Tài liệu ôn tập vstep Speaking B1,B2 Tiếng anh

Mục lục Essay topics 1 What is the benefit of studying online? 1 READING (40 questions) 20 PASSAGE 1 – Questions 1-10 20 A tour under Paris 20 PASSAGE 2 – Questions 11-20 23 Sustainable development? 23 PASSAGE 4 – Questions 31-40 31 The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming 31 WRITING (2 Tasks, 60’) 36 ĐỀ 1 36 TASK 1 36 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. 36 You received an email from your English friend, Jane. She asked you for some information about one of your friends. Read part of her email below. 36 TASK 2 37 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task 37 Read the following text from a book about tourism. 37 ĐỀ 2 38 TASK 1 38 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. 38 You received an email from your English pen friend, Paul. He asked you about your TV in your country. Read part of his email below. 38 Write an email responding to Paul. You should write at least 120 words. You do not need to include your name or addresses. 39 TASK 2 39 Read the following text from an article about smoking. 39 Essay topics What is the benefit of studying online? In recent years, distance teaching and learning has become increasingly popular among students. Many people perceive this as a beneficial aid in learning. This essay will discuss the advantages of studying online. In the first place, we cannot deny that studying an online course provides a flexible timing. This is really good for working people and busy ones. They are able to learn their desired courses and subjects in their suitable time. This gives a great opportunity for learners to gain new skills and strengthen their knowledge level staying in their own place. For instance, a Vietnamese student who wants an Australian degree in business management course does not have to go to Australia, he can study online and complete their course staying at home. Secondly, it is clear that studying online is a kind of less budgeted learning for students. The distance learning is made much shorter through the internet. It is the fact that learning online is more economical and time-saving than traditional learning. For example, when I studied at university in Hanoi ten years ago which was so far from my house, my parents had to deal with financial burden. Beside the tuition fees, the travelling and accommodation expense is also a big problem for my family. Last but not at least, studying online gives a great opportunity for both teachers and students in COVID-19 pandemic. Spreading rapidly of COVID-19 had negative effects on the global economy. Schools and the education centers have to close. As the result, thousands of teachers are unemployed and students’ learning is interrupted. It is true that learning online is becoming more essential than ever. In conclusion, in my opinion, both students and teachers benefit a lot from studying online. COVID-19 pandemic will continue for one year or more, so studying online is the essential trend of the 4.0 times. There is a saying that “the best place to live is the countryside” To what extent, do you agree or disagree with the saying? We must say that more and more people are becoming interested in living in the countryside. Some people argue that the best place to live is the countryside. Personally, I strongly agree with the idea. Firstly, we should not forget that the environment in the countryside is very good. The air is fresh and the water resource is clean/ (not polluted). This is because there are many green trees, rivers, lakes and there are few factories, vehicles, (means of transports), cars and people. Therefore, it is good for people’s health. We cannot deny that the people in the countryside are strong and have few health problems. Many people wish to move to the countryside to live when they are retired. Secondly, it is the fact that the people in the countryside are friendly and kind. They always help other people when they need. They are honest and hard-working. They get up very early and work on the farm from early morning until late afternoon. Finally, it is true that the food in the countryside is delicious, fresh, cheap and healthy. There are many kinds of food, vegetables and fruits here. (Finally, it is true that the living cost in the countryside is low because everything here is cheap so people can save a lot of money for other things. The people here do not have to worry about accommodation as the people in big cities.) To sum up, the countryside is the best place to live. Personally, I prefer to live in the countryside because I like the atmosphere here. It is beautiful, quiet, peaceful and good for our health. There is a saying that “the best place to live is the countryside” Write an essay to an educated reader to discuss the advantages of living in the countryside We must say that more and more people are becoming interested in living in the countryside. Some people believe that the best place to live is the countryside. This essay will discuss the advantages of living there/ (There are some advantages of living there) Firstly, we should not forget that the environment in the countryside is very good. The air is fresh and the water resource is clean/ (not polluted). This is because there are many green trees, rivers, lakes and there are few factories, vehicles, (means of transports), cars and people. Therefore, it is good for people’s health. We cannot deny that the people in the countryside are strong and have few health problems. Many people wish to move to the countryside to live when they are retired. Secondly, it is the fact that the people in the countryside are friendly and kind. They always help other people when they need. They are honest and hard-working. They get up very early and work on the farm from early morning until late afternoon. Finally, it is true that the food in the countryside is delicious, fresh, cheap and healthy. There are many kinds of food, vegetables and fruits here. (Finally, it is true that the living cost in the countryside is low because everything here is cheap so people can save a lot of money for other things. The people here do not have to worry about accommodation as the people in big cities.) To sum up, the countryside is the best place to live. Personally, I prefer to live in the countryside because I like the atmosphere here. It is beautiful, quiet, peaceful and good for our health. There is a saying that “the best place to live is the countryside” Write an essay to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living in the countryside We must say that more and more people are becoming interested in living in the countryside. Some people believe that the best place to live is the countryside. This essay will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living there. On the one hand, there are some benefits of living in the countryside. The environment here is very good. The air is fresh and the water is clean. This is because there are a lot of green trees and few factories, cars, and people. It is very good for people’s health. The people here are strong and have very few health problems. In addition, the people in the countryside are friendly and kind. They always help other people. They are honest and hard-working. They get up very early and work very hard, from early morning to late afternoon. Moreover, everything here is cheap so the people can save a lot of money for other things. On the other hand, however, living in the countryside has some drawbacks/ limitations/ difficulties. There are not big hospitals so the health care is poor. There are not many kinds of entertainment for people to relax. The people cannot get good jobs with high salary. To sum up, there are both advantages and disadvantages of living in the countryside. Personally, I prefer living in the countryside to living in big cities. I cannot suffer from traffic jams, pollution and crowded roads. (I think people should choose the suitable place to live based on their condition and need/ We need to think of both advantages and disadvantages of living in the countryside. People should increase the strong points and reduce the weak points) Do you agree or disagree with “WATCHING TV IS BAD FOR CHILDREN”? B1 We must say that Tv plays an important part in our life. More and more people are becoming interested in watching TV. Some people believe that watching TV is not good for children. Personally, I strongly disagree with this idea. Firstly, people should not forget that watching TV is interesting for children. There are many interesting programs for them to watch such as cartoon, music, game shows and so on. Children can relax after school and reduce stress. They can watch TV with their family and talk about many things in life. They can share happy moments with their family. My children like watching TV very much. They often watch TV after dinner with me. It is relaxing. It is the best time of the day. Secondly, it is the fact that watching TV is useful for children. They can learn a lot of things from programs. It helps children improve their knowledge and broaden their mind. During covid time, children can stay at home and learn all the subjects on TV. Besides, they can learn many things in life, outside school. To sum up, watching TV is good for children. It brings them some benefits. However, children should not watch TV too much as it is not good for their health and their study. We must say that watching TV is one of the most popular leisure activities for children. There are various interesting TV programs that attract kids. However, some people argue that watching TV is harmful to children. From my point of view, I strongly agree with the idea. Firstly, people should not forget that watching TV has negative effects on children’s health, especially their eyes and backs due to the fact that they look at the TV screen for too long, which can damage their eyes. Their eyes may become weak, tired and short-sighted. Children sit in front of the television for hours and may have backache. Watching TV can also lead to obesity or being overweight as they lack physical activities. Instead of going out, walking or playing sports, some children choose to stay at home and watch TV. It is the fact that most overweight children love watching TV and they can become inactive. Secondly, we cannot deny that watching TV too much wastes a lot of time. Children do not have time for other useful activities such as physical activities, study and interaction with their friends. This badly affects their study. They do not review the lesson, do homework. They spend too much time watching TV. Finally, it is true that some programs like action movies or some shows may have bad impacts on children’s behaviors as they may contain violent and sexual scenes with crimes, killing and fighting and improper language. Children tend to imitate what they watch on TV as they are too small to be aware of what is wrong or right. They do not know what they should or shouldn’t do. This can directly influence the development of the children’s personalities. Some kids may become naughty, aggressive and they are easily committed to crimes. To sum up, watching TV too much not only badly affects children’s health and behavior but also wastes time. Therefore, parents should limit the time of watching TV for their children English is the language spoken all over the world and there are more and more people who want to master English. Some people argue that students should learn English in an English speaking country; others believe that they can learn English well in their own country. Write an essay to an educated reader to discuss your view B1 We must say that English plays an important part in our life. Some people say that students should learn English in an English speaking country while others think that students can learn English well in their own country. Personally, I strongly agree with the first idea. Firstly, people should not forget that when students learn English in an English speaking country. They have chance to practice English every day. They can speak English with their teachers, friends and local people. This can help them improve their English fast. Secondly, it is the fact that all the teachers are native speakers so they are very good at English. Their way of teaching is simple but interesting and effective. They know how to encourage students to learn English well. The teachers in English speaking countries are good-looking, friendly and helpful. They always help their students. Finally, it is true that students can learn about the culture of the English speaking country. This is very good for them because they can understand more about the people and culture in this country. To sum up, students should learn English in an English speaking country. B2 It is the fact that English is the international language which is used in most of the countries and the number of people who wish to learn English well is increasing rapidly/ dramatically. Some individuals say that students should learn English in a country where English is officially used while others think that they can learn English well in their own country. Personally, I strongly/totally agree with the first idea. Firstly, people should not forget that the teachers in English speaking countries are native speakers so their English is the best. They graduate from well-known universities so they are well-qualified. Their teaching methods are interesting, easy to understand and effective. They know how to motivate/encourage/ inspire students to learn well. The teachers here are good-looking, friendly and kind-hearted. They are willing to help their students whenever they need. Secondly, it is the fact that when students learn in an English speaking country, they have a good/favorable environment. This is because they have to communicate with their teachers, friends and local people in English every day. (They have a lot of opportunities to practice their listening and speaking skills. As a result, they can improve their English fast and effectively.) = (They have a lot of opportunities to practice their listening and speaking skills, which enable them to improve their English fast and effectively). It is true that numerous companies tend to recruit/ employ people who study overseas because it is believed that their English is better. Finally, we cannot deny that facilities for teaching and learning in English speaking countries are modern. These can make the lessons more interesting and vivid, which can attract students to learn. Therefore, students can remember the lessons better and learn more effectively. In conclusion, when learning English in an English speaking country, students have opportunities to learn with well-qualified teachers, in a favorable environment, with the best teaching and learning facilities. Therefore, it is the best place for students to learn English well. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task Read the following text from a book about tourism. Tourism has become one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Millions of people today are travelling farther and farther throughout the year. Some people argue that the development of tourism has had negative effects on local communities; others think that its influences are positive. Write an essay to an educated reader to discuss the effects of tourism on local communities. Include reasons and any relevant examples to support your answer. B1 We must say that tourism plays an important part in our life. More and more people are becoming interested in travelling. Some people say that the development of tourism has had negative effects on local communities while others believe that its influences are positive. On the one hand, there are some reasons why some people say that the development of tourism has had negative effects on local communities. It is not good for local people. It is harmful to the environment. It destroys the trees, the air and water. It pollutes the air and water. This badly affects people’s health. On the other hand, however, there are also some reasons why some people believe that the development of tourism has had positive effects on local communities. It is good for local people. It brings them some benefits. They can get/find/look for good jobs and develop business, services. They can earn more money and improve their life. The development of tourism can help improve the traffic and health care. They build and widen many roads. To sum up, the development of tourism has had both negative and positive effects on local communities. Personally, I believe that the development of tourism is better for local people. Therefore, we should develop tourism more. An increasing number of professionals such as scientists and doctors, are leaving their own poorer countries to work in developed countries. What problems does this cause? What solutions can you suggest to deal with the situation? Nowadays, more and more people from undeveloped or developing countries to live and work in richer countries. In this essay, I will discuss some problems impacting the development of countries and the living conditions of citizens and suggest several solutions. There are some negative impacts caused by brain drain. One of the major problems is a lack of skilled professionals which makes poor countries difficult to develop the economy, science, technology and other aspects. Poor countries have very few well-trained scientists, doctors and teachers and sending professionals to study abroad is one of their strategies to develop the country. Additionally, poor countries have to depend on developed countries. They have to spend a big amount of money to buy foreign equipment due to the fact that no one has enough skills and knowledge to research and develop it. They also have to spend a lot of money hiring foreign professionals to deal with work in different aspects of life. A lot of projects or constructions in Vietnam are carried out by foreign professionals from developed countries like America, France or England, which costs a lot. To solve these problems, some solutions can be considered and applied. First, the government should have policies to increase salaries and benefits to talented people. The very first reason why people wish to work in developed countries instead of working in their nations is that they can get good jobs with high salary there. Second, they can offer a good standard of living for professionals. When professionals do not worry about paying the bills, they can concentrate on working and helping the citizens in their own countries. To sum up, the issue that professionals move to other countries to live and work has badly affected the development of their country. It is high time for the government to do something to encourage them to dedicate themselves for development of their motherland. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of fast food B1 It is the fact that fast food is becoming more and more popular in our life. However, there are both advantages and disadvantages On the one hand, fast food has some benefits. First, we cannot deny that fast food is very good for people. It brings them some benefits. They can stay at home and order the food. They can buy fast food anywhere at any time. They do not have to go to the market to buy the food, prepare the meals and wash the dishes after the meal so they can save a lot of time for buying food, cooking, and cleaning. This is ideal for working and busy people. Secondly, fast food is delicious because it is prepared and cooked by people who cook well. Children like fast food very much. They like eating fried chicken at KFC, hamburgers, hot dog, pizzas and lots of other kinds of fast food. In addition, fast food helps a lot of people earn money to support their family. On the other hand, however, fast food also has some limitations. It is true that fast food contains a lot of fat and sugar, which are very harmful to people’s health. It can cause some health problems like obesity, heart diseases, cancer and so on. Besides, fast food makes people become lazier as they do not have to do anything and so they do not how to cook a meal. One of the main drawbacks of fast food is that it can reduce the time that family members are together. They do not eat together To sum up, fast food has both advantages and disadvantages. People can buy fast food when they are busy but should not eat too much fast food B2 Due to the development of society, fast food is becoming more and more popular in our life, the number of people who eat fast food is dramatically increasing. However, fast food has both advantages and disadvantages On the one hand, fast food has some benefits. First, we cannot deny that fast food is very good for people. It brings them some benefits. They can stay at home and order the food. They can buy fast food anywhere at any time. They do not have to go to the market to buy the food, prepare the meals and wash the dishes after the meal so they can save a lot of time for buying food, cooking, and cleaning. For those who are busy and do not have time to cook meals, fast food is the best choice for them to save time to do other things Secondly, fast food is delicious because it is prepared and cooked by people who cook well. Children like fast food very much. They like eating fried chicken at KFC, hamburgers, hot dog, pizzas and lots of other kinds of fast food. In addition, fast food helps a lot of people earn money to support their family. On the other hand, however, fast food also has some limitations. It is true that fast food contains a lot of fat and sugar, which are very harmful to people’s health. It can cause some health problems like obesity, heart diseases, cancer and so on. Besides, fast food makes people become lazier as they do not have to do anything and so they do not how to cook a meal. One of the main drawbacks of fast food is that it can reduce the time that family members are together. They do not eat together To sum up, fast food has both advantages and disadvantages. People can buy fast food when they are busy but should not eat too much fast food READING (40 questions) PASSAGE 1 – Questions 1-10 A tour under Paris The great avenues are quiet, the shops are closed. There’s the smell of fresh bread from a bakery somewhere. It would be hard to say which time of the day in Paris I prefer but this is probably it. Soon the streets will be full of people and traffic. As with most other cities, you see the real Paris when the city wakes up. There is, however, another part of Paris which is silent and free from people 24 hours a day. Under the city are hundreds of kilometres of tunnels. There are sewers and old subways but there are also spaces of all kinds: canals and catacombs, wine cellars which have been made into nightclubs and galleries. During the 19th century, the Parisians needed more stone for buildings above the ground so they dug tunnels beneath the city. After that, many farmers grew mushrooms in them. During World War II, the French Resistance ﬁghters also used them. Since the 1970s, many groups of young people spend days and nights below the city in these tunnels. It’s a place for parties, theatre performances, art galleries – anything goes here! Everywhere you go under Paris, there is history and legend. Historians and novelists often refer to them in their books. For example, Victor Hugo mentions the tunnels in his famous novel Les Miserables and in the story and musical The Phantom of the Opera there is a pond beneath the old opera house. Most people think this is myth but in fact there is an underground pond here with ﬁsh. A ‘normal’ tourist can visit parts of Paris beneath the ground. For example, there are the catacombs beneath the Montparnasse district. Here you can see the bones and skeletons of about six millions Parisians. The bodies came from cemeteries above the ground two centuries ago when the city needed more space. However, it’s illegal to enter other parts of the tunnels and police often search the area. It’s also very dangerous because some of the tunnels might collapse. Nevertheless, there are people who will take you to visit them. I have found two ‘unofficial’ tour guides – Dominique and Yopie (not their real names). They take me through many tunnels and after a couple of hours we arrive at a room which isn’t on any map. Yopie and some of his friends built it. The room is comfortable and clean with a table and chairs and a bed. Yopie tells me there are many other places like this. ‘Many people come down here to party, some people to paint … We do what we want here.’ 1.In paragraph 1, what time of the day does the author describe? A. Early in the morning B. Mid-day C. In the evening D. Late at night 2.According to the passage, what are under Paris? A. Tunnels B. Sewers and old subways C. Canals, catacombs, and wine cellars D. Night clubs and galleries 3.What does the word “Parisians” in paragraph 2 refer to? A. People living in Paris B. Builders working in Paris C. Rich people in Paris D. French people 4.Why were the tunnels built during the 19th century? A. Because they wanted to make clubs and galleries B. Because farmers wanted to grow mushrooms C. Because they needed stones D. Because they used them in war 5.According to the passage, when did young people start to use the tunnels? A. Since the 19th century B. Since the World War II C. Since the French Resistance D. Since the 1970s 6.Why does the author mention Victor Hugo? A. To prove that the tunnels often appear in books B. To give examples of best French novels C. To prove that he wrote about the tunnels D. To prove that the tunnels are under Paris 7.The word “myth” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to…. A. truth. B. legend C. fact. D. example. 8.Are tourist allowed to go underground? A. Yes, they can go everywhere. B. Yes, they can visit part of the tunnels. C. No, never. D. Yes, but it is illegal. 9.Why does the writer say it’s dangerous in the tunnels? A. There are criminals down there. B. The tunnels might fall down on you. C. You might get lost. D. The police may arrest you. 10. Why is Dominique and Yopie’s room difficult to find? A. It is not on the map. B. It takes two hours to walk there. C. They never show people where it is D. There are many other places like it. PASSAGE 2 – Questions 11-20 Sustainable development? Kai Kensavaong will never again walk along the muddy lanes of Sop On, the village in southern Laos where she was born. Her old home now lies at the bottom of a reservoir of brown water created to feed a hydroelectric power plant, the first to be funded by the World Bank for over twenty years. ‘I’ll never forget that place,’ says the 41-year-old villager. ‘It was my home. I picked my first bamboo stalks there.’ The World Bank stopped financing hydroelectric dam projects in developing countries twenty years ago because of criticism that such projects were harming local communities and the environment. But Nam Theun 2 – a 39-metre high dam on the Mekong River that generates over 1,000 megawatts of electricity – is the showpiece for the bank’s new policy of supporting sustainable hydropower projects. For Laos it is part of a longer-term strategy to revitalise the economy and become the battery of South-East Asia. In 2010 the dam brought $5.6 million in sales of electricity and it is estimated that during the next 25 years Nam Theun 2 will generate around $2 billion in revenue to Laos, one of Asia’s poorest countries, since most of the electricity will be exported to its power-hungry neighbour, Thailand. The government has promised that this money will be spent on reducing poverty and both renewing and improving the country’s infrastructure. Seventeen villages in the flooded area have now been rebuilt and the 6,200 people – mostly farmers – who lived in them have been retrained to make a living from the reservoir. The power company has promised to double their living standards within five years. According to the World Bank, 87 per cent of those resettled believe life is much better than before as they now have electricity, sanitation, clean water, new roads and greater access to schools and health care. But the old criticisms have not gone away. Environmental and human rights groups warn that the dam will have a negative impact on water quality and fish and that the local people who were relocated after the area was flooded may not be able to support themselves economically in future. As well as the 6,200 villagers already re-housed, activists also point out that there are over 110,000 people in riverside villages downstream from the dam whose lives will have to change because of the new river ecosystem. They claim that these people will have to deal with issues like flooding, decline of the fish population and poor water quality. How quickly they will pick up new skills is uncertain. But the World Bank says it is responsive to these problems. A 4,100-square kilometre protected area has been established around the dam to safeguard flora and fauna. It admits though that rebuilding the lives of the villagers is not a short-term process and everyone is trying to learn and readjust as they go along. 11.What happened to Sop On? A. It was turned into a reservoir. B. It was destroyed by a flood. C. It was abandoned by the villagers. D. It was bought by the World Bank. 12.Who helped to finance the project? A. The Laos government B. The World Bank C. Villagers of Sop On D. A hydroelectric company 13. How much electricity will it generate? A. Over 39,000 megawatt B. Over 1,000 megawatt C. Over 20,000 megawatt D. Over 10,000 megawatt 14. According to the passage, who will use most of the electricity? A. South East Asia countries B. Asia C. Thailand D. Laos 15.According to paragraph 4, how many people were affected? A. 2 billion people B. 6,200 people C. 87% of Laos’ population D. 5.6 million people 16.According to the World Bank, how will people’s life change after the dam? A. It will be better. B. They will farm in the flooded area. C. They can work for the power company. D. They will have new roads. 17.According to environmental and human rights group, what may happen to local people? A. They may have better access to school. B. They may not make a living. C. They may not fish in the reservoir. D. They may not want to leave their village. 18.What is the attitude of environmental and human rights group towards the project? A. They strongly support the project. B. They criticize the project. C. They disagree with part of the project. D. They are happy with the project. 19.What does the phrase “these problems” in the last paragraph refer to? A. Flooding, decrease of fish, and poor water quality B. Poverty of villagers C. Pollution caused by the dam D. Lack of new houses for villagers 20.What is the reading passage mainly about? A. A hydroelectric project and its effects on people’s lives B. Villagers of Sop On C. Benefits of the World Bank D. The development of Lao’s economy PASSAGE 3 – Questions 21-30 Contrary to popular belief, one does not have to be a trained programmer to work online. Of course, there are plenty of jobs available for people with high-tech computer skills, but the growth of new media has opened up a wide range of Internet opportunities requiring only a minimal level of technical expertise. Probably one of the most well-known online jobs is the job of webmaster. However, it is hard to define one basic job description for this position. The qualifications and responsibilities depend on what tasks a particular organization needs a webmaster to perform. To specify the job description of a webmaster, one needs to identify the hardware and software that the website webmaster will manage is running on. Different types of hardware and software require different skill sets to manage them. Another key factor is whether the website will be running internally (at a firm itself) or externally (renting shared space on the company servers). Finally, the responsibilities of a webmaster also depend on whether he or she will be working independently, or whether the firm will provide people to help. All of these factors need to be considered before one can create an accurate webmaster job description. Webmaster is one type of internet career inquiring in-depth knowledge of the latest computer applications. However, there are also online jobs available for which traditional skills remain in high demand. Content jobs require excellent writing skills and a good sense of web as a “new media.” The term “new media” is difficult to define because it encompasses a constantly growing set of new technologies and skills. Specifically, it includes websites, emails, internet telephone, CD-ROM, DVD, streaming audio and video, interactive multimedia presentations, e-books, digital music, computer illustration, video games, virtual reality, and computer artistry. Additionally, many of today’s Internet careers are becoming pair-by-the-job professions. With many companies having to decrease their number of employees in tough economic times, the outsourcing and contracting of freelance workers online has become common business practice. The Internet provides an infinite pool of buyers from around the world with whom freelancers can contract their services. An added benefit to such online jobs is that freelancers are able to work on projects with companies outside their own country or residence. How much can a person make in these kinds of careers? As with many questions related to today’s evolving technology, there is no simple answer. There are many companies willing to pay people with technical Internet skills salaries well above $70,000 a year. Generally, webmasters start at about $30,000 a year, but salaries can vary greatly. Freelance writers working online have been known to make between $40,000 and $70,000 per year. 21.Which of the following means most nearly the same as “contrary” in the first paragraph? A. Opposite B. Agreeing C. Equal D. Embarrassing 22.The word “identify” in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to…. A. name. B. estimate. C. discount. D. encounter. 23.The word “them” in paragraph 2 refer to………. A. companies. B. new job opportunities. C. hardware and software. D. webmasters. 24. According to the reading passage, which of the following is true about webmasters? A. They never work independently. B. They require a minimal level of expertise. C. The duties they perform depend on the organization they work for. D. They do not support software products. 25.Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? A. The term “new media” is hard to state because it covers so much skill and technology. B. The ever-expanding set of new technology and the knowledge based on that technology make the exact meaning of “new media” difficult to specify. C. Because it is constantly growing, the skills for “new media” difficult to specify. D. Because new technology and the skills for that technology are always encompassing more fields, the expression “new media” is impossible to specify. 26.What does “it” in paragraph 4 refer to? A. Modern technology B. New media C. A webmaster’s career D. The Internet 27. It can be inferred from the passage that………… A. online workers can work full-time online. B. only skilled workers make good money. C. it is easy to become a webmaster. D. workers with limited computer skills cannot work online. 28.What is the purpose of this passage? A. To inform people about the tasks and role of a webmaster B. To inform people about the computer industry C. To inform people about employment related to the internet D. To explain why webmasters make a lot of money 29.According to the passage, all of the following are true EXCEPT……. A. there are online jobs available for workers with minimal computer skills. B. webmasters must have knowledge of the latest computer applications. C. online workers cannot free themselves from the office. D. “new media” is not easy to define. 30.The word “vary” in paragraph 6 could be best replaced by which of the following? A. Change B. Decrease C. Increase D. Differ PASSAGE 4 – Questions 31-40 The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming Carbon dioxide and other naturally occurring gases in the earth’s atmosphere create a natural greenhouse effect by trapping and absorbing solar radiation. These gases act as a blanket and keep the planet warm enough for life to survive and flourish. The warming of the earth is balanced by some of the heat escaping from the atmosphere back into space. Without this compensating flow of heat out of the system, the temperature of the earth’s surface and its atmosphere rise steadily. Scientists are increasingly concerned about a human – driven greenhouse effect resulting from a rise in atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide and other heat – trapping greenhouse gases. The man-made greenhouse effect is the exhalation of industrial civilization. A major contributing factor is the burning of large amount of fossil fuels – coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Another is the destruction of the world’s forests, which reduces the amount of carbon dioxide converted to oxygen by plants. Emission of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrous oxide, and methane from human activities will enhance the greenhouse effect, causing the earth’s surface to become warmer. The main greenhouse gas, water vapor, will increase in response to global warming and further enhance it. There is agreement within the scientific community that the buildup of greenhouse gases is already causing the earth’s average surface temperature to rise. This is changing global climate at an unusually fast rate. According to the World Meteorological Organization, the earth’s temperature climbed about 1 degree F in the past century, and nine of the ten warmest years on record have occurred since 1990. A United Nations panel has predicted that average global temperatures could rise as much as 10.5 degrees F during the next century as heat-trapping gases from human industry accumulate in the atmosphere. What are the potential impacts of an enhanced greenhouse effect? According to estimates by an international committee, North American climatic zones could shift northward by as much as 550 kilometers [340 miles]. Such a change in climate would likely affect all sectors of society. In some areas, heat and moisture stress would cut crop yields, and traditional farming practices would have to change. For example, in the North American grain belt, higher temperature and more frequent drought during the growing season might require farmers to switch from corn to wheat and to use more water for irrigation. [A] Global warming may also cause a rise in sea level by melting polar ice caps. A rise in sea level would accelerate coastal erosion and inundate islands and low–lying coastal plains, some of which are densely populated. [B] Millions of acres of coastal farmlands would be covered by water. [C] Furthermore, the warming of seawater will cause the water to expand, thus adding to the potential danger. [D] Global warming has already left its fingerprint on the natural world. Two research teams recently reviewed hundreds of published papers that tracked changes in the range and behavior of plant and animal species, and they found ample evidence of plants blooming and birds nesting earlier in the spring. Both teams concluded that rising global temperatures are shifting the ranges of hundreds of species – thus climatic zones – northward. These studies are hard evidence that the natural world is already responding dramatically to climate change, even though the change has just begun. 31.According to the passage, how do carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases affect the earth-atmosphere system? A. They collect solar radiation that warms the earth’s surface. B. They create the conditions for new forms of life to emerge. C. They cause heat to flow from the atmosphere into space. D. They decrease the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere. 32.Which sentence below best expresses the essential information in the bold sentence in paragraph 2? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out the essential information. The man-made greenhouse effect is the exhalation of industrial civilization. A. The greenhouse effect causes breathing problems in industrial workers. B. The growth of industry was made possible by the greenhouse effect. C. Scientists are seeking better ways to manufacture greenhouse gases. D. Industrial activities result in emissions that cause the greenhouse effect. 33.All of the following are contributing factors to global warming EXCEPT …. A. the burning of coal and petroleum. B. the loss of forest lands. C. the conversion of carbon dioxide to oxygen. D. the buildup of water vapor in the atmosphere. 34.What can be inferred from paragraph 3 about global climate change? A. Climate change will have both positive and negative effects on human society B. It is difficult to predict the effects of climate change over the next century. C. International organizations have been studying climate change only since 1990 D. Climate change is likely to continue as long as heat-trapping gases accumulate. 35.According to paragraph 4, what is one effect that climate change could have on agriculture in North America? A. Return to more traditional methods of farming B. Movement of farms to the northernmost regions C. Changes in the crops that farmers can grow D. Less water available for irrigating crops 36.The word “inundate” in paragraph 5 is closest in meaning to……….. A. cover B. reduce. C. move. D. create. 37.Why does the author mention fingerprint in paragraph 6? A. To show that hundreds of fingerprints were examined B. To introduce conclusive evidence of global warming C. To describe a method used by two research teams D. To suggest that people do not cause global warming 38.The word “they” in paragraph 6 refers to ……… A. teams. B. papers. C. species. D. birds. 39.What evidence does the author give that climatic zones have shifted northward? A. Solar radiation escapes from the atmosphere back into space. B. The water in the ocean expands as it gets warmer. C. Plants bloom and birds build nests earlier in the spring. D. Birds no longer pollinate plants or control insect populations. 40.Look at [A], [B], [C], and [D] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage. The combination of melting ice caps with the expansion of water could raise the sea level several centimeters by the year 2100. Where would the sentence best fit? Choose the letter that shows where the sentence should be added. A. [A] B. [B] C. [C] D. [D WRITING (2 Tasks, 60’) ĐỀ 1 TASK 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. You received an email from your English friend, Jane. She asked you for some information about one of your friends. Read part of her email below. I’ve just got an email from your friend, An. She said she’s going to take a course in London this summer. She asked if she could stay with my family until she could find an apartment. Can you tell me a bit about her (things like her personality, hobbies and interests, and her current work or study if possible)? I want to see if she will fit in with my family. Write an email responding to Jane. You should write at least 120 words. You do not need to include your name or addresses. Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… TASK 2 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task Read the following text from a book about tourism. Tourism has become one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Millions of people today are travelling farther and farther throughout the year. Some people argue that the development of tourism has had negative effects on local communities; others think that its influences are positive. Write an essay to an educated reader to discuss the effects of tourism on local communities. Include reasons and any relevant examples to support your answer. You should write at least 250 words. Your response will be evaluated in terms of Task Fulfillment, Organization, Vocabulary and Grammar. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ĐỀ 2 TASK 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. You received an email from your English pen friend, Paul. He asked you about your TV in your country. Read part of his email below. One of my hobbies is watching TV. There are many fantastic programs for me to watch. Sometimes I can spend my whole day watching TV. Could you tell me about TV in your country? Are the programs interesting to you? What is your best favourite TV program? What is that program about? How much TV do you watch every day? Do people in your country watch too much TV these days? I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon. Write an email responding to Paul. You should write at least 120 words. You do not need to include your name or addresses. TASK 2 Read the following text from an article about smoking. Medical studies have shown that smoking not only leads to health problems for the smoker, but also for people close by. For this reason, smoking should not be allowed in public places. Opponents argue that the forbiddance of smoking would possibly affect the freedom of choice or lead to the closure of many bars and pubs. However, supporters of this ban place people’s health problems at the top of the scale. Now, write an essay to an educated reader to discuss your opinions about whether public smoking should be banned or not. Include reasons and any relevant examples to support your answer. You should write at least 250 words.

SOCIAL INTERACTION (~ 3 mins) (tương tác XH)

Let’s talk about health – I am going to talk about health (We must say that health pla ys an important role in our life More and more people are becoming interested in healt h There are many ways for people to stay healthy and keep fit)

- What do people where you live do to keep fit? - People where I live/ They often play sports to keep fit (such as running, walking, swimming or badminton Some peo ple go to the gym)

- Do you think that they are practicing in the right way? – I think/ don’t think they are practicing in the right way (because these sports are easy to play and they do not need instructors)

- In what ways is doing gyms good or not good for old people? – I think doing gy m is good for old people if they practice in the right way

Now, let’s talk about healthcare service where you live – Now, I am going to talk abo ut healthcare service where I live

- What do people in your area usually do when they have health problems? – peop le in my area usually buy medicine from drugstore Some people go to a clinic Some people go to a hospital

- Do you think that it is good to open private clinics? – I think it is good to open pr ivate clinics (because it is more convenient for people to have their health service ther e Besides, hospitals are overloaded with patients)

- What are the downsides of having too many private clinics? – The government c annot control the quality of the private clinics (It will be difficult for government to c ontrol the quality of the service of the clinics In addition, the examination and tests h ere are expensive.)

SOLUTION DISCUSSION (~4 mins) (thảo luận giải pháp) (1’ – 3’) (2’ – 2’).3

Situation: You are planning to take your secondary students to participate (tham gia) in outdoor activities (hoạt động) Which do you think are the most preferable (thích hơn) to them?

THREE options of dressing for girls are suggested:

- I am going to talk about the situation You are planning to take your secon dary students to participate (tham gia) in outdoor activities (hoạt động) Which do you think are the most preferable (thích hơn) to them?

THREE options of dressing for girls are suggested:

- In my opinion, the second option (selected tops and shorts) is the best choice.

- There are some reasons why I choose this option First, it is the fact that tops and shorts are suitable and comfortable for outdoor activities Second, tops and shorts with shoes are beautiful and fashionable

- The first option (uniforms) and the last one (skirts) are not suitable for girls in outdoor activities because they don’t like to wear uniforms when they go out It is boring Besides, uniforms are not comfortable Skirts are not suitable for running, jumping or camping

- In short, the second option (selected tops and shorts) are the most suitable for secondary students to participate in outdoor activities

- I am going to talk about the situation (đọc lại đề)

- In my opinion ……… is the best choice (đưa ra sự lựa chọn)

- There are some reasons why I choose this option First, it is the fact that + (lí do 1) Second, … (lí do 2).

- …… And ……… are not suitable for ………

- In short, …… is the most suitable for ………

 Lí do tại sao mình chọn phương án nào đó

- Because it is good for me It brings me some benefits.

- It is + adj (cheap, beautiful, relaxing, interesting, useful, convenient, popular, comfortable, safe, fast, delicious, healthy, good for my health, good for my job,…)

- I can relax after work, improve my health/ my knowledge/ English, save a lot of money, go anywhere at any time.

- It is suitable for children, older people (sự phù hợp về tuổi, giới tính)

 Lí do k chọn 2 phương án còn lại

- It is + adj (boring, expensive, noisy, crowded, polluted, harmful to )

- V (destroy, waste time and money, pollute the air, badly affect our health

- It is suitable for …… , not for ………

Choose a birthday present for your friend

In my opinion, the first option (a book) is the best choice

There are some reasons why I choose this option It is good for my friend It brings her some benefits First, it is cheap so I can save a lot of money Second, it is useful. She can improve her knowledge Finally, it is interesting She can relax after work and reduce stress Besides, my friend like reading books very much

The second option (flowers) and the last one (cake) are not suitable for my friend.She doesn’t like flowers and eating sweet things In addition, flowers and cakes are expensive It wastes money.

In my opinion, the first option (cartoon) is the best choice

First, children like often like watching cartoon because it is interesting The children can relax after school Second, it is suitable for children Third, cartoon is useful The children can learn a lot of things cartoon

The second option (action movie) and the last one (detective movies) are not suitable for children Action movies are harmful to children They badly affect the development of children’s personalities

TOPIC DEVELOPMENT (~ 5 mins) (phát triển chủ đề) (1’ – 4’)

5

Let’s talk about happiness – I am going to talk about happiness

- What do you think happiness is? – I think happiness is good health and money. (I think happiness is having a lot of money, travelling around the world or doing what we like)

- Do you think that rich people are always happy? – I don’t think that rich people are always happy (because money is not everything)

- What do you do to make yourself happy? – I often go shopping, listen to music, or chat with friends to make myself happy

Now, let’s talk about money – Now I am going to talk about money

- Do you think money is more important than any other aspects of life? – I think money is more important than any other aspects of life because money can do a lot of things

- What would you do if you had a lot of money? – I would buy a big house for my family, buy a new car and travel around the world if I had a lot of money

- What are the downsides of having too much money? – If we have too much mon ey, we will become lazy Some people will not have time for their family.

SOCIAL INTERACTION (~ 3 mins)