These topics, edited by Huỳnh Bá Học 1

TOPICS FOR TESTS

TOPIC I. (DID)ADVANTAGES OF THE ATM CARD

1. Do you have the ATM card?

- Yes, I do.

2. How often do you use it?

- I use it about once a month.

3. Will the ATM machine[mə'ʃɪːn] allow you to withdraw[wɪð'drɔː ,wɪθ-] the money if your bank

account[ə'kaʊnt] is less [les]?

- No, it won't.

4. Tell me advantages/ disadvantages of the ATM card?

About advantages[əd'vɑːntɪdʒ]:

1. You don’t need to carry cash[kæʃ] if you go some places which have ATM.

2. If your ATM card is stolen, your money is safe because the criminal['krɪmɪnl] would need your PIN to

access['ækses] your funds[fʌnd].

3. If you need cash, you don’t need go to bank. You can access your money at an ATM every time of day or night.

4. You don’t need to pay the common['kɒmən] transaction[træn'zækʃn]’s fees.

About disadvantages[‚dɪsəd'vɑːntɪdʒ]:

1. You also need to carry cash because not that there are ATMs everywhere.

2. In our country, most of ATM cards allow[ə'laʊ] you to withdraw limited['lɪmɪtɪd] money during[dur·ing ||

'djʊərɪŋ] the day. If you need withdraw more, you must go to the bank.

3. Secure[sɪ'kjʊr /-'kjʊə] problem: the ATM card can be faked[feɪk], make a loss for banks and users.

TOPIC II. THE (DIS)ADVANTAGES OF LIVING IN A BIG CITY

1. Do you like living in a big city or in the countryside?

- I like living in a big city.

2. Why do you like in a big city/ the countryside?

- Because I have many opportunities[‚ɑpər'tjuːnətɪ/‚ɒpə't-] to learn and develop[dɪ'veləp] myself and I can also

have many chances to get a good job and earn money.

3. Can you tell me some advantages/ disadvantages of living in a big city?

I spent all my childhood['tʃaɪldhʊd] in the countryside. When I grow[grəʊ] up and live in the city, I

realize['rɪəlaɪz] that life in the city can bring you a lot of advantages and disadvantages.

Here, I'd like to talk about advantages.

First, city is political[pə'lɪtɪkl] and economic[‚iːkə'nɒmɪk] center of the country. So, it will provide[prə'vaɪd] you

with better conditions[kən'dɪʃn], good environment/in'vaiərənmənt/ to develop your career[kə'rɪə];

Second, living in city you can choose[tʃuːz] your suitable['suːtəbl] job and accumulate[ə'kjuːmjʊleɪt]tích luỹ

good

experience[ɪk'spɪərɪəns]kinh nghiệm

from your well – educated['edjuːkeɪt] colleagues['kɒliːg]bạn đồng nghiệp

.

Moreover, you can send your children to good educational institutions[‚ɪnstɪ'tuːʃn /-'tju-] and you can enjoy a lot

of entertainment[‚entə(r)'teɪmənt] services['sɜrvɪs /'sɜːvɪs].

However, you can easily['iːzɪlɪ] realize some disadvantages of living in the city.

The first one is traffic['træfɪk] jam[dʒæm] which we have to suffer['sʌfə(r)]chịu

from every day.

Besides/bi'saidz/, environment pollution[pə'luːʃn] also endangers[ɪn'deɪndʒə] your health[helθ].

Rush[rʌʃ] life[laɪf] in city is supposed[sə'pəʊzd]coi như là đúng

to cause[kɔːz] some serious['sɪrɪəs /'sɪər-]

diseases[dɪ'zɪːz] such as stress[stres]. You are always busy from morning to night. You don't have time for

leisure['lɪːʒər /'leʒə] activities that is the original[ə'rɪdʒənl]đầu tiên

reason['rɪːzn] of stress.

In conclusion/kən'klu:ʤn/, I'd like to say that wherever you live, there are both advantages and disadvantages.

You should know to avoid[ə'vɔɪd] disadvantages for your life.

TOPIC III. THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IN YOUR COUNTRY

1. What kind of public transport is there in our country?

- In our country, there is much public['pʌblɪk] transportation[‚trænspər'teɪʃn /-spɔː't-]: Bus, taxi['tæksɪ], plane.

2. What public transport do you like best? Why?

- I like the public bus system['sɪstəm] the best.

3. Tell me some dis/advantages of public transport system in our country?

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The advantages of using public bus system:

It's convenient/kən'vi:njənt/ to go everywhere in the city. Riding the bus can be easy, inexpensive[‚ɪnɪk'spensɪv],

convenient, and comfortable['kʌmfətəbl]. These are lot more safe[seɪf] and also save[seɪv] money. Buses are less

expensive/iks'pensiv/ when compared[kəm'peə] to hiring['haɪə(r)] taxis. A bus can carry a large[lɑrdʒ /lɑː-] group of

people at one time.

The disadvantages of using public bus system:

- The bus may be a noisy and uncomfortable/ʌn'kʌmfətəbl/ ride where you have to share[ʃer /ʃeə] with other

strangers['streɪdʒə(r)];

- Bus is also famed[feɪmd] for being late and not stopping where you want it to stop.

- You can waste[weɪst] a lot of time waiting for the next one. Because the bus doesn’t always come on time.

- The bus is often very full of many people on it, so it makes the passengers['pæsɪndʒə(r)] feel uncomfortable.

4. Are you pleased with the public transport system in our country at present? Why (not)?

- No, I'm not. Because the city doesn’t spend enough[ɪ'nʌf] on public transportation. There should be more

public buses in the city.

TOPIC IV. THE ROLE OF MEN/WOMEN IN YOUR COUNTRY

1. How is the role of men/women in Vietnam at present?

The role of women is an important part of family life and society[sə'saɪətɪ]. Nowadays, they can also do many

things that men can do. In a family, the mother always the one who teaches her children good or bad things so that

they will become good citizens['sɪtɪzn] in the future.

2. Tell some positive['pɑzətɪv /'pɒz-]/ negative['negətɪv] factors of the role of men and that of women?

a) The role of men:

- The positive factors:

Being a good provider/provider/, protector[prə'tektə(r)], leader and teacher is a privilege['prɪvɪlɪdʒ]đặc ân

that

comes with responsibilities[rɪ‚spɑnsə'bɪlətɪ /-pɒn-] that many men are aware[ə'weə] of.

- The negative factors:

The man has dropped out of the home in our society[sə'saɪətɪ].

b) The role of women:

- The positive factors['fæktə(r)]:

The role of the woman is to be a teammate with her husband['hʌzbənd] in creating a home, and raising great

children to function['fʌŋkʃn] well in society. Giving birth[bɜːθ] to children, putting up with the daily['deɪlɪ]

pressures['preʃə(r)] of life, dealing['dɪːlɪŋ]chia

with the demands[dɪ'mɑːnd] of children, maintaining[meɪn'teɪn] a good

relationship[rɪ'leɪʃnʃɪp] with her husband and they can also do many things that men can do.

- The negative factors:

- Research shows that most victims['vɪktɪm] of family violence are women.

- Working women who have children experience even['iːvn] more demands on time, energy['enədʒɪ] and

resources/ri'so:s/.

TOPIC V. THE TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IN BIG CITIES LIKE HANOI CITY

1. Does traffic jam happen every day in big cities?

- Yes, it does.

2. What are the main causes of traffic jam in big cities?

- The lack[læk] of consciousness['kɑnʃəsnɪs /'kɒn-]hiểu biết

to follow['fɑləʊ /'fɒl-] the traffic rules[ruːl] is one of

the most significant[sɪg'nɪfɪkənt] factors['fæktə(r)] that contributes[kən'trɪbjuːt]đóng góp

to traffic jam.

- The second and most significant[sɪg'nɪfɪkənt] cause of traffic jam in big cities is the scheme[skɪːm]sắp xếp

of the

city.

3. What is the traffic jam in big cities like?

Traffic jam happens['hæpən] everyday, everywhere and everywhen. The traffic in big cities can be a

nightmare['naɪtmer/-meə] for any first-time visitor because it is very chaotic[keɪ'ɒtɪk]hỗn độn

. It is especially[ɪ'speʃəlɪ]

terrible['terəbl] during the rush[rʌʃ] hour['aʊə(r)], when everyone is attempting[ə'tempt]cố gắng

to get to or from work

quickly['kwɪklɪ].

4. Give some solutions to the traffic problem?

In order to have a good traffic, people should learn traffic rules. The government['gʌvərnmənt /'gʌvn-] should

devise[dɪ'vaɪz]nghĩ ra

a sensible['sensəbl]hợp lý

plan[plæn] to reduce[rɪ'duːs /-'dju-] traffic jams, like designing/di'zainiɳ/

a better layout of the city.

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TOPIC VI. THE POLLUTION PROBLEMS IN YOUR COUNTRY

1. Tell some main causes of pollution in the country.

Pollution is caused by industrial[ɪn'dʌstrɪəl] and commercial[kə'mɜːʃl] waste[weɪst]. No matter where you go and

what you do, there are remnants['remnənt]dấu vết

of pollution.

2. Why do a lot of traffic and factories make the air polluted?

Transportation and factories have a greatest impact['ɪmpækt]tác động

on air pollution due[djuː] to their

dominant['dɑmɪnənt/'dɒm]có ảnh hưởng

role in the fuel/fjuəl/ consumption[kən'sʌmpʃn]tiêu thụ

3. What should be done to prevent pollution in the country? I believe it all depends on how much you really care to help stop pollution and help keep our cities clean. The

best way to prevent[prɪ'vent] land pollution is to recycle. Here are a few other ways you can reduce land pollution:

- Buy recycled products['prɑdəkt /'prʌdɑkt]

- The companies that have polluted need to be punished['pʌnɪʃ].

- Don’t use pesticides['pestɪsaɪd]

- Plant more trees and tend[tend] to them

4. What do you think about that people who litter['lɪtə(r)] on the streets should be punished?

I think that’s a good idea[aɪ'dɪə] to reduce[rɪ'duːs /-'dju-] pollution, because littering is a serious problem which

causes pollution.

TOPIC VII. THE FAMILY VIOLENCE IN YOUR COUNTRY

1. Is family violence['vaɪələns] the most popular['pɑpjələ(r) / 'pɒpjʊl-] crime[kraɪm]tội ác

in Vietnam? Why

(not)?

- Yes, it is. Because/bi'kɔz/ the main cause of family violence is directly[dɪ'rektlɪ] related[rɪ'leɪtɪd] to the unequal

distribution of power['paʊə(r)] and to the asymmetrical/,æsi'metrikəl/không đối xứng

relationships that exist[ɪg'zɪst]

between men[men] and women[ˈwimin] in our society[sə'saɪətɪ].

2. Give some causes of the family violence.

1. Unequal/'ʌn'i:kwəl/ role[rəʊl] distributions[‚dɪstrɪ'bjuːʃn]

2. Frustration['frʌ'streɪʃn]thất vọng

due[djuː] to poverty['pɑvə(r)tɪ /'pɒ-]cảnh bần cùng

3. Extramaritalngoại tình

relationship[rɪ'leɪʃnʃɪp]

4. Infidelity[‚ɪnfɪ'delətɪ]không chung thuỷ

5. Jealousy['dʒeləsɪ]

6. Money

3. According to you, how to help woman and children coping with violence?

4. May children who are raised in violent homes learn to became a buser? Give the reasons of your own.

TOPIC VIII. LIFE AND LIVING CONDITIONS OF PEOPLE IN YOUR COUNTRY AT PRESENT

1. What are current living conditions like in the city/ the country side?

Living conditions in Vietnam are not very well in rural['rʊrəl /'rʊərəl] areas. Vietnam has one of the highest

population['pɑpjə'leɪʃn /‚pɒpjʊ-] in the world for it's country's size[saɪz]. There are too many poor people who are

living in country side need the government helps.

2. Give some differences in living conditions between the city and the countryside.

- Before I moved here, I lived in a village ['vɪlɪdʒ] in the North /nɔ:θ/ part /pɑ:t/ of Bình Định

province['prɑvɪns/'prɒ-]. I knew all the people in my neighborhood['neɪbərhʊd]. Life is different in the city. You

can’t get to know all your neighbors.

- The village is quiet and there was only a little traffic. There are bikes, motorbikes and cars coming from every

direction[dɪ'rekʃn] in the city. They really scare[sker /skeə] me.

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3. Can you tell me what you are very pleased with in the living conditions at present?

Things are changing in the countryside. People can now have things like TV and cell phone. They are bringing

not only information but also entertainment[‚entə(r)'teɪmənt]. And medical['medɪkl] facilities[fə'sɪlətɪ] are more

easily['iːzɪlɪ] accessible[æk'sesəbl]dễ bị ảnh hưởng

too. In many ways, I prefer the countryside. Life is simple['sɪmpl],

people are friendly and the air is clean.

TOPIC IX. DISADVANTAGES OF BEING A SINGLE – PARENT

1. Have you ever known a single – parent?

-Yes, I have.

2. If possible, how to help a single – parent?

The first thing to do is contact['kɒntækt] your local Department/di'pɑ:tmənt/ of Social['səʊʃl] Services to get

information on financial help for single parents. The government has financial help programs to help single parents

live a better life.

You can send some information of single parents life to the Internet. That way many people will know them and

they will give them the best solutions[sə'luːʃn] for their life.

3. Give some disadvantages of being a single – parent.

Whether you’re a single mother or a single father doesn’t matter, you have to face some challenges['tʃælɪndʒ] on

your journey['dʒɜrnɪ /'dʒɜː-] of raising your child or children alone.

4. What would you do if you were a single parent?

If I were a single parent, I would try my best to take care of my children.

TOPIC X. DO YOU THINK COMPANIES THAT HAVE POLLUTED THE AIR/WATER SHOULD BE

PUNISHED? GIVE THE REASONS OF YOUR OWN.

1. What do companies do to get the air/ water polluted?

As a result of industrialization/in,dʌstriəlai'zeiʃn/, many factories['fæktərɪ] and industrial centers are building and

this causes air and water pollution to the environment.

2. Give some damages when the air/ water is polluted?

Air pollution not only threatens['θretn]đe doạ

the health[helθ] and life of humans['hjuːmən] but also causes

damage['dæmɪdʒ] to the environment/in'vaiərənmənt/. The results[rɪ'zʌlt] of water pollution are fish and other

creatures['kriːtʃə]sinh vật

that live in the water are harmed[hɑrm /hɑːm].

3. Give some solutions to prevent polluting the air/ water?

If people use public transportation instead of driving, this will reduce[rɪ'duːs /-'dju-] pollution by limiting['lɪmɪt]

the number of pollution emitting[ɪ'mɪt] cars.

The best way to prevent[prɪ'vent] water pollution is to not throw trash and other harmful chemicals['kemɪkl] into

our water supplies[sə'plaɪ].

4. Give the reasons of your own for punishing the companies that have polluted the air/water.

The companies that have polluted need to be punished. Because they are the main cause of serious pollution.