4 đề bổ sung july 2016

1.

Describe a piece of good news that you received.
You should say
• what the news was
• where you were when you received this news [Or: What you
•
•

were doing when you received this news]
who gave you this news
and explain why you felt this was good news.

ANSWER
After I finished my graduation, I applied for 2-3 jobs and faced the interviews in
these companies. One day I got a phone call from one of the companies from
the HR department and the caller confirmed that I was hired for the job I
applied for. This was a very exciting and good news for me as I was expecting
to start a job so eagerly.
I did not know the person who called me at that time but later I found that he
was the head of the human resources department of the company and his name
was Kane. I heard it in (…say a year i.g. 2004…) and it was probably June.
My parents and relatives wanted me to get involved in a job right after my
graduation and I felt the same. Some of my classmates were already doing jobs
and I thought I should start a job as well. After I got the job confirmation call, I
was very excited and happy. The first job confirmation in my opinion is very
significant and exhilarating and I felt no less. I was so happy that I instantly
confirmed that I’d be joining the job from the next week. Then I shared the
news with my parents and sisters and they were very happy as well.
2.

Describe something special that you saved money to buy.

You should say:
•

What was it

•

Why you bought is

•

How long you saved money to buy it


and explain why it was important to you to buy it.
ANSWER
To purchase a digital camera for my younger sister I had to save money for
about 6 months. It was a Canon SLR camera that I knew she had a great desire
to purchase. Since she is still in her college, it was really difficult for her to buy
such

a

camera.

After I joined in a part time job, I planned to buy it for her. I wanted her to be
happy with the camera and that’s the primary reasons I wanted to purchase it. I
knew she has a talent in photography and that’s why I wanted her to have a

good camera so that she gets inspired. After I went to some branded camera
shops, I found that the camera would cost me a bit more that I would be able to
effort. As I have joined a part time job at that time, it was not easy for me to
instantly purchase the camera for my sister. Then I planned to save money for
few months and then purchase it. I had to save money for 6-7 months and then I
had

been

able

to

actually

buy

it.

Giving present or surprise gift to someone we care is more exciting and blissful
than purchasing for ourselves. As her elder brother I wanted to give her the
camera so that she becomes happy. I also wanted her to continue her hobby of
photography which was quite tough without a good quality camera. For these
reasons it was very important for me to purchase her the camera.

3.

Describe an event that resulted in a positive change in your life.
Or Describe a positive change that you made to your life.
You should say:

•
•
•
•

when it happened
where it happened
what the change was
and explain how you have benefited from this change ( or, explain how
you feel about this change)

ANSWER
The positive change that I would like to talk about is ‘I started playing outdoor
games instead of playing computer games’. After I got my first personal
computer when I was only 9 years old or so, I started learning many things.
Besides that I started playing the computer games. As computer games are
addictive I found that I was playing the games whenever I had spare times. This
addiction barred me from playing outdoor games like cricket, football etc.
I found myself very much attracted to the computer games and I preferred to
play the games at home instead of going to open spaces or fields to participate
in outdoor games that involve physical exercises. Not that computer games are
all so bad, but playing them all the time someone has got is not a good thing
especially for kids. I found that I was spending more times at home than being
outside. After my parents noticed that, they discussed with me about that and
explained me the importance of outdoor activities. They gave me strict
restriction that I would only be able to play computer games for an hour daily
and in the evening I’d have to go outside to play with my friends.
This was obviously a very positive change for me. I’m not against computer

games but I feel that if there are more important things to do, then we should
not

spend

time

on

computer

games

only.

This change affected me very positively. I became a good cricket player later


on, I started maintaining my times more prudently and I am sure this change has
affected me positively in terms of physical and mental health.
4.

Describe an important traditional festival or holiday that is
celebrated in your country.
You should say:
• when this celebration takes place
• what people do during this celebration
• what you especially like (or dislike) about this celebration
• and explain why it is important.
ANSWER:

- Today, I am going to talk about an important holiday (or festival) that
is celebrated in my country called Lunar New Year. Besides the Western
calendar’s New Year , the Vietnamese people also celebrate Lunar New
Year according to the lunar calendar.
- The Lunar New Year, or Tet usually takes place around the end of
January or the beginning of February, depending on when the lunar
calendar ends. Tet provides the opportunity for reunions for Vietnamese
families, as people tend to return to their hometowns at this time of the
year.
- Like the Christmas tree in Western countries, in Vietnam, we buy a
kumquat tree, an apricot blossom tree or some branches to decorate our
houses. People also buy new clothes and clean their houses to welcome
in the New Year. Some families make “Chung cake”, a traditional cake
for this special occasion. Chung cake is made of rice, mung beans and
fat pork, wrapped in a banana leaf in the shape of a square. It is then
boiled overnight until it is cooked.
- During the Tet holiday, Vietnamese visit their relatives to wish them
all a happy new year. They also go to the pagodas frequently to wish for
a better year to come for their families. Adults give lucky money to
children. I think this is the only time of year when people can forget


about all the worries of their daily lives, when they can relax, enjoy,
indulge themselves, and get ready for another new year.
VOCABULARY:


Western calendar: also known as the Gregorian calendar, this calendar
is used in Western countries and the New Year begins with the first day
of January.

Example: International companies usually follow the Western calendar,
though their country may also follow a different calendar.



according to: as stated or indicated by; following; based on.
Example: According to the Center for Disease Control, all travelers
should be up-to-date with their vaccines.



takes place around: to occur during a certain time period, around is used
in this instance to give you a general idea of when something happens,
rather than a very specific date.
Example: The festival takes place around the beginning of May each
year, though we won’t know the exact start date until March 15th.



depending on: to be contingent on, something will not happen unless
something else happens first.
Example: Depending on the score you get on your exam, you may qualify
for a scholarship.



reunion: a time when people gather together again after not having seen
each other for a while; you can have family reunions, class reunions,
work reunions, etc.
Example: The graduating class of 1985 had a class reunion this past

summer and it was fantastic to see all my old classmates again.



tend to: used to describe when you usually do something.
Example: I tend to visit my mom on Sundays.




hometown: your hometown is the town where you spent most or all of
your childhood; it is often the town where your parents still live.
Example: This will be the first time she has returned to her hometown
after living abroad for five years.



kumquat: a small fruit-bearing tree with small, round, orange fruit that is
commonly used in preservers and confections.
Example: My father brought home a kumquat tree for Tet.



decorate: to put things up around the home to make it look nice, to
include things like flowers, artwork, lights, candles, and other types of
decorations.
Example: My sister loves to decorate her room with posters of the One
Direction boys.



to welcome in the New Year: used to express the idea that you are
excited for a new year to begin, so you welcome it in or invite it in. In is
used to express that it is as if you were welcoming a friend into your
home or into your life.
Example: People in New York City are welcoming in the New Year with
the dropping of the ball at Times Square.



special occasion: a special event or happening.
Example: A wedding is a special occasion that many people enjoy
celebrating.



boil: the point when there are bubbles in the water that you are heating;
water boils when it reaches 100 degrees Celsius.
Example: “A watched pot never boils.” - This is a saying that means that
something we wait for with impatient attention seems to take forever.



overnight: Lasting for, extending over, or remaining during a night, until
the morning time.
Example: She left the cat out overnight and luckily it didn’t get eaten by
coyotes.




to wish them: to want or desire something for someone else.
Example: I wish them luck on their exams.



pagoda: a religious building of East Asia and Southeast Asia, especially
a multistory Buddhist tower with widely overhanging eaves separating
each level, erected as a memorial or shrine.
Example: Her father goes to the pagoda early in the morning.



relax: to take it easy; to release tension and anxiety; to loosen up; to
become less tense.
Example: She likes to take a bath to relax after a hard day at work.



indulge: to allow yourself to do what you want, eat what you want, etc.
Example: They indulged themselves by sleeping late, eating whatever
they wanted and dancing until late at night.