TỔNG HỢP ĐỀ THI IELTS SPEAKING PART 1 TỪ NĂM 2015 2017 KHÁI QUÁT TRONG 30 CHỦ ĐỀ LỚN

Bộ đề dành cho các sĩ tử ôn thi Ielts với mục tiêu band 8.0 trở lên. Bài viết cung cấp cách trả lời câu hỏi cho phần ielts speaking part 1 bằng cách đưa ra các chùm từ vựng lớn gồm nhiều từ mới hữu ích, expressions, collocations, idioms với trình độ band 8.0 trở lên. Đặc biệt, bài viết cũng sưu tầm và trả lời mẫu các câu hỏi chính thức đã xuất hiện trong đề thi Ielts của IDP và BC từ năm 2015 đến đầu năm 2017. Hy vọng bài viết sẽ có ích thực sự cho bạn đọc!

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TỪ VỰNG HỌC THUẬT VÀ HƯỚNG DẪN TRẢ LỜI BAND 8+ CHO 30 CHỦ

ĐỀ LỚN TRONG IELTS SPEAKINGCONTEN

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1 FRIENDS 12

1.1 Good idioms related to the topic 12

1.2 Sample questions and answers 14

1.2.1 Are your friends mostly your age or different ages? 14

1.2.2 Do you usually see your friends during the week or at weekends? 14

1.2.3 The last time you saw your friends, what did you do together? 15

1.2.4 In what ways are your friends important to you? 15

1.2.5 Do you see your friends very often? 15

1.2.6 What do you like about your close friends? 15

1.2.7 Have you known each other long? 15

1.2.8 Do you prefer having a few of close friends or a lot of just friends? 15

2 FAMILY 16

2.1 Useful words and expressions 16

2.2.1 Could you tell me something about your family? 18

2.2.2 What does your mother / father do? 19

2.2.3 Who does most of the shopping in your family? 19

2.2.4 Who does most of the cooking in your house? 19

3 TRANSPORTATION 19

3.2.1 How did you get here today? 20

3.2.2 Do you often use public transport? 20

3.2.3 How could the transport system be improved in your country? 20

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3.2.4 What form of transport do you prefer to use? Why? 21

3.2.5 How much time do you spend travelling on a normal day? 21

3.2.6 What do you do while you are travelling? 21

3.2.7 Do you ever have problems with transport? 21

4 TECHNOLOGY 21

4.2.1 Do you enjoy using technology? 22

4.2.2 Do you use the Internet for your studies? 22

5 EMAIL 23

5.1.1 How often do you send an email? 23

5.1.2 Who do you often write to? 23

5.1.3 Do you prefer sending an email or writing a letter? 23

5.1.4 Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting? 24

5.1.5 What kinds of letters or emails do you think are hardest to write? 24

5.1.6 How often do you feel when you receive a letter or email? 24

6 TELEPHONE 24

6.1.1 How often do you make telephone calls? 24

6.1.2 Who do you spend most time talking to on the telephone? 24

6.1.3 When do you think you'll next make a telephone call? 24

6.1.4 Do you sometimes prefer to send a text message instead of telephoning? 25

7 MOBILE PHONE 25

7.1.1 Do you often use your mobile phone? 25

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7.1.2 What do you do on your mobile phone? 25

7.1.3 What are the disadvantages of using mobile phone? 25

7.1.4 Do you like sending messages? 25

8 COMPUTERS 26

8.1.1 Do you use computers? 26

8.1.2 How often do you use computers? 26

8.1.3 What kinds of activities involves using computers? 26

8.1.4 How important is your computer to you? 26

8.1.5 What kind of computer skills do you have? 27

8.1.6 Do you have your own computer? 27

9 FASHION AND CLOTHES 27

9.1 Useful vocabularies and expressions 27

9.2.1 What clothes do you usually like to wear? 28

9.2.2 What different clothes do you wear for different situations? 28

9.2.3 Will you change your clothes when you go home today? 28

9.2.4 Do you think the clothes we wear say something about who we are? 28

9.2.5 Do you enjoy buying clothes? 28

9.2.6 What kind of clothes do you like to wear? 29

9.2.7 Are there many clothes shops where you live? 29

10 SPORTS AND GAMES 29

10.1 Useful vocabularies and expressions 29

10.2.1 What games are popular in your country? 29

10.2.2 Do you play any games? 29

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10.2.3 How do people learn to play games in your country? 29

10.2.4 Do you think it's important for people to play games? 29

10.2.5 Do you like playing sport? 30

10.2.6 Where do you often play sport? 30

10.2.7 What is the most popular sport in your country? 30

10.2.8 Is playing sport important? 30

11 THE MEDIA 30

11.1 Useful vocabularies and expressions: 30

11.2 Other useful vocabularies for newspapers: 32

11.3 Vocabularies and idioms for TV: 33

11.4.1 What is the most popular TV programme in your country? 33

11.4.2 Why do people like watching TV? 33

11.4.3 What is your favorite TV programme? 33

11.4.4 How often do you watch TV programmes? 34

12 COMMUNICATION 34

12.1.1 How do you usually keep in touch with members of your family? 34

12.1.2 Do you prefer to speak to people by phone or by writing emails? 34

12.1.3 Do you ever write letters by hand? (Why / Why not?) 34

12.1.4 Is there anything you dislike about mobile phones? 34

13 NEWSPAPERS AND NEWS 34

13.1.1 Do you often read newspapers? 34

13.1.2 Which do you prefer, newspapers or magazines? Or What are the differences between newspapers and magazines? 35

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13.1.3 How important is it to you to get the news every day? 35

13.1.4 What sorts of news are you most interested in? 35

13.1.5 How do you usually find this news? 35

13.1.6 Do you prefer to read newspapers or watch TV to get news? 35

13.1.7 What sections of a newspaper do you often read? 36

13.1.8 Which do you think is more important, domestic news or international news? 36 14 HOLIDAY AND TRIPS 36

14.2.1 What kind of holiday do you like? 39

14.2.2 What do you like to do when you’re on holiday? 39

14.2.3 Do you have many tourists in your country? 39

14.2.4 Are there many public holidays in your country? 39

14.2.5 Do you think that there should be more holidays in your country? 39

14.2.6 What do you usually do on a holiday? 40

15 LEISURE TIME 40

15.2.1 What do you like to do in your free time? 43

15.2.2 Have your leisure activities changed since you were a child? 43

15.2.3 Do you prefer to spend your free time alone or with other people? 44

16 MUSIC AND MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 44

16.1 Idioms: 44

16.2.1 Do you like music? 44

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16.2.2 Which musical instrument do you like listening to most? (Why?) 45

16.2.3 Have you ever learned to play a musical instrument? 45

16.2.4 Do you think children should learn to play an instrument at school? 45

16.2.5 How easy would it be to learn to play an instrument without a teacher? 45

16.2.6 Is there any relation between the age and the type of music people like? .46

16.2.7 Is the Internet a good or bad thing for the music industry? 46

16.2.8 Do you like to listen to the live music in the concert? 46

16.2.9 What are the differences between the live music and the music in the CDs? 46 16.2.10 When was your last time to go to the concert? 47

16.2.11 Can you describe your experience of a latest live concert? 47

17 DANCING 47

17.1 Idioms 47

17.2.1 Do you enjoy dancing? Why / Why not? 47

17.2.2 Has anyone every taught you to dance? Why / Why not? 47

17.2.3 Tell me about any traditional dancing in your country 48

17.2.4 Do you think that traditional dancing will be popular in the future? Why / Why not? 48 18 COOKING 48

18.1 Idioms 48

18.1.1 Do you like cooking? 49

18.1.2 Who did the cooking in your family when you were a child? 49

18.1.3 Do you think that it's important to know how to cook well? 49

18.1.4 Do you think that children should be taught cookery at school? 49

18.1.5 What time do you usually eat dinner? 50

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18.1.6 Are there any types of food you don’t like? 50

18.1.7 What is your favourite dish? 50

19 WATCHING MOVIES 50

19.1 Idioms 50

19.2.1 Do you watch movies? Or Do you like watching films? 50

19.2.2 How often do you like to see a movie? 51

19.2.3 What sorts of movies do you usually watch? Why? 51

19.2.4 Would you like to make a film in the future? Why? 51

19.2.5 Why do you think movies are important? 52

19.2.6 Are movies always based on facts? 52

19.2.7 Do you think films have changed since you were a child? 52

19.2.8 As the technology for home viewing improves, do you think people will stop going to the cinema in future? 52

20 READING 52

20.1 Idioms 52

20.2.1 Do you like reading? 53

20.2.2 Do you prefer reading books or watching films? 53

20.2.3 Do you usually read for leisure or for work purposes? 53

20.2.4 What was your favorite book or story when you were a child? 53

20.2.5 Do you think it's important that children read regularly? 54

20.2.6 Is reading books important before going to sleep? 54

20.2.7 What is the best time for reading? Why? 54

20.2.8 What is the best place for reading? 54

20.2.9 What do you like to read? Why? 54

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20.2.10 Is reading as pleasurable in digital format? 54

21 SHOPPING 55

21.1 Idioms 55

21.2.1 Do you like shopping? 55

21.2.2 What kind of shopping do you like doing? 55

21.2.3 Who does most of the shopping in your household? 55

21.2.4 Is shopping a popular activity in your country? 56

21.2.5 What types of shops do teenagers like best in your country? 56

21.2.6 Do you often go shopping for personal items? 56

21.2.7 Are there many shops where you live? 56

21.2.8 Do you enjoy shopping? 56

22 COLLECTING 56

22.1 Idioms: 56

22.2.1 Do you like collecting things? 57

22.2.2 Why do you think people collect certain objects? 57

22.2.3 Is there anything that you would like to collect in the future? 57

23 SWIMMING 57

23.1 Idioms: 57

23.2.1 Do you like swimming? Why? 57

23.2.2 How often do you swim? 58

23.2.3 Is swimming good for children, in your opinion? 58

23.2.4 Should it be a compulsory activity for children at school? Why? 58

24 WEATHER AND SEASONS 58

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24.1 Vocabularies and useful expressions: 58

24.2.1 What’s the weather like where you live? 59

24.2.2 What do you do when the weather is bad? 60

24.2.3 What type of weather do you like best? 60

24.2.4 Would you like to have this type of weather all year round? 60

24.2.5 Have you ever experienced any bad weather? 60

25 PHOTOGRAPHY 61

25.1 Useful expressions and vocabularies: 61

25.2.1 Do you like to take photos of new places? 62

25.2.2 Is photography popular in your country? 62

25.2.3 What kinds of photographs do you like looking at? 62

25.3 Would you like to buy a postcard or take a photograph? 62

26 ANIMALS AND PLANTS 62

26.1 Vocabularies and expressions: 62

26.2.1 What is your favourite bird? 66

26.2.2 How do people in your country treat birds? 66

26.2.3 Should we protect birds? 66

26.2.4 Is there any special meaning of birds in your country? 66

26.2.5 Do you like flowers? 67

26.2.6 What is your most favorite flower? 67

26.2.7 Why do some people like flowers? 67

26.2.8 Is there any special meaning of some flowers? 67

27 ENVIRONMENT 67

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27.1.1 Useful vocabularies and expressions 67

27.2.1 Are there any environmental problems in your country? 71

27.2.2 Do you take an interest in nature? 71

27.2.3 Do you or your family take steps to help the environment? 71

28 HOMETOWN – TOWNS AND CITIES 71

28.2 Sample answers 74

28.2.1 What is it like where you live? 74

28.2.2 Do you like living in the city? 74

28.2.3 Do you get many tourists visting your area? 75

28.2.4 Do you thing your home town is a good place for young people? Why? 75

28.2.5 Has it changed much in recent years? 75

28.2.6 What kind of jobs do people in your hometown do? 75

28.2.7 What are the things you dislike about your hometown? Serious problems?75 29 WORK 77

29.2 Sample answers 79

29.2.1 Do you work or are you a student? What do you do? 79

29.2.2 What are your responsibilities there? 79

29.2.3 Do you enjoy your job? 79

29.2.4 What is the best thing about your job? 79

29.2.5 What do you see yourself doing in 10 years time? 80

30 STUDY AND EDUCATION 80

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1 FRIENDS 1.1 Good idioms related to the topic

GOOD RELATIONSHIPS:

 get on like a house on fire: have an extremely good relationship / be very closefriends as soon as we met each other we got on like a house on fire and just took aninstant liking to each other

 have a soft spot for: to like someone

 I always had a soft spot for Maria despite the fact that she often let me down [to letsomeone down is to disappoint them]

 get along with: to have a good relationship with

 I suppose I always got along quite well with my sister when we were growing up

 look up to: to admire or respect

 When I was a child I always looked up to my father He was a real role model forme

 speak the same language: If you speak the same language as someone, you havesimilar ideas and thoughts as them

I think one reason we get on so well is that we really speak the same language as eachother There’s almost nothing we disagree about

 be on the same wavelength: this is another idiom meaning to have similar thoughtsand ideas as someone else

 We’re almost exactly on the same wavelength as each other and agree about almosteverything

BAD RELATIONSHIPS:

 fall out: to have a serious disagreement

 We used to get on pretty well but then we fell out with each other when we went touniversity

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 a rocky relationship: to have a relationship that is unsteady and perhaps sometimesfails completely It is quite similar to a love-hate relationship.

 It was quite a rocky relationship as we used to argue with each other all the time and

we sometimes went days without speaking to each other

 can’t stand: if you can’t stand someone, you hate them

 I couldn’t stand my brother when we were younger I guess it was an extreme case

of sibling rivalry

 turn sour: when a relationship turns sour it becomes bad

 I think our relationship turned sour when she refused to help me

 get off on the wrong foot with: this is to start a relationship in the wrong way

 Although we are now good friends, our relationship got off on the wrong foot andinitially we couldn’t stand each other

 clear the air: you clear the air after an argument to settle differences with someone.There are times when we have serious disagreements, but we always manage to clearthe air afterwards

 get on someone’s nerves: if someone gets on your nerves, they irritate you greatly.Despite the fact that she is a nice person and has many good qualities, she still gets on

my nerves and I find it hard to like her

 let someone down: if someone lets you down, they disappoint you in some way.They are unreliable

 I do like her, but there was one occasion when she let me down quite badly

 look down on: to think that you are more important than someone else This isreally the opposite of look up to

One thing I don’t like about him is that he looks down on people who are lessintelligent than him

CLOSENESS OF RELATIONS:

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 move in the same circles: if you move in the same circles, you have the samefriends Although we are not particularly good friends, we see each other quite a lot as

we move in the same circles

 be on nodding terms: to know each other only slightly We use this foracquaintances and not friends

 While we are on nodding terms and say hello to each other every day, I wouldn’tcall him a friend

 know someone inside out: this is to know someone very well It doesn’t necessarilymean that you like them!

I guess you could say I know him inside out by now - all his good points and all hisbad points

 keep in touch with: to stay in contact with someone

Sadly, we didn’t stay in touch with each other after we left school and I don’t knowwhat he’s doing now

 see eye to eye with someone: to agree with someone

 We see eye to eye about most things but we can never agree about what film towatch

 keep yourself to yourself: not to mix socially with other people This is normallyused in a positive sense

 He wasn’t very outgoing and sociable and preferred to keep himself to himself Forall that, he was perfectly friendly

 wear the trousers: to be the more important person in the relationship AlthoughDavid earns more money, it is Sylvia who really wears the trousers in the relationship.David will also do what she says,

 a fair-weather friend: this is someone who is only your friend when things are easy.She was something of a fair-weather friend though and I couldn’t rely on her for helpwhen times were bad

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1.2 Sample questions and answers

1.2.1 Are your friends mostly your age or different ages?

Most of my friends are about the same age as me because we met at school oruniversity I've got several friends who are older or younger that I met through work

1.2.2 Do you usually see your friends during the week or at weekends?

I tend to meet up with my friends at weekends because everyone's too busy during theweek

1.2.3 The last time you saw your friends, what did you do together?

It was one of my friends' birthday last weekend Four of us went out for a meal tocelebrate

1.2.4 In what ways are your friends important to you?

I think it's important to have friends that you can talk to and share experiences with

My friends make me laugh, but I know I can also rely on them whenever I need help

or support

1.2.5 Do you see your friends very often?

Well, to be honest, I used to push the boat out with my friends most of the time, but I

am in last year of university now, so I am very busy with my study For that reason, I

don’t often have the chance to take a break and spend time with my friends any

more

1.2.6 What do you like about your close friends?

I think we enjoy each other’s company we see eye-to-eye on most things so we rarely fall out with each other.

1.2.7 Have you known each other long?

Most of them yes Although my closest friend Carrie, we struck up a relationship at college and got on like a house on fire but yes my other friendships go back

years to when we were at school.

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1.2.8 Do you prefer having a few of close friends or a lot of just friends?

- Although it could be fun to have a large circle of friends, I’d rather have a few closefriends because we get to be able to spend more time with each other and developmore meaningful relationships

- I would prefer to have a few close friends because what I am concerned about is thequality of friendships, not the quantity What I mean is that I need friends who will

stand by me through ups and downs in life, not just when times are good.

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2 FAMILY 2.1 Useful words and expressions

 I live in a one-parent family / single-parent family (a family where the children livewith only one parent)

 I really enjoy my family life (the way a family lives)

 I come from a big family of eight children (the group of people who are related to you)

 I grew up on a farm (develop from being a child to being an adult)

 I grew up knowing that my elder brother would take over the family business one day.(the job your parents and probably your grandparents used to do)

 Nuclear family (a family consisting of mother, father and their children)

 Extended family (all the people in a family including aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.)

 Family background (the sort of family you come from)

 She’s / he’s family (informal) (used to say that someone is related to you)

 A large household (all the people who live in one house)

 My domestic life isn’t very happy (connected with the private family home)

 I live on my own I haven’t got any family (the group of people who are related to oneanother)

 We’ve got the same name but are not related (the way you are connected)

 He lives with us, but he’s not related / unrelated (a person who is not a member ofyour family)

 He is a close / distant relative of mine (near or not in a family relationship)

 I really take after my mother (to look like or be like a parent or older member of yourfamily)

 All the men in our family are bald I support it’s hereditary (a quality which is passedfrom parents to children)

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 All her children are very artistic It must run in the family (something which is passedfrom parents to children / a common feature in a family)

 Bringing up / raising children is never easy (to look after children in a family untilthey are adults and to teach them how to behave)

 My parents really tried to give me a good upbringing (the way somebody is broughtup)

 My father recently lost his job, so my mother’s the main breadwinner now (a personwho earns all or most of the money in family)

 I need a job, so I can support my family (to have enough money to be able to lookafter a family)

 I am getting married next year and hope to start a family straight away (have children)

 My father is really a family man (a man who enjoys being at home with his wife andchildren)

 He's got some fatherly concern and duties (behaving like a father)

 Motherhood really suits her (the state of being a mother)

 She is a motherly sort of person behaving like a mother)

 Danny is my foster brother (having different parents, but being brought up in the samefamily)

 My step father is a nice man (the man who is married to your mother but is not yourfather)

 Paul is my big brother / older / elder brother (older than you)

 Anna is my little sister / younger sister (younger than you)

 We're identical twins (twins who look exactly the same)

 My twin sister is a dentist (either of the children who have the same parents and areborn at the same time)

 She doesn't get on well with her in-laws (the parents of your husband or wife)

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 Next of kin (your closest relative, who should be told if you are injured or killed)

 I closely resemble my father (to be closely similar to, or look like someone)

 You can see the resemblance between Susan and her sister (a similarity between twothings, especially in the way they look)

 He bears a remarkable resemblance to my father (to be or look somebody / somethingelse)

 My parents live apart from each other (if married people decide to separate, then theylive apart)

Idioms:

 It’s in the blood (= it’s a natural part of one’s character): All my family are fond ofreading- I guess it’s in the blood)

 Run in the family (= be shared family characteristics): My brothers and I have big

ears-it runs in the family

 Born with a silver spoon in one’s mouth (= born into a rich family): I wasn’t exactlyborn with a silver spoon in my mouth- my family is quite normal

2.2.1 Could you tell me something about your family?

 Certainly We are a normal Vietnamese family It consists of my father, my mother and

me I am the only child, so I don’t have any brothers or sisters My grandparents passedaway when I was still very young, so I do not have the privilege of meeting them Myfather was one of four children, and my mother has a brother I have a number of uncles,aunts and cousins

 My immediate family consists of 4 members: my mother, my father, my elder sister

and me However, as both my mother and father come from large families, I also have anextended family with many uncles, aunties and cousins Even though we do not meet each

other so often, our ties are very strong.

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2.2.2 What does your mother / father do?

My mother is a teacher and she works at a small primary school located within walkingdistance from my house And she’s going to retire in the next few years

2.2.3 Who does most of the shopping in your family?

As far as this topic is concerned, I would say that my mother does most of the shopping,but my father and I will do some shopping from time to time I sometimes shop forclothes and cosmetics while my father has to purchase cigarettes himself as my motherdoes not like his smoking’s habit and refuses to buy that kind of thing

2.2.4 Who does most of the cooking in your house?

As far as this topic is concerned, I would say that my mother does most of the cooking,but my father and I will do some cooking from time to time My mother is a talented cookwho often comes up with interesting recipes I and my father are huge fans of her, all thedishes by her are masterpieces in ours’ eyes

3.1 Useful words and expressions

Transport problems: những vấn đề giao thông

 long delays (in airports): sự trì hoãn kéo dài (trong các chuyến bay)

 lost luggage: mất hành lý

 cancellations (of flights / trains): huỷ chuyến (chuyến bay, chuyến tàu)

 missed connections: mất liên lạc

 traffic-jams / congestion: ách tách giao thông

 roadworks / diversions: công trường thi công / chuyển hướng

 breakdowns / accidents: xe cộ hỏng hóc / tai nại giao thông

 pollution: ô nhiễm môi trường

Solutions to inner-city congestion: giải pháp cho tình huống tác nghẹn giao thông trong lòng thành phố

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 road access charges in city centers: các khoản phí đường bộ trong trung tâm thành phố

 bypasses / ringroads: cầu vượt / đường vành đai

 park and ride schemes: các quy định về đỗ xe và lái xe

 free rental of city bikes: cho thuê xe đạp miễn phí

 more cycle lanes: xây dựng thêm nhiều làn đường dành cho xe đạp

 more frequent buses: bổ sung thêm nhiều chuyến xe bus

 cheaper public transport: giảm phí các loại phương tiện công cộng

 more pedestrianised streets: bổ sung thêm nhiều tuyến phố đi bộ

 more electric trams: bổ sung thêm các tuyến xe điện (một số quốc gia nước ngoài)

 more accessible metro system: bổ sung thêm các hệ thống tàu điện ngầm (một số quốcgia nước ngoài)

3.2.1 How did you get here today?

I came by bike because the roads are pretty congested at this time and a bike is quicker Itonly took me about 15 minutes to get here

3.2.2 Do you often use public transport?

Yes, I do I use the bus almost everyday It’s the cheapest way to get around even though

it is really overcrowded and not particularly punctual

3.2.3 How could the transport system be improved in your country?

Well, I think the first step would be to widen roads and build overpasses and underpasses

to help traffic flow more freely which could reduce the congestion in the city center Also,

it could help if the bus service is improved to make it run more frequently which wouldhelp with the overcrowding in rush hour I think those are the two major changes thatneed to happen

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3.2.4 What form of transport do you prefer to use? Why?

I prefer to travel by car because it means that I have my own space Also, the buses andtrains in my city are usually overcrowded; my car is much more comfortable

3.2.5 How much time do you spend travelling on a normal day?

I probably spend about an hour and a half travelling to and from work I travel during therush hours, so there is quite a lot of traffic

3.2.6 What do you do while you are travelling?

I usually listen to the radio or a CD In the morning I like to listen to the news to find outwhat is happening in the world

3.2.7 Do you ever have problems with transport?

Yes, as I said, I get stuck in traffic on my way to and from work I used to get annoyed bytraffic jams, but now I'm used to them

 use / access / log onto the Internet / the Web sử dụng / kết nối Internet / mạng

 go online / on the Internet trực tuyến trên Internet

 have a high-speed / dial-up / broadband / wireless (Internet) connection có đường

truyền tốc độ cao / quay số / băng thông rộng / mạng không dây

 access / connect to / locate the server tiếp cận / kết nối / xác định máy chủ

 use / open / close / launch a / your web browser sử dụng / mở / đóng / bắt đầu trình

duyệt web

 browse / surf / search / scour the Internet / the Web lướt / tìm kiếm / lùng sục Internet

 send / contain / spread / detect a (computer / email) virus

 gửi / chứa / lan truyền / phát hiện một con virus (máy tính hoặc ở email)

 update your anti-virus software cập nhật phần mềm diệt virus

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 install / use / configure a firewall cài đặt / sử dụng / tùy chỉnh tường lửa

 accept / enable / block / delete cookies chấp nhận / kích hoat / chặn / xóa cookies

 Technological advances: những tiến bộ về công nghệ

 Information age: kỷ nguyên thông tin

 Cutting-edge innovation: những cải tiến vượt trội

 The state-of-the-art technology: những công nghệ tiên tiến đỉnh cao

 Labour-saving devices: những thiết bị tiết kiệm năng lượng

 Time-saving devices: những thiết bị tiết kiệm thời gian

 An essential piece of equipment: một thiết bị cần thiết

 Technological gadgets: đồ công nghệ

 Digital technology: công nghệ kỹ thuật số

 Electrical appliances: đồ dùng điện tử

 Ultra-thin design and metallic body: thiết kế cực mỏng và thân bằng kim loại

 Brand-new and cutting-edge: mới tinh và vượt trội

 Capacious: dung lượng lớn

 Multifunctional / versatile: đa năng

4.2.1 Do you enjoy using technology?

Well, I wouldn’t call myself a techie or a computer buff but I enjoy using computers for some personal purposes such as work or studying The majority of my school projects

are required to be done on computers; in case it crashes, I meet a big trouble

4.2.2 Do you use the Internet for your studies?

Yes I’d be lost if I lived without it I need the Internet connection because I usually do

lots of video conferencing to practise speaking, and social media websites like Facebook

or

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Twitter are the good places to meet up with my classmates Additionally, I usually

download online podcasts that teach English vocabulary and grammar Internet is very

helpful for my studying

5.1.1 How often do you send an email?

 I probably write between 5 and 10 work emails every day, and I send emails to friends

or family a few times a week

 I use Gmail to communicate with my students and co-workers / colleagues almost

every day It's very convenient and versatile I can not only send and receive text

messages but also attach files, forward an email to others, and organize my emails indifferent categories for later use / reference

 I probably write between 5 and 10 work emails every day, and I send emails to friends

or family a few times a week

5.1.2 Who do you often write to?

Well, as I've just said, I often send emails to my students and co-workers I also send

emails to my family members once in a blue moon asking them how they are doing or

informing them something big that has just happened in my life

5.1.3 Do you prefer sending an email or writing a letter?

- I prefer sending an email to writing a letter because it's much faster and moreeconomical sending an email than sending a letter You don't have to go to the post office,buy a stamp and an envelope Plus, you don't have to worry that your email would get lostsomewhere like when you send a letter

- It depends what I’m doing I prefer the computer for most things because it’s faster andyou can save or copy things, but I still like making notes or writing ideas down by hand

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5.1.4 Do you think computers might one day replace handwriting?

No, I think we will always write by hand as well I think it’s an important skill, andschools will continue to teach children to write by hand before they learn to type

5.1.5 What kinds of letters or emails do you think are hardest to write?

I think we often have difficulty in writing some kinds of confession letters or emails,which are used when you are in trouble to express your love at your dream lover It is oftenchallenging as I think emotions when you are in love will affect your thinking of what to

write Besides, cover letters attached with a CV also present a task of challenge to me as I

have to think carefully about the content to leave a good impression on employers so that Icould land a job

5.1.6 How often do you feel when you receive a letter or email?

Well, it depends on the type of letters or mails that I receive If it brings about good newslike I have been accepted for a position in a company, I would feel really excited andblissfully happy But when it turns out to be bad news, I would feel down in the dumps.The sadness may last for quite a long time so I really do not want to receive these kinds ofletters or emails

6.1.1 How often do you make telephone calls?

I probably make three or four phone calls every day, usually just to make arrangementswith work colleagues or to speak to family and friends

6.1.2 Who do you spend most time talking to on the telephone?

I think it would be one of my closest work colleagues We often call each other ratherthan meeting face-to-face

6.1.3 When do you think you'll next make a telephone call?

My family is expecting me to phone them as soon as I finish this exam They'll want toknow how it went

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6.1.4 Do you sometimes prefer to send a text message instead of telephoning?

Yes I prefer to send a text message when I'm arranging something simple, like a time tomeet someone In those situations, a phone call isn't necessary

7.1.1 Do you often use your mobile phone?

Yes, I use my mobile phone every day, and it's an indispensable part of my life I can'timagine my life without it

7.1.2 What do you do on your mobile phone?

I often make and receive phone calls and text messages, of course Besides, I use mysmart phone to surf the Internet, check emails and play some mobile games like FlappyBird or Elevate

7.1.3 What are the disadvantages of using mobile phone?

Well, the first drawback of using mobile phone would be that you can get addicted to it.Many people often spend hours Facebooking or playing mobile games and neglect doingtheir jobs or communicating with others Plus, it would be harmful to your eyes if you useyour mobile phone excessively

7.1.4 Do you like sending messages?

I'm not a big fan of messaging because it's a waste of time typing a long message and Ican't hear other people's voice

I love sending messages because when composing a text message, I have more time tothink carefully about what I want to say before sending it It's also more economical thanmaking a call, so I can save up money for books and food Besides, I can send a voicemessage by using imessage or Facebook messenger with my iPhone connected to theInternet It's totally free!

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8 COMPUTERS

8.1.1 Do you use computers?

Yes, of course I think almost everyone in today’ society owns a computer and I am noexception We rely on computers for almost all everyday activities, from working, studying

to relaxing

8.1.2 How often do you use computers?

 I use computers on a daily basis, from 8 to 9 hours per day as part of my job Youknow, as an online teacher, I often have to utilise my laptop for teaching and e-mailing

my students

 Well, I use my computers almost every day to do my work, to play music and to watchmovies

8.1.3 What kinds of activities involves using computers?

 Well, there are a countless number of activities done with the help of computers Forworking people, they rely on computers for processing documents, creating reports,accounting, while students utilise computers for doing research, gaining knowledge,making presentations, and for both listening to music, reading e-books or playing games,everything …

 Well, as I've just said, there are many kinds of activities involving using computerssuch as sending email, surfing the Internet, watching movies, listening to music, youname them Besides, some people use computers for specialized purposes such asprogramming software, editing video / audio and designing houses

8.1.4 How important is your computer to you?

Personally speaking, my computer is extremely necessary in my daily life, just like eatingand sleeping Without a computer, I could not get access to my online social networkslike FB, Twitter and I would lose contact with most of my friends and colleagues I also

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cannot complete my work and my life would become boring and monotonous as I havebeen used to amusing myself by listening to music and playing games online everyday.

8.1.5 What kind of computer skills do you have?

 Well, as my job requires, I have to master Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel andPowerpoint I also know a little about Photoshop as I am really into taking and editingpictures

 To be honest, I am not a computer buff / techie but I know how to use some softwareslike Word, Excel and PowerPoint

8.1.6 Do you have your own computer?

Yes I have a Macbook Pro Since my dad gave it to me as a present on my 18th

birthday, I have used it a lot for word processing, browsing websites and catching up

with TV programs

9.1 Useful vocabularies and expressions

 Clothing: quần áo, y phục

 Garment: may mặc

 Flaunt: sự khoe khoang, chưng diện

 Stylish: sành điệu

 Chic: sành điệu

 Well-made (người): phát triển cân đối

 Hard-wearing: bền, sử dụng được lâu

Idioms:

 The in thing (= fashionable): This summer, baggy jeans are the in thing

 At the height of fashion (= fashionable): Sports clothing is at the height of fashion

 Up-to-the-minute (= the most recent): I don't really follow up-to-the-minute fashions

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 Dressed to the nines (= wearing very formal clothes): If a person is dressed to thenines, then it usually means they want to impress someone.

9.2.1 What clothes do you usually like to wear?

 To be honest, I do not have an eye for fashion / follow fashion, so I often choose towear casual clothes as they make it much easier for me to do my daily activities

 I have to take bus to travel to work everyday, so casual clothes are my number onechoice as they make me feel comfortable and convenient

9.2.2 What different clothes do you wear for different situations?

When I go to work, I often make a choice of formal clothes like suits as they make melook more professional and reliable When hanging out with friends, I always get dressed

up in dresses, and at home I only wear casual clothes to feel comfortable and convenient

9.2.3 Will you change your clothes when you go home today?

Yes, of course I will definitely take my clothes off and switch to casual clothes to feelcomfortable

9.2.4 Do you think the clothes we wear say something about who we are?

Yes, I believe that the clothes we choose can tell a lot about our characteristics and socialstatus as well For many people, wearing clothes from famous brands and designers is away to show off their wealth In addition, some teenagers are always well-dressed becausethey want to look like fashion icons in their friends' eyes

9.2.5 Do you enjoy buying clothes?

I used to yes like most young people I was a bit of a slave to fashion and I'd alwayshave to buy that must-have shirt or pair of shoes I'm not so bothered now though Iwouldn't feel comfortable wearing something old fashioned but I'm not as bothered as Iused to be about what I wear

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9.2.6 What kind of clothes do you like to wear?

I prefer casual clothes actually I hate getting dressed up for special occasions personally I think it's possible to look good in a pair of jeans but that's my opinion Idon't think my wife would call me a fashion icon that's for sure

9.2.7 Are there many clothes shops where you live?

Yes there are lots in my town apart from the big chain stores we've got a couple ofreally nice shops that sell vintage clothes old clothes but in a classic style that neverreally go out of fashion I love going there

10.1 Useful vocabularies and expressions

 Have a crack at (= have a try at): I had a crack at baseball but it was too strenous forme

 Get into shape: I have been trying to get into shape by going to the gym

10.2.1 What games are popular in your country?

Well, if we can consider sports as games, then football is definitely the most populargame in my country, but we also love board games like chess

10.2.2 Do you play any games?

Not regularly these days I play the occasional game of tennis with my brother-in-law, and

I recently played a bowling game on the Nintendo Wii with my nephew I wasn't verygood at it

10.2.3 How do people learn to play games in your country?

I think children teach each other to play games I remember a friend at primary schoolteaching me to play chess, for example

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10.2.4 Do you think it's important for people to play games?

Yes, it's really important, especially for children I think research has shown that playinggames can improve brain development, intelligence, creativity, and the ability to cooperatewith others

10.2.5 Do you like playing sport?

I'm a big fan of swimming When I was in the United States, I used to swim almost everyday at the swimming pool in the Preston Health and Activities Center on the maincampus However, I'm kind of busy with my work these days, so I swim less often than Iused to I find swimming one of the most effective ways to keep fit and relieve stress, and

I will continue to swim in the future

10.2.6 Where do you often play sport?

Well, I often go to the swimming pool in Nguyen Hue High School for gifted studentsnearby my house to swim in the morning I often swim around 15 to 20 laps there, walkback home and have breakfast It's a good start for a day, isn't it?

10.2.7 What is the most popular sport in your country?

Football has always been considered the King of sports in Vietnam It's played almosteverywhere; you know, in the street, in the park, in the school yard, in the field, or in thestadium Furthermore, almost everybody, despite his or her age or gender, can playfootball It's kind of an amazing and social sport!

10.2.8 Is playing sport important?

Yes, it's really of great importance, especially for children I think research has shown thatplaying sport can improve brain development, intelligence, creativity, and the ability tocooperate with others Besides, taking up a sport also help children to be healthier bothmentally and physically

11.1 Useful vocabularies and expressions:

Types of newspapers

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 Tabloids: gossip newspapers (báo lá cải)

 Broadsheets: newspapers printed on a large sheet which are usually considered moreserious (Báo khổ rộng)

 Daily / weekly / monthly newspapers: papers printed once a day / once a week / once amonth

 Quarterly newspapers: newspapers printed once every 3 months

 Heavy newspapers: a newspaper with serious content

 Gutter press: newspapers which focus on sensational journalism, often about the lives

of famous people (báo rẻ tiền, lá cải)

 Periodical: a newsaper or magazine published at regular intervals (Xuất bản định kỳ)

 Local / regional newspapers: a newspaper which contains news from a particular area

 National newspapers: a newspaper which contains news from the whole country

Newspapers content:

 Headlines: heading or title appearing at the top of a page or article

 Columns: news that is printed in vertical columns rather than taking a whole page

 Obituaries: a section in the newspaper about people who have recently died

 Horoscope: a section in the newspaper about star signs and zodiac signs which foretellthe future

 Weather report: a section in the newspaper for weather forecasts

 Business section: a section in the newspaper with business news

 International / world news section: a section in the newspaper which focuses on newsfrom abroad

 Caption: an explanation or title matching a picture or a cartoon

 Letter to the editor: a section in the newspaper for people to express their views to theeditor of the newspaper

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 Special feature: a special story

 Editorial: a news article containing the editor's opinions

 Comic strip: a cartoon series in the newspaper

 Advice column: a column in the newspaper where advice is given to people who write

in for it

 TV guide: a section in the newspaper with a guide for TV programs for the coming day

or week

11.2 Other useful vocabularies for newspapers:

 Circulation: the number of copies a newspaper distributes on an average day (somenewspapers have a wider circulation than others)

 Edition: a particular version of a text (ấn phẩm)

 Layout: the way articles are designed on a page (this can include the position ofpictures, the number of columns and the size of headlines)

 Attention-grabbing: a news story which draws public attention

 Eye-catching: a picture or layout that catches a person's eyes

 In-depth: with many details

 Sensational news: news which causes public excitement or interest

 Black and white: without colors

 Direct quotation: words taken directly from what a person has said

 Paparazzi: a freelance photographer who follows celebrities

 Front page: the first page of a newspaper

 Supplementary magazine: a magazine which sometimes is given free with anewspaper

 Back issue: an old newspaper edition

 Subject matter: the topic dealt with an article

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 Proof reader: a person who checks a text for errors.

 Hot off the press: news that has just been printed and is very recent

 Readership: the collective readers of a newspaper (some newspapers have a largereadership)

 Issue: 1 An important topic for a debate 2 A copy of a newspaper

11.3 Vocabularies and idioms for TV:

 Telly (=TV)

 Sit in front of the telly (= watch TV)

 Watch the box: (= watch TV): I often watch the box at weekends

 Channel surf (= change TV channels frequently): I usually sit in front of the telly andchannel surf

TV Programmes Topic

11.4.1 What is the most popular TV programme in your country?

Well, VTV news is the most well-known TV programme in Vietnam It's oftenbroadcasted / aired live at 12 p.m and 7 p.m every day It provides audiences with up-to-date information about incidents and activities taking place not only in Vietnam but alsoall over the globe

11.4.2 Why do people like watching TV?

People like watching TV because there is a wide variety of programmes for them tochoose, and there are both entertaining and educational programmes available on TVthese days You know, they can watch entertaining programmes like "Masterchef",

"American Idol", or "America's Got Talent"; or educational programmes like "DiscoveryChannel", "National Geographic Channel" or "Geopardy"

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11.4.3 What is your favorite TV programme?

I'm the big fan of Masterchef US as well as Gordon Ramsey, one of the world's mostcelebrated chefs and culinary geniuses I find the show not only very entertaining but alsovery informative / educational I was engrossed in watching every single episodethroughout the six seasons of Masterchef US that have been aired

11.4.4 How often do you watch TV programmes?

I watch VTV news almost every day at 12 p.m while having lunch On the weekend, Ioften watch Masterchef on Star World and try to learn how to make some dishes fromsome of my most favorite talented home cooks

12.1.1 How do you usually keep in touch with members of your family?

I mostly keep in touch with my family by phone, and I've started using the Internet tomake video calls I also try to visit members of my family in person as often as I can

12.1.2 Do you prefer to speak to people by phone or by writing emails?

It depends on the situation I use email and text messages to communicate with friends,but my parents prefer it if I phone them

12.1.3 Do you ever write letters by hand? (Why / Why not?)

No, I don't write letters by hand because it's so much easier to send an email that willarrive immediately

12.1.4 Is there anything you dislike about mobile phones?

Well, I don't like listening to other people's conversations in public places, and I don't like

it when someone's phone rings in the cinema or during a lesson

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13 NEWSPAPERS AND NEWS

13.1.1 Do you often read newspapers?

Yes, I love reading in general, especially reading newspapers as it is a good way to keepmyself up-to-date to what is happening around me Picking up the latest newspaper from

a newsstand has become a habit of mine

13.1.2 Which do you prefer, newspapers or magazines? Or What are the differences between newspapers and magazines?

Personally, I would rather newspapers simply because of two main reasons Firstly,newspapers are generally published on a daily basis, whereas magazines are publishedeither weekly, monthly or quarterly Therefore, newspapers are often more up-to-datecompared to magazines The second difference lies in the content A newspaper usuallycontains a range of subject matter from sports news to weather while a magazine is aimed

at a specific target group such as readers who are interested in fashion or something likethat And this makes it much more convenient for me to grasp informationcomprehensively

13.1.3 How important is it to you to get the news every day?

Well, catching up with the latest news is of great impotance to me, especially thoserelated to the prices of food, petrol or consumer goods I am on a tight budget, so whenfully-equipped with information about these costs of living, I could spend in a plannedway

13.1.4 What sorts of news are you most interested in?

As I have mentioned before, I am always most concerned about news covering the costs

of living Besides, I am also partial towards hot off the press news about celebrities,especially my idols Sometimes when I am in the mood for dressing up, I also have aquick look / glance through at news about fashion to find out what are the latest trendsand ways to mix and match clothes

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13.1.5 How do you usually find this news?

Well, it is easy like eating pancake I can choose either to pick up a newspaper at anewsstand located within walking distance from my house or just surf the Internet Youknow, we are in the information age when every news is easy to get at the click of abutton

13.1.6 Do you prefer to read newspapers or watch TV to get news?

Well, I am more into reading newspapers as you know, as a full-time officer, I do nothave much time for watching news on TV A newspaper seems to be handier for me as it

is portable and I can grasp information right away without having to wait for certain timeswhen the news is aired like on TVs

13.1.7 What sections of a newspaper do you often read?

Well, I care most about the fashion column as I am a bit a slave to fashion Besides, comicstrip or other entertainments like crosswords and horoscope also draw my attention I alsoread critic views of movies, plays or restaurants and note them down so that I would nothave to think too much about ideal places to go to let my hair down at the weekends

13.1.8 Which do you think is more important, domestic news or international news?

From my viewpoint, they are of equal importance Local news is relevant to our lives, sokeeping up with them is necessary For example, a housewife should know about theprices of consumer goods to spend in a planned way However, global news is also crucial

as what is happening in the world may have an impact on us in the future To illustrate,the scarcity of petrol in the world will definitely lead to a rise in petrol prices in petrol-importing countries like Vietnam Therefore, knowing about how the situation is going inthe globe, we can be more well-prepared in advance for the worst

A package tourist / An independent traveller Khách du lịch trọn gói / Khách du lịch tự

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A public holiday / A Bank Holiday Ngày lễ chung

Budget airlines / Low-cost airlines Hàng không giá rẻ

Road accidents / Car crashes Tai nạn đường phố / Đâm ô tô

Environmentally friendly tourism /

Ecotourism Du lịch sinh thái

Tourists / Holidaymakers Khách du lịch

Seasickness / Car sickness / Travel sickness /

Motion sickness Say sóng / Say ô tô / Say xe

Package tour / Guided tour Tour trọn gói

Go trekking / Go on a trekking holiday Đi bộ đường dài, thám hiểm các khu vực

hẻo lánh, xa xôiTake a stroll Đi dạo xung quanh

Go hiking / Go backpacking Đy bộ đường dài / Đy du lịch bụi

Stunning (eg: she looked stunning) Tuyệt đẹp

Thriving (eg: the thriving business George

has built up) Giàu có, thịnh vượng

Vibrant(eg: a vibrant cosmopolitan city) Sôi nổi, mạnh mẽ, đầy khí lực

Restoration (eg: the building has undergone

restoration recently) Tu bổ, sửa chữa

Diverse Đa dạng

Cobbled streets Con đường lát đá cổ kính

Remarkably Một cách độc đáo, riêng biệt

Undergo = Experience= Be subjected to Trải qua

Adventurous Ưa mạo hiểm

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Off the beaten track (eg: we tried to find

locations slightly off the beaten track) Cách xa cư dân, nhà cửa

Get away from it all Một nơi nào đó khác biệt để tận hưởng kì

nghỉ

Unspoilt (eg: unspoilt beaches) Còn nguyên vẹn, chưa bị tác động bởi con

ngườiUnwind = relax Nghỉ ngơi thư giãn

Laze around Nghỉ ngơi và chả làm gì cả

Soak sth up Đắm chìm để cảm nhận

Go for a wander Đi lang thang

Examples using these above words:

Prague is a stunning city, and this thriving capital of the Czech Republic makes a romantic and vibrant city A Stroll through Prague’s cobbled streets is wonderfully exciting: its architecture is remarkably diverse, and amazingly untouched by the

Second World War, although Charles Bridge and the Astronomical Clock have recently

been undergoing restoration

If you need to unwind, try the Algarve in the southern Portugal Laze around on the golden, sandy beaches, soak up the atmosphere of traditional fishing villages like Alvor,

or just go for a wander around Albufeira’s old town, which still retains its wonderful

charm

Idioms:

 Take up (=start): I have recently taken up swimming

 Take part in: I frequently take part in group activities like

 Get into (=enjoy): Recently I have been getting into fishing

 Have a go at (=try): I would really like to have a go at scuba diving

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