TIENG ANH THUE

1 10 Describe your first day at school as a child The advantages and disadvantages of money Why we are taxed My hobbies My favorite TV programs Things I like to In your opinion, what is the most difficult skill of studying English The reasons for your study of English and the ways you have been learning it Why I want to learn Englis The advantages and disadvantages of television 11 Talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the cinema 12 Talk about the film you like best 13 What career would you like to choose after leaving school? (Teacher) 14 What subject you like best in school 15 Talk about the subject you consider most important 16 Life in the city 17 What should we to make a good impression at a job interview 18 Give one of the activities you like to in your spare time 19 My best friend 20 My favorite game/sport 21 The country I would like to visit 22 Talk about life in the village (1) 23 If I had a thousand dollars 24 The importance of water 25 Some people enjoy living in the country but others prefer big city life Compare these two places and give your opinion 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 What I wish to be when I grow up The house where I am living My daily activities My family My mother My school My weekend Describe a teachers’ day Talk about Mothers’ day 35 36 Talk about your best friend Talk about yourself 37 38 My ambition What will I with my first salary 39 40 41 42 A picnic I enjoyed The value of education The market in my town The things I dislike the most 43 Unemployment, especially among young people, is a serious problem in many countries today What can be done about it? What you think about job-creation projects currently run in Vietnam? 44 Describe a day spent by the river or by the sea 45 Computers have become increasingly important and popular Could you describe some useful ways in which computers have so far contributed to our modern life? 46 Talk about your new neighbors 47.The difficulties in learning English and how to overcome them 48 DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL AS A CHILD 49 Your favourite hobby 50 Which season of the year you like best? Why? 51 Why are good books considered good teachers and friends? (Tại sáchhay xem người giáoviên người bạn tổt 52 Describe the countryside in the morning 53 The benefits of sports and physical exercises 54 Why is it necessary to learn English? 55 Describe your best friend and tell why you like him/her 56 .(Smoking is harmful to our health) 57 Which season of the year you like best? Why ? 58 Describe a day spent by the river or bi the sea 59 you have just arrived to visit a foreign country Write to your parent announcing that you have arrived safely and ask them to send something to you 60 Tell me about your indoor hobby and why you enjoy it 61.Dear John 62.What benefits can traveling (travelling) bring to you ? 63 Dear Mom and Dad, 64.COMPOSITIPN 65.Write about a holiday you took Give details 66.Describe your native village and state your reasons Why you love ut 67.Describe the career you have choden, and the reasons for your choice 68.Your English teacher 69.Describe the advantages of living in the country and the disadvantages of living in the city 70.COMPOSITION 71.Why is it necessary to learn English? 72.Your friend is going to move to town Write him/her a letter (about 150 words) giving some advice 73 you came to London a month ago to study English.write a letter to your parent, telling them about the course you are taking and some ò the dificulties you have en counter 74.traveling has become faster and more comfortable 75 overpopulation causes a lot of problems to social and economic development.Discuss and prove the problem 76.Description of my house Describe your first day at school as a child There are such moving incidents in our lives that we can never forget As for me, the most remarkable event in my life is the memory of my first day at school That morning, after waking me up earlier than usual, my mother helped me wash my face and get dressed The school things bought by my mother the previous day were put carefully in the new brown leather schoolbag On the way to school, my mother tenderly held my hand and looked at me fondly The road to school now seemed quite strange to me although in my childhood I rambled along it so many times! The other children of my own age, in new clothes like me, were timidly accompanied by their parents to school A strange and inexplicable feeling bloomed in my heart Then I had a feeling of worry and fear when I caught sight of the imposing and gigantic elementary school in front of me: It looked so majestic in its new colors The schoolyard was packed with pupils and their parents The old pupils were playing with marbles or with spinning tops, running up and down, talking and laughing merrily The headmaster and the teachers, neatly dressed, were standing under the school verandah Suddenly there echoed the sounds of a drum in my heart We were all ordered to stand in line before the flagstaff to salute the colors When the flag salute was over, we by turns went into our classrooms A young and mild-looking teacher greeted us at the door And in a gentle voice he taught us the first lesson The advantages and disadvantages of money Everybody knows the value of money Nothing is more powerful than money In fact, if we have no money, we cannot buy goods, clothes and other necessaries we need Without money, we cannot go to the movies, theaters or other amusements places How can we spend our free time pleasantly on rainy evenings without a color television in front of us? Music from a new hi-fi can relax us quickly after a hard day of work But how can we satisfy our needs, our desires and our pleasures when we cannot afford to buy them? Thanks to money we can improve our spiritual activities easily We can go to any schools, any universities we like to further our knowledge If our parents are wealthy and powerful we may be sent abroad to study Moreover, we can enjoy pure happiness by contributing our money to Charity funds to help the poor, the wretched and the victims of other disasters But money not only brings us the good but the bad as well This accounts for much of the wickedness in the world The rich often depend on it to oppress the poor and millionaires sometimes treat their servants with great cruelty Many young people, being purse proud of their parent’s wealth and richness, neglect their school activities, always play truant and indulge themselves in alcohol, gambling and debaucheries They often commit suicide after playing ducks and drakes with all their parents’ fortune Money, in this way, is the root of all evils To sum up, happiness does not depend on the quantity of money but on the way how we use it We should use our money properly The right use of money may bring us a comfortable life and a cheerful heart Why we are taxed Nobody likes paying taxes Even those who know that taxation is necessary and just, not welcome the taxcollector as a bosom friend It is not pleasant to see part of your monthly income taken away from you in income tax; and the farmer feels aggrieved that so much of his rents, or the profits of his labor, is carried off by government officials Ignorant people think this is an injustice and make a grievance of it; so it is just as well that we should know why we are taxed, so that we can see the fairness of the system Every country must have a government of some sort, or life would be impossible The primary duties of a government are to protect the life and property of the citizens, to maintain law and order and settle disputes between citizens in a just and orderly way through the law-courts, to defend the country from foreign foes, and to maintain and roads and highway Besides this, many governments maintain and direct education, provide hospitals for the sick, and attend to sanitation All these great public duties need money: an army and navy have to be kept up, the police force and the judges have to be paid, schools have to be provided and teachers supported, expert healthofficers and sanitary engineers have to be employed Now where is all the money needed for these public services to come from? That question is answered by another; for whose benefit are all these services maintained? The answer is, for the public It is the people as a whole, rich and poor that benefit by security of life and property, by the sound administration of justice, by the maintenance of roads, by the public hospitals, public schools, and good sanitation Therefore it is only right that the public, the individual citizens of the country, should contribute the money needed; for the money they give comes back to them in the shape of these public benefits which all enjoy So long, there fore, as we have a good and efficient government, so long as our money is being used in the right way, and so long as the burden of taxation is distributed fairly, as different classes can bear it, we have no right to grumble at having to pay our share of the taxes My hobbies I have a number of things I like to in my free time They are my hobbies I am sure other people have their hobbies too The hobby I like most is playing my guitar My guitar very unique and beautiful because it is my favorite The guitar was given to me by my mother for my seven tenth birthday My uncle,who is an accomplish guitarist taught me how to play it Now I can play a few simple tunes I have even begun to sing while playing the guitar but I has not been too successful at this My uncle tells me that all I need is a lot of practice and I should be able to it He is very good at accompanying himself and I admire him very much Another hobby that I spend time on is keeping tropical fishes I have a modest little glass aquarium where I keep a variety of little fishes Some of them were bought from the shop while some of them were caught from the stream near where I live They look so beautiful swimming about in the aquarium and I love to just watch them It is very relaxing to so Even my uncle loves watching them However they die and it is not very pleasant to have to remove the dead ones Also it is quite a tedious job cleaning the aquarium I have to this whenever it gets dirty which is about once in two months I keep stamps too However I would not call myself an avid stamp collector Actually, I just take the stamps from discard envelope that my relatives and friends give me Mostly I get local stamps Once in while I get stamps from places like Sweden,Australia,Saudi Arabia and others I keep the less common ones inside a small album The common ones I usually give away to others or if no one wants them I simply throw them away There are other hobbies that I indulge in once in a while but they are not as interesting as the ones I have mentioned There mentioned really keep me occupied and I am glad I am able to them My favorite TV programs As a senior high school student, I am very busy with my studies Although I am very fond of watching television, I can only spend an hour after dinner on my hobby Of all the TV programs, I like the news and documentaries best The news programs shown on all TV channels at 7:00 p.m help me to know almost everything about different places in our country and important events happening all over the world Through these programs, I can also know about the main national and international sportingevents The documentary programs at weekends are my favorites By watching them, I can learn a great deal about human civilizations, the wonders of nature and the amazing inventions and discoveries of great people in the world Watching television is my hobby I cannot imagine a day in my life without watching it Things I like to I have many interests The activities I spend most of my leisure on, however, are reading, jogging and painting I enjoy reading very much I read widely, ranging from fairytales to nonfiction books on outer space and nature Reading helps to widen my general knowledge and improve my writing skill Therefore, my parents think well of my hobby and often buy me books that I cannot find in the library When my eyes get tired from reading too much, I would go for a slow jog with my dog in the park near my house Jogging regularly makes one healthier I have also made a few friends among the regular joggers in the park Sometimes, instead of jogging, I would stroll in the park, carrying with me my painting equipment I love to capture beautiful things on paper I have taken art lessons since I was nine and I am especially good in water-color painting Besides painting pictures of the park, I also like to draw portraits of my family members All my interests are fun and useful pastimes I believe that everyone should spend their time on some useful hobby rather than laze precious time away In your opinion, what is the most difficult skill of studying English Men who learn English as a foreign language often say that writing is more difficult than any other skills As the fact of the matter, most native speakers of the language have to make their efforts themselves to write accurately and effectively even on what they are well aware of Needless to say, it is not easy at all for a non-native speaker to something that an average native speaker usually considers a difficult job to Here are three reasons which, in my opinion, can answer the question why writing becomes the most difficult skills Firstly, writing requires good grammar A non-native person has to remember a large number of rules in structure which are quite different from their own language This is a very big problem if he or she learns the grammar with an English native teacher at the beginning The teachercannot help to point out the distinct differences between the two languages In this case, the learner must figure out the differences themselves and even outline some rules to convert from their own language to the target language Secondly, people are often known to spend less time to write than to listen, to speak and even to listen Learners learning the language in their country are proved to read more than any other skills while learners learning overseas must listen to the language most of their time In any cases, they spend little of their time for writing It is clearly known that an average person spend the most for listening, the second most for speaking, then reading and finally writing thirdly, when students of English as a foreign language write something, they have a big question in mind whether what they write is correct or incorrect Who can answer the question for them and help them recognize the mistakes It is, in many cases, the teacher who is teaching them and is ready to give them a hand The problem however I want to mention is that the teacher does not have enough time to correct for all of them if there are more than ten students in the class When the teacher corrects the writing for just some of them, the other students cannot recognize their own mistakes Without correction, the mistakes may be repeated many times and become bad habits which are hard to adjust In conclusion, writing is the most difficult skill that learners of any foreign language may face To be good at it, learners must give much effort The reasons for your study of English and the ways you have been learning it It cannot be denied that today English is the most widely used language in the world It has been used in all spheres of public activity Because of its importance I have chosen English as the second language after my mother tongue In fact, English has become the international language If I master this language I can go to any continent in the world: Asia, Europe, Africa, America and Australia Everywhere people speak English Because of its popularity, innumerable books have been written in English; so one of my ways of improving my English is to read books on a variety of subjects: science, sociology, anthropology, geology, entomology, political science and so on If I read books on one or two subjects only my vocabulary will not increase fast enough Therefore I try my best to accumulate as many vocabularies as possible by reading about different subjects because each subject has its own vocabularies The more subjects I read in English the more words I can acquire to express my ideas and thoughts with great ease and satisfaction I have dreamed of becoming a tourist guide one day In order to realize this hope I should read more books on traveling and learn more vocabulary on different aspects Standing before one of my historical vestiges, how can I tell my tourists about the history of my country and the courageous struggles of my people during the period of founding the nation and defending it against foreign invaders if I am not able to obtain any knowledge, any words on this domain? After French, English is a living language because of its vitality and lucidity Thanks to these characteristics, English has been used in all important meetings and conferences or in summit talks between leaders of powerful countries To acquire correct and fluent English I should learn the basic rules of English Grammar and practice speaking English regularly with my friends and my teachers “Practice makes perfect” I should frequently listen to native English speakers through videos, television and radio Whenever I find a new word whose pronunciation I not know I should look it up in the “Every man’s English Pronouncing Dictionary” by Daniel Jones, a very precious dictionary for English beginners Being aware of the preeminence of the English language in every aspect of man’s activity, I have been learning it with great zeal and avidity Why I want to learn Englis English is considered to be the most common and important language of the world today A great number of people understand and use English in every part of the world English is the most useful language Being good at English, we can travel to any place or any country we like We shall not find it hard to make others understand what we wish to say English also helps us to learn all kinds of subjects Hundreds of books are written in English every day in all countries to teach people useful things The English language has therefore helped to spread ideas and knowledge to all the corners of the world There is no subject that cannot be learned in the English language As English is used so much everywhere in the world, it has helped to make countries of the world become friendlier with one another The leaders of the world use English to understand one another The English language has therefore spread better understanding and friendshipamong countries of the world Lastly, as a person who knows English easily get more knowledge from many parts of the world, he or she is respected by people It is for all these reasons that I want to learn English 10 The advantages and disadvantages of television Nowadays many people all over the world spent most of their free time watching television; but since its appearance, television has brought to man many advantages as well as disadvantages First, television plays an important role in our daily activities: it keeps us informed of all current affairs in the world Events through television are more vivid than those through books and magazines Second, television helps us enrich our spiritual lives Our knowledge is broadened in many ways Through language teaching programs, we can learn the language we like such as: English, French, German, Chinese, Japanese and so on We can become skilful and clever at doing jobs, making cakes or arranging flowers through practical courses taught on television Finally, television is a source of recreation Humorous stories and funnyfilms bring us minutes of relaxation after a hard day’s work For me, sitting comfortably in an arm-chair to watch an international football match on television is more interesting than having to queue for tickets at a crowded stadium Apart from its advantages, however, television also brings lots of disadvantages to viewers too First, television viewers gradually become passive in their action Television may be a splendid media of communication, but it prevents us from communicating with each other or with the outer world The world seen through television is only the restricted one: It separates us from the real world Second, television, with its fascinating power, makes people of all ages sink into oblivion: whole generations are growing up addicted to the telly Pupils and students are so absorbed in television that they neglect theirschool activities Food is left uneaten, homework undone and lessons unprepared Housewives are so keen on watching television that they neglect their duties toward their husbands and their children Instead of watching television, we may use the time for a real family hour Without the distraction of television, we may sit around together after dinner and actually talk to one another to know and like each other better Finally, the evil influence of television on the young generation is inevitable; it encourages them to commit crimes Spectacles of sadism and violence on television lead them to robbery, theft, rape and murder In a nutshell, television is useful to us when we know how to use it: Be careful not to overindulge ourselves in it and use it in a discerning manner 11 Talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the cinema The influence that the cinema exerts on the minds of those who visit it is at once beneficial and harmful Today, there is a cinema in almost every town The cinema provides so much entertainment that few people fail to visit it One of the reasons for the popularity of the cinema is that it entertains all types or people, young and old, literate and illiterate Because it is so popular, it must exercise some influence on those whom it attracts The films shown in the cinema are often very instructive and informative Almost every film shows something about the activities and customs of the people in other lands By seeing such films, one learns a lot about human activities One also gains a better understanding of people of the world Further, some films show the battles that were fought in the past They also sometimes show very vividly how man has struggled through the centuries to remove discomfort from his life In this way, some films have given many people an insight into the past Even illiterate people have benefited from such films What they cannot acquire from books owing to their inability to read, they can acquire from films School students, too, often benefit from a visit to the cinema What they see and hear in the cinema makes a better impression on their minds than only the spoken words of their teachers For example, a teacher of history can hardly describe a battle scene to his students as vividly as a film does For all these reasons, the cinema is often regarded as an important means of spreading knowledge It must be admitted, however, that some films have exerted an evil influence on many people Films which show the activities of criminals have encouraged many youths to commit acts of crime Other films, too, such as those dealing with sex and other natural weaknesses of man, have corrupted the morals of many people As a result, the governments of many countries have been compelled to interfere in the display and production of certain films Yet, the cinema continues to retain its popularity 12 Talk about the film you like best The film “Journey to the West” always fascinates me though I have seen it many times It is a fairy story about the long journey make by four people to the place of Buddha They have overcome eighty-one challenges and beaten many wicked people to get true Buddhism books for saving mankind from fighting each other aggressively Above all, it leads us to the realization of human individual desertions and our long life self-training process to get rid of the selfishness to perfect ourselves The combination of the East’s body of folklores and the book of the same title written by Wu Cheng'en makes the plot of “Journey to the West” It is considered a great work of Chinese filmmakers, gathering over a hundred actors and beautiful actresses Among them is the talented Liu Xiao Ling Tong who plays the active and faithful monkeyman Sun Wukong, the hero of the film besides the exemplary monk - Xuanzang, the pigman - Zhu Bajie and monsterman - Sha Wujing The film’s background is set in the year BC with the scences of paradise, hell, the waterworld and man from other majestic holylands This famous film shows the good preparation and good imagination of human beings In short, besides its success in art, the film, in fact, advises man to live a nicer life 13 What career would you like to choose after leaving school? (Teacher) today, it is not easy to choose a career Hundreds of students pass various examinations every year and compete with one another for positions in the various professions which are not so many as there are applicants I would, however, like to choose teaching as my career There are several reasons to consider teacher an interesting job Being a teacher, we have to learn more If we teach History orGeography, it is important to read many books to make our teaching lessons more interesting to our students We therefore gain more knowledge of the subjects that we teach than what we can get from the text books A large amount of text books for the subjects we teach are not likely enough to help us to become an exciting teacher In other words, a good teacher often reads many other books which are not related to the subjects he or she is supposed to teach The large extent of knowledge on different fields make students admire the teacher and love the subject of which he or she is in charge A teacher has to speak well and clearly so that students can be able to understand instructions and lectures This would be a motivation to improve our powers of expression Even our pronunciation of words will be much better Moreover, a teacher has more free time to read, learn and take some examinations to acquire more qualifications Finally, as a teacher we are respected as educated persons Others will show their respect to teachers and have their great regard for them and opinions that teachers give For the reasons mentioned above, being a teacher can help me to live a happy meaningful life 14 What subject you like best in school The subject I like best in school is geography and the subject I hate is arithmetic Even from my younger day, I have been longing to know more about other countries and the people who live there Geography teaches me not only about my own country but also the neighouring countries and the world in general From what I have studied, I have a longing to see London, Paris, New-York and Tokyo I have heard much about Mount Fujiyama, the snow-capped mountain of Japan I also want to see Japan during the cherryblossom season I want to see New-York and its sky-scrapers Geography interests me because without visiting these places I learn about them in books For pupils like me who are poor and cannot afford to visit these places, the knowledge of geography is all the most useful It is perhaps the second best means of knowing more about other countries 15 Talk about the subject you consider most important Of all the subjects that I study in school, I think that English is the most important subject It is mainly through the English language that we gain access to the various sources of knowledge English is a language which is spoken and understood by many people in most countries of the world It is, in fact, the most important means of communication among the various countries of the world Knowledge of new discoveries and inventions in one country is transmitted to other countries through English for the benefit of the world In this way, English helps to spread knowledge and progress It is true, however, that in the modern age, the study of Science and Mathematics too should be considered very important Science has conferred many benefits in man But it requires little thought to realize that scientific principles cannot be understood well without a good knowledge of a language And, though other languages such as German and Russian are important in the world of Science, it is English that plays the most important role in spreading scientific knowledge There is in fact no branch of study that has not been communicated in English The original writings of great scientists, economists, philosophers, psychologists and others who did not speak and write the English language have all been translated into English Therefore, one who has a good knowledge of English has access to all the sources of information Further, as the English language is used by people of different lands and cultures, it has become very rich It contains so many words, ideas and thoughts that a good knowledge of English enriches the mind and enables one to express oneself well It also helps one to think better and to understand the people of other lands It is for all these reasons that I consider English the most important subject in school 16 Life in the city Life in the city is full of activity Early in the morning hundreds of people rush out of their homes in the manner ants when their nest is broken Soon the streets are full of traffic Shops and offices open, students flock to their schools and the day's work begins The city now throb with activity, and it is full of noise Hundreds of sight-seers tourists and others visit many place of interest in the city while businessmen from various parts of the world arrive to transact business The towards evening, the offices and day schools begin to close Many of the shops too close There is now a rush for buses and other means of transport Everyone seems to be in a hurry to reach home As a result of this rush, many accidents occur One who has not been to the city before finds it hard to move about at this time Soon, however, there is almost no activity in several parts of the city These parts are usually the business centers With the coming of night, another kind of activity begins The streets are now full of colorful lights The air is cooler and life becomes more leisurely People now seek entertainment Many visit the cinemas, parks, and clubs, while others remain indoors to watch television or listen to the radio Some visit friends and relatives and some spend their time reading books and magazines Those who are interested in politics discuss the latest political developments At the same time, hundreds of crimes are committed Thieves and robbers who wait for the coming of night become active, and misfortune descends upon many For the greed of a few, many are killed, and some live in constant fear To bring criminals to justice, the officers of the law are always on the move Workers and others who seek advancement in their careers attend educational institutions which are open till late in the night Hundreds of them sit for various examinations every year The facilities and opportunities that the people in the city have to further their studies and increase their knowledge of human affairs are indeed many As a result, the people of the city are usually better informed than those of the village, where even a newspaper is sometimes difficult to get The city could, therefore, be described as a place of ceaseless activity Here, the drama of life is enacted every day It is hoped that for his own benefit, man can soon find a solution to these problems Those are my own ideas about the way most students read books Students in high-schools should be taught some techniques of reading This will make them good habits of reading materials, especially text books 17 What should we to make a good impression at a job interview? It is a bit important to know how to introduce yourself in a job interview Then, prepare answers to some questions that might be given by interviewers Last year, my cousin, Jake, went to a bank to apply for a job As you know, when you apply for a job, you must be ready to answer a lot of question Some of the questions that an interviewer may ask you include: educational background, previous jobs, and salaries you earned The problem with Jake was that he was not prepared for the questions The interviewer asked Jake a lot of things that he could not answer Because Jake was not prepared for the interview, he did not get the job If you not want to be in that situation, you may want to follow these steps As you can see, it is necessary to be well prepared for the job interview Having the answer ready, being properly dressed, and being on time can all help to make a good impression on the interviewer If you follow these steps, you will soon find yourself sitting behind the desk at that coveted job If interested, read this article introduce yourself in a job interviewthen you will know how to make it well in the introduction of yourself for a job interview 18 Give one of the activities you like to in your spare time Watching television is one of the activities I like to in my spare time I enjoy watching cartoons on Saturday mornings and sports programs on Sunday afternoons I also watch television during the week after I have finished all my school work At night, I especially like to watch movies and situation comedies If I have a lot of homework, I try to arrange my schedule so that I can watch at least one of my favorite shows Watching television is not the only activity that I in my spare time My other favorite activities are making paper flowers and going shopping with my friends However, when I have spare time, I spend more time watching television than any other activities Watching television can help me not only relax but also build me a huge knowledge of the open world obvious 19 My best friend I have many friends of several races But my best friend is a Chinese boy whose name is Ah Chong Ah Chong’s father is a carpenter His mother looks after their small shop They are very hard-working people They are also very kind to me We are in the same class He sometimes helps me in my lessons I too sometimes help him to understand and learn a few difficult lessons After school, Ah Chong and I play some games Sometimes we go out to catch some fish or birds which we really enjoy catching We often return home very late after our hunting trips and our parents scold us severely But Ah Chong and I are so interested in this kind of hunting that we cannot give it up Indeed, I enjoy Ah Chong’s company very much 20 My favorite game/sport My most favorite game is Football It is a world famous game Football is such a popular game that it is played even in the most remote corner of my country People walk long distances to watch a footballmatch Even old people enjoy watching this game To play this most interesting, I go to the field near my house where my friends wait for me every late afternoon My friends also love this game very much We play until dark But it is a very hard game It requires a lot of strength to kick the ball They must also be skillful in controlling the ball All this makes the game a difficult game indeed Playing football however help us healthy and active I shall always love this game 21 The country I would like to visit I have heard and read a lot about the beautiful countries in the world However, the country I would like to visit is the United States of America From my geography books I know that the United States is a very big country Here, there are people from all countries of the world Europeans, Africans, Asians and others live together in peace and happiness, like the people of Singapore and Malaysia It would indeed be a pleasure to meet so many races of people in one country The buildings in the United States are among the largest in the world The roads too are the best in the world Traveling in this country is therefore very easy There are fast-running cars, trains and other means of transport Again, the scenery is different in different parts of the country In some places there are high mountains In some places there are lowlands for miles together And in other parts, there are deserts Thus, traveling in this big country would be really very interesting I should therefore welcome any opportunity to visit this country 22 Talk about life in the village (1) The village has always been known to be a place of peace and quiet The scattered houses among hundreds of plants and trees indicate the lack of activities in the village The workers in the village leave their homes early in the morning to work in the plantations or towns near by Some have their own plantations, and some make certain articles in their homes to sell them in the towns A few of the villagers, including women, go out to catch fish in the streams and rivers found in the village Though the people of the village not usually earn much, they seem to be contented In the afternoon, most of the villagers are at home Some of them take a nap after lunch, some work in their small gardens or pay some visit to the small shops in the village In various parts of the village, children may be found playing the popular games of the village Occasionally, a cyclist passes by In the evening, the villagers meet one another Some play cards and other types of games which are peculiar to the village Some talk about the day’s incidents in the village, and those whose minds go beyond the village discuss world events In almost every village there is a headman whose duty is to settle quarrels among the villagers and maintain peace in the village Whenever there is a dispute, the villagers go to the headman who is held in such esteem that his words have the force of law In this way the villagers have developed their own simple laws, and the crimes of cities are almost unknown to the people of the village During a festival, the whole village is alive with activities Everyone is in a happy mood and plays his part to make the festival a success This is the time for the men, women and children of the village to wear their best clothes and the village is full of color simple ways of life in the village, however, must soon change Progress in science and education has already begun to affect the outlook of the people in the village Hundreds are leaving the village to seek their fortunes in the towns and cities 23 If I had a thousand dollars A thousand dollars, to a girl of my age, is indeed a big sum of money If I had such a large sum of money, I would a variety of things First, I would buy some pretty clothes for myself I would go round the shops and look for the latest fashion in clothes I would spend the money carefully on clothes I would spend my money carefully as I would not get so much money easily again Then, I would buy some jewelry to beautify myself I would buy a ring and a small necklace This would cost me about half the money I had I would then buy a pen for my father and a nice hand-bag for my mother These things would certainly make my parents happy After that, I would spend a few dollars for my brothers and sisters’ sake I would take them to a cinema in the town so that they might enjoy themselves a little I would also buy them some drinks and sweets If some money still remained, I would buy a good book for myself The rest of the money I would keep in my savings account to use in the future Thus, the money would not be spent carelessly 24 The importance of water Water kills thousands of people and destroys many acres of crops every year But water also gives life to all living things in the world Without water life is unthinkable We must have water to grow our food, feed the birds and animals in our homes, grow forests and produce electricity We use waterways to carry our goods of trade Even the human body, which is seventy parts out of one hundred of water itself, cannot exist for long without water Ever since the earth began, large quantities of water have been used by living things Yet for every drop of water that is taken from one place, another drop is put back from somewhere else Nature has a very clever way of carrying water from cloud to land and sea and back to cloud No water has ever been lost But nature does not put water where and when we need it While some men are drowning, others in another part of the world are dying of thirst Thus, people all over the world are trying to bring water to places where it is scarce, to control its flow in times of floods and to make greater use of it 25 Some people enjoy living in the country but others prefer big city life Compare these two places and give your opinion In the country, we can live in the midst of nature Countryside houses are spread out and there is plenty of greenery Sometimes green paddy fields or orchards are found in the neighborhood The beautiful surroundings with trees and shrubs are pleasing to our eyes Moreover the air is fresh and cool, which is good for a healthy living A country life is full of charms The rippling rivers, the grazing cows and the chirping birds give us great pleasures in life Country life is cheaper than town life The people who live in the country are a contented community because they have few desires Houses in the city are generally provided with modern conveniences such as electricity, running water, telephones and all sorts of labour-saving devices There are plenty of means of communication: buses, taxi-cabs, etc City dwellers have more means of improving their minds than countrymen: day schools and night courses, public and private libraries, lectures and exhibitions There are many places in the city where you can get a bite or a drink: restaurants, coffee-houses, tea-rooms, bars and refreshment rooms, etc Last but not least, the city provides its inhabitants with various sorts of entertainments, playgrounds and sports fields, public gardens, museums, movie-theaters, concerts… For my part, no matter how comfortable or convenient the city life may be, I till prefer living in the country I think it is healthier and more peaceful to live in countryside than in a city 26 What I wish to be when I grow up I am still very young; yet, I already have an ambition I would like to be a businessman when I grow up Most parents today want their children to become doctors, lawyer, engineers or accountants My parents too want me to be a doctor or a lawyer But I wish to be neither of them I wish to be a businessman As a businessman I can be independent, and rich I shall not have to take orders from others I shall look after my own business Even if I make any mistakes, I shall not have to answer to anyone, though I might suffer some loss for some wrong decisions I shall also not feel tired of working for long hours As the business will be my own, I shall be prepared to work day and night, for this will only make me richer In business, hard work is necessary; but hard work also brings much money Yet most people are afraid of business They say that business does not always make a man rich Instead, it often ruins a man But most of the richest people in the world are businessmen Few people grow rich by earning salaries All these explain why I would like to be a businessman 27 The house where I am living Myfamily consist of people Ther are my parents, my sister and me We are living in a large house in a suburb of Ho Chi Minh City The house is made of brick and covered with red tiles It has rooms including a living-room, bedrooms and a kitchen The living-room, which is rather large, is decorated with beautiful pictures on the walls The bedrooms are nice; one is for my parents and the other two for my sister and me The kitchen is tidy and well equipped with a gas cooker, a washing-machine and a refrigerator Around the house is a large garden with many fruit-trees and flowers I like this house very much It is the place where I was born and grew up It has given me good memories since my childhoood I wish I would live in it forever 28 My daily activities Every morning from Monday to Saturday, I get up at o'clock After breakfast, I go to school by bicycle It takes me about 20 minutes from my house to my school Usually, I study at school until 11:30 a.m I return home at noon to have lunch with my family In the afternoon I attend English and computer courses I always get home just in time for dinner at 7:30 p.m After dinner, while my parents are watching television in the living-room, I read books or prepare for school in my own room I am free at weekends On Sunday mornings, I get up later than usual Then I often go shopping downtown with my friends Sometimes we go for a picnic in the countryside On rainy Sundays, I stay at home reading books and listening to music I am quite happy with my daily activities 29 My family My family consists of four people There are my parents, my sister and me My father is an engineer working for a government office My mother is a housewife My sisteris a primary school teacher, and I am a high school student We get up at o’clock every morning After breakfast, my father and my sister go to work, my mother does the housework and I go to school We have lunch at noon and dinner at p.m In the evening after dinner, we sit together in the living-room talking or watching television for about an hour Then my sister and I go to our own rooms to prepare the lessons for the coming week My family is a very happy one We love each other very much and expect to live together under the same roof forever 30.Mymother I am living with my parents My mother is 45 years old She is not very beautiful, but there is something attractive about her Her face is oval with big brown eyes and red lips, which are always smiling She has long black hair, a slim build and a fair complexion Her character is admirable She is very sweet and kind to her husband and children She never gets angry with anyone As a simple person, she does not like wearing expensive clothes and jewels She is very busy with the housework from early morning until late at night I love my mother very much I miss her a lot when I am away from her for a long time When I am free, I help my mother with the washing, cooking and errands I always obey and respect my mother and try to study hard to please her I wish she would live with me forever 31 My school The school which I am attending is one of the oldest high schools in my city It is located in a quiet area not far from the city center It consists of four blocks of buidings, which are surrounded by a large yard of shady tall trees In this academic year, there are 30 classes with more than 1200 students in my school They study hard and obey the school regualations seriously Thanks to the teachers' devotion and the students' efforts, my school has achieved good results in every field The Communist Youth Union of the school also organizes extracurricular activities such as camping, sport and music competitions and community work I have studied in this school for years I love my school very much because it has given me good memories of my time 32 My weekend I am a high school student I go to school every day from Monday to Saturday I am very busy with my studies Sunday is my holiday On Sunday morning, I get up later than usual After breakfast, I visit my close friend and we often go shopping downtown Sometimes we go for a picnic in the countryside In the afternoon, I prefer having a rest in my room, reading books or listening to pop music Then after dinner, I prepare my lessons for the following week and go to bed early Once in a while, I spend my weekend joining the social activities organized by the Communist Youth Union of my school We usually go along the streets raising money for charity or travel to remote areas to give help to poor people Sunday is a good time for me It refreshes my mind after a week's hard work 33 Describe a teachers’ day Teachers’ Day falls on the twentieth of November Every year, our school will celebrate this day by holding a concert specially for the principal and teachers This year was no exception On that day, the whole school proceeded to the hall after morning assembly Every class was involved in the concert There were dances, sketches, mimes and songs All the performers did their best and the concert was a great success After the concert, we went back to our classes to have our class parties My classroom was transformed into a party hall When our form teacher came into the class, she was very surprised indeed We had food, drinks and presents for her Some of us even made cards for her and she was very touched At the end of the day, everyone was in a good mood I felt that, as students, we should thank our teachers for teaching us our lessons so patiently and cheerfully What better opportunity is there for us to show our appreciation than on Teacher’s Day? 34 Talk about Mothers’ day Yesterday was the second Sunday in the month of May It was also Mothers’ Day My sister and I woke up early to prepare breakfast for our mum We had tuna fish sandwiches, scrambled eggs and coffee Mum had a pleasant surprise when she woke up to the small feast prepared for her After breakfast, we brightened Mum’s day by giving her a big bouquet of flowers made of crepe paper It took us one whole week to make those flowers For the rest of the day, we were very obedient and did most of the household chores In the evening, my mum was relieved of cooking dinner by my dad After a delicious meal, we had a cake-cutting ceremony to thank our mum for all that she has done for us I also presented Mum a very huge Mother’s Day card She was overjoyed All of us were glad that Mum had a great day However, I feel that Mother’s Day is not the only opportunity for us to show our love for our mothers We should show our mothers that we love them by respecting and obeying them every day of the year 35 Talk about your best friend When I was in Primary Four, a new boy joined my class during the second semester As I was sitting next to him, I was asked to help him to get used to the new environment We hit it off instantly Two years have passed Now, we have become the best friends That boy’s name is Xie Zhiwei Zhiwei is much taller and skinner than I am He is also very agile That is why he has qualified for our school basketball team He is also one of our school’s best athletes He specializes in the hurdles and high jump events Though Zhiwei is very involved in sports and games, he is very disciplined He always finishes his homework on time In fact, he has always been one of the top students in class One major belief that both of us agree on is that friends should share their thoughts and knowledge This enables us to know each other very well Thus, in spite of the fact that he is an extrovert and I am not, we are still such close friends I really treasure this friendship and hope that it will last forever 36 Talk about yourself I am an eleven year old Indian girl I come from a family of three I have two elder brothers Both my parents are teachers I am a primary six student at Fairfield Primary School My complexion is light brown and I have dark, short hair I am very hard-working and always try to get the best grades in class I must get a good education to fulfill my ambition My ambition is to be a nurse I like to take care of the sick and old I dislike outdoor activities and rarely participate in games I enjoy doing things with my hands, like painting, gardening and sometimes I try simple cooking I spend my free time in our small garden I grow all kinds of plants in my garden There are rose plants, hibiscus and morning glory Sometimes I help my mother with the windows I dust the furniture, iron the clothes and clean the windows My best friend is John He lives in our neighborhood We go to the same school On Sundays John comes to my house to play with me My parents love me very much and give me the best of everything I am a very happy little girl 37 My ambition My ambition is to become a successful scientist I have always enjoyed attending science lessons in school I believe it would be life’s greatest joy to establish my career in the scientific field Becoming a successful scientist involves a lot of hard work and dedication I admire great scientists like Einstein and Newton who braved a lot of setbacks to become successful I am very inquisitive by nature I not stop asking questions till I thoroughly understand the answer In class, I always make sure that I perform each science experiment properly When in doubt, I consult my teachers As a scientist, I would be able to invent new things for mankind We would then be able to lead a more comfortable life Perhaps I can invent cars that are operated by robots or a computer that thinks like a human My parents think highly of my ambition and are very supportive They always buy me books on science and take me to science exhibitions In order to fulfill my ambition, not only must I work hard for it, I must also understand that “Failure is the mother of success” 38 What will I with my first salary I am so grateful to God that I have secured a good decent job I have now completed one month of service Now I am holding my first paycheck in my hands, feeling a sense of pride in myself In an hour’s time I shall be home to give the salary to my mother and father Taking some for my daily expenses I shall give the rest to my parents For what they have done for me all these years, it is my turn to repay them I will go to my uncle, sister and other friends’ hose and give them a treat My father has promised to throw a small but grand party to my friends This coming Sunday happens to be my birthday Thus I would treat my friends in a grand manner I shall buy a fishing line for myself as my favorite hobby is fishing I shall go fishing with my friends in Changi As I have so many things to buy, I shall buy one item with each month’s salary I have to save some money for my future studies as I intend to a management course at the college in the evenings so that I will get promoted 39 A picnic I enjoyed One day, a few of my friends and I went on a picnic to Minyak Beku, a small interesting place on the coast of Malaya Minyak Beku is about five miles from Batu Pahat, a well known town in the state of Johore in Malaya There is a small ancient fort at the entrance to Minyak Beku The beach at Minyak Beku is beautiful, and there is an iron mine near by We arrived at that place in the morning After getting out of the bus, we separated into different groups and looked for shady places to spend the day Soon, most of us went swimming While in the water, we were playing a few interesting games Those who were on the beach were playing other games Some of them even sang songs and danced There were still others who were interested in nothing, except picking shells In short, everyone enjoyed the trip In the evening, we returned home in our bus, thinking of the fun we had had at that place I enjoyed the trip so much 40 The value of education Education means the acquisition of knowledge and abilities, and the development of one’s character and mental powers by systematic training and instruction Education is therefore of great value to any person It has been realized that a person without education is deprived of many benefits He not only lacks the knowledge of human affairs but also the ability to appreciate the value of many of the things that concern his own welfare Thus, he is not able to contribute his full share to the progress of society and the world Neither is he able to develop his personality to the fullest extent One of the greatest benefits of education is that it helps a person to understand the position that he occupies in society It helps him to speak and conduct himself with confidence and dignity which earn him the respect and admiration of others Thus, he occupies an important position in society, and people look up to him as their leader Another benefit of education today is that it helps one to secure lucrative employment In the world of today, almost every kind of employment requires some understanding of a few basic principles of science, mathematics, economics, engineering, accountancy or some other subjects on the part of the worker Thus, the better education a person has the better prospects he has of securing attractive positions in the various professions Finally, education makes a person sympathetic and considerate towards others He is helpful to those who need his advice and guidance, and is not critical of those who commit offences or mistakes out of ignorance or necessity Further, he does not like to hurt the feelings of others Even if he is extremely provoked, he tries to express his displeasure or anger in words which give the slightest offence to others and yet express his outraged feelings adequately As a result of all these qualities that a person acquires through education, he becomes a very pleasant person to associate with He thus lives a fuller life in the society 41 The market in my town The market in my town is large Hundreds of people visit this market every day The market in my town is always alive with activity, like any other big market Every moment buyers and sellers can be seen moving about in all directions Sellers try to raise the prices of their goods as much as they can Buyers, on the other hand, try to reduce the prices to save some money Thus, much bargaining goes on between buyers and sellers Sometimes quarrels arise from this kind of bargaining The presence of the large number of people in the market makes the market very noisy indeed Voices are heard in every corner Sometimes some vehicles bring fresh goods into market and add to the noises Even the last painful cries of chickens and ducks put to death for man’s appetite form an important part of the noises However, as the market is large, almost every item of food that a person needs for his home is available One does not have to go elsewhere in search of essential articles The building is new beautiful It is a two-storey building It therefore has a large number of stalls Thus, it is a market worth visiting 42 The things I dislike the most There are many things that I dislike; but the ones I dislike the most are noise, crowds and laziness Noise disturbs me greatly This is why I hate to live in a city In a city, vehicles run to and fro dawn till midnight This makes the city very noisy indeed The voices of thousands of people living close to one another also add to the noises caused by the vehicles Besides, there are noises from the factories in a city I also dislike crowds Crowds make movement difficult If a place is crowded, it is not easy to move about or to any work quickly If we are in a hurry to go somewhere, a crowd can delay our progress Finally, I hate laziness because a lazy boy is a problem not only to his parents but also to others By refusing to any work, he compels others to for him Sometimes a weak and poor person has to work hard to bring food for a strong and healthy person who is lazy Such a person is really bad and ill-mannered As long as he gets what he needs and wants, he does not care what others think of him I hate to see such a person, even if he is my own brother or father I hate all the three things I have mentioned 43 Unemployment, especially among young people, is a serious problem in many countries today What can be done about it? What you think about job-creation projects currently run in Vietnam? Leaders off all countries in the world are confronting a serious problem – unemployment Unemployment leads to social degeneration In less developed countries, unemployment becomes increasingly crucial In Vietnam, our government are trying to solve unemployment which has increased in recent years The following measures have been applied Young jobless people from 18-35 are taught certain careers suitable to their ability and their liking People whose knowledge is weak are sent to evening continuation classes After learning a career, they will be introduced to some companies in the city Up till now a number of unemployed people have been able to get jobs Moreover a great number of young people were sent abroad to learn different careers After the course, they will return to their country and will be qualified for some jobs offered to them The job-creation projects currently run in Vietnam can, to some extent, reduce unemployment, however, there are still lots of young people who are out of work and have to make a rather precarious living and therefore social evils cannot be avoidable “Idleness is the mother of all vices” To reduce unemployment in our country, the government should pay close attention to the following matters: - For young people weak at knowledge: Open more career schools or encourage them to move to new economic zones where conditions of living should be favorable to them from the outset - The training plan should be effective from the beginning to the end, that is to say, each student, upon graduating, must have a post - The training program should be planned to the letter, not on a large scale but to an extent previously scheduled - The vocational training program should be introduced in the High School curriculum The pupils should be taught knowledge and skills at the same time so that after leaving school they are able to find a job suited to their ability and capacity - Young engineers, doctors, scientists, specialists, teachers should be given preferential conditions to find jobs from any government offices or be introduced to foreign companies in Vietnam - Excellent students should be granted scholarship I hope that once these proper measures are strictly applied, the number of unemployment people will probably diminish and that the government will no longer worry about social evils which destroy human dignity 44 Describe a day spent by the river or by the sea As usual, the nearer the rainy season draws on, the hotter it becomes I cannot bear the suffocating and stifling heat of these days So last Sunday I decided to spend my holiday at Vung Tau seaside with my friends In the early morning from HCM city, we got there by bus On the way to Vung Tau resort, we met a lot of our friends, who also went there to escape from the terrible heat of a crowded city We reached Vung Tau beach only to find that it had been packed with people Although the beach was crammed with people, we still felt more relaxed by the fresh morning air coming in from the open sea Vivid scenery was unfolding itself before us: On the beach children were running here and there, gathering choice pebbles, shells and seaweeds Others were busy digging sand to catch little crabs which in no time darted into their sand holes Groups of holiday-makers were sitting under large beach umbrellas, eating crabs and clams while others in their bathing-costumes were sunbathing on the beach or swimming in the sea We too could not resist the temptation to take off our clothes and put on our swimming costumes and then plunged into the sea How delighted we were when we dived down into the fresh cool water and took a long leisurely swim The splash of waves against the rocks, the merry shouting and laughter of holiday-makers created the liveliest scenery we have ever seen At eleven o’clock we stopped swimming and chose a shady spot on the seashore and unpacked our hampers Swimming brought good appetite to us We devoured our home made lunch and then lay down on the sand We took a nap till 1:30 In the afternoon we went for a long walk along the seashore, took a lot of photographs and enjoyed some seafoods At 5:00 we got on a bus to come back home A holiday by the sea brought us strength and pleasure after months of hard work 45 Computers have become increasingly important and popular Could you describe some useful ways in which computers have so far contributed to our modern life? The most wonderful invention of the machine age, the computer, has been used since 1946 Since its appearance, the computer has contributed to mankind many useful ways in every aspect First of all, in the accounting domain: with lightning speed and perfect accuracy, the computer can simple calculations such as: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division marvelously A computer can work 500,000 times faster than a man can with pencil and paper Calculations which would have taken days become a matter of minutes with computers Then in the study and research of scientists, historians and sociologists not only can the computer gather facts but it can also store them as fast as they are gathered and then can pour them out whenever they are needed In this way, the computer is really a high-powered memory machine capable of answering all problems and questions Next in the navigation and aviation scopes: with the computer, pilots and sailors can avoid all dangers on their itinerary It helps them direct their flights and voyages from this city to another one, control airspeeds and altitudes when their planes land or take off How could NASA solve all the problems of the space shuttles without its computers Finally in the constructing and designing fields: besides gathering and storing information the computer can solve complicated problems that took man months to They have been used by building companies From the architect’s original plan, the computers can derive new plans according to a new type of environment, the cost of building and so on… To sum up, we dare say that there is practically no limit to what computers can and their contributions to our modern life are boundless 46 Talk about your new neighbors When I was waiting for the lift, I saw a girl of about my age dragging two big boxes of household items to the lift When the door of the lift opened, I helped her to drag one of the boxes into the lift She thanked me and explained that her family had just moved into a flat in the block I was surprised when she moved the boxes into the flat next to mine I came to know later that my new neighbors are the Tan family The girl whom I met in the lift is Debbie Her elder brother is Desmond and the eight-year-old younger brother is Danny Debbie and I soon became good friends Though we not attend the same primary school, we hope to get into the same secondary school next year My mother gets along well with Mrs Tan They exchange recipes and go to the market together In fact, the Tan family is very easy-going and they fit well into our neighborhood I am glad the Tan family lives next door I hope we will always be neighbors 47 The difficulties in learning English and how to overcome them The difficulties in learning English and how to overcome them Beginners of foreign language always meet difficulties from the outset For me, I had to overcome these problems when I started learning English English pronunciation is my first obstacle The pronunciation in English puzzles me a lot because the same letter has different sounds For example the letter “a” in “bath” is not pronounced in the same way of that in “bathe” The “ou” in “South” is also different from “ou” in “Southern” Generally verbs and nouns are pronounced differently although they are written the same Record is a good example to illustrate it In order to solve this puzzling question I carefully study The A.P.A (The International Phonetic Alphabets) which helps me pronounce English words correctly In order to have an accent just like the native speakers, I often listen to tapes and repeat after them, trying to imitate them Moreover, myeveryday conversation with the foreigners I meet in the street will enable me to acquire a proper accent Compared with French, English grammar is much easier However, this does not mean that learners meet no difficulties in learning it It took me a long time to learn how to master the tenses in English grammar, to endeavor to as many grammar exercises as possible and read various grammar books In writing English, English language has its own style In order to drillwriting skills, I have tried to read famous novels of distinguished America and English writers I enjoy the humorous style of writing in Mark Twain’s masterpieces, the elaborate and polished style of George Eliot and the sentimental and lyrical style of John Keats After long and hard years of English study, how pleased I feel when I am able to read English and American authors without any obstacles and difficulties at all 48 DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL AS A CHILD That morning my mother woke up earlier than usually.She urged me to get dressed and take breafast quickly then lenderly took me to school On the way to school I met other children of my age accompanied by their parents to school The nearer I came to the school gate, the more nervous I became Suddenly a strange felling of fear and worry seized my heart when I saw the majestic elementary school in front of me and I feet like crying when my morther said good bye to me and put some coins into my pocket Never before had I been forced to separate from my beloved mother! But when I saw old Pupils laughing and talking merrily I regained my composure After the droll og the drum, We were instructed to stand in line to salute the colours and then so into our classed.A young and mild - looking teacher greeted us at the door And in a gentle voice, he taught us the first lesson that we never forget 49 Your favourite hobby My hobby is reading books I inherited a valuable collection of books from my deceased father and up till now my cultural treasures have been preserved carefully Reading books broadens my mind and improves my knowledge They help me distinguish the bad from the good and prevent me from doing wrong Reading books brings me minutes of happiness and pleasures I have found a source of consolation and encouragement in books when I am in despair They’re my true companions indeed How relieved and comfored I feel when I can find in good books good teachers and friends! Instead of including myself in futile entertainments, o often absorbed in reading interestiong books which always have miracles to remove my sorrow and hardships and reveal to me strange and new horizons 50.Which season of the year you like best? Why? I was born in Northern Vietnam, where there are four clear seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Each season has its own charms and attractions For example, Spring is the season which offers beautiful flowers and warm weather; Summmer is the season of nice holidays when we can enjoy lots of outdoor acitivities suh as picnickig, camping, swimming, fishing etc… Autumn is so beautiful with its ideal weather while Winter can give us such delight as gathering by a fire to chat of tell each other funny stories As far as I am concerned, I like Autumn best because of the following reasons: During Autumn, which lasts more or less from late July to early October, it is sunny most of the time The Autumnal sun is often splendid, dying nature yellow The weather is also ideal because it is not too cold nor too hot Then the coldish northwesterly wind, which blows gently, thrills everyone with the breath of Autumn The leaves of the trees turning yellow or red put a goreous coat of colours on nature Autumn is such a wonderfuk season that many poems and songs have been composed to sing the praises of the season Autumn is also a season which reminds me of my first day at school, when my mother took me by the hand and led me to school for the first time Last but not least, Autumn is the time when I can enjoy my favourite fruit and dish which are the Japanese persimmons and the green rice flakes These are found only in Autumn 51 Why are good books considered good teachers and friends? When I read a book, I am swept away into my own little world siscovering new things and imagining places only I can see It is a private dialogue between the author and me There is no one to criticize or question me I can read the book at my own speed and savour it every moment Books offer us the world We can learn about history, geography, famous and interesting people and different countries It is the cheapest form of travel that I know! I love to read a variety of authors and learn about new ideas and ways of expression I also try to read a variety of books, from romance to biographies and everything in between I especially like adventure stories because it is in here that I can really put my imagination to work! There is such a vast amount of information available in books From the early ages to our recent years we can continue to learn about a variety of topics and interests School textbooks offer us the basics for learning how to learn-from math to science, from language to arts Recently, my father and brother were interested in building a new table and chairs for our family’s dinning room Neither one of them is a carpenter So how did they it, your might ask? They bought a book that showed them how! A good book truly merits respect whether it is a “how-to” book, a good novel or a school textbook 52 Describe the countryside in the morning As usual, when the first cock crows break the complete silence of the country, every activity of a new day begins: The villagers start getting up; buffalo tenders are calling each other to drive their cattle to the fields Smoke from the cottages is rising and spreading in the fresh air, mingling with the veil of morning mist A few hours later, in the west, a bright, fresh and newly-bathed sun is looming gradually from the hedge of green bamboos The dew drops on the grass and golden rice ears by the roadside are as resplendent as precious stones Suddenly a lark flies up and sings gaily, followed by thousands of his companions A fresh breeze comes on, the yellow rice fields begin to move and the pure air is redolent of soft fragrance The scenery becomes livelier as groups of farmers are rushing, to their fields talking and laughing merrily, ready to resume work of a new day 53.The benefits of sports and physical exercises Nobody can deny the benefits of sports and physical exercises In fact, such sports as: swimming, jogging, jumping, playing tennis, football, basket – ball, volley – ball, skating, skiing etc bring us a well – proportioned body 24 When we practise a certain sport, our muscles are developed; blood circulates easily in blood vessels therefore we’ll have a good appetite and a sound sleep As for me, my favourite sport is jogging in the morning and playing tennis in the afternoon By practicing these sports regularly I always feel fit and never get sick Health is much more precious than money We can’t lead a happy life if we are continually tortured by diseases Try to keep a clear mind in a healthy body and get accustomed to regular practice of certain sports, we’ll feel life worth living 54.Why is it necessary to learn English? English is the tinternational language of business In order to discuss our country’s products and services with other people as well as to entice investment from foreign lands, we must so in English To communicate our thoughts and ideas to other cultures, the best tool is English Communication is our link to the outside world and, in turn, our chance at economic growth Most leading countries in the world either speak English or have English as their second language There are the countries that have the resources, technology and knowledge to help us grow 19 We are also invited to learn so much from English speakers We can experience the foods of Ireland, the natural resources of Canada, the monuments of the U.S., the desert areas of Australia or the best fishing ports in New Zealand, just by talking with, these citizens We, in turn, can also express our feelings and interests about Vietnam The sharing of this kind of information is a bridge to long term friendships with people from all over the world 55.Describe your best friend and tell why you like him/her Of all my friends, Thanh Lan is my best friend since we enjoy each other’s company so much that we’ll miss each other greatly if we don’t meet at least once a week Thanh Lan is twenty-twoyears old but everyone thinks she looks much younger She’s not so pretty but she’s charming She has a fair complexion that makes her look very healthy, here eyes are clear and expressive She is a very reliable, mature girl with a great sense of humour She is very “down-to-earth”and is often shy She has been with me in both good and bad times to either rejoice over something with me or to comfort me She has a strong personality with crystal clear view of “right and wrong” She’s an honest, a loyal and a warm humanitarian Some people wonder how we can become such good friends because she is so quiet and I’m very energetic and outgoing I think (that) the idiom “opposites attract” is the answer 56.(Smoking is harmful to our health) Over the last thirty years, thanks to the efforts of various branches of science and technology, research has proved that smoking damages health and shortens man’s life-span According to a diagram released by the World’s Health Organization (WHO), the number of people who die of diseases connected to smoking is increasing more and more The more science and technology learn, the more damage caused by smoking is discovered Therefore, it seems that we can never put a final stop to the list of harm caused by smoking First of all, smoking brings about the decline of our memory because each cigarette we smoke destroys 15,000 cerebral cells Smoking is considered the number one cause of cardio-vascular trouble, pneumonia, lung cancer etc … The main offending agents are carbon monoxide and nicotine in the smoke These cancer – causing agents are also the ones which cause pharyngeal cancer The toxic effects of smoke make the smoker’s voice hoarse Additionally, the visible effect is that the tobacco or opium tar sticks to the teeth, and causes them to become dark or dirty-yellow, diminishing our good looks and charm In conclusion, I would like to quote our well-known scholar “Le Quy Don” as saying some hundred years ago that smoking was like taking a toxic drug, the smoke of which wasted our health and diminished our life-span; yet, few people heeded his sage advice 57.Which season of the year you like best? Why ? I was born in Northern VietNam, where are four clear seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Each season has its own charms and attractions For example, Spring is the season which offers beautiful flowers and warm weather; Summer is the season of nice holidays when we can enjoy lots of outdoor activities such as picnicking, camping, swimming, fishing etc… Autumn is so beautiful with its ideal weather while Winter can give us such delight as gathering by a fire to chat or tell each other funny stories As far as I am concerned, I like Autumn best because of the following reasons: During Autumn, which lasts more or less from late July to early October, it is sunny most of the time The Autumnal sun is often splendid, dying nature yellow The weather is also ideal because it is not too cold nor too hot Then the coldish northwesterly wind, which blows gently, thrills everyone with the breath of Autumn The leaves of the trees turning yellow or red put a gorgeous coat of colours on nature Autumn is such a wonderful season that many poems and songs have 4been composed to sing the praises of the season Autumn is also a season which reminds me of my first day at school, when my mother took me by the hand and led me to school for the first time Last but not least, Autumn is the time when I can enjoy my favourite fruit and dish which are the Japanese persimmons and the green rice flakes These are found only in Autumn 58.Describe a day spent by the river or bi the sea Summer comes together with its extreme heat and nobody can resist the temptation to spend their holiday at the seaside Last week, in older to escape from the suffocating atmosphere of a crowded city, my friends and I decided to go to Vung Tau beach When we got to the seaside, the beach had already been crammed with holiday makers They were either sunbathing on the beach for a short tie, we all took off our clothes and let ourselves drift along on the waves Swimming brought us a good appetite We enjoyed some sea foods and then took a quick nap after lunch In the afternoon we strolled along the beach, inhaling in rapture the fresh sea air and took lots of photographs A holiday at the seaside helped us get rid of all worries and trouble and gave us health and enthusiasm to resume work again 59 You have just arrived to visit a foreign country Write to your parent announcing that you have arrived safely and ask them to send something to you Dear mother and father, This letter is to let you know that I have arrived safely in Singapore My first impressions are that Singapore is a beautiful country and that I am going to enjoy staying here very much Everything is so clean and beautiful and very well- organized The airport is very large and modern and I could see that they have just completed the modernization The people working there were friendly, courteous and very helpful They made me feel very welcome to their city The taxi from the airport downtown was readily available and very cheap My hotel is new modern one with every convenience The tourist bulletin that I found in my room suggests to me so many different things that I might like to see and do, so I am sure that I will be busy every minute Unfortunately, I forgot the shopping list that I had made out before I came here As you know, many of my friends asked me to buy something for them I can not possibly remember everything, so would you please send the list to me I miss both of you and wish that you were here with me Don’t worry about me because this is a very secure and safe place I will write again in a few days Your loving son, 60.Tell me about your indoor hobby and why you enjoy it Experience has taught me a valuable lesson,which is that i should have an in door hobby to occupy myself in my spare – time, othe wise i might spend my lei sure – time on entertaining games which are either mindless or wasteful After careful consideration i decided to sart stamp collection since i regard postage stamps as object of interest and value For stamps to be accepted for use as postage, stamps undergo screening steps , and only those stamps which excelled the others in meanings ,in artistic skills, and aesthetic designs will be selected So a stamp is really a cultural trait of the country which issues it What could be more interesting than having in my hand such a masterpiece? Stamps teach leasons on geography and history I, of course , will have to look up from dictionaries or other books to discover mor about the origin of stamps This will broaden my geographycal and historical knowledge more and more Then, collecting stamps is quite a relaxing activity too I can well imagine how a new beautifuly stamp, whether it is a domestic or overseas one,Cuold make me happy whatching it for hours on end so my hobby can help me relax All in all, stamp collecting further stimulates my creative and intellectual growth,wich makes me nevers feel guilty about wasting time 61.Dear John, I am very happy for writing this letter to you today because this is a happy time of the year in Vietnam It is the time of Ted, our New Year Later I will write to tell you about some other aspects of our Vietnamese culture, but now let me just tell you about this special holiday, Tet Tet is the start of our lunar year It does not fall on the same date as your New Year - January 1^st, but we usually celebrate it somewhere from January 15^st to February 28^st At this time of the year, the shops are busy, especially those in the Central Market where gaily - wrapped sweets and other goodies fill the shelves Many people come to buy and the shops are very crowded Everyone likes to wear new clothes to start the New Year Then, gifts must be bought for all relatives, especially for grandparents Some streets are lined with pretty flowers and big watermelons are for on sale along others From what I have read and heard, it is similar to your Christmas Tet is a favorite holiday of most Vietnamese people The culture and traditions of Tet have been passed on to us for so many generations Before and during Tet we observe these customs and traditions In my next letter I will tell you more about some of the special customs we observe during this time May I close by wishing you "Cung Chuc Tan Xuan", our words for "Happy New Year" Your friend, 62.What benefits can traveling (travelling) bring to you ? To supplement what we learn from boonks and teachers , schools usually organiza trips for students Many students considered the planned trips as social outings designed for pleasure only They don’t realize all the knowledge and the benefits they can derive from travel In reality these trips can bring about so many physical, social and mental benefits Let’s describe these benefits in details In some of our travels we have an opportunity to live amongst nature , to inhale clean sir and fresh breese We also have oppprtunities to take long walks , to run , to jump and climb freely so that we can develop physically healthy bodies On such trips our appetites improves and sleep soundly In addition , we gain a lot of social and mental benefits from our trips Travels and outings provide students with opportunities to be joyful and friendly, and so escape from everyday routines They give us chance to become betteraccquainted and socialize with others From these contacts, we learn how to relate to people , exchange ideas and friends, Our trips provide us with association with nature , give us time to relax, mediatate and to enjoy games outof-door (outdoor ) Living with others in groups helps us (to ) from good habits such as sharing consideration for the others, resourcefulness and friendliness Morever , travels and outings will help to develop our knowledge and supplement what we learn from books and teachers The lessons on Geography , History and Science will be more meaningful to us ,enriched through true-to-life observations and experiences Through travels we can also learn about our beautiful country , the historical relics , the places of interest, the rich resources of our country , the progress that has taken place and the improvements that nees to be made As a result, we turn to know and love our country more In conclusion, trips are usually beneficial to us However , to gian the most from our outings we should learn to observe carefully and put in practice rules of good social behavior We should also learn how to enjoy nature respect its numerous beautiful offerings If we keep in mind and practice allof the points involved in travelling successfully , we can benefit greatly from these experiencies 63 Dear Mom and Dad, By this time I am well-adjusted! to living away from home Living ill another country is the only way te become acquainted with what the people are really like, It is only by becoming very good friends with some of the American students here at school that I have gained lots of insights into their way of life And everyone need to have a home of his own family I am learning a lot by being here fore so long I am learning about life through living here And not just from studying at the universty However, studying is what I must right now So until I write again, I remain your loving son 64.COMPOSITIPN The pollution of air Water and land in our city with such pollutants as smoke , industrial and household waste is getting worse and worse It has reached intolerable levels The amount of carbon monoxide (CO) of the air now far exceeds the accepted limit As a result of this the health of every citizen here is being jeopardized alarmingly To solve the problem of pollution I think the government should relocate the factories outside the city limits and penalize people for littering, especially for relieving themselves in the streets I also think there should be stronger controls on vehicles emitting pollutants Apart from these measures, the government should establish more factories to recycle garbage, which is probably the best way of disposing of household waste Then the masses should be mobilized to tidy up their houses and the streets where they live , to grow trees and plants into forests to preserve their environment, Only then the pollution can be diminished 65.Write about a holiday you took Give details My friend and I recently went on a four – day holiday to Nha Trang It was wonderful to escape the air and noise of Ho Hi Minh city We took the night train and we were gently lulled to sleep by the sound of the train and the pleasant night air We arrived in Nha Trang early the next morning and checked into the Grand Hotel which is very near to the beach, restaurants and nightlife The hotle offered all kinds of accommodation from first class to economy The staff were friendly and extremely helpful to us They recommended a few tours which we took and we were not disappointed with On the beach we ate fresh seafood such as boiled crabs, grilled lobsters and sanguine oysters Nha Trang was clean and quiet, making our holiday very peaceful, restful and unforgettable 66.Describe your native village and state your reasons Why you love ut Although my village is small, it’s very beautiful and lovely My village is divided into hamlets which are directed and supervised by heads of hamet who are in charge of and responsible for the activities of their hamlet In the middle of the village stands an ancient pagoda where the villagers gather to make offerings to the God of Agriculture on the 15th day of the first lunar month On the left flows peacefully a blue and river where I used to to take a swim n hot days when I was young Almost the houses in my village are built on high ground to avail floods in the rainy season The villagers live chiefly on agriculture All year round they cling to their soil, think the best ways to force their soil to produce more food and vegetables to their families They get rich owing to their creative work and industriousness The harvest time is the merriest and busiest season of the year How I love my native village! It’s in this nice and lovely place that I was born and have grown up and spenr wonderful days of my childhood It’s the cradle, the paradise of my whole life! 67 Describe the career you have choden, and the reasons for your choice Choosing a career is of the most improtance It determines one’s whole life As for me, after careful consideration, I want to become a construction engineer In our country, after long years of atrocious war, many houses, villages, bridges and roads were destroyed by bombing They all need to be repaired or rebuilt After graduation, I’ll contribute my part to the reconstruction of my war torn country into one of the most modern and powerful countries in the world How happy I feel when I am able to turn slum areas into blocks of hight buildings, to bring happiness and joys to my poor compatriots! How proud and delighted I am go to build high-ways, bridges and factorries for my city dwellers by the sweat of my brow! 68.Your English teacher My English teacher is Miss Loan She’s of medium height, about twenty five of age She’s fairy pretty with her oval-shaped face, straight nose, large forehead and bright eyes Though young and attractive in appearance she’s dignified and virtuous She’s known to be a teacher of considerable ability Her method of teaching differs somewhat with that of our former teacher Instead of explaining fully every new lesson beforehand she just gives us assignments and let us work out ourselves Thus her method of teaching corresponds to all of us and help us become active in our English learning When teaching, she particularly pays close attention to English accent and pronunciation She often makes us pronounce an English word several times until it’s pronounced correctly and accurately She always encourages us in our English study and thanks to her devotion to teaching us, we have been making a rapid progress Everyone in our class is now talking about our new English teacher who deserves our love and respect 69.Describe the advantages of living in the country and the disadvantages of living in the city (Although I’ve spent most of my life in the city, I always prefer to live in the country rather than in the city First, living in the country we can enjoy fresh and pure air all year round whereas the city atmosphere is seriously polluted Second, we can live a safe and peacefull file in the country while townsfolk are often obsessed with sudden deaths caused by careless drivers and fool hardy motorcyclists Third, nothing can be compared with beautiful sceneries at dusk and at dawn in the country side They help us relax wonderfully after a hard day’s work while the debaucheries in prostitute houses in beer shops and dancing-halls are ruining townspeople’s body and soul 70.COMPOSITION I like to go shopping at a supermarket because of the following reasons: The supermarket is large, comfortable and conveniently located It takes me only a few minutes to walk there from my house I usually don’t have much time for shopping, so I have to buy things according to a plan, or from a shopping list At this supermarket I can buy exactly what I need very quickly because everything is placed on open shelves All I have to is ( to) choose whatever I want and take it to the check-out counter Apart from that, I don’t have to bargain over prices before buying, yet I’m never afraid of being overcharged for anything Goods are sold at fixed prices and the supermarket guarantees the things we buy Should the items become faulty, the supermarket will either have them replaced or repaired for free 71.Why is it necessary to learn English? English is the international language in business In order to discuss our country's products and services with other people as well as to entice investment from foreign land, we must so in English Communication is our link to the out side world and, in turn, our chance at economic growth Most leading countries in the world eigher speak English or have English as their second language There are the countries that have the resources technology and knowledge to help us grow We are also invited to learn so much from English speakers We can experience the foods of Ireland, the natural resources of Canada, the monuments of the U.S., the desert areas of Australia or the best fishing ports in New Zealand, just by talking with these citizens We, in turn, can also express our feelings and interests about Vietnam The sharing of this kind of information is a bridge to long term friendshops wit people from all over the world 72.Your friend is going to move to town Write him/her a letter (about 150 words) giving some advice Dear (tên người bạn), You are moving to a new town As your friend, I am writing this letter for you to keep as my memory and also I give you some advices Hope it will help you Moving to a new town means new school, new friends and new environment You will probably need time to adapt yourself to a whole new life It will definitely difficult to go to a school when you have no friends there, but don't be too worried You just need to open yourself, and talk to other people, talk to your teachers also You should not be passive waiting for others to strike up (start) a conversation with you If you follow this tip, you will easily find new friends and find it simple studying at a new school The weather in your new town is also different from ours here You should prepare suitable type 73 You came to London a month ago to study English.write a letter to your parent, telling them about the course you are taking and some ò the dificulties you have en counter Dear parents, It has been a month I am on my own, with you It is really hard for me I am studying English at the Cambridge Language school The study is not so difficult I start school at 9am and finish at around 12am I go to school from Monday to Friday After school, I often go to the supermaket to buy some food for the lunch and dinner I like to have hamburger for lunch, even I know that is not really good for health For dinner, I always cook myself Sometimes, I go shopping at the mall I have a lot of homeworks so I must have it done before 10pm, to go to bed right after that Because my English is not very good, so I have faced a lot of problems when going out For example, I get stucked when a woman asks me in the bus, or as I go shopping, if the clerk speaks too fast then I am unable to catch every word I also really miss you and the food back there It is time to go bathing Get back to you soon With love Yours, 74 traveling has become faster and more comfortable As the world (life) develops very fast day by day, people have to work harder to earn money in order to adapt themselves for the changes And as a result, they work so hard that they want to rest some time That is how travelling grows to serve millions of people everyday This life is a modern life Everything must be fast and convenient Travelling must also "serve" people in a different way It should be more comfortable, from transport to service Therefore, many trasnports vehicles are induced Nowadays, there are a lot of ways to travel They can travel by bus, planes, ferrys, ships, motobikes, bycicles or trains Each of the above listed vehicles can carry up to hundreds and even thousands of people per trip It makes the time that takes them waiting becomes shorter and they could enjoy more time hanging out The service here means how service providers serve the travellers People want to go relaxing, it leads to the increase of hotels, tour providers and beauty spots as well Because there are lots of providing stuffs, travellers will have a wide choice of choosing the best one The credit goes to the one which is cheaper but more comfortable As a result, service providers train their assistants and officers really methodically They also upgrade the standard of the hotels (living facilities) to attract more customers Beauty spots' administrators manages the secure and environment with a close control approach All these actions make the travelling faster and more comfortable 75 overpopulation causes a lot of problems to social and economic development.Discuss and prove the problem The world is now facing a problem of increasing people, which is called overpopulation It causes a lot of matters to social and economic development, because: Government has to build more schools for children, lands become lesser when people increase.When children grow up, jobs are very hard for them to find It leads to unemployment and step by step, the economic decession Government money is used to build schools and kindergartens so there will be less capital to be invested into business, and it makes the economic development as well as social one goes down Overpopulation also leads to social evils, gradually Because if a family has more than children, parents' love will be shared, that a child feels they are not protected and cared by there loved ones They will feel bored at studying and want to bad things, as they think that will help them forget their family, like taking drugs or alcohol Some of the above examples give a gloomy picture of how the social and economic development be concerned if there is population explosion 76 Description of my house In my house I have four rooms, one living room, one kitchen, one bathroom and one hall My room is next to the living room, in my room I have a desk near the window, I have two beds, I have my computer on the desk, my closet is next to the desk and in the desk I have books In my room I have pictures of anime The room of my sister is next to my room My sister has a desk under the window, she has a library next to the desk, her bed is far from the window and her closet is next to the bed.The room of my parents is next to my sister’s room My parents have in their room a big bed, they have two little tables, their closet is behind the windows The living room is next to my room, in the living room we have two sofas and an armchair, we have a little table, we have a TV and a DVD, we have some music discs and a DVD player The kitchen is next to my parent’s room In the kitchen we have a TV, one fridge, one cooker and a big table The bathroom is far from the kitchen In the bathroom we have a toilet, a shower and a sink  ... him/her Of all my friends, Thanh Lan is my best friend since we enjoy each other’s company so much that we’ll miss each other greatly if we don’t meet at least once a week Thanh Lan is twenty-twoyears