Child and childhood

1. Did you have a lot of friends when you were a child?

Yes, I did. I lived in an old apartment when I was younger and everyone
got along well with each other. I have fond memories of playing with all
the other children in the apartment, there were around 6-7 of us. As we
grew up, people started moving away and I was devastated to see my
friends go. When my family moved, I was in tears saying goodbye to my
friends.
Vocabulary:
● got along well: hòa thuận, hòa hợp với ai đó
● fond memories: những kỷ niệm đáng quý, đáng trân trọng
● devastated: tuyệt vọng, buồn bã
● in tears: nước mắt đầm đìa
2. Do you like playing with children? (why, why not?)
To be honest, I’m not very good with kids. I find it absolutely hysterical
to tease them, but I can’t stand it when they cry. I also lose my temper
easily when a child screams and shouts and pesters their parents. That’s
why I’d rather watch them than play with them.
Vocabulary:
● hysterical: phấn khích
● tease: trêu chọc
● can’t stand: không thể chịu đựng được
● lose sb’s temper: mất bình tĩnh, nổi nóng
● pester: nhõng nhẽo
3. Where do you think is a fun place to go with a child? (why?)
Well, I think children adore colourful and interesting-looking things, so I
guess they would be elated to visit a theme park, like Disneyland for
example. Another thing I notice is that they tend to be very curious
about animals; therefore, zoos would be a promising option. Oh, they are
also crazy about toys, so I guess toy-shopping in a department store
would make a jubilant child.
Vocabulary:
● elated: vui sướng
● curious: tò mò
● jubilant: sung sướng, hân hoan
4. Do you think it is better for children to grow up in the city or in the
countryside?
I can’t say for certain since this is not something that everyone has a
choice over. Being born and raised in a city, I gravitate towards city life
more as there is better access to education and healthcare. However, I’m
aware that spending their childhood in the countryside can give a child a
more care-free environment and blissful memories to cherish.
Vocabulary:
● gravitate towards: có thiên hướng, nghiêng về cái gì
● access to: sự tiếp cận tới cái gì
● care-free: vô tư
● blissful: may mắn
● cherish: trân trọng, trân quý
5. Do you think children today are the same as (or, different to) those in
the past?
I mean, kids will always be kids. They are mischievous, inquisitive and
easily amused, regardless of the generation they are born in. Still, there
are certain aspects where they differ from previous generations. First,
they are more tech savvy since they are exposed to technology from an
early age. Second, they are performing so much better academically due
to advanced education and competition in the modern world.
Vocabulary:
● mischievous: tinh nghịch
● inquisitive: tò mò
● tech savvy: rành về công nghệ
6. What kinds of activities or toys do you think children will play with in
the future?
That’s an interesting question. Today’s children are very attached to
technology so I think parents would want to introduce educational
applications on mobile devices to find new ways to encourage their
children to learn. However, there is growing concern over mobile
addiction, which is why I predict that parents will try to get their
children to play sports or do arts more.
Vocabulary:
● growing concern (over something): nỗi lo lắng ngày một lớn dần về
cái gì
7. If you could be a child again, would you take the chance? (why, why
not?)
As much as I reminisce about my childhood, I don’t think I want to go
back. I’m very proud of who I have become today and I believe my
younger self would be ecstatic to see how much they have grown.
Moreover, I had a pretty rough childhood due to my family finances, and
I’d much rather enjoy the financial independence I have now.
Vocabulary:
● reminisce about: hồi tưởng, hồi niệm về quá khứ
● ecstatic: vui sướng
● financial independence: sự độc lập về mặt tài chính
Travel and Tourism
1. Do you prefer domestic or international travel?
I can’t possibly choose only one, but I would say it depends on my
budget. If I’m on a tight budget, travelling domestically is probably a
wiser choice since it’s more budget-friendly. However, if I’m wealthier,
I wouldn’t mind spending a little extra on a trip abroad and squandering
on all the tempting food.
Vocabulary:
● tight budget: ngân sách eo hẹp
● domestically: trong nước
● budget-friendly: thân thiện với túi tiền
● wealthy: giàu có
● squander: chi tiêu thoải mái
● tempting: hấp dẫn
2. What’s your favourite place that you have visited?
Well, I’ve been to quite a few places, but if I had to choose, I’d say Hoi
An, a city in Central Vietnam. Despite being a popular tourist
destination, it still manages to retain its quaintness and vintage charm.
You will see what I mean when you visit the Old street of Hoi Anh,
where you’ll find modern shops and restaurants, even fusion ones that
cater to foreign tourists, but still have traditional decor and offer
traditional products.
Vocabulary:
● popular tourist destination: điểm đến thu hút khách du lịch nổi tiếng
● retain: gìn giữ, lưu giữ
● quaintness and vintage charm: nét cổ kính, cổ điển
● cater to: cung cấp cho ai đó, đáp ứng nhu cầu của ai đó
3. Where do you plan to go on your next holiday?
For my next trip, I’d like to visit Korea. Korean movies have been a
worldwide sensation, and they do a really good job in showing the most
stunning scenery and scrumptious dishes of the country. Even though
there are a lot of Korean restaurants in Vietnam now, I’m still excited to
try real, authentic Korean food in its place of origin.
Vocabulary:
● sensation: sự thích thú, hấp dẫn
● stunning scenery: phong cảnh tươi đẹp
● scrumptious dishes: những món ăn ngon miệng
● authentic: chân thực
4. What do you often bring with you when you travel?
There are some essentials that I always carry with me, like my phone,
charger and clothes, but I also consider the duration of the trip when
packing. If it’s a longer trip, I may want to bring my personal toiletries
with me, some of my favourite snacks as well in case I crave them or
don’t like the food. For a short trip, I wouldn’t bother bringing so much.
Vocabulary:
● essentials: vật dụng thiết yếu
● personal toiletries: vật dụng vệ sinh cá nhân
● crave: thèm ăn, khao khát cái gì đó
5. In which seasons do you prefer to travel?
Well, each place has a season when it’s most worthy of a visit, and we
need to do research beforehand. Let’s say, should I be planning to come
to Hanoi, visiting in the breezy autumn is my best bet at enjoying my
trip to the fullest, without being suffocated in the scorching summer
heat. In contrast, I’d prefer to go to colder regions like Dalat or Sapa
during the summer to avoid the freezing cold weather. It boils down to
the destination, really.
Vocabulary:
● breezy: có gió nhè nhẹ
● enjoy something to the fullest: tận hưởng cái gì đến mức tối đa
● suffocate: làm cho ai nghẹt thở
● scorching hot: nóng như thiêu như đố
● freezing cold: lạnh cắt da cắt thịt
● boils down to: chung quy lại, kết quả chính yếu nhất là …
6. Do you like planning for your holidays?
Yes, I do actually, especially when I’m going on a trip with my friends.
The process of deciding on a destination, be it a palm-fringed beach or
an idyllic mountain, then coming up with an itinerary full of things that
my friends and I want to do. And the best part is when everything goes
according to plan.
Vocabulary:
● palm-fringed beach: bãi biển rơp bóng cọ
● idyllic mountain: núi non thơ mộng, trữ tình
● itinerary: lộ trình
7. Do you prefer going on package tours or organising trips by yourself?
I guess each has its own benefits. I’d lean towards planning my own
travel if I’ve been to that place before or somewhat familiar with the
region. On the other hand, I may consult a travel agency for a package
tour when I embark on a journey to a foreign destination.
Vocabulary:
● consult: tham khảo ý kiến của ai đó
● embark on: khởi hành, bắt đầu
Hobby
1. When you go out for an evening, what do you like to do?
I guess that depends on my budget. If I’m well-off at the time, I’m all for
going out for a meal at new and fancy restaurants since I’m a huge food
lover, or I might go on a shopping spree with my friends considering my
undying passion for fashion. Conversely, if I’m strapped for cash, I’d
opt for something more budget-friendly like going to a simple cafe and
having a chat with my friends for example.
Vocabulary:
● to be all for something: hoàn toàn thoải mái với việc thử hay làm điều
gì đó
● shopping spree: chuyến mua sắm thả ga
2. What do you do to relax?
There are so many things I can do depending on what I’m feeling at that
moment. But since I’m a homebody, just staying in, lazing around on my
bed while listening to my favourite music or binge watching my go-to
comfort movies in solitude is already very therapeutic to me.
Alternatively, I may invite friends over for a cooking night. What is a
better way to unwind than sharing good food with good friends right?
Vocabulary:
● homebody: người thích ở nhà
● binge watch: xem nhiều tập liên tiếp của một bộ phim hay một chương
trình
● unwind = decompress = relax: thư giãn
3. Do you think doing sports is a good way to relax?
Oh definitely. While sports isn’t really my thing, I understand that when
you’re completely absorbed in doing something, you can eliminate all
the anxiety-inducing intrusive thoughts you’re having. It also gives you
a boost of adrenaline and an enormous sense of achievement, which is
crucial for your mental well-being.
Vocabulary:
● to be absorbed in something: hoàn toàn đắm chìm vào cái gì đó
● anxiety-inducing: gây ra sự lo lắng
● intrusive thoughts: những suy nghĩ xuất hiện trong tâm trí mà không
thể loại bỏ được
4. Do you think vacation is a good time to relax?
Surely, if you’re able to live in the moment. Sometimes people go on
vacations for a change of scenery, but their mind is always occupied
with something else, say their work or school assignments, in which case
it doesn’t sound like a true relaxing time. However, there’s no doubt that
a vacation is the perfect chance for us to leave everything behind and
allow ourselves to decompress before resuming our daily routine.
Vocabulary:
● live in the moment: sống trong hiện tại
● decompress: thư giãn, xả stress
5. Do you think students need more relaxing time?
I can’t agree more to this. In the context of Vietnam, there is an
overwhelming emphasis on exams, so students are asked to complete
mountains of work and cram for tests. If that doesn’t sound dreadful
enough, then there are also extra night classes on top of their regular
school hours. I sometimes wonder how students manage all that really.
Vocabulary:
● overwhelming: rất nhiều
● dreadful: đáng sợ, làm chán ngấy, mệt mỏi
6. Do you watch programs on the TV or your cell phone?
I’m only speaking for myself, but I can’t remember the last time I
watched something on TV. I know that watching TV during dinner is a
common family practice in Vietnam, yet that is not the case with my
family. When I watch something to entertain myself, it’s usually on my
computer or my phone in my room, which is my preferred choice
because I have complete autonomy over what I want to watch without
having to argue with my family members.
Vocabulary:
● common practice: phong tục tập quán
7. Do you like watching the same kind of programs all the time?
As a creature of habit, I don’t have a particularly adventurous taste in
TV programs. Personally, I’m not a fan of brain-teasing programs with a
lot of twists and turns. I like my entertainment simple and brainless in a
way. These days I can’t seem to find a lot of things like that, which is a
pity. Besides, I don’t feel like starting a new series just to realize I hate
it, so I’d rather stick with something I know well.
Vocabulary:
● brain-teasing: khiến ai đó phải suy nghĩ nhiều
 Part 2:
Describe a time you visited a new place
You should say:
● Where the new place is
● When you went there
● Why you went there
● And explain how you feel about the place
Sample answer:
To be completely honest, I’m not a travel enthusiast so I haven’t had
many chances to explore new corners of the world. But maybe this is
also the reason why every place I have been to left a really deep
impression on me. However, the place I found most exotic is definitely
London. Actually, I spent a year in London as part of my Master’s
degree in the UK. Previously, I had only visited some cities within
Vietnam and gone on short trips to Japan and Thailand, which, as
exciting as they were, didn’t strike me as drastically different from
Vietnam. London, in contrast, was in a completely distinct part of the
globe, so everything was foreign to me. Looking back on my journey, I
had ambivalent feelings about London. On the one hand, it was a
cultural hub where you can experience opposing yet complementary
sides of a European city. You can admire quaint Victorian buildings and
castles in the heart of the city while immersing in the vibrant and
bustling atmosphere of one of the most developed cities in the world. It’s
paradoxical yet refreshing to see vintage architecture next to the
imposing façade of skyscrapers in the most extravagant streets of
London. Moreover, the city is a foodie paradise, especially for those
with adventurous palates who fancy trying new cuisines. During my
time there, I got the eye-opening opportunity to taste authentic Middle
Eastern, Mediterranean, and Italian dishes, which wasn’t something I
could do easily in Vietnam. On the other hand, much as I cherish my
time in London, I couldn’t enjoy it to the fullest since it was too
expensive. Although I tried to find accommodation further out from the
city centre to reduce the rent, it was still an exorbitant amount compared
to the average price back in Vietnam. Even the public transport fare was
steep! That said, London taught me how multicultural a city could be,
and it was a truly memorable experience. If I have a chance, I would
visit it again!
Vocabulary:
● travel enthusiast: người đam mê du lịch
● leave a impression on sb: lưu lại một ấn tượng cho ai đó
● exotic: mới lạ
● strike sb (as): gây cho ai ấn tượng gì
● ambivalent: mâu thuẫn, yêu thích vừa ghét
● cultural hub: điểm giao văn hóa
● quaint: cổ kính
● immerse (in): đắm chìm trong
● virant/bustling: sôi động, giàu sức sống
● façade: mặt tiền của một công trình kiến trúc
● extravagant: xa hoa, sang trọng
● foodie paradise: thiên đường ẩm thực
● eye-opening opportunity: cơ hội mở mang tầm mắt
● enjoy something to the fullest: tận hưởng cái gì đến mức tối đa
● exorbitant: (giá cả) cao cắt cổ, đắt đỏ
● multicultural: đa văn hóa
Describe a person you follow regularly on social media
You should say:
● Who he/she is
● How you knew him/her
● What he/she posts on social media
● And explain why you follow him/her on social media
Sample answer:
When I think of social media, I often think about celebrities and fashion
influencers, those who have to be active on media platforms as part of
their job. However, I haven’t really been following these people closely
these days since they don’t necessarily offer valuable information to my
line of work. Rather, I’ve been an avid viewer of a vlogger called The
Present Write, who does educational content such as studying and
working habits as well as financial advice for young people. Actually,
I’ve only got to know her recently when her videos were suggested to
me by the Youtube algorithm. Back then, I was preparing for my
postgraduate application and was looking for advice on the process. I
stumbled on some of her videos about her Master’s and PhD time at a
prestigious university in the States, which gave a more realistic picture
of studying abroad. Moreover, her videos really resonate with me since
she is working in the field of Education as I am. She also talks about
how to read and take notes of academic papers effectively as well as
time management strategies. Recently, some of her videos also touch on
personal finance management like savings and investing, which I find
absolutely delightful to watch. Other than her informative content, I
really took to her because she struck me as very down-to-earth and
humble, not conceited at all despite being a PhD graduate from a high-
ranking university. She stood out to me from other influencers since her
content offers real valuable insights, making her a good role model for
the young generation.
Vocabulary:
● celebrity: người nổi tiếng
● influencer: những người có tầm ảnh hưởng trong một lĩnh vực nào đó
● line of work: lĩnh vực nghề nghiệp
● an avid viewer: một người xem cuồng nhiệt
● stumble on: tình cờ gặp được
● prestigious: danh tiếng, uy tín
● realistic: thực tế, chân thực
● resonate (with): đồng điệu với
● delightful: vui thích, hấp dẫn
● take to sb: thích ai đó
● down-to-earth: chân thật, gần gũi
● humble: khiêm tốn
● conceited: tự mãn, ngạo mạn
● insight: những quan điểm sâu sắc
● role model: hình mẫu lý tưởng
Describe a good service you received
You should say:
● What the service was
● When you received it
● Who you were with
● And how you felt about it
Sample answer:
As a shopaholic, I’ve had my fair share of shopping experiences.
However, I shop for fashion items most of the time and I’m not exactly
tech-savvy. One of my best shopping experiences was this one time
when I broke my phone and had to purchase a replacement, which I’ll be
telling you about today. A few months ago, I accidentally dropped the
phone I had been using for 3 years and the screen just shattered to
pieces. I decided that instead of having it repaired, it was time to
upgrade to a newer model. As I said, I’m not particularly knowledgeable
about technological devices, so I usually go for generic brands like
Apple and Samsung. When I went to a mobile phone shop, it was
absolutely mindboggling to see all the different models available on the
market. Fortunately, as I was feeling completely lost, an employee
approached me. He wasn’t the typical pushy salesperson you would
encounter in shops who just wanted to sell you the priciest. He came
across as very trustworthy and tactful actually. He asked me about my
budget, what I usually do with my phone, and my general expectations
and preferences before giving several suggestions on the most
appropriate models. Everything he said was very within reason and it
helped me a lot in making my final decision. I was pleasantly surprised
by the employee’s attitude since I was always under the impression that
salespeople only wanted to trick customers into splurging on the most
expensive products, which wasn’t the case here. In the end, I was
content with the phone that I purchased, and ever since then, I’ve been a
returning customer of this store.
Vocabulary:
● shopaholic: chỉ những người nghiện mua sắm
● tech-savvy: rành về công nghệ
● accidentally: vô tình, sơ sẩy
● shatter to pieces: vỡ tan thành thành từng mảnh
● knowledgeable: giàu hiểu biết
● mind-boggling: kinh ngạc, ngỡ ngàng
● pushy: nài nỉ, hay ép buộc
● tactful: tinh tế, khéo léo
● trick sb into doing something: bẫy ai đó làm gì
● splurge (on): tiêu xài hoang phí
● content: hài lòng, vừa ý
Describe a special cake you received from others.
You should say:
● When it happened
● Where it happened
● Who you got the cake from
● And explain why it’s a special cake
Sample answer:
To be honest, I have a sweet tooth so I have an undying passion for
desserts, especially cakes. That’s why my friends and family also make
sure to give me cakes on special occasions. Among all those occasions,
however, it was the cake that my friends made for my birthday last year
that left the deepest impression on me. As you may know, because of the
pandemic that has been going on for the last 2 years, it’s been hard for
us to go out or host big parties. I remember that in 2020 when Covid
broke out, there were months that we couldn’t go out at all due to the
lockdown restrictions. As my birthday happened to be during the
lockdown, it was impossible to organize a get-together. My family knew
how gutted I was because I had been planning to throw a fancy party for
several weeks beforehand, so they decided to cheer me up by baking me
a cake at home. They thought that it could make for fond memories
rather than just ordering from a bakery as usual. Unfortunately, none of
us was an expert in baking. My family binge watched Youtube tutorials
tofigure out the most feasible recipes and decided on making a no-bake
cheesecake since we didn’t have an oven at home. To be frank, I was
skeptical at first and secretly found a vendor for plan B. To my surprise,
the cake exceeded my expectations. The graham cracker crust was
buttery and crunchy while the cheesecake filling was smooth, creamy,
and velvet-rich. Honestly, even if the cake didn’t taste all that good, I’d
still happily enjoy it. Even though my birthday party was very humble
and nowhere near the vision I had in mind, I felt like I was showered
with affection and cherished every single moment.
Vocabulary:
● a sweet tooth: người thích ăn ngọt, có đam mê với đồ ngọt
● undying passion: một niềm đam mê bất diệt
● leave sb a deep impression: lưu lại cho ai một ấn tượng sâu sắc
● get-together: buổi tụ tập
● gutted: buồn, thất vọng
● throw sb a party: tổ chức một bữa tiệc cho ai đó
● beforehand: từ trước
● cheer sb up: làm cho ai vui
● fond memories: những kỷ niệm đáng quý
● binge watch: xem liên tục cái gì đó
● feasible: khả thi
● skeptical: nghi ngờ
● humble: khiêm tốn, giản dị, đơn giản
Describe a difficult thing you did well.
You should say:
● what it was
● how you did it
● why (or how) it was difficult
● and explain how you felt after you did it.
Sample answer:
To be completely honest, I’m not exactly a daredevil, so I haven’t really
tried many adventurous activities in my life. I also don’t see myself as
endowed with special talents therefore instead of talking about a hidden
talent, I’d like to talk about one of the biggest milestones in my life,
which is getting into university. The university entrance exam in
Vietnam, as in many other countries, is a very high-stake examination.
In an increasingly competitive job market, some might say that acquiring
an undergraduate is the bare minimum to securing a job. Additionally,
being accepted into a high-ranking and prestigious university also gives
you a competitive advantage when it comes to job seeking, which is why
students take this exam so seriously. Depending on the major you want
to pursue, you’d have to take a set of tests. In my case, I wanted to
become a mechanical engineer, which meant I had to take Maths,
Physics and Chemistry. I also dreamt of getting into the best university
in the city, so senior year was a nerve-racking time for me. Other than
attending classes at school, I also took night classes to prepare for the
exam. My schedule was jam-packed as I had classes back to back, even
on weekends. It was extremely hard for me as I had been slacking off
during the previous years. Consequently, I had to freshen up on all
previous knowledge, making the workload even more intense. Honestly,
there were times when I was completely drained and felt like giving up,
but I persevered and managed to achieve my goal in the end. Though my
story isn’t particularly outstanding, I still pride myself on it since it was
the first time I worked so diligently for something. It taught me that as
long as you put your mind to it, you will succeed.
Vocabulary:
● daredevil: người liều lĩnh, táo bạo
● adventurous: có máu phiêu lưu
● be endowed with something: được trời phú, được ban cho (phẩm chất
nào đó)
● milestone: cột mốc đáng nhớ
● prestigious: uy tín, danh giá
● competitive advantage: lợi thế cạnh tranh
● acquire: giành được, đạt được
● increasingly competitive: ngày một cạnh tranh hơn
● secure a job: đảm bảo một công việc
● nerve-racking: căng thẳng
● jam-packed: (lịch trình) dày đặc, bị xếp kín lịch
● slack off: hời hợt, không chú tâm
● drained: mệt mỏi, cạn kiệt năng lượng
● persevere: kiên trì đến cùng
● outstanding: nổi bật
● diligently: một cách chăm chỉ, cần mẫn
Others
1. What do people usually buy in street markets?
Well, there is an array of products you can find in street markets, but I
guess people most commonly go there for fresh produce, which are
usually locally sourced and sold at a lower price than in supermarkets. In
Vietnam, people also love street markets since you can find absolutely
delectable food and snacks sold in small stalls. You can either get a
snack to munch on or even a proper meal for a fraction of what you pay
in restaurants.
● fresh produce: nông sản tươi
● locally sourced: được trồng, nuôi, khai thác tại địa phương
● delectable: ngon
● munch on something: nhai
2. Do Vietnamese people like barbecue?
Certainly! I’d go as far as saying there is a craze for barbecue among
Vietnamese, especially the youth, mainly because barbecue can be done
in so many ways. It can be very marinated in very traditional herbs and
spices but also in a fusion style with more exotic ingredients. Just
imagine sitting on a table with sizzling barbecue while having a drink
and chatting with your friends or family. Who can say no to that?
● a craze for something: mốt, xu hướng làm gì đó hoặc sự yêu thích
mãnh liệt với cái gì đó
● marinate: ướp
● fusion: kết hợp (các nền ẩm thực)
● sizzling: tiếng xèo xèo
3. Where do you often go shopping?
Hmm, that really depends. Most of the time, I’d be quite occupied with
work, so I often do my shopping online. Online shopping is so prevalent
nowadays that you can buy virtually everything on the Internet.
Moreover, you can compare the prices of different vendors before
purchasing a product without having to visit multiple stores to save
travel time. Still, I tend to go to brick-and-mortar stores if I have my
eyes on an expensive product just to make sure my money is well-spent.
● prevalent: phổ biến
● vendor: cửa hàng, nhà cung cấp
● brick-and-mortar store: cửa hàng bán trực tiếp
● have one’s eye on something/somebody: để mắt tới cái gì/ai đó
4. Which do you prefer, fashionable shoes or comfortable shoes?
If I had to choose one over the other, I’d definitely go for comfortable
shoes for the very simple reason that shoes have to be functional. A pair
of shoes should be well-fitted and light-weight so that it feels like
nothing on my feet and I can wear it for hours on end. That being said, I
don’t think a comfy pair of shoes can’t be aesthetically pleasing. You
can find plenty that meet both criteria as long as you are willing to pay a
bit more.
● functional: mang tính ứng dụng, thực tiễn
● (hours/days) on end: (nhiều giờ/ngày) liên tục
● aesthetically pleasing: phù hợp về mặt thẩm mỹ
5. Which do you prefer, handwriting or typing?
Oh, I've never really thought about that, but I guess that I lean more
towards the latter. Typing is definitely a more efficient way to store and
organize your notes since everything is digitalized. People with illegible
handwriting don’t have to worry about it being incomprehensible to
others either. Nevertheless, I can’t deny that there’s something special
about receiving a handwritten letter or invitation, which a printed one
cannot compare.
● lean towards something: nghiêng về cái gì
● digitalized: số hoá
● eligible: khó để đọc
● incomprehensible: không thể hiểu được

Describe a challenging job/profession you know about.

You should say:
● what job/profession it is
● what qualification it requires
● what the responsibilities of this job are
● and explain why you think this job or profession is challenging.
Sample answer:
In my humble opinion, I think that every profession can be challenging
in its own way, but being a professional medical doctor is probably one
of the most challenging professions I know. As I’m not exactly an expert
in the medical field, I can’t really go into detail about the responsibilities
of a specific type of doctor, say a neurosurgeon or an emergency
medicine doctor for example. However, what I do know is that their
work revolves around treating people and saving lives. I’d imagine that
their daily routine includes conscentiously giving diagnosis to patients
and curing them, specifically performing health assessments, running
diagnostic tests, prescribing medication, creating treatment plans and
providing health and wellness advice to their patients. Some doctors may
also perform physical surgeries on their patients, depending on their
physical conditions, in order to help them heal better and quicker. Given
the heavy responsibilities doctors carry, it is obvious that not everyone
can apply to be one. In order to become a doctor, people would have to
get a practicing license, which involves an arduous process of finishing a
4-5 year undergraduate degree program, followed by completing 2-7
years of residency training. Besides, one would also need to complete a
postgraduate degree in order to become a “specialist” doctor (such as a
specialist in medicine or specialist in heart disease). Also, as far as I
know, doctors’ salary isn’t particularly rewarding in the first few years
of their career. Considering the sheer amount of time and effort doctors
have to invest in their training, I can’t help but look up to them. I
certainly don’t see myself committing to such rigorous training and then
having virtually no social life due to the nature of their work. Most
importantly, being a medical doctor means being responsible for one’s
life. I could only imagine how mentally taxing and devastating it is to
deal with a patient’s death. All in all, I truly respect doctors and other
medical professionals for taking on such meaningful yet challenging
jobs.
Vocabulary highlights
● To be an expert in sth: là chuyên gia, hiểu biết nhiều về một lĩnh vực
nào đó
● Revolve around: xoay xung quanh
● Conscientious: chăm chỉ, cẩn thận
● Give diagnosis = diagnose: chẩn đoán
● Health assessment: đánh giá/kiểm sức khỏe
● Perform a surgery: phẫu thuật
● Carry (heavy) responsibility: đảm nhận trọng trách
● Practicing license: giấy phép hành nghề
● Commit to sth: kiên trì với cái gì đó
● Rigorous: khắc khổ, khắc nghiệt, chặt chẽ
● Nature of work: tính chất công việc
● Taxing: khó khăn
Describe an area of science that interests you.
You should say
● What it is
● When you became interested in it
● What you learn from it
● Explain how this area of science helps you.
Sample answer:
To be completely honest, I’m not the biggest fan of science, specifically
natural sciences because of the deep hatred I had towards them since I
was still in school. I’m more biased towards social sciences that deal
with people and cultures. Though I’m not well versed in it, one
particular field of science that has really intrigued me is psychology,
which I think is an intermediate between natural and social sciences. I
started to be interested in psychology when I was training to be a teacher
during my undergraduate years. As part of my studies, I had to learn
about learners’ behavior and characteristics across age groups and
genders since teaching is a very people-oriented profession. Of course,
we only touched upon the most basic facts and weren’t training to be
consultants or psychologists, not less psychiatrists, so I can’t say I’m an
expert in the field. However, that was my first exposure to psychology.
Then, the more reading I do on the topic, the more important it becomes.
As a teacher, psychology has helped me understand the minds and
actions of my students and thereby find the best way to approach them
and act around them. For example, I learnt how positive comments and
validation can encourage all learners, but especially teenagers. Another
thing psychology taught me is that adult learners can tolerate boredom
more and tend to be more disciplined as they have clear extrinsic
motivations, yet some of them can be difficult as they like to challenge
their teachers. However, I also grew a lot as a person by doing self-
research on psychology, particularly in understanding my mental health.
I realized that my constant use of social media was a major source of my
aggravating insecurities since I kept comparing myself to how others
project themselves on social media, which destroyed my self-esteem. I
then realized that those moments are only fractions of one’s life and
fabricated to depict the ideal image of a person. Moreover, I’m inclined
to mirror that behavior and could pressure others to feel the same,
creating a vicious cycle. All in all, learning about this subject has been
eye-opening for me. I believe psychology should receive more attention
in the education system as it teaches people to not only understand
themselves but also to be more compassionate towards others. Besides,
it’d help fight the stigma surrounding and ignorance of mental illnesses.
Vocabulary highlights
● To be well-versed in: hiểu biết nhiều về lĩnh vực nào đó
● To have a (deep) hatred towards something: rất ghét việc cái gì đó
● Validation: sự công nhận
● Extrinsic motivation: động lực ngoại sinh/đến từ những yếu tố bên
ngoài
● self-esteem: lòng tự trọng, sự tự tin
● A fraction of something: một phần rất nhỏ của cái gì đó
● Fabricated: được thêu dệt
● To mirror one’s behaviour: bắt chước hành vi của ai đó
● A vicious cycle: vòng luẩn quẩn
● Eye-opening: mở mang tầm mắt
● Fight the stigma surround something: chống lại định kiến xung quanh
một điều gì đó
● Ignorance: sự thiếu hiểu biết
Describe a time when you were ill.
You should say:
● When this was
● What your symptoms were
● How long the illness lasted
● And say how it affected your life at the time
Sample answer
I will talk about a terrible experience when I got ill. It happened a few
months ago when I had the flu coupled with a sore throat. A week before
it happened, I was up to my ears with work and stressed out a lot. I had
to burn the midnight oil in my office to meet several deadlines. I
suffered from sleep deprivation and didn’t have meals on time. The
situation continued for two weeks and I knew that something went
wrong. I was having headaches, and severe muscle and body aches. I
also started to have a dry cough and my throat hurts. To be honest,
before my health deteriorated at such a rapid speed, I was not a health-
conscious person at all. However, these symptoms acted as a wake-up
call for me. I believe sacrificing health for work is a stupid thing and that
I should take my health more serious. I went to see a doctor to get the
right prescription. Luckily, after taking a respite from work, I felt much
better. So far, I have adopted a more active lifestyle with a rigorous
workout regime and diet and started to feel better mentally and
physically. It has helped me get out of the tiring phase and improved my
concentration levels. Probably, this illness served as a warning signal
that urged me to be more aware of my health to make changes for the
better.
● be coupled with sb/sth: cùng với, đi kèm với ai/cái gì
● be up to your ears in something: có rất nhiều việc gì đó phải xử lý
● stressed out (or stressed): bị căng thẳng
● burn the midnight oil: học tập hoặc làm việc muộn vào buổi tối
● meet deadline: hoàn thành deadline
● sleep deprivation: mất ngủ
● deteriorate: suy kiệt, suy giảm
● a health-conscious person: một người có ý thức về sức khỏe
● a wake-up call: một lời cảnh báo
● respite from sth: một thời gian nghỉ ngơi khỏi cái gì khó khăn, khó
chịu
● a rigorous workout regime and diet: chế độ tập thể dục và ăn uống
nghiêm ngặt
● be aware of sth: nhận thức được điều gì
● a change for the better/worse: thay đổi theo chiều hướng tốt/xấu
Describe a good law in your country
You should say:
● What the law is
● How you came to know about this law
● Whom it affects
● And explain why you think it is good
Sample answer:
Well, I am no expert in legislation, but I pride myself on being a law-
abiding citizen, and today I'll tell you about a law that I adhere to
religiously. It is wearing a helmet when driving a motorcycle. I guess
this law is universally enforced around the world and not really unique
to Vietnam, but that wasn’t always the case in Vietnam. You could
actually ride a motorbike helmet-free in the country some 10-15 years
ago. However, in light of rising traffic-related injuries and fatalities, the
government decided to institute compulsory helmet use. Initially, people
were against it, as is the case with any newly rolled out rules I suppose.
They preferred the comfort of not wearing a helmet. Teenagers who
were conscious of their appearance detested the fact that wearing a
helmet could ruin their hair. But most importantly, I think people were
resistant to the new law despite being aware of its benefits simply
because they now had to pay a fine for something they had always been
doing. Fortunately, nowadays most people abide by this law, and they
should. Not wearing a helmet can cost you dearly. If you get caught by
the police, you'll be penalized and have to pay a hefty fine. To be
completely honest, though, you could bribe the police officers though,
and most of the time they're willing to let you off the hook for not a lot
of money. But of course, those who do not wear a helmet do so at the
expense of their lives, especially if you collide head-on with another
vehicle. So, I don’t find it unreasonable to invest in a quality helmet. It is
for one’s own sake after all.
Vocabulary highlights
● a law-abiding citizen (n): công dân tuân thủ luật pháp
● to adhere to: nghe theo, nghe lời
● to be universally enforced: được yêu cầu thi hành trên toàn thế giới
● traffic-related injury and fatality (n): chấn thương và tử vong liên quan
đến tai nạn giao
thông
● to institute: tiến hành
● compulsory helmet use (n): sự bắt buộc sử dụng mũ bảo hiểm
● to be against something: chống lại cái gì
● to abide by: tuân theo
● to cost sb dearly: khiến ai tốn nhiều tiền bạc
● to be penalized: bị phạt
● hefty fine (n) một khoản nộp phạt lớn
● let sb off the hook: không phải chịu hình phạt cho một hành vi sai trái
● at the expense of one’s life (phrase): trả giá bằng sinh mệnh của mình
Speaking part 3
1. What qualities should a police officer possess?
Well, this is by no means an exhaustive list but I believe the most crucial
trait of a police officer is integrity. As corruption is a problem in many
countries which prevents progress in a place, it is important that the
police officer displays virtues of morality and honesty. Furthermore,
they should be people of courage, without which I don’t think one can
ever take on this job given the hazards that police officers face everyday.
People often see the police as rigid and disciplined, but I personally
believe compassion is indispensable. Being a police officer isn’t only
about punishing criminals, it’s also about helping underprivileged
people.
● an exhaustive list of sth: một danh sách đầy đủ
● integrity: sự chính trực
● corruption: sự tham nhũng, suy đồi
● virtue: phẩm hạnh
● hazard: sự nguy hiểm
● underprivileged people: những người kém may mắn
2. Why do some people prefer to be a lawyer?
To be honest, I think some people are in it for status and money. It is,
undoubtedly, a lucrative and prestigious profession. Having said that, I
don’t mean lawyers are greedy and superficial. In fact, they have to be
extremely diligent and righteous people; however, these are indisputable
perks of becoming an established lawyer. Another drive could simply be
that people truly want to change the world for the better and fight
injustice. Moreover, compared to police officers, who also work in law
enforcement, lawyers seem to face much fewer dangers.
● lucrative: béo bở, tạo ra nhiều lợi ích kinh tế
● prestigious: danh giá
● diligent: chăm chỉ
● righteous: ngay thẳng
● perk: lợi ích (công việc)
● law enforcement: lĩnh vực liên quan tới luật và thi hành luật
3. Should people be penalized when they use mobile phones while
driving?
For the most part, my answer is yes. Any kind of distraction, especially
willfully, can lead to a fatal mistake that can cost the lives of the driver
as well as innocent people. I don’t think it’s rare to see cases of this
happening, which is both outrageous and unfortunate. If setting a penalty
can deter people from using their phones while driving, I’d say it’s
completely justifiable. Depending on the severity of the situation, the
punishment can range from fines to driving license confiscation or even
a prison sentence.
● fatal mistake: sai phạm chết người
● deter people from Ving: ngăn ai đó khỏi việc làm gì
● driving license confiscation: tịch thu giấy phép lái xe
4. Do you think both men and women can be police officers?
I don’t see why not. Gender shouldn’t be a ground on which people are
deprived of their opportunity to pursue a career. This applies to any
occupation, including police officers. I know that traditionally people
see a job in the police department as a men’s job since men are
considered stronger and more intimidating. However, whether male or
female, you have to undergo the same training to become a police
officer. If one successfully completes their training, I can’t find a reason
why their gender should affect their chances of doing this job.
● to be deprived of sth: bị tước đoạt điều gì đó
● intimidating: đáng sợ, đáng nể
5. Do you think the police officers are paid too much?
I’m not sure how much police officers are paid so I can’t say for certain.
But I’d imagine that it depends on their duties and years of experience.
Regardless, I don’t think their salary is too high, especially those that
work on the front line. As civil servants, police officers sometimes have
to put others’ safety before their own, which I think justifies their pay.
● put others’ safety over one’s own: đặt sự an toàn của người khác lên
trước
1. What is the most serious social problem in your country at the
moment?
Well, personally speaking, of all social problems nowadays, I think
Covid19 is threatening to hit people in my country the hardest. You
know, people are suffering from serious health problems, theyvalso lose
jobs due to social distancing, etc. The high unemployment rate often
becomes the cause ofvthe increase in crime rate, making people feel
insecure. The pandemic has also made low-income households more
vulnerable. When both parents lose their jobs, it means that the whole
family will have to cut costs. In some cases, the frustration caused by
this situation can lead to domestic violence that is sure to be detrimental
to children.
2. What can be done to alleviate poverty?
First, we have to solve the problems in our education system. People are
suffering from poverty because they do not have the necessary
knowledge and skills to enter the workforce. This is why we need more
education and training. In addition to education, entrepreneurship is
required, because entrepreneurs provide jobs to those who need it. In
fact, the government has been successful in eradicating poverty over the
years, but with all of the coronavirus going on, it's likely they'll have to
put in a lot more effort.
3. What do you think of social charity?
It's a good way to help people who need medicine, or people who are
suffering from natural disasters. There are many charities in my country.
However, I personally believe that charity is a way to help others, but it
is not the final solution to problems related to poverty. To deal with
broader issues like poverty and social and economic distance, people
will need to be empowered more than anything. For example, when we
see a young man hungry, we can help him by giving him some food or
shelter, but we cannot continue to feed him with the expectation that he
will become a good member of society. Instead, we must help him get a
decent job so he can earn a living and become an independent,
responsible and capable individual. In general, people don't like being
seen as a victim of poverty, or social inequality, what they want is a job
that will help them stand on their own two feet.
4. Can you tell me the difference between minor crimes and major
crimes?
Well, I think there are some differences to the minor and major crime
criteria in each country and jurisdiction. For example, possession of
drugs may be legal in some countries. Even if it is illegal, I think the
punishment will not be as severe as in my country. Here, those caught in
the act of possessing drugs will certainly face jail terms, even life in
prison. In a very serious case like drug smuggling, someone can even get
the death penalty, so we can say that these drug related crimes are taken
very seriously here. Another crime that is considered a major crime is
terrorism, which is punishable by death. The common thing between all
three mentioned about is the scales of seriousness, I mean the dire
consequences on the society, which set them apart from misdemeanours.
5. What are some of the ways people can help others in the community?
Which is the most
important?
There are many effective ways of helping others, but some of the most
common and impactful ways include donating money, volunteering in
social campaigns, or supporting charities. For example, where I live,
some people volunteer to teach English to children, or they help out in
cooking free meals for poor patients in the hospital. In my opinion, there
isn’t a scale of importance when it comes to helping others; all forms of
help are positive.
6. Why do you think some people like to help other people?
Most people get a sense of meaning when they help others, and they
understand that we can all experience ups and downs in life and need
support. For example, we all grow old, and we all run the risk of losing
our jobs or having a health problem that affects our ability to look after
ourselves. So, I think people help others because they empathise with
them.
7. Some people say that people help others in the community more now
than they did in the past. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
I don’t know if that is true or not. It might be the case that the quality of
life is greatly improved now and people have more means than ever
before to give others a helping hand. However, it’s impossible to
generalise about how much people help in their communities from one
generation to the next, so I don’t think we should try to judge or
compare how altruistic people are now or were in the past. There have
always been those who help others and those who don’t.
1. Why is it important to protect the natural environment?
The natural environment is probably the most important resource around
us as it pretty much protects and governs our lives by providing us with
whatever we need to survive. It provides us with food, water, oxygen,
power, energy and many, many other things. It also helps us to live a
healthy life by clearing the pollution of our atmosphere. Finally, it is
important to protect the natural environment around us in order to
maintain biodiversity for the overall well-being of our planet. Our very
existence in this world is dependent on the natural environment we live
in. So we should take every step possible to protect it for our own
survival.
● govern: điều hòa, kiểm soát, chi phối
● maintain: duy trì
● biodiversity: đa dạng sinh học
● well-being: hạnh phúc, mạnh khỏe, sự hài lòng
● be dependent on sth: phụ thuộc vào cái gì đó
● take step: thực hiện các bước
2. What should be done about plastic in the ocean?
While quite a lot has been done already to tackle this terrible problem, I
think more could be done to make sure the public knows the dangers.
Apparently around 350 million tonnes of plastic are being produced each
year and around 8 million tonnes of plastic are disposed of every year. If
waste management practices don't improve, scientists predict this
amount could increase tenfold by 2025. What happens is that while
paper will eventually disintegrate, plastic does not do this and when it
does eventually break up, it still leaves smaller fragments called
microplastics, ingested by fish in the ocean. This is the cause of massive
fish die-offs and in the end, humans suffer too because we consume fish
as a major source of protein.
● tacke (a problem): giải quyết một vấn đề
● dispose of sb/sth: vứt bỏ ai/cái gì đó
● tenfold (adv): gấp mười lần
● disintegrate: phân rã
● fragments: các mảnh nhỏ
● massive die-offs: chết hàng loạt
3. What might some solutions be to reduce this situation?
I think many manufacturers should work really hard to reduce the use of
single-use plastics which are used just once and then disposed of. Plastic
can quite easily be recycled and used again for shampoo bottles for
example. Some large companies have already started only using
recycled plastics for their own-brand products and this kind of policy
should be rolled out as widely as possible.
● manufacturer: nhà sản xuất
● single-use: chỉ dùng một lần
● roll out: nhân rộng
4. Do you think we should teach children about environmental
protection?
Yes, definitely. When children learn to appreciate the world from a
young age, they are more likely to help protect our land for future
generations to come. Contributing to world change starts at home. With
guidance from parents and caregivers, children can accomplish a number
of environmentally friendly actions. For example, we may teach children
habits as simple as just turning off unused lights, turning off the faucet
when brushing their teeth and reusing cups and water bottles help. Each
change in habit, no matter how small, can make an impact.
● appreciate: trân trọng
● be likely to do sth: có nhiều khả năng làm gì
● accomplish: đạt được
● environmentally friendly: thân thiện với môi trường
● make an impact: tạo ra một sức ảnh hưởng
5. Do you think the youth these days care about the environment? Why
do you think so?
In contrast to the opinion of some that the youth these days are just too
preoccupied with enjoying the comforts and luxuries that they don’t care
at all about environmental issues, I believe that youngsters have gone to
some lengths to protect our planet. Many young environmentalists are
calling for a climate resolution from the governments all over the world.
Among them, Greta Thunberg is a global phenomenon who is inspiring
young people to protest against climate change. And she isn't alone.
Thousands of young men and women around the world are worried
about their future and have joined her initiative. I believe this will really
make a difference to the world in the future where environment
protection and sustainable development is considered top priority.
● be preoccupied with: bận tâm về vấn đề gì
● comforts and luxuries: những sự thoải mái, sang trọng
● go to any, some, great, etc. lengths (to do sth): nỗ lực để làm gì
● global phenomenon: hiện tượng toàn cầu
● inspire: tạo cảm hứng
● initiative: sáng kiến
● sustainable development: phát triển bền vững
● top priority: ưu tiên hàng đầu
6. Environmental problems are too big to be dealt with at the individual
level? Do you agree?
Why/Why not?
Yes, I have no doubt in my mind that environmental problems are too
big to deal with at the individual level simply because they don’t have
the required resources, knowledge and the technologies to solve the
problems of such big magnitude. Yet, that doesn’t mean as individuals,
we can’t do anything to make an improvement to our environment. For
example, just as simple as littering properly or turning off unnecessary
light bulbs are great actions to save our planet. In my opinion, each
effort, no matter how big or small, makes an impact and the collective
attempts of all individuals in the society play an important role to protect
the environment.
● no doubt: không nghi ngờ gì
● magnitude: tính vĩ mô, tầm quan trọng của một vấn đề gì đó
● make an improvement: cải thiện
● collective: chung, tập thể
● play an important role: đóng vai trò quan trọng
Work
1. Do you work or study? What is your job/do you study?
I graduated a few years ago and I’m now in full-time employment. I’m
currently working as an English teacher working for the British Council
in Ho Chi Minh City.
[Link] do you like about it?
Despite its heavy workload and strict requirements, I still find a sense of
satisfaction in my job because it helps my personal growth. I mean, day
by day, I make improvements and become a better version of myself.
Besides, I can also help my students to achieve their goals. Their great
success is a big motivation for me and even encourages me to be more
committed to my job.
● a sense of satisfaction: một cảm giác hài lòng, mãn nguyện
● personal growth: sự phát triển cá nhân
● make improvement: tiến bộ, cải thiện
● be committed to something: gắn bó, đầu tư thời gian, công sức cho cái
gì
3. Do you get on well with your colleagues?
Well, I guess the answer is yes. This is because we have a lot of things
in common. You know, we are nearly the same age as each other and are
all crazy about board games and travelling. I think I am very lucky to be
surrounded by those earnest and talented people.
● earnest: chân thành, nghiêm túc
Recycling
1. Do you recycle? Why or why not?
Definitely yes! We all know that many parts of the world are facing
terrible environmental problems and natural resources are depleted at an
alarming rate, which requires us to take urgent action. So the more we
recycle, the more we protect our resources.
● environmental problems: những vấn đề về môi trường
● deplete (thường ở dạng bị động): bòn rút, làm cạn kiệt
● urgent: cấp bách, cấp thiết
2. Did you recycle when you were a kid?
Yes, of course. The lesson about recycling was included in my school
curriculum and our teachers always encouraged students to do small but
meaningful projects to reuse old materials instead of throwing them
away. That is the reason why I’m an untiring advocate of environmental
protection. I think schools should put more focus on educating children
on how to save our planet.
● untiring: không mỏi mệt, không ngừng nghỉ
● advocate of something: người ủng hộ cái gì
● put focus on something: đặt trọng tâm vào, tập trung vào
3. Will you recycle in the future?
As I said before, I was always into recycling in the past and this keen
interest will be kept in the future. I would also tell people around me
about the long-term benefits of recycling and how it will facilitate the
sustainable development of human lives.
● be into something: thích thú cái gì
● keen interest: niềm yêu thích đặc biệt
● long-term benefits: những lợi ích dài hạn
● facilitate: hỗ trợ, giúp ích cho
● sustainable development: sự phát triển bền vững
Maths
1. When did you start learning mathematics?
If my memory serves me well, I started learning this subject in my first
year of primary school. I just learned basic arithmetic such as addition
and subtraction. All those things were as easy as ABC and I was always
given the highest mark by my teacher.
● arithmetic: môn số học
● be as easy/as pie/as ABC/as falling off a log: dễ ợt, rất dễ dàng
2. Do you normally use a calculator when doing maths?
Yes I do! To be honest, I am not that good at calculating things so I
often use my phone’s calculator when dealing with numbers.
[Link] was your favourite subject?
My favourite subject at school was history. I loved reading the stories
about famous people and events. When I was little, history was just
stories. As I got older, I realized history is the study of how we got here
today. It’s a long journey that describes all the wars, people, inventions,
disasters, etc that have brought us to this point in time.
Describe an occasion when your vehicle (bus, car, train) broke down
● You should say:
● Which vehicle was it?
● What happened?
● Who were you with?
● and explain what you did afterwards
Vehicle breaking down on the street is a real hassle for drivers and may
even cause danger if they are in the middle of traffic. Off the top of my
head, I have experienced this troublesome situation several times and the
one that I remember the most is when I travelled by motorbike to my
grandparents’ house. In fact, my town is rather remote, which is located
nearly 60 km from the city center and I decided to use my motorbike
rather than taking the bus to be more flexible with my schedule.
Everything seemed totally fine until I bumped into a pothole on the
street. My motorbike roared loudly and gave out a black smoke before
its engine flat stopped. It's one of my heart-stopping moments. I was
freaked out because there was nothing apart from paddy fields in my
view, so I was literally in the middle of nowhere. To tell you the truth, I
know nothing about machines, let alone fixing a motorbike. I just
walked nervously around my motorbike for a while, not knowing what
to do. Finally, I remembered that people offer online breakdown cover
on the spot, all you need is to call them through the telephone number
provided on the website. So that was what I did. I had to wait for the
motor mechanic for about 10 minutes and another 20 minutes for him to
fix my bike. In the end, I could start my motorbike again and went to my
grandparents’ house. That was an unforgettable memory!
● hassle (noun): sự phiền hà, phiền phức
● off the top of my head: bật ra từ trong đầu, nghĩ sao nói vậy (chưa có
sự kiểm chứng chính
xác)
● troublesome (ad): rắc rối
● remote (adj): xa xôi, hẻo lánh
● bump into somebody/ something: va phải, đâm phải
● pothole (noun): ổ gà, hố sâu trên đường
● roar (verb)r: gầm, rú lên
● flat (adv): hoàn toàn
● heart-stopping (adj): hoảng loạn, gây ra nỗi lo lắng/phấn khích cao độ
● freak out (verb): hoảng sợ
● let alone: nữa là
Part 3
Topic: Transportation
[Link] are the advantages and disadvantages of public transport?
I think the main advantage of public transport is that it’s cheap and
generally much better for the environment because there is not much gas
emission. Another advantage is that it reduces traffic congestion. I think
public transport is less stressful because people don’t have to worry
about parking and all that kind of stuff. However, public transport also
has some drawbacks such as the wait. It’s way more convenient to just
hop on your motorbike and go everywhere you want.
● traffic congestion: tắc nghẽn giao thông
● hop: nhảy lên
2. Do you agree that people should use public transport more than they
do now?
Yes, definitely. Public transportation, while viewed by many as not
entirely comfortable as compared to the use of a personal car, is the most
amazing way to travel in terms of environmental protection. By using
public transport, you’ll be able to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions.
Besides, you will also contribute towards easing congestion because
most road traffic congestions witnessed in various cities around the
world are all attributed to the use of private vehicles.
● cut back (on something): cắt giảm
● greenhouse gas emission: khí thải nhà kính
● ease: làm giảm nhẹ
● be attributed to something: bị quy cho nguyên nhân gì đó
3. Do you think we should limit the use of cars?
Yes, I think so. Cars are used every day, but most of us tend to ignore
their disadvantages. They burn fossil fuels, which creates air pollution.
Their lights create light pollution, too, which can affect the health of
animals, plants, and people. Our reliance on cars prevents us from
exercising and makes us lazier. Rather than walking to places nearby, we
drive or take car services, like Uber. I’m not totally against cars, but it’s
best to limit our use of them.
● ignore: làm ngơ
● reliance on: sự lệ thuộc vào cái gì
● be against something: chống đối cái gì đó
4. How do you expect people to travel in the future?
I hope more environment – friendly vehicles will be invented in the
future for travellers. They can use them more frequently without
worrying about pollution. Moreover, automatic traffic such as driverless
cars or planes is a fantastic idea that many are talking about. I also
believe that the amount of time spent on the street will be cut down to
the minimum so that we can focus more on other productive activities.
● environmental-friendly: thân thiện với môi trường
● automatic: tự động
● driverless: không người lái
● minimum: mức tối thiểu
● productive activities: hoạt động năng suất, tạo ra giá trị