Reading

Task 1. Read the text and choose the correct answer A, B, C, or D for the questions.

(Đọc đoạn văn và chọn đáp án đúng.)

50 years back in time and even before that, in the absence of the Internet and various hi-tech toys, the entertainment world used to be so different from what it is nowadays. Running wild on the pastures, and bathing in the river, children back then saw nature as their playground and were curious to explore and enjoy it in their own creative ways. They found small objects around them to make toys. Boys used branches as swords for mock battles while girls used them as chopsticks to play imaginary restaurants. In this way, children enjoyed themselves on the way to school, during school breaks, and even when they were herding buffaloes. At that time, tug of war, hide and seek, and skipping were popular games. Some have even made it through to today.

The fact that those popular games were meant to be played in groups made it easier and faster for children to make friends. Moreover, people rarely moved away from their hometown, so childhood bonds were even stronger as children grew up playing together all their life.

1. Children in the past saw nature as ___________.

A.an entertainment

B. an unknown environment

C. a workshop

D. beautiful scenery

2. Which of the following things was NOT likely to be used as a toy by children in the past?

A. Sticks

B. Small stones

C. Dry leaves

D. Beautiful silver spoons

3. Which statement is NOT true about children's games in the past?

A. Tug of war was familiar to most children.

B. Some games are still played now.

C. Children could play them while they were herding buffaloes.

D. No game in the past is known to children nowadays.

4. The word “explore” could be replaced by ___________.

A. find

B. discover

C. destroy

D. play

5. The word “them” refers to ___________.

A. children

B. boys

C. branches

D. toys

Speaking

Task 2. These are some ideas taken from Reading. Do you agree or disagree with them? Support your answers with ideas from the passage or of your own.

(Những ý sau được lấy ra từ bài đọc. Bạn đồng ý hay không đồng ý? Đưa ra các căn cứ để bao vệ ý tưởng của mình.)

1. Children back then saw nature as their playground. 

(Trẻ em ngày xưa đã thấy thiên nhiên như sân chơi của mình.)

2. Playing games in groups made it easier and faster for children to make friends. 

(Những trò chơi tập thể khiến trẻ dễ dàng và nhanh chóng kết bạn.)

3. Childhood bonds were stronger as they grew up playing together. 

(Sự liên kết thời thơ ấu mạnh mẽ hơn khi cùng chơi với nhau đến khi lớn lên.)

Task 3. Listen to Nguyen's presentation about a natural wonder in Viet Nam and decide if the sentences are true (T) or false (F).

(Nghe bài thuyết trình của Nguyên về kì quan tự nhiên ở Việt Nam và quyết định xem câu nào đúng (T) câu nào sai (F) )

Task 4. Based on the notes below, write a short paragraph about a traditional home in the countryside of Viet Nam in the past. In your writing, you can include all or some of the ideas below.

(Dựa vào các chú ý sau đây để viết 1 đoạn văn ngắn về ngôi nhà truyền thống ở vùng quê Việt Nam ngày xưa. Bạn có thể sử dụng các gợi ý sau.)

• accommodation: three-room and two-wing house

(nhà ở: nhà ba gian và nhà hai cửa)

  + well-off : made of wood, bricks, and tiles

   (nhà khá giả: làm bằng gỗ, gạch ngói)

  + poorer: made of bamboo, earth, and straw

   (nghèo hơn: làm bằng tre, đất, và rơm)

• family structure: extended

  (cấu trúc gia đình: nhiều thế hệ)

• man: dominant figure/head of the household

  (người đàn ông: giữ tài chính / người đứng đầu gia đình)

• food and drinks: mainly home-grown and home-made

 (thức ăn và đồ uống: chủ yếu là các sản phẩm gia đình và làm tại nhà)

• marriages: arranged by parents

  (hôn nhân: sắp đặt bởi bố mẹ)

You can start your writing with: 

(Bạn có thể bắt đầu viết với)

A traditional home in Viet Nam …

(Một gia đình truyền thống ở Việt Nam...)