1. Read the text and decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F).

(Đọc bài khóa rồi xác định xem các câu bên dưới là đúng hay sai.)

Tiny houses

Humans have always traditionally lived in tiny homes, such as caves, huts and cabins. However, later bigger started to be seen as better. However, in the last decade or so, there is a growing liny house movement, tiny houses are very small homes and the reasons for choosing them are as diverse as the buildings themselves.

For some people, the choice is purely financial, as they either can’t afford a bigger house or they want to remain debt-free. Most owners therefore do not need a mortgage or only need a small loan to build them, so they are able to spend their money on other things. For many young people this is a huge attraction. I’d just got my first job and money was tight,’ says Lidia. ‘Buying a tiny house was the best option for me since rents were so high.’

Tiny houses are also considerably cheaper to run than the average house, since energy bills are far lower. Although Amanda and Simon struggled to get rid of many of their belongings before moving to their tiny home, they found it had unexpected bonuses. ‘Living more minimally gave us the financial freedom we sought and enabled us to prioritise better and set new personal goals. We grew as individuals,’ they explain.

Another advantage is that, compared to standard houses, tiny homes can be easy to build. You can buy kits online or design your own. Thirteen-year-old Luke did just that-he planned and built his house with the money he earned from doing chores for neighbours and family. It cost $1,500 and is about 1.68 metres wide and three metres long. In the future, he plans to build a mobile tiny home to live in while he studies.

Tiny living might not be for everyone, but it has many attractions. You can live a happier life with more freedom, save money and know you're not doing it at the cost of the environment.

1. People tend to live in tiny houses for similar reasons.

2. Lidia didn't want to rent somewhere to live because it cost too much.

3. For Simon and Amanda, the main benefit of tiny living was having fewer things.

4. Living in a tiny house, owners can have more time for their personal goals.

5. A teenager has designed a tiny home which he paid for with his own money.

2. Choose a word that can replace the words in bold in the text.

(Chọn một từ có thể thay thế các từ in đậm trong bài đọc.)

1. mortgage

A. cash                        B. loan

2. tight

A. small                       B. big

3. considerably

A. much                      B. less

4. minimally

A. simply                    B. to the full

5. prioritise

A. give an example     B. organize