds of interesting things have you done with science?
If my memory serves me right, there have been a few occasions that I’ve had fun
doing scientific experiments. I remember there was one time when I almost
burned the class down because of my clumsiness during a chemical experiment.
The whole class was engulfed in smoke and everybody actually burst into
laughter.

 engulfed (adj) chìm trong

 burst into laughter: bật cười

21. Pets and Animals

Do you like to see animals in the zoo?
What’s your favorite animal? Why?
My all-time favorite animal would have to be the cat because it is usually calm,
cute and cuddly. It also can keep a house free from rodents such as rats ths they
become less of a nuisance.
Have you ever had a pet before?
I’ve kept many pets before such as cats, dogs, fishes, turtles and hamsters.
Suffice to say that my family and I love to have pets around our house.
What animals would you like to have as pets?
Where do you prefer to keep your pet, indoors or outdoors?
I wouldn’t mind keeping my pets indoors as long as they behave. Otherwise, I
tend to have them outdoors in my garden so they can be free to turn around for a
while.
What kinds of pets are popular in Vietnam
The majority of the Vietnamese population own dogs because they are cheaper
to own and they are more useful to have around the house. Some popular breeds
include chihuahuas, poodles corgins and golden retrievers.
22.Public gardens and parks
Would you like to play in a public garden or park?
For sure, I’m a self-described outdoorsy person so I love playing in green
spaces. I’ve been going to various parks and botanical gardens that have an
interesting variety of flora and fauna, which really makes me feel at
peace with nature.

 outdoorsy person: người thích ở ngoài trời

 botanical gardens: vườn bách thảo
 flora and fauna: thảm thực vật động vật
 feel at peace: cảm thấy thư giãn, bình yên
What do you like to do when visiting a park?
There’s a whole lot of things I can do in a park, really. But what I love most is
going jogging. I mean, where better to do it than surrounded by the flowers,
trees and birdsong in the park.

 birdsong: tiếng chim hót

How have parks changed today compared to the time you were a kid?
Well, I suppose parks nowadays have transformed drastically compared to when
I was small. The bulk of them now has more recreational facilities and adventure
playgrounds, as opposed to the past, when all I could see in a park was pretty
much only grass, lakes, and trees.

Would you prefer to play in a private garden or public garden?

I’d say that I have a stronger preference for the latter. It’s because not only do
community gardens normally have a wider range of flora and fauna than their
private counterparts, they also better foster social relationships since access is
given to everyone.

 foster social relationships: nuôi dưỡng, gắn kết quan hệ xã hội

23.Getting lost
Have you ever got lost?
This is embarrassing but it has happened many times before. The reason is I
have a very bad sense of direction, plus a bad memory, so you can imagine the
struggle when it comes to finding my way around the city.

 embarrasing: xấu hổ
 plus: cộng (với)
How can you find your way when you are lost?
An easy solution is to use navigation apps on my phone such as Google Maps.
However, I absolutely advise against using it while riding a scooter as a lot of
people do in Vietnam because it could lead to dire consequences. Another
approach could be to pull over and ask people around the area for direction.

 scooter (n): xe tay ga
 dire consequences: hậu quả thảm khốc
Can you read a map when you get lost?
Definitely. I think being able to navigate using a map is an essential survival
skill, which I conveniently picked up from playing video games as a child.

Have you ever helped someone who got lost?

I certainly have, but I only do this when I’m 100 per cent sure of the directions
that I’m about to give the person. Otherwise, I would just be honest and tell
them to ask for help from someone else.

24.Colours
What is your favorite colour?
Well my go-to color is definitely green. This is because I have been painting
everything green since I was a kid. And also, this color is very easy on the eye.

 go-to (adj) ưa thích
 easy on the eye (phrase) ưa nhìn
What is the colour that you dislike?
I’m into quite a few applications, especially ones that inform me about my
health like how long I have walked a day or Loud ones like red, yellow or
orange, I guess. This is due to the fact that I have never looked great in these
colors. They don’t really compliment my complexion so well, and I just
wonder how others can still pull these colors off!
  loud colors: màu nổi (đỏ, vàng, cam,…)
 to compliment one’s complexion: tôn lên nước da
 to pull them off: hợp (mặc các màu đó vẫn hợp)
What colors do you want to paint your house with?
I would have my future house painted with cream as it may make my house a lot
larger. This color also brings me coziness and a sense of security as well. Also,
green is definitely not a bad choice as who doesn’t want their living space to be
close to nature?

 coziness (n) sự ấm cúng
 not a bad choice (phrase) không phải lựa chọn quá tệ
What colour makes you feel uncomfortable in your room?
I think purple really annoys me. Believe it or not, I have been to one of my
friends’ houses and he painted his room with this color. I felt so nauseous that I
had to leave after a few minutes there. If I had to live in a purple room, it would
be nightmarish!

 nauseous (adj) nôn nao

 nightmarish (adj) ác mộng

25. App
What app have you recently used?
Today I have used the BBC News app to keep up to date with the latest stories
and development occurring around the globe. I have also used Instagram to
peruse through my friends’ most recent picture there.
What kinds of apps are you usually interested in?
I would like to use apps that track your physical activity, especially during
exercise since they will be rather useful when I intend to engage in physical and
sports training.
What was the first app used?
The first app I started using was Facebook since everyone else basically had it
on thei phones and it was important for me to connect my friends and family.
26.Weather
What’s the weather like in your country?
Well, as you could probably tell, I’m currently residing in Vietnam, which is
a tropical country. When it comes to the weather here, for the most part, it’s
kinda scorching hot and humid year-round. I mean, there have been reports
about the heatwaves of over 40 degrees celsius in Hanoi in the recent years
during summer. In winter, it used to be frigid but now it’s a bit
more pleasant and bearable. And I guess it’s due to global warming.

What is your favorite season?

Well, I gotta say it’s definitely autumn. I mean Hanoi possesses
4 distinct seasons in a year. In summery months, it’s usually sweltering and
stuffy and I’m sure you cannot make it through the summer without an air
conditioner. Winter is too cold and it rains a lot in spring. So hands-down,
autumn is my go-to season.

29.Math
Do students learn maths in secondary schools in VietNam?
Vietnamese students in secondary school do learn math as it is a mandatory
subject within the national education system. No student is exempt from
learning it.
Do you learn maths now? Why, Why not?
Absolutely yes! It is a mandatory subject in high school curriculum. And you
known math may have been difficult in school but it was definitely necessary to
know in every day life.
What can people do with maths in their daily life?
From my perspective, there is always a need for math in daily life which is why
it is important to learn math in school. For example, it's helpful whether you're
adding or subtracting, or trying to calculate how much the discount is.
Do you think maths is difficult?
Well, it is to a certain extent. Math is so overwhelming for so many students,
including myself. Many children nowadays are reported to struggle to grasp
math concepts. Math seems quite problematic because most people have learned
it in a way that is quite restrictive, and this is mainly the fault of the school
system for teaching math.
30.New place
Do you feel nervous when you travel to new places?
Yes, I suffer from great anxiety when travel but it can catch up with me once
I’m on the road. I’m always terribly worried about the accommodation, the
discomfort of being in an unfamiliar place where I do not know the language or
people in the area.
Can you read a map when you travel to new places?
Yes. I always use map when I visit new place. When I come up with a travel
plan and pick some destinations, map will definitely help me decide the journey
I want to take to get there.
Have you ever helped someone who got lost?
Well, I haven’t met anyone who got lost before. If there was a chance, of course
I would be happy to help them find the right track.
31. Mobile/ Cell phones
Do you have a mobile phone?
Yeah, I have an iPhone 7 that I was given by my dad when I pass the entrance
exam with flying color . I use it mostly for sending messages and checking the
news, but I don’t think that I’m glued to it like most people are.
What do you often use it for?
I have to admit that phones have so many different uses. I message with friends,
I check my email all the time on it, I take tons of photos of things around me and
selfies sometimes too, for my study I need to make voice recordings so I have an
app for that too, I’m a big fan of Instagram and follow a lot of artists and
comedians on there.
How often do you change a mobile phone?

Part 2:
1. Describe your favourite famous person
You should say:
 Who this person is.
 How you know about this person.
 What this person is famous for.
 Why you are interested in this person.
Answer
Today I am going to talk about a famous person who I have admired since I was
young. He is Professor Ngo Bao Chau.
I first heard about Ngo Bao Chau on the news 6 years ago when he received the
Fields Medal, which is often described as the mathematician’s Nobel Prize.
However, earlier in2005, he was granted the title of professor in Vietnam,
becoming the country’s youngest professor ever.
Professor Ngo Bao Chau has been awarded the highest academic honor due to
his great mathematical research. He is best known for proving the Fundamental
Lemma. His work has achieved such a distinction that it has been listed as one
of the top ten scientific discoveries of 2009 by Time magazine.
The story of Ngo Bao Chau has inspired me considerably. I remember in an
interview after receiving the Medal, Ngo Bao Chau said that he had been
studying maths out of /due to / because of/ owing to his passion but not out of
/due to / because of/ owing to a desire to achieve. This statement impressed me a
lot. Besides, another characteristic I like regarding this professor is his
persistence. During the time studying the Fundamental Lemma, became stuck
and almost failed to solve this complex problem. Despite the difficulties, he did
not choose to give up so finally he got through them. His personality has been an
inspiration for me working harder towards my dream.
Part 3:
Would you like to be a famous person?
Well though I’ve never thought about it, I’m pretty sure that rising to stardom
would never be one of my life goals. I appreciate all the efforts that the
celebrities, no matter which field they’re working on, are making every single
day. However, I find myself not belong to that world, I mean, you never know
what’s going on when the curtains close, right? So yeah, I don’t think I want to
become a public figure, to be honest
What are the hardships of a celebrity?
2. Describe a time when you felt proud of a family member

You should say:

 When it happened
 Who the person is
 What the person did
 And explain why you felt proud of him/her
There is no one else in this world I hold more respect for than my mother. She is
my guardian, my friend and my role model.

My mother is well into her forties now, but she still manages to maintain a
youthful appearance. In terms of her personality, she is an extremely
compassionate, kind-hearted and attentive person who always takes care of her
children. She is both a mother and a friend to me as she always gives me
valuable advice and is always willing to be there for me during all of the ups
and downs in my life. Although sometimes she drives me crazy, because she’s
such a perfectionist, I still hold a lot of pride and respect for her.

The reason that I am so proud of her is because she is such a strong-

willed person. Ever since she was young, she had to learn to be independent as
my grandparents were constantly busy and always on the go. She had to take
care of almost everything, her younger brother, household chores and herself.
Such challenges shaped her into the strong woman that she is now. Her
independence has also been strengthened through all the hardship she has dealt
with in her life. When she reached her thirties, she decided that she wanted to
run her own business, a clothing store. All the members in our family tried
to prevent her from doing this since we all thought it was a bad idea because
she would have to face a lot of competition from other nearby shops.

But through her determination and perseverance she has managed to make a

success out of her business and it really is something for us to look up to, and I
keep reminding myself every day to try to be as strong as my mother, a real-life
“wonder woman.”

Part 3
When would parents feel proud of their children?
Parents feel proud of their children when they meet and achieve their goals. It
can be getting good grades in school, getting into the sports team, graduating
from college, and getting their first job, etc. For younger children parents are
proud when they achieve tiny milestones like saying their first word, taking their
first step, tying their shoelaces by themselves, etc.
Should parents reward children? Why and how?
Yes, parents should reward children for their achievements and hard work. It
encourages them to continue doing it and makes them feel good about them
themselves. Instead of giving material goods as rewards, parents should reward
children by praising them, letting them do a favourite activity, or spending more
time with them.
Is it good to reward children too often? Why?
I don’t think parents should reward children too often as it can make them feel
entitled. Buying them toys, gadgets as rewards can make them materialistic.
Younger kids may become too focused on the reward and forget about the
reason they are being rewarded for. They can even start negotiating with parents
for every small task they do.
On what occasions would adults be proud of themselves?
Adults have many occasions when they are proud of themselves, like a
promotion at their job, buying their first home, getting their children into good
schools, doing social work like helping others or a friend in need, etc.
3.Describe a time when you give some helpful advice to someone

You should say

 Who you gave advice to?
 What the advice was?
 Why you gave the advice?
 And how you felt about the advice?

I’m going to talk about a piece of practical advice which I’ve just given my
brother recently. Usually, he never consults me about anything. That’s why
when he came to me to seek some advice, I was pleasantly surprised. It turned
out that he wanted to ask about his higher education. I graduated from my
bachelor program just a couple years ago so maybe that’s why he felt that I was
the right person that he could come to.

He was going to study at a university this year and he was nervous about what
skills he should focus on in his study. He told me that he wanted to become a
software engineer. After giving it some thought, I suggested that he should
spend more time developing his English. At that time, he hadn’t thought that
learning English could be crucial to his career. I then explained to him why
being proficient in a foreign language, especially English, was essential in this
day and age. For him, most of his learning material and all of the technical
terms would be in English. Therefore, not knowing this language would
drastically incapacitate his learning ability. What’s more, many of his future
clients would be from overseas countries and English had proven to be the most
effective language of communication in international business.

After I finished giving my advice, he nodded in agreement. He said he was

going to think about what I said. I was glad that I could help him in some way. I
thought my suggestion was pragmatic and meaningful. He’s a smart kid, I think
he’ll make the correct decision. 
Part 3:

What kind of advice do parents give to their children?

As parents want nothing but the best for their children, they always give their
children many kinds of advice and the most common type, I think, is about
studying. They always instill in their children’s minds that they have to study
hard in order to land a rewarding job in the future.In addition to that, they
usually give their children sound advice about a romatic relationship that they
have to choose the right partner so that they will not end up being broken-
hearted.

How do experts give advice to others? (e.g a doctor gives advice to

patients)?

I think experts give others advice only when they understand clearly about the
problems of these individuals. For example, doctors cannot easilly give medical
advice to their patients who are suffering from illness without listening to
patients’ complaints about their health and undergoing a medical
examination. They need to know the health conditio of one person before
giving them advice.

What advice do parents give to teenagers about making friends?

I think parents usually advise their children not to make fair-weather friends so
that they cannot be taken advantage of. Also, parents usually advise their
children to play with someone who is studious and disciplined because they
want their children to learn from these good personalities. Friends who have
superiority complex are not usually advised to make friends with.

Whose advice is more helpful? Parents’ or friends’?

I think it depends on the kind of advice that we need. Parents are more
experienced than friends, so we might get a wiser or more sensible answer from
them. However, friends are less likely to become too worried if we go to them
with a problem. For example, if I have a financial problem, I will probably tell
my friends instead of my parents as I don’t want to burden them.

4.Describe a time when you had to do something difficult, and you

succeeded ?

You should say:

 What is was
 How you did/completed it
 Why it was difficult
 And how you felt about doing it
As a final year university student, I have done a lot of projects. But the biggest,
and most difficult, project of my college life so far is the mid-term quality
management project which required us to use the Eight Disciplines (8D) to
resolve a certain problem in the hospitality industry.

I worked with 10 other students, the majority of whom I had already worked
with before. Thus, I thought we would complete the project with ease. However,
things didn't go as expected as the issue which needed resolving turned out
very challenging for such inexperienced students like us.

As the case was assigned to us 2 weeks prior to the Lunar New Year, we
planned to get it done before the festival so that we could enjoy the festival
without being concerned about any deadlines. However, the issue turned out
way more difficult than we had expected. What we found most difficult was
identifying the root cause of the problem. We could not reach a consensus on
what the root cause was, which provoked some arguments among the members.
But in the end, we managed to finish the project 2 weeks after the Lunar New
Year.

As difficult as the project was, I learnt a great deal from the project.First, I learnt
the way to solve the problem by identifying its root cause. Second, as a leader, I
managed to resolve the arguments between the team members, which was
something I had never dreamed of before.

Part 3

What kinds of jobs require people to be confident?

I believe that it is important to be confident in all kinds of jobs. Most people say
only those working in the field of media or celebrities need to be self-assured,
which I disagree with. White-collar employees also need to believe in
themselves so that they can overcome obstacles and gain recognition. Without
self-confidence, even white-collar employees like back-office accountants and
IT engineers can’t complete their tasks successfully.

How important is being confident in work?

Self-confidence plays a crucial role in the world of work as it allows people to

take risks while simultaneously analysing areas for growth, both of which are
beneficial to their professional development. In some cases, being confident can
influence people’s thoughts about how successfully they can do tasks that match
performance requirements. Those with strong self-confidence can expand their
networks easily and are better equipped to deal with obstacles, in my opinion.
Which one do you think is more important? Confidence or knowledge?

As much as I consider confidence essential in the world of work, it is knowledge

that is more important than confidence. Foundational knowledge needed in a job
is the best determinant of people’s likelihood of success in work. Without
essential knowledge, people’s job prospects are gloomy as hardly can a person
land a job, or move up the career ladder into higher positions.

How do you help children stay focused?

It’s pretty hard to keep children focused on an activity that they find tedious, for
example practising the piano. Honestly, I don’t have any clue how to help
children stay focused. However, I suggest allowing children to learn their
favourite subjects which children are more drawn to. Also, participating in
physical activity can also improve their concentration skills.

4.Describe a historical event from your country

You should say:

 What event it is
 When it happened
 Who or what was involved in it
 And explain why you think it is an important
historical event
So, today I’m going to talk about one of the most important events that has ever
happened in Vietnam’s history. That’s the Battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954,
when the Vietnamese successfully lifted the whole country out of the old
French Colonial Empire.

The Battle of Dien Bien Phu took place between March and May, 1954, deep in
the west of Tonkin, up in the hills of northwestern Vietnam. It was fought
between the colonial Far East Expeditionary Corps of the French Union and Viet
Minh communist insurgents in Vietnam. Officially, the United States was not a
participant to the conflict, but it was secretly involved by supplying financial
and material help to the French Union.

The French deployed almost 15,000 men, but this enormous force was
overworked holding the vast perimeter. They were also vastly outnumbered. The
Viet Minh had over 50,000 men under the direction of General Vo Nguyen Gap,
a devout Communist who is regarded as one of the best military strategists of the
twentieth century.
This was a decisive victory as the victory of Vietnam led to the Geneva
Conference, which brought French colonial rule in Vietnam to an end.
Moreover, emboldened by Vietnam’s victory against colonialism, many other
countries in Africa and Southeast Asia under colonial rule stood up and gained
independence. Later on, the Battle of Dien Bien Phu was considered one of the
most important historical events in the world’s modern history.

Part3:

Do your parents think learning history is important?

Sadly, no. Stereotypically, Asian parents nowadays prefer their kids to focus on
subjects that they consider more likely to land lucrative jobs like STEM
subjects, and English. Especially in this technology-driven world, it is justifiable
that those subjects are believed to be more important than history, which is very
sad for those having a passion for humanities and social sciences, including me.

What are the benefits of museums?

I believe that museums play an integral role in the preservation and education of
history and culture. Museums are non-profit organizations. They engage visitors,
promote greater knowledge, and encourage the enjoying and sharing of real
cultural and natural heritage. They collect, store, investigate, interpret, and
display physical and intangible evidence of society and nature. Museums, as
educational institutions, provide a physical setting for critical inquiry and
analysis.

Are museums in your country free of charge?

No. Most museums charge for admission. Although admission tickets vary from
museum to museum, they are generally affordable for both tourists, local visitors
and even students, at less than 30,000 Dongs, which is equivalent to 1.5 US
Dollars. Students will generally be eligible for a discount. I think charging for
admission is good as it creates a source of income for museums to cover
infrastructure maintenance and other operating costs.

Which way is better for learning history? Through reading books or

visiting museums?

I think each of these approaches has their own merits that supplement one
another. Reading books allows people to have a good grasp of a topic, while
visiting museums allows them to solidify their knowledge about that topic
acquired from the books. In some circumstances, visits to museums motivate
people to read more books about those artefacts or topics. So, I would say that
both of these approaches supplement each other and there is no better way to
learn history among these two.
Do major cities in your country all have museums?

Well, most major cities in Vietnam have museums about their development and
history. If those cities are historically special such as Dien Bien Phu, where
Vietnam won a decisive battle that led to its independence from the French,
there are even more museums. However, these museums rarely refresh their
exhibits, which makes them unable to attract residents to return.

5.Describe a place in the countryside that you visited

You should say:

 Where it is
 When you visited this place
 What you did there
 And explain how you feel about this place

Although I live in a very hectic city, I also feel attached to the countryside. Life
in the rural areas always brings me a sense of tranquility. Last summer, I got
away from the overcrowded city by spending all the time with my grandparents
in the country. This experience has been a great memory for me to look back on
with fondness.

Well, as you can imagine, country life is quite different from that of the city, and
living in the countryside is sometimes really challenging. While in my city
apartment, all I have to do is just some light housework like washing dishes or
cleaning the bathroom, but in the countryside I have to take care of the garden
every day and even help out with farm work. My grandparents have instructed
me to do this because it will help to develop self-reliance. Although there are
somehardships involved, finishing these tasks brings me closer to nature and I
have gradually become more adaptable to changes. Besides, without the
distraction of the Internet, I found myself more open to people around me and
understand them better. I have come to realize that alienation between humans
nowadays is partly caused by the dominance of technology.

Despite getting back to my normal life in the city, I still find the time spent in
the countryside very memorable. I believe that thanks to the precious time spent
in my grandparents’ country home, I have become more mature and dependable.

6. Describe a situation when something in your house was broken or

stopped working ?

You should say:

 What it was?
 What happened?
 When it broke/stopped working?
Today, I’m going to talk about the time when my laptop broke down. It was a
very old Asus laptop that my grandpa brought over from the US back in 2014.
The laptop was not in good physical condition either as I had not cleaned it for 6
years. The inside part of the computer was probably full of dust, which may
have been the cause of the issue.

When I was working on my final thesis, the fan started to roar loudly, and the
screen suddenly froze up. I tried to save the file in vain but nothing seemed to
work. The only thing I could do was to restart the computer, which meant that
the amount of time I spent on this thesis might go down the drain because the
file was unsaved. But luckily, when the computer started working again,
miraculously, the file was still there, with all the work saved!

The file was so important to me because it determined whether I could graduate

in time or not. Furthermore, it contained all the results of my research and
surveys,losing it could have lost me a great deal. Luckily, I was able to hand in
the work in time.

Then I remembered that I had once encountered the same problem before.
Because of that, I started to always save the file whenever I completed a
paragraph, or even an important information by pressing control S without me
ever noticing it. Honestly, this doesn’t take up much time but it can save a great
amount of effort from going down the drain in a computer breakdown like this.

Part3:

What are the common home appliances that people use these days?

The must-have home appliances include washing machines, fridges, rice cookers
(for Asian families). These appliances make sure that our essential needs, such
as cooking, washing are fulfilled. Some more advantaged families can afford a
lot more appliances which help them make their lives more convenient,
dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, microwaves, all of which are also quite popular
among families.

Do you think modern technology makes people lazier?

Yes, I personally believe that modern technology is encouraging our idleness.

Before the invention of the dishwasher, people would need to clear the table and
do the dishes themselves. Now, those using the dishwasher don’t like to wash
the dishes themselves even when their dishwasher is out of order.

What can people do to protect their equipment from technical problems?

People should get their equipment maintained and checked by technicians on an

annual basis in order to make sure their equipment is in good condition and
extend their lifespan. Lots of people only use the equipment without ever getting
it checked, which negatively affects the quality of those appliances and even the
users’ experience.

When an electronic item of yours does not work, would you repair it or buy
a new one?

I would try to repair an electronic item if it doesn’t cost as much as buying a

new one. First, as an environmentally conscious person, I always try to reduce as
much waste as possible by trying to repairing the item instead of discarding it.
Second, in most cases, it is cheaper to repair the item than buying a new one.
Therefore, getting the broken equipment repaired instead of throwing it away
will save both the environment and my money.

7. Describe a time when you were preparing for a happy event

You should say:

 What the event was
 Where you had it
 Who helped you to organize it
 And how you feel about it

Ok so let me tell you about an occasion when I was setting up a joyful party.
It was a year ago on my 16th birthday in May. I held that party with a group of
friends who I have been hanging out for a long time who are always supportive
and helpful to me. The party was just a small one but it was pretty fun and I
would say it was one of the unforgettable memories I ever had.
Talking about the location, one week before the party, I and one of my best
friends – An drove around the town and found a little seafood restaurant called
Sushila. After a thorough check, we felt that we had found the perfect place for
my birthday party because of two reasons: First, it is right in the heart of the city
where everyone would be able to reach easily. Second, the owner was a
warmhearted man who promised to give us a hand in making a stage and loads
of balloons as well as a big birthday cake. To be honest, I was so excited to hear
that.
In terms of helping hands, An was the one that stayed with me from the start to
the last minutes, which I deeply appreciated. Besides, during the process, other
friends also came to offer little help like buying the party materials, painting and
decorating the stage. What’s more? It was the staff in that restaurant who
brought the tables and chairs and placed them in front of the stage. Without my
friends and the restaurant personnel, I wouldn’t have had such a wonderful
party.
After holding that party, I felt exhausted and out of energy but my heart was full
of joy and excitement because it is my birthday and I would be the main
character of the event later. In addition, I also felt quite content that I have
learned a lot about teamwork and how to collaborate with other people whom I
either know well like my friends or those employees in the restaurant. This skill
is indeed utmostly important in both real lives and in the workplace.
So that’s all I would like to say. Thank you for your listening and attention.

8. Describe an interesting discussion that you had with friends.

You should say:

 Who you spoke with
 Where you were
 What the conversation was about
 And explain why you think it was
interesting

Some weeks ago, I bumped into Daniel, who was one of my best friends back
in high school, when I was chilling in a speakeasy bar. Daniel is currently a
student at a prestigious conservatory in Italy, while I’m also studying classical
music on my own. Thanks to his profound knowledge gained in Italy, Daniel
shared with me lots of insights into classical music that I’d never known before.

After clearing all the work, I headed out for my favourite bar in downtown to
listen to some jazz music. I was just having some small talks with one of the
bartenders while I spotted someone familiar. Then I realised that person was
Daniel. He quickly waved at me as I invited him over.

We had some small talks and caught up on our studies. It just so happened that
Daniel was studying at my dream school in Italy. So we talked a lot about the
school, the curriculum and experience at that school. After that, Daniel voiced
his concern over the decline of classical music in modern life. It just so
happened that I shared the same concern with him. And then, we mainly
discussed reasons for this trend and measures to address it.

Classical music has laid the foundation for modern music as all the theories of
modern music and techniques are developed from classical music. So, it is
important that it needs to survive and thrive, even in today’s society. After the
conversation with Daniel, I learnt so much from him and knew some essential
ways to maintain the role of classical music in modern times. I cannot wait to
meet him again, probably at his school in Italy, to discuss this issue even more.

When do children normally form their own views?

I think children as young as 2 years old begin forming their own views. For
example, they would ask their parents to take their favourite food and refuse to
eat any kind of food they don’t like. This stage is also very important in the
development of children’s personal traits. If their parents are overprotective and
willing to give anything the children want, they may end up spoiling their own
children rotten.

Do children have strong opinions?

It depends. Normally, children do not have strong and well-developed opinions

due to the lack of knowledge and experience they have. However, some child
prodigies, or children raised in an environment that stimulates their critical
thinking skills, surprise many people with their well-developed opinions. For
example, the arguments of Greta Thunberg astonished many people around the
world, even politicians, when she was just a 15-year-old school girl.

Should parents request their kids to obey them?

Obedience has always been a topic of debate in society. I would say that I do not
agree parents should request their kids to obey them all the time. But instead,
they should instruct their children in a flexible and constructive manner. This is
because forcing children to be obedient may causes them to be always rely on
their parents and prevent them from developing their decision-making skills,
which may lead to many negative consequences in the future.

In what industries do you think communication is a necessary skill?

I believe service industries, such as hospitality, tourism, education, to name but

a few, require communication skills the most as employees in these fields have
to directly deal with their clients. Teachers won’t be able to transmit knowledge
effectively if they are unable to deploy different communication skills, including
concision and precision, in class. In the hospitality industry, being unable to deal
with issues that guests encounter may cause lots of difficulties to a front desk
agent.
Why is it good to discuss problems with other people?
Well, I believe that the main reason for confiding our personal issues to other
people is to find the best solution. Indeed, we ourselves are capable of
dealing with our own problems but sometimes we alone may impulsively make
some unwise decisions. Consequently, such decisions may lead to worse
scenarios and sometimes even run a person’s life. For example, when we need to
make a choice of a life partner, we tend to let our hearts pick that person instead
of our mind. However, this emotion-based option looks gorgeous until that life
partner reveals themselves as a violent, belittling one. By speaking to some
trusted friends and relatives, we are likely to choose a much better person. So,
it’s sometimes advisable to consult someone before making an important
decision.
Do you think that it’s better to talk to friends and not family about
problems?
Well, I think we can talk about our problems to whoever we truly trust, either
friends or family because problems come from different sources and
causes. Sometimes when the problem comes from social circles of friends or
love, it’s best to talk to a good friend as he or she may understand the issue
easier than family members like parents, who are in the older generation. On the
contrary, if the problem is related to health or career choice, family members are
those we can count on as they have the financial power and experience to
support us. Therefore, we need to define clearly the origins of our problems
before we decide who to speak to.
Is it always a good idea to tell lots of people about a problem?
No, absolutely not. To me, lots of people means loads of problems and nobody
would like to have problems all lined up at their door. Despite the fact that
speaking out about our problems shall help us feel less of a burden in heart and
mind, this silly action will provoke detrimental consequences. Not everyone
who knows about the problem are our good friends. For example, if a
company reveals its internal matters to the public among which there
are competitors, they will take advantage of that problem to win
the market sooner or later.
Which communication skills are most important when taking part in
meetings with colleagues?
Personally, I believe it should be a calm mind and positive
conversational language. When we are in a meeting at work, as a member of a
group, we want to contribute our opinions into the discussion and expect that the
boss will accept them. However, we often feel upset as there are so many other
ideas given at the same time by our colleagues. If nobody stays calm to listen
and pose constructive questions, the meetings will become a nonsense fight that
never brings any value but a negative atmosphere. Therefore, the skill of
speaking kindly and calmly will be the most important thing to consider when
joining a company meeting with our co-workers.
What are the possible effects of poor written communication skills at work?
In my opinion, there are possible effects of poor written communication skills at
work. First, it will bring about wrong communication which will lead to
misunderstanding messages and worse work productivity. Second, when
colleagues receive a poorly conducted email, their impression of the sender will
also turn negative. Third, such an email will also be a waste of time as it has no
value in the work progress and the writer will have to rewrite it according to the
boss’s order.

10. Describe an item of clothing that someone gave you?

You should say:

 What the clothing was
 Who gave it to you?
 When you got it
 And explain why this person gave you the
clothing

I would like to describe a coat my parents gave me as a present on my 18th

birthday. I must say that it is really smart and exactly to my liking.

The coat is made of cotton only and by a Vietnamese clothes brand. It is a knee-
length black coat, which was in fashion at that time. What I like the most is that
there are two deep side pockets, so in winter, I always put my hands into those
pockets to avoid the cold. Besides, I can button the coat from top to bottom and
it’s also got a decorative waist belt.

I am so fond of this coat that I usually wear it every winter. It fits me perfectly
and makes me feel comfortable and warm, no matter how cold the weather is. I
keep myself warm by wearing the coat with jeans and boots, which match it
well.

In fact, I have never thought whether it will be out of fashion. As this coat is a
gift from my parents, I treasure it a lot and – for sure - I will keep wearing this
coat in the future.
11.Describe about a selfie which you took using your mobile phone on a
special occasion.

You should say:

 When you took it
 What type of camera you used
 Why you took the photo
 And explain whether you liked this photo or
not.

Everyone at least takes a photo once in their lives, and of course, I am not an
exception. However, there is one photo which imprinted my memory with so
much to remember is the group selfie in Malaysia with the Petronas Twin
Towers in the background. My cousins and I went on a trip to Malaysia last
year and we paid a visit to Malaysia’s biggest pride – the Petronas Towers. The
selfie was taken on our trip to Kuala Lumpur in 2017’s summer. It is one of the
most memorable trips in my entire life. We had to wake up at 3 am so that we
could get a ticket to the Sky Bridge when it flung free tickets to early birds.

I used my brand-new iPhone X to took the photo. Back then, the iPhone X was
considered to have one of the best phone cameras. And yes, it helped us get
some decent selfies with the twin towers.

The towers used to notch up world’s tallest building before witnessing the
strong rise of other skyscrapers. The Kuala Lumpur’s top tourist attraction and
most photographed landmark is located in the heart of the capital city,
surrounded by a cluster of the smaller, but by no means small, skyscrapers.
People say that you haven’t been to Kuala Lumpur if you haven’t got a picture
with the towers. So that’s why we tried our best to take the photo.

I really like the selfie and used it as my Facebook cover photo. It reminded me
of how challenging it was to take this selfie. And probably the selfie kept all the
memories of our summer trip to Malaysia.

Part3:

Do Vietnamese people like to take photos of themselves?

With the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook, more and
more Vietnamese people take photos of themselves and share them on such
platforms. However, sometimes I do get fed up with some people who post
their selfies nearly every single day. I wonder why they have so much free time
that they take selfies every day and reply other users’ comments on the photos.
What kinds of devices do people like to use for taking photos these days?

Most people use their phones to take photos. Technological advances in recent
years have allowed phone cameras to take high resolution photos. Moreover, it
is also much more convenient to bring a phone than a digital camera. So, phones
are the most popular way to take photos right now.

How often do young people take photos when travelling?

Young people nowadays have many creative ways to take photos. Since the
appearance of phone tripods, young people can take photos of themselves
without having other people help them. Also, they prefer to choose to take
photos that focus on themselves rather than the monuments or tourist attractions
they visit.

12. Describe a gift you would like to buy for your friend ?

You should say:

 When it happened
 What gift it was
 Who you gave it to
 And explain why you chose that gift

Choosing a gift for someone is usually a very difficult task, because you want to
make sure that the person who receives it will like it. For that reason, I always
spend a lot of time picking gifts for my relatives and friends. Today, I am going
to share with you the time when I had to choose a gift for my best friend’s
birthday.

It was her 10th birthday and I wanted to give her something memorable and
special. I decided to go to a “Build-a-bear workshop” to buy her a stuffed bear.
At this shop, you actually spend time picking materials to build your furry
friend, from the cotton inside to the clothes outside. You also got to give this
teddy bear a heart and a voice recorder, so that when you squeezed it, it would
say whatever you recorded before. After finishing building the stuffed toy, the
store would give him or her a birth certificate with a name and birthday.

My friend was so happy when she received the bear. Well, kids always love a
furry friend anyway. However, what was special was that as she grew up, she
understood how much love I had put in the bear when building it for her at the
store, so she came to appreciate the gift even more.

13. Describe a special cake you received from others

You should say:

 When it happened
 Where it happened
 Who you got the cake from
 And explain why it’s a special cake

Everyone deserves a cake on their birthday so I find it nothing special to receive

a cake on my annualbirthday, but there’s one that is exceptional. Let me tell you
about the story about it.
In the first year of university, I had a crush on one of my classmates. Unlike me,
an introvert, he is truly a social butterfly, who is socially dynamic, networking,
charismatic, and personally gregarious. He and I were like two people from two
different worlds. I had never detected any "real" signs of interest coming from
him, such as trying to make small talk with me, and I always thought it would be
a forever unrequited love.
In addition to that, I heard through the grapevine that he had someone he liked.
Therefore, I had never made any moves or anything like that. But he did the
opposite. He made a big step on my birthday by making a small cake. It was a
cupcake topped with strawberry cream cheese frosting that was just as tasty as
the red velvet cupcake itself. It was rich,tender, and moist. Each bite seemed to
completely melt in my mouth –though most of it ended up on my face and
fingers. And every bite was better than the one before.
In my area, it is believed that before eating the birthday cake, if you make a
private wish, it will come true if all the candles are extinguished in a single
breath. He asked me what I had wished. I said nothing. He continued “Did you
wish to be my lover?”. I replied “How did you know?”. Then he answered,
“Because I did the same.” That’s how a cupcake broughtme a lover.
Part3:
What are the differences between the special food in Vietnam and foreign
countries?
Vietnamese delicacies have the uniqueness that cannot be found anywhere else.
It is full of natural spices, like cinnamon, clove, and various kinds of herbs.
Also, Vietnamese foods are pretty healthy as they are high in fiber thanks to the
use of many different types of vegetables. Vietnamese foods are pretty much
soup-based such as pho, beef noodles, while food from other countries tends to
be used without broth.
Do people usually cook special food in Vietnam?
Yes, we cook special food mostly for dinner and breakfast. Vietnamese mothers
are pretty much hardworking and willing to invest some more time in preparing
good food for their families. Besides, we also cook special food on special
occasions like birthday or traditional feasts or festivals.
Should special food be easily available?
I believe that special food should be easily available. Lots of people would say
that the wide availability of such food can make it less special. But I think that if
delicacies are widely available, people, especially tourists, will have more
chances to enjoy them, which is definitely an effective way to introduce the
delicacies to the world and put Vietnamese food on the map.
15.Describe a thing you cannot live without except cell phone or computer

You should say:

 What it is
 Why you can’t manage without it
 How long you have had it for
 And explain how you felt when you were without it?

My glasses have been an indispensable part of my life, without which I cannot

live for a day. I’m near-sighted and I could not see things beyond a meter clearly
without glasses. I’ve been wearing glasses for over thirteen years. Everyday, the
last thing for me to do is to take off my glasses and put them on the desk
bedside, where I can reach while I’m in bed. Therefore, I don’t wear my glasses
only when I’m in bed sleeping.
 I was curious of glasses and thought it’s interesting to wear a pair，since one
wearing glasses appears to be knowledgeable. When I found that I could not see
the words teachers wrote on the blackboard, I urged my Mum to take me to the
optometrist who checked my eyes and made me a pair of glasses, which cost
over 200 RMB, a bit expensive at that time. Actually, I did not see things clear
because of pseudomyopia, as told by the optometrist, who told me to relax my
eyes from time to time to prevent them getting near-sighted. However, my eyes
didn’t get better as expected.The result is that I have to wear glasses daily.
At the very beginning, I was quite excited about wearing glasses, as time
passing by, however, I realized the inconvenience of that. For example, the
glasses tend to slide on summer days when I am sweaty. Sometimes when I go
into warm rooms from outside, I could not see anything because of the misted
glasses. Anywhere, like them or not, I could not live without them.

16. Describe a long walk you ever had

You should say:

 When this happened
 Where you walked
 Who you were with
 And explain how you felt about this long walk

Today, I am going to share with you one of my favorite historic buildings that I
have visited, that is The Temple of Literature or “Văn Miếu – Quốc Tử Giám”
in Vietnamese.
Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam - located to the south of the Imperial Citadel of
Thang Long – is now part of Hanoi City. This was the first university in
Vietnam, which was built in 1070 in King Ly Thanh Tong’s reign. The Temple
was dedicated to Confucius and it was built to educate Vietnam’s bureaucrats,
nobles, royalty and other members of the elite.
Like many other temples, The Temple of Literature was built in a vast area with
many pavilions, halls, statues, yards.... However, one of the best features that I
liked most is the Turtle Steles with the names of those successful at the royal
exams. I remembered when I was a senior in high school, I would come here to
pray for luck for my university entrance exam. This tradition is very popular
among Hanoian students and pupils. In addition, during the Tet holiday, we can
come here to ask for a pair of “Hán” wishes from calligraphists to bring home as
a lucky charm or gift.
17. Describe a useful skill you learned from an older person

You should say:

 What it is
 Why the skill can be learned from older people
 How you will learn the skill from older people
It’s my pleasure to tell you about a practical skill I have learned from a friend
who is much older than me.
I have an American friend whose name is George and he is much older than me.
I would say he is around the same age as my mother but he is the one I can trust
the most in this world for his experience and understanding. He and I have been
practicing this skill naturally through our daily conversations.
To say a bit about this skill, it is to keep on questioning our knowledge and
never stop searching for as many answers from as many sources as possible.
Besides, once we have got enough knowledge and information about something,
we shouldn’t quickly jump to a conclusion and believe it is the only truth but
listen to others while they express their ideas and learn something from that too.
This skill, in fact, is often mastered by older people who have gone through
all the ups and downs in life and who have made so many mistakes in
their youth. Indeed, their hard and tough experiences are somehow our easy and
soft lessons for us though I know we, the young, are quite stubborn.
Talking about the way I have been learning this skill, I’d like to say that it’s
thanks to my daily chat with George. Honestly, he is my life mentor, which
keeps our relationship stress-free if compared to the relationship between me
and my parents or that of me and my boyfriends. Every day, we share and keep
each other updated about life and work. I tell everything that happens to me in a
day and he does so too. But more importantly, we speak out our feelings about
something like a book we have read, a new date we have been flirting with, and
then pose constructive questions to understand the matters in depth.
It would never be enough to express my thankfulness to George for having been
practicing this skill naturally with me. Thanks to him, I am now open to a new
horizon where I can explain, learn and accept all the information or ideas I
receive from books, news, social media, and friends. Besides, whenever I hear
some negative opinions about myself, I can remain calm and ask myself whether
that is true or not, and if there is a problem, I will immediately find a solution
instead of letting my emotions take the lead. Last but not least, this skill also has
taught me to empathize with other people and understand the mechanism behind
what they do so that I can stop cursing or judging them.
Therefore, those are the reasons why I choose to talk about George and his
precious lessons in this part. I believe I will keep on learning and never stop
searching for the answers for all my life’s issues. It may take my whole life to
do so but I am too intrigued to stop.
What can children learn from their parents or grandparents?
Children can learn life experiences from the previous generations like their
parents and grandparents because they are the closest people to the children as
well as those who firstly appear in the children’s childhood. In fact, a child tends
to observe and imitate their parent’s and grandparents’ actions without the
ability to tell things right or wrong. As psychologists always say, upbringing
defines children’s attitudes, behaviors, and personalities when they grow up. So,
I think parents and grandparents play such an important role in this.
From whom can children learn more, parents or grandparents?
In my opinion, young children can firstly learn from their older family members
how to do some simple domestic tasks like housework, cooking skills and
repairing some electrical appliances. Then, secondly, later in their life when they
are in their teenage ages, they can acquire some lessons about physiology and
psychology from their parents because, at that age, teenagers have to go through
puberty, which causes some remarkable changes in their body and mind.
Without guidance from their parents, children will easily develop unhealthy
personalities and habits. Those are what I think.
What kind of help do you think older people need?
From my observation, the elder not only need physical help but also emotional
help. It is undeniable that when people get older, their body tends to be weaker
inside out and they are prone to have serious diseases like heart attack, high
blood pressure, or even stroke. However, I don’t think those health risks would
make them suffer more than mental pain. As we grow, we often get busy with
the rat race for money, for food, and for our own little family. We do not have
enough time for our aging parents and grandparents, so we often leave them
lonely at home. This will sooner or later kill them inside although we still see
they are still with us. I hope the kids when they grow up, will still have time to
spend and take care of their parents besides earning their life.

20. Describe a time you visited a new place

You should say:

 Where the new place is
 When you went there
 Why you went there
  And explain how you feel about the place

Today, I would like to talk about a place in foreign countries where I would like
to work. It is Melbourne, the second largest city in Australia which has become
home for millions of people from various countries around the world. In
Melbourne, I would like to work for an environmental NGO, as my
specialtyat/in university is Environmental Resources. So, right after I finish my
studies in Vietnam, I will go to Melbourne to apply for a job there. Well, the
reasons why I would like to work in Melbourne are quite simple. First, I have a
lot of friends and relatives who live and work in Melbourne. They can help
mewhenever I need. They also tell me that the community of Vietnamese
overseas is very large in Melbourne. So, the multicultural challenge won’t be a
big problem for me. And what's more, like Sydney, Tokyo or some other cities
in the world, Melbourne is a 'liveable city' due to / because of its high rankingin
education, research and healthy lifestyle/ way of life. So I think that to live,
study or work there will be an interesting experience.
22. Describe a person that you enjoy spending time with

You should say:

 Who this person is
 How you knew him/her
 What you usually do together
 And explain why you like to spend time with
him/her

My father/mother/older sister/brother/cousin... is a very considerate and

thoughtful person. When I was small, he/she usually took good care of me;
taught me good lessons and never let me out of his/her sight. Even now,
whenever I have a bad day, he/she has always been there for me, and helps me
get through it.
As I have got older, my father/mother/older sister/brother/cousin... has become
my best friend. I can share my interests, my career plans or even things about
my love life with them– in fact, anything at all. Especially when I am down,
he/she gives me the encouragement that I need to move on. To me, he/she is a
role model whom I always look up to/admire/and follow in his/her footsteps.
He/she constantly reminds me that I have to try my best in everything I choose
to pursue so that I can achieve my goal in this life. Thanks to his/her advice, I
have made significant progress in my personal life in general.
Although, of course, I love all my family, because he/she is so special to me, I
think that we will always keep in touch, just as we do now almost every day.
24. Describe a song that you think is interesting

You should say:

 What the song is
 What story the song tells
 Whether the song is popular
 And explain why you think it is interesting

I love listening to music, so I like many songs. However, one of my favorite

songs that I want to talk about today is “Hall of Fame” by The Script and
Will.i.am. This song was written for the 2012 Olympic Games.
When it came out, it quickly became a hit on every single music chart
throughout the world, not just because of its catchy melody, but also for its
meaningful lyrics. The song talks about how each of us can be a champion or
anything we want to be as long as we dedicate our time and efforts to doing
what we are passionate about. The song is played at big athletic events to pump
up the crowd, but you can easily relate to the song at other times as well,
especially when you are about to give up.
I think this song has such a powerful message that whenever I was tired or had
decided to quit, it would lift me up right away. It made me think about why I
had started in the first place and that I needed to finish the job that I was
currently doing.
25. Describe a time when you received something without having to pay for
it

You should say:

 What the gift was
 When you got this gift
 Where you had it
 How you felt about it
I would like to describe a coat my parents gave me as a present on my 18th
birthday. I must say that it is really smart and exactly to my liking.

The coat is made of cotton only and by a Vietnamese clothes brand. It is a knee-
length black coat, which was in fashion at that time. What I like the most is that
there are two deep side pockets, so in winter, I always put my hands into those
pockets to avoid the cold. Besides, I can button the coat from top to bottom and
it’s also got a decorative waist belt.

I am so fond of this coat that I usually wear it every winter. It fits me perfectly
and makes me feel comfortable and warm, no matter how cold the weather is. I
keep myself warm by wearing the coat with jeans and boots, which match it
well.

In fact, I have never thought whether it will be out of fashion. As this coat is a
gift from my parents, I treasure it a lot and – for sure - I will keep wearing this
coat in the future.

26. Describe a skill that was difficult for you to learn

You should say:

 When you learned it
 Why you learned it
 How you learned it
 How you felt when you learned it

When I was young, I was fascinated whenever I came across a street pianist. I
was passionate about music, especially the piano. Luckily, I had the chance to
have lessons with a classically trained pianist, who was willing to teach me for
free because there was a shortage of pianists for the church’s choir. I did not
hesitate to take him up on his offer.
Because I was trained to play the piano for the choir at my church, and because I
did not have an instrument at home, I had lessons at the church. Even though
churches are supposed to be quiet and solemn, I still really enjoyed my lessons.
All the sessions were full of laughter because there were other people who also
tried to play the piano with me.
Filled with excitement, I could not wait to play my first notes on the piano.
However, things did not go as expected! I started to realise that the piano was a
lot harder than I had thought. I knew that I would improve the more I played, so
I carried on, but I was particularly challenged by classical pieces. I found them
difficult even when I felt that I had become a competent player! I thought about
giving up, but luckily, my teacher made a lot of efforts to inspire me. I quickly
got rid of my negative thoughts and got back on track.
I have been learning the piano for more than 10 years, but it only took me
around 1 year to learn to play confidently and smoothly for the services.
Nowadays, I play simple pieces for the church services, but I also learn new,
challenging classical pieces so that I can continue to develop my skills.
27. Describe a time when you got up early

You should say:

 When it was
 What you did
 Why you got up early
 And how you felt about it

Actually, I’m a morning bird, so I found it quite easy to get up early. Fresh air
and a great sense of tranquility in the morning made me feel invigorated,
optimistic and creative, so I could concentrate more on my study. Well, it was
last semester when the important final exam approached, and there were so
many demanding subjects to handle.. Therefore, I decided to get up earlier than
usual in the morning to prepare for the exam for the last week.
It was quite discomforting at that time, as I had to wake exactly at 3 or 4 am to
cram all the books. Mornings, for me at least, are the most productive time of
day to study. I like to do some reading and memorizing in the morning, when
there are no distractions. Looking back, I think I did take advantage of all that
extra time.
Actually, during that stressful week, I was totally exhausted and even suffered a
headache. My brain was burdened with numerous subjects such as Maths,
History, Literature and so on. Memorizing historic dates or Maths formulas in
just a week requires a lot of persistence and determination. I remember drinking
coffee many times a day to keep me wide awake. It was simply a nightmare but
fortunately, I passed the exam with flying colors.
28. Describe a person who solved a problem in a smart way
You should say;
 Who this person is
 What the problem was
 How he/she solved it
 And explain why you think he/she did it in a smart way
I will tell you about the occasion when my roommate once saved my day.
Though she was not keen oncooking, she helped me out of a tough problem in
the kitchen. So here’s the story. That afternoon, I was making a cake as a gift for
my boyfriend, because he loves home-made food. Since I had been baking
forseveral months, I was rather confident and I didn’t even need to follow the
recipe. When my roommate asked if she could watch and learn from me, I
proudly agreed. All was going well. After almost two hours of hard work, my
cake came out of the oven, smelling and looking incredible. I just couldn’t wait
to decorate and finish it. Unfortunately, when I was glazing it with chocolate, I
didn’t take into considerationthe fact that the cake was still hot. Normally I
would let it cool down, yet my eagerness made me totally forget the simplest
rule of glazing. The chocolate turnedmy hot cake into a liquidy and sopping
mash of flour. It was catastrophic! With a heart swollen with desperation, I was
about to throw it all away when my roommate suggested:”How about cutting it
into smaller pieces and baking it again? Maybe it would turn out crispy, just like
cookies!” I gasped and did as she said immediately. We both stooped down and
looked at the oven with anticipation. And she was right! My cake was not soft
and light as intended, yet the flavor was preserved and the added crunch was so
unexpected. I was half delighted, half embarrassed since I had had a superiority
complex whenever I showed her how to cook. That she had been hiding her light
under a bushel pleasantly surprised me.
Her solution was simple yet it worked like a charm. From then on, she has been
my cooking buddy and her cleverness continues to leave me in awe.
Part3:
Do you think children are born smart or they learn to become smart?
Well, this is genuinely a difficult question. I believe that even scientists are
debating this. Obviously, the environment that a child grows up in and the
quality of their education directly affect their intelligence. Children who go to
good schools are more likely to do well in intelligence tests. On the other hand,
it’s also hard to deny the role the genetic makeup of a child plays in
determining his or her level of intelligence. I think they are equally important. 

 directly affect (adv v): ảnh hưởng trực tiếp

 likely (adj): có khả năng
 genetic makeup (adj+n): gen, vật chất di truyền

How do children become smarter at school?

I think that having less rote learning that relies heavily on memorisation is a
good start. Children should be taught to reason and think logically. And don’t
get wrong, I do not mean schools should start teaching children how to solve
complicated equations. On the contrary, schools should let children play games
that stimulate their minds like solving puzzles and role playing to
solve hypothetical problems. 

 rote learning : cách học đọc-chép

 to rely on (phrasal verb): phụ thuộc
 to reason (v): lí luận
 equation (n): phương trình toán học
 to stimulate (v): kích thích
 hypothetical (adj): giả sử

Why are some people well-rounded and others only good at one thing?
Off the top of my head, I can only say that it’s due to their jobs. In my opinion,
people who work in managerial roles tend to be generalists. They know about
many things from social skills, communication to management. They have to be
like that because their jobs require them to deal with other people. In contrast,
technical workers like to be proficient only in their area of expertise. As they
get better in their field, they get paid better. 

 Off the top of my head (collocation): ý nói tôi không chắc chắn lắm
 managerial (adj): có tính chất quản lí
 generalist (n): người làm được nhiều thứ
 to deal with (phrasal verb): làm việc với, xử lí với
 expertise (n): chuyên môn
 proficient (adj): thành thạo

Why does modern society need talents of all kinds?

Well, modern society needs talents of all kinds because that is the best way to
have a healthy workforce and consequently a healthy society. If everyone was
good at science and became doctors, then no one would become an author or a
teacher or a business person. It is much better to have a multi talented society so
that everyone can contribute something different. We need just as many artists
as we need accountants.

29. Describe a habit your friend has and you want to develop

You should say:

 Who your friend is
 What habit he/she has
 When you noticed this habit
 And explain why you want to develop this habit
I have this best friend whose name is An, and we basically do everything
together since we have so much in common. Today, I want to share with you
about one of an’s habits, which is jogging around Ho Tay lake.
To my dim recollection, back in 2018, she was a bit overweight, which was
detrimental to his overall health. So we decide to jog around the lake every
Monday and Friday morning. But it was consistent, she would just stick to the
plan for around a couple of weeks and then felt demotivated. And now there is
Covid-19 so she is staying at home.
However, I have a plan for her after a lockdown as I’ll join her and push
her”jogging games” to the next level. My plan is to encourage her to jog every
day, not just 2 times a week, and of course, I’ll join her to motivate her along the
way. The reason why I want to develop this habit is that first of all, seeing my
best friend being too fat is not what I want. And second of all, I also want to
improve my health so I’ll join her. So I’ll basically kill two bird with one
stone!
Part 3:
 What habits should children have?
In my mind, the help a person can do takes a variety of forms, like giving advice
to others, easing someone’s financial I reckon it really depends on their
preferences. For active and energetic children, sports might be their thing, such
as playing football, badminton, etc. On the other hand, for introverted/ shy kids,
reading books is a good idea. However, I do believe that they should try many
activities to find out what their true pastimes are. I think that’s how they can be
more well-rounded as a person.

 well-rounded (a): toàn diện

 pastime (n): sở thích
2. What should parents do to teach their children good habits?
From my point of view, there are a number of things that help on the Internet
that differ from those in reality. For The best way, in my opinion, is to be a
model yourself. By doing so, your kids can look up to you and mirror your
habits. Besides, parents should form healthy habits for their children as soon as
possible. For example, in Vietnam, many moms and dads are trying to
encourage their children to read early.
  a model: tấm gương
 mirror (v): bắt chước
3. What influences do children with bad habits have on other children?
Mostly negative influences I guess. First, kids are impressionable, so they tend
to imitate their friends without knowing whether or not the habits are bad.
Bullying at school is one of the examples, many kids actually think ít’s cool to
be bullies. I mean, negative habits are very contagious so we as adults need to
be really aware of that.

 imitate (v): bắt chước

 bully (v): bắt nạn
 contagious (a): dễ lây
4. Why do some habits change when people get older?
There are many reasons. Maybe as people do sth over and over again, they get
bored and they find other habits that are more interesting to refresh themselves.
Maybe they love jogging, but after 5 or 6 years, they try swimming and think
it’s more suitable. Another reason is health conditions, many habits are not for
old people, so they might find other less physically demanding alternatives.

 physically demanding (a): tốn sức

 alternative (n): lựa chọn thay thế

30. Describe a time when you waited for something special that would
happen

You should say:

 What you waited for
 Where you waited
 Why it was special
 And explain how you felt while you were
waiting

Having to wait for somebody is a common situation in our daily lives. There
was this one time I had to wait for my friends, which was so special I’d like to
share the story with you today.
- It was my birthday and I had invited a group of friends to a coffee house to
celebrate it. We were scheduled to meet there at 8 that evening. I was so eager
that I came early. Certainly, none of them were there, but it was easy to
understand because I was early. However, I waited for half an hour, but nobody
showed up, and then I started to feel uncomfortable and worried. As I was losing
my patience, I began to call each of them to ask why they had not come yet. To
my surprise, none of them picked up the phone. I was really fed up, as you can
imagine, because it was my birthday and my friends had treated me like that.
- I waited for a couple more minutes until I couldn’t stand it anymore, and
decided to leave. As soon as I called the waiter for the bill, I heard the “Happy
birthday” song start up in the coffee house. Out of nowhere, all of my friends
suddenly appeared with a birthdaycake. They hugged me and wished me happy
birthday. It was such a surprise. My anger quickly gave way to laughter and we
had an unforgettable night chatting until the early hours, drinking coffee and, of
course, eating cake.
Part3:
On what occasions do people usually need to wait?
There are many occasions where people have to wait. For instance, they must
wait for their preferred from of transport to arrive whether it would be a bus,
train or taxi. In addition, people must also wait for the food they have ordered at
a restaurant to arrive. Finally, they must wait until they are called upon for their
appointment at a hospital or bank.
Who behave better when waiting, children or adults?
Generally speaking, adults are better behave in situations where they are
required to wait for something. This is usually because they exercise more
patience and are less demanding of what they want than children. In contrast,
children are typically more restless because they tend to demand things to
happen rather quickly and have yet to develop some modicum of restraint.
Compared to the past, are people less patient now, why?
In a general sense, I do think so because the pace of life nowadays has increase
rapidly in the past couple of decades. With the rising trend of convenience in
everyday life, people have grown accustomed to getting the things they want
relatively quickly. However, if these things come a lot later than they initially
expected, then they can lose their patience and be quick to anger.
What are the positive and negative effects of waiting on society?
One positive effect of being patient is it teaches people to appreciate thee current
moment. As we can be overly eager to move on the next thing, having patience
can allow people to relax and just enjoy what they have in front of them.
However, a negative effect of being patient is it can encourage laziness. As
patience retails people to take things easy, some of them can take it too far and
not do much as they are under the assumption that they can wait for things to
happen to them.
31. Describe an athlete that you admire

You should say:

 Who the person is
 What his/her achievement is
 Why you admire him/her
 And explain how you feel about this person

I’m a major sports fan and my favourite sport is football. I’m a 12-year

supporter of Liverpool football club, a team in the English League, so the athlete
I’m going to mention is one of the best players in this team, his name is Virgil
Van Dijk.

Virgil is a Dutch footballer and he plays as a centre back, which is a defender in

the central area in front of the home team’s goal. He has incredible physicality,
he is almost 2 metres tall, extremely well-built and unbelievably fast. There
aren’t many players who are big but have incredible pace like him, which
makes him an absolute beast on the field.

Normally big defenders like him wouldn’t be so skilful with the ball, but he is.
His skill sets are unmatched among defenders, he can control the ball
with complete ease and composure. But what turns him into a world-class
player is his football IQ and mentality in contending situations. Most defenders
when facing an opposing attacker would try to tackle the ball as early as
possible, but Virgil almost never makes the first move unless he has an edge.
He would anticipate the opponent’s move, wait for him to slip up and then
gradually take control of the situation. These traits make him a leader in every
team’s defence and a nightmare for every attacking player in 1-on-1 situations.

Ever since he stepped foot in Liverpool’s locker room, he has completely

elevated and upgraded our team, making us one of the best sides in the world of
football. He played a salient role in our winning one English League title and
one European League title in 2018 and 2019. His talent was acknowledged as he
was granted the award of Best Player in Europe in 2019. 

Part 3:
What kinds of exercises do Vietnamese people like?
I think there are plenty of forms of exercises people in Vietnam do! Some do
sports, some enjoy working out in a gym, some fancy dancing. The most famous
sport in Vietnam is football, so millions from all age groups and social classes
would enjoy a kickabout in their free time. And as I notice in recent years,
going to the gym is a quite booming type of exercise.

 enjoy a kickabout: tận hưởng một cú đá

 booming (a) bùng nổ
What characteristics do you think an athlete should have?
Off the top of my head, I think of a few attributes a professional athlete should
possess would be resilience, perseverance and discipline. Pursuing a career in
sports is not an easy and common path so any individual following it should be
perseverant and persistent because there are bound to be obstacles such as
injuries, low pay, even hatred from sport spectators. Moreover, in order to excel
in any form of sport, a great sense of discipline is a must in order to maintain
continuous training. 

 attribute (n) thuộc tính

 resilience, perseverance and discipline:(n) khả năng phục hồi, kiên trì
và kỉ luật 
 obstacle (n) chướng ngại vật 
 excel in (v) trội hơn về 
 sense of discipline (n) ý thức kỷ luật 
Why are there so few top athletes?
To my mind, what sets apart elite sportsmen from mediocre ones is a
mentality, which is extremely hard to measure and therefore hard to improve. I
think there are far too many good athletes in different sports, but only a few
can reach stardom because not many players can thrive in immensely stressful
situations. There are different kinds of pressure circumstances such as
getting booed at by rival fans, pressure to execute flawlessly in vital moments
like the last shot of the game, etc. I have witnessed many rising sports stars fail
to overcome pressure, hence never living up to their full potential. 

 set apart: phân biệt (ai với ai)

 mediocre: tầm thường
 mentality (n) trí lực 
 reach stardom: (v) đạt được ngôi sao 
 boo at (v) la ó tại
  pressure to execute flawlessly (n) áp lực để thực hiện hoàn hảo
 live up to one’s full potential: sống hết khả năng của ai
 What’s the best way to become a top athlete?

In my opinion, these following factors contribute to the success of a world-class

athlete: hard work, talent, mentality and luck, the importance of each factor
follows that same order. So if we look at those aspects, the things we can
actually control would be the amount of work we put in the training, physically
and mentally. We all have heard numerous stories elite sportsmen tell about
how hard work pays off and it’s completely true. The only thing an athlete can
and should do is to practice and train as arduously, strenuously as possible and
hope that everything else would fall in line.

 world-class athlete (n) vận động viên đẳng cấp thế giới 

 hard work pays off (phrase) làm việc được chăm chỉ 
 arduously (adv) strenuously (adv) gian nan, vất vả
 fall in line (v) rơi vào hàng 
32. Describe a café you’d like to visit

You should say:

 Where it is
 What kinds of food and drinks it
serves
 Who you usually go there with
 And explain why you like to go there

I’m going to describe a café that I’ve been to recently; the name is Meow Coffee
and it’s on Tay Son Street, Hanoi. I think you could easily recognize it just from
the name that this coffee shop offers you many kinds of drinks together with the
chance of pampering the cats. I’m a cat person so this place is like heaven to me.
I’ve only been there twice; the first time was with one of my friends and the
second time all by myself. I felt like I was in love the first time I went to Meow
Coffee. You could see the cats sleeping or playing with each other so happily
and comfortably. The first cat I saw on my first visit was a British Short Hair; it
was orange, looking so grumpy but cute. He was sound asleep on a stool, and
didn’t even care a bit even if the guests entered and started to lightly pet him.
There are maybe dozens of cats in there together with some cute dogs that are
really nice to people. The place feels cozy and has a nice smell; it’s also very
clean, in my opinion, for a place that has pets. The owner has decorated the
coffee shop with toys and supplied some particular facilities to take care of the
pets, and also a written set of rules with cute images on how to pamper the pets.
I had a really great time there, enjoying the drinks and playing along with the
cute cats. I brought an assignment to work on the second time I visited this
place, and the cats were so nice: they didn’t bother me, some of them just lay or
sat beside me or climbed into my lap and slept there, didn’t even move an inch. I
would recommend this place for any animal lovers, especially cat people. I will
definitely go to Meow Coffee again if I have time.

Part3:
Do Vietnamese people like to drink coffee?
I would say very much so because not only do they drink copious amounts of it.
But also they have their own ways of sreving coffee. On certain occasions,
Vietnamese people would have their coffee either iced or condensed milk which
adds to the flavor.
Why do many people like to drink a cup of coffee before work?
People tend to drink coffee before work due to it containing caffeine which is a
stimualant that is intended to keep the brain active throughout the workday,
therefore maintaining productive and alertness and ensuring the work is done on
time.
What kind of people would like to go to a cafe to work or study?
Normally, they would be those who like to do their work or study alone because
of the quiet ambience and cozy seating a cafe can afford. In addition, those
people would oftemn have coffee or tea and a snack to keep themselves
stimulated during the work or study period.
Why do young people like studying in a cafe instead of at home?
The youth nowadays prefer to study in a café instead of at home mostly due to
the opportunities for socializing a café can afford them. When they’re at home,
they would often feel bored from studying alone whereas being in a café can
stimulate young people to study to the best of their abilities due to them being
with their peers and ecouraging each other to do better
34. Describe a time you were friendly to someone you didn't like

You should say:

 When and where it happened
 Who he/she was
 Why you didn't like this person
 And explain why you were friendly to him/her
on that occasion
I would like to describe a person who I had to be friendly to, although I did not
really like her. I think this situation is quite common in our lives, especially
when we have to act as part of a team.
A couple of months ago, I was assigned to a team at my workplace in order to
tackle a big project. As part of the team, I had to cooperate closely with this
person. However, we had never really liked each other for several reasons.
Firstly, she is much older than I am, so she always thinks she is right and
disregards the opinions of others. I would describe her as both bossy and
officious, although she did not have a more senior position than I did in the
company. Secondly, I considered her irresponsible because she did not appear to
me to pay serious attention to the project. So, although it was supposedly a
group project, I ended up working all on my own as much as possible in order to
see the task through.
As the work was vital for our company, we had to be successful. I therefore had
no choice except to collaborate with her in order to finish the job. I would rather
have done all the work alone, but if I had refused to work with her as part of the
team, then the evaluation of my job performance would have been affected at
the end of the year. So, knowing her personality as I did, I swallowed my pride
and tried to be patient.
Despite our many arguments, we completed the task on time. I learned that
sometimes people can work together, even though they don’t get on with each
other. It just needs a little bit of time and patience to work things out, and each
person has to compromise to achieve a common goal.
35. Describe an exciting book you have read
You should say:
 When you read it
 What kind of book it is
 What it is about
 And explain why you think it is exciting

Reading books has been a hobby since I was in grade 7, and since then, the I’ve
read 70-plus books. The last book I read was My Promised Land: The Triumph
and Tragedy of Israel by Ari Shavit. Many literary critics have complimented
the book on its enormous amount of information about the history of modern
Israel from its very first days.
The author of this book, Ari Shavit, is a journalist and a writer based in Israel.
Another notable book of his is On Gaza Beach. Shavit was born in Rehovot,
Israel, and his father was a scientist and his mother was an artist. Some of his
ancestors were early leading Zionists, and he provides in-depth information
about them in the book.
In accordance with the title, the book is mainly about Israel’s history. Shavit
covers the activities of Theodor Herzl, a Jewish journalist who gave birth to
Zionism, and how he and other Zionists, including Shavit’s ancestors, instigated
campaigns to re-establish the Land of Israel. This was a national movement of
the Jewish people to re-establish a Jewish homeland in the historic territory of
the Land of Israel.
I agree with critics who say that there is an enormous amount of information in
the book. In fact, it took me more than 3 weeks to finish the book, as it was too
long and made me rack my brain at some points to compare what I’d read with
other information I’d previously read. The book gave me a chance to broaden
my knowledge about Israel, its history, and its citizens.
36. Describe a creative person(an artist/musician/...) whose work you
admire
You should say:
 Who he/she is
 How you knew him/her
 What creative things he/she has done
 And explain why you think he/she is creative
I am going to talk about a creative person who I really admire. That person is
Albert Einstein- one of the most well-known physics scientists in the world. He
was born in 1879 in a Jewish family in Germany.
He was a theorical physicist and is now recognized as the father of modern
physics. Above all, he was the founder of the “Theory of Relativity”, which
became an important contribution to the science of mankind. It was to be the
biggest achievement of his life. In 1921, he was awarded the “Nobel Physics
Prize”. He was a prolific writer and published about 300 scientific articles
covering150 topics as well during his career.
I came across a new biography about him on the internet and there was a lot of
interesting information which really inspired me a lot. His childhood was not
carefree as I had thought. He had a problem learning how to talk until he was
about 8 years old. Besides, because of his unconventional character, he tended to
be bullied and teased a lot, however, he ignored all these taunts and concentrated
on doing experiments in the laboratory.
What I really admire him is how passionately he worked and what he
contributed to physics and our understanding of the world. He lived and worked
with passion and the enthusiasm all his life, and he is a shining example for me
to follow.
Part3:
Do you think you are a creative person?
Yes, I am a creative person, but all my creativity is for myself only. Every day I
creatively mix and match my old dresses and make them look new. I also like to
make pencil sketches out of my imagination and create different characters.
Is it good for children to learn arts?
Parents should put their children in art classes for several reasons. First, music
and art stimulate the part of the brain associated with academic performance,
which means better results in basic math and reading skills. Additionally,
activities like playing musical instruments or holding a paintbrush helps improve
their motor skills, benefiting their ability to write and take up sports. So instead
of seeing art as an extracurricular activity, we should think of it as part of the
kids’ education.
What kinds of jobs require people to be creative?
I think all jobs retail people to be creative. If people are not creative, then their
job may become dull and boring after just a few days. If any job has to be done
over and over again, then some element of creativity has to be added to it. For
example, an engineer needs to think of new ways to do things; the plumber
needs to learn new things every day to make his work better and simpler, a
carpenter needs to learn new ways of doing things that can add grace to his
work, a teacher has to bring up innovative methods to teach so that children
don’t get bored.
Do you think leaders need to have creative ability?
I think it is an indispensable trait for modern leaders. In light of the rigid
environment of the workplace, especially in a corporate setting, a progressive
and inventive manager can look at and solve problems from new perspectives.
Besides, as companies expand and change over time, lower-level employees
may sometimes feel forgotten. Innovative leaders can remedy this mindset by
offering unconventional solutions and ideas to include everyone in the
collective success of the company.
37. Describe a bicycle/motorcycle/car trip you would like to go

You should say:

 Who you would like to go with
 Where you would like to go
 When you would like to go
 And explain why you would like to go by
bicycle/motorcycle/car

Travelling is one of my biggest passions which gives me the incentive to work

hard and study hard. The place that I have dreamed of visiting since I was young
is Arashi Kaikyo bridge in Japan. I stumbled upon the bridge when watching
anime and the way that the bridge was demonstrated in the amine was just
impressive. I was intrigued by the massiveness of the bridge, although I had
already known the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.
According to the information, there is a dedicated lane for bicycles on the
bridge. And whenever I hear of the name of the bridge, cycling is always the
first one to spring my mind. Being slightly longer than 3 km in length, the
bridge offers such an ideal distance for those who interested in the idea of
cycling along the bridge. Therefore, if I ever have a chance to pay a visit to the
Arashi Kaikyo, cycling will definitely my top choice.
It will be perfect if someone I love sits behind me on the bicycle. Of course,
isn’t it good to ride someone you love on one of the most magnificent bridge in
the world?
The bridge is especially appropriate for those who would like to cycle. Firstly, it
is neither too long nor too short for an ordinary adult to try their hands at
exploring the bridge with a bicycle. Secondly, those who interested in taking
photos can just stop wherever they want and take a snap shot, while car drivers
are not allowed to do this.
38. Describe a difficult decision that you once made

You should say:

 What the decision was
 When you made your decision
 How long it took to make the decision
 And explain why it was difficult to make
It was when I prepared the application form for the university entrance exam
that I had to make an important but difficult decision. At that time, I was at a
crossroads, where I had to decide which university to apply for. Actually, my
interest was in economics, which was taught in two separate universities, one of
which specialized in international trade while the other focused more on the
national economy.
Fortunately, my sister, who graduated from an economics college, gave me
some sound advice. Having weighed up the pros and cons of each school, she
encouraged me to choose the university specializing in international trade.
Finally, I applied for this school after thinking carefully about all the options.
At present, I feel so satisfied with the learning environment of this university
that I am always thankful for my decision as well as my sister’s advice. Without
her guidance, I probably wouldn’t be as content with my university life as I am.
Part3:
What decisions do people usually make in their daily lives?
People make multiple decisions in their daily lives including but not limited to
what to eat for each meal, what to wear for going to work, whether or not to go
out with friends to socialize and whether or not to work overtime to finish last-
minute tasks. It can be summarized that decisiom-making is a vital skill in daily
life.
Which is easier, making a decision by yourself or making a decision after
group discussion?
It largely depends on how large the consequences will be when making that
decision. For example, when it comes to deciding what to have for lunch, It is
usually a decision made by yourself. But when it comes to deciding whether or
not to accept a new job opportunity, it usually retails discussion and advice from
friends and family before making that fateful choice.
Why are many young people unwilling to follow their parents' advice?
In my view, young people usually behave this way because they think they
know better than their parents and on some occasions, ignoring their parents’
advice could work for them whereas other times it would not. But I must
reiterate, it depends on the circumstances.
Why would middle-aged people tend to second-guess their own decisions?
Middle-aged people usually do this because as they have grown older, they
become wiser in not making rash decisions and thus they would think hard about
making a consequential decision before acting on it. In my point view, I do think
it is healthy to second-guess your decisions before choosing to go through or not
to go through with them.
39. Describe a foreign person who you have heard or known that you think
is interesting

You should say:

 Who the person is
 How you knew him/her
 What kind of person he/she is
 And explain why you think he/she is interesting

I’m going to talk about Komuro Mako, who was a princess in Japan until
recently. She had to give up her royal title to marry her long-time boyfriend,
who is a commoner. I didn’t really know about Japan’s marital practices.
However, from what I’ve read, when a Japanese woman marries, she must
change her last name to that of her husband. Since her husband is just a regular
citizen, she also becomes one. The wedding has attracted so much drama and the
couple must have been under much pressure.

A little bit more on Mako, I just got to know her from what the press has written
about as well as the videos I’ve seen on social media. To me, she looks like what
I expect from a princess. She’s always well-dressed in an elegant way and not
too showy. Her demeanour is calm and when she answers the press,
her gesture is polite and composed. She seems to be highly educated, in fact,
her husband is her college sweetheart, whom she referred to as “irreplaceable”
in an interview.

The reason why I’m interested in her is that her story seems like a modern-
day fairy tale. She and her husband have endured so much just to be together.
It’s very brave of her to follow her heart. That’s something that the rest of us can
learn from. I wish her all the best with her new life. 

 to give up (phrasal verb): từ bỏ

 royal title (adj n): tước hiệu hoàng tộc
 marital (adj): (thuộc về) hôn nhân
 practice (n):
 to be under pressure: chịu áp lực
 well-dressed (adj): 
 elegant (adj): sang trọng, quý phái
 showy (adj): 
 demeanour (n): thái độ, cử chỉ
 gesture (n): cử chỉ (hình thể)
 composed (adj): điềm đạm
  college sweetheart : mối tình từ thời đại học
 fairy tale : chuyện cổ tích 

Part 3:
Do you have any foreign friends and do you think having foreign friends is
a good way to know other countries?
Oh, I’ve got many friends from all sorts of countries since I used to frequent
cultural exchange clubs in my city. Ever since the Covid Pandemic became
dangerous, I’ve moved on to meeting people online using language exchange
platforms. I’ve got the opportunity to teach people about my language and
culture and receive others’ in return.

 to frequent (v): thường đến, lui tới

 cultural exchange club: câu lạc bộ trao đổi văn hóa 
 move on to doing sth (phrasal verb): đổi sang, chuyển sang, thay đổi
(sang kế hoạch khác)

Do you think it’s important to know the culture and language before going
to another country?

Yes, it’s absolutely crucial to at least have essential knowledge about

the customs as well as the taboos of a culture if you’re planning on travelling
there. You will represent your country and culture there as well, so it is a must
that you follow what they consider polite and good and avoid making a fool of
yourself. As for the language, I think it’s a plus and a good way to show respect
but it can be quite difficult to master a language. Besides, you can hire a
local interpreter and create a job in the process. 

 crucial (adj): quan trọng

 custom (n): tục lệ
 taboo (n): điều cấm kị
 to represent (v): đại diện
 to make a fool of oneself (idiom): làm bản thân trông ngốc nghếch
 interpreter (n): thông dịch viên

What do you think of people who work in international companies?

In my country, they are seen as having lucrative professions and are regarded

as highly skilled labourers because they can work and  communicate with
foreigners. In order to work in an international environment, they ought to have
great language skill and also excellent cultural sensitivity.

 lucrative (adj): hời, làm ra nhiều tiền

 highly skilled (adv adj): trình độ cao
 cultural sensitivity (adj n): sự nhạy bén/nhạy cảm về mặt văn hóa.
What abilities do people need to have when working in an international
company?

Apart from what I’ve just mentioned, being technologically literate is needed

here. They have to communicate with their partners and co-workers overseas so
they have to send hundreds of emails every month. Knowing your way  around
with a computer really helps. 

 apart from : ngoài ra

 technologically literate (adv adj): thành thạo về công nghệ

40. Describe a businessman you admire

You should say:

 Who this person is
 How you knew this person
 What kinds of business this person does
 And explain why you admire this person

Well, I want to start off by saying that I’ve always been interested in doing
business and subscribed to various successful entrepreneurs ever since I was a
college student. So if I had to sigle out one, I’d like to tell you about Bill Gates,
who’s widely regarded as one of the top businessmen in world.
As a matter of fact, Bill Gate founded Microsoft – the world’s largest personal
computer software company, at just 20 years of age, which I think is absolutely
incredible for a young man like him. I mean, not many people of his age are
willing to drop out of school, start their own enterprise and are able to make a
name for themselves like him. Of course he had his fair share of difficulties but
he didn’ t let that stop him from becoming the PC industry’s ultimate
kingmaker.
There’s a couple of reasons why I have great admiration for his man.First of all.
He is renowed for being extremely versatile. Not only is he a business magnate,
he’s also an investor, author and philanthropist. But what strikes me the most is
probably his philanthropic endeavors. I mean he’s been giving sizable amounts
of money to various charitable organizations, which is nothing short of amazing
because it means a lot to the underprivileged. Another reason why I hold him in
high regard is the fact that he has a pretty simple lifestyle irrespective of being
the most well-heeled businessmen at the present.
I really wish that I could see him in person one day ’coz he’s truly my role
model to emulate.
Part3:
What do you think is the retirement age for men and women?
To my mind, retirement age should be based on professions or case-by-case
basis rather than genders. For example, those working in professions
that require intensive manual labor should be given an early retirement, at
about 55, while white-collar workers like doctors, teachers, etc should work
longer. That said, for many people, the retirement age does not necessarily mean
they will become useless and stop contributing to the betterment of society.
What kinds of qualities do people need to run their own business?
Well, I suppose there’s a number of attributes a person needs to possess in
order to become a successful entrepreneur. First and foremost, no good
businessman becomes thwarted by a loss or defeat so people need to be
determined and see failure as another opportunity for success when starting their
own business. On top of that, they must possess a high level of confidence to be
able to take risks and responsibility when necessary.
What do you think are the key factors that contribute to the success of a
business?
Well, while many assume that success is largely based on luck, I am convinced
that there’s a handful of other factors that make a thriving business. Having a
plan at the outset is a prerequisite for success. This will help a business not
to go astray but rather focus on its main goal. Another equally important factor
is perseverance, which could help it stay afloat in perilous times, such as the
on-going covid-19 pandemic.
41. Describe a place you visited on vacation

You should say:

 Where it is
 When you went there
 What you did there
 And explain why you went there

Although I live in a very hectic city, I also feel attached to the countryside. Life
in the rural areas always brings me a sense of tranquility. Last summer, I got
away from the overcrowded city by spending all the time with my grandparents
in the country. This experience has been a great memory for me to look back on
with fondness.
Well, as you can imagine, country life is quite different from that of the city, and
living in the countryside is sometimes really challenging. While in my city
apartment, all I have to do is just some light housework like washing dishes or
cleaning the bathroom, but in the countryside I have to take care of the garden
every day and even help out with farm work. My grandparents have instructed
me to do this because it will help to develop self-reliance. Although there are
somehardships involved, finishing these tasks brings me closer to nature and I
have gradually become more adaptable to changes. Besides, without the
distraction of the Internet, I found myself more open to people around me and
understand them better. I have come to realize that alienation between humans
nowadays is partly caused by the dominance of technology.

Despite getting back to my normal life in the city, I still find the time spent in
the countryside very memorable. I believe that thanks to the precious time spent
in my grandparents’ country home, I have become more mature and dependable.
42. Describe a good service you received (company or store/shop)

You should say:

 What the service was
 When you received it
 Who you were with
 And how you felt about it

Let me tell about this one time I experienced exceptional service at a restaurant.
It was my 18th birthday and my family came up with the idea of celebrating the
night by eating out. The first thing to pop up into our minds was going to a fancy
restaurant but somehow, we ended up having our dinner at a reputable family
restaurant nearby. On entering the place, we were impressed by the restaurant’s
cozy and homely decor as well as the courteousness of the servers, who
allocated us the limited window seats right away as a privilege after hearing that
it was my birthday. Additionally, the waiters were patient and attentive, and we
only had to wait for about 10 minutes to be served, even though we ordered
quite a lavish amount of food. Most importantly, the dishes were so succulent
that we couldn’t have imagined they were merely home food. However, the real
highlight of the meal would be the surprise discount offered by the restaurant
owner, which we refused in the end. Being able to enjoy delectable dishes while
spending quality time with my family really made my day, not to mention not
having to pay through the nose for the experience.
Part 3:
Is it important for companies to have a good relationship with their
customers?
It is. According to a lot of research from the biggest companies in the world, a
large proportion of revenues comes from repeat customers. This makes sense
since people these days are too busy to search for information about a new
business. So, they tend to stick to ones that they already had satisfying
experiences with. When an enterprise can build trust in their customers, they
are more likely to return for following purchases and suggest the brand to their
friends.
What kind of services do people expect to receive from a big company?
In my opinion, a big company should have customers’ best interests at heart.
The purchasing process commences when a consumer enters a store and
continues during the time he uses the product. If the sales assistant is well-
trained and well-informed about what he sells, it is easier for the buyer to make
up his mind. Then, after-sales service should be paid attention to. When the
customer meets difficulties using the product, customer service staff should be
there to address the problems as soon as possible.

What kinds of jobs involve coping with the public?

They are in the Public Relations Department of a company. Their duties are
maintaining the relations and understanding between the firm and the public.
This department plays an important role in delivering messages of the
organization to the public and also handling crises.

Why should companies react quickly when customers have difficulties?

Firstly, people pay for products or services, so they’re entitled to fully enjoy
what they purchase. Secondly, when a customer files a complaint, a slow
response could result in anger and frustration. He then might take advantage of
social media to demonstrate the disappointment. Rumours fly, and
the reputation of the brand can be tarnished in a day or two. This is the reason
why these days, big companies pay a lot of attention to customer satisfaction.

43. Describe an expensive item that you bought and regretted

You should say:

 What it was
 How much you spent on it
 Why you bought it
 And explain why you think you spent more than
expected
I don’t really like to purchase any expensive item unless I have a very valid
reason to do so. Of course, people would choose to define expensive differently,
but I am not really debating here as to what really should be considered as
expensive and what shouldn’t be. Instead, I am here to talk about an expensive
item that I have purchased recently.

It is a branded perfume, and I bought it (more like “forced” to buy it) about a
couple of months ago when I was visiting a new perfume store with one of my
friends in my hometown. By the way, I do like to use different kinds of
perfumes because the same scent or fragrance, if used for a long period of time,
loses its appeal to me. So, I try to buy affordable perfumes at a more regular
interval instead of spending a fortune in buying some expensive perfumes.

So, after visiting the new perfume store, I found that it was selling a lot of
perfumes at a discounted price, apparently, in an effort to make the store popular
with customers. However, I noticed that even though the perfumes were selling
at a discounted rate, I felt that they were still expensive. But, my friend thought
otherwise and convinced me to purchase a certain perfume. I had never really
bought this kind of perfume up until that day nor was I too sure about saving any
money, but one thing was for sure that the perfume would last for a considerably
longer period of time.

Well, I purchased the expensive perfume, mainly because my friend had

convinced me to do so. Of course, I also went along with his idea because I felt
that it was a very nice perfume, and it would help me to change my taste in
perfume for a little while.  Finally, I bought it also because I wanted to build a
good rapport with the new store so that if I would ever go back to that store
again in the future, it would offer me a better price.
44. Describe a time when you moved to a new home or school

You should say:

 When you moved
 Where you moved
 Why you moved
 And how you felt about it

Let me tell you about the time I decided to move out to live alone in my rented
room.
Before, I was living in my cousin’s house in Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh
City. I had been living there for about 3 years which is a pretty long time. You
know, I had a good time there with my cousin’s family who treated me like their
family member. However, after living there for too long I realized I need
a personal space where I don’t have to share the kitchen and the fridge to store
my food. That is the reason why I decided to move out in October last year.
It took me a couple of weeks to do some Internet research and finally, I found a
suitable place with affordable rental in Phu Nhuan District, one of the central
areas of the city which is also near my workplace. So I quickly transferred the
deposit to the owner’s bank account and moved in on 3 October.
To be honest, I was pretty happy and excited to live in a new room where
everything belongs to me and I don’t have to share it with anyone
else. Although it was a bit costly for me to buy a new fridge, a hot plate, and a
bunch of necessities for my new place, I never regretted my decision.
Up to now, I have been living here for 4 months and I have made friends with
some kind and friendly housemates. The best thing about this move-out is that I
can cook whatever I crave in my room without waiting for anyone to finish their
cooking.
So that’s all I would like to say. Thank you for your listening.
Part3:
Why do people move to a new home?
There are some reasons for people to move into a new home. First, it is the
reason for their new working place. Sometimes when they have a new job,
the location is not so near their current house. That’s why they have to move to
somewhere near the new office and live. By doing so, they can save their
time commuting to work. Second, it is the reason for marriage. I have seen
plenty of newly wedded couples move in to live together somewhere larger after
their wedding because their current place is not spacious enough. So those are
the reasons I can think of.
What problems will people face after moving to a new place? How do
people solve these problems?
When moving to a new place, the first problem people may have to face is
their neighbors. In Vietnam, having a good bond with the neighbors
is crucial because we live next to each other. When we need help, the neighbors
are always there to support us before we think of calling our relatives over. The
second issue to address is that we may overspend our budget on some
new furniture and decorations. The solution for this is to carefully plan out what
we really need and what we just like to have. Then, go window shopping and
check the prices before we decide to pay and bring anything home.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in the same place?
Well, from my point of view, residing in the same place for a long time has
certain advantages. First, we can make some good friends who are our neighbors
and it will be them who shall come to support us in certain cases. Second, we
can make a firm foundation for our children to grow up without facing any
changes at an early age because those changes can affect them mentally, which
may lead to cultural shocks and depression.
However, there are also a number of disadvantages to consider. The first thing
that comes to my mind is the boredom that sets in after a couple of years. It
is undeniable that every day when we wake up, it’s such a tedious feeling to see
the same landscape outside our bedroom window. Plus, living in one place for a
long time limits our opportunity to meet new people and to experience
new life’s twists and turns.
Is it good to move to a new place frequently? Why?
Yes, I am sure everyone will say the same if this question is posed on a social
media platform. As a modern global citizen, I strongly believe that moving in
and traveling regularly helps us to live a flexible life, which is utmostly
needed nowadays as modern jobs require more travel. Besides, moving to a new
place is a good chance for us to make new friends and seek new work-related
opportunities.
45. Describe a person who impressed you most when you were in primary
school

You should say:

 Who he/she is
 How you knew him/her
 Why he/she impressed you most
 And how you feel about him/her
I got to meet many new people in primary school, including classmates,
teachers, principals and the rest of the campus staff. All of them have been nice
to me one way or another and I’ll be eternally grateful towards them. However,
there was one particular person who impressed me very much due to his
unending friendship
One of my classmates Nam was one of the nicest friends I ever had. He made
me feel very welcome at school and he was willing to help me whenever I had
trouble with something.
One particular moment I remember was I was being bullied by a bunch of older
students. They wanted my lunch money and I was not willing to give it up. Nam
came to rescue me by dishing out rather nasty insults towards the bullies and
they ran away with their feelings hurt. That was when Nam impressed me with
his selflessness and his tenacity.
As a matter of fact, I still keep in touch with him every now and then and right
now he’s studying at Kien Thuy high school.
Part 3:
Why do people always miss their childhood?
Oftentimes people miss their childhood because it reminded them of when life
was simpler and they didn’t have to worry about adult responsibilities such as
finding a job, raising a family and paying taxes for instance. Thus they tend to
look back on their childhood memories such as the friends they’ve made the
trips they’ve taken and games they’ve played to name a few.
Are kids happier than adults? Why?
I would say most of the time kids tend to be happier than adults because they are
not overly burdened with work of other adult responsibilities. They tend to only
worry about doing well at school and making new friends whereas adults often
get stressed from worrying about job security, having a steady income and
raising their kids
Why do people still remember many of their friends from primary school?
People often still remember their friends from primary school because they got
to know them long enough to remain close and they are often part of the most
precious memories a person has from their tendre at primary school. They tend
to remember the classes they took together, the games they played, the fields
trips they went on and the jokes they told each other.
What kinds of primary school teachers will impress students?
Students get impressed by teachers who are nice to them and who teach them in
a way that is engaging and not overly patronizing. Moreover, teachers can
impress students by sharing the same interests as them and tell them fascinating
stories of their personal life. That way, teachers can develop a close rapport.
47. Describe a person you know who does a job which is useful to society

You should say:

 Who this person is
 How you knew him/her
 What type of work he/she does
 And explain why you think his/her work is
useful to the society
Today, I’m going to talk about Dennis, a student of the National University of
Singapore - one of the most prestigious universities in the world. He is one of
the most creative and competent leaders I’ve ever encountered in my life. And
his willingness to make contributions to society never fails to impress me.
I met Dennis during an outreach programme in Vietnam. He was in the same
group as me, meaning that we worked together a lot. We were mainly in charge
of teaching activities.
Well, Dennis is the founder of the Youth Exploration Association of NUS. His
responsibilities revolve around developing overseas outreach programmes for
students in Singapore. Sometimes, he travels with other students to other
countries, mainly those in Southeast Asia like Vietnam and Cambodia, as a
project leader. These projects mainly aim at improving the access to education
of disadvantaged children in rural communes in low-income countries.
I think that his work is useful to society for two main reasons. First, as
mentioned above, the projects he is in charge of give education opportunities to
impoverished kids through activities like teaching English and other subjects, as
well as other extra-curricular activities that allow these kids to know more about
the world. Second, the NUS students that participate in the projects are also
beneficiaries. They can gain a great deal of experience, as well as broaden their
horizons, which helps them to develop a comprehensive world view.
Part 3:
What jobs are well-paid?
In light of the rise of information technology, most IT-related job roles, such as
data analyst, software developer, cyber security officer, user experience and
interface developer, are lucrative. These jobs require people to know how to
code, which is extremely difficult. Besides, jobs in the fields of finance are also
high-paying. Stockbrokers, bankers, accountants, auditors, tax consultants all
enjoy a remunerative income.
 Lucrative (adj): trả lương cao
How have working conditions changed?
Well, working conditions have changed significantly in the past few years.
Employees nowadays receive a better benefits package compared to the past.
Also, thanks to the emergence of technology, the amount of paperwork has
reduced significantly while labour productivity has kept improving at a rapid
pace. An increasing number of companies have placed a focus on their
employees’ mental health through activities like teambuilding and private
consultation with the CEO, which is beneficial to both productivity and
employees’ well-being at the same time.
 benefits package (n): chế độ đãi ngộ
What are the impacts of the pandemic on the work environment?
The first impact is the financial crisis. Lots of companies are teetering on the
verge of going bankrupt because they have literally no income while operational
costs remain unchanged or have even increased. Because of this crisis, employee
benefits, the most important of which is salary, have been affected significantly.
Even worse, many people have been retrenched. However, there is a silver
lining as remote working has become more popular, which gives employees
more chances to have a more flexible schedule.
 teeter on the verge/brink of sth (phrase): trên bờ vực cái gì đó.
 retrench (v): sa thải với mục đích giảm thiểu chi phí
 Silver lining (n): điểm sáng trong khó khăn
48. Describe a person you follow regularly on social media.

You should say:

 Who he/she is
 How you knew him/her
 What he/she posts on social media
 And explain why you follow him/her on social
media

Today, I’m gonna talk about a Palestinian influencer I follow regularly on

Facebook. He’s called Nas Daily. I guess lots of people know this guy as the
short videos he recorded while travelling around the world went viral some
years ago. Nas Daily is a Singapore- based influencer who is believed to be a
Harvard dropout, like Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Windows CEO Bill
Gates.
One day, when I was surfing Facebook, I came across a short video in which
Nas Daily kept praising how Singapore, his new home country, had emerged as
one of the most developed countries in the world. Albeit short, his video
contained a sufficient amount of basic knowledge about the country’s
development and introduced some popular attractions in the Southeast Asia city-
state. This video immediately impressed me. After that, I decided to watch some
other videos he made.
So basically, Nas Daily produces a wide variety of videos. But he mostly
focuses on his journeys and the culture of the places he goes to. He sometimes
produces motivational videos as well.
I follow Nas Daily because his videos are so informative. They have helped me
broaden my horizons about other countries around the world in a very fast
way. Although his videos may contain some slips, they are generally
informative and completely unbiased.
Part 3:
Do you think older people and younger people will use the same kind of
social media software?
Yes, although that’s not what young people like. Back then when Facebook was
still new, most users fell in to younger age groups. Now, as older people always
have access to the internet, they have also learned to use social media, especially
Facebook, which is currently the largest social networking platform. Lots of
young people are switching to Instagram and other sites that have fewer old
users.
Do older people spend much time on social media?
The amount of time spent on social media varies from person to person.
However, compared with young people, older people definitely spend less time
on social media. That being that, I know many older people who take photos
everywhere and post them on social media nearly every single day. From my
personal observation, for older people, social media act as a tool for them to
keep pace with events, so they don’t need to spend too much time on them like
young people, who tend to use social media as a tool to show off their lifestyles
and achievements.
49.Describe a famous city that you think is interesting
You should say:
 Where it is
 What the city is famous for
 Why it is interesting
 And explain how you feel about it

Today I’ll talk about the city which has been crowned the most visited city in
the world and it is also the one that I’ve dreamed of visiting for years. It’s Hong
Kong. Hong Kong, a special administrative region belonging to the People’s
Republic of China, is one of the four Asian tigers due to its outstanding
economic performance under the rule of Great Britain before being handed
back to China. It is slightly more than 2 hrs flight time from Ho Chi Minh city,
where I am based. Bristling with skyscrapers, Hong Kong’s world class
Victoria Harbour is the hub of thousands of tourists every year, especially at the
end of the year when the New Year Eve’s eye-catching fireworks display is
held.
Hong Kong is one of the only two countries in Asia, apart from Japan, where
there is a Disneyland resort. People, especially families, consider it as a must-
visit place in Hong Kong. Apart from Disneyland, the mountains in Hong Kong
offer people the best view of the city’s skyline and Victoria Harbour, so the
mountains around the harbour also attract an immense number of trekkers.
I first heard of Hong Kong when I studied history in grade 5, since when I was
inspired to pay a visit to the city once in my life, although it is not easy for a
person with a Third World passport.
I would like to visit Hong Kong for two reasons. First, not only does the city
have beautifully designed buildings but it also has national parks, mountains and
other natural tourist resources. The other reason is because Hong Kong has the
one of the best trains in the world. I would like to try their MTR sometime!

50. Something important to you that your family has had for a long time.

You should say

 What it is
 When your family had it
 How your family got it
 And explain why it is important for your family

Today, I am going to share with you an old possession that my family has kept
for a long time. It is an antique terra-cotta dish, which is displayed in an
honoured position in the living room.
This old dish originated from feudal times in Vietnam, although I am not sure of
the year exactly. It might have belonged to the Nguyen Dynasty. It is made from
pottery material with some small artificial fissures, and it was my grandfather’s
favourite thing when he was still alive. There is a village picture painted in blue
in the centre of the dish.
When I was a child, my grandfather used to tell me the story of this dish. His
close friend gave it to him to celebrate his house-warming in the past. They had
been companions in arms for a long time, so that was the reason why he really
treasured their ties and that gift as a reminder of their friendship.
There is a lot of other modern furniture arranged in my house nowadays,
however, this antique object is still a treasured possession for each member of
my family. We have kept this antique dish for over 30 years, even when my
grandpa passed away and left it for my family. Whenever I look at this dish, it
always reminds me of my grandfather as a fond memento.