SITUATIONSYou now have ONE minute to read the task carefully and another ONE minute to do the task as you are instructed to. 1 If you could invest on one of the followings – planting forests, building zoos and researching about biodiversity, which one might be your best choice? Why?2 You are going to recommend a university for your cousin to study. Among a university in USA, a university in Japan and a university in Vietnam, which one do you recommend? Why?3 You are going to buy a book for your little brother as a present. Among the following kinds of book: a comic book, a fairy tale and a scientific book, which one might be your best choice? Why?4 You are looking for a place to live in Hanoi. Among a small house in the city centre, a flat near your university a company and a big house in the countryside, which one would be your best choice? Why?5 You are going to take a foreign friend to a festival. Which one might be your best choice: MidAutumn festival, Hung King temple festival or Lim festival? Why?6 You are going to buy a CD as a present for your parents on their birthday. Among a rock CD, a rap CD and a folk music CD, which one is your best choice? Why?7 As a member of a Green organization, which one do you think is the most practical to protect the environment: going to school by bike, using paper package and planting more trees. Why?8 As a member of a Green organization, which one do you think is the most practical to protect the environment: going to school by bike, using paper package and planting more trees. Why?TOPICS You have 2 minutes to deliver a speech of the topic given. You are expected to include three parts of a speech, namely Introduction, Development and Conclusion with the use of some linking words. 1 “There are a lot of complaints about restaurants in Vietnam”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.Which are most popular in your country: fast food restaurants or traditional ones?2.Some people say that food in an expensive restaurant is always better than that in a cheap one – would you agree?2 “There are many changes of shopping over the last decade”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.What are your shopping habits?2.Do you think online shopping will replace small shops in the future? Why?3 “There are a lot of complaints about restaurants in Vietnam”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.Which are most popular in your country: fast food restaurants or traditional ones?2.Some people say that food in an expensive restaurant is always better than that in a cheap one – would you agree?4 “There are many problems with education in Vietnam”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.What are the differences between the traditional and modern educational system in Vietnam?2.What should be done to reduce educational problems in Vietnam?5 “There are many changes in housing in housing in your hometown”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.Are people more or less interested in attending the festival? Why?2.What should be done to promote a regional festival?6 “There are many changes in traditional festivals”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.Are people more or less interested in attending the festival? Why?2.What should be done to promote a regional festival?7 “Reading books brings many benefits”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.Are children more or less interested in reading? Why?2.What should be done to encourage children to read?8 “There are many effects of living in a noisy environment”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.What kinds of noises do you dislike the most?2.Why do people still go to noisy places like big cities or cinemas even when they don’t like noises?9 “There are many advantages of the internet”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.Do you think the Internet is safe for children to use? Why (or Why not)?2.How has the Internet changed the way we live and work?10 “There are many causes of pollution in cities”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.What is the biggest environmental problem in your hometown?2.Are there any measures you would like to take about this problem?11 “There are many drawbacks of working overtime”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.What should people do to avoid working overtime?2.Will people work more or less in the future? Why?12 “There are many problems with food in Vietnam”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.What is a balanced diet?2.What is a typical diet of people in your country?13 “There are many reasons for protecting the nature world”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.What should be done to protect the nature and environment? Why?2.Is it the responsibility of school to teach children to protect the nature and environment? Why? (or Why not?)14 “There are many benefits of studying music or learning to play a musical instrument”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.Do you think that pop rock stars can have bad influence on the young people?2.How much does the internet influence how you listen to music?15 “There are many effects of weather on people’s lives”ePresent your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.Have there been any changes in weather over the past few years? What are they?2.What should be done in bad weather?16 “Many things should be changed about education in Vietnam.”Present your view with clear arguments and specific, reallife examples to support your view. After finishing your speech, answer the following questions:1.Is it a good practice for students to wear uniform at schools? Why why not?2.Which do you prefer: a singlesex school or a coeducational school? Why?
PREPARATION FOR SPEAKING Task 1: Pronunciation Jane Tegal: Do you ship door-to-door? Arthur Mitchell: Yes, all shipments are door-to-door Delivery dates depend on your location, but we can usually deliver within 14 business days Jane Tegal: Great! Thank you for your help Arthur Mitchell: My pleasure We can email you more information if you would like Jane Tegal: Yes, that would be great! My email is jane@excelleratorco.com Arthur Mitchell: Okay You can expect an e-mail by this afternoon Jane Tegal: Thank you again for your help Jane Tegal: Hello, this is Jane Tegal from Excellerator Co calling May I speak to Mr Mitchell? Arthur Mitchell: Hello Ms.Tegal, this is Arthur Mitchell Jane Tegal: Hello, I'd like to place an order for a number of your Millennium desk units Arthur Mitchell: Certainly How many were you interested in ordering for purchase? Jane Tegal: Quite a few Do you have many available in the warehouse? Arthur Mitchell: We keep a large supply in stock There's also a showroom with quite a few on hand It shouldn't be a problem Jane Tegal: Well then I'd like 75 units by the end of the month Could I get an estimate before I place an order? Arthur Mitchell: Certainly I'll have it for you by the end of the day Jane Tegal: What does the estimate include? Arthur Mitchell: Estimates include merchandise, packaging, and shipping, duty if required, any taxes, and insurance Sam: Good morning I have an appointment with Dr Peterson at 10.30 Receptionist: Good morning, can I have your name, please? Sam: Yes, it's Sam Waters Receptionist: Yes, Mr Waters Is this the first time you've seen Dr Peterson? Sam: No, I had my teeth cleaned and checked last year Receptionist: OK, just a moment, I'll get your chart Receptionist: Have you had any other dental work done during the past year? Sam: No, I haven't Receptionist: Have you flossed regularly? Sam: Of course! I floss twice a day and use a water-pick Receptionist: I see you have a few fillings Have you had any trouble with them? Receptionist: We'll need to schedule an appointment to come in for the fillings you need? Sam: OK Do you have any openings next week? Receptionist: Let's see How about next Thursday morning? Sam: I'm afraid I have a meeting Receptionist: How about two weeks from today? Sam: Yes, that sounds good What time? Receptionist: Can you come at 10 o'clock in the morning? Sam: Yes Let's that Receptionist: Perfect, we'll see you on Tuesday, March 10th at 10 o'clock Sam: Thank you Barbara: Hi, Katherine, how are you today? Katherine: I'm great and you? Barbara: VERY busy! I'm jogging now, but later I have to a lot! Katherine: What you have to do? Barbara: Well, first of all, I have to the shopping We don't have anything to eat at home Katherine: and then? Barbara: Little Johnny has a basketball game this afternoon I'm driving him to the game Katherine: Oh, how is his team doing? Barbara: They're doing very well Next week, they're traveling to Toronto for a tournament Katherine: That's impressive Barbara: Well, Johnny likes playing basketball I'm happy he's enjoying it What are you doing today? Katherine: I'm not doing much I'm meeting some friends for lunch, but, other than that, I don't have much to today Henry: Hi Tom! It's great to see you again I've been away on business Tom: Really, where did you go? Henry: Well, first I flew to New York for two meetings After that, I flew to Atlanta, where I had to make a presentation at a company conference Tom: It sounds like you've been busy Henry: Yes, I've been very busy It's good to be home again What have you been doing lately? Tom: Oh, nothing much I've been working in the garden these past few days Alice has been away for the past two weeks visiting her relatives in Chicago Henry: I didn't know she has family in Chicago Tom: Yes, that's right We met at university in California She was born in Chicago and lived there until she went to college Henry: How long have you lived here in Colorado? Tom: We've lived here for over 10 years We moved here in 1998 because I had a new job as a sales representative Martha: What horrible weather today I'd like to go out, but I think it will just continue raining Jane: Oh, I don't know Perhaps the sun will come out later this afternoon Martha: I hope you're right Listen, I'm going to have a party this Saturday Would you like to come? Jane: Oh, I'd like to come Thank you for inviting me Who is going to come to the party? Martha: Well, a number of people haven't told me yet But, Peter and Mark are going to help out with the cooking! Jane: Hey, I'd like to help, tool Martha: Would you? That would be great! Jane: I'm going to make lasagna! Martha: That sounds delicious! I know my Italian cousins are going to be there I'm sure they'll love it Jane: Italians? Maybe I'll bake a cake Carol: This is a lovely house! Martha: Thank you Carol, we call it home Carol: It's very close to work, isn't it? Martha: Yes, it is I always walk to work - even when it rains! Carol: I usually take the bus It takes so long! Martha: How long does it take? Carol: Oh, it takes about 20 minutes Martha: That is a long time Well, have some cake Carol: (taking a bite of some cake) this is delicious! Do you bake all of your own cakes? Martha: Yes, I usually bake something at the weekend I like having sweets in the house Carol: You're a wonderful cook! Martha: Thank you, it's nothing really Carol: I never cook I'm just hopeless My husband, David, usually does all the cooking Jared: (knocks on the room door) May I come in, madam? Ms Anderson: Yes, thanks for coming so quickly Jared: Certainly, madam How can I help you? Ms Anderson: I'd like some fresh towels in the suite when I get back this evening Jared: I'll get them immediately Would you like me to also change the bed sheets? Ms Anderson: Yes, that would be nice Could you also turn down the covers? Jared: Is there anything else I can for you? Perhaps you have some laundry I can take to be cleaned Ms Anderson: Now that you mention it, I have some clothes in the laundry bag Jared: Very good, madam I'll have them cleaned and folded when you return SITUATIONS You now have ONE minute to read the task carefully and another ONE minute to the task as you are instructed to. 1/ If you could invest in one of the following – planting forests, building zoos, and researching biodiversity, which one might be your best choice? Why? I think I will choose to plant forests because it is the solution to global climate change - one of the top concerns of the world today While mitigating climate change is the chief driver of many tree-planting initiatives, planting forests also brings many benefits for other environmental goals such as regulating water cycles, halting soil erosion and desertification, and restoring wildlife habitats They also help to socioeconomic goals, like alleviating poverty and enhancing local communities’ health and livelihoods 2/ You are going to recommend a university for your cousin to study Among a university in the USA, a university in Japan, and a university in Vietnam, which one you recommend? Why? I will recommend my cousin should study at universities in the USA because of the following reasons The American education system is a first-rate education It is renowned across the world for its high academic standards with modern facilities and forward-thinking technologies A degree from a US university is extremely impressive for your future career Besides that, studying in the USA offers you an exciting opportunity to discover an array of cultures, learn different languages, and meet people from a variety of backgrounds One of the most popular reasons to study abroad in the USA is to improve your English By studying in the USA, you’ll immerse yourself in the culture, meet native English speakers, and broaden your vocabulary 4 The USA is a huge country offering an incredibly diverse range of landscapes, cultures, and experiences If you choose to study abroad in the USA, you’ll have many opportunities to explore this fascinating country 3/ You are going to buy a book for your little brother as a present Among the following kinds of books: a comic book, a fairy tale and a scientific book, which one might be your best choice? Why? I will buy a fairy tale I think fairy tales are not only for girls, they are essential stories for childhood for all children These stories are more than just happily ever after, they portray real moral lessons thru the characters and virtue shown in the stories They not only captivate the imagination of young minds but also enhance their creativity and reasoning skills Albert Einstein said “If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” 4/ You are looking for a place to live in Hanoi Among a small house in the city center, a flat near your university/ a company and a big house in the countryside, which one would be your best choice? Why? I will choose is a flat near my company because of the following reasons I can save up a lot of time if I stay close to my workplace and use the time in a more productive manner For example, I will have more time for doing exercise and having breakfast Morning and evening time are the rush hours in most places The mode of transport used by many people creates a lot of pollution and traffic at the same time By staying closer to the workplace, it is not only beneficial for me but also for the environment, I can save time, and money and contribute to reducing air pollution by riding a bicycle or walking to work 5/ You are going to take a foreign friend to a festival Which one might be your best choice: MidAutumn festival, Hung King temple festival or Lim festival? Why? I think I will take her to Lim Festival because this is a special opportunity to introduce many local games like tug-of-war, bamboo fighting, and wrestling, especially, the main highlight of this event is ‘Quan Ho’ singing - the choir singing where people dress up in colorful traditional costumes and sing local folk songs It is one of the amazing ways for travelers to explore and learn about the traditions and culture of Vietnam 6/ You are going to buy a CD as a present for your parents on their birthday Among a rock CD, a rap CD, and a folk music CD, which one is your best choice? Why? I think I will buy a rock CD because my mom and dad both love rock music, especially, Soft Rock Ballads - a niche genre of rock music that was mastered in the 80s with hidden emotions through some mellow music I was also influenced by them since I was a child I have heard many immortal songs that are still popular today like November Rain by Guns N’ Roses, I’ll Stand By You by The Pretenders, or Wind of Change by Scorpions 7/& 8/ As a member of a Green organization, which one you think is the most practical to protect the environment: going to school by bike, using the paper packages or planting more trees Why? Idea 1: I think the most practical and simple to protect the environment is using paper packages because the following reasons: They can be reused and biodegradable, especially, and breaks down much quicker than plastic packages so they are very Eco-Friendly Paper packages are unlikely to cause harm to wildlife if discarded outside While plastic bags can take between ten and one thousand years to decompose, they not only affect our common natural surroundings but also kills numerous creatures, especially, since land fertility is degraded due to plastic deposits in the soil Idea 2: Private transport is one of the world’s biggest sources of greenhouse gases, with emissions rising every year As a member of a Green organization, I think there's an immediate contribution that we could all make to reduce our personal carbon emissions by walking or riding a bike more of those short journeys, whether it is to school, to the shops, or to work Especially, journeys that you just wouldn't have made by bike before, now it is easy to make by e-bike Cycling not only brings many climate benefits but also helps people can be healthier and are less likely to be overweight Moreover, fewer personal vehicles around the school gate also mean less local air pollution TOPICS You have minutes to deliver a speech on the topic given You are expected to include three parts of a speech, namely Introduction, Development, and Conclusion with the use of some linking words 1/ & 3/ “There are a lot of complaints about restaurants in Vietnam” Although it’s known as a peaceful and beautiful country with plentiful and varied cuisine, there are a lot of complaints about restaurants in Vietnam that can leave bad experiences for foreigners Here are the most common complaints Firstly, the hygiene and food safety problem is a matter of concern in Vietnam Some restaurants are delicious, but the selection of food sources as well as the processing food is not clean and healthy Secondly, there are a lot of complaints about small, crowded spaces filled with cigarette smoke at many Vietnamese restaurants Especially, customers find uncomfortable due to long waits and table shares with strangers In conclusion, from my perspective, hygiene and food safety is the problem that should be solved first Creating quality dishes with good service is not only the right and responsibility of each restaurant owner but also their safety and respect for their customers After finishing your speech, answer the following questions: 1. Which are most popular in your country: fast food restaurants or traditional ones? I think traditional restaurants are most popular in my country because, as I mentioned before, Vietnamese cuisine is very plentiful and varied Moreover, they are relatively tastier and offer more nutritional value than those foods that are served at fast-food restaurants 2. Some people say that food in an expensive restaurant is always better than that in a cheap one – would you agree? I think this argument is not always right in all cases Although many expensive restaurants offer delicious meals, and good service with luxury spaces, from my experience, there are a lot of cheaper ones that bring quality food and good services at cheaper prices 2/ “There are many changes in shopping over the last decade” Changes are essential for development One of the clear changes that must mention is the shopping habit of users from small shops, supermarkets, and shopping centers to shopping online with ecommerce stores like Amazon, eBay, and Bestbuy In the last decade, shopping has gone through a serious evolution with some changes The first change in shopping is the rise of e-commerce, as well as the decline of the department store The proof is online shopping overtook general merchandise sales in many countries in the world Customers have many best choices with reasonable prices, a variety of goods, and no geographical restrictions Secondly, because the Covid-19 pandemic situation is spreading all over the world that makes shopping has a big change, a turning point affirming the position of online shopping In conclusion, I think the big change is the development of online shopping All over the world, online shopping is being encouraged Stores and brands are being propelled into a new era of shopping, one where traditional stores must adapt to survive After finishing your speech, answer the following questions: 1. What are your shopping habits? I am used to shopping online because of being convenient and save my time I can shop everything at home through e-commerce sites instead of visiting shops or supermarkets Next, I have more choices and can compare prices and brands of products on many different websites In particular, I can easily find the promotions of the stores just by sitting at home and accessing the internet 2. Do you think online shopping will replace small shops in the future? Why? As I mentioned before, I think online shopping will replace small stores in the future because of the development of the internet, and the proliferation of e-commerce stores with the advantages that bring to customers, for example, advantages in terms of time, price, variety of goods without geographical restrictions Especially, the growing development of freight transport creates a great advantage for online businesses 4/ “There are many problems with education in Vietnam” The Vietnamese education system has several serious problems that can make bad effects not only at present but even in the future I would like to highlight two major problems Firstly, the number of pupils or students over the limit, outmoded teaching systems with a heavy curriculum, and a lecturer-centered method than on active interaction and discussions from learners Secondly, our education system has focused mainly on theory than practice so they lack many skills and ways of thinking Moreover, the Vietnamese degrees are not equal to international qualifications which makes it difficult for Vietnamese people to find jobs or get higher education abroad In conclusion, we should some solutions to improve our education system such as innovating the training programs for teachers, overhauling the national curricula as well as establishing internationally recognized universities After finishing your speech, answer the following questions: 1. What are the differences between the traditional and modern educational systems in Vietnam? Modern education relies on computers and the internet, the learners are able to learn in flexible timings, take different courses at the same time, and save time and cost, especially, unlimited sources of learning material Whereas traditional education has a fixed timing, the learners are only able to learn a single course at a fixed time, it takes much more time Especially, traditional learning sources are limited and costly such as the course books, tuition fees, the classroom setup, etc /ˌet ˈsetərə/ 2. What should be done to reduce educational problems in Vietnam? Reforming the education system is very necessary to reduce current educational problems in Vietnam Some reforms solutions such as innovating the training programs for teachers, overhauling the national curricula for all subjects at all levels, and establishing internationally recognized universities, and improving quality standards for teachers through continuing education and competition 5/ “There are many changes in housing in your hometown” Changes are essential for development My hometown has changed a lot in many aspects, one of the highlight changes is housing Firstly, my hometown is a tourist city, although it does not play a significant role in the national economy, more and more people have arrived here for a living, because the service industry is here quite developed Therefore, infrastructure in housing is more and more evolving, so many high-rise buildings and apartments grow up like mushrooms Next, in the past, houses with a ground floor or houses with an attic is very popular in my hometown Today, houses are planned into separate areas, for example, apartment buildings, villas, townhouses, etc with modern designs with many different styles, especially from Europe and America In conclusion, my hometown likes a house that has all new modern furniture, brings the feeling of changing for the better But, I still remember the city with its simple and rustic look in the past After finishing your speech, answer the following questions 1. Are people more or less interested in attending the festival? Why? I think people are more interested in attending the festival, especially young people who love discovering and experiencing Life today is better than in the past, people almost are not still struggling with the lack of food The living situation has been improving Therefore, they can think about other demands, entertainment, discovery, or experience, including festivals for example 2. What should be done to promote a regional festival? I think people should promote the festival information by word of mouth, and on social media like Facebook, Tiktok, Instagram, etc On the other hand, if I am in a professional team that is sponsored, I will conduct some campaigns that cost money, for example, a website, a print campaign, and promote on TV, in newspapers, and so on/ etc 6/ “There are many changes in traditional festivals” Traditional festivals currently have many changes due to the standard of living has been improving and no small impact by western lifestyles toward the young people I would like to mention some clearest changes Firstly, in Vietnam, older adults always place great emphasis on preserving traditional customs and practices and passing them down to future generations However, a growing number of young people tend to pay less attention to practicing old traditions They may travel instead of staying at home to celebrate the Lunar new year, or today’s festive foods are often ordered from catering services instead of being prepared by the family, for example Secondly, the ancients valued the tradition of the nation They came to traditional festivals with their reverence /ˈrev(ə)rəns/ mind But today may people come to the festival with all kinds of mentality like curiosity, to seek fame, to rescue, to develop wealth, for love The festival is no longer the same In short, in my opinion, positive changes in traditional festivals should be encouraged such as simplifying cumbersome procedures and organizing reasonable savings However, negative changes should be limited because they can adversely affect the meaning of the festival and awareness of the traditional values of the next After finishing your speech, answer the following questions: 1. Are people more or less interested in attending the festival? Why? The way I think it, traditional festivals are not interesting the young people Less and less young generations know exactly the meaning of almost national festivals They are dynamic and love to explore, but when asked about traditional holidays and anniversaries of their country, they are confused On the other hand, they are completely enthusiastic and understand the festivals imported from abroad like Valentine's Day, Christmas, etc 2. What should be done to promote a regional festival? I think people should promote the festival information by word of mouth, and on social media like Facebook, Tiktok, Instagram, etc On the other hand, if I am in a professional team that is sponsored, I will conduct some campaigns that cost money, for example, a website, a print campaign, and promote on TV, in newspapers, etc 7/ “Reading books brings many benefits” Nowadays, people have lots of sources to get information and take entertainment such as television, the Internet, etc but nobody can deny the importance as well as the benefits of reading books In my opinion, there are some following major advantages of reading books Firstly, books can be described as a door opening to the world and even outside the world and they have a huge source of information, so reading gives us new knowledge Secondly, reading books is a good habit that can provide a great sense of educational value It helps us improve our expression abilities like writing and speaking Finally, reading books helps relax and release stress Some books have fun like jokes, romantic novels, or comics that make you happy and release depression In conclusion, reading books is so important and has many benefits It not only helps us enrich our knowledge but also brings us relaxation The more books we have read, the more knowledge we have obtained Therefore, everyone should be encouraged to read books as much as possible After finishing your speech, answer the following questions: 1. Are children more or less interested in reading? Why? I think children are reading less than they used to because they are spending a lot of their time each day on screen-based activities instead, including gaming and watching TV, and as they get older, using social media, watching YouTube, and messaging people 2. What should be done to encourage children to read? Firstly, I think we should make children feel reading brings joy Secondly, encouraging them to read books every day as a habit, maybe they can start with a fairy tale, a scientific book, or a comic, and as they get older, we should encourage them to read magazines, newspapers, or other kinds of books that make they are interesting like mystery, science-fiction The more interested they are in a subject, the more they will be excited to read! 8/ “There are many effects of living in a noisy environment” A noisy environment is an invisible danger It cannot be seen, but it is present nonetheless Noise pollution (The roar of a jet plane, the rumble of a big rig, that shrill scream from the siren of a speeding emergency vehicle) can cause harm to the health and well-being of humans and other organisms There are some popular noise pollution effects that I can list below. Firstly, Exposure to loud noise can also cause heart disease, sleep disturbances, and stress And children can suffer from stress, and reduced memory, or attention level Secondly, noise pollution also impacts wildlife For example, animals in both on land and under the sea found it difficult to use sound to navigate, find food, attract mates, and avoid predators /ˈpredətər/ This problem can affect /əˈfekt/ their ability to survive In conclusion, noise pollution is invisible, so people often not consider its effects /ɪˈfekt/ But it seriously impacts people and wildlife, actually We should plan to move the airport, highways, and industrial areas far away from the residential areas, ban trucks from running in the middle of the night or stop making loud blasts of sound within the ocean when surveying seismic /ˈsaɪzmɪk/ After finishing your speech, answer the following questions: 1. What kinds of noises you dislike the most? Some of my disliked noises are air horns, car horns, planes, or sirens They not only disrupt /disˈrəpt/ sleep, which can lead to health problems, over time, can damage the heart More and more traffic accidents have happened in recent years, the cause is horn make the travelers are startled, fell and then got hit by other vehicles 2. Why people still go to noisy places like big cities or cinemas even when they don’t like noise? The way I think it many times we still something that we dislike due to a lot of reasons For example, many left their hometown to live in big cities because these places have many job opportunities with high incomes, so even though they not like noise but it’s not important for them, all for living And many times in life we ignore the downsides of something and still it because it brings some certain good things at that time Or even dislike noise, some people still go to cinemas because they that for their companions who they care about, or they would like to enjoy movies with high-quality images, sound, etc., for example 9/ “There are many advantages of the internet” Nowadays, it’s difficult to imagine a world without the internet Our daily life tasks, communication, and enjoyment depend mainly on the internet It brings us many advantages such as: Firstly, it has become easy to connect with people worldwide and talk face-to-face using the internet The internet shortens the distance between us, businesses, or countries Besides, it brings us entertainment and news updates. Next, the internet has many benefits for learning It provides us with a free and huge knowledge resource Therefore, we can access them from any part of the world and learn or research them Finally, we must recognize that the internet has positively impacted society With the help of the internet, people, businesses, organizations, and government authorities can connect internationally In conclusion, the world without the internet is unimaginable The internet has many benefits in many different fields People have benefited from this technology in both their professional and personal lives After finishing your speech, answer the following questions: 1. Do you think the Internet is safe for children to use? Why (or Why not)? Well, everything has two sides, so the internet as well It brings many advantages for people, including for the children, but we are not sure whether our children are being impacted by violent, criminal, sexual, or other risky behavior on the internet These issues have negative effects and leave a bad impression on children and as result, they might have trouble in the future 2. How has the Internet changed the way we live and work? The internet changes every field and makes it easy for us to anything in life, for example, businesses could be performed across the globe through the computer with internet access, and online education has brought a revolution in the field of education and knowledge sharing for people all over the world, the internet makes shopping online easy than ever before, or the internet now acts as a one-stop guide to all the information and queries about beauty, style, fashion, lifestyle, and more 10/ “There are many causes of pollution in cities” Along with the development always have many negative impacts For example, the development of many aspects of cities is a reason for many sources of pollution which cause negatively to the environment and living organisms /ˈɔːrɡənɪzəm/ In my opinion, there are the major causes of pollution in cities Firstly, the burning of fuels for transportation and electricity produces pollutants and is one of the biggest sources of air pollution in cities Next, a large amount of domestic waste due to the crowded population, and industrial waste produced by a lot of factories are the main causes of water pollution Finally, noise and light can consider as other popular pollutions in cities that can cause health problems in humans and disrupt natural cycles, including animal activities In short, pollution reduces the beauty of nature and is a major health problem All governments need consciousness and action to solve these problems In my ability, I plant some trees in the garden, ride a bicycle or use public transportation instead of riding a motorbike to reduce pollutant gas After finishing your speech, answer the following questions: 1. What is the biggest environmental problem in your hometown? My hometown is a big city that has a crowded population and 95% of total vehicles are motorbikes, so a large amount of burning fuel causes serious pollutants to the city Before the appearance of the covid19 pandemic, we almost wear masks every going out due to air pollution 2. Are there any measures you would like to take about this problem? Air pollution reduces the beauty of nature and is a major health problem And public transport can contribute to improving this issue because it carries many people in one vehicle, burns less fuel and reduces air pollution I believe that having a perfect public transport system is very essential because it is good for improving the environment and brings a better quality of people’s life 11/ “There are many drawbacks of working overtime” Many people, besides working at the office, also spend their free time doing many other jobs to have extra /ˈekstrə/ income But in the long run, working overtime brings us many disadvantages to health, quality of life, and causes stress on our relationships In terms of health, working overtime leaves us feeling drained /dreɪnd/ and sick, it also can cause sleep problems If this situation lasts for a long time, the body becomes weakened, reducing resistance /rɪ ˈzɪstəns/, and leading to many incurable /ɪnˈkjʊrəbl/ diseases, such as cancer And next, when we not have good health, we cannot enjoy our life, for example, we can't hang out, travel, play sports, or even have to abstain /əbˈstān/ from certain foods Finally, poor work-life balance can often have costly results for people, including lowered morale, poor productivity, and easily becoming angry which causes adverse effects on our relationships In conclusion, the way I think it money is indispensable/ˌɪndɪˈspensəbl/, however, it is not all We should appreciate what we have to enjoy life with the people we love After finishing your speech, answer the following questions: 1. What should people to avoid working overtime? I think people need to make a detailed plan for everything, as well as arrange reasonable schedules to save time and money, and work effectively /ɪˈfektɪvli/ Sometimes, working overtime cannot lead to high productivity, high turnover, or effectiveness In my opinion, how people better manage their time and improve their work-life balance are the key to success 2. Will people work more or less in the future? Why? I think the work will change forms in the future People may less manual /ˈmænjuəl/ work due to robots /ˈrəʊbɑːt/ and automation will enter almost our workplace and personal lives, but they may more the creative, strategic /strəˈtiːdʒɪk/ thinking to conduct, control, and develop those automation systems 12/ “There are many problems with food in Vietnam” Vietnamese food is more and more popular around the world such as phở, bánh mì However, Vietnam still faces many food problems that are always irritating /ˈɪrɪteɪtɪŋ/ at home and abroad Firstly, the hygiene and food safety problem is a matter of concern in Vietnam Spoiled animal products sold as new, antibiotics and other medical residues /ˈrezɪduː/ in meat, and pesticide /ˈpestɪsaɪd/ residues in vegetables always, somehow, leave many potential dangers to people’s health Second, with a long sea route /ruːt/ running along with the territory /ˈterətɔːri/, Vietnam is very sensitive to climate change The changes can be mentioned in temperature, sea level, and rainfall, directly affecting the productivity and quality of agricultural /ˌæɡrɪˈkʌltʃərəl/ products Last but not least, it is also because of the decrease in food production that food prices in Vietnam increased This leads to food shortages in some areas In short, as Vietnamese food gradually becomes more popular, problems come with it The authorities and every citizen need to have solutions and join hands to minimize the harm of the above problems to the economy and consumers' health After finishing your speech, answer the following questions: 1. What is a balanced diet? A balanced diet is now essential and highly recommended by experts not only to keep fit but also to stay healthy It contains differing kinds of foods in certain quantities and proportions /prəˈpɔːrʃn/ so that the requirement for calories, proteins, minerals, vitamins, and alternative nutrients is adequate and a small provision is reserved for additional nutrients so on 2. What is the typical diet of people in your country? Vietnamese diet is quite healthy In Vietnamese daily meals, there are always two to three dishes, and the main dish is always made from rice Protein /ˈprəʊtiːn/ and other nutrients /ˈnuːtriənt/ are quite adequate /ˈædɪkwət/ in the daily meal of the Vietnamese, but the Vietnamese diet lacks calcium /ˈkælsiəm/ because dairy /ˈderi/ or soy products are not usually included in the daily meal 13/ “There are many reasons for protecting the natural world” The way we treat our environment has huge consequences for the future of our planet More specifically /spəˈsɪfɪkli/, I would like to list a few key reasons to illustrate the importance of protecting nature Firstly, protecting the natural world is to enhance human health For example, outdoor air pollution can lead to harmful diseases like asthma /ˈæzmə/ and bronchitis /brɑːŋˈkaɪtɪs/ The cleaner our environment is the better chance we have at living a healthy life Secondly, protecting the natural world is to protect our natural resources Our natural resources are limited Making sustainable /səˈsteɪnəbl/ and renewable /rɪˈnuːəbl/ choices in daily life will help to preserve /prɪˈzɜːrv/ these important resources Last but not least, protecting the natural world is to combat climate change As the Earth’s temperature continues to rise, we are seeing more and more dangerous weather patterns emerging In short, there are many reasons why protecting nature is more important and urgent than ever Therefore, we should take methods and act now so that things don't get worse After finishing your speech, answer the following questions: 1. What should be done to protect the nature and environment? Why? Each problem has its own solution But the most basic and easiest thing anyone can is use public transport more As we all know, emissions/ɪˈmɪʃn/ from vehicles contribute to air pollution and harm the atmosphere Therefore, each person joining hands to reduce personal transport will help reduce harm and improve human health as well 2. Is it the responsibility of the school to teach children to protect the nature and environment? Why? (or Why not?) Teaching children to protect the environment is not only the responsibility of the school but also the responsibility of the parents Children are very easily affected by what is going on around them, so parents and schools should still guide children together to help them aware of the importance of protecting the environment 14/ “There are many benefits of studying music or learning to play a musical instrument” Music gives us more wonderful things than we can imagine Musical melodies take away the dryness of life, making it deeper and more beautiful Additionally, the more fantastic things you got when playing those music melodies by yourself Firstly, learning or playing an instrument can help you lower your stress levels all day When you play music, you must be focused and calm down, your mind is free to follow the music melodies and you don’t have anything else to worry about Secondly, learning to play a musical instrument can make you smarter, improving functions like memory and abstract reasoning skills Because playing an instrument stimulates the brain, makes you use both sides of your brain In conclusion, while other hobbies like watching TV or flicking through social media are passive, playing music actively engages and stimulates the brain, making you feel happy and more patient Besides, when you begin to master your instrument, you will be confident and have a huge sense of pride and achievement After finishing your speech, answer the following questions: 1. Do you think that pop/ rock stars can have a bad influence on young people? I think pop/ rock stars can have a bad influence on young people because celebrities have a strong influence on people, especially young people Besides some stars (My Tam, Adele) bringing beautiful images to the minds of fans, many others leave complex and disordered /dɪsˈɔːdəd/ lifestyles with drugs /drʌɡ/, smoking, drinking issues /ˈɪʃuː/, and unsuitable outfits (ex: Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus & Kylie Minogue) and their fans emulate /ˈemjuleɪt/ those bad things that harm their perception and lifestyle 2. How much does the internet influence how you listen to music? Twenty years ago, we bought CDs/ DVDs and used DVD/ CD players to listen to music I remembered that I bought CDs with lyrics/ˈlɪrɪk/ books to listen to and practice singing along However, nowadays, the internet makes listening to music becomes easy than ever In Vietnam, we can search any song on the internet from melodies and beat music to lyrics We just need phones, tablets, or laptops to listen to music without CDs/ DVDs players 15/ “There are many effects of weather on people’s lives” The weather has a tremendous effect on people’s lives and has a great impact on how we live as well as our daily choices Firstly, weather, consciously or unconsciously, affects the daily choices you make It helps to determine whether you dress to stay warm or cool, enjoy outside activities or stay inside – or evacuate /ɪˈvækjueɪt/ to a safe place during extreme weather conditions Next, weather impacts the way we live, and the food we eat, for example Influences the growth of crops, thus affecting the availability /əˌveɪləˈbɪləti/ and kind of food we eat Or flood or drought /draʊt/ conditions cause a lack of food, or push the price of food increasing highly In short, I believe that the weather plays an important role and always affects us in every aspect So, we should not stop seeking information on the nature of weather on time scales from hours to days, to seasons, to decades as well as predict weather changes to limit or prevent extreme events After finishing your speech, answer the following questions: 1. Have there been any changes in weather over the past few years? What are they? As global climate changes, weather patterns are also changing as well In the past few years, more severe /sɪˈvɪə(r)/ weather events as the climate warms, more hot summer days, and fewer extreme cold winter days Finally, changing climate affects the weather in many areas of the world causing more and more extreme events like storms and droughts 2. What should be done in bad weather? We should watch for weather updates and advisories /ədˈvaɪzəri/ to stay safe in any weather emergency Move to the middle of your home or basement, away from windows and glass doors Move the property like furniture or vehicles to higher ground, in case of flooding Turn off the circuit /ˈsɜːrkɪt/ breaker to prevent damage to electrical types of equipment 16/ “Many things should be changed about education in Vietnam.” The Vietnamese education system has several serious problems that can make bad effects not only at present but even in the future In my opinion, we should focus to change some major things Firstly, we should reform gradually the educational system equaling to international qualifications, and offload the heavy curriculum, Furthermore, we must focus on a learner-centered method with active interaction and discussions from learners than passively obeying what their teachers have told them Secondly, our education system should focus mainly on practice than theory We have to help pupils or students link theory with practice The next step is to link the training with employment Students today lack many skills and ways of thinking ... out, but I think it will just continue raining Jane: Oh, I don''t know Perhaps the sun will come out later this afternoon Martha: I hope you''re right Listen, I''m going to have a party this Saturday... I think I will take her to Lim Festival because this is a special opportunity to introduce many local games like tug-of-war, bamboo fighting, and wrestling, especially, the main highlight of this... Well, have some cake Carol: (taking a bite of some cake) this is delicious! Do you bake all of your own cakes? Martha: Yes, I usually bake something at the weekend I like having sweets in the house