Tổng hợp 20 bài mẫu band 7.0-8.0 của 20 đề thi IELTS Speaking kinh điển do thầy Tú Phạm và các đồng nghiệp tại IPP biên soạn, giúp sĩ tử nắm được những tiêu chí đạt điểm cao trong kỳ thi. Một lưu ý nhỏ là giám khảo có khả năng nhận biết thí sinh học thuộc lòng, do đó bạn không nên copy toàn bộ câu trả lời mà hãy học ý, từ vựng rồi tự triển khai lại bài nói cho từng đề theo ý của mình nhé!
TEST 1:
Describe how you like to communicate with your friends
You should say:
- how you prefer to communicate with your friends
- how often you use this method of communication
- what disadvantages there are to communicate in this way
and explain why you prefer this method of commucation.
Answer:
Thanks to the rapid development of modern technology, there are various means of communication nowadays. Besides the traditional methods of communication which include face-to-face communication and written letters, we now have computers, smartphones and even watches that we can use to stay in touch with people. My friends and I generally depend on our phones to stay in contact. We alwyas have them with us so it’s most convenient. I message or call friends every day. I use my phone so much that I actually can’t imagine how I would cope without it for a day!
While phones are a great mean of communication, they’re also not without their drawbacks. The most obvious downside is that people waste a lot of time on their phones, constantly meassaging and posting on social media. As a result, people can get addicted to phones and forget what’s happening around them. Also, while I think phones are great as they enable people to stay in touch with those far away, I also think it’s important for people to have real face-to-face meetings. I think teenagers especially are spending so much time socialising through screens that they’re forgetting how to do it in person.
But even though there are some negatives about using phones, I don’t think anyone can deny that they are a massively helpful tool. I love that I can always talk with my friends, even if they’re far away. We also get lots of group projects in school and I can use my phone to create an iMessage group that has everyone in it and we can discuss and plan our projects together, which is really helpful.
Notable vocabulary:
– cope (verb) without it: đối phó, đương đầu (với cuộc sống) mà không có thứ gì đó
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TEST 2:
Describe an academic success that you achieved.
You should say:
- what you did to achieve this success
- how difficult it was to do it
- how you felt when you were successful
and explain how this success has helped you in your life.
Answer:
Undoubtedly, the academic success I am most proud of is that I managed to graduate from Ho Chi Minh University of Pedagogy with a Distinction. I graduated in July or August of 2015 and it was such a wonderful moment of achievement. I had really put my head down over the course of my studies and it was great to feel that my hard work had paid off.
During my four years in university, I needed to study attentively in all classes, and I often had five or six lectures a day. In addition to that, I devoted a great deal of time to reading academic textbooks and reference materials related to my major. I spent countless hours in the library with my head stuck in a book, taking notes and trying to learn as much as I could. And all these things and the hard work I put in helped me achieve this success. I couldn’t have been happier to hear my name announced on the graduation day mixed together with the cheering voices of my family and friends. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face as I waked up to get my certificate.
The degree that I received on that day is the golden key that has helped me unlocked career opportunities. Even though it was tough going at times, it was definitely worth it.
Notable vocabulary:
– put my head down over something: nỗ lực để hoàn thành
– pay off (phrasal verb): đạt được kết quả xứng đáng
– attentively: chăm chú
– devote (verb): dành, cống hiến nguồn lực vì điều gì đó
– with my head stuck in a book: cắm đầu vào sách = học rất nhiều
– couldn’t keep the smile of my face: không thể giấu nổi nụ cười = rất hạnh phúc
– tough going: khó khăn
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TEST 3:
Describe a country that you would like to go to.
You should say
- where you would like to go
- what you would like to do there
- how long you would like to spend there
and explain why you would particularly like to go to this country.
Answer:
There are lots of countries I’d love to visit but the one on top of my list is definitely Korea. There are various activities that I could do while I’m in Korea, such as eating Korean specialties like kimchi and bibimbap and going sight seeing around Seoul. To be honest, I don’t have any specific plan for the trip yet but I think I’d like to stay for one week! It might sound like a long time but people said that time flies when we’re travelling and I can’t agree more with that statement. I also hate feeling like I have to rush around on holidays as I like to take my time.
There are two main reasons why I chose Korea to be my next holiday destination. Firstly, I happen to have a very close Korean friend. She was studying with me in Vietnam for over a year and sadly, she will be going back to Korea this February. We’ve made a promise that we’ll keep in touch with each other so I’d love to make it over and visit her! It will also be great to have my own personal tour guide while I’m there.
Secondly, since I was a high school girl, I’ve alwasy had this strong passion for the Korean entertainment industry – the singers, the TV dramas, and the movies! Everything is so fascinating to me and I would love to discover them all if I ever had a chance to visit Korea.
Notable vocabulary:
– speciality (noun): đặc sản
– rush around (phrasal verb): di chuyển vội vã
– keep in touch: giữ liên lạc
– passion (noun): niềm đam mê mãnh liệt
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TEST 4:
Describe a city you would like to live in.
You should say:
- where this city is
- what the city is famous for
- what part of the city you would like to live in
and explain why you would like to live there.
Answer:
You’ve asked me to describe a city that I would like to live in. And to that aim, I’ve decided to talk about Dalat, a small city located in the highlands of Vietnam.
Dalat is quite far from Ho Chi Minh City, about 6 to 7 hours of travelling by car through fuit plantations and windy mountain roads. And because of its location in the high mountains, the city’s temperature can drop down to 15 degrees Celsius, which is much cooler than where I am from. Besides the atmosphere, its scenery, the spectacular waterfalls for example, also contribute to make Dalat one of the most famous tourist attractions in Vietnam.
Some people told me that I’m out of my mind, but it’s my life goal to own a cosy house in Dalat and move there permanently when I’m older. The dream house that I have in mind will be located on an upper hill far from the centre so I can see the beauty of the whole city. As I’ve mentioned above, the weather, the scenery and also the culinary specialties are the reasons why I want to live in Dalat. Moreover, unlike Saigonese people like myself, Dalat and its people have a very calm and relaxed way of enjoying life. And that’s basically what we all need when we grow older!
Notable vocabulary:
– highland (noun): cao nguyên
– fruit plantation: đồn điền trồng hoa quả
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TEST 5:
Describe a friend who is important to you.
You should say:
- the name of your friend
- when and where you met this friend
- what kinds of things you and this friend like to do together
and explain why this friend is important to you.
Answer:
I must admit that I’m a quite an outgoing girl who has a big circle of friends. However, the people who I actually call my best friends are very limited and Ruby is one of those who has earned herself this title. We’ve known each other since high school, tenth grade to be exact. At the beginning, she was the shy girl who didn’t talk much, the total opposite of my character. But we started hanging out more and more and were inseparable by the end of school.
People say friends complete each other and I’ve found that statement to be incredibly true. Even though we have distinct personalities, we share a lot of similar interests such as Korean dramas, Japanese food, and photography. Whether it’s indoors or outdoors, we can spend the whole day together and have a lot of fun.
Ruby is an important friend that I just can’t live without. It may sound like an exaggeration but it’s not. She has always been there to listen to my problems without judging or criticizing me and I also know I can confide in her and trust her. In addition to that, she has helped me so much through many difficulties that I have had in life and I hope she would say the same thing about me. I hope when we’re 80 we’re still spending time together and having fun. Friends like Ruby are hard to find!
Notable vocabulary:
– inseparable (adjective): không thể tách rời
– exaggeration (noun): sự phóng đại
– confide in (phrasel verb): tin tưởng, tín nhiệm
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TEST 6
Describe a movie that you saw recently.
You should say:
- the title of the movie and what it was about
- when and where you saw it
- who you saw it with
and explain why you enjoyed/ didnt’ enjoy seeing this movie.
Answer:
I recently watched a movie called “The Notebook” and it has left a really strong impression on me. The movie was based on a book under the same title written by my favourite author Nicholas Sparks. He writes romance novels and many of them have been made into movies, but the Notebook is the most well-known one.
To put it in a nutshell, the movie is about one couple, Noah and Allie, who were madly in love with each other but unfortunately, there were so many obstacles between them, such as the difference in their social status and the expectations of their parents that they were forced to be apart. They had to overcome everything in order to be together once again.
Actually, I’ve had this movie on my laptop for so long but I always feel reluctant to watch it because I’m afraid that it’s going to be another boring romantic movie. I chose to watch it last week by myself and reached the conclusion that The Notebook was different from the rest. Every scene in the movie was so romantic yet so genuine. I was touched by the true love of the two characters and how the movie shows that love can conquer any hardship. The movie has given me hope that there’s someone out there who was born just to be with me.
Notable vocabulary:
– to put something in a nutshell (idiom): sử dụng để tóm tắt một câu chuyện hay thông tin nào đó/ nói tóm lại
– social status: địa vị xã hội
– expectation (noun): kỳ vọng
– be apart: rời xa nhau
– overcome (verb): vượt qua
– reluctant (adjective): không sẵn lòng, lưỡng lự
– genuine (adjective): chân thực
– hardship (noun): sự gian khổ, thử thách
—
TEST 7:
Describe a hobby you enjoy doing.
You should say:
- what the hobby is
- what materials or tools you need for it
- how you learned to do it
and explain why you enjoy it.
Answer:
You’ve asked me to describe a hobby that I enjoy doing. And the first thing that pops into my head is making handmade cards. This is quite a popular hobby in Vietnam and you can see many beautiful and intricately made cards for sale in the cities.
In order to make a card, scissors, glue, tape and papers in various colours are some of the must-have things on the list. All of these materials can be easily bought at a nearby bookstore at a reasonable price. I can’t really recall when I first learned how to make a card but I do remember that I started to make a lot of cards when I was in high school. Making handmade cards is a hobby that I have enjoyed doing for so many years and I actually make some money from selling them. The small financial benefit that it brings is one of the reasons why I like doing it.
In addition to that, it’s an activity that requires creativity and that’s something I’m good at. The process of brainstorming new styles for the cards is both rewarding and relaxing at the same time. I love to be able to go from having a vague idea of a new style of card in my head to the crafting process and watching it take shape to having the final product in my hands. It may seem like a small thing but I get such a sense of achievement out of doing it. I think making things with your hands is a really meditative thing to do and it helps me clear my mind.
Notable vocabulary:
– intricately (adverb): phức tạp, có nhiều chi tiết nhỏ
– reasonable (adjective): hợp lý, phải chăng
– creativity (noun): sự sáng tạo
– brainstorming (noun): động não
– a vague idea: một ý tưởng mơ hồ, chưa rõ ràng
– a sense of achievement: cảm giác thành công
– meditative (adjective): thiền định, thanh thản
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TEST 8:
Describe a book you read recently.
You should say:
- the title and author of the book
- what the book was about
- why you decided to read it
and explain why you enjoyed/ didn’t enjoy reading it.
Answer:
You’ve asked me to describe a book that I’ve read recently. And to that aim, I’ve decided to talk about “How to win friends and influence people”. To be honest, I can’t recall the author’s name because it was rather difficult to spell. But I do know that he was a very popular American author who had a lot of best-selling books and “How to win friends and influence people” was one of them.
To put it in a nutshell, this book was a self-improvement one that gave valuable advice to the readers on how to treat other people in influence them in a positive way. In addition to that, the author of the book also brought up many real-life examples of famous people that he’d interviewed throughout his life and I found them to be quite interesting to read.
And the reasons why I decided to read it? Even until now, this book has always received the highest ratings under the category of self-help books all over the world, and the Vietnamese market is no exception. Therefore, I thought that it would be worthwhile to give it a try and it definitely was. It’s made me more conscious of how I act around other people as well as helped me to understand how other people behave too. I’d never really been interested in or known much about psychology but this book really made me think about how our brain work and how we interact with one another.
Notable vocabulary:
– recall (verb): nhớ lại, nhớ ra
– best-selling (adjective): bán chạy
– category (noun): thể loại, phạm trù
– worthwhile (adjective): đáng giá, xứng đáng
– give something a try: thử làm điều gì đó
– conscious (adjective): ý thức
– behave (verb): cư xử, ứng xử
– psychology (noun): tâm lý học
—
TEST 9:
Tell about a place you would like to visit.
You should say:
- the name of the place and where it is
- what kind of place it is
- what things you would do there
and explain why you want to go there.
Answer:
I’ve been to many places around the world but there is one place I’d love to visit: San Gimignano, a walled medieval hill-town in Siena, Italy. It was originally built as a fortress but when peace came back to the region, it became a beautiful shelter for thousands of people. I’ve been to Italy before but didn’t manage to make it to San Gimignano. I’d read a lot about it in the guide book and was gutted. I couldn’t fit it in so I promised myself I’d get back to visit it in the future.
The town is situated on top of a hill and is surrounded by endless vineyards so I’d love to go and sit on the balcony of a nice restaurant with a glass of local wine while talking in the panoramic views of the surrounding areas. There were some photos in the guidebook and the area just looks absolutely breathtaking. You can also go on tours of the vineyards and learn about the winemaking process and sample a number of different vintages, which I would like to do. There are also walking tours of the old city available where you can learn about the history and architecture of the place and this would also be on my to-do list when visiting. I’d also spend a lot of my time just relaxing, reading a book or wandering through the old stress. It looks like a really laid-back kind of place. And of course, I’d fill up on all the amazing Italian food on offer!
Notable vocabulary
– medieval (adjective): thuộc thời trung cổ
– fortress (noun): pháo đài
– shelter (noun): nơi trú ẩn, chỗ ẩn náu
– be gutted (adjective): buồn tủi, thất vọng
– vineyard (noun): vườn nho (loại nho làm rượu vang)
– panoramic view(s): tầm nhìn toàn cảnh
– breathtaking (adjective): hấp dẫn, ngoạn mục (đến mức ná thở)
– vintage (noun): rượu vang làm từ nho
– wander (verb): lang thang, thơ thẩn
– laid-back (adjective): thư thái, ung dung
– fill up on: làm đầy (bụng) = eat a lot
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TEST 10:
Describe a teacher who has influenced you in your edication.
You should say:
- where you met them
- what subject they taught
- what was special about them
and explain why this person influenced you so much.
Answer:
You’ve asked me to describe a teacher who has influenced me in my education. And to that aim, I’ve decided to talk about my high school Physics teacher – Mr. Danh.
I had Mr. Danh as my teacher for three years and I consider myself very fortunate to have had the opportunity to study under his guidance. He was a fantastic teacher with not only profound knowledge in Physics but also very effective and engaging teaching methos. For me personally, his lectures turned all the difficult concepts in Physics into simple things that every avarage student could understand. I think he could do this becuase he was so skilful in the way he used examples to illustrate the complicated theories.
Thanks to him I can understand the basics of a few branches of physics, including Newton’s classical mechanics, quantum physics and even Einstein’s theory of relativity. Today I don’t use much of this knowledge for my work, but I still read a lot about physics, especially astrophysics. In other words, reading astrophysics books has become my hobby. I always feel thankful that I had a great teacher, who inspired me to develop this love for physics. I really appreciate the fact that I learned from someone who was so passionate not just about their subject but about the art of teaching it to others.
Notable vocabulary:
– profound knowledge: kiến thức chuyên sâu
– concept (noun): khái niệm
– illustrate (verb): minh họa, giúp người khác tưởng tượng ra
– theory (noun): lý thuất
– quantum physics: vật lý lượng tử
– theory of relativity: thuyết tương đối
– astrophysics: vật lý học thiên thể
– passionate (adjective): sôi nổi, nhiệt huyết
—
TEST 11:
Describe a film or a TV programme which has made a strong impression on you.
You should say:
- what kind of film or TV programme it was, e.g. comedy
- when you saw the film or TV programme
- what the film or TV programme was about
and explain why this film or TV programme made such an impression on you.
Answer:
At the moment, I don’t actually watch much TV as I’m away from home studying but one of my close friends introduced me to a reality show called The Amazing Race when we were roommates in 2014. I got hooked and now watch each new episode on YouTube.
The Amazing Race is a reality show that shows ostensibly unscripted real-life situations. The show is literally a racing competition among a number of teams around Vietnam. With two people to a team, they have to cooperate to carry out various tasks and deal with lots of obstacles during their trip to the final destination in each episode.
What strikes me the most is the extraordinarily picturesque scenery in a variety of places that the racers go through in each stage. Thanks to the show, I am now aware of how beautiful our country is and I plan to travel to several destinations featured in the show such as Sa Pa, Nha Trang or Da Lat. In addition, in this program, not only do I get to know many wonderful sites but I also learn a lot about the distinct culture and characteristics of each region in the country. Last but not least, there are a variety of barriers in each stages, so it is crucial for the two members to stay focused and have good teamwork. I learn a lot of lessons about persistence, patience and determination throughout the game show. Without them, we definitely cannot complete our goals.
Notable vocabulary:
– reality show: chương trình truyền hình thực tế
– (get) hooked (on something) (adjective): thích quá mức, nghiện
– (obtensibly) unscripted: (trông có vẻ) không có sẵn kịch bản
– destination (n): điểm đến, đích đến
– strike (verb): đánh mạnh = tạo ấn tượng mạnh
– picturesque scenery: phong cảnh đẹp như tranh vẽ
– crucial (adjective): quyết định, cốt yếu
– persistence (noun): tính bền bỉ
– patience (noun): sự kiên trì
– determination (noun): sự quyết đoán
—
TEST 12:
Describe a memorable event in your life.
You should say:
- when the event took place
- where the event took place
- what happened exactly
and explain why this event was memorable for you.
Answer:
There are numerous unforgettable events in my life but the most wonderful day was the day my little sister was born. This is an event that I can still recall vividly. I was only 7 or 8 years old at the time and when I got to the hospital with my grandmother and saw this little angel crying on my mother’s lap, I became the happiest boy in the world. I had been an only child until then and had always dreamed of having a younger sibling to play with so when I was told my mother was pregnant and my dream would soon come true, I was absolutely over the moon.
When I saw her in the hospital for the first time, all I wanted to do was hold and kiss this little fairy child though I was also afraid that I might hurt her, for she just seemed so small and fragile. I was so taken with her that I refused to leave the hospital that day and insisted on staying with my new baby sister for 4 or 5 days until she and my mother could return home. I felt like I was coming home with a new treasure.
It’s been over 10 years since that day but I still feel the same protectiveness toward my sister as I did on the day she was born and I remember it all as if it were just yesterday.
Notable vocabulary:
– recall vividly: vẫn nhớ một cách sinh động
– be over the moon: vui sướng, hài lòng
– fragile (adjective): mỏng manh, dễ vỡ
– treasure (noun): kho báu
– protectiveness (noun): sự che chở, sự bảo vệ
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TEST 13:
Describe something you own which is very important to you.
You should say:
- where you got it from
- how long you have had it
- what you use it for
and explain why it is so important to you.
Answer:
I have this one toy submarine that is extremely important to me. And there is a big story behind it.
When I was around 8, I got this idea in my head that I needed to own a toy submarine. I looked in loads of shops but couldn’t find one anywhere. Not giving up on the idea, I decided to build myself on instead!
At frist it seemded like it would be an impossible task because finding the necessary parts was an absolute nightmare. As I remember, I had to spend a day or two to find a small aluminium box, which I could use as the hull of the toy submarine. I also managed to find a small turbine, a couple of electric wires and a pair of batteries. But then I really struggled to find a miniature motor engine, which was just nowhere to be found.
Then in a “eureka” moment, I realised that there was one motor engine that would fit my toy submarine perfectly. That was the one inside my toy car. Sadly, this meant I had to sacrifice my toy car. To me that was the biggest trade-off I made in my childhood, and I’m happy that it was for a “greater purpose”.
Then finally I assembled all the spare parts and had a complete toy submarine that could actually work to everyone’s surprise, including my own. My brother was astounded when he first saw my work.
Today I still keep the toy submarine in a special corner of my room because of its significance to my childhood and my whole life. It’s a great source of inspiration for me to be always creative and determined in doing everything.
Notable vocabulary:
– aluminium (noun): nhôm
– hull (noun): thân tàu thủy
– turbine (noun): động cơ hơi nước
– struggle (verb): khó khăn
– sacrifice (verb): hy sinh, từ bỏ một cái gì đó như một sự hy sinh
– trade-off (noun): sự đánh đổi
– assemble (verb): lắp ráp
– be astounded (adjective): kinh ngạc
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TEST 14:
Describe an interesting historic place.
You should say:
- what it is
- where it is located
- what you can see there now
and explain why this place is interesting.
Answer:
My city is full of historic places, but the most interesting one to me is the Great Opera House. It is right in the heart of the city and is close to many other attractions. But this building really stands out because of its unique architecture.
The Great Opera House was orginally built by the French over a hundred years ago. It has always been the place where major musical events are held in the city since it was erected. For this reason, the significance of it to the city cannot be overstated.
Inside the building, there is a large central stage and hundreds of seats. There’s a great sound system which naturally boosts the volume of the music that is played and the songs that are sung without damaging their quality. There is also a sound-proof system that ensures no noise from outside can reach the main room. These facilities are to guarantee that the audience can enjoy the musical events to the fullest.
To me personally, I have a great love for music so I am a frequent visitor to this building. But the Great Opera House is also very famous for non-music-lovers. This building is also well-known for a large square in front of it. This is the place where millions of tourists flock to every year to take pictures. The ambience is always vibrant and is perfect for those who enjoy crowds. It is amazing that a historical building such as the Great Opera House can be so popular today!
Notable vocabulary:
– the heart of the city: trung tâm thành phố
– attraction (noun): điểm du lịch
– erect (verb): dựng lên, xây dựng
– ambience (noun): môi trường, không khí
– flock (verb): tụ tập, quây quần
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TEST 15:
Describe an interest or hobby that you enjoy
You should say:
- how you became interested in it
- how long you have been doing it
- why you enjoy it
and explain what benefits you get from this interest or hobby.
Answer:
My main hobby is listening to music. I was never into music when I was younger and was always happy to just listen to whatever was on at the time but then two years ago, while studying for my university entrance exams and getting very stressed about the whole thing, my friend suggested me to listen to some jazz to help me stay calm while studying. It worked like an absolute charm! Not only was I able to study better, I had also discovered something I really enjoyed listening to.
I enjoy listening to jazz because it brings me a lot of benefits. First, when I am stumped on a homework question or feel tired, I just put on some Miles Davis and take a deep breath, and subsequently, I continue studying effectively. This is especially true when there’s a mountain of work, jazz is like my miracle medicine that makes me keep going and finish it. Second, I listen to jazz when I have free time to entertain myself. I love the rhythm and technical skills of the musicians in jazz and I could listen to many songs over and over without ever getting bored. Sometimes, music is also a great source of inspiration, making me feel that life is worth living. Finally, many songs have precious meaningful messages which raise me up when I have troubles in life. I can still recall a few life lessons that I learnt from music, such as the ones about determination and self-confidence.
So I guess music will just continue to be my best companion wherever I go.
Notable vocabulary:
– be stumped: gây bối rối, bí
– a mountain of work: rất nhiều việc phải làm
– inspiration (noun): nguồn cảm hứng
– raise me up (phrasal verb): nâng tinh thần, truyền cảm hứng
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TEST 16:
Describe a river, lake or sea which you like.
You should say:
- what the river, lake or sea is called
- where it is
- what the land near it is like
and explain why you like this river, lake or sea.
Answer:
I’m going to describe Hoan Kiem Lake, which means “The Lake of the Returned Sword”, in Hanoi. According to legend, King Le Loi handed a magic sword called Heaven’s Will which brought him victory in his revolt against the Ming Dynasty back to the Golden Turtle God in the lake and hence gave the lake its present name. The Tortoise Tower erected on a small island near the centre of lake is linked to the legend. Nowadays, the lake is one of the major scenic spots in the city and serves as a focal point for its public life.
I like the lake not only because it is special in history but also because the water in the lake is not commonly found in other lakes elsewhere in the country. It’s greenish with dark or light shade depending on the reflection of the sky. Also, if you are lucky, you will catch sight of some giant tortoises rising out of the water. Last but not least, I like it because it is so romantic. When the darkness takes over, you can see couples holding hands walking side by side along the lake, trying to breathe in the breeze of a summer night or keep warm against the winter cold.
If you have time and really want to observe Hanoi’s life, sit down on one of the stone benches, enjoy the view, and have a good talk with some local friends over an ice-cream cone.
Notable vocabulary:
– revolt (noun): cuộc khởi nghĩa
– a focal point: trung tâm
– reflection (noun): sự phản chiếu
– breeze (noun): cơn gió nhẹ
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TEST 17
Describe a useful website you have visited
You should say:
- what the website was
- how you found the address for this website
- what the website contained
and explain why it was useful to you.
Answer:
I’d like to talk about Ted Talks – an informative website that I visit on a regular basis. I actually stumbled on this website when looking for ones that could help me learn English, and Ted Talks was one of the top results on the list I found. I’m so glad that I discovered it. This website contains over a thousand short videos on a wide range of different topics, such as education, environment, fashion and technology, just to name a few.
The speakers in the videos are normally experts in their field and they have interesting ideas to share with the world. From my own experience using the webiste, I’ve found it to be extremely useful in many ways. The first reason why I use it every day is because it’s a great source of advanced listening materials. Thanks to the clear English subtitles that it offers, I have the opportunity to listen to many different topics in the natural speed of different people – both native and non-native English speakers, and also learn new academic vocabulary.
In addition to that, all of the valuable information that it has brought to me was really eye-opening and sometimes, thought-provoking. I always feel that I’m a little bit smarter after watching a Ted Talk and I’ve been introduced to so many different ideas and things that I’d never heard of before. Ted Talks is definitely a website that is worth recommending to your friends.
Notable vocabulary:
– on a regular basis: thường xuyên
– advanced (adjective): nâng cao
– academic vocabulary: từ vựng học thuật = high level vocabulary
– thought-provoking (adjectivce): kích thích tư duy, suy nghĩ
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TEST 18
Describe a well-known person you like or admire
You should say:
- who this person is
- what this person has done
- why this person is well known
and explain why you admire this person.
Answer:
Bill Gates is the businessman I admire to the fullest. He’s and American business magnate, author and chairman of Microsoft, a software corporation which he founded with Paul Allen. Financial Times puts him at the top of their list not only just because Microsoft helped to revolutionize the computer industry and made Bill Gates the world’s richest man but also because he used his wealth to become the world’s greatest philanthropist.
Gates is one of the best-known entrepreneurs of the personal computer revolution. His products brought computers and the internet to millions of people in easy-to-use ways and his importance in this industry really can’t be overplayed.
But he’s also famous for his humanitarian work. In 2000, he formed the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with his wife which is dedicated to bringing innovation in health, development and learning to the global community. He has handed over the reign at Microsoft and now entirely focuses on his foundation. He does great work like helping to eradicate infectious diseases in developing countries. Gates has pledged billions of dollars to this foundation, making him the world’s greatest philanthropist.
I find Gates inspiring not just because of his massive professional success and perseverance but also because he is using the weatlh and fame he achieved for the greater good, something not a lot of people would do. That makes him the greatest man ever and a true inspiration to me!
Notable vocabulary:
– revolutionize (verb): cách mạng hóa
– entrepreneur (noun): ông chủ
– humanitarian (adjective): nhân đạo
– philanthropist (noun): nhà từ thiện
– dedicated to (adjective): dành hết tâm huyết, cống hiến
– perserverance (noun): sự kiên trì
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TEST 19
Describe a song or a piece of music you like
You should say:
- what the song or music is
- what kind of song or music it is
- where you first heard it
and explain why you like it.
Answer:
I’m going to talk about one of my favourite songs that I’ve undoubtedly listened to more than a thousang times, and it’s called “Home”, a song performed by Michael Buble, a Canadian singer with a real old-style voice. This is a typical pop song with a rather slow tempo and gentle melody. Honestly, I wansn’t really into it when I first heart it somewhere on YouTube about 5 years ago.
However, it made a really strong impression on me when I listened to it after moving away from home for the first time. At that time, I was attending college abroad and had left my comfort zone to head out to a brand-new environment. The song touchingly showed the homesickness I was experiencing and I felt like there was a bond of sympathy between me and its writer. “Home” really affected me those days and made me realize how important family is.
Now I still listen to this song quite often. It reminds me of the beginning of my time away from home and also that family is always the most precious thing each person has, and that everyone should wholeheartedly appreciate it. Some people say, as we grow up, we grow apart, but I think we must always tighten the family bond.
Notable vocabulary:
– impression (n): ấn tượng
– leave one’s comfort zone: rời khỏi “vùng an toàn” = dám đương đầu với thử thách mới
– homesickness (n): nỗi nhớ nhà
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TEST 20
Describe one of your friends.
You should say:
- how you met
- how long you have known each other
- how you spend time together
and explain why you like this person.
Answer:
I’m going to talk about the friend I spend the most time with nowadays. His name is Minh Anh and he’s one year older than me. We first met when we attended an English club together around 4 years ago, and coincidentally were arranged to practise speaking Englsih with each other. We got to know each other really well and have stayed close ever sine.
Minh Anh is really talkative and can discuss topics from music to books, sports, even more sophisticated ones like religion and philosophy. We hit it of straight away and started hanging out more and more. We spend our time speaking English toghether and browsing bookstores for the lastest publications. We have a lot of things in common like eating seafood and reading children books. There was a time when we sort of drifted apart as he found a carreer opportunity and moved to Ho Chi Minh city, and I’m not a kind of person who keen on sending emails or making phong calls. Although we barely communicated that year, when he came back, everything did too – it felt like no time had passed and our friendship started to bloom again just like the good old times.
I really like him because he is a very thoughful and smart person as I can always have such interesting and endless conversations with him. Having a friend like Minh Anh was a blessing to me, and I have always appreciated our close friendship.
Notable vocabulary:
– hit it off (phrasal verb): trở nên thân thiết = get along well
– drift apart (phrasal verb): trở nên xa cách
– blessing (noun): phước lành
(còn tiếp)
