TOEIC SPEAKING TASK 5 EXPRESS AN OPINION (TOEIC S&W)

EXPRESS AN OPINION
I. Preference questions
1. Some people enjoy the excitement of city life. Other people prefer the peace
and quiet of small-town living. Would you rather live in a big city or a small
town? Why? Use specific /spəˈsɪfɪk/ examples to support your
preference /ˈprefrəns/.

I would definitely prefer to live in a big city. I like the excitement of city life.
There are always so many interesting activities to do, like different kinds of theater,
concerts, classes you can take, and so on. You can also meet a lot of different kinds
of people in your daily life people from all different places with all different kinds
of interests. In addition, it’s much easier to find jobs in a city than it is in a small
town. That’s really important. You have to work, right? So you want to live in a
place where you have a chance of finding a good job. I think life in a small town is
very restrictive. There aren’t many options for entertainment, and you don’t come
across many different kinds of people. I would be really bored if I lived in a small
town.

I think I would prefer to live in a big city. I like the excitement /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/
of city life for several reasons. First, living in a big city has many job opportunities
for me. I have a lot of chances to apply for positions from many large companies in
my city. In addition, it’s much more difficult to find jobs in a small town than it is
in a big city. For example, after graduating /ˈɡrædʒueɪting/ I found an office job
that I wanted and that suited my abilities. Second, there are always so many
interesting activities to do, like different kinds of sports, concerts, entertainment
events you can take, and so on. For example, I can attend art /ɑːrt/ performances,
exhibitions /ˌeksɪˈbɪʃn/, cultural /ˈkʌltʃərəl/ activities, and concerts by famous
artists. Overall, I would say I like living in a big city over living in a small town.
2. Some people like working at home better than working in an office. Which
work environment do you prefer and why?

I think I would prefer to work at home. There are advantages and
disadvantages to both, but I think working at home is better for several reasons.
First of all, I don’t need to drive to work every day. That will save me time and
money for gasoline /ˈɡæsəliːn/. For example, I can do other things while I work
such as wash /wɑːʃ/ clothes, cook dinner, and clean my house. Besides, working at
home helps me focus more on work. If you work in an office, people sometimes
stop by. This can disturb /dɪˈstɜːrb/ you and make you lose focus. While working
at home, I feel like I complete deadlines faster and more effectively than when
working at an office. Overall, I think that I like working at home over working in
an office.

Hmm .. . that’s a good question. I guess I would prefer to work at home. There
are advantages and disadvantages to both, but I think working at home is better
because it’s just more convenient. First of all, you don’t need to drive to work
every day. That will save you time and money for gas. In addition, you can do other
things while you work, like wash clothes, cook dinner, and watch your children.
Lastly, you can also usually get more done. If you work in an office, people
sometimes stop by. This can disturb you and make you lose focus. As you can see,
there are a lot of reasons why working at home is more convenient.
3. Would you rather shop online or go to a store? Give reasons and examples
to support your shopping preference.

I think I would prefer to shop online rather than shop in the store. I feel this
way for several reasons. The main reason is that it takes more time. Online
shopping helps me save time instead of having to go to stores to shop. Besides,
waiting to pay also makes me frustrated /ˈfrʌstreɪtɪd/. For example, I went
shopping last month at the mall center. There were so many people, I had to wait in
line for 1 hour to pay. I don’t have time for that. Another reason I like shopping
online is that you can compare prices more easily. If you find something at one

price on one site, you can check to see if it’s cheaper on another site. You can’t do
that in a store. In general, I think that online shopping makes more sense.

That’s a good question. I guess I prefer to shop online rather than shop in the
store. While some people may think that shopping in the store is better, I don’t feel
that way. The main reason is that I just hate crowds. Let me give you an example of
what I’m talking about. I went Christmas shopping last November. There were so
many people, I had to wait in line for 30 minutes to pay. I don’t have time for that.
Another reason I like shopping online is that you can compare prices more easily. If
you find something at one price on one site, you can check to see if it’s cheaper on
another site. You can’t do that in a store. Finally, although some people don’t like
the cost, I like getting delivery That way, I don’t have to carry everything up to my
apartment. In general, I think that online shopping makes more sense.
4. Some people enjoy cooking and eating most of their meals at home. Other
people would rather eat out at a restaurant most of the time. Which do you
prefer? Use specific examples to support your preference.

I think I would prefer to cook and eat most of my meals at home. I feel this
way for several reasons. First of all, I can save money when eating at home. If you
go to a restaurant and order dishes /dɪʃ/, you can see the price on the menu is higher
than those you cook at home. For example, the fried /fraɪd/ rice I cooked at home
was less than half the price at the restaurant. Besides, eating time with family is
important. Cooking and eating at home helps my family get closer by sharing
stories between family members after school and work. For instance /ˈɪnstəns/,
every evening my mother and I often cook together and my father prepares the
table. We tell jokes /dʒəʊk/ to make the whole family laugh /læf/ and bring a
happy atmosphere /ˈætməsfɪr/ to the house. In general, I think that cooking and
eating most of my meals at home makes more sense.

I prefer to eat out at restaurants most of the time. I feel this way for several

reasons. The main reason for this is that I don’t know how to cook very well. If I

eat at a restaurant, the food always tastes better than food I cook myself. I also eat
more of a variety of food at restaurants. This is because I only know how to cook a
few things. Finally, there are a lot of good restaurants in the neighborhood where I
live. I have lots of choices for places to eat, and the food at each one is delicious.

b. I think I would prefer to eat most of my meals at home. I have several
reasons for this. First, I think the food tastes better at home. This is because I am a
good cook, and I have a lot of delicious recipes. In addition to that, I think it is
more enjoyable to eat at home because it's more relaxing to eat in your own house
than at a noisy restaurant. Finally, I think you save a lot of money by eating at
home. The reason I feel this way is because it's usually cheaper to buy groceries
than to buy food at a restaurant.
5. Some people enjoy jobs in which they do the same work every day. Others
enjoy jobs that involve changing from project to project. Which type of job
would you prefer and why?

I think I would prefer to job that involves changing from project to project. I
feel this way for several reasons. First of all. I don’t really like doing the same
work all the time because it makes me feel bored. I like change and need some
variety /vəˈraɪəti/ in my life to find more inspiration /ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃn/ for work.
Besides, working on different projects helps me give more partners and experience.
I have a chance to make a lot of new friends and contacts. In addition, if I did the
same thing every day, I might never learn new things. In my opinion, I prefer a job
that involves changing from project to project to be more interesting.

I would prefer a job that involves changing from project to project. I feel this
way for a number of reasons. First of all, I don’t really like doing the same thing
every day. I like change and need some variety in my life. Second, I like to meet

new people. Working on different projects would give me a chance to make a lot of
new friends and contacts. Finally, I think doing the same thing all the time could be
really boring. If I did the same thing every day, I might never learn new things. In

my opinion, a job that involves changing from project to project would just be more
exciting.
6. Some people prefer to live in a city while other people prefer to live in the
countryside. Which do you prefer and why?

Some people prefer to live in a city while other people prefer to live in the
countryside. I think I would prefer to live in a city and there are some reasons. First
of all, living in a city has many job opportunities. Therefore, I have a chance of
finding a good job that suits me. For example, there are trading firms, banks,
insurance companies, foreign companies, and many others. Besides, public
transportation is very comfortable to use and easy to find at any place such as a bus
stop, taxi stand, subway station, or an international airport. Overall, I prefer to live
in a city.
II. Opinion questions
1. Imagine that there is a plan to build a large shopping mall in your
neighborhood. Do you support or oppose /əˈpəʊz/ this plan? Why? Use specific
examples to support your preference /ˈprefrəns/.

 In my opinion, I support the plan to build a large shopping mall in my
neighborhood /ˈneɪbərhʊd/ for several reasons. First of all, it would make
shopping a lot more convenient for all. This is because I don’t have to go far to buy
everything. Therefore, it helps me save time to do other things. For example, there
is a shopping mall near my house, it only takes me 10 minutes to get there. The
other important reason is it would bring more jobs to my neighborhood. There are
many opportunities for employment at a shopping mall. As a result, it helps the
local residents increase their income. Overall, I think a new shopping mall would

definitely /ˈdefɪnətli/ be a good thing.

I support the plan to build a large shopping mall in my neighborhood because
it would benefit the neighborhood in several ways. First of all, it would make
shopping a lot more convenient for local residents /ˈrezɪdənt/. Currently, we have

only a few small stores in the area, and they mostly sell groceries /ˈɡrəʊsəri/ and a
few other things. If we want to buy clothes or things for the house or books or just
about anything, we have to travel several miles /maɪlz/ to get to the nearest
shopping mall. The other important reason why I support this plan is because it
would bring more jobs to our neighborhood. There are a lot of opportunities for
employment at a shopping mall. There are jobs in stores and restaurants,
management /ˈmænɪdʒmənt/ jobs, and maintenance /ˈmeɪntənəns/ jobs, for
example. I think a new shopping mall would definitely /ˈdefɪnətli/ be a good thing.
2. Many people feel that talking time to relax is the key to being productive at
work and at home. How do you feel about taking time to relax? Does it make
people more productive? Use specific examples to support your preference.

 In my opinion, taking time to relax is the key to being productive /prə
ˈdʌktɪv/. I feel this way for several reasons. First of all, relaxing improves mental
health such as reducing stress and anxiety /æŋˈzaɪəti/. If I feel good, then I will be
able to work more and enjoy life more. For example, after a hard day at work, I
often listen to music to relax. In this way, I can relieve stress and focus more on
work. For another thing, relaxing can help me improve my physical health by doing
sports, doing yoga /ˈjəʊɡə/, or going jogging. As a result, I feel my body recharge /
ˌriːˈtʃɑːrdʒ/ battery /ˈbætəri/ and be healthier /ˈhelθirir/ so I can work more
productively. Overall, I guess I would say relaxing is an important part of
everyone’s day.

In my opinion, taking time to relax is the key to being productive /prə

ˈdʌktɪv/. I have this opinion for the following reasons. To begin with, relaxing is
very important for feeling good. If you feel good, then you’ll be able to work more
and enjoy life more. For another thing, relaxing can help you sleep better. If you
sleep better, you can do more when you are awake /əˈweɪk/. Finally, being busy all
the time makes you tired, so you can’t focus on your work. For example, if you
have a long day at work and then come home and work some more, you might start

to make mistakes /mɪˈsteɪk/. This won’t help anyone. So overall, I guess I would
say relaxing is an important part of everyone’s day.
3. Some people think that all young people should be able to attend college for
free. What’s your opinion about free education? Support your answer with
reasons and details.

 Some people think that all young people should be able to attend college
for free. I support this opinion for the following reasons. My first reason is that all
young people should have a chance /tʃæns/ to study. It helps many people get a
better job so that they have a comfortable /ˈkʌmftəbl/ life and raise /reɪz/ a family.
My second reason for thinking this is that it helps more graduates /ˈɡrædʒuət/. All
young people who graduate /ˈɡrædʒueɪt/ are a more skilled and educated
workforce /ˈwɜːrkfɔːrs/. As a result, they can contribute /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/ to the
economic /ˌiːkəˈnɑːmɪk/ development /dɪˈveləpmənt/ of the country. Overall, I
would have to say that I’m in favor of having free college education for all.

In my opinion, all young people should be able to attend college for free. I
have this opinion for the following reasons. My first reason is that all young people
should have a chance /tʃæns/ to study. In my country, college costs are very high.
Because of this, not very many people can go. This makes it harder for many
poorer people to get a better job. My second reason for thinking this is that it’s
better to use taxes /tæksiz/ for education than some other things. Some people
think that military ˈmɪləteri/ or highway budgets /ˈbʌdʒɪt/ are more important, but

I disagree. Young people need to learn. Thirdly, the cost is not that high. If
everyone pays a little more in taxes /tæksiz/, more young people will have a chance
/tʃæns/. So basically /ˈbeɪsɪkli/, I would have to say that I’m in favor of having free
college education for all.
4. Wearing uniforms is popular in schools, but some people argue /ˈɑːrɡjuː/
that it might cause damage /ˈdæmɪdʒ/ to children’s individuality /ˌɪndɪˌvɪdʒu
ˈæləti/. What is your opinion?

 In my opinion, I support that students should wear school uniforms. I feel
this way for several reasons. First of all, wearing a uniform doesn’t
differentiate /ˌdɪfəˈrenʃieɪt/ the rich and the poor among students. If the students
wear the same clothing, it is not possible to notice /ˈnəʊtɪs/ who is rich and who is
poor. So, that makes everyone equal /ˈiːkwəl/. For another thing uniforms help
family budgets /ˈbʌdʒɪt/. This is because students or parents /ˈperənt/ can spend
money buying anything if they want. For example, parents can buy their children
different kinds of clothes, school supplies, or food and drink. For these reasons, I
am in favor of wearing uniforms in school.

There are some reasons why I believe students should wear school uniforms.
First of all, wearing a uniform doesn’t differentiate /ˌdɪfəˈrenʃieɪt/ the rich and the
poor among students. If the students wear the same clothing, it is not possible to
notice who is rich and who is poor. So, that makes everyone equal /ˈiːkwəl/. Next,
uniforms help family budgets. For example, students or parents have to spend
money buying different kinds of clothes if students can wear whatever /wətˈevər/
they want. Lastly, students in uniforms are easily identifiable /aɪˌdentɪˈfaɪəbl/.
Students won’t be allowed to certain places where only adults /əˈdʌlt/ are
accepted /əkˈseptɪd/. For these reasons, I am in favor of school uniforms.
III. Agreement questions
1. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “people should get a
pay raise every year, even if they don’t perform well”.

 In my opinion, I disagree with the statement “People should get a pay raise
every year, even if they don’t perform well”. I feel this way for several reasons.
First of all, employees are not motivated to try harder and work more productively.
This is because they think that even if they don’t perform well, they still get a pay
raise. Therefore, the overall productivity /ˌprəʊdʌkˈtɪvəti/ of a company will
decrease, or profits will be dropped. In addition, it is not fair for everyone. I think
employees who make more efforts /ˈefərts/ to bring revenues /ˈrevənuː/ to a

company should receive a pay raise. As a result, if employees feel that they are
treated unfairly, they will quit /kwɪt/ their jobs. Overall, I think that the statement
above is unsatisfactory /ˌʌnˌsætɪsˈfæktəri/, so people should not get a pay raise if
they don’t perform well.

I strongly disagree with the statement, “People should get a pay raise every
year, even if they don’t perform well”. I disagree for several reasons. First of all,
it’s just not fair. If you work hard, you should get a pay raise. If you don’t, you
should not. It’s that simple. Why reward someone for not doing a good job?
Secondly, I really don’t like the stories in the news about people who get rewards
when they do a bad job. For example, one company went out of business, but the
president /ˈprezɪdənt/ still got a one million dollar bonus is that fair? Finally, I
know it gets more expensive to live every year, but that doesn’t mean people
should get paid for a bad job. In fact, if someone does a bad job, the company
should reduce the salary, in my opinion. The main thing for me is, it’s just not fair,
so people should not get a pay raise if they don’t perform well.
2. There is a plan to offer free wireless service in your city, but there will be a
slight tax increase as a result. Would you be in favor of the planned tax
increase? Give reasons and details to support your opinion.

 In my opinion, I agree with a plan to offer free wireless /ˈwaɪərləs/ service

in my city. I feel this way for several reasons. First of all, offering free wireless
service helps us increase access /ˈækses/ to technology. It is because everyone in
the area can use free wireless service to access the Internet. Therefore, it brings
many benefits to the community /kəˈmjuːnəti/ such as searching for information,
seeking jobs, or entertainment. For example, thanks to free wireless service, it helps
me improve my studies such as completing homework assignments /əˈsaɪnmənt/
and finding more new knowledge. Besides, it brings many advantages to the
economy /ɪˈkɑːnəmi/ and society /səˈsaɪəti/. For instance, accessing free Wi-Fi can
attract more visitors to public places such as parks, or downtown areas. In this way,

it will contribute to local business increase the number of customers and connect
people from many different places. All in all, I’d have to say that it’s just a good
idea.

I would not be in favor of the planned tax increase. I disagree with the idea for
several reasons. To begin with, why should I pay for other people’s Internet? I
know this would help some businesses, but it would also be a big cost for people.
Some people might not be able to afford /əˈfɔːrd/ the tax. Next, I think the city
should pay for something like that itself. If they want to bring more people here
with that plan, they can pay the bill. Furthermore /ˌfɜːrðərˈmɔːr/, free wireless is
not that big of an advantage anymore. Most people have mobile Internet
connections. They can use their home Internet anywhere. They won’t need free
wireless that much. All in all, I’d have to say that it’s just a bad idea.
3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “it’s more important
to eat a good diet than to exercise a lot”. Support your choice with reasons and
details.

 In my opinion, I disagree with the statement “It’s more important to eat a
good diet than to exercise a lot”. I feel this way for several reasons. First of all,
exercise is one of the best ways to improve our physical health. It is because doing

exercise helps you better flexibility /ˌfleksəˈbɪləti/, burn calories /ˈkæləri/, build
muscle /ˈmʌsl/, or maintain a healthy weight. For example, I enjoy going jogging
on a daily basis because it helps me enhance my health and keep me fit. Besides,
eating a good diet can be healthy. However, if you don’t move your body, it will
become weak /wiːk/. Therefore, this can cause harm to your body such as a
potential /pəˈtenʃl/ risk of terminal illness, or affect your mental health. For
instance, my sister used to diet to lose weight without exercising, so she often felt
tired, not toned /təʊn/, and lacking vitality /vaɪˈtæləti/. In conclusion, I have to say
exercise and diet are equally important.

I disagree with the statement, “It’s more important to eat a good diet than to
exercise a lot. ” There are several reasons for this opinion. For one thing, exercise
is a very important part of a healthy lifestyle. It’s good for your heart, your
muscles, and for controlling your weight. Another reason exercise is important is
that it’s fun. Playing sports and moving your body can make you feel happier and
feel better. Finally, eating a good diet can be healthy, but if you don’t move your
body, it will become weak. Good nutrition /nuˈtrɪʃn/ will give you energy, but you
should use that energy to move! In conclusion, I have to say exercise and diet are
equally important.
4. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “young people
should not be allowed to drive cars until they are twenty-one years old”. Use
specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

 In my opinion, I agree with the statement “Young people should not be
permitted to drive cars until they are twenty-one years old”. I feel this way for
several reasons. First of all, this is increasing safety for young people who driving
under 21. It is because many young people are careless /ˈkerləs/, but a car can be a
dangerous machine. It isn’t safe to let someone have the responsibility /rɪˌspɑːnsə
ˈbɪləti/ of driving such a dangerous machine until they’re mature /məˈtʃʊr/ enough
to be serious and careful about it. Besides, driving a car is very expensive. It is

because most young people don’t have enough money to buy, maintain /meɪn
ˈteɪn/, gasoline /ˈɡæsəliːn/ a car. Therefore, they can use public transportation such
as a bus, taxi /ˈtæksi/, or subway. For example, I often go to school by bus. In this
way, I can save money because bus fare is inexpensive. I can use that savings to do
other things like learn English, go to the movies or buy food.

I strongly agree with the statement that people should not be allowed to drive
until they are 21. I agree with this because of the following reasons. In the first
place, many young people are careless, but a car can be a dangerous machine. It
isn’t safe to let someone have the responsibility of driving such a dangerous

machine until they’re mature /məˈtʃʊr/ enough to be serious and careful about it.
Another reason is that most young people don’t have enough money to buy and
maintain /meɪnˈteɪn/ a car. They should learn to use public transportation until they
can afford /əˈfɔːrd/ a car of their own. Finally, many young people probably /
ˈprɑːbəbli/ don’t really need to drive a car. In my country, you can get a driver’s
license /ˈlaɪsns/ at age 18, but most people don’t start driving regularly /ˈreɡjələrli/
until they’re married and have families of their own. So basically, it isn’t always
safe for young people to drive cars, they can’t afford it, and they usually don’t need
to, anyway.

I disagree with the statement that young people should not be allowed to drive
cars until they are twenty-one years old. I feel this way for several reasons. First, I
think that young people are mature /məˈtʃʊr/ enough to drive when they turn
sixteen years old. Most people think people who are sixteen are immature, but this
is not true – there are a lot of teenagers /ˈtiːneɪdʒər/ who are responsible /rɪ
ˈspɑːnsəbl/ at this age. Second, letting young people drive encourages /ɪn
ˈkɜːrɪdʒiz/ them to be independent at an early age. When young people start to
drive, they can easily find jobs and start to make their own money. Finally, letting
young people drive when they’re sixteen means their parents will have more free

time. Parents won’t have to drive their children to school and to sports
practice /ˈpræktɪs/, because teenagers can drive themselves to those things. So
overall, I’d have to say I think young people should be able to drive long before
they are twenty-one years old.
5. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “one of the
characteristics of a good leader is that he or she listens to other people’s
opinions”.

 In my opinion, I agree with the statement “One of the
characteristics /ˌkærəktəˈrɪstɪk/ of a good leader is that he or she listens to other
people’s opinions”. I feel this way for several reasons. First of all, listening to other

people’s viewpoints helps improve decision-making abilities. This is because a
leader will hear many kinds of perspectives /pərˈspektɪv/ and knowledge.
Therefore, it can help a leader make a better determination /dɪˌtɜːrmɪˈneɪʃn/. In
addition, it helps promote the working environment. By listening to the opinions of
others, a leader shows respect /rɪˈspekt/ to their employees. This brings interaction
between employees and leaders and strengthens /ˈstreŋkθirn/ cohesion /kəʊˈhiːʒn/
in teamwork. Overall, I think that listening to others’ opinions is one of a factor
important to be a good leader.

I agree because I believe it is necessary /ˈnesəseri/ for a leader to listen to
others in order to be a good leader. When I was working at an
advertising /ˈædvərtaɪzɪŋ/ agency /ˈeɪdʒənsi/ as an intern, my supervisor was
willing to have a group meeting often and he wanted to hear our opinion.
Especially /ɪˈspeʃəli/ when there were important projects to be done, we had to be
in the meeting room every morning. After the meeting, he went through all the
ideas and opinion and selected the good ones to make a better decision and also
gave us feedback /ˈfiːdbæk/. His team’s work was more successful /səkˈsesfl/ than
all of other teams’. Some years have passed and I’ve heard he was promoted to

director of the company. I think he was a good leader because he was such a good
listener.
IV. Further practice
1. During the vacation, what are the advantages of traveling to one country
compared to visiting several countries? Use specific reasons and examples to
support your opinion.

 There are some benefits of traveling to one country compared to visiting for
several reasons. First of all, it can help more time to visit places destination in that
country. I can have a deeper understanding of cultures, traditions, and languages.
As a result, I will be open-minded and make friends with local people. Besides, it
saves money. It is because I don’t pay for travel-related expenses such as flights,

tickets, or admission fee. Therefore, with the money saved, I can spend money on
other things such as entertainment, foods, or tickets. For example, last summer, I
went to Thailand, and after a trip, I learned more things like traditional cultures,
and languages and made more friends locally.
2. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? “it is more effective
for teachers to conduct a class humorously for the children’s education. Use
specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

 In my opinion, I agree with the statement “It is more effective for teachers
to conduct a class humorously /ˈhjuːmərəsli/ for the children’s education”. I feel
this way for several reasons. First of all, students can be more interested /ˈɪntrəstɪd
in their studies. It is because humor will make learning more attractive and
understandable for students. Therefore, it can help create an
atmosphere /ˈætməsfɪr/ enjoyable and positive /ˈpɑːzətɪv/ for classroom. Besides,
it helps memory maintain /meɪnˈteɪn/ for children’s education. Humor has been
shown /ʃəʊn/ to aid in memory maintenance /ˈmeɪntənəns/, and therefore, when
children are interested, their brains /breɪn/ release dopamine /ˈdəʊpəmiːn/, which

can improve memory and information storage ability. For example, when I was in
high school, I thought /θirɔːt/ studying literature /ˈlɪtrətʃər/ was monotonous /mə
ˈnɑːtənəs/. But my literature teacher was hilarious /hɪˈleriəs/. She told us many
interesting stories related to the lessons. As a result, I looked forward to the
literature class, and my grades /ɡreɪd/ also improved.

 In my opinion, I agree with the statement “It is more effective for teachers
to conduct a class humorously /ˈhjuːmərəsli/ for the children’s education”. I feel
this way for several reasons. Most of all, students can be more interested /
ˈɪntrəstɪd/ in their studies. When I was young, I thought /θirɔːt/ studying English
was very boring. So I often fell asleep /əˈsliːp/ during the class. But my English
teacher in high school was very funny. He told us a lot of interesting stories he
experienced in other countries. As a result, I looked forward to the English class,

and my grade was improved too. Therefore, I agree that it is more effective for
teachers to conduct a class humorously for the student’s education.
3. What could be the most challenging part of working on a group project?
Choose one of the opinions below and provide specific reasons and examples.
- adjusting to different work styles: thích nghi với phong cách làm việc khác
nhau
- finding a way to resolve disagreement: tìm cách giải quyết bất đồng
- staying focused on the task: luôn tập trung vào nhiệm vụ

 I think adjusting to different work styles could be the most challenging part
of working on a group project. Most of all, it is difficult to change our work styles
in a short time. Last semester /sɪˈmestər/, I started a group research project with
my classmates. However, our team members had different work styles. For
example, we used different computer programs. So, it was difficult to share our
work. Also, it was difficult to set the time for a meeting because some members
wanted to start work early in the morning. As a result, it took a long time to finish

the project. Therefore, I think adjusting to different work styles could be the most
challenging part of working on a group project.
4. What are the advantages of living parents while attending a university? Use
specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

 There are some advantages of living with parents while attending a
university. Most of all, we can have a healthy lifestyle. When I was a university
student, I lived alone near my school. While living alone, I had fast food for dinner
very often and I gained some weight. So, I moved back to my parents’ house. As a
result, I was always able to have healthy meals my mother cooked for me.
Therefore, I think there are some advantages of living with parents while attending
a university.

5. Which of the following factors is the most important when deciding to get a
jobs? Choose one of the opinions below and provide specific reasons and
examples.
- location
- the opportunity to learn various work skills
- the possibility of a long-term career.

 I think location is the most important when deciding to get a job. Most of
all, if a company is close to home, we can get enough rest. In the case of my
previous /ˈpriːviəs/ company, it was very far from my home. So, it took about 2
hours to go to work, and I couldn’t get enough sleep when I worked overtime. So, I
found another job near my home. As a result, I can sleep more than 6 hours a day
and I feel more energetic /ˌenərˈdʒetɪk/ than before. Therefore, I think location is
the most important when deciding to get a job.
6. Some managers like to let employees work independently. Other managers
prefer to give worker very specific instructions for each task. Which method
do you prefer and why? Use specific reasons and examples to support your

opinion.

It seems to me that it’s more important to hire employees with a lot of relevant
work experience. That’s because experience is more important than education in
many fields, I think. Education just gives you general knowledge about certain
things, but work experience means you know how to manage the specific and
practical things in your industry. For examples, if you’re in the position of dealing
with customer complains, you cannot learn through a textbook. But when you get
practical experience handling real complaints, then you learn how to deal with
customers more efficiently. That’s why I think relevant work experience is more
essential when hiring employees.
7. Many people prefer driving their own cars, while others would rather use
public transportation. Which do you prefer? Explain why

My preference is definitely for public transportation. There are several reasons
for this. The first one is convenience. In the city where I live, I can take a bus or
subway to almost any place I want to go. When I get to my destination, I don’t have
to worry about finding a parking space. It’s so easy. Public transportation is also
cheaper. It’s true that I have to pay the fare every time I ride the bus or subway, but
I think the costs of owning a car are greater. You have to buy the car, pay for
gasoline, pay for repairs, and maybe even pay for a place to keep it. I think that
costs more than bus and subway fare. Finally, there are a lot of traffic problems in
my city, but when am riding the bus or subway, I don’t have to worry about traffic
can just relax and enjoy the ride. I think public transportation is a much better way
to get around than a private car is.

From my personal experience, I think it’s better to take public transportation
than drive my own car. There are a few reasons why I think like this, but I’d like to
point out just two major thing. Firstly, it’s faster to take the subway than drive in
my city because there is so much traffic. From my house to my office, it takes more

than an hour by car. But in the subway, I can get there in 30 minutes. Secondly, it’s
cheaper to use the subway. Gas is so expensive these days. I’m sure I save a lot of
money by using public transportation. For there reasons, I can say I prefer using
public transportation.