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 LOI KHEN TANG

“How to crack the IELTS Writing test— Vol 1 provides

idiomatic and more complex vocabulary within the
contexts of model essay. A billingual asset for
Vietnamese IELTS candidates, it uses a range
of dynamic visual and typographical features to
create an authentic and impactful resource for
mid-to-high-level learners.”

T.S. Martin B. Andrew, Chuyén gia Phuong phap

Gido duc Xuyén nganh va Xuyén quéc gia

“How to crack the IELTS Writing test— Vol 1 c6 cach truyén

dat dung trong tam, dé hiéu va hiéu qua. Ngwdi hoc
dug tiép can nhiéu chti dé da dang va cap nhat thudc
cac chu diém thuéng gap trong ki thi IELTS. Méi cht:
dé cung cap cho ngudi hoc nhitng hung dan ngan
gon dé ttrng bude chuan bi y tuéng, nang cap tiv
ving, cai thién ngt phap, t6 chtrc va hoan thién bai
viét. Tdi tin tréng cuén sach la mon qua y nghia ma
Tung va cc céng su day tam huyét danh tang cho cac thi
sinh IELTS.”

Cé Tran Thj Hiéu Thuy, Thac si TESOL, giang vién Phwong phap Giang day tiéng
Anh, khoa Sw pham tiéng Anh — trwéng Dai hoc Ngoai ngi — Dai hoc Quéc gia
Ha N6i

“Tdi duoc 9.0 IELTS Writing va dang hoc thém ttr

cuén sach nay.”

Va Hai Dang — Chevenor, 9.0 IELTS Writing

4| HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 “Bi kip bd tui khéng thé bd qua cho nhieng ai mudén
gianh diém cao trong bai thi IELTS Writing. Cudn
sach cung cap nhieng chi dan chi tiét vé phuong
phap thyc hanh dén tir nhieng thi sinh IELTS thanh
céng nhat Viét Nam. Qua cach trinh bay dé hiéu va
dé van dung, cac tac gia da gidi thiéu toi ngudi doc
nhiéu cach tiép can mot chi dé voi nhiéu géc nhin
da dang nhung van rat gan gili voi cudc séng. Qua do,
ngudi doc cé thé ty tin luyén thi IELTS Writing va dat duoc
thanh céng trén con duéng hoc van twong lai.”

Thay Nguyén Tuan Hai, Fullbrighter, Thac si Princeton, CEO trwong Quéc té My
St. Nicholas tai Da Nang

“Viéc tim cho minh mét ngudi huéng dan tét va mot
cuén sach tham khao hifu ich khi hoc IELTS Ia hai
diéu cwc ki quan trong quyét dinh thanh bai cla viéc
dat duoc band diém nhu mong muén. Va How to
crack the IELTS Writing test — Vol 1 co du ca hai
diéu dd. Ttrng trang sach la tam huyét va thanh qua
nghién ctru nghiém tuc cua cac tac gia. Voi nhieng
ai dang cam thay ap Ive nang né trong phan thi duoc
nhiéu ngwdi danh gia la khé nhat cia IELTS — Writing
Task 2 — thi day chinh la cuén sach ban nén co trén tay.”

Nguyén Ha Duy, Trwéng ban Gido duc — Khoa hoc Kenh14.vn

LOI KHEN TANG | 5

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WRITING TEST,
Tw hdi tiéu hoc, t6i da cd niém yéu thich dac biét voi m6n tiéng Anh va Van hoc. Su’ say
mé Ay van cudn lay téi nhiéu nam vé sau, khién tdi miét mai luyén viét va miét mai tim
toi nhténg phuong thtrc day viét hiéu qua nhat cho hoc sinh ctia minh.

Trong qua trinh tim cach bé khéa IELTS Writing, tdi thuong doc cac bai luan cla nhirng
chuyén gia IELTS va ca cac “cao tht” trong lang IELTS Viét. Ban dau, téi phan tich bai
va tht? bat chuéc, dan dan tich ly kinh nghiém cho minh, rdi chuyén sang tim cach
thoat khdéi cach hanh van bay budém dai déng dé huéng toi sy tdi gian tinh gon. Bén
canh dé, téi d@ luyén cho minh thdi quen viét thong xuyén qua viéc giai dé thi IELTS
cap nhat hang tuan. Qua thc, bai mau doc thi thay dé, lai tyéng rang minh nam kién
thtvc nhu ldng ban tay nhung khi dat but viét mdi biét minh cn “non va xanh” lam.

“Practice makes perfect” — chan ly chua bao gid Idi thoi. Ddi voi How to crack the IELTS
Writing test— Vol. 1, toi va anh Tung hi vong cuén sach sé tiép thém d6ng luc dé déc
gia, dac biét la cac ban dang chuan bj thi IELTS, kién tri horn voi viéc luyén tap. Va dén
mét ngay, c6 thé cac ban sé ty kinh ngac nhan ra minh da di dworc quang duéng dai thé
nao khi nhin lai nhieng bai viét c6 déi phan “ngo nghé” thud modi dau.

Nhan day, t6i muén td long biét on va kinh phuc déi voi ngudi céng sw cla minh trong
dw an nay, anh Dang Tran Tung. Anh vira la sép, la déng nghiép, la ngudi anh, ngudi
thay luén truyén cam hteng cho téi vi sw hét long ctia anh déi voi hoc sinh, vi tai nang va
ca dam mé v6 tan déi voi viéc nghién ctru ngén ngi (du da 3 [an dat 9.0 IELTS nhung
anh van sé thi tiép nhiéu lan nira cho toi khi chinh phuc dug diém 9 “tron”). Cam on
nhing Idi nhan xét gdp y, nhtng kinh nghiém quy gia anh chia sé da gitip em hoan thién
hon cac bai viét cla minh.

Em xin cam on thay Nguyén Tai Dién, ngudi da day em v@ long vé IELTS ndi chung
va IELTS Writing ndi riéng. Cam on thay vi nhieng bai giang day mau Iiva va sw nhiét
huyét cla thay da khién em thém yéu nghé su pham cing nhu thém say mé rén luyén
ki nang Writing.

T6éi muén cam on ban lanh dao cia The IELTS Workshop, dac biét la chi Hoa, da tin
twOng tdi voi dy an nay. Writing da la niém dam mé tir lau ctia téi va dug trao co’ héi
chia sé nhitng kién thtrc minh dic két dug qua nhiéu nam nghién ctru la mét diéu tdi
v6 cling tran trong.

Cam on anh Khanh, truéng phong dao tao ctia trung tam The IELTS Workshop va la
cAp trén tryc tiép cla tdi, da hé tro’ tdi trong céng tac chuyén mén va hat stec tao diéu
kién cho tdi trong qua trinh viét sach. Giai doan viét sach ciing tring voi thoi diém trong
phong dao tao co rat nhiéu du an, va sw thau hiéu, sap xép cla anh Khanh [a mot su’
gitip do to lén dé tdi cd thé di duge toi vach dich.

Va cuéi cling, xin cam on cdc em — nhieng hoc sinh than yéu cla tdi. Cac em la nguén
nang Iwe tich cwe khién téi khong cho phép minh ngtng trau ddi ki nang giang day va
bdi dap kién thtrc chuyén mén, khién tdi mudn déc hét strc dé cd thé hoan thanh cuén
sach nay.
Tac gia Dang Bich Phuong

DOI LOI TAC GIA | 7

 HUONG DAN SU DUNG SACH
How to crack the IELTS Writing test — Vol 1 sé la nguén tham khao hivu ich cho cac thi
sinh IELTS 6 trinh d6 tir 5.5 dang chuan bi bu@éc vao ki thi voi muc tiéu dat band diém
ki nang Writing & mirc 6.5 tre lén.

Quyén sach gdm 6 chti dé théng dung, trong do tleng chti dé lai duoc minh hoa voi 4 dé
bai thwong gap trong IELTS Writing Task 2.

® Opinion

e Discussion

e Pros & Cons

e Two-Part Question (Problems — Solutions & Causes — Solutions)

Méi dé bai dug chia thanh bén phan chinh:

1) Outline: Tom luge bang tiéng Viét cdc y chinh dugrc stv dung trong bai, gitip ban doc
dé dang ghi nho va hiéu r6 dug ndi dung chinh. Dé khién cdc bai mau gan gii véi
ngwoi doc hon, cac tac gid da lwa chon nhitng y twong don gian, dé nghi ra. Diéu
nay ciing déng thdi gitip ngwdi doc tap trung hon vao cach phat trién y cling nh
ng6én ngi viét trong bai.

2) Topic Vocabulary va Topic Vocabulary Review: Trang bi cac tir vwng can thiét voi
giai nghia cy thé, giup ban doc lam giau vén tlr vung nang cao cia tleng chii dé. Cac
tiv vung nay sé duo'c highlight xanh trong bai viét.

3) Bai luan mau (tiéng Anh va phan dich tiéng Viét):

e Phan tiéng Anh: Bai luan mau dug viét theo nhiéu cach tra loi khac nhau, tham chi
mét sé dé c6 2-3 bai luan mAu linh hoat, khién cudén sach cé gia tri tham khado véi
nhiéu déi tweng ban doc.

Tuy vay, twu chung cé 2 phuong phap tiép can chinh duoc str dung:

- Single-idea paragraph (Doan van mét y): Tap trung phan tich dao sau y twéng

- Multiple-idea paragraph (Doan van nhiéu y): Mang tinh chat liét ké, dé ap dung

e Phan tiéng Viét: Dich sat y bai mau, hé tre ban doc hiéu tron ven bai viét va tranh dich
tir déi tl.

8 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

4) General Vocabulary va General Vocabulary Review: Téng hop cac tle vung dat gid
duge stv dung trong bai, co gidi nghia va vi du cu thé. Cac tle vung nay sé duoc
highlight vang trong bai viét.

Bén canh do, cac cau vi du minh hoa ciing duoc trau chuét ki luéng, stv dung nhiéu
cum tlr vung hay va dat gia giip cdc ban ghi diém trong phan thi IELTS Writing. Nhieng
tue/ cum tle nay sé dug dé mau xanh Ia.

Cac tip ste dung cuén sach hiéu qua

V6i méi dé bai, ban hay tw tim cach giai quyét (tim hiéu dé, lap dan y), sau d6 mdi doc
va phan tich bai m4u — tap trung vao cac diém ngi phap, yéu t6é tty vwng, dé mach lac
va cach dién giai cau tra loi — 4 tiéu chi cham diém IELTS Writing. Lam ki cc buéc nay
sé gitip ban nho lau, hiéu bai va van dung dé dang hon.

Mét cach khac [a ban ty viét bai theo dan y da dugec lén san trong sach, sau dé
déi chiéu bai luan ctia ban voi bai luan mau. Cach hoc nay phu ho'p voi nhieng ban
dang muén tap trung cai thién ki nang phat trién y, két néi cau, ng phap va tt» vwng
nang cao.

Cudi cling, divng bé qua bai tap bé tro dé cling cé vén tlr clla minh nhé. Dédi voi nhieng
bai tap trong Topic Vocabulary, co nhitng bai khéng chi gitp ban 6n tap lai cac tt
vung da dwa ra ma con hé tro ban phat trién thém y tuwéng va tw duy vé chu dé do,
Déi voi nhieng bai tap trong General Vocabulary, cac tlvy vwng va cach dién dat hvu
dung nhat da duoc chat loc dé ban co thé luyén tap va str dung trong nhing bai viét,
van canh khac.

HUONG DAN SU DUNG SACH | 9

 MUC LUC
CHAPTER 01

CHAPTER 03
AMY 115

CHAPTER 04
hice ee 152

G@] | CHAPTER 05
MEDIA eee 203

aS CHAPTER 06
MEY TECHNOLOGY... 249
aa
 01 Some people believe that everyone has a right to have
= access to university education and that governments
2 should make it free for all students no matter what
financial background they have. To what extent do you
agree or disagree?

CAN BANG (50/50) ( 3

VE 1 VE 2
Téi déng y Téi khéng dong y
[Chinh ph nén mién hoc phi [Viéc mién hoc phi dai hoc
dai hoc.] sé anh hung xau toi
sinh vién va xa héi.]

Y chinh Y chinh
Cé loi cho ca nhan Anh huéng xau toi sinh vién
Giai thich Giai thich

Ctr nhan dai hoc, dac biét la Thi trwong lao d6éng ngay cang
ngwdi c6 hoan canh khé khan, canh tranh cao, do vay néu cé

sé dé tim dug cong viéc va cé qua nhiéu ctv nhan, tam bang dai
cuéc s6ng tét hon. hoc dan sé khé dam bao viéc lam
cho ho.

Y chinh 2 Y chinh 2
C6 loi cho xa hdi Anh hwéng xau téi xa hdi
Giai thich Giai thich
Chinh sach nay sé mang lai luc Chi tra toan b6 hoc phi dai hoc
lwgng lao déng chat lng cao sé gay ap luce cho ngan sach
hon, tv dé dan toi nén kinh té thinh nha nwéc, dan dén tham hut
vwo'ng va xa hdéi van minh. ng&n sach, tang thué hoac
giam phic loi xa hdi.

12 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

(A topic VOCABULARY
abolish tuition fees (v) LY _mién hoc phi

* waive tuition (v): mién hoc phi

* pursue college without fee (v): hoc dai hoc

mién phi
* cover higher education tuition (v): chi tra
hoc phi dai hoc
* tuition waiver (n): (mét dang hoc béng) mién
hoc phi
* free-college policy (n): chinh sach mién hoc
phi dai hoc
* provision of free-of-charge education (n):
viéc cung cap gido duc mién phi

affordability of higher education (n) L kha nang chi tra cho giao duc
bac cao/ giao duc dai hoc

be entitled to university (v) LW duoc quyén vao dai hoc

* be entitled to attend tertiary education (v):

duoc quyén hoc dai hoc

CHAPTER 1 —EDUCATION | 13
 toric VOCABULARY
bachelor’s degree holder (n) LY _Ngwdi cd bang ctr nhan

lat e

* college qualification (n): bang dai hoc

* acquisition of a tertiary degree (n):
viéc gianh dug tam bang dai hoc

gross enrolment rate (n) . tang ti 1é nhap hoc (trong bai nay ndi

aes
vé bac dai hoc)

more educated workforce (n) Ww luc lung lao déng cé trinh d6 hoc
van cao hon

socio-economic background (n) hoan canh kinh té-xa hdi (lién quan
* financial status (n): tinh trang dén giai cap va tinh trang tai chinh)
tai chinh
The proposal is meant to close
a growing gap among students
from different socio-economic
backgrounds.

14| HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

Exercise: Free college education.

a) What are some alternative words for ‘university education’?

b) What are some alternative words for ‘remove tuition’?

o Whasessusscouneness tuition
~ Bicceccapnernennene tuition

# | Diese mnemren: Goon

= \Qiiusnuesuaussions Gicwugesnassussnnests
= B ccoseunesvenmennes Dccsascoxesxasonesess

f) What is the alternative word for ‘cheap’ in the phrase ‘cheap university
education’?

CHAPTER 1 — EDUCATION | 15
 aa
As tuition fees have been inexorably increasing in recent years, the affordability of
higher education has always been a topic of interest. It is argued that the government
should abolish college tuition fees, irrespective of students’ socio-economic
background. While this thinking is valid to a certain extent, | believe that waiving
tuition would have an adverse bearing on both students and society.

There are many compelling reasons why students should be allowed to pursue
college without fee. On the individual level, bachelor's degree holders, especially the
underprivileged, will stand a better chance of landing higher-paid jobs and bettering
their life quality. On the societal level, a surge in the gross enrollment rate, prompted
by a free-college policy, would give rise to a more educated workforce. This acts as a
precursor to not only a thriving economy but also a civilized society.

Despite the aforementioned benefits, | would contend that the provision of free-
of-charge higher education is, in fact, can do both the beneficiaries and society a
disservice. The impact of more college graduates on employment is questionable at
best. The job market has become very competitive as it is, even for job seekers with
college qualifications. Therefore, if everyone is entitled to university, it is no longer
feasible for them to find a job, let alone the financial abundance previously so often
associated with the acquisition of a tertiary degree. In addition to this, the enormous
cost incurred to cover higher education tuition will put a strain on government coffers,
leading to budget deficits, tax hikes, or reduced welfare among others.

In conclusion, while the potential benefits of university tuition waivers make it seem
like a good idea, | believe that the government should not make it free for everyone.

290 words — written by Phuong Dang

 TRANSLATION

Vi hoc phi (dai hoc) da va dang tang lén khéng ngirng trong nhirng nam gan day, kha
nang chi tra cho giao duc bac cao lu6én la mét cht dé dug quan tam. C6 y kién cho

rang chinh phi nén mién hoc phi & bac dai hoc, khéng phan biét hoan canh kinh té-xa
hdi cia sinh vién. DU suy nghi nay co gia tri & mét mvc a6 nhat dinh, tdi tin rang viéc
mién hoc phi sé co anh hwéng xau tdi cac sinh vién va xa hdi.

Co nhiéu ly do thuyét phuc cho viéc tai sao sinh vién nén duoc tao diéu kién dé theo
hoc dai hoc ma khéng phai tra phi. O' cAp dé ca nhan, nhirng nguoi cé bang ctr nhan,
dac biét la nhieng nguoi bi thiét thoi vé quyén loi, sé cd co’ hdi tot hon dé co duoc
nhitng céng viéc dug tra lvong cao hon va cai thién chat long cudéc séng ctia ho.
O cap dé x4 hdi, sw gia tang tang ti lé nhap hoc, due'c thiic day béi chinh sach mién
hoc phi dai hoc, sé tao ra lc lugng lao déng co trinh d6 hoc van cao hon. Diéu nay
déng vai tré tién dé khéng chi cho mét nén kinh té thinh vworng ma cén cho mat xa hdi
van minh.

Bat chap nhitng loi ich da dé cp 6 trén, tdi van cho rang viéc cung cap gido duc bac
cao mién phi, trén thu té, cd thé gay anh hwéng xAu lén nhieng ngwoi thu hudng va
ca xa hdi. Tac déng cia viéc cé nhiéu sinh vién tét nghiép dai hoc hon téi viéc lam Ia
dang ngai nhat. Thi trwong viéc lam vén da rat canh tranh, ngay ca khi nhivng nguoi
tim viéc cé bang ctr nhan. Do dd, néu moi ngudi déu cd quyén hoc dai hoc thi chuyén
kiém dugc viéc sé khéng con kha thi voi ho nia, chua ndi dén ganh nang tai chinh
truéc dé thuong di ddi véi viéc gianh duoc tam bang dai hoc. Thém vao do, chi phi
khéng Id phai tra cho hoc phi gido duc bac cao sé gay ap lc cho ngan sach chinh phu,
dan dén tham hut ngan sach, tang thué hoac giam phtic loi cho nhtrng déi tworng khac.

Tém lai, du: nhieng loi ich tiém nang cla viéc mién hoc phi dai hoc khién viéc nay cd
vé la mét y tuéng hay, nhung tdi tin rang chinh phti khéng nén mién hoc phi dai hoc

cho tat ca moi ngudi.

CHAPTER1 — EDUCATION | 17
> GENERAL. WOCABULARY
inexorable (a) continuing without any possibility of being
stopped

Recent decades have witnessed the

inexorable technological advances.

topic of interest (n) + a topic that many people want to know

about

How to gain work-life balance is a

topic of general interest.

have an adverse bearing on (v) Sv have a bad effect on

== High parental expectations can

have an adverse bearing on student
outcomes.

compelling reason (n) yy strong, persuasive reason

* valid reason (n):
true, reasonable Personal development is among
explanation the most compelling reasons why
* justification (n): good students should join a club in college.
reason or explanation The rationale for using this teaching
for something method is to boost student
* rationale (n): good reason or confidence.
explanation for something

18 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

#2 GENERAL
the underprivileged (n) poor people
* the disadvantaged (n):
poor people The charity is raising money for
the underprivileged who suffered
most from floods.

stand a chance of (v) be likely or able to do something

* passport to sth: a certain way of successfully.
getting something you want
He doesn't stand a chance
of winning against such an
experienced player.
A degree can no longer be a
passport to job opportunities.

land a high-paid job (v) get jobs with high salary

* secure a high-paid job (v): get
It is not easy to land a high-paid
jobs with high salary
job.

thriving economy (n) growing, successful economy

* prosperity (n): the state of being
Since the last 20th century,
successful and having a lot of
Singapore has gone from a third
money
world to developed country with
a thriving economy, continually
leading most global rankings.

tax hikes (n) tax increase

The public raised a great hue and

cry about tax hikes.

CHAPTER 1 — EDUCATION | 19
> cenera. VOCABULARY
do sb/ sth a disservice (v) sf to do harm to

The fans’ rude behavior has done the

game a great disservice.

questionable at best (idm) not certain, even if the best possible

result happens

Any conclusions drawn from this

would be questionable at best.

as it is (idm) already

| can’t help. I’ve got too much to do

as itis.

put a strain on (v) to put pressure on something

Financial problems have put a strain

on their relationship.

coffers (n) the financial accounts of a government or

an organization

Tourism brought $200 million into local

government coffers.

budget deficit (n) ; the state when spending is much more

than income.

Many countries are suffering from

soaring unemployment, and large

SPENDING — INCOME budget deficits.

reduced welfare (n) the state of less success and money

bA
RF
The economic crisis has led to
reduced welfare.

20 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 VOCABULARY REVI EW
Exercise: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have to
change the form of the word to match the sentence.
disadvantage. “ in
disadvantage
1. Empowering the ..................-. assuring them that education holds the real
underprivilege
underprivileged
source of power.

Meaning: poor people

2. The workshop revolves around tips on how to best gain the attention of a headhunter
land a high-paid job.
and effective strategies to help ...'aNd_....
Meaning: get

3. In a bizarre twist, the continuing rise in fuel taxes could force the petrol companies
hike prices further.
themselves to .NIKe..._.
Meaning: increase

inexorably attempts to stabilize public spending

4. Since costs tend to rise ...INexOrably....,
have essentially meant cuts in actual services.
Meaning: continue without any sign of being stopped

5. Regular consumption of red and processed meat can do a major .. disservice

diSService...
to public health.
Meaning: harm

6. The Christmas spending spree is under way, and just shopping for presents can put
strain
a..strain. on budgets.
Meaning: pressure

7. Animal welfare ceeeeee is a complicated

Welfare issue, as confronting animal cruelty and

taking action to stop it would require a greater effort and sacrifice than most people
are willing to make.
Meaning: happiness

CHAPTER 1 — EDUCATION | 21
 PHAN BIEN ( 3
(60/40)

40 60

Tdi khéng déng y Téi khéng déng y

[Viéc mién hoc phi dai hoc [Viéc mién hoc phi dai hoc
duoc cho 1a cé Ioi, nhuwng sé anh hwong xau toi
suy nghi nay kh6éng hop ly.] hoc sinh va xa hdi.]

* Ychinh * Ychinh
Mét sé ngudi cho rang nén mién Anh hwéng xau tdi thanh tich hoc
hoc phi dai hoc. tap cua sinh vién

* Giai thich * Giai thich

Cw nhan dai hoc, dac biét la Hién nay, da sé sinh vién phai tu tra
ngwodi cé hoan canh khé khan, sé hoc phi, nén ho sé hoc nghiém ttc.

dé tim dugc co hdi viéc lam. Do vay, bé hoc phi co thé khién ho
tho o véi viéc hoc va mat di déng
* Phan bién: lye, tly dé dan dén két qua hoc tap
Suy nghi nay Ia sai. giam sut.

* Giai thich
Qua nhiéu ct nhan cé thé lam
tang ti lé that nghiép tré.

22 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 Oa 4
a
higher education attendance (n) viéc di hoc dai hoc

* attend university (v): di hoc dai hoc

* pursue teritary education (v): theo hoc In many countries, youngsters
are often encouraged to take
dai hoc
* embark on formal university education a gap year before embarking
on their formal university
(v): bat dau viéc
hoc dai hoc
education.

be entitled to free university (v) cé quyén hoc dai hoc mién phi
* pursue college without fee (v): hoc dai
hoc mién phi
Whether all students should be
* subsidize college education (v): hé tro
entitled to free university still
hoc phi dai hoc
arouses much controver sy.
* wholly subsidize tertiary education (v):
hé tro hoan toan gido duc bac cao
* make university free of charge (v):
mién hoc phi dai hoc
* tuition exemption (n): viéc mién hoc phi
* abolition of university tuition (n):
viéc mién hoc phi dai hoc

influx of graduates (n)

sé lvong sinh vién tét nghiép

The summer months always

see a large influx of
enthusiastic graduates, fresh
from universities and business
schools across Vietnam; looking
to establish their career path
and land their ideal first job.

CHAPTER 1 — EDUCATION | 23
f\ toric VOCABULARY
students’ academic performance (n) _¥y___ thanh tich hoc tap cila sinh vién
* deteriorating performance (n):
thanh tich hoc tap giam sut There is no doubt that teachers
have substantial impacts on
their students’ academic
perfomance and life-long
success.

undergraduate (n) Yv__ sinh vién dai hoc (chua tét nghiép)

In 2010, a full-time
undergraduate program
was started as part of the
university's planned expansion.

do sth in earnest (v) yy lam viéc gi rat nghiém tic

The race for the White House

begins in earnest today.

apply oneself to sth (v) 4 chuyén tam lam viéc gi

Anybody can succeed, if they

apply themselves.

24 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 REVIEW
Exercise 1: Find a suitable term that matches the following definitions.

1. a student who is studying for their first degree at a college or university:

undergraduate
2. special permission not to do or pay something: ..... be entitled to
be entitled to a
do sth in earnest Keates
3. do something seriously: ............ do sth in earnest eae ay 25 5ST SERS SEESTES

4. student study results: 22... students'ae

ee academic performance
eee eric sse rie setecaees rieosaneeesles

5. work hard at something. ......... apply

apply oneself
oneself to
to sth
sth oo,

Exercise 2: Choose the correct alternative for the words or phrases in

bold.

1. provide free university education

exempt B. abolish C. subsidize

with special
with special permission
permission not
not to
to do
do or
or pay
pay something:
something:
2. start university education
AJ embark B. attend C. pursue

3. poor study result

A. dwindle CB Yeteriorating C. decrease

4. a large number of undergraduates

A. amount ( B. is C. data

CHAPTER 1 — EDUCATION | 25
 \ SAMPLE

Higher education attendance, undoubtedly, has been a vital determinant of economic

growth. However, the costs of attending university, which have escalated in recent
years, has engendered some valid concerns. A school of thought holds that students,
irrespective of their financial status, should be entitled to free university. This essay is
going to prove that subsidizing college education will do more harm than good.

It is understandable why some people subscribe to the view that students should be
allowed to pursue college without fee. Proponents of tuition exemption may argue
that this practice will enable more students, especially the disadvantaged, to pursue
tertiary education, which is conducive to their employment opportunities. However,
this thinking is flawed, since the larger influx of graduates into the labour market is
actually a primary driving force behind the rising youth unemployment. Therefore,
it is apparent that wholly subsidizing tertiary education is counter-productive to job
guarantee.

Another pronounced drawback is that the abolition of university tuition may take a toll
on students’ academic performance. As today most undergraduates have to pay for
their education, they are inclined to study in earnest and apply themselves to getting
good grades. Therefore, were this financial obligation to be dispensed with, students
could be indifferent to their study and lose the drive to work hard. For example, they
may skip classes or miss exams because they feel that failing does not cost them
anything. These behaviors obviously may lead to deteriorating performance and
students would fail to benefit from their education.

In conclusion, | believe that alloting state funding to make university free of charge
does not seem a good idea.

271 words, written by Phuong Dang

 \
\ TRANSLATION

Viéc hoc dai hoc chac chan da va dang [a mét quyét dinh s6ng con clia tang trudng
kinh té. Tuy nhién, chi phi hoc dai hoc leo thang trong nhiyng nam gan day da dan
dén mét sé quan ngai cé co’ sé. Mét trweng phai cho rang sinh vién, khéng ké dén
tinh trang tai chinh, nén duoc quyén hoc dai hoc mién phi. Tuy nhién, bai luan nay sé
chteng minh rang viéc tro cAp cho giao duc dai hoc sé loi bat cap hai.

Cé thé hiéu dugc tai sao mdt sé ngudi ting hé quan diém rang sinh vién nén duoc
phép theo hoc dai hoc ma khéng phai tra phi. Nhitng ngudi ung hé viéc mién hoc phi
c6 thé lap luan rang cach thirc nay sé cho phép nhiéu sinh vién, dac biét la nhieng em
cé hoan canh kho khan, theo dudi giao duc dai hoc, tao diéu kién cho co’ hdi viéc lam
cla cdc em. Tuy nhién, suy nghi nay van con thiéu sot, vi lvong sinh vién tét nghiép
tham gia vao thi trwéng lao déng nhiéu hon thwe ra lai la déng Iwe chinh yéu dang sau

pot ae
tinh trang that nghiép tré dang gia tang. Do do, ré rang la viéc hé tre hoan toan hoc phi
dai hoc lai phan tac dung déi voi viéc bao dam viéc lam.
Pe

Mét nhuoe diém ré la viée mién hoc phi dai hoc cé thé gay anh hudng xau toi thanh
tich hoc tap cla sinh vién. Vi ngay nay hau hét sinh vién dai hoc phai tra tién cho viéc
hoc tap ctia minh nén cac em cé xu huéng hoc mét cach nghiém tic va tw than nd

lwe dé dat diém cao. Do dé, néu trach nhiém tai chinh nay dug san ra thi sinh vién
C6 thé tré nén thd o véi viéc hoc va mat di déng Ic hoc tap cham chi. Vi du, cac em
cé thé “ctip” tiét hoac bé bai kiém tra vi cam thay viéc thi truot chang gay mat mat gi.
Nhitng hanh vi nay r6 rang co thé dan dén thanh tich hoc tap gidm suit va sinh vién sé
khéng duoc hung loi ttr viéc hoc tap.

Tom lai, t6i tin rang viéc phan bd ngan sach nha nu@c dé mién hoc phi dai hoc cé vé
kh6ng phai la mét y twong hay.
& ceneraL VOCABULARY
determinant (n) yr something that controls or affects what
happens in a particular situation

Soil and climate are the main

determinants of how land is used.

engender some valid concerns (v) Ww to cause some worries

The soaring unemployment rate has

engenered some valid concerns.

school of thought (n) Sv set ideas or opinions that a group of

people share about a matter

One school of thought argues that

depression is best treated by drugs.

irrespective of (prep) wr without considering

Everyone should be treated equally,

irrespective of race.

do more harm than good (v) * be damaging and not helpful

Modernizing historic buildings can

often do more harm than good.

28 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL YOr ‘ABULARY
subscribe to (v) ¥ to agree with or support an opinion, belief

| subscribe to the idea that voting is

my civic duty.

be conducive to sth (a) * providing the right conditions for

something good to happen or exist

Such a noisy environment was not

conducive to a good night's sleep

driving force behind/ for sth (n) te someone or something that has the
power to make things happen

Making money is the driving force

behind most businesses.

fail to do sth (v) 0 not to succeed in trying to do something

Many school-leavers with

qualifications fail to find jobs.

take a toll on sth (v) to cause harm to something

The constant stress takes a heavy

4 toll on emergency room workers.

CHAPTER 1 —EDUCATION | 29
f) GENERAL WOK RY
be inclined to do sth (a) ve to be likely to do something

No one was inclined to help.

Sy (2
be indifferent to sth (a) to not thinking about or interested in
someone or something

She was utterly indifferent to his

irritation.

drive (n) strong determination to do or achieve

something

He has the drive to succeed.

allot sth to sth/ sb (v) to give something, especially a share

of something available, for a particular
purpose

The museum is planning to increase

the amount of space allotted to
modern art.

30 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL
VOCABULARY

Exercise 1: Find a better expression for the underlined parts among the
words listed above.

1. Over the long term, computer addiction can do harm to students’ physical and
mental well-being. take aa toll
take toll on
on
2. Happiness will never come to those who cannot appreciate what they already
have. fail to
fail to
3. The faster the heart beats the more rapidly we may be likely to breathe and the
more oxygen we take in. be
be inclined
inclined to
to
John will be best remembered for his determination and enthusiasm. drive
drive
The board of management did not agree with the new marketing concept. subscribe to
subscribe to
oN oF

These politicians are not interested in public opinion. indifferent to

indifferent to
&

One maior factor of economic success is our ability to control inflation. determinant
determinant
Consumer spending was the primary reason for economic growth in the festive
season. drive force
drive force
9. The ambience of this place is favorable for all creative activity. conducive to
conducive to
10. The company will give at least 5 percent of its gross revenues to charity. allot
allot

Exercise 2: Choose the correct alternative for the words or phrases in

bold.

1. Learning is wealth to the poor, an honour to the rich, an aid to the young, and a
support and comfort to the aged.

A. the handicapped (B)ine disadvantaged C. the disabled

2. It seems that family and peer influences play a central role in smoking uptake
among young people.

(a.are determinants of B. are determined to C. are decisive factors to

3. Schools need to ensure that all pupils, without considering their backgrounds,
have an equal opportunity to achieve the attainment targets.

A. with respect to B. regardless Kez jrrespective of

CHAPTER 1 —EDUCATION | 31
 03 = Some students prefer to take a gap year between high
a school and university, to work or to travel. Do the
advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

MAT LO! — MAT HAI

(3
MAT LO! MAT HAI
Hoc sinh cé6 thé cé Io? tir vie di du Han ché cua xu hweng nay dang
lich va di lam trong “nam nghi phép” cha y hon Igi ich

*% Ychinh * Ychinh1
Trai nghiém séng va ki nang Mat tv tin
* Giai thich
* Giai thich
Trong mét nam nghi phép, hoc sinh co
thé di du lich va trai nghiém van héa. Dé bj tut lai trong hoc tap va déi
mat voi ap Ic tiv ban be

Vidu * Ychinh 2
Khi hoc sinh séng & nuéc ngoai, ho Mat da va kho tiép tuc viéc hoc
sé phai ty thich nghi voi cuéc séng
* Giai thich
tw lap va hoc ng6n ng& mdi.
Do da bi sao lang hoc tap qua lau

* Y chinh 2 * Ychinh3
Xac dinh con duwong su nghiép Kho tiét kiém dug nhiéu tién
phu hop hay hoc dug nhiéu ki nang nghé

* Giai thich nghiép

Nhiéu trung trung hoc kh6éng dinh * Giai thich

huwéng nghé nghiép cho hoc sinh, Hoc sinh tét nghiép cap 3 chu yéu
do vay danh mét vai thang dé tim chi co thé lam céng viéc cap thap
viéc hoac hoc nghé sé gitip ich cho voi mtrc thu nhap it di va khéng
viéc nay. mang lai nhiéu kién thirc the té.

32 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST - VOL 1

 V7 hoc sinh nam cudi trung hoc

It's fairly unusual for high

school seniors to befriend
freshmen.

pursue college (v) ww theo hoc dai hoc

* embark on higher education (v):
bat dau viéc hoc dai hoc She is the first in her family to
* enroll in university (v): nhap hoc pursue a top-tier college.

dai hoc The workshop is aimed at

students who are about to
embark on higher education.

defer university enrollment (v) ' tri hoan viéc nhap hoc dai hoc
* delay tertiary education for one
year (v): tri hoan 1 nam mdi hoc When a student defers
dai hoc univeristy enrollment, they
* have a year-long break (v): nghi can keep and defer competitive
mét nam scholarship awards.

attend vocational training courses (v) 7 tham gia cac khéa dao tao nghé

The number of students

attending vocational training
courses in the southern
province of Ben Tre has been on
the rise since 2015.

CHAPTER 1 —EDUCATION | 33
 TPC VOCABULARY
9ap-year taker (n)
nhéng ngwoi tri hoan
viéc hoc dai hoc

Gap year takers

are less likely
to finish their degree
s than more
committed students
who head
Straight from school
to university,

formal Schooling
(n)
giao duc chinh quy,
truong lop chinh quy
He had only a few yea
rs of formal
Schooling.

enrich life experi

ences (v)
lam giau trai ngh
iém séng

Studying abroad
would enable
Students to enrich the
ir life
experiences,

hone Practical
skill (n)
mai gitia ki nang
thuc té

Students are able hon

e their
Practical skills thr
ough internship
Projects.

cultivate releva
nt job skill (v)
trau déi ki nang
lién quan toi cén
g viéc
In order to have 4
well-rounded
Career, graduates
should cultivate
not only relevant job
skills but also
interpersonal
ones.

34| HOW To CRAC

K THE IELTS WRIT
ING TEST — VOL 1
 dinh hvéng nghé nghiép khéng day di

Many students made ignorant

career choices due to inadequate
career guidance.

identify a suitable career path (v) ve xac dinh con dudéng sw nghiép phu hop

Information on your strengths and

weaknesses plays a central role
in helping you identify a suitable
career path.

intense study schedules (n)

lich hoc c&ng thang
These days our lives are incredibly
busy, we might have a family to
feed, work commitments, or
intense study schedules.

fall behind (v)

; tut hau

Companies that failed to modernize

fell behind quite dramatically.

peer pressure (n) ‘ Ap luc tlr ban be

There is tremendous peer pressure

to wear fashionable clothes.

CHAPTER 1 —EDUCATION | 35
 Exercise 1: Gap year

a) What are other ways to say ‘take a gap year’?

©: Gh sccscaticmmmemnnmmanenss
= 1h aneaaaeREE
ov Si oKeMUREAS
c) What is an other way to say ‘academic education’?
i Oe cena ds oannmaaNeaeT a
d) What is an other way to say ‘non-academic education’?
S$) Miessnsnssmmamennn E cscansccwarmacnmanans

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have
to change the form of the word to match the sentence.

1. They are assigned an adviser to...... goals and how to best use the budget to buy
goods and services which will help them achieve these aims.
Meaning: recognize

2. The SChOol Offers 10.2.0... cece ceeccceeeeceeeceeeeeeeeeesaeees programs in welding, electrical

work, and building maintenance.
Meaning: skills and education for a job

3. They are looking for someone with an interest in ................ceeceeeeeeeeeeee and global
recruitment issues.
Meaning: help and advice about jobs

4. The level of Chinese automotive aftermarket still ........0...00.00... compared with the
developed countries.
Meaning: not progress fast enough

§.\ Motivated by ssccssnanncavcwnsnlncn or simply rebellion, teenagers may drive

aggressively, which could endanger others on the road.
Meaning: The influence that people who belong to a particular group can have on
other group members.

36 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 SAMPLE

Traditionally, high school seniors will either pursue college or enter the workforce after

their graduation. However, these days, a third option — gap year, where students defer
university enrollment to travel or work, is gaining traction. While there are admittedly
several benefits to students, | believe that the negative influences of this growing
development are more glaring.

On the one hand, delaying tertiary education for one year is advantageous to a
certain extent. First, gap year affords new graduates time to travel and immerse
themselves in alien cultures, which helps them enrich their life experiences and hone
practical skills. For example, when living abroad, students will have to adapt quickly
to their independent life and pick up new foreign languages. Second, given that most

high schools provide inadequate career guidance, sparing several months looking for

job opportunities or attending vocational training courses will empower students to

identify a suitable career path. Such experiences would be hardly attainable if high
school graduates immediately enroll in university and become occupied with their

intense study schedules.

On the other hand, | am convinced that the aforementioned advantages pale in

comparison with the significant disadvantages of having a year-long break prior to

embarking on higher education. A major drawback is that gap-year takers may fall
behind in their study as well as facing peer pressure, which could possibly drain
their self-confidence. In addition to this, high school seniors can lose momentum,
finding it hard to resume their education after a long time being distracted from formal
schooling. Last but not least, those young people are unlikely to save up a lot of
money or cultivate relevant job skills during their gap year, which can be attributed to

the fact that the jobs available to high school leavers are mainly entry-level ones that
are neither pay well nor teach them anything substantive.

In conclusion, while taking a gap year is not without certain benefits, | would contend
that the given disadvantages do not make it a worthwhile path.

276 words — Written by Phuong Dang

CHAPTER
1 — EDUCATION | 37
 IK TRANSLATION

Truéc day, hoc sinh cudi cap trung hoc phd thong sé theo hoc dai hoc hoac gia nhap
le lwgrng lao déng sau khi tét nghiép. Tuy nhién, ngay nay, sy lwa chon th ba— “nam
nghi phép”, thoi gian ma hoc sinh tri hoan nhap hoc dai hoc dé di du lich hoadc lam
viéc, dang dan phé bién. Du cé nhiau Ioi ich phai thira nhan déi voi hoc sinh, tdi tin
rang nhivng anh huéng tiéu cuc cla xu huéng dang |én nay dang ngay cang tro nén
r6 rét hon.

M6t mat, tri hoan giao duc dai hoc trong mét nam cé loi & mét mirc dd nhat dinh. Tht
nhat, “nam nghi phép” cho hoc sinh moi tét nghiép thoi gian dé di du lich va dam minh
trong cac nén van hda khac la, gitip lam phong phu thém trai nghiém séng va trau ddi
cac ki nang the tién. Chang han nhw khi séng & nwéc ngoai, hoc sinh sé phai thich
nghi nhanh chong voi cudc séng ty lap va hoc ngoai ng mdi. Tht hai, néu dat van
dé rang hau hét cdc trwong trung hoc khéng cung cap théng tin hvdng nghiép day du,
thi viéc bé ra vai thang dé tim kiém co hdi viéc lam hoac tham gia cac khdéa dao tao
nghé sé khuyén khich cdc em hoc sinh xac dinh duc con dung sy nghiép pht hop.
Nhéeng kinh nghiém nhw vay sé khé cé thé dat duc néu hoc sinh tét nghiép trung hoc
ngay lap tire dang ky hoc dai hoc va tro nén ban rén vi lich trinh hoc tap cang thang
cla cac em.

Mat khae, tdi tin rang nhing Ioi thé noi trén rat mo nhat so voi nhing bat loi dang ké
cia viéc nghi mét nam truéc khi bat dau hoc giao duc bac cao. Mét nhugc diém lon
la nhing ngwoi tri hodn viéc hoc dai hoc cé thé tut hau trong hoc tap cing nhw déi
mat voi ap lc tir ban bé, diéu nay co thé lam can sv ty tin cla cac em. Thém vao dé,
hoc sinh cudi cAp trung hoc cé thé mat da, kho tiép tuc viéc hoc sau mét thdi gian dai
bi sao lang khdi viéc hoc chinh quy. Cudi clung nhung khéng kém phan quan trong,
nhieng ngudi tré nay thudéng khéng tiét kiém dug nhiéu tién hoac trau di cdc ki nang
cé lién quan tdi céng viéc trong nam “nam nghi phép” ctia ho, diéu nay c6 thé dugc
cho la do thwe té céng viéc danh cho nhifng hoc sinh mdi réi ghé trung hoc chti yéu
la nhing cong viéc cap thap khéng dug tra lwong cao ma ciing khéng day cac em
diéu gi dang ké.

Tém lai, du tham gia “nam nghi phép” khéng phai la khéng cé Ioi ich nhat dinh, téi van
cho rang nhirng nhuo'c diém da néu trén khong lam cho viéc nay tré thanh mét huéng
di dang gia.
 GENERAL\
gain traction (v) (an idea, product, etc.) to become popular

In our digital age, it takes less time

for new words and phrases to gain

ane traction than it did in the past.

glaring (a) bad and obvious

There were several glaring

inconsistencies in his report.

afford (v) to allow someone to have something

pleasant or necessary

Her seat afforded her an uninterrupted

view of the stage.

alien (a) strange and not familiar

He quickly adjusts to the alien

environment.

empower (v) to encourage and support the ability to do

something

We want to empower individuals to get

the skills they need.
KA

CHAPTER 1—EDUCATION | 39
& cenera. VOCABULARY
attainable (a) we possible to achieve

We must ensure that we do not

set ourselves goals that are not
attainable.

occupied (a) busy

— | was fully occupied taking care of

my elderly mother at that time.

pale in comparison with (v) to seem much less serious or

important when compared with
someone or something else

| thought | was badly treated but my

experiences pale in comparison
with yours.

drain (v) to reduce or cause something to reduce

The long war had drained the

resources of both countries.

resume (v) (an activity) to start again after a pause

Officials from the two countries

will meet again soon to resume
negotiations.

40 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL
\
lose momentum (v) to start become less energetic,
successful

The play loses momentum by its half

way stage.

be attributed to (v) to be the result of something or someone

His success can be attributed to hard

work.

entry-level jobs (n) jobs at the lowest level

Tourism is a great way of generating

entry-level jobs.

worthwhile (a) useful, important enough to be a suitable

reward for the time or effort spent.

If you need him on this project, you've

got to make it financially worthwhile
for him.

substantive (a) important, serious, or related to real facts

Substantive conclusions are drawn

from the theories and the evidence.

CHAPTER 1 — EDUCATION | 41
 VOCABULARY REVI EW
Exercise: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have to
change the form of the word to match the sentence.

1. The iPhone’s colossal SuCCeSS CAN De |... oe. ee ec eeecceeceneeceeeeenee caeeeenueeeeeneeeeenes

many appealing design features.

Meaning: to be the result of

2. Improved international trade, prompted by globalization, has enabled consumers to

buy foreign products that were previously .......................66

Meaning: not able to be achieved

3. The Internet has ..................0.08 consumers, changed the way they search and
shop for products and services by increasing the availability as well as transparency
of pricing and other comparative information.

Meaning: support

4. Tet holiday, which best epitomizes Vietnamese cultural identity, is a means to gather
with family and friends, and enjoy all the celebration activities as much as possible.
The overwhelming theme is prosperity and peace to all, a difficult but very............
goal.

Meaning: deserving

5. E-COMMECrCE IS \xssvcsics neers see ER during the holidays, but bricks-

and-mortar shops remain popular with a host of consumers.

Meaning: become popular

6! WaFeccsnccee a nation of its youth and its wealth

Meaning: reduce

7. While others may be................ with their responsibilities or goals, you have a
knack for discovering enjoyable places where laughter, creativity, and happiness
abound.

Meaning: thinking or worrying too much

42 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 Some people say that schools should concentrate on
teaching students academic subjects that will be useful
for their future careers. Other people say that subjects
such as music and sports are also necessary.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Tai sao nén day cac mén Tai sao nén day cac mén nhw
hoc thuat? thé thao va 4m nhac?

* Ychinh Y chinh 1
Da phan moi ngwoi di hoc la dé cé Cac mén hoc nay ciing cé thé
sw nghiép tét. gitip cdc tng vién dé duo tuyén
dung hon.
* Giai thich
Vi vay, cac m6n dug day trén Giai thich
trwong phai phuc vu cho viéc hoc Thé thao va am nhac day cho hoc
cac van bang cao hon va tim kiém sinh nhing ki nang nhu kha nang
viéc lam. hoat déng nhéom hay phat trién 6c
sang tao.

* Vidu
Y chinh 2
(khong cn thiét — vi day la viéc Viéc day thé thao va 4m nhac
moi ngwoi déu da va dang trai 6 truvong gilip phat hién cac tai
nghiém réi!)
nang tré.
Giai thich
Néu khéng dug dao tao va thi dau
& cap nha trwdng, cdc ca nhan co
nang khiéu sé khéng cé co hi phat
trién tai nang cia minh.

CHAPTER 1 — EDUCATION | 43
 VOCABULARY
schooling (n) Ly giao duc
* attend school (v): di hoc
* elementary school (n) = primary school
= grade school: truéng tiéu hoc
secondary (a): (thudc vé) giao duc trung
hoc co’ s@ va trung hoc phé théng
tertiary (a): (thudc vé) giao duc dai hoc
higher education institution (n): t6 chtrc
gido duc cap cao (dai hoc tré 1én)
* vocational (a): (thudc vé) giao duc nghé
* undergraduate (n): sinh vién chua
tét nghiép dai hoc
* postgraduate (n): hoc vién cao hoc
* doctorate (n): bang tién st

discipline (n) wv nganh hoc

* curriculum (n): chwong trinh hoc
* core subject (n): m6n hoc chinh
* academic subject (n): mén hoc thuat
* non-academic subject (n): m6én phi
hoc thuat nhw thé duc, 4m nhac, hdi
hoa, v.v.
* athletic and artistic field (n): linh vuc
thé thao va nghé thuat

44 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 VOCABULARY
secure employment (v) t dam bao céng &n viéc lam
* employable (n: employability): cé
kha nang co viéc lam
attribute (n); pham chat, dac diém
* technical expertise (n): chuyén m6én
* qualification (n): bang cap
* adaptability (n): kha nang thich nghi
* creativity (n): kha nang sang tao
* collaborative skill = teamwork skill
(n): ki nang lam viée nhom

cultivate a quality/ skill (v) A phat trién/ trau dai mdt pham chat,
* be endowed with sth: duorc thién ki nang nao do

phti voi mét tai nang/ pham chat

nao d6
* have an aptitude for sth: cé kha
nang thién phi nao do
* achieve sb’s full potential: phat trién
hét tiém nang

CHAPTER 1 — EDUCATION | 45
 vocasuiany REVIEW
Exercise 1: Match the words/ phrases in column A with a synonym in
column B.

A B
education aptitude
subject cultivate

quality schooling

train (a skill) attribute

innate talent discipline

Exercise 2: Fill in the blank with an appropriate word.

1. In order to excel in sport, it certainly helps if the person is ....................... with

outstanding athleticism.

Meaning: given

2. From an early age, he demonstrated an

interest in theater.

Meaning: an innate ability

3. Teachers play a critical role in helping students achieve their .................cc.c0eceeeeee

Meaning: develop their talents

4. In addition to performing well in ................... subjects, it is important that students

spend time doing extracurricular activities.

Meaning: most important

5. Teamwork is essential in..................0..0- interpersonal skills.

Meaning: train, grow

46 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 \

\ SAMPLE

It is hard to overstate the importance of schooling: it decides what kind of person we

become, what kind of career we will have and ultimately what kind of life we will lead.

Therefore, what should and should not be taught at school is necessarily a perennial
debate. Some assert that schools should focus on disciplines that will be directly
relevant to one's occupation in the future, while others state that courses like sports
and music should also be included in the curriculum. Both viewpoints are justifiable,
but | personally lean towards the latter.

On the one hand, academic subjects are indeed very important. It could be said that
the foremost objective of people who attend school is to have a financially viable
career after they finish. To this end, the bulk of the curriculum should be dedicated to
core subjects like math, science and language, whose performance is placed heavy
emphasis by higher education institutions and employers alike.

On the other hand, subjects like sports and music cannot be discounted altogether.
While they may not be directly helpful in securing employment, they indirectly make
a candidate more employable. Today, firms are increasingly looking beyond the
technical expertise and qualifications of applicants and attach greater importance
to attributes like adaptability, creativity, and collaborative skills. These qualities are
arguably better cultivated in experiences like playing music or competing in team
sports than in academic lessons.

Another compelling reason why non-academic subjects should be taught at school

is that it allows young talents in athletic and artistic fields to be discovered. Without
the opportunity to participate in these activities at the elementary or secondary level,
musically inclined individuals or those who are endowed with an aptitude for sport will
be denied the chance to achieve their full potential.

In conclusion, academic subjects should no doubt be given precedence in school, but

it is also important that students be taught other subjects like music or sports.

323 words, written by Tung Dang

 TRANSLATION

Hoc hanh [a cye ki quan trong: N6é quyét dinh chung ta sé tré thanh nguoi nhu thé
nao, chting ta sé cd nghé nghiép gi va cudi cling cuéc séng ctia ching ta sé ra sao.
Do do, nhivng gi nén va khéng nén dug day & trudng nhat thiét phai lA mot cudc
tranh luan dai hoi. Mét s6 nguéi khang dinh rang cac trong nén tap trung vao nhirng
nganh hoc sé lién quan true tiép dén nghé nghiép ctia ngudi hoc trong twong lai,
trong khi sé khac cho rang cac mén hoc nhu thé thao va 4m nhac ciing nén duoc dua
vao chwong trinh gidng day. Ca hai quan diém déu hop ly, nhung ca nhan téi nghiéng
vé y kién thé thao va Am nhac nén duoc dua vao chuong trinh giang day.

Mét mat, cac bd mén hoc thuat thuc sv rat quan trong. C6 thé ndi rang muc tiéu quan
trong hang dau ctia nhiing ngwdi di hoc la cd mot nghé kiém ra tién sau khi hoc xong.
Dé dén dug cai dich nay, phan lon chwong trinh giang day nén dugc danh riéng cho
cac mén hoc chinh nhw toan, khoa hoc va ng6n ngi. Thanh tich cia nhieng mén nay
dug cac té chtrc gido duc dai hoc cling nhu cac nha tuyén dung chu trong.

Mat khac, cac m6n nhw thé thao va 4m nhac khong thé bi coi nhe hoan toan. Du chung
c6 thé khéng hitu ich true tiép trong viéc dam bao céng an viéc lam, nhwng chung lai
gian tiép lam cho teng vién cd kha nang dug tuyén dung cao hon. Thdi nay, cdc cong
ty dang ngay cang tim kiém nhiéu thy ngoai chuyén mén thuan ty va bang cap cia
eng vién hon cing nhwu coi trong cac pham chat nhu kha nang thich tng, kha nang
sang tao va ki nang hop tac. Nhivng pham chat nay ré rang duc trau déi qua nhieng
trai nghiém nhu choi nhac hoac thi dau thé thao tap thé hon Ia cac budi hoc trén lop.

Mét ly do thuyét phuc khac cho viéc tai sao cAc mén phi hoc thuat nén duoc day o

truéng la viéc nay gitip phat hién nhieng tai nang tré trong cac linh vuc thé thao va
nghé thuat. Néu khéng cé co hdi tham gia cdc hoat déng nay & cap tiéu hoc hoac
trung hoc thi nhi@ng ca nhan cé khuynh hwéng am nhac hoac nhing ngudi co nang
khiéu thé thao thién pht sé bj chdi bd co hdi dat duoc tiém nang cao nhat ctia ho.

Tém lai, khéng con nghi ngd gi viéc cac mén hoc thuat nén dug vu tién truong
hoc, nhung mét diéu cing quan trong la hoc sinh phai duoc day cac m6n khac nhuw’
Am nhac hoc thé thao.

48 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL\
overstate (v) ¥r to exaggerate

The benefits of breakfast are often

grossly overstated.

@ use ‘hard to overstate’ for saying

that something is extremely * Itis hard to overstate the crippling
important or serious consequences of war.

assert (v) Ww to claim something/ to say that something

is true

It is important that teachers be able to

assert contro! over the classroom.

perennial (a) ¥v existing for a very long time

Crime is a perennial problem that all
societies have to address.

foremost (a) ¥ most important/ the best

It is uplifting to witness some of

Hollywood's biggest personalities
become ardent advocates of
environmental causes. Leonardo
DiCaprio, one of the foremost
proponents of animal and
environmental conservation, is a case
in point.

CHAPTER 1 — EDUCATION | 49
# ceneRAL VOCABULARY
financially viable (a) we making a lot of money

Many business ideas sound brilliant

in theory but not very financially
viable in practice.

to this end Lv in order to achieve this

As greater importance is attached

to looking good, people are
becoming more conscious of
their weight than ever before and
aspiring to look trimmer. To this
end, many go on fad diets or
simply not eat for an extended
period of time.

the bulk of sth the majority of something

The bulk of students in Vietnamese

secondary schools attend cram
classes.

lean towards sth (v) i= Ww to prefer something

More and more young people

today are leaning towards

WY daring choices of majors such

as agricultural engineering and
robotics instead of conservative
ones like finance or business
administration.

50 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
place heavy emphasis on sth (v) 7 to consider somthing important

Most Bachelor's programs place

heavy emphasis on applicants’
academic achievements.

compelling reason/ evidence/ Ww convincing reason/ evidence/ argument

argument (n)
There is compelling evidence that
cattle farming is one of the most
environmentally destructive human
activities.

give precedence to sth (v) $v to prioritize something (compare — take

precedence: to be prioritized)

The new president promises to give

precedence to the working classes.

CHAPTER 1 — EDUCATION | 51
 vocksuLARY REVIEW
Exercise 1: Match the verbs in column A to the nouns in column B to
form natural collocations.

A B
place attention

attach importance

give focus
devote emphasis

shift precedence

Exercise 2: Replace the common words in italics with a less common

alternative taken from the general vocabulary list.

He The keynote speaker believes that those who want to change the world have to lose
their sanity.
. He makes a good point that underdeveloped public transport system is the key
reason why most people in the country are unwilling to stop using private vehicles.
. Startup entrepreneurs must come to grips with the fact that their business may not
make money in the early days.

. Most people have the tendency to spend most of their salary in the first half of the
month.

. Learning and retaining new words is always a challenge to language learners.

. People today are bent on being the leanest that they could be. /n order to achieve
this goal, many go as far as starving themselves for days and subsisting on a diet of
broth and water.

. Itis hard to exaggerate the severity of the virus outbreak.

. From the off, our most important objective has been to take care of our own people
and add value to our community.

52 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 05 Online classes make conventional classrooms
a
4
unnecessary. To what extent do you agree/ disagree?
oe

Hoc online tét hon hoc & l&p hoc Coé nhieng gi hoc & Ip hoc thing
théng thuong nhieng mat nao? thweng cé thé gitip gido vién/ hoc
vién dat duoc ma hoc online
khéng cho phép?

* Ychinh1 * Ychinh1
Hoc online rat tiét kiém. Mét sé mén can st? dung dung cu
phirc tap bat buéc phai hoc thu té.

* Vidu
Hoa hoc/ Co khi
* Giai thich
Cac don vi cung cap khdéa hoc cé
thé tiét kiém nhiéu chi phi va ban
voi gid ré hon. * Ychinh2
Hoc online cé nhing han ché
vé twong tac gitra gido vién va
* ¥ chinh 2 hoc sinh.
Hoc online gitp ngwdi hoc vuot qua * Giai thich
rao can vé thdi gian va dia ly. Hoc & lép hoc théng thuong cho
* Ghichd: Y 2 nay da kha ro, co phép hoc sinh cai thién ki nang
thé khéng can giai thich thém.) giao tiép thong qua lam viéc va
thao luan nhém, trong khi hoc
online it cho phép tuong tac voi
cac ban hoc khac.

CHAPTER 1—EDUCATION | 53
 Ic VOCABULARY
e-learning (n)
* advent of online courses (n): su ra doi
¥ hoc online

cla cac khéa hoc online

virtual learning (n): hoc online, hoc ao
web-based class (n): lop trén nén
tang web
online course provider (n): don vi
cung cap khéa hoc online
overcome time constraints and
geographical boundaries (v): giai
quyét cdc han ché vé thdi gian va rao
can dia ly
virtual environment (n): mdi trwong ao
in the comfort of one’s own home (n):
ngay tai nha

physical classroom (n) Wr lop hoc ngoai doi thyc

* traditional classroom model (n): m6
hinh lép hoc truyén théng
* being taught face to face: duoc day
truc tiép, mat déi mat
* brick-and-mortar operation (n): quy
trinh ngoai ddi thuc
* physical interaction (n): twong tac truc
tiép ngoai ddi thyc

54 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

discipline (n) (formal) " nganh hoc, mén hoc

elaborate lab set-up and equipment (n) Yr co's vat chat va dung cu
thi nghiém phirc tap

classroom dynamic (n) J sw twong tac trong lop hoc

* interactive activity (n): hoat déng
twong tac
* live discussion (n): thao luan truc
tiép
* interpersonal skill (n): ki nang
lién nhan
* two-way interaction (n): su tvong
tac hai chiéu

CHAPTER 1 —EDUCATION | 55
 vocasutary REVIEW
Exercise 1: Group the following words into two groups: (1) offline learning
and (2) online learning.

virtual in person face-to-face web-based computerized

brick-and-mortar digitally at the click of physical conference call

a button

Offline learning Online learning

Exercise 2: Find alternative words or expressions for the ones in bold.

1. Online learning is becoming increasingly popular owing to its convenience and

relatively low costs compared to the traditional brick-and-mortar counterpart.

2. Because of time limits, many people who want to learn another language cannot
do so.

3. The advent of conferencing software means people can now hold discussions and
meetings at home.

4. One of the disadvantages of taking classes online is that it is difficult to meaningfully

improve social skills.

5. It is still not possible to earn a degree in certain subjects such as aerodynamics.

56 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 \ SAMPLE

Today, as the Internet becomes more accessible than ever before, e-learning has j
exploded. With the advent of online courses, some say that physical classrooms have ‘
7
become redundant. While there is no denying the benefits of virtual learning over the
|
traditional classroom model, | believe being taught face to face by actual teachers is |
an experience that can never be completely replaced. 1

On the one hand, learning on the Internet is superior to learning in a classroom in

many ways. First, it is extremely cost-efficient. Online classes effectively dispense
|

with numerous expenses that running a brick-and-mortar operation incurs such as i

space and administrative staff, among others. This allows online course providers i’
to offer them at a price point that is accessible to the masses. Second, web-based .
classes help learners overcome time constraints and geographical boundaries, | f
which is particularly helpful for people in rural and remote areas where schools and
teachers are scarce. *

On the other hand, it is hard to see the traditional classroom ever ceasing to

“sn
exist. One of the reasons is simply that certain fields inextricably require physical
interaction. For example, disciplines that involve elaborate lab set-up and equipment )f
like chemistry or engineering are impossible to learn in the comfort of one’s own
|
home. Furthermore, there are elements of classroom dynamics that a virtual
environment simply cannot emulate. For instance, the interactive activities and live
discussions in a physical lecture allow students to improve their interpersonal skills ae
— something that is difficult to recreate in online classes where two-way interaction is
rare.
a

In conclusion, while virtual learning is superior to conventional learning in several i

aspects, the latter is by no means expendable.
a

271 words, written by Tung Dang

a
MARES
ate
(a
 \ TRANSLATION

Ngay nay, khi Internet tré nén dé truy cap hon bao gia hét, hoc true tuyén da va dang
bung né. Voi sy ra doi cla cac khéa hoc tric tuyén, mt sé ngudi ndi rang cac lop
hoc ngoai ddi thyc da tré nén du thtra. Du khdng thé phi nhan Igi ich cia viéc hoc ao
so V6i m6 hinh lop hoc truyén théng nhung tdi tin rang viéc dug day tryc tiép bdi cac
giao vién that sy la mét trai nghiém khéng bao gid cé thé bi thay thé hoan toan.

Mot mat, hoc trén Internet vugt trdi hon so vdi hoc trén lop theo nhiéu cach. Dau tién,
né cye ky hiéu qua vé mat chi phi. Cac lop hoc tre tuyén ct bd hiéu qua nhiéu chi
phi ma viéc van hanh cac lop hoc ngoai doi thwe phai ganh nhw mat bang va nhan vién
hanh chinh chang han. Biéu nay cho phép nhirng nha cung cap khéa hoc true tuyén
chao mdi cac khéa hoc dé & mét mirc dé tiép can voi dai chung. Thw hai, lop hoc trén
nén tang web gitip ngudi hoc giai quyét cdc han ché vé thdi gian va rao can dia ly.
Diéu nay dac biét hivu ich cho nhing ngudi & viing néng thon va vung sau ving xa,
noi trwdng hoc va giao vién khan hiém.

Mat khac, that khé dé hinh dung rang lop hoc truyén théng dén mdt Itic nao dé sé
khéng con tén tai. Mét trong nhing ly do don gian la mét sé linh vye nhat dinh ddi hdi
sw tuong tac thye té. Vi dy, cdc mén hoc lién quan dén co sé vat chat va dung cy thi
nghiém phtrc tap nhu hda hoc hoac ki thuat khéng thé hoc tai nha. Hon niva, co nhing
yéu té twong tac trong lop hoc ma méi trvdng do don gian la khéng thé m6 phdng
duge. Vi du, cdc hoat d6éng twong tac va thao luan try tiép trong mot bai gidng vat ly
cho phép sinh vién cai thién ki nang lién nhan - mét diéu kho tai tao trong cac lop hoc
true tuyén hiém khi cé tuong tac hai chiéu.

Tom lai, du hoc ao vuct trdi hon so véi hoc truyén théng & mét sé khia canh, nhung
mé hinh truyén théng khéng bao gid co thé bé di dug.
 GENERAL VOCABULARY
accessible (a) LY easy to afford/ widely available
Information on election candidates
should be made more accessible so
that the electorate can make informed
choices instead of casting random
ballots.

there is no denying sth that ... Sy something is undeniable

There is no denying President Ho Chi

Minh’s enduring influence on Vietnam's
political system and beliefs.

cost-efficient (a) L offering good value for money

Cost-efficiency is a recurring theme in

how products are marketed these days,
but in actual fact, most of the so-called
saving is obscure.

effectively (adv) + as a result

In some countries, ride hailing

applications provide aspiring car
owners with a way to finance their
vehicles, effectively fueling demand for
automobiles and worsening pollution.

incur (v) to suffer something (cost, damage,

negative feelings, etc.)

The controversial immigration policy

incurs the outrage of the citizens.

CHAPTER 1 — EDUCATION | 59
& ceneraL VOCABULARY
dispense with (v) ¥& to remove

New washing machines utilize CO2

to clean and dry clothes, effectively
dispensing with the need for water.

among others (adv) Wr et cetera

The new iPhone boasts superb camera

capabilities, streamlined design,
significantly lower charging time,
among other upgrades.

the masses (n) Vv ordinary people

5A.

In order to encourage the masses to

consider public transport, more effort
must be made to increase the efficiency
and cleanliness of buses and trains.

the former/ the latter (n) 7 the thing that was mentioned first/ the
thing that was mentioned later

The U.S. has been in a trade war with

China for some time now, and while
from the look of things the latter
(China) seems to have succumbed to
the pressure exerted by the former,
truth be told both sides have incurred
irreparable damage to their economy.

60 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL
scarce (a)
oe small in amount, not easy to get

Today, clothing manufacturers

that use responsibly sourced
raw materials and pay workers
decently are scarce. Most of the
time, apparels are fashioned from
cheap synthetics that are terrible
for the environment and produced
by workers who are grossly
underpaid.

inextricable (a) linked together and cannot be

separated

Humans and nature have an

inextricable relationship, and the
survival of one very much depends
on the other.

emulate (v) to copy/ to imitate someone else’s

achievement

Aspiring app developers in Vietnam

have tried to emulate the success
of Nguyen Ha Dong, but none has
even come closer.

expendable (a) can be removed, not important

While theory is indeed very

important, part of it is expendable
and should indeed be done away
with to make the lesson more
digestible.

CHAPTER 1 — EDUCATION | 64
 vocasULARY REVIEW
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the suitable form of a word from the
general vocabulary list.

1. Renewable energy will be ....................6. to realizing the goal of net zero carbon
emissions.

Meaning: too important, cannot be removed

2. The construction of new vehicle tracks has significantly improved ..................... to

the site.

Meaning: the ease of access

3. Manufacturing is ...................... linked with environmental impact.

Meaning: in a way that is not possible to be separated

4. For the longest time, the iPhone was dubbed the ......................02.005 of Samsung
smartphones.

Meaning: the copier

Dy wisisieacscureeeoanns of parking space is a dire problem that many megacities face.

Meaning: inadequacy

Exercise 2: Rewrite the following sentences using the words provided.

1. The impact of Mark Twain on American literature is undeniable.

(20: ABNYING) sss ccscscisse RCL

ORES OSL

2. Sharing a room is a common way to economize on accommodation.

(cost-efficient)

3. The fans of the movie are outraged by how lackluster the sequel was.

(incur)

4. Salah scored a critical goal early in the match. This cemented Liverpool’s 6th
Champions League title.

(OFOCTIVELY) ...........ccccccccseenceecececccecneccccccecccsssnceccccsuerscerecesscsseveveeseceuscoscessees

5. The bassist is the weak link of the band. | think he might be kicked out soon.

(expendable)

62 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 SAMPLE

It is true that a host of wild animals are on the brink of extinction due to humankind’s
relentless pursuit of economic growth. Because of this, the conservation of wild
animals has always a topic of general interest. However, there are those who argue
that conserving endangered animals is not necessary, given the colossal cost and time
involved, and that these resources should be diverted to projects that directly benefit
humans. | personally disagree with this thinking for the reasons provided below.

The first justification is that despite enormous resources allotted to preserving wild
animals as of late, the existence of innumerable species is still being threatened. In
fact, hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent on conservation projects such as
providing shelter for endangered animals; however, recent centuries have witnessed
the demise of thousands of species, and the extinction rates are on the increase. This

is a testament to how past efforts made to preserve wildlife seem woefully inadequate,
let alone excessive.

In addition to this, given the inseparable relationship between the human race and
wildlife, it is absurd to downplay the importance of protecting threatened species.

In other words, even if a single wild species is missing from the ecosystem, it may
disrupt the whole food chain, ultimately leading to disastrous results for human life.
Pollinating insects like bumblebees are a good example. These creatures play an
integral role in the growth of crops. Therefore, the decline in pollinating insects has
understandably provoked widespread concern regarding agricultural productivity.

In conclusion, | am of the opinion that it is in the interests of mankind to put more

efforts into protecting wild animals.

274 words, written by Phuong Dang

68 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 TRANSLATION

Ding la co rat nhiéu dong vat hoang da dang trén bo tuyét chting do su chay theo tang

trwéng kinh té khong ngtng ctia loai ngwdi. Vi thé, hoat dong bao tén dong vat hoang
da luén la mét dé tai dwoc dai chting quan tam. Tuy nhién, cé nhirng ngudi tranh cai

rang bao tén déng vat dang cé nguy co tuyét ching la khéng can thiét, xét theo mirc
chi phi khéng Id va thdi gian phai bé ra, va rang nhieng ngu6n tai nguyén nay nén duoc
chuyén sang cac dy an tru tiép dem lai loi ich cho con ngudi. Ca nhan tdi khéng dong
y voi suy nghi nay vi nhieng ly do dug chi ra dudi day.

Y bién minh dau tién la bat chap nhing nguén Iwe khéng 16 duoc phan bé dé bao tén
d6ng vat hoang da tinh toi nay, sy tén tai clia v6 sé loai vAn dang bi de doa. Trén thyc
té, hang tram triéu d6-la d& dwec dé vao cac du an bao tén nhu' cung cap noi trd ngu
cho nhitng déng vat cé nguy co tuyét ching; tuy nhién, nhiéu thé ki gan day da chtrng
kién sy bién mat ctia hang nghin loai, va ti 1é tuyét chting dang trén da tang. Day 1a
minh chteng cho thay nhtng né Ie bao tén déng vat hoang da trong qua khte dung
nhw chwa théa dang, cht? dtrng noi dén chuyén la qua nhiéu.

Ngoai ra, xét theo mdi quan hé khéng thé tach rdi gitra loai ngudi va thién nhién hoang
da, coi nhe tam quan trong cla viéc bao vé cac loai dang bj de doa qua la v6 li. Ndi
cach khac, chi can mét loai déng vat hoang da bién mat khdi hé sinh thai thdi cling co
thé lam dirt gay toan bé chudi thivc an, rét cuéc dan toi nhieng két cuc tham hoa cho
loai ngudi. Nhing loai cén tring thy phan nhv ong nghé la mét vi du thich hop. Nhing

sinh vat nay déng vai tré thiét yéu trong tang trwdng cay trdng. Do do, viéc sut giam con
tring thy phan ré rang d& gay nén mdi quan ngai réng khap vé san lwong néng nghiép.

Tom lai, téi ting h6 quan diém rang viéc né Ive nhiéu hon trong viéc bao vé déng vat
hoang da chinh Ia vi loi ich cua nhan loai.

CHAPTER 02—ENVIROMENT | 69
 ceneraL VOCABULARY
a host of Vy alot of

Fast food restaurants now offer

$48 000 a host of beverages to go with your
meal - anything from sodas, to coffees
and even smoothies.

pursuit of (n) Ww the act of trying to achieve a plan, or

situation (over a long period of time)

a Many people consider the pursuit of

happiness as the purpose of life.

a topic of general/ Ex a topic that many people want to know

public interest (n) about

How to gain work-life balance isa

topic of general interest.

colossal (a) Sy extremely large

The team were asking a2 colossal

amount of money for the project.

divert sth to sth (v) yy to spend something on something

The government is going to divert more

* allot sth to sth
money to upgrading transport facilities.
* allocate sth to sth

ye?
70 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1
 GENERAL| BULARY
on the increase ye increasing

The obesity rates are on the

ll increase the world over,

testament to sth (n) ¥ proof that something is true

es The long queue outside the

restaurant is a testament to its
v—
V—— quality.
v—
——

woefully inadequate (a) % seriously lacking

The forces behind deforestation

remain strong, and planting
efforts are woefully inadequate
to reverse the loss of tree cover.

CHAPTER 02—ENVIROMENT | 71
& cenera. VOCABULARY
let alone (idm) Wy not to mention
used after a negative statement, to
emphasize how unlikely a situation
is because something much more
likely has never happened

K y
| don’t have the patience to care fora
puppy, let alone a baby.

wr to make something less important

lt would be irresponsible for me to

downplay the magnitude of this crisis
or assure you that everything is under
control.

play an integral role (in) y7 be involved in something, especially in an

important way

The news media play an integral role

in the modern world.

widespread concern (n) ty worry of many people

There is widespread concern among

scientists about the safety of storing
nuclear waste underground.

in the interests of 7 inorder to achieve something, or benefit

someone

The race was postponed in the

interests of safety.

72 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITIN G TEST —VOL 1

 vocksutary REVIEW
Exercise: Fill in the blanks with suitable words or phrases.

1. Governments should ...................2.0.0200 funding to campaigns that raise public

awareness about the detrimental effects of an unhealthy lifestyle.
Meaning: spend something on

2. Despite recent efforts made by the authorities, public transportation in Vietnam is

Meaning: seriously lacking

3. The approach suggested by the Prime Minister tends to ....................00.0004. many

of the practical difficulties in assessing the real costs of investment in renewables.

Meaning: make something seem less important

4. THOTS ISS sncuniawcniwawnou sxemomcuemen about urban sprawl, which has

negative impacts on natural resources and economic health.
Meaning: worry of many people

5. The majority saw little future for college-based sandwich Courses, .........0. cecceeee ees
aincigeemiesse the industrial part.
Meaning: not to mention

BEA ccueeerewzesens sperm whale was found beached in Scotland last week with 220
pounds of plastic in its stomach.

Meaning: huge

7. In winter, fine dust pollution tends to be ...........

cece ceceecc neces ceeeee eee eees due to dry
weather and low humidity in the air.
Meaning: increasing

8. Mounting evidence shows that a sedentary lifestyle is associated with ..................

health risks, including Type 2 diabetes, certain cancers,
anxiety and depression.
Meaning: a lot of

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 73
 CAN BANG [50/50] (c3

ve 1 VE 2
Tdi dong y Téi khéng déng y
[Qua nhiéu tién va thoi gian duoc [Bao tén dong vat cé loi cho
danh cho viéc bao vé déng vat] con nguo’i]

* Y chinh * Ychinh1
Con nguéi con nhiéu van dé cap Con nguwi co lién hé mat thiét voi
bach hon phai giai quyét thay vi d6éng vat hoang da.
bao vé d6éng vat.

* Giai thich
* Vidu
Do vay, sv tuyét ching cla
That nghiép va nan doi dang tran
déng vat co thé anh hung xau
lan & nhiéu quéc gia.
téi con nguodi.

* Vidu
Tai sao té gidc quan trong ddi voi
con ngudi?

74 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

conversation of wild animals (n) Ly viéc bao tén déng vat hoang da
* protection of wild animals: viéc bao vé
déng vat hoang da
x protect wild animals
* save wild animals
* wildlife conservation
* wildlife preservation
* combat the extinction of some animals:
chéng lai sy tuyét chiing cla mét sé
loai d6ng vat

have an inextricable relationship with

wildlife
¥
t cé méi quan hé khéng thé tach rdi
voi d6éng vat hoang da

ecological balance (n) ¥, < sw can bang sinh thai

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 75
 REVIEW
Exercise: Choose the correct answer.

1. Which word is different from the others?

A. conserve B. wreck

C. preserve D. save

2. An adjective to describe the relationship between humankind and wildlife?

A. inexplicable B. inexorable
C. inextricable D. inexhaustible

3. ....... is a term used to describe the equilibrium between living organisms such as
human being, plants, and animals as well as their environment.

A. Ecological balance C. Ecological footprint

B. Ecosystem services D. Ecosystem diversity

4. What is the antonym of “combat” in the phrase “combat the extinction of animals”?

A. mitigate B. exacerbate
C. alleviate D. curb

5. Which word is not a synonym of “wildlife”?

A. flora and fauna B. natural species

C. vegetation D. wild creatures

76 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 SAMPLE

It is true that economic prosperity, which humans have enjoyed latterly, has come at
the expense of wildlife. Because of this, the conservation of wild animals has always
been a topic of public interest. However, many people argue that the time and funding

allocated to this well-intentioned enterprise is verging on excess, and that these

resources should be diverted to projects that directly benefit humans. While this
thinking is somewhat justifiable, | would contend that it is in the interests of humankind
to put more efforts into protecting wild animals.

It is understandable why some people think that too much time and money is
currently being spent on wildlife conservation. Advocates may argue that there are
more pressing issues nowadays that need addressing than protecting wild animals.
For instance, nations where unemployment and poverty are rife are in dire need of
funding to remedy such problems and raise living standards. Compared to these
urgent needs, combatting the extinction of some animals does seem like an unworthy
cause.

However, notwithstanding the fact that there are indeed many crucial areas for
countries to pay attention to, | believe it would be unwise to ignore the unshaken
importance of wildlife preservation. In fact, humans have an inextricable relationship

with wildlife, which means that the extinction of a wild animal could seriously threaten
the survival of mankind. The African rhino is a telling example. Their grazing helps

sustain the grasslands on which countless other species depend, and thus maintains
the ecological balance. Therfore, the decline in rhino population could spell trouble for
African savannas, and ultimately the locals. This is a testament to how spending on
the protection of wild animals is also synonymous with safeguarding the existence of
humans.

In conclusion, while it seems that time and budget are misspent in saving wild
animals, | am convinced that it is of great importance to the existence of human

beings.

316 words, written by Phuong Dang

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 77
 TRANSLATION

Sy that la thinh vwong kinh té ma con ngwdi dug tan huéng gan day da va dang phai
danh ddi bang sw séng cilia cac loai dng vat hoang da. Bdi thé, viéc bao tan déng vat
hoang da lu6n la chti dé duoc cong chting quan tam. Tuy nhién, nhiéu ngudi cho rang
thdi gian va kinh phi danh cho né Iwe tinh nguyén thién chi nay dang gan vuot ngudng,
va nhieng tai nguyén nay nén duge chuyén huéng sang cac dy an truc tiép c6 ich cho
con ngudi. Du suy nghi nay cé phan théa dang nhung téi cho rang né luce nhiéu hon
trong viéc bao vé déng vat hoang da chinh Ia vi loi ich cua con ngudi.

C6 thé hiéu dug vi sao mét sé ngwéi nghi rang con ngudi dang danh qua nhiéu thoi
gian va tién bac cho viéc bao tén déng vat hoang da. Nhing ngudi ting hé cé thé lap
luan rang hién nay cé nhiéu van dé cap bach can gidi quyét hon la bao vé déng vat
hoang da. Vi dy, cac quéc gia noi nan that nghiép va nghéo déi dang hoanh hanh rat
can cac nguén tai tro dé khac phuc nhirng van dé nay va nang cao mirc séng. So véi
nhieng nhu cau cap thiét nay, viéc chién dau chéng lai sy tuyét chting clia mét sé loai
d6ng vat cé vé la mét viée khong dang duoc quan tam.

Tuy nhién, du trén thye té cé nhiéu linh vwc thue sw trong yéu ma cac quéc gia can
chu y nhung téi tin rang néu bd qua tam quan trong khéng thé phui nhan ctia viéc bao
ton déng vat hoang da la khéng khén ngoan. Trén thc té, con ngudi cé mdi quan hé
kh6ng thé tach roi voi dong vat hoang da; diéu dé cé nghia la sy tuyét chting cla mot
loai déng vat hoang da cé thé de doa nghiém trong dén sw séng con cla loai ngudi.
Té gidc chau Phi la mét vi du dién hinh. Viéc ching gam cé gitip duy tri vung déng cé
noi cé v6 sé loai khac phu thuéc, qua d6 su can bang sinh thai duoc duy tri. Do dé, sy
suy gidm sé Iuong té gidc cé thé gay ra nhiéu van dé cho cac ving thao nguyén chau
Phi va cho ca nguwdi dan dia phuong. Day la mét minh cht’ng cia viéc chi tiéu cho viéc
bao vé déng vat hoang da ciing déng nghia voi viéc bao vé sw tén tai cla con ngudi.

Tom lai, du cé vé thoi gian va ngan sach dang bi lang phi cho viéc bao vé déng vat
hoang da nhung tdi tin rang dé Ia viéc rat quan trong ddi voi su tén vong ctia loai ngudi.

78 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
economic prosperity (n) ye a state in which people are successful
and have a lot of money

Economic prosperity has allowed

a rising number of Chinese to live an
affluent lifestyle.

at the expense of (idm) in a way that harms something or

someone

His fame was earned at the expense

of health and happiness.

well-intentioned enterprise (n) willingness to do something new that

takes a lot of effort

They've shown a great deal of well-

intentioned enterprise in setting up
this project.

verge on sth (v) Ke to come near to being (a particular

state, quality, or feeling)

Domestically produced cars are

overpriced while prices for imported
cars verge on the absurd.

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 79
& cenera. VOCABULARY
justifiable (a) wy reasonable (having a good reason for
something)

The violence of the revolutionary

years was justifiable on the
grounds of political necessity.

pressing issue (n) Ww urgent or needing to be dealt with

immediately

A new survey shows that for

millenniats in India, religious conflict
is the most pressing issue affecting
the country after corruption and
poverty.

be rife with (a) wy full of something unpleasant

* rampant (a): (something
Once again the popular press in
unpleasant) very common or
Britain has been rife with stories
happen a lot
about the royal marriage of Prince
Harry and Meghan Markle.
Malaria is rampant in wet months
in Vietnam.

in dire need of + very serious or extreme need

Large parts of the country are still

in dire need of infrastructure.

80 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL|
remedy (v) to deal with a difficult situation or solve
a problem

It is imperative that governments

initiate viable solutions to remedy
the issue of crime.

unworthy cause (n) something that does not deserve time,

attention, or funding

Itis open to question whether the

money we have donated will be
going to an unworthy cause.

i
unshaken importance of (n) (used to emphasize) the great
importance

Our future generations should be

allowed to enjoy the Mother Nature
while recognizing the unshaken
importance of wildlife towards our
wellbeing and surroundings.

spell trouble for (v)

1 to cause problems

The disease is wreaking havoc

on pork production in Southeast
Asia and could also spell trouble
for U.S grain exporters supplying
animal feeds.

CHAPTER 02 —ENVIROMENT | 81
 GENERAL
VOCABULARY

be synonymous with (a) yy (two things) have the same meaning;

or are very closely associated with
each other
Paris has always been
synonymous with love, making it
a leading destination for fiances
seeking to create an unforgettable
wedding.

misspend (v) Yy touse time or money in a way that

wastes it or is not wise

Much of the money was grossly

misspent.

bike
be of great importance to to be very important to something

Conservation of water is of great

importance in desert areas.

82 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

Ecercise: Fill in the blanks using the words listed above.

1. Recent revelations implied that Americans were fighting and dying in Vietnam for

Meaning: something that is not deserving

2. When it comes to losing weight, some people think that putting themselves in direct
path of temptation and being able to resistitis a..............ccccccceeee to their willpower.
Meaning: a proof

3. The people who live on Train Street in Hanoi have developed a harmonious
coexistence with the dangers inherent to their community. Resilience is ................
shumnsiaxaomansawablas Vietnamese, and this unique street is one of the best showcases.
Meaning: be closely associated with

4. The first novel volume is the author’s account of his ..............00.00000. youth in the
bars of London.

Meaning: waste time

5. The Mekong Delta is home to 15 million people, many of whom rely on the delta’s
rich soil and water resources for farming and fishing. Therefore, environmental
CHANGES COUG car nanascnansanannvacnesowasarearaareRenemmnenemanie their livelihood.
Meaning: cause problems

6. Plastic pollution has become one of the MoSt ..........0..0. cecceccee ecu eeee sees , as rapidly
increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the world's ability
to deal with them.
Meaning: urgent problems

7. Banning helium balloons doesn’t sound a good idea, for the simple reason that
many people don’t want the government, no matter how ...........00.00..00.005 to force
them to give up something they like, because it’s good for the planet.
Meaning: for good purpose

8. It is currently fashionable to forswear flesh eating ......... 0... .ccccceeccee ccceeeceeceeeeeees

animal rights or a lower cholesterol level.
Meaning: in order to ensure

9. Local administrations have been working with agricultural engineers to identify

robust strategies to .................. saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta.

Meaning: to cope with

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 83
 Explain some of the ways in which humans are
damaging the environment.
od

What can governments do to address these problems?

What can individual people do?

HAU QUA - GIAI PHAP (x3

VE1 VE2
Hau qua Giai phap
[Con ngwéi dang tan pha méi [Mét sé giai phap kha thi cho
trw&ng theo nhiéu cach.] van dé.]

Y chinh 1 * Ychinh1
Nhu cau tiéu thy nang lwong khéng 13 Diéu nay gitp giam viéc str dung
nhién liéu héa thach.
Giai thich
Khi thai tle viéc ste dung nang lugng * Vidu
truyén théng trong san xuat gop Xe chay dién va nang Iuong thay thé
phan lam 6 nhiém khéng khi.
Tinh hinh tdi té hon do ti 1é phuong
tién ca nhan tang cao.

Vi du
Tilé stv dung 6 té tang vot & Viét Nam * Ychinh2
Tang cwong cac chién dich gitip
Y chinh 2 nang cao nhan thirc ctia cong déng
Hang tiéu dung gia ré dang dugc san
* Vidu
xuat hang loat.
Chuyén tir chai nha sang d6 dung
Giai thich tai sw dung dugc
Moi ngwéi tiéu dung va viet di nhiéu
hon — Rac thai nhiéu hon gay qua
tai & cdc bai chén dp va 6 nhiém
ngudén nude.

84 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 toric YOCABULARY
have an inextricable relationship with {Z__c6 méi quan hé khéng thé tach roi
nature voi tw nhién

deterioration of environmental sw xdu di clia chat lueng

quality (n) méi trudng
* environmental degradation (n):
sw xuéng cap cia méi trvéng
* environment pollution (n): sw 6 nhiém
mdi trudng
* environment contamination (n):
sv nhiém déc mdi trwdng

catastrophically exacerbate air lam xu di tinh trang 6 nhiém

pollution kh6ng khi mét cach khting khiép

wreck (v) fy pha hil, lam hai

* devastate (v): pha htiy, gay t6n hai
* take a (heavy) toll on: lam hai

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 85
 VOCABULARY
be alarmingly contaminated (v) LY bi 6 nhiém dén mwrc bao dong
@

massive exhaust emissions (n) Sv lwong khi thai khéng 1d

* toxic exhaust fumes (n): khi thai déc hai
* carbon footprint (n): dau chan carbon
(lwgng khi thai carbon sinh ra do cac
hoat d6ng cuia con ngudi)
* greenhouse gas emissions (n): khi thai
nha kinh

the combustion of fossil fuels (n) Ly viéc déi nhién ligu

* consumption of fossil fuels (n):
viéc tiéu thu nhién liéu
* enormous energy consumption (n):
sv tiéu thu nhién liéu khdng 16
* econological footprint (n): lwong nhién liéu
tw nhién ma ai d6 hoac cai gi st? dung

carbon-intensive energy source (n) JY Ngudn nang lwong san sinh

* fossil fuel (n): nhién ligu hoa thach nhiéu khi carbon
* conventional energy source (n): nguén
nang lweng truyén théng
* unsustainable source of energy (n): o
ngudn nang lueng khong bén vieng
* non-renewable power (n): nang luong
khéng tai tao duoc

86 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 renewable (n) ye nang lvong tai tao
* renewable energy (n): nang luong tai tao
* alternative energy source (n):
nguén nang lweng thay thé
* sustainable energy source (n):
nguén nang Iueng bén vieng
* carbon-free energy (n): nang lwong
khdéng san sinh khi carbon
* solar energy (n): nang luong mat troi
* wind energy (n): nang Iugng gid
* hydropower (n): nang lvong nude
* nuclear energy (n): nang Ilwong hat nhan
* green technology (n) céng nghé xanh
* hybrid vehicle (n): phuong tién “lai” stp
dung 2 céng nghé déng co’
* energy security (n): an ninh, nang luong

a throw-away society (n) st m6t x4 hdi ma moi ngudi viet bd dé

dac nhiéu, ké ca khi chting van con
dung duoc

single-use (a)
¥ (san phdm) ding mét lan
* disposable (a): (san pham) dting mét lan
* non-biodegradable (a): khéng phan hty
ty nhién duge.

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 87
f topic VOCABULARY
overload landfills (v) lam qua tai cdc bai chén lap

sustainable lifestyle choice (n) v cach séng than thién voi méi
* eco-friendly (a): than thién voi mdi ’ truong
truong

fe
reusable (a) yy (tai ste dung dug
* biodegradable (a): phan huy tw
nhién duge
* recyclable (a): tai ché duoc

88 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

Exercise 1: Find alternative expressions for the following words.

1s POSSI TUCISS iesicouanaanncamncrmeneannaauneaianeneatestc wena Rte AUTRE

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with suitable words.

1. Single-use plastics, OF d........ eee eeeeeee (used once and thrown away) plastics,
are used only once before they are thrown away or recycled.

2. Petroleum-based plastic is not B................cc

cece eee (able to decay naturally) and
usually goes into a landfill where it is buried or it gets into the water and finds its way
into the ocean.

3. We produce hundreds of millions of tons of plastic every year, most of which is not
Recssssieetasieauets (able to be recycled). It is obvious that we need to use less plastic,
move towards environmentally S................00....0605 (not harmful to the environment)
products and services, as well as coming up with technology that recycles plastic
more efficiently.

Cn ee (can be used again) items and systems have been proven to be

highly effective and a key solution in shifting away from S................. plastics.

Gs THE Geseaseseses (burning) of fossil fuels creates harmful greenhouse gas emissions
and our planet is already feeling the impact of climate change. By using Fr...............
(alternative energy) instead of fossil fuels we would significantly reduce c..............
(amount of exhaust emissions), and this would have positive environmental
impact for our entire planet.

6. Alternative energy can improve our €................0.. Siessvsaseases (enough energy) by

reducing the need for foreign oil import.

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 89
 SAMPLE

It is widely acknowledged that humans have an inextricable relationship with nature.

Therefore, the deterioration of environmental quality in recent decades has taken a
heavy toll on human life. This essay will demonstrate some ways in which humans are

destroying the environment before outlining a number of viable solutions to mitigate

the situation.

It is evident that the natural environment is being wrecked by human activities.

First, the enormous energy consumption in production is a major contributor to

environmental problems. In fact, massive exhaust emissions released from the

combustion of fossil fuels for manufacturing have catastrophically exacerbated air
pollution. This is compounded by the widespread use of fuel-powered vehicles,
especially automobiles. For example, the rocketing rate of car ownership among
middle-income Vietnamese nationals have rendered the atmosphere in major cities
alarmingly contaminated. Additionally, the mass production of low-priced consumer

goods is also to blame. The fact that consumer goods today can be had more cheaply
and readily has spawned a throw-away society, creating more waste, overloading
landfills and polluting water sources.

Several feasible solutions can be implemented to remedy the aforementioned issues.

Firstly, the government should allocate more funding to green technology, which is
key to lowering the reliance on carbon-intensive energy sources. For example, the

use of hybrid vehicles and renewables will help cut down on the consumption of fossil
fuels, and thus reducing the volume of toxic exhaust fumes. Secondly, campaigns that
raise public awareness about environmental degradation should be intensified. Once

people are aware of the dire state of the environment and its repercussions, they
would be nudged towards more sustainable lifestyle choices, such as switching from
single-use plastic bottles to reusable containers.

In conclusion, unbridled consumption of conventional energy and consumer goods

are the primary culprits behind major environmental issues, and it is that the proposed
solutions be universally adopted to help protect the planet.

310 words, written by Phuong Dang

90 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 TRANSLATION

Co mét sv that dug thiva nhan réng rai lA con ngwdi cd mdi quan hé khéng thé tach

roi voi tw nhién. Do do, sw suy gidm chat lwong mdi trvéng trong nhieng thap ky gan

day da gay tén hai nang né cho cuéc séng con ngudi. Bai luan nay sé néu ra mot sd
phuwong thtrc ma con ngwoi dang huy hoai mdi trong trudc khi phac thao nhieng giai
phap kha thi dé giam nhe tinh trang nay.

R6 rang la mdi trv@ng ty nhién dang bi tan pha bdi cac hoat déng cia con nguwoi. Dau
tién, viéc tiéu thu lwong nang Ilweng khéng Id trong san xuat la yéu t6 chinh gay ra cac
van dé méi trwéng. Trén thu té, lwong khi thai v6 cling Ion thai ra tr qua trinh dét
nhién liéu héa thach phuc vu cho san xuat da va dang lam tdi té hon tinh trang 6 nhiém
khéng khi. Tinh hinh nay con tro’ nén nghiém trong hon do viéc str dung réng rai cac
phuwong tién str dung chat dét, dac biét la 6 t6. Vi du, tilé so hiru 6 t6 cla nhieng nguoi

cé thu nhap trung binh & Viét Nam tang vot da khién bau khong khi & cdc thanh phd
lon bi 6 nhiém mét cach dang bao déng. Thém vao dé, viéc san xuat hang loat hang

tiéu dung gid ré cling la nguyén nhan. Thue té la hang hda tiéu ding ngay nay cé thé
c6 gid ré hon va san hon da sinh ra mét “xa hdi viet cia di’, tao ra nhiéu phé thai, lam
qua tai cac bai chén lp va gay 6 nhiém nguén nuée.

Ching ta cé thé thc hién mét sé gidi phap kha thi dé khac phuc cac van dé néu trén.
Thr nhat, chinh phd nén phan bé nhiéu ngan sach hon cho céng nghé xanh — chia

khéa gidm su phu thuéc vao cac nguén nang Iwong thai nhiéu carbon. Vi du, viéc stv

dung xe “lai” va nang Iwong tai tao sé gitip cat gidm tiéu thy nhién liéu hdéa thach, tlre dé
lam gidm Iwong khi thai déc hai. Tht? hai, can tang cwong chién dich nang cao nhan
thtec cong déng vé tinh trang xuéng cap clia mdi trvong. Mdt khi ngwoi dan nhan thtrc
dugc tinh trang tdi té cua méi trvdng va nhirng hau qua ctia nd, ho sé huéng tdi cac
lwa chon theo Idi séng bén ving hon, chang han nhw chuyén tte chai nhwa str dung
mét lan sang loai cé thé tai str dung.

Tom lai, tiéu thu nang Iweng truyén théng va hang hoa tiéu dung khéng kiém soat
chinh la thi: pham chinh dang sau cac van dé méi trwong nghiém trong, va diéu bat
budéc la cac giai phap duoc dé xuat phai duoc 4p dung réng rai dé gitip bao vé hanh
tinh nay.

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 91
 , cenera. VOCABULARY
viable solution (n) vr possible way to successfully deal with
* feasible measure (n): possible a problem
way to successfully deal with
a problem
The recommendations highlight the
, 4 importance of finding viable solutions
to address social media addiction
among the youth.

major contributor to (n) yy one of the main reasons why so nething

happens

Aviation is considered to be a major

contributor to global warming.

compound (v) Ww to make a problem or difficult situation

worse

0 ) His financial problems were

is
compounded when he unexpectedly
lost his job.

national (n) W acitizen ofa particular country

Nearly 1.3 million Vietnamese

nationals have immigrated to the
United States since the communist
takeover of South Vietnam in 1975.

render (v) ‘7 to cause someone or something to be in a

particular state

These tests were so seriously flawed as

to render the results meaningless.

92 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL\
be to blame (for sth) wv to be the reason for something bad that
* primary culprit behind/ for sth: happens
be the reason for something bad
that happens Lack of parental care is to blame for
aggressive and anti-social children.

be key to (a) LW very important and having a lot of influence

* imperative (a): extremely on people or things
important or urgent
Education is key to the prosperity of
any nation.
It remains imperative that all parties
should be involved in the talks.

repercussion (n) xiv consequence

Any decrease in tourism could have

dire repercussions for the local
economy.

nudge sb towards sth vy to gently encourage or persuade

someone to do something

His parents tried to nudge him

towards changing his mind.

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 93
 vockavraey REVIEW
Exercise: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have to
change the form of the word to match the sentence.

1. Over the past decade, severe droughts have ............ ccc cecec cess ceeseeeeeeee aeeueeneeee on
crops, livestock, and farmers in many parts of the world.
Meaning: do harm

2. Many fitness apps can.................. users towards doing things as basic as drinking
more water and staying more active to forming better habits towards healthy eating
and fitter living.
Meaning: encourage

3. Consensus over the past few years has been that an increased sedentary lifestyle
NaS: DESK sisccvaceoweevecancsxerescaveunes rampant obesity.
Meaning: cause

4, ONC IPE: jscscccccvssssecvens of Vietnam war is that it made Americans, especially the

baby boomer generation, more cynical and less trusting of government and of
authority.
Meaning: consequence

5. Experts speculate that self-driving vehicles will ..................... transport landscape

obsolete.
Meaning: cause

6. Business leaders say that company culture is the single most important................

to their success — though most believe they were not investing enough, blaming
perceived the cost and time needed.
Meaning: factor

7. As well as educating and encouraging people to eat a balanced diet and exercise

regularly to maximise longevity, an optimistic outlook is also deemed ...................

to a healthy lifestyle.
Meaning: important

94 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 03 Fossil fuel is the main source of energy. In some
4 ™ countries, the use of alternative sources of energy is
e encouraged. Is this a positive or negative development?

Nang lwoeng thay thé co nhirng Nang Iweng thay thé c6 nhieng
han ché gi? wu diém gi?

* Ychinh1 Y chinh 1
Qua dat, chi nhizng quéc gia giau co Than thién voi méi trvong
mdi cé thé ap dung
Giai thich
Anh hwéng cla tiéu thu nang lweng
* Y chinh 2 héa thach qua khiing khiép, viéc
Kh6ng 6n dinh, vi thé khéng dap chuyén sang nang lwong thay thé la
tng duoc nhu cau lén can thiét

* Y chinh3 ¥ chinh 2
C6 thé dug ding cho muc dich khac Giai phap nang Iweng bén virng

Giai thich
* Vi du:
Duge tao ra tle nhitng tai nguyén
Iran va Bac Triéu Tién: quan su vé tan, nang lweng thay thé la
can thiét cho twong lai lau dai cla
nhan loai.

CHAPTER 02 —ENVIROMENT | 95
 c V O C A B U L A R Y
B tori
energy crisis (n) WY khung hoang nang Ivong
* world energy consumption (n): mirc tiéu
thu nang lweng toan cau
* global energy demand (n): nhu cau
nang lwong toan cau
* scarcity (n): sy khan hiém
* dispute over natural resources (n):
tranh chap tai nguyén thién nhién

alternative energy (n) vr nang luong thay thé

* renewable (n): nang lung thay thé
* carbon-free energy source (n): nguén
nang lwo'ng khéng chwra carbon (cac
ngudn nang lweng thay thé)
* power generated from renewable
source (n): nang lvong tao ra tly nguén
tai nguyén vé han
* greener substitute (n): phuong an thay
thé than thién voi mdi trvéng hon

weaponize (v) va khi hoa

* global security threat (n): méi de doa
an ninh toan cau

uranium enrichment (n) qua trinh lam giau uranium

* weapons-grade nuclear material (n): (uranium la nguyén liéu cho bom
nhién liéu hat nhan dung dé ché tao hat nhan)
vG khi

96 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

Exercise 1: Alternative Energy

What are the different ways to say ‘alternative energy’?

- energy from inexhaustible sources? re............ cece (a) energy OF Fe..........c.00085

(noun — plural)

- energy that does not contain Carbon? ...........c

ccc ce ces eeeececneeeeeeeed energy

- energy that does not hurt the environment? ..........0...00.cccceccceceeeeeee energy

Based on the answers above, can you guess 3 different ways to say ‘fossil fuels’?

- energy can be exhausted? eX. ......5...6.0ccceceseceeseeeruceeacuens (a) resources.

- energy that is based on Carbon? ..........6.0.ccceicssesdeeteveeccees energy.

- energy that negatively affects the environment? un......................00606- (a) energy

sources.

Exercise 2: Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy, properly harnessed, can be a reliable source of energy and the answer
to the world’s energy C...............cccscceeeeeeees (when we run out of energy).

However, it is often associated with the threat Of W................ccccccccccuececeeceeeeereececeeee

(the process of turning something into a weapon). Nuclear bombs can indeed cause
catastrophic outcomes, as evidenced by the horrific bombings of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki.

In order to create a nuclear bomb, uranium has to be @f. . . . . eee cceeccseeeceecceueeceeceene

(to create more). This process creates W.................. BE feces ics (suitable for
weaponry) nuclear material, which is the main component of a nuclear weapon.

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 97
 SAMPLE

The environmental impact caused by the burning of fossil fuel is unequivocal. In light

of this, more countries are turning to power generated from renewable sources like
wind and sunlight as a greener substitute. However, along with widespread support,
alternative energy also raises certain concerns. This essay will look at both the pros
and cons of this new type of energy and show how the world’s embracing it is a

positive development.

Opponents of renewables could cite several reasons for their worries. First, this
type of energy is prohibitively expensive to produce and store, which means it is
out of reach for less developed nations. Second, the current output of alternative
energy is far from being enough to meet the demands of most nations. Finally,

some renewables could be weaponized, which could make them a global security
threat. The escalating international tensions surrounding uranium enrichment and
development of weapons-grade nuclear material in countries such as Iran and North

Korea are a testament to the risk of renewables.

On the other hand, despite the aforementioned setbacks, much of the world is still in

favor of alternative energy sources, and justifiably so. The most obvious benefit of this
type of power is its minimal impact on the environment. Renewables have extremely

low carbon footprint compared to fossil fuels, and given how dire environmental
pollution has become and how it affects our very existence, the switch to carbon-
free energy sources is necessary. Another compelling point is that because they are
created from resources that are practically infinite, alternative energy is the answer to
the imminent energy crisis.

In conclusion, | believe the upside of alternative energy sources is far more significant

that their downside. While there are real challenges that we need to overcome to
make universal adoption of renewables feasible and affordable, recent success with

storage and production technologies promises that this will soon be a reality.

315 words, written by Tung Dang

98 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 TRANSLATION
au.

Tac d6ng toi mdi trvong cla viéc dét nhién liéu hda thach la v6 cling ré rang. Boi vay,
nhiéu quéc gia dang chuyén sang cac nang Ivong tao ra tir nhiyng nguén tai nguyén v6
han nhu gid va anh sang mat troi nh mét su thay thé “xanh” hon. Tuy nhién, cling voi
sw ting hé réng khap nay, nang lweng thay thé cing gay ra nhing quan ngai nhat dinh.
Bai luan nay sé nhin nhan ca wu va nhuge diém clia loai nang long mdi nay déng thoi
chi ra viéc thé gidi theo dudi né chinh la mét sv phat trién tich cwe.

Nh&ng ngudi phan déi nang Iuwong tai tao cé thé vién dan mét sé ly do cho nhifng !o
lang clia ho. Dau tién, loai nang Iwong nay t6n rat nhiéu tién dé san xuat va Iwu tre;
diéu d6 cé nghia la né nam ngoai tam véi ctia cdc quéc gia kém phat trién hon. Thir
hai, san lwgng nang lwong thay thé hién nay chwa dap tng du nhu cau ctia hau hét cdc
quéc gia. Cuéi cling, mét sé loai nang Iweng tai tao cd thé bj va khi héa, khién chting
tro thanh méi de doa an ninh toan cau. Cang thang thé gidi leo thang xung quanh viéc
lam giau uranium va phat trién vat ligu hat nhan cap va khi & cdc quéc gia nhu Iran va
Triéu Tién la mét minh chteng cho nguy co cia nang Iwong tai tao.

Mat khac, bat chap nhitng tro ngai néu trén, phan lon thé gidi van ting h6 cac nguén
nang long thay thé, va nhw vay cing [a chinh dang. Loi ich r6 rang nhat cia loai nang
lwgng nay la tac déng téi thiéu ctia no dén mdi trvdng. Nang lwong tai tao c6 Ivong
“d€u chan carbon" cyc thap so véi nhién liéu hda thach, va trong béi canh 6 nhiém
mi trvéng da tro nén nghiém trong déng thdi né ciing anh hudng dén sv tén tai ctia
ching ta, viéc chuyén sang cac ngu6én nang Iuong khéng chiva carbon [a can thiét. Mat
luan diém thuyét phuc khac la do dug tao ra tly cac ngudn tai nguyén vo han, nang
luong thay thé chinh Ia cau tra loi cho cuéc khting hoang nang lwgng dang can ké.

Tom lai, t6i tin rang mat tich cwe cia cAc nguén nang Iveng thay thé c6 y nghia hon
nhiéu so voi nhugc diém cia chung. Du cé nhieng thach thtrc thyc sw ma chung ta can

phai vet qua dé viéc ap dung phd bién nang Iwong tai tao tro nén kha thi va gia ca
phai chang, nhung nhivng thanh céng gan day véi cong nghé Iwu tri va san xuat hiva
hen diéu nay sé som tro thanh hién thw.

CHAPTER
02— ENVIROMENT | 99
fA GENERAL VOCABULARY
unequivocal (a) tr very clear

The proof of climate change is

unequivocal, yet some nations are still
reluctant to do anything about it.

in light of YW because of

In light of instability and violence in

neighboring countries, the government
has decided to tighten border security.

turn to (v) * to switch to something/ someone else

As the political situation in the country

sours, many citizens are turning to
Western nations for refuge.

widespread support (n) SY support from a majority

c3u3
Although Hilary Clinton elicited
widespread support in the 2016
election, Trump still came out on top in

a3
raise concern (v) Ww
the end.

to cause people to worry

The developments in Hong Kong have

raised deep concerns worldwide about
democracy and human rights.

out of reach (a) vy too expensive or too difficult

The proposed retail price of the product

is going to put it out of the reach of
most consumers.

100 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
embrace (v) to accept or welcome something

Going plastic-free is a lifestyle that is

being widely embraced.

cite (v) wv to mention something to prove a point

The manager cited examples of

wasteful spending in the company
to show how better management of
funds is of the essence.

prohibitively expensive (a) very costly

The cost of living in Singapore

is prohibitively expensive, but
many local residents think it’s worth
it because of the convenience and
diversity of the city.

escalating tension (n) growing anger between people or

countries

TEA ——Syrrrzzr Dispute over shared resources is

one of the main reasons for the
escalating tensions in the region.

universal (a) involving everyone/ happening

everywhere

Universal access to education is

a goal that every government should
strive toward.

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 1014

&\ cenera. VOCABULARY
testament to sth (n)
we proof that something is true

The long queue outside the

restaurant is a testament to its
quality.

be in favor of to support something

The majority of the board are in

favor of relieving the CEO of his
duties.

justify (v) to give or to be a good reason for

It is hard to determine who is right

or wrong in war. Each side tries to
justify their actions, but one thing
is inarguable: the human losses are
insurmountable.

compelling (a) convincing

There is compelling evidence that

learning a language at an early age
greatly helps children develop their
brains.

upside vs. downside (n — usually pros vs. cons

singular)
The economic upside must be
weighed against the environmental
downside.

102 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have
to change the form of the word to match the sentence.

4. Son Tung MTP is .............cccceeceeeeeeeeeeeees respected in the artist community for

always pushing the envelope in terms of lyrical and musical originality.

Meaning: respected by everyone in the community

2. The iPhone's:global SUCCESS 'IS':@’......ccccccsecccnoarsenensseassconene to Steve Jobs’ place

as one of the world’s greatest designers.

Meaning: is proof of

3. A lawyer’s job is marshalling .............0...ccccceeeeeeeeeees arguments to sway the judge

and jury.
Meaning: use convincing points

4. | find his resentment perfectly ....................06.0cc000u After all, the company did
profiteer off his lifework and left him without a penny to his name.
Meaning: | think it makes perfect sense why he’s mad.

Exercise 2: Find an alternative expression for the underlined parts. You

may have to refer to a collocation dictionary or a thesaurus.

1. a. North Korea’s nuclear weapons tests have raised concerns over regional security.

b. The spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State has raised concerns over
North Korea’s nuclear weapons tests.

Note: ‘a situation raises concerns’ is slightly different from ‘someone raises concerns
about a situation’, though ultimately both expressions point to the same thing.

2. Cars in Vietnam are prohibitively expensive, but apparently that hasn't stopped
people from purchasing more cars.

3. Facebook was quickly embraced when it was launched.

4. In light of the sex tape scandal, the singer's career is now in ruins.

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 103

 a)
Some people say that protecting the environment is the
government’s responsibility. Others believe that every
individual should be responsible for it. Discuss both
views and give your own opinion.

THAO LUAN HAI QUAN DIEM ((e)

QUAN DIEM 1 QUAN DIEM 2

Nang Iwong thay thé co nhirng Bao vé mGi trwong la trach nhiém
han ché gi? cua ngwoi dan.

Chinh phi cé nhieng céng cu gi khién Ngwoi dan c6 céng cy gi khién ho tro
ho tre nén quan trong trong viéc giai nén quan trong trong viéc giai quyét
quyét cac van dé vé méi trvéng? cac van dé vé mdi trvéng?

* Ychinh1 * Ychinh1
Chinh sach/ phap luat Nép séng than thién véi méi trvdng
* Giai thich * Vidu
Chinh phi co thé kiém soat viéc Di phwong tién céng cong
san xuat va tiéu thy nhién liéu -
2 nguyén nhan I6n dan toi 6 * Ychinh 2
nhiém méi trong. Sic mua
* Giai thich
: Ung hé doanh nghiép bao vé méi
* Y chinh 3 trwong va tay chay doanh nghiép
Ngan sach khéng bao vé mdi trvong dé
* Giai thich khuyén khich doanh nghiép phai
Nhieng céng nghé than thién voi thay ddi cach kinh doanh
mi trong rat dat va chinh phi cé
thé chi tién vao viéc nay. Y chinh 3
Stec mua
Giai thich
Vi lanh dao dong vai trd quan trong
trong viéc bao vé mdi trudng, ngudi
dan co thé bau nhitng [anh dao cé
duoéng |6i bao vé mdi trudng.

104 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 VOCABULARY
deterioration of the planet (n) sw xudng cap clia mdi trvong
* global warming (n): hién twong 4m lén Trai dat
toan cau
* ozone depletion (n): thing tang 6 zon
* water contamination (n): 6 nhiém nguén
nudéc
* land/ soil degradation (n): suy thoai dat
desertification (n): hoang mac héa
+

* loss of biodiversity (n): mat di da dang

sinh hoc

environmental protection (n) ‘ bao vé mdi trvéng

* environmental conservation (n): bao tén
mdi trudng
* reverse the damage done to the planet (v):
dao ngugc thiét hai gay ra cho hanh tinh
* alleviating environmental problems (n):
lam diu cac van dé méi trong

state officials (n)

* state (n): chinh phu
4 7% quan chite chinh phu

* government intervention (n): sw can thiép

ctia chinh phti
* participation of government (n): sw tham
gia cla chinh pha
* mobilize resource (v): huy d6ng nguén Ic

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 105

 ordinary citizens (n) YY dan thueng
* people (n): nhan dan
* electorate (n): clr tri
* constituent (n): ct tri
* taxpayer (n): ngwoi déng thué
* taxpayer's money/ tax revenue (n):
tién dong thué/ tién thué
* contribution of ordinary citizen (n):
sw dong gop ctia ngudi dan

energy production and viéc san xuat va tiéu thu

consumption (n) nang luong

push for a greener future (v) % thtic day mét twong lai than thién
voi moi trwong

106 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 Exercise 1: Environmental problems

What problems do you think the following solutions are trying to solve?

Note: a solution can solve more than one problem.

1. Phase out ozone-depleting substances emitted by human activities

EERE REE EEE EATER EEE RESET EE DEE E DEERE EEE ERS EET EERE ED EEE PETE EE EERE EEE EEE EERE EEE NEE

PoOeeUREOROOEOOOOSOOOOOOOOOSOSOOCOOO OOOO OOO OOOO OOeeOOeOO Oe Oeereeeeer eee ree rete eee reer errr ere eee eee)

APOE Ree een enema eee eee e een EE P REE EEE E EH EEE EEE HESSEN HEESEESEET ARETE EEE ER SEER EEE EHTS EEE EHE EASE E EEE E ES

POcUeEUOOOUOCOOOUOOCUORUCCUSOCOCOOOOOOeOOU OO OEeCeeeee cere err reer irr cer rer eerie rrr eer reese eee eee)

PoeeeeCOeSUeSUSOECOCO OOOO SOOSOCOeUCeSOOeOCeCEeTOOeereereer eer rerr err erererrrer rete cere eee er reer eee rere)

Exercise 2: The government and the people

a) What are some alternative words for ‘the government’?

b) What are some alternative words for ‘the people’?

- thep..............

=F "Oh nasameanny citizens

CHAPTER 02— ENVIROMENT | 107

 SAMPLE

As the impacts of issues like global warming and water contamination become
palpable, environmental protection has become one of humanity’s chief objectives in
the 21st century. However, people are still divided on whether this responsibility rests
with state officials or the ordinary citizens. In this answer, | will look at the unique roles
that both parties play in this endeavor before drawing a reasoned conclusion.

On the one hand, reversing the damage done to planet is a massive undertaking
that seems impossible without government intervention. Most of the ongoing
environmental problems are the direct result of energy production and consumption
— something that can be regulated with legislation. In addition to this, the funds they
have at their disposal and their ability to mobilize resources make governments
indispensable in tackling environmental issues. For example, taxpayers’ money
can be ploughed back into researching ways to make green technologies more
commonplace and affordable.

On the other hand, while the participation of governments in alleviating environmental

problems is wholly warranted, it would be imprudent to underestimate the contribution
of ordinary citizens. People can make a huge difference with simple changes
in lifestyle like taking public transport or classifying trash. Another way in which
individuals can help protect the environment is through their consumption. Patronizing
stores that champion sustainable business practices and boycotting companies that
are reluctant to reduce waste are practical steps that consumers can take to push for
a greener future. By the same token, the electorate can use their votes to make an
impact by electing officials that care deeply about the deterioration of the planet and
are committed to changing the status quo.

In conclusion, environmental conservation is a colossal responsibility that must be

borne by both the state and the people.

290 words, written by Tung Dang

108 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 14

 TRANSLATION

Khi cac tac déng clia nhitng van dé nhu hién twong Am lén toan cau va 6 nhiém ngudn
nwo tre nén r6 rét, bao vé mdi trvdng da tré thanh mét trong nhivng muc tiéu chinh
cla con ngvdi trong thé ky 21. Tuy nhién, chung ta van bi chia ré trong viée trach
nhiém nay thuéc vé cac quan chirc nha nuéc hay ngwoi dan. Trong cau tra Idi nay, tdi
sé xem xét cac vai tro ma mdi bén déng gép trong né Ive nay trwéc khi dua ra mot két
luan hop ly.

Mét mat, dao ngugc thiét hai gay ra cho hanh tinh la mét viéc lon cé vé bat kha thi néu
khéng cé sv can thiép cua chinh ph. Hau hét cdc van dé méi trvdng dang dién ra la
két qua truc tiép ctia viéc san xuat va tiéu thu nang |lwo'ng — vén dug quy dinh boi
phap luat. Thém vao dé, cac quy co san va kha nang huy déng ngudn Ie clia ho khién
chinh pht (c6 vai tro) khong thé thiéu trong viéc giai quyét cac van dé méi trvong. Vi
du, tién déng thué cé thé quay vong vao cac nghién ctru dé phd bién hon va gidm gia
thanh cac céng nghé xanh.

Mat khac, du sw vao cuéc cia chinh phti trong viéc giam bot cdc van dé mdi trudng
la chac chan, viéc danh gia thap sy déng gép clia ngudi dan sé la khéng khén ngoan.
Moi ngwdi cé thé tao ra su khac biét lon lao bang nhing thay déi don gian trong |6i
séng nhw str dung phwong tién giao théng céng céng hoac phan loai rac. Mot cach

khac ma cdc ca nhan cé thé gitip bao vé mdi truong la thong qua cach tiéu ding.
Thuong xuyén mua s4m @ cac cla hang bao vé hoat déng kinh doanh bén ving va tay
chay cdc céng ty khéng muén cat gidm chat thai la nhieng buéc thiét thwc ma ngudi
tiéu ding cé thé thuc hién dé thtic day mét twong lai xanh hon. Twong ty nhu vay, ctl
tri co thé str dung phiéu bau clia minh dé tao anh huéng bang cach bau ra cac quan
chtrc quan tam sau sac dén sw xudng cap clia mdi trvong Trai dat va cam két thay ddi
hién trang.

Tom lai, bao tn mdi trveng Ia trach nhiém to lon phai duoc ganh vac bdi ca nha nuéc
va nhan dan.

CHAPTER 02 —- ENVIROMENT | 109

fA cenera. VOCABULARY
palpable (a) Ww obvious, strongly felt

There is palpable fear among the city’s

residents in the wake of the bombing
attack.

divided (a) Yy disagreeing, debating

The two-party system is great for

democracy, but it can also cause a
nation to be deeply divided.

(responsibility) rest with sb (v) Jv somebody is responsible to do something

Financing college studies is something

that traditionally rests with parents.

play a role in sth (v) yr to be needed for a specific purpose

The guidance of the coach plays

a pivotal role in the team’s goal of
winning this season.

endeavor (n) " an attempt

‘Hay Trao Cho Anh’ is an ambitious

artistic endeavor of Son Tung MTP.

110 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOC,
massive undertaking (n) w something very difficult to do

Reversing global warming is a

massive undertaking that requires
the collaboration of governments,
companies and ordinary citizens.

have sth at sb’s disposal (v) yf to have something you can use

Conventional wisdom dictates that

you should invest the funds you have
at your disposal instead of letting it
sit idly in the bank.

indispensable (a) extremely important

Going forward, Al will prove

indispensable in the operation of
manufacturing firms.

tackle an issue (v) to solve an issue

2 The mayoral candidate promises

to step up to tackle the housing
problems of the city

plough back sth into sth (v) He to reinvest the money you earn to into
what you're doing

Part of the company's earnings

will be ploughed back into new
machineries.

CHAPTER 02—ENVIROMENT | 111

& ceneraL VOCABULARY
imprudent (a) ZZ not smart
It would be imprudent to fire
someone just because of some
oversights.

patronize (v) Ww to be a regular customer

The store is patronized by a who's

who of Hollywood.

boycott (v) ¥v to stop being a customer or to stop

participating

Corporate scandals could prompt

customers to boycott a product.

OuaH Wann ay mane

take steps (v) Lv to start doing something with specific
actions

The newly elected president is

lauded for taking concrete steps
to address the broken immigration
e system.

&
wholly warranted (a) wv necessary, justifiable (verb — warrant)

After eating there, | can confirm that

the hype surrounding the restaurant
is wholly warranted.

112 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
by the same token (idm) Ly by the same argument

Because of customers’ ever-

changing tastes, companies are
under constant pressure to churn
out something fresh and exciting.
By the same token, they need to
discount old season’s stock to make
space for new season's offerings

be committed to (v) to make a promise that you will do

whatever you can for a goal
v'a
Our company is committed to not
only providing the best value for
money but also taking care of our
employees.

change the status quo (v)

eh

to change the current situation

Every politician promises to change

the status quo, but few are able to
actually deliver their promises.

CHAPTER 02 — ENVIROMENT | 113

 vocasULARY FRE VIEW
Exercise 1: Find a better expression for the underlined parts among the
words listed above.

1. Renovating the building is a very difficult task.

2: The questionable test result requires further investigation.

. Fresh thyme is absolutely necessary in this recipe.

. We are starting to revamp the administrative system.

. The faculty is arguing about the new curriculum.

. The project is going to require all the manpower that we have.

. The challenge for the new head is to deal with the PR crisis.

. Luck plays a big role in personal success.

Exercise 2: Select the most appropriate word to fill in the blanks.

4: Clothes made from natural fibres are delicate so they should always be dry cleaned.
By the same .............ecceeeeee
neces , it pays to brush and carefully store them after
each wear.

A. measure B. token C. means D. meaning

. The company has decided to lay off staff to stay afloat through the virus outbreak,
and many departments could become ..................06cceeee0e

A. dispensible B. indispensable C. dispensing D. dispenser

. In these trying times, the support of regular ..................0008 extremely important to

small businesses.

A. patronize B. patron C. patrons D. patronizers

. It was a substandard performance, but | felt the judge’s harsh remarks were

A. warranty B. warrant C. warranted D. unwarranted

. Reversing the impact of climate change should be seen as a collective ................

A. endeavor B. collaboration C. cooperation D. discussion

114 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

ARhid be
 Ol. People in many countries are spending less time
with their family. What are the reasons, and effects of
this?
oa

NGUYEN NHAN - ANH HUONG 5)

ANH HUONG XAU TO!

NGUYEN NHAN
GIA DINH VA XA HOI

* Y chinh 1 * Ychinh 1
Lich lam viéc ban r6n Anh hwéng toi gia dinh

* Giai thich * Giai thich

Da sé moi ngwdi déu ban rén véi Gia tang khoang cach gitra cac
céng viéc, do vay khé sap xép thanh vién trong gia dinh, tty d6
thoi gian danh cho ngudi than dé dan toi hiéu nham va xung dot,
tham chi li hén

* Y chinh 2
* Y chinh 2
Lam dung céng nghé
Anh hwéng tdi x4 hdi
* Giai thich
* Giai thich
Cac thiét bi cong nghé ngay cang
Méi quan hé gia dinh xau di cé
phé bién, diéu nay khién nhiéu
thé gay ra nhiéu van dé xa hdi.
ngwdi bi nghién str dung chung
va tach minh khdi gia dinh. * Vidu
Khi b6 me danh it thoi gian cho
* Vidu
con cai, chung dé bj tac dong boi
Nhiéu thanh thiéu nién thich nhan
anh huwéng xau tt ban bé va truyén
tin voi ban bé trén mang xa hdi
théng. Diéu nay [a tién dé cho sw
hon la ndi chuyén voi bé me.
gia tang bao luc va tdi pham.

116 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 VOCABULARY
quality family time (n) Jy thdi gian chat lweng bén gia dinh

Balancing work and quality

family time is challenging.

insufficient time for family (n) Yx khdng du thdi gian cho gia dinh
* reduced family time (n): thoi gian
cho gia dinh giam stt When there is a lack of family
* lack of family time (n): thiéu thoi time, many youths get involved
gian cho gia dinh in risky and delinquent
* absence of family time (n): sw thiéu activities.
vang thoi gian cho gia dinh
* increasingly less family together
sa
ay
time (n): thoi gian gia dinh bén
nhau ngay cang it

deterioration of family relations (n) Ly sw xau di cla cac méi quan hé

trong gia dinh

It is undeniable that the

deterioration of family
relations will have an adverse
impact on the children’s
emotional development.

family bond (n) ys gan bé trong gia dinh

* family ties (n): sw gan b6
Although the family bonds
trong gia dinh
were not very close, we have
always been very friendly
and spent quite a lot of time
together.

bond (v) Y gan két

The puppy and his master
bonded quickly.

CHAPTER 03 — FAMILY | 117

 Exercise: Choose the correct answer.

1. Which word is an alternative for ‘insufficient’?

A. absent B. inadequate

C. inaccurate D. inaccessible

2. Which phrase means ‘time that you spend with someone, giving them your full
attention because you value the relationship’?

A. best time B. standard time

C. quality time D. spending time

3. In societies with strong ...............0+ , people tend to live longer.

A. family time B. family bonds
C. family circle D. family leave

4. What is the antonym of ‘deterioration’?

A. degrade B. exacerbation
C. enhancement D. decadence

5. What is the synonym for the verb ‘bond’?

A. bind B. detach
C. disconnect D. separate

118 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 \ SAMPLE

It is true that quality family time is on the decline for many households the world
over. This tendency is attributable to a host of reasons, and in this essay, | am
going to prove that it is going to have dire consequences on both family and
society.

There are two underlying reasons as to why people are not spending as much
time with their family as they used to in the past. First and foremost, hectic work
schedules are depriving people of time spent for family. In modern society, most
people are occupied with their jobs and struggle for time to properly bond with
their spouse or children. Another driving factor that results in inst ufficient time for
family is technology overuse. Given the proliferation of digital devices like the
smartphone or tablet, significantly more people, especially younger generations,
are becoming overly addicted to these technologies and isolated from their family
as a result. Most teenagers, for example, would rather spend their time texting
their friends via social media than engage in conversation with their parents.

| would contend that the growing trend towards reduced family time is going to
have serious repercussions not only on the family but also on society. Regarding
the former, the absenc se of family time is furthering the distance between family
members. This may fuel misunderstandings in the family and potential conflicts,
even divorces in worst-case scenarios. With respect to the latter, the deterioration
of family relations could contribute to numerous social problems. For example,
when parents spend more time working and less time with their children, they
inadvertently leave their children more vulnerable to toxic influences from bad
friends or their media consumption, which is a precursor to increased violence
and crime.

In conclusion, packed work schedule and heavy use of technological gadgets are
to blame for the increasingly
less family together time, and | am convinced that
this phenomenon has a number of negative implications for family and society.
if
326 words, written by Phuong Dang ‘|
 TRANSLATION

Co mét sy that la khoang thoi gian chat lweng bén gia dinh dang bi gidm sut & nhiéu
hé gia dinh trén toan thé gidi. Xu hwong nay do rat nhiéu nguyén nhan tao thanh va
trong bai luan nay, tdi sé chteng minh rang né cé nhieng hau qua nghiém trong déi voi
ca gia dinh va xa hdi.

Co hai ly do can ban cho viéc tai sao con ngudi khéng danh nhiéu thdi gian cho gia

dinh nhu truwéc day. Dau tién va quan trong nhat, lich trinh lam viéc ban r6n dang tuéc
di thoi gian moi ngwdi danh cho gia dinh. Trong xa hdi hién dai, hau hét moi ngudi déu
ban r6n voi cong viéc va ho phai vat va mdi cé duoc khoang thdi gian gan két hop ly
voi “ntva kia” hodc con cai. Mét yéu t6 can nguyén khac dan dén viéc khéng co dui thoi
gian cho gia dinh Ia viéc lam dung céng nghé. Do sy phé bién cla cac thiét bi ki thuat
s6 nhw dién thoai théng minh hoac may tinh bang, mét sé lugng ngudi nhiéu hon dang
ké, dac biét la thé hé tré, dang qua “nghién” cdc céng nghé nay va két qua [a ho bi cé
lap khdi gia dinh. Vi dy, hau hét thanh thiéu nién tha danh thoi gian nhan tin cho ban
bé qua mang xa hdi hon la chuyén trdé voi cha me.

Téi cho rang xu hung ngay cang tang cia viéc it danh thoi gian cho gia dinh sé cé
nhi@ng hau qua nghiém trong kh6ng chi déi véi gia dinh ma cén déi voi xa hdi. Vé
phwong dién gia dinh, sy thiéu vang thdi gian cho gia dinh dang lam gia tang khoang
cach gitra cac thanh vién. Diéu nay cé thé thic day nhieng hiéu !am trong gia dinh va
nhing xung dét tiém An, tham chi la ly hén trong truéng hop té nhat. Déi voi phuong
dién xa hdi, sy xAu di trong mdi quan hé gia dinh cé thé gop phan gay ra nhiéu van dé
xa hi. Vi du, khi cha me danh nhiéu thdi gian lam viéc va it thoi gian hon cho con cai,
ho v6 tinh dé con minh dé bj anh hudng bdi cdc tac dong déc hai ttr nhitng ngwoi ban
x4u hoac théng tin tiv cac phwong tién truyén théng, ma dé lai la tién than ctia viéc gia
tang bao luc va t6i pham.

Tom lai, lich trinh lam viéc day dac va viéc stv dung qua nhiéu thiét bi cong nghé Ia
nguyén do cho viéc thoi gian bén gia dinh ngay cang giam, va tdi tin rang hién tugng
nay c6 mot sé tac déng tiéu cyc déi voi gia dinh va xa héi.

120 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

(A GENERAL VOCABULARY
on the decline aie decreasing

In countries using widescale

vaccination, the disease is already on
the decline.

be attributable to sth/ LW caused by

someone (v)
It is believed that recent extreme
climatic events are attributable to
global warming.

deprive sb of sth (v) Ly to take something, especially something

necessary or pleasant, away from someone

He claimed that he had been deprived

of his rights.

proliferation (n) Ww 4 rapid increase in numbers

The past two years have seen the

proliferation of reality TV shows.

engage in (v) J,7__ to take part in something

Most students engage in

extracurricular activities after
school and on weekends.

repercussion (n) Ly a bad effect; consequence

The nation’s political crisis is having

economic repercussions.

CHAPTER 03 — FAMILY | 121

# ceneraL VOCABULARY
fuel (v) wv to increase a feeling/ type of behavior,
or make it stronger

Her ambition was fuelled by her

older sister’s achievements.

worst-case scenario (n) . the worst situation that can be imagined

In the worst-case scenario, the

whole coast would be under water.

inadvertently (adv) Ww in a way that is not intentional

He inadvertently deleted the file.

vulnerable (a) HY able to be easily physically, emotionally,

or mentally hurt, influenced, or attacked

Tourists are more vulnerable to

attack, because they do not know
which areas of the city to avoid.

122 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
media consumption (n) the sum of information and

* media diet (n): the sum of entertainment media taken in by an

information and entertainment individual or group
media taken in by an individual
The trend towards mobile media
or group
consumption is clear.

precursor (n) something that comes before

another, may lead to it or influence its
development

Biological research has often

been a precursor to medical
breakthroughs.

be to blame ? be the reason for something that

happens

The hot weather is partly to

blame for the water shortage.

the effect that an action or decision will

implication (n) Kc
have on something else in the future

The soaring population does have

a social implication.

CHAPTER 03 — FAMILY | 123

 vockBULARY FRE VIEW
Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer.

1. Any decrease in tourism could have far-reaching ................. for the local economy.
A. results B. outcome C. repercussions D. influences

2. The rapid promotion of the director's son has itself ............. resentment within the
company.
A. fuelled B. led C. trigger D. culminated
3. The escalating obesity rate in recent years is .................... to a poor diet.

A. because B. attributable C. stem from D. ascribe

4. The two governments have agreed to.................. a comprehensive dialogue to
resolve the problem.

A. create B. culminate in C. engage in D. marry

5. Viruses can be spread .............c.0..0.e00005 by email users.

A. intentionally —_B. deliberately C. purposely D. inadvertently

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have
to change the form of the word to match the sentence.

1. DONE WOrty. AN A ricsiernccenccnnamcnmmeecaecexeeves , you only have to pay a small fine.

Meaning: the worst situation

2. In light of the ...................06 of online information channels, printed newspapers

have been waning.
Meaning: rapid increase in numbers

3. Misconceptions about history are ..........0...c.ccc. ceceeeeceeeeeeeees for students’

indifference to this subject.
Meaning: be the reason for

4. Greater enthusiasm about history among citizens would act as @..............06.. to

their willingness to come to museums.
Meaning: something that comes before another, may lead to it or influence its
development

5. To rekindle young people's interest in their country’s historical figures, it is

important to weave history into the youth’s

Meaning: the sum of information and entertainment media taken in by an individual

or group

124 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 02 Nowadays, more and more people decide to have
a
children later in their life.
a What are the reasons? Is this a positive or negative
trend?

NGUYEN NHAN - ANH HUONG v3

SAT E LOI ICH NHIEU HO'N

Y chinh 1 * Y chinh 1
Tap trung vao sw nghiép Mac du cé nguy co tiém an vé strc
Giai thich khde cho me va bé, nhung co thé
Diéu nay dac biét dung déi voi mat khac phuc duoc nho nhing tién b6
s6 nganh nghé cé tinh dac thu, y hoc gan day
khién viéc cé con khéng kha thi. * Y chinh 2
Chat lwgng séng tét hon cho con cai
Vidu
Tiép vién hang kh6ng phai di * Giai thich
chuyén thong xuyén, do vay B6 me cé nhiéu thoi gian dé xay
khéng thé vira dap trng cong viéce dung sy nghiép va co tai chinh
vipa cham sdéc em bé. vieng chac.

* Y chinh 3
Y chinh 2
Bé me lén tudi thuong nudi day
Chi phi cham con ngay cang cao
con tét hon.
Giai thich * Giai thich
Diéu nay tao ganh nang cho cac
Cé nhiéu kinh nghiém séng
cap déi tré.
* Giai thich/so sanh
Cac cap déi tré thudng thiéu
ki nang nudi day con, diéu nay anh
huéng xau dén con tré.

CHAPTER 03 — FAMILY | 125

 VOCABULARY
bear children later in life (v) WY sinh con muén
* late childbirth (n): viéc sinh con muén
New research has shown that
* delay parenthood (v): tri hoan viéc lam
couples who delay parenthood
cha me/ lam cha me mu6én :
to later in life experience higher
* delay of childbearing (n):
and more lasting levels of
viéc tri hoan sinh con/ viéc
happiness following the birth of
sinh con mu6én
their children.
* postponed parenthood
(n): viéc lam cha me bi tri
hoan/ lam cha me mu6én

parenting (n) viéc nudi day con

* parenting skill (n): ki nang
The program aims to teach young
nudi day con
couples parenting skills.

parental (a) (lién quan dén) cha me

* parental guidance (a): sw dinh
hwéng clia cha me
* parental influence (a): anh hudéng
clia cha me

childcare (n) viéc cham soc tré em

Private childcare is still too

expensive for the average earner.

infant (n) em bé/ tré con (dudi 7 tudi)

She isn’t able to look after herself

at all —- she’s as helpless as an
infant.

126 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer.

1. Which word is an alternative for ‘having children’?

A. childcare B. childbearing C. childhood D. childlike

2. Which word is an alternative for ‘delay’?

A. cancel B. call off C. rearrange D. postpone

3. Which word means ‘the raising of children and all the responsibilities as well as
activities that are involved in it’?
A. parental B. parenting C. parenthood D. parentage

4. Just barely newlyweds, they now have to confront the harsh realities of............... 2?

A. parental B. parentage C. parenthood D. parentment

5. Without the adequate ...............ccc:ecceeeee provision, many women who wish to

work are unable to do so.

A. childcare B. parenting C . children D. child rear

6. Which word is an alternative for ‘infant’?

A. children B. toddler C. prodigy D. adolescent

7. Itis seen that social attitudes are changing, as more than half of men say .............
should be shared equally.
A. childcare B. parenting C. childbirth D. parenthood

CHAPTER 03 — FAMILY | 127

 SAMPLE

In our modern society, there has been an ongoing trend towards bearing children
later in life. From my perspective, this development is given rise to by myriad factors,
and | strongly believe that enormous benefits brought by late childbirth outweigh its
demerits.

There are two major compelling reasons as to why some endorse delaying their
parenthood. First and foremost, as people are investing more time in pursuing career
path, having infants can be a major distraction. This is especially true for some
professions, whose peculiarities make having children early not physically viable. For
example, flight attendants are required to travel so frequently that they can ill afford to
both fulfil their work and rear their babies. Work commitments aside, the ballooning
childcare costs, which would put a burden on most younger couples, also beget the

delay of childbearing.

| opine that the advantageous effects of this issue infinitely overshadow its drawbacks.
Notwithstanding the latent risks of health problems, even death, suffered by both the
mother and babies due to late childbirth, they can be mitigated by recent leaps in
the medical field. In addition, as parents have more time for establishing their career
and financial stability, they can easily manage a better life quality for their children,
including high-quality education and better health care services. Another merit is that
the older people are, the more life experience they gain. Such hands-on experience
may give them greater skills in nurturing a well-rounded child, while bad parenting
skills, which tend to be prevalent among young couples, could have adverse bearing
on the children.

In conclusion, the pursuit of career path and escalating childcare costs are two driving

factors behind postponed parenthood among modern citizens, and | believe that the

unquestionable benefits of this phenomenon are weightier than the downside.

293 words, written by Phuong Dang

128 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 TRANSLATION
a,

Trong xa hdi hién dai cua chung ta, sinh con mu6n da tré thanh xu hwong dang |én.
Theo quan diém clia tdi, su phat trién nay duoc tao nén tte v6 sé yéu té, va tdi tin chac
rang nhéng Igi ich to lon do sinh con mu6én vugt xa nhirng nhwoc diém clia nd.

C6 hai ly do thuyét phuc chinh cho viéc vi sao mét sé ngwdi tan thanh viéc tri hoan lam
cha me. Dau tién va quan trong nhat la do moi ngwdi dang dau tu nhiéu thoi gian hon
trong viéc theo dudi con duong su nghiép, viéc cd con nhé cé thé la mat sw phan tam
lon. Diéu nay dac biét ding déi voi mot s6 nganh nghé dac tht: khién viéc cé con som
la bat kha thi. Vi dy, nhirng tiép vién hang khéng buéc phai di lai thuong xuyén dén
murc ho cd thé khéng di kha nang vira dam duwong céng viéc viva cham soc con cai.
Ké ca khi dat trach nhiém voi céng viéc sang mot bén, chi phi cham soc con phinh to,
sé gay ganh nang cho hau hét cac cap déi tré, cling lA nguyén nhan cla viéc tri hoan

sinh con.

Téi cho rang nhieng anh hwéng tich ce ctia van dé nay chac chan lam lu mo mat trai
ctia nd. Du cé nhing rui ro tiém an vé strc khde, tham chi tir vong ma ca me va em bé
phai chiu do sinh con muén, ching cé thé duoc giam nhe bdi nhing bude nhay vot
gan day trong linh vu y té. Thém vao dé, khi cha me c6 nhiéu thoi gian hon dé gay
dyng sw nghiép va 6n dinh tai chinh, ho c6 thé dé dang quan ly chat lvong cuéc séng
t6t hon cho con cai, bao gém giao duc chat lugng cao va cac dich vu cham séc strc
khde tét hon. Mét gia tri khac la ngudi cang Ion tudi cang cé nhiéu kinh nghiém séng.
Kinh nghiém thwe tin nhw vay cé thé mang lai cho ho nhing ki nang tét hon trong
viéc nuéi du@ng mét diva tré toan dién, trong khi nhitng ki nang lam cha me khéng tét,
van dé cé vé phé bién & cac cap vo ching tré, c6 thé gay anh huéng xau dén con tré.

Tom lai, viéc theo dudi con dwéng sw nghiép va chi phi cham séc tré em leo thang la
hai yéu té thuc day viéc tri hodn lam cha me cla cdc céng dan hién dai va tdi tin rang
nhieng loi ich khéng thé nghi ng@ clia hién twong nay con nhiéu hon nhuoc diém.

CHAPTER 03 - FAMILY | 129

fA GENERAL VOCABULARY
ongoing (a) Wy a trend happening at the present moment or
continuing to develop

There are a number of ongoing

difficulties with the project.

give rise to (v) r to cause something

OQ The new law gave rise to many

complaints.

myriad (a) ‘7 very large in number, or having great variety

There are myriad ways in which global

warming can imperil the environment.

endorse (v) Yr __ to publicly support

The Prime Minister is unlikely to

endorse this view.

distraction (n) LW something that prevents someone from

giving their attention to something else

TV can be a welcome distraction after

a hard day’s work.

130 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
peculiarity (n) something that is typical of one person,
group, or thing

The fish are dependent for survival

on the peculiarities of the
environment that they live in.

viable (a) able to be done or likely to succeed

Rising oil prices have made

alternative energy sources more
economically viable.

can ill afford/ cannot afford (v) Ww should definitely not do something
because it will cause problems

We can’t afford to make any

mistakes at this stage in the project.

rear (v) to care for (young animals or children)

Some women make a deliberate

choice to rear a child alone.

balloon (v) Vv to quickly increase in size, weight, or

importance

The rumours soon ballooned into a

full-blown scandal.

CHAPTER 03 — FAMILY | 131

A ceneraL VOCABULARY
beget (v) * to cause

Poverty begets hunger, and

hunger begets crime.

work commitment (n) something that you must do or deal

with that takes your time

Family and work commitments

now leave many people with less
time to exercise.

put/ place a burden on (v) to make someone accept or deal with

something difficult

Buying a house often places a

large financial burden on young
couples.

opine (v) to express an opinion

| opine that Vietnam is an amazing

country to do business in.

overshadow (v) to cause someone or something to

seem less important or noticeable

Her interest in politics began to

overshadow her desire to be a
poet.

132 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL
VOCABULARY

latent (a) Ww present, but not yet active, developed, or

obvious

We're trying to bring out the latent

artistic talents that many people
possess without realising it.

financial stability (n) having enough money/ income to live a

life that is satisfying

It is not the amount of money we

earn which determines our financial
stability, but the way we spend it.

hands-on experience (n) practical knowledge/ skill (get from doing

something)

Many employers consider

hands-on experience to be as useful
as academic qualifications.

have a bearing on sb/ sth on (v) We to have an influence

There is no doubt that encouragement

has a considerable bearing on
student performance.

escalate (v) to make or become greater or more

serious

Gas prices are expected to continue to

escalate in the short term.

CHAPTER 03 — FAMILY | 133

 vockBULARY REVIEW
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have
to change the form of the word to match the sentence.

1. Many Vietnamese young drivers disregard traffic laws and commit serious
offences such as jumping the lights, contributing to the ...............c eee rate
of traffic-related injuries and casualties.
Meaning: rising

. I’m not sure if | would have felt ................. cccceeceeeeeeaeres enough to start a family
otherwise.
Meaning: being completely debt-free, able to pay your monthly living expenses
with extra money left over

« HE'S VEL MUCH OF TNE... ccs sscsvcseconasosenaass that we should outsource the project.
Meaning: a thought or belief

. Education is more complex than it used to be. Preparing students for a global
QCONOMY TEQUITES .c.ccc0cccesceese cocccrcesscaecerss in addition to traditional book
learning.
Meaning: practical knowledge/skill

pI CRIS DEY cccmamsnsecessensnennaeconnes is acommon marketing strategy that companies

employ.
Meaning: advertisement featuring celebrities

. Marriage is no longer always seen as a lifetime .....0.. 000. .ccccccccceececueceeeeceueees

Meaning: something that you must do or deal with that takes your time

© There has been an ii3..55cckeds

cess ecsniecees trend towards buying imported food in
lieu of locally produced food.
Meaning: a trend happening at present

Exercise 2: Find a better expression for the underlined parts among the
words listed above.

he Advertisements have a palpable effect on consumers.

2. Health and cheerfulness mutually lead to each other.
3. Bring up children for help in old age; and store up grains against famine.
4. Solar power is a effective alternative to carbon-intensive energy.
5. This new book is expected to be better than all their earlier ones.

134 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 Parents often give children everything they ask for and
let them do what they like.
Is it good for children? What are the consequences
when they grow up?

* Anh hwéng téi con tré: * Anh hwéng téi con tré:
Tré bi phy thuéc vao bé me. Tré bi anh hwéng xau va dé hu hon.

* Phat trién y: * Vi du:

Sw phu thu6c sé khién tré khong co Tré choi game & cac quan Internet
d6ng Ie c6 gang, anh hudng téi c6 thé bat chuéc chi bay hoac hut
nhiéu mat trong cudc séng, vi du thuéc giéng cac anh chi lon hon
nhu két qua hoc tap. trong quan.

* Hau qua sau nay: * Hau qua sau nay:

Thiéu kha nang séng déc lap va Dinh tdi t6i pham
khong tu chi dug cudc séng

* Vidu: * Giai thich:

Tré duoc cho nhiéu tién tiéu vat c6 Cac nghién ctu da chi ra nhiéu tdi
thé sé khéng biét tiét kiém, cAn ddi pham bat ngudn tty nhieng hanh vi
chi tiéu khi lon lén. ndi loan khi cdn nho.

CHAPTER 03 — FAMILY | 135

 adulthood (n) LY tudi trweng thanh
* rebellious adolescence (n): thoi thiéu
nién ndi loan
* troubled adulthood (n): tudi trwéng
thanh nhiéu réi loan

over-indulgence (n) YY sw qua nudng chidu

* accommodate children’s every
demand (v): dap ng moi yéu cau
clia tré nhd
* fulfill all of their wishes (v): dap wng
moi woe muén
* grant every request (v): chap nhan
moi yéu cau

child-rearing practice (n) y thdéi quen nudi day con

Ae

* parents’ supervision (n): sw sat sao

cla phy huynh
* parents’ negligence (n): sw chénh
mang cua phy huynh
* an unsupervised childhood (n): mét
tudi tho khéng cé sw quan thc

136 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

personal development (n) * phat trién ban than
* work towards one's own goals (Vv):
tw phan dau vi muc tiéu cla ban than
* inability to be fully independent (n):
viéc khéng thé ty lap hoan toan

personal freedom (n) tw do ca nhan

disobedience and recklessness (n) sy chéng déi va liéu linh

overly reliant (a) qua phu thuéc

pester (v) voi vinh

CHAPTER 03 — FAMILY | 137

 vocasurary REVIEW
Exercise 1: Write the correct term for each of the development stages
below.

a: ‘When a: person ts: DON secs scsceea cas sieces ais cialis chy ackcanswartlsueaiwasavecauansnanius
sens

- when a person goes to elementary SCHOOI: ......... 2. ccc cecceceecceeceeeeeceeeeeeceecesenecens

xe

bt}
>

i
o
O°

ao
oa

S
=
=

@g
=

”
S
n
©
°
2
1

®
®

a
°
°
@

°
3
a

<
WhEN @ Person tUFNS 18: 2... eee cece cece ceecceeceeceeeseeceecuececceeceveceeeseeeeceeceteeaeens

Exercise 2: Categorize the following traits into (1) those that should be
encouraged in children and (2) those that should be discouraged.

courage cowardice patience responsibility deceit

defiance integrity over-reliance compassion aggression

self-pity rebellion kindness disrespect service

independence _ creativity mischief entitlement gratitude

(1) Desirable traits (2) Undesirable traits

138 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 a.

SAMPLE

Today, there is a growing trend among parents towards trying to accommodate their
children’s every demand and giving them more personal freedom. !n this essay, | am
going to demonstrate how this child-rearing practice is detrimental to children before
arguing that it may have long-term repercussions that continue into their adulthood.

Parents may inadvertently teach their children to be overly reliant on others by

fulfilling all of their wishes. Children who are granted every request typically develop
a habit of pestering and relying on their parents for everything. This dependence may
deprive them of the motivation to work towards their own goals in life, which could
take a heavy toll on their school performance, for example. As these children become
adults, the inability to be fully independent may cause them to struggle in many facets
of life. For instance, people who are given generous allowances when they are young

are unlikely to be able to budget and manage their personal finances in later life. This
is an example of the adverse impacts that parents’ over-indulgence may have on
children.

In addition to overindulging children, giving them too much personal freedom may
also have harmful effects. People’s personalities are shaped at an early age, and
without parents’ close supervision, children may be vulnerable to negative influences
and adopt harmful habits. For example, many children in Vietnam use profanities

from a very young age because their parents allow them to play video games at
internet cafes where cursing is the norm. This type of behavior, which often incites
disobedience and recklessness, may be the precursor to a rebellious adolescence
and a troubled adulthood. In fact, it has been shown that many criminals began
rebelling and committing illegal acts at an early stage of their lives as a result of their

parents’ negligence. This is a testament to how an unsupervised childhood may

cause children to suffer serious consequences as they become adults.

In conclusion, overindulging children may do serious harm to their personal

development, and thus | believe that this practice should be rejected to ensure that

they enjoy a healthy lifestyle as adults.

352 words, written by Tung Dang

CHAPTER
03 — FAMILY | 139
 i TRANSLATION

Ngay nay, m6t xu hwong dang phat trién & cac bac cha me Ia cé gang dap tng moi
nhu cau ctia con cai va cho ching nhiéu tw do ca nhan hon. Trong bai luan nay, t6i
sé chi ra rang thoi quen nudi day con nay [a cé hai cho tré trwéc khi bién luan rang
n6 cé thé cé nhirng hau qua xau lau dai va sé tiép tuc cho dén dé6 tudi trvéng thanh
ctia chung.

Cha me cé thé vé tinh day con cai qua phy thuéc vao nguoi khac bang cach dap tng
tat cA cdc nguyén vong cla ching. Tré em dug chap thuan moi yéu cau thudng
phat trién thdi quen voi vinh va dya dam vao cha me vé moi thtr. Sy phy thudc nay cdo
thé lam mat di dng luc lam viéc clla cAc em dé hwéng téi muc tiéu chinh trong doi,
chang han nhu viéc nay co thé gay hau qua nang né cho két qua hoc tap cla tré. Khi
nhétng diva tré nay tré thanh ngwdi lon, viéc khong thé ty lap hoan toan c6 thé khién
chung phai vat ln voi nhiéu mat cla cuéc séng. Vi du, nhing ngudi dug tro cap
hao phong khi con tré duéng nhu khéng cé kha nang lap ngan sach va quan ly tai
chinh ca nhan trong cuéc séng sau nay. Day la mét vi du vé cac tac dong bat loi ma
sw nuéng chiéu qua mtrc cia cha me cé thé gay ra cho tré em.

Bén canh viéc qua nudéng chiéu tré, cho ching qua nhiéu ty do ca nhan ciing cé thé
c6 nhitng tac hai nguy hiém. Vi du, tty khi con nhé va khéng cé sy gidm sat chat ché
cia cha me, tré cé thé dé bj anh hung tiéu cwc va lay nhiém cac thdi quen xAu.
Chang han, nhiéu tré em & Viét Nam duing nhieng Idi tuc tiu tie khi con rAt nhéd vi dugc
cha me cho phép choi tré choi dién tlr tai cac quan ca phé Internet ma & d6 chtri béi
la chuyén thuéng. Kiéu hanh vi thuong cd vG su chéng déi va liéu linh nay co thé
la tién dé cho thdi ki thanh thiéu nién ndi loan va thoi ki truéng thanh day khé khan.
Trén thuc té, ngudi ta d& chteng minh rang nhiéu téi pham bat dau ndi loan va thuc
hién cdc hanh vi bat hop phap 6 giai doan dau ctia cuéc doi do sy chénh mang ctia
cha me. Day la mét minh chteng cho viéc tudi tho khéng duoc giam sat co thé khién
tré em phai chiu hau qua nghiém trong khi chung tré thanh ngwoi lon nhu thé nao.

Tom lai, qua nu6ng chiéu tré cé thé gay tén hai nghiém trong dén sy phat trién ca
nhan cia cdc em, do dé téi tin twdng thdi quen nay nén dug stra bd dé dam bao rang
cdc em cd mét mét Idi séng lanh manh khi trwéng thanh.
 GENERAL\
detrimental (a) very harmful

The wildfires will assuredly have a

detrimental effect on air quality and
ecological balance.

repercussion (n) consequence

The rapidly increasing influx of tourists,

while good for the economy, may have
far-reaching repercussions for the
environment.

continue into (phr.v) to keep happening at a later stage

Violent behaviors in adolescence, if

gone unchecked, will likely continue
into later stages in life.

inadvertently (adv) by accident

It is very common for TV shows

to inadvertently offend certain
demographics in an age when too
much emphasis is put on political
correctness.

deprive (v) i to take away something

Deforestation deprives many species

of their natural habitat and food source
which could bring about their demise

facet (n) We aspect

Climate change is a multi-faceted

issue that warrants a combination
of measures rather than any single
solution.

CHAPTER 03 — FAMILY | 141

& ceneraL VOCABULARY
adopt sth (v) to begin using something or doing
something

It is high time that the government

adopted the international financial
reporting standards to make doing
business with foreign firms easier.

profanity (n) Jv curse words

Children are often severely

reprimanded for blurting profanities,
but we should keep in mind that they
likely are not aware that these words
are offensive.

norm (n) 37 something normal

Taking off your shoes before entering

someone's home is the norm in Asian
countries, so it is mind-boggling to
me how Americans feel okay with
wearing dirty trainers on their carpets.

incite (v) Sv to encourage bad behaviors

The heightening tension between the

two countries have incited offensive
posts on social media.

testament (n) Y proof of

The instant sellout of the new Kanye

West x Adidas collaboration is a
testament to the Kanye's position
as one of the most influential cultural
icons of the 21st century.

142 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 vocSStERty REVIEW
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with a suitable word from the general
vocabulary list.

1. The fall in housing prices will have grave ...............cceecceeeceeeeees for other markets.

2. The news about the CEO's involvement in shady financial dealings and market
manipulation could be ..................0...6.00005- to company’s share price.

3. Sometimes, friendliness can be ....... 22... ee ee cee ece eee misconstrued as romantic

interest, so you have to be careful not to send him the wrong signals.

4. The book did abrilliant job of capturing the ugly ...................ccccees

eee of fame and

fortune.

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the most suitable word out of the
options given.

1. | pride myself on being an early ..................6. of Facebook.

A. embracer B. adopter C. acceptor D. inheritor

2. It is advisable that you research the social ......................... of the country you're

intending to visit so as not to inadvertently offend the locals.

A. rules B. commandments C. norms D. laws

3. Reluctance to act on environmental problems now will ...................- catastrophes

for posterity.

A. breed B. incite C. encourage D. stimulate

4. Today, we can still hear Trinh Cong Son's classics everywhere, from dingy pubs to

grand concert halls, which is a testament ...................... their timelessness.

A. of B. for C. to D. with

CHAPTER 03 — FAMILY | 143

 0 4 In recent years, the family structure has changed, as
a
well as family roles. What are the changes that have
4 occurred? Do you think these changes are positive or
negative?

100% THAY DOI TICH CUC (3

. TRACH NHIEM VO!

CAU TRUC GIA DINH GIA ves

* Thay déi * Thay déi

Tir gia dinh nhiéu thé hé thanh Phu nt déng gop cho tai chinh
gia dinh hat nhan. gia dinh nhiéu hon.

* Tai sao day la thay ddi tich cwe? * Giai thich

Nha ft ngwdi ft xung dét, phién ha hon. Ngay xa chéng kiém tién la
chinh, bay gid’ ca hai vo chéng
cling kiém tién, trong nhiéu trvdng
hop chong con & nha cham soc
con cai dé vo di lam kiém tién.

* Vi du * Tai sao day la thay déi tich cwe?

Khi trong mét nha co nhiéu nguoi, Y 1: Binh dang gidi
médt viéc con con nhu dung chung Y 2: Dan 6ng biét tran trong vai tro
nha vé sinh thdi cling sé gay nhiéu cua ngudi me va nguwdi vo’ hon.
tre ché.

144 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 VOCABULARY
family unit (n) og don vi hinh thai gia dinh
* nuclear family (n): gia dinh hat nhan
* extended family (n): dai gia dinh
* multigenerational family (n): gia dinh
nhiéu thé hé
* live together under one roof (v): séng
chung dudi mét mai nha

task delegation (n) 4 sy phan céng trach nhiém

* provider (n): ngudi chu cap cho gia dinh
* breadwinner (n): tru cét gia dinh
* growing financial contribution of
women: sw déng gop vé tai chinh
ngay cang tang cia phy n&
* female participation in the workforce:
ti 1é phu n& di lam
* childrearing (n): nudi con
* maternal leave (n): nghi sinh
(cho bé: paternal leave)
* stay-at-home father (n): 6ng bé ndi tro
* responsibilities traditionally reserved
for women: nhing trach nhiém truyén
théng danh riéng cho phy n&

CHAPTER 03— FAMILY | 145

 Exercise 1: Find the correct terms for these types of families among the
words given.

nuclear single- extended childless step grandparent

family parent family family family family
family

41. when the dad abandons his family and the mom is the only person taking care of
IS CH Oe crnececmsn sv esarmennnaemencnssenensomemnnssny
Sb Sokeoae aa Rae RERRUSTD ou RU ARR ETERS

when your parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents all live in

THE SSAMO DIAC? ecccaceseremeancomeasanesanpeneQiennhsaonenale

ne wernasmeonesen en cuando wren enxtdoesien

when the parents are so busy that the grandparents decide to help raise the
CHO
T ONS erxccreszse cecexavenenaavtunsnrnsnnscncsounnseneaiyetituas
eaten user Seta de ames emeeEa en dbon

when a married couple lives with their children: ............0.....ccccceecceecceeesseeeeeees

when a couple doesn’t have children either by choice or because of fertility

TSSUOSE csc Rese ARE sa STRANGE NY NWO RRO GENTE NRRES

when two people get married, and one or both of them have their own children:

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word from the topic
vocabulary list.

1. It is unfair to let women shoulder all the .................00c.00ceeee work when they
already have to endure excruciating pain in childbirth.

While many men might take it as a blow to their ego, | personally think there is
nothing wrong with being @..........0....ccccceeeeeeeeeees dad. If anything, it is
admirable that you would forego your own career to support your partner's.

In many families, the husband is the ...................ccceceeeee but the wife manages
all the family finances.

146 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 SAMPLE

Lately, family units have changed drastically both in terms of organization and task
delegation. Most notable among these shifts are the tendency toward nuclear families
and the rise of women as providers. In my opinion, these developments are positive.

While it used to be common for members of an extended family to live together under
one roof, nowadays most households consist of a married couple and their children.
This is a welcome change, as too many individuals with different lifestyles living in
the same space may create inconveniences and conflicts. For instance, it is easy to
imagine how having to share the bathroom with not only one’s siblings but also their
cousins or uncles could be extremely frustrating. The small size of a nuclear family, by
comparison, ensures that each person can use the facilities in the house comfortably.

In terms of family roles, the most noteworthy change over the past decade is the
growing financial contribution of women. 20 years ago, men were still the breadwinner
in most households and women were tasked with childrearing, cooking and chores.
Nowadays, typically both spouses work, and in many cases, the husband decides to
step back and become a stay-at-home father while his partner joins the workforce
and becomes the sole income earner. This is also a change worth celebrating, as it
pushes for greater gender equality not only in education but also in the workplace.
At the same time, as more men take over the responsibilities traditionally reserved
for women, they may come to have greater appreciation for the roles that wives and
mothers play.

In conclusion, the move away from multigenerational families and the growing
importance of women are two key trends in the family, and | believe these trends are
advantageous.

291 words, written by Tung Dang

 TRANSLATION

Gan day, don vi hinh thai gia dinh da thay déi manh mé ca vé té chirc va nhiém vu.
Dang chu y nhat trong sé nay la xu hung mé hinh gia dinh hat nhan va sy gia tang sé
luong phy n@ la ngwdi chu cap cho gia dinh. Theo tdi, nhiyng phat trién nay Ia tich cwe.

Mac du truée day, cac thanh vién clia mét dai gia dinh thudng séng chung dudi mot
mai nha, nhwng ngay nay hau hét cdc hé gia dinh déu bao gdm mét cap vo chéng va
con cai. Day la mét thay ddi dang hoan nghénh, vi qua nhiéu ca nhan co Ii séng khac
nhau séng trong cling mét kh6ng gian co thé tao ra nhiéu bat tién va xung dét. Chang
han, that dé twéng twong viée phai chia sé phong tam voi khéng chi mét anh chi em
ma con ca anh em ho hoac chu bac c6 thé cc ky buc bdi. So voi dé, quy m6 nhé cia
gia dinh hat nhan dam bao rang méi ngudi cé thé str dung cac tién nghi trong nha mét
cach thoai mai.

Vé vai tré gia dinh, thay déi dang chu y nhat trong thap nién vira qua la sw déng gop
tai chinh ngay cang tang clia phy n&. 20 nam truéc, dan 6ng van [a tru cét trong hau
hét cdc hé gia dinh va phu ni due giao nhiém vy nudi con, nau an va lam viéc vat.
Ngay nay, dién hinh la ca hai vo chdng déu lam viéc, va trong nhiéu trvdng hop, ngudi
chéng quyét dinh Iwi lai va tré thanh mét dng bé néi tro trong khi ngwoi ban doi ctia anh
ta gia nhap Iyc lugng lao déng va tré thanh ngwdi cé thu nhap duy nhat (trong nha).
Day ciing la mét thay déi dang dug t6n vinh, vi n6é thc day binh dang gidi manh mé
hon khéng chi trong giao duc ma con & noi lam viéc. Déng thoi, khi nhiéu ngwoi dan
6ng dam nhAn cac trach nhiém truyén théng danh riéng cho phu n@, ho cé thé biét tran
trong hon vai tré cla ngudi vo va ngudi me.

Tom lai, viéc dich chuyén hinh thai khdi cac gia dinh nhiéu thé hé cing vai tro quan
trong ngay cang tang ctia phy né& Ia hai xu huwéng chinh trong gia dinh va tdi tin rang
nhitng xu hu@ng nay Ia cd oi.

148 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

> GENERAL VOCABULARY
drastically (adv) Vy considerably

Property prices have fallen drastically

and the burst of the real estate bubble
looms large.

notable (a) * important and worth paying attention to

Among all the recent pop sensations,

Shawn Mendes is particularly
notable for his songwriting skill and
musicianship.

welcome (a) 1 fortunate

Moving from the hustle and bustle of

New York to the more laid-back life of
L.A. is a welcome change of pace.

¥ important and worth paying attention to

It is noteworthy that tax compliance

increases significantly when people can
earmark where tax money goes to.

task (v) ez to give somebody a responsibility

The new R&D is tasked with

spearheading the company's venture
into autonomous vehicles.

CHAPTER 03 — FAMILY | 149

> ceneraL VOCABULARY
step back (phr.v) ¥ to stop being involved

Sometimes, managers need to step

back and give their subordinates
some freedom in how they want to do
their job. The evidence is good that
micromanagement is a bane to
productivity and morale.

workforce (n) $y all the people working for a company or in

a country

As people feel reluctant to get married

and couples delay child-bearing-and-
rearing, the workforce likely will in
the future, which could prompt the
government to relax immigration laws.

push for sth (phr.v) ‘7 to demand something/ ask for something

The female national football team is

pushing for higher pay and accusing
the federation of gender discrimination.

advantageous (a) Ww beneficial

Under the president's tenure,

immigration policies are quite
advantageous to migrant skilled
workers.

150 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

Exercise 1: Match the words in column A with their antonyms in column B.

A B

drastic ill-timed

notable piecemeal

step back unfavorable

advantageous immaterial

welcome assume responsibility

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks using the vocabulary in Exercise 1.

1. Sometimes, old guards need to .........

eee and give the young guns a chance
to prove themselves.

2. Her fame as a pop Singer iS .............cecccceeceeeeeeees her fashion side business.

3. The presentation was frowned upon because the points he mentioned were
davaveamvaNemUaeeaa NRE Next time, he should just cut to the chase.

4. Transformation cannot happen right away. In transitional periods like this, it is

Important that YOu IMPOCICS sss. ciicccconseeesesacsamssousuvenuetercquver
eevee changes and
gauge people's reaction.

5. HIS 0... ecccceeseeeeecceeeeeeeeetensentes comment was met with a stern rebuke from his
parents.

CHAPTER 03 — FAMILY | 151

CHAPTER
 01 a Itis more important for schoolchildren to learn about

local history than world history. To what extent do you

agree or disagree?

Téi ding y Téi khong déng y

[Hoc sinh nén hoc lich sw [Hoc sinh nén hoc song song
nwéc nha.] ca lich st nwéc nha va lich str
thé gidi.]

* Ychinh1 Y chinh
Y thire vé nguén céi sé khoi goi Hoc lich str thé gidi giip hoc sinh
long yéu nude. cé cai nhin toan dién vé nh@ng sw
* Giai thich kién xay ra @ nuéc minh.
Khuyén khich tran trong cdc di san
dan téc, do dé san sang bao vé va Giai thich/ So sanh
céng hién cho dat nuéc Chi hoc lich st? trong nuéc sé dé
tao ra thién kién va suy nghi sai vé
* Ychinh2 nguwoi dan cac nuéc khac.
Ngugc lai, nhirng ngudi thiéu
kién thirc vé lich ste dat nuéc cé
thé sé kh6ng tén trong truyén Vi du
théng cia minh. Viéc day lich stv & Viét Nam
* Vidu thwong chi tap trung vao viéc
Viét Nam da danh bai giac ngoai
Viéc day hoc lich str & nhiéu
trwong Viét Nam cha dui, nén hoc
xAm nhw thé nao, dé khién hoc
sinh cé hiéu biét hdi hot vé thanh sinh nghi sai rang ngwoi dan cac
twu va sy hi sinh clia 6ng cha.
nuéc nay la xau.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 153

f topic VOCABULARY
learn about local history (v) ig hoc lich stv dia phwong
* learn history of their own country: hoc By visiting local museums or
lich ste cla dat nuéc minh historical sites, young people
* learning exclusively about national can learn more about historic
history: chi hoc mi lich stv quéc gia events that took place in their
* learn more about historic events that community.
took place in sb’s community: tim hiéu
thém vé cac su kién lich si tieng dién
ra trong céng déng ctia minh

learn world history (v) $y hoc lich str thé gidi

* learn history of other societies in the This series of books includes

world: hoc lich ste cua cac xa hdi khac opportunities for readers to

trén thé gidi learn world history, geography,

* acquire insights into events that took and many different cultural

place in other parts of the world: cé customs.

nhitng hiéu biét sau sac vé cac suv

kién da dién ra & nhifng noi khac trén
thé gidi

history education (n) Ww giao duc lich st

History education in many

high schools in Vietnam is
inadequate.

154 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

be aware of sb’s roots FY _nhan thirc vé nguén céi/ géc ré cla
ai do

“| am not only aware of my

roots, | am very proud of them.”
A Vietnamese overseas student
said.

a sense of patriotism (n) 7 long yéu nuvéc

| think patriotism is like charity
— it begins at home.

an appreciation for their national Ly sw tran trong cac di san quéc gia
heritages (n)
* respect their own traditions (v): t6n Students are encouraged to
trong truyén théng cla chinh ho explore national heritages
in a more active and personal
way. This will help them better
understand and appreciate those
heritages, and respect their own
traditions.

national current affairs (n) 7 cac van dé hién nay ctia dat nuéc

The expansion of e-commerce is

still among the most noticeable
national current affairs.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 155

 J VOCABULARY REVI EW
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks using the words listed above.

History subject in Vietnam

At high schools in Vietnam, the subject of history not only provides students with the
knowledge of national history and i.............
cece ceeeeeeeeeeeeeeees (clear understanding)
into history the world but also makes great contribution to fostering confidence,

national prid©, Pisses cinders (the feeling of loving and taking pride in
your country) and personality of Vietnamese people for students.

However, foo...
eeeee O) merseeae (teaching and learning history) is being
largely ignored by a large number of students because the contents of the history

curricula and textbooks are overloaded and lack reality. As a result of their lack of
interest in history subject, many young students are now surprisingly ignorant about
National’G:.ciiesccirenwoas Bio wis

Exercise 2: Choose the best answer.

1. The theatre became an important means of arousing ................02...005 fervour in

Western countries, a function that was to continue well into the 19th century.
A. patriotism B. patriotic C. national D. historic

2. What is an alternative for the word in bold: ‘The project aimed at raising
awareness among young people through information about ways of
maintaining national identity’.
A. conception B. concept C. perception D. consciousness

3. What is an alternative for the word in bold: ‘The Muong share ethnic roots with
the Vietnamese people and their language is classified in the Vietnamese —
Muong language branch.’?
A. country B. sources C. origins D. derivation

156 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 SAMPLE

Whether young students should learn history of their own country or that of other
societies in the world has always been a topic of debate. While it is believed that
teaching the former is of more importance to schoolchildren, | disagree with this
perspective.

Some people are pro children learning local history, and justifiably so. The key
rationale in favor of this view is that being aware of their roots can instill a sense of
patriotism in each child. This may foster an appreciation for their national heritages,
which means they are more willing to defend and contribute to their country. By
contrast, those who lack knowledge about national history may not respect their own
traditions. Vietnam perfectly exemplifies this situation. As history education in most

schools is sadly lacking, many children have grown up with superficial understanding
about their ancestors’ past achievements and sacrifice, hence their indifference to
national current affairs. This is a testament to the necessity of teaching schoolchildren
local history.

However, | am convinced that it is far more beneficial for young children to learn
local history in parallel with world history. This is because acquiring insights into
events that took place in other parts of the world can also give children a more
holistic perspective of what happened in their localities. On the other hand, learning
exclusively about national history could cause an individual to be biased and harbor
hostile feelings about foreign people. For example, in Vietnam, history education
mostly features how Vietnam fought against foreign armies such as America or
France, misleading many students into thinking that people from these countries are

bad. This outlook may be more impartial if they thoroughly understand those wars in
world context.

In conclusion, while there are some justifications for considering local history more
important than world history, | would contend that schoolchildren will derive the most
benefit from learning both.

314 words, written by Phuong Dang

CHAPTER
04 — HISTORY | 157
 \
\ ye Wael.
Hoc sinh nén hoc lich str cla dat nuéc minh hay cilia cac xa hdi khac trén thé gidi luén
la mét chu dé tranh luan. Mac du ngvoi ta tin rang viéc day lich st trong nwéc quan
trong hon véi hoc sinh nhung téi lai khéng déng y voi quan diém nay.

Mot sé ngwoi rat ing hé viéc tré em hoc lich stv nuoc nha, va diéu nay la chinh dang.
Ly do then chét tng hé quan diém nay Ia vi viéc nhan thtre dug géc ré cla minh co
thé khoi day tinh than yéu nude & mai dra tré. Diéu nay cd thé khich |é sw tran trong
cac di san quéc gia & tré em, cling cé nghia la cac em sé cam thay san long bao vé
va déng gép cho dat nuéc minh hon. Ngugc lai, nhieng ngudi thiéu kién thtre vé lich
stv quéc gia cé thé khéng t6n trong truyén théng cilia chinh ho. Viét Nam hoan toan c6
thé la vi du cho tinh hinh nay. Vi giao duc lich str & hau hét cac trvong con so sai mot
cach dang buén nén nhiéu tré em da Ién lén voi sy hiéu biét hoi hot vé nhieng thanh
twu va sy hi sinh truéc day cla té tién, do dé the o véi nhirng van dé hién tai cla dat
nuéc. Day la mét minh chteng cho sw can thiét ctia viéc giang day cho hoc sinh vé lich
st? noc nha.

Tuy nhién, tdi tin rang viéc tré hoc lich st? nwéc nha song song voi lich str thé gidi sé
cé loi hon rat nhiéu. Diéu nay la bdi viée cé nhieng hiéu biét sau sdc vé cdc sw kién
dién ra & nhing noi khac trén thé gidi cing co thé mang dén cho tré em cai nhin toan
dién hon vé nhirng gi da xay ra & dia phuwong ctla cdc em. Mat khac, viéc chi hoc méi
lich str quéc gia cé thé khién ca nhan tro nén thién kién va chtra chap sy thu dich voi
ngwdi nuéc ngoai. Vi du, & Viét Nam, gido duc lich ste cht: yéu dé cao viéc Viét Nam
d& chién du chéng giac ngoai xm nhu quan My hay Phap nhw thé nao, khién nhiéu
hoc sinh lm tuéng rang moi ngwdi tir cdc quéc gia nay rat xAu xa. Cach nhin nhan
nay cé thé sé céng bang hon néu cac em hiéu thau dao nhivng cuéc chién do trong
béi canh thé gidi.

Tom lai, du. cd mét sé bién minh cho viéc coi lich ste nuvéc nha quan trong hon lich str
thé gidi, ti cho rang hoc sinh sé thu duoc nhiéu Igi ich nhat tir viéc hoc ca hai.
pro (a) supporting or agreeing with something

She's really pro gay rights.

to put a feeling, idea, or principle

instill (v)
gradually into someone's mind, so that
it has a strong influence on the way the
person lives

A good teacher should have the ability

to instill the desire to learn in the
students.

foster (v) to encourage the development or growth

of ideas or feelings

I'm trying to foster an interest in

classical music in my children.

sadly lacking (a) do not have enough of something you

need

Enthusiasm has been sadly lacking

these past months at work.

superficial (a) not complete and involving only the most

obvious things

Ba | thought that article was written at a

very superficial level.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 159

& ceneraL VOCABULARY
indifference (n) We lack of interest in someone or something

Many native speakers of a language

show indifference to/towards
grammatical points.

in parallel (idm) happen at the same time as something

else, or be similar or equal to something
else

The two experiments are run in

parallel.

well-rounded (a) having or providing experience and

knowledge in a number of different
areas

Some experts say that home-

1184 MA LAAIIR AS tone

schooled children may not receive a
well-rounded education.

comprehensive (a) complete and including everything that

is necessary

He has written a fully

comprehensive guide to Rome.

holistic (a) dealing with or treating the whole of

something or someone and not just a
part

My doctor takes a holistic approach

to disease.

160 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABU LARY
locality (n) a particular area

Many people are opting to live in the

city rather than in rural localities.

biased (a) showing an unreasonable like or dislike

for a person based on personal opinions

Liverpool only lost the game because

the referee was biased.

habor (v) to think about or feel something, usually

over a long period

There are those who harbor

suspicions about his motives.

hostile (a) unfriendly and not liking something

* habor hostile feelings about: think
about something/ someone in an He is famous for conducting hostile
unfriendly way interviews with politicians.

S
_
7

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 1614

& Genera. VOCABULARY
mislead sb into doing sth Jv to cause someone to believe something
that is not true

The advertising campaign intentionally

misled consumers about whether the
product was natural.

outlook (n) the likely future situation

The political outlook is still uncertain.

impartial (a) ev not supporting any of the sides involved

in an argument

A trial must be fair and impartial.

derive (v) sv to get something from something else

She derives great satisfaction from

playing the violin.

162 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 vocasurary REVIEW
Exercise: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have to
change the form of the word to match the sentence.

1. Televising criminal trials helps the defendant to get a fair and ...............ccccccceeeeeeee
hearing.

Meaning: not supporting either side

2. Schools should try to ................ceeeeee

eee altruistic behaviors in students by allowing
them to take part in charity like food drives or soup kitchens.
Meaning: put a feeling into sb’s mind

3. A childhood spent with my grandfather, who is an avid (passionate) reader, helped

stigasiaseasaweweees an appreciation for books in me.

Meaning: encourage the development of feelings

4. False and.................. information is spreading across social media.

Meaning: causing someone to believe something that is not true

5. Vegetarians typically consume a range of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains,

and pulses, as well as “meat substitutes” that .............0000... from these food types.
Meaning: get something from something else

6. It is of great concern that technology may surpass human interaction, leading to a

Sco eR detached society.
Meaning: in a way that is not deep or complete

7. The schools have to attend ................0..5 to the needs of millions of students.

Meaning: in a way that deals with or treats the whole of something or someone
and not just a part

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 163

 PHAN BIEN
(60/40) (K3
VE1 VE2
Tdi khéng déng y Téi khéng déng y
[Hoc sinh chi nén hoc [Me réng thém vé Ig? ich cua
lich sw nwéc nha] viéc hoc lich ste thé gidi.]

* Ychinh * Ychinh
Chi can hoc lich st? nuéc nha la Hoc lich st thé gidi git hoc sinh
da dt dé tao nén tang cho sy phat c6 cai nhin khach quan vé nhtrng
trién twong lai clia dat nuéc. sw kién xay ra & chinh nuéc minh.

Phan bién: Giai thich/So sanh

Y kién nay chi hop ly trong qua Chi hoc mi lich stv nuéc nha cé
kht?, khi sw giao tiép chi gidi han thé gay ra cai nhin thién kién va tiéu
trong nh@ng nguoi cung dan téc. cyc vé ngudi dan nuéc khac.

Giai thich Vidu

Trong bdi canh toan cau héa, O Viét Nam, hoc sinh chi yéu chi
chi khi hiéu biét vé lich st nuéc hoc vé viéc Viét Nam da danh bai
khac mdi gitip hoc sinh biét giac ngoai xAm nhu thé nao, diéu
cach tén trong su khac biét van nay khién nhiéu tré em hinh thanh
héa. Diéu nay tao tién dé cho sy suy nghi sai léch rang nguoi dan
hiéu biét chung va hop tac gitra cac nuéc nay la xu.
cac quéc gia.

164 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 VOCABULARY
study history of their own country (v) YY hoclich stv cua dat nude minh

* learn exclusively about national Local culture and historical

history: chi hoc lich stv quéc gia legacies matter, but so,
* local historical legacies: cac di san too, do new ideas and
lich st dia phuong technologies.

respect cultural differences (v)

Wr t6n trong sw khac biét van héa

Respecting cultural
differences between people
from different countries
is important to avoid

ass misunderstandings.

mutual understanding and cooperation (n) y, sy hiéu biét ln nhau va hgp tac

International relations
are based on mutual
understanding and
cooperation.

appreciation for cultural diversity (n) Sy su tran trong da dang van hoa

The project is aimed at

empowering school children
to develop greater sense of
appreciation for cultural
diversity.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 165

 Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have
to change the form of the word to match the sentence.

seveuseveseaasenaeasses (understand that something is valuable) cultural diversity is important

because our country, workplaces, and schools increasingly consist of various
cultural, racial, and ethnic groups. Learning about other cultures helps us respect
(not the same) within the world in which we live. Therefore, as we interact with others
We:CaN DUI TESPECLANG wcsisccswscwweosssen ceremmmconnacenvens (sympathy of each person
for the other) across cultures. Furthermore, this ........................ (a range of different
things or people) makes our country a more interesting place to live, as people from
diverse cultures contribute language skills, new ways of thinking, new knowledge, and
different experiences.

Exercise 2: Choose the best answer.

1. What is an alternative for the word in bold: ‘The Old Quarter is a precious legacy
of Hanoi’s ancient past, but the area is challenged by drastic changes. Today,
handicraft production is being increasingly replaced by restaurants, retail shops,
and tailors’?
A. relic B. leftover C. remains D. identity

2. The Hoi An Silk Village opened its doors to public tours several years ago in an effort
to kindle interest and...................0... for handcrafted textiles and sericulture.
A. apprehension B. recognition C. appreciation D. understanding

3. What is an alternative for the word in bold: ‘Teachers need to be alive to cultural
differences which may particularly affect bilingual pupils’ handling of literature’?

A. unfamiliarities B. assimilations C. dissimilarities D. discrepancies

166 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 \ SAMPLE

A school of thought holds that studying history of their own country, instead of that
of the world, is more important to young students. | disagree with this notion for the
reasons outlined below.

It is understandable why some people put heavy emphasis on children learning

about local history. The key rationale is that discovering local historical legacies is
adequate, laying foundations for further development of their own country. However,
this thinking was only valid in the past when interactions were confined to people
whose the same race and ethnicity. In light of rapid globalization, only by having a
good grasp of foreign countries’ history, may young citizens find it easier to respect
cultural differences, which is key to mutual understanding and cooperation among
nations. Therefore, it is sensible that schools should incorporate world history into
their curriculum.

In addition to fostering an appreciation for cultural diversity, teaching schoolchildren

about events that took place in other parts of the world can give them a more
accurate and fair outlook on what happened in their nation. On the other hand,
learning exclusively about national history could cause an individual to be biased and
harbor negative feelings about people from other countries. For example, in Vietnam,
students mostly learn about how Vietnam fought against foreign armies such as
America or France, which causes many children to develop a distorted thinking that
people from these countries are bad.

In conclusion, the notion that national history should be prioritized is flawed, and |
would argue that learning world history offers far greater benefits to schoolchildren.

261 words, written by Phuong Dang

 TRANSLATION

Co mét trvéng phai cho rang hoc lich st cia dat nuéc minh thay vi hoc lich st? thé
gidi, quan trong hon déi véi hoc sinh. Tdi khéng déng y véi quan niém nay vi nhéng
ly do duoc néu dudi day.

Co thé hiéu dugc tai sao mét s6 ngwdi lai coi trong viéc tré em hoc lich st? nuéc nha.
Ly do then chét Ia viéc kham pha cac di sn lich stv nuéc nha da dui dé dat nén mong
cho sy phat trién vé sau clia dat nudéc. Tuy nhién, suy nghi nay chi cé gia tri trong qua
khtr khi cdc twong tac bi gidi han gitra nhing ngudi cling chting téc va sac t6c. Do
qua trinh toan cau héa dién ra nhanh chong, chi khi nam vieng lich st? cla cdc nudéc
thi nhieng cong dan tré mdi cé thé dé dang tén trong sw khac biét van héa hon. Dé la
chia khéa dé hiéu biét va hep tac voi nhau gitra cac quéc gia. Do dé, viéc cac trudng
nén két hop lich st? thé giéi vao chuong trinh gidng day cla ho Ia diéu hop ly.

Ngoai viéc khuyén khich sy tran trong déi voi da dang van héa, viéc day cho hoc sinh
vé nhitng sy kién dién ra & nhiéu noi khac trén thé gidi cé thé gitip cac em cé cai nhin
chinh xac va céng bang hon vé nhitng gi da xay ra trong nu@c. Mat khac, viéc chi hoc
vé lich st trong nuéc cé thé khién ca nhan tro nén thién kién va nudi duéng cam xtic
tigu ce vé ngwdi ngoai quéc. Vi du, & Viét Nam, hoc sinh chti yéu hoc vé viéc Viét
Nam da chién dau chéng lai giac ngoai xA4m nhu My hay Phap nhw thé nao, diéu nay
khién nhiéu tré em phat trian suy nghi léch lac rang moi ngudi tly cac quéc gia nay
déu xdu xa.

Tom lai, quan niém rang lich ste nuéc nha nén dug wu tién la thiéu sot, va téi xin
man phép tranh luan rang viéc hoc lich st thé gidi mang lai loi ich lon horn nhiéu cho
hoc sinh.
 GENERAL VOCABULARY
put/ place emphasis on (v) a to give something emphasis, importance,
etc.

He placed emphasis ona

comfortable lifestyle (= it was
important to him).

lay foundations for (v) Y to produce the basic ideas or structures

from which something much larger
develops

The two leaders have laid the

foundations of for a new era in
cooperation between their countries.

be confined to somewhere! sth (v) J ¥ to exist only in a particular area or group

of people

This attitude seems to be confined to

the very wealthy.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 169

f Genera. VOCABULARY
grasp (n) > 4 understanding

He has a good grasp of the issues.

incorporate (v) Ww to include something within something

else

Mobile phones incorporate features

of desktop computers, personal digital
assistants, and landlines.

outlook (n) Y7 __ the likely future situation

The political outlook is still uncertain.

170 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
harbor (v) to think about or feel something, usually
over a long period

He's been harboring a grudge

against her ever since his promotion
was refused.

distort (v) to change something so that it is false

or wrong, or no longer means what it
was intended to mean

| believe the press have distorted

the situation.

prioritize (v) to arrange in order of importance

so that you can deal with the most
~~ important things before the others:

You have to prioritize in this job

because you can't do everything.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 171

 vocasULARY REVIEW
Exercise 1: Find a better expression for the underlined parts among the
words listed above. You may have to change the form of the word to
match the sentence.

1. There are those who have suspicions about his motives.

2. He has a fairly positive view on life.

3. Graphics should be included into history lessons to make them more vivid, which
could pique students’ interest in this subject.

4. Instead of lengthening prison sentences, governments must focus on education.

5. The idea that technology worsens people's lives seems invalid.

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word from the general
vocabulary list.

values that another nation or race champions is to study their history.

Studying world history can be an immensely rewarding experience, but it can also be a
rather delicate matter. Countries are predisposed to (3).................cecceeceeeee
ees details
with a view to making themselves appear just and benevolent. Therefore, while it
is difficult to be completely objective, learners of history should try to exercise their
judgment.

Contrary to popular belief, history is by no means boring. In this day and age, people
are no longer (4)...............66.008 to old tomes and written records; instead, they could
learn about history in much more engaging ways. For example, Netflix produces
documentaries about the great wars of the past whose production value rivals that of
the most well-executed films.

A better understanding of world history could lay the (5)...............0..c0...8e for greater
acceptance of racial and cultural diversity. Therefore, it behooves governments to put
more efforts into history education.

172 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 02 Many museums and historical sites are mainly visited
a
by tourists but not local people.
% Why is this the case?
What can be done to attract more local people to
these museums?

NGUYEN NHAN - GIAI PHAP ie

NGUYEN NHAN GIAI PHAP

Y chinh 1 ;
Ngwéi dan dia phuong da quen Y chinh 1
thudéc véi cac di tich lich str. Tang cuong truyén thong

Vi du
Giai thich
Thwong xuyén dua tin vé cdc sw
Nhéng noi nay truyén tai truyén
kién cong dong t6 chirc & cac dia
théng va lich str ctia mét khu vue, vi
diém tham quan
vay thudng hap dan cac du khach
td md.

Y chinh 2 Y chinh 2
Thiéu strc hap dan Chi thém tién cho bao tang va di
tich lich str
Giai thich
Di tich thuéng khéng thay déi qua Giai thich
nhiéu nam, trong khi nhiéu bao Mua thém hién vat, thué hudéng dan
tang vi kinh phi eo hep nén thuong vién va tring tu lai cac c6ng trinh
co it hién vat va kh6ng du hung lich st
dan vién.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 173

f topic VOCABULARY
museum and historical location/place/ +/y bao tang va cac dia diém lich str
site (n)
* historic relic (n): di tich lich str, cac di Museums, monuments
vat lich str and historical sites are key
* heritage site (n): khu di tich resources for history teaching.
* historical attraction (n): dia diém tham
quan lich str
* monument (n): céng trinh tuéng niém,
dai tudng niém

the tradition and history in the « truyén théng va lich st ctia dia
locality (n) phuong/ khu vuc

an alien culture (n) mét nén van héa xa la

His work offers an insight into

an alien culture.

174 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

£ topic VOCABULARY
exhibit (n) Ww vat trung bay

The exhibits date from the 17th

IC) century.

\oe® er
SS fy
=—T

docent (n) i huwéng dan vién & bao tang

A docent is a trained guide

who works in a museum. This
person points out works of
art or other exhibits to the
untrained eye.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 175

 REVIEW
Exercise 1: What are the different ways to say ‘historical place’?

1. An object from the past (often valued for its importance in history)?

Bio. a
2. Anarea, a building, or a city (especially the one thatis put on alist by the organization
UNESCO) which has special importance, and should be protected?

Risisscsxcrasnns Sisccancsemaucocaes

3. An old building or place that is an important part of a country’s history?

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have
to change the form of the word to match the sentence.

1. During work experience, students are expected to .............. a high degree of

interpersonal skills in initiating and sustaining working relationships.

Meaning: show a quality

2. You shouldn't expect immigrants to assimilate into an............... culture immediately.

Meaning: strange and not familiar

3. The plan includes support for small businesses to modernize manufacturing in the

Meaning: a particular area of a country

176 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 SAMPLE

It is widely acknowledged that museums and historical locations generally draw the
attention of tourists, while being largely ignored by locals. This trend is driven by
several factors, and some viable solutions can be implemented to boost local people's

attendance at historical attractions.

There are two compelling reasons as to the waning popularity of museums and
historical places among local people. First and foremost, as these destinations
somewhat impart an overview of the traditions and history in the locality, they often
attract tourists, who are curious about an alien culture, than to the locals, those
without the need to familiarize themselves with such values. In addition to this, the
lack of appeal of museums and historic relics is also to blame. While monuments

remain roughly unchanged for years, many museums have a poor collection of
exhibits and do not have enough trained guides, which is caused by a meager
budget for operation. The implication of this is that they would lose its appeal to local

residents, who may have been to these sites at least once in the younger years.

In order to address the aforementioned issue, government should administer the

following measures. Firstly, it is crucial that museums and heritage sites receive more
media coverage. For example, should news about public events taking place at these
locations be frequently broadcast, they would encourage the local to come there.
Another feasible solution could be to divert more funding to museums and historical

sites. This financial support could be used to finance the purchase of new exhibits,
hire professional docents and refurbish monuments, which can dramatically boost the

appeal of such places.

In conclusion, the poor attendance rate of local visitors at museums and historical
attractions may stem from various underlying factors, and the proposed solutions can
be executed to reverse the trend.

300 words, written by Phuong Dang

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 177

 TRANSLATION

Cac bao tang va dia diém lich str thong thu hut sw chu y cua khach du lich trong khi
lai bi ngwoi dan dia phuong phot ld la thc té duoc thiva nhan réng rai. Xu hwdéng nay
do mét vai yéu t6 gay ra va ching ta cé thé thc hién mét sé gidi phap kha thi dé thc
day ngudi dan dia phuong dén tham cac diém tham quan lich st.

Cé hai ly do thuyét phuc ly gidi viéc di tham cac bao tang va dia diém lich st? khéng con
duoc ngudi dan dia phuong yéu thich. Trwéec tién va quan trong nhat, vi nhing diém

dén nay phan nao chi truyén dat tang quan so’ luge vé nhing truyén théng va lich str
ctia khu vue nén ching thuéng thu hut khach du lich, nhieng ngwdi t6 md vé mét nén
van héda xa la, horn la dan dia phwong, nhtrng nguéi khéng co nhu cau tim hiéu cac gia
tri nay. Thém vao do, cac vién bao tang va di tich lich stv thiéu strc I6i cuén cling chinh
la nguyén nhan. Do ngan sach hoat déng it di, nén cac céng trinh tung niém gan nhw
kh6ng thay ddi trong nhiéu nam, cdn cac vién bao tang cé bé6 swu tap trién lam nghéo
nan va khéng cé du huéng dan vién dugc dao tao. Hau qua ctia nhitng viéc nay chinh
la cdc dia diém mat di sw hap dan déi voi ngudi dan dia phuong, nhieng ngudi cé thé
da dén cac dia diém nay it nhat mét lan khi con nho.

Dé gidi quyét van dé ndi trén, chinh phd nén thi hanh cac bién phap sau day. Tht? nhat,
cac vién bao tang va cac di tich nhat thiét phai nhan duoc nhiéu sw quan tam chu y cua
cac phwong tién truyén thong hon. Vi du, néu tin ttre vé cac sw kién dai ching dién ra
tai cdc dia diém nay thuong xuyén duc phat song, ngudi dan dia phuwong sé cé d6éng
luc dén tham cac nhitng noi dé. Mét giai phap kha thi khac co thé la phan bé thém kinh
phi cho cac vién bao tang va di tich lich str. Sw hé tro’ tai chinh nay cé thé duoc stv
dung dé tai tro cho viéc mua vat trung bay moi, thué huéng dan vién bao tang chuyén
nghiép va tan trang cac céng trinh tuéng niém; nhieng viéc nay cé thé nang cao dang
ké strc hap dan ctia nhieng noi nhu vay.

Tém lai, tilé khach tham quan dia phuong tai cac vién bao tang va cac diém tham quan
lich stv thdp cé thé xuat phat tiv cac yéu 6 cdn ban khac nhau, va ching ta cé thé thyc
hién cac giai phap dugc dé xuat & tran dé dao ngugc xu thé nay.

178 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST— VOL 1

 GENERAL CABULARY

implement (v) WY fo put a plan or system into operation

The changes to the national health

system will be implemented next year.

* administer (v) {7 to give something to someone

It's up to the courts to administer

justice.

* execute (v) Yv_ to do or perform something planned

Now that we have approval, we can go

ahead and execute the pian.

wane (v) Ww to become weaker in strength or influence

By the late 70s, the band’s influence

was beginning to wane.

* be on the wane (v) ww becoming less strong, powerful, popular, etc.

There are signs that support for the

group is on the wane.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 179

& ceneraL VOCABULARY
impart (v) to communicate information to
someone
If the movie has any lesson to
impart, it's that parents shouldn't
aim for perfection.

familiarize oneself with (v) me to learn about something

We spent a few minutes

familiarizing ourselves with the
day's schedule.

be to blame (for sth) (v) to be the reason for something that

happens

The hot weather is partly to blame

for the water shortage.

implication (n) a suggestion of something that is made

without saying it directly

Whether we do so directly or by
implication, we place a value on
human life.

media coverage (n) the reporting of a particular important

event or subject

Sometimes we forget that the

media coverage of a sport is
actually of secondary importance
to the event itself.

180 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

(A cENERAL VOCABULARY
divert sth to sth/sb (v) to cause the thing or person to be used
for a different purpose

They want to divert the attention of

the people from the real issues.

* allocate sth to sth/ sb (v) to give a particular amount of time,

money, etc. to someone or something, so
that it can be used in a particular way

The government is allocating £10

million for health education.

finance (v) to provide the money needed for

something to happen

The city council has refused to

finance the project.

refurbish (v) to make a building look new again by

doing work such as painting, repairing,
and cleaning

The developers refurbished the

house inside and out.

stem from (v) to start or develop as the result of

something

Their disagreement stemmed from a

misunderstanding.

reverse the trend (v) to make a general development go in the

opposite direction

Things are so bad that a special

course has been set up to train young
hopefuls, and maybe reverse the
trend.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 181

 vockBULARY REVIEW
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have
to change the form of the word to match the sentence.

1. Higher budgetary .....................00608. for education mean more teachers can be

hired and classes can be smaller.
Meaning: part of a total amount of something that someone is given to use ina
particular way

2. Viewers are fed up with their favourite sitcoms being shunted to later times to make
way for live football ....................0
Meaning: the reporting of a particular important event or subject

3. The store is currently closed for ...................0..:0088

Meaning: the process of improving a building or store by cleaning and decorating

it, adding new furniture, equipment, etc.

4. Research shows that livestock industry is ...................ccccccece ceccecceceececseeeeeeeeees

for 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, the major culprit for global warming.
Meaning: be responsible for

5. | wonder whether you will ..................0c.c00eee us with your technical know-how.

Meaning: learn about something

Exercise 2: Find an alternative expression for the underlined parts. You

may have to refer to a collocation dictionary or a thesaurus.

1. In light of the proliferation of food imports, locally produced food seems to become
less popular.

2. How you support a business is critical to the success of your venture.

3. Stopping climate change can seem like an impossible task, but a concerted effort
between governments and ordinary citizens can make big differences.

4. There are numerous arguments on the loss of cultural identity due to the emergence
of new pop culture through the assimilation of other cultures.

5. The meaning of having a wealth of information at our disposal is that we become

more effective learners.

182 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 Some people say that the increasing business and
cultural contact between countries is a positive
development, while others think that many countries
will lose their national identities as a result. Discuss
both views and give your own opinion.

* Ychinh1 * Ychinh
Thuc day kinh té Van héa nude ngoai dugc dé cao
: con van héa truyén thong bi lang
* Giai thich quén hodc phé phan.
Ban than doanh nghiép vira cé co”
hdi lam An ma sw dau tw ctia doanh
nghiép cling tao céng an viéc lam.
* Vidu
O Viét Nam, nhiéu ngudi, dac biét
la ngwoi tré, dén nhan sy ty do clia
* Ychinh2 van héa My nhung lai déng thdi chi
Thtic day nhan thive vé nhiéu nén trich nhi¢ng nép séng truyén théng
van héa cua ngudi Viét Nam.

* Giai thich
Giup gia tang tinh cam gitra ngudi
dan cac nwéc va cac ching t6c
khac nhau, x6a b6é nhieng hiém
khich do xung dot trudc day

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 183

Atopic VOCABULARY
Ww
> x s
globalization (n) su toan cau hoa
* exchange (n): sy trao déi
* robust relation between countries:
méi quan hé s6i néi gitra cac nuéc
* diplomatic ties (n): méi quan hé
ngoai giao
* economic alliance (n): lién minh
kinh té
* multilateral trade agreement
(commerce treaty): hiép dinh
thwong mai da phuong
* facilitate global commerce (v): tao
diéu kién cho théng thuong quéc té
* military coalition (n): lién minh
quéc phong
* parties involved (n): cac bén
lién quan
* economic powerhouse (n): cudng
quéc kinh té
* economically disadvantaged
countries (n): cac nudé’c nghéo

national value (n)

sg gia tri dan t6c
* national identity (n): ban sAc dan téc
* foreign influence (n): anh huéng tir
nwéc ngoai

&
* shift in mindset (n): sw thay déi trong
tu duy, nhan thtrc

cs
184 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1
 VOCABULARY
lucrative opportunity (n) Ly co hdi lam n sinh loi
* penetrate market (v): tham nhap
thi trvong
* generate jobs (v): tao céng an
viéc lam
* invigorate the economy (v):
cling cé, thtic day nén kinh té

bridge cultural gap (v) $y thu hep khoang cach vé van hoa
* accept racial/ cultural/ ... difference:
d6én nhan sw da dang vé ching téc/
van hda/ ...
* cultural appreciation (n): sw tran
trong van héa
* cultural appropriation (n): sw xam
lang van héa
* cultural homogenization: su déng
nhat vé van hoa
* erase hostility: x6a bo nhitng thu ye
dich/ hiém khich

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 185

 vocasutary REVIEW
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks using the words in the topic vocabulary list.

Goccrsvesencurmescuers is a double-edged sword. On the plus side, €...................6.068

Me gercwsssrewsas enable free trade and enforce ethical commercial practices.

A eeXeeewormentives Ciao maintain stability and provide swift response to

threats of terrorism. On the downside, cultural homogenization is threatening the
Wissssvassexevesanwenres Bxscaxcaxonersceesecs of various countries, and the migration of labor is
causing complex social and economic issues.

Exercise 2: Are the following situations examples of (1) cultural

appreciation, (2) cultural appropriation or (3) cultural homogenization?

1. An American chef reinterpreting Vietnamese recipes using Western ingredients

2. Kim Kardashian naming her shapewear brand Kimono

3. People in Asia watching the same Netflix shows as people in America

4. Nonreligious Pop stars wearing religious clothing to red carpet events

5 . Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin wearing ao dai to a Vietnamese

festival

6. McDonald's franchises becoming ubiquitous in Japan, Thailand, and Singapore

(1) Cultural appreciation | (2) Cultural appropriation | (3) Cultural homogenization

186 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 \ SAMPLE

Globalization has been key in facilitating global commerce and bridging cultural gaps.
While this trend is heralded as a monumental achievement, there are those who
say it has caused the corrosion of national values in certain places. In this answer, |
will look at both the benefits of increased exchange between countries as well as its
impact on national identities before presenting my own take on the matter.

On the one hand, more robust relations between countries have hugely benefited
all the parties involved. In economic terms, the ability to penetrate foreign markets
presents lucrative opportunities for businesses. In return, investments made by these
entities in infrastructures and offices, especially in economically disadvantaged
countries, have generated an enormous number of jobs and invigorated local
and national economies. The cultural impact of this trend is almost as great as its
economic implications. Nowadays, citizens from one nation can learn about the
history and way of life of many others, which is a precursor to greater appreciation
and acceptance of the differences between peoples and races and helps to erase
hostility that may have existed because of past conflicts.

On the other hand, there are indeed instances where the presence of foreign
influences marginalizes national values. This phenomenon manifests itself starkly
in societies where traditions are rigid, restrictive or borderline oppressive, and more
forward-thinking, liberal, usually Western, values have come to be enthusiastically
embraced. Vietnam is a perfect example. As American music and films found their
way into the Vietnamese media diet, more and more people, especially teenagers and
young adults, become fervent advocates of the values championed in the American
society like gender equality, freedom of speech and so on. While this shift in mindset
is eminently positive, it also inadvertently causes a large proportion of the population
to start rejecting Vietnamese conventions and unfairly criticizing their country, history
and way of life.

To my mind, increased contact on the global scale in terms of commerce and

culture is ultimately a positive trend. The effect it has on national identities cannot be
discounted, but in practice, this effect has been successfully alleviated by countries
taking active steps to protect their own cultures and traditions.

363 words, written by Tung Dang

 TRALATION
Qua trinh toan cau hda Ia yéu t6 then chét trong viéc tao diéu kién cho giao thuong
quéc té va thu hep khoang cach van héa. Trong khi xu hwéng nay duoc ca nggi la mét
thanh twu to lén, c6 ngwdi ndi rang né da gay ra sw xdi mén cac gia tri dan téc & nhiéu
noi. Trong cau tra loi nay, tdi sé xem xét ca loi ich cia viéc tang cudng trao déi gita

cac quéc gia ciing nhw tac déng ctia diéu nay lén ban sac dan téc truéc khi trinh bay
quan diém riéng.

Mét mat, mdi quan hé séi ndi hon gitra cdc quéc gia da mang lai Igi ich to lon cho tat ca
cac bén lién quan. Vé kinh té, kha nang tham nhap thi trvéng nuéc ngoai mang lai co’
hdi lam &n sinh Idi cho cdc doanh nghiép. Déi lai, cac khoan dau tu do cac don vi nay
thwc hién vao co’ sé ha tang va van phong, dac biét la & cac nuéc nghéo, da tao ra mot

sé lwong lon vic lam va thiic day nén kinh té dia phuong cing nhu quéc gia. Tac dong
van héa clia xu hwong nay cing lon twong duong voi y nghia kinh té ctia nd. Ngay nay,
céng dan tai mét quéc gia cé thé tim hiéu vé lich st va I6i s6ng & nhiéu quéc gia khac,
diéu nay la nén tang cia sv tran trong va dén nhan sw da dang vé dan téc va chting
téc, déng thdi gitip xda bd sy tht dich cé thé tén tai do nhing xung dét trong qua khw.

Mat khac, thue sw ciing tén tai nhiyng trong hop ma sw hién dién cia anh hwdng
ngoai lai day lui cAc gia tri dan t6c. Hién tworng nay thé hién ro nét trong cac xa hdi cdo

cac truyén théng cteng nhac, han ché hoac ap btrc bién gidi. O' day, tu duy tién b6, ty
do hon, thudng la phuong Tay, da duoc dén nhan nhiét tinh. Viét Nam la mét vi du
hoan hao. Khi Am nhac va phim anh My tim duwong vao thi truong truyén thong clia
Viét Nam, ngay cang nhiéu ngudi, dac biét la thanh thiéu nién va ngui tré tro thanh
nhieng ngwdi ting hé nhiét thanh cac gia tri trong x4 hdi MY nhw binh dang gidi, tw do
ng6n luan, v.v. Du sw thay déi trong tu duy nay rat tich cue, nhung no cing v6 tinh
khién phan Ion dan s6 bat dau chéi bé cac truyén théng ctia Viét Nam va chi trich dat
nwée, lich str va nép séng cia minh mét cach khéng céng bang.

Theo tdi, tang cuwdng trao déi trén pham vi toan cau trong linh vuc thuong mai va van

héa suy cho cing la mét xu hwéng tich cwe. Anh huéng cia no téi ban sac dan téc
khéng thé bi coi nhe, nhwng trén thu té, anh hwéng nay da duoc han ché thanh cong
bdi cdc quéc gia thuc hién nhitng buéc tich cywe nham bao vé van héa va truyén thong
cua minh.

488 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
key (a) oe important

The U.S.’s support is a key

component in bringing this plan to
fruition.

herald (v) to celebrate/ to say that something is

good

Son Tung MTP is heralded as a

welcome disruptor in the Vietnamese
music scene.

monumental (a) huge

Reversing climate change is a

monumental task that requires a
collaborative effort of governments,
companies and the ordinary people.

corrosion (n)

T the process of becoming bad or worse

The new bill is controversial: some say

it heralds a new era of progressive
state policy, some construe it as
corrosion of moral standards.

take on something (n) Ww opinion

One of the best ways to learn as an

intern is to ask for the veterans’ takes
on pretty much anything.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 189

& cenera. VOCABULARY
implication (n) effect

The implications of the new

evaluation system are still obscure,
but they have decided to go ahead
with it.

precursor (n) the foundation for something

His experience of working under

the tutelage of some of the world’s
preemient chefs is a precursor

a.
to his astronomical success as a
restaurateur today.

marginalize (v) Ww to make something less important

Automation is increasingly
marginalizing human labor,
leaving the future of innumerable
occupations in the wind.

manifest (v) to show/ display

Discontentment with the current

system is running high, which
manifests itself in employees’
direct defiance of their superiors.

embrace (v) w to accept or welcome an idea

In this day and age, high wages

are not enough to attract and retain
employees. People are increasingly
looking for organizations that
promote equality, champion
sustainability, and embrace
diversity.

190 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 to support

Designers at large today, anyone from

creative directors of fashion houses
to architects and interior designers,
champion a minimalistic, pared back
aesthetic.

eminently (adv) extremely

Everyone needs a sober grey suit.

Whether you're going in for a job interview
or attending a gala dinner, it will always be
eminently suitable.

discount (v) ye to say that something is not important

New evidence has come to light which has

discounted the possibility of him being
the culprit.

alleviate (v)
w to make a problem less serious

Taking sleeping pills may be one way to

alleviate chronic sleep loss, but there is

O really no remedy for the sleep-deprived

like eating well, exercising regularly and

O reducing screen time.

fervent (a) 4 strong, sincere

Learning about the catastrophic impact

on the environment of the cattle industry
has turned him into a fervent believer in a
meat-free world.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 194

 V VOCABULARY REVIEW
Exercise 1: Rewrite the sentences below using the italic words given.

1. As English gains popularity, many people stop speaking their native languages.
(MEPGINEUIZE) coiccovescavascavanyescmserasvavarssssiaeewcouncimuasseasivevantivevesnsaaevsuaseasaawars

2. What do you think about the current political climate in Europe?

3. Teens who show delinquent behaviors now could become criminals in the future.

(DIGCUISOR) icccsiicscoesxcusuwavonr
ar muaeunecnwauavewaespaaees aude REieabwenea eT wuwaeeeneuReNTeRves

4. His donations show how generous he is.

(Manfestaton) | csiescices BEER OOS

5. The detective refuses to believe that this was suicide.

(QISCOUN) | 5 isis cae Sie sii sie se eageCiSE CCE NSTI

Exercise 2: Choose an appropriate word fo fill in the blanks.

1. The protests could ................... trouble for multiple industries.

A. herald B. usher in C. spell D. loom

2; THE: sssssscevsanaivs effects of smoking are not immediately noticeable but rather become
manifest in the later years of a smoker's life.

A. corrosive B. corrosion C. corrode D. corroding

3. When she set up her restaurant, she didn’t want to do fusion, which is a popular

direction that most young chefs embrace. Instead, she decided to take a step back
ONG cecccwesvswcees the tradition of Vietnamese cooking.
A. uphold B. champion C. accept D. advocate

4. The Amish people.................... a simple way of life that is largely devoid of the

conveniences afforded by technology.

A. consent B. sponsor C. in favor D. embrace

5. The abolition of slavery marks a monumental ............. toward racial equality.

A. achievement B. milestone C. accomplishment D. step

192 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 a

Some people think the government should spend more

money on public services rather than waste money on
arts (i.e. music and painting). To what extent do you
agree or disagree?

* Ychinh Y chinh 14
Cac dich vu nay true tiép phuc vu Nghé thuat tao ra nguén loi kinh
loi ich cla nguodi dan. té lon.
Vidu
* Vidui Phim anh, am nhac tao ra nguén
Chi tién vao giao duc gitp moi thu khéng 1d, céng voi doanh thu tt
ngwdi c6é co’ hdi trong cuéc séng va
cac san pham phai sinh clia nhtng
giam cac van dé xa hdi. loai hinh nghé thuat nay.

* Vidu2 Y chinh 2
Chi tién vao hé théng giao théng Nghé thuat gitip gin git ban sac
céng céng gitip giam tac duéng va
van hdéa.
6 nhiém.
Giai thich
* Vidu3 Tu tuwéng va lich stv duoc luu gift
Chi tién tro gid dién nu@c gitip cac qua am nhac, van hoc, hdi hoa, v.v.
tién ich nay ré hon cho ngwdi dan.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 193

 budget deficit (n) v_ su tham hut ngan sach
* budget surplus: thang du ngan sach

SPENDING INCOME

government funding (n) w ngan sach chinh pht

* state budget (n): ngan sach chinh pht
* the public purse (n): tui tién cta
chinh phu
* tax revenue (taxpayers’ money) (n):
tién thué/ tién dong thué cla nhan dan
* plough money back into (v): tai dau tu
tién vao dau d6
* allocate funds to sth (v): phan bé tién
vao dau dé
* divert funds to/ into sth (v): phan bé lai
kinh phi toi dau dé

194 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

service that cater to the masses er dich vu phuc vu nhu cau cia nguoi dan
* the school system (n): hé théng
trwdng hoc
* public utilities (n): cac dich vu céng
nhw dién, nvéc

artistic creation (n) $y sang tao nghé thuat

* art form (n): loai hinh nghé thuat
* artistic field (n): linh vue nghé thuat
* intellectual property (n): tai san tri tué

the economic contribution of arts (n) L swe dong gop vé kinh té cla nghé thuat

preserve cultural identity (n) yy viéc gin git ban sac van héa

&
CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 195
 vocasutary REVIEW
Exercise 1: Find a concise expression for each of the following concepts.

1. to reinvest some of your earnings to improve your bUSINESS: ...............eseeeeeeeee

2. to spend the money originally intended for one purpose on another: ...............

3. when a government receives more money than it spends: ..............ce::0e8

4. when a government spends more money than it receives: ...............:00000

5. products of the brain: ..............c ces

Exercise 2: List at least 2 examples of how each of the following industries

generates revenue.

Music Film Art Literature

6.9; Sale-of albums: | ssustswnwxwencs: | sawiiicnaveraen

Exercise 3: List at least one way in which citizens benefit from the
following public services, starting with “We can...”.

Example: 7. Utilities (electricity, water, etc.): “We can have energy to power our
appliances and water to drink, cook and clean.”
. Education
FF WN

. Environmental protection
NO

. Health care
. Military
nA

. Telecommunications

. Transportation infrastructure

8. Waste management

196 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

In light of serious budget deficits in many nations around the world, what the
government should and should not spend on is being heatedly debated. There
are those who claim that services that directly cater to the masses should take
precedence when it comes to government funding, and expenditure on arts is
wasteful. While | agree that most of the public purse should be dedicated to
public services, | also believe it would be imprudent to downplay the dividends of
investments in artistic fields.

Financing and subsidizing services that citizens use on a daily basis is absolutely
vital. Spending money on the school system and making education more accessible
not only give ordinary people opportunities to succeed in life but also ward off
social issues like crime or unemployment. Ploughing part of tax revenue back into
the public transport network is needed to encourage people to forego personal
vehicles — a choice that could have an immediate impact on both congestion and
pollution. Diverting funds to public utilities allows citizens to have cheap access to
water and electricity. These are just a few among a whole host of services that are
fundamentally important to people's life; compared to them, areas like music or art do
seem trivial and hard to justify pouring money into.

However, | would argue that investments in artistic fields are not at all wasteful. For
one, the economic contribution of arts is colossal and growing. Songs, movies and,
in a handful of countries, art exhibitions generate enormous sums that amount to the
billions of dollars. At the same time, they create demand for derivative products like
fan merchandise and theme parks — businesses that are no less profitable than the
sale of the intellectual property that inspire them. Financial gains aside, arts should
receive government funding for their role in preserving cultural identity and heritage.
Since the dawn of civilization, the zeitgeist and important narratives of each period
have been richly portrayed through various art forms, including painting, music,
literature, and so on. This significance, coupled with the financial contribution of
artistic creations, adequately justifies the investments in this domain.

In conclusion, it is irrefutable that the bulk of state budgets should go to public

services, but | believe art also deserves the government's attention and resources.

379 words, written by Tung Dang

 TRANSLATION

Do tham hut ngan sach nghiém trong & nhiéu quéc gia trén thé gidi, nhteng gi chinh
phi nén va khéng nén chi tién dang dug tranh luan séi ndéi. Co nhing ngudi cho rang
ng&n sach chinh phti nén wu tién cdc dich vy phuc vu true tiép cho nhu cau ngudi dan,
va chi tiéu cho nghé thuat la lang phi. Du déng y rang phan Ién tui tian ctia chinh phi
nén dug danh cho cae dich vu cong, nhung tdi cling tin rang viéc danh gia thap gia tri
ctia cac khoan dau tu vao cac linh vc nghé thuat la khéng hé kh6én ngoan.

Tai tro va tro gia cho dich vu ma ngwéi dan str dung hang ngay chac chan la quan
trong. Chi tian cho hé théng trudng hoc va gitp ngudi dan dé tiép can véi gido duc
hon khéng chi dem dén cho ngudi dan co hdi thanh céng trong cuéc séng ma con
tranh duoc cdc van dé x4 hdi nhw pham tdi hoac that nghiép. Tai dau tu mét phan tién
thué vao mang Iw6i giao théng céng céng cling can thiét dé khuyén khich moi ngudi
tiv bd phwong tién ca nhan — mét lwa chon cé thé cé tac dong ngay lap tire dén nan
tac nghén va 6 nhiém. Phan bé lai kinh phi cho cac tién ich céng céng cho phép ngwodi
dan tiép can voi dién va nuéc gia ré. Day chi la mét vai trong sé rat nhiéu dich vy quan
trong can ban déi voi cudc séng cia con ngwdi; so voi chung, cac inh vwe nhu am
nhac hay nghé thuat c6 vé tam thwong va kho bién minh cho viéc dé tién vao do.

Tuy nhién, tdi xin phép lap luan rang dau tu vao cac linh vue nghé thuat hoan toan
khéng lang phi. Theo tdi, déng gdp vé kinh té clla nghé thuat rat to lon va ngay cang
tang. Cac bai hat, phim anh va & mét sé quéc gia la cac trién lam nghé thuat mang lai
s6 tian khdng 1d lén téi hang ti dé la. Cung lic d6, chting tao ra nhu cau cho cae san
pham phai sinh nhu dé ding danh cho ngudi ham mé va cac cng vién gidi tri theo cht
dé - nhirng thuong vu cé loi nhuan khéng kém gi so véi viéc kinh doanh tai san tri tué
da truyén cam hteng cho chung. Dat Ig ich tai chinh sang mét bén, cdc m6n nghé thuat
nén nhan dug kinh phi cia chinh phti cho vai tré cla ching trong viéc bao tén ban sac
van héa va di san. Ké tiv budi binh minh cia nén van minh nhan loai, hé tw tudng va
nhing truyén thuyét quan trong cua tirng thoi ky d& dug khdc hoa phong phti théng
qua cac loai hinh nghé thuat da dang, bao gém héi hoa, 4m nhac, van hoe, v.v. Y nghia
nay, cling sy déng gop tai chinh cia cac sang tao nghé thuat, chtvng minh tron ven gia
tri cla cAc khoan dau tu vao linh vue nay.

Tém lai, khong thé phi nhan rang phan lén ngan sach nha nuéc nén danh cho cae dich
vy céng, nhung téi tin rang nghé thuat cing xteng dang nhan duoc sy chu tam va cdc
ngudn tai nguyén ctia chinh phi.

198 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
heated (a) xv intense

Casual conversations can quickly turn

into heated debates when politics is
involved.

take precedence (v) 7 to be prioritized

* give precedence: to prioritize
Precedence must be given to senior
citizens or pregnant women on public
SS
transport.

imprudent (a) v not smart

It would be imprudent to follow the

herd in the stock market. As an investor,
you need to exercise discretion and
take every investment recommendation
with a grain of salt.

dedicate (v) WW to give time, energy, money, etc. to

something

Martin Luther King dedicated his

life to the fight against inequality and

eo oppression.

downplay (v) 4 to say that something is not important

People who downplay cooling down

after a punishing work out are more
prone to spinal injuries later on.

dividend (n) * benefit

Exercising every day is a habit will

surely pay dividends in the future.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 199

& cenera. VOCABULARY
ward off (phr.v) * to prevent

Anti-aircraft defenses will need to be

fortified to ward off the enemy's aerial
attacks.

trivial (a) % unimportant

yA,
Enthusiasts, whether it be watch
collectors, art patrons or sports fans,
obsess over details that seem trivial to
a layperson.

forego (v) Ww to give up a privilege

Losing weight entails foregoing the

pleasure of carbs, soda, and sweets,
and these are things many people are
not willing to part with.

justify (v) v to be a good reason to do something

Shopaholics often try to justify their

splurges by saying how the items are a
good value or how they are going to get
a lot of use, but at the end of the day,
it is all about the instant gratification of
acquiring new things.

amount to (v) ty to be equal to

* amount to nothing: to not have
any result The hospital fees amounted to an

* not amount to anything in life: to eye-watering couple of thousands of

dollars.
not succeed in life

200 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 * the beginning of

The president's visit heralds

the
dawn of a new era of dipl
omatic
relations between the two
countries.

derivative (a)
+ resulting from another
work or person

It could be said that contempo

rary
fantasy novels are derivati
ve of
Classics like Lord of The Ring
s.

Zeitgeist (n)
the beliefs or moods of
a particular
period in history

Listening to Podcasts on
various
topics is an engrossing way
to
navigate the zeitgeist of our
time.

irrefutable (a)
undeniable

They've found irrefutable

evidence of meddling
in the match,
and the individuals involved
will be

fo
punished accordingly.

narrative (n)

The biography provides

@ gripping
narrative of how Nike bec
ame the
cultural icon that it is today
.

CHAPTER 04 — HISTORY | 204

 vocksuLaRY REVIEW
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word from the general
vocabulary list.

1. | would like to ............... this song to my wife.

2. Parents should never say or let children feel that they will never ................ to
anything in life.

3. The work that you put in polishing your academic record now will .............
dividends when you go looking for a job in the future.

4. Some governments ................0+ the social problems in their country as a way to

calm the public and create an impression of peace and stability.

Exercise 2: Match the adjectives in column A to their antonyms in

column B.

A B

irrefutable substantive

prudent calm

heated rash

trivial original

derivative debatable

Exercise 3: Find a more advanced alternative to the words in bold.

1. When it comes to allocation of state funds, art is often overlooked whereas fields like
education and health care are prioritized.

2. The most potent ways to avoid the virus are basic hygiene protocols like washing
your hands regularly and sneezing into your elbow.

3. That Prince Harry decided to give up his royal title and riches came as a shock to
the public.

4. Casualties in war are often explained as the necessary sacrifices to restore peace.

5. Humans have had an intimate relationship with the stars since the beginning of
civilization.

202 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST - VOL 1

 Ql Some people say that we do not need printed
a
newspaper any more. To what extent do you agree or
g
disagree with this opinion?

CAN BANG (50/50)

(c3
VE 1 VE 2

Téi dong y Téi khéng dong y

[Bao mang cé thé thay thé [Bao gidy khéng thé bi
bao gidy.] loai bé.]
* Y chinh 1 * Ychinh 1
Nhanh hon rat nhiéu Nhiéu ngwodi thich doc bao giay.
* Giai thich * Giai thich
Thay vi dén sap bao, moi ngudi Ngw90i gia khéng quen doc bao
cé thé cap nhat tin tec ngay lap trén man hinh dién ttr do thi luc
ttc qua cac thiét bj di dong cé kém nén thwong chudéng bao
két ndi Internet. gidy hon.

* Y chinh 2 * Ychinh 2
Mién phi Bao gidy bién mat c6 thé anh huéng
* Giai thich
toi nhiéu nganh céng nghiép.
Ba sé bao mang khéng thu phi * Giai thich
ngwdi doc, khién nhiéu nguoi Nhu cau bao gidy gidm co thé
kh6éng con chung bao giay. khién nhiéu nha xuat ban va
céng ty khai thac g6 thu hep
quy mé, dan toi that nghiép trén
dién réng.

204 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

fp Topic Vf \BULA
printed newspaper (n) V7 bdo gidy
RY
* conventional newspaper (n): bao
truyén théng Though there are handheld
* traditional newspaper (n): bao truyén personal reading devices, many
théng prefer traditional newspapers
* printed version (n): phién ban (bao) in and magazines over digital

* printed papers (n): bao in articles to get the latest

* paper publication (n): An pham in/ information.

An pham bao, tap chi

* paper news (n):
tin ttc trén bao gidy
* printed materials (n):
An pham in

online news (n) ¥e tin tc trén mang

* e-paper (n): bao dién tl
* internet-based newspaper (n): The e-paper offers an exact
bao mang replica of the daily newspaper
* digital newspaper (n): in a digital format with various
bao dién tte <I enhanced functions such as

* digital version (n): audio versions and article

phién ban (bao) translation.

dién tl 6

news update (n) Ww cac tin tec cap nhat

* newspaper article (n): bai bao
You can get hourly news
updates on the Internet.

newsstand (n) NEWS? + sap bao

NEWS)
The competition among the

ie
newsstands is much bigger
than before.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 205

 VOCABULARY REVIEW

Exercise 1: Find alternative expressions for the following words.

Ts NEWSPaDOr?: Di wiasuiaciendaeasenng j Pwo peace CAGES Sea

2 OMINGH siiaccowsesasesveny 5 Oscoernmcaranuewaes

3. TrAGtOn al. scsccsswesassavassseeeeees

Exercise 2: Use words from above to match the following meanings.

1. A table or temporary structure used as a small shop for selling newspapers and
magazines outside in public places: «2.2.2...
.... cc. cceeeeeeeeeeeee

2. new or more accurate information: ..................cccceeeeeaeeeeee

3. a newspaper in electronic form that is read on a computer, Ct: 0.0... eee eee ‘

Exercise 3: Group the following advantages into those of online

newspapers and those of traditional newspapers.

multimedia presentation

avoid mining of personal data

cheap access

credibility of information

interaction between the paper and the readership

fewer distractions

support brick-and-mortar businesses like newsstands and bookstores

up-to-date information

Online Newspapers Traditional Newspapers

206 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 \ SAMPLE

It is universally accepted that in light of the proliferation of online information

channels, conventional newspapers have been on the wane, and considered no
longer necessary. Although online news is indeed superior to printed version in many
facets, | believe that printed papers would never be replaced completely.

It is understandable why some people advocate eschewing paper publications

in favor of their digital versions. The key rationale behind this development is
that reading news online is infinitely speedier. Instead of purchasing papers at a
newsstand, people now can access news updates immediately via Internet-connected
mobile devices. Another justification is that online news is virtually free of charge.
Most e-papers do not charge readers, which discourages many people from buying
printed materials.

Notwithstanding the aforementioned benefits of internet-based newspapers, | am of

the opinion that there are several compelling reasons as to why printed news cannot
be dispensed with. Firstly, some people prefer traditional newspapers. For example,
the elderly, who are not used to reading news on a digital screen due to their poor
vision, often gravitate towards printed publications. Furthermore, the disappearance

of printed news may have a far-reaching effect on a host of industries. For instance,
the declining demand for paper news may force publishers and logging companies to
downsize, which could trigger mass unemployment.

In conclusion, despite undeniable benefits of online newspapers, | am convinced that

conventional news still has an important role to play in modern society.

252 words, written by Phuong Dang

 =F TRANSLATION

Ai cing thira nhan rang bao truyén théng dang suy yéu va bi coi la khéng con can thiét
do sw phat trién ctia cdc kénh théng tin trc tuyén. Du tin tire trwc tuyén thuc su vugt
trdi so vi phién ban gidy & nhiéu khia canh nhung téi tin rang bao gidy sé khéng bao
gid’ bi thay thé hoan toan.

C6 thé hiéu dug tai sao mét sé ngu¢di lai ting hé viéc x6a b6 cdc an pham bao gidy va
chuyén sang cac phién ban ki thuat sé clia cac bao nay. Nguyén nh&n then chét dang
sau sy phat trién nay la do viéc doc tin ttc trwe tuyén nhanh hon rat rat nhiéu. Thay vi
mua bao @ sap bao, gid’ day moi ngudi cé thé cap nhat tin ttc ngay lap tlre thong qua
cac thiét bi di déng duoc két ndi Internet. Mot bién minh khac [a tin ttc tre tuyén hau
nhu mién phi. Hau hét cac bai bao dién tly khéng thu phi déc gia, viéc nay cang khéng
khuyén khich moi ngudi mua an pham giay.

Du bao mang cé nhitng loi ich nhw trén, t6i cho rang cé mét sé ly do thuyét phuc cho
viéc tai sao bao gidy khéng thé bj x6a bd. Tht nhat, mot sé ngwdi van thich bao truyén
théng hon. Vi du, nhieng ngwdi cao tudi khéng quen doc tin ttrc trén man hinh ki thuat
s6, do thi lve kém, thwong bj thu hut bdi cac An pham gidy. Hon niva, sw bién mat cia
bao gidy cé thé anh huéng sau réng dén rat nhiéu nganh céng nghiép. Vi dy, nhu cau
bao giay giam co thé buéc cac nha xuat ban va céng ty khai thac g6 thu hep quy m6;
diéu nay cé thé gay ra that nghiép hang loat.

Tom lai, bat chap loi ich khéng thé phi nhan cia bao dién tty, tdi tin rang bao truyén
théng van cé vai tro quan trong trong x4 hdi hién dai.
 GENERAL VOCABULARY
proliferation (n) Ly rapid increase in numbers

The past two years have seen the

proliferation of reality TV shows.

wane (v) WW to become weaker in strength or influence

* be on the wane (v): becoming
There are signs that support for the
less strong, powerful, popular,
group is on the wane.
etc.

superior (a) LW better than average or better than other

people or things of the same type

This cheese is vastly superior to the other.

eschew sth in favor of sth (v) Ww to avoid something intentionally and switch
to the other thing

Many consumers are eschewing locally

produced food in favor of food imports.

infinitely (adv) Ww very or very much

Travel is infinitely more comfortable

now than it used to be.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 209

 L \ iC
£ G ENERA
Internet-connected (a) LW be connected to the Internet

There are countless varieties of

Internet-connected toys on the
market

* Internet-based (a) used to describe activities that are done

using the Internet

The cost of running an Internet-based

business is much less than that of
running a conventional one.

dispense with (v) Ly __ to get rid of or stop using something or

someone that you do not need

Let’s dispense with the formalities

and get right down to business.

gravitate towards sth (v) yy tobe attracted by something

Numerous people now gravitate

towards a vegan diet to lose
weight.

far-reaching (a) LY likely to influence many people or things

International tourism has had

far-reaching effects on the local
culture.

210 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERALVJ
downsize (v) to make a company or organization
smaller by reducing the number of
people working for it

As we are downsizing the company

and reducing the number of
employees in our corporate office,
we need less space.

mass unemployment (n) unemployment on a large scale

During times of mass

unemployment, there's a poo!
of cheap labour for employers to
draw from.

have an important role to play (v) to have an important effect or influence

* play an important role (v): on something
to have an important effect or
influence on something A good diet and fitness play an
important role in helping people
live longer.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 214

 vocksuLaRy REVIEW
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have
to change the form of the word(s) to match the sentence.

1. I've personally never subscribed to the view that either gender is .................ccccceee
to the other.
Meaning: better

Dy Reae tise NA MTNA IONS learning allows students to learn at their own pace,
access the information at a time that is convenient for them, and provides
education to remote students that otherwise would not be able to travel to a
classroom.
Meaning: done on the Internet

3. In nations where food born illnesses are prevalent and food hygiene enforcement
1S AX COVISUIMGFSNONGN os ca sorionsxenncrcxsmrenccasenceansnmexenes imported food for safety
reasons.
Meaning: be attracted by

4. When global consumers buy the same imported products, demand for locally
produced goods has been ..............
ccc cecee ceeeececeeeeeeeeeeees
Meaning: become less popular

Meaning: a lot of unemployed people

Exercise 2: Find an alternative expression for the underlined parts. You

may have to refer to a collocation dictionary or a thesaurus.

1. These new laws will have huge benefits for all working mothers.

2. These opportunities seemed very much seductive.

3. Better intelligence and the use of language distinguish man from the other primates.

4. The increase of cell phones has changed how we communicate.

212 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 02 Nowadays, there is a trend that reports of media
= focus on problems and emergencies rather than
positive development. Some people think it is
os

harmful to individuals and to society. To what extent

do you agree or disagree?

HOAN TOAN BONG Y (100%) 1€

VE2

* Ychinh1 * Ychinh1
Strc khée tinh than Chay mau chat xam
* Giai thich Giai thich

Cuéc séng von da cé nhiéu ap Khi moi ngudi bi bao vay bdi qua
luc, do vay biét thém vé nhitng nhiéu tin ttc vé nhirng diéu bat
viéc tiéu cwe dang xay ra cé thé thuong xay ra & nué'c minh, ho sé
khién chung ta cang lo lang va bi c6 cai nhin tiéu ce vé vién canh
quan. Trong trwéng hop xau co twong lai cia dat nuéc va chuyén
thé dan toi tram cam. téi nwéc khac.

Y chinh 2
* Y chinh 2 Anh hwéng xau toi cac doanh
Ngan can moi ngwoi thtry nghiém nghiép
nhieng diéu moi mé
Giai thich
* Giai thich Tin x4u c6 thé khién céng ching co
Tin x4u thwong noi qua vé su viéc. suy nghi tiéu cc.
Vidu
* Vidu
Sw cé may bay mat tich clia hang
Du may bay dug’c coi la phuong
hang khéng Malaysia.
tién di chuyén an toan nhat,
Du khéng phai Idi la cia hang hang
nhwng nhieng ban tin vé cdc vu
khéng, nhwng doanh thu cia hang
roi may bay thug khién ngudi
da lao déc sau khi sw kién nay
doc c6 cai nhin sai léch va tty do
duoc tang tran ngap khap cac trang
sq di may bay.
bao trong va ngoai nud.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 213

 topic VOCABULARY
media platform (n) nén tang truyén théng
* social media platform (n): cdc nén tang
mang xa hdi The most popular social media
platforms are Facebook,
YouTube, and WhatsApp, with a
combined total of nearly 6 billion
monthly active users.

cover mostly bad news (v) chu yéu dua tin xAu, tap trung dua
* negative news report/ story (n): ban tin x4u
tin (cd tinh) tiéu cywe
Negative news stories
grabbed attention and
provoked a strong reaction,
whereas the positive news
stories had almost zero
response.

report (n) be ban tin

According to reports, there

has been an earthquake in Los
Angeles.

the press (including reporters and 37 bao chi (bao gdm cae phéng vién
photographers) (n) va nhiép anh gia)

The charity invited the press

to a presentation of its plans for
the future.

214 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 * the paper (n): toa bao
* news media (n): tin ttec truyén thong The role of the news media in
forming public opinion is very
important.

broadcast (v) Jv phat song, dua tin

She is to host a new half-hour

show which will be broadcast
every weekday evening.

the latest information (n) ¥7 _ théng tin moi nhat

In today's fast-paced business

culture, the “right” time often
means immediate access to the
latest information.

misinformation (n) %y théng tin sai léch

* misleading information (n): théng tin
What people have heard of
cé tinh dinh huéng sai léch
Muslim is often characterized
by misinformation and
stereotypes.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 215

 vocasutary REVIEW
Exercise 1: Use words from above to match the following meanings.

1. causing someone to believe something that is not true? ..........

0. cece eee cece eeceeeee ees

2. newest oF MOSt FECONE css.cscsuwcanumowemaescse

3. send out a programme on television or radio or over the Internet: ...................088.

Exercise 2: Group the following newspapers into 4 categories (you may

need to look up what the magazine is about and how it is published).

People Magazine Conde Nast The New York Revolution

Traveler Times Magazine

Broadsheets

Tabloids

Niche Magazines

Lifestyle Magazines

Exercise 3: Pick the best substitute for the words given.

1. the latest information

A. news hub B. news feed C. topical news D. newsflash

2. misinformation

A. disinformation B. unfounded rumors C. stigmas D. prejudices

3. the press

A. journalism B. broadsheets C. media moguls _D. multimedia

4. broadcast

A. transmit B. transfer C. beam D. air

5. coverage
A. frequency B. investigation C. reportage D. screen time

216 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 SAMPLE

There is no denying that the world is facing a host of serious problems. As media
platforms proliferate, many of these problems have garnered a great deal of publicity.

However, some people argue that the tendency to cover mostly bad news of the

media actually has a negative influence on each person and society as a whole. |
completely agree with this view.

On the personal level, excessive exposure to bad news has several harmful effects.
First, it takes a heavy toll on our mental health. Life with its responsibilities is stressful
enough as it is, and learning more about negative things that go on such as the
appalling state of pollution and gloomy economic outlooks makes us even more

stressed out and pessimistic, which in serious cases could result in depression.
Second, bad news is often blown out of proportion and therefore prevents people

from trying new things. For instance, while planes are statistically speaking the safest
mode of transport, reports of plane crashes often give news readers a distorted
impression and cause them to be averse to flying.

The adverse effects that bad news has on individuals could lead to far-reaching
repercussions on the societal level. First, bad news could contribute to the brain

drain phenomenon. When people are bombarded with a barrage of news about
dysfunctional things that go on with their country, they naturally would hold a grim
view about the prospect of the nation and want to move elsewhere. In addition,
negative public sentiment spurred by bad news could be a fatal blow to businesses.
The incident of a vanished aircraft that belonged to Malaysian airline perfectly

exemplifies this situation. While technically not the airline’s fault, its sales plummeted
after the event was covered extensively on both local and international press.

In conclusion, while negative news reports do help us become more alert to ongoing
problems and dangers, | am convinced that they are, to some extent, harmful to

individuals and society.

327 words, written by Phuong Dang

CHAPTER 05— MEDIA| 217

 \ TRANSLATION

Kh6ng thé phti nhan rang thé gidi dang déi mat voi rat nhiéu van dé nghiém trong.
Do sw gia tang chong mat ctia cac nén tang truyén théng, nhirng van dé nay da gianh
duo’c rat nhiéu sy quan tam ctia cong chting. Tuy nhién, mot s6 ngwdi lp luan rang xu
huwong chi tap trung dua nhieng tin xAu cla truyén thong thurc su dang anh huéng tiéu
cyc toi méi ca nhan ciing nhu toan x4 hdi. Téi hoan toan déng y voi quan diém nay.

O mirc d6 ca nhan, viéc tiép xtic voi qua nhiéu tin ttc xAu cé mot sé tac dong cé hai.
Dau tién, nd anh hudng nang né tdi strc khde tinh than. Cudc séng voi bao trach
nhiém vén da cang thang, va tim hiéu thém vé nhieng diéu tiéu cwe dang dién ra nhu
tinh trang 6 nhiém khting khiép cla mdi trvdng hay vién canh kinh té Am dam lam
chting ta tham chi cén cang thang va bi quan hon, trong truéng hop xau cé thé dan
dén tram cam. Tht hai, cac tin ttec x4u thwong bj théi phéng Ién nhiéu lan va do dé,
ngan chan con ngwdi tht strc voi nhieng diéu mdi mé. Vi du, theo thang ké ma ndi,
mac du may bay la phuong tién van chuyén an toan nhat nhung cac bao cao vé nhitng
vu dam may bay thwong mang lai cho ngudi doc An tweng sai léch va gay cho ho ac
cam voi viéc bay.

Nhieng anh hwéng bat loi ma tin xAu tac dong lén cac ca nhan cé thé lan dén nhivng
hé luy sau réng © cap dé x4 hdi. Dau tién, tin xAu c6 thé gop phan gay nén hién tuong
chay mau chat xam. Khi moi ngudi bi “déi” mt loat tin tlc vé nhirng diéu bat thueng
xay ra & dat nudc ho, ho sé ty cé cai nhin nghiét nga vé vién canh cla quéc gia va
muén chuyén dén noi khac. Thém nia, tam ly tinh cam tiéu ce clia céng chting bi
khuay lén bdi tin xdu cé thé la mét don chi mang cho cac doanh nghiép. Vu may bay
mat tich cla hang hang khéng Malaysia Ia vi dy tiéu biéu cho tinh huéng nay. Mac du,
thyc té ma ndi, day khéng phai la 16i cla hang hang khéng nay nhung doanh sé ctia
hang da giam manh sau khi su kién nay dug diva tin r6ng rai trén bao chi ca trong va
ngoai nuéc.

Tém lai, du cdc ban tin tiéu cue cé thé gitip chung ta tré nén canh giac hon voi nhieng
van dé va hiém nguy dang dién ra, tdi tin rang @ mét mic dd nao dd, ching cd anh
hwong khéng tét toi ca nhan va x4 hdi.
 GENERAL\
garner publicity (v) wv to get public attention

The book didn’t garner much publicity

when it was published,

exposure (n) LW the state of possibly being affected by

something such as a substance or influence

The city’s youths need more exposure

to positive role models.

appalling (a) wy shocking and very bad

Conditions in the prison are said to be

appalling.

sentiment (n) Jy People’s opinions or feelings about a

situation, especially the likely future direction
of a financial market, the economy, etc.

Analysts said market sentiment for the

time being appears positive.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 219

#2 Genera. VOCABULARY
stress sb out (v) 3 to make someone feel very nervous and
worried

Interviews always stress me out.

blow sth out of proportion (v) EY to treat a particular event or problem far
too seriously

When the papers get hold of a story,

it's blown out of all proportion.

statistically speaking v in a way that relates to statistics

Statistically speaking, women

are about two times more likely to
develop a depression than men.

distort (v) | to change something so that it is false or

wrong, or no longer means what it was
intended to mean

Y
| believe the press have distorted
the situation.

220 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
averse (a) 4 strongly disliking or opposed to

Few politicians are averse to

appearing on television.

repercussion (n) ¥v consequence

Brexit has had palpable

repercussions for the UK
economy.

brain drain (n) ¥ the situation in which large numbers

F of educated and very skilled people
leave their own country to live and
work in another one where pay and
conditions are better

Vietnam has suffered a huge brain

drain in recent years.

bombard (v) + to direct so many things at someone

i@e
that they find it difficult to deal with
them

The children bombarded her with

questions.

CHAPTER 05 - MEDIA| 221

B GENERAL VOCABULARY
a barrage of wv a great number of complaints,
criticisms, or questions suddenly
directed at someone

The TV station has received a

barrage of complaints about the
amount of violence in the series.

dysfunctional (a) Ww not behaving or working normally

A dysfunctional family unit is

one of the root causes of criminal
behaviour.

grim (a) ww worrying, without hope

* hold grim view about something:
have negative thinking about Experts have been giving grim
something predictions for the future of the
company.

222 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL

spur (v) to encourage an activity or

development or make it happen faster

Rising consumer sales have the

effect of spurring the economy to
faster growth.

blow to something (n) an unexpected event that has a

damaging effect on someone or
something

Losing his job was a crushing

blow to his confidence.

plummet (v) to fall very quickly and suddenly

House prices have plummeted in

recent months.

CHAPTER 05— MEDIA | 223

 vockBULARY REVIEW
Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer.

Ws cccenaeuasinraceuseaeees
tes by her early success, she went on to write four more novels
in rapid succession.

A. Motived B. Spurred C. Caused D. Stemmed

2. The Internet and related technologies have caused the cost of communication and
transactions to ....55....0.c.suenees
seein

A. escalate B. stabilize C. plummet D. level off

3. Standards in education have received MUCH ................ eee over the last few
years.
A. publicity B. reputation C. publishing D. popularity
4. It will be a devastating ...................0. to the local community if the factory closes.

A. pull B. push C. whisper D. blow

5. The meal was a rip-off and the service was .....................0066

A. spectacular __B. satisfying C. appalling D. adequate

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have
to change the form of the word to match the sentence.

1. Applying SEO to a poorly designed and............... web site is futile.

Meaning: not working normally

2. Consumers today are............... with a barrage of advertisements from

businesses trying to promote their products to the general public.
Meaning: direct too many things at someone

3. In Vietnam, a higher tax rate on New Zealand imported milk could sway
consumers to local brands such as TH True Milk or Vinamilk, given the fact that
most Vietnamese are............... to high prices.
Meaning: strongly disliking

4. Learners of foreign tongues definitely benefit from being ................ to the culture
of the language.
Meaning: create conditions that allow someone to have the opportunity to learn or
experience new things

5. Comedy is a............... of what is happening, and there will always be something

happening.

Meaning: a change to the intended or true meaning of something

224 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

03.
- — |

Advertising are becoming more and more common in

everyday life. Is it a positive or negative development?

* Quang cao lam * Quang cao duoc * Ainhin quang cao nhiéu
gian doan nhitng nguy trang bang cting sé muén mua
gi chung ta doc, cac bai bao tuong nhirng san pham moi
nghe hoac xem. nh cung cap théng dui khéng can thiét.
tin nao d6 hitu ich,
* Vi du: quang cao * Vi du: quan ao, d6
nhung thuc ra muc
trén YouTube, TV, céng nghé, v.v.
bao chi, v.v.
tiéu 1a tiép thi mot
san pham nao do. * Thdi quen tiéu diing
nay sé dan téi nhiéu suv
lang phi va anh hung
nang né téi mdi trvéng
trong twong lai.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 225

f topic VOCABULARY
advertising/ advertisements (n) WY quang cao
* promotion (n): chuong trinh khuyén
mai, chién lore quang cao
* commercial break (n): quang cao gitra
gid chiéu (trén TV hoac dai)
* advertorial spread (n): cac trang quang
cao (trén bao hoac tap chi)
* incessant promotional campaign: cac
chién dich quang cao khéng dirt

the growing popularity of advertising (n) Ww sw phd bién ngay cang tang clia
* [advertisements] become visible almost quang cao
everywhere: [quang cao] cé thé duoc
nhin thay & moi noi
* [advertisements] appear with increasing
frequency: [quang cao] xuat hién voi
tan suat ngay cang tang
* be routinely exposed to advertisements:
thwong xuyén tiép xtic voi quang cao
* permeate (v): lan téa, ngam, len Idi
* the omnipresence of advertising (n): sw
cé mat & khap moi noi ctia quang cdo
* the ubiquity of advertising (n): sy phd
bién rong khap cua quang cao

226 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 Topic \fC BULARY
saturated market (n) w thi tr'wdng bao hda
* homogeneous products (n): cac san
pham gidng nhau
* brand awareness (n): d6 nhan dién
thuwong hiéu
* marketing budget (n): ngan sach cho
marketing

ad-free content (n) ¥ ndéi dung khéng chtra quang cao

* media consumers (n): nh@ng nguoi
tiéu thy san pham truyén thong
* media content (n): néi dung trén cac
phwong tién truyén thong

consumerism (n) Y cht nghia tiéu ding

yA,

* a throw-away society (n): xa héi

viet bdo
* wastage (n): sy lang phi

CHAPTER 05—MEDIA | 227

 vocasuiary REVIEW
Exercise 1: What category of advertising do the following examples fall
into?

1. Swiss watch manufacturer Patek Phillipe paying a lifestyle magazine for two full
pages showcasing a new timepiece: ...............
eee eeeeeeeeee ee

2. Fast-fashion behemoth Zara starting a new hashtag on Instagram to raise

awareness on their new season's collection: ................ceceececeeeeeeees

3. A billboard ad for a law firm: ...................0cccee

neces

4. Doritos advertising their new chip flavor at halftime of Super Bowl: .......................

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word. You may need to
modify the form of the word.

1: TECHNOlOGY NAS csciessicccwsvcvwens our daily life. It is difficult to think of a human

activity that is not augmented by some form of technological innovation.

2. Amsterdam is among the world’s most eco-friendly cities. Here, bikes are...........
SSNS AER OF UASRGSOUESS , solar panels are installed on most houses and the local
government is constantly pushing toward sustainability.

3. Theft in the neighborhood is occurring with increasing .................00000006 , which is

troubling both the residents and the authorities.

4. Taylor Swift's rise to prominence is an extraordinary story. She used to be a klutz

in school, but in the span of just a little over a decade she has morphed into an
sReE Renan TN ieT NERS ER cultural icon.

228 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 SAMPLE

As markets become increasingly saturated and competition between players offering

homogeneous products is more intense than ever before, raising brand awareness
is of the essence. To this end, advertisements have necessarily been heavily
employed, resulting in them becoming visible almost everywhere. In my opinion, the
omnipresence of advertising is a negative development.

First of all, the fact that advertising appears with increasing frequency is a nuisance.
Nowadays, it permeates virtually everything we watch, read or listen to: YouTube
videos are intermittently interrupted by promotions, TV shows are frequently hijacked
by commercial breaks, and readers of newspapers and magazines have been
decrying advertorial spreads taking a greater portion of print publications. It just
seems impossible to enjoy ad-free content in this day and age.

Second, the insatiable desire to peddle products not only inconveniences media
consumers but also sabotages the integrity of media content. In fact, many of the so-
called articles on news outlets nowadays are actually engineered to get naive readers
to buy something instead of informing them of anything substantive. This calls into
question the validity of the information that reaches us every day.

On a grander scale, the ubiquity of advertising breeds excessive consumerism

and contributes to a throw-away society. No matter how discerning a consumer is,
when one is routinely exposed to advertisements, he or she will get the constant
urge to purchase the items advertised even if there is no real need for them. This
incentivizes manufacturers to ramp up production as well as marketing budget to
push purportedly new and exciting products, resulting in even greater wastage. This
vicious cycle manifests itself starkly in such industries as apparel or electronic goods,
where incessant promotional campaigns try to sway customers into discarding the
items they currently have for new, improved, more fashionable offerings. It is easy to
see how this kind of consumer behavior will spell disaster for the environment in the
foreseeable future.

In conclusion, the growing popularity of advertising has numerous negative

implications for both individuals and the environment. It is imperative that stringent
regulations regarding when and where a company can advertise be put in place in
order to mitigate these problems.

361 words, written by Tung Dang

CHAPTER
05 — MEDIA | 229
 TRANSLATION

Khi thi trwong ngay cang bao héa va cuéc canh tranh giira nhieng nha cung cap cac
san pham giéng nhau tro nén khéc liét hon bao gid’ hét, tang d6 nhan dién thuong hiéu
la diéu cét yéu. Dé cé duoc diéu nay, nhat thiét phai str dung nhiéu dén quang cao,
dan dén viéc quang cao tré nén hiru hinh & hau hét moi noi. Theo tdi, sw hién dién
khap chén ctia quang cao la mét phat trién tiéu cy.

Truéc hét, viéc quang cao xuat hién voi tan suat ngay cang tang la mot sy phién toai.
Ngay nay, né len Idi vao hau hét moi tht? chung ta xem, doc hoac nghe: Cac video trén
YouTube bj ngat quang lién tuc bdi cac chong trinh khuyén mi, cac chuong trinh
truyén hinh thuéng xuyén bi gian doan bdi cdc quang cao gitra gid chiéu va déc gia
ctia cac to bao ciing nhu tap chi phan nan vé cac trang quang cao chiém phan lon cdc
4n pham gidy. Duong nhu khéng thé thuéng thirc nhirng néi dung ma khéng cé quang
cao trong thoi dai ngay nay.

Tht hai, khao khat v6 han trong viéc ban hang khéng chi gay bat tién cho nhieng ngudi
tiéu thu san pham truyén théng ma cén pha hoai sw chan thy ctia ndi dung truyén
thong. Trén thyc té, thr dwgc tam ggi la bai bao trén cdc phuong tién bao chi ngay nay
thuc ra la duoc thiét ké dé khién nhieng déc gia ngay tho mua tht? gi dé thay vi cung
cap cho ho théng tin the chat. Diéu nay dat ra cau hdi vé tinh dung dan cua thong tin
dén voi chuing ta mdi ngay.

O quy mé lén hon, sv phé bién réng khap ctia quang cao sinh ra chi nghia tiéu ding
thai qua va gop phan vao mét xa héi “vert bd”. DU ngwoi tiéu diing cé sac sao dén dau,
khi nguoi nay thuéng xuyén tiép xtc voi quang cao, anh ta hoac cé ta sé lu6n bi thdi
thc phai mua cdc mat hang dug’c quang cdo ngay ca khi khong cé nhu cau thy sv.
Diéu nay khuyén khich cdc nha san xuat gia tang san xuat ciing nhu ngan sach tiép
thi dé thc day cdc san pham co vé la moi va thi vi, dan dén tham chi la nhiéu su lang
phi hon. Vong luan quan nay thé hién ré trong cac nganh céng nghiép nhu may mac
hoac hang dién tl, noi cac chién dich quang cao khéng cé diém dirng cé gang tac
déng dén khaéch hang dé ho virt bd cac mat hang hién cé dé sam cac san pham mdi,
cai tién hon, hop thoi hon. That dé dang dé thay kiéu hanh vi tiéu diing nay sé gay ra
tham hoa cho méi trwdng trong twong lai gan.

Tom lai, sw phd bién ngay cang tang ctia quang cao cé nhiéu tac déng tiéu cc toi ca
nhan va méi trvéng. Diéu quan trong la cdc quy dinh nghiém ngat vé thoi gian va dia
diém ma mét cong ty cd thé quang cao phai dug ap dung dé giam thiéu nhieng van
dé nay.

230 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL'
of the essence (idm) Ww extremely important

The new virus is wreaking havoc on

many countries and so far has claimed
many lives. For scientists, time is of the
essence.

employ (v) 4 to use

The offence and defense tactics that

FC Barcelona employs are so well-
thought-out that they are pretty much
unassailable, at least in the domestic
league.

nuisance (n) als something annoying

Noisy neighbors are a nuisance that

many people in Vietnam have to deal
with.

intermittently (adv) w occurring regularly but not continuously

Josh Brolin has had intermittent

success with acting, but it was not
until his role as Thanos in the global
blockbuster Avengers did he truly hit the
mainstream.

hijack (v)
; 7 to steal, interrupt

The day when Kanye West hijacked

Taylor Swift’s MTV Video Music Awards
acceptance speech will go down in
history as one of the most defining pop
culture moments.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 231

& cenera. VOCABULARY
decry (v) Ww to complain

More and more people are becoming

vegetarian and decrying meat
production, claiming it to be one of
the, if not the, most environmentally
destructive human activities.

portion (n) t amount

Tech companies are not always

immediately profitable. Often times,
they have to reinvest a sizeable
portion of their earnings into scaling
up their operations.

insatiable (n) Ww cannot be satisfied

China has an insatiable appetite for

branded goods, which makes them
a key market for many of the world’s
biggest fashion houses.

inconvenience (v) v7 to cause trouble

Construction and redevelopment

projects in preparation for the
upcoming Olympics could greatly
inconvenience the citizens.

sabotage (v) Y todamage, destroy

New evidence has come to the fore

which threatens to sabotage his
political career.

232 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
integrity (n) quality

Freshly caught seafood is flash-frozen

before being exported to preserve their
integrity.

engineer (v) to arrange something so that it serves a

particular purpose

Self-driving cars are engineered

to follow traffic laws, so they could
technically help reduce traffic violations
and make roads safer.

substantive (a) important, related to facts

| was really looking forward to the

talk, but it turned out to be a bust. The
speaker ended up talking about mostly
superficial knowledge that people are
likely already familiar with instead of
sharing something substantive.

call into question (v) yr to make people doubt something

Failure to contain the wildfire calls

into question the city council's
competence.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 233

 & cenera. VOCABULARY
breed (v) Ww to create something bad

The state’s decision to allow

deforestation in this area could
potentially breed environmental
catastrophes down the line.

ramp up (v) w to boost

He must ramp up support in rural

areas if he hopes to win the election
come November.

push (v) Ly to try to sell something

The store carries a plethora of brands,

but each season it focuses on pushing
only a small number of brands.

purportedly (adv) Ww appears be true on the surface, what it

seems to people

The couple purportedly had a fallout,

but | surmise this is just a PR stunt.

234 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
a situation when a problem leads to
vicious cycle (n)
another problem that makes it more
difficult to solve the original problem

People who get themselves into debt

are usually trapped in a vicious cycle
of indebting themselves further to
service previous loans.

sway (v) yy to persuade

Thanks to the Internet, consumers

have become more and more
discerning and no longer easily
swayed by marketing campaigns.

imperative (a) Wy important, necessary

it is imperative that schools educate

teenagers on safe sex in order to
prevent teen pregnancy.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 235

 vockBULARY REVIEW
Exercise 1: Rewrite the sentences using the words given.

1. He failed in the end because he wanted too much power.

SP (ISU ADIO) | ono ec emnee nnecz yon saslanae eae BSR Spies taps one AOR EE LTE
2. Some people may find the way it rains for a bit, then stops for a bit, then rains again
here annoying.
PA TTOT HAIN: xcs nos sass clag'g Wa bu ace sea AA oN EAE GSS OIE ECTS SOROS

3. Misinformation about the virus outbreak is spreading fast. | don’t know what to

believe on the Internet anymore.

>: (Call Into: QUESTION) ss 55c6 ci cscactas Gabe CSE REESE ERIEE SEEDERS
4. My friend had my phone and decided to pull a prank by posting a very embarrassing
picture of me on my Instagram.
Sa 6/2101,§ SRR TPR ET NE eye PEEP CNY Peer a POTN ORR SENN AW PT RANE

5. We must give women more opportunities to assume managerial positions.

— (imperative — passive voice)

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer to fill in the blank.

1. For the players, time is of the..................

A. fundamental B. importance C. crucial D. essence

2. The fact that the city council decided to................... the help of a world-renowned
architect speaks to the significance of the building.

A. enlist B. employ C. deploy D. hire

Bi, ENO ixorcresosmemnrnas restored his vision and, for the first time, in his life he was able to

behold the resplendent beauty of his beloved.

A. potion B. portion C. proportion D. proportionate

4. The car has been damaged to the point where it is impossible to be

A. sabotaged B. savaged C. salvaged D. salivated

5. Unresolved differences could ............00...... to deep-seated hatred.

A. give birth B. breed C. result D. turn

236 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 04 Some people believe what children watch on TV
= influences their behavior. Some say it is the amount
oo

of time watching television that influences their

behavior.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

N6i dung trén tivi anh huong Thdi lueng xem tivi anh hvong
téi hanh vi cua tré nho. toi hanh vi cua tré nho.

Lap luan 1: Tré em hay bat chuéc Thay déi: Xem nhiéu tivi khién tré
nhéng tht ching thay hay, va trén tro nén thu d6éng.
tivi cé nhiéu ndéi dung nhw vay.
Phan bac: Anh huéng nay khéng
Vi du: Cac cau ndi trén chuong
lén bang anh hwéng ctia ndéi dung
trinh truyén hinh, bai hat trén quang
chuong trinh.
cao, nht#ng hanh vi bao Iyc

Lap luan 2: Nhing néi dung trén Lap luan 1: Tré em ngay nay tro
tivi cé thé dinh hinh suy nghi clia nén thu déng kh6ng chi do tivi ma
tré nho. con do nhieng hinh thtrc giai tri
khac nhw tro choi dién tte hoac
Vi du: Xem phim siéu nhan, tré sé
mang xa hdi.
dan tham duoc cac bai hoc vé tinh
than déng déi, sw nghia hiép, cai Lap luan 2: Tré em cé thé bat
thién lu6n thang cai ac. Xem cac chuwéc hanh vi ngay khi nhin thay
phim c6ng chua cla Disney, tré em, cht khéng can phai xem nhiéu moi
dac biét la bé gai, sé bj Anh hudéng bat chuéc.
cach an mac, cl? chi cling nhw vai
tro cua ngudi phu n& trong xa hdi.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 237

§\ toric VOCABULARY
behavioral development (n) ZY sy phat trién hanh vi
* how children act and think: cach tré
hanh d6ng va suy nghi
* the way children talk and behave
toward others: cach tré ndéi nang va cv
xl voi ngudi khac
* moral code (n): quy tac dao dirc
* belief system (n): hé tu tudng

attention-grabbing (a) giat gan, thu hut su cha y

* parrot (a): nhai lai
* mimic (a): bat chuéc

catchphrases (a) nhitng cau noi théng dung/

cau khau hiéu trong cac chuong
trinh tivi

jingle (n) nhac diéu (quang cao)

display of violence (n) canh bao Ive

nudity (n) sy khda than/ hinh anh khéa than

238 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 BULARY
LY chudi phim

light-hearted entertainment (n) giai tri don thuan

preteen audience (n) khan gia chwa dén tudi thanh

thiéu nién

screen time (n) thoi gian ngdi trwée man hinh

physical activity level (n) mtrc d6 hoat déng thé chat

* sedentary lifestyle (n): I6i séng thu déng
* reluctance to participate in physical
activities: sy mién cw@ng tham gia cac
hoat d6ng thé chat

studies have suggested a correlation

between A and B 7 cac nghién ctru da chi ra co mét
méi twong quan gitra A va B

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 239

 vocasuiarY REVIEW
Exercise 1: Find a more concise word/ expression for the following
concepts.

Explanation Word/ Expression

1. repeat exactly what other people say

2. the things that a person or society deem right and just

3. a series of movies that revolve around the same

character or group of characters

4. individuals aged below 13

5. the amount of time a person spends watching TV or

using their smartphones

Exercise 2: Are the following examples of correlation or causation?

1. watching violence on TV and violent behaviors in adolescence — correlation/

causation

2. height and weight — correlation/ causation

3. an increase in sales of face mask and an increase in negative news about the
coronavirus — correlation/ causation

4. an increase in crime and an increase in demand for banh chung — correlation/

causation

5. sending too many newsletters and customers unsubscribing — correlation/ causation

240 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 \ SAMPLE
The evidence is good that watching TV has a profound impact on children’s
behavioral development. However, people remain divided over whether it is the
content or the duration over which children sit in front of the television that affects
their behavior. In this answer, | will look at the impacts that each factor exerts on
young viewers before concluding that what children watch on TV plays a greater role
in shaping how they act and think than how much they actually watch it.

The images that children see on TV no doubt Explanation their behaviors. The
young tend to imitate whatever captivates them, and the attention-grabbing nature
of television facilitates this tendency. For example, children are quick to parrot
catchphrases on their favorite shows, or the lyrics to a catchy jingle. By the same
token, displays of violence could instigate aggressive behaviors, while nudity could
incite premature interest in the opposite sex.

On a more profound level, the things that children witness on television will
subliminally shape their very moral codes and belief systems. For example,
Power Rangers and other superhero franchises, while originally created as light-
hearted entertainment, manage to impart to their preteen audience lessons about
teamwork, altruism or the eventual triumph of good over evil. Another example is
Disney's princess-themed series, which inadvertently dictate to young girls how they
should look and who they should aspire to be in life. These influences will manifest
themselves in the way children talk and behave toward others.

On the other hand, we cannot discount the effect that screen time has on children,
particularly their physical activity level. In fact, studies have suggested a strong
correlation between TV watching and a sedentary lifestyle. However, | believe this
effect is tenuous compared to the ones described above. First, children do not
spend as much time watching TV as they did in the past in light of newly invented
distractions such as smartphones, video games or even social media, all of which
contribute to their reluctance to participate in physical activities. Second, it may not
take repeated encounters for children to mimic the actions, language or fashion
they see on TV, especially something graphic or jarring, which could be ingrained in
children’s minds for years even if they only experience it momentarily.

In conclusion, what children see on TV and how much they watch it both affect the
way they behave, but the former’s impact is significantly greater.

404 words, written by Tung Dang

 TRANSLATION

Cé nhieng bang chteng dang tin cay vé viéc xem tivi cé tac déng sau sac dén sw phat
trién hanh vi ctia tré. Tuy nhién, van co y kién bat déng vé viéc liéu ndi dung hay thdi
luong tré ngdi trwéc tivi cé Anh hwong tdi hanh vi cla cdc em. Trong cau tra ldi nay, tdi
sé xem xét cac tac dong ma mi yéu té gay ra cho khan gia nhéo tudi trveéc khi di dén
két luan rang nhitng gi tré xem trén tivi co vai trd I6n hon trong viéc dinh hinh cach cac
em hanh déng va suy nghi so voi viéc cac em thuc sw xem tivi trong bao lau.

Nhirng hinh anh ma tré nhin thay trén tivi chac chan anh huéng dén hanh vi clia cac
em. Tré c6 xu huéng bat chuéc bat ctr diéu gi cudn hut ching, va ban chat thu hut sy
chu y cia truyén hinh da tao diéu kién cho xu hong nay. Vi dy, tré nhanh chéng nhai
lai nh&ng cau khau hiéu trong chuong trinh yéu thich, hoadc loi bai hat cho mét nhac
diéu quang cao bat tai. Tong tw nhu vay, cac man bao lye co thé kich déng nhteng
hanh vi hung han, trong khi hinh anh khéda than cé thé kich thich ham muén sém déi
voi ngudi khac gidi.

O mirc dé sau xa hon, nhieng diéu ma tré ching kién trén truyén hinh sé dinh hinh
trong nhirng quy tac dao dirc va hé tu tudng tiém thtec cla cdc em. Vi du, Power
Rangers va cac thuong hiéu siéu anh hting khac, dti ban dau duc tao ra nhu mét hinh
thtec giai tri nhe nhang, da cé gang truyén tai cdc bai hoc cho nhieng khan gia dui 13
tudi vé tinh than déng di, long vi tha hodc chién thang cudi cuing ctia cai thién déi voi
cai ac. Mét vi du khac Ia loat phim c6 cht dé vé cdc c6 cong chuia cia Disney da v6 tinh
huan thi cho cdc bé gai vé dién mao ctia cac em va mau nguoi ma cac em nén khao
khat tro thanh trong cudc séng. Nhitng tac déng nay sé thé hién @ cach tré noi nang
va cu xtr voi ngudi khac.

Mat khac, chung ta khéng thé coi nhe tac déng cia thdi gian ngdi trvéc man hinh
toi tré, d&c biét la mtec dé hoat dong thé chat clia cdc em. Trén thuc té, cdc nghién
ctru d& cho thay mdi tong quan manh mé gitra viéc xem tivi va Idi séng it van déng.
Tuy nhién, tdi tin rang Anh hwdng nay khéng Ia gi so véi nhivng gi duoc mé ta @ trén.
Dau tién, tré knéng danh nhiéu thdi gian xem tivi nh truec day béi nh@ng méi phan
tam mdi dugc phat minh nhw dién thoai théng minh, tro choi video hodc tham chi la
phuong tién truyén thong xa hdi, tat ca déu dan dén su mién cuéng tham gia cac hoat
déng thé chat cia tré. Thi hai, tré khong can phai xem nhiéu [an lién tiép mdi co thé
bat chuéc nhirng hanh déng, ngén ngi? hoac thdi trang ma chung thay trén tivi, dac
biét lA nhing tht séng déng hay gay séc, cd thé An sau vao tam tri tré trong nhiéu nam
ngay ca khi cac em chi trai nghiém no trong giay lat.

Tém lai, nhieng gi tré nhin thay trén tivi va thoi lugng xem déu anh hwdng dén cach cac
em cu xtr, nhueng tac déng clia ndi dung lai lon hon dang ké.

242 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL

exert (v) VY to have an impact

Some industries are controlled by only a

handful of major corporations that exert
a tremendous amount of influence.

facilitate (v) Ww to make it easy for something to happen

The town has strict lighting ordinances

in place to facilitate stargazing and
astronomical studies.

captivate (v) Yv to attract someone's attention

Lady Gaga's transition to acting

initially raised some eyebrows, but her
performance in the Bradley-Cooper-
directed remake of A Star Is Born
captivated even the most scrupulous of
movie critics.

instigate (v) Ww to encourage a bad behavior or feeling; to

cause something to happen

Delinquent students could instigate

rebellion among their classmates.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 243

fA ceneraL VOCABULARY
incite (v) WwW to encourage a bad behavior or feeling

Pp Social media is a double-edged

sword: it can spread positivity just as
it can incite hatred.

premature (a) too soon

The player’s premature celebration

ended in utter humiliation as the
opposition made a comeback in the
eleventh hour.

subliminally (adv) affecting someone in a way that they do

not notice

Viewers are often times oblivious to

the subliminal advertising that is
embedded in the shows they watch.

impart (v) to communicate something to

somebody; to give something a certain
quality

The job of a teacher is not to simply

impart knowledge but also to instill in
students a passion for learning.

244 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
altruism (n) + the quality of wanting to help other people

Many philanthropic endeavors do not

come from altruism but rather
self-interest.

triumph (n) Ww victory

The Vietnam national football team’s

triumphs in recent years has rekindled
the citizens’ interest in the sport.

Y accidentally

Parents may inadvertently deter

children from speaking their minds by
constantly disciplining and reprimanding
them.

dictate (v) Ww to create a rule or law

Convention dictates that the guest is not

to begin eating until invited by the host
to do so.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 245

& cenera. VOCABULARY
aspire (v) ¥ to want to achieve something

Investment banking is a profession

that most finance majors aspire to.

tenuous (a) insignificant

Given the tenuous link between

physical punishment and obedience,
it is baffling how many parents still
resort to hitting their children.

graphic (a) containing vivid pictures or details

The movie is rated R for its graphic

portrayals of battles, profanity and

\
U intermittent nudity.

246 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL\

jarring (a) Ly shocking

The income disparity in the country

is jarring: never have | seen abject
poverty directly next to extravagant
displays of wealth.

ingrain sth in sb Ww to make someone remember something

for a long time

His tenure at a Japanese firm

ingrained in him the virtue of hard
work and an obsessive attention to
detail.

momentary (a) <7 for a short time

Students who are cramming for the

university placement exam must bear
in mind that all of this hardship is just
momentary and will be rewarded
handsomely later on.

CHAPTER 05 — MEDIA | 247

 vockBULARY REVIEW
Exercise 1: Find a more advanced substitute for the words in bold.

1. The quirky chair gives a lot of character to the room.

2. The riot was started by a band of dissidents.

3. Sometimes scientific studies stem from a vague connection between two things.

4. Martin Luther King’s address in 1963 is one of the most inspiring speeches of all
time.

5. For a long time, MTV had a huge influence on how teenagers dress and talk.

Exercise 2: Memorize the following words using the given instructions.

CONScIOUS
(SUPRALIMINAL)

UNCONSCIOUS
(seBLUAINAL)

* subliminally— ook up the meaning of the prefix ‘sub-’, then find other words that
start with ‘sub-’

* dictate — find a popular noun of ‘dictate’, then draw the connection between these
two words

* aspire — look up the etymology of the word ‘aspire’, then look up the etymology of
other words that end with ‘-spire’ that you know (for example: inspire)

* ingrain — look up the etymology of the word ‘ingrain’ and see if Vietnamese has a
similar analogy

* facilitate — find the noun of ‘facilitate’ and try to draw a connection between these
two words, then look up the etymology of ‘facilitate’ to see which word ‘facilitate’ and
its noun form derives from

248 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

Va
 Ol.
ea

Scientists predict in the near future, cars will be |

driven by computers, not people. Why? Do you think
it is a positive or negative development?

* Ychinh1 * Y chinh1
Con ngu@i luén theo dudi sw Tang an toan giao théng
tién loi.
* Giai thich
* Giai thich Da sé tai nan déu do con ngudi
Do vay, 6 t6 ty lai xuat hién la sw gay ra, do vay xe tu lai sé gitp
phat trién ty nhién. loai bé cac yéu té trong viéc lai xe
v6 trach nhiém.

* Y chinh 2 * Ychinh 2
Sw phat trién vuot bac vé Gitip tang cwdng phat trién kinh té
céng nghé

* Giai thich * Giai thich

Mét sé tap doan Ién da co thanh Cat gidm dug chi phi van hanh
céng buéc dau trong viéc tht? so véi viéc dung tai xé
nghiém xe tu Iai.

250 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

self-driving car (n) er xe 6 t6 ty lai
* self-driving vehicle (n): phuong tién
ty lai More companies are trying to
* unmanned automobile (n): (xe) 6 t6 bring self-driving cars to the
khéng ngw9i lai masses than ever before.
* driverless car(n): (xe) 6 t6 khéng Tesla's new autopilot features
ngudi lai offer a basic autonomous
* autonomous car (n): (xe) 6 t6 lai driving feature that can change
tu d6ng lanes, follow other cars and react
* self-driving car industry (n): nganh to trouble.
céng nghiép 6 té lai ty déng
* autopilot feature (n): tinh nang lai tu
d6ng/ tinh nang ty lai
* autonomous driving feature (n): tinh
nang lai tw dong

fast-paced technological innovation (n) Wy déi moi nhanh chong ctia céng nghé
* momentous technological leap (n):
nhing buéc nhay vot vé céng nghé Today's fast-paced
quan trong technological innovations
* technological advancement (n): sw tién impact all aspects of our lives.
b6 ctia céng nghé Technological breakthroughs
* technological breakthough (n): su dét are likely to boost economic
pha vé céng nghé development.

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 251

 Exercise 1: Complete the blank with one word from above.

1. Self-driving vehicles are cars or trucks in which human drivers are never required to

take control to safely operate the vehicle. Also known as €..............00 OF Gi csccssncpacensie

cars, they combine sensors and software to control, navigate,-and drive the vehicle.

2. Recent a................. in car technology are expected to boost the prospect of self-

PrIVING Assccssssccrsnass in the future.

3. Some companies developing and/ or testing a................. feature include Audi,

BMW, Ford, Google, General Motors, Tesla, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

Exercise 2: You will likely have to use a few words with the ‘auto-’ root in
an essay about self-driving cars. It is useful to distinguish some popular
words that share this prefix.

Fill in the blanks below with the correct ‘auto-’ words.

autonomy autonomous automation automated autopilot

1. Recent reports of crashes and casualties have cast doubt on the safety of
iaateek hse vehicles.

2. Putting a Tesla on.................2.... for the first time can be an intimidating

experience, but once you see the vehicle automatically slow down and stop at the
red light, you will feel an immense sense of assurance.

Sirscivemaunwennsercns is supposed to take away human jobs, but curiously employment

has risen steadily over the years.

4. Today, many procedures in factories are carried out by fully ........00...0cccceeeee

eee
systems, and the role of humans has shifted to monitoring and quality control.

5. Certain companies have been given the................... to carry out space research.

252 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 \\

—
It is predicted that unmanned automobiles will soon become a reality. In this essay,
| will demonstrate that the emergence of driverless cars can be ascribed to a host of
factors, and this development would offer substantial benefits.

There are several justifications for the potential of self-driving cars. Firstly, given
mankind's relentless pursuit of convenience, autonomous cars seem like a natural
progression. This desire is emboldened by momentous technological leaps in recent
decades. Initial success of Tesla, Toyota, among other powerhouses, in trialling
autopilot feature, has proved that the prospect of self-driving vehicles being released
and dominating highways would soon no longer science fantasy.

| believe that the benefits that autonomous cars could bring to individuals and
economic development are plain. It is widely acknowledged that the vast majority
of traffic accidents are the result of human error. Therefore, relegating humans to
passenger status, which helps eliminate reckless behaviors such as drunk driving,
road rage, or speeding, could save thousands of lives every year. Increased road
safety aside, self-driving car industry could be a game changer that will boost
economic growth, as it helps cut down operating costs, for example salary, training,
liability insurance, associated with human drivers.

In conclusion, human natural desire and fast-paced technological innovations are

the key driving forces for the advent of driverless cars, and | am convinced that this
type of vehicle, once popularized and optimized, would contribute to road safety and
economic growth.

252 words, written by Phuong Dang

 TRANSLATION

Ngw0i ta dw doan rang nhitng chiéc xe 6 t6 khéng ngudi lai sé som tro thanh hién
thwe. Trong bai luan nay, t6i sé chtyng minh rang sy xuat hién cla nhteng chiéc xe
kh6éng ngwoi lai nay cé thé la két qua cla rat nhiéu yéu té, va sy phat trién nay sé dem
dén nhieng loi ich dang ké.

Co mét sé ly do giai thich cho tiaém nang cla xe 6 t6é ty lai. Dau tién, xét dén muu cau
sw tién loi khéng ngteng ctia con ngudi, nhieng chiéc xe lai ty dong co vé 1a mét tién
bé thuan tw nhién. Mong muén nay dug thtic day boi nhizng bude nhay vot vé cong
nghé quan trong trong nhieng thap ky gan day. Thanh céng ban dau cilia Tesla, Toyota

cling nhitng tap doan Ién khac trong viéc thtr nghiém tinh nang lai tw déng, da chtrng
minh rang trién vong clia cac phuong tién ty lai duoc dua ra thi trong va théng tri cdc
con duéng quéc I6 sé khéng con Ia khoa hoc gia tuéng.

Tdi tin rang nhieng loi ich ma xe 6 t6 lai tw déng cd thé mang lai cho cac ca nhan va

cho sw phat trién kinh té la hién nhién. Phan én cac vy tai nan giao théng Ia do sai
pham cua con ngu9i la sy that dug céng nhan réng rai. Do dd, dat con nguoi vao vj
thé hanh khach gitip loai bé cdc hanh vi khé kiém soat nhu Iai xe khi say xin, cau gian
khi lai xe tren duong hoac vugt téc d6, cd thé ctru s6ng hang ngan mang ngudi mdi
nam. Dat van dé tang cwéng an toan dong bé sang mét bén, nganh cong nghiép 6 t6
ty lai cd thé la mét yéu td lam thay ddi cudc choi, gitip thic day tang trwéng kinh té, vi
n6 giup cat gidm chi phi van hanh lién quan dén tai xé nhu tién lwong, chi phi dao tao,
bao hiém trach nhiém phap ly.

Tém lai, khao khat ty nhién cla con ngudi va sw déi mdi nhanh chong vé céng nghé la
nhtng d6ng luc chinh cho sy ra doi clia nhing chiéc xe khong ngw9i lai va tdi tin rang
loai phuong tién nay, mét khi dugc phé bién va téi wu hdéa, sé déng gdp vao an toan
dwong bé va tang trwéng kinh té.

254 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 14

£ GENERAL J
emergence (n) * the process of starting to exist or
becoming known

The annual competition has encouraged

the emergence of several talented
young musicians.

be ascribed to (n) ¥ be the result of something

The phenomenal success of this

product can be ascribed to brilliant
marketing strategies.

progression (n) * the act of changing to the next stage of

development

There were limited opportunities for

career progression in my job.

embolden (v) ue to make someone brave or willing to take

more risks

Emboldened by her earlier success,

Lynn’s recent work has been even more
imaginative.

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 255

& cenera. VOCABULARY
prospect (n)
° the possibility that something good
might happen in the future

There seems little prospect of the

weather improving.

plain (a) obvious and clear to understand

| made it quite plain that | wasn’t

interested.

relegate (v) to put someone or something into a

* relegate humans to passenger lower or less important rank or position
status: put the driver to the
position of the passenger She was then relegated to the role
of assistant.

reckless behavior (n) behavior that are dangerous and

not worrying about the risks and the
possible results

The police charged the driver with

reckless driving.

sth aside in addition to something

Death aside, there are also

thousands of people having
respiratory problems due to air
pollution.

256 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL YO CABULARY
game changer (n) something such as a product or event
that affects a situation or area of
business very much

The hit show has been a game

changer for the network.

boost economic growth (v) ye to increase economic growth

Tourism has played an important role

in boosting Vietnam’s economic
growth.

driving force behind/for sth . someone or something that has the

power to make things happen

Making money is the driving force

behind most businesses.

popularize (v) to make something become popular

Television has an important role

to play in popularizing new
scientific ideas.

optimize (v) to make something as good as possible

We need to optimize our use of

the existing technology.

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 257

 vockBULARY RREWIEW
Exercise 1: Find a better expression for the underlined parts among the
words listed above. You may have to change the form of the word to
match the sentence.

1. In light of the recent economic upswing experienced by many nations the world over,
more shops and businesses are starting to exist.

2. His poor performance may be because of lack of motivation rather than reading
difficulties.
3. Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, is South Korea’s strategic plan to increase and spread
Korean culture outside of the country primarily through entertainment.
4. The customer loyalty was a reason for the Starbuck’s marked growth and long term
success.

5. Longer prison sentences may deter those who intend to commit illegal acts, while
keeping dangerous criminals away from society.

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have
to change the form of the word to match the sentence.

1. While it is traditionally believed that rewards should only be given to students who
excel in their study, some argue that teachers must not neglect individual who

Meaning: improvement

2. Try to go to sleep and get up at the same time every day, because this helps set your
body’s internal clock and ................00e0068 the quality of your sleep.
Meaning: make something as good as possible

3. While diners have always first eaten with their eyes, Instagram has become a
Nein GND ASTRA RNTI A RSME for restaurants, leading many restaurateurs
to rethink menu items and decor to better serve the photo-happy guests coming
through the door.
Meaning: something that affects the area of business very much

4. Manchester can technically still rank among the top 4 in the Premier League, but I’d
say that’s an unlikely .......................
Meaning: the possibility that something good might happen in the future

258 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 sie

02. Anybody can use a mobile phone to answer the work

‘ and personal calls at any time or 7 days a week. Is

this development more positive or negative?

* Ychinh * Ychinh
Gay nhiéu phién toai Lién lac bat chap can tré dia ly, tir
46 tiét kiém chi phi
* Giai thich * Giai thich/So s4nh
Cc cuéc goi khéng chi dich dé gay Trong qua kht, giri thu tay mat
sao lang khdi céng viéc. nhiéu ngay.
Nhiéu cuéc goi quang cdo anh
huwéng dén riéng tw ca nhan. * Giai thich
Viéc stv dung dién thoai dac biét
quan trong trong trvong hop
khan cap.
* Vidu
Khi c6 ngudi 6m nang

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 259

& roPIc VOCABULARY
proliferation of mobile phones (n) VW sy gia tang chong mat cia dién
* ubiquity of cell phones (n): sy xuat hién thoai di déng
khap noi ctia dién thoai di déng
ZA
* availability of mobile phones (n): sw
hién hanh cua dién thoai di déng
* growing popularity of cell phones (n):
viéc dién thoai di d6ng ngay cang tro
L
nén phé bién

have mobile phone at sb’s disposal (v) Ww cé dién thoai y str dung

unplanned call (n) ve cudc goi khéng chu dich

* unsolicited telemarketing call (n):
cuéc goi quang cao khéng mong
muén

high-tech gadget (n)

260 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

Exercise 1: Mobile phones

What are some words to describe the state of mobile phones becoming popular?

Exercise 2: Rewrite the following sentences according the instructions.

A. A century ago, it was difficult to conceive of ordinary people having a device with
them at all times that allows them to communicate instantaneously.

>: (at their disposal) iscicneseoscsocues suena sesrenc eer aia es cise cease epee uur

. One of my pet peeves with having a cellphone is the unwanted calls from anonymous
salespeople.

ED (UPISOUCHOG): 23 sce si eet i238 Ve SCENE STA ISIE ADISESE NO PETERS E RAL SAL RIT

As smart phones become more popular, it is easier for companies to collect personal
data of the population.

D> (TACHHALB) ss cascinsisisesisne eee REUNITE SL OTRO LETS OATS RESIS SS SLES SEMEL

4, When you are in a remote place and a cell phone is not available, it could be very
annoying.

> (IACONVENIGNCS — VOID) sscassvacnsaas cask CERRITOS

BAERS NSIS AERIS

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 261

 SAMPLE

In light of the proliferation of the mobile phones, it is true that people have the
ability to take phone calls at any given time. While this trend may indeed have some
potential drawbacks, they are eclipsed by the substantial benefits offered to users.

The downside of people having mobile phones at their disposal are definite. The

foremost problem is that the ubiquity of cell phones may cause sheer disturbances to
phone users. In fact, unplanned calls can distract people from the task they intend to
accomplish, which is likely to decrease their work productivity. This is compounded by

unsolicited telemarketing calls, made by salespeople or robocallers for the purpose of

promoting products, since they may deprive many people of their privacy.

On the other hand, notwithstanding the aforementioned drawbacks, | am convinced

that the availability of mobile phones brings about greater benefits. The ready access

to this high-tech gadget has facilitated instantaneous communication among people

regardless of geographic boundaries, resulting in significant savings. This was never
the case in the past, when it used to take days to deliver handwritten letters. The
argument in favour of using the cell phones is reinforced by the fact that it is integral
in cases of emergency. For example, if the condition of an ill person is critical, it is
imperative that his family’s members be able to inform the hospital promptly.

In conclusion, while the growing popularity of cell phones may entail certain
drawbacks, | would opine that the advantages accrued from having this device are far
weightier.

256 words, written by Phuong Dang

262 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 \ TRANSLATION

Nho sv gia tang chong mat cla dién thoai di dng nén duing la con ngudi cé kha nang
nhan cac cuéc goi tai bat ky thoi diém nao. Du xu hwéng nay thuc su cé thé cé mdt sd
nhuge diém tiém tang, nhung nhing nhuo'c diém do van bj lu me bdi cac Igi ich dang
ké ma dién thoai mang lai cho ngwoi dung.

Mat trai clia viéc c6 dién thoai dé tuy y str dung rat r6 rang. Van dé quan trong nhat la
str xuat hién khap noi cla dién thoai di déng cd thé gay sao lang cho nguéi stv dung.
Trén the té, cac cudc goi khéng chi dich co thé khién moi ngudi mat tap trung vao
nhiém vy ma ho dinh hoan thanh, diéu nay cé thé lam gidm nang suat lam viéc ctia ho.
Viéc nay cén tré nén té hon bdi cac cudc goi quang cao khéng mong mun, do nhan
vién ban hang hodc may goi ty déng the hién voi muc dich quang ba san pham, vi
chung cé thé tuéc di su riéng tw ca nhan cla nhiéu ngudi.

Nguoc lai, bat ké nhing nhug'c diém da néu @ trén, tdi tin chdc rang sw hién hanh cia
dién thoai di déng mang lai loi {ch lon hon. Kha nang tiép can sAn cé voi tién ich cng
nghé cao nay da tao diéu kién cho sy lién lac ttec thoi cla con ngudi bat chap ranh
gidi dia ly, giip tiét kiém dang ké. Truc day cha bao gid’ cé viéc nhu vay khi ma giti
thu tay thong phai mt nhiéu ngay. Lap luan ting hé viéc str dung dién thoai di dong
duge cling cé thém bdi thc té né khdng thé thiéu trong cac trvong hop khan cap. Vi
du, néu tinh trang clia mét ngwdi bénh rat nguy kich thi diéu bat budc la cac thanh vién
trong gia dinh anh ta phai cé kha nang bao cho bénh vién kip thoi.

Tom lai, di viéc dién thoai di dang ngay cang tr nén phé bién coé thé kéo theo nhing
bat Ioi nhat dinh, t6i man phép cho rang nhiing Igi thé tich IGy tir viéc cé thidt bi nay cd
strc nang hon nhiéu.
® c e n e r a L V OCABU L A R Y
eclipse (v) {vy _ to become much more important and
noticeable than something

Our happiness was soon eclipsed by the

terrible news.

foremost (a) SY Most important or best

This is one of the country’s foremost

arts centres.

disturbance (n) LW something that interrupts someone or makes

someone feel worried

Residents are tired of the disturbance

caused by the nightclub.

compound (v) Ww to make a problem or difficult situation worse

Severe drought has compounded food

shortages in the region.

deprive sb of sth(v) ve to take something, especially something

* deprive many people of their necessary or pleasant, away from someone
privacy (v): take away someone's
You can't function properly when you're
state of being alone, or the right
deprived of sleep.
to keep their personal matters
and relationships secret

264 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 notwithstanding (prep) wv despite the fact or thing mentioned

Notwithstanding some major

financial problems, the school has
had a successful year.

access (n) the opportunity or ability to use

something

Many of the families do not have

access to health care.

facilitate (v) a to make something possible or easier

* facilitate instantaneous
communication (v): make
communication happen
immediately

geographic boundaries (n) “ the distance limit

For small businesses, the Internet

tends to blur geographic
boundaries.

savings (n) 4 an amount of money that you do not

need to spend

You can make huge savings

(= save a lot of money) by buying food
(ee) in bulk,
Ss &)

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 265

& cenera. VOCABULARY
reinforce (v)
fr
to provide more proof or support to
make an idea/ opinion seem true

He used hand gestures to

reinforce what he was saying.

be integral to (a) necessary and important (as a part of

a whole)

Bars and terrace cafés are

integral to the social life of the city.

prompt (a) done quickly and without delay

His prompt action prevented the

fire from spreading.

to make something necessary, or to

involve something

Repairing the roof will entail

spending a lot of money.

accrue (v) to increase in number or amount over

a period of time

Little benefit will accrue to (= it will

receive little benefit) the city from
the new transport links.

266 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

Exercise 1: Find a better expression for the underlined parts among the
words listed above. You may have to change the form of the word to
match the sentence.

1. The company was quick in its response to these accusations.

2. Profit is the most important yardstick of success for any business.

3. Many users now use the Internet via their mobile phones.

4. Friendly contacts between different peoples enable the cultural and economic
interchange.

5. Some scenes are violent and may worry younger viewers.

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with one of the words above. You may have
to change the form of the word to match the sentence.

1. Fame and fortune .................56 My Tam never forgot her hometown.

Meaning: despite

2. It is likely to be more difficult to change consumer attitudes or behaviour through

advertising than to................... them.
Meaning: make something stronger

3. Some parents .......cccvsscsseescceses themselves of many pleasures so that their children

can have the best of everything.
Meaning: take something away

8 ccwormsananescenasy among the problems is that the United States has no comprehensive
health care system which ensures that all have access to quality medical services.
Meaning: most important

5. Initial planning errors were .................... by carelessness in carrying the plan out.

Meaning: make a situation worse

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 267

 03 Some people believe that robots will play an |
a
a important role in future societies, while others argue
® that robots might have negative effects on society.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Tac dung ctia robot Tac hai cia robot

* Ychinh1 * Ychinh1
Thtic day phat trién kinh té Robot lam nhiéu ngwoi mat viéc.

* Ychinh 2 * Ychinh 2
Giuip cuéc séng tién Igi hon Robot khién con ngwéi thu déng
hon.

* Ychinh3 * Ychinh3
Gia tang strc khée va tudi tho Robot cé thé kiém soat con ngudi.
con ngwoi

268 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

robotics (n) Ly céng nghé robot
* robotics engineering (n): cong nghé ché
tao robot
* robotics technologies (n): c6ng nghé
ché tao robot
automated machines and process (n):
*

may moc va quy trinh tw d6éng hoa

automation (n): ty déng héa
robot cleaner (n): robot don nha
autonomous Car (n): xe tu lai
+

bionic limb (n): tay, chan gia

+

robot-assisted surgery (n): ca phau

+

thuat cd robot hé tro

drive economic productivity (v) YW thu day nang suat kinh té

physical toil (n) +t (strc) lao d6ng chan tay

* labor-intensive task (n): céng viéc doi
hdi strc lao déng

usher in an era of sth Y mang toi mét ky nguyén nao dé

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 269

f topic VOCABULARY
job loss (n) Jy sw mat viéc

jeopardize job security (v) W dedoa céng viéc 6n dinh ctia ai do

sedentary (a) 1 thu déng

doomsday scenario (n) $v _kich ban ngay tan thé

outsmart (v) Sv tro. nén kh6n ngoan hon ai dé/ tro

ES)
nén théng minh hon ai do

Cece

270 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

Excercise 1: Put the following applications of robots into their respective
fields.

* unmanned combat aerial vehicles

* mobile automated guided vehicles in warehouses

* neural prostheses

* — robot teachers

* robot-assisted surgery

* robotic vacuum

* welding robots

* — robotic lawnmower

* reconnaissance drones

* assembly robots

Logistics Manufacturing | Medicine | Education | Home Military

Exercise 2: Match the following benefits of robots to the drawbacks that

could offset them.

Benefits Drawbacks
1. drive economic productivity a. outsmart and enslave humans

2. provide greater comfort and b. jeopardize job security

convenience in daily life
c. make people more sedentary
3. construct objects and systems that
humans physically cannot

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 271

 \ SAMPLE
Ever since their inception, robots have been a polarizing topic. While the proponents
of this technology are adamant that it will prove instrumental to our lives in the future,
others say that robots will have adverse implications for human society. In this
answer, | will look at the reasoning of both camps before explaining why | side with
the former.

As the applications of robotics engineering pervade every aspect of life, it is hard

to imagine mankind moving forward without it. For one, robots are key in driving
economic productivity. Automated machines and processes have dispensed with
inconsistent and exhaustible physical toil and ushered in an era of unprecedented
output, speed and precision in manufacturing — a feat that can only be perpetuated
with the advancement of robotics technologies. Aside from invigorating production
both in terms of quantity and quality, robots will help people take care of tedious daily
tasks and free up their time for more enjoyable activities or more important priorities;
in fact, machines like robot cleaners and autonomous cars are already starting to
make human lives more stress-free. Finally, current medical applications of robots like
bionic limbs or robot-assisted surgeries promise that they could help further human
longevity.

Notwithstanding the aforementioned benefits, some people are still wary of robots,
and justifiably so. The most commonly cited threat that robots pose to humans is job
losses, as evidenced by how innumerable manufacturing jobs have been eliminated
due to automation. In addition to jeopardizing our job security, the convenience of
having machines perform various labor-intensive tasks in our stead also inadvertently
makes us more sedentary. Another popular argument against robots is the doomsday
scenario when machines would eventually outsmart their creators and enslave them.
Given the possibility of robots imperiling our livelihood, impairing our health and
imprisoning our kind, it is no wonder that many people say this technology will wreak
havoc on future societies.

Still, in my opinion, robots are a welcome innovation. Their contributions to human

society are unequivocally enormous, and the concerns outlined above are either
being addressed by various policies and regulations or, in the case of the doomsday
scenario, proven to be far-fetched. All technologies carry a certain degree of risk, but
if we had been averse to new inventions, the strides that humanity has made over the
last century would never have happened.
 t TRANSLATION

Ngay tir ban dau, céng nghé robot da la mét chii dé gay nhiéu tranh cai. Trong khi
nh@ng ngudi ting hé céng nghé nay qua quyét rang n6 sé chteng minh duoc tam quan
trong ddi voi cudc séng clia ching ta trong tong lai thi nh&ng ngwdi khac lai ndi rang
céng nghé robot sé cé tac déng xau dén xa hdi loai ngdi. Trong cau tra loi nay, tdi sé
xem xét ly luan cia ca hai phia truwéc khi giai thich ly do tai sao tdi dteng vé phia nhom
ting hé.

Khi cdc teng dung ctia ki thuat ché tao robot tham nhap vao moi khia canh ctia cuéc
s6ng, that khé dé twéng tuong loai ngudi cé thé tién toi tong lai ma khéng co nd.
Theo tdi, céng nghé robot la chia khéa trong viéc thiic day nang suat kinh té. Cac may
moc va quy trinh tu déng héa da loai trir dugc su khong nhat quan va kiét qué clia lao
d6éng chan tay va m& ra mét ky nguyén clia san Iweng, téc d6 va 6 chinh xAc chua
tleng c6 trong nganh s&n xuat — mét ky tich chi cd thé duoc duy tri nho sy tién b6 clia
céng nghé robot. Bén canh viéc thic day san xuat ca vé sé lvgng va chat lweng, cong
nghé robot sé giip moi ngudi dam nhiém cac céng viéc hang ngay té nhat va gidi
phoéng thdi gian cho cac hoat déng thu vi hon hoac cac uu tién quan trong hon; trén
thc té, nhtng may méc nhu robot quét don va xe ty lai dA bat dAu khién cudc séng
cia con ngwéi tro nén bet cdng thang. Cudi cling, cac teng dung y té hién tai ctia robot
nhw tay chan gia hoac phau thuat cé robot hé tro’ htra hen c6 thé gitip kéo dai tudi tho
ctia con ngudi.

Bat ké nhéng loi ich d4 ndi & trén, mét sé ngwédi van canh gidc voi robot va nh vay
cing lA chinh dang. Méi de doa duge ndi dén nhiéu nhat ma robot gay ra cho con
ngwoi la mat viéc lam, bang cht#ng la vd sé céng viéc trong nganh san xuat da bi xda
bd do tw déng héa. Ngoai viéc de doa céng viéc én dinh ctia ching ta, su tién loi cla
viéc co may moc thc hién nhieng nhiém vu doi hdi strc lao d6ng khac nhau cing v6
tinh khién chung ta tré nén thy déng hon. Mot lap luan phd bién khac phan déi cong
nghé robot la kich ban ngay tan thé khi may moc cudi cling sé tré’ nén théng minh hon
ngudi tao ra ching va bién ho thanh né Ié. Voi kha nang robot lam suy yéu sinh ké clia
chung ta, lam giam strc khde va giam cam gidng loai cla ching ta, khong cé gi la khi
nhiéu ngwdi ndi rang céng nghé nay sé gay ra h6n loan cho xa héi tuorng lai.
Du gi, theo ti, cong nghé robot la mét sy déi moi dang hoan nghénh. Nhivng dong gop
ctia chting cho xa hdi loai ngudi la vd cling to Ion va nhing méi quan ngai néu trén
dang dug giai quyét bang nhiéu chinh sach va quy dinh khac nhau, kich ban vé ngay
tan thé da duoc chteng minh Ia rat xa voi. Tat ca cdc cong nghé déu mang theo mtrc d6
ri ro nhat dinh, nhung néu chung ta chéng lai nhitng phat minh mdi thi nhirng buéc
tién ma nhan loai da dat duc trong thé ky qua sé khéng bao gid xay ra.
® cenera. VOCABULARY
inception (n) ¥ the beginning

Since its inception, Apple has been

pioneering streamlined, intuitive designs
for technological devices — things
whose appearance used to be an
afterthought.

polarizing (a) a causing debate/ argument between two

sides

The meat industry is one of the most

polarizing industries. On the one hand,
the majority of the world consume and
enjoy its products, but on the other, the
environmental destruction that raising
cattle causes is colossal.

proponent (n) supporter (of a belief, idea or system)

Jeff Bezos is one of the foremost

proponents of revolutionizing business
using the power of the Internet.

instrumental (a) ve extremely important

President Ho Chi Minh was

unquestionably instrumental in the
fight to unite the war-torn nation of
Vietnam.

274 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
adverse (a)
W harmful

& Despite mounting evidence for the

Poe
adverse effects of smoking, many
people still indulge in cigarettes.

pervade (v)
to spread/ exist everywhere

In the wake of the bombing attac

k,
fear pervaded the city.

key (a)
$ important

In cooking, preparation is key. A

novice cook can pull off the most
difficult recipes if he knows how
to
keep organized in the kitchen.

to remove something

Since Alice made a resolution to

devote all of her time and resou
rces
to furthering the kingdom of God, she
has largely dispensed with all of
her
previous indulgences.

perpetuate (v) * to continue/ carry on something

The new CEO is tasked with

perpetuating the company’s numbe
r
one position in the market.

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 275

& ceneraL VOCABULARY
invigorate (v) ¥ to boost

The army was battered after the first

clash with the enemy, but the general's
speech managed to invigorate the
troops’ morale.

sth-free (a) ty without something

The area around Hoan Kiem Lake

becomes a traffic-free zone on
weekends.

further (v) ‘ to help something develop

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge really

helped raising the funds needed to
further research into this abominable
disease.

be wary of sth Ww to be worried about something

People are often wary of companies

that operate under the banner of
charitable organizations because there
have been instances when donation
money is embezzled or simply never
reaches the intended recipients.

276 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL J

wreak havoc Ww cause chaos

Rodents wreaked havoc on the

crops and devastated many farming
communities.

unequivocally (adv) Ww undoubtedly

The evidence for climate change is

unequivocal, yet many governments
remain stagnant in addressing this
issue.

strides (n) wy progress/ a step toward a goal

The strides he has made in his study

are awe-inspiring.

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 277

 vocksuLaRy REVIEW
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the words given.

1. The mayor voiced (unequivocally)..............cccecceeeeeeeeneeesnees support for the LGBT

community at the rally, and his popularity skyrocketed in the ensuing days.

2. Newspapers and TV shows like to paint pictures of people rising above (adverse)..
ALAS and making it in life, and while there’s some truth to these stories, a

lot of the details are blown out of proportion with a view to attracting audiences.

3. In light of the (pervade)...........0.....ccsccceeeeeeee

eee influence of pop culture, inordinate

news coverage is given to the who's who of the entertainment world.

4. After days of being bed-ridden, talking a long walk today really feels (invigorate)

5. (Proponent)..........ccccecceceeeeeeeeneee of autonomous cars often point to fatal crashes

caused by the Al of these vehicles malfunctioning or not being able to promptly

handle complicated situations on the road.

Exercise 2: Match the words in column A to those in column B to form

natural collocations.

A B
dispense strides

make havoc

wreak a cause

instrumental with

further in doing something

278 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 ——4
0 4 The range of technology available to people is
a
increasing the gap between the rich and the poor.
oe

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this

statement?

Céng nghé gia tang khoang cach Thoi lugng xem tivi anh hueng
giau-nghéo nhw thé nao? téi hanh vi tré nho.
(Ndi cach khac, cong nghé lam ai giau
hon hoac lam ai nghéo di?)

* Lap luan: sw bung nd ctia céng * Lap luan: sw phd cap ctia cong
nghé lam giau cho mét nhém ngwoi nghé cling mang lai cho nguodi dan
rat nho. rat nhiéu co hdi.

* Vi du: Cac céng ty ti dé vé cong

nghé

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 279

 \Topic VOCABULAR
Y
income disparity YY sw chénh léch vé thu nhap
* income gap (n): khoang cach vé
thu nhap
* the wealth gap (n): khoang cach
giau nghéo
* bridge social inequality (v): thu hep
sy bat binh dang gitra cac tang lop
xa hdi

amass wealth (n) L tich duoc nhiéu ctia cai/ tai san
* social elites (n): nhivng nguodi kha gia
va quyén lye nhat trong xa hdi
* the 1 percent (n): nhém nhing ngudi
giau nhat
* lift people out of poverty (v): giip ngudi
dan thoat khdi ddéi nghéo
* livelihood (n): thu nhap, ngudn séng,
sinh ké

280 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

Exercise 1: Divide the following words and phrases into two categories:
those that could be used to describe ‘increasing the income gap’ and
‘decreasing the income gap’.

gape widen close narrow equalizer

level the exacerbate contract bridge worsen

playing field

Increasing the Gap: ............ ccc. cccccceecccneccececueceueccueceneeeesereeanecsneeneeeennenes

Decreasing the Qape .......... ccc cece cece eee c ence ee ceeeceeeeeeeneeeeeeeeeeeeeaeeeeesneeeeeeenes

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks using the words given.

1. In light of massive changes in people's lifestyles and aspirations, it is increasingly

hard to define ...............ccccecee

eee but in my opinion, a household that owns a
moderate piece of property, has their own vehicle, and can afford to send their
children to college is quite representative of this group.

2. A university degree is widely regarded as one of the key tools to get..............0005 .

3. It is easy to forget, looking at the glamor of the capital city, that much of the country
is living below .................ceeeeees :

4. State policies are often thought to be influenced by .....................:ecceees who own

powerful corporations and have enormous leverage in the government.

5. Automation and robots could potentially eliminate millions of jobs and leave...........

ae aeeNecounaeseaeaane paralyzed.

6. This program aims to help children born into ...............0.ceeceeeeee families succeed

academically and potentially outperform their affluent counterparts.

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 281

 SAMPLE

It is widely acknowledged that many of the radical changes in the human society
over the past century were initiated by technological advancements. However, the
public remains divided on the effects that technology has on our lives, particularly
where income disparity is concerned. Some people argue that the very innovations
that we currently have at our disposal have actually widened the income gap. While

there is some truth to this statement, | believe it is impossible to discount the wealth
and opportunities that technology has given many people.

On the one hand, some people are proposing that technology is to blame for the
gaping wealth gap, and justifiably so. The key argument here is that the growth of
the technology industry has made a small percentage of the population exponentially
richer than the rest. For example, the past decade has seen what once were humble

technology startups morph into massive multi-billion-dollar companies. The owners

of these businesses have amassed great wealth and gone on to become social
elites. This, however, does not happen to most common people.

On the other hand, | believe to say that the benefits of technological innovations are
exclusive to the 1 percent would be an overly grim view. In fact, examples of how
technologies empower and help lift people out of poverty can be seen around the
world. For instance, Facebook has given many people an opportunity to start their

own business at minimal costs, and scores of city dwellers now owe their livelihood

to Grab’s ride-hailing network. These are powerful testaments to how technology has
transformed lives and bridged the social inequality that used to be much worse in the
past.

In conclusion, while technology has indeed created a new generation of extremely

wealthy individuals, | am convinced that it has also given equal opportunities for all to
thrive.

305 words, written by Tung Dang

282 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 TRANSLATION
uy

Nhiéu thay déi can ban trong x4 hdi loai ngwdi trong thé ki qua do tién bd céng nghé
khdi xwong la diéu duc céng nhan réng rai. Tuy nhién, cong chting van co y kién trai
chiéu vé nhing anh huéng ctia cong nghé tdi cudc s6ng clia ching ta, dac biét la khi
xét dén van dé chénh léch thu nhap. Mét s6 ngwOi tranh luan rang chinh nhitng dédi
méi ma ching ta dang san cé da thc sy lam gia tang khoang cach thu nhap. Du tuyén

bé nay cé nhtng diém duing nhung tdi tin rang khéng thé coi nhe tai san va co hdi ma
céng nghé da mang lai cho nhiéu ngwéi.

Mét mat, mét sé ngudi dang dé ra y kién rang céng nghé !a nguyén nhan cho khoang
cach Ién gitra gidu va nghéo, va nhu vay ciing la chinh dang. Lap luan then chét & day
la: Sw phat trién clia nganh céng nghé da khién mét ti 16 nhd dan sé giau hon theo cap
s6 nh&n so véi nhém con lai. Vi du, thap ki vira qua d& chteng kién nhieng céng ty khdi
nghiép trong linh vuc céng nghé khiém nhu@ng tro thanh nhing céng ty tri gia hang
ti dé-la. Ch: s@ htu cla cdc doanh nghiép nay da tich dug khdi tai san khdng 16 va
tiép tuc tro thanh nhém nh&ng ngwdi gidu co va quyén Ic nhat trong xa hdi. Tuy nhién,
diéu nay khéng xay ra voi hau hét nh@ng ngwdi binh thong.

Mat khac, tdi tin tung viée cho rang loi ich cla déi moi céng nghé chi danh riéng
cho nhém nhing nguwdi giau nhat lA mét cach nhin nhan qua tiéu cyc. Trén thyc té,

nhitng vi du vé cach céng nghé trao quyén va gitip con ngudi thoat khdi ddi nghéo cd
thé nhan thay trén khap thé gidi. Chang han, Facebook da mang lai cho nhiéu ngudi
co’ héi dé bat dau kinh doanh riéng voi chi phi ti thiéu va sinh ké cla rat nhiéu ngudi
dan thanh phé gan voi mang Iwi lai xe Grab. Day la nhtng minh cheng manh mé cho

cach céng nghé da thay déi cudc séng va thu hep bat binh dang x4 hdi tlrng tdi té hon
nhiéu trong qua kht.

Tom lai, trong khi cong nghé thy su da tao ra mat thé hé mdi véi nhing ca nhan cuc
ki giau cé, tdi tin chac rang n6 cing mang lai co hdi déng déu cho tat ca moi ngudi
cling phat trién.

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 283

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
radical (a) YY to have an impact

Jihadists’ radical views are not to be

taken as a representation of the Muslim
religion.

initiate (v) Al to begin

After years of economic stagnation, the

new government has decided to initiate
a slew of reforms that hopefully will turn
the economy around.

have sth at your disposal Yv__ to have something available to use

It seems paradoxical that in an age

when you have all the information you
would need to know at your disposal,
people are still feeling lost and confused.

exponentially (adv) * very rapidly

Since its inception in 1994, the

sales of the PlayStation and its later
permutations have grown exponentially.

284 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 GENERAL VOCABULARY
morph into sth (phr.v) ig to transform into something

In this day and age, people are so

easily offended that a casual remark
ona TV show can morph into a
media crisis.

grim (a) depressing

Initial assessment of the company’s

financial health reveals that its
prospect looks grim.

scores of many

Recent years have seen scores of

tourists flocking to the island and
turning what once was a desolate
island into a bustling tourism hotspot.

a testament to sth proof that something is a real

All the prizes and accolades on the

wall are a testament to his skill and
position in the chef community.

thrive (v) to succeed

Many people thrive on pressure and

work most productively when their
deadline nears.

CHAPTER 06 — TECHNOLOGY | 285

 vockBULARY RREWIEW
Exercise 1: Match the words in column A with their antonyms in column B.

A B

radical succumb to sth

exponential infinitesimal

grim halt

initiate conservative

thrive on sth optimistic

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word.

1. The commander has an impressive number of troops at his ..............0cc0cceeeee but

somehow was still bested in combat by a lesser army.

2. The water temperature of the spring allows sturgeons to .................c0ccceeeseee

3. It is easy to be famous overnight today, so fame should not be taken as a.............

seeae cesaeaneeaees to talent.

4. The peace symbol has...................0.0.0008 into a banner under which people who
have vastly different beliefs, values, skin colors and social classes stand united for
the greater good.

5. He was one of the most prolific authors of his time, having penned......................
novels, short stories and news articles, many of which continue to inspire later
generations of writers.

286 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 ANSWER KEY

CHAPTER 1: EDUCATION

Topic 1: Some people believe that everyone has a right to a university education and
that governments should make it free for all students no matter what their financial
background. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Topic Vocabulary Review

a) - higher education b) - waive tuition C) - bachelor’s degree

- college - abolish tuition - college qualification

- tertiary education - tertiary degree

d) bachelor'sdegree _e) - attend f) affordable

holders - pursue

General Vocabulary Review

1. underprivileged 4. inexorably 7. welfare

2. land 5. disservice
3. hike 6. strain

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. undergraduate 3. in earnest 5. apply oneself

2. exemption 4. academic performance

ANSWER KEY| 287

 ANSWER KEY

Exercise 2.

1.C 3.B
2.A 4.B

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. take a toll on 5. subscribe to 9. conducive to

2. fail to 6. indifferent to 10. allot

3. be inclined to 7. determinant

4. drive 8. driving force

Exercise 2.

1.B 2.A 3.C

Topic 2: Some students prefer to take a gap year between high school and university,
to work or to travel. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

a) b) c) d)
- defer university enrollment - Cultivate - formal schooling | - vocational
: : training
- delay tertiary education for | - hone
one year
- enrich
- have a year-long break

Exercise 2.
1. identify 3. career guidance 5. peer pressure

2. vocational training 4. fall behind

288 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 ANSWER KEY

General Vocabulary Review

1. attributed to 4. worthwhile 7. preoccupied

2. unattainable 5. gaining traction

3. empowered 6. drains

Topic 3: Some people say that schools should concentrate on teaching students
academic subjects that will be useful for their future careers. Other people say that
subjects such as music and sports are also necessary.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

education = schooling train (a skill) = cultivate

subject = discipline innate talent = aptitude

quality = attribute

Exercise 2.
1. endowed 3. full potential 5. cultivating

2. aptitude 4. core

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
place emphasis devote attention

attach importance shift focus

give precedence

ANSWER KEY| 289

 ANSWER KEY

Exercise 2.
1. asserts 5. a perennial challenge

2. compelling 6. to this end

3. be financially viable 7. overstate

4. the bulk 8. foremost

Topic 4: Online classes make conventional classrooms unnecessary. To what extent

do you agree/ disagree?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

Offline learning Online learning

in person virtual
face-to-face web-based
brick-and-mortar computerized
physical digitally
at the click of a button
conference call

Exercise 2.
1. virtual/ web-based 4. interpersonal

2. constraints 5. disciplines
3. in the comfort of their home

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
1. indispensable 3. inextricably 5. scarcity

2. accessible 4. emulator

290 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 ANSWER KEY

Exercise 2.

1. There is no denying that Mark Twain left a great impact on American literature/
There is no denying Mark Twain's impact on American literature.

2. Sharing a room is cost-efficient/ a cost-efficient living arrangement.

3. The lackluster sequel incurs the outrage/ anger of the fans.

4. Salah’s early goal in the match effectively cemented Liverpool's 6th Champions
League title.

5. The bassist is the most expendable member in the band.

CHAPTER 2: ENVIRONMENT

Topic 1: Some people think that a huge amount of time and money is spent on
protection of wild animals, and that this money could be better spent on the human
population. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
1. Rare animals: endangered animals/ species, threatened animals/ species

2. Animal protection: wildlife conservation, the conservation of wild animals

3. A situation in which something no longer exists: demise, extinction

Exercise 2.

1.A 2.C 3.C 4.B

ANSWER KEY] 291

 ANSWER KEY

General Vocabulary Review

1. allocate/allot/divert 4. widespread concern 7. on the increase

2. woefully inadequate 5. let alone 8. a host of

3. downplay 6. colossal

Topic Vocabulary Review

1.B 2.C 3.A 4.B 5.C

General Vocabulary Review

1. an unworthy cause 4. misspent 7. well-intentioned

2. testament 5. spell trouble for 8. in the interests of

3. synonymous with 6. pressing issues 9. remedy

Topic 2: Explain some of the ways in which humans are damaging the environment.
What can governments do to address these problems?
What can individual people do?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. Fossil fuels: carbon-intensive energy sources, conventional energy sources,

unsustainable power sources, non-renewable energy

2. Alternative energy: renewables, renewable energy, alternative energy sources,

sustainable energy sources, carbon-free energy

3. Environment pollution: the deterioration of environmental quality, environment

degradation, environment contamination

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 ANSWER KEY
4. Emissions: exhaust emissions, exhaust fumes, carbon footprint, greenhouse gas
emissions

Exercise 2.

1. disposable 4. reusable — single-use

2. biodegradable 5. combustion — renewables — carbon footprint

3. recyclable — sustainable 6. energy security

General Vocabulary Review

1. taken a heavy toll 4. repercussion 7. key

2. nudge 5. render
3. to blame for 6. contributor

Topic 3; Fossil fuel is the main source of energy. In some countries, the use of
alternative sources of energy is encouraged. Is this a positive or negative
development?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

- renewable (a) energy or renewables - exhausted resources

(noun — plural) ; :
- carbon — intensive energy

- carbon-free energy - unsustainable energy sources

- green energy

Exercise 2.

energy crisis enriched

weaponization weapons-grade (nuclear material)

ANSWER KEY| 293

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General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
1. universally 3. compelling

2. testament 4. justifiable

Exercise 2.
These are suggested answers; there may be other words that can be used.

1. a. evoked, prompted 3. adopted, welcomed

b. expressed, voiced 4. because of, as a result of

2. exorbitantly, criminally

Topic 4: Some people say that protecting the environment is the government's
responsibility. Others believe that every individual should be responsible for it.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. ozone depletion / global warming 4. water contamination

2. land degradation/ desertification 5. global warming

3. loss of biodiversity

Exercise 2.

a) the authority b) the public

the state ordinary citizens

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General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

j. a massive undertaking 4. taking steps 7. tackle

2. warrants 5. divided over 8. plays a pivotal

3. indispensable 6. all the manpower at our disposal i

Exercise 2.
1.B 2.A 3.C 4.D 5.A

CHAPTER 3: FAMILY

Topic 1: People in many countries are spending less time with their family. What are
the reasons, and effects of this?

Topic Vocabulary Review

EB 2.C 3.B 4.C 5.A

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1.C 2.A 3.B 4.C 5.D

Exercise 2.
1. worst-case scenario 3. to blame 5. media consumption/

2. proliferation 4, precursor media diet

ANSWER KEY| 295

 Topic 2: Nowadays, more and more people decide to have children later in their life.

What are the reasons? Is this a positive or negative trend?

Topic Vocabulary Review

1.B 4.C 7A

2.D 5.A

3.B 6.B

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. escalating 4. hands-on experience 7. ongoing

2. financially stable 5. endorsement

3. opinion 6. commitment

Exercise 2.
1. bearing 3. rear 5. overshadow

2. beget 4. viable

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 ANSWER KEY

Topic 3: Parents often give children everything they ask for and let them do what
they like.
Is it good for children? What are the consequences when they grow up?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
- babyhood/ infancy

- childhood

- adolescence

- adulthood

Exercise 2.
(1) Desirable traits (2) Undesirable traits

courage independence cowardice shame

integrity creativity deceit rebellion

kindness gratitude defiance disrespect

patience service over-reliance mischief

compassion responsibility aggression entitlement

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
1. repercussions 3. inadvertently

2. detrimental 4. facets

Exercise 2.
1.B 2.C 3.A 4.C

ANSWER KEY| 297

 ANSWER KEY

Topic 4: In recent years, the family structure has changed, as well as family roles.
What are the changes that have occurred? Do you think these changes are
positive or negative?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. single-parent family 4. nuclear family

2. extended family 5. childless family

3. grandparent family 6. step family

Exercise 2.
1. child-rearing 3. breadwinner

2. stay-at-home 4. task delegation

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
drastic >< piecemeal advantageous >< unfavorable

notable >< immaterial welcome >< ill-timed

step back >< assume responsibility

Exercise 2.

1. step back 4. piecemeal

2. advantageous to 5. ill-timed

3. immaterial

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 ANSWERKEY |

CHAPTER 4: HISTORY

Topic 1: It is more important for schoolchildren to learn about local history than
world history. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
1. insights 3. history education

2. patriotism 4. current affairs

Exercise 2.
1.B 2.D 3.C

General Vocabulary Review

1. impartial 3. foster 5. derive

2. instill 4, misleading 6. superficially

7. holistically

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
1. Appreciating 3. understanding

2. differences 4. diversity

Exercise 2.
1.A 2.D 3.¢

ANSWER KEY| 299

 ANSWER KEY

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. harbor 3. incorporated 5. notion

2. outlook 4. put emphasis on

Exercise 2.

1. In light of 3. distort 5. foundations

2. grasp 4. confined

Topic 2: Many museums and historical sites are mainly visited by tourists but not
local people.
Why is this the case?
What can be done to attract more local people to these museums?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
4. historic relic 2. heritage site 3. monument

Exercise 2.

1. exhibit 2. alien 3. locality

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. allocations 3. refurbishment 5. familiarize

2. coverage 4. to blame

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 ANSWER KEY

Exercise 2.

1. wane 3. reversing 5. implication

2. finance 4. stemming from

Topic 3: Some people say that the increasing business and cultural contact
between countries is a positive development, while others think that many
countries will lose their national identities as a result. Discuss both views and
give your own opinion.

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. Globalization 3. Military coalitions

2. economic alliances 4. national identity

Exercise 2.

Cultural appreciation Cultural appropriation Cultural homogenization

1. An American chef 2. Kim Kardashian naming 3. People in Asia watching

reinterpreting her shapewear brand the same Netflix shows
Vietnamese recipes
Kimono as people in America
using Western
ingredients

5. Presidents George 4. Nonreligious Pop stars 6. McDonald's franchises

W. Bush and Vladimir wearing religious becoming ubiquitous in
Putin wearing ao dai to clothing to red carpet Japan, Thailand, and
a Vietnamese festival events Singapore

ANSWER KEY| 304

 ANSWER KEY

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
1. The popularity of English is marginalizing many other languages.
2. What is your take on the current political climate in Europe?
3. Delinquent behaviors could be a precursor to crimes.

4. His donations are a manifestation of his generosity.

5. The detective discounts the theory that this was suicide.

Exercise 2.
1.6 3. A 5. D

2A 4.D

Topic 4: Some people think the government should spend more money on public
services rather than waste money on arts (i.e. music and painting). To what extent
do you agree or disagree?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. plough sth back into sth 4. budget deficit

2. to divert money to sth 5. intellectual property

3. budget surplus

Exercise 2.

Music Film Art Literature

- sale of albums - box office revenue | - sale of artworks | - sale of books
- streaming services | - fan merchandise | - admission to - film adaptations
concerts museums and
; - theme parks .
- fan merchandise galleries

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 ANSWER KEY
®

Eni
General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. dedicate 3. pay

2. amount 4. downplay

Exericse 2.
irrefutable >< debatable trivial >< substantive

prudent >< rash derivative >< original

heated >< calm

Exericse 3.
1. take precedence 3. forego 5. the dawn of

2. ward off 4. justify

CHAPTER 5: MEDIA
Topic 1: Some people say that we do not need printed newspaper any more. To what
extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. publication — papers — news 3. conventional

2. Internet-based — digital

Exercise 2.

1. newsstand 3. e-paper — digital newspaper

2. update

ANSWER KEY| 303

 Exercise 3.

Online Newspapers Traditional Newspapers

up-to-date information credibility of information

multimedia presentation fewer distractions

interaction between the paper and the support brick-and-mortar businesses

readership like newsstands and bookstores
cheap access avoid mining of personal data

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
1. superior 3. gravitate towards 5. mass unemployment.

2. Internet-based 4. on the wane/ waning.

Exercise 2.
1. far-reaching 3. superior

2. infinitely 4. proliferation

Topic 2: Nowadays, there is a trend that reports of media focus on problems and
emergencies rather than positive development. Some people think it is harmful to
individuals and to society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. misleading 2. latest 3. broadcast

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 ANSWER KEY

Exercise 2.
People Magazine — Tabloids

Conde Nast Traveler— Lifestyle Magazines

The New York Times — Broadsheets

Revolution Magazine — Niche Magazines

Exercise 3.
1.D 2.B 3.A 4.D 5.¢

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1.B 3.A 5.C

2.C 4.D

Exercise 2.
1. dysfunctional 3. averse 5. distortion

2. bombarded 4. exposed

Topic 3: Advertising are becoming more and more common in everyday life. Is it a
positive or negative development?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. advertorial spreads 3. promotion

2. promotional campaigns 4. commercial break

ANSWER KEY] 305

 ANSWER KEY

Exercise 2.

1. permeated 3. frequency

2. ubiquitous 4. omnipresent

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
1. His insatiable hunger for power was the reason for his failure.

2. Some people may find the intermittent rain here annoying.

3. The rapid spread of misinformation about the virus outbreak calls into question
the reliability of online information.

4. My friend hijacked my Instagram account and posted a very embarrassing picture

of me.

5. It is imperative that women be given more opportunities to assume managerial

positions.

Exercise 2.

1.D 2.A 3.A 4.A 5.A

Topic 4: Some people believe what children watch on TV influences their behavior.
Some say it’s the amount of time watching television that influences their behavior.

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. parrot 3. movie franchise 5. screen time

2. moral codes 4. preteen

306 | HOW TO CRACK THE IELTS WRITING TEST — VOL 1

 ANSWER KEY

Exercise 2.

1. correlation 3. causation 5. causation

2. correlation 4. correlation

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. impart 3. tenuous 5. exert

2. instigate 4. captivating

CHAPTER 6: TECHNOLOGY

Topic 1: Scientists predict in the near future cars will be driven by computers, not
people. Why? Do you think it is a positive or negative development?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
1. autonomous — driverless 3. autopilot

2. advancements — automobiles

Exercise 2.
4. autonomous 3. automation 5. autonomy
2. autopilot 4. automated

ANSWER KEY| 307

 ANSWER KEY

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. emerge 3. popularize 5. reckless

2. ascribed to 4. driving force

Exercise 2.

1. progress 3. game changer

2. optimize 4. prospect

Topic 2: Anybody can use a mobile phone to answer the work and personal calls at
any time or 7 days a week. Is this development more positive or negative?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
ubiquity popularity
proliferation availability

Exercise 2.
1. A century ago, it was difficult to conceive of ordinary people having a device that
allows them to communicate instantaneously at their disposal.

2. One of my pet peeves with having a cellphone is the unsolicited telemarketing

calls.

3. The growing popularity of smart phones facilitates companies’ collection of

personal data of the population.

4. The unavailability of cell phones when you are in a remote place can greatly
inconvenience you.

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 ANSWER KEY

General vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. prompt 3. access 5. disturb

2. integral 4. facilitate

Exercise 2.

1. notwithstanding 3. deprive 5. compounded

2. reinforce 4. foremost

Topic 3: Some people believe that robots will play an important role in future societies,
while others argue that robots might have negative effects on society.

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

Logistics Manufacturing Medicine Education Home Military

mobile welding robots neural robot robotic unmanned

automated prostheses teachers vacuum combat aerial
tied assembly robots sd
oe robot-assisted robotic Wenner
vehicles in |
surgery lawnmower | reconnaissance
warehouses
drones

Exercise 2.
1.B 2.C 3.A

ANSWER KEY] 309

 ANSWER KEY

General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

1. unequivocal 3. pervasive 5. Opponents

2. adversities 4. invigorating

Exercise 2.
dispense with instrumental in doing something

make strides further a cause

wreak havoc

Topic 4: The range of technology available to people is increasing the gap between
the rich and the poor. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Topic Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.

Increasing the gap: gape/ widen/ exacerbate/ worsen

Decreasing the gap: close/ narrow/ equalizer/ level the playing field/ contract/ bridge

Exercise 2.

1. the middle class 4. the 1 percent

2. upwardly mobile 5. the working classes

3. the poverty line 6. underprivileged

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 V] sssuenccr
General Vocabulary Review

Exercise 1.
radical >< conservative initiate >< halt

exponential >< infinitesimal thrive on sth >< succumb to sth

grim >< optimistic

Exercise 2.
1. disposal 3. testament 5. scores of

2. thrive 4. morphed

ANSWER KEY! 311

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