Vocabulary For 22 Topics in IELTS

 

 Vocabulary  V ocabulary for in IELTS Tổng hợp từ vựng 22 topics phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Speaking

 

CONTENT Content

01

Topic 1: Education

02

Topic 2: Celebrities

06

Topic 3: Media

11

Topic 4: Entertainment

16

Topic 5: Fashion

20

Topic 6: Invention

24

Topic 7: History

29

Topic 8: Emotion

33

Topic 9: Lifestyle

37

Topic 10: Outfit

41

Topic 11: Technology

44

Topic 12: Nature

48

Topic 13: Money

51

Topic 14: Travel

56

Topic 15: Marriage and Family

62

Topic 16: Enviroment

67

Topic 17: Work

73

Topic 18: Advertising

78

Topic 19: Town and City

83

Topic 20: Sport

87

Topic 21: Food and Diet

91

Topic 22: Books and Films

95

01

 

TOPIC 1 EDUCATION

02

 

Double-major: Học song bằng Flying colors: Điểm cao Senior: Sinh viên năm cuối Sophomore: Sinh viên năm 2 Elective subject: Môn tự chọn Have deeper insight into: Hiểu thêm về Presentation: Bài thuyết trình Do research into: Nghiên cứu về cái gì Keen learner: Người học tích cực Dedicated teachers: Giảng viên tận tâm Broaden one’s common knowledge: Mở rộng kiến thức thông thường Vocational training: Đào tạo nghề Higher education: Các cấp học sau bậc THPT Move up the the career career ladder: Thăng tiến trong công việc Study environment: Môi trường học tập Studious: Chăm chỉ Attitude towards studying: Thái độ học tập Compulsory subject: Môn học bắt buộc Tài liệu học tập Learning materials: Tài

Education background: Nền tảng giáo dục Academic transcript: Bảng điểm đại học High distinction degree: Bằng tốt nghiệp loại xuất sắc Exceptional : Kiệt xuất, xuất sắc, xuất chúng Reach new heights of knowledge: Đạt đến những đỉnh cao tri thức mới Characteristic : Tính cách Stimulate: Kích thích, thôi thúc Mutual understanding: Sự thấu hiểu lẫn nhau Sense of responsibility: Tinh thần trách nhiệm Bachelor's degree: bằng cử nhân :

Master's degree bằng thạc sĩ  Bookworm: mọt sách Eager beaver: người nhiệt tình và chăm chỉ 03

 

Internship: thực tập sinh Not the sharpest tool in the shed:  chỉ một ai đó không thông minh cho lắm Public schools: trường công Schoolboy error: một lỗi sai cơ bản và ngớ ngẩn to fall behind with studies: học kém hơn các bạn khác to goof around: dành thời gian làm những việc vô bổ to learn something by heart: học thuộc lòng to meet a deadline: hoàn thành một việc gì đó trước thời gian quy định to pass with flying colours: vượt qua bài thi với kết quả xuất sắc to play truant: trốn học to sit an exam: làm bài thi tuition fees: học phí  IELTS IEL TS Speaking Speak ing Sample - Topic: Topic: Education Educa tion PART 1: Do you work or are you a student?  At the moment I'm studying. I’m doing a graduate degree in molecular biology in the Vanderbilt University.

Why did you choose that subject? 

I've always loved life sciences, particularly biology... And when I received my bachelor's degree I took a research internship in a laboratory where I studied interactions between proteins... And then I understood that I want to pursue my career in biochemistry or molecular biology.

Can you describe yourself as a good student? 

Well, overall I think I am a good student. I am not an eager beaver, nor the teacher's pet... but I'm good at scientific subjects and, most importantly, I like studying. Did you enjoy/Do you enjoy studying at school? 

I've never really liked school. I'm not a bookworm and a lot of humanities subjects seemed boring to me. However, However, the workload was not too big. The other good thing about school is seeing your friends. And fortunately for tunately,, I had awesome classmates. PART 2:

Describe a period of time from your studies that was the most difficult for you so far. You should say: • When it was • Why was it hard • What you were doing at that time 04

 

year. It was really diffucult due to enormous I would like to talk about my last school year.

amounts of homework I had to do and all the exams I had to prepare for... Em, so I studied hard, having no time to goof around. Moreover,, I forgot a lot of things from the school curriculum, that's why I had to do a Moreover lot of revision... But despite the tough preparation, I managed to set aside some time to rest and interact with my friends and family... After all, my efforts were not in vain... I passed all the exams well and was admitted to the university of my dream. PART 3 What are some essential qualities every teacher should have? 

As for me, every teacher should be able to catch student's attention. It is very important to make your subject interesting to the others... Also, teacher should be a subject specialist and a kind, helpful person.. What are some pros of studying on a distance learning course? 

To be honest, I think it's very advantageous to study in such way... It gives you more time flexibility, especially if you have a job... Not to mention that it is fairly cheap, compared to face-to-face classes...

Does everybody get equal opportunities to study? 

Definitely not. I think it really depends on a country you live in... Moreover, Moreover, it depends on your financial capabilities... Some schools and universities are just too expensive... Only a small fraction of people can afford to study there.

05

 

TOPIC 2 CELEBRITIES

06

 

Take an avid interest in: Cực kỳ yêu thích cái gì Buzz: Ồn ào Unending perseverance: Sự nỗ lực không ngừng nghỉ Profressional competing: Thi đấu chuyên nghiệp Gain a reputation reputation for oneself oneself: Nổi tiếng Take the country by storm: Gây bão cả nước Make headlines: Tràn ngập trên các mặt báo Well-known: Nổi tiếng True philanthropist: Nhà nhân đạo đích thực High-end clothes: Quần áo hàng hiệu Show off one’ one’ss status : Phô trương thanh thế  Cost a fortune: Rất đắt đỏ Trend-setter: Người dẫn đầu xu hướng Have a head for: Có khả năng làm gì Standing ovation: Khán giả đứng lên vỗ tay Monument of courage: Tượng đài về lòng dũng cảm Prejudice: Thành kiến Sense of humor: Khiếu hài hước Cannot keep one’s eyes off: Không thể rời mắt khỏi cái gì Motivation: Động lực Role model: Hình mẫu lý tưởng Endorse: Xuất hiện trong quảng cáo của một nhãn hàng Decrease in popularity: Giảm uy tín General public: Công chúng Representative: người đại diện Professionalism: sự chuyên nghiệp Outstanding: xuất sắc, nổi bật Bias: thành kiến To be on top of the list: đứng đầu danh sách, được ưu tiên nhất What’s going on when the curtains close: những bí mật của giới showbiz To rise to stardom: trở nên nổi tiếng With the assistance of: với sự trợ giúp của... Prominent: đáng chú ý 07

 

Notorious: tai tiếng Aptitudes: Năng khiếu thiên bẩm At one fell swoop: cùng một lúc Phenomenon: hiện tượng IELTS Speaking Sample - Topic: Celebrities PART 1: Who is your favorite celebrity in your country? 

I guess not only me, a number of young people have been highly impressed by her for the past months - H'Hen Nie. She is oure Miss Vietnam. After the beauty

contests, she became well-known for her outstanding beauty, her amazing characteristics and also her kindness.

Do you like any foreign celebrities?  Absolutely. The person I’m gonna talk about is my idol ever since I was a teenager Absolutely. Miley Cyrus. I guess most people at the same age as me grew up with Disney

Channel and among its successful series, Hannah Montanah would always be on top of my list. Although now she’s grown up, I’m still a big fan of her amazing voice and highly inspiring songs.

Would you like to be a celebrity? Why? 

Well though I’ve never thought about it, I’m pretty sure that rising to stardom would never be one of my life goals. I appreciate all the efforts that the celebrities, no matter which field they’re working on, are making every single day. However, I find myself not belong to that world, I mean, you never know what’s going on when the curtains close, right? So yeah, I don’t think I want to become a public figure, to be honest.

Do you think we should protect famous people’s privacy? 

Indeed. As you probably can tell, these days fans, anti-fans and even non-fans are so curious about what their bias are doing. Some are aggressive that they mentally attack their bias by leaving bad comments online. Some even approach them in

person on the street, especially the so-called paparazzi. Thus I strongly agree that there should be some regulations to protect the celebrities’ privacy. privacy.

How do celebrities influence their fans in your country?

I think the influence of celebrities on fans is extensive. It’s somehow natural to follow our bias and try to be like them. At the first place it could probably be just physical changes like clothing, hairstyle or makeup. However thanks to social network, fans and idols are much closer now, sometimes it’s just a status away. However this mental connection is a lifestyle two-edged sword, meaning the idols actually need to be more careful about their or their manners. 08

 

PART 2: Describe a famous person that you admire. You should say: • Who is this person • What is their specialty • Why do you admire him/her

In my to-meet list, there are so many well – respected celebrities whom I am desired to meet andasspend time with. However, would likeInitially, to share about Pele, whooff is nicknamed the greatest soccer player inI the Globe. I really need to kick with the point that Pele was just 17 when he first played in World Cup in Sweden of 1958 for Brazil. Despite his very young age, he was selected as to the national team participating in one of the biggest sports competition on the planet. Back then, he was not the star player but when his teammate was hurt, Pele went into the game. He immediately scored goal and Brazil won the World Cup. With his amazing aptitudes and skills, Pele was feared by other teams. The Brazilian government even named him as a national treasure. It is not doubtful to say that Pele is one of the biggest factors making Brazil’s soccer so well – known. His last World Cup was in Mexico in 1970. Brazil scored 4 goals against Italy to win the World Cup for the third time.every that Another soccer pointplayers that I crave wouldfor. likePele to share holdsismany that Pele soccer owns records an admirable such as having career over 1000 goals in his career. He was nominated athlete of the Century in 1980 and became a member of a Soccer Hall of Fame in 1993. Although he’s now retired from professional competition, Pele is still considered as a great inspiration for soccer players and lovers.

PART 3: In general, how do people become famous? 

In the era of technology, being famous has never been easier. People who have extraordinary extraord inary skills or abilities /talents in any field would be able to become famous with the assistance of the media. What kinds of people become famous? 

In my opinion, there are two kinds of fame that are consistent with two types of people. The first type is well-reputed people with admirable skills or dedication to the civilization. They are usually scientists, researchers, athletes, or soldiers spending their lifetime working toward success without the desire to become well-known. The

other type is attention/publicity-seeking people, who often are celebrities in the entertainment industry, politicians or those becoming famous overnight. Do you think to be famous, a person needs to have some special talent (or ability)? 

No, I don’t think so. Besides incredible aptitudes, people can also be famous for other qualities such as beauty or charity work. 09

 

What are some general qualities of famous people? Do they have any qualities that are different from ordinary people? 

The basic benchmark of famous people is special talent or ability, which not so many people can possess. However, there are other qualities which are common that anyone can have such as beauty or kindness because these are not difficult to achieve, for example, undergoing cosmetic cosmetic surgery or doing charity work. Compare how people become celebrities today with how people became celebrities years years ago, for example, 30 or 50 years ago.

Nowadays, thanks thank s to the modernization of technology, techno logy, it takes only a few seconds to change a person’s life. The invention of smart devices, as well as social networking, has made a person famous at one fell swoop whereas, in the past, the only way to be celebrities was appearing on the television or the radio.

Compare how people become celebrities today with how people became celebrities  years ago, ago, for example, example, 30 or 50 50 years ago. ago.

Nowadays, thanks thank s to the modernization of technology, techno logy, it takes only a few seconds to change a person’s life. The invention of smart devices, as well as social networking, has made a person famous at one fell swoop whereas, in the past, the only way to be celebrities was appearing on the television or the radio.

10

 

TOPIC 3 MEDIA 

11

 

Brief: Ngắn gọn Eye-catching: Bắt mắt Be really into: Rất thích Celebrity endorsement: quảng cáo có sự tham gia của người nổi tiếng Rising star: Ngôi sao đang lên Commercial: Quảng cáo View: Lượt xem Theme song: Bài hát chủ đề Catchy: Bắt tai Obsessed with: Bị ám ảnh Brand image: Hình ảnh thương hiệu Interrupting : Gây bực mình Inappropriate content: Nội dung không phù hợp Adult-related issue: Vấn đề liên quan đến người lớn Cup of tea: Sở thích Scroll down: Lướt Keep oneself updated: Cập nhật Ultimate choice: Sự lựa chọn cuối cùng Unique feature: Điểm đặc biệt Filter: Bộ lọc Edit: Chỉnh sửa Stylish: Thời thượng/Phong cách Up-to-date : Cập nhật Influencer : Người có sức ảnh hưởng Youngsters: Giới trẻ Social platform: Nền tảng mạng xã hội Biggest beneficiary: Người hưởng lợi lớn nhất User-friendly: Thân thiện với người dùng Multi-functional : Đa chức năng Emergence: Sự nổi lên Anchorperson: phát thanh viên (người dẫn bản tin) To shift and mold public opinion : dẫn dắt và định hướng dư luận 12

 

Credible news: tin tức đáng tin cậy Unbiased: trung lập Local news: tin địa phương International news: tin thế giới World events: sự kiện quốc tế  Current affairs: vấn đề hiện thời Business news: tin tức doanh nghiệp Gossip: tin tầm phào Sensational news: tin giật gân The scandal received wide coverage in the press: vụ bê bối xuất hiện trên trang

nhất của nhiều báo libel: tin bôi xấu, phỉ báng breaking news: tin nóng make the headlines: bỗng nhiên xuất hiện trên bản tin hoặc nhận được nhiều sự chú ý từ báo giới Objective reporting: đưa tin một cách khách quan News coverage: tin trang nhất, tin trang bìa Analysis: bài phân tích The story went viral: câu chuyện được lan truyền rộng rãi

The gutter press: loại hình báo chuyên tập trung vào các tin giật gân về đời sống

của người nổi tiếng Yellow journalism: loại báo chuyên đưa những thông tin ít hoặc không chính thống, không được tìm hiểu kỹ càng mà sử dụng những tiêu đề bắt mắt để câu khách. Nội dung thường bao gồm việc phóng đại các tin tức sự kiện, bán các tin bê bối, biêu xấu hoặc tin kích động, nhạy cảm Information overload: bội thực thông tin A slow news day: một ngày không có nhiều tin tức Attention-grabbing:  thu hút sự chú ý Front page: trang nhất của tờ báo Hot off the press: tin tức vừa mới phát hành và đang rất sốt dẻo Readership: đội ngũ độc giả của một tờ báo IELTS Speaking IELTS Speak ing Sample - Topic: Topic: Media Me dia PART 1: Where do you usually get the news from? 

13

 

I commonly get news from TV and Facebook because these two forms of media are very much accessible for me and gives me the freshest updates about fashion

trends, politics and the society in general. Do you read magazines? Which ones? 

Definitely. I love reading The Cosmopolitan which is a women’s magazine. It includes Definitely. articles about relationships, health, careers and fashion which are very fascinating for me.

Do you often read a newspaper?

I am not really into newspapers because I think it’s monotonous. I prefer magazines instead because the cover itself is already eye-catching.

In which kinds of circumstances do you usually listen to the radio?

Well, I used to listen to it every weekend when I was a high school student. Back in the day, it was my duty to clean the house on weekends and before I start, I would turn on the radio and choose a loud music to get me in the mood to tidy up our place.

PART 2: Describe a program on TV or radio you often listen to. You should say:

• What is it? • What is that about? • Why you listen to it? And say what you think could be improved about its output.

For this topic, I’d like to talk about “It’s Showtime” which is a UK noontime variety show. This TV program premiered in 2009, airs from Mondays to Saturdays and broadcasts worldwide through “The UK Channel”. Most of the host in this show are very entertaining and witty because they can crack a joke with perfect timing which keeps the audience laughing the whole time.

The intocompetition a number offorsegments such as “Mini and Copy-cut”. “Minishow Me” isis divided a talent kids aged twelve andMe below and each contestant is featured as a mini version of his or her idol celebrity. This segment

usually begin in introducing the participant par ticipant to the audience while they pose on stage, next is the talent show and finally finally,, the question and answer portion. por tion. On the other hand, the “Copy-cut” is a game played by two teams, Team Boys and Team Tea m Girls. This segment is called Copy-cut because the two groups will be copying

pictures that are shown on the screen. The judges and audience will be the ones to choose which of the teams copied the picture more accurately and the group who accumulated more points will be the winner winner..

Ithese think the main reason the producers of “It’sand Showtime” came up segments is to why provide entertainment opportunities to with thosehaving who participates in the program. So far, I’m quite satisfied with this TV program and I can’t think of other improvements they should work on. 14

 

PART 3: Do large media organizations have too much influence? 

Yes, I think so. Media organizations have extreme influence to people especially children. Nowadays, the young are becoming more exposed to the use of Internet and sometimes they come across videos that contains inappropriate contents such

as foul words or violence. An example for this is my four-year-old nephew who often watch YouTube videos. One day, he said a really offending word to one of his friends. When I asked him where he learned that word, he said “from YouTube”. YouTube”. What is the most important medium for people in your country? 

I think the most significant tool being used nowadays by the citizens in my country is the social media. Social media is not restricted to provide entertainment and

socialization. In fact, it is the fastest way to get news world-wide because it doesn’t doesn’t require a particular process before being able to disseminate information to the public. For instance, instead of going to school to check the schedule of the entrance exam, test takers can just go to the school’s FB page because it is posted there.

How important are newspapers?  The newspaper has great importance to people because it provides news and

information locally and internationally. It consist of different sections like national, sports and weather news as well as classified ads. However, because of the advancement of technology, technology, traditional newspaper is facing extinction and might be replaced by electronic newspapers in the future. Some examples of electronic newspapers are the UK Southport Reporter, Atlantic Highlands Herald and AllNovaScotia.

15

 

TOPIC 4 ENTERTAINMENT 16

 

Extracurricular activity: Hoạt động ngoại khóa Have one’s energy boosted: Làm cho năng lượng tăng lên Hectic: Vội vã, hối hả Leisure pursuit: Hoạt động trong giờ giải lao Recharge one’s battery: Nạp năng lượng Daily routine: Thói quen hàng ngày Be a drain on one’s enegery: Lấy hết năng lượng của ai Do wonders for: Rất tốt/có ích cho ai/cái gì Agility: Sự nhanh nhạy Sedentary lifestyle: Thói quen ngồi nhiều, ít vận động Physical/Mental Physical/Men tal health: Sức khỏe thể trạng/tâm trí  Occupied with: Bận rộn với việc gì The rat race: Guồng quay mệt mỏi của cuộc sống Improve social relationships: Cải thiện các mối quan hệ xã hội Prevalent: Phổ biến Catch sight of: Bắt gặp hình ảnh Team sport: Môn thể thao đồng đội Spectacular and impressive: Ngoạn mục và đầy ấn tượng Notable performance: Màn trình diễn đáng nhớ  Decisive match: Trận đấu quyết định Miraculous victories: Chiến thắng kỳ diệu Patriotism: Lòng yêu nước Pride of national identity: Niềm tự hào dân tộc Team spirit: Tinh thần đồng đội Prestigious trophy: Chiếc cúp danh giá Tournament: Mùa giải Strong connection: Sự liên quan mật thiết Boost tourism industry: Thúc đẩy công nghiệp du lịch Get a real kick out of (doing) something: rất thích thú thứ gì đó hoặc khi làm việc gì

đó

IELTS Speaking Sample - Topic: Entertainment PART 1: 17

 

Do you have any hobbies? 

Well, everyone has their own leisure pursuits, and mine is reading. The book I’m reading at the moment is The Godfather by renowned author Mario Puzo. It’s a classic, really, and I’d really recommend it. Is it important to have a hobby? 

Definitely! I mean nowadays life is getting more and more hectic, so people are constantly under an enormous amount of stress. That’s why it’s necessary to get

into some recreational activities to unwind and just forget about life for a minute, you know? Is it harmful to spend too much time on a hobby? 

Yes, I believe spending excessive time on a hobby may have an adverse effect on people. You may end up having not enough time for your priorities like family or

work. For example, it’s easy for me to lose myself in books and neglect the deadlines at work.

What free-time activities would you like to try in the future? 

I would love to have a crack at extreme sports in the future, maybe ski-diving. It looks like a blast and I think I will get a real kick out of o f free falling from enormous heights.

PART 2: Describe a leisure place that you would like to have in your hometown. You should say: • What is it • Where you would like it to be

• And explain why you would like to have it.

If I had a chance to choose one recreational place that I want to have in my

hometown, it would be definitely a public garden. I really expect havea astroll garden where people canthemselves not only enjoy beauty the nature but alsototake or go jogging to get intothe shape andofstay healthy. In addition, you know, as I’m a huge fan of roses because of its beautiful external appearance and pleasant smell, I expect it would be a spacious garden, at least about 100,000 meters where there are various types of gorgeous flowers grown, especially roses. Also, there must be as many overseas flowers as possible so that I can explore and broaden my horizons about the natural environment. I imagine in my mind that the garden is riot of colors, and all the flower beds complemented perfectly together and created idyllic scenes. I think it would wo uld be great

if they can build a fountain or create an artificial lake, because it might draw more attention from visitors. I imagine that in the spring, when all roses are in bloom, I go for a walk inaround the lake, inhale the aromatic smell of roses and get a sense of tranquility my mind.

I would like to have this garden in my hometown as soon as possible because it can 18

 

affect positively local people’s mental life. Maybe my local authority should know

about this expectation and make it come true. All in all, I believe that it would be such an ideal place for me to relax and recover my energy after hard work.

PART 3 What forms of entertainment are most popular in your country? 

All different kinds, TV, music, live events, computer games. It probably depends on where you live, how old you are and what things you like to do in your free time. When I was at school I used to play a lot of computer games and listen to music and watch TV. Now I’m older I go out more and listen to live music and watch more DVDs. I

guess the most popular for the majority of peope would be TV, watching movies, either at the cinema or on DVD, and going out to parties or to a restaurant with friends.

Do you think men and women have different tastes in entertainment? 

Sometimes maybe, but not always. My girlfriends and I like different movies and our idea of a good night out is probably diffrent than some of my male friends would like, but then there are lots of things that men and women like doing for entertainment

that are the same. Comedy is a good example. If you like eating out in a nice

restaurant then usually it’s the same for men and women also. But there are

definitely some things like music and books which are quite different for men and women.

What kinds of entertainment do young people like? 

For example, my younger sister spends hours chatting to her friends and even peope she doen’t really know on the internet. She loves it. That’s something I never really did - but she likes it more than watching TV or going out sometimes. In general

though I think most young people like watching TV TV,, movies, listeni listening ng to music and chatting to their frinds.

What kinds of entertainment do children like? 

It’s almost the same, they like watching TV, playing games on the computer and listening to music. Some like reading a lot like my little brother, and they like going to the movies to see a film. Do you think children (or young people) can learn anything from entertainment? 

Yes, they can learn all sorts of things. They can learn what’s funny, they can learn about life, people and places and many different things when they are watching TV, a movie or listening to music. I think nowadays more than ever they can learn more through entertainment because all the information related to it is on the internet. If

theylearn wanteverything to find out they aboutwant an actor or someone famous they can just Google them and to about that person. 19

 

TOPIC 5 FASHION

20

 

Have a sense of style: Có gu ăn mặc On the catwalk: Trên sàn diễn High-end clothes: Quần áo đắt tiền Well-dressed: Ăn mặc đẹp Classy clothes: Quần áo lịch sự  Items of accessories: Phụ kiện Outfit: Bộ đồ (chỉ chung) Sale season: Mùa giảm giá Timeless look: Vẻ ngoài không bao giờ lỗi mốt Exquisite: Lộng lẫy, tuyệt đẹp Bespoke clothes: Quần áo thiết kế và may đo theo yêu cầu Casual clothes: Quần áo bình thường Mix and match: Khả năng phối đồ Brand-name clothes: Quần áo của các nhãn hiệu đắt tiền Look sharp: Trông gọn gàng, chỉnh tề A slave of fashion: Nô lệ cho thời trang (người luôn phải chạy theo những xu hướng

mới nhất)

Must-have items: những món đồ nhất định phải có Worn out: Rách Online shopping website: Trang mua hàng trực tuyến Vintage: Hơi hướng cổ điển, xưa cũ Fashionable: Hợp thời trang Waterproof: Không thấm nước Comes in handy:Tiện lợi Multipurpose: Đa năng Look good in: Trông đẹp khi mặc gì On trend: Bắt kịp xu hướng To be on trend: hợp thời trang Dressed to kill: ăn mặc đẹp, gây ấn tượng mạnh, thu hút ánh nhìn To dress for the occasion: ăn mặc đẹp nhân một dịp đặc biệt nào đó Fashion icon: biểu tượng thời trang To get dressed up: mặc diện, thường là để đi chơi 21

 

To go out of fashion: lỗi mốt Hand-me-downs:  quần áo cũ của anh chị lớn được chuyển sang cho các em mặc lại To have a sense of style: có gu thời trang Off the peg: quần áo may sẵn To suit someone:  hợp với ai đó To take pride in one’s one’s appearance: appe arance: chú ý đến vẻ ngoài IELTS Speaking IELTS Speak ing Sample - Topic: Topic: Fashion Fashi on PART 1: What type of clothes do you like to wear? 

Well, I prefer casual clothes – simple and comfortable. A pair of jeans and a shirt would be perfect. I am not really the fashionable type. But of course, I also dress up for special occasions.

What kind of clothes do people in your country usually wear? 

Climate affects people’s people’s clothing. I live in the tropics, so people in my country usually wear clothes with light fabrics. We also wear light-colored clothes. For casual attire, a pair of jeans or short pants and a shirt shir t for men or blouse for women are common. What kind of clothes do you dislike? 

Well, I dislike wearing untidy and eccentric clothes. Example would be tearing or ripped jeans. I also avoid clothes with flashy colors or those that are too stunning. Do you think people behave differently in different kinds of clothes? 

Yes, I think people behave differently when they wear different clothes. For example, one who wears formal clothes may portray an image of being professional and

confident. Wearing casual clothes, on the other hand, makes us look comfortable and relaxed. What kind of clothes do people wear to work in your country?  Those who work in the corporate wear either smart casual or business/formal attire on a regular work day. Some employees such as teachers have uniforms. Other workers are allowed to wear casual clothes.

PART 2

Describe someone you know who dresses well. You should say: • who they are • how you know them • what kind of clothes they wear and say why you like the way they dress. Let me talk about a friend who dresses very well. Her name is Tina. We are of the 22

 

same age and she is currently a professor in a prestigious university in my country.

Although she is not in the fashion industry, she dresses fashionably. She is tall, not very slim and is very attractive. She has been my friend since high school. I get to see her from time to time as she also lives in my neighborhood. We also spend time together with friends especially on weekends.

Actually, she doesn’t have a specific dressing preference or style. I think she bases her attire on the weather as well as on occasions and events, I usually see her wearing light colored dresses and high-heeled shoes when she goes to work. She also wears formal clothes. She is fond of accessories which looks fashionable. Her

footwear always matches her dress. I think she has a huge collection of clothes,

shoes and bags as I rarely see her wearing the same set after some time. I see her wear casual clothes too but they don’t look plain or boring on her. I think she can carry herself very well in any kind of dress. She looks comfortable no matter what her attire is. She always looks clean and tidy. I like her style because she

doesn’t dress extravagant or offensive. She always looks professional and presentable.

PART 3 How important are clothes and fashion to you?  Clothes and fashion are not that important to me. I always prefer comfortable clothes but making sure that I’d look presentable and clean. I am more of being practical in choosing what I wear wear..

How different are the clothes you wear now from those you wore 10 years ago? 

Well, I can say that there hasn’t been much change with the clothes I wear now with that of about 10 years ago. I still wear the regular jeans and shirt for casual days or formal clothes on business events. But, I think since the trend has changed, the kind of these basic clothing has also changed for me, especially when it comes to the style of theary jeans and shirts. I used to wear straight-cut jeans but nowadays, I wear contemporary contempor style such as slim-fit clothes. What do you think the clothes we wear say about us? 

At times, I think the clothes we wear may show part par t of our personality or status. For example, clothing may determine the kind of job a person has. For some, it may be a tool for expression. Some could be stylish and fashionable which may reflect their personality as being creative.

23

 

TOPIC 6 INVENTION

24

 

Technical know-how: Kiến thức về công nghệ Trial and error: Quá trình thử nghiệm và thất bại Practicability: Tính hữu dụng Prolific inventor: Nhà khoa học có rất nhiều phát minh Patents: Bằng sáng chế  Phonograph: Máy hát Light bulb: Bóng đèn điện Experiment: Thí nghiệm Advent: Sự xuất hiện/sự ra đời Milestone in history: Dấu mốc trong lịch sử  Household appliance: Thiết bị gia dụng Innovations: Sự đổi mới, cải tiến Commercialized:  Thương mại hóa Techie: Người hiểu biết nhiều về công nghệ Browse websites: Lướt mạng Revolutionary creations: Sáng tạo mang tính cách mạng Cost-effective:  Tiết kiệm chi phí  Get in touch: Giữ liên lạc Various purposes: Nhiều mục đích Surf the net: Lướt mạng Barrier: Rào cản Online application application:: Ứng dụng trực tuyến Have (something) delivered to: Vận chuyển cái gì đến đâu Technological breakthrough: Sự đột phá về công nghệ Automated robot: Rô-bốt tự động To the best of my knowledge: Theo như những gì tôi biết A wide-screen gadget: Thiết bị màn hình rộng Touch control: Điều khiển bằng cách chạm tay Revolutionise: Cách mạng hoá Keep in touch with: Giữ liên lạc What they are up to: Biết họ đang làm gì Come in handy: Hữu ích 25

 

Lexical resource: Nguồn từ vựng In terms of: Xét về cái gì To exert positive effects on: Có ảnh hưởng tích cực vào cái gì Domination: Sự chiếm ưu thế  Release stress: Giải toả căng thẳng Indispensable: Không thể thiếu Boost the labor productivity: Tăng cường năng suất lao động State-of-the-art State-of-the-a rt facility: Tra  Trang ng bị với các thiết bị mới và hiện đại nhất Technological gadgets: Các thiết bị công nghệ Hinder: Cản trở  Flourish: Sự phát triển Social networking sites: Những trang mạng xã hội Over-reliant: Quá phụ thuộc Digital devices: Các thiết bị điện tử  Radical change: Sự thay đổi một cách nhanh chóng Greatly reduce burden: Giảm rất nhiều đi gánh nặng Electronic gadgets: Các thiết bị điện tử  IELTS IEL TS Speaking Speak ing Sample - Topic: Topic: Invention Inve ntion PART 1: What type of clothes do you like to wear? 

Well, I prefer casual clothes – simple and comfortable. A pair of jeans and a shirt would be perfect. I am not really the fashionable type. But of course, I also dress up for special occasions. Do you want to become an inventor in the future? 

Actually I find myself not creative enough to be an inventor. inventor. I don’t have a necessary amount of technical know-how and patience to go through a lot of trial and error.

(Example) I would like to be a person who can enjoy the inventions rather than the one who can invent them.

PART 2 Describe an invention that changed people’s life. You should say: • What it is • Who invent it • When it was invented

• And explain how it changed people’s life 26

 

I’m going to talk about one of the greatest inventions in the humankind, which is probably a smart phone.

To the best of my knowledge, ten years ago Apple invented a wide-screen gadget with touch control which was considered to be five – year ahead of any other mobile phones. It is called Iphone. After A fter that, thanks to Steve Jobs who delivered the magic mobile phone to a huge number of stores all over the world, we got Iphone – the smartest phone ever.

When it comes to why I-phone revolutionised human’s life, there are two main reasons. I could start off by saying that using mobile phones allows people to keep

in touch with their relatives and friends more easily. For example, I can know what my relatives are up to by making a call or sending a message. Also, with the Internet connection, I can actually see and talk to them via Face Time in spite of a long distance. Another thing that I want to mention is that there are many applications

that come in handy, and they play a vital role in assisting people in work and study. Quizlet, for instance, is a popular application that enables me to boost lexical resource by learning new words via flashcards and audio. Finally, we should not forget to mention the positive effects in terms of entertainment that smart phones

exert on its users. After the domination of smart phones, we have a variety of choices to release stress in our free time, such as listening to music and watching movies.

To me, smart phone is an indispensable item that now people cannot live without. PART 3 What should government do to encourage inventors? 

Well, I think inventors are an indispensable part of an economy, where creativity is put in top priority and innovations are made to serve the life of people so it is crucial

that inventors be encouraged. (Example) Government should raise a fund for inventors and when each invention is made, they will be awarded an amount of money. Moreover, each invention should be examined carefully and commercialized

to assist inventors and make them feel more motivated to create new things. In the future people’s work are heavily affected by technology. Do advantages outweigh the disadvanta disadvantages?  ges? 

Well, the booming advancements of technology can bring about both positive and negative impacts. In terms of advantages, modern technologies will significantly boost the labor productivity and workers have good opportunities to work in a

professional environment, which is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities like robots. However, when the companies or factories are provided with technological gadgets, it will increase the rate of unemployment and hinder the flourish of the society.productivity society .productivity in work and study study..

It is predicted that in the near future, the technology will replace the role of teachers in the classroo classroom. m. Do the advantag advantages es outweigh the disadvant disadvantages?  ages?  27

 

There is no doubt that the application of technology in the classroom results in many

positive effects because it broadens students’ horizons and arouses their interests in learning. However, I believe the role of teachers is irreplaceable. Only by by interacting directly with teachers in the class can students gain a deeper understanding of the lesson. I don’t think cutting-edge technology is capable of doing this since it is programmed by humans.

Nowadays, people are using mobile phones and computers to communicate with each other. Do the advantages outweigh the advantages?  I believe that using smart phones and computers allow people to contact with each

other.. As I previously mentioned, individuals in the modern society can find it easy to other

contact with each other via social networking sites such as Facebook or Instagram on the mobile phones and computers computers which also helps them to save a great deal of

money and energy. However, if people become over-reliant on these digital devices, they might no longer want to talk to their true friends and families, and this can isolate them in their real life li fe and negatively affect the mutual relationship.

Is the modern technology in your country changing rapidly over the years? 

Actually, technological breakthrough leads to radical changes in Vietnamese society.. First of all, many great inventions society i nventions such as washing machine, dishwasher or vacuum cleaner greatly reduce burden on doing household chores among people. In

addition, electronic gadgets such as computers, smart phones, laptops…. enables individuals to communicate more quickly and conveniently than ever. ever.

28

 

TOPIC 7 HISTORY 

29

 

Origin: Cội nguồn Victorious past: Quá khứ hào hùng Ancestors: Tổ tiên Historical highlight: Sự kiện lịch sử nổi bật Colonization: Sự thuộc địa hóa Foreign invaders: Giặc ngoại xâm Independence: Độc lập Period of history: Giai đoạn lịch sử  Well-armed: Trang bị vũ khí tối tân Defeat: Đánh bại Pay tribute to (Sb): Tưởng nhớ  Sacrifice: Hy sinh Domination: Sự đô hộ Historical figures: Nhân vật lịch sử  Heroine: Nữ anh hùng Prominent leader: Lãnh tụ kiệt xuất Resistance: Kháng chiến Foreign invaders: Giặc ngoại xâm Sovereignty: Chủ quyền Misery: Nỗi khổ Ups and downs: Thăng trầm Decisiveness: Sự quyết đoán Patriotism: Lòng yêu nước Policy: Chính sách Eliminate invaders: Đánh đuổi giặc ngoại xâm Memorial: Đài tưởng niệm Honor: Tôn vinh Valuable tradition: Truyền thống quý báu Preserve: Lưu giữ  Prominent historical figures: Nhân vật lịch sử lỗi lạc Strike: Gây ấn tượng Strong-willed: Mạnh mẽ Stand up on his own feet: Đứng trên đôi chân của mình 30

 

Pull out all the stops: Nỗ lực hết mình Outstanding intelligence: Sự thông minh xuất chung Take the role of: Đảm nhận Recover the national economy: Khôi phục nền kinh tế nhà nước Eliminate the slavery: Xóa bỏ sự nô lệ Profound lesson: Một bài học sâu sắc Persist in pursuing: Kiên trì theo đuổi Motto: Khẩu hiệu Harsh: Khắc nghiệt Irrespective of: Bất kể là IELTS IEL TS Speaking Speak ing Sample - Topic: Topic: History His tory PART 1: Do you like to learn about history? 

Wow, I am into reading history, not only of our country, Vietnam but also other countries in the world.History is not only a subject to me, it is also a source of invaluable information about our origin as well as the victorious past of our ancestors.

Who is the famous person from history that you like? Why? 

The historical figure that I’ve always been fascinated with is Napoleon. I personally think he was one of the most talented military leaders there have ever been. Besides, his scandalous personal life also got me curious about this person.

PART 2 Describe a historical person that you are interested. You should say: • Who he or she is •• When What he sheknow did him or her youorfirst

• And explain why you are interested in him or her One of the most prominent historical figures that strikes me was Abraham Lilcon, one of the greatest presidents in American history. I have known about him since I

first read his stories in the book “Chicken soup for the soul” and I admire his tireless efforts and untiring perserance. Lilcon was born in a poor family and his parents are both illiterate. However, he was really into reading books and he tramped ten miles to borrow books from the library and took them home home to read. His life underwent a lot of ups

and downs. He failed 11 times in doing his business and politics but he was strong-willed and perseveres to overcome all obstacles and became the American American president at the age of 51.

It was obvious that failure cannot defeat him, and everytime he did not succeed, he stood 31

 

up on his own feet and pulled out all the stops. With his decisiveness and outstanding

intelligence, when he took the role of a president, he not only retained the independence of the country but he also ended the Civil War, recovered the national economy and eliminated the slavery slavery..

The story of his life has taught me a profound lesson that “As long as I do not give up and persist in pursuing my goals, I will achieve it someday irrespective of any harsh situations”. PART 3 Do young people like historical stories in your country? 

I am afraid not, since history is not taught very effectively here in our country. Many of my friends aren’t keen on history, and most of them don’t even know some very common heroes, which is really a shame. Do you think history matters in a country’ country’s future development?  Yes. We humans reflect on history to learn from our own mistakes. Understanding our mistakes and correcting them is the solid foundation for future development.

What can we learn from the events in history? 

Iread thinkabout we can lessons historical events. (Example) example, if we the have Greatmany Depression in America Afrom merica from 1929 to1933, we canFor know more about the economy and crisis in certain periods. In other cases, if we study war, there will be knowledge related to domination or weapons. However, above all, the most important lesson is that each historical event is either a mistake or a pride, we should look at them carefully to improve our strengths, to maintain the pride and not to let the mistakes occur again.

What is the effective way of learning history history,, by reading books or watching videos? 

It really depends. For beginners, movies are a good starting point. Vivid images and fighting scenes from movies can be very inspirational. It can help inspire people to get to know moreoption. about history. However, However, when one wishes to have a deeper insight, books are the better

32

 

TOPIC 8 EMOTION 33

 

Let off some steam: Xả hơi Satisfaction: Sự hài lòng Huge fan of: Là một fan cứng của Part and parcel: Phần quan trọng Get a kick out of: Rất thích Have something to do with: Liên quan đến Fall apart: Đổ bể  Feel a strong urge: Cảm thấy có động lực cực kỳ lớn để làm gì Tackle: Giải quyết Settle down: Trở lại bình thường/Lắng xuống Bear little relation to (Sb/St): Ít liên quan tới Cope with: Đương đầu với Refresh one’s mind: Thư giãn đầu óc Cheer (Sb) up: Làm ai vui lên Oversleep: Ngủ quên Cram for exams: Nhồi nhét cho kỳ thi Sweat: Toát mồ hôi Cry one’ o ne’s eyes out: Khóc nức nở  Rush: Vội vàng To make the matter worse: Tồi tệ hơn nữa khi Mental breakdown: Suy sụp tinh thần Financial burden: Gánh nặng tài chính Heavy workload: Khối lượng công việc lớn Sentimental: đa cảm Vibes: đa cảm Nostalgia: hoài niệm Reckless: bất cẩn Opens up the door to my past: giúp gợi nhắc lại quá khứ  Appalled = very shocked: bị sốc Apprehensive = slightly worried: lo lắng At the end of your tether = completely fed up : chán vô cùng Bewildered = very confused: bối rối 34

 

Betrayed = when someone breaks the trust you have in them: phản bội Cross = quite angry: khá giận Down in the dumps = sad and fed up: buồn bã chán nản Ecstatic = extremely happy: sung sướng Irritated = annoyed: khó chịu Intrigued: tò mò Jealous = envious: ghen tị IELTS IEL TS Speaking Speak ing Sample - Topic: Topic: Emotions Emo tions PART 1: What are the things that make you happy? 

Actually there are many things that can make me happy. For example, it is hanging out with friends and have some coffee or being given a small gift that helps me let

off some steam or just the feeling of trying a good dish brings me a great deal of satisfaction.

What kinds of things people in your country feel happy about? It’s kind of hard to say but people that I know around me tend to feel happy about

earning more money, but maybe for others, they would feel happy when their children get into the good universities.

PART 2 Describe an event or activity that makes you happy. happy. You should say: • What this event or activity is • How often you participate in this event or activity • Whether you would do it more often if you could

• Explain how your life has been enriched by this event or activity

Today I’m gonna talk about a happy event which occurred recently. Honestly, I’m a huge fan of hiphop dance. Ever since I was young, dancing has always been part and parcel of my life and I have got a kick out of performing on stage. Without any doubt, most of my memorable moments have something to do with dancing.

One of those just happened a few weeks ago and I still recall it. It was when my dance team decided to sign up for a popular dance competition in Hanoi. We were

all determined to create an impressive and unique performance. However, things started to fall apart when unexpected conflicts occurred among us. What was even more shocking is that one of us decided to leave because he couldn’t bear the situation at that time. And it is that moment when I felt a strong urge to make everyone sit down and tackle the situation. This is also a chance for everybody to get

to know more about each other. We talked about our feelings, how we wanted to 35

 

overcome overco me those difficulties together and how much we wanted this performance to be delivered in the best version of itself.

Luckily, everything was settled down and things went by smoothly during the last week before the show. And you know what. Although we didn’t win, it was still a rewarding experience to me because I was given the opportunity to deeply understand my team. And at the end of the day, standing and shinning together on stage is what truly matters.

PART 3 Do you think it is good to show your emotions when you are angry? 

I think to express the reason for anger is good and should be done, because until then nothing can be done to solve the situation. However, However, harming oneself or others without trying to solve the main reason for anger, anger, is not a great thing to do. Because, it not only harms you but also others. However, there are other ways to show off anger. Some write, paint or scribble. I think until it is not harmful, anger should be expressed like every other expression. In your opinion, do women show their emotions more than men? 

If we go by the stereotype, women tend to show emotions more than men. But, in my opinion, both the genders tend to show emotions equally. However, the emotions they choose to show are different. For instance, a woman is less likely to show anger as compared to her male counterpart but more likely to show her tears. Also, when a woman is happy she tends to share it with others in a very calm way, however, a man is more likely to show off in a grandiose way.

Do you think people who have more talent are happier than others? 

I think talent bears little relation to happiness. There are a number of examples of renowned singers or actresses who are talented but do not lead a happy life at all. They may resort to drugs or even commit suicide to escape from the pressure that

they encounter. However, there are people who are not so talented but still have a happy happierlife life.with their family. In short, being more talented doesn’t mean having a

36

 

TOPIC 9 LIFESTYLE 37

 

Junk food: Đồ ăn nhanh Hit the gym: Đi tập gym Do wondersfor (Sb/St): Tốt (cho ai/cái gì) Unwind: Xả hơi (= Relax) Health-concious:  Quan tâm đến sức khỏe Treadmill: Máy chạy bộ Speed up my metabolism: Tăng cường trao đổi chất Intensive training: Luyện tập cao độ Balanced diet: Chế độ ăn cân bằng Lean body: Cơ thể mảnh mai nhưng khỏe mạnh Chronic disease: Bệnh mãn tính Diabetes: Bệnh tiểu đường Remedy: Phương thuốc Feasible methods: Phương pháp khả thi Implement strict rules: Ban hành luật nghiêm khắc Abstract: Trừu tượng Sculpture: Điêu khắc Piece of artwork: Tác phẩm nghệ thuật

Eminent painter: Họa sĩ tài năng Oil painting: Tranh sơn dầu Alignment: Bố cục Depict: Mô tả Elegant pursuit: Thú vui tao nhã Innate talent: Tài năng thiên bẩm Think outside the box: Suy nghĩ thoáng, vượt ra ngoài quy chuẩn Excessive consumption of…: việc tiêu thụ quá mức… Sedentary lifestyles: lối sống thụ động Have a healthy diet = have a balanced diet:  có 1 chế độ ăn lành mạnh, cân bằng Rapid weight gain: sự tăng cân nhanh chóng Weight problems: các vấn đề về cân nặng Obesity: sự béo phì Public health campaigns: chiến dịch cộng đồng vì sức khỏe 38

 

Suffer from various health issues: mắc hàng loạt vấn đề về sức khỏe Home-cooked food: thức ăn được nấu tại nhà To be at a higher risk of heart diseases:  tỷ lệ cao mắc phải bệnh tim Average life expectancy: tuổi thọ trung bình The prevalence of fast food and processed food: sự thịnh hành của thức ăn

nhanh và các thức ăn được chế biến sẵn.

IELTS IEL TS Speaking Speaki ng Sample - Topic: Topic: Lifestyle L ifestyle PART 1: What do you do to stay healthy? 

Well, I try to stay away from junk food, and I hit the gym on the daily basis. Doing excercises regularly does wonders for not only my physical but also mental health and it really helps me to unwind after work.

Is it important to you to eat healthy food? 

Yes, I prefer to eat healthy home-cooked food, rather than fast food or pre-prepared meals, because I want to stay fit and healthy as I get older. If you catch a cold, what do you do to help you feel better? 

I usually take paracetamol tablets, and I sometimes buy a nasal spray or cough medicine. It also helps to stay at home and relax. PART 2: Describe a healthy lifestyle you know. You should say:

• What is it? • How do you know it? • When do you do it? • and explain why do you think it is healthy?

I think people who live healthily always have one thing in common: they try to strike a

balance between work and life, between exercise and diet. Even when you’re busy, try to do some exercise or have some entertainment. You don’t don’t need to go to the gym and spend 2 hours doing physical physical activity. Maybe just a small break from work and some stretching exercise is enough to keep you fit and healthy. Nowadays, more and more people suffer from a sedentary lifestyle so we always have to remind ourselves not to sit too much. Diet is also very important. I know food can be very tempting but try to stick to healthy

food, food that you know is hygienic and and carefully prepared. Of course, once in a while, while, we can give ourselves a nice little treat, like the cheese pizza I had yesterday. Drink a lot of water too, as water accounts for 60% of the human body weight and is key to effective metabolism.

PART 3 39

 

How should schools teach students to live healthy?  Schools can do a lot of things to teach children about living healthy. They can introduce

health as a subject in student’s curriculum. Schools can also provide sports facilities to the students which will motivate the students to make exercise a part of their everyday life

What do people in your country do to maintain health? 

In my country, people do various things to maintain health. Some people like running, some prefer to go to the gym to and someweight. prefer playing a sport. People are also consulting dieticians nowadays in order reduce What could be done to promote a healthy lifestyle?   I think there are several feasible methods that could be adopted to lead a healthy life. The government should implement strict rules on products or activities that affect people’s

health, for example smoking in public places. Another possible method is that more programs about healthy eating or taking up a sport should be produced and disseminated on social media such as TV or Facebook so that people can be more aware of the importance of healthy living.

Do you think people pay enough attention to their health today? 

Times haveI believe changed, I believe. There was have a timeagain whenbecome people more stopped caring about their health but in recent times, people aware of their health. Most people prefer doing some sort of physical activity in their lives to make sure they are are

healthy. When making small decisions like the food they prefer, people are going for, much healthier foods.

Do you think most people worry more about their health as they get older? 

Definitely yes. I think as the person starts getting old, they start getting the signs of bad health. It is during that time that people realise the importance of health. So, one can see a lot of old people going out for walks or jogging. Why do you think some people continue bad habits when they know that they are damaging to their health?  The only reason that people have for continuing their bad habits is that they have become

their habit and as they say bad habits die hard. So, even when people know that it is harming them it is quite tough to stop doing things that they have inculcated in their routines for a long period of time.

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TOPIC 10 OUTFIT 41

 

Fashion enthusiast: Tín đồ thời trang Versatile: Đa năng Prohibitive: Đắt Tailor-made: Được làm cho một dịp đặc biệt Embroidery: Thêu Silk: Lụa Femininity: Sự nữ tính Plain: Nhàm chán Elegant: Thanh lịch, tao nhã Gown: Bộ trang phục trang trọng Preserve the beauty: Lưu giữ vẻ đẹp Spiritual life: Đời sống tinh thần Depressed: Buồn rầu Feminine things: Những thứ nữ tính Lend visual interest to (Sb/St): Tăng thêm vẻ đẹp cho ai/cái gì Token: Vật kỉ niệm Ecstatic: Cực kỳ vui sướng Gemstone: Đá quý Charm: Mặt dây chuyền Ornament: Đồ trang trí  Footwear: giày dép High – heeled shoes: giày cao gót Unbelievably cheap: rẻ đến khó tin

Stood out from the crowd: nổi bật giữa đám đông Ridiculous: lố bịch Denim: chất bò (chất jean) IELTS IEL TS Speaking Speak ing Sample - Topic: Topic: Outfit Outfi t PART 1:  Are you willing to buy expensive expensive clothes?

Actually, myclothes answerwhich is yescan although I am in not a fashion enthusiast. I prefer versatile and casual be suitable many occasions. Howeve However r, on special or important ones such as wedding or any kind of celebration, I still treat myself to a high-end dress or a pair of shoes but not often because of their prohibitive price. 42

 

PART 2 Describe your favourite piece of clothing. You should say: • Where you got it • When you got it • How often you wear it

• And explain why it is your favourite piece of clothing.

Well, I would like to tell you about a pair of ripped jeans that are my favorite item among all the things I have in my wardrobe.

You know, I bought them for an unbelievably cheap price a long time ago in a second-hand clothing store. At that point, ripped jeans were really popular and everybody in my school was keen on them. So, whenever I put these jeans on, I felt really stylish and thought I really stood out from the crowd. After a while though, trends started to change, but I refused to abandon my jeans. I wore them almost everywhere, from home to school and only changed them for formal events such as a ceremony or a wedding. Sometimes I even slept in my jeans because they were so comfortable.

Actually, it is quite easy to understand why I fancy these jeans so much. Firstly Actually, Firstly,, they instantly create a stylish and fashionable look for the wearer. Secondly, jeans are easy to mix and match and I can wear them with heaps of different shirts without worrying about looking ridiculous in other people’s eyes. And lastly, denim is so tough that it can’t be torn, so I can have them for a long time and save a great deal of money.

All in all, I love my jeans and cannot get through a day without them. I think such an item should be made trendy again so that the youngsters nowadays can really get to know their awesomeness.

PART 3 Do you think that the clothes we wear say something about us? 

Honestly speaking, I think clothes say a lot about ourselves. It may tell a lot about our characteristics, our emotions and even our status. For instance, clothing may determine the feelings of a person. When we are happy, we often choose colorful outfit but when we are depressed, we tend to wear clothes in darker colour. colour. In other cases, some people may wear classy clothes so as to tell others that they are careful and polite.

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TOPIC 11 TECHNOLOGY 

44

 

Artificial intelligenc intelligence: e: Trí tuệ nhân tạo Sophisticated: Tinh vi, tỉ mỉ Debut: Sự xuất hiện lần đầu tiên trước công chúng Humanoid: Rô bốt hình người Personality trait: Tính cách Important figure: Nhân vật quan trọng Strike up conversations: Bắt chuyện Era: Kỷ nguyên Demanding job: Công việc đòi hỏi cao Peforming surgery: Thực hiện phẫu thuật Adverse effect: Hệ lụy tiêu cực Human labor: Nhân lực lao động Manufacturing zones: Các khu chế xuất Labor-intensive: (Chỉ công việc) Cần nhiều lao động Automaton: Rô-bốt Internet addict: Người nghiện internet Breakthrough: Đột phá Go online: Lên mạng Video-sharing website: Trang web chia sẻ video Stream video: Phát video Eye-opening: Mở mang tầm mắt Broadcasting-searching tool: Công cụ tìm kiếm video Tutorial video: Video hướng dẫn User-friendly: Thân thiện với người dung Interactive: Tương tác Simplify: Đơn giản hoá Cybercriminal: Tội phạm mạng Glued to the screen: Dán mắt vào màn hình Form virtual relationships: Hình thành các mối quan hệ ảo Technophobe: người ghét công nghệ Computer buff: chuyên gia máy tính Gadget/device/item/equipment: thiết bị 45

 

Internet security: an ninh mạng Operating system: hệ điều hành technological advances: những tiến bộ trong công nghệ keep in contact with = keep in touch with: giữ liên lạc với technological devices and applications: những ứng dụng và thiết bị công nghệ telecommunication services: các dịch vụ viễn thông have more opportunities to: có nhiều cơ hội hơn để  do multiple tasks all at the same time: thực hiện nhiều công việc cùng 1 lúc suffer from social isolation: bị sự cô lập xã hội surf/browse the internet: lướt web take part in interactive activities: tham gia vào các hoạt động có tính tương tác take video lessons with someone: tham dự buổi học video với ai đó interact through computers rather than face to face: tương tác thông qua máy

tính thay vì trực tiếp

online meetings = virtual meetings: các cuộc họp online discourage real interaction: ngăn cản sự tương tác thực Modern/ cutting-edge / state-of-the-art: rất hiện đại Indispensable: rất quan trọng IELTS IEL TS Speaking Spea king Sample Sa mple - Topic: Topic: Technology PART 1: Do you use any gadgets on a daily basis? 

Yes, surely I do... Although I don't consider consider myself a geek, I quite enjoy using all the new items like laptops and smartphones... All in all, we're living in the computer age and it's impossible to ignore cutting-edge technology. How often do you use Internet?  I use Internet every day... It helps me with my studies and it entertains me when I’m

down... Surfing the Internet is my hobby hobby... ... I also frequently use World Wide Web for communication purposes... Though I don't like social media like Facebook, I often use video conferencing for talking.

Do you own a computer? If so, how often do you use it and for what purposes? 

Yes, I have a personal computer and a laptop... I use my laptop mainly for education... It is very andafits in my bag and easily easily, , so I take itkeyboard, with me to school... Meanwhile, mylight PC has large screen convenient keyboar d, so I use iti t for word processing and browsing websites. It is an old, but still well-oiled machine... 46

 

PART 2 Describe your favourite gadget. You should say: • What is it • When did you get it • How often do you use it and say why is it so important to you

I don’t own many gadgets... I have a PC, laptop and a smartphone and I can’t imagine my life without either of those...

However,, my laptop is the most important piece of technology for me... I got it as a However birthday present from my parents a few years ago and I use it nearly every day now.

Although at first using it was like rocket science for me, after a few weeks I was able to do everything I needed... From browsing websites to reinstalling the operating

system... What's more, without my laptop I wouldn’t be able to do my homework for the university... Also, I use it for surfing the Internet and finding whatever I want, whether it is a piece of code for my project or a useful tip on how to cook a steak. Generally, my laptop became an essential device for me. PART 3 Do you think we need to know much about computers? 

Well, not too much, but there is definitely a couple of essential things everyone should know. First of all, you need to know how to enter a web address, how to navigate websites... It is very important nowadays to be able to surf the net for the information you needn.

What is the most impactful piece of technology in our lives? 

In my point of view, the Internet is the most important technological advance of our time. It gives us so many opportunities to discover anything we want about our

world! You just need to boot up your computer an go online. And with wireless networks at home and public Wi-Fi hotspots we can do it easily and almost everywhere.

How computers affect our everyday life? 

In a positive way, certainly. They help with so many things, from writing and printing your own essay to doing academic research from home. Without computers studying would have been time-consuming.

How effective is the use of computers in the classroom? 

Hmm… in my opinion, using computers in the classroom is very effective. I think it is important for students to become competent in the use of computers to prepare

them for the … think you know, computers are used everywhere the workplace now.workplace But… I also that having computers so easily availableingives teachers the opportunity to introduce students to the variety of information on the Internet. 47

 

TOPIC 12 NATURE

48

 

Breeze: Làn gió nhẹ Humidity: Độ ẩm Scarce: Hiếm Snowflake: Bông tuyết Snowman: Người tuyết Freezing cold weather: Thời tiết rất lạnh Natural phenomenon: Hiện tượng tự nhiên Tremble with cold: Run lên vì lạnh Vibe: Không khí  Scorching heat: Nắng nóng gay gắt Torrential rain: Mưa rất to Bitterly cold weather: Trời lạnh thấu xương Natural calamities: Thiên tai Extreme weather conditions: Điều kiện thời tiết cực đoan Property: Tài sản Inundated: Bị ngập lụt Precipitation: Lượng mưa Record high: Cao kỷ lục Statistics: Thống kê Emergency announcement: Thông báo khẩn cấp Pouring rain: Mưa xối xả Disturbance:  Xáo trộn, phiền toái Death toll: Tỷ lệ tử vong Dangerous epidemics: Dịch bệnh nguy hiểm Concerted effort: Nỗ lực chung Global warming: Sự nóng lên toàn cầu Deforestation: Phá rừng Ozone depletion: Sự suy giảm tầng Ô-zôn IELTS IEL TS Speaking Speak ing Sample - Topic: Topic: Nature N ature PART 1: What is your favorite season? 

Fall is absolutely my most favorite season. (Reason) The cool weather makes me feel so comfortable because humidity is low. (Example) I love the feeling of going for a walk in Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian zone while enjoying the breeze. It’s so fantastic! 49

 

PART 2:

Talk about a place of natural beauty you would like to visit. You should say: • What is it • Why would you like to visit • When would you like to visit

The natural place which I think is very beautiful and would like to visit is (…say a place nameofyou know is naturally It isit aavast place thatarea gives the impression natural beauty, serenity beautiful…). and divinity as green beside the hills and a beautiful river has passed beside it. The flowers and fields are like scenery painted by a professional painter. The butterfly, the birds, the bushes, the long trees and tea garden makes it a place worth visiting. I have heard the impeccable beauty of this place from my friends and everyone who went there has recommended it as a must-visit place. I have also read few articles about the tourist attraction and natural beauty of this place. The writers

describe it as an adventurous pace as hill tracking, swimming in the river, visiting the lightened caves at night are all adventurous activities that tourists mainly like to do there. I have a plan to visit this place in the near future when I would have a vacation of

more than 7 days. The local foods of this place especially the fried fishes and

shrimps are famous and that’s why I want to stay there for few days. Most

possibly I will visit this place next December December..

This is a worth visiting place because it is one of the greatest naturally stunning

and beautiful places. There are lots of activities to do, lots of things to see and several famous menus to test. Since lots of people visit this place and highly

recommend it to others, I am sure this is a place that worth a visit. PART 3 Do you think that weather affects our feelings? 

One hundred percent yes. If the weather is fine, humans can have the mood or motivation to do certain things. When the weather is cool or sunny, people may tend to feel happier; however, if really bad weather conditions happen, for instance scorching heat or torrential rain, it is easy for people to have their mood down. The appearance of snow may make people excited but thick layers of snow with bitterly cold weather can cause depression for people.

50

 

TOPIC 13 MONEY 

51

 

Pick up groceries: Mua đồ tạp hoá Flea market: Chợ hàng thùng Get some great deals: Mua được đồ giá rẻ Without breaking the bank: Không mất nhiều tiền In the vicinty of: Gần Mass production: Sản xuất hàng loạt Hit the shop: Đến cửa hàng Treat oneself: Tự thưởng cho bản thân Independent store: Cửa hàng riêng lẻ Brick-and-mortar Brick-andmortar shop: Cửa hàng offline Saving: Khoản tiết kiệm Down payment: Tiền đặt cọc Healthcare Healthcar e service: Dịch vụ chăm sóc sức khỏe Overspend: Tiêu quá số tiền đang có Payday: Ngày được trả lương Piggy bank: Lợn tiết kiệm Set saving goals: Đặt ra các mục tiêu tiết kiệm Withdraw: Rút tiền Financial decision: Quyết định tài chính Smart investmen investment: t: Đầu tư thông minh Balance the expense: Cân bằng chi tiêu Cut down on: Cắt giảm Set aside: Dành dụm Transaction: Giao dịch Make ends meet: Kiếm sống Saving money for a rainy day: Dành dụm tiền cho những ngày khó khăn make a profit: tạo lợi nhuận survive in a competitive world/ survive in a fast-changing world: sống sót trong

một thế giới đầy cạnh tranh/ sống sót trong một thế giới thay đổi nhanh chóng achieve success in the modern business world: đạt được thành công trong thế giới kinh doanh hiện đại entrepreneurs: doanh nhân deal with difficult clients: làm việc với những khách hàng khó tính

52

 

to be provided with a wealth of knowledge: được cung cấp nhiều kiến thức make significant contributions to …: có những đóng góp to lớn cho … start a business: bắt đầu 1 doanh nghiệp specialise in …: chuyên về … have a clear strategy: có 1 chiến lược rõ ràng cover its running costs: bao quát được chi phí vận hành của nó costs involved in running a business: những chi phí liên quan đến việc vận hành 1

doanh nghiệp

boost productivity: tăng năng suất maximise customer satisfaction: tối đa sự hài lòng của khách hàng have social responsibilities: có trách nhiệm xã hội provide financial support for …: cung cấp hỗ trợ tài chính cho … create more employment opportunities for people: tạo thêm cơ hội việc làm cho

mọi người

improve a company’s reputation: nâng cao danh tiếng của công ty encounter various obstacles: gặp phải nhiều trở ngại khác nhau serious financial crisis: khủng hoảng tài chính nghiêm trọng take on risky contracts: nhận các hợp đồng rủi ro ineffective business strategies/ ineffective market research/ poor customer service: chiến lược kinh doanh không hiệu quả / nghiên cứu thị trường không hiệu

quả / dịch vụ khách hàng kém

compete against multinational giants: cạnh tranh với những tập đoàn khổng lồ đa

quốc gia

face potential collapse: đối mặt với nguy cơ sụp đổ go bankrupt/declare bankruptcy/go out of business: phá sản/tuyên bố phá

sản/ra khỏi kinh doanh

strengthen the banking system: củng cố hệ thống ngân hàng government assistance for small and medium-sized enterprises: hỗ trợ của

chính phủ cho các doanh nghiệp vừa và nhỏ offer in-depth advice on something: đưa ra lời khuyên chuyên sâu về gì đó IELTS IEL TS Speaking Speaki ng Sample - Topic: Topic: Money Mo ney PART 1: How much money is enough? 

Well, it’s hard to answer this question as there is no exact measurement to say 53

 

whether money is enough or not. It’s up to perspective and goal of different people.

Some people want more money so they can save up but some just need a certain amount of money to sustain their lives.

Why do people care too much about money? 

I think the reason is because money equals power. The more money you have, the more things you can do, the more influence you have over people. No one refuses power so that’s why they give priority to money.

Is money important to you?  Absolutely.. I can buy things with money and give presents for my family by my own Absolutely money. It makes my life more meaningful . It’s like a motivatio motivation n to push me forward

and work harder to enhance my life. For me, money is just never enough and if I’m satisfied with what I earn, I’ll fall behind with fellows. What do people in your country save money for? 

I suppose it’s up to different purposes. While the young save money for travelling or

paying tuition fees, the elderly tend to keep money for health service and their kids. However, young people have more desire than the seniors so they often spend more than their savings.

PART 2  Describe a method to save money. You should say: • What the method is • When you started to use it • How you knew it

• and explain why it is helpful

Well, i’m not good at saving money and I tend to buy things without considering carefully. carefull y. It’s hard to save if you don’t know exactly what what you are saving for so what I do is to set savings goals to motivate myself in every financial decision that I make. due to to lack of money money. . I triedbeen to keep stillpostponed overspent and was out of Going Japan has always mymoney biggestmyself dreambut butI I’ve so many times money at the end of every month. I asked my mom to keep money for me as she is

better at controlling expense. expense. She is like my my accountant and helps me to(4) balance the expense. She also gives me advice whenever I go shopping to make sure it doesn’t set me back . We have an agreement that whenever whenever Iwithdraw a sum of money, money, I have to save double that amount. This works wonders with me as my savings goes up every month . Now I always ask myself whether whether it’s it’s necessary to buy things or I can

save for a rainy day. After a while, I realize I’ve set aside more money everyday . I buy

things within my budget and don’t don’t waste money for unnecessary things. This method method

of saving money makes me feel good about myself and I feel financially secured. PART 3 What do you think about money? 

Money can do many things, both good and bad. It allows us to have freedom and a wide 54

 

variety of choices. Money gives us confidence and desire to work harder so we can have better life. life. You can decide where and how you want to live when you have have a good

income. When you do not have much money, your choice will be limited. However, everything comes with a price. Having much money doesn’t mean people won’t run

into problems. Most people fail to strike a balance between earning and enjoying money so they work day and night. They believe they’ll be happier if they have lots of

money. However, for most people, such time never comes and they die unhappy and dissatisfied Could human beings live without money?  It’s It’ s true that money isn’t the most important thing in this world but it’s irreplaceable in

our lives. If the world were a completely free place with no expenses and people could own anything they want without money, they would no longer go to work. There would be nothing as motivation and people would work unproductively .Money stimulates

people toovercome obstacles so they can enjoy their achievements to the fullest. Besides, people who have money have their own voice in society and it’s a strong encouragement for anyone.

In your opinion, why do many people derive pleasure from spending money? 

Spending money is definitely the most satisfying feeling ever. People can buy things they’ve long waited for to please themshelves. Buying something new will make their day and stimulates them to work harder harder.. The money spent isn’t necessarily on oneself

but also loved ones. It makes us feel good so we will spend more money the next time. Who do you think save more money,men or women? 

Well, it’s hard to say. Men’s biggest risk is their egos. They need to brag about their possessions and how much money they’ve earned , so they end up spending more money. Women tend to save money and spend it when they really need it. However, there are still exceptions when women manage money worse than men. That’s why there is no strong proof to show men or women save more money

Which do you think is better for the economy of a country or area, people saving money or people spending money? 

It’s such a tricky question. I guess for any economy, saving is entwined with spending. When people buy things, they will contribute a sum of money to the stores so they can pay salaries . The government also benefit from that as it’ll gain tax. If people save money, only the banks have advantage so they can invest or set up new businesses. An ideal economy is when saving and spending balanced . It’s It’s a rule for any economy in the world.

Do you think the government should let people know how it spends money? 

Well, actually, I don’t really care about this issue. I think the government has its own reason to not publicize It can be state so the to keep it private. However,everything. However, If the government could gosecrets public with theauthority amount ofwants money it spends, it would gain trust from the public and assure them that their money is invested properly. 55

 

TOPIC 14 TRAVEL

56

 

Means of transport: Phương tiện giao thông Take the lead: Chiếm phần lớn Traffic congestion: Tắc đường Wend one’s one’s way forward: Đi chậm chậm về phía trước Embark on the journey: Thực hiện chuyến đi Car rent: Phí thuê xe ô tô Board: Lên (tàu/xe) Fill up: Lấp đầy Jam-packed: Đông người Rush hour: Giờ cao điểm Electric mini-bus: Xe buýt mini chạy bằng điện Carpooling: Hình thức đi chung xe Tranquillity: Sự yên bình Rat race: Cuộc sống xô bồ Recharge my battery: Nạp lại năng lượng Worth-living city: Thành phố đáng sống Local cuisine: Ẩm thực địa phương Tourist attraction: Địa điểm thu hút khách du lịch Breath-taking: Đẹp đến nghẹt thở  Aerial walkway: Cầu đi bộ trên cao Coastal city: Thành phố biển Superb: Tuyệt hảo Local specialty: Đặc sản địa phương It would be a miss (not to): Sẽ thật phí (nếu không) Blast: Một sự kiện rất vui vẻ Unexpected expenses: Chi phí phát sinh Cost-effectvie: Tương xứng với số tiền bỏ ra Go on holidays: đi nghỉ dưỡng A package holiday (everything is included): kì nghỉ trọn gói Sunday driver: người lái xe hay đi lòng vòng bắt khách dạo Winter/summer holiday: kì nghỉ đông/hè Red-eye flight: chuyến bay khởi hành muộn vào đêm. 57

 

Try some local food: thử vài món ăn đặc sản địa phương One for the road: ăn uống trước lúc khởi hành. Send some postcards: gửi một vài bưu thiếp travel light: hành lý gọn nhẹ. Have a thirst for adventure: có niềm khao khát thám hiểm Live out of a suitcase: di chuyển liên tục Break the journey: nghỉ ngơi giữa cuộc hành trình Pedal to the metal: giục giã, tăng tốc. Hit the road: bắt đầu chuyến đi Unexplored wilderness: vùng hoang sơ chưa được khám phá Fleabag motel/roach motel: phòng trọ bình dân, tồi tàn. Running on fume: gần hết xăng. Face servese weather conditions: đối mặt với những điều kiện thời tiết khắc nghiệt off track/off the beaten path: đi sai đường/lạc đường Inbound travel/ inbound toursim: Du lịch trong nước Outbound travel/ outbound tourism: Du lịch nước ngoài Backpacking: Du lịch bụi Ecotourism: Du lịch sinh thái Go sightseeing: Ngắm cảnh Exploit and enjoy pristine beauty: Khám phá và cảm nhận vẻ đẹp hoang sơ  Go in the low season: Đi du lịch vào mùa thấp điểm Go in the peak season: Đi du lịch vào mùa cao điểm Partake in outdoor games/Play outdoor games: Tham gia những hoạt động ngoài

trời

Do extreme sports: Chơi các môn thể thao mạo hiểm Buy souvenirs: Mua quà lưu niệm promote/spread local culture to international friends/international travellers:

quảng bá văn hoá địa phương đến du khách quốc tế  Create/generate Create/gener ate employment opportunities: Tạo công ăn việc làm Develop economy/boost economy: Phát triển nền kinh tế 

Increase foreign currency by means of travel-related services: Tăng ngoại tệ nhờ

vào những dịch vụ du lịch

Making the host destination more authentic and desirable to visitors.   Lôi cuốn 58

 

khách đến tham quan nhiều hơn Bring about a real sense of pride and identity to communities: Dấy lên niềm tự hào

dân tộc và bản sắc văn hoá trong cộng đồng

Restore historical sites/historical buildings/historical monuments: Bảo tồn lưu giữ

các công trình lịch sử 

Widen horizon outlook a new culture Mở mang tầm nhìn về một nền văn hoá mới Pollute/contaminate environment: Làm ô nhiễm môi trường Damage environment: Phá huỷ môi trường Ruin/damage/undermine Ruin/damage/u ndermine local culture: Làm ảnh hưởng văn hoá địa phương Weaken the identity of local culture: Làm phai mờ bản sắc văn hoá địa phương Illegally exploit its ecological traits for individual benefits: Khai thác hệ sinh thái

một cách hợp pháp nhằm phục vụ lợi ích cá nhân Cause heavy traffic jam in main routes: Gây tắc nghẽn giao thông trên những con phố chính IELTS Speaking IELTS Spe aking Sample - Topic: Topic: Travel PART 1: Do you like to travel? 

Definitely! I would like to visit different places, experience other cultures and try different food and dishes.

What kind of places have you visited in your life? 

Actually, I have never been out of my country. But I have visited a lot of beautiful places and tourist spots in different regions in my country.

Which place would you really like li ke to visit? Why? 

Well, of all the places I would like to go to, I would really like to visit Paris. They say it is a very romantic place especially at night, so I would like to take a walk in the streets of Paris at night. Do you prefer travelling alone or in a group? 

A: I prefer to travel in a group, as I think it is more fun being able to share experiences with friends or family family.. Travelling Travelling alone is not always safe and in some places could co uld be very risky.

What are the main means of transport in Vietnam? 

There are quite a few means of transport in Vietnam, but motorbikes are taking the lead. People prefer to travel by motorbike because it is more economical and the most important thing is that when it comes to traffic congestion, congestion, it takes ages for car to move on the road but it is much easier for a motorbike to wend its way forward for ward and 59

 

escape the bad traffic. PART 2

Describe an interesting journey you have been on. You should say: • where you went • how you travelle travelled d there • who you went with and say how it affected your life at the time.

I will talk about an interesting journey I had with my family last year. My mom, brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephew and I went together. We went to several places in two days. We went to a beautiful beach in a virgin island, and then visited a lake, a bee farm and another beach that is i s popular for being a surfing spot. We started to travel early in the morning. We rented a van. We reached our first destination which was a white sand beach after about 2 hours of travel by car and about 20 minutes by boat. We spent overnight in the beach and headed to a bee farm the next day. It took us about an hour to reach this place. After few hours, we went to see the lake which was just close to the farm. We did kayaking in the lake which was my first time. We had lunch in there. Then, we travelled about another hour to go to a popular surfing spot. My brothers and I tried surfing but it was quite difficult for me even if there was a trainer. This journey is very memorab memorable le because we were able to visit many beautiful places together. I can also say that it has been a long time since all of us gathered to have such trip. We had a great time. We had fun with the activities as well. We took great photos and everyone was really happy.

PART 3 Which method of trav travel el do you consider safest? 

Well, in my opinion, travelling by train is the safest. So far, it is the means of transportation I almost never heard being in an accident. it has own railway, it does that not have much chance toof come across with otherSince vehicles thatitscould collide with. I think most accidents that happen with trains are due to mechanical or technical issues which could be avoided if the system is being checked and monitored properly.

Has travel become safer in recent years? 

I think so. With the presence of modern technology, technology, I think travel has become safer in recent years. Since we now have access to more tools and infrastructure, transportation system as well as travel has been improved. For example, roads are better, wider and more accessible; therefore, accidents can be avoided. What are the pros and cons of low-cost air travel? 

Low-cost air travel allows us to save money. With this, we can travel more and we can allot our budget to other expenses. However, with low-cost air travel, our convenience 60

 

and comfort may suffer. Because it is cheap, meals and baggage fees may not be included. The plane might be old and seats may not be that comfortable. There is also a possibility of poor service such as being assigned to a cheap airport or poor customer service.

How do you think people will trave travell in the future? 

Well I think, electric mini-bus will be the prevalent means of transport in the future. One reason could be that it still carries the same number of passengers but being

small and agile to get its way out of a traffic jam. In addition, carpooling may be a good idea as people can not only save a great amount of money spent on fuel for their private car but they also help protect the environment. Many people travel in the

same car means there will be less emission and less traffic jam and this may be a dominant way of transporting in the future.

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TOPIC 15 MARRIAGE  AND FAMIL FAMILY  Y  62

 

Tie the knot: Thành vợ chồng Lavish wedding: Tiệc cưới hoành tráng New phase of one’s life: Trang mới trong cuộc sống Immediate family: Gia đình ruột thịt Spouse: Vợ/chồng Splash out on (St): Tiêu xài hoang phí  Lifelong commitment: Gắn bó trọn đời Aarranged marriage: Hôn nhân bị sắp đặt Ups and downs of marriage: Những thăng trầm trong hôn nhân Split up: Li hôn Close-knit family: Gia đình gắn kết Quality time: Thời gian quý báu Crucial role: Vai trò đặc biệt quan trọng

Look on the bright side: Lạc quan Responsible citizen: Công dân có trách nhiệm Strong-willed: Ý chí mạnh mẽ Reproductive health: Sức khỏe sinh sản Domestic violence: Bạo lực gia đình Verbal abuse: Lời nói làm người khác bị tổn thương extended family: đại gia đình, bao gồm cả bố mẹ, con cái, ông bà nuclear family: gia đình đình hạt nhân, bao gồm bố mẹ và con cái to raise = to bring up: nuôi nấng đứa trẻ upbringing: sự dạy dỗ mà đứa trẻ được nhận trong quá trình khôn lớn adolescence = teenage years = puberty: tuổi dậy thì to play truant = to skive off: trốn học  juvenile delinquency: delinquency: tội phạm vị thành niên neglected: bị bỏ bê to get on well with somebody:  có mối quan hệ hòa thuận với ai đó blended family: gia đình có thành phần bao gồm con riêng từ chồng hoặc vợ hoặc

cả hai

to take after somebody: có nét giống, tương đồng với ai đó overprotective: quá bảo vệ, bao bọc 63

 

strict: nghiêm khắc, khắt khe foster family: gia đình có con nuôi family gathering: buổi tụ họp của gia đình to lead seperate lives: theo đuổi cuộc sống riêng reak one’s neck: nai lưng ra làm, cố gắng hết sức bring home the bacon: kiếm tiền nuôi sống gia đình buckle down: học hành nghiêm túc until the cow comes home: khi đã về khuya, rất muộn bang for the buck: đáng đồng tiền bát gạo chip off the old block: giống bố mẹ như đúc apple doesn’t fall far from tree: con nhà tông không giống lông cũng giống cánh the apple of one’s eyes: người được cưng chiều, yêu mến men make houses, women make homes: đàn ông xây nhà, đàn bà xây tổ ấm like two peas in the same pot: giống nhau như đúc when the blood sheds, the heart aches: máu chảy ruột mềm black sheep of the family: thành viên cá biệt của gia đình hell or high water: dù có chuyện gì xảy ra đi chăng nữa, bằng mọi giá like father, like son: giống hệt nhau air one’s dirty laundry in public: vạch áo cho người xem lưng blood is thicker than water: một giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã turn gray: bạc đầu IELTS Speaking Sample - Topic: Family and Marriage PART 1: Do you have a large or small family? 

I come from a large family. Now, I just have my mom, an older brother and three younger brothers. My father passed away 17 years ago. I am the only daughter in the family.

How much time do you spend with your family? 

For now, now, I live one in another city far from my family so I only spend about two weeks each year with them.

What do you like to do together as a family? 

My family enjoys cooking together and having special meals together. together. We catch up and talk about our lives. We look back and share memories especially when we were 64

 

still young. We enjoy music as well. So, when we get together, we play several musical instruments and sing along.

Do you get along well with your family?  Sure. We are really close to each other. I am happy that I could tell them anything. They are always there to listen when I have problems.

 Are there many many different types of family in your country? 

Yes, types of family in terms of number and the members of a household. There are small families with one two children to large families with about eight or more

children. There are also households with extended families. Who are you closest to in your family? 

I am closest to my mom. I think it is because we are the only women in the family.

So, we share the same ideas about many things. Who should pay the wedding cost of a couple? Well, it is common in our country that parents pay most of the wedding expense for their children. Because most couples decide to tie the knot at a young age; therefore, they couldn’t afford a lavish wedding and they need support from parents. I think this

is a good thing for couples as they don’t have to worry much about the finance and get ready to step into the new phase of their life. PART 2 Describe the person in your family who you most admire. You should say: • What their relationship is to you • What they have done in their life • What they do now

And explain why you admire them so much. The person I admire the most in my family and probably in the whole world is my father. He is an inspiring human and generally a great dad.

He sacrificed for his family, deciding to stop studying at the age of 16 to work and provide for his family. Vietnam was at war then so I cannot imagine how brutal it was to be the

breadwinner of a big family at that age. I definitely could not do that. It doesn’t stop stop there, he is also very ambitious. He opened his own factory and self-taught engineering because he didn’t have a chance to study when he was young. After After so much

ups and downs, his factory is getting bigger and more prosperous. But he’s always a humble man and believe hard work equal success. As a father, he doesn’t offer loving words or lots of care, he’s a bit cold and very busy. But he gives out really wise life lesson and he makes sure me and my brother will always get the best opportunity to learn and to grow up to be a better person.

I love him so much. He is not just a father but also a mentor and a friend. 65

 

PART 3 In what ways have families in your country changed in recent?  The roles of husbands and wives changed in recent years. Both spouses have been more open to perform different roles such as working outside the home or pitching-in with the household duties. Another change I think is limiting the number of children in the family.

Parents nowadays think of having smaller families due to high cost of living. Should husbands and wives have different roles within the family?

Traditionally, husbands and wives had clear-cut roles in the society. Husbands used to provide the financial need of the family, while women were expected to take care of the house. Changes had occurred over time and both husbands and wives started to take

part in each of these roles. I think this change is good. It is not necessary to define each role. I think whatever role each husband or wife takes, as long as it is good for the family, it is okay.

Which are more important to you: your family or your friends?  Both are important but family is more important for me than friends. Friends may come and go but I know that my family is always there and will always be there no matter what happens in my life and no matter what decisions I take.

Is it easy for you to accept an arranged marriage?  It is impossible for me to accept an arranged marriage because I think that love from both sides is a crucial factor for lifelong happiness. Without love and sympathy, it will be

difficult for each individual to overcome the inevitable ups and downs of marriage and may easily end up splitting up. In my opinion, parents should allow their children to have more freedom in choosing their partners so that they can be responsible for their own choice and happiness.

66

 

TOPIC 16 ENVIROMENT

67

 

Environmental pollution: ô nhiễm môi trường Contamination: sự làm nhiễm độc Protection/preservation/conservation:   bảo vệ/bảo tồn Air/soil/water Air/soil/wat er pollution: ô nhiễm không khí/đất/nước Greenhouse: hiệu ứng nhà kính Government's regulation: sự điều chỉnh/luật pháp của chính phủ Shortage/ the lack of:  sự thiếu hụt Wind/solar power/energ power/energy: y: năng lượng gió/mặt trời Alternatives:   giải pháp thay thế  Solar panel: tấm năng lượng mặt trời Woodland/forest fire: cháy rừng Deforestation: phá rừng Gas exhaust/emission: khí thải Carbon dioxin: CO2 Culprit (of):  thủ phạm (của) Ecosystem: hệ thống sinh thái Soil erosion: xói mòn đất Pollutant:  chất gây ô nhiễm Polluter: người/tác nhân gây ô nhiễm Preserve biodiversi biodiversity: ty:  bảo tồn tồn sự đa dạng sinh học học Greenhouse gas emissions: khí thải nhà kính A marine ecosystem: hệ sinh thái dưới nước The ozone layer: tầng ozon Ground water: nguồn nước ngầm The soil: đất Crops: mùa màng Absorption: sự hấp thụ Acid rain: mưa axit Activated carbon: than hoạt tính Activated sludge: bùn hoạt tính Toxic/poisonous: độc hại Effective/efficient/efficacious : hiệu quả 68

 

Thorny/head-aching/head Thorny/head-ac hing/head splitting splitting::  đau đầu Serious/acute: nghiêm trọng Excessive: quá mức Pollutive: bị ô nhiễm Dispose/release/get Dispose/releas e/get rid of: thải ra Contaminate/pollute: làm ô nhiễm/làm nhiễm độc Catalyze (for): xúc tác (cho) Exploit: khai thác Cut/reduce: giảm thiểu Conserve: giữ gìn Make use of/take advantage of: tận dụng/lợi dụng Over-abuse: lạm dụng quá mức Tackle/cope with/deal with/grapple: giải quyết

ra/góp phần vào vào sự biến Cause/contribute to climate change/global warmi(v): gây ra/góp đổi khí hậu/nóng lên toàn cầu

Produce pollution/ CO2/ greenhouse (gas) emissions: tạo ra sự ô nhiễm/ khí CO2/

khí thải nhà kính

Damagedestroy the environment/a marine ecosystem/the ozone layercoral reefs: 

phá hủy môi trường/hệ sinh thái dưới nước/tầng ozon/rặng san hô Degrade ecosystems/habitats/the environment: làm suy thoái hệ sinh thái/môi trường sống Harm the environment/wildlife/marine life: gây hại cho môi trường/đời sống tự nhiên/đời sống dưới nước Threaten natural habitats/coastal ecosystems/a species with extinction: đe dọa

môi trường sống tự nhiên/hệ sinh thái ven bờ/giống loài có nguy cơ tuyệt chủng Deplete natural resources/the ozone layer: làm cạn kiệt tài nguyên thiên nhiên/tầng ozon

Pollute rivers and lakes/waterways/ the air/ the atmosphere/ the environment/ oceans: làm ô nhiễm sống và hồ/luồng nước/không khí/bầu khí quyển/môi

trường/đại dương

Contaminate groundwater/the soil/food/crops: làm ô nhiễm nguồn nước

ngầm/đất/thực phẩm/mùa màng

Log forests/rainforests/trees: chặt phá rừng/rừng nhiệt đới/cây cối Address/combat/tackle the threat/ effects/ impact of climate change:   giải

quyết/chống lại/ xử lí những đe dọa/ảnh hưởng/tác động của biến đổi khí hậu

69

 

Fight/take

action

on/reduce/stop

global

động/giảm/ngăn chặn sự nóng lên toàn cầu

warming: 

đấu

tranh/hành

Limit/curb/control air/water/atmospheric/environmental pollution: hạn chế/ngăn

chặn/kiểm soát sự ô nhiễm không khí, nước, bầu khí quyển, môi trường Offset carbon/CO2 emissions: làm giảm lượng khí thải carbon/CO2 Achieve/promote sustainable development: đạt được/thúc đẩy sự phát triển bền vững

Preserve/conserve biodiversity/natural resources: bảo tồn/ giữ gìn sự đa dạng

sinh học/tài nguyên thiên nhiên

Protect endangered species/a coastal ecosystem: bảo vệ chủng loài có nguy cơ

tuyệt chủng/hệ sinh thái ven bờ 

Prevent/stop soil erosion/overfishing/massive deforestation/damage to xói mòn đất/sự đánh bắt cá quá mức/sự phá hủy rừng ecosystems:  ngăn chặn sự xói

trên diện rộng/sự tàn phá hệ sinh thái

Raise awareness of environmental issues: nâng cao nhận thức về những vấn đề

môi trường

Save the planet/the rainforests/an endangered species: cứu lấy hành tinh/những khu rừng nhiệt đới/loài động vật có nguy cơ tuyệt chủng IELTS IEL TS Speaking Speaki ng Sample - Topic: Topic: Environment E nvironment PART 1: Do you think pollution is a big problem nowadays? 

Yes, definitely. definitely. Air and water pollution are huge issues in the modern world... The air pollution problem is especially grave due to the increasing amount of exhaust fumes, which are produced by cars, and result into a poor air quality quality..  Are there any environmental problems in your country? 

Yes, we have a serious issue with pollution levels in some of our big cities. Exhaust fumes from cars and lorries are definitely one reason for the problem but we also have a lot of heavy industry in some areas and this also results in poor air quality. What do you do to prevent our environment from pollution? 

A lot of things... First of all, I don't litter. Also, my family and me try to buy only environmentally friendly goods whenever we can... And finally, I try to save trees... I print on both sides of every sheet of paper I use and use any left over white space to scribble notes.

Have you ever participated in any environmental events? 

Yes, of course! Last year I participated in an event in my hometown, which was all

about preserving nature. We were taught about the greenhouse effect and I learned about many endangered species in the world. 70

 

PART 2 Describe an environmental environmental problem or event. You should say: say: • What is it • Where is it happening • What problems does it cause

I would like to talk about global warming. In my opinion, it is a big, if not the biggest, problem that we are facing nowadays. The main reason of global warming is the greenhouse effect. Nowadays people are

producing excessive amounts of greenhouse gases, mostly by burning fossil fuels. These gases let sunlight in, which warms the Earth, and then block that heat from leaving. That breaks the delicate natural balance and causes our planet to warm.

As global warming changes the climate on the whole planet, it affects all countries in the world and causes many serious problems. For example, global warming causes melting of glaciers, which in turn raises the sea-level. Eventually, coastal areas are flooding and agriculture is damaged unless appropriate measures are

take.. As it is a worldwide problem, I think that only joint efforts will help us to overcome this issue.

PART 3 In which way do people damage our planet? In my point of view, we damage the Earth in many ways. Just take a look at all those factories that empty toxic waste into rivers and lakes... People also destroy a great deal of natural areas in search of fossil fuels. Not to mention poaching and endangering of wild animals.

Do you think that the environmental situation will improve in the nearest future? Yes, I would like to believe so... People are getting getti ng more and more aware of the major environmental issues that about we're dealing withmore. nowadays... I hope that we will get back to nature and start caring our planet

What should the governm government ent do to protect the environment? 

In my opinion, they should make more incentives for people to learn how they can help at an individual level. If they could educate people and make more rules about

recycling or using plastic bags, then perhaps we would see a difference. I read in the news recently about how Kenya has passed a law, making it illegal to use plastic bags. In the UK they have a price for a plastic bag. But maybe this type of law, making them illegal should be implemented everywhere. The governments should unite and work together to combat c ombat these problems before it is too late.

How should we educate children to protect the environment?  Children should be taught in school about the effects of things we do that can be

harmful to the environment. They can complete projects and work together to learn 71

 

about how to recycle and the importance of it. They could also complete work

outside, looking at how to preserve wildlife, plants and flowers. It is really important that they learn about this at an early age so that they can grow up with some awareness of the impact their actions can have.

What’s the difference between the old and the young as regards environmental  protection? 

In my view, I think that older people seem to be more aware and have a larger concern aboutnowadays. protectingThey the are environment, whereas younger people aremedia very self-obsessed more interested in looking at their social apps and taking selfies, than about caring for the environment. Older people run groups that meet and pick up litter, clean beaches of plastic waste and run charity events. Some younger people may also do these things, but most are too self-involved to actually do something that can make a difference.

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TOPIC 17  WORK   W ORK 

73

 

CV (viết tắt của curriculum vitae): sơ yếu lý lịch Application form: đơn xin việc Part-time: bán thời gian Full-time: toàn thời gian Appointment (for a meeting): buổi hẹn gặp Contract: hợp đồng Notice period: thời gian thông báo nghỉ việc Holiday entitlement: chế độ ngày nghỉ được hưởng Sick pay: tiền lương ngày ốm Overtime: ngoài giờ làm việc Redundancy: sự thừa nhân viên To apply for a job: xin việc to hire: thuê To fire: sa thải To get the sack: bị sa thải Pension scheme / pension plan: chế độ lương hưu / kế hoạch lương hưu Health insurance: bảo hiểm y tế  Working conditions: điều kiện làm việc Qualifications:  bằng cấp Offer of employment: lời mời làm việc To accept an offer: nhận lời mời làm việc Maternity leave: nghỉ thai sản Promotion: thăng chức Salary increase: tăng lương Training scheme: chế độ tập huấn Travel expenses: chi phí đi lại Security: an ninh Reception: lễ tân Health and safety: sức khỏe và sự an toàn

Director: giám đốc Owner: chủ doanh nghiệp 74

 

Manager: người quản lý Boss: sếp Colleague: đồng nghiệp Trainee: nhân viên tập sự  Timekeeping: theo dõi thời gian làm việc Job description description:: mô tả công việc Department: phòng ban Salary advance: tạm ứng lương Subsidize money: tiền trợ cấp Liabilities: Công nợ  Resignation:  đơn nghỉ việc to be called for an interview: Được gọi tới phỏng vấn a dead-end job: Một công việc không có cơ hội thăng tiến a heavy workload: Khối lượng công việc lớn a high-powered job: Một công việc quan trọng manual work: Công việc tay chân to meet a deadline: Hoàn thành công việc đúng hạn a nine-to-five job: Một công việc làm 8 tiếng/ngày one of the perks of the job: Những giá trị khác từ công việc to run your own business: Có công việc kinh doanh riêng to be stuck behind a desk: Mắc kẹt trong công việc bàn giấy buồn chán to bỏ be/get stuck in a rut: Mắc kẹt trong một công việc nhàm chán nhưng lại rất khó to take early retirement: Nghỉ hưu non to be well paid: Được trả lương hậu hĩnh

Trảii qua cảm giác trọn vẹn lớn hơn Experience greater fulfilment: Trả Remain on a particular career path for a long period of time: Làm một công việc

trong một thời gian dài

Greater career fulfilment: Cảm giác trọn vẹn với công việc lớn hơn An overwhelming decision: Một quyết định nặng nề Explore a range of different career paths: Khám phá nhiều ngành nghề khác nhau Guarantee job satisfaction: Đảm bảo sự thỏa mãn trong công việc 75

 

IELTS IEL TS Speaking Spe aking Sample S ample - Topic: Topic: Work  PART 1: Do you work or study? 

Well, for the past couple of years, I’ve been working for the Energy Development Corporation (EDC); it is a company that focuses on the development of renewable energy.

What do you like about your job? 

The best thing about my job is that I can travel and discover places in which I otherwise would not be able to see. Besides, I love my jobmy because of its flexibility. To be more specific, this job offers me alternatives to the typical nine-to-five work schedule, enabling me to find a better balance between work and life.

What do you dislike about your job? 

Conducting projects in far-flung areas means being away from my family for several days. Thus, I don’t spend a lot of time with my wife and kids. I miss them so much. What would be your ideal job? 

My ideal job is be something that always brings something new to life, not a repetitive monotonous work. I am good at my responsibilities, but I also expect some pleasant moments at my workplace.

PART 2

Describe the job you would most like to have. You should say: • what this job would be • where you would work

• which qualifications you would need and explain why you would like to have this job most I must admit that I have realized one of my passions a little bit too late in life. Seems like I have always wanted to become a chef in a nice high-end restaurant. Eating

food is great, isn’t it? But the process of cooking food and the skill it requires to have is what I find even more intriguing and fascinating. I could probably enjoy working and being trained in fine dining restaurants or some cruise ships that offer a variety of international dishes. I would like to get to know different cultures all over the world through food. I think it is one of the aspects that distinguishes countries.

To be able to be a chef, I need to have education in culinary arts. I also need to undergo a training in various restaurants to be able to apply the knowledge and

information I obtained at school. A chef is a highly creative person, since one of his/her responsibilities is to arrange food with a final touch and think of its overall appealing look on the plate. 76

 

The kitchen is the only place I have ever felt like I really belong to. I love its heat and

the pressure, apparently. PART 3 Which jobs are the most respected in your country? 

In my opinion, these are highly-skilled professional positions positions such as in the fields of law, medicine, and engineering. Usually, parents encourage their children to undertake such careers, because working in these domains, one always has a nice salary and bright perspectives in life. I specifically respect doctors, since they are not only hard-working professionals but also people who dedicate their lives to helping others.

Some people say it’s better to work for yourself than be employed by a company. What’s your view? 

On the topic of self-employment, I agree with a Chinese billionaire Jack Ma. For young people, it is wiser to first seek a secue position at a smaller company, because at big ones recent graduates frequently get lost in the large system and routine of endless repetitive tasks, ending up unnoticed. At a family-owned enterprise, on the contrary, it is easier to seize opportunities and take initiatives. As one grows, it is important to focus reached, on learning and developing hardthe skills. Whenchoice there is subjective border of learning one might reconsider career in afavour of a more responsible place at a bigger corporation or even the difficult path of entrepreneurship..

What changes in employment have there been in recent years in your country? 

There has been a rejuvenation of the “entrepreneurial “entrepreneurial spirit” in our country: more and more people become involved in starting their own businesses. The “start-up” community is now more alive than ever ever,, even college students launch their start-up businesses while studying. Even though there is a high failure rate of start-ups, people nevertheless are starting to take the risk ri sk and put their ideas into i nto creation.

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TOPIC 18  ADVER  AD VERTISING TISING 78

 

Advertising agency: Công ty quảng cáo Advertising budget: Ngân sách giành cho quảng cáo Brand awareness: Sự nhận thức về thương hiệu Brand loyalty: Sự trung thành với thương hiệu Buy and sell: Mua và bán Call to action: Kêu gọi hành động To cold call: Tiếp thị Commercial break: mẩu quảng cáo ngắn xen giữa các chương trình TV Commercial channel: Kênh truyền hình kiếm tiền bằng việc đăng QC To go viral: Lan truyền trên Internet hoặc các phương tiện truyền thông To launch a product: Giới thiệu sản phẩm mới Mass media: Các phương tiện truyền thông lớn như TV, TV, báo, tạp chí  Niche product: Sản phẩm hướng tới nhóm đối tượng khách hàng đặc biệt To place an advert: Đăng quảng cáo Press release: Thông cáo báo chí  Prime time: Giờ cao điểm (trong phát thanh, truyền hình) Product placement: Quảng cáo một sản phẩm bằng cách đưa sản phẩm đó vào

một bộ phim hoặc chương trình truyền hình Trang ang dùng cho quảng cáo sản phẩm hoặc dịch vụ Sales page: Tr To show adverts: Chiếu quảng cáo trên TV Spam email: Email là tin quảng cáo, email không mong muốn Target audience a udience: Khách hàng mục tiêu Word of mouth: Sự giới thiệu từ người dùng này tới người dùng khác ELTS Speaking Sample - Topic: Advertisement PART 1:  Are there many many advertisements in your country? 

There are more than anyone could ever ask for. Seriously, it’s hard to go anywhere without seeing or hearing some kind of product commercial. It doesn’t help that advertisers in my country aren aren’t ’t very good when it comes to making funny or clever cl ever content.

What are the various places where we see advertisements? 

I think we are exposed to them mostly through media platforms such as TV, newspapers or the web. However, ads also take on some physical forms. 79

 

Sometimes it could be a giant billboard, sometimes it could be your neighbour who gets commission for promoting a product.

Why do you think there are so many advertisements now?  I think there could be various reasons advertisements are so commonplace these

days. Personally, Personally, though, I guess when w hen businesses are competing so hard with each other, bringing the image of their product to the customers is as important as the product itself.

What kind of advertisements do you like the most? 

Like I have mentioned, I don’t like ads. Though if I must pick one kind, then I would choose TV commercials, for the simple reason that I don’t watch TV, so they don’t bother me. The types of commercials that win me over must be creative and clever

in some way. For example, I love shampoo ads for Old Spice because they feature an angry muscular man screaming at the audience about the product’s product’s superiority. The tongue-in-cheek humor and over-the-top effects never fail to catch my attention.

Do advertisements influence your choice about what to buy? 

They do and I don’t like that fact. I’d prefer to be informed about my purchase, do research, price-match price-match and all that stuff. Still, the number of products and brands are overwhelming, so exposure through ads inevitably impacts my buying habits. PART 2 Describe an advertisement you have seen. You should say: • What is the advertisement adver tisement • When did you see it • Why did you love it I guess I could begin by highlighting the fact about what type of advertisement it is.

Actually, nowadays, there are so many advertisements on mass media like TV, internett or radio that people just take them for granted interne grante d in some ways. However, there are some commercials that are truly interesting, creative and meaningful. One such ads that create a strong impression on me is the one regarding the great contribution of mothers to their children and it is broadcasted on the local channel on Mother’s Day.

Now going on to my next point which is what its content is. The point I like to make here is that unlike other commercials that are utilized to promote products and services, this one is not about any products but dedicated to appreciating the huge sacrifice of mothers. Honestly, I am not pretty sure about when I first saw it, but as far as I remember, I came to this ad about two years ago and I was totally blown away by its creative way of telling the story. And last but not least, I also want to talk about theone reason why is I love this piece of ads. I suppose it’ssoreally combination of reasons, of which its meaningful story that provokes manya emotions about

our mom. So, that’s one thing, the other would be its unique way of catching the audience’s entire attention by touching life stories.

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I hope that in the future, the advertisement would be invested more in terms of contents, not just about exaggerating products. PART 3 What are the different kinds of advertising? 

I think that there are several ways of promoting a product, of which the most dominant type is broadcast advertising, where the products are publicized through TV commercials, radio or the Internet. Another common type of advertising is printadvertising, which relies on distributed and flyers or advertisement columns in newspapers or magazines to boostposters a product’s popularity. There is also outdoor advertising – advertising at outdoor events like concerts or trade shows. Unfortunately,, surrogate advertising exists as well, which markets banned products Unfortunately like alcohol or tobacco in the disguise of another product.

What kind of advertising is most common in your country? 

I’m not too sure about this, but I think it’s fair to say broadcast advertising and print advertising are the two most popular means of promoting products in my country.

Commercials are aired at a high frequency, especially in the evening, when the number of viewers is considerably higher compared to that in the morning. It’s also common to see flyers being given away and banners hung on almost every corner of the street.

What are the good and bad points of advertisements?  I suppose advertisements play an important role in introducing consumers to a

wider variety of goods. With commercials, buyers are exposed to more options, including models, functions and prices before choosing the one product that is to their taste. On the other hand, a well-produced advertisement might not ensure a product of the same quality. It’s not unusual to witness cases where people complain about the huge difference between what was advertised and what the

product is really like. Besides, commercials can trigger the desire to purchase new goods, money. regardless of their impracticability, resulting in the waste of both time and  Are any kinds of advertising in your your country considered considered illegal? 

I’m not too knowledgeable about the issue, but I guess anything that fails to obey the terms of advertisement laws is considered illegal. One of the most commonly seen

outdoor advertisements are billboards, which are basically huge posters that are erected on main streets or on top of buildings. This is a completely legal way of advertising if the owners are granted a valid permit and take the boards down

according to the contract. However, many owners violate the law by missing the deadline to remove them or erect them without permission.

What are the ways in which advertisements catch the attention of viewers? 

Well, I guess it depends on the types of advertisement. With TV commercials, it’s 81

 

essential to have a catchy theme tune or a slogan used to identify the product, so that viewers can easily recognize it. McDonald’s, for example, use ‘I’m Lovin’ It’. It also helps to have a celebrity who features in the commercial or endorses the

product, this would make the product appealing to a larger number of viewers. Print advertisements, however, usually draw people’s attention with their vibrant colors and unique graphic designs. The better the posters are, the more interest the product might attract.

Do you trust advertisements? (Why?/Why not?)

Quite frankly, I rarely place my trust in advertisements. They seem untruthful to me since almost everything is exaggerated and most of the time, the products themselves don’t live up to consumers’ expectations. They claim to be the best but very often there is some kind of faults. However, I do refer to advertisements when I’m looking for a product or a service, in order to broaden my range of choices. Still, only after a long time studying the product and reading reviews will I make up my mind to purchase one.

How do you feel about false advertising? 

Like most people, I feel outraged by misleading advertisements. Untruthful commercials can lead to many problems, and some can be disastrous. Cosmetics advertisements, for example, if they do not cover all necessary aspects like origin, components and potential allergic reactions on some types of skins, may cause complexion diseases. The same goes for medicinal products. False advertising betrays the trust of consumers and diminishes the reputation of the company c ompany itself.

By creating widespread distrust, the advertising industry as a whole is damaged by false advertising.

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TOPIC 19 TOWN & CITY 

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Boarded up shops: Cửa hàng cũ không còn kinh doanh Chain stores: Chuỗi cửa hàng nổi tiếng To close down: Ngừng kinh doanh Fashionable boutiques: Cửa hàng thời trang To get around: Đi xung quanh thành phố High-rise flats: Căn hộ cao tầng Inner-city: Khu phố cổ trong nội thành In the suburbs: Ở vùng ngoại ô Lively bars/restaurants: Quán bar hoặc nhà hàng sôi động Local facilities: Cơ sở hạ tầng địa phương Multi-story car parks: Bãi đỗ xe nhiều tầng Office block: Tòa nhà văn phòng Out of town shopping centre/retail park: Trung tâm mua sắm/ khu buôn bán lẻ

ngoài thành phố

Pavement café: Cà phê vỉa hè Places of interest: Địa điểm thu hút người tham quan Poor housing: Ngôi nhà cũ nát Public spaces: Khu vực công cộng Public transport system: Hệ thống phương tiện giao thông công cộng Residential area: Khu dân cư  Run down: Xuống cấp Shopping centre: Trung tâm mua sắm Shopping malls: Trung tâm mua sắm trong nhà Sprawling city: Thành phố đang phát triển Tourist attraction: Những nơi thu hút du lịch Traffic congestion: Ùn tắc giao thông Upmarket shops: Cửa hàng hạng sang IELTS IEL TS Speaking Spe aking Sample S ample - Topic: Topic: Town Town and a nd City PART 1: What is it like where you live?  I live in a residential area of a busy city in the south of Vietnam. We have all the

facilities you need, good public transport, a giant shopping centre, several cinemas and theatres everywhere. 84

 

Do you like living in the city?  Yes I do. I like going out with my friends and there are lots of lively bars and

restaurants within walking distance of my apartment … I’m a bit of a culture vulture as well so it’s great to have access to art exhibitions and that kind of thing. PART 2 Describe a beautiful city or town you have been to. You should say: • Where it is • When you visited it • What you did there

• And explain why you like it I’d like to talk about Singapore, one of several cities I have visited and really enjoyed. I vacationed in this wonderful city last summer with my sister, Min, and we stayed there for 5 days. Singapore is a state-city located to the southeast of Vietnam and it took us only 2 hours to fly there from Hanoi. When I arrived in Singapore, I was quite impressed by the way the city looked. The streets were incredibly clean, I could walk around the city all day and come back home without any dirt on my shoes. During my stay in

Singapore, I did some shopping and visited some famous landmarks like the Merlion statue, Singapore zoo and the botanical gardens. For me, Singapore is well worth visiting for many reasons. Firstly, the public transport system in Singapore is extremely reliable. People don’t have to spend hours waiting for buses or trains, and the staff are very friendly. Another thing that I miss about Singapore is its multi-cultural nature. During the 5 days that I spent in Singapore, I bumped into people from many different countries. English is the first language of this country so it was great to get the chance to practice my English-speaking skills with the local people and also other tourists. Five days in Singapore passed by so fast that I wish I could’ve stayed a bit longer lo nger..

PART 3 Do you think that landmarks will make a city more famous, why? 

Of course it is. Landmarks such as picturesque landscapes or places of historical significance often draw huge numbers of tourists, making a city well-known to the rest of the world. For example, people often visit Canada for its breathtaking views in rural areas or mountainous regions, as well as other coastal cities which offer splendid sandy beaches. Without such attractions, it would be hard to convince foreigners to pay a visit to my country.

What interesting things can we do in big cities? 

We can have lots of funsee in big If you like shopping, youWe could gotoshopping for beautiful clothes and thecities. designs of famous brands. have admit that major museums are usually located in big cities. In these places, we can appreciate 85

 

our culture and history. There’re also amusement parks and leisure centers for people both young and old.

What’ss the difference between living in the city and countryside?  What’

I think that many differences could be counted. Firstly, the infrastructure in city is significantly more modem, comprehensive and convenient for traveling than that of the countryside. Additionally, rural citizens’ lifestyle is less competitive and hectic than urban counterparts. A reasonable explanation for this is that development of the economy and technology in vibrant cities is accelerating more than ever before

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TOPIC 20 SPORT

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extreme sports = dangerous sports: thể thao mạo hiểm highly dangerous and life-threatening: nguy hiểm và đe dọa đến tính mạng involve a high level of risk: liên quan đến mức độ rủi ro cao bungee jumping/ freediving/ ice climbing/ skydiving/ mountain biking: nhảy

bungee / nhảy tự do / leo núi băng/ nhảy dù / đi xe đạp leo núi / … team sports >< individual sports: thể thao đồng đội >< thể thao cá nhân lead a sedentary lifestyle: có một lối sống ít vận động take regular exercise: tập thể dục thường xuyên

spend more time engaging in physical activities: dành nhiều thời gian hơn để tham

gia vào các hoạt động thể chất keep fit and stay healthy: giữ dáng vàcó sức khỏe tốt reduce stress and depression: giảm căng thẳng và trầm cảm burn calories and build muscle: đốt calo và xây dựng cơ bắp maintain a healthy weight: duy trì một cân nặng tốt

have the opportunity to develop independence:  có cơ hội phát triển sự độc lập make every possible effort to achieve their goals: cố gắng hết sức để đạt được mục

tiêu của họ

sacrifice themselves for the sake of their team: hy sinh bản thân vì lợi ích của cả đội learn valuable life lessons: học những bài học cuộc sống quý báu learn how to work effectively in a team environment:  tìm hiểu cách làm việc hiệu

quả trong môi trường đội nhóm

have the chance to challenge themselves: có cơ hội để thử thách bản thân push themselves to their limits: đẩy bản thân đến giới hạn step out of their comfort zone: bước ra khỏi vùng thoải mái của họ pose a serious threat to …: đặt ra một mối đe dọa nghiêm trọng cho … suffer from serious injuries or even death: bị thương nặng hoặc thậm chí tử vong require special training and specialized gear/ equipment: yêu cầu đào tạo đặc biệt

và dụng cụ/ thiết bị chuyên dụng undergo appropriate training: trải qua quá trình đào tạo phù hợp IELTS IEL TS Speaking Speak ing Sample - Topic: Topic: Sport Spo rt PART 1: What sports or physical activities do you regularly do? 

Unfortunately, I don't have time to do any sports or physical activities because of my Unfortunately, work commitments. I'd like to find more time for regular exercise. 88

 

Which sport or game would you like to be good at?  I'd like to be good at tennis. It must be great to be able to hit the ball as hard as you

can and watch it land exactly where you wanted it to.

Do you think children should be encouraged to do more sport? 

Yes, I think that sport is really important for children. Sports and games teach children to play together and try their best.

PART 2 Describe a sport that you have learned. You should say: • what sport it is • when you learned it • what you learned to do

and explain how you feel about this sport Basketball is the sport which I have been interested in for a long time. Therefore, I have taken up this sport recently.

Basketball is played by two teams of five members on a rectangular court, where the players of each team try to shoot the ball through the rival’s hoop. As far as I know, basketball is one of the most popular sports spor ts in the world. This is because of basket-

ball’s great benefits to our health, such as muscular development, height growth. Of course, it’s also fast-moving and exciting. Considering its huge advantages, I decided to take up this sport. Actually, I have been learning it for three months at a sport center. Here, I am taking the beginner course which provides me with basic skills to play basketball such as dribbling,  jumping and shooting. Also, I have many opportunities oppor tunities to practise these skills with experienced basketball players, which helps to improve my game a lot. As a final point, I would emphasize that in the near future, I hope that I will be able to play basketball skillfully to improve my physical condition and really enjoy the sport spor t to the full.

PART 3

What sports are popular in your country? 

Well, football tops the list of famous sports without a doubt. But what’s amazing is, I suppose something called ‘dancesport’ comes close behind. In the early mornings, dancesport enthusiasts gather in parks or public places to practice. Dancesport has been spreading rapidly because it allows danc-

ers to improve physical fitness and mental well-being and it is suitable for people of all ages, shapes, and sizes.

What are the benefits of playing a sport?  I believe engaging in sporting activities helps the players improve their physi-

cal and spiritual health. For example, dancing helps older people improve 89

 

their physical health and memory. The dancers have to count their steps and

remember the moves. In addition to that, playing sports brings us a chance of enhancing our relationships with others when playing together.

How can sports bring people from different countries closer together?  Sports can play a role in bringing communities together in countless ways.

For example, sports break barriers and boundaries between cultures. No matter who you are, what the colour of your skin is, as long as we enjoy the same sport, we can fulfillment, hopes, orus even disappointment that sport brings us. understand Second, team sports encourage to be willing to take responsibility and value diversity. diversity. As a result, it can help establish more cohe sive, tolerant and inclusive communities.

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TOPIC 20 FOOD & DIET

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exotic foods: ẩm thực vùng miền, đặc sản staple food: thực phẩm thường ngày to simmer: sôi lăn tăn, vừa tới nutritional benefits: lợi ích dinh dưỡng balanced portion: tỉ lệ, thành phần cân đối canned food: thực phẩm đóng hộp easy to store: dễ bảo quản cereals: ngũ cốc ăn sáng seasonings: gia vị fats: chất béo nutrient: chất dinh dưỡng to get obese: trở nên béo phì health awareness: nhận thức về sức khỏe addicting effect: hiệu ứng gây nghiện to contain additives: có chứa phụ gia, chất bảo quản to resist temptation: chống lại cám dỗ health consciousness: ý thức giữ gìn sức khỏe to gain weight: tăng cân delicacy: tinh tế, hấp dẫn organic food: thực phẩm hữu cơ vegetarian food: đồ ăn chay processed food: thực phẩm công nghiệp chế biến  junk food: đồ ăn vặt to digest: tiêu hóa to be full up: no căng bụng to be starving hungry: đói cồn cào to bolt something down: ăn rất nhanh to be dying of hunger: chết đói đến nơi to eat a balanced diet: có chế độ ăn cân đối to eat like a horse: ăn rất nhiều to follow a recipe: tuân theo công thức, hướng dẫn a fussy eater: người ăn uống cầu kỳ 92

 

to grab a bite to eat: ăn vột vàng to have a sweet tooth: hảo ngọt, thích ăn đồ ngọt home-cooked food: đồ ăn tự nấu ở nhà to make your mouth water: khiến bạn cảm thấy đói bụng, thèm ăn to play with your food: không muốn ăn to spoil your appetite: trở nên biếng ăn to wine and dine: thiết đãi ai đó với đồ ăn và rượu to work up an appetite: làm gì khiến bạn trở nên đói bụng, thèm ăn IELTS Speaking Sample - Topic: Food and Diet PART 1: What kinds of food do you particularly like?  I’d have to say Asian cuisine is my favorite. I am a huge fan of o f the bold flavors and spices used in Korean and Vietnamese dishes. Something I often daydream about

eating is X, which is a tip-smacking noodle soup dish served with a crab broth. It’s every bit as delicious as it sounds.

Is there any food you don’t like? 

It’s true that there are a few things that kind of put me off. For example, I cannot stand Y, Y, which is essentially a shrimp paste. A lot of people like it, though, but I think it smells awful. Definitely not my cup of tea. What kinds of food are most popular in your country? 

I think street food is a staple around here. You can find bustling food stalls all around our nation, and they are my go-tos for a cheap and cheerful meal. I mean gourmet restaurants restaurants are nice and all, but street food is what our country is all about.

Do you like cooking? (Why?/ Why not?) I’d like to think that cooking is my forte. I developed a passion for culinary arts

when I first watched the cooking show Masterchef. Since then, I have learnt a lot of recipes and I can easily whip up a good dinner dinner..

PART 2 Describe your favourite food. You should say: • What the food is • How it is made

• and explain why it is your favourite food.

I’m going to talk about tuna salad, which is one of my favourite foods. Actually, I love all kinds of salad, but if I had to choose one to talk about, I would choose this one. 93

 

There are various recipes for tuna salad. For example, some people who love avocado would put it into their salad, while some would eat their salad with chickpeas. I like it my way, so I’m going to tell you how I make my salad. First, we need some lettuce, red tomatoes, red onions and cucumbers. Then, we need to cut them into tiny pieces and put them in a bowl. Then, pour in some olive oil and some vinegar, and add some seasoning. After that, mix them together and let the mixture stand for about 15 minutes while we prepare the tuna. For the tuna, I always have some canned tuna in my fridge. What I do is that I add the fish to the mixing bowl I prepared earlier. Then, I mix them altogether altogether.. I usually add 3 tablespoons of mayonnaise and 2 tablespoons of chopped almonds because they provide me with more protein.

It’s very simple to prepare a classic tuna salad, but it tastes so good. And it’s very healthy because of the veggies you add to your salad. I often have it for breakfast

because I don’t have much time to prepare prepare a big meal in the morning. Sometimes, I eat it as a sandwich for lunch.

PART 3  Are there many many vegetarians vegetarians in your country? 

Yes, they are. The number of people following vegetarianism has been increasing recently. It is thought that old people or those following a religious, like Buddhism, will be vegetarians; however, however, youngsters also join to vegetarian community because of many reasons.

Why do you think some people choose to be vegetarians? 

People become vegetarians for many reasons, including health, religious convictions, concerns about animal welfare or the use of antibiotics and hormones in livestock, or a desire to eat in a way that avoids excessive use of environmental resources. Some people follow a largely vegetarian diet because they can’t afford to

eat meat. Vegetarianism has become more appealing and accessible, thanks to the year-round availability of fresh produce, vegetarian dining options, and the growing culinary influence of cultures withmore largely plant-based diets. Is the food that people eat today in your country different to the food that people used to eat in the past? (if yes, in what ways has it changed?)

Personally, eating style of most people has changed recently. Significantly, food hygiene is mentioned everyday in news. Therefore, people are very cautious when they choose ingredients in reliable market/supermarket and cook properly. Those fat-free or low-fat food and veggies are more preferred in daily meal compared to in

the past, choosing food were mostly based on interests.

How do you think the way we eat will change in the future? 

Yes, I do. I think people nowadays pay more attention to healthy food because the awareness of health has been raised among young and old people. Therefore, it will be a remarkable innovation in food consumption c onsumption in the future. 94

 

TOPIC 21 BOOKS & FILMS

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an action movie: Phim hành động to be engrossed in: Mải mê, chìm đắm trong… bedtime reading: Sách đọc vào giờ đi ngủ to be a big reader: Người đọc nhiều sách to be based on: Được dựa trên… a box office hit: Một bộ phim thu về nhiều lợi nhuận to be heavy-going: Đọc thấy khó hiểu a blockbuster blockbuster:: Phim bom tấn to catch the latest movie: Xem bộ phim mới ra mắt the main character: Nhân vật chính a classic: Tác phẩm kinh điển to come highly recommended: Được ai đó khen ngợi couldn’t put it down: Không thể bỏ sách xuống (do quá hấp dẫn) to flick through: xem qua cuốn sách to get a good/bad review: Nhận được lời phê bình tốt/ xấu to go on general release: (khi một bộ phim) được ra mắt khán giả hardback: Sách bìa cứng a historical novel: Tiểu thuyết lịch sử  a low budget film: Một bộ phim có kinh phí làm phim ít on the big screen: Chiếu tại rạp a page turner: Một cuốn sách bạn muốn đọc tiếp paperback: Sách bìa mềm plot: Kịch bản phim/ sách to read something from cover to covert: Đọc sách từ đầu đến cuối sci-fi: Khoa học viễn tưởng the setting: Bối cảnh soundtrack: Nhạc nền chop him special effects: Hiệu ứng đặc biệt to take out (a book from the library): Mượn một cuốn sách từ thư viện to tell the story of: Kể lại câu chuyện về… IELTS Speaking Sample - Topic: Books and Films 96

 

PART 1: Do you enjoy reading? 

Yes, absolutely! absolutely! A great way to relax to learn something new is to peruse a book... I'm so addicted to reading that sometimes I can't even fall asleep without an hour of bedtime reading.

Do you like watching movies? 

No, not really... If I have some free time, I'd rather read an interesting book... Books leave us a lot of space for imagination, while in movies everything is spelled out for us... That's why I find films boring. What is the last book you read? And did you like it?  The last book I've read is "Theatre" written by William Somerset Maugham ... and I

absolutely enjoyed it! Maugham is my favourite writer of all time and I've read his novel from cover to cover in 2 days... I was truly captivated by the characters and the unravelling of the plot.

PART 2

Describe a book or a film that had a strong impact on you. You should say: • What was it • When you read or saw it • How it influenced you • And say if you liked it and why.

As a frequent moviegoer, moviegoer, I watch a multitude of films. One of the movies I’m much into is “One day”, an American romantic drama movie. It is directed by Lone Scherfig based on a novel of the same name. I watched this movie at least 3 times yet still love to watch over again. The movie opens with a short scene of the day after their graduation on 14 July 1988 of two main characters, Dexter Mayhew (Jim Surgess) and Emma Morley (Anne Hathaway). They spent the night together but came up with an agreement to be just friends, and spent the following day together, the 15th, St. Swithin’s day. However, they couldn’t keep the promise. They went through different circumstances, troubles got married and lived apart from each other until 2004, Emma and Dexter finally realized they were a perfect match and got engaged and married. Unfortunately, despite many efforts, they have not yet had kids. On 15th July 2006, Emma had a car accident when she was crossing the street. Dexter became inconsolable and was particularly desolated each year on that day. The movie movie ends up with the scene

back to 1988 when they first met and promised to always be best friends.

This movie usually gets me burst into tears no matter how many times I’ve watched it. Not only was the story itself so miserable but also the actor and actress outperformed the ordinary. This movie also aimed to encourage people to appreciate the happiness and true love from the ones who have always been there for them.

PART 3 Do you think (watching) films have (has) educational benefits? 

Absolutely,, I think. Take romantic films as an example, they can help educate people about the Absolutely 97

 

value of love, honesty, and faithfulness. They can make the audience sympathize with other people and respect what they have. Indead, films can teach people good virtues to become better citizens through stories. Besides, in most high school and college courses, movies, whether documentary or narrative, are a creative approach in teaching, helping students have a brief idea about the history, social issues, or scientific experiments. History, for example, indeed becomes more approachable and interesting in movies.

Why do you think documentary films are not so popular? 

Personally,, I think the foremost reason which makes documentary films are not as popular as Personally entertainment thatescape documentaries requirerealities the audience to think critically about current issues, films b helpisthem from the harsh of everyday life. For example, the series of “Prison life – love in prison”, which describes the prison sex, is an educational and emotional documentary that brings a different view of prisoners. Another reason is this kind of movie aims to provide education and lack entertaining features compared to other kinds of

movies, therefore, it’s hard to reach a wide range of audience. How are movies and real life different? 

Life in movies is so much different than real life. In real life, there is no script and you will write your own story day by day day.. Life is full of ups and downs, twists and turns. However However,, they both inspire each other since real life is a great material for making movies.

Do men and women like to watch the same kinds of films? 

It depends, I guess. It is thought that men like action movies with shocking and dangerous scenes like Fast and Furious or sci-fi movies with imaginative, futuristic plots like Avatar while most women prefer romantic movies or comedies with meaningful messages. It seems

logical; however, however, there are still many converse cases. Therefore, I think there is no boundaries for preferences between men and women when it comes to films. Do you like any particular film star? Why? 

I like Emma Watson, a British actress, model and activist. She is famous for her first professional acting role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series. What I love about her is that not only is she an outstanding actress with admirable personalities but also she is the

spiritual inspiration as the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador. My favorite quote is “I don’t want the fear of failure to stop me from doing what I really care about”, encouraging me to chase my dream despite many troubles ahead.

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