UNIT 5.

OUR CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS

WORD FORM
Word Related words Transcription Meaning
acrobatics (n) acrobatic (adj) /ˌækrəˈbætɪk/ thuộc về nhào lộn, xiếc
xiếc, các động acrobatically (adv) /ˌækrəˈbætɪkli/ tài tình, điêu luyện
tác nhào lộn acrobat (n) /ˈækrəbæt/ người biểu diễn nhào lộn
accept (v) acceptable (adj) /əkˈseptəbl/ có thể chấp nhận được
chấp nhận acceptably (adv) /əkˈseptəbli/ chấp nhận/ thừa nhận được
acceptance (n) /əkˈseptəns/ sự chấp thuận, sự thừa nhận
acceptability (n) /əkˌseptəˈbɪləti/ tính chất có thể chấp nhận
admire (v) admiration (n) /ˌædməˈreɪʃn/ sự ngưỡng mộ
khâm phục,
ngưỡng mộ admirer (n) /ədˈmaɪərə(r)/ người hâm mộ

contestant (n) contest (n) /ˈkɒntest/ cuộc thi

thí sinh,
người thi đấu contest (v) /kənˈtest/ thi đấu
decorative (adj) decorate (v) /ˈdekəreɪt/ trang trí
có tính trang decoration (n) /ˌdekəˈreɪʃn/ sự trang trí
trí, để trang trí decorator (n) /ˈdekəreɪtər/ người làm nghề trang trí
oblige (v) obligation (n) /ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃn/ nghĩa vụ, bổn phận
bắt buộc obligatory (adj) /əˈblɪɡətɔːri/ bắt buộc
social (adj) society (n) /səˈsaɪəti/ xã hội
thuộc về xã hội sociable (adj) /ˈsəʊʃəbl dễ gần gũi, chan hoà
sociability (n) /ˌsəʊʃəˈbɪləti/ tính dễ gần gũi, dễ hoà đồng
sociably (adv) /ˈsəʊʃəbli/ một cách hoà đồng, thân thiện
PRACTICE
Exercise 1. Complete the sentences with the words or phrases from the box.
Represent possessed relationships ceremony decorative
festival-goers family reunion lantern applause hurricane
1. Her acrobatics were greeted with loud ______________.
2. The ______________ opened with a fanfare of trumpets.
3. It was believed that people could be ______________ by bad spirits.
4. Many coastal towns were damaged by the ______________.
5. A green bamboo pole is used to ______________ the deity.
6. She carried a ______________ to light her way.
7. Thousands of ______________ come here every year.
8. Family bonding is important for building strong ______________.
9. We have a ______________ every New Year's Day.
10. She drew a ______________ border around the picture.
Exercise 2. Look at the photos and put the correct words/ phrases under them.
receiving lucky money going to the pagoda
buying a blossom branch visiting the relatives
making Chung cakes giving gifts to parents

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.
Exercise 3. Fill in each blank with the appropriate form of the word in brackets.
1. I'm so ______________ about my trip. It's going to be amazing. (excite)
2. Ao dai is our ______________ dress. We wear it every Monday at school. (tradition)
3. In Viet Nam, we usually wait for the ______________ person to sit down before we sit down. (old)
4. After ______________ food from the plate, you should put it into your bowl before eating. (take)
5. What is the ______________ between a custom and a tradition? (similar)
6. You should use both hands when giving and ______________ things. (receive)
7. In my family, the ______________ that has been passed down is eating together every Sunday.
(traditional)
8. When being ______________ to a Vietnamese home, you should bring gifts wrapped in brightly
colored paper. (invite)
Exercise 4. Fill in the blanks with the correct form or tense of the verbs in the box.
reflect pass break worship
wrap respect reunite take
1. She ______________ the present in red paper and tied it with a yellow ribbon.
2. All students should ______________ their teachers.
3. The culture of Xoe dancing ______________ Thai people's lifestyle and culture.
4. We decided ______________ with tradition and go away for Tet holidays.
5. In my family, the tradition that has been ______________ down is eating together every Sunday.
6. Almost every Vietnamese household sets an altar ______________ their ancestors.
7. It is considered very impolite not ______________ off your shoes before entering a house in Japan.
8. Lots of people come back ______________ with their families during Tet holiday.
Exercise 5. Fill in the blank with a/an/the or zero article (x).
1. I bought _______ blue sweater yesterday.
2. I 'd like _______ cup of tea.
3. There is _______ apple and _______ banana on the table
4. I bought _______ beef, vegetables and milk. _______ beef is very good.
5. Mai has _______ many books. _______ books are mostly about English grammar.
6. I took _______ suitcase and _______ backpack on holiday. _______ suitcase was much more
useful.
7. Julie read _______ book and _______ magazine. She said _______ books was quite boring though.
8. She offered us _______ piece of cake and _______ biscuits.
9. They drank _______ coffee and _______ tea.
10. James has _______ son and _______ two daughters.
Exercise 6. Fill in the blank with a/ an/ the or zero article (x).
1. Lan often watches _______ films and _______ TV programmes all night.
2. She has _______ black umbrella and I have _______ blue one. _______ blue one is bigger.
3. I bought _______ new dress, but I was annoyed to find that _______ zip was broken.
4. We should take _______ taxi because it’s getting dark.
5. I met _______ very nice American last night.
6. _______ Sun rises in _______ east and sets in _______ west.
7. _______ Moon moves around _______ Earth.
8. We often play soccer in _______ afternoon.
9. _______ guitar is one of the most popular musical instruments.
10. I often go to _______ school at 6.30 a.m.
Exercise 7. Fill in the blank with a/ an/ the or zero article (x).
1. Pop music always appealed more to _______ young then _______ old.
2. I often listen to _______ music in my free time.
3. Donald Trump becomes the 45th _______ president of _______ United States on January 20, 2017.
4. We often take _______ exam each semester.
5. There will be _______ interesting movie this weekend.
6. Hoa is _______ most intelligent student in my class.
7. When I was at _______ school, I had to wear _______ uniform.
8. _______ poor and _______ elderly are often left behind when it comes to _______ modern
technology.
9. Is there _______ bank near here?
10. On _______ Christmas Eve, people often have parties late at _______ midnight.
Exercise 8. Fill in the blank with a/an/the or zero article (x).
1. I am studying in _______ university in Ho Chi Minh City.
2. Miss Lin speaks _______ Chinese.
3. I borrowed _______ pen from your pile of pencils and pens.
4. Eli likes to play _______ football.
5. I bought _______ umbrella to go out in the rain.
6. I lived on _______ Main Street when I first came to town.
7. Albany is the capital of _______ New York State.
8. My husband’s family speaks _______ Polish.
9. _______ apple a day keeps your enemy away.
10. Our neighbors have _______ cat and _______ dog.
Exercise 9. Fill in the blank with a/an/the or zero article (x).
1. Your soup is so good. _______ meat is pretty tender.
2. Are you interested in _______ Science or _______ Music?
3. They got married but _______ marriage wasn’t very successful.
4. Do you know any of _______ people who live across _______ road?
5. After _______ work, the boss usually invites his staff to _______ pub.
6. When mom was ill, _______ lot of her friends came to _______ hospital to visit her.
7. Many people hate _______ violence, but they like to watch it in _______ movies.
8. Have you ever visited _______ Madame Tussauds in London?
9. _______ life would be difficult without _______ useful machines and gadgets we have today.
10. I’m on _______ night duty this week.
11. I know someone who wrote _______ book about _______ American presidents.
12. _______ World War II ended in 1945.
13. _______ fumes of cars and factories are _______ primary reasons for _______ air pollution.
14. He was _______ unsuccessful musician when he came to this town.
15. Don't stay in that hotel. _______ beds there are very uncomfortable.
16. The car sped away at _______ hundred km _______ hour.
17. John doesn't usually go to _______ church on _______ Sundays.
18. He was sent to _______ prison for _______ murder.
19. At _______ beginning of his speech, he spoke about _______ tourism in general.
20. We usually go by _______ train, but today we're taking _______ bus.
Exercise 10. Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.
1. I would live to live by _______ sea
A. the B. a C. an D. x
2. Harry is a sailor. He spends most of his life at _______ sea.
A. a B. an C. the D. x
3. There are billions of stars in _______ space.
A. a B. an C. x D. the
4. He tried to park his car but _______ space wasn't big enough.
A. the B. a C. an D. x
5. We often watch _______ television
A. the B. a C. an D. x
6. Can you turn off _______ television, please?
A. the B. a C. an D. x
7. We had _______ dinner in a restaurant.
A. a B. an C. x D. the
8. We had _______ meal in a restaurant.
A. a B. an C. the D. x
9. Thank you. That was _______ very nice lunch.
A. a B. an C. the D. x
10. Where can _______ people buy everything they need?
A. the B. a C. an D. x
11. Her parents are now working in _______ Europe.
A. the B. a C. an D. x
12. He majors in _______ English.
A. a B. an C. the D. x
13. Mark Twain, _______ American writer, wrote “Life on the Mississippi River”.
A. an B. a C. the D. x
14. Paris is splendid by _______ night.
A. a B. an C. the D. x
15. We might be able to catch _______ last train if we hurried.
A. a B. an C. the D. x
16. _______ used razor blade is useless thing.
A. The – the B. A-a C. An – an D. x – x
17. We live at _______ third house from the church.
A. the B. a C. an D. x
18. My aunt has _______ interesting novel.
A. the B. a C. an D. x
19. It was _______ best film I had ever read.
A. the B. an C. a D. x
20. A video lab is _______ useful means for language learning.
A. the B. an C. a D. x
Exercise 11. Read the passage carefully and choose the correct answers.
 GIFT-GIVING CUSTOMS IN VIET NAM
Gift-giving is important in Viet Nam because of the significance of interpersonal relationships
in Vietnamese culture.
First and foremost, do not encourage corruption. There is a clear cut between gift-giving and
bribery. Nevertheless, it is common in Viet Nam for exchanging small gifts on certain occasions such
as anniversaries, Tet holidays... to express respect, love, appreciation, or gratitude.
Gift-giving customs depend on the context. If it is a private gift for one Vietnamese partner you
should give the gift at a private occasion. If you have a gift for the whole office or company, you
should give it after the business meeting with the whole office employee.
Do not wrap a gift in black paper because this color is unlucky and associated with funerals in
Viet Nam. Gifts that symbolize cutting such as scissors, knives, and other sharp objects should be
avoided because they mean the cutting of the relationship.
Vietnamese may or may not open these gifts when they are received; leave the option to
them. You will also receive gifts and should defer to your host as to whether you should open them
when receiving or not. Regardless of when it is opened or what it is, profuse thanks are always
appropriate.
1. According to the passage, why is gift-giving important in Viet Nam?
A. Because it helps to establish a friendship.
B. Because it's common in Vietnamese culture.
C. Because it's the best way to build up a stable relationship.
D. Because personal relationships play a vital role in Vietnamese culture.
2. Which of the followings should not be a reason for gift-giving?
A. To show appreciation B. To bribe somebody
C. To express gratitude D. To show affection
3. When giving a gift, you should ______________.
A. wrap it in black or white paper
B. give it in the business meeting
C. never give sharp objects, such as knives or scissors
D. avoid giving it on a private occasion
4. When receiving a gift, you should ______________.
A. always say "thank you" B. try to find what is it
C. open it in front of the giver D. ask your host to open it
5. Which of the following is NOT true about gift-giving customs in Viet Nam?
A. Gift-giving is a good way of strengthening relationships.
B. Gifts for your partners should be given at private occasions.
C. You should avoid giving anything sharp.
D. It is considered rude not to open the gift in front of the giver.