Table of Contents 1 Home accommodation 5 2 Study 7 3 Work 9 4 Birthday 11 5 Social Media 12 6 Names 12 7 Geography 14 8 Travelling on public transport 16 9 Housework and Cooking 16 10 Singing 16 11 T.
Table of Contents Home/ accommodation Study Work Birthday 11 Social Media 12 Names 12 Geography 14 Travelling on public transport .16 Housework and Cooking 16 10 Singing 16 11 Technology 17 12 Neighbor 18 13 Snacks 20 14 Hair salon 20 15 Advertisements 21 16 Boring things 22 17 Talents 23 18 Books and Reading habits .23 19 Meeting places 24 20 Collecting things 24 21 Watch 25 22 Computers and Tablet 26 23 Old Buildings 27 24 Sitting down 27 25 Evening time 28 26 Doing sports 29 27 Weekend 31 28 Science 32 29 Noise .33 30 Daily Routine 34 31 Weather 37 32 Handwriting 37 33 Puzzle .39 Describe a difficult decision you made that had a very good result 39 Describe a time when someone asked you for your opinion 43 Describe a place you have visited that you would recommend as a good place to live 46 Describe an occasion when somebody said something positive about some work that you did 49 Describe a time when you received money as a gift (birthday, wedding) 51 Describe a person you know who is from a different cultural background 53 Describe a disagreement you had with someone 56 Describe an outdoor activity you did in a new place recently 59 Describe a programme that you enjoyed very much (e.g on TV or the internet) 62 10 Describe a photo you took that you are proud of 67 11 Describe a movie you watched recently and would like to watch again 70 12 Describe a friend from childhood who you remember very well 74 13 Describe the home of someone you know well and that you often visit 77 14 Describe a time when you saw a lot of plastic waste (e.g in a park, on a beach etc.) 80 15 Describe a time when you needed to search for information 83 16 Describe an object that you think is beautiful 86 17 Describe something you had to share with others 91 18 Describe a story or novel you have read that you found interesting 95 19 Describe a place in the countryside that you visited You should say: 101 20 Describe a person you know who loves to grow plants (e.g vegetables/fruits/flowers etc.) 104 21 Describe a time when you forgot/missed an appointment 111 22 Describe an impressive English lesson you had and enjoyed 115 23 Describe a time when you succeeded in doing something that was difficult 121 24 Describe a person who inspired you to something interesting 125 25 Describe a time you made a decision to wait for something 130 26 Describe a change you made in your daily life that saved you a lot of time 135 27 Describe a situation when you had to spend a long time in traffic jam 141 28 Describe something you that you think is important for keeping fit and healthy 143 29 Describe a family member you might like to work with in the future 148 30 Describe a special day out which didn’t cost very much 151 31 Describe an important event in your life that you celebrated 153 32 Describe a neighbour you are interested in 157 33 Describe an important river/lake in your country 160 34 Describe a quiet place you like to go to 162 35 Describe something that surprised you and made you happy 163 36 Describe a competition (e.g music, cooking, sport) you would like to take part in 165 37 Describe an invention which changed the world in a good way 171 38 Describe a time when you helped a child 174 39 Describe an occasion when you lost something in a public place 174 40 Describe a traditional product made in your country which you like 177 41 Describe something you that can help you to concentrate in work or study 178 42 Describe a time when you used your mobile phone for something important 182 43 Describe a time when you were very busy 185 44 Describe a popular/well-known person in your country 187 45 Describe a friend you enjoy talking with 190 46 Describe a person who likes to dress fashionably 198 47 Describe an important thing you learned (not at school or college) 203 48 Describe a problem you had while shopping online or in a store 207 49 Describe a popular place for sports (e.g a stadium or something) 211 50 Describe a positive change that you made in your life 216 PART 1 Home/ accommodation What kind of housing/accommodation you live in? I live in a terraced house that has a living room, a kitchen, three bed rooms, two bathrooms and a lovely back garden It’s not really a spacious house, but it’s just right for me and my family Who you live with? I live with my parents and my siblings We always get on well with each other and have a lot of fun How long have you lived there? I’ve lived there since I was a child, until I graduated from high school and moved to the city to enroll at university, where I lived in a student dormitory during the semester (If you answer you haven't lived there long) What’s the difference between where you are living now and where you have lived in the past? Living in a dorm with other roommates is totally different from living in my own house My current residential area is quite small and it’s very noisy because there are a lot of people there and I don’t have my own space Conversely, when I was living at home, I had my own spacious room and it made me feel comfortable Do you plan to live there for a long time? To be honest, I intend to buy an apartment in an urban area after I graduate from university I can decorate and design my ideal home with whatever facilities I want Which room does your family spend most of the time in? It’s definitely the kitchen Not only lunch or dinner time but all our family reunions take place in the kitchen where all the family members get together to eat tasty meals, and chat to each other – it’s a really harmonious atmosphere Are the transport facilities to your home very good? To be honest, most of the transport facilities to my place are not very modern The bus service from my work place to home is irregular and usually overcrowded Do you prefer living in a house or a flat? I prefer living in a house to a flat because I value my privacy and need my own space Owning an independent house, I can plan and design a house layout to suit myself Moreover, I can modify a house according to the size of the family Please describe the room you live in My current room is actually more like a bedsit It is a multi – purpose room, I use it to sleep and study as well It is painted in pink, that’s my favorite color with a bed, a cupboard and desk It’s not really spacious but it’s just right for me What part of your home you like the most ? I prefer my bedroom most due to its convenience and privacy Because of my stressful work I want to be in a quiet place and concentrate on my work In my own room, I’m never disturbed by anyone else Moreover, in my own space I can whatever I want without bothering others VOCABULARY Terraced house (noun): (ngôi nhà dãy nhà kiểu) a house connected on both sides by other properties Ex: In England, most people seem to live in terraced houses with lovely back gardens Back garden (noun phrase): (vườn phía sau nhà) a garden at the rear of the house Ex: I live in a terraced house that has a living room, a kitchen, three bed rooms, two bathrooms and a lovely back garden Spacious (adjective): (rộng rãi) (of a room or building) large and with plenty of space for people to move around in Ex: The hotel rooms are spacious and comfortable Sibling(s) (noun): (anh/ chị em) a brother or sister Ex: The younger children were badly treated by older siblings Get on well with sb (phrasal verb): (hịa hợp với đó) to have a friendly relationship with somebody Ex: She and her sister have never really got on well with each other Dormitory (noun): (kí túc xá) a room for several people to sleep in, especially in a school or other institution Ex: I’ve lived there since I was a child, until I graduated high school and moved to the city to enroll in university where I lived in a dormitory Residential area (noun): (nơi ở) (of an area of a town) suitable for living in; consisting of houses rather than factories or offices Ex: It was not safe to locate the chemicals factory in a residential area Urban area (noun): (vùng thành thị) connected with a town or city Ex:Pollution has reached disturbingly high levels in some urban areas Reunion (noun): (tụ họp, xum họp) a social occasion or party attended by a group of people who have not seen each other for a long time Ex: The College has an annual reunion for former students Harmonious (adjective): (ấm cúng, yên bình) friendly, peaceful and without any disagreement Ex: It is important to have harmonious relations between the country's ethnic groups Irregular (adjective): not happening at the arranged time intervals Ex: His irregular attendance at school resulted in his failure in the final exams Overcrowded (adjective): with too many people or things in it Ex: The train was so overcrowded this evening that I was unable to find an empty seat Privacy (noun): being alone and not disturbed by other people Ex: I read the letter in the privacy of my own room Suit oneself (verb): to exactly what you like/want Ex: Everyone had a different opinion about what colour to paint my room, so in the end I decided to just suit myself Modify (verb): (sửa đổi, thay đổi) to change something slightly, especially in order to make it more suitable for a particular purpose Ex: We found it cheaper to modify the existing equipment rather than buy new Bedsit (noun): (phòng vừa để ngủ vừa để học, tiếp khách) a room that a person rents and uses for both living and sleeping in Ex: He lives in a tiny student bedsit used for both sleeping and studying Multi-purpose (adjective): (đa chức năng) having many different uses Ex: This room is multi-purpose – we use it for meetings, interviews and taking breaks Study Describe your education I started primary school when I was years later, I went to secondary school at 12 Then at 16, I made it to a high school for gifted students in my hometown In my country, highschool education lasts years, then I went onto higher education at the Foreign Trade University where I’m currently studying economics What is your area of specialization? Well, my major is External Economics I have mastered the basics of economics and socio-economics, combined with business knowledge mainly related to the import and export business Why did you choose to study that major? I think it would help to fulfill my dream of introducing my country’s agricultural products to the world Vietnamese goods have a real potential, but they still struggle to make a name for themselves, you know Do you like your major? (Why?/Why not?) Yes, of course Studying economics, especially external economics is interesting and practical It helps me to keep up with current affairs and it improves my analytical and problem-solving skills as well What kind of school did you go to as a child? As a child, I attended a public elementary school It’s quite a big school in my hometown which provides both high quality education and a supportive environment, so I think I was quite lucky What was your favourite subject as a child? Well, I used to be very passionate about drawing when I was a little girl It was fun to work with brushes and colors, you know, as it was the time when I could indulge in my own creative world Do you think your country has an effective education system? To be honest, I don’t think so Our system has somehow become unduly stressful, does not promote creativity and the ability to be critical due to the fact that our society still cares way too much about grades and schools consequently focuses on an exam-driven curriculum, which I find quite impractical (Possibly) Are you looking forward to working? Absolutely! It’s great to join the workforce, especially when I can the job I love Not only will it pay the bills, but it’ll also give me the joy of making a contribution It’s hard to be happy and fulfilled without working, you know VOCABULARY Higher education (chương trình đại học) [n] post-18 learning that take places at universities Example: According to a research, nearly 50 percent of Vietnamese students in U.S higher education are studying either business or engineering, with business-related majors making up 38 percent of all enrollments in 2012/13 Master (tinh thông, nắm vững) [v] learn how to sowmthing well Example: She lived in Italy for several years but never quite mastered the language Make a name for oneself ( trở nên tiếng) [idiom] become famous and respected by a lot of people Example: By the time he was thirty-five, he had made a name for himself as a successful railway contractor Keep up with (cập nhật thơng tin gì) [idiom] be aware of Example: Even though he's been travelling, he's kept up with what's going on back home Analytical (thuộc phân tích) [adj] using analysis or logical reasoning Example: Analytical skills are essential in the workplace to ensure necessary problem solving occurs to keep productivity and other areas of the workforce functioning smoothly Elementary school (trường tiểu học) [n] primary school, school for children between 7-11 years old (in Vietnam) Example: It’s essential that children at the official entry age for elementary school attend classes fully Unduly (quá mức, khơng đáng ) [adj] excessively/ to a level that more than is necessary, acceptable, or reasonable Example: For every new parents, the decision about whether to vaccinate his or herchild has been u nduly stressful Exam-driven curriculum (chương trình học để phục vụ cho kỳ thi) [expression] the courses taught a school, college, which focus on teaching what will be on the exam Example: Many parents believe that exam-driven curriculum can change their kid’s attitude towards school in profoundly negative ways Pay the bills (trang trải sống) [ idioms] provide enough income to sustain one’s lifestyle Example: Being a dentist isn’t so glamorous, but it pays the bills Work What you do? I’m currently working as a graphic designer for a fashion magazine for youngsters What are your responsibilities? Well I’m mainly responsible for designing the cover of the magazine I normally work with the concept team to make sure that the final product will both attract the potential buyer’s attention and express the theme of the magazine Why did you choose to that type of work (or, that job)? I guess it’s because of my artistic passion The process of creating beautiful things is somehow intriguing to me, so I chose to be a graphic designer, which combines both art and technology It’s quite interesting, you know Is there some other kind of work you would rather do? Well, if possible, I’d like to be a freelance writer Actually I’m a big fan of action movies, and I also care about healthy living, so, I’d love to write about these topics and share my stories with people of the same interest Describe the company or organization you work for My company is not huge, it’s just a small art designoffice, but is definitely an inspirational workplace with a young, creative, and extremely passionate team We work on the basis of mutual understanding and respect for each other, so it’s kind of an ideal environment for me Do you enjoy your work? Most of the time It’s rewarding to co-work on projects with amazing people in an open and supportive environment to bring out an art production that will ultimately give me a sense of satisfaction and pride What you like about your job? Well, the perk of being a graphic designer is that you’ll surround yourself with inspiring images everyday My daily working life involves seeking out inspiration in all sorts of places, researching incredible illustrations and graphics, and creating them too It’s great, I think What you dislike about your job What I don’t like about this job is that our personal taste in design varies, and normally I’ll have to a thousand edits to get the final product that meets the demand of my boss while still * relating / staying faithful to /remaining trueto the initial concept * conform means ‘to behave according to the usual standards of behaviour that are expected by a group or society’ – this does not relate to things like ‘concepts’ (Possibly)Do you miss being a student? Sometimes, when I’m burdened with heavy workloads or the pressure of everyday life, I recall the memories of being a student We were all carefree and innocent back then It’s a precious time that I cherish VOCABULARY theme (đề tài,chủ đề) [n] the main subject of a talk, book, film, etc Example: The father-daughter relationship is a recurring theme in her novels Intriguing ( hấp dẫn, gợi thích thú) [adj] very interesting because of being unusual or mysterious Example: The Huns are intriguing not only because of their notoriously hawkish history, but also because of their place as middlemen between Mongol and Turkic ethnicity On the basis of (trên sở) [idiom] base on Example: Discrimination on the basis of race, gender, age or disability is not allowed Rewarding (bổ ích, đáng làm) [adj] giving pleasure, satisfation Example: The most rewarding aspect of living forever is you have unlimited time to perfect your abilities and accumulate wealth Ultimately (cuối thì, rút cục) [adv] at the end of a process, period of time, etc Example: Everything will ultimately depend on what is said at the meeting with the directors next week Perk ( đặc quyền, thù lao thêm) [n] an advantage or something extra that you are given because of your job Her latest novel is a real page-turner.(cuốn tiểu thuyết ông ta sách gây nghiện) Flick through (phrasal verb): xem lướt qua sách They don't mind as you sit down and have a flick through that book.(Họ không phiền bạn ngồi xuống lướt nhanh qua sách đâu.) awkwardly (adv): luống cuống, bối rối I looked away awkwardly.(Tơi vụng nhìn sang chỗ khác.) Be a bundle of nerves (idiom): vô lo lắng, bối rối I was a bundle of nerves at the interview.(Tôi bối rối vấn.) Settle the bill (collo): toán hoá đơn Please settle your bill before leaving the hotel.(Xin tốn hóa đơn trước rời khách sạn.) Part What kind of service you think is good? Honestly, I’m really impressed by the service in some airports rather than the service received in stores, restaurants or train stations Because you get what you pay for, so the professional and whole-hearted support at the airport really satisfies me Even some small etiquette such as the greeting when you get on the plane makes me feel that I’m respected Meanwhile, the service received when commuting by bus or train has left a bad impression on me since the staff there seem to be unhelpful and hot-tempered sometimes Whole-hearted (adj): tận tình, tận tâm, hết lịng We express our sincere gratitude to the brother countries for their whole - hearted help (Chân thành cảm tạ nước anh em hết lòng giúp đỡ chúng ta.) Etiquette (n): nghi thức cư xử bản, phép tắc xã giao I'm reading about business etiquette tips.(Tôi đọc mẹo nghi thức kinh doanh.) Leave a bad impression on (collo): để ấn tượng xấu với If you don't show up on time for the interview you will leave bad impression for your interviewer(Nếu bạn không xuất cho buổi vấn xin việc, bạn để lại ấn tượng cho người vấn bạn) Hot-tempered (adj): nóng nảy, cáu gắt They were fairly hot-tempered.(Họ nóng tính.) What are the differences between shopping online and in stores? The way I see it, shopping online can be more convenient because shoppers can buy any item in the blink of an eye with just one click of the mouse, whereas purchasing goods at stores is more time-consuming but it can enable buyers to physically examine the product and discuss it with a knowledgeable sales associate In addition, although some ecommerce sites allow people to read the reviews of other consumers before buying a product, online shopping sometimes brings about many troubles such as scams or fake reviews In a blink of an eye (idiom): nháy mắt I will come back in the blink of an eye.(Tôi quay trở lại nháy mắt thôi.) Knowledgeable (adj): am hiểu, hiểu biết She's extremely knowledgeable about art.(Chị am hiểu nghệ thuật.) What problems customers often have while shopping? From my point of view, purchasers now most commonly face issues relating to product quality Because there are more and more fraudulent sellers who aim to run after profits by selling low-quality or faux products but using the name of household brands As a result, these products are not durable and only functional for a few months before being entirely out of order, leading to a huge amount of trash and a waste of money Sad to say, not only online shopping customers but also buyers in stores have to deal with these sub-par commodities and dirty tricks of sellers and I think the government should impose stiff penalties in order to curb this negative trend Fraudulent (adj): không trung thực, lừa dối Example: He was accused of fraudulent election practices (Hắn bị buộc tội thói bầu cử gian lận.) Faux products (n): hàng nhái Example: This is the faux fur (Đây áo lông thú nhái.) Durable (adj): bền Example: Our goods are durable (Hàng hố chúng tơi bền) Out of order (idiom): hỏng hóc, ngưng hoạt động Example: I’m afraid we have to walk up the stairs – the elevator is out of order (Tôi e ta phải leo thang - thang máy hỏng) Sub-par (adj): chất lượng kém, không mong đợi Example: The economy posted sub-par annual growth of less than 2% (Nền kinh tế công bố tăng trưởng hàng năm với 2%) Commodity (n): hàng hố Example: The country's most valuable commodities include tin and diamonds (Hàng hoá đáng giá quốc gia bao gồm thiếc kim cương) Dirty tricks (collo): mánh khoé bẩn Example: He has dirty tricks campaign (Anh ta có chiến dịch bôi nhọ đối thủ.) Impose stiff penalty (collo): áp dụng hình phạt cứng rắn Example: This doesn't mean that voters don't have the right to impose a penalty on cheaters (Điều khơng có nghĩa cử tri khơng có quyền trừng phạt người gian lận) What you think customers should when there are problems with the products they bought online? I believe that the first thing customers should is keep their temper in check because in fact there are some hot-tempered buyers who rate star for the shop without hesitation due to an issue that occurred on delivery However, it is advisable that customers should check their product carefully after receiving it from the deliverer, if possible Therefore, they could realize and take prompt action if the products are different to the description online Moreover, most brands and e-commerce sites nowadays have return and warranty policies, so if there are any problems with the products, the purchaser should call or email the brand’s customer service department to adopt these policies 49 Describe a popular place for sports (e.g a stadium or something) You should say: Where it is When you go there What you there And explain how you feel about this place To tell the truth, I’m not much of a sporty person so I don’t visit stadiums or sports complexes frequently Having said that, I have recently paid a visit to a new football stadium in my neighbourhood and its scale and design has left a vivid impression on me (When you go there) Because my school held a football tournament there, I had a chance to drop by and cheer for my class's team When I first set foot there, I was overwhelmed by its large-scale and state-of-the-art design Unlike other football fields in my hometown which are quite small and simple, this one is bigger and more modern with a seating capacity of 1000 people After passing the entrance gate, I had the chance to visit the dressing room of the footballers before every match The room is well equipped with cutting-edge facilities and there’re lots of benches painted in red Then I came to the football ground where the match took place, it’s a natural grassland with the grass being carefully taken care of before and after every match The bleachers are very spacious with hundreds of rows of seats and all of them are covered by the roof of the stadium, which provides spectators with the best experience while watching the game (What you there) After finding a good seat, I sat down and enjoyed the match with my classmates We rooted for our class’s team and mixed in the excitement when our class won the game (And explain how you feel about this place) It was such a wonderful experience for me Though I’m not really into sports the convenience and comfort brought about by this new stadium really satisfied me Vocabulary: A vivid impression (n): ấn tượng sâu đậm Example: She left a vivid impression on me.(Cô để lại ấn tượng sâu sắc.) Cutting-edge (adj): đại Example: I like that kind of cutting - edge design (Tơi thích cách thiết kế đại đó.) Seating capacity (n): sức chứa Example: What's the seating capacity of this gym? (Sức chứa nhà thi đấu bao nhiêu?) Bleachers (n): khán đài Example: In front of the bleachers was a podium; off to the side, a short row of folding chairs (Phía trước khán đài bục, sang bên hàng ngắn ghế xếp được) Natural grassland (n): bãi cỏ tự nhiên Example: It is an indoor range with natural grassland (Đó bãi sân cỏ tự nhiên nhà.) Dressing room (n): phòng thay đồ Example: I'll show you to the dressing room.(Tôi cho bạn phòng thay quần áo.) Root for someone (phrasal verb): cổ vũ ai, ủng hộ Example: I have been rooting for our hometown team since I was a child (Tôi cổ vũ cho đội tuyển quê nhà từ nhỏ) Spectator (n): khán giả (mua vé xem trực tiếp sân vận động) Example: An average spectator spends $10 for a ticket every week (Một khán giả trung bình tốn 10 la tiền vé tuần.) Be into something (idiom): thích Example: I'm into gardening (Tơi say mê làm vườn.) Part Do young people like to sports? The way I see it, the majority of the young generation these days are more inclined to have a sedentary lifestyle that is devoid of exercise It is due to the explosion and development of advanced technology that tempts youngsters to be glued to the screen and which reduce the amount of time spent on sports As a result, teenagers nowadays tend to be more passive and vulnerable to some diseases as compared to their parents or grandparents, who realize and appreciate the importance of a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise Be inclined to: có khuynh hướng Example: The boy began to be inclined to be lazy (Thằng bé có khuynh hướng chây lười hơn) A sedentary lifestyle (collo): sống đời tĩnh tại, có phần thụ động Example: He leads a sedentary life (Ông ta sống đời tĩnh tại.) Tempt (v): dụ dỗ, xúi giục Example: Don't tempt me! (Đừng dụ dỗ tôI!) Be glued to something (collo): khơng thể ngừng xem Example: We were glued to the television watching the election results come in (Chúng dán mắt vào TV xem kết bầu cử) Be vulnerable to (adj): dễ bị, dễ mắc phải, nhạy cảm với … Example: The young birds are very vulnerable to predators (Những chim non dễ bị thú ăn thịt) What are the benefits of sports for children? Sports are beneficial to a child’s development in many ways First, it’s good for children’s physical health because kids who take up a sport such as swimming or playing basketball have their resistance built up to some diseases and avoid obesity or game addiction Secondly, teens who practise sports may establish some soft skills such as teamwork skills, leadership and patience You know, some team sports like football or basketball might teach teens how to collaborate, listen and understand their teammates better Moreover, children can become more patient and resilient because the process of sports training and practising is often arduous and lasts for a long time Resistance (n): sức đề kháng Example: Illness made me have no resistance left (Bệnh làm tơi khơng cịn sức đề kháng nữa.) Collaborate (v): hợp tác, cộng tác Example; They want to collaborate with others (Họ muốn cộng tác với người khác.) Resilient (adj): bền bỉ, kiên cường Example: You are really resilient (Bạn thật kiên cường!) Arduous (adj): khổ cực, nặng nhọc Example: an arduous task (1 cơng việc khó khăn, cực khổ) Is it necessary to build public sports spaces? Yes, I think more money should be allocated for erecting public sports centres to promote sporting spirit and patriotism among citizens First of all, the emergence of sports complexes could act as an incentive to encourage the population to get rid of using smartphones and have a more active and healthy lifestyle, since the number of overweight and short-sighted children keeps increasing Secondly, building more stadiums could help arouse patriotism and solidarity within a country because sports like football can bring people closer together Take Vietnam as a telling example, the image of thousands of Vietnamese storming the streets to support their national team has left a strong impression on international friends Act as an incentive to: đóng vai trị khuyến khích, thúc đẩy Example: Often a discount is offered as an incentive to get a customer to pay promptly (Thông thường chiết khấu giống khuyến khích khiến khách hàng toán ngay.) Get rid of (idiom): loại bỏ, ngưng làm Example: Get rid of everything! (Quẳng hết thứ đi!) Patriotism (n): lòng yêu nước Example: Vietnamese people are well - known about patriotism.(Dân tộc Việt Nam nhiều người biết đến lòng yêu nước.) Solidarity (n): tinh thần đoàn kết Example: They are promoting international solidarity (Họ thúc đẩy tình đoàn kết quốc tế.) Storm the street (idiom): bão Example: Fans across Vietnam storm streets to celebrate victory over Qatar in U23 Asian Cup (Người hâm mộ khắp Việt Nam bão ăn mừng chiến thắng trước Qatar giải U23 Châu Á) What you think of companies donating sports venues for poor children? I think it’s such a good deed You know, the sporting spirit is ubiquitous, even in some developed countries or mountainous and remote areas When some corporations invest money into constructing football fields or swimming pools for children living on the poverty line, this could support these kids’ sports dreams and scout out some hidden talents for the nation Besides, charitable donations would help raise the brand’s awareness and image, leaving a good impression on customers, hence creating a boost to the sales of those corporations Ubiquitous (adj): đâu có, có mặt khắp nơi Example: Nowadays, Internet has become ubiquitous.(Ngày Internet trở nên phổ biến.) Live on the poverty line (collo): nghèo Example: She lives on the poverty line.(Cô sống mức nghèo khổ.) Scout (out) (verb): tìm Example: He's scouting about/around for somewhere better to live (Anh ta tìm nơi tốt để sống) Charitable (adj): nhân đức; từ thiện Example: The entire organization is funded by charitable donations (Toàn tổ chức thu quỹ từ nguồn quyên góp từ thiện) Raise brand awareness (collo): tăng hình ảnh doanh nghiệp Example: Many stunts are neither memorable nor big enough to raise brand awareness and boost sales (Một số trị quảng cáo vừa khơng đủ ấn tượng vừa khơng đủ lớn để tăng hình ảnh doanh nghiệp tăng doanh số) 50 Describe a positive change that you made in your life You should say: What it is Why you did it Who you did it with What it is To get the ball rolling, today I’m going to share a positive change that I have made in my life So, as a college student, I used to have the habit of pulling off an all-nighter quite often And even when I didn’t have anything on my to-do list, I would rather stay up and binge watch all the TV shows that I missed out on when I had to chase after deadlines (Why you did it) At first, it was perfectly fine for me during my first and second years but when the courses that I took become more demanding, meaning that I had to burn the candles on both ends more frequently, everything started to take a toll on my health I would pass out during class so frequently that my grades slumped, and I almost bombed a few tests So, one day I decided to change my sleeping schedule and try to be a morning person instead Who you did it with This was of course a no-easy feat Changing my sleep schedule would mean that I would have to make up everything that I usually at night in the morning instead Luckily, I had my little brother with me Unlike me, he’s clearly an early riser, so I force myself that whenever I see my little brother catching some Z’s, I it too And explain how you feel about the change It was awkward when I first started making the change, because I would frequently find myself staring into space for hours, not being able to fall to sleep But after a while, my body would adjust to the new sleeping schedule, and I got the feeling for getting up early No doubt, I immediately saw my alertness improved and also found out that I actually could get more things done in the morning Consequently, I got back on my feet with my studies all-nighter Thức (trắng) đêm, để học để làm trọn vẹn/hoàn thành việc He would an all-nighter, the way he used to in school binge Hoạt động tiêu thụ đà kiểm soát, đặc biệt vấn đề ăn uống, xem phim, chi tiêu I've binged seasons one through seven in the past week burn the candles on both ends Làm việc q sức His doctor said that his illness was brought on by stress and recommended that he stop burning the candle at both ends take a toll Gây mát, thiệt hại If you keep working so hard, the stress will eventually take its toll pass out ngất xỉu, bất tỉnh I passed out from the flu Bombed Thể khơng tốt việc đó, thất bại / trượt vvie65c No one likes failing and finding out that you have bombed a test can be one of the worst feelings imaginable catching some Z’s ngủ Take a nap, go to sleep, as in I stayed up all night studying so I'd better catch some z's get the feeling for Cảm thấy thoải mái, cảm thấy dễ chịu để làm He has no feeling for poetry whatsoever got back on my feet Trở lại sống bình thường sau trải qua khó khăn hay thay đổi tiêu cực We'll soon have you back on your feet again Part Is it easier for young people to change? For sure, I think that young people would find it easier to adapt to new changes I think this comes from the fact that young people love to get experimental with new things, and this attitude really fosters new behaviours and thinking among young people But sometimes, it is because they don’t know all the ins and outs yet So, most of the time, they have to take a stab at almost everything that they In all likelihood, they will fail, but this is something that will be put under their belts that will shape their behaviours and habits profoundly Is it easy for old people to change? Older people, in my opinion, will find it more difficult to kick their habits in favour of new ones Most likely, this is because older people tend to have to be responsible for many more people in their lives, such as their families With so much at stake, doing things in a bit more of an adventurous fashion and in knowing that matters can go out of hand is definitely a risk older people not dare to take That being said, this does not mean that all old people would frown upon new changes in their lives Some adapt to new trends and new habits more quickly than young people would ever At the end of the day, in my opinion, it is whether they have the guts to make change or not How can people change their daily routine if they want to? Every person is different, so each has a different method to effectively change their daily routine if they want to But in general, no matter which method people choose, it all boils down to one point That is, it is always crucial to see the changing process as one that is incremental and to break it down into smaller, more manageable bits This will make any task, which at first glance may seem monumental, sounds less daunting Additionally, seeing change as a process that contains a series of steps also brings about more psychological impacts that get the new routine hooked Because the task is now in bitesize, completing it would be a piece of cake and people would definitely feel rewarded and motivated to more to make the change in their daily routine What are the disadvantages when people keep making changes? While some changes are good, keeping blowing hot and cold will backfire on the intended goods and be extremely disruptive Such disruption is even more harmful when new changes are made when whatever intended in the last round of change is half done In my opinion, people who cannot make up their minds will definitely be someone who will bring home the bacon This is because before they can master a skillset, for example, they have already changed their minds and decided to something else instead In the long run, they have neither the expertise nor the stamina to stay job relevant In certain cases, keeping making changes will accrue financial loss, if not risking going in the red Constant changes made by business leaders, for example, disoriented business directions, consequently demotivate employees who may feel loss in their work This, as a whole, gives out negative signals to potential investors, hampering the development of the whole organisation fosters Nuôi dưỡng, nuôi nấng Bồi dưỡng Ấp ủ, nuôi The teacher's task is to foster learning ins and outs Tất chi tiết to, nhỏ chương trình, vấn đề Tolya is someone who knows the ins and outs of the music industry take a stab Cố gắng, thử sức (làm) She took a stab at solving the problem put under their belts có kinh nghiệm, (trải qua) Once you get a few more major league games under your belt, you'll feel more comfortable kick the habits từ bỏ thói quen, tập tục She used to be a heavy smoker, but she kicked the habit last year at stake Đang lâm nguy, bị đe doạ Thousands of lives will be at stake if emergency aid does not arrive in the city soon Go out of hand khơng nắm được, khơng kiểm sốt It was the end of term and the children were getting a little out of hand frown upon Phản đối, không tán thành Public expressions of affection are frowned upon in many cultures have the guts Có dũng khí, có gan để làm Does he have the guts to dive off the high board 10 boils down Tóm lại, lại His speech boiled down to a plea for more money 11 incremental Từng bước bước một, chút chút The incremental evolution of the collection from a specialized gallery into a comprehensive art museum 12 monumental Vĩ đại, đồ sộ, to lớn Repairing the damage will be a monumental task 13 daunting Có tính gây nản chí, thối chí Few things are more daunting than having to speak in front of a large crowd 14 brings about Dẫn đến, làm xảy He brought about his company's collapse by his reckless spending 15 get hooked Nghiện (làm) thứ I got hooked on TV when I was sick 16 piece of cake dễ ăn kẹo The exam was a piece of cake 17 keep blowing hot and cold định đuợc điều gì, thay đổi ý kiến liên tục The media, meanwhile, has blown hot and cold on the affair 18 backfire Đem lại kết ngược lại mong đợi Her plans to make him jealous backfired on her when he started dating her best friend 19 make up their minds Đã định việc I haven't made up my mind where to go yet 20 bring home the bacon Kiếm tiền có thành cơng tài I have to go to work because it brings home the bacon 21 going in the red Mắc nợ Apparently the company had been in the red for some time before it went out of business ... and Exercise to get into shape Meaning: to become fit Example: If people have a sedentary lifestyle, they must regular exercise to get into shape to work out at the gym Meaning: to train the... around making decisions: what to eat, what to wear, where to pursue higher education, where to work, whether to go to this place on holiday or not, etc Everything from big to small are decisions, and... selling them to the customers So fascinating was the game that we stood behind her and were glued to the screen for more than an hour until my mom took me home That night, I begged my dad to let me