SPORTS

Some people think that governments should ban dangerous sports, while others think
people should have freedom to do any sports or activity. Discuss both views and give
your own opinion.

Nowadays, some dangerous sports have gained popularity in many countries. While some
people think that these sports should be prohibited, others strongly believe that an
individual’s freedom of choice should not be compromised. This essay will discuss the debate
and give a concluding view.
On the one hand, I understand why these hazardous activities should be banned. First,
extreme sports players are prone to injuries or even death due to the dangerous nature of
these sports. For instance, if the parachute of a skydiver malfunctions before he lands, the
fatality risk is extremely high for him. Those who survive accidents may still suffer from
severe injuries such as paralysis and brain damage, becoming a burden for themselves and
their families. Second, prohibiting these sports might be an effective way for the
government to ensure the safety of its citizens. Since human life is more valuable than
the momentary joy or thrill from those activities, the government should take
responsibility to prevent people from taking the risk by imposing some restrictions.
On the other hand, each individual should have the right to decide whether they want to
participate in extreme sports or not. It could be a violation of human rights to some extent
if these sports were banned. After all, those risk-takers are fully aware of the danger
associated with these activities. Instead, the government should make sure that people only
attempt those after getting appropriate training to mitigate the risks. Additionally, the
restriction should only be on players who take up dangerous sports without training as
well as necessary protective gear.
In conclusion, I believe that forbidding such sports is unreasonable. Instead, higher safety
standards ranging from training to the quality of facilities for those activities should be
imposed to reduce the potential risk.

Nowadays, sport is a big business with high earnings for professional sports people and
companies involved both financially and in other ways. Is this a positive or negative
development for sports?
These days, professional athletes can earn a great deal of money as sports have become a
lucrative business. Furthermore, this business is supported by many companies in various ways,
including sponsorships and so forth. From my perspective, this is more of a positive
development.
To begin with, paying a big amount of money to sports people can be considered beneficial
to sports. When these people find their career rewarding enough in terms of earnings, they
are more likely to have greater motivation to devote hard work and time to their training.
As a result, these athletes are able to enhance their performance in competition and gain
more medals for themselves or for their own country. In Brazil, sports have become an
industry that receives huge investments from companies like Wilkes and Banco. Brazilian
footballers are paid millions of dollars a year just to bring victory to their country,
explaining why this nation has won so many championships.
It is also advantageous for sports when businesses pour a lot of money and support into
the industry. Since HAGL, a prosperous business group in Vietnam, allocated billions of
Vietnam Dong to the construction of a sports institute to provide young football players
with professional training, the Vietnamese national football team has become much stronger.
Being well-trained, they now have a better chance of winning more championships and
awards than their predecessors. Other companies in Vietnam also use images of popular
sports idols in advertisements on social media for another purpose. Aiming at all walks of
life, they inspire people to have a greater passion for sports, potentially increasing the number
of talented athletes.
In conclusion, sport can benefit a great deal from becoming a business as it will help to improve
the popularity of playing sport and leading a healthy lifestyle, while professional athletes will
have more financial incentives to improve their performance.

• Lucrative (adj): giàu có

• Sponsorships (n): Tài trợ.
• To have greater motivaton to do something: Có động lực cao hơn làm gì đó
• To enhance their performance in competition: Cải thiện kết quả ở các cuộc thi.
• To pour money into something: Rót tiền vào việc gì đó
• To provide somebody with something: Cung cấp cho ai đó cái gì đó.
• Predecessors (n): Người đi trước, tiền nhiệm
• To have a greater passion for something: Có niềm đam mê lớn hơn cho việc gì.
• A healthy lifestyle (n): Lối sống tốt cho sức khoẻ
• Financial incentives (n): Phần thưởng tài chính.

Some people think that it is more beneficial to take part in sports which are played in
teams, like football, while other people think that taking part in individual sports, like
tennis or swimming, is better. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Team sports

• Enhance interpersonal skills - beneficial for people not only in their daily life but also
in their work
• Take pride in themselves - enhance sportsmanship and unity because playing these
sports makes them feel as a part of sth

Individual sports
 • Personal skills such as managing our emotions, cop with stress , deal with difficulties
without help from others - have the ability to survive in this highly competitive
society
• Improve our independence - have the ability to make a wise decision to overcome
obstacles
Some people argue that playing team sports provides people with more benefits as opposed to
participating in individual sports. Personally, I believe that both types of sports can provide a
range of benefits to people, and it depends on what benefits each individual wishes to achieve
as to which sport they should choose to play.
On the one hand, team sports, such as football and basketball, provide a number of benefits to
those who play. For example, team sports give players the opportunity to develop
interpersonal skills, like teamwork and communication skills, which will not only help people
in their day-to-day social interactions but also benefit them in their workplace. In addition,
team sports also offer players the chance to develop a sense of unity, friendship, and
sportsmanship between teammates, which can really add value to people’s lives by making
them feel a part of something.
On the other hand, individual sports, like tennis and swimming, also have their merits. When
someone plays an individual sport, it usually gives them more opportunities to enhance their
personal skills, such as being able to manage emotions, cope with stress, and build
confidence and self-esteem. When people are playing an individual sport, they usually have
no one else to rely on for support during the game or match, and therefore, individuals will
need to develop a strong mindset to be able to deal with and overcome any setbacks they may
face. Individual sports also provide better opportunities for people to challenge themselves by
setting goals and achieving personal bests.
Overall, I feel that all sports offer great benefits for people’s mental and physical health, and
that people should choose whatever sport they are most interested in playing.
Từ vựng
• develop interpersonal skills: phát triển kĩ năng giao tiếp và làm việc với người khác
• team work and communication skills: Kĩ năng làm việc nhóm và giao tiếp
• day-to-day social interactions: Tương tác xã hội hàng ngày.
• benefit people in their workplace: Có lợi cho công việc
• develop a sense of unity, friendship, and sportsmanship between teammates: Phát
triển tinh thần đoàn kết, bạn bè và thể thao giữa những người chơi.
• add value to people’s lives: Thêm giá trị vào cuộc sống
• feel a part of something: Cảm thấy như một phần của cái gì đó
• enhance their personal skills: Phát triển kĩ năng cá nhân
• manage emotions, cope with stress: Quản lý cảm xúc, giải toả căng thẳng.
• build confidence and self-esteem: Nâng cao sự tự tin và lòng tự trọng
• develop a strong mindset: Phát triển tư duy tốt hơn.
• overcome any setbacks they may face: Vượt qua bất cứ trở ngại nào gặp phải
• to challenge themselves by setting goals and achieving personal bests: Thử thách bản
thân bằng việc đặt ra mục tiêu và đạt được những gì tốt nhất
 • mental and physical health: Sức khoẻ thể chất và tinh thần

ARTS
In today’s world of advanced science and technology, we still greatly value our artists
such as musicians, painters and writers. What can THE arts tell us about life that
science and technology cannot?
Artworks help people to develop patriotism
Liberate the south - have a deep understanding about how earlier generations fought
against outside intruders
Have more motivation to live better and contribute to their country

In this modern era of nonstop scientific and technological advancement, artists still command
profound respect from people the world over. There are a number of things about life that arts
can teach us whilst science and technology fail to do so.
Many forms of art, especially literature, can deliver messages about the appreciation of
what we have in life as well as life itself. Hundreds of literary works choose to depict
misery, misfortune and sorrow that still exist in many places, and this sends the
strongest message to those who do not appreciate their lives. “The Goldfinch”, for
example, which narrates a resonant story about the miserable life the main character led
after the unfortunate death of his mother does make each one of us wonder whether we
have become heartless toward our own loved ones. And I doubt that there are any
technologies in the world that could manage to convey such powerful messages.
Arts teach us to cherish the beauty of culture and are the fuel for our spiritual lives. This is
extremely important in a world where science and technology seem to fade our belief in the
gravity of culture in daily life. The connection between arts and culture is here to stay, and
traditional music and ancient paintings can remind us of where we came from and who we
are at present. That is to say, our cultural identity is preserved in various forms of arts.
Although science and technology advance our understanding of all things and better our lives,
arts can touch us to a much deeper extent, help us value what we have, and remind us of the
significance of our culture.

FARMING
In spite of the advances made in agriculture, many people around the world still go
hungry. Why is this the case? What can be done about this problem?

Despite the fact that the emergence of numerous technological advancements has aided
farming methods, it is true that there are an increasing number of people suffering from
hunger. This essay will go into the root of the problem as well as practical suggestions for
overcoming it.
The increase in hunger throughout the world may be attributed to two major sources.
Firstly, in many nations, particularly in underdeveloped ones, farmers are unable to
afford advanced machinery. Because of limited financial resources, they continue to
utilize old-fashioned methods with poor agricultural infrastructure and fail to
implement innovations in their crops, resulting in food scarcity. Secondly, the frequent
occurrence of natural disasters leads to the hunger problem. Many East-South Asian and
African countries, which cope with floods and droughts annually, have fewer
opportunities to enhance agricultural activity than others. While these disasters cause
huge crop losses, farmers have little choice but to face the fact and prepare for the next
one. As a result, many citizens of these countries do not have enough food to survive.
However, some effective approaches could help to alleviate global hunger. Governments
may assist farmers by lending them money to purchase automated and labor-saving
machinery, as well as high-quality plant seeds. This approach saves farmers time while
increasing crop production. Furthermore, in some vulnerable areas, early warning systems
for natural catastrophes and climate change should be installed. As a result, farmers
can successfully adapt to harsh weather conditions in order to protect their crops.

In conclusion, the lack of modern farming technology in some developing nations and the
damage caused by natural disasters might be attributed to rising world hunger. National
governments and farmers might work together to solve this problem.

Fewer young people do farming work in rural areas. Why? Should young people be
encouraged to do farming work?

These days, rural youth are less involved in farming work. There are several reasons for this
change, and I firmly believe that it is vital for governments and NGOs to engage them in
farming.
There are two leading reasons why young people in rural areas tend to leave farming. Firstly,
they tend to hold negative perceptions of agricultural work. Farming is often associated
with hardship and poverty. It is painstaking labor that indeed takes months to take care
of crops and yet cannot guarantee a fruitful harvest due to external factors like weather
conditions, pests and diseases. In fact, having experienced this instability, many rural
parents even discourage youngsters from leading a farmer’s life. Secondly, today’s
generation is more advantageous than older generations as they have access to the
Internet. They begin to know many vocational opportunities out there that are more
profitable and financially stable than farming work. In other words, farming is no longer
their only choice and is more likely an inferior choice.
Job opportunities are quite limited
I think it is essential to engage youth in farming work because of two main reasons. For one
thing, farmers are aging; in Vietnam, the average age of farmers is 50. If young people
stay uninvolved, there would probably be no next generations of farmers who provide
food and agricultural products. Another reason is that young people are technology adopters
from an early age. With their familiarity with technologies, they can find ways to
incorporate those technologies in modern farming and solve many agricultural problems,
like using remote-controlled helicopters to spray pesticides.
In conclusion, it is due to negative perceptions and abundance of career choices that
discourage rural youth from going into farming, and I think engaging them in farming work
from now on is vital for our future.
CRIME :
Prison is the common way in most countries to solve the problem of crime.
However, a more effective solution is to provide people a better education. Do
you agree or disagree?
Despite the popularity of prison sentences as the way to control illegalities, improvements
on education have gained social endorsement as a means to eliminate the problem from its
root. In my opinion, I disagree that education is the better one as it is rather impossible to
compare these two methods’ effectiveness owing to their distinct impacts.
On the one hand, the reasons why prisons are of indispensable necessity for social security
are varied. They are the place to keep people who have broken the law contained,
ensuring the safety of other citizens. Especially, dangerous criminals such as murderers or
rapists have to be imprisoned for their heinous actions. Furthermore, severe prison sentences
act as a deterrent against crimes. Knowing there might be a chance of getting caught and
condemned to jail, which also means losing freedom and living a miserable life in a cell, ones
who are having the intention of committing illegalities would reconsider going down the
path.
On the other hand, education serves as a remedy for the origin of crimes. Education
contributes greatly to heighten people’s intellect and to form a civilized society. With access
to better educational services, citizens would be well-informed about the damage that
committing crimes would cause to their community and themselves, which eventually leads
to the decline in crime rates. Additionally, the possession of certain qualifications through
fundamental education like vocational training could secure a person’s stable life, which
would dispel any ideas of committing crimes.
In conclusion, I believe there is no absolute way to deduce whether imprisonment policies or
better education would take the dominant role in dealing with crimes as they both tackle the
problem just in different ways.

Some people argue that parents of children who break the law should be punished in
some way, because they are responsible for their children’s actions.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Các đề bài liên quan

• The best way to reduce youth crimes is to educate their parents with parental
skills. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• In some countries, a high proportion of criminal acts are committed by
teenagers. Why has this happened? What can be done to deal with this?
It is argued that parents should be responsible or even punished for crimes committed by their
children. While juvenile delinquency may be due to parents’ failure in raising their children, I
believe that teenage lawbreakers should take all accountability for their offenses.
More often than not, children’s anti-social behaviors could be traced back to a
dysfunctional family with abusive parents, divorced parents or parents who put too much
academic pressure on their children. These generally share one feature in common which is a
lack of care toward children’s emotions. Due to this unhappy childhood, children become
more vulnerable to cognitive distortion; they tend to think more negatively, feel worthless,
and consider social offenses a way to prove their worth to the world. Indeed, statistics
agree that many juvenile offenders have experienced emotional crises due to their broken
families, which leads to their anti-social attitudes. As several roots of evils committed by
children are from parents’ failure to raise their kids with love, parents should be partly
accountable for their children’s illegal behaviors.
Nevertheless, I insist that the lawbreakers themselves, not their parents, should be punished to
ensure a justice system based on fairness and criminal deterrence. Firstly, it is unjust for
offenders to escape legal punishment and continue their normal lives despite harming
society. Punishment is to let them understand the price for their actions, and could vary,
depending on the seriousness of the behavior. Secondly, the threat of being punished
would deter the risk of other teenages’ committing anti-social behaviors. This will make
society a safer and more peaceful place.
In conclusion, although parents play a part in their children’s wrongdoings, they should not
take major or all responsibility for that. It is suggested to punish juvenile lawbreakers as a
way to ensure a just legal system and alleviate the risk of potential criminals.
Band điểm ước lượng
TR: 7 CC: 8 LR: 8 GRA: 8 Overall: 7.5

Từ vựng (không quá 10 từ/cụm từ)

• juvenile delinquency: tội phạm thanh thiếu niên

• lawbreakers: kẻ phạm pháp
• take all accountability for: chịu toàn bộ trách nhiệm cho
• anti-social behaviors: các hành vi chống đối xã hội
• dysfunctional family: gia đình bất hòa
• cognitive distortion: lối suy nghĩ méo mó
• justice system: hệ thống luật pháp
• criminal deterrence: răn đe tội phạm
• unjust (adj) bất công
• alleviate the risk of potential crimes: giảm nguy cơ phạm tội
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Carried out by government
Carried out by private institutions
Scientific research plays an important role in the development of humanity. Some people
think that the responsibility for conducting and managing it should be taken by governments,
and not by private companies. Personally, I believe that both governments and private
businesses should have the right and duty to carry out research.
I believe that governments should play the leading role in performing research due to a
number of reasons. Firstly, scientific research is the key to finding solutions to the
pressing concerns of society. Thorough medical research, for example, needs to be
conducted by governments to develop vaccines against potential epidemics. Research into
renewable energies is also crucial to dealing with global warming. These kinds of research
require a great deal of spending, which can only be afforded by the government. In
addition, scientific studies controlled by governments will ensure that reliable and ethical
methods are used, and minimize the risk of these studies being used for criminal activity.
For instance, studies related to nuclear power or weapons must be carried out or supervised
by governmental organizations to protect a country from terrorism or other warfare.
However, private companies can do research which is not carried out by governments. In
fact, many useful scientific discoveries have been made by private institutions. To illustrate,
the invention of the iphone by Apple, a corporation in the US began the era of
smartphones and facilitated modern forms of interaction between people all over the
world. Furthermore, encouraging profit-driven companies to conduct scientific
investigations will help them develop their own products and create competition in the
marketplace. Society will therefore benefit from new inventions and better products.
In conclusion, although governments should control and carry out major scientific studies,
private companies should not be deprived of the right to do research.
HOSPITALS
These days many people feel that good health and well-being is essential to all people and
therefore healthcare services should not be run by privately owned companies, whose main
objective is to make profit. Personally, while I do agree with this statement, I also believe that
private healthcare services do have many advantages.
Benefits : private healthcare

• Reduce burden on public healthcare system

• Allow patients to enjoy comfortable facilities

Firstly, public hospitals in most countries are usually overcrowded and underfunded which
can put a lot of pressure on doctors, nursing staff and patients to recover quickly so that
more people can be treated. When people choose private healthcare services it can help to
reduce the burden on the public system, and as a result can also help to reduce the amount
of money required by the government for funding. In addition to this, those who choose to
pay for private healthcare services will experience many benefits, such as the quality and
speed of treatments, short waiting times for appointments and operations, and more
private and comfortable facilities.
However, while there are a number of benefits to private healthcare, there are also a number of
drawbacks. To begin with, private healthcare insurance is very costly and many people
simply cannot afford it. In addition, private healthcare insurance is usually paid on a monthly
basis, whether you use the system or not, and therefore many people pay thousands of
dollars each year for private healthcare but never need to use the facilities or services.
Many people consider this to be a waste of money. Furthermore, some people also argue
that private healthcare services create inequality between citizens of a nation as only the
wealthy can afford the best and quickest treatment available.
In conclusion, I believe that as long as governments do their best to provide a good standard of
healthcare facilities and services for the general public, then private healthcare services can
also exist and provide many advantages that will outweigh the disadvantages.

ALIENS
Some people think that space exploration is a waste of resources while others think that
it is essential for mankind to continue to explore the universe in which we live. Discuss
both views and give your own opinions.
While the opponents of space exploration said that it is not worth allocating resources, others
argue that humans should keep exploring outer space. Though the former opinion seems to be
true to some extent, I advocate the latter one.
On the one hand, the investment in space exploration is considered a waste since it presents
no direct benefits for human beings for the time being. Governments have poured billions
of dollars into this practice to hire scientists, train astronauts and operate space stations.
Besides, space missions often take decades to produce results which may not be beneficial
for humans. For instance, NASA has been subsidized to search for extraterrestrial life on
other planets for ages; however, they have not concluded whether it is existential until
now. This result seems to pale in comparison with money, effort and time spent on these
missions.

On the other hand, space exploration not only fulfils people’s sense of existence but also
provides people with a deeper insight into their planet. Humans are bonded with a quest
to find our meaning to exist. Upon learning about the universe and tracing back to when
it all started, we are getting closer to uncovering our significance, by means of which we
satisfy our very intrinsic desire. Moreover, space exploration provides people with the
perception of the Earth in relation to other planets. For example, thanks to this practice,
humans could understand how the Sun and the Moon contribute to making the Earth a
living planet. Therefore, humans have a grasp of their existence and gain a great
appreciation of their habitat.
In conclusion, while it is said that people are squandering their resources on space exploration,
I firmly believe that it should be continued due to some aforementioned reasons.
[Link]
Traffic and housing problems could be solved by moving large companies, factories and
their employees to the countryside. Do you agree or disagree?
Increased traffic and lack of housing supply are major concerns in many places. By relocating
large businesses, including their factories and employees, to rural areas, these issues can be
properly addressed. I personally find this idea justifiable; however, at the same time, some
other initiatives should be implemented if we expect to solve traffic and housing problems
effectively.
Moving businesses and their facilities to the countryside will cause urban population to
shrink substantially as successful companies, such as Apple, provide work for thousands of
people. This, as a result, will relieve pressure on urban housing supply systems. Another
apparent advantage of a decreased population is lower volumes of traffic which help
reduce traffic congestion. In Hanoi for example, most people travel to work by private
vehicles, and this leads to overcrowded roads during the rush hour. If big companies are
based in a rural area and offer accommodation to their employees near their workplaces, this
will no longer be the case.
Nonetheless, I think the mentioned problems are rather complicated and can only be solved
completely by the introduction of some other measures. One example involves the
development of road systems because narrow roads largely contribute to traffic jams in
major cities. Building wider roads and motorways will allow a greater number of vehicles,
both private and public, and therefore reduce traffic congestion. Also, residential areas with
small living spaces that can accommodate a growing population should be established in
urban centers.
In conclusion, I agree that relocating businesses to the countryside is one way to deal with
traffic and housing problems. I also believe that we need a combination of this approach and
a number of other actions, as listed above, to tackle these problems in a more comprehensive
manner.
291 words
Từ vựng ghi điểm
1. To cause urban population to shrink: Làm cho dân số thành phố giảm xuống
2. Relieve pressure on urban housing supply systems: Giảm áp lực lên hệ thông cung
cấp nhà ở
3. To reduce traffic congestion: Giảm ách tắc giao thông
4. Overcrowded roads during the rush hour: Đường quá đông đúc trong giờ cao điểm
5. The development of road systems: Sự phát triển của hệ thống đường xá
6. Traffic jams: Ách tắc giao thông
7. Residential areas: Khu dân cư
8. To accommodate a growing population: Cung cấp chỗ ở cho dân số đang tăng lên
In many countries large amounts of food are wasted. Why do you think people waste
food in this way? What can be done to reduce the amount of food thrown away?

Food waste is an ongoing issue in many countries around the world these days. The following
essay will examine some of the main factors contributing to this problem whilst outlining a
number of feasible measures to combat the issue.
There are two main underlying reasons as to why food is being wasted. Firstly, given the vast
improvements in agricultural technology, farming has become more mechanized, which
has boosted productivity and significantly increased harvests. In addition, freight and
logistics processes have also been improved, leading to more cost-efficient transportation and
distribution of foods. As a result, the price of food in supermarkets and restaurants is more
affordable, making it easier than ever for customers to purchase excess quantities of food.
Secondly, it seems that most people haven't cultivated an appreciation for food. Although food
is a bare necessity, many people these days tend to take it for granted.
Several feasible measures can be implemented to mitigate food waste. To begin with,
campaigns to raise public awareness about the need to reduce food waste should be intensified.
Once people are more aware of the seriousness of the issue, they may think twice before buying
and ordering excess amounts of food. Such an initiative should be implemented in tandem with
imposing strict laws that forbid food waste at restaurants. This can be accomplished by fining
diners who order too many items but are unable to finish them. As a result, consumers will
consider what they will order more carefully in the future.
In conclusion, more affordable food prices and a lack of appreciation for food are reasons for
this problem and solutions should be adopted to remedy the situation.
Band điểm ước lượng
TR:8 LR:8 CC:8 GR:8 Overall:8

Từ vựng:

• an ongoing issue: một vấn đề đang diễn ra.

• combat: ngăn chặn.
• underlying reasons: lý do cơ bản.
• excess quantities of: số lượng dư thừa của.
• bare necessity: nhu cầu cơ bản nhất.
• take it for granted: xem là điều hiển nhiên.
• implement: thực hiện.
• intensify: tăng cường.
• in tandem with: song song với

Many people use written language in a less formal way and in a relaxed way than in the
[Link] is that so? Does this development have more advantages or disadvantages?
In this day, the written language of many individuals has become more informal and
spontaneous. There are certain causes which lead to this development, and the drawbacks
may outweigh the benefits.
On the one hand, there are several factors that can give rise to the change in people’s writing
behavior. Firstly, instead of spending hours selecting advanced academic vocabulary and
grammatical structures, which seems to consume a great amount of time, using informal
written language is clearly more time-saving. Thus, this may significantly improve writing
speed and allow people to converse more effectively in this hectic lifestyle. In addition, some
individuals believe that less formal written language could also reduce the tension and
unwanted serious tone when it comes to communicating with friends and relatives in writing
conversations. For instance, when composing text messages, it is common to adjust the
language to a more simple and relaxed way.
On the other hand, the use of a more casual and spontaneous written language could result in
more negative impacts. There are specific situations when formal writing should be a must,
such as making proposal letters or curriculum vitae. However, if the writer applies the casual
tone to those types of document, the final result will be considered improper and end up
being neglected. What is more, the way of writing in a relaxed style would seriously damage
the uniqueness of traditional literature in the long run. With the appearance of slang and
jargon, it can be seen that the art of classic literature is deteriorating day by day.
To sum up, the development of less formal written language could be attributed to time
efficiency and intimate communicative contexts. From my view, this change in many
people’s writing behavior would bring about more disadvantages than advantages.
The most important function of music is that it helps people reduce stress. To what
extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Music plays a vital role in our life for being a source of entertainment, and it is often said that
the primary purpose of music is being a stress reliever. In my opinion, I disagree with this
viewpoint because I believe that many other functions are just as critical.
Some people would claim that the most crucial role of music is to help us unwind as it has a
profound effect on both emotions and the body. To be specific, research has found that music
can be a powerful tool to not only help us settle our mind when feeling stressed, but also
promote healing and improve our overall emotional [Link] is the reason why listening
to music has always been a popular activity people would do after a hectic day to ease their
stress from work and study.
However, I believe that various other functions are just as significant as the relaxation purpose
aforementioned. To begin with, music has also always been part of cultural and religious rituals,
which includes national anthems or wedding and funeral marches. This is the way in which
music helps countries to represent their national identity. Moreover, music is also a form of art
which helps decorate our daily life. It can be seen that many dull events of the day such as
exercising or cooking can turn into something more enjoyable thanks to music, and movies
which feature music are also more captivating.
In conclusion, relieving stress is obviously an important purpose of music, but cultural and
artistic functions are equally significant.
In many cities, there is little control on the design and construction of new houses, so
people can build houses in their own styles rather than building them with the same
style as the old houses in the local area. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

In many cities around the world, people have little influence in the design and construction of
their houses. Many people believe it is better to allow people to freely choose the style and
construction of their new homes rather than forcing everyone to follow the uniform style of the
local area. In my opinion, a diversity in housing styles can bring many more benefits than
drawbacks to an area.
To begin with, cities in Vietnam, such as Saigon, have very few, or even no, regulations on
local housing styles, which means that residents in these areas are free to decide on the
architecture for their home. The only disadvantage that may arise is the lack of uniformity of
houses, which can be a unique feature in certain places. The houses in Hoi An, for instance,
demonstrate a consistent style and therefore have made the city a popular tourist destination. If
the house owners in this city change the style and break this uniformity, the number of tourists
visiting the area is likely to decrease.
However, the advantages brought about by a diversity in housing styles are more worthy of
consideration. Firstly, buildings reflecting a variety of architectural designs can make a city
more attractive and appealing to people of different cultures. For example, the buildings in the
centre of Ho Chi Minh City are designed in both European and Asian styles, which has
eventually given the city a more cosmopolitan atmosphere, with residents coming from many
different countries. Secondly, the freedom of choice in housing styles can allow local people
to be more creative, as they can design their homes in a unique way.
In conclusion, though potentially making some areas less attractive by losing a part of their
character, a diversity in architectural styles should be widely encouraged, as it can beautify a
city and allow residents to be more creative.
Large companies should pay higher salaries to CEOs and executives compared to other
workers. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Nowadays, the growing disparity between the salaries of high-level executives and the average
employees has become a major concern among policy-makers. While some argue that giving
high compensation to directors and managers can bring about many perks, I am still of the
opinion that it is only beneficial to a certain extent.
On one side of the argument, it is undeniable that enormous executive salaries play a crucial
part in the corporate world. The first reason is that such incomes are on par with the talents of
directors. The amount of time, effort and intellect involved in operating a large corporation is
simply astronomical, which makes management a physically and mentally taxing occupation.
Thus, this position needs a good pay rate to keep it occupied. Secondly, due to the immense
importance of competent executives, companies must secure the best people to help them
develop. Regardless, only a handful of people have the abilities and qualifications to handle
this job, so corporations need to create the best offers with the highest benefits to compete for
them.
On the other hand, companies still have to pay other employees a worthwhile salary. Firstly,
besides the sole purpose of making profits, corporations must care about social equality and
responsibility. The fact that giant conglomerates like Amazon or Apple can spend millions of
dollars on their directors, while many of their employees only have a bare minimum salary, is
an injustice that needs to be addressed right away. Furthermore, this helps create a comfortable
and fulfilling workplace that encourages employees to devote themselves to their work. A good
income frees workers from their daily struggles to make ends meet, which means they will
have more time to improve their performance and be more satisfied with the working
environment.
All in all, it can be seen that providing a high executive salary does have its benefits. Still, there
are also many arguments stacked against it. Thus, corporations must strike a balance between
salary levels to create a better workplace for all.
Từ vựng và ngữ pháp

• The growing disparity (n): khoảng cách ngày càng tăng

• Executives (n): nhân viên cấp quản lý
• Compensation (n): mức lương, mức đền bù
• Physically and mentally taxing (adj): đòi hỏi về cả thể chất lẫn tinh thần
• Worthwhile (adj): xứng đáng
• Conglomerate (n): tập đoàn khổng lồ
• Stacked against something: đối lập, đối nghịch với cái gì
• Strike a balance (v): tìm được sự cân bằng

The media should include more stories which report good news. To
what extent do you agree or disagree?
A large number of media channels these days are too focused on negative news, probably to
increase viewership. However, many people often say that they prefer more good news being
covered in the media. I personally agree with this idea and will explain my reasoning in my
essay below.
Bad news dominating the headlines is having an undesirable influence on society.
Psychologically, this type of news, unless managed properly, may keep readers in a state of
stress and lead them to experience trauma. Stories about ISIS slaughtering innocent citizens
for example caused massive damage to people’s mental states and instilled fear into their
minds. Also, frequent exposure to negative news can distort readers’ perception of reality. In
Vietnam for example, it seems that members of the media do not focus on keeping the public
informed of current events anymore, both locally and globally. Instead, they are trying to
publish articles with the primary aim of attracting more viewers and therefore increasing
profits. This, unfortunately, shapes readers’ outlook on society in a negative way.
On the other hand, including good news in the media may have positive effects on the general
public. It helps restore our faith in humanity, which inspires moral courses of action to
uphold ethical social values. Media stories of good news, as opposed to bad news, can also
have a positive psychological implication. Such stories can uplift people to become more
optimistic and generally improve both physical and mental health.
In conclusion, I believe recounting more stories of good news can positively affect the moral
behavior of a group of people and therefore should receive more attention. Although negative
news still has an important place in our life, its severity should be realized so that readers can
fully reap all the benefits that the media has to offer.

Although more and more people read the news on the Internet,
newspapers will remain the most important source of news for the
majority of people. Do you agree or disagree?

Some people believe that despite the spreading popularity of the online media, traditional
newspaper will still hold the most vital position among news readers. In my opinion, this idea
is rather absurd as the Internet has become increasingly dominant due to the benefits it offers.
The first thing that attracts people to reading news on the online sources is their easy access.
With the presence of the Internet around almost every corner of the world, people with a
portable device such as a mobile phone can access huge storage of news. In fact, latest events,
for example IS Terrorist attacks, would be updated immediately on CNN or New York Times.
By contrast, with prolonging procedures including editing and printing, traditional newspaper
might not be able to compete with the Internet in terms of the updating speed.
Another benefit with which the Internet can, from my point of view, take over the position of
printed newspaper is the new experience it brings to readers. One limitation of newspaper is
that it cannot convey visual messages to the people who read news on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, non-stop progress of the technology industry has unfolded the possibility to upload
videos and voice records on various online websites. For instance, soccer fans these days can
rewatch their favorite matches anytime they want with only a laptop connected to the Internet,
which a mere paper cannot do.
In conclusion, I disagree that printed newspaper would continue to be the crucial source of
information because more and more people will be drawn to use the Internet.
Write about the following topic:

Fewer and fewer people today write by hand using a pen, pencil or brush.
What are the reasons for this?
Is the decline in writing by hand a positive or negative development?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge
or experience.
Write at least 250 words

In today's rapidly evolving digital age, the practice of handwriting with traditional tools like
pens and pencils is becoming increasingly rare. This essay will explore the reasons behind this
decline and argue that, although there are some benefits, the negative consequences of this shift
are more significant.
The primary reason for the decrease in handwriting is the widespread adoption of digital
technology. Devices such as computers, tablets, and smartphones offer a more convenient and
efficient means of writing and communication. The ease of typing, coupled with features
like spell check and the ability to easily edit and share documents, has made digital writing
more appealing. For instance, in educational and professional settings, typing is often preferred
for its legibility and ease of distribution, leading to a gradual erosion of handwriting skills.
There are some positive aspects to the decline in handwriting. The digitization of writing has
led to increased productivity and efficiency in both academic and professional contexts. Digital
texts are easier to store, search, and access, making the management and dissemination of
information more streamlined. Additionally, typing is more inclusive for individuals with
disabilities that affect their ability to write by hand, such as dysgraphia.
However, the negatives of this trend outweigh its positives. Handwriting is crucial for cognitive
development, particularly in young children, as it enhances fine motor skills and memory
retention. The personal touch and uniqueness of handwritten text also hold sentimental value,
which digital writing cannot replicate. Additionally, over-reliance on technology can lead to
challenges in situations where digital devices are not accessible, leaving individuals ill-
equipped to write manually.
In conclusion, whilst the move away from handwriting, largely due to the convenience of
digital tools, has practical benefits, I feel that its drawbacks are more significant since it leads
to a loss in cognitive benefits and personal expression.